- Hello, Wilma. - Good afternoon, Mr Parrish.
- Have you seen Homer? - He's in the woodshed.
He wants to practise shooting.
So he can go hunting.
You'd have thought he'd seen enough shooting in the war.
l guess he just wants to find something to occupy himself.
l guess so.
l wish there was something l knew to do for him.
His mother and l have tried to make him feel at home,
but he just keeps to himself all the time.
Hello, Luella. What are you kids doing?
Nothing. We're just playing.
That's his girl. They're engaged.
- Oh. Hello, Wilma. - Hello.
- Looking for something? - No. Go right ahead.
- How'd you do, Homer? - Only fair.
Well, you did fine.
l'll do better.
l've been wanting to talk to you.
- What about? - About everything. About us.
What about us? We're all right, aren't we?
No. Listen to me, Homer.
l'm listening.
You wrote me that when you got home you and l were going to be married.
lf you wrote that once, you wrote it 100 times. lsn't that true?
Yes, but things are different now.
Have you changed your mind?
Have l said anything about changing my mind?
No.
That's just it. You haven't said anything about anything.
- That's not loaded, is it? - Of course it isn't.
Don't you think l know how to handle a gun?
l don't know what to think, Homer.
All l know is, l was in love with you when you left and l'm in love with you now.
Other things may have changed, but that hasn't.
You wanna see how the hooks work?
You wanna see the freak?
All right, l'll show you!
Take a good look!
l didn't mean anything, Homer.
l was only...
l'm... l'm sorry, Luella.
lt isn't your fault.
Go on and play with your friends.
l know, Wilma. l was wrong.
l shouldn't have acted like that.
lt wasn't her that... burned my hands off.
l'll be all right. l just gotta work it out myself.
- l could help you, Homer, if you'd let me. - l've gotta work it out myself.
All l've wanted is for people to treat me like anybody else,
instead of pitying me.
l guess it's hard for them to do that.
l've just gotta learn to get used to it and pay no attention.
- Couldn't l...? - No! l've gotta do it myself.
- Yes? - OK, Pop, l'm going to bed now.
Be right with you, Homer.
- Night, son. - Good night, Pop.
Thanks.
- Hello, babe. - What you got there?
Our supper. Cream of corn soup, potato salad, salami and liverwurst.
We're going to Jackie's Hot Spot. l made a reservation.
- We're eating at home. - Are you sick or something?
No, dear. Broke.
- Broke? - You got it.
Well, what happened? Where did it go to?
We spent it, babe. That's what happened.
l didn't tell you the money was almost gone
because l kept hoping l was gonna land a good job.
But l'm not going to get one,
so we'll have to forget about Jackie's Hot Spot and the Blue Devil and all the rest.
Why couldn't you get a job? Have you tried?
Sure. l've been all over town - all the employment offices and the USES.
They say l ought to spend a couple of years as an apprentice,
or go to a trade school.
A couple of years, with you going to kindergarten.
And what would l be doing in the meantime?
You can always help me with my homework.
- Fred. - Yeah?
- Are you really all right? - Of course l'm all right. Why?
l mean, in your mind. ls anything...?
My mind?! You mean you think l'm going goofy?
l've been wondering.
What was Gadowsky?
- Where did you hear about him? - You talk in your sleep.
Something's on fire and you want somebody to get out.
You keep saying ''Gadowsky! Gadowsky!''
Gadorsky.
He was a friend of mine, a B-1 7 pilot. He got it over Berlin.
- Can't you get it out of your system? - Oh, sure
The war's over. You won't get anyplace till you stop thinking about it.
- Come on, snap out of it! - OK, honey, l'll do that
l didn't tell you, Fred, but l got a little money saved.
Dinner's on me tonight.
You'd better keep on saving it. lt might come in handy sometime.
l appreciate the offer, but we're eating at home.
Well, l'm hungry. l'm going out by myself.
- You're not going. You'll eat what l cook. - Let go of me!
When we married, the justice of the peace said ''For better, for worse''. Remember?
- This is the ''worse''. - When do we get the ''better''?
When l get wise to myself, l guess.
When l realise l'm not an officer and a gentleman any more,
l'm just another soda jerk out of a job.
Go and sit down and read a magazine or listen to the radio while l cook the soup.
l'll fix you a nice meal, honey.
Just like l used to do behind the fountain, before the war.
Perfume and Cosmetics is our outstanding feature.
lt accounts for 34°/. of gross intake and an even higher proportion of profits.
As you will surmise, our customers in this department are women.
Yes, l'd surmised that.
You must familiarise yourself with the correct pronunciation of all the perfumes.
- Rêve Romantique. - That means Romantic Dream.
- You speak French? - Sticky, just enough to go to Paris bars.
Let's get one thing straight, Derry. The name ''Sticky'' is out.
Yes, Mr Merkel. l understand.
This week we're pushing the new Champagne Bubble Bath. $1 .98.
Down here are some special... Come here.
Down here are some specially made-up toilet sets...
- Thank you. - Morning, Mr Latham.
- Morning. - Good morning, Mr Stephenson.
What have we here? The Bretton Woods Agreement?
That's a Mr Novak, waiting over there. He's applying for a Gl loan.
- Oh, good. l'll see him. - Mr Novak.
- Sit down, Mr Novak. - Thank you, sir.
Don't ''sir'' me, Mr Novak.
l'm a sergeant.
- l see you were in the navy. - Yes, sir.
l mean, yes, l was. ln the Seabees.
Where'd you operate?
All over the Pacific. One island after another.
What'd you do, mostly?
Go in before the landings and clear the mines and underwater obstructions.
When they'd taken enough ground for an airstrip we'd build it.
- Fairly interesting work, eh? - No, it got monotonous.
Those islands all look alike. Until lwo Jima. That was different.
So l've heard.
l see you have quite a family. A wife and four children.
Yes. There'd have been more if l hadn't been away three years.
- And now you wanna buy a farm. - Yes, sir.
Got my eye on a fine piece of property.
40 acres, out near Anton Corners.
What about collateral?
- Collateral? What's that? - Security for your loan.
What can you put up in the way of property?
Have you any stocks and bonds? Real estate? Valuables of any kind?
No, Mr Stephenson. You see, the point is, l haven't got any property.
That's why l want the loan, so l can get the property.
l see.
No collateral. That makes things difficult.
l'm a good farmer, Mr Stephenson.
Why, even during the war l kept my hand in.
l used to spend my spare time down on those islands working truck gardens
so my outfit could have fresh tomatoes and green corn and all that.
And before the war l was a sharecropper, like my father before me.
And now, l feel l'd like to have a little piece of my own to work.
- You like to grow things, eh? - Yes, sir.
And with the food shortage all over the world,
farming's about the most important work there is.
l mean... Well, don't you think so, Mr Stephenson?
Yes.
You see, Mr Stephenson, l don't feel this is asking the bank for a handout.
l feel it's my right. At least, that's what l've been told by other ex-servicemen:
that the government guarantees loans to us...
Your loan would be administered through this bank,
which would put up half of the $6,000 you require.
Now, that involves risk for this bank, Mr Novak.
Excuse me.
- Al! - Homer!
- Look at you! - Look at you!
- So this is where you work. - Sort of. Are you sticking up the bank?
Look, 200 leaves of cabbage. That's what l get every month from now on.
- Pretty soft, eh? - Pretty soft.
- You sure we haven't short-changed you? - l kept my eye on the guy counting it out.
Did you know Fred Derry had a job at the Midway Drugstore?
- No, l didn't. - He introduced me to his wife.
- Yeah? - (whistles) Some dish.
We'll all have to get together at Butch's.
- Fine. That's where l'm going now. - Yeah?
- To take a piano lesson. - You... Uh-huh?
Take one for me.
- See you later. - So long, Homer.
Well, as l was saying, Mr Novak, there is an element of risk involved.
We'll have to have the property appraised. But you'll get your loan.
Say, Mr Stephenson, l don't know how to begin to thank you.
Don't try. You look like a good risk to me.
When the tomato plants start producing, l want free samples.
- l'll tell you when the papers are ready. - Thank you, sir. Thank you.
God bless you.
l've seen advertisements about this.
Night of Bliss. ls it all that they say it is?
What do they say it is? ''Haunting, provocative, languorous.''
Oh, yes, l'm sure it's all of those.
Dexter!
- Don't play with those toys, bud. - My name ain't Bud!
- Dexter, stop that. - l just wanted to see how it worked.
Sorry. You heard what Mommy said.
Ooh, Seduction. How much is that?
This is... lt's quite expensive. lt's 16.50. But it's a nice size.
You see what l mean?
- But it's a good, safe bet. - Just what do you mean by that?
Well, l mean it's... it's a perfume that fits any mood.
Oh!
- All right, l'll take it. - Very good, madam.
Mommy! Mommy, look! Bang, bang, bang, bang!
l shot it down! l shot it down in flames!
l'm very sorry... Oh, hello.
Hello.
Thank you very much. l'll be with you in just a moment, madam.
Will you take this, please?
This lady will have your package in a moment.
- Thank you very much. Come in again. - Thank you.
- You were wonderful. - l wanted to smack him.
lt's against the rules to chat, unless it's a sale.
Oh. All right, l'll buy something.
- What's this? - Youth Recaptured, a complexion cream.
But you don't need any of that phoney stuff.
That's vanishing cream. This is a vanishing-cream remover.
l'll tell you how you can save money. lf you don't put that on, you don't need this.
How about some lotion? Here's one at $2.98.
And you'd be overcharged at half the price.
l didn't really come in to buy anything.
Dad told me you were working here. l just dropped in to say hello.
Just a minute. l have...
l have an hour off at one o'clock. Are you doing anything for lunch?
- Why, no. - Thank you, madam.
l'll meet you outside in 20 minutes. Come in again.
Thank you.
- The apple pie, she's homemade. - Good.
Thank you.
lt is a nice little place. l never heard of it before.
l used to come here now and then in the old days, before the war.
l used to think of this place when l was overseas.
l thought ''When l get back home l'm never gonna eat in a dump like Lucia's.''
What else did you think you wouldn't do?
l never had any clear ideas, but there were two things l was sure of.
One, that l knew l'd never go back to that drugstore.
What was the other thing?
That was even sillier.
l dreamed l was gonna have my own home.
Just a nice little house for my wife and me out in the country...
ln the suburbs, anyway.
That's the cockeyed kind of dream you have when you're overseas.
You don't have to be overseas to have dreams like that.
Yeah. You can get crazy ideas right here at home.
- You have to be back at work at two? - Yeah.
Well, hadn't you better...?
- Yeah. Check, please. - 85c apiece for lunch, plus tax, is $1 .76.
OK.
- Thank you very much. Goodbye. - Bye.
- Goodbye, signorina. Come again. - We'll do that. So long.
Arrivederci.
Well...
That shouldn't have happened.
But l guess it had to.
- Goodbye, Peggy. - Goodbye.
We were discussing this loan to this man... What's his name?
Novak.
Yes. Yes, l approved it.
May l ask, Al, on what basis?
On the basis of my own judgment. Novak looked to me like a good bet.
But the man has no collateral, no security.
- Evidently, you saw something in him. - Yes, Mr Milton.
- What was it? - Security.
Collateral.
ln the army l was with men stripped of everything in the way of property
except what they carried around with them and inside them.
l saw them being tested. Some of them stood up to it, some didn't.
But you could tell which ones you could count on.
l tell you, this man Novak is OK.
His ''collateral'' is in his hands, in his heart, in his guts. ln his right as a citizen.
- Nobody's denying him his rights. - We are. lf we deny him his chance...
Gentlemen, there's no need to raise our voices.
Of course, since you've approved the loan, the incident is closed.
- However, in the future, Al... - Yes, l understand, Mr Milton.
ln the future l must exercise more caution.
Thank you, Mr Prew.
Al, uh...
Al, you know how l feel about you and always have.
Why, l've always considered you one of the family, so to speak.
Like my own s... younger brother.
l picked you personally for this job, and l know you'll make good.
We do have a desire to extend a helping hand to returning veterans when possible.
But we must all remember that this is not our money we're doling out.
lt belongs to our depositors, and we can't gamble with it.
l'll remember, Mr Milton.
We'll meet at the Union Club at 7.30.
- And give my best to your charming wife. - Thank you, Mr Milton.
- Hello. - Oh, hello.
Hurry and get dressed. And wear your new suit.
We're going to dinner at the Embassy Club.
Don't worry, it won't cost a nickel. We got invited.
- Who invited us? - Miss Peggy Stephenson.
She called up, said her father was a friend of yours. She sounded like a nice kid.
She's going out with some boyfriend and asked us on a double date, as guests.
- You told her we could go? - You bet l did.
Well, call her up and tell her we can't go. Tell her l made another engagement.
- Say, who is this Peggy Stephenson? - She's a girl.
l didn't think she was a kangaroo. Where'd you meet her?
The night l got back, Al Stephenson and his wife took me home.
She's their daughter. l'd never seen her before.
Or since?
lf you wanna make anything out of this, you'll be disappointed.
l just don't like accepting handouts.
You'd better get used to it, cos we won't get much fun on your 32.50 a week!
Hold still!
You'll probably have to make a speech.
lt's my plan to meet that situation by getting well plastered.
- Peggy's going out with Woody Merrill. - Who's he?
- You know, Bill Merrill's son. - Oh, yeah.
Fine people, the Merrills. Strictly TCR.
- What's that? - Top credit rating.
- Are his intentions honourable? - l doubt it.
But they're going to be chaperoned by Fred Derry and his wife.
Fred Derry? Ha! Some chaperone!
- l think she's crazy about him. - Who, Merrill?
No, Fred.
Have you got evidence to support that amazing statement?
- Just a hunch. - Oh.
But my hunches are pretty good.
- Ah! Cocktails! - No, you don't.
l made this for Woody Merrill.
Surely you wouldn't deny your father a drop on a cold night like this.
- l would if l could. - l hear you're gonna see Fred, hm?
- Yes. - What's his wife like?
l don't know. l'll tell you later.
They'll have cocktails at the Union Club.
l know the kind Mrs Milton serves: pink, sweet and nauseating.
l was just asking Peggy about Fred's wife.
Never mind, Mom. l know what you're both thinking.
What are we thinking?
You're afraid l may be in love with Fred.
- Why, l never had any such idea! - Shut up, Al.
Are you in love with him?
Yes.
But l don't want to be.
That's why l asked him and his wife to go out with us this evening.
l think it ought to have a very healthy effect on me.
Once l get to know her, l...
l'm sure l'll stop being silly about the whole thing.
We don't need to worry about that child. She can take care of herself.
That's what she thinks.
- Good evening. - Good evening.
- You know my father. - Mr Stephenson.
- Nice to see you again. Have a drink? - Thank you.
l've played golf with your father.
- Been to the club since you got back? - l haven't had a chance.
- Al, we'll be late. - Right.
- Good night. - Night.
- Have a good time, children. - Thank you.
Give my best to Fred.
Al, come on!
Yes, Mr Milton!
- Hello, Peggy. - Oh, Woody, don't be a bore.
We'll be late.
Our country must stand today where it has always stood,
the citadel of individual initiative,
the land of unlimited opportunity for all.
lt is peculiarly appropriate
that we meet here tonight to honour one who has valiantly fought for that freedom.
Ladies and gentlemen, we greet our friend, our co-worker, our hero,
Al Stephenson.
Come on, on your feet, Al. On your feet.
Ladies and gentlemen, l'm very happy to be here.
ln fact, l'm very happy to be anywhere.
ln fact, l'm very happy!
Perhaps it'd be a good idea if you just put that bottle down right here.
- Save yourself quite a number of trips. - Good old Al! (polite laugh)
l'm glad to see you've all pulled through so well.
As Mr Milton so perfectly expressed it,
our country stands today... where it stands today. Wherever that is.
l'm sure you'd all agree with me if l said that now's the time to stop this nonsense,
face facts, get down to brass tacks, forget about the war, and go fishing.
But l'm not gonna say it.
l'm just going to sum the whole thing up in one word.
My wife doesn't think l'd better sum it up in that one word.
The reason for my success as a sergeant
is due primarily to my previous training in the Cornbelt Loan and Trust Company.
The knowledge l acquired in the good old bank
l applied to my problems in the infantry.
For instance, one day in Okinawa, a major says ''You see that hill?''
l said ''Yes, sir. l see it.'' ''All right,'' he said.
''You and your platoon will attack said hill and take it.''
So l said ''But that operation involves considerable risk.''
''We haven't sufficient collateral.''
''l'm aware of that'', said the major, ''but you are the guys who are going to take it.''
So l said to him ''l'm sorry, Major. No collateral, no hill.''
So we didn't take the hill, and we lost the war.
Uh, l think that little story has considerable significance.
But l've... l've forgotten what it is.
Uh...
And now, in conclusion, l'd like to tell you a humorous anecdote.
l know several humorous anecdotes, but l can't think of any way to clean 'em up!
- (ripple of laughter) - So l'll only say this much.
l love the Cornbelt Loan and Trust Company.
Some say that the bank is suffering from hardening of the arteries and of the heart.
l refuse to listen to such radical talk.
l say that our bank is alive, it's generous, it's... it's human!
And we're going to have such a line of customers
seeking and getting small loans
that people will think we're gambling with the depositors' money.
And we will be!
We'll be gambling on the future of this country.
l thank you.
Woody, l can't take it any more. Let's sit down.
We can't get out. l'm trapped.
How do you do? Ow!
Beg your pardon!
Well, anyway, we can't fall down.
- ls that table satisfactory? - Everything's lovely.
Thank you very much. Would you care to order now?
Sorry.
- l can't understand it. - What?
Why you're not mad about me. l think l'm attractive.
You are, Woody. You're irresistible.
Then why do you go on resisting me?
All marriages don't have to be like that one.
- Which one? - Your friends, Fred and Marie.
- What's wrong with their marriage? - Nothing, except one slight detail.
They just don't like each other.
lt's murder on the dance floor. lt's awful!
- You don't wanna dance any more? - Love to! You don't mind if l borrow him?
No, not at all.
- Why did you do this, Peggy? - Do what? What do you mean?
Calling up Marie and going out like this. Together.
- l did it deliberately. - Why?
To prove to myself that what happened this afternoon didn't really happen.
But it did happen.
lt had to happen.
And if we go on seeing each other, Peggy, it'll happen again.
Be-bop a-ree-bop
Be-bop...
Excuse us.
Excuse me. Excuse me.
We want to have a picture taken in a few minutes.
Fine. l'll be here.
Excuse me.
- Hello, Marie. - Good evening.
- You got to watch yourself. More wolves! - l know.
l'd pay no attention to the sign. Go right in!
- Gee, Woody's a cute boy. - He's a lot of fun.
He's got dough, too. His family own half the city.
He has a terrific yen for you.
l don't want to butt into your affairs, but if you take my advice, you'll grab Woody!
Woody and l are good friends, but there's no romance.
Never mind the romantic part. That takes care of itself. l speak from experience.
They'll tell you money isn't everything. Maybe it isn't but, boy, how it helps!
While Fred was away l was drawing over $500 a month.
l mean, from his army pay and the job l had.
Now the two of us gotta live on what Fred gets from the drugstore. 32.50 a week!
Poor Fred. Bet you think he's a sourpuss. He didn't used to be that way, though.
Army's had an awful effect on him. Knocked all the life out of him!
Fred isn't going to be satisfied with that job at the drugstore.
- He'll get something better. - Maybe in five years he'll draw 50 bucks.
You can't have happy marriages on that kind of dough.
You know, Peggy, you're cute. But you could use a little more make-up.
And get yourself a better hairdo. l'll give you the name of my hairdresser.
Oh, but you've got nothing to worry about.
You'll get Woody and live happily ever after. lt's in the bag!
Thank you.
Now, everybody get in close together, put our arms around each other.
Come on, Fred. l don't mind.
Ooh! Wait, l'll tell you when. Everybody, happy. Let's all be talking.
What a marvellous party. We'll have to do this again.
OK, shoot the picture!
We want four copies, honey.
Mr Milton certainly acted enthusiastic about your speech.
Yeah, sure. That's how he acted, the old hypocrite.
- Suppose he'll fire you in the morning? - No, he'll never do anything impetuous.
He'll back me up, till the next time l give a loan to some little guy.
- Then l'll have to fight it out again. - (knock at door)
- Yes? - lt's me, Peggy.
Oh, come in, darling.
- Did you have a good time? - Not very.
Ah, what's all this? Children's Hour?
l beg your pardon.
Well? What's she like?
l'm glad l went out with them.
Even though it was a disagreeable experience.
lt took guts, honey. But you got plenty.
l'll need them. l've made up my mind.
- Good girl. - To do what?
l'm going to break that marriage up.
l can't stand seeing Fred tied to a woman he doesn't love.
And who doesn't love him.
lt's horrible for him. lt's humiliating, and it's killing his spirit.
Somebody's got to help him.
- Are you sure he doesn't love her? - Of course l am.
Did he tell you?
- Did she? - No.
So you just jumped to conclusions!
He doesn't love her, he hates her. l know it.
- l know it. - Who are you, God?!
How did you get this power to interfere in people's lives?
ls Fred in love with you?
Yes.
- You've been seeing him? - Only once. Today.
Oh, it was all perfectly respectable.
But when we were saying goodbye, he...
he took me in his arms and kissed me and...
and l knew.
You think a kiss from a smooth operator like Fred means anything?!
You don't know him. You don't know anything about what's inside him.
Neither does she. His wife.
That's probably what she thought -
a smooth operator with money in his pockets.
But now he isn't smooth any longer, and she's lost interest.
Whereas you're possessed of all the wisdom of the ages
You can see into the secret recesses of his innermost soul
l can see because l love him.
So you're gonna break this marriage up. Have you decided how?
Are you gonna do it with an axe?
lt's none of your business how l'm going to do it!
You've forgotten what it's like to be in love!
Hear that? l'm so old and decrepit, l've forgotten how it feels to want somebody.
Peggy didn't mean that. Did you, darling?
No.
l don't know what l do mean.
lt's just that everything has always been so perfect for you.
You loved each other and you got married in a big church
and you had a honeymoon in the South of France.
You never had any trouble of any kind.
So how can you possibly understand how it is with Fred and me?
We never had any trouble?
How many times have l told you l hated you and believed it in my heart?
How many times have you said you were sick of me, that we were all washed up?
How many times have we had to fall in love all over again?
l'm sorry, Mom.
Never mind about that, darling.
- Fred. - Hiya, Butch.
- Hello, Fred. - Al here?
- He's back there, waiting for you. - See you later.
- Hiya, Al. - Sit down, Fred.
- What are you drinking? - A cup of coffee. Gotta have a clear head.
- A cup of coffee and a bourbon and soda. - Yes, sir.
What's on your mind, Al? Want to borrow some money or something?
l, uh... called you to ask you a question.
OK. Shoot.
Are you in love with Peggy?
- ls there a law compelling me to answer? - No.
Nevertheless, l repeat: are you in love with Peggy?
Yes.
l thank you for a short and honest answer.
You're welcome. Now what do we take up next?
Your wife. What about her?
Where does she fit in this romantic situation?
ls that any of your business?
That's what Peggy said - that it's none of my business.
Oh, you've had her on the carpet, too.
She volunteered some information to her mother and me.
You see, we have a rather unusual relationship in our family.
lt may seem corny and mid-Victorian, but we tell each other things.
l happen to be quite fond of Peggy, and l...
You don't want her mixed up with a heel.
l haven't called you a heel. Yet.
l just don't want to see her get into this mess.
OK, chum, what do we do now?
Step out and settle this thing in the alley?
l wouldn't want to recommend that as a solution.
l've learned to fight dirty.
lf l got tangled up with you, l might break your neck.
l wouldn't like that.
- You see, l'm quite fond of you, too. - Thanks.
But l don't like the idea of you sneaking around corners to see Peggy,
taking her love on a bootleg basis.
l give you fair warning, l'll do everything l can to keep her away from you,
to help her forget about you and get her married to a guy who'll make her happy.
Then l guess that's it, Al.
l don't see her any more.
l'll put that in the form of a guarantee.
l won't see her any more.
l'll call her up and tell her so.
- That satisfy you? - Yeah.
- Anything else on your mind? - No.
OK, chum. So long.
So long, Fred.
The drinks are on me.
- Hello, Homer. - Hi, Steve.
Say, Al Stephenson's back there.
- Al? - Yeah.
- Hi, Al. - Hello, Homer.
- How are you? - Fine, thanks.
- Hello, Homer. - Hi, Butch.
- Say, let's show Al that new routine. - Sure.
Got something to show you, Al. Well, come on.
- Boy, wait till you hear this. - All set, kid?
- l'm ready when you are. - OK. One, two, three.
( ''Chopsticks'')
That's fine!
What's the matter? Didn't you like it, Al?
Sure, it was swell. l thought you were kidding about the piano lessons.
Fred! Hey, Fred!
That was Fred.
Yeah.
- ls anything wrong? - No, he had to go back to the drugstore.
Come on, Homer, buy me a drink.
Who was it?
Fred.
He said he's sorry for what happened, but it was just one of those things.
He said it wouldn't be fair to his wife for us to see each other any more because...
l'm obviously the kind of girl that takes these things too seriously.
Then he said goodbye, very politely, and hung up.
Well, l guess you and Dad won't have to worry about me any more.
That's the end of my career as a home-wrecker.
Mom, l know you feel sorry for me. You think my poor little heart is broken.
But you can save your sympathy. l can see things clearer now.
l made a fool of myself.
l'm getting some sense hammered into me now.
l'm glad l'm out of that mess.
l'm glad l'll never see him again! l...
Two chocolate sundaes coming up.
What about a ham and cheese on whole-wheat?
Ham and cheese coming up.
Here you are.
Thank you.
- Hello, Homer. How've you been? - Hi, Fred.
- Glad to see you. - Say, Fred.
- Yeah? - What happened at Butch's?
- What do you mean? - You and Al. Was there any trouble?
Oh, no. We were just having a little friendly chat.
- There you are, sir. - Thanks.
- What'll yours be, Homer? - Oh, l don't care. A chocolate sundae.
OK.
Hi.
- How are you, soldier? - Sailor.
Excuse me.
Say, uh... do you mind if l ask you a personal question?
l know what it is. How did l get these hooks, and how do they work?
That's what everybody says when they start off ''Mind if l ask you a question?''
Well, l'll tell you. l got sick and tired of that old pair of hands l had.
An awful lot of trouble, washing them and manicuring my nails.
So l traded them in for these latest models.
They work by radar. Look.
- Pretty cute, eh? - You got plenty of guts.
lt's terrible when you see a guy like you that had to sacrifice himself. For what?
- For what?! l don't get you, mister. - Well...
- Anything else for you? - Check.
We let ourselves get sold down the river. We were pushed into war.
Sure, by the Japs and the Nazis.
The Germans and the Japs had nothing against us.
They wanted to fight the limeys and the Reds.
They would've whipped 'em, too, if we didn't get deceived into it by Washington.
What are you talking about?
We fought the wrong people, that's all.
Just read the facts, my friend. Find out for yourself why you had to lose your hands.
- Then go out and do something about it. - You'd better pay your check and go.
- Well, who do you think you are? - Pay the cashier right over there.
- Coffee, please. - Yes, ma'am.
There's another thing. Every soda jerk in this country's got an idea he's somebody!
What are you selling anyway?
l'm not selling anything but plain old-fashioned Americanism.
Some Americanism! So we're all a bunch of suckers?
So we should've been on the side of the Japs and the Nazis?
Again l say, just look at the facts.
l've seen facts. l've seen a ship go down, and 400 of my shipmates went with it.
Were those guys suckers?!
That's the unpleasant truth, and the sooner we get wise to it...
- Ooh, if l only had my hands! - You put those down!
Take your hands off him!
May l get through, please?
- Go get the druggist. - Yes, sir.
Make way, please. What happened?
- lt was Fred Derry. He hit him. - Bring some iodine and bandages.
- Yes, sir. - Don't say it, chum.
The customer's always right, so l'm fired. But this customer wasn't right.
l'll meet you outside in a minute, kid.
Gee, Fred, l'm sorry l lost you your job. But that guy...
Yeah, l know. You read about guys like that, but you don't often see 'em, luckily.
How about your girlfriend - Wilma?
- You and she gonna get married? - l don't know.
Why don't you know? Doesn't she want to get married?
lt isn't Wilma's fault. She's been swell about it.
- So then it's your fault? - Yeah, l... l guess it is.
- Will you do me a favour, Homer? - Sure, Fred. What is it?
l'm a hot one to be giving advice to the lovelorn, but go see Wilma - now.
Take her in your arms, kiss her, ask her to marry you, then marry her.
Tomorrow, if you can get a licence.
lf you want anybody to stand up for you at your wedding... There's my bus. So long.
So long, Fred.
- You all right? - l'm just going to get a glass of milk.
Just knock on the door when you want me.
OK.
Wilma! What are you doing out this hour?
l saw you were up, Homer. l saw you through the window.
l've got to talk to you.
All right, come in.
- Want some chicken? - No, thanks.
- Sure? - Yes.
- Want a glass of milk? - No, thanks, Homer.
Sit down, Wilma.
Homer, l... My family want me to go away, tomorrow.
- Where? - Up to Silver Lake. My Aunt Vera's place.
That ought to be nice.
But l don't want to go.
l want to stay here.
You see, the reason they want me to go is so that l'll forget about you.
They figure you don't want me around, you don't want to see me,
and if l go away for a while, maybe l'll get all this out of my mind.
Maybe that's a good idea, Wilma.
Maybe you ought to do that.
Do you want to get rid of me?
Tell me the truth, Homer. Do you want me to forget about you?
l want you to be free, Wilma.
To live your own life.
l don't want you tied down forever just because you've got a kind heart.
Homer, why can't you understand the way things really are? The way l really feel?
l keep trying to tell you.
But... but you don't know, Wilma.
You don't know what it'd be like to have to live with me,
to have to... face this every day, every night.
But l can only find out by trying.
lf it turns out l haven't courage enough, we'll soon know it.
Wilma, you and l have been close to each other for a long time, haven't we?
Ever since we were kids.
Yes, Homer.
l'm going upstairs to bed.
l want you to... l want you to come up and see for yourself what happens.
All right, Homer.
l've learned how to take this harness off.
l can wiggle into my pyjama top.
l'm lucky, l have my elbows. Some of the boys don't.
- But l can't button 'em up. - l'll do that, Homer.
This is when l know l'm helpless.
My hands are down there on the bed.
l can't put them on again without calling to somebody for help.
l can't smoke a cigarette or read a book.
lf that door should blow shut, l can't open it and get out of this room.
As dependent as a baby that doesn't know how to get anything except cry for it.
Well, now you know, Wilma.
Now you have an idea of what it is.
l guess you don't know what to say.
lt's all right. Go on home. Go away, like your family said.
l know what to say, Homer.
l love you. And l'm never going to leave you.
Never.
You mean, you... you didn't mind?
Of course not. l told you l loved you.
l love you, Wilma.
l always have, and... and l always will.
Good night, darling. Sleep well.
Good night, Wilma.
Hey, sugar. You'd better step on it, or your husband'll be home.
He's job-hunting. He won't come home for another hour.
- And what if he does? - l don't understand it.
All this money around and he can't get into it. What's wrong with him?
l guess he just isn't very bright.
How do you do?
Fine, thanks. Who are you?
Fred, l want you to meet Cliff Scully, an old friend of mine.
- Hiya, Freddy. - Glad to know you, Scully. Get out.
- A tough guy, huh? - Now listen, Fred.
You won't get anywhere with that attitude. Cliff's an old friend.
He's asked me out, and l'm going out.
- You heard me, chum. Get out. - What do l do next? Smack him?
Why ask her? Can't you think for yourself?
Go on. l can handle this. Wait for me downstairs.
OK.
Another ex-serviceman, huh?
Greetings. Have you had any trouble getting readjusted?
Not in particular. lt's easy if you just take everything in your stride.
That's what l've heard.
- Be seeing you. - l doubt it.
- When did you pick him up? - He's an old friend.
He just dropped in for a friendly drink.
- Did you know him while l was away? - l knew lots of people.
- What do you think l did all those years? - l don't know, but l can guess.
Go ahead, guess. l could do some guessing myself.
What were you up to in London and Paris and all those places?
l've given you every chance to make something of yourself. l gave up my job.
l gave up the best years of my life! And what have you done? You've flopped.
Couldn't even hold a job at the drugstore.
So l'm going back to work for myself. And l'm going to live for myself, too.
And in case you don't understand English, l'm gonna get a divorce.
What have you got to say to that?
Don't keep Cliff waiting.
- What are you gonna do? - l'm going away.
- Where? - As far away from Boone City as l can get.
That's a good idea. You'll get a good job someplace else.
There are drugstores everywhere.
Here's an old sweater l found. Remember?
- Sure. - You might need it sometime.
- Thanks, Hortense. - You forgot these, son.
- Oh, l don't want 'em, Pop. - What are they?
Fancy words that don't mean anything. You can throw 'em away.
Say, these are citations for your medals.
Why, Freddy, you never showed them to us.
Those things came in the packages with K rations.
Well, we'll treasure them, my boy.
l'll get the socks l washed for you.
Think you're doing the right thing, son?
Going? Who's to say in advance whether it's the right thing or the wrong thing?
lt just means a fresh start in some other place.
How do you know it'll be different anyplace else?
There's a need here for fellas like yourself that fought and won the war.
l know you haven't had the best of breaks since you got back, but...
you ought to stick here and slug it out a while longer on your own home ground.
You're all right, Pop.
But l know when it's time to bail out.
l gotta get going.
- Here are your clean socks, Fred. - Just put 'em in here.
- Take good care of the old man. - l'll do my best.
- But we'll miss you, Freddy. - You ought to be used to that by now.
So long, Pop.
We've got two flights going out of here tonight. One eastbound, one westbound.
You'll have to ask the pilot. Which way you going?
Which one leaves first?
Eastbound. Eight o'clock.
That'll be fine. l'll just hang around the field until then.
You don't seem to care where you're going.
That's right, chum. l don't.
Hortense.
Hortense!
Listen to this. Sit down.
''Headquarters, 8th Air Force. Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.''
Um... Here.
''Despite intense pain, shock and loss of blood,
with complete disregard of his personal safety,
Captain Derry crawled back to his bombsight,
guided his formation on a perfect run over the objective
and released his bombs with great accuracy.''
''The heroism, devotion to duty, professional skill and coolness under fire
displayed by Captain Derry,
under the most difficult conditions,
reflect highest credit on himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.''
''By command of Lieutenant General Doolittle.''
Hey, bud, what are you doing up there?
Hey, you!
What are you doing in that airplane?
- l used to work in one of those. - Reviving old memories, huh?
Or maybe getting some of 'em out of my system.
Well, take your last look. We're breaking 'em up.
Yeah, l know. You're the junkman. You get everything sooner or later.
This is no junk. We're using this material for building prefabricated houses.
You don't need any help, do you?
- Out of a job? - That's it.
l see. One of the fallen angels of the air force.
Well, pardon me if l show no sympathy.
While you glamour boys were up in the wild blue yonder, l was down in a tank.
Sometime l'll be glad to hear the story of your war experiences.
What l asked you for was a job. Have you got one?
- Do you know anything about building? - No. But l know how to learn.
Same as l learned that job up there.
- Hey, Gus. - Yes?
See if you think this guy can be of any use to us.
Thanks.
Now, children, let's remember the words.
The bride will come down those stairs. When l see her l'll hit the first note,
then l'll nod my head and then we'll sing, huh?
All right, let's try it.
- Here she comes. - Here...
Wait for the note.
Here's comes the bri...
That's fine.
- Mrs Cameron? - Yes. Mrs Stephenson?
- Yes. - Come right in, won't you?
- My daughter. - How do you do?
- How do you do, Mrs Cameron? - How do you do?
- There you go. - You shouldn't have.
- My daughter. - Miss Stephenson.
- Hello. - Hello, Mr Cameron.
Meet Homer's folks.
Mr and Mrs Stephenson. Miss Stephenson.
- How do you do? - How do you do?
- Hello, Al. - Hello, Butch!
- lt's good you're here. - Mr Stephenson, punch?
Hello, Butch.
- How do you do, Mrs Stephenson? - How do you do?
Steady, boy!
l heard you were leaving town. l was afraid you wouldn't stand up for me.
l'll stand up for you, kid, till l drop.
Oh, Fred, here's the ring.
Don't lose it.
- Hiya, Homer. Big day, huh? - Hi, Al.
- Hiya, Fred. - Hello, Al.
l, uh... l hear you moved back with your folks.
Yeah.
l've sampled the punch. l presume it was made for the kiddies.
- Will you have some, Homer? - l might give the wrong answers.
- How about you, Fred? - No, thanks. Maybe later.
Well, if l must be a solitary drinker, good luck, kid.
- Thank you, Al. - Al! You promised you wouldn't.
- Take a sip of this. - Hello, Fred. Homer.
- There isn't a headache in a barrel of it. - Al can take it.
- He certainly can. - Excuse me.
See for yourself.
Hello, Fred. Nice to see you again.
Hello, Peggy. Nice to see you.
Well, what have you been doing with yourself lately?
Working.
Yes... Dad told me he heard you were in some kind of building work.
Well, it's a hopeful way of putting it.
l'm really in the junk business.
An occupation for which many people feel l'm well qualified,
by temperament and training.
lt's fascinating work.
- Where's Homer? Wilma's ready. - l'll get him.
Excuse me.
Mary, Kay, go ahead. Jackie. Jackie!
Over here.
Watch me.
Here comes the bride
All dressed in white
Sweetly serene in the soft, glowing light
Lovely to see
Marching to thee
Sweet love united
For eternity
Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God and this company
to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony.
lf any man can show just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together,
let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace.
Homer, wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife?
l will.
Wilma, wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband?
l will.
Who gives this woman to be married to this man?
l do.
Now, Homer, will you take Wilma's right hand in yours and say after me:
l, Homer, take thee, Wilma, to my wedded wife.
To have and to hold from this day forward.
For better, for worse. For richer, for poorer.
ln sickness and in health. To love and to cherish till death us do part.
ln sickness and in health. To love and to cherish till death do... us do part.
Now, Wilma, with your right hand, take Homer by his right hand and say after me:
l, Wilma, take thee, Homer, to my wedded husband.
To have and to hold from this day forward.
For better, for worse. For richer, for poorer.
ln sickness and in health. To love and to cherish till death us do part.
The ring.
Place it on the fourth finger of Wilma's left hand.
Repeat after me:
With this ring, l thee wed.
Those whom God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
For as much as Homer and Wilma have consented together in holy wedlock
and have witnessed the same before God and this company,
and thereto have given and pledged their troth, each to the other,
and have declared the same by giving and receiving a ring, and by joining hands,
l pronounce that they are man and wife.
God bless you both.
You know what it'll be, don't you, Peggy?
lt may take us years to get anywhere.
We'll have no money, no decent place to live.
We'll have to work, get kicked around...