DOMINIQUE BREHAUT
The war was going to be over at Christmas.

PHILIP ASHTON
(cheerfully)
Next Christmas.

DOMINIQUE
But how? If the Germans invade all of France...

PHILIP
They won't. They won't. Look, Dunkerque was nothing. They had to get out. They were surrounded. They'll go back.

DOMINIQUE
(looking toward the sea)
Philip?

PHILIP
Huh?

DOMINIQUE
Do you think the Germans might come here?

PHILIP
No.

DOMINIQUE
Why not?

PHILIP
(smiling)
Because you're insignificant, that's why. Because there's only one thing in the whole of the Channel Islands worth having, and I've got her.

(She walks away, and he follows.)

DOMINIQUE
Unfortunately, there are a lot of things worth having. We're British. And that would be worth having to the Germans. (She turns to him with a troubled look.) I don't think you know very much. I think you're very young, very ignorant, and you're not clever at all.

PHILIP
Yes, that's me. Very young, very ignorant.

(She smiles at him, and they walk together.)

DOMINIQUE
So, the day after tomorrow, we'll get a boat, and I'll show you the islands.

PHILIP
But that's Tuesday. It's a work day.

DOMINIQUE
And I called you ignorant? I'll have a dental appointment. Am I awful?

PHILIP
Terrible. You're suffering from what our Sergeant Connor would call "pendula plumbosis"... swinging the leg.

DOMINIQUE
I'm very good at it. We'll go to Jethou and Herm.

PHILIP
And which is Jethou?

DOMINIQUE
The little one. And behind that is Herm.

(She becomes serious again.)

DOMINIQUE
Are you sure they won't come?

PHILIP
(doubtfully)
Of course I am.

 

(from "For Strategic Reasons" by Harry V. Kershaw)