Ethel & Ernest (2016) - full transcript

There was nothing
extraordinary about my mum and dad.

Nothing dramatic.

No divorce or anything.

But they were my parents, and I wanted
to remember them by doing a picture hook.

It's a bit odd, really,
having a book about my parents

up there in the bestseller list among
all the football heroes and cookbooks.

They'd be proud of that, I suppose.

But probably rather embarrassed, too.

I imagine they would say,
“It wasn't like that.“

or, "How can you talk about that?"

Well, I have...



And this is their story.

Bye, Mum.

Bye, dear.

Ta-ta, Ern, mate.

Ta-ta.

Ta-ta!

Hurry up with that dusting, Ethel.

There's the fire to stoke
and the beds to make.

Yes, madam. I won't be long.

Ethel, aren't you finished yet?

Yes, madam.

Sorry, madam.

Hey-hey.

Ooh...



Ethel... where are you?

Coming, madam.

Oh.

Ethel?

Ethel!

- Ethel!
- Oh.

Yes, yes. I'm coming.

Hello, duck.

Oh. Oh, it's you.

Thought I'd introduce myself.

You've waved that blooming duster
at me enough times.

Well, no, I didn't mean to.
It was just that erm...

Name's Ernest.

Oh. I'm Ethel.

That's a nice name. Well, Ethel,
how about coming to the pictures with me?

Oh... Well, I erm...

They've got lots for me to do.

- What time you knock off?
- I finish about seven.

Perfect. They're showing
Hangman's House at the local.

- You mean, the Coronation?
- Yes.

- Starts at eight. I can meet you there.
- Thank you.

That... That would be very nice.

Grand.

And these... they're for you.

Oh...

They're... lovely.

See you about quarter to, then.

Yes. Yes, I'll be there.

Oh.

Ernest.

- Next.
- Two, please.

- Victor McLaglen.
- Who's he?

- Him up there.
- Oh.

My favourite.

Oh.

♪ Walking In The Park With Eloise

Oh, thank you.

Oh!

Oh, Ernest, doesn't it sound wonderful?

Cor blimey, Et, five shillings to get in.

A bit posh, if you ask me.

Tell you what, it's under a shilling
at our church hall next Saturday.

- Are you on?
- Oh, Ernest.

Lovely flowers, darling.

Oh, that's Dad.
He's potty about the garden.

- Did you all grow up here?
- Yes. 11 of us.

Bob, Beaty, Mag, Edie, me, Frank, Flo,
Jessie, George, Joe and Bill.

Cor blimey.

Come and meet Mum and Dad.

Ernest, your tie.
Wanna make a good impression.

Oh, yes, darling.

George was killed in the war.

Bob died as a baby.
And Beaty died at two and a half.

Poor little kiddies.

Mm.

Hello, dear.

Mum, this is Ernest.

Very pleased to meet you er... Mrs Bowyer.

You haven't asked me to your home yet,
dean

Yeah, well,
it's not as nice as yours, darling.

- What do you mean, not as nice?
- Well...

The scrap iron, rag-and-bone men.

There's fights outside the pubs.
Women, too.

The coppers won't go down there.

Last one that did go, they bashed him up,

then sat on him and blew his whistle
to fetch more coppers.

Oh, Ernest.

It's not your cup of tea, darling.

Am I to understand
that you wish to leave us?

Yes, madam.

To get married?

Yes, madam.

To a man?

Yes, madam.

Well...

I hope you know what you're doing.

Ever so sorry, madam.

Give us your box, darling.

Oh! I don't like leaving them.

They're so helpless.

- They can't do a thing for themselves.
- Hm.

Serve 'em right.

- Bloated plutocrats.
- There's no need to swear, Ernest.

What?

Don't worry about them.
They'll soon get another skivvy.

I was not a skivvy!

I was a lady's maid.

And what's more...
I'm going to be married.

So am I!

Oh, it's lovely.

But £825?
Can we afford that mortgage business?

Yes, easy.
I'll be getting three guineas a week soon.

Besides, we've got 25 years.

19... 55, it'll be ours.

A wrought-iron gate, Your Ladyship.

Silly.

Oh, and look, Ernest. A marble pillar.

♪ Now You're In My Arms

Ho-ho! Look at this.

Oh.

Oh, Ernest. There's so much space.

We could get those electric lights put in.

Yeah, nice and modern. Brother Fred's
got a wireless. He can hear Germany.

Whatever would you want
to hear Germany for?

Oh!

A French window.

Oh, Ernest. There's a bathroom!

Blimey. A lav, too.

Yeah, come along, Ernest.

Hm.

Hah!

Enormous bedroom.

Four windows in one room.

Well, it'll cost a fortune for curtains.

Bit different to home, eh, darling?

Lots of rooms for two people.

Perhaps there'll be more than two one day.

What? Lodgers you mean?

No.

This could be our baby's room.

Nice and warm over the kitchen.

Must get rid of this old range.

Cor, and this boiler.
Came out of the ark.

♪ I found your hand
when I touched a moonbeam

♪ And now you're in...

Hello, puss.

A fair bit of garden.
More than down home.

Oh, I've always wanted
my own bit of garden.

Good little shed for my bike and workshop.

Yeah, mind you keep it tidy.

Don't you start bossing me about
before we get married. Ha-ha-ha!

Oh, Ernest, I can't believe it.

We'll have a kitchen and a scullery.

- A sitting room and a dining room.
- A garden and a shed.

- Don't forget the hall.
- And the bathroom.

- Luxury!
- Oh! Ha-ha-ha-ha!

That's it. Hold your...
Hold your hat there, if you could.

That's it, lovely. That's it, Mrs Briggs,
lovely. Very nice. Now, hold there.

Hold it there. Big smiles.

- We'll have one more of those.
- Ern, let's see a kiss for the bride.

Go on, Ern.

Yeah, one more.
One more, please, everybody.

♪ What A Little Moonlight Can Do

♪ What a little moonlight can do-o-o

Isn't the bedroom huge?

We'll need some cases
under the bed for our clothes.

- A wardrobe, Ernest.
- Oh. Oh, yes. Course.

Ha-ha-ha!

Good morning, madam.
How many today, please?

Just you keep off my clean step,
young man.

On!

Oh, Ernest.

I got a round
that finishes down our road, Et.

- That's nice, dear.
- I should be done about 12.

Then I can get going on that old range.

I'll be glad to see the back
of that thing.

It's a pig, duck.

One of those nice new gas cookers,
that's what we need.

Careful, Ernest!

Whoa-ho!

♪ Any old iron, any old iron,
any, any, any old iron?

♪ You look neat, talk about a treat

♪ You look dapper from your napper
to your feet

Ernest, don't sing
those dreadful cockney songs.

♪ Dressed in style, brand-new tile

♪ And your father's old green tie on

♪ But I wouldn't give you tuppence
for your old watch chain

♪ Old iron, old iron

♪ Da-da-le-da-da, all right

Yay!

- Oh!
- That's done the job.

That's it. Smashing bed.

Nearly new. Mahogany... I think.

Good springs, look.
Newly-weds need good springs.

- Come and try it out, darling.
- Certainly not, Ernest.

It's broad daylight.

Ha-ha-ha!

I've finished the new draining board,
darling.

- Oh, lovely.
- It fits over the edge.

Removable for cleaning.

What with that and the new cooker...

We're in clover!

There. Bang-on.

Cor. It says here,
over two million unemployed.

I'm lucky to be a milkman, Et.

I hate coal under the stairs.

Coal dust gets everywhere,
and it's so common.

Oh. I'll build a brick bunker
in the garden, then.

That'll be lovely.

What you reckon, Et? Ho-ho!

Oh, Ernest, it's far too big.

I'll make some nice loose covers.

Came out of a posh hotel. A bargain.

I've made a curtain for under the tank.
It'll hide the pipes.

I'll keep my outdoor clothes there.
The pipes will dry them off.

Oh, but your coats smell of stale milk,
Ernest.

Yeah, sorry.

Do you think you'll ever be promoted?

No blooming fear. Not me.

Yard foreman? Stuck in a tin shed all day,
adding up rows of figures?

Blow that for a lark.
I like the fresh air.

I could have married... a deep sea diver.

Well, why didn't you?

Because... I didn't love him.

Why do you keep that picture
of a baby on the wall?

- Why do you think?
- Well, it's not a relative, is it?

We've been married over two years.

I'll soon be 37.

Oh...

Hey.

Don't cry.

- I'm sorry.
- Ohh.

Shush, shush, shush.

I know. I know.

Evening Standard!

Late news! Late news!

Hitler wins power in Germany.

- Here you are, Reg.
- Ta, Ern.

Evening Standard!

- Cor blimey.
- Late news. Hitler wins power in Germany!

This bloke, Adolf Hitler...

It says they're publishing his book
over here. Mein Kampf, it's called.

Oh!

That's nice of him.

Huh?

Et!

- Surprise, dear.
- Oh.

New mirror.

It's lovely. How ever did you get it home?

I walked it back on my bike pedal.

- How much was it?
- Only half a dollar.

I got it off a diddicoy down home.

I've got a surprise for you, too.

- Oh, yes?
- I've been to, um...

the doctor.

Oh. And?

- You mean...?
- Mm.

- We're er...
- Yeah.

We're going to...

Yippee!

- I can't believe it.
- Oh, Et!

♪ Blue Skies Are Around The Corner

- Happy birthday, darling.
- Oh, Ernest.

And your cards,
they get bigger every year.

This one's all padded.

But my best present
isn't due until January.

- More tea, Et?
- Mm.

♪ Won't you feel happy to be

♪ Sharing the sunshine with me

One more push, Mrs Briggs.

Ahh!

- Very good.
- Goodness gracious me. What a fuss.

You'll wake the neighbours, so you will.

Oh, my God!

Et!

Wait!

Steady now, Mr Briggs.

You will surely not be bringing
those bottles into the birth room.

Sorry, miss... madam... nurse.

- Is she...?
- It's a boy.

- Is she...?
- The mother is well.

Oh, thank God for that.

Get as much rest as you can now,
Mrs Briggs.

- Baby is doing fine.
- Thank you, Doctor.

Hello, Doctor. Et?

Oh, Ernest.

Aw.

- When was it?
- About five.

I was just doing Ashen Grove.

I nearly ran out of sterilized.

How do you feel?
You... You look done in.

Tired.

It's all red.

He! It's a "he".

- Oh, yes.
- Ahem.

Mr Briggs... a word.

Yes, Doctor.

- It was touch-and-go.
- Oh?

Your wife is 38.

There had better not be any more.

But we wanted a proper family.

More children, no more wife. I'm sorry.

Good day to you.

Right a bit, Et.
Don't want the nappies in the picture.

That's it.

Hold it.

I don't have to tell you to smile.

This MP's pleading that working-class
flats should be built with bathrooms.

Labour MP, of course.

They always say if you give the working
class a bath, they'd keep the coal in it.

Oh, yeah?
I haven't noticed much coal in our bath.

Ernest!
We are not working class.

Huh!

Oh, it's you.

- Hello, Et. I've come to see the baby.
- Mm.

- Come in.
- Oh, how are you, ducks?

Ernest, it's your stepmother.

Again.

Hello, Mum.

I brought you a couple
of bottles of stout.

And some coal.

- Thanks.
- Thanks, Mum. No need.

Now, where's my little boy?

Oh, ain't he grown?

This is the BBC
in London. There now follows the news.

German Chancellor,
Adolf Hitler, announced today new laws

that will forbid Jews remaining
as German citizens.

Here, Ern,
turn that blessed wireless thing off.

I don't want that man
to hear what I'm saying.

Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain said
a new meeting's going to be held at...

Here, Et...

Did you know, if you're a Jew in Germany,
you're forbidden to marry a German?

Hm.

- I would hate to marry a German.
- No...

Cor, this gas copper's a real luxury.

Just turn the tap and strike a match.

BBC's gonna start tele-vision
later this year.

What's that when it's at home?

Well, it looks like a wireless set
with pictures on top of it.

Moving pictures? Talkies?

Yeah.

It'll be like going to the pictures
without going out.

What? You just sit and look at it?

- Yeah.
- Hm.

I suppose it might be all right
for the gentry.

Ohh!

Ohh!

Let's see that nappy, then.

Ooh!

Another lot of washing.

It says "The average family needs £6
a week to keep it above the poverty line".

- What's the poverty line?
- Dunno.

Just wish I earned £6 a week.
What with the nipper growing up so fast.

♪ Tea For Two

Whee! Ha-ha-ha!

Hey-hey! That's the way to do it, boysie!

- Again! Again!
- Oh, Ernest, he's getting such a big boy.

No, he's not. He's skinny, like me.

Wiry, Ernest. And tall.

And lovely hair. All those curls.

Ooh, look, that's new.

They're serving teas in The Balcony.

There's waitresses in aprons and caps.

It looks a bit posh.

- Maybe some other time, eh, dear?
- Again!

Yes. Some other time.

Whatever's up, darling?

What are you crying for?

I've had it done.

What? What?!

His hair.

- Eh?
- They've cut it all off!

His beautiful curls.

Well, blimey, it's gotta be done, Et.

We can't have him running round
like a blooming girl all his life.

He's not a baby any more.
He'll be off to school in no time.

L know!

Hello, boysie.

What's wrong with Mum?

Mum! Mum!

Raymond, dear.
Shouldn't you be in school?

Mum! Mum!

Whatever are you home for?

You mustn't come home
in the middle of the day.

Did you cross that main road?
Oh, God, you must have done.

- I can't find the sit down lavatories.
- You can't find the...?

We showed you them.

No, they're girls. Girls sit down.

No, there's boys' sitting downs, as well.

No, there isn't. It's all girls.

Oh, look out! I wanna go number twos!

Nice day again, Mrs Bennet.

Yes, lovely, Mrs Briggs.

Sounds like that Hitler's on the warpath
good and proper.

Mm.

Just hark at them.

They're all barmy.

Our George was killed in the last one.

And brother Tom.

It doesn't seem all that long ago.

Our poor old mother never got over it.

This television is gonna be on
one and a half hours every evening.

Dreadful. It would be like going
to the pictures every day.

Blimey. There's a photo here

of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor
shaking hands with Hitler.

Ohh! He can't be so bad, then.

What?

Look, Mum.

The Prime Minister, Neville
Chamberlain, returned from Germany today

and spoke to crowds at Heston Airport
with the promise of peace.

I had another talk
with the German Chancellor, Herr Hitler.

And here is the paper which bears his name
upon it, as well as mine.

Cor, Et. Old Chamberlain is giving Hitler
half of Czechoslovakia.

Oh, yes?

He says it's peace with honour.
Peace in our time.

Thank goodness for that.
Don't you want that bit of toast, Ernest?

No.

No, thanks, dear.

Evening Standard!

Ta, Ern.

- You there, Et?
- In here!

Hitler's marched into Prague now.
He'll be coming down our road soon.

Adolf Hitler? In Wimbledon Park?

It says here the Government is going
to spend £200,000 on air-raid shelters.

Better get ourselves ready.

Oh, not on the table, Ernest.

Cor.

It's gonna be very stuffy
with all this blackout up, Ernest.

Not half as stuffy
as a gas-proof room would be.

Poison gas! Oh, I hadn't thought of that.

You have to bung up the chimney, tape over
the cracks round the doors and windows,

put wet newspapers in between
the floorboards. It's a right old barney.

Rarh!

Oh, Raymond, behave.

This isn't a game, you know.

♪ Underneath the spreading chestnut tree

♪ Mr Chamberlain said to me

♪ If you want your gas mask fitted free

♪ Join the blinking ARP

Read this booklet until you know by heart
what it contains.

Ohh!

I wish I had a proper gas mask carrier.

Not a soppy old cardboard box
and string.

It's not fair!

Oh, dear, Ernest.

Ernest, can you hear me?

- No.
- I can.

Be quiet, son.

Can you beat it? IRA bombs in London,
Manchester and Birmingham.

- When will it end?
- Oh, those Irish.

They're just like the blessed Arabs
and Jews. Always at it.

Don't forget the Serbs and Croats.
They're just as bad.

Then there's the Hindus and the Moslems.

Why can't they all just be like us
and live in peace?

We interrupt this broadcast

with an announcement
from the Prime Minister in London.

Lam speaking to you from
the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street.

♪ Underneath
the spreading chestnut tree

Shush. It's the Prime Minister.

- the British Ambassador...
i' Mr Chamberlain said to me

Shush, dear.

Handed the German Government
a final note...

stating that,
unless we heard from them by 11 o'clock,

that they were prepared at once
to withdraw their troops from Poland...

a state of war would exist between us.

I have to tell you now that no such
undertaking has been received...

and that consequently, this country
is at war with Germany.

Blimey, duck.

This is it.

Mum?

The Government announced today

that one and a half million children
are to be evacuated.

Children living
in big cities and towns...

- No. No, they're not taking ours away.

- Course they are.
- No, they're not!

Over my dead body!

It'll be over his dead body, then!
Is that what you want?

No, Ernest.

Well, that's exactly what will happen.
He's got to go.

Oh, sorry, darling. Come on.

- Don't cry.
- My little baby.

Don't cry, love.

I know, I know.

You be a good boy, now, Raymond.

Come on, then.

Up you go, son, that's it.

Bye, son.

- We'll send you some things in the post.
- Stand clear now.

I know, I know.

Bye, son.

He's gone.

He's gone.

Don't cry, darling.
He'll be safe down the country.

He's only five.

Ernest!

Ernest, it must be from Raymond.

Yes. Yes.

"Dear Mum and Dad. Aunty Flo
and Aunty Betty are very nice ladies."

Oh, look, he's done some drawings, too.

"I sleep on a camp-bed
in Aunty Flo's bedroom."

Oh, poor little mite.

"I get the milk in a can.
It is not in bottles, because it is cows."

Milk not in bottles? Blimey.

"I rode on a cart horse's back
when we got the hay.

I nearly did the splits.
Yours sincerely, Raymond."

"Yours sincerely"!

♪ The Deepest Shelter In Town

♪ I've got a cosy flat

♪ There's a place for your hat

- Mind my antirrhinums, Ernest.
♪ I'll wear a pink chiffon negligee gown

I hope you know what you're doing.

Eh? Course, duck. You just wait.

♪ I've got the deepest shelter in town

That's it. All done.

Is that it? Finished?

- Is it really bomb-proof?
- You'll have to wait and see.

♪ And I've got central heat

♪ But to make it complete

♪ I've got the deepest shelter in town

Russia's invaded Finland now.

- I thought they'd invaded Poland?
- Yes, they have.

But you said Germany's invaded Poland.

Yes, that's right.

Well, who was it invaded Czechoslovakia?

- Germany.
- Oh, Germany's always invading someone.

I expect they'll invade Russia one day.

Cor blimey, not likely. They're in league.

- Or Russia will invade Germany.
- Oh, don't be daft.

Well, if they all keep invading one
another, we'll end up invading someone.

Oh, Et,
you just don't understand politics.

Oh! Now look.

Blessed shelter.

Do you think they ever will come down
our road, Ernest?

I expect it will be OK.

They say Hitler's assured Holland
and Belgium of his friendship.

Oh, that's nice.

What do you think?
It's all right, eh?

I thought firemen had those nice brass
helmets with curly tops.

Nah.
Blokes been getting electrocuted in those.

At last! Churchill's taken over.

- "Blood, toil, tears and sweat."
- Ernest!

Don't. Disgusting.

It's your gentry talking.
His words, not mine.

Yes, but he was talking
to the common people.

He wouldn't use words like that
in his own home.

What General Weygand
has called the Battle of France is over.

The Battle of Britain is about to begin.

Upon this battle depends
the survival of Christian civilization.

The whole fury and might of the enemy
must very soon he turned on us.

Hitler knows that he will have to break us
in this island or lose the war.

If we can stand up to him,
all Europe may be freed

and the life of the world may move
forward into broad, sunlit uplands.

But if we fail, then the whole world,

including the United States,

will sink into the abyss
of a new Dark Age.

Let us therefore brace ourselves
to our duties,

and so bear ourselves,

that, if the British Empire
and its Commonwealth

last for a thousand years,
men will still say:

"This was their finest hour."

♪ We'll Meet Again

"Broad, sunlit uplands."

Good old Winston. "Our finest hour!"

They're starting to take away
our nice gate and railings.

I'll make a wooden gate.

- Oh, it's a shame.
- They want saucepans, too.

They make 'em into Spitfires.

Funny to think of our front gate
being a Spitfire.

The front door's halfway up the stairs.

It's spoiled my loose covers.

Could have been worse, Et.
We got off light.

I'm glad Raymond
was well clear of all this.

Perhaps when we've got
this mess cleared up,

we could take a trip down to Dorset
and give him a visit.

Mum!

Dad! Look at me!

Look!

Raymond, be careful, dear.

No need to worry about him, Ethel.
He's got quite used to things now.

Phwoar! Lovely country smells, eh, boysie?

Are the pigs like that
because of the blackout?

Oh, Et.

Ooh.

Come along, Raymond. We've seen the pigs.

He's fitted into the school
very well, hasn't he, Flo?

It's as if he's always been here.

Oh. Good.

Mum, the boys at school all have boots.

They're common boys, Ethel,
from Lambeth and Bermondsey.

- Can I have boots?
- Certainly not, Raymond.

Ohh.

I've always dreamed of
a cottage in the country.

Down here it's hard to believe
there's a war on.

Come on, piggies.

That Mr Morrison and his soppy shelter
has ruined my nice dining room.

Government precautions, dear.

Still, at least we won't have to go out
into the cold.

You look like you're in the zoo.

I'll paint it brown to tone in
with the furniture.

A nice pastel brown, Ernest.

- Blimey.
- What?

Germany's invaded Russia!

I wish I'd betted you sixpence.

Oh. Night, dear.

Night.

♪ Singin' In The Bathtub

♪ Singing in the bathtub

♪ Happy once again

Ernest, what on earth
are you doing with that ruler?

Marking five inches.

You're only allowed five inches of water.

But if you were fat,
it would be higher up.

Yeah, well, the King's clone it
at Buckingham Palace.

It's not fair,
fat people getting a deeper bath.

They say you're supposed
to share the bath too, darling.

- Disgusting.
- We share ours.

But not at the same time.

Ha-ha-ha!

Look! Look!

Jerry's got a direct hit.
Those buildings are gonna topple.

Is there anyone in 'em?

Don't know. Hope to God not.

Over here!

- On the left, there!
- Not enough pressure!

Watch out!

Watch out!

Oh, at last.

Are you all right?

Tired.

Been in the docks.

14 hours.

Here, let me get your boots off.

- There.
- Loads of dead.

Little kiddie.

All in bits.

I had to...

Oh, there, there.

Have a good cry.

♪ Holly And The Ivy

♪ The holly bears a prickle

♪ As sharp as any thorn

Cor, this Beveridge Report.

Sickness pay, unemployment pay,
old age pensions, kiddies welfare,

free medicines, free hospitals.

Don't read, Ernest, help!

Social security from the cradle
to the grave.

The welfare state.

It's what the workers
have always fought for.

We've won!

- It'll have to be paid for.
- Course it will.

We'll all chip in.
That's the whole idea.

You can't chip in if you're out of work,
or off sick, or on a pension.

No, well... course not.
It's all gotta be worked out.

It's economics, see?

Economics will see to it.

There.

All done.

- Oh, Ernest.
- I know, I know.

♪ And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ

♪ on Christmas Day in the morn

♪ Oh, the rising of the sun

- Aunty Flo?
- Yes, dear?

I wish I could sleep in my own bed again.

Course you do, dear.

That Mr Hitler's on the run now, Raymond.

I'm sure you'll be back in London
soon enough.

There. All done.

Are you there?

- What's up, Et?
- Dearest.

I've been promoted. Clerk, grade B3.

Cor. No more packing parcels
in that rotten, freezing warehouse?

No. I'm going to work in an office.

And that's not all, Et.

Look, a letter from our boy.

They reckon he can come home now.

Oh! Oh, Ernest!

That's it, son.

♪ Dig, dig, dig,
feel your muscles getting big

♪ Keep on pushing in the spade

♪ The turnip tops

♪ The potatoes and the carrots

♪ Cannot sprout without your aid

♪ Don't mind the worms

♪ Just ignore their squirms

♪ When your back aches
laugh with glee

♪ And keep on digging
till we give our foes a wigging

♪ Dig, dig, dig to victory

Hooray!

- Cup of tea, boysie?
- Thanks, Dad.

That country air has got you fit.

Dad?

Come on, son!

Down the shelter! Run!

Take cover!

Doodlebug.

Get down, son! Get down!

Engine's cut out.

Christ, it's coming down!

Cor. That was close.

I didn't know they were bright blue
underneath, Dad.

Come on, son. Shelter.

Before any more of the blighters
come over.

We'd better get you
back down the country tomorrow.

Crikey, dear.
Sounds like a lot got through tonight.

- I can't hear anything.
- Hold tight, duck.

Some shelter. Full of glass.

Morrison shelters!

That Mr Morrison must be a proper twerp.

Good job the boy wasn't in it.
He's only been gone two days.

The old Dorothy Perkins
is still in bloom. She survived.

Pity he didn't take his teddy with him.

Oh, Ernest.

How much more of this is there gonna be?

- Ernest?
- What?

Careful. That's your second glass of beer.

Victory in Europe, Et.

♪ Any time you're Lambeth way
- Look at Dad!

♪ Any evening, any day

♪ You'll find us all

♪ Doing the Lambeth Walk, oi!

♪ Every little Lambeth gal

♪ With her little Lambeth pal!

♪ You'll find 'em all

♪ Doing the Lambeth Walk, oi!

♪ Everything's free and easy

♪ Do as you darn well pleasy

♪ Why don't you make your way there

♪ Go, stay there

Come on, Arthur! It's VE Day! Cheer up!

You look like a dog that's lost its tail.

I lost my boy.

Yeah. I'm sorry, mate.

I'm sorry. I forgot.

Sorry.

♪ A Perfect day

♪ When you come to the end

♪ of a perfect day

Cor.
To think there will never be another war.

Jessie's Bob
is still fighting the Japs, don't forget.

And you can knock this thing down.

When I've finished tidying it.

♪ For the joy that the day has brought

Look. It's come up.

- What's that, son?
- A pear tree.

Aunty Flo gave me the pips
from a pear we ate.

Better not get too big,
it'll block out all the light.

Don't discourage the boy, Ernest.

I like a nice pear.

Darling!

Labour's won!

We're in! Ha-ha-ha!

Such a shame for poor Mr Churchill.

The working man will be all right now.
At last!

He saved our bacon in the war.

Bloody marvellous!

Ernest! Mr Churchill never swears.
He's a gentleman.

- I'm Labour, Mum.
- Shush, dear.

It is now estimated
that casualties from the atomic bomb

dropped on the city of Hiroshima
could exceed one hundred thousand dead.

A hundred thousand dead from one bomb.

Well, at least it will put paid to wars.

Really? Why?

Well, you can't fight a war
with bombs like that.

- Why not?
- Everyone will be dead the first day.

Hm.

Ohh!

He's passed the scholarship!

He's going to the grammar school!

Hm. I hope he won't get too posh for us.

Oh, Ernest!

And, there. There we are.
Now, turn around, sonny. Show Mummy.

Oh... Raymond.

You do look smart.

Oh, wait a minute.

Can't have a dirty face, can we?

Not at the grammar school.

Quite so, madam.

Languages, eh?

Oh, yes.
He has to do French and Latin. And Maths.

Oh, like arithmetic?

No, not just arithmetic.
It's called alge...

alge... erm... alge... bra.

Oh. And sport, does he do his football?

Oh, no.

- They play rugger.
- Ethel?

Oh, sorry, must go.

You shouldn't go on about it
to Mrs Bennet, dear.

Why not?

Well, her boy didn't get in anywhere.
He's a bricklayer now.

I don't see why I shouldn't be proud
of my own son.

Yeah? Well, well, OK.

- Wahey!
- Mum, look!

- What do you reckon?
- Smashing, Dad.

It's electric, son.

I hope you can keep control of it, Ernest.

Can I have a go on it?

Just you keep away from it.
It's dangerous.

See you later.

Bye!

- Hello, Ern.
- Hello, Alf.

Ta.

- How goes it, then?
- Oh, not good.

My old lady... she's getting a bit much.

Oh?

Rows, you mean? Money?

No, no, no. You know...

- the other.
- Hm?

It's the change. She's on the change.

Too demanding.
Do you know what I mean?

I can't cope. It's too much for me.

So, if you ever fancy... you know...

You'd be doing me a favour.

Eh? What? You mean er...?

I'll be out next Saturday. Football.
Fulham's at home. So...

You mean, you...

Yeah, like I say,
you'd be doing me a favour.

Oh, blimey, no. No, mate.
No, I couldn't. Sorry. No.

I... I got a barrow to push.

No hard feelings.

Nor me, neither.

Ta-ta, Alf.

See you, Ern.

Alf?

♪ The Laughing Policeman

♪ I know a fat old policeman

♪ He's always on our street

♪ A fat and jolly red-faced man

♪ He really is a treat

♪ He's too kind for a policeman

♪ He's never known to frown

♪ And everybody says
he is the happiest man in town

♪ Whoo-ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

♪ Whoo-ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

♪ Whoo-ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

♪ Whoo-ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

- Mrs Briggs?
- Yes.

Detective Sergeant Burnley, CID.

Oh, no! Whatever is...?

Your son was apprehended
breaking and entering the golf club

and stealing valuable billiard cues.

No!

He's lucky. This time
we're letting him off with a caution.

In you go, sunshine.

Next time it will be borstal!

No.

No, it's not possible. He...

He... He goes to grammar school!

You wicked, wicked boy!

- I could kill you!
- Sorry, Mum.

How could you?

- Borstal! Borstal!
- Ow!

Whatever's going on?

Well?

I see your boy came home in a police van.

Yes. Yes, he did. That's right.

He's been helping the police
with their investigations.

In a Black Maria?

Yes. He reported some stolen property
he found in the woods.

The Chief Inspector said
he was a very clever boy.

Hm.

Look. More scrap Anderson.
Ah, fits perfect.

We'll own all the coal soon.
They're gonna nationalize it.

I bet we still have to pay for it.

Well, course we'll have to pay for it,
you daft ha'porth.

- So we won't own it, then, will we?
- Well, er... not exactly.

But it means the profits
will go to the Government,

instead of lining the pockets
of the bosses.

And then the Government
gives the money to us?

- No!
- So what's the difference, then?

Cor! 50,000 GI brides going to America.
Kiddies with them, too.

Children? But they're not married!

Yeah, well, I expect some of them
jumped the gun a bit.

You know what they say about
the Yanks. "One yank and they're down."

- What are down?
- Er, well, I dunno. It's just a saying.

Wheeee!

Blimey. There's gonna be
a thousand miles of motorway.

A terrific network!

What about the green belt?
All that lovely country.

Yeah, well, it will bypass it, I expect.

I thought you said there were going to be
lots of bypasses already?

Yeah, well, so there are.

- It will bypass the bypasses, then.
- And what about the ring roads?

Look, it will bypass the ring roads
and bypass the bypasses.

- And bypass the green belt?
- Yes, and bypass the green belt!

That's all right, then.

Only it does seem a bit of a muddle.

He's passed!

He's passed the school certificate!

It says he's matric... matriculated,
or something.

- Is that good?
- Well, of course it's good!

- What does it mean?
- I don't know what it means.

Not our place to know.

- Morning, Mr Briggs.
- Lovely morning.

Whatever's the matter, dear?

He says he wants to leave
the grammar school and go to art school.

Art school?

- Oh, blimey.
- Such a shame.

He could have gone
to Oxford and Cambridge.

And got a nice job in an office.

He could have been a foreman
or even, maybe, a manager.

There's no money in it.
He'll never earn a living at it.

That lot's all long hair, drink and...

- and nude women.
- Oh, Ernest!

It was confirmed today that Russia

has exploded its first atomic bomb.

The test took place in a remote area
of Kazakhstan, and it is believed...

Russia explodes an atomic bomb.

Oh, blimey.
That's bin an' gorn an' dunnit.

Ernest, do speak properly.

Dad, when you come home from work,
why don't you wash in the bathroom?

Blimey, son. I'm filthy, look.

Yes, I know,
but that's what the bathroom is for.

No, I couldn't wash in the bathroom.
Not in this state.

But this is the kitchen, Dad.
Mum cooks in it.

Whoo-hoo!

No, I couldn't, son.
Not in the bathroom.

Oh, Dad!

Hello, dear. Had a good day at college?

- Oh, what's up with him?
- They call it ad-o-lescence, dear.

They don't understand.

That launderette is a godsend.

I did the whole blessed lot
for two and nine. And it's all bone-dry.

I could get an electric thermostat
for the tank.

Hot water in the summertime.
All modern.

Electric thermostat. Electric fridge.
Electric milk float.

My old mum and dad never knew
the meaning of the word.

- What word, duck?
- Electric!

Down home there was nothing electric
in the whole blessed house.

- We all grew up all right.
- Two of you died as children, clear.

- What's that got to do with electric?
- Well, it's progress, Et. Scientific.

It's scientific progress.

Blimey! What's this?
Meat ration to be cut by tuppence?

That's the lowest it's ever been.
And six years after the end of the war.

We had more meat under Mr Churchill.

Yeah, all right.

- Middle of the Blitz we had more meat.
- Yes!

- Battle of Britain.
- All right!

- You can't blame Hitler now.
- No!

Just your Labour Government.

♪ Sous Le Ciel De Paris

- Bye, Mum.
- Bye, dear.

♪ Sous le ciel de Paris
S'envole une chanson

♪ Mm, mm

♪ Elle est née d'aujourd'hui...
- Just look at the pair of them.

Her in black stockings.

- And just look at his hair.
- Well, they're art students, dear.

He'll grow out of it
when he gets a proper job.

He'll never get a proper job
with hair like that!

♪ Leur bonheur se construit
Sur un air fait pour eux

Cor blimey. There's a candidate here
in the General Election.

Not only is she a woman, but she's 26!

I'm old enough to be her father!

And she's a Tory.
What is the world coming to?

I thought your Labour believed in
equal rights for everybody?

Well, yeah, course but... blimey.

She's old enough to be married,
have a baby, go to work, drive a car,

be in the Army, fly a plane in the war.

Yeah, but... blimey.
I'd like to see her do my job.

She doesn't want your job.
She wants to be an MP. She's educated.

And I'm not, I suppose?

Well, no, you're not educated,
are you, dear?

Nor am I. We couldn't be MPs.

Ohh.

Who wants to be an MP anyway, eh?

Ha! Cheese ration cut to one ounce!

Seven years after the war. One ounce.

Not enough for a mousetrap.

There's your Tory Government for you!
Look! Your Mr Churchill's cheese!

I hope you washed your hands
before touching that cheese.

- It's my call-up papers.
- What?

I'm going into
the Royal Corps of Signals.

Well, don't you go and get sent
to that Korean War.

- No, that's all over, bar the shouting.
- It isn't!

Mrs Hammond's boy, Michael,
was killed there only last week.

Blimey. Was he? He used to help me
on the milk round when he was a nipper.

He was just 19.

Then, when you come to attention...
Atten-tion!

You have to slam your boot down
so hard

the blood spurts through the lace holes.

- Oh, don't, dear.
- It's true, Mum.

Are you gonna do
parachute jumping, son?

Er, no. I'm gonna be a draughtsman.
In an office.

Oh, good. That's nice. An office.

And thank goodness
you've had a proper haircut at last.

Mrs Morgan's boy
is going to be an officer.

- Oh, yeah?
- Don't you want to be an officer, dear?

Not likely, Mum. They want head boys,
team captains, prefects.

Preferably public school.

I'm just a common little suburban
grammar school oik.

Oh, but the uniform is so much nicer,
dean

And you could wear nice brown shoes.
Boots are so common.

Our very own phone.
Who'd have believed it?

Ooh, dear. What shall I do
if it rings when you're out?

- Well, answer it, you daft ha'porth.
- I don't think I like it.

Oh, good God, quick, Ernest,
it's going off!

Hello?

Yes.

No.

Oh, right. Goodbye.

Wrong number, dear.

♪ Dixon Of Dock Green Theme

Oh, Ernest. It's just like the pictures.

Yes. We might get Victor McLaglen.

- He's dead.
- They could still put him on.

Oh, I prefer Tyrone Power.
He's more modern.

Oh.

You get it, Ernest.

Blessed thing.

- Fancy our little boy having a motorbike.
- It's a scooter, Et. Lambretta.

- They're Italian.
- He's far too young for motorbikes.

And I see
it's back to the long hair already.

Well, he's demobbed now, dear.

- Cheerio, Mum.
- Bye, dear.

- Cheerio, Dad.
- Bye, son!

He's got three certificates now.

Yeah, but they're only art certificates,
Et. They won't get him a job.

- One is from London University.
- Yeah, I know, but...

He can put letters after his name.
Just like a doctor.

Hello, Susie.

This says they're wanting
to legalize homosexuality.

Oh.

What's that?

Well, you know, it's like two blokes,

only instead of with a woman,
sort of with one another, like.

I don't know what
you're rambling on about, Ernest,

and I don't think you do, either.

I'll, er... put the kettle on,
shall I, duck? Nice cup of tea?

- Surprise, dear!
- What?

Hey presto!

Mind. The sun will fade
my loose covers.

Look!

What?

- You see anything?
- No.

- Nothing new? Different?
- No.

- That green car?
- Well, what about it?

Triumph Herald. Wasn't there yesterday.

Well, there's always different cars
stuck outside our house nowadays.

- Well, that one's special.
- What's special about it?

It's ours!

Oh, don't be daft, Ernest.

Come on, dear. Get in.

Oh, Ern. I don't like to.

I've still got my pinny on,
and I haven't done my hair.

Come on!

Is it really yours?

Ours, darling. Shut the door,
we'll go for a spin.

♪ Foot Tapper

I didn't know you could drive
a proper car.

Letter from Raymond.

Crumbs! The average male manual worker
earns £13 2/11 a week!

Blimey. I must be below average then.

It doesn't apply to you, Ernest.
You're not a manual worker.

Oh! He's gonna be a teacher!

Oh, good. That's a bit more regular.

- It's in a college of art.
- That's better.

Thank God it's not just an art school.

- Part-time.
- Well, part-time's no good.

That's more for women.

One day a week, look.

Blimey.

He gets almost as much for one day
as I get for the whole bloody week!

Ernest!

Ooh! "See you on the 30th.

I'll be bringing... Jean with me."

♪ Little Things

Here they come, Et.

♪ Little things that you do...

Hello, Mum. Dad. This is Jean.

- Hello, Jean.
- Hello.

Hello, dear. Oh, look at you.

Here's a comb.

Mum, I haven't seen you for a month.

I've just brought my future wife
to meet you. I do not want a comb!

Right, then.

I'll, um... put the kettle on.

- Sorry, Mum.
- Oh, come and sit down, dear.

Lovely to see you.
And you too, Jane.

Jean, Mum.

- I thought you'd like, um...
- Oh, thank you, dear.

- Whatever is it?
- Well, it's a bottle of wine, Mum.

Wine? Oh, dear, I don't know...

- Got a corkscrew anywhere?
- Wine. Oh, dear.

- It's all right, Mum. It won't explode.
- I don't like bangs.

♪ Little things that you do...
- Bye, Mum. Bye, Dad.

- Cheerio, son.
- I do wish you'd get a nice car, dear.

Van's cheaper, Mum. No purchase tax.

But a car is so much nicer.

♪ When we walk

- Bye!
♪ You like to hold my hand

- She was a nice kid, wasn't she?
- Didn't say much.

She's shy. Very shy.
Like you, sweetheart.

Hair all over the shop. Too tall.

She can't help that, clear. She's all legs.

Never mind her legs, Ernest.
She needs a perm.

And he needs a good haircut.

Oh, no. He says they're going to
get married in a registry office.

- Well, that's the modern way, Et.
- Oh, it's horrible.

Yes, but neither of them is religious.

I don't want him to be religious. I just
want him to get married in a church.

It's so much nicer.

And, erm...
when are you gonna start a family, dear?

Well, I don't know really, Mum.
Probably not at all.

Goodness me, why ever not?
I wanna be a granny.

Well, Jean's got problems, Mum.
Brain trouble.

- Brain trouble?
- Yeah, well, that's what I call it.

As a sort of joke.

She goes in and out of the loony bin.

You mean she's...

she's mental?

Yeah, well, that's one word for it.

The other word is schizophrenia.

Oh, dear. Poor thing.

So, I won't be a granny after all.

Never mind, Mum.

What a dump.

Dump?

Mum, the Government
has designated this

an area of outstanding
natural beauty.

An AONB. It's official.

Well, I still say it's a dump.

The South Downs
are at the end of the garden.

I give up. I give up.

Son, it's the sort of place
I always dreamed about.

I know, Dad. I know.

They seem very happy down there,
despite the schizo business.

Yes, I suppose so. I was hoping
he'd send his washing home.

- Oh, Et. Don't be daft. He's married.
- Yes, I know.

What's that?

My retirement certificate.

37 years' service with
the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society.

I'm not sure I want that
on the front room wall.

Well, that's where it's going, Ethel.

That's one small step for man...

one giant leap for mankind.

Cor blimey. A man on the moon, Et.

- Oh?
- A man on the moon.

Fantastic, eh?

What's he doing there?

Well, just walking about a bit.

- Then what?
- Come back, I suppose.

Perhaps they'll have a picnic.

That would be nice.

I think the tea would blow away
when it came out of the Thermos.

Why, is it windy up there?

- No, it's gravity, dear.
- Oh, I see.

Look, he's gonna pick up some pebbles
to take home.

Just like kiddies at the seaside.

Turn it off, will you?

Did you have a good journey, dear?

Oh, yes. OK, Mum. Fine, fine.

Much traffic on the road?

Well, er, the A23 was a bit choked up,
wasn't it?

Um, but er... after Sutton
it sort of thinned out a bit

and, er... you know, got better.

Here's a comb, dear.

Thanks, Mum.

Remember we used to
bring the pram up here?

It's me in the pram now.

They used to do nice teas in The Balcony
before the war.

Waitresses in aprons and caps.

- Never did go, did we, dear?
- Yes. It was lovely.

The yobbos smashed all the windows.

Well, that's your Labour Party for you.

- Mr Briggs. Mr Briggs.
- What?

Is there a telephone?
I need to call an ambulance.

Downstairs, Doctor. Front room.

Ethel?

♪ In Dulci Jubilo

Why are they all staring at me?

Oh, they're not staring at you, Mum.
It's the television.

Put it right by your bed.

I don't like them staring at me.
And I don't like being in Charity Ward.

It doesn't mean "charity", Mum.
It's a girl's name.

What's that music? I can hear music.

Carols, Mum. On the television.
It's Christmas. There's the tree, look.

Oh, I hope I'll be home
in time for Christmas.

- When is it?
- It was yesterday, Mum.

You had your presents yesterday.

Look at all your cards, hm?
Lovely flowers.

Yes, lovely. Ain't I a lucky girl?

Listen, dear.

Who was that old man in here just now?

Oh, Mum. That was Dad.

Dad?

You know, Ernest. Your husband.

- My husband?
- Yes.

- Not Victor McLaglen?
- No, Mum.

I thought he was dead.

Lovely... Lovely flowers, Mum.

Oh, yes, lovely.

Ain't I a lucky girl?

- Son? ls that you?
- Yes.

The hospital. They just phoned.

Oh, right.

She's...

- I'm going up there.
- I'll leave now.

- OK. I'll see you there.
- Bye, Dad.

Steady on, old son.

Steady on.

- Why is she on a trolley?
- I don't know, son.

Look, bloody tissues and Vim
right by her face.

- They've put her teeth in all crooked.
- I know, son.

I don't know.

I still keep laying the table for two,
duck.

Daft, isn't it, Susie, puss?

Nice daffs, aren't they?

"retailers tell the Government
they accept the need...

I'll get cocoa in a minute, dear.

Good night, Susie.

Argh!

Ohh!

- Argh!

Argh!

It's OK, Susie.

I suppose I better get the Salvation Army
to take it all away.

I grew it from a pip.

♪ In The Blink Of An Eye

♪ I can see a shadow

♪ Underneath the moon

♪ Maybe a winter cloud burst

♪ Heading this way soon

♪ Heading this way soon

♪ In the blink of an eye

♪ Many songs have been sung

♪ Many lives have gone by

♪ We will never give up

♪ We will hold on to love

♪ With no reason to cry

♪ In the blink of an eye

♪ Many songs have been sung

♪ Many lives have gone by

♪ We will never give up

♪ We will hold on to love

♪ With no reason to cry

♪ I can see the shadow

♪ Underneath the moon

♪ Maybe a winter cloud burst

♪ Heading this way soon

♪ Heading this way soon

♪ Walking In The Park With Eloise

English SDH