Original subtitles

(cars on the highway)

- Don't you like hospitals?

- Only when I'm sick.

I wonder who gets to use this place?

- Any American GI, any war.

- For free?

- Huh uh, everybody here is paid in full.

(soft orchestral music)

- City of wheels.

I wonder how you act around them?

- Like a human being.

- Come on Frank, we're gonna be late.

Let's go.

- So go.

- Come on Madera, knock it off, they want to get by.

- Tell him you're blind.

- I've had him.

- You all right?

- What's that for?

Want to do your good deed for the day?

Maybe you'd like to wipe my nose, too?

- You're big enough to do that yourself.

- I'm big enough for a lot of things.

(gentle orchestral music)

The thought was sweet.

I'll remember you in my prayers.

- Wipe the blood off before you get in the car.

- Cut me up pretty good, huh?

- I guess he didn't want your help.

- I want to apologize for my idiot friend.

He was out of line as usual.

- Well, I guess I should have known better.

- These babies become part of us.

There's not much we can't do with them.

My name's Matt Hicks.

- Uh, Murdoch, Buz.

- Stiles.

- They call me Smudge.

You fellows looking for someone?

- Yeah, the VA in town sent us out to be interviewed.

- [Smudge] Oh, where you gonna be at?

- I'm supposed to be in the Red Cross section,

and he's gonna be at the

pool. - Pool.

- My two favorite hangouts.

- [Buz] Well then maybe you can tell us where they are.

- The pool's around the back,

and the Red Cross is in the recreation hall,

down the end of this road and to the right.

- Thanks.

- I hope you get lucky.

- [Buz] Thanks sir, we'll see you around, huh?

- Oh, I'll be here.

- Well, why don't you keep the car?

You can drop me.

(dramatic orchestral music)

Try not to drown, could be embarrassing.

- Yes?

- You mind?

- Be my guest.

- Let's see the sassafras goes right in there,

and we'll close the thingamajig,

and put some of this jazz in there,

and close the whatchamacallit,

and take up some of the slack,

and now the whole thing should

blow up.

Shall we give it a go?

- Why not?

(projector whirring)

- It never did that before.

- You're crazy, but I like you.

- Can I get the job?

- Are you the replacement?

- I am indeed.

- Well you are hired.

- Okay, what do I do?

- What you did just now, just keep this thing going,

and show movies to the bed patients on the ward.

- Are you the boss?

- Do you mind?

- You'd have to be out of your head to mind,

when do I start?

- Two minutes ago.

- My name is Midge Duran.

- Tod Stiles, and boss lady

I think I'm going to enjoy working for you.

(water splashing)

- You handle yourself really well.

When can you start?

- Well, when do you need me?

- As soon as you dry off.

(bright orchestral music)

- Hey, you're getting better all the time.

How do you feel?

- Like I ran 10 miles.

- Want to call it a day?

- No, I think I'll try one more time.

- [Pool Supervisor] Murdoch, give me a hand

over here will you.

- Rog, you work like you're getting paid by the hour.

- Frank?

Excuse me.

About last night, can we forget it?

- I already have.

- I'm glad.

If I see you tonight?

- Sure, you'll see me.

I'm not going anywhere.

- I mean about our date.

- [Frank] Haven't you had enough?

- No.

No, I haven't.

- Well, I have.

You said, forget about last night,

well I say, forget about tonight,

and all the tomorrow nights,

because there aren't gonna be anymore for us.

- Any good reason?

- Yeah,

two good reasons.

(tense orchestral music)

- Lori,

right now, the way he is,

he's not worth what you're going through.

- That's what I keep telling myself.

(shouting)

- So water basketball, how does it work?

- Well you can paddle with the ball or pass it.

You get two points for a basket,

one if you hit the backboard.

- What about fouls?

- What about 'em?

- Well look who's here, if it isn't mama's little helper.

You the new boy here?

- Yeah, I'm the new boy.

- They really pick 'em.

- What is that supposed to mean?

- Just what it says.

It means I'm sure you'll be an inspiration to all of us.

(whistling)

- [Pool Supervisor] Let's go.

- Well, you gonna help poor little old me in the water?

Mister boy scout?

- If you want me to.

(splashing water)

(players shouting)

That's a pretty tough game.

A man has to be in good shape to hold his own, huh?

- These fellows are.

In the water they're the equal of any man.

Sometimes better.

- I believe it.

Especially that one, he plays for keeps.

- [Pool Sup] Tough nut.

- Who is he?

- Frank Madera,

fighter pilot, served in the Pacific in Korea, 28 kills.

- Is that the way he got uh?

- Not then.

He got it last year in the reserves,

putting in flight time,

tire blew out when he was landing.

One of those things.

- That's a tough way to get it.

- Any way's a tough way.

What counts is how you handle it.

- Seem to be handling it all right.

- Yeah, 99% of them handle it fine.

They accept and live with it.

It's that other 1% that tears you up.

Go real sour.

- Hi, they keep you busy?

- Earned my paycheck.

- How'd it go?

- Well, I got a lot to learn but,

how'd it go with you?

- Same here, but I like it.

- Yeah, so do I.

- You didn't feel that way, this morning.

- Well, this morning I didn't know much about this place.

You know, I was just here for the buck and that's it.

- And now?

- I feel I can do some good,

and I kind of like the feeling

that what I do is appreciated.

- I know what you mean.

(bright orchestral music)

- Hey Frank, remember me, your long lost buddy?

(bright orchestral music)

- Think you can handle this place by yourself?

- Why?

- Figured I might take tomorrow off.

- I don't know.

- He can handle it, Dan.

- Oh, I don't know.

- I wouldn't have asked.

- Well, what's for tomorrow?

- A couple of boys in for their exercises, and the game.

That's about it, shouldn't be any trouble.

- And if there is?

- Take care of it.

- Thanks.

- Frank?

(romantic orchestral music)

- Would you two lovely ladies kindly consent

to share a table with a poor lonely soul?

- Shall we make him happy?

- Why not?

- It's that lonely bit that does it every time.

- Lori Barton, Tod Stiles.

- Hi.

- He works for me.

- You see what happens when you give a woman

a little authority over a man,

and right away she grinds him into the ground.

They lose all feminine identity.

- I can be very plainly identified as a female,

when the occasion demands.

- Prove it.

- How?

- Tonight, dinner, dancing, cocktails, et cetera?

- I like everything but the et cetera.

- Agreed, is it a date?

- Agreed.

- Good.

If we just ignore him, maybe he'll go away.

Is there something you want, fella?

- An introduction.

- I never saw him before.

- Can I sit down?

- No. - Thank you.

- I'm Buz Murdoch.

- Lori Barton, Midge Duran.

- You told me he was your best friend,

aren't you even gonna ask him to join us for lunch?

- Well, he usually doesn't join the peasants.

He has his private dining room off the pool.

- Well in this case I'll make an exception.

- Miss Duran has agreed to have dinner with me tonight.

- Great, why don't we chaperone?

- I have to work late, but I'd be happy to join you later.

- Believe me you are a very lucky guy.

- I believe you.

(exit orchestral music)

(big band music)

- Let's face it, she stood you up.

Now why don't you finish your drink

and take a cab home and suffer there.

- You know, that's why I call him friend,

because he's got such understanding and sympathy.

- I just can't stand to see you unhappy,

it spoils my whole evening.

- Selfish, don't worry,

Lori is not the type to stand anyone up.

- So that makes me feel better.

- Now why don't you make me feel better.

How about a dance?

Oh, incidentally, if she doesn't show up,

I'll let you have one quick dance with Midge,

before you leave.

- Thanks a lot.

- You got a problem?

Maybe I can help.

- No thanks, I can manage.

- Well I hate to see a lady with a problem.

Suppose we have a drink and talk about it?

- No thanks.

- Oh come on doll, I'm Ben.

We're all out for a few laughs.

Could be I'm the guy who could give 'em to ya.

- Hi. - Hi.

- Standing here long?

- No, I just came in.

- Well, we've got a table over there, come on.

(club dance music)

Oh, would you like something to drink?

- Whatever you're having.

- One of these for the lady, and two more for us, okay?

You know you, well you started to have me a little worried.

- What do they say?

I got hung up at the office?

I'm sorry.

- Oh, it's okay.

You look very, very.

- Thank you, kind sir.

- It's funny, you know a minute a go,

I was the saddest guy here, and now,

I got this silly grin on my face.

- It's a nice grin, don't change it.

- Hi Lori.

- How are you, Midge?

- Didn't I tell you not to work?

- I thought we were gonna have to lug

this tired old body around all evening.

- I'll see what I can do about taking him off your hands.

- Well why don't you start right now, by a dance, huh?

- I'd love to.

- Well, now I think this party's really gonna start to roll.

- He couldn't have picked a nicer girl.

- Why he could have picked you.

- A remark like that will get you somewhere.

(swinging band music)

(band music and club noise)

- Enjoying yourself?

- Sure am.

It's the most fun I've had in a long time.

- Well, why don't we do this again then?

Maybe tomorrow night?

- Why don't we enjoy tonight first?

Do you mind if we sit down at the table?

(big band music)

- Did you know she was gonna be here?

(crowd applauding)

- No.

- Well, let's get out of here.

We'll go someplace else.

I know a dozen spots.

- Relax Smudge, I like it here.

- Relax, the man says.

- You want to talk about it?

- It's personal Buz, it's got nothing to do with you.

- Care to finish this dance with me?

- No, thank you.

- I dance a lot better than your friend here.

- The lady said she didn't want to dance.

- If you back off a little,

maybe I can get her to change her mind.

- If you make me stand up,

I'll put you in the hospital.

- Sure friend.

You don't have to get nasty about it.

- There's always one in the crowd,

and always at the wrong time.

(one person clapping)

- Bravo, well done.

You have protected your lady fair

without causing her the slightest embarrassment.

- Come on, come on, knock it off.

- I drink to you, oh great protector of womanhood.

- I'm sorry, Buz.

- What happened?

- Give me the keys to the car, I'll explain to you later.

Remember me?

- I'm sorry Buz.

He just drained all the fun out of the evening.

- Well come on, I'll take you home.

- You're nice people Buz but,

I don't want any more problems tonight.

- No problems.

- Okay.

- Here you are for your trouble.

The car's over there.

I'll put the top up.

- All right.

- You hungry?

- No, but I'd like to go for a drive.

- Any special place?

- No, just drive.

(restrained orchestral music)

- Look, I've got a long nose.

Tell me,

is he your guy?

- He's nobody's guy.

That's the way he wants it.

- But that's not the way you want it, right?

- I don't know how I got into this.

When he first came here, it was strictly nurse-patient.

All he wanted to do was get well.

Then they told him he'd never walk again.

He took it hard.

I think he could have taken even that if.

Frank was married.

His wife came to see him a few times.

He lived for those visits.

Then they stopped.

It wasn't very long after that, that he got, the letter.

She wanted a divorce.

All she had left was pity.

He was so alone,

I wanted to help.

We dated a few times.

And then one night,

he held me in his arms,

kissed me.

I'm too old to play games, Buz.

I love hard and it shows.

That's when he changed.

- Look, when I guy like, like Madera

who's gone through much pain,

as much pain as he has,

he's not about to go looking for more.

- I don't blame him.

But I don't want to get hurt anymore either.

I won't get hurt anymore.

I've given notice, I'll leave at the end of the week.

- Have you told him that?

- What difference would it make?

- Where you going?

- Another city, another town.

Anywhere that's far enough.

- You love him that much?

I mean knowing he'll never, you know.

- He'll never get out of that chair?

I'd love him, even if he could walk.

(somber orchestral music)

Thanks for being such a good listener.

You don't have to walk me up, Buz.

- [Buz] Will I see you before you leave?

- Sure, I'll stop by the pool and say goodbye.

- Goodnight, Lori.

- Goodnight, Buz.

(wistful orchestral music)

(dramatic orchestral music)

- Well look who's here.

- You're a little early aren't you, Frank?

- Say no more, I'll go quietly.

- I don't make the house rules.

Look I'm here, you want to stay, stay.

- Don't do me any favors.

I don't like you.

- The message comes across.

- Have fun last night?

- Yeah, until you came along.

- Madera, the little black cloud.

The way you handled that joker in the bar,

that was cute.

Real cute.

I used to be like you,

cocky, sure of myself.

Until one day everything changes, you're not the same,

in any way.

- A girl like Lori could make a difference.

- A girl like Lori wants a man,

not half a man.

- How do you know what she wants?

- I'm not about to find out.

When I was a kid I almost drowned.

I remember after a while, it didn't hurt at all.

Just kind of a soft, warm feeling.

That's why I came here this morning, to look at the water.

To think how easy it would be,

just open your mouth and let death poor in.

- Look,

there are better ways to solve a problem.

- What the hell do you know about it?

It's easy for you to stand there buddy boy,

you tell me how to solve my problems.

You're not sitting in this chair.

So until you know how I feel,

don't preach me any two-but sermon.

- I'll give you no sermon, no sympathy buddy boy.

Who owes you?

You think you're entitled because you're sitting down?

I only feel sorry for the people around here,

that are wasting their time and effort to make you well.

Now if you ask me Madera, you're wasted time,

time that could be used on people that want it.

- Finished?

- Yeah, all finished.

- Now once and for all, you leave me alone.

- Well that's my pleasure.

And Lori, she'll leave you alone too,

because she's leaving at the end of the week,

and maybe that way you can have it just the way you want it.

(dark orchestral music)

(group chattering)

- I'm gonna get you Maurie, look out.

- There we go, good shot, right in the bulls eye.

Yeah.

(group cheering)

- [Patient] Put him in a hole there Maurie.

- [Patient] Every one, good shot.

- Maybe next time you'll listen to me.

- I'll even listen this time if you want to tell me.

- Oh, you're even beginning to sound like a therapist.

Be firm, but don't excite the patient, right?

- What do you want me to do, start an argument?

Start screaming?

Why don't you tell me what's bugging you?

- Look, there's no such baby as a part-time Samaritan.

You either go around the clock with this thing,

or you back away from it all together.

But that's not what you're preaching.

Even a little bit is better than nothing.

What are we doing for the world?

That's what you asked me.

What are we doing for anybody?

We've got our health, we've got some money in the bank.

So let's make a contribution now,

when we don't have to, not when have to.

Isn't that what you said?

- Yeah, that's what I said.

You want me to say it again?

- I want to get out of here.

I want to get as far away from this hospital as I can get.

- Buz, we're just now beginning to pull our own weight.

- Who asked us?

- We asked us.

- So now we ask ourselves, what's down that highway?

And how quick can we get there?

- That wasn't our deal.

- Look, I'm cutting out of here.

You want to stay around

to listen to your conscience sing, okay.

Me, I've had it.

- Why don't you level with me?

You never ran away from anything before, why now?

- Look I'm, I'm no good with these guys.

I get too emotionally involved with them.

You take that guy, Madera, he sits there,

and he's boiling with hate, and all I can do

is stir the pot and scream at him.

What good does that do?

- Buz, we do the best we can.

We're not therapists, we're not supposed to be.

- You said it.

The only medicine I know for a guy like Madera,

is a one-two combination, or a good kick in the teeth.

But he's already had a couple of those,

so where do you go from there?

- You're gonna let him beat ya?

Beat our tiger.

- He already has.

- I don't believe that.

- You better believe it.

- [Patient] Tough luck missing that layup Garth.

- What's the matter Frank, run out of gas?

- Oh you go ahead, I'll catch up later.

- Yeah sure Frank.

(dramatic orchestral music)

- You see Nurse Martin?

- She's in the office.

- I heard you were leaving.

I stopped in, to say goodbye.

- That was thoughtful.

- Got a new job?

- I'll find one.

- When you do, you send me your address and,

I'll drop you a card from time to time.

- I will when I get settled.

Was there something else, Frank?

- No that's it.

That's about it.

Best of everything, Lori.

- Frank.

Tell me not to go.

Tell me to stay.

(tense orchestral music)

(suspenseful orchestral music)

- Hi Frank.

(dramatic orchestral music)

(climactic orchestral music)

- Nice shot.

They tell me you're quitting?

- As soon as they get a new boy.

- Why didn't you tell 'em why?

- I don't think they need any reasons.

- I saw the report you filed,

about the accident.

Pin slipped and rolled into the pool.

- Read pretty convincingly didn't it?

- Great.

Only when I told the doctor,

he thought the truth read better.

One thing I hate,

I hate to,

admit that I'm wrong.

I hate to apologize.

- Look, Madera you don't owe me anything.

- You let me decide that.

I get something to say, let me get it out one time.

Let me get it said.

I'm sorry.

For riding you.

The things I said,

things I did.

- Look, Madera, Frank,

well I've been there a few times myself so,

enough said, okay?

- In the water I found out something.

When that shock of cold closed over me,

I found out I didn't want the death to poor in.

I didn't want it to end.

All the problems disappear

just by closing my eyes, and breathing in the death.

I wanted to live.

Dear God, how I wanted to live.

So don't tell me I don't owe you anything,

I'll owe you for the rest of my life,

to the last breath of my life.

I'm gonna live.

I'm gonna go to those doctors, and I'm gonna ask them,

to show me,

to tell me,

what do I do now?

I'm gonna ask them to help me.

- Why don't you tell that to Lori?

(romantic orchestral music)

- Well, looks like you've got things

all squared away, huh tiger?

- Yeah, all squared away.

- Still want to cut out?

- I don't know.

- I just ran into Smudge and the boys

on the way down to the pool.

They asked me to tell you to hurry up and get down there,

it seems they can't start without you.

- How come?

- You got the whistle.

(mischievous orchestral music)

(romantic orchestral music)

("Route 66")

- [Announcer] This has been a Screen Gems film presentation,

from Columbia Pictures,

Herbert B. Leonard, Executive Producer.