Pride of the Marines Page #9

We don't want no apples.

And whoever's running

the country better read it too...

no apples,

no bonus marches.

I'll paste

that in your hat, congressman.

Ok.

Like they say in those

old revival meetings,

"hallelujah and amen. "

Ok, al, ok.

And i'll wrap it

up for you.

One happy afternoon,

when god was feeling good,

he sat down,

and he thought

of a rich,

beautiful country.

And he named it

the u. s. a.

All of it, al...

the hills,

the rivers, the lands, the whole works.

Don't tell me

we can't make it work in peace

like we do in war.

Don't tell me

we can't pull together.

Don't you see it, guys?

Can't you see it?

You askin' me?

Yeah.

I'm askin' you

like everybody else.

I don't see none

of those things you said god made.

I don't see a thing.

I didn't mean it

that way.

No, you didn't.

But a lot of things

take time in this life.

When a man has to climb

a mountain all alone,

sometimes

he loses the way...

and it's up to

his friends to help.

What's on your mind?

You.

I thought it was

something important.

You're important.

Sit here.

I want to say

something important, too...

straight and tough.

Shoot.

Suppose the worst

happens to you, al,

and you don't get

your sight back.

I'm not kidding you,

you're gonna

be cut off from certain things.

No hunting,

no driving your own car,

no watching

ice hockey.

But even

without sight,

a man can

swim and dance and go fishing.

He can't hunt,

but he can walk in the woods

when the leaves

are falling.

With only

a little training,

he can learn

to play poker,

checkers, chess,

dominoes.

He can learn to read

by the touch system,

type his own

letters, listen to music...

he can play any old

instrument he wants.

Don't you see, al...

once you get

over your fear of being helpless,

the whole world is

wide open for you.

With a tin cup?

If you're afraid

you can't hold down a job anymore,

that's just

crazy, al.

You can go back

to a job that's just as good

as the one you left.

Yeah?

Why, right here

in california,

there are over

400 blind workers in the aircraft factories.

I tell you, it's

all very interesting, virginia,

but it sort of

doesn't apply to me.

A couple of months

from now, i'll be able to see all right.

Sure, al.

I hope so, too.

I just thought

you might like

to know some of these things.

Yeah. Sure.

Ok, al.

Yeah.

Hey, tommy, tell 'em

about the first time you went huntin'.

Oh, the time i want

to take my girl huntin'...

so i go out, and i buy

the whole thing...

the hat, you know,

with the tail in the back,

and the leather coat

with the things across here,

with the shells...

you know, and the gun.

Now i gotta get

a dog, see?

I buy the best dog

in illinois,

the best huntin' dog

you could buy.

75 bucks.

One dog. $75.

So i went huntin'

with her, see?

We get out there.

Soon as he sees

a rabbit or a bird,

stops dead,

he goes like this.

Doesn't catch nothing.

Just like this...

see?

I beat him over the head

with the gun a coupla times.

I broke him

of that habit.

Ha ha ha.

Ha ha.

Hi, virginia.

Hello, boys.

Al, it's time

for you to see the captain.

I want you

to see a picture of my girl.

Beautiful?

She sure is.

But who's the guy

with his arm around her?

That's my friend

from the draft board.

Beautiful girl.

Great friend.

Captain burroughs says

to come in.

Thank you.

Door, schmid...

to your right.

Good morning,

miss pfeiffer.

Good morning,

captain burroughs.

Good morning,

schmid. Good morning, sir.

Hi, al.

Sounds like lee.

That's it.

Schmid, i got

great news for you.

You're getting

a navy cross.

Congratulations.

That's

wonderful, al.

Navy cross...

never in all

my born days did i think...

the navy cross?

Stand at ease.

Corporal diamond's

getting one, too,

although the ceremonies

won't be held at the same place.

That sounds

great, lee.

Yeah, gave me

a wallop.

Your hometown's

quite proud of you, schmid.

I guess you know

that the papers have been printing

a lot of stories

about you.

So the navy's decided

that you'll get your award

at the philadelphia

navy yard.

Corporal diamond's

going on furlough, too.

He'll be on the train

with you

and effect your transfer

to the naval hospital.

You leave tomorrow.

You'll be home

in time for christmas.

Couldn't ask for

a better christmas present than that, could you?

I gotta go back there?

It's your hometown.

Why not?

Well, it's not

my home anymore.

We've found,

from past experience

that men convalesce quicker

in a hospital near their home.

But it isn't

my home, sir.

According to

your record, it was when you entered service.

Yes, sir. But, uh,

I-i'm gonna move.

I got a brother

in chicago,

and when i don't

have to go to no hospital no more...

let's stop shadowboxing.

You don't want to return

to philadelphia

because you've

got friends there.

You're afraid

to have them pity you.

That's it, isn't it?

No. N-no, sir.

That isn't it...

just because a guy happens

to have a little

eye trouble.

Why, in a couple

more months,

after i've had

another operation,

i'll be able to see

all right, sir.

Well, then,

why don't you go home?

You've got a girl there.

No, sir.

She and i are all washed up.

I got nobody

in philly for me. Nobody.

You need to find out

from the people

who knew you before you were injured

that you mean

just as much to them now.

Until you learn that,

you won't make any progress.

I'm making

progress, sir.

I'm trading a couple

of eyes in for a ribbon on my chest.

Now i'm going home

so people can stare at me.

That's

fine progress!

You're under orders,

schmid.

You're going back.

Good-bye.

Good luck.

Thank you, sir.

Good-bye, diamond.

I'll be seeing you.

So long. So long, schmiddy.

Here we are,

schmiddy.

You gonna miss me,

ginnie?

I don't know how

we'll run the place without you.

By the way, i put

a couple of letters in your bag

you don't

know about.

Thought maybe

you might want lee to read 'em to you.

Aw, you're

a great fixer, aren't you?

I don't wanna read 'em.

I'm sorry, i just

wanted to help...

listen, I-i've

been carrying a beef inside me,

but it hasn't been

against you.

You're great.

I'm glad

you think so, al.

Listen, will you

do me a favor

and send ruthie a wire

and ask her to...

ask her to meet me

at the station, will you?

Sure, i will.

It's not for the reason

you think.

I just want to get

things straightened out once and for all.

As long as i can't see,

i don't want to marry anyone.

Ok, al?

Keep your powder

dry, virginia,

and thanks

for everything.

Good-bye, lee.

Good luck.

You know...

some of these days, i'm gonna come back here

and find out what

you really look like.

I'll be an awful

disappointment.

No, you won't.

You're swell.

Don't stop

fighting now... don't.

So long, ginnie.

Bye.

So long, schmiddy,

you lucky stiff.

Say hello

to philadelphia.

So long,

fellow. Have a swell trip.

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