Home Fires (2015–2016): Season 1, Episode 1 - Episode #1.1 - full transcript

Hey!
- All right, ease up!

Easy, now. Whoa, whoa, whoa.

On your way. Come on!

Come on, girls, come on. Come on.
- Come on.

Get a move on!

Come on.

Come on.
- Are you bloody deaf?

On your way. Come on.

Keep the girls moving, Stan.

Slow as they want.
- All right, Mum.

What's she playing at?



♪ I can see them talking but I
only hear the voices in my head

♪ Waiting for the moment
they'll be calling to me

♪ And if I try, I'll remember
that the words were never said

♪ Only now the others
hold no meaning for me

♪ And I'll see

♪ With wide-open eyes

♪ Of blindness

♪ I'll leave

♪ The ever-calling cries

♪ In silence

♪ Every place we shouldn't go

♪ We shouldn't see,
we will never know

♪ And all I want, all I see

♪ All I fear is waiting for me



♪ Now I see

♪ I'll be

♪ Eyes wide open

♪ All the cries

♪ Broken for now... ♪

Morning.

How do you do?

Well, all I can advise is don't get complacent.
- I won't.

Asthma's a condition that
can lie low for years,

then out of the blue, something
triggers an attack

and then suddenly you're in trouble.

Thanks for the all-clear, Doctor.

Give my regards to your mother, David.
- Will do, Mrs Campbell.

Thank you.

Have you given any more thought to
what I've asked - about enlisting?

I just want to know whether or
not they'd take me. That's all.

But if they say "yes", then
that won't be all, will it?

Erica, I'm not going
to do anything rash.

I just want to know my options.

I suppose I was hoping that the girls
and me wanting you to stay with us

would be the only option you'd need.

The appointment's at 3:30.

I'll be back in time
for evening surgery.

David's turning into a fine young man.
- Hmm. He is.

Best enjoy this while we can.

Hitler's got enough on his plate
without picking a fight with us.

His appetite for territory
seems rather insatiable.

Will you be there this evening?

If I can get away.
- Oh, do try and make it, Miriam.

Turning out in force to
oppose Joyce's proposition

is the only way to get it thrown out.

Will you be there, Alison?

Of course. Boxing gloves on.
Granite chin at the ready.

Excellent. You may well need it. I
suspect it could get rather bloody.

How was the check-up?

Fine.
- Good.

What can I get you, Alison?
- Some tongue would be lovely.

Oh, I was expecting you back
half an hour ago, Claire.

I'm sorry, Mrs Cameron. Bit
of a queue at Brindsley's.

And then, in the grocer's,

a few of us were talking
about tonight's meeting.

As my employee,

you'll appreciate that
I expect you to vote

in favour of my proposition tonight.

Staff loyalty is a quality that
I hold in very high regard.

It's essential for a
harmonious household.

Yes, Mrs Cameron.

There's a list of chores
on the kitchen table.

I'd like them completed
by the time I return.

I'll be out all afternoon.

Yes, Mrs Cameron.

Mr Taylor, please.

Dr Campbell?

This way, please.

Waiting for inspiration, Mr Simms?

Well, it has to come from somewhere!

We all assumed Pat was your muse.

Doesn't quite work like that.

See you at the meeting tonight?
- Yes.

Thought you might like a sandwich.

Another coffee would be more useful.

How did it go?

Will?
- You'll be pleased to know I didn't pass the medical.

What do you mean "didn't pass"?
You're the fittest man I know.

They found a little something during the examination.
- What?

Well, a slight irregularity with my breathing.
- How slight?

I'm sure it's nothing significant
but I need to get it looked at.

Well, then let's hope
it's just enough

to prevent you from going back in.

Be careful what you wish for.
- Mm-hm.

Ladies, none of
us should be under any illusion

about the prospect of imminent
war with Germany.

If and when hostilities break out,

there will be much to be done

to ensure that our homes
and families are protected

from the trials and tribulations
the war will inevitably bring.

And it is for this reason

that your committee proposes
the Institute closes its doors

until we can raise our flag
again in a time of peace.

Oh! Argh!

It needn't be for long.

The government assures us,
if and when they begin,

hostilities could be
over by Christmas.

Madam President. Few who lived
through the last conflict

will set much store by
government assurances

that any war against Germany
will be over swiftly.

Mrs Barden -
- When war does begin,

it will hurl us all into
a period of great change.

Something you, Madam President, have
proven steadfastly resistant to

over the course of
your term in office.

Mrs Collingborne, would you
kindly control your sister?

As you know, Madam President,

that isn't as straightforward as you imply.

Ooh. Can you help me up?

Blimey... what happened to you?

Army lorry.

Ow.
- Ooh.

Oh...
- Oh!

Sorry.

Are you all right?
- I'm late.

Where are you going?

I am more than willing to put
my proposition to the vote.

Any objections to that, Mrs Barden?

Only that the membership has been
so tightly managed over the years,

it will almost certainly deliver
whatever you ask of it.

Shame on you for not sharing my faith

in our colleagues'
independence of mind.

Shame... on... you.

If we walk slower, it
might not hurt so much.

I can't walk slower,
Mr Wilson. I'm late.

Well, why don't we leave
your bike here...

and I'll get you to where
you need to be double-quick

on the back of mine?

Sure you can carry me?

You're no heavier than a bag of mail.
- Charming!

A small, light, bag of mail.
- Hmm.

Uncommonly pretty eyes.

Oh!

Ow. Ooh.
- Are you all right?

Ow. Ow.

13.

Nail-biting stuff,
this is, isn't it?

Ladies...

it is with some surprise...

I announce the vote to be...

a tie.

This means that, as president,
I have the casting -

So sorry I'm late!

Uh...

...bit of an accident
on my bike, Mrs...

Madam President.

You haven't voted yet, have you?
- Indeed we have, Claire.

The vote was a tie, which means
that I have the casting vote.

With all due respect,
Madam President -

And I cast my vote...

...in favour of closing the Institute
for the duration of the hostilities.

But...

But I'm here now.

And it's lovely to see you.

But, alas, I'm afraid too
late for you to vote.

I respect what you said about loyalty
this morning, Mrs Cameron...

...Madam President.

Think very carefully about what
you're about to say, young lady.

Feel free to speak your
mind, Miss Hillman.

You're among friends here.

I'm not ashamed to say the
thought of war scares me.

It terrifies me, if I'm honest.

But that's why I need this.

You.

I feel very strongly...

the Institute should stay open.

So that's how I would've voted.

That's all very well, Miss Hillman.
But I'm afraid the vote is closed.

A president's casting
vote should only be used

when there is a genuine deadlock.

If Miss Hillman hadn't been waylaid,

then she would have
been present to vote.

Yes, but she was waylaid.

And the vote was taken.
And it was a tie.

And, consequently, I
had the deciding vote.

If you don't allow her vote to
count, I shall have little choice

but to call a vote of no
confidence in the president.

This could have far-reaching
consequences, Mrs Barden.

The president is, after all,
elected by the members,

and I urge you to think
very carefully -

I demand a vote of no
confidence in the president!

I have served this branch
to the best of my ability

for six long years...

I'm sorry, but I
absolutely demand it.

...and I categorically refuse to
be subjected to this indignity,

and hereby...

offer my immediate resignation.

They'll come back.
- I don't think they will.

Well done, Frances.

Well, one way or another you've handed
Joyce exactly what she wanted.

What's up with your arm?
- Shh.

It's fine.

Steph.

Show me.

Agh!
- Bloody hell, love.

It's nothing.
- That's a cow-kick. - It's my own fault.

I was in a hurry to finish milking
so I could get in and dry off.

That's a bad one. If it's no easier
by morning, I'll call Dr Campbell.

Don't be such an old woman.

'Now a special announcement.

The German government
announced tonight

their response to a
British communication

and gave their proposals for a
settlement of the Polish problem.'

Where's Dad?
- In front of the fire.

Kettle done?
- Not for an hour or so. - Right.

I've come to a decision, Ma.

What about?

Enlisting.

What?
- All the lads are talking about it.

Well, you can't enlist.

You can't stop me when I'm 17.
- You're forgetting one thing -

Neither can Dad.
- I'm not talking about him.

I'm talking about your condition.

If Doc Campbell gave me the
all-clear, so will the navy.

The navy?
- As soon as I'm 17, I'm going to join the navy.

Have you told your dad any of this?

No, he fell asleep before I could.

My mind's made up, Ma.

It's what I want.

I'll see you in the morning.

We need to order a new stethoscope.
I suspected it was on the way out.

Just tried it on myself and
it appears I'm already dead.

I'll do it first thing.

I might order a couple, before they
all get requisitioned by the army.

No need to rub it in.
- Not meaning to.

Just pleased on an ongoing basis.

You're back early.

We were thrown out of the cinema.

This old chap was constantly
sneezing, disturbing everyone,

so Laura had a quiet word.

I politely suggested that
if he was so unwell,

the cinema wasn't the
best place for him.

Sound medical advice. Good for you.

He spluttered off to the
manager, who threw us out.

I told him that if we did go to war,

I hoped the first German bomb on
England would land on his cinema.

That's a terrible thing to have said.
- Not with anyone in it!

So you're banned from the cinema now?
- For life!

Come on.
- I'm starving.

Aren't you pleased to
be able to stay at home

to see those two banned from
every cinema in Cheshire?

What every father dreams of.

How is it?

We need to keep the arm in this
position for a couple of days.

After that, you can
take the sling off,

but you must look after it until
the pain has completely gone.

She's lucky it's not broken.
- "She"? I'm not one of the bloody cows.

My apologies.
- Dad?

Bad enough Stan being in two minds
whether to call out you or the vet.

No point in telling you to take
a few days off work, I suppose?

I like a man who can answer
his own questions.

Saves me from stating the obvious.

Look after her.
- Hmm. Fresh straw and everything.

You think he's joking.

Have you spoken to him?
- If this is what he wants, we can't stop him.

You forgotten how old he is?
- I was a year younger.

If you were my son,
I'd have stopped you.

You wouldn't have had the option.

Young men are drawn to war
like moths to flame, Mim.

It's their chance
to prove themselves.

Or be blown to pieces trying.

From a bullet or regret -
more than one way to die.

Spare me the glory of
the battlefield, Bryn.

It took us years to get through it.

You still can't pour a
jug with a steady hand.

That said, I'd sooner
have gone than not.

David isn't ready.
- No-one is. You're not listening.

It's not a choice. Not for most.

Well, now your precious
Institute's closed,

perhaps I'll have
your full attention.

You've always had my full attention, Bob.
- No, no.

Your mind is frequently elsewhere

when it should be focused on ensuring

that the only breadwinner in
the house is looked after.

But if you'd allow me to work,

I could alleviate some
of the financial worry.

We've had this conversation.
- But -

Yeah, but we've had this
conversation. Yes?

Mmm.

Why aren't you having any?

There's only enough bacon for one.

You have it.

Hands and knees, Pat.

I'm waiting.

I'm begging you to help me.

After you gave David the all-clear,

he went down the recruitment office
to find out about signing up.

When the time comes, they'll
give him a medical

and if they find anything relating
to asthma, they won't take him.

Tell them he's got it.

David is a young man -
- He's not a young man!

He's a boy! A 16-year-old child.

I understand how you must be feeling.

You have two daughters
who'll never see action!

You can't possibly understand
how I'm feeling.

All I'm asking is you write
to the recruitment office

and tell them that David has
a history of chronic asthma.

But, Miriam, he doesn't.
It's acute at best

and has, thankfully, been on
the wane for a number of years.

They don't need to know that!
- That's quite enough!

With all due respect, Erica, this
is between me and Dr Campbell.

Will has looked after your
family for many years.

He has great affection for you all,

but you're asking him
to commit a malpractice.

He can't possibly do that.

I sympathise. I really do.

But you'll do nothing.

I can't do what you're asking.
- If they take him, my son will die.

Miriam, I think you should leave now.

Save my child.

She won't be the last.

The County Organiser thought we
had little choice but to close

due to catastrophic
loss of membership.

She had been in touch with Joyce

but Joyce has refused to return,

which means none of her
supporters will either.

She suggested we join our nearest
Institute for the duration.

Did she explain how we're to cover
16 miles there and back on bicycle?

At night, with military vehicles
charging all over the place?

She did not.

So that's it.

Either way, Joyce has
got what she wanted.

The closure of the WI.

Well, then, not if we
attract more members.

How are we going to do that?

In all honesty, I've no idea.

But that doesn't mean we give up.

I should be getting back.
- And me.

You did what you thought
was the right thing to do.

Up to a point.

Then I acted on impulse and made
the situation intractably worse.

Me and my big mouth strike again.

Well, I happen to love
you and your big mouth.

Thank you, Peter.

That makes me feel...
marginally better.

Cookie says supper will be five
minutes while the beef rests.

Thank you, Claire.

Is there something else?
- I just want to thank you...

for letting me come and work here
after Mrs Cameron let me go.

Well, we couldn't stand by and see
you suffer for speaking your mind.

Mrs Cameron's loss
is very much our gain.

You're very welcome here, Claire.

I can't thank you enough.
- You just have.

Well, here's to "speaking your mind".

♪ The very thought of you

♪ And I forget to do

♪ The little ordinary things

♪ That everyone ought to do

♪ I'm living in a kind of daydream

♪ I'm happy as a king

♪ And foolish though it may seem

♪ To me, that's everything

♪ The mere idea of you... ♪
- Coffee!

Pat! More coffee!

♪ The longing here for you

♪ You'll never know how
slow the moments go

♪ Till I'm near to you

♪ I see your face in every flower

♪ Your eyes in stars above

♪ It's just the thought of you

♪ The very thought of you

♪ My love ♪

You're thinking about
Joyce, aren't you?

I can practically hear
the pistons of frustration

pounding in your head.

I'm not wasting any more
mental energy on that woman.

But I am thinking about how we
might resurrect the Institute.

Might not mothballing be for
the best for the time being?

Given that everyone's
looking inwards now.

On the contrary.

War can be very isolating.

The Institute would provide women

with a sense of community and purpose

while their men are away.
- I understand that -

Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh. Look.

What would Alison do without the WI?

I'll tell you. She works
all the hours God gives.

Without the WI to get her out
of the house once a month,

her life would almost entirely
consist of accounts and that dog.

The bushes are dripping with
blackberries this year.

Hmm?
- I couldn't help noticing.

You can see them, even in moonlight.

Are you all right?

What an absolutely
brilliant man you are.

In four days, Alison will
commemorate the loss of her George

in a North Atlantic
convoy 23 years ago...

his name carved for ever onto
the village war memorial.

The very first fatality of the
Great War was a merchant seaman.

In all likelihood, the very
first fatality of this war

will be one too,

sailing the same route
for the same reason -

to keep this nation
supplied with food.

Which is why every pound
of fruit we preserve as jam

is a pound that won't
need to be shipped here

through treacherous waters.

To that end, I've made
a survey of the local area

and put together this map of
all the blackberry hedgerows

in and around the village boundary.

Our aim must be to collect it all.

Frances...
- We never made jam under Joyce Cameron.

She thought it was too
downmarket for her WI.

By making it now, it
would serve as a signal

to all the women of Great Paxford

who felt excluded by
Joyce and her crowd.

It would be a line in the sand

between the old Institute
and the new.

A line in the sand made of jam!

There's miles of it.
- And very few of us.

We can't be daunted
at the first hurdle.

Others will answer the
call. I'm sure of it.

When?
- Why, have faith, ladies.

Hold fast.

Look at this. It's for
the Women's Institute.

Oh, yes? Oh, it does sound good.

Mr Farrow?

Mr Farrow.

What's this?

Women of Great Paxford, join
us for a harvest of blackberries

for the purpose of making jam.

"For the purpose of making jam."
Why not just say, "to make jam"?

They know how to make
it sound better.

Bollocks.
- Unlike you.

This will be a small
part of our planned contribution

to the nation's food supply
in the event of war

and a re-launch of the
village Women's Institute

following its recent closure.

ALL welcome.

"All" in capital letters.

What do you reckon?
- What, baking cakes and arranging flowers?

It's not for me.
- This doesn't mention cakes or flowers.

But it does say "all"
in capital letters.

Not for me.

You should go... for the
purpose of getting out more.

Leave it, Stanley, all right.

Move out...
- Right.

When The
Saints Go Marching In

♪ Oh, when the saints go marching in

♪ Oh, when the saints go marching in

♪ I want to be in that number

♪ Oh, when the saints go marching in

♪ Oh, when the stars
fall from the sky

♪ I want to be in that number... ♪

I brought back your bicycle.

Oh, I think you're
mistaken, Mr Wilson.

That's not mine.
- It is.

Fixed the brakes, replaced the chain,
cleaned and oiled the gears.

Added a nice new basket.

Repaired your saddle, changed both
tyres, refitted new inner tubes

and... cleaned and
polished your frame.

That must have set you back.

The bill for parts and labour stands
at you calling me "Spencer".

Oh.

Very well.

Thank you so much... Spencer.

It's my pleasure. Erm...

Oh. Claire.

Well... bye, then...

Claire.

Bye, Spencer. And
thanks ever so much.

Spencer.

Lovely bicycle.

Isn't he?

♪ Oh, when the stars
fall from the sky... ♪

Is Bob getting any work
published at the moment?

A little local journalism
here and there.

No new book on the horizon?

He isn't finding it easy, following
the success of his first novel.

I do what I can to help.

I take care of the day-to-day things
so he's free to focus on his work.

Try and keep him happy so his mind
can focus on being creative.

Cook him his favourite
food. That sort of thing.

Tonight I've cooked him pilchards.

Hmm. Bob loves pilchards.

There you are.
- There's a lot more than I'd expected.

We've been at it for hours.
- We have, haven't we?

I want to apologise for the other day.
- There's no need.

I should never have put Dr
Campbell in that position...

or said half the things I did.

I understand.

I can't imagine how it must feel to
think of your child going to fight.

What...?
- It's heading for the village.

If Will doesn't need me,
I'll be straight back.

Do you want a lift?

Thank you!

What happened?
- I heard Bob shouting for help.

I found him being violently sick

and doubled up in pain
on the hall floor.

We need to go, Doc!
- Tell Pat.

Ah...

Pat?

Come in.

Will asked me to let you
know Bob won't be discharged

until tomorrow afternoon
at the earliest.

Whatever it is, it's really
knocked him for six.

I think I know what it was.
- Really?

Pilchards.

What?
- They must have been on the turn.

Well, don't look so worried.
Anyone can make a mistake.

Why won't you take my money?

If you hadn't allowed us to pick your
fruit, we'd never have made all this.

I'm not going until
you let me pay for it.

Not for the WI and not
for you. For the fleet.

It would be lovely to see you
at our meeting this evening.

Busy, I'm afraid.

All the more reason. Everyone
gets so much from it.

Without it, I sometimes think I'd
curl up in bed and never get up.

Hello.

Thank you, driver.
- That's all right, miss.

Excuse me...

Oh, Mr Wilson. Er... Spencer.

Hi.

Would you like to
try some of our jam?

Why not?

I helped make it.

Try that.

Mmm. Delicious!

What did you do?
- I...

added the delicious.

Spencer!
- Jenny!

Are you taking me for
that drink, or what?

Would you like to try our jam?
- No, thanks. Looks awful.

I helped make it.
- Probably riddled with bits of wasp.

Each pot includes an invitation
to join our new Women's Institute.

Do I look like someone
who'd join the WI?

Possibly not the old one, but the
new one might entice even you.

Come on, Spence. I'm parched.

I didn't have him down as a wolf.

Welcome home, Bob.

Thank you.
- You're welcome, sir.

I have him now, gentlemen.
Thank you so much.

Quite all right.

Go steady.

How are you feeling?

You mean, after you poisoned me?

I didn't realise the
fish was on the turn.

Because you were too busy
with your damned Institute.

No.

Why are you all dressed up?

It's the first meeting of the new -
- You're not going.

But -
- I need you to look after me, yes?

Yes.

That's all you have to do, Patricia.

Look... after... me.

No-one else is coming, are they?

At least we sold all the jam.

Proves people's sense of
patriotism is alive and well.

True.

Am I late?
- No. Not at all.

Everyone... this is Miss Fenchurch,
our school's new teacher.

Hello.
- How do you do? - Hello.

Can she not speak?
- Oh, on the contrary...

Only you.

I thought as much.

Hardly the making of a new Institute.

Oh, excuse me!

I thought I'd come and have a look.

Is the meeting still on?
- Not noticeably.

It is... inasmuch as we're here.

I'll just get the girls off the trailer.
- The girls?

It's on, girls!

Right, that's us!
- Ooh!

Come on, girls, park yourselves.

I hope you don't mind. I
mentioned it to some women.

No, of course not.
The more the merrier.

You say that now. Come on,
ladies, quick as you like.

Are you staying or
leaving, Mrs Cameron?

This will fail, Mrs Collingborne.
Lowering standards never works.

The only thing that's failed

is your determined attempt
to keep this Institute

at the preserve of your favoured
snobs and sycophants.

But then that, like so much
else, is about to change.

if you're willing to change with
us, you are very welcome to stay -

When I want a homily on the
joys of transformation,

I'll listen to the organ grinder
in church on Sunday...

...not his monkey at the
village hall midweek.

Enjoy the company of your
new friends while you can.

This - whatever this purports
to be - can't survive.

It doesn't purport to be anything.

It is Great Paxford's
new Women's Institute.

If you say so, Mrs Collingborne.

Good evening.

You are most welcome!

Good jam, by the way. Too sweet
for me, but my two loved it.

I prefer damson. There'll be plenty
on the trees in a week and...

we've got a spare shed if
you need to store anything.

That would be utterly fantastic.

I've got some other ideas
if you'd like to hear them.

Like to? We'd love to!

Ladies! Please come in.

You're most welcome.

I'm back! At the
beginning of the evening,

it looked like no-one was going
to come, but by the end...

I had a call from the
consultant an hour ago.

Good doctor. Nice man.

And?

I have lung cancer, Erica.

What?

Apparently, I have lung cancer.

But that's... that's not possible.
- They've caught it early.

You haven't got cancer, Will.
- Erica.

I'm afraid I have.

But what... What do
we tell the girls?

Until there's something
they really need to know,

can't we leave them as they are?

The whole country's jumping the
gun. Let's not follow suit.

We can't just continue as normal.
- Yes. As normal.

Precisely that.

For as long as possible.

Please.

"Be careful what you wish for..."

David!

You don't waste any time.
- There isn't any to waste.

Don't stop.

Why don't you take me out one day?

Frances asked and I didn't
want to let her down.

What about me?

You want to go and fight, Stan?

Go.

I truly believe that's
how I can best serve God.

And what God wants, God gets.

We begin by ploughing
up the cricket pitch.

Nothing to do with me, of course.
I'm no longer a member.

I'm afraid to the trained eye,

you look like you're running a
well-oiled criminal enterprise.

Thank God!

♪ I can see them talking but I
only hear the voices in my head

♪ Waiting for the moment
they'll be calling to me

♪ And if I try I'll remember
that the words were never said

♪ Only now the others
hold no meaning for me

♪ And I'll see

♪ With wide-open eyes

♪ Of blindness

♪ I'll leave

♪ The ever-calling cries

♪ In silence ♪