The Way Ahead Page #4

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- Too much rent control.

- And then I'll buy a new car.

I'll buy a Mercedes. Rooaaar! Smashing.

- Wonder how many more there'll be of us.

- I don't know.

I suppose some will come from London,

poor mutts. What do you think of it all?

- Very little.

- Yes, I think you're right.

I was in two minds about coming at all.

- Here's the two-twenty. Hurry, Maisie!

- All right, all right, don't get all het up.

- Well, anyway, cheers.

- Cheers.

This is Crewe. Crewe Station.

Crewe.

Passengers for Liverpool, Shrewsbury, Chester

and Hacklesfield should change here.

- Have we time for a cup of tea?

- What about it, Mr Beck?

Platform 7. We've got five minutes.

Time for a quick cup.

- Shall I run and get you a cup, Mr Davenport?

- No, no. We'll all go.

Can you tell me,

where does the Hacklesfield train start?

- Platform 7. Over the bridge.

- Are you going there too?

I'll say. Duke of Glendon's Light

footsloggers. Have a cup of tea.

I'm a fellow with a very independent disposition.

Can't stand people telling me what to do.

And if they try it, then I

always want to be rude.

In fact, I usually am.

Here, I'll get 'em.

The Army will have to put up with me

and not me with the Army.

- Stop shoving, mate, will you?

- I'm sorry, old man.

Tea?

- China for me.

- Get used to char. It's all they got in the Army.

Oh, good old Army. The thin red line.

Smashing!

- I don't blame you for getting bottled.

- You going to Hacklesfield?

- Yes. You too?

- Yes.

My name's Stainer. Can I interest any of

you in buying a Rolls-Royce or a Bentley?

- Three teas and a bitter.

- Four teas.

All set for the last lap?

- Looking forward to it, this bloke.

- You can't look back on it.

No. I wonder when we'll be able to.

Mr Davenport was doing very important work

at the time of his call-up.

The Army's full of people who make you suffer

because you're no good at polishing buttons.

It might have gone down with the last

generation and even with some of you,

but it won't go down with me,

because I'm independent.

- And if they don't like it, I'll walk right out.

- Look out what you're doing.

Don't you shout at me like that.

I'm not in the Army yet, you know.

- He didn't do it on purpose.

- That's right.

- There's a nasty piece of work for you.

- That's the way to treat them, see.

Scared stiff, he was. They always

are if you stand up for yourself.

He looked like a regular.

Fancy putting decent civilians

under blokes like that.

Hurry up with that bitter, miss.

You can't eat by numbers

and sleep by numbers.

Have them yelling at

you, day in and day out.

By the left. Quick! Eat!

Shut up, shut up.

Oh, dear.

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