Original subtitles

[stately orchestral music]

[car engine rumbling]

- Excuse me, would this be Lady Bellamy's house?

- Who would it be please?

Oh, Mr. Hudson, gentleman wanting something.

- Yes?

- Is this Lady Bellamy's house?

- Mr. Richard and Lady Marjorie Bellamy reside here.

What is your business please?

- Well I do want a few private words

with her Ladyship, if you'd be so good as to inform her.

- Is her Ladyship expecting you?

- No, no, she'll not be expecting me, no.

Is she home?

- Have you an appointment?

- I have not, no, but she'll be glad I came.

- Oh, will she?

And what is the nature of your business?

- Well my name is Michael Dooley,

late of the Indian Army, invalidated, I was,

bad stomach.

- Her Ladyship has her own arrangements

for contributing to Army charities.

Queen Alexandra's Home of--

- Well just you tell her Ladyship

that I was right through the Northwest Frontier

with a friend of hers--

- Yes, well we've heard that one before, Mr. Dooley,

there is a notice in the area and gate

if you couldn't read it.

It says no circulars.

Get out, get away with you.

[door slamming]

Rose, I thought I told you to keep

the front door shut in the mornings.

- I'm sorry, Mr. Hudson.

What was it, beggar?

- One of those unwashed Irish vagrants

claiming to be an old soldier.

Time they were cleared off the streets by law.

- Good morning, Rose.

- Good morning, my Lady.

- Morning, Sarah.

I do hope you're feeling a little better.

- Oh yes, much better, thank you, my Lady.

- You musn't try and do too much.

Aren't those lovely?

How beautifully you've arranged them.

-[Sarah] Thank you, my Lady.

I was wondering, would you like me to put some carnations

in the motorcar?

- Now what a good idea, yes by all means, do.

Would you tell Watkins that I'll need the car

punctually at half past two?

- Yes, my Lady.

- Flowers in the motorcar, whatever next?

- Oh it gives a welcome touch of summer.

- Gives a welcome chance to visit Mr. Watkins,

I wouldn't wonder.

- Oh Rose, you got some very peculiar ideas at times.

- You're going out to the muse, you can do something for me.

-[Sarah] Yes, of course.

- Get the undermechassis from the back of the car,

I want to send them to the laundry.

- Yes, my Lady.

[singing]

- Oh they're lovely.

You know it's a long time since a woman brought me flowers.

And it was only my old Auntie when I busted my leg.

For my--

- No, for the car.

- Oh, pity.

Well hang on, I'll get you some water from the tap.

- It's not bad, is it, eh?

- Quite homey, really.

Especially with the flowers.

No, I'll do it.

We don't want to get water on the carpet, do we?

- Like a little room, isn't it, eh?

All them flowerings and everything.

You could live quite comfy in here.

- You never been in a Rolls Royce before, haven't you?

- Not particularly.

- Well, I tell you what,

why don't I take you for a spin in it, eh?

When I go and fill her up for petrol, maybe?

- What's this for?

- That's to speak into, for when you want to give orders

to the driver, you see?

Well hang on a minute, I'll show you how it works.

Well go on, say something.

[laughing]

- Wilkins, you stupid fellow.

I thought I told you to go straight to Gorringe's.

- So sorry again, my Lady.

Sorry, my mistake.

- Look out you fool, you nearly knocked that horse over.

Are you intoxicated sir?

- No, tea tottle, my Lady.

Must be the springtime in my blood.

- You be impugnant, sir, or I shall discharge you

without a carrot--

- No, no, please, my Lady, I don't want to follow me Dad

down the mine.

♪ Don't go down the mine

♪ There's plenty of coal in the grate

[laughing]

Isn't it lovely?

- You'll think it over will you?

About going for a spin with me?

-[Sarah] Might.

- When's your day off, Sarah?

I heard that Hampstead is very nice this time of the year.

- You forget yourself, Mr. Watkins.

I am no longer a domestic servant,

while you are still a mere chauffeur.

- Oh yeah, well what are you doing now, then?

- Taking these to the wash,

and before I forget to mention it,

Lady Marjorie would like you with the car

prompt at half past two.

[blowing]

Here Rose.

-[Rose] You weren't long.

- Did you think I would be?

-[Rose] Give us a hand.

- He's got a funny way of putting things, that Thomas.

He makes you laugh, doesn't he?

- Highly comical.

Don't let him get his greasy fingers

on the clean undermechassis.

-[Sarah] I thought you liked him?

- Thomas?

He's very clever at getting on the right side of people.

Especially ladies, this Mr. Watkins.

I know.

More talk and compliments and that,

but all the time he's got his eye on the next step.

Looking ahead like over your shoulder.

Oh, we flip.

So long as its useful to him.

And then, well.

So you just watch out, Sarah.

And don't keep going over there wasting his time and yours.

- Might I step inside, sir, and admire your automobile?

- Yes, if you like.

- Thanks.

Finelooking motorcar.

- Trouble is it shows every scratch.

- Still, you oughtta be proud to own a machine

the like of that.

- It's not mine, it belongs to my employer.

- Oh, I see.

He be a wealthy man?

- Not especially.

- Famous, is he?

- Tory MP for Beckingham South, he is, alright?

- Oh, that'll be Mr. Richard Bellamy.

- How do you know that?

- Oh I have a cousin living in his constituency.

A fine man, so they say.

- Under Secretary for the Admiral, he used to be, yeah.

- Is that a fact?

I was in the--

Oh, sorry.

I was in the Army, meself.

Just got back from Kabul.

- Where's that?

- It's on the northwest frontier of India.

There's always a war going on there.

-[Watkins] Mixed up in that, were you?

- Yeah, the Kabul Rifles.

Private Michael Dooley, that's me.

I was in the same unit as Captain Charles Hammond.

That was a man you could respect.

- Well I can't say I've ever heard of him.

- A friend of your Lady Bellamy's.

- Oh yeah?

- Yeah.

If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't bother.

It's no pleasure for me to have the door

slammed in my face.

Hey, if there's one class of person

I can't be dealing with, it's butlers.

- So I take it you've been to our front door.

Number 165.

- Yeah, jut wanted a word with her Ladyship, that's all.

See I have something that belongs to her.

-[Watkins] And Mr. Hudson shut the door

in your face, did he?

- I was thinking that her Ladyship would like

her property back, that's all.

- What property?

- Her letters.

- Letters?

- And other items, like oh an opera program,

and a lace handkerchief, and a photograph of her Ladyship.

Mementos, you might say.

They must've meant a lot to Captain Hammond.

He kept them locked in a tinbox, he did,

and all with these decorations.

- How come you got hold of em, then?

- Oh I was his batman you see.

Like brothers, we were, fighting side by side.

But the Euphrates coming at us through the Clover Pass,

yelling their hating cries.

I'm proud to say I polished off

the one that got the Captain.

- Got him?

You mean, this Captain Hammond, he's dead is he?

- A knife, straight through the liver.

He never suffered.

I think our Ladyship would like to know that.

- Now, hang on a minute, when an officer dies,

they send his stuff home, don't they?

I mean, to his relatives, I mean?

- True, that is the usual fact--

- How the hell do you come to--

- You see, I felt that I still had a duty

towards the deceased.

The Captain often used to talk about his widowed sister

living in Cheltenham, very fond of her, he was, very fond.

He was afraid that she got enough of a shock as it was,

hearing about the Captain's death, you know,

without discovering from the letters

that he had been canoodling with a married woman.

And her, the wife of a Tory MP, at that.

Do you follow me?

- Look you know what you shoulda done with those letters,

don't you?

Burnt em, to ashes, the lot of them.

- Well it occurred to me that her Ladyship

might prefer to have them back.

- Yeah.

- Yeah, women can be very sentimental about such things,

you know.

- Yeah, well I,

I tell you what, Mr. Dooley, you give me those letters,

and I'll make sure she gets me back, alright?

- I don't know, I don't think that would be very proper.

I tell you what.

You have a word with her Ladyship,

and tell her the circumstances

and arrange for her to receive me, huh?

And if there's any question of a reward,

I'll see you right.

Now I can't say fairer than that now can I?

- A reward.

What sort of a reward were you thinking of?

100 pounds.

- 100 pounds.

You're writing the top story are you?

No letters are worth 100 pound.

- These ones are, and they're for sale only.

- Do you know what I think, Mr. Dooley?

I think you made all this up.

- Made what up?

- All this about Captain Hammond.

- No, you just stay where you are, taffy,

and I'll show you a sample of my wares.

There, there's one, see?

And I have a whole bundle tucked away.

[singing]

- I'll tell you, I'll find out what I can,

and you come back later tonight, okay?

- Alright, sir.

Hi, good morning, miss.

It's a grand day, thank God.

- Who's that?

- Oh he just popped in to have a look

at the car, that's all.

You thought any more of spending your day off with me?

- Know it.

If her Ladyship can spare you?

- What's that supposed to mean?

- I wonder if she'd go out driving quite so often

if her chauffeur was 65 years old with curly teeth?

The rest of the staff thinks she's taken

quite a shine to you.

- Her Ladyship? Never.

- Why else does she give that raise last month?

- Well for my outstanding presentability

and all around skin.

- That's roughly what I thought.

Did you know it reminds me a bit of Ada Liversitch?

- Ada Liversitch?

- She's on the board with me at the Oxton Empire.

Monologues and refined juggling, lovely act.

Proper lady mug she was, but it wouldn't melt, though.

One night, we come in early, and we found her

in the paint room with the theater fireman.

It was the uniform, you see, all them buttons.

So you better watch out, my boy.

- Well you don't have to worry Sarah.

- You do what you like.

It's no skin off my nose.

- I can't see a lady of quality losing her head

over one of her own servants.

- Oh they do sometimes, so I've heard tell.

Quite grand ladies.

Have you ever heard tale of lady Marjorie

going off the rails?

- How should I know?

- Oh it's just that I thought you knew most of what went on

in this house, that's all.

- What're you being so helpful all of a sudden for, eh?

- Oh, it was just an excuse to come

and talk to you really, Rose.

It seems goodness knows how long since we've had a chat.

- Not much to chat about anymore,

you've got your life, I've got mine.

- Rose.

- Well it's true, I don't know how to--

I don't know where I am with you no more.

- Sometimes I think I was better off in the old days,

when you me used to share that room together.

Remember how we used to lie awake at night

and talk about all the things we was gonna do?

- Well you did one or two of em, didn't you?

- Yes.

Well, it is better to have loved and lost

than never to have loved at all.

- What's that supposed to mean?

I don't suppose you've gotten that much

out of all that.

- Memories, Rose.

Memories.

- Oh yeah.

- I wasn't cut out for the humdrum bonds of marriage.

You see me washing some fellow's socks

and wiping his children's runny noses?

- No, I can't, not now you mention it.

But just because you don't fancy it

don't mean to say it's not a good idea.

- Oh you'd like it, wouldn't ya?

- Yes I would.

Only I don't seem to get no offers.

- It's your hand.

-[Rose] What for?

- Come on, I might be able to see.

Oh you've got nothing to worry about, have you?

See it's all there clear as day like.

See all them little lines.

-[Rose] Yeah, what are they?

- Children, Rose.

Yes, one a year til 1920.

- Oh, poo.

- If the first one's a girl, will you call her Sarah

after me?

- Of course I will.

You can be Godmother if you like.

- I would.

The nearest I'll ever get to having one of me own.

- Don't say that.

I'm sure you'll find somebody.

-[Sarah] Thought I had.

- Captain James?

Oh, Sarah, you didn't really think--

- I did, Rose.

Really.

Oh I know he's a bit of a philanderer,

but I thought he'd settle down like his father.

Now that's what I call an ideal marriage.

Years of wedded bliss, them two upstairs,

but in all that time, she's never looked at another fella.

- What makes you so sure?

-[Sarah] Well she's not the type, is she?

- Looks can lie sometimes.

- What you mean, Rose?

- Well, between you, me, and the gatepost,

Lady Marjorie's had her little moments.

Only it's not go beyond these four walls.

- Little moments, Lady Marjorie.

You mean another gentleman?

- It must've been when you was away.

You could almost say she cast her bonnet over a windmill.

-[Sarah] With who, Rose?

Oh come on, tell me.

- You swear you won't breathe a word to a living soul?

- I cross my heart, now tell.

- Well, he was in the Army, same as Captain James.

Couple years older maybe.

Blue eyes, ever so romantic looking.

Younger than her Ladyship, of course.

Well Captain James brought him to the house one evening,

her Ladyship took one look at him, and she was done for.

- It sounds like one of them magazine stories

that Mrs. Bridges says is only fit for scullery maids.

- Be that as it may.

Mrs. Roberts always said they fell in love at the opera.

- Soft music, dimming lights.

Did the Master know?

- Of course not, silly.

But we all did below stairs.

See, this Captain Hammond, was on leave from India,

and he'd taken rooms in Eebree Street.

She used to go there in the afternoon.

Mrs. Bridges saw her.

She saw her coming out, all mysterious looking,

so we knew something was up.

He used to send her flowers every day,

with bits of poetry attached.

And she used to write him billy-da-dos.

-[Sarah] How do you know?

- The blotter in her boudoir.

We used to hold it up against the mirror.

You could see the writing ever so cleanly.

- How long ago was all this?

- About three years.

- And how did it end then?

- Well this Captain Hammond went back to India

and got killed in action.

Mr. Hudson read about it in the paper.

Rose said they was all dreadfully upset downstairs

when he read it out.

And she said Lady Marjorie went around looking all pale

and sad, and that was that.

Nothing to show for her romance but few fading memories.

All gone, all forgotten.

- Not a lock of hair, a photograph,

or even a packet of letters?

- That's what Rose said.

- Shame, isn't it?

[car engine rumbling]

[stately orchestral music]

- Watkins, why are we stopping here?

- I beg your pardon, my Lady,

but I've got something most important to say to you.

- Surely it can wait.

I told you I must get to the jewelers, or--

what on Earth do you think you're doing.

- I'm sorry, my Lady, but there's no other way

of speaking to you in private.

You see, there's an individual, Irish, I think,

trying to weasel some money out of you.

-[Lady Bellamy] What do you mean, Watkins?

A tradesman of some kind?

- No, my Lady, an old soldier, that's what he says,

sole service in India, so he says.

- I'm sure you had a most interesting conversation

but I don't want to hear about it.

Now will you please take me to the jewelers as I asked you?

- My lady, this man has in his possession some letters.

- Letters?

- Written by your good self, I understand.

They are signed, so the man claims, by your Ladyship.

And coming from Eaton Place.

- To whom does he say they're written, these letters?

- To someone by the name of Captain Hammond, my Lady.

- I hardly think that my correspondence with Captain Hammond

would be of interest to anyone.

He was merely an acquaintance of my son's

who came to the house on various occasions.

- Well, yes, yes I see, my Lady.

-[Lady Bellamy] I seem to remember

reading that he was killed

on active service.

- Yeah, that's right, my Lady.

This man Dooley was with him when he died.

- Dooley, a brother officer of Captain Hammond's?

- He was the Captain's batman, my Lady.

- I see.

- That's how he'd come to be in possession of the letters.

- And you say this batman is asking for money

in exchange for the letters?

- Yes, my Lady.

I thought I ought to make the position clear,

I hope you don't mind me mentioning, my Lady.

- No, you did quite right, Watkins.

Tell me, did any of other servants see this man?

- No, no, my Lady.

Mr. Hudson shut the door in his face without asking

what he wanted, and he came around to the muse

to try to make himself agreeable to me.

- I see.

Watkins, I think it might be as well

if you didn't mention it to anyone.

- Very good, my Lady.

- I suppose it's simply that he expects some sort of reward

in return for lost property.

- That's right, my Lady.

200 pounds.

- 200--

But that's a great deal of money.

- Yes, that's what I told him, my Lady.

- When will you be seeing him again?

- Well, he's coming back later this evening.

Would you like to speak to him yourself, my Lady?

- No, I don't think that'll be necessary,

as you seem to have involved yourself in all this.

- Well that was no choice of mine, my Lady.

- The question is how to raise such a large sum of money

in so short a time.

- Shall I drive you to the bank, my Lady?

- No, no, I don't want to go to my bank.

Watkins, are there not establishments

where it's possible to raise a loan on the security

of some possession?

[car engine rumbling]

[stately orchestral music]

You can leave that here, Watkins,

I'll get Hudson to have it sent up later.

- Very good, my Lady.

- Oh and I shall need the car again today, thank you.

- Very good, my Lady.

-[Lord Bellamy] There you are, my dear.

- Psht, what happened?

- She was pretty shaken, I can tell you.

Turned quite pale, she did.

- I told you it was true,

Rose wouldn't make up a thing like that, poor woman.

- She had to pop a necklace so the master wouldn't find out.

I got the money.

- How much?

- Never you mind.

- Tea's ready, below stairs.

- I have to put the car away.

Well hang on a minute, give us a kiss.

- Not in here.

Later.

- Thank you, Rose.

Marjorie.

You look worried my dear.

- Sorry.

-[Lord Bellamy] Anything the matter?

- No, not really.

I was just thinking about various things.

James.

- James?

- Wondering whether his regime might be in action one day.

I worry about him.

- Things are quiet on the northwest front at the moment.

-[Lady Bellamy] That's good.

- It's been no trouble out there since the fighting

fighting with the Freebies last year,

when they had a number of casualties in the Kabul Rifles.

-[Lady Bellamy] That's alright then.

[knocking]

- Who is it?

- It's me, Dooley.

-[Watkins] Come upstairs, it's more private.

And mind your head.

- No, thanks.

You have a word with your Ladyship have you?

- Yes, yes I have.

- I bet it was quite a shock for her, the pool soul,

discovering that her little indiscretion had come to light.

Thought she'd got away with it, huh?

- No I don't think she thought that.

- What do you mean?

- Well it wasn't such a dark and guilty secret

as you imagined, see?

- Well it ought to be.

A married woman, carrying on like that in high society.

- Well I don't think they pay a lot of attention

to that sort of thing in high society, not nowadays.

- Well they damn well oughtta.

Are you telling me that her misbehavior

was common knowledge?

- No, no, but I think she made a clean breast of it.

- To her husband?

- Your letters won't tell him anything

he doesn't know already.

- Huh?

- Yeah, he's soddy, Mr. Dooley,

you seem to have been under a misapprehension.

- What you mean?

- Those letters are a lot of useless rubbish, man.

- I wouldn't be too sure about that.

- Now listen, she did say she'd give you a fiver for em.

She'd like the photograph, see?

Now that's only in the way of chatter.

- But crust indeed, I wouldn't give you a tuppence

for the lot of them.

- I will never mind a tuppence, Mr. Dooley,

do you want a fiver or not?

- Fiver?

Come to think of it, maybe there is such a thing

as a public duty.

- Public duty?

- Maybe the public has a right to know

the way the betters behave themselves in the privacy

of their wealthy homes.

- Well I don't think it's any of their business, Mr. Dooley,

I mean, not the ordinary commoner.

- And who elected Mr. Richard Bellamy into Parliament,

will you tell me that?

The ordinary, honest, working man.

That's who put him up there in Westminster.

- Well I think they're mostly bank clerks

in Beckingham, Mr. Dooley.

- Well maybe they are, but are they going to vote

for a man that upholds that morality?

No, my lad, I should put a stop to that, you see.

- No, I don't see, Mr. Dooley.

Now what are you going to do about it?

Stand on street corners, giving the letters to anyone

passing by, is it?

- Not at all, no.

There are those who'd put these facts into print

for all to see.

Lord Northcliff to name but one,

now there's a man with a strong sense of public duty.

And it's just the stuff for the Daily Mail.

- You think so, do you?

- I do, and I tell you something else.

I'd get meself a tidy sum for them letters

when I offer them to a newspaper.

- A newspaper?

Oh well, that's different, isn't it?

- It is taffy, isn't it?

It's different, now.

- Well I'll tell you what,

I'll give you the 100 pound on behalf of her Ladyship.

- Well you lying Welsh bastard.

Oh, I'm sure we can do better than 100 pounds now, taffy.

200.

- She'll never pay 200 pound.

- Then you only have to go to your Master, won't ya?

After all he is a member of Parliament,

he won't want this sort of stuff to be going

into the newspapers, now will he?

200 quid, taffy.

That's my price.

- You did quite right to inform me, Mr. Watkins.

- Well I felt it was my duty, Mr. Hudson.

- Those letters are undoubtedly forgeries.

I could tell that the man who came around to your muse

after I'd shown him the door

was nothing more than a common imposter.

Someone who'd obviously taken the trouble

to look up the family in the Bright Spirit.

- Oh, oh, yes, I see, Mr. Hudson.

- To make up some cock and bull story about her Ladyship,

and some Army officer called, whatever it was.

- Captain Hammond.

- Quite.

London is full of such people, Mr. Watkins.

Confidence tricksters, no less.

- Well I'm only presert there's no truth

in what this man Dooley says, Mr. Hudson.

- You can put the matter right out of your head, Thomas.

- Well thank you, thank you very much, Mr. Hudson.

- Now get on with your work.

Mr. Watkins.

- But Hudson, you've been in this house long enough

to know that there's nothing involving her Ladyship

that even Lord Northcliff could turn into a scandal.

- Oh nothing at all sir.

I just felt that you'd wish to be informed

about this man's absurd claim.

- That's right.

He's probably got hold of letters written

by Ladyship to some relative.

-[Hudson] Quite so, sir.

- Affectionate, but entirely innocent.

- I'm sure you're right, sir.

On the other hand, sir, one gathers that the wording

of the letters renders them open to some misrepresentation.

- I'm sure it does.

The most harmless correspondence

could be twisted in some way.

People are alls ready to believe the worst.

- That's very true, sir.

- Do you know to whom my wife is supposed to have

addressed these letters?

- I don't think there's anything to be gained

by repeating slander, sir.

- No, I see.

All the same, presumably the innuendo is that

her Ladyship has had an illicit liaison of some kind.

I can't give the light to it

unless I know who the fellow's meant to be.

You do see my point.

- Oh, quite, sir.

- Where's Watkins now?

- I've asked him to wait outside in the hall, sir.

- Send him in.

- Very good, sir.

-[Hudson] Mr. Watkins.

- Oh, come in, Watkins.

Hudson tells me a man has approached you

in the muse with some proposition or other.

- Yes, sir.

I hope you don't think I did wrong to mention it.

- Oh, no, no, no you were absolutely right.

I'm glad to see you have the same spirit of responsibility

as the other servants in this house.

Alright, Hudson.

- I beg your pardon, sir,

I feel I ought to remain, since Mr. Watkins--

- I take your point, Hudson, but I don't need you,

that'll be all.

- Very good, sir.

- In the ordinary way, I'd have no compunction

in handing this man over to the police.

But since my wife's honor is being challenged,

I intend to proceed more delicately.

You understand what I mean, don't you?

- Yes, sir.

- I do not intend to allow my wife to be in any way upset.

- No, oh no, sir.

- You haven't of course said anything to her

about this man?

- Well how could you think I'd do a thing like that, sir?

- Quite.

Well since you've shown such excellent discretion so far,

may I rely on your discretion a little further?

- Naturally, sir.

- When you see this man again,

I want you to find out exactly what he wants.

- Well I've already done that sir.

Didn't Mr. Hudson not tell you?

- He merely informed me that a man

claiming to possess certain letter signed by her Ladyship

had called round to the garage.

Hudson is under the impression

the man is a harmless imposter.

Quite frankly, I'd rather leave Hudson with that impression.

- Quite, sir.

- How much is this man asking for the letters?

- 200 pounds.

- Oh.

- That's a great deal of money, sir.

- Well if it's a question of keeping her Ladyship

in ignorance of such a distasteful affair,

I'd gladly pay 10 times as much.

- Well I'm glad to hear you say that, sir.

- Now if I, do negotiate with this man,

will he keep his side of the bargain?

- You leave that to me, sir, I'll make sure that he does.

- Very well, Watkins.

I hereby instruct you to buy back those letters,

whatever they may contain,

without her Ladyship's knowledge.

As man to man, can I trust you?

- You can, sir.

- Thank you, Watkins.

[footsteps stepping]

- Is it alright if I come in?

Have you spoken to his nibs?

- No, no, I haven't.

- The price is 200 now, taffy,

and don't you forget it.

- The price has been agreed.

Her Ladyship has decided to pay all of it.

- After all, what's a couple hundred quid

to such a wealthy woman.

-[Watkins] A drop in the ocean, isn't it?

- Come on, come on, let's see the color of your money.

- Well just a minute, Mr. Dooley.

You wouldn't expect my mistress, a lady of quality,

to trust me with 200 pound in banknotes would you?

A mere chauffeur?

A simple servant?

- No I wouldn't trust you with a baby's rattle, meself.

- Her Ladyship wishes to receive the letters

from you personally.

She also would like to hand over the money to you herself.

I am merely the go between.

- Look, I'll not wait much longer, now, I'm warning you.

- You won't have to, Mr. Dooley.

The transaction can take place tonight.

-[Dooley] Where?

- Well it'd have to be a secret meeting place, wouldn't it?

- In the park, maybe?

- Now you wouldn't expect my mistress to wait under a tree

in Hyde Park would you?

- No, no--

- I mean, somebody might come by

and recognize her, isn't it?

- So I'll come to her room, will I?

- You come to the garage here tonight at 11:00.

I'll leave that small door open for you.

- And then what?

- Well I'll be driving her Ladyship home tonight

about 11:30 or thereabouts.

Now with her permission,

I'll drive straight into the garage.

And if I close those big doors,

you can conduct your business in the back of the car,

and nobody will disturb you, see?

- You know, Taffy, I like that idea.

[laughing]

I like it very much.

In the back of the Rolls, tonight.

Me and Lady Marjorie.

[laughing]

I'll be here, taffy, I'll be here.

[stately orchestral music]

[horses trotting]

[car engine roaring]

[door closing]

Alright.

- In the back of the car, please, Mr. Dooley.

Private Michael Dooley, my Lady.

- May I wish ya the compliments of the season, my Lady.

- In the car, please.

- It's very kind of your Ladyship

to receive me personally in your motorcar.

- There was little alternative

since I'm not accustomed to receiving common soldiers

in my drawing room.

- May be a common soldier, my Lady,

but I have to earn a living.

Times are very hard, you know.

Seven years serving his Majesty and not even a gratuity.

- So you resort to blackmail?

- There's no need to be insulting.

A woman in your position shouldn't behave like that.

It's not right.

Don't you want common people to respect ya?

- Not particularly, Mr. Dooley.

- Oh well I can't sit here all night arguing.

Are you gonna pay up or aren't you?

- First I must be sure if you are whom you pretend to be.

Show me your discharge papers.

- I don't carry them around with me.

- Then you're not like any old soldier I ever heard of.

Wilkins?

Can we trust this fellow?

- Well that's up to you, my Lady.

- How do I know that you're a friend of Captain Hammond's?

- I was his batman, wasn't I?

- Were you, I don't know.

- I can prove it, he had a mole on his left cheek.

You'd remember that.

- Oh yes, poor Charles and his mole.

I remember once I--

- I beg your pardon, my Lady, but I think we ought

to be getting on with the transaction.

- Not until I've told Mr. Dooley

exactly what I think of him.

Are you not ashamed to batton upon the frailty of a woman?

You scoundrel.

- Who are you talking to?

-[Sarah] Stinking bugger.

- The transaction, my Lady.

- Yes.

Yes, yes, quite right, Wilkins.

Let us conduct this affair in a civilized fashion.

I apologize.

Offer Mr. Dooley some refreshment.

- Very good, my Lady.

Come here, man.

You can drink to her Ladyship's health

and the conclusion of our successful negotiations.

- I'll do that, thanks.

- Now you may give me my letters, may you not, Mr. Dooley?

- With pleasure, my Lady.

There, can you remember them?

- Ah yes, immediately.

The sight of them upsets me.

- Now, I take the money first, my Lady, if you please.

- Wilkins, give Mr. Dooley his money

and let us end this painful ceremony.

-[Watkins] Very good, my Lady.

Mr. Dooley.

Five, 10, 15, 20--

- Have I killed him?

- I think you have.

What have you got in the bag?

- Only a brick.

- It's alright, his breathing's steady.

- Get those letters.

- You take good care of them, now.

Hang onto them there, will you?

There we are, my old,

that's right. [mumbling]

Go and see if the coast is clear.

Up we get.

Listen, we're gonna put you where you belong, isn't you?

In the gutter, isn't it?

That's me old soldier, come on, man.

Now then, go and wait in my room

and be quiet til I get back.

Shh, there you are...

[door closing]

[door closing]

- Everything alright?

- Well we bumped into a policeman

at the corner of Elizabeth Street.

I told him I'd picked Dooley out of the gutter.

And he's taking him in charge as drunk and disorderly.

[laughing]

- Do you know what, you're very clever, Mr. Wilkins.

- Watkins, my Lady.

-[Sarah] That's all settled then?

- That's right, all settled.

- There's more than 100 quid in there.

- I know, there's 400 quid in there.

- Where'd you get the rest from?

- 200 from her, and 200 from him.

-[Sarah] Who?

- Your Master.

-[Sarah] What for?

- For his share of the letters.

- Yes, but I thought Lady Marjorie popped her necklace

for 100 pounds so she could buy the letters back?

- She'll get em back, some of em.

- Some of them, what about him?

- He'll get the rest for his share of the money, won't he?

- Oh I see.

A Mr. Thomas Watkins makes himself a nice, fat, juicy 200

from each of them for half the letters.

- Well a man's entitled to a fee for handling

such delicate negotiations.

-[Sarah] Not the bloody lot.

- A commission, you might say.

- Now, look.

I came here tonight cause I thought

you was gonna help Lady Marjorie not diddle her.

This family's been very good to me,

and I'm not gonna let them think

I was involved in this.

You give the money back, or I'll tell em.

- What did you say?

- You heard.

Look, you think Dooley's gonna let you get away

with this?

- Why wouldn't he?

- Well he's not gonna be very pleased when he wakes up

in jail and works out what you done to him.

- I thought of that, he won't say anything to the police,

he's a blackmailer himself, isn't he?

- Don't you think he's gonna find a way of letting

Lady Marjorie know you was in on this?

Come on.

Where you gonna be then, eh?

Sunk.

No job, jail, and all for 400 pound.

If you're gonna do him, do him for something big.

- Gimme those letters.

- Well.

- And clear off, I got some thinking to do.

- Watkins wishes to speak to you, sir.

- Oh does he?

Come in, Watkins.

What is it?

Thank you, Hudson.

- Very good, sir.

[door closing]

-[Lord Bellamy] Well?

- I have carried out your instructions, sir.

-[Lord Bellamy] Have you got those letters?

- I have, sir, and we won't be hearing

from Mr. Dooley again, I think.

There you are, sir.

All seven of them.

- Thank you.

Hand me those matches please, Watkins.

-[Watkins] Yes sir.

- Oh thank you.

What have you got there?

- 200 jimmy-o-goblins, sir, what you give me.

- Well how on Earth--

- Well I didn't like to see a man like that profit

from his villainy, sir.

So I took it upon myself to play a trick on him.

Under the circumstances,

I thought it was quite justified, sir.

It was very successful.

- Well I won't ask you how you managed it, Watkins,

but that is said, I am very much in your debt.

- Thank you very much, sir.

Will that be all, sir?

- No, Watkins, there's one more thing,

I'd like to show you how much I appreciate your honesty.

Some servants in your position,

being entrusted with 200 pounds would've made up

some cock and bull story and pocketed the lot.

- We don't go in for that sort of thing in the Valley, sir.

I mean, I was brought up very strict.

My father was an elder of the chapel, see.

- Quite.

So I am giving you 10 pounds to spend in any way you choose.

Well of course if you would like to invest it,

don't hesitate to ask me for advice.

- Oh well thank you, thank you very much, sir.

I am most grateful.

- Whatever you do, don't say anything about this

to her Ladyship.

-[Watkins] So there you are, my Lady,

there's your 200 pounds back.

- Thank you, Watkins.

I am very grateful to you.

And I'd like to give you a little reward for your trouble.

I believe the usual thing for the return

of stolen property is 10%,

so will you please accept 20 pounds?

- Oh, no, no, I couldn't my Lady.

-[Lady Bellamy] Yes of course you could, Watkins.

- Well, thank you very much, my Lady.

And you'll keep those letters safe and sound, now won't you?

- Yes I will.

-[Watkins] Where to now, my lady?

- Well I suppose we better go back to that odious pawn shop

and retrieve my necklace.

And then home.

- Very good, my lady.

- So it's all cleared up, is it?

The matter of the Irishman and the letters?

- That matter?

Yes, I think so, Mr. Hudson.

Well he hasn't been back to the muse again.

- In other words, the whole affair was indeed

a shocking attempt to extort money from her Ladyship

for some nonexistent letters as I thought.

- Yes, yes, that's right Mr. Hudson.

- And the Master endorsed my instructing you

to ignore the matter, unless the man came back.

- Yes, quite, quite.

- Then the matter is closed, Mr. Watkins,

and need not, and it should not, be mentioned again.

- Very good, Mr. Hudson.

- You better go and put the car away, Mr. Watkins.

[door closing]

-[Watkins] What are you doing here then?

- Have you done it?

- I've given the letters and all the money back

to the people concerned, yes.

- All the money?

Well and not kept nothing for yourself,

not even a few bob, well that's not fair,

considering all the work you'd done.

- Well I have made something.

- How much?

- I didn't ask for it.

They both gave me a bit.

Not much.

Here you are, here's your half.

- Three pound, oh thanks, Tom.

I suppose they both trusted you and you didn't let em down.

- Did you honestly think I would?

You did, didn't you?

- I like to think I made an honest man out of you,

Mr. Wilkins.

- Watkins, my Lady.

- Give us a kiss?

- Well help yourself.

-[Lord Bellamy] Ah, there you are.

- You shouldn't have waited for tea.

I've been shopping.

-[Lord Bellamy] So have I.

I bought a small gift.

Nothing really, just a little ornament.

- How sweet of you, and how strange.

-[Lord Bellamy] Strange?

- Well I bought something for you, too.

It's only a cigar cutter to replace the one you lost.

-[Lord Bellamy] Oh my dear, how thoughtful of you.

Thank you.

- Some money I thought I'd spent wasn't spent after all.

So, I decided to buy my husband something with it.

- And I too made a wise investment, so--

- Oh Richard, that's lovely.

Oh it's beautiful.

I shall keep it on my dressing table.

- Now how about some tea?

- I hadn't realized how late it was,

I'm afraid I'd kept Watkins from his tea.

-[Lord Bellamy] He won't mind, he's a good fellow.

I have changed my opinion of him lately.

- I'm glad.

-[Lord Bellamy] You're quite right, he's a good chauffeur.

He's smooth, and reliable.

- Yes, very trustworthy.

-[Lord Bellamy] Yes.

- You think we might increase his wages a little?

- I've already done so.

[stately orchestral music]