The Miniver Story Page #8

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his coat back.

That was just an excuse.

Yes, just an excuse

to see him, but not

to make you unhappy.

You've hated

the idea of Steve from

the very beginning.

I never hated Steve.

I liked him.

He asked me in

and we talked.

And broke it off.

Darling.

Please, don't

come near me.

I don't know what

you said to him.

I don't care.

I only know

that yesterday

everything was gay

and sweet

and rather lovely.

And now it's over.

Finished.

Oh, how could you?

How could you?

Oh, Judy.

Oh, darling.

I didn't try to talk

Steve out of loving you.

I couldn't have, even

if I'd wanted to.

Darling, he loved you.

He still loves you, my baby.

How could he help it?

But I'm afraid

he loves his wife more.

That wasn't true.

Not till today.

I think it was true

all the time.

He lost sight of her in

the war partly because

he found you in the war.

But the war

is over, Judy.

"The war, the war."

Everybody blames

everything on the war.

That's such a cliche.

A lot of cliches are true.

Well, I don't

believe that one.

I do because I happen

to know that it's true.

A lot of friendships

spring up out of a war.

And they die

when peace comes.

And it's right

that they should.

What do you know

about it?

I'd like

to read you a letter.

It came two days ago.

It's from an American.

We had an awful

lot of war together.

"My dearest Kay, this is

the first time I've ever written

to you with Ellen in the room."

Ellen is his wife.

"Kay, you remember our

last evening together?

"Remember you said, you'll

get the war out of your

system sooner than you think.

"And when it's gone,

I'll be gone, too.

"I didn't believe you then.

"I've been home now several

months and all that time

I haven't believed you.

"Because all that time,

it hasn't been true.

"But now, quite suddenly,

it is true, Kay.

"I'm home again with Ellen.

"Really home.

Home in my heart.

"Dear Kay, I know

you never cared for me

the way I cared for you.

"It was all on my side,

so this won't be a hurt

but a happiness.

"I love Ellen now as much as

I loved her before I met you.

"Maybe a little more

because I did meet you...

"and love you.

"Goodbye, Kay,

my dearest Kay.

"You were there

when I needed you.

"I don't need you any more.

I'll never forget.

"I shan't try to now because

now there's no danger

in remembering.

"God bless you,

always. Spike."

That's why I know.

I know what Steve felt for you,

what he still feels for you.

It could happen and still not

touch his love for his wife.

Spike never knew.

Never. And never will.

No-one will ever except you.

Will they, Judy?

Nobody!

Where is everybody?

What's this, a hen party?

This is just

idle gossip, mother

and daughter stuff.

Well, come on now, jump

to it or we'll be late.

I promised Mrs Foley

the first rhumba.

Second for you, Kay,

and third for Judy.

That in order?

Well, er, Judy's going to bed.

She's got a headache.

I think I'll come after all,

if you don't mind.

Mind?

Well, don't sit

there messing about.

Come on. Somebody's got

to tie my tie for me.

Hurry up, girls.

You know, there's

something about a well-cut

jacket you just can't mistake.

I was afraid the moths

might have got into it.

New dress, isn't

it, darling?

Oh, Clem.

It's six years old.

It can't be. Rationing

hasn't been in that long.

Well, I wasn't entirely

naked when it started.

I'd thought for

a moment you might

have stolen my coupons.

I did. And there's

where they went.

And five of mine

for the shoes.

Evening,

Mrs M. Evening, Mr M.

How about

a sardine sandwich?

Mr And Mrs M, Mother.

Mrs Foley.

Hello, Tom.

What a lovely

dance, Mr Foley.

And the food.

How did you manage it?

I suppose

we'll all suffer for

this next week.

Half a dollop of marge

instead of the usual

two mouthfuls.

Oh, no, nothing like that.

Things are looking up.

Everything will be back

to normal any day now.

He's been

saying that every day

since peace was declared.

Well, there's no harm in

hoping, Mother, is there?

She misses the bombs.

Well, at least they made

you feel you were alive.

Oh, Tom,

I've got something

for you in the car.

Don't let me go off

with it, will you?

Something for

me, sir?

Yes, your sketches.

What did you

think of them, sir?

Well, I think that

probably you'll put me

out of business.

That is, if I don't

take you into it.

How about it? Do you think

you can spare him, Foley?

Aren't you leaving us?

I heard you were bound

for foreign parts.

You mean you want

to take Tom with you?

Yes. I want Tom

to come with me, but

only as far as London.

Do you think you

can manage that?

Trains run every half-hour.

Then Brazil is off?

Hello, darling.

Oh, Clem.

Did you say

something, dear?

Monday morning, 10.30.

9.30, sir.

I'll tell you how

to get to the office.

I'll tell him, Father.

You've only been there

once in your life.

I'll tell him.

Mother.

Don't forget our rhumba.

Happy

about everything?

Completely happy.

Dance with me?

Kay?

Yes?

Where are you?

I'm here.

But you look miles away.

Come back, will you?

I'm here, darling.

I was just thinking.

I have to tell

you something.

Now?

Yes, Clem, now.

It's hot in here.

Let's go outside.

All right, darling.

Our ninth anniversary.

Tenth. '18 to '28,

10 years.

'18 to '46?

28 years.

'46 to '56

to '66 to '76.

We'll be like

old man river.

We'll just keep

rolling along.

Clem, you don't mind

about Brazil?

I belong here.

We both do.

Then you'll stay

here? Always now?

Of course. If

that's what you want.

We might slip away to

the sea for a fortnight

in the summer.

What do you think?

Yes.

As long as

we're home by autumn.

I want to be home

for autumn, Clem.

It's important.

Why is it important

to be home for the

autumn, Mrs Miniver?

Because next to the spring

it's the loveliest time

of the year.

And I...

I won't be here

for the spring.

What does

that mean, exactly?

My darling,

my darling husband.

'She gripped

my hands, gripped them tight

till it hurt.

'And then, she told me,

while the music played

and the moon shone,

'and old man river,

he just went rolling along.

'Kay told me that night

that when the autumn was gone,

she'd be gone, too.

'I heard her voice,

I knew what she was saying.

'But standing there I seemed

more aware of absurd,

irrelevant things -

'an owl hooting on

the other side of the water,

'somewhere inside on the dance

floor, the tinkle of glass,

'one of the little fairy lanterns

overhead flickering on and off.

'She stopped speaking and

looked up at me, waiting.

'I felt a touch on my sleeve

and then her voice.'

The last dance, Clem.

'Somehow, I found my feet

'moving automatically

back onto the floor.

'I remember thinking,

"They're playing that thing

from Annie, Get Your Gun."

'Strange how music

bridges the years.

'Showboat and Annie, Get Your Gun.

'20 years of married life.

'And so we danced.

We didn't speak. Not a word.

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