Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1975): Season 2, Episode 11 - The Fruits of Love - full transcript

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What on earth?

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Hudson.
Just wanted the paper.

Well, the master's read it.

And with her ladyship
out on a call,

surely I can be allowed
five minutes, Rose.

It's for Miss Elizabeth,
Mr. Hudson.

Miss Elizabeth?

And what does she want
with The Times newspaper?

She wants to see
the business bit

about stocks and shares
and that.



Absolute nonsense.

Another of her crazies,
I suppose.

What'll it be next?

Football, perhaps.

Chelsea for the Cup?

There is no cause for you
to be impertinent, Rose.

Off you go now.

[ Door opens ]

I've got it.

Oh, good.

"Cafiers lively but unreliable.

Nervous profit taking
eroded their true values.

A bullish sentiment
prevailing in American rails.

Some operators burnt
their fingers in Balkan oil."



- Oh.
- Oh, I'm afraid that's me.

Beware of dabbling
in Balkan oil, Rose.

I'm sure I don't know
what you see in all that.

It sounds like
a foreign language to me.

It is.

Mr. Karekin is teaching it
to me.

Oh?

I thought you said
you didn't like him.

No, I don't exactly like him,

but he has got
a sort of animal magnetism.

And he is being very helpful
about my investments.

Great Aunt Mary left me
a few shares,

and it's most important that
I understand all about the city

so that I can make money
on them.

I'd have thought
you had enough of that already.

Oh, no, Rose.
Not half enough.

Not of my own.

Without money,
I'll stay trapped here

in the fond embrace of my family

until I just fade away
into nothingness.

I've got to escape.

You don't have such a bad life.

But I'm so useless.

I'm so bored.

I have a horrible life.

What about me, then?

You've got a job to do, Rose.

How I envy you.

It's yours any time you like,
Miss Lizzie.

You don't see how lucky you are.

No, I don't.

Your frogged sealskin,
Miss Elizabeth.

I mean, when you've cleaned
and dusted the morning room...

And the drawing room
and the stairs,

changed the linen --

...you can say to yourself
proudly,

"I, Rose Buck, have done
all this by myself".

Gosh, look at the time.
I must rush, or I'll be late.

Mr. Karekin likes punctuality.

From what I've heard of him,
that's not what all he likes.

You mark my words --
He'll want his pound of flesh.

Rose, sometimes
you really are rather a goose.

I will not go.

Margot, please.

You were not asked here
in the first place.

And I thought we had agreed that
it was wiser not to meet again.

I can't do without you.

You've managed to do without
my four or five predecessors.

Oh, what a vile, cruel thing
to say.

After all I've done for you.

Without me, you wouldn't exist.

Socially, I mean.

And without me, you and
your husband would be bankrupt

instead of very comfortably off
indeed.

It was a mutually convenient
arrangement.

And it is now over.

Oh, don't say that, please.

I do say that.

[Doorbell rings]

There's my visitor,
Now please go.

I shall wait for you
in the bedroom.

You will not.

So I've been replaced already.

If you don't go immediately,
I shall telephone your husband.

ELIZABETH: Good day, Loris.
Can I see Mr. Karekin?

LORIS: It will be necessary to
wait a minute.

Oh, that's fine.
Just take my coat.

Thank you.

Dirty little Jew boy.

Mrs. Kirbridge.

JULIUS:
My dear Mrs. Kirbridge.

Who was that?

Oh, another lady seeking advice.

You have a lot of ladies
seeking advice.

Of course.

There's safety in numbers.

And, uh...

...I always try to please.

She didn't look very pleased
to me.

Can you blame her?

Your youthful beauty would make
the moon herself pale with envy.

[ Laughs ]

[ Snorts ]

Oh, I've done the nose trick.

Very ill-mannered to make
a lady laugh

when she's drinking champagne.

My humble apologies.

Well, they haven't done so badly
this week.

East Rand Central
made a nice spurt.

But what about Balkan oil

and our poor Ploiesti
concessions?

I sold on Tuesday.

We can buy them back again
when they hit the bottom.

Unfortunately, the market is
very nervous at the moment.

If only the Conservatives
had won the election.

Oh Father and Mother
were désolé, of course,

but I thought
they did rather well.

After all, the Liberals
only have a tiny majority now.

Oh, that's still dangerous

with that terrible little
Welshman in the cabinet.

I think he's rather funny.

Did you read
what he said about dukes?

"A fully equipped duke

costs as much to keep up
as two dreadnoughts,

and dukes are just as great
a terror, and they last longer."

Mm.

All the same,
Lloyd George and Churchill

are spending more
on unemployment insurance

than they are on rearmaments.

They're pacifists at heart.

But Father says the Tories

have been able to force
the government

to rearm the Turkish navy.

Does he?
Does he, indeed?

Well, that should help
our Ploiesti concessions.

Yes. He didn't say
who had got the contract?

I don't think so.

Could it be Armstrongs?

Armstrongs.
What are they?

You know, I think it's very
fortunate for this country

that people like your father
and your grandfather

have always had such a say
in defence matters.

You seem to have studied
the history of my family.

Oh, I like to know the form
before I place a bet.

Are you betting on me?

I may.

I've always found
the combination

of beauty and high birth
very attractive.

- Snob.
- Of course.

My father was
an Armenian carpet merchant.

Well, I may be
an earl's granddaughter,

but I'm not beautiful.

[Speaks Latin]

Anyway, beauty's only sin deep.

Not original.

I, too, read
the Westminster Gazette.

Do you know, I think my parents
might almost approve of you.

Would you like to meet them?

I would like to meet them,
but they wouldn't approve of me.

How do you know?

Well, because they would think
as you thought

when you first met me,
that I was a dirty, foreign Jew,

my hands soiled
with filthy lucre,

trying to ingratiate myself
with them.

And they would be right,

except for the fact
that I'm not actually a Jew.

And they would immediately
jump to the conclusion

that I had my cunning,
predatory eye on their daughter.

You're being absurd.

Oh, no, I'm not.

They would be right again.

That mouth...

...those gray-green eyes...

...the way your hair
grows off your forehead.

I find them
strangely disturbing.

Rose said you'd want
your pound of flesh.

Rose.

Not without a thorn.

But percipient.

Julius, I have a daughter.

Lots of married ladies
have daughters.

But she's not
my husband's child.

She was a mistake.

[Sighs]

We won't make any mistakes.

Elizabeth.

Morning, Miss Elizabeth.

Morning, Miss Elizabeth.

[Clock chimes]

JULIUS: [Snoring]

"The light of all the love
in the world

seemed to flood the lady's face.

She bent over and kissed him

and smoothed his cheek
with her velvet cheek.

She moved
so that her curly lashes

might touch his bare neck."

- Mm.
- Shh.

"Then a madness
of tender caressing seized her.

She purred,
as a tiger might have done,

while she undulated
like a snake.

She touched him
with her fingertips.

She kissed his throat..."

[ Smooches ]

"...his wrists..."

[ Smooches ]

"...the palms of his hands..."

[ Smooches ]

"...his eyelids, his hair."

[ Smooches ]

Here, here.

ELIZABETH: [Chuckles]

"Strange, subtle kisses,
unlike the kisses of women."

[ Laughs ]

"And often between her purrings
she muttered love words

in some strange, fierce language
of her own."

Carissimo. . . liebchen.

[Speaks foreign language]

[Speaks Armenian]

- what?
- It's an Armenian love word.

Ahh.

[Speaks Armenian]

[ Laughs ]

Where did you get
that trashy nonsense?

From your bookcase.

Presumably left here
by one of your other ladies.

Well, you can hardly deny
there were others.

No, I don't.

But never one like you.

Poof, I wonder
how many times these walls

have heard that old lie.

Never.
I swear it.

Oh, you are a joke
when you're serious.

But I don't blame them,
those other ladies.

You are utterly adorable.

And you are ticklish.

[Laughing] No, don't.
Don't, please.

[ Laughs ]

[Both moaning]

[Sighs]

Won't they begin to wonder?

Who?

Your parents.

Or do you often do this?

-[ Grunts ]
- You Armenian peasant.

Oh, Rose will make it all right.

Rose is a brick.

You really trust Rose.

I think she's the only person
in this whole, wide world

I really do trust.

Here you are, Mr. Hudson.

Oh, thank you, Rose.

Rose, I am informed
by the kitchen

that Miss Elizabeth
hasn't touched her breakfast.

No, Mr. Hudson, she isn't...

isn't feeling very peckish.

Just a little upset.

Apparently Mrs. Kirbridge isn't
feeling quite herself, my lady,

and she's spending the morning
in bed.

Oh. Perhaps she'd better see
the doctor.

Well, I'll go up and see her.

Rose also mentioned
that Mrs. Kirbridge

was having a wee nap
just at the moment, madam.

Well, that's the best cure
there is.

My lady.

- Good morning, sir.
- Morning, Hudson.

- Not going out, are you?
- No. why?

Geoffrey Dillon
wants to see both of us.

Can't think why me.

Something about
your father's will.

He's due at 11:30.

I don't know where that man
of mine hides all my cravats.

Why don't you ask him to come in
and show you?

Now, Elizabeth,
that would hardly be right.

I'm sure he wouldn't mind.
[Laughs]

Really, child,
you have no sense of propriety.

Oh, come back to bed.

Forget the dull old city
for just one day.

You don't seem to understand.

The market has already been open
for over an hour.

I've missed
one important meeting already.

Ah!

And the Caffiars Console's
dividend

is being declared in an hour.

How disastrous.

Think of all those lively
but unreliable Caffiars

running wild all over the floor
of the stock exchange

Without you there
to calm them.

I know.

I will come to the city
with you.

One moment I shall be a bear,
growling and snarling

and pulling down Caffiars
and Consoles and foreign rails

by the million
with my sharp, ruthless claws.

And the next moment
I shall be a bull,

charging in among
all those jobbers and brokers

and stuffy old top hatters,

tossing portfolios of equities
and industrials high in the air

with one flick
of my gilt-edged horn.

Goodbye, Elizabeth.
Loris will look after you.

- Can I come back?
- Of course, my darling.

- Tonight?
- Yes.

Um, not too early.
After 6:00.

Now, under the terms
of your father's will,

Now, under the terms
of your father's will,

of which I am the executor,

the principal beneficiary
is your brother Hugo,

the present Lord Southwold.

Yes, of course.

Your mother has been
amply provided for

and you yourself, in effect,
received your legacy

under the terms
of your marriage settlement.

Mm.

I should explain
that the bulk of the estate,

the land situated in Wiltshire,

the freehold property
in London and Bristol,

the heirlooms, pictures,
furniture, et cetera,

belonging to the family

are entailed on your brother
and his heirs

and are not therefore realizable
for the payment of death duties.

Which, I'm sorry to say,
are considerable

owing to the new, and I am bound
to say, punitive legislation

introduced
by the present chancellor.

Oh, that thief, Lloyd George.

Quite.

In a codicil to his will,

your father laid it upon me
as a trust

that the estate should be handed
over free of all debt

so that, on his succession
to the earldom,

Lord Ashby should be clear
of all financial embarrassment.

We all know Hugo's in debt.

Over £100,000.

What?!

I have to raise a great deal
of money, quickly and in cash.

Now, there are
17 leasehold properties

all clear in Westminster

purchased by your father,
Lady Marjorie, in 1872

and not within the entail.

I shall be forced to put them
on the market immediately.

This house is among them.

I thought
you should be acquainted

with this fact at once.

You mean
you're going to sell this house?

The remaining 60-odd years
of the lease.

But my father meant me to have
this house for my lifetime.

He's often told me so.

You can't sell it.

I'm afraid I can and must.

His assurance to you, though I'm
sure it was sincere at the time,

is not reflected in his will
nor was his intention

incorporated
in your marriage settlement.

I'm sure if we pay Hugo
a proper rent

he'll agree to let us
go on living here.

Yes, I'll talk to him
when he gets back from Canada.

Elusive as your brother
is apt to prove,

I have been able to contact him,

while he was staying
in a town called Calgary

for some cattle show.

He will not be returning
before the summer,

and he has accepted my
suggestions in their entirety.

Then I shall also contact him
immediately.

As you will.

Naturally, you will be offered
first refusal

-on the purchase of the lease.
- For how much?

On the open market,
it should realize some £5600.

£5600!

We shall have to pay for it

out of my wife's
marriage settlement.

Not unless you make application
to break the trust,

which I, as a trustee,
should strongly oppose.

As you very well know, Richard,

the capital is settled
on your two children.

Though, of course,
Lady Marjorie,

you receive the interest
during your lifetime.

What would you advise,
Sir Geoffrey?

In this matter, I am acting on
behalf of the Southwold estate.

It would be most improper,
not to say unethical,

for me to offer advice
of any kind.

I must be on my way.

I am sorry to bring you news

which I realize
can hardly be agreeable,

but I have my duty to do.

Goodbye.

Oh, Hudson, please show
Sir Geoffrey out, would you?

HUDSON:
Yes, sir.

Perhaps you'd care to consider
the matter

and let me know your decision
within, say, two weeks.

- Goodbye, Richard.
RICHARD: Goodbye.

There's no other way.

We'll just have to raise
the money, that's all.

Don't you agree?

I think it best, until we've
given some thought to this,

not to mention it to the
children or the servants.

I'm so happy, Rose.

I'm sorry I've shocked you,

but I've never been so happy,
ever before in my whole life.

I'm tingling all over
with happiness

and I don't feel the tiniest
pang of remorse or guilt or --

Oh, don't go, Rose. You're
the only person I can talk to.

Am I?
What about him, then?

He laughed when I told him
about you saying

he'd want his pound of flesh.

I'm sure he did.

I wonder
why bodies are so important.

He says there can be
no real love

until two bodies are joined
together in perfect union.

Is that what you're gonna tell
your parents?

- Oh, they mustn't know, Rose.
- How do you think --

And none of the other servants.

Not that
they could ever find out.

Oh?

That's what her ladyship
thought,

but we all knew
about her and the captain.

What did you say, Rose?

Nothing.

What did you say?

Nothing.

Tell me.

I've told you my secrets,
Now you tell me yours.

Rose!

[Sighs]

Where's Elizabeth?

She's not down yet.

Apparently she's not feeling
very well.

What? Again?

I hope there's nothing
really wrong with that girl.

Oh, I think it's just --
Well, she's very highly strung.

As though we haven't worry
enough with --

She's been through a lot.

Of course she's been through
a lot, but whose fault was that?

Not ours, surely.

It's no good
bringing all that up.

We've got to go on helping her.

I'm sorry.
I thought we were.

We provide food and lodging
for her and her child,

not to speak of nanny
and a nursery maid.

We pay her husband a reasonable
pension to keep him happy,

and I still pay her allowance.

In spite of the fact
that she's married, 23,

has capital of her own, and I --

Morning, Elizabeth.

- Good morning, Mother.
- Morning, darling.

Good morning, Father.

And how are you feeling,
darling?

- A little better?
- what?

Oh, yes, much better.
Thank you, Mother.

It was just a...

I don't quite know what it was.

- Luncheon is served, my lady.
- Thank you, Hudson.

There we are.
Come along.

Father, I want to ask you
something.

Yeah.

When we help the Turks to build
their lovely new navy,

who do you think is going to get
the contract?

What an extraordinary question?

Well, since you want to know,

I feel fairly sure
it'll go to Armstrongs.

It is Armstrongs!

You're brilliant.

Now, don't take off your coat.
We're going out.

Where?
What for?

Oh, I think
you deserve a present.

A present.
What sort of a present, Julius?

Oh, um, a very special sort
of present.

Tell, please.

Oh, no, no.

Come and see for yourself.

- It's a hat shop.
- Yes.

I've bought it,
as an investment,

together with what I'm assured
are very competent staff.

They're rather dull old hats.

Yes, that's what I thought.

What's it called?

Whatever you like.

Whatever I like?

It's yours, if you want it.

Of course I want it!

I adore hats.

I've always adored hats.

Oh, Julius, I can't believe it!

Paint it any colour you like.
Choose whatever hats you like.

Oh, you are a darling.

I shall make it the smartest,
the chicest,

the Frenchest hat shop
in London.

Is it really a present?

Mm, shall we say a loan?

[ Chuckles ]

A hat shop!

A hat shop!

Darling,
you're quite extraordinary.

Sounds great fun.
What ever gave you the idea?

I happened to meet someone
who offered the job,

-and I do need something to do.
MARJORIE: Yes, but --

I'll be back in time to see
the baby in the evenings,

and I'll have half a day a week
and every weekend.

It's just
that I never thought of...

Your daughter
running a hat shop.

You're out of date, my dear.

It's all the fashion to have
a shop these days.

Where is your shop, darling?

- It's just off Brook Street.
- Brook Street?

En très bon courtier.

Oh.

What's it called?

I haven't really thought.

You haven't thought?

They're letting me rename it,

to give it
a new sort of fresh look.

What do you think
of Madame Lisette?

Well, I really don't know,
darling.

I've never had to name
a hat shop.

What about Paris Modes?

Modes de Paris.

No, no.

It must be "Madame" something.
They always are.

What about Madame Yvonne?

- There's French for you.
Madame...

I know
what made you think of that.

When I first met your father
in Paris,

he had a dreadful
common girlfriend called Yvonne.

She was the daughter
of a minister.

She was still common.
She had dyed hair.

- well, I admit, I did better.
- I should hope so.

Father's
dreadful common girlfriend

shall be immortalized.

Madame Yvonne it is!

Can I help you, madam?

Well, I read about this place
in "The Sketch."

It's all very nice and modern,
I must say, like it said.

And now I want something
really nice from Paris.

Let's try that one.

And I don't mind paying
if it's the right thing.

That's what my husband
always says.

You've got to pay for quality.

Oh, now we could make
a good copy of that one.

I know a buyer
who has some wonderful feathers

really very cheap.

Wouldn't it be easier
just to go to Paris

and buy half a dozen of each?

Oh, no, madame.

I mean, the prices they charge
are ruinous.

Some people go over and just buy
one as a model, to copy.

Is that allowed?

Well, who's to stop it?

I mean, only one in 100 hats
sold in London

is actually made in France.

The important thing is that
the customers think they are.

And can say they are
to their friends.

Of course.

You know, madame, we should be
thinking about Ascot.

Ascot in February?

Look, I've got a customer!

Just watch and listen, madame.

Keep yourself in reserve
for the coup de grace.

[Laughs] If you ask me, I look
a bit like an old hayrick.

Perhaps something
a little more important, madame.

Ah!

Un peu plus important.

Lady Rippon chose one
in this style only this morning.

Oh, well, if Lady Rippon's
got one, I don't want --

Oh, but of course
not in the same material.

- Oh.
- Now, let me see.

Perhaps a bow here and enriched
with some pink feathers.

Oh, that's more like it, eh?

Charming.

It's for our do.

Well, it's a housewarming,
really.

We've just got a big place
in the country,

and I've had
Maples do it throughout,

and all the gentry are coming.

Oh, yes.

That goes nicely with my sables.

Yes, indeed.

There's not many ladies got
nicer sables than these.

My husband,
Sir Albert Spennilove --

you'll have heard of him,
no doubt --

He was knighted
in the last year's honours list.

He don't stint me for nothing.

Madame Yvonne.

Oh.

Lady Spennilove.

Well, what do you think of it,
Madame Yvonne?

Oh, it's perfect
for the big occasion.

I'll take it.

Now, how much?

Five and a half guineas.

Oh.

Well, it's, uh...

It's stylish,
there's no doubt of that.

It's straight from Paris.

Make it pounds for cash,
and I'll wear it.

Very well.

Suzanne, would you wrap
Lady Spennilove's hat?

Oh. Thank you.

Do you know, I'd have taken you
for a lady anywhere.

Well, I suppose I am one,
really.

Well, fancy waiting on
other ladies

when you've got your girls.

I don't tie veils for everyone,
Lady Spennilove.

Only important customers.

I must talk to you, madame,
when you have a moment.

Would you excuse me?

Well, that's all right.
We'll manage.

Suzanne, look after
Lady Spennilove.

That customer
who's just come in --

She's been sued
by every milliner in London.

Owes hundreds.

In my last place, we took her to
court and were granted judgment,

but we never saw a penny
and never will.

So, madame, whatever you do,
don't give her credit.

I think I know her.

Mrs. Descourt.

So sorry to keep you waiting,
madame.

This one's really too hideous,
but I'll take the other four.

If you'll kindly have them
sent 'round to my address.

You do know it, I think.

Oui, madame, but I'm afraid
in this establishment,

we do not allow customers
credit.

And who's in charge
of this establishment?

Madame Yvonne.

I am informed you don't allow
customers credit.

That is correct, madam.

Then very soon
you will have no customers.

I happen to know
who owns this shop.

I think
an exception can be made.

I am in charge, and I'm sorry.
I cannot give you credit, madam.

Madame...

Aren't you the Bellamy girl?

Yes, madam.

Ha.

- Mrs. Descourt.
Madame...

She's stolen that hat.

Her own has seven feathers.

Properly dressed

they're worth far more
than the one she's taken.

She won't get them back
till she's paid the bill,

which is never.

You're very clever,
mademoiselle.

You have to be, madame,
to survive in this business.

[Boiling]

HUDSON: well, I never thought
the day would come in my time

when a member of this family
would go into trade.

ROSE: Oh. It's considered
quite respectable these days,

Mr. Hudson.

Well, in my opinion,
it's yet another manifestation

of the slackness in moral values

that has been spreading over
this country

like a malignant disease
during this present reign.

The scum of the earth,
having possessed themselves

of their ill-gotten gains in
the slaughterhouses of Chicago

and the back streets
of Johannesburg

come to this country and
receive the homage of society.

They even buy their way
into the drawing rooms

of the families
of our ancient aristocracy.

-[ Bell rings]
- Morning room.

Lady Marjorie has a caller.

I'm so sorry to have been the
bearer of such unpleasant news.

Not at all.

It was very good of you
to take the trouble to call.

If I had a daughter myself, I
know how distressed I should be.

The man really
is an absolute outsider.

- Peter and I --
- Quite.

Hudson,
Mrs. Descourt is leaving.

Goodbye, Mrs. Descourt.

Goodbye, Lady Marjorie.

[ Door opens ]

I've been to see Evans
at the bank.

There's not a hope in hell
of raising that money.

I think
it's absolutely monstrous.

Hugo treating you like this,
his own sister.

He probably couldn't help it.

Well, of course
he could help it.

The price of this house means
nothing to him, nothing at all.

He'd happily lose that amount
in one evening playing cards.

He's thoughtless, that's
his trouble. Always has been.

It's no good getting cross
about it.

No.

After all, we're very lucky to
have lived free all these years.

We'll just have to use
some capital.

[Sighs]

Well, we can't touch
your marriage settlement.

I really think Dillon might have
done something about that.

- Are you listening, Marjorie?
- I'm sorry.

And there's not that much
of our own left to play with.

It's been dwindling away
at quite an alarming rate

these last few years.

Well, surely
we could borrow something

other than from the bank?

Only at an extremely high rate
of interest,

which I simply can't afford.

[Sighs]

Marjorie, we must find
somewhere cheaper to live.

Do you really think
that'll be necessary?

Yes, I do.

Where?

[Sighs]

Well, there's some
very nice squares in Paddington.

Oh, no, Richard.
Not north of the park.

Chelsea?

Well, only hooligans and artists
live in Chelsea.

Kensington.

I had a governess
once lived in Kensington.

Oh, dear.
How depressing.

Yes, I'm afraid it is.

Who was your caller?

A woman called Mrs. Descourt.

Oh, of course.
I thought I recognized the face.

I believe she gives
poor Peter Descourt

the hell of a time.

She was hailing a cab.

Quite extraordinary.

She came to tell me
that Elizabeth

is living with a man
called Julius Karekin.

[Sighs]

Do you really think that's true?
She's a dreadful gossip.

But why should she bother to lie
about it?

[ Blows ]

I don't know.

I believe the Descourts

have been running this Karekin
fellow for all their worth.

They haven't got a bean.

Apparently he's
quite beyond the pale,

a foreign commerciant
straight from the gutter.

Better the gutter than suburbia.

It's not a joke, Richard.

I imagine there's been some sort
of bust-up with this woman,

and she's hell-bent on revenge.

If Elizabeth has to misbehave,

why can't she choose someone
of her own class?

I suppose
it's bound to get around.

If you hire the town crier,

you couldn't do better
than Margot Descourt.

ASSISTANT: Oh.
Oh, I'm so sorry, madam.

- I'm afraid we are closed.
- No, it's quite all right.

I've just come to see
my daughter, Mrs. Kirbridge.

Oh.

Oh, I'm ever so sorry.

Thank you.

Elizabeth?

Mother!

Darling.

How lovely to see you.

Oh. I wish you'd come earlier,
let me show you everything.

Elizabeth,
who does this shop belong to?

Why do you want to know that?

Because I do.

Your father and I
have heard a rumour.

Oh, it's that Descourt woman.
I might have guessed.

I don't happen to like or trust
or believe Mrs. Descourt.

- But you listen to her gossip.
- I had no choice.

And nor will the rest of London
in a few days.

This shop belongs
to Mr. Julius Karekin.

And I am his mistress.

Or as Mrs. Descourt might have
put it, his kept woman,

as she was before me.

But I expect
you've guessed all that already.

Because you don't know him

you think he's a common, little,
foreign, upstart businessman,

and dishonest at that.

Because I know him,

I can tell you that he's funny
and intelligent and generous

and as much of a gentleman
as any of your friends and...

and I've never been so happy
in my life.

I knew that you and Father
wouldn't approve of him.

That's why I didn't tell you
about him.

Look, you'd better come inside.

Oh, don't worry, Mother.

You needn't look
over your shoulder.

She's not about to pounce on you
from the shadows.

He's not coming this evening.
He's got a dinner or something.

Don't you see,
he's just a climber?

He's using you.

Of course.

I'm using him.
We're very frank about it.

You could never marry him,
darling.

No. That's a definite asset
in both our eyes.

Don't you see
what damage it'll do?

Oh, you mean to you,
to the family escutcheon.

I should have thought that after
all my previous misdemeanors,

there was hardly a square inch
left for me to blot.

Or is it dent?

Oh, Elizabeth,
please be serious.

It's yourself you're damaging,
your whole future.

You'll become an outcast.

You'll lose all your friends.

Perhaps I shall discover
who my real friends are.

You won't be received
in society.

You won't be able to go
anywhere ever again.

Oh, if you mean set my foot
on the squadron lawn

or strut about
like a bedraggled peahen

in the royal enclosure at Ascot,
I shall be delighted.

- Of course I didn't mean --
- And the thought of spending

endless weekends making polite
conversation with the hunters

and shooters makes me
positively groan with boredom.

But, darling, if you ever wanted
to get married again...

You've just said it, Mother.

I'm unmarriageable.

By an unfortunate accident,
I have a child by another man,

and my husband knows about it.

While we keep his mouth shut
with a comfortable pension,

do you think Lawrence is going
to give me grounds to divorce?

Why should he?

And if I ask him to divorce me,

I would be just as much
a scarlet woman as I am now.

The only hope of getting free

seems to be to go out
and shoot him.

Well, Lawrence's head
would make a nice trophy.

I wonder how many points he had.

Don't be ridiculous.

Oh, don't you see, Mother?

I'm trapped.

Do you want me to sit at home
forever and wither away

till I'm a bitter old maid
like Princess Victoria?

It's all so unfair.

If I were a man,
it wouldn't matter a bit.

Uncle Hugo's
spent his whole life

seducing every woman in sight,

and everyone thinks
he's a hell of a fellow.

I get pilloried
because I go to bed

with a man
that I like very much.

I know, but you should try to
discipline yourself, darling.

Hundreds of women
are in the same position.

They're miserable.

I'm happy.

Anyway, perhaps
they don't feel as I do.

Why doesn't somebody tell girls
about their bodies?

You learn about
that sort of thing naturally

when you're married.

Advice to an English maiden
on her marriage bed,

"Shut your eyes, grit your
teeth, and rule Britannia."

Don't be vulgar.

I didn't learn anything
on my marriage bed.

I know, darling.

Your father and I
know what you've been through,

and of course
we want you to be happy.

But this is just a...

It's a silly infatuation.

You're so much more beautiful
than I am.

- Not --
- And attractive.

Haven't you ever
had an infatuation?

I've never given way
to a mere indulgence.

Was Captain Hammond
not a mere indulgence?

How on earth do you know
about Captain Hammond?

Rose told me.

She didn't mean to.

It was just an accident.
It just slipped out.

And it wasn't just Rose.
All the servants knew.

Oh.
Don't you see?

We're the same sort of people,
really.

I'm not very proud of my
friendship with Charles Hammond.

But I stopped in time.

I realized
what a lot I had to lose.

I have nothing to lose
that I care about.

Your self-respect.

I think I've gained that.

I never let it become a scandal.

I stuck to the rules.

Oh, your rules!

What hypocrisy!

So long as nobody knows
about it, it's all right.

That's just what Charles said.

Did he?

I'd like to have met him.

He's dead.

You were lucky
you had such loyal servants

and such a devoted husband.

Your father doesn't know
about it.

He must never know.

Oh, I won't tell him.

But I bet he did know.

Father's deep.
He doesn't miss much.

But he'd never do anything
to hurt you.

I know.

Elizabeth, do something for me.

I've brought the car with me.

Come home with me.

If you will receive Julius.

Give him a chance.

No, not in any circumstances.
It wouldn't...

It wouldn't do, darling.

You'd best wash your hands
of me, Mother.

You'd be much happier.

Oh, God help us.

It's a great pity
you had to have a disagreement

with your mother.

Oh, we're always disagreeing.
We're like that.

It's no good not being honest,
is it?

Mm, perhaps not, but it's easy
enough to break a bridge,

and it takes a long time
to build it again.

If you'd heard the things
she said about you.

She doesn't even know you.

It's quite...

quite usual.

Well, it shouldn't be.

Why are people
always so beastly?

People like your mother,
all her class of persons --

- They are frightened...
- what?

...and a little jealous of us.

Jealous?
Don't be silly.

They see us as a threat to what
Lord Northcliffe's young men

are pleased to call
"the bastions of privilege."

Our success in commerce
is beginning to give us

an influence
in the running of the country.

And they see us as a threat
to their absolute power,

over government, over society.

Something which they have come
to regard as theirs, absolutely,

by some divine right.

That's why they pretend that
anyone who works in commerce

and makes money
must be unclean and untouchable.

They don't believe it,
of course,

but it's a way
of protecting their...

their bastions.

It's all nonsense.

Of course.

Look, there's Rose.

May I help you, mademoiselle?

- I was just looking for...
ELIZABETH: Rose!

How lovely to see you.
[ Smooches ]

Come in.

Now, you know Mr. --
Oh, yes. Of course you do.

How do you do, sir?

Hello, Rose.

I've got to talk to you, please,
Miss Elizabeth.

Oh, it's quite all right, Rose.

Well, it looks like
we've got to leave 165.

Got to leave the house?

Why?

Well, I've only got it
from Mr. Hudson so far,

but he says your uncle,
Lord Ashby --

I should say Lord Southwold --

says your parents have got to
buy the lease or something,

and your pa says
they can't afford it.

And there have been lawyers
there and everything.

How incredible.

They've been out all morning,
looking at houses in Kensington.

Can you see Mother
in Kensington?

Well, there must be something
in it, and that's a fact.

'Cause Mr. Hudson
had us all in for a lecture

about tightening our belts,
Wasting not and wanting not,

and I may be gonna lose
my house maid.

And Mr. Watkins is worried
they might sell the Rolls,

and Mrs. Bridges
is in a terrible state

'cause they've out her cream
to 2 pints a day.

She's talking about retirement

and boardinghouses by the sea
and that.

I think you ought to come home,
Miss Elizabeth.

Yes, Rose.
So do I.

Look, while I pack a few things,

you go and choose a hat
for yourself.

- Oh!
- Any one you like.

No, Miss Elizabeth, I can't.

Of course you can.
I want to give you one.

Mademoiselle?

Oui, madame.

This is a friend of mine,
Miss Buck.

Bonjour.

I want her to choose any hat
in the shop that she likes.

Of course, madame.

- Miss Buck, please.
- Mm.

Oh.

I must go back.

You do see that, Julius?
I must rush back with Rose.

Yes, you must go but not rush.

We live our lives in a series of
rushes, like the infant Moses.

That's not original.

I, too, read
the Westminster Gazette.

As I imagine Mr. Hudson would
say, "More haste, less speed,"

Now, let's just think about it
very carefully,

like Rose is thinking about
that hat.

[ Gasps ]

I see from your letter that
you don't wish to make an offer

for the lease of this house.

That is correct.

Quite simply,
we can't afford it.

You are quite sure?

There's still time
to change your mind.

In that case,
I have a purchaser.

Already?

Oh, yes, indeed.

A very good property
at a very good price.

Soon snapped up.

How soon do we have to give...

to give, uh...

Vacant possession?

Yes, vacant possession.

I'm not sure
that that will be necessary now.

What on earth do you mean?

I took the liberty

of bringing the prospective
purchaser with me.

I was eavesdropping
at the keyhole.

It's me!

Elizabeth, uh --

Now, if this is
some sort of elaborate game,

- I'm going to be very --
- No, honestly, Father.

The house is to be mine.

She knows she can't touch
the marriage-settlement money.

It's a present.

From Julius.

Uh...

Elizabeth,
you can't possibly let him.

But you can't stop him, Mother.

Can she, Sir Geoffrey?

The deed of gift
is already being drafted.

And I am going to give it
to you.

I know
how much you love this house,

and so do I, and so does James.

And think of all the money

you've spent on me
over the years and Lucy.

Well, it's the least I can do
to try and repay you a little.

I don't know what to say.
I really don't.

I'll -- I'll have to speak
to your father about it.

Well, don't be too long, or
I shall let it to somebody else.

[Door opens, closes]

Richard, we can't
possibly accept it.

Now, just a moment, dearest,
just a moment.

Geoffrey, are you quite sure
this is all right?

Mr. Karekin has already put down
a deposit

and is quite ready to complete
signing the lease

by deed of gift
to Mrs. Kirbridge.

Sir Geoffrey,
what sort of man is he?

Very agreeable, very able.

One of the most able men
in the city of London, I'm told,

and becoming a very rich one.

Mm.

You got along with him
all right, did you?

My dear Richard,
in my profession,

it would be unwise
not to get along all right

with a very able, rich man.

And, if I may say so,
he's the sort of man

who could be very useful
to the Conservative Party

in the future.

Very useful, indeed.

Well, Rose, I must say
I find it all very peculiar.

Very peculiar, indeed.

Still, it's not our place

to question the family's
financial arrangements.

We should thank God
for small blessings.

Small blessings?

It's a bloody
great big blessing.

Yes, quite.

-[ Bell rings]
- Front door.

And, Rose, you must bring up
the tea directly.

Those were
her ladyship's orders.

ELIZABETH: Do try some of Mrs.
Bridges' seedcake, Julius.

It's absolutely scrumptious.

Thank you.

I'm so glad you were able to
visit us, Mr. Karekin.

The pleasure is mutual,
Lady Marjorie, may I assure you.

Um, I wonder if you'd care to
come and have luncheon with me

one day in the House of Commons?

There are one or two people
I'd very much like you to meet.

I should be delighted,
Mr. Bellamy.

Oh, that's splendid.

Now, apart from a good lunch,
I hope you'll find...

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