The Men Page #7

This is too important to let

the men decide for themselves.

Doctor, you admit that

they've done a good job,

that they've been

practically self-governing.

And just because it is important,

I can't very well take it

out of their hands.

Just as I can't go over their

heads whatever they decide.

You see that, don't you?

This thing gets out of hand,

I may not be able to protect you.

I hope you're prepared

to take the consequences.

lam.

So I said to her, "Hey, Robbie,

when are you going

to marry Brock?"

And she hits me.

Boy, did she give me a crack.

Gin.

Twenty-six.

He can't play the game.

He just talks ya out of it.

- That's game.

- Next player.

Hello.

Hi. I thought

you went home.

No, I've been around.

L-I read about you in the paper.

I thought maybe you

were hurt or something.

No, I'm all right.

- I'd like to talk to you, Bud.

- Okay.

No, stick around.

Ellie and I don't have any secrets.

What's on your mind, El?

- All right, Bud.

- We'd better be going, huh?

Stay!

These are my friends, Ellie.

They know all about us.

I came here to tell you

I'm sorry.

You see, at first,

I was very sure of myself.

Then I started getting

confused and afraid and...

that night the way everything-

- Forget it!

- It doesn't matter anymore.

- But it does matter, Bud.

I've had a chance to see things

the way they really are.

The important thing is to know

what you're willing to settle for,

to be really sure.

I'm sure now.

I want you.

I want you to come home.

I'm home. This is my home.

This is where I belong.

Oh, please!

You go home!

Go far away from me.

Pretend it never happened,

and we'll both be better off.

Let's go to chow.

And don't feel bad.

You won't even have any scars.

Well, we can restrict him

to the hospital for 60 days,

or we can vote for discharge.

It's up to us.

What I hear is, this guy's

been trouble right along.

- I say kick him out!

- For what? For being AWOL?

Sixty days' restriction is plenty.

We're not responsible for

what the guy does outside.

- That's what I say!

- Suppose he kills someone?

- But he didn't.

- Look. That's up to the cops.

They didn't put him

in jail and we can't.

We can only try him

for breaking hospital rules.

For being AWOL-that's all

we know about officially.

- "Officially," my eye!

- We're not the police department.

Listen. The cops brought him in here

so the hospital could handle it.

And that means us. Otherwise,

he'd be in jail right now.

- So, he's lucky!

- All right, he's lucky!

But we're supposed

to be a disciplinary board!

And I know if we go easy on him,

we're not kidding anybody but ourselves!

Listen. People always

remember these wheelchairs.

Don't ever forget that.

Guys like him just make it

tough on the rest of us.

What's he doing here anyway?

He's well, isn't he?

He's married.

He's got himself a home.

Why isn't he living in it?

- Maybe he's had trouble.

- Let him patch it up.

Anybody that's married

is gonna have trouble.

- You know, huh?

- You can say that again.

But if he's got things on his mind, are

we gonna help him by kicking him out?

You're not helping him

by being easy on him.

He'll make more trouble for

himself and everybody else.

I still think 60 days

is tough enough.

Well-

Let's vote on it.

All in favor of discharge,

raise your hands.

All against?

Norm?

Discharge.

You voted to kick me out?

Well, you're a nice bunch of fellas.

Who do you think you are?

What makes you think you can do it?

This is a veteran's hospital,

and you're nobody, you're nothin'.

You see?

And we'll just see what

Brock has to say about it.

Ken!

Before you go in there,

I want you to know something.

I want you to know

I voted for discharge.

Thanks.

- I want you to know why.

- Don't bother, friend.

Thank you.

Thank you for calling.

- Well, they kicked me out.

- Yes, I know.

- Well-Well, that's crazy, isn't it?

- Do you think so?

What's the matter with everybody around

here? What do you mean do I think so?

Listen. You're my doctor,

and you're gonna keep me here.

I'm not going to overrule

the board.

Oh, I get it. It's easier

for you that way, isn't it?

Yes.

But it's better for you.

You're well, Ken.

Wh-What am I gonna do?

Where am I gonna go?

- Into the world.

- I can't go out there anymore.

- You still can't accept it, can you?

- No.

What did I do?

Why'd it have to be me?

Is there an answer?

I haven't got it.

Somebody always gets hurt

in a war.

Look, Ken. You're a married man.

You've got a home.

- That's where you ought to be.

- I haven't got anything.

What happened?

Why did you run away?

Nothin' happened.

She couldn't take it,

that's why.

Sh-She looked at me

like I was a bug.

You want what everyone wants-

peace of mind.

It's pretty hard sometimes

to accept the truth instead,

even though that's where

real peace of mind lies.

And the truth is

that you are what you are.

The truth is that your wife is

a human being with all the weakness...

and all the strength

that human beings have.

- Yeah, it's easy for you to talk.

- Oh, yes. I know.

It's easy for me to talk.

I know, I can walk outta here

when the day is over,

and I've got a good job.

Only I can never see a patient

walk outta here, never.

I can keep a man alive, but,

in his heart, he feels I've failed him.

You feel that way, don't you?

Took me a long time

to get used to that.

Peace of mind.

Why didn't she leave me

alone in the beginning?

Why'd she have to come around here

and make me think we could make it?

Suppose it were

just the opposite.

Suppose you were on your feet,

and she were in the chair.

Would you have come around?

- Well, I don't know.

- Shall I tell you something?

I was married once.

On our third anniversary,

we-

we were in an accident.

Paraplegia was a new field then.

At least, she didn't

have to suffer too long.

That was 18 years ago.

And I'd give anything

I've got to know...

that when I go home that I'd

find her there waiting for me...

in a wheelchair.

I'm due at a meeting.

I think you ought to go back

to your wife, Ken,

if she'll take you.

I can't guarantee that she won't

ever look at you like that again.

But, if she loves you,

and if you behave,

the chances are she won't.

Anyway, you've got a lot

of living ahead of you.

And nobody can do it

for you but you.

Ellie.

Hello, Ellie.

- You've come a long way.

- Yeah.

- Had a flat tire. Fixed it myself.

- Good for you.

- Are you doin' anything tonight?

- No.

Would you like to go to a movie

or something or... talk?

Yes, I would.

Do you want me to help you

off the steps?

Please.

# Love like ours is not just

for today, dear #

# Love like ours is forevermore #

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes