The Miniver Story Page #7

---

all the things that

I no longer believe in.

But I'll probably make

her a shocking husband,

just as I did Pam.

Not that that was

altogether my fault.

We used to throw things

at each other, you know.

What sort of things?

Oh, anything

that was handy.

Ornaments, books,

gramophone records.

You have got a few

of them left.

Are you saving

those for Judy?

Ha! I hope it won't

come to that.

Not yet, anyway.

Peace and quiet

for a time.

Yes, but you're not

a man of peace, are you?

I mean, you've

no peace inside you.

That's why you're always

fighting other people.

You're really

fighting yourself.

You really are

an unusual woman.

Well, you're right,

of course.

I've no peace inside.

That's why I

make a soldier.

I don't give

two straws if I die.

Oh, death can be easy.

It's living

that's difficult.

That's been said

before, too.

It's still true.

What did you fight about?

You and your wife.

Oh, please don't

think that I'm just

interfering or

digging up the past,

it's only that I'd like

to be able to warn Judy

about the dangerous

topics so that she can

keep off them.

Or perhaps she does keep

off them automatically.

Does she?

As a matter of fact,

she does.

That's because she doesn't

know anything about them.

She's just a baby.

No, Pam and I used to fight

about the maddest things.

Small things blown

up into large ones?

No, large ones.

I thought I knew

all about music.

She thought she was an

expert on world affairs.

Who was right?

Both of us.

Always.

That's what made the whole

thing so impossible.

She has a first-class

brain, Pam.

And a wide

catholic taste.

Her mind's as nimble

as her fingers.

But she's

the most infernally

obstinate woman

I ever met

in my life.

She's quite beautiful,

isn't she?

The loveliest

person.

But of all the

obstinate, idiotic,

pig-headed females!

You talked about

the Greek,

my Harry, the row

we had about that!

You remember

that cadenza in

the first movement. Here.

The one that

goes like this.

Lovely thing, isn't it?

You remember the theme?

That's the way

it should be played.

The way it was written.

But that's not

good enough for Pam.

She has to

play it like this.

Now listen,

listen to this!

See what I mean?

I'm afraid I don't.

They both sound

the same to me.

All right!

You don't have to

know the difference.

You're just a...

But Pam's an artist

and a brilliant one,

and to play the thing

that way!

She adores Scriabine

and Pergolesi.

I loathe Scriabine

and Pergolesi.

And her taste

in painting,

I ask you.

Raoul Mati.

Obscure French painter.

Picasso school.

Trash!

We paid 40 quid

for that.

The second best art

critic in town offered

me 400 for it last week.

I still say it's trash.

These things are important

to you, aren't they?

Music and painting?

Of course

they're important!

There's nothing

else left.

Then they're worth

arguing and fighting about.

I mean, if you're lucky

enough to find somebody

who knows about them,

who feels as strongly

about them as you do,

even if that person doesn't

always agree with you.

Yes, it was exciting

being married to Pam.

Never dull,

I'll say that for it.

Well, I don't think

you'll have any

trouble with Judy.

In fact,

I'm sure you won't.

As you say, she doesn't

know the first thing

about any of these things

you've been talking about.

I don't mean that

she doesn't like

music and painting,

but, well, you know,

we're just an average family.

We like a painting

to tell a good story.

Or music to have

a good tune.

Something nice and simple.

So you see,

I'm afraid you will

have to come down

to her level, won't you?

Because she certainly

won't be able to

climb up to yours.

Well...

goodbye, General.

It's been a fascinating

quarter of an hour.

Shall I give

your love to Judy?

Yes, thank you.

Thank you very,

very much indeed.

Hello, Janet.

Mrs Miniver.

Oh, he's gone

to lunch.

Just this minute,

I'm so sorry.

Perhaps I can

catch him.

Oh, no, don't bother.

He's not expecting me.

It's a surprise visit.

He left early today.

He's taken the

passports, you know,

to the passport

office.

Oh, then we're going?

I envy you.

Janet, tell me truthfully,

is he doing this for me?

Well, he thinks

you need a change.

Most people do,

but they seem to manage

without one.

You don't

want to go?

No, no, I don't.

It's so far away

from home and...

I'd rather...

I'd rather live here.

If you don't want it,

Mrs Miniver,

I think you

should say so.

I mean, tell him

the reason.

Whatever it is.

I can't do that.

That's the one thing

that...

Besides, it isn't

just for me.

He has a kind of

desperate yearning

to get away from this

part of the world.

Oh, that? That's just

the view from that window.

View from the...

Yes, I know

it sounds silly,

a little thing like

that affecting a man,

but it does.

I'm sure it does.

He comes in quite

cheerful and bright

in the morning,

then he sits down

over there,

and within

about 10 minutes,

he sort of glooms over,

if you know what I mean.

Of course we could

look for another office,

I suppose,

but I don't think he'd

fancy the idea of moving.

Why, even when

Mr Blakner retired,

he wouldn't move.

Janet.

Mrs Miniver.

It's all right,

lady, it's a pleasure.

Thank you,

lady, much oblige.

Ten bob each, OK?

All right with me.

How much did

you get for it?

Old Blakie's office.

Well, it was just

an old junk room.

You're not angry,

are you?

I don't know.

I don't think so.

I've hardly

had time to...

Hello. When

did these come?

While you were out.

Are they good?

Are they good, Clem?

Yes. They're

first class.

Somebody trying

to put me out

of business?

No. Somebody wants

to come into the business.

Who did them?

You've been plotting.

The Foley boy, these are

his, aren't they?

But they're good, Clem,

you just said so.

You can't

take that back.

I'm not taking

it back.

No, well, don't try to.

Look, I can't take

on an apprentice just

as we're leaving.

We'll be out

of the country

within a month.

Good heavens, woman,

if you loathe the idea

so much, say so.

You want to get out,

don't you?

Yes, I do, I do. The more

I sit here day after day

looking out at that...

If you want to go,

we'll go, darling.

Hey, come back here.

I want to talk to you.

No, not now.

Tonight at the dance.

Dance?

The sailing club dance.

Don't be late.

Judy?

Judy?

Darling, turn around.

I have something

to show you.

Judy, it's for you

for tonight.

No, thanks.

I'm not going.

Not going?

Darling, what is it?

Aren't you well?

Please don't touch me.

Judy.

Why? Why did you have

to interfere?

It has nothing

to do with you.

I loved him, he loved me.

We'd have been married

but for you.

But for me?

Oh, don't pretend,

please, don't pretend.

You were there today.

You went to see him.

Yes, of course

I went to see him.

You knew that.

I told you I was going.

I went to take

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes