The West Point Story Page #8

your attention to one thing.

Only six stars.

Well, fellas, as a general thing,

I'm not at a loss for words.

But at a time like this,

I can never think of anything to say.

I just want you to know

that you've hit me right in the center.

You really have.

Makes me think of a little guy

I used to know out in Brooklyn years ago.

Curious little fella and...

Oh, look, you'll have to excuse me.

My nose gets awfully red.

What are you crying about?

- What's the matter, Bix?

- I'm worried about Tom.

Jan calls him every day. He persuaded her

to be princess in the show.

You should have seen his face

when he told me about it.

- Kid's on his heels.

- Wasn't that your idea?

Yes, yes, but she's leaving

for California on the train tonight.

- Sure, unless...

- Unless what?

- Unless she's fallen in love.

- Not enough time.

It doesn't take very long.

Remind me sometime

to tell you about boys and girls.

But wait until tonight

And you'll be kissed but right

By the Kissing Rock

- What's all this for?

- Flirtation Walk.

The rock, the Kissing Rock.

- See? That's the way it's done up here.

- Oh, is that so?

Now, how do you know

that that's the way it's done up here?

I've been up here four weeks.

Oh, I see.

Well, beginning tomorrow,

I'm putting you on a short leash.

Well, there it is.

West Point.

There's the chapel. There's Cullum Hall.

And that's the Hudson, of course.

Oh, it's just beautiful.

And this is Fort Putnam.

Built in 1778 to keep away the British.

But it serves

a more useful purpose today:

To keep away Mr. Bixby.

Tom, do you know

what they're saying in New York?

- What?

- "Jan Wilson has blown her top.

She goes up the Hudson

like the Albany night boat...

...to see a soldier."

- No.

- Yes.

Bix, I have the most wonderful news.

Tom asked me to marry him. Look.

Congratulations, Jan. I envy you.

That is not news, that's calamity.

- We love each other, Bix.

- Marriage was not part of the deal.

Tom is at West Point,

wives are not standard.

Remember, Cupid...

...you shot the arrow.

He doesn't know what he's doing.

But I'm blowing the whistle on you.

- You're going back to New York tonight.

- How come you're giving out orders?

Do you own

a piece of the Academy now?

- Hello?

- Hollywood...

Miss Wilson? Yeah, she's here, hold on.

California.

Hello?

- Jan.

- Speaking.

Jan, what's the matter with you?

Have you lost your head?

Who told you to cancel

your personal appearances?

But the New York office approved it,

Mr. Jocelyn.

Did the New York office okay your making

a fool of yourself with a West Point cadet?

Now, just a minute, Jan,

I'll do the talking.

I'll tell you about your personal life:

You haven't got one.

You've got a contract.

This studio spent a lot of money

to make Jan Wilson a star.

You think we did that

just so she could marry an Army officer?

He might get shipped to Okinawa

and take you with him.

And we don't make pictures on Okinawa.

I want you back here on the Coast.

You start a new picture in two weeks.

Now, a company car

will take you back to New York.

No, no, no excuses.

You leave West Point immediately.

Goodbye.

Bix...

...l'll never forgive you for that.

- Someday she'll thank me.

- What for?

For bringing her up here,

messing up her life?

- She's young, she'll get over it.

- She's a woman.

She met someone real and wonderful

for the first time in her life.

- Oh, shut up!

- Don't tell me to shut up!

Why not?

Fine, Hal, fine.

Come here, I wanna talk to you.

Look, son, can you arrange to send a car

in to New York to get a costume for Eve?

Sure, why?

I went up to the commandant's office

and got permission for her...

...to do the Brooklyn number with you.

Hey, that's wonderful!

How did you ever work that?

Oh, he just kept talking

and wore the poor man down.

Which, may I say, was not easy.

Bix.

Can I talk to you a minute?

- Tom's checked out.

- He's what?

I found him talking crazy.

Jan walked out.

He's desperate. He's going after her

with all his things.

I'm going after him.

- Can you get leave?

- No, I'll get slugged.

- It'll be worth it if I can get him.

- Wait, I'll go get him.

- You may need me.

- All right. Eve, take over.

It isn't as simple as making a choice

between marriage and a career.

We have obligations.

I understand your life, darling.

Please try to understand mine.

- But I do understand.

- Tom.

At 15, I was singing in a band.

Making one-night stands when other girls

were going to high school dances.

At 17, I had a Hollywood contract.

I'm a commodity now, I'm not a woman.

You know something, Tom?

All my life, I've never known

a boy like you.

I guess I never had time.

I've had plenty of time

to think things out.

Somehow, being a soldier

doesn't seem so important anymore.

Tom, you can't give up your career.

Plenty of people, even you,

said I could earn a living in a theater.

- Bixby wants me.

- Bix?

He can't do anything for you, darling.

He can't even get a job for himself.

My uncle wants me for a show.

I'll get a job.

Jan, will you marry me?

I can't, Tom.

I can't.

All there is?

Please go back before it's too late.

- Thought I told you to go to Hollywood.

- Are you out of your mind?

Why are you here?

You're AWOL, you'll get slugged.

- They'll bust you out on your ear.

- Not me. I resigned.

- Resigned?

- You can't resign.

I sent a letter to the superintendent,

through channels.

Subject:
resignation. Intention: marriage.

We've gotta get that letter back.

- You can't, it's too late.

- Oh, no.

Through channels, it takes time

to get to the superintendent's desk.

You are coming with us.

There's a plane leaving for California at 9.

You be on it.

Fletcher, Courtland.

- Yes?

- I've got some bad news for you, Fletcher.

I've got an order

from the commandant's office.

You and Courtland are to return

to your quarters.

You're under arrest.

Okay.

Battalion.

Attention.

"Attention to orders.

By direction of the commandant...

...the 100th Night Show

is herewith cancelled."

I say again:

"By direction of the commandant...

...the 100th Night Show

is herewith cancelled."

Oh, how are Tom and Hal?

I just talked to them.

They're both pretty low, especially Tom.

Bix, we appreciate your effort to square

matters with the commandant.

Too bad it didn't work.

Oh, you know, it's great, really great.

For over a hundred years,

this show has always gone on.

Civil War, Spanish American War,

World War I, World War II.

Nothing could stop it.

Bixby comes to West Point:

Forget it.

How about next year? Will you come up

again and put on the show?

Too far off, son.

Where is Eve?

I spend half my life

waiting for that dame.

We're gonna miss that train.

Eve, come on!

Come on! You wanna miss the train?

Where you been?

I've been doing a little research.

- You what?

- Here, read this.

"U.S. to fete French premier.

General Marcell Donet arrives in New York."

So a Frenchman comes to town.

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