Ernest Hemingway Goes on Trial, France, October 1944 – Part Two

HEMINGWAY: One of which just phoned you?

PARK: Yes.

HEMINGWAY: This doesn’t sit well does it, Parkie?

PARK: No, not too well I have to admit.

HEMINGWAY: Me neither if you want the truth.

PARK: Ha! A good choice of word, Ernie.

HEMINGWAY: Overrated.

PARK: Mr…Ernie, we all know you have been carrying arms in contravention
of the laws governing war correspondents. (HEMINGWAY is about to
remonstrate¦) Oh, please don’t deny it here, it really is not necessary,
you can do that out there. You and I both know you effectively led your
own private army, carried out reconnaissance operations for Colonel
Lanham, and others, interrogated German prisoners, admitted openly that
you killed “plenty Germans”, kept stashes of arms in your hotel
bedrooms, persuaded serving American officers to work for you. In fact
you have, in my opinion, acted in a thoroughly irresponsible way that
has endangered the lives of hundreds of people. But…

HEMINGWAY: I thought I could hear a “but” coming.

PARK: But, and this comes from on high, I am to go through the motions,
and at the end of today I am to make judgement that you are, and I
quote, “…a red-blooded American, who, civilian or not, was prepared to
take up arms for his country.” In other words not guilty. Plus, our
little scrap never happened. It will appear on no records of these
proceedings; and those who witnessed it have already been told they are
now governed by the laws pertaining to American national security, and
that if any of them as much as think about it they are dead meat.

HEMINGWAY: Including you and me.

PARK: Especially you and me.

HEMINGWAY: Sorry, Parkie.

PARK: Me too. I had every intention of nailing your ass to the fence,
and I would have done given the chance. Now I don’t, and I will carry
out my orders to the letter. The correspondents have been sent back to
where they belong, on the front reporting the war. The only people who
will be in the courtroom in ten minutes time will be you, me, my captain
advisor, and a stenographer.

HEMINGWAY: So I could slam you in the mouth, Parkie, and it would not
get reported?

PARK: You could try and slam me in the mouth, Ernie, but both my
captain and myself have loaded revolvers, with orders to use them
should it be required. And believe me, Ernie, if you make one false move
I shall take great pleasure in blowing your head off.

HEMINGWAY: Parkie?

PARK: Now take care of that blood pressure.

(PARK exits, leaving a bemused HEMINGWAY looking at the open door.)

Fade to black

~

Based on fact, although some of the scenes and dialogue are invented.