Original subtitles

♪

[sizzling]

[goat bleating]

[oven closing]

[grunts, sighs]

[exhales]: Idiot vegetarians.

What's wrong with a mouthful of dead flesh?

LESLIE: Why don't you just give Gerry some raw vegetables?

That'll cure him. LOUISA: He needs protein to grow.

Any news from Daphne?

Where is she? Yes, she's in Athens,

while she can still get her belly on a ferry.

I give you... Henry Miller,

America's greatest living writer.

You met in London.

Henry.

Nice to see you with your clothes on.

Louisa.

♪

[insects chirping]

[utensils clattering]

So this book of yours,

The Tropic of Cancer,

must be really filthy

if you can only publish it in Paris.

Well, America is a carnival of prudes.

Hmmm.

A carnival of prunes?

We do need a standard of decency.

Why? What are you scared of?

Spiders and incontinence.

LESLIE: I'm a policeman,

we're scared of nothing.

Except not getting our man.

You're so conservative

and apathetic.

Greece's government

is more fascistic by the day.

Our freedoms are under attack.

You're only saying that

because Henry's here.

GERRY: Normally he only talks

about food and girls.

[laughter]

LOUISA: Well, moving on.

Has anyone seen Spiros?

MARGO: No.

He must be so sad without his wife

and children.

I've heard he's stopped working.

[goat stomping]I really miss him.

At least it seems he's staying on Corfu.

[goat bleating]

So this guy, um, Spiros,

could he and your mom have a future together?

We don't allow ourselves to think about that.

[door closing]

[goat bleating]

HENRY MILLER: Thanks, Louisa.

It was quite the feast.

I'm gonna grab a moonlight swim.

He didn't take his swimming costume.

Henry swims naked.

And usually writes naked.

He likes to be naked.

[Louisa groans]

I may join him.

And leave you all to be... mimsy.

LOUISA: You know Larry, you may feel...

radical, but we are a respectably family living

in a nice, conservative country.

Well...

And if anything embarrassing happens,

I will hold you personally responsible.

[children chuckling]

[scoffs]

♪

[clucking]

[typewriter keys clacking]

♪

Is your family friend Sven Lundblad?

Yes.

What about him?

[goat bleating]

I hear they want to arrest him and his... man friend.

Oh, no.

Why?

Well...

Neighbors complained.

They are homosexual.

[stammers]: Not the Neighbors.

They're not hurting anyone.

The superintendent has orders

from the government.

[chicken clucks]

Do you ever think about... a man?

No.

Ah.

Still seems like a mad thing to want to do.

Hmm.[men shouting distantly]

[clears throat]

♪

[typewriter return Dings]

Now which word's sexier: lubricious

or tumid?[chicken clucking]

Think I'll go with whore-mongering.

[goat bleating, typewriter keys clacking]

Thank you for keeping Henry at a safe distance.

Well I don't want to kill Lugaretzia...

at least not in that way.

♪

MARGO: Gerry! Lunch!

Your rabbit food is in the kitchen.

It's actually a rather flavoursome fricassee.

He's gone.

There's too much cooking.

How can we stop Gerry being a vegetarian?

Make him cook his own food.

Now that is a brilliant idea.

Ah... Leslie.

There's lunch indoors, darling.

LESLIE: Thanks.

There's a worrying rumour down at the station.

Government outlawing reading and thinking?

And farting.

Oh, for God's sake.

They've got their eye on Sven and Viggo.

What?

They've been seen together.

LARRY: Well, tell your colleagues

that sexuality is a buffet, not a set menu.

Yeah, I'm not gonna say that to a bunch of Greek coppers, am I?

Oh, why not?

[exasperated sigh]

[insects chirping]

[goat bleating]

LARRY: Sven!

SVEN: Lawrence Durrell,

it's a rare pleasure.

I've been told I can be rather annoying,

so I ration my public appearances.

[goat bleating]

How are the goats?

Oh, they're goaty.

Mmm, ask a silly question.

Look, I hate this, but...

Constable Leslie, Corfu's finest,

says you and Viggo are under scrutiny.

[insects chirping]

Thank you.

I was waiting for this.

What are you going to do?

Send Viggo away for a while.

And you? Well,

I have dependents.

Oh, we can look after the goats.

How hard can it be?

Feed them some grass, the odd pep talk.

No, I'm staying.[goat bleating]

This fascist regime, they can go to hell.

Good man.

Let's be hopeful.

You know Greece,

the talking runs way ahead of the doing.

LOUISA: I hope Spiros doesn't mind us visiting.

[dog barking]

MARGO: We should have brought him some honey.

[knocking]

[knocking]

We just called to say hello.

[dog barking]

Hello.

Come back when my house looks better.

We've never been here, it's exciting.

No.

Ah!

[flies buzzing]Well...

I'll start washing up.

[disgusted groan]

SPIROS: Please, don't.

[utensils clattering]

We were worried about you, Spiros.

Have you heard from your wife?

No.

MARGO: Did something die in here?

This is as bad as our house when Mother went away.

Like you, I'm used to being looked after.

[Spiros setting object down]

So you're not working.

My car is broken.

Brakes,

and I can't afford to fix them.

I'll lend you the money.

No.Yes.

You've helped us so much.

You don't have money either.

No, but we do have a bank loan until my aunt's legacy arrives.

Um, I don't know if you want this photograph

of your wife and children up?

Good.

It's already looking tidier.

♪

LESLIE: Really, really bad smell.

It stinks.

Anyway it turns out the policeman

was using his truncheon to make the holes in the cheese.

[both laughing]

[chicken clucking]

We may not like it,

but I have orders to make a stand against decadence.

If you want to keep your job here,

you will go and arrest Sven Lundblad.

Now.

[seagull squawking]

[birds chirping]

He's getting nearer.

Mmm.

♪

You sort of get used to it after a while.

No, I still find it quite unsettling.

Well, good.

LARRY: Henry and I need books

on the law and history of radicalism

and how to combat fascism.

I'm afraid that's not a strong area for me in literature.

Yes, I know.

The countess you worked for, I need to use her library.

You can't.

She's had a relapse, she's a recluse again.

I want to borrow her books, not take her to a barn dance.

She's mentally fragile,

she won't have anyone in her house.

[sighs]

Anyway,

if this is about Sven, who'd arrest him?

He's so nice.

[goat bleating]

♪

LESLIE: I can't do this.

Will you?

No.

People laugh when I try to arrest them.

It is my face.

Oh, God.

[insects chirping]

[goat bleating]

[sighs]

Sven,

I'm afraid you and Viggo need to come with us,

to the station.

The, the police station.

Just to be clear.

Et tu, Leslie?

If that's a Swedish swear word,

I forgive you, under the circumstances.

Viggo has already left the country.

We're happy to wait while you gather

anything you need.

[goat bleating]

I'll do everything I can

to make your stay a comfortable one.

[door closes, sighs]

[dishes clattering]

[goat bleating]

Go on,

surprise me by drying up.

Oh, Gerry!

We need a chat.

Oh, God.

About you being a vegetarian.

You planning to join me?

No.

I'm not making two meals anymore,

so after tomorrow

you'll have to cook your own.

What? And you need nutrition,

so two proper cooked meals, supper and lunch.

[chicken cooing]

Mmm.

Look at the meatballs, your favourite.

As enjoyed by billions of people

with no ill effects... LARRY: You should've made a stand.

What do you expect me to do?

Walk away from a job that I love?

How can you love a job that involves you arresting Sven

just because he's attracted to another man?

Oh, Leslie. It was an order!

I've no doubt justice will be done, and he'll be released.

Well, I do have doubts and principles I live by,

and "I'm just obeying orders" isn't one of them.

It's illegal!

You live here! Get the law changed!

God!

[birds chirping]

Yes, I heard about poor Sven.

Homosexuality has always been taboo here

but tolerated.

This is new territory.

So what will happen?

They may cloak his so-called offence

in a charge such as gross indecency.

[water burbling, birds chirping]

Oh, tell Gerry I'm incubating a new batch of parasitic copepods.

Oh.

I'm sorry.

It's not just Sven, it's Spiros.

Since his wife took his children away,

he's barely left his house.

It's like wolves have moved in.

I can imagine.

And of course he's too proud to ask for help.

What can I do?

Well, family is at the heart of life here,

so if we could enlist a relative of his

to keep an eye on him.[setting cup down]

His uncle Leonidas is a wise old bird.

He works at the town hall.

Go and have a word with him.

Thank you, Theo.

I'm sorry I don't share your enthusiasm for your coaty-pegs.

[chuckles]: Copepods, yes.

You're not alone.

I'm a big embarrassment to my parents.

So the two men on the island you love the most

need rescuing.

♪

[seagulls crowing]

Thank you so much for meeting me.

I wouldn't usually get involved,

but we've never seen Spiros like this.

Thank you for your worry, Mrs. Durrell.

It's one of my specialities.

To bring order and good cheer,

I will perhaps, uh, move in with him

for a while.Perfect.

Would your wife be happy with that?

Yes, she will be happy.

If she notices I have gone.[chuckles]

I probably shouldn't ask,

but do you think his wife will come back?

I don't know.

I hope.

Gosh, me too.

No, really.

♪

Oh.

Hello Mrs. Durrells.

Spiros.

I apologize, for, uh,

when you visited, for being a,

what is it, a bear with a forehead.

A bear with a sore head.

Yes.

That makes more sense.

[people speaking Greek]

Please.

Look at us, sitting at a bar in the middle of the day.

Good, isn't it?

[bottle setting down]

[goat bleating]

[glasses setting down]

You know, I wouldn't do this with anyone else but you.

Thank you.

I'm going to say a bad thing.

Well, go on then.

When you're here with me,

I miss my children more than my wife.

♪

[chicken clucking]

I insist you let us see Mr. Lundblad.

Out of the question.

Well, just explain why he's in a cell.

He is suspected of immoral behaviour.

Define immoral behaviour.

I cannot.

Hah!

You do it.

In Greek.

MILLER: Oh, come on man, why are you doing this?

He's lived here for years.

His goats are magnificent.

My superiors wants to see disreputable acts punished.

Hey, Les, get us in to see our man.

Please.

[goat bleating, men shouting]

[typewriter keys clacking]

LOUISA: If it's any consolation, this is no worse

than Spiros' accommodation.

LARRY: How did you get in?

We've been scrapping it out for half an hour.

Well, sometimes you get better results

by arriving politely and, well, with a picnic.

Hmm, did the suffragettes win the vote by having a picnic?

Hello.

Oh, sorry, Sven, hello.

Didn't they chain themselves to things?

Yes.

And threw themselves in front of the king's horse,

and went on hunger strike.

Oh, well, start tomorrow.

This is serious.

Yes, I know it is.

Please, very grateful, but no big fuss.

I just want to keep on living here

as a goat farmer,

not as a cause célèbre.

I'm afraid this isn't just about you.

Oh.

Who is it about? You?

Proving what a zealot you are?

No it's about making a stand against bigotry

and prejudice and...

Hey, hey, cool it bud.

Let's, uh, let's all have a scone.

SVEN: Uh,

they're actually for me.

[chicken clucking]

As I'm in sort of a prison cell.

Oh, yeah.

[goat bleating]

[insects chirping]

Poor Sven.

Why do people get so het up about homosexuality?

We love to be offended.

It's one of the ignoble pleasures.

If people knew how common it is.

At school we all did it.

Did you?

Well, it was that or geography prep.

[insects chirping]

It's all in my novels.

I thought you made that up.

[knock on door, teacup clatters on saucer]

Good evening, Louisa.

Basil.

Well, what the hell are you doing here?

Ah, last minute whim.

Just a hop and a skip from Lytchett Minster.

Well, cab, train, ferry, train,

train, train, bus, ferry,

cart.

Well, I suppose you better come in.

[suitcase banging]

You met Larry and Henry Miller in London.

Oh, yes indeed.

I've looked you up since.

You write hugely dirty books.

Basil is my second cousin.

He's dealing with Aunt Hermione's will.

Where there's a will, there's a wage.

Did I do that one last time?

Yes, you did.

Oh, God, there's not a problem with the estate, is there?

No, just a few loose ends.

Like a beginner's cardigan.

Might I stay for a few days?

Yes, of course.

Please.Right.

You'll forgive us

if we're a bit glum.

A friend of ours been arrested.

Oh dear.

What for?

Scrumping? Ate a swan?

Smoked in church?

He's queer.

Right-e-oh.

There's no legal basis for jailing him.

It's all tilting at windmills.

We need to get hold of law books from the countess's library.

Well, don't do anything crazy.

[opening window, thudding]

"No one may suffer for his beliefs,

"even religious ones, provided their manifestation

does not trouble the public order."

Bravo, you Frenchies.

[door creaking]

Stop!

[rooster crowing]

[sizzling]

BASIL: Had a tour of the garden.

[goat bleating]

Or should I say the zoo.

They're not native to Corfu, are they?

GERRY: No.

He's from Central America.

[accented]: Hello.

Pleased to meet you.

Good.

Rapport established.

♪

[indistinct talking]

[chickens clucking]

Uh, let me take care of that, sir.

To make up with you having to deal

with my family yesterday.

[knock on door]

LOUISA: Spiros...

[knocking]

Uncle Leonidas.

Is everything all right?

[Leonidas sighs]

God in heaven.

[speaking Greek]

[laughing]

Mrs. Durrells!

[laughing]Hello.

We are taking it easy today.

Well, I wouldn't say you've brought order to the house.

No, but I've remembered how to have a good time.

[laughing]

Can we have... just have...

It's none of my business,

but I really think you should ask your uncle to leave.

But I hear it was you who asked him to come.

Yes, all right.

Because I care about you.

[Leonidas grunts]

Have a beer!

I don't want a beer.

Get back to the town hall!

SPIROS: My wife...

she's right.

I'm selfish.

No!

No, without you, we wouldn't have survived a week

on this wonderful island.

Why did I help you?

Selfish, again.

Because I love you.

All of you.

Oh.

Well...

Perhaps because your family get things wrong too, like me.

Well, my family and I

are going to help you become the old Spiros again,

whether you like it or not.

In between sorting out all our other problems.

[birds chirping]

LESLIE: Did you see the intruder's face?

No, I did not.

Oh, dear.

Well, he's a silly boy, that's who he is.

With a slightly peculiar line in swag.

Think nothing more of it.

You must be very distressed.

No, it rather perked me up.

Oh!

Perked... me... up.

[chuckles]: Well, I'll be on my way.

You might want to put sturdier locks on those windows.

Or, my advice, get rid of the books

and use the room for ping-pong.

I know who did it, of course.

Oh?

Your brother, Lawrence.

You may write that down.

If you had been here,

you may have had better luck shooting him.

[chuckles]: Yes.

Well, rest assured your complaints

will be taken very seriously.

[insects, birds chirping]

[exhales]

[insects chirping]

[utensils scraping]

MARGO: Delicious cooking, Gerry.

Could you cook for me tomorrow?

What?

No!

How do you get that lovely crisping?

Well, interestingly, I...

[insects chirping, utensils scraping]

Anyway, we need to talk about how we can get Sven released.

Yeah, and I don't want any more criticism

about arresting Sven.

I helped an old woman today find her cat.

I don't hear any of you congratulating me on that.

Great work! Super!

LESLIE: Thank you.

Basil, you're a lawyer, surely you can help.

You'd think, but my field is wills and probate.

For example, I'd be hugely helpful

if Sven dies in custody.

[insects chirping, utensils scraping]

So Bas, remind us why you're here.

[chuckles]

Yeah, well, you know.

No.

Aunt Hermione spoke so glowingly about Corfu.

The, uh...

fireflies, the... the people, the...

traditional head scarves.

How could I not visit?

♪

[coughs]

Louisa.

You need to tell me what's going on.

Gosh, in a sense who knows...

No, no, stop that.

There may be a sliver of a problem

with your legacy.

And what might that problem be?

The value may be less than you hoped.

I hate to sound greedy, but why aren't you in England

ensuring that it isn't less?

And be eviscerated by your cousin Prue

if it's bad news?

I'd rather be by a beach a thousand miles away.

It's out of my hands.

I'm awaiting a telegram from the banker boffins.

Meanwhile, let's eat, drink, and be merry-ish, shall we?

♪

[birds squawking]

[chicken clucking]

[goat bleating]

Oh, the postman left you a telegram.

Ah.

[envelope rustling]

♪

[birds squawking]

I am here to join the legal team.

Whoa, I feel overdressed.

[birds squawking]

LUGARETZIA: I cannot do a friendly face.

GERRY: Roger.

[knocking on door]

Gerry.

Lugaretzia.

Roger.

[Roger murmurs]

Hello, Spiros.

[mutters in Greek]

Whoa.

[flies buzzing]

He cook, I clean.

We were disorganized last time.

Now we know what we're doing.

Let's hope Leslie doesn't arrest you

for wearing his funeral suit.

I feel like a lawyer.

Half shark, half weasel.

Don't tell Gerry, or he'll want one.

Before we rush into the police station,

I should talk you through Greek psychology

as regards homosexuality.

Do it on the way.

Or we'll turn up and find they've knocked off for a beer.

♪

MILLER: Hey, shouldn't he come too?

He's the only one of us who is actually a lawyer.

♪

[footsteps echo]

We are here to formally challenge the detention

of Sven Lundblad.

THEO: Who is held on these premises

without legally valid charge.

MILLER: In contravention of international law.

We're smelling bullshit.

BASIL: Absolutely.

And I speak as a qualified solicitor.

I'm sorry, I've left my business card

in my long trousers.

You are flouting

the doctrine of habeus corpus,

as enshrined here!

Let the alleged fruit go, he's a great guy,

and we'll say nothing more about it.

[chuckles]

[grumbles]

♪

I seem to have left my key at home.

[chains clanking]

[goat bleating]

One day, when the world has grown up a little,

you'll think of what you did to people like Sven,

and anyone who's different,

and it'll be you who's embarrassed.

♪

LOUISA: Well, you tried.

The chains were a nice idea.

GERRY: Wouldn't they have just left you there

for the night?

I've never been more embarrassed in my life.

[insects chirping]

BASIL: I'm, uh,

I'm sorry to add more drama

to a busy day

but I've had word from the relevant, um,

money-bags about Aunt Hermione's financial affairs.

Oh, God, it's like Agatha Christie.

When she died, her wealth was considerable.

[exhales]

Were it not for my investment on her behalf

in a syndicate of Lloyd's of London

who insured the Crystal Palace,

which burned down last December.

Who'd've thought metal and glass could burn that fiercely?

And expensively.

So I'm afraid Auntie's money is all lost.

I do apologize.

[exhales]

How will we pay our debts?

That's capitalism for you.

Oh, shut up.

[Louisa washing dishes]

[animal noises]

LOUISA: The blissful ignorance of youth.

He doesn't know he's born.

What is wrong?

Money, Lugaretzia, as ever.

And Sven mouldering away in prison.

Oh, God, I must feed his goats.

Heh.

BASIL: Well, it's a new day.

One of us is looking lovely.

[sighing nervously]

[bleating]

[insects chirping]

♪

[people talking indistinctly]

[clears throat]

After your son's lunatic behaviour yesterday,

you cannot see Sven Lundblad.

I don't want to see him, I want to see you.

[quietly]: To tell you the truth about Sven.

I'm not sure if you're aware,

but Sven and I were very nearly married.

And you did not married

because you find he is a homosexual?

No.

No, I did not find that.

[chicken squawks]

LOUISA: Throughout our relationship, Sven was...

hmm, how can I put this?

Very physical.

In bed.

Yes, I understand.

Hands all over me,

like a swash-buckling octopus.

So why did you not married him?

LOUISA: Because he's a goatherd.

I'm not proud to say that when the moment came,

the English snob in me couldn't go through with it.

And he's Swedish, of course.

I'd always prefer a Greek man.

That's understandable.

Well, yes, it is, isn't it?

I don't like that we have to arrest people for this.

But I'm obeying orders.

Although, you do seem to me

like a man who makes his own decisions.

Perhaps we could test it

over a drink?

Very well.

I can report that allegations of homosexuality

are unfounded.

And I will release Sven.

[relieved exhalation]

[chuckles]

[men talking indistinctly, bell tolling]

Hello, there you are.

MAN: Yassas. Hello.

Yassou. MAN: Yassou.

♪

What's the news of Countess Mavrodaki

and the stolen books?

[horse whinnying]

Oh, oh, yes.

She didn't see the thief.

She said she did.

Yeah, but not his face.

She may have made the whole thing up.

Lonely old woman,

fancies a visit from a handsome policeman.

Hmm?

I mean, who'd want to steal old law books?

Wait.

Are you sure about that?

Yes.

♪

[people talking indistinctly, cart squeaking]

[goat bleating]

Right.

[chains clanking]

I'll have the key brought from my house

when you let Sven go.

Can I help my friend?

Well, that's not obviously quite how I planned this.

♪

[struggling]

Yeah, well, I think I've made my point!

[gunshot, Larry shouts, chains clanking]

[knocking]

[footsteps approaching]

Morning, Spiros... it's my shift.

I've come because Mother said you need cheering up.

So all the more reason to share my philosophy of life with you.

♪

It means a lot to me that you did that.

Thank you.

Well, clearly I need to work on my grand gestures.

How come you're out?

Apparently I'm cured.

[knocking]

BASIL: Spiros.

Happen to be passing by.

MARGO: Where are you going, Spiros?

SPIROS: For a drive.

[goat bleating]

I hear you've released Sven.

Thank you.

[papers rustling]

And your brother Larry

was here again. Oh, why?

STAVRO: Guilty conscience

about stealing the books from the Villa Mavrodaki.

Hah! Family!

Your brother stole the books?

No.

No?

You know how serious it is

if a policeman tries to bury a crime?

Yes! So let me give you another chance.

Did your brother commit a theft?

No, he didn't.

Then you know what will happen.

Yes.

And I'm resigning.

♪

[insects clicking]

[goat bleating]

MARGO: Do you want to hold Frank?

No, thank you.[footsteps approaching]

Oh, Leslie.

I'm so sorry.

I know you loved that job.

I'm very proud of you.

And really glad I won't have to visit Larry in a cell.

Oh, and by the way,

if the superintendent calls to ask me for a drink,

I've moved to Albania.

I've made a terrible mistake.

No, you haven't.I have.

And I keep making them.

No.

Well, yes, but not this time.

[sighs]

Thanks, Leslie.

It's fine.

I'm very grateful.

This whole thing has all been about men loving men.

And...

I'm trying to say that...

you're wrong about most things,

but I love you too.

Though not in that way.

And not all the time.

[chuckles softly]

BASIL: Ah, some good news.

It has been pointed out to me

by your Cousin Prue, who has a...

I've interrupted something, haven't I?

Anyway, blunder on.

She points out that a specific...

specific bequests made by your aunt

are not subject to reclaim by indebted parties,

so these items left to you are yours.

"One shed with lawn-mower,

a beach hut in Lyme Regis,

two boxes of coronation mugs."

I won't go on, but you could sell all this

and pay off your debts.

So you're

back to square one.

Um...

[sighs]

Well, maybe it's not so bad.

Sven can live his life with Viggo.

If they don't mind skulking around.

Well, yes.

Gerry's lost his battle with meatballs.

You and Leslie are talking again.

And do you know what?

I'm pleased you're not a policeman any more.

Me too.

[mouth full]: Horrible job.

Well, you won't be saying that if we're ever burgled.

So there's just the five of us,

unburdened by money...

What's Henry's phrase?

"I have no money, no resources, no hopes.

I am the happiest man alive."

Mmm.

♪

[seagulls squawking]

Hello.

Hello.

[bird squawking]

Please.

I thought you might be here,

because Athens is over there.

No, it's over there.

Can you see it?

No.

It's 300 miles away.

You have to use your imagination.

I hope you fixed your brakes.

Not yet.

Let's live dangerously.

[chuckles]

Thank you for sending me your team of helpers.

Did it help?

Yes.

It drove me out of the house.

[chuckles]

Is it time I stop moping?

[quietly]: Yes.

It's my turn to be selfish.

I feel lost without you.

Well.

I'm back.