Miracle in the Rain Page #6

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- Oh, some old rumor he heard.

- About what?

- That the 153rd is pulling out.

Is that the one you're with?

Yeah.

When, Art?

It's a long way off yet, Ruthie.

Some of our soldiers aren't nearly ready.

But he said right away, didn't he?

The same old "right away" rumor

we've been hearing for months.

Everybody get set.

Now, remember now,

they'll be no pushing.

Pushing calls for disqualification.

Boats coming to shore must be tacked

before leaving skipper's hand.

Remember what you're doing

and don't get excited.

Hey, no fair pushing that out.

- Hey, Windy, you all set?

- Aye, aye, sir.

You ain't gonna win this time.

Don't you have any oil?

I don't.

- That looks like a pretty fast boat, sir.

- I hope she is.

Haven't tried it yet. This is her maiden run.

I built her myself.

You did?

That's quite a piece of work.

Look, Ruth, the detail is perfect.

You think she'll win?

Never loss a race in my life.

Ever hear of Defiance I?

Won the International Cup races in 1898.

She was my first ship.

A hundred and 30 feet

of speed and grace.

I've read about The Defiance.

Did you own her?

Built her, owned her, raced her.

Would you mind telling me your name?

I used to be Commodore Ely B. Windgate.

Now, it's just "Windy."

See those buildings

on that side of the park?

I used to own that whole block.

- You sold it, huh?

- No, no, no. Just lost it.

Lost everything. That was years ago.

Now I live in a backroom.

But I can use the basement

for my shipbuilding work.

So you see, I'm very happy, son.

- What other races did you win?

- All of them.

Until I hit the rocks myself.

In 1905, I put Defiance II

into the water.

Beats Thomas Lipton, four years running.

- What's the name of your present craft?

- Defiance V.

On your marks...

...get set...

...go.

Come on! Come on! Come on!

Oh, this is terrific. It's the break

I've been looking for. Come on.

Look at this one, Ruthie.

"September 1909,

Peary discovers the North Pole."

You know, this is the place

that every newspaperman dreams of.

I told Aunt Sarah four years ago:

"Auntie", I said, "I'm gonna end up

on The New York Times."

Then after five years of newspaper work,

a book or a play on Broadway.

A newspaper job

keeps you breathing life...

Dr. Zero?

Our city editor asked me to tell you...

...that The New York Times has no interest

in stories about the end of the world.

Thank you, sir, for submitting it.

Mr. Hugenon, the city editor

will see you now.

Oh, thank you.

- His name is Mr. Baldwin.

- Mr. Baldwin.

Mr. Baldwin, this is Mr. Hugenon.

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

I hear you ran into a story in the park.

Rowboat turnover?

No, sir.

Mind if I wrote it out instead of telling it?

- Used to be a newspaper man.

- Nashville Beacon. Assignments, rewrite.

Well, go ahead.

Use that desk over there.

Its owner is busy on foreign shores.

Thank you.

Smell of ink.

Isn't that a wonderful smell?

The smell of all the fresh news stories

from all the streets and countries.

Oh, boy. Please, could you introduce me

to some copy paper?

- It's right in the second drawer.

- Oh, thanks.

Well, now for my first crack

at fame and fortune.

Very good. First-rate feature.

Well-written.

Old Commodore Windgate, huh?

I remember him.

Very nice.

I think we can find space for this.

I'll give you a voucher.

Call up the cashier's office

and pick up space rates after we print it.

- What's your name again?

- I don't want pay for that story, sir.

- A rich soldier, huh?

- No, sir, PFC:

Pauper First Class Hugenon.

Rather than get paid for it, I'd like

to put The New York Times in my debt.

If you put my name down,

I'll drop in after the war's over...

...and see if there's a job open

for Reporter Hugenon.

Hugenon, eh?

- Arthur.

- Arthur Hugenon.

I'll be glad to see you after the shooting's

done. We might have something for you.

- Good luck, soldier.

- Thank you, sir.

I'm having nothing else but.

The enemy's strategy ain't got a chance.

That's all the fire our Pacific Fleet has to go.

From here to here and we're off Tokyo.

And in two hours, the war will be over.

The whole city of Tokyo is made out of

paper houses with sliding paper doors.

All our fleet's gotta do is open with

the big guns and it's "Goodbye, Tokyo."

Did you dine at the Caf Normandy

again last evening?

- No, we didn't go there.

- Oh, I think it's a very nice place.

I think the accordion player

is really remarkable.

Oh, Grace, here's Art's story on page 21.

My, it's a long story.

- Good morning, ladies.

- Good morning.

Well, what's the big news?

A friend wrote a story

for The New York Times.

He's in the armed forces.

You mean our Ruth

has acquired herself a boyfriend?

One who writes yet?

Well, this is a distinct surprise.

- Congratulations, little lady.

- Well, thank you.

It's for you, Mr. Jalonik.

- Who is it?

- Mrs. Jalonik.

I'll take it in my office.

"Ely B. Windgate, 82,

wins new yacht race...

...with Defiance V in Central Park lagoon.

On Sunday afternoon..."

oh, I'm so excited. You read it, Grace.

"On Sunday afternoons,

a number of yacht-racing enthusiasts...

...gather at the Central Park..."

- Miss Kranz.

May I see you for a moment?

"On his shelves in his basement room

at 615 West 73rd Street, reposed cups..."

"They are the only objects of value left

from the once-famous Windgate fortune."

I bought two 16-column pads

and a new ledger.

It was nice of Mr. Jalonik

to give you the afternoon off.

Art says we're going to Jones Beach.

I've never been.

I hear it's wonderful.

- What time's he supposed to meet you?

- One o'clock.

It's 1:
30 almost.

Sometimes the colonel asks him

to do something before he leaves.

And he has to obey him.

But he said by Friday, he'd horn goggled

a three-day pass out of the colonel.

This will do, Dixie.

- There she is.

- We can't stay more than three minutes.

Oh, no.

Make it four.

- I'm holding a watch on you, Hugie.

- Four minutes, Dixie.

- Hi.

- Hi. I'm glad I caught you.

I've only got four minutes. I'm leaving.

They just gave us a word this morning

and I wangled a trip to town.

You're leaving for where?

Overseas. I've just got time

to say goodbye.

And listen, write me, will you?

Send your letters to this address.

Don't lose it. They'll be forwarded.

Don't worry if you don't hear from me

for sometime.

I'll be off the mailman's loop

for a while.

- Oh, Art, l...

- Darling, write me, please.

I'm wearing the lucky piece you gave me.

The genuine Roman coin.

So you don't have to worry about anything

and I don't either.

I love you, Ruth.

You don't know how wonderful you are.

Nobody does.

Only me.

I wanna marry you when I come back.

The first day, the first hour,

that's all I'm gonna dream of.

My mother's ring.

Find out which is the engagement finger

and wear it there.

Ruth, listen. Time doesn't matter.

I'll be back as if I'd never left you.

And I love you

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