Original subtitles

Hamish, you won't forget I want to buy flowers in penzance?

I shall throw them into Max's coffin.

Violets.

Wrong time of year, great aunt. You'll only get chrysanthemum.

Max hated chrysanthemums.

They made him sneeze.

They'll have violets at the shop in causewayhead.

Well, I'll... you must try.

Max bought some for Monika, from a barrow at Paddington

the night she tried to kill herself and we all dashed down to cornwall.

Hm. Nearly made us miss the train. Hm.

Silly really, they've have been grown in cornwall

and at very much this time of year.

Well, if you say so.

When you consider the horrors of war,

it's remarkable that it was Guinea pigs

which gave Monika of a breakdown. She giggles

Christ, what the hell are you doing here?

Where's Helena? I saw the front door.

Thought she'd forgotten about the blackout.

Tony! Steady on.

It's all right, calm down.

Give a chap a chance to breathe.

I went to Polly's.

There was no-one there,

so I came here and found it was unlocked.

I thought you were at school.

I was.

I ran away.

Ah.

What's been going on?

Not exams. A boy, is it?

No! It wasn't that.

They said...

..They said I was in love with...

..With miss Stevens.

How could I be with a woman?

It happens.

Does it? Well, men love men.

That's different. Yes. They go to prison, women don't.

The laws on sex are rather obfusc.

I wish I knew about sex.

What the girls say at school is patently untrue.

I long to know.

No. You'd laugh.

Oh, god, I'm tired.

Bed, then.

Where the hell of they all gone?

Drink up your milk and then find somewhere to tuck down.

I'll ring round and try to sort out what's going on.

Phone rings

Buck up, sophy, I'm whacked!

Did you speak to anyone?

No-one at home. We'll sort it out in the morning.

I'll kip down on the sofa.

I borrowed this. Do you think aunt Helena will mind?

She's got gallons of Chanel 5 in there and Elizabeth arden makeup.

And what do you think this is?

Where did you find it?

Is it medicinal?

You could say that.

Something like a truss.

For her bosom?

Put it back where it came from and go to bed. All right.

Oh, you stink! It's the scent!

I didn't mean to use so much.

Why don't you sleep in here if you're so tired?

Oh, for god's sake, sophy,

you're too old for this kind of thing.

Or perhaps I mean too young.

Sorry.

Doorbell rings

Who are you? You weren't at the party last night!

I'm a friend of Helena's.

I met her through Polly and calypso. My nieces?

Then you must be sophy's aunt.

She's upstairs.

Sophy's at school.

No, she's asleep in Helena's bed. Or was when I last saw her.

She ran away.

Has there been a fire?

I came to see Helena's daily.

Why did she run away?

I think she'd better tell you herself.

She was very upset last night.

She doesn't want to go back.

Wouldn't have run away if she wanted to stay.

No, I suppose...

Thank you.

I have to go and see calypso. I can take sophy with me.

You must be Oliver's mother. Yes!

How is Oliver? Oliver, did you say?

Oh, aunt Sarah!

How is Oliver?

I'm so glad to see you.

Well, dear, go and put a dressing gown on.

You'll catch cold in that thing.

Isn't it beautiful? I can't think where aunt Helena gets the coupons.

I'll make you some breakfast,

then we'll catch a bus and go and see calypso.

I gather something's happened to Hector.

If he's dead, Oliver will be delighted.

Dog barking

mind he dog mess! He's not been out yet.

I don't suppose he could last. It's long after 10.

I'll clean up presently. Mrs Welsh doesn't like him.

I thought you were at school, sophy? I ran away.

I was asked to leave mine. Accused of flirting with the gardener.

Spotty youth.

It was an insult to my intelligence.

You haven't heard, I suppose? Hector's dead, I had a telegram.

Oh, no, darling.

But I was coming to say...

..We had a letter from Oliver.

How are his boils?

What boils? Oliver's.

Hector wrote and said Oliver had desert boils, didn't he tell you?

No.

Is there anything I can do?

Oh, no, thanks, aunt, nothing at all.

When did you hear? Why haven't you...

Why haven't I told you all?

Rather be alone, I suppose.

Except I'm not alone. There's this bloody bulge.

Naturally you're upset.

Why can't they tell the truth?

"Missing, believed killed," they only say that

because they haven't found the body, just to prolong the agony!

Of course, when you love someone...

I don't know what love is.

I married Hector for his money.

He's made a will. Separate provision for the child if I marry again.

So once the bulge and I are separate, everything will be ok.

That about wraps it up.

I'll go and clean up that mess.

And take fling for a run.

Fling! His lead's in the hall!

Why don't you stay with me, sophy, love,

while they get used to the idea you're not going back?

Do you think they'll let me? Yes, I do.

Monika's tried to kill herself. Tony rang me before you came here.

Don't worry, she didn't succeed.

Aunt Helena will be smoothing things down in cornwall.

Aunt Sarah can't have you in Bart, she's busy with her wvs.

You stay here and amuse me. If only I could.

Well, you can!

We'll fix it.

What did you say about Monika? Aunt Sarah only said she was ill.

All Tony knows is she tried to jump off a cliff.

She wouldn't fall far.

The army blocked the terror run with barbed wire.

Was Tony drunk last night? No.

You were lucky.

Everybody's drinking.

It's the war.

At the moment, it makes me sick.

She gasps oh.

Here's one from Oliver! Is it?

Soon as I'm delivered of this lump, I shall go on a bender.

Do you want to read this?

But it's for you. That doesn't matter.

I'm going to take a bath and then we'll light the fire.

Can I really stay?

Of course!

The bulge and I will be pleased to have you.

I'll go and dress.

Oliver...

Man's voice echoes: Sophy!

You were listening? Yes. You shouldn't do that!

I happened to be here! I often am.

Oh, Max, that was wonderful.

Thanks for letting me come.

I'll never forget.

What's wrong?

Somebody told me before the rehearsal.

A friend has heard it.

Pauli is dead. Your son?

Are you sure it's true?

Yeah... i believe so.

There's a man in Vienna who makes deals with the Nazis

and from him he heard it.

Pauli was ill and he died.

He was in a place called dachau.

Oh, Max.

I'm sorry!

I've lost my son.

What can I say to Monika?

Why didn't we run away?!

He sighs was solls.

You heard the music.

Now...

..I'll take you to calypso.

Hello?! Sophy?!

I'm raiding Hector's cellar!

News! The lord and master is alive and well in prison camp,

only slightly missing after all! She giggles

you're here in time to celebrate! Max!

Wunderbar!

Oh, a joy, my dear calypso.

Bubbly, nicht? I open this for you! Go into the kitchen!

Find some glasses.

What have you heard?

It appears Hector was on some stupid secret raid behind German lines.

I told him he was much too old for that kind of thing.

Then rommel had the same idea.

And had to go and... She laughs hysterically

so Hector and his pals caught it in the neck,

but the funny thing is... Champagne pops

bubbly! The funny thing is... what?

Laughing: Rommel's attack was codenamed midsummer night's dream!

Sommernachtstraum?! They laugh

what's funny about that?

Oh, no, you wouldn't understand.

Oliver would, though.

Anyway!

Here's to Hector!

And his bulge.

Prost.

Sophy.

Coming along, darling. It's only me.

I'm in the kitchen making tea.

Calypso, darling.

Mm. You still use mitsuka.

Not grey hair, not even a rinse.

How many years?

Why are you here? Why are you doing...

The funeral's tomorrow?

It doesn't show much, does it?

I thought I'd come the night before the wake.

I'll have to buy some booze.

Any idea who's coming?

Neighbours, I suppose, friends, other artists.

Hamish is bringing Helena. At her age!

Crikey. She enjoys funerals.

She was at Richard's and Monica's...

She even turned up at general peacham's.

Seems excessive.

I wanted to look round the house.

I suppose it will be sold now. Pauli won't want it.

I'm sure he doesn't.

Remember those holiday breakfasts.

Uncle Richard crumpling the times.

Monica's smartened things up a lot.

The bedrooms were always comfortable. Cold in winter.

Not since Max put in central heating.

This room had the finest view. Uncle Richard died in it.

I found him, uncle Richard.

Poor dux.

Back's gone again.

He was halfway down a rabbit hole. Yeah.

I'm buggered too. I'll get the vet tomorrow.

No good - can't move the legs.

Both done for.

I ask you.

Sophy, it is sophy, isn't it?

Yes. Closer.

Bury him with me.

You mean dux?

In a coffin.

Promise. Uncle Richard, I don't think I can... I'll stay with him.

He will rest now the dog is found.

Say...

I promise.

Urgh!

Sophy, look!

Did you know?

I never realised it was so beautiful.

He was busy making us feel beautiful.

No need to whisper.

He doesn't look his age. He's as old as aunt Helena.

Not quite.

Yes, one forgets.

My goodness, it's a long time.

We were an ignorant lot in those days.

Very. Who did you sleep with first?

Who was your first lover?

Mine was Hector.

Nobody believed it, but Hector was my first.

It didn't take me long to find he was the best, too.

Oh, I couldn't do that.

I couldn't even kiss Hector goodbye.

What's funny?

I just remembered Max smuggling the dog

into uncle Richard's coffin.

Why on earth did he do that?!

It's what he asked for when he was dying.

He made me promise.

Max tipped the undertaker to look the other way.

Oh! The old rogue.

He had compassion.

Oh! I am an idiot. Of course.

Oh, darling, I'm sorry.

Your first, was he? Hm. You too.

What a philanderer!

But faithful to Monica and Helena after his fashion.

If you like a menage a trois!

Country wife and town wife.

They were happy. Mm.

Shall we make that tea?

I wonder why they haven't closed the coffin.

Why the house is empty.

We'd better stay and keep him company.

Oh, I don't want to - I've got a room at the queens.

Somebody should stay until pauli comes. Oh, of course.

Oh, that's why it's open.

I've forgotten pauli.

Yeah, people do.

He isn't one of us, is he?

Come and spend the night at the queens, I'll pay.

We've so much to catch up on. Do.

It's been so many years.

Tell me something.

Did Hamish want to marry you?

I'm almost old enough to be his mother.

I was there, remember?

Urgh.

Help. We're in here. Help. Here.

Urgh.

Help. Help. We're in here.

Help. Here.

Where the hell have you been?

I wanted something to wrap the baby in. It's mrs rush's apron.

God. Here we go again.

Oh!

Fuck Hitler!

Bugger that bomb.

Hector would kill me for this.

I can hear them outside now.

They're getting closer. It won't be long. Urgh!

Urgh!

Argh!

I think it's coming.

Agh!

Hector's baby.

If you'd married him, you'd have been rich.

Didn't that tempt you? I like being rich.

Always have.

So you said. You said you didn't know what love was, but you lied.

Oh.

What makes you think that?

When Hamish was born, you gave yourself away.

Oh, I don't remember saying anything.

I remember yelling a lot. When you saw him.

When you looked at him, you said, "his balls are as big as Hector's."

Your voice. I've never seen a newborn baby.

It gave me a shock.

You sounded as if you loved him.

Fanciful.

Still haven't answered my question.

It wouldn't have worked. Too young to know his own mind? Of course.

He never married anyone else.

Time enough.

But we might have got on,

you and me, you could have provided me with a grandchild.

Hector would have liked that.

Cousins? Not too close, Walter was too close.

And Oliver.

Does he ever come to england?

I wouldn't know. Tax dodging, I suppose.

The famous author.

I never liked his books.

Sure you won't come to queens? It's comfortable.

Thanks. I've got to go and buy that booze before they shut.

See you in church tomorrow, love.

Curious, they should have both died in that house.

Who? What both?

My husband, Richard, my lover Max.

I sold it to Max after Richard died.

I had the London houses.

Richard called me a fool to buy them in the blitz.

£2,000, the pair of them. As little as that?

Good, I want to refill this and go to the lavatory.

Can I help?

I'm not entirely senile.

Get that filled. I like vat 69.

Right.

I'll see you in the bar then.

Oh, look, that's Polly's car.

She's driving Iris and James down.

We can all arrive together.

Well, look who's here.

Oh.

Hello, James.

Can I buy you one?

I'm driving the last lap.

Mother and Iris are in the loo.

With great-aunt Helena.

Quite a journey.

She's been reminiscing.

So has mother. That's what happens at funerals.

Any cat out of bags?

Not exactly. Tiny clarification.

About our backgrounds.

Oh? Aren't they pretty stable?

Considering us all, I'd say they were remarkably stable.

What are you on about?

We have two fathers. You have none.

I had one to start with. He died.

Not divorced or anything. Yours never married.

Oh, come on, how could they?

Yours were awfully conventional, devotion until death.

Are you suggesting my mother loved my father?

Why? Do you resent that?

Hello, Hamish.

Hello. I met Helena in the loo.

What are you two wrangling about?

Parents. Oh.

I'd like a gin and tonic if anyone will buy me one.

Yes, of course. A gin and tonic, please.

Your... your fathers, are they coming, by the way.

They may not be back in time.

They're in vichy. Oh.

I think the less said about that, the better.

It's a lesson I've learned the hard way, having two small children. Mm.

What I'm dreading on this occasion is being stuck with pauli.

I hope to god he isn't staying at the queen's.

Who isn't?

Hello, aunt Polly.

The dreaded pauli.

Yes. Poor old Max is dead and pauli lives.

The ways of divine Providence are pretty quirky.

Anybody need a drink?

Ah!

Oh.

Oh, poor darling. Sorry.

Did I set fire to you?

Door shuts

Hello?

Erstweiler, pauli erstweiler.

I have finished here. You may close the coffin now.

Yeah, yeah. 2.30 tomorrow.

What? Yes.

Yes, the house will be for sale.

Do you know of a buyer?

Tomorrow, then. Thank you.

Tomorrow will do.

Door shuts

Sophy?

Are you still here?

Can you give me a hand? I bought the booze for tomorrow.

Help me unload the car.

Goodness, champagne.

You remember he called it "bubbly"?

Remember the night we celebrated over Hector?

Very well.

So, I thought we'd have bubbly tomorrow.

He'd like that.

Guess who I saw in town?

Pauli. He's been here. I hid.

Oh, I don't blame you. He's a right sod.

Can you managed that? Yes.

He made a pass at me once.

I slept with him. What?

How could you?

In dachau, his hands were crushed by the guards.

I thought I'd teach him how to love.

Hmm.

But, darling, you love Oliver.

You always did.

As a child.

How did you know? We all knew.

Your enigmatic little face.

Your eyes.

Oliver's such an ass.

Have you seen him lately? Not for years.

Both his wives, awful.

Any more of these? There's some stuff in the car.

He got over me years and years ago.

When we've finished unloading, I'm going to take you out to dinner.

I thought I'd stay the night.

Why?

Max is all alone. There's food in the fridge.

But suppose he comes back?

Pauli. He won't.

I heard him tell the undertaker, he said the house is up for sale.

Not that it matters any more.

Oliver.

The camomile lawn.

Do you think it smells now?

Faintly.

I'll keep you company.

Let's crack a bottle of Max's bubbly.

Oh, careful.

Thunder rumbles

Violins play

Who are the players? Max's master class.

We shall have music.

Coughing

Door opens and wind howls

I am the resurrection and the life said the lord.

He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.

Ad whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

We brought nothing into this world and it is certain that we can

carry nothing out.

The lord gave and the lord hath taken away.

Please sit.

Today, we celebrate the life

and we commend to god the spirit

of a great artist.

Hymn

Oh, death, where is thy sting?

Oh, grave, where is thy victory?

Whispering: Was Max a protestant? I haven't the foggiest.

He must have been something.

If he was a catholic, this is all wrong. Too late now. Shut up.

Thanks be to god... aunt Helena, was Max a protestant or a catholic?

Jew. Why do us ask? Because this is... not practising. Hush!

Hush yourself. You started it.

Be steadfast, unmoveable,

always abounding in the work of the lord.

Bittersweet music plays

Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live,

and is full of misery. He cometh up and is cut down like a flower.

In the midst of life, we are in death.

Of whom may we seek for succour, but of thee, o lord,

who for our sins are justly displeased?

Thou knowest, lord, the secrets of our hearts.

Good god. Sophy.

We therefore commit his body to the ground, earth to earth,

ashes to ashes, dust to dust,

but in sure and certain hope of the resurrection

to eternal life.

Can you give me a lift?

Of course.

Don't you have a car? No.

I came by train.

They filled in the harbour. Yes, a very long time ago.

Sophy, you will come back to the house, of course?

Well, I was... you must come.

Calypso has provided drinks. Polly, food.

This is Oliver ansty.

I have, of course, heard of you. You will come, too.

Helena will be there, I suppose?

Yes. We'll come.

Blast him. He looked so pleased.

I think what uncle Richard would call a bounder.

God, my feet are freezing.

I must change my shoes.

Where are the shoes? They're on the backseat.

Thanks.

You haven't changed

like all the others. We've grown old.

Not that. I don't mean looks.

Aunt Helena's drunk.

Better get to the house.

Bastard! Inviting her back to her own house!

Damn!

She sighs

listen.

Roll down your window.

Birdsong

I suppose we have to go to this wake?

I want to see aunt Helena's all right.

Aunt Helena is made of sterner stuff than us.

She's tone-deaf.

You know, a friend of mine watched her read war and peace

during the whole of Max's most brilliant performances

in the Beethoven violin concerto.

Bully for her!

I had no idea so many people would come.

Let's walk around.

He laughs

gosh! I haven't been here since that last holiday

before the war.

Where was it we ran?

The path was wired off during the war.

It's all overgrown.

The national trust made this new one.

I had vertigo, I was... I was terrified!

I was frightened, too.

I just did it to show off, to gain attention.

Let me give you a hand.

Does it still smell? He sniffs

of course.

Is sophy married? Good lord, no. Not for want of offers.

I've been abroad so long, I'm out of touch.

I'm a great admirer of yours, actually.

I've read all your novels.

I suppose you can't come home

because of the tax. Tax?

Income tax.

No, I'm not that kind of writer.

Surprised you can read. You're calypso's son, are you?

Yes, I am. Your father was supposed to be killed in the war.

Well, he fucked that up like everything else.

Upset me at the time. Seems a joke now.

I liked your father. Went labour, started planting trees.

When calypso married him, we all thought...

Thought what?

We all thought what a cunt she was to marry him for his money.

You... I...

Ah!

Now, now, now, what is going on?

Are you squabbling? Oh, we can't have that.

He said... I said you married my money.

So I did. Wisest thing I ever did.

Married for money.

Then fell in love.

Why did you never tell me? Why did you keep this a bloody

secret? You never let on.

Why did we suffer? You're drunk. Go and eat something oily.

You're making an exhibition.

Have you got any children, Ollie?

No. But you married.

Twice. Oh, goodness. I'd forgotten.

Are you still married now?

No.

Are you happy?

Are you? What happened to your face?

I had a little stroke.

Yes, thanks.

Well, as happy as it's possible to be. Where do you live now?

Abroad.

All right. Don't tell me.

Polly's grown very fat and respectable.

Spread a little. She's happy, too.

Who is the father of...? James and Iris.

I've never asked. Why don't you?

We never dared.

Fancy you turning up. Remember me? Tony wood.

We first met on the doorstep of Polly's house.

Yes, I remember.

Have you seen sophy? Helena wants her.

No. She was here.

We came back from the church together.

What an exquisite child she was. One almost...

Have you met Peter?

Peter and I have a shop in Brighton, antiques & objet. Peter,

this is Oliver ansty. You love his books.

Do I? Do I?

Yes, you do.

Now, what about another drink and some of that lovely

nosh Polly brought?

It will sell very well as a hotel.

My father's name also will attract. It is in a unique position.

Put in a pool, dig up the lawn... Plastic chairs and tubs

of fake flowers?

One needs planning permission so much as national trust.

Ollie, we're looking for sophy.

It's getting late and Helena wants to see her before she leaves.

I know. I can't see her anywhere.

I'll look upstairs.

Thanks.

Sophy, Helena wants you.

Oh, what does she want?

Are you leaving tonight?

Mm? Yes, very soon.

Why are you here?

You didn't come to the other funerals.

I thought I'd get some ideas for a book I'm writing.

Stupid, old me.

Why are you up here?

I used to climb along that branch. And eavesdrop.

Will you give me a lift back to London?

We could have a meal at the red lion in truro.

They pulled it down. It's gone.

Oh, no?

Oh, yes.

Pauli's going to dip up the lawn. It belongs to him now.

You shouldn't have come back. It's worse for you.

The lovely harbour's been turned into a bloody great car park.

Well, you could get off the train,

you could hear the water lapping against the quay.

I must go to Helena.

She planted the lawn!

I know. Please, Oliver!

I'm afraid I've got jumbo in the country.

You'll have to phone for a taxi.

But you didn't write him? Of course I have.

I'm not senile yet.

That's all right.

What's the secret?

Don't keep moving away. You didn't used to be so elusive.

She wants her ashes dug into Max and Monika's grave.

Good lord!

Well, why not uncle Richard's? He's got his dog, didn't you know?

It's what Max and Monica would want.

Uncle Richard wouldn't want her.

Why are you so surprised?

You used not to be so conventional.

I was.

He mumbles

even the red lion's gone.

How about oysters somewhere near the helford river?

We could... I don't know.

You don't know what? I don't know anything any more.

We'll go somewhere where neither of us have ever been.

You're upset.

I caught a chill!

I must go. I'm coming with you.

No.

Where's your wife?

What wife?

I married twice.

Calypso lookalikes. Neither worked.

What about you?

I heard rumours... I dare say you did. Let me go.

We're not children. 60 and more.

You? 50...

Oh, look.

Goodbye, pauli.

I'm sorry.

For what?

I forget what I was going to say.

You'd better come with us. You don't want to get breathalysed.

What about my car?

Run after them, dear boy, and give them this.

It will help them through some awkward moments.

And look sharp about it!

Oh, god.

You? No, no, thank you.

Once you hid behind the curtains of the red room and I took

you to bed to warm you.

You smelled of soap.

A rather nice soap.

I wonder what it was.

Rose geranium.

When you were still asleep,

I put you back in your own room.

Do you remember? No.

No.

You liar.

Funny, little girl you were.

Over 45 years ago.

So...

So, now we have whatever's left to catch up.

What do you say?

We can't.

Why not? I'm terrified.

What makes you think I'm not afraid, too?

Here, whisky. Do your cold good.

I don't feel anything any more.

I don't know you now. I'm old and so are you.

I admit there's been a considerable gap in our relationship.

If you're thinking of calypso...

..It was like loving Greta garbo or Marilyn Monroe.

A sort of measles. A very long attack.

All right. A very long attack.

Oh!

I'm sorry to keep sneezing like this.

I caught cold at the churchyard looking at the graves.

I was beginning to think you were allergic to me.

Not that.

Do you feel something?

I'm terribly hungry.

I couldn't eat anything at the wake.

All right, then. Let's go and find some oysters.

There must be somewhere we can eat on our way.

We have no way, we know nothing about each other,

there's an enormous gap!

Then start the bloody car and let's see what we can do about filling it!

You know, we risk making ourselves the object of ridicule.

That's a risk we have to take.

It comes with being born!