Original subtitles

ASTON: Welcome to Dudley!

GLASS SMASHES —- HERBERT: Oi! Go back to Africa!

MRS BISWAS: Aston mentioned there were children?

LEAH: They'll be here soon.

You look like a movie star.

There are auditions happening | could put in a good word.

MRS BISWAS: This must be the mail order bride?

I'm actually here to assess a potential husband.

Siobhan. I'm the nanny for the Hawksleys. —- CHANTRELLE LAUGHS

MOB SHOUTS —- LEAH SCREAMS

LEAH: | don't take kindly to the way you're talkin' to me.

SHELTON: So, you not enjoying my company?

LEAH: Like it or not, we're staying.

SHE LAUGHS

You think you better than me? Think again.

You think you bad? —- Come on then, Chantrelle.

Ow! Leah!

What you do that for? Ow!

I'm going to tell Mamma. You kick me! That's cheating!

Ow!

Pretty, pretty gal like you two shouldn't bother y'selves with football.

Come on.

You get out of the mud.

CHANTRELLE LAUGHS

What you doin' round here? Mumma Gladys don't--

Jus' watching the game.

Your outfit look good.

| make all our clothes.

Mumma Gladys says I'm the best dress maker in Clarendon.

That's why I'm goin' to Kingston. To be a seamstress.

CHANTRELL: Ow!

Ow!

Oh. You need to ice that or you will bruise

especially with fair skin like yours.

| have a towel an' some ice water in me truck.

Mm-mm. We have dem things at home.

Come, baby sis, go in.

But we never finish the game!

The game?

Game done now.

MEN CLAMOUR —- LEAH LAUGHS

THEY CHEER - WHISTLE BLOWS

Come on!

Let's go. You see that? Yeah, man.

WHISTLE BLOWS

So, your lads are doing well.

Hm. You should see us play cricket.

| thought the idea was "Hands across the sea"?

Didn't we agree that the teams would be integrated?

The idea was for them to play with who they felt most comfortable.

The sides picked themselves.

Yeah, you won't be winning for long.

We did invent the game. —- HE LAUGHS

Care to take a wager on that, Mr Blake?

No gambling on factory premises, Mr Claude.

HE SUCKS HIS TEETH

PLAYERS SHOUT

Pass! Go, go! Go!

Go on!

Here, here, here!

Come on!

THEY CHEER - WHISTLE BLOWS

Get in!

Referee! You blind?

Alright.

WHISTLE BLOWS

Referee!

Come on, come through, come through!

Shoot, shoot!

Pass!

THEY GRUNT

WHISTLE BLOWS — Foul!

You can't do that, ref!

MEN CLAMOUR

Come on, Leah. - Come now, Leah!

FENCE RATTLES

THEY CHEER

HOSANNA CHUCKLES

CARIBBEAN PLAYERS CHANT: Shelton! Shelton! Shelton!

MAN ON PA: Alright, that's time. We need all workers back to their stations, please.

So, Clarendon girls play football too? HE CHUCKLES

That's a thing | never know.

We do many things you don't know.

Well, I'd like to find out about these things. So...

why don't we go out sometime?

I'm not sure about...

| mean, | only just arrive in England, y'know?

We could just go for a walk, or something like that.

A walk?

Yeah, man.

Take in some fresh air. Make conversation.

That don't sound too bad.

Why don't | think about it?

Don't take too long.

CHANTRELLE: # Bye-bye happiness #

# Hello loneliness #

# Think I'm gonna cry #

# Bye-bye love #

# Bye-bye sweet caress #

# Hello emptiness #

# I feel like | could die #

# Bye-bye, my love #

# Goodbye #

SIOBHAN: You've got a strong voice.

Oh!

Like in the musicals or somethin’.

That's church.

Back home, you have to sing loud enough to drown out the old people.

THEY LAUGH

CHILDREN PLAY IN DISTANCE

He's got his eye on you then?

He's not so bad, y'know?

He say he might be able to get me an audition at Borehamwood Studios.

Ah, that's great.

Do you wanna be in the films?

An actress?

Well, | want more than this.

| want to be a star.

| want...

Look...

it's tough doing what we do.

They've no idea, right?

You just keep believin' in yourself.

And if you ever need to talk to anyone, I'm here, OK?

Thank you. - CHILD CRIES FAINTLY

DISTANT SHOUTING

LEAH: Four pound.

A whole week.

| Know. It's bad, right?

Aston never say nuthin’ about taxation and benefits. This is daylight robbery!

Mm-hm.

Shelton. Y'alright?

Yeah, man.

They say you mash up the football pitch. SHE CHUCKLES

We missed you at lunchtime.

| make you lickle chicken, rice an' peas an' dumplin'. Hm.

Big food for a big man.

Thank you.

Enjoy.

Mm. Yeah, man.

LEAH: Hm.

How am | supposed to afford the children's fares

and somewhere for us all to live with this lickle pittance!

You know, that's why | respect the Indian people, dem.

Them family unite and invest money in each other.

That's true. We should do a pardner scheme! Like the people back home.

Pool what we save, pay the fares and eventually buy our own house.

HOSANNA: Jeremiah 29.

"Build the houses and live in them, plant the gardens and eat their produce."

You talkin' farm land, that's crazy money.

A whole heap o' money.

Alright? So, listen, anybody here want to join a new pardner scheme?

Come.

Right.

Mrs Wantage, is everything alright?

In future, Chantrelle, please don't stick unframed pictures onto the bedroom waill.

SHE SCOFFS

It makes the place look cheap.

Oh!

My wife should win a gold medal for diplomacy.

Is there some kinda problem?

No, there's no problem, Chantrelle. Just trying to sort your door out for you.

There's a good deal of woodworm down at the bottom here.

I'll take it down to the shed and give it a good going over.

Mr Wantage, I'm not sure why you need to take--

| came up here last night to tell you that I'd arranged a warm welcome for you

at Borehamwood Studios.

But, when | tried the door...

it jammed.

I'd rather you just leave my door where it is.

Ah!

But, it's not your door, is it?

It's mine.

My door.

My house.

My...

responsibility to mend it for you.

The good news is the studio are expecting you tomorrow.

Mr Posner came up trumps.

I'll give you a lift. It's first thing.

Diana will be with her sister at one of their famous breakfasts.

I'll Keep you company.

HE WHISTLES HAPPILY

MUSIC: "Honey Love" by The Drifters

PEOPLE CHATTER

Hello, mate. — How's it going?

Very well. - You alright?

ALL: Cheers.

Right. So, every payday we put a chunk of our wages in

and every week, one person gets to draw it all down.

You put in one pound, come payday, one of us wi' draw down say ten pound!

The more people in the pardner, the bigger the draw down.

What? — HOSANNA: That is serious money.

| don't trust these ragamuffin saving schemes.

Back home, people just teef the money an' gone.

Nobody doin' that here. We just lookin' for independence.

Our own houses, enough food on the table, clothes on our backs.

Without all the banking foolishness.

ASTON: Yes, man. Hosanna, | can see it now.

Soon we'll have enough for our very own lickle love nest and start a family.

HE LAUGHS

| been beggin 'dem for a council house for the past five years.

I'm always the last in line.

Listen, if we wait for this country to treat us like everybody else

we'll be livin' an’ sleepin’ in the same room till we dead!

She just reach from Jamaica. What she know?

SHELTON: Ease up now, Bernadette.

We have to support each other, yes?

ASTON: Anybody else?

MAN: Yes, sir. —- MR CLAUDE: Alright, people.

If we go do it, come make we jus' do it. Leah, have good intentions.

Alright.

LEAH: This is good. Alright.

Good luck. All you need.

Hosanna?

SHELTON: Miss Leah?

So, uh, how about we take that walk?

LEAH: I'd like that, but...

Aston and Hosanna only just leave.

Don't worry 'bout them.

Can tek the long way home. It's a beautiful night tonight.

SHE CHUCKLES

Alright.

But, um...

you go first.

If we leave together, it'll be in the Jamaican Daily Gleaner come breakfast time.

HE CHUCKLES

# If you wanna get along with me #

# (If you wanna get along) #

SHE EXHALES

QUIET CHATTER

# Well, / ain't jivin' you, honey #

# You better give up some money #

# If you wanna get along with me #

SHELTON: All those years here, I've never seen those before.

LEAH LAUGHS

This is near where we run from them Teddy Boys.

Crazy Shed Lady lives around here somewhere.

"Crazy Shed Lady"?

After she was so nice to us, that's what you want to call her?

She find two Jamaicans hiding in her shed and behave like that was normal?

Mumma Gladys woulda shoot first and ask question sometime next week.

HE LAUGHS

These people live better than we do.

Could fit three families in a house like that.

Well, wait till you see the houses on the other side of town.

Mm.

Wow.

Look here now.

How nice the man keep him car.

Why... you could eat you dinner off them seats.

Probably disinfect dem first.

HE LAUGHS

It's good to see you laugh like that.

We Jamaicans forget to enjoy ourselves sometimes.

All of us thinkin' this country much better than back home.

Only by this much. — Hm.

So, how about we take a proper date one weekend, hm?

Maybe catch a movie?

| don't know about that, Shelton.

What don't you know, Leah?

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

SHELTON: Evening, Bernadette. Are you on your way home?

Just takin' the night air.

Right.

Where in Jamaica you from? | feel | Know you.

Uh, I'm from Clarendon.

Ey-ey!

We're Fort George, just up the road from you.

You still have family there?

No, everybody here now.

| thought you said your mother was still there?

Yes. That's right.

Mumma Gladys, still in Clarendon.

Well, it's late. | better get myself home.

Goodnight.

Come on.

It wasn't nastiness. | was talking about our own home.

"Love nest"!

That's what you say, in a public house, in front of everybody.

Daddy would have been shocked.

I'm sorry.

It won't happen again.

HOSANNA: It better not, Aston Brahms.

Still don't mek up my mind about you.

Just cos you send that ticket for me, don't mean you get to punch it just yet!

LEAH: Hey, Hosanna. You good?

HOSANNA: Talk to your brother.

What happen?

You look like you just see a duppy.

Hosanna just remind me she can leave any blasted time she want.

Aston.

She just frighten.

And you should be too.

If you an’ she don't click, | promised to escort her all the way home

and | don't want that.

This has to work.

It's like... she get mad every time | open me blasted mouth.

| don't know what to do.

It cost a fortune to get her here.

| might have to send her back one piece at atime.

Stop your foolishness.

Why you don't tek her to Birmingham tomorrow?

Go window shopping. Spend time and get to know each other.

That can work.

Hosanna won't say it

but it's not just Chantrelle who wants to be treated like a princess.

Leah...

You always know what to do.

MOMMA GLADYS: Leah!

COW MOOS — Leah!

Child, you listenin’ to me?

Don't forget when you finish milkin’, you have to pick the yam, an’ sweet potato

pick some kalaloo. An’ after that | beg you kill one of them chicken dem for dinner.

GOAT BLEATS

An' mek sure you sweep out h'every corner of the house.

Y'hear me child?

SHE CHUCKLES - EPHRAIM: Where Chantrelle gone?

| don't see her around lately.

Dress makin’ in Kingston.

EPHRAIM: | thought you was the dressmaker?

There's more for me at home than there is for Chantrelle.

She learnin' a trade.

She lucky she find a way out of here.

Mm-hm.

COW GROANS

You have a decent grip.

Not too tight.

Just firm, y'know?

The cow look happy.

I'd be happy.

So, | see you running the place around here when your mother's not around.

That's all you see?

| see you.

You're not just some country girl.

You strong, but you have style.

And you work hard.

Look...

| have a lickle farm down the road.

And big plans.

And I'd rather do it wid somebody.

| have my own work to do.

And Momma needs me.

HE SCOFFS

Your mother strong to back foot!

THEY LAUGH -— | hear she fightin’ Marciano next week!

Ah... Let me help you now.

Come anywhere near the house and Momma will beat you.

That's a risk I'm prepared to take.

THEY CHUCKLE

SHE GASPS

SIOBHAN: What's going on? —- Mr Wantage took off my bedroom door.

It don't feel right. | feel--

Oh, come inside.

CHANTRELLE WHIMPERS — It's OK.

Oh, come on.

CHANTRELLE SIGHS

SHE SNIFFLES

| can't believe | got an audition.

I'm nervous.

Don't be.

Just imagine you're Elizabeth Taylor.

The thing is...

Mr Wantage say he want to take me down there.

Oh, you don't have to do that, Chantrelle.

What choice do | have?

So, | will just curl up in that chair over there.

You have a spare blanket?

Chantrelle, don't be silly, you can sleep next to me.

I've six sisters! We were packed in like sardines every night.

LEAH: We nearly kissed last night.

CHANTRELLE ON PHONE: And?

LEAH: It was...

| Know it was wrong and...

CHANTRELLE: Oh, my God, Leah tell me now.

It was beautiful.

"Beautiful."

You nearly kiss him and you happy?

You not totally disappointed?

Hang on. "Is that the madhouse? | have a patient for you, she soon come!"

Stop your noise.

SO...

what does Shelton think about Ephraim and the children back home?

LEAH: He don't need to know anyting about that.

So, you lie to him? Why, you are the livin' Jamaican Pinocchio!

SHE LAUGHS

Oh, Hosanna wan' say hello.

Don't say nuthin’ 'bout this, you know what she's like.

Chantrelle? Blessings. How you do?

Hosanna, this is nice. Y'alright?

Your big brother is takin' me to Birmingham today. Window shoppin’.

SHE LAUGHS How much window you goin' buy?

What you mean? — CHANTRELLE LAUGHS

You good, Hosanna, you know? Have a nice day in Birmingham.

HOSANNA: The Lord will provide. God bless and keep you.

PHONE LINE BEEPS — Thank you.

COIN CLUNKS

| can't tell Hosanna any ting 'bout Shelton.

She'd say it was a disgrace, and maybe she right.

Anyhow, nuthin' happen and nuthin's goin' to happen.

CHANTRELLE: Listen, sis.

This is your time. You need to loosen up.

Enjoy yourseff. The children coming ‘ere is in the future.

And right now, if this Shelton wants to give you, mm, a squeeze

then let him squeeze you, yes?

So, wha! 'bout you? Y'find yourself a fancy man yet?

No, but...

I'd like to, you know?

Someone that's really nice.

“Really nice?" That don't sound like you.

You prefer man with big car, big house, big wallet.

PHONE LINE BEEPS — Lord God, the money run out!

Oh, but, Leah, | never tell you, | get an audition!

That's fantastic! Good luck!

| miss you.

LINE DISCONNECTS

MUSIC: "Blue Moon" by Billie Holiday

# Blue moon #

# You saw me standing alone #

# Without a dream in my heart #

# Without a love of my own... #

Where you goin'? — Town. You have an audition to get to.

Mr Wantage is driving me.

Oh, that's not happening. We'll get the bus.

I'll take you to the stop. Come on.

Alright. — Grand.

THEY LAUGH

# Blue moon #

BICYCLE BELL RINGS

Can | have those, please? Yeah, those ones.

Thank you very much. — Thank you, sir.

There you go. For a beautiful lady.

Come on. You hungry?

INDISTINCT CHATTER

Come, make we go inside. No harm lookin', after all.

OK.

SHOP BELL JINGLES

SHE SIGHS Oh, wow.

WOMAN CHATTERS

Madame. | can see you're in love.

SHE CHUCKLES — With the dress.

Why don't we make all your dreams come true, eh?

SHE SNAPS HER FINGERS

MUSIC: "Isn't This A Lovely Day?" By Ella Fitzgerald

Excuse me, Miss.

Chantrelle Brahms.

Straight through, Miss.

# ...seem to be having their way #

# But as far as I'm concerned... #

BELL RINGS — And cut!

# ...it's a lovely day #

# The turn in the weather #

# Will Keep us together #

# So | can honestly say #

# That as far as I'm concerned #

# It's a lovely day #

# And everything's OK #

DOOR CLOSES

ASSISTANT: Chantrelle Brahms?

That's me.

I'm the new Dorothy Dandridge.

Think Marilyn Monroe but prettier.

# It's a lovely day #

SHE EXHALES

You ask why they are to be married?

| will answer.

She was first crowned Queen of the Scots at nine months old.

Poor thing.

As a newborn, they attempted to wed her to Edward, young heir to the English throne.

Thankfully, a sane uncle pointed out that such a match--

Excuse me. Um...

You're Chantrelle Brahms?

Yes, sir.

Delighted to meet you.

| have half a page-- —- Miss Brahms, why are you here exactly?

| want to be in your film.

And a-a colleague make a telephone call to a Mr Posner in accounts

and ask him to organise this audition for me. Said it wouldn't be a problem

DIRECTOR: Whatever you've heard, young lady

Mr Posner is not in charge of casting and producing this film.

We are.

Look, I'm sure you're a sensation where you're from

but these auditions are for Ladies in Waiting various

for Mary Queen of Scots.

| don't believe there were any coloured ones.

You're not what we're looking for. Sorry.

SHE BREATHES SHAKILY

SHE SOBS GENTLY

DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES

HOSANNA: Aston, keep your eyes closed. I'll tell you when to open them.

ASTON: Blouse and skirt, you look good-- — Aston!

SHE SIGHS

There's a picture of my Mummy and Daddy on their wedding day.

This is just like her dress.

If I'm to marry anyone, I'd wear this dress.

Oh! And so you should.

It'll be the best £35 you've ever spent.

QUIETLY: Lord Jesus Christ! £35...

Madame, here.

Do you have some kind of purchase plan?

You see back home, we can, uh, make an arrangement

pay tings off piece, piece.

SALESPERSON: Right.

Let's get you out of that outfit, shall we? SHE CLICKS HER FINGERS

There are real customers here.

We are real customers!

I'll be with you momentarily, madame.

| don't understand.

You should try the market down the road.

Very colourful. Might be more your price range.

Hello, madame...

Listen, Hosanna, don't worry about it.

We will get you the dress you deserve.

| will work hard

and save enough money to come back and buy this shop.

And personally sack this hoity-toity

la—de-da, snooty battle axe.

Hosanna.

You can wear a duffel coat, with a coal bucket on your head

to me

you'd still look a million dollars.

| realise

life, my life...

would be poorer without you.

Aston, get up.

If you'll have me...

HE CHUCKLES | Know | am no Harry Belafonte...

but will you marry me?

Who needs Harry Belafonte?

He's on screen. You are flesh and blood. Of course | will marry you!

HE LAUGHS

Give me your finger.

Give me your hand. Give me your hand.

HOSANNA: OK!

You hear that? She said yes!

We're getting married!

Come on, Aston. We are leaving.

Um... the dress.

After | take off the dress. SHE CLEARS HER THROAT

PIANO PLAYS —- QUIET CHATTER

LEAH: Sorry to keep you waitin’.

I'm just glad you're here. We didn't exactly commit--

| said I'd think about it. | thought about it.

And now I'm here.

SHE CHUCKLES

FILM MUSIC PLAYS

| suppose you want some of my popcorn now?

Yes, man, hand it over.

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

What kind of audition was that?

They say Mr Posner have nuthin' to do wid dem.

Well, | did offer to take you.

If I'd have been there, | could have smoothed things over

made sure you had a fair hearing.

You took your friend instead.

When you write me, in Jamaica

you said | would be paid good money, as soon as | reach.

But Mrs Wantage say | don't get any money until she satisfied.

Well...

| can...

| can fix that for you...

if you fulfil your responsibilities to the children, to Diana

and to me.

| will make Sure you are paid in full.

DIANA: Thought you were going to make me a cup of tea?

MAN IN FILM: Open up there! Come on, open up!

What do you want? Hey! Here, what do you want?

AUDIENCE LAUGHS

| never thought I'd be jealous of a screen. - Shh!

| want to know what happens.

AUDIENCE LAUGHS

DRAMATIC MUSIC

SOLDIER IN FILM: Don't you know you'll be in trouble for being out if they catch you?

You alright?

WOMAN IN FILM SQUEALS

MAN IN AUDIENCE: Get your hands off!

DRAMATIC MUSIC

Leah! Hold on, I'm coming! - GUNSHOTS IN FILM

I'm comin’ with you.

Leah, wait.

Why he have to grab her up like that? Why they put that in the movie?

It's a war movie.

Maybe they just wanted to add something dangerous to spice it up.

A big man roughin' up a woman is not entertainment.

Not in my book, anyway.

| agree.

There is never a need for that kinda ting.

So.

Come, we go.

LEAH CHUCKLES

I'm sorry you miss the rest of the film.

Leah, that was the best part of the evening for me.

We should walk out of more films together.

Well... | think we have a little situation.

And what kind of situation would that be?

A "will you be my girl?" type of situation.

Oh!

Well, if that's the situation...

| think the answer has to be...

yes.

HE LAUGHS

BELL CHIMES

QUIET CHATTER

This arrived for you today.

MOMMA GLADYS: / hope you an' everybody doing well in England.

We're dying to hear any kind of news.

By the way, you good for nuthin' husband come round the other night.

Come on, old woman!

It's me, Ephraim.

| wan' see me pickney again.

HE BANGS ON DOOR

| should never have let Leah marry you.

You is a drunken, dutty little snake!

See, you children here?

EPHRAIM CHUCKLES

Oh.

Where you goin'?

It's me! Your father.

What happen?

She poison you against me?

Selah, come to your daddy!

| jus' want to-- — Hey, hey!

Come out of there!

HE GRUNTS

SHE SHOUTS ANGRILY

MOMMA GLADYS: /t’s good you run ‘way from him.

Don't worry, the children are safe with me.

But they miss you.

Please send for them soon.

You alright?

Your loving mother. Momma.

PS Tell Aston to send a barrel and some money, tings tough out here.

RUTH: She's here!

Leah, hurry up, Aston's waited so long he's got smoke comin’ out his ears.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

...clear out your system. Leah, you reach!

Good! HE CLAPS

Now... some of you know, that I've been in England for some years now.

MAN: Mm-hm.

And my sister, Leah

bring Hosanna to me, and she said

"This lady could be your wife."

And after one or two trials and tribulations...

We've decided to go ahead. All tings equal...

me an' Hosanna are gettin’ married!

THEY CHEER

Yes! — Congratulations.

Oh, Hosanna.

Thank you.

MRS BISWAS SPEAKS IN OWN LANGUAGE

Blessings, everybody.

This is a time to be surrounded by family and the people you love.

Mm-hm.

The bible says, "Love is patient and kind

love is not jealous or boastful

it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in right."

“Let us not love in words or speech

but in deed and in truth."

MR CLAUDE: Well said, Hosanna!

We hear some excellent words of wisdom.

It almost sound like a prayer.

Everybody, for Aston and Hosanna make me hear you say "Amen."

ALL: Amen!

I'm gonna do tings the right way, my darling.

| already write a letter to your daday, asking for your hand in marriage.

If you give me his address

I'll send it tomorrow.

THEY CHEER —- MR COOPER: G'wan, Aston!

ASTON: Stop it! —- Watch him now!

MRS BISWAS CHATTERS IN OWN LANGUAGE

Have some cake!

OK. And you can have just a little slice. But not me.

And you, Mr Cooper. Half a slice.

Bad for your health. You want to die? — MR COOPER: | want this!

RUTH: Hosanna, I'm really happy for you.

Thank you. | am happy too.

| think | would like it very much if you were a bridesmaid.

Will | wear a big dress with flowers and a veil?

No. That will be me. SHE CHUCKLES

DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES

Where Leah gone?

Uh... — Where you goin', Aston? We celebratin'.

| was, um... | was goin' for a lickle walk to clear me head, y'know?

Come let me help you. Come.

Don't, um... don't bother sending the letter to Daddy.

Why?

I'll do it. You just go for you walk.

Alright. ~ OK.

I'll see you later, yeah?

Where are you, Clementine?

Little Greydon?

BELL RINGS

Last orders, ladies and gents. Last orders, please.

SHELTON: Miss Leah.

What 'appen? You alright?

I'm married.

| have a husband back home and three children.

| beg your pardon?

I'm married and | have a husband-- - You have three children.

Three children.

You just said that.

LEAH: | know.

I'm sorry, | just want you-- — How could you!

You lied to me.

Shelton!

Shelton, you have to give me a chance to explain.

Why?

It's not what it seems!

| feel so stupid, right now.

| even ask you to be my girl.

Why you never tell me? I-I'm telling you now.

| sorry...

SHE BREATHES SHAKILY