Original subtitles

Subtitling by Acorn Media (re-sync by moviesbyrizzo)

Daisy, have you not finished brushing the master's hat?

Mrs. Ganton obviously needs you in the kitchen.

I'm not a blinkin' valet,

and I'm not Mrs. Ganton's blinkin' kitchen maid, neither.

Oh, evening, Mrs. Ganton.

Evening, Rose.

- Hello, Daisy. - Hello.

Phew, hard day.

Stifling on that bus, even upstairs in the fresh air.

Still, it's a lark.

The people on that East End run, Daisy.

You should hear their language.

Bring us a bowl of water for my feet, will you?

Oh, they're dropping off.

No, I will not.

Sorry, I'm not your ladies' maid, Rose.

I beg your pardon.

DAISY: Ever since you've become an omnibus conductorette,

you've carried on as if you own this place.

Every night, asking me favours.

You're not like a servant anymore.

ROSE: Not like a servant anymore?

I'll have you know I serve my country and this house equal.

I do a full day's work,

then I come back and do a full day's work

clearing up after you, all in one day --

- DAISY: Aw, you poor thing. - So don't you be so cheeky.

I do four people's work -- Ruby's work,

Eddie's work, my work, and your work.

And that Mrs. Ganton don't know where nothings kept.

[Bell ringing] Nobody helps me.

My legs is dropping off

and my hands have gone all wrinkled and old, look.

Daisy, did you not hear me calling you?

It's the front door, girl.

It's not my place to answer the bell, Mr. Hudson.

It's not your -- It's if I tell you, my girl.

Off you go now, look sharp.

Take this up with you.

Quickly now, quickly.

She's having a brainstorm.

Yes, I rather fear it's her marriage affecting her.

She simply isn't mature enough

to handle the strain of an absent husband.

Or a present one neither.

Well, that remains to be seen, Rose.

But she's certainly no use to anyone

if she's continuing to behave --

Oh, Rose, please.

PRUDENCE: Hazel, my dear.

RICHARD: Prudence has called to see both of us.

PRUDENCE: On a mission of some urgency.

- Oh, Prudence. - You'll have a glass of sherry?

Uh, no, thank you, Richard,

I'm trying to give it up, as an example.

RICHARD: To whom?

Well, to everyone.

I mean, the nation.

Well, there's nobody here except us.

Then I'll have a glass of sherry.

Oh, Richard, you do look elegant.

Hard work suits you.

Are you going out on Admiralty business?

Yes, and dining afterwards at the Savoy

with three civil servants and their wives.

Hazel.

Oh, what fun to dine at the Savoy.

I never go anywhere these days.

One isn't even asked to one's friends' houses anymore.

Oh, the dinner parties darling Marjorie used to give.

Do you remember them?

Yes, I do remember them.

Poor, wonderful Mrs. Bridges.

She must be feeling dreadfully underemployed.

Mrs. Bridges is at Yarmouth at the moment

with her sister and brother-in-law.

Their house was very badly shelled,

so I think she's fully employed dealing with that.

I've just come from a meeting at Lady Birkhampstead's house

to discuss her idea of giving a series of tea parties

in all our homes for wounded officers.

Now, isn't that a good idea?

Do you know there are wounded officers

wandering about London like dazed sheep?

Now, our idea is to herd them all together,

cheer them up with tea and buns and the company of nice ladies

and let them talk about their troubles.

And you want to borrow this house.

Ah, how quick you are, Hazel.

That's just what I want.

Mine really isn't suitable,

and your drawing room lies idle and inviting.

Yes, well, I'm sorry, Prudence,

but it's quite out of the question,

I'm afraid.

PRUDENCE: Oh.

Any particular reason?

Several.

To begin with, I cannot agree with your idea

that there are wounded officers

wandering around London like dazed sheep.

They have their clubs.

And most of them, if not all, have good homes to go to.

If anyone needs help and advice, it's the poor wounded privates.

PRUDENCE: Dear Hazel, the poor wounded privates

are well catered for by the YMCA canteens and places.

It's the wounded officers who are being neglected.

Anyway, what would privates make of a house like this?

Awkward, clumsy soldiers

spilling tea and crumbs all over the furniture.

The drawing room is shut up for the duration.

And Richard's study.

The servants have far too much to do.

So, on a purely practical level, Prudence,

there is no point in even discussing

having a tea party here.

Richard --

HAZEL: NO!

I must be allowed to decide this matter.

Marjorie wouldn't have hesitated.

Lady Marjorie would have refused for exactly

the same reasons I am -- to consider her servants.

Oh, for Heaven's sakes, stop it, the pair of you.

Do you not realize there are far more important issues at stake

than endless, stupid arguments of this nature?

- But, Richard -- - It's quite immaterial to me

whether you have a tea party in this house or not.

I am going out.

I do suggest you consult Hudson first.

What a good idea.

Excuse me for being improperly dressed, sir.

I am just getting ready to go out on duty.

Oh, that's quite all right.

Shall I fetch you a cab, sir?

No, thank you, Hudson. I shall enjoy the fresh air.

Oh, that hat's been very well brushed.

Very good, sir.

Oh, Hudson?

My lady.

I was just asking Mrs. Bellamy whether we might use

the drawing room for a tea party for wounded officers,

and she was a little bit worried, weren't you, Hazel?

She was afraid that it might be too much work,

too much of a challenge.

Oh, no, my lady.

You can be sure it's exactly the kind of challenge

we'd be happy to rise to.

Are you certain, Hudson?

Do think carefully.

Lady Prudence will quite understand.

No, no, madam, have no worries on our behalf

with such a worthwhile cause.

What sort of numbers did you have in mind, my lady?

Well, what sort of numbers could you manage, Hudson?

Oh, well, as many as could comfortably

fill the drawing room, my lady.

Oh, splendid, Hudson, I knew I could rely on you.

Well, that all seems to be arranged.

Thank you, Hazel, it's very noble of you

to put yourself out.

I'll let you know the details later.

Ooh!

Who are you? What do you want?

[Australian accent] Uh, I'm sorry.

Nobody heard me knocking at the back door.

DAISY: You give me ever such a fright.

MAN: I'm sorry.

I used to know a Miss Rose Buck who worked here.

DAISY: Oh, well, she still does.

MAN: Oh, she does?

Well, I'm in London on a bit of leave,

and I thought I'd come round and look here up,

you know, and the rest of the staff.

Rose wouldn't be here now?

Is she in the house, upstairs or something?

DAISY: I know you -- I've seen your photograph.

Yeah? Must be quite a while back.

DAISY: You're Gregory.

GREGORY: That's right, Gregory Wilmot.

Is Rose here?

No, no, she works as an omnibus conductorette in the daytime.

She gets back about 6:00.

GREGORY: Bus conductor?

Well, that's where we first met, on a bus.

DAISY: Oh, she said it was a tram and you sat on her cake.

Yeah, that's right. It was a tram.

What's your name?

Daisy.

GREGORY: Pleased to meet you, Daisy.

DAISY: Yeah, I was in hospital last time you come,

and they all talked about you.

GREGORY: Oh, yeah?

Well, I remember Edward, the footman.

DAISY: I'm Eddie's wife.

GREGORY: You are? Well, that's very good.

I liked Edward. Is he here now?

DAISY: No, no, he's with the Middlesex Regiment,

up at the front.

Oh, well. Mustn't worry too much.

Mrs. Bridges still here?

- Mm-hmm. - Famous cakes.

Mr. Hudson still the butler?

Yeah.

Yeah, I remember I had a bit

of a barney with him about politics.

Oh, all in good spirit, mind.

At least I think it was.

Daisy, I don't know what you heard about me and Rose.

Oh, well, I think she thought

you was married already or something.

Yeah, that's right.

Ah, it was all a misunderstanding.

We wrote to each other and cleared it up in the end.

And I'm over it now.

Well, she kept your photograph.

It's in a drawer in our room.

GREGORY: Oh, is it?

Do you know if she ever brings it out?

Do you remember me?

Gregory Wilmot.

Rose's old friend.

Gregory Wilmot.

Well, goodness.

What are you doing here, Sergeant Wilmot?

Well --

He's just come to look Rose up,

Mr. Hudson, for old times' sake.

Yeah, that's right, I was in London on a bit of leave

and I thought I'd come round and see how you were all getting on.

Yes, well, I'm afraid she's not here at the moment.

I must say, frankly, I'm surprised

you should wish to see her again, after what happened.

Oh, well, I don't bear any grudge, Mr. Hudson.

I understand it now, it was asking too much of her

to uproot herself and go to an unknown country

and leave all of you.

I know that she looks upon you as her family.

Well, that's very magnanimous of you.

He never was married, Mr. Hudson.

He's got nothing to blame himself for.

Yes, I know that. Thank you, Daisy.

Rose did later confide in me that she'd made a mistake.

She certainly had.

Still, water under the bridge now.

As you say, water under the bridge.

Oh, I see that's

an ANZAC badge you're wearing.

Yes. That's right.

HUDSON: I've read about the exploits

of our Dominion forces in the newspapers.

You appear to have done well in difficult conditions.

GREGORY: Well, it wasn't too pleasant.

Daisy was just telling me

Rose usually gets home about 6:00,

so perhaps I --

Yes, she does, but I'm afraid

it's not very convenient to see her then.

She has her household duties to catch up on.

Does she ever get any time off?

Well, she has a half day on Saturdays.

Ah, Saturday.

Unfortunately, time is something

we are all rather short of these days,

and I must get back to my work.

Right.

Nice to see you again, Mr. Hudson.

And you too, Daisy.

Give my regards to Rose

and tell her I'll look in on my next leave, if I may?

Yes, of course.

We'll tell her that, Sergeant Wilmot.

Goodbye.

Goodbye, Mr. Hudson.

Daisy.

Goodbye.

If you want to see Rose now,

she's on a number 25 omnibus,

Victoria to Ilford route, all right?

BOY: Paper!

BOY: Paper!

Paper -- read all about it!

Paper!

Paper, read all about it.

Paper!

Paper!

Read all about it!

Paper!

[Baby crying]

Any more fares, please.

Fares.

Fares, please.

Fares.

All the way, please.

Rose.

I'll, uh,

I'll see you at the terminal, shall I?

Excuse me, I have to talk to you.

Your uniform -- were you in Palestine?

Yeah, yeah, that's right,

but only for a short while.

WOMAN: Yes, I knew it.

My husband, you see,

fought alongside the Australians in Palestine.

You were all heroes to him --

such marvellous valour and discipline.

He used to tell me in his letters.

He was so angry.

He was convinced that the British people

weren't being told how much the Dominions were doing.

I have his last letter here,

before he was killed in Jericho.

Please, read what he says about you.

Thank you.

Yeah, that's very nice.

It's very kind of your husband.

I'm having tea with my sister in Ilford.

If you're not doing anything else,

we'd be very happy if you'd join us.

My husband would be very gratified

to know that I'd met you

and that I'd been able to offer you some hospitality.

Well, I'd like to very much,

but unfortunately I do have another appointment.

Otherwise --

How ridiculous. Yes.

I've offended you.

No, no. You haven't offended me at all.

I'm not in the habit of talking to complete strangers.

No. I really appreciate the --

Stupid. Embarrassing.

Absurd.

Can I take you somewhere else?

A proper tea shop?

ROSE: I haven't got enough time.

GREGORY: Yeah, but I don't work here.

They're going to chuck me out.

ROSE: They won't notice.

Same hats.

[Laughing] That's right!

That's very funny.

It's good to see you, Rose.

You haven't changed one little bit.

ROSE: Go on, I must have done, two years.

Nearly aged ten years, seeing you on the bus.

Why didn't you warn me? Could have had heart attack.

GREGORY: Well, I had to wait quite a while at that bus stop.

Passed me going the other way.

What's this I'm eating?

Could have broken me flamin' teeth.

ROSE: Should have gone with your lady friend on the bus then.

- Yeah. - What a nerve.

Yeah, well, I think she was just worked up about things.

ROSE: It didn't look like that to me.

GREGORY: Yeah, well, I'm here with you, aren't I?

[Laughs] Yes.

How long leave you got?

GREGORY: Friday.

Then I go off on a reinforcement holding unit in Gloucestershire.

- Not fighting? - No.

I'll go to France eventually.

Do you know, I spent a whole week wondering

if I should come and see you.

ROSE: You wasted a whole week?

GREGORY: I didn't know what kind of a welcome I'd get, did I?

After you left me at the docks, I --

ROSE: Well, don't go on about that.

You're here now.

GREGORY: That's all very well for you, Rose,

but I felt pretty hard done by.

ROSE: I did write and try to explain.

GREGORY: Yeah. Yeah, you did.

It was a good letter.

And I accepted your decision.

Ah, it's all over now.

We can be friends.

Did you have a bad time?

GREGORY: No, not as bad as some.

I suppose I've been one of the lucky ones.

All in one piece, anyway.

Still got your farm?

GREGORY: Yeah, yeah, it's doing fine.

I've got some people looking after it.

It seems to be holding up quite well.

ROSE: I suppose women have to look after it,

with the men away fighting.

I'm not married, Rose, if that's what you mean.

How did you know what bus I was on?

Uh, Daisy told me.

Oh, you been to Eaton Place?

Yeah. Seen Mr. Hudson again.

Seemed quite friendly.

Praised our Dominion forces in Gallipoli.

ROSE: Like your lady friend on the bus.

GREGORY: Yeah.

Do you want the truth?

Do you want to know what really happened?

Oh, I was at the landing, all right, one of the first.

All I can remember was I jumped out of a boat in the dark,

Walked five yards, got a bullet in my shoulder

and fainted clean out.

Next thing I knew, I was back in bloody Alexander office

before I knew I'd left it.

I went back later, when it was quieter.

Poor arm.

Nah, it's nothing.

Just got me here -- odd twinge now and again.

Otherwise.

Do you want to have a look?

Not here!

I suppose if I'd gone with you to your farm,

I'd be stuck in it right now,

Waiting for you to get yourself killed.

GREGORY: It wasn't my fault there was a bloody war, Rose.

ROSE: Watch your language. And don't be so touchy.

Go on, eat your bun up.

Where you staying?

GREGORY: Dorothy and Hamish, Potters Bar.

Oh, you met them, remember?

ROSE: How could I forget?

GREGORY: Well, they're putting me up in their front parlour.

ROSE: Dorothy looking after you all right, is she?

GREGORY: Yeah, quite well.

It's certainly nice to see you again, Rose.

I expect you're very busy these days.

Oh, not that busy.

So we can meet again, then, before I go back?

Oh, I don't see anything stopping us.

Mr. Hudson, he --

Him? Don't want to take any notice of him.

Oh, that's good, then.

I could take you to meet

Dorothy and Hamish -- They'd like to see you again.

We were only talking about you the other day.

ROSE: All right, I don't mind going,

if that's what you want.

I don't mind, Rose. It's up to you.

All right.

MAN: Off we go then, Rosie.

Back to work, love.

Oh, um, This is Charlie, my driver.

Gregory Wilmot, friend of mine from Australia.

Whatcha, Gregory.

Mr. Wilmot's been fighting in Gallipoli.

Got himself wounded.

Oh, yeah? Where's Gallipoli?

GREGORY: Dardanelles.

Ah, fighting Fritz, was you?

- Ahmed. - Eh?

Ahmed. Johnny Turk.

Oh, the bashee bazooks. Yeah, I've heard of them.

Well, come on, there, sweetheart.

Don't she look lovely in a uniform, eh?

Don't you, darling?

Get off.

Look, I finish at Victoria, 6:00.

Meet me then?

GREGORY: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, fine.

ROSE: Here, let me in a minute.

I'll probably get all me fares muddled.

CHARLIE: Come on, Rosie.

ROSE: Don't keep me waiting.

Where the heck am I?

Rose!

Rose!

Rose!

Rose!

Oh! Hold up, quick.

You're in trouble, Rose.

ROSE: Why?

'Cause you're late. And Mr. Hudson wants to see you.

I've been working 50 minutes

longer than what I should have been.

You found her all right, then, Sergeant Wilmot.

Yeah, all thanks to you, Daisy.

Why don't you go and put the kettle on?

Come into the servants' hall, Gregory.

Sit down.

Thank you.

[Sighs]

Oh, do you want a hand?

Oh, thanks.

Your poor arm.

No, no, it's fine, fine.

There we are.

Oh, that's better.

Cooler.

Rose, you had a visitor --

Oh, good evening, Sergeant Wilmot.

Good evening, Mr. Hudson.

You'll never guess, Mr. Hudson.

I was on top of my omnibus, taking tickets,

and who should be sitting there but Mr. Wilmot.

Sergeant Wilmot, I should say.

What a strange coincidence.

ROSE: I know, isn't it?

He's just come back for a cup of tea.

Don't mind, do you?

HUDSON: No, no.

ROSE: He's promised not to talk about politics, haven't you?

Well, I hardly think political discussions

are "revelant" at the moment.

I'm sure we're all united in the common cause.

GREGORY: That's right, Mr. Hudson.

Smash the enemy.

Mr. Hudson follows the war on maps, don't you, Mr. Hudson?

But when you can't get hold of any,

he draws them himself and sticks flags in 'em.

I'm sure Gregory'd be interested in seeing them, wouldn't you?

Oh, yeah, yeah, I'd be most interested.

Well, as a matter of fact, I -- I did take quite an interest

in the Gallipoli campaign, and I have got a map.

ROSE: Why don't you fetch it?

HUDSON: Shall I?

GREGORY: Yeah, yeah. I'd like to see it.

Well, we have got a wee bit of time to spare.

Miracle.

Must be your uniform.

GREGORY: Nah, nonsense, Rose. My personal charm.

Charm the birds off the trees if I want to.

Now, now, didn't mean that.

Oh.

Has there been anybody else in your affections?

GREGORY: Well, Rose, two years, I'm only human.

ROSE: Don't want to hear about it, then.

[Laughs] No. Come on.

One year getting over you,

next year I was fighting Johnny Turk.

What about you? All that bus conducting.

Don't get enough time.

GREGORY: Yeah -- handsome young drivers, though, eh?

Now, this map here, Sergeant Wilmot,

rather a rough approximation of the peninsula, I'm afraid.

Sit down, Sergeant, sit down, please.

Now, Asia Minor here, you see.

Gaba Tepe, Achi Baba mountains --

You seem to know more about it than I do, Mr. Hudson.

Oh, hardly.

Now you would have beached about --

about here, would you not, at Suvla Bay, on the 25th

or the 26th of April last year, right?

GREGORY: Here, that's right.

Spot on.

It was the way he went about finding me

It was the way he went about finding me

that I thinks so marvellous.

He waited almost all day at the bus stop

for me to come along, then he went all the way

to Ilford with me and we had tea together,

then he come all the way back.

And he's met me twice after work since.

HAZEL: Then he must be serious.

ROSE: Oh, I think he is, madam.

When I think of the awful way

I treated him last time -- oh, Lord.

Still, he seems to have forgiven me,

and it's better than it ever was before.

Older and wiser, I suppose.

But I know if he was to ask me to marry him this time,

I wouldn't think twice about it.

Oh, that is, if you advised it, madam, in wartime.

HAZEL: Oh, Rose, you mustn't think of the war.

That's going to end sometime.

But do you think you could face living in Australia?

ROSE: Oh, yes, madam, it's the land of opportunities now.

Even more than this country.

And I don't want to be in service all me life.

I don't want to discourage you, Rose, in any way.

But what has happened to make you change your mind?

ROSE: Oh, don't know, madam.

Maybe absence made the heart grow fonder.

Well, if you really feel confident, and he asks you,

you must be ready this time

and not let the chance slip away.

Thank you, madam.

That's what I hoped you'd say.

Oh, ho, ho.

There.

That's it.

Put it down there.

Down there, love.

DOTTY: There, that's it, I think.

Specially for the little housemaid.

Now none of that talk, Dotty.

She's Gregory's guest,

and we want to give them a nice evening.

'Course we will.

Just hope the little lady doesn't get

any ideas above her station like last time, that's all.

It was Gregory who got all the ideas.

You can't blame her for them.

Pour me a drink, will you, dear?

You've had a couple already, Dotty.

Pour me a drink, please, Hamish.

Here she is, here's the girl, captured off a 25 omnibus.

- Ah. - Hello, dear.

Come in, don't be shy.

Come in, Rose.

Nice to see you again after all this time.

A bus conductorette, so Gregory tells us.

Not a very pleasant job, I should imagine.

But then, you're used to unpleasant jobs, aren't you?

What unpleasant jobs, what are you talking about?

Come on, Rose, have a drink.

Now, what'll it be? A spot of whiskey?

Yeah, yeah. Go on.

Well, just a small drop, then, Hamish.

What terrible times we're living through.

Don't you agree, dear?

'Course, it must be different for you down in Belgravia.

You obviously get a lot of things

that we don't get up here.

I mean, we're out in the wilds up here.

It's a real struggle to keep alive.

Don't look like it.

Oh, well, we're putting on a little show for you, dear.

Little buffet supper for Gregory and his guest.

Yes.

You've started a bit early, haven't you, Dotty?

She just had one for her neuritis, that's all, Gregory.

Here you are, you better have one too, catch us up.

Cheers.

- Cheers. - Cheers.

Of course, Hamish would have been fighting, like Gregory,

but he's got this awful gammy leg.

Haven't you, dear?

He suffers terrible pain with it.

Don't think Rose wants to hear about Hamish's leg, Dotty.

No, of course she doesn't. Come on, Rose, sit down.

Sit down, tell us all about life on the omnibuses.

I hear there's this man who keeps getting on,

making faces at you.

Some loony who's been making

a nuisance of himself, I've heard.

Yeah, that's right.

Hey, Rose, tell 'em about her ladyship.

Now, she'd never been on a bus before.

Always had her chauffeur, I suppose.

Yes, that's right.

She didn't have any money with her.

Oh, I trust you booted her off.

Oh, I couldn't, she was a lady.

Would you believe it, eh, even in wartime --

one rule for the rich, one for the poor,

good old England.

If you don't like the country, why did you come back?

Oh, we are patriotic, aren't we?

Yes, I am. Aren't you?

I love this country, Rose.

Well, I'm risking my neck for it, aren't I?

Well, what does anyone say to a spot of dancing, eh?

Here, look at this.

Dotty brought this back with her this afternoon.

Don't ask me where she got it.

Shut up.

I do some collecting,

things people don't want, charity work.

[Music starts] HAMISH: There we are.

Not quite the Caf� de Paris, but a passable imitation.

Come along, Gregory.

HAMISH: Oh, that seems to leave just you and me, Rosie.

DOTTY: Last time we danced,

we were with our neighbours, Bob and Patty walters,

Weren't we, Hamish?

Oh, yes. There was an air raid whistle.

And we all ended up in a cupboard under the stairs.

Getting tipsy on whiskey.

Might happen again tonight.

Oh, what about your gammy leg?

Oh, that's --

Oh, yeah, Hamish, Rose is right,

you ought to go easy on it.

Look, I'll take your partner and you can, uh --

refill the glasses.

Come and have a look at that potted plant,

it's the only bit of real live jungle in Potters Bar.

[Gregory sighs]

Oh, Gregory.

DAISY: Did you have a nice time, Rose?

All right for some.

Oh, Daisy, I thought you was asleep.

Oh, I can't sleep.

Where have you been?

See some friends of Gregory's at Potters Bar.

What's that?

That ring, did he just give it to you?

No, matter of fact, he gave it to me a long time ago.

Oh, when you was engaged before.

Yes.

Didn't you never give it back?

Didn't ask for it back.

Are you going to start wearing it again?

Well, I was thinking of wearing it at work, 'cause --

well, you get so many rough types taking liberties,

and I thought if I wore it, it would put them off.

What does Gregory think about that?

He don't know. And it's Sergeant Wilmot to you.

All right, Rose, don't bite my head off.

I mean, a man's got to know, don't he,

if you're wearing his ring?

Yeah, I suppose you're right.

You could wear it in here though, at nights.

I shan't tell a soul.

Oh, hello, Sergeant Wilmot,

Oh, hello, Sergeant Wilmot,

I'm afraid Rose won't be back for some time.

She's working. Yes, I know.

It was you I wanted to talk to, Mr. Hudson,

if you can just spare a minute.

Of course, of course, come away there, my boy.

Sit you down, sit you down.

Now, what can I do for you?

I've just heard this morning

I'm on 48-hour standby to go to France.

Oh, I see.

Well, I wish you godspeed.

Thanks, Mr. Hudson.

But it's not that that I'm worrying about at the moment.

It's Rose.

You see, when I came back here, it was just meant

in the true spirit of friendship, to you all,

you know, looking up old friends.

I really, seriously, didn't mean to start up anything with Rose.

I'd got over my disappointment,

and I naturally thought she'd done the same.

But I certainly didn't mean to -- well, spark her off.

And that's what I think I've done.

It isn't that I don't have great affection

and respect for her, and if things were different --

but they aren't.

I just don't feel I can offer her the kind of life

that I had worked out for us.

Your sheep farm in Australia, it's in financial trouble?

No.

Perhaps the trouble's in me.

You see, I like things neat and tidy, no loose ends.

What really worries me is going to the front in 48 hours.

Now, I know she's going to expect me to --

well, to say something, to make some kind of a proposal.

And I really don't feel I can do that.

What you're saying, in effect, is, you don't love her anymore.

Ah, strong word, Mr. Hudson.

One I've always tried to avoid.

Maybe that's been the trouble, I don't know.

All I do know is, I made

a terrible mistake, coming back here.

You see, I've led her on into expectations.

I don't want to hurt her feelings.

I'm sorry about it.

I'm in a jam.

I'm glad you've come to me, Gregory.

No one knows Rose better than I do.

I should like to help you.

Now my advice,

for what it's worth --

It's worth a great deal, Mr. Hudson.

Is that you should write a letter,

here and now, before you leave.

But saying what?

I can't tell her what I've just told you.

I'd feel a fool.

You're saying, in kindly terms,

that you're not going to see her again.

Not even to say goodbye?

Not while your feelings are such as they are.

Now, it may seem a wee thing harsh --

Oh, I can't tell her

a thing like that, Mr. Hudson.

It's going to kill her.

With respect

to your undoubted qualities, Gregory,

there are other pebbles on the beach.

Rose is out a great deal, meeting people on the omnibuses.

She's open to the possibility of romance as she never was before.

Now, I'll go and get a pen and some writing paper in my pantry,

and we'll compose this letter together, shall we?

Just you wait here a wee minute.

I know you don't want to talk about this beastly tea party

any more than I do, Richard, but it is becoming

increasingly clear to me that Prudence is waging

a subtle campaign to take over this house and everything in it.

And rather than face up to the unequal struggle,

I am prepared to abdicate here and now, if you wish,

and hand the whole thing over to her.

You're not listening.

Yes, I am.

Hazel, you must realize

that Prudence was Marjorie's oldest friend.

She knows more about this family than we know ourselves.

Oh, she has a number of tiresome qualities, I admit,

but over the years, they become quite endearing.

They might be endearing to you. They get on my nerves.

Well, they only get on my nerves

when I hear them in constant opposition to you.

Now, Hazel, I've got a lot of work to do,

and I cannot concentrate on anything

when I hear the endless clack of domestic trivia.

I'm sorry, Richard, but --

[Door slams]

Ah. Phew.

Oh, uh, Rose, this letter was handed in for you earlier today.

Oh.

Come along, Daisy, Mrs. Ganton needs you in the scullery.

Quickly, girl, quickly.

HUDSON: ls everything all right, Rose?

Did he come here, Mr. Hudson?

Deliver this in person?

Yes, I believe he did, Rose.

Did you see him?

Yes, I saw him.

Rose --

Did he speak to you about me, Mr. Hudson?

Well, briefly.

You know about this, don't you?

You know what's in it.

You put him up to it.

HUDSON: No, Rose.

ROSE: You don't want my happiness.

You don't want me to leave this place.

Oh, don't be absurd, girl.

You don't, or you wouldn't have made him write it.

You can't deny it, Mr. Hudson, them's your phrases.

I can hear your voice saying them.

He had already decided, Rose, before he came here.

I merely helped him.

Helped. Oh, yes, you helped, all right.

You've always had it in for me.

Didn't want me to go with him last time.

It was listening to you made me not want to go.

You'll always stop me, won't you?

I'll have to stay in this house and grow old till I rot.

Rose.

Why can't you let me have a life of my own?

HUDSON: I believe the letter

was a good letter, madam,

an honest and responsible letter.

You saw it?

HUDSON: I helped Sergeant Wilmot compose it.

HAZEL: what?

At his own request, madam.

I see.

Well, Hudson, l wish you'd consulted me first.

I know Rose probably better than most people,

and I should have liked to have talked to Sergeant Wilmot

before any letters were written.

Letters, they're so final.

Sergeant Wilmot is going out to France, madam,

and he felt it would be dishonest

to continue the relationship.

It would be unfair and possibly damaging to Rose.

Is she not damaged now?

She is a little subdued, madam.

But she went off to her work on the omnibus

this morning as usual.

Bring her straight up to see me when she returns.

Oh, madam, I feel --

Thank you, Hudson.

Now, come on, dear.

You did the right thing, you know you did.

So have a drinkie

and put the little parlour maid right out of your mind.

Oh, dear, oh, dear, oh, dear.

What a terrible storm.

It was lovely five minutes ago.

What's this? What's she doing here?

Where is he?

Oh, there he is, my dear, he's in the conservatory.

Come along now.

Come on. That's the way.

We'll just leave them alone, Dotty, shall we,

to have a nice, quiet little chat together.

There.

Come away, Dotty.

You'll kindly let me do what I like in me own home, Hamish.

What did you come for, Rose?

Hamish brought me.

Phhh, smell of these plants, can't stand 'em.

GREGORY: I didn't think you wanted to see me.

ROSE: I don't, much.

GREGORY: I mean, I thought I'd said everything.

ROSE: Oh, yes, you've said everything, but what about me?

Am I not allowed to say anything?

GREGORY: Well, I thought you'd probably write.

ROSE: An insulting letter like your'n?

GREGORY: It wasn't insulting.

ROSE: Wasn't it?

And the whole staff knew about it.

You were there all afternoon,

composing your literary masterpiece,

and then waiting for me to open it, see if I'd cry.

- Now, Rose -- - Only I didn't cry.

Wouldn't give them the satisfaction.

I've got too much pride.

I went straight upstairs and I tore your photograph

into tiny little pieces, the one what I've had for two years.

What do you think of that?

- I think -- very natural. - Natural.

Very understandable under the circumstances.

Couldn't even write it yourself.

Had to get Mr. Hudson to help you.

Didn't they teach you to write at school, Mr. Big Sheep Farmer?

- Now Rose, steady on. - Oh.

Did Mr. Hudson tell you?

Didn't have to. Written all over his face.

Rose, I didn't mean --

Didn't mean?

Why did you get on my bus, then?

Why did you come looking for me so special?

Well, it wasn't so special, was it?

No?

Well, I mean, I couldn't call on them at Eaton Place

and not see you, now, could I?

You never loved me.

Not this time.

I meant more friendship.

What's that? What are you doing?

That's our engagement ring, in case you don't remember.

I could sue you for breach of promise.

GREGORY: Oh, no, Rose, I don't think you can do that.

ROSE: Oh, yes, I could -- you proposed to me

in front of the entire staff of 165 Eaton Place.

GREGORY: Did I?

ROSE: April 12, 1914.

GREGORY: Oh, yeah, but --

ROSE: Don't worry, I'm not going to.

I got too much pride.

You take somebody else back to your hot, dusty farm.

I just hope you don't treat her as bad as you've treated me.

HAMISH: Rosie --

DOTTY: The little madam.

Don't you worry, dear, you let her go.

You're well rid of her.

Now, I want to talk to you, alone.

Do you mind leaving us, please?

- Now, hold on. - Now, shove off!

No, that's fine.

ROSE: What you doing here?

How'd you get here, anyhow?

- On the bus. - Not mine.

No, not yours. The one before.

What does it flamin' matter?

ROSE: What do you want?

GREGORY: I'll tell you what I want, Rose.

I want you to see my point of view.

ROSE: Oh, not again.

GREGORY: Now listen --

ROSE: Everyone's staring.

GREGORY: I don't give a damn!

ROSE: You're spilling my tea.

GREGORY: Can we go somewhere else?

ROSE: I've got nothing to say.

GREGORY: Now Rose, will you just listen to me?

Rose.

I admit that letter was probably a mistake,

but I meant it sincerely for the best for both of us.

- On. - I did.

Can't a man make a mistake?

And it wasn't very nice, you saying those things

in front of my friends, either.

ROSE: What things?

GREGORY: You know what I'm talking about.

ROSE: Brought you down in front of your friend Dorothy, did I?

GREGORY: Oh, now, don't be so ridiculous.

I've got nothing going for Dorothy.

I don't even like her much.

ROSE: You try telling her that.

GREGORY: What are we even talking about that for?

It's us we've got to sort out.

Now, I'm going to France in the morning, and I don't --

I don't know what you want from me.

ROSE: I wanted some honesty

about our feelings for each other.

GREGORY: I've given you that in the letter.

ROSE: Pardon me, but what you said in the letter was,

you was going to France, wasn't good enough,

and you had nothing to offer me.

Do you think that's being honest?

What do you think I want? Buckingham Palace?

Never thought you would so lower yourself.

I mean, I'm no great catch,

no one's snapped me up in the past two years.

GREGORY: Nobody's snapped me up, either.

ROSE: No, right.

Must mean something, then.

GREGORY: Now, Rosie, we've had a good time together

these past few days,

but you know as well as I do that --

well, it wasn't like what it was before, now, was it?

Now, come on.

Now, you be honest.

All right.

No, it wasn't.

- Be honest -- - But shall I tell you why?

It's you what's changed, Gregory.

You used to have such marvellous ideas,

about life in Australia and things.

You used to be so positive.

It's what I loved about you, hearing you talk.

And I've waited to hear it this time.

But it's gone.

And I don't know where.

GREGORY: Yeah, well.

It's right, it's true, what you say.

But you've got to understand what it's like,

being out in a place like Gallipoli, what it does to you.

I don't mean getting hurt, I just mean --

these people don't have the first bloody idea.

ROSE: I know they don't.

GREGORY: The stink of death in your nostrils month after month.

Flies swarming over dead flesh.

I -- I trod on something once.

It squelched under my boot,

green and black, like a rotten mango.

It was a human face.

I'm sorry, Rose, I didn't mean to talk about that side of it.

But when you think, "He used to be a real person

like you and me,"

well, you see something like that,

and you start thinking about the whole human race.

Ah, I don't mean big, new thoughts

that are going to change anything.

I just mean private thoughts.

You find all the things you used to be sure about --

your work, your future,

the woman you love --

you just find that suddenly --

it's so meaningless,

utterly godforsaken, and bloody pointless.

Yes, but you've got to get that feeling back, Gregory,

that you once had.

Otherwise, you've got nothing to stay alive for.

That's what they all say.

But it's buried, it's gone out,

and anyway, it's better there's nobody.

ROSE: But it isn't going to happen, necessarily.

It hasn't happened so far, you've been --

You've been one of the lucky ones.

You've got to have faith.

GREGORY: Yeah, you are right.

Going to give me religion?

ROSE: No.

Well, then what, then?

You tell me.

ROSE: We...

well, I don't know.

Have a sort of understanding, I suppose.

Wait and see.

An understanding?

Mm, yes.

GREGORY: No.

It's all I want.

Nah, it's no good, Rose,

just some vague sort of promise.

It's not fair to you, and it's not my way of doing things.

There's only one way,

and that's to make you a proper offer of marriage,

which I do here and now.

But just a minute ago --

Yeah, and I -- never mind about that.

You've helped me make up my mind and you can't go back on it now.

Oh, do you think I want to?

We'll get married when the war's over.

First day? Very first day?

Yeah, right, the first day.

What, what happened to the ring?

I threw it at you.

Yeah, that's right, you did.

Well, we've got to get it back.

Now, I'll get Hamish to bring it round to you.

I'll get him to deliver it to you at Eaton Place.

And you just make sure that you wear it.

Of course I will.

And you show it to all these bus drivers.

I will, I will.

Oh, Gregory.

Right. Well, that's settled then.

What do we do now?

Can't set it back.

My train leaves very early in the morning.

You'll see me off?

ROSE: Of course I will.

Ah, first we'll have to see Mr. Hudson.

GREGORY: Oh, no.

Well, we'll have to, otherwise he won't believe me.

He'll think I'm making it all up.

GREGORY: Yeah, well, probably are, but I don't care.

ROSE: You might be.

GREGORY: Right.

We give him five minutes then.

Our time's precious.

Mind if I break this up?

Her and me have got a bus to catch.

I don't quite understand, Sergeant Wilmot.

I don't quite understand, Sergeant Wilmot.

It's simple, Mr. Hudson.

He's changed his mind, that's all.

Now, we've only got a few minutes,

just time for some tea, and then we're going out, right?

Mm.

Come on, Daisy, you help me make the tea.

All right.

Are you sure you really want this?

Not two days ago, you --

I know, I know.

I'm sorry I bothered you, Mr. Hudson.

Rose is very determined.

That's what I'm worried about.

Well, she just caught me at a low ebb

and helped pull me out of it, that's what happened.

So you're engaged to be married, again.

That's right, I hope to take her back to Australia

when the war's over, just like I'd originally planned it.

Well, she couldn't stay in domestic service.

You weren't expecting that, were you?

Why not?

Well, the war's changed people like Rose, Mr. Hudson.

It's given them a taste for freedom.

Meeting people.

I mean, you said it to me yourself.

It's the same for Daisy with Edward here.

I'll have no staff left, is what you're saying.

GREGORY: Well, not young people like Rose and Daisy.

But they owe everything to this way of life.

They should be grateful.

Yeah, for food and clothing,

but there's more to life than that.

You can't hold them back now.

- Are you two talking politics? - That's right.

Politics? Oh, is that what it is?

Yes, real politics,

not old men standing up in Parliament,

talking out of the top of their heads,

but things that really matter,

like improving the human condition.

Oh, but that's just philosophizing, Sergeant Wilmot.

What you accuse the old men of doing.

Yeah, well, we'll make sure they listen to us.

You just watch us.

I thought being an ANZAC

would have put an end to your fanciful ideas.

Aren't we all fighting for the survival

of the British way of life, which has been an example

to the rest of the world for centuries?

Isn't that what our young men,

with admirable support from our Dominions, are dying for?

Now, Mr. Hudson, we are fighting

a vile form of imperialism, that's true.

German imperialism.

But we're also fighting for --

well, a change in our own lives, too.

If you fight a war just to hang onto some old belief,

well, that's a negative aim.

You've got to be going for something better

at the same time.

Well, I hope you can manage this kind of talk, Rose.

I can't make head or tail of it.

I'm learning, Mr. Hudson.

Well, he couldn't do better than Rose, could he, Hazel?

HAZEL: He certainly couldn't.

GREGORY: Well, if you'll excuse us,

Mrs. Bellamy, Mr. Bellamy, I thought I'd take Rose out

for a quiet dinner before my train leaves.

Of course -- We won't keep you a moment longer. Goodbye.

- Goodbye, Mr. Bellamy. - Goodbye, Sergeant Wilmot.

It was very nice meeting you again.

And you, Mrs. Bellamy.

Mr. Bellamy. Thank you.

Charming fellow.

Yes.

And to think, he wouldn't have been invited

to Prudence's tea party.

[Laughs]

Oh, I can't go out that way.

You're with me now, Rose.

All right?

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