Since You Went Away Page #4

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when "we" get home?

You certainly mean

to put me up?

Probably can't get a room

anyplace else.

The hotels are jammed.

Why do these things

always happen to me?

I don't see why it should

be any hardship to you.

You ought to have

plenty of room.

You think you're

going to share my room?

The girls can double up.

The girls have already

doubled up.

- We have a lodger.

- A lodger?

Don't start.

I had enough of it from Emily.

- We needed the money.

- Get a job.

You look perfectly able-bodied

to me, if I may use the word "body."

What on earth could I do?

You could do plenty

if you really wanted to.

Let's skip it.

I don't want to hear a serious word

out of either of us until I leave.

Tony, it's so good to see you.

Next to Tim being home on leave,

it's the nicest thing...

There you go again.

I buy you a beautiful dinner,

and what thanks do I get?

Tim. Tim.

What's that?

Speciality of the house...

chicken hash.

Well, blow me down.

I think Uncle Tony must be

the most distinguished-looking

officer in the whole Navy.

Admiral King's not so bad.

I mean young officers, silly.

You'd better finish your homework

and stop mooning around.

And the governor said

to the admiral, "16-inch guns?

Land sakes, can't they shoot

any further than that?"

- Uncle Tony!

- Jane!

What's the matter?

You don't seem

very glad to see me.

But I am. I am.

Honestly, I am.

- Uncle Tony!

- Brig!

That's what I call

a real reception.

- You're not staying with us?

- Yes, he's staying with us.

Don't go spoiling him. We're going to

have enough trouble as it is.

Uncle Tony

couldn't be any trouble.

It's just wonderful

having him here.

Don't listen to your mother.

I'm counting on you spoiling me.

There's just one thing, please.

Do you think you and Brig

could cut out that "Uncle" stuff?

I'm not your uncle.

It makes me feel 108.

You mean we're gonna have to

call you Lieutenant Willett?

"Tony" to you, Miss Hilton.

That must be the taxi driver

with that mysterious object

you lugged along.

You won't be so indifferent

when you see what it is.

I don't know

what this thing is,

but could be the side

of a house, I suppose.

- I ain't got no change.

- Don't worry, I borrowed it myself.

Thanks, Captain.

Thanks a lot.

Say, lady, it sure must be nice

having your husband home again.

Well, he's not my...

What's so funny about that?

Lmagine anybody

taking you for Pop.

You think your pop's

wonderful, don't you?

- Well, he is.

- But you don't have to rub it in.

I'll take your bags upstairs... Tony.

Don't bother, Jane.

- I don't mind, really.

- Brig, you take one, too.

If we don't give the lieutenant service,

he might not stay here.

- Aye-aye, sir.

- Carry on, mates.

Put them in Brig's room.

I'll move in with you girls.

That'll be fun.

Fun, indeed. I thought I was

through with dormitories.

You'll get to know

your children better.

Who's that?

Is there something

gone bad, Miz Hilton?

I wouldn't call it anything good.

If it isn't

my old girlfriend Fidelia.

Is that Mr. Tony Willett?

I thought we was through with you

till the duration was over.

Lieutenant Willett's going to be

our guest for a while.

- Happy surprise, Fidelia?

- I don't know about "happy."

Don't you let these people turn

your home into no boardinghouse.

Well, Fidelia!

I've half a mind not to stay.

But the other half

tells me to forgive you.

- What's that?

- I almost forgot.

May as well have

the unveiling right now.

Wait a minute.

I wanna see, too!

Let's have a little light on it.

I offered it to the Navy.

- Tony, I am flattered!

- That's mighty nice.

Mother, it's just like you!

And so pretty.

Well, it's really not much.

I heard they needed new

recruiting posters for the Waves,

and I figured that your face

was the one that...

Tony Willett, I might have known!

Mr. Willett, you cover that thing

right up this here minute!

Jane, you's no business

looking at that.

Tony, the Navy Department

didn't accept it?

No. I never even

found out why.

I got the painting back,

and the next thing, I was on sea duty.

Red tape, I guess.

I hope you're having

enough trouble.

I wouldn't wish this on a Jap.

- Give it a little push, Jane.

- All right, Tony.

- Nice going, Jane!

- Tony, I'm so sorry!

Never mind, Jane. I'm sure

your mother put you up to it.

No, honestly, Tony!

- Which way do I take this thing?

- Starboard on the port side.

- Here, I'll help you.

- How you gonna get the bed in?

- How am I going to what?

- We'll put the mattress on the floor.

Don't worry, I love

to sleep on the floor.

Come on.

Good evening, Colonel Smollett.

I've taken one of

the mattresses out of your room.

One mattress is entirely sufficient.

Colonel Smollett, may I present

an old friend of ours Lieutenant Willett.

- How are you, Colonel Smollett?

- How do you do?

I take it your commission

is in the Navy.

- That's right, sir.

- Doesn't surprise me.

We'll get the bed set up

in the morning.

- I'm moving in with the girls.

- It's quite all right.

I assume you're taking the one

I have not been using?

- Of course.

- That's fine.

Is something wrong

with one of the beds?

It's just that monstrous animal

that seems to be so attached to it.

Good night.

- Mother.

- Yes, Jane?

Mother, do you think

I have a nice figure?

Yes, darling.

You have a beautiful figure.

Do you think Tony

might paint me someday?

Over my dead body.

Wettookit. Wettookit.

- You must have the name wrong.

- No.

Here it is in Pop's letter.

"We're here in Texas

on maneuvers...

"...in a little town

called Wettookit.

We came, we saw, we took it!"

"We took it."

Very funny. I would

appreciate it, my dear Bridget,

if in the future you could spare me

from your father's elaborate puns.

I suppose to some people, that creature

comes under the heading of "pets."

I beg your pardon,

Colonel Smollett.

There's someone here to see you...

your grandson.

- William?

- Hello, Grandpa!

To what peculiar

combination of circumstances

do I owe this visit, William?

Well, you see, I was transferred

out here to Chamberlain Field.

- I found out at your office...

- Indeed?

I wasn't aware

that the United States forces

had been honored

by your membership.

I enlisted, sir, last summer.

So...

I don't think we need trouble these

women with your autobiography.

Let's go into the living room.

If you will excuse me.

Excuse me.

I presume you've come to me

for help of one sort or another

with your tail

between your legs.

No, sir.

I thought you might like...

- You see...

- Or is it money that you're after.

Speak up, boy.

I thought you

might like to see me.

A very mistaken notion

if ever you had one,

and you've had plenty,

as we're both well aware.

After all, I thought that we may not

see one another again.

I don't know when

I'll be shipped out.

Come, William.

Let's not

dramatize these things.

There's no need for any pretense

of affection between us.

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