To the Manor Born (1979–2007): Season 3, Episode 7 - Back to the Manor - full transcript

Goodbye.

Good morning, Rector.

Where did you say your text came from?

Psalms 39.

"For man heapeth up riches

and cannot tell who shall gather them.

I can tell you who gathers them.
The Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise.

Bedrich! Behave!

The banks want their cut and the insurance
companies, not to mention the shareholders.

Come home. This is not the place.

He started it.
I meant nothing personal.



Come along, Bedrich.
Oh, he has worries.

I should not have brought him fo church.
Why not?

Isn't it the best place to pray for help?

Oh, assuredly.
"When two or three are gathered together..."

"Thou wilt grant their requests"?

As may be most expedient for them.

I knew there'd be a catch.

I'm so sorry. He's not himself.

Hello, Richard.

Oh.

Is he all right?
I've no idea.

As he didn't bother to say good morning,
I've no intention of asking.

Good morning, Rector.
Morning, Rector.

I enjoyed your sermon.
Oh, thank you.



Nice and short.

Mrs Beacham?
Yes, Mrs fforbes.

I see you're on the flower roster today.
That's right.

It's a flower roster, not a weed roster.

Those are wild flowers.
Weeds.

I thought they looked artistic.

Artistic? There's no room for that sort of thing
in a church.

Goodbye, Mrs florbes.
Bye.

Hello, Brabinger.

You're back early, madam.
A nice short sermon.

Good.

Thank you.

Now, can I have the Sunday Times, Marjory?

Yes.

You haven't forgotten the colour supplement?
No, it's all there.

There's the Sunday Telegraph.

I don't think I'm doing very well out of this.
Times are hard. We've got to economise.

You're economising more than me.
The Telegraph costs less than the Times.

If you're going to quibble over a penny or two...

I don't mind, really. The Times depresses me.

Why?

It's full of all those fearfully successful
wonder women

going on about what incredibly
efficient lives they lead.

It fills me with a sense of inadequacy.

I know what you mean.

At least you've been married.

Martin wasn't exactly the catch of the season.

Never mind. There's always Richard.

I couldn't marry him, even if he asked me.

I thought he was your Mr Right.

He shouldn't be expected to marry a pauper.
I have my pride.

Good heavens!
Has your premium bond come up?

The price of Rolls-Royce motor cars.
£49,000!

£40,000! And that one's second-hand.

I think that's disgraceful.

This is wonderful. Why didn't I think of it before?

Think of what?
Selling my Rolls.

£40,000 would solve a lot of problems.

You won't get that for yours.

I shall probably get twice as much.

Aud, it's ancient.

Not ancient, antique.

I've been sitting on all this money, literally.

Brabinger, I've come to a decision.

I'm parting with my oldest
and most valuable possession.

Yes, madam.
You don't sound very surprised.

I've been expecting it, madam.

Would you like me to serve luncheon first
or shall I pack straightaway?

No, not you, Brabinger.
I could never part with you.

I'm talking about the Rolls.

Thank you, madam.

I esteem it a great honour
to be prized above the Rolls.

You are part of the fabric of my life.
And I don't think you'd fetch £40,000.

Probably not, madam.

Now, how do I go about this?

Here we are.
"Rolls-Royce and Bentley wanted."

Do be careful. You don't know
what sort of people advertise in there.

The best people
or they wouldn't be looking for a Rolls.

Oh, this sounds promising.

"Rolls-Royce cars wanted, any age or condition.
Superior prices paid."

That should appeal to you superior prices.

"Cash or bank draft. Our buyer collects.
Marlbury Carriage Company.”

Very superior.

I'll ring them in the morning.

Brabinger, have the Rolls washed
and polished, would you?

Very good, madam.

You can't expect him to wash and polish
that huge thing.

He doesn't. He gets the Scouts to do it.

Hello, Gayforth. Heard the news?

I don't want any more bad news.
DeVere's just given me the sack.

You've got a service contract.
You'll get a nice lump sum in cash

and in a couple of months you'll be back here.

As what?
As Number 1. DeVere's on the way out.

He didn't give me that impression just now.
What? Maybe he hasn't heard the news.

Hartley's snuffed it.

The fellow who was backing him?
Died in bed, it seems.

That figures.

Without Hartley's backing and influence,
DeVere's back to square one.

Lunch at the club?
Why not? Nothing else to do.

You're just the sort of chap we need here
as MD. See you at lunch.

Right.

Reconsidering your position?
(Knock at door)

You gave me your word.

I know nothing's been signed.
That's not the point.

Oh. You think that is the point.

AllI can say is, it's not the way I would expect
the listening bank to behave.

Trouble?
Nothing I can't handle.

Sure?
Yes, I'm quite sure. What can I do for you?

I wondered if you'd heard the news about
Greville Hartley.

Cashed in his chips.
Dead?

Gone to the great counting house in the sky.

Heart. Not surprising, really.

When did this happen?
Last night.

The FT Index dropped five points this morning.

Just because Hartley died?
He had a finger in so many pies.

Including Cavendish.
Yes.

This puts a different complexion on things,
wouldn't you say?

Don't try threatening me.
Oh, I wouldn't dream of it.

Questions will be asked, bound to be.
Such as?

Will the package Hartley put together for you
be delivered in his absence?

I don't see why not.
(Phone rings)

Yes?

All right. Put him through.

Good morning.

What do you mean
you've got cashflow problems?

You've got money coming out of
your collective ears.

The deal was agreed.

But not signed. I see.
Yes, I get the message. Goodbye.

More trouble?
I know you're after this job.

My dear fellow, not my style at all.

You'd like to manoeuvre somebody into it
you can manipulate.

Somebody like Gayforth.
Dreadful man.

You're all the same,
you smoothies from the Campari-and-soda belt.

A wink at the golf club, a nod at Brock's
and another outsider bites the dust.

With me, you've got a fight on your hands.

My only concern is that Cavendish Foods
should stay profitable.

You're a wet, Lumsden.

You can tell your fellow wets
I'm going ahead with this Argentine project,

even if I have to find every penny
out of my own pocket.

Could be expensive.

Excuse me, madam.
A person has called to see you.

A person?
Yes, madam.

Captain Ron Newman, Marlbury Carriage
Company. Come to see the Rolls.

So he said, madam.
A naval captain, do you think?

Most unlikely, madam.

Must be army, then.

I rather mistrust people who call themselves
“captain” in civilian life.

We do have a Captain Mark Phillips, madam.

That's quite different.

Where is Captain Ron Newman?
He's outside, observing the Rolls-Royce.

I'l go and talk to him.
I hope the car's looking its best.

Immaculate, madam.
Thank you, Brabinger.

In a few minutes we shall be solvent again.
I do hope so, madam.

Do you mind not kicking my motor car?
Good morning.

These old D-back saloons aren't too popular.

If it were a coupe de ville or, better still,
a two-door sports tourer, I'd be interested.

You mean you're not interested in this?

Well, it depends how much you want for it.

£25,000.

£257? You're joking.
No, I'm not.

Well, what's it worth?

If we strip off this body,
replace it with a boat-tail open body,

I might be able to sell it for you.

I think that would look rather vulgar.
It's what's selling, Mrs F-H.

My name is fforbes-Hamilton.

Heavy on the petrol.
Do you get about ten to the gallon?

If you own a Rolls-Royce
you don't bother about that sort of detail.

Let's say...£900.

£900?!

All right, £1,000 and I'll take it away for you.

£1,000 for my Rolls-Royce.
That's all it's worth to me.

Interested?
No, she's not. This car's not for sale.

Are you the lady's husband?
No.

You're behaving as if you are.
-Hopit.

All right. I'm going.
You've been wasting my time.

Audrey, could we go inside?
I'd like to talk to you.

Yes, of course.
Good afternoon, Captain Newman.

You stopped me selling the Rolls.
I'd hate to see you part with that.

Would you like a cup of tea?
Not for me.

Thank you, Brabinger. Have you any idea
how much it costs to run?

Yes.
Of course. You've got one of your own.

Mine belongs to the company.
That's the whole point.

You own your Rolls.
I could lose mine overnight.

I've never looked at it like that.

When people see your Rolls, they say,
"There goes Audrey fforbes-Hamilton."

That's style.
Surely your Corniche has style.

A lot of people round here
think it's rather flashy.

There goes the bounder from the Manor.
That's what they say about me.

Of course they don't.
You're almost one of us now.

Only almost?

Not until you've lived here for some years.

About 400.

Perhaps not quite as long as that.

But we are rather slow to accept change.

God knows I've fried to drag Grantleigh
into the 1980s.

Now I know it's a lifetime's work
and I'm not going to be here that long.

Why not?

I'm selling up and going back to London.

Selling Grantleigh?
Lock, stock and barrel.

I need the money, I'm afraid.

Oh, Richard.

I wanted you to be the first to know.

But I thought Uncle Greville
had arranged things.

Yes, he did, but his death occurred
at rather an unfortunate moment.

Deals weren't signed.
What are you going to do?

I shall survive. I just need cash quickly.

Selling Grantleigh is the only way I can raise it.

I really am most terribly sorry.

Thank you, Audrey.

I've been through it.
It's going fo be quite ghastly for you.

I'm not looking forward to it.

If there's anything I can do to help,
you will ask, won't you?

Well, yes, Audrey,
there is something that I would like to ask.

Yes?

Excuse me, madam.

Mr Plunkett to see you.

I'd better go and break the awful news
to Mother.

It's all right, Brabinger. I'll slip out this way.

Show him in, Brabinger.

Mr Plunkett, madam.

Amold.
Audrey, how nice to see you again.

It has been a long time.

I am kept rather busy, but you'll always be
amongst my most favoured clients.

I'm not worth much fo you nowadays.
Do sit down.

Indeed you are.
And I trust you always will be.

If you're asking me to judge the vegetables
at the village show, the answer's no.

Some people still aren't speaking to me
from last year.

It's nothing like that. I have some startling news
concerning your uncle, Greville Hartley.

You mustn't speak ill of the dead, Amold.

I'm not going to. Nor will you, I fancy.

He made you the main beneficiary in his will.

Uncle Greville? I hardly ever saw him.

Clearly he had a soft spot for you.

You'll get the bulk of his fortune.

Dear Uncle Greville.

He was a very rich man, Audrey.

The black sheep. God bless him.

It'll take time to sort things out,
and then there's capital transfer tax.

He was rather shrewd about that sort of thing.

I think we can safely say
that you'll be very comfortably off.

Just how comfortable will that be?
Very comfortable.

You can replace that dilapidated old car
of yours, for a start.

My Rolls-Royce is not in the least dilapidated.

Oh, come now, Audrey.

Wouldn't you rather be seen in
a nice new Corniche?

Too flashy for me. I'll keep my old Rolls.
It has style.

Besides, there may be more important things
to spend my money on.

Grantleigh won't be the same without Richard.

A great shock. A sad loss.

Anything else, Rector?

Have you that stuff they recommended on
Gardeners' Question Time?

You shouldn't be listening to the wireless
on a Sunday.

What was it for?
Mildew on roses.

I've got just the thing for that.

I'm worried about the organ.

Has that got mildew too?

I shouldn't be surprised.

I was hoping Mr DeVere would contribute
towards the cost of repair.

You'd better ask him before he leaves.

When I say contribute,
I mean...pay for the whole thing.

But now, of course...

Do you think he really is broke?

He doesn't confide in me, Miss Frobisher.

He hasn't been to church since
the announcement of the sale.

I'd noticed that.

We have failed him in his hour of need.

We?

We in the church.

Faith can move mountains.
We should have prayed harder.

Here 'tis. Mildew Pacific.

I've had this before.

It's no good at all.

You'll have to try praying then, won't you?

If it can move mountains
it ought to be able to shift mildew.

I shall certainly try it, Mrs Patterson.

If only to show what can be done.

That's right. Put me out of business.

It won't be so long now
with Mr DeVere gone.

He spent a lot of money with me he did,
very generous he was.

And he paid his monthly account on the dot.

Not like some I could mention.

Oh, howmuch dol...
That reminds me.

Can I come in?
Oh, of course.

Though it is a very sad time.

Always glad fo see you.

Can I help?

Oh, help me wrap these things.

Are you taking everything with you?

No, there won't be room for it
in our London flat.

A lot of the things will be left here
to be sold with the house.

If only things had been different.

In what way?

You know what I've wanted for you and Bedrich.

Why didn't it happen?

He never asked me.

He didn't?

Oh! He should have listened to his old mother.

Now it is too late.
Why?

Well, because he has nothing to offer you.

When he had this place, he had a chance
because he had something you wanted.

Oh, no, I couldn't have married Richard
when he had the Manor.

Why ever not?

He might have thought I was marrying him
just to get back here.

What is wrong with that?

It would seem rather mercenary.

I shall never understand the English.

Why do you always have to marry for love?

I suppose at heart we're a nation of romantics.

Hello, Audrey.
Have you come to cheer up Mother?

I'm doing my best.
Tell her to look on the bright side.

Going back to London
to see all her old friends.

I do not like my old friends.

I prefer my new ones.

She's always the same.

I've fixed the auction for next Wednesday.

I'd rather like you to be there, Audrey.

I'm not sure I can bear to watch.

Audrey, you must come.
The rest of the county will be there.

They won't be able to resist watching me
get my comeuppance.

Never thought we'd see this, Rector.

The old order changeth.

He didn't last as long as the fforbes-Hamiltons,
did he?

Come and sit beside me.

Who do you think will bid?

It doesn't look as if there's anyone here
with any money.

You can't tell nowadays, Mrs Poo.

Thank you. Where is Bedrich?

I can't see Bedrich.
Don't worry, Mrs Poo.

Welcome to Grantieigh Manor,
ladies and gentlemen.

This is the second time I've had the honour
of selling this property

and during the time of the present owner,
Mr DeVere,

great improvements have been made

and a considerable sum spent on renovation
and modernisation.

I think I can safely say that the property,
once run down and neglected,

is now in a first-class condition

and I shall expect a price
commensurate with its present standing.

Ah, here he is.

You may begin now.

Thank you, madam.

My instructions are to dispose of this first-class
property consisting of this manor house

together with certain paintings and furnishings

1,000 acres of land, farm buildings
and equipment...

Why doesn't he get on with it?

Who will start me at £800,000?

All right. Let's try £800,000.

Thank you, sir. Do I hear 8507?

825, then? Thank you.

And 30?

00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:08,359

00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:10,232

00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:11,600
70?

80?

90?

At £800,000?

At £900,000. Thank you, sir.
Against you, sir.

Who's bidding?
Can't see.

It's him.
Was that a bid, madam?

I am selling, not buying.

Thank you, sir. 910?

20.

30.

40.

50.

60.

70.

80.

90.

At £990,000. Against you, sir.

I'm selling the property for the first time.
All done?

For the second time, then.

At £990,000 for the third time... Sold to you, sir.

It can't be you, Brabinger, can it?

I do have a few savings, sir.

May I have your name, please, sir?

Mrs fforbes-Hamilton.

Audrey, why didn't you tell me?

So, you are back where you belong.

Well done, Aud.
Thank you, Marjory.

Imagine that.
Audrey back at the Manor.

It doesn't seem possible.

I thought you said the old order changeth.

I overlooked the stamina
of the fforbes-Hamiltons.

Congratulations, madam.
Thank you, Brabinger.

Audrey, it... it's wonderful.

Thank you.
I'm so glad it went to you.

Thank you for looking after Grantleigh
so well for me.

What I'm dying to know is...
Where I got the money from.

Yes.
Uncle Greville.

Of course.

Well, here's to you, Audrey.

Here's to you, Richard.

Goodbye, everybody.

Thank you for everything, Mrs Beacham.

Goodbye, sir.

Look after yourself, Ned.
Yes, sir.

I'm going to miss you all.

Not as much as we shall miss you.

Come along, Marjory, cheer up.
I'm sorry.

It just won't be the same when you've gone.

Oh, gosh.

Come and see us in London, won't you?
Yes, yes, I will.

Come along, Mother.

Thank you, Brabinger.

Marjory.
Hello, Aud.

Hello, Rector.
Welcome home, Mrs fforbes-Hamilton.

Thank you.

I noticed some bits from the Alternative
Service Book creeping in last Sunday.

People have asked.
We don't want to encourage that sort of thing.

Ned.

Oh, thank you, Ned.

Would you give Brabinger a hand
with the bags?

Very good, Mrs forbes.

And I'd like you to start work on the drive.
There's some potholes again.

Yes, Mrs fforbes.

Mrs Beacham,
I'd like to talk to you about the staff.

Three o'clock in the drawing room?
Yes, Mrs fforbes.

Yes, madam.
Yes, madam.

Come along, Marjory.
We've a tremendous amount to do.

Have we?

I want you to help me get things
running smoothly.

And then we're going to give a party.

What sort of party?
A big one. A welcome home party.

Who for?
For me, of course.

Oh. Oh!

Now there arose up a new king over Egypt...

(Band plays)

Oh, Rector, this is just like old times, isn't it?

Itis indeed.

Hello, Marjory.

Richard!

Mrs Poo!

How lovely to see you.

Good evening, Rector.
Good evening.

This is a most pleasant surprise.

Didn't Audrey tell you?
Not a word.

Where is she?
Madam will be down in a moment.

Hello. What's it like being back
in the stately home?

Tiring on the legs, sir.

I preferred the Lodge.

Richard!

Audrey.
I'm so glad you could come.

You look absolutely wonderful.

Thank you.

Listen. They're playing our tune.
Are they?

Don't you remember the night of the hunt ball?

Vividly. I never got to it.
And I got very wet.

Did I ever apologise for that?

I shouldn't think so.
Well, I do now.

Thank you.

Shall we dance?
Why not?

We might be able to finish this one.

Oh, hello.

J Band plays Cheek To Cheek

Hello, Marjory.

All alone?
-No, no, I'm...

Well, yes.
We can't have that.

Feel like helping me round the dance floor?

Oh, all right.

You're looking jolly pretty tonight.

Thank you.

Not interested in cricket by any chance?

J Band plays

I was afraid you wouldn't come tonight.

I nearly didn't.

You know Mother.
She was determined to get us together.

I'm glad she succeeded.

Soaml.

Audrey...

What would you say if I told you
I was thinking of chucking the business?

Oh. I think I'd say something like,

"Why don't you come back here
and marry me?"

Yousee, I...

What was that last bit?
Marry me.

Do you mean that?
I never say things I don't mean.

-Isitaleap year?
One of us had to say it. You wouldn't.

I didn't think you'd want me without the Manor.

I wouldn't have married you with the Manor.

But now it's all right?
Yes. Because I've got the Manor.

I think.

So? Are you going to chuck the business?

Definitely.

Not here.

There's nobody about.
There is, in a way.

It's all right.
Martin was always putting his foot in it.

J Conga

What the devil do you think you're doing?

Waste not want not, I always say.
Have a cigar.

Would you mind not doing that?

What on earth's the matter?

If the man's fool enough
to leave them lying round.

What man?
The fellow who owns this place.

Self-made millionaire. Social climber.

And a foreigner.

They come here, get rich at our expense,
grab all the best houses.

It's only at do's like these
one can get any of it back.

What's your name?
Heatherington-Poole.

Yes. I thought it would be something like that.

Richard...
Just a minute, Audrey.

Don't bother with him.
Who are you?

If you'd been sent an invitation
you'd know that I am Audrey fforbes-Hamilton,

and my family have lived in this house
for 400 years.

On and off.

And this is Richard DeVere.

A self-made, foreign millionaire
and social climber

who's lived here for about three years.

And to whom I am going to be married.

(Music stops)

Ladies and gentlemen, the bride and groom.

ALL: The bride and groom.