Waterloo Bridge Page #2

- Good night.

Check the window

if you find it's too drafty.

- And I hope you'll have a very happy leave.

- Thank you.

Good night, dearie.

- Well, she's a pleasant old girl.

- Yeah, isn't she?

I think I've gotten plenty of those.

- Hey. What's your name?

- Roy Cronin.

Oh, shoot. There's no more gas.

- Got a schilling, soldier?

- Sure.

- Say, what is that? A slot machine?

- Sure, it turns on the gas.

I thought maybe you were getting

a package of gum.

- Remind me I owe you a schilling.

- Yeah, wouldn't it be terrible if I forgot?

- What's your name?

- Myra.

- Myra, what?

- Myra Deauville.

- Deauville. Your family French?

- Oh, no. That's just a stage name.

- What's your real name?

- Let's eat. I'm starved.

- We don't have to wait for the kettle.

- All right.

- Where do you come from?

- Lachsfeld, do you know it?

- I'll say, I do.

- Yeah?

Sure. Did you live with your people?

I did until the war broke out.

You see, my stepfather's English

so he joined up.

And, of course, my mother

came here with him.

- Is he nice?

- Yeah, he's grand.

He's at least ten years too old

to be in uniform, but he's in it all the same.

- Tommy?

- Major, RAMC.

You see, he was a doctor.

Thanks.

- Couldn't you have gotten a commission?

- I suppose so.

- Didn't your mother want you to?

- Yeah, but it was too late.

You see, I was in summer camp

in Canada.

Coming home, we stopped off in Toronto.

Gosh, things were just getting going.

Flags, bands, all that bunk.

When I woke up, I was a soldier.

You know, just boyish enthusiasm.

- Did it last?

- What?

The boyish enthusiasm.

No, you don't stay boyish

very long in war.

I can see that.

Gosh, I haven't seen them in three years.

- I bet you're kind of anxious too, huh?

- Yeah, kind of. I'm taking the first train out.

- Where they live?

- They got a place down in Buckinghamshire.

- Tell me about you.

- Me?

There's the kettle.

Here, let me do that.

Clever, aren't you?

- Here.

- Thanks.

- Where do you come from?

- New York.

- Been here long?

- Four years.

- Four years. What made you come?

- Work.

- What kind of work do you do?

- I'm a chorus girl.

A chorus girl?

Oh, gee.

- You came over with a show, huh?

- Yeah, The Pink Lady.

- When it ended, The Bing Boys.

- That must be interesting.

- Yeah, when you can get it.

- Been out long?

- I certainly have.

- What a rotten break.

- And that accounts for...

- Yeah, that accounts for this rotten place.

I admit the refrigerator is old-fashioned.

- Please, I didn't mean to be critical.

- Oh, I know the place isn't the Ritz but...

Oh, you don't wanna be bothered

with a hard-luck tale.

- Tell me.

- Well, jobs are hard to find...

...and rents are high, that's all.

- Behind with it?

- Gee. Let's talk about something cheerful.

- How much is it?

Well, if you must know,

it's just under five pounds.

But I'll get a job soon.

Well, you see, it isn't only rent.

Price of everything has gone up so.

Why, this afternoon

I was in Leicester Square...

You know that Stag and Medals.

Anyway, there's the cutest

little pink dress in the window...

...perfectly plain and simple.

- What do you think they want for it?

- What?

Three guineas.

Myra, I don't want you to take offense

in anything I say...

...but, well, heck, you see, I got more

money than I want as a soldier...

...and, well, couldn't

I square things up for you?

You know, with the rent and

maybe get you that pink dress.

Gee, that's sweet of you.

I wouldn't think of it.

I don't see why not.

Who's to know?

Oh, it's the principle of the thing.

What's the difference?

Some of us are lucky, some of us aren't.

Just at this very minute you aren't.

Please. Go on. Take it.

It would make me so happy.

Just do it as a favor to me.

As a favor to you?

I don't know what to say, but...

- Mind you, I hate taking it.

- Thanks.

- Here.

- What?

- There's your fiver. You better go now.

- What? Myra.

You better go

I don't want your money.

Oh, I'm awfully sorry.

I didn't know

you would take it like that.

Well, I told you I didn't mean

to insult you and I'm sorry. L...

Well, I guess that's about all I can say.

It's a grand feeling, isn't it?

The prince and the beggar maid.

Felt very noble, didn't you?

Offering me something for nothing.

That make you feel swell, huh?

Why don't you answer me?

Well, when do we begin the next stage?

You gonna show me

how to lead a better life?

Roy.

Roy.

What do you want?

Come back a minute, will you?

You don't have to care

what a cheap chorus girl says to you.

Oh, I suppose it was my fault, really.

I thought you'd understand.

L...

I guess it kind of hurt you, didn't it?

Yeah.

- You want another cigarette?

- Let's smoke these.

All right.

- Do you like music?

- Why, yeah. I do.

This is from The Bing Boys.

So you're going down

to see your mother tomorrow.

I'm glad. It's good for a soldier

to get out of this town as quick as he can.

- What's the matter with it?

- It isn't healthy.

Only two things for a soldier

to do when he's a stranger like you.

That's get drunk and get mixed up

with the wrong kind of women.

That's a bug. I know the troops

go wild when they get in the big city.

But that's because they got no friends.

- But you see, I'm lucky.

- Are you? Why?

- Well, I met up with you.

- That's lucky, isn't it?

- A few seconds ago, I was bawling you out.

- I forgot that.

I ought to have had

more sense.

I should have known a decent girl

when I saw one.

You've never been around

with girls much, have you?

Not much? Why?

- When do you go back to the trenches?

- I got 14 days.

Say.

Say, have you got a man or somebody

out at the front that you're interested in?

- You mean, somebody I knit socks for?

- Well, that kind of thing, yeah.

- No.

- I was thinking...

I was thinking it would be swell

if you could work up a little interest in me.

Guess I could.

Even to the sock-knitting stage?

Well, I never tried knitting.

You know, I might at that.

Gee, Myra, I like you a lot.

Do you?

- Who's there?

- It's me, dear. Mrs. Hobley.

Well?

I thought perhaps you would like to know

they're sounding the all clear in the streets.

Thanks.

I think I'll be going to bed now, dear.

All right.

Did you want to see me

about anything, dearie?

Not now, I'll see you in the morning.

All right. Good night.

- Good night.

- Sleep well.

- She is a nice soul, that Mrs. Hobley.

- Yeah.

She's cute, isn't she?

- Looks like the raid's over, soldier.

- That mean you want me to buzz off?

- It's getting kind of late.

- All right, I'll go.

But, say, listen, Myra. I've had an idea.

How would it be if you were

to come down with me tomorrow?

- What do you mean?

- Well, change will do you good.

You mean, come down to your family's?

I know you'd like them.

Come on, we'd have fun.

- How old are you, Roy?

- Nineteen, why?

- That's not very old, is it?

- I don't see what that's got to do with it.

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