Goodbye, Mr. Chips Page #2

We have a mutual duty, in fact...

...and it's not a duty that I, for one,

am prepared to betray.

This is goodbye for 10 weeks.

May I wish you all a happy holiday.

You may go.

Yesterday, I was their age

Tomorrow, they'll be my age

Sooner, much sooner than they know

And suddenly they will ask

What every child must ask

Where did my childhood go?

Where did my childhood go?

When did my youth, sweet and free

Suddenly slip away from me?

Was it so long ago?

Where did my childhood go?

When did the magic end?

When did the future meet the past?

Ending a dream too good to last

Taking away our friend

When did my childhood end?

Was it that day in early spring

That lingers on

When somehow I knew

This precious time would soon be gone?

What does the future show?

Spring will return again next year

And when she does

She'll find me here

Wondering still

I know

Where did my childhood go?

Yesterday, I was their age

Tomorrow, they'll be my age

Sooner, much sooner than they know

And suddenly they will ask

What every child must ask

Where did my childhood

Go?

Over by the new playing fields.

That is, if you ever get them.

Especially as this year.

I've been invited to shoot at Dumlochspey.

Dumlochspey?

Where are you going for your holiday,

Mr. Chipping?

To the new excavations at Pompeii.

Pompeii?

- But won't that be hot at this time of year?

- Yes.

He must be in the late 30s by now.

but I always think of him as a boy.

Oh, no, headmaster.

I'm sure you're a very good shot.

- You're staying in London, aren't you?

- Yes, with Johnnie Longbridge.

Lord Longbridge? But I...

You're very lucky to have so rich

and hospitable an ex-pupil.

Oh, I don't know, Max.

Charlie was a very nice boy.

Quite a good scholar too.

We always got on.

- Is he taking you to the Old Vic as usual?

- Wasn't Lord Longbridge married?

- No.

- No.

- I ask...

- That was the father.

Present Lord Longbridge is unmarried.

- It's the Medea which I wanted to see.

- He's quite young.

He's got tickets for something

he wants to see for some reason...

...called, apparently.

Flossie from Fulham.

But you're very lucky, Mr. Chipping.

My dear fellow, that is most shocking.

Am I, indeed, Mrs. Summersthwaite?

It's a divine show, quite divine.

and a very big hit.

Hit?

- That means a success.

- Does it?

Flossie from Fulham is a divine show,

and you'll adore it.

Oh, splendid.

But Medea, Max, isn't it a shame?

I wonder if I could get Johnnie

to change his mind.

I'm looking forward like mad

to seeing this extravaganza.

I'm sorry, Chips. I know very well

what you'd rather be seeing...

...but I had to bring you

to meet the gill I intend to many.

You're not serious, surely.

- You did say marry?

- Oh, yes, if she'll have me.

I'm standing, at the moment.

lather low on her list.

I'm sure she's utterly delightful,

but think of your name, your position...

...those Shakespeare first folios

in the library at Charworth.

Dear Chips, I'm awfully fond of you.

- Why?

- I say, a treasure hunt in Fulham.

- What a capital idea.

- Why what?

- Blimey, Ben, look at them...

- Why are you awfully fond of me?

Where is the owner of this fish stole?

- Yeah, where's Flossie?

- Flossie?

I say, what an absolute corker you are,

dear Miss Fish Stall Owner.

Plainly, the femme fatale of Fulham.

Oh, wherever did you come from,

all dressed up so la-di-da?

Oh, the West End of London.

Well, as long as it's London.

it's all light with me.

Ems stands in Piccadilly Circus

Nelson stands in Trafalgar Square

Big Ben stands by the River Thames

And will as long as the Thames is there

London is a strange, unchanging town

And take my word

Whatever you've heard

London Bridge has no intention

Of falling down

Oh, London is London

Is anyone in doubt about it?

London is London

It's easy to find out about it

London is springtime

Cockney champagne

London is summer

Lots of rain

but who's complaining?

London is lovely

Let no one change his mind about it

Lovely and lively

Yes, that's the thing I find about it

You can have Paris

And Venice and Rome

But London is London

Is London is England

Is home

London is London

Forgive me if I shout about it

Nowhere's like London

So mighty roundabout about it

London is history

Future and past

London is mystery

Flabbergasting, everlasting

London is a charmer

I could go on for days about it

Dripping with drama

There just ain't no two ways about it

You can have Cairo and Cannes

And Capri

- But London is London

CHORUS 'l:
London is

Landon is Landon

Is England

Is me

- London London is London

There's such a lovely style about it

- London London is London

You can't resist

Just smile about it

London is history

Future and past

London is mystery

Flabbergasting, everlasting

London is London

Random people rave about it

London, my London

There's something people crave about it

Others may pine

For a trip up the Rhine

Or follow the sun

Where it happens to shine

The tip of the parties

The home where the heart is

And Landon is Landon

Is England

Is mine

Why the hell do we come here?

Because we always come here.

Exactly.

What's the matter with you tonight?

Good evening.

But she's got young Calbury with her.

Calbury?

Some idiot in the Horse Guards.

Damn it, Chips, we've been stood up.

Stood UP?

She's forgotten.

Oh, dear. I am sorry.

Oh, Johnnie Longbridge.

Oh, my God. I've stood him up.

I must get him over.

Not to stay.

Come on, Chips.

What will you think of me?

Nothing. Except that

you're a terrible muddler of dates.

And I've known that for ages.

Bill Calbury you know, of course.

He was suddenly in town again, and...

Oh, no, no, don't apologize, darling.

Oh, but you came

to see the show especially tonight.

My fifth time.

This is Chips.

I told you about him, remember?

Of course.

Hasn't he any other name?

Well, if he has, I can't remember it.

Then I'd better call you Mr. Chips.

That's a nice name.

How do you do, Mr. Chips?

How do you do, Miss Bridges?

This is Bill Calbury.

Do join us.

Oh, Chips absolutely adored the show.

I'm so glad.

Oh, yes, I loved it.

It's a great hit, isn't it?

We've been running for over a year.

Over a year?

Yes.

Every night?

Well, we get Sundays off.

But don't you get most awfully bored?

I mean, isn't it an awful strain for you,

all that leaping?

Oh, yes, I loved it.

The plot I found a shade tortuous...

...but the exposition of it,

remarkably adroit.

Good.

Did you like anything else?

Ah.

Well, the denouement...

...I found quite remarkable

when you turned out...

...to be the real Lady Lettie all along.

No, that's Edna Lovelace.

I tum out

to be William C. Belfrage's ward.

Ah, yes, the multimillionaire shop owner.

Of course, how stupid of me.

But then, you and the other lady

do look alike.

Yes, I suppose we do.

She's 53 next birthday.

You astound me, and sing so well.

I think we should go back to our table.

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