The White Cliffs of Dover Page #10

play tennis, you'd better get going.

Yes, sir.

Come, Dietrich.

Lady jean, lady Ashford,

I did not mean to offend you.

You understand, I-

That's all right, my boy.

Go and have a good time.

Mother, do you want

me to play with them?

Yes, John.

They are your guests.

Out of the mouths of babes.

That was rather frightening, wasn't it?

Oh, here's nanny.

I think perhaps Ill rest a little.

Mother, don't you feel well?

Nothing. It's nothing, dear.

I'm all right. I'm a little tired.

Indeed you are.

I said it would be too much

for you coming downstairs,

But nobody ever listens to me.

That was a strange

outbreak, father, wasn't it?

No.

Susan, I know that as

long as jean is here,

You'd never leave, and

I wouldn't want you to,

But someday Id like to think

That you'd come back home

to me and bring the boy.

Why, father? What are you thinking?

Well, Im thinking that

we might lose him...

the same way we lost his father.

It isn't only what these boys said.

I've felt it for a long while.

I can tell you honestly, Susan,

There's another war in the making.

It may come in 5 years.

It may come in 10.

But it's as inevitable as death.

Master John.

Johnny.

Wake up, master John.

Nanny.

Nanny, it's still dark.

Yes. I know it.

It's 2:
00 in the morning.

Your granny's asking for you.

Granny?

She's had a bad spell. She's very weak.

Is... is the doctor here?

He's on his way.

Nanny...

is she very ill?

She is that,

And she's going, Laddie,

But you mustn't cry.

You must be very brave and strong.

Promise me.

Are you ready, Johnny?

Yes, nanny.

The car is here, my lady.

Thank you, Benson.

Where's grandfather?

He's saying good-Bye to nanny.

May I help?

Oh, is the car here? I'm ready.

My, this seems a great big empty place

Now that she's gone.

God bless her.

I never thought Id miss her so much.

Think of what I said

about coming home, Susan.

Car's here, grandfather.

Everything's stowed.

Ah, that's fine.

Well, you're not going

to like this, young fella,

But Im going to give you one big hug.

Ha ha ha!

Yeah. You tell your mother

to bring you to America,

And Ill make you sports

editor of the Toliver sun.

I'm sorry, sir. I'm

afraid I couldn't do that.

I have to go into my father's regiment.

The eldest son always

goes in the army, you know.

Yes. If you change your

mind, you just let me know.

Yes, sir.

Ha ha! Well, good-Bye, Suzie.

I'll be waiting for a letter from you.

Good-Bye.

Take care of yourself.

Yes, Suzie.

And now, if you don't mind,

I'd like to do the driving.

May I remind you, sir,

That in England one drives

on the left side of the road?

I know, I know. Darn

foolishness. See you soon.

Bye-Bye.

Is he coming back soon?

No. He meant-

I'll tell you later what he meant.

Sir John!

Good morning, sir John.

Good morning, sir John.

Good morning. I've

come to say good-Bye.

We're sailing tomorrow, you know.

Aye. So we've heard.

It be true, then.

I wouldn't believe it till I

heard it from your own lips.

Ben was saying you'd

never leave England.

You see, my mother's American,

And it's only natural

That she'd want to

live in her own country.

We'll be a-Missing you, sir John.

We'll all be a

- Missing you. You know, sir John,

Us Kenneys have rented

this farm from your family

For nigh on 200 year.

Adam Steeles going to be my land agent,

And he's a good man.

He'll be a good man, sir

John, but it ain't the same.

No, it's not the same.

Well...

Ill say good-Bye.

Good-Bye, Mrs. Kenney.

Good-Bye, sir John.

Good-Bye, Mr. Kenney.

Good-Bye, sir John.

Good-Bye, Betsy.

Good-Bye.

Betsy.

Betsy...

it's for you.

What is it?

It's a ring.

I made it out of a

horseshoe nail of midge's.

You can have it.

A horseshoe nail.

It's for good luck.

Ohh.

Good-Bye.

Good-Bye, John.

Thank you for the ring.

Will you like it, nanny,

living with your sister?

I'll get used to it.

Is she nice?

I hardly know. I've lived

in this house for 50 years.

It's been home and family

to me. I've forgotten my own.

Master Johnny! Look away. Gracious me.

There. Now Im ready.

You're awfully like your father

At the same age, master Johnny.

You'll be the living image

of him when you grow up.

Well, Ill be off.

Laddie, will you say good-Bye

to me here and let me go alone?

I'll send that lazy jenny for my things.

I'm afraid Ill break

down like an old fool,

And Ill not let everyone in the

kitchen see me with tears in my eyes.

My Johnny...

don't you forget.

I won't forget, nanny.

Good-Bye.

Indeed, if I had my

life to live over again,

It's not a child's nurse Id be,

Giving my heart to other

people's children and...

old and lonely.

No more.

Aren't you thrilled going on

a big boat for the first time?

Oh, it'll be wonderful.

Did I tell you grandfather

Was going to meet us in new York?

I expect he's terribly excited about it.

I know I am. Are you, mother?

Mm-Hmm. After all,

that's my home, you know.

I can hardly wait to

show you the sights.

You're going to love it, darling.

I'm sure it'll be very nice.

Mother, if that man buys the manor,

Do you think he'll be

good to the tenants?

I don't know why not.

Granny said that the tenants

depended on the manor.

She said it was my

duty to watch over them

In return for the

privilege of owning land.

I don't say that's wrong, darling,

But we look at things a

little differently at home.

At home, mother?

Well, in America, I mean.

You see, we think a man ought

to start from the beginning,

That he ought to make

his own way in the world.

Yes, but supposing he has

something else to do first.

What do you mean, dear?

I mean, supposing he's

been left something to do,

As I was.

As you were?

Yes. I mean, the way father left me

You and the place to look after.

Oh.

Well, I don't know, Johnny.

Wouldn't a chap want to do it just

the same if he were an American?

I guess he would.

That's all I mean.

It isn't so very different over

there than it is here, is it?

You just try and do the thing

that's there for you to do.

Johnny, don't you want to go to America?

Oh, yes, mother... if you do.

No, no. Tell me the truth.

What are you thinking of,

sitting there so serious?

I wouldn't for the world

Force you to do something

you thought was wrong,

But I do wish you could

see it my way, darling.

I want it so much.

Why, mother? Because Im afraid.

I'm afraid of what's ahead.

I'm afraid of another war.

Your father died when he was young.

He died for England, Johnny.

But you're half American. You're my son.

You belong to America,

too, not only England.

Mother, is that why we're running away?

Running away?

Mother, if there were a war,

Id want to fight for England.

You wouldn't want me to

be a coward, would you?

No, Johnny.

Mother.

Yes?

Do you think father

would like me to run away?

No, Johnny, I don't.

Mother.

You darn little Englishman.

You're just like your father.

You've beaten me,

between the two of you.

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