Fortunes of War (1987): Season 1, Episode 7 - The Middle East: January 1943 - full transcript
♪ You are my sunshine, my only sunshine ♪
♪ You make me happy when skies are gray ♪
♪ You'll never know, dear,
how much I love you ♪
♪ Please don't take my sunshine away ♪
♪ The other night, dear,
as I lay dreaming ♪
♪ I dreamt I had you by my side ♪
♪ When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken ♪
(ladies laughing)
♪ So I hung my head and cried ♪
♪ You are my sunshine, my only sunshine ♪
♪ You make me happy when skies are gray ♪
♪ You'll never know, dear,
how much I love you ♪
♪ Please don't take my sunshine away ♪
- Professor Pringle, sir,
it's our wish that I express our sorrow,
our sorrow and deep regret,
that Mrs. Pringle is no more.
- Thank you, thank you very much.
So, uh, um "Romeo and Juliet," please.
Isham, if you could read
from where we left off the other day.
That's Act IV, Scene IV, thank you.
- "All things that we
ordained at festival,
"turn from their office to black funeral.
"Our instruments to melancholy bells,
"Our wedding cheer to a sad burial feast,
"Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges change,
"Our bridal flowers
serve for a buried corse,
"And all things change
them into the contrary."
♪ You make me happy when skies are gray ♪
♪ You'll never know, dear,
how much I love you ♪
♪ Please don't take my sunshine away ♪
(wind whooshing)
(cat meowing)
(dramatic music)
- I hate death, and
everything to do with it.
(bear snorts)
- [Doctor] Do you feel that?
- [Simon] No.
- [Doctor] Do you feel that?
- [Simon] No.
- [Doctor] Fine, how long
since you copped it, sir?
About a month?
- About a month.
- [Doctor] I see.
- At first I thought my
legs had been blown off.
That's what happened to my brother.
He died, of course.
I didn't, did I?
- Of course you didn't.
- I'd like to have someone visit me.
- Well, let us know the name and address,
and we'll let whoever
it is know, him, her?
- Her.
- Excellent, what's the young lady's name?
- She was my brother's girlfriend.
The one who had his legs blown off.
How long will it be?
- I'm sorry?
- Before we know about my legs.
- You say it's a month?
- Yes.
- We begin worrying after five weeks.
(sheep baaing)
(car horn beeping)
- [Farmer] Hey, ha, go to the right.
Right, ha!
(Edwina speaks faintly)
- Everything all right, miss?
- [Farmer] Get up, ha!
- Excuse me.
(man whistles)
- [Doctor] Hi.
- Where would I find Simon Boulderstone?
- Come this way.
(men whistling)
- There he is, miss.
- Oh, thank you.
Hello, Simon, dear.
You haven't forgotten me, have you?
- How could I?
All the time I was out there,
I was thinking about you.
- Oh, Simon, really.
- You aren't cross with
me for saying that?
Are you embarrassed because of that chap?
- Which chap?
- Lord Peter, I can't
remember his other name.
- That's all over now.
Not that there was ever
anything to be over.
I much preferred Hugo.
- Hugo?
- Of course.
And you're so like him.
Your face, the way you speak, everything.
- Our legs?
- Sorry, I don't understand.
♪ Beautiful dreamer ♪
♪ Queen of my song ♪
♪ I've been here in plegics ♪
I've been here a month.
After five weeks, you start to worry.
♪ Beautiful ♪
- [Edwina] It was so depressing
going to that hospital.
- Are you ill?
- No, I went to see Simon Boulderstone.
The young officer that was
here just before Christmas.
- Oh.
- He asked me to visit him.
Goodness knows why, I scarcely know him.
And he wants me to visit him again!
Oh, and he frightens me.
He knew Harriet better than me.
She'd be the perfect person to visit him.
Oh, I'm sorry, Guy.
I'm so stupid.
- Yes.
(dramatic music)
- It's all right.
- Guess what this is?
- No idea.
- The road to Damascus.
- Watch out for a light from heaven.
- Do you travel this way regularly?
- Yes.
- Have you ever seen a light from heaven?
- You might say that.
- Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't realize.
- It's all right.
I was just leaving, sir.
- Hello, Guy Pringle.
- I remember.
- Uh, I'm deputizing for Edwina,
who sent these and these.
And I brought you these.
I can get some more from
the Institute library--
- Well, I'm not much of a reader.
- It doesn't matter, I can--
- Leave them, I'd like to look at them.
- Edwina has a migraine.
She has a migraine Mondays,
Wednesdays, and Fridays,
whereas I never have a migraine.
But, uh, then I'm not quite as pretty.
- [Simon] It's very good of
you to come, how's Harriet?
I still remember climbing
the pyramids with her.
- She's dead.
- But she can't be.
- Well, uh, she was
on an evacuation ship,
that was torpedoed.
And, uh and nobody was saved.
(Guy sobs)
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
- People are dying all the
time now, young people.
Not people you might expect to die.
People with their lives before them.
(chuckles) I could say to you,
"Keep your pecker up, old chap."
But I won't.
- Do you promise?
- Promise.
- Is there something wrong?
- I don't know.
Would you do something for me?
- Yes, of course.
- Could you lift up the
blankets and tickle my feet?
- Tickle your feet?
- Yes, please.
- Well, of course I'll.
(Simon giggles)
Can you feel it?
(both laughing)
Is that nice?
- What's all this, happiness?
- I'm tickling his feet.
- He's tickling my feet!
- Can I have a go?
(all laughing)
- Here, give us a tickle, sir!
- [Man] Give a tickle to me, sir.
(horn beeping)
(man yelling in foreign language)
- All right if we drop you here, then?
- Yes, of course, absolutely, thank you.
Thank you so much.
It's been wonderful.
- We'll be back in a week or two.
- Unless our orders are changed.
- In which case, we won't.
(ladies laughing)
- [Mortimer] So who's this
chap you're looking for, then?
- Aidan Pratt, he's in the Pay Corps.
He's stationed here.
- Oh, they'll know where to find him.
And if you ask them nicely,
they might get a message to your husband.
- Guy, oh, he thinks I'm
on a ship going to England.
He won't be expecting a message
for at least two months.
- Up to you.
Mind how you go.
- Yeah, take care of yourself.
- Thank you so much.
Captain Aidan Pratt, he's in the Pay Corp.
- Just a moment, Harry.
An Aidan Pratt?
- Sarge.
- Ta.
Sorry, miss, he's been transferred.
- Can you tell me where he's gone?
- Sorry, miss, can't help you.
Not allowed to reveal
movements of Army personnel.
(guns banging)
- Well, are you allowed to
tell me what that noise is?
- Rifle fire, miss.
- Who's firing?
- The wogs, they're always ticking.
(bell rings)
- What's it like in Damascus?
- Same as everywhere else, miss.
Lot of bloody foreigners.
- It was extraordinary,
this sense of a human
being coming to life again.
- So you thought you'd try it?
- One has to live by example, hmm.
- And coming to life in this case consists
in going out with Edwina, hmm?
- Well, in time I shall think
of something more constructive,
I dare say.
- Ready!
- But you haven't changed.
- Well, this is what you might call it.
- I see.
- Well, we're only
going for a fish supper,
and you can't wear that thing.
- You gave it to me.
- It's vulgar, it's just
a cheap theatrical prop.
- It's pretty.
- It belonged to Harriet.
- Oh, I see.
Well, in that case, you'd
better have it back.
Am I all right now?
- Yes, you're fine.
- Have a wonderful evening.
- [Woman] Come in, come
in, give a discount.
- You didn't say it was
going to be a fish supper
in the Berka.
- You can't have a fish supper
without a fish restaurant.
This is a fish restaurant
which just happens
to be in the Berka.
I mean, it'll be full of friends, come on.
Good to see you, Shorty.
- Hello, Professor, I
bring a good fish for you.
See?
- Very good.
(speaking in foreign language)
- Professor Pringle, sir,
it's an honor to have you in our midst.
- Well, it is equally an honor
that you should welcome me.
(diners applauding)
- You like everybody, don't you?
- Of course, why not?
(speaking in foreign language)
Now are you interested in food?
The house red is very acceptable.
- Good God, there's Aidan.
- I might have guessed
there'd be an Aidan.
- Aidan!
- [Aidan] Guy!
- Edwina, this is Aidan
Sheridan, the actor.
For military purposes, he calls
himself Captain Aidan Pratt.
- Aidan Sheridan!
- Will you please join us?
Well, I thought you were in Damascus.
- Well, I've been
transferred to Jerusalem.
- How exciting.
- Moderately exciting,
well, now, where's Harriet?
- You haven't split up, have you?
- She was on an evacuation
ship that was sunk, she's dead.
Thank you.
- No, please, not for me.
I have to go.
I'm booked on the night train,
and it was a very great
pleasure to meet you.
- I'm so sorry.
I'll have to go and talk to
him, I'll be two minutes.
(man yelling in foreign language)
I can assure you,
I've shed more tears
than I thought possible.
Now I'm just trying to
reconstruct myself, I suppose.
- Yes, yes, I understand.
- Why did you think that Harriet
and I might have split up?
- It's nothing.
- There must have been a
reason for you to say that.
- I met Harriet in Luxor.
She didn't look well, but she
didn't look happy, either.
- What, she was unhappy?
- She didn't say so,
but I hate this god-awful war.
- [Simon] Does anybody like it?
- I suppose it must end one day.
- Well, I wonder.
It could go on forever.
We may hate the Germans' cause,
but they're brave warriors.
They'll fight from town to town,
house to house, doorway to doorway.
I don't see the Japanese
giving in easily, either.
It could be like the Hundred Years' War,
eventually dying of
boredom and exhaustion.
- Do you really believe that?
- Well, it doesn't really matter, does it?
What's lost is lost.
- Like my career.
- Oh, ignore me.
I'm talking nonsense.
- It's already too late.
If I ever work in the theater
again, it'll be too late.
You can't be promising and middle-aged.
(speaking in foreign language)
Will you come to see me in Jerusalem?
- I don't think that'll be possible.
I'm gonna be very busy
learning to walk again.
- [Aidan] I'm sorry.
- Figuratively speaking.
(dramatic music)
- I could help you learn to walk again.
- Well, you know me, always too busy.
- In the summer.
Come for a holiday.
- I don't have time for holidays.
- Or for me, goodbye, Guy.
- Goodbye, oh, my God, Edwina!
- [Soldier] Boy!
- I'm so sorry.
I lost track of time.
- Tony Brody, Guy Pringle.
- How do you do?
- How do you do?
Saw this beautiful creature
apparently dining alone.
Took the liberty of introducing myself.
English must stick
together, don't you think?
- Oh, yes, yes.
I've heard it's a terribly good thing.
- Would you care to join
us in a nice fish supper?
- I think I'll stick to the house red.
(gentle music)
(man speaking in foreign language)
- [Man] Hello!
- Hello.
- How are you?
(man speaking in foreign language)
(woman singing in foreign language)
- You are outside the Great Mosque.
- [Harriet] I see.
- May I offer you my protection?
- Is that necessary?
I'm an Englishwoman.
- [Halil] It would be a great
honor to explain the mosque.
- Thank you.
(man speaking in foreign language)
- [Halil] You must wear this.
You must put the veil over your hair.
- Oh, why must I cover my hair?
- [Halil] With the deepest of respect,
the sight of a lady's hair
may distract the men from their devotions.
- You can't make men chaste
by keeping women out of sight.
- You are an unusual lady.
You have a mind of your own.
- Where I come from, that's not unusual.
- Take careful note of the
beautiful mosaic kiblah.
No human figure, no animal, no creature
that could be mistaken
as an object of worship.
- Because of the ancient
Egyptians, I suppose.
- Indeed, yes, you can hit the nail
very nicely, Miss, Missus?
- Mrs. Pringle.
- There has been much destruction.
The mosque is very old.
Look at the inscriptions
in the alabasters.
Can you read Arabic when it is decorative?
- I can't read Arabic at all.
- "In the name of God,
ye who believe, bow down,
"prostrate yourselves and adore your Lord,
"and do good that ye may prosper."
That was true in the 7th century,
and still true, is it not?
- Why do you think God
let the Muslims take over?
- We must not question the will of God.
- Well.
- Now, perhaps, Mrs. Pringle,
you will permit me to take
you to a very nice café
for cakes and coffee?
- Is it the will of God?
- Everything's the will
of God, Mrs. Pringle.
- In that case, yes.
(man singing in foreign language)
(speaking in foreign language)
- What's he singing about?
- He sings, "Who is
Romeo, Who is Giulietta?"
- I see, an old song.
- I think a very old song.
- [ Harriet] It's very beautiful here.
- "Damascus encircled by gardens
as the moon by its halo."
- Are you a poet?
- Alas, it was not me
but another who wrote
that deathless tribute to our city.
(gentle music)
(man singing in foreign language)
May I ask you, Mrs. Pringle,
why you came here alone?
- I wasn't feeling well.
I decided a change of
air would be good for me.
- You took the Damascus Road.
- Exactly.
- [Halil] And your husband,
he did not take the Damascus Road?
- His work kept him in Egypt.
- [Halil] So you will stay
with us till you are restored?
- No, I think until my money runs out.
- I see.
You know, Mrs. Pringle,
you are like the new moon.
- Thin and pale?
- You are delicate.
You shimmer like the moon.
- Harriet Pringle!
- Angela, what are you doing here?
- She's on the brink of joining the harem.
- [Angela] Don't be silly!
You're supposed to be
on a ship to England.
- I know, I changed my mind.
I took an ammunition
lorry to Damascus instead.
- And now you're here with us.
(people applauding)
Climb in.
- Well, wait a minute, wait a minute.
Thank you for your protection.
- I think friendship between nations
is the only way forward for the world.
Do you not agree, Mrs. Pringle?
- Yes, I do agree, goodbye.
(upbeat music)
(upbeat music)
- [Harriet] How are things in Cairo?
- [Angela] No idea, we
left before you did.
Where are you staying?
- [Harriet] An ATS Hostel.
- Oh, my God!
- Huh!
- Well, you must move
in with us at the Grand.
- [Harriet] I can't afford it.
- Angela can, she can afford me,
and I drink far more than you do.
- And it'll be good for Bill's ego.
- Two beautiful women in tow.
- [Angela] Speaking as
people who are highly expert
in the art of walking
out on their spouses,
have you left Guy?
- I'm here, he's in Cairo.
He doesn't know I'm here.
Perhaps I have.
But I didn't mean to.
- That's much clearer,
but have you left Guy?
- I had to get away from him.
I couldn't stand his devotion
to the outside world.
I was tied to him, but I was always alone.
- You needed 40 days and 40
nights in the wilderness.
- [Harriet] Something like that.
- Well, this is quite an
acceptable wilderness.
Don't you think so?
- Yes, but I still don't know
what to do.
- [Dobson] Ask Guy, he's the expert.
- Shall I marry Tony Brody?
- Yeah, probably.
- Well, that's settled, then.
- Thank you, Guy, I'm deeply grateful.
- Guy, put your book down,
I've got something to tell you.
- About the ship?
- No, not about the ship.
About, Aidan Sheridan or Aidan Pratt,
whatever you like to call him.
- Well, just Aidan.
- He's dead.
- [Edwina] Oh, God,
everybody's dead these days.
- I was in the embassy the other night
when the news came through.
He shot himself.
- Well, that's quite a dramatic gesture.
- I think he killed himself
because of a broken heart.
- Did you know him?
- Mm.
I met him with Guy.
- Well, why should he have a broken heart?
He was fond of Harriet but--
- He wasn't in love with Harriet.
(whistle blows)
- Right, then, lads, that's your lot.
Back to the barrack room at the double.
- [Doctor] Come on, work at it!
- I'm working at it.
- [Doctor] Hands off the bars!
- I can't!
- [Doctor] You can feel
your feet, can't you?
- Well, I know that they're there,
but they're sort of ghostly.
- Think of them as solid flesh and blood
and tell them to get on with it!
(Simon panting)
Come on, work at it!
Come on, work at it!
- I am!
- Come on, it's up to you.
Right, let's do it again.
Oh, your nursemaid's here!
He can't come out to play yet.
He hasn't earned it.
(speaking in foreign language)
- I had a very interesting conversation
with your drill sergeant the other day.
- You did well, I never
have conversations with him.
He shouts and I quiver.
- He recommends swimming.
It's very good therapy.
- He told me that.
He also told me that there
was nowhere for us to swim.
- There is a pool at the
Anglo-Egyptian Union, you know.
- Hmm.
- Shall I take you there one day?
- No.
- I could arrange it, you know.
I am a member.
Might even pay my subscription.
- I'll go to your swimming pool
when I'm like the other people
who go to your swimming pool.
(gentle music)
- [Doctor] Forget you can't do it.
That's all you have to do.
Forget you can't do it.
That's all anybody has to do.
Forget you can't do it.
- I did it.
- It's a start.
- I'm going to climb it.
- What, now?
- If you'll look after that for me.
- Well, you don't think I'm gonna
let you go alone, do you?
- Good show, I'll race you.
- Oh, right.
- I'm gonna do it Harriet's way.
- [Guy] Right.
(both chuckling)
- I did it.
I bloody did it!
- And so did I, it's ludicrous.
When Harriet spoke to
you, did she ever talk
about being unhappy, you know?
- No, not unhappy.
- Well, something else, lonely?
- Not lonely, alone.
- Well, it doesn't really
matter now, does it?
Come on, let's get a move
on or we'll get sunstroke.
Oh, yes, very beautiful.
That dress for something special?
- My wedding.
- Oh, yes, I'm sorry. (chuckles)
- I really wanted a big
wedding at the cathedral,
but Tony's so stingy.
- [Dobson] Well, he has
an ex-wife to support.
- So he keeps telling me.
We won't even have an arch of swords.
Just a simple ceremony at the consulate.
What was your wedding like, Guy?
- Oh, just a simple ceremony
at the registry office.
And an arch of empty beer bottles.
- (laughs) But next time
you'd want something better?
- No, there won't be a next time.
I don't think I'm the marrying kind.
- You're quite sure about that?
- Yes, you can't rebuild society
and be a married man as well.
- I see, well, in that case,
I might as well go ahead
and marry Tony Brody.
- And you can have a
reception here afterwards.
- Can I?
- You can have 30 guests,
a cake from Groppi's,
and Cyprus champagne.
- Oh, Dobbie, you're a darling!
- It's less than you
hoped for, I'm afraid.
It's also less than you deserve.
- An absolute darling!
- [Dobson] I know.
- Am I disturbing you?
- No.
- Where's Angela?
- Siesta, when she sleeps,
I work on my poems.
- More than one?
- I'm saving them up until
I have another slim volume.
- Good, Guy showed me some of your poems
after we'd first met you.
- The most powerful and passionate voice
since William Blake.
Is that what you were going to say?
- There was one about a
dead cat I quite enjoyed.
- Don't upset me, Harriet,
or you won't be asked
to the office outing.
- Well, I don't know what
you're talking about.
- It's Easter, we thought
it might be quite nice
to go to church.
- Oh, I'd like that.
(singing in foreign language)
(people speaking in foreign language)
(bell tolling)
(singing in foreign language)
- Harriet, Harriet!
- Mortimer!
- Harriet, the ship you didn't sail on
to England was torpedoed
and nobody was saved.
- I was right.
God did send you to save me.
- That's not the point.
- [Angela] Guy must think you're dead.
- Oh.
You shouldn't be taking me back to Cairo.
- You need to go to Cairo,
and we've got a car.
Are you feeling any better, darling?
- Because I believe in speaking the truth,
however painful, no, I am not.
- It's your own fault!
Shellfish are bad for you.
Whisky is bad for you.
You will insist on both all the time!
- I couldn't possibly give up whisky.
I'll give up shellfish.
Get thee behind me, crustacean!
- They're coming, play
the instruments, come on!
(crowds cheering)
(joyful music)
Right!
- You're wonderful, darling, oh, oh, oh
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
(gentle music)
(crowd chattering)
(Edwina speaking faintly)
- Simon, you look wonderful.
- And so do you.
- And so like Hugo.
See you later.
Guy, oh, I'm so glad you could be here!
- I live here.
- You are a fool!
James, Lisa, thank you for coming.
Dobbie, oh, how can I
thank you for all of this?
- By having a long and happy marriage.
- It's a possibility.
- Good God, where have you been?
- I'm looking for Guy Pringle.
- Bill, well, this is wonderful!
- Listen, I've got something to tell you.
- Come on, have a drink.
- Listen, you bastard!
- Steady.
- Angela's outside in the car
with Harriet.
- What do you mean?
- Precisely what I say.
She wasn't on that boat.
We found her in Syria.
She's outside in the car.
- [Dobson] If this is a joke,
I think I'll murder you.
- Dobbo, do you think I'd
joke about a thing like this?
- Oh, I'll fetch her.
She was my best friend!
(Bill moaning)
(door slams)
Isn't it marvelous?
At my wedding!
(dramatic music)
- I wasn't sure you'd want me back.
(Guy sobbing)
- Bit of a lark, eh, Dobson?
Bit of a lark.
Come along, Troilus, bye-byes.
- Where's Harriet?
- Unpacking.
- Thank you, Angela, for
bringing her back to me.
- Do you still think
I'm as mad as a hatter?
- Yes, probably, but I prefer
you to any 12 sane people
I can think of.
- I'm a sane person.
- Yes, well, there are always exceptions.
(feet padding)
- Harriet.
- Look what I found.
Did Edwina return it?
- I think I asked her for it.
- Time we were going.
- Going?
- Where are you going?
- Well, I promised Simon
a lift to the hospital,
and then I have to give a
talk to some young Egyptians.
- [Angela] Coleridge or Shakespeare?
- [Guy] Self-determination.
(Harriet laughs)
- You can't, Harriet
comes back from the dead,
and you want to talk to a whole load
of Egyptian troublemakers!
(Harriet laughs)
- Well, they're first-class people.
One of them is Shafik,
Harriet's old doctor.
- [Harriet] Nothing has changed.
- (groans) Doctor.
- What did you say, darling?
- For Christ's sake!
- [Angela] Bill!
- Get a doctor!
- I'll telephone.
(Bill yelling)
- Jesus Christ!
- For God's sake, Sister,
can't you do something?
Can't you see he's in a lot of pain.
(yelling drowns out speakers)
- Get her out!
- Mrs. Pringle,
please, may I speak with you?
You must look after your
friend, she is, I think,
of an unstable temperament.
(speaking in foreign language)
- She will need support.
- She will get support.
- Good, please wait here.
I will send your friend to
join you in a few minutes.
- She is not Mr.
Castlebar's wife, I think.
- Correct, she's not!
I'm Mr. Castlebar's wife,
and I demand to see him!
- So Mr. Castlebar has two wives.
That is nothing to me.
He can have four.
But he is a sick man.
You must not disturb him.
- I won't disturb him, but by
God, I'll disturb that bitch!
- They're going to operate.
Thank you, Ahmed, perforated bowel.
- [Guy] With Mona standing
guard over the surgeon?
- She stands guard over most of Egypt.
(phone rings)
- Ready?
- [Guy] Well, where are you going?
- Um, to the hospital to see Bill.
- Hello, Dobson.
- But I thought--
- My friend, Dr. Shafik,
is gonna smuggle us
in at the back door.
(Harriet speak faintly.
- Okay.
- Harriet, Angela,
I'm sorry.
(somber music)
- [Preacher] Accept our
prayers on behalf of the soul
of thy servant departed,
and grant him an entrance
into the land of light and joy,
in the fellowship of thy saints.
- Did you see what that woman had written
on her inscription?
- I never read inscriptions.
- "Fondest memories of
Wolfie from Lambkin."
- That's why I never read inscriptions.
What did you write on yours?
- [Angela] Nothing.
- Good.
Come along.
- You're a good man, Dobbie.
- [Dobson] So I'm told.
(person humming)
- Where do we go now?
- Apparently, Lambkin
has hired a large marquee
and a pianist.
She plans to sing to the mourners.
- I have to go to a meeting--
- You can't.
Simon goes to Tunisia tomorrow.
We may never see him again.
- I don't mind, really.
- I know where we should go.
- I don't really want to go anywhere.
- [Simon] Where?
- You'll never leave me again, will you?
(upbeat music)
- Don't know, can't promise.
Probably not.
(lively music)
♪ You make me happy when skies are gray ♪
♪ You'll never know, dear,
how much I love you ♪
♪ Please don't take my sunshine away ♪
♪ The other night, dear,
as I lay dreaming ♪
♪ I dreamt I had you by my side ♪
♪ When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken ♪
(ladies laughing)
♪ So I hung my head and cried ♪
♪ You are my sunshine, my only sunshine ♪
♪ You make me happy when skies are gray ♪
♪ You'll never know, dear,
how much I love you ♪
♪ Please don't take my sunshine away ♪
- Professor Pringle, sir,
it's our wish that I express our sorrow,
our sorrow and deep regret,
that Mrs. Pringle is no more.
- Thank you, thank you very much.
So, uh, um "Romeo and Juliet," please.
Isham, if you could read
from where we left off the other day.
That's Act IV, Scene IV, thank you.
- "All things that we
ordained at festival,
"turn from their office to black funeral.
"Our instruments to melancholy bells,
"Our wedding cheer to a sad burial feast,
"Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges change,
"Our bridal flowers
serve for a buried corse,
"And all things change
them into the contrary."
♪ You make me happy when skies are gray ♪
♪ You'll never know, dear,
how much I love you ♪
♪ Please don't take my sunshine away ♪
(wind whooshing)
(cat meowing)
(dramatic music)
- I hate death, and
everything to do with it.
(bear snorts)
- [Doctor] Do you feel that?
- [Simon] No.
- [Doctor] Do you feel that?
- [Simon] No.
- [Doctor] Fine, how long
since you copped it, sir?
About a month?
- About a month.
- [Doctor] I see.
- At first I thought my
legs had been blown off.
That's what happened to my brother.
He died, of course.
I didn't, did I?
- Of course you didn't.
- I'd like to have someone visit me.
- Well, let us know the name and address,
and we'll let whoever
it is know, him, her?
- Her.
- Excellent, what's the young lady's name?
- She was my brother's girlfriend.
The one who had his legs blown off.
How long will it be?
- I'm sorry?
- Before we know about my legs.
- You say it's a month?
- Yes.
- We begin worrying after five weeks.
(sheep baaing)
(car horn beeping)
- [Farmer] Hey, ha, go to the right.
Right, ha!
(Edwina speaks faintly)
- Everything all right, miss?
- [Farmer] Get up, ha!
- Excuse me.
(man whistles)
- [Doctor] Hi.
- Where would I find Simon Boulderstone?
- Come this way.
(men whistling)
- There he is, miss.
- Oh, thank you.
Hello, Simon, dear.
You haven't forgotten me, have you?
- How could I?
All the time I was out there,
I was thinking about you.
- Oh, Simon, really.
- You aren't cross with
me for saying that?
Are you embarrassed because of that chap?
- Which chap?
- Lord Peter, I can't
remember his other name.
- That's all over now.
Not that there was ever
anything to be over.
I much preferred Hugo.
- Hugo?
- Of course.
And you're so like him.
Your face, the way you speak, everything.
- Our legs?
- Sorry, I don't understand.
♪ Beautiful dreamer ♪
♪ Queen of my song ♪
♪ I've been here in plegics ♪
I've been here a month.
After five weeks, you start to worry.
♪ Beautiful ♪
- [Edwina] It was so depressing
going to that hospital.
- Are you ill?
- No, I went to see Simon Boulderstone.
The young officer that was
here just before Christmas.
- Oh.
- He asked me to visit him.
Goodness knows why, I scarcely know him.
And he wants me to visit him again!
Oh, and he frightens me.
He knew Harriet better than me.
She'd be the perfect person to visit him.
Oh, I'm sorry, Guy.
I'm so stupid.
- Yes.
(dramatic music)
- It's all right.
- Guess what this is?
- No idea.
- The road to Damascus.
- Watch out for a light from heaven.
- Do you travel this way regularly?
- Yes.
- Have you ever seen a light from heaven?
- You might say that.
- Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't realize.
- It's all right.
I was just leaving, sir.
- Hello, Guy Pringle.
- I remember.
- Uh, I'm deputizing for Edwina,
who sent these and these.
And I brought you these.
I can get some more from
the Institute library--
- Well, I'm not much of a reader.
- It doesn't matter, I can--
- Leave them, I'd like to look at them.
- Edwina has a migraine.
She has a migraine Mondays,
Wednesdays, and Fridays,
whereas I never have a migraine.
But, uh, then I'm not quite as pretty.
- [Simon] It's very good of
you to come, how's Harriet?
I still remember climbing
the pyramids with her.
- She's dead.
- But she can't be.
- Well, uh, she was
on an evacuation ship,
that was torpedoed.
And, uh and nobody was saved.
(Guy sobs)
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
- People are dying all the
time now, young people.
Not people you might expect to die.
People with their lives before them.
(chuckles) I could say to you,
"Keep your pecker up, old chap."
But I won't.
- Do you promise?
- Promise.
- Is there something wrong?
- I don't know.
Would you do something for me?
- Yes, of course.
- Could you lift up the
blankets and tickle my feet?
- Tickle your feet?
- Yes, please.
- Well, of course I'll.
(Simon giggles)
Can you feel it?
(both laughing)
Is that nice?
- What's all this, happiness?
- I'm tickling his feet.
- He's tickling my feet!
- Can I have a go?
(all laughing)
- Here, give us a tickle, sir!
- [Man] Give a tickle to me, sir.
(horn beeping)
(man yelling in foreign language)
- All right if we drop you here, then?
- Yes, of course, absolutely, thank you.
Thank you so much.
It's been wonderful.
- We'll be back in a week or two.
- Unless our orders are changed.
- In which case, we won't.
(ladies laughing)
- [Mortimer] So who's this
chap you're looking for, then?
- Aidan Pratt, he's in the Pay Corps.
He's stationed here.
- Oh, they'll know where to find him.
And if you ask them nicely,
they might get a message to your husband.
- Guy, oh, he thinks I'm
on a ship going to England.
He won't be expecting a message
for at least two months.
- Up to you.
Mind how you go.
- Yeah, take care of yourself.
- Thank you so much.
Captain Aidan Pratt, he's in the Pay Corp.
- Just a moment, Harry.
An Aidan Pratt?
- Sarge.
- Ta.
Sorry, miss, he's been transferred.
- Can you tell me where he's gone?
- Sorry, miss, can't help you.
Not allowed to reveal
movements of Army personnel.
(guns banging)
- Well, are you allowed to
tell me what that noise is?
- Rifle fire, miss.
- Who's firing?
- The wogs, they're always ticking.
(bell rings)
- What's it like in Damascus?
- Same as everywhere else, miss.
Lot of bloody foreigners.
- It was extraordinary,
this sense of a human
being coming to life again.
- So you thought you'd try it?
- One has to live by example, hmm.
- And coming to life in this case consists
in going out with Edwina, hmm?
- Well, in time I shall think
of something more constructive,
I dare say.
- Ready!
- But you haven't changed.
- Well, this is what you might call it.
- I see.
- Well, we're only
going for a fish supper,
and you can't wear that thing.
- You gave it to me.
- It's vulgar, it's just
a cheap theatrical prop.
- It's pretty.
- It belonged to Harriet.
- Oh, I see.
Well, in that case, you'd
better have it back.
Am I all right now?
- Yes, you're fine.
- Have a wonderful evening.
- [Woman] Come in, come
in, give a discount.
- You didn't say it was
going to be a fish supper
in the Berka.
- You can't have a fish supper
without a fish restaurant.
This is a fish restaurant
which just happens
to be in the Berka.
I mean, it'll be full of friends, come on.
Good to see you, Shorty.
- Hello, Professor, I
bring a good fish for you.
See?
- Very good.
(speaking in foreign language)
- Professor Pringle, sir,
it's an honor to have you in our midst.
- Well, it is equally an honor
that you should welcome me.
(diners applauding)
- You like everybody, don't you?
- Of course, why not?
(speaking in foreign language)
Now are you interested in food?
The house red is very acceptable.
- Good God, there's Aidan.
- I might have guessed
there'd be an Aidan.
- Aidan!
- [Aidan] Guy!
- Edwina, this is Aidan
Sheridan, the actor.
For military purposes, he calls
himself Captain Aidan Pratt.
- Aidan Sheridan!
- Will you please join us?
Well, I thought you were in Damascus.
- Well, I've been
transferred to Jerusalem.
- How exciting.
- Moderately exciting,
well, now, where's Harriet?
- You haven't split up, have you?
- She was on an evacuation
ship that was sunk, she's dead.
Thank you.
- No, please, not for me.
I have to go.
I'm booked on the night train,
and it was a very great
pleasure to meet you.
- I'm so sorry.
I'll have to go and talk to
him, I'll be two minutes.
(man yelling in foreign language)
I can assure you,
I've shed more tears
than I thought possible.
Now I'm just trying to
reconstruct myself, I suppose.
- Yes, yes, I understand.
- Why did you think that Harriet
and I might have split up?
- It's nothing.
- There must have been a
reason for you to say that.
- I met Harriet in Luxor.
She didn't look well, but she
didn't look happy, either.
- What, she was unhappy?
- She didn't say so,
but I hate this god-awful war.
- [Simon] Does anybody like it?
- I suppose it must end one day.
- Well, I wonder.
It could go on forever.
We may hate the Germans' cause,
but they're brave warriors.
They'll fight from town to town,
house to house, doorway to doorway.
I don't see the Japanese
giving in easily, either.
It could be like the Hundred Years' War,
eventually dying of
boredom and exhaustion.
- Do you really believe that?
- Well, it doesn't really matter, does it?
What's lost is lost.
- Like my career.
- Oh, ignore me.
I'm talking nonsense.
- It's already too late.
If I ever work in the theater
again, it'll be too late.
You can't be promising and middle-aged.
(speaking in foreign language)
Will you come to see me in Jerusalem?
- I don't think that'll be possible.
I'm gonna be very busy
learning to walk again.
- [Aidan] I'm sorry.
- Figuratively speaking.
(dramatic music)
- I could help you learn to walk again.
- Well, you know me, always too busy.
- In the summer.
Come for a holiday.
- I don't have time for holidays.
- Or for me, goodbye, Guy.
- Goodbye, oh, my God, Edwina!
- [Soldier] Boy!
- I'm so sorry.
I lost track of time.
- Tony Brody, Guy Pringle.
- How do you do?
- How do you do?
Saw this beautiful creature
apparently dining alone.
Took the liberty of introducing myself.
English must stick
together, don't you think?
- Oh, yes, yes.
I've heard it's a terribly good thing.
- Would you care to join
us in a nice fish supper?
- I think I'll stick to the house red.
(gentle music)
(man speaking in foreign language)
- [Man] Hello!
- Hello.
- How are you?
(man speaking in foreign language)
(woman singing in foreign language)
- You are outside the Great Mosque.
- [Harriet] I see.
- May I offer you my protection?
- Is that necessary?
I'm an Englishwoman.
- [Halil] It would be a great
honor to explain the mosque.
- Thank you.
(man speaking in foreign language)
- [Halil] You must wear this.
You must put the veil over your hair.
- Oh, why must I cover my hair?
- [Halil] With the deepest of respect,
the sight of a lady's hair
may distract the men from their devotions.
- You can't make men chaste
by keeping women out of sight.
- You are an unusual lady.
You have a mind of your own.
- Where I come from, that's not unusual.
- Take careful note of the
beautiful mosaic kiblah.
No human figure, no animal, no creature
that could be mistaken
as an object of worship.
- Because of the ancient
Egyptians, I suppose.
- Indeed, yes, you can hit the nail
very nicely, Miss, Missus?
- Mrs. Pringle.
- There has been much destruction.
The mosque is very old.
Look at the inscriptions
in the alabasters.
Can you read Arabic when it is decorative?
- I can't read Arabic at all.
- "In the name of God,
ye who believe, bow down,
"prostrate yourselves and adore your Lord,
"and do good that ye may prosper."
That was true in the 7th century,
and still true, is it not?
- Why do you think God
let the Muslims take over?
- We must not question the will of God.
- Well.
- Now, perhaps, Mrs. Pringle,
you will permit me to take
you to a very nice café
for cakes and coffee?
- Is it the will of God?
- Everything's the will
of God, Mrs. Pringle.
- In that case, yes.
(man singing in foreign language)
(speaking in foreign language)
- What's he singing about?
- He sings, "Who is
Romeo, Who is Giulietta?"
- I see, an old song.
- I think a very old song.
- [ Harriet] It's very beautiful here.
- "Damascus encircled by gardens
as the moon by its halo."
- Are you a poet?
- Alas, it was not me
but another who wrote
that deathless tribute to our city.
(gentle music)
(man singing in foreign language)
May I ask you, Mrs. Pringle,
why you came here alone?
- I wasn't feeling well.
I decided a change of
air would be good for me.
- You took the Damascus Road.
- Exactly.
- [Halil] And your husband,
he did not take the Damascus Road?
- His work kept him in Egypt.
- [Halil] So you will stay
with us till you are restored?
- No, I think until my money runs out.
- I see.
You know, Mrs. Pringle,
you are like the new moon.
- Thin and pale?
- You are delicate.
You shimmer like the moon.
- Harriet Pringle!
- Angela, what are you doing here?
- She's on the brink of joining the harem.
- [Angela] Don't be silly!
You're supposed to be
on a ship to England.
- I know, I changed my mind.
I took an ammunition
lorry to Damascus instead.
- And now you're here with us.
(people applauding)
Climb in.
- Well, wait a minute, wait a minute.
Thank you for your protection.
- I think friendship between nations
is the only way forward for the world.
Do you not agree, Mrs. Pringle?
- Yes, I do agree, goodbye.
(upbeat music)
(upbeat music)
- [Harriet] How are things in Cairo?
- [Angela] No idea, we
left before you did.
Where are you staying?
- [Harriet] An ATS Hostel.
- Oh, my God!
- Huh!
- Well, you must move
in with us at the Grand.
- [Harriet] I can't afford it.
- Angela can, she can afford me,
and I drink far more than you do.
- And it'll be good for Bill's ego.
- Two beautiful women in tow.
- [Angela] Speaking as
people who are highly expert
in the art of walking
out on their spouses,
have you left Guy?
- I'm here, he's in Cairo.
He doesn't know I'm here.
Perhaps I have.
But I didn't mean to.
- That's much clearer,
but have you left Guy?
- I had to get away from him.
I couldn't stand his devotion
to the outside world.
I was tied to him, but I was always alone.
- You needed 40 days and 40
nights in the wilderness.
- [Harriet] Something like that.
- Well, this is quite an
acceptable wilderness.
Don't you think so?
- Yes, but I still don't know
what to do.
- [Dobson] Ask Guy, he's the expert.
- Shall I marry Tony Brody?
- Yeah, probably.
- Well, that's settled, then.
- Thank you, Guy, I'm deeply grateful.
- Guy, put your book down,
I've got something to tell you.
- About the ship?
- No, not about the ship.
About, Aidan Sheridan or Aidan Pratt,
whatever you like to call him.
- Well, just Aidan.
- He's dead.
- [Edwina] Oh, God,
everybody's dead these days.
- I was in the embassy the other night
when the news came through.
He shot himself.
- Well, that's quite a dramatic gesture.
- I think he killed himself
because of a broken heart.
- Did you know him?
- Mm.
I met him with Guy.
- Well, why should he have a broken heart?
He was fond of Harriet but--
- He wasn't in love with Harriet.
(whistle blows)
- Right, then, lads, that's your lot.
Back to the barrack room at the double.
- [Doctor] Come on, work at it!
- I'm working at it.
- [Doctor] Hands off the bars!
- I can't!
- [Doctor] You can feel
your feet, can't you?
- Well, I know that they're there,
but they're sort of ghostly.
- Think of them as solid flesh and blood
and tell them to get on with it!
(Simon panting)
Come on, work at it!
Come on, work at it!
- I am!
- Come on, it's up to you.
Right, let's do it again.
Oh, your nursemaid's here!
He can't come out to play yet.
He hasn't earned it.
(speaking in foreign language)
- I had a very interesting conversation
with your drill sergeant the other day.
- You did well, I never
have conversations with him.
He shouts and I quiver.
- He recommends swimming.
It's very good therapy.
- He told me that.
He also told me that there
was nowhere for us to swim.
- There is a pool at the
Anglo-Egyptian Union, you know.
- Hmm.
- Shall I take you there one day?
- No.
- I could arrange it, you know.
I am a member.
Might even pay my subscription.
- I'll go to your swimming pool
when I'm like the other people
who go to your swimming pool.
(gentle music)
- [Doctor] Forget you can't do it.
That's all you have to do.
Forget you can't do it.
That's all anybody has to do.
Forget you can't do it.
- I did it.
- It's a start.
- I'm going to climb it.
- What, now?
- If you'll look after that for me.
- Well, you don't think I'm gonna
let you go alone, do you?
- Good show, I'll race you.
- Oh, right.
- I'm gonna do it Harriet's way.
- [Guy] Right.
(both chuckling)
- I did it.
I bloody did it!
- And so did I, it's ludicrous.
When Harriet spoke to
you, did she ever talk
about being unhappy, you know?
- No, not unhappy.
- Well, something else, lonely?
- Not lonely, alone.
- Well, it doesn't really
matter now, does it?
Come on, let's get a move
on or we'll get sunstroke.
Oh, yes, very beautiful.
That dress for something special?
- My wedding.
- Oh, yes, I'm sorry. (chuckles)
- I really wanted a big
wedding at the cathedral,
but Tony's so stingy.
- [Dobson] Well, he has
an ex-wife to support.
- So he keeps telling me.
We won't even have an arch of swords.
Just a simple ceremony at the consulate.
What was your wedding like, Guy?
- Oh, just a simple ceremony
at the registry office.
And an arch of empty beer bottles.
- (laughs) But next time
you'd want something better?
- No, there won't be a next time.
I don't think I'm the marrying kind.
- You're quite sure about that?
- Yes, you can't rebuild society
and be a married man as well.
- I see, well, in that case,
I might as well go ahead
and marry Tony Brody.
- And you can have a
reception here afterwards.
- Can I?
- You can have 30 guests,
a cake from Groppi's,
and Cyprus champagne.
- Oh, Dobbie, you're a darling!
- It's less than you
hoped for, I'm afraid.
It's also less than you deserve.
- An absolute darling!
- [Dobson] I know.
- Am I disturbing you?
- No.
- Where's Angela?
- Siesta, when she sleeps,
I work on my poems.
- More than one?
- I'm saving them up until
I have another slim volume.
- Good, Guy showed me some of your poems
after we'd first met you.
- The most powerful and passionate voice
since William Blake.
Is that what you were going to say?
- There was one about a
dead cat I quite enjoyed.
- Don't upset me, Harriet,
or you won't be asked
to the office outing.
- Well, I don't know what
you're talking about.
- It's Easter, we thought
it might be quite nice
to go to church.
- Oh, I'd like that.
(singing in foreign language)
(people speaking in foreign language)
(bell tolling)
(singing in foreign language)
- Harriet, Harriet!
- Mortimer!
- Harriet, the ship you didn't sail on
to England was torpedoed
and nobody was saved.
- I was right.
God did send you to save me.
- That's not the point.
- [Angela] Guy must think you're dead.
- Oh.
You shouldn't be taking me back to Cairo.
- You need to go to Cairo,
and we've got a car.
Are you feeling any better, darling?
- Because I believe in speaking the truth,
however painful, no, I am not.
- It's your own fault!
Shellfish are bad for you.
Whisky is bad for you.
You will insist on both all the time!
- I couldn't possibly give up whisky.
I'll give up shellfish.
Get thee behind me, crustacean!
- They're coming, play
the instruments, come on!
(crowds cheering)
(joyful music)
Right!
- You're wonderful, darling, oh, oh, oh
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
(gentle music)
(crowd chattering)
(Edwina speaking faintly)
- Simon, you look wonderful.
- And so do you.
- And so like Hugo.
See you later.
Guy, oh, I'm so glad you could be here!
- I live here.
- You are a fool!
James, Lisa, thank you for coming.
Dobbie, oh, how can I
thank you for all of this?
- By having a long and happy marriage.
- It's a possibility.
- Good God, where have you been?
- I'm looking for Guy Pringle.
- Bill, well, this is wonderful!
- Listen, I've got something to tell you.
- Come on, have a drink.
- Listen, you bastard!
- Steady.
- Angela's outside in the car
with Harriet.
- What do you mean?
- Precisely what I say.
She wasn't on that boat.
We found her in Syria.
She's outside in the car.
- [Dobson] If this is a joke,
I think I'll murder you.
- Dobbo, do you think I'd
joke about a thing like this?
- Oh, I'll fetch her.
She was my best friend!
(Bill moaning)
(door slams)
Isn't it marvelous?
At my wedding!
(dramatic music)
- I wasn't sure you'd want me back.
(Guy sobbing)
- Bit of a lark, eh, Dobson?
Bit of a lark.
Come along, Troilus, bye-byes.
- Where's Harriet?
- Unpacking.
- Thank you, Angela, for
bringing her back to me.
- Do you still think
I'm as mad as a hatter?
- Yes, probably, but I prefer
you to any 12 sane people
I can think of.
- I'm a sane person.
- Yes, well, there are always exceptions.
(feet padding)
- Harriet.
- Look what I found.
Did Edwina return it?
- I think I asked her for it.
- Time we were going.
- Going?
- Where are you going?
- Well, I promised Simon
a lift to the hospital,
and then I have to give a
talk to some young Egyptians.
- [Angela] Coleridge or Shakespeare?
- [Guy] Self-determination.
(Harriet laughs)
- You can't, Harriet
comes back from the dead,
and you want to talk to a whole load
of Egyptian troublemakers!
(Harriet laughs)
- Well, they're first-class people.
One of them is Shafik,
Harriet's old doctor.
- [Harriet] Nothing has changed.
- (groans) Doctor.
- What did you say, darling?
- For Christ's sake!
- [Angela] Bill!
- Get a doctor!
- I'll telephone.
(Bill yelling)
- Jesus Christ!
- For God's sake, Sister,
can't you do something?
Can't you see he's in a lot of pain.
(yelling drowns out speakers)
- Get her out!
- Mrs. Pringle,
please, may I speak with you?
You must look after your
friend, she is, I think,
of an unstable temperament.
(speaking in foreign language)
- She will need support.
- She will get support.
- Good, please wait here.
I will send your friend to
join you in a few minutes.
- She is not Mr.
Castlebar's wife, I think.
- Correct, she's not!
I'm Mr. Castlebar's wife,
and I demand to see him!
- So Mr. Castlebar has two wives.
That is nothing to me.
He can have four.
But he is a sick man.
You must not disturb him.
- I won't disturb him, but by
God, I'll disturb that bitch!
- They're going to operate.
Thank you, Ahmed, perforated bowel.
- [Guy] With Mona standing
guard over the surgeon?
- She stands guard over most of Egypt.
(phone rings)
- Ready?
- [Guy] Well, where are you going?
- Um, to the hospital to see Bill.
- Hello, Dobson.
- But I thought--
- My friend, Dr. Shafik,
is gonna smuggle us
in at the back door.
(Harriet speak faintly.
- Okay.
- Harriet, Angela,
I'm sorry.
(somber music)
- [Preacher] Accept our
prayers on behalf of the soul
of thy servant departed,
and grant him an entrance
into the land of light and joy,
in the fellowship of thy saints.
- Did you see what that woman had written
on her inscription?
- I never read inscriptions.
- "Fondest memories of
Wolfie from Lambkin."
- That's why I never read inscriptions.
What did you write on yours?
- [Angela] Nothing.
- Good.
Come along.
- You're a good man, Dobbie.
- [Dobson] So I'm told.
(person humming)
- Where do we go now?
- Apparently, Lambkin
has hired a large marquee
and a pianist.
She plans to sing to the mourners.
- I have to go to a meeting--
- You can't.
Simon goes to Tunisia tomorrow.
We may never see him again.
- I don't mind, really.
- I know where we should go.
- I don't really want to go anywhere.
- [Simon] Where?
- You'll never leave me again, will you?
(upbeat music)
- Don't know, can't promise.
Probably not.
(lively music)