Sergeant York Page #10

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Where were you?

Well, I was...

I was a-laying behind that log there.

They was machine-gunning us

pretty heavy, so I worked my way across

up behind that log there under the hill.

Rather incredible, wasn't it, York,

your being able to cross so much

open ground without being hit?

I reckon the good Lord

was a-protecting me, sir.

What did you wanna go over there for?

Well, I figured that was a good place to be

because they had to rear up

and show themselves

in order to shoot at me

and the rest of the boys back here.

And whenever they did,

I could touch 'em off.

I see.

So, I went up the hill,

up around that a-way,

then worked my way down the ridge

to a place where they was flanked

and couldn't show themselves

without being hit.

So, they... Well, they finally gave up.

How many did you kill?

I don't rightly know, sir.

I think Captain Danforth

is familiar with that, sir.

We counted about 20 bodies altogether

up around there.

What were your men doing

all this time, Corporal?

Well, I couldn't just answer that, sir.

I was pretty busy

and I reckon they was, too.

According to the statements of the others,

they were guarding the prisoners

and couldn't expose themselves

to the fire from the ridge.

All right, gentlemen. That's all, Corporal.

Corporal.

- There's something that I'd like to know.

- Yes, sir?

That night that you reported back to me

at Camp Gordon,

you as much as told me that you were

quite prepared to die for your country,

but not to kill.

What made you

decide to change your mind?

Well, sir...

Of course, if you'd rather not tell me,

why, it's quite all right.

Well, I'm as much against killing as ever,

sir.

But it was this way, Colonel.

When I started out I felt just like you said.

But when I hear them

machine guns a-going

and all them fellows

are dropping around me,

I figured that them guns

was killing hundreds, maybe thousands,

and there weren't nothing anybody

could do, but to stop them guns.

And that's what I done.

You mean to tell me

that you did it to save lives?

Yes, sir. That was why.

Well, York, what you've just told me

is the most extraordinary thing of all.

Sergeant York!

Thank you, sir.

And for conspicuous gallantry

beyond the call of duty,

you have been awarded

the Distinguished Service Cross.

Sergeant York, I am proud that

you are of the All-American Division.

It's a privilege to command

such men as you.

Sergeant York,

as Commander-in-Chief

of the American Expeditionary Forces,

it is my pleasure to confer upon you

the United States

Congressional Medal of Honor

for heroism beyond the call of duty.

Thank you, sir.

I'm Cordell Hull, Sergeant York,

representative from

your district of Tennessee.

I'm mighty glad to meet you, Mr. Hull.

And this is Mr. Harrison

from the Tennessee Society.

Tennessee is indeed proud, Sergeant.

- Thank you.

- This way, Sergeant.

Well, Sergeant, what do you think of it?

Appears like everybody's

having a mighty good time.

So, Sergeant,

in the name of the people of New York,

may I present you with this key to our city

as a token of our very great esteem.

And may God bless you.

Thank you for what you said,

and I'm sure grateful to you

for this here key.

Well, thank you. And thank you all.

Now, Sergeant, the people of New York

would like to show their appreciation.

Is there anything we can do for you?

Well, there's just one thing

I'd like to ask you.

And that is?

Well, if it's all the same to everybody,

I sure would like to ride on the subway

on the Bronx Express.

I think we can arrange that.

Well, here we are.

I hope you will be comfortable here,

Sergeant York.

Well, if it ain't, I'd be pretty hard to please.

If there's anything you require,

all you will have to do is ask for it.

Thank you. Thank you, sir.

An awful lot of room

for just one fellow here.

This here is mighty thoughtful of you,

gentlemen.

I reckon you know I ain't seen my ma

for quite a spell.

So we understand.

Representative Hull.

Oh, yes, yes. Are they ready?

Put them on.

- Somebody for you, Sergeant.

- Me?

Thank you.

Hello. Hello there.

What?

Who is it?

I... I can't hear you.

- Who is it?

- What's that you're saying?

I can't hear you.

Put it up to your ear, Mother York.

Stand closer, Ma.

When are you coming home, Alvin?

I said, when are you coming home?

Oh, I'm glad, Son.

I'll tell her.

She's right here.

He wants to talk to you, Gracie.

It's me, Alvin. It's me, Gracie!

We're all in here in Pastor Pile's store.

He's got this here phone in here now.

Oh, I just can't wait to see you again,

Alvin.

I can't wait to see you.

Yeah, yeah. I'll be coming home, Gracie,

right away.

Yeah.

- Goodbye. Goodbye, Gracie.

- Goodbye, Alvin.

Bye.

Sure was nice to talk to the folks.

- I'm a-thanking you.

- You're welcome, Sergeant.

Just like the electric signs

down the street.

How do you like New York, Alvin,

as much as you've seen of it?

- Mr. Hull?

- Yes, Alvin?

I wanna be a-going home.

When do you think I can go?

- You're pretty anxious, I reckon.

- Yes, sir, I am.

I've got to get to work.

Well, as far as that goes,

there's plenty to do right here, Alvin.

What do you mean?

I've been wanting

to talk to you about this.

You're a pretty famous man now.

And judging by all these offers

you've been getting,

it seems a lot of people realize it.

For instance,

two companies want you

in motion pictures,

Ziegfeld wants you in an act

in his new Follies.

And here's an offer to appear

at the Winter Garden, that's a theater.

And here's a breakfast food manufacturer

who wants you to endorse his product.

What does that mean?

Well, you've to tell him how much

you like it, how much good it's done you.

I ain't never ate

any of that there breakfast food.

Doesn't seem to make any difference.

Anyway, I've totaled the offers so far

and they amount to around

a quarter of million dollars.

They're offering me all that money?

It's just a plain business proposition.

I sure could do a powerful sight

with that money.

There was a piece of bottomland

I was a-trying to get...

Here's your chance to get it.

Are they offering that money

because of what happened over there?

- Well...

- That's it, ain't it?

That's it.

What... What would you do, Mr. Hull?

Well, I think that's up to you, Alvin.

I reckon it is.

Take all the time you want to think it over.

I've done thought it over, Mr. Hull.

I ain't proud of what happened over there.

What we done in France

was something we had to do.

Some fellows done it ain't a-coming back.

So, the way I figure,

things like that ain't for buying and selling.

So I reckon I'll have to refuse 'em.

Would you be a-telling them that

for me, please?

And tell 'em I'm a-going home?

- I'll be more than glad to, Alvin.

- Thank you, Mr. Hull.

Here she comes, Zeke. Right on time.

Oh, there he is!

Alvin!

Oh, Alvin!

How are you?

Ma, I'm back.

I'm right glad, Son.

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