Original subtitles

Nellie? Yes?

It's Mabel.

What? Mabel.

Who?

Mabel Ince.

Oh, yes.

We've just heard and we thought we ought to let you know that poor Dench is

dead. Who?

Dench.

Dench? Yes, poor darling Denchie.

Oh, she died years ago. Must have been a hundred. Oh, nonsense, Nellie.

She was old in the war.

Oh, she was wonderful in the war.

Fanny is with me.

Who?

Fanny Thone.

Oh, Fanny.

Thought she was dead, too.

Oh, what is she saying?

Oh, she's absolutely hopeless.

We thought we ought to do something.

Put in a tribute.

A what?

A tribute to Dench in the Times.

Don't know about the Times anymore.

Well, then, let me.

The Telegraph, perhaps? Yes, all right, then the Telegraph.

So you do agree... Sorry, you can't go on. It's too expensive.

Nellie, I'm paying for the call.

Nellie?

She's hung up.

Nellie Benson is impossible.

She's always been impossible.

She wasn't even the least bit interested about poor old Dench. When one thinks

how much Dench she did for those awful children.

For the famous Charlotte through virus pneumonia, didn't she? She did.

Nellie just went off to join Charles in Geneva, left dear old Dench to it. It

wasn't as though Dench was ever paid or anything, please.

I never paid her, did you?

Oh, no, just her key.

One just couldn't.

She never asked.

Poor as a church mouse, probably.

One just fed her.

She came to stay.

To stop, as she called it. To stop. So he did, bless her.

is all right.

Oh, Dench adored the times, didn't she?

I don't believe she could have borne life without the court circular.

It rivets me, she used to say. It rivets me.

Mabel, what are you looking for? I found a photograph of Dench only the other

day. I must have put it somewhere.

Do you think she was ill very long?

The last Christmas card I had from her was very shaky.

In fact... I think there was only the signature.

The little message was written by some niece.

Oh, do you want some more tea? No, dear, thank you. Did you get a sort of

begging letter about Denchies?

I think that was from the niece, too.

She wanted to get poor Denchie into some sort of private nursing home.

I meant to send a fiver or something, but it was just before we went off to

Penang. You hate that sort of letter. It's so embarrassing all round. One

one can't possibly do enough, so one does nothing.

Now, of course, we just have our...

Service pension.

So do we.

We could do with a whip round ourselves.

I wish we had a niece.

I did feel a bit dreadful about it, though.

I think if we did this tribute now, I should feel better about it. Shall we

around? Yes, let's.

There must be half a dozen families who want to join in.

It's about two pounds a line, isn't it?

Yes, all we need to say is, in memory of dear Dench, beloved Nanny.

Oh, I think, and friends.

Nanny and friends.

for many years, and the names of the families. I think it's a very nice idea,

Mabel. If we get enough people, it shouldn't come to more than, say, what,

pound each?

Should it?

Well, that's the least we can do.

Well, isn't it?

With or without Nelly, then.

Letter. From the niece.

Ah, yes, we all did.

What?

Panny and I did, too.

The niece wants to meet her.

Yes. We thought somewhere like Fortnum's for lunch.

A lunch?

Much too expensive.

Oh, well, somewhere nice.

And we won't put anything in the newspaper.

Why not?

Just the point. We'll make the lunch our tribute.

A lot of nonsense anyway.

Sandwiches are on the table, Roderick.

And only two sugars in your tea, dear. You know it's bad for you.

Mabel, we must hurry. I'm sure we're late.

You grow your own vegetable?

Divine.

I just couldn't find you.

I thought it was well.

Really, it's rain's path, isn't it?

What a good idea.

It's a far cry from the Maharaja's palace, I'm afraid.

At least denture's been a fair thing once the car was on.

Used to talk about love of country.

Do you remember how she stood for the National Anthem?

Well, we all did that.

We still do, don't you? And not like Dench did. I mean, to attention.

Like a worm, Robert.

Half a lifetime of invitations.

Menus, notes, guest lists.

Do you remember Prague?

Those high ceilings. Someone once told me why ceilings' empathies are always so

high. It's to take the noise of the cocktail parties.

Didn't know dents love cocktail parties.

I used to let her watch sometimes, with the children on the landing, out of

sight, of course.

I just thought of Nellie's invitation.

Gloves.

Gloves. He's got a left -hand cord.

Gloves will be worn.

Huh?

You're not going in bedrooms, are you?

Oh, I get my feet in.

Well, you shouldn't.

Who go about?

I have this house to run.

Nellie, I do think you... I use my wellies for gardening.

Bedroom slippers are not suitable for lunch, Nellie.

Well, I think I have a pair of doctor's shoes.

I remember that hat, Mabel.

You bought it for the Queen's birthday do once in Dar es Salaam. It always

reminded me of a dead blackbird.

I think perhaps we're out of the fourth form now, Nellie. Where are you now,

Mabel? I heard you had to sell the castle.

I suppose old Humphrey lost his money.

Oh, Nellie, do be quiet.

Horses.

Always lost on the horses, did Humphrey. Really flung it about.

Where do you live now?

Newbury. Near the course, I suppose.

Not sure.

He watches on television.

I can't afford one.

And where do you live, Fanny?

Oh, Wimbledon.

Oh, that's a pity.

A long way from London.

Further than Newbury, in a sense.

Sally has a charming house.

Featherney Road.

Delicious red brick. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it had been designed by

Norman Shaw.

Norman Shaw?

Wasn't he ADC in Panagar?

Yes.

Terrible old pansy.

Dench couldn't bear him.

Didn't approve.

I come up to town to the diplomatic wives.

Well, Dench would have approved of that.

Poor Dench.

She was never a wife.

There was a man once, though. The children used to tease her about him.

Brazilian millionaire.

A widower.

No, no, not a widower. Very much married.

Catholic. Oh, his name.

The children used to call him Mr.

Goldina. Mr.

Goldina. Why did they do that?

It's from a book, Nellie.

Do you suppose he really existed?

I've no idea.

Do you think she was a lesbian?

Well, I mean, some nannies are.

Subconsciously, of course.

Then she's subconscious.

Ready.

Oh, yes.

Your table.

This is nice. We can see everything here. Oh, thank you.

I'm sorry. They seem to have held a corner table for you, if you'd be so

Wait up!

One went to a corner and then completely ignored.

Oh, young man.

Madam. We're expecting a young woman to join us, a Miss Dench. Would you please

show her to this table? She'll ask for Lady Benwith.

Yes, madam.

How will we know her? The niece.

Quite young, isn't she? Sounded quite young in the letter.

She's probably the great niece.

A little sherry while you're waiting, madam? Not yet, thank you. Thank you,

madam. How are we going to know her? Any of these women could be nieces eating

their lunch.

Well, a lot of people are nieces. and eat lunch. I mean, we've all been

Oh, not primarily.

We were never primarily nieces. To be a niece is probably their only function in

life. I think I once saw Dench's niece.

Nieces, nieces. What are you talking about?

I went down to East Mosey about seven or eight years ago to see Dench, and I

think it was the niece who let me in.

Nice little woman.

Yes, I think I shall remember the face when I see it.

Nice. What is the ironing about?

Ironing? Yes, on arrows.

You know, those old -fashioned standing arrows all over the sitting room.

Ironing. Oh, beautiful ironing it was.

I remember the smell.

Lovely, clean, warm, clothed smell.

And dainty.

In a bed in the corner.

Oh, she did look so small.

Yes, a very good sort of woman, I should think, beneath.

Bed in the sitting room.

Oh, I suppose that's what you meant about the nursing home. Oh, come on.

was no trouble.

Act like a bird.

Yes, Dench was cheap.

During the war, I found that hood rough.

If ever we got anything on the black market, there were some eggs once.

Mabel has an old photo of Dench. Not of her own, of course, with the children.

Which one is Dench?

Oh, don't be so provoking. Nellie, that's Dench with my three.

There are four children.

That's what made me think of it.

We were at home at the time in Lincolnshire and somebody brought us six

beautiful eggs.

Fresh eggs during the war.

We had them boiled as a treat. There was Humph and I and my three and this

little thing who was staying with us, Polly Knox.

Oh, do you remember the Knoxes? Pretty child, Dench's daughter.

Oh, daughter, two of course. The eggs, dear.

Well, there were seven of us and only six eggs, and somebody said, what about

Dench? And little Pollyknock said, you shall have half mine, Denchy. And Denchy

absolutely straightaway said, thank you, my dear, but I do not take eggs.

She used to say that about cream. Thank you, I do not take cream.

She had a pretty good life, I should think, old Denchy.

I wonder if she ever got the old age pension.

I never paid her stamp, did you?

Oh, do you think we should have sherry?

Yes.

All right.

Yes, which is very late, underneath.

We'll have sherry.

Waiter.

Waiter. Three sherries.

Very dry.

Oh, dry? Yes. Dry?

Very dry.

Yes, madam.

What about ordering some wine?

Oh, this is a tribute, isn't it? I want the niece to think that we've done

things properly.

Do they have... Half -bottled. Can't order wine.

Don't know what the niece is going to eat.

Nellie, don't be so tired.

That's my bag.

Someone's stolen my shopping bag. I can't think anyone. Oh, look, Nellie,

it is. Do take care.

If I have time before that wretched niece arrives to go down to their fish

place, I thought I'd get some fin and paddle. Rightly expensive, Nellie.

Yes, rightly.

At least it's a beef in an attic where I live. They're just as likely to pass

off a piece of dyed cod.

Well, I think we should all be here when the niece comes.

If she comes, which I'm beginning to doubt.

What does she want us for?

It was in the letter, Nellie.

Memento.

You should order.

She's obviously not coming now.

You'll be lucky to catch his eye.

Well, let's all know what we're going to have.

How about chicken a la king all round?

Well, I don't want anything to start with.

Oh, no, nothing to start with.

And don't spend money if the niece isn't coming.

A salad with the chicken. Green salad.

I want vegetables.

You don't seem to eat vegetables.

I was trying to remember when we first met, Dench.

1 .25 in Jamaica, on her way back from Rio, sitting all alone at a

table at Simona.

And I thought, what a charming little woman, and she looked so sad.

I suppose she'd just left Mr. Saltina. She was sad.

Not a bean.

Well, the children talked to her, and I thought, she might be just the thing,

and I took her on.

That was over 40 years ago.

Oh, devoted.

Utterly reliable, but so sad.

We used to send a good present, sir.

A pound of tea at Christmas when we were in Ceylon.

My dear, that woman's coming over to our table. Does that not be the least, can

it? Oh, not if she's bringing parcels. This one's not carrying.

I'm so terribly sorry. I was late getting away and we found it so

park. Chetwood couldn't stay with the car because of the parcel.

On the shelf, Chetwood, didn't you think?

I do hope you went ahead.

Oh, dear.

Thank you.

I'm afraid they're nothing much.

She said in the will that you were to have mementos.

But she had so little.

Do you not believe how little?

So few possessions.

Thank you, Chetwood.

Well, champagne?

Thank you.

We are here to celebrate the life, the happy life of one of the dearest,

old... I won't call this an in -memoriam. Then she couldn't bear to

anything gloomy.

She led the happiest life and died peacefully thinking about us all. A good

that one. Number six.

Certainly, madam. Thank you.

I'm sure we're all very glad to know that Dents was so happy.

You say our thing.

I believe she talked about you three more than anyone else. Day after day,

in, year out. All the places she'd seen through you. And how you rescued her,

Mr. Dents, when she was in very low water. And gave her an absolutely free

with all your children. And even grandchildren, Lady Dents.

Ah, hadn't I? We all grew to rely on her very much.

She always knew her... Oh, just pour it out.

Would it be an awful bore to put the champagne on a separate bill for me and

then... She wanted us to pay for the nursing home.

My God.

We all knew Dench for a great number of years. A great number of years.

She was a very good servant.

And friend.

Nanny and friend.

We were all devoted to her.

Do you remember the roses?

Persia, Dench was looking after your children, Lady Benson, when Simon

it kicked her.

And your daughter said, Dench must have some roses.

took the secateurs and a basket and led her out into the garden.

And you leaned out of the window and said, only three now.

Three roses.

Frightless. You don't remember those gardens. One of the sights of Persia, 2

,000 rose trees.

How didn't she laugh?

I wouldn't have thought Denchie had enough room for displaying a lot of

Of course not.

She was always in the attic.

She wasn't minding. It just made us both laugh when she told it.

To Dench.

To Dench.

To Dench.

I felt personally very sorry about the nursing home business.

I'd like to have helped Dench.

Even taken her myself for a week or two just to help the family out, but we were

abroad. Oh, but you refused, didn't you know? You mustn't worry.

It was all settled about the nursing home without your kind help. I promise

she never knew you'd been out.

Always had my shoes.

One thing I miss most, if you really want to know, good shoes.

The shoes are still there, rows and rows.

They're very old -fashioned.

But if you wish, I could let you have them back, I'm sure.

Dench never wore them. They were too big. Though she was a lamb, I'm sure she

never told you.

And these.

Ben.

These are the little mementos.

All I could find, and I am so sorry.

Mrs. Ince.

Lady Benson.

Just little brass things.

A Benares tray.

A handbell.

Oh!

An

elephant

foot.

It could be adapted as a boot scraper.

It's very good of you to bother. Very good.

I feel honoured.

that these things were all she had and she left them to us.

That's all she had.

Well, except for the money.

Money? The South American money. Dench.

From Mr.

Saltina, as we used to call him.

You mean he did exist?

Oh, yes.

Mr. Saltina existed.

He left her 400 sweet... Thousand. 400 ,000.

You died only a short time before she did.

But there it was.

She left 200 ,000 of it to her niece.

Aren't you the niece?

Me?

Darling, darling Lady Benson.

Didn't I say, didn't you recognise me?

Oh, dear.

Of course, it's been so long.

How silly. I was so fussed being late, I forgot to say.

Her niece said no.

She couldn't face it. coming up to London to, as she called it, this posh

The money hasn't altered her a bit.

She said she had the ironing.

Ironing? Well, then who... But I'm Polly Knox.

You must remember me.

Polly Knox.

I've kept in touch with them for all these years.

She left the other 200 ,000 to me.

And I've been astounded and quite speechless ever since.

Her niece said Dent just lay there in bed with the solicitor's letter on the

counterpane and smiled.

And her niece asked her, why Polly knock, auntie?

And dear old Dent said, and well, I must say, I've wondered ever since what on

earth she meant.

What did she say?

She just said, tell Polly she shall have half my egg.