The Miniver Story

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This is the story of a woman after a war...

who lived and hoped...

and struggled trough the anxious years,

and now saw them end...

and another peace begin...

It starts in London on VE Day, 1945.

'This was the day

that it started.

'I wish I'd been with

my wife that day,

'but I was not in London.

'It was a very special day,

meaningful in more

than one respect.

'Later, when Kay had told me

how it all began,

'I felt how strange it was

'that after we'd been together

through so much,

'sharing so many moments

of happiness,

'danger, war and pain,

'she should have been

all alone that day.

'I'd like to tell you something

about her, if I may.

'I say something because

I don't know it all,

'and I'm her husband.

'I've been her husband

for quite a long time.

'But does any man know

any woman completely?

'You meet somebody, you fall

in love with her, you marry her.

'You come to need her

more and more,

'to love her more, too.

'And when you're not with her,

you long for her

with all your heart.

'I hadn't seen my wife

for almost a year,

'but she'd been writing

regularly, so I knew

that she was well.

'This is her story,

Kay's story.

'Oh, and by the way,

our name is Miniver.

'Our family was scattered

around the globe.

'We hadn't seen each other

for years.

'Judy, our daughter,

was in Cairo.

'Our young son Toby

was in America,

'and I was with the Army

in Hamburg.'

This is London.

Please stand by.

The Prime Minister,

the Right Honourable

Winston Churchill.

Yesterday morning,

At 2.41am,

at General Eisenhower's

headquarters,

General Jodl, the representative

of the German high command,

and Grand Admiral Doenitz,

the designated head

of the German state,

signed the act

of unconditional surrender

of all German land, sea,

and air forces in Europe

to the Allied

Expeditionary Force.

The German war is, therefore,

at an end.

Advance, Britannia!

Long live the cause of freedom!

God save the King!

Mrs Miniver.

You don't

remember me?

Yes, I-I do.

Oh, you're Foley's boy!

Tom Foley,

of course!

I'm so sorry, Tom,

but after five years...

Six since I last

delivered

the groceries.

Are you on leave?

Just flew in

from Cairo.

Oh, what a day

to come home!

I'm so happy for you.

Does your family know?

Dad will be

at the station.

Good.

Here, have half

a suitcase.

Thank you.

Well, how are they,

Mum and Dad?

Oh, very good.

How's the shop?

Still there.

You had doodlebugs,

didn't you,

all around

the village?

Uh-huh. But it's

over now.

Yes.

How was Cairo?

Oh, hot as blazes.

My daughter's over there,

Judy, in the ATS.

I don't suppose

you ran into her?

She saw me off.

Tom! Well!

How is she?

Judy's wonderful.

Still a corporal?

She's far too nice

to be a brass hat.

We, um, we saw

quite a lot

of each other.

I'm glad.

It's a bit tricky,

though,

because of my

three pips.

Officers not encouraged

to mingle with

the unwashed.

However...

I haven't heard from her

for ages.

Now I

understand why.

Oh, she...she

sent this.

For me?

Oh! That's a nice change.

Tom, will you forgive

me if I...?

Of course.

Go ahead. I'll smoke.

"Hello, Mother, darling.

"Tom Foley's just leaving

for home,

"so I'm dashing this off in a mad

rush in the middle of the night

"to let you know all's well

on the Nile.

"The lights are out,

and the girls are asleep,

"so I'm writing on my knee

in the bathroom.

"Who do you think I've

been driving around

for the last month?

"Steve Brunswick.

"Wherever he goes, I take him

and bring him back.

"It's wonderful to be

with a man who's really lived

life to the dregs."

All serene?

Yes.

Tom, do you know a man

called Brunswick?

A brigadier?

Brunswick...

Oh, Steve Brunswick.

Commando Johnny?

Good heavens, yes, he's

a marvellous chap. Why?

Oh, Judy mentions him.

He's out there now.

Careless talk.

She ought to be shot.

That's what she says.

Anything like her?

Tom, it's splendid!

Are you always

as good as this?

I happen to know this

particular subject

rather well.

I hope to know her

even better.

I'm so glad you

were at the station,

Mr Foley.

I just couldn't

have walked

another step today.

Takes it out of you,

doesn't it,

all this history?

Thank you so much.

All alone

here tonight?

Oh, no, I have

my boarders,

Mr Farraday

and Richard.

Oh, yes, well,

Mr Miniver will be

home before long

now, I reckon.

I hope so.

I'm delighted

Tom's back.

Tell Mrs Foley,

will you?

I'll tell her.

I like your boy.

Good night.

Good night, Mrs M.

All the best.

Thanks, Tom.

Oh, could I...could I

have Judy back?

Oh...yes.

Good night.

Thank you, Mrs Miniver.

Good night.

Anybody home?

Spike!

I'll be back

in a minute.

Hi!

I just thought

I'd drop by

and say

congratulations.

Well, thank you.

Have I won anything?

Only a war.

From here in, Kay,

you're a veteran.

You, too, Colonel.

Well, that puts me

in nice company.

Let's shake on it.

We might even have

a cup of tea on it.

Come inside.

I'm due back at the

base right now.

But I was hoping

you might care

to look in at the

George with me later.

I guess most of the

village will be there.

Kind of

a farewell visit.

Farewell?

We're pulling out

Sunday.

Oh, no, Spike.

Oh, I am sorry.

I did want you

and Clem to meet.

I know.

I sort of, er,

wanted to say hello

to that husband

of yours myself.

He must be

quite a guy.

Will you come?

Please.

I'd love to.

Swell. Pick you

up at 8.30.

We're going to

miss you in the village.

We're going to miss

the village.

Somehow, I just can't

believe that it's over.

It isn't.

Sure, some of the

fighting's stopped.

A few generals have

signed some documents

on Lueneburg Heath.

For the rest of us,

you can't just snap

your fingers and say,

"Forget it, brother.

Go on home.

"Take up the old

routine where you

left off."

When a war happens,

a whole new life happens

along with it.

And you're a part

of mine, Kay...

a very important part.

Well, I know we haven't

seen each other

more than...how often?

A dozen times?

Tea in the garden

after a mission,

a couple of movies,

watching a soccer match.

Probably it doesn't mean

very much to you,

but it's helped,

more than you know.

I didn't stop

loving Ellen

when I started

to love you.

Dear Kay, don't look

so worried.

I'm not expecting

you to say anything

except maybe

"Here's a guy I knew

in the war.

"Nice to have met him."

I know it's all

on my side.

You're married.

You too, Spike.

Only I'm here,

and Ellen's there.

Sort of a mess

I'm in, all right.

Oh, you'll snap

out of it.

Very un-British,

shooting my mouth off.

Only, this is

our last evening.

And I just had

to tell you.

You're not mad

at me?

No, Spike, I'm not mad.

It's...it's nice to know

that one's been of use,

if I have.

Let's dance.

My friends!

Tonight, Europe is free!

To the British

I say, "Jolly decent of you!"

To the Americans,

"Nice work, kids!"

To my own country, I say

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