All language subtitles for Upstairs Downstairs S05E02 A Place in the World WEB-DL DDP2 0 H 264-squalor (1)_track3_[eng]

(elegant orchestral music)

- Can I take your
cup, Mr. Hudson?

- No, no, Ruby, fetch
Mrs. Bridges at once.

I have something I want to
read out to you, all of you.

Frederick, sit over
here, will you?

- What's this about
then, Mr. Hudson?

- Sit down please, Mrs.
Bridges, and you will hear.

You listen too, Ruby.

Lily?

It's from the correspondence
page of this morning's Times.

It begins, "Dear Sir, I have
recently heard of a story

"which fills me with
horror, dismay, and shame,

"the case of a former sergeant

"of the King's Royal Rifle Corps

"unable to find employment

"who has been reduced to
living for the past nine months

"with his wife and four children

"in a patchwork shack
made up of tarpaulins

"and old army ground sheets."

- Oh.

- "The total space in
which the family must live,

"eat, and sleep is 10
feet by six feet."

- How big is that, Mr. Hudson?

- You can measure it out
for yourself later, Ruby.

"Nor is this an isolated
incident.

"I am informed that
there are thousands

"of ex-servicemen of all
ranks in a similar plight

"all over the country,

"men who fought so gallantly

"and endured horrors
and deprivations

"in the worst war mankind
has ever known.

"Men whose welfare now
should be the top priority

"of any government, but what
is the government doing?

"The pledges given at
the last election

"to re-house and re-employ
returning soldiers

"are already shown to
be pitifully inadequate.

"Can we truly claim to
be building a land

"fit for heroes to live in?

"From Major The Honorable
James Bellamy MC,

"the Guards Club,
London West One."

Splendid, splendid.

- It's monstrous.

- I am referring to the
letter, Mrs. Bridges.

- I was referring to the
contents, Mr. Hudson.

- Oh indeed, it is shocking.

- That poor man.

How ever can it be
allowed to happen?

- Well, it's a question of
money and priorities, Lily.

You see, the government
has recently devoted

all of its energies to
securing wattle peace.

- Never mind about the peace.

It's the soldiers that
should come first,

just like the major says.

Ruby, what are you at?

- Measuring, Mrs. Bridges.

From 'ere to that fireplace,

it's just six foot that took.

Well, that's not enough
for them to kneel down

and say a prayers in even.

- Oh well, there, there.

- You're very silent Frederick?

What do you think about it?

- Can't find the words,
Mr. Hudson.

I'm just proud the Major
wrote that letter, that's all.

- I'm not the to take it,
am I, that you disapprove

of the letter?

- Of course not.

It was admirable.

People have been congratulating
me for he past two days.

- Members of the government?

- Not all of them, no,
though one or two

have privately expressed
their approval.

No, I am simply saying
that one heart felt letter

from a gallant ex-officer
doesn't turn 'im over night

into a peace time politician.

Geoffrey, have the Central
Office sent you here?

- Good heavens no.

I've no official connection
with the Central Office.

But one or two people
have let it be known

that they're interested
in James.

I'm surprised no one's
spoken to you about it.

- The subject has
been mentioned.

Though I dismissed
it right away.

- Isn't that being
a little hasty?

- No, my darling, I'm
not being hasty.

I know what's behind all
this and so does Geoffrey.

The boy's young, intelligent,

served in a fine regiment,
won a good MC.

Now that cat has his own aura.

The conservative
party knows this.

They simply want him to
enhance their own prestige.

But what happens
when he gets in?

He's no knowledge of
government affairs,

won't know how to make a speech.

He won't survive.

- He's survived worse.

- He's an amateur,
that's what I mean.

No training for the life.

- Sorry Richard, but James
has lived in an atmosphere

of politics in this
house all his life.

Isn't that sufficient training?

As to his heart being in it,
I honestly don't think that,

(distant voices)

Well don't you think you
should let him answer that

one for himself?

- Hello Sir Geoffrey.

What's this?

Not financial troubles, I hope?

-[Geoffrey] No James, I just
called in to congratulate

you on your letter.

- Oh thank you.

- Remarkable story.

Richard's just been
telling me you got it from

a doorman at the guard's lounge.

- Yes, the fellow was
his brother-in-law.

We just passed the hat
round for him, poor fellow.

It's a start, I suppose.

- A very healthy one.

- Is that all you
called in about?

You look conspiratorial.

- May I tell him Richard?

- If you must, Geoffrey,
I can't stop you.

- James, have you ever
seriously thought

of going into politics?

- Me? Good lord, no, why?

- There you are, you see?

- What is this?

- Geoffrey has received
what amounts to proposition

from the conservative
Central Office.

- Nothing of the sort.

- They want to know if you'd
be interested in standing

for Parliament.

Your father doesn't
think you would.

- On the strength of one
letter scribbled in haste?

Woo, they must be hard
up for candidates.

- They are, of the right sort.

- Young men who fought and
who can truly represent

the interests of ex-servicemen
and their families,

isn't that right Sir Geoffrey?

- In a nutshell, yes.

- Yes, but my letter was
supposed to be attacking

the government.

- The coalition government,
not the conservative party.

The coalition won't
last forever.

- No, no thank heavens.

Well, it's an intriguing idea.

Tell me, would I be
tied to the party line,

or could I speak my mind?

- I imagine you'll be free
to say whatever you like.

I take it you support the
basic principles of the party?

- The principles yes, but
not always the way they go

about it.

Hmm, this needs thinking about.

It's true, I have been
looking for something to do

with my idle life.

What do you think, father?

- I'm strongly against the idea.

Made it quite clear to
Geoffrey and Virginia,

politics is a serious business,

not meant to be taken idly.

- Am I giving that impression?

- You are rather when you talk
of filling your idle life.

I'm delighted your well again

and ready to do something,
but not politics.

I beg of you James, not for you.

- Oh I do believe your
jealous father.

- If you found the life
was not to your taste,

- Or if I fail to get in.

- Of course you'll get in
somewhere, that's not in doubt.

The question is what
does he do afterwards?

He'll put himself in an
entirely false position,

handling constituency
problems, making speeches.

It's a job for a professional.

- Yes, thank you father,
I take your point.

But if I have an opportunity,
I must be allowed

to decide for myself.

If I do agree, Sir Geoffrey,
how do I go about it?

- Well, there'll be a
bi-election quite soon,

Rotherhithe.

Old Harry Weatherall who
contested the seat
unsuccessfully

for years died last month.

Was 73.

- Rotherhithe?

-[James] That's docks
land, and I don't know much

about docks.

- Well you could soon learn.

-[Geoffrey] Enough
to get by anyway.

- It's a cast iron labor seat,
he doesn't stand a chance.

If he really wants to get in,

for heaven sake, let us
find him something safe.

- No, no father, I
wouldn't want that.

- Plenty of ex-servicemen
homeless, unemployed

Rotherhithe, I'm afraid.

Interesting to see what sort
of impression could be made.

- Not very much, I should think.

- Maybe so.

You're being very
quiet, Virginia.

Tell me, what do you
think about all this?

- I'm not sure that my
opinion counts for very much.

- Oh it counts for a great deal.

- Very well, I think
you should do it, James,

if you want to.

I don't want to seem
disloyal to you Richard,

but quite frankly I find
your objections impossible

to fathom.

There's not great mystery
to politics.

It's not some exclusive
club unless those inside

choose to make it one.

If a man from any walk
of life has a sincere

and honest wish to serve
his fellow men

then we should encourage
him all we can.

That's what a democracy
means, I've always thought.

-[Geoffrey] Perhaps I should
leave you to talk it over.

- No, no Sir Geoffrey, don't go.

Tell me, when, when must
I let them know?

- The sooner the better.

The local association are
vetting applicants this week.

- Are they?

- Father, I promise you I'm
not going to take this lightly.

But I believe I might have
started something with this

damn letter that I have an
obligation to see through.

- James, there are other ways.

- Oh, what other ways?

This is the way you've
always chosen,

so why shouldn't I?

Got politics in my blood on
both sides of the family.

Feeling fit now, energetic.

Maybe I've just been waiting
for the right moment.

- May I tell them that
you're interested?

- You can do more than
that, Sir Geoffrey.

You can tell them if
they want me, I'm game.

- Splendid, splendid.

Well Virginia, I really must go.

Richard.

Do I detect a new influence
in the house?

You've had this room
redecorated, haven't you?

- Oh, oh that, yes.

Do you approve?

- Well, we must all move
with the times I suppose.

- I should hope so.

(rain pattering)

- Come on Daisy.

- I must go home, Eddie.

I can't face 'em.

- Come on, it was your idea.

- Wasn't, you can't blame me.

- Come, we're here now love.

(knocking)

Oh hello Frederick, Daisy
and I were just

in the neighborhood so
we thought we'd pop in

and see you and see how you are.

- Come in.

- Hello Daisy!

Oh how lovely to see you.

And Edward.

- How ya keeping?

- Oh, I'm all right,
but my goodness you two,

you're soaked to the bone!

Here, put the kettle
on Ruby, quickly.

Now you go in there,
take your coats off,

dry yourselves by the fire.

I'll bring you a
nice cup of tea.

- Thanks Mrs. Bridges,
shocking weather out.

- Oh shocking!

- Hello Lily.

- Hello Daisy.

Hello Edward.

- Hello Lily.

Darning the major's
socks, are you Frederick?

Never did that in my day,
always left that to the girls.

- Yeah?

Where there was rather a
shortage of girls where we were,

at the front.

- Yeah, I didn't mean that, um,

- Shall I take that
coat for you?

- Thanks very much Lily,
it's soaking wet.

- Lily, could you
take mine also?

- Yes.

- Come on Dais, warm
yourself up.

(door closes)

Hello Mr. Hudson.

- What are you both doing here?

-[Daisy] Just passing
really, Mr. Hudson.

-[Edward] Yeah, we were
in the neighborhood,

so we thought we'd pop
in and see you all was.

-[Daisy] Actually, it was
Rose we really come to see,

wasn't it Eddie?

- Yeah.

Daisy thinks she left a
pair of winter shoes here,

so she thought she'd pick 'em
up if Rosie's still got 'em.

No point in splashing out
in a new pair, is there?

- No indeed.

Well, Rose isn't
here, I'm afraid.

She's gone down to Southwald.

Her aunt has passed away.

- Oh, I am sorry.

When's she coming back?

- We don't know for certain,
but Lily can look up the shoes

for you.

- Oh, no, no, don't
trouble Lily,

they're probably lost
after all this time.

- Excuse me.

- Oh, sorry.

Oh well, we'll just
have a cup of tea

and then we'll have to catch
the tram back to Camberwell.

- Oh no you won't.

You're stopping to supper.

Aren't they Mr. Hudson?

- Are they?

- Richard Darling, may I
present the perspective Tory

member for a Rotherhithe East.

-[Richard] So they've
adopted you?

- That's right Father.

- Well, I suppose they
know what they're doing.

- Yes.

-[Virginia] Aren't you going
to ask him what they said?

-[Richard] Yes, yes, of course.

What did they say?

- Well, what they usually
say, I suppose.

There're a pretty ram lot.

Very complacent and fatalistic
if you want my frank opinion.

I went there armed my
full battery of limited

dock land knowledge and
they didn't ask me a single

question on the subject.

All they wanted to know
was my state of health,

whether I was RC or not,
and how much I was prepared

to give to party funds.

I said 200 pounds,
their faces lit up,

hand shakes all round
and I was in.

Not a sign of any
other contender.

- Well, they have no need
to reassure themselves

of your ability.

-[Richard] Tipped off by
Center Office, you mean?

- Father, I know that you
see me as an enthusiastic

amateur, but I shall have
a damn good stab at proving

you wrong.

I met the agent by the
way, Arthur Knowles.

He at least seems
to be on my side.

We took a walk around
the constituency.

Very depressing.

Rotten campaigning weather.

Is that, that pot still warm?

- I think we need
champagne, don't we Richard?

- Yes, yes, of course.

- The servants will
be so pleased.

- Standing for Parliament?

Well, that's marvelous.

I'd vote for him.

- I'm sure we all would Edward,

if we lived in Rotherhithe East.

- He wrote this letter
to the papers you see,

about the plight of unemployed
servicemen.

- It's about time someone
stuck up for them, poor devils.

- Daisy.

- Heard anymore that
furniture job, Edward?

That one you was
after on Fudway?

- Yeah, well, no, I didn't
get that one actually.

It fell through.

- Still selling brushes then?

- Yeah, that's right.

- Going all right, is it?

- Well, you know, up and down.

Weather doesn't help much.

- Rain and all that, eh?

- Yeah.

You know, I've got
some funny stories,

knocking on people's doors.

Do you know what, there was
an old lady the other week,

she wanted a nice soft
brush for a cat.

So I go in, there's
the cat all right,

sitting on the bed.

Do you know what?

It was stuffed, dead.

She wanted a brush
for a dead cat.

- Can I help Mrs. B?

- Oh no thank you my dear.

Ruby and Lily can manage.

Looking pale Daisy.

Getting enough to eat?

-[Daisy] Oh yeah, plenty thanks.

- Daisy, what's happened
to your baby?

- Ruby!

- Oh it's all right, you
have to know sometime.

I lost it.

Miscarriage, six months.

- Oh my dear, I am sorry.

- So am I Daisy, that's
a great shame.

- Yeah, well, it was
disappointing, especially for
Eddie

but the doctor said I'll
be able to have another one

and there's plenty of time.

- Well, of course there
is, plenty of time, yes.

- Well, are we ready for
supper then, Mrs. Bridges?

- Just coming, Mr. Hudson.

You go in and sit down my dear.

Ruby come help me dish up.

- For what we are
about to receive,

may the Lord make
us truly thankful.

-[All] Amen.

- Well, it certainly looks

and smells delicious
Mrs. Bridges.

- Thank you, Mr. Hudson.

I hope everybody's hungry.

You still stopping at
the same place, Daisy?

- Yeah, number nine
Stockar Row, Mrs. Bridges.

You'll have to come and
visit us sometime,

won't she Daisy?

-[Mrs. Bridges] Oh,
I'd like to do that.

- This house don't seem
to have changed much.

Not one bit.

- Apart for the children, who
make for a lot of extra work,

ask Frederick and Lily.

- Children? Here?

- Yes, Lady Bellamy's children.

Master William and Miss
Alice, quite reasonable

as children go.

(utensils clattering quickly)

- Have you got any regrets
giving up service Daisy?

- No, no, no regrets Lily.

Just happy memories.

- Yeah, we live on 'em.

- What do you mean, Daisy?

- Oh, nothing Mr. Hudson, she
just gets a bit depressed.

Misses the company, that's all.

- With you out at work
all day, eh Edward?

- Yeah.

- So, you do get depressed
after losing babies?

- What?

- They know about it.

- Oh.

- We're very sorry to
hear about it, Edward.

- Yeah, well, thanks.

Ruby's right, that's
all it is though.

We can't keep our Daisy
down for long, can we, eh?

(laughs)

- Why do you have to keep
this pretending Eddie?

Why don't you tell
them the truth?

They aren't fooled.

- What are you talking
about the truth?

- I think we've guessed the
truth, haven't we Edward?

- Tell him, for pity's sake.

- Well, I think what Daisy
wants me to say is that

brush selling didn't work out.

Well, I'm out of a
job at the moment,

but I'll get something else.

I mean I'm not downhearted.

- Daisy?

(Daisy crying)

- I'm sorry.

They're so cruel to people
like my Eddie, I get so angry.

Stupid hoity-toity women and
butlers shouting rude things,

slamming the door in his face.

Don't they know what he
did for them out there?

What he went through?

- Daisy shut up, they don't
want to hear about that!

- Well they should hear
it, they're our friends.

They're the only friends we got.

- We do sympathize,
believe me Edward.

It's a strange, cruel world.

But you did make your own
beds, the both of you.

- What do you mean by
that, Mr. Hudson?

- I know what he means
Mrs. Bridges.

He means it's our fault.

- I didn't say that Edward.

- No, you meant it though.

See, I've never forgotten
what you said to me

in days when we left here.

You wanted us to stop
running service like Rose

for the rest of our lives.

But me and Daisy, we
wanted something different,

because I reckoned
we'd earned it.

Only Daisy's right.

You don't know what
it's like out there

in this rotten world, 'cause
you've never tried it.

And until you do try
it you've got no right,

- Eddie don't.

- Well he hasn't.

He wants try to looking
for work and supporting

a wife in a miserable little
room with the rain coming in.

That's why she lost our baby.

Because it wasn't possible.

It wasn't bloody possible
the way we're living.

- Please, Eddie.

- Let me finish, I'm
not frightened of him.

He's just a self-satisfied,
smug old man

who did nothing in the war
except serve bloody sherry!

Come on girl.

-[Mrs. Bridges] Oh Daisy!

Daisy if there're
any winter shoes,

or anything you want, I'm
sure we could find something

for you.

- Thanks very much Mrs. Bridges,

but we don't want charity.

Come on.

(door slams)

(sea birds crying)

(ship horns blowing)

- So is this a good spot?

- Yes, they'll come through
those gates in a moment

in their dinner round.

The pension office is
just around the corner,

so we ought to draw
the service men.

And women will come out
of the tenement building.

- Tell me, am I preaching
to the employed

or the unemployed?

- Preaching?

- (chuckles) Does seem a bit
like a revivalist meeting,

doesn't it?

Do I just uh, start?

- Yes.

Here, Major, have
a draw of this.

- No.

- Loosen your voice.

Mr. Weatherall always
used to like to take a nip

before he started to speak.

- Good morning.

I am--

- Here, Major, try this.

- Good morning.

Good morning.

(ship horn blowing loudly)

I am your conservative
candidate, James Bellamy,

and I'm here today to
ask for your support

in the coming bi-election.

Good morning madam.

But first of all I want
to introduce myself

and try and explain why
I'm standing here today.

Now most of my life, I have
been a professional salesman.

And I know that it's
oft said that soldiers

should stick to what they
know and shouldn't mettle

in politics.

Well, I used to believe
that once myself.

But these times we're
living through,

the aftermath of this
most terrible war,

in which we have all suffered,

have caused me to
change my mind.

The gallant working
men of this country,

with whom I fought
in the trenches

and for whom I gained
an undying respect.

I believe,

(horse feet clopping)

I believe deserve a better
deal than they're getting

at the moment.

Decent housing, proper
employment, higher wages.

Now the coalition government,

Mr. Loyd George and his
mixed band of helpers

claim that this is being done.

But I say it is not being
done fast enough

nor with the true
understanding of your needs.

There are too many arguments.

Too much time is being wasted.

A single party, united
and pulling together,

can do the job in half the time.

That party is the conservative
party.

Now during the weeks to come.

I shall be holding open meetings

and issuing pamphlets which
lay down our proposals.

And also I hope during
my campaign,

in the constituency
to meet many of you

to discuss your individual
prob--

(window slamming)

To discuss your individual
problems.

(ship horn blows)

- From Mrs. Bridges.

She woulda come herself
only the weather's so bad.

She apologizes for old age,

but they're good quality
shoes, eh?

Try 'em on, see if they fit.

- You're not accepting
them Daisy.

- Well, I need 'em Eddie.

- Take them back and thank
Mrs. Bridges very kindly.

We don't need 'em,
we've got some.

- She won't believe you.

Besides she'll be upset.

- Give 'em here, I'm
gonna try 'em on.

- You do Daisy, I'm warning
ya, I'll walk out of here.

- Well, go on then, walk out.

I don't care, I need them shoes.

- She could do with 'em Edward.

- Shut up!

- They do fit.

They're comfortable.

- Daisy!

- Thank her very much for
me, will you Frederick?

- Yeah, I will.

She said to say she felt
bad about the other day.

- Just leave us alone,
will ya Frederick?

-[Frederick] And she
said, be sure to drop in,

ya know, any time you fancy.

- Come on out, please,
leave us alone.

(baby crying)

- It's all right, Edward.

I'm leaving.

See ya Daisy.

(door closes)

- A concern?

What concern?

What do you mean, Geoffrey?

- I'm only repeating what
I've been told Richard.

- Surely they haven't
been spying on him?

- Well, they've been keeping
an eye on things, naturally.

- This agent Knowles,
has he been--

- No, no, no, it's the local
association mainly, I gather.

- He's been criticized
at Central Office

and you've been sent
here to tell us, I see.

- There were even cries of
communist at one of this Tory

club meetings.

Ironical I hasten to add,
but the feeling is growing

that he's getting
out of his depths.

- Well Geoffrey, you did
rather push him into this.

You can hardly blame
the boy now.

- There's no question
of blame, Richard.

All I want to suggest is that
he needs a little advice.

- Thank you for coming
and telling us Geoffrey.

- Well, we'll see
what we can do,

but I rather feel that I'm the
last person he'll listen to.

- Yes, quite.

Well, I thought you
ought to know.

- Hello, Sir Geoffrey,
just leaving?

- Yes, I'm afraid so,
James, excuse me won't you?

I can see myself out.

- What'd he want, the old fox?

- Oh he wanted to know
how you're getting on.

- And what did you tell him?

- Only what you tell us.

How did it go today?

- Oh, not too badly.

Beginning slowly to break
through the barriers

of apathy.

Arthur still insists we
keep doing the rounds

of the Tory clubs.

They're a pretty stuffy
lot for the most part.

But at least I'm getting
them to shout back at me now.

Caught a glimpse of
my labor opponent,

trade union fellow called
Harry Shadbolt.

Dreadful looking fellow.

No charm at all.

So, I must stand a chance.

I also discovered that he
didn't fight in the war.

Lung trouble or something.

So, they won't listen to him.

Oh, I'm having a big open
meeting on Wednesday night.

Day before polling, a sort
of final rallying call

in the seaman's mission hall.

- Can we come?

- If you felt it would
help, I'm prepared to speak.

- Yes, yes, thank you Father,
but I'd rather you didn't.

I don't want to draw any more
attention to my background

than the press are
doing already.

Doesn't help much.

- We'll find someone else.

- No, no, I'll do this on
my own, thank you Father.

- My dear boy, do consider no
one's every fought a campaign

entirely on his own.

- Father, I don't wish to
sound childish or ungrateful

but I don't think there's a
single person in the Tory party

who'd be any use to me at all.

Not down there.

- Oh nonsense.

We can find Austin
Shamron, Stanley Ballwin--

- Father please.

Let me decide.

Well, I've had a long day
and I've got a lot of work

to do later.

- Well, Virginia and I
are going to the theater.

Will you come an change my dear?

- Yes, darling in a moment.

- Doesn't he realize?

Doesn't he understand
they're all the same.

Old men hanging on
to pre-war notions,

assuming they still have
something to say

to those people out there.

Don't they know the gulf?

- Yes, they know the
gulf very well.

And they use all their wisdom
and experience to bridge it.

Sorry James, but you can't
expect me to side with you

against Richard all the time.

I know what his feelings
were to begin with,

and you can't blame
him for that.

But ever since your nomination
all these past weeks

he's done everything
he can to support you.

- He offers me the kind of
advice that would be very

helpful if I was fighting a
safe seating Gloucestershire.

- You don't know that.

You haven't listened to him.

He's been here every night
longing for you to discuss

the problems, with a
lifetime's experience to give

and you shut him out.

Then you have the gall to
accuse him to be a mettling

old man.

Quite apart from the
hurt your causing,

I also think you're being
very pig-headed.

- Oh, I see.

Well, I admire your
loyalty, Virginia.

- Oh goodness.

- No, I understand how
things must seem to you.

You don't know everything
that's been going on.

I have to fight the
local Tory association,

my own damn people every day.

- Yes, we know that.

- No, you can't know.

- We do, James we hear things.

- Who from?

Sir Geoffrey?

- It doesn't matter,
we hear them.

And it seems to me
that you need help.

And your father is the best
friend that you've got.

So just think about it.

- You alright, Angus?

You look rather tired.

- Yes, yes, I am
a wee bit tired.

I didn't sleep very well
last night, that's all.

Oh thank you Mrs. Bridges.

- Nothing on your mind is there?

- No, no, why should there be?

- I didn't sleep very
well neither.

I was worrying about
poor Daisy and Edward.

And then by this
afternoon's post,

I had ever such nice
letter from Daisy.

It did cheer me up.

Would you like to read it?

- Why should I read it,
if it was written to you?

- Well, I think you should.

Frederick took them round on
his afternoon out, very kindly.

Oh, I'm so glad they fit her.

- I'm surprised she accepted
them after what happened.

- I don't think she
had much choice judging

by the ones she was
wearing, tsk, poor thing.

Anyway, that's all finished
and forgotten.

Edward's not the one
to bear a grudge.

- If anyone should bear the
grudge it's me, Mrs. Bridges.

I've never been spoken to
like that in my life before.

- I know Mr. Hudson,
of course you haven't.

But you see, Edward was upset.

His pride was hurt
in front of you

who he's always looked
up to so much.

Anyway, I was thinking
of inviting them to tea

next Tuesday.

That is, if you have
no objection?

- No, I have no objection.

Who you ask to tea is your
own affair, Mrs. Bridges.

- They're ever so comfy, Mrs. B.

- Oh I am glad, my dear.

- They look a bit old fashioned.

- Ruby!

Go in and put the kettle on.

Even if they are
comfortable, there's no need

not to take your
weight off them,

so come sit by the fire.

- Still shocking weather,
eh Edward?

- Yeah, yeah it is.

(door bell rings)

- I'll go.

- Mr. Hudson about,
Mrs. Bridges?

- Oh yes, somewhere Edward.

- Hello Lily, what
are you doing, eh?

- Oh, I'm making a frock
from a pattern.

- It's the latest style is it?

It's nice blue, suits your eyes.

- Thank you.

- You ought to try making
one of these sometime, Daisy.

Hello Mr. Hudson.

- Edward, Daisy.

- Uh, Mrs. Bridges asked
us to tea, Mr. Hudson

- Did she, yes.

- She very kindly give
me a new pair of shoes.

I'm wearing 'em.

- Well, they're certainly an
improvement to your last pair.

- Mr. Hudson, please,
I'd just like to say--

- I know what you're
going to say, Edward.

I think the subject is
best left alone, don't you?

- If you say so, Mr. Hudson.

- Well now, come along Lily,
clear away your sewing things

we're going to have tea now.

Ruby, hurry up with that kettle!

And come and lay the tea.

-[Ruby] I'm coming as fast
as I can Mrs. Bridges.

- Don't you eat none
of them cakes.

- Mr. Hudson, her ladyship
would like to see Edward

and Daisy before they leave.

- Us? What for?

- I suggest you both go
up now before your tea,

rather than keep her
ladyship waiting.

(knocking)

- You wanted to see us my lady?

- Ah yes, come in.

It must be over a year
since you left, isn't it?

-[Edward] Yes my lady.

-[Daisy] 14 months, my lady.

- Ah, where are you living now?

- Oh, we've got a nice room
in Camberwell, my lady.

- Yes.

It occurred to me, the flat
above the garage is empty.

It seems ideal for
a married couple.

We need a chauffer, can
you drive Edward?

- Yes my lady.

I learnt during the war.

-[Virginia] Oh good.

We also need another house
maid Daisy, with Rose away.

And when she returns, she
will be my personal maid,

so that wouldn't affect you.

Lily would be under you.

- Thank you my lady.

- Frederick would continue
as footman

and also valet his lordship,

but the major needs a valet,

so it would be helpful
if you could

combine your duties Edward.

- Yes my lady.

(whispering)

- As to salary, I suggest 40
pounds a year for you Edward

and 35 for you Daisy.

Does that seem all right?

- Oh more than satisfactory
my lady.

- Good.

Now, can you start quite soon?

- As soon as possible.

We're so grateful.

Honestly, you don't know.

We'll work ever so hard!

- Yes, well I expect
you'd like to go

and tell them downstairs.

Edward and Daisy are willing
to come back into service.

- Very good, my lady.

- That was a good suggestion
Hudson, thank you.

-[Mr. Hudson] My lady.

- Good morning.

-[James] Oh, good
morning Father.

- Have you seen Virginia?

- No.

- Oh, well, I'll.

- Sorry.

- I expect she's in the nursery.

Um, Edward and Daisy are
coming back, have you heard?

- Yes, yes, Hudson told
me this morning.

- I'm delighted.

Well,

- Father.

I'm um, I'm sorry if I've
seemed in any way off hand

these last weeks.

It wasn't meant or
directed at you personally.

Seems that I quite wrongly
associated you with certain

party attitudes.

- Yes, well, you don't
have to apologize James.

- I had to prove myself,
do you see?

- Oh yes, I quite understand.

- You wouldn't like to come to
this meeting today would you?

- Well, Virginia were going
to the Lester Galleries

to see the Epstein Sculptures.

- I would have liked
you to come.

- Both of us?

- Both of you.

- It'd be a pleasure.

- I'm relieved really.

Well, it'll take the
load off us anyway.

- Yeah, now you can make
their bed for them Lily.

- Oh, no, that's all
right Lily, leave that.

We'll finish it.

- Oh.

- Oh thanks Lily!

- That's all right.

- Oh Eddie!

Look at it!

Comfy bed at last!

Cheer up.

- Oh, I'm sorry Dais,
but it's a step back.

Can't you see that?

I don't wanna be in service
for the rest of my life.

- I know, I don't
want you to be,

but we must be grateful.

- Yeah, but who to?

Mr. Hudson?

You know, I still
cannot see why--

- Nah, it was Mrs.
Bridges, it must have been.

She knew she didn't
mean what you said.

- But I did, I meant
every word of it.

- Oh, it's a lovely
little kitchen in here.

- Huh, and look where it got us.

Straight back into
bloody uniform.

- Chauffeur's uniform, step up.

Better than the last
one you had.

Look at mine.

Head house parlor maid.

I'm gonna get straight into it.

(Edward laughs, Daisy gasps)

Ooo!

Eddie, not now!

- Why not?

Mr. Hudson said we've got
to get straight to work.

- You don't take any
notice of Mr. Hudson.

- You mustn't say that.

- Give us a kiss.

-[Both] Mmmm.

- Love, yeah?

- I know that but, mmmm.

- We can have babies here.

- Oh no we can't,
we'd lose our job.

You aren't half daft, Eddie.

- No, you are, Mrs. Dance!

(both laughing)

- Oh Eddie, look at.

- What?

- Sorry, but the major wants
you with the car Edward Shaw.

(car horn honks)

- Sorry about the journey
sir, might be a bit bumpy.

- It was fine Edward fine.

(clapping)
(crowd booing)

You'd better wait.

- With your permission sir,
I'd like to come and watch.

- Very well.

Ah this is my step-mother,
Lady Bellamy.

My father Lord Bellamy,
Arthur Knowles.

- How do you do my lady?

- Hello.
- How do you do my lord?

- What sort of turn out?

- Oh, quite good.

More than we'd hoped for.

Will you go that way, my lord?

(door closes)

Uh, Major?

(crowd chattering)

(clapping)

- Boo!

(crowd booing and hissing)

-[Crowd Member] Quiet please!

- Your conservative candidate
and perspective member

of Parliament, Major, the
honorable James Bellamy MC.

(crowd cheering and booing)

-[Crowd Member] Let him speak.

- Thank you.

Now, during my two
weeks among you,

I've been impressed
by many things.

The industry and dedication
of the dock workers

striving to get this
country back on its feet.

- It'll never get on
its feet with a Tory!

(crowd roars)

-[James] The fortitude
of those of you--

- The Tories are the enemies
of the working classes.

(crowd roars)

- And the fortitude of
those of you unemployed,

many of you ex-servicemen.

(mixed crowd reactions)

In what must be the most
disheartening circumstances.

- Why don't you do
something about it then?

- I mean to do it something
about it sir, if elected.

(doubtful crowd reactions)

Many of you, I hope, will
have read this pamphlet.

- It's rubbish!

-[James] In which I lay down--

- Upper class propaganda!

Down with the class system!

(many begin to chant)

- Let him speak!

Let him speak!

- I am sorry for the
interruptions by a few of you.

Most of you, I know,
have come here to listen.

-[Woman] The workers
are the wage slaves

of their employers.

(crowd murmuring)

We want common ownership.

Abolish the social classes.

- Madam, madam the spirit of
cooperation and fellowship

that was built up during the
war between people of all

classes must be maintained.

- Why? Tell us why!

- It's your sort that's
keeping us down.

You're the aggressors now.

First the Huns, and
now the capitalists.

(random crowd members shouting)

-[James] Sir, the Tory
program is patriotically

dedicated to the cause
of national prosperity.

- How can we be bleeding
prosperous when the prices

keep going up?

Even if we are employed,
we can't afford to live.

- Higher prices are an
international problem.

The direct result of the war.

-[Crowd Member] That's
just an excuse, that is.

You all say that
to keep us quiet.

(crowd murmuring)

-[Crowd Member] Oy, oy!

Just a minute.

If you get in, you gonna
raise our wages then?

- Now look, I know, I know
you want higher wages.

But higher wages lead
to less employment.

- True.
- True.

- If we keep wages steady
it will mean more employment

for the servicemen.

(clapping)

The servicemen who fought
in the mud in France.

-[Crowd Member] Hear hear!

- We owe it to them to help
them back on their feet.

To make Britain a country
fit for heroes.

(clapping)

-[Crowd Member] Fit for
you a hero, is ya?

Major Bellamy MC.

(crowd laughing)

- Where did you get
your bleeding medal?

Sitting in some chateau
behind the lines?

- I risked my life for
you to say that.

- We don't wanna hear
about the war.

We've had enough of
that bloody war.

That's just excuses.

- You can't ignore the war
as if it never happened.

- Hear!

Don't you accuse us!

I had two fine sons, a
husband what died for this

rotten country.

- For this great country.

-[Crowd Member] Great
for you maybe!

- Yeah, upper class shirker!

When you ever done a day's work?

You're not one of us!

- No man under my command
in the trenches

ever said that.

- Who does he think he is?

Douglas (word obscured by crowd)

-[Crowd Member] Get back
to your nice warm fireside

ya bloody Tory chump!

(words obscured by
crowd) Amateur!

- Now, now, one of he most
important issues in this
pamphlet

is housing.

-[Crowd Member] You've
got a nice house, have ya?

-[Man] How many rooms
have you got?

And how many bleeding servants?

- I want more houses
for you, for the people.

- That's what the bloody
government says,

and what have they done--

(crowd roars)

- Let him speak please!

- He's got nothing to say!

There's only one way
to save this country!

And that's by revolution.

Follow the lead of Russia!

Smash the greedy capitalists!

Send them back to the
barricades where they belong.

Vote for Mac Neal!

(crowd claps and boos)

- You don't want communism,
you've had enough of fighting.

And that is what a Bolshevik
revolution would mean!

[Crowd Member] Hear hear!

- Now is the time for unity.

For working together not
disruption, not strikes.

- Listen to her,
swathed in furs!

How does she know about
your suffering?

(woman spits)

-[Virginia] They are the
enemies of this country.

-[Crowd Members] Hear hear!

-[Virginia] For peace
and prosperity,

vote for Bellamy!

(crowd cheering and roaring)

- Get the car round the
back of the building, quick!

(crowd roaring)

(police whistle blowing)

- (mumbles) Pay attention
everyone.

Before we begin our breakfast,

I should like to read
out the results

of the major's bi-election.

Bellamy, conservative,
7369 votes.

Mac Neal, socialist
labor party, 1043 votes.

Shadbolt, labor, 18,928 votes.

- Oh.

- Mr. Shadbolt is duly
elected to Parliament.

- They ought to be ashamed
of theirselves.

- He'd have made a lovely MP.

- He can always try again, Lily.

- Yeah, somewhere
safe next time.

- Where they won't chuck
things at him.

- Ruby, that's enough.

Pass the cruet.

- Bloody fools.

- Thank you.

No cause for despondency James.

In the eyes of Central Office
you fought a good campaign.

You handled the rowdy elements
with dignity and courage.

You did well.

- Not well, I failed.

-[Geoffrey] Oh no, you had the
support old Harry Weatherall

had, nothing more's
expected after all.

- I failed.

- James.

- It's good experience James,

that's the important thing.

You proved to me and a
great many other people

you have the makings
of a politician.

We're lunching here
Geoffrey, would you join us?

- I should be delighted,
unless you feel it should

be a family occasion.

- Not at all.

- Ah, it's not the result
that upsets me.

That's the least of it.

It's what I saw with
my own eyes.

I believe there was one
spark of hope, just one,

that came out of the
hideous waste of that war.

And that was the courage,
the fellowship,

the sheer bloody good sense
that chaps like me saw

for first time in
the working man.

And I believed if we
could just hold on to that

common ground, keep
trusting each other,

that we could build
something in peacetime.

But what happens?

We become two nations again.

Back to the old entrenched
positions.

Seems when they're not officers,

they become an undisciplined,
ignorant, greedy rabble,

intent with all the sham
ideas of trade union socialism

that hangs on to the
traditional baiting

of the ruling classes and
offers nothing in return.

Or else they drift into
the destructive hands

of the bolshevik agitators.

- Commonness is the curse
of every one at the moment.

- It's a bloody tragedy.

And what do we have to
offer them, Father?

Our party?

What a pathetic lot we are,
skulking behind Loyd George,

complacently biding our time.

Well I tell you Father, I tell
you, if ever that time comes

there won't be a country
left worth governing.

All decency, all traditional
values will be gone.

Vanished without a trace.

Sir Geoffrey, you can, you
can tell Central Office

if they're interested that
I shan't be standing again.

In faith, if you'll
excuse me Father,

I don't think I can face lunch.

If anyone wants me,
I'll be at the club.

Ah Hudson, I shall be
lunching out today.

- Very good sir.

Sir, might I, on behalf
of he staff,

offer you our sincere
congratulations

on reducing the labor majority.

- Did I?

- By 639 votes, sir, from
the general election.

It was a notable
achievement sir.

- Thank you Hudson.

- Luncheon is served my lady.

(orchestral music)