Waterloo Road

---

(Whistle blows)

# Barrel organ plays

(Street vendors shout)

- Morning, Doctor.

- Morning, Jake.

- Nice, healthy weather.

- Afraid so.

(Thinks) Mrs Foggerty's medicine. Don't say I...

That's a relief anyway.

Not that it'll do the old hag any good.

Why didn't I bring my sweet points out with me?

Ah, well. Only give me indigestion.

Knot. What the devil's that for?

Ha. Remember tying it.

- I beg your pardon.

- OK. No harm done.

Americans eh?

Funny how we take them for granted now.

Just as if they were our own boys.

Now, what the devil did I tie that knot for?

(Baby cries)

- Just listen to that child.

Bless my soul, woman, don't bounce it.

Babies! Of course.

The Colters' baby. Buy it a birthday present.

Toys, eh

I've brought a good many babies into the world.

but I never thought I'd forget that one,

having played quite a part in his story, myself.

Gosh, I feel that here I'm walking in a battlefield.

Here in London the people waged

a whole campaign and won it.

Yes, and there were other battles too.

Folks battling with themselves.

Little people like Jim and Tilly Colter.

It seems only the other day

that all this looked very different then.

Winter 1940, 1941.

What days.

What days.

(Air-raid siren)

Take down the blackout, Ruby,

while I light the stove.

OK, Mum.

Oh, well, another day.

Still here aren't we? That's something.

- Any letters for me?

- Any letters for Wilma?

Hold on. You can get them on the counter.

- Dole them out will you, love?

- Very well.

Oh, please. You mustn't do that.

- That's for Ted Purvis, ain't it?

- Yes, but you're not him. Are you?

That's right.

Cup of tea, Ted.

Here's a letter from the income tax.

Mark it "not known" or "lost in the Blitz"

or something.

- Shove it back on the pile quick.

- OK Ted.

Don't forget our date, will you, Tilly?

- Quarter to one under the clock.

- Yes, all right. Hurry up, Vera.

Hang on a minute, Till.

I'll walk along with you.

Afraid I can't wait, Mr Purvis.

- Do come on, Vera.

- All right.

Play that on your Aunt Kate's piano, Mr Purvis.

I bet you half a dollar

she'll look round to see if I'm coming.

- Half a dollar you owe me.

- I never took it.

Wise girl.

- Surprised at you, Ted.

- What?

Not the type you usually go for.

Oh, I like 'em hard to get once in a while.

M a kes a change

- Shirt.

- Yes, Ted.

(Sizzling)

- We bring any down last night, Fred?

- Don't say.

Here's the lodger, Ma.

- Ah, bacon.

- Morning, Tom.

Hello, Mrs C. Morning, Tilly.

How's the loving couple?

Meeting only to part, as usual.

Fred's off to bed and I'm off to work.

When it's not that, it's the other way round.

Talk about romance.

- Why not try and get on the same shift?

- No use asking Fred.

If I left it to him

we'd never have even got married.

Hardly worthwhile

the way things has turned out.

Here's your breakfast, Vera.

What, no bacon?

Suppose the lodger gets my ration.

Get on with it or you'll be late for school.

Gertie, Gertie, Gertie, Gertie.

(Whistles) Come on, old girl.

It's your last day here.

Better make the most of it.

Come on. Hop it, the lot of you.

(Sighs) That's right. Do yourselves a bit of good.

- Off to bed?

- That's right.

Your day off, isn't it?

Yes.

Doing anything in particular?

- Dunno.

- Well, I can guess.

She's got a date.

You shut up and get on with your breakfast.

Do you have to talk in front of her,

with her big ears?

- Time she was at school.

- Do leave Tilly alone, Ruby.

You know she's been upset

since Jim's leave was put back.

- Upset? Pleased, more like it.

- You've no right to say that.

I'm not the one to make trouble

but I can't just say nothing.

You 've been hinting for days.

Why don't you say what you mean?

Last time Jim was home

you had words all the time.

That was... Anyway, that's no business of yours.

- I'm Jim's sister, aren't I?

- And I'm his wife.

You wouldn't think so

the way you hang around Ted Purvis.

Ruby, leave her be.

I don't happen to be doing

what you'd like to think.

Think I don't know Ted Purvis?

You might give a thought to your husband.

I always have. You can't say I haven't.

I couldn't help noticing, that's all.

owe?

I'm sick and tired of it. You can't expect me to

shut my eyes to it with the reputation he's got.

I don't care what you say.

You're playing with fire and you know it.

- Sorry, but...

- Ruby, please.

Tilly, don't take any notice of her.

She can't pretend it's not him she's meeting.

- He's got a silk dressing gown.

- You go to school.

- I only want...

- It doesn't matter if I'm late.

Any more sauce from you

and back you go to your Aunt Maud's.

She won't have me.

- You go to school this minute.

- I haven't finished my fried bread.

Fried bread or no fried bread,

here's your school bag, now off you go.

All right, but I shan't learn nothing.

I'm sick of being the youngest in this house.

(Door slams)

(Whistles)

Looks like being quite a nice day.

Anyway, Ted Purvis ought to be in the Forces.

He was turned down at his medical.

Sticking up for him, now.

Carrying on like that and Jim away in the army.

I'm not carrying on, though it's enough

to make anyone the way you keep harping.

It's not my fault if someone looks at me twice.

No-one gives you a second look, that's all.

Or you'd have landed someone better than Fred.

How dare you talk to me like that?

I was only thinking of Jim.

You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

I don't know how you dare.

Eat your breakfast, Tilly, it'll be cold.

It's all right.

Don't you mind what Ruby says.

She's not herself these days.

Same with most of us, I suppose.

People's nerves aren't what they used to be.

- Let me warm it up for you.

- Doesn't matter.

You must eat. Anything else you fancy?

You go upstairs and have a lie-down.

I'll see if I can find you an aspirin.

How about that?

Leave me alone, for heaven 's sake!

I'm fed up, see!

- Tilly.

- I'm tired of everybody watching me all the time,

imagining things, getting at me.

Nagging, nagging, nagging!

Jim...

An 'andsome couple I'd call 'em. Not half!

You ought to be getting into the carriage.

Just nice time to kiss the bride.

WOMAN:
He's off again!

Oh. This ain't Waterloo, it's heaven itself.

I told you not to have another glass.

If you're hinting I'm sloshed, you're wrong.

That's a pleasure to come when they open.

Come on, lads, kiss the bride. That's right.

Very nice, too. Good luck, Tilly.

- Can I throw it now?

- No.

(Whistle blows)

- You're off.

- Bye, Mum.

- All aboard now.

Come on, young Colter.

You're holding up the railway.

Come on, guard, lock 'em in.

- Lummy, look here.

- A present from the company.

Three cheers for the Southern Railway.

Gertcha.

Have a good honeymoon.

Don't be late in the morning.

If you can't be good, be careful.

Have I said anything?

Stand away now.

ALL:
Goodbye!

I knew a bloke got rumbled

a whole week after his wedding.

That better?

Yeah. Turn around.

OK.

What are you thinking, Jim?

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