Gi - By darren j Graham

Int. Village hall – afternoon

An American officer greets the members of the village for the first time.

He is seated with the Mayor and a MP. Whist the Vicor addresses the room.

Town Vicor:

“As a friendly gesture, all three villages will be getting together for a real Yankee Welcome.

We’ve decided to hold a good old English knees up to be held this Saturday in Haversham County Hall, as it’s the only venue big enough to hold you/us all.”

Someone shouts from the crowed:  o.s.

“Go on tell us something, classified!”

American offier:

(Stands from his chair)

“Well, I can’t tell you about the mission.

Many of you may or may not know, we’ve had an American Base here for years.

Officially why we’re here is to offer support to our troops during a Classified extraction of equipment, from our military facility safely over to the south.

I can’t tell you exactly where it is but, It has a rail track and that leads straight through your towns and  your main Stations.

We have setup troops as well as a few of your MP’s along route. And, they are tasked with keeping you all safe and at a distance from the transport of this classified cargo.“

Someone shouts from the crowed:  o.s.

“Farmer Dulaney, says it’s something to do with those lights that’s been seen over his farm!”

American offier:

I don’t know this Farmer and I can assure you, it isn’t anything to do with any flashing lights.”

Int: Old Bailey: Courtroom 

An elderly Witness is guided to the seat followed by the eyes of everyone in the courtroom. This was the testimony was one nobody expected. 

“When all our boys were called away, the women of the villages took up work fitting for men. Aye, we still had Officer Clayton, Mayor Gladby and a few Older gents all too ill and way old to serve.

Most of the tasks were held and done good, by those left behind – the women. 

Now I’m here to tell a side of a story and I pray that you all should listen. I’m sickened by what I have heard so far in here today, and I worry on how such short memories and the version you all have of the truth. 

Your honour, I’m not here to tell you if that man you see before you is a good man. For that I could not answer. 

But as it was my dwellings he stayed and my parlour he ate from. I think that gives me right to share my story of events that others, so may seem have easily forgotten. 

America hadn’t yet joined the war, and Pearl Harbour hadn’t yet happened. So, when news that the Americans were coming to our small part of England, it spread through all the town folk and drove them into a frenzy.  

Mayor Gladby and the committee members called a country-wide meeting for all town folk to attend. We all did what was told and the turnout was grand.

4 star Generals, American Secret Service, British Heads of States, all were in attendance. Winston Churchill himself, spoke about it in his speech. 

American G. I’s were to be stationed and housed in a in Britain as a part of: Operation Menace. 

Specially Selected villages were to provide food and lodgings for visiting Soldiers for an undisclosed period. The exact house would remain a top secret, but we already knew which the towns were involved. 

Krew Abby, were to house two G.I’s. as well as two in Arlington Town.  

Our small little village of Applebee was also chosen, and we were to house just one G.I. 

He’d be arriving in a fortnight, so we were all told to be very welcoming. 

The jokes and murmurings spread. You should’ve heard some of the filth the women were entertaining.  

It had been ages since many had seen a man of age. The war had not been kind and many a husband would not be returning. 

At first a slow count down, day by day before the Americans arrival. It started with the Flags. One would go up, then two, then three and so on. 

The Village of Applebee was slowly turning into our own interpretation of little America. We would order and import anything we thought was American. And what we couldn’t purchase, we handmade. 

As the countdown clicked away, the once little Village of Applebee began to show its hungrier side. And as the countdown got shorter, so did those women’s skirts. Hair styles got bigger, Blouses got tighter. America had surely come to our Town.  

Then came Applebee’s most infamous day in our short and boring history. Lipstick Tuesday we called it. That was the day our small little unknown village would be getting our own Tall Dark and handsome American G.I.  

He was definatley tall, he was most definatley handsome, we just never expected him to be so dark.

That was well and truly the start of the War, Lipstick Tuesday the war of the Applebee Women.” 

Int. Village hall – afternoon

An American officer greets the members of the village for the first time.

He is seated with the Mayor and a MP. Whist the Vicor addresses the room.

Town Vicor:

“As a friendly gesture, all three villages will be getting together for a real Yankee Welcome.

We’ve decided to hold a good old English knees up to be held this Saturday in Haversham County Hall, as it’s the only venue big enough to hold you/us all.”

One of the 4-Star Generals Stands up to the podium.

“I’d just like to say that it’s mighty swell to be here. I could’ve never have imagined that my journey would eventually take me here.  

I’ve heard so much about England. Liverpool, News Castle, Edding-borough.  

Although my time here will be short, and we will be stationed here for only a single mission. I’d still like to learn all I can, during my stay here as well as respecting your many customs.” 

“Oh, you just gonna have all kinds of flags. Even got those confederate flying as well huh, okay.  

Erm,  

My American brothers and I, maybe spread rather thin in these shores, but those of us that are here, carry a mighty big stick. 

It is a secret mission and is of vital importance to national security. Although my president has still yet to join up in this war. We are still here to help and do what we can to aid, you our cousins over her in Great Britian.” 

Someone shouts from the crowed:  o.s.

“Go on tell us something, classified!”

American offier:

(Stands from his chair)

“Well, I can’t tell you about the mission.

Many of you may or may not know, we’ve had an American Base here for years.

Officially why we’re here is to offer support to our troops during a Classified extraction of equipment, from our military facility safely over to the south.

I can’t tell you exactly where it is but, It has a rail track and that leads straight through your towns and  your main Stations.

We have setup troops as well as a few of your MP’s along route. And, they are tasked with keeping you all safe and at a distance from the transport of this classified cargo.“

Someone shouts from the crowed:  o.s.

“Farmer Dulaney, says it’s something to do with those lights that’s been seen over his farm!”

American offier:

I don’t know this Farmer and I can assure you, it isn’t anything to do with any flashing lights.”