Alex made an effort to be nice to everyone after her meeting with Colonel Potter. She moved around best she could without complaining like she had been during the last few days, and even started saluting higher-ranking officers. Margaret seemed to have forgiven her for staying at the 4077th, but still kept a sharp eye on her during operations, though the Lieutenant just supervised less skilled nurses.
Alex was sitting in the mess tent when Klinger came around with the mail.
'A few letters for you in here somewhere,' he said when he saw her, digging around the mailbag. He finally pulled out a short stack of letters and handed them to Alex.
'Letter from Mom, letter from Dani, notice from the President, dress catalogue.' Alex flicked through the letters. 'The propaganda can go straight to the bin, but the catalogue might have something decent. Did you want a look?' she asked, holding the catalogue out to Klinger. Klinger shook his head.
'Those days are over for me,' he replied. Alex shrugged, and opened her letter.
'Suit yourself. If you change your mind, it'll still be there,' she said. Klinger walked away to look for Charles, and Alex was left alone to read her letters. Jefferson sat opposite her with her breakfast. She looked up when the red haired nurse yelled out excitedly.
'I can't believe it! Dani, you little gem!' Alex yelled loudly.
'What's happened?' Jefferson asked curiously.
'Read this,' Alex said, shoving the letter under Jefferson's nose.
'My boss' brother, as you know, runs a cinema in town. When I told them about you in Korea, with nothing to pass the time but count flies, they offered to send you guys a new movie, that just arrived at the cinema. They want to run it a few times first, but it will be sent soon, in a Bonzo goes to college canister, so no one else stops it. Don't tell too many people in case it doesn't get through, though...'
'What movie is it?' Jefferson asked.
'I don't know, Dani doesn't say. I'm going to get Klinger to put a connection through tonight,' Alex said excitedly. She stood up, took her letter back from Jefferson, then skipped out of the mess tent, forgetting to salute Margaret on her way out. Alex ran as fast as her leg would allow to Klinger's office, but it was empty. Tired from the energy she had used, she sat down on Klinger's cot, and waited.
Klinger came in about half an hour later.
'Where have you been?' Alex asked standing up.
'Delivering mail,' Klinger said, wondering why Alex was so excited.
'Read this,' Alex commanded, giving Klinger Dani's letter. As Klinger read, a smile grew on his face.
'Is this for real?' he asked, handing the paper back.
'I wanted to ring Dani tonight to make sure,' Alex replied.
'Done,' Klinger said, sitting down at the phone.
'Hey, it's the middle of the night over there, isn't it?' Alex asked in alarm. Klinger looked up sheepishly.
'Yeah, good point. A few more hours and your sister should just be getting up for work,' he said.
'Dani is great at getting stuff like that. As good as you or Radar,' Alex said. 'I hope she sends us something good, I can't stand any of that propaganda they've been sending us for the last few weeks.'
'I know,' Klinger replied. 'Watching them makes me wanna get back into a dress.'
Alex smiled. 'I though you were finished with dresses?' she asked.
'I have to stop myself from getting into one every morning,' Klinger said very seriously.
Hawkeye and BJ walked into Klinger's office a few hours later while Klinger was trying to get a connection through to the states.
'What are you doing?' BJ asked.
'Trying to get hold of Dani. We've had connections in New York, Los Angeles, Washington and Phoenix, but we're just being put through to Dani's place now,' Alex said.
'Hello? Dani?' Klinger asked. 'Yeah, phone call from Alex, long distance. Hang on.' He handed the phone to Alex. 'She's there,' he said, grinning from ear to ear. 'I think we woke her up, but she's there.'
Alex took the receiver to the phone. 'Dani? Yeah, it's me, Alex. Listen, I got your letter, and it's exciting news… no, not your date. The other news… yeah, that's it. Listen, when are you sending it? Tomorrow morning? Great. … Huh? Oh, that was Klinger. … Yeah, he's pretty good at this company clerk stuff. Dani, you're breaking up. Dani, tell me the name of the movie… Dani?' Alex took the phone away from her ear. 'Shoot, lost her,' she said to Klinger, handing him the phone to hang up.
'Movie? What movie?' Hawkeye asked.
'I don't know if I should tell you,' Alex said.
'Come on, Alex, what was that all about?' BJ asked.
'Dani's sending a movie across by mail. Should be here two to three weeks, sooner if we're lucky,' Alex replied.
'No kidding? What movie?' Hawkeye asked.
'That's what I was calling about. The connection broke before I had a chance to ask her,' Alex replied. 'I won't call back, the long distance phone call rates cost a fortune.'
She walked out, whistling a tune happily.
'She's very weird,' Klinger said.
'We should hold a big celebration when the movie gets here,' Hawkeye said. 'It's been months since I've seen something I haven't seen a million times before.'
'Don't get all excited yet. It might take us the rest of the war to reach us,' Klinger said.
A week and a half later, Klinger went and found Alex quietly in the mess tent during dinner. He whispered something in her ear, and Alex grinned. She excused herself from the table, leaving the other nurses to wonder what it was all about. Jefferson knew, and she suddenly felt excited. Yesterday, the army had sent them a movie made during the second world war, about how they were wining, even though the lowliest Private knew they were coming very close to losing. She excused herself too, and followed Alex outside.
'What are you doing?' Alex asked when Jefferson caught up with her and Klinger.
'I wanted to see what movie it is,' Jefferson replied.
'I woulda come got you sooner, but it was right at the bottom of the mailbag, and I thought it was another film from the army about Mac Arthur or something,' Klinger said.
'It's ok. Means we can watch it tonight, and not have to wait,' Alex replied. They reached Klinger's office, and Klinger handed the package to Alex. 'Yep, that's Dani's handwriting,' she said, pointing to the neat address on the front. She opened it carefully, pulling the film canister out. On the top was "Bonzo Goes to College" in bold letters. Alex lifted the lid of the canister gently. The film underneath had no label. 'Get onto the PA and tell everyone we have a mystery movie for tonight,' Alex said to Klinger. Klinger nodded and flipped the mike on.
'Tonight we have a special surprise for you all. A movie has just come in from an outside source and we can guarantee it isn't a movie about world war two. If you'd all finish your meals in the mess tent, we can show this movie as soon as possible,' Klinger's voice boomed over the camp.
'Come have a look at this,' Jefferson said, her head out the door. Alex and Klinger joined her and looked. Everyone was struggling to get out of the mess tent, and was heading for Klinger's office.
'Wait!' Klinger yelled, going out and holding his hands in the air for silence. 'Calm down! I'll be getting the projector in a moment, so we'll be showing the movie shortly.'
'Move outta the way,' Hawkeye said, he and BJ making their way through the crowd.
'Alright if we go in, Klinger?' BJ asked. Klinger gave them a brief nod, and continued trying to get rid of the crowd.
'How'd you two get past the bouncer?' Alex asked when she saw them.
'So the movie is finally here,' BJ said, grinning. 'What is it?'
'Don't know, Dani left it without a label so no one would think of taking it,' Alex replied. Hawkeye picked up the reel and went to look at the film. Alex quickly took it away from him.
'I was just seeing what it was,' Hawkeye complained as Alex put the film back into it's canister.
'I want everyone to watch it without knowing what it is beforehand,' Alex said firmly.
'Well, I might help Klinger with the projector,' BJ said. 'Coming Jefferson?'
'Huh? Oh, yeah,' Jefferson said enthusiastically. The two left and Hawkeye and Alex looked at each other uncomfortably.
'So, uh, how is Dani?' Hawkeye asked after a few moments of awkward silence.
'She's doing well. She has a new job, and she enjoys it a lot,' Alex replied, avoiding Hawkeye's eyes.
'I … I might go help Klinger as well,' Hawkeye said, going to leave the office. He half expected Alex to stop him, and was slightly disappointed when she didn't.
'Alright, we're good to go,' Klinger said. He switched the lights out in the mess tent, then went back to the projector. It was turned on, the film focused and everyone sat silently, waiting eagerly for the identity of the movie. Jefferson took a quick glance around, and noticed Alex wasn't there. There was a moments thought of where the redhead nurse could be, but she turned her full attention to the screen as it started flashing.
For an hour and a half, the camp watched two hours of Bugs Bunny repeats.
Kooshball Note: I hope everyone had Merry Christmases and Happy New Years. Bring on 2005!