Since You Went Away Page #8

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I'm sorry about...

I acted like a fool.

- He's good-looking, isn't he?

- Is he? I hadn't noticed.

- You must have noticed.

- Well, I didn't.

Come on, let's get a soda.

No chocolate. We only have vanilla

flavoring, but no ice cream.

- Would you like Victory Punch?

- What's that?

It's a loganberry phosphate

with lime.

- That sounds fine.

- We'll make it two.

But you could have a vanilla soda

without any ice cream maybe.

That's right, I could, couldn't I?

I'll try it.

One Victory and one

vanilla soda with no ice cream.

- Do you mind if I smoke?

- Of course not.

Bill, why are you so...

so timid about things?

What do you mean, Jane?

I mean about asking

if you can smoke.

Nobody else does that.

And, well, I mean everything.

Is it...

I hope you won't think

I'm being forward,

but is it something

to do with your grandfather?

No, it isn't that.

Although I suppose I've always

been sort of scared of Grandpa.

But why?

I dug up a scoop

of vanilla ice cream for you.

Please pay the cashier and buy

war stamps with your change.

I will.

You see, my father

was a soldier.

He was a colonel

when he died.

I guess all the Smolletts

all the way back were soldiers.

One of them was

with Washington at Yorktown.

Although sometimes I think

Grandpa just made that one up.

I'm sure he didn't.

You ought to be awfully proud.

I'm proud, all right.

But something

went wrong with me.

Mother died when I was born,

so I never knew her.

Of course I never knew her.

That's a shame.

She could paint pretty well...

china and things.

I hope I can show you

her work sometime.

That is, if Grandpa...

If Grandpa what?

Well, if I go home.

You see, I haven't

lived home since West Point.

West Point?

You don't want to hear

all about this, do you?

Not if you don't want me to, Bill.

But I do, of course.

There's no one in the whole world

that I'd rather tell.

Isn't your soda all right?

Yeah. I just don't

feel much like it.

I thought I did, but...

You don't have to drink it, Bill.

Would you rather go home and talk?

We could sit on the porch.

Swell. I'd like that.

So would I.

There. Now we can relax.

You were talking about how your

grandfather wanted you to be a soldier.

Would you like

a sandwich or something?

He wanted me to be a general.

But didn't you want

to be a general?

Well, no, I didn't.

But why not, Bill?

I had an idea it was more

important to build things.

I don't mean it isn't important

being a soldier.

I don't know how we'd keep

the things we build without them.

But you said you went

to West Point.

I should think you'd be

a lot more than a...

More than a corporal, you mean.

Let's have a picnic sometime.

I'll bring a...

Bill, I didn't mean that.

It's wonderful being a corporal.

No, you meant that

if I went to the Academy,

I ought to be

more than a corporal.

Well, you might as well know it.

I was kicked out

and I broke Grandpa's heart.

I'm sure it wasn't your fault.

Yes, it was.

Bill, come and sit down.

Look. Grandpa's father carried

this watch at Vicksburg.

Grandpa gave it to me

on my tenth birthday.

He had it engraved for me.

Read it.

I'll light a match.

"To William G. Smollett,

the Second,

who will lead men

to glory on the battlefield."

You must have been

terribly pleased.

I said, "Grandpa, don't people

hurt each other in war?"

You see, I was only ten.

He took the watch away from me.

But he gave it back to me again

when I entered the Academy.

Jane, I did my best, but I

could never make a good officer.

I can't lead men, and I know it.

Even if I'd led my class

the way Grandpa...

"Grandpa, Grandpa, Grandpa."

What about yourself?

Why is it so important

that you satisfy him, the old...

Because he loved me so.

Yeah, I'm sure he did... once.

But all through military school,

from the time I was eight,

I kept letting him down.

I never even wanted to play

with the tin soldiers he gave me.

Grandpa kept telling me

that if I was a Smollett, I'd...

But I guess I was always...

well, you know... weak.

I was a joke at the Academy.

I only lasted a couple of months.

Grandpa couldn't face

his old cronies.

Well, that's it.

Now you can see what a mess

I made out of everything.

You've done no such thing.

You're fine and strong,

but you're just sensitive... that's all.

But don't you think I'm a failure

after everything I've told you?

A failure? Just because

you're not an officer?

An officer I know said that you

are the boys doing the fighting.

- Lieutenant Willett?

- Yes.

You think a lot of him,

don't you?

Of course, but what's that

got to do with it?

You're a soldier, and I'm...

that is, we're proud of you.

And I hope you never

get promoted.

All those officers strutting around

with their gold braid and everything.

Gee, Jane, I'm so glad

you feel that way about it.

But Grandpa...

Bother Grandpa!

There's Soda. You'd better go

before we wake the colonel.

He doesn't scare me.

Not anymore, he doesn't.

Jane, let me stay long enough

for just one cigarette.

All right.

Provided you don't ask

my permission to smoke it.

I won't.

Gee, Jane,

I think you're wonderful.

"21/2 minutes... under no

circumstances more than 3."

Sometimes I think six minutes

would be more in character.

I'll serve the colonel his breakfast

this morning, Mother.

What's wrong with you

this morning anyway?

First you get up an hour early...

...and then suddenly you've turned

into Mother's little helper.

I don't know.

I just felt like it somehow.

Not that I object.

The next time Brig makes a deal,

she can put it

into execution herself.

You don't mind waiting

for our breakfast until Brig gets down?

Two sets of breakfasts

are about all I can handle.

Mother, do you like Bill?

Yes, of course.

I think he's a very nice boy.

A little shy.

Did you have a nice time last night?

If he's shy, it's that colonel's fault,

the old goat.

That's not

a very nice way to talk.

Well, he is.

He's just ruined Bill, that's what.

I'm going to have

a talk with him.

- I wouldn't do that if I were you.

- Why not?

Somebody's got to talk to him.

It's usually a good rule to stay out

of other people's business.

But maybe it's better

if you learn the hard way.

Go ahead if you want to.

You're not a baby anymore.

Just think, in another week,

I'll be graduating.

Mother, may I get a war job?

You certainly may not.

You're going to college.

College. But all the girls are talking

about getting war jobs.

I promised your father and myself

that all the things

we planned for you are going

to come true, war or no war.

- But I want to do something.

- We're doing all we can, dear.

Pop is fighting so that

you girls can continue...

It is three minutes after 7:00.

Here.

- See what I mean?

- Yes.

Oh, dear.

Here, give him his breakfast.

And tell him

anything you want to.

The old goat.

Good morning, Colonel Smollett.

Looks like a fine morning.

Yes, yes, yes, yes.

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