- 2 months ago
Part 3 of 5 of the 1979 period drama. Vera manages to get leave for Chrstmas, but any reunion with her fiance Roland is dashed when she receives devastating news that he has been killed in action. As she tries to find out the circumstances behind his death, she decides to apply for overseas nursing to be nearer her brother. But when further news reaches her from the front about her brother and friends, she makes a decision that could affect her future forever...
Starring Cheryl Campbell, Rupert Fraser, Emrys James, Jane Wenham, Michael Troughton, Rosalie Crutchley, June Tobin, Hazel Douglas, Kristine Howarth, Geoffrey Burridge, Kenneth Gilbert, Victor Lucas, Audrey Muir, Annabel Petrie, Guy Hussan,Sally Lehee, Unity Greenwood, plus keep your eyes peeled for a young Jamie Foreman as a cockney patient.
Starring Cheryl Campbell, Rupert Fraser, Emrys James, Jane Wenham, Michael Troughton, Rosalie Crutchley, June Tobin, Hazel Douglas, Kristine Howarth, Geoffrey Burridge, Kenneth Gilbert, Victor Lucas, Audrey Muir, Annabel Petrie, Guy Hussan,Sally Lehee, Unity Greenwood, plus keep your eyes peeled for a young Jamie Foreman as a cockney patient.
Category
πΊ
TVTranscript
00:00ΒΆΒΆ
00:30ΒΆΒΆ
01:00ΒΆΒΆ
01:10Ever the faith endures, England, my England.
01:16Take and break us, we are yours, England, my own.
01:21Life is good and joy runs high between English earth and sky.
01:26Death is death, but we shall die to the song on your bugles blown, England,
01:33to the stars on your bugles blown.
01:56ΒΆΒΆ
02:01Your sweet letter nearly made me cry.
02:04It reminded me of how much I really deserved the former one.
02:08No, it would not have been better to have thought the things and not written them.
02:13Though they did hurt me.
02:15Perhaps more than you thought they would.
02:17But it was very good for my infallible majesty.
02:20And you are adorable when you are angry.
02:23It will feel like coming to another planet to come back to England.
02:28Or rather to certain people in England.
02:32B?
02:34Come in.
02:37Everything alright?
02:40Everything's wonderful.
02:42Oh good.
02:44Hey, I see Matron saying yes.
02:48Yes, I could hardly get the words out at all.
02:50I remember saying
02:52I've only seen him once in nine months.
02:55He must be human after all.
02:58She said you'd get me a railway warrant by Saturday.
03:01Will you meet the boat train or what?
03:04No.
03:05I might mess him in the blackout.
03:07I'll go straight to Brighton.
03:08Oh yes, Brighton.
03:10Have your parents found a house yet?
03:12No, they're still in the Grand Hotel.
03:14The sale of the Buxton house hasn't gone through yet.
03:17Oh V.
03:18Aren't you excited?
03:19What will you wear?
03:22Well,
03:22I haven't cashed my father's last two checks yet.
03:26It's my half day off tomorrow.
03:29Well now, you'll need a dinner dress.
03:30Hmm.
03:32Temperature, I think.
03:33The main thing is I need a really good coat and skirt.
03:36And a nice crepe de chine blouse to go with it.
03:38Now then you'd be right whatever happened.
03:40Yes.
03:40We'd only need a little posy.
03:42I mean, it'll have to be a register office.
03:44Oh, I don't think for a moment we'll...
03:45Oh, no, no, no, no, no, of course not.
03:47But these days, you know.
03:50Yes.
03:51Yes, it's only sensible to be prepared.
03:58Betty, I can't tell you what I feel like.
04:04Wake up, corporal.
04:05Santa Claus?
04:12They've shaved off his whiskers.
04:17Somebody said you were going.
04:21Only I'll leave.
04:22Oh.
04:23Have a nice time.
04:26And you know what they say, don't you?
04:28If you can't be good,
04:29be careful.
04:30What are you doing, Edith?
04:50I'm writing to Martin and Jane to tell them where we are
04:53and about Uritari.
04:55I'm sure dozens of cards must have been sent to Buxton.
04:58People think we're still there.
05:00You'll only have to write again when we find a house.
05:03Oh, well, we're neither of a short of time.
05:08No.
05:11Now, where's Vera off to again?
05:13She's gone for a walk.
05:15On Christmas Day.
05:17Where was she all this morning?
05:18She disappeared the minute she arrived.
05:21She was sitting in the lounge to be near the phone.
05:24Have you heard anything?
05:33Are you sure there wasn't a message for you while you were out?
05:36Yes.
05:36Yes. Did you ask at the desk?
05:39Yes mother I asked at the desk.
05:51The sea's looking quite rough.
05:54What part's he coming from? Choburg?
05:57He didn't say.
05:59It's probably delayed by the weather. They won't put to see if the weather's bad over there.
06:03That's right.
06:06What time is it now?
06:08Oh it's earlier.
06:11It's only ten to four.
06:13He won't be coming straight here will he?
06:15No he'll go to his mother first Hakeema. That's not far.
06:19He can't come straight here because he doesn't even know where I am.
06:22You've let his mother know presumably.
06:24Oh yes she'll tell him where to come.
06:28Probably need a good sleep more than anything.
06:31It's very unlikely that he'll come before tomorrow.
06:34I wish you'd stop wandering around Phoebe and sit down.
06:37You're making me nervous.
06:39Sorry.
06:41How long are you home for?
06:44A week.
06:47A whole week.
07:04What time is it now?
07:11It's five to ten Vera.
07:13He won't be ringing tonight.
07:15For heaven's sake go to bed.
07:17I told you it was a silly idea coming down straight off the night shift like that.
07:21How long has it since you've had any sleep?
07:25I don't know.
07:26Must have been yesterday morning I suppose.
07:28You don't want him to arrive and find you looking a wreck do you?
07:32No I don't want that.
07:36I expect what's happened is that he's gone to his mother's
07:39and they've tried to get a message through
07:41but if there's no telephone in the cottage it would be impossible.
07:44Exactly.
07:45Because not only is it Christmas day it's Sunday as well.
07:48The post office would be shut.
07:49Yes yes that's what I've been trying to tell you for the past hour.
07:53Oh now you go and get ready for bed.
07:56And I'll have a nice glass of malted milk sent up to you.
07:59And then tomorrow you can get up and dress in your new clothes.
08:02And I dare say you'll hear from him straight after breakfast.
08:05Either that or he'll come.
08:08Yes.
08:10Yes.
08:22A telephone call from Miss Vera Britton.
08:24Thank you. She'll be down at once.
08:27Vera!
08:29Yes?
08:30No!
08:31Coming!
08:34Give me your coat.
08:36There now it's okay.
08:37Calm down Vera.
08:39Come on on with your coat.
08:41Oh my goodness that's right.
09:00When did it happen?
09:14Yes.
09:30These laid the world away.
09:48Poured out the red sweet wine of youth.
09:52Gave up the years to be of work and joy.
09:56and that unhoped serene that men call age and those who would have been their
10:03sons they gave their immortality
10:09I'll try. drink it up before it gets cold
10:26Mr. Leighton to see you sir. Mr. Griffin I'm Rowland's father oh my dear
10:40hi I felt that one of us should come. poor mother. yes indeed she's asleep now it's
10:50the first time since the news came through our daughter Claire is with her
10:55have you heard anything? just died of wounds that's all she was told yes some
11:07letters have come through. letters? there's one from his colonel quite a long one from his
11:16servant and one from Padre I think she's been trying to hope that there might have been some mistake.
11:34how did it happen? we've been looking in the papers there's no sign of any battle. no no they'd uh
11:46just taken over some new trenches and um Rowland's platoon had to clear them up
11:52he went out ahead of the wiring party to inspect the place but it was moonlight apparently and the
12:10Germans were only about a hundred yards away there was a gap that he had to cross they had a machine gun train on it
12:19well the company commander and the sergeant brought him back must have taken a lot of courage
12:29he didn't suffer very long they took him into a dressing station they they gave him a massive dose of morphia
12:38they operated the next morning but there was no real hope
12:46abdominal wounds very severe one bullet had lodged in his spine
12:55at best he would have been permanently paralyzed I don't think he would have wanted to live with that
13:03this was the 23rd the next day yes died that night 11 o'clock
13:13did he say anything leave any message apparently not
13:23it seems not to make any sense he he knew he was coming home the following day
13:36you just thought he
13:39it's just a routine inspection these things happen
13:46I don't understand
13:55Vera where are you going? where are you going? out
13:58oh but where? perhaps I could drive you for that
14:00now Vera it'd be much more sensible
14:04thank you
14:06thank you I needed to know
14:08now lass
14:09please I want to get away I just want to please
14:16what passing bells for these that die as cattle
14:27only the monstrous anger of the guns
14:30only the stuttering rifles rapid rattle
14:33can patter out their hasty horizons
14:36no mockeries now for them
14:39no prayers nor bells nor any voice of mourning save the choirs
14:46the shrill demented choirs of wailing shells
14:50and bugles calling for them from sad shires
14:56I know that if he'd been in his right mind
15:01he'd have left behind some word that I could have held in my heart for the years to come
15:12anyone who knew him will tell you how close we've always been
15:16who was with him at the end?
15:19this Jesuit Padre
15:21he's written to me giving me my son's alleged last words
15:26spoken I am asked to believe cheerfully
15:30what did he say?
15:32lying here on this hillside for six days makes me very stiff
15:38but it wasn't six days
15:40there was no hillside there was no six days
15:43but it must have been delirium
15:45precisely
15:49why a catholic priest?
15:51he was brought in to administer extreme unction
16:00I don't understand
16:02neither do I
16:03well apparently this Padre received Rowland into the catholic church five months ago
16:10five months?
16:12did you know about this?
16:14no
16:15why didn't it tell any of us?
16:17do we know that it's true?
16:19oh yes
16:20he used to go to St James's Spanish place
16:22we knew that
16:23for aesthetic reasons I always assumed
16:26but now it turns out that he put RC on his army papers
16:30in the middle of a troupe
16:35I'd rather leave him
16:37and leave him there
16:38and he's there
16:40that's the spirit that's huh
16:41he's like
16:43what is it now?
16:44yeah
16:45well
16:46I'd rather have to do that
16:47but now it's time for now
16:48I'm just going off.
17:18How's it been tonight?
17:24That's how it's been.
17:27What I came to say was...
17:30Matron asked me how you were settling down in this ward.
17:35I suppose the day sister's been complaining to her again.
17:38She blames me for everything that goes wrong around here.
17:40No. Nobody's complained to her.
17:42She was just asking.
17:44That's very kind of her. Why move me in the first place then?
17:47She was thinking of you V.
17:49She thought it would be easier for you.
17:51It doesn't matter anyway.
17:55Do you want me to ask her to put you back on days?
17:58I want something changing Betty.
18:00I'm perfectly capable of asking for myself.
18:02I just wish people would leave me alone.
18:04I was only trying to help.
18:06You can't help.
18:07Maybe not but there's no need to snap my head off for trying.
18:10Look.
18:11I know people would like it a lot better if I'd break down.
18:14Then they could all cluster round.
18:15But I'm sorry I can't help it. I'm not the crying kind.
18:18I know that.
18:20You don't have to apologize tonight.
18:22I'm not apologizing to anyone.
18:24I'm just trying to do my job.
18:26Just trying to get through the days and the nights so far I'm managing.
18:30Not to scream at the patients.
18:32You're the same with Victor as you are to us and he still turns up every time you have a day off.
18:38He must be pretty long-suffering.
18:40Don't ask him to keep coming.
18:42He comes for his own sake as well as for mine.
18:47I keep thinking if you'd been leading an attack there might have been some point in it.
18:50Yes, that's true.
18:52You wanted so much to do something heroic.
18:55You mentioned in dispatches, that kind of thing.
18:57Yes.
18:58But the way it happened was so senseless.
19:01Nothing was happening.
19:02So why did he do it in all that moonlight?
19:04It was his duty, Vera.
19:06But it was all wasted.
19:07It did no good to anyone.
19:09I don't think that's true.
19:11He was safeguarding his men.
19:13He probably saved their lives by going fast.
19:16Yes, I suppose.
19:19He wouldn't have wanted it like that, though.
19:22Not just routine.
19:24He wanted so much to do a great act of courage.
19:28I think that going on and doing one's duty in that way, day after day, never letting one's men down, shows the very highest kind of courage.
19:35Do you think so, Tom?
19:37Do you think he would have felt that?
19:39I'm sure he would.
19:41Because he was a soldier and an officer.
19:44I can't understand why, at the end, he seemed to have forgotten me.
19:52He'd never have forgotten you.
19:54But he lived for 24 hours.
19:57Yet there was no message.
19:59Why was that?
20:00It was the pain.
20:01Did you see?
20:02Yes, but the next day...
20:04He was talking to those people.
20:06They said he was calm and cheerful.
20:07He could have written a little note.
20:08Well, they'd have drugged him by that.
20:10He wasn't himself.
20:11They get all these letters.
20:16Time will heal, they say.
20:19It's no hope to me now.
20:26I got one the other day from France.
20:28I thought he might have given it to someone to post, but it was only from a padre.
20:32I thought about God.
20:39I can't feel Roland's really gone, not without saying goodbye.
20:42I can't rest.
20:43I don't know what to do.
20:45He might come and talk to his mother again.
20:48She feels the same.
20:49It could comfort one another.
20:53He was coming home the next day.
20:57How could everything have gone out of his mind?
20:59It was the Morpheon.
21:01That wasn't Roland.
21:02It was just the Morpheon.
21:04It was just the Morpheon.
21:29I'm so sorry.
21:30I've tried to think of words to write, but I know there are none that can mean anything to you in the face of this.
21:48I am so very, very sorry.
21:50No, no, she at least shan't be subjected to it.
21:59What is it? What's happening?
22:01They have sent me these things from France.
22:04Hideous things.
22:06Who has?
22:07God knows who'd have done such an obscene thing.
22:09Someone either very cruel or very stupid.
22:12No, no, don't go near it.
22:14It's just squalid.
22:15It smells of death and corruption.
22:17They've returned his clothes and belongings.
22:20I imagine it's standard procedure.
22:23I had no idea what was in it.
22:25No one can tell me that those things there have anything to do with my son.
22:30No one can detract from his memory by making me believe that.
22:36It's his spirit we have to remember.
22:39Clean and fine and free and sensitive.
22:42We must put all the rest of it out of our minds.
22:46Isn't that true?
22:47Yes, of course it is, Mrs. Lynch.
22:48Yes, of course it is, of course it is.
22:54I feel quite sick.
22:57I think I shall have to go upstairs for a while.
23:00Robert can dispose of all that.
23:03Are you coming, my dear?
23:04Would you?
23:05No, I'll stay here if you don't mind.
23:15She really does suffer, you know.
23:20Yes, I know.
23:22I'm afraid it is rather gruesome.
23:35Of course, you're a nurse.
23:37I forgot for a moment.
23:39You'll have got used to the idea that they have bodies as well as souls.
23:43Yes.
23:45He often said that he expected to be wounded.
23:48Not crippled though.
23:50I don't know how he would have faced up to that.
23:57May I?
23:58Yes, of course.
24:04It's his poems.
24:10He's the roundel.
24:12He's the villaner.
24:17He's a new one.
24:19The sunshine on the long white road
24:22that ribboned down the hill.
24:24The velvet clematis that clung around your windowsill
24:28are waiting for you still.
24:31Again, the shadowed pool shall break in dimples round your feet.
24:36And when the thrush sings in your wood,
24:39unknowing, you may meet another stranger sweet.
24:44And if he is not quite so old as the boy you used to know,
24:49and less proud too, and worthier,
24:52you may not let him go.
24:55And daisies are truer than passion flowers.
24:59It will be better soon.
25:07I didn't know it was so difficult for you.
25:09What's the good of saying you didn't know?
25:12You never stop to think.
25:14It's always the same.
25:15The slightest bit of inconvenience.
25:17And the first thing you think of is send for Vera.
25:19She ought to be here.
25:20What right is she to imagine that anything she's doing
25:22is of any importance to anyone?
25:24Vera, I was ill.
25:25Ill?
25:26Stop it, Vera.
25:27I won't have you talking to your mother like that.
25:28Well, what do you expect me to say?
25:31From the letter she wrote, I thought she must be a death store.
25:33It's an army hospital.
25:35Don't you understand that?
25:36No, I don't understand.
25:37You have to crawl on your hands and knees to get leave of absence.
25:40I had to go to three separate interviews
25:43and beg and plead and say you were desperately ill.
25:45It was a crisis.
25:46None of them believed it.
25:47They never do from a bad.
25:49They know it's the stock excuse to do a bit of shirking.
25:51Oh please, sister.
25:52Mother's not very well.
25:53You're not even in bed!
26:03I wish we could find a house.
26:06This hotel room was always draughty.
26:12The food's not as good as it was.
26:15Now...
26:16I've complained but they thought they're not at all obliging.
26:19Oh...
26:20God!
26:22Vera!
26:23I don't like saying this, Vera.
26:26But you're getting very hard and self-centred.
26:28If that's what the army hospital's doing for you, you're better out of it.
26:31Besides, I was worried about Edward going overseas.
26:34You think I'm not worried about Edward?
26:36You know what, Anne?
26:37I need a cook here.
26:38I need a cook.
26:39Look, you're all stupid.
26:40Go!
26:41Do you know me?
26:42I need a cook.
26:45I need a cook.
26:46I need a cook.
26:55I need a cook.
26:56Let's go.
26:57I'm waiting for a cook.
26:58We both live in my family.
26:59What do you mean?
27:00We should go.
27:01Our cook.
27:02We should go.
27:03she's asleep now I gave her a tablet
27:16when do you have to leave? Monday Monday morning. it'll be France. that's right.
27:24I'll come with you to the station. no no if you preferred you could go tomorrow
27:29instead. she seems to be all right now. there's nothing wrong with her. yes well I
27:36expect she panicked. I can't go back tomorrow. they gave me two days. I'll have
27:43to stick it out. it'll only look worse.
27:47I feel terrible about it. they're all overworked and I'm skulking down here.
27:52nobody's gonna think that. they all know how conscientious you are. no not lately.
27:59I just go through the motions. the other day the sister said to me
28:05Ness do you realize you've been scrubbing that Macintosh for the last half hour?
28:09didn't know.
28:12poor V.
28:15don't say that.
28:19I don't want to cry.
28:27I've been so horrible lately to them and to Betty.
28:32I thought at least there'd always be work but there isn't.
28:35I resent it. I dodge it. it makes me furious.
28:38sometimes I think I'm doing more harm than I am good.
28:42no I know that can't be true.
28:44they need all the nurses they can get.
28:46Jeffery's in hospital now. did you know?
28:50no he's not badly wounded. he's just grazed his cheek.
28:53well there's shell shock as well.
28:56it'll be quite a long time before he's fit again.
29:05everywhere I look the dark seems to be closing in.
29:09I've only had one good thing to rest my mind on.
29:18prayer?
29:26I'm glad Roland had something to hold on to though.
29:32what I rest my mind on
29:34at least three of my favorite people are going to be safe for the next few months.
29:39Geoffrey, Victor, and you.
29:45suppose I ought to tell you.
29:47I've put my name down for overseas service.
29:55yes?
29:56V I do understand.
29:58but what about Oxford?
30:01you told them it was for a year didn't you?
30:04that's true.
30:07I've forgotten that.
30:10you were right to inform me.
30:12but I think you have your priorities wrong.
30:14I think this is a decision you will come to regret.
30:18I can't believe that I will ever regret it more bitterly than I do now.
30:22I'm not taking this step lightly Miss Penrose.
30:25I'm not saying it's a light decision.
30:27I'm saying it's an irrational one.
30:29well in times like these it it's not easy to be objective about these things.
30:36no.
30:37I believe some of my students have made this choice because they considered that they were inadequate to the demands of the course.
30:43in those cases I have been less reluctant to let them go.
30:46I think I should have been adequate.
30:48indeed.
30:49and that is why I feel that there is an element of emotional self-indulgence here.
30:55you are destroying a promising career at its outset irrevocably.
30:59simply to carry out tasks that could be done as well or better by others.
31:03maybe they could.
31:04but the fact is there aren't enough volunteers.
31:07and lately I found it harder and harder to see why all the most unpleasant tasks
31:11should be undertaken by other people on my behalf.
31:14and anyway it's only for the duration of the war.
31:17I don't know what that entails.
31:20and neither do you.
31:22I'm sorry.
31:24there's too much uncertainty involved.
31:27should you reapply later for admission we will of course consider your request.
31:31but I can offer no guarantee.
31:34I understand that Miss Penrose.
31:39I didn't expect it.
31:41peace.
31:43peace.
31:45he is not dead.
31:47he doth not sleep.
31:49he hath awakened from the dream of life.
31:53it is we who tossed in stormy visions
31:57keep with phantoms an unprofitable strife.
32:01he has outsoared the shadow of our night.
32:05envy and calumny and hate and pain
32:10and that unrest which men miscall delight
32:15can touch him not
32:17and torture not again.
32:19there.
32:21you're awake.
32:23yes.
32:24do you know your brother's in jay ward?
32:25he's here.
32:26honestly I've just been washing him.
32:27well I've only just heard he's wounded.
32:28how is he?
32:29comfortable.
32:30he's asking for you.
32:31oh I'm not off yet.
32:32listen tell him.
32:32can't stop.
32:33sorry I only got permission to come and tell you.
32:35brother eh?
32:36jay ward.
32:37jay ward.
32:38jay ward.
32:39what's he got then?
32:40left arm and right thigh.
32:41so he's hidden his letter.
32:42who was he?
32:43the song.
32:44the song.
32:45nurse.
32:46nurse.
32:47nurse.
32:48nurse.
32:49nurse.
32:50what is the rule about running?
32:51what is the rule about running?
32:52I'm sorry.
32:53I'm sorry.
32:54I only got permission to come and tell you.
32:55oh.
32:56your brother eh?
32:57jay ward.
32:58there's officers.
32:59what's he got then?
33:00left arm and right thigh.
33:01so he's hidden his letter.
33:02who was he?
33:03the song.
33:04nurse!
33:05nurse.
33:16nurse.
33:17what is the rule about running?
33:20a VAD may only run in case of hemorrhage or fire.
33:23is there a hemorrhage?
33:24no sister.
33:25then where's the fire?
33:35Edward.
33:36hello.
33:52I was curious how awkward it is.
33:53yeah let me.
34:00did you ask to be sent here?
34:01nobody had any choice.
34:02it was chaos at Waterloo.
34:04there were thousands of us.
34:05they just stuck labels on us like parcels.
34:07I couldn't believe my eyes when I read mine.
34:09there we are.
34:10oh thank you.
34:11that's wonderful.
34:13V.
34:14about the parents.
34:15did you...
34:16I sent a wire when I got your note.
34:18can I have a look?
34:19it's just a piece of shrapnel.
34:21it's clean anyway.
34:23I'd like you to let Geoffrey know.
34:25and Victor.
34:26do you get any time off?
34:27not for a couple of weeks.
34:29I had a way with Matron.
34:31she said I can have tea with you every day this week.
34:33oh that's splendid.
34:41oh.
34:42excuse me please.
34:43which is Jay Ward?
34:44Vera!
34:45I got your letter.
34:48but you've come to see Edward.
34:50of course he will be glad to see you.
34:52but you're going the wrong way.
34:53oh yes.
34:54you want to go down to the end and turn left.
34:56can you wait here three minutes?
34:58I'll just dispose of this and I can come with you.
35:00really that would be splendid.
35:01wait there I won't be long.
35:03must have been a nightmare.
35:05it was.
35:06and while we were still waiting for the order
35:08a whole lot of wounded from the first part of the show
35:10came crowding into our trench.
35:12oh it's pretty gruesome.
35:13it upset the men a lot.
35:14and then just before we were due to go
35:16part of the Yorkshire regiment in front
35:18got into a panic and started to retreat.
35:20what did you do?
35:21what could I do?
35:22when the word came I gave the order
35:24went over the parapet and just prayed they'd follow me.
35:26and did they?
35:27no as a matter of fact they didn't.
35:28I had to go back twice to get them.
35:30how I got them together and made them do it
35:32I'll never know.
35:33I wouldn't go through those few minutes again
35:35if it meant the VC.
35:37and where did you get that?
35:39well about 70 yards out I got hit in the thigh.
35:41I went on for a bit but then the leg gave out
35:43so I had to pull into the shell hole.
35:45and that was where I got this.
35:47I was really frightful.
35:49I thought for a minute the whole arm had gone.
35:51but there was this badly wounded chap beside me
35:53so I had to crawl back and get help.
35:56Jeffrey!
35:57well how long have you two been standing there?
36:00not long.
36:02it's good to see you. how are you?
36:04do take my seat.
36:06thank you. we didn't want to interrupt the story.
36:08I wasn't a bit surprised by any of it.
36:11I always knew he was a stout fellow.
36:13that's the worst moment isn't it?
36:15the waiting.
36:16the way they all fix their eyes on you.
36:18I always think they're watching me to see if I'm gonna panic.
36:20but you don't.
36:21not up to now thank God.
36:23but inside I'm always terrified.
36:25everyone is.
36:28well I really must go now.
36:30there's a chap outside waiting for me to give him a lift.
36:32oh fine thanks for coming Victor.
36:33see you soon.
36:36you'll be here tomorrow?
36:37every day this week.
36:39good.
36:40till tomorrow then?
36:41say about four o'clock.
36:42bye bye.
36:43bye bye Victor.
36:44bye bye Victor.
36:45what have you got there?
36:47um it's flowers.
36:48flowers for me?
36:49no.
36:50well actually that wasn't the original idea.
36:52ah they're flowers of course.
36:53I just happened to see them in the shop you know.
36:55it was a very good idea.
36:57it was a splendid idea.
36:59they're beautiful.
37:05thank you.
37:06not at all.
37:08well then.
37:10how are you?
37:12well they tell me I'll be as good as new in a couple of months.
37:14me too.
37:15yes and Victor.
37:16it's quite a coincidence the three of us being in blighty at the same time.
37:20I wonder who'll be the first to be sent overseas.
37:23yes.
37:24my wonder.
37:42I think for the rest of my life whenever I think of Malta I shall remember that smell.
37:47what the goats?
37:50no the eucalyptus.
37:56I wonder how they're getting on back there.
37:59I wonder if they're getting zeppelin raids.
38:03did you get me mail this time?
38:06yes one from Edward.
38:08he's going to Buckingham palace next month to collect his military cross.
38:12you think the world of your brother don't you?
38:14it's funny that I can't stand mine.
38:20wouldn't it be wonderful if we could stay here until it was all over.
38:26seems almost too good to be true.
38:29good old V.
38:30it worries you doesn't it having a nice time when other people are having a nasty one.
38:35but we must be needed here otherwise they wouldn't have sent us now would they?
38:38I suppose not.
38:40do you think you'll be able to stick it out then?
38:43without rushing off to find somewhere thoroughly miserable and uncomfortable.
38:46hmm
38:48I'm beginning to think I might.
38:50I'm beginning to think I might.
39:05thank you.
39:15bad news?
39:16it's about a friend of mine.
39:22he's been badly wounded in France.
39:25hard luck.
39:27thank you.
39:31I couldn't have talked to anyone about it before.
39:34he just said Victor dangerously wounded serious.
39:37it could have been anything.
39:38so I cabled Edward for some more details.
39:41hmm
39:43eyesight probably gone.
39:44may live.
39:46hmm
39:48poor old Victor.
39:50has he got any parents alive?
39:52his mother's dead.
39:54just as well perhaps.
39:56wonder what she would have had to go through.
39:59has he got any sisters?
40:01no.
40:02there's a brother but he's still at school.
40:04his father's still alive.
40:05oh god.
40:06pretty awful for him too.
40:08there's always the worry of what's gonna happen to Victor after he's gone.
40:12i mean who's gonna look after him?
40:14it's not very likely anybody will marry him now.
40:17i never thought of that.
40:19cousin of mine was blinded at wipers.
40:22he was practically engaged.
40:24nothing definite had been said so of course she backed out.
40:29that's horrible.
40:31what do you think what they've been through for us?
40:34i don't know how anyone could do such a thing.
40:37well she said she'd never really loved him.
40:40nobody believed that.
40:42he was certainly dotty about her.
40:45still it's a big thing to take on and i suppose she had herself to consider.
40:50i don't know how she could live with it.
40:55i'm writing this quickly before the light fades.
40:58the sunset is quite beautiful.
41:01even in a place like this.
41:03the sky is pale yellow with little purple clouds.
41:07and the colors are all reflected in the water at the bottom of all the crump holes.
41:11there are rumors that we're waiting for the big attack.
41:15i keep thinking of the last time when everything seemed quite hopeless.
41:19and the men were dying all around me.
41:22and it seemed so pointless and unbearable that i ordered them to retreat.
41:27i've never been sure i was right.
41:30i hope i won't fail this time at the critical moment.
41:33i'm afraid that in my heart i'm a horrible coward.
41:39i'm afraid that i would not have thrown in the water.
41:42i've never had to die.
41:44no one can look for myself.
41:46oh.
41:49oh.
41:51oh.
41:52oh.
41:54oh.
41:57oh.
41:58oh.
41:59oh.
42:00oh.
42:01oh.
42:02oh.
42:03i'm afraid that i'd have been hurt.
42:04oh.
42:05oh.
42:06oh.
42:07Dr. Easton was asking can we go over to the M.O.'s block for tea and tennis tomorrow.
42:15Use your letter phone.
42:20Geoffrey.
42:23He's dead.
42:27How do you mean dead?
42:29I heard a cable.
42:31He was killed in action. He sent this the day before he died.
42:35Oh, Vera.
42:37Oh, God. There's no end to it.
42:41I'm going home.
42:43Home? Why?
42:46I won't be missed.
42:48There's more than enough people to do what's required here.
42:52What will you do in England?
42:58I'll marry Victor if he wants me to.
43:05Does it matter losing your sight?
43:16There's such splendid work for the blind.
43:19And people will always be kind.
43:22As you sit on the terrace remembering and turning your face to the light.
43:26There's no known light.
43:27There's no light.
43:29It's...
43:31I mean, if you don't see the light of the eye.
43:33It's...
43:34I mean, it's the light.
43:35One light.
43:36And it will always be so projectile.
43:38Just the light.
43:40Snowy, the light.
43:41Hello, Tar.
44:11Do you know who it is, Tar?
44:18Tar?
44:20It's Vera.
44:22How did you get here?
44:24Are you on leave?
44:25No, I'm home for good.
44:27Oh, that's marvelous.
44:30You heard what happened then?
44:33I haven't heard much.
44:35It was at Arras.
44:38I got hit in the arm first.
44:40But that was only a scratch.
44:42The next one went right through my skull.
44:45They all thought I was done for.
44:49His Edward told me that.
44:53Was it both eyes?
44:57At the moment.
44:59But there's just a chance if the nerve isn't actually severed,
45:03they might be able to do something.
45:05Of course I'm not counting on it.
45:07That would be foolish.
45:10The thing is to accept it.
45:12Adjust to it.
45:14I'm sure you're right.
45:17Did Edward tell you?
45:19Tell me what?
45:20I've been recommended for the MC, like Edward.
45:24Well, it sounds like boasting, but...
45:26You know, the three of us, they were so brilliant
45:30and there was nothing special about me.
45:33I'd like to draw a level with Edward in that.
45:37I think that's wonderful.
45:42At first, they thought there'd be brain damage.
45:46They still can't understand how I escaped it.
45:49They see it as some kind of miracle.
45:53That's one reason I'm beavering away at the Braille.
45:57To prove, you know, I'm all right.
46:01It's a very good hospital tower.
46:04Wonderful surgeons.
46:07If they can work miracles anywhere, this is the place.
46:10Captain Fraser came here. Ian Fraser.
46:15He was blinded himself, but his spirit is marvellous.
46:19He's been telling me of all the ways they've got of helping us to be...
46:23Well, not quite independent, I suppose.
46:26But to get around. To earn a living.
46:31A schoolmaster seems to be a possibility.
46:34Or maybe a curate.
46:36I've still got friends.
46:48Yes, sir.
46:50You've still got friends.
46:53Victor?
46:56It's me.
46:58Vera, this is my father.
47:00Father, Vera Britton.
47:06Do you think it's wise to go and see Victor quite so often?
47:18Why not?
47:20He enjoys having visitors.
47:22Besides, he's looking so much better.
47:24He's very fond of you, you know.
47:26It wouldn't be fair to raise false hopes.
47:28It wouldn't necessarily be false, Mother.
47:31I told you, didn't I?
47:34I see, I didn't realize that you felt anything for him in that way.
47:37I wouldn't pretend to.
47:40I shall never feel that way about anybody again.
47:43You can't know that.
47:45Yes, I do.
47:48It could mean for all the rest of your life.
47:51I don't attach very much importance to the rest of my life.
47:54I've just got to find a way of getting through it.
47:58Victor's got to find a way of getting through his.
48:04I mean when he's discharged.
48:06We'll manage somehow.
48:08I've got a sister teaching in Portsmouth.
48:10She'll come and help out if I find I can't cope.
48:13You mean give up her home and her job?
48:15She's the only one I can ask.
48:17The other two are married.
48:18Oh I see.
48:19It doesn't matter about her.
48:20She's only a spinster.
48:21She can drop everything.
48:25Miss Britton I've always stood on my own feet
48:27and never had to call on anybody.
48:30When something like this hits you
48:31you've got to put your pride in your pocket.
48:33I'll have to work to keep the three of us
48:35or I'll be out all day.
48:36He's got nobody else.
48:37He's got me.
48:38He has now.
48:39But you'll soon get tired of that.
48:41I don't think so.
48:42Oh yes you will.
48:44You'll get a job.
48:45You'll get married.
48:46Drift away.
48:47Not if I married Victor.
48:49I don't think he'd ever been in a position to keep a wife.
48:55I'll have nothing to leave him.
48:57I don't want to be kept.
48:59I can keep myself.
49:02God if only I could believe that.
49:05I've been on my knees every night.
49:09Have you told him this?
49:11No.
49:12It has to come first from him.
49:14But I'm telling you.
49:16I'll give you my word.
49:40Where is he?
49:44I'm afraid I have to warn you.
49:46You must be prepared for a change.
49:48What sort of change?
49:50He complained to the nurse in the night
49:52of a sensation in his head.
49:54He was still quite lucid at that time.
49:56Indeed he still has lucid intervals.
50:00If you remember I did try to indicate earlier
50:03there was always a possibility.
50:05I'm very sorry.
50:10I'll give you my word.
50:15This way please.
50:16I tell you it's nothing.
50:18I'm perfectly capable.
50:20There's a man badly wounded 25 yards out.
50:24You attend to him.
50:25We're just going to get you into bed.
50:27You'll be more comfortable there.
50:28I tell you it's nothing.
50:29I'm perfectly capable.
50:33No.
50:34Not that way.
50:35His hands have gone free.
50:40Victor.
50:42That's no excuse Devlin.
50:44I've warned you before.
50:45What's the matter with him?
50:46Is it the morphia?
50:47No.
50:48No.
50:49No.
50:50Let's leave the pillows on the bed.
50:53We're going to make you all nice and comfortable.
50:54It's alright.
50:55It's alright.
50:56It's alright.
50:57Oh my god.
50:58What?
50:59No.
51:00No.
51:01No.
51:02No.
51:03Let's leave the pillows on the bed.
51:04We're going to make you all nice and comfortable.
51:06It's alright.
51:07It's alright.
51:08Oh my god.
51:09No.
51:10No.
51:11No.
51:12No.
51:13No.
51:14Let's leave the pillows on the bed.
51:15No.
51:16We're going to make you all nice and comfortable.
51:18It's alright.
51:19It's alright.
51:20It's alright.
51:21Oh my god.
51:22No.
51:23Leave him alone.
51:24What are you trying to do Tau?
51:26Can I help you?
51:27We're going to get you into bed.
51:29Vera.
51:30For Christ's sake.
51:31Give me a hand.
51:32It's alright.
51:33There were two men under here.
51:35I saw it come down.
51:37I'm sorry sir.
51:39But I think it would be better if you and the young lady were to leave for a while.
51:47What is this?
51:49It's alright Tau.
51:51It's me.
51:52Vera.
51:57Yes.
51:58Yes of course.
52:00I have the feeling I've been a bit queer.
52:10Please don't be alarmed.
52:13It's purely temporary.
52:15I'm terribly sorry.
52:17I think I've been overdoing it.
52:20The brain and so on.
52:23Oh Tau.
52:30Dear Tau.
52:39Stay with me Vera.
52:54Does it matter?
52:56Those dreams from the pit.
52:58You can drink and forget and be glad.
53:02And people won't say that you're mad.
53:05For they'll know that you fought for your country.
53:08And no one will worry a bit.
53:10No one will worry a bit.
53:11No one will worry a bit.
53:12No one will worry a bit.
53:17No one will worry a bit.
53:18No one will worry a bit.
53:19No one will worry.
53:20I'll never forget you.
53:39Oh No one will worry a bit.
53:45No one will worry a bit.
53:46ΒΆΒΆ
54:16ΒΆΒΆ
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