The Way Ahead Page #2

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definitely they were going to get me deferred.

I was on the list. He said so himself.

Eat your egg.

I think you rely too much on Mr Davenport.

Oh, you don't know him. He'll do something.

That's one thing about the firm,

they never let you down.

I'm sorry, Parsons, but it's been agreed

that Mr Thyrtle in the bargain basement

will deal with all deferments in future,

so if you'd care to go and see him...

But you must realise, you know,

there's a war on.

Only key men are deferred now.

I understand, but is there a chance that Mr

Thyrtle might do something? You see, my wife...

We've lost Collins from Refrigerators

and Barker from Winter Sports this week.

There was nothing Mr Thyrtle could do.

- I see, sir.

- I'm sorry, Parsons.

Mr Thyrtle, please. Quickly.

No, thank you.

By the way, Parsons,

I think it might be less um...

shall I say, embarrassing

for both of us if we...

forget... disregard any differences in status

which may have existed at the... at the store.

Yes, sir. Thank you.

I must say, I think it very -

to put it mildly - thoughtless

of the powers that be

to allow such a situation to arise.

Oh, I do agree, sir.

After all, it's not as if my activities were

confined to toys. I was in charge of officers' kit.

- Yes, and garden ornaments.

- I know, but it's the officers' kit which makes...

Well, never matter.

- I must say, I think the Ministry are ill-advised.

- About your case, sir?

In general, Parsons. In general.

- This free?

- I believe so.

Confidentially, I took the opportunity

of suggesting to the Managing Director

when I was saying au revoir, that Mr

Thyrtle is no longer pulling his weight.

That should do a lot of good, sir.

At any rate, I have taken the matter out of

the firm's hands and written direct to my MP.

- Who's he?

- I beg your pardon.

- Who's he, your MP?

- Sir Henry Chalmers Thompson.

Oh, old Liverlips. Talked for two hours and

a half on the Brompton sewage scheme bill.

Couldn't hear hisself for snores.

- Do you know Sir Henry?

- I'm in the 'Ouse.

- A member?

- No, I work there on the boilers.

They'll be sorry they let me go.

You wait till the winter. They'll be

asking questions in the 'Ouse, all right.

"Who let Ted Brewer go off to the Army?"

No-one can work them dampers like I can.

They'll freeze.

Are you called up? So are we.

All the same, I don't think you should

refer to Sir Henry in that way.

No? Listen, there's only one good man

ever got into Parliament.

- Who would that be?

- Bleedin' Guy Fawkes.

- I wonder what time we get to Hacklesfield.

- I've no idea.

Three eleven.

- Change at Crewe, don't we?

- Can do. Can do.

Or there's the Derby way.

That's more comfortable.

- Doesn't get you in till five seven.

- We've got to be there by four.

- What, you called up, too?

- Yes.

What, all of you? Go on!

- It's all adventure, isn't it?

- Depends on your previous occupation.

Oh, I was very well situated. Big

travel people. Butlers. Know them?

I suppose you know all the trains, then?

I don't think you'd catch me out in Europe.

Prewar, that is. I'm a bit continental

myself. Swiss grandmother.

- Your job's over for the duration.

- I don't know. People have still got to travel.

Pack up your troubles in your old kitbag,

I always say.

By the way, any of you in the Scouts?

Hurry up. The two-twenty'll

be here in a minute.

All right, I've only got one pair of hands,

haven't I? Yes?

If you're not too busy,

we'd like the same again.

I've had a wonderful life.

I can't grumble. It's all been like that.

- You got a car?

- Yes.

- What make?

- It's a Jowett.

There's a smashing little job.

I've got a Lagonda.

I'll race you,

soon as we get out of this ruddy army.

- Can't last much longer, can it?

- What, the war? I hope not.

- Too much rent control.

- And then I'll buy a new car.

I'll buy a Mercedes. Rooaaar! Smashing.

- Wonder how many more there'll be of us.

- I don't know.

I suppose some will come from London,

poor mutts. What do you think of it all?

- Very little.

- Yes, I think you're right.

I was in two minds about coming at all.

- Here's the two-twenty. Hurry, Maisie!

- All right, all right, don't get all het up.

- Well, anyway, cheers.

- Cheers.

This is Crewe. Crewe Station.

Crewe.

Passengers for Liverpool, Shrewsbury, Chester

and Hacklesfield should change here.

- Have we time for a cup of tea?

- What about it, Mr Beck?

Platform 7. We've got five minutes.

Time for a quick cup.

- Shall I run and get you a cup, Mr Davenport?

- No, no. We'll all go.

Can you tell me,

where does the Hacklesfield train start?

- Platform 7. Over the bridge.

- Are you going there too?

I'll say. Duke of Glendon's Light

footsloggers. Have a cup of tea.

I'm a fellow with a very independent disposition.

Can't stand people telling me what to do.

And if they try it, then I

always want to be rude.

In fact, I usually am.

Here, I'll get 'em.

The Army will have to put up with me

and not me with the Army.

- Stop shoving, mate, will you?

- I'm sorry, old man.

Tea?

- China for me.

- Get used to char. It's all they got in the Army.

Oh, good old Army. The thin red line.

Smashing!

- I don't blame you for getting bottled.

- You going to Hacklesfield?

- Yes. You too?

- Yes.

My name's Stainer. Can I interest any of

you in buying a Rolls-Royce or a Bentley?

- Three teas and a bitter.

- Four teas.

All set for the last lap?

- Looking forward to it, this bloke.

- You can't look back on it.

No. I wonder when we'll be able to.

Mr Davenport was doing very important work

at the time of his call-up.

The Army's full of people who make you suffer

because you're no good at polishing buttons.

It might have gone down with the last

generation and even with some of you,

but it won't go down with me,

because I'm independent.

- And if they don't like it, I'll walk right out.

- Look out what you're doing.

Don't you shout at me like that.

I'm not in the Army yet, you know.

- He didn't do it on purpose.

- That's right.

- There's a nasty piece of work for you.

- That's the way to treat them, see.

Scared stiff, he was. They always

are if you stand up for yourself.

He looked like a regular.

Fancy putting decent civilians

under blokes like that.

Hurry up with that bitter, miss.

You can't eat by numbers

and sleep by numbers.

Have them yelling at

you, day in and day out.

By the left. Quick! Eat!

Shut up, shut up.

Oh, dear.

There you are, you see.

He's ashamed of himself.

- Hurry up with that bitter, miss.

- We haven't time for tea now.

Have a bite?

No, thank you.

I'm rather worried about my digestion.

- I have a very sensitive stomach.

- Always did have, didn't you, Mr Davenport?

- Where are you going?

- To get a seat.

- Good idea.

- We were here before some of these people.

Appalling service.

Last journey without a pass for years.

Ten Gold Flake, please.

Ten Gold Flake!

Passengers for Hacklesfield,

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