NELLIE Oh, that picture was taken before I knew what rain and heat and mud could do to your disposition. But it isn’t rainy today. Gosh, it’s beautiful here. Just look at that yellow sun! You know, I don’t think it’s the end of the world like everyone else thinks. I can’t work myself up to getting that low. (He smiles) Do you think I’m crazy too? They all do over at the fleet hospital. You know what they call me? Knucklehead Nellie. I suppose I am, but I can’t help it. (She sings)

When the sky is a bright canary yellow
I forget every cloud I’ve ever seen—
So they call me a cockeyed optimist,
Immature and incurably green!

I have heard people rant and rave and bellow 
That we’re done and we might as well be dead—
But I’m only a cockeyed optimist
And I can’t get it into my head.

I hear the human race Is falling on its face
And hasn’t very far to go,
But every whippoorwill
Is selling me a bill
And telling me it just ain’t so!

I could say life is just a bowl of jello
And appear more intelligent and smart
But I’m stuck (Like a dope!)
With a thing called hope,
And I can’t get it out of my heart … Not this heart!

  (She walks over to him, speaking the next line)

Want to know anything else about me?

EMILE Yes. You say you are a fugitive. When you joined the Navy, what were you running away from?

  (He returns the clipping to her)

NELLIE Gosh, I don’t know. It was more like running to something. I wanted to see what the world was like outside Little Rock, I mean. And I wanted to meet different kinds of people and find out if I like them better. And I’m finding out.

Happy New Year, everybody!

The cockeyed optimist in me says that this year will be better than last year. Well, I’m stuck (like a dope!) with a thing called hope.