When the Wind Blows Page #5

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the period of national emergency.

Good job we've got that

little picnic stove, eh, dear?

Are there any aspirins?

Mind it doesn't pop,

James. I can't...

bear it when it pops.

Mm!

Nothing like a cup of tea, hm?

Crumbs! I must be dreaming.

The news! We're just in time.

No. Nothing. There's nothing.

All dead.

- What about the telly?

- Yes, of course.

They may have filmed it all.

We may see our bomb on the news.

No. All dead.

- No picture?

- No.

- Not even just the voices?

- No! Nothing.

- All dead.

- All dead?

- We'll have to wait for the paper.

- There should be some good pictures.

These bombs are quite spectacular.

- He's late already.

- Yes, well, that's logical.

There's bound to be delays and shortages

during the period of national emergency.

I'll miss the serial on Woman's Hour.

It was just getting interesting.

Crumbs! I haven't

tried the transistor.

No. Seems to have packed up.

Or probably needs new batteries.

Yes, I must pop down to Willis's.

They are a price these days.

97p last time. Just fancy!

We ought to get one of these new hi-fis

when your endowment policy comes up.

Oh, yes. Or a stereo.

I've only got two years to go.

- I hope Ron and Beryl got back all right.

- Oh, yes, they'll be all right.

- Our Ron's a very careful driver.

- I didn't mean the driving so much, dear.

More the bomb.

I'll give them a ring.

Hello? Hello? Hello?

No, it's not even ringing.

Oh, I expect the lines are down.

They say there are red-hot

winds of 500 miles an hour.

I expect that would render

the lines inoperable.

I'll drop him them a line...

tell them to give us a ring.

- Do you think the post will be going?

- Oh, yes, bound to be.

The powers that be will endeavour

to maintain communications.

Remember the Blitz?

The post went on just the same.

It's government policy. It keeps

up the morale of the population.

I hope Ron is insured.

You did pay ours, didn't you, James?

Oh, yes, dear. The bomb won't cost

us a penny. We'll be well covered.

Mm. Lovely.

We can have some nice new

curtains for the summer.

Crumbs! I wonder if

it's all over already.

If it is all over,

I wish I knew who'd won.

We can't have lost the war, can we,

James? We won the other two.

No, of course not.

Remember old Churchill?

"We will never surrender."

Yes, but Churchill's not

prime minister now, dear.

No. Well... of course not.

I suppose it won't be the same without...

with old whatshisname, will it?

Who is it, anyway?

I must check the emergency supplies list.

We never had time to finish it.

It says here,

"...a notebook for messages."

Who are you going to

write messages to, dear?

Well, you never know. There's always

a need for vital messages in wartime.

Our lives might depend on a vital message

getting through to headquarters.

Oh, I see, dear.

And it says, "...a whistle

and gong for alarm."

Oh, what will you

do with that, dear?

Well, if I saw a Russky coming down the

lane, I'd bang the gong. If we had one.

- Wouldn't he shoot you, dear?

- What, just for banging a gong?

He'd be well within his rights to

shoot you if there's a war on.

Oh, crumbs! You really think so?

Just for banging a gong?

- I'm glad we haven't got a gong.

- We've got a whistle.

- Have we? Where is it?

- I'm not sure.

Hm. Never mind.

Let's leave it. Let's leave it.

Oh, I do feel tired.

Really exhausted and... all dizzy.

Nervous exhaustion due to

unaccustomed lifestyle.

That's what that is.

How's your headache, dear?

Just the same, thanks.

Aspirins didn't seem to do any good at all.

I think I've got a temperature.

I feel all hot and shivery.

You do look pale, dear.

- I should have an early night.

- I must clear up.

Suppose someone comes and sees the place

in this state? We might have visitors.

Yes. The Emergency Service

should arrive today.

I'm surprised they've

not come before.

I expect they've got a lot

of people to attend to.

Oh, yes. We're only

an outlying district.

They'll be heavily engaged

within the stricken area itself.

- Will it be like meals on wheels, dear?

- Yes, I should think so.

There'll be mobile canteens

and soup kitchens,

teams of doctors and nurses,

helicopters flying in blankets

and medical supplies.

It'll all move slowly

into action, you bet.

They'll all be here

in next to no time.

The governmental authorities have been

aware of this eventuality for years.

So continency plans will have

been formulated long ago.

We won't have to worry about a thing.

The powers that be will

get to us in the end.

I hope they come soon, dear.

I'm not feeling very well.

I wonder if we'd have been

better off in the cellar.

Oh, no, dear. Too damp.

Think of my rheumatism.

- Would you like a bite to eat, dearest?

- No, thanks.

I'm right off food.

So am I.

I must go to the toilet.

And I don't want any arguments.

Blessed dust everywhere.

Oh, crumbs! I forgot!

We're supposed to stay in

the inner core or refuge!

Well, it's too late now.

We've been out for ages.

Oh, blimey! It was the whole point!

I wonder if there's

any radiation about.

Well, I can't see anything.

Hurry up, dear, and get back

in the inner core or refuge!

We'd better have an early night.

Well, if you can't see

it and can't feel it,

it can't be doing you

any harm, can it?

Better try and...

eat something today, dear.

I was sick three times in the night.

My headache's even worse.

Let's have a walk round

the garden, dear.

I've just read it's only 48 hours in

the inner core or refuge, not 14 days.

A bit of fresh air is all we need.

I'll get a nice lettuce.

Crumbs! Look at the door!

The paint's all gone.

Scorched down to the wood.

Never mind, dear.

You said you'd burn it off one day.

The leaves have all gone

off the apple tree, ducks.

Oh, yes! What a shame!

Still, it'll be lovely in the spring.

It is spring, dear.

Oh! Listen!

A dog!

Oh, poor thing!

I expect he's hungry.

The heat has affected

the hedge, love.

- The beans look a bit shrivelled.

- And I think the lettuce have evaporated.

Well, they do have a

high water content.

- Can you see any fallout falling out, James?

- No, the sun is trying to get through.

They didn't blow up the sun,

thank goodness.

Oh, no, dear.

Science is still in its infancy.

What does the fallout

look like, dear?

I don't know. The...

government directive

neglects to mention how the

populous could recognise it.

I expect it's a bit like snow, ducks.

Only greyer.

The grass looks a funny colour.

Yes, I'll pop down to Mr Sponge's tomorrow

and get some bone meal and dried blood.

He might be closed due

to the bomb, dear.

What, old Sponge? Miss a day's trade?

Not him! He'd rather die!

It's very cloudy. Almost foggy.

We need some sun to

bring the garden on.

- The milkman's not been yet. He's late.

- Oh, well, that's logical.

He's bound to be a bit

late after the bomb.

Perhaps he's been called

up to fight, or something.

Oh, yes. Well... maybe.

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