Keep Your Powder Dry Page #8

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At ease.

Rand, don't do that. I thought

it was the company commander.

As acting platoon commander,

I'm going to make inspection

before the company commander

makes formal inspection.

I want to be sure our platoon

makes a record this week.

Parks!

Parks, your hands are dirty.

See to it they're clean

before inspection.

Yes, Rand.

Your toothbrush, Parks.

I believe you'll find that

they're just 6 inches.

I prefer to check them.

Parks, what have

you got on here?

Wax. Wax?

Floor wax.

You've discolored the

floor with that stuff.

Get it off.

All of it. Before inspection.

Now, wait a minute.

You were addressing me, Parks?

Go on.

No, I was not.

I've had my floor

waxed for a week.

Do I have to take it all off?

No, you can leave it on.

Well, I'll be...

Parks has to take the wax off,

but you can leave it on.

What goes on here?

Oh, our platoon commander

doesn't love me.

I'll say.

She's been picking on

you all week.

Laundry duty 5 days straight,

extra detail on Sunday,

police this, police that.

This is the worst.

Gee, I thought you

were going to

sock her there for a minute.

Oh, no. That's what she wants.

That's what she's been

waiting for.

And that's where

she gets left.

But why?

What's she sore about?

Oh, that's a long story.

Well. Oh, darn. Look

at that jacket.

I think I'd better go

down and press it.

Can I do yours for you, Val?

You won't have any time.

No, thanks. That's probably

against regulations.

Come on, chick.

Hi.

Hi.

I have a telegram for you.

I signed for it.

Read it to me, will you?

My life's an open book.

Ok.

"The Rock Ledge Trust Company

"of Mitchell Falls, Vermont,

"today transferred to

your New York account

"funds in the

amount of $639,000.

Avery Lorrison."

Holy smokes!

Think of that.

Gee, I knew you were well-off,

but I didn't dream you

were that wealthy.

Yep. I am probably the wealthiest

floor unwaxer in America.

You know something?

I feel great.

Two days till graduation,

and right now our last drill.

I wish the last one

was our last one.

Why, Annie, how

can you say that?

With my dream girl

Rand, my honey lamb,

my pinup babe, acting

company commander?

Huh! She's waiting for me.

It's her last chance.

But she ain't a-gonna get me!

Oh!

Oh, Val, what are

you going to do?

Change it.

On the double!

To the rear. Halt!

Hut, 2, 3, 4. Hut. Hut.

Hut, 2, 3, 4. Hut. Hut.

Where's Parks?

Rand'll skin her.

Hut. Hut. Hut, 2, 3, 4.

Hut. Hut. Hut, 2, 3, 4.

You're late, Parks.

I'm sorry, ma'am.

Right face!

Forward... march!

Hut. Hut, 2, 3, 4. Hut.

Hut. Hut, 2, 3, 4. Hut.

By platoon. Column left!

Column left!

March!

Hut. Hut, 2, 3, 4. Hut.

Hut. Hut, 2, 3, 4. Hut.

By platoon. Column left!

Column left!

March!

Parks.

Commands should

be clearly given.

Yes, ma'am.

Let me hear you

give the cadence.

1, 2, 3, 4. Hut, 2, 3, 4.

Louder.

Hut, 2, 3, 4. Hut! 2, 3, 4.

That's better.

Thank you, ma'am.

Hut. Hut. Hut, 2, 3, 4.

Hut. Hut. Hut, 2, 3, 4.

Hut. Hut. Hut, 2, 3, 4.

To the rear. March!

Hut. Hut, 2, 3, 4.

Hut. Hut...

to the rear. March!

Company halt!

Left face.

That was extremely

slovenly, Parks.

Sorry, ma'am.

I did not hear the command.

None of us heard it.

No talking in rank.

Yes, ma'am.

McBride. Front and center.

Yes, ma'am?

Take over acting command

of this platoon.

Maybe you can make it look

something like a

military unit.

Yes, ma'am.

That's all.

You are relieved, Parks.

Take your place in ranks.

Thank you, ma'am.

Parks!

Yes, ma'am?

The salute is a

military custom.

Any halfhearted or careless

salute is discourteous.

Render the salute again.

Again.

Again.

Again!

Again!

Again!

Again!

Parks!

Take your place in ranks!

Parks!

You realize, Parks, that

you're here to give reasons

why you should not be dismissed from

training as an officer candidate.

Yes, ma'am.

The report of acting

company commander Rand

states that as an acting platoon

commander on this date,

you demonstrated inability to

properly command a platoon.

And that you abandoned and

refused to perform your duties,

and struck her, and without

permission left the drill field

refusing to obey a

direct order to return.

Are the statements contained

within this report correct?

Yes, ma'am.

Have you an explanation?

No, ma'am.

You've never before been on

report for disciplinary action.

No, ma'am.

You make it very

difficult, Parks.

If you make no explanations,

this board must act on the

information contained

in officer candidate

Rand's report.

The particulars contained in

officer candidate Rand's report

are correct, ma'am.

There's nothing

more I wish to say.

You still refuse to

make a statement?

Yes, ma'am.

Very well, Parks.

You may go.

Thank you, ma'am.

How'd you make out?

Oh, skip it, honey.

Oh, Val.

They're not going

to dismiss you.

I don't care what they do.

Now, look, you've got

to be sensible.

You're throwing away everything

you've worked for...

all your hopes,

your whole future!

Oh, Ann, don't make it

sound so important.

But it is important.

Annie, what you think of

me means an awful lot.

Leigh found out about my money

and that I'd signed a lease

on a house in Palm Beach.

But I never intended

to use either.

Please believe me.

I do believe you.

But, Val, you are the

most stubborn person.

Why didn't you explain...

Val!

Leigh.

Did it ever occur

to you that...

Commander Rand.

Go right in.

Officer candidate Rand

reporting as directed, ma'am.

Sit down, Rand.

I wanted to discuss this

matter of Parks with you.

Yes, ma'am.

Your report is rather

severe, don't you think?

It's correct, ma'am.

I'm not questioning its

correctness, Rand.

You're too good an officer

candidate for that.

Thank you, ma'am.

It must have been rather

difficult to do your duty,

knowing that at this

phase of the training

such a report is enough to

prevent Parks from graduating.

It's always unpleasant to bring

charges against anyone, ma'am.

Especially a girl who stood

high in her classwork

and with an

unblemished record.

Yes, ma'am.

I see.

Just... what is your

personal opinion of Parks?

I have never considered her

fit officer material, ma'am.

Mm-hmm.

Would it surprise

you, Rand, to learn

that approximately 50% of the

members of your own platoon

do not consider you to

be fit officer material?

I... I beg your pardon, ma'am?

I've been looking over

these ratings sheets.

You were called to fill

one out, were you not?

Giving your opinion of the

military and personal fitness

of each of the members

of your own platoon?

Yes, ma'am.

Well, on their rating sheets

many of your classmates

have indicated grave doubts

concerning your leadership ability

and fitness for command.

In fact, they seem to think that

you're rather a cold potato.

They question your ability

to inspire confidence,

and they place a question mark

after your human qualities.

There's no criticism of your

purely military character.

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