2بخش

You’re going to be fine now. You’re going to be fine.

You’re in good hands.

What have we got here?

It’s a severed artery. Get some sutures.

Yes, doctor.

Put some pressure on it. Did you apply this tourniquet?

Yes, sir. Nice work.

You might have saved this boy’s life.

You staying with us? You’re going to be okay.

What’s your name, son?

Gilbert.

Surgery? Yeah, surgery.

Stay with us, you’re gonna be okay.

You feel pain?

Stay with us, okay?

Army physicals that way. This is for giving blood.

Are you all right?

Oh, no, that’s not mine. I’m fine. Thank you for asking though, ma’am.

What do you need?

My belt.

I lent it to the boy who had the accident.

My pants don’t hold up so good without it.

Well, uh, I don’t have your belt.

No, I know that, ma’am. It’s out there.

It’s right out there with the boy still.

Okay. I’m just here to take blood.

I’ll give mine.

Okay, go to that room over there and wait with the others.

I’ll call you.

That room.

You ever given blood before, Mr…

Doss.

But my friends call me Desmond. No, ma’am, this is my first time.

I always dreamed about being a doctor. But, uh, I didn’t get much school.

You may be a little dizzy when we’re done.

Is somebody picking you up?

No, ma’am. Walking back.

Where do you live?

Fort Hill, ma’am.

That’s a ways.

No. Just 5 or 6 miles, but I cut through the woods.

It’s 7 that way!

You must really like the woods.

Yes, ma’am. I sure do.

Okay, put some pressure here.

You okay? Yeah.

Bye.

Where you going looking all spruced and nice?

Met someone yesterday. A nurse over at the hospital.

Her name’s Dorothy Schutte. I’m gonna marry her.

Goodness. Does she know that?

Well, not yet. She’s about to.

You ever even spoken to a woman? I mean, one that’s not family.

Spoke to her.

Well, in that case, come give your brother a big hug.

Hal! Come here.

Keep your greasy paws off of me.

Wish me luck, Momma.

Good luck.

Next.

Grab a seat. You ever given blood before?

Yes, ma’am. I have.

You’re the belt man.

Desmond, yes, ma’am.

Well, Desmond, we can’t take your blood 2 days in a row.

Well, that’s good. I came to get mine back.

You what? My blood; I need it back.

Well, it don’t work like that, we can’t just give it back to you.

Well, you got to.

Ever since you stuck me with that needle, my heart’s been beating real fast.

Every time I think about you, it beats faster still.

I never heard that one before. It’s pretty corny.

It is?

That’s a shame, I done practiced that all night.

No good?

I didn’t say that.

What’s the difference between an artery and a vein?

What are you talking about? The boy’s accident.

Arteries spurt blood.

And veins?

Bleed.

I think you need to practice your boy/girl dating talk at home before you come out.

Yeah, I probably do.

I’ll give you a book if you’re that interested.

On dating?

On blood.

Another medical question perhaps?

No. I just think you’re the prettiest thing I ever seen.

That’s because I’m sitting in the dark.

No, you’re just beautiful.

Out of the way!

Why didn’t you say nothing to us?

‘Cause you would have tried and talked me out of it,

and I know what I’m doing is right. And what about His Commandment?

It’s not killing in a war. It’s protecting; Loads of boys from our church are going.

Yeah. There is a war and they need men.

And working in a paper mill ain’t going to save this country.

Looks like a movie star, our boy.

Nice uniform, good hat.

Reminds me of how Artie Giddens looked in his uniform when we went to France.

Remember him, Bertha? Don’t, Tom.

What?

I’m just saying how snappy Artie looked in his uniform.

All you girls certainly seemed to think so.

He had them flocking to him; He was most proud.

I just hope that when our Hal gets shot, it’s through the front of his jacket.

Like a simple entry wound, not much mess.

Artie got hit in the back,

it blew most of his guts and intestines out his front, offal everywhere.

Wrecked his uniform entirely.

It was lucky he was dead,

so he never knew how awful his uniform looked.

Get outta of my sight.