The Captive Heart (1946)

Mervyn Johns: Pte. Evans

Photos 

Quotes 

• Cpl. Ted Horsfall : [remembering his last night at home, before leaving for France, as he finishes a glass of beer at a farewell party]  Ahhhhh. Beer isn't what it used to be.

  Pvt. Don Evans : I hope the French beer isn't what it used to be either. Remember the last time, Ted?

  Cpl. Ted Horsfall : Yeah. I remember something even better than beer too.

• Cpl. Ted Horsfall : [offering beer]  Anyone for any more?

  Di Evans : No, thank you.

  Pvt. Don Evans : [looks at clock]  It's nearly twelve. We've got to be at the depot at seven.

  [motions to his wife] 

  Pvt. Don Evans : Come on home.

  Flo Horsfall : We'll have them both back before you can turn around. The war will be over by Christmas.

  Cpl. Ted Horsfall : The war will be over by Christmas. Where have I heard *that* before?

  Pvt. Don Evans : [indicates sign for their construction business]  It's a shame we've got to close the business, Ted.

  Cpl. Ted Horsfall : Why, it's this habit we've gotten into; fighting the same war every twenty years.

  Flo Horsfall : Nasty habit too.

• Cpl. Ted Horsfall : [watches as Evans begins planting his vegetable garden in the spring of 1944]  Trying leeks again this year?

  Pvt. Don Evans : I was thinking of trying some asparagus.

  Cpl. Ted Horsfall : Asparagus? That takes seven years, Don.

  Pvt. Don Evans : [sadly]  Aye.

  Cpl. Ted Horsfall : [referring to the war]  I don't give it more than another year, meself.

  Pvt. Don Evans : Another year? Meredith will be four.

  Cpl. Ted Horsfall : Flo's hair's gone all white, she says.

  Pvt. Don Evans : Everything's changing. Do you think we'll be able to pick it up? The business, and everything?

  Cpl. Ted Horsfall : Search me. We're not as young as we were.

  Pvt. Don Evans : No. We're not as young as we were.

• Pvt. Don Evans : [writing a letter home]  How do you spell "sufficient"?

  Cpl. Ted Horsfall : Same as a Sergeant-Major's blessing. Two "f"'s and one "c".

• Cpl. Ted Horsfall : I've had a letter, Don.

  Pvt. Don Evans : The mail's in? Perhaps there's a letter for me, with news of the baby.

  Cpl. Ted Horsfall : [downcast]  There's no letter for you. There *is* news.

  Pvt. Don Evans : Flo's all right? Not them raids...?

  Cpl. Ted Horsfall : She's OK. The letter's from her. Don, it's a baby girl. She's doing nice. Dillis... You'll hear it sooner or later. It seemed the doctor warned her about it being dangerous, because of her age. But she wouldn't be put off. Flo was with her at the end. It went quite quickly. Flo's gonna look after the baby until you get back.