Songs That Won the War Page #5

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against our car like that, he got...

He got a little emotional.

Dad, he tricked us

into falling into poison ivy!

Yeah, I got dung

all over me 'cause of him!

You throw my kid

in a cesspool?

No!

Liar, liar, pants on fire,

hanging from a telephone wire!

You lying to me, son? You better

don't catch yourself lying to me!

Don't let him talk to

you that way! He's a liar!

Hit him, Dad!

Let's let this go.

Come on, Dad!

Seems like our kids

are gonna live.

Show him who's boss!

Doesn't look like there's any

damage to our fine automobiles.

You being smart with me?

If you looking for a fight,

I'll fight you right now.

He couldn't beat himself

out of a wet paper bag.

I don't believe

in fighting.

I'll bet you don't. You

yellow-tailed, chicken-livered wussy.

Go, Dad! Whoo!

Tell him like it is!

Go, Dad! Way to tell him!

Beat him up, Dad!

Way to go, Dad!

At least he don't smell

like a drunken skunk!

I ought to break your neck,

you little shithead!

Dad! Dad!

Afraid I can't allow you

to put your hands on my son.

You don't see me

correcting your children.

I don't mind so much you plowing

into my car and calling me names,

but you go after my child,

you're gonna push a button on me,

and then I'm gonna

lose control and kill you.

Now, apologize to my son.

I apologize.

That's mighty kind of you.

My son has something

to tell you.

Apologize

to Mr. Lipnicki, Stu.

Tell him you're sorry

for insulting him.

Sorry, Mr. Lipnicki.

It's all over now.

Let's get out of here!

You're gonna be in trouble.

For what?

Taking stuff off

the Lipnickis' yard.

It just so happens

I got permission.

I don't believe you.

'Cause you'd say anything. 'Cause

you know I'm gonna tell on you,

and when they find out,

they're gonna kick your ass.

Don't say nothing, Lester.

Name me one reason

why I shouldn't.

You're going to summer

school again, aren't you?

So?

If you keep your big, fat mouth

closed, I'll do all your homework.

First time I get less

than a "B," I'm telling.

Either way, I got you.

Well, did you put

your best foot forward?

We're trying to.

You know, bank tries not

to encourage the cheapskates

by suggesting

an opening offer of $5,000.

Some of these people been writing

us checks for, oh, a nickel.

It's really causing some

problems around here.

Well, my check ain't

for nowheres near $5,000.

You reckon

I'd still have a chance?

Neighbor, I'd like to say yeah,

but I don't wanna lie to you.

Haven't you ever considered

buying a mobile home?

Sign says, "No minimum bid. "

Yes, sir, it does.

I really like

the white house the best.

You wanna kiss it

for added luck?

Good luck to you.

What say we go get your mom and

your sister some cotton candy?

All right.

You stay right there.

Can I get two, please?

Dad?

Dad?

Dad!

Dad!

Hey, punk!

Don't you know you can't buy

no houses with food stamps?

No, Willard,

his daddy has a job.

Remember we seen him plucking

spuds out in the field?

Then again, maybe he was just

thieving them taters for supper.

Hey!

That's enough!

I hate them kids!

All right.

Go on. Go on.

Get on with your business.

I guess this is all my fault.

If I can't control myself,

how I expect you to?

Hey, trespasser! I know of a

house your daddy could afford.

Course, couple of robins

living in it now.

Get in the car.

I hope you know them're the

kids that just beat me up.

I know who they are, son.

Why'd you give them Mom

and Lidia's cotton candy?

'Cause it looked like they hadn't

been given nothing in a long time.

My goodness, you're doing

a beautiful job on that.

Where you getting

all the stuff?

I don't know. Lidia gets it.

Stu...

Son, have you tried

talking to them Lipnickis?

It's self defense, Dad!

You went to war to fight for

people you didn't even know!

Yes, I did! Because I

wanted to help people.

But in the end, I killed

more people than I saved.

I lost more friends than I

ever made before or since.

I lost my dignity, I lost my

house, I about lost my family.

None of that

was your fault, Dad.

You done the right thing,

going to war.

Stu,

I think it's time I finished

telling you about them nightmares.

Aw, Dad.

Just listen!

I started to tell you

that I had this friend Dodge.

We'd gone through

boot camp together.

Swore we'd stick

by one another, come what may.

The sunshine of your love

I've been waiting...

There was an explosion

and I could hear him.

Stephen!

It was Dodge.

He was calling my name.

Stephen!

Stephen!

He was hurt.

We were all hurt.

You and me, man.

You and me.

You and me, man. We're getting our

asses on the next bus out of here!

You just hold on!

I carried him.

I swear I carried him

as far as I could.

You and me, man. You and

me, man. You and me, man.

We got to that helicopter just as...

Just as the enemy was coming in.

Leave him! Just you!

Everybody in the company

had died, it was just...

It was just me and Dodge.

Come on, let's go!

I was scared out of my mind.

Craft's too heavy! We can

take one man, that's it!

He's gonna be all right!

We can't lift off

with any more than one!

Let's just give it a try!

No! Enemy's coming in, man!

You gotta make a decision!

I can't leave him!

It's your choice, man.

It's one of you

or none of you.

I can't leave him.

You understand?

We're not the enemy!

Dodge was so bad off,

he didn't know from nothing.

And I was so scared

of being left behind that I...

I laid my best friend down on the

ground and told him to go with God.

He let go of my hand,

then he just closed his eyes.

I got inside of that

helicopter and I flew away.

Two days later,

my country

presented me with a Purple Heart

and a Bronze Star for bravery.

Why didn't you

make them take him, Dad?

'Cause I lost my mind.

Fighting had consumed us,

and we'd all gone nuts.

And that's what

my struggle's been about.

All these years.

Trying to forgive myself,

pardon my country.

I can't tell you

never to fight, Stu.

But if you wanna know

what I think...

I think the only thing that keeps

people truly safe and happy is love.

I think... I think that's

where men get their courage.

That's where countries

get their strength.

And that's where God

grants us Her miracles.

And in the absence of love,

Stuart, there is nothing,

nothing in this world

worth fighting for.

I'll try to work it out with

the Lipnickis, all right?

I know you will.

I know you will. You're...

I love you.

I love you, too, Dad.

You're my son.

Good morning,

girls and boys.

My name is Miss Strapford.

Now, this summer,

we're gonna be familiarizing

ourselves with what I believe

is just the finest book

ever come into print.

It is entitled, Why My Life

Is Like a Bowl of Cherries.

Now, doesn't that title

just give you a thrill?

Excuse me, darling.

When the teacher is speaking, the

polite thing for girls and boys to do

is to shut their little mouths

and listen, you understand?

Yes, ma'am.

Now, once we

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