Under Fire Page #3

You would love Len.

A nice cathedral, beautiful light.

We're not doing a travelogue,

you understand.

Of course, of course.

Only I have heard that Comandante Rafael

was recently in the area.

Rafael's near Len?

Well, it's a rumor. What do I know?

Marcel?

She's lonely.

Well, we don't want to

keep you from anything.

It's my job.

Do you think I talk too much?

So Rafael's near Len.

Did you dream about

Miss Panama last night?

No, I dreamed about you.

Have a good time?

Yeah. So did you.

Is that an old war injury flaring up?

Is that tape recorder on?

Absolutely.

Well, yeah, I was sunning myself

on the deck of the U.S.S. Pueblo

when the North Koreans attacked

and I took a bullet right here in the chest.

But, you see, I was lucky.

I had a roll of high speed ektachrome

in my pocket right here over my heart.

Oh, and the bullet ricocheted over the film

and grazed your cheek and then...

Yeah, saved my life. You heard about it?

Do you ever dream about me?

Yeah, once.

How was it?

Fast.

- How fast?

- Real fast.

You mean this fast?

That's another Rafael sign.

It's June 10th. The evacuation of Len.

Signs for the F.S.L.N. are everywhere.

A woman carries a pig.

Carlos!

Come with us.

- Americans?

- Yes.

- Journalists?

- Yes.

When you get back to the States,

I want you to give this ball

to Dennis Martinez from me.

Dennis Martinez.

Dennis Martinez.

You come. You come?

Yes.

Price, is that you?

You motherf***er Price, is that you?

Yeah.

Where are those bastards? They away?

They're away.

- You all right?

- Yeah, I'm all right. It's not my blood.

- That kid's got a good arm.

- Yeah.

What the f*** are you doing here?

What the f*** are you doing here?

Oh, man, my ears are freaking out.

You're looking good.

How do you like Nicaragua?

It's beautiful.

Yeah, it's a shitload of greasers, though,

you know?

- Pricey, I'll see you later, man.

- Yeah. Yeah.

- You okay?

- Yeah, I'm fine. I'm fine.

The kid's got a hell of an arm.

Koufax was good.

Dennis Martinez, he is the best.

He's from Nicaragua.

He pitches major leagues.

I'd like to find Rafael.

He was here. But he is gone.

He's gone to Matagalpa, no?

Rafael cannot be found.

You understand, compaeros?

What's Rafael doing in Matagalpa?

You see Dennis Martinez,

you tell him that my curve ball is better.

That I have a good scroogie.

I like Sandinistas.

And I like Baltimore Orioles.

You bastard!

What are we gonna do about him?

He's dead.

You can't believe everything

you hear on the news.

I think about you all the time.

I'm gonna try and get back

before you graduate.

I love you very, very much.

I'll finish this up back at the hotel, honey.

Bye-bye now.

I know who shot Pedro.

Somebody in the bell tower.

Why didn't you tell the guerrillas?

Because I didn't know they'd kill him.

Hell, I didn't want to interfere.

It wasn't an easy choice.

Well, I think I made the wrong one.

Do you know that you didn't shoot any

pictures after that whole thing was over?

I didn't, did I?

Jesus, I picked up the gun.

Is something happening to us?

Yeah, I think so.

Yeah.

How was Matagalpa?

No bang-bang, Alex. None at all.

You find anything?

Half the press corps.

Hello?

Claire?

Hey.

- Alex.

- How you doing?

How was Len?

Bloody.

Claire, I'm tired of Nicaragua.

You haven't been here very long.

Yeah. Long enough.

Long enough.

You were right. Everybody's right.

About what?

These cheekbones.

What do you think of 'em?

I like your cheekbones, Alex.

Is there anything the matter?

It's a face made for television.

You mean you decided

to go with the network?

Yeah.

They're gonna give me 10 grand a week

to read the news.

I'll be in 60 million homes every night.

When I take a breath,

all of America will take a breath.

When my voice trembles,

all of America will tremble.

I'm gonna be a star.

My vocal inflection will be more important

than who controls Congress.

And your name will become

a household word.

I'll become a household word.

I should never have come down here.

I'm sorry, Alex.

I think it's a lot better this way.

It's all right. Don't worry about me.

I'm speaking in song titles.

But promise me one thing.

I'll promise you anything.

No farewell parties.

I don't want to make a speech to anyone.

- Russel?

- Russel who?

Him, too.

You're running late

to your own lunch, Mr. President.

- We could schedule this for another time.

- Nonsense.

Let them wait.

We are a stunning couple?

My stomach is like rock.

I've been working out.

Yes, we are a stunning couple.

Mr. President, you own one-fifth

of all the land in Nicaragua.

You own the shipping port, the national

airlines, the Mercedes dealership.

Is it a crime to be a car dealer?

Let me show you something.

It's been reported the Guardia

operates a torture chamber at Coyotepe.

This is a portrait of my father.

He was very special to me.

Every Sunday morning I drive out to

the cemetery and put flowers on his grave.

I think people should know that.

Would you care to comment

on the fall of Len to the rebels?

Listen, Russel, let's grow up?

It's very easy

to fall in love with the underdog,

but there's an upside and a downside

to this thing.

I just want to remind you all this stuff

about a "Revolution of Poets" is crap.

It's great PR, though, isn't it, Hub?

So what's the upside?

Simple. And it could happen.

Somoza destroys the terrorist insurgents,

rebuilds the country,

shitcans the purveyors of excess,

stabilizes the Cordoba, and is finally

beloved as the savior of Nicaragua.

- Our pal. You got a smoke?

- Yeah.

What's the downside?

Commies take over the world.

Seor Kittle.

Excuse me, Russel,

but the war may be over.

This is a democracy, and I have been

freely elected by my people.

There were more votes

than voters in the last...

I am sorry. I have to conclude

this most pleasant encounter,

but something happened.

I have many more questions,

Mr. President.

Did he tell you about his parents

and the graveyard and the flowers

- and all that stuff? Good.

- Yes, I know about that, but I'd like to...

My friends, this gathering was not

supposed to be a press conference

as much as a get-together.

But I've just been handed

a piece of news.

Rafael is dead.

He has been killed

in an ambush near Matagalpa.

Sorry, my friends, no questions, please.

No questions, please.

A press release is being prepared.

- What do you think?

- I don't know.

Tacho makes that speech about once every

six months. Maybe this time he got lucky.

- Hey, Hub, is this for real?

- Yeah, sure.

Russel, excuse me, but Miss Panama

would like her picture taken with Tacho.

- And in color?

- Oh, okay.

A little embarrassing?

That'll be fine right there.

Right there.

How in the hell could Tacho find Rafael?

Russel, please, I have my hands full.

That's fine, right there.

Is Tacho lying again?

They did kill him, didn't they?

What do I know?

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