36 Hours

Passing the coast soon.

Twenty minutes will see us there.

Add ten for a shave and a shower.

Then look out London. Here I come.

Pop, is it true what they say about the English girls?

I'm a happily married man.

Bill, you were here before?

Are the natives friendly?

Who? - English girls.

Sure. Some of them.

Say, didn't you marry a ..?

There it is.

My home for the next 36 hours.

You get back on time.

That goes for you too, Bill.

See you're are back on the airfield in time or I'll have to leave without you.

And you'll be in trouble. Real trouble. - I know.

Not only you. Me.

Your pass doesn't go on forever.

If it got out I smuggled you over .. - I know it.

I'll be there.

Give you a ride, sir? - Thanks.

Going to London, sir?

Yeah.

I can take you as far as Hammersmith.

You can pick up a cab there.

Thanks.

I got a date in Hammersmith.

What a gal.

Out of this world.

She's got a sister too.

Real cute.

No. Thanks all the same.

Got a date of your own, huh?

Yeah. I got a date.

Bill.

Come in.

How was the school, Bill? What was it, jet engines?

Ned spoke about it. Sit down, Bill.

Ned is away. Far-East run all the way to Singapore.

Ned is always away. - Where is Katie?

I don't know where she is. - Don't waste my time, Pam.

Honest. All I know is she's gone.

You're lying to me. - Ned wouldn't like you saying that.

I am your friend. Ned and I were your friends, Bill.

Let me get you a drink. You're all wound up.

I know how much she means to you.

Everybody loved her. She was wonderful for you.

Where is she?

If I were you, Bill, I wouldn't blame her too much for leaving.

You don't know what being a flyer's wife is like.

All the empty nights.

All you have is four walls and waiting.

Sometimes a woman gets tired of waiting. You were gone for nearly a year.

You said it would only be 3 months. - Where is she?

Many wives leave their husbands, Bill. Just like Katie.

She didn't up and leave with no reason. - She might have.

Without writing to me and explaining?

I want to know where she is, Pam.

You've got to tell me.

Alright.

I promised Katie I'd never tell anyone where she was.

I'm no good even at keeping promises.

She's got an apartment in the West End.

Mrs Rogers. Sign here please.

Alright.

Think of another one . - There is no other one .

Either you listen to me or I'll work things out my way .

You've got to give me a chance .

You've had your chance .

Katie Rogers. Which apartment?

Number 8. But she's not there.

Give me the key. I'll wait inside.

We do not allow that. - I'm her husband.

She ain't got a husband.

See the name: 'Rogers'?

There's plenty of people called Rogers.

Listen, chum.

You give me the key. Or do I report that you listen in on private conversations?

Come on.

You might as well take these.

Remember us, Katie?

I remember.

Everything.

Two cups of char please, love.

The first time I ever saw you .

At the railroad station .

The war on. Everybody in a hurry .

I couldn't see from where I sat that you too were a stranger in a foreign land .

Do you happen to know the time?

Ten to eight.

I hope you won't think I'm fresh but ..

It's hard for an American to get acquainted in England.

I bet I know what you're thinking.

That's an old line. All the yanks pull it. But ..

Honestly.

I don't usually speak out like this in public.

And to a stranger.

It's just that ..

You are so very lovely.

Do you think so?

You're not so bad looking yourself for a Yank.

I finish at nine if you're interested.

All I could think of was that I'd probably never see her again .

But I was wrong. We did meet again .

When I was starting my first furlough in England .

And looking forward to a peaceful weekend in the country .

Look. It's a man.

Where? Let me see.

Yes. Nice. An American too.

Kids, we've found a man. - Shut up, Eileen.

Don't let us drive you away. You were here first.

That's okay. I get off at the next station.

Have my seat. - Thanks ever so much.

Got any nylons, Yank? - Not with me I'm afraid.

Got any gum? - Sorry. I don't chew gum.

Then, do you happen to know the time?

You.

And you remember.

That day at the railroad station.

Did you enjoy your date with the waitress?

The waitress?

Sure. We were married three days later.

Oh? How nice.

You must come round and meet the family.

I'm sorry I seemed so starchy that day.

I'm not the sort of girl who falls into a man's arms at the first meeting.

The second time is different, huh?

That was the beginning .

And we spent the rest of the war being crazy in love .

Hold it.

That's an Academy award for sure.

How can anybody kiss that good?

They can't. It takes two.

I think it ought to go on forever. - But just between us.

Of course.

Then.

Don't you think we should fix it so no-one else can lawfully interfere?

Is there a way of doing that?

A quaint old European custom.

You don't mean marriage? - How did you ever guess?

Marriage?

It makes everything very legal.

It makes the girl very happy.

A silly nuisance for a man I suppose.

I've got permission to stay in England another three months.

Would it be putting off our marriage too far if it took place ..

Tomorrow?

Well.

If you simply won't make it today I guess tomorrow will have to do.

I love you, Katie.

I love you, Bill.

As I had no ties in the States .

And you had lost your home in Norway .

We decided to settle down where we'd first met .

In London .

Bill.

Dinner couldn't possibly be ready, could it?

It was two hours ago.

I know how late I am, honey. But I couldn't get to a phone.

Do you like cold food? - Love it.

It's all fixed.

The okay came through today. - What's fixed?

If I'd like to accept an instructor's assignment ..

I can keep my commission and stay on over here.

That is wonderful, darling.

But Bill. - But Bill what?

Isn't that what you wanted? To stay here in this flat?

Our first home. - Yes.

But an instructor's job. Does that mean you won't be flying?

So?

You always used to say that flying is your life.

You are my life, Katie.

I'll fix your dinner for you.

Those were wonderful times .

I don't think anybody was ever as happy as we were .

Ever .

Katie.

We had a lot of good friends .

Like Ned and Pam who lived right next door .

We were always going places with them and our other friends .

I liked them all, Katie .

I liked everything about it .

But that day I had some news. And I didn't know how you'd take it .

Pam and Ned. Come on in. Both of you.

How are you?

Just the people I want to see. I've got some news for you.

What kind of news, Bill?

A chance to take a 6-month course on jet development in the States.

You'd be a fool if you don't grab it. - Did you say in the States?

What's the matter with the States?

It's far away.

Hello.

Hello baby.

Must you be so beastly happy to see him?

Tell her the good news, Bill.

News?

Well, yes Katie.

I've got a chance to go to the States. On a course.

The States? Fine. When do we leave?