Separate Tables (1983) - full transcript

[UTENSILS CLATTERING]

What are you,
Madeleine or the goulash?

Madeleine.

Sorry.
I thought you
were goulash.

Oh, it was probably
my fault.

I'm so sorry, Mable.
I'm quite sure it was I
who made the mistake.

I dare say.Thank you.

You were goulash,
weren't you Miss Meacham?

Uh, oh, yeah. Yes.
Thanks, Mable.

MABLE:
On what to follow.

The mousse angelic
or the turnover.



What do you suggest?

Turnover.

Turnover.

I think Cook's acquiring
a little lighter touch
with her pastry.

Don't you think?

Not judging by the tarts,
we had a tea yesterday.

Cannonballs.

Oh, did you think so?
I rather liked them.

I had the most
awful dreams.

I thought you were
always dreaming.

Oh, they're not
my usual dreams.

Not the ones I make
myself dream.

I had the most
terrible nightmares,

full of thugs and all that
sort of thing.



I talked to Louis XV
on Thursday night.

Did you indeed, dear?

This goulash
is rather good!

I think you made
a mistake.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Do you think you'll find
a winner for tomorrow,
Miss Meacham?

Master Latch is worth a pop
or two each way.

Oh, I never bet nowadays.

When my husband was alive,
he used to put sometimes

as much as five pounds
on a horse for me.

I used to bet five times
that amount when
my father was

alive and I had
an allowance.

Well, then,
why don't you
get spectacles?

Because I don't
need them.

[TELEPHONE RINGING]

Sorry, Mr. Fowler,
the goulash is off.

What? No goulash?

What about the cold pie?

Oh, I shouldn't
have that if I was you.
I saw what went into it.

If I was you,
I'd have this.

All right.
Whatever you say.

Ta.

She won't last.

I'm afraid not.

Still, I think
it's a disgrace that
the goulash is off

and two people are
not even in yet.Yes, I know.

Of course, Mr. Malcolm's
always late and
rarely deserves it.

Anyway, after those long
sessions at the Feathers,

I often wonder if he really
knows what he's eating.

But the new lady,
I mean, my dear,
what will she think?

I saw her arrive.

Did you, dear?Yes, did you?

I was in the lounge.

I didn't, excuse me,
think it quite right to peer
out the window, Etta.

I happened to be
in the hall.

I met her on the stairs.

Did you, dear?

She's called
Mrs. Shankland.
She comes from London.

She arrived by train.
She has four suitcases

and a hat box and
she's staying two weeks.

Really?Hmm.

I thought it was quite
nice out this afternoon,
didn't you, dear?

I mean, for December.

I didn't go out, I'm afraid.
There was a Sibelius concert
on a while ago.

You and your music.

Did you go out,
Mr. Fowler?

What? No, I didn't. I was
waiting for a telephone call.

I was the only
brave one then. Fancy.[CHUCKLING]

I always say,
the weather in December...

Oh, you're the new one,
aren't you?

Yes.

You're here.

Brown Windsor soup or
petit marmite?

I don't think I'll have
any soup, thank you.

I'll try the goulash.

Goulash, that's right.
We've just one
portion left.

Well, really!

I've been saying about
the weather in December.Yes.

It can be so treacherous,
especially here on
the south coast.

This afternoon,
for instance,

even though the sun
was quite bright,
I put on a fur coat.

My warmest one too.
The Persian lamb.

Very sensible of you.

See you later, ladies.

Trousers at dinner.
She's so American.WOMAN: Yes, I know.

And he never bothers
to change either.

You think Miss Cooper
would say something.

I wonder, they don't teach
them better manners at Oxford.

You would think
they would indeed,

but you know my husband
was at Oxford and...

Yes, dear, you've told
me so before.

My nanny went to
Birmingham

because of that wonderful
engineering course
they have there.

He hated it, of course.

Good evening.

Good evening,
Miss Cooper.

Good evening, Miss Cooper.

Good evening.

I everything all right,
Mrs. Shankland?

Yes, thank you.I'm so sorry I wasn't here
to show you to your table.

I had a telephone call from
London. Are you being
looked after all right?

No, I don't care for it.
Bad for the figure.

I shouldn't have thought
you'd have to worry
about that, Mrs. Shankland.

Mmm, I do.

I work at modeling,
you know.

MRS. COOPER:
Are you down here
for a little rest?

MRS. SHANKLAND:
Yes, that's right.

I hope you find your room
quite comfortable.

Mmm, I'm sure I shall.

If there's anything
you want, don't hesitate
to ask me.

I shall.

Mable.Yes, Miss?

Go up to Mr. Malcolm's room
and tell him that he...

I've been
and he's not there.

Have they kept
something hot for him?

Yes. But Cook says if he's
not in in five minutes...

He'll be in long
before that.

[SIGHS]

[WIND HOWLING]

Miss Cooper, did I hear
you say something
about a telephone call?

Oh, yes. I'm afraid
it wasn't from your guest,
Mr. Fowler.

It was from Major Pollock.

He's coming back
next Tuesday.

Oh, God. That old bore.

Ringing up from London?
Oh, that's very extravagant
for the Major.

I can't understand Philip
not ringing up.

How does he expect us
to meet him at the station

if we don't know
what train he's on?

Have you tried calling him?

Yes, twice.
No reply each time.

Perhaps I'd better
try again.

It's a little late for that,
Mr. Fowler. There's only
one train left from London.

Please don't worry about
the room, Miss Cooper.

If anything has gone wrong,
which I don't believe,
mind you,

I'll pay for it myself,
I promise you.

No, that's perfectly
all right. But I would like
you to let me know,

if you don't mind,
as soon as possible.

It's too bad, Miss Cooper.
This is the third time,
isn't it?

Oh, I expect he'll turn up.

Just forgotten to
telephone, that's all.

You know what these
young people are like.

Well, I don't,
as it happens.

I don't care for
Bohemians.

We have one too many here,
I should've thought.

And I'm beginning to doubt
the very existence

of Mr. Fowler's famous
young painter friend.

He exists. Mr. Fowler
showed me an article on him.

It appears, that he was
the top boy at Mr. Fowler's
former Tonbridge.

Well, I think it's a disgrace
the way he keeps on
letting him down like this.

Nonsense!

What, dear?

Why should the young
show us any consideration?

We've had our lives,
they still got theirs
to live.

Seeing us can only remind
them of death and old
people's diseases.

I've got two of the
prettiest nieces
you ever saw,

they never come see me.

And I wouldn't like it
if they did.

I'm getting a bit worried
about Miss Meacham.

She certainly gets more
and more unusual every week.

It's those dream
games of hers.

Well, I suppose
they're harmless

but I don't know what
a psychiatrist would say.

The human mind, you know,
is a very delicate
piece of machinery,

as my husband
used to say.

One never knows.

Well, shall I see you
in the lounge

or will you be listening to
one of your concerts?

No, there's nothing on
tonight worth hearing.
[CHUCKLES]

Good and...
[SPEAKING FRENCH]

I brought
you the turnover.

It's better than
the other.

Thank you.

Oh, you're back.
Thank heavens, I thought
we'd never get off tonight.

Where you been?
The Feathers?

Yes.MABLE: Thought so.

Goulash is off.
You'll have to
have madeleine?

Yeah, thank you.

Good evening.

Here you are.
Tuck into that.

That is if you if
you haven't had enough
liquids already.

Is this coincidence?

Of course.

What you doing here?

A rest cure.

Why this place?

It was
recommended to me.Who by?

A man I met at
a party somewhere.

Didn't he tell you
I was here?

No.

Mentioned a journalist
called John Malcolm.
Is that you?

Of course,
your Christian names.

Why, for the love of God,
couldn't you get
a royal bath

at one of
the grand hotels?

I couldn't afford
a grand hotel.

He pays you alimony,
doesn't he?

750 a year.

I don't find it very easy.
You see, I'm not getting
work these days.

I thought he was
a rich man.

Well, his antique shop
lost a lot of money.

Gets his name in
the papers a lot.

Yes, Michael's
quite a social figure.

First nights and all that.

[CHUCKLES]

Yeah.

[SIGHS]

How long were you
married to him?

Three years
and six months.

Three months
longer than me.

You know,
I saw the headlines
of the case.

They were quite juicy.
Not as juicy as ours
though, eh?

It was cruelty again,
wasn't it?

Yes.

Did he try to
kill you, too?

No.

Here you are. Usual veg.

You look a bit down
in the dumps.

Anything the matter?No.

Well, don't take
too long, will you,
'cause my friend is waiting.

Finished?Yes.

Oh, you can take that.

Oh, ta.

How did he show
his cruelty?

In lots of ways.
Small ways.

It can all be summed
up by saying he doesn't
really like women.

Oh.

Why did he marry
you then?

Wanted a wife.

And you wanted
a husband, eh?

[EXHALES SMOKE]
I suppose so.

But he was gentle and kind

and he made me laugh.

I was fond of him.

I went into it with my eyes
well open. I thought
I could make it work.

But I was wrong.

[SCOFFS]

Oh, well.
Third time lucky
perhaps, eh?

Perhaps.

How long are you
staying here?

I booked for two weeks.

Well, I'll leave for
London tomorrow.

No!

If you feel like that,
I'll go to another hotel.

Well, that might be easy.
I guess.

John, I don't see what...

Why didn't' you come to
see me in prison?

I wanted to but
I was stopped.

Who by?
Who stopped you?

My mother and father.

They thought it would
make it easier for you
if I kept away.

Yeah, that's a very well-bred
Christian thought.

My dear ex-in-laws,
well, how are they?

My father's dead.

My mother lives
in a place very alike
this in Kensington.

You'll leave
tomorrow then, yes?

Yes.Thank you.

John.

What do
we do now, hmm?

Shake hands?

I'm very glad to
see you again, John.

Still got that scar on
the side of your head?

No, that's gone.

Five stitches and a week
in a hospital?

Eight years will cure
most scars.

Most, I suppose.

Not all though.
Good night.

Good, evening,
Mr. Malcolm.

Ah, good evening.Did you want something?

Is there anything I can do?No, thanks, I'm finished.
I'm going out.

It's a terrible night
and it's starting to pour...[DOOR OPENING]

JOHN: It doesn't matter.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Coffee is served
in the lounge,
Mrs. Shankland.

Oh, thank you.If you like,
I'll take you in

and introduce you
to your fellow guests.Thank you.

It is so odd
about newcomers.

I don't like any of my
guests to feel lonely.Yeah.

[SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUES]

Night, sweetie.

Good night.Good night,
Miss Meacham.

[WIND HOWLING]

This weather...

[SIGHS]

Oh, that's it for me.

Does your father
know about me yet?

Yes.

What'd you tell him?

Huh?

What did you
tell him?

Don't do that, Jean.
I'm in the middle
of the trickiest

duct in the whole
human body.

What did you tell him?

Oh, God.

That we were in love with
each other and that we
were going be married.

Then you told him
a dirty lie, didn't you?[SIGHS]

Well, I had to put it
like that otherwise he
wouldn't have understood.

Now, Jean,
please be quiet.

Oh, honey. Look,
you better stop now.

Well, if you go on
much longer,
you know you won't sleep.

It'll make you old
before your time.

My God.

To be old before
one's time.

I wonder if all old people
are miserable as these.

Oh, they're
not miserable.[SCOFFS]

Look at old dream girl.

She's as happy as a lover
commuting with her spirits

and waiting for
the racing results.

And Bournemouth Belle is
pretty happy. Swaying around
here in her fox fur coat

and keeping her nose
in everybody's business.[LAUGHING]

And as for Karl Marx...Honey, you can't say
Karl Marx isn't miserable.

Oh, I don't know. He's got
his booze and his articles
in the New Outlook

and his vague air
of a murky past.

Oh, but you know who
I think is miserable?

Miss Cooper?

No, not Miss Cooper.

The new one.

Mrs. Shankland?Yeah.

You've only met her
for a second an hour ago.

Oh, she can't fool me.

I mean what's
she doing here
dressed up like that?

She's been through
something, that lady.

Jean, you're getting
worse than the old girls.

She's divorced.[SCOFFS]

No, I'm sure of it.

All right, so,
she's divorced.

Does that make her
a tragic figure?

I would've thought
according to
your ideas on marriage,

it ought to make her
an extremely happy one.

My ideas on marriage
are only for us, Charles.

Because I want to
have a career...

You're going to have
a career and I'm going
to be a famous surgeon...

And we don't want hoards
of children cluttering up
your consulting room.

Hey, but other people
aren't as sensible
as we are.

They go and get married
and then they get miserable
and it all goes wrong.

Well, that's not going
to happen to us.
We're too integrated.

Well, at least
I know I am.

Come and give me a kiss
and I'll show you
how integrated I am.

[SQUEALS]

He completely floored
that horrid socialist.

It was really excellent.

Oh. Hello.

Finish your work?

Yes, thank you.[CLEARS THROAT]
Uh, yes.

Just going to bed.

Good night.

Good night, ladies.

Good night.

See you at breakfast.

They've been
making love.

Yes. Perhaps they
are in love.

I always thought
there was something.

They're meant to be
in here just to work.

Old friends and all that
sort of thing. That's
what they told Miss Cooper.

If they're in love,
why can't they say so?

I hate anything furtive.

You know,
that man was very good
just now on television.

Oh, yes.
What was it he said
that was so true?

Something about
the national cake.

[DOOR OPENS][WIND HOWLING]

Goodness!Oh!

Shut that door at once.
There's a most
terrible draft.

[SLURRING] A draft?

Oh, yeah.

He's drunk.[DOOR CLOSES]

Yes, the national cake.

Oh, it was in that
wonderful answer
he gave about

leveling up rather
than leveling down.

He said,
don't you remember,

that whereas the
socialist were only...

[SIGHS]

...concerned...

...with cutting
the national cake
into exactly equal slices,

the conservatives
were trying to increase
the size of the cake.

Who said that?

Sir Roger Williams
on television.

Oh, I might've
guessed it.

I take it you don't
agree with him,
Mr. Malcolm?

Of course, I don't agree.
You know damn well
I don't agree.

That's not
the point!

They got some damn
clever people
in that party.

Why do they have to
put an old ass like that
on television?

With a falsetto voice,

face like an angry
walrus and the mind of
a backward child of eight.

Well, that is not our
impression of Sir Roger.

Well, poor old Roger,
eh? I suppose he
needs the dough

to make a little back
on what he spends on
all those girlfriends of his.

Are you personally
acquainted with
Sir Roger, Mr. Malcolm?

I never met him.

May I ask then,
by what right...

No right. I just hear things
about him, that's all.

Very libelous things
if I may say so.

Yeah, well, the greater
the truth, the greater
the libel

is the phrase,
isn't it?

What else did
Sir Roger say, eh?

Did he mention the go-slow
loving the docks?

As a matter of fact
he did.

He said that the dockers
have no sense of
national responsibility.

There had no body of men
in England with more.

Hearty line, Mr. Malcolm.

No, that's my line.
Because that's something
I know about

because I used to be
a docker myself.

I'm not, if I may say so,
surprised to hear it.

Well, I'm not surprised
that you're not surprised,
Mrs. Railton-Bell.

[BURPS] Excuse me.

Too much whiskey.

Keeps the draft out,
you know. [CHUCKLES]

I gather you two ladies
read the New Outlook.

I certainly do no such
thing. I wouldn't soil
my hands with it.

Ah, thought as much.
What about you then,
Lady Matheson, hmm?

Well, I have glanced at it
from time to time

and I have read one of your
articles, Mr. Malcolm.

[SNEEZES] Excuse me.
Have you...
What was it about?

Dividends on wages.What do you think of it?

Well, since you ask me,
I thought it was monstrous.
Utterly monstrous!

Do you realize that
I have to live on
a little less than half

of what the average dock
worker makes in a year?

My husband was
in the civil service

but he died before the
pension scheme came
into force. So that now...

Yeah, you can't afford
to have your radio repaired,
can you?

And you live by it, eh?

You had to move into
a small back room
at the hotel last year

when they put
the prices up.

You see, you're the
unlucky victims of
our revolution.

You know,
you and Miss Meacham

and Mr. Fowler and all of
the rest of them.

You should appeal to
our humane instincts,

Lady Matheson.

By voting on your side,
I suppose?

Well, that would be
the most practical way,
I agree with you.

Never.
Never till I die.

Why didn't you mention me
when you were speaking
of victims?

Well, because
you're not one.
And you won't be either

until our tax on capital
gets at that tidy little
nest egg of yours.

I think we should go,
Gladys, and leave

Mr. Malcolm to
sleep it off.

Oh, you're leaving, ladies.
I mustn't forget
my manners, must I?

I so enjoyed
our little chat.

Don't forget, ladies.
Next election, vote labor.

It's our own fault, Gladys.
We should never
have allowed ourselves

to get into an argument
with a drunken red.

Oh, come along, Gladys.

I've left my reading
glasses somewhere.

Search for reading glasses.
[BURPS]

[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

Not too late I hope.

I won't have any now,
thank you.

Mr. Malcolm, did you
come in through the
French windows?

Ah, yes, I did.

You know
there's a hotel rule
against that.

I forgot it, I'm sorry.

There's mud all over
the floor. Oh, really!

I'm very sorry.

I'm so sorry. Has there
been some bother?[SCOFFS]

Oh, dear. What was it?

I'd rather not
discuss it now.
Can't you find them, dear?

They were underneath
the chair.

Oh, do come along.
That horrid man may
be back at any moment.

Well, you see, I was
sitting at Mr. Fowler's
chair after dinner...

Good night,
Miss Cooper.Good night.

Uh, Miss Cooper,
I should like
a word with you

tomorrow morning
after breakfast.

Good night.Good night.

Good night,
Mr. Fowler.

Good night.[LINE RINGING]

Everything all right,
Mr. Fowler?

I'm afraid not.[COINS CLINKING]

I'll try again,
of course.

I'm quite sure there's been
a mistake of some kind.

A telegram wrongly
addressed or something.

Yes, I expect so.

I don't want anyone
to wait up.

But, as I can hear
the front doorbell
from my room,

would you mind
if I answer it
myself tonight?

That's perfectly
all right, Mr. Fowler,

but you're surely not still
expecting him, are you?

Well, he might have hired
a car or something.

He's a very
extravagant boy.

Well, good night.Good night, Mr. Fowler.

Are you, um...

You very drunk?

No, no, not very.

How many?

Well, as many
as I could afford.
Wasn't a lot.

Something's the matter.
What is it?

Nothing much.

Want to tell me?

No, I can't tell you.

It's all right.

What did you say
to the old ladies?

Too much.

Oh, far too damn much.

[CHUCKLES]

God.

I may have to leave.

You can't leave.I may have to.

You don't have to.
I'll see to that.

Was, uh...
Was it so bad?

No, not very bad.
Just an ordinary show-off,
you know.

Rather sour little bit of
alcoholic self-assertion.

Taking it out on
two old women.

Letting them know
what a great
political figure I am.

What a great man I was.
I even let it out that
I used to work in the docks.

Oh, Lord. [LAUGHING]

I'm sorry, Pat, I...

[SIGHS]

I don't know
why I do these things.

I used to know
how to behave.

I'd probably been
nothing anyway.

The world's full of
young men, who have not
in middle age

fulfilled their promises.

I mean,
there's nothing to that,
is there? Nothing at all.

No, something's
the matter. What is it?

I told you. I can't
tell you and it's not
important anyway.

It's important enough for
quite a few whiskeys.

Well, quite a few
things are important
enough for that.

Would they, um...

Would they ever take you
back into the party?

No. I'd often thought
I liked it.

Try and stand for my
old constituency again.

[CHUCKLES]

What a field day
for the Tory press
that would be, eh?

Oh, I can just see it.
"John Malcolm rams

"the Junior minister in
the '45 administration,

"went to prison
for six months.

"Triple charge.
Assaulting a policeman,
drunk and disorderly.

"Grievous bodily harm
to wife."

No.

Well, I think I'm...

I better stay
John Malcolm.

Journalist.
Middle-aged soak.
Has-been.

Terror of the old ladies of
the Hotel Beauregard,
Bournemouth. I prefer that.

I don't want to know
what it is,

but let me help you
if I can.

[SIGHS]

Pat, you know,

I really do love you
very sincerely.

[MISS COOPER CHUCKLES]

"Sincerely?" It sounds
a little bit like what

a brother says
to his sister.

Now, surely, you've got
enough reason to know

that my feelings for you
are more than fraternal.

Yes.

But in spite
of all that...

And don't think I'm not
grateful for all that...

Really not quite
enough reason.

Oh, Mrs. Shankland,
they told me you'd
gone up some time ago.

Yes, I had.

But not to bed.That's a comfy arm chair
out there, isn't it?

Yes, very.Was there anything you
wanted, Mrs. Shankland?

No, I just wanted a word
or two with Mr. Malcolm.

MISS COOPER: Oh, really.
Had you two met before?

MRS. SHANKLAND: Yes.Oh.

Well, I'll leave you
alone together then.

You want something,
I should be up for
quite some time.

I didn't want to leave
without our saying

something to
each other, John.

I hope you don't mind.

Why should I mind?

Rushing out of dinner
like a whirlwind
made it look as if

you hated the very
sight of me.

The very sight of you

is the one thing about
you that I don't hate.

Oh, dear.

[FORCED CHUCKLE]
That's not a very
nice thing to hear.

Don't you enjoy being
complimented on your
looks anymore?

Has your
narcissism vanished?

No, I suppose not.

I don't enjoy
being hated by you.

Oh, don't you?
You used to.

You got me wrong, John.
You always did, you know.

I don't think so, Anne,
otherwise I wouldn't have
found you so predictable.

Oh, you used to say
I was predictable.

I remember that was
one of the things that
used to irritate me most.

Oh, go to bed, Anne.
Leave quietly
tomorrow, please.

It's better.
It's better. Really it is.

Tell me, John.
Did you always find me
so predictable?

Even at the
very beginning?

Yes.

Why on earth did
you marry me then?

[SCOFFS]

If it flatters your vanity
to hear it yet again,

because my love
for you at the time was
so desperate.

My craving for you
was so violent

that I could deny you
nothing that you asked.

Not even a marriage
that every prompting
of reason

told me
ought to be disastrous.

Why did it so necessarily
have to be disastrous?

Because of class, mainly.

Class? Oh, that's
nonsense, John.

That's just
inverted snobbery.

Look, the gulf between us
was always pretty wide.

Now, I suppose my ideas of
marriage must have been
colored a little

by watching my mother
lose her health, strength
and eventually her life

looking after
eight children.

Well, I'm not saying my
demands on a wife would
have been pitched that high,

but I think they would
at least have involved
a proper running of a home

and the begetting
of children.

Oh, I did make it
perfectly clear before
we were married.

Yeah, yeah,
you made it perfectly
clear, perfectly clear.

A famous model
mustn't gamble
her figure for posterity.

Yeah, I accepted the bargain.
The whole bargain.

I had no complaints.

You have, John.
You know you have.

The real complaint
is still the same as
it always was.

That I didn't love you
when we got married.

Oh, God, do we have to
go through this again?

Yes, we do.

Why on earth would
I've married you if I
hadn't loved you?

After all, there were even
grander figures than
a junior minister...

Oh, yes. I remember
them all. Dukes,

film producers,
Australian millionaires

who had all been too
well-mannered to complain

when you denied them
their conjugal rights.

Too well brought up.
Not to take your
headache at bedtime

is just another
headache at bedtime.

"I'm so sorry, darling.
Too bad. Bad show. Better
in the morning I hope, yes."

Feeling a bit tired
myself anyway, hmm.

I mean, what possible
enjoyment could there
have been

for you in using
your weapons on
a husband like that?

No, you had to abuse
them on a real live
savage from the slums.

Make him grovel with
the promise of vague
and distant delights

that were his
by right anyway.

Drive him to such a frenzy
of rage and drink by a locked

door that he'd kick it in
and hit you
with his fist so hard

you knocked yourself
unconscious against
the wall.

Well, that must
have been fun!

Goodness, John,
how you do go on.

Yes, I do go on.

A foible of disappointed
politicians perhaps anyway.

Drunker tonight
than usual.

Because of seeing me?

Yes.

I'm sorry.

No, you're not.

Give me a cigarette.

[LAUGHS]

Not still this awful
cork-tipped things.

I'll have one of mine.
Hand me my bag.

John,

you do know that
you're the only person
in the world that

I've ever been
really fond of.

You notice how
tactfully I leave out
the word love.

You do know that,
don't you?

You showed your fondness
for me in some rather
surprising ways.

Well, I wasn't prepared
to be your doormat.

I had to fight back
sometimes, didn't I?

It was your choice of
weapons that was so unfair.

I didn't have
any others.

You had the brains
and the eloquence

and the ability to
make me feel cheap,

which incidentally
you've done again tonight.

Have I?

I'm sorry.[LIGHTER CLICKS]

Anyway,

isn't it a principal of war
that you always play upon
your opponents. Weakness.

A principal of war, yes.
Not marriage.

Well, marriage is
a kind of war.

Oh, it is for you.

For you too, John.
Be fair now.

The weakness you played
on was my overpowering
passion for you.

You can put it that way
if you like.

There are less pretty
sounding ways.

Anyway, we never
could've agreed on that
aspect of married life.

No, we couldn't.

Why are you staring at me?

You know very well why.

Don't. It makes
me embarrassed.

Sorry.

John,

if you'd really wanted
an obedient little
house fraufor a wife,

why didn't
you marry one?

Like that manageress that
I caught you canoodling
with a moment ago?

That was a canoodle,
wasn't it?

[LAUGHS WRYLY]

A canoodle is what
you would call it, yes.

Well, why haven't you
married her?

Because I'm not
in love with her.

Does that matter?

Well, I'm old fashioned
enough to think
that it does, yes.

Well, couldn't you
as they say,
"learn to love her?"

After all,
she's your type.

I have only one type
in the world.

Does my pride
no good to say it.

Only one type.

The prototype.

I'm glad.

That's a nice
little affair.

Who gave you that?
Your second?

Yes.

Good taste.[CHUCKLES]

In jewels.

I think you should've
made a go of it
with that man.

Sounds much
more your form.

He wasn't much of a man.

I'm in a bad way,
you know, John.

I'm sorry.

Some of things you told me
might happen to me.

Are happening.

Such as?

Loneliness for one.

No friends?

Not many.
I haven't the gift.

Well, there's no gift.

To make people
love you is a gift.
You have that.

Had it.

Have it.

God, I hate being alone.
God, how I hate it.

This place, for instance,
gives me the creeps.

Why'd you
come here then?

I suppose I didn't realize
what it would be like.

Oh, God, what a life.
I can just see myself in
a few years' time

sitting at one of
those separate tables.

No one on the horizon?

No one I'd want.

And time's slipping.
God, that was fast.

Hasn't seemed so to me
these last eight years.

Oh, John.
I'm so sorry.

Such a wonderful fluke our
meeting again like this.

We really
shouldn't waste it.

After all,
when fate plays such an
astounding trick on us,

it must mean something,

mustn't it?

No, don't send me away
tomorrow, John.

Let me stay on
just a little while.

I won't be a nuisance.
Really, I won't.

You won't be a nuisance.
Hmm?

[BOTH MOANING]

Don't speak, don't speak.

Don't speak.Oh, John. Oh, John.

Oh, darling, John,
I think I must
say something.

I think I must
remind you that we're
in a public lounge,

and inform you
Miss Cooper has been
good enough to give me

what appears to be
a very isolated room,

the number of
which is 19.

Give me one of those
horrid cork-tipped
things of yours.

I'm right out of mine.

[TELEPHONE RINGING DISTANTLY]

What a shaky hand.

How do I look?
All right?All right.

Half an hour.Hmm.

MISS COOPER:
Mrs. Shankland.

You see?

Mrs. Shankland,
you're wanted on the
telephone, a London call.

Oh. Uh, where
is the phone?

It's through here,
if you'll follow me.

That's her, isn't it?What?

Mrs. Shankland.
That's the one, isn't it?Yes.

She looks exactly
the way you described her.

Well, what's going to
happen now?

Oh, I always knew
you were in love with her,
and always would be.

You never made any bones
about that.Pat, please, I...

No, you don't have to
say anything,
I understand.

So, you'll...
You'll be going away,
will you?

I don't know.
God knows I don't know.Oh, I expect you will.

She look as if
she had some willpower,
that girl.

[CHUCKLES WRYLY]

She's taken this much
trouble to run you
to earth down here,

she won't let you go
that easily.

She hasn't
run me to earth.

Her coming down here
was just a coincidence.

A coincidence?
Do you really believe that?

Yes.

All right,
I'm not saying anything.

Say it, damn you,
say it!Don't knock me about!

I'm not her, you know.

All right,
if it's a coincidence,

why is she talking to
your editor on the
telephone just now?

Who?His name's Wilder,
isn't it?

And he knows who you
really are, doesn't he,
and where you live?

Yes. Yes.

And he goes about
the West End
quite a bit.

I'd imagine
cocktail parties,
that sort of thing.

[INAUDIBLE]JOHN: Yes, yes.

Well, could be
a different Mr. Wilder,
I suppose.

If there's
one coincidence
why not another?

Thank you so much,
Miss Cooper.
I'm going to bed now.

I wonder, um, could you
give me a call at 8:30
with hot water and lemon?

Yes, of course.Good night.

Good night, Mr. Malcolm.

JOHN: Anne, stay here.

Pat, you go.

Not now,
wait until morning.

Leave us a moment.
Please, leave us.

"When fate plays as
astounding a trick on us
as this,

"it must mean something,"
mustn't it, Anne?

Yes, that's what I said.

What did you tell
Wilder? Hmm?

No, there's no need to
lie anymore.
I'll quote you, shall I?

My dear, our little plan
has gone off quite
wonderfully.

Thank you so much
for your help.

You should've been there,
you'd have died laughing.

Ten minutes alone with him
was all I needed
to have him groveling.

I can tread on his face now
any time I want to.

Wish you wouldn't be
so angry with me, John.

I had to see you,
I was desperate
to see you,

and this is the only way
I knew how.

You couldn't have
thought of telling me

the truth in there,
could you?

No, you had to have
your moment of conquest,
your moment of triumph,

and you had to have it
by lying and by cheating.

Of course I should've
told you, of course
I should have,

but you see,
even now I still have
a little pride left.

So have I, Anne.
So have I.

Oh, I can see it now.

I can see the makeup
and the lines
that weren't there before.

There'll soon be
nothing left, will there,
eh, to drive a man to...

Why don't you, John,
why don't you?

[CRIES OUT]

[WIND HOWLING]

[SOBBING]

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

Come along.
Come along, Mrs. Shankland,
come along.

Let's go to my room.

There's a fire there
and a nice,
comfortable chair.

I've even got
a little sherry.

You see, somebody might
come in here, and we don't
want that, do we?

Come, come.

MRS. RAILTON-BELL:
Oh, Miss Cooper,

I did tell you, didn't I,
that my daughter Sybil's
coming home this week?

Yes, you did,
Mrs. Railton-Bell.

I'm sure you'll be very
glad to have her back
here with you.

I will indeed.

I trust that
you'll speak very
severely to Mr. Malcolm

about his disgraceful
behavior last night.Yes.

I will,
Mrs. Railton-Bell.

I promise I will.
I will speak to him
most severely.

Good morning.

Good morning,
Miss Cooper.Good morning.

Any letters?Nothing for you,
I'm afraid.

Good morning,
Miss Meacham.

It's gonna be a nice
dry day at last.

Ah, will it be dry
at Newbury,
there that's the point.

MISS COOPER: Now, now,
there, you have me,
Miss Meacham.

Miss Cooper,

Mr. Malcolm
wasn't in his room when
I took his tea up

and his bed
hadn't been slept in.

Yes, I know, Mabel.Oh, you know?

I should've told you.
I'm sorry I forgot.

He had to go to London
unexpectedly last night.Oh.

He won't be in
to breakfast then?No, I expect not.

Well, that's
somethin' anyway.
It's nearly 10:00 now.

What about the new lady?
She's not down yet.

Yes, she's down, Mabel.
She won't be having
any breakfast.

Not having
any breakfast.

She has to be careful of
her figure, I believe.

Well, I can't
see what good
a figure's to you

when you're dead
of starvation.

She's leaving,
isn't she,
the new one?

Yes, she is.
How did you know?

I heard her ask for
her bags to be brought down,
I knew she'd never stick it.

"Stick it,"
Miss Meacham?

Oh, I didn't mean the hotel.

Best for the price
in Bournemouth,
I've always said so.

No, I mean, all this,
the life here's...

She's not the
alone type, is she?

Is anyone
the alone type?

Well, they're rare,
of course, but, um...

You are for one, I'd say.

Am I?Mmm.

Oh, and I'm not saying

you won't fall in love
and get married one
of these days

or something silly
like that, no.

What I'm saying is
that if you don't
you'll be all right,

because you're
self-sufficient,
you see.

Well, I'm glad you think so.
Perhaps even a little more
than you realize.

What do you mean by that?Nothing. I'm sorry,
I'm tired.

I have a headache.
I didn't sleep very well
last night.

Well, I don't suppose
you are glad, really.

Probably never had to
face up to it yet.

I faced up to it
very early on,

long before
I was an old wreck,

while I was still young
and pretty and could choose
from quite a few.

Quite a few.

Well, I didn't choose
any of them

and I've never
regretted it,
not for an instant.

People have always
scared me a bit, you see.
They're so complicated.

I suppose that's why
I prefer the dead
ones really.

Any trouble from them
and you can switch them off
like a television set.

No, what I've
always said is,

being alone,
that's the real
blessed state,

if you've got
the character for it.

Not Mrs. What's-Her-Name,
from Mayfair,
I would add, eh?

I could tell at a glance,
two weeks here

and she'd have her head
in the gas oven.

It's pork for lunch,
isn't it?

Yes, Miss Meacham.

I loathe pork.

I'd have a bob or two
on Danny Boy, dear,
if I were you.

He's past the post,
if the going's good.

[WOMAN SINGING DISTANTLY]

Pat, Can I talk to you
a minute?

Are you all right?Yes, I'm all right.

Where did you go?I don't know,
I walked a lot.

Were you out
all night?Uh...

No, I sat in a shelter
half the night.

Pat, can you have me
have some money?
I'm broke.

I spent my whole check
in the Feathers last night.

How much do you want?

Enough to get me away
for a few days,
three or four pounds, I think.

Can you let me
have it?

You won't need it.
She's, uh...going.

Are you sure?Yes.

Where is she now?In my office.

Oh, don't worry,
she won't come in here.

Ah, did you get very wet?

Um, well, I suppose.
I guess I dried off.

Gotta have some breakfast.
Your hands are like ice.

Hmm. I don't want
anything to eat,
just tea.

All right.

Straighten your tie
and turn down your collar.

That's better.
Now you look
quite respectable...

Oh, you're back!
And I suppose you think

you can have
breakfast at this time.

Just some tea,
thank you, Doreen.

Oh, okey-dokey.

Well, she'll have to go,
that girl.

[FORCED CHUCKLE]
It's a nice fright
you gave us,

rushing out into the night
and scaring us
out of our wits.

"Us?"Yes.

Oh, you've been
talking to her,
have you?

Half the night.
She was a bit hysterical
and needed quieting.

I didn't want to
get a doctor.

Pat, tell me the truth.
Did I hurt her?No.

I remember pushing her
and her falling,
hitting her head,

I don't know,
I'm confusing it.

She's perfectly all right.
There's not a mark on her.

Thank God.

Here you are. I brought you
some digestive biscuits,
I know you like 'em.

Oh, thank you, Doreen.
Thank you very much.

Oh, have you had
a tumble or something?

You've got mud
all up your arm!

Oh, yes, I remember.
I slipped and fell down
last night in the dark.

Oh, give it to me after
and I'll get it off
for you then.

How is she
this morning?A bit shaky.

Quieter, though.

Did you know
she took drugs?

Drugs?
What sort of drugs?

The kind that
make you sleep.

Only she takes
three times the
proper dose

and takes 'em
in the day, too.

Damn fool,
why does she do it?

Why do you go
to The Feathers?

What time is
she leaving?[CUTLERY CLATTERING]

She's only waiting now
to get some news of you.

I was going to tell her
from the hospital.
She asked me to do that.

I see. Well...

I'll just finish this
and I'll slip away
quietly

and you can tell her
that I'm perfectly
all right.

Uh, you don't think
you should do that
yourself?

No.

Well, that's
your own business.

Of course, I think
if I were in your place,
I would.

You don't know what
it's like to be

in my place.
You can't even guess.

I think I can.

Better let me
call her in.

Pat, look, just don't
interfere in this.

Could you give me
one good reason why I should
see her again? Just one.

All right. And God knows
it's not for me to say so,

because you love her.

Because she needs
your help.

I think everything
you ever told me about her
is perfectly true.

She is vain,
she is spoiled, selfish.

Deceitful.

[SCOFFS]

I see those things as
ordinary human faults,
that's all,

but as you're in love
with her, you see them
as monstrous sins

and they drive you to,
well, the sort of thing
that happened last night.

I can't help feeling sorry
for a woman who's unhappy
and desperate.

Well, shall
I call her in?

Patty, look,
I'm... Just let her go
to London

and live her life.

And let me live mine,
in peace.

Yes, that'd be fine,
if you'd just
tell me one thing first.

Exactly what kind of
peace are you living in
down here?

Is it even really living?
Is it?

Oh, I know there's your
work and your pals at
The Feathers and there's...

There is me,
but is it really living?

It'll do.

[CHUCKLES]

Thank you.

I did try, you know,
when we first started,
you and I.

I did try to
get you back into
some kind of life.

I tried very hard.I know you did.

I could tell
at the beginning
I hadn't a hope.

Circumstances, Pat,
beyond my control.

Beyond your control?

Yes, that's right.

And you come to
think of it.

It seems really rather
a pity you two haven't
met, doesn't it?

Oh, yeah.

A great pity.

Well, I'm going into
my office now

and I'm going to
tell her you're here.

So, if you want to
skedaddle, you can.

There's the door,
the street's outside,

down the street
is The Feathers.

It's a little early
but I've no doubt
they'll open for you.

[CUTLERY CLATTERING]

[DOREEN HUMMING]

MISS COOPER:
Come on, Doreen,
don't mess about.

Have you finished?Not quite, Doreen,
thank you.

Well,
make up your mind.

Well, Mrs. Shankland,
you're a bit late

for breakfast,
I'm afraid.

Still, I expect
you didn't realize.

There's some coffee left,
or tea if you'd rather,

and I can get you
some biscuits.

Is that all right?

Uh, yes, thank you.
Thank you,
that's very kind of you.

I'll have coffee, please,
not tea.

Right you are.

Oh, John.

You better sit
at your table,

she'll be back
in a minute.

[STAMMERING]
Yes, yes, yes...

[SIGHS]

I've been desperately
worried about you.

Well, you needn't
have been.
I'm perfectly all right.

How are you?

[LAUGHS WRYLY]
Oh, I'm all right, too.

I'm leaving this morning,
you know?

So I heard, yeah.

I won't bother you again.
Ever again.

Just wanted to say
how sorry I was

I had to lie to you.

Thank you.

Don't know why
I did it.

Sorry I don't seem to know
very much about

myself anymore.

It's all right.

I am an awful liar.

I don't know why
but I seem to find it
easier to lie

than to tell the truth,

even about
the simplest things.
[SNIFFLES]

Do you remember,

it was usually
about my lying

we used to quarrel
in the old days?

Yes, I remember.

Oh, John, what's gonna
happen to me?

I brought you some more,
I know your appetite.

There, Mrs. Shankland,
coffee's just come in.

Oh, thank you.

Oh. [SNIFFLES]

Narrow escape.

I'm sorry I'm in rather
a weak state this morning.

You must give up
those drugs, Anne.She told you about them.

Yeah, they're no help
to you, you know?I know.

You should throw
them in the dustbin.

I mean,
they're no good,
those damn things.

[SIGHS]
I can't do that.

But I will try
and cut down

on them if I can.

Try?

I will try.
Really, I will.

Is it...

[CLEARS THROAT]
Is it me you want

or my love or...

I mean, if it's just
my love, you know
you've got that

for life anyway.

[SOFTLY] It's you, John.

Why?
For God's sake, why?

I suppose because,
well, you're all things
that I'm not.

You're honest...

and...true

and...dependable.

[SNIFFLES]

I'm sorry.
[BLOWS NOSE]

The damn waitress
will come in and
catch me crying again.

Look, I may have had
all those qualities once

but I don't think
I've got them anymore.

I don't know whether
I could satisfy your needs.

I mean, I know damn well
you can't satisfy mine.

Well, I might have
learnt something
in the last eight years.

This is not something
you can be taught.

But I could still try.

Yes, you can try,
I can try,
we'd both fail.

[SIGHS]

Well, I could
take the risk.

After all,
there are worse deaths,
aren't there?

Slower and more frightening.

So frightening, John.

So frightening.

You see,
I'm an awful coward.

I never could face
anything alone.

Not blitzes and the war,

being ill,
having operations.

Now I can't face
just growing old.

I mean, you know
we haven't got much of

a chance together,
don't you?

Have we
all that much apart?

[DOOR OPENING]

Oh, do you want your tea
over there now?

Uh, yes.

Do you two wanna
sit together from now on?
You can if you like.

Yes, I think we do.

All right, I'll make up
a double for lunch then.

It's just
as long as we know,
you see?

[SNIFFLES]

Oh, look at you.

Thank you, Doreen.Hi, darling.

Yes.Hi, love.

Oh, yes.Mommy's little boy.

Here you are.

That's great.
Thank you, Mabel.

What have you
got there?

[ALL COOING]

Ooh, that's nasty.Oh, yes.

You come with me and
we'll go see your daddy.
How about that?

Daddy will give you
a little kissy poo
and then it's beddy-byes.

[KISSES]There we go.

Bedtime already?Mmm-hmm.

How's it coming?Ooh, miles behind.
Endless interruptions.

Idiotic to come back
to this place.

Should've remembered
what it was like
from the last time.

Of course, we could've had
David's cottage.

Ooh, nasty damn cottage.
Not good for a baby.

No, sea air much better,
isn't it, my little pumpkin?

Oh, he says,
"Yes, Mommy.

"Makes babies sleep
like a little lamb."

Don't say
anything of the sort.

All he ever appears
to say is "Goo."
I'm getting a bit worried.

Oh, don't be silly.

I just think all this
"tum along" stuff
you smother him in

is bad for him,
it's dangerous.

It can lead to
arrested development
later on.

Charles,
don't be ridiculous.

[BABY COOING]

Oh, give me a big kiss.

A kiss,
but not a kissy poo.

Why not?Too early.

You know,
you're such a stick
in the mud sometimes,

I wonder
why I love you so much.

[SIGHS]

It's funny how
it seems to have sort of
crept up on me like this.

Did it creep up
on you, too?

Or did you lie
through your teeth
before we got married?

I lied through
my teeth.

Now, come on,
darling, take baby up
to beddy-byes

and leave Daddy
to do his worky-perky

or Daddy won't ever
grow up to become
a docky-wocky.

[MAJOR POLLOCK
SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

God, it is the Major.
Go on, darling,
for heaven's sake.

If he sees the baby,
we're lost.

He'll go on for hours about
infant welfare in Polynesia
or something.

Ooh, come along,
Vincent Michael Charles.
It's time for your bath.

[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

Red Robin.
Red Robin in the 3:30.
Well, I remember that.

Not that I can afford
much these days, you know.

Not like the old days
when one used to ring up
the hall porter at White's.

Get him to put on
a couple of pennies,
what?

Right, yes.

There you are, birdie!

Oh, there you are,
Stratton. Still at it?

Yes, Major.

I don't know
how you do it, dear boy,
I really don't.

That's a most praiseworthy
effort, I think.

Thank you, Major.

Of course, you know,
when I was at Sandhurst, I...

Oh, sorry,
I wasn't disturbing,
was I?

No, that's quite
all right, Major. When you
were at Sandhurst...

Yeah, yeah,
I was just gonna say.

[CLEARS THROAT] I was
very much like you,
you know.

Cramming away
like mad.

Yes, military history.
Clausewitz, that sort
of stuff, no?

I could've told you a lot
about Clausewitz once.

Oh, and you can't now?

Uh, no. No, afraid not.
Everything goes, really.
Everything goes.

Still, I didn't regret
all those hours of study
at the time.

I did pretty well
at Sandhurst.

Did you get
the Sword of Honor?

No, no. I came
quite close to it, though.

I passed out pretty high.
Pretty high.

Yes, not that
it did me much
good later on.

Except, of course,
they did make me
Battalion Adjutant,

because I was good
at paperwork, you see.

I... [CLEARS THROAT]

I could've been
Brigade Major,
as it happens.

But I turned it
down there,
because, well...

If trouble comes,
miles behind the lines,
away from one's own chaps...

I suppose it was
pretty foolish of me,
really.

I could've been
a General now, on full pay,
what? [CHUCKLES]

Yes, promotion was
always a bit tight
in the Black Watch.

Hmm. Anyways, so sorry,
my boy, go on, go on.

Yes, sir.
I talk too much, eh?[CHUCKLES]

Not at all, sir,
but I will go on if
you don't mind.

I've rather
a lot to do.

[PEOPLE SPEAKING DISTANTLY]

[FLOORBOARDS CREAKING]

[CLATTERING]

Oh, hello, Major.
I've just had the
most charming letter.

[SHUSHING]

[SOFTLY]
A most charming letter.
Quite unexpected.

A very pleasant
surprise, eh?

Absolutely out
of the blue.

Ah. Well, that's
interesting. Who is your
letter from, Fowler?

An old flame?[BOTH LAUGHING]

Old flame?
I haven't got
any old flames.

I leave that to
you galloping Majors.Ah, well. [CHUCKLES]

Didn't do so badly
once upon a time,
you know?

The regiment,
they used to call me
Bucko Pollock.

Oh, I'm so sorry.
Are we driving you away?

No, no,
that's quite all right.

I can always concentrate
much better in my room.

Oh, haven't you got
a baby up there?

Yes, but it's
a very quiet baby.Oh.

Hasn't learned
to talk yet.

Yeah...
Bucko Pollock.

Uh... Regency Buck, you see.

But surely those days are
past and gone now.

[SPEAKING LATIN]

Didn't they teach you
the new pronunciation
at Wellington?

No, no, the old.

When were you there?Oh, let me see...

It must've been about 1918,
I went up, I think.

Oh, they were using
the new pronunciation
then, I know.

Our head classics master
was an old Wellingtonian.
I distinctly remember...

Really? Yes, well,
I must've forgotten it.

Yes, I never was
much of a hand at Greek.

Latin. Horace.

Horace. Of course.
Stupid of me.

Well, who is
your letter from, eh?

It's a boy who used to
be in my house.

I haven't heard of,
ooh, well over
10 years.

He's a brilliant boy,
he's done very
well since.

You ever hear from
that ex-pupil of yours,
the painter fellow?

I still read about him
in the newspapers
occasionally,

but I don't get
much personal news
of him,

I'm afraid we've rather
lost touch lately.

Oh, good afternoon,
Major.

Oh, good afternoon,
Miss Cooper.

We managed to get your
West Hampshire weekly news.

We had to go to
three places before
we could find it.

Oh, thank you
very much.

What was the urgency?

I just wanted to see it.

Never read it.
Strange to say
that I've been here,

what is it,
four years now...

I'm not surprised.

There's nothing in it
except parking offenses
and cattle shows.

Miss Cooper,
I've just had
the most charming letter

from someone
I haven't seen or heard
of in over 10 years.

Oh, really?
I'm so glad.

I invited to ask him
if he'd care to come down
for a day or two.

Of course,
he probably won't,

but just in case,
will a room be vacant?

I'm afraid not,
Mr. Fowler,
we've so many casuals,

but by the
end of September.

Oh, good.
I'll ask him for then.

You were with
the Highland Division
at Alamein,

weren't you, Major?

Major, I said you were with
the Highland Division
at Alamein?

[STAMMERING]
No, no, not the
Highland Division, no.

I thought you were.I never said so.

It's just that this boy,
Macleod, his name is,
James, I think...

Or was it John?

Anyway, at school,
he was known as Curly.

In his letter,
he says he was with
the Highland division.

I just wondered
if you'd run into him
at all.

A Macleod? No, no,
I don't think so, no.

Of course,
it would've been highly
unlikely if you had.

It was just possible,
though.

[CHUCKLING]
Yes, Curly McCloud.

I remember
once he elided

a whole word in his
Greek iambics.

[STUTTERS]
Yes, it is pretty...
Pretty dull, I grant you.

What?Oh, this paper.

Ah, I shouldn't think
it's widely read at all,
is it?

By locals, farmers,
estate agents.

Oh, I've never seen
anyone in the hotel
reading it, have you?

Yes. Mrs. Railton-Bell
takes it every week.

Oh, does she?

Whatever for?I don't know, I'm sure.

But there's not
a lot that goes on even
in West Hampshire

that she likes to miss.

And she can afford
four pence for the
information, I suppose.

[STAMMERS]
I suppose so.

Yeah, I've never seen her
reading it, have you?

She gets a lot of things
sent in to her that
she never reads.

Most of the stuff
on the table over
there is hers.

[STAMMERING] Yeah.

Hers would've been
delivered in, I suppose,
already this morning.

Yes, I expect so.

Well, there you are, see.
Dash it all.

[CHUCKLES]
Spend four pence
for nothing.

I could have borrowed hers,
couldn't I? [CHUCKLES]

I know you don't
like venison, Major,

so I've ordered
a chop for you
for lunch tomorrow,

but I must ask you to be
discreet about it,
if you don't mind.

Very kind of you,
Miss Cooper.

[GRUNTS][FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

[INDISTINCT VOICES]

MRS. RAILTON-BELL:
Darling, if that's
what you meant,

why didn't you say so?

I do wish you'd learn
to express yourself
a little bit better.

Good afternoon, Major.Good afternoon,
Mrs. Railton-Bell.

Uh, good afternoon,
Mrs. Harvey.Good afternoon, Major.

[STAMMERING]
So sorry.

If you don't mind,
I was just glancing at
your West Hampshire News.

There's something in it that
I rather want to see

and I wondered if I might
borrow it for a moment.

MRS. RAILTON-BELL:
There you are, Major.

But be sure
you return it to me.

Of course. Thank you...

Uh, Major,
here's another copy.

Of the
West Hampshire News?MRS. RAILTON-BELL: Yes.

Well, I'm dashed.MRS. RAILTON-BELL:
It was lying on the sofa.

Oh, must be
one of the casuals.

Well, you better have it,
and give me mine back.

But don't you think
whoever owned it might...

Well, if it was
lying on the sofa,
it's clearly been read.

I'd like mine back
if you don't mind.

Oh, right-o.

I'll just put yours...

...back here
with the others.

Thank you.

Mea culpa.

Well, I think
I'll just go for
a stroll.

Oh. Uh, Major, you don't
happen to want any company,
do you? I am...

I... I haven't been out
for my walk yet.

Well, that's a very
nice suggestion,
Miss R.B., all that.

But, uh, I'm on my way
to see a friend, you see.

I...Oh.

Right. I'm so sorry.
Of course.

Of course...Oh, no, no. No, I'm...

I'm the one who's sorry.
[CLEARS THROAT]

Well, cheerie-bye
till dinner.

I wish he wouldn't use
that revolting expression.
It's so common.

Then, of course,
he is common.Oh, no, Mummy.

Well, I don't think so.
After all he was
in a very good regiment.

[SCOFFS] Darling,
you can be a member

of the Horse Guards
and still be common.

Sibyl dearest, do you mind
if your tactless old mother

whispered something
in your ear?Yes.

I didn't think
it was terribly
wise of you

to lay yourself open
into that snub just now.

Mummy, I don't...
I don't think
that was a snub.

I'm sure the
Major really did have
a friend to see.

Well, I often do go
for walks with the Major.

Yes, I know you do, dear,
and what's more,

lots of people have
begun to notice it.

You don't mean...

[STUTTERING] You mean that
they think I chase him?

[GASPS] That's awful.

Sibyl, it's not being
particularly awful.

When an unattached
young girl

is seen constantly
seeking the company

of an attractive
older man...

It is. It is.

Sibyl, Sibyl, don't get
into one of your states.

[BREATHING DEEPLY]

No, I'm not in a state,
Mummy.

I just wish people
wouldn't always think
things like that.

I hate that side of life.

I hate it.Yes, I know
you do, dear.

And that's why one
must be very careful
of wrong impression.

[MUMBLING INDISTINCTLY]

You all right, love?

Yes, Mummy.Good.

I wish these things
wouldn't upset
you so much.

I only go for walks
with the Major because
I like to hear him talk

about the war,
and the regiment,
and London.

Well, he's seen so much
of life and I haven't.

Well, I'm sure
I don't know what
you mean by that.

[STUTTERING]
Well, I only mean...

I'm sorry.

Oh, of course.
I know you must miss

so much of the
fun of life.

Balls and
cocktail parties...

Things like that...
And I can promise you
if I could afford it,

you'd have them.

[MUMBLES]I do my best, you know.

I know, Mummy.There was Rome last year.

And our Scandinavian cruise
the year before that.

I know, Mummy. I know.
Please don't think
I'm not grateful.

It's just that...

Hmm?

I wish
I could do something.

Sibyl, we've been
through all this before.

You'd never stand
a job for more than
a few weeks.

You've worked in one
of the finest shops.

I was working
in a basement.

And it made me feel
stifled and faint.

There must...
Must be something else.

Darling, you're not
a strong child,

you must get that
into your head.

Your nervous system isn't
as sound as it should be,

and you're certainly not
strong enough for a job.

Now, give me that newspaper,
will you, dear?

Which one?

Uh, the West Hampshire
Weekly News.

I want to know
what that Major was
so interested in.

Mmm...
Thank you, dearest.

Oh, what a silly-billy.

I've gone and left
my glasses
and my book

in the shelter at the end
of the Ragusa Road.

I'll get them for you,
Mummy.

Oh, would you, darling?
That is so sweet of you.

I hate for you to fetch
and carry for me.

But you know my old legs
are just a little bit tired.Yes, Mummy.

Uh, it's at the end
of the shelter, darling,
facing the sea.

Yes, I know,
where we always sit.Yes.

Oh, hello, dear.

It's nearly time
for the television news.

Gladys, dear,
have you got your
spectacles with you?

Yes, I think so, dear.
Yes, here they are.

Just... Just read
this out to me,
would you, dear?

Where, dear?There, there...
That little column.

"Lorry driver
loses license..."No, no, no...

"Ex-officer..."Oh, yes.

"Ex-officer arrested.
Offense in cinema."

In cinema?

Oh, dear, do we really
want to hear this?

Yes, we do,
we do. Go on.

"On Thursday last,
before the Bournemouth
Magistrate,

"David Angus Pollock, 55,
giving his address
as the Beauregard...

"Beauregard Hotel,
Morgan Crescent,

"pleaded guilty to a charge
of indecent behavior
in a Bournemouth cinema

"on the complaint
of a Mrs. Osbourne, 43,
of 4 Strudland..."

It's Major Pollock!

He must have been drinking.But he's a teetotaler.

"Mrs. Osbourne giving
evidence stated that
Pollock sitting next to her

"persistently nudged her.

"And later attempted
to take other liberties.

"She complained
to an usherette.

"Inspector Franklin giving
evidence said that

"in response to
a telephone call
from the cinema manager,

"Pollock had been kept
under observation

"from 3:53 p.m.
until 7:10 p.m.,

"by which time he had been
observed to change his seat
no less than five times

"always choosing a seat
next to a female person."

Go on.

"On leaving the cinema,
Pollock was arrested

"and after being charged
and cautioned stated,

"'You have made
a terrible mistake.
You have the wrong man.

"'I was only in the place
half an hour

"'I'm a Colonel
in the Scots Guards.'"

[SCOFFS]

Scots Guards.

Uh...
"Later he made
a statement.

"Mr. William Crowder,
solicitor, asked of his
client's blameless record

"to be taken into account.

"He had enlisted
in the Army in 1925.

"And in 1939, had been
granted a commission,

"a Second Lieutenant
in the RASC.

"During the war,
he had held a responsible
position in

"charge of an army
supply depot

"in the Orkney Islands.

"And had been discharged
in 1946 with the rank
of Full Lieutenant."

Go on."Pollock was not called

"And was bound over
for 12 months."
Oh, it's dreadful!

It says here,
"Persistently nudge."

I must speak to
Miss Cooper about this,
at once!

Oh, my dear,
you really think
you should?

Gladys, don't be ridiculous,
of course I should!

If there's a liar and
a fraudulent crook and a...

I can't bring myself
to say it.

Wandering around among us,
undetected.

Oh, there might be the most
terrible repercussions.

Well, he has been
wandering around
amongst us

for a number
of years now

and there have been
no repercussions.[SIGHS]

I suppose we're too old.

I have a daughter,
you know.

Oh, yes, of course.

Oh, poor Sibyl.

She's such
a friend of his.

[GASPS LOUDLY]

Maud, dear, I know
it's none of my business

and, of course, as a mother
I do realize,

but, you know
she's such a strange girl.

She's so, well,
unexcitable and so shy.Yes.

I don't think
you ought to tell her.

Not tell her?Well, not all of it.

Not the details.
You can say he's
a fraud if you like.

But not about the cinema.

I'm gonna show this to
Miss Cooper

and demand that
he leave this hotel
tonight before dinner.

But, my dear,
you know what
Miss Cooper is.

She might not agree.

But she'll have to agree
if we all insist!

But we don't all.
It's only just
the two of us.

Shouldn't we consult
the others first?Oh, what a good idea!

Bring them all down.

Oh, I hate
telling tales.

Telling tales, Gladys?
The tale is told
to the world.

Well, strictly speaking,
only to West Hampshire.

Where's Mr. Fowler?

Oh, I don't know,
in his room,
I expect.

Jean's in the garden,
I don't think we'll
tell her, do you?

She's so odd
and unpredictable.

Here comes Sibyl.

Bring them all down,
I'll deal with her.

Now, Maud, you will remember
what I've said, won't you?Yes, yes, yes.

[SIGHS]

Oh, you found them,
did you, darling?
Clever girl.

Sibyl, dear,
I think you should go
to your room,

if you don't mind.

Why?

We're going to have
a very meeting of
the regulars, darling,

to discuss
a very urgent matter
that's just come up.

But that's quite exciting,
Mummy, I mean, can't I stay?

After all,
I'm a regular, too.

Yes, I know you are, dear,
but what we're going to
discuss is

not suitable for you.

Why, Mummy, what is it?

Well, I'll tell you
this much.

We're going to discuss
whether or not we should
ask Miss Cooper

to tell the Major to leave
this hotel at once and
never come back.

[STAMMERING]
I don't understand.
Why, Mummy?

Mummy, tell me why.

I can't tell you.

It might upset you
too much.

But I must know, Mummy,
I must know.

You insist on knowing?

Yes.

Very well, then I suppose
I have no alternative.

Here.

Read this.

Middle column,
halfway down.

Ex-officer arrested.

Oh. [GASPING]

[GLASS SHATTERS]

The others
are just coming.

Oh, Maud, you haven't.

MRS. RAILTON-BELL:
I'm so sorry, my dear.

It must have come as
the most awful
shock for you.

It was for us, too,
as you can imagine.

[SIGHS] Are you
all right now, dear?

Sibyl?

Are you all right?

Yes, Mummy.

What is it,
Mrs. Railton-Bell?
I've only got a minute.

Just take a seat,
will you please?

I won't keep you
a moment.

Sibyl, what have
you done?

Sibyl, you've broken
your glasses!

[EXCLAIMING]

There's a cut.Oh, let's see.

Excuse me.

Oh, well,
it's nothing much.

No splinters.

Here,
you better have this.
It's quite clean.

Oh, Mr. Fowler, good,
take a seat,

will you please?
Then we can begin.

Ladies and gentlemen,
I have some very grave news
for you all.

Oh, the boiler's
gone wrong again.

I only wish
it were so trivial.

They're raising
the prices again?

No, my news is
graver than that.

I don't know
what could be
graver than that.

Look, Mrs. Railton-Bell,
can't you just

get to the point,
tell us what it is?

Very well, Mr. Stratton,
if you wish it boldly,
you shall have it.

Major Pollock,
who's not a major at all,
but a lieutenant,

promoted from
the ranks of the RASC...

I knew it! I knew Sanders
and the Black Watch

was a phony.
Didn't I say that?

I must admit,
I've always
slightly suspected

the public school
education.

No, no, please,
ladies and gentlemen,
that's not the point.

The point is that the Major
was found guilty of...

Pleaded guilty!

Oh, Gladys,
found or pleaded,

I don't see
what difference it makes.

To behaving indecently

to no less than
six respectable women,

in a Bournemouth cinema.

Good God.

What a performance.

Maud, I really must
correct that.

We only know
one was respectable,
the one who complained.

And even
she behaved in a most
extraordinary manner.

Why couldn't she
simply say straight out
to the major,

"I do wish
you'd stop doing whatever
it is you are doing."

That's what
I would have done.

And as for the other five,
we don't know anything
about them at all.

We don't even know
if he nudged them.

But of course
he nudged them,

he was in that cinema for
an immoral purpose!

CHARLES:
He must have made
10 nudges, really,

if he had
the chance of using
both elbows.

MRS. RAILTON-BELL:
The point is that
the Major,

the so called Major
has pleaded guilty

to committing an offense of
the most disgusting nature,

and I want to
know what action
we propose to take.

What action do you propose,
Mrs. Railton-Bell?

Well, I propose on
your behalf to go straight
to Miss Cooper

and demand that
he leave this
hotel forthwith.

Oh, no.

You disagree,
Mr. Stratton?

Yes, I do.

Please don't think
I'm making light

of this business,
Mrs. Railton-Bell.

To me, what he's done,
if he's done it, well,
seems ugly and repulsive.

So emotionally
I'm entirely
on your side.

But logically, I'm not.

Would you like to make
a speech, Mr. Stratton?

Perhaps you'd like to
stand up there
and address us?

No, I'm all right
where I am,
thank you.

Look, I'm just
saying that my dislike of
the Major's offense

is probably
a shortcoming in me.

While I would like to
imagine that the
Major understands

my form of lovemaking,

I should therefore
understand his,
but I don't.

So I am plainly in
a state of prejudice
against him.

I must be very wary of
any moral judgments
I may pass in this matter.

Or I should ask myself
the question, "What harm
has the man done?"

What harm has he done?

Well, apart from
interfering with
a certain lady,

whose motives
in complaining, I agree
with Lady Matheson,

are extremely
questionable.

Well, apart from that, and
apart from telling us

a few rather pathetic lies
about his past,

I can't see he's done
anything to justify us

chucking him out
into the streets.

How can you say that?

I'm disgusted at what
he's done

and I don't consider
myself prejudiced.

People who behave
like that are
a public menace and

deserve anything they get.

What are you getting
so excited about?

I'm being
absolutely logical,
Charles.

Supposing next time,
we had a daughter?

I know, and supposing
in 20 or 30 years' time

she happens to
sit next to a Major...

Exactly.Oh, for God's sake, Jean!

Well, how would
you feel if she...

I'd be very ashamed
if she didn't use
her elbows back

very hard in the
right place.

Charles!Please, please, this is not
a private argument.

Mr. Stratton, I take it

that you are against
any form of action
in this matter?

Mmm-hmm.

Of any kind at all?

Well, I might give him
a reproving glance
at dinner.

MRS. STRATTON:
Oh, for Pete's sake.

And you, Mrs. Stratton,
I'm sure you agree with me

that I should go straight
to Miss Cooper?

Yes.Book burn.

What has book burning
got to do with it?A lot!

MRS. RAILTON-BELL:
Quiet, please!

Mr. Fowler,
what do you think?

Well, it's difficult,
it's very difficult.

I can't say I see it like
Stratton or anything.

Well, if you're saying
that nothing is
really wrong,

it doesn't do
actual harm to
another human being.

Certain acts are wrong,
because they are,

in themselves and
by themselves,
impure and immoral.

And it seems to me that
this terrible wave of vice,

and sexual excess which
seems to have flooded
this country since the war,

might well be due in part
to declining our
old standards.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

As illogical and emotional
as that may well seem to

the younger generation.

But tolerance is
not necessarily a good.

Tolerance of evil
may itself be an evil.

After all, it was Aristotle,
wasn't it, who said that...

[MISS MEACHAM
SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

You've all gone on
far too long about it

and when we start
quoting from Aristotle,

well, personally,
I'm going to my room.

You heard,
Miss Meacham?

Of course, I heard,
I couldn't help it!

Had my chair against
the wall to catch the sun,

and I certainly wasn't
going to move it into
the shade for you people.

Well, if you know the facts,
I suppose we must solicit

your opinion,
what is it?

Haven't any.

MRS. RAILTON-BELL:
You must have
some opinion.

Why should I?

What do I know about
morals and ethics?

Only what
I read in novels.

And as I only read
thrillers, it doesn't
amount to very much.

In these mystery books
I read,

the hero does far worse
things to his girls than
the Major's done.

Nobody seems to mind.

We would like your views
on Major Pollock.

MABLE: Would you?

My view on Major Pollock
has always been that
he's a crushing old bore

and a wicked old fraud.

Now I hear that
he's a dirty old man,
too.

I can't say that I'm
in the least bit surprised.

And quite within
these four walls,
I don't give a damn.

Sad. It's very, very sad.

Well, Mr. Fowler.

Are you in favor
of action?

I once had to recommend
a boy for expulsion,

only once in the whole of
the 15 years I was
a housemaster.

I was deeply
unhappy about it,
deeply.

But events
proved me right.

He was no good, he became
a thief and a blackmailer,

and, oh, horrible things
happened to him.

Horrible. Poor boy.

[CHUCKLES] He had
a way with him.

Are you in favor of action,
Mr. Fowler?

Yes, I suppose so.
Yes, yes, yes, I am.

Gladys,
what's your opinion?

Well, you see...Now, dear, you don't have to
make a speech

like the others.
Just say yes or no.

Oh, dear.

Oh, Gladys,
do make up your mind,
dear, don't shillyshally.

Are you on
the side of Mr. Stratton
and his defensive vice?

Or are you on the side of
Mrs. Stratton, Mr. Fowler
and myself?

I have never in
my life had a question
more disgracefully begged.

Senator McCarthy
could use your talents,
Mrs. Railton-Bell!

Shh. Will you be quiet?

Well, Gladys, dear,
what is it to be?

Well, I suppose
I'm on your side but,
oh, dear.

MRS. RAILTON-BELL:
Well, Mr. Stratton,

apart from Miss Meacham
who would appear
to be neutral,

the count seems to be
five to one against you.Five to one?

My daughter
naturally agrees.

How do you know?

I know her feelings.

Well, may we hear them
from herself?

Ms. Railton-Bell.

Ms. Railton-Bell,
could we hear your views?

Mr. Stratton's asking
you a question, dear.

Yes, Mummy.

MR. STRATTON: Could we hear
your views, please?

My views?

On Major Pollock,
dear.

Are you in
favor of action?

You know
what you've just read
in the paper, dear.

How do you
feel about it?

Sick.

Of course you do,
that's how we all feel.

Makes me sick.

Yes, dear,
now don't fuss.Makes me sick.

Yes, dear,
now don't fuss.Makes me sick.

Can I go up to bed,
please? I don't feel
very well.

Yes, darling. Of course, go up
to your room and lie down.

Forget this whole
nasty business.

Just pretend that
it never happened.

[CONTINUES SPEAKING
INDISTINCTLY]

She should never have
told her like that.
It was such a mistake.

I agree. If that girl
doesn't end up as
a mental case

it won't be the fault
of her mother.

Really, Mr. Stratton?

I used the word
mistake and you have
no right...

No, no, I haven't,
I'm sorry, the comment
was purely my own.

It was your fault
for asking.

Look, she was sitting
there quite peacefully

apparently listening.

How was I to know
she was in such a state?

Anyhow, I had
an idiotic but
well-meaning hope

that I might get her
just this once to disagree
publicly with her mother.

Are you coming?

What is the matter with you
this evening?

Oh, you must forgive me,
I suppose it's just

that I'm feeling
a little light-headed

at finding myself on
an issue of common humanity,

in a minority of one!

Oh, he's been
overworking.

He'll feel differently
about all this tomorrow.

Yes, I'll see to it.

She's all right.

She recovers
very quickly.Oh, good.

I was just apologizing for
my husband's behavior,
Mrs. Railton-Bell.

Well, we all have
a right to our
own opinion.

Now, shall we all go
and see Miss Cooper
in a body?

Or would you like
me to act as
your spokesman?

I don't think a deputation
is a good idea.

There you are. Oh.

I hope you all understand
this is a duty
I hardly relish.

I hardly call that
a very accurate
self-appraisal, would you?

No, doing her duty can
seem a positive pleasure
to some people, can't it?

Not that it ever has
done to me,

but then,
oh, I'm so weak and silly
about these things.

Well, it would be
a pleasure for me,
in this case.

What a horrible man!

A ruthless young girl
that, I should say.

Yes. But then some
young people are nowadays,
don't you think so?

Not only young people.

Oh, dear.

What a dreadful affair,
made me feel quite
miserable.

Talking about being on
the side of right as
one sees it,

is that one so often
finds oneself in the
company of such

very questionable allies.

Yes, that is very true.

Let's take our minds
off of it, shall we?

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

Ah, there you are
Miss R-B.

How's the world
with you, eh?

Were you looking for
Mummy's paper?

What, no, no, no.
Of course not,
I've got the other copy.

Don't pretend
anymore, please.

You see, she's read it.

Oh.

Did she show it
to you, too?

Yes.

And to the others.

Oh.

Miss Cooper, too?

Mummy's just gone
to tell her.

Oh.

Well, that's it then,
isn't it, eh?

Yes.Oh.

God.

Why did you do it?

I don't know.
I wish I could
answer you that.

Why does anyone do
anything they shouldn't?

Why do some people
drink too much,

some people smoke
50 cigarettes a day?

Because they can't stop it,
I suppose.

You mean, this isn't
the first time?

No.

Oh!
That's horrible!

Yes, of course it is.
I'm not trying to defend it.

You wouldn't guess, I know,

but all my life,
I've been scared to death
of women.

Well, of everyone I suppose,
but mostly of women.

Had a very bad time
at school.

Which wasn't Wellington,
of course, just an ordinary
council school.

Hmm.

Boys hate other boys
to be timid and shy,

and they gave it to me
good and proper.

My father despised me, too.
He was a great sergeant major
in the Black Watch.

Made me join the army
but I was always

a bitter disappointment
to him.

He died before I got
a commission

and I only got that
with a wangle,

but it wasn't difficult at
the beginning of the war.

[CHUCKLES WRYLY]

It meant a lot to me,
all the same, I mean...

Being saluted,
being called "Sir."

I thought, "Well,
I'm someone now, you see?
I'm a real person."

Perhaps even
some woman might even...

Never worked, you see.

Didn't work.

I'm made in a certain way,
can't change myself.

Has to be the dark.

Always with strangers...

[STUTTERING]
No, no, I can't bear it,
it makes me sick.

Of course it would.
[STAMMERING]

I'm sorry I only said that
because...

You asked me why
I did such things,

and, well, I wanted to
talk to someone
about it, you see?

I never have before.
Not in the
whole of my life.

I wouldn't have upset you
of all people.

Why me, so specially?

Why not the others?

Oh, I don't give
a hang about
the others.

They all take it in
their various ways,
I suppose.

It'll be just
a bit of gossip for them to
snort or snigger about,

but it'll be different
for you, Sibyl, and that
makes me unhappy.

That's the first time
you've called me Sibyl.

It is. Well...

Yes, there's not much point
in that Miss R-B stuff,
now, is there?

What makes me so different
from the others?

You being so scared of,
what shall we call it,
life?

Yeah, that sounds
more respectable

than the word
I know you hate.

We're awfully alike,
you know.

We're better as...

Frightened people.

But we've managed to
forget our fright I think

when we've been in
each other's company.

And speaking for myself,
I'm awfully grateful

and I always will be.

I can't expect you
to feel the same, now.

What are you doing?I'm getting
my things together.

You haven't seen
my tobacco patch,
have you, anywhere?

It's on the mantelpiece.Ah.

Yes. [CHUCKLES]

[SNIFFLING]

The old
Wellingtonian colors.

Why have you told so many

awful lies?

Because I don't like
myself as I am.

I had to invent
someone else.

Well, there's not much
harm in that.

I mean, a lot of people
daydream, don't they?

I've even begun to
believe in the

Major myself.[DISTANT THUD]

Is that someone
in the hall?

No, no.

I don't think so.

Where are you
going to stay?

Well, I don't know.

There's a chap in
London I might spend
a couple of days with.

But I don't particularly
want to go there.Why not?

Well, you see,
it's rather a question
of birds of a feather.

Oh.

Don't go there.

Don't go there.I have no one else.

Another hotel?

Well, I can't stay here,
I can't stay anywhere near
Bournemouth.

I must go to London,
I don't know anywhere
in town I can afford.

I'll lend you the money.What?

No, no, no.

Yes, I'll lend it to you.
I have some savings...

No, I won't hear
of it.

No, no. Don't worry
about me.

I shall be
perfectly all right,
thank you very much.

MISS COOPER:
Major Pollock,
may I see you

in my office a moment?

Oh...

There's no need for
your office, Miss Cooper.

I know what you have to say
and I'm leaving at once.

MISS COOPER: I see
that's entirely your own
decision, is it?

Well, of course.

Because I would
like to make it
perfectly plain to you,

there's no question whatever
of my desiring you to
leave this hotel.

If you want to stay on here,
you're at perfect
liberty to do so.

It's entirely a matter
for you.

I see.

[STAMMERING]

That's very good of you,
Miss Cooper.

But... But of course
I have to go.

I can quite understand
that you would want to.

I shan't charge you
the usual weeks' notice,

when will you be leaving,
before dinner?

Of course, yes.

Could I help
you find somewhere to stay
until you can get settled?

I can hardly expect that,
Miss Cooper.

Well, why on earth not?

There are two hotels,

run by the Beauregard
group in London,

one is in
West Kensington,

the other is
in St. John's Wood.

They're both about
the same price.

Which would you prefer?

[STAMMERING]
West Kensington, I think.

Would you like me to
telephone them for you?

No, no, no.

I ought to phone
them myself.

I wouldn't like you
to be involved.

In case of
further trouble.

Um...

May I use the phone
in your office?

Yes, yes, of course.

I'll pay for the call,
of course.

Sibyl,

if I don't see you again,
I will write to you,

and say goodbye.

[SIGHS HEAVILY]

MISS COOPER: Your mother's
gone up to dress for dinner,
Miss Railton-Bell.

She asked me to
find you and tell you,

you can have your meal
upstairs tonight,
if you'd rather.

That's all right.

How are you feeling now?

I'm all right.

Is there...

Is there anything
I can do to help?

No, no, I'm quite well now.
He's going and that's good.

I despise him.

Do you?

I wonder
if you should.

He's a vile, wicked man
and he's done horrid,
beastly things.

You said he could stay here
and that's wicked, too!

Then I suppose
I'm wicked, too.

Sibyl, dear...Oh.

Why is everyone calling me
Sibyl today? Please stop.

[SOBS]

It's making me cry.

I don't mean to do that,
I just mean to help you.

Oh, that's better,
that's much, much,
better.

It's so horrible.

Yes, yes,
I know it is

and I'm very
sorry for you.

He says we're alike.

He and I.

Does he?

He says that
we're both frightened
of life and sex.

I've said it. He says
I hate saying it and I do.

What's the matter with me?

There must be something
the matter with me.

No, there's nothing
very much, I should say.

I don't like to be ordinary.

I've never met
an ordinary person.

I meet all sorts here
in my job, you know.

And the one thing
I've learned in five years,

is that the word
"normal" applied to

any human creature
is utterly meaningless.

I don't think Mummy
would agree with you.

[CHUCKLES]
No, I don't think
she would.

You've never really been
away from her, have you?

No, just once when
I had a job.

I worked in
a department store.

Only... Well, I got ill
and I had to leave.

Oh, what a pity. Well,
you must try again one day,
don't you think?

Mummy says no.

Mummy says no?

Well, you must
just try to get

mummy to say yes,
don't you think?

I don't know how.

Oh, I'll tell you how.

By going out and getting
a job on your own.

She'll say yes
quick enough then.

[SIGHS]

Do you think...

Do you think
he'll be all right?

I don't know,
I hope so.[STUTTERING]

Is it a nice hotel,
this one in
West Kensington?

Yes, very nice.

Do you think he'll find
a friend there?

I hope so.

So do I.

Oh, God, so do I.

[SOBBING][FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

[SNIFFLING]Ah...

That's that.
I've fixed it.

You'll be pleased
to know that I said
Mr. Pollock.

And I didn't have to mention
your name or this hotel.

I must go and pack now.
Goodbye, Sibyl.

[STAMMERING]
God bless you.

Very upset.

Funny think you know,
that isn't even
the worst part of it.

She's an odd one,
almost a case, but...

She means
quite a lot to me.

I think you mean
quite a lot to her.

Oh, well...

I did, once.

Not now, of course.

Call to London,
one and six.

It's about the young,
the betting slip,
the betting slip.

[CONTINUES SPEAKING
INDISTINCTLY]

What... What time is
your train to London?

At 7:45.Oh, you've got
plenty of time.

Well, I've got an awful lot
to do, you know.

Four years,
a hellish business.

I'm dreading the thought of
going to a new hotel,
trembling with fear.

The thought of
meeting new people.

I'll probably be forced
to take refuge in all that

Major stuff again.

Try not to.Oh, I will try.
I only hope I can succeed.

[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]Still there, damn!

You've been
awfully good to me,
you know.

I don't know why.
I don't deserve it.

I'm very grateful,
very grateful.

That's all right.

You're an odd fish,
you know...

If you don't mind
my saying so.

An awful lot more goes on
behind that calm
managerial front of yours

than anyone would
ever imagine.

Has something bad
ever happened to you?

[CHUCKLES] Yes.

Very bad?

I've got over it.

What was it?

I loved a man who
loved somebody else.

Still love him?

Oh, yes, I always will.

Any hope?

No. None at all.

Why you so
cheerful about it?

There's nothing else
to be.

I've settled for
the situation, you see.

Besides, I've still got
my memories which
are pretty good ones,

all things considered.

Ah.

Quite the philosopher,
what? [CHUCKLES]

I must stop saying what.

Well, I must make
a dash for it or
I'll miss the train.

Why don't you stay?

Stay? Stay here? Here in
the hotel, you mean?

You say you dread
the new hotel.

Why, I dread this one
a damn sight more now.

Yes, I'm sure you do,
but if you stay down here
you couldn't be forced

into any more of that
Major stuff, could you?

Well, I might be forced into
something a damn sight more
conclusive.

You know the form,

old service revolver.

Nasty mess on
one of your carpets,

ugly scandal
for your hotel.

I'd take the risk,
if you would.

My dear, Miss Cooper,
I...

I'm far too much of
a coward to stay here.

What a pity.
I thought it would be
so nice

if you could prove to
yourself that you weren't.

You're thinking of her too,
of course, aren't you?

Yes.

Help her to think
she's made me find my soul
and all that, eh?

Yes.

Not a hope.

Not a hope, I'm afraid.
I know my form, you see.

I wonder if you do.Yes, I do.

I do, only too well.

Thanks for trying anyway.

Coast's clear.

There's a nine-something
train, isn't there?

9:32.

Oh, well, I expect
I'll catch the 7:45.

[FOOTSTEPS RETREATING]

[CUTLERY CLATTERING][INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

Good night.MAN: Good night.

Good night.Oh, good night.

Were you the fricassee or
the Cambridge steak?

Hmm? Oh,
it doesn't matter,

Mabel, they're both
uneatable.

What about
the cold chicken then?Cold chicken?

What happened to
the hot, yeah?

If I were you,
I'd have this fricassee.

It's all right, it's rabbit.

Any cheese, Mabel?

No, cheese is off.

There's never
any cheese.

Gladys, dear,

I believe there's a new
quiz program
on television tonight.

Yes, I know.
I read all about it
in the Radio Times.

It sounds
quite fascinating.

I shall hope to see it
next week.

Oh, why not tonight?

Oh, I feel much too tired.
I'm going up to bed
immediately after dinner.

Yes, of course.

A really nerve
wracking day,
it's been, hasn't it?

I don't suppose any
of us will ever
forget it. Ever.

I feel utterly shattered
myself.

Well, anyway,
thank heaven it's all
over and done with.

Now pass the sauce, dear,
will you, please?

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

I told you, darling,
we can't afford to do it
till next year,

so, please just
leave it alone, will you?

[DOOR OPENING]

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

Table number 17,
you said he was out.

That's what Cook said.

Cook said he was leaving
before dinner.

I'm sorry, Major,
there's been some
sort of a muddle.

I'll lay your table
right away.

Now what would you like?
The fricassee is nice.

Soup first?No, thank you.

[SPOON CLATTERING]

There we are.
All cozy now?

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

Good evening.

Good evening.

Clouding over a bit,
isn't it?

I think we might get
some rain later on.

Yes, I think we may.

Let's hope so.

It's a very tricky course
in hard going.

You knew Newmarket,
don't you, Major?

[STAMMERING]
No, I don't.I thought...

Oh.

Yes, well, it's
a very tricky course
in hard going.

Of course if we have some
rain tomorrow,

I'll probably let you
have a winner by Tuesday.

I may not be here
on Tuesday.MABEL: Oh.

In that case,
I'll send it on to you,

if you leave me an address,
but I'll need the money
for the wire there.

Thank you,
that's very kind of you.

Don't think it kind
if it loses.

Good evening.WOMAN: Good evening.

Good evening,
Mr. Fowler.Good evening.

Good evening.
Is everything satisfactory?

Fine, thank you.I'm so glad.

Good evening.Good evening.

Very nice.

Good evening,
Mrs. Railton-Bell.Good evening.

Good evening,
Mr. Pollock.

I hear they forgot to
lay your table tonight.
I'm so sorry.

That's all right.

I recommend the fricassee.
It's really awfully good.

Yes, I've ordered it.

Have you?
I'm so glad.

Good evening,
Mr. and Mrs. Stratton.
Is everything all right?

Yes, lovely, thank you.Splendid.

It's very cold in here,
suddenly.

I'll just get out
of the draft.

Good evening.

Good evening.Hampshire did pretty well,
did you see?

350 odd
for five wickets.

Yes.

Very good.

I wish their bowling was
a little stronger though.Mmm-hmm.

Well...

Good night.Good night.

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

I advise
the apple charlotte.
It's very good.

POLLOCK: Thank you.
I'll have that.

Come, Sibyl.

I haven't finished
my dinner yet, Mummy.

It doesn't matter.
Come into the lounge.

No, Mummy.

Sibyl, come with me
at once.

No, Mummy.

I'm going to stay in
the dining room
and finish my dinner.

There's a new moon
tonight.

We should all go and
have a look for it.

WOMAN: Yes, we should.Yes, we must.

Good night,
Mrs. Railton-Bell.

Sorry it's been so long.
You were a bit late,
you see.

That's all right.
My fault.

What's the matter
with you tonight?

You always say
mea culpa.

Do I?

Yes, well, they both
mean the same, don't they?

I suppose so.

There you are.
Now what about breakfast?

Breakfast?Cook got it wrong about
your going, didn't she?

Yes.

She did.That's good.

Breakfast,
usual time then?

Yes, Doreen, thank you.

Breakfast, usual time.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]