The Politician's Wife (1995): Season 1, Episode 2 - Echo Chamber - full transcript

So how did you actually
find out about the affair?

-From my husband.

Can you recall
how you felt?

-Disbelief.

Initially, anyway.

I thought the questions
were vetted.

-She approved
them herself.

Why do you suppose
it always seems to be

conservative ministers
who are at the centre

of these
sexual scandals?

-Well, I know
that people think



that it's all to do
with background,

their cloistered ambience
of public schools

and all that,

but I actually think
it's something else.

Perhaps the sheer responsibility
of running the country

puts such an untenable
pressure on a man that he

sometimes feels the need
to seek a physical release

without emotion or
responsibility or --

um --

And what do you say
to the criticism that you,

and politicians' wives
like you,

who stand by
their errant husbands,

are actually colluding
in the hypocrisy?

-Well, politicians
have had peccadillos



since Lloyd George's
day, haven't they?

The "Welsh goat",
I think he was called.

Oh, really?

Well, they never made
the headlines, did they?

Because that would give
the opposition ammunition.

But since there's really
been no effective opposition

in this country
for so long,

the press feel free to
morally chastise ministers

for their occasional
sexual indiscretions

because they know it'll
sell their newspapers.

So who's the
hypocrite there?

Bloody breathtaking,
isn't she?

Indeed, yes.

And the future, Mrs. Matlock,
your thoughts on that?

Well, I think that,

when something
like this happens,

you look to see if,
in some way,

you were to blame.

Well, at least, I did.

And the conclusion
that I came to was that

I really must try to share
my husband's work more.

You know, the frontline,
the parliamentary, stuff.

And, perhaps, if can share
that burden with him,

then I can share some
of the pressures, too.

Subtitling made possible
by Acorn Media

Ahem.
Bravo. Really.

Central Office thought
it was an absolute wow.

-I only said what felt.

Which is just what
gave it such veracity.

Well done.

In my capacity
as chief cheerleader --

to Flora.

Flora.
-Flora.

Flora.

Well done, darling.

CLIVE: Any word
from the PM yet?

He's relieved.

The last thing
we need right now is

another political death
by slow torture.

Mind you,
as he pointed out,

we have the second phase
to ride out, yet,

when the quality
papers weigh in.

-You anticipate
a problem there?

We can assume the Ministry for
the Family will be subjected

to the full rigour
of their myopic scrutiny.

Those that have
a whiff of your bill

will be
the most irksome.

-Is it going to be
that controversial?

[Chuckle]
-What is this, coriander?

Cumin.

-With lamb?!
Are they mad?

What became of good
old-fashioned

rosemary and garlic?

The backbench
Chinese whispers

have already gone
into overdrive.

A bad press might just
start a stampede.

Unless we use the well-
tried wolf-wolf tactic.

[Chuckle]

-Let everyone think a piece
of impending legislation

is actually far worse
than it is, so...

So when you finally
go public,

it's greeted with sighs
of relief all round.

-How ingenuous.

It has the added
advantage

of of discrediting
one's critics

as alarmists
and bullshitters.

Doubly ingenuous.

Dear God,

is this some kind
of joke?

Well, grace under
pressure, chaps.

Let's not turn a squall
into a storm.

DONALD: Is that
Binkie Alsop with her?

IAN: As large
as bloody life.

Has his IQ gone
completely AWOL?

It was a meagre
thing, at best.

If it got any lower,
you'd have to water it.

-Ahem.

Just say the word,
darling.

We can dodge out
anytime.

-Good heavens, no.

I want to see
the dessert trolley.

[Toilet flushes]

Quite a schlep,
isn't it?

You'd think Maggie
would've made

providing a few more
female bogs a priority.

[crying] I'd like
your view on something.

As to whether or not
you go along with the theory

that what separates
humans from animals

is that we have
a conscience.

-Well, one could
put it another way:

that what separates
animals from us is

that they don't bury
their primal urges.

Well, maybe a conscience
is primal, too.

Maybe it's genetic:
you're either born with it

or you're not.

Well, maybe, one day,
they'll isolate

the gene.

Then we'll be equal.

Did you give that matter
we spoke of any more thought?

-I've thought
of nothing else.

And?

-When I was a child,
I used to think

that Jesus was
always behind you,

watching out for you,
as it were.

I used to whip
round sometimes,

try and catch him.

Once, I imagined
I caught sight

of his long, white robe
darting behind a tree.

But perhaps
it was Satan.

-Or a friend,
trying to help.

Help himself or me?

DUNCAN:
Goodnight.

-Well, do you want
to go on somewhere?

Are you up to it?

-Oh, no, not me.

Heavens, I can barely put one
foot in front of the other.

But that doesn't have to
stop you, though.

-The Grampian?

A morgue, this time of
the night. The Carlton.

-Sounds good to me.

I'll bow out.
Things to do.

Nice to see you
again, Flora.

-You, too, Mark.

We should talk,
my dear.

One or two loose
ends need tying.

Take Mrs. Matlock home.
-Whatever you say.

Don't keep my boys
out too long.

Goodnight.
- 'Night.

Bye, darling.

She certainly came through.
-100%.

101%, I'd say.
-Did you ever doubt it?

One gets so used to
base instincts prevailing

in this place, one forgets
there's any other sort.

-Very true.

[Whine, beep]

[Ring]
-Oh!

Hello?

Mum.

Why aren't you
in bed, darling?

When are you
coming home?

Tomorrow night.
Wednesday, at the latest.

Is he coming
back, too?

At the weekend.
How's Joanna?

Asleep.

Talk to me.

Mrs. Lucas
dished up another

of her yucky
shepherd pies tonight.

[Laughs]

And the starlings are back,
hundreds of them.

They turned
the sky black.

You're the best,
Paul.

You're the
second-best.

Bed, okay?

I love you.

And I you,
my darling.

[Sobbing]

I can't, sweet.

My period.

-It's gone on
since forever.

Stress, I expect.

You're here to see...?

-Lydia Gibb,
my husband's researcher.

Would you put your bag
through here, please?

Like school dinners,
isn't it?

They tried
a Cordon Bleu menu.

Chaps got up
a 3-line whip.

Couldn't bear to lose
their jam roly-polies

and spotted dicks.
-[Laughs]

Isn't that Flora?

-Yes, it is.

Was it awfully rough?

Pretty dire.

-I can't believe
he was such a prat.

[Sigh]

Half of them in
this room are at it.

That's what gets
to them.

There but for the
grace of God, et cetera.

She's still around,
you know.

Yes, I know.

-How she talked anyone
into a research post...

Only a crusty old fart like
Naylor would fall for it.

He hasn't spoken
in the house since dot.

The gays like them,
though, her sort.

As chaperones.

That's what they really
mean by "escort" girls.

They stop
tongues wagging.

It's just so
bloody demeaning!

Not just to Commons
researchers,

but to the party,
to all of us.

-Yes, I know.

Duncan always says I have
the tact of a sumo wrestler.

-He also says

that you're the best researcher
in the city of Westminster.

He should try saying that
to my face sometime.

If he's going out
on a limb with this bill,

I want to be
out there with him,

every inch of the way,
not sitting at home

and hearing about it
via Jeremy Paxman.

What do you want me
to do?

I need a favour
and I need it

to be just
between us two.

Mr. Naylor,
it's Flora Matlock.

I wondered if I
might have a word.

I'm sorry
to hijack you.

Every time I turn
around, these days,

a paparazzi
jumps out at me.

Please.

Well, it's about
Jennifer Caird.

Ghastly business.

I don't have to
tell you how -- sorry.

-Oh, this really is
very embarrassing.

Last night,
for example,

in the House restaurant,
she was there.

Oh, Lord!

-The fact that
she was there at all

suggests that she still
has her security pass.

-She shouldn't have.

I dispensed with her services
the second the story...

-Oh, these
bureaucratic blips

can be so tiresome,
can't they?

I thought perhaps you could
speak to the sergeant-at-arms?

Expedite things.
-Straightaway.

I can't imagine why
it wasn't done sooner.

-Thanks so much.

Mr. Naylor.

Anything else
you can think of?

The Footstool restaurant,
Rodins, L'amicos?

My husband and I dine at all
of them quite often.

Consider it done.

I'm so grateful.

JENNIFER:
Where is she now?

DUNCAN: On a duty call
at her father's,

with the Kids.
-So when can you leave?

In an hour.

Traffic allowing, I
should be there by...8:00.

-Darling, I'll make it
worth it, I promise you.

You will? How?

-Wait and see.

Come on, tell me.

-Okay.

This is how
it'll be.

You've let yourself in
with your key ...

-Hmm.

And it'll be dark.
-[Laughs]

Very dark.

Dark as dark can be.

At first, you don't
see anything.

Then you put on
the hall light.

-And?

And I'm there,
crouched,

squatted on the floor,
waiting for you.

-Oh, Jennifer.

You pretend to be
shocked, angry,

to find me like that --
-Ohh.

So wanton and --

-Shit, she's back!
-Flora?

Yeah, she's --
Hang on.

[Grunt]

I'm on the phone,
love!

[sigh] It's okay.
She forgot something.

She's gone.

Oh, that was a bit close
for comfort, Duncan.

-"Comfort".
[laughs] Jesus.

Now, there's a word.

Am I late?

-Punctual
to the second.

What luck that you
should be out this way.

-You've done something
to your hair.

-Oh, yes,
I treated myself.

Do you like it?

-Yes, indeed.

Tell me, how well do you
know Rosalind Clegg?

These blue-rinse moral
crusaders have a habit

of coming back at you
when you least expect it.

I thought perhaps
I'd have a quiet word

while I was here, make
sure she holds the course.

-Why not let me do that?
Woman-to-woman.

[Ring]

Oh, don't worry about that.
The machine's on.

I'm so glad to have a chance
to talk, Sir Donald.

There's something
I've been wanting to say.

I know all about
Jennifer Caird.

I've known all along.

That it lasted
nearly a year

and that it was he
who initiated it.

You lied to me.

Only to protect you.

-[Laughs]

Well, it's a little bit late
for that, I'm afraid.

You see, the truth is
that Duncan finds

passion within marriage to be
the law of diminishing returns,

so he seeks it elsewhere;

has done for years.

-My understanding was
that it was

a one-off affair,
unprecedented.

Oh, he told you
that, did he?

I've tried to put my feelings
about it on hold --

well, to accept it,

for the children's
sake as, as much as --

It's not always very easy,
as I'm sure you can imagine,

but I tell myself that
it's a test of loyalty,

not only to Duncan,
but to the party.

But I did feel
very bad

about deceiving you,
of all people,

after all
your sterling work.

I'm telling you all this
in confidence, of course.

I suppose I should
thank you for your candour.

-I'm afraid I've
disappointed you.

You think me weak
and --

[chuckle] Not you,
my dear, never.

Sir Donald,

you know,

all those rumours about
your own marriage --

well, Duncan says there's
been whispers for years

and that your wife turns
a blind eye, and so on.

I want you to know that I've
never believed a word of it.

It appears Duncan
is rather more selective

with the truth
than I appreciated.

Goodnight, Flora.

Richard Pearson,
Mrs. Matlock,

Paul's housemaster.

If you could give me a call,
I'd be most grateful.

[Beep]

[Beep]

[Ring]

Did it come through?

14 pages?

Call if you need
any more.

Bye, Mum!

Hurry up, Paul. We'll be
late for the coach.

-I am coming!

Come on.
Have you got your lunch?

Mummy!
We're going!

-Ahem.

Bye, darling.

Listen, bring your
gym kit home tonight.

Goodness knows when
it was last washed.

-"Okey dokey" (Okay).

Bye, sweetheart.
-Bye.

Your housemaster rang.

Do you have
any idea why?

-I'll be late
for the coach.

Paul?

I want to board.

He said he'd phone you
and talk about it.

-But you've always hated
the idea of boarding.

You said you'd be spending
more time in London now.

What's the difference?

Well, do you mean
a weekly boarder,

and come home
at weekends?

-He's here at the
weekends, isn't he?

And the good news is the
plans for the craft centre

have now been submitted
for approval.

I'd like to thank our
executive committee --

Mrs. Clegg, Mrs. Hewitt,
Mrs. Kemp, and Mrs. Matlock --

for their unstinting
endeavours on our behalf.

And, now, a change
to our program of events.

Mrs. Matlock has asked
to address us.

Mrs. Matlock.

Ahem.

I wanted to take
this opportunity

to thank you all for
your letters and messages

through what has been
perhaps

the most difficult episode
of my life.

As you know, the local party
decided to support my husband

and I'm grateful
for their loyalty

and for the crucial part that
I know many of you played

behind the scenes.

I also know that there are
those of you here today

who, initially,
opposed that support,

and I want to tell
those people,

here and now, that I
sympathize with your view.

Perhaps, for a while,
I even endorsed it.

If it is selfish to put
one's family and marriage

before a political career,
then I am selfish.

If it is selfish to want
one's husband there

as a father
for one's children,

then, yes, I am selfish,
in the extreme.

But through the wisdom
of you ladies,

I came to see that,

important though
the family is,

the real issue here is
duty to the party

and that, if you can lay aside
your deeply held

personal and ethical feelings
for the sake of the party,

then so can I.

I'm only very sorry

that the party only
seems to turn to us

in a crisis.

How many times, I wonder,
have [ told my husband

not to keep
dismissing us

as a bunch of tittering
women in silly hats?

[Murmuring]

What happened to Margaret
politicized all of us.

What we are waiting for is
a chance to demonstrate that,

to prove our value
to the party.

If there is a stand to be
made, we will make it.

If there is talk of duty,
we will define

where that duty lies.

We will show them that we ladies
are truly not for turning.

Thank you.

You've given us a lot of
food for thought, my dear.

-I'm not much good
off the cuff.

I hope it made sense.

-Oh, it made
perfect sense.

Your strength has made me
see my own weakness.

I intend
to remedy that.

[Tambourine shakes]

[Tambourine shakes]

Mrs. Matlock!
-Did he do it yet?

Did he get us scheduled
at the council meeting?

-Well, if he said he
would, I'm sure he has.

We called the council
on Monday.

-It's not even
on the agenda.

I'll call my husband today.
I give you my word.

-It's not your word which
is in doubt, Mrs. Matlock.

[Dialing]
-Save our nursery!

Ministry
for the Family.

It's Flora.
Is he there?

He's in a meeting,
Mrs. Matlock.

He said no calls.

Well, tell him
it's me,

that it's urgent
constituency business.

I have to speak to him.

Hold a minute,
will you?

Save our nursery!

He said no exceptions,
Mrs. Matlock.

I'm sorry.

Can I get him to call you
when he's free?

[Dialing]

[Ring]
-Carlingham Chronicle.

Geoff Sykes, please.

He's in conference
at the moment.

Well, get him
out of conference.

Tell him that Flora Matlock
needs to speak to him.

I have a story
for him.

Mum!

-Oh, sorry.

You won't always feel
this way, you know,

about Daddy.

What I mean is
feelings can change.

-What, forgive and forget,
like you have?

Oh, I'll never forget.

You see, anger
can eat you up.

You've got to learn
to use it, to build on it.

Otherwise,
it can destroy you.

Just one hug?

Did I ever tell you
that you're the best?

The very,
very best.

And you're
the second-very-best.

Oh, your lucky coin.
You mustn't forget that.

Mrs. Matlock.
Paul.

-Mr. Pearson.

You'll take care
of him, won't you?

Precious cargo,
and so forth.

-Don't worry.
He'll be tickety-boo.

Right, Paul.

Sir Donald Frazier's
office.

It's Flora Matlock.
May I speak to him?

Floral
How are you?!

I did the deed
with Rosalind Clegg.

All went smoothly?

I think she sees
where her duty lies.

I think we're all beginning
to see that, my dear.

Um, so how are
the leaders going?

The Times is particularly
sanctimonious.

All in all, though,
the story's showing

distinct signs
of metal fatigue, ha.

So the bill
wasn't an issue?

No, he's ahead
on all fronts, I'd say,

Thanks to you.

You were the ballast,
my dear.

I don't know why
your good opinion of me

is so vital, Donald,
but it is,

[voice breaks]
terribly.

[Dial tone]

JENNIFER: Oh, no,
don't say it.

DUNCAN: I just can't.
There's no way.

That slag of a secretary didn't
put the meeting in my diary.

-Oh, Duncan!

I'll make it up to you,
my baby, I swear.

-When?! You'll be off home
for the weekend tomorrow.

Now, then,

right now.

-What, this minute?

Are you wearing it?
-Heh.

The black number.

No, no, Duncan,
don't even think about it.

-Put your fingers
through the slit.

Put them on it, baby.

On our spot marked X.
Do it!

-Tell me, tell me
what to do.

Ever so gently, now,
like gossamer.

Tease it out.
Tease it out.

That's my little girl,
my little tiger.

-Oh, God!

I'm there with you,
baby, I'm in there.

I've got you in the
palm of my hand.

-Oh, Duncan. Oh, you
bastard, you pig.

The pain is part of it.
It's all part of it, Jenny.

Just go with the flow.
Go out on that edge.

-Oh, God, yes!

Oh, God.

-Stay with it, Jenny.

Hit the spot, our spot.
Do it for me, baby!

-Oh, no.
Oh, please.

Here we go,
sweetheart.

Here comes
the roller coaster.

-Ohh!

I want this lot
transcribed

and on my desk
by Monday morning.

Anyone bleats about overtime,
refer them to me.

We never concluded our
conversation the other day.

I thought we did.

Is this it,
the bill?

Another blow for the family
by the Minister for the Family.

Why I'm here,
fine-tuning the details.

A thankless task for which
one gets no thanks,

but there you go.

You know how it is with him,
how he colonizes

[crying] every idea, every
suggestion, as his own.

Then there's his endless jibes
against gays and women.

[Scoff]

We're just not
in the club, you see.

Is that why you came
to see me?

Someone like Duncan
gets control of a party,

it becomes infected
from the top down.

It can take years
to cleanse itself.

There are some of us
who want to prevent that.

-Goodness.

You sound like --

What do they call them?
Agent provocateurs.

Hardly.

-No, only somebody close
to the throne can be that,

someone he trusts,

someone who understands
attention to detail

and the dissemination
of information.

And disinformation.

That, too, yes.

You know, I really ought
to be more careful

about leaving this stuff
lying around.

God knows what damage
could be done

if it got into
the wrong hands.

Oh, you're
a mind reader.

How was the school?

-Oh, well,
you know Paul.

He never shows much.

Best thing,
no question.

It was starting
to worry me,

his clawing
dependency on you.

It was verging
on the unhealthy.

-Why did Mark come?

More work on the bloody
bill; it never stops.

-You know, I really should be
briefed on it, Duncan,

if only to cover
the homefront.

-Child benefit has always
been a hot potato.

The trouble is, the manifesto
locks us into keeping it,

however, it doesn't prohibit
us from privatizing it.

Okay, point 1:

all those entitled to claim
are free to continue doing so.

Point 2 -- and this
is the incentive part --

all those who choose to opt
out will enter a scheme

whereby the government,
for the first five years

of the child's life,
will invest the money,

on their behalf,
in a specially constructed

high-interest
investment scheme.

-And after
the five years?

You receive education vouchers
for the school of your choice.

Humdinger, isn't it?

By involving the private sector,
we turn the whole damn thing

over to the insurance companies
and building societies.

Those that do go on
claiming benefit

will collect it
from a hole in the wall.

Really innovative
legislation

has to come from
the vision of one man.

Even if you do
say so yourself.

[Both laugh]

You're one of the few people
I dare say it to, my darling.

That's not all.

This is where the saving
really lies, and it's a honey.

The PM practically
broke into a tap dance.

Those mothers that
continue claiming benefit

will receive
a monthly cash bonus

from the government,
providing --

this is the clincher --

providing they contract
to stay at home

and look after the kids for
the first five years, huh?

It's the old
robbing-Peter principle.

-So you don't have to go
to the ridiculous expense

of providing nationwide
nursery care.

Exactly!

Mind you, I'll have to
rush it through the House,

like we did the
child-support agency thing.

If we even stop to draw breath,
we'll be nuked out of the water.

Thank you.

I forget how soft
your skin is.

It's baby-soft.

-You know, what you need
is the right input

on the insurance side,
someone you can really trust.

When you were on the board
at Onshaw Insurance,

there must have been
someone,

someone the wets
will really buy.

-Well, there's
Mart yn Price.

Perfect!

Well, a bit close
to home, my lovely.

You know what an echo
chamber the House is.

Oh, but he'd be
quite an ally.

-I suppose we could
invite him and Peg-gy --

Peg-Q'!-
-Peg-gy over for dinner.

Strictly informal.
Who's to know?

-He's such a fan

and it's not as if he'd
expect anything in return.

-You always think the best
of people, don't you?

It's a knack I seem
to have lost.

Why don't you take
your clothes off

and hop in?

You can't still have
that wretched curse.

-Oh, no.
No, I'm --

Well, then.

[Ring]

[Ring]

[Sigh]
-[Ring]

[Ring]

[Ring]

Paul! Darling!
How's it going?

-Oh, shit!

[Dialing]

[Ring]

It's me.

I've been trying to get
you on your mobile.

We're under
starter's orders.

I'll set things
in motion.

Lovely display, Flora;
So unusual.

-Oh, thank you. Yes, I grew
it from seed, actually.

It was a bit limpwristed,
the first year,

then it took off, and it's
been absolutely stunning.

CLIVE: The universal
benefit's a bit of a bind.

-If only in the bureaucratic
costs of administering them.

Yeah, what you'd call
a double whammy.

-It's important to lay
the right groundwork.

Got to zap the nanny-
state advocates

before they get
their ducks in a row.

DUNCAN:
Exactly right.

I'm so sorry that Mart yn
and I were so late.

We had to do
this tedious detour.

-Yes, he said. He was rather
circumspect about why.

Pangbourne Manor,

that crumbling
Victorian monstrosity

the other side
of the motorway.

The owners defaulted
last year.

Martyn's company
got hold of it

and he thought that
we might be able

to do something
with it ourselves.

-Oh, is he?

Oh, the garden's a jungle,
northfacing, to boot,

and the roof's
like a colander.

I told him that
he'd probably

have to give
the damn thing away.

[Laughter]

[Laughter]

Oh, we're through
the worst of it now.

"Forward thrust,"
as Daddy would say.

-Good on you.

You did the right thing,
Flora, sticking by him.

It's you who give him
his grounding, you know,

give him his bearings;
he said so himself.

-Unhand my wife, sir!

Are you threatening me,
my dear boy?!

[Laughter]

CLIVE: What the...?
-Oh!

Flash light.

A fucking camera
flash light.

Who is it?

CLIVE: The press,
one assumes.

Well, whoever it is,
they've gone.

-Opportunistic
bastards.

Does this happen
often?

-Often enough,
I'm afraid, yes,

but don't let it
sour the evening.

Darling, I don't expect
they got much,

not at that distance.

Well, it's lovely
to see you.

-I'll call you
tomorrow.

Well, thank you, Duncan.
-Bye, Duncan.

Bye, Flora.

PEGGY: Bye!
Thank you.

All those wankers

at the Press Complaints
Commission will do is

rap their knuckles
after the event.

You find out which of those
frenzied feeders it is

and you get back to me,
all right?

Is something going on
with you, Flora?

You seem, I don't
know, distant.

I want so much
for us to be close.

Where's that
little wildcat, eh?

[Sucks teeth]

That little tigress
I unleashed last time.

Oh, my God, that was
such a turn-on.

Where's she gone, eh?

Ahh!
That's more like it.

That's my girl.

[crying] You're a complete
bastard, Duncan.

-Oh!

[Shudder]

That's it, my love.
And again.

Ohh!

[Sobbing]

Oh, please!

Oh! Oh, God!

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Oh, G--

[Crying]

She must miss Paul.

-Oh, it's Duncan
she misses.

She was always a daddy's
girl, right from the start.

Paul was mine.

-He'll do fine.

Oh, I don't know,
schools like that,

they define you,
don't they? Mold you.

Well, that's
the whole idea.

-That's why it'll be
the making of him.

I know mine was.

Take a look at that.
-Hmm?

Ooh!

-Mart yn Price's
insurance company owns it.

I got Peggy
to speak to him.

He says he'll
let me have it

for under half the
valued price, Daddy.

-[Sigh]

It's a white
elephant, Flora.

Pangbourne Manor.

A structural engineer will
blow it out of the water.

-You know, mother left that
money in trust for both of us.

I've never asked before.

Mart yn says that,
if get my act together,

we could exchange
by next week.

I mean, just look at all
those bedrooms, Daddy.

We'd be rattling
around in it.

You see, there's
going to come a time

when you can't go on
living alone.

One must plan ahead,
after all.

-[sniff] Duncan may have
a view on that.

Oh, he doesn't know about it.
I want to surprise him.

-Oh.

You know, he's never forgotten
what you did for him.

Your exercise in damage
limitation with the press?

I haven't
forgotten, either.

You see, what really
worries me is that,

when Duncan finally reaches
the Himalayan heights

in Whitehall,
we'll lose him

and you, of all people,
don't deserve that.

That's why I thought your name
should be on the title deeds.

That way, you'll have
a real stake in the future;

you'll be a part of it
with us, right down the line.

Jo, darling, come in now.
You'll catch your death.

[Ring]

[Ring]

Hollister.

Can you talk?

Barely.

Listen, put a hold
on the pictures.

I may have something more,
the icing on the cake.

Ian, have you got a minute?
We've got a problem.

The press office
just got this in.

It came just this minute.
Take a look at that.

Jesus Christ!
-I know.

He'll need a bloody miracle
to ride this one out.

Well, you'd better break
the glad tidings.

-Look, I'll see you
back at the office.

We'll have to act
on this, and fast.

-See you later.

Hello.

So much for our
bloody legal boys.

They're running it
tomorrow.

-Makes no sense.

Where the hell is
Pangbourne Manor?

Well, somewhere in your neck
of the woods, apparently.

-There's going to be a lot
of egg on a lot of faces --

Read on.

-[Sigh] Mart yn?

Jesus Christ.

[Ring]

[Ring]

[Ring]

Clive Woodley.

[Slam]

You stupid, stupid,
old man!

Do you have any idea
what you've done?

What?
What have I done?

Pangbourne Manor!

Why the hell didn't you
discuss it with me?!

You lock your door,
put your answer machine on,

and do nothing,
nothing, do you hear?!

Not even so much as a fart,
until I give you the word!

God, you are
an amateur, Clive.

I let you in too close
and that's a mistake

I will not make again!

So Duncan Matlock is
once again headline news,

but, this time,
the scandal isn't sexual,

it's political.

The sale of Pangbourne Manor
to a close relative --

his father-in-law
is the purchaser --

is not, in itself,
significant,

but the knockdown
sale price

has a clear element
of gift about it.

The fact that the vendor
is Onshaw Insurance

adds another dimension
to this story,

particularly in view
of the leak

about Duncan Matlock's
proposed bill

to privatize
child benefit

and the key role
insurance companies

are expected
to play in that.

Before becoming
a member of Parliament,

Duncan Matlock was
on the board of directors

of Onshaw Insurance
and his friendship

with the charismatic
chairman, Mart yn Price,

is clearly a close one.

They had dinner together
only a week or so ago.

In the light of his
highly sensitive bill

on the privatization
of child benefit,

this whole business is more
than just an embarrassment

for Duncan Matlock, it's
a potential catastrophe.

The draft bill went
to ITN last night.

My chap at Fortress Wapping
said the pictures

were there yesterday
at midday, hand-delivered;

ditto The Independent
and The Guardian.

-So it was an
orchestrated campaign.

Down to the last
detail.

-The theory is it's someone
from Onshaw Insurance.

How else did they get
all the purchase details?

-It's someone closer
to home than that.

Call Flora. She'll be
at the flat later.

Get the names of
those caterers we used

at the Price
dinner party.

Somebody tipped
that photographer off,

somebody who knew where
we'd be, and when.

If we can get them
on a dirty-tricks rap,

we can discredit the
veracity of the whole thing.

Sir Donald is still
unavailable, Minister.

The chief whip is with
the prime minister.

-Keep trying
until you get them.

This is how
it used to be

in Stalin's day.

You put in a request
for help to the party;

if the answer was no,
all you got was

a blanket of
bloody silence.

[Sigh]

Does your husband
have financial interest

in Onshaw Insurance,
Mrs. Matlock?

-Mrs. Matlock, please!

What did you know about
this house sale, Mrs. Matlock?

-They're saying that the house
is a bribe, Mrs. Matlock,

so his old company
gets favoured treatment

when his bill
gets through.

Any comment on that?

-Is he still
on the board?

[Gasp]

Don't worry.
I came in the back way.

I should've

returned these
before.

Sorry about that.

I guessed you'd be here
to hold his hand.

It's bad, isn't it?

Yes, it is bad.

Poor bastard.

-Say what it is you want,
Miss Caird.

I have things to do.

I want my entry
card back.

All those invisible
doors you had closed?

I want them opened.

You've had your
15 minutes of fame.

I could've had a full
calendar year, if I'd wanted.

All Alistair Drummond
wanted was money.

I could've gone down
the same road, but I didn't.

I could've got myself
a publicity agent,

I could've
spread my legs,

and laughed all the way
to the bank, as he did,

but I didn't;
I laid low.

I did that for Duncan.

That was
my damage control.

-And you've come
to claim your reward?

I'm not a fool,
Flora.

I'd never get past
the selection committee.

We both know that.

It was the sex
that did for us.

He always said it
would devour us.

He always said
you hated it:

Whitehall, the House.

Like Norma Major
was:

a country mouse
who couldn't wait

to scuttle back to her
little hole in the sticks.

But me?
I love it.

It's like being the only
girl in a boys' school.

That's power, too,
in its own way.

And you want it back.

Not within my providence,
I'm afraid.

Oh, come on, a flick
through the old filofax,

call a few
old contacts,

a statement of
public forgiveness

on some
woman's page --

the lifting
of the blockade.

It's half a morning
on the phone, if that.

-Can you think of a single
reason why should?

Because,
fundamentally,

you're what he always
said you were:

you're decent.

And because, if he
doesn't ride this out,

the goalposts will all
shift, won't they?

Old loyalties will be
past their sell-by date.

Perhaps you'd be good enough
to leave the back way as well.

You obviously
know it blindfold.

I'll wait and see which
of you calls me first.

[Ring]

[Ring]

[Ring]

Hello.

I can't get hold of Clive.
Have you spoken to him?

Oh, I'll try him again.
Leave it with me.

Someone did this
to me, Flora.

The leader of the
House was just on.

I have to make
a statement.

The PM is keeping his powder
dry, to see how I perform.

And Sir Donald?

Not returning
my calls.

Ian says the 1922
are mustering themselves

for an assault
from the rear.

The bastards are going to
let me go under, Flora,

without even
a bloody life raft.

You don't need any
of them, darling.

You've pulled back
from the brink before;

you can do it again.

It's me, Daddy.

I feel so wretched
about what's happened,

dragging you into it,
and --

Do call me, when you can.
-COMMENTATOR: Duncan Matlock

is now rising to make his
statement to the House.

SPEAKER: The Right Honourable
Duncan Matlock

will now make his
statement to the House!

-Madam Speaker.

The press have today
raised a number

of questions
about my integrity --

[Protesting]

Which, while they have

no factual basis,
whatsoever --

[Protesting]
-Compels me to speak out,

in order to set
the record straight.

Where to start?

Did I know
of the purchase

of Pangbourne Manor
by my father-in-law?

Yes, of course
I did.

-[Protesting]

We're a close-knit
family.

Naturally,
we discussed it.

Did I know its sale price was
far below the market value?

Yes, I knew that also.

Did I encourage my father-in-law
to use my own personal contact

with the chairman
of Onshaw Insurance

to help influence
that price?

[chuckle] Yes, in so much that
it might influence anything,

unequivocally,
I encouraged it.

My right honourable colleagues
on the opposite benches

have been busy, insinuating
that my proposed --

-[Protesting]

SPEAKER: Order
in the House! Order!

Legislation on child benefit
is based on callousness.

[Protesting]
-Order!

That neither myself
nor this government cares

about the welfare of children
or, indeed, their families.

[Protesting]
-Order!

The opposite is true.

I have, for some time,
been concerned

about the closure
of a local nursery

in my constituency, due --
-[Protesting]

Due to the expiry
of their lease

and the prohibitive cost
of renewing it.

This would mean 30 children
losing their nursery places

and 30 parents, mostly single
mothers, losing their jobs

because they'd be obliged
to stay at home

and look after
their children.

Having repeatedly tried
and failed to get --

[Protesting]
-Order!

Our recently elected
Liberal Democrat council --

-Order in the House!
Order!

To take up this issue,
my father-in-law,

knowing of my concern --

-[Laughter]

Called me to express

his personal dismay
and his desire

to be of
constructive help.

He purchased
Pangbourne Manor

in order to provide
the nursery with a roof

and so ensure
its continued survival.

[Cheering]

They say actions speak louder
than words, Madam Speaker.

My God, he's
going to do it.

[Cheering]

I hope my own,

Small --
-[Laughter]

Involvement
in this matter

demonstrates my continuing
concern for the welfare

of children
and their families

in my constituency --
-[Cheering]

Because it is this
self-same concern

which governs
my thinking

on the proposed reform
on child benefit!

Once the details of this
have been made clear

to the House, I'm confident
that those of us

who truly care
about this issue --

-[Laughter]

Will see the logic
and sense of it, but, sadly,

there will always be those on
the opposite side of the House

who try and make
cheap political capital

out of every scurrilous
newspaper headline they read!

[Cheering]
-Order in the House! Order!

COMMENTATOR:
Well, I've never seen

an uproar like it
in the House

when a minister is making
a personal statement.

It shows the fine line
Duncan Matlock was treading.

SPEAKER: This behaviour
is unprecedented

when a minister is making
a statement to the House!

Order!

-[Cheering]

Order!

COMMENTATOR: If survival
is the name of the game

in politics --
and it surely is --

then Duncan Matlock has
today once again proved

that he is a proverbial
cat with nine lives.

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