The Fighting Seabees Page #6

three weeks longer.

That's the navy way, and that's

the way you're gonna do it.

And don't forget

those daily reports.

All right.

You'll get your reports.

Sure, I've changed. I was never

one for sittin' on fences.

No.

How about some chow?

Good.

Oh, from Connie in Honolulu.

- She on her way back?

- No, not yet, but she's doing fine.

She oughta take a good, long rest.

Two or three months, at least.

Mm-hmm.

Maybe by that time you'll have figured

out what you're gonna say to her.

Hello? Yes. Yes...

I'll call you right back.

- Hello, Kitty!

- Oh, Connie, it's good to see you.

- You look wonderful.

- Thank you. So do you.

- I think you've gotten a little thinner.

- Oh, thank you.

Oh!

Oh, what beautiful flowers.

- You must have had an exciting trip.

- Well, it was rather hectic.

- Where do we start, Kitty?

- With these telephone calls, I guess.

Most of them are from Commander Yarrow.

He's due in town today.

Good!

Anything from, uh, Mr. Donovan?

No.

- Lieutenant Commander Donovan?

- No.

- Maybe a telegram.

- No.

Postcard?

No.

Well, might as well start work.

All right.

Hello, Connie.

Bob!

I'm so glad!

You're glad.

How do you think I feel?

And you're just as

good as new again.

How do you come to

be in Washington?

For regimental orders, and to

meet some of the staff officers...

who'll be responsible for

our maintenance in the field.

Oh, so you can cuss them by name

if you run short of supplies.

Seabees think of

everything, don't they?

Some Seabees do.

Heard anything of Wedge?

Only what you wrote to me.

Oh.

You didn't write him?

Of course not.

I told you once before that I can

take a hint as delicately put...

just as well as anybody else,

and if he doesn't hanker after my

acquaintance, it won't be thrust upon him.

Well, if that's the way things

are, I'd better break a date.

- With whom?

- Oh, Wedge, of course.

- Wedge is here in Washington?

- Sure, sure.

We've got a 24-hour leave. I'm meeting

him at the Mayflower for dinner.

Thought you might like to

go along, but if you feel...

The way I feel isn't going to interfere

with your leave, or even his.

Who knows when you

might get another?

Of course I'm going to

the mayflower with you.

Why, you don't think I could

be that petty, do you?

After all, the three of us

have been under fire together.

You wouldn't kid a pal,

would you, Connie?

No.

Or yourself, maybe.

I don't know yet, Bob.

Pardon me.

- Martini, please.

- Yes, ma'am.

I'm a friend of the head

waiter, so we've got a table.

Miss Chesley, Lt. Commander Donovan.

We've met.

Yes.

A long time ago.

Shall we find

our table?

- Good evening.

- Commander Yarrow's table.

Paul.

Commander Yarrow's table, please.

Very good, sir.

This way, please.

Well, this calls

for champagne.

- Uh, cocktails.

- Very good, sir.

You should've warned me.

I'd have polished up the gold braid.

Your first lesson in battle tactics:

surprise attack.

Your reconnaissance is faulty, Commander,

or you wouldn't have been caught napping.

Yeah, but how do you

like the tailor?

A gentleman and an officer, by an

act of god, congress and his tailor.

Cigarette, Connie?

You know, you could've

written a girl a postcard.

And have everyone from here to

Honolulu read our mail? Not me.

Such consideration

is heartbreaking.

Don't be too tough on him.

We sweated him pretty hard.

Sure. Boot training, officer's

training, military training.

I could've walked to you for the ground

I've covered. Look at my broken arches.

What a pity you didn't

walk on your head.

Well, Bob kept me

up to date on you.

- I know everything that's happened.

- That's more than I can say.

I remember

the Japs attacking.

From there to the hospital

ship, the pages are missing.

It's a little embarrassing,

It's like waking up on the street

and discovering you've

forgotten to put on your shoes.

Did I do or say

anything I shouldn't?

Huh? No!

Shall we dance?

Yes.

I'm still waiting for you

to tell me what happened.

You still have beautiful eyes,

and you cook corned beef and cabbage

better than anyone else in the world.

That I remember.

You really wanna

know what you said?

Well, you said, just before

you passed out, quote:

"You think you're an

important ape, don't you?"

"Just because a girl lets you hold

her hand in a moment of weakness,"

"don't get funny ideas,"

"'cause I'm still dancing

with the guy what brung me."

I said that to you?

Well, I couldn't vouch

for the exact words.

And what did you say?

I said you were dead right.

Is that the way you want

the record to read?

That's the way I

want it to read.

Good night, Miss Chesley.

Oh, I was telling Connie

I forgot I had a date.

And there she is.

Probably burning after

waiting an hour.

Well, uh, I'll be

seeing you both.

Have fun.

Looks like we're stood up.

Looks like we're

not the only ones.

Here we are.

Won't you come in?

No, thanks. I'd rather not.

Bob, I wanna tell you that I

know you're the best there is.

But that you don't want me.

Of course I want you.

I've always wanted you.

Whatever else may have happened,

I know I've let you down,

but I just can help myself.

I wish there was something I could

say against him, but I can't now.

Whatever was wrong with him

before, and there was plenty,

the Seabees have made right.

I just can't seem to

get him out of my heart.

- Whenever I come near him...

- You can't help that.

That's the way I feel about you.

He turned me down tonight.

Yes, I know he did.

You know?

How?

Because I overheard what

you told him on the island.

Oh, Bob.

And you can still

talk to me like this?

For the same reason that

you're still reaching after him.

I just told you,

I can't help it.

Thanks for understanding.

You'd better go to bed now.

All this excitement

is too much for you.

I guess it is.

- Good night.

- Hey?

I thought a sailor always

kissed a girl good night.

It's a old navy custom.

Good night, my dear.

My very dear.

It's not good night,

Connie, it's good-bye.

But why good-bye?

My orders this morning were to take

the regiment to the pacific coast...

to a port of embarkation.

Well, I hope the old man'll

have some good news for us.

There's only one thing

I want to hear.

Good morning, Captain.

Good morning, sir.

Good morning.

Gentlemen.

I have the orders

you've been hoping for.

The regiment will assemble with full service

equipment for embarkation at 2200 tonight.

That's good.

Great.

I can say to Comdr. Yarrow, and to

you battalion Commanders as well,

that I believe your men are ready

for whatever lies before you.

Naturally, it is a particular

satisfaction to be able to say that...

in the case of a unit which is making

its first appearance in naval history.

You'll have a chance to make

Seabee traditions,

and I feel confident

that you'll make them.

That's all, gentlemen. Good

luck, Commander. Thank you, sir.

- Good luck.

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