Pride of the Marines Page #12

Forgive me.

In a minute,

you can tell me all about it, huh?

All right.

I forgive you.

Thanks.

How was

your trip, al?

Ok. Every state

sounded alike.

Your old room's

all ready.

It's got new wallpaper.

I did it myself.

It's a little lumpy,

but it's clean.

Sorry, jim,

i've got other plans.

I'm going to chicago,

to live with my brother.

Oh, i, uh...

didn't know that.

Well, i'll see you

in a minute, folks.

I gotta help ella mae

in the kitchen.

But, al...

yeah?

I thought you were

going to stay here and marry ruth.

Loretta and i have

talked everything over, al.

She's quite

grown up now. I'll say i am.

Too big

to give me a kiss?

Big girls

kiss, too.

Mm, you've been

practicing. Uh-huh.

On stevie,

the smooth boy i told you about.

Ha ha. It felt

smooth, too.

Al? You're

not different, are you?

Of course he's not.

Ma says all

soldiers come back different.

She said you'd

be different, too.

I'm a little different,

i suppose.

No, you're not.

Can't see loretta's

christmas tree, can i?

I can't see you.

Doesn't that make me

different?

No, i don't

mean your eyes. I mean you.

You're not different.

No?

No...

i think you're

just the same.

I can tell.

Thanks.

Jim:
Ok, kids,

come and get it.

Dining room still in the same place?

Sure.

Am i sittin'

where i always used to?

Yes, right next

to ella mae.

Watch me make this

on my own.

There. You see?

There have been 20 babies

born on this block

since you left, al.

Guess that always

happens in wartime.

Train whistle

still go at night? Sure.

Bet you didn't remember

to light the candles, did you?

Oh, dear, no.

Here you are.

Remember me, ella mae?

The best little

candle-lighter in philadelphia.

Ella mae:

There.

Jim:
Al, there's

a blind fellow working at our factory now.

Loretta, stop

reaching for things.

Haven't you got

a tongue?

Sure, mom.

But my arm's longer.

It's time for you

to take your present to stevie now.

Go upstairs

and get our coats.

This blind fellow

i was telling you about

went to a school.

You know, it's

a funny thing, al, but...

he can feel those

small rises better than i can see 'em.

It's god's truth.

How does he get

to the plant? By bus.

Somebody

takes him, huh?

Oh, no, he goes

by himself.

Al, i went to see

mr. Davidson last week,

and he said

that if you'd go to the same school

for a couple

of months,

you could have

your old job back anytime you wanted.

He did, eh?

Yes.

Well, it just doesn't

fit in with my plans.

Loretta:
I lit

the christmas tree lights.

I'm all

ready, mom.

We promised to

drop in on these neighbors of ours.

Their youngster has

a crush on loretta, and he's sick.

We won't

be gone long.

I'll give you

my present tonight if you stay, al.

Ok.

There's some beer

in the icebox. Help yourself.

Thanks.

We'll be right back.

Now, don't you dare

touch those dishes.

Ruth:
All right.

You're gonna

love my present.

It's just what

you've always wanted.

Swell, loretta.

Shall we go into

the living room, al?

Sure. I don't need

any help.

I can find my way

around this house blindfolded.

Peace on the earth,

goodwill to men

turn the radio off,

will you, ruth?

It's some kids

outside.

The world

in solemn stillness lay

to hear

the angels sing

for lo, the days

are hastening on

by prophets

seen of old...

I want you to take me

to the hospital. Now.

But you said you...

i said i'd stay

because i didn't want any arguments.

Now i want to go.

Loretta will be

awfully upset.

Am i going to have

my life run by loretta?

I wouldn't have

been stuck here in the first place

if it hadn't been

for that kid.

Now, don't blame her.

I brought you here.

Then get me out.

Al, i want

one fair chance to talk to you,

and you've got

to give it to me.

Ok, you can

talk your head off.

There's nothing

you can say

i ain't

said to myself a thousand times.

What's the use?

You don't know

what i want to say.

You don't even

think of me.

Always trying to run

the whole world by yourself.

Don't pull

any tears on me.

That's why i didn't

want to see you in the first place.

I'm not pulling

any tears on you.

You didn't want to see me

because you love me.

Yet you're ready to let

some fool idea in your head

wreck both of us.

Ruth, i'm helpless.

I'd be a drag on you all your life.

Why don't you let

me decide that?

Because i'm

nobody's lap dog, that's why.

You think i want

to live out my life

knowing every day

of the year

you married me

out of pity?

I got too much pride

for that. I'd rather live alone.

Pride...

you haven't got any pride!

You just

tell yourself that.

You haven't got

enough pride to face the truth.

Virginia told you

about the jobs.

You could get

hundreds of them.

But you didn't want

to learn one.

You want to be lonely.

You want to feel

sorry for yourself! You wanna be helpless!

You haven't got

the pride to accept being blind like a man.

Get me

out of here! I won't.

Get in that car

and drive me. I won't.

You're going to stay here

and listen to me. I won't drive you.

That's fine.

That's great. That ties it up.

I could beat

your ears off for saying that.

But you missed

one card... i may be blind,

but i know where

the phone is in this house.

I'm calling a cab!

Al!

I don't need any help.

Please leave me alone.

Oh, al,

don't be hurt.

I've gotta go

get that cab.

If you go out

of this room now,

you'll leave me

to stumble all through my life

the way

you just did.

I don't pity you, al.

I love you.

Suppose there never

was a war, darling.

What if we were

married and one day i got hit by a car

and was left

a cripple...

would you

walk out on me?

No, you wouldn't.

Darling, my heart's

been falling over things all year

because you've

been gone.

I need you, al.

Sure you'll

need me, too.

What's wrong

with that?

Why shouldn't

two people need each other?

I know these

last months

have been awful

for you, sweetheart.

And it's only

because you're fine and decent

that you're

afraid of being a burden to me.

But you won't be,

not you, al.

You can work.

We can have

a family.

Sure, we'll have

a problem,

but everyone

has problems.

All married

couples do.

People can't let

each other down because of that.

I don't know

what i'll do if you leave me now.

I need you too much.

Ruthie, don't.

I don't want

to make you cry.

It's just that i was

an ordinary guy before,

and i wasn't

worth you then.

And now, i'm less

than an ordinary guy.

I can't see.

Less than ordinary.

You?

Oh, sweetheart,

don't you realize

that every single

man who's fought

is no longer

ordinary?

Don't you realize

that millions and millions of people

were looking

to guadalcanal every day

when you were

fighting there?

They were,

millions of them.

Every civilized

person in the world, i guess.

It wasn't

any ordinary guy

who kept the japs

back that night.

It was one of

the most extraordinary fellows in the world.

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