Original subtitles

How dare you? You made it pretty clear you didn't want us, so we had to make

our own entertainment.

Well, then, since you're so pleased with each other's company, you may leave my

house this moment.

Oh, please, my lady, don't dismiss me.

I've never done anything like that before, and I never will again.

Not in my house, you won't, because you won't spend one more moment in it. What

you do outside of it is no concern of mine. You can do it in the street like

dogs for all I care.

Corda? Where's Corda? Diana, wait!

How dare you speak to me, you little whore? Have you forgotten who I am and

what you are? The love of your life.

You said I was the love of your life. I say, hearts and flowers.

Listen to the little liar.

Corda!

Oh, Diana, what an end to it all.

What are we to do?

Oh, you'll be all right, I suppose.

Go back to your family and spin them some tale about where you've been. No, I

won't go back there. I couldn't. I couldn't let them see me like this.

Well, we're in the same boat then, aren't we, miss?

Don't you have any cash about you at all?

What's in the bag?

Clothes. The boys' clothes I brought with me when I first came.

Well, then.

What, you mean we should put them on and pass as gents? No, I mean we should sell

them. Sell them?

Well, it's that or sell ourselves, I reckon.

Don't want to spend the night in the open, do you?

Come on, miss.

It's all right, miss. Men and women is separate.

So from luxury and a four-poster bed, I had come to this.

But I had Xena and a little money now.

Lie close, miss.

To the wolves.

You mustn't call me miss anymore.

You must call me Nan.

We're equal now, aren't we?

If only Diana hadn't come in when she did.

It was fun, though, wasn't it? Till she came and spoiled it.

It's always fun before they catch her.

It won't be so bad, will it?

We've got each other now.

We might make a go of it.

Don't you think?

Yes, I had lost my place of privilege, but I had found something better, I told

myself. I had found a good pal in Zeena Blake.

Morning.

You're a good sleeper.

Where's my friend?

Where's my friend? Where's my friend? Where's my friend?

She went hours ago, dearie, before it was light. I saw her. I saw her go.

And you never stirred a whisker.

Zina had gone and taken our meagre funds with her.

Spare some change, sir?

Spare a penny for a cup of tea, sir?

For the first time for over a year, I found myself longing for home.

I thought of the warmth of the oyster parlor, mother's cooking, father's

jokes.

But I didn't have so much as a tutney bus fare, and how could I let them see

me like this?

But I had to find somewhere, or starve on the streets.

And during that long night, it came to me.

There was a place where I'd been made to feel at home.

Yeah?

Mrs. Milne, Gracie, they used to live here. Where have they gone?

Couldn't say.

The lady before me took her back in November, and her sister came and took

her back to live with her.

But where?

Bristol, Bath, Dunham.

Dear girl, you have been in the wars, haven't you?

I have, and that's not all.

I've got nowhere to live and nothing to eat and not a penny to buy bread. Well,

we've got nothing to spare, so it's no use hanging around here begging. You'll

get nothing by it.

Wait. Mister, there was a girl who lived over there with her mother. Name of

Florence. Oh, she's been gone this past year.

Moved to Quilter Street and Bethnal Green, I think. Bethnal Green?

But that's miles from here. Best I can do.

She's been in the wars all right, poor girl.

Look at that cheek.

And someone's cropped her hair.

Prison, do you reckon?

They crop the poor girls very short there, don't they? Or one of your

reformatory girls.

She's pretty near half dead, whoever she is.

Oh, look out, she's waking up.

Hello there, miss.

Here we go.

You feeling a bit better?

There's no need to fear, you know. You're among friends here.

Here. Here, let's help you up. Give us a hand here, Flo.

Here we are.

I'll make you a nice cup of something hot.

Would you like that?

Yes, please.

Thank you.

It's very kind.

You're both very kind.

Would it make you very ill to tell me why you've come here?

I met you once.

A long time ago. Don't you remember?

Yes.

I remember.

You left me sitting in that cafe.

You made me feel a fool.

I'm sorry.

It was... I can't explain.

Please don't send me away. Why should you go to such a lot of trouble to find

me now?

I couldn't think of anyone else I could go to.

And I just always remembered you.

I thought you'd remember me.

I made a mistake.

Didn't expect to find you like this.

You've changed, I think, with the baby and everything.

Here we are, then.

Oh, she looks better already, doesn't she, Florence?

Ralph, this lady's a friend of Miss Darby's.

That lady I used to work for.

Oh. I'm afraid I've forgotten your name.

It's Nancy Astley.

Miss Nancy Astley.

Pleased to meet you, Miss Nancy Astley.

You're very welcome.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That cheek still looks very sore.

I suspect you're wondering how I came by it.

It was a man with a ladder on the street.

No, I can't tell a lie.

Truth is, I've been living with someone, and they've thrown me out and kept all

my things, and I had such handsome things. A gentleman, I suppose.

Yes.

You must think me very wicked, but he... He said I was the love of his life.

He was as rich as anything.

He could do what he liked.

He did what he liked with me.

He used to like to make me dress up as a boy in a soldier's suit. They're the

worst of the lot when they go bad, the rich ones. They think their money gives

them the right to treat people like toys.

I'm a socialist, Miss Astley, and we're working to try and put a stop to all

that sort of thing.

You ain't in trouble, are you?

No.

I was.

But the gent fixed that when he... when he beat me.

Oh, well, Miss Astley, if you truly have nowhere, it won't hurt for you to stay

the night with us. Just one night.

And tomorrow, I'll help you find a proper lodging. But I've no money to

pay.

Well, then I'll help you find work as well.

I had thought and

hoped Florence was a Tom like me.

But here she was, married.

with a child, and so stern and serious and thoughtful.

He was kinder to me than she was.

And there was nothing more in it than kindness. I was sure of that.

Gentle as Jesus he was.

And her...

Working, working for her friendless girls, no doubt.

And never looking at the friendless girl who lay in her armchair, almost too weak

to move.

I'll turn in.

Good night, Miss Astley.

I hope to see you feeling better in the morning.

Good night, and thanks for all your kindness.

You do understand, don't you, that it's just for one night?

I won't do to have you stay any longer.

If the girls at the hostel heard about it, they'd all be clamouring, if she can

stay with the family, then why shouldn't we?

Yes.

I can see that.

I suppose.

Have you got everything you need?

Toby's out back, as you know.

Ralph will be up and out of the house by six.

I'll get up a bit later.

But you'll have to leave the house when I do at eight. You do understand that?

Yes.

You've been so kind to me when really you hardly know me at all.

And your husband?

Sassley, you're not up yet.

You must get up now. I have to get to work.

Oh, dear, I don't feel so well this morning. Well, I'm sorry, but you can't

stay here.

I must go to work and I must go now. If you keep me waiting any longer, I should

be late.

Oh, please let me stay just a little while till my head clears and I get a

little strength back. You don't need to wait. I'll let myself out later. I'd be

gone by the time you get home.

You could trust me.

I wouldn't take anything.

All right, you may do as you said and let yourself out.

There's precious little to steal here anyway.

Now, I've made you a list of places you might find a bed in and some places

where you might find work.

Oh, and Ralph left you this half-crown.

He says goodbye.

And good luck.

He's so good.

Now, I'm trusting you.

Don't let me down.

Hello. Who are you?

Just a friend of the family.

I was down on my luck and they let me stay the night.

Yeah, that's them.

Always doing things for other people.

Miss Banner and her brother. They've got no time to look after themselves. He's

her brother?

But I thought they were man and wife.

So... Little Sue?

No, nothing like that.

He belonged to another girl. Their previous lodger.

Oh.

I see.

Then I knew what I should do.

I would make myself indispensable.

I would make myself the angel of the house.

This will be my new home.

It will.

It will.

Oops. Who are you?

I'm Nan.

Astley.

I'm just visiting here for a while.

You've been making your presence felt. I've never seen it so tidy.

Thought I'd come in the wrong house.

Yeah, I'll come to drop these leaflets off. I'll tell Flory.

I'm Annie.

Annie Price.

Bet you can't guess what I do for a living.

Chimney sweep?

Hey, you're not far off.

But I don't crawl up chimneys, I crawl down drains.

Yeah. I'm a sanitary inspector.

It's the stinkiest job in London and I love it.

Mmm, lovely smell.

What is it?

Oh, beef and oysters. I'd better see to it if you'll excuse me.

Do you need any help?

Oh, no, I'm all right, thank you.

Oh, hello. Yeah, I brought them, like I said.

I've got to run now, and I'll be late.

No, something very nice, I think, called men.

You wait and see, I'm never wrong.

Bye, Miss Astley.

I wanted to do something for you, so...

I cleaned the house and made supper for you and your brother.

Who told you that?

The lady next door.

I liked my house the way it was.

Please don't be like that.

Oh, Florence, please let me stay.

It's not possible.

Yes, it is.

I could cook and clean for you like I did today. I could sleep downstairs like

I did last night. I could do your washing and look after your baby boy

while you were at work. My word, I never saw such a shiny doorstep. I was almost

frightened to tread on it.

Hello, Miss Astley. You still here?

Have we you to thank for all this?

All right, you may stay.

For a week.

And if the week works out, we shall try it for a month.

But if it doesn't work, you must go.

Thank you.

And so I became a sort of housekeeper to them.

It was a kind of work I'd never done much of before.

Hard enough.

And dull too, you'd think.

But it seemed like play to me.

Oh, Sue.

And as the time went by, I got more confident.

Why not? I thought.

After all, women's clothes weren't suited to hard physical work. It was

only practical.

And I started to express myself in other ways, too.

Oh.

That's delicious.

Beautiful, Nan. Beautiful.

I think if there was only one dish that had to be served in paradise, it would

be oysters.

No, beef and oyster pie for me. But oysters, definitely.

And it would be a socialist paradise, of course.

Equal shares for all.

And who would be there with you to share it? What, in paradise?

Well, Flo, of course.

And Cyril.

And you.

And Eleanor Marks, I think.

And Keir Harding.

And Mrs Sykes from next door.

You would?

And who'd be in yours, Nancy?

Well, you and Ralph would have to be there making yourselves busy and telling

everyone how to run it.

And Cyril, of course.

Can't leave my big boy out.

And of course you would have to be in mine.

Well, who else would make me oyster pie?

Well, I've had better compliments paid me, but not recently.

Thank you kindly, Miss Banner.

Well, up the wooden hill for me.

Night, both.

Night.

What a lovely day it's been.

Do you know, I don't think we've had a picnic in years.

You do too much for others.

You have to think of yourself now and then.

Don't go up yet.

Come sit down by me.

All right, then.

I wanted to say... sorry for running away from you before.

I was hurt at the time, Nan.

The thing is, you kept wanting to know what I did and...

And I couldn't tell you.

Somehow I couldn't tell you a lie either, so I thought I just couldn't be

with you at all.

Lie to me?

About what?

I let you think it was a gentleman I lived with, but it was a lady.

She picked me up off the street and carried me off in her carriage.

And what was I doing on the street?

I was selling myself to men, dressed as a boy.

When you say you lived with this lady...

Do you mean as a lover?

As a slave, more like.

She dressed me up in fine clothes, but really I was just a kept-all.

Oh, Nan.

Have you never been truly happy?

Oh, yes.

When I was in love, that was a girl called Kitty.

She was my first love and she broke my heart.

And I've been happy since I've been living here with you.

As happy as I could be, except I never felt able to tell you the truth about

myself.

But now I haven't.

I suppose you're going to say I have to go.

No.

I'd like to tell you something, Nan.

That night after you... after we parted, I went to that lecture and I met a girl

there.

Her name was Lillian.

She was so very interesting looking, I knew. I just had to know her.

So after the lecture, I went up to her and we began to talk.

We just went on from there.

It was as if she understood all my thoughts.

I'd never felt like that about anybody.

Oh.

You loved her.

Yes.

And she loved me too.

Only not in the same way.

The fact is, she had a man friend who wanted to marry her.

Only she wouldn't do it. She wouldn't be a man's property, she said.

Though she loved him.

And then when she fell pregnant...

The man wouldn't stand by her.

So she came here to live with us.

And those were the happiest months of all my life.

And then... And then she died.

She died having Cyril.

She was too slight.

The confinement was a hard one.

And she died then.

I'm so sorry about your friend, Flo.

It's been very hard since then.

Sometimes I've wished I might die myself.

She'd only been gone six months when you came.

I couldn't bear the thought of having another girl in the house.

She's the only one I could ever love, you see.

So...

I'm just about good enough to do the cooking and the cleaning, but no hope of

anything more, right?

No, no, I didn't mean that. Yes, you did.

I'm not good enough for you, am I?

And no one ever will be after her.

I'm going to bed.

Good night.

What are you doing?

Well, I can't stay here anymore, can I?

After last night.

You've been very kind to me.

No, wait.

I've been awake half the night thinking about things.

I'm sorry too, Nan.

I haven't treated you very gentle since you've been here, have I?

It wasn't right to take it out on you because I was unhappy.

I've liked it.

Having you here all these months.

I'm glad you stayed.

I was wondering... Perhaps we could go out somewhere together.

Just the two of us, tonight.

All right?

I thought you said it was all girls here.

It is.

You want to look a bit more carefully.

Did you used to come here as a boy?

Now and then.

So he slapped down his sovereign and Susie and me fluff up for half an hour

and then tip the velvet while we're gentle at times.

It's the best work we've ever had. We could have done it for nothing if only

he'd known it.

Tipping the velvet?

Whatever can that be?

You don't know?

It sounds like something to do with dressmaking or millinery.

I don't think it can be. Nobody would pay to watch that.

It isn't.

Well, what then?

Oh, so I understand.

So you managed to get her out of the house. Good for you now, Natalie.

I kept telling Flory this is the place for me. Oh, Flo.

I'm in such a state.

She's coming here tonight.

I met this girl the other day in the office at the sewage works.

Sitting in a ray of sunshine.

I said, are you Sue Brided?

My name's Jude.

She gave me a little smile and she took my hand and I knew that I was in love

again. Oh, you.

Well, it's about time you was in love again, too.

Perhaps you can show her the way, Uncle.

Here she comes.

I won't bring her over if you don't mind. I want her all to myself.

Excuse me, sweetheart, but didn't you used to be Nan King that worked the

halls with Kitty Butler?

Yes, I was Nan King.

Who wants to know it?

There you are. What did I tell you? It is her.

Oh, come and give us a song, Nan.

No, no, I'm finished with all that. Oh, you was the best, you and her.

Half the girls in London was in love with you.

Me and Jenny have got your picture by our bed.

Oh, come on, just one song, eh?

Just to remind us.

Well, go on.

I'd love to hear you.

Oh, all right, then.

Oh, I can go out on the town To all the grand hotels Going at large till

midnight With all the London swells But it ain't any good at all

I can't help remembering

Do you remember the promises we made only last

September? Why did I have to go away?

We said goodbye with a tear and a sigh

and whispered all the pretty things that sweethearts say.

Miss King, delightful to hear you again, and in such good voice. I shan't detain

you, but if you are ever interested in a return to the boards, I can guarantee

you excellent billing in any of my theatres.

My card?

Good evening to you, Miss King. Bob?

Who was that?

Mr Charles Brobisher.

He only owns six theatres in the West End. So you really did?

I did. And maybe I will again.

Good night, eh?

And mind you, take care of her.

Here come the toms.

Look at them, the dirty cows.

How'd you like to see what a proper man can do?

Come on.

Who's first? Ignore him. Just keep going.

Come on, girls.

We'll show you a thing or two.

You?

You can hardly get across the road, let alone get a cock stand.

Show us a thing or two. I don't think so.

Now get off home to your wife before I put you over my knee and spank you.

Come on, Flo.

frozen out.

The mouth must have gone out.

We better be quiet.

Oh, what a night.

Morning. Morning.

No.

What happened last night?

Oh, don't say you wish it hadn't happened. I couldn't bear that. I was

determined it shouldn't happen.

I thought I could never care about another girl after Lillian.

But when it came to it, I think you put a spell on me with that song you sang.

That was the idea.

And you were really on the horse.

Do you really mean to go back?

Well, if Charlie Frobisher thinks I can still do it, I think I might give it a

go.

Would you mind?

I think I'd be rather proud to be a friend of Nan King's.

And very happy to be the lover of Nan Astley.

Flo?

Flo? Oh, God.

Oh, no, stop it.

You don't know where Flo might have...

Oh, there you are.

I was wondering if you could have Cyril for a few minutes, just while I get

shaved.

Here we are.

Well... I'll just

get shaved.

is just about the best kind of man, I think.

OK, now, when we go round the corner, when we go up the stairs, I'll lift and

you drop a bit, all right? All right. OK.

That evening, we put the truckle bed back in the attic, and I moved my night

things to Florence's room, and I put my gown beneath her pillow.

And I felt I had come home at last.

as i can take look about you at our great places and

public buildings and our country houses and our factories

and our empire the adventures in empire yeah thanks thanks name that was very

good till then well get on what is the rich man's wealth but robbery gradually

i was drawn into the center of their lives I had never given a thought to

politics, but now I couldn't escape it, it seemed.

There was going to be a big rally at Victoria Park.

Florence was helping to organise it, and Ralph was to speak at it.

And my own life was opening up as well.

This way, ladies.

It's the best dressing room in the house, Miss King. I trust it meets with

your approval.

Yes. I think it'll do me very nicely. Thanks.

Oh,

Flo.

What is the rich man's will?

Robbery. They steal the land.

Set a wall about it.

They steal the fruits... Flo, please be quiet. How's a man to think?

Steals the fruits. The fruits of our labour. And obliges us to buy them back

from him. Good!

Oh, I've got a girl, she's as pretty as a picture. She's the best help in the

world.

Hello, Nan.

Five minutes.

Tommy, five minutes.

Top of the bill, I see.

Charlie Frobert has done you proud.

Do you remember when you first came to see me, I wonder?

What do you want, Kitty?

You haven't forgotten me then.

I was afraid you might have.

Well, I wanted to see you again, of course.

if you knew how I tried to find you.

It was as though you'd vanished off the face of the earth.

I was afraid you might have harmed yourself.

It was you that harmed me, Kitty.

I'm so sorry, Nan.

It doesn't matter now.

No. No, I can see.

You're doing ever so well.

And you, are you still married to Walter?

You heard about that?

Yes. Yes, I am.

After a fashion, if you know what I mean.

It's what you might call a marriage of convenience.

Nan, so long, I've thought about what I might say if I ever found you. I must...

I must tell you now. I'm not sure I want to hear it.

Would you come back to me, Nan?

Aren't you forgetting you're a married woman?

That needn't matter.

Walter's very good. He lets me do very much as I like.

Well, if we were only little... No!

We were always careful because you wanted it that way.

You were always half-hearted, Kitty.

And I was all for you.

And now I've found someone who's all for me.

She isn't me, though.

Is she, Nan?

No.

She's very different from you.

Nan, I made a mistake with Walter.

If you were to come back to me, I would leave him.

It would be just you and me.

I make it all up to you, Nan. I promise.

I've never stopped loving you, Nan.

You broke my heart, Kitty.

Well, won't you let me see if I can't...

You need time to think about it.

I shan't beg you, Nan.

But you let your heart tell you what's right.

I'll come to the show.

Penny for your thoughts.

That's torn it.

The rally's off.

The marquee company won't let us have the tents.

We won't have no truck with political revolutionaries, so that's that. Oh,

Ralph, we can't just give up just like that.

Well, what else are we to do?

Well, the theatre's dark on Sundays. You could hold your meeting there.

Oh, Nan, do you think you could wangle it for us?

I think Charlie Frober should do more than that to keep me happy.

Nan, you're a tip-topper, you are.

They call it enterprise and capitalism, but what is it really?

What is it?

Oh, really?

Robbery, swindling and slavery.

Robbery, swindling and slavery.

Ladies and gentlemen, please, I give you Ralph Banner.

Go on, you'll be fine.

Ladies and gentlemen, why socialism?

That is the question I've been invited to discuss with you this afternoon.

Why

socialism?

I shall keep my answer rather brief. How

many

times have... You heard economists say that England is the richest country in

the world.

They would answer... I can't bear this.

Nor can I.

Order, ladies and gentlemen, order, please.

All right, ladies and gentlemen. Why socialism?

We'll tell you why.

Because we've been robbed and cheated long enough.

Haven't we, Mr Bannon?

Yeah, here we are.

How old are we likely to be when we die?

Do you know that?

What's the average age of death in Bethnal Green?

Mr Banner knows.

Don't you, Mr Banner? 29.

Well, tell them.

29. 29!

And it is a disgrace and we want an end to it.

Why is the rich man's wealth but robbery under another name?

Like a mermaid.

It's king.

Miss Dan King.

Hello again.

Remember me?

There's a lot of things that have happened since you and I last met. I've

been up and I've been down. But here's the best thing yet.

If all good things around us are sent from heaven above, they've sent me down

in a...

Pretty as a picture, she's the best pal in the world.

With lots of ups and downs, I've worn a lot of different sorts of hats.

I've trudged the streets of London, not a penny to my name.

Next day a toff in topper cane and spats.

I've seen a lot of pretty girls, a lot of plain ones too.

I've felt the prick of naughty Cupid's dart.

I've known some girls whose kisses could leave you black and blue.

And one or two.

Could fairly break your heart But now I think it's time I

settled down and Built myself a cozy little nest

To share with the sweetest girl in London

town The one that I love best

I brought a girl, she's as pretty as a picture, she's the best pal in the

world.

She's not the kind who'd let you down, she's the sweetest little lollipop in

London town.

She's a dear, she's a darling, she's a little bit of heaven, she's a diamond,

she's a ruby, she's a pearl!

I had come so far from the days when I was a girl, standing on this beach,

wondering why I didn't care for Freddy like I should.

And here I am again.

And though I shan't stay long, there's a part of me will always belong here, in

Whitstable, where they have the best oysters in the world.

Shall we go, then?

Have you got your carriage up?

Are you ready to meet the family?

If you are.