 Words at war Oh said week Dave said week that was what have I done now step in my office Well, you've done nothing except well congratulations on that fun to tell a killing story. It was good gosh Tell me Dave. How'd you like to cover the biggest murder story of the year? Oh brother? That's for me Okay, get packed. You're leaving for England to cover the war for the globe leave it. Don't start yapping. Thank you Listen to me. We caught short Wang Lee got hurt in a plane crash We need a matter we can trust over there and don't let it go to your head You covered a story over there the same as you do here just remember to be above it beyond it impersonal and impartial I catch just a guy holding a mirror up to light. All right cut the smart stuff Tell me what the job if the British don't object. Why should I? And that's the beginning of tonight's words at war as the national broadcasting company in cooperation with the council on books and wartime Presents an adaptation of Robert St. John's new novel. It's always tomorrow a hard-hitting book about the men and women of bomb battered England His lordship will be going to the country tonight, but he wishes to retain his suite very well, sir Name said week David said week. I've got a room Yes Oh come along then I have your keys all boy. Well, who are you? Oh dick Matthews all boy Over here five years now, you know for the globe and waiting here to show you around thanks As I said, we get has anyone ever told you you better remarkable resemblance to get a ground You don't look so bad yourself dickie boy. Oh now look there. Take it easy kid. It's that English accent It kind of gets me down now. Suppose you tell me how I get started around here Well, first of all, you've got to get your ration books Then you'll need passes to get you by the armed guards at the Ministry of Information Uh-huh the war office in Whitehall BBC and other government officers Then you'll have to register as an alien an alien. Oh, yes. Yes, of course, you're an alien here, you know Then I'll introduce you to Michael Beckonist and try to get him to put you on his list for cigarettes Okay, okay, that's fine. But when do I get down to business? When do I meet church here? Oh, you don't all boy, but there's a cocktail party tomorrow Charities where you can meet some of the important people in the foreign office. Good context, you know good context Okay, I'll be there I Said a two-pinged in Tell me something what did you people think of the Prime Minister's statement that he doesn't intend to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire? Not very much. That's the kind of talk I like straight from the shoulder. What Mr. Thonsby What do you people think of the American ambassador? Well, frankly, oh man, it's too bad They sent him his wrong kind of chap, you know matter of fact, I'm quite disturbed or so, but the WWW menace the WWW yes, yes wine and Wallace and Wells Those fellas really are men as you know with their claptrap of brave new worlds and remaking the universe Socialism as well as you don't say oh most emphatically they talk of throwing open the colonies our colonists It's impertence my boy But it's been generous and kind to the natives in our colonies How would Africa or India or even America ever have been developed if it hadn't been for the British? We've used our skill and sunk our money into those obscure places to make them produce Why should we turn them over to backward nations at two pinchings? Oh, thank you so much. Oh, here you are. Sorry. I'm uh, I'm feeling a little sick. Oh Had one too many. That's right one too many. Excuse me, please. Hello, cheerio Stupid lot of talks aren't they Janie? No worse than the usual They're not kidding, baby. They take the cake every one of them. Excuse me, sir I said I agreed with you. They're not only stupid, but the worst bunch of stuff shirts I've ever wanted another pink gin you was wanting sir. Listen beautiful. You're the only person I've met here today Who's made any sense right one genities. What's your name, honey? Here you are sir Look beautiful. I'm a strange guy in a strange country and nobody speaks my language except you and even you sound a little Will there be anything else sir? Yes, there is. How about having dinner with me tonight, sir? Well, it's a date. I'll meet you in the Piccadilly lobby at seven Okay, yank Okay What's your name honey poly poly what just poly What's yours? Dave Cedric Dave deal. Have you ever been to hollywood Dave? Oh, no. I come from Chicago Chicago I never heard of it Really David, you know, you look just like someone I've seen in the flicks ever so many times the flicks. Yeah, you know Flicks cinemas the movies Now don't tell me it was Carrie Grant. No, isn't he the stuck up one though Polly you're priceless. What are you doing in England, David? I'm covering the war for newspaper and I think you people are terrific I mean the job you've been doing. Yes And I think we've been taken in you've been What do you mean poly? I mean, I think we're a pack of fools for fighting the bloody war. That's what I beg your pardon So would you and your friend mind moving to another table, sir? What's that way? No need to ask him, David Look around you Quite to see that all the lords and their ladies have left the vicinity of our table But why because they've spotted me for what I am a waitress I think I'm not good enough to be eating in the dining room with a savoy along with the likes of them Oh, you're kidding. Am I? No, I do you understand why I don't care who wins the blooming Blasted war My ration book and passes anything terrific happened today Oh, just the usual communique on the fighting on vile night's air raid No statement from cabinet members and nothing from Poland. Typical day What's the matter with you, Richard? You you look as though you just lost your last two bucks on the races David, I overheard some talk over at the ministry of information this morning. Oh, yeah, what about you? Oh, yes, they were talking about some girl who took the dinner at the Savoy last night Said she was a waitress What about it? Well Look here, old boy I've been over here several years and you can't find the face of convention like that or or what Well, you see said we England is a country with an upper and lower class Nothing you can do will change it taking that poor girl a girl to the Savoy with the same as Well as if you had walked into the dining room of the world office story in new york leading a horse Whose side are you on Matthews? Mine or theirs? The trouble with you as you've been here too long traveling with a lot of stuff shirts No, look here, old boy. No, you look here, old boy You tell your pals to stay away from the Dorchester tonight because dave said we're in his lower class girlfriend They're going to be there and tell them I said if they don't like it They can lump it Well, Polly, how do you like dining with the tufts for the second night in the row? Oh, I can stand it. Oh Oh You know Polly, I'm still hungry Serves you right for dining in such an expensive place all in all though. I I think the dollar limit per meal law is okay It's okay for those as obeys the law. Look around you david Do these people look angry? Well, do you want to know how they get around the five shilling limit per meal? Yeah, very much say that you and me are the likes of them We come here to the Dorchester and have some smoked salmon We order five shillings worth and then go around to Claridge's and have a bit of joint and vegetables Another five bob's worth. We just keep going from one place to the other So you see dave if you've got the pounds and shillings to eat out for six days of the week On sunday, you can spend your whole week's ration tickets for one grand meal Well, the rest of the people has to string theirs out for the whole seven days So that's what happens. I hate him And I hate this war which has been fought to save them and their precious skins You're wrong poly this war isn't being fought to preserve people like them Oh It's being fought for democracy. I suppose. Yes Well, my father lost his leg for democracy last time And what did it get in the privilege of stomping around on a wooden leg and selling violets to the rich Polly, if you feel that way, why do you wait on those people at Claridge's because I don't want to get drafted into the Rends or the 80s or a munitions factory. I'm not helping their blasted war along not me Polly, I don't get it. If you work for a hotel no matter what your job is It's called a reserved occupation and they can't draft you Nothing's too good for the rich, you know, you're bitter poly you're bitter and prejudiced Don't you realize what's at stake? Don't you know that the rich and poor in england are all in the same boat? Do you want to take a chance on the nazis winning the war? What difference does it make who wins the blasted war? The jetties won't scrounge me any worse than my betters have been doing up to now Does the Germans win? Let them win I'm sick of taking news handouts from government officials Let's go out and ask the people themselves how they feel about it. What do you say? Okay, David. Waiter the check The foreman said I could talk to you, may I? Hey, I think so of them all Now how many hours a day do you work in this factory at 12? How many days a week seven? But I hear we're going on sick soon. Tell me why Why are you willing to to work so hard willing? Hey, what's that? Are you bar mitzvim? I see one more question Don't you get awfully tired working 12 hours a day seven days a week? Oh, I don't mind that but the thing that plays me out is the four hours of air raid warden duty each night But after the war, I'll rest up It's a nice green sir. No, I'd like a piece of fruit. Have you got any oranges? Oranges? Block me last time I saw a orange. It was on exhibition in region streets. It was five years ago What we'll have in that game, sir. I'll bet you will. Yeah, that's what we are fighting for, ain't it? What do you mean? Well, so all of us will have all the oranges we can eat, sir Yeah, and we will too right after the war That's what you might say, sir And how do you manage for food, Mrs. Thrunley? Well, sir, the rationing allows us each a shilling and tapence worth of meat each week Not a pound bone included Why that's 24 cents worth of meat a week American money How about things like butter and eggs? Two ounces of butter a week and one to three eggs a month depending on the season, sir We'll manage this as long as we have to There'll be tubs of butter and tons of eggs for all of us after the war, sir How do you feel about the taxes, your lordship? Texas? What does any man think about taxes? What father means is that he doesn't mind the taxes. Do you father? What men of English blood would when he sees what the dirty hun has done to our people and our cities with his Bonds and his V1s and V2s Thousands killed and mangled One out of every three houses and but not only destroyed or damaged Yes, mr. Cedric I like to pay my taxes Every penny is a bullet aimed at the heart of the enemy. Would you mind telling me for publication? How much you paid last year, your lordship? Oh about $975,000 nine. Uh Gosh, you sure must have cleaned up. Well, as a matter of fact, mr. Cedric father only netted $24,000 There's a 97 and one half percent tax, you know, that's right My income was about one million dollars your money But what I'm giving to the war is nothing compared to what my son has sacrificed father my son lost both eyes in north africa Well I'm going to do my best to see that there's no recurrence of this after this war Stop it. David. Stop it. Do you think I'll believe the likes of him either? Oh, I'm tired of all this David I'm tired of your arguments tired of your flag waving. You're shouting at me picking at me arguing at me Polly, I've proved you're wrong. You're twisted in your thinking If all the people I've interviewed felt like you england would have thrown in the sponge long ago Sure, there's injustices in england in america, too But do you honestly think you can wipe out those injustices of hitler himler and that gang got the top hand? do you Polly get into it and do your bit Then afterwards you will have the right. Yes, the duty to see to it that the upper crust listens to you Let them listen to me now. I say I don't want to live on hopes I say let them eat the same as we eat make the same sacrifices we're making Let them come out of the fancy restaurants and do their part and then I'll march into the nearest war plant and get a job tomorrow No, I'm tired. Come on. Let's be off. Where to? The Savoy not in your life. There's something more me own style the elephant and castle Well sit right down soldier what do you have jen and bitters if it's all the same to you sir Jen and bitters, please miss. Yes, sir. Pleasure is all mine sir. Hi, Albert Say, uh, what's this this uh cane and able business cane and able table Rhyming eh well give say something to me and well he went up the apples and pears And he sets down his cherry ripe on the cane and able says to us cows and kisses and where I'm around the ousers Hey now wait, wait a minute slow down. What in the world is that double top mean? That's quite simple Dave He went up the apples and pears the stairs and he sets down his cherry ripe pipe on the cane and able Don't tell me table right and says do we cows and kisses the missus and where I'm around the ousers There you are miss Thank you, sir Yeah, here's to Hitler's funeral I'll drink to that Where have you been Albert? Why I haven't seen you for almost close to three years now poly say yeah But what are those ribbons on your uniform stand for them a girl gave them to me for good behavior Oh now come on see what I rather not save it all the same to you. I can't nor fit Albert Oh, well, that's Dunkirk and this one's grease and creed and this is north africa This is Italy Now, I suppose they'll be pinning one on me for coming home to england Say, uh, what's the what's the medal for albert? That's for the pawn shop After the war poly oh, that's okay, Dave. I used to think the same as poly about those things and what's changed your mind play tell A handful of pretty colored ribbons Now you're willing to die for the empire a albert. I'm not dying for no empire poly What's the empire ever meant to me? I never got none of the benefits out of africa or india or egypt or palestine or malaya and hong kong or singapore We here in england pay as much for spices from india and rubber from malaya as you do in america Did you know that dave? No, I didn't albert. It's true. Of course. It's true. All right then. Who is it that benefits from the empire? I'll tell you It's the blokes what own the shares in the companies what exploit places like india and south africa That's who and a bloody small percentage of england. They are too right you are albert Oh, and I thought you'd gone and changed on me. Um, I have poly. I have How's that? Well, you just finished saying I wasn't doing any dying for the empire and i'm not going to What i'm risking my neck for is a better england after the war a good job Short on hours and long on pay decent living quarters a liberal government members of parlor do represent blokes like me And not just the blokes who live in the west end What's funny about that poly? What's funny? What guarantee have you got that you're going to get all of these things after the war? Where's your collateral? Who's co-signing this note for your future? The angel gabriel no Churchill roseville and starlin's co-signed my note for me poly. That's who And god blind me. They'd better keep their word or I'll Make trouble Me well if I were you I'd stick to the daily communique Find myself a sympathetic lady friend and have myself a good time while I was over here That sounds as if you don't expect me to be here very much longer. There's no room in england for idealists. Look dickie boy I'm no idealist. I'm a reporter. I sent the global story telling them what I saw and heard and then they all played safe Old boy stick to the daily communique don't be naive. Don't you know the truth doesn't always look good and print wait a minute Who says I have to print If I can't send the truth about the people Why not send the people themselves? Huh, I'll give it to me slowly sure look it's the little people of the world who have to fight the wars But if the little people met knew each other and realized that their common interests were tied up together They'd never be another war right right hold on a minute Statter a shipboat of english workers through a hundred american factories Let them stay there for the duration no speeches no propaganda no nothing just work How long would it take for the americans to find out that all englishmen don't wear monocles and spats? Send some to twight workers to england and the english would soon discover that all americans aren't jigglers Where are those cable forms? Um, who are you sending a cable to said week the globe The biggest story of the day By a press wireless by said london planned to bring about closer understanding little people britain The opposite numbers america today advanced in letter to british minister live Say what's this i just came to ministry and they didn't say anything about this he hasn't received the letter yet stupid i'm gonna write it after i file this cable This is their reply poly i got it this afternoon Have filed your tonight's think piece in waste basket stop You're not over there to solve england's social problems. Stop You'll copy lately too full of phrase quote little people Unquote please abstain using this phrase in future Are you poor darling does that air raid siren bother you poly do you want to go to a shelter? It's funny You know the people who run your paper are no different from those i'll wait on the clearages They all want to maintain the status quo Poly i moved out of the savoy today Why david To be near my new job new job Oh, don't tell me they've gone and sat you oh no no poly i'm still working for the globe But i've taken another job in a munitions plan have you gone balmy david now what you want to go and do a thing like that Because i believe in people like albert and you poly I believe in this war And i want to help our side out I've written and talked enough about democracy Now i want to do something for it And i want you to quit your job and come in this with me Polly this is a people's war with all of us fighting for something to believe in people's war What kind of people? Oh poly oh no when it ain't no longer a reserved occupation to serve tea and crumpets to swells on the daughter for And when they give us some guarantees for the future Then i'll join your bloody war, but not until Uh That was a close one You frightened darling Who me please take shelter in the cellar everybody. Hello, please Come on poly The safest place in the blitz is under a stairway Ah here we are stand over there Let me get in front of you darling Are you okay? Please turn off that anvil Breaking my head he's awake support his head nurse. Mr. Sedwig try to drink this please Ah there we are feel better now what Happened to me may i doctor yes certainly You were in a restaurant and so Sedwig you received a direct hit in the ribs eight days ago Three days Where's poly poly the girl i was with where is she What happened to her oh her she's okay as a matter of fact she's clamoring to get in here right now Look here old man. I want to get your story of the red. What was it like? I've had a dozen cables from home. I want to see that girl. I want Hello david Poly oh very well Sedwig i'll come back later You may have five minutes with him miss and then you will have to go. Thank you doctor Darling no no no no but supposing something could happen funny I'd accept exactly the same thought about you Me nonsense it'll take more than a direct hit to put little poly out of the war Or not tell me david What's wrong with you well i just woke up five seconds before you came into the room poly i I haven't had a chance you can move both of your arms. Can't you even though they're bandaged up right I think so how about your legs? They're both okay I I'll pinch him for you as that right leg okay Yes left leg Pinch hard upon it always joking, ain't you there? How's that? What's the matter david? poly I didn't feel it In that case we'll remove all doubts from the gentleman's mind by drawing honey Honey don't cry. Who's crying anyway? Oh david i'll love you. I'd love you if you didn't have any legs david. Thank you darling, but Not what's dropping you Well, I I don't know how i'm Going to be able to stand at a machine in that factory 10 hours a day Does it Does it mean so much to david? Yes poly It does then all right. Don't worry about it. I'll quit clarages david. I'll take your job in the war plant poly Oh poly i'm proud of you I know you changed your mind about the war. I knew it. I haven't changed my mind about the war Look david let's be honest with each other Life isn't no storybook I'm going to help out with the thing you want done But not for none of those hard high blown reasons you're always talking about i'm being honest david. I ain't no patriot But I am a woman and Well, I'm in love with you That's why i'm doing it Okay, darling Have it your way and another thing just because i'm working in a war plant don't mean nothing I'm going to keep an eye on certain people here in england just the same and you will help me david Yes, dear I'll help you and if they try us to cheat us out of anything we've won in this war Then we'll see if we can arrange another direct hit especially for their benefit Night words at war has brought you it's always tomorrow by robert st. John The radio dramatization was by martin stern and the cast included bill quinn as dave sedgwick Kathleen cordellus poly john stanley as albert and john morris matthews The music was arranged and played by william meter production garnet garrison Next week words at war will present the radio dramatization of borrowed night by oscar rave This series of programs is brought to you in cooperation with the council on books and wartime By the national broadcasting company and the independent radio stations associated with the nbc network