Waterloo Bridge Page #4

it out before I get chronic indigestion.

Sit down.

I'd rather stand, if you don't mind, sir.

I'm in a hurry.

The fact is, colonel... The fact...

- The fact...

- What is the fact?

With your permission, sir, if you don't mind,

I'd like to get married this afternoon.

Oh.

And who is the bride-to-be, may I ask?

Her name is Myra Lester.

I have her vital statistics.

Oh.

Sit down.

Have you known her long?

Long enough to be absolutely sure, sir.

- Has she been presented at court?

- I believe not, sir.

But she is eligible

for presentation, I presume?

Cronin, you're leaving

for the front tomorrow.

Are you sure that hasn't a good deal

to do with your haste?

I wanna marry her before I leave...

...so she can stay with my mother

until I get back.

I see.

Well, Cronin, this...

- This is a good deal of responsibility.

- I know, sir.

And a responsibility

that I cannot assume by myseIf.

I wish you'd try, sir.

Sorry, but I'll have to ask you

to get the consent of His Grace...

...the colonel in chief.

- I see.

As he is your relative, he can inquire

more closely into this than I can.

However, if you get his consent,

you have mine.

Thank you, sir.

And I hope your future engagements

will not take place during mealtimes.

I'll try, sir.

- Good luck.

- Thank you, sir.

- Revelstoke House, Belrose Square.

- Yes, sir.

Captain Cronin, Your Grace.

- Ah, my boy, I'm glad to see you.

ROY:
Thank you, sir.

- Very glad indeed. How are you?

- Very well, sir.

- When do you go back?

- Day after tomorrow.

For that push at Cambrai, I expect.

- I hope so, sir.

- Sit down.

- Thank you.

- Had a nice leave?

- Wonderful.

- Good, good. You deserve it.

Well, my boy,

is there anything I can do for you?

- Yes, sir.

- What is it?

Well, I'd like your consent, sir,

to my marriage.

Your marriage?

(LAUGHS)

- Well, who's the girl?

- Miss Myra Lester.

Lester. Lester. Surrey?

No, Birmingham.

Birmingham, oh. Lester.

- Do I know them?

- No, but I can remedy that, sir.

- Does your mother know her?

- No, but she will. At least Myra.

- Her parents are dead, sir. She's all alone.

- Dear, dear, dear, dear. Hm.

Well...

...what does she do?

- She's a dancer.

A dancer?

Yes, sir.

She's, uh... She's terribly nice, sir.

A dancer.

You know, Roy...

You know, Roy...

...I like dancers.

Well, thank you, sir.

I mean, I don't blame you.

Naturally. In my time,

you understand, in my time...

Of course, sir.

When I was your age,

I was in love with a dancer.

I wanted to marry her...

...but she wouldn't.

(BOTH LAUGH)

So if she'd accepted me,

she'd have been your aunt.

- That would have been delightful.

- Look here, my boy.

I don't mind telling you

I'm very proud of your war record.

Thank you, sir.

Now, you know what you're doing,

I suppose.

Yes, sir.

You'll be proud of her too, sir. I'm sure.

I don't necessarily believe in

what they call correct marriages.

Seen too many of them turn out badly.

- Well, good luck, my boy. And bless you.

- Thank you, sir.

- I'll never forget this. Neither will she.

- That's all right.

- Bring her to see me on your next leave.

- I shall.

- Fine fellow.

- Thank you again, sir.

(CHUCKLES)

A dancer, eh?

Miss Lester, His Grace has consented

to the marriage of Captain Roy Cronin...

...of the Rendleshire Fusiliers to Myra Lester

of Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.

- No family opposition?

- Not a speck.

Disappointed?

Oh, it's too easy. I'm frightened.

Ha-ha-ha, defeatist.

DRIVER:
Where to, sir?

- Uh, to Bond Street.

Yes, sir.

- Bond Street?

- To Bond Street for a ring.

A simple ring.

I don't wanna spoil you straight off.

Then to the florist. You deserve a posy.

Then to St. Matthew's Church.

- St. Matthew's? Really?

- Of course St. Matthew's.

They have the proper tradition.

Swift, regimental marriages.

We walk in comparative strangers,

we walk out comparative friends.

(BOTH LAUGH)

The door beyond leads to the church, sir.

You'll find the vicar at choir practice.

Thank you.

- Well, darling?

- Oh, Roy.

Shall we face it?

It's been so quick.

Are you quite, quite sure?

Myra, I was never so sure

of anything in my life.

In the moment you left me after the air raid,

I knew I must find you again quickly.

I've found you and I'll never let you go.

Does that answer you?

Wait here a moment.

(CHOIR SINGING)

This is Miss Lester.

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

I'm sorry to disappoint you,

Miss Lester...

...but I'm afraid it's impossible

for me to marry you now.

No doubt you forget

that according to the law...

...no marriages can take place after 3:00.

I explained to the vicar, Myra,

that this is an emergency...

...that we thought during wartime,

something could be managed.

Isn't there anything you can do?

We'd be most grateful.

Oh, I'd like to help you,

but unfortunately that is the law.

However, if you'll come

tomorrow morning at 11:00...

...I shall be most happy

to perform the ceremony for you.

But we have so little time.

Well, it's only a few hours.

It just means we'll have to be engaged...

...for a whole day.

VICAR:
Yes.

I don't believe in long engagements.

Do you, vicar?

Not when the parties are elderly.

But I think in your case,

it can do no harm.

Then I shall expect you tomorrow at 11?

- We'll be here.

- At 11 precisely, on the stroke of the hour.

I shall be punctual.

- Goodbye. Thank you very much.

- Goodbye, Miss Lester.

- Goodbye, sir.

- Goodbye.

Where is Myra? It's almost 8.

We've got to go to the theater.

- I tell you, I tremble for the poor girl.

- Oh, you're always trembling.

Maybe she went directly to the theater.

That's right.

She's probably waiting for us.

I hope so.

Well, where have you been?

I've been worried to death.

I thought you were with the boyfriend,

but he phoned.

MYRA:

Oh, did he? I wonder why.

He had to go back to the barracks.

I went shopping.

Hey, what's happened to you?

Whose dress is that?

- It's mine.

- Yours?

Yes. I spent my last penny on it.

- Are you crazy?

- Yes, quite, quite.

And I bought a hat, a lovely hat.

And shoes and a bag and then gloves and...

Oh, isn't it a dream, Kitty? It's...

It's my wedding dress.

What?

- Oh, Myra, you don't mean that?

- Yes. I'm going to be married.

Oh, darling, come here

and let me hug you.

- It's wonderful.

- When? When? How?

Tomorrow morning at St. Matthew's

Church. Oh, Kitty, I'm so madly happy.

Oh, darling, I can't believe it.

Neither can I.

It's silly. I'm crying.

I've been crying all day.

Oh, it's unbelievable.

Things like this just don't happen.

It's so wonderful.

Oh, what a joke on madame.

WOMAN:

Kitty, are you coming?

Yes, all right. Wait a second. Uh,

you're coming to the theater, aren't you?

- I wouldn't let madame down for anything.

- Then we'd better hurry. Come on.

Oh, girls. Girls. Hey, Lydia. Girls.

Girls, what do you think?

Myra's going to be married.

ALL:

Married?

(EXCITED CHATTERING)

May I tell them? You don't mind?

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