Since You Went Away1944

Jane Deborah Hilton:
You were talking about how your grandfather always wanted you to be a soldier. Would you like a sandwich or something?

Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II:
He wanted me to be a general.

Jane Deborah Hilton:
But didn't you want to be a general?

Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II:
Well, no I didn't.

Jane Deborah Hilton:
But why not, Bill?

Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II:
I had an idea it was more important to build things. But, I don't mean it isn't terribly important being a soldier. I don't know how we'd keep the things we build without them.

Jane Deborah Hilton:
Of course. But you said you went to West Point. I should think you'd be a lot more than a -

Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II:
More than a corporal, you mean.

Jane Deborah Hilton:
Let's have a picnic sometime. I'll bring a - Bill, I didn't mean that. It's wonderful being a corporal.

Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II:
No, you meant that if I went to the Academy, I ought to be more than a corporal. Well, you might as well know it. I - I was kicked out and I broke Grandpa's heart.

Jane Deborah Hilton:
I'm sure it wasn't your fault.

Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II:
Yes, it was.

Jane Deborah Hilton:
Bill, come and sit down.

Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II:
Look. Grandpa's father carried this watch at Vicksburg. Grandpa gave it to me on my tenth birthday. He had it engraved for me. Read it. I'll light a match.

Jane Deborah Hilton:
"To William G. Smollett, the Second, who will lead men to glory on the battlefield." You must have been terribly pleased.

Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II:
I said, "Grandpa, don't people hurt each other in war?" You see, I was only ten. He took the watch away from me. But he gave it back to me again when I entered the Academy. Aw, Jane, I did my best, but I could never make a good officer. I can't lead men, and I know it, so even if I led my class the way Grandpa thought I should -

Jane Deborah Hilton:
"Grandpa, Grandpa, Grandpa." What about yourself? Why is it so important that you satisfy him, the old ...

Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II:
Because he loved me so. Yeah, I'm sure he did - once. But all through military school, from the time I was eight years old, I kept letting him down. I never even wanted to play with the tin soldiers he gave me. Grandpa kept telling me that if I was a Smollett I'd... But I gues I was always - well you know - weak. I was sort of a joke at the Academy, I only lasted a couple of months. Grandpa couldn't face his old cronies. Well, that's it. Now you can see what a mess I made out of everything.

Jane Deborah Hilton:
You've done no such thing! You're fine and strong, but you're just sensitive, that's all.

Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II:
But don't you think I'm a failure after everything I've told you?

Jane Deborah Hilton:
A failure? Just because you're not an officer? Why an officer I know, he said that you are the boys doing the fighting.

Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II:
Lieutenant Willett?

Jane Deborah Hilton:
Yes.

Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II:
You think a lot of him, don't you?

Jane Deborah Hilton:
Of course, but what's that got to do with it? You're a soldier, and I'm - that is, we're proud of you. And I hope you never get promoted. All those officers strutting around with their gold braid and everything.