Original subtitles

Blanchir. Blanchir.

To whiten poultry, fish, fruit, et cetera,

by plunging them into boiling water,

then plunging them into cold water. Right.

Blanquette. Blanquette.

Blanquette.

Blanquette. A sort of fricassee, white,

whence its name. Right.

Yeah? Who is it?

It's Mary, Miss Leyton.

Are you all right?

Yeah, of course I am. What do you want?

I thought I heard somebody talking.

It's only me, giving meself a French lesson.

In the middle of the night?

I've got to learn sometime, haven't I?

You've got to know French if you're going to be a cook.

Oh, I thought you was having nightmares.

It is a nightmare, I'll tell you.

Here. Come in. You can make yourself useful.

You read out the English,

and I'll see if I know the French for it.

Oh, I don't know that I can.

Of course you can.

Look, you ask me what is broth or stock,

and I say bouillon.

What's the matter? Are you cold?

Here. Come on. Sit down. Put a blanket round you.

There you are. Now.

Right. You ready?

Right. Off we go.

I can't read.

Just the English.

You can read the English, can't you?

I never learned.

Oh, Mary.

You got to be able to read

if you want to get on.

Will you teach me, then?

Oh, blimey, Mary.

Sorry.

Here, it's all right.

I'll teach you some other time.

Not tonight, eh?

Who is it now?

Ivy, what do you want?

What's going on?

My God, it's like a blooming market in here.

Here, come on, both of you, get out.

Come on. I'm busy. Go on. Off you go.

Go on.

God. Better off on me own.

Major Farjeon, my lord.

Good morning, Henry.

No, no, no, don't get up.

I'm sorry to burst in so early.

Not a bit, my dear fellow.

Come on now. I know what you're here for,

and I apologize.

I apologize.

What for?

My behavior last night.

I offended the Prince of Wales,

and you've come in your official capacity

to wig me for it, haven't you?

No. Your behavior? What did you do?

I fell asleep on the billiard table.

Ha ha ha!

It wasn't noticed.

Thank God for that. It's baccarat.

Goes on so long.

Can't you get him to play bridge?

Much more civilized game.

It's usually over by midnight,

and then some of us poor devils can get home to bed.

He's playing bridge tonight,

as a matter of fact, at Lady Saddle's.

Will you be there?

I suppose so. I've been asked.

You know, I find his energy quite astonishing.

I'm nearly 10 years younger,

and I can't begin to keep pace.

All right, Trotter.

My lord.

Coffee, or would you rather have a drink?

Oh, I think coffee. Thank you.

A drink for you?

No, no, no. It wouldn't do me any good.

Well, if it's not a wigging,

what is it you've come for?

It's a domestic matter.

A domestic matter?

Yes. A request for the services

of your cook.

Oh, you mean my chef Monsieur Alex.

No, your cook-- the young woman

who cooked for you the other week

when the prince was dining here.

Miss Leyton?

Ah, yes. She's still with you, isn't she?

As far as I know.

The prince was most impressed,

if you remember.

He'd like to borrow her.

He's entertaining the kaiser privately

at Lady Markham's next Wednesday.

Can you spare her, do you think?

Good lord. Well, yes.

Honored, naturally,

but do you think she's up to it?

I mean, she's very inexperienced.

It's quite an undertaking.

So was the other night.

Yes, but that might have been a fluke,

mightn't it?

Is it fair on the girl? That's all I'm saying.

The brief impression I gained of her

was that she was an intelligent

and rather ambitious girl.

She's capable of handling the situation.

Yes, well, if you're happy about it.

I am. So I'll get on with the arrangements,

if I may.

Yes. Please do, my dear fellow.

Please do.

Here, where you been?

Monsieur Alex has been looking for you.

I've been to market, haven't I?

Got the base for the Prince of Wales

and the kaiser.

Oh, thanks, Mary.

You can't put them on here.

I'm making up his lordship's breakfast.

Too bad. I need this table.

I'm in a hurry.

Mary, fetch us some large bowls, will you?

There's a good girl.

Excuse me.

Hey!

Monsieur Alex. Monsieur Alex.

What's happening here?

She come in here

and pushed me out of the way.

Leyton, what are you doing here?

We can't do this here.

We're preparing breakfast.

Where can I do it, Monsieur Alex?

This is me big day.

Take them to the scullery.

The scullery? I can't work in the scullery.

It's cramped in there.

The scullery, Leyton, at once, please.

MARY: Shall I help you peel them, miss?

LEYTON: Yeah.

Come on, Mary.

ALEX: Mary, where are you going?

You're needed in here, girl.

I need her here, Monsieur Alex.

I've got to have all these prepared

and taken down to Lady Markham's

by midday.

I've got to have a bit of help.

Mary's duties are to this household,

not to Lady Markham's.

She will have her own staff to assist you.

But I want Mary. I know Mary.

She'll do them the way I want them.

I don't want some stranger

mucking them up.

What shall I do, Monsieur Alex?

You'll stay where you are and do as you're told.

That's stupid, that is.

What?

You don't need her.

We could have half done them by now,

time we stood here arguing.

Calm yourself, Leyton.

I am ruddy calm.

You are not. You are an excitable little girl,

and if you're in this state now,

I hate to think what you'll be in this evening.

I'll be perfectly all right this evening

if people will stop mucking me about

and let me get on with me job.

Please, Monsieur Alex.

No, Mary.

All right, Monsieur Alex, you can have her.

Go on, take her. I don't want her.

I'll do it meself, and you can all go and rot.

What a sight. Indeed.

Oh, thank you, Mr. Trotter.

I'll go and get these packed up now,

then get meself ready.

I'll never do it.

Mary!

Oh, by the way, a small tip

from the prince's equerry, Major Fargeon.

The kaiser likes fruit with every course.

You're teasing.

No, I'm not, no.

Moreover, he eats with specially designed forks

on account of his arm being damaged at birth.

Go on.

It's true, but don't worry.

He's quite easy to please otherwise.

In fact, he'll probably present you with a medal.

Oh, Mr. Trotter.

Mary!

All the buttons, Mary. Don't miss one.

I won't, miss.

Hurry up.

I'm going as fast as I can.

Where's me boots? Boots.

Here they are.

Ta.

Oh, my God, they're tight.

My feet must have swollen up. Push.

Where's all me food?

All in the cabin, safely packed.

Oh.

Leyton.

I take it as a compliment

that my protegee has been chosen

by the Prince of Wales,

and I wish you bonne chance.

Good luck, miss.

Ta.

It's starting to rain.

Too late. She's gone.

Oh.

Here, you can't put that on there, Mr. Pritchett.

I'm gonna put this on there.

What is it anyway, for God's sake?

It's a floral decoration, miss.

You can't put it on there.

Oh? And where do you suggest I put it?

I don't know. Put it where you like.

Not on my sideboard.

Take it away altogether, I would.

Far be it from me to make any suggestions

for fear of seeming impertinent,

but it is often the look of a table,

of a room, that contributes

to a happy and successful party.

Elegance might seem old-fashioned

to a modern young woman, but I can assure you--

I believe in elegance, too, Mr. Pritchett.

Look at me. Aren't I elegant?

But I also believe in simplicity

and things in their proper place.

The proper place for that is a lily pond.

In truth, you are the most amazingly

confident creature.

I can only say that in all my years--

Oh, take the damn thing out.

Ta.

Will you be requiring me for anything?

No, not for the moment, thank you, Mr. Pritchett.

Always cook the potatoes and the beans

and the asparagus yourself, my rule is,

not leave them to a scullery maid

or a person with no brains, because they're important.

I take more trouble with a cabbage

than most people do with a chicken.

I take trouble with a chicken, of course,

but I don't chop it all up and decorate it

with all that stuff that ain't gonna be used.

If it's a chicken, you want it

tasting like a chicken, don't you?

Absolutely.

My rule is, leave things

with their natural proper flavor.

Did you learn all this from your mother?

Oh, no. She's not interested in cooking.

No, you can't be if you can't afford to buy good food.

It was easy tonight. Anyone could have done it.

Have you got a large family?

No, just me brother, me father, and me mother.

That's all.

What does your father do?

He's a clockmaker.

He just fiddles about with them nowadays.

Me mother's side of the family, they're engravers.

They made part of the queen's coronation crown.

Really?

Yeah. Well, I think they did.

So I've got some connection to royalty, eh?

Oh, yes, indeed.

You're a royal cook now, Miss Leyton.

Yeah.

And what about your brother?

What does he do?

He's in the war in south africa.

I wish I'd been a boy.

Oh, you don't, do you?

I do. Wake up every morning hoping for a miracle.

Ha ha ha! Why?

Well, cooking, for one thing.

How many women are maitre chefs?

I always thought boys had a better chance in life.

I don't agree.

Think of all the beautiful women through history--

loved, pampered, and doted on.

Cor, I wouldn't want that. That's not my way of living.

You're in their power, ain't you?

What happens when they go off and leave you?

What's a woman to do then, eh?

That's not happened to you yet, has it?

No. It's not going to, neither.

Excuse me, sir.

Do I get paid anything for this evening?

Oh, my goodness, yes. I'd almost forgotten.

I'm sorry for asking.

No, no, no. You're quite right.

There you are.

Ta.

And I have here also

a small token from the prince

which he intended giving you personally,

but the kaiser detained him,

so he entrusted the task to me.

With his thanks to you

for a most successful and enjoyable dinner.

Aren't you going to open it?

It wouldn't be half a sovereign, would it?

Look and see.

Cor.

May I?

Ooh. Oh, I'm cold.

Oh, my God, Mr. Trotter, you gave me a shock.

What you been waiting up for?

It's my job to wait up, lock up.

Would you care for a drink, Miss Leyton?

Oh, no. I'm famished.

I ain't eaten anything all evening.

Went well, then, did it?

Yeah.

Not bad. Oh.

No blunders?

No. I've got this to prove it, ain't I?

Yes. Of course it went well.

A clever girl like you.

To the future, eh?

With your looks, talent.

You ain't done so bad yourself--

butler to his lordship.

That's true.

We make rather a good pair, don't we?

Hmm.

Mary's been telling us all

about your French lessons.

Monsieur Alex was very interested in that.

I aimed to surprise him with it.

You did. Very impressed, he was.

So he should be.

It's a daft blooming language.

Bonjour, Mademoiselle Leyton.

Comment allez-vous?

Hey, I can't speak it, not in conversation.

I only know cooking terms.

Miss, you are very beautiful.

I think I am in love with you.

What's that about?

I think that I love you.

I love you, Louisa.

Do you want to marry me?

Here, Mr. Trotter, stop babbling all that rubbish.

I'm off to bed. Good night.

Something of a triumph, then.

Yes, indeed. The prince was captivated.

And so was I, I may say.

We all were,

by the cooking and the cook.

To think I had a pearl under my own roof

and I never knew it.

Come now, Henry. Surely you haven't

lost your eye for a pretty girl.

Yes, now you come to mention it,

she is rather pretty, isn't she?

She's enchanting.

She must have a fair number of admirers,

I should imagine.

I haven't the slightest idea.

Your housekeeper would know, wouldn't she,

if there was anyone in particular?

Yes, I suppose so.

They always do.

Perhaps you could ask her for me.

I'd be most grateful.

Good lord.

Are you serious?

Are you speaking privately, Johnny,

or in your official capacity?

My dear fellow, you don't really

expect me to answer that one, do you?

You should have seen their faces

when I walked in.

"Who's this?" they said.

"What does she know about cooking?"

You showed them.

I did. "Out me way," I said. "I got a job to do."

What, you treated them like that,

and you didn't get your ears boxed?

Of course I didn't.

They couldn't do nothing about it.

Their cook, she was a fat old thing, she was.

She waddled off

and shut herself in a room,

wouldn't come out till I'd gone.

A rotten old kitchen they had and all.

Cockroaches leaping about.

Slimy mice with little red eyes.

Ew! Ew!

Oh. Morning, Monsieur Alex.

Is it a public holiday, Leyton?

Luncheon menu. Dinner menu.

Now to work, all of you. At once.

Sprouts, miss. Shall I do them?

No, thanks, Mary. I'll do them.

So, uh, you were a success, hmm?

You'll have to ask someone else that,

Monsieur Alex.

Modesty is not

one of your more obvious traits, Leyton.

So tell me what happened.

I'll tell you one thing, Monsieur Alex.

When I mentioned your name to Mr. Pritchett,

their butler, he said no wonder I was so good,

with you teaching me.

Said you was one of the finest chefs in London.

Did he really?

Yeah, Mary, it's the truth.

Pritchett? Pritchett.

Do I know him?

Well, he knew you, all right.

Hmm. Pritchett.

Pritchett. Ha ha ha!

And put General Murray in the blue room.

That'll do very well.

Thank you, my lord.

Oh, by the way, about that young cook.

What's her name? Leyton.

Has she settled down again

after the excitement of the other evening?

I think so, my lord.

Good. Good. Very pretty gal.

Yes, my lord.

Tell me, Mrs. Catchpole, do you happen to know

if she's got anyone interested in her romantically?

Any runners in that department?

Do you mean has she got any followers, my lord?

Yes. Yes. Suitors. Has she?

Well, Trotter's the only person

I can think of, my lord.

Trotter.

Since you mention it, my lord,

I have noticed he's been rather attentive

to her lately.

Good lord. Yes, I see.

And what about her?

Feelings reciprocated, are they?

I think she quite likes him, my lord,

but I wouldn't say it was a strong interest,

not from her part.

Not at the moment, anyway.

But from Trotter's side, quite serious, you say?

I think he's got his eye on her,

certainly, my lord.

Yes. Well, thank you, Mrs. Catchpole.

Thank you, Trotter.

I'm sorry to disappoint you, Johnny,

but I made a few inquiries into the question

of Miss Leyton's romantic life.

Ah, yes.

There is an interest, quite a strong one

by all accounts,

so you'll have to look elsewhere, I'm afraid.

But that's splendid.

I am absolutely delighted.

Who is the lucky fellow?

It's Trotter, if you want to know.

Trotter? Your butler?

Yes.

Ah.

Good chap, is he? Reliable, discreet?

Yes. Of course he is.

Good. Push it all you can, will you?

What?

It would be a very great help

if they were to get married.

Good lord!

You don't mean--

well, I'm dashed.

Not a word, naturally.

Oh, no. Of course not.

Good.

Well, we leave for Balmoral in the morning.

A couple of weeks shooting.

Nice to have some news on our return.

Put us all in a good humor for Christmas.

Thanks, Henry. I must be off.

What do I want to get married for?

I want to be a cook, not a wife.

That's the last thing I want.

Yes, but you can't be a cook--

I mean, you can't go out to cook

for important people

unless you're married.

That's the point.

Who says I can't?

Lord Henry, for one thing.

It's not suitable for you to go on

as Miss Leyton.

It's a question of respectability.

Of course, if you were married,

all doors would be open to you then.

I ain't done nothing wrong.

I know you haven't,

but it's generally felt to be better

by all concerned

that you should have a husband.

But I'm not in love, Mrs. Catchpole,

and there ain't nobody in love with me,

and that's an end to it.

I think you're a little mistaken there,

you know.

I think there's someone

more than a little fond of you.

Who?

Mr. Trotter.

Trotter?

WOMAN: Couldn't believe it when we heard.

Could we, Ernest?

Our Louisa.

We were very proud of her, too, Mrs. Leyton.

There's no telling where it might lead,

is there?

Invitations to cook

in all the big houses

in London society.

She might end up marrying a lord.

You know what they say--

the way to a man's heart

is through his stomach.

Yes, well, um, that's one of the reasons

I've come to see you, Mrs. Leyton--

to talk about the question of marriage.

You see, if your daughter does want to get on,

it would be much more suitable

if she had a husband,

not to put too fine a point of it.

Would it?

Yes, well, if you say so, Mrs. Catchpole.

Why?

Don't be silly, dear.

There's always been plenty of young men

round here keen on her.

Respectable tradespeople,

you know.

That nice Mr. Belling in the upholstery.

She's got no time for him.

What I can tell you is there's a young man

in our household--

our butler, Mr. Trotter.

I don't know whether she's mentioned him.

No, she hasn't. Butler?

A very superior person, if you take my meaning.

I say. Do you hear that, Ernest?

ERNEST: Mmm.

CATCHPOLE: It's only my opinion, of course,

but I think they'd make a very handsome pair.

Might I inquire if they love each other?

Well, they're quite shy young people, Mr. Leyton,

but given a little encouragement--

our girl, shy?

Uh, why don't you leave us, dear?

Leave me and Mrs. Catchpole

to talk about it.

Hmm.

More tea, Mrs. Catchpole?

No, thank you.

What sort of encouragement

did you have in mind, Mrs. Catchpole?

Well, I was thinking it would be quite nice

if you asked Mr. Trotter to tea.

I'm sure he would consider it

a great pleasure and a privilege

to meet Louisa's parents.

For tea? On his own, you mean?

Oh, just to get acquainted with him, as it were.

What do you think Louisa's gonna say to that?

If I ask Mr. Trotter to tea,

it's no business of Louisa's.

It's all very well, all this, you know,

but you can't force the girl to get married,

not if she don't want to.

We're not forcing nothing.

I can assure you, from my experience

in all my years of service,

it's most advantageous for girls like Louisa

to get married as fast as possible.

She may not see the necessity herself,

but Lord Henry thinks it's a good idea,

and so do I.

I was hoping you would agree with us.

Lord Henry as well?

You see, Ernest?

ALEX: Married? Huh! You're far too young.

You take my advice and stick to cooking, my girl.

So a woman don't have to be married

if she wants to get on as a cook?

Of course not. It's nonsense.

Now we shall continue with our lesson.

Salmis d'alouettes, crevettes à l'indienne.

Salmis...

Now you put all that stupid romantic stuff

out of your head.

It weren't in my head.

It were in Mrs. Catchpole's.

Trotter's keen, my lord.

He's having tea with her parents

this afternoon.

I'm sure he'll give a good account of himself.

And the young lady in question?

She might take a bit of persuading, my lord.

What?

She doesn't see the necessity.

She must be made to see it.

What's the matter with her?

I'm doing my best, my lord.

I can't push her harder.

Hmm!

TROTTER: Louisa's told me

about your clocks, Mr. Leyton.

A very fine collection they are, too.

This one here is very similar

to one in Lord Boovery's house

in Napleson Square-- Lord Boovery's library.

I wonder if the chimes are similar.

I really don't know.

It isn't working.

He's got hundreds more

out in the back, ain't you, dear?

Perhaps you'd care to look at them

after tea, Mr. Trotter,

if you're interested.

I would indeed, Mr. Leyton.

I'm very interested.

Come on, dear. Leave them now.

We're waiting.

Mr. Trotter.

I say, what a fine sight.

You wouldn't see many teas like this

in Mayfair, Mrs. Leyton.

Wouldn't you?

No, you wouldn't.

Well, it's nothing, really.

Have a scone.

Go on. They're homemade.

Thank you.

Milk, Mr. Trotter?

Please. Yes, please.

Well, tell us all about yourself, Mr. Trotter.

You're quite young

to be a butler in a lord's house,

if you don't mind me saying.

Oh, yes. Well, there's a story behind that,

Mrs. Leyton.

Oh, we'd love to hear it,

wouldn't we, Ernest?

Mmm.

Go on.

Well, I never knew my parents--

not for certain, anyway.

I was--I and my sister were brought up

on a large estate in Yorkshire

by a lodgekeeper and his wife.

They were childless, so it was an arrangement

that suited us all-- my mother, too, I presume.

I was led to believe, some years later--

you know how people talk in a village--

that my mother was the daughter

of the titled lady of the house.

Mrs. Leyton: sugar, Mr. Trotter?

Uh, two lumps, if I may, please.

And she had formed a romantic attachment

with one of the young grooms.

Oh.

Yes, and run away with him to Italy.

I was born in Naples.

And her mother went over and brought her back

just in time for my sister to be born,

and that was the end of that.

Thank you very much.

What happened to your father?

Ah, yes, well, he came to an untimely end,

I'm led to believe.

Drink, they say,

in mourning for his lost love.

Who can know for sure?

And your mother-- did you never see her?

It's a funny thing, that, you know,

because I remember a strange thing

on my 12th birthday.

I was playing in the park with Nora--that's my sister--

and we saw this lady on horseback, quite close by,

just watching us.

I remember her very clearly.

She was wearing a pale pink dress.

We didn't think much of it at the time,

but looking back,

I think she was my mother.

Was that the last time you saw her?

That's right, Mrs. Leyton,

but ever since then,

pink's been my favorite color.

Oh.

How'd you get up to London, then?

Ah, yes. Well, shortly after that,

I was put into service as a hall boy

at a colonel's house nearby,

and he came up to London.

I was footman with him, footman with Lord Henry,

and very few years later, I was made butler.

I have noticed there's been a hidden hand

in my advancement.

Have some jam, Mr. Trotter.

Oh, I will indeed, Mrs. Leyton.

Thank you very much.

Well...

It's a great comfort to us, Mr. Trotter,

to meet you.

I mean, you hear such stories

about young girls like Louisa

alone in these big London houses.

And it's nice to know

that you're watching over her.

Yes, I'm very fond of Louisa, Mrs. Leyton.

As a matter of fact,

it's my intention in the very near future

to propose marriage to her--

oh, with your permission, that is.

Marriage?

If I might make so bold, Mr. Trotter,

does my daughter know of this?

Uh, no, Mr. Leyton.

I had thought it advisable

to discuss the matter with her parents first.

I will assure you that

I will do everything in my power

to make her happy.

Of course, I may have difficulty

in convincing her of that.

She'd be a fool to turn you down,

Mr. Trotter.

Oh, it's really a matter of whether

my feelings for her are reciprocated or not.

She's not said anything to me

about getting married.

Mr. Trotter hasn't asked her yet,

has he, dear?

Are you going out, miss?

You bet I am.

But it's not your night off.

Who cares? I've had a letter,

and it needs answering in person.

But what shall I tell them?

You can tell them

there's a conspiracy going on.

Mrs. Leyton: who told you he'd been here?

He did, and he was right to.

Didn't think you could keep it secret, did you?

Now listen, my girl--

blooming cheek, him coming here behind my back.

What's going on? That's what I want to know.

Nothing is going on!

Ain't it? What'd he come here for, then?

Sneaky devil.

That is not a very nice way

to talk about your future husband.

Future husband? Over my dead body.

Listen, will you?

Now then, he told us he wants to marry you,

and we think it's a very good idea.

Do you? Well, he ain't said nothing to me about it.

He knows the proper behavior, that's why.

He wanted to ask our opinion first.

Your opinion, his opinion,

the whole bloody world's opinion.

What about my opinion?

Nobody cares about that, do they?

Mum, look. I don't mind him.

He's all right,

but I don't want to marry him.

I want to be a cook, that's all.

What do you think, dad?

You don't think I should marry

someone I don't love, do you?

Mrs. Leyton: he agrees with me.

Do you?

Mrs. Leyton: of course he does.

Now then, listen.

Dad!

Ain't you got no sense at all?

Mr. Trotter's not an ordinary butler.

He's a gentleman.

He's the son of a titled lady.

He's gonna go far, and if you've got any sense,

you'll go with him.

Come on, mum. He's not that dazzling.

You find someone better.

That's all I'm saying.

You ought to think yourself lucky

that you caught his eye.

God knows what he sees in you. I don't.

If you keep him waiting, he'll look elsewhere.

There's plenty of girls queuing up

to marry someone like him.

Well, let them. I don't need him.

I'm not marrying him

or nobody, and that's final.

Who is it?

Louisa.

Go away.

We ought to have a talk, Louisa.

All right. Come in.

Ain't my mother or Mrs. Catchpole

or any of the other people who have been shoving you at me

told you the answer is no? No, no.

I just want to explain.

It's about time, I should think.

I didn't plan for it to happen this way.

You didn't plan it at all, if you ask me.

It's just that...

I do have sincere feelings towards you,

and I do believe

we could be happy together.

I don't love you, Augustus.

So let's just forget all about it, eh?

Oh, uh, sorry, sir.

Oh, no, no, no. Do come in, my dear.

It was I who wanted to see you.

How are you?

I'm very well, thank you, sir.

You're still enjoying your cooking?

Oh, yeah.

The prince continues to talk

of your achievements.

I can tell you

he holds you in very high regard.

Thank you, sir.

So much so, in fact, that I'm sure

he will be asking for your services again

in the very near future.

I'm very pleased to oblige, sir.

Yes, well, please.

Come and sit down, my dear.

Now, we do have a problem,

one which I'm sure

we can overcome between us.

You see, in cases of this kind...

There are certain-- how shall I put it?--

rules which we have to observe.

I'm sure you appreciate that.

The prince feels-- and I must say,

I absolutely agree with him--

that it would be in everyone's best interest

if you were not to remain a single lady.

Now, I understand that

the butler in this household--

oh, not you as well, sir.

I'm sorry?

Everyone's trying to marry me off.

My dear.

Louisa...

May I call you Louisa?

We know each other well enough, I think--

I hope--for me to be

absolutely frank with you.

You see, the fact is, the prince's interest

is not confined to your cooking.

It extends to you personally.

Do you understand?

To me?

You can't be that surprised, can you?

You're an extremely pretty young woman.

That's no secret.

And the prince has let it be known to me

that he would very much

like to get to know you better.

Oh, no.

That doesn't alarm you, does it?

It is a very great honor

that's being bestowed on you.

When you consider that he has the pick

of most of the beauties in European society,

to have singled you out?

Well...

But being, as you know, a very busy person,

he has entrusted me

to find out your feelings on the matter.

And I do hope that I have your trust as well.

Oh, yeah, yeah, of course, but...

I don't think I could, honest.

Yes, of course.

It must all seem like some fairy tale come true.

No. I don't know him.

My dear, I-- I can assure you,

he's the most charming and courteous of men.

Oh, yeah, yeah, I'm sure he is.

I just want to be a cook, that's all.

I'll cook for him anytime.

Yes. Well, I'm afraid

that wouldn't be possible.

Well, there's other people to cook for.

My dear, I don't think you quite understand.

If you are unwilling to comply

with his Royal Highness' suggestion,

he will put no pressure on you, of course.

But you can hardly expect any further engagements

from his circle of friends,

or indeed, from anyone else in society.

It's a question of loyalty.

I see.

On the other hand, if you consent,

your future as a cook--

as anything you wish to be--

is assured.

What if I refuse, eh?

I'm sure the prince will understand.

There won't be another word spoken on the matter.

I'm sure you'll find someone

who will employ you in some other walk of life.

That's a sad waste of talents,

in my own private opinion, but--

why would I have to be married, then?

Because, my dear,

the prince would never seek to compromise

a single lady.

Only a married one, eh?

After...the interlude is over,

they always know they can return

to the security of their family lives.

So that's how society carries on, is it?

Most successfully, I assure you.

Now, Trotter's not such a bad chap, is he?

He seems most awfully fond of you.

Does he know about all this?

He's been told.

No one is attempting to deceive anyone.

I see.

You agree?

My dear Louisa,

we're all very fond of you.

I give you my word

that no harm will come to you.

It can only be to your advantage.

Now let's go and find Trotter.

There's something I'd like to show you both--

something I hope you'll rather like.

Here we are.

We could take in lodgers.

Put a sign up-- apartments to rent, eh?

No, I think for the moment,

that won't be necessary.

Shall we go inside?

Nice looking out from the bedroom

on that courtyard.

High walls, sycamore tree.

Lovely.

All right?

Oh, it's lovely. Thank you, sir.

Good. Well, I'll leave you two together.

I'm sure you have a lot to talk about.

Thank you, sir.

And don't worry about a thing.

Trotter, when you've made your decision,

perhaps we could meet and discuss arrangements.

What a way to start a marriage, eh?

How dare they do it to us?

That's what I want to know.

How dare they shove us and push us around

as if we were sacks of bloody coal?

And you're prepared to go through with it,

aren't you?

Well, it has nothing to do with us, really.

I mean, not that side of it.

It won't last forever--

nothing to do with us?

Don't you mind about me?

Of course I mind.

I wouldn't be human if I didn't mind.

Very much indeed.

But look at it another way,

and there's honor attached to it.

I mean, my wife, my beautiful wife,

the envy of--

oh, don't give me all that.

That was his line.

Look, we've got to play their game, Louisa.

We've got no choice, have we?

Right.

But if we've got to play their game,

then we'll bloody well make it our game.

That's the spirit.

Right. Let's get on with it, then.

TROTTER: Right. I'll go straight round

to the registrar's office and get a marriage license.

Registrar's office? Yes.

I'm not getting married

in no registrar's office.

I thought quick and simple.

Did you?

Then you can bleeding well think again.

If I'm getting married,

I'm gonna get married proper. Come on.

The Church of St. Savior at Pimlico, my lord,

on Saturday morning at 11:00.

Good. No last-minute snags or hitches?

No, my lord. Leyton lost all doubts

once she set eyes on that house.

Yes, marvelous opportunity for a young couple.

I shall be sorry to lose Trotter, though.

Good fellow.

Will you be going to the wedding, my lord?

What? No, I... Must I?

I'm shooting on Saturday.

Champagne downstairs. That'll let me out, won't it?

I'm sure that will be much appreciated,

my lord.

Quite so.

Thank you, my lord.

Just a minute, Mrs. Catchpole.

A small token

for your part in this business,

from all of us.

Thank you, my lord.

Mrs. Leyton: well, I must say,

we were so pleased when we heard the news,

weren't we, dear?

Mmm.

Well, of course.

It's a big moment for a mother and father

when their daughter announces

that she's getting married,

and in our opinion, Augustus,

she couldn't have made a wiser choice.

That's a funny way of putting it.

What's this house you're moving into?

It's just an ordinary little house, isn't it?

It's Lord Henry's wedding gift to them

for gratitude for their services,

isn't it?

He must have a very high opinion of them

to give them a house.

Of course he's got a high opinion of them.

If you don't mind my asking, Mr. Trotter,

what are you going to be doing with yourself all day,

now you'll be out of service, so to speak?

I haven't decided yet, Mr. Leyton.

It's all been rather a rush.

Louisa will carry on

with her cooking, of course.

Hmm.

I expect there are lots of things

you've always wanted to do, Augustus,

and now you'll get your chance.

It's a wonderful opportunity, certainly.

Well, before I get the tea,

there's a little ceremony

that we've got to go through,

isn't there, Ernest?

What?

The present. Go on.

Oh, well, I, uh...

I haven't had a chance to box it up yet.

Oh, they don't mind. Let them see it.

It was your father's idea.

Wanted to give you something for the house.

Here it is. Look.

Isn't it nice?

It's the one you admired, Augustus,

when you came last time.

ERNEST: Yeah, well, I've managed to get it going,

but I still need to clean it up a bit yet.

I'll bring it round sometime.

That's most generous of you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Louisa, ain't you gonna say nothing?

Yeah. Thanks, dad.

That's right.

Well, I'll fetch the tea in.

Are you getting married in this, miss?

What's the matter with it?

White, ain't it?

Do for a wedding dress.

I'm sorry you're going.

This house won't be the same without you,

or Mr. Trotter.

And you won't be teaching me to read, neither.

It's not what I want, Mary.

It's other people.

You love Mr. Trotter, though, don't you?

He's all right. He's kind.

He's done well for himself.

It's not him.

It's marriage I don't fancy.

But it gets you out of service.

What do you think-- scrubbing, cleaning,

keeping things tidy--

that's service, isn't it?

Don't get paid for it, either.

Oh, well, I wouldn't mind.

Nice kind man looking after me,

having his children.

Cor, don't want them. Ain't got time for them.

Too much I want to do.

Anyway, they always disappoint you.

You're bound to have them, aren't you?

Not if I can help it.

My mother had 14.

There you are, then.

That's terrible, that is.

I'd rather die than have that happen.

ALEX: Attention, everybody, please. Attention.

Today is a happy day.

It is also a sad day.

Louisa, my little protegee,

who was like a daughter to me,

today she is taken into the holy state

of matrimony, a most solemn state.

Lucky is the man who wooed and won her heart.

ALEX: Lucky is our friend Mr. Augustus Trotter.

Thank you, Monsieur Alex.

ALEX: Louisa is a beautiful young woman.

No one can dispute that.

She is also a princess of the culinary arts,

born with a delicate and rare touch

for a cabbage, a chicken, or for what you want.

I can say that because I, too, possess these gifts.

But rarely have I seen them in one so young,

and a woman, too.

She can, if she so wishes,

become une reine de cuisine-- a queen among cooks.

I bestow now on her and her husband

my most...

Tender and deep-felt blessings

for a long and fruitful life together.

I ask you to drink to Mr. And Mrs. Trotter.

ALL: Mr. And Mrs. Trotter.

Just admiring your brooch, Mrs. Catchpole.

Special for the occasion, is it?

That's right, Mrs. Leyton.

Very becoming.

Oh, say! Oh!

LOUISA: Oh, Monsieur Alex. Oh, thanks ever so much.

You had to bake it in secret,

didn't you, Monsieur Alex?

I knew about it.

Though I say it myself,

it is a cake fit for a princess--

and a prince, of course.

Now you take the knife together...

You hold it together...

You cut, and all of us close our eyes

and wish.

Mrs. Leyton: Oh, yes. We must have a wish.

Wish for me, dad.

Bravo.

Right. Well, that's done. I've got to go now.

I'm afraid I've got to get home.

So soon?

Yeah. I'm cooking dinner tonight for Lady Margaret Duff.

ALEX: Tonight is your wedding night.

It's her way of keeping her at it,

Monsieur Alex, not letting

your teaching go to waste.

There's plenty of other nights for us--

a whole bloody lifetime.

Bye, all. Thanks for everything.

ALEX: A piece of cake.

Oh. Ta.

It's all adjusted and working.

Should be all right. It's a good one.

But if you have any trouble with it,

let me know, eh?

LOUISA: Yeah, I will, dad. Thanks.

Oh, don't it look nice there?

Yeah. That's a good place for it.

Louisa, this house.

LOUISA: What about it?

Well, I wasn't expecting it.

Yeah, we've been lucky, ain't we?

Everything's all right, is it?

Oh, yeah. Lovely.

Marriage suits you, then.

Well, give us a chance.

I only been married a week.

Yeah.

Well, I better be going.

Get me bus.

Well, you and mum must come and visit us

when we're settled in, like.

We'd like that.

And don't forget-- any trouble, you know,

with the clock or anything,

you'll let us know, won't you?

Oh, yeah, I will.

Molly, show me father out, please.

Bye, dad.

Hello, Mr. Leyton. Not leaving, are you?

Yeah, well, I only come to bring the clock.

Oh, no. I've just been admiring it.

It's very impressive.

I thank you again for it.

Yeah. Well, uh, good-bye.

Good-bye, Mr. Leyton.

Come and see us again, won't you?

Nice man, your father.

What are you doing?

Menus. You're in me light.

Sorry.

Going to be long?

No, I don't expect so. Why?

Nice day.

I thought we might take a walk

by the serpentine,

possibly go to a music hall later.

After all, it is still our honeymoon.

Yeah. All right. I don't mind if I do.

Louisa, dearest--

here we are, then. That's done.

I'll go and get me coat, shall I?

Excuse me, madam.

There's a gentleman at the door

to see Mr. Trotter.

Well, don't just stand there, girl.

Go and let him in, for God's sake.

He's Major Fargeon, sir.

All right, thank you, Molly.

It's all right, Molly.

I'll get it.

You're looking very beautiful tonight.