Every Time We Say Goodbye

You're up early.

More bad dreams?

No, no. It's the goddamn church bells.

I hope you haven't been to the loo.

I need a morning specimen.

Actually, it's a good thing you're up.

You've got a busy morning of tests ahead.

But if everything checks out, it looks like we'll be letting you go today.

No kidding. Don't talk.

And don't smile.

You're well on the mend, and we need the bed.

Your squadron leader will see to your billeting and transport.

Hmm. Peter. Good.

You are really that anxious to get back to the war, are you?

No. Not the war. But I wanna try out this retread of a leg

you guys fixed me up with.

Make sure it can still do all the old things that it used to.

You know, ah, oh, ah, oh!

I'd hold off on the tap-dancing for a while, David.

I think you… you may be right there, ginger.

The mattress is all new.

And a room with a bath is an unheard of luxury in Jerusalem nowadays.

Oh, hmm.

There.

Very nice.

There's no water.

It's rationed, old chap.

Half the city is supplied on even days and the other half on odd ones.

Well, included in the price you'll have 2 eggs every morning.

They alone cost me a shilling.

I have to buy them at the black market.

Well, David, what do you say?

Well, I've been living in a boarding house for 10 days.

This is paradise. Where do I sign?

Oh, good. Eh, would you know how long you'll be staying?

I'm afraid not. We could be relocated anywhere more or less anytime.

How awful this war is.

May Hitler burn in hell.

Okay. If this place is so terrific,

why are you letting go of it? What's the catch?

There's no bloody catch, you ingrate. Want one?

No. Was that true?

Or just for public consumption about us not knowing how long we're gonna be here?

Ah, it's absolutely true.

The whole bloody war is bogged down in the desert.

Rommel's been stopped, but he's pretty well dug in by now.

So, pushing him back's not gonna be all that much fun.

So that's why they're holding us in reserves.

God knows.

There's no end of rumors. I even heard Burma mentioned.

By the way, there's been an American military attache

inquiring if you might like to change uniforms now that you Yanks are in it officially.

Tell him I'm not interested.

Of course you're a bloody awful wingman, but I'm used to you.

Still haven't told me why you're moving out of here.

Well, I've… I've met this girl who…

Oh, no. Don't tell me that girls are off limits up here.

No, no.

As long as you're discreet.

I just thought I'd be more comfortable in a flat.

Because of this girl?

What girl?

The girl you almost told me about.

Why are you being so cagey about this?

I'll tell you all about it, but later.

In the meantime, if you have any interest in washing today…

Well, I thought there was no water.

Yeah, but that's only on this side of the city.

You mean black market showers?

I got tickets for the Carmen Miranda film with the Ritz Brothers.

I prefer the Marx Brothers.

Nessim, dear, don't be difficult.

Victoria needs to talk to me.

What about me? Don't I need you?

To go to the movies?

What am I to tell your parents?

I'm supposed to keep an eye on you.

Don't be ridiculous.

You know I love you.

I know.

But you don't care. I do.

But Victoria's waiting.

David, I'm getting married next Monday.

I want you to be my best man.

Will you do it?

Yeah, sure. Sure.

Good. Thank you.

Are you nuts?

Isn't that what people in love are supposed to do? Crazy things like get married?

Peter, you can make love to a woman

without marrying her and without being a bastard about it.

Look, David, I'm crazy about this girl.

But marriage? Peter, Jesus Christ!

There's not one single aspect of our lives that we control right now.

The war can't go on forever.

So wait.

It could be a bloody long wait.

Remember the 100 years' war?

Ah, not personally. No.

This one doesn't have to go on that long for all of us to wind up dead.

Have you thought about that?

Look, all I want to do is a bit of normal living before I die.

What is so wrong with that? Is that fair to her?

Luckily, she wants to do a bit of normal living before I die, too.

So it could work out quite nicely.

So live together.

I can't ask her to do that. She's from a very respectable Jewish family.

They're already less than thrilled that she's seeing a gentile.

Well, that's great. That's just great.

You really know how to pick 'em, Peter.

Hold it, here she comes. What's her name?

Victoria.

Oh, well, won't the folks at home be pleased.

Peter.

I nearly didn't make it.

Oh, this is Sarah. She's my alibi.

And an absolute angel.

Sarah, Victoria, this is David.

Oh, you are the American.

Peter's told me how madly brave you were when you were shot down.

But of course it was madly brave of you to go all the way to England

to enlist when you didn't have to.

Well, it was Canada, actually.

Peter, darling, please tell me. Right now. Even if the news is bad.

How does a week from Monday strike you as a wedding day?

Peter and I are going to be married.

We've just been waiting for him to get permission.

Sarah, be happy for me, please.

(VICTORIA CONTINUES SPEAKING LADINO)

Ah, Sarah, I've ordered some champagne to celebrate.

I hope you'll join us. Please.

David's agreed to be our best man, darling.

I hope you'll come, too, Sarah.

I know it'd mean a lot to Victoria.

Yes, it would.

Peter, darling, we have so little time. Can't we dance?

Yeah.

Sarah and David will understand.

Well, they certainly do look good together. I'll give them that.

Is that a good reason to get married?

No.

But I think they might say something about being in love.

Yes.

People do seem to talk about that a lot.

But you're a skeptic when it comes to love, is that it?

No.

But it is not something I know very much about.

What was that language you and Victoria were speaking?

Spanish. Spanish, oh, yeah.

How is it that you happen to speak Spanish?

It's what we speak at home.

Your family came from Spain?

Yes.

Recently?

About 400 years ago.

I see.

They must have some terrific memories.

Yes.

Why are you staring at me?

Am I staring?

Yeah, I am. I'm sorry. Yes, I was staring.

It's just that you have the most extraordinary eyes.

Like to dance, little lady?

If you've no objections, mate.

Eh, it's up to the young lady.

I'm sorry, I… I didn't realize he was that drunk.

If you knew he'd been drinking, why didn't you say anything?

Well, he's probably just on a short leave, and he's in a Tank Division now.

And anybody facing going back inside one of those little metal ovens

probably has a right to have a couple of drinks,

and a… a dance with a pretty girl.

You think I should let a drunken soldier maul me to show I'm grateful?

No, I'm not implying that.

Look, I would've asked you myself, except I can't

because of my leg.

I'm sorry if it was unpleasant for you.

It doesn't matter.

I must be getting home.

Would you explain to them?

Sarah, don't go away mad. In fact, don't go away at all. Please, sit. Come on.

I must. Really.

Where are you off to, love? Just one kiss.