Jane Deborah Hilton: You were talking about how your grandfather always wanted you to be a soldier. Would you like a sandwich or something?
Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II: He wanted me to be a general.
Jane Deborah Hilton: But didn't you want to be a general?
Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II: Well, no I didn't.
Jane Deborah Hilton: But why not, Bill?
Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II: I had an idea it was more important to build things. But, I don't mean it isn't terribly important being a soldier. I don't know how we'd keep the things we build without them.
Jane Deborah Hilton: Of course. But you said you went to West Point. I should think you'd be a lot more than a -
Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II: More than a corporal, you mean.
Jane Deborah Hilton: Let's have a picnic sometime. I'll bring a - Bill, I didn't mean that. It's wonderful being a corporal.
Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II: No, you meant that if I went to the Academy, I ought to be more than a corporal. Well, you might as well know it. I - I was kicked out and I broke Grandpa's heart.
Jane Deborah Hilton: I'm sure it wasn't your fault.
Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II: Yes, it was.
Jane Deborah Hilton: Bill, come and sit down.
Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II: Look. Grandpa's father carried this watch at Vicksburg. Grandpa gave it to me on my tenth birthday. He had it engraved for me. Read it. I'll light a match.
Jane Deborah Hilton: "To William G. Smollett, the Second, who will lead men to glory on the battlefield." You must have been terribly pleased.
Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II: I said, "Grandpa, don't people hurt each other in war?" You see, I was only ten. He took the watch away from me. But he gave it back to me again when I entered the Academy. Aw, Jane, I did my best, but I could never make a good officer. I can't lead men, and I know it, so even if I led my class the way Grandpa thought I should -

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Bridget 'Brig' Hilton: You say it's animal?
Mrs. Anne Hilton: That's right.
Jane Deborah Hilton: And its home is in the Middle West.
Mrs. Anne Hilton: Umm-hmm.
Bridget 'Brig' Hilton: And it makes a noise like a lion, but it puffs like a locomotive.
Mrs. Anne Hilton: Umm-hmm. Better give up. You agreed if you hadn't guessed it by the time we got home.
Jane Deborah Hilton: Oh, I know. It's Soda.
Mrs. Anne Hilton: Oh, no. Brig guessed that long ago.
Bridget 'Brig' Hilton: All right. I give up.
Mrs. Anne Hilton: It's Colonel Smollett, silly.

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Mrs. Anne Hilton: [Fidelia places presents under the tree] What are those, Fidelia?
Fidelia: Mr. Hilton done sent these to me a long time ago and told me to put them under the Christmas tree just like we've always done.
[gets choked up]
Mrs. Anne Hilton: Now, now, now, no tears, Fidelia. There's nothing to cry about.
Fidelia: I can't help it. He sent me something, too. Mr. Hilton never forgot me, even when he was fighting them devils.
Mrs. Anne Hilton: He'll be so happy to hear that you're back on the old job again.
Fidelia: Yes, ma'am. Miz Hilton, can I confide you something?
Mrs. Anne Hilton: Yes, Fidelia.
Fidelia: Brig sent her daddy his gift just like nothing had happened.
Mrs. Anne Hilton: Of course she did. So did Jane. So did I.
Fidelia: You all did that? Miz Hilton, I guess I just ain't on the right side of the Lord. I just ain't had the right kind of faith. But I will have. From now on, I'll be a true believer.

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Colonel William G. Smollett: [studying a map] Wettookit. Wettookit. You must have the name wrong.
Bridget 'Brig' Hilton: No. Here it is in Pop's letter. "Now, we're here in Texas on maneuvers... in a little town called Wettookit. We came, we saw, we took it!"
Colonel William G. Smollett: "We took it." Very funny. I would appreciate it, my dear Bridget, if in the future you could spare me from your father's elaborate puns.

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Colonel William G. Smollett: He struggled so hard to be a soldier, because I insisted on it. I, in my infinite wisdom.
Mrs. Anne Hilton: He would have been a soldier anyway, as things turned out.
Colonel William G. Smollett: Yes, but all he learned from me was the glory, the decorations, the parades.
Mrs. Anne Hilton: Bill had character and courage. I know you gave him those.
Colonel William G. Smollett: I hope so.
Mrs. Anne Hilton: He loved you.
Colonel William G. Smollett: Mrs. Hilton, I'm not a child. He hated me. To whom did that telegram come? Why, he didn't even list me as next of kin.
Mrs. Anne Hilton: The telegram came to Jane, because they were to be married.
Colonel William G. Smollett: Oh, I didn't know, of course.
Mrs. Anne Hilton: I should have told you before. Colonel, if only you could believe that he loved you. Don't you remember the message he sent you? That he was a Smollett, all right, and before the war was over, you'd be proud of him.

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