Original subtitles

(bright orchestral music)

-[Marjorie] Is that you, Richard?

- Yes, dear?

-[Marjorie] I'm in here.

Well, how did you vote in the end?

- There's no chance of a provision for days.

-[Marjorie] Did you speak to Father?

- No, he's still in the country.

- Or Arthur Balfour?

-[Richard] No.

-[Marjorie] But you promised you would!

- I said I would if I met him,

which I did not.

Really, Marjorie, I don't think you

understand the position now that we're in opposition.

I'm a perfectly ordinary

common or garden backbencher.

Backbenchers are supposed to show some independence,

to express their own opinions.

And my own personal opinion

of the Liberals Education Bill

is that's it's a good one in most respects.

- Ring for tea, will you Richard?

- Anyway, I'm far from convinced

that education should be a party political issue.

- Well, Father's always thought that

far too much time and money was spent on education.

Especially for working people.

It can be a positive disadvantage.

- Fine.

He's entitled to his opinion.

I'm entitled to mine.

It's just that I don't happen to think it fair that

Catholics and non-conformists

should be excluded from our

Church of England schools.

All I'm aiming to do is to abstain from voting against that

one section of the bill.

My own personal gesture.

- It'll be taken as a gesture of defiance

against you own party.

- You rang, my lady?

- Hm?

Oh yes, Edward, bring tea,

and ask Hudson to see that that catches the post, will you?

- Very good, my lady.

- Whatever happens, the bill will be

thrown out of the window lock, stock and barrel.

Your father and Landsdown

will see to that.

- Well, I think after all her ladyship's done for him

it's disgraceful!

This man has got no gratitude.

- Well, I think she's cracked a bit once

too often, and the worm's turned.

- Now, now, Rose, there's little

enough we can say or do that'll

make any difference.

- She wants her tea.

- Who's she, the cat's mother?

- Well, they're still at it, hammer and tongs.

- Now look here, Edward.

You show a little respect

or you won't last very long in this house.

And get the tray.

- Well, in my last place it was parlormaid who served tea.

- Well, in this house we do things properly.

You serve it.

I supervise.

I suppose in your last place you didn't wear gloves?

- Yes, I did.

- Well, put them on, then.

- More tea, Miss Roberts?

- Just a half cup.

That's enough.

Thank you.

I remember when Lady Marjorie first

brought Mr. Bellamy to Southwold.

That was before they were married, even.

I said there would be trouble

one day, and I say it again now.

- And that wasn't yesterday.

I was a kitchen maid.

And I remember old Nanny Luke's saying,

as how she did,

Lord and Lady Southwold,

wasn't overpleased, not at all.

In fact, quite the opposite.

Oh, they had no cause to be, neither.

He was only a Norfolk country parson's son,

when all said and done.

Well, that's not much catch.

Not for the eldest daughter of an earl.

And as lovely as any girl in England.

But Lady Marjorie, she would have her way.

Always has and always will I've no doubt.

- Well you could say he wasn't really her class.

- Oh, Mr. Bellamy's a perfect gentleman.

- And Bellamy hadn't a penny to his name.

- Ah, it's a wee bit chilly upstairs.

- Well, I think sometimes the poor man's

more of a servant than we are.

And I wouldn't blame him if he did turn Liberal.

Like Mr. Winston Churchill.

I mean, after the last election,

the Tories are finished any old how.

- I'm a Tory and proud of it!

And don't you start telling me my party's finished, my girl.

- It's not me that's turning Liberal.

-[Mrs. Bridges] You're casting aspersions

where you've not right to.

- Poo.

- And I'll have you know you've

just blown a mouthful of crumbs into my tea.

Give him a good whipping if he were mine.

I know Tory household up to

Southwold's being let down like that.

It's wicked, or worse.

More bread, please.

- But, if it's his conscience that's worrying him--

- If you are a Tory, you don't need one.

You know your rights.

- What do you think, Mr. Hudson?

What's your opinion?

- It's very good of you to ask, Miss Roberts.

I think you're a lot of ignoramuses.

You're all talking about things you know nothing about.

- (chuckles) I like that.

- Politics are for gentleman,

Mrs. Bridges, not for the likes of us.

- Oh, Mr. Hudson, how can you even say such a thing?

- Experience, Rose, that's how I can say it.

From experience.

I have seen what happens when

ordinary people get political.

- Oh, that can't be right.

Can it Mr. Hudson?

- I am telling you, Rose.

You mind your own business,

and let the politicians mind theirs.

And keep the butter knife out of the jam.

- One, stupid, unnecessary,

now you admit that yourself,

unnecessary gesture.

And your chance of cabinet rank will be ruined forever.

People don't forget, you know.

When we go back into power you'll be put aside,

you won't be forgiven and forgotten.

- Well, I don't see it that way.

- Well, I do.

Yes, and so will they.

After all that's been done for you, Richard, it's so,

well it's so disloyal.

(door closes)

Oh, hello James.

- Hello, Mother

Hello Father.

Something up?

- No. - Good.

However, I've got a friend of mine outside.

Captain Charles Hammond.

Indian Army.

The Guides, you know.

Really a frontier wallah.

He's messing with us when he's back home.

Awfully nice chap.

Will you give him a cup of tea

while I go and change?

We're off to a party, or another.

Come on in, Charles.

May I present Captain Charles Hammond.

My mother, my father.

- How do you do, Lady Marjorie?

Sir.

- Well, now do sit down - Yes, do sit down, Captain.

- Well, I'll just go and change.

Won't be long.

(door closes) - Do you take milk?

- Yes, thank you.

- And sugar?

- No, thank you.

- Sandwich?

- No, thank you, sir.

- How were the-- - What have you--

- Oh, I'm sorry. - No, Please.

- How were things on the North-West Frontier when you left?

Things pretty quiet?

- No sir.

Quite a lot going on, really.

- Are the (mumbles) still playing up?

- Yes, indeed.

You, uh, know a lot about it, sir?

- Well, as a member of parliament.

Imperial defense is one of my main interests.

- And education.

I expect it's very,

very bleak out there.

- Not a bit.

It's really quite...

jolly.

- You'll go, you and James,

are going to paint the town red?

- Yes, James is taking me to a party tonight

to meet some of his friends.

I know no one in London.

I have very few of the social graces.

James has taken me in hand,

but I fear I'm a rotten pupil.

I'd sooner be on picket duty in the Khyber

than face a drawing room in the...

I don't mean this drawing room--

- Of course it's very understandable.

- Nice of you to say so.

Then we're going to a,

to the opera.

- James going to the opera?

The real opera?

- Yes, that's my fault.

I'm very fond of the opera.

I thought I'd start him off on Rigoletto.

All those nice tunes.

- Senior San Marcos is a great voice as the Duke.

- Oh, you've--

- Yes, I'm fond of opera.

- Do you know I think it's the only thing

I really miss in India.

- We're going to a gala performance

of Tristan next Thursday.

Herr Riktus found a magnificent new tenor.

- Oh, that should be absolutely wonderful.

- Oh, my goodness.

- Did you say Thursday?

I thought it was Wednesday.

They've called a meeting of the Ways and Means Committee

for that evening.

- Oh, Richard, no!

- Well, I'm terribly sorry, my dear,

but I can't see how I can get out of it.

- But you knew how much I was looking forward to it.

Oh, really!

It's just too bad.

- Well, I'll think of something.

- Well, I'm sure James--

- James and Wagner.

- I think I'll just--

- Captain Hammond.

Um, I have now ea for music,

so such delights are wasted on me.

Would you do me a favor

and accompany my wife to the gala?

- Richard, you mustn't.

Poor Captain Hammond, the last thing he wants

is to be saddled all evening

with James' mother!

- Not at all.

It would be abso--

- Worth it to hear such music.

- No, I would enjoy accompanying you so much.

It would be an honor.

- Well, thank you very much, indeed.

I'm very much obliged.

(door opens) - There we are.

How's that for speed?

Ready Charles?

- Well, thank you very much, Lady Marjorie, sir.

Oh, I hope you will allow me

to take your wife out to supper before the opera, sir?

- Well, of course, I'm sure. - Yes, I'd be delighted.

- Till Thursday, then, goodbye.

- Goodbye.

- I gather they've pushed you

into taking my mother to something?

- Yes, the gala next week.

- Oh, really, I am sorry.

I do wish they wouldn't impose on my friends.

- I shall enjoy it, really, James.

- You're too damn good natured, Charles.

- You shouldn't have embarrassed

that poor young man like that, Richard.

- He should be pleased.

Taking one of the most beautiful women in London

to hear some of the greatest singers.

- He seems nice.

Good for James.

- Hmm.

Soul of the earth men like Hammond,

I sometimes think we waste them,

letting them spend their lives

on the far-flung frontiers

of the British Empire.

- I wonder what makes them want to go out there

in the first place.

- And my bill, please.

- Certainly, sir.

- Your mother must have been a wonderful person.

- Yes, she was.

I never really got on with my father.

I think the dislike was mutual.

He married my mother for her money.

Even boasted about it.

Her father was a Worcestshire ironmaster.

When I was at Oxford, my father

took up with a high-born harlot

he met out hunting.

My mother...

went to Florence where she died.

It was then that I decided to escape to India.

- I don't blame you.

- Oh, I don't really approve of nepotism,

but I had a couple of relations hire

me Indian servants, and I pulled every string in sight.

- And you found happiness?

- Yes.

Well at least everyday I spend here

makes me want to be back there the more.

- Is it dangerous?

- On the frontier, each step is on

the brink of eternity.

- The brink of eternity.

- The men in my regiment are second to none.

They love a scrap.

It's the breath of life to them.

- What sort of men?

- Pathans.

Oh, you might think them

a quarrelsome lot of cattle thieves,

but they're very loyal,

hospitable and brave.

They smile and look you straight in the eye, and they...

and they'd die to save your life.

- I should imagine the women have a thin time of it.

- Oh, I don't know.

They make very ideal wives,

never seen or heard.

Dedicated to cooking, cutting grass, carrying wood.

(laughing)

- Then, what are you doing here, Captain Hammond?

- Well, it's too stupid, Lady Marjorie.

I'm not allowed to talk about it.

- I shouldn't have asked.

Well, anyway, it's giving you a chance to

compare your old world with your new.

You don't find the old any better than before?

- No, sadly enough, I don't.

I find society shallow and boring.

Yawning politely at itself

in spite of the glitter and the luxury.

I fell there is an air of despair and doom.

But I'm being rude and boring myself.

- Oh no.

No, sometimes the same sort of shiver goes down my back.

I'm glad you like James.

- Yes, I'm afraid I think he's rather wasted.

- Just what my husband said about you.

- How odd.

James has many original qualities that I...

I suspect he inherits from his mother.

- Flatterer.

(laughing)

Oh, what a dull time I've had compared with you.

I've never been further than Biarritz in my life.

I hardly take a step beyond

the shallow world of society.

All my life I've been protected, cosseted,

wrapped in a cocoon of fondness.

- But you enjoy it.

- Yes, most of the time.

Till I meet someone like you.

Then I feel rather cross and jealous.

- (chuckles) Why cross and jealous?

- Because you have a real life.

Exciting and worthwhile,

which I can never enjoy.

- Thank you.

- Thank you, sir.

- Well, we ought to go.

At least Tristan is something we can enjoy together.

(dramatic opera music)

(applauding)

- What a voice.

- Ah, unbelievable.

Bravo!

Ah, what glorious voices.

True, clean, cut clean through to the heart.

At dawn on the frontier,

you can see from Kabul in the west,

right round in an arc across Kashmir

to the great Himalayas.

Blinding gold in the first light of the sun.

The nearest 300 miles away.

Clean, hard, pure.

That's what's good in life.

Like the naked blade of a kukri or...

(sighs)

the cry of a bird.

- The same that oft-times hath

charmed magic casements,

opening on the foam of perilous seas,

in faery lands forlorn.

- I saw in the paper the Queen was indisposed.

So I suppose Mrs. Keppel was with His Majesty.

I know it's not my place to say so,

but there are some strange people

in the royal circle.

Marcus De Saval is more like a monkey than a man.

- Go to bed now, Roberts.

- Goodnight, my lady.

- Goodnight, Roberts.

- My dear.

Well, did everything go off all right?

- It was a lovely evening.

- And did he come up to your expectations?

- Mhmm.

Seemed a very nice young man.

(laughs)

- I meant the tenor.

- Oh!

He was magnificent.

- Oh, aren't they beautiful, my lady?

Will I do them for the drawing room, my lady?

- Um, no, give them to me, Rose.

And, take a vase to my bedroom.

I'll arrange them myself.

- Yes, my lady.

Here, which one would you choose, Edward?

- Well, I'd let her choose.

Who are the roses from, anyway?

- An admirer.

- That's nice, isn't it?

At her age as well.

- Well, why not.

It's only good manners.

Token of esteem.

- Roses is symbolic, I've always heard.

- What of, then?

- Love.

A rose by any other name

would smell (sniffing) lovely.

- Oh, Edward, get off for pity's sake!

- Huh, that one ain't all prickly.

(laughs)

(light music)

(door opens)

- Oh, those roses, my lady.

They look really, really royal.

They say that flowers like that come from the heart.

- Do they, Roberts?

- In the last couple of days she's been dancing 'round

the room like the Queen of the May.

- Spring is in the air.

- A bit more than spring, I'd say.

- For a lady's maid, Miss Roberts,

you've got a lovely imagination.

- Oh, I have, have I?

Well, yesterday, she lit the fire with her own hand.

Didn't she, Rose?

Lady Marjorie lit the fire in her boudoir

with her own hands.

- Why shouldn't she, then?

- Well, firstly, it's high summer.

She was burning a note, that's what she was doing.

- A billet-doux?

- Yes, I saw her do it.

With these two eyes just as I came into the room.

And you saw there was paper ash

in the grate, didn't you Rose?

- Well, seeing as how I laid the fire with paper

it don't exactly surprise me.

- Can I help you, madame?

- Yes, I was just looking for something for my son.

- He'd be a young man?

- Yes.

- Ah, they like adventure.

- Yes, but nothing too trashy.

- What about the Scarlet Pimpernel?

An historical romance, very fine.

- That should do very well, thank you.

- I'll get it for you, madame.

- Hello.

- Captain Hammond.

Those flowers, it was very kind of you.

- I'm glad you liked them.

I think, if I may say so,

you've been sent by Providence.

I was just trying to dig up that quotation,

perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn.

It quite escapes me.

- Keats, Ode to a Nightingale.

- (snaps fingers) Of course!

- Should be a volume here.

Yes, there it is.

Let's see.

There we are.

I shall buy it for you.

- Oh, that's very kind of you.

Thank you.

- Could I ask you a favor?

Would you read the poem to me?

- Well, not here.

- No.

Not here.

- Adieu!

The fancy cannot cheat so well

a she is famed to do, deceiving elf.

Adieu!

Thy plaintive anthem fades

past the near meadows, over the still stream,

up the hill-side

and now 'tis buried deep

in the next valley-glades.

Was it a vision, or a waking dream?

Fled is that music.

Do I wake or sleep?

- Thank you.

Well, there's something else we've enjoyed together.

- Yes.

- But I'm failing in my duty as host.

Can I offer you a glass of Mazelle?

- I'd like that very much.

- Do you play?

- Oh, only a little.

And then to amuse myself.

- Oh, I love this one.

(soft piano music)

* Oh, my love is like a melody

* That's sweetly played in tune

* As fair art thou, my bonnie lass

* So deep in love am I

* And I will love thee still, my dear

* Till all the seas gang dry

* Till all the seas gang dry, my dear

* Till all the seas gang dry

* And I will love thee still, my dear

* Till all the seas gang dry

You know that I love you, don't you?

- Charles.

- You're the most beautiful, desirable woman in the world.

My darling, you're crying.

Why are you crying?

- I should...

Because I'm happy.

(spits)

- What I did think was a bit funny.

The second day running she's told

Pierre she don't need the Daimler,

and gone off on her own.

Now that's not like Lady Marjorie.

- She's probably calling.

- Where was you dregged up?

Ladies of quality don't go

calling on their own flat feet.

At least ways, not what we call calling.

- I was alluding to the other kind of calling.

That's what I was.

- You want to be careful.

People who open their mouths too wide

can sometimes be heard

where there wasn't no meaning.

She's not like that.

Lady Marjorie wouldn't behave like that.

- Oh, it's in the blood.

Look at Lady Eleanor,

the one we call the Bolter.

Well, she was an aunt, wasn't she?

- Shh, shh!

-[Rose] The bolter?

- That was before your time, Rose.

And it's best drawing a veil over.

- Well, you can't really blame her, can you?

I mean, you only live once

and she can't be getting very much from Mr. B.

- Edward!

- Well, it's only human nature!

25 years, always having the same pudding.

Me, I like a change of diet.

- Edward!

- Yes, Mr. Hudson?

- In there!

(door closes)

I thought as much.

I thought so from your references.

Three weeks only and then this.

Her ladyship didn't want you.

It was Mr. Bellamy that asked me to see you.

I saw you.

I saw you, didn't I?

And what did I tell you, then?

Oh, lost your tongue, have you?

Well, that's not all you'll lose

if you get thrown out of here, my lad.

Disgusting, vulgar, dirty.

Yes, that's what it is, dirty.

The words I heard you use in there

have dirtied in this whole household.

- Oh, hold on Mr. Hudson.

It was Miss Roberts!

- Oh, you're going to tell tales, now, are you?

I wouldn't put it past you to do anything

to save your own dirty skin.

Well, for your information,

Miss Roberts is Miss Roberts,

and you are my footman, and you have let me down.

And if ever I hear words like that

passing your lips again, young man

you will be out on the street

without a reference.

And the same applies if I catch you

larking about with any of the young girls in my staff.

Now, off you go and straighten up the morning room.

Stop!

Did I see you smile?

- No, Mr. Hudson!

No, honest, honest.

- Take yourself out of here.

- My love.

My darling.

I'm dazed by your beauty.

(clock chimes)

- I shall have to go.

- Oh, no. (Marjorie laughing)

- When you're not here...

I can't think of anything else but you.

(sighs)

The world outside seems so unreal.

It's like living in a dull, gray dream.

-[Marjorie] I know.

- I love you so much.

You're the light of my life.

(scoffs)

Stupid, tripe words there.

I wish I was a poet, or something.

Nothing as wonderful as this

has ever happened to me before.

Can you believe that?

- Yes, I believe it.

Nothing as wonderful has happened to me before.

- You're just saying that to be nice to me.

- Nothing as wonderful as this

has ever happened to me before.

(laughing)

- Oh, it's a miracle.

How can a set of dingy rooms

in dirty old London

turn into paradise?

How did it happen?

Everything in this room is special.

Sort of unique.

And all because of you.

- It's our private world.

Safe here.

Nothing can touch us.

No one must ever know about it except us.

If they do it'll all crumble.

Down to dust.

- Never.

Never.

- Charles my dearest, you are my only love.

M.

- She's almost old enough to be his mother.

- And what's that got to do with it?

Passion strikes where it pleases.

- Well, we have that--

- What's all this?

I'm shocked!

I'm really shocked, Mrs. Bridges!

- We're all shocked, Mr. Hudson.

It's time this was brought out into the open.

It's no use shoveling muck under the carpet.

- And dirty minds can find muck where there isn't any.

- I'll thank you to listen to me, Mr. Hudson.

This afternoon, not an hour ago,

When I was coming back from visiting my friends in Victoria

I happened to catch sight of Lady Marjorie

stepping out of a hansom cab.

- Lady Marjorie in a cab?

- In Ebury Street.

She entered a certain house.

- What house?

- A house where there is suites of gentlemen's rooms.

- I'm sure that's all very interesting.

- It was the same house where

Mr. Pearce dropped off a certain

Captain Charles Hammond

on the night of the gala opera,

and his card's on the door to prove it.

- You lot should set up an agency

for minding other people's business.

You'd have Sherlock Holmes beat any day.

- We don't like it, Mr. Hudson, none of us do,

but you've gotta face facts.

Lady Marjorie's gone off the rails,

and there's likely to be one hell of a crash.

It's not as if she's ever done it before.

- And if Mr. Bellamy gets to hear of it!

He's a mild-mannered man

but he wouldn't stand for it.

All across society it'll be the scandal of the year.

And this house and family will be blown to bits.

And us with it!

And we're frightened.

- And we've cause to be.

- Now, listen to me, all of you.

What Lady Marjorie or Mr. Bellamy

chose to say or do in their private lives

is absolutely no business of ours.

We should not inquire into it, far less question it.

Our duty is to do our jobs

as best we can and to be loyal to our employers.

We work for a fine family,

people of quality.

High up in the social world.

No breath of scandal has ever touched this house in my time,

and if it does, it is not going to happen

through the servants.

Not while I'm still here.

Chattering, whispering servants can spread scandal

like rats with the plague.

It's mischievous, wicked!

Evil.

I'm surprised at the lot of you.

If disaster ever comes to this house,

through the chattering of your senseless, loose tongues,

we'd all be better dead for the shame of it.

(door opens)

(light music)

(laughing)

(humming)

(clock chimes)

- I shall have to go, my love.

- I hate that clock.

Why must you always be going to go?

- Darling, you know I have to get back to tea.

Or the servants begin to wonder.

- Damn tea, damn servants and damn clocks.

At school there always used to be

Greek verse between three and four o'clock.

You're not Greek verse.

Can't always be part of the curriculum.

Oh, love is such a

all-embracing thing.

It can't live and breathe forever

in these two little rooms.

- Outside it'd be destroyed.

- No.

- Charles, you know the rules.

- Damn the rules!

(slaps)

We make our own rules!

Oh, I know their rules.

It's all right if you're not found out.

You friends would know about it all, of course,

and snigger and gossip

behind our backs and, we'd be invited to the same

weekend house parties and given rooms

next door to each other.

Oh, that's not our sort of love, my darling.

A beastly, furtive society sort of thing.

- I don't think I could face the divorce.

- Oh, no, divorce is only for vulgar people!

Another of your precious rules.

- Please, don't be cruel to me.

- I'm sorry, my darling, but don't you see?

I don't care.

I don't care if you are divorced or what you are.

To me you are perfect and always will be.

You are my love, my inspiration.

I worship you.

- And you are my gentle parfit knight.

- Oh, why not divorce?

For us anything is possible.

We must have no fear,

no turning back.

Together we can open up magic casements.

- I don't think I'm brave or strong enough

to face those perilous seas.

Our ship might strike a rock.

- I'll hold you up.

I dedicate my life to you.

- You'd have to leave the army.

- Oh, damn the army!

Damn everything but us!

It must be clean cut.

Clean, hard and complete.

Italy, America, Australia, I don't mind where.

I'll look after you.

I've got brains.

And money, thanks to that ironmaster from Butely.

Leave it to me.

Trust me.

- Let's stay a little longer in our secret world.

Just a little more time.

- Of course, my darling.

(sighs)

I'm only impatient because I love you so.

Forgive me.

- Hello, Father.

- Hello, James.

- How are things?

- What do you mean, things?

- Well, haven't you and Mother been having a bit of a tiff?

- Oh, that.

Yes.

Well, that's blown over.

Or perhaps adjourned might be a better way of putting it.

- Hello, darling. - Hello Mom.

- I can't think on earth where I put my list.

- Mmm, you've got a new hat for the regatta.

Doesn't she look beautiful?

- Darling.

- What regatta?

- It's the boat club regatta today.

I did tell you about it.

I've got a picnic and everything.

I do hope you're both coming.

- I can't possibly, I'm afraid James.

I'm seeing a deputation of constituents.

All up in arms about the new sewer.

- Well, you'll come, Mother?

- Oh, darling, I--

- Dan and Jack are coming and Reggie Fitzgerald.

- They're all so young.

You don't want me.

- Ah, I've asked some old things as well

especially for you.

The colonel and Foggy Dews.

Oh, Charles is coming.

- Charles?

- The old chum from the opera, you remember.

We put him in for the canoe punting race.

Should be a great gag.

Everyone falls in.

- You be careful with that fellow.

He's much more important than you think.

- Old Charlie?

- Yes, it's not generally known,

and perhaps it oughtn't to go beyond these four walls,

but Charles Hammond is a bit of

a cloak and dagger man.

Adam Blake told me.

He's back home advising

the Anglo-Russian Boundary Commission.

- Hmm, good for him.

- I don't think I will come, darling,

I've so many things I ought to do.

- Like having lunch with your husband at the house?

I want to show you off in that new hat.

- I'd be delighted to accept your kind invitation, sir.

- I'm a lucky man.

You're looking very beautiful today, my dear.

- You're pulling my leg, Mr. Hudson.

- No, I'm not, Mrs. Bridges.

I told you they were off to lunch at the House of Commons

like a pair of turtle doves.

And I can't say it didn't please me

to see them, because it did.

- I don't know.

Chopping and changing.

No thought for the poor cook.

And the ear half done!

- I'm sure it'll prove very tasty, Mrs. Bridges,

with a nice spoonful of red come jelly.

We might even stretch to a wee bottle of wine, eh?

(chuckling) I believe a slight celebration

wouldn't be out of order

on this particular occasion.

Maybe this'll put an end to all their silly backstairs

chatter and gossip once and for all.

- I wouldn't be too sure of that, Mr. Hudson.

Love can make a woman uncommon devious in her ways.

-[Rose] Your tea, my lady.

Oh, thank you, Rose.

-[Rose] Lovely day for the regatta, my lady.

- Yes, isn't it.

- Mrs. Bridges asked,

will you be in for dinner, my lady?

- I don't know yet, Rose.

Mr. Bellamy will be late at the house

so ask Mrs. Bridges

to put something cold on a tray, will you?

- Yes, my lady.

- Mr. Hudson!

Mr. Hudson!

- Don't shove on me like that--

- Mr. Hudson, the evening paper, Mr. Hudson.

- Well, take it upstairs, then.

Fancy bothering me with a wee thing like that--

- Mr. Hudson, it's stop press, look.

- Oh, my God.

All right, Edward, I'll deal with this.

- The evening newspaper, my lady.

- Put it over there, would you Hudson?

- I think I should warn you, my lady,

that there's the possibility of some disturbing news in it.

- What news, Hudson?

- On the back page in the stop press, my lady.

- Well, read it to me.

What does it say?

- A tragic accident at guard's regatta.

Canoe goes over weir.

Officer feared drowned.

No name.

- Leave me alone, Hudson.

- Very good, my lady.

- Oh, my God.

(dramatic orchestral music)

- Hello, operator?

No.

(quietly sobbing)

- Captain Hammond, my lady.

-[Marjorie] Oh my!

- I, um...

I came straight here.

-[Marjorie] Oh, thank God you're safe.

I thought you might think it was me that--

- I was desperate.

I don't think I could've--

-[Richard] Her ladyship here?

-[Hudson] She's in the morning room.

- Hammond.

You've heard about the accident?

James wasn't involved.

- No.

- I came to put Lady Marjorie's mind at rest

on the same point, sir.

- Well, that's very good of you.

Oh, Marjorie, you must have had the most awful shock.

But you were there!

What happened?

- One of the fellows went over in the canoe punt race,

got swept over the weir.

He's all right, though, as usual the papers exaggerate.

- Thank the Lord for that.

- I think I'll go and lie down,

if you'll excuse me, Captain Hammond.

- Of course, Lady Marjorie.

- Can I get you some tea or a drink?

- No, thank you, sir.

I really must be on my way.

- Well, you must have dinner with us sometime

before you vanish again,

I'd like to hear all about your exploits.

- I'd be delighted, sir.

- When are you due back to India?

- Well, that's really up to me.

- Well, let's make it soon.

I'll speak to my wife.

Hudson, would you show Captain Hammond out?

- Very good, sir.

- It was very,

very good of you to come.

Thank you.

- Goodbye, sir.

(bubbling)

-[James] Hello Father.

- Hey James. (door shuts)

- Was that Charlie Hammond I saw

dashing across the street?

- Yes, he was here to tell us all

about the accident at Maidenhair.

- (chuckling) Well, the old Dicky Napier of the grenadiers,

couldn't drown him if you tried.

- Nevertheless, your mother was very upset.

Very upset indeed, when she heard the news.

- Frankly, it was extremely thoughtless of you

not to let her know you were safe and sound.

- I never went near the regatta.

The adjutant got the collywobbles at the last minute,

and I had to take his place

on a blasted court of inquiry.

I telephoned mother all about it before lunch.

- I must have got it wrong.

- Many happy returns of the day.

- Thank you, Mother, for the splendid book.

It was just what I wanted.

Even had a letter from Elizabeth.

First time she's ever remembered.

- Well, she's growing up.

Yeah, I'm afraid she doesn't think much of France.

And then "All froggies have hands like

"wet fish and smell of garlic and scent.

"And the women are like black toads.

"But the food is gorgeous, and I'm stuffing myself

"like a Strasbourg goose".

I can just see her.

At least there's nothing about the poor and underprivileged.

She misses us all, and can't wait to come home.

- Well, that makes a nice change.

- You know, I think I'll introduce her

to old Charlie Hammond.

- Oh, why?

- Well, he's such an odd fish,

he'll probably see something in her.

- I can't see Elizabeth as a memsahib.

- (chuckles) She'd probably start at new Afghan war.

Then everyone would be happy.

Well, I must be off.

Here's her letter.

There's a PS in it for you.

She wants some more tinkle or something.

You know what Charles said, when I told him I was 24?

- No, darling.

He said you were more like my sister than my mother.

Isn't that nice?

Hello, Father.

Thank you so much for the check.

- I hope you find it useful.

(door closes) My dear.

Can you spare me a few moments?

I want to talk to you very seriously.

About us.

The House is voting on the education bill

sometime tomorrow after tea.

- Oh.

- For the next bit I find very difficult to say.

Even though I've been rehearsing it for several days.

I've been pig-headed,

obstinate,

ungrateful,

to you and your father and the family.

After all that Arthur Balfour

and the party has done for me.

It would be a monstrous impertinence

even to think of abstaining from voting.

I shall vote against the bill.

Like the good Tory and the good husband, which I hope I am.

After all, as you put it yourself,

it's a simple question of loyalty.

And that's the most important thing in our lives.

Much more than our passing whims and passions.

A.J. wants me to intervene.

If you could manage to be in the gallery

tomorrow between four and five?

- Well, I can't promise, but I will try.

Will you be back to dinner?

- I don't think so.

We shall be at it hammer and tongs for hours.

(clock ticking)

- I won't be long, Rose.

- Oh, where are you going, then, Mr. Hudson?

- She said I was to take it down myself.

- Oh, it's like delivering your own death warrant.

- Yes.

That's about it, Rose.

(dramatic opera music)

- I got your letter.

Couldn't get away before.

I'm sorry.

What is it, my love?

Tell me.

What has happened?

- Charles.

I can't go on with it.

- Can't go on with it?

What do you mean?

Why?

Has your husband found out?

- No.

Yet, I found out.

About myself.

- What?

What?

What are you talking about?

Only yesterday you said you can't live without me.

Tell me.

What has happened?

- Oh, if only I didn't have to hurt you so.

If only we could put the world back

and start again.

It's too late, Charles.

I'm a weak, cowardly woman.

I haven't your strength.

I'd never follow you.

I'd drag you down in those perilous seas.

- But we haven't even tried!

- I'm too frightened to take the first step.

Only it isn't only that.

My roots are too deep.

I suppose the cruelest thing is that...

it's only through your love

I've learned the sort of person I really am.

You see, I have a husband who has been

faithful and thoughtful to me always.

I have a son and daughter who love me.

I haven't given back much in return.

But I do love them.

Not at all in the way that I love you, but, very much.

They need me, Charles,

and I can't abandon them.

I suppose you could call it

a question of loyalty.

- So you're going to abandon me?

- Yes, Charles.

- Tell me, how are we going to live without each other?

We must have the courage to do what we know is right!

Oh.

I have loved you

as I've never loved a man and never will again.

These have been such wonderful days.

- Yes, the...

the most wonderful days.

- They're ours for always.

Locked away inside as if only we have the key to open

that magic casement.

And when things are bad

I'll open mine and I'll look out

and see your face,

and all my troubles will vanish.

(dramatic opera music)

- I...

I had this for you.

Please take it.

- Goodbye...

My only love.

- Oh.

That speech has caused quite a stir.

Even the editor of the Times seems to approve.

- It was one of the best speeches

I've heard you make, Richard.

I was very proud of your father.

- You having lunch here?

- Yes.

I thought you were going wrestling.

- Yes I was, with Charlie Hammond.

The most extraordinary thing.

He's vanished into thin air

without so much as a by your leave.

Gone back to India, presumably.

Though no one seems to know why.

-[Richard] Those secret service chaps move

in the most mysterious ways.

- (chuckling) I've heard the story

he's been jilted by some girl but I don't believe it.

I mean, can you foresee Charles with a girl?

So frightened he can hardly open his mouth.

- Would you like to go to the country for a few weeks?

Southwold's so lovely this time of the year.

With all the roses out.

And in a few weeks,

I'll come and fetch you home.

-[Hudson] Luncheon is served, my lady.

- Thank you, Hudson.

-[Hudson] Sir.

(bright orchestral music)