All language subtitles for Upstairs Downstairs S04E11 Missing Believed Killed WEB-DL DDP2 0 H 264-squalor (1)_track3_[eng]

(pleasant orchestral music)

- Oh,

good mornin', madam.

- Good morning, Rose.

- Your breakfast, would you
like your breakfast in here?

- Oh, in here, thank you.

Has the post come?

- No, not yet.

Well, it don't come
so early these days,

but his lordship has
telphoned the Red Cross,

and the major is not
on their lists

this mornin'.

Oh, best draw the blinds.

Let you se what you're eatin'.

Mrs. Bridges managed to get
you a nice bit of bacon.

There.

Nice day.

Hard frost and a bit
cold, but sun shinin'.

I better get you something
to put 'round your shoulders.

- Thank you, Rose.

- Try and eat a bit
of breakfast.

- Eddie!

Have you seen Eddie, Ruby?

- Nope.

- I wonder where he is.

Oh, Mrs. Bridges, have
you seen Eddie?

- No, he was supposed to
been bringing in the coals

for the fire.

- No, looked in the coal stay.

Is Eddie upstairs, Rose?

- Haven't seen him.

- There.

(gasps)

- Hasn't she eaten nothing?

- Don't think she slept neither.

She's in the major's
dressin' room just sittin'.

- She's not doing herself
no good neglectin'

herself like this.

That bacon's hard to get now.

You better have it, Rose.

- No, I couldn't, I
haven' got any appetite.

Give it to Edward or someone.

- Oh, Eddie, what have
you been doing in there?

Mr. Hudson's pantry.

- Oh, it's alright, he knows.

He gave me his permission
while he's off

on his police course.

I'm his volunteer
second in command.

Volunteer, mind.

I been workin' out what
all the keys are for.

Do you know what that
one's for, Daisy?

The key to the wine cellar.

- Well, I wish you'd told
me, I been lookin' all over

for you.

- Oh, what's the matter then?

You thought I'd gone
missing or something?

- What did you say, Edward?

- What?

- How dare you?

- What have I said?

- The major's been missing
for over a week now.

Everybody's worried to death
and nobody eaten anything.

All you can do is to
make nasty, horrid jokes.

- But I didn't, Mrs. Bridges.

- Just thank your lucky stars
Mr. Hudson didn't hear you.

That's all.

- I didn't mean nothin'
disrespectful.

What have I said, Rose?

- She shouldn't have gone
at him like that, Rose.

He's still not well.

She shouldn't have
shouted at him.

He's on sick leave.

(grumbling)

- From Georgina.

If James have been brought
in wounded, she's pretty sure

he would have been through
her hospital.

It's in the Passchendaele
sector, but no sign of him.

But that's good news
of a kind, isn't it?

- Have you spoken to the
war office this morning?

- No.

I don't want to pester
them too much.

I know what it's like.

Didn't you sleep, my dear?

I slept quite well
for some reason.

I just don't believe
it's all over.

There's so many possibilities.

Do you have to go
to your canteen?

Why don't you go for
a walk in the park?

It's such a beautiful day.

- If I am alone, Richard, I
think of all the possibilities

and I can get no comfort
from any of them.

It's better for me to
be at the canteen.

I read through all his
letters in the night.

I wanted to feel him alive,

but they were all so former.

Similarity.

- It's always been
the same with James

and his letter writing.

When he was at school, I
remember Marjorie and I used to

receive the most formal
and awkward accounts of

school cricket matches--

- I felt for the first
time last night

that we'd never see him again.

- Now, Hazel--

- It's no use, Richard, I
saw him over and over again

in my mind,

but not caring anymore
for his own safety,

just running blindly
towards the gun.

- Now, that I won't have.

Officers commanding machine
gun companies

do not run blindly
towards the guns.

(phone ringing)

Yes, Edward?

Put him through, will you?

It's the regiment.

Yes, Phillip, what news?

Yes, I see, yes, yes, I agree.

Just hold on.

Hazel, can you be here at
4 O'clock this afternoon?

- Yes, I can be.

- Yes, Phillip, that's
a good time.

Yes, yes, thank you,

and thank you for telephoning.

Goodbye.

James' servant is back on leave.

Phillip thinks he ought
to come see us.

- Trooper Norton.

- Oh, yeah, we're expecting
you, come in.

I'll take that.

- No.

No, I can manage.

Some of Major Bellamy's kit.

- Alright.

Well, I'll show you the way up.

In here.

I'll take it.

I used to valet for the
major before the war.

Country house weekends
and all that.

It must went terribly this
past week not knowing.

Oh, of course, I was
able to tell him

what it was like.

You know goin' up over the top.

I was on the summit.

Middlesex Regiment, 12th
battalion, 18th division,

and Lance Corporal Barns.

You must've been there as well.

- Yeah, I was.

- Wasn't much of
a picnic, was it?

- Where does this go?

- Oh, I'll take that.

- Wounded, was ya?

Corporal?

- Yeah, yeah.

Not by a bullet.

Shell shock.

Well, not when I was out
there, it's been got back.

Well, it wasn't fun coming,
not like some of them.

Funny, I used to get
these giddy spells.

Well, anyway, I was all
set to go out again,

and they just chucked
me in hospital.

I'm on sick leave now.

- Oh.

- Well, I was just explaining.

Oh, madam, this is Trooper
Norton, the major's servant.

- Good afternoon.

- Good afternoon, madam, I
took the liberty of bringing

back some of the major's
personal belongings.

- Yes, I see.

Some letters you wrote, madam.

Post corporal asked
me to bring 'em.

- Thank you.

You seemed to have
given him up then.

- We cut the line from
east the day before

in the pourin' rain.

It never stopped for days.

That morning, we'd attacked
across the Brown Beak River

towards Passchendaele Ridge.

I was going forward
with the major to visit

number two section.

They was with the Scots Guard.

It was rainin'.

- Terrible mud?

- Yes, milord.

We could hardly move
it was so deep.

They started shellin' us like...

Very hard.

One of 'em fell very close
between me and the major.

I was knocked silly for a while.

- How near were you to
Major Bellamy at the time?

- 'Bout 20 paces, milord.

- After the explosion,
could you see him?

- No, madam.

Was a lot of smoke.

It was rainin' hard.

- Was this towards dusk?

- No, after dinner, milord.

- You didn't actually
see the shell hit him.

Nobody saw him hit.

- I looked everywhere for him.

- That I'm sure you did,

but what do you think happened?

- Well, Corporal Horace
Willis said afterwards

he thought he saw 'em,

the major, blown into
a shell hole crater.

I know that someone
shot the major.

- Did Corporal Horace
Willis say if you tried

to investigate?

- Yes, milord,

but just then Gerry's
counterattack,

and it was a lot of trouble,
and we had to go back.

- I see.

-[Norton] Scots Guard major
said we'd have to wait

'til dark.

- Was there no officer?

- No, milord, sergeant
major was all it was left,

and he called it in the shelter.

- What happened that night?

- Nothing, madam.

The Irish Guards came up,

next morning we went
forward with them.

-[Richard] Did you
find the piece?

- I think so, milord.

There'd been a lot
more shelling.

Couldn't find any trace.

- If you couldn't find his body,

then he might have been
taken prisoner.

- Yes, madam, that's what
we was hopin', but...

-[Richard] But, what?

- Well, Trooper Abthorpe
we was at the outpost

said he heard a Scots Guard
Sergeant who was wounded

say they

seen a German officer goin'
'round with his pistol.

-[Richard] You mean the wounded?
Goin' 'round the wounded?

-[Norton] There was a grudge
on and no prisoners was taken.

- We don't have to believe
Trooper Abthorpe's gossips.

-[Norton] No, milord.

- It's quite possible to
survive four or five days

in a shell hole

in bad weather and with
very little food.

You're hearing stories
of it everyday.

He may have been wounded,
he could be picked up

by Canadian forces,
Australian, French--

- General Nesfield has checked
through all that, Richard,

and there's nothing.

- I still refuse without
proper evidence to believe

that James is dead.

- But you believe it,
don't you, Norton?

And his regiment believes
it because they've sent back

his belongings.

- Well, if you have nothing
further to tell us, Norton,

perhaps you better
resign to your barracks.

Thank you for coming to see us.

- Very good, milord.

I would like to say
one more thing.

Major Bellamy was admired
and respected by all

that served under him.

He was certainly the best
officer I've ever had

the privilege to serve under,

and it was no shortage
of volunteers to go back

and look for him when he...

- Thank you, Norton.

Goodbye.

- Milord.

- Nurse!

(mumbling)

- Hernia cerebri.

Corporal Robinson H.,
penetrated cerebellum.

Private Matthew R.

Well, how many of these
do we do tonight?

- We managed the first three.

- What do I do with
me long time record?

What is it? 11 a day.

- Made you some tea, anyway.

- Not with condensed milk.

- I'm afraid there
isn't any fresh.

- Using tea as a stimulant
is not healthy.

- Oh, good, nurse, you've
got my candles.

- Yes, sister.

- I don't know who's
the more unfit for this

next operation, the
surgeon or the patient.

- Hello Georgina.

- Hello.

- Oh, you won't need
those candles, sister.

We can keep the lights
on tonight.

There'll be no air raids
in this weather.

It's coming down in torrents.

- Nurse, don't wring
that cloak in here,

and quickly to your
duties, you're late.

- I brought this for you.

- Thank you.

- How's it been?

- Awful, I'm exhausted.

Private Nichols is dead,

and the young French
officer at the far end.

- Go and get some sleep.

- Are you gonna kiss
me goodbye, nurse?

- Get that one ready
first, nurse, and hurry.

- Yes, sister.

Georgina!

Georgina!

- Nurse, what are you doing?

Get back on duty this minute!

- Jumbo.

- Hazel, I have just heard!

- Richard, I know!

Georgina sent this.

- Nesfield telephoned
at the admiralty.

I bet a few details,
what was Georgina say?

- James alive.

Seriously ill, but in
good hands, hopeful,

love Georgina.

Did Nes fill you more?

- Not the extent of his wounds.

Simply that he was
safe in hospital.

- Richard.

It's a miracle.

- I know!

- I've told Rose.

Now, what do we do now?

Is there any way we can
go out and visit him?

- It's very difficult.

It requires special permission,
all sorts of passes.

It's not encouraged.

- Richard, he is seriously
ill, he might die--

- Let's wait for more
solid information

before we make any plans, aye?

Are you going out or
have you just come in?

- I've an appointment
with Jeffery Dillon.

He wanted to explain
some legal points

in the event James' death.

Now, I can tell him
the happy news.

- Oh, look, there's a picture
of the major in the paper.

Says he's reported
safe, but wounded.

- Bit late tellin' us that.

- Oh, it's a nice
picture of him.

- Does it say any more
about his wounds?

- No, it doesn't.

- Probably doesn't like to.

He's probably lost
an arm or a leg.

- Oh, Ruby, be quiet about that.

Now, you come along with
me, there's work to be done.

Potatoes to be peeled.

- Yes, Mrs. Bridges.

- You've seen what happens
to them, haven't you?

- The wound you mean, Rose?

Yes, I have.

- I don't think could bear it
if he's lost an arm or a leg.

- Well, you'd just have
to get used to it, Rose.

- You do, Rose.

- Better to be killed outright.

Got to die some time.

Better to have a memory
of somebody whole,

then go on livin' with
only half a person.

- Well, I'm not sure I
agree with you, Rose.

Surely, it's better to
survive, isn't it?

Thanks, Daisy.

- What on earth did you
say to Jeffery Dillon?

- What do you mean?

- When you saw him the other
day did you say anything

about wanting to visit
James and the possibility

of bringing him back?

- I may have mentioned it.

- Mentioned it, yes,
well, Jeffery mentioned it

to my dear mother in law who
mentioned it to Lord Darby.

The result is we have a
private ambulance with

our own driver and a
trained nurse ready to take

us across to France next
Thursday morning

and there's nothing
we can do about it.

- Richard, that's
wonderful news, isn't it?

- Hazel, I don't think you
quite understand my position.

A member of the government
appear as seen to be

pulling every known string
to get a son back from

a field hospital in France

while the sons of thousands
of ordinary families

up and down the country
have to wait their turn

for hospital ships.

- But he is your son, Richard,

and you owe it to him
to do everything you can

in your power.

He needs the best doctors
money can buy,

and the best treatment is here.

- I don't think James would
want that sort of favor.

- You were quite prepared to
pull strings for the staff.

When Edward needed
help, he was--

- We are not sending
a private ambulance

to a field hospital to
bring back Edward.

That is quite different.

- Well, then.

Well, can't it be made
plain that Lady Southwold

requested it?

She has every right to do the
best thing for her grandson.

- The whim of an aristocratic
old lady,

well, that's a good try,
my dear, but I don't think

my political opponents
would see it that way.

They'll see it for what it is.

A flagrant misuse of privilege.

- Either people have done it
and survived public opinion.

That Lady Burkenstead
sent one for her nephew.

- I am not concerned
with Lady Burkenstead.

She's not a member
of the government.

- Then let me go alone.

I'll fetch him back.

I'll carry your burden
of guilt for you.

- That's quite out
of the question.

I am not letting you go
to France by yourself.

If we go at all,

we will go together.

- How long have I been here?

- A week.

- What are you doing?

- I'm looking after you.

You're in my hospital.

- Ache.

- You were wounded just
above your right knee.

I've removed a piece
of shell from it.

The pain will ease.

I'll be back in the morning.

Try and sleep.

- Excuse me.

Excuse me, I'm Lord Bellamy,
Major Bellamy's father.

- I'm pleased to meet you,
milord, we were expecting you.

I'm Sister Menzies.

Good afternoon, Mrs. Bellamy.

- Good afternoon.

- Could you mind stepping in
here for a minute, please?

- Thank you.

- Major Rice, the surgeon
who operated on your son

would like a word with you.

He's just finishing
another operation.

- Could we see my husband?

- Well, you can, but
I think one at a time,

and only for a very few minutes.

- I'll wait for Major Rice.

- Follow me, please.

There he is.

- James.

James?

It's me, Hazel.

Oh, James.

- Hazel?

- Georgina!

How is he?

He looks awful.

Is he conscious?

- He's just sleeping.

He was in pain last
night, but we've given him

quite a lot of morphine.

I'd rather we didn't
wake him at the moment.

- May I offer you a cup of tea?

With condensed milk.

- No, thank you.

- As you please.

Now, then.

Your son.

- Major Bellamy.

- Yes, Bellamy.

There we are.

Major Bellamy, life guards.

Oh, yes, shell wound to the
right thigh, gangrenous,

but we've managed to stop
the infection spreading,

and the leg should be spared.

(mumbling)

Oh, and a piece of shell
grazed his forehead

just above the left
eye, superficial.

Clearing up alright.

Now, our main concern
is shock, exposure.

He's been wandering about
all over the place, it seems.

No idea how long.

He's got some temporary
paralysis, and he's at a high
fever.

Well, I'd say he's
over the worst,

and just needs to lie still.

- Hazel, this is Major Rice.

- How do you do?

- Georgina, my dear.

- Excuse me.

- Major Rice has been
giving me all the facts.

It sounds very encouraging.

Could I see him now?

- He's sleeping.

- I'll take you.

- Can you come and dine with us?

- Oh, I'd love to, but I
have to go back on duty.

Perhaps tomorrow night.

Things are fairly quiet
at the moment.

- You consider things quiet?

- Yes.

There's been no attack
for a week now.

The day after an attack
is the terrible time.

They just come pouring in and
we can't accommodate them all.

- All these men lying
on stretchers.

- There's nothing
we can do for them

except try and keep
them dry and warm.

- But the chateau seems huge.

- It's full to bursting.

One wing was bombed
in an air raid.

We thought hospitals
were sacred.

In the chateau lane, a
very old, aristocratic lady

lives in another wing.

She visits all the men out here

everyday and comforts them.

- Do you think it's possible
that James lay outside

in the cold and rain?

- I torture myself
thinking about it.

It is possible,

but he doesn't remember much.

- I don't know how you're
managing at all.

I have nothing, but
admiration for you.

- No, save your admiration
for the surgeons.

They're the ones who
perform the real miracles.

- Yes, yes, I'm sure.

- We still don't know what
happened to him, do we?

- I know a little, he
talked to me last night.

- When?

- He remembers being in the
shell hole after he was hit,

then some story about
a German officer,

and being taken prisoner,
then escaping.

-[Richard] Sounds amazing.

- How amazed he must have
been to have found you

looking after him.

-[Richard] Probably
thought he was dreaming.

- Yes.

I ought to get back.

I do hope you'll be
comfortable in the Village Inn.

I've never stayed there.

The patron, Mr. Bully, we
call him, has become a friend.

James and I had dinner
there once a long time ago

Mr. Willy thought we were
having a secret romance.

He gave us the most solicitor's
attention.

- Will he think the
same about us?

- No, I've already told him.

He's very honored to
have an Englishman lord

staying in his house.

- Goodbye Georgina.

- Goodbye.

- Bye, my dear.

- Goodbye Uncle Richard.

- Will we see you
tomorrow morning?

- Afternoon, I'm back
on duty at four.

I love this ambulance
you came in.

Did someone give you a
ride in it from the loin?

- It's ours.

- Or to be more accurate,
Granny Southwold's,

she hired especially for James.

- For James? I don't understand.

- To take him back to London.

- Didn't you realize?
That's what we're here for.

- Take him back? When?

- Soon as possible.

Tomorrow, the next day,
well, as soon as

the doctor's allow it.

- Have you asked them?

-[Richard] Not yet.

- Well, I'm afraid there's
no chance of him leaving.

He's still very dangerously ill.

He must have complete
rest and not be moved

for several weeks, at least.

- Does she mean that?

She's a nurse, she must know
what she's talking about.

What are we to do?

We can't stay here indefinitely.

- His temperature is
down today, Major.

His pulse is steadier,
but his general condition

is still very serious.

- We do have a trained
nurse accompanying us.

- And another one at home
waiting for our return.

- Well, the wound is clean.

No further treatment
needed apart from

normal dressings,

but the body needs its
own time to mend,

and I can't predict
how long that will take

nor the effect a journey
would have.

If he were my son--

- Yes?

- Well, let me just say
if you want to risk it

that's up to you, but don't
blame me if he doesn't

make the journey.

- Naturally, I accept
full responsibility.

- Can we go now?

Or should we wait another day?

- One more day won't
make a difference.

- Thank you.

- I'll go and see if
the driver ready.

- Excuse me--

- Nurse, Major Bellamy's
leaving, get him ready,

would you?

- Yes, sister.

- Just who do they think
they are coming here

with a private ambulances?

- Well, that's what
money and influence does.

They wanna kill him,
that's up to them.

- Graceful in my view.

- One more empty though.

- James?

- Hazel.

- It's alright.

We're going to take you home.

- Hazel, you can't take
him, you'll kill him

if you move him.

- No!

Georgina, we've spoken
to Major--

- Major Rice does not
have to nurse him.

Well, look at him, can't
you see how ill he is.

- We have our own nurse.

He will get the best care

I promise you that,

and it leaves a bed for
you for one of those

poor men who are lying
outside in the cold--

- The roads are treacherous,
they're mud heaps.

If he ever gets to Berlin,
he will never survive

the sea journey,
he must be kept--

- Nurse, what is
the matter here?

Is the patient ready?

- Sister, tell them,
please, they can't take him.

He'll die if they move him.

- It's already been decided
now pull yourself together

wisely, come on, get
on with your work.

- Uncle Richard, please.

- Georgina, I know how you feel,

but we'll take good care
of him, I promise you.

We won't take any undue risks.

- Is everything ready, nurse?

-[Nurse] I think so.

- Good.

- He'll need another pillow.

Has the dressing been changed?

- Just an hour ago.

- Hazel, we'll wait outside.

- Oh, be careful.

(doorbell ringing)

- Good evening, Edward.

- Edward, the major in the
ambulance in a stretcher.

Help the driver get him in.

- Nurse Wilkins, how do you do?

- How do you do, Mrs. Bellamy?

How was the journey?

- Bit of an ordeal.

- Room is already, madam.

- Thank you very much.

-[Edward] Straight
upstairs, milord?

- Straight upstairs
and into bed.

- I never saw anyone
look so terribly ill

in all my born days

- Neither have I.

- What a color.

- Death's door.

- Major's supper's ready,
who's gonna take it up?

- Oh, I will, yeah, I'll
have this, Daisy.

- Just a minute, Rose.

He won't want any of
that, I'm afraid.

Mrs. Bridges, may I have
some boiling water, please?

- Oh, yes.

Get it for you at once.

- Nurse?

He is gonna be alright,
ain't he?

- Yes, of course, with
a lot of rest and care.

Thank you, Mrs. Bridges.

-[Richard] Our mission
achieved then.

- Yes.

I must write to Lady Southwold.

-[Richard] And Georgina?

- Yes.

We proved her wrong, didn't we?

-[Richard] Now, Hazel.

- I'm sorry, Richard,

but it wasn't very dignified.

Fighting for my husband in a
ward full of wounded soldiers.

- I don't think it was
anything more than

a cousinly infatuation.

If it was even that.

Don't forget the enormous strain
she's under in that place.

Now, put it out of your mind.

Yes?

- Excuse me, Lord Bellamy,
Mrs. Bellamy,

the major's awake and he
seems a little better.

He's been asking for
you, Mrs. Bellamy.

- James.

Oh, James.

- Flowers.

- Yes, aren't they beautiful?

Rose told me that the florists--

- Scent

reminds me of the smell of gas.

Sorry.

- Oh, stupid of me.

- No, no.

How could you have known?

Are you sleeping in there?

- Yes.

If you need anything,

you ring this.

(ringing)

- Nurse, not a wife.

- Part of a wife's duty.

A happy part to nurse
you back to health.

- Georgina?

- She stayed at the
hospital in France.

(mumbling)

- In the ward,

I wanted to marry her.

- I love you.

- Was he hungry?

- Well, he ate a bit of it.

You know, just lookin'
at 'em up there,

and thinking of all the
things he's been through.

Leading his men on fearless
with bullets and shells

whizzing past him,

makes you sort of
hero worshiping.

- Don't forget, I've seen
it all as well, Daisy.

- Oh, I know you have, Eddie.

It makes all more
admiring of you.

- What? Thinking of him
makes you admiring of me?

- Admiring of all you soldiers.

I never really understood
it before.

- Oh, so you're admirin'
us all now, are you?

Wanna hero worship everybody?

- I know what she means.

- Yeah, so do I, Ruby but
it's different for her.

She's a married woman.

- Well, I'd only marry someone
who's been at the front.

(bell ringing)

- James, James, what is
it? What's the matter?

- What's the matter?

- I'm hungry,

and this damn dressing's
itching like mad.

- I'll change it for you.

- And that jug things's
so ugly, I wanna smash it.

- I'll remove the jug,

and I'll get you
something to eat.

- Oh!

- Sorry, Mrs. Bridges.

I didn't mean to startle you.

- It's quite alright, madam.

I just come down to make
myself a cup of cocoa.

I'm not sleeping so
well these nights.

- Oh, I'm sorry.

Major Bellamy's woken
up, he's feeling hungry.

- Oh, I am glad he's
getting his appetite back.

Now, what do you
think he'd like?

- Could he have some
of that delicious soup

we had for supper?

- Yes, and I've saved
a nice bit of ham.

I can put it in a sandwich.

- Thank you, Mrs. Bridges.

Oh, here's the bread,

and I've found some cheese,
Mrs. Bridges.

-[Mrs. Bridges] Is that
bread fresh, madam?

- It feels alright.

-[Mrs. Bridges] Oh, there's
some jelly here, madam.

You think he'd like that?

- I think he'd love it,
he always used to.

- One thing you must
feel happy about, madam,

the war's over for him.

- Yes.

How funny, I haven't
thought of it.

- First thing I thought
up when I saw him going up

them stairs on that stretcher,

we're one of the lucky
families, I thought.

Our young gentleman's
out of the fighting.

Thank God, he's been spared.

After all the weeks of
worrying and waiting,

I didn't think I could bear it.

Trying to keep things
normal down here,

no Hudson.

I hope I haven't let
things slip, madam.

- Of course, you haven't,
Mrs. Bridges.

- Thank you, madam.

-[Hazel] One forgets.

- Beg pardon, madam?

- I been so busy thinking
about myself,

you've all been marvelous
and I've scarcely

given you a thought.

- As it should be, madam.

- No, it isn't, Mrs. Bridges.

- You've got quite enough
to think about.

- But it isn't as it
should be at all.

Look, as soon as possible,
I'd like you all to have

an outing.

Well, as a mark of my gratitude.

- That's very kind
of you, madam.

Very much appreciated,

but an outing in this weather...

- The theater.

George Roby, would
you like that?

-[Mrs. Bridges] Oh, yes.

- Then, I'll arrange
it, it'll be my treat.

- Thank you, madam.

That's very kind.

Could you pass me the
butter, please, madam?

Thank you.

- My dearest James and Hazel,

I was so happy to get
news of your safe arrival

and progress.

I thought I was indispensable,

but I'm much relieved
to be proved wrong.

Things have got quieter here
in these last few weeks,

and I now have time to
catch up on some sleep

and writing letters.

Please give my love to Uncle
Richard and all the staff.

Love to you both as
always, Georgina.

- That's subdued for Georgina.

- She's grown up.

- Paris does all.

Where's that nurse?

- Her afternoon off, why?

James, James, what
are you doing?

- Getting up, where's Edward?

- James, you can't get
up, don't be ridiculous.

- Hazel, I planned it all night.

I want to be downstairs
in the morning room

with champagne for when
father returns.

- Champagne?

- It's his birthday.

- Steady.

- Thank you, Edward.

That's alright, Edward.

You go and open the champagne.

It's alright, Rose,
I can manage.

- Oh!

- Room is smaller.

-[Hazel] It seems smaller.

- No.

No, it is smaller.

Don't look so worried,
darling, this is a triumph

you're nursing.

- And a tribute to your
indomitable spirit.

Well, Dr. Foley will
be surprised,

but James he said 10
weeks in bed at least.

- What does Dr. Foley
know of my condition?

What does he know spending
three days in a shell hole?

There isn't any medicine
for that.

- Thank you, Edward.

- Isn't that right, Edward?

- Yes, sir.

- Thank you, Edward.

You're my medicine.

You, this.

Being at home.

Surrounded by good
care and attention.

My love.

Will you do something?

When father comes in

will you leave us
alone together?

- Yes, of course.

- So long since I had
a talk with him.

- What's he like,
this George Roby?

- What's he like?

Well.

Like this.

Archibald, certainly not.

About this game of
cricket I've read a lot,

but it seems last week
at Dover you went

and balled at Madonnova, so
Archibald, certainly not.

- Very good, needn't
bother going now.

- We are going alright.

This is Mrs. Bellamy's
special treat and we're all

going to enjoy ourselves,
so come along.

Oh, won't you change your
mind and come with us, Rose?

- No, I'm too tired besides
the major might need something.

- Alright, well, come
long, you others.

Now, nobody lag behind.

- Have a good time.

- We will.
- Goodbye Rose.

- Hello father.

Happy birthday.

- My dear boy, what a
wonderful surprise.

I was going to ignore
my birthday,

but this is the best
present I could have had.

You really better or you
playing truant with the doctors?

- I don't consider them anymore.

I can survive that
journey in the ambulance,

I can survive anything.

- Well, that was a
grandmother's wish.

I didn't want it and I
thought you wouldn't either.

An embarrassment to both of us.

- Well, you mean for
you politically.

- And for you in terms
of your men.

- We shouldn't worry about that.

Mother would have
insisted on it.

- Yes, she would, wouldn't she?

- Anyway, why shouldn't
I be born in splendor

while my men have to
make the best of it?

Damn nearly killed me anyway.

- Georgina thought
it was going to.

- Yes, yes, there was

a bit of a scrap between
them, wasn't there?

- Oh, nothing serious.

They're both concerned for
you in their separate ways,

that's all.

- Nice to know somebody was.

- Oh, my dear boy, if
you knew how many people

were asking after you daily.

- Of course, one forgets
the other side of it.

You must have had an
awful time of it here.

How long was I missing?

- 'Bout 10 days.

Can you remember what
happened to you?

- A bit of it I can remember
very clearly.

The rest is confusion.

A shell hole.

The mud waist deep, the
hours of waiting.

- You were taken prisoner,
then you escaped.

- Yes.

A Bosch patrol took me
to the dressing station,

and there was a captain
of the Scottish Rifles

in the bed next to me.

He had this theory that
all men were barbarians

only truly fulfilled by war.

Deprive them of it, he said,
and they take to drinking,

gambling, and general
misbehavior.

He was trying to put the
idea into Latin verse.

I couldn't contend with that so

I just got up and

hobbled out into the

smoke and chaos.

Maybe they stopped me,
I just kept walking.

God knows where.

- You walked mercifully
straight into the path

of a Canadian unit.

They took you to one of
their dressing stations,

and then after to Georgina's
hospital.

- There as a German officer

when I was in the shell hole

making his way through
the woods after the attack

killing off our wounded
with his revolver.

He was coming towards me
and nearer and nearer,

I tried to get my revolver
out of its holster but

I didn't have any strength
in my fingers.

He raised his arm.

I was done for.

We just stared at each other,

and then inexplicably
he lowered his pistol.

He just stood there
looking at me,

giving me time to get my
finger on the trigger and fire.

I blew the top of his head off.

Why didn't he kill me?

- Perhaps he was humanely
shooting the worst

of your wounded to spare
them unnecessary suffering.

- Is that why?

I felt we were brothers,

even the same person,

and it didn't matter
who killed who.

It wasn't important,

and what happens now
isn't important.

It has no meaning.

- James.

You mustn't say that.

- What can it have,
father, after that?

- You've been spared, you
have so much to contribute

when the peace comes.

- Peace?

Peace is for grandfathers
and grandsons.

- And survivors.

- I wouldn't count on them
to put the world to right.

- Between us, James,
between us we can do it.

Grandfathers, grandsons,
and survivors.

You owe it to us to try.

- Well, at least we're
talking, that's a start.

I'm afraid the champagne
is making me feel a bit...

I must go up to bed.

Can you help me?

- You're fine.

James, why don't you stay?

I'll call Edward.

- No.

Afraid he's gone out, it's
just you and me, I'm afraid.

- Do you want a doctor?

- No, no.

Father.

What I wanted to say was

when I was in that shell hole,

I could feel mother's presence
more strongly than anything.

Whether she'd come to
protect me or if she'd come

to claim me,

I don't know.

It didn't matter.

She was there.

- She was here, too.

Put your weight on me.

(pleasant orchestral music)