Till the End of Time

Line up along the corridor. Just wait a minute.

Line up along the corridor.

You can stop right here.

I don't know where most of you guys were on V-J day

but for one reason or other, you're here today.

You're being discharged, before you know it you'll be home.

What the corporal's giving you now

is your master schedule.

Showing you what group you're in

where that group's got to be at what hour.

Group one, sound off.

McArnold, Marks, Harding, Ramsey,

Curren, Tabeshaw, Conti, Harper, Forrest...

- 'Name?' - Tabeshaw Willian Jay, 840067.

Guadalcanal, Kwajalein, Saipan and Iwo Jima, right?

That's right.

Silver Star, Purple Heart.

Hospitalized, New Zealand, Pearl and Balboa.

Skull tree panned and silver plate inserted.

They put the gizmo in my head to keep

my brains where they belong.

'Feel okay?'

Well, with this hunk of silver and a real dime

I can always get a cup of coffee.

Yeah, name?

Harper, Clifford W. 976955.

Got the same action record as Tabeshaw's.

Been together since boot camp in Diego.

Better than three years.

Three years, nine months.

Four battle stars and a Silver Star.

We parted company when he was dumb enough

to get himself shot.

Why don't you own up, Harper

I was big hero and you were a coward.

Soon as I find out about your education

and military specialities, I'll pass you onto rehab section.

Are you going back to truck driving?

You don't work as an MP for two years

and then go back to truck driving.

I'm gonna be a cop.

The Rehabilitation officer nearest to you

is in New Orleans.

Here's his name and address if you want his help.

Maybe you'll find things changed.

I don't need help.

Gonna buy me a farm.

Little ever changes in a farm, mister.

After you leave me, you go to the Red Cross.

That's important to you because there's where you'll file

claim to a pension.

That silver plate in your skull

'entitles you to a pension.'

You don't think I'm going to charge

somebody for that, do you?

Lots of men say that, corporal.

But you'll file that claim with the Red Cross anyway.

Did you sign for this insurance when you went in?

Between now and the next year and a half

you'll have to convert that policy.

In the mean time, don't forget to pay your premiums.

Ah, don't worry. I won't.

You, uh, left college

in the middle of your freshmen year, hmm?

Right after Pearl Harbour.

You're going back to school, I suppose.

Well, I haven't thought about it.

Let's see.

You, uh, worked for your father one summer

in the construction business, didn't you?

I was getting primed for football.

Might be a good idea for you to take some

engineering courses.

Well, maybe, but first I want to get home.

You and me both, Mac.

- Tabeshaw? - Here.

Total $455.97.

Back pay's $387.42.

Railway fare to Stinking Creek, New Mexico

at five cents a mile, $68.55.

Hundred dollars mustering out pay.

I'll give you the first 100 now, the second 100 will be mailed

from Washington to your home in 30 days.

Third 100 in 30 days after that.

Why, so you can't blow it all in at once, huh?

- That's a.. - Count it man.

Are you kidding?

Tabeshaw.

Here's your discharge button

for your honorable discharge and an envelope to keep it in.

- Thank you. - Good luck, Tabeshaw.

Keep the change.

'Hi, Cliff.'

Hi, what's your name?

I'm Freddy Stuart.

Freddy Stuart?

Why, the last time I saw you, you were this high.

Now I'm this high.

Hmm, you sure are.

- So long. - So long.

'Hi.'

Your folks aren't home.

Your father's playing cards and your mother's out

shopping with my mother.

Oh, I'm sure they'll be positively grim

when they discover you came back from the wars

and they weren't here.

Welcome home.

What do you like to be called?

"Leatherneck," "Gyrene," or "Devil Dog?"

Marine suits me fine. Just plain Marine.

Okay, Marine, I'm Helen Ingersoll.

We're your next door neighbors.

Oh, what happened to the Crenshaw's?

Oh, they moved to North Alameda three years ago.

Lucky for us too, 'cause when daddy was transferred

out here from the plant in Detroit

we didn't have a place to live.

Daddy's a production manager at Lockheed.

Although we could've gotten into war house, we thought maybe..

Oh, but you're bored, aren't you?

No, go ahead.

I'm interested in people. Especially our new neighbors.

Oh, we're gonna be your neighbors for a long time, too.

Daddy says Southern California

is the coming part of the country.

Daddy says that six out of every ten veterans

will settle here after the war.

- Daddy says... - Never mind about your daddy.

Haven't you got any ideas of your own?

Oh, for a return Marine I've got some super ideas.

Anything I can help you with, hey?

No, thanks. I'll see you later.

Okay. Bye, hey.

What'll it be, chum?

Don't "chum" me, you four-eyed little square.

Cliff.

Cliff Harper.

Well, Cliff, you're-you're back.

You're back from the thing.

I sure am, Scuffy.

Well, well..

Say..

You did alright, cum.

- You did fine. - You did alright yourself.

Boy, when I left here, this was nothing

but a hard candy and ice cream parlor.

La guerre, chum.

La guerre.

That's French for the war, chum.

The war.

Yes, what with all the rationing

and the liquor license I finally got

I'd have been a creep not to jump on the gravy train.

Good God.

Give me a rum and coke.

- You all in one piece? - Mm-hmm. Yes, sir.

I'm rigged as good as the day we took the city championship

away from Fairfax.

Boy, I'll never forget that one.

Oh, no, chum.

You're money buys nothing here..

Until tomorrow.

Well, thanks.

I'm glad you're back, chum.

See your kisser?

'Yeah, where did you got it?'

Nailed your mom for it.

Hey, I'm right next to Pinky.

Not only is he a lieutenant, senior grade

having distinguished himself as a naval flyer.

But he's sitting right in that booth over there.

Hey, Pinky!

'Look what the marines threw back.'

- Cliff! Well, I'll be.. - Hey, Pinky!

- You're home. - Yeah.

- When did you get in? - Just got off the train.

- Hey, this is Cliff Harper. - Hello.

These are couple of tired old crumbs.

I've made them even more tired by telling them

what a big hero I am.

- Hey, grab it. - Thanks.

- How was it, Cliff? - It was alright.

How was it with you?

Upstairs, it was fine.

The minute I got back to the flight deck

it nearly drove me nuts.

Yeah, I bet.

If you gents aren't careful, you're going get maudlin'.

'Well, Pat Ruscomb, this is Cliff Harper.'

Hello.

'Don't let the uniform fool you, Pat.'

'He's a civilian.'