Since You Went Away (1944)

Jane Deborah Hilton: How are things out at the field?
Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II: Oh, they're fine, thank you. How's everything with you?
Jane Deborah Hilton: Oh, just fine. I want to get a war job, but Mother won't let me.
Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II: Well, I think she's right. You ought to stay home -
Jane Deborah Hilton: No, it isn't that at all. Mother wants me to go to college.
Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II: Oh. Oh, gee. That would take four years, wouldn't it?
Jane Deborah Hilton: If I go.
Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II: You don't want to go?
Jane Deborah Hilton: No, it's so silly. If I were three or four years older, I could be a Wave.
Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II: Or a Wac.
Jane Deborah Hilton: Or a nurse. That's what I'd rather be most. A nurse.
Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II: That would be swell if I was wounded.
Jane Deborah Hilton: You shouldn't say such things.
Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II: Oh. I won't be wounded. I'll be killed.
Jane Deborah Hilton: Bill!
Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II: Oh, Jane would you care?
Jane Deborah Hilton: Well, of course I'd care, silly.
Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II: Well, gee, that'd be fine.
Jane Deborah Hilton: What would be fine about it?
Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II: Well, I thought that if - Well, what I mean is I would be glad if you were sorry if I were killed.
Jane Deborah Hilton: What good would that do if you were dead?
Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II: Yeah, I guess you're right.
Jane Deborah Hilton: I don't ever want to hear

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Colonel William G. Smollett: And I might have had that wonderful child as a granddaughter. Bill was fortunate to have known her.
Mrs. Anne Hilton: Bill deserved her. He was such a good boy.
Colonel William G. Smollett: Yes, I dare say. The good die first. And they whose hearts are dry as summer dust burn to the socket.

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Major Sam Atkins: Hello, Tony. I didn't know you were in town.
Lieutenant Tony Willett: Hello, Sam. It's quite a dance you fellows are putting on here. What's the matter? You look upset.
Major Sam Atkins: Just got some bad news. Good evening, Mrs. Hilton.
Mrs. Anne Hilton: Good evening, Major.
Major Sam Atkins: Plane crash. Don't say anything about it now, it might spoil the fun.
Lieutenant Tony Willett: That's too bad. Where'd it happen?
Major Sam Atkins: Right outside town. Lost one of my best boys.
Mrs. Anne Hilton: What was his name?
Major Sam Atkins: Mahoney. He hit some wires.
Mrs. Anne Hilton: Oh, not Johnny!
Major Sam Atkins: Did you know him? Well, I hope he wasn't, uh...
Mrs. Anne Hilton: But it can't be! We were talking to him here just a little while ago.
Major Sam Atkins: I'm extremely sorry, Mrs. Hilton. I had no idea that you knew him. I shouldn't have said anything.
Mrs. Anne Hilton: It was just that I liked Johnny very much. I know his father.
Major Sam Atkins: A terrible thing.
Soldier at Dance: Beg pardon, sir. The car's ready for you now, sir.
Major Sam Atkins: Be right there.
Soldier at Dance: Yes, sir.
Major Sam Atkins: I've got to go and examine the wreck. Not a very pleasant job, I can tell you. Good night.
Lieutenant Tony Willett: Good night.
Mrs. Anne Hilton: Oh Tony, how awful. His poor parents.
Lieutenant Tony Willett: Lucky Johnny. Come on, Anne. Let's dance.
Mrs. Anne Hilton: Dance?
Lieutenant Tony Willett: Look Anne, you'll be hearing plenty of things like this. Might as well get used to them now.

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Shirley Temple had been in retirement for two years when David O. Selznick persuaded her to join the film.
The original novel by Margaret Buell Wilder is in epistolary form - i.e., it consists of a series of letters that she wrote to her husband while he was away at war.
Debuting actor Guy Madison, who plays a sailor in the film, was really in the navy at the time of filming.
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