Robert Walker credited as playing...
Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: [starts to rain and Jane and Bill take refuge in an old barn] Oh boy, we certainly made it just in time! Ho, Ho!
- Jane Hilton: How will we get home if this keeps up? It must be almost seven o'clock.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: [checks his watch] Well, what do you know? You guessed it! It's just exactly 18 minutes to seven.
- Jane Hilton: Only five hours more.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Oh, I almost forgot for a little while.
- Jane Hilton: I didn't forget. Not for a minute. I've thought about it all day long.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Well, gee, I never thought anybody would care about me... anybody like you.
- Jane Hilton: Bill.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Oh, Jane! I don't want to leave you!
- Jane Hilton: It won't be for long, darling.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: It might be for months, or for years, maybe.
- Jane Hilton: It doesn't matter. I'll be thinking about you all the time. Someday the war will be over, and then we can be...
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Then we can be married, Jane?
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: You will marry me when it's over, won't you, Jane? You won't be mad at me because I didn't marry you now?
- Jane Hilton: Of course I won't be mad. But you take care of yourself.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: I will.
- Jane Hilton: You write to me.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: I will. You do understand, don't you?
- Jane Hilton: I think so.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: You know it's because I wouldn't want you to be - Well, you know, if anything happened to me...
- Jane Hilton: A widow, you mean.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Well, yes, but not only that. If something happened - I mean, if I was...
- Jane Hilton: If you were wounded? Oh, Bill, I'd take care of you the rest of our lives, always.
- Jane Hilton: I beg your pardon, Colonel Smollett. There's someone here to see you. Your grandson.
- Colonel William G. Smollett: William?
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Hello, Grandpa!
- Colonel William G. Smollett: To what peculiar combination of circumstances do I owe this visit, William?
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Well, you see, I was transferred out here to Chamberlain Field, and I found out at your office...
- Colonel William G. Smollett: Indeed? I wasn't even aware that the United States forces had been honored by your membership.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: I enlisted, sir. Last summer.
- Colonel William G. Smollett: So. I don't think we need trouble these young women with your autobiography. Let's go into the living room. If you will excuse me.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Excuse me.
- Colonel William G. Smollett: I presume you've come to me for help of one sort or another with your tail between your legs.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: No, sir, I thought you might like - Well, you see...
- Colonel William G. Smollett: Or is it money that you're after? Speak up, boy.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: I thought you might like to see me.
- Colonel William G. Smollett: A very mistaken notion if ever you had one, and you've had plenty as we're both well aware.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: After all, I thought we may not see one another again. I don't know when I'll be shipped out.
- Colonel William G. Smollett: Come, William. Let's not dramatize these things. There's no need for any pretense of affection between us. You've paid your courtesy call.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Well, all right, if that's the way you feel about it! I'm sorry to have disturbed you.
- Colonel William G. Smollett: You may drop me a line with your address. And if you have any affairs that require attention, I shall have my lawyers look after them. For your late father's sake. Now, I'm sure you will excuse me. I'm a bit tired.
- Hal Smith: You know, I've never been to the beach in my whole life.
- Jane Hilton: I've never seen the ocean.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: You haven't?
- Hal Smith: I never saw it till a couple of months ago.
- Jane Hilton: But you're a sailor.
- Hal Smith: I was brought up on a farm.
- Jane Hilton: Oh, I see.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: I've never been on a farm.
- Jane Hilton: You haven't?
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: I was brought up on an Army post.
- Jane Hilton: Oh, I see.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Do you mind if I smoke?
- Jane Hilton: Of course not. Bill, why are you so... so timid about things?
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: What do you mean, Jane?
- Jane Hilton: Oh, I mean about asking if you can smoke. Well, nobody else does that. And, well, I mean everything. Is it... I hope you won't think I'm being forward, but is it something to do with your grandfather?
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: No, it isn't that. Although I suppose I've always been sort of scared of Grandpa.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: You see, my father was a soldier. He was a colonel when he died. I guess all the Smolletts all the way back were soldiers. One of them was with Washington at Yorktown. Although sometimes I think Grandpa just made that one up.
- Jane Hilton: I'm sure he didn't. You ought to be awfully proud.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Oh, I'm proud, all right. But something went wrong with me. Mother died when I was born, so I never knew her. Well, of course I never knew her.
- Jane Hilton: That's a shame.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: She could paint pretty well, china and things. I hope I can show you her work sometime. That is, if Grandpa...
- Jane Hilton: If Grandpa what?
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Well, if I go home. You see, I haven't lived home since West Point.
- Jane Hilton: West Point?
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Oh, Jane, you don't want to hear all about this, do you?
- Jane Hilton: Not if you don't want me to, Bill.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Oh, but I do of course. There's no one in the whole world that I'd rather explain - that I'd rather tell.
- Jane Hilton: You were talking about how your grandfather always wanted you to be a soldier. Would you like a sandwich or something?
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: He wanted me to be a general.
- Jane Hilton: But didn't you want to be a general?
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Well, no I didn't.
- Jane Hilton: But why not, Bill?
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: I had an idea it was more important to build things. But, I don't mean it isn't terribly important being a soldier. I don't know how we'd keep the things we build without them.
- Jane Hilton: Of course. But you said you went to West Point. I should think you'd be a lot more than a...
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: More than a corporal, you mean.
- Jane Hilton: Let's have a picnic sometime. I'll bring a - Bill, I didn't mean that. It's wonderful being a corporal.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: No, you meant that if I went to the Academy, I ought to be more than a corporal. Well, you might as well know it. I - I was kicked out and I broke Grandpa's heart.
- Jane Hilton: I'm sure it wasn't your fault.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Yes, it was.
- Jane Hilton: Bill, come and sit down.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Look. Grandpa's father carried this watch at Vicksburg. Grandpa gave it to me on my tenth birthday. He had it engraved for me. Read it. I'll light a match.
- Jane Hilton: "To William G. Smollett, the Second, who will lead men to glory on the battlefield." You must have been terribly pleased.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: I said, "Grandpa, don't people hurt each other in war?" You see, I was only ten. He took the watch away from me. But he gave it back to me again when I entered the Academy. Aw, Jane, I did my best, but I could never make a good officer. I can't lead men, and I know it, so even if I led my class the way Grandpa thought I should...
- Jane Hilton: "Grandpa, Grandpa, Grandpa." What about yourself? Why is it so important that you satisfy him, the old...
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Because he loved me so. Yeah, I'm sure he did - once. But all through military school, from the time I was eight years old, I kept letting him down. I never even wanted to play with the tin soldiers he gave me. Grandpa kept telling me that if I was a Smollett I'd... But I gues I was always - well you know - weak. I was sort of a joke at the Academy, I only lasted a couple of months. Grandpa couldn't face his old cronies. Well, that's it. Now you can see what a mess I made out of everything.
- Jane Hilton: You've done no such thing! You're fine and strong, but you're just sensitive, that's all.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: But don't you think I'm a failure after everything I've told you?
- Jane Hilton: A failure? Just because you're not an officer? Why an officer I know, he said that you are the boys doing the fighting.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Lieutenant Willett?
- Jane Hilton: Yes.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: You think a lot of him, don't you?
- Jane Hilton: Of course, but what's that got to do with it? You're a soldier, and I'm - that is, we're proud of you. And I hope you never get promoted. All those officers strutting around with their gold braid and everything.
- Jane Hilton: How are things out at the field?
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Oh, they're fine, thank you. How's everything with you?
- Jane Hilton: Oh, just fine. I want to get a war job, but Mother won't let me.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Well, I think she's right. You ought to stay home...
- Jane Hilton: No, it isn't that at all. Mother wants me to go to college.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Oh. Oh, gee. That would take four years, wouldn't it?
- Jane Hilton: If I go.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: You don't want to go?
- Jane Hilton: No, it's so silly. If I were three or four years older, I could be a Wave.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Or a Wac.
- Jane Hilton: Or a nurse. That's what I'd rather be most. A nurse.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: That would be swell if I was wounded.
- Jane Hilton: You shouldn't say such things.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Oh. I won't be wounded. I'll be killed.
- Jane Hilton: Bill!
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Oh, Jane would you care?
- Jane Hilton: Well, of course I'd care, silly.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Well, gee, that'd be fine.
- Jane Hilton: What would be fine about it?
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Well, I thought that if - Well, what I mean is I would be glad if you were sorry if I were killed.
- Jane Hilton: What good would that do if you were dead?
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Yeah, I guess you're right.
- Jane Hilton: I don't ever want to hear you talk like that again.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Okay. I'm sure sorry I missed your graduation.
- [Bill and Jane are saying goodnight to the extremely handsome sailor they met at the bowling alley, of whom Bill is somewhat jealous]
- Hal Smith: Well, good-bye, miss. My name's Harold E. Smith.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: I'm Bill Smollett, and this is Miss Hilton.
- Hal Smith: How are you?
- Jane Hilton: Jane's my first name.
- Hal Smith: Good-bye, Jane.
- Jane Hilton: Good-bye.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Bye, Harold.
- Hal Smith: Hal.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Oh. Bye, Hal.
- [Hal gets on the bus, leaving Bill and Jane alone]
- Jane Hilton: He's nice.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Yeah, he's a nice fella.
- Jane Hilton: You were sweet to him, Bill. And I'm sorry about...
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: Oh, I acted like a fool.
- [dourly]
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: He's good-looking, isn't he?
- Jane Hilton: [breezily] Is he? I hadn't noticed.
- Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd: [incredulous] You MUST have noticed!