Last Ounce of Courage

1

THOMAS:
There is

a thing right here.

Sit up. Turn around.

[ Laughing ]

Whoo!

She's now 83 years old

and still kicking.

Aw!

Only because he's...

Only because

he's my best friend.

That's the only reason.

Yeah, whatever.

We just hang out with him

'cause we pity him.

Whoa, whoa, whoa

Terrible!

Well, right now I'm happy,

but I'm sure that will change

very shortly, you know.

Why?

Because you kind of drive me nuts.

[ Laughter ]

Hey.

How do I look?

I'm a little bit nervous.

Um, but, Kari, I love you,

and this is the day I've been

waiting for all my life.

[ Applause ]

[ Cheering ]

BOB:
You know, I always

saw myself as a patriot.

I don't remember anyone

telling me

that freedom had to be

fought for and defended.

I loved my country,

and I loved being free,

but the day

I saw my son packing

to leave our country

to fight in another,

I understood what my father

must have felt

when I left for war.

There's no greater love

in the world

than a man laying down his life

for someone else.

But a man thinks different

when it's his boy

going into harm's way.

[ Motorcycle engine turns off ]

Thomas was 20.

He had his whole life

ahead of him.

He had a young wife,

great friends, and a future.

[ Birds chirping ]

[ Voice breaking ]

I'm so proud of you.

If anything happens to me

over there,

take care of 'em?

You just come back.

[ Whispering inaudibly ]

Wait!

[ Bus engine revs ]

THOMAS:
We made it back to base

safe and sound.

Every day I pray

that God will see me through

so I can get back to you, Kari.

[ Jet engine roars ]

KARI:
The doctor says

the next few weeks will fly by

before the baby is born.

Easy for him to say.

[ Scoffs ]

I love you, Thomas.

I miss you so much.

I long to feel you next to me.

THOMAS:
Today I remembered

the smell of your hair

the day I left.

I love you.

God's been watching over me.

181 days and I'll be home,

Lord willing.

I love you,

and I think of you every day.

[ Helicopter rotors whirring,

gunfire ]

[ Baby crying ]

BOB:
I haven't seen your mother

act like this

since you were born.

Your son is going to be

completely spoiled

by the time he meets you.

His grandma has his whole life

planned out.

By the way,

that includes college.

[ Baby cooing ]

[ Explosion, gunfire ]

[ Gunfire in distance ]

[ Explosion ]

The days passed

just like all the other days

of every year

until that morning.

I'll never forget the sound

of that doorbell.

[ Doorbell dings ]

DOTTIE:
No!

[ Sobs ] No.

No!

No!

[ Sobbing ]

MAN:
Thomas Revere

was a brave soldier

on the field of battle.

Sacrificing his life,

he was awarded the bronze star.

Scripture says do not let

your hearts be troubled.

And it goes on to say

trust in God.

For if it were not so,

I would have told you.

And if I go

and prepare a place for you,

I will come back

and take you to be with me,

that where you are

we may be, also.

These are the words.

Please accept this flag

on behalf of a grateful nation

as a token of appreciation

for the honorable

and faithful service

rendered by your loved one.

MAN 2:
Half right, face!

Port, arms!

Aim!

Fire!

[ Gunshots ]

Fire!

[ Gunshots ]

Fire!

[ Gunshots ]

You know I love you.

[ Voice breaking ]

I love you, too.

Thank you...

for everything

that you've done.

You're family.

You'll always be family.

Would you please

give this to Bob for me?

Thank you.

[ Sighs ]

I wanted the world to stop

and understand the pain

that I was in,

to know how I was suffering.

I felt in some ways

that my life was over.

Kari and my grandson left

when I needed them the most.

They were the only part

of Thomas I still had left.

Without my son...

nothing else really mattered.

[ "Get On and Ride" by Bo Bice

plays ]

Get on and ride it

in the fast lane, honey

Won't you get on

and ride it?

Won't you get on

and ride it now?

Yeah, yeah

[ Bell rings, door closes ]

Get on and ride it

Something I can do

for you gentlemen?

Boy, I'll bet that hurt,

didn't it?

Okay.

Come with me.

Let's fix it up.

It was just a flesh wound,

but I have to know

what happened.

I cannot be involved

in something illegal, guys.

It wasn't a crime, Mayor.

He accidentally shot himself.

You say you love me

Then you bleed me dry...

[ Snickers ]

...you know I can't deny...

You're good to go.

[ Chuckles ]

...if it so applies

Oh, yeah

Now your heartbeat's

ticking in me

Like a bomb

that's ready to blow

It's okay.

Did you see

what you came to see?

Go ahead, enjoy the show

Take your time,

if you're so inclined...

Any time, guys.

All right.

Get on and ride it

in the fast lane, honey

Won't you get on

and ride it?

Won't you get on

and ride it now?

Yeah

Bob! [ Laughs ]

Hi! Look at you!

Hi!

[ Laughter ]

Oh, wow!

Oh, wow!

Chris! Oh, my!

Look at you!

You're all grown up!

You look just like your dad.

He looks like his dad.

That's not some

L.A. gang handshake, is it?

Bob.

Huh?

Why don't you get the bags

and show Chris his room?

Okay.

So, after you go upstairs,

we'll have Thanksgiving dinner.

Oh!

I hope you're hungry.

We're starving.

And we have not had

a real Thanksgiving for years.

[ Sighs ]

Do you remember

that old missions church

that was down-town?

Mm-hmm.

The one with the "Jesus Saves"

cross on the side?

Well, we bought that building,

and we put the community mission

there.

The cross isn't there any more.

Can you imagine?

It offended somebody.

MAN:
Hey, look,

I know it's a holiday weekend,

but I figured

you'd want to know.

The Feds approved the funds.

You're kidding me.

We'll get that addition

for the veterans' home.

Outstanding.

All right, man.

Bye.

[ Chuckles ]

It had been 14 years

since we looked

into Thomas' trunk.

Even to see my own grandson

open it was painful.

Can I watch these?

You can watch those.

Uh...

thank you.

[ Door opens ]

DOTTIE:
Oh, that's

the Gideon Bible

that he took everywhere.

ALL:
Deck the halls

with boughs of holly

[ Laughs ]

I never saw this one.

They're so cute.

Oh, see,

Thomas is the shepherd,

and J.J. as Mary.

Who's J.J.?

Your dad's older sister.

Actually she left

before you were born.

We don't see her very often.

Why?

She didn't see eye to eye

about things that Bob and I

felt were very important.

So, why don't people

do Christmas like that any more,

with the shepherds

and everything?

Well, for a long time,

people have been trying

to pass laws

to get rid of Christmas

altogether.

Today Christmas is all about

Santa Claus and buying things.

[ Train engine chugging ]

[ Train whistle blows ]

[ Motorcycle engine revs ]

What did you say to him?

I told him to come home.

And I told him

to defend our freedoms

with his last ounce of courage.

Can I help you with something?

You must be Chris.

Yeah.

I'm Madison.

Your dad and my dad

were best friends.

What is that?

It's my dad's medal

from the war.

So, do you want to go

shoot some hoops

with me and my friend?

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