Holiday Camp Page #8

Much more than they realise.

Do they?

Oh, rather!

You can almost tell what they're thinking.

Oh, that must be very embarrassing sometimes.

lt's odd, but...your voice does strike a chord

in my memory and yet l can't quite place it.

Have we met before?

lf we did, it was years and years ago.

Ah, there you have me.

You see, l was blown up by a mine in 1 91 8.

l lost my sight and my memory too.

No-one knew who l was.

l didn't even know my own name.

- How awful.

- lt was for a bit at the time.

But l've been extremely lucky.

- Lucky?

- Well, in meeting my wife.

She used to come and read to me

when l was in hospital.

- You're married, then?

- Oh, yes.

Very happy. We've got two sons.

- Would you like to see a picture of them?

- Oh, thank you.

There they are.

Yes, they're noisy little devils, but...

They must be a great consolation to you.

They are. Life would be very empty

without children, wouldn't it?

Yes.

There's only one thing that troubles me.

l can't help thinking there may have been

people who were fond of me

but were unhappy because they think l'm dead.

That's why l was so interested when you said

you thought you knew my voice.

Am l the man you thought you knew?

No.

You're not the man l knew.

l'm so glad you're happy.

l've every reason to be.

Come over here a minute.

(Singing outside)

Out there.

Do you see what l see?

- What do you see?

- One of the strangest sights of the 20th century.

A great mass of people,

all fighting for the one thing

you can't get by fighting for it - happiness.

When l first came here, l...

l thought l couldn't stand it.

The noise, the crowd.

The frantic...search for pleasure.

Then l saw it wasn't really a crowd at all.

Just separate individuals.

Each one of them with a different set

of problems and worries, hopes and fears.

Each one of them tired and dispirited.

Eager for peace...

..and yet frightened to be alone.

And l thought if l could help to make them happy

just for a while,

if l could enable them to forget

their everyday anxieties while they're here,

then l've done a little to repay

the great happiness the world has given me.

l'm sorry if l sound a bit pompous over this,

only people have been so wonderful to me

that l felt l...

(Telephone rings)

- Excuse me a moment.

Yes?

MAN.:
Would you tell them that

Valerie Thompson is wanted in the front office?

Oh, yes, all right. Right away.

Just one moment, l've a short announcement.

Attention, please. Attention, everybody.

Will Valerie Thompson go at once

to the front office?

Valerie Thompson wanted

in the administrative building.

Someone waiting to see you. Thank you.

Look here, we seem to have been talking

about me all the time. How about you?

Are you going...

lt's very unusual, but l think you can use

the camp controller's office for a while.

Thank you.

That's it. Come on, Val.

- Don't, Val. Don't let her upset you so much.

- l wish l were dead.

Oh, come, my dear.

Surely things aren't as bad as that?

Valerie's aunt, she's turned her out of the house.

l know it's my fault. l shouldn't have come here.

l just don't know what to do now.

We'll see about that.

Take her to my chalet, Michael,

and look after her. l'll be there in a minute.

Oh, thank you.

Can l speak to you for a moment?

- l don't think l know you, do l?

- l'm Esther Harman.

l'm a friend of Valerie's.

lf you've come to plead for my niece, l might

as well tell you you're wasting your time.

l've finished with her and l've told her so.

- You mean you've turned her out?

- Yes.

A young girl like that?

What do you suppose will become of her?

That's no concern of mine.

She should have thought of that before.

- You're very hard.

- Am l?

Valerie's not my child,

but l've given her a home for the last 1 4 years.

lt's meant a great deal of sacrifice

to bring her up properly, but l've done it.

And this is how she repays me,

by bringing disgrace upon a decent family.

- Oh, it's not as bad as that, surely?

- lsn't it?

How can l hold my head up

among my friends now?

Can you hold your head up if you turn

a helpless girl into the street, in her condition?

You're not trying to defend what she's done!

l don't defend it, but l can forgive it.

Well, l can't.

l don't think we'll discuss the matter further.

l've a train to catch.

You can't just go like that and...

and shirk your responsibilities.

Valerie's not my responsibility any longer.

Let her go to the man

who's the cause of the trouble.

Haven't you ever made a mistake yourself?

Never one of that kind, thank heaven.

lf you'd ever known what it means...

to love someone else better than yourself...

..l think you'd have understood Valerie

and forgiven her.

But l'll tell you this.

lf you go now, without saying one kind word

to that poor child...

..the thought of what you've done today

will haunt you for the rest of your life.

- And to think she romped home.

- Well, l told you.

- lf you didn't back it, it's your fault.

- All right, don't rub it in.

l'm not, l'm just telling you.

l got it straight from a bloke whose uncle

washes Gordon Richard's second car.

- And wasn't l right?

- So what?

For once in your life, you've got a good tip.

Excuse me.

l couldn't help hearing what you were saying.

- Do you know what won the 3:30?

- We were just talking about it.

- lt was Laughing Lady.

- Gawd!

- Are you a racing man?

- l like to have a bit on now and then.

Anything for a flutter, you know.

Not forgetting the pools, of course.

- So you like a gamble, do you?

- When the missus isn't looking.

- How's the hand?

- Hand?

Oh, that was for the old lady's benefit.

- What are you two lads drinking?

- Scotch, thanks.

- What about you?

- Same will do me nicely.

Two Scotches, please, miss.

l like a bit of fun when it's going.

Trouble is, it's always going.

(They laugh)

- 'Ere, what were you thinking of doing tonight?

- Oh, nothing special.

Maybe go have a look at the dancing.

Not much else to do except booze up.

Look, we've got a bottle of Scotch in the chalet.

- The real stuff, too. Pop across and have one.

- Lead me to it.

We usually have a quiet game of cards.

Passes the time away.

Suits me.

- Oh, hiya, kid.

- Hello.

We're taking our mate here

over to the chalet for a little game.

- You don't object to the girlfriend coming?

- Me? l'm all in favour.

- Hey, l came for a drink!

- We've got some over there.

OK. lf you really have.

- Here, Joe, l've got a smasher for you.

- l've got one for you, too.

That reminds me of the one about the caterpillar

and the ladybird. (Laughs)

- (Laughs) Cigarette?

- Ta.

Fetch Joe a drink.

(Laughter inside)

Well, what's it to be? Poker? Pontoon?

Oh, l don't mind. Pontoon is the game

where you have a banker, isn't it?

Do you have two cards or three?

l don't remember.

- Two to start with, old man.

- Of course.

lt'll come back to me.

l'll get the hang of it in no time.

Pontoon's where you either stick or twist.

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