Original subtitles

I'll do it for you.

Thanks, Mum.

Mum, do you know where Frank's gone?

I know where he's been.

Well, don't start picking on him again.

God knows what he's done for that.

Everything was all right before he came.

Everything was all right.

That's right, blame Frank.

Everything's Frank's fault.

You can't catch a single thing in this house without breaking it, bending it or

losing it. I'm not listening. I've got enough worry with Frank's interview

and you don't care a bit.

It's him.

He's out there now.

Pulling the coal shed down.

The door's gone already.

And what's that for?

Have to look after him?

Look after him? Who's going to look after us?

Oh, shush, Mum.

His mother was just the same.

Frank?

Oh.

Well, have you found it?

Not quite.

Do you mean...

Either you've found it or you haven't.

I haven't quite found it.

What are we going to do if it rains?

I could put a bit of wood across it. It had a bit of wood across it. It was

called a door.

It was broken, Mrs Fisher. I know it was broken.

You broke it. And now you don't know where you've put it.

I've put it down the garden somewhere.

You haven't got a spade, have you?

You haven't buried it.

I just thought I might do a bit of gardening later. Never mind the

What about my coal shed door?

I'm going to mend it, Mrs Fisher.

I was just going through my tools.

I haven't got very many at the moment.

I'm getting a different one each week.

This is the first week.

My husband got married. He was properly equipped.

I'm properly equipped?

You've only got an hammer.

No, it caught me a bit on the hop.

I wasn't really considering doing any serious building work. Serious building

work? All I want you to do is find my shed door.

I think I'll get a screwdriver next week.

I'm just going upstairs.

Get ready for my interview.

Oh, yes.

What is it this time?

I'm going to be an area sales manager.

I think it's my lucky day.

a bit tight, though.

No, no, they're not, honestly.

When you walk in there, you look just like one of them.

A businessman, Frank.

They'll expect you to wear a suit.

I've, um, I've bought you a little present for your interview.

Oh, that's nice, isn't it?

I've got nothing to put in it, though.

I could put my sandwiches in it.

They might want me to start at once.

Well, then you can come back and get something. It won't take a minute.

No, no. Once I get down there, I don't want to stop. I don't want any delays. I

want to get right in and get on with it. I know you do, Frank.

That's our wedding photo.

Yes.

We had a lovely day for it, didn't we?

We're going to have many, many lovely days, Betty.

We could be together for another 50 years.

Just think of that.

Well, it hasn't been that bad, has it?

No, of course it hasn't, Frank.

You knew what I was like.

job, won't you?

Betty, I always try.

I know you do, Frank.

No one could be more trying than me.

I tried, tried on the post office.

Hmm. And the gas board.

Hmm. And then there was that factory, wasn't there, Frank?

Hmm.

And the underground.

Kept forgetting to open the doors.

But you were very careful, though, Frank.

I mean, no -one ever fell out of your trains.

No -one ever got out at all.

He just goes for interviews.

Yes, I think I'll make a cup of tea before we go.

Where's the brown teapot?

We haven't got a brown teapot.

shed door back.

I don't know where it is.

Frank, put it somewhere.

You should never have married him.

Oh, Mum.

His mother was a bit funny, too.

Mum, Frank isn't funny.

She was always breaking things, just like Frank.

And she was so strong.

You'd end up bitter.

Frankie! Oh, Mum, Frank wouldn't hurt anyone.

Well, the vicar's been under sedation since the wedding.

Waking. A family of slippers.

Oh, mum.

Frank? Just here.

Well, what's this job you're going for, then?

A poet.

What?

Poets, I'll be in.

What's he talking about?

and things that go in the bathroom.

That's what I'll be selling.

Not to me, you won't.

Here.

I suppose if you get this job, you'll be moving into your own home.

Oh, yes.

Oh.

Oh, Mum. What is it now?

I should be all alone here.

No, you won't.

It happened during the carnival.

She took a turn on the Sunday school float.

And your father disappeared in Africa, didn't he, Frank?

So, Mama, we said.

I expect he slipped as well.

You didn't have to come with me, you know.

Oh, I always come with you, Frank.

No, no, I'm a bit... You take a good look, familiarise yourself, and try and

remember some of the prices.

You'll have to know the price of everything if you're going to be a

Now, that, for instance.

Oh, I don't even know what that is. Another thing, Frank, don't forget to

Right in there.

You see, you mustn't go in looking worried.

I am worried.

Well, Frank, you just go in there and do your best.

And I'll be down here thinking about you.

And I'll be up there thinking about you.

Oh, yes, third floor.

Thank you very much.

She

should

be coming

up now.

Lord knows, about half an hour. I mean, I don't know how he did it. It was

bleeding sabotage, if you ask me.

Hello.

I mean... Um, Mr Lewis, I'm... Oh, it's you.

Mr Spencer, I am.

Oh, yes. Sit down, Mr Spencer. I'll tell Mr Lewis you're here. OK.

Just familiarising myself.

I might be here permanently.

Oh, my gosh.

Mr Lewis?

Yeah, what is it, Linda?

There's a Mr Spencer to see you about the vacancy.

Oh, it's a bit late, isn't it? Everybody else came at 11 .15.

Oh, Mr Spencer was here at 11 .15, only he just got out of the lift.

Well, it's past 12 o 'clock now.

Yes, the maintenance men should have it working again by once.

Oh, I see.

Maintenance men?

Well, they're working as fast as... as he possibly can. Things should be back

normal quite soon.

Spencer? Spencer?

Oh, yes.

That's his application form.

And he also enclosed his library ticket.

All right. Show him in, Linda.

Mr. Spencer?

Oh, good morning, Mr. Spencer. Nice to meet you.

All right, Linda, thank you. That'll be all.

I'm Mr Lewis, general manager.

Can I take your coat?

Well...

What's

the joke?

I beg your pardon?

Well, I thought something was amusing you.

No.

needing this library ticket.

Have you got one here, then?

One more.

A library?

No, no, no, Mr. Spencer, that's your library ticket.

Oh.

No, Mr. Spencer, I'm not... No, just... Here.

Mr. Spencer, I'm not quite clear about this, uh... application form. In

occupation, you've answered yes and no.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes, I have had a previous occupation. No.

Yes.

No, no, no, you misunderstand me.

You have written yes and no.

Yes, I have had a previous occupation and

no. I haven't got one now.

You're unemployed?

Today I am, yes.

Oh, yes, and yesterday?

Yesterday... I was unemployed as well.

How long have you actually been unemployed?

Oh, it's... difficult to remember offhand.

I see.

Well, experience isn't really necessary in this job because we can always train

you. I see.

Well, some people we can train.

Now, you'd be a company representative. You'd have to travel around, meet

people. It would be an advantage if you'd done a similar kind of work.

Oh, well, I had done a similar kind of work, yes. Oh, what was that?

I was a postman.

Mr Spencer, why do you want this particular job?

Well, I feel that it would be an improvement.

Oh, yes, an improvement, I see.

An improvement on what?

An improvement on my present position.

But you don't have a present position.

Now.

But if I did have one, it would be an improvement.

Have I passed?

Mr Spencer, I frankly don't think that you'd be quite... Please, Mr Lewis, all

want is a little chance.

Well, if you really want the word, we...

We do have similar openings for junior salesmen, door -to -door salesmanship.

I could do that all right, yes.

Of course, you'd have to have a little training, though it's so simple that

you could.

Well, you might have the temperament for it. We can soon find out.

All we do is, you see, we give you a case full of samples of our smaller

products, and you just go round door -to -door. Now, that should be easy enough.

I've got a case here somewhere.

Right. All right, here it is.

Are you coming with me, then?

You haven't got the job yet, Mr Spencer.

I'm just testing you.

You knock on the door, the door opens, and you hold out your card.

You're holding up a card, not Tower Bridge, Mr Spencer.

And then you smile.

Yes, and that's something else that we aren't going to have to see to later.

And then you begin. Good morning, I represent Lewis & Company Wholesale

Ironmongers and I'd like to show you some of my samples. Now, that's easy

enough, isn't it?

Oh, yeah.

I won't really need any training for that, will I?

Well, better to be safe than sorry, Mr Spencer.

So you just take this, go outside, knock on the door and we'll take it from

there, all right?

Could you take...

Mr Spencer.

What are you doing?

Oh, just getting a sample in my hand so I'll be quick off the mark.

Right, well, you've got it in your hand. Now, be quick off the mark. Now, come

on, come on. I haven't got all day to waste. Come on.

Come on. Oh, well, I haven't knocked yet.

Oh, good God, man, you don't have to go through the whole room.

It's best to stick to the routine, now.

Then we won't get confused.

Confused?

to learn to knock louder than that, Mr. Spenton.

That is a very expensive bathroom thermometer.

I think it's faulty.

Well, go on.

Case, case.

Cloud, cloud.

Sound for sound.

I'll show you.

Not out there.

Forgot these.

Come in.

I represent Lewis and Company.

Wholesale art. and I'd like to show you some of my... Carl, Carl!

It's in my bloody hand!

Are you allowed to swear at them?

Here is my card.

Do please read it.

Yes.

Lewis and Company.

Hostel Arnmunger, 49 The High Street. You've read that damn thing!

I, um... I represent... Lewis and

Company, it's you!

I don't think you should talk to me like that. You mind your own business.

And is that the best pair of trousers you've got?

They were all right when I came in this morning. I fell over in the shop window.

Mr Spencer looked at me.

I thought you'd try to be funny with me, lad.

I'll not be made a fool of. I'll not be made a fool of.

Mr Lewis, I'm ready.

Good morning.

I represent Lewis and Company.

Whole line sale mongers.

I'd like to show you a little sample.

I'm not interested.

I beg your pardon?

I'm not interested. They're rubbish.

I expect you're right.

What the hell do you mean you expect I'm right?

I was just being tactful. Tactful?

Tactful? I'm a potential customer, man. I've just told you a sample of the

rubbish, but what are you going to do about it?

Well, you can't just leave it at that.

Well, convince me.

Are you some bloody initiative man?

I don't think we should bother with a bad -tempered one.

Who's bad -tempered?

Who's bad -tempered? No, I mean people like that.

It'd just bring ill repute to the firm, won't they?

Well, stop it all, man!

Shouting and swearing like that and carrying on.

I mean, we'd be better off without them.

Aye.

Twenty years in the business.

I've never known anything like it. I've never known anything like it. I'll be

better when I've had my training. I mean, you've only got deuce to call it a

house. Just hasn't been one of my days. Say a few words.

Anyone can do it.

I've been very worried about the coal shed door.

Oh, Mr Lewis, it's about to lift.

I've had harassment after harassment. Wait a minute!

Will you go back away?

Now, you see, we cannibalised A lift in order to get B lift going with those

parts. Right, good, good.

Mr Spencer.

My God, he's flattened.

He's probably gone right through the floor.

What's left of him?

Well, lift it up, then. Lift it up. Lift it up.

now, then.

What?

About the job.

I expect you'll want to think about me.

Oh, yes, Mr Spencer, I'll think about you.

I doubt if I'll ever think about anything else.

About the lift.

I was saying, about the lift. I can see you're busy, but I'll just get my

clothes. It's going to be difficult because I can't get... This is my letter

resignation. I've had enough.

That's all right.

You won't be hearing from me again except through my solicitor. Yes, all

Mr. Lewis.

Goodbye, Mr. Lewis. Yes, all right. We are in the hands of the Spares

Department, you understand. Yes, all right. Goodbye.

Yes, all right.

We'll give it a proper going over tomorrow when we get the new equipment.

I won't stop. All right.

It should be safe for today, providing some raving lunatic doesn't start

about with it.

Mr. Spencer!

I want overtime for this. That's another 30 minutes. Will you shut up? We'll try

again.

I represent Lewis and Company.

Betty. Oh, Frank.

What happened? How did you get on? I didn't know what to do. I've been home

back five times while you've been in there. He's going to think about me.

Oh, that sounds promising.

It is promising, isn't it, Frank?

I don't really know.

He's a funny sort of chap.

Oh, never mind. I expect you made an impression.

I think I did, yes.

I'm not spending the rest of my weekend working just because of that twit.

You'll do as your family will tell.

And did they notice your briefcase?

Oh, Mr Lewis's secretary couldn't stop looking at it. I think she was

And me with that fence propeller, none of this would ever have happened. Don't

you worry, I'll get you compensation.

I'll make Lewis pay.

You see, Frank, all you need is a chance.

Once you get a start, you'll go right to the top.

You think so?

I could find that shed door.

You will, Frank, you will.

I bet Mr. Lewis is in that office right now just thinking about you.

Knock, knock.

Case, case.

Card, card.

Anyone can do it.