The Miniver Story Page #4

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They're going to be

lonely tonight.

Nice talk,

Mrs Miniver.

Stop a minute,

darlings.

I wonder,

is the doctor in?

Yes, but have you

an appointment?

No, not today, but

I did rather want

to see him for a second

if he could squeeze me in.

Well, I'm not sure.

Is it urgent?

Not urgent, but,

well, important.

I wouldn't be more

than five minutes.

Come in, won't you?

I'm Mrs Kanesley,

and you're...?

Mrs Miniver.

Oh, yes.

Harry's really not

seeing anyone today.

It's my birthday.

Oh. Oh, I am sorry.

Not that it's your birthday,

but for disturbing you.

Doctors' wives see

so little of their

husbands, don't they?

We get used to it.

The children.

A children's party!

Oh, I couldn't spoil that.

Don't bother, I'll go.

I'll get it!

Mrs Miniver, hello!

I'm so sorry about all this.

Come in, won't you?

Thank you.

Let's see...you don't know

my three offspring, do you?

The others

are on loan.

Hello, where

is everybody?

Hello, come here, come on,

come and say hello.

Now, this is Michael.

Hello.

How do you do,

Michael?

That is Susan.

Hello.

How do you do,

Susan?

And that is Joanie.

How do you do,

Joanie?

She only

does that if

she likes you.

All right,

darling,

that'll do.

You run away

and play with yourself.

Fall out, you two.

How about

a cup of tea?

Oh, no, thank you.

I really do feel

horribly guilty

intruding like this

on your one day off.

Nonsense. One of

the few women I'd get up for

in the middle of the night.

I see what

he means.

Why haven't

we met before?

I've never been

ill before.

Oh, are you?

I'm sorry. You

look splendid.

Let's go in here,

shall we?

Just for five minutes.

How lovely the park

looks today, doesn't it?

Yes, autumn.

Strange melancholy

time of year.

Do you think so?

I rather like it.

I've been sitting outside

there under the trees

for the last half hour,

watching the leaves fall

and trying to screw up enough

courage to come in and see you.

Why, was it

so difficult?

You don't smoke,

do you?

No, thank you.

Yes, it was...very.

I had no idea coming

to see the doctor could

be such an adventure.

Oh, it is always...

especially today.

Today?

Oh! Today I'm less

alarming than ever.

Do you like wildflowers?

They're rather a hobby

of mine.

Limonium vulgare,

what we call

sea lavender.

Charming name,

isn't it?

You know, flowers get

called after all sorts

of things,

where they're found,

people who find them.

It's fascinating

sometimes.

Rosa canina,

wild rose.

Rose...

Once a few years ago,

someone...

Oh, nothing...memories.

Tell me, please.

Not just now.

You're going to

tell me something.

Something I want to know.

You are, aren't you?

Well, that rather

depends what it is.

You know what it is.

How long have I got?

Please.

It's all right,

I want to know.

I realise you're not

supposed to tell me.

It's...bad

for the patient.

Professional ethics,

and all sorts

of reasons.

A few months ago, when

you first hinted that

it might be serious,

I...I was glad of them.

I preferred to

clutch at straws,

and pretend to myself.

But I've changed my mind.

It's a woman's

privilege.

Well...I'm right,

aren't I?

Is your husband back?

Yes, two days ago,

and the children.

That's the chief reason

I'm here today, the family.

There's so much to do,

and there's just...

so much time to do it in.

And so I...

I want to know how much.

Please.

You're not afraid,

are you?

I'm not sure.

I mind, of course.

I love my husband

very much.

He's going to miss me

dreadfully.

That sounds vain and conceited,

but it isn't, really.

It's been rather

a perfect marriage.

No, I don't think

I'm afraid.

One's become accustomed to...

to death these last few years.

So many went, the young ones.

It's a tragedy

when the young ones go.

An older person getting

an illness that can't be cured...

well, that's just bad luck.

I say rather

that's it's a pity.

I'm not sorry for myself,

and honestly,

I don't want anyone else

to be sorry for me.

Does your

husband know?

Not yet.

Well, I think

he should.

I'll tell him...

at the right moment.

How will you know

when that is?

I'll know.

Now, be a nice man

and tell me...

how long?

Not less than six months,

not more than a year.

Thank you.

Sorry, that was hard,

wasn't it?

Look. I'm the doctor,

you're the patient,

you remember?

I'll try.

10 out of 10

for you.

What's that?

Full marks.

Hello, darling.

Busy?

No, come in.

I didn't know

you were in town today.

I've been shopping.

Quite suddenly I...

I thought I'd like you

to take me home.

When you're ready, I mean.

There's no hurry.

I shan't be two minutes.

No hurry.

What is it?

You've changed.

Changed?

Yes. Since

this morning.

Something's different. You, er...

Oh, yes...

it's the hat. New, isn't it?

Like it?

Very becoming.

You do look nice.

It's the first new one

I've had for five...no, six years.

Why today suddenly?

I don't know...

just felt like it.

Sometimes a new hat

does something for you.

I know.

Only this morning,

I was saying

to myself,

"Miniver," I said, "Why

don't you buy yourself

a new bowler?

"Might do something

for you."

You had a good day?

Oh, so-so.

Somehow the prospect of

starting in again on my own

isn't wildly exciting.

You might take

an apprentice.

Do you know of any

good young draftsmen

hanging about?

Foley's boy draws very well.

I saw some sketches

he did of Judy,

and they were excellent.

He's a nice boy,

too, Clem.

I rather wish

that Judy would...

Do you like nuts?

Yes...

Yes, I like nuts.

"We in Brazil have

in mind a certain

building project

"along modern

European lines,

"and our minister

of highways and

civil construction,

"Senor Jose

Antonio Campos,

"will be visiting Europe

shortly to discuss

this project.

"Tenders will be invited

from the most vigorous

"and enterprising

architects of the day."

I've just

written to him.

Oh.

Aren't I vigorous

and enterprising?

Yes, darling.

Wouldn't you like to go

and live in Brazil?

What?

Wouldn't you like

to get out and away

from all this,

miles away, where

the sun shines

and there aren't

any ruins on

your doorstep?

Kay...

I can't tell you

what it was like

going across Europe.

Through one country

after another,

the desolation

and the emptiness,

the sense of

utter futility.

It got into me, somehow,

and I just can't seem

to shake it off.

England isn't Europe.

It's too close!

It belongs!

We could take the kids

and clear out.

We still got a good

few years together.

Other people are doing

it. They're making

a fresh start abroad.

What do you say?

It's out of the clear sky.

I...I wasn't expecting it.

You've only

just come home.

I'm thinking

of the future.

That's an old one.

What is it?

Let's dance.

Dance?

Where? When?

Here. Now.

'She meant it.

I didn't know why...

'only that she meant it,

quite seriously.

'As I took her hands,

'I remember thinking

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