Original subtitles

I would now like to ask the House to join with me

in a minute's silence in memory of the late John Stonehouse,

the honourable member for Walsall North.

I realised that the right honourable gentleman and ladies

sitting opposite may find something unusual

about this government,

something that may puzzle them, make them scratch their heads.

For one thing, there are no relatives of mine in it.

What's more, there are none of my wife's relatives in it.

His wife!

Nor is there anyone in this government

that I went to school with or met at a club dinner

or while tramping across at Grousemoor.

The members of my cabinet are here for one reason

and one reason only--

because they are the best people for the job.

We are the best people for the job!

So much for the big fish.

Now for the minnows.

What about the bright, young things?

Who's banging on the door?

- John Stonehouse. - Oh, yes, Stonehouse.

What do we know about him?

Working-class boy, parents both trade unionists,

father a post-office engineer,

mother a former scullery maid.

- Married man? - Very much so.

Anything else?

Served in the RAF during the war.

Better give him aviation, then.

Here's to aviation.

The first rung on the ladder.

Who knows where it will lead?

I think you know exactly where it will lead.

Well, I could never have got this far without you.

And it won't always be easy, you know,

the juggling and everything.

You let me worry about that.

You just keep on climbing all the way to the top.

Your mother is a truly wonderful woman,

in case you ever doubted her.

And I'm a very lucky man.

- We're a team. - A team! You're so right.

That's exactly what we are, a team.

And so say all of us.

To Daddy.

- Daddy. - Oh.

I don't want you to go, Daddy.

I'm only going for a few days.

Daddy's going to see some aeroplanes being built.

Do you know when Daddy was your age,

Daddy belonged to a group

called the Woodcraft Folk?

And sometimes when Daddy was feeling a bit amiss,

his mama, your grandmama,

would sing him a special woodcraft song.

♪ Maybe it is raining where our train will ride ♪

♪ All the little travellers are warm and snug inside ♪

♪ Rocking, rolling, riding out along the bay ♪

♪ All bound for morning down ♪

♪ Many minds... ♪

Mr. Stonehouse,

on behalf of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic,

I would like to welcome you to Prague.

We look forward to a productive exchange of information

about our respective aircraft industries.

Thank you so much. I'm delighted to be here.

And may I introduce Irena Bala,

who will be acting as translator during your stay.

It's very good of you to take the time to have dinner with me.

Oh, it's not good of me at all.

So

- Dun-dun-zay-vee. - That means "to your health".

Ah.

Hmm.

So you, too, are linguist, Mr. Stonehouse.

So I expect you must get quite a lot of visitors from the West.

Quite a lot, yes.

But they're not always such good company.

Hm.

Uh, why don't I order for both of us?

Uh-huh?

We're going to have traditional Czech specialties.

Oh.

I'm in your hands.

Good.

- Coffee? - Oh, yes, super.

Mr. Stonehouse. Before we start today's tour,

we thought it might be instructive for you

to see a little film first.

Right. Oh, of course.

Yes, delighted.

- Proceed, uh, please. - Oh.

Mr. Stonehouse, you came here as an official representative

of your country.

And I hope you found the hospitality

to your liking.

Now we would like to invite you

to become an unofficial representative

of our country in Great Britain.

You want me to spy for you?

Sadly you and I, we find ourselves on opposite sides

of an ideological divide.

That curtain, if you will.

But ultimately, we're both working for the same cause,

the good of humanity.

Isn't that right?

So all we want is for you to pass

on any information that comes you way.

Information you will give me when the two of us meet

in London.

Thereby bolstering closer ties between our two nations.

Would I be paid?

Here it comes. Stand up straight.

- Welcome home! - Daddy!

Oh, hello, hello.

Oh, marvellous, marvellous to be home.

It's Stonehouse, John Stonehouse.

Come in.

And so as the Vulcan came into land in heavy rain,

the wheels skidded on the tarmac

and the pilot decided to abort the landing.

But as he did so, the blast from his jets caused extensive damage

to a petrol station on the A38 trunk road

just north of Bristol.

Hm.

It went completely unreported.

John, if I may, um, the key to this kind of work

is the quality of information the agent provides.

It has to be something that is, shall we say,

would at least pass an interest to the other party.

Right. Right.

It's all right, it's just early days.

Mm. Yeah.

Now, you're going to need a code name

to conceal your identity.

Well, those code names are randomly chosen in Prague,

so you shouldn't read any significance into them.

I see. And what's mine?

Twister.

What are you doing?

It's private.

Well, I-- I thought we didn't have secrets

from one another.

It's something for your birthday.

But that's two months away.

Hm.

Uh, please, take a seat.

So, what can we do for you today?

I'd like to open a new account, please.

In the name of John Thomson-- no "P"-- Stonehouse.

John Thomson Stonehouse, no "P".

And I'd like to make an initial deposit.

Oh, of course, Mr. Stonehouse, by cheque?

No.

Cash.

Very good.

It's going to be an absolute pleasure

investing in your marvellous company.

- Cheers. - Cheers.

I'm so pleased you could make it.

Us, too.

And I very much look forward to our doing business together.

Terrific.

This will be an Anglo-French venture between BAC

and the French company, Sud Aviation.

We intend to build an initial fleet of 50 aircraft

at a projected cost of £1.2 billion.

This will be the greatest leap forward in aviation

since the Wright brothers took to the air

more than 60 years ago.

The aircraft, provisionally known as Concorde,

will operate at supersonic speeds.

It will have a cruising speed of Mach 2,

and it will be able to fly from London to New York

in just three and a half hours.

Huh. Whoa.

Three and a half hours.

Three and a half hours.

That's faster than the speed of sound.

Twice as fast, I think you'll find.

Surely that's something you wanted.

Hmm. It would be, yes.

If it hadn't been on French television news two nights ago.

Hm?

You see another important thing

about, uh, being a spy

is that you have to get information

before everyone else, not after.

Well, it's like a-- a two-horse race.

First place, jolly good show.

Everybody happy.

Second place, well, not so good.

You have to try harder.

I should warn you that we work rather long hours around here.

That's fine for me.

It tends to play havoc with one's private life,

I'm afraid - That won't be a problem.

No, you won't want to go out dancing.

I think my dancing days are over.

Well, I can't imagine why.

And you have shorthand?

It's a little ropey, I'm afraid.

But I'm sure I'll soon pick it up again.

When I said that your hand was essential,

I meant more that it's likely to come in handy.

Is there anything else I should know?

You've probably noticed I have a slight speech impediment.

Some people find it distracting, especially on the telephone.

Oh, no, that wouldn't be a problem, not all.

It's charming.

Show him in, would you?

Prime Minister.

John, this is Charles Elwell,

head of counterintelligence.

So sorry, forgetting my manners.

Do take a seat, John.

Let me come straight to the point.

We have reason to believe that a minister in the government

has been passing information

to the Czechoslovakian secret services.

I'm sure you'll appreciate that, as head of security,

I had to take an interest in these matters.

Of course, Prime Minister.

Why don't you tell us about your involvement with

the Anglo-Czech Friendship Society.

Um.

Yes, I'm very glad that you've raised that.

Um.

It's long been an interest of mine, um,

Czech culture, all aspects of Czech culture, um, really--

um, art, literature, music.

Um, and as you may know,

um, the Czechs are renowned for their glassblowing,

um, particularly particularly in Bohemia,

where the-- the potash in the soil

helps produce a glass that's unusually pliable.

And this allows the glass blowers there to create

these extraordinarily complex designs.

And recently I've also begun

to take a keen interest in, um, Czech animation.

Yes, uh, thank you. I-I think we get the point.

These cultural links can often lead to misinterpretation.

That'll be all, Charles.

John, would you mind staying for a moment?

Now I've got that out of the way,

there's something else I'd like to talk to you about.

We've been having a little bit of difficulty

with Wedgie Benn.

It would seem that old Wedgie's got it into his head

that it would be a good idea

to remove the Queen's head from the Royal Mail stamps.

In the interests of social equality

or so he claims.

But I need hardly tell you

that Her Majesty did not take kindly to this idea.

Frankly, I've never heard it so put out.

All of which leads me to believe

that we might need a bit of a shakeup.

John, I would like you to become the new postmaster general.

But i-it's a lovely house, of course it is.

I just-- I just don't think it's-- it's very...

Very what?

Very us.

John. - Hmm?

Did you hear what I said?

Yes, of course.

And I-I'm not sure how-- how we're supposed

to afford it either.

Investments.

I'm sorry.

I've made a number of what have proved to be

rather inspired speculations.

And, um, and speaking engagements.

Well. In what?

I'm sorry?

What companies were these inspired investments

have you all seen?

Darling, I really do think that these sort of things

are best left to me.

After all, which one of us is a graduate

of the London School of Economics, hm?

Lovely. On we go, chaps.

Um, oh, let me--

Wait a second. Let me see.

Oh, that's the pink one. Wonderful.

In there, in the drawing room.

Straight through to the right.

Uh, straight away through all the way to the kitchen.

Super.

Oh! Be very careful with that.

That's one of my favourites.

Thank you. Carry on.

Um, what else do we have?

Biting, isn't it?

Straight though. That's the same.

That's the drawing room.

If this country is to have a highly efficient economy.

It is essential that we have a communications system to match.

Yes.

And that is why I am announcing the greatest overhaul

to the post office

in the organisation's 450 year history.

You're certainly on top of your game, John,

and not just on court.

- How do you mean? - That post office speech--

went down a storm.

People are talking about you.

What sort of people?

Well, people like me,

newspaper editors.

Oh, really? What are they saying?

They're saying that when Wilson eventually goes,

the members might choose to skip a generation,

go for a younger man,

someone with more appeal to a new generation of voters.

So, of course, it's all just speculation.

I mean, would be very rash to read much into it.

Informed speculation, no?

That's true.

That's true.

And I must say, I do admire "The Sunday Times"

for its political coverage.

And it's not as if Wilson can go on forever, can he?

I mean, Harry said-- Harry Evans--

he said that he thought I might appeal to a younger generation.

As a younger voter yourself,

do you-- do you think there might be anything in that?

- Very much so. - Oh, really?

- Do you. - Really?

- Really. - Oh.

Thank you. What a lovely coat.

Well, it's a blend of merino wool and cashmere.

You get the softness from cashmere,

but the, uh, marino gives it more durability.

Good night.

And thank you again, you're very...

What?

What am I? Tell me.

Chivalrous.

Good night, Sheila.

I'd like to open a new account, if I may.

Another one?

Assuming there are no objections?

Well, not-- not at all.

As many as you like.

Another account, you said.

Yes, in the name of Provident Executive Holdings.

Mm. A rainy day account.

Beg your pardon?

Providence preparing for future eventuality.

Ah, quite.

A two-tier postal system, first-class guaranteed next day

delivery in the morning, not in the afternoon,

and second-class for less urgent correspondence.

I thought I'd made myself clear.

This will completely revolutionise

the Postal Service, giving the customer more choice

in terms of both price and speed.

Hey, John.

We made an investment in you, a considerable investment,

and it's showing a very poor return.

If I wanted to talk about the Postal Service,

which I don't, I'd join a stamp club.

- Oh, well, I really don't-- - Enough!

Enough.

You're the worst spy I've ever come across, ever.

Seriously, you're the worst.

I warned you there would be consequences

if you didn't give us something useful.

What sort of consequences?

Well, there are three options.

Option one is that we stop paying you anything.

Well, I have three children at expensive private schools.

Of course, like all good socialists.

Option two is that you wake up one morning to find

your bare buttocks on the front page

of "The Daily Mirror".

You said there were three options, what's the third?

Both.

I do enjoy our late-night walks together.

When I'm with you, all my cares all seem to melt away.

So do I...enjoy them.

Sometimes I even find myself wishing...

- What? - ...that they didn't have to end.

Are you sure, Prime Minister? I mean, timing could be risky.

Well, the timing's always risky.

The latest polls have us nearly 20% ahead of the Tories,

and that's the biggest lead since polling began.

What's more, Ladbrokes

have the England team joint favourites to win

the World Cup in Mexico.

So if we don't call the election now,

we could live to regret it.

Well, do you really thinks so, Prime Minister?

I'm, uh, I'm not sure.

I-I-- - John.

John.

Would you say that I was a good-looking man?

No, let me answer that.

No one, not even my wife,

has ever suggested that I was in any way a knockout.

Mary says that when she sees me on the television,

she's reminded of an old saucepan.

And as for the other members of the cabinet,

well, there's no shortage of saucepans there either.

You, on the other hand, are a bit of a head-turner.

- Oh, no. - Yes. So I have been assured.

Frankly, I can't see it myself.

Me not being that way with y--

well, you get my general, uh, drift.

So I would like to ask you

if you would represent us on television on election night,

uh, waving the flag, as it were.

How do you feel about that?

Well, I-- I'd be honoured, Prime Minister.

If you waive it around vigourously enough, who knows?

There might be another promotion in it for you.

Perhaps something involving plenty of foreign travel.

Now, you knew how good you are on television.

Everyone says so.

Just remember to talk slowly and look at the camera.

Right. Thank you, darling.

I brought some throat pastilles

just in case.

Oh, um, uh, I-- Barbara,

I don't think you've met my secretary, Sheila Buckley.

Sheila, this is my wife, Barbara.

How thoughtful.

Mr. Mitchell Moore.

Mrs. Thatcher, how very nice to see you.

And Mr. Stonehouse, of course. Feeling confident?

Quietly.

I think we're ready for you now.

Oh, uh, I'm sorry.

Following the Conservatives' surprise victory

in the general election,

the new Leader of The Opposition, Harold Wilson,

has been making some key changes to his shadow cabinet.

But why? Being in Opposition is bad enough,

but surely there must have been something in the shadow cabinet,

transport even?

No, I'm afraid.

Harold didn't think you were quite 100%.

He felt it was time for a fresh start.

Oh, for God's sake.

- It'll be all right. - What am I supposed to do?

I can hardly be expected to live on an MP's salary, can I?

I'm finished.

Yesterday's man.

Now, now, enough of that. You can always bounce back.

- Do you really think so? - Of course.

Look at Winston Churchill.

But that-- that took 10 years and a World War.

It's Twister.

Hello? Hello, it's Twister.

Can you let me in, please?

It's John Stonehouse.

A loan, you say?

I-I'm afraid that a number of companies

that you set up seem to have run into some difficulties.

Connoisseurs of Claret, Ltd.

I agree, yes, that the figures there

have been somewhat disappointing.

Hmm. Uh, Excalibur Earnings Group.

Again, I would have to acknowledge

a degree of underperformance.

It is my understanding that the company has

in fact ceased trading.

Asbestos Oven Mitts, Ltd.,

the, uh, British Bank of Bangladesh.

What about Worldwide Consultancy Solutions, Ltd.?

That's performing quite creditably.

Indeed, but that is a joint company account,

so I'm afraid I can't allow you access to those funds.

I can't pretend that everything, um, has gone just as

I would have expected or hoped, and that is why--

I'm very sorry, Mr. Stonehouse.

No, no, no, I'm-- I'm aware

that the, uh, the school fees were overdue,

but as I tried to explain before,

this is just a temporary, um, problem.

Yes, yes, yes.

I'm aware that you're running a business, I understand.

But-- But as an elected representative of the people

and a former minister of the crown,

I would have thought that my word would be sufficient.

Please, please, I'm just--

I'm just asking for a little more time, that's all.

I-- perhaps I could come and give a-a little talk

at the school?

On life at the highest level of government?

I think there would be a lot of interest in that.

Well [Sighs] Well--

Well, if you continue to take that attitude

quite unreasonably, in my view,

there's apparently nothing I could, is there?

This-- This is a mess.

You're a mess.

You-- You've got to sort this out.

Just leave it to me.

♪ Rocking, rolling, and riding ♪

♪ Out along the bay ♪

Ah, Mr. Stonehouse, I'm afraid Mr. Grange is away.

I'm his deputy. - Oh.

Well, you're very young to be doing such a responsible job,

if you don't mind my saying.

Well, it's a pleasure to meet someone

with such a distinguished record of public service.

Oh, no.

I've always followed your career with great interest.

Not that it's over yet, I'm sure.

Um, so, unfortunately, um, I've been having a few problems

with one of our company accounts,

Worldwide Consultancy Solutions Group, Ltd.,

particularly with international transfers.

And so for ease of access, I'd like to put £10,000

from that business into another account.

- Another account? - That's right.

I see.

And what account would you like it transf--

Provident Executive Holdings.

So from a business account to your personal account?

Just until the problems have been resolved.

Morning. Birth certificate, please.

Paul Oliver Duggan, born in the parish of Sambourne Fishley,

3rd of April, 1929. - Fill in the form.

You'll find the 1929's

up the stairs and left at the right gallery.

Right. Thanks.

No, I did think it was good, but, for me,

the whole thing was let down by that utterly

implausible plot twist.

You know, the Jackal getting hold of a passport

in someone else's name by simply sending in

the birth certificate of a person who died years before.

I mean, that's absurd.

- Is it? - How do you mean?

I had a friend who used to work

in the public records office of Somerset House.

- Mm. - She was in births.

Turned out she had another friend also worked there,

only she was in deaths.

It was months before they realised they both

worked in the same place.

I don't understand.

Births never talked to deaths, deaths never talked to births.

There was no communication between the two departments.

They were completely separate and cross-checking nothing.

So I'm afraid, old Jackal's plan isn't implausible at all.

The wonder is that more people aren't at it.

Not that we'd ever know, of course.

- John. - Harry!

Hello. Nice surprise.

Although, it's not really a surprise, I suppose.

How do you mean?

Well, it's not every day the Prime Minister calls

a general election.

It's a great mistake, in my view.

I mean, I could see that things were becoming unworkable.

Nobody could deny that.

But it's gonna be a close call. - Right. I'm not--

I'm not here because of that, I'm here because of you.

Me? Really?

Do you think-- Do you think that if Harold loses again,

there might be a change of leader?

'Cause-- 'Cause I don't deny that I would be interested.

I mean, more than interested.

Frankly, between ourselves, it's always been a dream of mine

to-- to lead this country in its hour of need.

And I-I-I don't doubt that I might be a little bit

of a dark horse at the beginning anyway.

But if I could count on your support, Harry,

that-- that might make all the difference.

Uh, no, it's not about that, John.

- No? - No.

It's about a story which we're going to be running

in Sunday's paper.

- Oh. - About your business dealings.

We seem to have uncovered some inconsistencies.

Absolutely no question of dishonesty.

None whatsoever, Harry.

I deny those allegations in the strongest possible terms.

Hello. Yes?

It's the police.

Hello?

Yes, of course. I'd be happy to help the police

with any, uh, enquiries,

well, though as misguided as they may be.

No, no, no.

Any suggestion of fraud is preposterous.

It's simply preposterous.

Uh.

Unfortunately, I have to go away

for a few days on a parliamentary matter,

pressing parliamentary matter, as it happens.

And so I'm afraid this will have to wait till I come back.

Yes, yeah, thank you.

No-- No, goodbye, goodbye.

What's happening?

Is anything happening?

Well, the-- the police just telephoned.

I-I'd say that was something happening.

Oh, no, no, that's nothing of any consequence,

it was just the security issues with the House of Commons.

Everyone's a bit jittery.

You know how they get around election time.

Hm.

Hm.

- Hello. - Hello.

How are we?

How do you do?

Hello. Nice to see you.

Hello, everybody. Just here reminding you to vote Labour,

and let's get Howard Wilson back into power where he belongs.

Um, you all look very well, in fact.

I- I might have a little lie down myself.

Oh, dear, oh.

- Very poorly, I'm afraid. - Ah.

I'm sorry for your loss, Mrs. Carey.

Mrs. Carey, my condolences.

Thank you. That's so very kind of you to come.

Will you join us back at the house for some tea?

- Oh, I wouldn't want to impose. - Not imposing at all.

Joe would have been so proud.

Thank you.

Congratulations on the election result, Mr. Stonehouse.

Well, a bit of a scrape,

but we just managed to get over the line.

Great shame Mr. Wilson couldn't find a place

for you in his cabinet, though.

If only you were Prime Minister.

Would you just excuse me just for a moment?

Yes, of course.

Mr. Stonehouse, can I help?

Mrs. Carey, um, I'm afraid I seem to be lost.

Could you tell me where your toilet is?

- It's just there. - Ah. Thank you.

Since you're here, I wonder if I might ask you a bit

about your husband,

because I thought I might write a little obituary of him

for the constituency newsletter.

Yes, of course. What would you like to know?

Well, um, shall we start with his date of birth?

- Uh, June 7th, 1925. - Oh, I'm July 1925.

We were practically twins.

And, um, where was he born?

A little place called Whittington,

near Lichfield.

And I wonder if you could

give me some flavour of your life together.

For instance, did you like to go on lovely holidays?

Oh, yes. Wonderful holidays.

Happy times. - Marvellous.

Where did you like to go? - Oh.

Always in this country, never abroad.

Never?

Ridiculous, really.

My husband never even had a passport.

Morning. Birth certificate, please.

Joseph Albert Carey,

Born in the parish of Lichfield, June the 7th, 1925.

Fill in the form.

You'll find the 1925's up the stairs

and left at the gallery. - Right.

Thanks.

Where are you going, Dad?

- Uh, Miami. - Miami?

- Mm-hmm. - Wow. How long for?

Only for a few days, that's all.

Some people have all the luck.

You'll be back for my rugby match, though?

Oh, yes, of course.

I imagine Daddy will be eating a lot of burgers.

There'll be no chicken pie for you in Miami.

So sorry, I'm not terribly hungry.

It's nothing to do with me.

It's delicious as always.

Hello. Samaritans.

Hello? Hello. Samaritans.

How can I help you?

Hello?

Hello. Samaritans. How can I help?

- Hey, Dad. - Bye.

See you soon.

You know I love you all very much indeed.

Don't you ever forget that.

Good luck, Dad.

Oh.

Thank you.

What for?

Everything.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to United Airlines

flight UAA 742 to Miami.

Have a good flight, Mr. Carey.