The Miniver Story Page #3

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to commit hara-kiri.

Push the hilt of the sword

in the ground

and jam your belly

hard on the blade.

Works like thunder.

Splits their gizzards

from top to bottom.

Like this.

Oh, Toby, shut up.

We'll all be sick.

Been like this

for days.

America was

a bad mistake.

Will you do me

a favour? Collapse.

Toby, darling,

would you do

something for me?

Of course, Mother.

Anything.

Forget about those

48 states for 24 hours

and try and make do

with your unfortunate family.

I'll go!

You know, Toby,

I'm afraid I'm going

to prove a grave

disappointment to you.

No medals, no trophies,

no scars.

I've still got both arms

and both legs.

My eyes are a bit

groggy,

and I'm afraid I'm

going to need glasses.

But that's the best

I can do for you.

As a homecoming warrior,

I'm a complete washout.

You're OK, Dad.

You went to Dunkirk.

It's Steve!

He's at the Majestic

in Roxbury.

He's asked me over

for dinner.

Darling, would you think

it simply dreadful if...?

Oh, no, Judy.

Not tonight.

I know it's awful,

but I won't be late.

And I haven't seen him

for 10 days.

Oh, it's not that, it's...

As a matter

of fact,

I'd be rather glad

to get rid of the brat.

Then I could have you

to myself.

All right, Judy.

She's all mixed up.

Can't eat, can't sleep,

can't do anything.

I was like that with Mary Lou

the first two weeks,

but we came through OK.

You just have to adjust.

Yeah.

Gosh! If you really mean

that about being alone,

I guess I'll go and see

Teddy Fathergill.

He's all mixed up, too.

Really?

His dad's a socialist.

Gotta straighten him out.

Go right ahead,

Toby, and leave

the old folks at home.

OK.

Goodbye, boy.

Bye!

Bye.

Bye.

Hello, darling.

'I remember

that evening for lots

of reasons.

'The homecoming, the way

Kay looked, the kids.

'After they'd gone, we cleared

the meal away and went out.

'The rain had stopped,

and there was that strange light

over everything

'that comes so often in England

at the end of summer,

'when it's a little too early

to put on the lamps

'and a little too late to see

everything clearly and true.

'We made a sentimental journey

around the garden.

'It was good to be alone...

and together.

'This is Kay's story, not mine,

'but I have to tell that evening

through my eyes, not hers.

'I don't think there's

very much difference.

'It was full of all kinds

of memories, gay and grim.

'Extraordinary, the wide swing

from the fear and terror

of those nights in the shelter

'to the utter peace of the river

that night I came home.

'It was good to see

the old lady once more.

'She was beyond repair,

and we never used her again.

'We couldn't afford it,

and we hadn't the petrol.

'But she, too, was full of

memories for both of us.'

No petrol.

I wonder if...

I seem to remember

that there was a...

Huh?

Yes.

There might be

a drop in it.

Yeah, good.

Five years old,

that stuff.

Dunkirk spirit.

Still works.

Let's hope so.

Hello, sir.

Hello, Captain.

I heard you were

back, sir,

so I thought I'd just

drop by and say welcome home.

Thank you,

Captain.

Who is it?

Foley's boy.

Thank you, Tom.

Thank you

very much.

Delighted to see you.

We've, er, just been

to Dunkirk.

Come aboard, Tom.

Oh, thank you.

Well, Tom Foley.

When did you get back?

VE Day, sir.

Hm, lucky fellow.

Have a good war?

Oh, fair to middling,

you know, sir.

Am, uh...Europe?

No, sir.

Desert mostly.

Cairo and the Middle East.

Cairo?

Well, our girl,

Judy, was out there

with the ATS.

I don't suppose you

saw anything of her?

Well, funnily enough, sir,

I did bump into her.

Did you hear that,

darling?

Tom Foley here met

Judy out in Cairo.

Well, well! You must

come over and say

hello to her sometime.

She's home now,

you know.

Yes, yes, I know, sir.

I'm afraid she's out

for the evening, Tom.

Oh, really?

Well, goodbye, sir,

and it's really great

having you back.

Thank you, Tom.

Thank you very

much indeed!

I'll tell Judy

I saw you.

Oh, don't bother.

I just dropped by

to say hello to Mr Miniver,

that's all.

Goodbye!

Goodbye, Tom Foley.

You know that I've

hardly said two words

to that boy in my life,

and yet he takes

the trouble

to ride over here

this evening

simply to welcome

me home?

I call that

extraordinarily decent

of him, don't you?

Yes, dear, I do.

There's some days

you don't like to see go.

I'd like to put

the clock back and have

this one all over again.

The rain...

roof leaking...

everything.

Yes, it's been

a lovely day.

Judy's not home yet.

Still striking.

Give Cinderella

till the last chime.

There she is now.

Worried about her?

Yes...aren't you?

Yes.

I could talk to her.

I tried.

I don't think you can

talk someone out of love.

What are we going

to do about it?

Wait, I think.

Of course,

we could ask Toby to

straighten her out.

I wish she'd find

someone like you.

Well, that's

a tall order,

rather like

reaching for the moon.

I'm in.

Good night, darlings!

Judy? Did you have

a good time?

You don't have

a good time with Steve.

He's not like that.

What is he like?

Different.

Good night, Father.

Apparently that's

the technique these days.

In order to be a success

with the modern girl,

you have to be different.

Uh...was I different when

you married me, darling?

You were unique.

Unique?

Unique...

Of course it's nice

to see you again, darling.

But...the real joy

of coming home

is to be able to stand

in your own bathroom once more.

Brush your own teeth

in your own hot water!

Don't know

how lucky you are!

Hot water, soap...

all the delights

of civilization,

right at your fingertips.

If I could have...found

a bathroom like this,

I probably never would have

come home at all.

Ahh, that was wonderful.

It's funny the pleasure

you can get out of a simple...

Kay?

What is it?

Darling, you're...

you're so pale.

Am I?

It's...light...

What's this?

Well, it's...just...

it's something for

when you feel faint.

Feel faint?

Don't look

so worried, darling.

But I am worried.

I'm scared stiff!

It's...it's all right.

I just get a little...

dizzy spell now and then.

When it happens, then I...

take two of these little things,

and...I feel fine.

You mean you've

had this sort

of thing before?

Occasionally,

not for ages.

But why didn't

you tell me?

Darling, it's just

a giddy turn.

Had to happen tonight.

Haven't had one

for months.

It's your fault...

coming home,

getting me all excited.

Now, do you...really

feel all right now?

Of course, darling.

Now don't make a fuss,

there's a dear.

You frightened

the life out of me.

Oh, poor darling.

High time I got

home. You've been

overdoing it.

Oh, don't be

an old woman.

I'm not.

But I'd like you

to be, one day.

Don't rush me.

Anything else

you haven't told me?

Any lovers tucked away

that I don't know about?

Dozens.

Just what I thought.

And you?

Hundreds.

Dotted all over Europe,

from Normandy

to the Rhine.

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