All language subtitles for Reunion.at.Fairborough.1985.

Hello? Hello.

Yes. Speaking.

No, I...

Oh, yes, yes.

Look, could I call you
right back? I...

No, it's not that...

It's just not a convenient...

No.

Yes, I understand, but...

All right.

No, no, no, that's all right.

Do you have the address?

Yes, that's right.

Yeah, I'll be here.

Yes, me too. Bye.

Heh-heh. I mean it.

If I saw you on the street,
I'd say, "I know that man."

You have a better memory
than I have.

Well, almost 40 years.
Thirty-nine years.

You're entitled.

Hey, this is nice.

You're sure I can't get you...?
No, no, it's all right.

Well... Hoss Hostrup.

They still call you that?

They still call you Ski?

Nowadays mostly Dr. Barsky.

I liked Ski.
Doctor.

I'm a college president.

No fooling?

You haven't done too bad.

What do you do, Carl?

I'm a businessman.

What kind of
business?

It's a conglomerate.
AGR.

Oh, that's the big leagues.

The Hoss Hostrup I remember.

There was just no way he wasn't
gonna knock 'em dead.

Yeah.

You still fly?
Not in years.

You were one of the best.

They were gods.

Oh, say, did you ever
get my letter?

About the reunion?
No.

I know a whole lot of them
were never delivered.

I got the addresses
from the Air Force.

You can imagine
how old they are. Here.

England?
Yeah. The old base.

The 323rd
Bombardment Squadron.

Oh, see, you could do me
a tremendous favor.

You remember a guy,
he was in your crew for a while.

Jiggs Quealy?

My God. Is he still alive?
I don't know.

He was a tough kid.

The latest address I got for him
was right here in Chicago.

So if you could find him
and get him to come...

Jiggs Quealy.
Mm-hmm.

Listen, I gotta run.

I'll see you in England,
right?

Well, I don't know.
I-I'm pretty busy.

I'll have to think about it.
Aw, don't think about it.

Come, hmm? We need you.

Watch out for the pilot.

Keep your eye on him.

I've got 109 at 3 o'clock.

I see him. I'm on him.

Fighters, 10 o'clock.

Hit! Hit!
Yeah, I see him.

Ed! Ed!

Ed! Ed!

Ed, are you all right?

How old are you?

Are you, uh...?

You looking for somebody?

Quealy?

Quealy?

What do you want him for?

Hello, Jiggs.

Couple more eggs?

No. Thanks.

I don't like eggs.

I wouldn't say no
to a chaser.

How the hell'd you find me?

I've been trying to remember.

You were still over there,
weren't you?

When I got rotated home?

Hoss Hostrup.

Son of a bitch.

Son of a bitch.

Yeah, I was there till...

Shit.

I was on four...

maybe three, four crews
after yours.

I think it was the second one
we ditched in the Channel.

I got out.

Me and the bombardier.
The two of us got out.

From what I remember,
a nice kind of guy too.

I think he got killed.

Hey, you gotta hear this.

One crew, I tangled with
the copilot, huh?

He stuck me in the guardhouse.

Two whole weeks
I didn't have to fly.

I know. That was my copilot.

Yours?

Yeah. Hey, right.
Yeah, I remember.

Oh, shit, that was a good crew.
A good crew.

The whole group's
having a reunion.

I mean, how come you come
looking for me?

Do you remember a gunner
named Nat Barsky?

I think he was with
Ed Taylor's crew.

I guess he's sort of putting
this thing together.

What thing?
The reunion.

You know, the group?
Oh.

Look, if you had to...

Do you suppose
you could lay off that?

For a few days?

Who the hell you think you are?

You know,
you're 100 percent right.

Jiggs...take care
of yourself.

Whatever's left, he'll use up.
Right.

Hey, where are you going?

I mean, what? What did I say?
Nothing.

Come on, I wanna
show you something.

Come on,
I wanna show you something.

What?
Come on.

Oh, here. Here it is.

Take a look inside.

Come on, Hoss. Come on.
It won't hurt you.

Open it up.

Yes.
I remember your Silver Star.

How would you like
to go to England?

Didn't I tell you
you'd love it?

The best thing in the world
for you.

Clawing gold
out of the Klondike.

Hell on the fingernails.

Okay, let's see all of it.

Look okay?
Okay?

Jiggs, we're on our way!

Carl?

Carl?

What?
Why, what's the matter?

You was a hundred
miles away.

England.

Carl...

can I ask you something?
Sure.

You know, like a favor?
Sure.

All those guys,
coming back and everything...

You know, guys like you,
Barsky...

I mean, like...

you know, you're all gonna be
kind of looking at each other.

"Hey, how're you doing?"

"Me, hey, I'm in oil, you know."

"There's Louie.
Stocks and bonds."

"Jimmy? Yeah, he's here."

"He's doing great.
He owns a couple airlines."

Don't worry about it.

Yeah, I mean...

it ain't gonna make
no difference to nobody

I mean, if...

nobody knows I'm a rummy,
huh?

There'll be some drinking.

Hey, tea.

If I go crazy, maybe a coke.

As far as I'm concerned, you're
an independent contractor.

Custodial services.

I don't know.

I don't know.

Whoever heard of
a guy like you?

I mean, it's not like
we were buddies or something.

You was an officer,
I was a dogface.

I was only in your outfit
for a while.

I mean...

you've got to be...

We fought a war together,
didn't we?

You won a medal of my crew,
didn't you?

Thank you very much!

Thank you, thank you,
thank you.

You know what it was
we said about them, don't you?

What would that be?

Oversexed, overpaid,
and over here.

Ed Cutler.
This is my wife.

This is my wife, Mary.
Hello, Mary. How are you?

Where do you check in

for this deal?

Over at the church.

Alrighty now...

I think this will start
your husband off

talking about his war
experiences again, Mrs. Cooper.

I hope this will get it
out of his system.

Ah, but then what's he gonna
talk about?

As long as it isn't
the dear old 332nd.

I don't care.
323rd.

There's Ski.

My God, there's Colonel Bigard.

Yeah.
Look, why don't you go ahead?

I'll go--
Come on.

You can't not talk to people
you know.

I know.

You get one under your belt,

from there on,
it's a piece of cake.

That ain't what I need
under my belt.

Uh-uh.

Forget about that.
Come on.

I wonder how many

of these fellas

think of the time
they put in here

as the best
of their lives.

Oh, no two ways
about it.

Hey, colonel.
Now you remember Carl Hostrup?

Colonel, how are you?
Hoss Hostrup.

Best flyer I ever had.

You look just fine.
So do you.

Hey.

That isn't Jiggs Quealy,
is it?

Himself.

Colonel Bigard.

Hey.

Where the heck you've been
all these years, colonel?

Looking for you, Jiggs.

I didn't do it.

Father...

don't believe
anything they tell you.

I was in church the whole time.

You was there, remember?
Huh?

Jiggs...

you may not have been
the best soldier in the army.

Who, me?
But you were the fella

that pulled the tail gunner
out of Hoss's plane

when he crashed landed,
on fire,

with most of the crew
shot up and bailed out.

We had to get him
out of the guardhouse

to give him
his Silver Star.

Right, Carl?
That's right.

This just wouldn't have been
the same without you being here.

Thank you.
Thank you, Colonel.

Hey, great to have you with us,
Jiggs.

Come on.

Did you want something?

I was looking
for a Mrs. Sally Grant.

Used to be Wells.
Yes, that's right.

They told me
at the post office that--

She's in the shop.
Oh, I see.

Where would that be,
back in the village?

No, in Hertford.

Maybe I'll try again later.

Should I say
that you called?

No, it's all right.

I'll be going that way
in a minute.

If you'd like a lift...

Yes, thank you.

Remember them Polish guys
used to come into town?

Yeah, they walked like they
were still behind a plough.

Yeah, you're
not kidding.

Yes, sir.

Uh, I'd like a...

You got something
like a lemonade or something?

Lemonade, sir?
Sure, we do.

Uh, hey, mac, can you--?

I'm sorry. Hold the lemonade.
I'll take a...

I'll take a scotch.

One scotch.
Certainly, sir.

Ice, sir?
No.

One Scotch, sir.
65 pence, please.

When I heard
the Yanks were coming,

I thought,
God, preserve us.

No offense, mind you.

Not much anyway.

Because I'm going to the demo
on Sunday

or I'd have cleared out
for the weekend.

Sorry.

Are you one of them, then?
Yanks?

One of them back
for the great reunion.

That's me.

Veteran. The old warrior.

We'll probably get drunk
and disorderly

and make fools of ourselves,
and be gone before you know it.

What's happening on Sunday?

A big demonstration
against the missile bases.

I gather that's something
you're interested in.

What's your connection
with Sally?

She's my grandmother.

Grandmother?

How do you know her?

What? From the war?

Aw, it's pretty stupid,
I guess.

She probably
won't even remember me.

Gran?

Well, what are you doing here,

darling?

I brought a
friend.

An old pal.

Well, what do you mean
you've brought an old--?

This is kind of a dirty trick.

My God.

Is he the one?

Hello, Grandad.

We'll go dancing.

Here, you, out.
Out you go.

On your feet.

You're not in America now,
you know.

What do you mean?
What do I mean?

I mean I want to see you
through that door.

Oh, come on.
Come on.

These are decent people
in here.

What are you doing?
Come on.

Daytona?

I've got a daughter
who lives in Orlando.

You're not that old.
Yes, I am that old.

Thanks, love.

Are you all right?

You've always helped me
when I've been down.

I'm not down.

Bloody well right,
you're not.

You're sure now?

I can go out there
and tell him to buzz off.

Oh, no.

I should've told him
you'd moved.

To the Fiji Islands.

Oh, Sheila.

I haven't come over
all soft

just because some man I knew
100 years ago shows up.

He's not "some man."

That's right.

Without that man,
I wouldn't have you.

You are all right,
aren't you?

Oh, come on.

The American connection.
I guess I'm it.

What's that make me then?
Part Yank?

No more than you were
this morning.

No more than what?

Sheila and I
were just getting acquainted.

Nice to have met you.

You're leaving?
Alas.

Are you going to be late?
No, not particularly.

Bye.
Bye-bye. Bye.

Are you really
that beautiful young man?

Not at all.

Well, at some point,
you knew you were pregnant.

I had a right to know.

Did you?

What would you have done?

I'd like to think
that I'd have...

Even now you're not sure.

Where is she now?

She was killed.

July the 9th, 1968.

She and her husband.

Motorbike accident.

No. You couldn't tell her much.
Not Susan.

You know, you couldn't say
be careful to her.

Not that she had a lot of reason
to listen to me.

I wasn't around that much,
was I?

And God knows I wasn't.

Well, if I'm not to blame,
how could you be?

I had to work for a living.

You didn't even know.

23 years old.

Bright girl.

What did she look like?

Like you, Carl.

She was too pretty
for her own good.

Okay.

Sheila was 3.

I took her in.

Oh, I know I thought
I was being noble.

It was my duty, all that.

But really, in truth...

I wanted to see if I couldn't
do something right for a change.

You have a lot to be proud of.

What does she know about me?

You were a soldier.
That's about all.

It sounds so...

So ordinary.

But it wasn't.

No, it wasn't.

Well, I've told you
about myself.

Now, what about you?

Chicago. Businessman.

Two wives. No children.

Oh that's name, rank
and serial number.

Nothing else?

It was a very
organized life.

No children.

Did that just happen, or is it
something you decided on?

My second wife
already had some kids.

I wanted one more, mine.
But she didn't.

After a while,
I stopped making an issue of it.

And the first?

Am I being too nosy?
No.

Oh, hell, we...couldn't.

You're asking me questions

that I'm not sure
that I have answers for.

It's not important.

That means
you don't give a damn.

If I didn't give a damn,
I wouldn't have asked.

I didn't know that.

You were telling me
about yourself.

Well, there's not
much more to it.

I worked hard.
I'm successful.

60 years old,
I find that I'm a grandfather.

I had a child.

I have a grandchild who...

doesn't like me very much.

Oh, she's in
a men-are-the-enemy phase.

Besides,
you're the wicked seducer

who led me down
the garden path.

Is that what I did?

I have to go.

What are you doing
for dinner?

Oh, cottage cheese and an apple
before my exercise class.

You don't need exercise.
Oh-ho!

What about tomorrow?
Well, I work tomorrow.

Saturday?
Yes.

Anyway, aren't you
supposed to be doing

whatever it is you do
at a reunion?

Isn't that why you came here?

How about breakfast?

You're serious?
I think I am.

Well, if you come at 8,

I'll give you bacon and eggs
and a coffee.

Goody.

And if you're too hung over,
don't worry about it.

I'll quite understand.

That's a very civilized
invitation.

Only make that tea.
I remember the coffee.

1-9-5-3.

Hey, lieutenant?

Hey, Hoss?

It's Joe Szyluk.

Joe!

Hey, it really is,
isn't it?

Great.
Yeah.

Have you seen
the other guys?

I haven't seen anybody.
Where are they?

They're just down there.
Come on.

Willy, I'll see you
in a couple of minutes.

I was kind of hoping that
Kenny Donegan would be here.

Do you remember him?

That was some good crew, huh?

Come on, let's go.

Holy smokes, he's here.

Hoss!

If you're not a sight
for sore eyes!

Duffy, how are you?

Well, at least
you recognized me!

Hey, now who do you think
this guy is?

George.

How're you doing, Hoss?

Who knows, George?

Just trying to keep her
straight and level.

Say hello to the wife.
Mrs. Kloss.

I sure have heard a lot
about you.

You didn't believe any of it,
I hope.

Why?
You sounded real great.

Well, in that case,
it's all true.

George always said--

He said you were the best pilot
in the whole war.

So, what did he tell you
about his copilot?

I believe he said
you were a little reckless.

Isn't that what you said,
George?

Mr. Hostrup?
Oh, thank you.

You got a minute, Joe?
Yeah, sure.

I'll see you all at dinner,
huh?

Hey, where're you going,
Hoss?

The colonel wants to ask me
how to win the war.

Can you make it?
It's about two blocks.

He's fine.

Maybe I ought to--
They don't want you there.

You're sore at me.

It's all my fault.
I should've stuck with you.

Okay?
Let's go.

Hey, you remember that guy?

What's his name?

Doerflinger?
Oh, yeah. Fred Doerflinger.

Fred Doerflinger.

He had a picture
of Betty Grable over his bunk.

Rita Hayworth.
Whoever.

He said he met her

and she told him
to look her up after the war.

Can you imagine Fred Doerflinger

and Rita Hayworth?

Rita Hayworth.

Those were the days.
Shit.

Is that a fact?
Best.

War and all, huh?
You're goddamn right.

God, you haven't changed a bit,
Quealy.

You were an asshole then too.
Yeah.

Carl,
how am I gonna get upstairs?

We'll walk you up.
Someone'll see me.

So you tied one on.
So what?

No, no, no.
Say I was sick, will you?

Carl, please, don't tell them
I was drunk, huh?

Just say I was sick.
Okay.

It was something you ate.
Bad ice.

That will be 2 pounds,
plus a pence, sir.

There you go.
Thank you.

That's all right.

Ah, here we go.
Yes, sir.

What I remember,
like yesterday,

is the feeling, the atmosphere,
in the briefing room

when they told us
we were going to Berlin.

That was the worst moment
of my life.

Yeah.

A lot of men got killed.

And yet here we are.

Why?

What are we celebrating?

A great period in our lives.

Do you know why?

Yes, sir.
Because we were--

Because we were young.

You got any family, Duff?

Yeah. Couple of kids.

One lives in the Denver area
and the other one...

She kind of...

Well, the last time I heard,

she was out in California
with some cult or other.

Your wife,
she didn't wanna come?

No, not really.

Hey, George,
you got any kids?

Three.

Seven grandchildren.

How do you think I could leave
the farm?

Well, from what I read,

farming ain't that great
these days.

We're going broke
producing too much food

in a world
of hungry people.

Mm-hmm.

Well, I was 17 years
at Jones and Laughlin.

That's a steel mill.

I was foreman
the last eight.

Now, July '81,
they laid me off.

You know, the wife works,
so that helps.

When I heard about
this thing, I said,

"Look, there's no way
I'm gonna get over there."

And my wife kicked my tail
and she said, "Joe, go!

Tomorrow'll take care
of itself."

Good for her.

Do you remember the cute ass...

on the daughter of that guy
who owned that...

farm that was down the road
from here?

That was Sally.

Sally Wells.

Sally Wells, right?

And she was one of those
uniformed farm volunteers.

Sally.

Now the truth, Hoss.

The two of you were some kind
of item then, right?

Did you ever get into that?

A shitpotful of guys wanted to.

The last time
a guy asked me that question,

I took a poke at him.

Hey, that was Kenny Donegan.

I thought
he was your closest buddy.

We were.

It was the day I shipped out.

He came over to say goodbye
and...

he said, "Before you go,
it's been killing me.

Did you ever get
into her pants?"

Jesus, Hoss.
I remember that.

You really clobbered him.

I never saw him after that.

Hell of a way to say goodbye
to a friend.

I was hoping he'd be here
so I could...

tell him I'm sorry.

I'll betcha he's here.

You know, Hoss, you look like
a prosperous man to me.

I'm with AGR Industries.
Chicago.

Big company.

Big company.

I think I've heard of them.
Probably have.

They have divisions.

They make everything from
fertilizer to tennis racquets.

Well, what do you do there?

I don't do anything there, Joe.

I'm kidding you.

I did.

Up until a few months ago,
I was a division president.

Cushy as it comes, right?

I resigned.

At my level,
they don't fire you.

They ask you
for your resignation.

My wife was sensitive about it,
though.

She waited a few weeks
before she walked out on me.

Well, what the hell happened?

It's called arithmetic.

They were paying me
$100,000 a year. Plus bonuses.

They hired two kids
out of business school,

pay them 35 grand a piece...
bingo!

They save themselves $30,000.

At least you have a skill.

If the industry ever picks up,
I mean...

who's going to hire
a 60-year-old executive?

I wouldn't.

Hi. Good morning,
Mrs. Clinch.

Good morning.

Good morning, Carl.

You're out
bright and early.

Well, I jogged two miles
already.

I was gonna say
I don't believe you,

but I'm afraid I do.
Ha!

I'm gonna see
if we can go visit

the old airfield
and the cemetery.

Wanna drive out with me?
Yeah.

Fine. I'll meet you here
at 3:00.

Right.

Hi, gentlemen. Good morning.
How're you doing?

Hey, I wonder what
he smokes.

Hey.

You are looking better.

I feel better.

Yeah, I feel a lot better.

I'll bet you don't get
fresh chives with your eggs.

After I left,

did you ever go out with a pilot
named Kenny Donegan?

I didn't go out with anybody
after you left.

Not for a long time.

Who's this?
Who's what?

This.

Oh, well, that's Sheila,

yours truly,

and that's a friend.

Or an ex-friend.

Yours?
Yes, mine.

What can I do?

Well, you can drink your juice
and pour the tea.

You know,
I was thinking...

if you had tried
to find me...

it might not have been
so simple.

I didn't want to find you.

I made my decision,
and that was that.

It wasn't easy for me.
No, I can imagine.

Depriving a father
of his child.

Do you really think
that was what I was doing?

Deliberately depriving you
of your child?

Well, maybe you were just trying
to make it simpler for me.

Not backing me up
against a wall.

Eat your eggs.

How could you be so sure
that I wouldn't have...?

Well, you knew me
pretty well.

You knew how I felt
about you.

Oh, stop it, Carl.

Why are you doing this?
Why go into all this now?

I was 18 years old.

I had to make my decisions
by myself.

And I made them.

And you want to tell me now
that I did the wrong thing?

You know...

there were so many guys.

I'm still amazed
that I was the one who...

Won the heart
of the fair maiden?

Yes, damn it.

I thought you were
a gentleman.

I was.

An officer and a gentleman,
by an act of congress.

You were the most beautiful
young man I ever saw.

:
You were trying so hard

to pretend
it wasn't happening,

and all I wanted to do
was die.

That's all. Just die.

Well, you were sick
but you weren't that sick.

:
Oh! Oh, I was so ashamed!

A girl dresses up

in every pathetic
scrap of finery she owns

and swamps herself with some
tuppenny-ha'penny perfume,

and practices
in front of a mirror

how to be so incredibly
sophisticated

he wouldn't be able
to resist her,

and then...

...then she has
three gins,

and ends up with him
holding her head

while she's sick
in the road!

In the absolute middle--
What do you call it?

The crown of the damned road!

Oh, God, what a night!

Oh, I was sure you'd never
want to see me again.

I was so sure that there wasn't
another girl in the world

who looked so pretty
throwing up.

It can't be that bloody funny
at 9:00 in the morning.

Oh my God,
look at the time.

Oh, I haven't done
the dishes.

Oh, I'll do them.
Oh thanks, love.

Well...

I'm sorry,
but I do have to go.

Business is business.

I can't remember
when I've laughed so much.

Neither can I.

Thanks for breakfast.

Anytime

you're in the neighborhood.

Best offer

I've had in a while.

Bye.
Bye.

Bye, love.
Bye.

Oh, Sally.

You know about the dance
tonight?

Yes, I heard
there was some big do.

Will you be
my date?

Is that what they say
in America?

I'd love to be
your date.

Be nice!

Tea?
No, thank you.

Can I help you clean up?

If you like.

So, what was it like then?
Old times?

It was different.

I had a lot to think about
last night.

How would you like to go for
a ride with me this afternoon?

Where to?
Why? Does it matter?

Tell you what.

I'll go with you
this afternoon

if you come with me
after breakfast.

Come where?

Why? Does it matter?

Morning, Lee.
Morning.

So how do you like it?

Is it always this busy?

We're getting ready for
the demonstration tomorrow.

Oh? And where is that?
Greenham Common.

It's one of yours.

It's one of my what?
One of your missile bases.

Oh? And what's the nature
of this demonstration?

You're not there
to show support.

I can understand that.
Oh, good for you.

You're asking them not to
litter up the countryside?

We're not asking them
anything.

We're telling them
to go home.

And take their missiles
with them.

That's the idea.

You're a pacifist.
I'm against war.

I'm against war.

I guess I believe
in defending myself.

The way your chaps
burned down

villages in Vietnam
to save them.

My chaps?

Do you take personal
responsibility

for everything
that every Englishman does?

Anywhere? Ireland?

Or are you just against
American weapons?

Against Americans?

I'm against
all nuclear weapons.

Yours happen to be
on my doorstep.

Well, I guess you have
the right to say,

"We don't want them.
Get them out of here."

Thank you.

I'm sorry,
but I've got work to do.

Somebody'll be going
to Fairborough in a bit.

They'll drop you.

I thought we had a date
this afternoon.

I know you're busy,
but I don't have much time.

I'll work until 2.

Perfect.

Why don't I call Sally
and ask her to come with us?

She's working.
She's all alone.

What do you care
all of a sudden?

I'm sorry.

Oh, Dr. Barsky.
Nathan.

This is Sheila...

I've asked her
to come with us.

Sheila Sawyer.

I'm just gonna run
and make a phone call.

Okay.

Thank you.

Just bring it at level.

Bring it at level.

Commandants at 10 o'clock.

There's four.
Affirmative.

I'm coming round.

Over your head!

He's right behind you!

My engine's on fire.
Ed Taylor! Ed Taylor!

Come on, you guys,

get out of there.

Are you all right?

Yeah, I'm fine.

See that plane over there?
The AT-6?

More dreams have been made
and broken in that plane.

I'll tell you.

I know now why I never
came back here before.

Gloomy place.

The Acropolis,
the Taj Mahal,

the Hanging Gardens
of Babylon.

None of them was as glorious
as this place

when you got back out
from a mission.

Did they make the doctors
fly then?

No, I was fresh
out of high school.

How old are you?
19.

Oh, 19.

I had my 19th birthday
right here.

Besides, I'm not
that kind of a doctor.

When you first came over
to the house two weeks ago,

I almost didn't
recognize you.

The Ski I knew was--

Well, he was a loner
and quiet.

To be honest with you,

you didn't leave
much of an impression.

How come all this,
you know,

college president,
lecture tours--?

Well, it was there.

It was hiding.
It sure was.

Well, until I went in the Army,

I'd never been
out of our neighborhood.

Where I grew up,
it was 100 percent Jewish.

So in the Army,
I was like...

a stranger
in a strange land.

I can remember towns...

Kingman, Arizona.
Lubbock, Texas.

Like the old joke:

:
"But ain't you ever seen

a Yankee?"

:
Only it was no joke.

So I decided, "You do not
open your mouth."

I'll tell you something,
I never told anybody.

While we were
pulling missions,

I was afraid.
I mean, afraid.

Everybody was afraid.

I didn't know that.

You want to know
what I was really afraid of?

Terrified.

I was afraid that,
in my fear...

I'd disgrace myself.

That I'd screw up
and get my crew killed.

And then they'd say,
"Ahh!

What do you expect
from a Jew? Heroism?"

If that's how you really felt,
then you were a hero.

And you thought he was quiet?

Well, look who we have here.

Who's this?

Come on,
I'll introduce you.

Hello.
Hello, love.

Someone looking
after the shop for you?

Yes.

Ski, you remember
Sally Wells?

Uh, Sally--

Oh, I certainly do.

How are you, Sally?
Ski?

Nat Barsky,
40 years on.

Oh, yes,
of course.

Have you been here before?
Well, you know I haven't.

Well, let me show you around.
All right.

Sheila is her granddaughter.
Sweet kid.

Tough.

Well, that's the chapel
down there.

I expect you've seen that
a lot of times.

No, never.
Oh, would you like to?

Yes. Yes,
I'd love to.

"Gave their lives in
the service of their country

and who sleep
in unknown graves."

Did you know Ray Benson?

Sure.

"Eddie Chester."

"Art Cooper."

"Kenneth A. Donegan."

Sorry.

What for?

If you can't cry for them,
who can you cry for?

I'm glad you came.
Me too.

An afternoon with a bunch
of sentimental old men?

You don't trust sentiment.

Do I?

I...don't think I've even
thought about it.

It's even more impressive
this time than I remember it.

You don't like it.

It glorifies war.

I like it when you say
what's on your mind.

You know, it's hard
not to wonder.

Here we are, two men,
I suppose it's fair to say

of reasonably solid
achievement.

We've lived full lives,
rich lives.

What might some of
these fellows have added

if they'd been
spared?

You know, given the kind
of opportunities we were given?

How much human potential,
do you suppose,

was buried
in these graves?

"Human potential?"
Does that matter?

Um, you're saying that what
they might have achieved

if they'd lived
isn't important.

What I'm saying
is...

I don't think this is
the time or the place.

No, that's
all right.

If this man's death
is a tragedy,

it's not because of
what he might have been,

but of what he was.

He might have achieved
something.

But what about him?

His Mum? His Dad?
His Lover?

Do you think they cried
because now he wasn't going

to be the bloody President?

I'll walk back

to the hotel, Ski, thanks.

See you later.

Well, what do you think?
What about?

That's probably more Americans
than you've seen

in a short lifetime
of trashing Americans.

They're all right.

But shall I tell you
what I really think about them?

I think
you're going to.

Even when they're
remembering their dead,

they're either too insensitive
or too stupid to know

the evil that's being done
in their names.

Like preserving
a way of life

that you and your
slogan-spouting friends

find
pretty damn comfortable.

I mean like getting ready
to blow up the human race.

What's the matter
with you people?

There's a cemetery back there
full of young men,

and all you can think about
is bombs.

Any problem in the world,
send the troops.

Send guns.
Kill somebody.

Blow us all up.
I think you're all insane.

No, you don't.
Because you don't think at all.

If you ever had an honest-to-God
idea of your own,

you wouldn't know
what to do with it.

You're all mouth, kid.

You're full of crap,
is what you are.

Why don't you come?

You can come along later.

No, thank you.

Well, why not, Sheila?
Why not?

Not with him there.
Not with any of them.

Well, it's only a dance.

I don't know how
they can have a dance

after everything today.

It'll be like dancing
at a funeral.

Oh, you take everything
too seriously.

Did you take the war
seriously?

Yes. Of course I did,
everybody did.

So seriously,
you went to bed with him.

Yes, it was serious.
Love is a very serious thing.

If it was love,
that is.

Oh, you're too young
to know.

I'm the same age
as you were then.

Well, you grow up quickly
in a war.

There is a war,

that's what nobody seems
to realize.

The old men are still at war,
don't you understand?

Anyway, the most
serious thing is death.

I like the dress.

Oh God, it's awful.

No, it isn't.

Yes it is.
Look at it.

Why, it's perfectly
all right.

No, it's no good at all.

Well, I shan't go,
that's all.

What's the matter
with it?

It's all wrong.
No, I'm not going.

I don't want to make
a fool of myself.

Gran,
what's the matter?

I'm frightened.

What are you frightened of?

Come on,
let's have a look at you.

You look just like mummy.

Oh, hi.
Good evening, Sally.

You look lovely.
Sure does.

Sally, you know my friend
Jiggs Quealy.

No, I don't think so.
Oh, yeah. Hi, Sally.

Well, you remember
George Kloss?

Well, I'll be darned.
Pleased to see you, ma'am.

Oh, and
Joe Szyluk.

Boy, you two still
look great together.

That was wonderful, wonderful.
Outstanding.

Before we do anything else,
I know we all,

all of us who've come back,

want to thank
our Fairborough friends

for their
first-rate hospitality.

Somebody told me,
this is going back a few weeks,

somebody told me that
not everybody in this town

was real excited about us
coming back here.

And I told them, I said,

"Believe me, you don't have
anything to worry about.

"These guys are in bed
with a glass

of warm milk
by 9 o'clock."

Speak for yourself,
Colonel.

At ease.

Now I would like to turn
this over

to the one man, who
more than any other individual,

put in all the hard work
to make this reunion

such a really
outstanding success.

Our own Staff Sergeant,
now Doctor, Nathan Barsky.

Wow. Thank you.

Thank you all for being here.

Oh, I have a hunch
that you would agree with me

that what we want to do
is enjoy ourselves,

laugh a little,
cry a little.

How about drink a little?

But what we don't want to do

is listen to
a lot of speeches.

You said it!

I just want to say that...

over the years,

I've had the privilege
of being involved

with a good many functions
like this

that bring people together.

Not one, ever,
has meant more to me

than this reunion has.

Now, of course,
I know we're all here

to renew old friendships.

But I think that there's
something more than that.

I looked it up.

Of all the air crews
that were stationed here,

less than one 10th
survived the war.

So that by coming here,
inevitably,

we remember our comrades
who died in battle.

We remember their names.

We picture their faces.

And when we do that,
we do something important.

Because...

we share just a small portion
of the lives we cherish,

cling to, with those
very young men

who so long ago...

so long ago...

so reluctantly...

laid their lives down.

Thank you.

Freddie... Freddie Gaunt,
ladies and gentlemen.

Freddie Gaunt, bringing you
the sort of music

that will bring
your memories back.

You young people
have a good time.

I heard about your argument
with Sheila this afternoon.

She keeps her guard up,

but I think I'm getting
a few in.

You make it sound
like a fight.

That's what it is.

Until two days ago,
you didn't know she existed.

I don't see why
it matters so much.

You didn't see
her face.

It was as if
I had hit her.

She'll get over it.
She's a child.

Yeah.

She just can't resist
my charm.

I know the feeling.

I could wring your neck.

God, what a waste.

Oh, Carl. Please.

It's just easier for me to blame
you than to admit that...

I had it all!

I walked away from it.
Away from you.

Yes. You did.

I'm sorry.

Remember me? I'm the drunk
you tossed out yesterday.

"Throw the bum out."
Know why I was drunk?

No, I don't,
and I don't care either.

Oh, you don't care, huh?
I'm an alcoholic.

You're looking at one,
an alky.

It's amazing, ain't it?
Amazing.

Down the hatch, pal.

Relax.
Ginger ale.

You're doin' good,
old buddy.

I must leave now.

We can still get a drink

at the hotel.
What about it?

Oh, Sally--
Yes?

Jack and I are leaving now.
Can we give you a lift?

No.

Yes. Thanks.

I won't be a minute.

They go my way.

It's been fun.

I don't want you to go.

But it's late.
Do you think this is Chicago?

We're country--
Stay with me.

Don't go home tonight.

Carl...
Please.

Well, there's no war.
And we're not kids.

Stay with me.

Carl...

Carl...

Let's drink too much
and ride a train and act crazy.

And be sick
in the middle of the road?

Sure. Maybe. Why not?

I'm asking you.

But I can't just...

This is a village.
I live here.

What about--
What? My house?

We'll go to London.
The Savoy.

I haven't been to the Savoy in--
That's too far.

Anyway the last train went
about an hour ago.

All right. We'll go to that
little inn in Cambridge.

We'll take your ca-- No.
We'll go in a taxi.

Only way to go, Sally,
in style.

Sally, are you ready?

No ride. Thanks.

I've changed my mind.

Who would believe it?

Just like old times.

This whole thing

is incredibly romantic.

If nothing else,
who has an adventure at our age?

What's incredible is that

40 years have passed.

Something happened to time.

For a while it got lost.
Or confused.

Not anymore.

Do you know that I used to
think about killing myself?

What happened to that
beautiful young man?

He blew it.
I'm sorry.

So am I.

Why am I telling you
things

that I would never tell
anyone else in a million years?

I don't threaten you.

So you say things.

You make it sound like
it's all going to go away.

Like the sun'll come up
and we'll put on our clothes

and go outside
and nothing's different.

We'll have a
wonderful memory.

I want to stay
with you.

I want to watch Sheila
become a woman.

I want to help her.

God knows
I don't know how.

How does a grandfather--
Carl.

I want to make it up
to her.

All I need is a little time.

There must be some way
that I can--

It's not Sheila.

Sheila's all mixed up
about you.

She doesn't know
what to make of you.

I am the problem, though,
Carl.

Well...

I guess this one's on me.

No.

No, you've given me
something so precious.

No big deal.

Carl, my life's in order.

Your "life is in order"?
what does that mean?

What about my life?

What's that got to do
with anything anyway?

I'm not trying to change
your life.

Listen to yourself.

I wanted to say
those same words to you...

40 years ago...

But it's different now.

I'm different
now that I'm here.

I'm asking you...

What am I asking?

What am I talking about anyway?
Do you know?

Oh, it's okay.

It's okay.

One has to go all the way
back to 1945

to find a time
when we were united,

when our island people
truly pulled together.

Well, of course it was wartime.

But it isn't simply war, is it?
That unites us.

There must have been some
unique quality about that war.

What it was, of course is,
it was the last good war.

It's the last time
we were all agreed

about a very important
aspect of war,

who the enemy is.

Maybe we'll never be
all together about that again.

Maybe the day
of the good war is over.

Maybe in international affairs,

good and evil,
right and wrong,

all over, finished, done.

One man's terrorist

is another man's
freedom fighter.

But those of us who remember

1939 to 1945,

what testimony we can give
to the human spirit.

Amen.

Good morning.
Good morning.

You didn't find
what you were looking for?

Joe, if you think
I know what I'm looking for...

Well, there's not too much
of that around.

You know, people who know
what they're looking for.

That was fun last night.
Yeah, it was a good party.

Boy, did I get wasted.

You know,
I used to drink like that,

get up the next morning
at 6 o'clock,

do a full day's work,

and not think
a damn thing about it.

Gettin' old, Hoss.

What, do you want
to live forever?

Well, sure,
don't you?

Joe, how come we never
kept in touch?

I mean, we just let
the whole thing go. I--

Well, why would we?

If it wasn't for the war,
where would two guys

like you and me
ever meet?

Yeah.

Good to see you,
though, Carl.

Hey, guys.

Wait for me,
will you?

Get out before
the plate comes around, right?

I'll tell you,
over the years,

I eat so many of them
church dinners,

Christmas, Thanksgiving,

I figure my heartfelt gratitude

make so many of them
church folks happy,

there ain't hardly no way
they can pay their debt to me.

A real benefactor, huh?
In my way, in my way.

But I ain't afraid
to admit

I went in there
to say something today,

I don't think I said before
in my whole life:

"Thank you, Lord."

Something special?

I don't know,
maybe I'm a new man.

See what you done, Carl?
What's going on?

I don't know, Carl.

All of a sudden
it's a different ball game.

I feel real great.
You know what I mean?

Kind of like,
strong.

Sounds good.

Like last night?

I come right out
and said it:

"I'm an alcoholic."
I never done that before.

Congratulations.

I hope you mean that,
Carl.

Well, by that
I mean is...

I know you wasn't doin'
real great,

at least 'til you saw
your friend Sally,

so givin' me
a helpin' hand

when I was lower
than a snake's belly

made you feel
like a real sport.

Well, that's all right.

I mean, there's nothin'
wrong with it.

Take it
any way you can get it.

That's what I say.
You know what I mean?

But, Carl, if I ain't down
any longer...

You see what I mean?

Yes, I do.

I do see what you mean.

Yes sir,
I woke up this morning

and I laid there thinkin'
"Jiggs, it ain't the same.

"New ball game.

"You're gonna
get out of bed

"and look it
right in the eye.

You ain't done that
in 30 years."

30 years.

There goes my finest

achievement.

He'll be back on the sauce
in a week.

Could we go someplace where
we could talk for a minute?

Did you get enough kicks
yesterday?

I don't usually talk
to people like that.

Why am I any different?

If I could take it back,
I would. It won't happen again.

You're right it won't,
'cause I won't let it.

Sheila, I just want to say
goodbye.

It's not going to take--
Go home!

All right? Just go home!
The whole bloody lot of you!

And take your Cruses with you
because we don't want them!

What's the matter with you?
What's the matter with me?

Yes! Goddamn it,
with the whole lot of you!

All of you!

Take a look.

The enemy.

How long has it been
since you've seen him?

I mean, really seen him?

Take a good look.

Well, what do you think?

Do I look like somebody
who wants to blow up the world?

She thinks I do.

Damn it, stop thinking that all
Americans are goons and idiots!

There are probably as many
people in my country

who don't want weapons
lying around

as there are in yours.
Maybe more.

I'm not saying they're right.

Maybe those weapons
are keeping the peace

exactly as they say they are.

But there's one thing
I do know.

You're wrong.

You're wrong
when you lump together

every damned thing
you don't like

and call it American.

If you know me
and don't like me, fair enough.

But if you don't know me
and don't like me,

that's just damned
foolishness.

Come on down
before you hurt yourself.

Hurt myself?

All I want you to do
is to come down

and have a cup of tea,
and you'll feel better.

All right?
Thank you.

Come on, sit down.
No, I'm fine.

All right.
I have to leave.

I think you need someone
to look after you.

This is where I went to school.

I don't think I minded
all that much

not having a mother
and father,

until the other kids
found out.

Sheila, at your age,

You don't think about what...

I'm not doing this
very well,

but I'm trying to explain
what you...

The fact of you,
your existence means to me.

I'm proud of you.

That's crazy, isn't it?

I have zero to do
with who you are...

You do not have zero to do
with who I am.

You're my grandfather.

I'm your flesh and blood.

I have no right
to ask you for anything,

but you know the greatest thing
you could do for me?

No. What?

Have lots of children.

And when they're
old enough,

tell that about their
American great-grandfather.

Their strange American
great-grandfather.

Who stands on the furniture
and gives passionate speeches.

Are you rich?
Am I rich?

Well, aren't you a
rich American?

I have some money.
You want some?

No.

I think you're rich.
Me?

You have friends,
something to believe in.

You have all of English history

to give you a sense
of tradition and continuity.

There is one more thing
that I would like to add

to your assets.

You have a grandfather who...

He doesn't know how to show it,
but...

Can you get to love somebody
that fast?

So what do they call
a grandfather in America?

Hell, I don't know.
Gramp?

How about Gramp?

Well that sounds old,
doesn't it?

"How ya doin',
Gramp?"

How ya doin', Gramp?

Well, you've got
things to do.

A world to save.

Don't laugh at me,
it's too easy to laugh.

Besides, I've a new
responsibility now.

A grandfather shows up,
walks into my life.

Don't you think I might feel
something about that as well?

It doesn't happen every day.

I never thought of myself
as a responsibility.

You were right.
I am rich.

But you have something
I wish I had.

It's yours.

You can remember a time
when there wasn't a bomb.

That's pretty great.

Before your war,

no one could destroy the world
in 60 seconds.

Just look at this.

It's an American airbase.

The tower has a missile
guidance system.

We believe they have
Cruse missiles there.

They don't admit it,
obviously.

It's the ugliest thing
I've ever seen in my life.

It can't defend us...

Simply makes us a target.

What a con.

I hate it.

Ever time I hear
one of those things,

I get a knot in my stomach
wondering if...

But it must be a wonderful
feeling when you're up there.

Are you a terrific pilot?

Me?

I couldn't fly
one of those things

if my life depended on it.

But you used to be great,
didn't you?

For a steam airplane pilot?
Not too shabby.

You can still fly, though,
can't you?

Damned if I know.
I'd know!

I should think that when
you're sort of, you know...

down, when you're down...

if I just knew
how to fly...

Well, anytime I was down,
I'd just fly.

It must be like being God!

Where are you going now?

I'm late for the demonstration.
I have to get back.

I'll drop you in town, though.

Drop me off at the airfield.

Why?
Don't you have to leave soon?

Just drop me off
at the airfield, will you.

Here?

Here's fine.

I'll see ya.

Will I?
Sure.

Gramp?

You'll see me.

Now you go on.
Good luck.

Where have you been?

With him.
He's wonderful!

Who is?
My grandfather!

I don't believe it.
Okay if I have an apple?

No, it is not o-- He's a man.
I know.

He's an American!

What happened last night?

We went to Cambridge.

I thought so.

You like him, don't you?

Yes, of course I do.

You know what I mean.
Oh, Sheila, don't be silly.

Are you going to see him
again?

No.

No, he's gone home.
Or he's about to.

No, he hasn't.

He's gone flying.

How do you know?
Bye.

Be careful.

Everybody,
back in one hour!

One hour, please!
We have a train to catch.

I can't figure
where he could've got to.

Look, will you
stop worrying?

Hoss is a big boy.
He'll get home.

Are you kidding?
Without me taking care of him?

Let's see if our hut
is still there.

This is it.

Carl!

Hey. Hey, guys!
It's Hoss!

He's in there!
Hoss!

He's in there!
Where're you goin'?

Still the best flyer
I ever had.

In Greenham Common today,

thousands of women
are encircling

the American Nuclear Base,

protesting against the arrival
of Cruse Missiles.

The campaign for nuclear
disarmament

is expecting that
this will be the largest

anti-nuclear demonstration
seen at this site.

The key installation

and overall defense network
of NATO.

Police reports indicate this
demonstration is peaceful...

and so far without incident.

CND say that this will be the
first of many demonstrations

they propose to stage
at this site.

Greenham Common.

Intercept, intercept!

It's him!

It's my grandfather!
It's my grandfather!

Please come with us,
sir.

I'll put the coffee on.

You make that tea
and it's a date.