Siren
A Remember WENN story
By Julia E. Linthicum
DISCLAIMER: Characters are copyright Rupert Holmes, The Entertainment
Group, Howard Meltzer prods, and American Movie Classics. No
infringement is intended.
This short scene occurs the night Jeffrey left for London in "A New
Actor", obviously when Hilary and Jeff were still very much a couple.
@-------@
The halls of WENN stood empty, its studios darkened and its switchboard
silent. The station had finished broadcasting for the night. Without
Eugenia's late show, WENN had returned to its normal routine, closing
down at midnight. The staff had gratefully grabbed their coats,
disappearing into the dreary Pittsburgh twilight. All but one.
Hilary Booth had stayed behind in the Green Room, sitting on the sofa,
her head resting forlornly on her hand. Although her hair and makeup had
barely even been mussed in the day's adventures, Hilary seemed different
than the former Broadway star who regarded WENN as her private domain.
The diva had lost her leading man... again. Hilary's irrational side
simply could not accept the fact that Jeffrey had left for London to
"finish what he started."
*If he isn't finished by a Nazi bomb*, Hilary finished sadly. She had
nearly lost him once. Could this time be the final curtain?
Out of some unfathomable need, Hilary leaned over from the sofa to
switch on the radio. Perhaps she hoped to find some comfort in the large
box of dreams. For all her complaints about being on radio in
Pittsburgh, she secretly enjoyed playing so many different roles. Most
actresses only received one defining role in their lifetimes. She
received new ones every week from Shakespeare to potboilers.
The radio flickered to life, filling the darkened room with swinging
upbeat music, led by a triumphant trumpet solo. Inexplicably the dance
music made Hilary think of Jeffrey. They had always enjoyed dancing
together. Their bickering was forgotten in the moment.
Hilary was not usually prone to daydreams. But in her mind's eye, Hilary
could easily imagine herself safely in her wayward husband's arms, far
away from Nazi bombs and sleepless nights. She could see that memorable
Christmas when they danced together while Gloria Redmond sang. She
relaxed back against the sofa, her well-heeled toe tapping in time with
the big band rhythms.
When the song finished, the announcer said. "And that was Martin Telyn
and his Orchestra with their latest hit, 'Dance Till Dawn', which
continues to gain popularity throughout Great Britain."
Hilary sat up straighter on the sofa. She must still be daydreaming if
she's listening to a BBC broadcast.
"And now," the British announcer said, "to end our morning broadcast,
the BBC brings you a special broadcast requested by many of our
listeners recorded at last night's Airmen's Ball by the English siren,
Katherine Lindsey."
Thunderous applause greeted the English singer, surprising Hilary. But
Hilary was more familiar with the stars of Broadway than of British
recording. This singer must be very popular to receive such a response.
A low female voice with a tempered British accent spoke into the
microphone. "Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, I am especially honored to
perform for you tonight." Katherine Lindsey continued after the burst of
applause died down. "I would like to sing a special song for you
tonight. The lyrics sum up how I felt when my own husband joined his
squadron last year." The singer finished softly, her voice wavering. "So
wherever you are tonight, Andrew, goodnight my love."
The orchestra swung into the slow love ballad, led by a mournful
clarinet. Then the horns joined the other musical instruments, fueling
the arrangement.
The music swept Hilary off to the crowded ballroom of the Airmen's Ball,
surrounded by uniformed officers. Dressed in the black satin slip dress
from "Magic Time", Hilary seemed like one of many gowned escorts nestled
safely, if ever so briefly, in their love's embrace.
"May I have this dance, Mrs. Singer?" Hilary turned around to see
Jeffrey standing immaculately dressed in a black tuxedo. He held out his
hand, inviting Hilary into his arms.
Hilary took his hand. "Oh, Mr. Singer, you know I'm always yours for a
song," she smiled as they joined the other couples on the dance floor.
On the stage, Katherine Lindsey joined the accompaniment with her silken
contralto, singing of tearful goodbyes and hopeful reunions.
"Good night, my love, the tired old moon is descending.
Good night, my love, my moment with you is now ending.
It was so heavenly, holding you close to me.
It will be heavenly to hold you again in a dream."**
"Why did you have to go, Jeff?" Hilary asked. "Why did it have to be
*you*? Of all the radio people, why couldn't it be..." *Someone else's
husband*, she finished grimly.
"It had to be me, Hilary," Jeff said. "I had to finish my work at the
BBC. I promised Victor." He explained. "Victor couldn't do it alone,
Hilary. He just didn't have the spark anymore. He had the business
acumen, but he didn't have the same perspective anymore."
And then suddenly in the middle of the song, the sirens started. Couples
gripped each other. Even the band seemed to lose its momentary focus,
although the singer showed steely English nerve by continuing, almost
accappella at one point. A German blitz was imminent.
"Hilary, you have to go!" Jeffrey urged her.
She shouted, reaching for his hand. "Jeffrey, no!"
"Hilary, Hilary, wake up!" The actress opened her eyes. Hilary had dozed
off on the sofa, her head against the cushions. Gertie sat by her side,
concern crossing her face. The radio now only played static.
"Gertie, what happen..." Hilary asked, blinking at the receptionist.
"And what are you doing here so late?"
"I forgot I changed jackets this afternoon," Gertie explained. "I was
almost down the block when I realized I left my keys in the pocket." She
asked, her brow creased with worry. "Are *you* all right?"
"I'm fine," Hilary said. "I was... just listening to the radio. I must
have fallen asleep."
Gertie glanced at the static filled radio. "The connection must have
gone dead." Then she checked the dial. "This was still tuned to the BBC
shortwave. After Jeffrey left, I must have forgot to switch it back to
our regular programming."
"So I wasn't daydreaming," Hilary said aloud. But it was so vivid.
"You were dreaming of Jeffrey," Gertie said, "of him not coming back."
When the actress stared at the receptionist, Gertie smiled faintly. "I
remember what it was like. I was a young bride once, too."
"You never mentioned that," Hilary said surprised.
"No one bothers to ask," Gertie reminded her. "People tend to forget you
when you're stuck behind a switchboard." She sighed sadly. "He died in
France during the first war."
"I'm so sorry," Hilary said. But that did make some sense. After one
particular episode of "Jane Timmons, Registered Nurse," she remembered
Gertie giving her a thorough chewing out for "not getting it right". Of
course, Hilary had taken that insult personally, but it hadn't occurred
that Gertie might also take those stories quite personally too.
"You should get some rest, Hilary," Gertie said finally. "Things will
seem more manageable in the morning."
Hilary asked, as the receptionist stood up to leave. "Gertie, how do
*you* manage?"
"I close my eyes and remember him as he was," Gertie said simply. "He's
still there, a little faded with time, but still a part of me." She
added. "He'll come back, Hilary."
When she finally went home to her place, Hilary tried fitfully to sleep.
She tried to dream of Jeffrey. But she could still only hear the sirens
ringing in her head. And her Jeffrey tantalizingly out of reach.
THE END
@---------@
Historical notes:
Because of the nature of the story and the time zone differences, I
played a *little* fast and loose with the BBC radio schedule. Even if
they played dance band music in the morning, they probably only played
instrumentals.
"Goodnight my love" was written by Mack Gordon and Harry Revel. Benny
Goodman and his orchestra recorded a version in 1936 originally
featuring a young Ella Fitzgerald. This was one of only three songs they
recorded together. Due to contractual reasons, the sides were pulled
soon after their original release, but this author always thought it
made a great farewell song.