All language subtitles for Upstairs Downstairs S04E02 News From the Front WEB-DL DDP2 0 H 264-squalor (1)_track3_[eng]

[orchestra music]

- What's that suppose
to be, Ruby?

- It's a comforter, Mrs.
Bridges, for Edward.

- More like suffocate him than
comfort him if you ask me.

Listen girl, you've got to
count the number of stitches.

Terrible losses again
today, Mr. Hudson?

- Aye, a 102 officers dead
and missing, Neuve Chapelle,

Lord Wendover, Captain
Macintosh, our Scottish

amateur weightlifting champion.

Several officers
of the lifeguard.

- Pray for Captain
James every night.

- So do I, Mrs. Bridges.

[bell ringing]

- Daisy, front door.

- Well, if you ask me, we're
getting beaten this time

and no mistake.

- Mrs. Bridges, that is
tantamount defeatism.

We're holding our own,
our firm grip on Hill 60.

Many successful counter attacks.

- All I know is that everyday
this week, you've moved

that row of pins back.

That doesn't look like
victory to me.

- A planned withdraw
to prepare positions

isn't a defeat, Mrs. Bridges,
it is a sound strategic move,

especially when you've
got a salient like we have

at Ypres.

- Is that gas, it's not fair.

- It's terrible, terrible.

God will descend on them for it.

- It must have been
awful, [mumbles].

- Ah, Ruby, it is not
a common cold gas

the Germans are employing,
but a chemical asphyxiate.

- Well, whatever it is, God
ought to punish them for it.

- I think he will, Mrs.
Bridges, I think he will.

The Germans have forgotten
one thing,

one very important thing.

The prevailing wind
is west to east.

And once we've got our
gas, woosh [laughs].

The hung will be hoist
with his own petard

if I may use a military
quotation,

though you, our greatest
poet, Mrs. Bridges.

-[Daisy] Mr. Hudson.

- What is it girl?

- There's a telegraph
boy at the door.

- Well.

- Oh my Lord.

[bell ringing]

- Telegram for Bellamy.

- Yes boy, yes, thank you.

- Any reply?

- No, no.

Madam, a telegram has arrived.

- The war office?

-[Hudson] From France, madam.

- Well, thank you, Hudson.
That'll be all.

[paper rustling]

Hudson, Captain Bellamy.

Captain Bellamy is coming
home on leave today.

- Oh well madam, that
is good news.

What time is he expected?

- Army post of his [mumbles],

oh it doesn't say.

- We may presume the
captain will be here in time

for dinner, madam.

- Oh yes. Well I hope so.

[door closing]

- Ruby, go into the lot and
fetch me out some sardines.

- Sardines, Mrs. Bridges,
whatever for?

- Sardines on toast, Captain
James' favorite savory

ever since he was
a little might.

- Sardines, Mrs. Bridges,
with some Sir Jeffery Dillon

coming to dinner, and a
very important general

so Mr. Bellamy informed me.

- Important general.

I don't care if Lord
Kitchener himself.

He'll have to lump it.

- Mrs. Bridges, you'll
never guess it is.

[laughing]

- Edward.

- G fall line to coup, private
[mumbles] only for a weekend.

Mrs. Bridges.

- Welcome Edward, welcome.

- Hello Ruby.

- Captain James is
coming home too.

- Really?

So you got a house full
of heroes at the weekend,

and that's the war
for you [laughs].

- Well I will say,
Edward, you do look well.

-[Daisy] You do look oh so well.

- Obviously delightful
army cuisine, Mrs. Bridges.

Here, do you know we marched
from Colchester and Essex

to our new camp at Cotford
on Sultry Plain and Wiltshire

the other week?

- All the way?

- Yeah.

- Come and sit down, take the
weight off your feet [laughs].

- Well, now, we've got a
dinner party, but if you'd like

to stay for supper, Edward,
I'm sure you're welcome.

- That's very kind
of you, Mr. Edward.

- Supper?

He'll stay as long as he likes.

His room's always ready for him.

- Edward has a mother and
father living in Waltham's too,

Mrs. Bridges, I'm sure his
parents will be very anxious--

- But my dad's down at
Folkston building army camps,

Mr. Hudson, and my mom's at
[mumbles] in case it's bombing.

- Bombing [laughs], whoever
heard of London being bombed?

- You just put your
case in your room.

There's always a welcome
for you here.

- You must remember Mrs.
Bridges, that Edward is no
longer

employed as a servant
in this house.

- No, he's not.

He's serving his king and
country, that's what he's doing.

God bless him for it [laughs].

- Up to the dining room, Daisy.

Begin to lay for dinner.

- I'll give you a
hand, Mr. Hudson.

- No, no need for that, Edward.

- We are shorthanded, Mr.
Hudson, you was only saying so

this morning.

- Indeed we are, Daisy,
[mumbles] left for Scotland

yesterday with [mumbles].

- So, I can give you a hand
in the dining room, right.

- Well of course
you can, Edward.

- Thanks, well I put
my livery on then.

- Livery?

You'll wear the king's
uniform my boy.

And if them upstairs isn't
craved of you, I'll my boots.

- Thanks Mrs. Bridges.

- Oh, we're ever so glad
to see you back, Edward.

Aren't we Mr. Hudson?

- Yes, yes we are, Edward?

- Where's your case, love?

- Oh, it's outside.

[door closing]

- Very nice to have
you back, sir.

- Thank you, Hudson.

Anyone home?

- Mrs. Bellamy is in
the morning room, sir.

- Thank you.

[door opening]

[door closing]

[chuckling]

I can hardly believe it.

- Oh you look tired.

- Yes.

- Would you like a drink?

- Um, yes.

You got my telegram?

- Yes.

Don't send anymore
telegrams, James.

- Why ever not?

- People here have come
to dread them lately.

- I'm sorry, I didn't think.

- How could you know?

- So, it's like coming
home from school.

There's people bustling
about in the streets.

Everything is so
clean and shiny.

Buses, motorcars, theaters.

And umbrellas.

I forgotten what peculiar
things umbrellas were.

- Was it, or is it
very horrible?

- Horrible yes, I suppose
that's the right word.

But it's enormously
exciting as well, I mean.

Each time you go into
action, it's a new adventure.

It's hard to explain, but
you're all keyed up with your

own men and your friends
all around you.

Danger doesn't seem real.

Like another world.

How's father?

- Alright.

He's pretty well.

He's on thousands of
committees, but he's champing

at the bit 'cause he says he
hasn't gotten a proper war job.

[chuckles]

There's a lot of plotting
going on to topple

the government and
force a coalition.

Georgina's in Scotland,
staying at the McKenzie's

for a dance.

Rose has gone to [mumbles].

- Dance in Scotland,
extraordinary.

Father.

- James, how splendid.

What a lovely surprise.

- I did try to get
you at the house.

- Oh I've been allover
the place today.

What, you're in one piece.

- Yes, you?

- Yes, I'm very, very fed up.

- Good.

- Well, we must make some plans.

You couldn't have come
back at a better time.

Jefferey Dillon and General
Frank Nesfield

are coming to dine.

Jefferey's got himself
well into the thick of it

as Northcliffe's lawyer,
and you know about Nesfield.

- He has a certain reputation
in the army.

- Now, don't underestimate
him, he's the power

behind the throne of the war
office, and he's on our side.

- Oh, I'm glad to hear that.

[laughing]

- I mean politically.

You'll be damn useful
when we get back in

which won't be long now
by the look of things.

There's a terrible stink over
naval losses as Gallipoli.

Fischer and Winston are
hardly talking to each other.

- Well, talking of stink,
I haven't had a bath

for a very long time,
two weeks to be precise.

No brewery, no more tears.

Now if I can get out
of these clothes.

[door closing]

Hello, Edward.

I'd forgotten you
were in the army.

- Yes sir, Middlesex regiment.

-[James] Oh jolly good,
the die hards.

- Yes sir.

-[James] Do you know
why they call that?

- Not exactly sir.

- Put your tray down
boy while Captain James

is talking to you.

- It was one of those battles
in the peninsular war,

[mumbles] I think it was.

And your colonel was leading
the attack when he was

mortally wounded.

And as he lay on the ground
dying, he raised himself up,

and he waved his hat and
he shouted, die hard 57th,

die hard.

So, you've got quiet a
reputation to live up to.

- Yes sir.

- I might have to
stay after change.

- Yes sir, your bath is ready.

-[James] Thank you.

- I am ashamed of you, Edward.

- Why, Mr. Hudson?

- Not even knowing how your
regiment came by its name.

- Thank you, Hudson.

Will you tell Mrs. Bridges
the sardines were delicious,

much appreciated.

- Yes sir.

- Nice to see old [mumbles]
in uniform, Richard,

very patriotic.

- But not too patriotic
I am happy to note.

- What do you mean, Jefferey?

- You don't follow the
royal example embellishing

all alcoholic refreshments
from your table.

[laughing]

- Well, I'm glad I'm
not the king sometimes,

always having to set
a good example.

Need more than war to
make me sign the pledge.

- Okay.

-[Man] Well, some
thought, Jefferey.

-[Jefferey] Thank you.

- What division are you
in, Captain Bellamy.

- Oh, third calvary, general.

- [Mumbles].

- Yes.

- Then you must have been
at this last show at Yp.

- Hmm.

- Very unpleasant the gas.

- Yes.

- Difficult treacherous,
hung trick.

- Regular Hague convention
out of the window.

- Thank you.

- Well, inside the four
walls of this room,

it cause a pretty good
panic back here.

- Caused a pretty good
panic out there, general.

We were resting at Vlamatine,
I was on the Salient

that day on a reconnaissance.

Suddenly we saw thousands of
these French, African troops

scooting across the field
[mumbles] their heads off.

Horses, mules, every damn
thing. Whole corps of them.

I think the [mumbles] were
taken by surprise as much

as we were.

The Canadians are splendid
though. Completely saved the
day.

- French always panic
when anything goes wrong.

Hysterical people.

- Well, our gas is ready
and better than theirs.

- I don't think it'll have
much effect on the war

in the end.

- Don't you?

- Everybody in Britain
is busy making gas masks,

including Hazel.

- Absolutely useless I believe.

- As usual, the soldiers have
found their own solution.

Don't lie down in the
trenches, the stuff is heavier

than air, it sinks.

And I hope this won't
put you off your pot,

but the thing to do is
to pee on a handkerchief

and then tie it around
your face.

[laughing]

- Not much about that in
the newspapers, general.

- And don't blame the
newspapers, blame the censor.

It's official policy
to feed the public pap.

If you want to know how
the war is going,

don't look at the headlines,
look at the casualty lists.

- What do the troops
think of the newspapers?

- Well, they just laugh.

Brave boys up at the
front, all that stuff.

I just happened to see
tonight's newspaper report

on our little show between
Yp and Hill 60 last week.

German attack smashed.

Successful counter attack
drives back weakened enemy.

Well, as you know, general,
we were the ones smashed

if anybody was, and they
drove us back a good mile.

- But surely there's
nothing wrong with the men.

- Ah, nothing at all.

They're better than the Germans.

Tougher, braver,
better soldiers.

But what remains of the
profession British army

is being squandered by a
lot of amateurs who don't

know their job.

- Meaning who?

- Why, I don't mean
the generals, sir.

I mean the politicians.

The people who are suppose
to be running this war.

They just don't seem to realize
that it's a new kind of war.

More like siege warfare
than anything else.

A war of barbed wire and
machine guns, artillery.

Guns more than anything else.

- We had the guns
at Neuve Chapelle.

- We ran out of shells
on the second day.

- Grenadiers lost 20
officers and 300 men

have gained 200 yards.

- Damned scandal.

At least we printed Rippington's
letter in the Times.

- And what did Asquith say?

There is no truth in the
statement that our armies

are being crippled by
the government's failure

to produce the necessary
ammunition.

-[James] Damn lie.

- He was probably
drunk as usual.

- If I might give you
an example, general.

Last Thursday when the
Germans attacked,

they blasted us with shells.

Heavies, mediums, everything
they had.

From four [mumbles] til seven
when their infantry attacked.

There was very little left
of our trenches or our wire.

And not one single British
gun of any sort supported us.

I think it was about
2:30 when the blues made

their counter attack,
that one solitary Howitzer

started to fire.

One six-inch How obsolescent
since the South African War.

I saw it later when
we were relieved.

I also saw the Bashar
commander sitting on a limber

in tears.

That's a fine way to win a war.

- James, we all know about
the shortcomings, war cabinet.

That is why we Tory
politicians are determined

to replace Asquith with a
government of all parties.

- I'll tell you this, gentlemen.

If any politician, be he
liberal, Tory, or whatever,

when atop anyone at the
front at the moment,

he'd be torn limb from limb.

- I can imagine how the men
must feel, but it isn't just

a question of negligence.

Problems are colossal.

We've got to get industry
into full production.

- Yes.

If you'll excuse me.

-[Man] Of course my dear boy.

- Gentlemen.

- Goodnight, James.

-[Man] Goodnight, James.

-[James] Goodnight.

- That boy of yours,
Richard, is a real fitter.

- I'm glad you think
so, general.

- Absolutely first class,
just the sort we want.

I must remember to
keep an eye on him.

- Well, the government may have
not provided any ammunition

to blow out the Germans,
but James has certainly

provided us with plenty
to blow up the government.

Northcliffe will be delighted.

Impressions of the second
battle at Yp.

Eyewitness accounts
by a gallant officer

just back from the front.

Splendid stuff.

- I trust you're not
going to quote him.

- Oh no, no, anonymous
of course.

No names, no pack drills.

Isn't that the correct
military expression, general?

- Well, we're at war with
Germany, Sir Jefferey,

not the Liberal party.

- Jefferey, what is important
is not Northcliffe's campaign

to put Mr. Asquith's
head on a platter.

I hope our motives our
more patriotic than that.

What we need is a more
vigorous, courageous,

and efficient prosecution
of the war.

Now that means a Tory
government or a coalition.

And we must work to that end.

- Well, I strongly
advised Northcliffe

to keep off Kitchener.

He's the golden calf
of the British public

and could do no wrong.

- No point in it, I agree.

Simply pull down
the circulation.

- Oh Jefferey.

- Oh, tell him to drag one of
Holden's pro-German skeletons

from the cupboard, if need be.

The readers will laugh that up.

- Well, there may be a
little likelihood of victory

in Flanders at least
for the moment.

But I can't help smelling
victory in the offing

at Westminster.

- What's the matter?

-[James] Nothing.

- How long is your leave?

- Two weeks, 10 days.

If there's a gale or
two in the channel,

I might be able to
stretch it to two weeks.

- Would you like to
get out of London.

- Yes, certainly can do.

Come on, let's go up to bed.

- We can't.

- Hmm.

- Not until the general
has checked--

- Why not?

Just because my father
chooses to ask a lot of his

boring political cronies
to dinner,

doesn't mean I can't take my
wife to bed whenever I like.

- On guard.

That's it, come on, pour it up.

You're not winkle picking.

Right, righty fix.

[Mumbles] practice, right.

Honor command at two.

You lunge at that, stomach.

Ready, one, two, lunge
and scream lunge.

[screaming]

That's it, twist in the guts.

Four in the stomach, go
on, four in the stomach.

That's it, and withdraw neatly.

There it is [mumbles].

Do you know our sergeant
killed three at the [mumbles]

in his [mumbles] like that?

- Right, right [mumbles].

What have I told you,
what's the golden rule?

- Four inches of cold
steel enough to kill

any German ever born.

- Right.

- Can I have another go, Edward?

- You may not Ruby.

All the cold steel you'll
ever need is waiting

in the [mumbles] for
you to wash up.

Look sharp now.

Take that contraption
off your head.

Oh, she's so gleeky that girl.

It is inconvenient enough,
Edward, allowing Daisy

an afternoon off without
you unsettling the

kitchen maid as well.

- Yes.

- Yes, well mind you
both back by six o'clock.

No later mind.

Let's see then.

Polly gone wood, [mumbles].

- Extraordinary, this
hate of the Germans.

Does everyone hate them?

I mean ordinary people, not
just these terrible Germans.

- Yes.

- Why hate them?

- Well, I thought
you'd understand.

Belgium.

What about the atrocities?

- Oh yes, but you don't
have to hate an enemy

in order to kill him.

I'd rather respect
a hung soldier.

- Even when he uses gas?

- It's not his fault.

That's the fault of his leaders.

I was talking to two German
leaders the other day

and they were genuinely
horrified that they had been

the first to use gas.

I'm sorry.

I don't know what's
the matter with me.

I had planned to be different.

And how I don't feel I'm
living in the real world here.

I feel outside.

Left behind in a silly
sort of way.

As though everyone was
speaking a language that I knew

but didn't understand.

Nothing has any flavor.

- You're still in France.

- Yes.

Sorry.

- Time to go.

Come on.

[piano music]

-[Ruby] Have they gone
to a cinema, Mr. Hudson?

- So I believe, Ruby.

What a way to spend a
beautiful Spring afternoon.

-[Ruby] I've never
been to the cinema.

- Nor have I Ruby, nor
do I ever intend to.

From what I hear, a picture
palace is a very unhealthy

place and a bad bad
influence on young people.

- Well, I should like
to go, just once.

[piano music]

-[Daisy] Isn't she lovely.

-[Edward] Yeah.

Do you want to stay and
see the end of this?

-[Daisy] Yeah, to
know what happens.

- He'll marry her of course.

-[Daisy] How do you know?

- Ah, they always do
in films. It's silly.

-[Daisy] It's not.

-[Edward] There you are.

I told you.

[piano music]

- Should we go out and buy one?

- What?

- A ring for your big day.

- A wedding?

Are you?

A wedding [laughs].

- Shh.

- Mr. Smith drowned one of
his wives in the black pool,

another one at home bay.

Fancy that, Mrs. Bridges.

- Yes, fancy that, Ruby.

- And then he went out and
get himself something to eat

after he done them in.

Oh some people do have
strange habits.

- Oh for heaven sake, take
that trash away from her,

Mrs. Bridges.

- Let that be a listen to you,
not to talk to strange men.

- I never do, Mrs. Bridges.

- Streets all dim at night
and full of soldiers.

No woman's safe.

- We have an announcement
to make.

Private Edward Barnes,
bachelor, and Miss Daisy,

well, well after our
wedding bells, peel.

And now it's our intention
to get married.

- Well, bless my soul [laughs].

- Thanks Mrs. Bridges.

-[Mrs. Bridges] Congratulations
Edward.

-[Edward] Thanks Ruby.

- I am surprised Edward
that you should make such

an announcement even address
before you have permission.

- Oh, Mr. Hudson.

- But why Mr. Hudson?

My mom and dad knew
of my intentions.

-[Mr. Hudson] The master
and the mistress, Edward.

- The king's my master and I
haven't got a mistress yet.

- Even though you have
seem to forgotten that

you were employed in this
house for many years,

and therefore I would have
supposed oh some small

sense of loyalty to the
Bellamy family, presumably

you'll remember that Daisy
is still employed here

as an under house maid.

- But I don't have to
ask anyone, Mr. Hudson,

except my commanding officer

so we can get dependence
allowance.

- Well, wouldn't like
Daisy to be turned off

without a character now
would you, Edward.

- Well, who cares, Mrs. Bridges.

Look, there are posters
in every street saying

women are urgently required
for war work,

and a lot better pay
than they are here too.

- Edward, you have changed
in the army,

and considered before
the [mumbles] teams.

Yes, now that I've come to that.

I remember when you
first came here,

there was always that nasty
wee strick of insolence there.

- Oh, Mr. Hudson, things
are changing.

Can't you see that?

The war's changing everything.

- I do not see that.

And I grieve to think of
all the years I spent trying

to instill into you some
sort of sense of propriety.

All these years have been
completely thrown by the
wayside.

- Now, now, now Mr. Hudson.

Edward didn't mean it
like that, did you Edward?

- No, of course I didn't.

Naturally, Daisy and
I, we're gonna go out

and tell the family.

It's just the way Mr. Hudson
pitched into me like that.

Well, I've had enough
of that in the army

without Mr. Hudson's starting.

- Daisy, up to the morning
room, light the fire.

- I'll go.

- No, no you're a soldier home
on leave, you just sit down.

Make yourself comfortable,
smoke if you will.

Enjoy yourself.

- Daisy, better go
up and change.

- I do think Mr. Hudson's mean.

- Nobody asked for your opinion,
Ruby, thank you very much.

Not until you've prepared
all them vegetables

in the scullery.

Well have you?

- No, Mrs. Bridges.

- Go along and do it then.

- Thanks Mrs. Bridges.

- You mustn't mind Mr.
Hudson. He doesn't mean it.

He gets upset very
easily these days.

You see, he takes the
war very serious.

- Oh rubbish James.

- I trust you had
a nice game sir.

- Oh yes, thank you Hudson.

I know it's a Scottish
invention, but I find it

a vicious sport, as well as
being extremely bad for temper.

- Fetch Edward.

- Now?

- Yes, and quickly.

- Mrs. Bellamy actually
beat me, Hudson.

- Oh, well congratulations
madam.

- Thank you Hudson.

- Sir, madam, I wonder if I
might have a word with you

on a purely domestic matter.

-[James] Yes of course, Hudson.

- Edward and Daisy have
taken it into their heads

to want to get married.

- Oh, have they?

Now's not a very good time.

- No sir, I have indicated
that to them.

But Edward always was a
very headstrong boy, sir.

And these days seem to be a--

- Quite [mumbles].

- Naturally, they wish to
see you sir, and you madam

to ask your permission.

- Well, that at least is
pleasantly old fashioned.

- I thought perhaps
at least a few words

of caution from you
sir, and from you madam,

might weight more heavily
than any admonition

offered by myself.

- Yes, of course Hudson.

-[James] Any convenient time?

-[Hudson] I took the liberty
of sending for them sir.

- Very well, Hudson,
ask them to come in.

- Very good sir.

Girl, cap.

Edward and Daisy sir, madam.

- Ah, come in Edward, come in.

[sighing]

Well, Hudson has told
us your happy news.

- Yes sir.

- Rather sudden.

- Well, we've be going out
since before the war, sir.

- Oh, not so sudden.

Please don't think Mrs. Bellamy
and I have any objection.

We both wish you
every happiness.

You have considered
the position I suppose?

- Oh yes sir.

- Hmm, it's not perhaps
the moment in history

to get married.

- No, I suppose not, sir.

- These Germans, you know,
they're damn good soldiers.

Just at the moment, they're
fewer than us

because they are having to
fight the Russians as well.

But they're holding their own.

Their guns, their organization
is better than ours.

Well, of course, they have
been planning this thing

a long time.

- Yes sir.

- It's not going to
be an easy thing.

It's going to go on a long time.

What division are
you in, Edward?

-[Edward] 18th division
sir, 54th brigade.

- Uh hmm, new army.

Well, in the late summer,
or the autumn at the latest,

you'll be coming out
to join us in France.

And we're very much looking
forward to having you,

have no doubt of that.

There's plenty of fighting
to do, so things bad for you,

but they will be pretty
hard on Daisy.

I know, because unfortunately,
one of my more depressing

jobs as an officer is to
write to the dependents

of the casualties
in my squadron.

- Well, I think sir, whether
we was married or not,

it'll be just the same.

- Well.

- Well.

You both have our blessing.

I hope you're very
happy together.

- Thank you madam.

-[James] Thank you, Hudson.

-[Hudson] Sir.

[door closing]

-[James] Poor retched.

- If only people needn't
fall in love.

For the duration of the war.

- [Laughs] You are
a goose sometimes.

- Oh, excuse me sir, this
came by special messenger

while you were out.

- Hmm, what kind of
special messenger, Hudson?

- A boy scout on a bicycle
actually sir.

- Oh, war office.
Thank you, Hudson.

- Sir.

- Hudson, did I say
the right thing?

- I thought your advice
was admirable sir.

I only hope they will
take it to heart.

- You'll attend war
staff course number four

at the staff college [mumbles]
prior to being posted

to headquarters, 11
corp BEF new formation,

as a general staff officer,
grade three.

- Oh, James.

That's wonderful.

- Nothing's wonderful about it.

Staff officer.

I'm not gonna join
the yellow brigade.

Stuck at a desk, with
shiny boots, red tabs,

miles behind the lines.

Not on your life.

[door closing]

- Well, James, glad to see
you're still all in one piece.

- Thank you colonel.

- Sit down.

Very well.

Enjoy your leave?

- Yes, thank you colonel.

-[Colonel] Good, good.

- But to be quiet honest,
I'm not very happy

about this posting to the staff.

- Ah, yes I have a
copy of the letter.

Quiet frankly, I'm
rather surprised.

I thought you'd be delighted.

I imagine it was the result
of judicious string pulling

in high places.

- It was nothing of
the sort colonel.

- It's quite usual these
days I'm sorry to say.

I apologize if I misjudged you.

It certainly wasn't
my recommendation.

- In that case colonel, I
would be glad if you would ask

them to cancel the posting
and allow me to return to

regimental duty.

- Yes, I see.

I've taken the trouble using
certain private methods

known only to myself to discover
the source of that letter.

The military secretary was
asked to make that posting

personally by a very senior
and influential officer

on the general staff.

I'm sorry that I can't
reveal his name to you.

So I couldn't possibly
alter it even if I wished.

Which is a matter
of fact, I don't.

You've seen this I suppose.

- No colonel.

- Article in yesterday's
Daily Mail.

News from the front.

Household calvary officer on
leave reveals grave shortage

of artillery at Yp.

- I don't read the Daily Mail.

Nor do I, but apparently
the king does,

and he is not very
pleased to put it mildly.

This has been brought to my
attention in no uncertain way.

- Really colonel, I haven't
been speaking to reporters,

I would never think of it.

I honestly believe this
has nothing to do with me.

- Well, I do.

You are the only officer
in the household calvary

on leave who took part
in the battle.

That is an eyewitness account.

All the details, the
counter attack by the blues,

the single Howitzer gun,
it tallies more or less

exactly with other reports
of the battle.

Your father is a distinguished
conservative member

of parliament.

I'm sure that you are
neither so misinformed

nor so naive, ought to know
that just at the moment,

the conservatives are throwing
every brick bath they can

lay their hands on at the
government to try and force

a coalition.

- Yes colonel, I did know that.

But whoever wrote that article,
the facts in it are true.

- That is not the point.

Officers in the household
brigade do not indulge

in politics in any form,
as you know damn well.

And I don't in the least
enjoy losing my name

to Buckingham Palace anymore
than I enjoy sitting at this

desk, while the regiment
is fighting in France.

- Someone picked up something
I said in private, colonel,

I'm exceedingly sorry.

- I've had a report on
the last show from your

commanding officer.

He singles you out
for special praise.

You're almost certain to
be mentioned at dispatches.

Might even had been
in line for a medal.

As it is, you're damn lucky,
I'm not going to ask you

to transfer to another regiment.

So, take your staff
job and be thankful.

- Yes, colonel.

- Good day.

[door closing]

[loud banging]

- No Ruby, not like that.

Can't you even squeeze a
lemon without putting the bit

and half the pain
into the juice?

I don't know.

You're more use to the Germans
than what you are to me

and that's a fact.

[loud whisking]

Lemon meringue pie for
dinner tonight, Mr. Hudson.

Give Captain James
some happy memories

to take back to the trenches.

[whisking]

- What am I to do, Mrs. Bridges?

- Clear away all that mess
for a start and then get

some more lemons.

- There aren't any more lemons.

- Well go to the shop
and get some.

Then there will be some
more, won't there?

I don't know.

She's getting worse, if
that's humanly possible.

Well, what is it?

- I believe you made a reference
just now to the trenches

Mrs. Bridges.

- Quite correct Mr.
Hudson, I did.

- I think you can forget
the trenches for the moment.

All Captain James' uniforms
will have to go around

to the tailors.

- What does that mean?

Is he joining the horse
marines or something?

- Red tabs, Mrs. Bridges.

- Not a general.

- The staff, the general staff
and the strong likelihood

of a braved majority
if you ask me.

- Oh, that's the best news
I've had since Christmas.

[laughing]

Well, I never did.

- Boo.

- Oh [laughs].

- Don't late for me, love.

- Oh why ever not?

- I'm going out.

- Oh, where?

- At the pub?

- Yeah, see if any my
old mates are there.

Nobody seems to want
me around here anymore.

- Oh don't be so soft,
you know I do.

- Yeah, Mr. Hudson doesn't know.

He just makes me feel if
I'm in the way all the time.

- You're gonna get
drunk, aren't you.

- I'm not.

Well, it is my last
night you know.

- Yeah, I know.

Don't come back to late, eh.

- Alright.

Bye.

- Bye.

[door closing]

[dishes rattling]

- What is the matter
with you Daisy?

You look as if you were
in another world.

- I think I was Mrs. B.

- Well, I hope it's a better
one than this one anyway.

Grave news from Gallipoli.

Many casualties.

Never rains but it pours.

- Oh James, you can't
blame us for being glad

that you'll be safe for awhile.

You know what you said
yourself to Edward and Daisy.

But it is bad just sitting
here reading the newspapers.

Waiting for a letter
or even a telegram.

- I don't blame you Hazel.

Anyway, it has nothing
to do with you.

I blame you father, you
and that slimy Dillon,

for abusing my good name and
using a private conversation

held in my dining room
in the rotten course

building our own little empires.

-[Richard] That's not true.

- I came here to lose
my name with colonel.

It's blood unfair.

And don't tell me you
didn't know all about it.

- I agree Dillon should
never have quoted you,

even anonymously.

But you must realize this
article will probably

do more for the troops
in France than--

- And for the party.

- James, you've done your stuff.

You've been in the thick
of it from the start.

And there's certainly
nothing dishonorable

in accepting a staff
appointment.

Rather the opposite
I should of thought.

- Honorable?

Being labeled one of
Nesfield's bum boys.

One of his private little
army of spies.

Well damn Nesfield, and
damn Dillon, and damn you

for interfering, father.

What is it Hudson?

- Sir, madam, Sir
Jefferey Dillon has called

and wonders if you're at home.

- Yes.

Please show home in, Hudson.

- Very good, madam.

- Sir.

Sir Jefferey Dillon.

- Well, Jefferey.

- Good evening, good
evening Richard.

Good evening James and
my congratulations.

A little bird has whispered
in my ear that you have

landed a plum job on the staff.

Well done, well done.

- Thank you Sir Jefferey.

- Jefferey, do sit down.

- Thank you.

- Have a drink?

- Well perhaps a little
Scottish wine as this is

rather a special occasion.

- Well.

What's so special about it?

- Thank you. I've just come
from Printing House Square.

We've got them on
the run at last.

I have here a draft to
tomorrow's leader in the Times.

Jefferey Dawson let
me have a copy.

-[Richard] How does it read?

- Like a death sentence
on Asquith.

Government incapable
of fighting a war,

hampering our brave soldiers,
thanks to the obstinacy

of the war office in
ordering shrapnel shells

instead of high explosive.

Government will never
survive that kind of attack.

- If you'll excuse me, I'm
going away in the morning,

I have a lot to do.

[door closing]

- James.

- Sorry.

I had to get out before
I hit the fella.

- Yes, but did you mean,

are you really going
away in the morning?

- Yes, I suddenly realized,

I have to get away from here
anywhere from this muck.

Or I'll go mad.

- Would you like me
to go with you?

- No, I'd rather go on
my own if you don't mind.

- No of course not.

- You do understand?

- Yes.

I do understand.

-[Richard] What with
this shell business

and the Gallipoli disaster.

- Yes, we are lucky.

The Gallipoli thing going
wrong just at the right moment.

Jackie Fischer's likely
to resign I'm told.

- Really?

Your boy's story couldn't
have come at a better moment.

Northcliffe's already
written the French you know,

urging them to find some
way of making the shell

shortage public.

That's of course, as commander
in chief, he has to be

a little weary.

- Surely our troops in
France could make it

public themselves.

- They don't all have the
same opportunity as James did.

[snoring]

[door opening]

- Daisy, hey what's the matter?

- Nothing's the matter.

- Hey, what is it then?

- You're not drunk are you?

- Of course I'm not.

- Shh.

I'm going to spend
the night with you.

- Here?

Here, they'll skin you
alive if they caught you.

- Well, they won't.

It's quite safe with
Rose being away.

Well, we might not see
each other again for ages.

- Daisy.

-[Daisy] Uh hmm.

- I've been thinking.

-[Daisy] What?

- You know, perhaps Captain
James was right, you know.

Perhaps I oughtn't have
asked you to marry me.

I mean, well it, it's
not really fair.

I mean, I haven't gotten
any money put away.

And I'm more or less
wounded or something

the way this war's going.

Well, if you was to have a
baby, they'd shuck you out

of here sharp no matter
what they say now.

- Well, that's my
business isn't it.

I mean, I can look after
myself, and a baby too

if necessary.

Oh come, Eddy, cheer up.

You've asked me to marry
you, and I've said yes.

And I've got a ring to prove it.

Well, anything else, it
will be a breach of promise.

Move over, I'm freezing.

-[Edward] Oh, you are cold.

Daisy.

-[Daisy] Ah?

- Have you, well you know.

Have you ever done it before?

- Really, of course I haven't.

But I know all about it.

Six in a room in a
[mumbles], I think.

No doubt, you're highly
experienced, what with

country house weekends
and parties,

and foreign mates and that.

- Ah, that was just
talk. You know.

That was just jokes.

I've never done it either Daze.

- Haven't you?

I'm ever so glad.

It'll be the first time
for both of us.

[orchestra music]