Original subtitles

Did you bring my stuff from London?

Yes, it's outside in the van.

He gave it to you, did he?

Filthy pig.

Yeah, it was no trouble. Said he was glad to get a shot of it.

I bet he kept my bone china.

Did he give you the china?

I don't know.

It was all in boxes. He had it packed.

Makes you sick.

After 20 years and all I've done for that man. Well, I'll fetch it in later.

Thanks, Jeff.

I'll murder him if he kept that china.

What time are we packing up tonight?

What? Oh, 12, 12 .30.

But don't stay late on Wednesday night.

I'll see you afterwards. Okay, Lena.

Good evening, sir. Can I help you? It looks like I'm a little early.

Well, we don't actually start till 9 o 'clock, but there's a bar through there

if you'd like a drink. Oh, thanks.

You're American, aren't you?

That's right.

Gerald T. Armstrong.

I'm from Wisconsin.

We used to have the Americans over here during the war. Yes. I was only a girl

then, of course, but I remember them quite well.

They used to give me sweets.

I hope you enjoy your evening, and the bar's up the stairs. Thank you.

I've got to get things sorted out.

It's been here three years now.

It's a job. You can't afford to be choosy these days. Yeah, but if I could

job in London...

One of them big hotels, something with a bit more class.

I mean, look at this place.

We'll be lucky if we're not both redundant this time next year.

This talk of closing down after Christmas.

Who says?

Well, it stands to reason.

Since they opened the disco the other side of the market, this place has been

half empty.

Yeah.

You've been there?

I've seen the outside.

Yes, sir.

What can I get you? Do you have bourbon?

No, sir.

Scotch? Sure, that'll be fine.

Make it a large one.

Certainly, sir.

I'll be going down, Bill. See you later.

Okay, please.

Anything with it, sir?

Ice and water, please.

Pray we run out of ice, sir.

They'll make you some more now.

That'll be £1 .40 if you please, sir.

Have a drink with me.

That's very kind of you, sir.

I'll have a light ale.

Is this the only bar?

There is Jamaica Heaven downstairs next to the dance floor, but they don't open

Wednesday night.

I don't remember this room.

There was a beer table, maybe, right next to the dance floor.

Wow.

There's always been a bar here, huh?

I haven't been here three years, no. Oh, I'm talking about 40 years ago.

Oh, well, I wouldn't know about that.

I used to come here during the war, 1942,

American Air Force.

I was stationed at Shipton. You know Shipton?

No. Hey, about 20 miles west of here, I guess. I was with the 44th.

Oh, yeah.

There were quite a few of us around in those days.

We used to come in here on Saturday nights when we could get a pass.

The place has changed quite a bit since then.

They didn't have those palm trees back there in the 40s. I think it's supposed

to look like the Caribbean.

And you have dances here every night now.

Yeah. Teen scene on Monday, disco day, meet the beat, and Friday's Latin

American. How about tonight?

Ah, well, tonight is old folks' night.

Nostalgia time.

Grab a granny, we call it.

I'm sorry, I'm... It's okay, son.

Looks like I picked the right night.

isn't it? Pardon me? Night floor.

I love the look of polished wood, don't you?

I sure do.

And the palm trees.

I come here every Wednesday. I come early. You get 20p off if you're in

10 o 'clock. Is that right?

Yes.

Are you on your own?

Yes. Yes, I am.

What's your name?

Gerald T. Armstrong.

I'm from Wisconsin.

Oh, there, I knew you weren't English.

Marjorie Belton.

My friends call me Marge. Well, I'm real glad to meet you, Marge.

Cardboard. What? The trees.

They're not real, you know. They're made of cardboard or some modern substance.

Poly something or other, I think.

Still, they give the place a bit of glamour, don't you think?

Yeah, they certainly do. Yes, I think this place used to be a swimming pool.

Oh, years ago, long before the war. Not that I remember that, of course, but I

have heard it said.

A swimming pool? Yes. You're here on a day, Mr Armstrong. Yes, I am.

Just touring around England. I know this part, but I've never... Oh, that's

nice, isn't it? We get a lot of Americans here, especially this time of

year. You know, I work in a bank. They come in all the time to change their

traveler's checks. So I have a sort of special relationship. You know, sort of

hands across the sea.

Of course, the counter in my case.

You'd be amazed at the number of friends I've made. Not all Americans, of

course, but I must admit they are my favorites.

I don't like the Chinese.

Draw, draw.

Oh, pardon me. You wouldn't happen to know that young couple over there, the

girl in the white dress?

No. No, I'm afraid I don't.

He dances well, doesn't he? Yes.

Are you looking for somebody, Mr. Armstrong?

Oh, no, no. I just thought that...

Would you like a drink, Marge? Oh, that's very kind of you. I'd love a gin

tonic. A gin and tonic. You wait there. I'll be right back.

There we are, sir.

One gin and sonic and one large whistle. Thank you.

Over here during the war, then?

That's right.

He told me.

With that lot out at Shipton? Yes, do you know Shipton?

I ought to. I lived there. Well, I remember it as a real pretty little

It was all right until the Yanks came along.

Oh, I'm sorry. No, don't take offence. It's nothing personal. It's just that

not what you'd call...

An admirer of your great country, Mr... Armstrong.

I wasn't here, of course, not doing hostilities.

I was away fighting the Germans in Africa, then Italy.

If I had been here, I could have stopped it. Stopped what?

My sister married one of your lads.

What you'd call a shotgun wedding, I believe.

He took her back to the States at the end of the war.

Her and the baby.

Two years later, all over.

Just walked out on her. Yes, I'm afraid there were quite a few cases like that.

Lift her. I am dry now. That's not a nice thing to do, is it?

In fact, some people would call it pretty bloody irresponsible. What do you

Mr. Armstrong?

Well, what happened to her?

Well, she didn't come back here, did she?

Last I heard, she was working in California in one of those drive -in

That was years ago. She doesn't write.

There's your change.

Thank you.

I'm sorry about your sister.

She could be dead for all I know.

No, I was talking to some guy back there.

Several gentlemen asked me to dance, but I said I was spoken for.

Spoken for? You're engaged with someone.

Cheers. Cheers.

Of course, you know, a woman on her own can't be too careful.

So many men try to take advantage of you, if you know what I mean.

Especially in a place like this.

Is that so? Oh, yes.

I could tell you stories.

There was a man last week, was it? Or, well, anyway, not so very long ago.

So importunate.

Nothing would do but that I had to save every dance for him.

He had such a way with words.

He told me I danced like an angel, that he'd been looking for me all his life,

and he wanted to come home with me, if you please.

Now, I said, I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that. I'm going to pretend

suggestion was never made.

Do you dance, Mr. Armstrong?

Mr. Armstrong!

Oh, I'm sorry. Do you dance? That young couple, they've gone.

Oh, have they?

Did you see them? Do you know where they went? No, I'm afraid I didn't. But

would you like to dance?

I wanted to talk to that girl.

She reminded me of someone a long time ago.

I really wanted to talk to her.

You think maybe they went to the bar? I have no idea.

Oh, the cloakroom. She could have gone to the cloakroom. Would you excuse me,

Marge? But I don't have to make a doc.

Oh, I'd like that very much, but later. Later, Marge. Excuse me.

Yeah.

Would it help to talk to a guy old enough to be your father?

You're American.

That's right.

Jerry Armstrong.

I was watching you out there, and you're good. You're really good.

Thank you.

I guess I don't like to see a girl who looks as pretty as the picture and who

dances the way you do, sitting out all by herself.

It's all right. I'm just a bit tired.

I can't believe that.

Look, forgive me if I'm cutting in, but I couldn't help noticing that you were

kind of upset.

That young man you were dancing with, has he gone?

And that's the reason?

No.

Please, Mr... Armstrong.

It's very kind of you to bother, but I'm perfectly all right.

Well, in that case, I'm going to ask you to take pity on an old man and dance

with me.

Would you do that for me, Miss... I don't think you told me your name.

Carol.

Well, Carol, I'm not much of a dancer. But if I promise not to step on your

toes... I was just about to go home, actually. Oh, please, just one

dance as a special favor.

Please.

All right.

Thank you.

You just made one lonely American a very happy guy.

Have you found her now?

Yes, I did. Thank you.

Do you know her?

No, we met a while back.

I think she's looking for a partner.

It's one of the regulars. Regulars?

Quite a few of them. They come every Wednesday night.

Rabbit Granny?

Who told you that?

A barman.

That's why I was so surprised to see you dancing with that young man.

Oh, we had to get special permission.

There's a lower age limit of 27 on a Wednesday.

27.

Yes, well, Terry, that's my partner. He's a bit more than that, but I'm only

And you always dance together?

Yes. We've done competitions.

Ballroom, mostly.

We were hoping to turn professional one day.

Well, I should think you'd be very successful from what I saw earlier.

Thank you. It's no good now, though.

Oh, why not?

He's giving it up.

He's married, you see.

And his wife, she doesn't like him spending so much time practicing.

Whoever should have learned it would happen.

But didn't you get somebody else?

No. I don't believe that. A pretty girl like you.

Please, you don't understand.

There must be lots of guys.

Look, it's not like that.

With Terry and me, we've been together for... I'm

sorry. I don't know what you must be thinking.

It's okay, it's okay.

He got married when he was only 18, you see.

And he's got two children.

His wife, she says that she's going to leave him and take the children with her

if he doesn't give it up.

But I know he wants to go on.

I know. Please don't cry, Carol. I know it hurts right now after all the work

you've done together. But you'll find somebody else.

You're very young, Carol, and very lovely.

No, I can't.

I love him, you see. I love him.

I ain't seen no one like that.

Only she comes in here. She was beautiful, Bill.

A truly beautiful girl. Oh, yeah.

You'd have remembered if you'd seen her.

Fine dancer, too. We were getting on real well.

We were right in the middle of a waltz and she just ran off.

Just like Cinderella.

Never even told me her last name. Well, that's women for you. You can't rely on

them. I wanted to talk to her. I wanted to find out where she came from.

You think maybe they'd have her name at the door?

No, they don't bother with people's names.

You could ask Lena, she might know. Lena!

Gentleman here with a bit of a problem.

Oh, yes?

Oh, it's Mr... Armstrong.

Armstrong. I hope you're enjoying your evening. Oh, yes, thank you.

I wondered... I met this girl.

Do you keep a record of all the people who come in here?

No, I'm afraid we don't. Just Wednesdays, I guess.

I don't reckon she'd come in here the other nights. Well, I'm very sorry, but

don't... She's very young, only 23.

You may have seen her.

She must have been more than that.

No one under 27 is admitted on Wednesday nights.

That's it.

That's right.

She said she got special permission.

Do you think maybe you'd have something on your files about that? I'm afraid we

don't keep files, Mr Armstrong.

And in any case, I've given no such permission.

I expect the lady wished you to believe she was younger than was actually the

case. Oh, no, that's impossible.

She wouldn't have lied to me. Well, I'm very sorry, but I can assure you that no

one under 27 is admitted on Wednesday night.

Now, will you excuse me?

Give me another one, Bill.

Do you think you should, sir? You've had a few. Don't argue with me, son.

Okay, okay. Whatever you say, sir.

She'd tell you she was 23, did she?

Hello, Mr. Armstrong.

That girl I was dancing with. Yes.

She comes here every Wednesday night.

Run out on your head. You must have seen her before.

What if I have?

How can I find out her name or where she comes from? Well, I may be able to help

you there. I'm not promising mine.

So, shall we dance?

What? A quick step, I think.

Oh, that's right. I promised you a dance.

I'm sorry. Can't you look for yourself? I'm terribly sorry.

Oh, well.

Getting kind of hot in here, don't you think?

No, not particularly.

I think maybe I'd better sit down for a while. Oh, come on, Mr. Armstrong.

You should just hold on to me.

She was much too young for you anyway.

Oh, you don't understand. It wasn't like that.

Oh, you're a naughty old man. I know your sort. Oh, please, I want to tell

something.

We used to meet here every Saturday night.

She'd be waiting for me on the steps in a white dress.

Always in the same place. I can see her now. You can tell me later, dear.

All the other guys had their girls, too, but she wasn't like that.

She was pure and innocent like a lily.

Now, come along, Mr. Armstrong.

Oh, my, I love that girl.

I love her so much. Oh, Mr. Armstrong.

Mr. Armstrong.

Oh, dear. Get his head up. Is he all right?

Is he all right?

What's the matter with him?

Stand back. Give him some air.

He's coming round.

I won't.

You had a little turn.

Nothing to worry about. I'm sure you're feeling better now.

Sorry, I don't usually get that. Can you stand up?

Sure, I'm OK.

Give me a hand, someone.

We'll take him round to my office.

Come on, Mr Jones.

It's better when you get out of this seat.

Sid, make him a cup of tea, will you?

Don't just stand there. Say something for God's sake.

Such a nice man. He'd been so attentive all evening. He was so gallant.

You know, like some Americans are.

I saw he looked a bit tired. I asked him if he wanted a rest, but he wouldn't

hear of it.

Said I danced like an angel.

A cup of tea.

Thanks, Sid.

Here.

Drink this.

Thank you.

I'm real sorry.

That's all right. What happened?

Nothing. Mr Armstrong fainted, that's all.

Thank you, Sid.

Oh, are there any taxes on the rank?

Fair to me this time of night.

We'll get one, will you? Mr Armstrong will be out when he's finished his tea.

He's staying at the Duke's head.

Side entrance, Sid. Right.

Don't rush that now. Drink it slowly.

Oh, I am sorry. I don't know what happened to me back there.

You mustn't worry about it, Mr Armstrong.

No, no, I want to apologize.

I don't usually get like this.

It was meeting that young woman.

Oh, yes?

She was so beautiful.

When I first met her, I thought she was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen.

She was wearing a white dress, just like...

We danced together the whole evening.

That was a long time ago.

And seeing her again tonight, here in the same place. Please, I want to tell

you. It's all right.

Break your teeth. No, no, please.

I used to come here during the war.

On Saturday nights, when I could get a pass.

I met a girl.

An English girl.

Her name was Doris.

Very first time I met her, I knew she was special.

I asked her to dance.

She was young and kind of shy.

She was wearing a white dress.

It was like we were meant for each other.

Very romantic.

I came back the next week, and the next I couldn't keep away.

I was in love, and she loved me, no doubt about it. Don't you? Yes, that was

name.

Oh, she was so beautiful.

I wish you could have seen her.

And gentle.

Kind and gentle.

Your taxi will be waiting, Mr. Armstrong.

She reminded me, you see.

That girl tonight.

She reminded me of Doris.

I think it's time you were getting back to your hotel, don't you? Oh, God, I'm

sorry. A good night's sleep will set you right.

Sorry, I'm really sorry.

Come along.

I guess I made a fool of myself back there. I hope you'll forgive me.

It was seeing that girl.

That's all right, Mr. Armstrong.

Good night.

Good night.

Thank you.

You can go.

What was all that about?

God knows.

Some English girl he met here during the war called Doris.

Sex mad, the gangster.

Paul, you ever thought about it?

Oh, I think this was more serious.

He got quite upset.

Looking for his lost lover.

Poor old Paul.

You're late.

Said you'd be back by half past ten. It's nearly midnight.

I'm sorry, my dear.

Did you go to that dance hall?

The one where we met?

Well, did you?

Yes, Doris.

I never did like that place.

All that cheap tinsel.

That's all gone.

They've got palm trees now.

Well, are you coming to bed or not? We've got a long way to go tomorrow.

Yes, Doris.