All language subtitles for The.Remains.Of.The.Day.1993

~ The Remains of the Day (1993) ~

Dear Mr. Stevens,

You will be surprised to hear
from me after all this time.

You have been in my thoughts ever since
I heard that Lord Darlington had died.

We read in the Manchester Guardian that
his heir put Darlington Hall up for sale

because they no longer
wished to maintain it.

The article went on to say that since
there were no buyer for such a large house,

the new Earl had decided to demolish it and
sell the stone to a local builder for £5,000.

We also saw some rubbish in the
Daily Mail which made my blood boil:

"Traitor's nest to be pulled down."

One hundred and eighty guineas?
(A guinea is about £1.05.)

One hundred and eighty?
Have we done?

Perhaps ladies and gentlemen,
one of the great highlights of the sale:

Lot 414.

The fine Elizabethan portrait,
"A Portly Gentleman".

I'll start the bidding
at 2,000 guineas.

2,000 guineas.
Thank you.

Two-two.

Two-four.

Two-six.

Two-eight.

Three thousand.
Three-two.

Three-four.
Three-six.

Three-eight.

4,000 guineas.
Four and a half thousand.

Five thousand.

And a half.

Six thousand.

And a half.

Seven thousand.

And a half.

Eight thousand.

And a half.

Nine thousand.

And a half.

10,000 guineas is bid.

And a half.

Eleven thousand.

And a half.

Against you, sir,
at eleven and a half thousand guineas.

All done at
eleven and a half thousand guineas.

I was very relieved to read later on
how an American millionaire

named Lewis had saved Darlington Hall

and that you would not to be turned out
of your old home after all.

Could it possibly be the same
Congressman Lewis

who attended His Lordship's conference
in 1936?

Oh, Mr. Stevens,
I so often think of the good old days

when I was the housekeeper
at Darlington Hall.

Was certainly hard work.

And I certainly know butlers easier
to please than our Mrs. Stevens.

But I remember those years with you
was among the happiest of my life.

You must have a completely
different staff now.

Not many of the old faces
are likely to be around any more.

I don't suppose there's much need for
the small army of footmen and under-butlers

that Lord Darlington employed.

My own news is not very cheerful.

In the 7 years since I last wrote to you,
I have again left my husband,

and sad to say,
my marriage seems to be finally over.

I'm staying with a friend in her
boarding house in Clevedon.

I don't know what my future is.

Ever since Catherine,
my daughter, got married last year,

my life has been empty.

The years stretch before me
and if only I knew how to fill them.

But I would like to be useful again.

- Burned again?
- Yes, I'm sorry, sir.

The rule in the kitchen has
has always been that

cook cooks the cooked breakfast
while her assistant toasts the toast.

Why don't we get her
a pop-up toaster?

Mr. Lewis, we need not a new gadget
but a revised staff plan, sir.

A staff plan, huh?
I didn't know we had one.

Yes, sir.
A faulty one, unfortunately.

Sir, quite recently,

you were kind enough to suggest
that I go on a little holiday.

Take a trip around the country.

Absolutely. Certainly, take a break.
See the world.

Thank you, sir.

When did you last see the world, Stevens?
Tell me.

Well, in the past, the world
always used to come to this house,

in a matter of speaking,
if I may say so, sir.

You may say so.

Well, why don't you take off
when I'm in London next week.

I tell you what,
you can take the car.

- Take the Daimler.
- Good Lord, sir. I couldn't possibly.

You and that Daimler
belong together, Stevens.

You're made for each other.

Well, that's most kind of you,
I must say, sir. Most kind.

I had intended to travel to West country,

where I understand
we have some splendid scenery.

And I might incidentally be able to

solve our stuff problems
while I'm in that part of world.

A... former housekeeper,
at present living in Clevedon,

has indicated to me, sir,

that she might be prepared to
return to service.

What's this, your girlfriend?

Or, you mean a, former attachment?

Oh, no, sir. No, sir.

No, but...
Very able housekeeper, sir.

Most able housekeeper.

I... I was just kidding, Stevens.

- Yes, sir.
- Sorry.

You know what I like best
about your papers over here?

These obituaries.

Every son of a gun
gets this stately funeral oration.

- It's not an art we have in United States.
- Indeed, sir.

Thank you, Stevens.

Mr. Lewis.

Dear Mrs. Benn,

I propose to reach Clevedon on Thursday,
the 3rd of October around 4 p.m.

Would be grateful for a line from you

to reach me, care of the post office
at Collingbourne Ducis,

near Hungerford,
where I'm planning to stop.

Mrs. Benn,

I always said you possess
an amazing memory.

My new employer is indeed
Congressman Lewis,

though he's now retired from
political life in the United States.

He's already taken up residence,
Darlington Hall,

will soon be joined by his family.

But I regret to say

we are woefully understaffed
for a house this size.

Mrs. Benn,

Will you permit me once again
to sing your praises?

Let me state that
when you left us to get married

no housekeeper ever manage to reach
your high standard in any department.

I well remember your first arrival
in Darlington Hall.

You came somewhat unexpectedly.

One might even say impulsively

while we were dead in the middle
of the Charlgrove meet.

That day is marked in my memory
in another way as well.

It was the last time His Lordship
seem happy to welcome his neighbours,

as in the old days.

Of course, it had been years

since any of them had coaxed him to hunt.

It was never a sport
His Lordship enjoyed or approved of.

Good morning, Ayres.

My Lord, nice to see you.

Excuse me, sir.

I fear I may have been
a little unwelcoming at first,

even a little short.

You presented the most excellent references
that I ever seen.

Which proved to be well-deserved indeed.

Although, I confess, I did have my doubts,
on account of your youth.

Well,
no gentleman callers allowed, of course.

You forgive my mentioning it,

but we have had
problems of that sort before.

From inside the house too.

Previous housekeeper took it into a head to
run off with the under-butler.

If two members of stuff had to fall in love
and decide to get married,

there's nothing one can say.

But what I do find a major irritation

are those persons who simply going
from post to post looking for romance.

Housekeepers are
particularly guilty here.

- No offence intended, of course.
- None taken.

I know for my own experience
how a house is at sixes and sevens

once the staff start marrying each other.

Yes, indeed.

- Might I have a word wit you, sir?
- Of course.

My lord, it's regarding the under-butler

and the housekeeper
who ran off together last month.

Bad business.
How are you managing?

I believe I've found
two first-rate replacements, sir.

Miss Kenton,
a young woman with excellent references.

Very pleasing demeanour.
Appears to be very able.

And a man with considerable experience
of butlering, sir.

Now at certain age and happy to
take on the post of under-butler.

Name?

Stevens, sir.

- Stevens?
- Yes, sir.

- That's your name.
- This is my father, sir.

Really?

We couldn't do better, I'm sure.
I'd like to see him sometime.

He's outside the door, sir.

Good.
Well, bring him in.

Thank you, My Lord.

Father.

Mr. Stevens, how do you do?

- My Lord.
- Very good man here, your son.

He does the house great service.
I don't know what we'd do without him.

- Proud of him, are you?
- Very proud, My Lord.

Quite right too.

Yes.

Well, very glad to have you with us.

Thank you, My Lord.

- Oh, Steves...
- Sir?

What are we have dinner tonight?
14:00? 16:00?

Twelve, sir.

Right.

Thank you, My Lord.

- Oh, Mr. Stevens...
- Yes.

This little pitcher seems
quite out of place here.

Dining room.
Well spotted, Miss Kenton.

- Hello, William, how are you?
- Good day, Miss Kenton.

Mr. Stevens,

I thought these
might brighten your parlour a little.

Beg your pardon?

I thought they might
cheer things up for you.

Well, that's very kind of you.
Um...

If you like, Mr. Stevens, I could bring in
some more cuttings for you.

Thank you, Miss Kenton,

but I... regard this... room as my
private place of work

and I... I prefer to keep distractions
to a minimum.

Would you call flowers a distraction
then, Mr. Stevens?

I appreciate your kindness, Miss Kenton.

But Ur...
I prefer to keep things as they are.

But since you are here,

there is a matter I wanted to
mention to you.

Just a small matter.

I happened to be walking past
the kitchen yesterday morning

and I heard you calling to
someone named William.

May I ask who you were addressing
by that name?

Why, Mr. Stevens, I should think
I was addressing your father.

Oh!

There are no other Williams
in this house, I take it.

True.

May I ask you in future, Miss Kenton,
to address my father as Mr. Stevens?

If you are speaking of him
to a third party,

you may wish to call him
Mr. Stevens Sr.

to distinguish him from myself.

So I would be most grateful
to you, Miss Kenton.

I don't quite understand
what you're getting at, Mr. Stevens.

I am the housekeeper in this house,
and your father is the under-butler.

In other houses, I was accustomed to address
under-servants by their Christian names.

Hm.

Miss Kenton, if you would stop
to think for a moment, you'd realize that

how inappropriate it is for one
such as yourself to address as William

someone such as my father.

Well, I'm sure, Mr. Stevens, it must have been
very galling for your father to be called William

by one such as myself.

Miss Kenton, all I'm saying is that
my father is a person from whom

if you wish to be more observant,
you may learn many things.

I'm most grateful for your advice,
Mr. Stevens, but do please tell me

just what marvellous things
might I learn from your father?

I might point out that you're still

often unsure of what goes where
and which item is which.

I'm sure Mr. Stevens Sr.
is very good at his job.

But I can assure you, Mr. Stevens,
that I'm very good at mine.

- Of course.
- Thank you.

And, ar...
Now, if you will please excuse me.

Miss... Kenton...

Oh, well.

My compliments to the cook.

What a lovely piece of crackling.

I'm sure you said something
lively with each other.

You might like to share it
with the rest of us

would not be fortunate enough
to hear you.

I said the sprouts is done
the way I like them.

Crisp-like, not mushy.

Sprouts are done, Charles.
Not is done.

Isn't that right, George?

Yes, Mr. Stevens.

Forgive the... correction,
I'm sure Charles, as I would have done,

at your age,
for the sake of my education.

I'm sure, even you Charles, have
ambitions to rise in your profession.

Oh, yes, Mr. Stevens.
I want to be a butler.

To be called Mister, not Charlie.
And...

sit in my own pantry by my own fire,

smoking my cigar.

I wonder if you realize
what it really takes to be a great butler?

Takes dignity. That's what it takes.

Thank you, Mr. Stevens.
Dignity, that's right. Dignity.

This is the official definition as given
in our quarterly "The Gentlemen's Gentleman":

"A great butler must be possessed
of dignity..."

"...in keeping with his position."

There was this English butler in India.

One day, he goes in the dining room
and what he sees under the table?

A tiger.

Not turning a hair,
he goes straight to the drawing room.

"Excuse me, My Lord."

And whispering,
so as not to upset the ladies.

"I really sorry, My Lord. There appears
to be a tiger in the dining room."

"Perhaps His Lordship will permit
use of the twelve-bores?"

They go on drinking their tea.
And then, there's three gunshots.

Well, they don't think nothing of it.

This being in India,
they're used to anything.

When the butler is back
to refresh the teapots,

he says, cool as a cucumber,

"Dinner will be served
at the usual time, My Lord."

"And I am pleased to say..."

"There will be no discernible traces left
of the recent occurrence by that time."

I'll repeat it...

"There will be no discernible traces left
of the recent occurrence by that time."

Wonderful, Mr. Stevens.

Thank you, Mr. Stevens.

Wonderful story.

That's the ideal, Charles,
that we should all aim for. Dignity.

It's for you, Mr. Stevens.

Thank you.

It's for Mr. Stevens Sr.,
Mr. Stevens.

Thank you, Miss Kenton.

Mary,

would you put Mr. Stevens Sr.'s plate
with the cook to keep it warm, thank you.

Yes, Miss Kenton.

Thank you, Miss Kenton.

Not at all, Mr. Stevens.

Mr. Stevens, if you're searching for
your dustpan, it is outside on the landing.

My dustpan?

Your dustpan.
You've left it on the landing.

I haven't been using a dustpan.

Really?
It must be somebody else.

I don't follow you.

My mistake, no doubt.
One of many.

Morning, sir.

I've invited Giscard Dupont D'Ivry
to join us as the French delegate.

Dupont D'Ivry will never come!

I'm going to say that
I just had word of his acceptance.

Dupont is fanatically anti-German.

I remember his speech
he given in Geneva in 33',

that made me ashamed to be seen
as an ally of the French.

I mean to say it's not
the English way of carrying on.

No, it's not.

And this is precisely
the purpose of our conference,

to discuss these matters informally.

Far away from the to-do
of a large international conference

here in the friendly and relaxed...

atmosphere of one's home.

We may have a chance to bring round-ups
just like the French to our point of view.

- And that of the Germans.
- And that of the Germans.

I'm sorry sir.
I'm so sorry to interrupt.

But, I just don't see how we can
associate ourselves now with the Germans?

With the Nazi Party,

they have actually torn up and
trampled on every single treaty,

and seems to be worst threat than ever
to the whole of Europe.

Not to mention
their brutal dictatorship at home.

My dear boy, when I was in Berlin,

I saw at last a happy German people
with jobs and bread.

Pride in their country
and love of their leader.

And, Ur, what about the Jews?

Mr. Stevens,

what is His Lordship wish
that the Chinaman from the cabinet room

should be exchanged
with the one outside the door?

- Chinaman?
- Yes.

The Chinaman from the cabinet room
is now outside this door.

Come and see for yourself.

I'm busy at the moment.

All you have to do is pop your head
outside this door and see for yourself?

It won't take a moment.

I'll look into the matter
in due course, Miss Kenton.

You think it might be a fantasy?

A fantasy on my part
due to my inexperience?

I'm busy in this room,
Miss Kenton.

I shall wait...

outside.

Look at it!

Is that all or is it not
the wrong Chinaman?

Miss, Kenton, I am very busy.

I'm surprise that you have nothing
better to do than stand around all day.

Mr. Stevens, look at that Chinaman
and tell me the truth.

Miss Kenton,
I would ask you to keep your voice down.

What would the other servants
think of us

shouting at the top of our voices
about a Chinaman?

And I would ask you,
Mr. Stevens,

to turn around and look at the Chinaman.

It is a small mistake.
Trivial mistake.

Your father is entrusted with
more than a man of his age can cope with.

- I'm concern for him.
- Please let me pass.

Mr. Steven...
Mr. Stevens.

It was your father who left
the dustpan in the middle of the floor.

It is he who is leaving
polish on the cutlery.

It is he who is confused the Chinaman.

And you must recognize this
before he commits a major error!

I'm afraid you can't talk to me like this,
Miss Kenton.

I'm afraid I must, Mr. Stevens.

I'm giving you serious advice.

Your father should be relieved of
a number of his duties

for his own good.

Whatever your father once was,

he no longer has the same ability
or strength.

I thank you for your advice,
Miss Kenton.

Now perhaps you would
allow me to go about my business.

I never meant to keep you
from your business, Mr. Stevens.

Thank you.

It's vital that we've agreed a common policy
before the arrival of... um...

Your Frenchman.
What's his name again?

Giscard Dupont D'Ivry.

We're also expecting the American delegate,

Congressman Lewis,
to arrive, on the same day.

Who is he, this American?

Well, he's rather an unknown quantity.

A young congressman from Pennsylvania.

Sits on some sort of powerful
foreign affairs committee.

A sightly heir to one of those
American fortunes.

- Meatpacking?
- Trolley cars?

Or dry goods?

What are dry goods?

Evidently something that
Americans make a lot of money in.

No, no. I think Mr. Lewis's fortune
comes from cosmetics, actually.

It's old Mr. Stevens!

Get a cushion, quickly.
A blanket!

The silver! The silver!

Oh, My Lord. Sorry.

- You'll be all right.
- Sorry.

Thank you, sir.
I'm sorry.

He tripped over with the tray.

Yes, I saw it, sir, from the window.

Terribly sorry.
This never happened before, sir.

- May I telephone the doctor?
- Yes, do.

- I'm sorry.
- Don't worry.

- Oh, Stevens.
- Ah, yes.

Your father feeling better?

Yes, he's made a full recovery,
I'm happy to say, sir.

Good.

But...

None of us wishes to see anything
of that sort ever happen again, do we?

I mean, your father collapsing,
all that.

Indeed not, My Lord.

And it...
It could happen anywhere.

At any time.

Look here, Stevens.

The first of the foreign delegates
will be arriving here in

less than a fortnight.

Yes, we are well prepared,
My Lord.

Well...
I'm sure you are.

And... And what happens within this house
during the conference could have a

considerable repercussions on
the whole course that Europe is taking.

Yes, My Lord.

Yes, it means a great deal.

Yeah, I might as well tell you Stevens,
it means a great deal to me, personally.

I had a German friend,
Karl-Heinz Bremann.

We fought on opposite sides in the war.

We always said
when this ratchet business is over,

we'll sit down and have a drink together,

like gentlemen.

The Versailles Treaty made a liar of me.

Yes, a liar, Stevens.

Because the terms we ad victorem
posted were so harsh,

the Germany simply finished.

Well, one doesn't
do that to a defeated foe.

No. Once you got your man on the canvas,
that would be the end of it.

My friend Bremann was
ruined by inflation.

Couldn't get a job
in postwar Germany.

Killed himself.

Shot himself in a railway carriage
between Hamburg and Berlin.

Whenever since that time,
I felt in my duty, my job, Stevens,

to hold out a helping hand
to Germany.

Give her a fair chance.

So you see,
seems this conference is crucial

and we really
can't run the risk of any accidents.

Look here, it's not a question of
your father leaving us.

You're simply being asked to
reconsider his duties.

Of course, My Lord.
I understand fully.

Good.

Well, I'll... leave you
to think about this then, Stevens.

Thank you, sir.

You.

Sir.

Look, I'm
short-handed in the dining room tonight.

- I can use you in the servery.
- What?

- Thank you, Mr. Stevens, sir.
- Smarten up. Look sharp.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I might've known you'd be
up and ready for the day.

I've been up for two hours.

That's not much sleep.

It's all the sleep I need.

I've come to talk to you about something.

Talk, then.
I haven't got all morning.

- I come straight to the point.
- Do, and be done with it.

Some of us have got work
to be getting on with.

There's to be a very important
international conference in this house next week.

People of great stature
will be His Lordship's guests.

We must all put our best foot forward.

Because of father's recent accident,

it has been suggested that
you no longer wait at table.

I waited at table, everyday,
for the last 54 years.

It's also been decided that
you should no longer carry heavy trays.

Now, here's a revised list of your duties.

Look, I fell,
because of those paving stones.

They're crooked.

Why don't you get them put right
before someone else does the same thing?

You will read the revised list
of your duties.

Get those stones put right.

You don't want all those gentlemen of stature
tripping up and breaking their necks, do you?

No, indeed, I don't.

Mr. Stevens.

What is it?

You have what we can call
a roving commission.

In other words, you can exercise
your own judgment

within certain limits, of course.

Now, here are the mops,
and um... Here.

- Are these me mops?
- Right. Your brushes.

And me brushes?

- And me mops.
- That's right.

What, Ur...

What do you want me to do with them?

Well, I think you know well enough
what to do with them, father.

Look for dust and dirt.

If I find any dust or dirt,

I go over them with this mop.

That's right.

Yes. What I suggest you start off with
are... are the brasses on the doors.

There's that door there.
Then the door that's open.

And then there's this door here.

Here's your polish,
and duster.

History could well be made under this roof
over the next few days.

You can, each and everyone of you,

take great pride in the role you will play
on this momentous occasion.

Imagine yourself the head of a battalion

even if it's only filling the
hot-water bottles.

Each one of you
has his own particular duty,

or her particular duty,
as the cap fits.

Polished brass, brilliant silver,

mahogany... shining like a mirror.

That is the welcome
we will show these foreign visitors

to let them know they are in England.

Order and tradition still prevail.

Thank you, Brian.

My Lord.

Mr. Lewis,
the American gentleman has arrived.

He wasn't expected until tomorrow.
What have you done with him?

Mr. Lewis has been shown upstairs,
My Lord.

Oh, Stevens.

My godson, Cardinal, tells me
he shortly becoming engaged to be married.

Indeed, sir.
I offer my congratulations.

Thank you, Stevens.

I feel very responsible for the boy.

Not only is he my godson,

but his father Sir David was
my closest friend, as you know.

And now that he's gone,
well I...

I feel in place of a father to the boy.

I've appointed him as
my secretary at the conference.

And so far, he's been jolly thorough
in helping me to prepare.

Stevens, I realize this is a
somewhat irregular thing to ask you to do.

I should be very glad
to be of any assistance, My Lord.

Sorry to bring up a thing like this
but I just...

can't see how on earth to make it go away.

You are familiar, I take it,
with the facts of life?

- My Lord?
- The facts of life, Stevens.

Birds, bees.
You are familiar, aren't you?

I'm afraid I don't quite follow you, sir.

Well, let me put my cards on the table,
Stevens.

I'm so frightfully busy with this conference.
Of course, you are very busy too.

But... someone has to tell him.

In a way,
it would be easier for you.

Less awkward.

I... I find the task rather daunting,
I'm afraid.

I might not get to it
before Reginald's wedding day.

Of course, this
goes far beyond the call of duty, Stevens.

I shall do my best, My Lord.

Be grateful if you ever try, Stevens.
It'd be a lot off my mind.

Look here. There's no need to
make a song and dance of it.

Just convey the basic facts
and be done with it.

God! Stevens!

Sorry. Most sorry, sir.

But I do have something
to convey you rather urgently, sir.

If I may be permitted,
I'll come straight to the point.

Um, perhaps you would have
noticed this morning, sir, the...

ducks and the geese
by the pond?

Ducks and geese?
No, I don't think so.

Well, perhaps the...
the birds and the flowers,

then or the...
the shrubs... the bees...

- No, I don't see any bees.
- Yes...

Well, this is in fact not the best time here
to see them with their full glory, sir.

What, the bees?

And, also... What I'm trying to say is that,
with the arrival of spring

we shall see a most
remarkable and profound change

in all these surroundings, sir.

Yeah.
Yeah, I'm sure that's right.

Probably, the grounds are not
at their best now.

Yes, sir.

I... I have to say
I wasn't paying much attention to the...

ol' glories of nature because...
it's one of the worrying, you know...

Dupont D'Ivry has just arrived
in a foulest mood imaginable,

which is the last thing anyone wants.

Oh, Mr. Dupont D'Ivry has arrived, sir?

Yeah. Half an hour ago,
in a really foul mood.

Ow, in that case, um...
please excuse me.

I... I'd better go
and attend to him, sir.

Right you are, Stevens.
It was kind of you come to talk to me.

Not at all, sir.

Um, in fact I do have one or two words more
to convey you on the topic of...

Well, as you put it most admirably, sir,

eh... The Glories of Nature.

But... But... Would have to wait for
another occasion, sir. Thank you.

I'll... I'll look forward to it, Stevens.
But I'm more of a fish man myself.

- Fish, sir?
- Yes, I know all about fish.

- Freshwater and salt, huh.
- Hah.

Well, all living creatures
would be relevant to our discussion, sir.

If you would excuse me.

I had no idea that
Monsieur Dupont D'Ivry had arrived, sir.

Thank you.

May I be of assistance, sir?

Oh, the butler.

Um, I have a sore feet,

so I need a basin with
warm water and salts, please.

Excuse me. I'll arrange that
with the housekeeper, sir.

Warm water and salts as soon as possible.

- Mr. Giscard Dupont D'Ivry?
- Yes.

I'm very glad to meet you.

Huh, how do you do?
But I speak English.

Ah, good. That's lucky for me.

I'm Jack Lewis, the U.S. delegate.

Wonder if we could speak privately
as soon as possible?

Yes, of course.

But for the moment, I have blisters

due to some in field sightseeing
they made me do in London.

You know I had already seen
the Tower of London.

Sir, I arrived here a day early

and I discovered that things are not
moving in the direction that

I think you would entirely approve of.

Oh?

German rearmament which is an accomplished fact
to be accepted.

It is in our own interest to have
a free, equal and strong Germany

instead of the prostrate nation upon whom
an unfair peace treaty imposed 16 years ago.

Those of you who've been in Germany recently
can only thrill, as I have,

to the signs of rebirth
encountered everywhere.

...To assist Germany in her virile struggle
for economic recovery

including support for her
fair demand for equality of armaments

and universal military service
for German youth.

If we, in postwar Europe...

I need more water.
I need another basin to bathe my feet.

Would you follow me, sir.

- We have to talk.
- Ah, this way, sir.

My friend, I...
I am in agony.

Too tight shoes.
I blame myself.

Vanity.

Sir, you and I are going to have to do

some pretty fast manoeuvring back there

if you want to restrain the Germans.

Would you please come this way,
gentlemen.

Oh butler, please, could you help me
with my feet, sir... shoe?

- Ah, yes, of course.
- Take it off.

Now, you heard all that in there

about equality of armament for Germany
and universal military system...

Mr. Stevens.

What?
Yes?

- Sorry, sir.
- I'll manage.

- What?
- ...universal military service...

I'm sorry, Mr. Stevens.
Your father's been taken ill, sir.

- Where?
- Outside the Chinese bedroom, sir.

Germany wants peace as much as we do.
She needs peaces.

Here, let me...
Let me help you with that.

Thank you.

Thank you, Charles.

I want you to take a basin of
hot water and salts

to Mr. D'Ivry in the billiards room.
Is that understood?

- Yes, Mr. Stevens.
- Good, good.

Father?

Mr. Stevens.

Yes?

I have more time than you at the moment
to look after him.

I've called the doctor.

Thank you, Miss Kenton.

Your father's not so good,
I'm afraid.

Thank you.

If he deteriorates,
call me, will you?

Yes sir. Thank you.

How old is he?
70, 72?

- 75, sir.
- I see.

Well as I say,
if he deteriorates, let me know.

Thank you, I will, sir.
Thank you, doctor.

More haste, less speed.

There's something
missing.

What is it?

- The spoon from the cruet set, sir.
- Good.

Well observed.

Now,
never touch the lip of the glass.

Good.

Glass first, and then...

Is everything in hand downstairs?

We're preparing the dinner.
It's the last dinner of the conference.

So you can imagine
the atmosphere in the kitchen.

But, is everything in hand?

Yes, I think we're up to scratch.

How're you feeling?
Are you feeling any better?

There's something I have to tell you.

I have so much to do, father.
Why don't we talk in the morning?

Jim,

I fell out of love with your mother.

I loved her once.

The love went out of me
when I found her carrying on.

A good son.

Proud of you.

I hope I've been a good father to you.

Tried my best.

You better get down there

or heaven only knows
what they'll be up to.

Go on.

Go on!

We'll talk in the morning.

On the last day of our conference

permit me to say
how impressed I have been

with the spirit of goodwill
that has prevailed.

Goodwill for Germany.

And with tears in my eyes

I see that everyone here has recognized

our right to be, once again,
a strong nation.

And with my hand in my heart,
I declare that

Germany needs peace

and desires only peace.

Peace with England

and peace with France.

Thank you very much.

I, too, have been impressed...

Yes, deeply impressed by

the genuine desire for peace
manifested at this conference.

Unlike our American colleague,

we, in Europe know the horrors of war.

And whether we are
French or English or Italian or German,

our one desire is to
never have to experience them again.

Indeed.

Impressed,
or I may say touched

by the words of goodwill
and friendship I have heard.

I promise you that
I shall do my utmost

to change the policy of my country

towards that nation
which was once our foe,

but is now,
I may venture to say,

our friend.

Ladies and gentlemen,

United States doesn't want war
any more than you do.

On the other hand, neither would we
care for peace at any price.

Because some prices,
you may find,

are too outrageously high to pay.

But let's not get into that now.
We may all have to soon enough.

For the moment, let us simply
raise our glasses to Lord Darlington

in gratitude for his
magnificent hospitality.

Lord Darlington...

Lord Darlington is a classic
English gentleman of the old school.

Decent and honourable and well-meaning.

So are all of you here. All decent,
honourable and well-meaning gentlemen.

It's been a pleasure and a privilege for me
to visit with you here.

But...

Now, excuse me, I have to say this.

You are, all of you, amateurs.

And international affairs should
never be run by gentlemen amateurs.

Do you have any idea

of what sort of a place the world
is becoming all around you?

The days when you could just
act out of your noble instincts are over.

Europe has become the arena of Realpolitik,
the politics of reality.

If you like, real politics.

What you need is not gentlemen politicians,
but real ones.

You need professionals to run your affairs,
or you're headed for disaster.

So I propose a toast, gentlemen.

To the professionals.

Well, I've no wish to enter into a quarrel on
this our last evening together.

But let me say this.

What you describe as amateurism

is what I think most of us here
still prefer to call honour.

Miss Kenton would like to see you
concerning your father.

And I suggest that your professionalism means
greed and power

rather than to see justice and goodness
prevail in the world.

I've no conceal from myself
that what we were asking of Germany

is a complete break
from the tradition of this country.

Thank you.

- Miss Kenton.
- Yes.

Mr. Stevens, I'm very sorry.

Your father passed away
4 minutes ago.

Oh, I see.

I'm so very sorry.

- I wish there was something I could say.
- Yes.

Will you come up and see him?

I'm very busy at the moment,
Miss Kenton.

In a little while, perhaps.

In that case,
will you permit me to close his eyes?

I would be most grateful,
Miss Kenton. Thank you.

My father would wish me
to carry on with my work.

I can't let him down.

No. Of course.

I'd really like to continue our little chat
sometime.

- Yes, sir?
- About nature.

- Ah.
- I think you're right.

I think I should come back in the spring
when everything's burgeoning.

Yes, sir. Indeed.

Know as I said before, my main
interest has always been in fish.

Ah, fish.

When I was small, I... I
kept a lot of tropical fish in a tank.

- Indeed, sir.
- I have quite a passion for them.

I'll have another drop of that,
if you don't mind.

You all right?

Yes. I'm perfectly all right. Thank you.

Not feeling unwell?

No, sir. A little tired, perhaps.

Wonderful!

What a beautiful example of German culture
you've brought to this house.

Very nice.

I just want to say I hope
there's no hard feelings, sir.

Oh, my dear good chap.

Ah, I like a
good clean fight.

- Giving as good as one gets.
- What?

I want you to know I have
the greatest respect for the English, sir.

I love it over here.

My family used to bring us here as kids,
so I always feel right at home.

Anyway, thank you.

Excuse me.

You all right, Stevens?

Yes, perfect, My Lord.

You, uhh...
Coming down with a cold or something?

It isn't so.
Been a long day.

Yes, been a hard day
for both of us.

- Well done.
- Thank you, sir.

- Darlington.
- Trimmer...

I need a basin with a...

My condolences to you.

It was a stroke. A severe stroke.
He wouldn't have suffered much pain.

Thank you for telling me.

Ah doctor, there's a distinguished
foreign gentleman in the billiard room

in need of attention.

- Urgent?
- His feet.

- Feet?
- Yes.

- Ah, I'll take you to him.
- If it's urgent.

Yes, it is urgent.
The gentleman is in pain.

Mr. Stevens,
my condolences.

Thank you, Miss Kenton.
That is most kind of you.

- Miss Kenton.
- Thank you.

- Good afternoon.
- Afternoon, sir.

Ah, my name is Stevens.
I'm hoping there's a letter for me.

Stevens. Stev...

- I'll just check for you, sir.
- James Stevens.

I'd like two apples, please.

- There you are, Mr. Stevens.
- Thank you.

You are touring in these parts?

Yes, I'm on my way to Clevedon.

- How much is that?
- That's 3 pence, please.

And... You'd be coming from?

- Oxfordshire.
- Whereabouts, Oxfordshire?

- H'm... Sorry?
- Whereabouts in Oxfordshire?

Darlington.

That rings a bell. Wasn't there...

a Lord Darlington? Some sort of...

Nazi, got us in the war, they say?

I'm the butler at Darlington Hall.
And my employer

- is Mr. Lewis, American gentleman.
- Well...

I have no acquaintance
to the former owner.

Your change.

I should be glad to meet you at the
Sea View Hotel, situated opposite the pier.

We'll have such a lot to talk about,
and I shall have many questions to ask you.

Except for you, I seem to have lost touch
with all our friends at Darlington Hall.

But that's no wonder.

That was a long ago
and a lot has happened in between.

Who could ever keep track of all the
different people His Lordship once employed?

My Lord, you rang?

I hear the young ladies in German
have arrived?

Yes. Lord.
They're just outside.

I'd like to say hello to them.
Practise my German.

- They do speak excellent English, My Lord.
- Good. Well, ask them to come in.

This is Elsa, and this is Irma.

I'm just asking if they had a good journey.

It was long, My Lord.

I'm just asking
what they think of the weather.

We are very grateful to you, My Lord,
for letting us come here.

Our parents are very grateful.

No, not at all... Not at all.
Miss Kenton will look after you.

- Would you?
- Oh, indeed, my lord.

Welcome to Darlington Hall.

- Thank you, My Lord.
- Thank you, My Lord.

Thank you.

- Will there be anything else, My Lord?
- No, no.

Sir Geoffrey.

Good to see you.

How do you do?

Well, come in.

- Mr. Benn.
- Mr. Stevens.

Well gentlemen,
if you'd like to wait here for awhile.

- Hi! Mr. Benn.
- Miss Kenton.

How are you?
Aren't you still at Stanton Lacey?

No, no. I've been with
Sir Geoffrey sometime now.

- Ahh.
- Miss Kenton.

Ah, you haven't changed one bit,
Miss Kenton.

Thank you.
I'll let you get on.

- Perhaps we'll meet later.
- I hope so.

But, gentlemen, you speak of Jews and
Gypsies, Negroes, so on and so forth.

But, one has to regard
the racial laws of the fascists

as a sanitary measure,
much overdue, in my opinion.

But, sir, have you imagined trying...

- to enforce such a rule in this country.
- My lord, by law...

you cannot run a country
without a penal system.

Here, we call them prisons.
Over there,

they call them concentration camps.
What's the difference?

Ah Stevens,
is there any meat of any kind in this soup?

Ah, no sir.
I think it's mushroom stock, sir.

Mushroom ends and skins,
onion and celery.

Um... No meat at all.

- Ah, cold water, and then cook added sherry.
- Okay.

I hear you have one of those labour fellows
stand in from your constituency.

Over there, correct me if I'm wrong, Sir Geoffrey.
They got rid of all that trade union rubbish.

Believe me,
no workers strike in Germany.

And everyone's kept in line.

No wonder this country
is going down the drain.

It is internally diseased.

Ah Stevens, the croutons. I think
there may be butter here. Do you know?

I'm afraid there may be, sir.

♪ Roll along, prairie moon ♪

♪ Roll along... ♪

Well, you made a cosy little nest here.

Seems to me, Mr. Stevens,
you must be a well-contented man.

In my philosophy, Mr. Benn,
a man cannot call himself well-contented

until he has done all he can
to be of service to his employer.

Of course,
this assumes that one's employer

is a superior person not only in
rank or wealth

but in moral stature.

And in your opinion, what's going on up there
has moral stature, does it?

Wish I could be so sure.

But I'm not.

I heard some very fishy things,
Mr. Stevens. Very fishy.

I hear nothing, Mr. Benn.

Listen.

That's so touching, isn't it?

To listen to the gentlemen's conversations
would distract me from my work.

Ah, Miss Kenton.

It's fresh soda.

Thank you, Mr. Benn.

Would you be joining us for a drink?

Oh, thank you very much, but
it's very late and I have an early start.

Good night.

- Good night, Mr. Stevens.
- Good night, Miss Kenton.

Good-looking woman.

Miss Kenton.

It was never the same
after she left Stanton Lacey.

I handed in my own notice 6 months later.

I'd be lost without her.

A first-rate housekeeper is essential
in a house like this

where great affairs are decided
between these walls.

- Good morning.
- My Lord.

We certainly do the Jews no injustice
when we say that the revelation of Christ

is simply something
incomprehensible and hateful to them.

Although He apparently
sprang from their midst,

He embodies never the less
the negation of their whole nature.

A matter in which the Jews are
far more sensitive than we are.

This clear demonstration of the deep cleft
that separates us Europeans from the Jew

is by no means given in order
to let religious prejudice

with its dangerous bias, settle the matter

but because I think the perception of
two so fundamentally different natures

reveals a real gulf.

We have some refugee girls
on the staff at the moment, I believe.

We do, My Lord.

Two housemaids, Elsa and Irma.

You'll have to let them go, I'm afraid.

Let them go, My Lord?

It's regrettable, Stevens,
but we... We have no choice.

You... You got to
see the whole thing in context.

I have the well-being of my guests
to consider.

My Lord,

may I say,

they work extremely well.

They're intelligent, polite
and very clean.

I'm sorry, Stevens, but I've
looked into this matter very carefully.

There are larger issues at stake.

I'm sorry, but there it is.

They're Jews.

Yes, My Lord.
Thank you.

I'm amazed that you can
stand there as if you were

dis... discussing orders for the larder.
I simply can't believe it!

You're saying that Elsa and Irma
are to be dismissed because they're Jewish?

His Lordship has made his decision.
There's nothing for you and I to discuss.

You realize that if those girls have no work,
they could be sent back to Germany.

It is out of our hands.

I am telling you, Mr. Stevens,

if you dismiss my girls tomorrow,
it will be wrong!

A sin,
as any sin ever was one!

Miss Kenton, there are many things you and I
don't understand in this world of today.

Where His Lordship
understands fully and has

studied the larger issues at stake
concerning, say...

the nature of Jewry.

Mr. Stevens,

I warn you,

if those girls go,

I shall leave this house.

Oh, Miss Kenton.

Please.

These references, I have to tell you, are
quite reserved.

Why exactly
did you leave your last employment?

- They didn't want me any more.
- Why not?

I don't know.

They just didn't want me any more.

They say she works well.

Would you please wait outside?

- She's unsuitable.
- Not at all. I want her.

- She'll be under my supervision.
- She's not suitable.

She'll do well. I'll see to it.

Well, then, it is entirely
your responsibility, Miss Kenton.

Didn't you say you were leaving
because of the German girls?

- I'm not leaving.
- How?

I've nowhere to go.
I have no family.

I'm a coward.

- No, no!
- Yes. I am a coward.

I'm frightened of leaving,
and that's the truth.

All I see out in the world
is loneliness, and it frightens me.

That's all my high principles are worth,
Mr. Stevens.

I'm ashamed of myself.

You mean a great deal to this house.

You're extremely important to this house,
Miss Kenton.

Am I?

Yes!

Now, look here, um...

If you're really sure about this
young woman, better call her back in.

Miss Hull,
we would like you to start next week.

You'll be directly responsible to Miss Kenton.
She'll explain the rules of the house to you.

Number one:
No gentlemen callers, or other such.

Yes, sir.

Good.
Welcome.

- Thank you, sir.
- Thank you, Miss Kenton.

Well done.
I'll show you to your room.

Hello. Excuse me...

I'd forgotten how much petrol
the old Daimler uses.

I dare say it's quite an impractical motor
to be going about the country, Mister...

Smith, my name, sir.
Harry Smith.

Very glad that you could stop. It's a
privilege to have you here in Moscombe.

Thank you, thank you.
It's a privilege to be here.

Your health, sir.

Oh, Dr. Carlisle, usually drops in
around this time of the night.

He'd be very pleased to meet you.

- He's a gentleman like yourself.
- Yes.

I don't know what you call a gentleman.

Seems to me it's a name
every man in this country has a right to.

There's Harry Smith now, sir,
giving you an earful of his philosophy.

It's one of the advantages and privileges
of being born English

that you can express your opinion
freely.

And voting in a member of Parliament,
or vote him out.

That's what we fought Hitler for in...

Have you had much to do
with politics yourself then, sir?

Not directly as such. No...
Particularly in these days.

Perhaps more so in the early 1930s
and just before the war.

My concern was more
international affairs.

Or, foreign policy, so to speak.

Not that I ever
held high office, mind you.

No, any influence I exerted was
in an unofficial capacity.

Excuse me, sir.

Have you ever met Mr. Churchill?

Yes. He came to the house occasionally
and back again, in the early 1930s.

He's a gibbering warmonger!

Honestly, Harry! Really, we never...

He was not content to fight Germans.

Wasn't he sent the troops in
against the miners?

- We done without him in the war here?
- Oh. Yes. All right, all right.

Well, he... He did a good job in the war,
but he should've stepped down.

And, Mr. Eden?

He made a right bugger of Suez!

Yes, I met Mr. Eden.
Yes, occasionally.

How do you do?
Richard Carlisle.

- Rotten luck about your motor car,
- Yes...

but, Ur...
Nice to have you with us.

Everyone has been most kind.

Gentleman was just telling us he
knows all about foreign affairs.

Ah, that's indeed?

Yes. In an unofficial capacity.

- He knows Mr. Churchill.
- And Mr. Eden.

Really?

Yes, well, it was my good fortune
to have consorted with

many men of influence
from Europe and from America.

And, um...

Ah, well... Mr. Taylor,

I... I really feel I ought to retire now
because I'm... I'm feeling rather tired.

No wonder, sir.
Running out of petrol.

And on top of that having to listen to
Mr. Harry Smith's political opinions.

You just step this way, sir.

I've a visit to make in Stanbury
first thing in the morning.

I'll be happy to give you a lift.
Save you the walk.

And we could pick up
a can of petrol on the way.

That would be most kind of you.
I'd hate to inconvenience you.

No, not at all.
Would 7:30 suit you?

You'll enjoy talking to Dr. Carlisle, sir.
Oh, watch this step.

You'll excuse Harry Smith.

Sir, he will go on about his politics.

I'm not saying he's not right, sir.

Democracy is what we fought Hitler for,

it's quite a few lads we lost in
this village fighting the war

including our son here.

Dunkirk.

I'll get you a blanket, sir.

I've left a razor
and some soap on the basin.

Listen to the opinions of
your ordinary man in the street.

They got perfectly entitled to give
an opinion on politics or...

They've got no qualifications
what so ever!

- Of course, they have!
- No!

Mr. Stevens, sir.

- Mr. Spencer would like a word with you.
- Sir.

- My good man, I have a question for you.
- Yes, sir.

Do you suppose
the debt situation regarding America

is a significantly factor
in the present low levels of trade?

Or do you suppose this is a red herring,

and the abandonment of the gold standard
is the root of the problem?

I'm sorry, sir, but... I am
unable to be of assistance in this matter.

Oh, dear. What a pity.

Well, perhaps you can help us
on another matter.

Oh, no!

Do you think that the

currency problem in Europe
would be alleviated by an arms agreement

between the French and the Bolsheviks?

I'm sorry, sir, but I'm
unable to be of assistance in this matter.

Very well, Stevens,
that'll be all.

One moment, Darlington,

I have another question
to put to our good man here.

My good fellow,
do you share our opinion...

that Mucida Daladier's recent speech
on the situation in North Africa

was simply a ruse to scupper the
nationalist fringe of his own domestic party?

I'm sorry, sir.

I am unable to be of assistance
in any of these matters.

You see, gentlemen. Our good man here
is unable to assist us in these matters.

And yet,
we still go along with the notion that

this nation's decisions be left
in the hands of our good man here

and a few millions like him.

You may as well ask a committee of
the Mothers' Union to organize a war campaign.

Thank you, Stevens.

Thank you, My Lord.
Thank you, sir.

Yep.

Well, you certainly
proved your point there, Spencer.

- Q.E.D., I think.
- No, not at all!

Oh, yes, he has!

And, what did you make of
the citizens of Moscombe?

- Not such a bad bunch, are they.
- No, no, sir.

Mr. and Mrs. Taylor
were extremely kind.

I say, I hope you don't think me very rude,
but...

You aren't a manservant of some sort,
are you?

Em...
Yes, sir. I am, indeed.

In fact, I'm the
butler of Darlington Hall, near Oxford.

It wasn't my intention
to deceive anyone, sir.

No need to explain.
I can quite see how it happened.

Darlington.

Wasn't there a Lord Darlington
involved in all that

appeasement business that
got us into the war?

Sorry, sir.
I never knew that Lord Darlington.

My employer's an American gentleman,
Mr. Lewis.

Yes, Lord Darlington was among those
who tried to make a deal with Hitler.

Then, there was a case after the war
where he sued a newspaper for libel.

The Express, was it?
News Chronicle?

- I couldn't say, sir.
- Anyway, he lost.

He was lucky, really,
not to have been tried for treason.

There it is, just ahead.

I must confess,
I failed to tell you the truth.

I did know Lord Darlington,

and I can declare that
he was a truly good man.

A gentleman through and through

to whom I'm proud to have given
my best years of service.

Well, that should get you
to the next petrol station.

Well, thank you very much, sir.
I'm most grateful.

But, did you...

share his opinions?

Who?

Lord Darlington.

I was his butler.
I was there to serve him.

Not to agree or disagree.

You trusted him.

Yes, I did. Completely.

But at the end of his life, his Lordship
himself admitted that he'd been mistaken.

That he'd been too gullible,
and he'd let himself be taken in.

I see.

Well, thank you that you've been
most kind.

Thank you.

- Just keep going straight up there,
- Yes.

and turn left
at the first crossroads.

I say, I don't want to be a bore, but
I'm intrigued.

I mean,
where do you stand on all that?

If a mistake was to be made,
wouldn't you rather have made your own?

Do forgive me for being so inquisitive.

Not at all, sir.

In a very small way,
I did make my own mistake.

But I might still have a chance
to set mine right.

In fact, I'm on my way
to try and do so now.

Try the ignition.

Well, thank you, sir.
I'm most grateful for your help.

Good luck. It's been
interesting talking to you.

- Oh, Stevens.
- Good morning, sir.

Lord Halifax was vary impressed
with the silver.

I told him it was all your doing.
Sent his compliments. Well done.

Thank you, sir.

Oh Stevens, I...
I've been meaning to ask you,

that business last year about
the Jewish maids. Um...

I suppose there's no way of tracing them, is there?

That would be difficult, sir.

I tried to obtain a position
for them in House of Surrey.

There was room only for one, and
the girls didn't want to be separated, sir.

Well, try anyway, Stevens.
One would like to do something for them.

Yes, sir.

It was wrong, what occurred.

I'm sorry about it. Very sorry.

- Good morning.
- Good morning, Mr. Stevens.

Yes. His Lordship
asked about the Jewish girls.

- Elsa and Irma?
- Yes. He wondered where they were.

He said it was wrong to dismiss them.

I thought you like to know because I remember
you were as distressed as I was about it.

As you were?

As I recall, you thought it was only right and proper
that they should be sent packing.

Now, really, Miss Kenton,
that is most unfair.

Of course I was upset.
Very much so.

I don't like to see that sort of things
happening in this house.

Why, I wish you'd told me so at the time.

It would've helped me a great deal
if I knew you felt the same way as I did.

Why?
Why, Mr. Stevens.

Why do you always have
to hide what you feel?

Have you finished the lavender bags?

- Yes, Miss Kenton.
- Good.

- All right.
- Thank you, sir.

Yes, I take my hat off to you,
Miss Kenton.

That girl's come along very well.

Yes, you were right and I was wrong.

- Look at that smile on your face.
- Hum? What smile?

That tells an interesting story in itself.

Wouldn't you say so, Mr. Stevens?

What you talking about?

Well, she's a very pretty girl.
Don't you think?

- Is she?
- Hm mh.

You don't like to have
pretty girls on the staff. I've noticed.

Might it be that our Mr. Stevens
fears distraction?

Can it be that our Mr. Stevens
is flesh and blood after all,

and cannot trust himself?

You know what I'm doing,
Miss Kenton?

I'm placing my thoughts elsewhere
while you chatter away.

Then why is that guilty smile
still on your face?

Oh, it's not a guilty smile.

Simply amused by the sheer nonsense
you sometimes talk.

It's a guilty smile.
You can hardly bear to look at her.

That's why you didn't want to take her on.
She was too pretty.

Well, you must be right, Miss Kenton.

You always are.

Charlie!

Lizzie, aren't you supposed to be
turning down the beds?

You'd better get on with it, hadn't you?

Have you told her yet?

You'd better get on with it then,
hadn't you?

Charlie, what can I say?
She'd never understand about us.

Why would you think?

She's old.
I mean, she must be at least 30.

Perhaps she doesn't feel all that old.

For instance, who do you think those
pretty flowers are for she's been picking?

Come here.
Give us a kiss.

- Flowers.
- Hm?

Flowers.

- You're reading.
- Yes.

Very dim in here.
Can you see?

Yes, thank you.

What're you reading?

A book.

Yes, but what sort of book?

It's a book, Miss Kenton. A book.

What's the book?

- Are you shy about your book?
- No.

What is it?

Is it racy?

Racy?

Are you reading a racy book?

Do you think racy books
are to be found in His Lordship's shelves?

How would I know?

What is it?

Let me see it.
Let me see your book.

Please leave me alone, Miss Kenton.

Why won't you show me your book?

This is my private time.
You're invading it.

Is that so?

Yes.

I'm invading your private time, am I?

Yes.

What's in that book?

Come on, let me see.

Or are you protecting me?
Is that what you're doing?

Would I be shocked?

Would it ruin my character?

Let me see it.

Oh, dear.

It's not scandalous at all.

It's just a sentimental old love story.

Yes.

I read these books,

any books,

to develop my command and knowledge
of the English language.

I read
to further my education, Miss Kenton.

I really must ask you, please,

not to disturb
the few moments I have to myself.

Come in.

What is it, Lizzie?

I'm wanting to give you my notice,
Miss Kenton, please.

Why?

Charlie and me,
we're getting married.

Oh Lizzie,

have you thought about this
carefully?

Yes, Miss Kenton, I have.

You've been getting on very well here

and I think you have a fine career
before you if you stick to it.

Charlie and me's getting married.

Charlie and I.

I wish I knew what to say to you.

See, I...
I've seen this happen so many times before

for a young girl rushing into marriage
only to be disappointed in the end.

What about money?

We don't have any.

But who cares?

You'll find
it's not easy to live poor.

We have each other.

That's all anyone can ever need.

Very well, Lizzy.

If you're so sure.

Yes, Miss Kenton.

Thank you.

Good luck.

Yes!

We did all we could for them.

I told him...

I had my eye on him
as a possible under-butler

in a year or so.
But...

No, Mr. Charlie knows best.

She's sure to be let down.

Well, no use crying over spilt milk.

Besides, we have far more
important matters to discuss.

Next week's meeting.

- Ah, you know His Lordship...
- Must we discuss it tonight?

Sorry?

I'm... I'm tired, Mr. Stevens.

I've had a busy day.
Don't you realize that?

I'm very tired.

I'm very, very tired.

Don't you understand?

Miss Kenton, I...

I owe you an apology.
I thought these

quiet evening discussions
were useful to our work.

But now I see that they're
a burden to you.

I was only saying I was tired tonight.

No, no. You're right.

Our meetings are a burden after
a long day's work.

Perhaps we'd
better discontinue them.

No, really. They're very useful.
It was only tonight.

I thank you for the cocoa.

In the future, we shall communicate
only during the course of the day.

If necessary, by written message.

I wish you a very good night,
Miss Kenton.

Mr. Stevens.

I shall be taking my day off tomorrow.

I'll be back in the house by 9:30.

Certainly.

Certainly.

Good night.

No, I'm glad to be out of it,
I can tell you.

There's something about
Sir Geoffrey and his Black Shirts

gave me the creeps.

Mr. Stevens always says
it is up to us to run the house

and leave the rest where it belongs.

- You don't agree, Mr. Benn.
- No.

Nor do I, really.

If I don't like something, I want
to be in a position to say "Stuff it".

If you'd pardon the expression,
Miss Kenton.

But then I suppose I'm not a real professional,
like Mr. Stevens.

It's Mr. Stevens' whole life.

Well, it's not mine.

And to tell you the truth

I don't want to go back in service.

- What would you do instead, Mr. Benn?
- Tom's the name.

Tom.

What employment would you take up?

I'd really like to be on my own.

Start a little shop somewhere,
newspapers and tobacco.

Or even a boarding house
out in the west country, where I come from.

Clevedon.

Is a good place for a boarding house,
by the sea.

Would I get you another shandy,
Miss Kenton?

Well, it's almost 9:30.

Go on!

It's your day off, isn't it?

You're not in the army,
you got to be back in barracks.

- All right, then.
- Good.

Half a shandy, please.

What about yourself, then, Sarah?

That's a serious sort of a name.

They used to call me Sally.
That's when my mum was still alive.

Sally. That's nice, really.

Is it your intention
to remain in service?

It's a good profession,
once you get to a responsible position.

- Mr. Stevens says we're very fortunate...
- Now, we're not talking about Mr. Stevens.

We're talking about you.

Supposing...

someone was to ask you if you'd like to
come in on a boarding house by the sea.

What would you say?

Well, I don't know.

It's a theoretical question,
so I haven't been given it any thought.

- Mr. Benn.
- Tom. / - Tom.

Supposing, it wasn't theoretical.

Sally?

It's been years since anyone called that.
It feels funny.

Nice, though?

Yes.

It's very late.

Will there be anything else, My Lord?

What?

Oh, Stevens.
No... No.

- Thank you, Stevens. Good night.
- Good night, My Lord.

Mr. Cardinal, good evening.

- William, how are you?
- Very well, thank you, sir.

- Good. Delighted. And your wife?
- Very well too, sir.

- Good evening, sir.
- Stevens.

- How are you?
- Very well, sir.

Now then, um...

I've gone and got myself in a bit
of a mess with arrangements.

Do you think His Lordship
would put me up for the night?

I'll tell him you're here, sir.

Thanks.

Everything very smart.
I hope there's nothing special on tonight.

His Lordship expecting
some gentlemen to call after dinner, sir.

Oh, I see.

Well, I better keep my head down, then.
I've got my column to write anyway.

You're in good time
to join him for dinner, if you like.

Splendid. I hoped I would be.

And, er...
How is my godfather? Fit?

Very well, sir.
Would you like some refreshment?

Thank you very much.
Some whisky would be lovely.

- Who's he expecting tonight?
- I am unable to help you there, sir.

What, no idea?

No idea at all, sir.

Well, I better keep my head down
all the same, don't you think?

I think it's a good idea, sir.

Come in.

Ah, Miss Kenton.

Mr. Cardinal has just arrived,
out of the blue.

He'll expect his usual room tonight.

- I'll see to it before I leave.
- Oh, you're going out this evening?

I am indeed.

It's Thursday.

Of course. I've forgotten.
Sorry.

Is something the matter?

No, no.
Uh...

Some visitors are expected to arrive,
but it doesn't involve you.

We agreed that
Thursday is my day off.

But of course
if you should need me urgently...

No, it's perfectly all right. Thank you.
Thank you.

- Mr. Stevens.
- Yes?

I have something to tell you.

My friend,

the man I'm going to meet tonight,
you know him, Mr. Benn.

Oh, Mr. Benn. Of course. Yes.

He has asked me to marry him.

I am thinking about it.

I see.

He's moving back to
the West Country next month.

I'm still thinking about it.

I thought you should be informed
of the situation.

Yes, thank you.

That's most kind of you,
Miss Kenton.

Well, I trust you'll have a
most pleasant evening, Miss Kenton.

Thank you.

Is something special tonight, sir?

Your visitors tonight, are they special?

Can't tell you, my boy.
Strictly confidential.

- So I can't sit in on it, then?
- Sit in on what?

- Well, whatever it is that's taking place.
- Absolutely not.

Can't have someone like you
sticking your nose in.

Journalist.

What do you call it, news-hound?

No, it wouldn't do at all.

Once you've had your food,
you'd better make yourself scarce.

Well, it sounds pretty special to me.

Good evening, Prime Minister.
How are you?

- Sorry, we've been rather delayed.
- I understand, sir.

Lord Halifax.

- Hello, how are you?
- Very nice to see you.

- This is Mr. Fraser.
- How do you do, Mr. Fraser?

Good evening, Your Excellency.

Please wait here, Your Excellency.
I'll inform His Lordship.

Thank you.

Herri met de Bles painted this.
Sixteenth century.

The background must be
Lake Garda (in Italy).

A wonderful battle scene.
Very well presented.

Excellence.

This is particularly elegant.

Write that down for later.

We don't intend to involve
the whole British Empire in a war

simply because of a quarrel
in a faraway country

between people of whom we know nothing.

To my mind,
the whole of Czechoslovakia

is hardly worth the bones
of a single one of our own young men.

Unfortunately, we have a small,
noisy and corrupt war group here

who don't realize that you Germans are, after all,
only marching into your own back garden.

The Fuhrer is a man of peace
to the depth of his soul.

But he would not allow
a small second-rate country to

thumb its nose
at the 1,000-year German Reich.

I'll get it.

Come on, wake up!

Stay awake!

Could you confirm that
this lady is on the staff here, sir?

Yes, of course.
She's the housekeeper, Miss Kenton.

Thank you, sir.

- May I?
- Of course, miss.

Sorry to have alarmed you.

Just security, miss.

Trust you had a pleasant evening.

Well,
did you have a pleasant evening!?

- Yes, thank you.
- Good.

Would you like to know
what took place?

I have to return upstairs.

Now, I have event damnedest importance
taking place in this house tonight.

When are there not?

- I accepted his proposal.
- Miss Kenton?

I accepted Mr. Benn's proposal of marriage.

My congratulations.

I am prepared to serve out my notice.

But if you were able to release me earlier,
I would be grateful.

Mr. Benn is planning to leave
for the West Country in two weeks' time.

I'll do my best.

Now, please excuse me.

- Mr. Stevens.
- Yes, Miss Kenton.

Am I to take it that after
all the years I have been in this house,

you have nothing else to say to me?

You have my warmest
congratulations.

Did you know you've been
a very important figure...

for Mr. Benn and me.

Oh, in what way?

I tell him all sorts of things about you.

I tell him stories about you.
About your habits.

About your mannerisms.

He finds it very funny,
especially when I show him how you

pinch your nose
when you put pepper on your food.

That always has us in stitches.

Does it, indeed?

Well, please
excuse me, Miss Kenton.

Good night.

Thanks.

Yeah. We've been friends a long time,
haven't we?

Yes, sir.

I always look forward to a little chat
when I come down here.

Ah, thank you, sir.

You wouldn't...
care to join me in a little drink, would you?

That's most kind of you, sir.
But... No, thank you.

You all right?

Yes, perfectly all right.
Thank you.

Not feeling unwell, are you?

No, no.
A little tired, perhaps.

I bet you're tired.
What is it, about 1:00?

Come on, come on.

I want you to sit down.

Well, sir, I really...

Look, um...

I didn't come here tonight by accident.

- You know that.
- Yes, sir.

I had a tip-off, you see...

about... um...
what was going on now in the library.

Ah, yes, sir.

I do wish you'd sit down, Stevens.

I mean, I'm trying to talk to a friend

and you're standing there holding that blasted tray
as if you're about to wander off any second!

I can't.
Sit down, damn it!

- Thanks, sir.
- Better.

Now, look, um... Tell me.

I don't suppose the Prime Minister
is in the library, is he?

- Prime Minister, sir?
- Hmm.

Over in the library. That's all right.
You don't have to confirm it.

Are our Prime Minister, our Foreign Secretary
and the German ambassador.

Any idea
what they're talking about in there?

I'm afraid not, sir.

Tell me, Stevens,
don't you care at all?

I mean,
aren't you in the least bit curious?

It's not my place to be curious
about such matters.

Not your place.

And supposing...
Supposing I told you that...

His Lordship is presently trying to
persuade the Prime Minister

to enter into a pact
with that bunch of criminals in Berlin?

I'm certain His Lordship is acting
from the highest and noblest motives, sir.

Don't you see?
That's exactly what makes it so abominable!

That they should take these high and noble motives
and twist them to their own foul ends!

You do, please, realize that
His Lordship's been the most

valuable pawn that the Nazis have
in this country of the last few years.

Precisely because he is good and honourable.

If I weren't so drunk,
I could make you understand!

Sir, I do understand.

His Lordship is working to ensure
peace in our time.

Yeah, peace in our time
on their beastly terms, Stevens!

Remember that American, here,
at the conference, 3 years ago?

Called Lord Darlington an amateur,
out of his depth?

He was right.

He was dead right, Stevens.

Look, I... I hardly have to tell you
how I feel towards His Lordship.

I care about him deeply... deeply,
and I know you do too.

Yes, I do indeed.

Then in that case aren't you as desperate as I
to see him make this terrible mistake?

He's being tricked, Stevens!
Don't you see what's going on here?

Are you as deluded as he is?

Oh, dear.
Now I've probably offended you.

No. Not at all, sir.

Not at all.

Well, you must excuse me.

There are
other gentlemen calling for me, sir.

You mustn't take anything I said to heart.

I was very foolish a little while ago.

Miss Kenton,
I haven't taken anything you said to heart.

In fact,
I can hardly recall anything you did say.

I was just being very foolish.

I simply haven't time to stand here with you,
engaging in idle talk, Miss Kenton.

I suggest you go to bed now.
You must be very tired.

Good night, Miss Kenton.

Miss Kenton.

Yes, Mr. Stevens.

Miss Kenton, I...
I'd been wanting to tell you...

It's the small,
alcove outside the breakfast room.

It's the new girl, of course.

But I find
it has not been dusted in some time.

I'll see to it, Mr. Stevens.

Thank you.

I knew you would have
wanted to be informed,

Miss Kenton.

Hello, Sally.

Hi, Tom.

- You all right, then?
- Yes.

How are you?

I'm good.

Could we...

Could we talk for a moment, please?
Just for a moment.

We'll have to be quick
because I'm going out.

It won't take long.

All right, then.
We'll have to go into the lounge.

Afternoon.

- Nice little place, isn't it?
- Hm mh.

The sort of quiet little boarding house
I had in mind for us.

Like other things,
it didn't work out.

What did you want to say, Tom?

I saw Catherine yesterday.
She had some interesting news.

She's expecting.

Oh, my goodness!

She wants us both over for tea on Sunday.

I could come and get you.

We could go together on the bus.

Yes, well, we'll see about that.

House is that empty without you, Sal.

Can't tell you.

You cut yourself shaving.

Oh, yeah. I know.

Can't seem to do anything right these days.

I'll miss this, Stevens.

I so often think of the good old days
when I was the housekeeper at Darlington Hall.

I remember those years with you
was among the happiest of my life.

Would you like more tea, sir?

Yes, please. Thank you.

Ah, Miss Kenton.

- I'm sorry, Mrs. Benn.
- Stevens.

- I'm sorry, I was delayed.
- Oh, that's all right.

Please sit down.

- So, I ordered some fresh tea.
- Oh, lovely.

- Would you like some cake?
- No, thank you.

- Oh...
- Sure?

Yes, all right, then.
Since this's special occasion.

Good.

- Ah, waitress?
- Yeah...

- Could we have some cake?
- Yes, of course, sir.

- Has been long time.
- Yes, indeed.

- You haven't changed at all.
- Well...

A little, perhaps.

We've all changed, I think.

I'd have known you anywhere,
Mr. Stevens.

How long's it been now?
Must be 20 years?

Yes, just over, I think.

The tea should be along.

♪ Blue moon ♪

♪ You saw me standing alone ♪

♪ Without a dream in my heart ♪

♪ Without a love of my own... ♪

We read about the suit for libel.

- It's a shame...
- Yes.

calling His Lordship a traitor.

Those papers will print anything.

- They should have lost the case.
- Yes.

See, when His Lordship
went to court, he

sincerely expected he...
he would get justice.

And, ah, instead,
the newspaper increased its circulation,

and His Lordship's
good name was destroyed forever.

And um...

Afterwards, in his last years, well,

quite honestly, Mrs. Benn, he...

His heart was broken.

I'd take him tea in the library,
and he'd be sitting there,

sometimes he wouldn't even see me,
he's so deep in his own thoughts.

And he's, ah, be talking to himself,

his lips are moving as though
he was arguing with someone.

There was no one, of course.

No one came to see him any more
you see.

What about his godson,
young Mr. Cardinal?

Ah, Mr. Cardinal was killed in the war.
Ah, waitress.

May I have my bill, please?

- Very sorry.
- Yes.

I know you remember
Darlington Hall in its best days

and that... that's how His Lordship deserves
to be remembered, of course.

But...

And, perhaps,
the good days are starting again,

now that Mr. Lewis has taken up residence and
Mrs. Lewis is expected to arrive very shortly.

Very fortunate to have you there
to running the house for them.

Well, we still have problems, Miss Kenton.
I'm sorry, Mrs. Benn.

- We still have staff problems.
- Yes, you mentioned it in your letter.

- Except...
- And, um...

I tell you frankly, Mr. Stevens. I...
I've been thinking of going back in service.

- Good.
- But...

Now, the situation has changed for me,
because...

If I take up any work,
it will have to be

here in the West Country,
because, you see...

Catherine, our daughter,
is expecting a baby.

So, of course,
I would like to be near her.

- Of course.
- And then...

To be near our grandchild
as he grows up.

- Naturally.
- Or her, if it's a little girl.

When I first left Darlington Hall,
all those years ago,

I never realized I was really,
truly leaving.

I believe I thought of it
as simply another ruse, Mr. Stevens,

to annoy you.

It was a shock to come out here
find myself actually married.

For a long time, I was
very unhappy.

But then Catherine was born.
The years went by. One day...

I realized I loved my husband.

You see,
there is no one, Mr. Stevens,

no one in the world,
who needs me as much as he does.

But still, there are times...

when I think what a terrible mistake
I made with my life.

Yeah...

Well, I'm sure we all have these thoughts
from time to time.

People always cheer when they
turn the lights on in the evening, every time.

I wonder why.

They do say...

that for great many people,
the evening's the best part of the day.

The part they most look forward to.

Uh... Is that so?

What do you most look forward to,
Mr. Stevens?

Getting back to Darlington Hall,
principally...

Straightening out our staff problems.

You were always able to do that,
Mr. Stevens.

And you had quite a few to straighten out,
as I remember.

Yes, Ur...

Always was work,
work, more work...

and will continue to be so,
I have no doubt.

Mr. Stevens, don't you wait!
That bus is always late.

Come in out of the wet.

You must take good care of yourself,
Mrs. Benn.

- You too, Mr. Stevens. Promise me that.
- Oh, yes, I promise.

You must try to do all you can

to make these years happy ones
for yourself and your husband.

We may never meet again,
Mrs. Benn.

That is why I am
permitting myself to be so personal,

if you will forgive me.

Thank you, Mr. Stevens.

Oh, here it comes.
It's on time for once.

Thank you, Mr. Stevens.
And thank you so very much for coming.

It was so very kind of you.

It was so nice to see you.

It was a pleasure to see you again,
Mrs. Benn. Goodbye.

Take care.

You scared me.
Where'd you come from?

Good morning, sir.

You like the suit?

- Very good, sir.
- Thank you.

Good?

- Watch the chandelier there.
- Okay.

Well, lord, Stevens.
You're really getting things going here.

- This is wonderful!
- Thank you, sir.

I had to ask another 3 girls
from the village to come up, sir.

And I think I can promise you that the

house will be ready and in splendid shape
by the time Mrs. Lewis arrives.

- That sounds good. Thank you.
- Thank you, sir.

Also, I'm expecting a possible
new housekeeper this afternoon.

A Mrs. Ruth Muspratt.

Excellent references. She was matron
at a boys' preparatory school in Sussex.

- A matron, huh?
- Yes, sir.

Well, sounds like she'll know how
to keep us from misbehaving, huh.

- I certainly hope so, sir.
- Good.

Good, Stevens. Very good.

Huh, this is where we had that banquet
back in 35'. Remember?

We all stood up and
delivered ourselves of our principles.

God knows what I said.
Sure got worked up about it, though.

What did I say anyway, Stevens?

I'm sorry, sir, I was
too busy serving

to listen to the speeches.

We got a visitor here.

Have to be very careful.

Come here. That's a boy. Come on.

Okay. Easy does it.

Come on!

You don't want to startle it.

It'll come down.

I think if we leave the window...

Come on.

Good.

Very still.

Go on. Out!
Come on. Out!

Well done.

Well done, sir.