Until They Sail

Proceed.

Now, Major Harding

did you know Delia Leslie Friskett personally?

Yes, I knew her but only casually.

It was the other Americans who knew her, personally.

Well, will you tell us, in what connection you knew her mainly?

I was sent to investigate. That was my job.

- Investigate what? - 'Her marriage.'

Her marriage to Friskett? Of what interest was that to you?

No, not her marriage to Friskett.

Well then, major, her marriage to whom?

To a marine.

'An American marine?'

Yes, an American marine wanted to marry her.

But she was already married.

She didn't tell the marine that.

And he applied for permission to marry her.

'And you were sent to investigate?'

'Yes.'

Is that customary?

'Yes, always.'

You mean to tell me that all New Zealand girls

who wanted to marry American servicemen were investigated?

That's right.

Tell me, major, what kind of a woman

did you find Delia Friskett to be?

What kind of a woman was Delia?

Was she so different from her three sisters?

All four of were lonely.

We lived in a country of women without men.

Is it so hard to understand?

To forgive?

It happened to us in New Zealand

the way it happened in other countries

where the men went marching off to war.

Barbara, there's Mark.

Mark - Mark.

Mark.

Aren't you gonna wave to him, Barbara?

He knows I see him, Evelyn.

Mark, my darling, I hardly know you.

I hardly know my husband.

A month, a small month.

I don't see Kiff. Does anybody see Kiff?

He's kissing some Sheila goodbye, if I know brother Kiff.

Hope he remembers that people will know his fathers son.

Hope he behaves himself.

I hope he has a fine time. I hope we all have a fine time.

As fine a time as they can have. Well I do.

Look, Delia. There's three of your beaus all in a row.

Nice that they can be together.

They can compare notes.

Evelyn, don't be a tease pot.

Christchurch is going to become a tea party sort of place.

We're all gonna become gossipin' old maids and spinsters.

Only without the men, there won't be anything

to gossip about, anything.

'Delia!'

Hello, Shiner.

Ladies. Fine posse of men, wasn't it?

My brother Kit's with them and Barbara's husband, Mark.

Well I decided here was the place for shining.

Uh, defending my homeland.

'And the honor of the girls they left behind.'

Well now, one pin for Kit and one for Mark.

Who'll be in charge of Kits'?

You're one of the bright particular favorite,

which pin do you want?

'White, red, black, blue?'

Red's a happy color.

Red for brother, Kit. Where shall I put it?

You can see their ships going up to Wellington now.

Then I'll put it there.

There you are, Kit. Have a fine time.

A fine time!

I think I'll take the white one for Mark.

When Tommy goes, I'll take...

The war will be over before Tommy goes.

- He's seventeen. - Well we hope it'll be over.

When Tommy goes, I'll take the black one.

It's romantic. Black.

That's more than one you can save for Tommy.

I'm sorry. Somehow I think there ought to be a pin for dad.

Even though he is gone, so if nobody minds

I'd like to put one in for him... there.

Well... I think what we need is a nice cup of tea. Come on.

Your answer to everything is a nice cup of tea.

It gives you some thing to do. Get's you past the moment.

We'll have to drink an awful lot of tea

to get us past all the moments we're in for.

Dee..

Alright. Stiff upper lip and all of that.

It's happened. It's happened.

- What has, Dee? - I'm engaged.

I'm engaged.

Well, isn't anyone pleased? What's the matter with you two?

We're delighted for you, Dee.

Aren't we, Anne? Who's the lucky man?

- Shiner Phil, who else? - Shiner?

Well, that's wonderful. When are you gonna get married?

Yes, when is the happy day?

What's bothering you, Anne?

You parading the fact that you hate men.

- I don't. - I know you don't.

Anne..

Dee..

Darling..

Kit's dead.

Where?

A place called, Lamia.

Where's that?

Greece, but I can't find it on the map.

Lamia?

And I thought that..

Has anyone told, Evelyn?

'Not yet.'

I better tell her. I will.

What does it matter where they die?

They all die in some horrible lost village.

You know as well as I do that one by one, they'll all be lost.

'Oh, Barbara. I'm sorry.'

Oh, it's alright. Mark's alright.

He'll be alright.

Just that I'm sick with fear..

They'd die out there and leave us to Shiner.

You know if mother or dad were alive..

Shiner wouldn't even be allowed in the house.

Let alone marry, Delia.

Anne, Delia needs us very much right now.

It's no use worrying about Delia. She's lost.

Look here. Delia's going to be married in this house

and you and I are going to be very nice to Shiner Phil.

It's our only chance to save Delia from..

Well, from becoming a very unpleasant person.

'...giving and receiving the ring and by joining hands.'

'I pronounce that you are man and wife'

'in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost.'

'Amen.'

Now don't tell me you don't see the point of the story.

- You see the... - We see the point, Shiner.

- Unfortunately. - Oh.

Oh, you mean it ain't in good taste?

Sorry.

Knitting that for me, old girl.

No. For the boys overseas. For Mark.

I got the implication, thank you.

Well, it may not be long before I'll be one of them.

'I've got a feeling, the army is blowing down my neck.'

So, I'm lookin' into the Air Force.

That's the sorta life.

Give me a light, will you, Dee?

Old girl, If you don't knit those tighter

they'll make a better fish net than a sock.

Perhaps you'd like to show me how.

That's a good girl.

I could if I wanted to.

When I was knocking around Australia..

I picked it up.

Did you work in Australia, some kind of job.

You think I never worked in my life, don't you?

Well I didn't work much in Australia, but I've worked.

Just that never knowing when you're going to get called up.

What's the use of starting a job you're going to leave.

Besides..

Dee and I are just getting to know each other.

'As the reports of the Japanese attack'

'on Pearl Harbor spread around the world..'

'...semiofficial sources in London said that'

'the British Empire would carry out Prime Minister Churchill's '

'promise to give the United States full support'

'in the event of hostilities with Japan.'

'The Prime minister..'

- Anything we haven't heard? - No. The same.

What are you doing home this early?