Original subtitles

♪ The Corps ♪

♪ The Corps ♪

♪ The Corps♪

♪ We're not much longer Here to stay ♪

♪ For in a month or two ♪

♪ We'll bid farewell To cadet gray ♪

♪ And don the Army blue ♪

♪ To the ladies who come up in June ♪

♪ We'll bid a fond adieu ♪

♪ The long gray line of us Stretches ♪

♪ Through the years Of a century told ♪

♪ And the last man Feels to his marrow ♪

♪ The grip Of your far-off hold ♪

♪ Grip hands Though it be from the shadows ♪

♪ While we swear As you did of yore ♪

♪ Or living or dying to honor ♪

♪ The Corps ♪

♪ And the Corps ♪

♪ And the Corps ♪♪

Good to see you, Marty. What's this all about?

Marty says his business is pretty urgent,

Mr. President.

Urgent, sir.

It couldn't be more urgent.

They've been counting their fingers, sir,

and they find I'm over 70.

They want to retire me,

after 50 years, the ungrateful...

so I got Chuck--

I mean, General Dotson--

to fix it for me to see you, sir.

50 years in the army is a long time, Marty.

It is, sir,

and then again, it isn't, sir.

It took me 30 or 40 years

just to get the hang of it, you know.

and now that everything is going smooth,

it would be

throwing away my training.

A waste of the taxpayers' money, sir.

Go ahead and smoke your pipe, Marty.

I'd hardly know you without it.

Thank you, sir.

You know, sir,

we Mahers take our own time about getting old.

Oh, over 70 I may be,

and I wear glasses for fine print these days,

and maybe I have put on a pound or two here or there..

but I tell you, sir,

I'm in better shape now

than I was that morning 50 years ago

when I rode the milk train up the Hudson,

not knowing what I was getting myself into.

I walked up that hill,

a young lad, fresh off the boat.

Halt! Who's there?

Martin Maher from Ireland, your honor.

Advance, Martin Maher, to be recognized.

Recognized?

How would you be recognizing me?

I only set foot in this country last night.

Hey, Corporal, another mick waiter.

All right, come along, Paddy.

Martin's the name.

Maher. M-A-H-E-R.

Roscrea, Tipperary.

What is this place?

Is it maybe a prison?

Or is it a loony house?

This is the United States Military Academy.

Oh.

What a fine ruin it'd make.

All right,

pick up your feet, Paddy.

Martin's the name.

Do they have to wear iron braces

to stand like that?

That's the way cadets stand.

That's part of the discipline.

You know, you could shoot off all their noses

with one bullet.

Listen,

these men are being trained

to be United States Army officers.

They come here for discipline,

and that's what they get.

Where did they all go?

You'll see them all at breakfast, Paddy.

Pick up your feet.

Martin's the name.

At ease.

How's the cow, mister?

She walks. She talks. She's full of chalk.

The lacteal fluid subtracted

from the female of the bovine species

is highly prolific to the eighth degree, sir.

That is the situation with the cow.

Where's my milk, mister?

Milk for Mr. Bullock, sir.

Get the wrinkles in that chin.

Coffee for Mr. Van Ennes, sir.

What's the definition of leather, Mr. Morrey?

The definition of leather.

The fresh skin of an animal

cleaned and divested of all hair, fat and all manner..

immersed in a solution of tannic acid,

chemical combination ensues.

The gelatinous tissue is converted

into a non-putrescible substance,

impervious to and insoluble in water.

This, sir, is leather.

Come on, Paddy. Please.

Come on, let's get going.

Please, now, go on.

Come on, come on, Paddy!

Pick 'em up! Pick 'em up!

Maher, that will come out of your pay.

Vegetable plates are 11 cents each,

cups are seven cents, saucers are four cents,

and pie plates are nine cents

and soup tureens are 94 cents.

5:00 for you too.

Be back at 5:00.

5:00.

Back at 5:00.

Maher,

there's nothing there for you.

Do you know that you've been here two months,

and you owe three months' pay

for breakage?

'Tis a slave I am.

'Tis a slave I am.

Working meself to a shadow

and not a brass farthing

to drown my sorrows.

Maher!

Come on back. Come on.

I know I'm a fool to do this,

but there's $3 of my own money.

It's something

you can jingle in your pockets,

but not to get you in much trouble, though.

Thank you, your honor.

'Tis not every man

has $3 worth of kindness

in his heart.

Thank you kindly, sir.

You're welcome.

Thank you. Thank you.

Go on. Go on with you.

Thank you kindly, sir.

Rudy Heinz!

'Tis a fine soldier you look,

all spit and polish.

When do you go on furlough?

Not before you pay me that five bucks.

Five bucks?

Yeah, the five bucks I lent you to send

to your dear old father in Ireland.

Curious thing.

I don't remember it at all, at all.

Now, listen, you were cold sober

when you handed me that story.

Now, come on, let's have it.

Uh, Rudy, I...

I've got terrible news for you.

You'll have to wait a few months

till I can balance me assets

with me liabilities.

Maher!

You'll work out every chip of that

if it takes the rest of your life.

Me?

Yes, and I'm going to attend

to Corporal Heinz over there.

He'll do some time in the guardhouse for this.

Time? Time...

Is that all you'll do to him,

lock him in the guardhouse for a bit?

He's in the army. That's all I can do.

Come on. Get a broom. Get this up. Hurry up.

Get it up right now. Hurry up. Go on.

I will obey the orders

of the President of the United States...

I will obey the orders

of the President of the United States...

and the orders of the officers appointed over me...

and the orders

of the officers appointed over me...

according to the rules and articles of war.

according to the rules and articles of war.

Your second enlistment?

No, sir, my third.

This last year,

I've had a little tough luck.

I've been tending bar--

You?

Farm, sir.

You've had previous military experience?

Yes, sir.

Ja wol.

I welcome you men into the United States Army.

It's an army with a proud record

of devotion to peace, victory in war.

Here at West Point, you're at its very heart.

You'll be in daily contact with the cadets of the corps,

and your superiors will expect you

to conduct yourselves accordingly.

Questions?

Sir, I'd like to ask a question

about breakage.

If a man was to drop, say, a cannon--

Corporal Heinz.

Right face.

Forward. Column, right.

Uh, Captain, darlin',

we're going to be in grave trouble

if the British should suddenly--

Corporal Heinz!

All right, prisoner. Pick up your feet.

Good evening, Mr. Larson.

Are we back to mister again?

By the end of the last hop, we were Nell and Whitey.

This is another evening, but it's still young.

Good evening, Mr. O'Carberry.

Where's Peggy?

Isn't she here yet?

She left hours before the train.

Her father let her take the new automobile.

80 miles in one of those things

and driving at night.

She must be out of her mind.

You two go on. I'll wait here.

Go on, go on.

You'll miss the first dance.

O'Carberry is it?

There was a man by that name in Tipperary

once sold my father a horse.

My O'Carberrys

have been away from Ireland

a long time.

Good thing, too.

Yeah, the ones that stayed

are a bad lot.

The horse was a stolen horse.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Stolen from the police barracks,

all praise to him.

♪ Goodnight, gentlemen ♪

Goodnight, Whitey.

Goodnight, Nell.

♪ Goodnight, gentlemen ♪

Ahem.

Goodnight, then.

I'll write.

You been here all this time?

I'm still waiting for Peggy.

Well, if she's half the girl you tell me she is,

you've no cause to worry.

This is Marty Maher. Whitey Larson.

How do you do, sir?

If you have any trouble with horses,

drop around and see Marty.

He's in the infantry.

Well, naturally! He knows horses.

You don't think they'd put him in the cavalry, do you?

Well, come on, Jim. Five minutes to taps.

Goodnight, Marty.

Goodnight, sir.

Goodnight, Marty.

Goodnight.

Jim!

Peggy!

Oh, Peggy, darling,

I was so worried about you.

I was afraid you had an accident.

Oh, I had to spend the whole evening in a blacksmith shop

getting this thing fixed.

Peggy, I love you!

Jim!

Hey, Maher,

that cadet's off-limits.

Cadet, sir?

I see no cadet, sir.

I don't think that you do either.

MARTY: I never thought I'd live to see the day.

The time we'll have tonight.

You can walk through that village

in 20 minutes.

There's nothing to do.

MARTY: Me friend, Jim O'Carberry.

Walking punishment.

Corporal Heinz, permission to speak.

Take it easy, Marty. Take it easy.

Shoot.

I'm here to tell you to your face

you're a dirty informer.

All right, break it up.

Break it up.

Hey, that fellow with the right cross,

he's good.

He's good for 10 days in the guardhouse.

And him getting off scot-free...

I'll beat him to a pulp when I get out of this,

the dirty informer,

and you trying to lie out of it,

telling me you turned yourself in.

I'm sorry, Marty.

I did report myself.

I don't believe it.

At the hop, we're on our honor not to go off-limits.

I went. I had to report it.

You mean, you do something wrong and get away with it,

and nobody the wiser,

and then you have to go and tell them

that you broke the rules?

Well, that's it.

Only it's breaking your word that's the honor offense.

Even the commandant could see

how it happened.

Before I knew what I was doing, Peggy was in my arms,

and I was engaged to be married.

Engaged to be married.

Ah, the beauty of it.

It fills my heart with joy,

locked in a dungeon though I may be.

They're letting you out today, Marty.

What's the good?

They'll only think up some new persecution

to torment me poor soul.

Oh, you're to report to the Master of the Sword.

Master of the Sword?

Captain Koehler.

He's a swell officer.

Master of the Sword?

All right, get in here.

I'm Captain Koehler, Master of the Sword.

Maher, you're a rotten soldier.

No soldier at all.

Slovenly, undisciplined,

insubordinate, bad tempered,

and full of cute tricks.

While I'm Master of the Sword,

there will be no guardhouse rats around my cadets.

You like to use your fists, huh?

Yes, sir.

All right,

let's see you use them.

You mean I, uh...

I have permission to hit the captain?

You have permission to try.

Go ahead.

I'm interested in boxing,

not dancing.

I need a man, Marty.

Would you like to work for me?

That I would, Captain, darlin'.

All right, let's get a shower.

Good morning, Marty.

Where's Captain Koehler?

Captain Koehler?

Well, he's in the boxing room, ma'am.

Thank you.

Hello, dear.

She's a perfect jewel.

Marty, take over the boxing class.

Marty!

Sir!

The boxing class.

Attention!

At ease.

Attention!

At ease.

Quiet, now.

Now, the purpose

of your instruction in boxing

is threefold.

A cadet must learn to take punishment

as well as to give it.

We're training you to be officers

and preparing you

for positions of authority.

This being the case,

we don't pull our punches.

We'll now have a demonstration

of the value of footwork.

Mr. Lummox.

Mr. Lomax, sir.

Yes, well, Mr. Lomax,

would you get up into the ring, please?

Attention!

Well, now...

I will now give you the benefit of me experience.

You'll watch the position of the hands

and note the footwork.

Well, now, Mr. Lomax...

you now have permission to try to hit me.

Permission to speak, sir.

Go ahead.

Is that uniform regulation?

It's me issue, sir.

Of course, the tailor took a tuck here and there.

I always say, sir,

if a man's a soldier, he should look like a soldier.

Sure.

Sir, that foreign girl...

The what?

The greenhorn with Mrs. Koehler,

the one with the petticoats and the shawleen.

Oh, it's Mary O'Donnell.

She's our cook.

Good, too.

Is she indeed?

Sir, you know the devil himself

finds work for idle hands to do.

Now, you know I'm not a man

to go hanging around saloons.

What?

No, sir.

I'm sober, industrious.

Are you all right, Marty?

Yes, sir.

I was just thinking, sir,

if there was something I could do around the house

to help Mrs. Koehler. You know--

Well, I'll ask her. Thank you.

Not at all, sir.

Anything at all, at any time, sir.

You know, carpentry. I'm handy with the drains.

Fine, fine.

Thank you, sir.

Ah, you know,

this is very homey, Mary O'Donnell.

You icing the cake

and me cleaning the drains.

Well, like I was saying, us kids never learned our ABCs.

We learned our ZYXs,

because my father was always insisting

that we children learn the alphabet backwards,

like Z, Y, X, W, V, U, T, S, R, Q, P, O...

I'll wager you can't do that.

My father was a man of very strong opinions,

as many a bloody-nosed schoolmaster

has learned to his sorrow.

A cut of fresh-baked cake, a cup of black tea,

and a pretty girl to talk to.

A girl with a pretty voice, too,

supposing for all I know.

You can turn on the water now.

Did anyone ever tell you you're a pretty thing,

Mary O'Donnell, with your red hair

and your fine, big feet?

There's no girls in the world like an Irish colleen.

Tipperary?

Donegal?

You know, When first I laid eyes on you,

I found myself thinking, "There's a girl."

Look.

Look how fine it runs out,

and you don't have to worry anymore

about anything slipping down the drain,

because I'll be only too happy

to come back at any time at all

and clean it out again.

Oh, Mary!

Turn off the water!

Mary, turn it off!

You blasted idiot!

Who told you to--

Oh, my, your nice uniform...

I'm sorry, ma'am.

My remarks were not meant for you.

They were meant for that chowderheaded Mary O'Donnell.

Why, Marty Maher, I thought you two

were having such a nice visit

talking about Ireland.

Talking, did you say?

Talking?

To now I didn't think she could talk at all!

She's shy, Marty.

Why, she's just been telling me

what a fine workman you are.

Did she, now?

I wasn't sure

she even noticed I was here.

She told me

there are half a dozen things need fixing.

I was going to have a carpenter in,

but she insists

you can do it much better.

Honest, now?

Cross my heart.

In spite of the fact that your heart

seems to be on the right side,

Mrs. Koehler,

I'll stop by in the morning, ma'am.

Thank you, Marty.

Well, now, this is a happy accident.

I'd no idea I'd find you here.

No idea at all.

Do you come to watch the review

every Saturday?

I said,

do you come to watch the review

every Saturday?

That's my friend, Jim O'Carberry.

First captain, he is.

I'm like a father to him.

Come June week he'll be graduated.

They'll be married in the chapel,

him and his Peggy.

Jim and Whitey Larson have been after me

to stay for the wedding,

but...

I'll not be here.

I said, I'll not be here.

Me enlistment's up next week,

Mary O'Donnell,

and I'll be leaving.

There's some things

I'd like to talk over with you.

After the parade, we could get a boat

and go for a row on the river.

Captain Koehler

would be glad to give me a pass,

seeing as it's the last one I'll be asking for.

What do you say?

Would you look at that?

Sandwiches, apples, and bananas...

Ah, bisschen of cake.

Rudy Heinz!

Sir,

have I permission to speak?

Go ahead, Marty.

If you got down

on your hands and knees,

I wouldn't take a pass from you.

This is the last review you'll see.

Aren't you going to stay for the finish?

You are leaving next week, aren't you?

Sir, the way certain matters stand now,

I wouldn't think of leaving.

I'm on my way right now to re-enlist.

♪ October winds lament around ♪

♪ The castle of Dromore ♪

♪ But peace Is in her lofty halls ♪

♪ My loving treasure store ♪

♪ Though autumn leaves May droop and die ♪

♪ A bud of spring... ♪

Is that you with the terrible bronchitis,

Mary O'Donnell?

Now, you'll sit still, my girl,

and listen to what I have to say.

You're too empty-headed to see it,

but I've had the afternoon

to think it out.

You're the victim of a devilish plot.

Captain Koehler,

that beady-eyed horse thief,

him and his friends from Milwaukee

have got it all cooked up,

and the end will be yourself in the arms

of that knuckleheaded Corporal Heinz,

but I'll not have it.

I'm giving you your last chance.

I'll have just two words out of you, my girl,

and it'll be yes or no.

Now, what do you say to that?

I say yes--

And none of your beating around...

What's that you say?

I said yes.

You said yes?

The first word ever I hear out of you,

and it's yes.

Why would you never talk to me all the time

I was working my hands to the bone

just to be near you,

and why would you never even give me a hint before I went

and got in for another enlistment?

Captain Koehler told me not to.

Oh, he did, did he?

He said you were that full of arguments,

that we'd only fight if I talked to you,

and that'd be the end of that.

Full of arguments?

A sweeter man than me you'll never find,

and when did you ever hear me

utter a cross word,

you addlepated flibbertigibbet?

There you go, Martin Maher,

and before you've even as much as kissed me.

Before I've...

Mary...

there's something you've got to know.

What with one thing and another,

I've not been able to lay by much money.

We'll make out fine, Martin.

That we will.

We'll save our money

till we can go back to Tipperary

and buy McGinnerty's pub.

Back to the old country?

Where else?

With me old father

and me young brother, Dinny.

They'll be that proud of me fine, healthy wife.

Oh, but things are cruel hard

in Ireland now, Martin.

Things are cruel hard

for the poor everywhere, Mary,

but not for them who owns a pub

in a hard-drinking locality.

Martin, I'm happy here.

This is a fine, proud place.

Just being here,

just being the littlest part of it,

my heart's lifted up.

I'll tell you what.

I'll help you save the money,

and you can bring

your father and your brother

out here.

Here? Himself? The old man?

Him that's lived free all his life?

Bring him here to West Point

among the regulations--

It hasn't done you any harm, Martin Maher.

Captain Koehler says

that you're a better man for it.

Bragging about it, is he?

Oh, you know the new married quarters

over by the parade ground?

Well, he's arranged for us

to have one of the houses.

The truth?

You mean, with the electric lights

and the hot and cold and the...

How is it that he's fixing quarters for us

before I even...

Why, that Koehler.

Of all the underhanded,

conniving--

He and his wife put you up to this,

and there's the proof.

Is it sorry you are already,

Martin Maher?

It's sorry I'll never be,

Mary O'Donnell.

Ah, good evening to you, Mary O'Donnell,

woman of the house.

I've been going over the account

with that thieving bank,

and there's $300 missing.

Oh, Martin...

Wait a minute.

I've matters of importance

to talk over with you, madam.

$43.26 is all they say we've got,

and butter wouldn't melt in their mouths.

It was all your idea

putting the money in the bank.

If we'd left it

behind that loose brick--

Martin, I drew out the $300 myself.

Did you, now?

I did.

The money I was putting by

for our passage to Ireland?

I did.

Did you buy some diamonds, maybe,

or a grand piano?

That money...

Daddy-o...

Daddy-o.

Sure 'tis a thing out of my dreams

to look upon the face

of my beloved father again.

Since the day I turned my back

on the green hills of Ireland

and crossed the wild, wide sea,

I've prayed for this thing,

and now to see you here in me own house.

Blessed is the day that brings you here,

and blessed is the good woman

that I married,

with her scrimping and her scrubbing

and putting away the money...

Will you have the decency

to stop eating

while I'm offering you the welcome?

Go ahead, boy. Go ahead.

Dinny!

'Tis a grown man you are.

And 'tis proud I am to have you for a brother

with yourself that grand-looking.

Corporal stripes they are, Dinny.

He's just after being promoted.

Corporal, huh?

I was just thinking meself,

maybe I ought to join up too, huh?

That with your permission, sir.

That you will not.

Do you know what this here means?

Four years of my life in the ashcan

for each one of these.

It's off to New York in the morning

for you, bucko, to learn a trade.

A good bricklayer, a bad bricklayer,

Any bricklayer at all

makes more than they pay my boss,

and him a great leader of men,

a grand officer like Major Koehler, USA.

I had a talk with him today.

You did, did you?

And what did you have to talk about

with that beady-eyed horse thief?

Well, you might as well

face up to it, Martin Maher.

There's not a cadet in the Corps

that can't kick the stuffing out of you.

That blackhearted major tipped them off

to a few of my weak points.

He's taking you off the boxing.

What?

He wants you to have more time

for the football and baseball...

That's my pipe, Dinny.

And a fine pipe it is too.

and he thinks you'd make a grand instructor

for the swimming.

Instructor for the swimming?

Me that can't swim a kick.

Swim?

Why, that blackhearted--

Be quiet.

Martin, shut up.

Shh.

Do you have the Irish, woman of the house?

I have.

Then 'tis for you to say the words.

Martin!

And may God bless

this house that shelters us,

and may He bless this grand country

that offers us hope.

Amen.

Amen.Amen.

Swimming...

You be careful, Major.

Be careful, Major, darlin'.

Now, repeat your instructions.

In swimming,

there are four things to master...

confidence, timing,

relaxation, and breathing.

The breaststroke is the best--

Repeat your instructions!

In swimming,

there are four things to master...

confidence, timing, relax--

Maher, repeat your instructions!

How can I swim in all this water,

Major, darlin'?

Repeat your instructions!

In swimming,

there are four things to master--

Now, then,

in swimming,

there are four things to master...

confidence, timing, relaxation...

and breathing.

The breaststroke is best for swimming

with a pack and rifle on your back.

We execute the breaststroke

by the numbers.

You tired, mister?

No, sir.

All right, then. You're first.

Hey, come back here!

Come up out of there!

Just a minute, mister.

What kind of swimming was that?

The Australian crawl.

Oh, was it now?

And are you maybe an Australian?

Well, it's the fastest stroke there is.

So I've been told.

Shall I get you a pack and a rifle

and see how fast you'll swim with them on your back?

You'll swim the breaststroke here, boyo.

I was showing you I don't need swimming lessons,

so I can be excused.

Excused, is it?

You'll not be excused.

We'll need you for the swimming team.

With your permission, I'll talk to Major Koehler.

Well, you've not my permission.

You'll not be wasting the major's time.

I'm telling you.

Sorry, sir.

Go easy, Marty.

Sundstrom's had enough trouble.

And asking for more,

flaunting the authority I hold over him.

Marty, he's way behind in his studies.

Take it easy, Marty.

He plays football.

How many of you are left?

Five.

Well, half of you get in the water.

Hey, Marty--

Keep rubbing it, my boyo.

Keep rubbing it.

Corporal, I told you I'd talk to Major Koehler.

I'll save you time

and tell you what he'll say.

Sports here are a part of your training.

If you can make a team, you'll make it.

You'll swim, Mr. Sundstrom.

With those shoulders you've got on you,

you'll be out for football in the fall.

If I'm here next fall.

So you've decided

you don't like West Point, huh?

Look, I've wanted to come here

ever since I was that big.

Joined the regular army to get in.

Beat my brains out cramming for exams.

I didn't figure on the classwork.

I can't keep up,

not even if I work 24 hours a day,

but I won't wait to be busted out.

I'll resign,

go back to the ranks.

Well, now,

from the ranks, are you?

Look, now,

there's such a thing as over-training, you know.

What you need, my boy, is a change from the books.

My wife serves a stew and hot biscuits

fit for the saints in heaven.

A few ladles of Mary O'Donnell's stew

will do your classwork a power of good.

You'll be welcome for supper come Saturday night...

and no beans.

All right.

Marty, look.

I think it's working.

New fuzz.

Like peaches.

That's it. Keep rubbing it, boyo.

Keep rubbing it, morning, noon, and night.

In no time at all,

you'll have hair like an elephant.

Help!

Hey, he can't swim!

Well, now...

in swimming, there are three things...

I just don't understand it,

Mr. Sundstrom.

It isn't like Martin to be late.

Where the devil is Martin?

I don't know, Daddy-o.

Well, perhaps I could run down to the saloon and--

You will not.

Keep away from me stew.

Well, now, if you ask me...

I am not asking you.

you left out half the onions,

and the gravy's so thick

you could trot a mouse on it.

Oh, me buns.

They'll be destroyed.

Well, take them out, then.

I'll not be kept waiting in me own house.

Come to the table, Mr., uh...

Sundstrom.

God bless you.

What's your name?

Sundstrom, sir.

Oh, well, come on.

Do you smell

Mary O'Donnell's Donegal stew?

Look who I brought you.

Mary...

Kitty, me love.

Just happened to meet her

on my way home.

She kept me waiting

with her primping and her powdering.

Oh.

Miss Katherine Carter.

We call her Kitty.

May I have the honor to present Mr. Sundstrom.

What's your front name, Red?

James on the roster,

but it's been Red ever since I can remember.

Well, good evening, Red.

Well, come on, the two of you.

Sit down there.

Come on, dear.

All right, sir.

There you are. All right.

Sit right down.

Thank you.

Well, now, come on, come on.

Do we eat, or don't we eat?

You're coming out to help me.

Now, come on into the kitchen.

I made the mistake of telling her once

I was a waiter.

Never dropped a dish.

Me idiot son.

Oh, dear.

It's working.

Go on. Down with you.

You wouldn't believe it,

but Kitty's a college graduate.

She's teaching the youngsters

at the post school.

She's that bright.

Is that so?

When I was a lad,

a girl that cluttered up her head with education

was sure to turn out

flat-chested and with a squint.

Well!

What was that thing

you were going to stay in your room and study tonight?

Orthographic projection.

Ortho...

Whatever it is,

what will you bet

Kitty's got it all at her fingertips?

Well, the worst thing about higher math

is getting over the panic.

It's not so hard once you get confidence and relax.

How about cylindrical coordinates

or conic sections

or parametric equations?

Well, they're not too difficult.

Well, sure,

it's like swimming, for instance.

It's a matter of confidence, timing...

...relaxation and breathing.

Indeed now.

Well, if I can help you, Red--

Thanks, but I don't see how you could.

Now, now, now.

You and Kitty

can both work here in the house.

Did you know I can spell Massachusetts?

No...

You can start tomorrow.

It's Sunday,

and you've the day to yourself.

Well, I'm free tomorrow, if you are, Red.

Well--

Of course he's free.

Get your books

and meet her in the morning.

I'm not a case you're going to cure in one treatment.

I'm down in all of my subjects.

Once we start--

And once we start, we'll have to keep right on.

I'm not afraid.

You're sure you don't mind?

Oh, now, of course she doesn't mind.

She's only too happy to do it.

Isn't that right?

Right.

Well, that's settled.

It'll be a grave disappointment to me,

me girl, if this young fellow isn't up in his marks

and on with the football squad next fall.

Save me a piece of the cake.

Me young friend's about due.

Where do you go off to every evening?

I go walking with this young friend of mine.

A nice, young fellow he is.

Happy for a word of advice from me long experience.

Who is it?

I don't know.

Would you excuse us, please, a minute?

Certainly.

Sure.

It's a woman.

Great Gogarty.

It's the superintendent.

Thanks be to Gogarty. It's not a woman.

MARTY: I'll never forget that rainy day in 1913,

when, for the first time,

we played the little school from the far, far west.

Well, now,

good day to you, General.

Good day, Mr. Maher. Sit right here.

Thank you, sir.

Looks like a bad day for the Irish.

Are you a betting man, General?

I might make a little wager with you.

A dollar.

A dollar.

Ah, Notre Dame.

It's the name of a French church,

not a football team.

Did you get a bet down, Marty?

I finally managed.

$25. Even money.

Even money?

What did you do, find a lunatic?

My father.

Oh, sorry.

Army, time out.

Play ball.

Touchdown.

Man hurt.

It's Chuck.

Get in there, mister.

You all right, Chuck?

Put him right down there.

Doctor...

Get in there, Buck.

That left hand's weak.

There goes my chance for all-American this year.

In the second half, the sun come out,

and with it went my fortune.

71, 69, 32.

Time.

Dorais for O'Rourke, Rockne for Glennon.

All right, play ball.

Something happened never before seen in football.

Did you see that, sir?

It's illegal. It's a foul.

It's baseball.

It's legal, all right.

Is there something wrong?

A forward pass?

Red, get in there and break it up.

Touchdown!

Hey, Swede!

Rockne.

Overton.

Rockne, Dorais, Gushurst, Pliska...

The Fighting Irish?

Robbers! Thieves! Football? Football?

You dirty scoundrelly bunch of...

Good evening, Father.

Good evening, my son.

Let this be a lesson to you, my boy.

Betting against Holy Mother,

the church.

Attention.

At ease, men.

Well, gentlemen,

we came up against

a new kind of football today.

I'll say only this...

that I'd rather have you learn a lesson

than win a ball game.

When you become officers

and you're in combat,

the only thing that you can expect

is the unexpected.

Learn to deal with it.

If this game today taught you that lesson,

then I don't care what the final score was.

That's all, boys. Get your showers.

Half the sportswriters in New York

were in those stands today.

I don't want to read tomorrow's papers.

How is it with your studies?

Oh, don't worry, Marty.

I can squeak through the rest of the season.

And after this season?

After Mr. Walter Camp has maybe picked you

for an all-American?

Then what?

Major Koehler said to me the other day,

"Marty," he says,

"that Chuck Dotson's more than a good athlete.

"He's a good man.

He'll make a fine officer."

Did I hurt you?

What you did, or what you said?

Either.

That Colonel What's-his-name,

the one that teaches military engineering,

he tells me you'll not get by your midyears,

and I hear you're as far down in your other work.

You seem to talk a lot about me.

What a man's got on his mind,

he can't keep out of his mouth.

Did you come to West Point

to be a football player, Chuck,

or an officer?

It'd be fine if you could manage both,

but it's plain you can't.

You've worked me over enough, Marty.

I've made a bit of money

betting on Army

with you out there running touchdowns.

It'll not be the same without you.

Without me?

Major Koehler will think none the worse of you.

All you'll have to do is say to him,

"Major, I've been thinking it over.

"If I keep on with the football,

"I'll be busted out,

"so I've decided to quit the team

and get on with what's more important."

You'd better get dressed.

It's getting late.

Chuck, how's that ankle?

It'll hold up fine, sir.

Considering he won't be straining it

from now on.

Oh?

Major,

why do they have to be so hard with the studies?

Marty, this is West Point.

Yes, sir.

That's what Chuck was saying.

That's why he's quitting the team.

Sir, I--

I know, Chuck.

Go on. Get your shower.

We'll have a cup of coffee.

Mary, come have a look!

Dinny!

How are you, Mary?

It's not all yours?

Indeed, it is.

I was out seeing what it would do on the road

and before I knew, I landed up here.

Oh, but it's gorgeous.

Here, Mary. Come, have a run around with us.

Himself's waiting for his tea.

Is there enough for me?

We always have plenty.

There's no telling

when Martin will bring home a platoon of cadets.

Daddy-o!

Dad, look who's here,

and wait till you see his new motorcar.

I'll get the tea.

I was out for a spin in me new car, so I thought I'd come by-

I saw it!

It's a fine car. The power of 35 horses.

Oh, that's true, Jack.

It cost me a great deal of money.

Your head cold, Dennis?

No, sir... Oh.

Tuck it under the bed.

Is it your habit to go around

looking like a rum seller?

But Dad, I'm a businessman now.

My firm is doing general contracting--

Contracting what?

Get out of me way.

The tea's ready, Dad.

And about time.

He's doing wonderful, Dinny is.

That's true, Dad.

My firm is expanding--

Who gave you

permission to sit down?

I'm sorry, sir, sorry,

but it is true, Dad.

There's a place there for Marty, too.

I tell you,

it's the chance of a lifetime, Dad.

Sit down.

Yes, sir.

I've been too long in the army,

and what have I got to show for the years?

There's things a man wants his wife to have.

There's things I want my wife to have.

Even this furniture is government-issue.

Did you ever hear me complain, Martin?

Oh, we know that, but, look, Mary,

Marty here can make three to four times

his sergeant's pay the first year,

and after that--

If we stay here,

there's nothing to look forward to.

Year after year--

I tell you, Dad, there's no end

to the money a man can make.

Will you step into the other room, girl?

So you've nothing to look forward to, huh?

Well, I'll tell you what you've got to look forward to.

Sometime next spring, Martin,

your wife is going to bear your child.

A child?

A child.

And why is it for you to tell me?

Has she no tongue in her head?

God bless you, Marty.

A child!

Are you sure?

In the spring, do you say?

Will it be a boy or girl?

How the devil would I know?

Get on with you.

Come on.

Yes, sir.

Ever since I first set eyes on West Point,

ever since I first saw the young men of the Corps...

Sure, you told me I was a silly woman

for talking about it, but...

if our son should be born here,

where you've worked so hard...

After the time we've waited,

after what the doctor told you,

it's enough for me

that we're having a child at all.

I'm praying it will be a boy, Martin,

and who's to say one of these days

his name might be in the yearbook, too?

I'll pray with you.

You're a wonderful woman, Mary O'Donnell.

Oh, go on with you.

Oh, stop it, Red.

You're not the expectant father.

Will you sit down?

Mr. Sundstrom,

will you take charge of Marty, please?

Sit on his head if you have to.

Me, the father of it all.

Come on, Marty.

Confidence, timing, relaxation, and breathing.

Nothing to it.

This is no time for being funny.

Thank you.

You all right?

Fine.

I'm the grandfather of a boy

born about two minutes ago,

6 pounds, 11 ounces--

Oh, Martin...

Trust you to be the first to find out.

They make me stay here while you...

A boy!

Well, I'll just be--

I gave her a sedative.

She had a hard time of it,

but she's all right and the baby's fine.

You'll see them in the morning.

A boy.

Well, Marty,

you're the father of a son.

It's a great day.

Sure I'm on me way

to becoming an ancestor.

It's been a great strain on me.

Oh, listen, Red and I have to meet some people.

Bye-bye, Papa.

Goodnight, Marty.

Well, then,

we'll be needing our rest

after the great thing we've done this day.

Have you thought of a name for the boy?

You've all the saints to choose from.

Well, I had it in mind we'd name him after you,

with your permission, sir.

You have my permission, son.

Martin Maher III.

You'd better get yourself

a little rest.

I think I'll sit up a while, Dad.

Well, I think I'll go upstairs

and say me beads.

God bless you, my boy.

Good night, Dad.

♪ Come fill your glasses Fellows ♪

♪ And stand up in a row ♪

♪ To singing sentimentally ♪

♪ We're going for to go ♪

♪ In the army there's sobriety ♪

♪ Promotion's very slow ♪

♪ So we'll sing Our reminiscences ♪

♪ Of Marty Maher, oh ♪

♪ Oh, Marty Maher, oh Oh, Marty Maher, oh ♪

♪ The father of a proud cadet ♪

♪ Is Marty Maher, oh ♪♪

Marty, we all got together

and picked out a present for Martin Maher, Jr.

The Third.

Correction, Martin Maher III, the class of...

'36.

The class of 1936.

Since he's detained elsewhere this evening,

we...

we hope you'll accept this cadet saber for him.

May he wear it with pride

and with credit to his parents

and to the Corps.

Well...

Well, now...

Congratulations, Marty.

Congratulations.

That's great.

Congratulations,

Martin Maher, the First.

Wouldn't you all have felt silly

if it had been a girl?

I gave them me solemn promise it'd be a boy.

You'll find boodle in the kitchen,

and there's ice cream in the box there.

♪ Of men we can offer A charming variety ♪

♪ Far renowned For learning and piety ♪

♪ Still I'll advance you Without impropriety ♪

♪ Father O'Flynn Is the flower of them all ♪

♪ Here's a health to you Father O'Flynn ♪

♪ Slainte and slainte And slainte again ♪

♪ Proudest of creatures and tenderest teacher ♪

♪ And kindliest creature In old Donegal ♪

Now a jig.

Come on!

The police.

It's the doctor.

I was just saying to myself

a minute ago,

what would the celebration be

without the doctor?

You'll come in and join us, sir?

No, not right now, Marty?

Can I see you a minute?

Let's go, fellows.

♪ Come, I venture To give you me word ♪

♪ Never the likes Of his logic was heard ♪

♪ Down from theology into mythology ♪

Mother of God.

The poor little tiny thing.

But you said he was all right.

How...

How could he die so quick?

A baby, just a few hours old...

I've got to get over to the hospital.

No, Marty.

We're not going to tell her tonight.

She'll sleep through till morning.

I'm sorry, Marty.

Hey, you're off-limits!

Come on, Marty.

Let's get out of this.

Let's go, Marty.

Leave me be.

Let me alone.

You're off-limits, all of you.

And we're going to stay off-limits

until you come back with us.

Come on.

I'll take the flowers and put them in water for you.

10 minutes, Marty.

Thank you, sir.

Forgive me, Martin.

Forgive you?

Forgive you for what?

The doctor says...

that I can never have another.

Try to find it in your heart, Martin,

to accept the will of God.

Would you be moving my bed

up to the window, Martin,

so that I can look out?

It was a cruel, hard thing, Martin,

but we're so much better off than most.

We have so many fine boys here,

and it's almost as if...

or would they only be putting in mind

of the son we had for such little while?

Is that the way it is with you,

Martin Maher?

So that you wish

you could go away from here

and never have to look at them again?

This is no time to talk about it,

me just starting a new enlistment.

What I wish or what I don't wish...

That was the spring the Lusitania was sunk,

and all of a sudden, a lot of people wanted to know

how good the training was at West Point,

what kind of officers we were turning out.

They came and took a sharp look at the class of 1915.

Charles Edward Dotson.

Chuck Dotson.

Never did make all-American,

but he was well up in his class for graduation.

Timothy Aloysius Shannon.

Mike Shannon.

A fine river he was named after.

Vicente P. Lim.

Vicente P. Lim.

First cadet from the Philippine Islands.

Omar Nelson Bradley.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

George Edward Stratemeyer.

Congratulations.

James Alward Van Fleet.

Congratulations.

Joseph Taggart McNearny.

Congratulations.

Dwight David Eisenhower.

Congratulations.

1915...

Ah, that was the class the stars fell on.

The long gray line marched on.

The class of 1917 didn't wait for June week.

The country was at war,

and they were needed in a hurry.

Two days?

Two days!

Why, that's no honeymoon at all.

We'll have our honeymoon

when the war is over.

Marty? Marty!

Excuse me, Mrs. Sundstrom. Excuse me, ma'am.

May I have my first salute from you?

Second Lieutenant Overton, sir.

Bye, Marty.

Bye, Cherub.

Let's get rolling, Red.

Cherub wants to be

the first second lieutenant

into Berlin.

I'll be back by Wednesday, dear.

May I have a salute too, Marty?

So long, Marty.

Good luck.

Come on, Red. Bye-bye, Marty.

Will you stop your blabbering

at all the boys?

Martin Maher, you shut your mouth.

All aboard! Next stop, Berlin.

Bye, Mary!

Bye, Marty!

Bye-bye, Marty!

Bye, Mary!

Bye!

Bye!

There you are. I found you at last.

I've been all over the post.

Whatever happened

to my application for transfer,

Colonel, sir?

I've been meaning

to talk to you about this, Marty.

Instead of my disapproving it,

why don't you just tear it up?

Does the colonel think

I'm not soldier enough for the fighting?

You're needed here, Marty.

One of us has got to stay.

Lieutenant, my orders, please.

Yes, sir.

That does it, sir.

Thank you.

Orders--

I am to set up the training program

in all the new camps.

I can't even wait for my replacement.

You--You mean

there's to be a new Master of the Sword?

That's right,

and he'll need you

to keep things running for him...

while you break him in.

Your place is here, Marty.

I know I can trust you with our cadets.

Well, it was on my conscience, sir...

watching the... the young ones go off,

and me, a soldier trained.

Marty, nobody'll ever question the courage

of the Mahers.

Come here.

Age-- 42.

And a bit more.

Height-- six feet four and a half.

Right. That's correct.

Weight-- 200 pounds.

That's true. That's true.

Da...

Hmm?

Come along, Da.

Colonel Koehler wants you to stay here

and help me.

Oh.

Well, Tommy,

you know where to find me when you want me.

Sorry, Mr. Maher.

God bless you, young gentlemen.

God bless you, every one.

Hi, Marty.

It's a shooting war.

Babies.

I saw it, Martin.

Such a nice little fellow.

Too small to make the football squad,

so he carried the water bucket.

Rudy Heinz, too, Sergeant Major Heinz.

Kitty, darling!

Mary, dear.

Martin. Martin, will you look who's here!

Martin, dear.

Oh, you look fine!

Do you have any news from Red?

It's good to be home.

Take Kitty's bag and put it upstairs in the spare room.

Oh, Martin, would you put a cushion behind Kitty's back?

I don't need a cushion. I'm just fine.

Now, what do you hear from Red? Go on, now, Martin.

Tell me, now, about New York.

Did you have a nice place to stay?

Martin, would you set the table for the tea, please?

An apartment. I want you to come in and see it

one of these days.

Oh, there's a terrible draft on Kitty's back--

No, no, keep the door open. I like fresh air.

And the shawleen over here.

Put it around her knees

and make her real comfortable.

Oh, Mary, now, really, I'm very fine.

Kitty, I'd like to ask just one question.

What do you hear from Red?

Will you put the water on for the tea?

I only have two hands, woman.

What would you like me to do first?

Get rid of that stinking pipe.

You ought to know better.

I love the smell of his pipe.

Now, about Red. Tell me, Kitty.

Tell me, what do you hear from him?

I had a letter from him a week ago,

and he and Cherub Overton spent a weekend in Paris.

Can you imagine Cherub Overton in Paris?

Oh, that baby.

Tell me, love, did you walk all the way from the station?

Should you be doing that now?

Well, of course!

Walking's good for me, quoth the doctors.

Doctors, hmph!

New York. Oh, Mary.

Is that a place to be raising a baby?

I'm not looking that far ahead.

Why, who knows where Red'll be ordered

when the war is over?

You know, he was stationed in Honolulu

while he was an enlisted man,

and he's hoping that we'll be sent out there.

Just think of it, Mary.

The sun and all those palm trees.

Now, tell me,

where's himself, Old Martin?

Oh, he's working overtime, he is!

Working?

Yes. A new batch of horses came in.

With Major Gillis away,

it's up to him to see that nobody cheats the academy.

Don't forget to get the cookies

out of the icebox, Martin.

Oh, I'll bet Old Martin was never happier.

You know, himself does the work of two young men.

You'd think that if he stopped for a minute

the kaiser would have us surrounded.

Well, I'm glad I'm not the kaiser about now.

I've had that Blackjack Pershing after me,

and it's a very uncomfortable feeling.

Martin, now, don't forget the cakes

and the cookies, and put on the tea.

Tea, cakes, cookies...

and me boys over there, fighting.

What are you doing with me convenience?

But, Mary, the armistice has been signed!

The war's over, Mary, The war's over!

Thanks be to God.

Take it away.

You can burn the whole house.

Get it on with you.

Oh! Oh, just a minute.

Mary, what the devil you doing down there?

Oh...

Take it away!

Martin!

Martin...

Oh, Mart...

Oh, mother of God.

The finest young men in the world.

We bring them here...

train them, teach them...

duty, honor, country.

Then send them out to be killed.

I'll have no more to do with it!

Kitty and the baby. We must go to them.

Can you get a pass, Martin?

I've got furlough time coming up.

After that, my enlistment will be over.

We'll go see Kitty, and we won't come back.

That's enough of your wild talk, Martin.

I never talked saner in my life, sir.

Dinny'll have a job for me.

I'll call him to come up and get us in the morning.

We'll find a little place in the city

for the three of us.

I'll not go with you.

I slept me first night in America on this post,

and I'll sleep me last night here,

and if they've got a bit of ground in the cemetery,

I'll rest happy sleeping at West Point forever.

I ask for your blessing, Daddy-o.

You'll always have that, my boy.

Subsist. Subsist.

Ah, sure, he's grown so big.

God bless you.

Look!

He's got a grip on him too.

Why, he's the spitting im--

Payment in full for Red's life, Marty.

This came special delivery

from Senator Hale.

Everyone's been so kind.

It was in all the papers.

I got letters

from people I don't even know.

Flowers, even.

Do you know what this is, Kitty?

It's an appointment to the academy

for the son of Captain James N. Sundstrom

effective at such time as he may be ready

to follow in his father's glorious footsteps.

Oh, he must be a kind and understanding man that--

What right has he

to decide my son's life for him?

They took his father. That's enough.

They didn't take his father, Kitty.

Red worked hard to get to the Point,

and harder to stay there.

He became what he always wanted to be,

a professional soldier--

And professional soldiers are...

are trained to die, is that it?

No, they're trained to do a job, Kitty.

Now, some die young, and some don't,

but they all give their lives

for their country.

They're ready when they're needed.

They set the example...

and their wives, Kitty.

Yes, their wives must set the example too.

I wanted little Martin to go to the Point.

There was no time, Mary.

Not even in letters.

If I only would have known what--

what Red would want--

Ah, sure, you don't have to

make up your mind now, love.

Not today or tomorrow or even next year.

No. Look, I'll tell you what.

Mary and me'll stay over the night

in New York,

and tomorrow morning,

you come back to the Point with us.

You pay us a nice, long visit.

You and the little fella, huh?

You'll have to call Dinny, Marty.

Of course. He'll drive us up,

and I'll have to ring up that blackhearted...

Major Whitney,

filling in as Master of the Sword,

and see what inducement he'll offer me

to re-enlist.

With the oath I will now administer,

you will become members

of the United States Corps of Cadets.

Raise your right hand.

Repeat after me.

I...

I...

Say your name.

James N. Sundstrom, Junior.

Do solemnly swear

that I will support the Constitution

of the United States...

Do solemnly swear

that I will support the Constitution

of the United States...

And bear true allegiance to the national government.

And bear true allegiance

to the national government...

That I will maintain and defend the sovereignty

of the United States...

That I will maintain and defend

the sovereignty of the United States...

And that I will at all times...

And that I will at all times...

Obey the legal orders of my superior officers...

Obey the legal orders of my superior officers...

and the rules and articles

governing the armies of the United States....

And the rules and articles

governing the armies of the United States...

Say "I do."

I do.

Marty?

Ah, Red, me boyo.

Mr. Dumbjohn. Halt.

Hmm, sloppy posture.

How's the cow, Mr. Dumbjohn?

Sir, she walks, she talks, she's full of chalk.

The lacteal fluid extracted from the female--

All right, let's have the definition

of leather, Mister.

If the fresh skin of an animal,

cleaned and divested of all hair, fat,

and other extraneous material be immersed--

Mr. Dumbjohn, forward, march.

Hi, Marty.

Ah, Gentlemen, gentlemen.

You're wasting your time

with that plebe, gentlemen.

I taught him all the tricks meself.

Just like I taught you, Mr. O'Carberry,

and your father before you,

and his father before him.

and you too, Mr. Shannon,

and your father and his grandpappy,

God rest his soul.

So long.

See you, Marty.

Bye bye. Bye bye. See you later, now.

MARTY: Four proud and happy years, those were...

watching young Red grow from a plebe

into a first classman to make your heart beat high.

Why did you have to go and sit down again?

Take your pants off, love,

and I'll press them for you again.

Trousers, and I haven't got time.

I'm in charge of the hop committee.

Will you please hold still, Red?

Good night, Mom. Good night, Mary.

Good night, Marty.

Yea, though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.

Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

I've been asked to make an announcement.

At dawn today,

Japanese aircraft attacked Pearl Harbor.

While there's been no official word,

it is assumed the United States

is now at war with Japan.

♪ Our fathers' God to thee ♪

♪ Author of liberty ♪

♪ To thee we sing ♪

♪ Long may our land be bright ♪

♪ With freedom's holy light ♪

♪ Protect us by thy might ♪

♪ Great God our king ♪

♪ Amen ♪

Marty...

Marty, I've got to talk to you.

Get on with it, boyo.

It can't be as bad as all that.

On my Thanksgiving leave, Marty...

Carol and I were married.

I must have been crazy.

The whole thing was crazy.

Listen, Marty, we were only married four days.

Then her parents had it annulled.

I'm not married now.

You broke your oath.

But an annulment.

The law says the marriage never existed.

It makes no difference.

You've the honor code to face up to.

How could you take your fine career

and throw it in the gutter?

You of all the cadets that ever lived.

Maybe because it was all handed to me, Marty.

I didn't come to West Point

like the rest of them.

They dream about it when they're kids,

and they work and plan

and sweat out the appointment--

Like your own father did.

If they haven't got what it takes,

they're washed out.

The ones that get through

know what the Point means.

I guess I didn't.

Until now, huh?

Marty, this is my last year,

and now, with the war,

they're sure to speed up graduation.

Once we're in combat---

It's between you and your conscience, Red.

You'll have to decide what's the best to do.

You'd better be getting back.

You'll be late for your formation.

Yes, love.

You're coming right over?

Martin and I'll be waiting for you.

Fine. Bye.

What is it? What's the matter?

It's Kitty, Martin.

She's coming right over.

She sounds like she's worried, maybe.

You've not been telling her about Red?

I have not. I have not, indeed,

but you've had me half distracted

this whole week

with the worry that you'd go

blathering it out yourself.

It's over and done with, Martin Maher.

The marriage has been annulled,

and there's no need

for anybody to be knowing anything about it!

Do you hear me? It's over and done with.

I know about it, Mary,

and my heart's like a lump of lead.

I...can't even look the other cadets in the eye.

I'll not stay here

and see him walk up and take his commission.

Him that's dishonored himself.

I'll not do it, do you hear?

I'll not have it on my conscience.

I'll put in for retirement,

and I'll tell Red why.

Martin Maher,

that boy has been like me own son,

everything that I wanted my son to be,

and if you do him any harm,

if you harm one hair on his head, I'll...

I'll never forgive you.

Hello, Mary.

Mother of God.

Red...

It took me quite a while to decide.

Then I had a long talk with Mother,

and a short talk with the commandant,

and a few words with the recruiting sergeant.

I'm very proud of him, Marty.

You're proud of him.

I'm a prize recruit.

A letter goes with me

that says I don't need basic training.

I'm ready to ship out.

Yes, well, this calls for a celebration,

a cup of tea or--

If I miss my train, I'll be AWOL.

Wait just minute. I'll put on me clothes.

I'll go to the station--

There's no time, Marty.

But subsist, man, subsist!

Goodbye, Mary.

Wait a minute.

The recruiting sergeant gave me a tip.

He said the main thing in the army

is not to start off in trouble.

Yes. It-- It was on the tip of me tongue

to-- to give him the same advice myself--

I remem--

Goodbye, Marty.

Hi, Marty.

Good afternoon.

VIPs.

Oh, VIPs, is it?

Sir, the brigade is formed.

Thank you, gentlemen.

The review is about to begin,

but first I'd like to have you see this plaque

to Colonel Koehler.

The first Master of the Sword. A what?

Master of the Sword.

Established a fine tradition here.

Oh, and there is Sergeant Marty Maher,

who has done a great deal to carry it on.

Hello, Marty.

Good afternoon, sir.

Now, gentlemen, if you will step this way,

I think the review is about to begin.

You work here, Pops?

Aye, I do, sir.

Did it ever occur to you,

as an American citizen with a vote,

that a place can be so overgrown with tradition

that it loses touch with reality?

How was that again, sir?

I'm talking about tradition.

Why, those same silly uniforms have been worn

for over a hundred years.

Now, it's time for more realism here

and less tradition.

Why, man, we're at war!

Our boys are dying in battle.

Pardon me, sir, but how old are you?

Why, 42.

I'm the youngest governor in the United States.

Oh, you don't say so, sir.

I do.

Youngest...

Who do you think is leading our men in battle,

and I mean leading them?

Standing out there under fire, saying, "follow me."

Where else would the West Pointers be,

when there's dying to be done?

And who's making the plans, directing the war?

Eisenhower, let us say.

Douglas MacArthur, Joe Stilwell,

Omar Bradley and Georgie Patton.

Do you think generals like that just happen?

They do not. They're made.

They're made, Mr. Alderman,

or Tax Collector!

They're made right here at West Point!

What's your name?

Martin Maher, sir...

and you'll find the name in the book.

There's no use

glaring at me like that, Colonel, darling.

You'd have said the same thing yourself.

Mary...

Mary O'Donnell...

Well, what are you doing out of bed?

What are you doing all dressed?

I'm going to the parade.

Are you out of your head altogether?

That walk and the climb back up the hill after.

The doctors--

Doctors? I want to go, Martin.

But it'd be half over before we got there.

Ah, you'd not enjoy it.

The place is crawling with governors

and aldermen and dogcatchers and...

All right, Martin.

Tell me now,

what is it that you've been up to?

Well...

Nothing that I'm ashamed of.

That youngest governor, what's-his-name.

Sneering at the academy, he was,

and nobody but me to tell him

what he's too blind in his eyes to see,

so I told him.

I'll remind you what himself used to say,

Old Martin.

There's a time and a place for assault and battery.

Well, I'll not take back a word.

Let him go and report me to the superintendent,

and he will too,

as fast as his hands and knees'll carry him.

There. That's right.

Take off the hat, now.

What is it, Mary, darling?

Help me out to the porch.

But shouldn't you go back to bed?

Help me, Martin Maher.

Come along now.

Let me put this here.

Now, sit down.

There you are.

Lean back, comfortable like.

I'll-- I'll go get your medicine

and the shawleen,

and I'll be right back.

Mary...

Mary O'Donnell.

Hey, Merry Christmas, Marty!

Merry Christmas, Marty!

Well, come in. Pirelli, Kennedy.

Hope you don't mind our barging in on you.

Oh, that's quite all right.

I wasn't expecting visitors.

Well, it's a business call, Marty.

We're the press.

A special football number of The Pointer.

A review of last season, prospects for next year.

Oh, fine, fine.

Well, you'll have to pardon the poor house.

It isn't as spick-and-span as--

Hey, Marty, what's burning?

Och, the eggs! Oh, my gosh.

Oh, now, wait a minute, boys.

I can do that very well.

Sit down, Marty. We'll handle the K.P.

Oh, but I don't need any help.

Marty, you're going to pick us

an all-time army football team.

An all-time army football team?

Right.

You mean from the beginning

down till now?

Mm-hmm.

I'm sure that'll start a Donnybrook.

We'll run it in the front-page box,

Marty Maher's All-time Team.

Well, it's a fine way to make 11 friends

and 10,000 enemies.

Keep out of that, Mr. Pirelli.

I can do that very well.

I don't need any help.

I grew up doing this in my old man's delicatessen.

Where's the bread?

Right over here.

Now, if-- Ah, thank you.

If he were only here to argue with,

Colonel Koehler would--

Colonel Koehler? Who's he?

Colonel Koehler?

Hey, Marty!

Merry Christmas, Marty!

We're in the kitchen, and wipe your feet.

For quarterback, now, Charley Daly's my man.

D-A-L-Y.

Merry Christmas, Marty!

Oh, Merry Christmas, Mr. Dotson.

Merry Christmas, Mr. Stern.

What is all this?

Present for you from Dad in Belgium.

For me?

It's a Dotson family custom

to give presents Christmas Eve.

Well, now.

This wouldn't be one of those booby traps,

would it, Mr. Dotson?

Well, let's see.

Och...

Look at that.

Boy, it's a beauty.

Sure is.

Think of him taking time

to send me a present from Belgium,

and him with a division to command.

Well, now, where was I with me selections?

Charley Daly.

Charley Daly!

Charley Daly's me all-time quarterback.

40 years, and never a man touched him since.

Hey, how about my old man?

That's just what I mean, I'm treed like a toad.

Your father, Chuck Dotson,

would have made all-American but for me,

but then, who'd be commanding that division?

Halfbacks, now.

Paul Bunker, and I'll have no arguments,

and Elmer Olliphant.

Take it down, lad, O-L- L again, I-P-H-A-N-T.

Come in, whoever you are.

And wipe your-- Hey, Pete...

Yo.

And Red Cagle. We can't leave him out.

You got visitors, Marty.

Big brass, Marty.

Big brass...

Big brass, you say?

Who could that be? The superintendent?

Who could it be? Georgie Patton?

Casey Widemyer, perhaps.

Merry Christmas, Marty.

We've come home, Marty.

What can I say, and the tears in my throat?

You look fine, buckalo. Just fine.

Take your coat, Sergeant?

Mrs. Sundstrom?

Thank you.

Thank you. There's my bag.

Thank you, son.

Thank you.

Tell me...Are you home for long, boy?

It's just a convalescent leave.

As soon as my leg's fixed up, I ship out again.

The Pacific, maybe.

Professional soldier, Marty.

I've, uh...been saving these.

I wanted you to pin them on me, Marty.

Captain's bars?

Attention!

Battlefield commission, Marty.

Well, I--

Would you look at that?

Come on, Marty,

sit down here in your favorite chair.

No, I don't--

Oh, now, you're going to sit down.

Red'll sit down, too. Sure. Come on, now, lean back, there

You comfy now? I'm fine, thank you.

Pillow.

Pillow! Pillow!

Come on. Hurry. Oops!

I don't want the pillow.

Put your head back now.

Martin Maher, when was the last time you ate?

Well, I had a little--

You-- Pirelli, ma'am.

Mr. Pirelli, hit that chow line.

You, K.P.

Holy Moses.

On the double, quick. Everyone.

Oops. Come on.

No, no, Kitty, I don't want the shawl.

Yes, you will do it.

Come on in with the tree now.

Merry Christmas!

Put it right here on the floor.

Wait a minute. I don't want a tr--

I wanted it.

I haven't had one in a long time.

The ornaments are down here

underneath the cellar stairs,

and you'll find them in a box

called "Bushmill's Irish Whiskey."

Bring it up, will you?

Coming through.

Come on, now, get that food, now,

because he needs it real badly.

Oops, be careful with the coffee here.

Come on!

Chuck, will you bring those ornaments, please?

Hurry up!

Marty, now, come on, put the bars down.

Here are the ornaments. Come on, let's go.

Here we are.

♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells ♪

♪ Jingle all the way ♪

♪ Oh, what fun it is to ride ♪

♪ In a one-horse open sleigh ♪

♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells-- ♪

Oh, wait a minute! Wait a minute.

♪ Come, fill your glasses Fellows ♪

♪ And stand up in a row ♪

♪ To singing sentimentally ♪

♪ We're going for to go ♪

♪ In the army there's sobriety ♪

♪ Promotions very slow ♪

♪ We'll sing a Merry Christmas ♪

♪ To Marty Maher, oh ♪

♪ Oh, Marty Maher, oh ♪

♪ Oh, Marty Maher, oh ♪

♪ We'll sing a Merry Christmas ♪

♪ To Marty Maher, oh ♪

So, you see, sir, it's been my whole life.

Everything that I treasure in my heart,

living or dead,

is at West Point.

I-- I wouldn't know where else to go.

I have West Point on the phone for you, sir.

You talk to them, Chuck.

Find out what the snafu is up there.

Yes, sir.

I-- I've taken up a great deal of your time, sir.

I hope I'll always have time

for old friends, Marty.

Thank you, sir.

Come and see me again.

Okay, Buck. Fast as we can.

See you.

Oh, Here. I almost forgot.

Tell him to rub this in well, morning, noon and night--

Did you have permission

to leave the Point?

No, sir. I didn't even--

Even sign out?

Well, I was that excited, you know--

What are you, a recruit?

You're AWOL.

Chuck, Chuck...

I'll have to fly you back to save that fool neck.

Let's go.

It's that blackhearted Master of the Sword.

Director of Physical Education.

Airfield.

Now, wait a minute--

You should know enough by this time

not to absent yourself without leave.

Sir, I don't understand--

Come with me.

Present...arms!

Listen, sir.

The tune they're playing.

It's the tune--

This is for you, Marty.

The cadets asked for it.

You're at attention, Marty.

Yes, sir.

It's been a great day for Marty.

It's been a great life for Marty.

If only Old Martin and Mary were here.

They are here...

and the others.