Keep Your Powder Dry Page #6

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old, old friends...

Yeah.

But, Val, you'd have to make a false

statement to the company commander.

Oh, but it would be just a

tiny, little false statement.

Sort of a falsetto.

But if they ever found out,

you might be

washed out of O.C.

If she turns down a

lonesome soldier,

she'll be washed

out of heaven.

Well, here it is.

Swell. John will love it.

Ann, thanks for everything.

So long.

Bye, Bill. Thank you.

Rand, it's been grand.

Chattanooga, here we come.

Ann, you better talk to Val.

Now, wait a minute, Rand.

What about?

She's going to lie to

the company commander

and say that she

knew Captain Barclay

in civilian life.

Val, if they find out,

you'll get a reprimand,

sure as shooting.

Now that you're an

O.C., why, there's...

but who's going to find out?

Come on, uncle.

Well, let's plan our strategy.

You want to meet me at the

hotel in Chattanooga?

Meet you? I'll go with you.

I'll only be about 15 minutes.

It will take me that

long to get a pass

and put on a new face.

Never mind the new face.

Just bring that one

you're wearing.

Well, you're the most

beautiful soldier I ever saw.

You can't come in here.

You're supposed to

wait in the day room.

But it's nighttime, honey.

Well, scat, honey.

Yes, ma'am, honey.

Come in.

Candidate Parks would

like permission

to speak to the

officer in charge.

In reference to what, Parks?

I'm going into Chattanooga.

No Chattanooga for you tonight.

You're C.Q.

What?

Charge of quarters.

Oh, no, sergeant. I'm Parks.

You see, it won't be my

turn for a couple of weeks.

Alphabetically it was

Atkinson's night,

but her parents are in

town over the weekend.

Well, I'm sorry,

but I'd planned...

well, I'm sorry,

but Rand told me

she knew you had no plans.

Rand was misinformed,

sergeant.

Scrap it out between you.

You're down for c.Q.,

and that stands.

Yes, sergeant.

I'm sorry, Val.

But somebody had to keep you from

making such a fool of yourself.

Listen, you officious,

smug double-crosser!

From now on, as long

as I'm in this corps,

I will never speak

to you again.

I only did it for

your own good.

And if you speak to me,

I'll slap you right across

that smirk you call a mouth!

Do I make myself clear?

Perfectly clear.

Ten-hut!

Order! Order!

Order!

Arms!

Dismissed!

What a week!

Amen! I thought

basic was rugged.

That motor transport

course was no rose.

But in O.C., they

really mean it.

You know what I'm going to do?

I've got a weekend pass.

And I'm going to buy all

the Sunday papers tonight.

Then I'm going to draw

myself a really hot bath

and soak for about an hour.

And I'm not going to get up

until the crack of noon.

Sounds divine.

Why don't you come

along, Annie?

Maybe we can still

get a double.

No, I think it's too

late to get a pass.

Anyway, I want to

write a long letter.

All right. See you later.

Bye.

Hi, Annie! Hi.

So, is the iron

maiden leaving us?

She's going to spend the

weekend in a bathtub.

At the hotel.

Tough. How we will miss her.

Say, why don't you come

into town with me?

I received a wire

from my lawyer,

and I have to have

dinner with him.

No, thank you. I've got to...

write a long letter!

All right. I'll be

back for bed check.

Be good. Bye.

Mr. Avery Lorrison, please.

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you.

Oh! Junior Vanderheusen!

Surprise, surprise.

Uh, no, I'm not surprised.

I've always seen you

in this condition.

Did you get it here

or bring it with you?

I got it in New York, and

I brought it with me!

Oh... I see. Well, let's get

away from this plant.

You'll kill it.

Junior, what in the world are

you doing in Chattanooga?

I... I beg your pardon.

That's quite all...

quite all right.

Come on, junior.

Junior, what are you

really doing here?

Are you going to

join the WACs?

I came down on my scooter.

Me and Marco and Harriet...

Harriet?

Mm-hmm.

Did you send that wire?

Big joke! Yuck yuck yuck.

I was stationed

here as lookout.

Been looking for

you like crazy.

Where are they?

Upstairs, waiting.

Well, come on.

Val, you looks cute in

that little soldier suit!

Hey, that's pretty good!

Oh, be quiet.

1, 2, 3. 1, 2, 3.

1, 2... junior,

answer the phone.

1, 2, 3.

The desk again, telling

us to pipe down.

Who does he think he

is, top sergeant?

Yes, sir.

Sorry, sir.

Excuse me, sir.

Well, I'm a civilian.

See, I'm 4-f; I

got a wet brain.

You can't order me around.

Junior, take that hat off.

No-oh-oh. I'm playing

soldier, same as you.

I said, take it off!

Dance with me, my sweet.

Marco, I don't want to dance.

Answer the door, junior.

Tell him to his face.

Marco, I told you I

don't want to dance.

I beg your pardon.

I have the room

across the hall.

I know it's early, but

I came here to rest.

Won't you please

turn the radio down?

She's a WAC, too.

Everybody's WACs around here...

it's an invasion.

I'd be very much obliged if you could

manage to make a little less noise.

Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.

Excuse me, sir.

Marco, shut off the radio.

Give me...

oh, no, you don't.

Junior, give me my hat.

Valsy want her lil' ol' hat?

Yes, I do.

All right. There it is.

Oh!

Ha ha! You must be tired.

All the time marching.

Left, right, left, right.

Here. Sit down.

Oh, junior, don't do that!

Now, give me my hat. I

want to get out of here.

Val, what's the matter

with you anyway?

You can't go now. We

haven't settled anything.

There's nothing to settle.

I told you 90 times I don't

know what my plans are.

Ha! Army life doesn't

agree with you.

You used to be a swell girl...

a lot of laughs.

Now since they gave you a gun,

nothing but grouch and gloom.

Oh, you fool!

You're still burned by my

signing Mr. Lorrison's name

to that wire, aren't you?

Yes.

But what else could I do? You

wouldn't answer my letters.

I had nothing to say to you.

I tell you I don't know

when I'm getting out.

Oh, Val, you can't go

on being so vague.

If we're going to have

any place to live,

you have to sign the lease

on the Palm Beach house.

I'm not signing any leases.

Oh, Val, you must! I committed

you to it but definitely.

The man took it off the market

because I said you'd take it.

Oh, if you're going

to renege now...

Val, you must sign it!

Oh, all right.

Here.

You've stuck me with

this white elephant,

and you can live there if you

like, but I'm not going to.

Why ever not, Val? According

to Harriet, it's but heaven.

Heaven with a stunken

tub, or sunken stub.

Anyway, it's down.

What do you mean you

won't live there?

Why?

Because I'm staying

in the corps.

Are you crazy?

No.

But the whole idea was for

you to stay there just...

I know what the

idea was, thanks.

Well, it was your idea.

You kept me dangling

for months.

I'm sorry, Harriet. I'd never

ask you to dangle.

I guess the money

will be paid in time

for me to meet the rent on this

Palm Beach villa... I hope so.

You can live there

until you find a job.

But my mind is made up.

And all I want to do

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