Bomb Girls s02e08 Episode Script

1 Our boys have landed in France.
A small coastal village, Dieppe.
They told us Operation Jubilee was a success.
Some of these men, they're-- Things did not go well.
You're hardly the cause of your fiancé's demise.
You cannot blame yourself.
(Weakly) But I do daddy.
I do.
I thought I would never see you again.
If you want I'll ship out right now.
No.
My date wants to say "hello".
Your "date"? Doctor Narendra Patel, meet my mother.
I'm going to visit my brother in Perth County.
You don't need to do this for me.
I'm doing this for myself.
Though I think some time apart may be good for both of us.
(Ella Fitzgerald and Chick Webb's "Betcha Nickel") I betcha, a nickel I bet you I win.
I betcha, a nickel that you will give in.
What'sa matter honey? 'Fraid you'll lose? - Do what you wanna - Have you been here before? and say what you choose, I still betcha, a nickel - C'mon Princess forget your troubles.
- that you will be mine.
I betcha, a nickel, even raise it a dime.
I always win my money, you can bet on that: I always take a tip and keep it under my hat.
Bets, I'm gonna take a breather.
What? No.
Sorry.
I'm not yet in the dancing mood.
C'mon, Sarge! Dance with me.
Why not.
That's why I betcha, a nickel that you will be mine.
I betcha, you'll sign on the dotted line.
- I don't see no sense in wasting all this time - Where's Ivan tonight? He's working double shifts all week.
There are so few engineers left.
Any man with an essential job works overtime these days.
Oh, I didn't order this.
Oh boy.
For you Katie.
It's a champagne cocktail.
Real champagne? - Well it has bubbles.
- Mmhmm (Chuckles) I'm going ringside to watch the singer.
Do you wanna come? I'm fine here.
(Betty laughs) Who taught you to dance, farm girl!? I taught myself on the ice-box door! Then you better let me lead, for Pete's sake.
(Laughs) You're the best.
I mean it.
Yeah? What do you know? You got nothing to compare.
I know what I like.
Hey.
We're not alone.
Don't mess up a good thing.
come on, get off that shelf You can fool some of the people some of the time, But you can't fool all the people all of the time.
They bet me a nickel they ain't got a dime.
Say that ain't no money, you're wastin' my time.
I don't see no sense in all this rhythm and-- (WOMAN:) Woo! I am sweating up a storm out there.
A lady glows or so they say.
Well then me, I glow like a pig.
Say do you have a mint? I just had my second shandy and the beer in this joint is skunky.
I may have some Choward's.
You look familiar.
Where do you work? Victory Munitions.
Oh, the office? Nope, the line.
What's a buffed-up girl like you doing working like a pit pony? Helping us win the war, I hope.
They must be pouring on the steam nowadays.
How often you got a shipment going out? A train's out of the tunnel, end of every night.
Every night, huh? Like clockwork.
I guess so Say, I hear they got a new line starting up? You know anything about that? Why are you asking? I was just wondering if they're hiring.
They're always hiring.
Here's a mint.
Oh Ta.
(Door opens and closes) Betty: Hmm.
Teresa: You want some? Kate: Yeah, Hmm.
Champagne cocktail.
Teresa: Very fancy.
You see that girl over there? Which one, Princess? The red-head in the burgundy dress, she was pummelling me with questions about Vic Mu.
War jobs are glamourous to a girl.
This was more than just idle chat.
That girl was after something.
Mom? Hello there, stranger!! Please, I've been in nurses' res two weeks.
Feels like an age.
Is that a new lip colour? Pagoda Red.
I'm not sure that's a day-shade, dear.
Just here to pick up some warm clothes.
Sit! Tell me about nurses' training.
I can't.
I've got my shift.
How's the residence? The girls are great, but I'm hardly there.
We've started getting the wounded in from Dieppe.
I'm working eighty-hour weeks.
Eighty hours?! They're desperate for volunteers to help us.
These poor boys.
Paper keeps revising casualty lists.
To lose so many I'll see if I can rustle up some girls at the factory to lend a hand.
We could sure use 'em.
When's Dad getting back? He insists on helping Uncle Ty through the harvest.
He's driving a team if you can believe it.
He'll be fine.
Stop worrying Mom.
We'll trade Nobody's going to see me in that old thing.
Thanks Mom.
Sorry, I'll try and drop by sometime next week.
- Duty calls.
- Oh Mwah.
New Hitchcock at the Fox Theatre, "Saboteur".
Robert Cummings and Priscilla Lane.
Saw the trailer.
Nazi spies set fire to an airplane factory! It's all a frame-job, Cummings is accused of being an enemy agent.
And you know what the poster says? "Every Jolting Scene is True!" Heck, they arrested a Nazi spy-ring in New York last spring.
Apparently they were gunning to blow up a power plant in Niagara.
I had such an odd encounter last night.
Really, I've had a few of those myself.
Not that kind! You know how they always say there are spies out there, - trying to get us to talk? - Yeah? Last night at the Jewel Box, this girl she kept asking me questions about the plant.
She wanted to know about the new lab.
Good luck to her.
They keep that so hush-hush, I type their purchase orders everyday and I don't even know what we're making.
Dieppe shattered so many lives.
A few of your free hours at the hospital, could make a world of difference to a lonely soldier.
Clear.
We'll have a couple hours after shift and before the show and Ivan's working.
I'm meeting Teresa for a bite.
Maybe we'll just see you at the pictures? Miss McRae? How about you? Sorry, Mrs.
Corbett.
I got movie plans.
"Saboteur" is opening tonight.
Lest we forget what these brave boys have sacrificed so that we can all go to the pictures.
I'll get down later this week.
The boys'll be waiting.
Suppose you have plans too, Andrews? I no, well, not especially.
So many young men, lives changed.
You could ease a loneliness.
Think about it.
Clear.
(Reggie yawning) Excuse me.
(Lorna yawns) Sorry Ma'am, I was up half the night fighting with my landlady.
Things are still not working out with your housing's? She came into my room and unplugged my clock so I wouldn't run up the electrical.
That mean old bag of bones is just looking for a reason to throw me out.
What's keeping you awake? Too much time on my hands.
Lie awake dreaming up things to worry about.
You know what you need to do, Ma'am? Go out and do it up, have a rip-roar.
At my age, I think I'll leave it to someone else to paint the town.
Age doesn't make any difference.
Talk to me in twenty years after three kids.
Ma'am, all we get is a little living, a little loving, and a whole lot of dead.
Clear.
Stay sharp out there, Miss Harrison.
Gladys, c'mon.
There won't be any hot-to-trot soldiers to fend off tonight just us girls.
Maybe.
I don't know.
What's to know? It's Hitchcock! Maybe Gladys doesn't feel like it.
Gotta move on sometime.
That's her.
Who? The redhead.
From last night? What she doing here? Seems one way or another, she's getting her questions answered.
How long did you say you worked here for? Hi.
- Remember me? - Uhmm.
Last night.
I gave you a mint.
Sorry? I don't know what are you talking about.
The Jewel Box.
In the powder room? Last night, I was home with the hubby, listening to The Shadow on the wireless.
Don'tcha love that program? We're not hitting the town much yet.
We just moved up from Bathurst.
What are you doing here now? Margie Lewis.
I transferred in from Red Shift this morning.
Gladys Witham.
I could have sworn.
Bing'll get such a kick out of this, that I've got a twin out there! She had the same red hair.
She musta got it out of the same red bottle.
Vera!! Sit tight, he'll be up in a minute.
Ever since that fracas over the missing TNT, we've got a new security protocol.
You called, Mr.
Aikins? Pull the employee file on a Marnie Margie or Margaret Lewis.
From Bathurst, New Brunswick.
And the new security protocol? Who runs it? Our new security man.
Clifford Parry.
Clifford Parry, meet Gladys Witham.
One knows the name, of course.
How do you do, Miss Witham.
Uhh, well, thank you.
Miss Witham was approached last night by a woman asking suspicious questions about the plant.
She's just been spotted on the factory floor.
I think I saw her.
Here or last night? Here.
I know I saw her last night.
And here? I spoke to her here.
I'm just not sure it was her.
I see.
You can point her out? Of course! Whenever you're ready.
Gladys: Where is she? Clifford: Take your time.
Gladys: She was on the line pouring amatol.
Clifford: Could she have moved? Gladys: She was over there.
Gladys: And none of the subs have changed.
Clifford: So you don't see her now? I spoke to her.
Mr.
Parry? Mr.
Aikins asked me to pull a file for you.
Yes, do you have it? There isn't one.
There is no Margie Lewis at VicMu.
I-- What they need most? Is your time.
Talk to them, read to them, play cards.
Feminine companionship, does a soldier a world of good.
Mrs.
Corbett.
Happy for your help.
Dr.
Patel.
A pleasure.
Sorry, that's not the appropriate word.
Not that it's not a pleasure seeing you know.
We appreciate your coming.
With these numbers returning, it's been a challenge.
Yes, Sheila mentioned you have her working round the clock.
Mom, doctors don't set our shifts.
You're in good hands, Mrs.
Corbett.
This way, ladies.
Nurse Findlay will give you assignments.
I didn't expect you to volunteer.
You said it yourself, Sheila all shoulders to the wheel.
Besides, seems it's the only way I can see you.
Don't get your hopes up.
I can't stand around chatting.
Wait.
I brought a few things.
The brush-set Gramma gave you.
Gloves, you're going to need yours soon.
Oh! And you forgot Mr.
Mullins.
Mother, you can't do this! Sheila, you've slept with him your whole life.
There are men here, that are fighting for their lives.
I've got work to do.
They call us the lucky ones.
Can I get you some refreshing water? Could go for something stronger.
I'm not sure that would be good for you right now.
This is better.
Better would be dead.
That's not true.
You fought bravely and for a good reason.
You don't have a clue, do you.
Of course I do.
We pay attention to what goes on over there.
We were supposed to land before dawn.
But there was a balls-up.
It was bright as day before we could run the rocks.
They sent us anyway.
Let me fix these blankets.
Jerry saw us coming.
The Germans up on the cliff, cut us to ribbons.
Bullets flying, guys falling and all the while they kept yelling go, go, go! And the rocks slippery as hell.
But it wasn't water, was it.
It was blood.
All my buddies' blood.
They drove us into that slaughterhouse.
Why? Why? (Indistinct chatter) Kate: Mrs.
Corbett? Yes.
What.
I'm I'm fine.
I uhmm I've done my patriotic duty for the day.
Are you coming? Not yet.
I'm sure you're providing a welcome balm.
Oh Glad you made it, Princess.
Onward and upward, Bets.
Good evening, Sergeant Hill.
Evening.
Glad you could join us.
Do you know Vera Burr? Oh our paths have crossed at VicMu.
Do you know how much longer you'll be with us? Until they ship us someplace else.
Well, you must be itching to get overseas.
I hear it's three men to every woman.
That'll be fun.
So, what's the dope on your spy gal? I told security everything I know now it's up to them.
Well, no mystery here.
Five reels of Robert Cummings? Sign me up.
That man is one hunk of heartbreak.
Our new security man Clifford? Parry's no slouch either.
The hair, those ties, that accent Vera he must be over thirty-five! There's nothing wrong with a distinguished gentlemen - who knows his way around? - Oh? These days, as long as he's got all his parts and some of his teeth? Vera, really.
Just think about all those boys who lost their lives in Dieppe, put off living 'til tomorrow.
They have no tomorrows left.
I am not interested in Clifford Parry.
Perfect.
Gets you back out there no harm to the old ticker.
Mrs.
Corbett? Oh, good evening, ladies.
Are you here alone? I was supposed to meet friends but they cancelled.
Sit with us.
Doesn't look like Kate'll show.
Oh, she's still at the hospital.
- Well, then we'll scootch over.
- We'll move down.
Thank you, girls.
- Aren't these good seats.
- Mmhmm.
It's a fine view here.
(Crunching sound) (Gladys chuckles nervously) (Movie's opening fanfare) (Indistinct chatter) Hello.
I'm Kate.
Would you like some company? Like the news, do you? Seems someone stole the funny pages.
How 'bout I give this a read.
Yes? "Hundreds of Dieppe soldiers are listed" "Tuesday, September 15th.
" Partly cloudy with scattered showers, fog throughout the day tomorrow.
" That'll put a crimp in our sailing plans.
Let me find sports.
(Movie:) The paint shop! It'll go up like dynamite! Here, take this one.
What about me? Don't I get to play, too? - You get another one.
- All right.
A saboteur in a war factory doesn't seem that far-fetched, any more, does it? MOVIE: And they run right in, the both of them.
And the last thing I saw when I looked back was one kid give the extinguisher to the other kid, and then it was just like all hell comes up.
That's all I see.
"It's funny business for Morton Cooper, who planted a kiss on his brother Walker after Morton firing a three-hit, 3-0 shutout at the Brooklyn Dodgers.
" Or maybe you're more a football fan? Just give me a sign.
That's Private Brennan.
Hasn't uttered a word since he arrived.
So hard to find things in here that aren't about the war.
Most men here are keen to keep up.
They need to know their sacrifice has meant something.
What's he doing in there? He needs rest and someone like you letting him know it's safe to come out.
That's all I can do today.
Maybe I'll see him another time.
He's not about to ask you to come back.
But I will.
See you in the morning, girls.
- Goodnight, Mrs.
Corbett.
- Goodnight, Mrs.
Corbett.
Vera and I go this way, see you later.
- All right.
- G'night.
- Night.
- Bye.
Who cares about Bob Cummings? That Priscilla Lane is ring-a-ding-ding.
What happened to "I know what I like"? I still do but I'm not dead.
(Teresa laughs) Hey girls! Looking for some company? We're fine, handsome.
Thanks all the same.
Hey, I'm talking to you.
Hey! I hear you WAC's do it for a nickel.
What's the matter? You only do guys in uniform? - Back off, creep.
- Ignore him What are ya? A couple bulldaggers? - What's it to you? - Betty! Well, I got something to change your mind.
Betty: Hey! (Teresa screams) Betty: Teresa! Teresa: Betty! Man: C'mon! Betty: I'm calling the police.
Man: C'mon! Just What were you thinking? What? That creep put his paws on you.
Rule One is don't go looking for trouble.
I've got a lot at stake here and you got a lot to learn.
I keep my head down and I keep my business to my self.
Do you understand? Teresa Wait! I appreciate your cooperation, Miss Witham.
Take your time.
Look closely.
Tell me if any of these are the woman.
That's her.
Her hair is different, but I'd swear to it.
I would ask you not to discuss this with others.
If anyone asks, you're not at liberty to say.
Understood? Is there anything else, Mr.
Parry? I hope you weren't offended the other night.
The champagne.
Clumsy attempt to gain an introduction.
I didn't mean to be rude.
It's just I lost my fiancé three months ago.
Very sorry.
My friends are constantly after me to get out.
I try but it's not easy.
And still you are here.
More motivated than ever to make those bombs.
The war belongs to us all.
We shirk our duty? They win, and what does that get us? The way I honour James, and the men who died on those beaches is to do more, not less.
That's very admirable.
I don't mean it to be.
It's just what I am doing.
There's no way to say this without sounding like a complete cad, I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner.
We could continue to discuss the case.
So, Ma'am? You tear up the town last night? I took myself to the pictures.
A show all on your lonesome? After a wild night like that, hope they didn't bring you home in a paddywagon.
Very funny.
Things with your landlady any better? She thinks she's gonna get some high-class white girl in there.
I told her no high-class girl's gonna put up with mice scratching inside the walls.
What kind of place have they put you in? I'm calling the Board of Health.
No please.
I'm okay.
Don't worry.
Next pay-packet, I'm buying a cat.
No, thank you.
I feel I've spilled my whole life-story and you've barely said a word of yours.
I don't know that mine competes.
Now is that modesty or evasion? My life is long next to yours, and we're already done the main course.
I'll accept a precis.
Born in London, father was a banker; Went to all the right schools and ran with all the wrong people.
Now, this could get interesting.
After school, I knocked about Europe trying to work as a journalist, 'til luckily, war broke out.
How was that lucky? Feels as though I'm being interviewed.
Sorry.
Years of training at my mother's knee.
At dinner, a lady's one responsibility is to animate her chair, be companionable, draw out her host.
You're very good at it.
Well, until I started at the plant, it was the only thing I was trained to do.
Hardly an accomplishment.
You underestimate yourself.
(Gladys half-laughs) (Indistinct chatter) Burk's Falls? Is that where you're from? I'm from up that way.
Sure pretty country, isn't it.
You still have family there? What'dya think the folks would be doing about now? Supper finished, in the front room probably, listening to the radio.
Or checkers, you think? Or maybe they're musical.
Do they play at all? Most folks up that way do.
I bet your mom chords on the piano, your dad on fiddle, and all the children they sing.
That's what we'd be doing up at my place.
It was rough times, but it wasn't always bad.
I had my voice taken away from me once too.
You can get it back.
Someone is waiting for you.
Someone needs you.
There'll be better times.
See that soldier? Buying his girl dinner? He's shipping out soon, and she knows it.
You can tell that from here? She's being brave.
She wants him to have something to hold on to.
In case he has to face his own Dieppe.
I know we're suppose to trust there's a reason behind every mission, but the seeming senselessness of that battle.
Have you ever been in a place where there's no going forward, and no going back? What if following orders meant the loss of hundreds of lives, maybe even your own.
I would follow orders.
In the face of death? Yes.
I'm sorry, I'm no great dancer.
Is it too forward to suggest a leisurely drive home? Let me freshen up.
I need the nearest telephone.
You ran off last night.
I wanted to see the new Hitchcock.
Since when do you go to the pictures? In this movie, there's a young girl.
Gets herself mixed up with a stranger.
Narendra is not a stranger.
Not to me.
He's from a different country, Sheila.
- They have diff-- - Give me some credit will you.
I know why you don't like him.
I can't pretend to be happy about this.
How serious are you? He's lonely and so am I.
Where could this possibly be headed? Sheila, I thought you were smarter.
So what if we care about each other? Will you have children with this man? What world will you raise them in? Think, Sheila! It can't work.
Oh dear.
Doctor Patel.
That must mean I haven't completely blown it.
I know how it is.
You got something going the first time in your life and you want to shout it from the rooftops.
Aren't I allowed to be happy? Just cuz there's women everywhere, you think nobody notices us? They don't, Teresa.
I won't risk my career, not even for you.
Hey, I'll take a beer.
Why are we stopping? Infiltration of high-security installations is very real not just the stuff of movies.
That's what I've been telling everyone.
Miss Witham, get out of the car please.
I don't think I will, thank you.
You told me you could follow orders.
If the objective was clear, yes.
What do you want from me? Your trust.
Now get out of the car.
I uhm apologize for any unintended offense.
It's natural for a mother to protect her child.
My mother would have said the same about Sheila.
Probably worse.
Sheila is a very special girl.
My parents say the same about me.
We are Brahmin and I'm a doctor with a Western education quite a catch back home.
They would never consent to an alliance they did not arrange especially to a working-class White girl like Sheila.
Then maybe you should listen to them.
Oh, I do.
They've already brokered an arrangement for me.
I beg your pardon? You're telling me you're engaged? The wedding has been delayed, but-- Is this a joke? I have no doubt I'll eventually marry the girl.
And when did you think you might tell Sheila about this fiancée of yours? Mrs.
Corbett.
Your daughter already knows.
I don't believe you.
I do care for Sheila.
That is not the daughter we've raised.
You will excuse me.
I have rounds.
I don't believe your story.
A man with your accent and that suit should be an officer on the front-line.
How can you be a glorified security guard? When the war broke, I joined the Navy.
It was my journalistic skill that set me apart for special service: The ability to acquire and interpret information.
What 's special service? I can say this much, we're on the same side.
How am I supposed to believe that? No single act of great heroism will win us this war.
It's a thousand, ten thousand small ones.
You can keep walking or turn back.
I'll take you to the car and drive you home.
There is a balm in Gilead To make the wounded whole There is a balm in Gilead To heal the sin-sick soul Betty: You know what I'm saying What do you know it's the WAC and her snack.
Hey WAC! On your way, boys.
- Shut your face, mouthy! - Watch it, you! - Betty - Or what, tough girl? - This your fun for the night? Teresa: Shut up, Betty.
- Pathetic.
Teresa: Betty! - Hey! - Is that what gets you? Now, you're gonna get it! Teresa: Get your hands off her! Teresa: Stop! I say stop! (Yelling and screaming) Betty! (Struggling sound fading out, Karen singing in the background) There is a balm in Gilead that makes the wounded whole There is a balm in Gilead That heals the sin-sick soul It's okay Davey.
It's gonna be okay.
Head back it needs the ice.
I wanna see.
Who are those guys? We didn't swap calling cards.
Called us dirty names.
And slugger here couldn't walk away.
You're blaming me for this Teresa? I'll get some more ice.
This is why you need to be careful.
Let me see.
What's that for? Being a hero.
I'm not trying to be a hero.
I'm trying to live my life.
Her.
Hello again, Gladys.
Gladys, stop.
She's on our side.
And what side is that? Stay put and I'll explain.
What do you want? War is changing.
Now more than ever before, may be won or loss on the strength of the intelligence we gather.
There's important work going on at VicMu.
What kind of work? Suffices to say, we need eyes and ears inside the plant.
What about her? Margaret was testing security.
The discretion of the factory girls.
She's been reassigned.
I got sloppy.
It won't happen again.
What do you need me to do? If you agree to help us all I need you to do is go back to your regular life.
Explain away Margie to your family and friends.
Make sure that no one suspects anything.
And then what? And wait for my call.
(Door opens and closes) When you were my age, you were married with three children.
And I didn't know a damn thing.
Don't waste your affection, Sheila.
Don't throw away your youth on a man with no future to offer.
I don't care about the future.
Whatever happiness life has for me, it might only happen now.
That doctor, he's promised to somebody else.
We are together now and everything else everything else could change.
Can't you see, Sheila, he's taking advantage of you of this whole situation.
I don't care.
Narendra is smart, he's loving.
And he thinks that I am too so just let me be happy.
And try, try to be happy for me.
You can't ask a mother to sit and watch someone hurt her child.
You're going to have to; Otherwise you're not going to have me in your life.
(Scoffs) How could you have change so much overnight? It was not overnight.
You just weren't paying attention.
I can't believe they just attacked you.
What're you saying, Princess? I asked for it? I deserved my licks? No, of course not.
Are you okay to go into work? Yeah, I'm okay.
I could do without all the gawking and gum flappin'.
People talk, Betty.
You can't stop it.
Yeah, I know.
And they like to think the worst.
They look at me and see a girl who's crossing lines.
Have you told Mrs.
Corbett? She's always saying I gotta be a role-model.
Wait till she gets a load of this.
We better get in.
Yep.
Time to face the music.
(Horn blares) Let's go Bets.
What the heck happen to her? Fun night on the town McRae? Who did you try and kiss? I wanna see the other guy.
Miss McRae.
It is despicable here we have decent hard-working women who are giving their all for the war-effort.
And yet they can't walk this city's streets without interference from good-for-nothing layabouts.
It's a disgrace.
I hope, on the behalf of all of us, that you gave those beggars every bit as good as you got.
I certainly did my best, Ma'am.
(Clapping) Private Brennan's wife has come to take him home.
Isn't that wonderful? His wife? Sheila: I had them deliver your things downstairs.
Remember Gilead, Davey.
The men say you're quite the singer.
I think they're counting on an encore.
Lorna: Got all these beds free, seems unpatriotic not to make use of them.
Are you sure you want me here? I am, Reggie.
I can use the company.
What room should I take? Uh, the boys' room, down the hall.
Sheila may need hers still.
I'm putting the kettle on.
You heading out or do you have time for a cup? I'm a Maritimer, Missus.
Always ready for a chin-wag and a good strong cuppa.
Okay.
Vera: We were so busy worrying about Betty, I forgot to ask you about your big date with Clifford.
You were right about Mr.
Parry.
It was the perfect warm-up date for a girl whose heart is on the mend.
Meaning? Meaning, it was a nice dinner and a quiet drive home.
That's all? That's all.
No sparks? I'm sorry to disappoint.
What about a tidbit on spy girl? Nope.
Gladys, you gotta give me something here.
It's just how these things go.
We'll probably never hear anything more.
I just can't believe that's the end of the story.
Vera.
There's nothing else to say.
Vera: Well you gotta wonder how many of those snooping red-heads are still here.