(The auditorium lights dim and VI appears through the tabs with a board marked 'FINALE'. The tabs open to display a backdrop of a promenade, sand filled with holidaymakers, sea and sky. In the centre are gates apparently leading to a pier with a theatre at the end of it. The gates open and through them rush the Troupe, in sailor outfits. They enter into a typical song and dance routine. NELL is accompanying them on the piano. (This can be real or mimed) )

All the Troupe (singing) 'I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside' Glover-Kind: arr Andrew Carter

(After the applause Nell leads into the 'Easter Parade' melody)

Now our show is ended, we hope we've not offended
We've tried to bring some laughter to these dark and dismal times.
Hitler, Goering, Goebbels, the leaders of our foe
Bells will ring out when they're punished for their gross inhuman crimes.

(Into 'Always be an England' theme)

There'll always be an England, and England shall be free
If England means as much to you as England means to me.

(They wave their Union Jacks, a big photo of the King and Queen is unfurled, they move to each side and acknowledge the photo, applauding, and NELL crashes a drum chord on the piano. They all spring to attention)

God save our gracious King,
Long live our noble...

(All the lights fail. There is confusion on stage)

Belvedere (shouts) Oh not again! Another penny in the meter, Jack! Once more unto the breech, dear friends...

Tad It'll be the Power Station again. They're taking all the coal for munitions...

Vi So people in Germany are being bombed with coal...

Pat (patiently) No dear. What Tad means is...

Peggy (emotionally) This damn war. Oh dear God, if only...

(The lights come up. TAD is caught about to kiss an unsuspecting PAT on the cheek. He scuttles back. The troupe hastily reassemble and attempt the National Anthem, unaccompanied, in various different keys. GEORGE and ELAINE come down stage, shield their eyes and peer into the auditorium)

George (waving his arms) There’s no point in God Saving the King. They’ve all gone.

Elaine (bitterly) All thirty of them. There’s gratitude. When George and I were at the Kilburn Empire... (They’re all making their way into the wings)

Belvedere (haughtily) Or I at Stratford-upon-Avon...

(There is a violent explosion)

Vi There goes Big Bertha again. I wonder what we’re firing at this time. (She crosses to the piano and collects NELL) Come on love, time for a nice cup of tea. (The others have left)

Nell (despairingly) Oh Vi, what’s to become of us all? We can’t go on like this. If only Masters was still alive. He’d have known what to do. I feel quite desiccated.

Vi Devastated.

Nell That too. (They exit. There is a scream from PAT backstage)

(TABS CLOSE as the air raid alert sounds)

(ELAINE props herself up, watching them)

Elaine Coo-ee.

Nell (to ELAINE, unperturbed) Come down soon, dear. (to PAT) It's lucky she doesn't suffer from verdigris. What's this about you two being followed? And why take two weeks to tell me?

Pat I’m sorry, Nell. We felt such fools. We didn’t believe it but now we’re certain.

Nell I’ll need to look into this.

Vi It must have been horrid.

Pat It was really frightening, Vi. We were sure we were being followed but every time we looked around no-one was there.

Peggy Definitely spooky. We always walked faster and faster which, in the blackout and on this rickety pier, is frightening enough without feeling there’s someone behind you. (She and PAT exit rear)

Nell (shouts offstage) Can you give us some more light, Jack?

(During this MARVO has been fluttering around trying to hush them. NELL shushes him and nudges the suspended ELAINE)

Nell Alright, dear? No nasty accidents like last night? (She and VI pull back the side curtains as the main stage lights come on. This reveals two stage hands (JACK +1) holding up ELAINE’s board)

Vi You can let her down now, boys. We’ve got a meeting on the stage so can you clear all this away please? (MARVO is wildly signaling to NELL)

Nell What’s Marvo trying to say, Elaine love?

Elaine I’d rather not say exactly, Nell, but in a nutshell he’s unhappy to have his rehearsal ruined and he would like you all to go away. (she exits)

Vi Or words to that effect judging by his attitude...

(BELVEDERE and TAD saunter in. The stage is cleared)

Belvedere (rather grandly) I am not in the habit of being summoned to the theatre at this unearthly hour of the morning. I remember Henry Irving saying...

Tad What’s up, cocks? Can’t stay long. I’ve got silk undies and stockings to flog at the camp. (licks fingers) Know what I mean?

Vi Right everyone. Grab a chair or something. Nell’s got important things to say.

(They all sit on something. BELVEDERE is hidden behind a newspaper which he starts to read)

Nell Where are our song-birds, George and Elaine?

Belvedere I’ve just passed them, Nell. They’re off to practice somewhere. (lowers paper) They’re furious. Two drunken sailors in the audience last night said their singing sounded like a couple of parrots fighting. (resumes reading)

Tad There was this parrot flying...

Vi (seeing a joke coming: crushingly) They often do...

Tad (not put off) flying first class in an airliner. "Give me a whisky, fatface" he says to the steward – and he gets one. A nearby passenger has been trying to get the steward’s attention for some time without any luck...

Belvedere (lowers paper) Do we have to go on listening to this?

Tad ...he says to the parrot. The parrot replies: "If you want a drink, do as I do". And he shouts: "Hey, fatface, another whisky". The passenger joins in. "And a large one for me, fatface," he shouts. Enraged, the steward opens the plane door and throws them out. As they plunge towards the earth the parrot looks at the passenger and says (licks fingers) "That was a daft thing to say for someone who can’t fly!" Know what I mean?

(There’s silence all round)

Belvedere (again lowers paper – feelingly) Now we know why the houses each night are so poor.

Nell And that’s why I’ve called this meeting. Vi, give a shout for the others, dearie.

Vi (shouts off-stage) Peggy, Pat, George, Elaine.....

(GEORGE comes on from backstage followed by ELAINE)

Belvedere Ah, the Great Caruso...

Tad And his girl Friday. (they all groan) What’s the matter? Robinson Crusoe and...

George Shut up, Tad. Nell’s looking serious.

(PAT and PEGGY enter. PEGGY’s been crying)

Vi All present and correct, Nell.

Belvedere I wouldn’t call Tad correct in any respect. (TAD is busy ogling PAT who reacts, as always, disgustedly)

Nell Right, dears, stop bickering. If Masters was here you’d be watching your Ps and carrots.

Vi Qs dear. They certainly would.

Nell He wouldn’t stand prefabrication from anyone. (sighs) And he’d have an answer to the pickle we’re in.

(It emerges during the meeting that Peggy’s plight is by no means their only problem. Vi reports that she’s received two phone calls; one from the local council who don’t want to renew their lease on the theatre and the other from the services entertainment unit, ENSA, who are considering sending them to the front line to entertain the troops. Both will come to the theatre and assess the show. The stand-up comedian, Tad, has a cunning plan...)

Tad Well, the answer’s simple. Put on a magnificent performance for the Council and a terrible one for ENSA.

George Which means the lease is renewed...

Elaine And ENSA leave us alone.

Nell (enthusiastically) Munificent. Well done, Tad. Are we agreed? (general agreement)

Peggy (tearfully) Thank you.

(They all get up and start to leave. PAT, VI and ELAINE comfort PEGGY. NELL taps MARVO, who is dressed in his eastern stage outfit, on the shoulder)

Nell Oh, and Marvo, if you must wear an afghan in your act, at least have it at a decent length. Your uncle’s looks ridiculous. (They look at his bare ankles below his robe) The rest of you, rehearse and rehearse. Good and bad routines. Remember, good for the Council, bad for ENSA. (As she leaves the stage she looks back at them) A life depends on it.

(MARVO pulls up his kaftan, inspects his bare ankles and leaves angrily)

Tad An afghan? This time she’s really got me. Know what I mean?

Vi (wearily) She means kaftan.

Belvedere Ah, a garment of the mysterious east.

Tad Probably means he bought it in Ipswich.

(Blackout)

(There is a commotion at the auditorium door. Two soldiers escort a familiar figure dressed in black overcoat and homburg hat, sporting a large cigar. He is brought to a centre front seat. He gives his famous V sign to the audience.

Vi comes through the tabs with her "Finale" board. She sees Mr Churchill, reacts, curtseys deeply and retires. There is a short pause. We hear excited chatter behind the tabs.

The introduction to "We'll Meet Again" starts as the tabs open. The stage is set with the seaside scene (Act 1 Scene 1) and the troupe are dressed in outdoor clothes - overcoats, scarves, hats, gloves etc. They sing the first 16 bars of the chorus and then hum the next 16 bars as they mingle and say goodbye to each other. Kisses, hugs, handshakes - it's an emotional farewell.

They then move to the front of the stage in a group. Lighting changes add piquancy to the occasion as they sing the song through to its end. Mr Churchill comes forward and congratulates them, shaking hands with some. He leaves through the auditorium as they all applaud.

Then they leave through the auditorium bidding a last farewell to NELL, who stays at the edge of the stage.

Through the auditorium come three armed British soldiers. As NELL starts to close the tabs (apparently by hand) they roughly stop her. They move to the back of the stage, break open the centre doors with their rifle butts. As two stand guard each side of the doorway the third goes through. We see him smashing with his rifle butt and hear breaking glass. NELL sadly closes the tabs and takes a final look at the auditorium and leaves through the audience. The lights dim to black.)