Since You Went Away Page #5

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You've paid your courtesy call.

All right, if that's

the way you feel about it.

I'm sorry to have disturbed you.

You may drop me a line

with your address.

And if you have any affairs

that require attention,

I shall have my lawyers

look after them.

For your late father's sake.

Now, I am sure

you will excuse me.

I'm a bit tired.

Good-bye, Grandpa.

What do you suppose?

I'm going in

and speak to him.

Mr. Smollett?

I'm Jane Hilton.

This is our home.

I see.

I'm glad to meet you.

I hope you like the Army.

That is, I mean,

are you on leave?

Just for the day.

I'll be at Chamberlain for a while,

I suppose, until we're shipped.

That'll be nice.

I don't mean

about you being shipped.

I didn't mean that either.

I hope you don't think

I'm a murderer or something.

Grandfather just doesn't like me.

I don't think it's right.

I think it's just terrible of him.

He's not so bad. He has good reasons,

the way he looks at it.

I've kind of disappointed him.

I don't care what you did.

You're a soldier now.

And you enlisted, too.

I heard you say so.

That isn't really so very much.

Lots of men enlisted.

But it's awfully nice of you

to talk to me this way.

Hi, Brig.

What's with the colonel?

He's storming around his room

like one of the Smith Brothers

with a hot foot.

I'll go up to my room

and do some homework.

Hello.

Uncle... I mean Tony.

Lieutenant Willett,

this is Private William Smollett.

How are you?

Corporal. Engineers, isn't it?

- Yes, Lieutenant.

- I'm sorry.

- You're related to the colonel?

- I'm his grandson.

- But I don't know, sir...

- Think nothing of it.

I cut my grandfather off

without a cent.

Well, Jane, what's the program

for this afternoon?

How about you and Brig

taking me out?

William here... or do they call

you Bill? ...could make a fourth.

That's nice of you, Lieutenant,

but I couldn't.

Besides, if you'll forgive

my saying so, sir, you're an officer...

I forgot all about that.

You're right.

Let's see, Jane,

what could we do?

Anything you say, Tony.

We could have tea

in the garden.

That's fine. We could

play some darts maybe.

Thank you, sir, but I ought to

be getting back to the field.

You've both been very nice.

Next time you're in town.

Will you be off next Sunday?

- How about it, Jane?

- That would be lovely.

I'll look forward to it.

Well, I'd better be going.

- Good-bye, Miss Hilton.

- It's nice to know you.

So long, and next war,

come into the Navy.

Thanks. Thank you, sir. I will.

Well, good-bye.

That seems like

a very nice boy.

- Yes, he is a nice boy, but...

- Now, Jane.

You take the word

of your old Uncle Tony

and be kind to that boy

the next time he comes here.

- Well, he's nice enough, but...

- But what?

Well, he's so young.

Besides, he isn't

even an officer.

Why, Jane, I'm surprised at you.

Those are the boys

who do the fighting,

and largely for their dreams

of girls like you.

Far be it from me

to run down officers.

You go right on advertising us.

Every little bit helps.

- Tony, I wish...

- What do you wish, little Janie?

I wish I were 27.

Now, that's a coincidence.

So do I.

Where's that Brig?

Do you suppose she ran out on us?

I've got a nickel bet with her

on Twenty Questions.

Good evening, Mrs. Hawkins.

Let me help you down.

My, but you're strong, Lieutenant!

Here, men,

help the young ladies.

Yes, sir!

Mrs. Hawkins,

I'm so frightened.

There's nothing to be frightened of.

Just go in and dance.

This here vehicle

got Susie Fleming aboard?

But a boy named Spencer

was supposed to meet me here.

Come on. Just go into the cloakroom

and they'll give you your nametag.

It's like a great big prom, isn't it?

Mind you, Becky, dear,

leave a few boys for the other girls.

Miss Hilton! Miss Hilton!

Come on, Jane.

Don't dawdle.

Will you tell me when Mother

and Lieutenant Willett arrive?

Just look for me at the committee

table and I'll help you find them.

Hello, Miss Hilton.

May I have your first dance?

Well, I really don't know

what arrangements have been made.

I just can't figure out what could

have happened to Susie Fleming.

Would it be too much of a favor

to ask you to call me Bill?

Well, I don't know you very well,

but all right, Bill.

- Hello, Emily.

- Hello, Anne.

Hello, Lieutenant Willett!

I'm delighted you could

come to our little party.

I practically had to

tie him up and drag him.

He was afraid there wouldn't

be another officer here.

There are a few.

You should see Captain Higgs.

That profile... c'est jolie.

But I do believe you're

the only Naval man in the place.

I'll bet they give me three cheers

and a long periscope.

You'll have a good time.

Wait and see.

I suppose your first dance

is with Anne.

But remember,

the second is mine.

That's too kind of you,

Mrs. Hawkins.

If only I didn't

have this charley horse.

Naturally,

if you're indisposed...

I promised Tony

he wouldn't have to stay long.

If you'll excuse me, I have

a number of things to take care of.

Emily, would you keep an eye

on Jane after we leave?

Why, certainly, my dear.

I'll devote the entire evening to her.

Well, of all the phony battle-axes

I've ever met.

Now, really, Tony,

you asked for that.

What am I doing here

with all these kids anyway?

Why, Tony Willett.

When on earth

did you get back in town?

Hello, sugar.

Give me a ring sometime

when you're on the loose.

Yeah. Yeah.

As I was saying, what am I

doing here with these kids?

That was a cute kid, too.

It's just a girl

I went to college with.

I'll bet.

- I'm Johnny Mahoney.

- Of course! How are you?

Lieutenant Willett,

this is Johnny Mahoney.

Your father told me

you were stationed out here.

Dad bores everybody

talking about me.

He has every right

to brag about you.

Well, I don't know

about that, Mrs. Hilton.

I wanted to thank you

for what you said

about Mr. Hilton

helping me after the war.

I thought maybe you might think

I was taking advantage.

I didn't want you to feel

any obligation.

There's no obligation, Johnny.

Anybody who gets you

will be very lucky.

I'm afraid the luck's all mine,

and that's the way it's been

my whole life.

I guess

I have to be leaving now.

I thought the dance

was just getting underway.

I stopped in

to pick up my gunner.

I'm taking off in a few minutes.

It's just a routine flight.

- Good night, Johnny.

- Good night, Mrs. Hilton.

- Good night, Lieutenant.

- Good night.

Those kids just break my heart.

They're so eager.

I know.

They expect to come back

to something.

What do you mean, Tony?

Something like they left,

only better.

Hope they don't get

too many surprises.

- Hello, Bill.

- Good evening, sir.

- Hello, Tony.

- Hi, Janie.

Mother, I don't believe

you've met Bill Smollett.

I'm so sorry I missed you

at the house the other day.

Thank you, Mrs. Hilton.

Your daughter has been very nice to me.

Well, that's good.

You children run along

and have a good time.

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