The Young Lions Page #6

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Look out now.

- That'll teach you to keep the windows clean.

- Give him that one-two, Burnecker.

Oh, look... look...

Look, kid, look. Fall down, kid, fall down.

Come on, finish him.

- Yes, Whiteacre?

- I'm sure you're not aware of it, Captain,

but Private Ackerman has been badly beaten

fighting the biggest men in the company.

Yes?

He's been seriously hurt, and I'm sure

now that you know, you'll wanna stop it.

You're quite right, Whiteacre. lf I knew,

I would stop it. I'd be obliged to stop it.

- But then, I don't know.

- You know now, sir.

What's the matter with you? Ackerman

isn't one of those rich Broadway producers

you have to suck around.

He's just a dogface. Get some sense.

I think you'll have to stop it, sir.

You know, the colonel had a phone call

about you out of channels from Washington.

Very much out of channels.

To transfer you to Special Service in London.

lt's up to me to approve it or disapprove it.

I still think you'll have to stop it, sir.

I know the colonel would.

All right, Whiteacre. I'll spell it out for you.

You go to the colonel,

and you won't get your transfer.

And you'll have to be five times more soldier

than any man in this outfitjust to stay alive.

Now get out.

Rickett.

Get rid of him. Today.

- Send his papers through.

- Yes, sir.

Well, I hope you're satisfied.

This makes three beatings in a row.

Almost had him, though.

- How'd he look?

- Who? Cowley?

- Yeah.

- Better than you do.

What are you tryin' to prove?

- Nothin'.

- Well, why are you tryin' to kill yourself?

I like to fight.

I'm tired of watchin' you

get your brains beat out.

Look, if you fight Brailsford,

you're on your own.

- Sorry.

- That's OK. That's all right.

- Michael, I can lick Brailsford.

- Well, I don't care.

lt's important to me. lt's the last fight.

- This whole thing has got you crazy.

- Maybe.

- Oh, excuse me, men.

- Yes, Lieutenant?

- I'd like to speak with Ackerman.

- Certainly, sir.

You'll be around?

Mm-hm.

Cigarette?

Thanks.

Oh. Sorry.

Ackerman, I've been watching the sick book.

You're the most... accident-prone soldier

in the entire United States infantry.

I'm careless, sir.

Saturday nights in town, you're careless.

Every Saturday night. On weekdays, you're

on the roughest obstacle course in the post.

Without stubbing your toe.

Now, why don't you level with me?

I know you're fighting. I think I know why.

This is something for the colonel to handle.

Just gimme the word.

Besides, you're getting licked.

You're no good to us punch-drunk.

I appreciate it, Lieutenant.

Thank you. But this is my business.

- Whiteacre?

- Yeah.

I been looking all over for you.

Your orders just came through.

You got 40 minutes

to make the train to Washington.

Thanks.

He's all yours, medic.

Don't fall! Don't fall! Don't fall! Don't fall!

Don't fall!

Come on.

Leave it alone.

You'll get dirt in it.

Ready! Hut!

Ready! Hut!

Ready! Hut!

- Attention, roll call. Abbott.

- Here.

- Acaro.

- Here.

Ackerman.

Ackerman!

Any of you men seen Ackerman?

Abbott, did Ackerman

sleep in his bunk last night?

I don't know, sir. I didn't notice.

Donnelly, did he?

Eyes front, you.

Well, Donnelly?

I don't know, sir.

He's at the opposite end of the barracks.

I warn you, men, I want

a straight answer from the next soldier.

Cowley!

No, sir.

He didn't.

Nobody deserts this company!

When they find him, I don't want him

in the stockade, I want him right back here.

- He's mine.

- Yes, sir.

Gentlemen.

Your attention, please.

The briefing will begin.

Gentlemen, I will come

directly and frankly to the point.

You have heard rumours

that our position is deteriorating.

lt is.

An American fleet of tremendous strength

is believed to be approaching Tunisia

to attack us from the rear. The British are

about to launch a massive frontal offensive.

The Resistance in Stalingrad

has bled our fuel and ammunition

in unexpected quantities.

We must therefore

prepare for a breakthrough.

(aeroplanes approaching)

For the present,

this information is for you only.

(soldier) Air attack!

Dismissed.

(bagpipes)

- Damn you, keep awake!

- I am awake.

Well, stay that way! Talk to me!

See that you don't fall asleep.

What do you want me to say?

Anything, anything. Just talk!

All right.

How far... how far do we have to go now?

About... 400 kilometres more.

Seven hours.

I think I must sleep.

lf you sleep, you'll wake up

in a British prison camp. Come on! Talk!

I wish I was in the mountains,

where it is so cool and peaceful in the snow.

So wonderful to feel the wind in your face.

Clean and nice.

And I like the smell of smoke in the winter,

coming from the wood... in the fireplaces.

Talk about something else!

Talk about women!

Women! Women!

I have a French girl - Franoise -

and I think I can love her.

- Was she beautiful?

- Yes, she was beautiful.

And I wish I was with her,

and not on this motorcycle,

because I am... I am sick of Africa.

And I am sick of the great German army.

- And I am sick of doing my duty!

- I should have shot you.

What?

I said I should have shot you!

I ought to shoot you now!

You'd better learn to drive this first.

You will destroy us!

Men like you poison an army.

You let discipline slip a little one day, a little

more the next day, and soon you are nothing!

You are not able to fight at all!

I should have shot you!

- Ja, why didn't you shoot me, then?

- Because I was an idiot!

Yes! You recognise that you are...

you are still infected

with decent human feelings.

- Oh, shut up!

- And you hate that in yourself, don't you?!

- Shut up! Shut up!

- You hate that...

Hello.

I wanna kiss you.

Why didn't you tell me?

I couldn't.

Besides, there's a law

against harbouring deserters.

You're not a deserter. The army lawyer

told me you gave yourself up.

Are you all right?

Yes.

Noah...

you know what they're asking me to do?

Sure. Sure.

The lawyer said if you

go back to your old company,

you won't go to prison.

Mm-hm.

I'm not tryin' to tell you what to do.

You do what you have to.

Stand up.

Stand up.

Honey! How long is it?

- What?

- How long is it?

- Five months.

- Five months!

Why didn't you tell me?

I could've written you, I guess.

I... I had to work this out myself.

The doctor said I should

stay in bed for a while.

I did.

I guess that's why I didn't write you.

I wanted to make sure it'd be all right.

I don't want this to influence you

one way or the other.

Are you glad?

lt's wonderful.

Absolutely... wonderful!

Time's up.

Don't worry about me.

I'm going back home. Don't worry at all.

I'm not worried.

Can you imagine?!

Listen.

Go to the lawyer and tell him I'll go...

anyplace they wanna send me.

- All right, soldier.

- OK?

I love you.

Not only are you a disgrace, but your actions

have caused a black mark to be made against

this company and against me personally.

I'm gonna see that you erase that black mark.

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