Original subtitles

Good night, sweetheart.

All my prayers are for you.

Good night, sweetheart.

I'll be watching over you.

Tears and parting may make us alone.

But with the dawn, a new day is born.

What time is it?

1941. What a surprise.

It's the moron who faked his own suicide in 1994 just so he could come and live

in the land of air raids and shortages.

The thing is, you're the only one who knows they've got another four years of

this. I hate you.

Did you sleep well?

No.

Ah, there's no water. The bomb damaged the mains.

Marvellous. Well, we've just been to the standpipe, so there's water at the pub

if you need it.

Well, I just thought I'd come round and tell you.

Mr Sparrow, it's Mrs Fluff. Are you there?

Oh, no, don't answer. The last thing I need right now is the landlady from

Morning, Mrs Bloss.

I thought you were out.

Obviously. I hope you didn't think I was being nosy.

It's just that Mr Bloss thought he smelt gas and I was worried that you might

have been overcome.

And passed out into one of my drawers, presumably.

You're here very early, Mrs Bamford.

Well, I just came round to tell Gary that there's water at the pub if he

it. Not that that's anyone else's business.

I'd better be getting back.

I'll see you later, Gary. OK.

Well, if there's nothing else, Mrs Bloss.

Shocking business, that vomit in Gibbon's warehouse last night.

Yeah. Those poor souls on fire watch really caught it.

I hear one of them had his head blown clear off.

You're fire watching tonight, aren't you?

Well, perhaps not. I'm feeling a bit bronchial. Mr Bloss is almost

but it doesn't stop him doing his duty.

If your head should be blown off... What should I do with your belongings?

Feel free to give my hat away.

I really ought to know your next of kin.

Would it be Mrs Bamford?

No, it wouldn't.

So you're just friends then, are you? That's right.

Are you a friend of her husband's as well?

Hardly likely, is it, seeing she and I are lovers.

What's up? That's what you wanted to hear, isn't it? At it all the time we

It's sexual aerobics morning and the night.

That's it, go on, off you go.

And if I catch you letting yourself into my room again, I'll call the police.

Oh, life.

Afternoon, Reg.

Hurt your foot, Sam?

Yeah, turned my ankle over.

Feels like a pretty bad spring.

Oh, that's rotten luck. And you're due to come fire -watching tonight and all.

Isn't it always the way when you're looking forward to something?

Well, there's no way you can walk around on a roof all night. No. Duty calls,

Reg. Now, listen, son. You can't stand seven floors up on a roof in that

condition.

Well, if you're sure... We'll get you a chair.

Beer, son?

What have I got to do? Open a vein?

Please. Poor old Gary's twisted his ankle. We'll stick it under a cold tap.

I see your advanced first aid course paid off.

Anyway, there aren't any cold taps, are there?

I want a word with you in the snug now.

Oh, it, er, comes and goes.

Did you tell Mrs Bloss that me and you do sexy acrobatics?

Aerobics, not acrobatics.

Blimey, there's not enough room in my flat to swing a cat, let alone a

But you did say sexy, though.

Well, sexual.

What are you trying to do to me? I am a married woman, remember?

Well, the old bat got on my nerves. I just told her what she wanted to hear.

I don't think you cared what other people thought.

There's a difference between them thinking something's going on and you

them it's true.

She went straight out and told the whole queue at the fishmonger's.

It would have to be the day they had a delivery of adductor after neighbours

were there to hear of spreading a poison.

Gary, if some old duffer at the brewery gets to hear about it, I could lose my

licence.

Phoebe, I'm sorry.

It's all right.

I don't need to look like that. It's not the end of the world.

Jason, will you, Reg? I want my dinner.

Oh, that sounds like a nice idea.

We're only having a cheese sandwich.

Not going to spare, is there? I had nothing in for breakfast this morning.

Oh, I'm sorry. It's hardly enough for me and Reg.

How come he gets some?

Because he swapped me two pork sausages.

Gary, if you've got nothing in, why don't you go shopping?

I can't face the queues. Oh, poor you.

What are your plans for the day?

Well, I thought I'd hang around here for a while, then... Well, hang around

here, I suppose.

Well, haven't you got to go to work?

No, I'm on leave.

You're not doing very much with it, are you?

Come on, Stan.

You've got no home to go to.

No. I got bombed last night.

Remember what His Majesty the King said.

The walls of London may be battered, but the spirit of the Londoner will stand

resolute. But he ain't kipping in a drafty school hall and doing his

a bucket.

Well, sure he would if he thought it'd help.

Burke. Oi, ladies' presents.

There is no court to be disrespectful to the King.

He's a good man. He's prepared to do his duty. He stood by his people when that

brother of his went off and left us in the lurch. It's a shame, that. I liked

Edward. I thought he was quite dashing.

Edward? Edward VIII.

Oh. I cried the night he made his abdication speech.

Do you remember?

We had it on in here.

Oh, that was a real turning point in history.

I sure think everyone remembers where they was at that moment.

Who was you, Gary?

Hmm?

Oh, uh, Choppy.

o 'clock at night?

It was a momentous couple of years.

First of all, there was the old King's Jubilee.

Do you remember that big street party?

Everyone was here.

I remember your dad having one over the eight falling asleep under the table.

Now that was that Billy Murdoch proposing toast to their majesties every

minutes. I had to make sure dad stayed well out of his way down the coronation.

Oh, the coronation.

Now there was a day and a half.

Proudest moment of my life when I was picked to be one of the bobbies lining

route to the Abbey.

Me and my friend Beryl camped out all night just so we could get our place in

the Horse Guards Parade. Once the royal party had gone past, I collected a

lovely bucket of horse muck.

I felt as if my roses grew by appointment that year.

Look, can we get off this all -our -yesterdays bit?

Oh, no.

I like remembering nice times.

Why don't you stop moaning for a change and join in?

All right.

Um... Remember when Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia?

Then we'll see if I can find a scrape and a pick of lily for his sandwich.

You are such a gloomy gus lately.

You used to pop in and out of here like a ray of sunshine.

Bad news, more rationing, nothing seemed to get you down.

Now, suddenly the war seems to have got to you worse than the rest of us. What's

changed, Gary?

Nothing's changed, Phoebe, nothing.

That's the trouble.

Surprise.

Not at all.

Let me guess.

1941 is an exciting place to visit.

But as a permanent abode, it ranks up there with Sarajevo during mid -seed.

The amount of time you found it impossible to come to terms with.

Very soon you started to miss your wife, your friends, and the comforts of

modern living.

How did you know?

Because that's what I told you would happen before you went.

OK, it's official. You're a clever dick.

Oh, Ron, I've made the most enormous ricket of my life.

Why couldn't I have been happy just flitting between the two eras?

Wish things could go back to the way they were.

Difficult. As in this particular era, you've committed suicide.

Shuffled off the mortal coil.

Ran up the curtains to the choir invisible.

Seeked to be.

In short, you are an ex -sparrow.

She was devastated.

At first.

What do you mean, at first? I've only been dead five days.

Do you know how close she used to work with the one you said fancy there?

Len.

He'd be the tower of strength.

The creep.

Good snooker player, though.

He's taken my place on the snooker team as well.

They made him captain.

How soon they forget.

Hold on, there's something you're not telling me, isn't there?

You're in the clear, old son.

They never found your suicide note.

Are you sure?

I left it in plain sight on top of my clothes.

Well, that explains why nobody went near it, then.

Well,

Gary, you're not exactly the Calvin Klein of Cricklewood, are you?

If you're like for a film, the end credits would read, Mr Sparrow's

supplied by Sue Ryder shops.

You can insult me all you like.

I'm alive.

I am so lucky.

I was prepared to do the honourable thing, you know, commit to one girl, but

it's like God saying it's OK to have an affair.

So where does Yvonne think I've been?

Well, as far as Yvonne's concerned, you're not dead. You've just been in

Inverness. Though some people would say there's not a lot of difference.

If there weren't lorry drivers present, I would kiss you.

Then we both have something to be thankful for.

Some more than others.

What do you mean?

While you were away, I was falsely accused of propositioning another woman.

You... who?

Your wife, actually.

That job she went for in Macclesfield? It didn't work out.

She was upset you weren't here, so I offered my support.

Unfortunately, this was misunderstood by Yvonne as a romantic proposition which

she then relayed to Stella.

And what did you say to her? Do not even think about giving me a hard time over

this.

Yet again, as a result of picking up the pieces that you leave behind, I've been

dropped in it.

What you will do at the earliest opportunity is explain to Yvonne that it

all a misunderstanding and get me back on side with my wife.

I can't. I'm supposed to go fire -watching tonight.

All right.

See what I can do.

Here you are, Ron.

Oh, food. Can I order something?

Double egg, chips and beans.

Double bacon, double sausage.

Yeah, another egg.

Mushrooms, tomatoes.

Double bubble.

Two round of toast and a tea.

Large.

He's been in Scotland.

Give Yvonne and me a minute alone together first, would you? She'll admit

She's an emotional person. There's likely to be tears. Sure.

Where the hell have you been?

Scotland. You know where I've been.

Gary, you could have rang once or twice. Just let me know that you were all

right.

Well, you don't seem too distraught.

Gary, I've had a rotten couple of days.

up and sitting night after night on my own, feeling miserable.

So invite some of the girls around from work, okay?

Yeah, of course.

Look, I'm sorry. I meant to phone. I just seem to be forever in meeting.

It only takes two minutes to make a phone call, Gary.

You're right. There's no excuse.

Oh, come here.

Oh, I can't tell you how great it is to be home.

Nice to have you home.

Well, I'm really sorry about the Macclesfield job falling through.

Thanks. Who told you?

Hi. Get that pervert out of here! No, no.

Yvonne, calm down.

It was a misunderstanding.

I asked him to keep an eye on you while I was away. He was just offering you

support. He offered to spend nights with me.

Oh, come on. It's only... You never told me you said that.

I was speaking metaphorically, I swear.

Well, that explains it, then.

I'm sure you got the wrong end of the stick.

You know what he's like.

He never uses one word when ten will do.

Are you insinuating that my verbal utterances are unduly complex?

Whilst freely admitting to a leaning towards loquaciousness, I must

protest. Ron, you have the communication skills of Jimmy Knapp.

Look. This is good old Ron we're talking about.

He is a good and honest man. He's not the type to take advantage.

I trust him.

Can't you give him the benefit of the doubt?

Just this once, but you watch it in the future.

Thank you, Yvonne. You'll ring Stella and tell her it was all a

misunderstanding. Later.

Could have troubled you to do it now, only there might be one pair of my

trousers she hasn't cut the crotch out of.

I can't do that now. She's gone out.

She never told me. No, she wouldn't. She's not talking to you, is she?

Yvonne.

Um, as Gary's back, do you want us to push off now? Oh, no, don't be daft,

Wendy. I tell you what, I'll go down to the off -license, get some more

supplies, we'll make this a proper party, what do you say? Yeah, that's a

idea. Thanks, I first done.

I thought they were under the stairs.

No, you stuck all the decent tapes on the top of the wardrobe to make room for

all those boring blues albums of yours.

Oh, you'll have to get them, I can't reach.

Short house. Hey, they're behind the pillowcases.

Er, yeah, go on.

Oh, it's a great idea, this parking.

I really needed to let my hair down.

God, Macclesfield was dull.

You know the job with dead man's shoes and there was no better place to wear

them.

Hey, S Express, yes.

And the attitudes of people up there. I happened to mention over lunch our

penchant for a little experimental excitement.

And they looked at me like I was Madame Synth.

Honestly, it was like going back 50 years. You wouldn't believe it.

Oh, I believe it.

Look, I should have been here when you needed me. I'm sorry.

Well, you're here now.

Gary, we've got a house full of guests.

Do you remember that party when we did it under a pile of coats?

I must buy a pile of coats.

Come on, then.

And how are you?

Stud?

Shut it.

Bowels aren't for me, then?

But for your wife.

You really are an idiot.

I mean, now you've proved that you're the sex beast she thought you were,

there's no way of one will tell Stella the thing between you and her was a

misunderstanding.

I mean to say...

Doing it under a pile of coves.

We've seen dogs in the park show more class.

Because I remember the only reason we were caught was that you two were about

dive under there yourselves.

That was different. We were about to re -enact our youth. Women, you know

better.

Well, best of luck. Where are you going? I'm going to need your help.

After all, this is all your fault.

Excuse me, I don't remember standing there with a loaded gun forcing you to

stick your tongue into Wendy's mouth.

No. But it's because of you that I'm at odds with my wife and therefore prone to

the advances of other women.

She came on to me, you know. It was a complete surprise.

Well, to me too.

Good -looking girl, wasn't it?

And what's that supposed to mean?

A little jealous, are we?

Suddenly you're not the only bird bandit on the block anymore.

Grow up. There's nothing clever about cheating on your wife.

And where are you off to now?

Well... Just be free, me.

What's that saying about black houses, people? It's only because I have been

there that I feel obliged to point out the rocky road you're on.

Anyway, my situation's completely different.

All my indiscretions are in the past.

Even my future indiscretions are in the past.

Oh, uh, Yvonne, I'm off, love. All right, see you later.

Um, you've got a visitor.

Where'd you get them?

Into grovel?

Tell her you should be getting the flowers for.

I can't, can I?

There's a 50 -yard romp -free exclusion zone around her.

Well, I reckon that'll be up to her least of bile after I tell her about

night. Please don't. Honestly, all we did was snogging and some very

groping. I think that's enough.

But I'm not responsible for what's happening to me.

First there was you taking my perfectly innocent remarks as a sexual overture,

and then last night Wendy couldn't keep her hands off me.

I think I've reached that certain level of maturity that Wendy and other women

find irresistible.

Don't flatter yourself, Ron.

Wendy's a chubby chaser.

Pardon? She likes fat loaves. The fatter, the better.

I think you could have let me down a little more gently.

But that just goes to show that I'm not to blame, except perhaps for my bad diet

and lack of exercise.

Oh, totally innocent, were you?

And I suppose what we couldn't see is that you were fending her off under

coats. I struggled, briefly.

For God's sake, take responsibility, Ron.

How can I even begin to believe you're sorry when you won't even admit you're

fault?

I want you to say, I have seduced another woman and I am sorry.

Go on.

I've seduced another woman and I'm sorry.

Again, louder.

I've seduced another woman and I'm sorry.

Louder. I've seduced another woman and I am sorry.

Did you hear that, Stella?

That frightened you, didn't it?

Good morning.

You'll be pleased to know normal service has been resumed and Mr. Sunshine is

back.

Well, oh.

Couple of pairs of nylons, lady, right?

Look, chocolate.

A nice bit of English cheddar.

Thanks.

Well, don't I even get a smile?

You ought to be careful, son.

You're getting a bit of a reputation as a black marketeer.

Well, this stuff isn't black market. It's from like... It's from the American

Embassy. It's still not officially sanctioned goods.

Oh, don't be such a stick in the mud, Reg.

Now, listen.

I may be on sick leave, but I'm still a serving bobby, remember?

Well, how can I be called a black marketeer? I don't sell the stuff. I

away. Stupidity is no defence.

Well, Robin Hood gave away stuff to people who needed it. Nobody called him

stupid. But he remembered to do his bit for his king.

Er, completely lost me now.

You didn't turn up for your fire -watching duty last night.

Oh, that's why I get the frosty reception.

Well, I'm sorry. It couldn't be helped. I was called back to work, you know. I'm

sorry, Sam, but it's just not flaming good enough!

There. You see what you've done?

I'm so ate up, I went and used the F word.

You should have let us know if you couldn't make it. You let everyone down.

Do you know they had to get old Norman out of a sickbed to cover for you?

I didn't think. I'm sorry.

It couldn't be helped, on it.

Well, some people are saying you didn't turn up because you were frightened.

Well, why should they think that?

You spent yesterday trying to cry off with a sprained ankle.

Gary, you was walking around here with a work limp and long John Silver, but

that seems to have cleared up all of a sudden.

Well, I've had it strapped up.

It still twinges.

Oh, see?

Well, you don't think I'm a coward, do you?

I don't want to think it, Gary.

All right, well, prove it to you. I'll go fire -watching whenever you like.

Tonight?

Tonight's fine.

It's a long way down, isn't it?

When exactly do they store in this warehouse, Reg?

Paint, that sort of thing.

That sort of thing would be turps and thinners, I suppose.

Yeah, probably.

I'm fire -watching on top of a building that's stuffed full of highly flammable

and explosive liquid.

Suddenly I know how Joan of Arc felt.

It's a messy job, son, but someone's got to do it.

Reg, if this place gets hit, we're going to need flame -proof clothing,

breathing apparatus and some heavy -duty firefighting equipment.

I'm empowered to issue you with a tin hat and a bucket of sand.

Nothing to worry about, then.

Dad used to say you'd be better off sticking your head in the sand and using

your tin hat to cover your arse.

If no -one has any objections, I'll patrol the bottom two floors. Dan, you

the third and fourth. Bob, the fifth and sixth.

Gary, you can handle things up top with Phoebe.

At last. Let's go and have a brew up, Bob.

He's a bolshie, so -and -so, that Dan.

Now, anything you want, just let me know.

Flight to the Bahamas leaving in five minutes seems pretty appealing, right?

You!

You're a card!

Oh, Bob.

Well, I suppose we just wait now, do we? Mm -hm.

Ah, picked a nice night for it.

Bombers moon.

Do they?

What? One of the plain windows?

Oh,

moonlight. Sorry.

Cup of tea?

Please.

It is peaceful up here.

When I was little, I used to lay in bed, looking out of the window, staring up

at the stars for hours.

Do you find yourself thinking about times before the war?

Yeah. Well, they were peaceful, settled, only natural.

I keep remembering the Sunday dinners we used to have round at my own darts.

All the family sat round a big wooden table.

That'll never happen now, and her dad's dead, and Dr Henry bought it at Dunkirk.

The top wouldn't be here either if it wasn't for that table.

She was sheltering under it when the house next door got hit and her ceiling

fell on her.

She didn't have a mark on her when the rescue men got her out.

Wasn't an MFI table, then?

Sorry, bad joke.

Thank God I don't have to live through any more wars after this one.

No, you won't.

Not big ones, anyway.

I'm sure Europe will settle down a lot once all this is over.

Some things will never change, mind you.

French will always be gits.

Here we go.

Sounds like it's coming from over there.

Yeah, they're probably following the line of the river.

You all right?

Oh, we're down when I'm with you.

What are all those flashes?

Well, they're the incendiaries.

There's hundreds of them.

They're all over the street.

We can't do any harm down there. They just burn the trees down.

Sure, there are no more incendiaries here. Well, you can't. It's too

No, I'll be fine. Go on. I am not leaving you. If you stay, I stay.

Get down.

Why don't you sing us one of your songs?

You know, write down the air raid shelter.

Keep our moral.

What?

Oh,

come on.

And people are just too much for me to face.

I climb way up to the top of the stairs and all my cares just drift

right into space.

Yeah, I've just got a touch of flu, you know.

I'll take an aspirin.

Well, you'll be pleased to know Harmony has returned to Ron's house. I took pity

on him and squared things with Stella.

Good. You see, no porker stands a chance once Wendy targets them.

Did you know she has 275 hours of sumo wrestling on tape?

Better than the adult channel as far as she's concerned.

Gary, you don't look at all well.

Why don't you come to bed?

Not yet.

You go up, I'll be there in a minute. Okay.

But don't be long yet. No.

Sweetheart, sleep will banish sorrow.

Good night, sweetheart,

till we meet tomorrow.

Dreams enfold you, remember I'll hold

you. Good night, sweetheart.