The Clock Page #2

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- Sure.

- There's a bully like that in every school.

- Yeah.

Well, this one was tough

and a lot bigger than me, too.

- Were you afraid?

- Well, sure.

And half the school was watching. I had to

make up my mind in an awful hurry.

- I guess so. What did you do?

- What did I do?

Why, I punched that guy right in the nose.

What's the matter, fella?

He's frightened.

He wouldn't hurt you. Would you?

Oh, no.

No, children usually love him.

They follow him around.

- Well...

- Like the Pied Piper.

To resume...

- We must have walked 150 miles already.

- Yes.

I don't think

I could ever get used to this city.

Anyhow, this isn't what I want.

- How do you know?

- I know what I want.

You do?

I want a little business of my own

out home in Mapleton.

- You mean you want to live there always?

- That's right.

- Why?

- Because it's my home.

I was never away from home

very much before.

Not that I don't want to get around

and see things,

but I don't know,

I get to thinking sometimes...

Like in the spring in the evenings,

I can almost smell the grass

outside the house.

Dad used to mow the lawn before dinner.

He'd never let us kids do it.

- Did you have a dog?

- A dog? No. Did you?

- No.

- Why'd you ask that?

- I just wondered.

- No, I didn't have a dog.

I got it all figured out.

After the war, I'm gonna be a builder.

- You mean a contractor?

- No. You know, like, more like a carpenter.

I want to put up houses myself.

They say that houses are all

going to be alike, made out of plastics

and things like boxes you buy in a store.

Not in Mapleton, they won't.

Why do you want to be a contractor, Joe,

or a carpenter?

I like working with wood.

I like the grain and I like the feel of it.

I like the idea of building things

with my own hands.

- You know what I mean?

- Yes, I do, I think.

Some day, I'd like to build my own house.

I've got a few ideas about it.

And I've got a wonderful location

picked out for it, too.

There's a piece of ground

that runs down to the creek

with two giant black walnut trees on it.

I could put the house

right in between those two...

I know what you mean.

We've got a house like that back home.

It sits way up on a hill and you can see

way out across the valley.

Yeah. Well, this place I've got in mind...

- Is that the closing bell? What time is it?

-5:
00.

It's late. I've got to go.

Look, Ethel, this is the one I meant.

"Sphinx of Queen Hatshepsut,

"from her Mortuary Temple

at Deir el-Bahri, Thebes. Circa 1480, B.C.

"18th dynasty. Partly restored. "

- Very interesting.

- Partly restored.

Cleopatra's Needle is restored, too.

You can see where they restored it.

- Say, have we time for a soda?

- Yeah, sure we have.

- Come on, you guys. Get going.

- Come on. Come on.

You know, you can learn a lot

in a museum.

It's been a nice afternoon.

- Well, I guess this is goodbye?

- Yes, I guess so.

- I suppose you're probably busy tonight?

- Yes, I am.

Well, thanks a lot for being so nice.

- Would you like a cigarette?

- No, thanks.

That's one of those things

that light anywhere, isn't it?

It has a shield.

- Would you like it?

- Oh, no. You keep it. I don't smoke.

- Well, take it anyway.

- I really wouldn't have any use for it.

Well, I just wanted you to have it.

Thank you very much.

Well, here comes my bus.

- Maybe...

- Yes?

- Maybe we'll meet again sometime.

- Maybe.

- Well, goodbye.

- Goodbye.

- And thank you for the lighter.

- That's all right.

My bag. Goodbye.

Alice!

- Alice!

- Joe.

Will you...

Joe?

Alice...

- Look, will you break that date tonight?

- Yes!

Look, where'll I meet you?

Under the clock at the Astor at 7:00.

Where?

Under the clock at the Astor at 7:00.

What?

Under the clock at the Astor at 7:00.

I can't imagine what could have

happened to Alice. Really!

She was supposed to be home hours ago.

What do you think

could have happened to her, Bill?

I wouldn't worry.

Only she spoke to me herself

from the station.

This isn't like Alice at all.

You get to know a person pretty well

when you live with them.

And there's one kid that's really got

her head on her shoulders.

Of course, I always feel

she's still a hick in a big town.

She's only been here three years,

you know.

Say, Bill, do you think she could have

stepped in to see a movie?

No. No, I think if she were gonna do that,

she'd come home first.

Want to get yourself a Coke, Bill?

I know. She took a couple of books

to the country with her.

Maybe she stopped off at the library

to change them.

What do you think?

But that wouldn't take her three hours.

Besides, what am I thinking of?

Today is Sunday.

Well, she must be somewhere, but where?

- Hello, Bill.

- Who's that? Alice?

My gosh, Al, where have you been?

I thought you were coming right home.

Freddie called up three times.

- He's gonna call again in a half an hour.

- I'm a little late, I guess.

A little late. What happened to you?

I met a soldier.

What do you mean, you met a soldier?

Well, I tripped over him at Penn Station,

lost the heel on my shoe,

and he helped me.

Al, you're not trying to tell me

you got picked up by a uniform.

Picked up!

Really, Helen.

- What's that you've got?

- That is a lighter.

- Where did you get it?

- He gave it to me.

- What did he do that for?

- I don't know.

I guess he just wanted to.

- What else happened?

- Nothing.

Well, I guess it's all right,

as long as you finally got rid of him.

Well, I didn't exactly get rid of him.

What do you mean?

I've got a date with him tonight.

Good grief, Al. I thought you had

more sense than to do a thing like that.

Well, don't you know you're just

heading for trouble?

You don't even know the man.

As far as he's concerned,

this is just a pickup.

Helen, I wish you wouldn't keep

saying that.

- Don't you think I could tell the difference?

- Difference.

It's ways different.

Joe's a nice boy. He's just lonesome,

that's all. He's never been to New York.

So it's "Joe" already. Joe what?

Joe...

You don't know.

Look, Al, I know you're old enough

to take care of yourself,

and I don't want to butt into your affairs,

but it just doesn't make sense to pick up

a... To make friends with a stray soldier.

I know they're all swell kids,

but a girl has got to look out for herself.

- Al, are you going to use that little...

- No, here, you can have it.

Thanks. They leave you in a few days,

and then what have you got?

I know. It's...

It's different when you meet a serviceman

through friends and know who he is.

I'll leave it up to Bill. Am I right, Bill?

Listen, Alice, I've looked after you

for almost three years.

You've never done anything like this

before, and I won't let you do it now.

I just won't let you do it.

He'll be waiting.

He's gonna be awfully disappointed.

Honey, he won't feel

half as bad as you'll feel

after his leave is over

and he goes back to camp.

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