Exodus

The island of Cyprus, madam.

World famous for beauty and long, tragic history.

Been conquered many times.

Conquered by Phoenicians, Assyrians,

Persians, Macedonians.

Also conquered by Greeks, Romans,

Byzantines, Turks.

Purchased from Turkey

by your esteemed self, the British Empire.

All Cyprus most fond of the British.

I'm an American.

Fond of Americans also.

We Cypriots are fond of everybody.

Shall we go through the castle now?

No, I've changed my mind.

Then maybe the Tower of Othello

at the harbour of Famagusta.

- It'sincluded in the tour.

- All right.

What's the matter here?

Prison ship has arrived

full of Jews for the camps, madam.

- What camps?

- Detention camps out at Karaolos.

You see, the Jews, they charter a ship

from Europe to get to Palestine.

Then the British catch the ship

and send the whole bunch here.

The Arabs don't want them in Palestine.

The British don't want them here, either.

- But they got them.

- Stop!

Get him!

Maybe you can back up

and drive me to this address.

House of the British Commander.

Now, then.

- Get his feet.

- Right.

Up.

Mrs. Fremont?

The General's expecting you in the garden.

How do you do, Mrs. Fremont?

I'm very glad to see you.

Please sit down.

Found that here in the garden.

From the colour,

I'd say it belongs to the Byzantine period.

The Byzantines occupied Cyprus for centuries.

Gives one an idea how temporary

our claims to the world's real estate are.

I'm ashamed to say I really don't know

anything about archaeology.

Few people do.

Didn't you once publish something

about the Roman ruins in Cheltenham?

A very obscure something. How did you know?

Tom mentioned it in one of his letters.

He was very proud of your friendship.

As I was of his.

Will you have tea, or something livelier?

Something livelier, please.

- Is that ice I see?

- Surprised?

Tom got me into the habit.

Now I use ice in practically everything.

There we are.

May we drink to Tom?

Of course.

I'm extremely sorry circumstances

compelled us to bury him in the field.

Even sorrier I was transferred from Palestine...

...before I got the chance to see you.

It wasn't your fault.

It took me almost a week to arrange passage.

But your letter was waiting there for me,

and Tom's things.

I really shouldn't have let him go with us.

It was only a border affair.

One of the Jewish undergrounds

had blown up half a dozen bridges.

It really wasn't important enough

to lose one's life for.

Is anything?

In my opinion, yes.

I've known many soldiers, Mrs. Fremont,

and war correspondents...

...and news photographers,

such as your husband.

But I think perhaps Tom

was the bravest man I've ever met.

We have a saying in Indiana:

"The braver the bird, the fatter the cat. "

Perhaps.

Do you recognize this photograph, General?

Of course. It was his last.

Do you remember how Tom got that shot?

We were together.

I must confess, my eyes weren't on him

when he snapped the shutter.

The aircraft came in low.

We were both in the truck.

I jumped down on one side to take cover,

and Tom jumped down on the other side.

Tom couldn't have taken cover

and photographed the plane as he did.

I dare say you're right.

He had a strong sense of duty.

He also had a strong sense of death.

I felt I had to confirm what I suspected

about the last photograph.

I'm very grateful to you.

That's over a year ago.

How have you been occupying yourself?

- After I lost the child I was-

- The child?

Didn't Tom tell you we had a child on the way?

Men like Tom are often quite reticent

about things that are nearest to their hearts.

Rate this script:(5.00 / 1 vote)