Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1975): Season 1, Episode 1 - On Trial - full transcript

[Ringing servant's entrance bell]

Well?

Mrs. Butlagens has sent me.

Well?

I've come about the position.

- As parlormaid, was it?
- Underhouse parlormaid.

I am the house parlormaid.

Well, come in.

- I'll tell Mr. Hudson you're here.
- Who's Mr. Hudson?

The butler.

Oh, the bloke all in black
at the front door.



Wait in there.

Oh, my finger!
Oh, tab's coming off!

Not gone altogether,
then has it?

Oh, I daren't look.

If you got blood
on them potatoes, my girl,

You can throw them away,
and start all over again.

And get a move on, girl!

Who are you, when you're at home?
[Bell rings]

Alfred has taken
my buttons off, again,

I know he has.
What am I gonna do?

Go to Mr. Hudson,
Miss Roberts.

Don't come whining
around me.

I'm all behind,
like a cow's tail.

Well, well?
Who are you?



- I've been sent by...
- Where're you going?
- Mind if I...?

- No.
Oh!

Alfred, get out from
under my feet, right now!

Somebody answer
that bell, Alfred!

Cat got you tongue, has it?

- Well, be off with you!
- No, you should let me explain...

Everywhere!

Oh...

No one cares.

My name is Clemance.
Clemance.

I've come about the position.

Clemance?

What sort of
a name is that?

- Answer me.
I'm parlormaid,

- and you're still
the boxwallah novelist.

A silent woman is above Rubies.

- Well!

- It's a French name.
- French! Huh.

We don't want no
foreign muck in here.

None of your nasty old
Josine, thank you very much.

Greasy man again then,
Mrs. Bridges?

Ow!

None of that behavior
in my kitchen, Mr. Pearce.

- Get back to your stables!
- Mrs...

And be off with you!

Oh!

The milk's taut.

Now see what
you've made me do, all.

This place'll be
the death of me.

What's wrong
with mutton, anyway?

I'll bleed to death.

Good!

Couldn't have anyone seen
my button hooks,

all twelve vanished.
Well, what's to become of me?

Let you discourse
be "Yea, Yea" and "Nay, Nay."

for whatsoever is more
than this is of evil.

Oh!

Ah!
Who is he?

Alfred, the footman.

Take no notice of him.
He was brought up religion.

I thought I told you
to wait in there!

I'm sorry.
The cook said to bring...

I said nothing
of the sort!

And it's Mrs. Bridges,
if you please.

Not cook.

This is gentleman's house.

We're not making
a very good start, are we?

Well, come on.

Mr. Hudson's
waiting for you.

The new girl of
our position, my lady.

Yes, Hudson.
Ask her to come in, will you?

- To whom it may
concern, that there...

- Ahhh!

...the bearer of this letter
is well recommended for domestic.

Uh huh.

- What is your name?
- Clemance du Main.

- And you are French?
- Of French.

You must call me
my lady, when you reply.

I'm sorry, my lady.

This letter appears to be from
someone whose name I cannot read.

who lives at the Chateau Lac du
Champs, near Lyon.

I haven't heard of it.

My ma was overmaid
till I got there.

Why did you leave
your previous employment?

My mother was took sick,
and I had to return to England.

- I hope she's better now.
- Why, my lady?

It's important to be able
to concentrate on your work.

Oh, that's all right.
She died.

I'm sorry.

I must assume the agency
has checked your reference.

Yes, that's right.

You're new to
service, are you not?

That's all right...

This hat and all their mitts and
everything all over this chair

They'd never take that girl on.

Her?

She couldn't tell a feather
duster from a boa constrictor.

Quite unsuitable.

She went to the front door!

You're quite right, Rose.

Untrained and blind
to all we posses.

Is luncheon ready, Mrs. Bridges?

I confess to a
wholesome appetite.

Two shakes of a
lamb's tail, Mr. Hudson.

I've had trouble
with range again.

That's according
to the coal.

Isn't it, Emily.

[Bell ringing]

Ho!

That must be
in the morning room.

[Bell rings]

Yes.

Mr. Hudson.

Right, thank you, Rose.

Clemance du Main.

Why's she trying to
get into service

with a name like that?

Well, I hope she
gets taken on.

I like her.

It's not for you to hope,

nor not hope neither,
for that matter, Emily.

It's for you
to keep the fire in.

You let it go on purpose.

Oh, I never did.

The coal's wet.

And that's Alfred's fault.

He always leaves
the coal house door open.

I'll put you in
the coal house.

Ashes to ashes
and dust to dust.

They're past blame, Emily.

Aw, now, you're
against me, too.

Oh, yes, Hudson.

I intend to engage
this young woman.

She'll have her dinner
in the servant?s hall,

and collect her
belongings afterward.

Rose can show
her what to do.

And, the young person's
name my lady?

- Sarah.
- No, my name is Clemance.

- Clemance is not a servant's name.
- Yes but, I don't like...

Go with Hudson, Sarah.

- Remember, you're here on trial.
- Yes, my lady,

Mr. Hudson, do I have
to be called Sarah?

- Yes.
- I don't like it.

It is not for you
to question your betters.

- Are you my better?
- Indeed I am.

What makes you better
than me. I'm not being rude.

I just want to know.

I am older than you,
and therefore wiser,

and I've learned humility.

[Gasp]

You?

- It is a hard lesson,
but once learned never forgotten.

How did you learn it?

My grandmother was a proud
woman and died of starvation.

I just can't
abide cold food.

Greasy mutton.

- It'll taste all the
better for the...

...waiting.

Emily, another plate.

- Alfred, get a chair.

Thank you very much.

[Praying]

May the Lord bless
our endeavors,

and grant us conciliation
for that rank

- in which in his infinite mercy
he has seen fit to place us,

and for what we are about
to receive of his great bounty,

we may be truly grateful
that in the end

we may find favor in his eyes,
and sit in honor at his table.

Amen

- Amen.
- Amen

Sarah, is joining us as
underhouse parlormaid, Miss Roberts.

Indeed, Mr. Hudson.
On trial, I take it.

On trial.

Rose, you are to
instruct Sarah in her duties.

Yes, Mr. Hudson.

With a good heart, and a
glad will, if you please, Rose.

Naturally, Mr. Hudson.

That's Miss Roberts.
She's her ladyship's personal maid.

- That's Mr. Pearce.
Mr. Pearce is the coachman.

- That's Emily.
Emily does...

[Mrs. Bridges knocks
on the table.]

Silence, if you please.

- Everyone is served,
Mrs. Bridges.

Thank you, Mr. Hudson.

You may talk.

Mutton again.

What's wrong with
mutton, Mr. Pearce,

with a nice drop
of caper sauce?

Nothing, Miss Roberts,
nothing at all.

Perhaps you'd prefer
to eat hay, like your horses.

Forget I spoke, ladies.

- Could I have the
caper sauce, please.

It's not food
for young women.

No reach for glasses.

Millions would be grateful
for what we have, Mr. Pearce.

- Wouldn't you agree, Sarah?

Mr. Hudson's addressing
you, Sarah.

Oh. I'm sorry.

It's just that the
name's so unfamiliar.

Couldn't I be called Clemance
if only down here?

Oh, my dear, I've never
heard of such a name belowstairs.

Whatever was your
mother thinking of?

Search the good book from
cover to cover and not find that name.

Lady Marjorie's wishes
must be respected.

Clemence. A good name
for a filly, I'll say that,

but hardly a human.

I think it's a lovely name.

- As I was saying...

millions would be grateful
for mutton once a week,

let alone mutton
once a day.

Wouldn't you agree, Sarah?

Yes, Mr. Hudson.

[Hudson chuckles]

Did you really
live in France, Sarah?

Yes.

Were you in
service there?

No, I lived in a chateau.

Once I had my own
maid, like Lady Marjorie.

I think we must learn
to take Sarah's statements

with a pinch of salt.

I don't lie, eh.

I didn't you say you did?
Of course she just exaggerates.

If our ladyship finds Sarah
satisfactory, I'm sure we all do.

It is not for us
either to chose

or judge our
companions in service.

Rose, as you
know very well.

How about some
more caper sauce, dear?

Thank you.

Say something
in French, then.

Some other time.

Ha. ha.

What are you laughing
for? Don't you believe me?

You're as English
as I am.

I'm not.

My mother was a gypsy.

I can read hands
and tell the future

and put curses on people.

What, preserve us,
the Witch of Ender, herself.

If my mother was a gypsy
I wouldn't speak of it.

I nearly ran off
with the gypsies once

when I was a girl.

That was a long
time ago.

Oh, not as long
as all that, Mrs. Bridges.

A little more sauce,
Mr. Hudson,

I think that's
just a straight blend.

Thank you.

I'm not ashamed
of my mother.

She was a gypsy
princess and very beautiful.

More mutton, Mrs. Bridges?

Just a morsel,
thank you, Mr. Hudson.

A French Count saw
her and married her,

and she died
giving birth to me.

Well, my father married
then a very wicked woman.

And when he died,
she treated me like a servant

and in the end she
threw me out altogether.

But I've got lawyers
fighting for me,

and in the end,
I'll come into my own.

In the meantime, I
must live as best as I can.

- Oh, it's just like
a story in a book.

- Exactly, Emily, a tale
from a penny novelette.

All very well for a
kitchen maid, but

not what one expects
for a house parlormaid.

Say something in French.
Go on.

Would you like me to read
your hand for you, Mrs. Bridges?

Shall she read my
hand, Mr. Hudson?

By all means, Mrs. Bridges,
if it pleases you.

After dinner.

- Oh, do mine, do mine!

Wicked nonsense.

There are more things
in heaven and earth, Rose.

Truth is stranger
than fiction.

It's unhealthy
and dangerous.

Not if you have
a clear conscience.

It isn't given to mortals
to know the future.

Oh, yes it is, but it's
against the will of God.

Look what happened
to King David.

He didn't do
so bad though, did he?

Dirty old devil!

Mind your tongue
some gardener,...

She ought to be
locked up!

Rose!

That's enough.

Well, why won't she
say something in French,

then, answer that.

'Cause she's coward,
that's why.

Because she don't
chose to, that's why.

Don't let these
old prudes upset you, Sarah.

What's for pudding, then,
Mrs. Bridges.

Roly poly, Mr. Pearce.

And don't you go telling
me nothing I don't want to hear,

or you'll get your
ears boxed.

- To meet with King David,
then to the Witch of Ender,

- so does Mrs. Bridges seek
knowledge from our Sarah, here.

- Huh, huh.

Someone's gonna' get
struck by lightnin'.

Sarah, Sarah.

Say something in French.

Go on.

If you can.

[Sarah sings a
song in French]

Aupr?s de ma blonde,

qu'il fait bon, fait bon, fait bon,

Aupr?s de ma blonde,

qu'il fait bon dormir.

[Alfred sneaks into Rose's
and Sarah's bedroom]

Come on! Get up!
It's half past five!

- Aw! Alfred, I'll kill you!
- Where am I?

You're in Mr. Bellamy's house's
servant's quarters, where else?

And it's time to get up.

[Sarah whines
and rolls over]

[Rose opens
the window]

If we get behind
in the morning,

there's trouble all day.

So up with you.

[Sarah complains]

Me legs won't work.
Me feet are cold.

Oh, they will.

Which they must.

It's half past five!

Light a one, Sarah.

Well, come on,
you'll be late.

I trust you can
remember your duties.

When you're dressed
and ready...what then?

Uh. I must make sure that Emily's
got the range working properly,

so that Mrs. Bridges can go on.

Then I lay out breakfast
in the servants room.

Then there's Lady Marjorie?s tray.

And don't forget to shine up
the milk jug, for goodness sake,

and don't leave
sticky finger marks.

Then there's the
servant's breakfast.

I suppose I'm allowed
to sit down and eat.

After breakfast, make
sure Emily's not hiding

in the budo, again.

If she is, I'm going
to barge in full view.

I shall be brushing and dusting in the
drawing room and the morning room.

Well, go on.

Uh...Then...upstairs
I'll clean out the grates

and relay and
light the fires.

If I can find
the matches.

You got a good memory,
I'll say that for you.

Oh!

Why is a mouse doing
in the grates, please.

Corn meat, the door master?s box.

I'd better do that
for the time being.

But you fetch
your water.

Now, If the boiler's troublesome,
you'll have to use the hot water kettle.

Now, after the baths,
I'll do the upstairs breakfast.

I'd like you to
help me there.

And make sure Emily's got all
the boots and shoes done.

She keeps all of them in the
sleeps in the morning,

but I don't know why.

And keep out of
Mr. Bellamy's way,

whatever you do.

Why?

Just pretend you're not there,
especially in the morning.

Such fussy boots.
That will never do.

You want to borrow
a pair of mine?

- I have a spare pair.
- Thank you.

A bit smaller,
I dare say, but

better sore feet
than shabby boots.

Oh, and today's the day
for fresh bacon.

Now, it?s a bit of a rush,
but it's got to be done

while they're
having breakfast.

The Lady Marjorie
eats like a little bird.

Oh, and the covers, of course.

How'm I going to
remember it all?

Well, you must.

Anyway...here's a list.

Oh,...I forgot.

You've got it
upside down.

Oh, so I have.

What you call
a certain girl?

I'm cold.

Um, well, work
soon warms you.

[Cough]

[Blowing coals]

Oh, Mrs. Bridges
will kill me.

[Blowing hard]

Oh, and I'm late with
the morning tea, again.

Oh, oh, give the fire
a blow again for me, will you?

It's not going properly yet.

You never have yet.
and you never will

[Kitchen doorbell rings]

Oh, who are you?

I work here.

Good luck, chicken.
Where is she?

Who?

Who d'ya think?

Oh, it's you, Mattie.

She's on the way down
on the undercate colander.

She's in such a waspish.

You should be laying out the
servant's breakfast, go on.

Yes.

Well, go on!

[Sarah watches the outside]

[Mrs. Bridges comes
fussing at Emily]

Tastes like dishwater.
Not fit to drink.

Whatever it is.

If you put boiling water
on that pub, my girl,

may lightning strike me
before it get's to you.

Oh, I swear I didn't,
Mrs. Bridges.

Cross my heart
and hope to die.

She's waiting for you,
Mrs. Bridges.

Who?

Matty!

Why didn't you
say so!

Put a fork on the table
before you lay up.

[Sarah watches outside
again]

There you are, Matty.

Nice plump one.

[Sarah puts two
and two together]

Morning, Rose.

Good morning,
Mrs. Bridges.

Sarah.

What are you
thinking of?

Why isn't that table made?
What have you been doing?

I shall require my
best silk hat.

Very good, sir.
I shall send it round

to the hatter's
for ironing this morning.

The, uh, new underhouse
parlormaid, sir.

I see.

Oh, it's quite nice, isn't it?

But why change?

Mornings are housemaid.
Afternoons are parlormaid, see?

Oh.

Come on!

Is that kettle
boiled yet?

Almost.

Get the silver sugar bowl
from the cupboard.

What for?

Her ladyship's tray.

She'll be expecting
it when she comes in.

No jobs in the
lorry rolls

There we are.

Emily, where's Lady Marjorie
gone to in the afternoons?

Playing cards, mostly, or
just driving in the park.

To while away the
time I suppose

till Mr. Bellamy gets
home from Parliament.

I wouldn't fancy it.

Oh, I would.

Imagine driving round and
round in a fine carriage

with strong white horses
and everyone looking at you?

We'll give her ladyship that.
Fore wait. Public chore.

Here, I'll take it up.

No! Not until she
rings for it.

And I'll take it up
this afternoon.

You can fetch it,
if you behave yourself.

Uh. A very pleasant
afternoon, my lady.

Yes, isn't it Hudson?

Your tea my lady.

Thank you, Rose.

Mrs. Bridges thought you
might be a bit hungry, my lady.

Rose.

How do you find
the new girl?

Quite satisfactory, my lady.

I hope you're
looking after her.

Of course, my lady.

Will that be all, my lady?

She claims to be
something of a seamstress.

So I set her to repairing
the tapestry cushion.

I thought we were going
to send it out, my lady.

Very old and very delicate,
otherwise, of course,

I would have
undertaken it myself.

Well, she has delicate fingers
and nice, neat movements.

Yes, my lady.

Will that be all, my lady?

I'd be interested to see it
as soon as she's finished it.

Very good, my lady.

If I was rich, I'd have
a little cottage in the country,

and no one to shout to me,
and lots of kids.

I'd never forget the names,
the way our Ma'am did us.

Oh, that's boring.

That's not exciting.

I want excitement.

Time for a chat,
I see.

Tea's a poison;
full of tannin.

Sarah.

Yes.

I thought you were supposed to be
sewing Lady Marjorie's cushion.

That pillow is worth hundreds of pounds.
You might at least be getting on with it.

- I've done it.
- Where. Show me.

I see.

Well, you better take
it up to her, hadn't you?

No, I want to finish
me tea, oh...

- It's beautifully done.
- Thank you, my lady.

Where did you learn
to sew like that?

In a convent.

- In France?
- Yes, that's right.

Were the nuns
good to you?

Most of the time.

But, sometimes, they'd
dress me in a long canvas robe

and shut me up in the dark so with
no food or water for a whole day.

Why?

Teach me to be
thankful, my lady.

What for?

God's mercy.

That was a strange way
of bringing you to know it.

That's what I said,
and back I went.

What other talents have
you besides sewing?

- None, really.
- Are you sure?

Well...I can tell fortunes.

Hands and tea leaves.
I could do yours, my lady.

What nonsense.

No. I'm very good at it.
I'm never wrong.

- I know what my future is.
- Do you, my lady?

Very well, Sarah,
what do you see, then?

A tall, dark stranger
from overseas, I suppose.

Yes, there is.

Bringing good fortune
with him?

Bringing mixed fortune,
good and bad.

He bears a sword, and is
about to use it and should not.

Dear me.

Does it mean something
to you, my lady?

Indeed, it does not.

You see, there's first
an increase in wealth,

then a decrease.
Now you are surrounded

by many friends,
and they all wish you well,

except one, a false friend.

How alarming.

You should...watch yourself.
That's all, my lady.

Oh, there's a gentleman
of great authority

near the rim, nearly
out of the picture,

but I think, yes I think
he's coming nearer to you.

Yes, Mr. Bellamy.
He'll be home soon.

This is superstitious
nonsense.

- No, my lady...
- That'll do, Sarah.

You can go, now.

Sarah.

[Bell ringing]

Mr. Bellamy wanting
to dress for dinner.

Her Ladyship's...

Oh, there she is!

I can't be in two places at once!

Alfred, are you sure
you haven't seen her?

No. What do I
know about gloves?

I was sewing a button on
them, you must have seen them.

Alfred, take these up
to the dressing room.

Give the trousers a final
brush before you lay them out.

Now, remain with that waist,
as good as white, must remain white.

Now, look sharp, the carriage
is ordered for eight o'clock.

Emily!

Yes, Mr. Hudson.

More coke in the boiler at once.
The bath water's not properly hot yet.

Oh, everything's at the last minute.
How can I ask Alfred tonight, but

I make sure...

Cool in the can, Miss Roberts.
Cool in the can.

- Mr. Hudson.
- Yes.

The carriage is here, and
Mr. Pearce wants to know

what time they're leaving.

Tell him eight o'clock.
He's early.

No. no. Not there, my girl.
Up here in the pantry.

...after.
Hudson.

[Clock striking 8 o'clock]

[Carriage departing sounds]

- Where do you going?
- Out.

It's the gypsy in me.
I can't bear to be shut in.

Does Mr. Hudson know you're going?
Its only for a minute.

But, you have to ask him
or you get into trouble.

I'm not asking, and you're
not going to tell him, are you?

- No.
- Right.

Then I'll tell you fortune
for you when I get back.

But if you breathe a word
to a living soul, I'll curse you,

and your blood
will turn to ice in your veins

and you will die horribly
within the week.

There.

You'll ruin your eyes, Emily.

What's it matter.
I won't be needn'em much longer.

Nope.

When I breathe
I get a pain.

The good die
young, they say.

And I have a the
impression on me chest.

[Emily coughs]

I wish you'd stop
reading that rubbish.

It isn't rubbish!

Things like that
do happen.

I think Sarah is more
tragic and more romantic

than anything in the book.

I would lay down my
life for her, if it was asked.

Would you?
Well, where is she, then?

I do not know.
I am silent.

What's the matter
with you?

Torch me to death
if you wish.

My lips are sealed.

Well, for goodness sake.

I only wanted her
to turn down the beds.

It's on her list
as clear as daylight.

Or, do I have
to do her work, too.

And you can pull out
my toenails one by one

and still I shan't speak.

What's the matter
with that girl?

Why aren't you in bed?

I want to wait
up till they come back.

They won't be
anything to see.

There might be. They could
bring someone with them.

Oh, a tall, dark stranger
from across the seas

who'll fall in love with me,
and take me away from all this!

It's Sarah. She's been
puttin' ideas in her head.

She has strange powers.
She sees things we can't see.

Stuff and nonsense. The kind
we cannot discover, Mrs. Bridges.

We can not.

I'm just gonna' fetch
some bread and cheese.

D'you care for a bit, Rose?

Very much, Mrs. Bridges.
I'll have a bit, thank you.

Emily.

You sure you don't
know where Sarah is?

-Well, she's...
-She's not in the kitchen.

She's not in the pantry.

Emily, look at me.

I want the truth.

Oh, what's this?

Who's been at
my larder?

Where's the strug smith to
madam of a place on the left?

-Miss...
-What's happening?

Somebody's stolen
a bird out of my larder.

That's what happened.

Are you sure?

You think I don't
know me own larder?

Mr. Hudson!

Emily, where is Sarah.
She hasn't gone out, has she?

Did you call, Mrs. Bridges?

-I did, indeed, Mr. Hudson.
-Why was that, Mrs. Bridges.

Because a plump and dressed
bird cannot walk, Mr. Hudson.

We have a thief
in our midst.

A human foxed up
chicken stealer.

When I lay my eyes on her,
I'll skin her alive!

Or him.

Kindly assemble
the staff in question.

If that's what you
want, Mrs. Bridges.

How long has the
melancholy fowl been missing?

Twenty minutes, Mr. Hudson
since I last saw it laying on the shelf.

Oh, in that case, we have the
staff in question assembled.

With the exception of Sarah,
who seems to be temporarily absent.

You would hardly steal you own bird,
Mrs. Bridges and then complain of it.

We know Rose would not,
could not,

and if Emily had done it
I swear there would still be

feathers 'round her mouth.

It was a plumped and
dressed bird, Mr. Hudson.

Not a feather left upon it.

Even the back fluff was singed.

I was speaking
in metaphor, Mrs. Bridges.

I'm led to the conclusion that
the guilty party is none other than Sarah.

A stranger in our midst.

Not the gipsy princess after all,
but a common thief.

I knew it.

And what is to be done
with a creature so unnatural?

I stole it.

And in what dark hole,
I wonder, is she hiding?

It was me, not her!

Emily knows.

I know nothing. I don't
want my blood turn to ice.

All this fuss about a bird.

It was you who
summoned me, Mrs. Bridges.

Well, perhaps a rat
took it off.

Or, it's in a cockroach,
who's working in earnest, I dare say.

A principle is at stake ladies.
A chicken today, emeralds tomorrow,

and the whole staff
under suspicion.

It is not, after all, as if Sarah
has the privileges granted by custom

and common humanity
to the cook.

When she comes back,
I'll skin her alive.

Oh, I swear, I swear I
don't know where she is.

If she comes back!

It'd be better for
everyone if she didn't!

Well!

-Sarah, I never told them.
-Sarah! Come in here!

-but I never said a word.
-Shut the door.

-Liar!
-whisper...a whisper Sarah.

-Slut!
-speak at night...

Rose!
That's enough of that!

You, too, Emily.

We have reason to believe
that you have stolen a chicken

from Mrs. Bridge's larder.

That you have crept out
into the night

to dispose of the
forbidden loot,

and have returned with your ill-gotten
profits concealed about your person.

What have you to say
about yourself?

Well?

If Mrs. Bridges can do it,
why the hell shouldn't I?

Well?

[Carriage approaching]

[Alfred opens door]

Thank you, Alfred.

You should go to bed now.

Thank you, sir.

[Door closes]

[Bedroom door closes]

Hmmm.

You'll have nothing, my dear?

No, thank you.

Strange to see Archie Hazlett
across the dining table again.

And his new wife.

But I see why it all happened.

What eyes that woman has.

One can hardly excuse it.

It's the thin end
of the wedge, you know.

Soon, we'll see divorced people
everywhere be obliged to chat and smile

as if it were nothing unusual.

In a moment I'm afraid you will say,
And the old queen hardly cold in her grave.

It's true, I don't like change.

It goes too quickly, becomes
not progress but disintegration.

Spoken like a good
English woman,

and an excellent wife
for a Tory politician.

Oh...tomorrow's what I'm
thinking about

Joe Chamberlain on tariff
reform again, and

the front bench shuffling
in its shoes.

The Prime Minister should
be more firm with him.

My father wouldn't
have put up with it.

Your father, he'd have run them
single-handedly if he could.

Knew the value of
firmness and resolution.

And you're your father's daughter.

I hope so.

Don't bother your
pretty head.

These are men's matters.

Don't say that!
Now, why should I not bother my head?

I have precious
little else to fit in it.

-No. You do so much.
-What do I do?

-You run this house.
-The servants do that in their own way.

Yes, and a lot goes on that
I know nothing about.

I saw a light downstairs.
The servants are still up.

Have some hot milk.

Everyone worries
too much about me.

Now don't drink.

You know I don't like bells
ringing late in dark corridors.

One day, you know, if things
go on as they have been,

you might ring and ring
and no one would ever come.

-Umm?
-There's be nobody there.

I'm not as bad as you think.
Don't get the police.

You're but a thief, Judanaiad.

When I saw Mrs. Bridges
do it, I thought anyone could.

Then you were wrong to think
you were as good as her.

No, I didn't think of it
that way, please.

Oh, oh, please is it, now?

We have changed
our tone, haven't we?

Look, I'm never do
anything like it again.

I've given the money
to Mrs. Bridges.

But, what good will it do
to have me pinched?

Thought we was
all on the same side.

Poor girl, one could
pity her, I suppose.

She's a moral imbecile.

What have I
done to you!

You pretend to be
something you are not.

You make yourself
out to be better than us.

Not better,
just more interesting.

Well, it does no one any harm;
it's only a bit of fun.

How can lies be fun?

They're not lies,
they're make believe.

You are what you are.

There's no escape
not for you or me.

There must be some escape!

Oh, to be an underhouse
parlormaid is not so terrible.

I think it'd be wonderful.

In a minute I'll remember
you're here, Emily,

and send you to bed.

But, I..I ought
to be here, Mrs. Bridges.

As a lesson to me.

What in?

Pride goin' before a fall.

Murder will out.

Oh, a stitch in time
saves nine.

Anything you like,
eh, believe it,

but please don't send
-me to bed.
-Bed!

Please!

Nuttin' exciting ever happens.

Why can't I stay and
watch the police take her out?

Because the police
aren't coming, Emily.

Not if Sarah chooses
to confess her faults.

You are a common, ignorant,
worthless girl, Sarah.

-Can you deny it?
-No.

-And a liar and a thief.
-Yes.

You are an ordinary person, Sarah.
Like the rest of us.

Yes.

And you told lies to
Lady Marjorie.

You lied your way in,
where you had no right.

Yes.

And you've no French
blood in you.

Let alone, noble blood.

No.

And you are lucky to have
found this home with us.

Yes.

Very well.

The police need
not be called.

Thank you.

Ah, but upstairs
must be informed.

Oh, no.

With a recommendation
for mercy.

Oh, coming from you, Rose,
I'm sure it?ll be accepted.

Don't tell Lady Marjorie;
I'd be so ashamed.

Oh, she's not all bad, you see,
she's capable of remorse.

Look, take this bible, Sarah,
and read this page.

You will find written there
the ten commandments.

Now, take note of the
sixth commandment:

Thou shall not steal.

Now, repeat it to yourself.

Make her write it out,
like at school.

Not a bad idea, Mrs. Bridges.
Rose, fetch the pen and paper.

She will write it out
a dozen times in her best hand

just to suit you, Mrs. Bridges.

Oh, thank you, Rose.

There, now.

Take the pen,

and write for Mrs. Bridges.

Thou shalt not steal.

I can't, Mr. Hudson, I can't.

Go on, girl, write.

Mrs. Bridges is waiting
for proof of you reformation.

No, please.

And why not?

I just...

I can't write!

I don't know how.

You can't write?

Not even can I read.

Mr. Hudson.

Didn't they send
you to school?

I was needed at home.

Didn't your mother
learn you.

I never had no mother.

I was with someone else's
mother, from the age of five.

They went to school;
I stayed home.

She's very upset.

I think, perhaps, Mr. Hudson...

I dare say you're right,
Mrs. Bridges.

What?

I dare say there's no necessity
to tell them upstairs about this

unfortunate incident.

A missing chicken,
a dog, a cat, who's to say?

These things will happen,
even in the best regulated household.

Thank you.

Now, you go to bed, my girl.

Yes, sir.

Go on, I'll do that, girl.

Oh, Rose, I'll turn
down the lamps.

Just you tidy up a bit,
will you?

[Gasp]

Did I startle you?

No.

It's just I wasn't
expecting no one.

They've gone
to bed.

Who?

The master and
Lady Marjorie.

Oh.

-Don't you go up there.
-Huh?

Bit of trouble downstairs.

Raised voices, and heard
Mr. Hudson's mostly.

Oh, that's, uh...

No, Mr. Sullivan, we were having an
argy-bargy down there, all of us.

It won't come to tarny,
might say.

I'll tell you
somethinng, Sarah.

They're not a bit ritz.
The whole lot of 'em.

Write out the sixth commandment
Thou shall not steal.

How do you know that?
You wasn't there?

I know everything that
goes on in this house.

You were listening
at the keyhole.

Slap!
[Sarah screams]

There's badness and sin
in all of us.

Filth and degradation.

Let go of my arm and fist.

Beware the lusts of flesh.

Let me go to bed!

Kate would say.

Who's Kate?

Underhouse maid
before you.

Lust not for thy neighbor.

For the wrath of the Lord
shall be visited upon you.

[Sarah escapes upstairs]

[Sarah's room door opens]

[Rose]
It's cold. Go to bed.

All those big empty rooms down there,
and us crammed up here together.

[Rose]
Well?

-Who slept in this bed before me?
-A silly girl called Kate.

-What happened to her?
-She isn't here anymore.

-Why not?
-Curiosity killed the cat.

I expect she just
withered away.

We'll probably find her,
all shriveled up in the corner

like a dead insect.

I know. I'll ask Alfred
what happened to her.

Shall I?

He's a real top.

I'll pop up
there and ask him.

You've got to
be up at five.

I hope you
know your list.

Yes.

But you can't.
You can't read.

Oh, I was
only saying that.

I was making it up.

Then read for me now!

If you're not struck
dead by lightning.

I'm sorry.

I donno' what
comes over me.

A bit difficult for you,
I suppose.

I'll get up with
you in the morning,

and show you
what to do.

Thank you.

Now, go to sleep.

Or you'll be good for
nothing in the morning.

Why are you being
so good to me?

I like the house
to run properly, that's all.

We should help
all our neighbors.

I used to dream of all
kinds of future for myself.

Never thought I'd
end up in service.

It's not so bad.

Safe.

You know where you are,
and what's gonna' happen next.

The outside world
is dangerous.

Nobody seems to ask
us if we're ignorant.

You know, if you
could read and write

you'd not be so frightened.

and then, perhaps,
you'd behave yourself.

There're so many things
I wanna' do and be.

And time passes
so quickly.

You've got to
learn to accept.

But, I was gonna'
be married once.

Huh.

He was killed in the war
in Africa.

They gave him a medal
for being so brave.

Silly bugger.

Why did you go
into service, Rose?

Aw...well...when I was a girl,
on Lady Majorie's family estate,

a carriage used to pass
our cottage door

every Thursday
on it's way to market.

And the lady and gentleman,
wot' rode in the carriage,

well they'd once been like
butler and housekeeper

for a big family house nearby.

My mother put me into
service, so I, too, would

ride in a carriage one day.

[Sigh]

That was quite a
sacrifice for Rose.

Oh, just sometimes, I
do wish that carriage

had taken another
route to market.

You're very clever,
aren't you, Rose?

Umm.

But you've got more...
for fever...

What?

[Man's voice heard outside]

[Shush heard]

[Man's voice again]

[Voice louder]
Listen Rose, what is it?

[Voice shouts]
Oh, it's only Alfred

having one of his bad dreams.

-Does it happen often?
-Quite often.

He's a bit touched, you see.

Oh.

But Mrs. Bridges
looks after him.

Well, we all do, really.

No ritter.

He's one of us.

[Small sounds from Alfred]

He's not...he's not
gonna' murder us

-in our beds, is he?
-No.

I'll take care
of you.

What's the matter?

I don't know.

I'm nervous mostly.

Would you like me
to brush your hair?

Uh, huh?

Well, my mother used to do
it for me when I was little.

It makes you
go to sleep.

All right.