From Here to Eternity Page #25

GENERAL SLATER:

(thinks a moment)

I'll give you a chance you don't

deserve, Holmes. Write a letter of

resignation and have it on my desk

this afternoon. I’ll consider

accepting it. Only because as far

as I'm concerned, the quicker

you're out of the Army the better

for everybody. Especially the Army.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. KAREN'S BEDROOM - DAY

MEDIUM SHOT KAREN AND HOLMES

He confronts her, waving a sheet of stationery. His voice is

strangled, almost hysterical.

HOLMES:

--- that's right, it's a letter of

resignations I'm through! I've

already been relieved! So you can

begin packing. We're sailing for

the States next week!

She shakes her head, not wanting to believe; she takes the

letter out of his hand, starts to read it. She stops after a

sentence or two. Her hand falls to her side. Holmes sits on

the bed heavily. The bluster bleeds out of him. He shakes his

head, emotionally bewildered. For perhaps the first time in

his life he is nakedly honest.

131.

HOLMES:

Where has it gone, Karen? What

happened to it? The gay, cheerful

life we were going to have, you and

I...? What happened to me...? The

proud, dashing officer was going to

be. The leader of men?... I've

known all along how the men felt

about me. They despised me...

What's happened? I don't remember

losing anything... Where has it all

gone?

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT KAREN

reacting; she is surprised, a little afraid of her own

emotion. The outcry, so lost, so despairing, moves her. She

is sorry for him.

MEDIUM SHOT HOLMES AND KAREN

HOLMES:

Karen -- you're coming back with

me, aren't you...?

Trembling, Karen puts the letter on the dressing table.

Abruptly, she runs out of the room.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. CAPTAIN’S OFFICE - DAY

CLOSE SHOT DESK:

FEATURING placard reading LIEUTENANT ROSS. We hear Ross'

first few words over this, then CAMERA PULLS BACK to MEDIUM

SHOT. Ross is forceful, clean-cut, gives the impression of

toughness but fairness. As he talks he takes down the

photographs of prize fighters and prize fighting from the

wall. Watching and listening are Sergeants Dhom, Thornhill,

Henderson, Leva, Stark and Karelsen and Corporal Wilson. Ross

is such a complete switch from Holmes that the men are almost

unnerved by him. But a definite respect is reflected in their

expressions. Warden, beside his desk, shares this.

ROSS:

-- I don't intend to have a sloppy

outfit. I don't intend to have a

goldbrick outfit. I don't intend to

have a soft soap outfit. I've

called you noncoms in because

you're the backbone of any Company.

(MORE)

132.

ROSS(cont'd)

From now on you'll have to prove

you're entitled to have those

stripes here. And not in the boxing

ring.

He bands the pictures to Leva.

ROSS:

Get rid of these, Sergeant.

LEVA:

Yes, sir.

ROSS:

That's all I have to say. If you've

any questions, speak up.

Nobody speaks.

ROSS:

Dismissed.

The men troop out, passing camera. As last man leaves, CAMERA

IS ON Warden. He is looking at Ross with considerable

approval, even admiration. He resumes a more normal

expression as Ross turns toward him.

.

WARDEN:

One non-com was missing, sir.

Sergeant Galovitch.

ROSS:

I know. Private Galovitch is in the

kitchen.

WARDEN:

In the kitchen?

ROSS:

As of now, he’s an assistant cook.

I busted him. On a blanket charge

of inefficiency. What are you

grinning at?

WARDEN:

(grinning)

I think the Company Commander made

a wise decision, sir.

The phone rings. Warden goes to his desk, answers.

133.

WARDEN:

(into phone)

Compny G, First Sergeant Warden

speaking.

Karen's voice is heard on the phone; we cannot understand

what she is saying, but a flood of words pours through. With

Ross looking on, Warden is embarrassed.

WARDEN:

(into phone)

Yes... Yes, I know...

(glances over toward Ross)

Yes, the - uh - parcel has already

arrived... Yes... What?...

(grim now)

No. No, we'll have to talk about it

soon. Right away. I - I don't

know...

Ross perceives Warden's distress. He starts toward the door.

Warden nods gratefully. Ross smiles, leaves the room.

WARDEN:

(into phone)

Lissen, I'll get away somehow,

tonight. I'll meet you in Kuhio

Park. At eight... Right....

He puts down the receiver. He stares at the desk. Then he

slowly pulls out the top drawer. The Officers Application

Blank is lying on top of a pile of other papers. He takes it

out, looks at it somberly. CAMERA MOVES IN to an INSERT of

the Application. We see Warden's answers to sex, age, race,

etc. CAMERA MOVES DOWN the page to the place for the

signature of the applicant. It is unsigned.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. KUHIO PARK - NIGHT

LONG SHOT:

In b.g. Warden, in uniform, and Karen are sitting on the same

bench as in their first meeting in the park. We cannot hear

what they are saying at first. CAMERA MOVES IN past a few

pedestrians and HOLDS on a MEDIUM SHOT. There is a defeated,

tired look about them, as if they have been talking for a

long time to no avail.

KAREN:

... I guess I felt it that night I

asked you to become an officer.

When you didn't say yes right away.

(MORE)

134.

KAREN(cont'd)

I guess I knew deep down you

wouldn't do it. But -

.

(a hint of tears)

It seemed such a simple plan for

us...

WARDEN:

I wanted to -- I tried -- but I

couldn't...

He runs his hand through his hair. He seems to be groping

inside himself for some way to explain.

WARDEN:

Lissen -- there's a kid in our

outfit named Prewitt... Robert E.

Lee Prewitt... He came in from the

States about a year ago. I thought

he was a fresh punk at first...

until I got to know him a little.

He's AWOL right now -- probly in

some kind of real trouble -- he

ain't the kind to go AWOL

otherwise. Anyway, I keep

remembering somethin he said to me

the first day he came in. He said a

man has got to go his own way... if

he don't, he's nothin... I'm an

Enlisted Man. I'm a First Sergeant.

Milt Warden. Once I cross that line

and tried to be an officer, I'm

somebody I don't know. A stranger.

And a man has got to be what he

is...

KAREN:

I guess that's the trouble with

Dana... He's always tried to be

something he isn't. Poor Dana... I

don't think he ever needed me until

now.

(shaken herself out of it)

Well, here we are saying goodbye.

And talking about two other people.

WARDEN:

We're not saying good-bye -- we'll

figger out a way for you to stay

here -

KAREN:

I'm going back with him, Milt.

There's something in being needed.

It isn't love. But it's something.

135.

WARDEN:

(desperately)

Lissen, two people who love each

other just don't stop loving each

other! Nothin and nobody is goin to

break us up l 1111 transfer out

somehow and get back to the States.

Maybe it'll take a little time but

I’ll do it!

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