This Happy Breed Page #5

---

so much the better.

She's old enough to look after herself,

heaven knows.

And if he murdered his wife

and strangled his children...

and ran off to Australia with her it still wouldn't

be anything to do with you, so shut up.

Help me up!

Help me up!

I'm not going to stay here

to be insulted by me own daughter.

No one's insulting you.

Sit down.

It's all my fault.

I'm in the way in this house.

I always have been.

You needn't think I don't know it.

- It's a pity you've stayed so long then.

- Oh, Ethel, how can you?

I'll leave tomorrow.

I'll never set foot in this house again.

And a good job too.

Vi, take your grandmother up to bed,

for heaven's sake.

- Come on, Gran, I'll help you upstairs.

- Stop crying, Sylvia!

I didn't mean what I said.

I'm an old woman,

and the sooner I'm dead the better.

I know you're all itching

to see me in me coffin.

What in the world's happening?

I thought the strikers had got in.

It's only your grandmother

and Aunt Sylvia as usual.

That's right, blame me.

Everything's always my fault.

[Vi] Now, now, Granny.

Don't upset yourself. It's not worth it.

Have another cup of tea, Mum.

It'll buck you up.

Oh, all right, dear.

Better give your Aunt Sylvia a cup.

I don't want anyone to put themselves out

on my account, I'm sure.

Nobody is, Aunt Syl.

Here you are. The sugar's just by you.

- Here you are, Mum.

- You better pop up to bed. It's after 11:00.

No, I'd rather not. I'll wait till Dad comes.

He won't be long now.

Would you like me to stay up, Ethel,

and you go to bed?

Oh, no, thanks, dear.

I couldn't sleep anyway.

Very well.

I'll take my tea up with me.

That's right, dear. Nothing like

a nice cup of tea in bed.

Good night, Ethel.

Good night, Queenie.

- Good night.

- Good night, Syl. Sleep well.

I'm afraid there's not much chance of that.

[Sighs]

Come on, Mum.

I know what you want.

- Oh, thank you, dear.

- There.

Poor old Sylvia.

She's a bit of a trial sometimes, I must say.

Well, I don't know how you stand her, Mum.

If it hadn't been for poor Bertie getting killed

in the war, she'd have been all right, I expect.

What was he like?

A bit soppy, I always thought.

Still, she seemed to like him.

How awful to be so dependent on a man

living or dying it could ruin your whole life.

I don't think I ever would be.

Well, shouldn't be too sure.

If your dad had gone, I wouldn't be

the woman I am today. Far from it.

Yes, but you wouldn't have gone on

moping about it always though, would you?

I don't rightly know.

My heart would have broke. I suppose I should

have put it together again as best I could.

Oh, Mum.

What is it?

You do make me feel awful sometimes.

Good heavens, child. Why?

Well, you just do.

Have you heard from Billy lately?

- Yes, I had a postcard with a camel on it.

- A camel?

Yes, his ship stopped somewhere

where there was camels...

so he sent me a picture of one.

His poor mother

misses him something dreadful.

- We all do, really, don't we?

- Yes, I suppose we do.

- [Doorbell Rings]

- There's the bell.

- All right, Mum, I'll answer it.

- Who is it?

It's me, Mrs. Gibbons. I just

popped over to see if Reg has come back yet.

- Well, he hasn't.

- Come in, dear, and have a cup of tea.

Thanks very much. Have you heard

from Reg, Mrs. Gibbons?

No, I'm afraid I haven't, dear.

Mum's afraid he might have got himself

into some sort of trouble.

Oh, he'll be all right, Mrs. Gibbons.

Don't you worry.

Well, I can't help it, I'm afraid.

You read about houses

being burned down and riots...

and people being arrested

and all sorts of horrors.

- [Men Singing]

- [Clattering]

Britons never, never, never

shall be slaves

- Rule Britannia

- Get your dad's supper, Queenie.

Britons never, never, never

shall be slaves

Hold your noise, Frank.

You'll wake up the whole street.

Who cares? We've come unscathed,

my friend and I, through untold perils.

And you grumble about a bit of noise.

You've come unscathed through

a few public houses too, or I'm no judge.

Well, there's no denying, Mrs. G., we had

a couple at the Plough with Captain Birch...

- and one more next door with me.

- That makes three, all told.

Not bad considering we've saved this country

from the horrors of bloody revolution.

Don't swear either.

You'd better sit down and have your supper.

You'll stay and have a bite

with us, won't you, Bob?

No, thank you, all the same,

Nora's got something for me next door.

- Here, have a drink.

- You've had quite enough to drink, Frank...

- and well you know it.

- Better not, old man.

Ethel's quite right. Women are always right.

That's why we cherish them. God bless 'em.

You'd better cherish yourself

next door, Bob.

Nora will be having one of her upsets

if she's got something hot for you to eat...

- and you're not there to eat it.

- That's right. Drive me best pal out of the house.

Well, good night, cock,

and I'll see you tomorrow.

- Good night, old man. Good night, Ethel.

- Good night, Bob.

Toodle-oo, everybody.

Pleasant dreams.

[Whistling]

Mr. Gibbons and Mr. Mitchell

were in the war together, weren't they?

Yes, and to hear them talk,

you'd think they were the only ones that were.

Mum.

Thanks, dear.

[Doorbell Rings]

- Reg!

- Hey, Mum.

- Whatever's happened?

- He's all right, Mrs. Gibbons.

Oh, Reg, whatever have you done

to yourself?

Don't fuss, Mum. I'm all right.

You're as white as a sheet.

You'd better go straight up to bed.

There was a bit of trouble

in the Whitechapel Road...

and he got hit by a stone -

that was yesterday.

What was he doing in the Whitechapel Road

yesterday or any other time?

Oh, hello, Phyll. What are you doing here?

I just came over on me bike

to find out where you were.

- Oh, I see. Thanks.

- What's going on here?

- It's Reg. He's been hurt.

- It's nothing serious.

I took him to the hospital last night

and the doctor said it was only a graze.

This is all your fault.

You know that, Sam, don't you?

Shut up a minute, Vi.

You feel all right, Son?

- I feel fine. You needn't worry about me.

- Well, that's good news anyway.

Don't go for him tonight, Frank.

He looks wore out.

I'm not going for anybody.

I got to finish my supper.

Well, I think I'd better be

getting back now.

All right, dear.

But be careful how you go.

There's sure to be a lot of people

about tonight.

Good night, Vi. Good night, Queenie.

- Good night, all.

- Good night, dear.

I hope your head will be better

in the morning.

Yes. Thanks for coming round.

See you tomorrow.

Oh, all right.

- Good night, Reg.

- Good night, Sam. Thanks.

[Sam]

I think I'll be getting along too.

Not till you've heard

what I've got to say, you're not.

Now listen, Sam Leadbitter.

Reg thinks you're wonderful.

He's younger than you and easily led.

You've been filling him up with your

rotten ideas till he can't see straight.

There may be a lot of things wrong, but it's not a noisy

great gasbag like you that's going to set them right.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes