(At the town hall, in front
of all the townspeople, who have gathered to vote Woodrow into
office as the new mayor)
WOODROW
This should have been the happiest day of my life…it could
have been…instead it is the bitterest…It says in the
bible "my cup runneth over"…Well my cup runneth
over…with gall. This is the last act, the farce is over,
the lying is finished, and the coward is at last cured of his
fear. …if I could have reached as high as my father's shoestrings,
my whole life would be justified and I would stand here proudly
before you…instead of as the thief and coward that I am.
I postponed until now what I should have told you a year ago when
I was discharged from the Marine Corps for medical unfitness…a
coward because I didn't want my mother to know…well, it wasn't
to save her, it was to save me… I have never been in Guadalcanal
or anyplace else…I've been working in a shipyard for the
last year. I've never received a medal of any description…naturally
since I've never fought… I've told you all this because too
many men have bled and died for you…and for me…to live
this lie any longer…I guess that's why I told you…I
certainly didn't mean to when I came in…I'm gonna pack my
things now so this will probably be my last chance to say goodbye
to you. I know my mother will give you back the mortgage…and
I hope you won't hold it against her that her son didn't…quite
come through…there's no use telling you I'm sorry because
I wish I was dead. That's all.
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