NARRATOR 2: He was a private first class in the Artillery. His uniform
was rumpled. His shoes were dusty. He needed a shave. Newt: Let's see the pretty book. NARRATOR: She gave it to him. Catharine: I'm getting married, Newt. Newt: I know---- let's go for a walk. Catharine: I'm awfully busy, Newt. The wedding is only a week away. Newt: If we go for a walk, it will make you rosy. It will make you a rosy bride. NARRATOR 2 : He turned the pages of the magazine. Newt: A rosy bride like her--- like her ---- like her. NARRATOR 2: He said, showing her rosy brides. NARRATOR 1: Catharine turned rosy, thinking about rosy brides.Newt: That will be my present to Henry Stewart Chasens. By taking you for
a walk, I'll be giving him a rosy bride. Catharine: You know his name? Newt: Mother wrote. . . from Pittsburgh? Catharine: Yes, You'd like him. Newt: Maybe. Catharine: Can --- can you come to the wedding, Newt? Newt: That I doubt. Catharine: Your furlough isn't for long enough? Newt: Furlough? NARRATOR 2: He was studying a two-page ad for flat silver.Newt: I'm not on furlough.
Catharine: Oh? Newt: I'm what they called A.W.O.L. Catharine: Oh Newt! you're not! Newt: Sure I am. NARRATOR 2: He said, still looking at the magazine. Catharine: Why, Newt? Newt: I had to find out what your silver pattern is. NARRATOR 2: He read names of silver patterns from the magazine. Newt: Albermarle? Heather? Legend? Rambler Rose? NARRATOR 2: He looked up, smiling. Newt: I plan to give you and your husband a spoon. Catharine: Newt, Newt,--- tell me really. Newt: I want to go for a walk. NARRATOR 1: She wrung her hands insistently in anguish. Catharine: Oh Newt--- you're fooling me about being A.W.O.L.NARRATOR 2: Newt imitated a police siren, softly, raising his eyebrows.
Catharine: Where--- Where from? Newt: From Bragg. Catharine: North Carolina? Newt: That's right, Near Fayettewille--- where Scarlet O'Hara went to school. Catharine: How did you get here Newt? NARRATOR 2: He raised his thumb, jerking it in a hitchike gesture. Newt: 2 days Catharine: Does your mother know? Newt: I didn't come to see my mother. Catharine: Who did you come to see? Newt: You. Catharine: Why me? Newt: Because I love you. Now can we take a walk? One foot in front of the other--- through leaves, over bridges. NARRATOR 1: They were taking the walk now. NARRATOR 2: Were in a woods with a brown-leaf floor. NARRATOR 1: Catharine was angry and rattled, close to tears.Catharine: Newt, this is absolutely crazy.
Newt: How so? Catharine: What a crazy time to tell me you love me. You never talked that way before. NARRATOR 1: She stopped walking Newt: Let's keep walking. Catharine: Not so far, not farther, I shouldn't have come out with you at all. Newt: You did. Catharine: To get you out of the house. If somebody walked in and heard you talking to me that way, a week before the wedding ----Newt: What would they think?
Catharine: They'd think you were crazy. Newt: Why? NARRATOR 1: Catharine took a deep breath, then made a speech.Catharine: Let me say that I'm deeply honored by this crazy thing you've
done. I can't believe that you're really A.W.O.L. but maybe you are. I can't believe you really love me, but maybe you do. But. ----- >Newt: I do.
Catharine: Well, I am deeply honored, and I'm very fond of you as a friend, Newt, extremely fond--- but it's just too late. NARRATOR 1: She took a step away from him. Catharine: You've never even kissed me. NARRATOR 1: She said, and she protected herself with her hands.Catharine: I don't mean you should do it now. I just mean this is all so
unexpected. I haven't got the remotest idea of how to respond.Newt: Just walk some more. Have a nice time.
NARRATORS 1 and 2: They started walking again.
Catharine: How did you expect me to react? Newt: How would I know what to expect? I've never done anything like this before. Catharine: did you think I would throw myself into your arms? Newt: Maybe. Catharine: I'm sorry to disappoint you. Newt: I'm not disappointed, I wasn't counting on it. This is very nice, just walking. NARRATOR 1: Catharine stopped again. Catharine: You know what happens next? Newt: Nope. Catharine: We shake hands. We shake hands and part as friends. That's what happens next. NARRATOR 2: Newt nodded. Newt: All right. Remember me from time to time. Remember how much I loved you. NaRRATOR 1: Involuntarily, Catharine burst into tears. She turned her back to Newt, looked into the infinite colonnade of the woods.Newt: What does that mean?
Catharine: Rage! NARRATOR 1: She clenched her hands. Catharine: You have no right! Newt: I had to find out. Catharine: If I'd loved you, I would have let you know before now. Newt: You would? Catharine: Yes. NARRATOR 1: She faced him, looking up at him, her face quite red. Catharine: You would have known. Newt: How? Catharine: You would have seen it. Women aren't very clever at hiding it. NARRATOR 2: Newt looked closely at Catharine's face now. NARRATOR 1: To her consternation, she realized that what she had said was true, that a woman couldn' t hide love. NARRATOR 2: Newt was seeing love now. And he did what he had to do. He kissed her. Catharine: You're hell to get along with! NARRATOR 1: She said when Newt let her go. Newt: I am? Catharine: You shouldn't have done that. Newt: You didn't like it? Catharine: What did you expect--- wild, abandoned passion?Newt: I keep telling you, I never know what's going to happen next.
Catharine: We say goodbye. NARRATOR 2: He frowned slightly, Newt: All right. NARRATOR 1: She made another speech. Catharine: I'm not sorry we kissed. That was sweet. We should have kissed, we've been so close. I'll always remember you Newt, and good luck. Newt: You too. Catharine: Thank you Newt. Newt: Thirty days. Catharine: What? Newt: Thirty days in the stockade- that's what one kiss will cost me. Catharine: I - I'm sorry, but I didn't ask you to go A.W.O.L.Newt: I know.
Catharine: You certainly don't deserve any hero's reward for doing something as foolish as that. Newt: Must be nice to be a hero. Is Henry Stewart Chasens a hero? Catharine: He might be, if he got the chance. NARRATOR 1: She noted uneasily, that they had begun to walk again. NARRATOR 2: The farewell had been forgotten. Newt: You really love him? Catharine: (hotly) Certainly, I love him!!! I wouldn't marry him if I didn't love him! Newt: What's good about him? Catharine: Honestly! NARRATOR 1: She cried, stopping again. Catharine: Do you have any idea how offensive you're being? Many, Many, Many things are good about Henry! Yes and many, many, many, things are probably bad too, but that isn't any of your business. I love Henry, and I don't have to argue his merits with you!!! Newt: Sorry. Catharine: Honestly! NARRATOR 2: Newt kissed her again. He kissed her again because she wanted him to. NARRATOR 1: They were now in a large orchard. Catharine: How did we get so far from home Newt? Newt: One foot in front of the other--- through leaves, over bridges. Catharine: They add up--- the steps. NARRATOR 2: Bells rang in the tower of the school for the blind nearby. Newt: School for the blind. Catharine: School for the blind. NARRATOR 1: She shook her head in drowsy wonder. Catharine: I've got to go back now. Newt: Say good bye. Catharine: Every time I do, I seem to get kissed. NARRATOR 2: Newt sat down on the close-cropped grass under an apple tree. Newt: Sit down. Catharine: No. Newt: I won't touch you. Catharine: I don't believe you . NARRATOR 1: She sat down under another tree, twenty feet away from him. She closed her eyes. Newt: Dream of Henry Stewart Chasens. Catharine: What? Newt: Dream of your wonderful husband-to-be. Catharine: All right, I will. NARRATOR 1: She closed her eyes tighter, catching glimpses of her husband-to-be. NARRATOR 2: Newt yawned. NARRATOR 1: The bees were humming in the trees, and Catharine almost fell asleep. NARRATOR 2: He began to snore softly. NARRATOR 1: Catharine let Newt sleep for an hour, and while he slept she adored him with all her heart. NARRATOR 2: The Shardows of the apple trees grew to the east.NARRATOR 1: The bells in the tower of the school for the blind rang again.
NARRATOR 2: " Chick-a-dee-dee-dee" NARRATOR 1: Went a chickadee. NARRATOR 2: Somewhere far away and automobile started nagged and failed. NARRATOR 1: Nagged and failed. NARRATOR 2: Fell still. NARRATOR 1: Catharine came out from under her tree and knelt by Newt. Catharine: Newt? Newt: H'm? NARRATOR 2: He opened his eyes. Catharine: Late. Newt: Hello Catharine. Catharine: Hello Newt. Newt: I love you. Catharine: I know. Newt: Too late Catharine: Too late. NARRATOR 2: He stood, stretching with a groan. Newt: A very nice walk. Catharine: I thought so. Newt: Part company here? Catharine: Where will you go? Newt: Hitch into town, turn myself in. Catharine: Good luck. Newt: You too. Marry me Catharine? Catharine: No. NARRATOR 2: He smiled, staring at her hard for a moment then walked away quickly. NARRATOR 1: Catharine watched him grow smaller in the long perspective of shadows and trees, knowing that if he stopped and turned no, if he called to her, she would run to him. She would have no choice. NARRATOR 2: Newt did stop. He did turn. He did call. Newt: Catharine. NARRATOR 1: She ran to him, put her arms around him, and could not speak.