Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1975): Season 1, Episode 13 - For Love of Love - full transcript

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[ Door opens ]

[ Door closes]

Just leave it
for the time being, Nelly.

[ Door closes]

[ Door opens ]

Where's Rose, Hudson?

I gave her permission
to go off early, my lady.

She wanted to visit her aunt,
who lives some distance away.

I see. well, she
should really finish her duties

before she goes off.



Yes, my lady.

Rose has been rather upset
recently, my lady.

We all have.

You were quite right
to let her go.

Coffee, James?

JAMES: No, thank you, Mother.
I had it at the club.

MARJORIE: All right, Hudson.
Thank you.

My lady.

MARJORIE: Hudson?
- Yes, my lady?

You don't think that Rose...
knows where Miss Elizabeth is?

Oh, no, my lady.

If Rose knew such a thing,

I'm sure she wouldn't keep it
to herself.

MARJORIE: Thank you, Hudson.
- My lady.



[Door opens, closes]

Well, if she's not in a hotel
and she's not with friends,

Where can she be?

I imagine
she's with her new friends.

- New friends?
- Do you mean those Socialists?

Well, they call themselves
Fabians.

Oh, what's the difference?

As I see the matter, James,

Fabians are better bred
and less realistic.

There's a little nest of them
at Cambridge

Where they go
on midnight picnics

and patronize Keir Hardie.

Surely Elizabeth
would never be taken in by them.

'Tis awfully good of you,
Henrietta,

to take me in off the street.

Just think what might
have happened to me otherwise.

"One more unfortunate
Weary of breath,

Rashly importunate,
Gone to her death."

"Take her up tenderly,
cherish her do.

You might pawn her watch
for a shilling or two."

I never thought of pawning
my watch. what a good idea.

Henrietta, would you like me
to pawn my watch?

Then I'd be able to pay you
something.

You're earning your keep
doing that.

Which is more than I can say
for Lawrence.

He isn't even earning his tea.

Oh, what nonsense.
Of course I am.

Unlike william Morris,
I believe in pure decoration.

This is the brave new pattern
of life --

that women should work
and men be just beautiful.

The overpowering ugliness
of this room

would quite deafen your spirits
if I were not here.

I do hope that popping these
leaflets through letterboxes

will convince people more
than if we post them.

Most of them
don't want to be convinced.

Oh, dear Henrietta.

You're the only one
with your feet on the ground.

Whatever would we do
without you?

LAWRENCE: we should float up
into the air like thistledown,

higher and higher and higher

with our voices coming back
like rather tinny skylarks

until at last we reach the sun

and then we all flared up
in one glorious conflagration.

It would almost be worth it.

Yes, but it wouldn't do the poor
a scrap of good,

and that's what we're here for.

Yes, of course we are.

Henrietta, as you're
the practical one, do you think

you could see if Mrs. March
has forgotten about our tea?

As usual.

LAWRENCE: I have a yearning
for hot buttered toast

that's almost immoral.

[ Door closes]

I wish I were Henrietta.

She's always so sure
of everything.

Aren't you sure of everything?

I'm not sure of anything.

At least, I'm fairly sure
of things but never of people.

And I'm sure of people
and never of things.

You didn't mean that.

You only said it
because it was a good answer.

You know, I sometimes think
that I don't mean anything.

Come on.

Elizabeth, a visitor for you.

Rose!

Come in.

You know
Mr. Lawrence Kirbridge.

Lawrence, you remember
my dear friend Rose, of course.

Hot foot
from affluent Eaton Place.

I'd have got here sooner,
Miss Elizabeth --

Oh, don't call me that.
It sounds so ridiculous here.

What shall I call you, then?

I don't know.
"Elizabeth," I suppose.

Friends call each other
by their names.

But I'm not your friend. I'm
your parents' house parlourmaid.

- Yes, but not here.
- well, I'm not ashamed of it.

That's what I do.
I'm a house parlourmaid.

LAWRENCE:
Rose believes in the truth.

Eh?

- You believe in the truth.
- Yes, sir.

ELIZABETH: Rose, how ridiculous
you are. As if it matters.

I'll take that upstairs
and unpack it for you.

Let me have a look.

What's this?
A present?

No, I had to stop and buy you
a hairbrush on the way.

Couldn't bring the one
you left on the dressing table.

Rose, you're so clever.

Mm! I'll take it up to my room
and unpack it.

I've got a bedroom in the attic,
Rose, just like yours.

- I'll take it for you.
- I can manage. It's not heavy.

-...lay all the things out.
- For Heaven's sake.

Will you sit down?!

LAWRENCE:
[Clears throat]

- May I take your hat and coat?
- No, thank you.

Well, uh, sit down, anyway.

Thank you, sir.

Tea will be here directly.

Excuse me, sir?
- Yes?

This place -- Is it a lodging?

Yes, it is.

Miss Henrietta Winchmore,
the young lady who let you in,

lodges here, and Miss Elizabeth
is sharing with her.

- On.
- And l...

am staying with friends
in St. John's wood.

But when they get too dull
to bear for another minute,

-then I come 'round here.
- Oh, I see.

- You're quite wrong, you know.
- wrong?

Yeah.

Miss Elizabeth really does think
of you as her friend.

Yes, I know.

Rose, I put my washing
in the case.

Could you get it done for me
and bring it back next week?

ROSE: No. I'd have to get it
past Mr. Hudson.

- I'd never manage that.
Rose, you can manage anything.

I'd do it myself,
but I've got so much work to do.

ROSE:
What about my work?

ELIZABETH:
Oh, but this is real work.

So is mine.
Feels real enough, anyhow.

And Mr. Hudson notices
when I don't get it done,

and so does her ladyship.

ELIZABETH: It may be real work,
but it's not for real people.

Miss Elizabeth,
whatever do you mean by that?

My parents aren't real people.

Parents never are.

They're all sorts
of other things.

They're stupid and innocent

and inquisitive and frightfully
faithful, but they're not real.

You should never think
of parents as real people.

Only worries them
and confuses them.

Exactly.

Well, I'll see what I can do.

But it won't be easy.

What are you doing there,
anyhow?

We're changing the world.

Oh, I'm not sure
I want it changed.

Oh, yes you do, Rose.
Really, you do.

You want to change the law which
says being poor is a crime.

The most important thing to do

will be to create
a truly noble relationship

between the people and the state

so that the people
work devotedly and honourably

for the state
and the state in turn

loves and cares for the people,

just as we love and care
for each other.

[ Chuckles ]

Oh, hot buttered toast
and Dundee cake!

Marvelous.

Take off your hat, Rose,
and sit down.

Well, I could fancy
a cup of tea.

I don't understand
how she can be so cruel.

Not even to send a word
or a message.

Doesn't she know how we feel?

RICHARD:
No, I don't think she does.

Nowadays, children seem to think

their parents
don't feel anything.

You know, we should have been
firmer with her.

Marjorie,
Elizabeth is over 21.

MARJORIE: Oh, yes,
if she wants to go away,

frighten us all to death,
and cause so much unhappiness,

she has a perfect right.

My dear.

My dear.

It's my fault, you know.

It must be my fault
that she can treat us like this.

- It must be.
- No, no.

Well, I better go
and change for dinner.

I'm off, Mother.
Have you heard anything from --

No, James,
we haven't heard anything.

RICHARD: Aren't you dining
in the mess, James?

No, not tonight.
I'm going to the music hall

and having supper
with a friend afterwards.

MARJORIE: well, I hope you
and your friend enjoy the show.

RICHARD:
Who are you going to see?

That new sensation in
the vaudeville, Sarah Delice.

[Upbeat music plays]

♫ Oh, what are we gonna do
with Uncle Arthur? ♫

♫ A blinking stallion,
is Uncle Arthur ♫

♫ And when he goes a-strollin'
"m the park ♫

♫ watch your step, girls ♫

♫ Especially after dark ♫

♫ Any old skirt's a flirt
for Uncle Arthur ♫

♫ He's over 80 ♫

♫ But how he can run ♫

♫ “Gwe us a kiss, me dear"
he'd say ♫

♫ And tickle you
up the bum-dee-ay ♫

♫ And say it was
just an harmless bit ♫

♫ A nice bruise on you
where you sit ♫

♫ Ay "Let me go, Uncle Arthur"
kind of fun ♫

[ whistling, laughter]

♫ what are we going to do
with Uncle Arthur? ♫

♫ Have him doctored? ♫

-[ whistling, shouting]
- ♫ Like a tomcat? ♫

No!

♫ You'd have thought by now
he'd had his fill ♫

♫ But me aunt can't bloody well
keep him still ♫

♫ Saturday night'll find him
at the boozer ♫

[Hiccups]
♫ Havin' a quick one ♫

♫ Then off he will pop ♫

♫ Straighten his hat
and up the street ♫

♫ An 80-year-old
who's indiscreet ♫

♫ Dirty old man who can loit-a ♫

♫ Uncle Arthur
is not the sort-a ♫

♫ But it's bloody well time
for him to stop ♫

Hold onto your ha'penny, girls!
He's behind ya!

[Cheers and applause]

Hello, Sarah.

Hello, stranger.

I, uh, came to ask you
to have supper with me.

How about that for applause, eh?

[Cheers and applause continue]

They're going mad.

They always do Saturday nights.

Mind you,

I was to go out there and recite
the Lord's Prayer in Dutch,

they'd still yell
their bloody heads off.

Of course they would.

It's you they love,
not the song.

[ Laughter, whistling]

Do you mind how I shut out
the noise

of the bellowing proletariat?

Sick of slumming already,
Mr. James?

James.

I promised you the money
for that fine.

Here.

Forget it.

Thanks all the same,

but it was only a week's salary
from this place.

I insist.

It was my fault
for not being bright enough

to see through
that two-faced Swede

and his light-fingered valet.

He had a way with him.

Rot him.

Damn nearly put you in Holloway.

Oh, well.
We live and learn.

How's things
in dear, old Eaton Place?

If your mother could see us
together now, she'd drop dead.

JAMES:
Oh, I don't see why.

You're not a maid anymore.

You're the toast of Camden Town.

I was a skivvy
in your mother's house.

Was.

Shut your eyes, love.
I'm gonna strip.

Strip away, Sarah.

SARAH:
You peeped last time, remember?

Up in Lady Marjorie's boudoir

that night I got drunk
and tried on a dress.

I'm a little older now, Sarah.

And wiser.
I'm a captain.

SARAH:
If you were really wise,

you wouldn't be taking me out
to supper.

Then I don't believe in wisdom.

SARAH:
Don't you?

Not when -- when...

When what?

When you're standing here...

...with so little on underneath.

Nothing on underneath. ..Captain.

[Clock ticking]

[Rustling in distance]

- who is it?!
- Aah!

Rose!
- Mr. Hudson!

I never thought you'd be --
I thought you'd be --

I decided that I didn't
want to waste a good fire.

No.

Well, good night, then,
Mr. Hudson.

Rose?

Yes, Mr. Hudson?

You're a wee thing late.

ROSE:
Yes. Yes, I am.

I missed the last tram back, and
I had to walk all the way home.

I see.

Isn't that a valise
you've got there?

Uh, yes.
Y-Yes, it is.

It is Miss Elizabeth's, I think?

Yes, it is.

I got it mended.

Don't lie to me, girl!

You know where she is.

Come down here.

In there.

[Door hinges creak]

Oh, Rose, Rose.

I would never have thought it
of you.

You know how upset
her ladyship has been.

I don't approve of gossip,

but I can tell you I have found
her ladyship in tears

almost every day
since Miss Elizabeth went away.

And now you knew where she was
and you kept it from her.

Well, they made Miss Elizabeth
unhappy, too.

That is no concern of yours.

It is my concern.
She's my friend.

Your friend?
[Scoffs lightly]

If Miss Elizabeth has taught you
to forget your place,

then she is no friend of yours.

Now, you will tell me
where she is, my girl.

- I won't.
- Rose, you will do as I bid,

or tomorrow
I'll tell the master,

and he'll soon get it
out of you.

I won't tell him,
not if he tears me to pieces!

Sit down, Rose.

Oh...

Sit down.

What is this house, Rose?

165 Eaton Place.

And what part of the house
are we sitting in?

Servants' hall.

That is right.
The servants' hall.

You and I, Rose,
We're employed here.

What the family does
is their business.

We're here to do our work and
mind our business, not theirs.

Miss Elizabeth
asked me to help her.

She shouldn't have done that.
It wasn't fair to you.

Oh, I didn't mind.

Well, you should, because it is
your good name that you'll lose,

and no one's got the right
to ask that of you.

Don't see that.

HUDSON:
Don't you?

Well I'll have to tell
the master tomorrow

that you have known all along
where Miss Elizabeth is,

and, although you realized
how upset her ladyship was,

you didn't say a thing.

And he will tell her ladyship.

And then they will both know

that after all these years
you've been with them,

they can't trust you.

They'll be very sorry
to know that, Rose.

I know I am.

[Voice breaking]
Oh, Mr. Hudson...

what am I gonna do?

[ Cries ]

[ Laughter]

[ Laughter]

Oh, ho, I'm exhausted.

Why must every house have three
steps up to its front door?

Why can't people live
in little sensible houses

just big enough for their needs?

None of these
great pillars and porticoes.

Oh, I don't know. I'm rather
fond of pillars and porticoes.

Through pillars and porticoes
long may we roam.

To you, it's a palace.
To me, it's just home.

All right, but every palace

must have at least
three families living in it

and they can share the cooking
and the cleaning

and then they can read poetry
to each other all day long.

Henrietta will be back soon

if she hasn't fallen off
her bicycle again.

You'll stay to supper,
won't you?

Oh, no. No, I can't.
I-I'm going to the opera.

Oh.

You shouldn't sit
in the firelight.

Shouldn't I?

I don't know. There's something
about a woman and firelight.

Makes one think
of one's childhood --

nanny and mother and all
those -- those familiar things.

Makes one feel so safe

when really it's the most
dangerous thing in the world.

Oh, I must go.

Here, look at that
when I've gone.

What is it?

-[ Door opens]
- It's your poem!

In the morning post.

Have you been carrying this
around all day?

I'm sorry I sent it now.

ELIZABETH:
But it's wonderful.

Do you really think so?

The editor insisted
on cutting a couple of verses.

He said they were an attack
on religion and man.

- were they?
- well, yes, of course.

I just didn't think he
was clever enough to realize it.

Lawrence.

I think I'm falling in love
with you.

Would that be
a terrible mistake?

Terrible mistake for you.

But wonderful for me.

[ Door closes]

[Sighs]

[Knock on door]

And Miss Elizabeth is actually
sleeping there, is she?

In them lodgings?

Well, yes, Mr. Pearce.

At least, she's staying there
with Miss Winchmore.

That's her young woman friend,
and...

And what?

And other people visit them.

At nighttime, eh?

Is one of them Miss Elizabeth's
gentleman friend?

You mind your own business,
Nelly.

This is a private conversation
between Mr. Pearce and myself.

See,
this Mr. Lawrence Kirbridge,

he's a poet.

He's a poet,
and he don't know it, eh?

[ Laughter]

Here, I heard about poets.

He speaks beautifully,

and he's one of the finest
gentlemen I've ever met.

And I'm sure Miss Lizzie
couldn't do better.

I'm sure she couldn't.

Then why don't she come home?

I must be free
to live my own life.

I can't be bound by rules and
shibboleths I don't believe in.

RICHARD: And this freedom, does
it include freedom from money?

Oh, now, that,
if you'll forgive me --

I'll forgive you anything,
Elizabeth,

except
making your mother unhappy.

I beg your pardon.
I interrupted you.

Yes.

I don't want to quarrel.
That's why I came away.

RICHARD: You've made
your protest. I understand.

- Now you can come home.
- Look, it wouldn't work.

I can't live
the way you and mother do,

Worrying about what you eat and
what you wear and what you say.

It would be like taking part
in a perpetual charade.

Well, charades
are all right at Christmas

when you all say and do
things you don't mean anyway.

If you like,
I'll come home at Christmas,

and I'll play
the charade beautifully

for three or four days --
a whole week.

But don't ask me to spend
my whole life playing a Charade.

RICHARD:
ls religion part of the charade?

Yes, it is. I think so,
and so does Lawrence.

Lawrence?

ELIZABETH:
Lawrence Kirbridge, the poet.

He's another friend of mine.

Oh, yes. He's that
rather precious young man

who writes poems
against religion and marriage.

He writes poems
for a lot of things, too,

but you wouldn't notice that.

He writes about truth and beauty

and about honesty
and about being young

and knowing
that the world belongs to you.

Elizabeth,
you won't always be young.

All the more reason not
to betray youth while I have it.

This beastly bicycle.
Look what it done to my skirt.

I shall have to give it
to the cat-meat man.

Never mind.
I got rid of them all.

Henrietta, my father.

How do you do, Mr. Bellamy?
Did you finish your deliveries?

Why, you haven't done
half of them.

Yes, we have.
We've done thousands.

HENRIETTA: Trouble with you and
Lawrence is you talk too much

-instead of working.
- No, we don't.

Well, I'd better go and get
supper. Mrs. March is drunk.

Oh, not again.

Who is Mrs. March?

HENRIETTA: My landlady.
She does hit the bottle a bit.

Never mind. I found
some sausages in the meat safe.

I think I'll cook them.

Oh, are you staying to supper,
Mr. Bellamy?

Uh...

No, thank you.
I have to get to the House.

There's an important division
tonight.

Oh, yes.

- You're a Tory, aren't you?
- Mm.

What action are you
going to take on that bill?

Which bill?

Winston Churchill's
Labor Exchange Bill.

I'm not sure.

You're not?
I thought you'd vote against it.

It's a good bill.
I shall probably abstain.

And if there's a whip on?

Well, then I shall consult --

Oh, your leader, I suppose.

I was about to say
my conscience.

Oh.

Maybe you're not quite as bad
as you seem.

Funny. I was thinking exactly
the same thing about you.

[Cheers and applause]

[Upbeat music plays]

MAN: Bravo!

Hello.

Wheel

I thought
you wasn't coming tonight.

I'm here.

SARAH: You said
you was on duty at the barracks.

I was, but I managed to get out
of it to be with you, my love.

I thought we'd go somewhere
different tonight.

I've heard of an awfully jolly
little tavern down in Chiswick.

Where no one will recognize you
as the son of

Mr. Richard Pemberton Bellamy,
M.P.

Oh, that's not the point, Sarah.

Oh, isn't it? All right.
Then let's go to the Ritz.

You can take me to supper at the Ritz

and show me off to all your
mother and father's friends.

"Ooh, dear, dear.

Isn't that Marjorie Bellamy's
boy over there

with his new lady friend,
what's on the stage?

Tsk, tsk! Dear, dear, what
a little trollop she looks --

all them feathers and jewels.

I do hear as how she
was the under-house parlourmaid."

Oh, shut up!

- You go on and on about that.
-[ Door closes]

I'll take you to the Ritz
if that's where you want to go.

I don't care
what the parents say.

- I don't care what anybody says.
- well, I do!

I care.

Now, listen.

I don't want you to take me
to the Ritz

or any other posh place.

Not yet, anyway.

Not till you're sure
how you feel about me.

I mean,
we've got to give it time.

We've only been together again
a little while.

I love you, Sarah.

Shh.

But I want you to promise me
something.

Anything within reason.

- A necklace, perhaps?
- Oh, shut up.

I don't want
no expensive presents from you.

All I want you to promise me

is that you'll go easy
on that stuff.

I mean,
you're a good-looking boy.

Too many bottles of this,

and you're gonna go
all bloated and depraved.

And I wouldn't want my brave
captain to go all depraved.

Argh!

Now, then, Captain,
if you'll kindly undo me,

I'll get changed,
we'll whistle up a hansom,

and drive back to my place...

for a cup of cocoa, eh?

[ Both laugh ]

"And when you talk
of tenderness,

I tell you I have none to spare.

I did not even know I loved you

Till I saw bluebells
in your hair."

"I did not even know
I loved you

Till I saw bluebells
in your hair."

- well, it doesn't scan, does it?
- No, it doesn't.

It'd be better to say,

"I did not know I loved you

Till I saw bluebells
in your hair."

Why say it at all?

Doesn't make sense
unless she's got blue hair.

Well, at least
he gets them published.

I suppose that's something.

H-He's making quite a name
for himself.

- A name?
- Yes.

A lot of people think
he's very gifted.

Mr. Asquith was talking
about him only yesterday.

His uncle is J.G. Kirbridge, the
Tory member for Bristol North.

Oh, I suppose we could...
ask him to lunch.

Funny to think of Miss Elizabeth
coming to lunch as a guest, innit?

- Shh!

MARJORIE: Your father is dead,
I believe, Mr. Kirbridge?

LAWRENCE:
Yes, three years ago.

MARJORIE:
Does your mother live in London?

LAWRENCE: No, no. She lives
in Tunbridge wells, actually.

MARJORIE:
Very pretty there, isn't it?

LAWRENCE Yes.

MARJORIE: I hear your uncle
is J.G. Kirbridge.

Oh, Mother, what does it matter
who his uncle was?

Oh, I don't know. I'm rather
interested in my relatives.

Another of my uncles used to say

we were descended
from Alfred the Great.

Of course, he was commonly known
as Mad George.

Was he really mad?

Well, he was eccentric, rather.

- Mad nor'-nor'-west.
- Yes, exactly.

He was a missionary, actually,
in the South Seas.

He even had an island
named after him.

And then he died,
and the natives ate him.

Really?
- well, I imagine so.

I mean, they always eat you
in the South Seas, don't they?

Don't they?

Not invariably.

LAWRENCE: Oh!
Oh, I thought they did.

Oh.

Actually, I, um...
[Clears throat]

- I approve of cannibalism.
- Mr. Kirbridge.

Oh, call me Lawrence.
Everyone does.

No, when you think about it,
it's rather a delightful idea.

-"Delightful"?
- Yes.

Just imagine, Lady Marjorie,

there's someone
that you admire tremendously.

Now, in the normal
course of events,

they die and you've lost them.

But according
to the South Sea Islanders

and the Maories of New Zealand,
I believe,

if you eat them, all their
collagens become yours.

It's rather a novel
sort of life after death.

It's quite religious, actually.

Well, I do understand the idea,

but I'm not sure
I altogether take to it.

- More coffee, Mr. Kirbridge?
LAWRENCE: Oh, thank you.

Have you ever thought
of emulating your uncle

and going into politics,
Mr. Kirbridge?

- No, he hasn't.

- Oh, I wouldn't say that.

Thank you, Rose.

No, it's just that
I don't really see myself

as a politician.

See, a politician
has to hold the same opinion

for years and years and years
on end.

MARJORIE: Thank you, Hudson.
- I change my opinion every week.

Every intelligent man does.

They like him, Mr. Hudson.
You can tell they do.

He has a very easy,
pleasant way with him.

Don't you like him, Mr. Hudson?

It is not my place
to like him or dislike him.

- No, but --
- Nor yours, either, Rose.

No, Mr. Hudson.

He's not quite what we're used
to, but, uh, he could be worse.

But not when it's
a matter of principle, surely?

Yes, but what exactly
is a matter of principle,

and how does it differ
from any other opinion?

Well there are certain
basic rules of life.

Yes, but my basic rule of life
is to enjoy it

and that everyone else
should do the same thing.

Only it must be everyone.

I don't just mean
one's friends and relatives.

I mean the coal man,
the factory worker, the miner,

little chap who works in a shop
selling ties.

They've all got one life.

They have the right to enjoy it,
just as I enjoy mine.

Now, this is the principle
upon which I live.

And if we all lived
on the same principle, well --

well, there'd be no further use
for politicians.

Nevertheless,
with that flow of oratory,

I think you'd make
a very good one.

But we don't believe in politics
as they exist today,

any more than we believe
in religion or marriage.

[ Door opens ]

Ah, James.

I was expecting you to lunch.

Oh, sorry I'm late, Mother.
I got held up.

This is Mr. Lawrence Kirbridge.

- My son James.
- How do you do?

Yes, I, uh, believe you were at
school with a friend of mine --

- Bunny Hamilton.
- Bunny! Oh, yes.

Yes, we were great rivals
for athletic glory.

We used to run 'round and 'round
and 'round a little muddy track

trying to see which one of us
would go faster.

What a pointless proceeding.

I think
it's always good to excel.

LAWRENCE:
How is old Bunny?

Well, he's taken up polo now.

So the ponies
have to run instead.

You must come and watch us play
sometime.

Yes, yes, I'd like to do that
very much, thank you.

Well, uh, we must go.

Oh, darling, you don't
have to go yet, surely?

Yes, we really must.

I promised Henrietta
I'd do some statistics

-about aged destitution.
- well, goodbye, Lady Marjorie.

Thank you. Thank you very much
for a most delightful lunch.

Been a great pleasure.
You must come again.

Thank you.
I'd like that.

- Goodbye.
- Goodbye.

Give my regards to old Bunny
when you see him, won't you?

We're giving a lunch
at the Carlton Club next week,

at which a number of literary
people will be present.

I wonder if you'd care
to come as my guest?

Oh, well, thank you, sir.
Yes, I'd like that very much.

Oh, you'll know
Where to find him.

Henrietta's gone down
into wales,

so Lawrence is coming to share
the lodgings with me.

Bye.

Come along.

LAWRENCE:
Why not?!

If it makes your parents happy
and my mother happy, why not?

Because
it's against our principles.

Oh, well, if we're doing it

because we're afraid of
the conventions, then I agree.

But what harm will it do us
to say a few meaningless words

in a rather ugly pseudo-Gothic
barn then just forget about it?

ELIZABETH:
A great deal of harm.

To us and to the things
we believe in.

But how can it change us
if we don't believe in it?!

Look, it isn't
just getting married.

It's joining
their fat, comfortable world.

It'll make us
fat and comfortable, too.

Oh.

Oh, don't ask me to do it.

Please don't ask me.

I don't see
how else you can see it, Rose,

if they're both living
under the same roof.

No, I suppose we must draw
the worst conclusions.

HUDSON: I would never
have believed it of him.

A presentable young gentleman
like that --

nicely spoken, well-connected.

I think it's Miss Elizabeth.

She told me
she don't believe in marriage.

Then she's a disgrace
to her family.

You're ruining your
father's career, you know that!

Oh, what rubbish.
How could it possibly?

MARJORIE: A politician
must be absolutely reliable.

Even a breath of scandal
can be disastrous.

When people consider your father
for committee work

or to sit
on some special commission,

they think, "That's the man
whose daughter's living...

who's living

Living in sin!

Oh, can't you see
there's no such thing as sin?

There's only cruelty
and stupidity!

Lawrence and I love each other.

So we're doing
what is perfectly natural

when you love each other.

We're spending all the time
we can in each other's company.

We haven't been to bed together.

Yet.

But when we want to

and when we feel it's the right
and natural thing to do,

then we shall do it.

- Can't you understand?!
- Yes, I understand!

I understand that
you're making us all miserable

for a stupid,
childish, arrogant whim!

Oh, God!

[ Door opens ]

[ Door slams ]

[Sighs]

[Knock on door]

Rose!

Come in.

Have you come to supper?

No, I can't stop,
Miss Elizabeth.

Her ladyship and the master
have gone out to supper,

and Mr. Hudson said
I could come out for an hour

-but only an hour.
- Oh, I'm glad.

Come and sit down.

Mr. Lawrence not here?

No. He's, uh, staying
with his mother for a week.

Oh.
Trying to explain, I suppose.

Trying to explain what?

Why you and him
aren't getting married.

Oh, Rose, how could you?

I thought
you'd understand at least.

Well, I don't understand,
Miss Elizabeth,

and neither do
the other servants.

Oh, what do they matter?

They matter to me.
And you matter to them.

Yes, I'm sorry.
I didn't mean that.

But it's because of them.

I mean, all that
We're trying to do, Rose.

Do you mean
your not getting married

will be better for the poor?

Well, y-yes.

Look, it's all part
of the same thing --

being free from the old
stupid ways of thinking,

being free
to care about everyone

instead of being tied up
in marriage and religion

-and society.
- I see.

Now, let's make sure
I've got this right.

- You want to help people?
- Yeah.

You want to do good for people,
all sorts of people everywhere.

Yes, I do.
Very much.

But you don't want to help
the two people nearest to you.

- well, if you mean my parents --
- Yes, I do!

Rose, they're dead,
or at least they're dying.

They're part of a dying world.

If I tied myself to them
and did what they wanted,

then I should die, too.

Oh, I see.

So, when someones dying, you're
supposed to leave them alone.

I didn't know that.

ELIZABETH:
Oh, Rose.

When my mother was dying, they
sent for me up at the big house.

I sat by her bed and held her
hand all night until she died.

I didn't know
I wasn't supposed to do that,

but then I'm just
a stupid ignorant girl

what doesn't know any better.

Only if I am,
her ladyship must be, also,

'cause she sat beside me
and held my hand.

And in the morning, when my
mother died and I was crying...

...she cried, too.

[Voice breaking]
Oh, it's not fair.

Not fair!

Oh, Mother, look.
Isn't that frightful?

Perfectly ghastly.
It's from Maude, of course.

[ Both laugh ]

Oh.

Aunt Kate.

- Did you know?
- No, but it looks like her.

Ah.

Why is everyone so kind
when one's getting married?

Oh, I think they remember
their own love.

Happiness suddenly becomes
very vulnerable.

They want to cherish it.

Set them all out on the table.

That's right.
That's right.

Oh, Rose, where's the cover
for the big meat dish?

It's not in the pantry cupboard,
Mr. Hudson,

but we haven't used it, oh, not
since Mr. James' coming of age.

Maybe it's been put away in the
silver chest. I'll have a look.

Get a good shine
on those salvers, Edward.

- I'll do my best, Mr. Hudson.
- Now, Nelly,

get out all the glassware
you can find.

There are going to be over 200
guests at the reception.

But we ain't got
200 best plates, nor nothing.

The caterers will supplement
what we cannot provide, Rose.

Look sharp now, Nelly.

Mr. Hudson,
will I be going to the church?

Provided you dress respectably,
put on a proper hat,

and see that your hands and face
are clean.

All the servants
will be going to the church.

There'll be a private omnibus

Waiting for us
directly after the ceremony.

And I don't want
any of you loitering about

to see the bride leaving, or
the guests will be arriving back

for the reception before we do.

Nelly...

...you mind
Where you go in church.

You fetch up too near the altar,
you might get married to me!

[ Laughs ]
Oh, Edward, you're a card!

HUDSON: Edward!
Get on with your work!

Marriage
is a very serious business.

Pbht!

Wonder if this is my book
or Henrietta's.

I think I'll keep it.

If she wants it,
she can ask me for it.

And if she doesn't want it,
I may as well keep it.

Oh, I wish I could stay here
till the wedding.

How absurd
that we should have to conform

to their tribal customs.

How ridiculous that we should
have to wait to make love

until society gives us
its approval.

Lawrence?
- Hmm?

I'm sorry about Evelyn Larkin.

Oh, she's all right.
She always is.

No, I mean making love.

I'm sorry it's not going to be
the first time for both of us.

Well, you don't have to worry
about me and Evelyn.

Wasn't a great success.

Perhaps it's just as well,
really.

If it had been, she might not
have let me go quite so easily.

She rather cares
for that sort of thing.

Don't you?

Oh, of course.

I'm sure I shall.

Well, we shall see, won't we?

Yes, we shall see.

Did you clean your shoes
this morning, Edward?

Yes, Mr. Hudson.

Well, give them another rub
while I go upstairs.

Rose, assemble the staff.

Yes, Mr. Hudson.

And blow your nose, Nelly.

I don't need to.

Blow it just the same.

[ Blows ]

With our very best wishes,
Miss Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH: Thank you.
Thank you very much.

Can I open it now?

Allow me, miss.

-[ Snickers ]
- Nelly!

Oh, it's beautiful.

Thank you.
Thank you so much.

Oh. Dear Rose.

[ Chuckles ]

Oh, dear.

[ Laughs ]

Thank you.

[ Laughter]

[Clock chiming]

[Laughter continues]

[Organ plays]

[ Indistinct conversations]

Elizabeth's nearly ready.

RICHARD:
Shouldn't you be leaving?

Yes, I'm going now.

- Is she all right?
- Hmm?

Well, why shouldn't she be?

You look beautiful.

No, I don't,
but I've done my best.

- Can't do more, can one?
- No.

Now, the servants
are just leaving.

If Elizabeth isn't down in
10 minutes, shout up the stairs.

Yes, yes.
I'll do that.

Oh, James.
Are we ready?

Everything is in order, Mother.

- Hey.
- Hmm?

Ah, splendid.

Ready, Mother?

Oh, take the covers off
in an hour's time,

and, uh, you can offer
the caterers a cup of tea

but no strong liquor, mind.

Where's Nelly?

How do I look, Mr. Hudson?

Remarkable, Nelly.
Come along, then, quickly.

Uh, shall I call Rose
if we're going, Mr. Hudson?

No, no.
Rose is attending to the bride.

She'll come on later
and join us at the church.

Follow me.

Nelly.

May I have the pleasure?

Oh, Edward.

If I get hungry in church,

I'm gonna have a nibble
at your cherry. [Laughs]

- Edward!
- No. It's a nice hat, really.

No, I do like it, really.
Come on, quick. Let's go.

[Birds chirping, hoofbeats]

[ Indistinct conversations]

My dear Marjorie.

[indistinct talking]

And Agatha.

Hello.

All right, then, Mother?

- I suppose so.
- Come on, then.

James, you don't think Eli--
- Don't worry.

Father will see her to the post.

I feel like a gladiator

about to be turned thumbs-down
by the Roman matrons.

Don't worry.
They'll let you live.

- You've got the ring.
- You sure?

Hang on, Miss Lizzie, hang on.

It's all caught up.

Now, don't let me go
without the bouquet.

And don't forget what her
ladyship said about holding it.

Not over my stomach
as though I'm concealing a baby

and not in my arms
as though I'm nursing one.

[ Laughing ]
Oh, Miss Elizabeth!

Oh, well, that's how I remember
what not to do.

Yeah, that's all right. Now I'll
put your veil over your head.

Oh, no, no. No, wait until
I finish with the stairs.

Just imagine --
honeymoon in Vienna.

Yes.

Rose?

Yes, Miss Elizabeth?

In case you have any doubts
about it,

I'm still quite pure, you know.

Yes, Miss Elizabeth.

You had doubts, didn't you?

Well, I had quite thought,

what with all that talk
about not believing in marriage,

but I'm very pleased to hear it.

Are you?

- I'm not.
- Miss Elizabeth.

Oh, Rose, if it wasn't for you,
I wouldn't be standing here now.

I done it all for the best,
Miss Elizabeth.

Yes, I know.

Everyone's done everything
for the best,

only...now I'm so frightened.

But you do love him, don't you?

Yes.

But I wish I knew.

What?

Yes.

Yes, I do love him.

I do. I do.

Maybe it's all for the best.

Oh, I'm sure it is,
Miss Elizabeth.

I'm sure it is.

[ Door opens ]

Elizabeth.

[Engine running]

[Organ playing]

- Edward.
- Yes, Mr. Hudson?

Don't sing too loudly
in the hymns.

SARAH: [Talking indistinctly]
- MAN: Shh!

SARAH:
I'm one of the family.

Who on earth is that?

God Almighty!

Who is it?

It's Sarah,
who used to be in service.

- She never.
- Yeah, had your place once.

Blimey.

It looks like --
But it can't be --

Mother, I'll see to it.

It's no use sticking me at
the back. I won't see a thing.

Now, listen, you may not
think it to look at me,

but I'm very short-sighted.

Oh, there's some
of me old friends up there.

The bride will be here
any minute.

Don't worry.
I'll never spoil an entrance.

[Engine shuts off]

- All right?
- Yes, I'm all right.

You know,
marriage is a declaration

of faith in the future.

I'm glad you're making it.

So am I.

[Organ continues]

Oh!!

♫ what are we gonna do
with Uncle Arthur? ♫

♫ Have him doctored? ♫

♫ Like a tomcat? ♫

♫ You'd have thought by now
he'd had his fill ♫

♫ But me aunt can't bloody well
keep him still ♫

♫ Saturday night'll find him
at the boozer ♫

♫ Havin' a quick one ♫

-♫ Then off he will pop ♫
- Sarah!

Oh, I-l beg your pardon,
Miss Delice.

SARAH:
Yes, Hudson?

Edward, Nelly, Pearce,
upstairs to the front hall.

Miss Elizabeth
is leaving shortly.

Come on.
Quickly now.

The other wedding guests are
assembling in the hall, miss.

Well, I'm assembling down here!

I think since you were invited
as a guest, miss...

Oh, I was invited, all right.

JAMES: Sarah!

Down here, Jimmy.

HUDSON: Sir.

Oh, what on earth
are you doing down here?

Reliving old memories.

You know very well you hated
every minute of your time here.

I know.

Poor old Hudson
was a bit confused.

I mean, I don't really belong
anywhere, do I?

Neither upstairs,
nor downstairs.

BOTH:
Nor in my lady's chamber.

You belong to me.

Do I?

Elizabeth is about to go.

I wish we could go away.

Where to?
Vienna?

I'd rather go to Paris.

All right.
Let's go.

What? NOW?!

- why not?
- whee!

What about the regiment?

What about the theatre?

To hell with the theatre.

To hell with the regiment.

Vive la république!

Come on. Let's go and throw
some confetti at my sister.

SARAH: Here, watch it!
You'll rupture yourself!

[ Indistinct conversations]

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