Plenty by David Hare

Oldtuberadio

Plenty Susan Traherne returns to Britain haunted by her experiences as a Resistance fighter in Occupied France. Post-war life seems dull, but Susan's rage against mediocrity and her attempts to find fulfilment not only damage her own life, but alter the lives of those around her. Susan Traherne .... Miranda Richardson Alice .... Hattie Morahan Brock .... Ben Miles Lazar .... Michael Gould Frenchman 1/Begley .... Jonathan Cullen Darwin .... Geoffrey Palmer Mick ....Paul Anderson Louise .... Emilie-Kate Owen Aung .... Chooi Beh Priest/Announcer .... Dale Rapley Dorcas .... Ellie Beaven Charleson .... Angus Wright Frenchman 2 .... Sylvester Morand Directed by John Dove Producer Catherine Bailey First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2006  Do you enjoy the variety on Oldtuberadio? Like, Share and Subscribe to be notified of our new shows #radio #crime #thriller #drama To Support this channel please visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/oldtuberadio https://ko-fi.com/oldtuberadio98 https://www.patreon.com/oldtuberadio https://locals.com/Oldtuberadio

Transcript

00:00:00Plenty, by David Hare

00:00:20I don't know why anybody lives in this country.

00:00:48No wonder everyone has colds all the time.

00:00:50Even what they call passion, it still comes at you down a blocked nose.

00:00:56And the food?

00:00:57Yeah, the wet, the cold, the flu, the food.

00:01:02The loveless English.

00:01:04How is he?

00:01:05Fine.

00:01:06The blood is spectacular.

00:01:08The blood is from his thumb.

00:01:10He had a couple of nembitol and 12 fingers for scotch.

00:01:13There's nothing else.

00:01:15Don't worry.

00:01:16And a fight.

00:01:17A short fight.

00:01:18Tiny's takeaway.

00:01:19Want some?

00:01:20It's six o'clock in the morning.

00:01:24Sweet and sour prawn?

00:01:26No thanks.

00:01:27You should.

00:01:28You worked as hard as I did.

00:01:30When we started clearing out the house last night, I didn't think it could be done.

00:01:35Take this.

00:01:36It's a yell.

00:01:37Are you sure you can't stay?

00:01:38There's a mortise as well.

00:01:39There's a mortise as well, but I've lost the key.

00:01:41There's a cleaning lady next door, should you want one.

00:01:44Her work's good, but don't try talking about the flags.

00:01:47We have a share in that garden in the centre of the square, you know?

00:01:51All those trees and flowers, they keep locked up.

00:01:53Have you just stayed on for a couple of hours?

00:01:56You must tell my husband.

00:01:58You've given me the house and you weren't on your way.

00:02:01Tell him I left with nothing that was his.

00:02:04I just walked out of him.

00:02:07Everything to go.

00:02:18Darling.

00:02:22What's for breakfast?

00:02:25Fish.

00:02:31San Benoit, November 1943.

00:02:54This is London.

00:02:57The Voice of the Liberty.

00:02:58freedom. Then, some personal messages.

00:03:05My uncle Albert has lost his dog.

00:03:10My uncle Albert has lost his dog.

00:03:28What are you doing here?

00:03:48No. Let me go. I can explain everything.

00:03:52Don't worry.

00:03:58And your French is not good.

00:04:01Where am I?

00:04:02Please be quiet. I can't hear when you speak.

00:04:07There's a road through the wood, Gestapo patrol.

00:04:11I see.

00:04:12I thought I heard something.

00:04:13I'm sorry. We had to take advantage of your light.

00:04:16We were losing fuel. I'm afraid I'm meant to be 80 miles on.

00:04:20Could you tell me where I am?

00:04:22You've landed near a village called St. Benoit.

00:04:25It's close to a town called Poitiers, all right?

00:04:27Yes, I think. I have heard of it, you know.

00:04:32Hadn't you better take that thing off?

00:04:35We're in the same racket, I suppose.

00:04:38Well, we're pretty well dished if we're not.

00:04:41Did you spot any movement as you came down?

00:04:44None at all. We just picked out your light.

00:04:47If you didn't see anything, I'd like to hold on.

00:04:52We need the drop badly. Explosives and guns.

00:04:55Have you come out on your own?

00:04:58You'd better tell me.

00:05:00How does this beret look?

00:05:02I'd rather not look at you.

00:05:04It's an element of risk which we really don't need to take.

00:05:07In my experience, it is best.

00:05:09It really is best if you always obey the rules.

00:05:11But you'd like me to hold on and help you, I think.

00:05:14My own undertaking is somewhat up at the spat.

00:05:16Whatever happens, I'm several days late.

00:05:19If I could hold on and be of any help,

00:05:22I'm sure I'd never have to look you in the face.

00:05:26If you could hold on.

00:05:28I'm sure I could find you a bike.

00:05:31Would you like a cigarette?

00:05:33Thank you very much.

00:05:42Cafes are bad meeting places.

00:05:44Much less safe than they seem.

00:05:46Don't go near Borsche. It's very bad for us.

00:05:48Don't carry anything to toothpaste tubes.

00:05:50It's become the first place they look.

00:05:52Don't laugh too much.

00:05:54I'm Englishman's laugh.

00:05:55It just doesn't sound the same.

00:05:57Are they still teaching you to broadcast from the lavatory?

00:06:00Yes.

00:06:01Well, don't.

00:06:03And don't hide your receiver in the system.

00:06:05The whole dodge is badly out of date.

00:06:07The Gustavo have been crashing into lavages for a full two months.

00:06:11And that's it, really.

00:06:13The rest you know.

00:06:14Or we'll learn.

00:06:16How long have you been here?

00:06:18Perhaps here.

00:06:19Off and on.

00:06:21How's everyone at home?

00:06:23They're fine.

00:06:24The boss?

00:06:25Fine.

00:06:26Even some cufflinks at the aerodrome.

00:06:27Told me my chances.

00:06:2950-50.

00:06:30Yes.

00:06:31He's getting out of touch.

00:06:32How long has it been?

00:06:37Well, the Germans are still here.

00:06:40You mean we're failing?

00:06:41Not at all.

00:06:42It's part of our brief.

00:06:43Keep them here.

00:06:44Keep them occupied so they have to waste their manpower chasing after us.

00:06:47Divert them from the front.

00:06:49Well, that's what we've done.

00:06:51I see.

00:06:52But it's the worst thing about the job.

00:06:55The more successful you are, the longer it goes on.

00:06:57Until we win.

00:06:58Oh, yes.

00:06:59A friend.

00:07:00A friend who was here.

00:07:01Used to say, never kill a German.

00:07:02Always shoot him in the leg.

00:07:03That way he goes to hospital where he has to be looked after.

00:07:04Where he'll use up enemy resources.

00:07:05But a dead soldier is forgotten.

00:07:06And replaced.

00:07:07Do you have dark hair?

00:07:08What?

00:07:09One strand across your face.

00:07:10Very young.

00:07:11Sitting one day next to the mahogany door at the recruitment place.

00:07:14And above your shoulder at the other side, Whittaker's Almanac.

00:07:16You know who I am.

00:07:17That's it.

00:07:18Over there.

00:07:19Wait.

00:07:20Isn't that it?

00:07:21Don't move across, just wait.

00:07:22That's the drop.

00:07:23It's all right, leave it.

00:07:24It's safer to wait a moment or two.

00:07:25Oh, my God.

00:07:26What?

00:07:27Out across the field.

00:07:28Look.

00:07:29Get down.

00:07:30He's picking it up.

00:07:31Let's get away from here.

00:07:32Oh, my God.

00:07:33I don't know about what?

00:07:34It's safer to wait a moment or two.

00:07:35We can find Whittaker's Almanac.

00:07:36You know who I am.

00:07:37That's it.

00:07:38Over there.

00:07:47Wait.

00:07:48Isn't that it?

00:07:49Isn't that it?

00:07:51Don't move across, just wait.

00:07:53That's the drop.

00:07:54It's all right.

00:07:55Leave it.

00:07:56It's safer to wait a moment or two.

00:07:59No, if it's the Gestapo, nothing, it's the bloody French.

00:08:11It's not for you.

00:08:12Yes, it's to us. I don't know you.

00:08:14No, the highway was English, it's to us.

00:08:17No, it's designed for the resistance.

00:08:19God.

00:08:20If you don't like it.

00:08:22The English have never understood France.

00:08:24And it's absolutely the French who determine our future.

00:08:29It's for France.

00:08:31Please put the package down.

00:08:34Please.

00:08:39Are you a raven mad?

00:08:42Please tell your friends we're sorry.

00:08:44We do want to help.

00:08:46But sometimes it's the French who make it difficult.

00:08:50Nobody asks you, nobody asks you to come.

00:08:54You're not the welcome here.

00:08:56I'm here.

00:08:57I'm here.

00:08:58I'm here.

00:08:59I'm here.

00:09:02Bloody Gaulists.

00:09:04I mean, what do they have for brains?

00:09:06I don't know.

00:09:07I mean, really.

00:09:08Just expect the English to die.

00:09:11They sit in water, spitting blood in the streets.

00:09:14Here's your gun back.

00:09:20We must be off.

00:09:21I'm sorry.

00:09:22I'm so frightened.

00:09:23I must bury the silk.

00:09:24I'm not an agent.

00:09:25I'm just a courier.

00:09:26I carry messages between certain servants.

00:09:28Please.

00:09:29I came tonight as my first drop.

00:09:30There was literally nobody else.

00:09:32I can't tell you the mess in Poitiers.

00:09:33Please.

00:09:34My friend.

00:09:35The man I mentioned.

00:09:36He's been taken to Buchenwald.

00:09:38He was the wireless operator.

00:09:39Please let me tell you.

00:09:40His name was Tony.

00:09:41I can't help.

00:09:42I have to talk.

00:09:43No.

00:09:44I don't want to die.

00:09:45I don't want to die like that.

00:09:47Shh.

00:09:48Shh.

00:09:49Shh.

00:09:50Shh.

00:09:51Shh.

00:09:52Shh.

00:09:53Shh.

00:09:54Shh.

00:09:55Shh.

00:09:56Shh.

00:09:57Shh.

00:09:58Shh.

00:09:59Shh.

00:10:00Shh.

00:10:01Shh.

00:10:02Shh.

00:10:03Did you know?

00:10:04Did you know?

00:10:05Did you know?

00:10:06Sound waves never die.

00:10:08So every noise we make goes into the sky.

00:10:11Another place.

00:10:12Somewhere in the corner of the universe.

00:10:14Where all the babble of the world is kept.

00:10:20Come on.

00:10:21Let's clear this lot up.

00:10:22We must be off.

00:10:24I don't know how I'm going to manage on French cigarettes.

00:10:27Is there somewhere I can buy bicycle clips?

00:10:29I was thinking about it all the way down.

00:10:31Oh, yes.

00:10:32And something else.

00:10:33A mackerel sky.

00:10:34What is the phrase for that?

00:10:37An ciel pomelay.

00:10:38An ciel pomelay.

00:10:39An ciel pomelay.

00:10:40Marvellous.

00:10:41I must find a place to slip it in.

00:10:42Now, where will I find this bike?

00:10:44I don't know your name.

00:10:45I don't know your name.

00:10:49Brussels.

00:10:50June 19th.

00:10:51I don't know your name.

00:10:52I don't know your name.

00:10:53I don't know your name.

00:10:55Brussels.

00:10:56June 1947.

00:10:58Brussels, June 1947.

00:11:23Ici Bruxelles, INR.

00:11:28Et maintenant, notre soirée continue avec la musique de Victor Sylvester et son orchestre.

00:11:36Victor Sylvester est parmi les musiciens anglais les plus aimés à cause de ses maintes émissions à la radio anglaise pendant la guerre.

00:11:45Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada.

00:12:15Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada.

00:12:45Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada.

00:12:47Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada.

00:13:21Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada.

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00:19:35have on her hands. Your wife is asking if you're ready for dinner, sir. Right. And she

00:19:42wants your advice on her face. I'll look up after you, sir. You'll see Mrs. Radley to

00:19:48her hotel. Of course. Well, goodbye, Mrs. Radley. I'm sorry it hasn't been a happier

00:19:53day. I put in a call to England. There's an hour's delay. I've decided to lie.

00:20:05Will you be going back with the body? No. Will you remind me to cancel your seat?

00:20:25Pimlico, September 1947.

00:20:35This is the BBC third programme. Forachev wrote Les Ossifiées and the Year of the Paris

00:20:44Commune, but his struggle with Parkinson's disease during the writing of the score has

00:20:49hitherto made it a peculiarly difficult manuscript for musicologists to interpret. However, the

00:20:54leader of the Bremen ensemble has recently done a magnificent work of reclamation. Forachev

00:21:00died in an extreme state of senile dementia in 1878. This performance of his last work

00:21:06will be followed by a short talk in our series, Musicians and Disease.

00:21:11I want to move on. I just desperately want to feel I'm moving on. With him? That's the

00:21:21problem, isn't it? I'd trade him in. Would you? I'd choose him when I was off the street.

00:21:28And what chance would you have tonight, within a mile, say? Within a mile of here? Pretty

00:21:32slim. Is that right? Alice, that hooker's disgusting. I know. It was better when the

00:21:39dung was fresh. I don't know why you bother. The writer must experience everything. Every

00:21:43kind of degradation. Nothing is close to him. It's really the degradation that attracted me

00:21:47to the job. I thought you were going to work tonight. I can't write all the time. You have

00:21:53to live it before you can write it. What other way is there, besides nicking it? Is that done?

00:21:58Apparently. Once you start looking, it seems most books are copied out of other books.

00:22:02Only it's called Tribute. Tribute to Hemingway. Means it's nicked. Mine's going to be Tribute

00:22:07to Scott Fitzgerald. Have you read him? No.

00:22:10Last Tycoon. Mine's going to be like that. He snores.

00:22:15You should get a job. I've had a job. I know what jobs are like. I had a job in your office.

00:22:21For three days. It was enough. How are you going to live?

00:22:25Off you, mostly. Susan, I do desperately want to feel I'm moving on. I work so hard,

00:22:35I have no time to think. The office is worse. Those brown invoices go back and forth, import,

00:22:41export. I remember. They get heavier and heavier as the day goes on. I can barely stagger across

00:22:47the room for the weight of a single piece of paper. By the end of the day, if you dropped one on the

00:22:52floor, you would smash your foot. Seems unreal. I can't believe that because of the work you

00:23:00do, ships pass and sail across the world. Mr. Medlicart has moved into my office.

00:23:06Sightful, Mr. Medlicart. I came in one morning and found partition had gone.

00:23:10I interpret it as the first step in a mating dance. Sexual pressure is becoming intolerable.

00:23:17Alice, I must get out. And do. Just go. Have you never done that? I do it all the time.

00:23:23They do need me in that place. So much the better. Gives it much more point.

00:23:27I always go before people leave and notice I've come. But you, you could really make a splash.

00:23:33He stirs. I'd like to change everything, but I don't know how.

00:23:37Are you really fond of him? You don't see him at his best. He had a week in Brussels,

00:23:43which we both enjoyed. Now he comes over for the weekend whenever he can. But he tends to

00:23:49be rather sick on the boat. You should meet someone younger. I don't really like the young

00:23:53men. You're through and out the other side in no time at all. I can introduce you. I'm sure.

00:23:58I've only known you three weeks, but I've got the idea. Your flair for agonised young men.

00:24:03I'm just catching up, that's all. Of course. I was a late starter. Oh, yes. What are you,

00:24:0818? I had a protected childhood till I ran away. And very bad guilt. I was frightened to masturbate

00:24:14more than once a week. I thought my clitoris was like a torch battery. You know, use it too much

00:24:18and it runs out. He wakes. What time is it? Raymond, can you give us your view? I was just comparing

00:24:27the efficiency of a well-known household object. Alice, leave him alone. It's getting on for five.

00:24:31I feel terrible. I'll get you something to eat. Omelette, all right? It's only powder,

00:24:39I'm afraid. Well... I'll sprinkle it with milk of magnesia.

00:24:45Seems a bit pointless. It's only 12 hours till I'm back on the boat. My God, what was she doing

00:24:50with her gun? She was cleaning it. I thought you'd have gone. Don't you have a flat? I did,

00:24:57but I had bad associations. I was disappointed in love. I see. And Susan said I could sleep

00:25:02here. Do you always bring her a gift? Oh, I'd certainly try to bring one if I can. You

00:25:06must have lots of money. Well, yeah, I suppose. I find it a moderately easy to acquire. Money

00:25:12sticks to my fingers, I find. What can I do? It must be very tiresome. I think everyone's

00:25:16going to be rich very soon. Once you've got over the effects of the war, it's going to be coming

00:25:20out of everyone's ears. Is that what you think? I'm absolutely sure. I do enjoy these

00:25:26weekends, you know. Susan leads such an interesting life. Books, conversation, people like you.

00:25:33The Foreign Office can make you feel pretty isolated. Till I met Susan. The very day I

00:25:38met her, she showed me you must always do what you want. If you want something, you must get

00:25:44it. I think that's a wonderful way to live, don't you? I do. Shall I tell you how my book

00:25:50begins? What? There's a woman in a rape trial, and the story is true. The book begins at the

00:25:55moment where she has to tell the court what the accused has said to her on the night of

00:25:59the rape, and she finds she can't bring herself to say the words out loud, and so the judge

00:26:04suggests she writes them down on a piece of paper, and it be handed round the court, which

00:26:08she does. And it says, I want to have you. I must have you now. So they pass it round

00:26:16the jury, who will read it and pass it on. There's a woman jurist who's fallen asleep

00:26:20at the boredom of the trial, so the man next to her has to nudge her awake and hand her

00:26:25the slip of paper. She wakes up, looks at it, then at him, smiles and puts it in a handbag.

00:26:32That woman is my heroine. Well, yes.

00:26:40Cheese omelette. What were you talking about? Oh, I said this stuff. Yeah, I said it was

00:26:45done. I was promised visions. Well. It's because I'm the only bohemian in London. People exploit

00:26:51me, because there are no standards, you see. In Paris or New York, there are plenty of bohemians,

00:26:57so the kief is rich and sweet and plentiful, but here, I mean, you'd be better off licking the

00:27:02gum from your ration card. Perhaps Raymond will be posted to Morocco. Bring some back

00:27:05in his bag. I don't think that's really on. Nobody would notice what you say. Nobody would

00:27:10notice if you smoked it yourself. Are they not very sharp? Not according to Raymond. The

00:27:16ones I've met are buffoons. Susan, please. What's you who tell the stories? That man

00:27:21Darwin. He just has slight problems of adjustment to the modern age. Alice, I will paraphrase, let

00:27:28me paraphrase Raymond's view of his boss. I don't misrepresent you, dear. It is, in paraphrase, in

00:27:33some, that he would not trust him to stick his prick into a bucket of lard. Well, is he a joke or not?

00:27:42It's a joke between us. He's not a joke to the entire world.

00:27:48Well, I think I'd better be pushing off home. Then I wish you wouldn't use those words.

00:27:51What? Words like push off home. I'm always saying it. Bit of a tight corner, one hell

00:27:58of a spot. They don't belong. What do you mean? They're not your words. Well, I'm none

00:28:04too keen on your words, either. Oh, yes? Which? Words like bucket of lard. Alice, if you are

00:28:10staying, there is only the bath or the kitchen. I know. Are you going to let her live with

00:28:17you? I like Huck. She makes me laugh. I'm sorry. I was awful. I apologise. But the work

00:28:26I do is not entirely contemptible. I think of France more than I tell you. I was 17 when

00:28:33I was thrown into the war. I often think of it. I'm sure. And the most unlikely people.

00:28:39People I met only for an hour or two. Astonishing kindnesses. Bravery. The fact that you could

00:28:49meet someone for an hour or two and see the very best of them and then move on. Can you

00:28:53understand? For instance, there was a man in France. His codename was Lazar. I'd been

00:29:00there a year, I suppose. And one night I had to see him on his way. He just dropped out of

00:29:04the sky. An agent. I was lost. I was trying to be blasé, trying to be tough. All the

00:29:11usual stuff. Irony, hardness, cleverness, wit. And then suddenly I began to cry. Onto the

00:29:18shoulder of a man I'd never met before. But not a day goes by without my wondering where

00:29:24he is. Susan. I think we should try a winter apart. We really do. I think it's all a bit

00:29:29easy this way. These weekends, nothing is tested. I think a test would be good. And what

00:29:34a test, then, a winter apart. A winter together. I would love to come to Brussels, you know

00:29:40that. I know you've been dreading the winter crossing. Don't patronise me, Susan. Anyway,

00:29:45perhaps in the spring it would be really nice to meet. Please, don't insult my intelligence.

00:29:51I know you better than you think. When you talk longingly about the war, some deception

00:29:56usually follows. Goodbye.

00:30:00Did you hear that?

00:30:06Certainly. I was writing it down.

00:30:09Do you know what you're doing tomorrow?

00:30:11Not really. There's a new jazz band at the 101. And Ken wants to take me to Wheelpie Island

00:30:16in his horror little car. I'll say I'll go if I get to meet Alistair. Everyone says he's

00:30:20got hair on his shoulder blades, and apparently he can crack walnuts in his armpits.

00:30:24Oh, wow. He'll never be short of friends. Quite. Your friend Brock says we're all going

00:30:28to be rich. Oh, really?

00:30:31Peace and plenty.

00:30:32Temple. May, 1951.

00:30:57500 cheese graters.

00:30:58Oh, no.

00:31:00I've got 500 cheese graters parked round the side. Are you interested?

00:31:04I'm afraid you're too late. We took a consignment a week ago.

00:31:11Where are we looking?

00:31:13Across the river. Over there.

00:31:16Where?

00:31:17Southbank. That's where the fireworks are going to be.

00:31:22And there's my barrage balloon.

00:31:24Oh, yeah. What does it say?

00:31:26Don't say that. That's the worst thing you can say.

00:31:28It's dark.

00:31:30It says Bovril.

00:31:31Oh. Bovril.

00:31:33Yes. It's meant to blaze out over London.

00:31:36Surprised it hasn't got your name on.

00:31:39What do you mean?

00:31:40Everywhere I go.

00:31:40I managed to seal some supper from the festival hall as a reception for its opening night.

00:31:50Are you using your cutlery, I'm happy to say?

00:31:52I wish I could see it.

00:31:53Yes.

00:31:54Yes, I wish you could too.

00:31:55I've actually decided to leave the festival now.

00:32:00Having worked so hard to get the wretched thing on, I'm thinking of going into advertising.

00:32:05Ah, very good.

00:32:06I met some people on the Bovril side.

00:32:10It's, well, I doubt if it'll stretch me, but it would be a way of having some fun.

00:32:14Would you like a canapé?

00:32:19How's Alice?

00:32:21She's very well.

00:32:23I haven't seen her lately.

00:32:24No.

00:32:25She went mainstream, you see.

00:32:27I stayed revivalist.

00:32:28Different religion.

00:32:30For me, it all stops in 1919.

00:32:33So, how can I help?

00:32:35I'm looking for a father.

00:32:39I want to have a child.

00:32:42Look, it really is much easier than it sounds.

00:32:45I mean, marriage is not involved, or even looking after it.

00:32:49You don't even have to see the pregnancy through.

00:32:51I mean, conception will be the end of the job.

00:32:53Ah.

00:32:54You don't want to?

00:32:55No.

00:32:56No, I'm delighted.

00:32:57I'm lucky to be asked.

00:32:59Not at all.

00:33:00But it's just your own people.

00:33:02I mean, friends.

00:33:03You must have friends.

00:33:06It's...

00:33:07No.

00:33:07Go on, say.

00:33:09The men I know at work, at the festival, or even friends I've known for years, they just

00:33:15aren't the kind of people I would want to marry.

00:33:17Ah.

00:33:18I'm afraid I'm rather strong-minded, as you know.

00:33:21And so, with them, I usually feel I'm holding myself in for fear of literally blowing them

00:33:26out of the room.

00:33:27They are kind.

00:33:29They are able.

00:33:30Well, I don't see why I should have to compromise, why I should have to make some sad and decorous

00:33:36marriage just to have a child.

00:33:38I don't see why any woman should have to do that.

00:33:40But you don't have to marry.

00:33:43Ah.

00:33:44Well.

00:33:44Just go off with them.

00:33:46But that's really the problem.

00:33:49These same men, these kind and likable men, they do have another side to their nature.

00:33:55And that is, they are very limited in their ideas.

00:33:58They are frightened of the unknown.

00:34:00They want a quiet life, where sex is either sport or duty, but absolutely nothing in between.

00:34:08And they simply would not agree to sleep with me if they knew it was the child I was after.

00:34:12But you wouldn't have to tell them.

00:34:13I did think that.

00:34:15But then I thought it would be dishonest.

00:34:18And so I had the idea of asking a person whom I barely knew.

00:34:22What about the kid?

00:34:23What?

00:34:25Doesn't sound like a very good deal.

00:34:26Never to see his dad.

00:34:28It's not.

00:34:28I take it that is what you mean.

00:34:30I think that's what I mean.

00:34:31Well?

00:34:32The child will manage.

00:34:33How do you know?

00:34:35England can't be like this forever.

00:34:37I would like to know if...

00:34:39Yes?

00:34:40Why choose me?

00:34:41I mean, how often have we met?

00:34:45Yes, but that's the whole point.

00:34:46With Alice, a few times.

00:34:48And you sold me some spoons.

00:34:49They were good spoons.

00:34:51I'm not denying it.

00:34:51And Alice says what?

00:34:53That I'm clean and obedient.

00:34:55And don't have any cretins in the family.

00:34:56It's not as calculated, is it?

00:34:58Not calculated.

00:34:59Several hundred of us were there.

00:35:01All got notes.

00:35:01No.

00:35:02Saying come and watch the festival fireworks.

00:35:04Tell no one.

00:35:05Bring no one.

00:35:06All the secrecy.

00:35:07I thought you must at least be after nylons.

00:35:10I'll buy nylons.

00:35:11If that's what you want.

00:35:13So why me?

00:35:13I like you.

00:35:15I like you.

00:35:16And?

00:35:17I love you.

00:35:20I chose you because I don't see you very much.

00:35:24I barely ever see you.

00:35:25We live at opposite ends of town.

00:35:28Different worlds.

00:35:28Different class.

00:35:30That comes into it.

00:35:31Oh, dear.

00:35:34I'd laugh.

00:35:36I never met the man I wanted to marry.

00:35:38It can't be what you want.

00:35:40Not deep down.

00:35:41No.

00:35:41I didn't think so.

00:35:42Deep down, I'd do the whole damn thing by myself.

00:35:44But there you are.

00:35:46Your second best.

00:35:49500 cheese graters.

00:35:52How much?

00:35:53Something over the odds.

00:35:54A bit over the odds.

00:35:55Not much.

00:35:56Done.

00:35:58Don't worry.

00:35:59The festival will pay.

00:36:04Great sky.

00:36:06Yes.

00:36:07The light.

00:36:08Those dots.

00:36:10The mackerel sky.

00:36:11What?

00:36:12That's what they call it.

00:36:13A mackerel sky.

00:36:16A mackerel sky.

00:36:43Pimlico.

00:36:54December, 1952.

00:37:05Oh, this is hell.

00:37:07No doubt.

00:37:09I am living in hell.

00:37:10Shall we hear it again?

00:37:14You're only allowed at once.

00:37:16You hear it too much and you get out of hand.

00:37:18It's true.

00:37:21I'd give that up if I were you.

00:37:22We have to go pretty soon.

00:37:24Why do I lie?

00:37:25We have to get there by midnight.

00:37:27What do I do it for?

00:37:28It's your profession.

00:37:30That's what's wrong.

00:37:33In France.

00:37:34Ah, France.

00:37:35I told such glittering lies.

00:37:38But where's the fun in lying for a living?

00:37:40What's today's?

00:37:43Some leaking footwear.

00:37:45Some rotten shoe I have to advertise.

00:37:48What is the point?

00:37:49Why do I exist?

00:37:50Sold out.

00:37:52Sold out?

00:37:54Is that the phrase?

00:37:55Turn over, Louise.

00:37:56Let me do the other side.

00:37:57To produce what my master's called good copy, it is simply a question of pitching my intelligence low enough.

00:38:11You're all trunk up to here, okay?

00:38:13Yeah, right.

00:38:14The trunk is all one, so you just have to keep your legs together.

00:38:18Then you break into leaf just above the bust.

00:38:20Look, I'm painting Louise as an oak.

00:38:22What do you think?

00:38:24Do I get conkers?

00:38:25No, if you were a chestnut you'd get conkers, but you're an oak.

00:38:29We scorn gimmicks.

00:38:31We will win the first prize at the Chelsea Arts Ball.

00:38:34The last night of the year.

00:38:35And I will celebrate many paintings.

00:38:38Louise is staying with Emma and Willie.

00:38:40Oh, yes?

00:38:41I met them in the street.

00:38:42Just left home.

00:38:44Come down the A6.

00:38:45Good for you.

00:38:46Couldn't believe my luck.

00:38:48Willie's going as a kipper.

00:38:49I do know that.

00:38:50And Emma's a prostitute.

00:38:52Now, how I'm meant to know it's a fancy dress, I really can't think.

00:38:55We ought to walk it with a naked oak.

00:38:57Alice, will that friend of yours be there?

00:39:00No.

00:39:01He'll be tucked up with a syphilitic wife.

00:39:04Well, I doesn't need that.

00:39:05Shut up, Louise.

00:39:07It's all right.

00:39:08Ask what you want.

00:39:11How do you know she's syphilitic?

00:39:12How do you think she passed it down the line?

00:39:14Oh, God.

00:39:15Well, somebody passed it and I've decided to blame her.

00:39:18It seems right somehow.

00:39:19She's a very plausible incubator for a social disease.

00:39:22Back over.

00:39:23Why doesn't he leave?

00:39:26Who?

00:39:27Your friend.

00:39:28Oh, well, if they ever did leave their wives, perhaps the whole sport would die.

00:39:31For all of us.

00:39:33Roll on, 1953.

00:39:35I wonder.

00:39:36Does anyone mind if I come in?

00:39:38Mick?

00:39:39How did you get this address?

00:39:41Does she know each other?

00:39:42Happy New Year.

00:39:44Mick, may I introduce you to Louise?

00:39:47Hello, Mick.

00:39:47Hello, Louise.

00:39:48Louise is going to the arts ball.

00:39:49I'm painting her.

00:39:51She's going as a tree.

00:39:54Mick, I really don't want to talk to you.

00:39:56What's wrong?

00:39:57I thought we'd agreed.

00:39:59You promised me, Mick.

00:39:59You made a promise never to meet again.

00:40:01I just thought, well, it's New Year's Eve and, well, one or two weeks have gone by.

00:40:05Have you been watching the house?

00:40:07Is that how you found me?

00:40:09Have you been following me home?

00:40:12Look, Mick, I suggest that you leave while you still have the chance.

00:40:15Does anyone mind if I put my clothes on?

00:40:17She's not finished.

00:40:19She'll look good when it's done.

00:40:22I asked Mick to father a child.

00:40:23That's what we're talking about.

00:40:24Oh, God.

00:40:25Well, we have tried every 18 months, that's right.

00:40:27And we have failed.

00:40:28Right.

00:40:29Which leaves us both feeling pretty stupid, pretty wretched, I would guess, speaking for myself.

00:40:34And there is this point of decency at which the experiment should stop.

00:40:36Susan, I...

00:40:37We have nothing in common.

00:40:38Never did.

00:40:38That was part of the idea.

00:40:39It just feels bad.

00:40:40The idea was fun.

00:40:42It was simple.

00:40:43It depended on two adults behaving like adults.

00:40:46It feels very bad being used.

00:40:47I would have stopped it months ago.

00:40:49I would have stopped it in the second month.

00:40:51You've come out feeling dirty.

00:40:53Now, how do I feel?

00:40:53What am I going to feel?

00:40:54Crawling about in your tiny bedroom, paper-thin walls, your mother sitting downstairs?

00:40:58Don't bring my mum into this.

00:41:00It's nothing about on bombsite.

00:41:01Do you think I enjoy all that?

00:41:02Yeah, very much.

00:41:04I think you do.

00:41:05You think I enjoy slumming around?

00:41:07Then why have I not looked for another father?

00:41:11Because the whole exploit has broken my heart.

00:41:15You think it's my fault?

00:41:19Oh, Lord, is that all you're worried about?

00:41:22You think it's nothing to do with me?

00:41:24That was part of it.

00:41:25Now that I have to drag through this kind of idiot argument.

00:41:29Well, it is quite important.

00:41:30You don't understand.

00:41:32You don't understand the figures in my mind.

00:41:37I'll tell the others.

00:41:38You may be late.

00:41:40There are some branches.

00:41:41You have to tie them round your wrists.

00:41:43Thanks all the same.

00:41:45I'll just go as myself.

00:41:46Mick, will you go now, please?

00:41:48You people are cruel.

00:41:49Please.

00:41:50You're cruel and dangerous.

00:41:52Mick.

00:41:53You mess people up.

00:41:55This little tart and her string of married men.

00:41:57All messed up.

00:41:59All bloody ruined.

00:42:00And by this tart.

00:42:01And you...

00:42:02And you, where are you going?

00:42:03She is actually mad.

00:42:10Oh, God!

00:42:14It's all right.

00:42:22Knightsbridge.

00:42:24October 1956.

00:42:25Two great nations, sir.

00:42:32The Americans and the English.

00:42:34Like the Romans and the Greeks.

00:42:36Americans are the Romans.

00:42:38Power, army, strength.

00:42:40The English are the Greeks.

00:42:41Ideas, civilization, intellect.

00:42:44Between them, they shall rule the world.

00:42:48Good Lord.

00:42:50I hope you haven't hung on for me.

00:42:52Leonard, come in.

00:42:53How kind of you to come.

00:42:53Not at all.

00:42:55Our little gathering, we scarcely dared hope.

00:42:57There seemed nothing left to do.

00:42:59Leonard, you know Monsieur Ong, of course?

00:43:01Mr. Darwin.

00:43:03Rangoon.

00:43:03Now, First Secretary, Burmese Embassy.

00:43:06An honour, a privilege, a moment in my career.

00:43:09I shake your hand.

00:43:10Good, good.

00:43:11Well, let me get you a drink.

00:43:13That would be very kind.

00:43:14I'll just tell my wife you're here.

00:43:16Affairs of state?

00:43:18Yes.

00:43:19If you wouldn't mind...

00:43:20Say no more.

00:43:22We have eaten.

00:43:22We did not wait.

00:43:24In Burma, we say, if you cannot be on time, do not come at all.

00:43:29Really?

00:43:30But, of course, the English, it is different.

00:43:32At your command, the lion makes his bed with the lamb.

00:43:36Hardly.

00:43:37Don't worry.

00:43:38All will be well.

00:43:40Darwin of Jakarta, to have met the man, to have been alone with him.

00:43:45I shall dine in on this for many years.

00:43:49Dine out on this?

00:43:50The English language.

00:43:52She's a demanding mistress, yes?

00:43:54If you like.

00:43:55And no one controls her so well as you, sir.

00:43:59You beat her, and a bitch obeys.

00:44:01Ha, ha, ha, ha.

00:44:03The language of the world.

00:44:05I'm behind you, sir.

00:44:07Love it.

00:44:08How good of you to make an appearance.

00:44:10I'm only sorry I've been delayed.

00:44:13Brock says you're all ragged with fatigue.

00:44:15I hear you've been having the most frightful week.

00:44:17It has been, yes.

00:44:18Well, don't worry.

00:44:19Here, at least, you can relax.

00:44:22You've met Mr. R?

00:44:23Indeed.

00:44:24You can forget everything.

00:44:26The words Suez Canal will not be spoken.

00:44:29That could be an enormous relief.

00:44:30They are banned.

00:44:31You will not hear them.

00:44:32Thank you, my dear.

00:44:33NASA!

00:44:35Nobody will mention his name.

00:44:36Quite.

00:44:37Nobody will say blunder, or folly, or fiasco.

00:44:40Nobody will say international laughing stock.

00:44:42You are among friends, Leonard.

00:44:44I will rustle up some food.

00:44:47Mr. Arm, I think the gentleman may wish to talk.

00:44:51Of course.

00:44:52Nobody will say death rattle of the ruling class.

00:44:55We have stuck our lips together with Marron Glasse.

00:44:58I hope you understand.

00:45:02Sorry.

00:45:03It's all right.

00:45:04I did ask her to calm down.

00:45:06I'm getting used to it.

00:45:06She's been giving me hell.

00:45:08She knows how closely you've been involved.

00:45:10Do you think we can leave the subject, Brock?

00:45:13I'm eager for the drink.

00:45:14Of course.

00:45:16At least she got rid of that appalling wog.

00:45:18I mean, in honesty, Raymond.

00:45:20What are you trying to do to me?

00:45:21I'm sorry, sir.

00:45:22This week, of all weeks,

00:45:24he had his tongue stuck so far up my fundament

00:45:26all you could see of him were the soles of his feet.

00:45:29Mental illness, is it, your wife?

00:45:31No, she just feels very strongly.

00:45:35Well, you know.

00:45:35But there has been mental illness.

00:45:37Before we were married, some years ago,

00:45:40she'd been living very foolishly.

00:45:42A loose set in Pimlico and a series of jobs,

00:45:44pushing herself too hard, not eating.

00:45:47We got engaged when she was still quite ill,

00:45:50and I've tried to help her back up.

00:45:51Well, you don't have to be ashamed.

00:45:52No, I'm not.

00:45:53In the diplomatic service,

00:45:55it isn't as if a mad wife

00:45:56is any kind of professional disadvantage.

00:45:59On the contrary,

00:46:00it almost guarantees promotion.

00:46:02Well.

00:46:02Some of the senior men,

00:46:03their wives are absolutely barking.

00:46:05But Susan isn't mad.

00:46:06No.

00:46:07No.

00:46:09Is there a Madame Ong?

00:46:12In the other room.

00:46:13I knew there had to be somehow.

00:46:16A no doubt culturally inclined,

00:46:17traditional dance she'll tell us about

00:46:19in the highlands of Burma.

00:46:21Or the plot of Lohengrin.

00:46:24Let it...

00:46:24I'm sorry.

00:46:26I think I've had it, Brock.

00:46:29One more Ong,

00:46:30and I throw in the can.

00:46:33Do you mind if I have a cherry?

00:46:35What?

00:46:35The maraschinos.

00:46:36I'm so hungry,

00:46:37it's all those bloody drugs we have to take.

00:46:39Let me...

00:46:39Stay.

00:46:43We have been betrayed.

00:46:45We claim to be intervening

00:46:47as a neutral party

00:46:48in a dispute between Israel and Egypt.

00:46:51Last Monday,

00:46:52the Israelis launched their attack.

00:46:54On Tuesday,

00:46:55we issued our ultimatum,

00:46:57saying both sides must withdraw

00:46:59to either side of the canal.

00:47:00But, Raymond,

00:47:01the Israelis,

00:47:02the aggressors,

00:47:04they were nowhere near the canal.

00:47:07They'd have had to advance

00:47:08a hundred miles

00:47:09to make the retreat.

00:47:11Who told you that?

00:47:12Last week,

00:47:13the Foreign Secretary went abroad.

00:47:14I was not briefed.

00:47:15We believe he met with the French

00:47:17and the Israelis

00:47:18urged the Israelis to attack.

00:47:20I believe our ultimatum

00:47:22was written in France last week.

00:47:26Hence the mistake in the wording.

00:47:28The Israelis had reckoned

00:47:29to reach the canal,

00:47:30but met with an unexpectedly

00:47:31heavy resistance.

00:47:32I think the entire war

00:47:33is a fraud,

00:47:35cooked up by the British

00:47:36as an excuse

00:47:37for seizing the canal.

00:47:38And we,

00:47:40we,

00:47:41who have to execute

00:47:42this policy,

00:47:43even we,

00:47:45were not told.

00:47:47Well,

00:47:47what difference does it make?

00:47:48My dear boy,

00:47:50Raymond.

00:47:50It makes no difference.

00:47:51I was lied to.

00:47:53Yes,

00:47:53but

00:47:54you were against it

00:47:55from the start.

00:47:56I was.

00:47:56Come on,

00:47:57we all were.

00:47:57The Foreign Office

00:47:58hated the operation

00:47:59from the very first mention.

00:48:00So what difference

00:48:01does it make now?

00:48:02All the difference

00:48:03in the world.

00:48:03Not at all.

00:48:04The government

00:48:05lied to me.

00:48:06If the policy

00:48:07was wrong,

00:48:08if it was wrong

00:48:09to begin with...

00:48:09They are not

00:48:10in good faith.

00:48:11I see,

00:48:12I see.

00:48:12So what you're saying

00:48:13is the British

00:48:14may do anything.

00:48:15It doesn't matter

00:48:15how murderous,

00:48:16it doesn't matter

00:48:16how silly,

00:48:18so long as we do it

00:48:18in good faith.

00:48:19Yes,

00:48:20I would have defended it

00:48:21had it been

00:48:22honestly done,

00:48:23but this time

00:48:23we are cowboys.

00:48:26And when the English

00:48:27are the cowboys,

00:48:28then in truth,

00:48:29I fear

00:48:30for the future

00:48:31of the globe.

00:48:34Eden is weak.

00:48:37For years

00:48:37he's been weak.

00:48:39For years

00:48:40people have taunted him.

00:48:41Why aren't you

00:48:41strong like Churchill?

00:48:43He goes round

00:48:44and he begins to think

00:48:45I must find somebody

00:48:47to be strong on.

00:48:48So he finds Nasser.

00:48:49Now he'll show them.

00:48:51He does it

00:48:51to impress.

00:48:53He does it badly.

00:48:55No one is impressed.

00:48:58Mostly what we do

00:48:59is what we think

00:49:00people expect of us.

00:49:02Mostly it's wrong.

00:49:04Are you going to resign?

00:49:12Madam Ong

00:49:13has been enthralling us

00:49:15with the story

00:49:15of the new Bergman film

00:49:17at the every moment.

00:49:18Ah, yes.

00:49:19Apparently it's about depression.

00:49:21Isn't that so,

00:49:22Madam Ong?

00:49:22I do feel

00:49:23the Norwegians

00:49:24are very good

00:49:25at that sort of thing.

00:49:27Is anything wrong?

00:49:28It's all right.

00:49:30They were probably

00:49:31drafting a telegram.

00:49:32We weren't.

00:49:33That's what they do

00:49:34before they drop a bomb.

00:49:35They send their targets

00:49:36notice in a telegram.

00:49:37Susan, please.

00:49:38We don't even have the guts

00:49:39to make a war anymore.

00:49:40Perhaps Madam Ong

00:49:42will tell us

00:49:43the story of the film.

00:49:44This is something

00:49:44I'd be very keen to hear.

00:49:46It's all right.

00:49:48Go ahead.

00:49:49We like the bit

00:49:50in the mental ward.

00:49:50Oh, please, darling.

00:49:53I married him

00:49:54because he reminded me

00:49:55of my father.

00:49:56Really?

00:49:57At that point,

00:49:58of course,

00:49:58I didn't realise

00:49:59just what a shit

00:50:00my father was.

00:50:01I'm sorry,

00:50:01he has a sort of

00:50:02psychiatric cabaret.

00:50:05Alice,

00:50:05that's very good.

00:50:08And there's something

00:50:09about Suez which...

00:50:11Please be quiet.

00:50:11The story of the film.

00:50:15There is a woman

00:50:17who despises

00:50:18her husband

00:50:20Is it getting

00:50:21a little bit chilly

00:50:21in here?

00:50:24October nights.

00:50:27Those poor parachutists,

00:50:28I do know how they feel.

00:50:30Even now.

00:50:32Cities, fields,

00:50:34trees, farms,

00:50:35dark spaces,

00:50:36lights.

00:50:38The parachute opens.

00:50:39We descend.

00:50:40Susan, please.

00:50:41Of course,

00:50:42we were comparatively welcome.

00:50:44Not always ecstatic,

00:50:45not the Gaulists,

00:50:46of course.

00:50:46But by and large,

00:50:47we did make it

00:50:48our business

00:50:48to land in countries

00:50:49where we all want it.

00:50:52Certainly the men were.

00:50:53I mean,

00:50:54some of the relationships,

00:50:55I can't tell you.

00:50:57I remember a colleague

00:50:59telling me of the heat,

00:51:01of the smell

00:51:02of a particular young girl.

00:51:03the hot,

00:51:05the hot, wet smell,

00:51:06he said.

00:51:08Nothing since,

00:51:09nothing since then.

00:51:12I can't see the Egyptian girls

00:51:14somehow.

00:51:14No.

00:51:15Not in Egypt now.

00:51:17I mean,

00:51:17there were broken hearts

00:51:19when we left.

00:51:20I mean,

00:51:20there are girls today

00:51:21who mourn Englishmen

00:51:22who died in Dachau,

00:51:25died naked in Dachau.

00:51:27Men with whom

00:51:28they had spent

00:51:28a single night.

00:51:29Well,

00:51:33Susan.

00:51:33But then,

00:51:33even for myself,

00:51:35I do like to make a point

00:51:36of sleeping with men

00:51:37I don't know.

00:51:39I do find,

00:51:40once you get to know them,

00:51:41you usually don't want

00:51:42to sleep with them anymore.

00:51:43Please,

00:51:43can you stop?

00:51:44Can you stop

00:51:45bloody talking

00:51:46for five bloody minutes

00:51:47on end?

00:51:47I would stop.

00:51:48I would stop.

00:51:49I would stop bloody talking

00:51:50if I ever heard anyone else

00:51:51say anything worth

00:51:52bloody stopping talking for.

00:51:54I'm sorry,

00:51:55I apologise.

00:51:56I really must go.

00:51:57Monsieur,

00:51:57Ong,

00:51:58farewell.

00:51:59We are behind you,

00:52:00sir.

00:52:00There is wisdom

00:52:01in your expedition.

00:52:03May I say,

00:52:04sir,

00:52:04there's jeep's

00:52:05deep weeping

00:52:05and you are

00:52:06the man to do it.

00:52:07Thank you very much.

00:52:08Madame Ong?

00:52:09We never really met.

00:52:11No, no,

00:52:12we never met,

00:52:12that is true,

00:52:13but perhaps before I go,

00:52:15I may nevertheless

00:52:16set you right

00:52:17on a point of fact.

00:52:18Ingmar Bergman

00:52:19is not a bloody Norwegian,

00:52:21he's a bloody Swede.

00:52:22Good night,

00:52:23everyone.

00:52:27He's going to resign.

00:52:31Isn't this an exciting week?

00:52:33Don't you think?

00:52:34Isn't this thrilling?

00:52:36Don't you think?

00:52:38Everything is up for grabs,

00:52:40at last.

00:52:41We will see some changes,

00:52:43thank the Lord.

00:52:45No,

00:52:46there was dinner.

00:52:47I made some more dinner

00:52:48for Leonard.

00:52:49A little ham

00:52:50and chicken

00:52:51and some pickles

00:52:52and tomato

00:52:53and lettuce.

00:52:55There are a couple of pheasants

00:52:56in the fridge

00:52:57and I can get

00:52:58twelve bottles of claret

00:52:59from the cellar.

00:53:01Why not?

00:53:01There is plenty.

00:53:04Shall we eat again?

00:53:10Knightsbridge,

00:53:12July 1961.

00:53:17Man that is born of woman

00:53:18hath but a short time

00:53:19to live

00:53:20and is full of misery.

00:53:22He cometh up

00:53:23and is cut down

00:53:23like a flower.

00:53:24He fleeth

00:53:26and never continueth

00:53:27in one stay.

00:53:28In the midst of life

00:53:30we are in death.

00:53:32Of whom may we seek

00:53:33for succour

00:53:33but of thee,

00:53:34O Lord,

00:53:35who for our sins

00:53:36art justly displeased.

00:53:38I must say,

00:53:42I'd forgotten

00:53:43just how grim

00:53:44it can be.

00:53:44All that mumbling.

00:53:45I know,

00:53:46and all those

00:53:46bloody hymns,

00:53:47they really do you

00:53:48no good at all.

00:53:49Would you like

00:53:50to sit down here?

00:53:52I'm afraid

00:53:53the whole house

00:53:54is horribly unused.

00:53:55You and I

00:53:56haven't had

00:53:56a proper chance

00:53:57to meet.

00:53:57I hope you didn't mind.

00:53:59Not at all.

00:53:59Am I bringing Dorcas along?

00:54:01She swelled the numbers.

00:54:02I had the afternoon

00:54:03of school.

00:54:04I'm not sure

00:54:05I would have chosen

00:54:05a funeral.

00:54:06It was fine.

00:54:08Oh, good.

00:54:09Alice told me

00:54:10that you were

00:54:10very good friends.

00:54:11Well, yes, we are.

00:54:12Who she hadn't seen

00:54:14for a very long time

00:54:15and she was sure

00:54:16you wouldn't mind me,

00:54:17you know...

00:54:17Gate crashing?

00:54:18Yes.

00:54:18At the grave?

00:54:19Oh, it sounds awful.

00:54:21You were welcome

00:54:21as far as I was concerned.

00:54:23The only thing was

00:54:24I never heard his name.

00:54:27His name was Darwin.

00:54:28Ah.

00:54:31Please nobody get up

00:54:32for me.

00:54:33Ah, Susan.

00:54:34I was just looking out

00:54:35some more books

00:54:36to take back.

00:54:37You all right?

00:54:38Yes, fine.

00:54:39Susan, this is Dorcas

00:54:40I told you about.

00:54:41How do you do?

00:54:42How do you do?

00:54:43I teach Dorcas history.

00:54:45Good Lord,

00:54:46how long have you done that?

00:54:47Oh, I've been

00:54:47at it some time.

00:54:49Alice is a very good teacher,

00:54:50you know.

00:54:50I'm sure.

00:54:51Thank you, Dorcas.

00:54:52We had a pole

00:54:53and Alice came top.

00:54:55Cigarette.

00:54:56Ta.

00:54:56Where do you teach?

00:54:57It's called

00:54:57the Kensington Academy.

00:55:00I see.

00:55:00It's in Shepard's Bush.

00:55:02It's a crummer.

00:55:03For the daughters

00:55:04of the rich

00:55:05and congenitally stupid.

00:55:07Dorcas to a T.

00:55:08Alice says we're all

00:55:09the prisoners of our genes.

00:55:11Nothing wrong with that.

00:55:13No?

00:55:14Stupid people are happier.

00:55:15Is that what you think?

00:55:17Well, Raymond,

00:55:18could you manage

00:55:18to make us some tea?

00:55:20Certainly,

00:55:21if there's time.

00:55:22I'm sure everyone's

00:55:23in need of it.

00:55:26Alice rang me this morning.

00:55:27She said she was

00:55:28very keen we should meet.

00:55:29I didn't realise

00:55:30you were going back so soon.

00:55:31It's a problem, I'm afraid.

00:55:33My husband is a diplomat.

00:55:34We're posted in Iran.

00:55:35I haven't been to London

00:55:36for over three years.

00:55:38Then when I heard

00:55:38of Leonard's death,

00:55:39I felt,

00:55:40I just felt very strongly

00:55:41I had to attend.

00:55:42Alice was saying

00:55:43he'd lost a lot

00:55:44of his friends.

00:55:45Yes, that's true.

00:55:46I didn't understand what...

00:55:48He spoke his mind

00:55:49over Suez

00:55:49in public.

00:55:51He didn't hide

00:55:52his disgust.

00:55:54A lot of people

00:55:54never forgave him for that.

00:55:56Oh, I see.

00:55:57What Suez?

00:55:58It's a historical incident

00:55:59four years ago.

00:56:00Caused a minor kind

00:56:01of stir at the time.

00:56:03It's also the name

00:56:03of a waterway in Egypt.

00:56:06Egypt is the big brown country

00:56:07up the top right-hand

00:56:08corner of Africa.

00:56:09Africa is a continent.

00:56:11Yes, thank you.

00:56:12And that's why

00:56:12nobody was there today.

00:56:14I got that panic,

00:56:15you know,

00:56:15you get at funerals.

00:56:17I was thinking

00:56:17I really don't want

00:56:18to think about death.

00:56:20Yes.

00:56:20So I tried to imagine

00:56:21Leonard locked in his coffin

00:56:22but still alive.

00:56:24And I was laughing

00:56:25at how he would have

00:56:25dealt with the situation.

00:56:26What the protocol would be.

00:56:28He would know it.

00:56:29Of course.

00:56:30Official procedure

00:56:31in the case

00:56:31of being buried alive.

00:56:33How many times

00:56:33one may tap on the lid.

00:56:35How to rise from the grave

00:56:36without drawing

00:56:36unnecessary attention

00:56:37to yourself.

00:56:38Oh, Leonard.

00:56:38I know, but it did make me laugh.

00:56:43Alice said I might help you

00:56:44in some way.

00:56:45Well, yes.

00:56:46Of course,

00:56:47if there's anything at all.

00:56:48Did she tell you

00:56:49what the problem was?

00:56:50There isn't any problem.

00:56:51You need money,

00:56:52that's all.

00:56:53Alice said you'd once

00:56:54been a great friend of hers

00:56:55and that you might be

00:56:57sympathetic as you'd,

00:56:59well,

00:57:00as you'd known

00:57:01some troubles yourself.

00:57:02Dorcas needs cash

00:57:03from an impeccable source.

00:57:05I see.

00:57:06I'd pay it back.

00:57:07Well, I'm sure.

00:57:08I mean,

00:57:08it's only 200 pounds.

00:57:10In theory,

00:57:11I could still get it

00:57:11for myself.

00:57:12Perhaps I'll have to.

00:57:14But Alice felt...

00:57:14Never mind.

00:57:15No, I think I should.

00:57:16I mean,

00:57:17I think I should say

00:57:18Alice did feel

00:57:19as she'd introduced me

00:57:20to this man

00:57:21just because he was

00:57:23one of her friends,

00:57:24which I just think is silly.

00:57:25I mean,

00:57:26for God's sake,

00:57:26I'm old enough

00:57:27to live my own life.

00:57:28Yes.

00:57:29I mean,

00:57:29I am 17

00:57:30and I knew

00:57:31what I was doing.

00:57:33The man was a doctor,

00:57:34one of Alice's

00:57:35famous bent doctors,

00:57:36you know.

00:57:37I just wanted

00:57:38to get hold of some drugs,

00:57:39but he wouldn't hand over

00:57:41unless I agreed

00:57:42to fool around.

00:57:43So,

00:57:44I just...

00:57:45I didn't think

00:57:46anything of it.

00:57:47No.

00:57:47I never guessed

00:57:48it would be three months later

00:57:49and wham,

00:57:50the knitting needles.

00:57:51Yes.

00:57:52I mean,

00:57:53I can't tell you

00:57:54how awful I feel.

00:57:55I mean,

00:57:56coming straight

00:57:57from a funeral and...

00:57:58Well,

00:57:58I'm sure it needn't

00:57:59delay us for too long.

00:58:01You mean,

00:58:01what,

00:58:02kill a child?

00:58:02That's easy.

00:58:03No problem at all.

00:58:05Ah,

00:58:05Raymond,

00:58:06the tea.

00:58:06I have to tell you

00:58:07the car's right.

00:58:08Oh,

00:58:08good.

00:58:09The driver's saying

00:58:10we must get away

00:58:11at once.

00:58:12Susan,

00:58:13I do hope

00:58:13you're preparing to go.

00:58:14Oh,

00:58:14we'll do.

00:58:15I just need a minute or two.

00:58:16I don't think

00:58:17we have time

00:58:17to do anything,

00:58:18but,

00:58:18um...

00:58:18You need some tea

00:58:19just to wash down

00:58:20that pill.

00:58:21Yes,

00:58:21of course.

00:58:22So,

00:58:22Raymond,

00:58:23you must tell us

00:58:23about life in Iran.

00:58:25Well,

00:58:25I would say

00:58:26we've been very happy

00:58:28in the sky,

00:58:30the desert,

00:58:30and,

00:58:30of course,

00:58:31the poverty

00:58:31living among people

00:58:32who have to struggle

00:58:33so hard.

00:58:34It could make you see

00:58:35life very differently.

00:58:36Will I make it a cash?

00:58:37If you could.

00:58:38Thanks.

00:58:39I do remember,

00:58:39Leonard,

00:58:40Leonard always said

00:58:41the pleasure of diplomacy

00:58:43is perspective,

00:58:44you see,

00:58:44looking across distances.

00:58:46For instance,

00:58:47we see England

00:58:48very clearly from there

00:58:49and it does look

00:58:50a trifle decadent.

00:58:52I'm lending Dorcas

00:58:52some money.

00:58:53Really?

00:58:53Is that wise?

00:58:54She needs an operation.

00:58:55What?

00:58:56Attendance of her hands.

00:58:57If she's ever to play

00:58:58in a concert hall again.

00:58:59Do you actually play a...

00:59:00Raymond,

00:59:00could you take a look

00:59:01at that case?

00:59:02One of those locks

00:59:03is refusing to turn.

00:59:05Ah,

00:59:05yes.

00:59:07Here you are.

00:59:09Oh,

00:59:09don't thank us.

00:59:10We're rotten with cash.

00:59:12If that's it,

00:59:13then I reckon

00:59:13we're ready to go.

00:59:14I'm sorry to turn you

00:59:15out of the house.

00:59:15That's all right.

00:59:16Alice,

00:59:16you must come and see us.

00:59:18I shall.

00:59:18The tour's been extended

00:59:19another two years.

00:59:20Dorcas,

00:59:20I'm happy to have met.

00:59:21I hope your studies

00:59:22proceed under Alice's tutelage.

00:59:24In the meantime,

00:59:26perhaps you lend me a hand.

00:59:27Yes.

00:59:28Susan's lifeline,

00:59:29her case full of books.

00:59:31Susan,

00:59:31are you ready?

00:59:32Yes,

00:59:32I am.

00:59:33Well,

00:59:33I should be waiting

00:59:34in the car.

00:59:35Do I put them

00:59:36in the boot?

00:59:37Yes,

00:59:37yes,

00:59:38it'd be good.

00:59:40Well,

00:59:41I knew if I came over

00:59:43I would never return.

00:59:47You excite me.

00:59:48You were one of the few women

01:00:11to be flown into France.

01:00:12Yes.

01:00:13And one of the youngest.

01:00:14Yes.

01:00:14Did you always have

01:00:17complete confidence

01:00:18in the organization

01:00:19that sent you?

01:00:20Yes,

01:00:20of course.

01:00:22Since the war,

01:00:23it's frequently been alleged

01:00:24that special operations

01:00:25was amateurish.

01:00:26Its recruitment methods

01:00:27were haphazard.

01:00:29Some of its behavior

01:00:30was rather cavalier.

01:00:32Did you feel that

01:00:33at the time?

01:00:34Not at all.

01:00:36The suggestion is

01:00:38that it was careless

01:00:39of human life.

01:00:40Did you feel

01:00:41that any of your colleagues

01:00:42died needlessly?

01:00:44I can't say.

01:00:46If you were to...

01:00:47Sorry, if I could...

01:00:48By all means.

01:00:49You believed

01:00:50in the organization.

01:00:51You had to.

01:00:52If you didn't,

01:00:53you would die.

01:00:54But you must have

01:00:55had an opinion.

01:00:56No,

01:00:57I had no opinion.

01:00:58I have an opinion now.

01:00:59And that is?

01:01:01That it was one part

01:01:01of the war

01:01:02from which the British

01:01:03emerged with the greatest

01:01:04possible valor

01:01:05and distinction.

01:01:08Do you ever get together

01:01:09with former colleagues

01:01:10and talk about the war?

01:01:12Never.

01:01:13We aren't clubbable.

01:01:20January 1962.

01:01:22The Foreign Office.

01:01:29Mrs Brock,

01:01:31Sir Andrew will see you now.

01:01:32He only has a few minutes,

01:01:33I'm afraid.

01:01:35Ah, Mrs Brock.

01:01:36Sir Andrew.

01:01:37How do you do?

01:01:38We have met.

01:01:40That's right.

01:01:40The Queen's Garden Party.

01:01:42And I've heard you

01:01:42on the wireless recently

01:01:43talking about the war.

01:01:45How extraordinary

01:01:46it must have been.

01:01:48This must seem

01:01:48a very strange request.

01:01:51Not in the slightest.

01:01:52We're delighted

01:01:52to see you here.

01:01:53Perhaps I might

01:01:54offer you a drink.

01:01:55If you are having one?

01:01:57Unfortunately not.

01:01:58I'm somewhat liverish.

01:01:59Oh, I'm sorry.

01:02:00Oh, no.

01:02:00It's a hazard of the job.

01:02:02Half the diplomats

01:02:03I know have bad awful,

01:02:04I'm afraid.

01:02:06If you could leave us,

01:02:06beg me?

01:02:07Sir.

01:02:07Just shuffle some papers

01:02:09for a while.

01:02:13You mustn't be nervous,

01:02:14you know, Mrs Brock.

01:02:16I have to encounter

01:02:16many diplomatic wives,

01:02:17many even more distinguished

01:02:18than yourself,

01:02:19with very similar intent.

01:02:21It is much commoner

01:02:22than you suppose.

01:02:24Sir Andrew,

01:02:25as you know,

01:02:26I take very little part

01:02:28in my husband's

01:02:29professional life.

01:02:30Indeed.

01:02:31Mostly,

01:02:32I like reading.

01:02:33I like reading alone.

01:02:35I do think

01:02:36to be merely

01:02:36your husband's wife

01:02:37is demeaning

01:02:38for a woman

01:02:39of any integrity at all.

01:02:41I understand.

01:02:41But I find,

01:02:42for the first time

01:02:43in my husband's career,

01:02:45I'm beginning

01:02:46to feel some need

01:02:47to intervene.

01:02:48I had a message, yes.

01:02:51My impression

01:02:52is that

01:02:52since our recall

01:02:53from Iran,

01:02:55he is in some way

01:02:55being penalised.

01:02:58I've come to ask

01:02:59exactly what

01:03:00my husband's prospects are.

01:03:01I do understand

01:03:04the Foreign Service now.

01:03:05I know that

01:03:05my husband

01:03:06could never ask himself.

01:03:08Your business

01:03:09is conducted

01:03:09in a code

01:03:10which it's considered

01:03:12unethical to break.

01:03:14Signs and indications

01:03:15are all you are given.

01:03:16Your stock is rising,

01:03:17your stock is falling.

01:03:18Yes.

01:03:20Brock has been allocated

01:03:21to a fairly low job

01:03:23backing up

01:03:24the EEC negotiating team.

01:03:26He's part of the push

01:03:27into Europe, yes.

01:03:29The foreign posts

01:03:30he has since been offered

01:03:31have not been glittering.

01:03:33We offered him

01:03:33Monrovia.

01:03:35Monrovia, yes.

01:03:37He took that

01:03:37to be an insult.

01:03:38Was he wrong?

01:03:40Monrovia is not

01:03:41an insult.

01:03:42But?

01:03:43Monrovia is more

01:03:44in the nature

01:03:45of a test.

01:03:46A test of nerve,

01:03:47it's true.

01:03:48If a man is stupid

01:03:49enough to accept

01:03:49Monrovia,

01:03:50then he probably

01:03:51deserves Monrovia.

01:03:52That is how we think.

01:03:54But you...

01:03:55And Brock refused.

01:03:58Had we wanted

01:03:58to insult him,

01:03:59there are far worse jobs

01:04:00in this building, too.

01:04:02In my view,

01:04:04town twinning

01:04:04is the coup de grace.

01:04:06I'd far rather

01:04:06be a martyr

01:04:07to the tsetse fly

01:04:08than have to twin

01:04:08Rotherham

01:04:09with Bergen op zoom.

01:04:12You are evading me.

01:04:14I'm sorry.

01:04:15It's a habit,

01:04:16as you say.

01:04:19Your husband

01:04:20has never been a flyer,

01:04:21Mrs Brock.

01:04:22I see.

01:04:23Everyone is streamed,

01:04:24a slow stream,

01:04:25a fast stream.

01:04:26My husband's slow.

01:04:27Slowish.

01:04:28That means...

01:04:29What is he?

01:04:29First secretary

01:04:30struggling towards

01:04:31councillor.

01:04:32At 41,

01:04:32it's not remarkable,

01:04:34you know.

01:04:34But it's got worse.

01:04:35You think?

01:04:36The last six months.

01:04:38He's never felt excluded

01:04:39from his work before.

01:04:40Does he feel that?

01:04:42I think you know

01:04:43he does.

01:04:45Well,

01:04:45I'm sure the intention

01:04:46was not to punish him.

01:04:48We have had some trouble

01:04:49in placing him.

01:04:50It's true,

01:04:51the rather startling decision

01:04:53to desert his post.

01:04:54That was not his fault.

01:04:55We were told.

01:04:56We were sympathetic.

01:04:57Psychiatric reasons?

01:04:58I was daunted

01:04:59at the prospect

01:05:00of returning to Iran.

01:05:01Of course.

01:05:02Persian psychiatry.

01:05:03I shudder at the thought.

01:05:05But you are blocking

01:05:06his advance.

01:05:10I think you should

01:05:11understand the basis

01:05:12of our talk,

01:05:12the basis on which

01:05:13I agreed to talk.

01:05:16You asked for information.

01:05:18The information is this,

01:05:19that Brock

01:05:20is making haste

01:05:21slowly.

01:05:23That is all I can say.

01:05:25I'm not very keen

01:05:26you should suffer

01:05:27on my account.

01:05:29Mrs. Brock,

01:05:29believe me,

01:05:30I recognize your tone.

01:05:31Women have come in here

01:05:32and used it before.

01:05:34I would like to see

01:05:35my husband advance.

01:05:36I also have read

01:05:37the stories in your files,

01:05:38so nothing in your manner

01:05:39is likely to amaze.

01:05:41I do know exactly

01:05:42the kind of person you are

01:05:43when you've chosen

01:05:44a particular course,

01:05:45when there is something

01:05:47which you very badly want.

01:05:50But,

01:05:50in this matter,

01:05:51I must tell you,

01:05:52Mrs. Brock,

01:05:52it is more than likely

01:05:53you've met your match.

01:05:56We are talking

01:05:57of achievement

01:05:57at the highest level.

01:05:59Brock cannot expect

01:06:00to be cosseted through.

01:06:02It's not enough

01:06:02to be clever.

01:06:03Everyone here

01:06:04is clever.

01:06:05Everyone is gifted.

01:06:06Everyone is diligent.

01:06:07These are simply

01:06:08the minimum skills.

01:06:10Far more important

01:06:11is an attitude of mind.

01:06:14What you are saying

01:06:15is that nobody may speak.

01:06:17Nobody may question.

01:06:18Well, certainly tact

01:06:20is valued very high.

01:06:23Sir Andrew,

01:06:24do you never find it

01:06:25in yourself to despise

01:06:26a profession

01:06:27in which nobody

01:06:27may speak their mind?

01:06:29That is the nature

01:06:30of the service,

01:06:31Mrs. Brock.

01:06:32It is called diplomacy,

01:06:33and in its practice,

01:06:34the English lead the world.

01:06:37The irony is this.

01:06:39As our power declines,

01:06:40the fight among us

01:06:41for access to that power

01:06:42becomes a little more urgent,

01:06:44a little uglier, perhaps.

01:06:46As our influence wanes,

01:06:48as our empire collapses,

01:06:50there is little to believe in.

01:06:52Behaviour is all.

01:06:54This is a lesson

01:06:55which you both must learn.

01:07:00I must thank you

01:07:01for your frankness, Sir Andrew.

01:07:02Not at all.

01:07:03I must, however,

01:07:04warn you of my plan.

01:07:06If Brock is not promoted

01:07:07in the next six days,

01:07:09I am intending

01:07:09to shoot myself.

01:07:11Now, thank you.

01:07:12I shan't stay for the drink.

01:07:13Begley.

01:07:13I'm due at a reception

01:07:14for Australia Day.

01:07:15Begley.

01:07:16I always like to see

01:07:17just how rude I can be.

01:07:18Not that the Australians

01:07:19ever notice, of course,

01:07:20so it does become

01:07:21a sort of zen sport,

01:07:22don't you think?

01:07:24Sir?

01:07:24John, I wonder,

01:07:25could you give me a hand?

01:07:26Oh, the sidekick,

01:07:27the placid young man.

01:07:28Now, where have I seen

01:07:29that character before?

01:07:29If we could take

01:07:30Mrs Brock down to the surgery.

01:07:32Oh, I'm sure you'll surrender.

01:07:33I'm perfectly all right.

01:07:34Perhaps alert her husband

01:07:35if you're not feeling well.

01:07:36People will be waiting

01:07:37at Australia House.

01:07:38I can't let them down.

01:07:39It will be packed

01:07:40with angry people

01:07:41all searching for me,

01:07:42saying, where is she?

01:07:42What a letdown.

01:07:43I only came here

01:07:44to be insulted.

01:07:45and now there's no chance.

01:07:47I think it will be better.

01:07:48Please, please,

01:07:49leave me alone!

01:07:53I can't

01:07:54always manage with people.

01:07:57I think you have destroyed

01:08:02my husband, do you see?

01:08:03Night's Bridge, Easter 1962.

01:08:26Well, I suppose it isn't too bad.

01:08:40Perhaps we'll keep going

01:08:41another couple of years.

01:08:42A regime of mineral water

01:08:44and lightly brown toast.

01:08:46I assume she's still in there.

01:08:48She paces around.

01:08:50I told her this morning

01:08:51we'll have to sell the house.

01:08:52I'm sure we can cope

01:08:52in a smaller sort of flat.

01:08:54Especially now

01:08:55we don't have to entertain.

01:08:58What?

01:08:59Nothing.

01:08:59She's just moving about.

01:09:02Perhaps you'd enjoy

01:09:03to take the evening off.

01:09:04I'm happy to do duty

01:09:05for an hour or two.

01:09:06I enjoy it.

01:09:08Get to do my work.

01:09:09A good long slog

01:09:10for my charity appeal.

01:09:12And I've rather fallen out

01:09:13with all those people I knew.

01:09:15And most of them

01:09:16go off on the order master march.

01:09:18Really?

01:09:19No, of course.

01:09:20Easter weekend.

01:09:23I thought that strange

01:09:24young girl of yours

01:09:25would ring.

01:09:26Dorcas?

01:09:26Hmm.

01:09:27No, no.

01:09:28She's decided to move on.

01:09:30Unless I'm appalling

01:09:31politician, I'm told.

01:09:32On the paedophiliac wing

01:09:33of the Tory party.

01:09:35If you've nothing to do,

01:09:36you could give me

01:09:36a hand with these leaflets.

01:09:38Looking back,

01:09:39I seem to have been

01:09:40eating all the time.

01:09:41My years in the Foreign Service,

01:09:42I mean.

01:09:43The silver tray flashed

01:09:44and bang, I was there.

01:09:45Do you miss it?

01:09:46Almost all the time.

01:09:47There's not much glamour

01:09:50in insurance, you know.

01:09:52Something in the Foreign Office

01:09:54suited my style.

01:09:56At least they were hypocrites.

01:09:57I do value that now.

01:09:59Hypocrisy does keep things pleasant

01:10:00for at least part of the time.

01:10:01Whereas down in the city,

01:10:02they don't even try.

01:10:03You chose it.

01:10:04That's right.

01:10:05That isn't strange.

01:10:05The strange bit is

01:10:07always why I remain.

01:10:10Still, it gives us

01:10:11something new to despise.

01:10:13The sad thing is this time,

01:10:14I despise it as well.

01:10:16Eight hundred addresses,

01:10:19eight hundred names.

01:10:20You were never attracted.

01:10:22A regular job.

01:10:23I never had time.

01:10:25Too busy relating

01:10:25to various young men.

01:10:27Falling in and out of love

01:10:29turns out to be

01:10:29like any other career.

01:10:34How long since anyone

01:10:35took a look next door?

01:10:36That's why I think

01:10:36it may be time to do good.

01:10:37Um, I need to ask you

01:10:42to move out of here.

01:10:43I'm in temporary need

01:10:44of this room.

01:10:45You can go wherever you like

01:10:46and pretty soon also

01:10:47you're welcome to return.

01:10:48You'd better tell me,

01:10:49Susan,

01:10:50what you've done

01:10:50to your hands.

01:10:52I've just been taking

01:10:52paper off the wall.

01:10:54There's blood.

01:10:55My fingernail.

01:10:56Susan, what have you

01:10:57actually done?

01:10:58I thought as we were

01:10:59going to get rid of the house

01:11:00and I couldn't stand

01:11:01any of the things

01:11:02that were there.

01:11:02Now, what's best

01:11:05to be doing in here?

01:11:07Could you look

01:11:07in the drawer, please, Alice?

01:11:08There's some nemutal.

01:11:09I'm not sure we should...

01:11:10I shan't ask you again.

01:11:13Listen, if we're going

01:11:15to sell this house...

01:11:16You yourself said it.

01:11:17I've heard you say

01:11:17it's money that did it.

01:11:19It's money that rots.

01:11:20That we've all lived

01:11:20like camels

01:11:21off the fat in our humps.

01:11:23Well then,

01:11:24isn't the best thing to do

01:11:25to turn around simply

01:11:26and give the house away?

01:11:27Alice,

01:11:28would this place

01:11:29suit your needs?

01:11:30Somewhere to set down

01:11:31all your unmarried

01:11:32mothers if we lay out

01:11:34mattresses.

01:11:35Mattresses on the floor.

01:11:36Well, I...

01:11:37Don't your women

01:11:37need a place to live?

01:11:40An Iranian vase,

01:11:42a small wooden border,

01:11:44twelve marble birds

01:11:45copied from an Ottoman king.

01:11:48How can they be

01:11:49any possible use?

01:11:56I suppose you conspired.

01:11:58Not at all.

01:11:58Really?

01:11:59That was the first

01:12:00I've heard.

01:12:00In that case, please,

01:12:01you might give me

01:12:02some help.

01:12:03Find out what else

01:12:03she's been doing out there.

01:12:06Cutlery.

01:12:06Cockery.

01:12:08Lapshades and...

01:12:09Books!

01:12:10Books!

01:12:11Oh,

01:12:12encyclopedias,

01:12:13clutter,

01:12:13meaningless,

01:12:14a universe of things.

01:12:15Which is the braver?

01:12:17To live as I do

01:12:18or never ever to face

01:12:20or never ever to face life

01:12:21like you.

01:12:24This is the doctor's number,

01:12:25my dear.

01:12:27With my permission,

01:12:28he can put you inside.

01:12:30I am quite capable

01:12:31of doing it tonight.

01:12:32So why don't you start

01:12:33to put all those things back?

01:12:35Alice,

01:12:36would your women

01:12:36value my clothes?

01:12:37Well...

01:12:37Sounds fairly silly.

01:12:38I have thirteen evening

01:12:39dresses, sir.

01:12:42Susan?

01:12:42Obviously not much

01:12:43useless they are,

01:12:43but possibly

01:12:44they could be

01:12:45we can't be so...

01:12:47Your life is selfish.

01:12:50Self-interested

01:12:51again.

01:12:54And that's the most

01:12:54charitable interpretation

01:12:56to hand.

01:12:57You claim

01:12:57to be protecting

01:12:58some personal ideal

01:13:00always at a cost

01:13:01of almost infinite pain

01:13:03to everyone around you.

01:13:05You are selfish,

01:13:07brutish,

01:13:08unkind,

01:13:10jealous of other people's

01:13:11happiness as well,

01:13:12determined to destroy

01:13:13other ways of happiness

01:13:15they find.

01:13:17I've spent

01:13:19fifteen years

01:13:20of my life

01:13:21trying to help you,

01:13:23simply trying

01:13:24to be kind,

01:13:25and my great comfort

01:13:26has been that

01:13:27I am waiting

01:13:27for some indication

01:13:29from you,

01:13:30some sign

01:13:31that you have valued

01:13:33this kindness of mine.

01:13:35Some

01:13:35love,

01:13:37perhaps,

01:13:38insane.

01:13:40And yet,

01:13:41I really shan't

01:13:42ever give up.

01:13:43I won't surrender

01:13:44till you're well again,

01:13:46and that to me

01:13:47would mean

01:13:47you're admitting

01:13:48one thing,

01:13:49that in the life

01:13:50you've led,

01:13:51you have utterly

01:13:52failed.

01:13:53Failed

01:13:54in the very,

01:13:55very heart

01:13:55of your life.

01:13:57Admit it,

01:13:58then perhaps

01:13:59you might really

01:14:00move on.

01:14:00Now I'm going to go

01:14:01and give our doctor

01:14:02a ring.

01:14:02I plan at last

01:14:03to beat you

01:14:04at your own kind

01:14:05of game.

01:14:06I'm going to play

01:14:07as dirtily

01:14:07and as ruthlessly

01:14:08as you,

01:14:09and this time

01:14:10I am certainly

01:14:11not giving in.

01:14:15Well.

01:14:18Well,

01:14:19goodness,

01:14:20what's best to do?

01:14:23What's the best way

01:14:24to start stripping

01:14:25this room?

01:14:26Susan,

01:14:26I think you should

01:14:27get out of this house.

01:14:28Of course.

01:14:28I'll help you

01:14:29any way I can.

01:14:30Well,

01:14:30that's very kind.

01:14:31If you want,

01:14:31I'll be going

01:14:32just as soon

01:14:32as this job is done.

01:14:33Listen,

01:14:34if Raymond

01:14:34really means

01:14:34what he says.

01:14:37You haven't

01:14:37even asked me,

01:14:38you see.

01:14:38You haven't.

01:14:39Asked me yet

01:14:40what I think

01:14:40of the idea.

01:14:42Really,

01:14:42Alice?

01:14:43I shouldn't

01:14:43need to ask.

01:14:45It's a very sad

01:14:46day when one

01:14:46can't help the poor.

01:14:48For God's sake,

01:14:49Susan,

01:14:50he'll put you

01:14:50in the bin.

01:14:51Don't be silly,

01:14:52Alice.

01:14:52It's Easter weekend.

01:14:54It must have

01:14:54occurred to you.

01:14:55The doctor's away.

01:14:58All right,

01:14:59Raymond.

01:15:01Anything I can do?

01:15:02I've managed

01:15:04to root out

01:15:04some whiskey

01:15:05over here.

01:15:07Alice was just

01:15:07saying she might

01:15:08slip out for a while.

01:15:09Give us a chance

01:15:10to sort our problems

01:15:11out.

01:15:12I'm sure if we

01:15:12had a really

01:15:13serious talk,

01:15:15I could keep

01:15:16going till morning.

01:15:17Couldn't you?

01:15:19All right,

01:15:20Alice.

01:15:21Yes,

01:15:21yes,

01:15:21of course,

01:15:21I'm going.

01:15:22I'm just on my way.

01:15:24All right,

01:15:24if I get back

01:15:25in an hour or two,

01:15:26I don't like to feel

01:15:27I'm intruding,

01:15:27you know.

01:15:29Now,

01:15:30Raymond.

01:15:31Good.

01:15:33Let's look at this

01:15:34thing.

01:15:37Where would be

01:15:38the best place

01:15:40to begin?

01:15:41Blackpool,

01:16:06June,

01:16:071962.

01:16:08Susan,

01:16:16Susan,

01:16:17feel who I am.

01:16:20I know.

01:16:22I know who you are.

01:16:25How could you be

01:16:26anyone but Lazaar?

01:16:27to be happy again.

01:16:36Don't take your clothes

01:16:37off,

01:16:37whatever you do.

01:16:38Of course not.

01:16:39That would spoil it

01:16:40hopelessly for me.

01:16:42I'm getting my cigarettes.

01:16:44I run my own.

01:16:45Goodness me.

01:16:46I'm glad I found you.

01:16:55I'm glad I found you.

01:16:55I'm just glad I came.

01:16:57This place is filthy.

01:16:59Oh,

01:17:01it's a cheap hotel.

01:17:02There seems to be dust

01:17:03on almost everything.

01:17:05We should be grateful

01:17:06for dust,

01:17:06did you know?

01:17:08If it weren't for all

01:17:08the dust in the atmosphere,

01:17:10human beings would be

01:17:11killed by the heat

01:17:11of the sun.

01:17:12In Blackpool?

01:17:13Well...

01:17:14Are you kidding me?

01:17:14I was getting some grass.

01:17:18Shall I roll it in?

01:17:19Just the simple cigarette

01:17:21for me.

01:17:25I hope you didn't mind

01:17:26my choosing Blackpool

01:17:27at all.

01:17:27It's just that I work

01:17:28near...

01:17:29Don't tell me anymore.

01:17:33Do you know how

01:17:34I found you?

01:17:34Through the BBC?

01:17:36I just caught the programme

01:17:37a few months ago.

01:17:39They told me you were

01:17:40married and based

01:17:41in London now.

01:17:42They gave me an address.

01:17:43I left here weeks ago.

01:17:45I know.

01:17:46I gather you've been

01:17:47out on the road.

01:17:49But, er...

01:17:50I went.

01:17:52I went round

01:17:52and saw the man.

01:17:54And how was he?

01:17:56He looked like a man

01:17:58who'd spent his life

01:17:59with you.

01:18:01He said he'd only

01:18:02just managed to reclaim.

01:18:03Oh, really?

01:18:04That's my fault.

01:18:07I guess I'll have to wait.

01:18:08Well, he said he'd had

01:18:09to fight to get back

01:18:10into his home.

01:18:11There's been some

01:18:12kind of trouble.

01:18:13Police.

01:18:13Violence, it seems.

01:18:15Is he angry?

01:18:16Angry?

01:18:17No.

01:18:19He just seemed

01:18:20very sorry

01:18:20not to be with you.

01:18:26Listen,

01:18:27I have to tell you,

01:18:28I've not always been well.

01:18:31I have weakness.

01:18:31I like to lose control.

01:18:36I've been letting it

01:18:37happen, well,

01:18:37a number of times.

01:18:39Is it...

01:18:39I did shoot someone

01:18:40about ten years ago.

01:18:42Did you hurt him?

01:18:43Fortunately, no.

01:18:45Well, at least,

01:18:46that's what we kept

01:18:47telling him, you know?

01:18:48Raymond went and gave

01:18:49him money and notes.

01:18:51He slapped them like

01:18:51hot poultices

01:18:52all over his wounds.

01:18:53I think it did

01:18:55finally convince him

01:18:56on the whole.

01:18:58And it was after

01:18:58Raymond's kindness

01:18:59I felt I had to

01:19:00get engaged.

01:19:01Why do people...

01:19:02Mary, I don't know.

01:19:06Are you...

01:19:09What?

01:19:11You have asked me

01:19:12anything at all?

01:19:12No, it's nothing.

01:19:13I don't want to know.

01:19:16Did you ever see him?

01:19:17You're gracious now.

01:19:18I've stripped away

01:19:19everything.

01:19:20Everything I've known.

01:19:23There's only one

01:19:23kind of dignity.

01:19:25That's in living alone.

01:19:26The close you stand up

01:19:27in, in the world

01:19:28you can see.

01:19:28Oh, Susan.

01:19:29You don't.

01:19:33They have to believe

01:19:34that there's someone

01:19:34you see.

01:19:36Somebody else

01:19:37has been living like me.

01:19:39How long till dawn?

01:19:48Do you think

01:19:49we should go?

01:19:50If we work till

01:19:51morning we'll have

01:19:52to pay the bill.

01:19:53I can't believe that

01:19:54can be the right

01:19:55thing to do.

01:20:00Is there an early

01:20:01train, do you know?

01:20:03They're just where

01:20:04I'm going.

01:20:04I'm not really sure.

01:20:07There aren't many

01:20:08people who have

01:20:08me, you know.

01:20:11I hope you'll forgive me.

01:20:13The grass has gone in.

01:20:17I don't know what I'd

01:20:18expected.

01:20:20What I'd hoped for

01:20:22at the time I returned.

01:20:24Some sort of edge

01:20:25to the life that I lead.

01:20:26Some sort of feeling

01:20:27their death was worthwhile.

01:20:28Some day I must tell you

01:20:32I don't feel I've done well.

01:20:35I gave in always,

01:20:37all along the line,

01:20:38supper, wife.

01:20:39Hell, I work in a

01:20:40corporate bureaucracy

01:20:41as well.

01:20:42I'm so sorry.

01:20:47I'm sorry.

01:20:48I'm just about to go.

01:20:49What?

01:20:50I've eaten nothing,

01:20:52so I just go.

01:20:53I hate, I hate, I hate

01:20:58this life that we lead.

01:21:01Oh, God, here I go.

01:21:04Kiss me.

01:21:06Kiss me now as I go.

01:21:13A fine undercover agent

01:21:15will move so that nobody

01:21:16can ever tell he was there.

01:21:17Tell me your name.

01:21:24Codename.

01:21:27Codename.

01:21:32Codename Lazar.

01:21:33Codename Lazar.

01:21:47Saint-Benoît.

01:21:50August 1944.

01:21:51Bonjour, mademoiselle.

01:22:19Bonjour.

01:22:20Vous regardez le village?

01:22:25Oui.

01:22:26Je suis montée la colline

01:22:28pour mieux voir.

01:22:31C'est merveilleux.

01:22:32Oui.

01:22:35Indeed, the day is fine.

01:22:39We understand, we know.

01:22:42The war is over now.

01:22:45I climbed the hill

01:22:46to get a better view.

01:22:47I haven't spoken French

01:22:51for months on end.

01:22:52You are English?

01:22:56Tower Bridge.

01:22:59Just so.

01:23:02You join the party

01:23:04in the village?

01:23:05Soon.

01:23:07I'm hoping.

01:23:08Yes, I'm very keen

01:23:09to go.

01:23:11Myself, I work.

01:23:13I'm a farmer.

01:23:14Like any other day.

01:23:18Frenchman works

01:23:19or starves.

01:23:21Now he is the peace.

01:23:24The shit.

01:23:25The lowest of the low.

01:23:26Look, they're lighting fires

01:23:31in the square.

01:23:33And children

01:23:34coming out

01:23:34with burning sticks.

01:23:37Have you seen anything

01:23:38as beautiful as this?

01:23:39The harvest is not good

01:23:43again this year.

01:23:44I'm sorry.

01:23:46As I expect.

01:23:48The land is very poor.

01:23:52I have to work

01:23:53each moment of the day.

01:23:57But you'll be glad, I think.

01:23:59You're glad as well?

01:24:00Well, I'm glad.

01:24:02Something good

01:24:03is true.

01:24:07The English

01:24:09have no feelings.

01:24:12Yes?

01:24:14Are stiff.

01:24:17They hide them

01:24:18from the world.

01:24:20They're stupid.

01:24:21Stupid, yes.

01:24:24It may be...

01:24:27Huh?

01:24:27That things will

01:24:30quickly change.

01:24:32We have grown up.

01:24:34We will improve

01:24:36our world.

01:24:40Perhaps...

01:24:41Perhaps you

01:24:42like some soup.

01:24:44My wife.

01:24:46All right.

01:24:48The walk

01:24:49is down the hill.

01:24:51My friend.

01:24:57There will be days

01:25:02and days

01:25:03and days

01:25:05like this.

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