Cavalcade Page #6

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You see, we could never in our whole lives

be any happier than we are now.

Could we?

Sweetheart.

- Are all honeymoons like this?

- Exactly.

Oh, Edward.

It's rather disheartening, isn't it?

I do so want this to be unique.

It is, for us.

Did you ever think when we were children,

- going to the pantomime and the zoo...

- That we should end up by getting married?

- Mm-hmmm.

- Of course I didn't.

You were a horrible child.

Well, so were you. And so was Joey. Vile.

Yet we all liked each other, really.

Dear Joey.

He's passing gallantly through

the chorus girl phase now, isn't he?

Mm. Gallantly but not quickly.

- Well, darling, you took your time over it.

- Now, Edith.

Didn't you?

Light of my life, shut up.

You'd be awfully cross if I'd had affairs.

- If you'd what?

- Had affairs.

Love affairs before you.

- You didn't.

- Hundreds.

(CHUCKLES) You liar.

I rather wish I had sometimes.

Perhaps then I should have learned

some tricks to hold you with

when you begin to get tired of me.

I shall never do that, tricks or no tricks.

Oh, yes, you will one day.

People always do.

This complete loveliness will fade,

and we shall forget what it was like.

- Edith, don't.

- Oh, it's bound to.

Just a few years and the gilt wears off

the gingerbread.

Darling, answer me one thing truthfully.

Have you ever seen gingerbread

with gilt on it?

- Oh, fool!

- Then the whole argument is disposed of.

Anyway, look at Father and Mother.

They're perfectly happy

and always have been.

Oh, yes, but they had

a better chance in the beginning.

Things weren't changing so swiftly,

and life wasn't so restless.

How long do you give us?

I don't know. Oh, and, Edward, I don't care.

This is our moment,

complete and heavenly.

I'm not afraid of anything.

This is our own, forever.

(TRAIN CLACKING)

(TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS)

(SIGHS) Oh, dear.

It'll be 10:
00 before we get to London.

If we're held up by many more

troop trains, it'll be tomorrow morning.

- Oh, Joey.

- Or next week.

May I see your paper, Robert?

Hmm? Oh, of course, my dear.

Thank you.

(CLAMORING)

(WHISTLE BLOWS)

Darling, what's the matter? Can I help you?

- No, it's all right.

- Shall I get a taxi, Father?

- Yes, go ahead, Joey.

- All right.

Oh, here they are.

MAN:
Hello, Charlie.

- JOEY:
Mum, where shall I put these bags?

- Oh, put them anywhere.

All right.

Oh, really, why does one ever go abroad?

It's misery when you're away,

and you come back to this sort of thing.

I'm absolutely dead beat.

(GROANS)

No servants, no food in the house,

no nothing.

Oh! I thought that awful journey

was never going to end.

Oh!

(CHUCKLES)

Oh, it was awful, wasn't it?

Oh!

Come on, Margaret.

Help me with these abominable things.

Mm-hmm.

What fools we were to start back

without making sure of the servants.

Well, anyway, it's much better

to be here in London.

If anything is going to happen...

It's going to happen, all right.

This is a lark, isn't it?

I put the bags up...

- Hello. Spring cleaning?

- Where's your father?

Oh, groping about in the cellar,

like an angry old beetle.

- He wants a drink.

- Hear! Hear! So do I.

Well, I'd better go and see if I can

find some biscuits or something.

- Cigarette?

- Oh, thank you, Joe.

- Pretty thrilling, isn't it?

- Just a bit too thrilling, my dear.

Oh, rot, Aunt Margaret.

It's absolutely marvelous.

Passing all those supply trains and guns.

Being pushed aside

to make way for the troops.

The crowds waiting

for something to happen.

Oh, it was wonderful.

Jane's howling for you

in the kitchen, Margaret.

(GROANS) Oh, all right.

Well, I can't find anything but Hock.

We'll have to drink to Germany's

downfall in their own damn wine.

(CHUCKLES)

- I rather like Germans. Don't you, Father?

- Enormously.

Give me a hand, Joey.

If there is a war,

how long do you think it'll last?

Oh, three months at the outside.

- We shall win.

- We shall win.

(CORK POPS)

Perhaps it'll last six months.

Economically impossible.

Have you any idea what a war costs?

- Hell of a lot, I suppose.

- Hell of a lot.

The Germans can afford it

even less than we can.

- Then there's Russia.

- Good ol' Russia.

And France, Italy and America.

Japan, China, Nicaragua, Guatemala.

Oh, why, we've got 'em licked

before we start.

- Don't be silly, Joey.

- Sorry.

What's the time?

Nearly 12:
00. Is that right?

Well, it oughta be.

Hasn't varied a minute in the past 10 years.

(BELL TOLLING)

(BELL CONTINUES TOLLING)

It's all happening now.

Short of a miracle, it's all happened.

Are you glad you left the army, or not?

Absolutely delighted.

- Will you go back again?

- I expect so.

- How will you feel about that?

- Absolutely delighted.

I suppose I ought to do

something about it, too.

- You want to?

- Terribly.

Why?

I don't know.

I wish...

I wish Edward hadn't been drowned.

We could have started off together.

Don't be too impulsive

and patriotic and dashing, Joey.

Think of your mother.

Think of me, too. You're all we've got left.

Found some potted meat and biscuits

and Worcester sauce and...

(MAN YELLING) War declared official!

(SHOUTING CONTINUES)

We are at war! War declared official!

War declared official! We are at war!

My dears, we're at war with Germany.

No.

Listen. Listen.

It's very hot, isn't it?

Don't look sad, Mum. It won't last long.

Father says it can't possibly.

And it's terribly exciting.

I feel rather tired.

Here, Mum, dear, have a nice sozzle.

We all oughta get drunk, really,

and go roaring about the streets.

Edward missed this anyhow.

At least he died when he was happy...

Before the world broke over his head.

Jane darling, we've had wars before

without the world breaking.

My world isn't very big.

(YELLING CONTINUES)

Drink to the war then.

I'm not going to. I can't!

Rule Britannia!

Send us victorious, happy and glorious.

Drink, Joey. You're only a baby still,

but you're old enough for war.

Drink as the Germans are doing tonight.

To victory and defeat

and stupid tragic sorrow.

But don't ask me to do it, please!

(ORCHESTRA PLAYING)

On Sunday, I walked out with a soldier

On Monday, I'm taken by a Tar

On Tuesday, I'm out

with a baby Boy Scout

On Wednesday, a Hussar

On Thursday, a gang oot wi' a Scottie

On Friday, the Captain of the crew

But on Saturday I'm willing

if you'll only take the shilling

To make a man of any one of you

Oh, we don't want to lose you

But we think you ought to go

For your King and your country

Both need you so

Those awful recruiting songs again.

You can't get away from them

anywhere in London.

Oh, they give me rather a thrill.

The girls give me a thrill.

I'll bet that little dark one

sung her share of fellas into the war.

(SINGING CONTINUES)

By George, I'm excited.

Finally leave off to France Saturday.

Marvelous.

Marvelously marvelous.

Oh, good Lord, Ainger, do you mean

to say you don't want to get back'?

Seriously, don't you feel pretty marvelous?

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