(PA) Announcing the departure of American Airlines westbound flight 9.
Flight 9 now loading at gate three, for immediate departure.
- Yes, sir? - Got anything to Boone City?
Three scheduled daily flights, but there's no space available.
- Would you care to make a reservation? - Yes.
- Your name, please? - Derry. D-E-R-R-Y. Fred.
- How long will it be? - We can get you on flight 37 on the 1 9th.
l can't wait that long. l just got back from overseas and l want to get home.
- There's a long waiting list. - l arranged to have my tickets here.
- My name is Gibbons. George H. Gibbons. - They're right here.
- Thank you. - May we weigh your baggage?
- Excuse me. Put them right there, please. - Sorry.
You might try the ATC, Captain.
- Where are they? - Out the terminal, and across the field.
Thanks.
- You have 16lb excess baggage. - That's all right. How much is it?
Righto, sir.
At ease, men. Flight 93.
Flight 93 for Denver, San Francisco and Seattle.
That flight has been cancelled until further notice.
- Yeah? - You got anything for Detroit?
- Nope. How about Cleveland? - Cleveland?
- OK. - Fill this out.
- Guess l'm going to Cleveland. - lt's a nice town.
Yeah, but Detroit's where l live.
Sarge, what's the chances of a ride to Boone City?
You got orders?
- Sure. - OK.
l haven't got anything now, but fill this out and l'll call you if anything comes up.
OK. l guess l'll wait.
l need a couple of men to give me a hand with this out to a plane.
- OK. - Let's go.
Let's go, huh?
- l bet this thing weighs a ton. - What's the matter? Tired or something?
OK, let's go. Out this way.
Fellas, take it easy down the stairs.
Got it?
- Take it easy going down the stairs. - Oh, my aching back.
Derry.
- Derry. Captain Fred Derry. - Coming!
- Parrish. Homer Parrish. - Here!
- You Derry? - Yeah.
- Parrish? - Right.
Got a call from Base Ops. There's a B-1 7 taking off for Boone City.
She's making a lot of stops, but you'll get there tomorrow afternoon.
- That's swell. - OK, sign here.
Boy, it sure is great to be going home.
- Here you go, sailor. - Sign on the dotted...
- l'll do it for you. - Think l can't spell my own name?
No, l... l just thought that...
l know, sarge. Thanks.
You'd better hurry up out there, cos she's taking off soon.
Right, thanks. Come on, sailor.
Where's your stuff? Excuse us, Corporal.
- Boone City your home, sailor? - Yes, Captain.
Forget the rank, chum. l'm out.
- Whereabouts do you live in Boone? - On West 1 7th Street.
- Know where Jackson High is? - Sure.
lt's a couple of blocks past it.
- Hiya, sarge. - How are ya?
- My name's Fred Derry. - Al Stephenson.
- And this is Homer... What is it, Homer? - Parrish.
- Glad to know you. - You from Boone too?
- Yeah, sure am. - How long since you've been home?
A couple of centuries!
Let's sit in the radio compartment for takeoff.
Then we'll get in the nose and get a nice view of the good old USA.
Look at that. Look at those automobiles down there.
You can see them so plain, you can see the people.
Yeah, looks like we're flying by road map.
- ls this your first ride in one of these? - This is my first plane ride.
l saw plenty of flying, all right. l was on a CV. That's a flattop.
But l never knew things looked so pretty from up here.
Sure is beautiful.
l never thought so. This used to be my office.
- Bombardier, weren't you? - Yeah. That's where the bombsight was.
l spent a lot of time on my knees up there.
- Praying? - Yeah, that too.
- Cigarette, Homer? - Thanks.
lt's all right, l can get it.
Here, l've got a match, Captain.
- Thanks. - Thank you.
- Anybody superstitious? - No, go ahead.
Well, l am.
Boy, you ought to see me open a bottle of beer.
- You got nothing to worry about. - Thanks.
- l guess you saw a lot of action. - No, l didn't see much of the war.
- l mean, the way you fellas did. - You trying to kid the army?
No, l was stationed in the repair shop, below decks.
Oh, l was in plenty of battles.
But l never saw a Jap or heard a shell coming at me.
When we were sunk, all l know is there was a lot of fire and explosions.
l was ordered topsides and overboard, and l was burned.
When l came to l was on a cruiser, and my hands were off.
- After that l had it easy. - Easy?!
That's what l said. They took care of me fine.
They trained me to use these things.
l can dial telephones, l can drive a car. l can even put nickels in a jukebox.
l'm all right. But...
- But what, sailor? - Well...
Well, you see, l've got a girl.
- She knows what happened to you? - Sure. They all know.
But they don't know what these things look like.
- What's your girl's name, Homer? - Wilma.
She and l went to high school together.
- l'll bet Wilma's a swell girl. - She is.
And it'll be all right, sailor. You wait and see.
Yeah. Wait and see.
Wilma's only a kid. She's never seen anything like these hooks.
Say, wait till l get home and tell the folks about this trip.
l'm the first one in my family that ever rode in an aeroplane.
- Hey, Al. - Yeah?
Remember what it felt like when you went overseas?
As well as l remember my own name.
l feel the same way now.
Only more so.
l know what you mean.
Just nervous out of the service, l guess.
The thing that scares me most is that everybody's gonna try to rehabilitate me.
All l want's a good job, a mild future, and a house big enough for me and my wife.
Give me that much and l'm rehabilitated like that.
l'd say that's not too much to ask.
- Are you married, Al? - Yep.
How long?
20 years.
20 years?!
Holy smoke!
We didn't even have 20 days before l went over.
l married a girl l met when l was in training in Texas.
You and your wife will have a chance to get acquainted.
Yeah.
l wonder how Homer will make out with that girl of his.
Wilma.
l hope Wilma is a swell girl.
The old home town hasn't changed much.
No.
There's the golf course. People are playing golf.
Just as if nothing had ever happened.
Hey, there's Jackson High football field.
Boy, l sure would like to have a dollar for every forward pass l threw down there.
Good old Jackson High.
- Hey, that must be the new airport. - Yeah, we're turning into it now.
Holy smoke!
l never knew there were so many planes.
- And they're junking them. - What?
Boy, oh boy.
What we could have done with those in '43.
Yeah, l'll bet.
Some of 'em look brand-new. From the factory to the scrapheap.
That's all they're good for now.
We gotta get out of the nose while he sets her down.
There's the ballpark.
- How are the Beavers doing this season? - They're in sixth place.
Ah! Still in second division!
- Hey, there's Butch's Place. - Butch's?
Gosh, Butch has got himself a neon sign.
Been to Butch's Place? Butch Engle that runs it is my uncle.
Swell guy. Only the family don't think he's respectable because he sells liquor.
- Best joint in town. - Let's get together there sometime.
This is my street.
- 1 51 7? - lt's the fourth house from here.
l wonder if Wilma's home.
How about us going back to Butch's Place?
We'll have a couple of drinks and then we can go home.
You're home now, kid.
Well, so long.
- Bye. - So long, Homer.
- Where next? - Just a minute, bud.
lt's Homer! Momma! Daddy! Homer's here!
Wilma! Wilma!
Wilma, come on over!
- My boy. - Oh, darling!
lt's good to see you.
- lsn't this wonderful? - There's Wilma!
OK, let's go.
- Well... - Don't. l'll carry it.
What's the matter, Ma?
lt's... it's nothing.
lt's just that your ma's so glad to see you home.
Yeah, l know.
You gotta hand it to the navy. They sure trained that kid how to use those hooks.
They couldn't train him to put his arms around his girl, to stroke her hair.
- ls it the next turn up here? - Yeah, the next turn on the left.
Hey, Fred, why don't we drop you first?
No, you're next.
And we're not going back to Butch's for a drink either.
Feel as if l were going in to hit a beach.
Some barracks you got here. What are you, a retired bootlegger?
Nothing as dignified as that. l'm a banker.
- How much? - Take your hand out of your pocket.
- You're outranked. - Yes, sir, Captain, sir.
- Good luck, chum. - Thanks.
Yes, l will.
Yes, sir.
One moment, please. One moment, please!
- Who do you wish to see? - Mrs Stephenson.
Just a minute. l'll have to announce you first.
Put that phone down. l'm her husband.
- You're Mr Stephenson? - Sergeant Stephenson.
What did you expect? A four-star general?
l'm sorry to have kept you waiting.
- Fourth floor. - Yes, sir.
l'll get it, Peg.
Where's Mom?
- Da... - Sh.
Who's that at the door, Peggy?
Peggy!
Rob, who was...?
- l look terrible. - Who says so?
- lt isn't fair of you to bust in on us. - l phoned you from Portland.
- You said you wouldn't be home for... - We were lucky.
We got a plane to Welburn. l thought we were gonna get stuck there,
but we came right through.
- Al, are you all right? - Sure.
- Are you all right? - Course l am.
- Let me look at you. - Don't look now, l need a shave.
lf you don't mind, Mom...
Dad... darling.
l'll call the Kenworthys and tell them we won't be over.
- The Kenworthys? - Yes.
My son. And my daughter.
l don't recognise you. What's happened?
Just a few years of normal growth. Don't you approve?
l don't know yet. l've got to have more time to get to know you.
Hello?
Alice, this is Milly. l'm terribly sorry, but we can't be over.
l mean, l'm terribly happy.
You see, Al...
My husband!
Yes. He's home.
Yes.
- Freddy! - Hortense.
Well, say!
Pat!
Pat, it's Freddy. He's home again!
- Hello, Pop. - l wish we'd known you were coming.
We'd have had the place kinda cleaned up.
Well? Haven't you got anything to say to your own son?
- Glad to see you, my boy. - Look at him, Pat.
Look at your hero son. And look at all those beautiful ribbons on his chest.
Go on, Freddy, tell your father how you got those ribbons and what they mean.
- Where's Marie? - Marie?
- Yeah. ls she out? - Marie isn't here, Freddy.
- Will she be back soon? - She's not living with us.
- She took an apartment downtown. - Why didn't anybody write me about it?
We were afraid it might worry you, you being so far away.
lt was inconvenient for Marie, living here, after she took that job.
But we forwarded all your letters and the allotment cheques.
She took a job? Where?
Uh... some nightclub. l don't know just which one.
The poor girl works till all hours.
- Where does she live? - Uh... Grandview Arms on Pine Street.
But there's nothing to worry about. Marie's fine.
We saw her last Christmas. She brought us some beautiful presents.
- Marie's a good-hearted girl. - You know what time she goes to work?
Uh... well, about supper time, l imagine.
Do you mind if l leave my stuff here? l'll pick it up later.
Sure, but aren't you gonna stay and have a bite to eat?
No, thank you, Hortense.
Well, uh... so long, Pop. l'll be back.
Well, it's... l'm glad to have you home, my boy.
lt's good to be home, Pop. Bye.
Here, a cap.
Here's a samurai sword, Rob.
Thanks very much, Dad.
And here's a flag l found on a dead Jap soldier.
All that writing is good-luck messages from his relatives.
Yes, l know. The Japanese attach a lot of importance to their family relationship.
Yeah. Yeah, entirely different from us.
- You were at Hiroshima, weren't you? - Mm-hm.
Did you notice any of the effects of radioactivity on the people who survived?
No, l didn't. Should l have?
We've been having lectures in atomic energy at school.
Mr McLaglen, our physics teacher, he says that we've reached the point
where the whole human race has either got to find a way to live together, or else...
- Or else. - That's right. Or else.
When you combine atomic energy with jet propulsion and radar and guided missiles,
just think of the...
Oh, you're just kidding me, Dad.
You've been to all these places and you've seen everything.
l've seen nothing.
l should have stayed home and found out what was really going on.
l finished the dishes.
Why do you have to do that? ls this the maid's night out?
Our maid took a night out three years ago and we haven't seen her since.
But everything's all right because l took a course in Domestic Science.
What's happened to this family? All this atomic energy and scientific efficiency...
- lt was the war! You heard about that. - Yeah.
All those problems on the home front.
We used to read about 'em in Stars and Stripes.
We felt awfully sorry for the civilians.
You don't have to worry about us, though. We can handle the problems. We're tough.
Rob, haven't you any homework?
Oh, sure.
- Night, Dad. - l don't see why you have to go now.
Rob, aren't you going to take the souvenirs Father brought you?
Oh, yes.
Thanks an awful lot, Dad, for these... things.
- Good night. See you in the morning. - Night.
- Night, Mom. - Good night, darling.
Nice to have you around, Dad. You'll get us back to normal.
Or maybe go nuts myself.
What do you think of the children?
The children?
l don't recognise them. They've grown so old.
l tried to stop them, to keep them just as they were when you left,
but they got away from me.
l guess Peggy has a lot of boyfriends.
She's very popular.
- ls she concentrating on anyone? - She hasn't told me of anyone.
But you've, uh... told her all the things she ought to know?
What, for instance?
Well, have you?
She's worked two years in a hospital. She knows more than you or l ever will.
- Want a cigarette? - Have you forgotten? l don't smoke.
- Sorry. - lt's all right, darling.
Yeah, it's frightening.
What is?
Youth.
Didn't you meet young people in the army?
No, they were all old men, like me.
Yes...
lt's terrible to be old, isn't it?
- Why don't you sit down and relax? - l'm perfectly relaxed standing up.
ls there such a thing as a drink in this house?
l'll see.
We haven't got bacon for Dad's breakfast. l'll go out first thing and try to get some.
ls this all the liquor we have left?
Gosh, l'm afraid so.
l wish he'd given us some warning he was going to get here today.
Don't worry, Mom.
l mean, so that we could have gotten in some supplies of things.
Oh, Mother. l know it's a little difficult, but...
that's only because Dad's so crazy about you,
and he's been away so long and missed you so terribly.
He can't just walk in and immediately pick up...
Hey, l got a wonderful idea. Let's go out on the town, the three of us.
- Tonight? - Yes, tonight.
- To celebrate the old man's homecoming. - Not me.
No, no, no. You too. The three of us.
l want to do something, see something.
l've been in jungles and around savages so long,
l gotta find out l'm back in civilisation again.
Be-bop, be-bop
Be-bop a-ree-bop
Rupert, another one in here.
l'll tell you, as l see it, we're headed for bad times in this country.
Of course, we're in the backwash of the war boom, but the tide is running out fast.
Next year, we'll see widespread depression and unemployment.
Oh, have a cigar?
No, thanks. l've got my pipe.
Homer? Didn't you contract the tobacco habit in the navy?
Just cigarettes, Mr Cameron. Thanks.
Wilma tells us you were in the Philippines.
l was around there, Mrs Cameron, but l never saw anything.
- Did you meet General MacArthur? - No, l didn't get to meet him.
- l've got a light, Mr Cameron. - No, that's all right.
Got it.
- Luella. - Yes, Dad?
l've always thought he's such a handsome man.
- Who? - General MacArthur.
Oh...
- May l help you with that, Mrs Parrish? - No, you sit right down.
- Lemonade, Mrs Cameron? - Thank you very much.
- Thought about getting a job, Homer? - Well, l...
Father, it's much too soon for Homer to be thinking about a job.
He's just out of the hospital.
Yes, but a few months from now the same opportunities won't exist that exist today.
You might think about my business - insurance. We've taken on veterans.
They make good salesmen, men who have suffered some kind of disability.
Come down to the office one of these days, we'll talk it over.
- l'm sorry, Mom. - That's quite all right, Homer.
lt won't hurt the carpet a bit. Luella, go and get me a dishrag.
There's another one for you, Homer.
Wilma will hold it for you.
No, thanks. lf you don't mind, l think l'll go out and walk around a bit.
Where's Homer?
He went out.
lt's home, boys, home, home we ought to be
Home, boys, home, back in God's country
Pick-Up Café. There it is, driver. Stop here.
Don't you think it's time to go home to bed and get some sleep?
Absolutely. Sleep. But first we've got to stop and have one last little drink.
No arguments. One drink.
Come on in, driver, and have one with us.
( ''Toot, Toot, Tootsie, Goodbye'')
Hey, Homer!
lt's good to see you, kid.
Your friend told me you were home, but l didn't expect you...
Hiya, Captain!
Hiya, Homer, my old shipmate! Sit down.
So you took my advice and came to Butch's? Come on, let's have a drink.
- Hello, Homer. - Hi, Steve!
Am l happy to see you back home again.
Go ahead, shake, pal. lt won't bite you.
- What'll you have? - l've dreamed of hearing that question.
Before l went in the navy Butch would never let me drink liquor.
He'd read me lectures on the curse of drink.
But it's different now. l'm a veteran.
Give me a whiskey, Steve. Straight.
- How about it, Butch? - Draw a beer for the navy.
- Butch, l ordered whiskey. - Beer.
Beer.
l'm gonna take my trade to some other joint where l don't have relatives.
What are you doing here? Why aren't you home with the folks?
Well, they... they went to bed and l wasn't sleepy,
so l thought ''Why not come down and see Butch?''
Glad you did, Homer.
Well, here's to you, Butch.
How am l doing?
- Kid, you're doing great. - Thanks.
Where did you leave Al?
Al's home in the swankiest apartment house in town.
We'll never see him again.
Say, this is the best place we've been yet!
Hey, that's Al.
Hey, where you been? We were just talking about you.
Oh, my aching back.
Hey, Milly. Peggy. Step up and meet the gang.
- This is Homer, this is Fred. - How do you do?
Homer and l were together at the Battle of Lingayen Gulf, only we didn't know it!
- Hiya, bud. - How do you do?
- Al, this is my uncle Butch. - Bu...?
Oh! l hear you got a new neon sign, huh? Good for you.
- Now the party can really get started, eh? - This way, please.
- Let's sit. Milly, come on. - Here's a good booth.
Fred... Sit down. Fred, where's your wife? l want to meet her.
l haven't been able to find her. She works in some nightclub.
We'll find it, Fred, before this night is out.
We'll deploy our forces and comb the town. Won't we?
By all means.
We got the navy to convoy us. Huh?
First, Homer lost his hands. He's got those hooks instead.
They don't worry him, so they don't need to worry anybody else.
- Right. - Now let's get seriously to work.
- Telephone. - Thanks. Give them anything they want.
- Any kind of beer. - What'll it be, folks?
- How are you? - Hiya.
- Nice to see you. Looking well. - Hello.
A little grey...
- (British accent) Well, cheers. Cheers. - Cheers!
Homer. Homer.
OK, Butch.
Aren't you drinking?
- Excuse me, folks. - Sure, Homer.
Gee, Butch, it's swell to hear you playing again.
How about ''Lazy River''? Remember that?
Sit down, Homer.
( ''Lazy River'')
- Wilma phoned. - Wilma?
- What did she want? - You.
Oh, why can't they leave a guy alone?
Because they're fond of you, that's why.
What made you leave the house and get them worried?
Oh, they... they got me nervous.
- How? - lt's nothing. l don't wanna talk about it.
How'd they get you nervous?
Well, they...
They keep staring at these hooks, or else they keep staring away from 'em.
You mean whatever they do is wrong.
Why don't they understand that all l want is to be treated like everybody else?
Take Pop, for instance.
He was cleaning his pipe, like l've seen him do a million times.
All of a sudden he got conscious that he had hands and l didn't,
and he... he stopped cleaning his pipe and he tried to hide his hands,
like he was guilty or something.
Give 'em time, kid. They'll catch on.
You know, your folks'll get used to you and you'll get used to them.
Then everything'll settle down nicely.
Unless we have another war.
Then none of us have to worry, because we'll all be blown to bits the first day.
So cheer up, huh?
Hey, Butch.
You know ''Among My Souvenirs'', huh?
There's nothing left for me
Shh.
( ''Among My Souvenirs'')
- Shall we dance? - That's a charming idea.
Do you remember this tune?
Nice to see the young folks enjoying themselves, isn't it?
So you're Al's daughter.
Yes. l've been that as long as l can remember.
You don't seem like Al's daughter.
Actually, l'm not. He's my son by a previous marriage.
- What did you say your name was? - Peggy.
Peggy. My name's Fred. How do you do?
No, you... Oh, no.
( ''The Beer-Barrel Polka'')
You're a bewitching little creature.
- ln a way, you remind me of my wife. - But you never told me you're married.
Oh, yeah. l've got a little woman and two kiddies back there in the States.
- But let's not think of them now. - Oh, you're so right.
This night belongs only to us.
That's the type of thing people ought to be thinking about.
All right, l promise l'll get right to work on it.
And there's one thing l've been wanting to ask you.
You ask it, Peggy. You mustn't feel shy with me.
Why don't you call your wife?
l don't know her number. l couldn't find it in the phone book.
Phone book?! We don't need to do any telephoning.
We're all set.
What you need is a drink.
- Good night, everybody. l'm going home. - Why?
- l've got to. Butch is gonna drive me. - Oh, no, no.
- No, you can't... - lt's quite all right.
- Don't leave. l'll be right back. - Good night.
- Poor kid. He's got to go home.
Doesn't that put any ideas in your head?
Yes.
l'd love to.
Lights out, Steve.
Oh! Ho-ho-ho!
Where do we go next, old pal, old pal?
Just follow me, old pal.
Step.
- Good night, Al. - Good night. Nice party.
This it, Fred?
lt looks like it.
Ooh, silly.
Good night, Milly. Many thanks for a most enjoyable evening.
- Good night, Fred. - Good night, Al.
Best of luck to you.
- l'll give him your message. - You do that.
(British accent) And good night to you, Peggy. lt has indeed been a pleasure.
- Yes, Fred. See you soon. - By all means.
Ooh!
l beg your pardon.
Good night.
We'd better wait and see if he gets in.
l don't think he even knows if this is the right place.
Come on.
Up...
- Where are we all going now? - Don't ask. We want it to be a surprise.
- They make a lovely couple, don't they? - (laughs) Yeah.
l think they'll be very happy together.
- Who are you? - Don't you remember? l'm Peggy.
Oh, yes. Peggy.
l'm not that Peggy.
That's too bad.
As l remember, when you lie flat on your back you snore.
Where's your hand?
Give me your hand.
..my souvenirs
- ls Fred all right? - Yes. He's all right.
- You'll be comfortable here. - Sure, Mom. Night.
Night, dear.
- Night. - Night.
Bandits at four o'clock.
lt's all right, buddy.
You got him.
He's hit.
She's on fire. She's on fire!
The fire's spreading. lt's Gadorsky.
There goes number four. She's breaking formation.
Watch out for fighters.
lt's spread to the wing. The wing's on fire!
She's out of control. She's out of control!
She's going down!
Hey, you guys, jump!
Get outta there! Bail out!
Gadorsky! Gadorsky, get out of that plane!
Two chutes open.
Three.
- The rest of you guys... - Fred.
- ..get out! - Fred, wake up!
- Gadorsky! Gadorsky! - Wake up!
- She's burning up! Get out! Get out! - Fred! Fred, wake up!
She's burning up! She's gonna hit. Look out!
lt's all right, Fred. Go back to sleep.
Go back to sleep.
Go back to sleep, Fred.
There's nothing to be afraid of.
All you have to do is... go to sleep and rest.
Go to sleep.
Go to sleep, Fred.
Go to sleep and rest.
Go to sleep, Fred.
Go to sleep.
All you have to do is rest.
Go to sleep.
Oh, l'm terribly sorry l woke you up.
Oh, that's all right. But...
l know. You're about to say ''Where am l?''
l'll tell you later, Fred. You can sleep as long as you want.
Did he fly 1 7 s or 24s?
l don't know.
- What group was he with? - He didn't say.
Well, what did you two talk about?
Rob, you'd better hurry up. You'll be late for school.
Holy Moses!
l'll see you later. Bye.
Oh, excuse me, Captain. l'm Rob Stephenson, Peggy's brother.
She's in there in the kitchen, fixing your breakfast.
l've gotta run. Goodbye.
- Hello. - Hello.
Sit down.
- Here, this may help. - Thanks.
Sit down.
You're Peggy, aren't you?
For the last time, yes.
- Want some eggs? - You think l can take 'em?
Sure, they'll be good for you.
- Like 'em scrambled? - Any way you cook 'em.
Good.
Sleep all right?
Wonderful.
That's good.
Can l help you with any of that business?
You can pour the coffee if you want some.
Do you mind if l ask you a personal question?
No.
Where did you sleep last night?
On the couch.
- That's terrible. - What's terrible?
l should have had enough sense to go to a hotel and not come here, bothering you.
You didn't bother anybody, Fred.
We're very glad to have you here.
Besides, you couldn't have gotten a room in a hotel.
Did l get out of line with you?
No. Not really.
That's good. Cos, you see, l'm married.
Yes, l know.
l must have got pretty plastered last night.
You had nothing on my dad.
Your dad? Who's he?
Don't you remember Al?
Oh, Al. Yeah, good old Al.
- Where is he? - Still asleep, l guess.
So you're Al's daughter.
You've got it all straight now.
- l feel a lot better. - That's good.
- Are you married, Peggy? - No.
You've hardly had time. You must have been engaged, though.
No.
Why not? What's the matter with the guys around here?
l guess the best of 'em are already married.
- Good morning, Fred. - Good morning, Mrs, uh...
- Milly's the name. - Thanks, Milly.
When Al wakes up, tell him how much l...
You're not going? You haven't even finished your breakfast.
l haven't got much of an appetite. Besides, l've got to get downtown.
Maybe now l can get into where my wife lives.
l'll drive you, Fred. l've got to get to work at the hospital. l'll just be a minute.
- l must've acted disgracefully last night. - No.
You just fell in with bad company at Butch's and got stinking.
You see, the whole trouble was, l couldn't find Marie - that's my wife.
l didn't know she had a job in a nightclub.
Could happen to anyone. lf Al had come home later, we wouldn't have been in.
- He wouldn't have known where we were. - How is Al?
- We don't know yet. - Ready, Fred.
Well, when he wakes up you can tell him l think he's a pretty lucky guy.
- Thank you, Fred. - Goodbye. Thanks a lot for everything.
Goodbye.
- Bye, Mom. - Bye, dear.
(thud)
(shower starts)
Among my souvenirs
Among my...
- What'd you do before the war, Fred? - l was a fountain attendant.
- A what? - Soda jerk.
- Oh. - Surprised?
Yes, a little.
l'll bet you mixed up a fine ice-cream soda.
You're darn right. l was an expert behind that fountain.
l'd toss a scoop of ice cream in the air, adjust for velocity, altitude,
and - wham! - in the cone every time.
l figure that's where l really learned to drop bombs.
What do you think you'll do now?
l'm not going back to that drugstore.
Somehow or other, l can't figure myself getting excited about a root-beer float.
l don't know just what l will do,
but l'm gonna take plenty of time looking around.
l guess after all the places you've been, Boone City looks pretty dreary to you.
Not from where l'm sitting right now.
That's not just a line. l really meant it.
- Who's that? - lt's me, Milly.
- l brought your breakfast. - Oh! Thanks.
- Didn't think you'd be up for hours. - l had a dream. l dreamt l was home.
l've had that same dream hundreds of times before.
This time l wanted to find out if it's really true.
- Am l really home? - Looks like it.
And you're going to be royally treated. You're having breakfast in bed.
l seem to have a vague recollection that we had a couple of children. ls that right?
- That's right. - Whatever became of them?
Rob's gone to school and Peggy's driving downtown with Fred.
Fred? Oh.
Oh, yeah, Fred.
He's a great guy.
All right?
There's your breakfast. l have work to do.
Well, it was nice knowing you, Peggy.
That sounds like a permanent goodbye.
You never know.
You and your wife must come up to dinner.
That'd be fine.
Oh, there's one thing more.
About that dream l had last night. l've had it before.
- l'm sorry l bothered you with it. - l...
But you were very kind, and you didn't even mention it this morning.
As a matter of fact, you've been swell about everything.
They ought to put you in mass production.
- Goodbye, Fred. - Bye.
Maybe l'd better wait and see if you get in.
Maybe that's a good idea.
Bye.
All right! All right!
Say, what's the big i...?
- Freddy! - Hiya, babe.
Freddy, darling, why didn't you let me know?
- You didn't give me time to fix my face. - You look all right.
Oh, Freddy, darling, l'm so excited! l can't believe it's you!
Come on in, honey, where l can look at you.
Oh, you're marvellous!
All those ribbons! You gotta tell me what they all mean.
But not now.
Let me look at you. But how did you know l was here?
- l got in yesterday, went to Pop's house... - Yesterday?! Why didn't...?
l came here, but you'd gone to work. l went from one nightclub to another.
- You were looking for me? - For my wife.
Well, you've found her now.
l wonder how Fred's getting along.
Fred's able to take care of himself.
l'm not so sure. lt isn't easy for air force glamour boys when they get grounded.
When you've been in the infantry, any change is bound to be an improvement.
Stop fussing around and sit down and talk to me.
All right, Sergeant. Gosh, you've got tough.
- ls this all the cream? - That's all.
Fine situation when a man can't get enough to eat in his own home.
- Look at my pants. - What about them?
Too big! Gives you an idea of what the war did to my waistline.
- You holding your stomach in? - No, it's disappeared.
l'll have to take all my old clothes to be altered.
l wouldn't be in too much of a hurry.
A couple of weeks of heavy eating and those pants will fit perfectly.
Don't answer it.
Hello?
Oh, yes. He's here.
For me? lf it's the War Department, l'm out.
- lt's Mr Milton. - Who?
- Mr Milton at the bank. - Oh.
He'll be right on.
Hello?
Oh, yes, Mr Milton.
Yeah, it sounds good to hear yours.
Yes.
Yes, indeed, Mr Milton. Yeah...
Well, not too bad, no.
Yes. Why, of course.
lt's very kind of you to say that.
Mm-hm.
Yes.
Well, l'll... l'll certainly drop in.
Oh, she's fine, thank you.
Yes, they're fine too.
Well...
l...
That's...
Thank you, Mr Milton.
Yes, good...
Good...
Good... goodbye.
Mr Milton.
He calls every day to see if you're home. l guess they want you back at the bank.
- He wants me to drop in and talk about it. - You're not going to work right away?
You ought to rest awhile, take a vacation.
l've got to make money.
Last year it was kill Japs, and this year it's make money.
- We're all right for the time being. - Mm.
Why do they have to bother me the first day l get home?
Why not give me time to get used to my family? Come over here and sit down.
- Chair's liable to break. - We can't be worrying about chairs.
Not when they want me back in a nice fat job in a nice fat bank!
- You don't seem very happy about it. - l'm not.
- Why not, darling? - l keep thinking about the other guys.
All the ones who haven't got you.
- You're crazy. - No, too sane for my own good.
- Yes, sir? - Wasn't this Bullard's Drugstore?
Yes, but it was taken over by the Midway chain.
- Oh. - But old Mr Bullard's still here.
- He's right over there by the phone. - Thanks.
Yes, sir?
- Oh, Fred! - Hello, Mr Bullard.
- lt's good to see you again. - lt's good to see you.
- Say, what happened here? - Well, l sold out.
Midway had been after this location for a long time.
- Didn't he used to work here? - Yes, he did.
l'll bet he's back looking for a job.
And he'll get it, too, with all those ribbons on his chest.
Well, nobody's job is safe with all these servicemen crowding in.
- Meet our new manager, Mr Thorpe. - Oh, no, l don't think so.
l just dropped in to say hello to you. l don't want that old job back.
Yes, l know. But Midway's a big, big outfit.
You never can tell. Come along.
- Thank you, Mr Bullard. - l'll see you later.
- l see you had a splendid war record. - Just average, Mr Thorpe.
Since this business changed hands, we're not obliged to give you your old job back.
l wasn't thinking of my old job. l'm looking for a better one.
What are your qualifications? Your experience?
Two years behind a soda fountain, three years behind a Norden bombsight.
Yeah. While in the army, did you have any experience in procurement?
- No. - Purchasing of supplies, materials?
No, l just dropped bombs.
- Did you do any personnel work? - No.
But as an officer you surely had to act in an executive capacity,
you had to command men, be responsible for the morale?
l was only responsible for getting the bombs on the target.
- l didn't command anybody. - l'm sure that required great skill.
But, unfortunately, we've no opportunities for that with Midway Drugs.
Yeah.
We may be able to provide an opening as assistant to Mr Merkel, the floor manager.
- ''Sticky'' Merkel? - Clarence Merkel.
That's the fella. He was my assistant at the soda fountain.
He's a very good man.
lncidentally, your work would require part-time duties at the soda fountain.
- At what salary? - 32.50 per week.
32.50! l used to make over $400 a month in the air force.
The war is over, Derry.
l think l'll look around, Mr Thorpe. Thank you, very much.
And take care of that cold.
- l gotta run. l'll drop back later. - All right, Fred. Bye.
Excuse me, girls.
No, conditions are none too good right now, Al.
Considerable uncertainty in business.
Strikes. Taxes still ruinous.
- You like that cigar? - Yes, Mr Milton. lt's fine.
Hard to get those in the war, but they come in regularly from Havana now.
Things will readjust themselves in time.
We want you back here with us, Al.
That's very nice of you, Mr Milton, but l noticed Steese sitting at my old desk.
- l wouldn't want to push him out. - Steese'll stay right there.
You're moving up.
What do you say to being vice president in charge of small loans, at $1 2,000 a year?
What do you say to that, huh?
l... l'd say it can't be true.
Job's there, Al.
- You're the man for it. - What makes you think l am, Mr Milton?
Well, your war experience would prove invaluable to us here.
See, we have many new problems. This Gl Bill of Rights, for instance.
lt involves us in consideration of all kinds of loans to ex-servicemen.
We need a man who understands the soldiers' problems,
and who's well grounded in the fundamental principles of sound banking.
ln other words, you.
Well? What do you say, Al?
Well, l'm... l'm overwhelmed.
Of course. Of course.
- Will you bring them in now, please? - Yes, sir.
- l'd thought of taking it easy... - Naturally.
After what you've been through, you need a vacation. Thank you.
You're entitled to enjoy life before you come back to work.
- lt's very kind of you to say that. - When you get a chance...
This contains reports with all the figures on our Small Loans Department.
Just in your spare time, of course.
Oh, the briefcase is a slight gift from the bank.
Well, thank you. Thank you very much, Mr Milton.
- Glad to have you back with us, Al. - Thank you, sir.
Sweetheart, l knew you'd be heartbroken.
But listen, you can get another blonde. What about Sylvia Mack?
Oh, you're crazy. l think her legs are cute.
l'm sorry too, but he doesn't want me to work nights.
He says it's inconvenient.
Oh, he's wonderful. And how!
Snappy uniform, a whole ribbon counter on his chest.
- Sure, l'll bring him in sometime. - (door bell)
Hey, the door bell's ringing. l guess that's my Freddy.
Bye.
Hey, Marie, have you got an extra key? l'd like to have it.
- What are you looking at? - Holy smoke, honey!
That's the first time l've ever seen you in civilian clothes.
Well, from now on, honey, you're not gonna see me in anything else.
l just got it out of the mothballs over at Pop's house.
l called up the Blue Devil.
- Who? - The nightclub. l told 'em l'm through.
- Oh, swell. - But let's go there for dinner.
l'd like to introduce you. They've heard all about you.
Anything you say, honey. Here's some perfume l bought in Paris.
Oh! Fleurette No. 5!
And this scarf's cute! To think of having things from Paris!
Freddy, honey, you're just a big hunk of heaven. What's that a picture of?
Bomb hits on Düsseldorf.
That's my B-1 7.
What are those?
- Little black flowers that grow in the sky. - Huh?
- Hey, that's me! - l had it pasted above my bombsight.
- lt took a lot of trips over Germany. - That's sweet.
The guys'd kid me about it. They'd take a look at it and ask ''Who's the dame?''
When l told 'em it was my wife they'd say ''Nobody's got a wife looks like that.''
''What's her telephone number?''
When we go out will you wear your uniform?
- Oh, no. - For my sake.
- l'm sorry, baby. - l'd be so proud to be out with you.
Won't you, please?
Well, seeing as it's you and seeing as l can't find any place to hang it, all right.
But it's the last time.
lf you don't like me in civilian clothes, we'll just have to stay here all the time.
Would that be so bad?
You gotta get yourself some new clothes. That suit's awful.
l know, it's terrible. But they tell me you can't buy anything new now.
l know where you can get snappy suits made to order.
- You mean there's a black market? - lf you know the right people,
and don't care how much you spend...
We're not worrying about that, baby. l got money, cash money.
Nearly 1 ,000 bucks, from the good old US Treasury.
Oh, now you look wonderful!
You look like yourself.
lt's so wonderful, l can hardly believe it.
Now we can have a real honeymoon, without a care in the world.
Just as if nothing had ever happened. Just as if you'd never gone away.
We're right back where we started.
- Don't say that, Marie. - Don't say what?
That we're right back where we started. We never wanna be back there.
But why not? What is it? What's the matter?
Oh, never mind. Skip it. l went back to the drugstore today and l just got reminded.
Come on, let's go out and have fun.