Johnny Got His Gun Page #6

I'm the boss.

And today is

his birthday.

Merry Christmas.

I'm the boss.

This is champagne.

Merry Christmas.

I'm the boss.

This is champagne.

Merry Christmas.

Might I cut in?

Uh-uh.

I have influence.

Merry Christmas.

I can get you a soft berth.

I can be

of great help.

Merry Christmas.

I can help myself.

That's what you think.

But everything

has changed.

The time has come

for you to go out

and fight.

Are you going

to fight, too?

Merry Christmas.

I'm overaged. I can't.

But somebody's

got to fight them.

Merry Christmas.

We must have a just

and lasting peace!

Merry Christmas.

We've already got ours.

Damn right.

See these?

Two arms.

Merry Christmas.

You see these?

Two legs.

You see this?

One girl.

Merry Christmas.

What else does anyone want?

I'm the boss.

This is champagne.

Liberty.

And justice.

Merry Christmas.

Liberty.

And justice.

Liberty.

I love you, Kareen.

Merry Christmas.

You're so lucky, Joe. You are.

You don't understand.

I have to make

the world safe.

This is champagne.

Merry Christmas.

I'm the boss.

This is champagne.

Merry Christmas.

I'm the boss.

You're not my boy.

This is champagne.

Where's my boy?

Merry Christmas.

Kareen?

Where's

my little boy?

Kareen?

I'm the boss.

This is champagne.

Merry Christmas!

Fellow workers.

Ahem!

Fellow workers?

Fellow workers!

Due to the war emergency,

our little holiday will end

in just three more minutes.

But the ovens are hot,

and we must keep

the home fires burning.

Let us sing.

Keep the home fires

burning

While our hearts

are yearning

Though your lads

Are far away

They dream of home

There's a silver lining

Through the dark clouds

shining

Turn the dark clouds

inside out

Till the boys come

Home

Father.

Hello, son.

Hello, Father.

Want some honey?

No, thanks.

Sit down.

Goodbye, Joe.

Who was that girl?

I really don't know.

I was fishing.

She happened by.

Wriggled

into my arms and stayed there.

So many young girls

these days

seem to be

hunting for a place in old men's arms.

Pshew.

Where did all

the young men go?

They drift away.

How is it with you,

Father?

It's all right.

You know,

it's a funny thing.

I was a very good

shoe clerk.

But I was

more than that.

I could handle

a horse.

If I had a cow,

she was

always healthy,

gave plenty of milk.

Raised our own food

on two city lots.

Even up to the honey

on our biscuits.

I could, uh, hoe

a pretty good row...

lay out

a pretty good grade

on an uphill road.

Build a house.

But I never did learn

how to make any money.

The goddamndest thing

I ever ran into.

See, the trouble

with life is

you work so much,

you don't enjoy it.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Better this way.

Except...

I do miss your mother.

How is she?

I haven't seen her lately.

Oh.

Well...

not too long

till sunrise.

Mmhh.

I have to go.

Trout'll be rising.

Willow Lake.

Now that I got

my pole back, I don't want to miss 'em.

Goodbye, Father.

Give my love

to your mother when you see her.

Sorry I had to leave

you in the lurch,

but it was

the only way, believe me.

Goodbye.

Joe.

Joe.

Here I am.

No, Joe.

Over here.

Let's play

blindman's bluff.

Joe.

Find me, Joe.

Why did you

leave me, Joe?

Run, Joe.

Why didn't you

write me?

I couldn't

write you!

I just couldn't!

Why couldn't you?

I can't tell you!

That's all!

I can't!

You don't

love me, Joe.

You don't love me.

I do love you!

I do love you!

No, you don't, Joe.

You never did.

Don't go, Kareen!

Where are you?

Olly olly

oxen free!

Don't go away

from me again.

Please.

Don't.

You need help, son.

There isn't any help.

Have you asked for any?

I can't.

I can't ask for anything.

There is no way

I can talk to them.

Then why don't you

send a telegram?

A telegram?

Don't you remember

when you were little?

How you and Bill Harper

used to

string a wire

between the two houses

so you could telegraph

to each other?

Yes.

Still remember

the Morse code?

Yes.

What good is that?

How can I type out

a message to them?

You've got to learn to think.

Use your head.

Yes.

Yes. My head.

My head. My head, my head!

Yes.

Yes. My head.

My head.

Where is she going?

Captain?

Yes?

Could you come here

a minute, please?

Yes, of course. Would you

take care of that, nurse? Thank you.

She's brought somebody in!

I can't understand

what he's doing.

May I see

the orders, please?

Yes.

Thank you.

Probably an early entry.

"If bodily action

becomes violent

or persistently repetitive"--

These movements

are persistently repetitive.

"They must be treated

as reflexive muscular spasms."

Which is to say by sedation.

Fair enough.

I'll prepare an injection.

Why is she trying to stop me?

I don't believe that

the movement is reflexive.

Oh, you don't?

Well, General Tillery

will pass through on the 23rd

with his annual

staff inspection.

If you don't trust me,

nurse,

perhaps you'd better

take it up with him.

I will.

Well, that's excellent,

nurse.

General Tillery is

the chief operating surgeon

who wrote those orders.

No. No.

Don't give me dope.

Don't put me under again.

Would you unlock the door, please?

I'm trying to talk to you.

Oh, God, please

make them hear me.

All I'm asking is for you

to take one little idea

that's in my mind

and put it into their minds.

Maybe only 2 or 3

feet away from me.

It's-- It's such

a little thing to ask,

but they won't listen.

They won't hear me.

All they do is give me dope,

and I go down

and down

and...

Oh, there you are, brothers.

What were you hunting

when they caught you?

Look, Father!

I found your fishing pole!

Use your head, son.

I am, Father. I am.

Hear me.

Please try to understand

what I'm doing and hear me!

She did hear me!

She's going

to get somebody!

She didn't even

close the door!

I've broken through.

I'm back

with people again.

Hello,

all you people out there.

It's me, and we're going

to talk to each other.

They're here. A lot of them.

It's Morse code.

For what?

SOS. Help.

Do you mean to say

that this man

is actually speaking to us?

What are they doing?

Yes, sir.

Decerebrated, General?

Completely decerebrated?

What are they waiting for?

What's happening?

Are they leaving?

No.

Just one of them.

Or maybe two.

No. Just one.

Ask what he wants.

How can I ask a man like this

a question like that?

By asking it.

How else can we help him?

Why don't they do something?

They are.

What...

do...you...

want?

What do I want?

What do I want?

What I want...

I want out!

I want to feel fresh air

against my skin.

I want to feel people

around me.

No.

It would cost too much money

taking care of me

on the outside.

They never do that.

But-- But maybe

there's a way

I can take care of myself.

Yes! There is a way!

All you have to do

is put me on display

and people

will pay to see me.

Lots of people.

Put me in a fancy coffin

with windows in it,

and take me out where people

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