Mrs. Miniver Page #9

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Why, certainly, milady.

Of course, milady.

Won't you sit down?

Sit down.

My friends of Belham,

it is once again my pleasure...

...to present the annual awards for

the best flowers grown in our community.

The first prize chrysanthemums.

First prize, Miss Alice Lovedean.

Second prize, Miss Sarah Pillbury.

Congratulations.

- Thank you, milady.

And now, ladies and gentlemen,

I come to the final award.

The Challenge Cup,

given for the best rose....

The best rose grown in the village

during the past year.

The first prize, the Silver Cup, goes to....

Goes to Mr. James Ballard,

our popular stationmaster.

The second prize,

the Certificate of Merit...

...goes to me.

All right. All right.

All right. All right.

This is the first time a rose

other than the Beldon rose...

...has won the cup since the show's began.

I won't say I'm not disappointed.

We Beldons are not used to competitors.

In the old days,

we just lopped off their heads.

Can't do that nowadays,

more's the pity.

But if I had to lose...

...there's no man I'd sooner lose to

than James Ballard...

...because he's a man of spirit,

and I like a man of spirit.

Where are you? Ballard.

Where's that man?

Here he is, milady. Here he is.

Oh, Mr. Ballard, I'm so happy for you.

It's your rose, ma'am.

Excuse me, milady.

- Not now, Foley.

Well, take it.

- Thank you, milady.

Congratulations.

- Pardon the liberty.

Milady, enemy planes over the coast,

hundreds of them.

Like as not,

they'll go after the airfield again.

Order. Order.

Silence.

I'm sorry to disturb

the harmony of this occasion...

...but our enemies are no respecters

of flower shows.

Foley here says there's a chance

of air raiders passing this way.

In the circumstances, it might be better

if you would return to your homes.

Those who prefer are welcome

to the use of my cellars.

lt'll be lively.

My young visitors will see to that.

And you won't starve.

Foley's seen to that.

I believe we have 300 tins

of ltalian sardines.

Granny, you'll be all right?

- Of course.

You're not leaving me alone.

- You were wonderful. They loved you.

Vin needs to get back to the airfield.

- Yes, of course.

Give them a blast for me, will you?

- I shall certainly try.

Wait. I still like to be kissed, you know.

Of course.

I say, you were wonderful.

- Yes, I was wonderful.

Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

Goodbye, Carol.

Jerries over London in hundreds.

I'll have to run. Goodbye, darling.

Goodbye, Mother.

Vin.

He'll be all right, Carol.

We must get on, Carol.

I'm anxious to get back to the children.

Do you think the Foley girl

will take the children into the shelter?

Of course. Don't worry, Kay.

They seem to be fighting

right over our heads.

I want so much to get home.

I hate to stop,

but I suppose I'd better.

It could be Vin. It could.

No, Carol, no. It's not possible.

There hasn't been time.

Oh, no.

How horrible.

Those were bullets.

And I was sure they hit the car.

I really was frightened.

Of all the--

Oh, Carol.

The village.

Oh, we must get back there.

They need help.

Carol. Carol, what is it?

Carol.

Carol, are you hurt?

Oh, darling.

Carol.

God, I think I've been hit.

Oh, no, darling.

Where?

- I don't know. It doesn't hurt.

I just can't move.

Don't be frightened, we're nearly home.

I'll get you in and get help. Now, lie still.

Yes, Kay.

Emergency.

Emergency?

Ambulance, at once.

All out?

But this is terribly urgent.

So is this, an air raid casualty

that's terribly--

Well, the moment you get one in,

the first possible moment...

...send it to Starlings.

No, Starlings.

Yes, the last house in Norton Lane.

Yes, and hurry, please. Hurry.

They're coming as soon as they can.

I'll get a coat, darling.

They'll be here any moment now.

You won't tell Vin?

- Of course not, darling.

Darling.

You're going to be all right, Carol.

I know you are.

Don't be frightened, sweet.

I'm going to be all right.

I don't feel any pain.

What is it? Can I get you something?

Glass of water.

Of course, darling.

I'll be right back.

Carol.

Carol.

Carol.

Oh, God.

God.

God.

Vin, dear.

It's all right, Mother. I know.

Where is she?

Vin, dear, won't you try and get a little rest?

Where is she?

In your room.

I will read to you from Psalm 91.

I will say of the Lord,

'He is my refuge and my fortress.

My God, in him will I trust.'

Surely, he shall deliver thee

from the snare of the fowler...

...and from the noisome pestilence.

Thou shalt not be afraid

for the terror by night.

Nor for the arrow that flieth by day.

Nor for the pestilence

that walketh in darkness.

Nor for the destruction

that wasteth at noonday.

He shall cover thee with his feathers...

...and under his wings shalt thou trust.

His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

We in this quiet corner of England...

...have suffered the loss

of friends very dear to us.

Some close to this church.

George West, choirboy.

James Ballard,

stationmaster and bell-ringer...

...and the proud winner,

only an hour before his death...

...of the Beldon Cup

for his beautiful Miniver rose.

And our hearts go out in sympathy...

...for the two families who share

the cruel loss of a young girl...

...who was married at this altar

only two weeks ago.

The homes of many of us

have been destroyed...

...and the lives of young

and old have been taken.

There's scarcely a household

that hasn't been struck to the heart.

And why?

Surely you must have asked

yourselves this question.

Why, in all conscience...

...should these be the ones to suffer?

Children, old people...

...a young girl at the height

of her loveliness.

Why these?

Are these our soldiers?

Are these our fighters?

Why should they be sacrificed?

I shall tell you why.

Because this is not only a war

of soldiers in uniform...

...it is a war of the people.

Of all the people.

And it must be fought

not only on the battlefield...

...but in the cities and in the villages.

In the factories and on the farms.

In the home and in the heart...

...of every man, woman and child

who loves freedom.

Well, we have buried our dead...

...but we shall not forget them.

lnstead, they will inspire us

with an unbreakable determination...

...to free ourselves

and those who come after us...

...from the tyranny and terror

that threaten to strike us down.

This is the people's war.

It is our war.

We are the fighters.

Fight it, then.

Fight it with all that is in us.

And may God defend the right.

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