(Philip is in a military field hospital, unable to see because of shell fragment wounds to his eyes, an injury suffered in the fighting at Tobruk.)

CORPORAL GRANT
Funny, the way things turn out.

PHILIP ASHTON
(grimly)
Funny...

GRANT
Yeah. Well, I've been thinking. That shot that Reynolds fired, that brought the Jerries...I mean, I could've been killed. Well, I could've got Reynolds's wound. That's what I mean...funny, the way things turn out.

PHILIP
How long did it take you to think of that?

GRANT
(nervously)
No particular time.

PHILIP
Reynolds said afterwards that he carried you to safety before he went back to the others.

GRANT
Oh, the things people say!
(changing the subject)
Now, I wish you could see this picture. It's my wife. Well, uh...I'll be going by the Cape probably. Nice, long sea journey. Well, you should be all right by the time I get home. See you.

(He leaves on his crutches, bidding farewell to the other patients in the military field hospital.)

GRANT
Tara, fellas!

(They respond with goodbyes and the wisecrack, "Give my love to your mother.")

PHILIP
(shouting)
Grant!

(Grant stops and turns his head toward Philip.)

PHILIP
Come back, Grant!

(Fearing the worst, Grant begins to turn around, a movement which allows light to stream through the open door.)

PHILIP
(hopefully)
Is there a light there?

GRANT
Well, yeah. It's the tent door.

PHILIP
Go back again.

(Grant turns around, and the shadows reappear.)

PHILIP
I can see!
(smiling and pointing to his left eye)
Light... in this eye. I can see! It's light.

GRANT
(blocking the light as he turns to go)
Good for you. See you.

(When Corporal Grant leaves, light again floods in through the tent door, and Philip beams with joy at the thought of his partially restored vision.)

 

(from "Into the Dark" by Jack Ronder and John Finch)