On Moonlight Bay Page #6

What's wrong?

Marjie, there's something very important

I've got to tell you.

What's wrong?

Come on, Bill.

You want to graduate, don't you?

Or do you want to wait till next year?

Holy smokes, I've got to make a speech.

Come on.

- But what were you going to tell me?

- You'll know soon enough.

During our four years at college,

many of us have changed our ideas

as often as our wardrobes,

and I think it's a wise thing.

A good student

should have an open and inquiring mind.

As freshmen, we were radicals.

As sophomores, we were freethinkers.

As juniors, we were intellectuals.

In those years past,

it had become fashionable for us

to sneer at established institutions.

But now,

we must outgrow our callow philosophies

and face the realities

of a troubled and changing world.

Doesn't William look distinguished

in his cap and gown?

Someday, Wesley will look

just as distinguished.

Yeah, but it'll take more

than a cap and gown.

I say to you that we must awaken

to our responsibilities

as students and citizens,

and remember

that we are men and women,

not dreamers in an ivory tower.

"These are the times

that try men's souls."

The summer soldier

and the sunshine patriot

must do everything in their power.

Well, we are not summer soldiers

or sunshine patriots.

Many of you

have come to think of college students

as frivolous young men and women.

A fine boy. A little erratic,

but he's straightening out.

Now that he's graduating,

I suppose you've made your plans.

Plans for what, Father?

- Well, marriage. What else is there?

- Bill doesn't believe in marriage.

Something else

they've taught him at college,

but you'll bring him around.

- He's convinced me that he's right.

- What?

...are also mature enough

to recognize our responsibility...

Bill says that marriage

is a remnant of a decadent civilization.

Well, this decadent family has...

Has believed in it for a good many years,

and I've never seen any cause

to regret it until today.

I am taking you away from him

before it's too late.

...recognize our responsibility

to our generation.

It may come as a surprise to many

and a shock to some,

but we realized

individually and collectively

that we had no other course

but to face reality

and our duty to our country.

I am very proud

to be a member of this graduating class.

Bill.

I told you it was too hot for soup.

Why, at least you'd think

it would cool off in the evening.

George, why don't you take off

your jacket?

I think I will.

It seems to be getting warmer every year.

It's 7:
30.

She's probably

mooning around somewhere.

She has been since you-know-What.

Someday, Marjorie's going to thank me

for what I've done.

I was talking to Hubert Wakely.

She doesn't like him, George.

And Why not? I'd like to know.

He's reliable, settled, makes a good living,

and he won't have to go into the Army.

This morning he told me

he had a punctured eardrum.

I punctured it last night.

Stella.

Hey, Wesley! Wesley!

- You coming?

- Be right there.

- Mom, I'm not hungry. Can I go with Jim?

- Where you going, dear?

Well, there's a troop train coming in,

and we thought we'd go down

to the station

'cause Bill's going to be on it.

Sit down and eat your dinner, young man.

You're not going anywhere.

Seems to me if Marjie can go,

I ought to be able to.

Marjie knows better

than to do anything like that.

Well, she was packing her bag.

And when I asked her

where she was going, she said...

Packing her bag? George!

Well! I'll take care of this.

Well, it's a little too hot for dessert,

wasn't it?

Hey! What are they handing out

on this side of the train?

You gotta help me get on.

Wouldn't it be simpler if I got off?

Please. I'm looking for a soldier.

- You came to the right store.

- Thanks.

Hey, how do I know

you're not a German spy?

I'm not.

Well, maybe I'd better search you

for secret papers.

Hey, Joe, wait till I tell you

about the dream I just had.

Bill!

- Marjorie! What are you doing here?

- I'm going with you.

But this is a troop train.

I don't care what it is or where it's going,

just so we can be together.

It's going to be mighty crowded

in that pup tent.

We're pulling out any minute.

You've got to get off.

I'm not leaving you.

Until you ship out, I'm never going to be

any farther away from you than this.

Hey, maybe this is that bonus

that Congress has been promising us.

You've got to get out of here.

Say, Bill, see if she's got a friend,

will you, kid?

That's the way I figure.

Got it all figured out. You get off...

But I may never see you again,

and if there's any way that I can...

Young lady, will you listen to me?

Please, William, I know what I'm doing.

- I've thought about this for a long...

- Will you marry me?

I can get a place to stay

near the camp and...

I'm asking you to be my wife.

Your married wife? Oh, Bill.

Oh, Bill.

But you don't believe in marriage.

Right this minute,

I don't know anything I believe in more.

Now, look, Marjie, you get the next train.

I'll meet you in Chicago.

We'll be married as soon as you get there.

Marjorie Winfield, you

get off of this train.

Father.

And, as for you, young man,

I ought to have you thrown in prison.

- Oh, Father...

- But, Mr. Winfield...

But, Mr. Winfield,

I just asked Marjie to marry me.

Yes, I expected you to say that.

Now, you're coming home to grow up.

- But Father!

- Running away with a soldier.

How you could let him influence you

into doing such a thing.

- But it was all my idea.

- Why didn't you stick to baseball?

Marjie?

Marjie?

Yes, Wesley?

I'm sorry.

It was a secret

about you going to the train,

and I told.

- it's all right.

- Well, no, it isn't.

I'm going to be 12 years old tomorrow,

and I'm acting like I was a child.

We all act like we're children

sometimes, Wesley.

Gee, it must be tough being a girl.

- Hello, Miss Robertson.

- Hello, Stella.

Well, it's good to see you.

Here, let me help you.

If I needed any help, I wouldn't have come.

Aunt Martha.

Wesley, Aunt Martha's here!

It's good to see you.

You're looking younger every day.

Well, I feel younger every day.

- Hello, Aunt Martha.

- Wesley! My, how you've grown.

Why, I hardly know you with your face

all washed and your hair combed.

Yes, ma'am.

- Well, can't we all go inside?

- No, I'll only stay a few minutes.

I just came to bring Wesley some cookies

and give him his birthday present.

I guess that's all you're interested in,

isn't it, Wesley?

Yes, ma'am.

Well, I hear that George really made

a spectacle of himself last night

at the railway station.

Oh, shush yourself, Alice.

One prude in the family is enough.

Marjorie wants to get married.

Why doesn't he let her?

Well, George feels the boy isn't sincere.

You see, William doesn't believe

in the institution of marriage.

Fiddlesticks.

No man believes in marriage,

until a woman traps him into it.

Remember how you got George?

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