This Happy Breed Page #2

---

I hope I don't intrude.

I live at number 15 next door.

My missus and I thought if you

needed anything in the way of groceries -

Well, I'll be blowed.

- Mitchell. Bob Mitchell.

- That's right.

Well, don't you remember me?

Frank Gibbons - the Buffs?

"B" Company, Festubert, 1915.

- Strike me pink, it's old Gibbo.

- You old son of a gun!

Blimey. I thought you was as dead

as mutton after that night attack...

when we'd gone on to Givenchy

and left you lot in the mud.

What, me dead as mutton?

I'm tougher than that.

Only one small hole

through me leg in four years.

- Here, take a chair.

- Thanks.

- How did you make out?

- Well, not so bad.

Got gassed in '17. I'm all right now though.

Left me chest a bit weak, that's all.

Well, I'll say it's a small world

and no mistake.

[Clears Throat]

Don't you think you'd better introduce me, Frank?

Of course. This is the wife, Bob.

- Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Gibbons.

- Oh, it's a pleasure, I'm sure.

[Chuckles]

Well, what a coincidence. I can't get over it.

- How long have you been here?

- Over a year now.

We took the house

when I got me discharge in March, '18.

Nora - that's my missus -

She would have come herself tonight...

only she's feeling a bit

under the weather.

You see we're expecting a little stranger

any day now and -

Oh! It's not her first, is it?

No, no, no. We've got a boy, 14.

Wants to be a sailor.

Here, we've got to

celebrate this somehow.

I'll tell you what. I've got a bottle of

Johnnie Walker next door. Won't take a minute.

You two sit here.

I'll go and get Sylvia's Wincarnis.

Oh, dear.

[Clears Throat]

It won't take a minute

to get the Johnnie Walker.

Here, whose dugout

do you think this is?

- You sit down.

- All right.

I'll, uh - I'll pop in

and have one with you later.

- You got a job yet?

- Yes, I had a bit of luck.

A chap called Tickler in my regiment

was running a sort of travel agency...

in Oxford Street before the war.

Well, he was the first one I run into

when I got back last April.

He'd started his business again. Things was

beginning to pick up, and he gave me a job.

- A travel agency, eh? Whew.

- [Chuckles]

Tours of the battlefields,

I'll thank you.

[Laughs]

That's a good one.

Some people certainly do have queer ways

of enjoying themselves, don't they?

You've got kids, haven't you?

I remember you talking about 'em.

Yeah, three. Two girls and a boy.

They're with Ethel's aunt in Broadstairs.

We didn't want them under our feet

while we was moving in.

- How old are they?

- Reg, the boy, he's 12.

Queenie's 13,

and Vi, she's 14.

Here you are.

Supper will be ready in a minute.

Are you sure you won't stay...

and take potluck with us,

Mr. Mitchell?

Thanks very much, Mrs. Gibbons,

but I really must get back.

Will you ask your wife when it would be

convenient for me to pop in and see her?

- Anytime. Anytime at all.

- Well, I'll be sayin' good night, Mr. Mitchell.

- Aren't you going to have a drop, dear?

- No, dear. It would spoil me supper.

- Now, don't be long.

- Don't forget.

- If there's anything you're wanting -

- Thanks very much, I'm sure.

- Good night.

- Good night.

- Here you are, old man.

- Thanks.

It tastes a bit funny,

but it's better than nothing.

Happy days!

- [March]

- [Cheering]

[No Audible Dialogue]

Took me four years to learn

the words to this song.

- Well, sing it then.

- Eh?

- Sing it.

- [Scatting]

Madelon, Madelon, Madelon

There's our lot. Oh, doesn't it

make you wish you hadn't been demobbed?

[Crowd]

Like the boys of the old brigade

Eyes right!

[Children Chattering]

[Bell Jingling]

Hope the sun stays out. Miss Whitney's

been to Wembley four times...

and it poured with rain every time.

- Have you got your mac, Queenie?

- It's not a mac, it's a Burberry.

Ginger beer. A little nip of extra

for Frank and me. I've got me pouch.

Take it easy, Dad. We're going to Wembley,

not the Battle of Jutland.

- Morning, Billy. Morning, Reg.

- Hello.

Good morning, all.

Well, what are the plans?

- I thought we might start off at the Palace of Engineering.

- Oh, Dad.

We haven't got any plans.

We're just going to have a jolly good time.

Well, are we going, or are we gonna

stand here all day talking about it?

- Don't be saucy, Queenie.

- Say good-bye to your mum.

- Charm.

- Good-bye, Nora.

Good-bye, Nora.

Sorry you can't come.

Well, I've got eight and six

and I'm going to spend every penny.

- [Chattering, Laughing]

- [Calliope]

Oh, I can't look.

It frightens me to death.

Don't be silly.

They're enjoying themselves fit to bust.

Reg'll be sick.

You know what he is.

Do him good after that lunch he put away.

Thank goodness we ditched them.

I hate going round in a mob.

Yeah, nice to be alone for a bit, isn't it?

Isn't the water lovely and clear?

Look. You can see the bottom.

- It's a lovely blue, isn't it?

- Lovely.

- Are you a good sailor?

- I don't know.

- Well, you'll soon find out.

- Oh, you are awful.

[Clicking]

Oh, do shut up, Frank.

Where can they be?

They promised to meet us here at 6:00.

I don't know or care.

I brought them here

to see the glories of the Empire...

and all they think about

is going on the dodgems.

[Clicking]

Mrs. Whitney's bronchitis is worse, Ethel.

They had to have a kettle.

- Shh!

- Oh, Frank give it a rest, do.

You've been at it all day.

I'd never have given you the beastly thing...

if I'd thought it was going to

spoil Christmas for the rest of us.

- Oh, Dad, can I have the port?

- No use talking to your father, Reg.

He might just as well not be here.

Go on, take it.

Okay. Thanks, Mum.

Having all these things is selfish.

I'm going to get mad -

[Chattering]

- One, two, three!

- [Shrieks]

Well, got it away from them

without a struggle.

Well, struggle over here

and pour it out.

Come on now.

Who's for the cup that cheers?

- I'll have a drop.

- Here you are, Sam.

Don't these nuts get in your throat?

Here, have a mince pie, Phyll.

- I made it myself.

- Thanks.

It has been nice you letting me come

and spend my Christmas Day with you.

I don't know what I would have done

all by myself in that house in Wandsworth...

- what with Auntie ill and everything.

- Is she any better?

No, she just goes on about the same.

Mrs. Watts is looking after her till 7:00,

so I don't have to get back till about then.

- [Knocks On Table]

- I will now call upon...

my old and valued friend, Sam Leadbitter,

to say a few words.

Old and valued friend - You've only

known him since August bank holiday.

- Chuck us the nutcrackers, Phyll.

- Speech. Speech. Speech.

- Yes, come on, Sam.

- [Clapping]

Ladies and gentlemen - comrades.

- Well, make up your mind.

- Comrades.

In thanking you for

your kind hospitality on this festive day...

I would like to say that it is both

a pleasure and a privilege to be here.

Hear, hear!

Though, as you know,

holding the views I do...

it is really against my principles to hobnob

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes