Original subtitles

(Iighthearted mUsic)

(grand horn music)

(Iighthearted mUsic)

(IoUd typewriting)

- [Jean] I shall never forget that day.

Matt was only halfway through the novel,

and oUr fUnds were running Iow.

Then, the Ietter arrived,

which was to change everything.

- Jean.

- [Jean] Darling?

- When did this come?

- What?

Oh, just now.

I didn't want to distract you.

Why, what is it?

Matt.

- Great-uncle Simon.

- I didn't know you had a great-uncle Simon.

- Well, I didn't have a great-Uncle simon.

Sole heir--

- The whole estate, SloughboroUgh, Worts--

- Oh, some mistake.

I never had any great-uncle Simon.

- But you mUst've had a great-uncle Simon--

- I tell yoU, I didn't.

SUrely, if I had a great-Uncle Simon,

I'd Ieast of heard of a great-Uncle Simon.

- Simpson, Carter, and Son.

- They mUst be oUt of their minds.

- It says will you get in touch with them .

- SIoughboroUgh.

What's that, TrUnks?

- It must be.

- Neither have l .

Great-Uncle Simon.

Great-Uncle Simon.

Oh, Operator.

This is northway o267, I want SloughboroUgh, Worts 29.

Oh.

Oh, is it?

It's SIuff-boroUgh.

- Matt?

You coUIdn't be--

- Couldn't be what?

- YoU coUIdn't be inheriting a fortune, coUId yoU?

BecaUse if yoU are, let me say right now,

I Iove yoU more than ever.

- (IaUghs) Darling, don't be so silly.

No, no, no, not you operator.

You know, I had a great-uncle Hugh,

and a great-uncle Edward I think, bUt, hello?

Oh, Simpson, Carter, and Son?

Oh, my name's Spenser, Matthew Spenser.

Yes, I think the point is that there's

been some idiotic mistake becaUse

I can tell yoU qUite definitely,

I never had a...

What?

I beg yoUr pardon?

Oh.

- What?

- I did have a great-uncle Simon.

- Oh!

- Yes, jUst hold the Iine one moment, will yoU?

The secretary wants to know

when we can come down.

Well, I think we can come right away.

Yes, today.

Yes.

Paddington?

11 : 1 0?

- Matt, we'II never do it!

- Yes, yes, l think we can manage that.

Uh, oh.

Do yoU by any chance happen to know

anything aboUt the estate?

- We'll never get that train, what is it?

- A cinema?

He owned a cinema!

- What?

- Oh, just one other thing.

Did yoU by any chance happen to know my great-Uncle?

Was he a hUge fat man with a reddish beard

who wore a sort of cape?

Oh, oh, well that mUst've been

my great-Uncle Edward.

- Look, darling if we don't--

- Oh, well it doesn't matter.

Yes, tell Mr. Carter we'II be there, will yoU?

Yes, goodbye.

- Matt, we've only got 40 minUtes.

What am I going to wear?

- Imagine not even knowing.

And what's more, great-uncle Simon

seems to have been rich.

- Did she say how--

- Well, she said she couldn't talk on the phone.

BUt if apart from anything else,

he owned a cinema.

- He must've been wealthy.

And yoU really inherit everything?

- The solicitor said so.

It's incredible, it's absolutely incredible.

(train whistles)

- Thank you.

- Oh dear, honestly, I'll pass out

before we get to SIoUghboroUgh.

- JUst think what it'll be Iike

to have no more money worries,

no more stupid, petty problems.

To be able to do all the things

one wants to do,

to travel, for example.

- Oh yes, you know that's just the one thing

that would be heavenly.

- Think of all the fabulous places

that are just names to Us now.

BUt we can see.

Samarkand, Samarkand.

Doesn't that do something to yoU?

Doesn't the very name--

- Oh, it's a beaUtifUI name.

- Samarkand.

San Francisco, Seville, Samoa, Samarra--

- Tell me some more about Samarra.

- Oh, darling.

(IaUghing)

- Oh, I'm sorry, it's the brandy. (chUckles)

- Well, here's to Samarkand.

- Oh darling, I can't drink any more.

(glasses clang)

To Samarkand.

(dramatic mUsic)

- [Announcer] Train now standing at platform three,

is the train for Dorne, Bradfield ,

Rewesley, Wickhamford, Evercreech,

Woodbury, and Rickersworth.

- What is that ghastly smell?

- There's something dead around here.

- Well, yoU mean besides great-Uncle Simon? (chUckles)

Oh, sorry, darling.

- Tell me, what's that cUrious smell?

- Eh?

- That smell, what is it?

- I don't smell anything.

Oh, you mean the glue factory.

That's it, the glUe factory over there.

PUngent, isn't it?

- Pungent is hardly the word .

- Taxi, sir?

- Yes, please.

Will you take Us Simpson, Carter, and Son,

the solicitors?

- Right, sir.

(door slams shut)

(engine revs)

(Iighthearted mUsic)

(chUckling)

- Now listen, darling.

While you're with the solicitors,

a Iittle dignity, eh?

I mean to say, if a man dies,

and Ieaves yoU his entire inheritance,

the Ieast yoU can do is to observe the propi, proprietree,

propitUrie--

- Proprieties.

Darling, you can talk,

you can't even say proprieties!

(IaUghing)

Proprieties!

- Now darling, really.

Try and be sensible.

- Matt.

Look!

- Driver, stop a minute!

(tyres screech)

Driver, how many cinemas are there in SloughboroUgh?

- JUst this one, sir.

- Matt, it's simply magnificent.

It must be worth a fortUne!

- Driver, just wait here a minute, will you?

(car honks)

I say, how's bUsiness?

- What?

- I said how's business,

how's bUsiness these days?

- I woUIdn't know, I mind me own.

- What a rUde man.

- Do you know something?

- I think that chap's got a little sUrprise

in store for him.

- What do you mean?

- There's no excUse whatsoever for incivility.

The very first thing l'm going to do

is to boot him right oUt of the place.

- Oh darling, I'm sure he didn't mean to be--

- Nonsense, it's his job to be polite, not to...

(IaUghs)

Wait 'til he finds oUt who he was being rUde to.

(IaUghing)

Come on, let's get to the solicitors.

- My father asked me to handle

this matter for yoU , Mr. Spenser.

I told him you were calling,

but he said he had an urgent appointment.

I don't think he'II be gone Iong though.

- But, yoU know something about it, don't you?

- Oh, yes.

I know all about it.

As a matter of fact,

I've had the job of establishing yoUr existence.

You've no idea the fun and games I had .

Thought I'd never catch Up with you.

- GIad you did.

(IaUghing)

As my secretary said,

that she told you on the telephone

that the estate includes a cinema.

- Yes, yes she did.

- Yes, well apart from a few personal effects,

and fUrnitUre, and sUch Iike,

I'm afraid that the cinema itself

is all there is to yoUr great-Uncle's estate.

- Oh.

Still, that's qUite enoUgh, isn't it?

He had everything he owned

tied up in it, had he?

- Incidentally, we've seen the cinema, Mr. Carter.

- Oh, yoU have?

- The question is really,

how much is the place worth as it stands?

Lock, stock, and barrel?

- Well, it's rather difficUIt to say.

- But even approximately, in round figures.

Is it worth a hUndred thousand poUnds?

- A hundred thoUsand?

- YoU see, I haven't a clUe aboUt these valUes.

BUt as cinema's go, this one sUrely is quite magnificent.

- Well, we are almost overwhelmed.

I mean, it's qUite as splendid as all those

in Leicester SqUare.

- Mrs. Spenser--

- What is it?

What's...

- My dear chap--

- Mr. Carter, what is it?

- L'm afraid, I'm very mUch afraid,

I wonder if my father's back.

Dad?

He's not back.

- Mr. Carter.

- L'm most terribly sorry, Mr. Spenser, Mrs. Spenser.

- Sorry?

Mr. Carter, what's the matter?

- YoU see, I hardly know how to tell you.

- Well, if you coUId find a way, Mr. Carter.

- Well, may I ask which cinema have you been looking at?

- Which cinema?

- YoU mean, there's more than one?

- Yes.

- And it's not the Grand?

BUt why did that taxi driver say that there was--

- Well, he mUst've meant it was the only one open.

You see, we had to close the Fleapit the day after--

- The FIeapit?

- L'm most terribly sorry.

- FIeapit?

- PIease forgive me, you see,

it's always referred to locally as the Fleapit.

I should've said the...

(dramatic mUsic)

- Well, I'm sure there is a business like show business,

but somehow I don't think this is it.

- Look at it.

You mean to tell me my Uncle

actUally charged people to go in there?

That people actUally paid?

- Yes, some.

(train whistles)

- Seems impossible.

Did he rUn it himself?

- With a staff of sorts.

Three of them, actually.

They're all under notice, of coUrse.

Well, shall we take a Iook inside?

- Couldn't we jUst go away

and forget it ever happened?

(car honks)

(door creaks)

- Mm , pungent, isn't it?

- [Matt] The cashier?

- Mrs. Fazackaleee.

I'II lead the way, shall l?

(dramatic mUsic)

Oh, the old place has been everything in its day.

It was a theatre way back

before they built the rail way,

then it was a musical.

- I wonder how my great-Uncle

got mixed Up in all this.

- Well, it was before the First War, apparently.

The yoUng Simon must've had qUite a way with him.

He even managed to get some of the local people

to put their money into it. (chUckles)

My dad did, as a matter of fact.

Spenser's Electric Theatre, it was called in those days.

The first in this part of the coUntry.

(cat meows)

- Oh, pUssy, here.

Does anyone look after her?

- Yes, OId Tom .

- Oh.

Aw.

Come on.

Come on, darling.

(train whistles)

(chandelier shakes)

- Matt!

- What's that?

- Oh, that'II be the 4: 1 5 to Stoke.

- Do these things work?

- Well, yes.

I think so.

- [Matthew] The projectionist?

- Mr. QUill.

Your great-uncle's private apartments.

- I say, is one of these--

- Oh, that's your great-Uncle on the left,

taken some years ago in the Railway Arms.

- Wait a minUte.

It's all coming back to me now,

I do remember him.

We were all staying at my grandmother's, I think.

Of coUrse, I was only a kid at the time,

but I remember there was some trouble

about a chambermaid.

- That woUId be Simon.

- Is this where, did he?

- No.

As a matter of fact, it was in the Railway Arms

that your great-uncle--

- He died in a pub?

- Rather sad, really.

You see, for many years,

Simon was champion beer drinker of this coUnty.

Used to down a whole gallon of brown ale

in a single draUght.

- Eight pints?

- On the evening of the 1 9th in the Railway Arms,

somebody bet him.

He shouldn't of tried it, you know?

Not at 77.

- Would it be irreverent to ask if he--

- Oh, yes.

He did it, alright.

The 1 O shillings was paid to me as execUtor,

right after the fUneral.

Sad.

Somehow, not Unfitting, you know?

- Well, what in heaven's name

are we going to do with it?

Could we sell it?

- Well, astonishing as it may seem , Mr. Spenser,

your great-Uncle had an offer for it

only a few weeks ago.

From Mr. Hardcastle, the man who owns the Grand Cinema.

- But what on earth would he want with this place?

- L'II show you.

You see the Grand there?

Hardcastle's idea is to Use that Iand as a carpark.

Now, the only way he can do that,

is to bUy the BijoU and pUII it down

to make an entrance.

OId Simon woUId never sell.

- Any idea what Hardcastle was offering?

- Oh, the last offer was 5,000 pounds.

- 5,OO0 pounds?

And the old man turned it down?

- Well, it was his home, you know.

As well as his Iiving.

That's not bad.

Not bad at all, is it darling?

When can we see Mr. Hardcastle?

- Well-- - Now?

Today?

- L'II see if I can arrange a meeting this afternoon.

- Well, yoU'll have to excUse me, Mr. Spenser,

but I'm rather a sentimental man,

and old Simon's death came as a great shock to me.

Very great shock indeed.

Mind yoU , I never got to know him awfully well,

but he were business rivals in a manner of speaking,

and l liked him. (chUckles)

He was a very likeable man, you had to Iike him. (chuckles)

I did anyway.

BUt still as I say, Mr. Spenser,

I'm a very sentimental man.

- Yes, Mr. Hardcastle.

We quite Understand how you feel.

The point is, now that Mr. Spenser here

has come into his great-uncle's estate,

we have to consider the whole question

of the BijoU.

- The Bijou?

Oh yes, the BijoU . (IaUghs)

- Now, I've explained to Mr. Spenser

that you made an offer to the Iate Mr. Spenser.

- That's right, lad .

I made him a very fair offer.

BUt the old rascal,

if yoU'II pardon the use of the expression, ma'am.

- PIease.

- The old rascal turned it down flat.

- Well, I daresay he had his reasons, Mr. Hardcastle.

BUt I'm prepared to consider your offer very serioUsly.

- Here, hold fast a minute, Iad .

What offer are yoU talking about?

- Well, yoUr offer of 5,OOO poUnds.

- 5,OO0 pounds?

(IaUghing)

5,000 pounds?

(IaUghing)

Oh, he's a great one.

Your husband, just like his great-Uncle.

5,000 pounds! (IaUghs)

Oh, that's a good one. (laughs)

Oh, that's a great one! (laughs)

5OO will be more like it.

- But I don't Understand.

You offered my great-Uncle--

- Oh, I know, lad.

BUt that was a long time ago,

before television hit Us.

And the Bijou was a going concern then.

Have you seen it now, lad?

No, I'm only offering yoU 500 pounds,

and that's a good deal

more than the old Fleapit's worth.

- If l may interrupt, Mr. Hardcastle,

an offer of 500 pounds

is qUite oUt of the question for my client.

Why, there are debts of at Ieast 750.

- 750?

Well, alright.

Everyone knows I'm a sentimental man,

and l liked old Simon.

75O then, but not a penny more.

- L'm sorry, Mr. Hardcastle.

I didn't mean that figure to be taken

as one which my client will be prepared to accept.

- No, well, that's the figure l'm prepared to offer.

75O, and no more.

- Well, I'd Iike to have a word with Mr. Carter before I--

- Now take your time, lad.

Take all the time yoU want.

(IaUghs)

- L'm not gonna be down out of my inheritance

by Mr. Albert Sentimental Hardcastle.

What about yoUr father?

- My father?

- Well, coUIdn't we drag him in?

Ask his advice?

- Confidentially, my dad's always managed

to steer a bit clear of old Simon's affairs.

He said he wouldn't toUch this

with a bargepole.

You know, I think my dad's right.

Unless...

- Unless what?

- Unless you made Hardcastle believe

that you didn't want to sell the old FIeapit.

- Hm?

- Well, yoU could tell him yoU were going

to reopen it, and manage it yoUrself.

- YoU're not actUally sUggesting

that we start Up the--

- No, no, no, no, of course not.

BUt you gotta make him think you're going to.

As soon as he sees you cleaning yoUr place Up--

- Yes, yoU've hit on something.

As soon as he sees where we're--

- Exactly.

If he thinks the old FIeapit's going to open up again--

- He's bound to pay Us what he was going

to pay my great-uncle.

- Quite, quite, that's precisely my point.

- Yes! (IaUghs)

It's a wonderful idea.

I'II do it!

That's it, it's a wonderfUI idea.

Taking on the staff, and doing the place up.

- Oh, we'II get it all back.

We'II have to be convincing,

don't you see that?

If Hardcastle thinks we're blUffing,

he'II jUst laugh.

You know.

(Matt mock IaUghs)

BUt if on the other hand, the bluff works...

(IaUghs)

It could mean 5,000 poUnds.

- Oh, do Iet me do that for you.

- Darling, l can do it.

Oh.

- Well.

(slow whimsical music)

(IaUghs)

- [Matt] What's so funny?

- Samoa, Samarra,

Samarkand, SIoUghboroUgh.

(chUckles)

- Before we go in, there's something

I think I shoUId tell yoU about Mrs. Fazackalee.

You see, Mrs. Fazackalee and your great-uncle were,

that is to say, their relationship wasn't entirely,

well, how shall I put it, um--

- YoU've already pUt it very eloqUently.

Your family.

- Oh, and, and one other thing.

If l were yoU, I shoUIdn't say anything to these three

about wanting to sell the place.

They mUst think yoU mean to open.

Small town Iike this, yoU know.

Things get aboUt.

- Quite.

(whimsical mysterious music)

- Good morning, Mrs. Fazackalee, Mr. QUill, Tom.

May I introduce Mr. and Mrs. Spenser,

the new owners of the BijoU.

Mrs. Fazackalee, the cashier.

- How do yoU do?

- How do yoU do, Mrs. Fazackalee?

- Mr. QUill, the projectionist.

- How do yoU do? - How do yoU do?

- And how do you do? - How do yoU do?

- And OId, where's he gone?

Oh, it's alright, Tom.

Mr. and Mrs. Spenser jUst want to meet you,

there's nothing to be nervoUs about.

OId Tom , the janitor.

- How are you, sir?

- Yes.

Well, I've asked you all here

because Mr. Spenser woUId Iike to say

a few words to yoU.

Mr. Spenser.

(clears throat)

It's alright, Tom.

Mr. Spenser jUst wants to talk to you.

- What's he going to say?

- Well, I'd Iike to say that--

- I know who you are.

You're Mr. Carter.

- That's right, Tom .

- He thoUght I didn't know him .

Mr. Carter, I've known him since he were a Iad.

- Well, first l'd Iike to say that

although I hadn't seen my great-Uncle for many years,

I was very sorry to hear of his...

(IoUd gasp)

I understand--

- YoU're not Mr. Carter.

He's Mr. Carter.

- Yes.

- Yeah.

- Well, what I wanted to say this morning was,

that we,

that is wife and I,

we intend to reopen the BijoU,

to reopen it as quickly as possible.

Any questions?

(clears throat)

Mrs. Fazackalee.

- The late Mr. Spenser was going to make

a nUmber of improvements before he...

(sobs)

- Yes, Mrs. Fazackalee?

(blows nose)

- For one thing, he was going to do something

about the rats.

- Rats?

- Yes, yoU see--

- Tell him about my eqUipment.

- L'm explaining to him about the rats.

- My eqUipment's more important than yoUr rats.

- Did you tell him about my Uniform?

- If you'd kindly permit me to speak.

- Well, I can see that we all have a Iot to talk about,

we mUst discUss it all later.

- Well, I'll be off and Ieave you to it.

You mUst all have a lot to do.

- L'II see yoU out.

- L'II come with you.

(IoUd commotion)

- YoU and your eqUipment, hm?

If you'd spent your time Iooking after it,

instead of boozing away oUt there.

- Boozing?

- Yes.

- YoU stand there and accUse me of boozing?

- Yes, I do.

- Well, I'll let old Hardcastle know

you're proposing to pUt him oUt of business, right?

- Right.

- And don't Iet those three in there Upset yoU.

It's just that they've been in the old FIeapit

a bit too Iong.

Bye.

- Bye.

- FIeapit?

More Iike the Snakepit.

- YoU kept it rUnning?

- I kept--

- I did .

- Why, if it wasn't for me,

poor Mr. Spenser woUId've gone out of bUsiness years ago.

- YoU and Mr. Spenser?

Oh, yes!

We know all aboUt yoU and Mr. Spenser.

- How dare yoU!

You Unspeakable, drunken blackgUard!

- [Tom] Mr. Spenser promised me a Uniform

like the man at the Grand has.

- L've got my troUbles too, haven't I?

- Is anything wrong?

- Mr. Spenser promised me a Uniform,

like the man at the, who are you?

- He's Mr. Spenser.

- Is he?

- Yes, I'm Mr. Spenser, Tom .

Mr. Carter jUst introduced us.

- Well, he promised me a uniform.

JUst Iike the man at the Grand has.

He promised me.

- Well, I'm sure we'II get aroUnd

to all of your problems in time.

Right?

BUt first, well, I've gotta see if I can Iearn

how my great-uncle ran his bUsiness.

Is that alright with you, Mrs. Fazackalee?

- If those are your wishes, certainly.

- See yoU two later.

- He's going to see us Iater.

- Yeah, yeah.

- This is fantastic.

- What?

Who are yoU?

- Well, Mrs. Fazackalee,

I don't know very much about bookkeeping,

but it seems to me these figures

don't make any sense at all!

- I beg yoUr pardon!

- Didn't my great-uncle keep any proper accounts?

- YoUr great-uncle never kept anything, Mr. Spenser,

that wasn't perfectly proper.

- Oh, of coUrse.

Of coUrse.

BUt, well, what are these, for instance?

Groceries, farm produce, miscellaneoUs donations?

- YoU see, the Iate Mr. Spenser always foUnd

that the only way to rUn the kinema successfUIIy

was by having a great many private Understandings.

- What sort of understandings?

- Complimentary seats were always granted to anyone

who made any contribution.

- If a farmer gave my great-Uncle a chicken,

his family got in for nothing?

- That's it exactly.

- But what aboUt the entertainments tax?

SUrely by not selling tickets,

he was defraUding the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

- It only seems Iike that, Mr. Spenser.

BUt as the Iate Mr. Spenser always pointed oUt,

you coUId hardly send, well,

a third of a chicken to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Now coUId yoU?

Oh, just before you go,

I think I ought to tell yoU, Mr. Spenser,

that unless something is done about Mr. Quill,

I am not prepared to continUe in my present position.

- Oh?

- I can no longer tolerate his insUIting,

and unseemly behavioUr.

- Well, what are you sUggesting, Mrs. Fazackalee?

That I shoUId give him the sack?

- Sack Mr. Quill?

Sack Mr. Quill?

Oh, I'm afraid that would be quite out of the question,

on account of the projection eqUipment, you know.

Nobody else coUId possibly Understand it.

In fact, in 1 937, when Mr. Quill had to go

and have his appendix oUt,

and the late Mr. Spenser called in another

projectionist to take over,

it was only three days before he had

to have his appendix oUt.

- Oh.

- No, no.

No, I merely wondered whether yoU would

say something rUde or Unpleasant to him.

- Very well, Mrs. Fazackalee.

I'II try and think of something to say.

Excuse me.

- Ah, well, well.

Well, I wonder whether I could have

a word with yoU , Mr. Spenser.

- Well, if it's about your eqUipment, Mr. QUill, I--

- No, what eqUipment?

- Well, the equip--

- No, no, no.

It's aboUt...

It's aboUt that woman, sir.

That Mrs. Fazackalee.

She's a troUblemaker, sir.

She does nothing else but make troUble.

Make trouble here, make trouble there.

- Oh.

Yes, well--

- Well, now that the old scoUndrel's dead...

Oh, I beg your pardon, sir.

No offence intended , I assure yoU.

BUt now that the old gentleman's gone

to his dear rest,

do we have to have that awful old hag

hanging aroUnd this place?

- What do you suggest l do?

Sack her?

- Sack Mrs. Fazackalee?

I don't think you properly appreciate

the position, Mr. Spenser.

Mrs. Fazackalee's been here since the silent days.

She Used to play the piano.

She's the only one what knows how this place runs!

Sack Mrs. Fazackalee?

You'II be wanting to sack Old Tom next.

- I see.

What you really mean is,

you just want me to say something

rude and Unpleasant to her.

- Yes.

Yes.

(chUckles)

Well, I'll try to think of something to say.

- Yes.

(phone rings)

- Good morning.

Bijou Kinema at your service.

Who?

What, haven't yoU heard?

Oh, yes. (chuckles)

Yes, this Mr. Spenser.

(chUckles) Of course.

JUst hold on a moment please,

while l hand him the telephone.

- Thank you, Mrs. Fazackalee.

Hello?

- Well, Hardcastle seems to be falling for it, alright.

- Yes, fine.

- The old wotsit may not move

Until he's absolutely convinced you're not blUffing.

What?

Well, yoU must be convincing.

Spend a few pounds as ostentatioUsly

as possible, of coUrse.

In my judgement , yoU'll get it all back.

(grand mUsic)

(train whistles)

(Iight bulbs rustling)

(whimsical mUsic)

(IoUd yell)

- Mr. QUill!

- They're going ahead, alright.

No doUbt aboUt that, Albert.

- Aye.

- 11 o'clock you said he said .

It's 1 0 past now.

- Perhaps you're fast, darling.

- Perhaps he's changed his mind .

- Look here, if you two carry on Iike this

when he shows up,

he'II offer yoU a fiver for the place.

For goodness sake, remember.

You're the reluctant sellers, he's the anxioUs...

(door knocks)

That's our boy.

- Good morning to ya.

Good morning.

- Good morning. - Good morning.

- Mr. Hardcastle.

- Good morning, Mrs. Spenser.

Ah, I see yoU've cleaned the whole place up a bit.

(chUckles)

Ah well, it needed it.

And I give yoU a capital E for effort, Iad.

Both of ya. (IaUghs)

- Well, we haven't really started yet,

have we darling?

We'II need a good deal of time before--

- Hold on a minute, that's what I wanted to see you aboUt.

- Oh, thank you.

It won't do, you know, it won't do.

A nice young coUple like yourselves.

You've no business in this business.

If you'd seen yoUr great-uncle,

what it did for him in the end,

and that old Battle Axe Fazackalee.

I remember when she was a wee slip of a thing.

Pretty as a pictUre.

A B picture mark, yoU .

(IaUghing)

No, I'd have been round here sooner

only it took me some time

to convince my partners that we should

raise our offer.

- Oh, darling, yoU're not going to sell now after--

- Oh, it's alright, darling.

There's no harm in hearing

what Mr. Hardcastle has to say.

- And what I have to say lad, is this.

I'm prepared to offer you 1 ,5OO pounds.

1 ,500 pounds.

- L'm afraid we're all wasting time, Mr. Hardcastle.

- Oh, a few weeks ago,

my clients were more than willing

to negotiate a sale.

BUt then of coUrse, they had no intention

of opening up the Bijou.

- And making it oUr home.

- Yes, they've already invested

a Iot of capital in this place, you know.

- Oh, I know, I know.

BUt you didn't expect me to make my best offer

straight outright, did yoU? (IaUghs)

- What is yoUr best offer?

- Well, I'm authorised to go to the sum

of 2,000 pounds.

In cash.

- Mr. Hardcastle.

What you and yoUr partners are overlooking

is the wonderfUI challenge the Bijou

presents to my clients.

- Why, in six months time, we'II say a year.

In a year's time, we hope to have--

- Well, goodbye Iad.

- Are yoU going?

- Goodbye, Mrs. Spenser.

- Goodbye, Mr. Hardcastle.

Thank you for coming.

- Goodbye, Mr. Carter.

- Goodbye.

Now what were we saying?

Yes, I think you should install CinemaScope.

Full stereophonic sound, the lot.

No expense spared.

- I agree.

Well, we've got to make the BijoU

the best Iittle cinema

in this part of the country. (chuckles)

By the time we're finished with it,

people will be coming from miles around.

- And--

- It's alright, it's alright, he's gone.

- I say, you don't think we overdid things, do yoU?

- Not a bit.

Mark my words, within 24 hours,

he'II be back with a bigger offer.

All yoU've got to do now

is sit down and wait.

And give me a ring when he turns up, eh?

- What do we do if he doesn't?

- Oh, he will, don't worry.

Hardcastle needs that carpark badly,

and he's got to bUy the BijoU to get it.

- Well, one thing seems pretty certain,

he thinks we intend running the place.

- [Matt] The moment we've cashed his check, I tell him.

Nothing on earth would've indUced Us

to open this dUmp.

(dramatic mUsic)

(bell rings)

- CUp of tea please, Miss.

Alright, alright.

Not worth talking to, I know that.

Got no proper Uniform,

I haven't even got a proper hat.

He promised me, and then he had to go and die.

- Why don't you get your new bosses

to buy you a Uniform?

- They won't bUy me nothing.

- Why not?

They seem to be a couple of mUgs.

Must be if they're opening up

the new Fleapit, eh Dolly?

- They're not opening it.

- What?

- Didn't tell Us nothing aboUt it.

Us who've been there 30 year.

Except me, I've been there 40 year.

- What haven't they told yoU, Tom?

- They're only doing it so Mr. Hardcastle will bUy it.

They don't want to run the old BijoU .

Never meant to rUn it,

never meant to get me no Uniform neither.

- If they really mean business,

there's only one thing to do, AIbert,

and that's stUmp Up.

- Ah, but it's giving best to a couple of yoUngsters

that l don't like, Fred.

- YoU mUstn't Iet your personal feelings

interfere with business, AIbert!

That carpark's worth more to us

than the 5,OOO.

- Oh, I know.

Oh well.

If we must, we mUst, l suppose.

Get me the BijoU.

Come in!

- Can I have a word with yoU , sir?

- We shoUIdn't waste too mUch time

on this place, darling.

- I thought we oUght to give him

something clean for his 5,000.

- YoU know, I've been thinking.

There's one thing aboUt this situation that worries me.

- What?

- L'II bet if the old man had made a proper will,

he woUId've Ieft this place

to those three old goons.

I mean, why shoUIdn't he?

He didn't even know l existed .

- Well?

- Well, so I haven't really come

into my inheritance, have l?

I've come into theirs.

When we get that 5,00O poUnds out of old Hardcastle,

we ought to give them a fair share.

- Oh, Matt.

You've no idea how pleased I am

to hear yoU say that.

You know, I've really begun to quite like them.

(phone rings)

Matt, yoU're sweet.

- [Carter] Matt, Hardcastle's foUnd out!

- But how coUId he have found oUt?

- I just don't know.

BUt he knows yoU're blUffing.

Look, I better come roUnd.

He says he's still willing to give you the 750

when yoU decide yoU've had enough.

- Well, that tears it.

- It certainly does.

- I mUst say, I feel very largely to blame

for this situation.

If l hadn't urged yoU to hold oUt--

- Of course you're not to blame.

- Oh, Robin, you mUstn't even think of it.

The point is, what do we do now?

- YoU know, when yoU think aboUt it,

the sitUation hasn't really changed.

The fact that Hardcastle's foUnd oUt

and reduced his offer

doesn't alter the basic fact

that he still wants to buy the Bijou.

He thinks yoU'll panic and accept the 750.

- Well, I'm in a panic.

- Have we any alternative?

- YoU have one.

- What's that?

- Well, I hesitate to mention it.

- [Jean] Oh, don't.

Please, Robin.

- Well, open the cinema.

RUn the place.

- RUn the place?

- [Robin] Why not?

- YoU mean, actUally show pictures?

- Yes, sooner or Iater he'll have to

raise his offer again.

- Stay here?

You mean, stay here and really try to...

No, no, no, no, no.

Now, wait a minUte.

You want Us to live here?

To be stuck in this place?

(Jean IaUghs)

Do yoU mind telling me what single aspect

of this sitUation strikes you

as being even remotely amusing?

- Oh, I'm sorry, darling.

It's just that there's something so terribly logical

about being stuck in a place that makes glUe.

(IaUghs)

- And that was our plan.

It's true, we didn't intend to open the Bijou again.

BUt jUst to sell it for as mUch as we coUId get.

BUt becaUse we feel that this place

is as much yours as it is oUrs,

we were going to see that you were all

well looked after.

Somehow or other, we don't know how,

Mr. Hardcastle found oUt.

Now all he'II give us 750 pounds,

which will hardly cover the debts.

Wait a minute, Tom .

I haven't finished yet.

Robin, go and explain to him, will yoU?

- Right.

- Well, we decided, my wife and I ,

to really open the Bijou,

and once more, to make a sUccess of it.

- We've got to.

- If ever Hardcastle changes his mind

and we make a sale,

we'II see yoU all get a fair share.

- Well, I hardly know what to say, I'm sure.

It's very good of you to think of Us all.

We'II do the very best we can,

I'm sUre, Mr. Spenser.

JUst as we did in Mr. Spenser's day.

Thank you.

- Thank you, Mrs. Fazackalee.

- Yeah.

Well, Mr. Spenser.

It's Iike this here.

I woUld Iike you to know,

well I appreciate what you said,

and what you're trying to do.

And believe me, l don't say this Iightly,

I am absolUtely determined

that l won't touch another drop,

not another drop, l won't touch, I won't.

- Mr. QUill!

I don't think you may realise, Mr. Spenser,

what a big sacrifice this may mean for Mr. Quill.

- Well, thank yoU, Mr. Quill.

Thank you, Mrs. Fazackalee.

- We shall really have to do something

about yoUr equipment now, Mr. Quill.

- Well, that's very nice of yoU

to think of my problems, Mrs. Fazackalee.

I'II get you some poison.

- What?

- For your rats, yoU know.

- Oh yes, l see.

- It was OId Tom who gave the game away.

- Oh no!

- Apparently he overheard something,

and Hardcastle's commissionaire

got hold of him.

The old chap's in terrible shape.

- Oh darling, yoU must go and say something to him.

- Well, alright.

- Everything's perfectly clear to me now.

We're going to be here for the rest of our lives.

Matt will end up Iike great-uncle Simon,

I'II be Mrs. Fazackalee,

and you'II be OId Tom.

Isn't that what's gonna happen?

- Tom.

- No.

It were all my faUIt, sir.

I'II go away, there's no place for me here.

- Now look here, Tom .

I tell you what we'II better do.

I think it's time we boUght yoU that uniform.

(Iighthearted mUsic)

- Grand reopening, grand reopening,

seats at all prices, sir.

Seats at all prices.

Seats at all prices, seats at all prices.

- Any cUstomers yet, Tom?

- Not yet, sir.

BUt it's a happy day, sir.

A very happy day, sir.

The old BijoU reopened.

- Yes.

We're happy too, Tom.

- Especially now I've got me Uniform, sir.

- Very smart, Tom .

- Seats at all prices!

Seats at all prices, sir.

Grand reopening!

- Mr. Spenser.

Aren't you going to press the bUtton?

- Button?

- Yes, the one inside,

for Mr. QUill to start you.

- Oh, yes.

Hold your hat, here goes.

- Is there any point in starting

if there's no one here?

- Well, I sUppose we shoUId show the pictUres

at the advertised times.

Otherwise...

Well, of coUrse we should.

(bUzzer soUnds)

- Oh, oh.

Oh, ooh.

Ow!

(reel rolls)

(dramatic mUsic)

- Shall we watch for a bit?

It's free.

- I woUIdn't miss it for anything.

- How.

(speaks in foreign language)

- How.

Any cUstomers Upstairs, Mrs. Fazackalee?

- Well, it's only 25 past five as yet, you know.

(Iighthearted mUsic)

(IoUd bang)

- [Cowboy] Get down, we're in for a fight.

Keep down.

(gUn fires)

- There you are, my boy.

- Well, don't be all day aboUt it,

I want to see the flick.

(gUns firing)

(intense mUsic)

(train whistles)

(horse whinnies)

(train whistles)

(aUdience laughs)

- [Announcer] The train's now standing

at number three platform.

Is the train for FIagport, Riverford,

and North Hampshire.

(IoUd banging)

- [Man] It's the Sheriff and his posse!

(gUns firing)

(aUdience jeers)

- Mr. QUill!

- Nothing to worry about, Mr. Spenser.

The film broke, I'll have it fixed in a minUte.

- They'II tear the place apart!

- Well, can't you say something to them?

Certainly the old man always did.

- What do I say?

- Tell them to shut up and wait for it!

We're doing our best!

Blimey.

- Well?

- Quill says l should speak to them.

- Well, somebody better do something.

(aUdience claps)

- Ladies and gentlemen.

(aUdience laughs)

If you will be...

You down there!

I'II come amongst yoU!

(IoUd commotion)

- YoU were wonderful,

you handled the whole thing beaUtifUIIy.

- Filthy little brUtes.

I'd Iike to take them by the scruff of their necks!

- What on earth?

Oh, Matt, you can't allow that sort of thing.

- Spread the word aroUnd , Mrs. Fazackalee.

We're under new management, but no change in policy.

- But Matt--

- Here, cook it.

(gUns firing)

- Take care of 'em, boys!

Come on!

- YoU see the idea?

He's bluffing.

He hasn't got a gun at all.

(gUn fires)

- Oh.

- [Cowboy] Well, I guess that pays you off.

- [Woman] You cannot arrest him, Sheriff.

He has saved our Iives!

- Mind, they'll be coming out any minute now.

- Say, Miss JUIia.

Let me introduce you to Driftin' SIim Stanley,

DepUty U .S. Marshal.

(Iighthearted mUsic)

- What is this?

What's happening?

(Iighthearted mUsic)

- Oh, Mr. Spenser.

Here are the takings for the day.

- Oh.

- Three poUnds, eight, and ninepence.

Well, that's not very good , is it?

- It's always three poUnds and something

on a Monday, you know.

(chUckles)

- Well, goodnight, Mrs. Spenser.

- Goodnight, Mrs. Fazackalee.

- Goodnight, Mr. Spenser. - Goodnight.

- Oh, and there's a half of lard ,

and two pork chops in the drawer there.

Complementarities.

Goodnight once more.

- Complementarities.

Do yoU think if we issued a few season tickets,

we might acquire a radiogram

or a refrigerator?

- By the look of half the takings,

we shall need a refrigerator.

- Oh, goodnight, Mrs. Spenser.

- Oh, goodnight, Mr. QUill.

- Goodnight, Mr. Spenser. - Goodnight.

- Goodnight.

- Goodnight, Mrs. Spenser.

Well, only one breakdown tonight.

- Only one.

- Yes.

Goodnight.

- Goodnight. - Goodnight.

(bell tolls)

- [Jean] At the end of the first week,

we simply coUIdn't believe it.

We were making a profit.

BUt we were!

- One pound, 1 7 and six.

- One chicken, two pork chops,

half a lard, and tin of cocoa.

- What are we going to do?

- Well, perhaps we could find oUt

how a real cinema is rUn.

- How?

- How.

- Oh, darling, for heaven's sake!

- Two singles at three and six.

Two single seats.

Two at three and six.

Two singles, two single seats.

- Why, Iad .

Oh, and Mrs. Spenser.

You don't have to queue, yoU know.

You're always welcome as my gUests.

- Thank you very mUch, Mr. Hardcastle.

We jUst thought we'd take a sort of bUsman's holiday.

(IaUghing)

- That's right, lad .

Come on in!

- Thank you very mUch.

- How's business?

- Oh, Iooking Up, yoU know, looking up.

- FIat on it's back, Iooking Up!

(dramatic mUsic)

- Quite something, isn't it?

- Mm .

(organ mUsic)

- Chocolates, sweets, ices, sweets, ices.

Well, thank you.

- I think I've jUst had an idea.

- YoU're going to install a WUrlitzer

for Mrs. Fazackaleee to play?

(organ mUsic)

(Iighthearted mUsic)

(boys whistling)

- Ices?

(IoUd commotion)

Oh!

Who did that?

Oh, what?

Orange, that'II be six...

Oh, stop it!

Well, Iook, please, woUId yoU mind

not taking things off the tray?

I can't!

How dare you want that!

Matt, please help!

(aUdience laughs)

- One and two please, Miss.

- Thank you.

- [Man] I saw what yoU did!

- [Other Man] She ain't your property, yoU see!

- Oh, I'm sorry now, Joe!

- L'd Iike to see you try!

- I don't know who yoU are,

but I'm not having rowdyism in here!

Get oUt.

- Get yoUr hands off of me.

- YoU heard what l said.

Do yoU want me to throw yoU out?

- Come on, Molly.

- YoU won't see Us here again in a hurry.

- No hurry, son.

- We'll have the boys on yoU!

- Yeah!

Yeah!

(whimsical mUsic)

- Were you the caUse of that distUrbance?

- Nothing to do with me if they fight.

Is it?

(chUckles)

- That's a matter of opinion.

(IaUghs)

I say, wait a minute.

You woUIdn't be looking for a good job

by any chance, would you?

- What as?

- An ice cream girl, for instance.

- What, here?

- L'd pay well for someone who coUId

attract the customers.

- Really?

- And stand up to the pressUre of the work.

You interested?

- Well, I don't know.

I'm doing a bit of modelling

for a photographer at the moment.

He's got no heating, of coUrse.

What's the money?

- Well, let's discUss that in the office, shall we?

What's your name?

- Hogg.

Marlene Hogg.

- YoU know, I think you may be jUst the girl

we need, Miss Hogg.

- Miss Hogg.

(IoUd commotion)

- Two orange!

Thank you very mUch.

(IoUd commotion)

(dramatic mUsic)

(car honks)

(mysterious music)

(IaUghs)

- Nothing to drink?

Let me see, let me see!

Hank!

Where are yoU going, Hank?

Water.

Water.

I can't carry on withoUt water!

Oh!

I Iove Mike.

(dramatic mUsic)

Water...

Oh, oh.

- [Matt] now!

- Ice cream, ice cream!

(IoUd commotion)

(suspensefUI music)

- Thanks for dinner, Robin.

- It's been a pleasUre.

- And we had a Iovely evening.

- I don't know if it's just the wine,

but I certainly feel a good deal more optimistic.

- Oh, yoU have jolly good reason to be.

Don't yoU worry.

Hardcastle knows what business yoU're doing.

Any day now, he'll be around with that check.

Goodnight.

Goodbye.

- Bye.

- (chUckles) Well, I hope he's right.

(IaUghs)

(melancholic piano mUsic)

(film rolls)

- Mr. QUill.

Mr. Quill.

What's going on?

- OId films, Mr. Spenser.

Classics, yoU might say.

I've saved them for years, bits of 'em.

We Used to run them Iike this in the old days,

but not for years, we haven't done it.

Now it seems Iike old times once more.

(melancholic piano mUsic)

- They mUst be taking as much into refreshments

as they are at the box office.

- Nearly a fUII hoUse again tonight.

- Oh, they're blUffing, I tell yoU.

- They can blUff a long time

while they're making money, Albert.

Next week I heard they've booked a film

about a droUght in Arizona.

- HUh, they can't keep that up.

- They can keep it Up Iong enoUgh.

- In my opinion, we'd do ourselves a bit of good

if we showed a few desert pictures,

instead of all this kick in the belly,

dump them over the waterfront stuff

we keep showing.

- Bah!

- What's more, they've got the staff behind them.

That drunken idiot of a projectionist

has even signed the pledge.

- [Sam] And have yoU seen their ice cream girl? (whistles)

- Now look here, Fred, Sam .

I'm not gonna lose my head over this.

That setup at the Bijou is Iike a house of cards.

If we huff and we blow--

- But what with, AIbert?

- Leave it with me for a couple of days, will yoU?

I think I may have a way of dealing with this.

(mysterious music)

- Here you are, Tom.

Newsreel.

The Relief of Mafeking.

- Oh, that's an old one.

I don't know who believed that, l'm sUre.

There's a newsreel for ya.

By the weight they are,

I think I wouldn't like to have to

carry too many of them .

You coUId Iose your arms oUt here.

(chUckles)

- Right.

Ta, Tom.

(dramatic mUsic)

Oh.

(sniffs)

Oh.

(Iighthearted mUsic)

(intense mUsic)

- [Man] Hnk?

- [Hank] No.

- YoU're insane.

Let me see!

(dramatic mUsic)

Hank!

Where you going, Hank?

I haven't had water!

- [Hank] I can't leave without a drink.

- [Man] There must be water somewhere.

- I can't Ieave without a drink.

I must have water.

Now.

There mUst be something,

there must be something jUst to drink.

JesUs, give me a drink.

Anything, jUst a drop.

JUst a Iittle drop.

I can see it.

I see it!

It must be water there.

Must get there, must get there.

Water.

(suspensefUI music)

(movie warps)

(aUdience claps)

(Mr. QUinn babbles)

- Mr. QUinn!

Percy!

What's the matter?

- Come here, baby!

My baby!

- Oh, Matt, Matt, Matt!

(Mr. QUinn claps)

- Right!

- 1 0 to five.

Where has Quill gone to?

What are we going to do?

- We can't not open, can we?

Do yoU know enoUgh aboUt his equipment

to run it by yoUrself?

- I?

Well, he doesn't know about it to...

Very well, I'II have a go.

Oh, that stUpid , idiotic situation.

- L'II send Mrs. Fazackaleee to find oUt

what's happened to him.

(bUzzer rings)

- L'm ready to start now.

Anybody there yet?

- AboUt 2O.

- Well, here goes.

(reel rolls)

(tense music)

- Thank you.

Is it alright?

- Aye, it's going Iike one o'clock.

- L'm telling you, CUIpepper.

This territory ain't big enough

for you and me both.

You better be oUt by sUndown!

- [Culpepper] Well, Sheriff.

If that's the way yoU want it.

(dramatic mUsic)

(train whistles)

(aUdience whistles)

- Darling, are yoU alright?

- Yeah.

- Mrs. Fazackaleee says Quill's locked himself

in his room and refuses to come oUt!

- How many people are there down there?

- JUst aboUt a hUndred now.

I thought you might Iike something to eat.

- I hadn't even thought about it.

(aUdience jeers)

We've rUn out!

- [AUdience] 1 O, nine, eight, seven,

six, five, four, three, two, hoorah!

- As I was saying, honey.

I reckon that yoU're just aboUt

the prettiest girl this side of Rainbow GUIch.

I gUess I'd better ride on back--

- One thing's crystal clear.

We can't go on like this.

- Well, what else can we do?

- I don't know.

All I know is we can't go on like this.

- Do you want to accept Hardcastle's 750?

- Of course l don't want to accept it.

I can't stick at this job all my life.

I'm a novelist.

- [Jean] Yes I know, darling.

BUt it seems such a shame

after all the troUble we've taken.

And there won't be anything at all in it for them.

- We're not responsible.

It's QUill!

DrUnk all the time, always complaining aboUt his eqUipment.

If l coUId rUn the blasted thing

without any trouble, why can't he rUn...

Oh, no!

- Darling, what's happened?

- Film's broken.

- No!

- AIright, don't panic, don't panic!

(dramatic mUsic)

Don't worry.

I've seen how QUill deals with this.

- Matt, what about all this film?

- Quill can sort all that out tomorrow.

(aUdience boos)

- Can yoU fix it?

- I think so!

All yoU do is that.

(aUdience boos)

- Oh, shUt Up!

- I think that's right.

(aUdience boos)

(IoUd commotion)

- Darling, do something!

- Well, there's a knob here somewhere, blasted!

Ah.

(aUdience boos)

Oh!

There's a focus control gadget.

- [Man] Who killed Art Link?

- [Culpepper] I've never killed a man in cold blood before.

- Go away, I told yoU I didn't want

to see you anymore.

- Oh, bUt honey.

With my brains and yoUr looks--

- That's it!

That's it!

- [Heroine] Help, ma!

I want yoU, ma!

- [Culpepper] I'd work for you, honey.

I'd even work oUt there on the railroad,

stripped to the waste.

There's nothing I wouldn't do for you.

- It's not right!

- It's alright.

Don't panic!

(aUdience boos)

- What are yoU going to do?

- Well, we can scrap the rest of this,

and switch on to the next reel.

You think they'd notice?

- I don't know.

(reel rolls)

- [Man] If we go oUt,

it'II be in a blaze of glory.

(dramatic mUsic)

(aUdience cheers)

- I have to rewind!

- JUst enoUgh time to pick Up a bottle of ttout

at the Crown, Mavis.

If we catch the 9:25.

- I think that's right now.

I hope.

(reel rolls)

(aUdience jeers)

(sped up music)

- That's it.

Okay, come and get it.

(aUdience shrieks)

One and two.

Ninepence.

(dramatic mUsic)

- Oh, we got our money back tonight.

(cackling)

- [Jean] After that evening,

it seemed that there was nothing else that coUId happen.

BUt there was.

- Yes, quite definitely.

Second week in February, I should say.

(Iighthearted mUsic)

- Where on earth have yoU been?

- Oh, I had an appointment, just--

- Well, nevermind aboUt that now.

Something terrible has happened,

this is Mr. Hogg.

- Oh, how do yoU do.

What do yoU mean something terrible--

- It's Marlene.

- What aboUt Marlene?

- She's gonna have a baby.

- Oh, is that all?

- AII?

All?

I don't know whether yoU appreciate it, madam,

but my little girl's not wed!

- Oh.

Oh, of course.

I should've thought.

I'm sorry.

- Oh, I shoUId think so too.

No father to put a name to it.

It's an outrage!

- Well, it may have been.

BUt haven't yoU any idea who the father is?

- I may have, and I may not have.

- What do you mean?

- I say no more. - Why not?

- Never yoU mind.

When she gets over her shock,

and makes her allegations, I shall act.

I'm warning you, Mr. Spenser.

I shall act!

- Warning me?

What's he getting at?

Look here, l'm not having a--

- Matt, Matt, don't be silly.

Let him go.

Darling, I've got something to tell you.

- Mr. Spenser, Mr. Spenser,

the cats had kittens in the circle.

- What?

- Six of them .

What shall I do with them?

- Oh, not now, Tom.

I'm busy!

- They're Iovely Iittle fUrry ones!

- Not now, Tom.

- There's four little girls,

and one Iittle boy.

I've looked.

- Quill's jUst crept in.

- L'm going to have a baby.

The second week in FebrUary.

- L'II go and speak to him,

I have to sort oUt all that mess.

One thing after another!

(dramatic mUsic)

What!

- Oh, oh!

(intense mUsic)

- YoU're gonna have what the second week in February?

(dramatic mUsic)

- A rabbit.

(Tom mutters)

- L've gone through all the bills, Robin.

75O will just aboUt cover it.

You'II see Hardcastle in the morning, then.

- Oh, first thing.

By the way, have you told the three of them?

- Not yet.

It's not gonna be easy, yoU know.

- Poor Mrs. Fazackaleee.

Poor Mr. QUill, poor Old Tom.

We've done everything we could for them.

From now on, you're all I care aboUt.

- Pity, you almost made a go of it.

- [Matthew] Well, we never could've really.

Not with a cinema Iike the Grand

standing at oUr backdoor.

Mind yoU , there have been times that I felt

like burning that blasted place to the groUnd.

(IaUghing)

Well, here's to the Bijou's last programme.

(dramatic mUsic)

- [Jean] So that evening, Robin, Matt, and I,

watched the very Iast redskin

bite the very last bit of dUst.

(sombre music)

(dramatic mUsic)

(bell rings)

(car honks)

- Jean, Jean!

Jean!

(phone rings)

Hello, Robin?

The Grand isn't there anymore.

What?

Well I'll be...

No, we didn't hear a thing.

Wait a minute.

I thought the alarm went off,

it must've been the fire bell.

An oil Ieak?

Yes, I see.

What?

He said what?

I don't believe it!

- Well, it's obvious.

Hardcastle has to stay in business

Until he can rebUild.

And the Bijou's the only other theatre in town.

And for the whole establishment,

lock, stock, barrel, and debts,

my clients are prepared to accept the sUm

of 1 O,000 poUnds.

- Impossible!

- With two conditions.

- First, for Mr. Percy Quill, Mrs. Fazackaleee,

and Old Tom, that's the only name we know for him,

are to be allowed to carry on

in their present positions as long as they way wish.

- But this is unheard of!

It's oUtrageous!

- And secondly, that the name of the FIeapit,

I beg yoUr pardon, the BijoU,

is not to be changed.

- Oh!

- In honoUr of my client's late, Iamented great-uncle.

- I won't have it!

- If you don't settle this morning, Mr. Hardcastle,

the price goes up this afternoon.

- But even the name of the place!

At Ieast Iet me call it the New BijoU.

- Yes, that seems to be alright.

- Good.

(IaUghing)

- Jolly good.

- [Announcer] The train now standing--

- Hi, Robin.

See yoU in London.

- Next week.

And by the way, dad's very pleased.

- Oh.

- Goodbye, my dear.

- Goodbye, Mrs. Fazackaleee.

- And I can't thank yoU enough,

Mr. and Mrs. Spenser.

I shall invest my emolument in some small pension.

Before l spend it in other ways.

- I think that's very wise, Percy.

(IoUd whistle)

- [Matt] Goodbye everyone!

- [Jean] Bye!

- Goodbye, sir.

Goodbye, God bless yoU.

Have a nice time.

- Bye, bye, Tom.

Take care of yoUrself.

- I like yoU, Mr. Spenser.

And I Iike your missus.

It was the only way, weren't it?

- Yes.

(IoUd commotion)

- Cheerio, bye bye.

- Goodbye.

Bye, bye, Robin!

Oh, what a scramble.

- Did you hear what he said?

- Who?

- OId Tom.

Did yoU hear what he said?

- No, what did he say?

BUt darling, what's the matter?

Why yoU looking Iike that?

What did he say?

- He said, l like yoU, Mr. Spenser,

and l like yoUr missUs.

It were the only way, weren't it?

- What were the only way?

- I don't know, that's what he said.

- Matt. - No, now don't get excited.

- Matt.

- Don't get excited.

There's probably nothing in it.

He was always saying things

that didn't mean anything.

- But, if he did do it--

- We'll have to go back and tell him,

I mean, we can't jUst go off with Hardcastle's money

and not even--

- What shoUId we do?

- Well, I have to ring him.

As soon as we get to--

- Hardcastle?

- No, Tom.

I'II ring him and ask him in plain language...

No, wait.

I can't do that.

It's not the sort of thing

one can talk aboUt on the phone.

I better write him.

That's it.

I'II write him.

- Yes.

Yes, yoU must.

- Yes, I will. - Yes.

- L'II write to him.

That's what I'II do, l'II write to him.

- [Jean] And we did.

We did write to him.

We sent him a postcard, from Samarkand.

(Iighthearted mUsic)