Aristocrats (1999–…): Season 1, Episode 2 - Episode #1.2 - full transcript

We knew nothing of a
world beyond our own.

We were aristocrats.

Mr Fox!

L adored Caroline.

L wonder what she
did to provoke him.

Ln my eyes, she
could do no wrong.

We have dismissed Mr Fox.

I am married...

..to Mr Fox.

L will not be disobeyed!

L wondered what would
happen when my turn came.



What would my parents
require of me?

Admirers?

Allow me.

- You can't marry if Father won't allow it!
- Can't marry! Can't marry!

So, my lord, how do
you occupy your time?

Well, er... at the moment
l'm building a house.

L should be sorry to be the cause
of any disappointment, my lord,

but my position is unalterable.

L won't give her a penny more.
Her dowry is fixed at L10,000...

..when her parents die. A
distant event, one hopes.

You must provide the rest.

Marriage to one of our
family confers such esteem

that no financial advantage
will be requested or given.

My love for Lady Emily was not
inspired by thoughts of fortune.



What settlement do you consider?

This is the sum l require.

Then that is the sum l agree.

Have it drawn up.

Patience and
dutifulness on my part

had softened my parents'objections
to Lord Kildare.

He pays through the nose.
There's nothing we could fault.

Nevertheless, my father
drove a hard bargain.

L was to be handed over with
scarcely a guinea to my name.

My father was unstinting, though,
in his provisions for the wedding.

The celebrations
were magnificent and

attended by all London...
including the King.

Of course, my sister
Caroline was not invited.

Ah!

How is my pretty plumb cake?

Bien. Et vous?

- She speaks in tongues, Your Grace.
- All my children speak French, sir.

Shall we see what
she says to this?

Of my two younger sisters, little
Sarah was the King's favourite.

Shall we put the lid on?

She became something
of a royal plaything.

Oh. Listen.

?..s'en va-t-en guerre

? Avec une grande armee,
avec une grande armee

? Mambru s'en va-t-en guerre,
mironton, mironton, mirontaine

? Mambru s'en va-t-en guerre

? Avec une grande armee,
avec une grande armee

The little plumb
cake is a patriot!

Just like her father,
eh, Richmond?

Do you accept our offer? You keep
us waiting. lt's not the thing.

- But do you still want me, sir?
- Of course. Of course.

Then l am honoured to
accept the position.

Master of the Horse it is, then.

Jemmy, we can't!

Can we?

- Jemmy.
- Mm-hm?

How many bedrooms does your
house have in lreland?

L can't remember.

Why?

L'm trying to imagine it.

- Ls it a little like Richmond House?
- Mm.

Does it have... pretty windows?

- Does it have a park?
- With spotty cattle.

And black-faced sheep.

L do like being married.

My dearest.

- Jemmy.
- Mm?

You know what we
must do tomorrow?

More of this, perhaps?

We must visit my sister.

As a married woman, l
answered first to my husband.

My parents could not prevent
me from visiting Caroline.

And l did so, the day
after my wedding.

Henry... do l look well?

Jemmy had no objection.

He saw advantages in meeting Mr
Fox, whose star was rising fast.

My Lord and Lady Kildare.

We wasted no time in catching up on the
missed years and interrupted confidences.

L can never express
enough gratitude to you,

Lord Kildare, for restoring
my sister to me.

L have wanted to make your acquaintance,
Lady Caroline, and that of Mr Fox.

May your domestic happiness
be equal to my own.

You have chosen the
best available.

Thank you for the
compliment, Mr Fox.

Lt is simply the truth.

Well, this calls for a toast.
To happiness in marriage.

My darling Ste.

He is sweeter than any
baby is entitled to be.

You can't imagine
what l feel for him.

Ls not the act of love...

..strange?

Jemmy says that its
frequent use is necessary

to a woman's health
and happiness.

That's abominably indelicate.

He says what he thinks.

L'm sure one sees many mighty
comfortable old virgins.

Perhaps that is so.

But one is awfully glad
not to be among them.

Emily!

Oh!

Oh, dearest sis, we shall see too
little of each other when you're gone.

L shall return from
lreland often.

To my eyes, lreland was not at all
the place of bogs and cottages

my mother had told
me it would be.

My eyes then, of course, were not
as open as they might have been.

L thought it a pretty country and, in
parts, like the England l had left.

Lts houses, however, were in
need of some improvement.

As mistress in my own home at last, l set
about the business of refurbishment.

No. No. Try the other one again.

Yes! Yes, that's it!

There's Chinese silk upholstery
of exceptional charm.

More silk?

How much did it cost?

L200.

A little expensive.

Oh, it is so beautiful.

- Shall l put it on?
- Yes.

L'd give more than l could name to
have the pleasure of taking it off.

My husband's feelings for me were such
that l very quickly began to breed.

L bred constantly.

L loved my children.

With annual regularity, l gave
birth, was confined, and bred again.

Good night, George.

Good night, William.

Yes.

Emily, we cannot spend any more.

L fear for my ruin.

Henry.

We were to go to the theatre.

Lndeed.

- What time?
- We are much too late.

We'll go another time, my love.

- L promise.
- You promised before.

L was looking forward to this.

- There is nothing l can do.
- There is nothing you wish to do!

- You are happier away from me.
- You don't believe that.

Your Grace?

He will only talk to Mr Fox!

- Who, my dear?
- The King!

He will not listen to us!

He asks repeatedly if
we've won the war yet,

and when we try to explain the difficulties
of doing so, he calls for Mr Fox!

Because Mr Fox is the only
man he can understand!

L never thought it a
good likeness anyway.

Jemmy, we must go to London.

For what purpose?

You must bespeak me...
more stockings.

Can Dublin not furnish
you with stockings?

Dublin is out of stockings.

L need the blue,
embroidered with silk,

seven pairs.

And two pairs of...

..the green with pink flocks.

L will bespeak you a thousand.

This talk of stockings... and the
sight of your dear, pretty legs...

..makes me feel what is
not to be expressed.

- You are not fair, Mr Fox.
- And you are very fair, Lady Kildare.

L cannot argue with a pun,
particularly if it flatters me.

No-one can argue with Mr Fox.
He always wins.

L imagine Lady Kildare also
has a habit of winning.

Oh, l don't contest.

- L defer to Lord Kildare in all things.
- Ah.

Ls that not so?

All things in the great world, perhaps.
But in the matter of children and house,

l think women have
the wiser view.

You would have us
believe, my dear,

that your opinions are confined
to children and house?

They have the major share of my thoughts.
Otherwise, my thoughts are commonplace.

Let us hear these
commonplace thoughts.

L think war is a disgrace
to human nature.

Lt makes us rich.
- But that should not be.

Lt makes everyone rich.

Our manufactories make arms,

our merchants sell cloth for
uniforms, our bankers make loans,

our corn prices rise, and your father grows
richer by the day as his coal is used.

Such wealth is dearly bought,
paid for by people's lives!

Not by ours.

L don't want to profit
from death, Henry.

Perhaps l should refuse my pay.

You said you wished to bring
this war to a speedy end.

Are you now saying you
wish it to continue?

Lt doesn't hinder my prospects.

So this war is a useful
instrument to your advancement.

L said no such thing.

War is a murdering trade
and you talk of prospects!

Ls the end of war not in sight?

L have never been more
convinced of your being

tired of me as l have
been this last month.

L know fidelity is not the custom
amongst people of our rank,

and there are some marriages
where the presence of a mistress

does not seem to
disturb the wife.

And perhaps l should be more...
accustomed.

But l cannot bear it if l
am not first in your heart.

You think l have a mistress?

A mistress!

When should l find
time for a mistress?

But if it was a servant, or an
actress, perhaps l could bear it,

but to be displaced by an equal!

An equal?

Who is she, Henry?

Listen...

There is no-one.

There is only you.

- You mean l have no rival?
- You are always in my thoughts.

Wherever l am...
whoever l am with.

You are the centre of my life.

L think of you all the time.

L think of you in the
clamour of debate.

L think of you... when l'm
calculating the movement of troops

from Portsmouth to Nova Scotia.

Your rival is the war.

Hm?

L have looked at these applications,
Lord Kildare, and l shall do what l can.

L'm grateful.

There is a favour l
must ask in return...

..if Lady Kildare doesn't mind.

- Have you considered what she did?
- Lt is done, Father, and can't be changed.

Children are not independent
of their parents. She

knew that, yet she set
her will against mine.

You know how she cared for you.

- L did everything for her.
- L know.

L was the best judge
of her happiness!

L know!

But she misses you.

She didn't mean
to give you pain.

- Your behaviour gave me pain.
- Mine?

The day after your wedding you visited her.
All London spoke of it.

There would have been less
noise if we'd lost the fleet!

Father, years have passed.

Lf punishment were needed,
has there not been enough?

- L worry about you.
- Do not presume to worry about me.

You think to advise me? You live
in lreland! What can you know?

Father...

..do you not want to see
your eldest grandchild?

Emily, you were a clever child,

but it grieves me now to see that
you have become a brainless woman!

How dare he speak to
you in that manner?

- He can't understand being crossed.
KlLDARE: Richmond is too proud.

Pride is natural... if one's
grandfather was King.

And what of his grandmother?
She was the King's mistress.

One of the many he took to bed. And
her grandson presumes to be proud!

Royalty issues its
own permissions.

My family has a legal
line for 600 years.

Should my wife be insulted
by a bastard son?

For God's sake!

Mr Fox, my husband so
hates to see me upset.

Lndeed l do.

We are both grateful to you, Lady Kildare.
You did your best.

- He will never change now.
- L'm not certain of that.

Perhaps the presence of a
baby again in his household

softened my father's feelings towards
his eldest daughter, Caroline.

No, bring her to me.

Bring Lady Cecelia to me.

A war had been raging between my
parents and Caroline for seven years.

A war had been raging in
Europe for almost as long.

This is no way to
celebrate winning a war!

- Why should we have rain?
- L trust we did not request it.

Rain! Rain!

We can overcome all else,
but who can overcome rain?

Catherine wheels that don't
turn, rockets that don't shoot

and fountains that don't spray are quite a
deal to overcome. The rain is a trifle.

No party goes well in the rain!

No party goes well when the party
pavilion is burnt to the ground!

This was to have been a night
we would never forget.

L, for one, will never forget it.
The dampest squib of my life.

We so wanted a party.

L will organise a
party, Your Majesty.

EMlLY: With peace restored
on the Continent,

it was time for the family
to be reconciled as well.

Your generosity, Your Grace,
is unequalled in London.

My gratitude cannot
be expressed.

- Mama.
- Caroline.

Father.

Charles.

You've grown so tall.

- What are you reading?
- Livy's History of the Punic Wars.

A small memento, Your Grace.

Dresden. Thank you.

The smallest trifle.

To convey our regard.

Pray, open it.

- A portrait of Lady Caroline.
- Yes.

To remember her by.

Louisa!

You don't remember me.

Are you our sister?

Sarah.

Cecelia?

Oh, you...

He's a fine child for his age.

Favours his grandfather,
don't you think?

Thank you.

Oh, we like it... when the wheels
go around and the rockets go up!

That is fortunate, Your
Majesty, because that

is precisely what
they're designed to do.

- Do you know everything, Your Grace?
- Your Majesty?

You know about animals, and
you know about antiquities.

L can't think how many languages you speak.
And here, you know about fireworks!

Yes, they've turned out well,
in design and execution.

L think l may say they've
turned out well.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

A splendid display, Your Grace.

Lndeed, indeed.

Now that the war is over, Mr Fox,
you must find yourself less busy.

Lt takes as much effort to get soldiers
home as it did to send them out.

- You'll permit me to make a short oration?
- Certainly.

Come on.

My little girls.

Charles. Come forward, Charles.

My son and heir.

L have here, your most
gracious Majesty...

l have my family, my friends,
l have my beautiful wife.

The most wonderful
prize a man ever won.

L have my daughter Emily.
Where's Emily?

My daughter, who was
married in my house.

And Caroline, my daughter who wasn't.
But she is now happily returned to us.

All strains are past, all wounds are
healed, all injuries forgotten.

Henry Fox has acquired the regard
of his monarch and his peers.

He is being called a great man.

And for Caroline's sake...
l'm glad.

Lord Kildare and Emily have given
me two grandchildren already.

- Soon there'll be another!
- Your Grace!

And Charles, my boy...

..in the fullness of time...
you will take my place.

May you be blessed as
l have been blessed.

You will build on the
plenty you inherit.

You will travel to Europe, see what it has
to offer and know that we can do more.

Your Majesty, our country's influence
stretches around the globe.

May it extend from east to west through
the known and the unknown worlds.

May it grow, Your Majesty!

May it grow and grow and...
Argh!

Charles!

No!

Fetch the lawyer.

With my father dead, my mother
lost her own will to live.

L'll join him before
my mourning's out.

L shall ask God to take me.

L'm sure he'll oblige.

She too died within the year.

But we were to learn that decrees and
principles could still rule from the grave.

"This is a final codicil to the
will of Sarah, Duchess of Richmond.

The bequests thus described

have been declared in accordance
with my husband's wishes

and his wishes with regard
to the guardianship

of my remaining children
l accede to and relate.

My son, Charles Lennox, now Third Duke
of Richmond, is the head of the family,

but is to continue his education
in Europe without interruption.

The guardianship of my youngest daughters
l give into the care of my daughter...

my daughter Emily.

Lt is my heartfelt desire that no influence
may corrupt the morals of my children.

L believe my daughter Emily and
her husband, Lord Kildare,

will ensure their
moral and physical

well-being until they are
of marriageable age.

They will then return to London
to be presented at court."

"No influence may corrupt the morals of
my children"? This is a slur on you!

My dear, it's a turn of phrase.

He believed a free thinker
could have no morals.

- What does it matter what he believed?
- L am the elder sister.

- Do l not love them as much as you?
- Of course you do.

Well, should they be
taken to lreland?

- There's nothing wrong with... lreland.
- Lt's not London.

You have not been there...
so do not judge.

However suitable, it
is not their home.

L believe it will soon
become so, Lady Caroline.

- Lt is miles from all they know.
- Caroline, don't.

This is Father's way of revenge.

Lt's simply his wish. Who
knows what he thought?

They will return to us
when they are grown.

That is no consolation.
lt's years away.

Emily... you will
let me have them?

L believe we must respect
your father's will.

This is between Emily and l.

With profound respect,
my name is mentioned.

- We must think of their good.
- L do.

Your father's trust is an honour l did not
look for. lt's a duty l will not evade.

Lt might be better
not to dispute.

Please be assured of
our fondest care.

No, it is not right.

L cannot regard this
asjust or fair.

L know l cannot alter the written word,
l know l cannot bring back the dead,

but it is not right!

Lt is done. We must accept it.

Lt's done.

Having reunited us so recently, my
father had split us asunder again.

Caroline was hurt and angry.
What could we do?

Our parents were dead and beyond
the reach of appeal or reason.

My sisters, Louisa and
Sarah and baby Cecelia,

were to be cared for
by me in lreland.

L think l gave them the childhood my
parents would have wished for them.

Undoubtedly, theirs would have
been a very different upbringing

if they had stayed in London
with Caroline and Mr Fox.

Charles James, that's enough!

"For Lo! The board with cups
and spoons is crown'd!"

Bravo!

- He knows one line.
- Not at all!

Say five more.

- And you'll grant me a wish?
- Let me hear you first.

Meanwhile, declining at the noon of day,
The sun obliquely shoots its burning ray.

And the hungry judges
soon the sentence sign

And wretches hang that
jurymen may dine.

That was four. The
bargain is five.

No wonder this home is called Liberty
Hall for children. Take him down, Henry.

Not at all. Come
along, Charles James.

My nephew Ste had been joined in
that household by a younger brother,

the precocious Charles James, who was
to become more famous than his father.

Bravo! Charles James,
come here, my boy.

Come along, sit here.

Good. Fair and square.

Now, what is your wish?

L wish l could bathe in cream.

- Cream? Bathe in cream!

And so you shall, my boy.

L believe l denied my younger
sisters nothing in lreland.

At least l furnished them with
a succession of playmates

in the pretty shapes of my own
children, my ever-increasing brood.

Slow down! You'll break them.

Slow down!

With this ring l thee wed,
with my body l thee worship.

And with all my
worldly goods l...

And with all my worldly
goods l thee endow.

And now you may kiss the bride.

Very good.

Now will you read us the
rest of the story, Emily?

Yes, Sarah. Come and sit down.

Now, where were we?

Often it seemed to me
as if Louisa, Sarah and

Cecelia were my children
rather than my sisters.

Sometimes they even
called me Mama.

My home was theirs, and the
years passed in busy happiness.

When the time came for
Louisa to be married, she

did not have to go to
London for a husband.

L'd found her a perfectly splendid one in
lreland, in the form of Mr Tom Conolly.

Nobody could have
been more suitable.

Damn fine speech you made in
parliament last week, Lord Kildare.

- Which one, Mr Conolly?
- L can't remember exactly.

The one about m... mu...
nificent or...

Does not the patriot rejoice in the
growth and munificence of his country?

That's the one!

Our munificence is curtailed.

Our taxes go to England. Lt is
a custom which is not just.

England won't give back money.

L may have to go to
the King himself.

L think perhaps you should dance
with your wife, Mr Conolly.

Good idea.

Ready, my lady?

We'll show 'em how.

The success of the match made me begin
to consider whom Sarah might marry.

And when will you marry, Sarah?

Marry?

- Me?
- Mm.

L do not know.

But finding a husband for Sarah was
going to prove more difficult.

- Good night, children.
- But, Mama, it's early!

Lt is long past your
bedtime, George.

But they're still dancing!

L expect they will dance till
dawn, but my children must sleep.

Go on.

And you too, Cecelia.

- Good night, sister.
- Good night.

Oh!

Don't say you're hurt! L'd die
on the spot if you're hurt.

Oh, Tom, what a
nice thing to say!

L always go at things.
Hunting, dancing, anything.

No-one can keep up with
you in the country dance.

Apart from you.

Come on, let's go home.

Where are all my servants?
Get them out of their beds!

And get candles quickly! My
lady must see her house.

L have seen your house.

Your house, my lady. You
are its mistress now.

Lt's splendid! l
like it so much.

You'll want improvements. Women
always want improvements.

L want lights in every room!

Morning room, gallery, boudoir,
drawing room, library,

bedrooms, dressing rooms, er...
blue room, study...

Mr Conolly! That's enough!
Enough!

Put the lights on in Lady
Louisa's bedroom first.

L will only change things
if you'd like me to.

L so want to be a good wife.

We'll make a splash!

The first in fashion!
The latest style!

You will tell me how much
you desire me to spend?

You may spend what you like.

L'm the richest man in lreland!

He's never still for a moment.

He is my darling flea.

He must jump about.

Marriage agrees with you?

Lndeed.

L wondered at first...

..but it's not at all alarming.

Er... Should l wear the
mustard or the lime green?

L think the lime green.

Right. Oh, did you tell them
to polish my riding boots?

Yes, my angel,
it's all in order.

One would think you had been
married for years, not days.

L grow quite accustomed to it.

L had nurtured my sisters
well and was proud of them.

Ln London, Caroline had less
reason to be proud of her sons.

- You cannot go there again.
- Why not?

You... you lose so much!

Lose? By my standards,
five thousand is nothing.

Your standards? You do not
pay, your father does!

L would have thought you
both would have more sense.

- Lf one never ventures, one never gains.
- You never win! You lose and lose!

Then it's ripe for
our luck to turn.

- Lt is a wicked waste. A vice and a sin.
- Mother!

Lt's the doing that
gives so much pleasure.

Lf they only knew how much it hurt
me, l'm sure they would stop.

Charles James and Ste
have been gambling again!

Our sons follow the
fashion of all young men.

And they're drunk!

Henry, do l begin to look old?

- Have l neglected to admire a new dress?
- No, you misunderstand me.

L wish to look old.

Un visage serieux.

And what is the purpose
of this serious face?

L can't help thinking
Emily wrongs me.

- You can still launch Sarah.
- L shall insist on it.

But l should have
launched Louisa.

L could have sat at assemblies like an
old lady and helped find her a husband.

Why did Emily keep her?
l am the eldest.

Mama! Mama, do you
see what l caught?

Lt's a splendid fish, George.

Will there be a river at Eton?

Yes, William. And
there'll be games.

- Latin and lessons.
- L'm afraid so.

- Oh, must we go?
- You must. l shall be taking you there.

You are to go to London again?

L make no progress
in my efforts here.

Lreland is prospering, but all
our tax ends up in London.

L'm making a protest. L may
resign one of my positions.

Lt's not the best time
for us to lose income.

Whatever our income, my
Emily will spend it.

Jemmy, l'm breeding again.

Again? That's George, William,

Henrietta, Little
Emily, Sophia...

- Charlotte, Lucy.
- Charlotte, Lucy.

That's six!

Seven!

- Jemmy!
- Ls it?

Right.

L'm frightened for them.

So far from home.

- They will soon become accustomed.
- Yes, my lord.

But will l?

A mother's natural fears accompanied
every separation from my sons.

George and William, who were my
eldest, were the first to leave me.

L hated to see them go.

Lord Kildare.

And did your business
prosper today, my lord?

Lt was another day of delays.

L waited half the day
to petition the King,

then was told His Majesty was
fatigued and would see no-one else.

Half a day? That's nothing.

Time slips by. l get nowhere.

What you wish to
accomplish, it's not easy.

Were it not for your help and
guidance, l believe l would despair.

- A word from you...
- l have less influence than you imagine.

My cause is just. Your
parliament bleeds lreland dry.

Lreland's taxes should
make lreland rich.

L have believed in the
justice of many causes...

..but the greater my convictions,
the more enemies l have made.

Justice guarantees nothing.

You will not help me, then?

L shall do what l can. l
don't promise success.

You will stay to dine?

Lf you'll excuse me, Lady Caroline,
l'm fagged to death. Good night.

- Will he see the King?
- Not a chance in the world.

Are you going to help him?

L may arrange a few more fruitless
appointments with ministers...

..but to be frank, my dear, he's
something of an embarrassment.

Why must he concern himself with
matters he barely understands?

Why can't he simply
enjoy being rich?

My children adore
your little flea.

L see your maid is breeding.

Louisa, l am not the only woman in my
house that can breed of my Lord Kildare.

She's...?

Lt's...?

Constancy is rarely
found in men.

That part of their nature
is hard for us to judge.

L would be jealous. l
wouldn't overcome it.

Jealous?

You would make yourself
unhappy, and to no avail.

Lnfidelity in men...

..is as common as rain.

And has as little meaning.

And besides... Jemmy loves me.

L see.

Who knows?

Some day l may have a lover too.