SCENE: London
ANNE: Ill verify that this is the place.
FRED: You go ahead, Anne. Well be fine.
SCENE: Garrisons hotel
MR. DODD: No, weve not seen hide nor hair of that Garrison chap for months. He requested that we leave everything as is. I had my concerns, at one point, he was a spy.
ANNE: He said everything was paid for.
MRS. DODD: Well, yes, to the letter. Always six months in advance. And we do like those American greenbacks. Are you a relative, dear?
ANNE: No. Heavens, no. Im Canadian. I worked with Mr. Garrison in New York.
MRS. DODD: Not married?
ANNE: I have a child and an invalid officer to support, if you know of any jobs.
MRS. DODD: Few jobs these days with everyone evacuating the city. Were on tender hooks for this horror to end.
ANNE: Im strong, from so much physical work at the front, and Im prepared to do any manual labor, even here at the hotel.
MRS. DODD: Well, perha--
MR. DODD: The only opportunity for women these days is volunteer work and such, at the Red Cross.
ANNE: Thank you.
MRS. DODD: We hope youll be comfortable.
SCENE: British Red Cross
RED CROSS OFFICIAL: I cant promise anything, madam. Mr. Wright heres on the earliest shipment of vets back to Canada in two months.
ANNE: Nothing sooner?
RED CROSS OFFICIAL: Only if youre willing to pay.
SCENE: Garrisons apartment
FRED: She says the children are well. Not a word about herself. Hows Anne? Doesnt ask about me.
ANNE: Oh, Fred. Let me help, Fred. The last thing she told me was how she prayed you two would have another chance. She loves you, Fred.
FRED: Its hard being cooped up in here with you typing like a fiend.
ANNE: Im sorry. I didnt realize I was bothering you. Im just trying to get these notes from the front typed up while theyre still fresh in my mind. There.
FRED: All these months I wished Id have had it in me to say goodbye to them. Maybe I should go out and get some air. Thank you. Itll probably do us both some good.
ANNE: All right. Everythings going to be fine, Fred. Ill get you home. Youll see your loved ones soon.
FRED: If they can bare the sight of me.
SCENE: American Embassy
EMBASSY CLERK: Where is this Mr. Garrison posted?
ANNE: Hes connected to a General Pershing, thats all I know. We last saw each other at Bar-le-duc.
EMBASSY CLERK: Well, General Pershing is involved right now in a setting up a telephone network across France. Officer Garrison could be anywhere.
ANNE: If I were to send a cable to the General?
EMBASSY CLERK: Well, I can only try.
ANNE: Baby arrived safely in London. Not everything worked out. Contact as soon as possible. Awaiting instructions.
EMBASSY CLERK: All right, well see what we can do.
SCENE: Garrisons apartment
ANNE: Whats going on? Whats going on? [bombing outside] Fred, I think theyre bombing the city.
MRS. DODD: The zeps are coming. Everyone down to the basement. Down to the basement, please. All the way down to the basement, please. Everythings under control. Everyone down to the basement, please. Down to the basement. Thats it maam. Down to the basement. All the way down. Thank you, sir.
SCENE: Hotel basement
BRIAN FINDLAY: I hate this stupid old war. When can I go back to sleep?
MRS. FINDLAY: Soon, soon.
MRS. DODD: [to Anne] Youll remind him someday that he learned to toddle while London burned. Hawonky little thing.
FRED: Let me out of here!
ANNE: Fred, Fred. Youre all right. Youre all right. Youre safe down here. Youre safe. Come on.
MR. DODD: Not to worry, everybody. Its good excuse to clear out this load of old rubbish.
BRIAN FINDLAY: Can I hold him, madam?
ANNE: All right.
MRS. FINDLAY: Youre babys not ill, I hope.
ANNE: No, no. Hes quite fine now, but hes got a little cough.
MRS. FINDLAY: I only ask because my husband, he nearly died at the front of the pneumonia. Hes home on leave soon. All we can think about is getting back to his people in Canada.
ANNE: Where in Canada?
MRS. FINDLAY: Halifax.
ANNE: No, I taught for five years in Halifax. Were from Prince Edward Island, just off the coast of Nova Scotia.
BRIAN FINDLAY: My dad used to sing to us about Canada. [sings] So farewell to Nova Scotia, you sea-bound coast. Let your mountains dark and dreary be. For when Im far away on the briny ocean tossed, will you ever give a sigh and a wish for me
SCENE: British Red Cross
ANNE: [reading a letter] Dear Mrs. Blythe. We regret to inform you that the whereabouts of your husband, Captain Gilbert Blythe, are currently unknown. We have reason to believe that the enemy may have captured Mr. Blythe. [to clerk] What does this mean? No one knows if hes dead.
EMBASSY CLERK: When a prisoner of wars tags return to the Red Cross, the prisoner may have been moved to another camp or simply disappeared.
ANNE: Someone must know where he went. Hes the head of his division.
EMBASSY CLERK: Im very sorry, madam.
ANNE: Please, he didnt just cease to exist.
EMBASSY CLERK: Under the circumstances, I dont believe they can claim the individual is missing in action. Dr. Blythe, like many other medical personnel, may have been captured and forced to work for the enemy. He may have come in contact with certain information that made him a target. We just dont know.
SCENE: Garrisons apartment, totally destroyed
ANNE: What in heavens name?
FRED: Findlays asked us downstairs for tea. I come back and find this.
ANNE: Wheres Dominic?
FRED: With the Findlays. Whats going on, Anne?
ANNE: I dont know.
FRED: How much do you really know about Jack Garrison? Where is he?
ANNE: I dont know.
FRED: I spoke to the Dodds. They dont seem really concerned. Someone must be watching us. Diana hasnt been able to arrange passage.
ANNE: Fred!
FRED: I need to get home now.
ANNE: Im doing my best. Just be grateful youre as safe as you are.
SCENE: Hotel lobby
MRS. DODD: Well, its possible it may have been a thief, Mrs. Blythe. But then again, nothing was stolen.
ANNE: Has this ever happened before?
MR. DODD: No, the rooms been sealed for months, at Mr. Garrisons request.
MRS. DODD: Are you sure it couldnt have been Mr. Wright? You have to admit hes acting awfully erratically.
SCENE: Hotel stairs
ANNE: Thank you for looking after Dominic for me.
MRS. FINDLAY: Its all right. We had a lovely afternoon together.
ANNE: I received some news today about my husband. I found out he was a P.O.W. in Germany.
MRS. FINDLAY: What do you mean, was?
ANNE: No one seems to know whats happened to him.
MRS. FINDLAY: Im so sorry.
ANNE: But I keep thinking, if he was really dead, surely I would know that in my heart. I would feel a terrible emptiness. You can understand that, cant you Mrs. Findlay?
MRS. FINDLAY: Yes, I know, Anne. You mustnt give it thought.
SCENE: Streets of London
ANNE: [someone grabs Anne] What? Let go of me! [screams]
JACK: Shh! Shh! Its me. Its Jack. Its Jack. Dont be afraid. Are you okay? Are you okay?
ANNE: What are you trying to do, scare me half to death?
JACK: I have been waiting and waiting. This is the only safe place for us to talk.
ANNE: Where have you been?
JACK: Im sorry I stayed there so long. Colette and I need to meet so I can make arrangements for the What?
ANNE: Colette is dead, Jack. There was a
JACK: The boy?
ANNE: Hes safe. I tried to contact you.
JACK: Where is he?
ANNE: Hes in the apartment.
JACK: I cant let anyone know Im here. Help me. Get me into the apartment?
ANNE: Yes.
SCENE: Hotel basement
ANNE: Someone broke into the apartment.
JACK: Did you see anyone?
ANNE: No. Why cant you let anyone know youre here?
JACK: Whos watching Dominic?
ANNE: I left him with a friend.
SCENE: Garrisons apartment
JACK: Lets hope its still here.
ANNE: Cant you tell me what youre up to?
JACK: Im involved in something very important. I need to make sure you and Dominic are safe. I know I can trust you implicitly, Anne.
ANNE: I want to send him back to Canada.
JACK: No, no. Dont do that. My plans have changed now. [looking at the picture of him and Colette] Colette and I werent married, but Dominic, hes my flesh and blood. It was never my intention to get involved with Colette, but I did. And I loved her.
ANNE: You better hurry.
JACK: [sighs] I should never have encouraged them to come with me.
ANNE: No, you shouldnt have. Nor put me in the middle of this.
JACK: Look. Im involved in American government underground efforts to end the war. Im being followed. I need you to stay put until I can contact you with arrangements for Dominic.
ANNE: I cant stay here indefinitely.
JACK: It wont be for that long. Anne, you cant tell anyone. You cant tell the neighbors; you cant tell any of the guests in the hotel. Tell no one, no one, that Ive been here.
ANNE: Where will you go?
JACK: I got your last cable through Pershing. Leave any messages for me at the embassy. Ive got to get out of here. Did you ever find your husband?
ANNE: His field unit was captured at Neufchateau. I plan to go back for him.
JACK: You never give up, do you?
ANNE: No.
JACK: Promise to take care of my boy if anything happens to me.
ANNE: Whats going to happen to you Jack?
JACK: Nothing. Nothing for the moment. Just promise me.
ANNE: I promise. [they hug]
JACK: Thank you.
SCENE: Hotel lobby
MRS. FINDLAY: Come and join us, Anne. You need a solid breakfast before you go on a long days job hunt.
ANNE: Ill be fine. Youve been more than generous.
MRS. FINDLAY: I insist. Fade away to nothing, you will.
ANNE: Im actually very hungry, thank you. Ill just grab a sweater for Dominic.
FRED: Can I order for you?
ANNE: Thank you, Fred. Im beginning to feel like were a married couple. [they laugh]
FRED: [to Dominic] Lets get some food.
FERGUS KEEGAN: Mrs. Blythe? My name is Fergus Keegan. Im editor-in-chief of the London Illustrated Dispatch. I was hoping to introduce myself. Jack Garrison used to work for us and I was wondering if youd had any contact with him.
ANNE: No, Im afraid not.
FERGUS KEEGAN: Are you waiting here to meet him for some reason?
ANNE: [fumbles over words] No, I knew Jack in New York and hes just lent my friend and me his apartment while were here in London.
FERGUS KEEGAN: Forgive me. Jack used to feed us reports concerning events at the front and hes sorely missed. We were very successful at selling his stories to the American papers, and I was hoping that he would be returning to London.
ANNE: Im afraid I cant help you. Excuse me, but how do you know me?
FERGUS KEEGAN: Oh, the manager of the hotel mentioned that were staying in Jacks apartment and that you were looking for work, and I may be of some assistance there. You are a writer?
ANNE: Yes, I am. Im not planning on being in London for much longer, but a job would be very much appreciated.
FERGUS KEEGAN: Yes, well, Id be only too happy to meet you in my office, if youre interested, and we can discuss any positions that might be available at the newspaper. Here. My card.
ANNE: Well, thank you very much.
FERGUS KEEGAN: And you will keep us informed if you receive any more information concerning Jack. Wed be most obliged. Good day.
ANNE: Good day. [he leaves]
MR. DODD: Uh, did Mr. Keegan have anything for you, Mrs. Blythe?
ANNE: Yes, he gave me his card.
MRS. DODD: Oh, well, hes a good man, Mrs. Blythe. Mr. Garrison always spoke so highly of him. Maybe he could help you locate your husband. They have wire services there and so many fancy new methods of communication.
ANNE: Well, thank you for mentioning I was in need of a job. How do you know him?
MR. DODD: So many journalists have resided in here over the years. Its a close little circle.
ANNE: Thank you, again.
SCENE: Dispatch publishing house
ANNE: Hello. Mr. Fergus Keegan, please. Thank you.
FERGUS KEEGAN: Mrs. Blythe, I am so glad that you called. Please.
ANNE: I decided to take you up on your offer. But, as I mentioned, Ill only be staying in London for a little while longer before I return to the front.
FERGUS KEEGAN: Well, we do have a temporary post that requires prompt replacement. The researcher to our society columnist, Maud Montrose, has left her position.
ANNE: It sounds intriguing.
MAUD MONTROSE: [in background, outside office] Oh, dont be so foolish. Get back to work!
ANNE: Would it be possible for me to utilize any-
FERGUS KEEGAN: Excuse me [he shuts the door] The wages here are one pound, six shillings a week.
ANNE: That should be fine. As I was saying, I would like to avail myself of the information bureau and the wire service, if its not an imposition, sir. Id happily pay out of my own wages.
FERGUS KEEGAN: My secretary will be glad to introduce you to any of the journalists or war correspondents that come in and out of our wire service bureau. And after all, one good turn always deserves another.
MAUD MONTROSE: [from outside] Fergus! [she opens the door] You completely forgot to specify typing speed.
FERGUS KEEGAN: The ad is exactly as you requested, my dear. Maud Montrose, meet Mrs. Anne Blythe.
ANNE: Miss Montrose. My background is mostly editorial. Winfield Publishing House in New York. I can type fifty words a minute.
FERGUS KEEGAN: Well, we have an agreement. Please. Youll be working as her assistant, but in reality you will be working for me. Frankly, Mrs. Blythe, we need someone to keep an eye on Maudy. She has a large clientele of socialites, may of whom try to express their own views in her column. Sometimes her approach to politics is a tad, um, misguided. Warning me ahead of time of any sensitive matters that might pop up in her column would save us all a great deal of trouble.
SCENE: Mauds office
FERGUS KEEGAN: Well, we have an agreement.
MAUD MONTROSE: Oh, please. I was raised in Manhattan. Youre not going to burden with some perfidious little New York editor.
FERGUS KEEGAN: Now, now. Dont worry, Mrs. Blythe. She wont bite. Ill leave you two to get acquainted.
MAUD MONTROSE: Well, the job is a temporary one, Anne Blythe, until I can move faster on my feet. Now, let me be frank, darling. My column is the most widely read in this boring paper.
ANNE: Ill do my best. Any writing to do, Ill be happy to oblige.
MAUD MONTROSE: My one mundane chore here is a sleepy little column called Helpful Hints for House and Home, buried in the classified. See what kind of ideas you can dredge up for next week. Your desk is over there.
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