- 10 hours ago
First broadcast 11th May 1969.
Sir Robert Chiltern is a successful Government minister, well-off and with a loving wife.
Margaret Leighton - Mrs. Cheveley
Keith Michell - Sir Robert Chiltern
Jeremy Brett - Vicount Goring
Dinah Sheridan - Lady Chiltern
Susan Hampshire - Mabel Chiltern
Charles Carson - The Earl of Caversham
Zena Dare - Lady Markby
Magda Miller - Lady Basildon
Penelope Lee - Mrs. Marchmont
Michel Faure - Vicomte de Nanjac
Erik Chitty - Phipps
Raymond Graham - Mason
Sir Robert Chiltern is a successful Government minister, well-off and with a loving wife.
Margaret Leighton - Mrs. Cheveley
Keith Michell - Sir Robert Chiltern
Jeremy Brett - Vicount Goring
Dinah Sheridan - Lady Chiltern
Susan Hampshire - Mabel Chiltern
Charles Carson - The Earl of Caversham
Zena Dare - Lady Markby
Magda Miller - Lady Basildon
Penelope Lee - Mrs. Marchmont
Michel Faure - Vicomte de Nanjac
Erik Chitty - Phipps
Raymond Graham - Mason
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00:01You've got my second buttonhole, Phipps?
00:00:02Yes, my lord.
00:00:04It's rather a distinguished thing, Phipps.
00:00:05I'm the only person in London at present of the smallest importance
00:00:08who wears a buttonhole.
00:00:10Yes, my lord. I have observed that.
00:00:12You see, Phipps, fashion is what one wears oneself.
00:00:16What is unfashionable is what other people wear.
00:00:18Yes, my lord.
00:00:19Other people are quite dreadful, Phipps.
00:00:21The only possible society is oneself.
00:00:23Yes, my lord.
00:00:24To be in love with oneself, Phipps,
00:00:26is the beginning of a lifelong romance.
00:00:28Yes, my lord.
00:00:30I don't think I quite like this second buttonhole, Phipps.
00:00:33It makes me look a little too old.
00:00:35It makes me look almost in the prime of life, eh, Phipps?
00:00:37I don't observe any alteration in your lordship's appearance.
00:00:40You don't, Phipps?
00:00:41No, my lord.
00:00:41But I will speak to the florist.
00:00:43She has had a loss in her family lately.
00:00:46Ah, it's an extraordinary thing about the lower class in England.
00:00:48They're always losing their relations.
00:00:50Yes, my lord.
00:00:51They are extremely fortunate in that respect.
00:00:54I have been summoned to one of Lady Chiltern's political parties
00:00:56where the bad politics are drowned by even worse string quartets.
00:01:01My commiserations, my lord.
00:01:03Still, Miss Mabel, Sir Robert's sister, might be there.
00:01:08So she might, Phipps.
00:01:10Oh, that is a small consolation.
00:01:51Lord Caversham.
00:01:54Doctor and Mrs. Andrew McFarlane.
00:01:59Good evening, Lady Chiltern.
00:02:01Miss Chiltern.
00:02:02Has my good-for-nothing young son been here?
00:02:05No, Lord Caversham.
00:02:06I don't think he's arrived yet.
00:02:08Oh, thank you.
00:02:11Why do you call him good-for-nothing?
00:02:13Because he leads such an idle life.
00:02:15How can you say such a thing?
00:02:17Why, Lord Goring, rides in the row at ten o'clock in the morning,
00:02:20he goes to the opera three times a week,
00:02:22changes his clothes at least five times a day,
00:02:24and dines out every night of the season.
00:02:26You don't call that leading an idle life, do you?
00:02:29You're a very charming young lady.
00:02:31Oh, thank you very much.
00:02:32Lord Caversham, do come to us more often.
00:02:34Earl of Kettering and Lady Kettering.
00:02:37My dear, I never go anywhere now.
00:02:39I'm sick of London society.
00:02:41I wouldn't mind being introduced to my own tailor.
00:02:44He votes on the right side.
00:02:46But I object strongly to being sent out to dinner
00:02:48with my wife's milliner.
00:02:50Never could stand her bonnage.
00:02:52Grace the Duke of Cyprus.
00:02:53I love London society.
00:02:55I think it's immensely improved.
00:02:57It's entirely composed now of beautiful idiots
00:02:59and brilliant lunatics.
00:03:01Just what society should be.
00:03:02And which is my son.
00:03:03A beautiful idiot or the other thing.
00:03:06Well, I have been obliged for the moment
00:03:07to put your son into a class quite by himself.
00:03:10But he's developing charmingly.
00:03:12Into what?
00:03:13Lady Basildon, Mrs. Markby.
00:03:15I hope to let you know very soon, Lord Caversham.
00:03:17Lady Markby, Mrs. Cheever.
00:03:22Right Honourable Jane Stevens and Mrs. Cheever.
00:03:27Good evening, dear Gertrude.
00:03:30How very kind of you to allow me to bring my friend Mrs. Cheeverly.
00:03:34Two such charming women should know each other.
00:03:37But Mrs. Cheeverly and I have met before.
00:03:39I did not know that she had married a second time.
00:03:42But everybody marries as often as they can nowadays.
00:03:44It's most fashionable.
00:03:46Dear Duchess, and how's the Duke?
00:03:49Brain still weak, I suppose.
00:03:50But have we really met before, Lady Chilton?
00:03:53I don't remember where, but I've been out of England for so long.
00:03:56We were at school together, Mrs. Cheeverly.
00:03:58Indeed.
00:04:00I'd forgotten all about my school days.
00:04:02I have a vague impression they were detestable.
00:04:04I'm not surprised.
00:04:07Do you know, I'm quite looking forward to meeting your clever husband.
00:04:10Since he's been at the foreign office, he's much talked of in Vienna.
00:04:13I hardly think that you and my husband will have much in common, Mrs. Cheeverly.
00:04:16Le vicomte d'Ange.
00:04:20Chère madame, quelle surprise!
00:04:22I have not seen you since Berlin.
00:04:24Not since Berlin. Five years ago.
00:04:27And you are looking younger and more beautiful than ever.
00:04:30How do you manage it?
00:04:31By making it a rule only to talk to perfectly charming people like yourself.
00:04:35Oh, madame, you flatter me.
00:04:36Mr. and Mrs. Cheeverly.
00:04:44Good evening, Lady Martin.
00:04:46Sir Robert.
00:04:47I hope you've brought Sir John with you.
00:04:49No, no, no. I've brought someone much more charming than my husband.
00:04:52Sir John's temper, since he's taken seriously upon it, it's quite unbearable.
00:04:57Really.
00:04:58And now that the House of Commons is trying to be useful, it's doing a great deal of hard.
00:05:02Oh, I do hope not, Lady Markby.
00:05:04At any rate, we do our best to waste the public time, don't we?
00:05:08But who is this charming person that you've brought with you?
00:05:11Her name is Mrs. Cheeverly.
00:05:14One of the dorsest Cheeverly's, I suppose.
00:05:16I really don't know.
00:05:18Families are so mixed nowadays, everybody in the end turns out to be somebody else.
00:05:23Cheeverly. I seem to know the name.
00:05:25Yes, she's just arrived from Vienna.
00:05:27Ah, yes. Yes, I think I know whom you mean.
00:05:29She goes everywhere there.
00:05:30And she has such pleasant scans as about all her friends.
00:05:34Do let me introduce you.
00:05:35My dear, Sir Robert Chilton is dying to know you.
00:05:39Everyone is dying to know the brilliant Mrs. Cheeverly.
00:05:43Our attachés at Vienna write to us about nothing else.
00:05:45Why, thank you, Sir Robert.
00:05:47An acquaintance that begins with a compliment is bound to turn into a real friendship.
00:05:51It starts in the right manner.
00:05:53And I find I know Lady Chilton already.
00:05:56Really?
00:05:56Oh, yes. She's just reminded me we were at school together.
00:05:59I remember it perfectly now.
00:06:01She always got the good conduct prize.
00:06:04I have a distinct recollection of Lady Chilton always getting the good conduct prize.
00:06:09And what prizes did you get, Mrs. Cheeverly?
00:06:11Oh, my prizes came a little later in life.
00:06:14I don't think any of them were for good conduct.
00:06:16I forget.
00:06:17I'm sure they were for something charming.
00:06:19I don't know that women are always rewarded for being charming.
00:06:22I think they're usually punished for it.
00:06:24I fear I can hardly agree with you there.
00:06:26But do sit down.
00:06:31And now, tell me, what makes you leave your brilliant Vienna for our gloomy London?
00:06:35Or perhaps the question is indiscreet.
00:06:37Well, questions are never indiscreet.
00:06:39The answers sometimes are.
00:06:41At any rate, may I know if it is politics or pleasure?
00:06:45Oh, politics are my only pleasure.
00:06:47You see, nowadays it's not fashionable to flirt until one is 40.
00:06:52Or to be romantic until one is 45.
00:06:55So we poor women who are under 40, or say that we are, have nothing left to us but politics
00:07:03or philanthropy.
00:07:04I prefer politics. I think they're more becoming.
00:07:07So political life is a noble career?
00:07:09Sometimes.
00:07:10And sometimes it's a clever game.
00:07:13And sometimes it's a great nuisance.
00:07:16Which do you find it?
00:07:18I'm a combination of all three.
00:07:20Oh.
00:07:21But you've not yet told me what makes you honour London so suddenly.
00:07:24Our season is almost over.
00:07:25Oh, no.
00:07:26I don't care for your London season.
00:07:28It's too matrimonial.
00:07:29People are either hunting for husbands or hiding from them.
00:07:33And no, I...
00:07:35I wanted to meet you.
00:07:38Oh.
00:07:38And to ask you to do something for me.
00:07:41Oh, I do hope it is not a little thing, Mrs. Chile.
00:07:43I find little things so very difficult to do.
00:07:45No, I don't think it's quite a little thing.
00:07:48I'm so glad.
00:07:50Well, do tell me what it is.
00:07:51Oh.
00:07:52Later on.
00:07:53And now, may I walk through your beautiful house.
00:07:56I hear that your pictures are charming.
00:07:59Poor Baron Arnheim.
00:08:01You remember the Baron.
00:08:03Who used to tell me that you had some wonderful corot.
00:08:06It's Excellency the Chilean and that.
00:08:08Did you, um...
00:08:10No Baron Arnheim well.
00:08:13Intimately, did you?
00:08:15At one time, yes.
00:08:16Wonderful man, wasn't he?
00:08:17He was very remarkable in many ways.
00:08:20I always thought it's such a pity that he never wrote his memoirs.
00:08:23They would have been most interesting.
00:08:25Lord Goring.
00:08:28Good evening, my dear Arthur.
00:08:31Mrs. Tivoli, allow me to introduce to you Lord Goring,
00:08:34the idlest man in London.
00:08:36I have met Lord Goring before.
00:08:38I didn't think you were to remember, Mrs. Tivoli.
00:08:40My memory is under admirable control.
00:08:43And are you still a bachelor?
00:08:45I believe so.
00:08:47Very romantic.
00:08:48Oh, no, no, no.
00:08:48I'm not at all romantic.
00:08:49I'm not old enough.
00:08:50I leave romance to my seniors.
00:08:52By the way, Mrs. Tivoli, are you staying in London long?
00:08:54Well, that depends partly on the weather, partly on the cooking, and partly on Sir Robert.
00:09:01You're not going to plunge us into a European war, I hope.
00:09:04There's no danger at present.
00:09:06Brigadier, Sir George Green, and Lady Green.
00:09:13You're very late.
00:09:14Have you missed me?
00:09:15Awfully.
00:09:15Oh, I wish I'd stayed away longer.
00:09:17I love being missed.
00:09:18How very selfish of you.
00:09:19Yes, I am very selfish.
00:09:20You're always telling me of your bad qualities, Lord Goring.
00:09:23I've only told you half of them as yet, Miss Mabel.
00:09:25Are the others very bad?
00:09:26Oh, quite dreadful.
00:09:27When I think of them at night, I go to sleep at once.
00:09:30Well, I delight in your bad qualities.
00:09:31I wouldn't have you part with one of them.
00:09:33Oh, very nice of you.
00:09:34By the way, I want to ask you a question.
00:09:36Yes?
00:09:36Who brought Mrs. Cheevoli here?
00:09:38Oh, I think Lady Markby brought her.
00:09:41Why'd you ask?
00:09:41I haven't seen her for years, that's all.
00:09:43What an absurd reason.
00:09:44All reasons are absurd.
00:09:46What sort of woman is she?
00:09:48Hmm.
00:09:49She's a genius in the daytime and a beauty at night.
00:09:54I dislike her already.
00:09:55That shows your admirable good taste.
00:09:57Please, the Bishop of Lorry.
00:09:59Mademoiselle, may I have the pleasure of escorting you to the musical?
00:10:03Delighted, Vicon.
00:10:04Quite delighted.
00:10:05Aren't you coming to the music room?
00:10:07Not if there's any music going on.
00:10:08The music is in German.
00:10:10You wouldn't understand it.
00:10:13Well, sir, what are you doing here?
00:10:16Wasting your life as usual?
00:10:18Can't make out how you put up with London society.
00:10:21This whole thing's gone to the dogs.
00:10:24A lot of nobodies.
00:10:25Talking about nothing.
00:10:26Oh, I love talking about nothing, Father.
00:10:28It's the only thing I know anything about.
00:10:30Ah, Lady Basildon and Mrs. Marchmont.
00:10:33Oh, you.
00:10:34I had no idea you were coming to the political party.
00:10:37Oh, I adore political parties.
00:10:39They're the only place left to us where nobody talks politics.
00:10:42I see Lord Goring is in the camp of the enemy as usual.
00:10:44I saw him talking to that Mrs. Cheeverly when he came in.
00:10:47Handsome woman, Mrs. Cheeverly.
00:10:49Please, don't praise other women in our presence.
00:10:52You might wait for us to do this.
00:10:54Yes, I did wait.
00:10:55Well, we are not going to praise her.
00:10:56I hear she went to the opera on Monday
00:10:58and she told Tommy Trafford at supper that as far as she could see,
00:11:01London society was entirely made up of dowdies and dandies.
00:11:04She's quite right, of course.
00:11:07The men are all dowdies and the ladies are all dandies, aren't they?
00:11:10Well, do you think that is really what Mrs. Cheeverly meant?
00:11:13Of course.
00:11:14And a very sensible remark of Mrs. Cheeverly to make.
00:11:16Why are you talking about Mrs. Cheeverly?
00:11:19Everybody's talking about Mrs. Cheeverly.
00:11:20Lord Goring says, what was it you said, Lord Goring, about Mrs. Cheeverly?
00:11:23Oh, yes, I remember that she's a genius in the daytime and a beauty at night.
00:11:27Oh, what a horrid combination.
00:11:30So terribly unnatural.
00:11:31I like looking at geniuses and listening to beautiful people.
00:11:36How very morbid of you, Mrs. Marchmont.
00:11:38Is it morbid to have a desire for food?
00:11:40I have a great desire for food, Lord Goring. Will you give me some supper?
00:11:43With pleasure, Miss Mabel. Excusez-moi, excusez.
00:11:46How horrid you've been. You've never talked to me the whole evening.
00:11:48How could I? You ran off with a French child diplomat.
00:11:50Well, you might have followed us. Pursuit would have been only polite.
00:11:52Ah, yes. I don't think I like you at all this evening.
00:11:55I like you immensely.
00:11:57Well, I wish you'd show it in a more marked way.
00:11:59And are you going to any of our country houses before you leave England, Mrs. Cheeverly?
00:12:03Oh, I can't stand your English country house parties.
00:12:08In England, people actually try to be brilliant at breakfast.
00:12:12Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast.
00:12:16No, my stay in England really depends on you, Sir Robert.
00:12:21Seriously?
00:12:23Quite seriously.
00:12:24I want to talk to you about the Argentine Canal Company, in fact.
00:12:30What a tedious, practical subject for you to talk about, Mrs. Cheeverly.
00:12:34Oh, I like tedious, practical subjects.
00:12:36What I don't like are tedious, practical people. There's a wide difference.
00:12:40Besides, I know that you're interested in international canal schemes.
00:12:43You were Lord Radley's secretary, weren't you, when the government bought the Suez Canal shares.
00:12:48Oh, yes, but the Suez Canal was a very great and splendid undertaking.
00:12:53It gave us direct route to India. It had imperial value.
00:12:56This Argentine scheme is a commonplace stock exchange swindle.
00:13:00A speculation, Sir Robert. A brilliant, a daring speculation.
00:13:05Believe me, Mrs. Cheeverly, it is a swindle.
00:13:08Let us call things by their proper names. It makes matters simpler.
00:13:11We have all the information about it at the Foreign Office.
00:13:14In fact, I sent out a special commission to inquire into the matter privately.
00:13:19And they report that the works have hardly begun.
00:13:23And as for the money already invested, nobody seems to know what has become of it.
00:13:27I hope you've not invested in it. I'm sure you're far too clever to have done that.
00:13:31I have invested very largely in it.
00:13:34Who could have advised you to do such a foolish thing?
00:13:37Your old friend and mine.
00:13:40Who?
00:13:41Baron Arnheim.
00:13:44Ah, yes.
00:13:46I seem to remember hearing at the time of his death that he'd be mixed up in the whole affair.
00:13:50It was his last romance.
00:13:52It was his last but one to do him justice.
00:13:55But you've not yet seen my coros.
00:13:58They're upstairs in the music room.
00:14:00Coros seem to go with music, don't they?
00:14:02May I show them to you?
00:14:03I'm not in the mood tonight. I want to talk business.
00:14:07Oh, I fear I have no advice to give you, Mrs. Cheeverly,
00:14:10except to interest yourself in something less dangerous.
00:14:14The success of the canal depends, of course, on the attitude of England.
00:14:17And I am going to lay the report of the commissioners before the house tomorrow night.
00:14:23That you must not do.
00:14:25In your own interest, Sir Robert, to say nothing of mine.
00:14:29You must not do that.
00:14:33In my own interest.
00:14:35My dear Mrs. Cheeverly, what do you mean?
00:14:39Well, I will be quite frank with you.
00:14:42I want you to withdraw the report that you were going to lay before the house.
00:14:46On the grounds that, in your opinion, the commissioners were prejudiced or misinformed or something.
00:14:52And then I want you to say a few words to the effect that the government is going to reconsider
00:14:57the question.
00:14:58And that, in your opinion, the canal, if completed, would be of great international value.
00:15:04And you know the sort of thing ministers say in cases of this kind.
00:15:07A few ordinary platitudes will do.
00:15:09Mrs. Cheeverly, you were...
00:15:11You cannot be serious in making me such a proposition.
00:15:15I'm quite serious.
00:15:16Pray, allow me to believe that you are not.
00:15:18But I am.
00:15:19And if you do what I ask, I will pay you very handsomely.
00:15:24Pay me?
00:15:25Yes.
00:15:28I am afraid I don't understand what you mean.
00:15:31Oh.
00:15:33How disappointing.
00:15:35And I came all the way from Vienna in order that you should thoroughly understand me.
00:15:39I fear I don't.
00:15:42Sir Robert, you are a man of the world.
00:15:44You have your price, I suppose.
00:15:47If you will allow me, I will call your carriage for you.
00:15:52You've lived so long abroad, Mrs. Cheeverly, that you seem unable to realize that you are talking to a man...
00:15:56To a man who laid the foundation of his fortune by selling to a stock exchange speculator a cabinet secret.
00:16:05What do you mean?
00:16:06I mean that I know the origin of your wealth and your career.
00:16:11And I've got your letter too.
00:16:14What letter?
00:16:15The letter that you wrote to Baron Arlheim.
00:16:18When you were Lord Radley's secretary telling the Baron to buy Suez Canal shares.
00:16:25A letter written three days before the government announced its own purchase.
00:16:30It is not true.
00:16:31You thought the letter had been destroyed.
00:16:32Oh, how foolish of you.
00:16:33It's in my possession.
00:16:38The affair to which you allude was no more than a speculation.
00:16:42The House of Commons had not yet passed the bill. It might have been rejected.
00:16:45It was a swindle, Sir Robert.
00:16:47Let us call things by their proper names. It makes everything simpler.
00:16:51And now, I am going to sell you that letter.
00:16:56And the price that I ask is your public support of the Argentine scheme.
00:17:01You made your fortune out of one canal.
00:17:03You must help me and my friends make ours out of another.
00:17:06I cannot do what you ask.
00:17:08You mean you cannot help doing it.
00:17:09It's not for you to make terms, Sir Robert, but for you to accept them, supposing you refuse.
00:17:15What then?
00:17:17Oh, my dear Sir Robert.
00:17:20You will be ruined, of course.
00:17:23Scandals used to lend charm, or at least interest to a man.
00:17:27But nowadays they crush him.
00:17:29And this is a very nasty scandal.
00:17:33You could never survive it. You'll be handed out of public office.
00:17:36And besides, why should you sacrifice your whole future
00:17:40rather than deal diplomatically with your enemy?
00:17:44And for the moment, I am your enemy. I admit it.
00:17:50Years ago, you did a clever, unscrupulous thing.
00:17:55It was a great success.
00:17:58You owe to it your fortune and your position.
00:18:02And now you've got to pay for it.
00:18:04But what you ask is impossible.
00:18:06You must make it possible.
00:18:07You know what your English newspapers are like.
00:18:10Well, think of the delight they'd have in dragging you down.
00:18:13You want me to withdraw the report
00:18:16and make a speech stating that I believe there are possibilities in the scheme.
00:18:20Those are my terms.
00:18:25I will give you any sum of money you want.
00:18:28Oh, my dear Sir Robert.
00:18:31Even you are not rich enough to buy back your past.
00:18:35I will not do what you ask. I will not.
00:18:37No, you must.
00:18:39If you do not, you...
00:18:42Wait, wait, wait a moment.
00:18:44What did you propose?
00:18:45You said that you would give me back my letter, didn't you?
00:18:48Yes, that is agreed.
00:18:50I will be in the ladies' gallery tomorrow at half past eleven.
00:18:54If by that time, and you'll have had plenty of opportunity,
00:18:57you have made a speech in the terms that I wish that I will hand you back your letter
00:19:02with the prettiest thanks and the best, or at least the most suitable compliment I can think of.
00:19:07And I intend to deal quite fairly with you.
00:19:10You must let me have time to consider your proposal.
00:19:13No.
00:19:13You must settle now.
00:19:15I have to telegraph Vienna tonight.
00:19:18What brought you into my life?
00:19:22Circumstances.
00:19:27Don't...
00:19:29Don't go.
00:19:33I consent.
00:19:36The report shall be withdrawn.
00:19:38I will arrange for questions to be put to me on the subject.
00:19:42I knew we should come to an amicable agreement.
00:19:45I understood your nature from the first.
00:19:47And now you can get me my carriage.
00:19:50Englishmen always get romantic after a meal that bore me dreadful.
00:20:04Oh, dear Mrs Cheebly, I hope you've enjoyed yourself.
00:20:08Sir Robert is most entertaining, is he not?
00:20:10Oh, most entertaining.
00:20:12Yes, I've enjoyed my talk with him immensely.
00:20:14He's had a very interesting and brilliant career.
00:20:16Also, he's married a most admirable wife.
00:20:19Oh, dear, I'm too old myself to bother about setting a good example.
00:20:23But I always admire people who do.
00:20:26And now I must go, dear.
00:20:27Shall I call for you tomorrow?
00:20:29Good night, my dear.
00:20:31Good night, dear girl.
00:20:32Good night.
00:20:34What a charming house you have, Lady Chilton.
00:20:37I spent a delightful evening.
00:20:39It was so interesting getting to know your husband.
00:20:42Why did you wish to meet my husband, Mrs Cheebly?
00:20:45Well, I wanted to interest him in the Argentine Canal scheme,
00:20:50of which I dare say you've heard.
00:20:51And I found him most susceptible.
00:20:55Susceptible to reason, I mean.
00:20:56I convinced him in ten minutes.
00:20:59He's going to make a speech in the house tomorrow night
00:21:03in favor of the scheme.
00:21:05We must go to the ladies' gallery and hear him.
00:21:07It'll be a great occasion.
00:21:09But there must be some mistake.
00:21:10That scheme could never have my husband's support.
00:21:12Oh, I assure you it's settled.
00:21:14And now, I don't regret my tedious journey from Vienna.
00:21:19Oh, but of course for the next 24 hours
00:21:21the whole thing must be a dead secret.
00:21:23A secret? But between whom?
00:21:26Between your husband and myself.
00:21:31Your carriage is here, Mrs Cheebly.
00:21:34Good evening, Lady Chilton.
00:21:36Oh, good night, Lord Goring.
00:21:38I am at Claridge's.
00:21:40Do you think you might leave a card?
00:21:42If you wish, Mrs Cheebly.
00:21:44Oh, don't look so solemn about it.
00:21:45I may be obliged to leave a card on you.
00:21:48Sir Robert, will you take me to my carriage?
00:21:51Now that we have both the same interests at heart,
00:21:55we shall be the best of friends.
00:21:56What a horrid woman.
00:21:58Miss Mabel, you should go to bed.
00:22:01Lord Goring!
00:22:02My father told me to go to bed half an hour ago
00:22:04and I don't see why I shouldn't pass on the same advice.
00:22:06I always pass on advice.
00:22:07It's the only thing to do with it.
00:22:08It's never the slightest use to oneself.
00:22:10Lord Goring!
00:22:12You're all with ordering now out of the room.
00:22:14I think it's most courageous of you.
00:22:15Especially since I don't intend to go to bed for hours.
00:22:19What's this?
00:22:21I wonder who dropped it.
00:22:23What a beautiful brooch.
00:22:25It is a bracelet.
00:22:27It isn't a bracelet, it's a brooch.
00:22:28It can be used as a bracelet.
00:22:32What are you doing?
00:22:34Miss Mabel, I'm going to make rather a strange request to you.
00:22:37Oh, pray do.
00:22:38I've been waiting for it all evening.
00:22:40I don't want you to tell anyone that I've taken charge of this bracelet.
00:22:43And if anyone should claim it, let me know at once.
00:22:47That is a strange request.
00:22:49Well, you see, I gave it to someone many years ago.
00:22:52You did?
00:22:53Yes.
00:22:54Well, then I shall certainly bid you good night.
00:23:03Good night.
00:23:04Good night, my dear.
00:23:05Good night.
00:23:10Good night.
00:23:10Did you see whom Lady Mark be brought here tonight?
00:23:13Yes.
00:23:13What did she come here for?
00:23:14Apparently to try and lure Robert to uphold some fraudulent scheme in which she's interested.
00:23:19Oh, I fancy she came to grief if she tried to lure Robert into her coils.
00:23:22It is extraordinary what astounding mistakes clever women make.
00:23:26I don't call women of that kind clever.
00:23:28I call them stupid.
00:23:30Same thing often.
00:23:31Good night, ladies.
00:23:32Good night.
00:23:34Well, dear Arthur, you're not leaving.
00:23:36Do stop a little.
00:23:37I want to talk to you.
00:23:38I'm afraid I can't, thanks.
00:23:39I promised I'd pop into the hard plugs on the way home.
00:23:42I believe they have got a mauve Hungarian band that plays mauve Hungarian music.
00:23:46I'll see you tomorrow.
00:23:47Goodbye.
00:24:09Bye.pel
00:24:122
00:24:26how beautiful you look tonight Gertrude
00:24:33help me undo my dress
00:24:39Robert it isn't true is it you're not going to lend your support to this
00:24:43this Argentine speculation who told you that I intended to do so that woman
00:24:49mrs. Cheeverly as she calls herself she seemed to taunt me with it Robert I
00:24:55know this woman we were at school together I despised her she was sent
00:25:00away for being a thief Mrs. Cheeverly may have changed since then no one should be
00:25:06judged entirely by their past one's past is what one is it is the only way by
00:25:11which people should be judged that is a hard saying Gertrude it is a true saying
00:25:15Robert and what did she mean by boasting that she got you to lend your support to
00:25:20a to a thing that I have heard you describe as a most dishonest and
00:25:23fraudulent scheme I was mistaken in the view I took that's all we all may make
00:25:29mistakes you told me yesterday that you had had the report from the Commission
00:25:34and that it entirely condemned the whole thing I have reason now to believe that
00:25:38the Commission was prejudiced or at any rate misinformed Robert are you telling me
00:25:43the whole truth why do you ask such a question why do you not answer it
00:25:50truth is a very complex thing and politics a very complex business there are
00:25:55wheels within wheels one may be under certain obligations to people that one
00:25:58must pay sooner or later in the political life one has to compromise
00:26:02everyone does
00:26:05Robert you it is necessary vitally necessary it can never be necessary to do
00:26:11what is not honorable
00:26:12to the world as to myself you have been an ideal always we women worship when we
00:26:24love don't kill my love for you don't kill that is there in your life any secret disgrace or
00:26:33dishonor tell me tell me at once that that what but our lives may drift apart it would
00:26:45be better for us both
00:26:50Gertrude there is nothing in my past life that you might not know
00:26:53oh I was sure of it Robert but why did you say those dreadful things things so
00:27:00unlike your real self let us talk no more of the matter you will write it once to us achievally
00:27:07won't you and tell her that you cannot support the scheme of hers if you have given her any promise
00:27:11then you must take it back now
00:27:12now this moment but it's so late that makes no matter right here
00:27:19she must know at once that she has been mistaken in you but you are not a man to do
00:27:24anything base or underhand
00:27:26write that you that you decline to support this scheme of hers as you hold it to be dishonest
00:27:34yes write the word dishonest she knows what that word means
00:27:47yes that will do now the envelope
00:28:18have this letter sent at once to Claridge's hotel there is no answer
00:28:25oh Robert I feel tonight that I have saved you from something you have brought into the political life of
00:28:32our time a nobler atmosphere I know it and for that I love you Robert
00:28:43love me always Gertrude love me always
00:28:48I will always love you because you will always be worthy of my love
00:28:53we needs must love the highest when we see it
00:29:15my dear Robert it's a very awkward business very awkward indeed but you should have told your wife the whole
00:29:23thing
00:29:23no man should have a secret from his own wife she invariably finds it out
00:29:27Arthur I couldn't tell my wife
00:29:30I would have lost the love of the one woman in the world I worship
00:29:33she would have turned from me in horror and contempt
00:29:35and yet after all whom did I wrong by what I did
00:29:38no one except yourself Robert
00:29:40oh Arthur I was 22 at the time
00:29:43do you think it fair that a man's whole career should be ruined for a fault done in his boyhood
00:29:48almost
00:29:48life is never fair and perhaps for most of us it is just as well that it is not
00:29:52I had the double misfortune of being well born and poor
00:29:57every man of ambition has to fight his century with his own weapons
00:30:00the god of this century is wealth at all costs one must have wealth
00:30:03but you could have succeeded just as well without it
00:30:05when I was old perhaps I wanted my success when I was young I couldn't wait
00:30:10how could you sell yourself for money
00:30:13I bought success at a great price that is all
00:30:16but what first made you think of doing such a thing
00:30:23Baron Arnheim
00:30:24ah damn scoundrel
00:30:26no no
00:30:28a man of culture charm and distinction
00:30:31one of the most intellectual men I have ever met
00:30:33yes I prefer a gentlemanly fool any day
00:30:35there's far more to be said for stupidity than people imagine
00:30:40but how did he do it
00:30:43one night after dinner at Lord Bradley's the Baron began talking about success in modern life
00:30:53with that wonderfully fascinating quiet voice of his
00:30:58he expounded to us the most terrible of all philosophies
00:31:03the philosophy of power
00:31:07luxury he said was only a background
00:31:09and power
00:31:11power over other men
00:31:12power over the world
00:31:14was the supreme pleasure
00:31:15the one joy one never tired of and only the rich possessed it
00:31:20I think he saw the effect that he produced on me for
00:31:22when I was going away he said that if ever I could give him any private information of real value
00:31:27he would make me a very rich man
00:31:31I was dazed at the prospect he held out to me
00:31:38six weeks later certain private documents passed through my hands
00:31:42state documents
00:31:44yes
00:31:45oh my dear Robert I had no idea that you could be so weak
00:31:49weak
00:31:51do you really think it is weakness that yields to temptation I tell you
00:31:55there are terrible temptations that require a terrible strength to yield to
00:32:00I had that strength
00:32:02I sat down that same afternoon and wrote Baron Arnheim the letter that this woman now holds
00:32:06he made three quarters of a million over the transaction
00:32:09and you?
00:32:11I received from the Baron one hundred and ten thousand pounds
00:32:15you were worth more Robert
00:32:16in five years I had trebled my fortune everything I touched turned to success
00:32:22I remember reading somewhere that when the gods wish to punish us
00:32:27they answered our prayers
00:32:30did you never suffer any regret for what you had done?
00:32:33no
00:32:33but I have paid conscience money since then
00:32:37I had the wild hope that I might disarm destiny
00:32:41the sum that Baron Arnheim paid me
00:32:43I have distributed in public charities
00:32:46twice over since then
00:32:49public charities
00:32:50oh my dear Robert what a lot of harm you have done
00:32:52oh Arthur don't talk like that
00:32:54no forget what I say
00:32:57of course I will do everything I can to help you know that
00:32:59thank you Arthur
00:33:02what is to be done?
00:33:04well the English are very fond of a man who admits that he's in the wrong
00:33:08it's one of the best things in them
00:33:10however a confession in your case would not do
00:33:14the money if you will allow me to say so is awkward
00:33:18you must begin by telling your wife the whole thing
00:33:21I couldn't do it
00:33:24and now this Mrs Cheever
00:33:27how can I defend myself against her?
00:33:28you knew her before Arthur?
00:33:30yes
00:33:30well
00:33:32so little that I got engaged to her
00:33:35why was it broken off?
00:33:36I forget
00:33:36at least it doesn't matter
00:33:39she used to be confoundedly fond of money
00:33:41have you tried her with money?
00:33:43I offered her any sum of money she wanted she refused
00:33:46so the marvelous gospel of gold breaks down sometime
00:33:48Robert you must fight her
00:33:49you must fight her
00:33:52but how?
00:33:53I can't tell you at the moment I haven't the slightest idea
00:33:55but every person has some weak point
00:33:57what?
00:33:59I shall send a telegram
00:34:01a cipher telegram
00:34:03to the embassy of Vienna
00:34:05to inquire if anything is known against her
00:34:07it is always worthwhile asking a question
00:34:09although it is not always worthwhile answering one
00:34:12she must have had some curious hold over Baron Arnheim
00:34:16I wonder what it was
00:34:17yes I wonder
00:34:22is Mr Trafford in his room?
00:34:23yes sir Robert
00:34:24tell him to have this sent off in cipher
00:34:27at once
00:34:29is that a moment to be lost?
00:34:31yes
00:34:34good afternoon Lord Boring
00:34:35good afternoon Lady Chilton
00:34:36have you been in the park?
00:34:37no I've just come from the Women's Liberal Association
00:34:40where by the way Robert your name is received with loud applause
00:34:43and now I've come in to have my tea
00:34:45you will wait and have some tea
00:34:47what a little thank you
00:34:47I'll be back in a moment
00:34:48I'm just going to take my hat off
00:34:50oh no please don't
00:34:50it is so pretty
00:34:52it is one of the prettiest hats that I have ever seen
00:34:56I do hope the Women's Liberal Association greeted it with loud applause
00:34:59we have much more important work to do than look at each other's bonnets Lord Goring
00:35:06you've been a good friend to me Arthur
00:35:08you've enabled me to tell you the truth
00:35:11that is something
00:35:11ah the truth is something I always get rid of as quickly as possible
00:35:15this truth
00:35:17has always stifled me
00:35:21I'll see you soon again Chilton
00:35:22certainly whenever you like
00:35:24you're not going Robert
00:35:26I have some letters to write dear
00:35:27oh you worked too hard Robert you're looking so tired
00:35:30it's nothing dear nothing
00:35:34do sit down
00:35:37I'm so glad you've called
00:35:38I want to talk to you about
00:35:41well not about bonnets or the Women's Liberal Association
00:35:44you want to talk to me about
00:35:46er
00:35:47Mrs. Cheveley
00:35:48yes you've guessed it
00:35:51after you left last night
00:35:52I found out that what she had said was really true
00:35:54of course I made Robert write her a letter at once withdrawing his promise
00:35:58so he gave me to understand
00:36:00to have kept it would have been the first stain on a career which has been stainless always
00:36:05Robert must be above reproach
00:36:06he's not like other men
00:36:08he cannot afford to do what other men do
00:36:12don't you agree with me
00:36:14you're Robert's greatest friend
00:36:15no one except myself knows him better than you do
00:36:18he has no secrets from me and I don't think he has any from you
00:36:22he certainly has no secrets from me at least I don't think so
00:36:25uh
00:36:28lady Chilton
00:36:29I have often thought that perhaps
00:36:32that you were just a little too unbending in your views on life
00:36:37I think sometimes you don't make sufficient allowances
00:36:40now supposing
00:36:41for instance that any public man my father or Lord Merton or Robert say
00:36:46had years ago written some foolish letter to someone
00:36:49what sort of foolish letter?
00:36:51oh a letter gravely compromising one's position
00:36:53I'm only taking an imaginary case
00:36:55Robert is as incapable of doing a foolish thing
00:36:57as he is of doing a wrong thing
00:36:59no one is incapable of doing a foolish thing
00:37:03lady Chilton
00:37:05if ever you are in trouble
00:37:07trust me absolutely
00:37:08and I will do everything that I can to help
00:37:11if you want me ask for my assistance
00:37:13and you shall have it
00:37:14Lord Goring you're talking quite seriously
00:37:17I don't think I've ever heard you talk like that before
00:37:19you must excuse me lady Chilton
00:37:21I promise you that I will never let it occur again
00:37:23but I like you to be serious
00:37:24oh Gertrude don't say such dreadful things to Lord Goring
00:37:28seriousness will be very unbecoming to him
00:37:30good afternoon Lord Goring
00:37:33pray be as trivial as you can
00:37:35I'm afraid I'm allowed to practice this afternoon Miss Mabel
00:37:37and I was on the point of leaving
00:37:38just when I've come in
00:37:40what dreadful manners you have
00:37:41I'm sure you were very badly brought up
00:37:43I was
00:37:44I wish I'd brought you up
00:37:46I'm so sorry that you didn't
00:37:47it's too late now I suppose
00:37:49I'm not so sure
00:37:51will you ride tomorrow morning?
00:37:53yes at ten
00:37:53don't forget
00:37:54of course I will
00:37:55oh by the way lady Chilton
00:37:56there is no list of your guests in the morning post of today
00:37:59it has apparently been crowded out by the county council
00:38:02or the Lambeth confidence or something equally boring
00:38:04I wonder if I could have a list
00:38:05I have a particular reason for asking
00:38:07I'm sure Mr Trafford will be able to give you one
00:38:09thank you so much
00:38:09Tommy Trafford is the most useful person in London
00:38:13and who is the most ornamental?
00:38:14I am
00:38:16how clever of you to guess it
00:38:18goodbye lady Chilton
00:38:19and you will remember what I said to you won't you?
00:38:22yes but I don't know why you said it to me
00:38:24I hardly know myself
00:38:26goodbye Miss Mabel
00:38:30Gertrude I wish you would talk to Tommy Trafford
00:38:33what has poor Mr Trafford done this time?
00:38:35Robert says he's the best secretary he ever had
00:38:38well Tommy's proposed to me again
00:38:41yes
00:38:42really Tommy does nothing but propose to me
00:38:44he proposed to me this morning in broad daylight
00:38:46in front of that dreadful statue of Achilles
00:38:49really the things that go on in front of that work of art
00:38:51are quite appalling the police should interfere
00:38:54you see if you propose at the top of his voice
00:38:56I wouldn't mind so much
00:38:57that might have some effect on the public
00:39:00but he does it in this horrid confidential way
00:39:03like a doctor
00:39:05oh I wish Gertrude you would talk to him
00:39:07tell him once a week is quite often enough to propose to anyone
00:39:11and that it should always be done in a manner that attracts some attention
00:39:14dear Mabel don't talk like that
00:39:16besides Robert thinks very highly of Mr Trafford
00:39:19he believes he has a brilliant future before him
00:39:21oh I wouldn't marry a man with a future before him for anything under the sun
00:39:24oh Mabel
00:39:25I know you married a man with a future didn't you
00:39:27but then you see my brother's a genius
00:39:29and you have a noble self-sacrificing character
00:39:32oh I've got to go round now with Lady Basilkins
00:39:35you remember we're giving a charity performance don't you
00:39:37I've got to act the triumph of something I don't know what
00:39:39only hope it's the triumph of me
00:39:41only triumph I'm really interested in at the moment
00:39:47Gertrude do you know who's coming to see you?
00:39:48that dreadful Mrs Cheveley in the most lovely gown
00:39:51did you ask her?
00:39:52Mrs Cheveley coming to see me?
00:39:54impossible
00:39:55I assure you she's crossing the hall as large as life
00:39:57and not nearly so natural
00:40:04you need not wait Mabel
00:40:05remember that Lady Basilkins is expecting you
00:40:07yes I've got to stand on my head for charity haven't I
00:40:14Lady Markby, Mrs Cheveley
00:40:17dear Gertrude
00:40:18we just called to know if Mrs Cheveley's diamond brooch had been found
00:40:22here?
00:40:23I missed it when I got back to Claridge's
00:40:25I thought perhaps I might have dropped it here
00:40:27I've heard nothing about it but I'll ring for the butler
00:40:29oh no no pray don't trouble Lady Chiltern
00:40:31I just say I lost it at the opera before we came on here
00:40:34the fact is dear we all scrabble and jostle as so much these days
00:40:37I wonder if we have anything left on us at all by the end of the evening
00:40:42what sort of brooch was it that you lost Mrs Cheveley?
00:40:45a diamond snake brooch with rubies rather large rubies
00:40:50has a ruby and diamond brooch been found in any of the rooms this morning Mason?
00:40:54no money!
00:40:54oh it's really of no consequence Lady Chiltern
00:40:57I'm so sorry to put you to an inconvenience
00:40:59it has been of no inconvenience
00:41:01that will do Mason you can bring tea
00:41:03oh
00:41:05well I must say it's most annoying to lose anything
00:41:08I remember once at Bath
00:41:10oh years ago losing in the pump from a very handsome cameo bracelet my husband had given me
00:41:15I don't think he's given me anything since I'm sorry to say
00:41:18may I give you some tea Mrs Cheveley?
00:41:20thank you
00:41:26some tea Lady Markby
00:41:28no thank you dear I've promised to make another call
00:41:30so if you'll allow me I will leave Mrs Cheveley in your charge
00:41:33and call back for her later
00:41:35well certainly dear
00:41:36I'll be glad to have a few minutes conversation with Mrs Cheveley
00:41:39why thank you Lady Chiltern
00:41:41I'm sure nothing would give me greater pleasure
00:41:43no doubt you both have many happy memories of your school days to talk over together
00:41:48goodbye dear
00:41:49shall I see you at Lady Bonner's tonight
00:41:52I'm told she's discovered a wonderful new genius
00:41:55he does nothing at all I believe
00:41:58and that's a great comfort is it not
00:42:05wonderful woman Lady Markby
00:42:07she talks more and says less than anyone I've ever met
00:42:10she was made to be a public speaker
00:42:16thank you
00:42:18Mrs Cheveley
00:42:19I think it right to tell you quite frankly that
00:42:22had I known who you really were
00:42:24I should not have invited you to my house last night
00:42:28really?
00:42:29I could not have done so
00:42:33I see Gertrude that after all these years you've not changed a bit
00:42:38I never change
00:42:39then life has taught you nothing
00:42:42it has taught me that
00:42:43when a person has once been guilty of a dishonest and dishonorable action
00:42:48they may be guilty of it a second time
00:42:50and should be shunned
00:42:52would you apply that rule to everyone?
00:42:55yes to everyone
00:42:57without exception
00:42:59then I am very sorry for you Gertrude
00:43:02so you see now I'm sure that for many reasons
00:43:05any further acquaintance between us during your stay in London is quite impossible
00:43:11do you know Gertrude
00:43:13I don't mind your talking morality to me a bit
00:43:18morality is merely an attitude we adopt towards people we personally dislike
00:43:22you dislike me
00:43:23I'm quite aware of that
00:43:26and I've always detested you
00:43:29and yet I've come here today to do you a service
00:43:33like the service you wish to render my husband last night I suppose
00:43:36thank heavens I saved him from that
00:43:38so it was you who made him write that insolent letter to me to break his promise
00:43:41yes
00:43:42well then you must make him keep it
00:43:46I will give you until tomorrow morning no more
00:43:49if by then your husband doesn't solemnly bind himself to help me in this great scheme
00:43:54this fraudulent speculation
00:43:55oh call it what you choose
00:43:56I hold your husband in the hollow of my hand
00:43:59if you're wise you'll make him do what I tell him
00:44:01you are impertinent
00:44:02what is my husband to do with a woman like you?
00:44:07in this world like meets like
00:44:10it's because your husband is himself fraudulent and dishonest that we pair so well together
00:44:15between you and him there are chasms
00:44:18that he and I are closer than friends
00:44:21we're enemies linked together
00:44:23the same sin binds us
00:44:25how dare you class yourself with my husband
00:44:28leave my house
00:44:29your house?
00:44:30a house everything in which was paid for by fraud
00:44:35ask him what the origin of his fortune is
00:44:37get him to tell you how he sold to a stockbroker a cabinet secret
00:44:42learn from him to what you owe your position
00:44:46it's not true
00:44:48Robert it's not true
00:44:50look at him
00:44:52can he deny it?
00:44:57go
00:44:59go at once
00:45:02I've not finished with you
00:45:04with either of you
00:45:07I shall give you until tomorrow at noon
00:45:10if by then
00:45:12you don't do what I bid you to do
00:45:14then the whole world shall know the origin of Robert Chilton
00:45:19show Mrs. Cheeverly out
00:45:33you sold a cabinet secret for money?
00:45:36you started your life with fraud?
00:45:40what this woman says is quite true
00:45:45but Gertrude listen to me
00:45:46Gertrude
00:45:46don't touch me
00:45:47don't speak say nothing
00:45:49oh how I worshipped you
00:45:52you were to me something apart from common life
00:45:55a thing pure
00:45:56noble
00:45:57honest without stain
00:46:00the world seemed to me a finer place because you were in it and now
00:46:05oh
00:46:05when I think I made a man like you my ideal
00:46:09the ideal of my life
00:46:11hmm
00:46:14there was your mistake
00:46:17why
00:46:18can't you women love us
00:46:20faults and all?
00:46:22it is not the perfect
00:46:23but the imperfect you have need of love
00:46:25it is when we are wounded by our own hands
00:46:28that love should come to cure ourselves
00:46:29what use is love?
00:46:33you made your faults idle of me
00:46:36and I had not the courage to come down and show you my wounds
00:46:39tell you my weaknesses
00:46:40I was afraid that I might lose your love
00:46:43as I have lost it now
00:46:46and so
00:46:48last night you ruined my life for me
00:46:51what this woman asked of me was nothing compared to what she offered
00:46:54she offered security, peace, stability
00:46:58the sin of my youth
00:47:00that I thought was buried rose up in front of me hideous, horrible
00:47:03I could have killed it forever but you prevented me
00:47:05no one but you
00:47:07and now what is there before me but public disgrace, ruin, terrible shame, the mockery of the world
00:47:14let women make no more ideals of men
00:47:17or they will ruin other lives as completely as you who I have so wildly loved
00:47:24have ruined mine
00:47:25come in
00:47:25come in
00:47:54any letters for me Phipps? three my lord. I want my cab round at once please Phipps. yes my lord.
00:48:02Phipps when did this letter arrive? it was brought by hand just after your lordship went to the club.
00:48:08that will do Phipps. lady Chilton's writing on lady Chilton's pink notepaper.
00:48:16I want you. I trust you. I am coming to you. Gertrude.
00:48:25oh poor woman she's found out everything.
00:48:34lord Caversham. why will parents always appear at the wrong moment? it must be some extraordinary mistake in nature I
00:48:41suppose.
00:48:41ah my dear father delighted to see you. take my coat off. oh but father is it worthwhile?
00:48:45well of course it's worthwhile. take it off. now which is the most comfortable chair?
00:48:51that one father that is the one that I always use when I have visitors.
00:48:54thank you. there's uh no draft in this room I hope. of course father there's no draft.
00:49:01ah now I want to have a serious conversation with you. but father it is after seven.
00:49:06and my doctor tells me that I must not have a serious conversation after seven. it makes me talk in
00:49:11my sleep.
00:49:11talk in your sleep? what does that matter? you're not married.
00:49:15no father I'm not married. now that is what I've come to talk to you about. yes I was afraid
00:49:20of that.
00:49:21now it's high time you were married. you're 34 years of age. yes but I only admit to 32.
00:49:2831 and a half when I have a really good buttonhole. well you're 34 I tell you.
00:49:33and there is a draft in this room which makes your conduct worse. why did you tell me there's no
00:49:38draft? I can feel a draft. I can feel it distinctly. you're quite right father. there's the most dreadful
00:49:42draft. look I will come and see you tomorrow and we can discuss the whole thing. no no. I came
00:49:47here with a
00:49:50a very definite purpose and I intend to see it through. now put down my coat. certainly father.
00:49:59but let us go into the smoking room. your sneezes are quite heart-rending. well I suppose I still
00:50:03have the right to sneeze when I choose. quite so. I was only expressing sympathy. do you always really
00:50:10understand what you're saying? yes if I listen attentively. if you listen attentively. you're
00:50:17considered young puppy. ah this. there is a lady coming to see me this evening. you're on particular
00:50:25business. now when she arrives show her into the drawing room. you understand? yes my lord. no one
00:50:29else is to be admitted now under any circumstances. I understand. it is a matter of the gravest
00:50:33importance. I understand my lord. ah that will be the lady. I will see her myself. well my sir.
00:50:39might wait attendance on you sir? oh no father do excuse me just one note. well you remember my
00:50:44instruction slips into that room. yes my lord. father?
00:50:50is lord goring not here? I was told he was at home. his lordship is engaged at present with lord
00:50:56caversham madam. how very filial. his lordship told me to ask you madam if you would be so kind as
00:51:02to
00:51:02wait in the drawing room for him. his lordship will come to you there. well lord goring expects me?
00:51:08yes madam. are you quite sure? his lordship told me that if a lady called i was to ask her
00:51:14to wait in
00:51:14the drawing room. his lordship's instructions on the subject were very precise. how very thoughtful.
00:51:19to expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect. oh how dreary a bachelor's drawing room
00:51:28always looks. so for all this. oh no i don't care for that lamp. it's far too glaring. light some
00:51:33candles.
00:51:34certainly madam. i hope the candles have very becoming shades. we have had no complaints about them madam as yet.
00:52:05i want you. i trust you. i am coming to you. gertrude.
00:52:13i want you. i trust you. i'm coming to.
00:52:33the candles in the drawing room are lit madam. as you directed. thank you.
00:52:39my dear brother if i am married surely i may be allowed to choose the time the place and the
00:52:44person.
00:52:45particularly the person. that is for me sir. you would probably make a
00:52:49very poor choice. it is iron must be consulted. not you. there is property at stake. it's not a
00:52:55question of affection. affection is something that comes later on in married life. yes in married
00:53:00life father. affection is something that comes when people thoroughly dislike each other. certainly sir.
00:53:04i mean certainly not sir. you're talking very foolishly tonight. what i say is marriage is a matter for
00:53:12common sense. so my mother tells me. oh my dear Arthur what a piece of good luck. your servant just
00:53:17told me
00:53:17you were not at home. how extraordinary sir. the fact is i'm horribly busy this evening and i asked that
00:53:21no one should be admitted. even my father had a comparatively cold reception. he's been complaining of a
00:53:26draught the whole time. and not for that reason sir. good evening. oh Arthur you must be at home to
00:53:33me.
00:53:35you're my best friend. perhaps by tomorrow you'll be my only friend. my wife has discovered everything.
00:53:41ah i guessed as much. really how? oh merely by something in the expression on your face as you came
00:53:46in.
00:53:47who told her. mrs chivalry herself. oh i would. god i died before i'd been so tempted or fallen so
00:53:53low.
00:53:53have you heard nothing from vienna in answer to your wife? yes i got a telegram at eight o'clock
00:53:57tonight
00:53:57from the first secretary. well nothing is absolutely known against her. on the contrary she occupies a
00:54:02rather high position in society. it is a sort of open secret that baron arnheim left her the greater
00:54:07portion of his immense fortune. apart from that i can learn nothing. so she doesn't turn out to be a
00:54:11spy then. oh spies are of no use nowadays. their profession is over. the newspapers do their work
00:54:16instead. arthur i'm parched with thirst. may i ring for something some hawk and seltzer? certainly. allow me.
00:54:24thanks.
00:54:27arthur i i don't know what to do.
00:54:31i can trust you absolutely. my dear. of course. ah phipps some hawk and seltzer please. yes. oh and uh
00:54:39phipps
00:54:40will you forgive me while i give my servants some directions? yes sir. please. when that woman arrives
00:54:46i am not at home to anyone. you understand? the lady is in the drawing room my lord. you told
00:54:52me to
00:54:52show her in there. you did quite right phipps. thank you. arthur tell me what i should do. my life
00:55:02seems to
00:55:02have crumbled about me. robert you love your wife don't you? i love her more than anything else
00:55:10in the world. i used to think ambition the great thing it's not. love is the great thing. there is
00:55:16nothing but love. and i love her. but she's found me out arthur. she's found me out. but has she
00:55:23never
00:55:24committed some folly? some indiscretion? that she should not forgive your sin? my wife? no. she doesn't
00:55:30know what weakness or temptation is. but your wife will forgive you robert. maybe at this very moment
00:55:35she is forgiving you. she loves you. why should she not forgive? god grant it. god grant it. ah thank
00:55:39you phipps.
00:55:42i consult so sir. thank you.
00:55:48robert did you come in your carriage? no. i walked from the club. so robert will take my cat. yes
00:55:54my lord.
00:55:55you will forgive me if i send you away. arthur you must just let me stay for five minutes.
00:56:01i i have made up my mind what i'm going to do in the house tonight.
00:56:05the debate on the argentine canal is to begin at 11.
00:56:13what was that? nothing. i heard something in the next room.
00:56:19someone's been listening. no no no there's no one there. there is someone there. there are lights in
00:56:23the room. the doors are turned out. arthur what does this mean? robert you're excited and i'm not. i
00:56:26tell you there is nobody in that room. do you give me your word there is no one there? yes.
00:56:31your word of
00:56:31honor? yes. arthur let me see for myself. no no. if there is no one there why should i not
00:56:37look in
00:56:38that room? robert this must stop. i tell you there is nobody in that room. that is enough. it is
00:56:41not enough. robert for
00:56:44somebody in that room. someone that you must not see. i thought so. i forbid you to wear that. stand
00:56:48back. i
00:56:48will know who it is.
00:57:04what explanation have you for the presence of that woman? robert i swear to you on my word of honor
00:57:08that that woman is guiltless and stainless of all offenses towards you. she is a violent and infamous thing.
00:57:11don't say such a thing. she came here for your sake. she loves you and no one else. what have
00:57:15i to do with her? intrigues with you. let her remain your mistress. you are well suited to each
00:57:21other. robert it is not true. before heaven it is not true. let me pass.
00:57:29you have sworn enough upon your word of honor.
00:57:52good evening lord glory. this is chiefly. good heavens. what are you doing in my drawing room?
00:58:02merely listening. i have a perfect passion for listening through keyholes. one hears such
00:58:08wonderful things through them. isn't that rather like tempting providence? well surely providence can
00:58:13resist temptation by this time. i'm very glad that you have called. i'm going to give you some good
00:58:18advice. oh no pray don't. one should never give a woman anything she can't wear in the evening. i see
00:58:24that you are still quite as willful as ever. far more. i've greatly improved. i've had more experience.
00:58:31well too much experience is a dangerous thing. oh pray have a cigarette. half the pretty women in
00:58:36london is smoking cigarettes. well i'd prefer the other half. thank you. i never smoke. my dressmaker
00:58:42wouldn't like it. and a woman's first duty in life is to her dressmaker isn't it? what her second duty
00:58:48is no one has ever yet discovered. you have come to sell me robert chiltern's letter haven't you?
00:58:57to offer it to you on condition. how did you guess that? merely because you haven't mentioned the subject.
00:59:04have you got it with you? oh no. a well-made dress has no pockets. what is your price for
00:59:11it?
00:59:13how absurdly english you are. the english always think a checkbook can answer every problem in life.
00:59:19my dear arthur. i have very much more money than you have and just as much as robert chiltern has
00:59:24managed to get hold of money is not what i want. what do you want mrs cheevily?
00:59:31why don't you call me laura? i don't like the name. you used to adore it. yes that's why.
00:59:43arthur. you loved me once. yes. and you asked me to be your wife. that was the natural result of
00:59:53my
00:59:53loving you. and you threw me over. because you saw or you said you saw poor old lord mortlake
01:00:02trying to have a violent flirtation with me in the conservatory. yes well i'm under the impression that
01:00:07that was settled with my lawyer on certain terms dictated by yourself. at the time i was poor and
01:00:11you were rich. quite so. that is why you pretended to love me. oh you were silly. lord mortlake was
01:00:16never
01:00:17anything more to me than amusement. i loved you arthur. my dear mrs cheevily. you were far too clever to
01:00:26know anything about love. but i did love you. and you loved me. i suppose when a man has once
01:00:35loved a woman
01:00:36he'll do anything for her except continue to love her. yes. accept that.
01:00:52well?
01:00:55i'm tired of living abroad. i want to come back to london. i want to have a charming house. i
01:01:03want to have
01:01:04a salon. well if one could only teach the english how to talk and the irish how to listen. society
01:01:09here
01:01:09would be quite civilized. besides i've arrived at the romantic stage.
01:01:18when i saw you last night at the chilterns i realized that you were the only person that i've ever
01:01:24cared
01:01:25for. if i've ever cared for anyone arthur. and so on the morning of the day that you marry me
01:01:38i will give you robert chiltern's letter. that is my offer.
01:01:43i'll give it to you now if you promise to marry me. now? tomorrow.
01:01:50are you quite serious? oh yes. quite serious.
01:01:58i i would make you a very bad husband. but i don't mind bad husbands. i've had two.
01:02:03they amuse me immensely. no what you mean is that you amuse yourself immensely. what do you know about
01:02:07my married life? nothing. but i can read it like a book. what book? the book of numbers.
01:02:17do you think it quite charming to be so rude to a woman in your own house?
01:02:21in the case of really fascinating women sex is a challenge not a defense.
01:02:27well i suppose that's meant as a compliment. my dear arthur women are never disarmed by compliments.
01:02:31men always are. that's the difference between the two sexes. women are never disarmed by anything as
01:02:36far as i know them. and so you will allow your dearest friend robert chiltern to be ruined rather
01:02:43than marry someone who still has considerable attractions left. is that how you men stand up
01:02:53for each other? it is infinitely preferable to the war you women wage against each other.
01:02:59i only wage war against one woman. gertrude chiltern. i hate her. i hate her now more than ever. because
01:03:04you have brought a real tragedy into her life i suppose. oh there is only one real tragedy in a
01:03:08woman's life.
01:03:10the fact that her past is always a lover and her future invariably her husband. but lady chiltern knows
01:03:16there is nothing of the kind of life to which you are alluding.
01:03:31well arthur
01:03:34i take it that this romantic interview is at an end.
01:03:39you admit it was romantic don't you? for the privilege of being your wife i was ready to
01:03:47surrender a great prize. the climax of my my diplomatic career. you decline very well.
01:03:58if robert chiltern will not uphold my argentine scheme then i expose him. voila tu. you must not do that.
01:04:04that would be vile. horrible influence. oh don't use big words. they mean so little.
01:04:09it's a commercial transaction. if he won't pay me my price he must pay the world a greater price.
01:04:14there's there's no more to be said. i must go. goodbye.
01:04:23well won't you shake hands? with you? no. you went this afternoon to the house of one of the most
01:04:30noble
01:04:30gentlewomen in the world to degrade her husband in her eyes to try and kill her love for him. that
01:04:37i
01:04:37cannot forgive.
01:04:42arthur you're unjust to me. i didn't go to taunt gertrude. i called with lady markby to see if
01:04:49an ornament a jewel that i'd lost last night had been found at the chilterns.
01:04:55a diamond snake brooch with rubies. yes. well how did you know? because it is found.
01:05:02i found it myself and i foolishly forgot to tell the butler anything about it as i was leaving.
01:05:15this is the brooch? yes. i'm so glad to have it back. it was a present.
01:05:20weren't you wear it? why certainly. if you will pin it on.
01:05:30why do you put it on as a bracelet? i i never knew it could be worn as a bracelet.
01:05:35didn't you?
01:05:35no but it looks very well on me as a bracelet doesn't it? yes it does. much better than when
01:05:39i saw it last. and when did you see it last? oh about 10 years ago. on my cousin lady
01:05:45berkshire
01:05:46from whom you stole it. what do you mean? i mean that you stole that ornament from my cousin mary
01:05:53to
01:05:53whom i gave it when she was married. i recognized it last night and i was determined to say nothing
01:05:58until i had found the thief. it's not true. of course it's true. my thief is written all over your
01:06:02face at this moment. i shall deny the whole affair from beginning to end. i shall say i've never seen
01:06:07this wretched thing that it was never in my possession. the drawback of stealing something
01:06:13mrs cheveley is that one never knows how wonderful the thing that one steals is. you cannot get the
01:06:18bracelet off because you do not know where the spring is. it is rather difficult to find. i gave the
01:06:22you of the most particular instructions. oh you booze. you coward. don't use big words. they mean so little.
01:06:40what are you going to do? i'm going to ring for my servant. he's a marvelous servant. always comes the
01:06:47moment one rings for him. and i'm going to ask him to fetch the police. the police? what for? tomorrow
01:06:54the berkshires will prosecute you. that is what the police are for. don't do that. i'll do anything you
01:07:02want. i'll do anything in the world you want. give me robert chiltern's letter.
01:07:10now i must i have time to think. give me robert chiltern's letter. i don't have it with me. i'll
01:07:15give it to you tomorrow. you're lying. give it to me at once.
01:07:33i'll give it to you tomorrow. i'll give it to you tomorrow. i'll give it to you tomorrow.
01:07:34this is it.
01:07:51for so well dressed a woman mrs cheeverly you do have moments of the most admirable common sense.
01:07:58and now will you get my cloak? with pleasure.
01:08:27thank you.
01:08:30i promise that i will never try to harm robert chiltern again.
01:08:34fortunately you don't have the chance mrs cheeverly. even if i had the chance i wouldn't do it.
01:08:39on the contrary i'm going to render him a great service. oh i am charmed to hear it. why this
01:08:43is
01:08:43a reformation. i can't bear to see so upright a gentleman so honorable an english gentleman so
01:08:49shamefully deceived. and so? i find that gertrude chiltern's dying speech and confession has somehow
01:08:57strayed into my pocket. what do you mean? i'm going to send robert chiltern the love letter that
01:09:05his wife wrote to you tonight. love letter? i want you. i trust you. i am coming to you gertrude.
01:09:19give me that letter at once. you'll not be in this room till i've got it. lord goring merely rang
01:09:26that you
01:09:27should show me out.
01:09:30good night lord goring.
01:10:03well sir what are you doing here? wasting your time as usual? my dear father when one pays a visit
01:10:11it is for the purpose of wasting other people's time not one's own. have you been thinking of
01:10:16what i spoke about last night? my dear father i've been thinking of nothing else. well have i engaged
01:10:20been married yet? not yet but i hope to be before lunchtime. oh you can have until dinner
01:10:27time if you've been of more convenience to you. thank you so much but i'd rather get engaged before
01:10:32lunch. no i i never know when you're being serious or not. neither do i father. well have you read
01:10:38the
01:10:38times today? a leading article on sir robert chiltern's career. good heavens no. what does it say?
01:10:44what should it say? everything complimentary. chiltern's speech on the argentine canal scheme last night
01:10:51was one of the finest pieces of oratory that's ever been delivered in the house since canning. i've never
01:10:56heard of canning and i never wanted to. but did robert uphold the scheme? uphold it? how little you
01:11:03know him. no sir. he denounced it roundly and the whole system of modern political finance. now wait a minute.
01:11:10here we are. sir robert chiltern. the most rising of our young statesman. a brilliant orator. unblemished
01:11:19career. his well-known integrity of character represents all that is best in english public life.
01:11:26oh yes. they'll never say that of you sir. i certainly hope not father. but i am glad about
01:11:32robert. it shows he's got pluck. he has more than pluck. he has genius. i prefer pluck. it's not so
01:11:38common
01:11:38nowadays as genius is. i i wish you'd go into parliament. dear father. only people who look
01:11:46dull ever get into the house. and only people who are dull ever succeed there. why don't you try to
01:11:55do
01:11:55something useful in life? why don't you propose to this pretty miss chiltern? i don't suppose there's
01:12:04the slightest chance for accepting you. you don't deserve her. oh my dear father. if we men married
01:12:09the women we deserved we would have a very good time with it. oh how do you do? i hope
01:12:17lady
01:12:18cavisham is quite well. lady cavisham is as usual. as usual. good morning miss mavel. lady cavisham's
01:12:23bonnets are they at all better? they've had a serious relapse i'm sorry to say. good morning miss
01:12:28mavel. i do hope an operation will not be necessary. miss mavel. good morning. oh are you here? of course
01:12:35you understand after you're breaking your appointment i'm never going to speak to you again.
01:12:39do you think you could possibly make your son behave a little better occasionally? just as a change. i'm
01:12:45sorry to say miss chiltern that i have no influence over my son whatever. i wish i had. if i
01:12:51had i know
01:12:51what i'd make him do. now i really must say i bid you good morning. i've only dropped in to
01:12:55congratulate
01:12:56sir robert on his feet. but you're not going to leave me all alone with lord goring especially at
01:13:00such an early hour in the day. well i'm afraid i can't take him with me to downing street. you
01:13:05see it's
01:13:05not the prime minister's day for seeing the unemployed. people who don't keep their appointments
01:13:18in the park are horrid. detestable. i'm glad you admit it. i wish you wouldn't look so pleased about
01:13:24it. i can't help it. i always feel pleased when i'm with you. well then i suppose it's my duty
01:13:28to
01:13:29remain with you. of course it is. my duty is a thing i never do on principle. it always depresses
01:13:34me.
01:13:35so i'm afraid i must leave you. oh miss mabel. mabel please don't. i have something rather
01:13:42particular to say to you. is it a proposal? yes. well i'm bound to confess that it is. oh i
01:13:51am so
01:13:51glad. that makes my second today. your second today? what conceited ass has been important enough to
01:13:58propose to you before i have proposed to you? tommy trafford of course. it's one of tommy's days for
01:14:03proposing. he always proposes on tuesdays and thursdays during the season. you didn't accept him i
01:14:08hope. i make it a rule never to accept tommy. that is why he goes on proposing. bother tommy trafford.
01:14:13tommy's a stupid little ass. i love you. i know. and i wish you might have mentioned it sooner. i'm
01:14:19sure
01:14:19i've given you heaps of opportunities. oh miss mabel please be serious. be serious. now that's the sort of
01:14:23thing a man always says to a girl before he's been married to her. he never says it afterwards. mabel
01:14:27i have just told you that i love you. can't you love me just a little in return? oh you
01:14:34silly
01:14:35arthur. if you knew anything about anything which you don't you'd know that i adore you. everybody in
01:14:41london knows it except you. it's a public scandal the way i adore you. i've been going around for the
01:14:46last six months telling the whole of society that i adore you. i want you consent to have anything to
01:14:50do
01:14:50with me. i've no character left at all. oh my dear. and i was so awfully afraid of being refused.
01:14:58but you've
01:14:59you've never been refused yet by anybody have you arthur. oh i can't imagine anyone refusing you. my dear
01:15:04you know i'm not nearly good enough for you. oh i am so glad. i was afraid you were. and
01:15:09i'm
01:15:12i'm a little over 30. dear you look weeks younger than that. oh how sweet of you to say so.
01:15:19and i feel
01:15:19bound to confess that i am frankly terribly extravagant. so am i arthur so we're sure to agree.
01:15:27oh now i must go and tell gherkin. really? yes. but will you tell her that i want to talk
01:15:32to her. i've
01:15:32been waiting to speak to her or robert all morning.
01:15:37do you mean to say you didn't come here expressly to propose to me?
01:15:41no. that was a flash of genius. your first. my last. i'm delighted to hear it.
01:15:52i don't stare i'll be back in five minutes and don't fall into any temptations whilst i'm away. oh my
01:15:57dear mabel while you are away there are none. it makes me horribly dependent on you.
01:16:03good morning my dear. oh how pretty you're looking. how pale you're looking gertrude. it's
01:16:09it's most becoming. good morning lord gordon. good morning lady chiltern. i'll be in the conservatory
01:16:14under the second palm tree on the left. the second on the left. lady chiltern i have a certain amount
01:16:20of very good news for you. last night mrs cheevilly came to see me in my house and gave me
01:16:26up
01:16:26robert's letter and i have burnt it. robert is safe. safe. oh i'm so glad of that. oh what a
01:16:35good
01:16:35friend you are to him. to us. there is only one person now that could be said to be in
01:16:40any danger. but who
01:16:41is that? yourself. ah in danger? what do you mean? lady chiltern yesterday you wrote me a very beautiful
01:16:49womanly letter asking me for my help. you wrote to me as one of your oldest friends one of your
01:16:55husband's oldest friends. mrs cheevilly stole that letter from my rooms. what use is it to her? why
01:17:02should she not have it? lady chiltern i will be perfectly frank with you. mrs cheevilly puts a
01:17:08certain construction on that letter and proposes to send it to your husband. but what construction
01:17:14could she put on it? oh not that. not that. if i in trouble wanting your help trusting you propose
01:17:24to
01:17:26come to you. oh are there women as horrible as that. lady chiltern let us tell robert everything
01:17:31at once. you want me to tell robert that i wrote to you in those terms? it is better that
01:17:34he knows
01:17:35the exact truth. no i couldn't. i couldn't. may i do it? no. lady chiltern you are gone. no the
01:17:40letter must be
01:17:40intercepted that is all. but how can i do it? i dare not ask the servants to bring me his
01:17:45letters. do his
01:17:46secretaries open his letters? yes. who is with him today? tommy trafford isn't it? yes. now tommy would do
01:17:51anything for you wouldn't he? i think so. now he would be able to recognize the letter without
01:17:56reading it couldn't he? on pink paper? i suppose so. is he in the house now? yes. i will go
01:18:00to him and
01:18:01i will ask him to stop a letter reaching sir robert on pink paper. he has it already.
01:18:11i want you. i trust you. i am coming to you. gertrude. oh my love is this true?
01:18:17if so then it was for me to come to you. this letter of yours gertrude makes me realize that
01:18:22nothing the world may do can hurt me now. you want me?
01:18:32yes. you trust me? yes. oh.
01:18:38why did you not add that you loved me? because i loved you.
01:18:46oh gertrude. you don't know what i feel. when trafford passed me your letter across the table
01:18:52he'd opened it by mistake and i read it. oh i didn't care what disgrace or ruin were in store
01:18:58for
01:18:58me. i i only thought you loved me still. there is no disgrace in store for you nor any public
01:19:03shame.
01:19:04mrs cheeverly has handed over to lord goring the document that was in her possession and he has
01:19:10destroyed it. are you sure of this gertrude? yes lord goring has just told me. so that's what was
01:19:16happening last night. then i'm safe.
01:19:22for two days i've lived in terror but now i'm safe.
01:19:26arthur destroyed the letter. he burnt it. i wish i'd seen that. how many men would love to see their
01:19:32past burning to ashes before them. is arthur still here? yes he's in the conservatory. oh i'm so glad
01:19:39i made that speech in the house last night. i made it thinking that public disgrace might be the result
01:19:45but it has not been so. public honor has been the result. yes i think so. i fear so almost.
01:19:52for i suppose
01:19:54although i am safe from detection although all proof against me has been destroyed i suppose gertrude i
01:20:01i should retire from public life. oh yes robert you should do that. it is your duty to do that.
01:20:09oh it is much to surrender. no it will be much to gain. and you would you be happy living
01:20:17somewhere
01:20:18alone with me abroad perhaps or in the country away from london away from public life.
01:20:23you'd have no regrets. oh none robert. and your ambition for me. you used to be ambitious for me.
01:20:31oh my ambition. i have none now but that we two may love each other. let us talk no more
01:20:38about ambition.
01:20:40i don't think your conversation is at all improving. oh my darling. what does this mean? it means that this
01:20:48charming foolish young lady has been clever enough to accept me. congratulations arthur.
01:20:55my best wishes to you both. i'm sure you'll make an ideal husband. an ideal husband? oh i don't think
01:21:04i'd like that at all. sounds like something out of the next world. what do you want him to be
01:21:09then dear? well
01:21:10he can be what he chooses. all i want to to be is is to be a real wife to
01:21:15him. oh luncheon is on the table milady.
01:21:37so
01:21:46you
01:22:07¶¶
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