Original subtitles

(BRAKES SCREECHING)

Didn't I warn you monkeys about running out in the road?

What's the matter with the two of you?

- I nearly ran over them! - They ran right in front of the car.

- Where are their mothers? - At the defense plant.

Pickett's put on a lot of women there.

J.D., those are not stray dogs. They're children.

Now, you gotta do something to help them.

From what I hear, this is happening at defense plants all over the country.

Well, I don't know what's going on in the rest of the country,

but I'm not gonna let it happen right under my nose.

(CHILDREN CHATTERING)

- I just opened a day nursery. - You sure you wanna do this?

It's the perfect job for me and I'm certainly well trained.

It'll be like having a whole new family.

ALL: E-F-G...

(MACHINE HUMMING)

- Where's Elwin? - He went that way.

Don't let any of the others run off.

I'll come by and see you whenever I can, all right, Anna Mae?

- Goodbye, ma'am. - Give me a kiss.

It's a real shame.

I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be turning children away from my door.

JOHN-BOY: Although we were thousands of miles from the bombs of World War Il,

every day there were reminders that the

tranquility of our lives had been shattered.

As the fighting continued, my mother became increasingly restless.

She yearned to be active,

to make some contribution that would bring peace again to the world.

MARY ELLEN: I bet you're going to have a girl, Cindy.

CINDY: What makes you say that?

Because Ben really wants it to be a boy.

- For a nurse, that's not very scientific. - You ready, Cindy?

Just about.

- Where are you two going? - To Rockfish.

To get some baby clothes. You wanna come?

- No, thanks. I'll finish that, Cindy. - Thank you.

- Cindy, what do you think you're doing? - Isn't it obvious?

Let everyone else do the lifting.

Mama, will you please remind Cindy to not overdo?

Cindy knows she only has to do as much work as she feels up to.

I played baseball all during my pregnancy.

Well, Cindy's a lot more delicate than you are.

- Thanks. - CINDY: I'm not going to break, Ben.

BEN: All right. Just don't forget your morning nap, okay?

I'll take a nap if I feel like a nap. After I get back from Rockfish.

Rockfish?

I don't think it's a good idea for you to be running around this county.

CINDY: Ben!

Okay, go. Just be careful, okay?

(CINDY EXHALES)

Mama, I'm counting on you to make Cindy sensible.

I'll just be a minute. I left my purse up in Mary Ellen's room.

- I'll run up and get it. - You're not running anywhere. I'll get it.

Ben, would you tell Elizabeth to hurry up? I promised I'd drop her off at Ike's.

BEN: Okay, Mama.

That man, he's going to drive me crazy before this is all over.

John used to be like that when I was expecting.

He calmed down somewhere around the time Elizabeth was born.

Well, I think I'll just have one. I don't think I could go through it again.

OLIVIA: Elizabeth!

Didn't I warn you monkeys about running out in the road?

What's the matter with the two of you?

- I nearly ran over them! - They ran right in front of the car.

This is exactly what I was afraid of.

They've been chasing around the store all morning long.

- Where are their mothers? - At the defense plant.

Pickett's put on a lot of women there. Now, you two go back to the plant.

You've worn out your welcome around here.

What's there for them to do at the plant?

Nothing. But at least I won't feel responsible for them.

You two want to get in the car?

We're going past there. We'll give you a lift.

- Are you all right? That was quite a jolt. - I'm fine. Just don't tell Ben, okay?

My lips are sealed.

- Bye-bye, Mama. - Bye, Elizabeth. Bye-bye, Ike.

How's this one, Elizabeth?

(BELLS DINGING)

Mr. Godsey.

What do you think?

Well, it looks nice, but isn't it a little dressy for the store?

Doesn't it remind you of something?

- You want me to order fruit. - What?

Well, you're wearing fruit, they're cherries,

and I thought that you wanted me to...

Mr. Godsey, I had this on, on a very romantic occasion in our lives.

One that happened this very same time of year.

I give up.

This is the dress I had on the night you asked me to marry you.

Oh, yeah.

Well, I thought since our anniversary is coming up shortly,

that perhaps we could recreate that romantic occasion

by swaying to the music of Begin the Beguine.

Corabeth, now, you don't remember that I couldn't do them dances then,

and I can't do them now. All I can do is just the hoofing that I do with Ben.

Well, perhaps we might have a romantic candlelight dinner.

Hey, that's a good idea.

We could do it some night when I'm having a blackout drill.

Which reminds me, I'm late for a Civil Defense meeting right now.

Ta-ta. Bye, kids.

- That man is utterly hopeless. - What's wrong, Mama?

I have done everything possible to recreate our affaire la coeur.

He refuses to take the hint.

- Which anniversary is it? - Our fifth.

I had hoped that we would do something romantic.

- Do you know what we did last year? - What?

We went to the movies in Rockfish. Abbott and Costello.

Mr. Godsey slept all the way through it.

- Is your papa romantic? - Very.

I wonder if he could give my papa a push.

- Why don't we? - How?

We could make Corabeth an anniversary dinner

with music and candlelight and dancing.

- You heard him. He can't dance. - Well, we could teach him.

I don't know.

ELWIN: Thanks, lady. Come on, Rob.

(CHILDREN CHATTERING)

Hi. What's your name?

- Anna Mae. - CINDY: Olivia.

It's a baby.

Her name's Barbara. She's my little sister.

She's very sweet,

but she's much too young to be left in a car. Is your mama in there?

She comes out to see us on her lunch hour.

- I'm going to go talk to Erin. - What about her?

You keep an eye on her.

- Yeah, but what about all the other kids? - Keep an eye on them, too.

But what if the boys start a fight, or if she starts to cry?

Stop the fight and rock the baby. It'll be good experience for you.

(DOOR OPENS)

Hi, Mama. You come to apply for a job?

No, I just came to drop off two little boys I almost ran into at Ike's.

What are all those children doing out there in the parking lot?

Their mamas don't have anywhere to take them.

I've been trying to schedule breaks

so their mothers can go out and check on them every once in a while, but...

Erin, where are those requisition forms?

Howdy, Olivia. Come to see how your little girl is doing?

I'm more concerned about the girls and boys running loose outside.

Yeah, they concern me, too. Such a nuisance.

Do you intend to do anything about them?

It's not my business. I got a factory to run.

J.D., those are not stray dogs. Those are children.

There's a little baby being taken care of by an 8-year-old.

Now, you gotta do something to help them.

Well, I am! I'm letting them make free with my parking lot.

Can't you find a room that's somewhere in here, for them to play?

Be sensible, Olivia. There's not a square inch that I don't need.

How about rearranging some of the storage areas?

From what I hear, this is happening at defense plants all over the country.

I don't know what makes you think it ought to be any different here.

Well, I don't know what's going on in the rest of the country,

but I'm not gonna let it happen right under my nose.

And if you're not going to do something about it, I will.

Go ahead. I got a war to win. My job is to beat Hitler, not to baby-sit.

Your mother's got to be about the stubbornest women I ever met.

I know. Isn't she wonderful?

Give me those forms. Thank you.

ELIZABETH: "How to dance like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

"even if you have two left feet."

- Does Ike have two left feet? - (CHUCKLES) Metaphorically, yes.

Well, if you look here,

they've got little footprints showing you where to put your feet in the step.

Right. All we have to do is transfer them on to the butcher paper.

Did you remember Ike's shoes?

Ah, good.

What in the world are you two girls up to?

We're going to teach my papa how to dance.

He has two metaphorical left feet.

It's just a surprise for my mama on their anniversary.

Sort of a crash course.

I don't know. It sounds kind of fishy to me. You know, I've never put much stock

in these magazine articles that promise miracles.

Well, don't you think that Ike could do it?

Well, I never knew anybody who learned to dance from a magazine.

- All Ike needs is a good partner. - We don't have anyone like that.

Yes, you do. I was the Queen of the Blue Moon Ballroom.

Well, could you teach Ike how to dance?

Well, a couple of lessons from me and Corabeth will be calling him Twinkle Toes.

But what about romantic-type dances?

The samba or better yet the tango.

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

These Latin rhythms, I tell you, they really bring out the best in a man.

Or a woman!

Great! When can you start?

Can you pick it up, Jim-Bob? You're dragging.

Why don't you slow down a bit? I am getting tired.

- Hi, Mama. - Hi, Mama.

JOHN: Hey, Liv. That was a quick trip to Rockfish.

I didn't go to Rockfish, I got me a job instead.

I thought we talked about that.

I feel like it's time I did something for the war effort.

I'm not gonna have you wearing yourself out in some assembly line.

You sure are quick to jump to conclusions.

Why don't you come outside and see what I've been doing?

All right.

Look at this.

(CHILDREN CHATTERING)

- I just opened a day nursery. - Liv.

Their mothers all work at Pickett's,

and they needed someone to look after the children.

Do they know you brought them here, or did you steal them?

Erin and I talked to the mothers.

BOY 1: Look out! Look out! BOY 2: Let me get out of here.

You sure you wanna do this?

It's the perfect job for me, and I'm certainly well trained.

It'll be like having a whole new family.

(HORN HONKING)

JOHN: I don't remember ours being so young.

- Or so loud. - Isn't it exciting?

I can't tell you how much I appreciate this.

It worried me, leaving Anna Mae outside the factory all day.

She is kind of young to be on her own.

I just didn't know what else to do.

I had a baby-tender at first, but her husband got drafted

and she followed him up north. And I tried the neighbors, but...

Well, they're all moving away, getting defense jobs in the cities.

The war has turned all our lives around. Where's Anna Mae's daddy?

He's in the Navy, on a destroyer somewhere.

Well, Anna Mae and I, we get along fine on his allotment checks.

It's just our land's been mortgaged, and, well,

I kept falling behind on the payments. If I don't work, we'll lose everything.

Excepting for Anna Mae, I don't mind doing war work.

Makes me feel close to her daddy.

Is there anything special I should know about her?

Well, I guess you sort of noticed she's rather fond of that blanket.

My son, John-Boy, used to carry a blanket around

till it was nothing more than a sliver. He even had a name for it.

(CHUCKLES)

Anna Mae doesn't have a name for her blanket,

but she loves it anyway.

Morning.

You looking for someone?

You looking for Mrs. Walton, the lady who's going to take care of you?

She's downstairs.

- Don't you speak? - Is this the bathroom?

No, the bathroom's down the hall to your right.

This is your right.

Come on, I'll show you.

I guess I better be going to work now.

Anna Mae?

Anna Mae, come and kiss your mama goodbye.

Looks like she's sort of wandered off.

Well, she has to do some exploring before she feels comfortable here,

and I don't want you worrying about a thing.

- We'll get along just fine. - Thank you.

If you have any questions you will call me at the plant, won't you?

- Sure. - My shift gets off around 4:00.

- How long have you two been here? - Hours and hours ago.

- Sounds like you're about ready for a nap. - Well, maybe not that long.

Come on, let's go in the house.

- Mama, look what I got. - Hi, Charlie. You've come to play?

Their mama just dropped them off by the mill.

Are you sure you know what you've gotten yourself into?

- Sure. - In that case, here.

- What's this? - Clean diapers.

I think you're going to need them.

- Sooner than you think. - Come here, sweetheart.

(BARBARA COOING)

Yes, yes.

(PIANO PLAYING OFF-KEY)

Rob, do you know another tune?

Serena, would you ask your grandma to come down here and take the baby?

I wish you would've gotten more girls and not so many boys.

Boys are such roughnecks!

That's enough. Young man?

The concert is over.

Daddy, somebody's locked in the bathroom.

Well, we've got Barbara and Charlie and Elwin and Rob.

- It's gotta be Anna Mae. - Any chance of getting her out of there?

She wouldn't say anything to me, but there is part of a blanket

- sticking out from under the door. - It's definitely Anna Mae.

Get the ladder. We'll have to go in through the window.

Just like the good old days.

This is the part of the old days that wasn't so good.

(BARBARA COOING)

"Please don't take my baby," she begged him.

"Then guess my name," he said. "Is it Willoughby Parker?" she said.

"No!" he said. "Is it Lucas Littlefinger?"

"No." "Is it "Rumpelstiltskin?"

And the little man was so angry that she'd guessed his name,

that he stamped so hard, he went right through the ground

and nobody ever saw him again. And everybody lived happily ever after.

Don't you know any stories about submarines?

- No, but I'll see if I can find you one. - Here, part of your audience is missing.

John says he doesn't need any more help over at the mill.

Next time you ask to go to the bathroom, Elwin,

it looks like I'm gonna have to come with you.

(IKE CHUCKLES)

How's the babysitting business coming?

She's wonderful. I wish I had her knack.

You have to learn for your own survival. What brings you two here?

Well, Papa promised to learn how to dance.

- Are we opening a dancing school too? - Rose has promised to teach me to dance.

- I hope I don't break her toes. - Good luck.

Aunt Olivia? Aren't you gonna tell us another story?

- No, it's Cindy's turn now. - But I don't know any children's stories.

OLIVIA: Make something up.

Okay, now, there was this old man, okay?

Won't you come join us?

We're going to be playing games in a minute.

I'm waiting for Barbara to wake up from her nap.

I ain't supposed to put her out of my sight.

It's good of you to take responsibility that way,

but I think you can ease up now.

There are plenty of grown-ups around to look after her.

I'll wait here until she wakes up.

- How old are you, Charlie? - Eight.

Eight.

Taking care of a baby is a lot of work for an eight-year-old.

My grandma used to tend us both,

but she got laid up with the pneumonia in the spring,

and now I got to do it.

Your mama and daddy must be very proud of you.

I don't know whether my dad's proud of me or not.

He's off fighting in the war.

(CHILDREN CHEERING)

CINDY: Okay.

Okay, now, you guys know this game? It's called concentration. It goes like this.

You're sure you don't wanna join us? Sounds like they're having a good time.

You go on.

I used to have a little boy like you once. Took care of his brothers and sisters,

took his chores and his school very seriously.

And when he'd finish, he'd go up to his room

and write everything down in a notebook.

Finally, his daddy and I started worrying. It seemed like he'd forgotten how to play.

So you know what we did? We kidnapped him.

- You did? - Mmm-hmm.

We took him up to the mountain with a fishing pole,

and we told him he couldn't come home until he caught his limit.

Charlie, there's only one time when you can be a little boy, and that's right now.

I'm sure you could be much more of a help to your mama if you played a little.

Don't worry about your sister. There's plenty of folks to take care of her.

Now, am I going to have to kidnap you, too?

No, ma'am. Your little boy catch any fish that day?

He caught two rainbow trout and a case of poison ivy.

- Where is he now? - We don't know, Charlie.

He's in the war somewhere, just like your daddy.

CINDY: This old man wasn't really an old man.

He was a beautiful prince and when she grew up, she became his queen.

Don't you think that's sweet?

Now, Rose, if this is too much bother, you feel free to call it off, okay?

Oh, no.

Ike, think how happy it's gonna make Corabeth.

Yeah, but... Hey, I could buy Corabeth

a great big box of chocolate-covered cherries, huh?

But, Papa, you promised.

Ike, if music is the language of love, then dance is the exclamation point.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

(IKE SNEEZING)

What's the matter, Ike? Are you allergic to dancing lessons?

I don't know, I just got a whiff of that fancy perfume of yours.

It's called Amour Amour.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

Now, Ike, we'll start with the most romantic dance of all, the tango.

And the rhythm is thus, slow, slow, quick, quick, slow.

And the feet go like this.

(TANGO PLAYING)

Slow, slow, quick, quick, slow.

Slow, slow, quick, quick, slow.

- Got it? - Well, that looks simple enough.

Aren't you supposed to have a rose between your teeth?

That's only for advanced students.

- All right, Ike, here we go. - All right, yeah.

Left foot first. That's this one. All right.

Yeah. Yeah.

- Slow... - Wait, wait, let me... Left foot?

- Just take it easy. - All right.

Okay, here we go. Slow, slow, quick, quick, slow.

- Come on, now, Ike, you can do it. - All right.

Slow, slow, quick, quick, slow.

- Hey, that's not so bad. - Well, you're doing just fine.

- Let's try a variation, now. - Variation?

Yes. It's a weaving motion. Now, watch me.

Slow, slow, quick, quick, slow.

What's that called?

Well, it's still the tango, but I call it the butterfly.

Butterfly?

- All right, let's go. - Yeah.

Slow, slow, quick, quick, slow.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

The butterfly. What are we gonna do now?

Well, now, Ike, you got to watch your shoulders in this.

- All right. - Very important. All right, now.

Slow, slow, quick, quick, slow.

Look out, world, I'm coming out of my cocoon.

- I'm much obliged, Swanson. - No problem.

J.D. was in an awful hurry to get this lumber.

You got any idea what he wanted it for?

Told me he was turning this building here into storage rooms.

- Strange place for storage. - Yeah, J.D.'s got some peculiar ideas.

And I guess, if you're boss you can get away with that, huh?

Mr. Walton, I hear your wife's looking out for the workers' children.

That's right.

I'd sure appreciate it if you'd take my little girl with you.

My wife's a nurse at the VA hospital, so Bernice has been coming here with me.

- I don't know... - Bernice.

Bernice, come out here now, and meet this nice man.

- This is Mr. Walton. - BERNICE: Are you the man I'm going with?

I did kind of mention to her that maybe you'd take her in.

I guess one more won't make any difference.

- Thank you, Mr. Walton. - All right.

- Come on, little lady. - You can call me Bernice.

I can read and write, and do my multiplication tables up to the sevens.

And I'm only eight years old.

- How old are you? - I'm too old.

You be good. Bye.

Okay, you can do multiplication till when, seven?

- Yeah. - How much is seven times six?

- 42. - Hey, that's right!

(IKE GROANING IN PAIN)

- What is it? Are you in pain? - Oh, my back.

Yes. Right across here.

- Your sacroiliac? - Yeah.

Whatever from?

Yesterday I was moving about a little bit more than I'm used to

and I must be out of condition, I guess. I think I'll go take a hot bath and relax.

(IKE GROANING)

How odd.

Perfume. Cheap, French perfume.

OLIVIA: H-I-J-K-L-M-N.

- I got all the way to N. I'm the best. - Not everyone's had their turn yet.

Elwin, how about you?

I don't want to. Jumping rope is for girls.

- Well, the girls played marbles with you. - Aunt Olivia, why don't you take a turn?

Oh, goodness. I haven't jumped rope for a hundred years.

- Come on, Olivia. Try it. - Come on, Aunt Olivia.

(SIGHS)

- CHILDREN: Come on, come on, Aunt Olivia. - All right, I'll have a try at it.

OLIVIA: Ready?

(OLIVIA LAUGHING)

Faster!

Apple jelly, my jam tart. Tell me the name of your sweetheart.

A-B-C-D-E-F-G.

Looks like we're gonna have to find you a boyfriend

with a name that starts with G.

- Where's Elwin? - He went that way.

Don't let any of the others run off.

CINDY: Okay, come on, Anna Mae. You ready?

- A. - ANNA MAE: I wasn't ready.

CINDY: All right. Come on.

Is he all right?

I thought I told you to stay out of the mill.

It was my fault. I took my eyes off him for 30 seconds.

I wasn't doing anything.

You know you could have cut yourself real bad?

- Ben, will you take him back to Cindy? - Sure, Mama. Come on.

Liv, I don't know if this is going to work out. It's just too dangerous.

We raised seven of our own here.

Ours understand about machinery, Liv. They grew up with it.

These kids don't know anything about it.

It's too risky. Somebody's gonna get hurt real bad.

I don't want that any more than you do,

but I can't stand the thought of sending them back to that parking lot.

We may have to.

I understand, Reverend.

It wouldn't have been the best place for the children to play anyway.

It's just that I'm desperate.

If you can think of anything, will you let me know? Thank you.

- Any luck? - They're renovating the school

from top to bottom. It's gonna take another month.

Did you try the old Bonner cabin?

It's there. It's empty but the roof caved in.

- How about you? - Nothing in Rockfish.

Between the Army camp and the defense plant,

every room, storefront and public building is full up.

- How about the church? - Meetings all the time.

Red Cross, Gold Star Mothers, volunteer services.

What, with Ike's Civil Defense work in the canteen,

Godsey's Hall is being used most of the time. I don't know which way to turn.

You can't say you didn't try. Something's gonna turn up.

I know it wasn't much, but at least I felt like I was doing something useful.

Come on, honey. Let's go to bed.

You're going to wear out that glass, Mama.

I may not be able to operate a nursery for children, but I sure can clean windows.

I'm sorry it didn't work out for you.

- How sorry? - I'm very sorry.

Then you'll feel better giving me a hand.

- How about brushing up that screen? - Okay.

It was real good that Cindy worked with all those kids. Especially the baby.

She reminded me of the way you used to be with us,

which was real patient. You didn't yell at us.

Seems to me, I used to holler at you on occasion.

Like when?

Like when you climbed down that rope into that well we used to have.

- Why would I do something like that? - You said you were trying to get to China.

- Well, that makes sense. - You scared me to death.

- Did you spank me? - I should have.

But, no, I hugged you to pieces and smothered you with kisses.

I still feel like doing that from time to time.

Why don't we finish that window, okay?

The canteen will be closed tomorrow,

so we can have the anniversary dinner there.

We can work on it all afternoon, and Mama will never know.

What kind of romantic foods are we going to make?

French haute cuisine. I learned all about it in my cooking class.

- We'll start with escargot. - Escargot? What's that?

- Snails. - You gotta be kidding.

- No, really. Snails are really chic food. - I hope Ike and Corabeth know that.

- The French eat them all the time. - Well, Ike and Corabeth aren't French.

Yes, but Mama's a gourmet.

- Are you going to bring the records? - Sure. It'll be a night made for love.

- Yes. And Mama and Papa will dance. - I can see it now.

Corabeth, my sweet, may I please have the pleasure of this dance?

Of course, Mr. Godsey.

You dance divinely, Mr. Godsey.

Corabeth, my sweet, you dance and you look like an angel.

(AIMEE EXCLAIMS)

(BELLS DINGING)

- What is going on? - We were just practicing our dancing.

(EXCLAIMS)

Well, if that is to be one of your heart's desires,

you had better make sure that whoever your partner is in life,

- also appreciates the art of Terpsichore. - Yes, Mama.

What is it? The two of you are positively giddy.

Well, I think it's just a phase we're going through.

AIMEE: Can we go now, Mama?

Very well, but please, if you wish in the future

to appear graceful, do not giggle.

(BOTH GIGGLING)

It is most unladylike.

(IKE WHISTLING)

(DOOR CLOSING)

- Mr. Godsey, that is an interesting tune. - What?

The tune that you've been whistling so gaily. It is from the opera, Carmen.

A tale of mystery, passion and intrigue.

(CHUCKLING) I didn't even know I was whistling.

- Where are you going? - I got some errands I got to run.

Mr. Godsey, you've gone on an errand every day this week.

Corabeth, I gotta go.

- JOHN: Ike. - Hi, John. Corabeth will take care of you.

Corabeth, what's the matter?

- John, I'm so distressed. - What happened?

I strongly suspect that Mr. Godsey is keeping company with another woman.

Corabeth, where did you ever get that idea?

Well, he makes some feeble excuse every morning to go on an errand.

And then, when he comes back, he's whistling some provocative tune.

And he always reeks of perfume. Strong, French, cheap perfume.

Corabeth, I think you're getting yourself all worked up over nothing.

Is this my imagination? I found it among his things.

Who is she, John?

Well, as a matter of fact, there is another woman, but...

Is she attractive?

It has nothing to do with love, Corabeth. Trust me.

Trust you?

I doubt that I'll ever be able to trust another man again.

Now, what do you want?

(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)

Hi, John.

- How do I look? - You look like Rudolph Valentino.

All you need is a camel.

(IKE LAUGHING)

Want to try it, John?

No, thank you. I'll just sit this one out.

- There's something you two should know. - What's that?

Corabeth thinks Ike's seeing another woman.

(IKE EXCLAIMS)

Now, whatever would give her a crazy idea like that?

Among other things, she found one of Rose's handkerchiefs.

- Did it have morning glories all over it? - As I recall, it did.

(EXCLAIMS) I've been looking everywhere for that hanky.

It was given to me by an old beau.

He was wild about me and he is a wonderful dancer.

How he could dip!

- Is Corabeth really jealous? - Good and jealous.

Mr. Perkins from Howardsville, Virginia.

Who would've ever thought of that? Corabeth jealous.

A traveling man. He sold neckties and patent leather shoes.

Well, that is just too much. Corabeth jealous.

(IKE LAUGHS)

Well, now, maybe we ought to stop the dancing lessons.

Nothing doing. That will make the surprise tomorrow all the better.

Well, it'll give me an extra day to be a femme fatale.

That's what Mr. Perkins always called me.

Who's Mr. Perkins?

(MUSIC CONTINUES)

Dance, Ike. You're superb.

Mama, I called you the minute I found out.

Where's J.D. now?

He's inside. They just brought the bar in.

Thanks for letting me know, Erin.

You better get back to work. I'll handle J.D. Pickett.

- I sure would like to see this. - You better not.

You might find out that your mama's less of a lady than you think.

(MAN EXCLAIMS)

Howdy, Olivia.

J.D., three days ago you assured me you had no space for the children.

- True then, true now. - What about this room?

Well, this is a tavern, not an oversized playpen.

After all, my workers need a place to unwind.

You're making it sound like charity.

All you're doing is taking back the hard-earned money you pay them.

Now, now, Olivia, don't you think you should spend more time

looking after your own brood and less time worrying about my business?

Those children are everybody's business. They deserve our help. Yours and mine.

Deserve? Now you're overreacting, just like a woman.

This is my land to do with as I please, and you've no legal rights to object.

How about moral rights?

Look, Olivia, if you want to play goody-two-shoes to those kids, fine.

But don't expect me to do the same. I'm doing what I want with this building.

Now, if you'd care to come back in a few days,

I'd be honored if you'd join me in a free beer.

J.D., I just might be sorely tempted to pour it down your neck.

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

Good morning, Mrs. Kass. Didn't you get my message?

I'm sorry to hear about the day nursery.

I came by to see if it was something Anna Mae did.

No, of course not. It just couldn't be helped.

If it's money you need, I could pay you a few dollars.

No, it's not the money.

It's just that my husband runs a business here.

There's lots of equipment in and out all day, dangerous machinery.

We couldn't take a chance that one of the children might be hurt.

MRS. KASS: Anna Mae was real happy here.

She doesn't like having to go back to the parking lot.

I don't like to think of her having to go back there.

I'll come by and see you whenever I can, all right, Anna Mae?

- Goodbye, ma'am. - Give me a kiss.

It's a real shame.

I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be turning children away from my door.

Liv, I just can't take the chance of a serious accident happening.

I know, but it doesn't ease my heart when I have to tell the parents.

AIMEE: How's that? ELIZABETH: No, it's way too tall.

They won't be able to gaze into each other's eyes.

All right. I'll put it over here.

- We've done just about everything. - It just doesn't look that romantic.

With the candlelight and music, it'll be very romantic.

I got the champagne.

- I knew you could do it. - Close the door.

I couldn't have done it without the help of a certain United States Army corporal.

I had to get him out of guard duty for a whole week.

Jason, you're a real pal.

This looks real nice. Wouldn't mind bringing a girl here myself sometime.

Not tonight.

- Well, good luck, you two. - ELIZABETH: Okay.

- Happy anniversary, Ike. - Thanks, Jason.

Papa, what are you doing here? The surprise isn't for half an hour.

I just had my last lesson from Aunt Rose.

It's not bad.

- Not bad? It's superb. - You bought her a present?

What do you think, I'm not romantic?

(IKE HUMMING)

Papa's turning out to be a pretty smooth dancer.

Too bad we can't teach him to whisper sweet nothings in Corabeth's ear.

I wonder what he got her.

What is this?

It is a suitcase, Mr. Godsey, as any fool can plainly see.

Yeah, but what are you doing? I mean, I don't understand.

I do not wish to discuss the matter any further.

I've spent a considerable amount of time finding just the right words.

I put it all in this letter. It is my final comment.

But you didn't have to take all your time to write it out.

I mean, you could have just told me what you wanted to tell me.

See what it says here, "Dear Mr. Godsey, I'm leaving you."

You didn't say anything else, and you didn't even sign it.

Well, who else would be sending it? It's over, Mr. Godsey, over.

- Corabeth. Now, hold on. - To what? Our crumbling marriage?

I believe in fidelity. 'Tis a pity you don't.

Corabeth, I love you.

You have a fine way you of showing it. Slipping around with some home-wrecker.

- Well, I can explain that. - Well, I'm waiting.

- I just can't explain it yet. - Well, then, I am leaving.

I'm not spending another night with a Casanova.

All right, go. But go tell Aimee that you're leaving.

I'm taking Aimee with me.

I do not intend to leave her under the bad influence of a philanderer.

All right, ask her. I'll bet you a nickel she stays.

(EXCLAIMS) You see, you've added gambling to your sins.

- Aimee! - Corabeth, Aimee is in the canteen.

You see what a bad influence you are! Letting her run around with soldiers!

(DOOR OPENING)

- GIRLS: Happy Anniversary! - Happy Anniversary, honey.

Oh, Mr. Godsey.

I am overwhelmed.

Now, that's from me. But Aimee and Elizabeth did all the work.

I don't know what to say.

(TANGO PLAYING)

Before you desert me, may I have this dance?

A tango, Mr. Godsey?

You know, Rose was the other woman. She taught me how to dance.

But that's all she taught me.

(CORABETH EXCLAIMING)

I am so ashamed.

Well, the best thing for that is to dance.

Mama.

(IKE EXCLAIMS)

It's been so quiet around here today. I hardly know what to do with myself.

It seems like you've been developing quite a way with children.

Well, I'm getting a little bit better at it.

But I still don't know whether I want oodles of children or maybe just one.

You've got plenty of time to make up your mind.

I'm sorry it didn't work out.

- Hello, Cindy. - Hi.

Maybe I'll take John Curtis in to bed. It's about bedtime.

- Good night, John. - Bye-bye, good night.

(BOTH SIGHING)

- Looks like I'm a lady of leisure again. - I'm sure it won't do you any harm.

I should have thought it through before I went ahead with it.

Liv, you saw a bunch of kids hanging around

with nothing to do and you pitched in.

I would've been disappointed in you if you hadn't.

A worthy failure.

- You'll find something else to do. - Those children are victims of war too.

I just wanted to help them have some normal days again.

It's even more than that.

I think in some strange way, I felt like I was caring for John-Boy.

By helping those children, in some way, I was helping him too.

I understand that.

How can J.D. Pickett be so uncaring?

He won't change. It'd take an army to do that.

Maybe I've got one.

- Hi, Anna Mae. - Looks like you've been missed.

Let's round them up. Cindy, will you get Barbara and Charlie?

JOHN: Is this your army?

OLIVIA: I'm gonna draft the whole bunch of them.

Bernice, Rob, Elwin. Come here. I want to talk to you.

Come on, you two. You and me and Barbara have a lot of work to do.

How would you like to have a place all of your own

where we can read and draw, and play games?

Mrs. Walton has some idea about how to get you a safer place to play.

Let's go over and listen to what she's saying, come on.

Mama said we can't come back to your house anymore.

That's why we have to find another place.

Now, you all come with me, and we'll see what we can do.

- What's next, boss? - OLIVIA: We're gonna storm the place.

JOHN: Let's go. Come on. John Curtis. Come on.

There you go, catch up, come on.

Come on, let's go, John Curtis. Come on, pick him up.

Come on.

Olivia, what in hell are you up to now?

I'm running a day nursery for the children of the employees of Pickett Metal.

Come on, children, sit down. I'm gonna tell you a story.

- Damned if you will. - Watch your language, J.D.

This is my property and I want you all out of here on the double.

- We're staying. - I'll throw you out!

You can bully us as much as you want, but we're not leaving.

John, talk some sense into your wife.

Sounds like she's making sense to me, J.D.

John, I don't want to use force, but I will if I have to.

You got the wrong man. Olivia's running the nursery school.

And we're going to be meeting here every day from now on.

Not on your life!

Okay, boys, start carrying them out.

Well, come on, Swanson, Miller, hop to it.

Mr. Swanson, I don't think you want to throw Bernice out.

Swanson, what are you doing?

We need a place for the children worse than we need a tavern, Mr. Pickett.

I'll go along with that.

You too, Erin? My own right-hand man?

I can't stand by you in this, J.D.

Well, you've all gone plumb crazy! I'll call the sheriff. You'll all be arrested!

Think of the headlines, "J.D. Pickett throws

"children of defense workers out into the streets."

This is blackmail!

On the other hand, you could be a real hero, J.D.

Well...

I suppose I could let you use the place when business is slow.

7:00 to 5:00.

- 7:00 to 3:30. - 4:15.

- 4:00. - Deal.

Deal.

J.D., I don't want to find any cigarette butts lying around

when I get here in the morning.

- I better not trip over any toys. - No poker chips.

- No crayon marks on my walls. - No empty beer bottles lying around.

Olivia, I'd rather deal with the whole German Army

- than have to bargain with you. - Thank you, J.D.

(ALL CHEERING)

JOHN-BOY: The war of the children had been settled,

but not the war between my mother and J.D. Pickett.

He complained if a baby bottle happened to be left on the bar.

She complained if a beer bottle had been left on the floor.

Only at the end of the war was peace declared between the two of them.

OLIVIA: Good night, Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH: Mama, I've got a great idea for your day nursery.

Why don't you teach the kids how to dance?

OLIVIA: Elizabeth, some of them can barely walk.

ELIZABETH: No problem. After all, we taught Ike.

OLIVIA: Good night, Elizabeth. JOHN: Good night, Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH: Good night, everyone.

English -SDH