All language subtitles for Young Winston 1972 720p WEB-DL AAC2.0 H.264-alfaHD.EN 23.976

Who's that bloody
fool on the gray?

Someone who wants to be
noticed, I should imagine.

He'll be noticed.
Get his head blown off.

My Early Life
by Winston Spencer Churchill.

On the 16th of September, 1897,

at the age of 22,

I found myself taking part
in a punitive expedition

of the Malakand Field Force

on the North-West
Frontier of India.

In a sense, I had arranged for my
participation in this action myself.

August 5th, 1897.

A letter to General
Sir Bindon Blood.

"Sir, I do hope you
will not be annoyed

"if I remind you that
you once promised me

"that when you had
your next command,

"you would try to
find a place for me."

Very difficult, no vacancies.

Come up as a correspondent.

Will try to fit you in. Blood.

Now, which of
these gallant chaps

will lead me to something
really exciting?

An adventure I can write about.

That column there? Or that one?

It's all a lottery,
isn't it? Just luck.

God, I hope I'm lucky today.

The joke of it all is that I never
really wanted to be a soldier.

No, politics, parliament.
That's my arena.

But how am I to get there?

I have no reputation,
no family in the government,

and worst of all, no money.

Ah, money!

My darling mother wrote to me
often on that tiresome subject.

Really, Winston,

you are simply
irresponsible about money.

I am sending the man
the £11 he asks,

but why will you write checks when
you have no money in the bank?

Actually, in America,
you know, it's illegal,

and they sentence people to long
terms in jail for doing it.

My dear, do be careful

and do write when you can.

Please, please, don't take
any unnecessary risks.

Your loving mother,
Jennie Randolph Churchill.

Who's that bloody fool
on the gray?

Can't tell.

Someone who wants to get
noticed, I should imagine.

He'll be noticed.
Get his head blown off.

Sir!

Lieutenant Churchill,
sir, 4th Hussars.

Although, actually I'm
here as a correspondent,

The Pioneer and
Daily Telegraph.

Ah, I wonder, if you're going
to that village up there,

would you mind awfully
if I came along with you?

Ah, yes, Churchill,
4th Hussars.

Actually we don't care much for
correspondents out here, Churchill,

or white horses either.
Where'd you get him?

Uh, in the auction last week,
sir, at Malakand Pass.

Previous owner killed?

I believe so, yes, sir.

Didn't that teach you anything?

Sir?

Well, come along if you like,
but keep out of the way.

Thank you very much, sir.

Oh, one more thing. We do try
to bring our wounded back.

These chaps can be very nasty,

but as you're only an onlooker,
I can't guarantee anything,

understood? Yes, sir.

Thank you very much, sir.

The truth is,
I'm not at all brave.

In fact, the truth is I've
often felt myself a coward,

especially at school.

But if I could win a reputation
for courage and daring,

if I could be
mentioned in dispatches,

that would help me to get
started in politics.

In short, I need medals,

lots and lots of medals.

And I have to learn so much
and there's so little time.

I have to read all the books
I should have read before.

I must become
my own university.

And I must overcome my speech
impediment when I speak in public.

The Spanish ships
I cannot shee... See.

For they are not in shight...
Sight! Damn.

Pull back.

Everybody gone, sir.

All gone, sir.

Very well then. Carry on.

Carry on.

Number three section,
follow me.

Wouldn't you know it!

All this way for nothing.

Talk about rotten luck.

Right, we'll start back now.

Keep a dozen men,
Willy, and cover us

till we get halfway down, will you?
And then we'll cover you.

Right.

Come along, Mr. Cartlidge,
we're going back now.

Very well, sir. Come along,
now, bring them down.

Not bad at that.

Could be worth
200 or 300 words.

Get back! Get back!

Willy! Come on,
get out of there.

Come down! We'll cover you.
Fall back!

Fall back!

No, sahib, leave me! Oh,
sahib, you're hurting me.

Sahib, let me go!
Oh, please, on my knees,

I am begging you!

Come on, you idiot! Get out of it!
Get out of it!

And to conclude
these dispatches,

the General in the field
wishes to mention and commend

the courage of
Lieutenant W. L. S. Churchill

who made himself useful
at a critical moment.

And thereupon,
I sat down and wrote a book,

and the literary critics
were most kind to me.

If General Kitchener
should ever find time

to read Mr. Winston Churchill's new
book, The Malakand Field Force,

it is fascinating to imagine the
great warrior's reaction to it.

The book is excellent
for a first effort,

but perhaps its title
should have been,

Some Helpful Hints For Generals
From A Young Lieutenant.

Hurry up. The train
is about to leave.

For some reason unknown to me,

I have always been charged
with being unpunctual.

But then, in my lifetime,

I have constantly been accused
of many wicked things.

Perhaps I paid for
all those sins,

real or imaginary, in advance,

for, when I was but seven,

I was cast out of my happy home

and sent away to school.

And I left behind me
all who were dear to me,

especially my nurse,
Mrs. Everest.

Winnie, bye-bye!

Who looked after me...
Bye-bye, Winnie.

...and tended all my wants,

and to whom I poured
out all my troubles.

And for some reason
I cannot now remember,

I called her "Woomany."

And when I went away, I think
I missed her most of all.

Dearest Mother. My white horse
has been a marvelous investment.

Everyone noticed me.

The news here is that Kitchener is going
to fight the dervishes in the Sudan.

Mother darling, you must use
all your influence and charm

to get me into his command.

My American mother always
seemed to me a fairy princess,

a radiant being,

possessed of limitless
riches and power.

She shone for me
like the evening star.

I loved her dearly,

but at a distance.

Nevertheless, it was my
father who was the greatest

and most powerful influence
on my early life.

He was the second son
of the Duke of Marlborough

and a Tory member
of the House of Commons.

Unfortunately, if my mother had
little time for me in those days,

I saw of and spoke to
my father even less.

He numbered among his friends

some of the most important
men in Parliament,

and indeed, in all England.

Men like Lord Salisbury,
the leader of the Tory Party,

which was then in opposition.

His nephew, Arthur Balfour
and Joseph Chamberlain.

And even I knew that one day,

when the people came to their
senses and swept the Conservatives

back into power, it
would be these men who,

and together with my father,
would form the government.

No Lord Rothschild?

Are none of your Jewish friends
to be with us today, Randolph?

No. I didn't think it
would be fair to them.

You know how easily
bored they are.

Winston.

Thank you, sir.

Now, we enter this
in your name.

So...

And then you can purchase anything
you like from the school shop.

Up to the limit of
your credit, of course.

I'm afraid Winston doesn't quite
understand about money yet.

We shall teach him.

This young man will be very happy
here, Lady Randolph, I assure you.

I'm certain he will.

But you'll take tea,
Lady Randolph?

Oh, I am afraid I can't.
I shall miss my train.

Another time perhaps,
when I come again.

You will be good, darling,

and you will write, won't you?

Yes, Mama.

And so, young Churchill,
here we are.

Come along.

Yes, sir.

I'm going to tell you something

I shall want you
to remember always.

Your school days are the most
important days of your life.

How you get on here
will determine precisely

how you'll get on in the world.

Succeed here and you
will succeed as a man.

Fail here,

and you will be a failure
to the end of your days.

Do you understand?

Yes, sir. Good.

Your father is a great man.

Be like him in all things.

Now, you wait here while I see
about getting you settled in.

Have you had any Latin?

Latin? No, sir.

Hmm. While I am gone,

learn this.

This, on the right-hand page.

When I return,

we shall see how well
you have done.

Mensa a table, mensa o table,

mensam a table,
mensae of a table,

mensae to a table,
mensa from a table...

They are ready for you.
Come along.

Now then, have you learnt it?

I think I can say it, sir.

Then please do so.

Mensa a table. Mensa o table.

Mensam a table.
Mensae of a table.

Mensae to or for a table.

Mensa by, with or from a table.

Very good. Come along.

Excuse me, sir, but
what does it mean?

It means what it says,
mensa, a table.

Mensa is a noun of
the first declension.

There are five declensions. You have learnt
the singular of the first declension.

Yes, sir.

But what does it mean?

I have told you. Mensa
in Latin means a table.

But it means
"O table" too, sir.

And what does "O table" mean?

Mensa, o table,
is the vocative case.

"O table."

You would use that in addressing
a table, in invoking a table.

You would use it in
speaking to a table.

But I never do, sir.

Churchill, in this school,
if you are impertinent,

you will be punished, and punished,
let me tell you, very severely.

Come along.

"McSweeney, P. J. M. W.

"He exhibits rather
too relaxed an attitude

"towards the disciplines
of academic life."

Stand forward, McSweeney.

Mr. McSweeney,
I shall be obliged,

if, after this assembly, you
will take your customary step

through my study door.

Dear Mama, I hope you are well.

I am very happy at school.

I do wish you could come
and visit me one day soon.

"...he gabbles his translations

"and is dirty with
his written work."

Step forward, Stuart MacKenzie.

May, A. C. W., stand forward.

Mr. May, Mr. Belcher tells me
in this report that you suppose

noise to be an effective
camouflage for inattention.

You will shortly give me
your attention in the study,

where we will explore your
capacity for making noise.

Mr. May, you're first.

...which is,
in my view, essential.

Oh, come, come, it really is
time the honorable member

stopped trying to
introduce bogus bills...

Hear, Hear! ...ln order to prevent
action on bona fide ones.

Mr. Speaker!
Mr. Speaker, I protest!

Those words should
be taken down!

Hear, Hear!

Mr. Speaker, I agree,
I wholeheartedly agree!

Those words
should be taken down.

Will the gentlemen of the press
please take these words down?

It really is time

the honorable member stopped
trying to introduce bogus bills!

Dear Papa,
how are you? I am well.

Mr. Churchill.
I am very happy at school.

I had a nice birthday. Thank you
ever so much for the present.

I know you're ever so busy,

but it would be ever so nice
if you could come one Sunday.

When the next election came,

my mother added an American
flavor to the proceedings.

Mind your skirt, dearie.

Good morning. Good morning.

Good morning.

Are we new in the
neighborhood, ma'am?

I must say, I don't
recall the pleasure.

Well, you've come to the right
place to save a bit of money.

Never hurts to do a
little shopping yourself,

I always say, and learn your
way about, in effect, ma'am.

What can I do for you, ma'am?

Actually, I want to talk
to you about the election.

My husband, Lord Randolph Churchill,
is standing for this constituency

and I'm helping him
to get elected.

Oh, uh, ma'am,

in this constituency, in
effect, we vote as we please

and we don't like people coming
round asking us for our votes.

Furthermore, I never discuss
politics with women,

even ladies, ma'am, begging
your pardon, in effect.

But I want your vote.

How am I to get it
if I don't ask for it?

Indeed. Well, that's a point.

Quite so. You have
a point there, ma'am.

It is a point,
but it is of no use.

I am a lifelong liberal.

Besides, I don't hold with lordships
lolling about the House of Commons.

No. Horses for courses, I say.

Lords for lords, commons in
the Commons, in effect.

But my husband doesn't
loll. He never lolls!

He works very hard.

That's why he isn't here and I
am in his place, in effect.

Oh, and what time, may I ask,

does his lordship
arise in the morning?

Most days about 11:00.

You see, the House sits at
night, sometimes very late.

He stays in bed till 11:00?

Well, I'm sorry, ma'am, I
could never vote for a man

who lies abed till 11:00.

And that is the end
of it, ma'am. Good day.

Good day.

Just a moment!

Doesn't get out of bed
till 11:00, does he?

Well, ma'am,
looking at you now,

it's a wonder to me he
bothers to get out at all.

Good day to you, ma'am. Oh.

- Good evening.
- Welcome home, my lady.

Thank you, Evans, Betty.
My lady.

Is Lord Randolph in?

No, my lady.
Oh. Where's Everest?

I'm here, Lady Randolph.
If I might speak to you.

Now, please.

When did this happen? Have
you called the doctor?

We shall be taking him out of
that place, won't we, m'lady?

Ladies and gentlemen,
Lord Randolph Churchill,

Secretary of State for India.

Lord Randolph, many people
give you the major credit

for the return of the
Conservative Party to power,

yet there is a rumor that recently
you tended your resignation

to the Prime Minister,
Lord Salisbury.

I trust I am not here
to exchange gossip

or to encourage rumor.

But you will not deny
that there is friction

between yourself
and Lord Salisbury?

I refuse to discuss
that any further.

To put an end to it,
let me say that I have

never run away from a fight
when I believed it necessary.

But I am, and always will be,
loyal to the Tory Party.

Mind you,

some of my friends in my own party
have a great lesson to learn.

The Tory Party will
never remain in power

until it gains the
confidence of the minorities

and the working classes,

because the working classes are quite
determined to govern themselves.

Ah, yes, your theory
of Tory democracy.

It is said that there are
few who take it seriously.

Really?

Yes. After all,
as an aristocrat,

it's difficult to accept you
as an advocate of democracy.

Many people think
you use it as a device

to make yourself Prime Minister
in Lord Salisbury's place.

Do you?

Not at all!

Good. Uh, recently
you have expressed

strong views on the state
of the Irish question.

Ah, well, the Irish question.

That, I'm afraid,
will never be solved.

Quite. Now, Lord Randolph,

on a more personal note.

You and Lady Randolph, the
former American heiress,

Jennie Jerome,
are leaders of society.

Your racehorses
are most successful,

you entertain lavishly and His Royal
Highness, the Prince of Wales,

attends your
dinners frequently,

and Lady Randolph and you

are identified with all that
is new and fashionable.

Your splendid home here
in Connaught Place

is one of the few
to have electric lighting.

How do you find it?

Do you prefer it to gas?

Well, it's all rather
up-to-date, I suppose.

That thing in the cellar, I
think you call it the dynamo,

is rather noisy.

The lights will keep going out,
always at the wrong times.

No, I don't think that electric
light will ever replace gas

at least, not in
private houses.

No, no.

I believe, Lord Randolph,
you have a son?

What? Yes, actually, two.

Two sons. Winston and Jack.

No doubt they're very
proud of their father.

Oh.

That thought had
never occurred to me.

I had scarcely passed
my 12th birthday

when I entered the inhospitable
regions of examinations,

through which for
the next seven years.

I was destined to journey.

These examinations were
a great trial to me.

I should have liked to be
asked to say what I knew.

They always contrived
to ask what I did not know.

This sort of treatment
had only one result.

I did not do well
in examinations.

Begin.

This was especially true

of my entrance
examination to Harrow.

I wrote my name
at the top of the page,

I wrote the number
of the question.

One.

And after much reflection,
I put a bracket around it.

But thereafter, I could not think
of anything connected with it

that was either
relevant or true.

Incidentally, there arrived from
nowhere in particular a blot

and several smudges.

I gazed for two whole hours
at this sad spectacle.

Then, merciful ushers collected
my piece of foolscap

with all the others and carried
it up to the Headmaster's table.

Whose is this?

Blond-haired boy
in the second row, sir.

It was from these

slender indications of
scholarship that Mr. Welldon,

the Headmaster,
drew the conclusion

that I was worthy to
pass into Harrow.

It is very much to his credit.

It showed that he was a man

capable of looking
beneath the surface.

A man not dependent
upon paper manifestations.

I have always had the
greatest regard for him.

Happy Christmas, Lord Randolph.

Thank you. And to you, my boy.

Well, Mr. Buckle, a visit from
me to The Times at this hour

must be somewhat
of a surprise to you.

Oh, The Times has learnt never to be
surprised by Lord Randolph Churchill.

Then perhaps this
will surprise you.

This is a letter from you
to the Prime Minister.

That is correct.

But it's a letter of
resignation from the Cabinet.

That is also correct.

Lord Randolph.

You have taken me into your
confidence by showing me this letter.

I ask you...

I beg you not to send it
to Lord Salisbury.

I already have. That's a copy.

Then I urge you to withdraw it.

That's not possible.

Lord Randolph, once before you threatened
to resign and the Prime Minister retreated.

This time he will stand firm.

Really?

Forgive me if I seem
to be taking a liberty,

but for you to resign now, to leave
the government at this time,

on this issue of the budgets for the
Army and Navy would be a tragic error.

You must not do it.

I have no choice. I'm pledged
to economy up to my eyes.

I gave my word.

How can I accept this flagrant
misuse of public money?

May I say that public money
has been wasted before

and the nation has survived?

As I understand it, every
one of your colleagues

in the Cabinet is willing
to accept this bill.

Then why do you feel it
necessary to resign?

Because in addition to being
Leader of the House of Commons,

I'm also Chancellor
of the Exchequer.

I am responsible for
the country's money.

Why resign? In protest?

The country will
not be grateful.

After all, isn't this a
matter of national defense?

Withdraw this resignation
at once, now!

The Prime Minister
has already accepted it.

I have his letter here.

Mr. Buckle, I came to you,

rather than any other editor,

in the hope that you, of all people,
would give me your support.

I see.

The Times has criticized the government
when we have thought it necessary,

but we will not lend a hand
toward bringing it down.

Hmm.

Will you at least publish

both my letter and the
Prime Minister's reply?

No.

Both letters are
private communications

between you and Lord Salisbury.

To publish his letter, I would have to
have the Prime Minister's permission.

That you will never get.

I presume I shall see the news in
tomorrow's edition of The Times?

Yes, tomorrow.

Randolph! Randolph!

Randolph!

Randolph.

Quite a surprise for you.

It is true? It must be.

It's in The Times, isn't it?

Last night you knew. You knew
then and you didn't tell me.

When you said you were
going to the club,

you were going to The Times.

I saw no reason to
spoil your evening.

But you've worked so hard.

Yes, I'm very tired. Why
don't we take a holiday?

We've arranged to be home at Christmas.
We have engagements.

Mr. Moore, my lord.

Oh, dear, yes.
Show him in, will you?

Good morning, Lady Randolph.
Good morning, Mr. Moore.

Lord Randolph? Yes,
it's quite true, Moore.

Now be a good fellow, have
a cup of coffee with us.

No, thank you, I...

I just came to tell you that if I can
ever serve you in a private capacity,

I would be honored.

Very kind of you.

Do sit down.

Thank you, no.
I really must go.

I'll see you to the door.

I'll see myself out,
Lady Randolph.

In all my 20 years in Her
Majesty's government,

I have never served a more able
or more brilliant minister.

He has flung himself from
the top of the ladder

and he will never
reach it again.

Winston, hurry up.

The devoted Mr. Moore

had a heart attack and
died shortly thereafter.

I can see my father now

in a somewhat different light
than I did in those days.

I have long since passed
the age when he died

and I understand very clearly the
suicidal nature of his resignation.

My mother remained, as always,

loyal and steadfast.

"And 'Stanley!' was the cry.

"A light on
Marmion's visage spread,

"and fired his glazing eye,
with dying hand above his head,

"he shook the
fragment of his blade

"and shouted, 'Victory! Charge, Chester, charge!
On, Stanley, on!'

"Were the last words
of Marmion."

"Dearest Mother and Father,
two weeks from Monday,

"there is to be prize-giving
in the Speech Room.

"I have memorized 600 lines from
Macaulay's Lays of Ancient Rome

"and if I can get
a 1,000 lines by heart,

"which I will do, I'm
bound to get a prize.

"So will you please
both come down?

"Everyone will be there

"and it would make me so happy if you
were there to see me win a prize.

"You have never been down
to see me at Harrow,

"either of you, and this
would be a perfect time.

"So, dearest Mummy and Papa,
please, please, please,

"do, do, do come. Your loving
son, Winston S. Churchill."

"And under that great battle,

"The earth with blood was red,

"And like the Pomptine
fog at morn,

"The dust hung overheard.

"And louder still, and louder,

"Rose from the darkened field.

"The braying of the war-horns.

"The clang of sword
and shield..."

Come in.

Oh, Dr. Roose. Do come in.

Thank you. He is
better, isn't he?

Oh. Do sit down,
I shan't be a moment.

Will you have a cup
of coffee with me?

Lady Randolph, I should like
you to meet Dr. Buzzard,

whom I have consulted.

But I thought
he was getting better?

I am sorry to have to tell you,
madam, that your husband is very ill.

You must, I fear, prepare
yourself for the worst.

Dr. Buzzard...

We agreed to be frank with
Lady Randolph, did we not?

Frank, yes, but I see no
necessity to be brutal.

What is it? What are
you talking about?

Lady Randolph,

it is my sad duty to tell you

that Lord Randolph is suffering
from an incurable disease,

from which, at the most,

he will die within five
or six years. Stop!

What are you telling me?

You are talking about a man
who is only 38 years old!

Lady Randolph, please believe
this is extremely painful for us.

Do sit down.

May we?

Lady Randolph,
I am a specialist

and what I have to tell you is, I
am sorry to say, beyond question.

But what is the cure?

There is no cure.

But what is it?
Why don't you tell me?

Let us call it an
inflammation of the brain.

In the years to come, although
he will seem to recover,

although he will seem from time
to time to be perfectly normal,

in fact, he will
deteriorate consistently.

He will suffer paralysis
in his limbs

and his speech will become
impaired, as will his mind.

There will be
periods of violence.

I'm sorry, believe me, but it
is necessary for you to know.

Is it true?

It can't be.

It isn't true, is it?

Yes.

Yes, I'm afraid it is.

Oh, my God! Randolph.

Does he know?

No. And in our opinion,
he should never know.

Lady Randolph.

Yes?

How recently have you had physical
relations with your husband?

Why do you ask?

Forgive me, but it is a
matter of some importance.

I beg you.

Not for a considerable period.

If it is necessary
for you to know,

perhaps not for...

...a considerable time.

Thank God. Yes, thank God.

Neither you, nor the two boys
are in any way affected.

But I'm afraid there must be
no further physical relations

between you and
your husband ever again.

- Good morning, Mother.
- Good morning, Father.

Good morning, Winston.

Winston!

Go to your room and stay there

until you learn how to behave
in a civilized manner!

Yes, Father.

Don't you think that was
a little excessive?

His manners are atrocious!

I know.

But most boys are ugly
and tiresome at his age.

To the best of my memory,

I was always
fairly presentable,

and I do not recall grunting
at table like a pig on heat.

Randolph, we haven't seen much
of Winston this past year,

and he does worship you.

You were right, of course,

but you were a bit harsh.

Nonsense.

You don't really
think that, do you?

Well, if you ever
spoke to me like that,

I'd feel as if you
didn't care about me at all.

Of course.

Perhaps I should
have a chat with him.

Oh, that would be nice.

Yes, I think I'll do it now.

Why don't you finish
your breakfast?

No. Now would be best.

Father.

I'm awfully sorry, Father.

I'll be better.
I promise you, truly.

I'm sure you will be.

We won't talk about it anymore.

Thank you, Father.

You know, Winston,

the world of politics can be
very difficult sometimes,

and I have my share
of problems these days.

Things I do are misjudged

and things I say
are often distorted.

Perhaps that's why
I'm so often bad-tempered.

Oh, no, Father,
you're a great man.

Everyone knows that.

Everyone knows Lord Salisbury
treated you very badly,

and you'll show him!
All of them.

Thank you.

Thank you, my boy.

Anyway,

I think older people aren't
always particularly considerate

to younger people, to children.

They forget what it was like
when they were children.

And sometimes when
they're bad-tempered,

they speak more harshly than
they think they are or mean to.

Yes, I know, Father.

Well, I think there have been
times when I've done that.

Perhaps this morning.

But I would never
wish you to feel

that I don't care
for you very much,

because I do.

Thank you, Papa.
I mean, Father.

I say, Winston,

your collection has become
most impressive, hasn't it?

You're rather short
of artillery, aren't you?

Yes, Father,

only five field guns.

Yes, well...

Now that's not really enough...

It was one of
the three or four long

intimate conversations with him
which are all I can boast.

He spoke in the most wonderful
and captivating manner.

And when he inspected
my troops,

he displayed such a knowledge of military
affairs that it would have astounded me,

had I not already been aware
of his breadth of mind.

Winston,

when you grow up, would you
like to go into the Army?

Would you like me to, Father?

No, it's what you
would like that counts.

Well...

I'm awfully good at history,

especially about wars and
battles and generals and...

Yes, Father, I'd like to,
very much. Very much.

Good.

We'll talk about
that again later.

There's an army class
at Harrow, isn't there?

I'll have a chat with
Welldon, see what he thinks.

Yes.

Goodbye, Winston.
Goodbye, Father.

Woomany! Woomany!

What is it, for heaven's sake?

Father talked to me! He talked
to me for the longest time,

and he was so kind!
And I'm going into the Army!

The Army?

The Army?

Jennie, he's our son, but we
mustn't blind ourselves, must we?

He's no scholar.

Can you imagine him
qualifying for the Bar

or cutting any kind of
figure in politics?

So, unless you see him
in the Church...

Now, you see, the
Army's all that's left.

I think it's an inspiration.

We'll have to get him
into Sandhurst.

And that, of course, means
passing the examination.

The Army...

Well, that's three or four
years off, anyway, isn't it?

Unfortunately, it took not one,

but three examinations
to get me into Sandhurst.

Come in.

Did my letter come, Father?

I've been accepted. I passed!

You seem very pleased
with yourself, Winston.

I'm afraid I don't share
your satisfaction.

But I passed.

Yes, you passed.

There are two ways of passing
an examination, Winston,

one that does you credit
and one that does not.

As usual, you have
chosen the latter,

seventh from the bottom
of the entire class.

But I did pass.

Yes, you passed.

But you failed
to get into the Infantry.

You merely scraped
into the Cavalry,

which everybody knows is the
mark of a third-rate pass.

Now that will cost me an extra
£200 a year to get you a horse.

And this, after all those
months of cramming,

and all the trouble I went to
with the Duke of Cambridge

to get you into 60th Rifles,

one of the finest regiments
in the British Army.

But I only failed the
Infantry by 18 marks, Father.

I'm sorry.

Sorry?

You are sorry?

Winston, how many times have I
heard that word from you before?

You've had every
possible advantage.

Your mother and I have
done everything possible

to make life easy for you.

Remember how you
behaved at Eton?

Eton? You mean at Harrow, Father.
Your reports

have been nothing but
an embarrassment to me.

"Untidy, slovenly,
bad, lazy..."

You're my greatest
disappointment.

You lie, you shirk, you boast!

You care nothing for anyone
but yourself, Winston.

Ever since you were a child,
you've been a problem to me.

Nothing but trouble
and heartache.

What's to become of you, boy?

No! You're no longer
a boy, you're 20!

You'll be 21 in November.
No, Father, I'm 19.

Don't interrupt me,
Winston! Please!

Winston,

if you do not change
your ways at Sandhurst,

if you do not face up
to your responsibilities

like a man,

if you don't
buckle down, Winston,

I can accept no further
responsibility for you

after your 21st birthday.

If you don't change,

you'll become just another

public school failure,
a social wastrel

living out a shabby and a miserable
life to the end of your days.

Do you understand me, Winston?

Yes, Father.

Your Honor, sir.

Nevertheless,

once I became
a gentleman cadet,

I acquired a new status
in my father's eyes.

And when I was on leave,

I was sometimes allowed
to go about with him.

I dearly loved these outings.

I had no idea that he had
less than 18 months to live.

Lord Randolph. General.

Good afternoon, sir.

This your boy? Yes, Winston.

Winston, you have the privilege
of meeting General Bindon Blood.

How do you do, sir?

Sandhurst, eh? Good, good.

See you in India
one day. All right?

I hope so, sir.

I'd like to serve
under you some day, sir.

I mean, in the field, sir.

You like a bit of
gunpowder, do you?

Good, good.

Well, young fellow,
you do well at Sandhurst,

and if ever there's another
war, which I doubt, worse luck,

I'll find a place for you.

Give you my word.

Ambition is a good thing
in a young man, Winston,

but one mustn't be
too pushy, you know.

Yes, Father.

Hello, Joe.

Randolph.

I was going to write to you to congratulate
you on this young man's maiden speech.

Excellent, Austen, excellent.

Made a fine impression
on the House.

Thank you, sir.

You should be
very proud of him, Joe.

Yes, I thought it was
a reasonable effort.

You've grown, Winston.
Be an officer soon, eh?

I hope so, sir.

Father, I've been thinking.
Yes?

Well, Arthur Balfour
is Lord Salisbury's nephew.

They're very close and he
helps Lord Salisbury a lot.

And now that Austen
Chamberlain is an M.P.,

he must be a great help
to his father.

I was just wondering, I mean,
when I have some leave,

couldn't I help your secretary?

I mean, you were your father's
secretary for a while, and...

They fancy Rosebery's
gelding in this race.

He's a handsome enough fellow.

The breeding's there but there's
something lacking in the stamina,

you know... Character.

No, I don't see him
winning the race.

It was not so long ago...

Excuse me. Excuse me. Hello... in
the terms of the calendar...

Hello, how are you?
...honorable members may recall

I made a previous statement.

A previous statement

made by me
on a previous occasion.

Honorable members may recall.

And so I repeat,

if I may...

On that... On that...

On that occasion...

On that occasion...

Honorable members
may recall, I...

Her Majesty's government...

Her Majesty's government

are spending huge
amounts of money

on Army and Naval operations.

They are doing so...

They are...

They are doing so without regard to
the pledges they made to the country.

Without regard...

They are doing so without regard to
the pledges they made to the country.

Without regard

to the will or voice
of Parliament.

That's what I said.

Must have had a reason.

Come along, old friend.

He was only 46.

Had he lived another
four or five years,

he could not have done
without me.

But all my dreams of
comradeship with him,

of entering Parliament
at his side

and in his support were ended.

We buried him near Blenheim,

where both he and I were born.

His friend,
Lord Rosebery wrote of him.

"He was human, eminently human,

"full of faults,
as he himself knew,

"but not base nor
unpardonable faults.

"Pugnacious, outrageous,
fitful, petulant,

"but eminently
lovable and winning."

Not a bad epitaph at that,

nor one I should mind
having for myself.

Now, there remained for me
only to pursue his aims

and vindicate his memory.

Parade,

present arms!

Color parties, halt!

Parade, shoulder arms!

I passed out
of Sandhurst with honors,

eighth out of 150.

I mention this
only because it shows

that I could learn, quickly
enough, the things that mattered.

Victoria, by the grace of God,

Queen, defender of the faith,

Empress of India

to our trusty and well beloved
Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill.

Gentleman, greeting.

We, reposing especial
trust and confidence

in your loyalty, courage
and good conduct,

constitute and appoint you to be
an officer in our Land Forces

with the rank
of Second Lieutenant.

Four months later,
I lost the one person

who had never failed me.

Elizabeth, Elizabeth,

it's Winston.

Do come in.

Winston?

What a good boy you are

to come and see
your old Everest.

Ooh! You've grown.

It's the Army.

Do you think they'd take me?

I'm afraid I'm not
much good anymore.

Oh, you'll get better,
Woomany, you'll see.

I was thinking this afternoon
about your father.

Do you know what he did?

When I retired,
I gave him my savings,

and he made a special
trip to the city

to talk to Lord Rothschild
about investing them for me.

Now, wasn't that kind?

And he, with so many
cares of his own.

Oh, they were cruel to him.

Lord Salisbury,

that Arthur Balfour
and Mr. Chamberlain.

Supposed to be his friends.

Broke his heart.

You're wet.

You're soaked through.
It's raining.

You came in the rain?

You must take that off, you'll catch cold.
No, it's all right.

No, no, you must take that
jacket off and you must dry it.

Please, dearie... All right,
Woomany, in just a moment.

Your boots
aren't damp, are they?

No. No, they're dry.

Oh, good.

That's what gives you
toothache, you know,

sitting in damp boots.

I know.

Are you enjoying
the Cavalry, dearie?

Very much, Woomany. Very much.

Next! Arms up!

List!

Arms up! Next!

Walk on! Outward turn.

Both lines outward circle!

Sit up! Look up!
Two forward! One!

Back to the riding position!

One, two, three, four!

And one, and two,
and three, and four!

Up! Down the center!

Walk on!

Come along, Mr. Churchill, sir.

You'll have to do better than
that if you want to go to India.

Mother darling, India has
nothing more to offer me.

And now that you, unfortunately,
have lost most of our money

in that American
stock market swindle,

I really must go
to the Sudan with Kitchener.

I could write another book
or sell some articles.

So, please, please,
talk to everyone you can.

By the way, I have met the most
beautiful girl I have ever seen.

Her name is Pamela Plowden.

We are going to do a tour of
Hyderabad tomorrow on an elephant.

You have to ride
on an elephant,

because if you walk about,

the natives have a habit
of spitting at you

and crowding you
into the gutter.

Mother darling, you won't forget
about Kitchener, will you?

Darling, as you asked, I have
written to General Kitchener

and I should be
getting his reply soon.

You will be pleased
to learn, I know,

that the Prince of Wales
is reading your book.

I cannot resist writing
you these few lines

to congratulate you on the
success of your book.

Everyone is reading it.

But your dear mother tells me you are
thinking of resigning your commission,

and standing for Parliament.

I hope you will not do so.

You have plenty
of time before you.

Make your name and your
friends in the Army.

And now, to Sir lan Hamilton,

Lord Roberts, Lord Curzon,

Sir Evelyn Wood, Lord Cromer,

the Prince of Wales,

the Prime Minister and
Lady Randolph Churchill,

say that I insist
on the privilege

of selecting my own officers.

Say, as I've already said not
once but many times before,

I have no room
for Churchill. None.

Say that... Just arrived, sir.

Say that time grows short

and I have a great many more
important things to think about,

and that the matter is closed,
finally, definitely and forever.

And I don't want to
hear anymore about it.

Uh... You'll dress that up, of course.
Certainly, sir.

Lady Randolph Churchill,

widow of
Lord Randolph Churchill,

formerly Miss Jennie Jerome
of New York and Paris.

You play, if I may say so, Lady
Randolph, most beautifully.

It has been said
that you could appear

on the professional
concert stage if you desired,

and you've given us
ample proof of that skill.

Thank you.

It has also been said,
no doubt with malice,

that you interest yourself a great
deal in your son, Winston's affairs

and in his advancement.

I should be a most unnatural
mother if I didn't.

Of course.

But there are those who find
an interesting contrast

between your efforts
on his behalf now

and your neglect of him
when he was a child.

Neglect?

But that was never the case.

That is vicious and hurtful.

My son never lacked
a mother's love.

Naturally, when he was a
child he went off to school,

the very best of schools.

At home, he had my attention
and a marvelous nanny,

who was with us almost
from the time he was born.

Naturally, I was,
at the same time,

devoted to my husband's
career as any wife would be.

I see.

You do, on occasion,

entertain or act as hostess
for the Prince of Wales.

His Royal Highness finds you
charming, gracious, amusing...

You are at liberty to think so.

But if you are insinuating
the slightest impropriety...

Not at all,
dear lady, not at all.

Please be calm.

I am perfectly calm.

Then we can proceed.

You are aware, of course, that
your name has been linked

with another royal personage,

Count Charles Kinsky,
the well-known sportsman.

I don't know what
you mean by "linked."

We are friends.

We have been friends
for many years.

Yes, friends. Exactly.

Friends.

Yet at one time, there was
gossip, malicious, of course,

that your marriage
to Lord Randolph was,

shall we say, pro forma,

and that in the event
of a divorce,

you and Count Kinsky... There was
never a possibility of a divorce.

But you and Count Kinsky
are still friends. Yes.

Charles was married shortly
before my husband died.

Three weeks before, in his
own country, in Austria.

He has remained there
ever since.

He has great
responsibilities there.

One last question.

What precisely was the nature
of your husband's last illness?

It is well-known.

It was caused by overwork.

Ah, yes, but the symptoms

were most curious,
were they not?

I don't know what you mean.

But surely you were aware
of your husband's symptoms?

I think this has
gone far enough.

But this is of great
interest to the public.

Is it?

Why should it be?

Why should it be of any concern
to what you call the public?

The public is everyone,

and the public
has a right to know.

Why? What right?

I don't know anything
about such a right.

I only know about the right
to some decent privacy!

Oh, come, come, Lady Randolph,
we live in modern times.

Surely the word syphilis
need hold no terrors for us?

Are you content?

Have you heard?

We've had a death.

Young Chapman, 21st Lancers.

Really? Pity. Mmm.

Just when he was going
out to the Sudan, too.

Yes.

So we have a vacancy, don't we?

Yes. You know,
I was wondering...

What?

What about young Churchill?
Are you mad?

Well, why not?

Well, firstly,
if the General twigged,

he'd have our
balls for breakfast.

And secondly, why?

Surely, you don't have any use for
that little publicity hunter?

None at all. But his
mother's a smasher.

Yes, I know.

I say, you dog.

Do you know her? No.

But I'd give anything
to meet her.

Come on, what do you say, hmm?

There's not a chance in the
world the old boy will ever...

War Office
to Lieutenant Churchill.

You will proceed to the 21st
Lancers at your own expense.

In the event of injury
to yourself or your horse,

no charge will be made
against Army funds.

Sign here, please.
Three copies.

I say, Churchill,

we at the Psychical Research Society
have an interesting experiment in mind,

which, as a journalist,
should interest you, too.

If you should,
unfortunately, get killed,

will you try to
communicate with us?

Squadron, halt!

Uh, Chapman!

I say, Chapman.
Chapman, are you deaf?

Oh, sorry, sir.
It's Churchill, sir.

Oh, yes, of course, Churchill.

Chapman's the one who's dead.
Mmm. Sorry about that.

What condition's your horse in?

First-rate, sir. Not tired,
if that's what you mean.

Oh, good. Now, you're the one who
wants to see a show, aren't you?

Well, report up forward
to Colonel Martin,

he'll tell you what to do.

Yes, sir.

Thank you very much, sir.

Oh, and, Chapman...
I mean, Churchill,

my compliments to the Colonel.
Yes, of course, sir.

Sir, Lieutenant Chapman,
uh, Churchill.

Sorry, sir. Um...

Lieutenant Churchill reporting
from Major Finn, sir.

Come with me. Sir.

Is your horse reasonably fresh?
Yes, sir.

I've a message
I want you to deliver,

but I want you to see the
situation for yourself,

so that you can describe
what you've seen.

Sir.

Now, our estimate is something
approaching close on 60,000

and though it may not seem like it,
they're coming on pretty fast.

I want you to report on what I've
told you and what you've seen,

personally to
General Kitchener.

Oh, God.

Oh, I'm sorry.
I mean, yes, sir.

Are you all right, Chapman?

Yes, sir.

What do I say?

Lieutenant Churchill reporting
to General Kitchener?

He'll kill me.

He'll send me home.

He'll have me court-martialed.

He'll skin me alive
before the entire Army.

I'll be ruined.

Oh, my God.

Oh, well...
I died for my country.

Sir, I've come with a report
from the 21st Lancers.

The Dervish army is advancing

between yourself and
the city of Omdurman.

Colonel Martin estimates their
strength in the region of 60,000.

I saw them 40 minutes ago.
They're moving rapidly.

They're moving rapidly, you say?
Yes, sir.

How long do you think I've got?

I would say an hour, sir.

Possibly an hour and a half.

An hour and a half
should be about right.

I hope.

Fire!

- They're breaking, sir.
- They're breaking!

During the mopping up
operation the next day,

I took part in what was
destined to become

the last full charge ever
of British cavalry.

Sound the trot.

Sound troop to the right.

Sound the charge!

Charge!

Charge!

Charge!

Charge!

Bloody hell!

Mr. Winston Churchill.

War correspondent, author,
recently resigned from the Army,

and candidate for Parliament
for Oldham at the age of 23.

Twenty-four, actually,
in November.

Thank you, Mr. Churchill.

There is gossip that you
were detested in the Army,

where it is said that you
were known as a medal hunter,

a publicity seeker
and a social climber,

pushing, aggressive
and scheming.

Forgive me, I'm sorry.

I was wondering why
a certain kind of person

always seems to believe
the worst about me.

At Sandhurst, for example,

I was accused
of being everything

from a horse thief
to a homosexual,

and I had to sue
for libel and win

to prove my innocence
on both counts.

As to what you've just said,

I'm sorry to hear it.

I thought I had served
my country faithfully,

at some danger to myself. Yes.

Some officers have stated that your
criticism of General Kitchener,

in your new book, The River
War, was inexcusable.

Have you read the book? No.

Then perhaps
you should read it.

My statements concerning
his atrocious treatment

of enemy wounded
were entirely factual.

As to our victory,

although the enemy
had superior numbers,

they were no match
for a modern army.

I see.

Your father also had a weakness

for offending people,
did he not?

I wouldn't call it a weakness.

I would describe it
as his strength.

And I would attribute it to the
strength of his convictions.

My father was a brilliant man.

He had no time for fools.

Yes. Actually, you were
not very well acquainted

with your father, were you?

Not as well as I should
have liked to have been.

However, solitary trees,
if they grow at all,

grow strong.

Indeed. Something you've read?

No. Something I have written

in my new book, The River War.

You really should read it,

there are some
good things in it.

Reverting to your
father's enemies,

do you imagine they will
welcome you into politics?

I don't know what
you mean by enemies.

Oh, come now! Lord Salisbury,

who kept him out of government.

Mr. Balfour, who supported
Lord Salisbury,

Mr. Chamberlain, who destroyed
your father's last chance

of returning to power.
And the others.

They were never enemies.

They may have disagreed
at times,

but that's the nature
of politics, isn't it?

Lord Salisbury's been
very kind to me.

I dedicated my book to him.

Then you feel you have no cause to
fight for in your father's name?

No wrong to right,
no vendetta to keep alive?

Vendetta?

That's an Italian word,
isn't it?

Nothing like that in England,
is there? Hmm.

Why are you so friendly with David
Lloyd George, who is a Liberal?

I like people. People
who can help you?

A young man starting out
in life needs help.

But don't you think
that in these times

politics has little room for
wealthy and privileged young men?

I am not wealthy.

I live on what I earn,

and I support my mother
and my younger brother.

But why exactly do you wish to stand
for Parliament, Mr. Churchill?

To serve my country.

And to advance yourself?

Yes. Is there anything
wrong in that?

Is there anything right in it?

Who are you to aspire to the
greatest Parliament in the world?

What do you have to offer other
than your ego and your ambitions?

Only myself.

I believe in myself.

I believe in my destiny.

Really?

Have you consulted
a fortuneteller recently?

As a matter of fact, I have.

She agrees with me.

Is it a crime to be 24?

No, no, not at all.

What would you like me to do?

Play games?
Be seen but not heard?

Close my eyes and ears?
Be a child forever?

Must we always be
ruled by old men?

Doesn't every old man
in politics

betray the wonderful things he
believed in when he was young?

And by doing that
betray his country?

It think there is room
for a young man,

many young men in government.

If I could,

I would say this to young
men all over the world.

Come on, you are needed
more than ever now.

You must take your places
in life's fighting line.

Twenty to twenty-five,
those are the years.

Don't be content
with things as they are.

Yes, you will make mistakes,

but as long as you are generous and
true, you cannot hurt the world,

nor even seriously
distress her.

She was made to be wooed
and won by youth!

She has lived and thrived only
by repeated subjugations.

Well...

Something else
you have written?

No.

No, it's something I am
going to write, I think.

Really?

In your autobiography,
no doubt.

Yes.

Yes, I think I will write
an autobiography someday.

I think I'll have something
to write about.

Yes.

Well...

The Oldham Evening Chronicle.

Young Mr. Winston
Churchill's first attempt

to enter politics
has met with defeat.

He has left for South Africa
as a correspondent

to write about our war
with the Boers.

In South Africa,

I had the good luck to encounter
a Captain Aylmer Haldane,

whom I had met in India

and who had
befriended me there.

He invited me to go out
on a reconnaissance with him

in an armored train.

Going back?

This is as far as
our orders take us.

Seems quiet enough.

Let's go and have a spot
of breakfast, shall we?

You know, Haldane,
I've been thinking.

After the Malakand Field Force,

I went on to the Tirah
expedition, do you remember?

Yes.

Well, I never did get
my medal for that.

Now, if you were to write
to the War Office...

A medal for the Tirah?

Winston, don't you ever relax?

I can't. I'm almost 25.

Look out!

On the left!
Carry on, Sergeant!

Enemy left.

Now, lads, take aim. Take aim.

Brakes!

Come on, lads,
on your feet, on your feet!

Get up! Take posts.

Haldane! We're off the rails!

Shall I go up front
and see what I can do?

Good idea.

Turret right.

- On target.
- Shoot!

Hey! Where are you going?

I'm civilian. I don't get
paid for being shot at.

Come back here.

Come here. Let go!

Let go!

Listen, you've got more chance
of being hit if you run.

Now listen to me,
I'm a soldier.

No one ever gets shot twice on
the same day, that's a fact.

Now you get back in there.

It's the safest place there is.

And when this is over
you'll get a medal.

That's a promise.

Come on, I'll go with you.

Can this engine still run?

Well, it might.

But the track's blocked,
we can't move.

Unless we get uncoupled from
that truck in front of us...

Come on, get in.

And get it over on its side.
I see.

And there's no way of
doing that!

We can try.

Is there an officer here?

Yes! What is it?

We have to uncouple
that truck there

and push it over on its side.

Sergeant, bring a dozen men.

Very good, sir.

Who was that? A Boer?

Worse than that. He's crazy.

Come on. Give him a hand.

Heave it up from underneath.
Right.

It's moving.

Come on! Out you come! Outside!

Come on out, you men.

Get up! Come on,
move yourselves.

You men, over here.

Right, come on. Get your
shoulders under here.

Come on, men. Come on, boys.

Come on there, heave!

Come on, heave.

Heave!

Under that, come on.

Come on.

Hold it! Hold it!

Keep it up! Hold it up!

Heave! Get it over!

Heave!

Push it!

All right, take cover.

Come on.

Did it, by God!

You didn't get it
off the track.

You said all we had to do was get
it uncoupled and push it over.

Anyway, it was too heavy
to get it off the track.

Well, I'll have to
ram it off now.

Well, ram it off!

I don't know if
the engine will run.

Well, try it.

Good. Now go ahead.

Well, I'll have to
back her up first.

Well, bloody well
back her up, you idiot!

Well, you don't
have to get excited.

Get out of the way!
Get out of the way!

Right, now go ahead.

And you keep shoveling.
Yes, sir.

We could go off the rails,
you know.

Go on!

Here... Sorry. But go on!

Oh, Christ!

Haldane!

Haldane!

Move, fusilier.
Move, move, move.

The track up ahead's clear

but we can't get back to you.

And anyway, the
couplings are smashed.

Yes, I know, I know, I know.

Can we load the wounded
on to the engine?

Yes!

Well, that's something,
I suppose.

The rest of us
will have to go on foot.

Thanks very much, Winston,
I'll remember this.

So shall I.

Wounded! Onto...
Onto the engine.

The rest of us will go on
foot, using it as cover.

Come on, hurry! Run!

Wounded on the engine. Get the
wounded on to the engine.

Moving along, move along.

All right?

I think so.

All right, go ahead.

Go ahead. As slow as you can.

Slow down, Winston.

Slow down.

Slow down. You're
getting ahead of them.

All right, all right.

Winston! Slower!

Slow down, you damn fool.

For God's sake! Winston!

Hey, slow down. Oh, shut up!

Slow down, you damned idiot!

I can't, you silly ass!
We're on a downgrade!

I'll kill you.

I can't help it,
the brakes are gone.

Now what? I must go
back and get Haldane.

Back there? What do I do?

You wait.

You wait 10 minutes

and then if you don't see
us coming, you can go.

Pretoria, we have
captured Lord Churchill,

who claims to be
a war correspondent.

But from our intelligence

we know that he was responsible

for one part of the
armored train getting away.

Sir, I am
a special correspondent.

I was unarmed and I took no part in
the fighting when I was captured.

I respectfully submit that I should
be released as soon as possible.

On no account is he to be released
for the duration of the war.

I've been watching you two.

You're working on an escape.

You're out of your mind.
I'm not.

But I will be if you
won't take me with you.

Never. Be quiet, Brockie.

We can't use you, Winston.

You don't know the country.

You don't know the language.

If we got separated, you
wouldn't have a chance.

Anyway, you'd be the first
to be missed from here.

Play.

Haldane, I'm going mad in here.

And tomorrow's my birthday.

Congratulations.

Shut up, you don't understand.

I'll be 25.

I can't stay cooped up in
here for the rest of the war.

Please, Haldane!

You said you'd remember
what I did that day.

Do you remember now?

I wouldn't have been caught
if I hadn't gone back for you.

No.

Do shut up, Brockie.

I can't think.

What's for dinner tonight?

Any idea?

They're too close.

You're afraid.

See for yourself.

I'll go and look, too.

Oh, no, no...

It was maddening.

And besides, normally there was
only one guard on duty here.

The thought crossed my mind
that we were suspected.

Suddenly I felt
it was now or never,

and the impulse was
too overpowering to resist.

But how was I
to inform my comrades?

Then I heard a heavenly sound.

Psst!

Psst!

Who's there?

It's Churchill. Keep quiet.

Churchill? Where are you?

What are you doing out there?

Never mind.

Just go and tell Haldane
and Brockie right away.

Oh, I get it. Good show.

London, The Morning Post.

Our special correspondent,
Winston Churchill,

who distinguished himself
before his capture,

has, in a fashion as yet
undisclosed, escaped.

Johannesburg.

A reward of £25 is offered

for the capture of Winston
Churchill, dead or alive.

Pretoria.

Although Mr. Churchill's
escape was cleverly executed,

there is little chance of his
being able to cross the border.

When he is recaptured, it is
probable that he will be shot.

My name is Dr. Bentinck.

I've had an accident.

Now, what did you say?

Are you English? Never mind.

What do you want?

Well, I've had
an accident, I...

I fell off a train.

Well, the truth is,
I'm afraid I'm lost.

All right. Come in.

Now then, I think you'd better
tell me the real truth.

I think so, too.

My name is Winston Churchill,

a correspondent
from The Morning Post.

I escaped from Pretoria
last night

and I'm making for the border.

I have £75.

Will you help me?

By God, it's lucky
you came here.

It's the only house
for 20 miles

where you wouldn't
be handed in.

My name's Howard. I'm British.

I'm the manager of this mine.

There are three more of us
keeping the place going.

The Boers keep an eye on us. There
were some here this afternoon.

Looking for you.

Then perhaps I'd better go.

Nonsense.

We'll just have to
be extremely careful.

Have a drink, Mr. Churchill.

Thank you, Mr. Howard.

This is our engine
man, Mr. Dewsnap.

Stay with him for
a moment, will you,

while I get the food and blankets.
Are the others ready?

Waiting down below, sir.

I know who you are.

You're young Winston
bloody Churchill.

Don't worry, I'm from
Oldham, you see.

Me wife writes to me regular.

She told me how you got
beat at last election.

Don't worry, lad,

you'll get all their
votes next time.

Right, come on now,
watch your step here.

Don't trip over the tracks.

Round the other side.

I couldn't bring much food.

The housemaids are all Boers.
Can't take the risk.

Take one of these, lad.

Ever been down
a coalmine before?

I think you'll find it
an experience.

Not very comfortable,
I'm afraid,

but you mustn't move away
from here, whatever happens.

I'll try to bring you
some more food tomorrow.

You will be all right,
won't you?

Of course. It's very cozy.
Just like home.

Oh, Mr. Howard, gentlemen,
thank you very much.

My pleasure.

You've been shamefully careless
with this watch, Winston.

The repair bill
was very expensive.

If you can't take proper
care of a fine watch,

you don't deserve to have one.

Yes, Father.

I remained underground
for three days and nights

while the brave Mr. Howard
planned how to spirit me

across the border
to Portuguese East Africa

from whence I could take
ship to British territory.

Psst.

Thank you, Mr. Dewsnap.

Pretoria. Mr. Winston Churchill
has given himself up.

Johannesburg.

It is announced here that Winston
Churchill has been recaptured

dressed as a woman.

Pretoria.

Although Mr. Churchill
is still at liberty,

there is no doubt that he will
soon be a prisoner again.

Johannesburg.

It is reported that Mr. Churchill
has been captured,

disguised as a policeman.

Rome. So far as is known,

Mr. Winston Churchill
is still at liberty.

The entire world watches
the progress of his escape.

Paris.

There is no confirmation that
Mr. Churchill has been captured.

At the same time, however, no one knows his
whereabouts or if he is alive and well.

I was not yet aware

that I had leapt from a
latrine into world celebrity.

London.

Young Mr. Winston Churchill continues to
give the Boers a run for their money.

Everyone in Britain
is cheering him on.

New York.

Winston Churchill, who is
American on his mother's side,

is still free. The whole
world is praying for him.

I'm free.

I'm free.

I'm Winston Bloody Churchill
and I'm free!

Ladies and gentlemen,

the man who,
after his daring escape,

rejoined the Army
of his country,

distinguished himself
again and again in battle,

helped to free
his fellow officers

from the very same prison
he escaped from.

I give you...

Ladies...

Ladies and gentlemen of Oldham.

Friends...

I promised Mr. Daniel Dewsnap,

without whose wonderful help

I should not be here tonight,

that the first time
I returned to Oldham

I would give his love
to his wife.

She's here! She's right here!

Thus, at my second attempt,

the Tory electors of Oldham
sent me victorious

into the mother of Parliaments.

The Times.

In raising his amendment against the
government's bill on military expenditure,

young Mr. Winston Churchill,
in his first major speech,

seems bent, after one short and
promising year in the House,

on repeating the most disastrous
mistake of his father's career.

I don't understand.

I wish I could understand.

Does it really matter?

Yes, it does matter.
It matters very much to me.

I never understood your father
when he did what he did,

throwing his life away.

And now you're
doing the same thing.

Only this time
I know in advance.

You're being dramatic.
I'm not throwing my life away.

But you are, my darling.

Everything you've
worked so hard for.

I've had a note
from Arthur Balfour.

No, thank you.

He says the Prime Minister
is very angry with you.

Winston, you can't attack the three
most important men in your party,

in the government, and think
that they'll forgive and forget.

You'll be finished
after tonight.

We'll see.

Oh, Winston.

It isn't Pamela, is it?
Because if it is...

Pamela? Oh, of course not.

Of course, I loved Pamela.
I still do.

I'll never love another woman.

But she had every right
and reason to marry an earl.

A belted earl,
as you Americans say.

I do wish you weren't
so friendly with Lloyd George.

Such an odious little man.

He has the most annoying
way of looking at women.

I'm sorry, darling, I must go.

Sign for me, will you, please?

Winston...

For my sake...

I'm begging you,
don't move your amendment.

Don't speak tonight. Please.

Good evening. Good evening.

Are you prepared
to face the savage beasts

who even now are lying
in wait for you?

As prepared as I'll ever be.

Excuse me, sir.

Oh, I'll deal
with this, Mother.

I intend to escort
your son to the arena.

You are very kind. Winston
speaks of you often.

Oh, we are great
friends, I trust,

despite our
political differences.

Your presence in
the House tonight

makes it a special occasion.

I am sure it will inspire
all the speakers.

And are you speaking tonight?

No, no, I shall be listening
with great interest

to your son.

Well, now, Winston, I
said I would escort you,

so let us go.

I hope one day to escort him

to the other side of the floor.

Heaven forbid.

Lovely lady, your mother.

Has she talked you out of it?

No.

They'll have your head.

Lord Salisbury never
forgets, as you should know.

Well, there'll always be room
for you in the Liberal Party.

Why don't you quit the
Tories and come over to us?

Never.

Good luck.

Excuse me.

To a thorough, sweeping

and almost revolutionary
reconstruction of the Army.

We have failed to rise to
the hopes of the country.

Hear, Hear!

Is there any
competent authority

who really believes that the
right honorable gentleman

has made the best
of his opportunities?

Hear, hear!

Hear, hear! Hear, hear!

Mr. Churchill.

Mr. Speaker,

I stand here tonight to
plead the cause of economy.

It may be at some other time

and under other circumstances,

I may take a directly
opposite position

but tonight I speak on behalf of
military economy and retrenchment.

Hear, hear!

The Secretary of State for War

is asking, indeed demanding,

a great deal of money.

I do not think
he should have it.

Hear, hear.

I say it humbly,

but with, I hope,
becoming pride

no one has a better right
to this position than I have,

for it is a cause
I have inherited,

and it is a cause for which the
late Lord Randolph Churchill

made the greatest sacrifice of
any minister of modern times.

I am glad
the House has allowed me,

after an interval of 15 years,

to lift again the tattered flag

that I found lying
on a stricken field.

It is quite recent history.

Lord Randolph was
Chancellor of the Exchequer,

Lord Salisbury was Prime
Minister as he is now.

And on this same issue
of economy.

Lord Randolph Churchill
went down forever.

But wise words, sir,

stand the test of time

and his words were wise.

Hear, hear.

I have frequently
been surprised,

since I have been
in this House,

to hear with what composure

and how glibly members,
and even ministers,

talk of a European war.

I say, sir, we must
not regard modern war

as a kind of game in
which we may take a hand

and with good luck
and good management,

play adroitly for an evening,

and when we have had enough

come safely home
with our winnings.

Hear, hear.

Oh, no, sir.

It is no longer a game.

A European war
cannot be anything

but a cruel
and heartrending struggle

which, if we are ever to enjoy
the bitter fruits of victory,

must demand, perhaps for years,

the whole manhood
of the nation,

the entire suspension of
peaceful industries,

and the concentrating
to only one end

of every vital agency
in the community.

Hear, hear.

Ah, yes.

It may be that the
human race is doomed

never to learn
from its mistakes.

We are the only animals
on this globe

who periodically set out to
slaughter each other for the best,

the noblest and the most
inescapable of reasons.

We know better but we
do it again and again,

in generation after generation.

It may be that our
empire, too, is doomed,

like all those that
have gone before it.

To continue to spill and waste
its best blood on foreign soil,

no matter what we say
or do in this place,

or think or believe or
have learned from history.

But, thank God,

for us there is still
such a thing as moral force.

And in spite of
every calumny and lie,

it is known that
upon the whole,

and it is upon the whole that
such things must be judged,

British influence is a healthy
and a kindly influence.

And so I say, sir,

at this particular
moment in history,

we would make a fatal bargain

if we allow the moral force

which this country
has for so long exerted,

to become diminished
or perhaps destroyed

for the sake of
the costly, trumpery,

dangerous military playthings

upon which the Secretary of State
for War has set his heart.

Hear, hear!

The Times.

Mr. Winston Churchill's outburst
brought forth some cheers,

but not, it should be noted,
from his own party.

Congratulations!
Thank you very much.

The Morning Post. London.

Mr. Winston Churchill
last night served notice

that there is a young lion
loose in the House

and the lion has sharp claws.

Well, well. Hmm.

I deeply suspect
what you've done tonight

and yet I have to believe

you were completely
sincere and very brave.

You know, Churchill,

you're a child of your class
and you may never outgrow it.

But you've got something.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

I looked for you but,
well, I couldn't find you.

I thought you might be here.

Well...

Do you think I still
have a career?

We shall have to wait
and see, won't we?

Hmm.

How do you feel?

Tired.

Tired, but free.

It's odd. I feel free.

Oh, sorry, darling. A brandy?

No.

I don't know.

It's like when I escaped.

When I first knew
I was really free.

It's odd.

Oh, Mother...

I saw a girl tonight.

Tall, fair-haired.

Rather lovely, I thought.

Dressed in pale yellow,
I think.

You didn't see anyone like
that in the gallery, did you?

Yes. There was one young woman

who more or less
fits that description.

Oh?

Well, you know everyone.
You wouldn't...

Well, yes,
as a matter of fact, I do.

You must mean
Clementine Hozier.

Your uncle Jack Leslie almost
dropped her in the font

when she was christened.

Oh! Did he now?

Yes.

It was an end and a beginning.

My darling mother continued
on her headlong, headstrong,

but always gallant
and courageous way,

whilst seven years later,

Clementine Hozier and I
were married

and lived happily ever
afterwards.