Original subtitles

Hello, Rosamund.

Oh, we've come to take you out to the movies.

What?

Yeah, we're gonna see that new film

with the curfew. - No, I've seen it.

- I told you. - You can't see it again?

- No. - What's the matter?

You're not ill, are you?

Aren't you gonna ask us in?

Yes.

I expect to, of course, I'm sorry.

What's going on with her?

Well is gone, now look darling,

if you don't want to go to the pictures,

why don't you come and have a drink?

No.

Oh come on, Ros, don't be unkind to us.

- No. - It's six a pair on summer.

Or better still, why don't you offer us a drink here?

That's a present, that gin,

from my Director of Studies.

It's his birthday.

Yes, well you can't drink it all by yourself, can you?

Yes, well, that's just what I've been wondering.

I've nothing to put in the gin but orange.

Do you mind?

It's fine for me.

I thought I had some tomato juice

but I seem to have drunk it.

Who one earth is Mrs. Lester Baud Bowden?

Ros, you do have some odd friends.

Oh they're not my friends at all.

They're friends of Roger's.

They would be.

Why does Carlotta write to you and not to me?

What's all this about a short stowing in Calder?

She never tells me anything.

She is a cow.

You shouldn't read other people's letters.

You might find something you don't like.

No worse than reading other people's novels.

I find my novels are far more intimate

than my letters.

Well that's because you write feminine novels, Lydia.

Actually I got stuck in my new book,

don't have anymore to say.

No more to reveal, you mean.

Well, and what are you going to do about it?

I don't know, I just have to wait

for something else to happen that's weird.

Waiting for a new crisis,

there must be one just around the corner.

Don't you think, Ros, don't you think?

A new crisis, yes, I imagine so.

Or you could always manufacture one.

Why don't you get yourself a television set, Ros?

Then we could all sit here and watch it

instead of dragging ourselves out into the night.

Can't really afford it.

Can't afford it?

Come off it, Ros.

I bet you really don't like television, don't you?

Our Rosamund's a puritan at heart, you know?

She doesn't like anything that's fun.

That's true, Ros, isn't it?

Yes.

Funny, isn't it?

You should have gone with the others.

I wish you were mine.

No you don't.

You enjoy my platonic admiration.

It sets a higher value on you.

I just don't like to think of you

preferring that terrifying product of Eton and Cambridge

to me, that's all.

Who, Roger?

Poor Roger.

Unlike you, he's rich,

he's serious, and he's got a real job.

You're only good for decoration, you know?

Well why don't you marry him then?

Well why?

Nobody seems to enjoy being married very much.

You didn't, did you?

No.

But it had to be done just the same.

Bastard you all are, you drank my gin.

It's empty!

Why don't you sleep with me?

You ought to, you know?

No.

You like to be my good friend.

Lydia thinks that I sleep with both of you, you know?

You and Roger.

Well that's because she just can't believe anyone

could prefer him to me.

Give me a kiss, Ros.

Give me one of your lovely kisses.

All right.

Close your eyes.

Rosamund, you're decadence itself.

You really are, you know?

That's spiral flower.

Not at all.

The fault lies in you for soliciting such gifts.

Come on, come on, you've got to go.

You've got to get off, come on.

Well, not really.

Yes.

Do you mean you're expecting someone?

Yes, that might be the reason.

Oh, Christ, Ros, you could have said so,

then I could have gone with Mike and Lydia.

Look, I really didn't mean to...

Well, you know what I mean.

Thanks for the drink.

It was nice to see you.

Will you give me a ring?

Well I'll see you on Saturday anyway at Mike's.

Oh.

Yes, I expect so.

Well.

Well it's my turn to kiss you.

Have I time?

Just about.

Close your eyes.

Good night, Ros.

Oh.

Sorry, I didn't notice what the time was.

But where were you?

We waited for 15 minutes.

No, we had to go on, I mean.

But we have all those things to cross.

How awful, how awful.

You should have stopped him, Ros.

What could I have done, what could I have said?

Please, don't drink my gin.

I'm just about to drink it all myself

and jump into a bath with boiling water.

It's a rotten method, you know?

It's very unreliable.

Yes, is it then?

Well it's what they do in books, you know?

Come to think of it, you couldn't very well

have said anything, not with Joe there.

You haven't told him yet, have you?

Well it's not his, as a matter of fact.

Oh I see.

So what are you gonna do now?

I don't know, have it, I suppose.

Have what?

The baby.

What about your thesis, Ros, you can't!

No, I expect you are right.

You're absolutely certain?

Yes, of course I'm certain.

Tell you what.

I can give you an address.

It might not be any good.

It was given to me by a friend

to pass on to somebody.

But you could always give him a ring anyway.

She said say you're a student.

Yes, well so I am, after a fashion.

All right?

It's not bad.

I'm going to have a baby.

Oh, I thought you were.

What?

I said I thought you were.

What do you mean you thought I was?

Who told you?

Oh, nobody told me, I could see it for myself.

And frankly, in that dress.

Don't be rude, Roger.

It was the only one that was appropriate

for those respectable friends of yours.

My, my, my Rosamund,

don't get cross and don't start abusing my friends.

And do, in all our defence

did you getting all pregnant so casually,

what are they gonna do about you?

That's what comes with knowing a lot

of pseudo-intellectuals and layabouts.

I could never tell when you're joking.

He's married already, isn't he?

Who?

Your friend Joe.

Joe Hurt, who else?

Who else indeed?

Why isn't he going to marry you?

Because I don't want him to.

I haven't told him.

I only told you because I thought I ought to.

I mean it wouldn't have been fair, would it,

to let you go on taking me out

and me getting bigger and bigger every day,

and my not saying anything.

You don't feel like getting married?

Not to any man?

Not particularly.

As a matter of fact, not at all.

Well that's a pity.

'Cause I thought you might like to marry me.

What?

You shouldn't bite with your pizzas,

since I said I thought you might like to marry me.

I was asking you to marry me.

Good heavens, Roger, how noble of you

and how lucky for you that I declined

before you offered.

What an amazing notion.

I'm very touched.

I don't know what to say.

And I shan't say yes of course

but I should like to be able to thank you

in some fairly extravagant way.

You decline?

I decline.

I'm not gonna be allowed to take you out anymore then.

I don't think so.

Wouldn't be right, you know, wouldn't be proper.

I shall miss your silent enunciating company,

your bold eye on my large meals.

Don't be cruel, Roger.

You know I usually eat like a horse.

I only used to go out with you to eat,

you know perfectly well.

And now you don't fancy eating,

I can clear off, then?

Yes, well I expect you would have cleared off anyway.

Oh.

Not this.

And I shall look for your baby's announcement in the Times.

You must do these things properly, you know?

Amanda, I told you not to do that again.

Take your arm off, do you hear me?

Do you hear me?

Oh don't you shout at me, you rotten little thing.

Pick it up!

I don't know why I bother.

Don't you realise I'm tired?

Come along before I...

Dear Mama and Papa.

Perhaps I should let you know.

Hello.

Bye Ros. - Bye.

Ah, darling, hello, I was waiting here.

How are you?

The Family Planning Association.

Surely an august enough body

has got itself into such trouble

and its aims at respectability itself

compared with yours.

Well we do cover ourselves in our constitution.

We say we're there to advise, not to prescribe.

We refer all our cases to doctors.

You're simply an advisory body in fact,

don't you think?

A busybody, I get called from time to time.

Oh, you know, I had a letter this morning.

An obscene letter I think I would call it.

Good Lord, child, are you here already?

I was gonna come and meet you, wasn't I?

When did the train get in?

Half past three.

Oh dear.

Oh, well, never mind.

How'd you get back?

The tube, of course.

Well, how are you my child?

How was school?

All right.

Do you know Miss Gurnsey who runs Waywood Clinic?

How do you do?

How do you do?

Well, we'll have a cup of tea in a few minutes, shall we?

Would you like to go and tell Mrs. Todd

to put the kettle on?

Yes.

Is Beatrice home?

She's upstairs somewhere, washing her hair.

She's always washing her hair nowadays.

Must be some Freudian reason.

Something to do with that fiancee of hers.

Hello, B.

Ooh, you're back.

As you see.

There was no need to wait, you know?

It's only another few minutes.

Oh, I don't know.

No, I'm here, I'd like to wait.

It's very good of you to come.

I wanted to come, you see?

Write to us once in a while, won't you?

All right.

Yes, and get Beatrice and Andrew to do the same.

You look after yourselves.

I mean in that climate,

don't get any tropical diseases.

Air EC to Rome entering in by row.

Flight 162.

There, Humphrey.

I think that was us.

Hmm, was it?

Ah yes, so it was.

Well, well.

I've got the passports.

Good.

There's nothing else now.

Goodbye, child.

Bye.

Look after yourself.

Look after the flat, won't you?

Not too many parties.

No.

Don't work too hard.

And if anything wants doing, you'll let us know.

Well, might as well get along now.

No point in waiting around, is there?

Goodbye, my dear.

Bye.

Goodbye.

All right, I give up.

I can't think of anymore good advice, carry on.

But you want to tell somebody, Ros.

Somebody ought to be able to help you out.

What about your sister?

My sister's got three of her own.

Well get your mother home then.

Lord, Lydia, the last thing on earth I want

is my mother at home.

Look, it's none of my business but

what about this man,

whoever he is. - Look Lydia,

you don't know him.

He doesn't know it's happened

and I'm not going to tell him.

So let's forget about him, shall we?

All right.

Do you love him, whoever he is?

Love him?

I hardly know him.

I don't know, this place is so chaotic.

You know I was pregnant once.

Of course I was determined not to have it.

So I got this man to give me the name

of one of those really expensive chaps

who do it legally on psychological grounds.

You know, private nursing home, all that lark.

So I made an appointment

and off I went to convince this man

that if I had this baby, I was gonna be a complete

mental and physical wreck.

He seemed quite moved, actually.

Very sympathetic, I thought I was well away.

And then, he said he was awfully sorry

but he couldn't possibly recommend

the termination of pregnancy in my case.

And you know why?

Because I was too nutty.

He said I was far too sensitive and neurotic,

and if I had done an abortion

I'd just have a breakdown from guilt feeling.

I tried to explain I hadn't the least intention

of having a breakdown.

So he said well why was I there then?

You've got me out of the way, you see?

This is the funny bit.

I was in such a panic

that I rushed straight across the road without looking

and got knocked down by a bus.

And that did the trick.

The shock, I suppose.

So I got carted off to hospital

all innocently bleeding and all for free.

What a stroke of luck you had then.

Quite one of life's little ironies.

Hello love, you ready?

I got a taxi waiting.

- I'm ready. - Okay, fine.

There's no such thing as clarity.

Anything that can be said clearly.

She's deader than a dodo stingray.

That you're going to start writing

great lumps of instant disposable verse?

Diamond, she's an absolutely terrifying sight.

Found you full of preconceived ideas.

So just like my friend Rosamund.

Do you know my friend Rosamund?

You probably went to school together.

College.

All you young girls know one another.

You're practically interchangeable,

I mean the same girl really

but with different shaped legs.

Oh, Joe, for goodness sake,

why don't you lay off?

Don't be so boory.

What do you mean you don't know each other?

Now I'm terribly sorry.

May I introduce you?

This is Miss Rosamund Stacy.

And this young lady whose name I forget,

she directs a programme-

- Oh for God's sake, Joe, please,

why don't you just stop?

Oh don't apologise for me, Rosamund.

I'm not apologising.

Yeah well you see, she likes me

even if you don't. - Yes, but-

- That's right, you do like me, don't you?

You don't think I'm boring,

do you? - Joe, please.

Please don't take offence,

but I'm just going out for a breath of fresh air.

Rather ill of this.

It's very nice to meet you.

Go on, go on.

Get some water from the kitchen!

Mike, go with her.

- Would you like Lydia? - Please I'm just,

no. - Passing around.

Lydia, why don't you want to,

Please Lydia.

Just leave me alone.

Are you sure?

Please, yes.

We'll make some tea or something.

Yes.

There's George over there.

George Matthews, he's an announcer.

Oh, there's George over there.

George who?

George Matthews, he's an announcer.

Come on, let's join him.

Ah, Joe Hurt himself.

And a lovely lady friend.

Yes, do join me.

Oh, George, this is Rosamund, Rosamund Stacey.

Hello.

Haven't I seen you before somewhere?

You don't work here?

Good Lord, no.

She virtually lives in the British Museum.

An academic, our Rosamund.

Oh really?

Yes, really.

And you are a real announcer, I believe.

What do you announce?

Oh, come off it, Ros, you must have seen him.

He's hardly ever off the bloody box.

He reads the news practically 365 days in a year.

Is that interesting?

Must be very interesting,

I mean it must keep you very well informed.

Oh I don't know about that.

I know very little about a lot of things.

But Joe, I hear you're going to go on yourself soon.

When does your series start?

I've seen great things about it the other day

from our mutual friend Blakely.

Oh, what did he say?

Well actually he said you were very photogenic.

Please, don't tell him that.

He's vain enough already.

And I mean if people start coming up to him in the street

and ask him for his autograph,

it just won't be fit to live with.

You don't live with him, do you?

No.

I meant that as a figure of speech.

Ah, I see.

What about you?

Why don't you come and live with me?

Oh.

Can I bring the dog?

Don't go.

Don't go.

I can't tell you how many

beautiful friendships Joe gets through

because of his childish aversion to solitude.

Well I don't mind being alone.

I don't like it.

But I don't mind it.

Yes, I don't mind either.

It's better than most of the alternatives.

There you are again, lovelier than ever, I see.

There you are again, lovelier than ever, I see.

No, no, much the same, I fear.

Who on earth is that amazing man, George?

Which?

What, our flowery friend with the guitar?

You mean to say you don't know?

That's Harvey Cullen.

I don't.

Oh my saintly Rosamund, he's a singer.

Ah, well, that would explain the guitar then.

He is lovely, isn't he?

Hmm, well, if you like that kind of thing.

I do.

Hmm.

Don't you?

To look at, I mean.

Well, what else can you do with it?

Let me get you another drink.

What were you having?

I was drinking gin.

Can you afford a gin then?

For you my dear, I can even rise to gin.

Ros?

Ros, are you okay?

Would you like me to come in, Ros?

George?

Hello. - Hello.

Well, what a surprise.

Where are you off to?

Oh, I'm just off to meet a friend for lunch

at Baker Street.

I'm late, so I-

- Oh, I'll walk with you.

Thank you.

Well.

Who is it this time?

Nobody that you know.

A man.

Oh, not another friend.

What a gay and shocking life you lead.

It'll end you in trouble, that's my view.

No, not at all.

It's not as wicked as it looks, you know?

It's just highly organised.

And what about you?

What are you doing sitting in the park like this?

You lead a double life too then?

Ah, my life is a secret life.

To tell you the truth, I keep it secret

not because it's so wicked

but because it's so dull.

Yes.

Rosamund, all alone for a change?

As you see.

What happened?

Oh well.

Joe and I have just had a terrible row

and he's gone off and left me.

He can't bear to be contradicted.

Neither can I, I suppose.

Yes, I just met him outside.

Did you?

Was he still furious?

Oh he wouldn't even speak to me, my dear.

Yes.

I guess I must be going now.

Oh, let me get you a drink.

No, please don't do that.

You see, I can't stay.

I have work to do before morning.

Oh, I'll walk you home.

Don't be ridiculous, I live just right-

- Oh now then, now then,

there's no need to take offence.

I know where you live, I know you're quite capable

of finding your own way home.

All I meant was please, let me walk with you.

Please Miss, let me walk with you.

All right, all right.

I'm sorry.

Oh, careful.

You all right?

Thank you.

Would you like to come upstairs

and have a cup of coffee or a drink perhaps?

Well, I don't mind if I do.

That would be lovely, don't you think?

Yes, lovely.

Please.

So it belongs to your parents then?

Yes.

It's very nice of them to let you have it.

Couldn't they have let it?

No.

They're very high minded, my parents.

Very high minded Fabian Socialists.

What's your father do?

He's an economist.

He's advising the Africans what to do

about their economy.

Well, that should keep him busy.

Yes.

Convenient for you, anyway,

their scruples about taking rent.

Yes, very.

I thought of subletting at one point myself

but it seemed a bit immoral.

And then I don't like anyone quite well enough

to let them live off me for free.

You don't mind living alone?

I don't know.

Can't really say I like it.

Thank you.

And what about you?

What do you mean what about me?

Tell me about you.

I told you about me.

Now tell me all about you.

What do you mean all?

Well.

Tell me where you come from.

Well I come from Ipswich.

Oh.

I don't know anything about Ipswich.

No, I didn't think you would.

I bet you don't even know where it is.

Yes, I do.

It's kind of over there.

A precise location.

Yes.

How did you get in with the BBC?

Accidentally, really.

I got mixed up in overseas broadcasting

when I was doing my national service in Hong Kong.

Tell me about it.

There's nothing to tell, it's not interesting.

But tell me about your job.

Do you like it?

Well it's dull.

But I like things to be dull.

You don't like excitement then?

Mm-mmm, not much.

What do you like?

I like you.

How polite you always are, George.

You have such lovely good manners.

And so do you.

Although when I first met you in that cantina

I must confess I thought you were a tiny bit brusque.

Oh, me?

Why, I'm the soul of politeness.

Mind you, that too has its disadvantages.

For instance, you're so polite

I can never tell if you really want to see me or not.

I couldn't tell if you really wanted me

to come and have this coffee or not.

Yes, well how could I tell

if you wanted to come?

My parents were quite absurd,

you know the way they brought us up,

the way they stuck to their principles.

Excuse me.

They're asking us where we've been

when we got back at three in the morning.

Thank you.

Sending us to state schools,

having everything done on the National Health,

making the charladies sit down to dine with us,

all that kind of nonsense.

Introducing her to visitors.

They made themselves suffer so, you know,

and yet at the same time,

they were so nice, so kind, so gentle.

But people aren't nice and kind and gentle.

They just aren't.

Charlady went off with all the silver cutlery

in the end, yes.

She despised them.

She knew they wouldn't take any steps.

Perhaps, they knew she despised them too.

There's something inhibiting about so much freedom.

My mother was a great feminist, you know?

She brought us up to be equal.

Do you know what her creed was?

That my mother, I'm talking about my mother now.

That thing that Queen Elizabeth used to say about...

About thanking God if she were turned out on her petticoat.

- Petticoat. - Any part of Chris-

- Don't go.

Please.

Well, perhaps I ought to be going.

Ought you?

Yes, I think so.

Are you all right?

You sure you're all right?

Yes.

Well, Ros, you all right, love?

Yes, I'm fine.

Hey come on.

I'll take you home. - No, there's no need to.

No.

You must go, come on. - Oh, all right.

All right.

Hey Ros.

Is she all right, Joe?

Yeah I'm gonna take her home.

Anyway, say goodbye to Mike,

you know, tend to the party all right, will you?

I'll be in the morning.

But you can't want to have a baby.

I don't see why not.

Oh my God, it's disgusting.

I bet you've been longing to have a baby all your life.

All right then, go on, have it.

But you won't be able to keep it.

I mean you'll ruin your life, and for what?

It'll all be a complete waste of time and emotion.

Don't be ridiculous.

I haven't always been longing for a baby,

don't be ridiculous.

You probably wanted to have it subconsciously.

All women want to have babies.

It gives them a sense of purpose.

What utter rubbish.

What stupid, reactionary, childish, masculine rubbish.

Don't tell me anyone ever endured

the physical discomfort of babies

for something as vague and pointless

as a sense of purpose.

What do you feel like?

Do you feel rotten?

Not too dazzling, I suppose.

But maybe we better stop going around together

or whatever it is that we do together.

Why?

I don't know why.

I just don't fancy going out much anymore.

I'm always fainting, it's so silly.

Besides, think how embarrassing it will be,

taking around a pregnant lady.

Everybody would begin to think it was yours.

You've told Roger about it?

As a matter of fact, it's not Roger's.

Not Roger's?

Not Roger's.

Are you sure?

Of course I'm sure.

I never slept with Roger in my life.

But you said-

- Yes, well I said,

I said a lot of things out of self-protection,

I said those things.

To keep me off you?

Well it's neither here nor there.

Well.

I'll see you around, I suppose, shan't I?

I suppose so.

Hello?

Hello?

Hello?

Excuse me.

Mr. Deica, please.

In there, he's waiting for you.

Yes, what can I do for you?

I'd like to see the doctor please.

Are you on his list?

No, ought I to be?

Whose list are you on then?

I'm not on anybody's list.

I haven't seen a doctor for years.

I suppose you didn't bring your health card with you.

No.

But I do know the number.

Oh well that's something.

Fill it in there.

Yes.

Do you have a pen?

Excuse me.

I'm quite finished.

What do I do now?

You wait.

Mrs. Novak, please, the doctor will see you now.

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

I thought the surgery closed at 10:30.

I have to be somewhere at 11.

Well next time, try and get here a bit earlier.

Then you won't have to wait so long, will you?

All you have to do is take it along

to the clinic at St. Andrew's

and they'll fix you up.

Fix me up?

The antenatal clinic, Wednesday afternoon.

Ah yes, well, thank you very much.

Number nine please.

Number nine please.

Number nine please.

Now then, Mrs. Stacy, isn't it?

Miss Stacy actually.

We call everyone Missus here.

As a courtesy title, don't you think?

Now then Mrs. Stacy,

your first baby, I presume.

Yes.

I wonder if you'd be kind enough

to give me details of your present accommodation.

My what?

Your present accommodation.

It's a mere formality.

They don't expect people to have their first babies at home.

Well Smithson, what can you tell us

about the pelvic structure?

Well I don't seem to be able to feel.

You won't feel anything if you get it like that.

Look.

This is the way you measure it.

The way you were going about it,

you might have dislocated her forever.

Good muscle though, keeps herself fit.

You a dancer or something?

I am not.

But that'll do for you.

Thank you.

Thank you all very much, thank you.

Mrs. Dunlop, number 24.

Oh, would you mind holding her for one.

Sorry she's crying, she's all right, little one.

Now you sit down and don't move.

Number 12, Mrs. Taylor.

Mrs. Taylor, number 12.

Rosamund?

Rosamund?

Miss Rosamund?

Well hello Claire, I haven't seen you for months.

You don't often shop in town, do you?

I'm just up for the day.

Really?

You really must come over and see us again soon.

It's so long since we last saw you.

Yes, well I've been frightfully busy, you see?

Do give Andrew my love, won't you?

Yes.

Yes, of course.

Goodbye then.

Goodbye.

- Hey! - Oh!

What are you doing here?

I've come to call, where've you been?

Oh, see I've had a perfectly ghastly day.

Come on in then.

Can I pick something? - No it's okay.

I've been here ages.

First of all, I had a long wait at the clinic.

And when I was shopping, I ran into my sister-in-law.

And I got on the bus to save myself the walk home

and I had a dreadful row with the conductor.

He told me that I had to go upstairs

when I was getting off at the next stop.

I'm just so...

I'm worn out.

Look, I've come to ask you a favour

but perhaps you're not in the mood.

Not at all.

There's nothing I like more

than to feel I could grant anyone a favour.

You wait till you hear.

You want these in the fridge?

Please.

Will it be difficult?

The more difficult of course,

the more virtue I shall achieve,

as my parents always used to say.

I thought you might let me stay here

with you for a bit.

You know this girl Sylvia I've been living with,

well her husband came back.

I stuck it out for a bit but

this morning, he made a pass at me in the bathroom.

Only 8:30, it was,

and he was covered with shaving cream.

How disgusting.

Whatever were you doing up at half past eight?

I do make myself useful,

carry your shopping for you and stuff.

You oughtn't to be carrying any baskets like that, you know?

What is it, Ros, would you mind?

I'll be very good.

I'd like it.

To tell you the truth, I was getting a little bit bored

being so much on my own.

I'd like it.

Great.

How could one be proud of chastity

in this day and age?

It's the new deadly sin.

You mean you really had never slept

with anyone before?

Never.

And the first time I tried,

look what happened to me.

It's a judgement on my fragility,

that's what it is.

But what about Joe and Roger?

Neither.

How on earth did you get away with it?

Not doing it, I mean.

Well I told each of them

that I was sleeping with the other one.

And not in so many words, you see,

I just kind of implied it.

Amazing.

Yes it is amazing.

It's amazing how odd people are, you know?

They'll believe almost anything, you know?

Without the fact,

several parliamentarians on both sides of the house

thought Mr. Nash had his priorities wrong

but questioned him on what the ministry is doing

to minimise inconvenience to public and industry.

The church unity controversy.

The archbishop of Canterbury said today

that the Anglican view was mightily different

from that of the Roman Catholics

with expressed in the Vatican's announcement.

The Anglican bishops are meeting again today

to discuss the pope's state.

Hello, look what I've got, Ros.

What is it?

It's a present for you.

For me?

Well, me too.

I need it to work.

I get lonely writing without any noise about.

It's a lovely picture, isn't it?

Smoke poured from the engine

and the plane returned, circled around several times,

and then made an emergency landing.

It narrowly missed a trident

which was ready to take off for Paris

with a full load of passengers.

Passengers of the Boeing left by the emergency exits,

and the plane exploded within 10 minutes.

Not yet known if there were any casualties.

What a horrible sight.

Hey!

What'd you do that for?

It's to keep you in touch, humanise you.

Yes, well, I'm human enough already, thank you.

Number 12, Mrs. Taylor.

Oh well it couldn't happen so sudden

with the first baby, you know?

You know what my mum said about having an accident,

people seeing your undies.

Think what they'd see then.

Oh, kiddo.

Oh, ta.

I mean it couldn't happen so sudden.

I'm expecting lots of warning, I can tell you.

Well I'm gonna be off in the ambulance

the minute I feel anything.

Oh, I don't know.

Even first babies can be terrible sudden.

There was a woman in the last office I was in.

She swore she had hers in the ambulance,

just outside of Waterloo Bridge.

- Get off. - Excuse me.

My sister had her third in an ambulance

in a snowstorm.

Said the driver was over 70

and he was afraid of driving in the bad weather.

Oh, what happened to the baby?

Well, it was her third

so she knew more or less what to do.

She is very practical, my sister.

Did Claire tell you then?

I saw her the other day.

No, nobody told me.

I had no idea until I got your letter.

You going to marry him?

No.

Well then why on earth didn't you tell me earlier?

While there was still time to do something about it?

Are you going to tell mother?

No, would you?

No, I wouldn't.

It's a blessing in disguise, I suppose

that they're away.

By the time they get back, it'll all be over.

So I suppose they need never know.

Yes, well I am keeping it, you see?

I'm not having it adopted to-

- But you have to!

Why?

Why?

You have no idea what having a child means.

Look, for goodness sake, I've got three,

I ought to know what I'm talking about.

You've always been so dead set on your independence

and having your own way.

What about your career?

Oh well, I don't think it's going to make

much difference to my career.

Frankly, people don't like that kind of thing.

It's going to make life difficult for you

in ways you've never even thought of.

Really, Beatrice, sometimes you are quite medieval.

Why do you want to keep it?

Why ever didn't you get rid of it like other people do?

I don't know, truthfully.

'Cause I don't know.

Of course, there's little chance

of such a film being generally released in this country.

The British Cinema in any case

has never produced a genuinely erotic film.

We tend to concentrate

on the sociological details of passion,

completely ignoring the cinema's ability

to portray without a word of superfluous dialogue

the true quality of a physical sequence.

Take for instance, another extract

from.

Note the lyrical quality of the photography,

the way the texture of the film itself

celebrates the texture of the woman's body.

The way in which her clothes are not used

as though she were taking part

in some degrading strip routine,

as they would have been had this film been made

in this country.

But as though they were a part of the event itself,

a part of the mystery.

It's the difference between eroticism and obscenity.

Hello?

May I have extension 445 please?

Hello?

This is Mrs. Stacy.

Mrs. Stacy, yes.

I think I've been having labour pains.

Yes, every 35 minutes.

What?

Take two aspirin and call you when it gets worse?

Yes, thank you.

Hey, you're up late.

Thought you'd be in bed hours ago.

Hey, this is coming on.

Oh no, hey.

Lydia, you are a boor.

I work for hours on those things

and then you waltz in and ruin it all

by doing the last pieces.

Sorry, sorry.

Joe sends his love.

Oh, does he?

Well how lovely.

What's the matter with you?

Aren't you feeling well?

How do you expect me to feel?

Go to bed.

Oh!

You're not well, are you?

What's the matter?

I've got an earache.

What do you think is the matter with me?

Well for God's sake!

Don't just lie there.

Do something, Ros!

Phone the hospital, get the ambulance, Ros!

I've rung the hospital, they're on the way.

Well then come on!

Get yourself ready!

For God's sake, what are you doing just lying there?

Get your coat on!

Where's your coat, Ros?

Oh, it's okay, I've got it.

Come on.

God, I should never have gone out.

It's all right.

Well, it's early, isn't it?

I mean, it's not due for another week or so I thought.

- There's not any harm. - I'd never have gone out

if I had known.

Oh that's all right.

Don't be foolish, it won't.

That must be them.

Help me up now.

Stacy?

- Oh, oh. - Yes, yes.

About time you're here.

Here's her case.

I'll get the key.

God, what an experience.

I had the fright of my life.

Hey, Ros, let me come too.

Certainly not!

Do you want to find out what it's like?

Go and have one yourself.

Oh, you mean cow!

Now then.

Who are you?

Stacy, Rosamund Stacy.

Whatever are you doing here then?

You're supposed to be in ward D.

I'm here because I was put here.

Well you're not supposed to be here.

Come on, get up.

You're supposed to be in Ward D.

Where is Ward D then?

Come on, get a move on.

There'll be trouble if they catch you in here.

How in bloody hell can you blame me

if one of your colleagues was incompetent enough

to put me in the wrong room?

Oh, now now.

All right.

How do I get there?

Walk.

How do you think?

Excuse me.

Nurse, please!

Nurse, please!

For God's sake, somebody come and help me!

She's starting.

Go get sister!

And go get Dr. Lao.

Is this the girl from before?

Well she didn't call us.

Now's a good time for masks.

Yes.

Now then, Mrs. Stacy.

Relax.

Take a deep breath, that's right.

Now push.

Harder.

Harder. - Oh!

- That's it. - Oh!

Just one more.

Keep pushing.

Hold her.

Now.

A big push!

There now!

You've done it.

That's quite easy, wasn't it?

That wasn't too bad, was it?

There's your baby, Mrs. Stacy.

It's a girl.

She's beautiful.

She's beautiful, isn't she?

- Ah la la. - Hello darling.

Oh it's nice to see you.

Ah, you look marvellous.

I didn't think you could come today.

Ros!

Oh!

Hey, you look wonderful.

Don't you look wonderful?

How do you feel?

What was it like?

Was it awful?

It was lovely.

Lovely?

Say.

Those from Roger?

Very good taste, aren't they, classy.

Well give her ours.

Oh.

Here some warm bread.

I told you, I was a bit nervous about phoning him.

He was very polite.

He even asked me around,

see if I wanted a drink.

Ooh, I got you a drink.

And a gift for you.

Hey!

Joe, look! - What?

Forgot all about her.

Ah, aren't you sweet?

Where does she get all that dark hair from?

Narrows the field for speculation, doesn't it?

Don't be vulgar.

Want some grapes?

Uh huh.

No smoking, please.

Oh, I brought you some books.

Oh, thank you.

What's it like then?

Do you feel you've fulfilled yourself at last?

Yes, as a matter of fact, I do.

You wouldn't believe how significant it is

having a baby.

So you're a complete woman after all, eh?

I'd never have believed it.

No.

Neither would I.

You're quite sure, Miss Stacy,

you've thought this out properly?

You ought to think about the child, you know?

I'm quite sure her feelings will change considerably

over the next few months.

There are a great many happy married couples

who would be able to offer your baby a home

and give it a much better life

than you would ever be able to provide for her.

Yes, well I expect it is arrogant of me

to suppose that I too may have things to provide.

I mean I'm not a happy married couple, I know.

But she is my baby.

You don't think that for an intelligent girl like you,

that's a sentimental attitude?

Sentimental?

Conventional.

Ah yes, well I am a very conventional person.

I love my baby.

I have every faith in myself.

I want her and I intend to keep her.

Don't you think that's a little selfish?

No.

Do you?

Well, it's my duty

to state the decision clearly, you know?

But you won't find it easier later on.

Well I expect I'll manage one way or another.

Honestly, she never used to do that at the hospital.

She probably doesn't like the cot.

She wants to be back in that little canvas box.

She's got no aesthetic sense.

Well, whatever can I do?

Couldn't you feed her?

Not two hours too early.

But couldn't you give in just this once?

No, it would create a bad precedent.

Oh hell, I can't stand it.

Are we going to see him tomorrow?

Oh, probably.

Rosamund!

Roger, for goodness sake, what a surprise.

I haven't seen you in months!

How are you getting on?

Very well, thank you.

Is that your baby?

Yes, she is.

Come up, have a look at her.

Isn't she lovely?

Yes.

I suppose so.

As babies go.

Not at all as babies go,

I think she's exceptionally lovely.

Oh, Rosamund, have you met my fiancee Gillian White?

Oh, how do you do?

I didn't even know you were engaged.

You engaged yourself yet?

Or married even?

Certainly not.

I've gone off men completely.

I've got a new regime.

I live with Lydia.

Oh.

Oh well, I'll bump into you again

in another year or two, no doubt.

Doubtless.

Ciao.

Octavia.

Oh!

Whatever are you doing?

Come on, come on.

Oh, there we are.

Shh.

Oh.

Now, let me get you a piece of paper.

Oh, I feel awful.

I've got a rotten cold.

Well you must have caught it off of Octavia.

She's been sneezing all night.

She looks all right now.

Yes, well it's only because I've wiped her nose.

She's not really.

A letter for you.

Oh.

I think it's from your parents.

Oh god.

I bet they're writing to say they're coming home or when.

Oh god.

Just when we're getting on so well.

No.

It's to say that they're staying

on for another six months at least

and they might be going on to India.

Well that's marvellous.

That means we can stay on here, is it?

Are you sure you still want me to stay, Ros?

I mean I could always find somewhere else, I suppose.

I'm sorry, no.

No, don't think of it.

It must be Mrs. Jennings.

No, as a matter of fact,

I've got so used to having you here.

I don't quite know what I'd do without you.

I've sometimes wondered if you didn't want

to go on, you know,

to move in with Joe or anything.

Oh God no.

It's much nicer here than Joe's.

Joe's place is repulsive, have you forgotten?

The stuff that he keeps under his bed is unbelievable.

Yes, well I never went there very often.

Good morning, Mrs. Stacy.

- Good morning, Mrs. Jennings. - Morning.

Missus, I'm afraid she's got a bit of a cold.

Perhaps you ought not to take her out, all right?

Let me see what you got, a little snuffle snuffle then?

There's vegetable soup in the refrigerator

and custard for pudding.

I really must go.

Yes.

Well that'll be lovely, dear.

Oh, poor darling.

Have you got a

Sniffle snuffle then, has she?

Well, we'll soon have that better then, won't we?

Yes we will, aw.

Excuse me.

You poor girl.

Oh, come to Jenny, dear.

Mrs. Stacy, doctor.

I'm awful sorry to trouble you.

I know, it's only a heavy cold

but she seems to have such difficulty breathing.

Well I'm awfully sorry to trouble you.

Would you mind?

In about a half an hour, yes.

I'll be looking for you.

Thank you.

Well, Mrs. Stacy, there's nothing to worry about her cold.

It's just an ordinary cold.

There's a lot about it this time of year.

But I did hear something.

It might be nothing, nothing at all.

Still, I think you better take her along to the hospital

for a checkup.

Here, I'll write you a note.

Will that be the outpatients department then?

That's right.

Tomorrow afternoon.

Tomorrow?

Well there's no point in wasting any time, is there?

No.

No, of course not.

Wait here, please.

But you can't want to operate.

You said yourself, it's not advisable to operate

until the child is five or six.

You said that.

I was only trying to explain to you

that we really have no choice.

Normally, with a congenital heart defect of this nature,

it's possible and indeed preferable

to defer the operation until the child

is considerably older, but,

in this case the severity of the condition leaves us-

- But there's been no sign of anything.

I mean she's always been so well.

No sign, no symptoms, nothing.

I don't think-As I was saying,

certain symptoms are not likely in any case

to become manifest until the child becomes more active.

It was really a stroke of extraordinary luck

that we discovered it at this stage.

In view of the fact that there have been few indications

of any abnormality.

Perhaps you could tell me what the chances are,

or what percentage of success do you have?

Well you must remember that heart surgery

is still in its infancy,

although we've been making great progress

in the last few years.

As little as five years ago, with a child of this age,

I might have said the chances of survival

were about five to one.

Now, I'd say three to one.

More in the region of three to one.

And if you don't operate, what then?

Well I'm afraid there's no real alternative.

All right, Mrs. Stacy.

I think you'd better go back

and talk this over with your husband.

And do remember that we have every confidence.

Talk it over with who?

Oh, yes, of course.

Yes, but surely you must have someone

you can discuss it with.

I mean your parents, some relatives, surely.

My parents are in Africa.

In Africa?

Not by any chance related to Humphrey Stacy, are you?

Yes, he's my father.

My goodness me, sit down again.

My goodness, you must be Rosamund!

Your sister Beatrice married a physicist, didn't she?

I can't have seen you since you were a schoolgirl!

Well Dick Prothero, the name is,

surely you must remember me.

How are your parents?

Now then, now then.

She'll be all right.

I'll see to it myself.

This is the best place in England, you know,

and I'm the best man for the job.

Didn't they tell you?

She'll be all right.

We'll look after her.

Yes, I know you will.

See, I know that.

Hello?

Hello, this is Rosamund Stacy.

I'm calling about my baby, Octavia Stacy.

Yes, that's right.

Hello?

It's all over then?

Well, is she all right?

How is she?

I said is she all right?

Yes.

Yes, well when can I see her then?

Well certainly not today

when she's still under sedation.

But perhaps you would like to call again tomorrow,

we'll be able to give you any further news.

All right, thank you very much.

But I am sure you said I could see her today.

Oh no, I don't think so.

Not so soon after the operation.

Well what about visiting hours?

Sister?

Can I collect Mrs. Forbison's prescription please?

Yes, of course.

When are visiting hours then?

Well I'm afraid, of such small infants

we don't allow any visiting time at all.

We really do find it causes more inconvenience

to staff and patients than we can possibly cope with.

Quite apart from the risk of infection.

Really Mrs. Stacy, you must realise

that it is of no practical use

to visit so small a child.

She'll settle down much more quickly

if she doesn't see you.

You'll be amazed to see how soon they settle down.

Well may I just have a look at her please?

I really can't believe she's all right, you see?

I would so like just to see her.

I'm afraid it's quite out of the question.

You must believe me when I say

that we are not attempting to conceal anything.

Everything has been most satisfactory.

If you want to see her report, here it is.

Hello, Sister Bennett.

Well I suppose

you are right. - One moment please.

I said I suppose you are right.

I just thought she might like to see me.

I thought she might be missing me, you see?

Well thank you.

Yes.

I'm here to see my baby, Octavia Stacy.

She's in ward 21,

I believe. - Sister's away.

She's having lunch.

Ah, well it doesn't matter.

I'll go up there myself.

You're not really allowed to visit in this ward.

Yes, well I don't care whether I'm allowed

to visit or not.

Now if you tell me where she is,

I'll get there by myself.

You needn't even say you saw me.

You can't possibly go, it isn't allowed.

I must see her.

Now if you won't tell me where she is,

please call Sister or Matron

or whatever it is she calls herself

and I will have it out with her.

She won't be back till two.

Well, I'll wait.

You can't wait.

You're not allowed to wait!

What do you mean I'm not allowed to wait?

Who won't allow me?

Who says I can't wait?

Sister never sees anyone at this time of day

and you're not allowed to wait.

Oh, I see.

Oh.

Well, well, Mrs. Stacy, so you're here again.

Now then, Nurse Richards,

how often have I told you

that this is not a convenient time for visitors?

Mrs. Stacy, I'm afraid I can't possibly talk to you now.

I have far too much to do.

Nurse Richards, would you kindly show Mrs. Stacy the lift

and then come straight back here?

I want to have a word with you.

How many times do I have to tell you

that I will not have my office used as a waiting room?

If you care to call this evening, Mrs. Stacy?

I don't want to call this evening.

I want to see my baby now.

I told you this morning

that visiting is quite out of the question.

I don't care what you told me.

If you won't take me to see her,

I shall walk around this place until I find her.

She's not under lock and key, I assume.

Mrs. Stacy, I must ask you to leave at once.

I won't leave.

I shall wander around this place, I am telling you

until I find her.

Now then, now then.

This is neither the time nor the place

for hysterical talk like that.

We must all be grateful-

- Grateful, I am certainly grateful, I am grateful.

I admire your work, I admire your hospital,

I think the National Health Service

is one of the finest tributes to civilization ever created.

Now, I want to see my baby!

Stop it, stop that now!

- Stop it! - Please, please.

Stop it, can you hear me?

Will you stop that dreadful noise?!

Stop that screaming, don't be ridiculous!

Will you please, silence!

Stop it, stop it!

How dare you!

What is going on here, Sister?

She wants to see her baby.

Of course she can see her baby.

Why not, for God's sake?

Of course you can see your baby!

Now you come along with me

and I'll show her to you.

She's doing amazingly well,

we're all delighted with her.

I was quite pleased with myself.

It's like a maze.

I would have never found her.

Oh, yes you would.

You'll get used to it over the next few months.

Oh, this way.

Hello, is she all right?

Yes, fine, thank you.

I can't tell you how grateful I am about everything.

Well, there's no need to be grateful.

There's always a way around these things.

Don't feel guilty about it.

I just expect, if I hadn't made such a fuss,

and if it hadn't been for you

I would have never got in, you see,

and I worry about all the people

who are afraid to make a fuss.

I won't worry about them, if I were you.

You look after yourself.

You seem to do it quite effectively.

How's the thesis?

I'm all finished, you see?

Oh, well done.

I'm just finishing the footnotes here.

Good.

Bye.

See her face.

- Ah, that's that. - Goodbye to that.

I wish I never had to see that place again.

Hooked you in?

Ah, no such luck.

We know what we're in for, don't we, Octavia?

Oh well, anyway.

I'm thankful for small mercies.

Hey, taxi!

No, who's going to pay?

We can't afford it.

Lydia, you're so extravagant.

I'm not extravagant.

Holden Corvidge Mansions please.

Thank you.

She's giving you a ride on you I bet.

No, do you think so?

Yeah I think she is.

You flatter her,

you are. - I'd say it was.

I'm sorry Ros, I meant to get

flowers and everything. - Mummy's got you home again.

I just didn't have time,

I was in such a rush.

Do you think she remembers?

I mean it must be such a long time for a baby.

Oh, come on, sweetheart.

And there's something for you, Ros.

Here we go,

who's a mummy's girl? - Letter for you.

Who's a mummy's girl?

What is this, what?

Oh, good Lord.

I'd quite forgotten about this.

Must be a letter about my Doctorate.

I hardly dare open it.

Would you say a prayer for me?

Octavia, we'll open it and see what we have here.

Okay?

What does it say?

I've got it.

I've got it.

- Really? - I can't believe it!

Really?

I've got it.

I'm a proper Doctor now,

I'm a proper PhD. - Hey, Ros.

Can you believe it?

Doctor of Philosophy!

Ros, that's fabulous!

Aren't you proud of your mum, Octavia?

Well what're you gonna do now?

Eh?

Oh I don't know, I can do anything!

I can do anything!

I'm free, aren't I?

Indeed you are.

Yes.

Oh, let's celebrate, Octavia.

Let's celebrate! - Come on get out,

hey she doesn't look at all pleased.

Listen, you're not really going up to Edinborough?

No, I don't suppose so.

Seems a good idea though, doesn't it?

There's no harm in applying, isn't it?

Yeah but I mean if they do accept you,

then you'll have to say no.

Yes, well, I'm quite good at saying no.

Poor Rosamund.

It was awful for her.

She spent all her time in that place, you know?

I'd have gone mad.

And she must have known in a sense

it'd have been better for her if...

Oh well.

I don't know.

I used to hate babies.

I'm beginning to see the sense of them now.

It's all right now, the baby, is it?

Not really.

She has to have penicillin and stuff when she gets colds.

Don't call her it, she's a she.

You should have one yourself, you know?

Oh yes.

I haven't got Rosamund's stamina.

When are you getting married?

I am married.

You might have said so.

Well I can't tell from looking at you.

Is it written all over my face?

Not exactly.

You're not going, are you?

What a couple of puritans you girls are.

Never had anything like it.

I had a letter from my father today

congratulating me on the PhD.

I sent them a telegram about it.

I don't remember ever having sent them a telegram

about anything before in my life.

They make everything seem so unimportant, my parents.

They must have been pleased about that then.

Isn't that the kind of thing they want to hear?

Yes.

Yes, I suppose so.

He knows about Octavia.

Who told him?

Prothero, that surgeon man,

must have written to my father and told him.

You can't blame him, really.

I mean he probably thought that they ought to know.

Thank you.

What'd your father say?

Nothing.

Nothing at all.

As a matter of fact,

he didn't even let on that he knew.

I have the letter here.

Listen, Lydia.

Well, he goes on here at the beginning about

how pleased he was to hear.

And then oh yes, the last sentence.

I heard from my old friend Dick Prothero

who says he's been seeing something of you.

Honest regards, Papa.

It's amazing.

He couldn't bring himself to write it down.

I suppose he just didn't know what to say.

Rosamund?

George?

It's been so long since I last saw you.

I thought you must have moved.

Are you waiting for something?

Yes, I'm waiting for a prescription.

Yes, I've just been waiting too.

Are you ill, then?

No, no I'm not ill.

Well not really.

I had this throat thing so

I had to collect these things for it.

Oh.

I knew you hadn't moved

although I never saw you.

I see you on television.

And I knew you must still be around.

Well I'm...

Excuse me.

I must see if my thing is ready.

You're not ill, are you?

Not that one should ever ask a lady

what she wants in a chemist.

Yes, well it's not for me.

You're not in a hurry, are you?

Stacy,

please? - Oh, just one moment please.

Thank you.

Look.

Why don't we go and have a drink

like we used to?

Well I'd love to but I can't.

You see I have to get home to the baby.

You've got a baby, have you?

I didn't even know you were married!

I'm not.

Well, I say, Rosamund, you are the one.

Yes.

Well, she is a lovely baby.

Well, any baby of yours must be lovely.

Ah, thank you.

Would you like to come around

and have a look at her?

I mean you could come up and have a drink.

You see I have to get back to the flat

because there's no one there but

I don't want to let you go like this

after all this time.

Well, I'd be most happy to come.

How nice of you to ask me.

After all this time.

You didn't know about my baby then?

Well how could I know?

Nobody tells me anything.

Oh.

She's asleep.

What's all this?

Oh, this, income tax and forms and things like.

I'm applying for a new job.

I have to move out of here sooner or later.

You seem to do a lot of writing these days.

I see your name quite often.

Yes, well, you must read some odd papers.

Well I have to write for the money now.

See I don't really quite approve of that kind of thing

but money is money.

A baby makes one do a lot of things

that one doesn't quite approve of.

Here.

Are you relaxing your high moral standard?

Just a little.

I saw Joe not long ago, Joe Hurt.

You still see something of him?

Quite a lot.

He's going out with a girl who shares my flat.

Huh.

You've gone off him then?

To tell you the truth,

I was never really on him.

I like him though.

What about you?

Well I'm still doing more or less

the same old routine.

Why don't you ever change?

Aren't you bored?

You asked me that the last time I saw you.

Mmm.

I don't see why I should change.

No.

Well I don't really want you to change.

I quite like being able to watch you, in a way.

Your hair is turning grey.

Must be worry.

What do you worry about?

Everything, and everything.

Now tell me.

There's nothing to tell.

The baby was rather ill, it's all,

but she's better now.

Oh, I'm sorry about now.

What was it?

Was it serious?

No, no.

It was nothing serious.

I just worry about everything, that's all.

It was nothing, please.

Don't let me complain.

Tell me about you instead.

There's nothing to tell of any interest.

I've not had too good a year either.

Ah, but that's all over now.

I was thinking of going abroad.

There's nothing to keep me here.

I don't want to go abroad.

I didn't ask you.

No.

But you can come with me if you like.

Ah.

Could I?

Could I bring Octavia with me too, then?

Octavia?

Octavia.

That's my baby.

Ah.

I couldn't go anywhere without Octavia.

Oh, not even with me?

Not even with you.

Would you like to see my baby?

Wouldn't it wake her?

No.

And she never wakes.

All right.

She's lovely.

Yes she is.

Like her name too.

Octavia's a very nice name.

I think I better be going.

I start very early in the morning.

- Oh, do you? - Yeah.

All right.

She's a very pretty baby.

You'll bring her up the right way, won't you?

The right way?

I don't know.

I was brought up the right way

but doesn't seem to have done me much good.

You've done as well as anyone.

You've got a nice job, you've got a nice baby.

What more could you want?

Ah, well some people might want

a nice husband as well.

Oh, not you, surely.

You never seem to want a husband.

No.

Perhaps I never did.

Anyway.

You can't have everything.

No indeed.

It was nice to see you again.

You look after yourself, eh?

Yes.

And don't worry so much.

I can't help it, it's in my nature.

There's nothing one can do about one's nature, is there?

No, nothing.