All language subtitles for Upstairs Downstairs S01E09 Why Is Her Door

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Nasty fog again this morning.

Can't hardly see
across the street.

Why six pints?

Oh, says so here.
Found it on the doorstep.

Oh. Mrs. Bridges must have
left it last night when she come in.

Don't know why. We've
got plenty in the larder.

It's that thick.

There was this motorcar in
Belgrave Square, crawling,

with a lad walking in
front, carrying a lamp.

Proper pea souper.

Mind how you go with Daisy.

Oh, she'll be all right.

She can see in the
dark with her blinkers on.

Mr. Hudson, I couldn't take
Mrs. Bridges her morning tea.

- Why not?
- I couldn't get into her room.

Her door's locked.

- Did you knock?
- Twice, but she didn't answer.

It seems that Mrs. Bridges
has slept in this morning, Rose.

Was her day out yesterday.

I fail to see the connection.

I'll take these to the larder.

Are you sure her
door was locked?

Oh, yes, Mr. Hudson. I
tried ever so hard to open it.

Maybe she didn't come back.

I didn't hear her
come in last night.

Neither did I.

Do you think something
could have happened to her?

I mean, you never
know in the fog.

Maybe someone slit her throat
down one of them dark alleys,

like Jack the Ripper.

Oh, not Mrs. Bridges, Doris.

Jack the Ripper liked them
a wee bit younger than that.

More your age.

Rose, you better go up
and see. Maybe she's ill.

Oh, yes, Mr. Hudson.

Give me that cup of tea,
and you get on with the range.

It's cold now. If
she gets cold tea...

Serve her right for
oversleeping, lazy cow.

Now, Rose, that's
enough of that.

Mrs. Bridges, 7:00.

Mrs. Bridges!

- Oh, Mr. Hudson.
- What is it, Rose?

I couldn't rouse her,

but I could hear sounds
coming from her room.

Oh, better just leave
her, then, and get on.

We'll try again in half an hour.

Well, I best get Doris with
upstairs breakfast, then.

Yes. And take this
down, if you please, Rose.

Yes, Mr. Hudson.

Morning.

Morning, my dear.
You're up bright and early.

I've rather a lot to do today.

Anything startling in the paper?

Nothing much. Oh,
Curzon's got his way.

He's seeking election to sit in
the Lords among the Irish peers.

Without an acre of Irish land.

At least his voice will be heard
at Westminster once again

after years in the wilderness.

Never was a public servant
so shamefully treated.

When I think what
that man did for India.

Must tell him so next
week when he dines here.

Mm, I shall.

I must be going soon. I'm
seeing my tailor this morning.

Could you ring for
Hudson, please?

Mm-hmm.

It's time for me to face
Mrs. Bridges again.

Why do you say that?

She's been so moody lately.

We never can see eye to
eye on the subject of desserts.

She seems to have
changed in the last few weeks.

Perhaps she's had a secret
offer from someone outside.

Oh, well, that is possible.

Mrs. Van Groeben raved about
our dinner party the other night.

She asked if we had a
French chef from Paris.

- What did you say?
- I said we had a very ordinary,

rather temperamental
widow from Bristol.

She said she thought the dinner
worthy of Rosa Lewis herself.

Praise indeed.

- You rang, my lady?
- Oh, yes, Hudson.

Send Mrs. Bridges up, would you?

Beg pardon, my lady,
but I'm afraid it appears

that Mrs. Bridges has
slept in this morning.

She hasn't been down
for her breakfast yet.

Not down yet? But
it's nearly 10:00.

Quite, my lady.

Somebody better go up
to her room and rouse her.

We've tried, sir. Rose
has been up twice, but...

What?

She wasn't able to get in, sir.

The door was locked.

Why is her door locked?

It was her day
off yesterday, sir.

Well, what's that
got to do with it?

Are you suggesting she came
home intoxicated or something?

Oh, no, sir.

- You're sure she's in her room?
- Oh, yes, my lady.

There wasn't any answer, but
Rose said she distinctly heard

sounds coming
from inside the room.

I'll go and see to it
at once, my lady. Sir.

Oh, it really is too bad.

One gives her
every consideration,

and she behaves like this.

Suppose that's the
price one must pay

for superb skill in the kitchen.

Well, I particularly want
her at her best next week.

To impress the
Italian ambassador?

And Curzon.

The Crewes are coming, too.

And F.E. Smith.
He likes good food.

Ah, Mrs. Bridges.

Our ladyship is waiting
for you, Mrs. Bridges,

in the morning room.

Oh, really, what is
that woman doing?

It's gone 10:00.

Oh, my goodness. I must go.

You lunching at your club?

Yes, with old
George Chesterfield.

I'll see you this evening.

Mrs. Bridges.

There you are.

You'd, uh, better go in.

Yes, come in, Mrs. Bridges.
I've been waiting for you.

Did you have a pleasant
day off yesterday?

Yes, milady.

I understand from Hudson
that you've had no breakfast.

Not hungry, milady.

It's no business of Hudson's.

I beg your pardon?

I said it's nothing
to do with Hudson

what time I come
down of a morning.

I'm afraid I don't
agree with you.

Hudson is responsible for the
smooth running of this house.

And I'm responsible
for the meals, milady.

I know you are, Mrs. Bridges,

and I expect you to be punctual
for meals in the servants' hall

and to set a good
example to the others.

I also expect you
to observe my rules,

one of which is that I will not
have the servants in this house

locking their bedroom doors.

I thought I'd made
that quite clear.

Why was your door
locked this morning

when Rose tried to rouse you?

Well?

I've a right to my
privacy, milady,

without the underservants
poking and prying into my affairs.

Everyone's against me.

All talking and whispering
behind my back,

saying as how it was my
fault Emily done herself in.

- Come, now, Mrs...
- I know what they're saying.

They're all against me.

I know I'm not
wanted in this house,

nor appreciated, neither.

So, I best get in my
notice and clear out,

and that's all I have to
say, thanking you, milady.

Mrs. Bridges, come
back here at once.

I'm giving in my notice, milady.

No, Mrs. Bridges, you're
doing nothing of the kind.

Now, calm yourself and sit down.

Come along, now. Sit down.

Thank you.

Now, then... what's the
matter with you these days?

Aren't you going to tell me?

I can't.

You haven't been yourself
for some weeks, have you?

No, my lady.

Are you unwell?

I get these headaches.

Sharp pains through
me head, milady.

Everything seems
to be on top of me,

and... I can't stop crying.

I lie awake thinking
about that poor dead girl.

If I scolded her sometimes,
it was only to make her

a better kitchen maid
and to get on in service.

I trained under a strict cook
meself, milady, at Southwold.

You've got to be firm with them.

And then when Emily
killed herself, it was...

it was like as if I lost
my own daughter.

She was like my own...

Mrs. Bridges, would
it surprise you to know

that I, too, lie awake at
night, thinking about Emily?

It was a terrible
shock to all of us,

but we must try and get over it.

I miss her in my kitchen.

I miss that girl.

She was a good girl.

Now, dry your tears and try
not to think about it anymore.

Yes, milady.

You've been here
such a long time,

and I like to think
that we're old friends.

If these headaches continue,

I'll have you
examined by Dr. Foley.

Thank you, milady.

It's just that
sometimes I feel...

What?

Lonely, milady.

You see, since Bridges was
took, 15 years ago now, come April,

I've had no one.

I mean, no one
what belongs to me.

I've got my friend in
Victoria, but it's not the same.

It's not like someone
as belongs to you.

Is it, milady?

Mrs. Bridges...

perhaps we should
discuss the meals now,

if you're quite ready.

I think I'm ready.

Mrs. Bridges?

Are you there, Mrs. Bridges?

Got to come in and sweep.

Mrs. Bridges.

Mr. Hudson...

What is it, Alice?

- I thought I ought to tell you.
- What, girl?

There's a funny sound
coming from Mrs. Bridges' room.

- There can't be.
- But there is, Mr. Hudson.

Mrs. Bridges happens
to be in the morning room

- with her ladyship.
- But I heard it.

Bump, bump against the wall.

Oh, you're
imagining things, girl.

I'm not, Mr. Hudson, honest.

Well, why didn't you go
in and see what it was?

Well, the door was
locked, Mr. Hudson.

Not again?

Could there be
thieves in the house?

I have no idea, Alice.
You'd better come with me.

Wait here, and I'll get the
master key from my pantry.

Listen.

A man? Mrs. Bridges?

That's daft.

- She wouldn't do that.
- Why else would she keep

- her door locked?
- Come up with me, Alice.

Yes, Mr. Hudson.

- Oh, and, Doris?
- Yes, Mr. Hudson?

If Mrs. Bridges comes back
down here while we're upstairs,

don't say anything about
this... Do you understand?

- Yes, Mr. Hudson.
- Come along, Alice.

Oh, gor.

But there was a noise,
Mr. Hudson. I swear there was.

Oh.

Listen. There it is.

Can't you hear it, Mr. Hudson?

Aye, there is someone
in there, right enough.

Just you stand clear, Alice.

- Is there any danger?
- You can never be sure.

Just keep well out of the way.

I'll unlock the door.

Right now!

Very good, milady.

"Get out of there."

"Go on, get down."

Doris.

How are you, Doris?

Emily.

Come and give old
Mrs. Bridges a hand.

A hand, someone.

I can't manage
by myself. I can't.

Where's it come from, then?

That's what I'd like to know.

Some relative, I expect,
asked Mrs. Bridges to mind it

for her while she's in the shop.

Well, why'd she
lock the door, then?

Nobody would
harm it, would they?

She could have
brought it down here.

We'd have given it some milk.

You're quite right.

That's because it's not
been honestly come by.

She's stolen that baby.

- What's gonna happen to her?
- Will she be arrested?

Well, Mr. Hudson's
speaking to her ladyship now,

so we'll soon know.

I'd best be getting
back to the kitchen.

She'll be needing me now.

Lay out the saucepans,
then, shall I, Mrs. Bridges?

♪ Rock-a-bye, baby ♪

♪ On the treetop ♪

♪ When the wind blows ♪

♪ The cradle will drop ♪

♪ Down will fall baby ♪

♪ Cradle and all ♪

- Thank you, Hudson.
- Sir.

I came as quickly
as I decently could.

We were in the middle of
lunch when the message came.

Well, what's happened?

Mrs. Bridges
isn't well, Richard.

She's in rather serious trouble.

Trouble?

Last night, in the fog on the
way back from her day off,

she took a baby from its
perambulator outside a shop.

Took a baby?

Stole it, from its parents.

I'd been visiting
my friend, sir,

Mrs. Gray.

She used to be cook
to Lady Wallingford,

who's died, now, sir.

I come across this pram
outside a greengrocer's.

Nobody minding it.

Such a lovely baby
laying there, smiling at me.

I stopped, you see, sir,
and I touched its little hand.

Oh, I couldn't
help but touch it.

And when its tiny
fingers curled 'round mine,

I-I felt as if I had
to pick it up, sir.

Well, no harm after all, sir. I
mean, there was nobody there.

I knew it was wrong, sir,
but I just couldn't help it.

I only wanted to hold it to
me, just for a minute, sir.

But, you see, it
was cold and foggy.

And so I took a shawl
off of the pram, and...

I wrapped the
little mite up in it.

Still, nobody come
out of the shop.

And then I...

You what?

Started to walk with
it, sir, in my arms,

'round the corner,
down the street.

Which street? Where was this?

She doesn't remember, Richard.

And where's the child now?

Being cared for, sir,
in the servants' hall.

Oh, my God.

And nobody tried to stop you?
N-N-Nobody saw you take it?

It was thick fog, sir.

You could hardly see your
hand in front of your face.

What on earth made
you do a thing like that?

Have you thought of
the parents of the child,

what they must be going
through at this very moment,

the terrible anxiety?

Richard, please.

Well, I'm sorry, but
whether Mrs. Bridges acted

on some sudden impulse or not,

the fact remains that
some wretched mother

is searching all over
London for a stolen baby,

and that baby happens
to be here in this house.

I'm sorry, milady,
I couldn't help it!

It just come over me!

Mrs. Bridges, are you
sure you can't remember

which street you were in?

Have you any idea of the
shop? A greengrocer, you said.

Yes, it was a
greengrocer, I know that,

but I-I don't know what street.

It was somewhere in
Victoria, near my friend.

Somewhere in Pimlico.

She'd better go up to her
room for the time being.

Perhaps she'll remember
after she's calmed down.

Go with her, Hudson,
and then come back here.

- Very good, my lady.
- I'm sorry.

Come along, then, Mrs. Bridges.

I'll see you upstairs
to your room.

You better have a wee
lie-down for a bit, eh?

Of course, the police
have got to be informed.

Richard, no.

How else are we
to trace the parents?

I can't allow Mrs. Bridges
to be carted off by the police.

It would kill her.

Besides, I have an important
dinner party to give next week.

How can you think about
dinner parties at a time like this?

Because I have to, Richard.

I have to run this house

and entertain important
people for your sake.

How can I do that
without my cook?

I can't find a new cook
at a minute's notice.

Marjorie, I am trying to be
very, very patient with you.

A child has been stolen
from its pram by Mrs. Bridges.

The parents have got to be found
at once and the child returned.

- That's all that matters.
- Yes, but if we could find out

where it came from,
we could send it back.

Well, we'll make some
sort of explanation.

Marjorie, have you quite lost
your reason? You're trying to...

You're asking me to bypass
the normal course of the law,

to shield a person who is
guilty of a criminal offense.

Mrs. Bridges is not
a criminal, Richard.

She's ill.

She's been through a lot lately,
and she needs rest and care.

- No doubt.
- And it's our responsibility

to look after our servants
when they get into trouble.

There's trouble and
trouble, and this is a...

a bad case of child theft, and
the police have got to be told,

whether you like it or not.

And that's what we
have to do, my dear.

Will there be any
further instructions, sir?

- No, Hudson.
- Thank you, sir.

- Hudson.
- My lady?

I have an idea.

A-Am I right in thinking

that you have a friend
in the police force?

Yes, my lady, Sergeant
McKay 'round at Gerald Road.

I thought you had.

I think you ought to be
very careful, Marjorie.

I shall be.

Hudson, how would it be if you
were to bump into Sergeant McKay

somewhere 'round by
Gerald Road Police Station?

I understand perfectly, my lady.

- Do you, Hudson?
- Indeed, sir.

I understand the need to trace
the parents of the wee baby

and return their property
to them immediately,

without involving the police.

- Put it that way, sir?
- And you think you can?

If luck is on my side, sir.

And provided, of course,
that her ladyship or yourself

will not be requiring me
for the rest of the afternoon.

Oh, that's understood.

Now, all we need is the address

of the people in the strictest
confidence, of course.

You can rely on
me, sir, my lady.

- Oh, and, Hudson.
- Sir?

Not a word to the other
servants for the time being.

Oh, naturally, sir.

Rose.

Rose? Where are you, Rose?

- Ah, Rose.
- Shh!

Baby's asleep.

We'd only just got
him off, Mr. Hudson.

Little devil. He's that wakeful.

I am going out, Rose, on a very
important errand for the master.

Yes, Mr. Hudson.

When Edward gets back
from his afternoon off,

inform him that he may have
to deputize for me at dinner,

in case I'm not back in time.

Just to see if the
fire's all right, milady.

Oh. Yes, perhaps
another piece of coal, Rose.

It's turned much colder.

Yes, milady.

But the fog's
not quite so thick.

That's good.

Hudson still not back?

Not yet, milady.

Oh, if that's Mr. Bellamy,
tell him I'm in here, will you?

Yes, milady.

Her ladyship's in
the morning room, sir.

- Any news?
- No, sir.

- I gather Hudson's not back yet?
- No.

Been gone over three hours.
What can have happened to him?

Well, his friend in the police
may not have been there.

He may have had to wait for him.

To come on duty? Yes, possibly.

The evening papers, sir.

Thank you, Rose.

Is there anything there?
A-About a stolen child?

Not that I can see.

Will there be
anything else, milady?

Uh, yes, Rose. What
time can we dine?

Oh, anytime you wish,
milady. It's all ready.

Uh, will I tell Edward
to ring the gong?

Yes, in 10 minutes.
We won't change.

Very good, milady. I just
hope it tastes of something.

I'm sure it will, Rose.

They're being absolutely
splendid, Richard.

What's that, my dear?

The servants... I was saying
they're being simply marvelous.

Rose and Doris
have cooked a dinner,

and Alice is busy
looking after the baby.

That's very commendable,
Rose. We're very grateful.

Oh, I'm sure we don't
mind doing a bit extra, sir,

if it's to help Mrs. Bridges.

- Will that be all, milady?
- Yes, thank you, Rose.

You know, they really are
the most extraordinary people.

I mean, that woman causes
so many upsets downstairs

with her moods and tantrums,

yet they're all ready
to cover up for her.

Domestic servants are more
loyal by nature than politicians.

Ah, Hudson.

- My lady.
- We were worried about you.

I trust you'll pardon me for
coming straight in as I am, sir.

- You're soaking wet.
- Oh, I'm very sorry, sir.

It began to sleet a wee bit
when I reached Eaton Square.

Well, what news?

I am able to
report, sir, my lady,

that I have ascertained the
identity of the baby's parents.

Well done, man.
And where they live?

Yes, sir. It seems that, uh...

a baby was reported
stolen from its perambulator

outside the premises
of Messrs Walsh & Sons.

They're fruiterers in
Lupus Street, my lady.

Between the hours of 5:30
and 6:00 p.m. last evening.

And the parents?

A Mr. and Mrs.
Arthur Webber, sir,

of 96A Vauxhall Bridge Road.

I also memorized
the address, sir.

I wonder what sort of people.

Oh, middle class, my lady, but
quite respectable, I understand.

We must order the motor at once.

I still don't like
this, Marjorie.

I think we ought to
inform the police first.

You agreed.

Oh, very well.

Tell Pearce to bring
the motor 'round at once.

- Very good, sir.
- Yes, Hudson, and ask Rose

to have the child well
wrapped up, ready for travel,

and brought up to the hall.

Dinner will have to
wait till we get back.

Very good, my lady.

How much will you offer
these people as compensation?

We shall have to wait and see
what their circumstances are.

Mrs. Webber.

It's all right, Mrs. Webber.
He's quite unharmed.

Don't distress yourself.
May we come in?

We're not very tidy.

Is your husband at
home, Mrs. Webber?

There's a motorcar
outside, Lily.

Is that Johnny back?

He's been found, has he?

These people
found him, did they?

This lady and gentleman, Arthur.

They brought him back
just a few minutes ago.

Oh, Arthur, he's
safe. He's all right.

Well, we're very
grateful, I'm sure.

Where was the child found?

Oh, let me introduce
myself and explain.

There's my card.

Oh. I see.

Mr. Webber, I must
hasten to assure you,

neither my wife nor
I were responsible

for taking your child
from its pram last evening.

The fact is... And we
regret it very much...

A certain member
of my domestic staff

had an unfortunate lapse...

A quite irrational longing
to possess the child.

She regrets the
action very much.

What was her name, the
woman who stole our kiddie?

Well, I hardly think that's
relevant, Mr. Webber.

Of course, there's the
question of compensation.

We realize that
you and your wife

have suffered a
great deal of anxiety.

Yes, we both
think you're entitled

to some form of restitution.

I'm asking you a simple
question, Mr. Bellamy.

- I would have...
- Who stole our baby?

I would have thought it best
for you to accept a modest sum,

as a token of our
apologies for...

For what one of your
maids has done, is that it?

Mr. Webber, the woman in
question happens to be our cook.

Now, are you willing

to accept our apologies
for what has happened,

tell the police the
child has been found,

and leave it at that?

I think you'd be
well-advised to do so

and so save a lot
of unnecessary fuss.

- Oh, you do, do you?
- Arthur.

No, Lily.

If people like them think
they can buy their way out

of having their
underpaid and overworked

domestic servants
had up in court,

- they're very much mistaken.
- Who said anything about court?

The woman who stole
our infant, Mr. Bellamy,

is either a criminal
or a lunatic.

In either case, she
ought to be behind bars

where she can't snatch any
more infants from their prams.

As for your offer of
compensation, sir,

I see from your card you're
a member of Parliament.

You should know better
than to try and impede the law

by offering a man a bribe.

I see no point in
continuing this conversation.

Come along, Marjorie.

- What are you gonna do?
- Wait and see.

Oh, don't do anything
foolish, Arthur.

We've got Johnny back.

Don't cause any more trouble,
not with the likes of them.

They always come out on
top in the end, and you know it,

people like that.

I know they do, Lily.
That's just my point.

Her ladyship's
left her toast again.

Not touched it.

And the master's not had
his scrambled eggs, neither.

They must be sitting in for
something, the pair of 'em.

So when Miss Roberts
told her ladyship

she couldn't get the
stain out of her gray coat,

she had her head snapped off.

Best keep out of her way, then.

What I can't understand

is why Mrs. Bridges
didn't get the push.

I mean, causing
all that trouble.

Can't afford to
lose her, that's why.

She's too good a cook.

Besides, they took the
baby back to its owners,

and there's an end to it.

It was a lark, having
a baby to take care of,

even if it was only for
a few hours, eh, Rose?

It was all right.

Dear little thing.

I'd love to have a baby.

Well, I daresay your
turn'll come one day.

When it does, let's
hope it's intentional.

Oh, front door.

This early?

We better get out of
here in case it's visitors.

Oh.

Mr. Hudson, we're done
in the morning room.

Very good, Rose. Well,
hurry up and get downstairs.

There's someone
at the front door.

Oh, come on, now.
Quickly girl, quickly.

Is this Mr. Richard
Bellamy's residence?

It is.

I understand there's a cook
employed on these premises.

That is so. The back door
is down the steps and...

Just one moment, if you please.

I am a police officer,
Detective Inspector Cape.

And I should like a
word with your master.

In what connection, if
you don't mind my asking?

A report received

concerning an incident
that took place last evening.

Now kindly fetch your master.

You better come in.

Ah, I'll go and
inform Mr. Bellamy.

His permission will be
required before Mrs. Bridges

can interrupt her
duties in the kitchen.

Wait here, please.

Excuse me, sir, but there's
a gentleman from the police,

Detective Inspector Cape.

- He wants to see Mrs. Bridges.
- Show him in now, will you?

But I understood, sir, since the
baby was returned last night...

Well, no, Hudson, the
matter's far from closed.

- I rather expected this.
- Should I fetch Mrs. Bridges?

Not yet. Just leave this to me.

I've heard about this
Inspector Cape, sir,

from my friend, Sergeant
McKay, at the station.

I understand he's a holy terror.

Yes? Well, he's not
gonna terrorize me.

- Show him in.
- Very good, sir.

Come in now,
will you, Inspector?

I'll try not to keep
you waiting, sir.

I understand you have your
Parliamentary duties to fulfill.

I can spare you 20 minutes
or so. That will suffice?

Should be sufficient, sir.

Well, do sit down.

No, thank you, sir.

Now, sir.

A Mr. Arthur Webber of
96A Vauxhall Bridge Road

reported to Gerald
Road Police Station

at 6:30 on Wednesday evening

that his wife had
returned from the shops

in a state of some distress

to say that their baby was
missing from its perambulator.

The discovery was
made when she came out

of a greengrocer's
shop in Lupus Street.

Particulars were taken

and a call sent out duly to
all constables on the beat

to keep a watch out
for the missing child.

Yes, I know all about this.

I have not quite finished,
sir, if you don't mind.

Very well. Go on.

This gentleman has
since reported to the police

that his infant was returned
to his address, unharmed,

at 7:45 last evening by
yourself and your wife.

- Is that correct, sir?
- Yes, that's quite correct.

I would have thought
that would finish the matter.

I tried to explain to
this man, Webber, that...

If a child was stolen by
a woman in your employ,

as Mr. Webber claims, sir,
then I shall have no alternative

but to charge her
with kidnapping.

Now, look, Inspector, is
this absolutely necessary?

I'm afraid it is, sir.

On the evidence before
me, it's my duty to charge her,

under the Offence Against
Young Persons Act of 1861.

Do you mean to say you're
going to arrest my cook

in this house and take
her off to the police station?

Yes, sir.

I should be glad if you'd call
her, if she's on the premises.

Of course she's on the premises.

She's in the kitchen
cooking our lunch.

You'll have to do without
your lunch won't you, sir?

And you can keep your
impudent comments to yourself.

You'd best inform the mistress
of the house, sir, had you not?

Yes, I certainly will.

How long do you expect to
keep Mrs. Bridges in custody?

She'll be charged now,
sir, and detained overnight

and appear in
court in the morning.

You're perfectly within
your rights, of course,

and you must do your duty.

I'm only sorry this man,
Webber, felt it necessary

to make an issue
of the incident.

You rang, sir?

Yes. Hudson, will you ask
her ladyship to come down?

I think she's
upstairs in her room.

Very good, sir.

And, Hudson, will
you warn Bridges

to stop whatever she's doing
and get her hat and coat on?

The police want to...

ask her some
questions at the station.

I understand, sir.

With your permission, sir,

I'll keep this news from
the staff for the time being.

If you can, Hudson.

Thank you, sir.

My wife will be down shortly.

There is one more question, sir.

Well?

How did you know
where to return the infant?

I note you failed to report
your discovery to the police.

I don't like your
tone, Inspector.

Don't you, sir?

Well, I must remind you

that the failure to report
the discovery of a felony

may be taken as acting as
an accessory after the fact.

I am aware of the law.

You're talking to a former
minister of the Crown.

And I am carrying out my
duties as an officer of the law, sir.

In view of your position,

I shall, of course, overlook
the matter on this occasion.

But I must warn you, in future,
not to go about offering money.

Mr. Webber knows perfectly
well that money was offered

to him and his wife as a
gesture of compensation.

They didn't take
it, did they, sir?

That is their business.

Richard, what's all this about
Mrs. Bridges being arrested?

- It's quite outrageous.
- Marjorie, this...

is Inspector Cape
of the local police.

- My wife.
- Good morning.

Well?

The Inspector is acting
quite correctly, Marjorie,

according to the law.

I suggest we offer
him a glass of sherry

until Mrs. Bridges
is quite ready.

Don't take on, Mrs. Bridges.

I'm sure your
friend'll be all right.

Yes.

I expect so.

It's 'cause she's
old and got no one

the police come to fetch you.

She'll have given them
your address, see?

It's not like Ivy
to be took sick.

She's always had good health.

It's this friend of hers,

you understand, Doris,
down near Victoria.

She's been taken
to the hospital.

And, well, uh, she's
asked to see Mrs. Bridges.

Alice says there's a
detective in the hall.

Oh, yes.

Yes, well, as I explained
to Alice and the others,

the, uh, the police have come

to take Mrs. Bridges
to her friend's bedside.

Oh, I see.

Now, get on with your work,
Doris. There's a good girl.

Yes, Mr. Hudson.

Ah, Mrs. Bridges.

I'll tell them you're ready.

Mrs. Bridges is
ready, sir, in the hall.

- Oh, uh, thank you, Hudson.
- Sir.

That will do, Rose.

Thank you.

Mrs. Bridges, will you
go with the inspector

and try not to worry?

Very good, sir.

Will it be all right, sir,
I mean, to go by the...

The front door? Well, of course.

That poor, wretched woman.

She looked as though she
was going to the gallows.

Well, you must telephone
to Harry Cuptin at once.

- What on earth for?
- Good heavens, Richard.

If the lord chief justice

can't get this ridiculous
case stopped, nobody can.

Now, listen to me, Marjorie.

I've already tried to
bypass the law once

to save your cook
from going to prison.

Must be something we can
do, and she's your cook, too.

Well, there's precious
little we can do,

except go to the
magistrate's court tomorrow

and be ready to give
evidence of her good character.

That's something, I suppose.

I shall also call on Geoff
Dillon this afternoon,

ask him to send one of his
juniors into court tomorrow.

If he's got any sense,
he'll plead guilty

- and ask for a remand on bail.
- A remand for what?

Well, I hope the magistrate's
progressive enough

to remand her for
a doctor's report.

Yes, but supposing
the doctor says

she's not fit enough
to go on working?

I'm sure Dr. Foley will be
very sensible about that.

- Oh, well, if it's Dr. Foley.
- Well, naturally I shall suggest

having her examined
by my own doctor.

There again, they
might not permit it.

But if they do, we'll have
nothing more to worry about?

If it happens that way,
no. But it's a big "if."

Can't always be
sure of the magistrate.

Some of them think
like this man, Webber.

If this one does,

he'll refuse to listen to any
excuses and clap her in jail.

Yes, I suppose so. And
then where will we be?

Sorry, old chap.

It's not in my power to
stop this case... not now.

You could refuse to give
evidence for the prosecution.

Then there would
be no case to answer.

- Why should I, eh?
- For one thing,

to save the heavy costs of
court proceedings, Mr. Webber,

which fall, as you should know,
on the overburdened taxpayer.

You ought to be in
Parliament yourself, old chap.

Why don't you swap
places with his nibs, eh?

Because I know better than
to seek a higher station in life

than the one into
which I was born.

I am proud and honored to serve

a noble and distinguished
family, and I know my place.

Well, I wouldn't stand for it.

Running up and down
stairs, bowing and scraping

and answering bells
like a monkey on a stick.

We all serve a
master, Mr. Webber,

unless we happen to
be King Edward himself,

which we are not.

I've no doubt there's
someone at your place of work

superior to you whom
you must address as "sir"

and treat with respect
due to his rank in the firm.

I've got an employer, yes.

"Old Strickers," we call him.

Mr. Strickland, our chief clerk.

And you call him Strickers
to his face, do you?

- No, not exactly.
- There you are, then.

And you respect him,
this man Strickland,

whom you must address as sir?

Respect him? He's the
biggest fool in the department.

- We all laugh at him.
- So you work for a fool.

I work for a man of charm
and character, Mr. Webber.

He's a member of
Parliament and married

into one of the great
ruling families of the land,

with 400 years of political
influence behind them.

And you ask me if I am
content with my position in life.

All right, I'll be a butler,
then, to some duke.

Think you can get me a position?

You'd have to acquire
a very different attitude

towards domestic
service, I fear,

before any self-respecting
family would allow you

to announce their guests
or wait at their table.

You can't take a joke, can you?

Some things are not a
subject for jest, Mr. Webber.

So I cannot persuade you to
withhold your evidence tomorrow

and avoid a great deal
of unpleasantness?

As I said, Mr. Hudson,
it's out of my hands now.

The law must take its course.

Then I'll not impose
on you any further.

Good night.

Hudson's not ill again?

Why do you ask that?

I was wondering why he
asked for time off this evening.

It's the only time he ever does.

He didn't give a reason.

- Hudson, what is it?
- Beg your pardon, sir. My lady.

Might I speak to you
for a moment, sir?

Yes, you may.

I would very much like
to visit the police court

tomorrow morning, sir,
if you would permit it.

- You, Hudson?
- Yes, my lady.

You'll find it very
distressing, Hudson,

sitting there, watching
Mrs. Bridges in the dock.

I am acquainted,
to a certain extent,

with the process of the law,
sir, after a number of visits

to the public gallery
at the Old Bailey.

How gruesome of you, Hudson.

Not at all, my lady.

I often go to the central
criminal court on my days off

to hear the great
advocates plead.

Just as one would visit
Lord's Cricket Ground, sir,

to watch Ranjit Sinji
adopt a grace at the wicket.

I do not go to gaze
with morbid curiosity

in the faces of the
murderers, my lady.

I see. Well there's no
reason why you shouldn't go,

so long as the household
functions properly

during your absence.

I would naturally
ensure that it does, sir.

But, Hudson, don't you think
it might upset Mrs. Bridges

if she caught sight of you
on the public benches?

I have in mind taking a
small part in the proceedings,

- my lady, if it can be arranged.
- Taking part?

If I could be called
to the witness box, sir,

I think I could make a useful
contribution to the hearing.

You mean as a
witness to her character?

Something of the kind, sir.

I would have to see

the solicitor acting
for Mrs. Bridges,

if she were to have
such a privilege.

Furthermore, I would
need to make arrangements

with the clerk of the court

to see Mrs. Bridges
before the hearing.

Well, as a matter of fact,

I called on Sir Geoff
Dillon this afternoon.

Someone from that office
will be attending tomorrow.

You could speak to
him, whoever he is,

as soon as he gets into court,
but just tell him who you are.

Thank you very
much, sir, my lady.

What an extraordinary request.

Well, I hope he won't
say something rash

and make matters worse.

Oh, I think we can rely
on Hudson, my dear.

He's nobody's fool.

And you thought, no
doubt, that in a thick fog

nobody would see you take
the infant from its perambulator.

I never thought about
it either way, sir...

About getting caught.

I took the baby
because I felt, oh...

as if I wanted to
hold it in me arms, sir,

and love the little mite.

I never stopped to think

about it being some
other woman's baby.

I...

I just had to have
it in me arms, sir,

and keep it warm...

and safe.

You had no idea whatsoever

of the identity of the
owner or her address?

No, sir.

There was no
question of any intention

of returning the infant.

Your aim was to steal
and keep the property.

I wanted to take it back
after, sir, but... it was too late.

If I may intervene
here, Your Worship?

Yes?

I ought to make it quite clear

that the plea of
not guilty to theft

is based on a momentary
loss of responsibility

on my client's part.

Uh, this has been due
to certain recent stresses

at her place of employment

and a psychological condition
of the accused woman's mind...

A temporary one...

In respect of which I am
asking to bring further evidence.

Very well.

I call Mr. Angus Hudson, please.

Do you solemnly
swear that the evidence

you shall give before this
court is the truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but the
truth, so help you God?

I do.

You are Angus Hudson,

employed as butler at the
premises in Eaton Place

whereas we have heard the
accused is employed as cook?

I am, sir.

How long have you
known the accused?

Oh, approximately 12 years, sir.

I still can't understand
why Mr. Hudson told us

she was going to visit
her friend in hospital.

To spare Mrs. Bridges'
feelings, I expect.

Not very nice for a cook
to be arrested by the police

in front of all the
other servants.

She won't come back
if she goes to prison.

No, she won't.

Is it true Mr. Hudson's
gone to watch?

Suppose so.

I'm surprised at
Mr. Hudson. It's morbid.

It's like going to
a public hanging.

Why? People go to
funerals. That's not morbid.

It's showing respect. Innit?

So, from what you've observed

of the moods and general
behavior of the accused

belowstairs during
the last few weeks,

would you say she was suffering
from severe nervous strain?

Most definitely, sir.

And what do you think
was the cause of this?

She was particularly upset by
the recent suicide in the house

of a young kitchen maid
who worked under her.

Being a very lonely person
with no relatives or dependants,

she'd come to regard the
dead girl as like a daughter.

They were very close.

And you agree with
the evidence of Dr. Foley

as to her nervous condition?

I do, sir.

And I would like to add

that I believe Mrs.
Bridges is badly in need

of love and affection and
a sense of being wanted.

She is a brilliant
cook, Your Worship,

and most highly regarded in
that capacity by my employers.

But in the personal sense,
she has no one to care for...

Except for an
elderly woman friend

of some years' standing...

And nobody to care for her
or advise her or look after her.

It is for that reason that I
have offered her marriage.

We are both unattached
persons, Your Worship,

and it occurred to me
that if I could undertake

to keep the accused lady
happy and cared for in the future,

during our continued service
with Lady Marjorie Bellamy

and in later years when
we will have perhaps retired,

Your Worship might see his way

to overlook this
unfortunate lapse.

And be assured, sir, that
with me to help and guide her,

such a thing would
never occur again.

And furthermore, sir...

Yes, yes, thank you, Mr. Hudson.

You may stand
down now. Thank you.

Sir. Your Worship.

Your Worship, in view
of what you have heard,

I'm asking you to
dismiss this case.

It seems to me, Bridges,
that a large number of people

have gone to a
great deal of trouble

to obtain your
acquittal on this charge.

Taking everything
into consideration,

I am prepared to accept the
theft of Mrs. Webber's child

as due to a momentary
lapse of responsibility

brought on by severe
mental strain and depression.

You have a good position in
service, a thoughtful employer,

and a most loyal colleague
in the butler, Mr., uh, Hudson.

So I'm going to bind you over

for three months
on good behavior

and hope that you
will not have occasion

to appear before me again.

Thank you, sir.

I've never heard anything like it
outside the House of Commons

or the High Courts of Justice.

Marshall Hall himself
could not have done better.

But he can't really mean he
wants to marry Mrs. Bridges.

That's what he said in
court, and he's asked her.

But I gather she wants to wait.

But at least the gesture
helped let her off.

- Begging your pardon, my lady.
- Hudson, what's all this I hear,

making a speech in court and
offering to marry Mrs. Bridges?

I must apologize to you,
my lady, and to the master

for not asking your permission

before offering my hand
to Mrs. Bridges in marriage.

The truth is that the idea
only occurred to me last night

in my pantry while I
was pondering ways

of helping Mrs. Bridges
out of her troubles.

But has she accepted
you? That's the point.

We discussed the matter in
her cell at the police station,

my lady, shortly
before the hearing.

And what did she say?

She was very touched, my lady.

She agreed that we should
both, being unattached as it were,

reserve ourselves for each
other in the not-too-distant future,

whilst continuing meanwhile

in your ladyship's
service as before.

Well, that seems a very
satisfactory arrangement.

Where is Mrs. Bridges now?

Waiting outside
in the hall, my lady.

She... She would very much
like to come in and say something

- to you, if you wouldn't mind.
- Yes, of course, Hudson.

- Send her in.
- Thank you, my lady.

Oh, my lady!

There, there, Mrs.
Bridges. All over now.

I'm so ashamed, milady.

- Can you ever forgive me?
- I've told you. It's all over.

The matter shall never be
referred to in this house again.

You've all been so good to me.

Well, Mr. Bellamy
and I've done nothing,

except return the
child to its parents.

It's Hudson you have to thank.

Yes, milady.

Congratulations, Mrs.
Bridges, on your exciting plans.

Hudson, you must open
a bottle of my Krug '98

in the servants'
hall and celebrate.

Thank you, sir. That's
very good of you.

All I want to do now, milady,
is to get back into me kitchen

and get on with me job.

Of course you do, Mrs. Bridges.

Don't forget we've this
important dinner party

next Thursday.

We'll discuss the
menu in the morning.

I want you to give us
a really special dinner.

Excuse me, my lady, if I
may intervene on this point.

You're not in court now, Hudson.

Oh, no, sir.

It was just to say that Mrs.
Bridges has been through

a good deal of anxiety
and distress lately, my lady.

I was therefore planning
for her to spend a few days

with a sister of
mine in Folkestone,

if you would consider
giving her some time off.

Also, I've heard of
an excellent cook

who would be only
too pleased to come in

for the dinner party
on Thursday evening.

You never said none of
this to me, Mr. Hudson.

The idea was to surprise
you with a wee holiday,

- Mrs. Bridges.
- I'm not going

on no wee holiday!

Begging your
pardon, my ladyship.

Do you think I'm
going off to Folkestone?

Leave my kitchen
to some outside cook

when we've got important
people to dinner?!

Well, I'm very grateful for
the thought, Mr. Hudson.

Well...

You're not a husband
yet, are you, Hudson?

So it would seem, sir.

No, he's not.

Well, if you really feel you
can manage Thursday...

I'll be up in the
morning, milady,

with some ideas
for a main course.

And this time, I won't be late.

Very well, Mrs. Bridges.

Excuse me, sir.

- Oh, and, Hudson.
- Sir?

We're most grateful.

It was a pleasure, sir. My lady.

You know, when he was a
young footman at Southwold,

my mother always
said he'd get on.

The Scots always do.

Well, I suppose luncheon
will be a little late today.

Can't be helped.

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