Original subtitles

Subtitling by Acorn Media (re-sync by moviesbyrizzo)

What's that supposed to be, Ruby?

It's a comforter, Mrs. Bridges, for Edward.

More like suffocate him than comfort him, if you ask me.

Listen, girl, you've got to count the number of stitches!

Terrible losses again today, Mr. Hudson?

Aye, 102 officers dead and missing.

Worse than Neuve Chapelle.

Lord Wendover, Captain Mackintosh,

our Scottish amateur Weightlifting champion.

Several officers of the Life Guards.

I pray for Captain James every night.

And so do I, Mrs. Bridges.

[Doorbell rings]

Daisy, front door.

Ruby.

Well, if you ask me, We're getting beaten

this time, and no mistake.

Mrs. Bridges, that is tantamount to defeatism!

We're holding our own!

Our firm grip on Hill 60, many successful counter-attacks.

All I know is that every day this week,

you've moved that row of pins back.

That doesn't look like victory to me.

A planned withdrawal to prepare positions

isn't a defeat, Mrs. Bridges.

It is a sound strategic move.

Especially when you've got a salient like we have at Ypres.

[Knock on door]

That gas -- it's not fair!

It's terrible, terrible!

God will descend on them for it.

It must have been awful.

It's a wonder to me it don't go off with a bang.

Oh, Ruby, it is not a common coal gas

that the Germans are employing, but a chemical asphyxiant.

Well, whatever it is, God ought to punish them for it.

I think he will, Mrs. Bridges, I think he will.

The Germans have forgotten one thing, one very important thing.

The prevailing wind is west to east.

And once we've got our gas, whoosh!

The Hun will be hoist with his own petard,

if I may use a military quotation

by your greatest poet, Mrs. Bridges.

- Mr. Hudson? - What is it, girl?

There's a telegraph boy at the door.

Well --

Oh, my lord.

[Doorbell rings]

Telegram for Bellamy.

Yes, boy, yes, yes, thank you.

Any reply?

No. No.

Madam.

A telegram has arrived from --

The War Office?

From France, madam.

Well, thank you, Hudson. That'll be all.

Madam.

Hudson!

Captain Bellamy --

Captain Bellamy's coming home on leave today!

Oh, well, madam, that -- that is good news!

What time is he expected?

Army post office, Boulogne.

Oh, it doesn't say.

We may presume the Captain will be here

in time for dinner, madam.

Oh, yes. Well, I hope so.

Ruby, go into the larder and fetch me out some sardines.

Sardines, Mrs. Bridges? Whatever for?

Sardines on toast, Captain James's favourite savoury,

ever since he was a little mite.

Sardines, Mrs. Bridges?

With Sir Geoffrey Dillon coming to dinner,

and a very important General, so Mr. Bellamy informed me.

Important General!

I don't care if it's Lord Kitchener hisself,

he'll have to lump it.

Mrs. Bridges, you'll never guess who it is!

Edward!

649202, Private Barnes, E., on leave for the weekend!

Mrs. Bridges.

Welcome, Edward, welcome.

Hello, Ruby.

Captain James is coming home, too!

Really? So you've got a houseful of heroes at the weekend.

That's a war for you.

Well, I will say, Edward, you do look well.

You do look ever so well.

It's the delightful army cuisine, Mrs. Bridges.

Do you know, we marched from Colchester in Essex

to our new camp at Codford

on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire the other week?

All that way?

Well, come and sit down!

Take the weight off your feet.

Well, now, we've got a dinner party,

but if you'd like to stay for supper, Edward,

I'm sure you're welcome.

That's very kind of you, Mr. Hudson.

Supper? He'll stay as long as he likes!

His room's always ready for him.

Edward has a mother and father

living in Walthamstow, Mrs. Bridges.

I'm sure his parents will be --

But my dad's down at Folkestone, building army camps, Mr. Hudson,

and me mum's at me Auntie lvy's in Watford

in case there's bombing.

Bombing? Oh, who ever heard of London being bombed?

MRS. BRIDGES: You just put your case in your room.

There's always a welcome for you here.

You must remember, Mrs. Bridges, that Edward

is no longer employed as a servant in this house.

No, he's not, he's serving his King and country,

that's what he's doing.

And God bless him for it.

Up to the dining room, Daisy, begin to lay for dinner.

I'll give you a hand, Mr. Hudson.

No, no need for that, Edward.

We are short-handed, Mr. Hudson.

You was only saying so this morning.

Indeed, we are, Daisy.

Rose left yesterday for Scotland with Miss Georgina.

Oh, so I can give you a hand in the dining room?

Well, of course you can, Edward.

Oh, thanks, well, I'll put my livery on, then.

Livery? You'll wear the King's uniform, my boy.

And if them upstairs isn't proud of you, I'll eat my boots.

Thanks, Mrs. Bridges.

Oh, we're ever so glad to see you back, Edward.

Aren't we, Mr. Hudson?

Yes, yes, we are, Edward.

Where's your case, love?

Oh, it's outside.

Very nice to have you back, sir.

Thank you, Hudson.

Anyone home?

Mrs. Bellamy is in the morning room, sir.

Thank you, Hudson.

Oh, James.

I can hardly believe it.

Oh, you look tired.

Yes.

Would you like a drink?

Mm, please.

You, uh... you got my telegram?

Yes.

Don't send any more telegrams, James.

Why ever not?

People here have come to dread them lately.

Oh. Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't think.

How could you know?

Extraordinary.

It's like coming home from school.

All those people bustling about in the streets,

everything so clean and shiny.

Buses, motorcars, theatres.

And umbrellas -- I'd forgotten

what peculiar things umbrellas were.

[Hazel laughs]

Was it --

well, is it -- very horrible?

Horrible, yes, I suppose that's the right word.

But it's enormously exciting, as well.

I mean, each time you go into action

it's a new...a new adventure.

It's hard to explain, but you're all keyed up

with your own men and your friends all round you,

and the danger doesn't seem real -- like another world.

How's Father?

All right.

Well, he's pretty well.

He's on thousands of committees but he's chomping at the bit

because he says he hasn't got a proper war job.

There's a lot of plotting going on

to topple the government and force a coalition.

Georgina's in Scotland, staying with the McKenzies for a dance.

Rose has gone to maid her.

Dance in Scotland, extraordinary.

- Dear Father! - James!

How splendid!

What a lovely surprise.

I did try to get you at the House.

Oh, I've been all over the place today.

You're all in one piece?

Yes. You?

Yes, yes, I'm very fit.

Good.

Well, we must make some plans.

You couldn't have come back at a better time.

Geoffrey Dillon and General Frankie Nesfield

are coming to dine.

Geoffrey's got himself Well into the thick of it

as Northcliffe's lawyer, and you know about Nesfield.

He has a certain reputation in the army.

Now, don't underestimate him.

He's the power behind the throne at the War Office,

and he's on our side.

Oh, I'm glad to hear that.

No, I mean politically.

He'll be damn useful when we get back in,

which won't be long now, by the look of things.

There's a terrible stink over the naval losses at Gallipoli.

Fisher and Winston are hardly talking to each other.

Yes, well, talking of stink,

I haven't had a bath for a very long time.

Oh, my dear boy...

Two weeks, to be precise,

in a brewery in Armenti�res.

I'd better get out of these clothes.

Oh, hello, Edward.

Edward!

I'd forgotten you were in the army.

Uh, yes, sir, Middlesex Regiment.

Jolly good.

The Diehards.

Yes, sir.

Do you know why they're called that?

Not exactly, sir.

Put your tray down, boy,

while Captain James is talking to you.

It was one of those battles in the peninsular war,

Albuera, I think it was,

and your Colonel was leading the attack

when he was mortally wounded.

And as he lay on the ground dying, he raised himself up,

and he waved his hat, and he shouted,

"Die hard, 57th, die hard."

So you've got quite a reputation to live up to.

Yes, sir.

I'm just going up to change, Hudson.

Oh, yes, sir, your bath is ready.

Thank you.

I am ashamed of you, Edward.

Why, Mr. Hudson?

Not even knowing how your regiment came by its name.

MAN IN DISTANCE: Right, thank you.

Thank you, Hudson.

Will you tell Mrs. Bridges

the sardines were delicious, much appreciated?

Yes, sir.

Nice to see your footman in uniform, Richard.

Very patriotic.

But not too patriotic, I am happy to note.

What do you mean, Geoffrey?

You don't follow the royal example

in banishing all alcoholic refreshment from your table.

Well, I'm glad I'm not the King sometimes,

always having to set a good example.

Need more than a war to make me sign the pledge.

HAZEL: James.

Thank you, Hudson.

Well, some port, Geoffrey.

Thank you.

Cigars.

Now, what division are you in, Captain Bellamy?

Oh, Third Cavalry, General.

Coping? - Yes.

Then you must have been in this last show as Ypres?

- Mm. - Very unpleasant, the gas.

- Yes. - Typical treacherous Hun trick.

Throwing the Hague convention out of the window.

Thank you.

Well, inside the four walls of this room,

it caused a pretty good panic back here.

It caused a pretty good panic out there, General.

We were resting at Val-Martin.

I was on the salient that day, on a reconnaissance.

Suddenly we saw thousands of these French African troops

scooting across the fields, shrieking their heads off,

horses, mules, every damn thing, whole corps of them.

I think the Boche was as much taken by surprise as we were.

The Canadians were splendid, though,

completely saved the day.

The French always panic when anything goes wrong.

Hysterical people.

Well, our gas is ready, and better than theirs.

I don't think it'll have much effect on the war in the end.

- Don't you? - Everybody in Britain

is busy making gas masks, including Hazel.

Absolutely useless, I believe.

As usual, the soldiers have found their own solution --

don't lie down in the trenches.

The stuff is heavier than air. It sinks.

And I hope this won't put you off your port,

but the thing to do is to pee on a handkerchief

and then tie it round your face.

Not much about that in the newspapers, General.

And don't blame the newspapers.

Blame the censor.

It's official policy to feed the public pap.

If you want to know how the war's going,

don't look at the headlines, look at the casualty lists.

What do the troops think of the newspapers?

Well, they just laugh.

"Our brave boys up at the front," all that stuff.

I just happened to see tonight's newspaper report

on our little show between Ypres and Hill 60 last week.

"German attack smashed.

Successful counter-attack drives back weakened enemy."

Well, as you know, General, we were the ones

who were smashed, if anybody was.

And they drove us back a good mile.

But surely there's nothing wrong with the men?

Ah, nothing at all.

They're better than the Germans --

tougher, braver, better soldiers.

But what remains of the professional British army

is being squandered by a lot of amateurs

who don't know their job.

Meaning who?

Oh, I don't mean the Generals, sir.

I mean the politicians, the people

who are supposed to be running this war.

They just don't seem to realize that it's a new kind of war.

More like siege warfare than anything else.

A war of barbed wire, machine guns and artillery.

Guns, more than anything else.

We had the guns at Neuve Chapelle.

We ran out of shells on the second day.

Grenadiers lost 20 officers and 300 men and gained...200 yards.

It's a damned scandal.

At least we printed Repington's letter in The Times.

RICHARD: And what did Asquith say?

"There is no truth in the statement that our armies

are being crippled by the government's failure

to produce the necessary ammunition."

JAMES: Damn lie.

He was probably drunk, as usual.

If I might give you an example, General.

Last Thursday, when the Germans attacked,

they'd plastered us with shells --

heavies, mediums, everything they had.

From four until seven, when their infantry attacked.

There was very little left of our trenches or our wire.

And not one single British gun of any sort supported us.

I think it was about 2:30

when the Blues made their counter-attaok --

one solitary howitzer started to fire.

One six-inch how,

obsolescent since the South African war.

I saw it later, when we were relieved.

I also saw the battery commander sitting on a limber in tears.

That's a fine way to win a war.

James, we all know about

the shortcomings of the war Cabinet.

That is why we Tory politicians

are determined to replace Asquith

with a government of all parties.

Well, I'll tell you this, gentlemen, if any politician,

be he Liberal, Tory, or whatever,

went up anywhere near the front at the moment,

he'd be torn limb from limb.

I can imagine how the men must feel,

but it isn't just a question of negligence.

The problems are colossal.

We've got to get industry into full production.

Yes, well, if you'll excuse me, I only got back...

Well, of course, my dear boy, of course.

General, Sir Geoffrey.

- Good night, James. - Good night, James.

Good night.

That boy of yours, Richard, is a real fizzer.

I'm glad you think so, General.

Absolutely first class. Just the sort we want.

I must remember to keep an eye on him.

Well, the government may not have provided any ammunition

to blow up the Germans, but James has certainly

provided us with plenty to blow up the government.

Northcliffe will be delighted.

Impressions of the Second Battle of Ypres --

eyewitness account by gallant officer

just back from the front.

Splendid stuff.

I trust you're not going to quote him.

RICHARD: Oh, no, no, no.

Anonymous, of course.

No names, no pack drills,

isn't that the correct military expression, General?

Well, we're at war with Germany, Sir Geoffrey,

not the Liberal Party.

Geoffrey, what is important is not Northcliffe's campaign

to put Mr. Asquith's head on a platter.

I hope our motives are more patriotic than that.

What we need is a more vigorous, courageous,

and efficient prosecution of the war.

Now, that means a Tory government or a coalition.

And we must work to that end.

Well, I strongly advise Northcliffe

to keep off Kitchener -- he's the golden calf

of the British public and can do no wrong.

No point in it, I agree.

Simply pull down the circulation.

Oh, Geoffrey.

Well, tell him to drag one of Haldane's pro-German skeletons

from the cupboard, if need be.

The readers will lap that up.

Well, there may be little likelihood

of victory in Flanders, at least for the moment,

but I can't help smelling

victory in the offing at Westminster.

[Sighs]

What's the matter?

JAMES: Nothing.

How long is your leave?

Two weeks -- ten days.

If there's a gale or two in the channel

I might be able to stretch it to two weeks.

Would you like to get out of London?

Mm, yes, I think I would.

Come on, let's go up to bed.

We can't.

Hmm?

Well, not until the General's --

Why not?

Just because my father chooses to ask

a lot of his boring political cronies to dinner

doesn't mean I can't take my wife to bed whenever I like.

EDWARD: En garde!

That's it, come on, point up, you're not winkle-picking.

Right, Private Finch.

Spot of bayonet practice. Right.

I command it to you, you will lunge at that stomach.

Ready, one, two, and lunge and scream.

That's it. Twist it in the guts.

Find the stomach. Go on, find the stomach.

That's it. And withdraw, neatly.

There you are, dead as mutton.

Do you know, our Sergeant killed three at Le Cateau

in as many minutes like that?

Right, Private Finch, what have I told you?

What's the golden rule?

Uh, four inches of cold steel's

enough to kill any German in the war.

Right.

Can I have another go, Edward?

You may not, Ruby.

All the cold steel you'll ever need

is waiting in the scullery for you to wash up.

Look sharp now.

And take that contraption off your head.

Oh, she's so blinkered, that girl.

It is inconvenient enough, Edward,

allowing Daisy an afternoon off,

Without you unsettling the kitchen maid, as well.

Yes, Mr. Hudson.

Yes, well, mind you're both back by 6:00.

No later, mind.

Well, let's see, then.

Polygon wood, Zillybeaky (Zonnebeke).

Zillybeaky?

Extraordinary, this hate of the Germans.

Does everyone hate them?

I mean, ordinary people, not just the hysterical journalists?

Yes.

But why hate them?

Well, I thought you'd understand.

Belgium.

And what about the atrocities?

Oh, yes.

But you don't have to hate an enemy in order to kill him.

I rather respect the Hun soldier.

Even when he uses gas?

That's not his fault.

That's the fault of his leaders.

I was talking to two German prisoners the other day,

and they were genuinely horrified

that they had been the first to use gas.

I'm sorry.

I don't know what's the matter with me.

I had planned to be different.

But somehow, I don't feel I'm living in the real world here.

I feel outside,

left behind, in a silly sort of way.

It's as though everyone was speaking a language

that I knew but didn't understand.

Nothing has any flavour.

You're still in France.

Yes.

Sorry.

Time for gong.

Come on.

[Playing upbeat tune]

Have they gone to cinema, Mr. Hudson?

So I believe, Ruby.

What a way to spend a beautiful spring afternoon.

I've never been to the cinema.

Nor have I, Ruby. Nor do I ever intend to.

From what I hear, a picture palace is a very unhealthy place

and a bad, bad influence on young people.

Well, I should like to go, just once.

DAISY: Isn't she lovely?

EDWARD: Yeah.

Do you want to stay and see the end of this?

DAISY: Yeah, I want to know what happens.

Well, he'll marry her, of course.

How do you know?

Well, they always do in films. It's silly.

DAISY: It's not.

There you are.

I told you.

[Wagner's "Bridal Chorus" playing]

EDWARD: Shall we go out and buy one?

DAISY: what?

EDWARD: A ring, for your finger.

Oh, Eddie!

I love you! Oh, Eddie!

RUBY: "Mr. Smith drownded one of his wives

in the bath at Blackpool

and another one at Herne Bay."

Fancy that, Mrs. Bridges!

Yes, fancy that, Ruby.

"And then he went out

and got himself summat to eat after he'd done them in."

Oh, some people do have strange habits.

Oh, for heaven's sake,

take that trash away from her, Mrs. Bridges.

And let that be a lesson to you not to talk to strange men.

I never do, Mrs. Bridges.

The streets are all dim at night and full of soldiers.

No woman's safe.

[Giggling]

We have an announcement to make.

Private Edward Barnes, bachelor,

and Miss Daisy, well, well,

we'll have to have wedding bells peal,

announce their intention to get married.

Well, bless my soul!

Thanks, Mrs. Bridges.

Congratulations, Edward.

Congratulations.

I am surprised, Edward, that you should make

such an announcement, even in jest,

before you have permission.

Oh, Mr. Hudson.

But why, Mr. Hudson?

My mum and dad knew of my intentions.

The master and the mistress, Edward.

Well, King's my master, and I haven't got a mistress yet.

Even though you seem to have forgotten

that you were employed in this house for many years,

and therefore, I would have supposed,

owe some small sense of loyalty to the Bellamy family,

presumably you remember that Daisy

is still employed here as an under-house maid.

But I don't have to ask anyone, Mr. Hudson,

except my commanding officer,

so we can get dependent's allowance.

Well, you wouldn't like Daisy to be turned off

without a character, now, would you, Edward?

Well, who cares, Mrs. Bridges?

Look, there are posters in every street

saying are women urgently required for war work,

and a lot better pay than they are here, too.

Edward, you have changed in the army,

and considerably for the worse, so it seems.

Yes, yes, now that I come to it, I remember

when you first came here, there was always

that nasty, wee streak of insolence there.

Oh, Mr. Hudson.

Things are changing.

Can't you see that?

The war's changing everything.

I do not see that!

And I grieve to think of all the years I spent

trying to instill into you some sort of sense of propriety,

all these years have been

completely thrown by the wayside.

MRS. BRIDGES: Now, now, now, Mr. Hudson.

Edward didn't mean it like that, did you, Edward?

No.

No, of course I didn't.

Well, naturally Daisy and I were gonna go up and tell the family.

It's just the way Mr. Hudson pitched into me like that.

Well, I've had enough of that in the army

Without Mr. Hudson starting.

Daisy, up to the morning room. Light the fire.

I'll go.

No, no. You're a soldier home on leave.

You just sit down, make yourself comfortable, smoke, if you will.

Enjoy yourself.

Daisy, better go up and change.

I do think Mr. Hudson's mean.

Nobody asked for your opinion, Ruby, thank you very much.

Not until you've prepared all them vegetables in the scullery.

Well, have you?

No, Mrs. Bridges.

Well, go along and do it, then.

Thanks, Mrs. Bridges.

You mustn't mind Mr. Hudson, Edward.

He doesn't mean it.

He gets upset very easy these days.

You see, he takes the war very serious.

Oh, rubbish, James.

Oh, rubbish, James.

I trust you had a nice game, sir.

Oh, yes, thank you, Hudson.

I know it's a Scottish invention,

but I find it a vicious sport,

as well as being extremely bad for the temper.

- Fetch Edward. - Now?

Yes, and quickly.

Mrs. Bellamy actually beat me, Hudson.

Ah. Well, congratulations, madam.

Thank you, Hudson.

Sir, madam, I wonder

if I might have a word with you on a purely domestic matter.

JAMES: Yes, of course, Hudson.

Edward and Daisy have taken it into their heads

to want to get married.

Oh, have they?

Not a very good time.

No, sir. I have indicated that to them.

But Edward always was a very headstrong boy, sir,

and these days things seem to be...

Quite, Hudson, quite.

And naturally they wish to see you, sir, and you, madam,

to ask your permission.

Well, that, at least, is pleasantly old-fashioned.

I thought perhaps a few words of caution

from you, sir, and from you, madam,

might weigh more heavily

than any admonition offered by myself.

Yes, of course, Hudson.

JAMES: Any convenient time.

HUDSON: I took the liberty of sending for them, sir.

Very well, Hudson, ask them to come in.

Very good, sir.

Girl, cap.

Edward and Daisy, sir, madam.

JAMES: Ah, come in, Edward, come in.

Well, Hudson has told us your happy news.

Yes, sir.

Rather sudden.

Well, we've been going out for...

well, since before the war, sir.

Ah, not so sudden.

Oh, please don't think

Mrs. Bellamy and I have any objection.

We both wish you every happiness.

But you have considered the position, I suppose?

Well, yes, sir.

It's not perhaps the best moment in history to get married.

No, I suppose not, sir.

These Germans, you know, they're damn good soldiers.

Just at the moment, they're fewer than us,

because they're having to fight the Russians, as well.

But they're holding their own.

Their guns, their organization is better than ours.

Well, of course they've been planning this thing a long time.

Yes, sir.

It's not going to be an easy thing.

It's going to go on a long time.

What division are you in, Edward?

Eighteenth Division, sir, 54th Brigade.

Mm-hmm, new army.

Well, in the late summer or the autumn at the latest,

you'll be coming out to join us in France,

and we're very much looking forward to having you,

have no doubt of that.

There's plenty of fighting to do,

so things won't be so bad for you,

but they will be pretty hard on Daisy.

I know, because unfortunately,

one of my more depressing jobs as an officer

is to write to the dependents

of the casualties in my squadron.

Well, I think, sir,

whether we was married or not, it'd be just the same.

Well.

Well.

You both have our blessing.

And I hope you'll be very happy together.

Thank you, madam.

JAMES: Thank you, Hudson.

HUDSON: Sir.

JAMES: Poor wretches.

HAZEL: If only people needn't fall in love --

for the duration of the war.

[Chuckles] You are a goose sometimes.

[Door opens]

HUDSON: Excuse me, sir.

This came by special messenger while you were out.

Oh, what kind of special messenger, Hudson?

A Boy Scout on a bicycle, actually, sir.

Oh, War Office.

Thank you, Hudson.

Uh, Hudson, did I say the right thing?

I thought your advice was admirable, sir.

I only hope they will take it to heart.

"You will attend war Staff Course Number Four

at the Staff College, Camberley,

prior to being posted to headquarters,

11 Corps BEF, new formation,

as a General Staff Officer Grade Three."

Oh, James.

That's wonderful!

Oh, nothing wonderful about it.

Staff Officer?

I'm not going to join the yellow brigade.

Stuck at a desk with shiny boots, red tabs,

miles behind the lines.

Not on your life.

Well, James, I'm glad to see you're still all in one piece.

Thank you, Colonel.

Sit down.

Are you well? Enjoying your leave?

Yes, thank you, Colonel.

Good, good.

But, to be quite honest, I'm not very happy

about this posting to the Staff.

Oh, yes, I have a copy of the letter.

Quite frankly, I'm rather surprised.

I thought you'd be delighted.

I imagined it was the result

of some judicious string-pulling in high places.

It was nothing of the sort, Colonel.

It's quite usual these days, I'm sorry to say.

I apologize if I misjudged you.

But certainly it wasn't at my recommendation.

Well, in that case, Colonel, I would be glad

if you would ask them to cancel the posting

and allow me to return to regimental duty.

Yes, I see.

I've taken the trouble,

using certain private methods known only to myself,

to discover the source of that letter.

The Military Secretary was asked to make that posting personally

by a very senior and influential officer on the General Staff.

I'm sorry, but I can't reveal his name to you.

So I couldn't possibly alter it even if I wished,

which, as a matter of fact, I don't.

You've seen this, I suppose?

No, Colonel.

Article in yesterday's Daily Mail.

"News from the front.

Household cavalry officer, home on leave,

reveals grave shortage of artillery at Ypres."

I don't read The Daily Mail.

Nor do I, but apparently the King does,

and he is not very pleased, to put it mildly.

This has been brought to my attention in no uncertain way.

Really, Colonel, I haven't been speaking to reporters.

I would never think of it.

I honestly believe this has nothing to do with me.

Well, I do.

You are the only officer in the Household Cavalry on leave

who took part in the battle.

That is an eyewitness account.

All the details -- the counter-attack by the Blues,

the single howitzer gun -- it tallies more or less exactly

with other reports of the battle.

Your father is a distinguished

Conservative member of Parliament.

I'm sure that you are neither so misinformed nor so naive

not to know that just at the moment,

the Conservatives are throwing

every brick bat they can lay their hands on

at the government to try and force a coalition.

Yes, Colonel, I did know that.

Well, whoever wrote that article,

the facts in it are true.

That is not the point!

Officers in the Household Brigade

do not indulge in politics in any form,

as you know damn well.

And I don't in the least enjoy

losing my name to Buckingham Palace

any more than I enjoy sitting at this desk

while the regiment is fighting in France.

If someone picked up something I said in private, Colonel,

I'm exceedingly sorry.

[Clears throat]

I've had a report on the last show

from your commanding officer.

He singled you out for special praise.

You're almost certain to be mentioned in dispatches,

might even have been in line for a medal.

As it is, you're damn lucky I'm not going to ask you

to transfer to another regiment.

So take your Staff job and be thankful.

Yes, Colonel.

Good day.

No, Ruby, not like that.

Can't you even squeeze a lemon without putting

the pips and half the peel into the juice?

I don't know.

You're more use to the Germans than what you are to me,

and that's a fact.

Lemon meringue pie for dinner tonight, Mr. Hudson.

Give Captain James some happy memories

to take back to the trenches.

What am I to do, Mrs. Bridges?

Clear away all that mess, for a start,

and then get some more lemons.

There aren't any more lemons.

Well, go to the shop and get some.

Then there will be some more, won't there?

I don't know --

she's getting worse, if that's humanly possible.

Well, what is it?

I believe you made a reference just now

to the trenches, Mrs. Bridges.

Quite correct, Mr. Hudson, I did.

I think you can forget the trenches for the moment.

All Captain James's uniform jackets

will have to go round to the tailors.

What does that mean?

Is he joining the Horse Marines or something?

Red tabs, Mrs. Bridges.

[Gasps] Not a General?

The Staff, the General Staff,

and the strong likelihood

of a brevet majority, if you ask me.

Oh, that's the best news I've had since Christmas!

Well, I never did! Oh!

Oh!

Don't wait for me, love.

Oh, why ever not?

Oh, I'm going out.

Where? Up the pub?

Yeah, see if any of my old mates are there.

Nobody seems to want me around here anymore.

Oh, don't be soft. You know I do.

Yeah, well, Mr. Hudson doesn't, though.

He just makes me feel as though I'm in the way all the time.

You're gonna get drunk, aren't you?

No, I'm not.

Well, it is my last night, you know.

Yeah, I know.

Well, don't come back too late, eh?

All right.

- Bye. - Bye.

Whatever's the matter with you, Daisy?

You look as if you was in another world.

I think I was, Mrs. B.

Well, I hope it's a better one than this one, anyway.

"Grave news from Gallipoli.

Many casualties."

Oh...never rains but it pours.

Oh, James, you can't blame us

Oh, James, you can't blame us

for being glad that you'll be safe for a while.

You know what you said yourself to Edward and Daisy.

Well, it is bad, just sitting here reading the newspapers

and waiting for a letter or even a telegram.

I don't blame you, Hazel.

Anyway, it's nothing to do with you.

I blame you, Father, you and that slimy Dillon,

for abusing my good name and using a private conversation

held in my dining room, in the rotten cause

of building your own little empires.

RICHARD: That's not true.

Making me lose my name with my Colonel.

It's bloody unfair!

And don't tell me you didn't know all about it.

I agree Dillon should never have quoted you, even anonymously.

But you must realize, this article will probably do more

for the troops in France --

And, and for the party.

James.

You've done your stuff.

You've been in the thick of it from the start.

And there's certainly nothing dishonourable

in accepting a Staff appointment.

Rather the opposite, I should have thought.

JAMES: Honourable?

Being labelled one of Nesfield's bum boys,

one of his private little army of spies?

Well, damn Nesfield!

And damn Dillon, and damn you for interfering, Father.

What is it, Hudson?

Sir, madam, Sir Geoffrey Dillon has called

and wonders if you're at home.

JAMES: -No. HAZEL: -Yes.

Please show him in, Hudson.

HUDSON: Very good, madam.

Sir.

Sir Geoffrey Dillon.

Oh, hello, Geoffrey.

Good evening. Good evening, Richard.

Good evening, James, and my congratulations.

A little bird has whispered in my ear

that you've landed a plum job on the Staff.

Well done, well done.

Thank you, Sir Geoffrey.

- Geoffrey, do sit down. - Thank you.

Have a drink?

Well, perhaps a little Scottish wine,

as this is rather a special occasion.

Oh?

What's so special about it?

Thank you.

I've just come from Printing House Square.

We've got them on the run at last.

I have here a draft of tomorrow's leader in The Times.

Geoffrey Dawson let me have a copy.

RICHARD: How does it read?

Like a death sentence on Asquith.

"Government incapable of fighting a war,

hampering our brave soldiers,

thanks to the obstinacy of the War Office

in ordering shrapnel shells instead of high explosive."

The government will never survive that kind of attack.

If you'll excuse me, I'm going away in the morning,

I have a lot to do.

James.

I'm sorry.

I had to get out before I hit the fellow.

Yes, but did you mean --

are you really going away in the morning?

Yes.

Yes, I suddenly realized I have to get away from here,

anywhere away from this muck, or I'll go mad.

Would you like me to go with you?

No, no, I'd rather go on my own, if you don't mind.

No, of course not.

You do understand?

Yes.

I do understand.

RICHARD: What with this shell business

and the Gallipoli disaster.

SIR GEOFFREY: Yes, we're lucky, the Gallipoli thing going wrong

just at the right moment.

Jackie Fisher's likely to resign, I'm told.

Really?

Your boy's story couldn't have come at a better moment.

Northcliffe's already written to French, you know,

urging him to find some way

of making the shell shortage public.

But of course, as Commander in Chief,

he has to be a little wary.

Surely our troops in France can make it public themselves.

They don't all have the same opportunities

that James did, you know.

Daisy.

Here, what's the matter?

Nothings the matter.

What is it, then?

You're not drunk, are you?

'Course I'm not!

Shh.

I'm going to spend the night with you.

Here?

Here? They'll skin you alive if they catch you.

Well, they won't -- it's quite safe with Rose being away and...

well, we might not see each other again for ages.

Daisy? - Mm?

- I've been thinking. - What?

You know, perhaps Captain James was right, you know.

Perhaps I oughtn't have asked you to marry me.

I mean, well, it's not really fair.

I mean, I haven't got any money put away and...

I'm bound more or less to get wounded or something,

the way this war's going, and...

Well, if you was to have a baby,

they'd chuck you out of here sharp,

no matter what they say now.

Well, that's my business, isn't it?

I mean, I can look after myself and the baby too, if necessary.

Oh, come on, Eddie, cheer up.

You've asked me to marry you, and I've said yes,

and I've got a ring to prove it.

Anything else it would be a breach of promise.

Here, move over, I'm freezing.

Cor, you are cold.

Daisy?

Mm?

Have you, uh...

well, you know.

Have you ever done it before?

Leave off. 'Course I haven't.

But I know all about it.

You don't have six in a room in Hoxton for nothing.

No doubt you're highly experienced,

what with all them country house weekends

and parties and foreign maids and that.

Oh, that was just talk, you know.

That was just jokes.

I've never done it, either, Daise.

Haven't you?

I'm ever so glad.

It'll be the first time for both of us.

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