We'll Meet Again (1982): Season 1, Episode 12 - Exceptional Circumstances - full transcript
Kiley gets an infection and Helen stays at his bedside all night,annoying Ronnie,who wanted her to go to London and fetch Patricia,who has rung home in some distress. Helen claims she cannot leave her patient and the major wakes to find her standing beside him. Ruby tries to slander Mac and is told off by Jack but Mac still feels guilty to be stepping in to a dead man's shoes despite his feelings for Sally. Hymie and Elmer take Peter out and get him drunk. On his return Vera is angry but her husband defends him,saying that he is now a man.
[theme music]
I'll come right away.
I have to go out again.
Oh.
Well, never mind.
Don't wait up for me.
I thought Jim Carley was being
moved to an American hospital.
He's got an infection.
Oh?
Is that serious?
Have you got enough to do?
Oh yes, plenty.
Plenty to do.
[shivering]
[approaching footsteps]
Dr. Dereham's on her way.
His blood pressure's
dropping, sister.
What is it?
- 90 over 60.
- Right.
Get an extra blanket
and some hot towels.
Quickly.
He's gone into
post-operative shock.
The next 48 hours
will be critical.
Now, I'll show you
how to come to a halt
in front of your commanding
officer and make a salute,
right?
- Right.
Now, word of
command for halt is
always given on the left foot.
And you check with the right,
bring left foot forward,
and bring the right foot
into it, raising your knee
as high as you can, like this.
Halt, check.
Halt, check.
That's it.
Now salute.
You raise your right
hand, taking the long way,
palm outwards until it
rests just above your eye.
The palm outwards lad, not
like these bloody Yanks
we got round here.
Now, when you bring it
down, you go the short way,
closing your fingers
as you go, until you
bring your thumb in line with
the seam of your trousers.
Seam of your trousers, lad.
What are you
playing at, Albert?
Well, he'll be
off in a day or two.
I thought I'd show him a
few things before he went.
Now, let's try that again.
Right.
Long way up.
Long way up, palm
open, fingers together.
- Thumbs up.
- Yeah.
[inaudible].
When you come down, take
the short way [inaudible]..
I'm going to bed.
Already?
Good idea, girl.
You need all the
sleep you can get.
Playground is no
place for a woman.
Nothing wrong, Liz?
No, mum.
Nothing to stop down
here for either.
You sure you're
not feeling poorly?
Yes, mum.
Do stop fussing.
Long way up.
Arm upwards til it rests
just above your eye.
Then you--
- Albert.
Your black out round.
You're late.
Crikey.
So I am.
Here.
Keep your heels together, lad.
All right, dad.
[sighs]
Your dad, he means well.
All that, it's the
only way he knows
to show how he feels about you.
Yeah, I know, mum.
I just wish I knew a bit more
before going in the Army.
What? you mean guns
and drill and all that?
You're not scared, are you?
Well, if I get
killed, I get killed.
Peter.
I've never been anywhere, mum.
I've never done anything.
I haven't got any experience.
Girls, you mean?
What if I am killed, and
the only thing I've ever
done in my life is to play
the piano at the market,
Weatherby Saturday Night Dance?
Come on, come on.
Give me the senior
debriefing officer.
Another mission
aborted, two ships
crippled, two lost, 28 men
and not a goddamn thing
to show for it.
[inaudible]
Yes, yes, I got your
preliminary report.
Look, I want all the
lead pilots over here
as soon as they're released.
What?
Well, hurry it up.
OK, Bert.
Watch it here.
Send the others over
as quick as you can.
Good to see you back, Fred.
Thanks, Les.
You didn't spot
any German fighters
until you were heading back.
There was a lot
of cloud, Colonel.
We thought they'd been grounded.
They were waiting for us
when we came out of it.
Go ahead, son.
Go ahead.
Were you hit yourself?
Yeah.
We took some slugs
to both wings.
I saw Jensen go down.
He exploded.
What happened to Vanderhorn?
One of the ships
from a higher squadron
came down on top of 'em--
broke 'em in half.
Guys were thrown out.
It was a rough one, Colonel.
Tried to stay in formation.
Couldn't keep the
ships together.
Some of the new guys--
Are you saying they panicked?
Yeah.
Suppose we might have
expected pneumonia.
I thought we'd succeeded
with the sulfonamides.
He's heading for a toxic crisis.
Just as long as it's
not gas gangrene.
[muttering]
Ow!
Ooh.
It's all right, Sally.
I've been watching
her all the time.
You, walking in here without
so much as by your leave.
It's Sally and the
kids I came to see.
Well, they're not here, and
she doesn't want to see you.
Where is she?
She's gone to fetch
Betty from school,
but it's none of your business.
Look, Mrs. Bilton, we
don't see eye to eye,
but let's just agree to
leave each other alone, OK?
Oh, leave each other alone.
Oh, yes, Sergeant.
Well, you can just go
and leave us all alone.
Hasn't it sunk in yet?
You're not wanted here.
My son's wife, his
widow, doesn't want you,
only she doesn't
know how to tell you.
But she's come to her senses.
While you were smarming your way
in here, her husband, my Stan,
was out there, fighting
for his wife and children--
dying for them.
And now the very
thought of you--
disgust.
Tell Sally I'll be back.
You're nothing
compared to my boy.
You, your fancy uniform
and your handouts
think you could take
the place of a real man.
Ma, the stew.
Oh, it's just kind of,
kind of burnt at the bottom,
that's all.
- It's burnt, ma.
No, I've been stirring
it all the time.
It's supposed to be two days.
You promised you'd keep your--
I only turned me
back for two minutes.
Oh, ma.
Where's Uncle Joe?
It that the camp bit?
No, he's here with us.
He grab--
I don't know what you mean.
Where is he?
Now, that's enough of that.
He's not here and he's not--
Betty, what are
you going on about?
Has he been here?
Well, I've only been
gone 20 minutes, ma.
Why didn't he wait?
What's going on?
- Nothing.
Come off it, ma.
Joe, why didn't he wait?
Well, how should I know?
Well, didn't he
leave a message?
He just came in and
he went out again.
I told him the truth.
And what's that?
Well, that you want to
live decent though, and not
have everyone pointing at
you and the children because
of him.
You told him that?
I told him, she doesn't
want you hanging around her
and the children
anymore, I said.
I'm here to look
after her now and you
can just take yourself off,
Sergeant, and don't come back.
Thanks, Jack.
You knew Stan Bilton.
What was he like?
Well, you met him
yourself, didn't you?
Made a proper mess of each
other, from what I hear.
Well, he packed a hell of
a punch, I'll give him that.
But what was he really like?
He was all right.
Packed a pint.
Told a good story.
Very good with car engines.
He wanted to open
his own garage.
Yeah, Sally told me.
No, no, that would have
been her doing though.
What?
Oh, she wanted him to
make something of himself.
But on his own, well--
You see that?
See the way he looked at me?
What can I get
you, Mrs. Bilton?
I'm talking about that McGraw.
Do you know that even
before my son was killed, he
and Sally, they--
That's between you
and them, all right?
He's an animal.
I want everyone to know it.
Now you listen to me.
If you've come in
here for a drink,
that's all well and good.
You're welcome.
But I don't want to
hear any shouting,
and I don't want to
hear any scandal.
All right?
Bottle of stout.
Colonel, are you moving
your entire office in here?
Settle down right
over there, will you?
Colonel, wouldn't you rather
leave all til the Morning
No, I would not.
Well, sir, if you're going
to be more comfortable in here.
Thank you, Lester, but comfort
has got nothing to do with it.
All right, men, that's it.
Thank you, sir.
As long as Jim
is in hospital, I
don't want my
squadron commanders
or lead pilots to
have any inhibitions
about coming in to see me.
Well, Colonel,
you don't mean--
I mean that some of our guys
are afraid to come right out
and tell the old man what
they're really thinking.
They're used to coming in
here belly aching to Jim.
Well, after tomorrow's
mission they'll
come in through that
door like always,
or they'll find it's my
shoulder that they're crying on.
Uh, will that be all, Colonel?
No.
I would like your opinion.
Yes, sir.
Well, the 8th is building
up to a big new offensive,
and when it starts, the 525th
has got to be 100% ready.
Yes, sir.
So, taking the broad view,
how do you rate our guys?
Well, how exactly
do you mean, Colonel?
Well, their morale,
their fighting spirit,
their will to win?
Well, sir, it's
not all that bad,
but I certainly have
known it to be better.
Do you think it's because
they're still getting shot
to pieces up there, or is
it because they don't have
Major Kiley at their backs?
I think it's a
bit of each, sir.
Lester, I have no doubt
that when this war is over
you will carve out a
great career for yourself
in Washington, heading up
some goddamn Senate committee.
But right here and now, can't
you for once in your life
say what you think?
I think the group
needs Major Kiley, sir.
So do I. OK, Lester.
Colonel?
The exec-- he is going to
pull through OK, isn't he?
He has worked 25
hours a day ever
since his group was formed.
He's given it all the
strength he's got.
Now he's got himself
shot up, and he's
fighting one hell of a
crisis with rampant infection
and pneumonia.
How much strength has the
guy got left for himself, hm?
You tell me.
[sighs]
Where have you been?
Out.
Til this time?
Oh, Albert.
Out of the way.
Just look, nearly
two weeks ration.
Oh, I got my blackout round.
Wanted a spot of tea first.
Why are you so late?
Had a special meeting.
Is Letty in bed?
What was this meeting about?
It's an idea of a
goodwill committee.
[scoffs]
We adopt a G.I.
Us?
Only in a matter
of speaking, Albert.
So many of them are
lonely, got nowhere to go.
We've been asked to open our
doors to one so he can drop
in, be like one of the family.
We've had enough trouble
with that lot dropping in here.
I've put our name in the box.
What box?
In the church hall.
You put your name and
address on a piece of paper.
Anyone of them wants to,
he just puts his hand
in and takes one, cold round.
You mean you can't even
choose the one you get?
I'm having no
argument, Albert.
If one turns up,
you be nice to him.
Why should I?
And what about
Lettie, in her state?
You thought about her?
It's her I'm thinking about.
Well, you must know
it-- it's on the corner,
opposite the bank.
- Bank, yeah.
Sells seed, chicken wire--
That's my family's store.
No, no, kid.
Yeah, it's been in the
family 100 years now.
- Who's this?
- Hey, Hymie, what do you know?
I have to cross
the Atlantic, come
to England to meet a guy from
the same town as my sister.
This is John Wyatt.
Wyatt.
Just got in, thought I'd say hi.
Hi.
What's eating you?
Nothing's eating me, but
we got a mission tomorrow.
OK, OK.
And what it ain't
now is party time.
Nice to meet you.
Good bye.
Yeah, OK.
If you got a mission,
OK, I'll leave.
Any time you're free, huh?
Take you to town,
show you the sights.
OK, thanks a lot.
OK, bye, Alan.
See you around.
Oh, bye, um--
- Hymie.
- Hymie.
See you, Allen.
Well, thanks, Hymie.
Thank you very much.
What for?
Such a nice, friendly
way you have with people.
Thin nothing of it.
No, I don't.
Anyhow, what sights?
The market at Weatherby?
There ain't no sights.
He only said what
was in the letter.
Mack wouldn't like being told
he was responsible for Stan
getting himself killed
anymore than I did.
Now, he was upset--
very upset.
I don't blame you for, ma.
I was upset.
I still am.
I suppose it means
you're on your own again.
You don't think I
ever cared about Stan.
Oh, no.
But that first
time when I heard--
when, when we all thought he was
dead, I've shed all my tears.
Now I know he really is dead.
Sorry.
I'm truly sorry.
No tears left.
If I thought that
Sergeant wasn't coming back,
I could sell Upsy, move back
in with you and the children--
my own grandchildren.
And then we could all be
nice and cozy together,
just like we used to be.
Major?
Major Dereham?
No, what is it, Nanny?
You should be in your bed.
Hm?
Oh, well, yes, so should you be.
Oh, I don't need
sleep at my age.
Is Mrs. Turner back.
No, not yet.
Oh, I thought perhaps
she'd telephoned.
Thank you, Nanny,
it's Pat's letter.
I've been trying to
read between the lines.
It appears I, I don't know very
much about my own daughter.
I do miss her, Nanny.
Well, she'll be
trying to find her feet
doing what every child must.
Well, I'll be off to bed,
[telephone ringing]
Dereham house.
Nanny, Nanny, darling,
I must speak to daddy.
Is he there?
Patricia, my dear,
are you not well?
Your father's very
anxious about you.
Look, I don't know what to do.
Is mummy there?
Hold on, your father is here.
It's Patricia.
Hello, Pat?
Pat?
Oh, dear, nanny,
we've been cut-off.
But she wanted
to speak to you.
Did she, did she say
where she was calling from?
Oh, she didn't say, but--
What is it, Nanny?
She was distressed.
Major, there's
something very wrong.
[door opens]
Doctor?
Doctor, Major Dereham's
here to see you.
Major-- Ronnie?
Yes, but--
Well, how on earth?
Ronnie, what are you doing here?
Darling, it's Pat.
-
Yes, she rang from London.
She spoke to Nanny.
I don't know exactly
what's happened,
but apparently she
sounded very distressed.
There's a man involved.
I'm sure there's
something very wrong.
Ronnie, I, I
can't do anything.
You know.
- Darling, I rang dad.
He hasn't seen her for a month.
[approaching footsteps]
He doesn't know where she is.
Can we go into the office?
Yes, of course.
How did you get here?
Jack.
Jack Blair brought me in.
Darling, I think you
have to go to London.
London?
Yes.
You must find her,
bring her back,
and I think you must do it now.
Ronnie, I can't.
I can't leave my patient.
You mean you won't
leave Jim Kiley.
That's right.
I won't leave Jim Kiley.
You know in all this time
I've never reproached you.
Don't you understand?
He may not last the night.
I've never wished
[inaudible] approach you.
It's not because I'm a saint.
I'm not a blind fool.
- I'm his doctor.
I can leave him!
I'm not indifferent.
It's because I thought that
it would be the best for you,
for all of us, to let things
take their own course.
Please, Ronnie,
not this, not now.
Now it is not a question of
just you, me and Jim Kiley.
This is Pat.
This is--
And this is an American
who may have given his life,
as thousands already have,
for us, for our freedom,
so that we can have the luxury
of worrying about our Pats.
Oh, no--
I don't have that luxury--
not yet, not tonight,
not this minute.
Pat's a big girl now.
She's got to lead her own life.
She's got it all before her.
But that man in there
is fighting for his.
And I'm going to, I'm, I'm--
You're making a choice, Helen.
I'm going to
make sure he wins.
Well, that's it then.
I thought we had a chance.
Dr. Dereham, can
you come at once?
I'm sorry, Ronnie.
[labored breathing]
It's his breathing.
He can't get his right oxygen.
Didn't you want to fly?
Oh, sure.
But I have this slight
astigmatism in my left eye.
It's nothing to bother me, but
it keeps me out of aircrew.
But you like
what you're doing?
Oh, sure-- communications
in the control tower.
It's a worthwhile job, and
somebody has got to do it.
Do you--
Oh, thank you.
Where was it you said you
came from, Santa Barbara?
California.
Is that near Hollywood?
Well, it's about as near to
Hollywood as you are to London.
I've been on my own for
half an hour [inaudible]..
This is John Wyatt.
He's come to visit us--
my husband.
Mr. Mundy, it's a real
pleasure to be here.
I guess it's proof of that
fine, old English hospitality
that good folks like you
will let complete strangers
in your home.
Anybody home?
Uncle Joe!
Uncle Joe!
Hello, princess.
Grandma said you
weren't coming back.
Now, you don't want to believe
everything grandma says, honey.
Of course I was coming back.
But [inaudible], sir.
It's on the table.
Come on.
But I want to tell
you about my school.
Now, you just eat
your food and then you
can tell me all about it, OK?
OK.
Go on.
You were here with mama?
Yeah.
What did she say?
Ah, you know, the usual.
No, I don't know.
Tell me what she said.
Well, maybe she was right.
What?
Well, maybe it is
our fault that Stan--
No.
Maybe it is our fault that
Stan went out and got himself--
- Ma will try--
- --killed.
Ma will try anything to
set us against each other,
see you off out of it.
Don't you understand that, Joe?
Yes.
Yes.
I told ma once and for
all to stay out of it.
She's got no hold
over me or the kids.
She took herself off--
to Ipswich, I hope.
That's an end of it.
Sal, it's not Stan
or Ruby, it's, it's me.
What do you mean?
Well the deeper I get in,
the more I feel trapped.
Lieutenant Walter Leroy.
You must know him.
No, Rosie.
We've got over 2,000 officers
and enlisted men up there.
He promised faithfully
he'd call for me yesterday
eve, then never turned up.
Well, that's what happens
with these lieutenants.
You can't trust them.
Lee, two pints, please.
All right?
Hey, [inaudible].
Vi not around?
Uh, she's working
up on the farm.
Been thinking
some about Chuck.
Alive or dead?
Who knows what happened?
Well, Vi hasn't given up hope.
I don't think she ever will.
There's definitely
something wrong with me.
Uh-huh.
So what else is new?
I'm beginning to
like this stuff.
Hi there, gorgeous.
Hello, Walt.
Hi there, gorgeous.
Doug won't let me
off tonight, Walt.
Ah, that's a shame.
And I had some definite plans,
you know, just the two of us
alone.
Stop.
How about tonight then?
Would you like to go
to the dance with me?
Oh, yeah.
I'd love to.
Hey, wait a minute, Rosie.
You said you'd go with us.
I said I might.
Oh, you promised.
- And now I can't.
- But Rosie!
I think you heard
the lady, Sergeant.
Hymie.
I don't know where they
get their ideas from.
I don't encourage them.
Boy, you two are
real quick learners.
Somebody open a
basket over that dame.
Doctor, there's a
call from the house.
Take over, will you?
Ronnie?
Yes?
Mrs. Dereham?
Nanny?
It's the Major,
he's had an accident.
I came in and found
him lying on the floor.
Mrs. Dereham?
Hello?
Nanny--
Hello!
I can't come now.
I'll come as soon as I can.
[doorbell rings]
Oh.
Hello, Nanny.
Mrs. Lambourn.
My dear, what on
earth's the matter?
That's a peculiar way to
greet someone, flat on me
back on the floor.
Highly unconventional, Ronnie.
Are you sure you're all right?
- Yes.
Yes, I'm all right.
I could do with a drink.
Nanny!
Nanny!
There is no need to shout.
I'm not deaf.
I can hear as well as most
people, and better than some.
Excuse me.
Nanny, is there
any whiskey left?
What?
Any whiskey left?
No.
You had The last of it on
Wednesday after your dinner.
Oh, dear, did I?
Well, it'll have to
be a pot of tea then.
We do have some tea?
Yes, some.
Yes, I was, uh, I was
trying to put my service
pistol up in a safe place.
I toppled over.
It's fortunate you turned up.
Poor Ronnie.
Funny old thing,
Nanny, I thought
you'd been pensioned off.
Nanny came out of
retirement to help us.
She didn't have to.
Where's Helen?
Oh, she'll be on duty
at the hospital all night.
Oh, really?
Sorry I can't offer
you a proper drink.
It's been one of those days.
I'm not exactly very good
company this evening.
You're not trying to
get rid of me, are you?
Would I do that?
No, of course not.
The war claims
them, or maims them.
Ronnie, you, all
these young faces.
I remember the dance
we had to welcome them.
So many of them gone.
I heard young Peter
Mundy just signed up.
He's the same age as Pat.
My son would be up there.
Course when we
didn't hear from you--
Oh, I know.
It's been weeks, and
weeks, and weeks.
I really should
have written, but I
got so embroiled in London.
Well, Helen assumed that
you'd been reconciled with--
That bastard, Dickie?
It didn't happen, of course.
In no time at all, he was
off with some little tart
in Lorenz.
If only he didn't
look so sincere and--
oh, but, I didn't come
here to be boring about me.
My dear, Captain Carson has
been having a word with me.
You know Captain Carson?
He's one of the
Americans on the base.
A very dear friend of mine.
It seems they're desperately
worried about one
of their senior officers.
There's no reason why you
shouldn't know, Phyllis.
It's pretty common knowledge.
Major Kiley was
wounded in a raid.
He's seriously ill.
Oh, that poor, dear man.
It must be heartbreaking
for everyone.
Yes, yes, it must.
Phyllis, Helen's incapable of
a mean, cruel, or petty act,
and that gives me
great peace of mind.
You once went to some trouble to
let me know the difficult time
Helen was going through, and
I'd like to thank you for that.
You see, Major Kiley's
a friend of ours.
We're both concerned
about his recovery.
The kettle is just boiling.
Thank you, Nanny.
Mrs. Lambourn has just
pointed out how late it is.
She wants to go home.
Would you mind?
Thank you very much, Nanny.
You really shouldn't have
gone to so much trouble
on my behalf.
Wonderful to see you again.
Do give my love to Helen.
Good night, Ronnie.
Good bye, Phyllis.
If I see Pat again in London,
shall I give her your love?
Pat?
You've seen Pat?
Oh, didn't she tell you?
How I ran into Pat and her
glamorous young officer.
They were so obviously in love.
I was really quite touched.
Good night, Ronnie.
[knock at door]
You're here, huh?
[inaudible].
It's Elmer and Hymie, John.
- Oh, hi, guys.
- Hey.
- You ready to go.
- Go where?
We're going to show
you the sights, remember?
Come on, let's go.
- Oh yeah, look--
What sight?
Well we, uh, thought we'd go
to Hassingham to find some, uh,
dames.
Come on, let's go!
Girls?
Elmer, you know
I'm joining up soon.
- Yeah?
- Going in the Army.
Yeah, that's a
really tough break.
Will you come on?
Let's go!
- Look--
- Yeah, tough.
Can I come with you?
- With us?
- Yeah.
To Hassingham?
Yeah.
What do you think?
Yeah, since the kid's
joining up, yeah, why not?
Yeah, sure.
Come on.
Dad.
What's all this then?
This is Elmer, dad.
How do you do, sir.
And Hymie.
Hey.
And you know John.
It's a real pleasure
to meet again, sir.
We're just going out, dad.
Eh?
To Hassingham.
Oh, yes?
It was really nice
to meet you, Mr. Mundy.
Come on, you guys.
Now, look guys, maybe I'll
meet up with you later, OK?
Well, Charlie, we
came out for you.
Yeah, well, if it's OK with
you Elmer and it's OK with you,
sir--
- What's OK?
Well, I'd rather stay here.
Here?
Yeah, you see, my
father runs a store, too,
and I'll be taking it over one
day, I figure, when he retires.
So maybe we could
sit down and talk
about business for a while,
if that's OK with you, sir?
Oh.
Oh, well.
So many deaths.
So much dying.
So many different
kinds of wounds.
Don't you long for a time
when bringing children
into the world is
the commonplace--
not this?
Oh, God, let him pull through.
Got the right time, dad?
You've forgotten where
the clock is then, have you?
Is it fast?
Well, it wasn't this
morning when I looked at it.
Hi there, Rosie.
See you later.
I said I'd be in tonight.
I'd like you to meet Velma.
No, this is Velma.
And this is-- uh, skip it.
I thought we'd all go
to the dance together.
Jack, three beers, please.
Come on, girls.
Let's sit down.
I know who they are.
I see them every day at
the parachute factory.
Besides, I'm spoken for tonight.
Listen, I'm sorry for
what I said earlier.
Let's just forget it, eh?
I can't forget it.
Oh, for Pete's sakes, Sal.
I've never
behaved like a wife.
I've never thought of
myself as YOUR wife--
you've never given
me the chance.
That's the way
we both wanted it.
It's how you want
it that matters.
I have to get out some time.
No one's stopping you.
Ha, it's not that simple.
You know that.
Look, I'm happy here.
I've never been happier.
Listen, let's just
forget what I said.
Just go on the way we were, eh?
How can I forget it,
knowing you feel trapped
and not knowing why?
I've never made any
demands on you, Joe.
You've been completely free
to come and go as you like.
No one's forcing you
to do or feel anything.
You've used this
house as your house.
And you've used the
kids as your own kids.
You just tell me when I've
made one single demand on you?
I'm in another man's house!
With another man's wife,
and another man's kids.
Everything I touch is his.
I'm not even allowed
my own future.
So it's though you expect me to
settle down here after the war
and become the local mechanic.
Gish!
He's here right now.
Making me feel guilty.
Making us do this to each other.
If that's the way you feel,
then you better get out.
Right.
[door slams]
[drunken singing]
(SINGING) The cabs, the ring
of roses, London Bridge is fa--
- Shh!
- Shh!
(SINGING) --falling down.
Boys and girls together,
me and Mamie O'Rourke.
Shh.
Hey, Peter!
Where's, where's
the god damn light?
(SINGING) --fantastic, on
the sidewalks of New Yor--
Who the hell are--
what's going on?
It's me, mum.
I can see it's you.
Who are these two?
Elmer and Hymie.
But Peter--
Elmer.
Hymie.
Peter, what's happened to you?
It's all right, mum.
All right?
Look at the state of you!
What on earth have
you been doing?
Well?
Getting some experience.
Getting what?
Elmie and Hymer and me--
Elmer.
Hymie.
We got a bit drunk.
I can smell it.
No, no, I got drunk.
Peter, you're still under age.
And, and we went
out with some girls.
Goodnight.
You did what?
Just a-- hey, just
a minute, you two.
Hey!
Albert?
Albert, would you just
look at the state of him?
I can see.
Well?
Well, it's the first time.
Won't be the last.
Albert!
Well, he's a man now.
[inaudible]
Going to be off fighting
for his country soon.
[inaudible] more
[inaudible] don't signify.
All right, Albert,
it's up to you.
You clean him up.
I'm going to bed.
Elmer?
I kind of enjoyed
myself tonight.
Did you enjoy yourself?
Well, I enjoyed myself.
Elmer?
Poor old Peter, having to go
in the Army, lose his freedom.
Least we could do is take him
out and show him a good time.
Hymie?
What?
Breaking my heart.
[door creaks open]
Nanny, I-- is he here?
Have you had anything to eat?
I'm not hungry.
Where is he?
Well, Mrs. Dereham--
Ronnie?
You all right?
Yes.
Yes, I'm all right.
He's pulled through.
Yes.
Now, Colonel,
please don't tire him.
I won't.
Ruf.
Hi, Jim.
Good to see you.
And you.
I was afraid I was
gonna miss you.
I hear they're shipping
you out any day
now to our old hospital.
That's what they tell me.
Well, I'm grateful to
our friend Dr. Dereham.
She brought you
back from the brink.
How are you
managing without me?
Oh, I got Lester jumping
like a cat on a hot tin roof.
I bet.
Listen, Jim, that
damn fool mission
you flew, against my orders?
Well, everyone
knows what you did.
And everyone knows I know.
I got to go by the book.
Look, I hate having
to do this to you,
but I just can't roll
over and play dead.
Ruf, what are you
trying to tell me?
I'm sorry, [inaudible].
I've been working my
butt off over at Wing
trying to get the whole
thing straightened out.
The best I can do is three
months deferment of promotion.
[scoffs]
Well, what's so funny?
Nothing.
I was afraid you were going
to keep me from flying again.
[theme music] MUSIC
I'll come right away.
I have to go out again.
Oh.
Well, never mind.
Don't wait up for me.
I thought Jim Carley was being
moved to an American hospital.
He's got an infection.
Oh?
Is that serious?
Have you got enough to do?
Oh yes, plenty.
Plenty to do.
[shivering]
[approaching footsteps]
Dr. Dereham's on her way.
His blood pressure's
dropping, sister.
What is it?
- 90 over 60.
- Right.
Get an extra blanket
and some hot towels.
Quickly.
He's gone into
post-operative shock.
The next 48 hours
will be critical.
Now, I'll show you
how to come to a halt
in front of your commanding
officer and make a salute,
right?
- Right.
Now, word of
command for halt is
always given on the left foot.
And you check with the right,
bring left foot forward,
and bring the right foot
into it, raising your knee
as high as you can, like this.
Halt, check.
Halt, check.
That's it.
Now salute.
You raise your right
hand, taking the long way,
palm outwards until it
rests just above your eye.
The palm outwards lad, not
like these bloody Yanks
we got round here.
Now, when you bring it
down, you go the short way,
closing your fingers
as you go, until you
bring your thumb in line with
the seam of your trousers.
Seam of your trousers, lad.
What are you
playing at, Albert?
Well, he'll be
off in a day or two.
I thought I'd show him a
few things before he went.
Now, let's try that again.
Right.
Long way up.
Long way up, palm
open, fingers together.
- Thumbs up.
- Yeah.
[inaudible].
When you come down, take
the short way [inaudible]..
I'm going to bed.
Already?
Good idea, girl.
You need all the
sleep you can get.
Playground is no
place for a woman.
Nothing wrong, Liz?
No, mum.
Nothing to stop down
here for either.
You sure you're
not feeling poorly?
Yes, mum.
Do stop fussing.
Long way up.
Arm upwards til it rests
just above your eye.
Then you--
- Albert.
Your black out round.
You're late.
Crikey.
So I am.
Here.
Keep your heels together, lad.
All right, dad.
[sighs]
Your dad, he means well.
All that, it's the
only way he knows
to show how he feels about you.
Yeah, I know, mum.
I just wish I knew a bit more
before going in the Army.
What? you mean guns
and drill and all that?
You're not scared, are you?
Well, if I get
killed, I get killed.
Peter.
I've never been anywhere, mum.
I've never done anything.
I haven't got any experience.
Girls, you mean?
What if I am killed, and
the only thing I've ever
done in my life is to play
the piano at the market,
Weatherby Saturday Night Dance?
Come on, come on.
Give me the senior
debriefing officer.
Another mission
aborted, two ships
crippled, two lost, 28 men
and not a goddamn thing
to show for it.
[inaudible]
Yes, yes, I got your
preliminary report.
Look, I want all the
lead pilots over here
as soon as they're released.
What?
Well, hurry it up.
OK, Bert.
Watch it here.
Send the others over
as quick as you can.
Good to see you back, Fred.
Thanks, Les.
You didn't spot
any German fighters
until you were heading back.
There was a lot
of cloud, Colonel.
We thought they'd been grounded.
They were waiting for us
when we came out of it.
Go ahead, son.
Go ahead.
Were you hit yourself?
Yeah.
We took some slugs
to both wings.
I saw Jensen go down.
He exploded.
What happened to Vanderhorn?
One of the ships
from a higher squadron
came down on top of 'em--
broke 'em in half.
Guys were thrown out.
It was a rough one, Colonel.
Tried to stay in formation.
Couldn't keep the
ships together.
Some of the new guys--
Are you saying they panicked?
Yeah.
Suppose we might have
expected pneumonia.
I thought we'd succeeded
with the sulfonamides.
He's heading for a toxic crisis.
Just as long as it's
not gas gangrene.
[muttering]
Ow!
Ooh.
It's all right, Sally.
I've been watching
her all the time.
You, walking in here without
so much as by your leave.
It's Sally and the
kids I came to see.
Well, they're not here, and
she doesn't want to see you.
Where is she?
She's gone to fetch
Betty from school,
but it's none of your business.
Look, Mrs. Bilton, we
don't see eye to eye,
but let's just agree to
leave each other alone, OK?
Oh, leave each other alone.
Oh, yes, Sergeant.
Well, you can just go
and leave us all alone.
Hasn't it sunk in yet?
You're not wanted here.
My son's wife, his
widow, doesn't want you,
only she doesn't
know how to tell you.
But she's come to her senses.
While you were smarming your way
in here, her husband, my Stan,
was out there, fighting
for his wife and children--
dying for them.
And now the very
thought of you--
disgust.
Tell Sally I'll be back.
You're nothing
compared to my boy.
You, your fancy uniform
and your handouts
think you could take
the place of a real man.
Ma, the stew.
Oh, it's just kind of,
kind of burnt at the bottom,
that's all.
- It's burnt, ma.
No, I've been stirring
it all the time.
It's supposed to be two days.
You promised you'd keep your--
I only turned me
back for two minutes.
Oh, ma.
Where's Uncle Joe?
It that the camp bit?
No, he's here with us.
He grab--
I don't know what you mean.
Where is he?
Now, that's enough of that.
He's not here and he's not--
Betty, what are
you going on about?
Has he been here?
Well, I've only been
gone 20 minutes, ma.
Why didn't he wait?
What's going on?
- Nothing.
Come off it, ma.
Joe, why didn't he wait?
Well, how should I know?
Well, didn't he
leave a message?
He just came in and
he went out again.
I told him the truth.
And what's that?
Well, that you want to
live decent though, and not
have everyone pointing at
you and the children because
of him.
You told him that?
I told him, she doesn't
want you hanging around her
and the children
anymore, I said.
I'm here to look
after her now and you
can just take yourself off,
Sergeant, and don't come back.
Thanks, Jack.
You knew Stan Bilton.
What was he like?
Well, you met him
yourself, didn't you?
Made a proper mess of each
other, from what I hear.
Well, he packed a hell of
a punch, I'll give him that.
But what was he really like?
He was all right.
Packed a pint.
Told a good story.
Very good with car engines.
He wanted to open
his own garage.
Yeah, Sally told me.
No, no, that would have
been her doing though.
What?
Oh, she wanted him to
make something of himself.
But on his own, well--
You see that?
See the way he looked at me?
What can I get
you, Mrs. Bilton?
I'm talking about that McGraw.
Do you know that even
before my son was killed, he
and Sally, they--
That's between you
and them, all right?
He's an animal.
I want everyone to know it.
Now you listen to me.
If you've come in
here for a drink,
that's all well and good.
You're welcome.
But I don't want to
hear any shouting,
and I don't want to
hear any scandal.
All right?
Bottle of stout.
Colonel, are you moving
your entire office in here?
Settle down right
over there, will you?
Colonel, wouldn't you rather
leave all til the Morning
No, I would not.
Well, sir, if you're going
to be more comfortable in here.
Thank you, Lester, but comfort
has got nothing to do with it.
All right, men, that's it.
Thank you, sir.
As long as Jim
is in hospital, I
don't want my
squadron commanders
or lead pilots to
have any inhibitions
about coming in to see me.
Well, Colonel,
you don't mean--
I mean that some of our guys
are afraid to come right out
and tell the old man what
they're really thinking.
They're used to coming in
here belly aching to Jim.
Well, after tomorrow's
mission they'll
come in through that
door like always,
or they'll find it's my
shoulder that they're crying on.
Uh, will that be all, Colonel?
No.
I would like your opinion.
Yes, sir.
Well, the 8th is building
up to a big new offensive,
and when it starts, the 525th
has got to be 100% ready.
Yes, sir.
So, taking the broad view,
how do you rate our guys?
Well, how exactly
do you mean, Colonel?
Well, their morale,
their fighting spirit,
their will to win?
Well, sir, it's
not all that bad,
but I certainly have
known it to be better.
Do you think it's because
they're still getting shot
to pieces up there, or is
it because they don't have
Major Kiley at their backs?
I think it's a
bit of each, sir.
Lester, I have no doubt
that when this war is over
you will carve out a
great career for yourself
in Washington, heading up
some goddamn Senate committee.
But right here and now, can't
you for once in your life
say what you think?
I think the group
needs Major Kiley, sir.
So do I. OK, Lester.
Colonel?
The exec-- he is going to
pull through OK, isn't he?
He has worked 25
hours a day ever
since his group was formed.
He's given it all the
strength he's got.
Now he's got himself
shot up, and he's
fighting one hell of a
crisis with rampant infection
and pneumonia.
How much strength has the
guy got left for himself, hm?
You tell me.
[sighs]
Where have you been?
Out.
Til this time?
Oh, Albert.
Out of the way.
Just look, nearly
two weeks ration.
Oh, I got my blackout round.
Wanted a spot of tea first.
Why are you so late?
Had a special meeting.
Is Letty in bed?
What was this meeting about?
It's an idea of a
goodwill committee.
[scoffs]
We adopt a G.I.
Us?
Only in a matter
of speaking, Albert.
So many of them are
lonely, got nowhere to go.
We've been asked to open our
doors to one so he can drop
in, be like one of the family.
We've had enough trouble
with that lot dropping in here.
I've put our name in the box.
What box?
In the church hall.
You put your name and
address on a piece of paper.
Anyone of them wants to,
he just puts his hand
in and takes one, cold round.
You mean you can't even
choose the one you get?
I'm having no
argument, Albert.
If one turns up,
you be nice to him.
Why should I?
And what about
Lettie, in her state?
You thought about her?
It's her I'm thinking about.
Well, you must know
it-- it's on the corner,
opposite the bank.
- Bank, yeah.
Sells seed, chicken wire--
That's my family's store.
No, no, kid.
Yeah, it's been in the
family 100 years now.
- Who's this?
- Hey, Hymie, what do you know?
I have to cross
the Atlantic, come
to England to meet a guy from
the same town as my sister.
This is John Wyatt.
Wyatt.
Just got in, thought I'd say hi.
Hi.
What's eating you?
Nothing's eating me, but
we got a mission tomorrow.
OK, OK.
And what it ain't
now is party time.
Nice to meet you.
Good bye.
Yeah, OK.
If you got a mission,
OK, I'll leave.
Any time you're free, huh?
Take you to town,
show you the sights.
OK, thanks a lot.
OK, bye, Alan.
See you around.
Oh, bye, um--
- Hymie.
- Hymie.
See you, Allen.
Well, thanks, Hymie.
Thank you very much.
What for?
Such a nice, friendly
way you have with people.
Thin nothing of it.
No, I don't.
Anyhow, what sights?
The market at Weatherby?
There ain't no sights.
He only said what
was in the letter.
Mack wouldn't like being told
he was responsible for Stan
getting himself killed
anymore than I did.
Now, he was upset--
very upset.
I don't blame you for, ma.
I was upset.
I still am.
I suppose it means
you're on your own again.
You don't think I
ever cared about Stan.
Oh, no.
But that first
time when I heard--
when, when we all thought he was
dead, I've shed all my tears.
Now I know he really is dead.
Sorry.
I'm truly sorry.
No tears left.
If I thought that
Sergeant wasn't coming back,
I could sell Upsy, move back
in with you and the children--
my own grandchildren.
And then we could all be
nice and cozy together,
just like we used to be.
Major?
Major Dereham?
No, what is it, Nanny?
You should be in your bed.
Hm?
Oh, well, yes, so should you be.
Oh, I don't need
sleep at my age.
Is Mrs. Turner back.
No, not yet.
Oh, I thought perhaps
she'd telephoned.
Thank you, Nanny,
it's Pat's letter.
I've been trying to
read between the lines.
It appears I, I don't know very
much about my own daughter.
I do miss her, Nanny.
Well, she'll be
trying to find her feet
doing what every child must.
Well, I'll be off to bed,
[telephone ringing]
Dereham house.
Nanny, Nanny, darling,
I must speak to daddy.
Is he there?
Patricia, my dear,
are you not well?
Your father's very
anxious about you.
Look, I don't know what to do.
Is mummy there?
Hold on, your father is here.
It's Patricia.
Hello, Pat?
Pat?
Oh, dear, nanny,
we've been cut-off.
But she wanted
to speak to you.
Did she, did she say
where she was calling from?
Oh, she didn't say, but--
What is it, Nanny?
She was distressed.
Major, there's
something very wrong.
[door opens]
Doctor?
Doctor, Major Dereham's
here to see you.
Major-- Ronnie?
Yes, but--
Well, how on earth?
Ronnie, what are you doing here?
Darling, it's Pat.
-
Yes, she rang from London.
She spoke to Nanny.
I don't know exactly
what's happened,
but apparently she
sounded very distressed.
There's a man involved.
I'm sure there's
something very wrong.
Ronnie, I, I
can't do anything.
You know.
- Darling, I rang dad.
He hasn't seen her for a month.
[approaching footsteps]
He doesn't know where she is.
Can we go into the office?
Yes, of course.
How did you get here?
Jack.
Jack Blair brought me in.
Darling, I think you
have to go to London.
London?
Yes.
You must find her,
bring her back,
and I think you must do it now.
Ronnie, I can't.
I can't leave my patient.
You mean you won't
leave Jim Kiley.
That's right.
I won't leave Jim Kiley.
You know in all this time
I've never reproached you.
Don't you understand?
He may not last the night.
I've never wished
[inaudible] approach you.
It's not because I'm a saint.
I'm not a blind fool.
- I'm his doctor.
I can leave him!
I'm not indifferent.
It's because I thought that
it would be the best for you,
for all of us, to let things
take their own course.
Please, Ronnie,
not this, not now.
Now it is not a question of
just you, me and Jim Kiley.
This is Pat.
This is--
And this is an American
who may have given his life,
as thousands already have,
for us, for our freedom,
so that we can have the luxury
of worrying about our Pats.
Oh, no--
I don't have that luxury--
not yet, not tonight,
not this minute.
Pat's a big girl now.
She's got to lead her own life.
She's got it all before her.
But that man in there
is fighting for his.
And I'm going to, I'm, I'm--
You're making a choice, Helen.
I'm going to
make sure he wins.
Well, that's it then.
I thought we had a chance.
Dr. Dereham, can
you come at once?
I'm sorry, Ronnie.
[labored breathing]
It's his breathing.
He can't get his right oxygen.
Didn't you want to fly?
Oh, sure.
But I have this slight
astigmatism in my left eye.
It's nothing to bother me, but
it keeps me out of aircrew.
But you like
what you're doing?
Oh, sure-- communications
in the control tower.
It's a worthwhile job, and
somebody has got to do it.
Do you--
Oh, thank you.
Where was it you said you
came from, Santa Barbara?
California.
Is that near Hollywood?
Well, it's about as near to
Hollywood as you are to London.
I've been on my own for
half an hour [inaudible]..
This is John Wyatt.
He's come to visit us--
my husband.
Mr. Mundy, it's a real
pleasure to be here.
I guess it's proof of that
fine, old English hospitality
that good folks like you
will let complete strangers
in your home.
Anybody home?
Uncle Joe!
Uncle Joe!
Hello, princess.
Grandma said you
weren't coming back.
Now, you don't want to believe
everything grandma says, honey.
Of course I was coming back.
But [inaudible], sir.
It's on the table.
Come on.
But I want to tell
you about my school.
Now, you just eat
your food and then you
can tell me all about it, OK?
OK.
Go on.
You were here with mama?
Yeah.
What did she say?
Ah, you know, the usual.
No, I don't know.
Tell me what she said.
Well, maybe she was right.
What?
Well, maybe it is
our fault that Stan--
No.
Maybe it is our fault that
Stan went out and got himself--
- Ma will try--
- --killed.
Ma will try anything to
set us against each other,
see you off out of it.
Don't you understand that, Joe?
Yes.
Yes.
I told ma once and for
all to stay out of it.
She's got no hold
over me or the kids.
She took herself off--
to Ipswich, I hope.
That's an end of it.
Sal, it's not Stan
or Ruby, it's, it's me.
What do you mean?
Well the deeper I get in,
the more I feel trapped.
Lieutenant Walter Leroy.
You must know him.
No, Rosie.
We've got over 2,000 officers
and enlisted men up there.
He promised faithfully
he'd call for me yesterday
eve, then never turned up.
Well, that's what happens
with these lieutenants.
You can't trust them.
Lee, two pints, please.
All right?
Hey, [inaudible].
Vi not around?
Uh, she's working
up on the farm.
Been thinking
some about Chuck.
Alive or dead?
Who knows what happened?
Well, Vi hasn't given up hope.
I don't think she ever will.
There's definitely
something wrong with me.
Uh-huh.
So what else is new?
I'm beginning to
like this stuff.
Hi there, gorgeous.
Hello, Walt.
Hi there, gorgeous.
Doug won't let me
off tonight, Walt.
Ah, that's a shame.
And I had some definite plans,
you know, just the two of us
alone.
Stop.
How about tonight then?
Would you like to go
to the dance with me?
Oh, yeah.
I'd love to.
Hey, wait a minute, Rosie.
You said you'd go with us.
I said I might.
Oh, you promised.
- And now I can't.
- But Rosie!
I think you heard
the lady, Sergeant.
Hymie.
I don't know where they
get their ideas from.
I don't encourage them.
Boy, you two are
real quick learners.
Somebody open a
basket over that dame.
Doctor, there's a
call from the house.
Take over, will you?
Ronnie?
Yes?
Mrs. Dereham?
Nanny?
It's the Major,
he's had an accident.
I came in and found
him lying on the floor.
Mrs. Dereham?
Hello?
Nanny--
Hello!
I can't come now.
I'll come as soon as I can.
[doorbell rings]
Oh.
Hello, Nanny.
Mrs. Lambourn.
My dear, what on
earth's the matter?
That's a peculiar way to
greet someone, flat on me
back on the floor.
Highly unconventional, Ronnie.
Are you sure you're all right?
- Yes.
Yes, I'm all right.
I could do with a drink.
Nanny!
Nanny!
There is no need to shout.
I'm not deaf.
I can hear as well as most
people, and better than some.
Excuse me.
Nanny, is there
any whiskey left?
What?
Any whiskey left?
No.
You had The last of it on
Wednesday after your dinner.
Oh, dear, did I?
Well, it'll have to
be a pot of tea then.
We do have some tea?
Yes, some.
Yes, I was, uh, I was
trying to put my service
pistol up in a safe place.
I toppled over.
It's fortunate you turned up.
Poor Ronnie.
Funny old thing,
Nanny, I thought
you'd been pensioned off.
Nanny came out of
retirement to help us.
She didn't have to.
Where's Helen?
Oh, she'll be on duty
at the hospital all night.
Oh, really?
Sorry I can't offer
you a proper drink.
It's been one of those days.
I'm not exactly very good
company this evening.
You're not trying to
get rid of me, are you?
Would I do that?
No, of course not.
The war claims
them, or maims them.
Ronnie, you, all
these young faces.
I remember the dance
we had to welcome them.
So many of them gone.
I heard young Peter
Mundy just signed up.
He's the same age as Pat.
My son would be up there.
Course when we
didn't hear from you--
Oh, I know.
It's been weeks, and
weeks, and weeks.
I really should
have written, but I
got so embroiled in London.
Well, Helen assumed that
you'd been reconciled with--
That bastard, Dickie?
It didn't happen, of course.
In no time at all, he was
off with some little tart
in Lorenz.
If only he didn't
look so sincere and--
oh, but, I didn't come
here to be boring about me.
My dear, Captain Carson has
been having a word with me.
You know Captain Carson?
He's one of the
Americans on the base.
A very dear friend of mine.
It seems they're desperately
worried about one
of their senior officers.
There's no reason why you
shouldn't know, Phyllis.
It's pretty common knowledge.
Major Kiley was
wounded in a raid.
He's seriously ill.
Oh, that poor, dear man.
It must be heartbreaking
for everyone.
Yes, yes, it must.
Phyllis, Helen's incapable of
a mean, cruel, or petty act,
and that gives me
great peace of mind.
You once went to some trouble to
let me know the difficult time
Helen was going through, and
I'd like to thank you for that.
You see, Major Kiley's
a friend of ours.
We're both concerned
about his recovery.
The kettle is just boiling.
Thank you, Nanny.
Mrs. Lambourn has just
pointed out how late it is.
She wants to go home.
Would you mind?
Thank you very much, Nanny.
You really shouldn't have
gone to so much trouble
on my behalf.
Wonderful to see you again.
Do give my love to Helen.
Good night, Ronnie.
Good bye, Phyllis.
If I see Pat again in London,
shall I give her your love?
Pat?
You've seen Pat?
Oh, didn't she tell you?
How I ran into Pat and her
glamorous young officer.
They were so obviously in love.
I was really quite touched.
Good night, Ronnie.
[knock at door]
You're here, huh?
[inaudible].
It's Elmer and Hymie, John.
- Oh, hi, guys.
- Hey.
- You ready to go.
- Go where?
We're going to show
you the sights, remember?
Come on, let's go.
- Oh yeah, look--
What sight?
Well we, uh, thought we'd go
to Hassingham to find some, uh,
dames.
Come on, let's go!
Girls?
Elmer, you know
I'm joining up soon.
- Yeah?
- Going in the Army.
Yeah, that's a
really tough break.
Will you come on?
Let's go!
- Look--
- Yeah, tough.
Can I come with you?
- With us?
- Yeah.
To Hassingham?
Yeah.
What do you think?
Yeah, since the kid's
joining up, yeah, why not?
Yeah, sure.
Come on.
Dad.
What's all this then?
This is Elmer, dad.
How do you do, sir.
And Hymie.
Hey.
And you know John.
It's a real pleasure
to meet again, sir.
We're just going out, dad.
Eh?
To Hassingham.
Oh, yes?
It was really nice
to meet you, Mr. Mundy.
Come on, you guys.
Now, look guys, maybe I'll
meet up with you later, OK?
Well, Charlie, we
came out for you.
Yeah, well, if it's OK with
you Elmer and it's OK with you,
sir--
- What's OK?
Well, I'd rather stay here.
Here?
Yeah, you see, my
father runs a store, too,
and I'll be taking it over one
day, I figure, when he retires.
So maybe we could
sit down and talk
about business for a while,
if that's OK with you, sir?
Oh.
Oh, well.
So many deaths.
So much dying.
So many different
kinds of wounds.
Don't you long for a time
when bringing children
into the world is
the commonplace--
not this?
Oh, God, let him pull through.
Got the right time, dad?
You've forgotten where
the clock is then, have you?
Is it fast?
Well, it wasn't this
morning when I looked at it.
Hi there, Rosie.
See you later.
I said I'd be in tonight.
I'd like you to meet Velma.
No, this is Velma.
And this is-- uh, skip it.
I thought we'd all go
to the dance together.
Jack, three beers, please.
Come on, girls.
Let's sit down.
I know who they are.
I see them every day at
the parachute factory.
Besides, I'm spoken for tonight.
Listen, I'm sorry for
what I said earlier.
Let's just forget it, eh?
I can't forget it.
Oh, for Pete's sakes, Sal.
I've never
behaved like a wife.
I've never thought of
myself as YOUR wife--
you've never given
me the chance.
That's the way
we both wanted it.
It's how you want
it that matters.
I have to get out some time.
No one's stopping you.
Ha, it's not that simple.
You know that.
Look, I'm happy here.
I've never been happier.
Listen, let's just
forget what I said.
Just go on the way we were, eh?
How can I forget it,
knowing you feel trapped
and not knowing why?
I've never made any
demands on you, Joe.
You've been completely free
to come and go as you like.
No one's forcing you
to do or feel anything.
You've used this
house as your house.
And you've used the
kids as your own kids.
You just tell me when I've
made one single demand on you?
I'm in another man's house!
With another man's wife,
and another man's kids.
Everything I touch is his.
I'm not even allowed
my own future.
So it's though you expect me to
settle down here after the war
and become the local mechanic.
Gish!
He's here right now.
Making me feel guilty.
Making us do this to each other.
If that's the way you feel,
then you better get out.
Right.
[door slams]
[drunken singing]
(SINGING) The cabs, the ring
of roses, London Bridge is fa--
- Shh!
- Shh!
(SINGING) --falling down.
Boys and girls together,
me and Mamie O'Rourke.
Shh.
Hey, Peter!
Where's, where's
the god damn light?
(SINGING) --fantastic, on
the sidewalks of New Yor--
Who the hell are--
what's going on?
It's me, mum.
I can see it's you.
Who are these two?
Elmer and Hymie.
But Peter--
Elmer.
Hymie.
Peter, what's happened to you?
It's all right, mum.
All right?
Look at the state of you!
What on earth have
you been doing?
Well?
Getting some experience.
Getting what?
Elmie and Hymer and me--
Elmer.
Hymie.
We got a bit drunk.
I can smell it.
No, no, I got drunk.
Peter, you're still under age.
And, and we went
out with some girls.
Goodnight.
You did what?
Just a-- hey, just
a minute, you two.
Hey!
Albert?
Albert, would you just
look at the state of him?
I can see.
Well?
Well, it's the first time.
Won't be the last.
Albert!
Well, he's a man now.
[inaudible]
Going to be off fighting
for his country soon.
[inaudible] more
[inaudible] don't signify.
All right, Albert,
it's up to you.
You clean him up.
I'm going to bed.
Elmer?
I kind of enjoyed
myself tonight.
Did you enjoy yourself?
Well, I enjoyed myself.
Elmer?
Poor old Peter, having to go
in the Army, lose his freedom.
Least we could do is take him
out and show him a good time.
Hymie?
What?
Breaking my heart.
[door creaks open]
Nanny, I-- is he here?
Have you had anything to eat?
I'm not hungry.
Where is he?
Well, Mrs. Dereham--
Ronnie?
You all right?
Yes.
Yes, I'm all right.
He's pulled through.
Yes.
Now, Colonel,
please don't tire him.
I won't.
Ruf.
Hi, Jim.
Good to see you.
And you.
I was afraid I was
gonna miss you.
I hear they're shipping
you out any day
now to our old hospital.
That's what they tell me.
Well, I'm grateful to
our friend Dr. Dereham.
She brought you
back from the brink.
How are you
managing without me?
Oh, I got Lester jumping
like a cat on a hot tin roof.
I bet.
Listen, Jim, that
damn fool mission
you flew, against my orders?
Well, everyone
knows what you did.
And everyone knows I know.
I got to go by the book.
Look, I hate having
to do this to you,
but I just can't roll
over and play dead.
Ruf, what are you
trying to tell me?
I'm sorry, [inaudible].
I've been working my
butt off over at Wing
trying to get the whole
thing straightened out.
The best I can do is three
months deferment of promotion.
[scoffs]
Well, what's so funny?
Nothing.
I was afraid you were going
to keep me from flying again.
[theme music] MUSIC