Pride of the Marines Page #7

harvard med school grad, a real smart guy.

And sometimes

he's right,

and sometimes

he's wrong.

Like the time, al,

that my aunt, his very own wife,

went to him,

and he says,

"minnie, you're

gonna have a baby. "

I mean, this is

his very own wife!

And she's overjoyed.

And he's happy.

And they call us

on the telephone,

and they tell us how

they always wanted to have a baby.

And we tell them

we think it's wonderful.

You shoulda

been there, al!

They were going

to name the baby leroy, after me.

You know what, al?

The next morning,

the very next morning,

we find out it was

something she ate.

So you see, al,

what do you got to worry about?

Doctors are human,

they make mistakes!

Thanks for coming, lee.

I'll see you

in the morning.

Ok, al.

Al:
Ruth!

Ruth!

No, stop it!

No, stop it!

No, stop it!

No, stop it!

Stop it! Stop it!

Stop it! Stop it!

Stop it!

Where is he?

Where are they?

Find them for me.

Please find them.

Please... find them.

Please find them for me.

Please...

find them for me, lee.

F-f-find them for me.

Find them... where are...

Why can't i shut you up!?

No!

Ruth! Ruth!

Ruth! Ruth!

Ruth! Ruth! Ruth!

Ruth. Ruth. Ruth...

where's that bench

you were talking about?

Right here.

I want to get this

over with quick.

Got your pencil?

Yes.

Dear ruth...

what harm would it do

to wait another week?

What good will it do?

I made up my mind last night.

Your mind's made up,

but what about giving ruth

a chance to decide

for herself?

To decide what?

How to ruin her life?

Look, she's worked hard.

Me, the bigshot.

I was gonna

buy her things she never had,

i was gonna see that

she'd never have to work again.

What good

can i do her now? I can't get married.

I'll never be able

to earn enough money to keep her.

But, al...

i won't have her being

a seeing-eye dog for me!

How do you know she'll

feel that way about it?

At least tell her the truth!

Find out what she wants!

Sure. Tell her the truth

so she'll pity me.

Nothing doing.

I'm leaving pity out of this.

Aren't you leaving

love out of it, too?

You don't seem to care

what you do to her.

She isn't going to stop

loving you, writing to you!

Send the letters

back, then!

Supposing she does have

a few bad days.

She's pretty.

She'll meet another guy.

She'll fall in love.

You gonna write

the letter for me

or do i have to ask

lee diamond to do it?

All right... ok.

Dear ruth...

i know this is gonna

be a kind of surprise to hear,

but i'm going to give

it to you straight.

I'm not

coming back to philly. Not now, not ever.

And as far as getting

married is concerned,

well, it just ain't up

my alley, that's all.

I hope you'll be

very happy,

and i hope you'll find

a new boyfriend real soon.

Yours, al schmid.

Oh, al.

Schmiddy, don't you get tired

eating in the supply room?

Why don't you eat

in the mess hall with the rest of the guys?

Why don't you learn

how to feed yourself?

It's easy, honest.

Coming up.

We put the food on the plate

according to the clock.

Like, potatoes at 12 o'clock,

vegetables at 3:
00,

meat at 6 o'clock.

Coming up.

It's part of our job

to teach blind guys how to...

don't call me blind!

I don't see so good yet,

that's all.

Don't you ever

call me blind again!

Ok, kid, ok!

Anyway, why don't...

mind your business.

Coming up.

I don't want any more.

You want dessert?

No.

Al, here you are!

Al, there's a long-distance

telephone call for you.

I'll take you.

From where?

It's from ruth,

from philadelphia.

I ain't here.

Well, she's probably

received your letter...

don't you understand?

I can't talk to her.

Tell her

to leave me alone!

All right, al.

Can i steer you

anyplace, schmiddy?

No.

Wanna hit the sack?

I can sleep anytime.

See with me,

it's always night time.

How about

the recreation room?

We can get jack benny

on the radio.

Ok.

Ready?

You know, that was

an old girlfriend of mine calling.

Her name was ruth.

Yes, operator.

Operator:

One moment, please.

A friend of the party's wants to

know if she can accept the call.

A miss virginia pfeiffer

from the red cross.

Oh, yes, yes.

She's been writing.

Go ahead, san diego.

Hello?

Hello?

Is this ruth?

Yes, miss pfeiffer.

I got al's last letter!

Understand this,

ruth...

he isn't breaking

with you

because he doesn't

love you.

Believe me, he does.

Well, then, why?

He just had

a very bad shock.

What is it?

Al has completely lost

the sight of one eye

and may never regain

sight in the other.

That's why

he's not calling.

He's afraid

of becoming a burden.

Do you understand now?

Hello, ruth?

Yes. Yes, i understand.

There's one thing

i'd better find out.

Uh, now, you can

think this over if you want to.

It'll

make a difference in helping al.

You still love him?

Do you want him?

I mean,

as a husband.

Oh, yes!

Yes, i do!

Remember, he may

be totally blind

for the rest

of his life.

What does that matter?

Do you want

to think it over?

Think what over?

I didn't fall in love

with his eyes nor the color of his hair.

I fell in love

with him, with al!

That hasn't changed

just because something's happened to his eyes.

You're the kind of girl

i thought you were.

Now,

listen carefully, ruth.

I know you'll want

to come out here, but don't come.

Al seems to go off

the deep end

every time

i mention your name.

Just keep writing

to him

and try not to mind

if he doesn't answer.

Just be patient

and keep loving him.

We have a pretty big

job ahead,

but we can do it.

My part first,

and then yours.

Understand?

I do understand.

And i'm so grateful

to you for everything.

Remember

that he loves you

and that he needs

you terribly.

So if you'll

keep loving him...

oh, i will. Always.

Good-bye, then.

I guess al still

doesn't know

what a wonderful

girl he has.

Bye.

Lee:
Hey, angelo,

how do you like that?

Hey, guys.

Take a look.

No more cast,

isn't it wonderful, huh?

How do you like it?

Isn't that marvelous? Marvelous.

I want you

to meet my friend.

Glad to see ya.

Hey, guys!

The cast...

it's off, look.

Let's barbecue it.

Ha ha.

Would you care to say a few words

to the radio audience?

Sure.

Hello, mom?

It was a great fight.

Didn't lay

a glove on me.

Ha ha.

You know what

i'm gonna do with this?

Don't say it.

Gonna have it mounted.

To decorate the homestead

in flatbush,

directly

over the stove.

How's the arm work?

Come again?

How does the arm work?

Great. Here,

give me one of them darts, i'll show you.

Tom, hold this.

Observe.

Spitball diamond

is now on the mound.

Let me out of here.

What are you,

a coward?

Right down the alley.

Two fingers.

Hmm... almost

a bull's-eye.

A bull's what?

Well, the wind was

against me.

Would you like

to dance with a girlie

with a hole

in her head?

Hi, al!

Hi, gofers.

Hi, al. Tommy.

Hi, hero.

Guy made

that crack gets his neck broken.

Ok, killer.

Killer

i don't mind.

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