- 56 minutes ago
1976 PERIOD DRAMA "All bets are off when HRH becomes His Majesty, King Edward VII and Louisa and Augustus must plan what lies ahead for them." Starring Gemma Jones, Donald Burton, Michael Culver, Doreen Mantle.
Category
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TVTranscript
00:08Music
00:09Music
00:09Music
00:46What's wrong with the lobster?
00:49Her ladyship on her high horse again.
00:54All this up laden mayonnaise.
00:56Well, I followed that receipt you gave me exactly, madam.
00:59In a pig's ear, it's curdled.
01:01I tell you just what went wrong.
01:03The oil you used was coal straight out the pantry, right?
01:05When it got too thick, you bunged in some vinegar,
01:07get them more oil and beat it all up together, right?
01:10I was in a hurry. I thought it would save time.
01:12You can save time with most things, not when you're making a mayonnaise.
01:15I did my best, madam.
01:16No, you didn't, Mrs. Welkin. That's the old point. Your mind wasn't on it.
01:20Well, I'm sorry.
01:21I'll be more careful in future. I'll pour it away.
01:24Hold on.
01:25Waste not, want not.
01:26Fetch us an egg.
01:27Fetch us an egg.
01:33Right.
01:37Now.
01:39Put it up.
01:47Here we are.
01:49One.
01:52Two.
01:53Give us a clap.
01:54Put it up.
01:56All right.
02:02Now.
02:03Slow and steady, does it?
02:04And you can't beat too hard.
02:07Excuse me, Mum.
02:09Mrs. Welkin and me.
02:11I was wondering if we could watch the procession.
02:14Eh?
02:14The Queen's funeral procession, madam.
02:16There's so many kings and princes and that will be there.
02:20Oh, you can go and gulp if you want to.
02:22See her off.
02:22Won't you be watching, madam?
02:24Nah.
02:25I'll take no pleasure in funerals.
02:34It's the front doorbell, Mum.
02:36Go and answer it then, therefore.
02:37You know it's Molly's night off.
02:41Time to call.
02:44Here you are, Mrs. Welkin.
02:44You beat that.
02:46And add the rest drop by drop.
02:48And let's liven it up a bit, eh?
02:49Where's the lemon?
02:50There you are.
02:53Won't you please take a seat, Major?
02:55No, thank you.
02:57May I offer you a glass of port?
02:59No, thank you, Drotter.
03:00As I said, I was just passing.
03:01Ah.
03:03Shocking news.
03:05Yes, indeed.
03:07It must have been worse for you,
03:08being so close to her late majesty,
03:10in the household, so to speak.
03:13Yes.
03:14Of course, the end had been expected for some time.
03:17But death always takes us unaware.
03:19Yes, I suppose it does.
03:21Good evening, Mrs. Trotter.
03:23Evening.
03:24Major Fajan was just passing, my dear.
03:25He's just looked in for a minute.
03:27It's always a pleasure.
03:29Well, I have one or two little things to attend to,
03:32if you'll excuse me.
03:37How are you, Johnny?
03:38Oh, sorry.
03:39Sir John, isn't it since the New Year?
03:41Johnny will still do fine.
03:43Thought you'd still be in the Isle of Wight?
03:45I have been, yes.
03:46But the lying in state ends on Saturday.
03:48And his majesty asked me to check on the burial arrangements at Windsor.
03:52Takes a bit of getting used to, doesn't it?
03:54His majesty.
03:57King Edward, eh?
03:59How is he?
04:01He's stood up to it surprisingly well.
04:03Of course, he's not a young man.
04:05He's waited longer than anyone else in history to become king.
04:08Nearly 60 years.
04:10Yeah, I've heard him say he'd waited so long,
04:11sometimes he hoped it would never come.
04:13Yes.
04:15There are many who hoped it wouldn't.
04:16Well, they'd better not say it near me.
04:19Who are they, anyway? Who says that?
04:21Oh, many in society.
04:22And in the government.
04:24They see him only as a man of pleasure.
04:27They don't realise how devoted he is to his people and country.
04:31So he must be careful
04:33not to give ammunition
04:35to those who expect him to be unworthy of his high position.
04:39And that is really why I'm here.
04:42He won't be calling for a while, eh?
04:45Not for the foreseeable future.
04:48Come on, Johnny.
04:49You don't have to go all round the houses.
04:51Let's have it straight.
04:53He asked me to say
04:55that he will always cherish
04:56the fondest memories of your kindness,
04:58your friendship.
05:00but in the new circumstances
05:01the special relationship between you
05:04must regretfully be considered as over.
05:08So I won't see him again?
05:10Oh, no.
05:10No, he hopes you will still meet again
05:12as friends.
05:15Well, the lease of this house, of course, is yours
05:17and all the furniture and moveables.
05:19And if in the future you're in any financial difficulty.
05:22Oh, no.
05:22He's been kind enough already.
05:23I don't want money.
05:25Times change.
05:27Remember,
05:28in case of need,
05:29you can always call on him.
05:32And now, please,
05:32don't bother to show me out.
05:37Thank you for making my mission so painless, Mrs. Trotter.
05:40Yeah, Louisa will still do fine.
05:44And hope we're still friends, eh?
05:47You know, Louisa,
05:48after two weeks of full mourning,
05:50it's a blessed relief
05:51to spend a moment or two
05:52with someone as refreshing as yourself.
05:54You've been taking lessons from him, Johnny.
05:56Yes, well,
05:57if you'll collect his things together.
05:59I'll send a valet round in the morning.
06:13Well, old girl,
06:14you tried all your life to change him.
06:19Only way you could do it
06:20was by popping off.
06:37So you're free.
06:40Yeah.
06:41I can't tell you I've prayed for it.
06:45Yeah, I'm relieved too, in a way.
06:50Louisa,
06:51if we could...
06:51Not tonight, love.
06:55We'll talk about it some other time.
06:57Not now.
06:59I'll see you in the morning.
07:25It was up to Louisa.
07:27She didn't, uh,
07:28she didn't want anything more from him.
07:30I hope your settlement was generous.
07:33How much did you get?
07:36Uh, nothing.
07:37Nothing?
07:39You're too soft, Augustus.
07:40That's always been your trouble.
07:42You should have dealt with it.
07:43You should have got something out of it
07:44to make up for the humiliation.
07:46You never stand up for yourself.
07:48If you...
07:48Listen, Nora,
07:49will you listen?
07:51All I can feel is that
07:53I'm glad it's over.
07:55That I have Louisa to myself.
07:58She's not the way you think.
07:59There's no one else like her.
08:00She's not fast or flighty.
08:02If she was,
08:02I wouldn't have stuck it.
08:03Parties, grand living,
08:04all that sort of thing.
08:05She don't care for them,
08:06not for herself.
08:07She's not after that,
08:08nor money,
08:08nor jewellery.
08:09Then what is she after?
08:12I don't know.
08:12Wish I did.
08:14Even, well,
08:16the other side of it.
08:17She doesn't seem to care much for that either.
08:18Not even with him,
08:19with the prince.
08:20They're more like pals.
08:23You hear them laughing.
08:26He could be natural with her.
08:29It didn't happen very often.
08:32And in between,
08:33I was with her.
08:35Just the two of us.
08:36But she was never your wife.
08:39Whatcha, Nora?
08:41Good morning, Louisa.
08:42What brings you round?
08:44Surely I can visit my own brother.
08:46Seems to me the last words
08:47heard you say was
08:48I shall never darken this doorstep again.
08:50That's just Nora's way, my dear.
08:51That's how it is in families.
08:53It doesn't mean anything.
08:54She has to speak her mind, you see.
08:56Oh, I see.
08:57Well, let bygones be bygones, eh?
08:59I don't mind people speaking their minds.
09:00I've been known to do it myself.
09:02One thing I'll say, though,
09:03when people speak their minds,
09:04I like them to stick to it,
09:05whatever it is.
09:07And in future, I'll see they do.
09:08The news from the Cape seems better.
09:10Oh.
09:11Kitchener's pushed you wet in his army
09:13right back across the Orange River.
09:14Hooray.
09:16Louisa's brother Arthur's out there.
09:18You must be longing for him to come home.
09:20Not much.
09:21Boys can keep him as far as I'm concerned.
09:24No doubt he'll turn up one of these days
09:25looking for an handout.
09:27I was wondering
09:28what you were going to live on now.
09:31Now?
09:32This must be an expensive house to run.
09:34We'll manage.
09:35But how?
09:36If you ask my advice...
09:37I never do when I know I get it anyway.
09:39You mind your business,
09:41we'll mind ours.
09:42And if you're stopping for lunch,
09:44I'd better make sure there's something in.
09:49Nora, please, don't leave like this.
09:51You married beneath you.
09:52You're one of the youngest butlers in the country.
09:55Highly thought of
09:55in a fine position with a great future.
09:58She put an end to that.
09:59She dragged you down.
10:01Well, you always were too trusting.
10:03One thing's clear.
10:04If you have to have any hope
10:06of leading a normal married life,
10:08you must put your foot down.
10:10There's the cob we was going to have tonight
10:12and there should be enough on that joint of ham.
10:14Yes, madam.
10:15I could dice some carrots and turnips to go with it
10:17and some velouti potatoes.
10:19Plain boiled, Mrs. Welkin.
10:21And make a parsley sauce.
10:23That'll do fine.
10:24Yes, madam.
10:34Soup smells good.
10:36Oh, it's Ethel's making, madam.
10:38She's keen to learn cooking.
10:40Hope you don't mind.
10:41Oh, I'll be the last to do that.
10:45How long was you married?
10:48Nearly nine years, madam.
10:49In service together, were you?
10:51No.
10:52He was a regular in the army.
10:54His regiment was one of the first
10:56to be sent to South Africa.
10:58He died out there, did he?
11:00On the way.
11:01He caught fever on the troop ship.
11:04He was dead before they ever reached Cape Town.
11:09Do you miss him?
11:13Yes, I do.
11:15He was a good man.
11:16Very good to me.
11:19Only thing missing was children.
11:21We just didn't see Mabel to have any.
11:25Maybe just as well, eh?
11:28Ethel Dyson carrots, will you?
11:29Oh, Mum.
11:30Yeah?
11:31There's a person been waiting to see you.
11:33What kind of person?
11:34Young, servant girl, sort of.
11:36Where is she?
11:37Walking up and down in the street.
11:39Oh, in this car.
11:40Well, why don't you bring her in?
11:41She won't come in, Mum.
11:42Why don't you come up and tell me before?
11:44I didn't like to.
11:44I thought this is...
11:45Oh, good.
11:45Well, go and get her now.
11:46She must be frozen to death.
11:58Mary, why don't you say who you was once you come in, miss?
12:02Here, what's up?
12:04Come sit down, girl.
12:06Here, sit down here.
12:08Are you in some kind of trouble?
12:09You're frozen to the bone, girl.
12:12Not in the family way, are you?
12:15Did you get the push from Lord Henry's?
12:18No.
12:19I walked out.
12:21Ran away.
12:22Oh, Mary, when?
12:24Two days ago.
12:25When did you last eat, eh?
12:27Yesterday.
12:28Here, you warm yourself.
12:29Get us a bowl of apple, quick.
12:31Where you been sleeping, eh?
12:33Rough.
12:34Into the railway arches.
12:35But there's awful people there.
12:37I was afraid to come back.
12:38Why didn't you come straight here?
12:40I did.
12:41I walked past.
12:42I don't know what you've seen me.
12:43I was afraid to come in.
12:45Oh, you silly Herbert.
12:46Here, get yourself around this.
12:48Now, mind, it's lots of jockeys' britches.
12:50Now, take it slow.
12:51Don't scourge yourself.
12:59I don't understand why you didn't just knock at the door.
13:02Ivy said it was all different.
13:04You wouldn't want to see anybody you'd been in service with.
13:08Oh, did she now?
13:09She said you was a grand lady and you wouldn't want to be reminded.
13:11Well, there's some people I don't want to be reminded of.
13:13Poison Ivy's one of them.
13:14Oh, miss.
13:16It's never been the same since you left you and Mr Trotter.
13:18They made me do everything.
13:20Washing, cleaning, fetching and carrying.
13:22And Ivy hit me for being slow.
13:24And sometimes I got so tired...
13:25And you didn't dare tell Mrs Catchpole, did you?
13:28Oh, no, miss.
13:29Oh, Mary.
13:33I'm so glad she came to you.
13:35Poor girl.
13:36I couldn't think what had happened to her.
13:38Your kitchen-mate Ivy's been up to her old tricks again, Mrs Catchpole.
13:42Oh, dear.
13:42What are you going to do about it?
13:44What can I do?
13:46I've not been well.
13:48This house has been so difficult to run since you and Mr Trotter left.
13:51And then, Monsieur Alex, we've had a series of cooks on a month's trial each.
13:57Two quite good, but only competent.
14:01Oh, well, that's enough of my worries.
14:03Please do sit down.
14:07I'm so glad that things worked out well for you.
14:12I expect you were provided for.
14:17I've an house in one of the best parts of town.
14:19Oh, servants look after me, a bit in the bank.
14:23And a devoted husband.
14:24Yeah.
14:26Most women would envy you.
14:27Well, they'd be wrong.
14:29I knew it was wrong from the start.
14:32When I realised what was behind all that attention,
14:35all that special sort of kindness I had from the prince.
14:38It's not that I wasn't flattered.
14:39I was quite cocky for a while.
14:42But the price was too high, Mrs Catchpole.
14:45Knowing the prince must have, well, helped you professionally.
14:48Help me, it's finished me.
14:50I've become too exclusive, haven't I?
14:53By a royal appointment, nobody really gives me as a cook no more.
14:56And that's what I am.
14:57I'm a master cook.
14:58Yes.
14:59And it's not just the name.
15:00It's not the big success that makes your name.
15:02It's going on and building up your reputation.
15:04It's the doing of it.
15:06The atmosphere and the ingredients and the contrast
15:08and making everything perfect.
15:11What do I do now?
15:13Older meals for us, but I don't much care what's served up in front of him
15:15as long as it's on time.
15:18It's driving me balmy.
15:20Yes, I understand, my dear.
15:25Lord Henry is giving dinner to the King of Portugal next Tuesday.
15:29He stayed on for a private visit after the funeral.
15:32Oh, Carlos is no problem.
15:34He likes good, no frills, English cooking and lots of it.
15:38You give him oyster soup, alibut, lark pudding, venison pasty,
15:41three kinds of roast and he's happy.
15:42You see, who else could have known that?
15:44Lord Henry will probably get a decoration out of it and all.
15:47And so might you, if you came back and cooked dinner for him.
15:50Just for the one night.
15:52How many guests?
15:53Twenty.
15:54Yeah, Tuesday's not much notice, is it?
15:57Yeah, we're forgetting about why I come here.
15:59What about Mary?
16:01Say yes and I'll promise she's taken back.
16:05Don't worry.
16:06I'll cook your dinner for you.
16:08And I'll keep Mary myself.
16:10If I'm going back cooking, I'm going to need someone to help me, aren't I?
16:14You'll never believe the change in that place, Gus.
16:17I've only really learned to appreciate you in your absence.
16:21You'd be funny being back in the kitchen at Lord Henry's where it all started.
16:25I don't.
16:25I don't want you to go there again.
16:27Eh?
16:28I won't have my wife occupying a menial position.
16:31Oh, no.
16:32Immediately, Liz.
16:32I won't, I won't have it.
16:35Well, Mrs. Catchpole only asked me to do her a favor, Gus.
16:38Then she should ask me.
16:40Must I remind you that you are my wife?
16:45Do you think I have to be reminded?
16:47I haven't finished talking.
16:48I'm talking to you.
16:50We have to discuss our future.
16:52Oh, not now.
16:53Now!
16:54We keep putting it off.
16:55We can't put it off any longer.
16:57All right.
16:58Let's see what Nora had to say.
17:00I knew I'd get it sooner or later.
17:02We have to take stock.
17:05We have no income.
17:07We live in a house that's far too big for us.
17:09Do you want to sell it?
17:10No, of course not.
17:10It's our only asset.
17:11All we've got out of it, we should use it.
17:13Oh, yeah?
17:14How?
17:14In the most sensible way.
17:16Let the spare rooms.
17:17Over the boarding house?
17:18No, no, no.
17:20Private rooms for gentlemen.
17:21You get all up here about me occupying a menial position
17:24and you want to let off our rooms to strangers,
17:26go skiving around after them.
17:28We have servants to do that.
17:29Don't you see?
17:30It would give us our independence a chance
17:31to keep up our station in life.
17:33Which do you fancy?
17:34Some Pancras or Waterloo?
17:35I'm serious about this.
17:36All right, then.
17:36Let's be practical.
17:38Now, how much would we get out
17:39letting three or four rooms, precious little?
17:42There's no money in it, Gus.
17:43We'd budget carefully
17:44and we wouldn't need Mrs Welkin with you doing the cooking.
17:47Over my dead body.
17:49What, slaving away in this place
17:50down our brand full of mouldy lodgers?
17:53Look, I'd earn more out of one booking night, Lord Henry's,
17:55than we'd get out of ten lodgers in a month.
17:57You don't know.
17:58You get any bookings
17:59and this would be regular, steady.
18:01Nora says...
18:02Well, Nora can go...
18:03My sister is only concerned for our welfare.
18:05Welfare?
18:06Ma, I'm Fanny.
18:06She wants to know you're good for a touch.
18:09My sister is part of my obligations.
18:11My mother would expect it.
18:13I'm sick and tired of hearing you and Nora
18:14go on about your great connections.
18:16Can't even put a name to them.
18:20I'm sorry, love,
18:21but if you want me to face facts,
18:22then you've got to face them too.
18:24Right?
18:25I know it's difficult for you.
18:28You're a butler bar profession.
18:29You can't very well carry on and live in your own home.
18:31It's different for me, isn't it?
18:32I'm a cook.
18:33I can go anywhere.
18:35And I'm willing to work hard with your help
18:38and we'll try and make a go of it, eh?
18:41I wonder if you're going to other people's houses.
18:43What do you mean?
18:44Meeting other men.
18:45They take advantage.
18:46Those house parties, the women are fair game.
18:47I know what goes on.
18:48I know what happens.
18:51Do you think I'd let it?
18:53Ever again?
19:01You're my wife.
19:10You keep doing that.
19:12It scares the life out of me.
19:13Don't you ever knock.
19:14Sorry, I'm sorry.
19:17I had to see you.
19:20To apologise.
19:23I didn't mean to imply.
19:28I wanted to say that we're just starting.
19:30Everything's just starting now.
19:33The past is over.
19:35I draw a veil over it.
19:37What do you expect me to say?
19:40How decent, how generous?
19:43I'm prepared to forgive.
19:47You're offering me forgiveness?
19:50You're prepared to forgive me?
19:53You knew what was going to happen, Gus, as well as I did.
19:55I married you.
19:57I was married off to you to make me available to him.
20:01I wanted you.
20:04I'd have done anything.
20:08Anything to get you.
20:12Anything.
20:12I just wanted to be with you.
20:16You knew how it would be and I fought against it, didn't I?
20:19I kept waiting.
20:22Hoping.
20:22No one would believe what it's been like never knowing when it would end.
20:25I thought maybe once he had let you go we'd have a chance.
20:29We'd be together.
20:30Oh, we are.
20:32I mean really together.
20:35Man and wife.
20:39I thought maybe all this time maybe you'd get to like me a little.
20:43Maybe be ready to settle down.
20:45Maybe realise I could make you happy.
20:47And I could, Louisa.
20:48I know I could make you happy.
20:51We get along fine.
20:52Nothing's changed.
20:54I don't mean it like that.
20:55I want you, Louisa.
20:58We had a bargain, Gus.
21:00I told you straight I didn't love you.
21:02I still don't.
21:05I'm fond of you, like...
21:07I don't belong to you or no one.
21:10If things is going to change between us, it'll only happen gradual.
21:14How long do I have to wait?
21:17I can't say that.
21:19We'll have to see.
21:22It's no good unless you stay at home.
21:24If you're going to go working out in other people's houses, I won't be able to stand it.
21:27There's not going to be no one else.
21:29I'll never know that for sure.
21:32You're so precious to me, Louisa.
21:33I'm jealous.
21:35God help me, I get so jealous.
21:38Here, Gus.
21:43I love you.
21:44Try to...
21:45Try to love me.
21:47You're kind to everyone.
21:48Be kind to me.
21:49Steady.
21:50Let me.
21:51Please.
21:51Be kind to me.
21:52Gus, let go of me.
21:54I'm not you.
21:54It's my right.
21:55I've waited.
21:55No!
21:56Gus, let go!
21:57Just this once.
21:58Just now.
21:59Please.
22:01It can't mean that much to you.
22:03I'm your husband.
22:03It's my right.
22:07You can force me, Gus.
22:08You're stronger than me.
22:10But if you do, it'll be the only time you'll never see me again.
22:13I don't know.
22:37I don't know.
23:07well the dinner was a triumph thanks to you his lordship was ill all yesterday ill he couldn't
23:14let his principal guest eat alone but king carlos had so many helpings his lordship nearly passed
23:20still he asked me to thank you most particularly yeah i won't beat about the bush louisa his
23:26lordship was overjoyed to hear that you were available again and he's asked me to offer you
23:31the position as cook here at the same salary we paid monsieur alex and i don't think i'm not
23:38grateful don't you think about it he'd expect you to work for him only during the season the
23:43rest of the year you'll be free and he's prepared to take mr trotter back as his london butler on
23:49the same terms living out blimey unrily you'll want time to think about it of course no no
23:56it's it's a generous it's a more than generous offering i am tempted but well you see mrs
24:02catchpole if i'm ever going to make a real go of my career i can't work for just one person
24:06i wouldn't be me i'd be lord henry's cook wouldn't i i can't go backwards i was afraid you'd say
24:14that
24:16of course i don't know that anyone else is going to want me well i've had some inquiries lady paget's
24:22housekeeper asked if you were available again lady paget and several of the people who were here for the
24:27dinner for dom carlis i've made a list sir ernest castle admiral fisher
24:34crikey this after breath here
25:07what the bleeding hell's this eh it's obvious isn't it i've decided to go ahead oh you have have
25:11you it makes sense our savings won't last forever we need a regular income to keep our heads above water
25:17we're not in the bleeding navy we've already discussed this idea and decided against it you
25:21decided rooms for gentlemen discreet louisa only for the best people out out we'll ring you when
25:27you want to see here don't you see me i don't understand what you're objecting to that's what
25:32worries me gus always on about your your dignity your position in life when you start putting signs
25:38like that up you're throwing it away i want us to be independent it was ambitious ready to work
25:42you were now you won't lift a bleeding finger this whole idea is a way for you to sit at
25:46home and do
25:47nothing that's what i want i want us to be here together gus i've told you i'm starting up my
25:53business again i've asked you to help me run it i'm not a kitchen hand oh come on there's other
25:58ways
25:58you could help and me prospects are looking up now you're a good cook louisa there's no denying that
26:03but it's time you learn how to be a housewife i'm not an housewife nor an housekeeper nor an house
26:10anything and let me tell you when my business really gets going it's going to bring in 50 or 60
26:14quid a week and that goes straight into the bank for you and me for the both of us 60
26:19pounds yeah so
26:20we don't need to let rooms because i deal with the real best people and some of them are going
26:25to come
26:25here to consult me to make bookings which is another reason why i don't want this staring them in the
26:30face
26:30put that where the monkey put the nuts
26:39hurry up with them sauces mrs welkin the cab will be here in a minute yes madam
26:45all right you've got everything in there mary yes ma'am good well we're just about ready
26:51so now we managed it all in here there's a limit to how much we can make and take with
26:55us need a
26:56bigger kitchen madam yeah that we do right now mary you take the implements mrs welkin you take the
27:02sauces and both of you manage the amper yes madam oh what about the master oh we have something cold
27:08for him hang it where's the patties i'll fetch them mum they're in the pantry oh thank you ethel
27:13could carry them out to the cab as well would you there's a good girl please mum i could do
27:17so much
27:17more i've been watching how you do things you're on don hey oh please mum please i've heard you say
27:22you
27:22need another pair of hands well i know there's a lot to learn but i am quick turn round slowly
27:30yeah you're not bad looking quite presentable if you could pick up a bit of style and control
27:35yourself i might be able to use you oh mum oh tar ever so mum i mean
27:43here come on here's the cab right but you're not coming with us tonight when you work in other
27:48people's houses they've watched you're extra critical don't want any of my girls showing
27:52yourself up you start with the basics like mary tomorrow morning six o'clock sharp
28:35there's some bookings for the month after next oh right
28:35of course i've been going through the mail mum there's some bookings for the month after next
28:40oh right
28:46this one's for the 14th
28:48could you court for a dinner party of 36 wines included lady beauchamp
28:57beauchamp beauchamp oh my god beauchamp right
29:03yeah what's the randy old beggar one this time he's willing to pay up to 100 guineas for a private
29:08supper for two oh i think he wants you to be the other guest mum 100 guineas own apartment six
29:15delicious courses and a bomb surprise to follow i'll give him a surprise all right
29:25nice to see you johnny a very great pleasure to see you as lovely as ever thank you kind sir
29:33what brings you round oh i was just passing somehow whenever you say that i get a very funny feeling
29:40what's up don't tell me i'm going to expect a visit no no nothing like that so you were just
29:46passing aye take a pew thank you
29:54everyone in london seems to be talking about your cooking an astonishing success yeah it's working out
29:59pretty well yes is mr trotter at home no no he's uh he's out this morning most mornings i gather
30:08and
30:09evenings it's about him actually that i rather wanted to see you oh word has reached the palace
30:17that your husband spends much of the day in a public house near here and that after he's had a
30:21drink or two he starts talking about things he shouldn't oh my god no apparently it's not really
30:28malicious it's partly boasting partly feeling sorry for himself he'll tell anyone who'll listen how his
30:34life has been ruined now so far the king hasn't heard but if he does his majesty is completely discreet
30:41himself and he demands discretion from others he knows i wouldn't do nothing to hurt him
30:46well neither would gus not meaning to i admit i have a certain sympathy for trotter and i realize
30:52this puts you in a very difficult position but if the greatest possible damage is not to be done
30:57you must find a way to stop him no i'm afraid not my dear only a little while ago you
31:06said lord
31:06henry was keen to take him back yes but not without you it was really you we wanted thank you
31:13james
31:18oh you know the situation i'll be honest with you mrs catchpole i don't know what to do i'm desperate
31:24it must be dreadful for you no it's not me i don't matter so much it's the palace think what
31:30some of
31:30them scandal papers could make of it well you must speak to mr trotter warn him
31:39i don't seem able to talk to him no more he gets on his dignity when i do try and
31:45lay down the law
31:46it only makes him worse he's been hurt very badly as well as the fact that he hasn't worked at
31:51anything since he left here been living off you he must have lost all belief in himself i've asked him
31:57to take over and run me business for me you won't hear of it oh no no no that would
32:01make you his employer
32:05he'd be all the more conscious of his own failure
32:10well i am fond of him you know i'm sorry for him like but it's no good if he won't
32:16even try
32:18i think you have the answer he has to be given back his self-respect and pride by having work
32:25and
32:25responsibility i only wish i could think of some way to help
32:35partner in dairy capital investments and share profits
32:43hotels and catering
32:47uh receptionist day and night porter now bentinck long established family hotel for sale excellent
32:56position permanent residence small experience staff present only retiring permanent residency lease and
33:05content subject to negotiation extensive fully equipped kitchens right
33:41the old benthic
33:47what do you think of it? nice class of premises. how do you like to run it then?
33:55us? no you. you'd be the boss.
34:03well have a look
34:17you've bought it? 60 years left on a 90-year lease. contents and the goodwill. the man made us a
34:23very good price. I think it was taken with Louisa. how could you afford it? where did the money come
34:28from? we worked it all out. what was left of our savings. what I've earned these last few months. what
34:34we'll get from selling this place. we can afford it. sign the papers this morning. and Gus is gonna manage
34:40it. well naturally with his experience.
34:43what will you be doing? looking after the kitchens running my own business. and Gus will take care of everything
34:48else. the best hotel in London. I intend to see that it is. yeah need a deal of modernizing. well
34:55we need to let her walk before we can run. of course I shall ask you to assist me. Nora?
35:00well I shall need someone I can trust. I shall want Nora to be housekeeper. well I've said it. you
35:05make the decisions.
35:08right. come on girls. good morning. morning. what are you doing down here? you meant to be the old porter.
35:16yes ma'am. get up into the hall and port. here are mrs. welkin. here's your kitchen. do the best
35:22you can. shout for me if you want me. we'll work out the menus together. yes ma'am. right. come
35:27on girls. blow your sleeves up. get this place ready. it's a bit of fashion. what do you mean? plenty
35:31of space.
35:35turkey. turkey coming? yeah. yeah the turkey are coming. they're on their way. oh good. good.
35:47mr merriman. this is mr merriman. he's the bentinx head waiter. mr merriman. this is me staff. nice to meet
35:56you.
35:56mr merriman. right come on. get to work. do what to do to get this place clean up. i'll say.
36:00broken down old dump.
36:02meals were cooked in this kitchen for gladstone young woman. he was a bit broken down and old.
36:07ethel! excuse me.
36:12come on. here you are. this all goes with the hotel I inherited him. he's better than he looks.
36:18what was all that about the turkey? oh I've been warned. every now and then wakes up thinks he's still
36:22in the crime here.
36:23he says he was lord raglan's batman. it's possible. we've been running the kitchen with.
36:29it'll end in tears. end in tears.
36:45I'll go away for only two days and I come back here and find mrs welkin all upset and ready
36:49to leave.
36:50all I did was send back her menus. you what? it seemed to me that with only 16 guests in
36:56the hotel they were needlessly extravagant.
36:58well that was none of your concern was it? and in any case she'd agreed in with me.
37:01I would have thought that even you would have realized the need to economize at first.
37:04the last thing we want to economize on is the service we give.
37:08there are dozens of small savings we can make. Augustus agrees.
37:12we can use the extra money to redecorate this office.
37:15well in my opinion it would be better used in trying to brighten up that all.
37:18that's none of your concern is it? any such decision is up to Augustus.
37:25all right. but I'll have no more interference in my kitchen.
37:35Louisa's right in a way.
37:37she will go on playing the great cook.
37:39all she thinks about are her precious kitchens.
37:42she appears to forget that you'd run this hotel
37:44and that I'm the housekeeper.
37:46oh Jisop have Merriman bring me a bottle of champagne. champagne sir?
37:51yes the Krug 92. Krug 92? certainly sir.
38:03trouble brewing ma'am. knew it all along.
38:05trouble? what do you mean?
38:06couple more guests left this morning.
38:08staff thinks if any more goes shutters will go up and they'll all be out on the street.
38:12now listen here the lot of you.
38:14this hotel is going to be a success.
38:17it's going to make its reputation on its cuisine.
38:20right?
38:21ten guests or an under they'll get the best bleed meals in London.
38:24we'll be turning away visitors in six months and my business is growing all the time.
38:28so whatever happens you're not going to be idle.
38:30you'll be treated fair and there's going to be no sackings and that's my guarantee.
38:33right?
38:34very good ma'am.
38:36mate you've got lunch to get ready. carry on.
38:39and the menus stay the same as we arrange mrs welkin.
38:42yes madam.
38:46ethel?
38:47you'll take over the preparations for the german embassy dinner.
38:50yes ma'am.
38:51mary you come with me to arfordshire.
38:54mrs trotter?
38:56i've been meaning to say the kitchen at the embassy
38:59last time we had ever so much trouble keeping things up
39:02and when there's 50 or more places.
39:03yeah that's a problem we keep running into.
39:05i've been thinking about it.
39:06we're gonna use A boxes.
39:07A boxes?
39:08when i was a kid at home we used to put the porridge overnight into A boxes.
39:11porridge?
39:11are we gonna make porridge?
39:12no you silly herb but it's the process innit.
39:15you started in a big iron pot then you put the pot in a box of straw overnight
39:19and in the morning it had cooked nice and slow in its own heat.
39:22for bouillon's fricassee is such perfect.
39:24you say so ma'am.
39:25yeah i'm having a load of boxes delivered tomorrow.
39:27we'll try it out on the cards his nephew.
39:31oh excuse me madam.
39:34letter for you.
39:35thank you.
39:35for you.
39:38countess.
39:41come in my dear chaps.
39:44heard the filly didn't work Newmarket.
39:47oh jesop have merriman bring us up a bottle of brandy.
39:50sir come into the office.
39:56lower them in gently.
39:58here i go.
39:59gently for god's sake.
40:02excuse me ma'am.
40:03hey mr trotter he wants dinner for six in his room.
40:06what this time of night?
40:07it is personal guests ma'am.
40:09few sporting gentlemen.
40:10take a bit of time.
40:11now mad you don't get it mixed up mary.
40:13it's to sell me a game with a veal fricassee for richmond.
40:16and burr full of mode and the oyster soup for grosvenor street.
40:19hey boxes eh?
40:21they'll work mr merriman.
40:22oh i know it mum.
40:24i seen the turkey cook rat stew in them in the crimea.
40:27rat stew?
40:28oh it's very tasty a nice rat.
41:02mrs trotter said we gotta know how to set out the places.
41:04they got it wrong last night and there was hell to pay.
41:07yeah.
41:14sure that's right?
41:16study the menu.
41:17lay for the first course on the outside.
41:20work your way in.
41:21simplest way stands to reason.
41:23never thought of that at all.
41:25yeah.
41:34you're late tonight.
41:36mr trotter's entertaining a few friends.
41:39oh yeah.
41:42something wrong?
41:44he's asked for the keys of the wine cellars mum.
41:46there's a lot of rare wines in there and his head waiter I'm responsible.
41:51and he wants the keys.
41:54well he's a manager he better have them.
41:57pretty good one.
42:07so his lordship bet them that none of them would say hello to him the following morning when he rode
42:12down rotten row.
42:13they all said of course that they would and took him on for 50 guineas.
42:18next morning they were all there.
42:20no his lordship just carriages a few horsemen and an old hackney cab.
42:26when the hackney reaches the end of the row the cabbie stands up.
42:30takes off his hat and his muffle in his coat and it's his lordship.
42:34and they all own him 50 guineas.
42:36very good.
42:44you took your time.
42:48there we are.
42:50what did I tell you?
42:51you're keys to a fortune in claret, port, rare brandy and champagne!
42:57hey!
43:08oh thank you merriman.
43:10keep you going.
43:14you weigh yourself out mum I'll be begging your pardon but is it worth it's just for money
43:21it's worth it for what money can buy I'm gonna clear all this lot out getting the most up-to
43:27-date
43:27equipment that's what I'm working for every penny goes towards it this is gonna be the
43:32best kitchen in England and I'm gonna use it to create the dishes that no one's ever dreamt about
43:56right I'm off in where to I told you house parties after the season Doncaster up to Hamilton back down
44:03to Anglesey how long will you be gone about three weeks I'll miss you oh you got Nora don't laugh
44:09at
44:09me I'll miss you yeah so many times have I come looking for you these last months in every year
44:14ain't even asked after me I'm busy making contacts for the future good that's good and I've asked for
44:20the checks to be sent direct to you what do you mean you object to the service it's a privilege
44:31privilege for you to be allowed to stay here oh what you're ridiculous money your bills cancel you get
44:48out what are you doing there if you have duties to attend to see to them otherwise clear off
45:00we weren't expecting you back till tomorrow madam we found we could catch the afternoon train
45:04evening where is everybody my god mrs rockham what a bleep news this thought told you never to get
45:12anything but the best quality poultry anything else a waste of time and money they were the best I could
45:16get madam rubbish mate from us don't even sell stuff of that quality we don't shop there anymore they
45:21won't give us no more credit no more credit why I went round to see mr. mather himself seems our
45:27bills
45:28haven't been paid for several months months tradesmen have only been supplying us on your reputation madam
45:33but not anymore not as much point seeing there's hardly anyone to cook for there's only two guests
45:39left the hotel bomb and their fringe of mr. trotter what's going on a ruination that's what what do you
45:45mean staff walked out because they're not being paid guests follow because there's no one to go after
45:50only mr. jessime and me left upstairs ruination I won't leave till you come back madam what about
45:56Ethel she was turned out last week that miss trotter said she'd have to go back to being a general
46:01maid
46:02she refused where is miss trotter lying down it is I wrote and mr. trotter oh cafe royal I suppose
46:08dines there most evenings does he now right mary you come with me here
46:22yeah where do you think you're going nobody allowed in there is that so I'm sorry I work for mr.
46:29trotter and he said to make sure that nobody goes in there well you just try and stop me oh
46:36my Athens oh marco
46:41yeah where's he keep the account books
46:48mary see if you can find the cash box go
47:00that ain't impossible
47:03that ain't possible
47:06how much seven pounds six shillings and fourpence mum
47:12well that's all we got left in the world mary
47:15here take that downstairs put it in one of the ovens for god's sake make sure it's not lit
47:21then push off and get yourself to bed
47:36Louise is in your office
47:47I wasn't I didn't expect you back so soon obviously I had a few friends in according
47:57to these accounts you signed off the bar bills for months and given free meals to
48:02every bleeding sponge you're in London hospitality Louisa oh yeah you wanted to
48:08act the big man hey you've no right to speak to him like that right you talk to
48:12me about rights when this out not one bill's been paid in everything our slave
48:18for everything I earn and gave you to put in the bank has been spent what the
48:22bleeding hell have you been up to I had to learn it's been difficult with all no not
48:27for you Gus seems to me most of it's gone down you and your friend's throats the
48:30rest of it's gone on our back I tried I tried if only you'd been closer to me
48:34Louisa you try to put the blame on me no why not he gave up everything for you
48:39he gave up everything for me anyway it's not the profession for a gentleman
48:43a gentleman he's a little better than a thief is the owner of this hotel I'll be damned I'll put
48:47him in here to run it with your help he's running into the ground are you going to let her
48:51speak to
48:51your sister
48:52get out
48:52get out
48:55take him with you
48:57get out
48:59take him with you
49:00get out
49:02how could you run the hotel without us
49:04the hotel can go to hell and if half of you show your faces in here again I'll smash them
49:08in
49:09get out
49:26get out
49:40Oh, man.
50:35Oh, man.
50:40Oh, man.
51:10Oh, man.
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