Since You Went Away (1944)

Monty Woolley: Col. William G. Smollett

Photos 

Quotes 

• Colonel William G. Smollett : Good morning. Mrs. Hilton, I presume?

  Anne Hilton : Yes.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : May I be permitted to observe that this is the first house I've found in this godforsaken community that doesn't smell of cabbage.

  Anne Hilton : Well, it does sometimes.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : I was given to understand at the office of the Purchasing Division, to which I have the misfortune to be attached, that you had a room for rent.

  Anne Hilton : Yes, but I specified an officer. You see, my husband...

  Colonel William G. Smollett : My name is Smollett, William G., Colonel, United States Army, retired. Retired, I might add, by virtue of certain fatuous opinions held in the War Department which judge a man's usefulness neither by his experience nor his ability, but by the number of years since he was weaned.

  Brig Hilton : [dog growls and barks]  Soda. Soda!

  Colonel William G. Smollett : There was nothing in the information I was furnished, madam, which indicated that you had children and domestic pets.

  Anne Hilton : Well, I'm sorry, but they go with the house.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : We won't discuss it. With your permission, madam, may we dispense with further conversation? I should like to inspect the room.

  Anne Hilton : Certainly. Just follow me. I do hope you'll forgive me if I've been long-winded.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : Not at all, madam. Through a full, and somewhat protracted existence, I have learned to accept the natural tendency of all women to be garrulous.

  Anne Hilton : You're very tolerant, Colonel.

• Colonel William G. Smollett : Oh yes, and another thing. I neglected to inform your mother that I like my breakfast promptly at seven. Coffee, thin toast, and two eggs, boiled, two and a half minutes, under no circumstances more than three.

  Brig Hilton : But golly, Colonel Smollett, we can't afford to give you breakfast.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : Indeed?

  Brig Hilton : Even as it is now, poor Mother doesn't know what she's going to do. When Fidelia was here, the bills didn't seem so high, but now, with the way things are going...

  Colonel William G. Smollett : Please. I'm quite prepared to pay.

  Brig Hilton : Oh. That's fine. What would you say to fifty cents a day?

  Colonel William G. Smollett : That seems a bit high under the circumstances.

  Brig Hilton : All right, we'll make it three dollars a week. There's the doorbell. Well, let's call it a deal. Good night, Colonel.

• Colonel William G. Smollett : [studying a map]  Wettookit. Wettookit. You must have the name wrong.

  Brig Hilton : No. Here it is in Pop's letter. "Now, we're here in Texas on maneuvers... in a little town called Wettookit. We came, we saw, we took it!"

  Colonel William G. Smollett : "We took it." Very funny. I would appreciate it, my dear Bridget, if in the future you could spare me from your father's elaborate puns.

• Emily Hawkins : Hello, Jane. What's this I hear about you working at the hospital?

  Jane Hilton : I'm a nurse's aide.

  Emily Hawkins : A nurse's aide? Oh! What a revolting idea for an unmarried girl of your age. Well, our whole code of living seems to be completely ignored these days, and possibly it's none of my business...

  Lieutenant Tony Willett : You're quite right, Mrs. Hawkins. It is none of your business.

  Emily Hawkins : I must say, Lieutenant, or Commander, or whatever you are, the Navy hasn't improved your manners any.

  Anne Hilton : Please, Tony. Please, Emily. It's the Colonel's birthday, and we're trying to have a party.

  Emily Hawkins : I'm sorry. I meant no offense to you, Jane. I simply feel that well-brought up young girls shouldn't be permitted to have such intimate contact with all sorts of...

  Jane Hilton : All sorts of boys who've lost their arms and legs? They're young too, lots of them. But they weren't too young for that, Mrs. Hawkins, and I don't think breeding entered into it either.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : Bravo, Jane.

  Emily Hawkins : I don't care to debate it with you, Jane. But surely there are women more suited to such...

  Jane Hilton : That's just it. There aren't women more suited. And women who might help, like you, Mrs. Hawkins, think you're doing your part if you attend a canteen dance for your own pleasure.

  Anne Hilton : You're tired, honey. Why don't you go upstairs?

  Jane Hilton : Yes, Mother. But there are just one or two more things I want to say.

  Brig Hilton : Come on, darling. She's not worth it.

  Jane Hilton : We're not V-girls! We're simply helping with the wreckage.

  [laughs sarcastically] 

  Jane Hilton : All right, Brig, let's go play with our dolls! Don't worry, Mrs. Hawkins. Please don't worry if our precious well-bred hands come in contact with those mangled bodies. We'll survive! Even if they dont!

  [runs upstairs with Brig] 

  Emily Hawkins : Anne Hilton! What on earth has happened that you would permit a child of yours to talk that way without so much as...

  Anne Hilton : Without so much as what? Thank heaven my child has the courage to say to you what should have been said long ago. And let me add that I'm ashamed. Ashamed that I've put up with you, that I've even known you.

  Emily Hawkins : Well! From now on, you needn't know me. Don't you think for a minute you have me fooled, Anne Hilton. I've not forgotten how you felt about your husband joining up. And may I ask just what other noble sacrifices you've made to give you the privilege of being so self-righteous?

  Anne Hilton : I'm afraid that's just it, Emily. I haven't really made any sacrifices. Oh, I haven't hoarded and cheated and done all the other selfish, unpatriotic things that you've done. But as far as making sacrifices, I'm afraid we're two of a kind. And the realization of it doesn't make me very proud or happy.

• Jane Hilton : I beg your pardon, Colonel Smollett. There's someone here to see you. Your grandson.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : William?

  Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd : Hello, Grandpa!

  Colonel William G. Smollett : To what peculiar combination of circumstances do I owe this visit, William?

  Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd : Well, you see, I was transferred out here to Chamberlain Field, and I found out at your office...

  Colonel William G. Smollett : Indeed? I wasn't even aware that the United States forces had been honored by your membership.

  Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd : I enlisted, sir. Last summer.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : So. I don't think we need trouble these young women with your autobiography. Let's go into the living room. If you will excuse me.

  Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd : Excuse me.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : I presume you've come to me for help of one sort or another with your tail between your legs.

  Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd : No, sir, I thought you might like - Well, you see...

  Colonel William G. Smollett : Or is it money that you're after? Speak up, boy.

  Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd : I thought you might like to see me.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : A very mistaken notion if ever you had one, and you've had plenty as we're both well aware.

  Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd : After all, I thought we may not see one another again. I don't know when I'll be shipped out.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : Come, William. Let's not dramatize these things. There's no need for any pretense of affection between us. You've paid your courtesy call.

  Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd : Well, all right, if that's the way you feel about it! I'm sorry to have disturbed you.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : You may drop me a line with your address. And if you have any affairs that require attention, I shall have my lawyers look after them. For your late father's sake. Now, I'm sure you will excuse me. I'm a bit tired.

• Jane Hilton : Colonel Smollett, do you mind being talked to at breakfast?

  Colonel William G. Smollett : I most certainly do mind.

  Jane Hilton : It's about Bill.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : About whom?

  Jane Hilton : Bill. You remember, your grandson.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : Yes indeed, I do remember. What about him?

  Jane Hilton : He's a nice boy.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : A most interesting observation, Miss Hilton.

  Jane Hilton : I'm afraid you don't understand him. He really needs you to help him, like a mother. He has an inferiority complex, and...

  Colonel William G. Smollett : Young woman, I have handled men for 35 years, and I don't think I require any instructions on the subject, least of all about my own grandson!

  Jane Hilton : I was only trying to help! He respects you so much!

  Colonel William G. Smollett : Then I'll thank you to do the same and stop your intrusion in my affairs!

  Jane Hilton : If you only knew the first thing about psychology you'd know better than to try to browbeat him. Colonel Smollett! Colonel Smollett, if you'd only listen.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : You may advise your mother that henceforth I shall have a decent breakfast downtown for forty cents!

  Jane Hilton : I think you're a rude, mean, horrible, old goat!

• Colonel William G. Smollett : He struggled so hard to be a soldier, because I insisted on it. I, in my infinite wisdom.

  Anne Hilton : He would have been a soldier anyway, as things turned out.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : Yes, but all he learned from me was the glory, the decorations, the parades.

  Anne Hilton : Bill had character and courage. I know you gave him those.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : I hope so.

  Anne Hilton : He loved you.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : Mrs. Hilton, I'm not a child. He hated me. To whom did that telegram come? Why, he didn't even list me as next of kin.

  Anne Hilton : The telegram came to Jane, because they were to be married.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : Oh, I didn't know, of course.

  Anne Hilton : I should have told you before. Colonel, if only you could believe that he loved you. Don't you remember the message he sent you? That he was a Smollett, all right, and before the war was over, you'd be proud of him.

• Colonel William G. Smollett : And I might have had that wonderful child as a granddaughter. Bill was fortunate to have known her.

  Anne Hilton : Bill deserved her. He was such a good boy.

  Colonel William G. Smollett : Yes, I dare say. The good die first. And they whose hearts are dry as summer dust burn to the socket.

• Colonel William G. Smollett : Well, isn't anybody interested in this cake? By the way, Fidelia, just what was the experimentation you referred to in connection with this cake?

  Fidelia : I tried something new. I bought it.

• Anne Hilton : [as she passes by Colonel Smollett, who is fussing with a bunch of shoes]  Having difficulties, Colonel?

  Colonel William G. Smollett : Oh, hello, Mrs. Hilton. Do you by any chance know where I might get some shoe polish that isn't made of old sausages?

  Anne Hilton : [Chuckles]  I wish I could get some sausage that isn't made of old shoe polish!