Since You Went Away1944

Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II:
You see, my father was a soldier. He was a colonel when he died. I guess all the Smolletts all the way back were soldiers. One of them was with Washington at Yorktown. Although sometimes I think Grandpa just made that one up.

Jane Deborah Hilton:
I'm sure he didn't. You ought to be awfully proud.

Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II:
Oh, I'm proud, all right. But something went wrong with me. Mother died when I was born, so I never knew her. Well, of course I never knew her.

Jane Deborah Hilton:
That's a shame.

Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II:
She could paint pretty well, china and things. I hope I can show you her work sometime. That is, if Grandpa ...

Jane Deborah Hilton:
If Grandpa what?

Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II:
Well, if I go home. You see, I haven't lived home since West Point.

Jane Deborah Hilton:
West Point?

Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II:
Oh, Jane, you don't want to hear all about this, do you?

Jane Deborah Hilton:
Not if you don't want me to, Bill.

Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II:
Oh, but I do of course. There's no one in the whole world that I'd rather explain - that I'd rather tell.