- 20 minutes ago
First broadcast 9th December 1975.
Bernard King, local party chairman, attempts to heal the growing rift between Collinson and his opposition.
Tony Britton - Christopher Collinson
Ann Firbank - Alice Collinson
David Wilkinson - David Collinson
Wilfred Pickles - Bernard King
Michael Elphick - Ron Hibbert
Gwen Taylor - Dorothy Hibbert
John Leyton - Brian Griffin
Ian East - Maurice Wrigley
Steven Grives - Len
Kate Fahy - Millie Dutton (as Katherine Fahy)
Tim Barlow - Frank
Jane Lowe - Phyllis
Jon Morrison - Alan
Anthony Roye - Mr. Arnold
Josie Lane - May King
Philip Moore - Michael Hibbert
Helen Cadwallader - Jane Hibbert
Bernard King, local party chairman, attempts to heal the growing rift between Collinson and his opposition.
Tony Britton - Christopher Collinson
Ann Firbank - Alice Collinson
David Wilkinson - David Collinson
Wilfred Pickles - Bernard King
Michael Elphick - Ron Hibbert
Gwen Taylor - Dorothy Hibbert
John Leyton - Brian Griffin
Ian East - Maurice Wrigley
Steven Grives - Len
Kate Fahy - Millie Dutton (as Katherine Fahy)
Tim Barlow - Frank
Jane Lowe - Phyllis
Jon Morrison - Alan
Anthony Roye - Mr. Arnold
Josie Lane - May King
Philip Moore - Michael Hibbert
Helen Cadwallader - Jane Hibbert
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00Oh
00:56PIANO PLAYS
01:07You talk about defiance of the law as if it was immoral.
01:15But I'm sure I don't have to instruct a man of your education,
01:21a man whose business is the handling of language,
01:24that law and morality are not at all the same things.
01:32All through history, men have faced situations
01:38in which they've found it immoral to obey the law.
01:43Would we ever have had a Labour movement
01:46if the founding fathers hadn't defied bad laws?
01:53And what's the difference here?
01:56A highly developed form of democratic government
01:59with votes for all from the age of 18.
02:02That's where the difference begins.
02:04Not good enough. Not good enough at all.
02:06It's a moral issue.
02:09When that Tory government pushed through the Housing Finance Act,
02:14they were making a deliberate, brutal attack
02:17on the living standards of the working class.
02:22Tory politicians don't live in council houses,
02:27nor do some other politician.
02:30But we won't go into that now.
02:32And when the councillors of Claycross
02:35refused to implement that penal legislation,
02:39when they said,
02:40No, we're not going to put the rents up.
02:43We're not going to do it.
02:44They were fighting a moral battle,
02:47just as much as any trades unionist
02:50defying the Combination Act in 1799.
02:56Frank, please,
02:57can we keep the discussion at least contemporary?
02:59We're not a Ruskin College seminar.
03:02I want to make the point
03:04that the issue is fundamental to the Labour cause.
03:08It's justice.
03:11It's not law.
03:13That's the issue.
03:15Why has our MP
03:17never supported those councillors?
03:20You abstained in the Commons
03:22last time the case came up.
03:23I call that a betrayal.
03:25And in my view,
03:27your record over the past few years
03:30has been one long betrayal.
03:35What did you say about
03:36the miners' wages?
03:40Freeze them.
03:42What did you say about
03:43the building site pickets?
03:46Put them in prison.
03:51The only time
03:53you got excited about somebody's liberty
03:56was when a few newspaper editors
03:59were holding up their hands in horror
04:02at the thought of being made
04:05to join a union.
04:07And you agreed with them, didn't you?
04:10How can you behave like that
04:13in our name
04:13and still come along here
04:15asking for a round of applause
04:18and the promise of a safe,
04:20cosy future in your safe seat?
04:22And that's the only reason
04:24you are here, isn't it?
04:33Frank, your conversation
04:35is remarkable
04:36for being even more abusive
04:37than your letters.
04:40But invective
04:41is not argument.
04:44Before I take up
04:45some of those points,
04:46I'd just like to ask you all
04:47a quick question.
04:49Are there any other
04:50fellow members of the party here
04:52who want a Labour government
04:55to abandon the rule of law?
05:05He's a lot better
05:06at the Hurley-Burley
05:07than we thought.
05:09It's a question of concentration,
05:10I suppose.
05:11The adaptable mind.
05:13I wouldn't raise him
05:14as a factory gate, man.
05:16Of course not, Len.
05:18He likes the small gatherings,
05:19not a bloody Nuremberg rally.
05:22He's a clever boxer, our Chris.
05:25I enjoyed the little set
05:26too in my ward.
05:27He's good to watch.
05:29That's not what it's all about.
05:31It's not a sodding summer show.
05:34Are you sure, Ron?
05:36What do you mean, am I sure?
05:39I'm not playing
05:40Ring of Bloody Roses
05:41with this clown,
05:42even if some people are.
05:44Christ, Morris,
05:45what do you mean?
05:46Well, I mean this, Ron.
05:49Collington's up here,
05:51putting in a big effort,
05:52toiling round the wards,
05:54chatting people up,
05:55taking a few knocks
05:56and giving a few back.
05:57And the local weekly liar's
06:00full of it.
06:01Half a page of pictures,
06:03solemn statements
06:04from him and you.
06:06Bernard King,
06:09platitudinizing away
06:10as if it's come dancing.
06:12Well, it is a bit
06:13of a variety show,
06:14isn't it?
06:15I mean,
06:17have you been reading
06:18the letters in the weekly liar?
06:20The Christmas cracker stuff.
06:22Oh, so what?
06:24Where's the joke for us, eh?
06:27Collinson's taking us on
06:28and he's in with a chance.
06:30Now, that doesn't amuse me
06:32at all.
06:34Let's have the rest of it,
06:35Morris,
06:36in simple shop floor language.
06:38What have we got to laugh about?
06:42We live here,
06:43don't we?
06:44How many times a year
06:45does Chris come up
06:46for more than 36 hours
06:47on the trot?
06:49He can't keep up
06:50this pantomime
06:51he's going through now.
06:53He hates it,
06:54for one thing,
06:55which is why
06:56I admire his performance,
06:57but never mind about that.
06:59I say,
07:02let's put him
07:02through all the hoops.
07:04Sit back and enjoy it.
07:06Making sure we remember
07:07exactly whose toes
07:08he treads on hardest,
07:10of course.
07:11Well, he's doing
07:12plenty of that.
07:13Of course he is.
07:16Well, what you're saying
07:17really is
07:18let him win this one
07:19and start again afterwards.
07:21Just chip away at him
07:22like before.
07:24Nothing lost
07:25and bugger all gained.
07:27I wouldn't say that.
07:29He's the one
07:30who asked for this
07:30little bust-up, remember?
07:32He's the one
07:33who's dragged
07:34the good name
07:35of the party
07:36through the mire.
07:38We could have kept it
07:39in the family,
07:40couldn't we?
07:40If he hadn't started
07:42shouting about it
07:43in the street.
07:44Was the
07:45hot summer nastiness
07:47really necessary?
07:50Well, that could sound
07:51very convincing
07:52on the right wet
07:53winter night.
07:56What do you say, Ron?
08:04Good night.
08:05Goodbye.
08:05Good to see you again.
08:06Yes.
08:13Well, Frank?
08:14By name and nature.
08:16Not to say
08:17an aggressive, awkward
08:18cuss who's going to
08:19keep you here all night,
08:20critically letting.
08:22Well,
08:23you're in the driving
08:24seat again, aren't you,
08:25you middle-of-the-roaders?
08:27Once again,
08:28a Labour government
08:29in full retreat
08:30from the wishes
08:31of the rank and file.
08:32I'm not in the
08:33government, Frank.
08:34Not through want
08:35of trying lately.
08:37But it's your kind,
08:39your crowd,
08:40calling the tune.
08:41You've even got
08:42poor old Michael
08:43Foot dancing to it.
08:44The minister
08:45for unemployment.
08:47Can't win,
08:48can we?
08:49Who are we,
08:51Frank?
08:54The people.
08:55The wage earners.
08:57The fodder
08:58for that big machine
08:59you call the economy.
09:01I'll be on the
09:02dole soon
09:03because the economy
09:04and that means you
09:05because it's your machine
09:07you need me to be.
09:09Do you think
09:10I'll ever get another job?
09:12I'm younger than you
09:13but I'm finished.
09:14The machine has decided.
09:17The Prime Minister
09:18tells me I must be
09:19a brave little casualty
09:21and not make a fuss.
09:23The economy
09:24can't afford me.
09:26But I might
09:27fight on a bit though
09:28because if I haven't
09:30got to go to work
09:30I'll have more time
09:32for politics
09:33won't I?
09:35If you think
09:36you're going to have
09:37a tough time
09:39over work
09:40I'm sorry.
09:47I know how to survive
09:49I watched my father
09:51do it.
09:58Thank you for coming.
09:59Thanks for all your help.
10:00Good night Charlie
10:01I'll see you again next week.
10:03Bye bye.
10:09I'd say we'll have
10:10a very militant branch
10:11of the claimant's union
10:12in this district
10:13before long.
10:14I'm busy.
10:16Hmm.
10:17A number of firms
10:18are laying off.
10:19There's hardly anybody
10:20taking on the school kids.
10:22A lot of problems there.
10:23No it looks tough Chris.
10:26You're going to be asked
10:26to wave your magic wand.
10:28Yeah.
10:29Touching isn't it
10:29that people still think
10:30life can be changed
10:31like that.
10:36How's Alice?
10:38She's
10:39very well.
10:41I'm sorry I missed her
10:42when she was last up.
10:44Hmm.
10:49You still make
10:50very pretty pictures
10:51you two.
10:53Thank you Phyllis.
10:55Most generous.
10:56You're welcome.
11:00I suppose you both
11:02know about the rumours.
11:06I have to say
11:09know what rumours
11:10had to put you
11:11in a very embarrassing
11:11position wouldn't it Phyllis?
11:13I hope we've known
11:14each other too long
11:15for that.
11:18What's the tone
11:19and strength
11:20of the gossip now?
11:22Is Alice
11:23living with a black poet
11:25in Pimlico?
11:26Or am I perhaps?
11:29Well not much bothered
11:29what you get up to
11:30down in that gomorrah.
11:32As long as your adventures
11:33don't get into print.
11:35It's always been
11:36taken for granted
11:36by the women up here
11:37that Christopher Collinson
11:39wouldn't pass up
11:40the odd opportunity
11:41that London could offer.
11:43here
11:44it's different.
11:46Who's going to compete
11:47with Alice?
11:49I thought of some
11:50little local lass
11:51after all these years.
11:55Nobody's ever put a name
11:56to the girl.
12:00Why is it necessary
12:01for people to believe
12:02that she's local
12:03lives in the constituency?
12:05No mystery otherwise.
12:06No scandal.
12:09No jealousy.
12:16How is my
12:21esteem
12:21now
12:22do you think
12:23Phyllis?
12:24I've been told
12:25that the passing
12:25of the years
12:26without the
12:27recent gossip
12:29hasn't helped
12:30my women's vote.
12:33that's a very
12:35old-fashioned
12:35man's view
12:36of women's
12:37approach
12:37to politics.
12:39God,
12:40men are vain.
12:41If women
12:42in this country
12:43voted for the
12:43attractive men
12:44in politics
12:4590 odd percent
12:46of them
12:46would never vote
12:47at all.
12:48What's Westminster
12:49compared with
12:50rugby league
12:51now?
12:52There's a flower
12:52of British manhood.
12:55Forget I asked.
12:56No.
12:57No, it's still
12:58a fair question
12:59in this place.
13:00We're one of those
13:01male-dominated areas.
13:05I might have
13:05been chairman
13:06of the party
13:07not just this ward
13:08if hard work
13:09and ability
13:10were enough
13:12but I've been told
13:13more than once
13:13sorry Phyllis Love
13:15I just couldn't
13:15bring myself
13:16to vote
13:16for a woman
13:17against a man.
13:20Just think Chris
13:21you might have
13:22had me to be
13:22wed to
13:23in constituency
13:24terms
13:25instead of
13:25your dear old
13:26Bernard.
13:27That would have
13:27been interesting
13:28wouldn't it?
13:30Hmm.
13:31Don't fret love
13:32you're still
13:33hanging on
13:34to your women's
13:34votes
13:35were conditioned
13:36to you.
13:38Like I said
13:38you and Alice
13:39together
13:41you still
13:42trail your
13:42little cloud
13:43of glamour.
13:44We don't get
13:44too much
13:45of that
13:45round here.
13:48Hmm.
13:50I'm giving
13:50my morale
13:50quite a lift.
13:52It's women's
13:52work
13:53reassurance.
13:59When are we
13:59ever gonna be
14:00certain Morris
14:01there's always
14:02bound to be
14:03some element
14:03of doubt.
14:04Not really
14:05my point
14:06Ron.
14:06I don't think
14:07there's enough
14:08doubt.
14:09On this list
14:09I'd say we're
14:10at least five
14:11and maybe eight
14:11votes short.
14:12Yeah but some
14:13of those characters
14:14can be swayed
14:14on the night.
14:15I've seen it
14:16happen before
14:16on other issues.
14:18This is special.
14:19The big one.
14:20Why do you
14:21want to take
14:21the gamble?
14:22If we lose
14:22this we're gonna
14:23eat dirt for months.
14:24It will be a
14:25public defeat
14:25remember that.
14:26Well who needs
14:27the humiliation
14:27eh?
14:28Is that what
14:29we're scared
14:29of?
14:31I mean what's
14:32new about
14:32humiliation
14:33to us?
14:34Eh?
14:35We're born to
14:36it weren't we?
14:38Well my parents
14:39were humiliated
14:40every day of
14:40their lives
14:42just by the
14:43sheer grind
14:43of existing
14:45because of what
14:46they've been
14:46taught to do
14:47and allowed
14:47to be.
14:49I was so
14:50bloody proud
14:51when I was
14:51permitted
14:52to go to
14:53grammar school.
14:55so grateful
14:56for the privilege
14:57and so frightened
14:58they wouldn't
14:59be able to
15:00afford to let
15:00me stay on
15:01for college.
15:02Frightened
15:03because they
15:03didn't think
15:04they'd be
15:04allowed to
15:06because they
15:07had no
15:08reason,
15:09no right
15:09to expect
15:10that much
15:11from life.
15:11Now when I
15:12think of that
15:12I know what
15:13humiliation
15:13means.
15:16when I see
15:17today's kids
15:18in my school
15:21they're offered
15:21no opportunity
15:22no hope
15:23no future
15:24just because
15:25of whose kids
15:26they are
15:26and where
15:27they were born
15:27that humiliates
15:28me.
15:30Don't you
15:31see this?
15:32I mean
15:33what are we
15:33doing worrying
15:34about losing
15:35face to
15:35sods like
15:37Collinson?
15:38What does
15:38it matter?
15:40It matters
15:40that we beat
15:41him.
15:42Let's keep
15:42it objective
15:43Ron.
15:44He's right
15:45Ron.
15:46It's what
15:46happens in
15:47the long
15:47term that's
15:48important.
15:50Objective's
15:50the word.
15:51If we blow
15:52it now it's
15:52bound to be
15:53all the harder
15:53next time.
15:55You've developed
15:55a real liking
15:56for this game
15:57haven't you
15:57Morris?
15:58There are
15:58skills to be
15:59mastered.
16:00More exciting
16:01than your
16:01bloody crossword
16:02puzzles.
16:03Eh?
16:03People to
16:04toy with
16:04the world's
16:05full of them.
16:06Oh come
16:06on Ron.
16:07You were
16:08in it first
16:08you roped us
16:09both in.
16:10Yeah I
16:11thought you
16:11two might
16:12help me get
16:12something done.
16:13We will.
16:13It's
16:14our we're
16:15arguing
16:15about.
16:17Look there
16:18are times
16:19it's more
16:19important that
16:20you fight
16:21than whether
16:21you win
16:21or lose
16:22and this
16:22is one
16:22of them.
16:24It's not
16:24just a
16:25question of
16:25getting rid
16:25of Collinson
16:26of Collinson
16:26as our
16:26MP.
16:27It's what
16:28he represents
16:29that's what
16:29we've got
16:30to challenge.
16:31Can't you
16:32see this?
16:34There's real
16:34poverty in
16:35this country
16:36our country
16:37and it's
16:38spreading.
16:39Now that's
16:40not some
16:40regrettable
16:41misfortune
16:42that's direct
16:42action against
16:43our people
16:45and we've
16:45got to
16:46bloody resist
16:46that as best
16:47we can.
16:49We've got to
16:49show we know
16:50who's responsible
16:51and we know
16:52what's happening.
16:54All right
16:54we've got to
16:55get rid of a
16:55whole crowd
16:56of bloody
16:57Collinson's.
16:57We may not
16:58even manage
16:58it with this
16:59one now
17:00but we've
17:00got to
17:00make ourselves
17:01heard.
17:04Come on
17:05we've got to
17:05scare them.
17:07It's no good
17:08just sitting
17:09about
17:10letting them
17:10think we're
17:11docile or
17:12even worse
17:12just chances
17:13playing the
17:14same bloody
17:14game they're
17:15in.
17:16That's what
17:16I'm worried
17:17about with
17:17you Morris.
17:21I've never
17:22gone much
17:22for
17:22demonstrations.
17:28I can't
17:30stand this
17:30damned horse
17:31blanket may.
17:32Where's the
17:33evening paper?
17:46That's better.
17:48That thing
17:49reminds me of
17:50stretchers and
17:51ambulances
17:52and old
17:53folks outings.
17:54There's nothing
17:55wrong with your
17:56memory anyway.
17:57When was the
17:58last time we
17:58went on an
17:59outing?
18:01You're looking
18:01forward to
18:02Blackpool
18:03aren't you?
18:04It'll be a
18:04lively conference
18:05this year.
18:06It might be
18:07too lively for
18:08you.
18:08You know
18:08what the
18:08doctor said.
18:10What'll be
18:11all right
18:12then?
18:14You've had
18:14enough party
18:15conferences.
18:17You've had
18:17enough party
18:18everything the
18:19doctor's told
18:20you.
18:20politics are
18:21not run
18:22according to
18:22doctor's
18:23orders.
18:25I've seen a
18:26lot of sick
18:27men at those
18:28conferences who
18:28shouldn't be
18:29there.
18:30You all think
18:31you're indispensable.
18:34you ought to hear
18:35the wife's talking
18:35sometimes.
18:37I've listened to
18:38a few sad stories.
18:41And you'll love
18:43it don't you?
18:44You women.
18:45Martyrdom.
18:47That's what goes on
18:48over the tea and
18:50scones on the front
18:51every afternoon
18:52isn't it?
18:53Who's got the
18:54biggest cross to
18:55bear?
18:58good night.
19:05All right.
19:10This room
19:11stinks.
19:14Yeah we've been
19:15smoking a lot.
19:17You'll notice it
19:18more since you
19:18gave up.
19:20That was
19:20ages ago.
19:25Politics
19:25that's what
19:26it stinks
19:26of.
19:34Could have
19:34made bombs out
19:35of the atmosphere
19:36when Shirley
19:36and I came
19:37back.
19:39Fighting
19:39amongst yourselves
19:40now are you?
19:44Len took
19:45off like a
19:45cat out of a
19:46sack.
19:47Had he any
19:48bruises?
19:49I didn't have
19:49time to see.
19:50He wanted to
19:51make the club
19:51before closing
19:52time.
20:00Don't you
20:00ever hit one
20:01of my kids
20:01again like you
20:01hit Michael
20:02this afternoon.
20:03Haven't we
20:03finished with
20:04that yet?
20:06He's forgotten
20:06about that
20:07hours ago.
20:08Well I
20:08haven't.
20:09I remember
20:09the look on
20:10his face.
20:10He was
20:10terrified.
20:11You're
20:11exaggerating.
20:13It's all
20:14over in a
20:14couple of
20:14seconds.
20:17Look I'm
20:17sorry.
20:18You know
20:18I'd never
20:18hurt him.
20:19I just
20:20blew up
20:20for a
20:21moment.
20:21He has
20:21been
20:21difficult
20:22all day.
20:23He only
20:24wanted you
20:24to take
20:24a bit
20:25of notice
20:25of him.
20:26I've
20:27apologised
20:28to the
20:28kid.
20:29He got
20:29it all
20:29out of
20:29proportion.
20:31Have
20:31I?
20:33Is it
20:34me who
20:34needs to
20:34be told
20:35about that?
20:36Proportion?
20:44What do
20:45you really
20:45care about
20:46Ron?
20:48Would you
20:49care if I
20:50left?
20:51Took them
20:51both with
20:52me?
20:53We'd have
20:53all this.
20:54You wouldn't
20:54have us to
20:54get on your
20:55nerves.
20:56Would that
20:56make you
20:56happy?
20:58If you
20:58care about
20:59happy?
20:59me?
21:02Oh, come
21:03on, don't
21:03love.
21:04Come here.
21:06There's no
21:07need for
21:07that.
21:09Oh, Christ,
21:10don't talk
21:11about leaving.
21:15I know
21:15it's been a
21:16lousy holiday
21:16this year,
21:17we've hardly
21:17been anywhere,
21:18but I have
21:19had a lot
21:19on me
21:19mind.
21:21not me!
21:37I really
21:38do like the
21:39new one
21:39very much.
21:40The holiday
21:41is a neglected
21:42subject in
21:43modern fiction,
21:43yet it's a
21:44universal
21:44experience.
21:46Didn't I
21:47always say
21:47Mr. Griffin
21:48had an
21:48Edwardian
21:49intuition
21:49for the
21:50timely
21:50novel?
21:51He calls
21:52it the
21:52news desk
21:53approach,
21:53don't you?
21:54According to
21:55Alice,
21:56I'm the last
21:56romantic
21:57in British
21:58publishing,
21:59but how
21:59can a
22:00tradesman
22:00be romantic?
22:02Well, thanks
22:03for the lunch,
22:03Mr. Arnold.
22:04Oh, my
22:04pleasure.
22:05Goodbye,
22:06Alice.
22:08Goodbye.
22:09Goodbye.
22:09Got an umbrella
22:10somewhere.
22:12Ah, thank
22:13you.
22:15Make use
22:16of that
22:16character,
22:16but I think
22:17Somerset
22:17Maugham
22:17invented him.
22:18He thinks
22:18so, too.
22:21After eight
22:21years, I'm
22:22still looking
22:22for the
22:22spats.
22:25Well, he's
22:25very generous
22:26to me.
22:26I told you,
22:27you're one of
22:27our chairman's
22:28pinups.
22:29He's been
22:29wanting a
22:30genuine
22:30English
22:31working-class
22:31lyricist
22:32for years.
22:33You're it.
22:34Didn't you
22:35know you
22:35were a
22:36primitive?
22:37Well,
22:38allow him
22:38his fantasies,
22:39that's it.
22:40The important
22:41thing is,
22:41he never
22:42lunches a
22:43writer unless
22:43he expects
22:44to make
22:44good money
22:44out of it.
22:46Success.
22:48A noble
22:49savage.
22:51You're a bit
22:52coiled up
22:53today, Brian.
22:55Yes, I'm
22:55sorry.
22:57I saw a lawyer
22:58this morning.
22:59I'm finishing
22:59with Pamela.
23:01I want a
23:02divorce.
23:02I want my
23:03kids.
23:04She'll fight,
23:05but mostly
23:05about money.
23:07Not about
23:08the children?
23:10They'll be
23:10her bargain
23:11encounters.
23:14I've never
23:14heard you
23:15sound like
23:15that before.
23:19The love
23:19affair's over.
23:21There's a
23:22boyfriend.
23:23Well,
23:24it's been
23:24finished for
23:24some time.
23:26I realized it
23:27quite suddenly
23:27the last time
23:28I saw her.
23:30I don't know
23:30quite why it
23:31took so long
23:31for that fact
23:32to make it
23:32so felt.
23:33I suppose
23:33it's something
23:33to do with
23:34my work.
23:36The way I
23:36work,
23:37the absorption
23:38sort of
23:39sleepwalker
23:39thing I tend
23:40to go through
23:41so that nothing
23:42else quite
23:42makes contact.
23:45She always
23:45hated that,
23:46of course.
23:48And she was
23:49deeply disappointed
23:50at how unglamorous
23:51the writer's
23:51life is.
23:53Gives you
23:53backache,
23:54makes your
23:54ears ring.
23:56I tried to
23:56explain to
23:57them.
23:59I'm a
23:59second-rate
23:59writer,
24:00and even
24:00that could be
24:01boasting.
24:02It's what
24:02I can do.
24:07Are you
24:07going to be
24:07all right,
24:08Brian?
24:11I feel
24:12happy with
24:12you.
24:15Concerned
24:16about you.
24:18Sensitive
24:18to you.
24:20Close
24:20to you.
24:23Excited
24:23by you.
24:26Why don't
24:27I say to
24:27you and to
24:28myself,
24:28because of
24:28that we
24:29should be
24:29together?
24:31I think
24:32you feel
24:32the same
24:32towards me.
24:37We've
24:38both
24:38thought
24:38about
24:38this.
24:40We've
24:40asked
24:40ourselves
24:41whether
24:41we're
24:41being
24:41simply
24:42timid
24:42perhaps,
24:43or
24:44perversely
24:45restrained,
24:48hypocritically
24:48moral for
24:49some reason.
24:50That's not it.
24:55Are we
24:56afraid of
24:56losing this
24:57one form
24:57of love
24:58of love
24:58we've
24:58both
24:58grown to
24:59value,
25:00depend on
25:00perhaps?
25:02Is that what we
25:03need so much
25:04from each
25:04other,
25:04the certainty
25:06of trust
25:06and candor?
25:10We have had that.
25:13There was a moment
25:15when I thought
25:16you were my
25:18answer,
25:19when I thought
25:20you could be
25:20my way out.
25:22From Chris.
25:25Then I realized
25:26I was calculating,
25:27I was planning
25:28to use you.
25:30That confused
25:31me.
25:33You're the last
25:33person in the world
25:34I'd want to
25:35have heard.
25:38There is something
25:39else too,
25:41the fact of Chris.
25:44we would never
25:44have been able
25:45to shut him
25:45out,
25:47lose the sense
25:48of his presence.
25:49Neither of us
25:50would.
25:52On the face of it,
25:53it ought to hurt
25:54my pride to say
25:54that,
25:55but it doesn't.
25:57It's simply
25:58true.
26:00I know.
26:03You've seen
26:04him lately.
26:06I made a
26:06functional appearance
26:07in the constituency
26:08just a day trip.
26:10I was needed
26:10to stand at his
26:11side to confound
26:12local gossip
26:13about our
26:14sexual dalliance
26:15and or
26:17estrangement.
26:18Distasteful.
26:19Very.
26:21Dishonest.
26:23He's still
26:24slugging it out
26:25with the lefties
26:25up there,
26:26is he?
26:27How's it going for him?
26:28Cheers
26:29and counter-chears.
26:33I'm going home
26:34tonight,
26:34Brian.
26:36To Maida Vale,
26:37I mean.
26:38Could be the first
26:39time I've slept
26:39in that house
26:40since April.
26:42Have you made a
26:42decision as well?
26:44Well, let's say
26:44I've made half a one.
26:46Maybe I'm using
26:47circumstances to
26:48force the conclusion.
26:50David gets back
26:52from his Greek
26:52odyssey tonight.
26:54With Alan,
26:54did I mention him?
26:56This buddy,
26:57very likable boy.
26:58Cheerful,
26:59uncomplicated.
27:01Not unlike Andrew,
27:02come to think of it.
27:04Good for David.
27:05Anyway,
27:06I'm expecting two
27:07very travel-stained
27:08fellas after six
27:09hot weeks on the road
27:10and the house
27:11is there to be used.
27:14We'll just wait
27:15for Chris to turn up.
27:19I think you'll be
27:20alone,
27:20Brian.
27:23Now then,
27:24I'll make a new
27:25apology for not
27:26letting you know
27:27that I was getting
27:28you both here
27:29together at the
27:29same time.
27:31Now,
27:32I want you to
27:32bear with me
27:33for a while
27:35and let's try
27:36and keep our
27:36tempers.
27:39I'd like you both
27:39to answer me a few
27:40questions,
27:41if you will.
27:43Now,
27:44Chris,
27:45are you satisfied
27:46with what you've
27:48been doing up here
27:49in this last
27:50week or so?
27:51I've come under
27:52some very close
27:53scrutiny.
27:54Surely the question,
27:55Bernard,
27:55is whether the
27:56examiners are
27:56satisfied,
27:57isn't it?
27:57I'm talking about
27:59the way you've
27:59run your campaign,
28:01the tone you've
28:02taken.
28:03It's been more
28:04than a bit on
28:04the aggressive side,
28:06isn't it?
28:06I've been under
28:07attack.
28:07I chose not to
28:08turn the other
28:08cheek,
28:09certainly.
28:10Now,
28:12comments like
28:12local gangsters
28:14of politics,
28:15for instance.
28:16And what was
28:17the other one?
28:18Reckless louts
28:19of the left.
28:21Very crude,
28:22I should think,
28:23coming out of
28:24your mouth.
28:25Don't you agree?
28:27Ah,
28:27there's plenty
28:28more like it.
28:30It's a long
28:31way from that
28:32elegant style
28:33of your London
28:34voice.
28:34Oh,
28:35come on,
28:35then.
28:35If you've
28:36kept your eye
28:36on the papers,
28:37you should be
28:38pretty well
28:38pleased with
28:39yourself.
28:40Well,
28:40are you,
28:41Chris?
28:41I haven't
28:42enjoyed this
28:42business.
28:43No.
28:44No.
28:45But certain
28:46other people
28:46have.
28:47The opposition.
28:49Our opposition.
28:51We can't
28:53afford a
28:53repeat of this
28:54backstreet brawl.
28:56Not for a long
28:57time.
28:58Is that what you
29:00were gambling
29:00on?
29:01One great
29:02bound,
29:03and our hero
29:05was free.
29:06Is that it?
29:08Unexpected
29:09things happen
29:10in politics.
29:11You know that
29:12well enough.
29:14You might
29:14ask yourself,
29:16who's been
29:17reckless?
29:18No matter
29:19who wins
29:20this scrap,
29:21we all know.
29:22There's a lot
29:23of damage
29:23being done,
29:24and that's
29:24why I'm
29:25asking you.
29:26Are you
29:27satisfied?
29:29What are your
29:30feelings,
29:31Ron?
29:33according to
29:34you,
29:35the labour
29:35voters of
29:36this town
29:37are a crowd
29:38of dumbbells
29:39who've allowed
29:40themselves to
29:41be hoodwinked
29:42for years.
29:43That's what
29:44you've been
29:44telling them?
29:46Has that
29:47done us
29:48any good?
29:49Did you
29:50never stop
29:51to think
29:51how you were
29:52despising
29:53them and
29:54the judgment?
29:55That's not
29:55true.
29:55I never
29:56saw it
29:56like that.
29:57Oh.
29:58Oh.
29:59Shall I
30:00remind you
30:01some of
30:01the things
30:01that you
30:01have been
30:02saying?
30:03You told
30:03them that
30:04they've
30:04been
30:04ignored,
30:05tricked,
30:06and sold
30:07down the
30:07river.
30:08Yeah,
30:08they have.
30:09Not by
30:09me.
30:10I've
30:11supported
30:11government
30:11policy.
30:12Turncoat
30:12policy,
30:13corrupted
30:13socialism.
30:14Rubbish.
30:15You're
30:16paranoid with
30:16your sense
30:17of class
30:17persecution.
30:18It's
30:18happening.
30:19You can
30:19see the
30:19effects of
30:20it on
30:20the streets
30:20of this
30:20town.
30:21Those
30:21people's
30:22problems
30:22will not
30:22be solved
30:23by the
30:23kind of
30:24idiots
30:24economics
30:24you and
30:25your
30:25friends want.
30:26Those
30:26people.
30:27You can
30:28be relied
30:28on for
30:28that.
30:29You
30:29really
30:29can't
30:29help
30:30yourself,
30:30can you?
30:31The
30:31rabble,
30:32the mob,
30:32they'll
30:33always be
30:33like that
30:34to you.
30:34I'm a
30:35better friend
30:35to them
30:36than you
30:36can ever
30:36be.
30:36They
30:37don't
30:37need
30:37your
30:38pity.
30:40It's
30:40my skill
30:41I'm
30:41offering.
30:42What,
30:42to preserve
30:42the status
30:43quo?
30:44Ideal
30:44in realities.
30:45Ah,
30:45well,
30:45what's
30:45number one,
30:46that they're
30:46all expendable?
30:47It's
30:47you who
30:48endangers
30:48them.
30:48How,
30:49but
30:49question
30:49your
30:50honesty.
30:50By
30:51pretending
30:51they can
30:57in their
30:57lives,
30:58there's
30:58nothing
30:58true
30:58they
30:59could
30:59like.
31:01Your
31:01attitude
31:02seemed
31:02based on
31:03the
31:03existence
31:03of
31:03some
31:04destitute
31:04other
31:05society.
31:06People
31:06submerged
31:07below
31:07the
31:07national
31:07life,
31:09outside
31:09the
31:10economy
31:10like
31:10the
31:10Victorian
31:11poor.
31:12That
31:13is
31:13contemporary
31:13mythology,
31:14deeply
31:14perpetuated
31:15for all
31:15kinds of
31:16reasons,
31:16from
31:16subversion
31:17to
31:17sentimentality
31:18to
31:18guilt.
31:19Of
31:20your
31:20own
31:20belief
31:20in it,
31:21I'll
31:21say no
31:22more than
31:22that you've
31:22closed your
31:23mind,
31:24perhaps out
31:24of passion.
31:25Ah,
31:25we don't
31:25live in
31:26the
31:26same
31:26world.
31:35But
31:36you
31:36do.
31:38There
31:39is only
31:39one.
31:41Just as
31:42there's only
31:42one
31:43parliamentary
31:43seat in
31:44this
31:44constituency.
31:47Do you
31:47think it's
31:48safe?
31:49When I
31:50watch you
31:51two at
31:51each
31:51other's
31:51throats,
31:53I know
31:54that it
31:54isn't.
31:56Ah,
31:57yes.
31:58Between
31:58you,
31:58the pair
31:59of you,
31:59if you're
31:59determined,
32:00you can
32:01give it
32:01away.
32:02Just as
32:03the National
32:03Party's
32:04given office
32:05away in
32:05the past.
32:06So busy
32:08ripping at
32:08its own
32:09guts.
32:10I thought
32:10you approved
32:11of a little
32:11internal strife,
32:12Bernard.
32:12Didn't you
32:13tell me once
32:13it would
32:13cure my
32:14complacency?
32:16What are
32:16you accusing
32:17me of,
32:17Chris?
32:18I've been
32:19a politician?
32:21Eh,
32:23well,
32:23that's one
32:23thing that
32:24you've got
32:25in common.
32:26You both
32:27think I'm
32:27just a
32:28fixer,
32:29playing people
32:30along,
32:31one with
32:32the other.
32:33If you
32:34sat where
32:35I am,
32:35well,
32:36you'd see
32:37why I have
32:37to.
32:37you, this
32:39party, well,
32:42it needs
32:43both of
32:44you, and
32:45it's
32:45intellect,
32:46rage,
32:47imagination,
32:49and slug.
32:52you could
32:53never do
32:53each
32:54other's
32:54work.
32:57But
32:58together,
33:00together,
33:03together,
33:06is that
33:08too much
33:09to ask,
33:10is it?
33:12Has
33:13one of you
33:13got to
33:13break?
33:18you need
33:18a rest,
33:19don't
33:19you?
33:21Where's
33:21Mrs. King?
33:22She's out
33:22shopping.
33:23I'll stay
33:23till she
33:23gets back.
33:25All right.
33:32Goodbye,
33:32Bernard.
33:53How do you
33:54feel?
33:56Do you want
33:56anything?
33:58No.
34:02Do you think
34:02you ought to go
34:03and lie down?
34:18I'm sorry,
34:19Bernard.
34:20There was
34:21nothing else
34:21I could do.
34:41Will the stuff
34:42be okay here,
34:43Mrs. Thomas?
34:43Oh, sump it.
34:45It's a bit of a mess.
34:46What is that?
34:47Excessively
34:47I'm frozen smell?
34:49I suppose
34:49it's us.
34:50No,
34:50it's something
34:51extra.
34:52Cheese of the goat?
34:54You've saved
34:55your son.
34:56Do you want
34:56to take charge?
34:58Cold meat,
34:59spurious,
35:00decaying fruits,
35:01all sorts of
35:02goodies.
35:03From the sunkest
35:04slopes...
35:05Take it all
35:05down to the
35:05kitchen or the
35:06dustbin.
35:07Alan,
35:07I forgot my
35:08suitcase.
35:08It's in the
35:09booth.
35:09Would you?
35:10Oh, sure.
35:10Thanks.
35:21What does it feel
35:21like being home?
35:25Hungry.
35:26Have a good time?
35:27Marvellous.
35:28Good.
35:29Now bring all that
35:30exotica.
35:31Then you can take
35:32Alan upstairs.
35:33Put him in
35:33Andrew's room.
35:34Would I have
35:34mind?
35:44When?
35:47Fine.
35:49Thanks.
35:54How were the
35:55wars,
35:55crusader?
36:00Rough.
36:02No visible
36:03amputations?
36:07Internal
36:08injuries.
36:12Just battle
36:13fatigue.
36:16Who won?
36:21I don't know.
36:23Is there anyone
36:24else I can ask?
36:27It isn't over yet.
36:31Does that mean
36:32you've got to go
36:33back up there?
36:36Probably.
36:40When?
36:46I've missed you.
36:55What have you been
36:57doing?
37:00Waiting.
37:04Sorry.
37:07Traditional
37:08women's work.
37:13That strike an echoing
37:14chord?
37:15Alice?
37:20Must be some
37:21other lady.
37:22You must tell me
37:23about it one day.
37:30I'm going to bed
37:31if you're interested.
37:41what's my name?
37:43What's my name?
37:47Millie.
38:00Go on, go back to your own swing,
38:03as you call it.
38:05Are you there, love?
38:09What?
38:10What?
38:10Come here a minute.
38:16What are you doing today?
38:18Running the home, I think it's called.
38:21Do you fancy going out for the day?
38:23I do.
38:29I don't know.
38:31It's a bit late to go to the seaside, isn't it?
38:34Where do people go?
38:37Why, this attack of the wanderlust, all of a sudden.
38:39Look, do you want us all to go out for the day?
38:42Picnic or something?
38:43Why not?
38:44Good.
38:49Where would they like to go?
38:52Move yourself over a bit.
39:03No grafting today.
39:07No head down,
39:08tunnelling at the foundations
39:09of the evil establishment.
39:12Still be there tomorrow.
39:14The fond family man for a day.
39:19Look, Dorothy,
39:22what kind of a man
39:23do you want me to be?
39:26What kind of a life
39:27do you want for us?
39:30Do you think I ought to start
39:31putting myself about a bit?
39:34Get a different job?
39:36Something that pays more?
39:38Put us in with a smart set?
39:42It's an old-fashioned phrase,
39:44but I'm a bit like that.
39:46I mean, do you want one of them
39:49Georgian-style houses
39:50that seem to be the current vogue
39:52in the posh suburbs?
39:54Big car.
39:56Genuine antique stereo set.
39:59Winter sunshine holidays.
40:01All that.
40:03I mean,
40:04where would I look for a job?
40:07Could go down the betting shop
40:09or a bingo hall.
40:11There's a lot of thriving
40:13little empires up around here.
40:17We could really have it made
40:19in no time at all.
40:22Now, is that what you want from me?
40:27I want you to be yourself.
40:31Haven't I always been?
40:35You've been unhappy lately.
40:38So?
40:39Am I unique?
40:41But you've taken too much on.
40:48You're an emotional man.
40:51You feel everything right down inside.
40:54I don't want to be selfish.
40:58I'd never ask you to
40:59cut yourself off from other things
41:01like you work with problem kids.
41:07But there's
41:09a lot of
41:11well, hate got into you
41:14and you bring it home.
41:17I don't want you to turn your back
41:18on things you really believe in.
41:20I'm happy with what we've got here.
41:21I'm not the grasping type
41:22any more than you are.
41:23Don't pretend it's me
41:24being dissatisfied
41:25that spoke things
41:26because it isn't fair
41:27and it's not true.
41:30At one time,
41:31you'd never have done that.
41:32It wasn't in you.
41:34I'm sorry.
41:37I seem to have said that
41:39a lot lately, you know.
41:45I care.
41:47More than anything
41:49about you.
41:51Them two.
41:53But I don't want to run away from...
41:55I feel I've got responsibilities.
41:59Now, is that arrogance?
42:02It's because I feel
42:02I've got to do something.
42:05Me?
42:10It's in me fags.
42:14I'll get him.
42:20Where we going for this picnic then, eh?
42:23I think about it.
42:35I was not, er...
42:38very good company last night.
42:40You'd obviously walked all the way.
42:45How are your kick turns
42:46and stem Christie's?
42:49Where would I look to find out?
42:51I bet you're an expert skier.
42:53No.
42:57Why all this fascination
42:58for ice and snow?
43:00It's the tingle.
43:02Very sensuous.
43:03Mm-hmm.
43:07Well, those...
43:10Well, those brushes
43:11actually for next winter.
43:13It's high summer.
43:15Well, that's the way we live now.
43:17We must keep one step ahead
43:18with the pleasure plan.
43:21Spain sounds an unlikely place
43:22to ski, doesn't it?
43:24Balls on skis.
43:26Probably a society against it.
43:38You're annoyed with me.
43:39What's the matter?
43:42Three phone calls
43:43in six days.
43:47I had a lot on my plate, Millie.
43:49A crisis.
43:50I came down here to be with you.
43:53You know the problem.
43:55I hate the feeling
43:57of suspended animation.
43:58It's like being stuck
43:59in a cupboard here.
44:02As if I'm in your pending tray.
44:06There was no choice.
44:10You do live your life
44:11in compartments,
44:12don't you, Chris?
44:14You put people in boxes
44:16labelled
44:17For Use on Journey
44:18or Store in a Cool Place.
44:22Well, I've been in both those.
44:24What comes next?
44:25Don't talk about us like that, Millie.
44:26I could never treat you
44:27that coat.
44:31I had to go away.
44:37I'll make it up to you.
44:41I can't bear
44:42to feel forgotten like that.
44:44You mustn't do that to me.
44:49I'm in love with you.
44:52It means you can hurt me
44:53very easily.
44:55I know.
44:59I lashed out.
45:02Just a wild swing.
45:11So, what's our programme?
45:14I want today to be wonderful.
45:17Ecstatic.
45:20You're on.
45:24But there's a slight obtrusion.
45:26I shall have to look in a maid of veil.
45:29I'll post messages.
45:32My secretary's on holiday.
45:36There may be a bit of paperwork.
45:43Won't take long.
45:56It's all over your hair as well.
45:58Right there.
45:59Oh, you wanted me to drink.
46:03Oh, there's one thing
46:03about the stay-at-home
46:04holidaymakers.
46:06There's no neighbours
46:07prying eyes.
46:08Here.
46:09If we did some phoning round,
46:10we might get in
46:11for the last weekend, eh?
46:12North Wales.
46:14Cornwall.
46:15Do you want to?
46:17Yeah, if you like.
46:19Michael's not mad
46:20about sleeping
46:20in strange beds,
46:21are you?
46:22Thanks, Mum.
46:23Yeah, I'll take this with you.
46:33I'm serious.
46:35Shall we check it out?
46:36What about the political situation?
46:38It's coming to the boil, isn't it?
46:41Come on.
46:46I'm resigning.
46:51I've got to.
46:52Come on.
46:54Plain fact is,
46:55it's been staring me
46:56in the face
46:57for a long time.
47:02I'm in the wrong party.
47:05I don't know
47:05whether there is a party
47:06that I'm suited to.
47:10I thought at one stage
47:11I'd join the commies,
47:12you know,
47:12when I was a kid.
47:15They're not what I want.
47:17They're discount people,
47:19the kind of people
47:19I care about.
47:21they drop them
47:22when it suits them,
47:22just like
47:24Collinson's sort do.
47:27To be honest,
47:30I don't know where I am.
47:33You said
47:34be yourself.
47:37I'll lose that.
47:39I know.
47:43They're going to say
47:43I caved in
47:45because I got beat.
47:48Collinson's won
47:49and he doesn't know it.
47:51but my information's
47:53better than his.
47:54Local knowledge.
47:59I would have stayed on
48:01if we'd got rid of him.
48:03I don't know for how long.
48:07I thought very seriously
48:09at one moment
48:10that
48:10Morris would take over
48:12from Collinson.
48:14Oh, he's quick.
48:15Cool.
48:16One of our own.
48:18Huh.
48:19Bloody stupid.
48:20He's another Bernard.
48:22The party needs people like that.
48:25They mend the fences
48:26and they last.
48:29I don't admire that.
48:33It has to mean compromises.
48:36What will you do?
48:39I don't know, love.
48:43I'll have to think it out.
48:45Perhaps I don't have
48:46the right temperament
48:47for politics.
48:48You've told me that
48:49often enough.
48:53I don't want to give up, though.
48:57There must be
48:58some way for me.
49:10I'm thinking of
49:11doubling you on the next move.
49:13I think I'm going to get you.
49:15I'm just going to roll some bubbles.
49:17Oh, no.
49:19Oh, no, not quite.
49:26Hello, Dad.
49:28Hello, David.
49:31We're in here.
49:32Because if you had a good holiday.
49:42Alan.
49:46Hello, Mr. Cornerson.
49:47Oh, no.
49:49Hello.
50:19PIANO PLAYS
50:49PIANO PLAYS
50:51PIANO CONTINUES
50:52PIANO CONTINUES
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