“It’s terrible, ” says Fred, talking about his old suit. “But they tell me you can’t buy anything new now.”

Marie is trying out her new French silk scarf as a veil in the mirror. “I know a place where we can get some snappy suits made to order!” she says, in a sing-song voice. 

“You mean there’s a black market?” asks Fred, feigning surprise. 

“Oh, you can get a lot of things if you know the right people,” says Marie, now wearing the scarf as a bikini top. “And if you don’t care how much you spend.”

“Well, we’re not worrying about that, baby!” says Fred, now dressed in his army uniform. “I got money – – cash money! Nearly a thousand bucks, right from the good old U.S. Treasury.” He dons his service jacket. 

“Oh!” says Marie, “Now, you look wonderful!” Fred smiles.

“You look like yourself! she adds, walking away. Fred loses his smile. 

“You know, honey, it’s so wonderful, I can hardly believe it,” says Marie. “Now, we can have a real honeymoon, without a care in the world! Just as if nothing had ever happened. Just as if you’d never gone away.  You know, we’re right back where we started!”

“Don’t say that, Marie,” replies Fred. 

“Don’t say what?” asks Marie. “What do you-“

“That we’re right back where we started,” says Fred, growing angry. “We can never be back there again. We never want to be back there!”

“But why not?” asks Marie. “What is it? What’s the matter with you, Fred?”

“Oh, never mind, babe, skip it,” says Fred, calming down. “I went back to the drug store where I used to work, and I just got reminded…” Fred looks at Marie’s feathered hat and laughs. 

In This Episode:

• Dana Andrews as Fred Derry
• Virginia Mayo as Marie Derry

Related Episodes

• • The Best Years of Our Lives

  Minute 014: From the Factory to the Scrapheap

  27:55

  21 January, 2021
• • The Best Years of Our Lives

  Minute 055: You Can Sleep as Long as You Want

  35:33

  19 March, 2021