The Duchess of Duke Street (1976–1977): Season 1, Episode 1 - A Present Sovereign - full transcript

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Oy!

[shouts]

Miss Leyton?

MAN: Miss Leyton, mum.

WOMAN:
Miss Leyton?

Monsieur Alex,

Lord Henry Norton's
Chef de Cuisine.

I'm Mrs.Catchpole,
his housekeeper.

Please sit down.

We have here
a letter applying

for the position
as assistant cook



in Lord Henry Norton's
household.

You enjoy cooking,
Miss Leyton?

Yes, ma'am.

Miss Leyton, why do you
wish to come here?

I want to come here
to work and learn things

from a proper French cook
like yourself, sir.

Your references are good,

but it appears
you haven't worked before

in an establishment
such as this one.

No, I haven't, ma'am,
but I've always wanted to

ever so much
for years and years.

Have you been long
in service?

Oh, yeah, I have,
ma'am.

Me mother took me away
from school when I was 12



and put me into service.

I done everything, really:

scullery maid,
kitchen maid, tweenie,

scrubbing girl, and cook,
of course, last year or two.

What standard of cooking
have you reached?

Oh, not too bad,
I don't think.

Nothing really special
or fancy.

That's why I want
to come here, to learn.

We aim to achieve
a very high standard

of service
in this household,

and that means rules.

We do not allow
followers.

MISS LEYTON:
No, ma'am.

You're not
in any way attached?

No, ma'am,
nor do I intend to be.

MRS. CATCHPOLE: Good.

We are offering
26 pounds a year,

one half-day off
a week,

every other Sunday.

You would be expected
to attend church.

You are church
of England, I take it?

Yeah, I suppose
I am, ma'am.

Well, I'm not Muslim
or anything, I know that.

You would have to provide
all your own uniform

and you would have
a bedroom to yourself.

Have you any questions?

Where would I eat, ma'am?

I mean, with the other
kitchen staff?

Yes, of course.

I see.
Thank you, sir.

You should address
Monsieur Alex

as "Monsieur Alex,"

and he is
the Chef de Cuisine,

not the cook.

I see. Thank you.

Do you still wish
to be considered

for the position,
Miss Leyton?

Yes, please, ma'am.

Very well.
Thank you.

[rings bell]

Sensible, determined
sort of girl.

Yes, but what does she
look like?

A chorus girl?

I don't want a chorus girl
in my kitchen.

Really, I don't think
I follow you.

I don't want
a woman, anyway.

Women do not make cooks.

We have had
no male applicants,

Monsieur Alex.

[rings bell]

[door opens]
Next, please.

I just don't understand why
you had to take it in your head

to apply for that job
in the first place.

I just don't understand.

I know you don't, mum.
You never have.

I doubt you ever will.

Anyway, I got the job,
didn't i?

I went out and got it.

Assistant cook?

That's not much
to write home about.

There was plenty of others,
but they chose me.

Oh, you was a proper
cook in your own right

in your last job.

To a pipsqueak of a dentist
in Muswell Hill?

They ain't got no class,
nothing. Have high tea.

Well, we have high tea.

Oh, for pity's sake!

The bleeding last supper was
high tea, for all I know.

Ain't the high tea.
It's getting on in the world.

Pigheaded!
That's what you are.

It's no use arguing
with you. It never was.

Why bother, then?

Oh, look, Louisa,
you've grown up

into a very
nice-looking girl.

Oh, you think I should go out
the West End, do you?

If you don't shut up,
I'll clip you one.

Now, there's at least 3
or 4 highly respectable

young men who'd marry
you, and you know it.

Frank Belling's been
to see us.

Never told me that.

Well, we told him
it was no use.

Bleeding right.
Not with Frank Belling.

Oh, he's a nice boy.
He's not bad-looking.

Sort of thing you'd find
under a stone.

But a very old family,
the Bellings.

Your father says that's
a good business,

that upholstery.
That's a good trade--

I don't want to get married
to Frank Belling or no one.

Don't you want
to improve yourself?

Well, of course I do, but not
in that stick-in-the-mud way!

I want to get by by working
for the best people there is!

Rich people!

Lords and ladies have
big houses and jewels

and lovely clothes
and the best food!

And I want to see it all
and be part of it!

Oh, you know
what they say:

"Rub against gold,
a bit may stick to you."

Must have done already,
by the look of things.

New boots?

And a new dress,
if you want to know.

This place I'm going to,
everything's got to be proper,

and I mean proper.

Marvelous thing!
You're a bloody duchess

already, splashing
your money around,

and all the time getting
less than you got before!

You'll get your money regular,
same as you do now!

That's all you worry about--
money, isn't it?

It ain't fair.
It is fair!

You may not like it,
but it's fair!

It's all you've ever worried
about with me!

That's why you made me
into a skivvy and not let me

stay in that school and be
a teacher like I wanted to!

You wanted me
off your hands?

Well, now I'm going to do
what I want to do,

and no one's going
to stop me!

What's she making?

Cr?me caramel, like he
always tests them with.

I bet she haven't
the first idea.

Anyone could
see that.

I mean, look
at them clothes.

Boots.

Button-up boots
in the kitchen.

Hmm!

I don't know why you didn't
get the job, Jean.

I really don't.

Monsieur Alex must have
gone soft in the head.

Nothing to do
with Monsieur Alex.

Nothing at all.

He's very upset
about it, as it happens.

It was all influence,
if you ask me.

Secret influence.

But what influence?

How would I know?

Do you think
they discuss it

with the kitchen maid?

But it's obvious,
isn't it?

I mean, just look
at the girl.

She looks like a proper
little trollop to me.

I have no doubt that's
exactly what she is.

I think
she looks nice.

No one asked
your opinion, Mary.

Don't you speak
till you're spoken to.

And get out of my way.

Who taught you
to do this?

Oh, I just picked it up,
you know, from other cooks.

It'll be all right.

It will not be
all right.

It will be d?go?tant,
disgusting!

Oh, give us a chance,
Monsieur Alex.

Wait till it's cool.

My dear young lady,
I don't have to wait

until it's cold

to say that it will
be uneatable!

Like leather!

Too many whites of egg.
Overcooked.

Will you please go
to the scullery

and help Ivy with
the washing up?

No, I will not!

I didn't come here
to wash up!

If you wish it, I'll go,

but if I stay, I stay
as your assistant cook

and not as a scullery maid!

I thought she was going
to hit him for a minute.

She'll be out on the street
by dinnertime.

That's where
she should have been

in the first place,
on the streets.

[both giggling]

[sniffles]

[sighs]

[sniffles]

[knock on door]

Yeah? Who is it?

Miss?

Yeah?

Are you packing, miss?

No.

I brought you this up.

I know I'm not
supposed to.

The others would kill me
if they caught me,

but I got it up
the stairs

without anybody seeing.

Oh, thanks
ever so much, Maisie.

Mary, miss.

Oh, sorry. Mary.

It's really Marie,

but nobody knows
that name here.

I'd better go now, miss,

before they start
looking for me.

There.

What are you so blooming
frightened of, Mary?

What you think
they'd do to you?

It's that Ivy, miss.

She been at me
all the time

since I started here.

Sometimes I could
just run away,

except I got nowhere
to run to.

Now, don't you ever
run away, Mary.

You wait till they
chuck you out.

No hopes for the likes
of you and me

without they give you
character.

Have they given you
your notice, miss?

No one's said nothing
to no one, far as I know.

I think
that's terrible.

What are they saying
in the kitchen?

Oh, you know
what they're like.

They say you'll get
the boot.

Monsieur Alex has gone up
to see the housekeeper.

He's been gone ages.

It's all me own fault.

Can't keep
me bleeding trap shut.

I need a clothes peg.

I know I'm in the right.
Me temper gets the better of me.

I'm an idiot, Mary.

I thought
it was marvelous

the way you stood up
for yourself.

Big bully of a man.

No right to treat you
like that.

Yeah, look where it got me.

Fighting gets you nowhere,
not in this life.

Oh, I don't know
so much.

I remember one day my
uncle Ivor came home drunk

swearing he'd knock my
aunt Gwyn's block off,

and she stood up to him
and gave him what for.

And he just sat down
in the chair,

quiet as a little dog.

And he's a big man,
my uncle, played rugby.

Yeah? Well, you just
remember your auntie

next time Ivy tries
to get the better of you.

Oh, I wouldn't dare.

But I'll remember you.

[door closes]

Leyton, come into
my office, please.

Frankly,
I do not understand

why I should waste
my valuable time

trying to teach you
to do something

for which you have
no talent.

But...I am told I must.

Well...

Have you something
to say?

Well, I'm sorry you feel
like that about it.

Well, I do.

Well, all I want is
a chance,

like I was promised
when I come here.

I never promised
anything.

I was promised I'd be given
a month's trial.

Of that I am aware.

Do tell me, Leyton,

what do you
personally consider

the most important
piece of equipment

of a cook?

I don't know.

The stove, I suppose.

No, no, no, no!

It is this.

And after smell,
taste, the tongue.

And then the eyes.

I see.

I don't believe
you see at all.

You are
a good-looking girl.

Why don't you try and find
something else to do?

Why do you want
to be a cook?

I don't know. I do.

Don't know why, exactly.
I just do.

I may be a lousy cook now,
but I want to learn.

I'll work meself
to the bone.

I won't stint nothing
if you'll teach me.

I love cooking.
I really do.

[sighs]
Please sit down.

The first thing to learn

is that cooking is
not just a job,

a m?tier,

it is an art.

The kitchen is
as important

as an artist's studio.

To be a cook needs
hard work...

Perseverance,

but it also needs
talent.

There is nothing worse
than to be a bad cook.

It is better to wash dishes
than to cook badly.

So first,

you must wipe
your mind clean.

Forget everything
you learned, yes?

Yes, Monsieur Alex.

First principle:

everything must
be clean,

exact, planned.

Plain, simple food.
Well-cooked is the best.

But always
the best materials.

Michelangelo always used
the best marble.

The only way possible
is to go out

and choose everything
yourself,

even a potato.

[whispers]
Jean!

Monsieur Alex:
have you nothing to do?

Now, I shall show you
how to lay my table

mise en place.

Each item must be exactly
in the correct place.

Salt box, pepper mill,

cook's knife, my fork,

the palette knife,
and my wallet.

Also, you will check that
my clean aprons, my cloths

are brought down
from housekeeper's room

and put ready.

Salt box, pepper mill,

chopping bowl, knife,
celery stalks,

thyme, parsley,
bay leaves.

No, no, no, no, no.

Bouquet garni
goes here.

How many times
must I tell you?

And forgot
the bay leaves.

I was just going
to get it.

Good morning,
Monsieur Alex.

Oh, good morning,
Mr. Trotter.

Now, for the menu
for this evening,

there are 12 to dine,
and I've just received

some excellent quail
from Essex.

Ah. Well,
with the soup,

I suggest
a white wine,

something quite
full-bodied.

[Monsieur Alex
speaking French]

Montrachet,

possibly the 1809.

Montrachet?

[Monsieur Alex
speaking French]

I beg your pardon...

[continuing
indistinctly]

Pas mal, pas mal.

Only one thing missing.

The freezing salt.

You've forgotten
the freezing salt.

Sorry. I'll get it.

No, no. Leave it.

I am not going to make
ice cream now.

For the next few weeks,

you're going to learn
how to make pastry.

I expect
you think you know

how to make pastry, huh?

No, Monsieur Alex.

Bon. Now,

for pastry,
everything must be cool.

You have cool hands?

Yes, that's
a good start.

It is necessary to use
marble slab for pastry,

for it is also cool,
and the water

and the fat must
also be cool.

Now...

Oh, Jean,
would you be so kind

as to fetch me a cooling tray
for these cheese straws?

You've got two hands
and two legs,

the same as everyone
else, haven't you?

Yeah, I have.
I just happen

to be using all 4 of them
just at this very minute!

Let's get one thing
clear, Miss Leyton.

I am Monsieur Alex's
kitchen maid

and no one else's.

If you want someone to
fetch and carry for you,

ask one of the others.

[Louisa sighs]

JEAN: Oh, hello,
Mr. Charlie.

My dear Jean.
How nice to see you again.

And how is
the fair maid of Perth?

Oh, very well,
thank you, Mr. Charlie.

I came down to congratulate
Monsieur Alex

on that delicious lemon sorbet
we had last night at dinner.

Oh, I'll tell him.

I'm sure he'll
be pleased.

Excuse me, sir.

Was me what made
the sorbet last night.

Did you?

Did you indeed?

My compliments.

Who's he,
when he's at home?

The honorable
Mr. Charles Tyrrell,

son and heir
to Lord Haslemere

and Lord Henry's
favorite nephew.

Nice looker.

If you take my advice,

I wouldn't start trying
any of your tricks

on Mr. Charlie.

[sniffling]

Oh, forgive me,
Miss Leyton.

I was looking
for Monsieur Alex.

He's gone out,
Mr. Trotter,

as the family
ain't dining.

He asked me to
write out the menus

for tomorrow's lunch.

Luncheon.

Oh. Heh! Mr. Trotter?
It would oblige me

if you'd tell me
what that word is,

'cause I can't read
his writing.

Blanchaille,
Miss Leyton.

Oh, blanchaille.

What sort of wine
would you have

with the blanchaille?

Perhaps some Montrachet?

I think we could risk
something a little lighter.

A Chablis, perhaps, or...

Something fresh and gay from
the banks of the Moselle.

A Piesporter Goldtr?pfchen

or a Trittenheimer
Falkenberg.

Ha ha! Blimey!

How'd you remember
all them long names?

Practice,

experience,

and I think I was born

with a certain...
An interest in wine.

Of course, traveling abroad
with his lordship

has somewhat sharpened
that interest.

Does he take his butler
abroad with him?

I go as his valet
and loader.

It's really by way of
a holiday for me.

What do you load, then?

I look after
his lordship's guns.

Most years,
we shoot partridge

with the Duc de Noailles
near Paris,

then on to Count Metterich
for the boar shooting

in the...

At home, of course,
it's pheasants, mainly,

and Sandringham,
Chatsworth, Welbeck.

We don't miss much.

Oh, perhaps not quite up
to the standard

of Lord Crewe
or Lord Ripon,

but mostly his lordship
gets his birds in the beak.

I'm a fair shot myself,
come to that.

Oh, are you?

Well, it might be that's
an inherited talent as well.

Oh, did your father
teach you?

It's not talked about,
but I think

it is generally known
in this household

that my parentage is
somewhat veiled in mystery.

It's fairly certain that
my mother was of noble birth.

I don't like to sing
and boast about it,

but it does make
a difference.

Oh, yeah, I can
see that, Mr. Trotter.

Well, I ain't got much
to boast about,

I'm afraid,

though me mother's dad
did help to make

the crown jewels,
with his own hands.

And he was an engraver,
too, and all.

Perhaps that accounts

for his granddaughter's
beautiful handwriting.

Oh, no, I taught meself
to do that

from one of them
copy books.

[Mary sobbing]

Oh, excuse me,
Mr. Trotter.

[sobbing continues]

Oh, it's Mary.
Poor little beast.

She doesn't half have
a rotten life.

Still, that's it,
isn't it?

Yes. I used to cry
my eyes out

when I was
a little boy.

Some nights
I was so tired

I could hardly
stand up.

I never cried when I was
a bleeding tweenie.

Could have happily murdered
someone most days.

Better go and get
me hanky out.

Hey, uh, what's
the matter, Mary?

Oh, nothing's
the matter, miss.

Thought it was
your evening off.

It is,

but I broke another plate
breakfast time,

and Ivy said I was to stay
and do the washing up.

She's gone in my place.

Has she?
I'm not jumpy.

Things seem just to drop
through my hands.

Here. Are you going
to tell me what's up?

Is it just Ivy, eh?

Come on. Out with it.

It's my auntie Gwyn.

She be doing poorly
with failings of her legs.

She's in hospital.

Were you going
to see her tonight?

Well, so you shall.
Here, I'll finish this.

Oh, no, miss.
That would never do.

Anyway, the hospital's on
the other side of the river.

Then you should go
in a cab. Here.

Oh, no, miss.
I couldn't take that.

Oh, of course you could.
It's only money.

Ain't nothing valuable.
Here you are.

Go and get yourself
tidy.

Oh, miss.

Oh, you're a saint.
You really are.

Here! Would your auntie
like a pie

or a jelly or anything?

Oh, I'm sure she would.

Well, you go
and get ready.

I'll see
what I can find.

[humming quietly]

There we are.

Here you are, then.
Off you go.

And don't talk
to no strange gentlemen.

Oh, no, I never would.
I swear it.

Thank you
ever so much, miss.

[grunts]

[humming quietly]

Monsieur Alex: Louisa!

Oh, Monsieur Alex.

Why are you doing
all this?

We've got two girls
to do this.

Well, Mary's night off
and Ivy were took poorly.

Anyway, there we are.
Now I'm done.

It is a question of
principle and dignity.

You're a cook. You do
not do menial tasks.

Yeah, well,
for someone that...

No, Monsieur Alex.
It won't happen again.

Good.

Alors, bon soir.

Bon soir, Monsieur Alex.

Leyton?

Yes, Monsieur Alex?

Who has cut this?

Oh, I have.

What for?

I want to know why.

I gave it to Mary
to take to her auntie,

who's ill
in the hospital.

So it was Mary.
No!

It was me.
It was my idea.

This is stealing
from your employer.

I didn't think a little
bit of pie would matter.

But it does matter.

All food must be
accounted for.

We'll have to see
about this in the morning.

[sighs]

[sighs]

[sighs]

Mmm.

[gasps]

Well! You've got
a bloom...

My dear
miss assistant cook,

I just came
to congratulate you

on your cheese straws.

I'm sure you did,

and to sample some of
me other wares, no doubt.

What a percipient
young lady you are.

Here is a little token
of my admiration

for you
and your cooking.

I don't want nothing from you,
sir, thank you very much.

Now, I think you're
a sensible,

experienced girl.

What do you take me for?

Now, keep off!

Now, I'm sorry
if I frightened you.

Please forgive me.

Ain't nothing to forgive.

There's not going to be,
neither, so push off.

Now, I'm as much to my parents
as you are to yours.

If you so much as touch me,
I'll scream.

I'll keep on screaming till
Lord Henry himself hears me.

Shh.
Shh yourself and get out!

I mean it.

Now, I'm sure
you don't, really.

You just try me.

[sighs]

TYRRELL: Marvelous.
[gasps]

You look like
a princess.

Here, you got
blooming cheek, ain't you?

I'm not going to
touch you, I promise.

Cross me heart
and hope to die.

May I sit down?

Well, you seem to do
what you blooming like in here.

Liberty hall, isn't it?

I'm disappointed in you.

And I'm disappointed
in you.

The honorable
Mr. Charlie Tyrrell.

I thought you was
a nice sort of bloke.

Well, I hope I'm not.

You're all the same,
aren't you?

Think we're just here for
your pleasure, like animals.

Have you ever thought
what happens when a servant

gets put in a family way
by one of you lot?

As a rule, some
arrangement is made.

Arrangement,
my bleeding foot.

Chucked out with a week's wages,
no reference, no hope.

She gets over the baby,
which a lot of them don't,

there's only one thing left
for them--the streets.

You go out and ask
any tart you like,

and even money she'll tell you
she started life in service.

Me last place,
there was an house maid.

She went with a soldier,
caught the scarlet fever,

next thing, they found her body
in the river at Wapping.

Look, I really
didn't come here

to be lectured
on the problems--

well, it's ones like you
that cause the problems!

[sighs]

I want to talk to you.

I mean seriously.

Well, it's a funny time,
it's a funny place,

and in funny clothes,
if you ask me.

Which I don't.

You see,

I'm at a bit
of a loose end.

I thought of going out
to the war--

that's a good idea.
Give you something to do,

take your mind off
other things.

[sighs]

The trouble is, well,
all the world

and his wife's gone off
to South Africa,

and they don't want
any more amateur soldiers.

You always have to dance
with the general's daughter.

Of course, there's
this new Chinese rebellion

that looks quite amusing,
but, well,

Peking's a long way
to go just for a lark.

So the long
and the short of it is,

I'm thinking of setting up
an establishment in London.

Well, there is a moment
when even a favorite nephew

outstays his welcome.

If I did,
I would need someone...

Well, you know, look
after it for me

and look after me,
come to that.

I wonder if that someone
might be you.

Blimey, this is
a bit quick, isn't it?

You don't know me.
Don't even know me name.

It's Louisa, isn't it?

Louisa Leyton.

Well, Miss Leyton,

I'm quite quick
at making decisions.

It would be
a little house,

somewhere secluded,

carriage
at your disposal,

clothes, servants--
here, look.

Well, don't think
that I don't understand

that a gentleman like you
does need that sort of place,

something that's right
and proper, isn't it?

And, of course, you'll need
a lady to...well, you know.

I mean, I'm very honored
to be asked.

I'm more than delighted
that your choice should--

oh, look here, I wouldn't
be no good to you.

How do you know?

I do!
That's not what I want!

Well, you'll think
I'm barmy, I'll expect,

but I know
what I want to be.

I just want to be
the best cook in England.

That's all I want to be.

What a good idea.

Keep this...

From one friend
to another.

All right.

Thanks, Mr. Charlie.

Good-bye, Louisa.

[door opens]

Good luck.

You need your head
looked at, Louisa Leyton.

That's what's wrong with you.

Will you go in now,
please, miss?

Morning, Leyton.

Morning, ma'am.

We have a very
serious matter

to discuss
with you, Leyton.

Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am.

I didn't know I was
doing wrong, honest.

I explained
to Monsieur Alex--

you didn't know
it was doing wrong

to admit a man
to your bedroom?

Oh, yes, ma'am!

Then you don't deny
there was a man

in your room
last night?

No. Of course I don't.
It was Mr. Tyrrell.

Sitting there, bold as brass,
when I went up to bed,

and I chucked him out.

From what I hear,
it's not the first time

he's been caught in the
servants' rooms in this house.

We have heard
he was in your room

by your invitation,

and that you made an
assignation with him

in the kitchen.

Then you heard wrong, ma'am,
if you don't mind my saying so.

You've been told
a pack of lies,

and I can just guess by who!

Creeping and crawling about
and spying on people!

That's what she was doing,
wasn't it?

Poking her nose in where it's
not wanted, as usual,

and you believe her?

Jean has been with us
for some years.

So it's her word
against mine, is it?

Right!

You can have me notice
here and now,

or we'll go up and see
Lord Henry and let him decide!

What's more,
we'll take Jean with us

and ask Lord Henry
to fetch Mr. Tyrrell,

and then we'll see
what's what!

Now, Leyton...

Let's not get all hot
and bothered about this.

We all know

that even in the
best-run establishments,

there are bound
to be upsets

from time to time,

and it's up to us
to try and settle them

in the most
sensible way.

Monsieur Alex was saying
to me only yesterday

that he felt quite happy
to leave the running

of the kitchen
in your hands

when his lordship is
away and he himself

is on his holidays.

In view of
the circumstances,

and in the light
of your own honesty,

I think the best thing
would be

for us to forget
the entire business.

Thank you, ma'am.

I'm quite prepared
to forget all about it,

on one condition.

On condition that Jean
apologizes to me

in front of Monsieur Alex.

Here she is now.

I'm sorry I made
a mistake about you,

Miss Leyton.

I wish to apologize.

Oh, do you?
That's nice.

Thank you, Jean.

Well, I never did.

Wonders will never
cease.

Every week, you will
take the account book

for the housekeeper
to see,

and you will present
to her the menu

for each day at 10:00.

Even though I'm only cooking
for the servants' hall?

Ah, oui. You will be
very economical.

No delicacies,
no extravagance,

except if Mrs. Catchpole
asks for it.

You understand?

Yeah, I understand.
I'll be all right.

Heh! I wish I had
the confidence in you

that you evidently have
in yourself.

The incident of the pie
has been forgiven,

but not forgotten.

It was all me own fault.
It won't happen again.

And with the others,

with Ivy and Jean,

use your brain,
not your tongue, huh?

You fight well
for yourself.

You won the battle
with Jean.

So don't get any
folly to wander

or be more sympathetic,
human.

You're not just going
to be a cook,

but a general.

TROTTER: His lordship
coming right from Scotland

in the middle of August!

Well, it's so unlike
his lordship!

Whatever can have
happened?

I know no more than
you do, Mr. Trotter.

He's coming home
on the train tomorrow.

The chandelier in the drawing
room has got to be mended.

Half the house is
under dust sheets.

I'm sure you'll manage,
Mr. Trotter.

But good heavens!
What about this dinner?

We haven't got a chef.

Perhaps we could borrow
the Haslemeres'.

They've taken him
to Yorkshire with them.

We must consult
his lordship.

No time, neither
is there any necessity.

We have the answer
under our very roof.

[knock on door]
Come in.

You wished to see me,
Mrs. Catchpole?

Oh, I really don't
think so, Mrs. Catchpole.

She has no experience--

yes, we do.

Lord Henry is returning
from Scotland

earlier than expected,
Leyton.

There's to be an
important dinner party

for 10
on Thursday night.

We would like you
to cook that dinner.

Oh, my lor'.

Well, c-couldn't you get
Monsieur Alex back?

Not in the time.

Monsieur Alex is
visiting his sister

in Spain.

Oh, well, I'll have to,
then, won't i?

I won't want
to let him down.

Oh, that will never do,
not this time of year.

Oh, my lor'.

Cream of Oyster.

Is there an "r" in the month--
oh, bleeding hell.

It's August.
Oh, heavens. Oh, dear.

MARY: Excuse me, miss.

Mary,
what do you want?

I've got something rather
important to say to you--

oh, not now.

It's just...

I've been saving up from
my wages to pay you back.

Oh, I didn't mean
you--

Oh, thank you.

Thank you
very much, Mary.

My aunt Gwyn's
a lot better now--

not now, Mary.

Hop it like
a good girl.

Almond.
That's it.

Almond.

There you are,
Mr. Trotter.

Take a look at that.
What do you think?

Well, Monsieur Alex
says always

to keep it simple.

Very good.

I suggest Madeira

with the soup...

Champagne
for the Turbot.

Of course,
you could have champagne

all the way
through the meal.

However, a...

Richebourg with the grouse.

Richebourg.
That's a nice name.

Well, it's
a small vineyard

with the finest
in burgundy.

Hey, what's that,
Mr. Trotter,

with the pears?

Chateau dai quem?

Ch?teau d'Yquem.

It's a sauternes--

sweet wine
for the dessert,

full of the warmth
of the sun.

Nice foil to the pears
poached in lemon juice,

if I may say so.

We'll need 5 menus.

Here, I won't be able
to manage it all in French.

What's wrong
with English?

Well, it's up with
the lark tomorrow,

no mistake.

Why so early?

Well, got to get
to market, don't I,

get all this stuff?

You see, Mr. Trotter,
for this kind of dinner,

you got to have the
best, and the only way

to get the best is to go
out and get it yourself,

even down to
the last potato.

[door closes]

I brought the menus up,
Mr. Trotter.

Hope you don't mind me
having a peep round

while I'm here.

Of course not,
Miss Leyton.

Every cook should see
the setting

in which the food is
to be served.

Do you approve?

Oh, my lor', yeah.
Yeah, I do.

Who's coming?

I gather just a few

of Lord Henry's
more intimate friends.

Would you care to try a sip
of the Ch?teau d'Yquem?

Oh, yeah, yeah,
I would. Thank you.

We're drawing the '79,

which will be new
to his lordship.

Ta.

Oh.

Charles.

It's good, isn't it?

It's like honey.

I could just taste
that sun

you was talking about.

It will need
well chilling.

Miss Leyton,

I wanted to ask you
something.

Yes, Mr. Trotter?

How would you wish the
boiled truffles to be served?

Oh, just in a clean
white napkin,

thank you,
Mr. Trotter.

Good.

So it shall be done,
Miss Leyton.

Right, Jean.
There you are.

Dinner's been
announced.

Right you are,
then, Ivy.

Good girl.

[dinner guests conversing
indistinctly]

I hear that Billy Tempest
shot 16 brace of grouse,

two beaters,
and his own sister-in-law

in one drive last week.

And Daisy Warrick's taken
to flying the Stars and Stripes

over the castle
in order to please

the American tourists.

I suppose you heard
what happened

on the last day
at Cowes week.

No.

I say, I'd better
be careful.

I shall find myself
thrown into the tower.

[chuckling]

Oh!

Oh, I'm sorry.

You stupid, clumsy
fool of a girl!

Here, you stop
calling me names!

Now, stop that, both of you!
It was an accident!

Mary, clear that up.
Ivy, clean the dish, please.

Jean, take
the other one up.

Thank God I got more
than we needed.

Ooh!

Didn't leave much,
did they?

Well, they must have
been hungry.

Proof of the pudding's
in the eating.

That what they say.

Yeah, a bit ordinary,
I'm afraid.

Not up to Monsieur Alex's
standard.

Well, he wouldn't have
done much better,

I don't think.

Oh, thank you, Mary.

Especially with Ivy

doing her best
to spoil everything.

You're wanted in the
dining room, Miss Leyton.

Oh, my lor'.

I can't be.
Well, what's gone wrong?

They haven't all been
poisoned, have they?

Shall we go up?

Here, it's not my fault
if things have gone wrong!

It's Mrs. Catchpole.
You go and fetch her.

They want to see whoever
cooked the dinner.

Oh, lor'.

I don't know.
I feel a mess.

Well, what about me bonnet?

Oh, hang on a mo.

Miss Leyton, you'll do.
You'll do very well.

Oh, me.

I wonder what will
happen to her, Ivy.

She'll have her head
chopped off, most like.

Oh, my God.

Look like I've been dragged
through a haystack backwards.

[door closes]

TYRRELL: He followed her
to the house,

oh, somewhere
near Notre Dame.

And he went in,
up the stairs,

and eventually got
to her room.

When he opened the door,
he nearly had a fit.

So you really won't
believe...

Ready, Miss Leyton?

[men chuckling inside]

Lord Henry:
my chef's away, sir,

so his assistant,
Miss Leyton, cooked the dinner.

Ah, Miss Leyton.

Come a little
nearer.

I sent for the chef
to congratulate him,

and now I find
it's you instead,

so I must
congratulate you,

and I do
congratulate you,

and here is
my hand upon it.

[chuckling]

Well, Miss Leyton...

Here is a little
something

to show you how much

we enjoyed
your dinner.

A present sovereign

from your
future sovereign.

[chuckling]

Most graciously expressed,
sir, if I may say so.

Yes, indeed.

[gasps]

Here. Drink this.

[coughing]
Oh, bleeding hell, Ivy!

Do you want
some water, miss?

Oh, look--
oh, my God, Mr. Trotter.

Why on earth didn't you
tell me before?

Mrs. Catchpole
thought it might

put you off
your cooking.

She was bleeding right and all!
I nearly died of shock!

What did he say,
miss?

Let me--
wait a minute.

He said, "Thank you all
for this lovely dinner."

And he gave me that.
How about that, then?

Isn't that lovely?

TROTTER: This will
make you feel better.

Oh, Mr. Trotter!
Oh, thank you.

Come on, then.
Don't be shy.

To Miss Leyton
and her staff.

May I add
my congratulations

to those of
his Royal Highness,

the Prince of Wales.
Ta.

[giggles]

Oh!

Oh, it's gone up
me nose!

I never drank
champagne before.

Nor have I, neither.

I might get a taste
for it and all.

Oh, Ivy!
Oh, you're awful!

[women giggling]

[sighs]