Grace Memorization Flashcards
1:2 (Agnes) How do you do, Miss Banker?
Welcome to the Bell team, Agnes. We’ll have you up to speed in no time.
1:2 (Morris) You’re in good hands, Miss Coleman. Miss Banker is one of the most experienced chiefs we’ve ever had. She’s been here three years, if you can believe that.
It’s really not such a long time. Mr. Morris has been here almost six years… in the same post.
1:2 (Morris) Luckily, Miss Banker doesn’t seem to be leaving us anytime soon. And at this point she’s trained almost everyone here.
You’d think they would have made me a traffic supervisor by now!
1:2 (Morris) Haha… Miss Banker is joking. Our supervisors are all men, of course.
In New York. Chicago and San Francisco both have female supervisors now.
1:2 (Agnes) You must really like it here.
Most days. Now, let me show you the boards.
1:2 (Agnes) Excuse me, Miss Banker?
Yes, Agnes?
1:2 (Agnes) A call just came in… for you!
Oh! I’ll take it over here. Suzanne, you know you shouldn’t call me at when were working…
1:2 (Suzanne) But this is important!
What is it?
1:2 (Suzanne) Did you see the add in the paper today? They want operators to send to France!
Who does?
1:2 (Suzanne) The Army, Grace!
So… they want us to train the troops?
1:2 (Suzanne) No, they want us to be the troops. To serve as operators… over there!
Listen, Suzanne-
1:2 (Suzanne) Grace, you have to do this!
Why?
1:2 (Suzanne) Because I’m doing this. Come on-it’ll be an adventure!
It’s war, Suzanne, not a sightseeing expedition.
1:2 (Suzanne) I know. And we all have to do our bit. But girls like us- we aren’t cut out for tending victory gardens. How many times have you told me you wished you could be doing something more?
I have been known to say that.
1:2 (Suzanne) And, you know how I knew this was meant for us? The ad in the paper says you gotta speak French! They need the operators to be able to translate.
But I haven’t spoken French since college.
1:2 (Suzanne) Mademoiselle Banker! Ne sois pas une poule mouillee.
… what?
1:2 (Suzanne) You know perfectly well what I said! Grace, you always do this. You think of all the reasons why not, and I have to be the one to talk you into it. Remember the summer we both got pompadours?
That was a terrible idea.
1:2 (Suzanne) But this isn’t. Tu dois avoir la foi, mon amie…
I must have the goose liver?
1:2 (Suzanne) Not fois gras… la fois! Didn’t you major in french?
Actually, I was double major- French and History.
1:4 (Riser) A Civilian does not salute.
Oh! I’m sorry…
1:4 (Riser) Have a seat. Miss Banker, you’re one of the most experienced operators we’ve had apply. College educated… promoted to Chief within two years… a glowing recommendation from your boss.
Really?
1:4 (Riser) “There is no on I would more enthusiastically recommend for service overseas,”
Mr. Morris and I have always had a special rapport.
1:4 (Riser) And lieutenant Wessen tells me that you even helped improve our screening process.
Yes, well… when you have a four-part process, it doesn’t really make sense to keep one girl waiting until the girl ahead of her has finished all four parts.
1:4 (Riser) An efficiency expert, I’m begining to understand how your team members are able to connect… three hundred calls per hour.
That’s on average. It’s higher during peak hours-
1:4 (Riser) On the other hand, your french is rather poor.
I know I’m a bit rusty. But it’s coming back more and more.
1:4 (Riser) Miss Banker, forgive me if this seems abrupt, but we’re near the end of our process, and we’ve already selected most of the women for our first unit.
I understand, and I only ask that I be given the chance to re-apply for the Second Unit.
1:4 (Riser) The Second Unit?
If the Army needs more operators. I know I can do better.
1:4 (Riser) Miss Banker- I don’t think you understand. We want you to head up the First Unit.
To head it up?
1:4 (Riser) Chief operator. It’s the same job you’ve been doing for Bell, only now you’ll do it for the Army. That is, If you accept the post…
Oh! I… well, what would I have to do- no, that doesn’t matter. I accept!
1:4 (Riser) AND THATS A LIEUT
Loot?
1:4 (Riser) There will be thirty-three women- twenty-eight operators, reporting to four supervisors, reporting to one Chief. That’s you.
And I report to you?
1:4 (Riser) Correct.
And are you in charge of anyone except me?
1:4 (Riser) No.
That seems odd.
1:4 (Riser) A LADIES’ SWITCHBOARD UNIT NUMBER ONE
You don’t think it’s a good idea?
1:4 (Riser) My opinion doesn’t matter here, Miss Banker. That’s the beauty of of the army. If my commanding officer tells me to train a group of women as soldiers - I don’t need to think about whether that’s advisable or even possible. I do it. And if he asks me sharpen begonais into bayonets, I would do that too.
Lieutenant, I’m sure that women who’ve been chosen for this unit won’t be a delicate flowers, if that’s what you’re implying. And I’m sure we wouldn’t want to be treated any differently than the men.
1:4 (Riser) Chief Banker, see that this gets sorted out. I’ll leave you to it.
All right, ladies! I know it’s been a busy few weeks… and we’re all looking forward to a day off tomorrow. But we still have the afternoon, and there are ways we can all improve! Operator LeBreton, you were out of step in the drill - remember, left foot first. Operator Hunt, I’d like Operator Prevot to coach you on the boards - there are tricks to connect the lines faster. And everyone, please study those French exchange tables! We need to know their network like the back of our hand. Let’s meet back here in one hour - Yes Operator Hunt -
1:4 (Suzanne) Don’t be silly. Women aren’t allowed to vote.
All right now, everyone! I think we should stick to the plan. Let’s split up and re-assemble for a practice run in one hour. And , operator Hill, please come see me privately. Company, dismissed. When do you think your uniform will be ready, Helen?
1:4 (Helen) Well… it’s ready now… but there’s a problem. I- I don’t have any money, Miss Banker!
They can take it out of your salary, can’t they? That’s what they did for mine.
1:4 (Helen) ……. And I can’t even afford a train ticket home…
Shhhh, shhh… it’ll be okay, Helen. We’ll make sure you get your uniform.
1:4 (Helen) You will…?
I promise. Let’s go see the quartermaster - I have an idea about what we can do…
1:6 (Riser) AND INVITING JUNIOR OFFICERS TO TURKEY TROT MAKES MATTERS WORSE!
Lieutenant Riser, I take full responsibility, and it won’t happen again-
1:6 (Louise) And it wasn’t the Turkey Trot. Nobody does that anymore.
Louise! He doesn’t care what kind of dance it was!
1:6 (Riser) Oh, and one more thing. Before you board, we’ll need you to swear the army oath.
But weren’t we sworn in before? At the recruitment center?
1:6 (Riser) If you really meant it, it won’t hurt to say it twice. Especially the part about obeying the orders of the officers appointed above you.
I, Grace Banker, do solemnly swear bear true allegiance to the United States of America , and to serve them honestly and faithfully, against all their enemies or opposer whatsoever, and to observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States of America, and the orders of the officers appointed over me.
1:6 (Suzanne) There it is.
No turning back now.
1:6 (WOMEN) SEE YOU ON THE THE OTHER SIDE…
Bertha, you know we’re not allowed to keep diaries.
1:6 (Bertha) This isn’t a diary. It’s un journal.
We’re already on thin ice with Lieutenant Riser. If he finds out-
1:6 (Bertha) He’s never going to come in here again. He’s terrified of accidentally seeing us in our petticoats.
Well… that’s true. I’ve never seen a face turn that shade of red before! But if your diary ever fell into enemy hands-
1:6 (Bertha) The Germans would learn more than they ever wanted to know about ma digestion.
It’s just that we can’t make any more mistakes. We’re the first women ever to do something like this.
1:6 (Bertha) That’s exactly why someone has to write it down!
I’m sorry, Bertha. We have to do things by the book.
1:6 (Helen) Of course, The Brittanic was sunk by a mine, not a torpedo-
Helen, I think we’ve all had enough facts about ships, thank you.
1:6 (Man 1 and 3) SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE…
He’s been overly friendly with several of us - asking a lot of questions.
1:6 (Suzanne) “Where are you going to be stationed? What kind of equipment are you using?”
You told us to let you know if we encountered anything suspicious, sir. And, well… we think he might be a spy.
1:6 (Matterson) Yes, sir.
This is how much you trust us? After all the screening we went through just to get here?
1:7 (Suzanne) How much farther to Paris? It feels like we’ve been traveling forever.
We’ll get there. Tu dois avoir la fois, mon amie.
1:7 (Suzanne) I have faith in you. Just maybe not Lieutenant Riser. And definitely not that rat Matterson.
I’m sure Lieutenant was only trying to do what he thought was best.
1:7 (Suzanne) How can you defend him?
I’m not! I just… once we have the chance to prove ourselves, he’ll come around. He’s not the enemy, Suzanne.
1:7 (Helen) Oh! - Devrions-nous parler francais maintenant?
Ils ne te laisseront pas faire, Louise.
1:7 (1st Doughboy) Did I say it wrong?
Sorry, we don’t know when it gets there.
1:7 (Louise) Sure. We’re in the Signal Corps.
We’re telephone operators.
1:7 (2nd Doughboy) I think he wants you to answer…
Number, please.
1:8 (Riser) Captain Ackerson is the O.I.C. at this exchange. This is Chief operator, Grace Banker.
I’m sorry- what does O.I.C. stand for?
1:8 (Riser) Officer in Charge.
Oh, I see.
1:8 (Riser) Officer. In. Charge.
I got it.
1:8 (Ackerson) And how do you like working with good ole’ Riser here, Chief Banker?
He’s the best O.I.C. I’ve ever had. Really makes sure he knows everything about everything.
1:8 (Ackerson) I don’t doubt it! He and I go all the way back to the academy, you know…
Really? I’d love to hear about it some time.
1:8 (Dempsey) Long distance. Please hold…
Excuse me, but… why are there so many calls on hold here?
1:8 (Dempsey) Glad to meet you, Miss Banker! Now that you ladies are here, I can go back where I belong - twenty feet up a telephone pole.
I was just wondering why you have all of those calls holding…
1:8 (Dempsey) There’s a bit of a backup. I’m waiting on Amiens for an English operator.
You don’t speak French?
1:8 (Dempsey) Not well enough! With these local operators - the accent can be quite a challenge!
So why don’t you clear these other calls while you’re waiting?
1:8 (Officer) Telephone and Telegraph Detachments. We value speed and efficiency, so we use a lot of abbreviations.
Well this is my first time at a TTD, but at AT&T our SOP was: connect every call ASAP.
1:8 (Dempsey) Still no English-speaking operators available!
May I?
1:8 (Dempsey) Like a concert pianist settling in…
Page 50 monologue
1:8 (Dempsey) You know… Pershing might be onto something with these girls! (explosion)
What was that?
1:8 (Riser) It sounded like it was only a couple blocks from here!
Was it a bomb?
1:8 (Riser) Did you boys hear that whining sound, just before the explosion? It sounded like a shell.
You mean artillery?
1:10 scene begins
Dear father and mother: I hope this letter finds you both well. I miss you a great deal, but I know you would be proud of the work we are doing. We’ve been assigned to General Pershing’s headquarters and are settling into our new accommodations. My team is working hard.
1:10 (Louise) Eeeeee! General Pershing just asked me for the time!
Miss Le Breton! Follow me, please…
1:10 (Louise) But, Miss Banker, he really did call!
If General Pershing were in residence, our office would have been notified.