Synopsis: Band of Brothers is a TV mini-series based off of the book by Stephen Ambrose. A compilation piece of real life stories of Easy Company, 506 Paratrooper Regiment during WW2.
This fanfiction was written with a pang of guilt since these were real men who really lived and fought in WW2. Without spoiling too much, I also bring in Tom Hanks and the actors of the show into play.
It feels a bit weird messing around with real people in a work of fanfiction but I will say, from the bottom of my heart, these people have my utmost respect and I do not intend to be creepy in any sort of way. When a story enters my head, writing it is the only way to get it out.
Without further ado, please enjoy this to your hearts content, as I really did enjoy writing it. I hope my note above did not dissuade you.
XO- author.
The elderly woman opened her mailbox. It was the usual. Bills, junk mail, letters and cards from grandchildren, and... what's this?
A Manila envelope with the name Tom Hanks on the return address.
She squinted. Certainly not THE Tom Hanks she had enjoyed so much in Forrest Gump, right? What would he want with her and her husband?
It was addressed to them both.
She walked inside and placed her husband's mail on his side table. He was asleep in his chair, the TV was on, muted, as usual.
She smiled sadly at him.
He slept more these days.
She opened the Manila envelope. It was, indeed, a letter from Tom Hanks and Stephen Spielberg. It mentioned a television program about her husband's time in the service.
The personal phone number of Tom Hanks was written at the bottom.
The woman knew her husband. He did not like talking about his time in service. The most he spoke about it was when he first got out. Even then, it wasn't much.
Still, she had gathered information about his experience from fellow veteren servicemen. She knew he didn't have much time left on earth.
She looked around her kitchen at all the medicine bottles and oxygen tanks and sniffed. A silent tear slipped down her cheek.
She was already mourning.
"Months at the most, weeks minimum." The doctor had told them.
She blew her nose, poured herself a cup of tea, picked up the phone and dialed.
"Hello?" Came the very distinctive voice of Tom Hanks.
"Hello, is this Tom Hanks?" She spoke clearly.
"Why, yes it is. To whom am I speaking?"
She could feel his smile through the phone.
She returned it.
"My name is Alice, Alice Roe. My husband is Eugene."
"Pleasure to make your aquantence, Ma'am." Tom said with a chuckle. "May I ask how your husband is doing?"
"He's fine, all things considered. But seeing the date you want to do the interviews... I'm afraid..." Her voice hitched.
The interviews were set for 1999.
This was November of 1998.
"He won't make it, will he?" Tom asked in low, somber voice.
"I'm afraid not, sir." Alice answered.
"How are you holding up?"
"Not great." She laughed bitterly. "He's the love of my life. I can't imagine life without him."
"Your love was an inspiration to the rest of the men of Easy Company, so I've heard."
Alice laughed again. "Let me guess, Bill?"
Tom chuckled. "Bill and Donald. Dick Winters spoke highly of you as well."
Alice smiled. "I don't know how I would have made it without those men in my life. I met them at my lowest point."
She saw her husband stir.
"Chérie?" Came his soft, hoarse voice with a cough.
"I have to go, Mr. Hanks. He is summoning me. Please don't expect him to want to speak to you. He won't."
"Dutifully noted, Ma'am. May I call you sometime?"
"No, I'll call you. I'll send you journals entries, photographs, and letters if that will help you."
"That would be very helpful, thank you."
"No trouble at all. Have a nice day."
"Okay, you take care now."
"Will do. Bye."
"Goodbye."
As she hung up the phone, she looked at her husband, who was reaching out for her. She walked over and took his hand.
"Who were you talking to?" He smiled as he looked at her.
It was the same, adoring smile he always gave her.
"Believe it or not, that was Tom Hanks." She answered, returning the smile.
"The actor?" He asked, brows raised.
"The very one. He has been speaking with Major Winters and everyone else who's left of Easy. I think he wants to make a movie."
He gave her a hard look. "Why? What's so special about us?"
Alice smiled gently and kissed his cheek. "Everything."
--
It was September, 1999.
The young actor had just finished a show at a dinner theater in London. He was reading for this new Spielberg production.
He had gotten the part while auditioning in front of Tom Hanks.
It was official. He was to play Eugene "Doc" Roe.
As he read about the man, a name kept popping up.
"Alice Black." He read aloud.
So, he would have a love interest in the program.
Tom had given him a folder with pictures of the couple. She was a rather pretty young lady.
Despite the photos being in black and white, he could tell her hair wasn't just blonde, it was golden.
Shane Taylor looked at the phone numbers he had been given to call relatives and descendents of Doc and Alice Roe. He knew casting process had been arduous for his role and Alice had not been cast yet. Perhaps he could help with that. Especially since he would need good chemistry.
He dialed one of the numbers.
"Hello?" Came a deep Louisiana accent.
"Hi, eh... I'm Shane and I have the role as Eugene-"
"Th' name is John. So, a Brit is playing my Half Cajun Grandpa?"
Shane let out a small chuckle. "I can do accents and will be working with a dialect coach."
"Right... right, I'll believe it when I hear it."
"Listen... I was wondering what you could tell me about your grandparents. How did they treat each other? What was their dynamic like?"
"You couldn't meet a more loving and devoted couple. Y'know, when grandpa died, so did my grandma. Sure it wasn't immediately, but she lost the will to live when he was gone. She passed a week later. Broken heart, they say. I believe it would have been the same in reverse order."
Shane had been taking notes, a small smile coming to his face at the thought of how devoted they were. Being young and single, himself, he desired such a relationship.
"How did they meet?" Shane asked.
"How much time d'ya have?" John asked.
Shane checked his schedule. "All day, the phone bill will be worth it."
"Good." John laughed. "It was 1943."