Waterloo Bridge Page #8

I see fear in your eyes.

Why?

Oh, life's been hard for you, I know that.

You've had to struggle and endure

privation, but that's all over now.

You're safe now.

Don't be afraid.

You needn't be ever again.

I love you.

Oh, Roy, you're so good. You're so...

Oh, darling, it's...

- It's unreal, isn't it?

- Yes.

Shall we wake up suddenly

and find it untrue?

Roy, don't be defeatist.

(ROY CHUCKLES)

Rather like running the gauntlet,

wasn't it, to dance in there?

But you're a great success, darling.

- Everyone's enchanted with you.

- But they haven't met me yet.

- You warm?

- Yes, very.

- Would you like a drink?

- I'd love one.

I'll get you some of Barnes' famous punch.

Cool and innocent and deceptive.

You sit right here.

Don't move an eyelid till I come back.

MYRA:
I shall run off

with the first strolling minstrel.

- Darling.

- Darling.

COLONEL:
Of course I'm here.

I've come to see that young woman.

Where is she? Where are you hiding her?

This is Myra.

Myra, this is my uncle, the source

of those bellows you just heard.

How do you do?

So this is Myra, is it?

I am very glad you came.

- Why have you kept us apart?

- Ha, ha.

Now my troubles begin.

Roy, you told me you were going

to get Myra some punch.

What about it?

I knew it was too good to last. Darling.

Come, my dear. Let's sit down.

You gave me 10 of the

most anxious moments of my life.

Did I? When?

When I was waiting in a cab

while Roy was inside...

...asking your permission to marry me.

Were you outside in the cab?

Why didn't he bring you in?

I don't suppose he dared.

Quite right. Very shrewd of him.

If he had,

I'd never have given my consent.

- I should have asked for you myseIf.

- Ha, ha.

- And I'd have said yes.

- Ha-ha-ha.

My dear...

...will you do me a favor?

- Oh, I love to.

Will you do me the honor

to dance with me?

Of course, but I'm afraid Roy

will think we've eloped.

- Well, maybe we will.

- All right.

Come along. I haven't been here for ages.

Come on, my dear.

Let's make an entrance.

(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)

You dance beautifully, my dear.

And why not, indeed?

- So do you.

- I? Oh, no.

COLONEL:

Oh, dear. Oh, dear. Oh, dear. Ah!

Well, that dance

is the climax of my career.

I can now retire permanently

and write my memoirs.

You're awfully kind.

I shall always be grateful to you.

Grateful? What are you talking about?

Think I don't know why you came here

and made a point of dancing with me...

...in front of all those people?

- Point? Point? What point?

You wanted to show them

that you approved of me.

You knew if you approved, they would.

- Incidentally, I jolly well liked it.

- Ha, ha.

You're awfully nice.

I do so want them to like me.

I want to be a success because of Roy.

Well, you know what these people are.

They're good people, mind you.

Kind people.

But they're old-fashioned

and rather limited in their social ideas.

"What's good enough for AIfred the Great

is good enough for me" sort of thing.

(BOTH LAUGH)

- You see that emblem?

- Mm-hm.

COLONEL:

Broken lance. Our regimental badge.

Roy's regiment too.

Well, they think the only way to keep up

the tradition is to lead a dull life...

...and marry one of themselves.

They think of a dancer

as someone a little racy, shall I say...

...to put it mildly. Ha-ha-ha!

Too bad you can't live up

to their idea, Myra, isn't it? Ha.

It would be good fun, wouldn't it? Hm.

Yes, it would.

But Roy's instinct tells him what you are.

My instinct tells me too.

You're sound and good.

That badge is never going to suffer

at your hands.

If I weren't sure of that...

...I wouldn't welcome you as I do now.

ROY:

Myra.

Uncle, I've been more than generous,

leaving you so long with Myra.

- Longer would be foolhardy.

- Yes. You'd better take her away...

...before she discovers

that I'm the better man.

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

(BAND PLAYING "AULD LANG SYNE")

Listen, Myra.

I had them play it. Let's dance to it.

Will you excuse us, sir?

- Thank you.

- For what? For what?

Go and enjoy yourselves.

Remember, darling, the Candlelight Club?

It's forever ago, isn't it?

And yet it's tonight.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Come in.

Do I disturb you?

Uh, no. Please come in, Lady Margaret.

I knocked very gently, so in case

you were asleep, I shouldn't wake you.

MYRA:
Won't you sit down?

- I thought you'd be awake.

I said, "She's far too happy and excited

to be asleep."

Two things keep one up,

great happiness or great misery.

- Don't you think so?

- Yes.

I couldn't go to sleep either

without getting something off my chest...

...as the Americans say.

Are you sure you're not too tired?

No, no, of course not.

It's about our last meeting in London.

That has preyed upon my mind

ever since.

Do you bear a grudge against me

for that, Myra?

Oh, no, Lady Margaret.

I came with a prejudice...

...and when I saw you,

you seemed strange to me.

I thought you couldn't be,

well, what I wanted Roy's wife to be.

I've no excuse, except a mother's excuse

for wanting an impossible ideal for her son.

Can you forgive me?

- But there's nothing to forgive.

- When I got home the next day...

...I found the telegram telling me

the dreadful news about Roy.

And when I could think again, it suddenly

struck me that you had known all the time.

That you'd just seen his name

in the paper...

...and that you hardly knew

what you were saying.

- Is that true?

- Yes.

Oh, you poor child. If I'd only known.

I did my very best to find you,

but you'd disappeared.

And now I want to make it up to you

in the future.

I'm very happy

about this marriage, Myra...

...and I know we're going

to be wonderful friends.

Forgive me for being sentimental.

Good night, my daughter.

Lady Margaret!

Lady Margaret.

- Lady Margaret.

- Yes, Myra?

I must speak to you.

Why, of course, Myra.

I can't marry Roy.

Sit down quietly, dear, and tell me.

I must go away.

I should never have come here.

I knew it was impossible...

...but I kept deceiving myseIf.

I've got to go away.

I must never see him again.

My dear, why don't you tell me

what it is?

- I'm sure I can help you.

- No one can help me.

But, my dear,

what can it be that is so terrible?

Has there been someone else?

Oh, Lady Margaret.

You are naive.

- Myra.

- Yes.

- Yes, yes.

- Myra.

That thought

which is now in your mind...

...which you are telling yourseIf

can't be true is true.

- Myra.

- Yes.

Why didn't you tell him?

I didn't have the courage.

Oh, I can give you plenty of reasons.

I was hungry. I was poor.

I thought Roy was dead, but...

I could make you understand,

but it wouldn't help me.

Oh.

I don't know what to say.

But it's my fault as much as yours

for not having understood...

...for not having taken care of you.

- Oh, don't be nice to me.

If l...

If I leave early in the morning...

If I never see Roy again...

...would you promise me

he'll never know?

I couldn't bear to hurt him like that.

Myra.

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