Original subtitles

She sneezes

good god.

Sophy...

Doorbell rings

It's no good. I told you, Polly's away,

she's been gone for ages. So have I.

She might be back, I want to see her.

You said in the restaurant, we'd go to your place.

I'm on duty in a couple of hours.

We were going to go to bed.

Oh.

Who are you? Elizabeth.

I'm a friend of Walter's.

He gave me his key, I'd lost my digs.

He said Polly wouldn't mind. Is she here?

She's away somewhere.

Walter said... and where's he?

He was on leave a few weeks ago.

But I don't... are you a girlfriend?

Well, I was.

What are you doing here, if you're a "was"?

We... it's no business of mine, I just want to see Polly.

Any idea when she'll be...?

What's this telegram?

It's for Polly.

I've been worried stiff these last two days being on my own.

It might be urgent.

His parents are dead, I know.

I thought it might be something, but there wasn't anyone.

She gasps

Oh.

He's been killed.

Why him?!

Did you love him?

She inhales sharply

Oh, god.

Door slams

let's find a drink.

How bloody?

How absolutely bloody.

That poor girl. She'll find someone else.

What's her name anyway?

Elizabeth.

Elizabeth what?

Footsteps approach

I...

I'm sorry.

Keys jangle

door slams

she laughs hysterically

well...

..We shan't know now.

She cries oh, bloody, bloody hell!

Why Walter?!

He never hurt a fly!

Look, Tony, I think you better go.

Can't I...? No.

I want to stay...

..So someone's here when she gets back.

She might be days.

Come to bed with me, and you'll feel better.

No.

There's a dear.

I'll give you my key.

Will you fetch fling for me and bring him here?

Polly. I stayed to be here.

Thank you.

Where have you been? You're all sunburnt.

Portugal, Lisbon.

Your job.

It won't happen again.

It seemed an opportunity, my boss needed me.

That's why I wasn't here.

I should've been.

Why him?

Why Walter?

Why not Hector or Oliver or the twins?

Not the twins.

Why were you here anyway?

I wanted to see you, to talk.

Then I saw the telegram, I thought I'd wait, you'd be all alone.

Kind of you.

What did you want to talk about?

I'm to have a baby. Hector's? Of course.

That's all right, then.

I guessed you had morning sickness, didn't I?

Have you told him? He'll be terribly pleased.

He wants an heir.

Perhaps it'll make you happy.

But I am happy.

That's not happiness.

That's money.

She sighs

I'm sorry, calypso.

Oh, Polly, nothing will be the same.

Nothing will replace Walter.

I'd give myself if it would be any good.

It's true, I'm horrible.

I'm enjoying the war.

It's exciting and frightening.

I enjoy the raids.

I like all the men taking me out.

But when something like this happens, I hate it, Polly.

I hate it.

And now I'm going to blow up into an awful balloon!

And nobody's going to want to sleep with me for months and months!

She laughs

why?

What are you laughing at?

You.

You're so utterly selfish.

Don't worry.

Whatever shape you are, the men will want you.

Walter only gave up because he thought he'd never make the grade.

Now, I must go and have a bath.

Do you think you could ring them up in cornwall

and aunt Sarah and Helena?

I don't think I could do it, so will you?

Of course.

Just take fling for a run.

You go and have your bath. Thanks.

Calypso telephoned last night.

We rang Polly this morning, but she didn't answer.

I think she must have gone to work.

How much do you think she cares, Sarah?

Let her be.

I offered to come up, but she put me off.

Said the floyer twins are coming on leave for a couple of days.

Perhaps it's better for the young to be together.

She said calypso's being very helpful.

That'll be the day.

Calypso never helps anyone but herself.

And I think it was very wrong of her to open the telegram.

I just do! It wasn't for her.

Well, let me know if you're coming up to town.

Goodbye, Sarah.

Why the fuss?

You go on about this telegram.

A telegram's not private like a letter.

It's principle of the thing!

When Antony was killed, I opened the telegram myself.

The message was for me.

Antony was my husband.

Calypso had no business.

Now, now.

Where's your British flame?

The girls do not worry.

Calypso's not behaved badly. Calypso always behaves badly.

I hear she's been having affairs all over the place

since Hector went overseas.

You be careful, Max, or she'll be scrambling into bed with you.

Ah, no, calypso will not make a scramble.

Uh, ha!

What a bull in a China shop!

Max erstweiler?

No, you ass, my husband, Richard.

Oh, I-I never knew him.

What did he do? He bored, that was his handicap.

Now, Max, with all his faults, never bored anyone.

Richard barged in at a delicate period later,

it didn't matter.

Max and I were as established as hg Wells and Rebecca west.

Calypso was rather brave herself.

Not that we thought so at the time.

We said she was pig headed. How's that?

She just sat tight in London all the time she was expecting you,

refused to go to her parents, refused to go to Scotland.

She ganged up with Polly and actually encouraged Richard.

To do what?

Barge in, as I told you.

Doorbell rings

oh! Oh! They laugh

oh, calypso!

I'm going to the cinema, you come too.

Oh, but I came to see Helena.

In a bad mood. Better to leave her alone for a bit.

Ja. But I don't want to go to the cinema.

You want to see the Marx brothers in night of the opera?

I saw it with Hector in Leicester square.

Now, it's in Kensington high street.

Laughter will do you good.

Oh, I need it. Why?

Oh, Helena is in a foul mood.

Your uncle comes to London.

She does not want him. Nor would I in her shoes.

Max, I really don't think... Why so grumpy my calypso?

Ah, you're pregnant!

Nicht?

How did you guess?

It shows in your eyes.

Oh!

She laughs gently

is Hector pleased?

No news. Except rommel's on the offensive.

In Hector's boots,

I should be delighted.

Did you know that at harrods

one can buy boots with rubber soles called desert boots?

You should send some to the proud papa.

He's got some.

Is uncle Richard coming to London to snoop? Nein.

He says he comes here to buy clothes.

But I think there's something else.

I don't know what, but... ah, see?

There's a bus.

We catch it for our healing laughter.

She blows

Dog yelps

she calls on the dog

come here!

She calls on the dog

she sighs

They sleep soundly

Door squeaks

hey presto!

Presents from cornwall.

What have you brought, uncle Richard?

Mixed bag - Monika's home industry.

Goat's cheese.

Cabbage, rabbit pate.

Ah!

Butter. She goes in for that as well.

It's black market.

A touch of grey, perhaps. There's some crayfish somewhere.

I spent the afternoon looking at bomb damage in the east end.

I saw some rubble in France, but nothing like this.

But there's no mud or dead horses.

One misses the smell - a sort of haunting odour of wet dead.

What's it been like round your way?

I lost all my windows when parliament was hit.

That all? You seen the city?

No. Good lord! You live in London, you haven't seen it?

I'll take you tomorrow.

You must see the docks in the city.

The best way is from the top of a bus.

One should walk, of course, but with my leg...

I thought Monika got you a new one.

Not as good as flesh and blood.

Good enough for dancing, though.

Both: Dancing?! Why not?

Monika's enrolled me in a course of lessons in soho.

How many? 12, two in a week.

So, in six weeks, with a bit of luck...

..I should...

Where's she gone?

I haven't even found the eggs yet.

Was this Monika's idea? Dancing lessons?

I've been practising at home, pushing a chair around.

Monika says the noise kept her awake.

She has to get up early to see to the cow.

Says it can't wait.

I ask you, upshot was she came up with this plan.

I paid in advance, start on Wednesday.

That's brilliant.

I think it's terribly brave.

What's brave? Uncle Richard learning to dance.

How long will this pantomime take?

Six weeks, my dear. I told you. My god.

Shan't be in the way.

I've got my club, my tailor, and I'm told there's a place

called the windmill.

That's for dirty old men!

No, it isn't, aunt Helena.

It's naked girls.

You're in no position to talk if it comes to that.

Stop it, uncle Richard!

Well...

So, when am I going to see sophy?

I've never visited the girl's school.

It isn't too far, is it?

Cambridge, I'll come with you.

Let's make a day of it.

Unless you want to go too, aunt Helena?

Max has a very busy programme.

I'll telephone the school, then.

Do you think Polly would come too?

Take her mind off Walter.

The floyer twins are stationed somewhere near, I think.

You seen them lately?

No.

Shall we take a picnic?

Sophy would like that.

There's a cooked chicken in one of those.

The one they called Jane.

I think sophy was rather fond of it.

But it stopped laying so Monika's given it the chop.

How brutal.

Sometimes I wonder if that child is quite normal.

Now, why on earth do you say that?

Not a tear when Walter was killed.

Left a note on the hall table, went off for a walk.

Shock for Monika and me.

"Calypso found. Walter killed."

Just like that.

I ask you, cold of her.

I expect she was glad it wasn't Oliver.

She loves him. Rubbish!

A child doesn't know about love.

What she'll mind is if she discovers she's eating Jane!

Ha-ha! Don't!

It's exciting. Where will you have the baby, when it comes?

I booked a room in a nursing home in wimpole street. And then?

The nurse from Scotland will come and bring it up in Hector's nursery.

The place is full of commandos, but there's

a comfortable room above the kitchens.

Would you have milk?

Milk?! People do.

I learned about it - it's called breast-feeding.

I couldn't bear to!

Of course not.

They're private.

Calypso laughs gently

what else?

Well, Hector's family will grab the baby.

They're catholics.

They don't accept me as a second wife.

I found out when I went to Scotland.

Hector never told me, the bastard!

You've never bothered about religion.

None of us does.

Look at the twins, their father's a parson.

But you wouldn't know it. I suppose Hector thought you might

not marry him if you knew. Of course I would!

I married him because he's rich.

Everyone knows that.

I hope he's not going to put his hands up their skirts.

What?! Uncle Richard.

That's what he used to do to me.

And he keeps touching Valerie and Miranda.

Better walk fast and catch them up.

Didn't he do that to you and Polly?

Yes, I suppose he did, in a way.

Oh, sophy, how awful. Hurry!

It's not awful.

It's just boring.

And they wouldn't understand.

Uncle Richard, wait for us!

Calypso wants to see king's chapel and it's the other way.

Oh, right.

Hope you girls are hungry.

We've got some chicken.

Well, I hope we gave some pleasure.

Sophy's little friends seemed more forthcoming than she was.

More interested in the grub than us if you ask me.

She was glad to see us.

Are you quite sure?

I was wrong about Jane.

"Is this Jane?," the girl asks.

"Can I have a bit of breast?"

Told you she was cold.

She's going to be a beauty.

Who was her father, uncle Richard?

Well may you ask.

Better not, I never did.

Some chap my poor sister ran into on her travels.

Died giving birth.

She was never strong, not like you.

Where had she been?

Your guess is as good as mine.

Train creaks

is this it?

Indo-China. What?!

Slanty eyes, looks as if she came from indo-China.

What's funny?

You children make a mock of me.

I'm just a one legged misfit in this bloody war.

No! I go to my club. It's full of every conceivable ass in uniform.

I'm totally useless.

Helena has a lover, well-known violinist.

She's sick of her boring husband.

Never been able to make love to her.

Never liked women until... Monika?

Life isn't easy.

Can't help liking little girls.

Never hurt you or Polly, did I?

No, of course not.

Extraordinary thing is, I don't mind it with Monika.

Actually like it. She doesn't shave her armpits like you girls.

What?! Offered to shave her...

You know, pussy.

But I said...

Calypso laughs

what's the matter?

You.

You're brave, uncle Richard. No, no.

Yes, you are.

I was depressed and you've cheered me up.

You're awfully brave and we all love you, you know we do. Rubbish!

It's true.

Without you all our lives would be different.

Think how you rescued Monika and Max from internment.

You're marvellous!

Will you be godfather to the baby?

Shouldn't be much good.

Not rich and don't believe in god.

Kind of be nice, though.

I mean it.

I've looked after her, you know?

Write to her every week at school.

Never let her come to harm.

I think she knows that.

Yes, she told me.

Two letters.

We're in luck!

From him.

Listen.

First one first.

"Dearest calypso..."

He hasn't heard yet about the baby.

"Sitting in this hotel melting quietly away

"last night after sundown.

"Who do you think appears?

"It'd been a hell of a day.

"Hot and boring.

Calypso chuckles

"I was in need of company."

Hello, you old sod.

Good god. No, me.

What are you doing here?

Looking for a large iced beer and a beddable bit. Hm.

I'll buy you one.

The beer, that is.

A large iced beer for my friend.

What I should have asked is what have you been doing?

Running away again.

From rommel, this time.

Apart from all the flies, and blood and heat and general bloodiness,

what's particularly irritating is if it hadn't been

for that idiot Churchill's balls-up in Greece,

dicky o'Connor would've finished this show

and we could all be home by now.

I suppose, as a Tory, you think he's a fucking genius.

Churchill, I mean.

She laughs

"as a matter of fact,

"my views seem to be changing on the political front.

"It's quite possible I might try to stand for labour next time round.

"If there is a next time."

Christ, is nothing sacred?

Don't destroy all my prejudices.

If I can't hate you, Hector, what the hell is there to live for?

I thought you lived for the fun of chasing my wife, like all the rest.

That's over.

She turned out to be not quite as I expected.

I'm looking for something else. What's that?

Don't know.

Something I almost remember.

Or haven't found yet.

Polly, what are desert boils?

Hector says Oliver has them.

I'll have to ask aunt Sarah.

And yes, he's heard about the baby.

There's a lot about politics.

And trees!

Apparently, the romans felled all the trees in north Africa

and that's why there's a desert.

After the war, Hector says he's going to buy land

and plant trees.

Doesn't sound like Hector.

Are you coming round?

The twins are here.

Not tonight. I'm quite busy.

I have fling.

I prefer to be alone.

Ah, well.

Goodbye, now.

Pregnancy is making her unsociable.

She was always a bit unpredictable.

A solo artist.

Not like us.

But we were fated, born as we were.

After all these years, I still don't know which of you is the eldest.

Nor do we.

Our parents took the attitude

that the first should be last and the last, first.

Father's Christian principles and mother's idea of fair play.

Rather like you, darling.

Will these be enough?

I think they were right.

Will you go and see them when we're gone?

Gone where? Overseas.

We're being posted.

All the action's in north Africa now.

A pukka gen claims they might be shifting us to Malta.

Oh, god, no!

She weeps

as bad as that, is it?

I'd rather guessed.

Don't cry, sweetheart.

Think how good the sun will be for us.

We can't leave it all to the pongos.

Hector and Oliver have been out there for ages.

Northing's happened to them.

Oliver's got boils.

Calypso told me. Young Hector has an office job.

There, there.

There, there.

Better now.

It's Walter.

That was months ago.

I know, but it's still... come on.

Blow your nose.

You may not have to weep for us.

When are you likely to go?

Guesswork. That's all we've got.

You probably hear more in your office.

Hence the tears.

Something in your eye, ma?

It's gone now.

Thanks.

Here you are. Mrs erstweiler says they're a dozen.

New laid.

Fair exchange, then.

I brought her a lobster up this morning.

Thanks!

Shouting

what's going on, Willy?

It's the Belgian trawlermen.

They made a funny catch last night.

Jerry plane kept going between land's end and scillies.

Jerry bails out.

Belgian picks him out of the drink,

ties a rope round him

and then trawls him behind.

Belgians ain't fond of jerries.

Ahh...

She screams

clattering

ah!

Damn!

How'd it feel?

It'll be all right, now.

Thanks very much.

I'd better go. They may start to worry.

Squealing

our Tommy swapped his knife for those Guinea pigs.

They're proper pests.

He brings animals home, then he lets them die.

Pups, kittens, birds, they all die.

It's better drown them at the pump.

As if there weren't enough killing with this nasty war.

You lost your cousin, didn't you?

Yes.

Will you really drown them, mrs pengelly?

Here we are, then.

Cheap sort of stuff, I'm afraid, but all we can get nowadays.

It'll please Richard when he comes home. Thank you, general.

The least I can do.

In return for all those delicious meals.

If he doesn't like it, he could always use it in the cooking.

Of course he will like it.

Ah, sophy.

What have you got there?

You went to the harbour, surely?

They're Guinea pigs. I got them from mrs pengelly.

I saw Willy.

And fell off my bicycle on the way home.

You fell?

Were you hurt?

Just a graze. Mrs pengelly cleaned me up.

Guinea pigs shriek

there you are. Go free.

By jove, takes one back, seeing Guinea pigs again.

I used to keep them as a boy.

They remind me of Peru.

Max did a concert tour of South America.

From Lima, we went up into the mountains to see the villages.

Women wear bowler hats, I hear.

Trouble is they breed faster than rabbits.

The Guinea pigs.

Used to drive my mother mad.

Did you hear about the German plane ditched off land's end?

Belgian trawler picked up the pilot.

He was dead when they got him in.

How dreadful!

Germans, Monika. They were Germans!

It was an enemy plane. Nothing dreadful about that!

Put this away.

Come, bucks. Dog barks

if you didn't know she was worrying about her son,

you'd have thought she was pro-German.

She doesn't like anyone getting killed.

Womanish rubbish. Don't you start.

Can't have a war without killing.

Wouldn't do at all.

She didn't want a war!

Can't understand her attitude.

Such a pretty woman.

Such a good cook.

Knock on door

Is it your son?

I did knock.

I was a long way away.

Yes.

That is pauli.

If he is still alive.

The general left.

He said he'd look in again.

He has a shine on you.

What is that? He's falling in love with you.

Like uncle Richard.

Are you very unhappy?

She sighs it is home woe.

That is all.

Is that homesickness?

I have it all the time at school.

Do you hate it here?

Very much?

Only sometimes.

What I miss is my mother tongue.

Max says we must always speak English, sing in English.

Sometimes I rebel.

I was thinking just now of the smells of home.

Do you understand?

At school I think of the smell of the camomile lawn.

Will you rush straight back when the war is over?

Or will you go to find pauli? Or will he come here to you?

We will never go back.

Jews move on.

Then he'll come here.

And I'll meet him.

I wish...

I wish they'd all come home.

Walter won't.

Oh, Monika.

Oh, sophy.

Cry a little.

We must cry!

It's not just Walter.

Willy told me at the harbour.

That German pilot didn't die.

They drowned him.

The fishermen?

They dragged him in the sea, behind a boat.

We mustn't tell anyone. It will be no use.

Only the other side commits atrocities.

But we couldn't! You think Oliver would not?

Nor Hector, nor the twins?

They will be given medals.

Gongs, as you call them.

It's not the same. The fishermen weren't English.

But the man who told you was pleased, nicht?

He approved?

He was English. Yes. I suppose.

Well, cornish.

What is the difference?

The Nazis are not the only ones.

They started it.

By the time this is finished, none of us will care who started it.

Children sing I brought some eggs, mrs floyer.

And Monika sent some butter to herr floyer.

Oh, children!

Radio blasts way too much noise. Please!

Radio: Give a full-on picture of last night's air raid on Berlin,

the heaviest ever carried out on the capital.

Come to the kitchen, darling.

Herr floyer will be most grateful.

Probably pass it on to someone he thinks more worthy.

Don't tell Monika!

Your evacuees seem very happy.

How are the nits?

We have them under control.

Some of the children went home.

But if the raids start again, they'll be back.

Have you heard from the twins?

Yes.

They're coming on leave, both of them.

How lovely!

Not lovely.

It's embarkation leave.

Oh.

Where? I don't know.

Why is it worse to have them overseas?

They're in danger anyway.

Not being able to imagine the place, I suppose.

I try and imagine Hector when I see calypso.

And Oliver, of course.

Will I see aunt Sarah?

None of us knows what's going on.

We listen to the news,

but it doesn't really tell us anything.

All those names.

Tobruk, El alamein, Malta.

Don't say Malta.

I think if they're sent there, I shall go mad.

You have news?

Not good.

Not good at all.

How did you know I'd be alone tonight?

I talked to calypso.

He sighs Polly, dear.

I do this for the twins' sake.

You worry.

And I worry for Monika and Helena.

Worrying makes me, what you call, Randy.

Alas, Helena has shut up shop.

You open the legs, nicht?

Yes.

That fits with what we're hearing from enigma.

File a copy with the cigs.

Are you ill?

No. Worried by something?

I don't want to pry.

No, I'm glad they're not there.

Wouldn't make it any easier.

I think you better take some leave, go somewhere quiet.

You like cornwall, don't you?

Not there, god, no.

Try dartmoor.

Do you know it?

Well, go and walk on a bit of it that's not

infested with troops, walk yourself into a coma,

see what your subconscious comes up with.

Didn't know I read Freud, did you?

Go to Newton Abbot.

Take a taxi to this pub.

Do you ride? Yes.

Hire a horse. The landlord has several.

I'll bet you come up with the answer.

Horse neighs

she screams

llamas. It was a herd of llamas.

What were they doing there?

Evacuated from the paignton zoo, I heard later.

Anyway, my horse bolted and I was concussed.

The farmer drove me to the local hospital.

The nurses didn't know about the llamas.

They thought I had dts or something. It was like that in wartime,

nobody really knew what was going on, even next door.

That's why I sometimes think those Germans who say they didn't

know about the concentration camps may be telling the truth.

Anyway...

Come on, jumbo, there's a good boy.

Anyway, riding on the moor, I've been thinking.

I had to make a decision.

I thought I had to give them up, that I couldn't marry one and leave

the other, that if one was killed,

the decision would be made for me.

Girls like me were brought up to be respectable.

The war shook that, but it hurt.

Calypso didn't seem to mind, but I did.

And there was nobody I could tell until somehow, in hospital,

I began to tell the doctor.

He was a nice man, kind.

He didn't give advice, he sat on my bed and talked to me about Nepal.

He told me about polyandry.

He'd been there on some expedition.

Then one day he said I was well enough to go back to London.

And then?

He just shook hands with me

and said, "what you're going to do is not illegal."

He'd guessed I wouldn't give up either.

So that's how you two came about.

Now, must go and have a pee,

then we must get on.

I suppose it would be too much to ask which of us is whose.

And whether one or both.

It's too bad.

Richard's got his new suits.

He's shopped for Monika.

He should go home.

You are impatient, my Helena.

He's enjoying himself.

He's out all day.

I am not.

Well, why don't you come nicely to bed now?

I have a rehearsal about 3.00.

There's just time. Come, meine dumpling.

You smell nice. Suddenly he comes back

and goes out again. So he goes out again.

Let me in. Oh, Max, really?

Ja.

Relax and enjoy.

Phone rings

there's the telephone.

So let it ring.

We make symphony to its ringing.

The telephone has no soul.

As I try and conduct, here, see,

together we make ricotta.

He whistles tunelessly

Ah. Oh.

My dear fellow, would it amuse you to come to my rehearsal?

I leave this minute.

Delighted.

You know, I saw general De gaulle in piccadilly walking past the ritz.

Looked lonely, poor chap, huge nose in the air.

In here, Sarah. Richard collected it in Paddington this morning.

Lovely to see you.

When did you get in? Yesterday. I'm staying at Polly's.

I tried to ring you this afternoon but you must have been out.

No, no, I heard it.

We were...

I was in the lavatory.

How is Polly?

I think she may be overworking. Never home till midnight.

Gracious, what a lot of goodies!

Good job, too.

Max is bringing his musical chums round after rehearsal.

He's taken Richard with him.

I saw them set off.

Oh, Sarah, do you think Richard will ever go home?

Not if you feed him like this.

Monika's clever. She sends cooked things.

Doesn't think of me as a cook.

She's right, of course, but he's getting on my nerves,

goes to his club, counts generals then prowls the streets.

What do you mean, prowls? Around whitehall.

He's like a child. He's thrilled if he sees anyone in the news.

Could you put these in the fridge?

Poor old Richard. It sounds harmless to me.

He's your brother, you know he's harmless.

I want him to go home. He thinks because I bought this house,

he has a right to live in it.

I want to be alone with Max.

If I can't be alone with him at night,

when can I be?

Don't laugh, it's not funny!

It is though.

I'll think of some ploy to get rid of him, and I have to see calypso -

she won't talk to her parents.

They're worried stiff she's pregnant, and out every night

dancing with French, Poles, Belgians, even a sikh.

It'll be a black man next.

There are no black officers. Just as well.

"My dearest calypso...

"Seeing all this desert makes me crave for trees.

"There was once a forest on the coast of north Africa.

"The romans felled the trees, hence the soil erosion and this desert

"in which we fight.

"In my dream, I shall plant woods of oak and beech and Chestnut,

"and among them flowering cherries.

"I will plant the cherries in curves

"so that when some future airman flies over them, he will see

"the name calypso spelled out in blossom.

"I was in hospital with a fever when I made this plan."

Phone rings

hello.

Oh, telegrams.

Yes, I'm calypso Grant.

Yes, please read it.

Yes, I've got that.

No.

Yes, a confirmation copy.

Yes, please.

Thank you.

What the hell was he doing?

I thought he was safe in Cairo.

Missing, believed killed.

Oh, it's you, is it?

He won't be here to welcome you.

I don't want you very much.

Now, my dear, what have we here?

Pate surprise. My word.

Looks good.

And tastes even better, I'll be bound.

What a clever little thing you are.

Mm.

No use asking the secret of this, I suppose?

Guess.

Never could.

Laughing and singing

what a good party. Feeding eight of us reminds me of pre-war.

I'll wash up, you dry.

All right.

What's up?

Nothing.

I wish they'd all go.

I never seem to see Max now, we're never alone.

I thought... if you're possessive, you'll lose him.

Trying to be like Monika. Let him off the lead. Like Monika.

They've been married for years.

She never tries to change him.

If you listen to those people, you'll find they're her friends too.

Then why isn't she here?

I should think that's pretty obvious.

His friends are his life, like his violin.

You can't just have one thing.

Bed. You've got to realise he's more than bed

if you want to keep him, you must share it all.

When we've done this, I'd like to telephone. Can I use your bedroom?

Yes, of course. I need to talk to George.

There might be a letter from Oliver.

I'm getting worried. All this new fighting in the desert.

Loud violin music and humming

Helena, what you do out here alone? Nothing. Come, we miss you.

Do not leave us. You don't need me.

But we do.

You are our cement, we cannot do without you. But I'm tone deaf.

You are ridiculous.

Yes, I am.

You got through. Any news?

George had a letter from Oliver.

He read it to me - it seems that Hector's gone missing

on some secret mission.

Music and singing

Singing continues

phone rings

Hello.

Mildred, darling.

Yes, it's me, Richard.

Are you all right? Your voice sounds...

You want to speak to who?

Oh, yes, very well. It seems it's for you -

Mildred at the rectory. Called me maladroit.

I ask you.

Max here.

When?

Where?

A cliff! How did sh...?

What pigs?

The general, he say that? A crazy old drunkard.

Where is she now?

I come at once to kill that man. I get the first train.

Ja.

She threw herself over the cliff.

My lovely Monika.

Why did you leave us alone?

I have... I have to work.

You're' my friend, you should look after her.

Is she dead? Oh, no. No.

I kill that general, that motherfucking Nazi.

Stop shouting, Max, and tell us.

You bloody English!

Tell us what happened.

It's your hampers, your hampers of food.

She put in pigs.

What? Are you mad?

You know perfectly well she has no pigs. Guinea pigs.

She has been breeding Guinea pigs.

We have been eating them.

And your swine general says Monika is a spy, a foreigner and a Jew.

I kept Guinea pigs. Charming little fellows. Wogs eat songbirds.

Shut up. Frogs eat frogs, but Guinea pigs...

I ask you. Shut up, I tell you!

Max, try and tell us what Mildred said. She said some fool gave sophy

those pigs and Monika breeds them with her rabbits,

which we eat, probably we eat some tonight.

And then? She gives this old man supper.

He asks what he eats.

"So gourmet, unlike the filthy rations," and Monika tells him.

He abuses her, this arschloch, and Monika cracks,

she runs and throws herself over the cliff.

Oh, no, no, no, no.

But...

She sticks on the ledge and the coastguards pull her up.

Is she hurt? How do I know?

Mildred says she had the breakdown.

We must go.

We better catch the midnight train.

Quick, somebody go and fetch a taxi.

Hurry.

Max, I'll come with you.

I'll come along too. Won't take me long to pack.

Most of my things are ready, I...

I'll tell Polly, ring me there tomorrow.

Taxi!

Sorry, love, I'm shot to bits, I'm going home.

It's only to Paddington. Sorry, love.

It's for the exiled king of Greece, he lives here.

Of vital importance to catch the train.

Top secret, urgent.

Hop in.

She rings doorbell

Aunt Helena.

Aunt Helena!