The Road to Glory Page #4

much kinder than she realizes.

She's filled a great emptiness.

- I see.

Anything I can do for you?

No, thanks, sir.

I have nobody.

Not even a friend?

I said nobody.

That's too bad.

You'll do this for me then?

I only hope I won't need to.

Inspection finished, sir.

- Good.

Coming, Lieutenant?

- Yes, sir.

Attention!

Soldiers of France...

...you're members of

the Fifty Company...

...Second Battalion...

...of the Thirty-ninth Regiment

of the line.

It was created by Bonaparte...

...and served with him

through many campaigns.

Since November of 19...

Since November 1914 it has

been fighting on this front.

Its record of valor has

not yet been damaged.

I do not expect any man

nor any platoon...

...or even an entire company

to add stature to that record...

...but I do and will require

that no man in it...

...detract from that record.

Midnight we move out to the front.

Dismiss.

Company...

...at ease!

Dismiss!

Grandpa...

...you can take that ramrod

out of your breeches...

...he's through talking.

That's the most magnificent

speech I've never heard.

Is a good officer, isn't he?

The finest officer in the army.

Thanks.

- Private Morain...

...report to the Captain right now.

- Yes, sir.

They're making him a general already.

And why not?

France made a young girl

a general once...

...and never regretted it.

Private Morain reporting

to his Captain.

So you changed your name to Morain?

Yes, sir.

How old did you tell them you were?

48, sir.

Who dyed you hair, old Sacha?

Come on, don't stand at attention...

...you old fool.

My son!

My son!

Lieutenant, this is my father.

How do you do, sir?

- Lieutenant...

...think of it, to serve France

under my own son...

...and they wanted to make

a clerk out of me.

Me, who blew the last

charge at Sudan.

Look at me, don't I look fit?

- You certainly do, sir.

I'll tell you a secret.

I'm over 60 years old.

You'd never think it to look at me.

- Never, sir.

Paul, you're going to be proud of me.

You know all this is new to me, I...

What is it? What's the matter?

I'm proud of you.

I'm proud of you for trying...

...but it can't be done.

You'll not send me back.

- I must.

I can soldier with the best of them.

- No, you can't.

No, you don't know.

I was a soldier before

you was born.

You'd know if one man fails

10 others can die with him.

I'll not fail!

- It's a responsibility for me.

I tell I'll not fail.

- You've got to go back.

As your father, I order you to...

- Come to...

...allow me...

...attention!

You can't.

- Attention!

Yes, sir.

Sergeant!

Yes, sir.

Get an order to send

back Private Morain.

Reason, unfit for service

because of age.

Yes, sir.

Come on, Morain.

I couldn't let him stay.

If he'd have failed...

I don't know.

What'd you have done?

Exactly what you did.

Thanks.

Look out for him, will you?

See that he gets supper

before he goes.

I'll be glad to, sir.

I'd be very proud if I had

a father like that.

Don't get up.

Isn't there anything that I can do?

I'm afraid not.

Sergeant.

See that Morain gets

some warm supper...

...and do anything to

make him comfortable.

Yes, sir.

Well, what...

I had to come...

...because you didn't come to me.

You go up tonight, don't you?

And the attack is in five days.

How you did know that?

Everyone knows it.

A woman in love learned it.

Just as I learned it.

Five days.

That's half of the days I know you.

- Monique.

Michele, listen...

...there's something

I haven't told you...

...and I want to told you.

- Is this what you want to tell me?

I...

Is it?

Yes, that's it.

He gave them to me to give to you...

...in case he doesn't come back.

Michele, perhaps I

should've told you, but...

...please, try to understand.

Without me...

...he seems to have nobody, nothing.

He's not right somehow he's...

...twisted inside...

...but he's not dead inside.

I told him at first

I didn't love him...

...that some day I might

find someone...

...I might find...

...and he said he'd take that chance.

If you only knew what he's

done for me, for my family.

They lived near here before

the fighting destroyed all we had.

He sent them where they'd be safe...

...and takes care of them still.

Do you understand?

Do you?

Yes, I think I do.

That's what I came to tell you...

...and to tell him too.

Tell him?

Tell him that I love you?

No, that...

...I love you.

You can't do that.

What do you mean?

- You can't.

This is what I mean.

I mean it isn't just

he and I and you...

...two men and a girl...

...it's more than that.

That's why you can't tell him.

I didn't like'im at first...

...may be I still don't,

I don't know.

At least I know him now...

I know what...

...he's trying to do.

And I know what you mean to him.

I see.

- Without you he doesn't live.

As far as you and I concerned...

...it's all over, it's finished.

Michele, I...

Let somebody else

break it up, not me.

Michele...

...haven't you...

...anything more to say to me?

I...

I think you'd better go now.

Are you telling me...

...you don't love me?

You can...

...call it that, if you like.

Will you kiss me and

still say that?

No.

No what.

I won't kiss you.

God bless you, Michele.

Is the car here?

The headquarter car is ready, sir.

Are you tight?

Teeniest possible bit, hardly

enough to interest anyone.

They'll blow it out of you.

- Yes, sir.

Come in.

Take the men up.

I'm going to headquarters.

Assembly at 11:
00.

You make the inspection.

Full packs number three

grenades, extra bandeliers.

Yes, sir.

Are you all right?

I'm quite all right.

I look after the equipment.

How was it?

Ask yourself that in two

days from now.

Don't be fresh...

...it's not the first attack I went

through in the last 3 years.

Are you going to sign for it?

Write something.

'Sweetheart I love you' anything.

- Don't be fresh...

...here's a kiss for the General.

Is that the order sending me back?

You never can tell...

...they may have transferred

you to the Navy.

'Please acknowledge at

once receipt of...

...8 camels issued to you at

Sidi Bel-Abbes, Algeria...

...on January 18th, 1892'.

I've been getting this order

for the last two years.

It seems that they lost

the camel some place.

Here it is...

...here it is, Grandpa.

'Transfer, effective this

date, to the...

...automobile transportation

section of... '

You really like it to be able

to get away from here.

I don't understand that attitude.

With ten million bullets

aiming at you every 24 hours.

And if this order hadn't come

what would have happened?

No order you stay.

Just this little scrap of paper...

...between me and the field of honor.

Something that the flame of a candle...

...or the fire could

destroy in a minute.

Five minutes, Sergeant.

Little things in life

mean so much to us.

This wind through the door

nearly blew the paper...

...into the fire.

- Yeah.

I mean the paper that is

so important for you.

Yes, I know. And if it had...

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