The Americanization of Emily Page #2

- What on earth are you doing to your hair?

- I'm turning it red.

I'm going

to one of Charlie Madison's dos tonight.

Yes. I was asked to that one.

Does it require red hair?

Do come, love.

Charlie lays on smashing food.

All sorts of meats, fruit, real cream.

Things we haven't seen

in England for years.

You'll get a new dress out of it.

Have you been to Madison's room?

- Nope.

- You've just got to see it.

It's the swankiest shop in town.

He's got everything up there

but the crown jewels.

Here, look at this.

You can't see this at Harrods.

That's nylon, love. And this is pure silk.

I'd show you my new dress,

but I don't want the others to see.

It's Bonwit Tellers.

You've heard of that, I imagine.

You mean he actually supplies you

with a wardrobe?

Charlie dresses you proper.

Americans don't like to see their women

in uniforms.

But it all ends in someone's bed,

doesn't it?

I mean, that's the point, isn't it?

Look who's talking after

that lurid confession you've just made.

Sorry. I am a prig, at that.

I feel rather tender towards

the poor beggars myself.

I don't want to feel tender

towards anyone.

Especially soldiers.

I've lost a husband, a father,

and a brother in this war.

When my husband died,

I almost went insane.

I take these things badly.

I fall in love too easily,

and I shatter too easily.

I don't want any more doomed men.

Do come tonight, love.

These men aren't doomed.

They'll never see any of the shooting,

that's for sure.

We'll have a few laughs.

I've never seen anyone needing

a few laughs as much as you do.

- Very nice crystal, Tom. Danish?

- Yes, sir.

I don't much care for the centerpiece.

You can take that out.

Of course.

- Italian. Very lovely.

- Thank you, sir.

Cocktails at 5:
30, and heavy on the gin.

Dinner at 6:
00 promptly.

Once you've cleared away...

- I'll manage from there.

- Very good, sir.

You're not limping, Commander.

It's the Arabian Nights.

Do you have chests of rubies

in the bathroom?

Just perfumes and liquor.

I've heard about this room, Commander.

All the girls talk about it,

but I just couldn't believe it.

Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue,

Lord & Taylor.

Sheila's right.

It is the swankiest shop in town.

Good heavens! Arpege perfume.

How did you manage Arpege

with the Germans in Paris?

There are Germans in Paris, aren't there?

There is a war on, I think.

You Americans must have heard

something about it, I'm sure.

Just pick out a dress, honey,

and be back at 5:30.

You American-haters bore me to tears,

Miss Barham.

I've dealt with Europeans all my life.

I know all about us parvenus

from the States...

who come over here and race around

your old cathedral towns...

with our cameras and Coca-Cola bottles.

Brawl in your pubs, paw your women,

and act like we own the world.

We over tip. We talk too loud.

We think we can buy anything

with a Hershey bar.

I've had Germans and Italians tell me...

how politically ingenuous we are.

And perhaps so.

But we haven't managed a Hitler

or Mussolini yet.

I've had Frenchmen call me a savage...

because I only took half an hour for lunch.

The only reason the French

take two hours for lunch...

is because the service

in their restaurants is lousy.

The most tedious lot are you British.

We crass Americans didn't introduce war

into your little island.

This war, Miss Barham, to which

we Americans are so insensitive...

is the result of 2,000 years

of European greed...

barbarism, superstition, and stupidity.

Don't blame it on our Coca-Cola bottles.

Europe was a going brothel

long before we came to town.

Dear me. What an outburst.

So lay off, Mrs. Miniver.

If you don't like Hershey bars,

don't take them.

Pick yourself a frock, or get out.

It's not my job to listen

to your sentimental contempt.

I could almost believe

you flew for the RAF.

I never flew for the RAF, and you know it.

You didn't expect me

to believe you for a minute, did you?

Not for a minute.

But why, Commander?

You're here, Miss Barham.

Yes, so I am.

You're a complete rascal.

I'll be back at 5:30.

The Admiral will be delighted

you're coming.

- Looking forward to it.

- If I can be of any service.

I have my own clothes, Commander.

I'll do without your Hershey bars.

Do you have a girl, Commander?

None of your damn business,

Miss Barham.

Avocado!

I haven't seen avocados in years!

- Come over to the table...

- But they're out of season, darling.

But, the Admiral likes

to have some around...

just to keep his guests happy.

- Isn't that right, Charlie?

- Right, Bus.

These Hungarians at the Princess,

they really are...

- Good evening.

- Excuse me.

Miss Barham, you must know someone

at Saks Fifth Avenue yourself.

What? This old thing.

It's lovely.

Miss Barham, if you need any assistance

you just give a yell.

I'll be somewhere near at hand.

Charlie, this is Madame Clarabigh.

- How do you do?

- You know the General.

- Yes, General.

- Madame...

You'll have to excuse us, Admiral.

I hope you'll excuse me

for taking you away from the Admiral...

but a gentleman expressed

his desire to meet you.

You do speak Russian?

- Tom.

- Sir?

I want you to keep the food moving.

The Admiral wants the room cleared

in two hours for that bridge game.

- Doubled.

- Redoubled.

- Pass.

- Pass.

I overbid?

Let's just say you have unbridled courage.

I don't like the way the Navy's publicity

is being handled in Overlord.

I want extreme measures taken to

publicize the Navy's role in this invasion.

The President supports me in this.

Yeah, we received your cables, Jesse...

but I don't know what you mean

by extreme measures.

This is going to be a bloodbath.

I want a Marine division

to be the first assault wave.

You're not going to drag

that old chestnut in.

The Marines are traditional shock troops,

you know it.

Not in the European theater

of operations, they're not.

You Navy guys get all the headlines

in the South Pacific.

But Europe's an Army show.

It's been understood

from the beginning, Jesse.

I've written the Supreme Commander

about this.

That's one of the reasons he's out of town.

You must be off your rocker, Jesse,

if you think...

assault changes can be made

at this stage of preparation.

You know when the balloon's going up.

What balloon?

I've been instructed to say...

that we're going to put on a few more

Navy staff officers...

at supreme headquarters.

We're going to push the PRO people

to send out more Navy releases.

The Supreme Commander

wants it clear that he considers...

this inter-service competitiveness

in very bad taste.

He's having enough trouble

keeping the English and French in line.

You're down four, Willie.

Doubled, redoubled, and vulnerable.

Marine division!

You must be losing your mind, Jesse.

- Who deals?

- The young lady, I think.

Clear away that table, please.

General Waterson? Your car is ready, sir.

- Thank you.

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