In Love and War Page #5

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"thanks for the package.

"The weather here

is hot,

"but maybe it will

cool down soon.

"The food is good.

"Everyone is

all right here.

I hope everyone

is all right there."

I was trying to think

of how to finish it.

Ernie.

Dear mom and dad--

start over again.

Ernest:

dear mom and dad...

The thing this war

has taught me...

Is that it's important

to get things said

before it's too late.

First...

You've been

the very best parents

a son could ever ask for.

When I was a kid...

And I used to get scared

of the dark,

it was the thought

that you were there

that got me through it.

I think about that

a lot...

Because I guess

I'm scared now.

I don't know

if I can make it...

And if I don't...

Please understand

that sometimes...

I have to go

to places alone.

But whatever happens...

Always know that...

I will be

your loving son...

Jimmy.

I love you.

[Knock on door]

Mac:
aggie, gumshoe's

on her rounds.

Harry, we're leaving.

Agnes is looking

for you.

All right.

Hey, have you

seen Ernie?

No.

Harry. Harry.

Thank--thank god

I've found you.

They're moving

some of us closer

to the front.

I need for you

to do me a huge favor.

Anything.

Mac:
ag, come on.

I'll be--I'll be

right there.

I can't find Ernie

anywhere, and...

Could you give this

to him for me?

I'm sorry, Harry.

I--i...

I honestly never

expected anything

like this to happen.

Ag, we're leaving.

You won't forget?

I won't forget.

Bye.

Harry:
Ernie!

Listen, old man,

I'm glad to run into you

with no one else around.

There's something I'd like

to get off my chest.

That business

i said the other day

about Agnes and me was...

Well, it was all bull.

Yeah.

Ahem.

Well, uh...

She--she asked me

to give this to you.

Orders came through,

and, uh...

They sent her...

[Opens envelope]

I'm sorry, Ernie.

I know how you feel.

Agnes:
dearest Ernie,

new orders came through,

and, suddenly, I find myself

on my way to the front.

I'm writing this

with a shaky hand,

partly because

i am afraid

and partly because it is

so hard to say good-bye.

I wanted to say this

to you in person...

[Klaxon horns honking]

[Bugle blows reveille]

Agnes:
I'm on duty.

Just read your letter.

Ernest:
dearest aggie,

I miss and yearn to see you

more than words can say.

Every time someone

comes through the door,

I can't help but look up

and hope it's you.

I wear the ring

you gave me

and look at it maybe

a hundred times a day.

Harry has new orders

to report to your sector,

but the red cross medics

took one look at my leg

and turned me down.

I may surprise them yet.

Calma,

sei in buone mani.

Doctor:
I need more ether!

Nurse, hurry!

Second doctor:
Stop what

you're doing and wait.

Right, nurse, ether.

Coming through.

Coming through.

He's coming around.

Doctor:
hold him down!

Get those swabs--

sister, quickly!

Doctor:
hurry!

If I had known

it was going to be so...

I wouldn't have asked them

to assign you here.

Doctor:

cut for me, please.

This is what

i was trained for.

You have been up

almost 24 hours.

So have you.

Doctor:
and again.

Man:
I've got

to get it!

You are such a child.

This was a stupid

thing to do.

When are you going

to grow up?

I couldn't leave

without seeing you again.

Leave?

I'm on orders

back to the states.

When?

I got to catch a train

tomorrow morning at 5:30.

Mac:
they've

called us, ag.

Mm-hmm.

I came to tell you

that I love you.

And I will love you

forever.

There's a hotel

by the train station.

Kid, that's not a hotel.

That's a brothel.

There's nowhere else.

I've asked around.

Will you...

I'll try.

[People laughing]

[Accordion plays

romantic air]

[Hinge creaks]

I'm sorry. I didn't

think it was going

to be this bad.

It's just...

Part of war.

Men desperate for sex,

women desperate for...Money.

You shouldn't

be here.

Let's go somewhere

else, anywhere.

[Closes door]

It wasn't supposed

to be like this.

Never mind.

We were going to be

in the most beautiful

place on god's earth.

Then close your eyes.

I told you I wasn't

a very good dancer.

To me, this is

the most beautiful waltz

in the world.

This isn't a waltz.

Even I know that.

You'll write me,

right?

I'll write you

every day.

Be careful.

I will.

[Whistle blows]

Promise?

yes.

[Train whistle blowing]

I love you,

Mrs. kid.

When this is over,

we'll get married,

right?

Right.

Mr. and Mrs. kid.

Tell me you love me.

I need to hear you

say it.

Tell me.

[Drowned out by noise]

I love you.

Say it.

[Quietly]

i love you.

Well, that's--

that's terrific news.

Maybe--maybe

he and I have had

our differences,

but he's all right.

I hate to admit it,

but he's more

than all right.

You'll do him

a world of good.

What's that

supposed to mean?

You know Ernie and...

He needs someone that

can take care of him.

That's his mother's job,

Harry.

I don't want

to be his mother.

Even though it'll probably

look as though I am.

Now, what's an

8-year age difference

when you're in love?

7. he just

had a birthday.

Is this enough?

Well, so what.

He can go on

having birthdays,

and you can stop.

I saw a gray hair

the other day, Harry.

Listen...

You and Ernie will

actually be aging

toward each other.

Older people start

going backwards

at some point,

and, uh, well,

eventually you'll

meet in the middle.

Am I making

a mistake, Harry?

It's not just

the age difference. It's--

you love him.

That's what counts.

Listen to you...

The voice of experience.

Aggie?

Hmm?

I have to ask you

a question.

Hmm, can't it wait

till I've had

a few hours of sleep?

No. this is important.

Hmm.

Just promise me

you won't say no.

No to what?

Just promise.

This is very, very

important to me.

Ok, I promise.

Now can I have

a few hours of sleep?

Fine.

We're going to spend

the weekend with

the good doctor.

Doctor caracciolo?

I--i don't think that--

at his mother's house.

You just swore to me.

You just gave me

your solemn word.

I don't have

anything to wear.

Aggie, he's a doctor.

How fancy can it be?

Cusatemi,

ma faccio strada.

Oh.

[Bell rings]

Come, come.

Oh!

Agnes:

you never told us

about any of this.

Caracciolo:

i was afraid

you might not come.

It's so very beautiful.

It is you

that are beautiful.

[Church bells peal]

[Speaking Italian]

Are--are these bass?

Ba-bass?

Ah, non capisco.

All right.

It is the best moment,

early in the morning.

Yes.

I do not wish to hurt

Mac's feelings, but...

It would please me

so greatly if you...

Just you alone...

Would come

back to venice

on your next break.

D-domenico, i--

hello.

Come on, look at these.

They're great.

Ah, how about me

as a clown?

Oh, why would

that be different?

Yeah, I'm going to take

one of these home. Um...

Domenico:

i would buy any mask

for you.

But this is the one

i would choose.

Just hold it right

there, Mr. Hemingway.

Just a couple

of more questions,

Mr. Hemingway.

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