Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1975): Season 2, Episode 7 - Your Obedient Servant - full transcript

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[Pounding in distance]

[Pounding continues]

[ inaudible ]

[Both chuckle]

[Pounding continues]

MISS ROBERTS:
Oh, take it out of here.

VIOLET: It crossed
the threshold, it did.

RUBY: Oh, something awful's
going to happen.

Oh, stuff and nonsense.

- It's only a cat.
-[ Bell rings]



Oh, that bell.

I'll hear it in my grave,
I will.

Jingle-jangle.

[Pounding]

Out with the old,
in with the new.

I beg your pardon?

These electric bells will soon
get you on the hop, my lad.

This time next week,
you lot won't know yourselves.

Old bells or new bells --
It's all work, isn't it?

Work, my lad?

You don't know the meaning
of the word.

Oh.

[Pounding continues]

Telegram, Mr. Hudson.



Then take it to the master,
Edward, without delay.

You're properly attired,
are you not?

Yes.

Then what are you thinking of? At once, my lad!

- But, Mr. Hudson --

The essence of the telegram,
Edward, is speed.

Shall the good ship
of man's ingenuity to man

flounder on the rocks
of his idleness?

At once, Edward, to the master,
to the morning room.

- But it's not for the master.

- what?

A wrong delivery again?

The postal system is a disgrace.

It's for you.

Oh.

You may go, Edward.

- Uh, not bad news, I hope --
- Thank you, Edward.

[Pounding in distance]

Jerry-building,
that's what it is.

I've never seen plaster like it.

Just touch it and it's gone.

Does the task of running
a single wire behind a cornice

necessitate quite so much noise
and destruction?

I would have thought
so simple a task

could have been accomplished
in comparative silence.

These aren't just wires.
These are electricity wires.

A wire, I think, is a wire.

That is exactly
Where you are mistaken, brother,

like many a layman before you.

These wires run straight to
the very heart of the universe.

Now, don't meddle
with what you don't understand.

Oh, please, go more --

Go more carefully,
or you'll disturb the master.

-[ Pounding in distance]
- Yes.

Uh, yes, Arthur.
Yes, yes, of course.

N-No, I can't send the car
to the station.

Marjorie's got Watkins with her
at Southwold.

What?

Well, can you get a cab?

You'll walk?

All right.
All right, if you must.

Yes, yes, of course.

Goodbye.

Hudson!

Hudson.

HUDSON: Sir?

The morning-room hell's
not working.

It has been disconnected, sir.

We were given ample warning,
if you remember.

All the bells are out of action
this morning.

Yes, well, we have to suffer
for progress, I see.

- well, come inside, will you?
- Very good, sir.

This is not the most convenient
time, I know,

but my brother, Arthur,
will be staying for the weekend.

Very good, sir.
I'm sure we will manage.

Yes. He's coming up for a
medical conference of some kind.

He'll -- He'll be in and out
mostly, I suppose.

I'll tell Violet to make up
the bed in Captain James' room.

Will Mr. Arthur be arriving
in time for luncheon, sir?

Uh, he's walking
from the Royal Society.

How long will that take him?

I have no idea, sir.

No.
What's ordered for lunch?

Isn't it gammon and parsley
sauce on a Thursday, sir?

Well, don't ask me.

My brother's something
of a food reformist.

There are certain things he
does not permit himself to eat.

I shall inform Mrs. Bridges.

Yes. Does gammon and parsley
sauce -- Does that, uh...

- I have no idea.
- No.

But I'm sure Mrs. Bridges will.

Well, perhaps Edward better
serve luncheon up here on trays.

No point in opening up
the dining room.

It would appear
suitably informal, sir.

And tell those damn workmen
to make less noise.

I have already told them.

Well...

Well, tell them again.

[Pounding continues]

HUDSON: Less noise up there,
if you please.

Progress
is a very noisy business.

A convenient argument
but a false one.

Try to use a little more skill
and less brute force.

Oh, so, we've got time
to sit down, have we?

Morning work's all done,
Mr. Hudson.

Only the master at home
and half the staff away.

That does not constitute
a general holiday, Mrs. Bridges.

Violet, there is dust everywhere
on the floors upstairs.

VIOLET: well, it's the workmen,
Mr. Hudson.

I've dusted six times today
already.

Then you will dust a seventh
and an eighth

and a hundred times
if necessary.

Upstairs, my girl.

And get the bed made up
in Captain James' room.

- VIOLET: what for?
- Don't argue with me.

Look sharp now.

And what, may I ask,
is Ruby doing

chopping parsley
in the servants' hall?

Well, she can't work
in the kitchen.

Not without getting plaster from
the ceiling in all the food.

I don't know.

Dratted workmen, black cats,
electricity.

We'll all be struck dead
in our beds, that we will.

[ Coughs ]

Edward, tobacco slows
the nervous reflexes,

and yours are quite slow enough.

Put that abominable
instrument away.

And lay up two trays.

EDWARD:
Trays?

What's that for?

Ruby, you are not cutting suet.

That's parsley, that is!

Work at it, girl.

Elbow grease!

Yes, Mrs. Bridges.

I suppose you washed it first.

You didn't tell me to,
Mrs. Bridges.

I don't know.

There's something wrong
with that poor girl.

I don't think she's quite right
at the head.

HUDSON: Edward, not the best
silver on the trays.

Get the electroplated
from canteen number three.

What is the matter?
ls somebody ill?

Mr. Arthur,
the master's brother,

is coming for the weekend.

He may arrive
in time for luncheon,

depending on the length
of his legs.

Luncheon?
On a tray?

In the morning room.
It's what the master wants.

Oh, and, Mrs. Bridges,

Mr. Arthur belongs
to the food reform movement.

The what?

Ah, Miss Roberts,

I found this glove lying
on the staircase just now.

Her ladyship's, I believe.

Oh, so that's where it was.
I knew I'd dropped it.

You knew it was missing, but you
didn't go at once to find it?

I'm not a young thing
any longer, Mr. Hudson,

to go running up and down stairs
after a missing glove.

Edward would have gone
if you'd asked him.

Oh, it's only a glove.
I don't even like it.

The blue
has never quite matched,

and the buttons
have always popped.

I'm sorry to see it again,
if you really want to know.

Miss Roberts, if you're
not young and strong enough

to look after her ladyship's
property, perhaps you'd do well

to consider
an honourable retirement.

I think the time
is drawing very near.

Luncheon was 6 1/2 minutes late
yesterday, Mrs. Bridges.

Just because her ladyship's away

and the master alone
is in residence,

there is no call for idleness
and disloyalty.

It is luncheon on a tray
for Mr. Bellamy

in the morning room
at his special request.

And to be prepared
for Mr. Arthur,

Mr. Bellamy's brother,

in case he should have arrived
and not have had his luncheon.

That is right, I think,
Mr. Hudson?

Those are the instructions, yes.

Then I am prepared, Mr. Hudson,
aren't I?

Quite prepared.

That tray cloth is soiled,
Edward.

Well, the plate will cover
the stain, Mr. Hudson.

I mean, it's not as if it's on
her side of the family, is it?

It is for Mr. Arthur Bellamy,
the master's brother.

Fetch a clean cloth at once.

For him?
I mean, he's only a doctor.

Respect is not something
we grade

according to title
or to wealth, Edward.

It is a matter for us of what
is owed by servant to master.

And a brother,
in any walk of life,

is someone to whom much is owed,

the greatest consideration,
the greatest formality,

no matter how the exigencies
of fate have led each

into different paths,
into different fortunes.

A clean cloth at once.

[Door knocker bangs]

[Door knocker bangs]

Edward, front door.

Uh, cloth -- Get rid of it.

Morning, sir.

My brother still in?

Mr. Richard is expecting you
in the morning room, sir.

Ah.

May I take your coat?

If you insist.

I'm sorry you had to use
the door knocker, sir.

An electric bell system
is being installed.

You forget,
I am not London-born.

I think my hand
is not so pampered and weak

that it needs electricity
to help it.

Excuse me, sir.

I will announce you.

Announce me to my own brother?

It is customary
in this house, sir.

Mr. Arthur Bellamy, sir.

RICHARD:
Arthur, my dear fellow.

You look splendid.

I wish I could say the same
for you, Richard.

You're looking rather liverish.

A hundred flunkies won't
preserve a man's good health.

You mean the servants?

God's good air was clean
and bright outside.

Your front door was opened
with a whiff of whiskey

that would have knocked
a lesser man unconscious.

Edward?
You imagine it.

Scots of any class
drink whiskey, don't they?

Hudson?

Names?
Do they have names?

I thought they rather chose
to throw their own away

and live like parasites
upon those of their betters.

Still, you have
Waited in for me.

I imagine you'll be out
most of the time.

The Royal Society's in session,
I see.

I'm finished with the
Royal Society, quite finished.

You weren't elected?

I was not.

- I thank the fates for it.
- But I --

We will talk no further
on the subject, Richard.

Electricians, I see.

Yes. A new bell system
while Marjorie's away.

Of course.

Plaster dust is hard
on sensitive nostrils like hers.

So is the existence
of impecunious in-laws

who can't even achieve
the doubtful honour

of a fellowship
of the Royal Society.

Poor Marjorie.

So, your house is to echo

to the tintinnabulation
of electric bells.

We could never afford them,
I'm afraid,

small though the old house is.

Nothing to be ashamed of
in that.

I never said there was.

It's where we were born,
both of us, after all.

[ Chuckles ]
Arthur, you don't change much.

Have a glass of sherry
or a cigarette.

Are we lunching soon?

- Almost directly.
- Then I won't, thank you.

I know you don't appreciate
formality,

so we're eating in here.

The dining room's too good
for me, you mean.

Arthur.

I'm in a bad mood.
Nothing pleases me.

- Shall I serve luncheon, sir?
RICHARD: Yes, please, Edward.

Come and sit down over here.
You'll feel better after food.

Our Mrs. Bridges
is a splendid cook.

You're a naive fellow, Richard.

I daresay you're the pleasanter
for it.

MISS ROBERTS:
Perhaps Mr. Hudson

should consider
an honourable retirement.

He's quite lost
his sense of time.

The first sign of senility,
you know.

Mine is excellent.

Well, perhaps he's just

popped 'round the corner
for a bottle of beer.

Butlers shouldn't pop.
It lacks dignity.

MRS BRIDGES:
I've never known him pop. Never.

He's just a little late
for his dinner,

which is every man's right
on occasion.

Perhaps he's gone to the post
office to send off a cablegram.

Cablegram?
Whatever for?

But in answer to the one he got.

Cable?

Who said Mr. Hudson had a cable?

Edward.

- You never said.
- Oh, I thought I mentioned it.

Oh, he's put his earnings
in a gold mine, and it's failed.

Well, perhaps his mother's
been taken poorly.

Mr. Hudson's mother passed away
a year ago come Easter, Ruby.

Oh.

And, Miss Roberts, Mr. Hudson
is not the speculating kind.

Well, personally, I'm hungry.

I want my dinner.

ARTHUR: well, you'll hardly know
the old village.

Ugly, new buildings
on the outskirts,

motorcars filling the air
with dust and fumes,

strangers everywhere.

'Course, you've never come down
to witness it.

Too much of a backwater.

Oh, it's hard to find the time.

Oh, I do understand.

There's grit
in the parsley sauce.

-Is there?
- Don't you notice it?

Well, come to think of it,
there is.

Yes, you can't eat it.

It must be sent back
to the kitchen at once.

In your position,
you must stand firm.

My position, Arthur?

Because you, like me,
are the son of a country parson

is no reason to put up with
the insolence of servants.

But, Arthur, lam hungry.

Oh, very well.

Hudson!

Unwashed vegetables
are the cause of much disease,

both physical and mental.

At home, Anthea washes all
such foods in chlorinated water.

It's a humble abode,
but we do have our standards.

Humble abode?

Arthur, it has 15 rooms
and two acres of land,

and you live in extreme comfort.

Two acres?

You have 20,000.

My wife's father has land,
it's true.

When the old man goes,
she will be richer still.

The gulf between you widens.

There is no gulf.

- Fetch Hudson, will you.
-I-I'm sorry, sir.

Mr. Hudson
is not available, sir.

Well, then ask Mrs. Bridges to
provide us with something else.

The sauce is not edible.

EDWARD: Yes, sir.
I'll tell her, sir.

[ Door closes]

Not available?

Doesn't surprise me.

A furtive-looking fellow
with whiskey on his breath.

Hudson?
Furtive?

Furtive.

- A beautiful fit, sir.
- Mm.

Truly elegant.

What a pleasure
to dress a real gentleman.

One guinea, did you say?

How long will you be wanting
the use of the suit, sir?

Until the Monday morning.

25 shillings, sir.

I see.

Oh, very well.

The, um, address, sir?

165 Eaton Place.

Hudson's the name -- A. Hudson.

For the account to be sent off.

Oh, no, no, I'll pay by cash
if you don't mind.

- As you wish, Mr. Hudson.
- Thank you.

If I might make a suggestion.

If you would consider
the purchase of perhaps, uh...

a cane.

A cane?

Yes.

Yes, why not?

And gloves, I think.
Yes, gloves.

Indeed, sir, indeed.

They come a bit costly to some,
but not, I'm sure, to you.

Ah, Hudson.
Returned, I see.

Uh, yes, sir.

I regret any inconvenience
I may have caused.

I had to slip out for a while
on a personal matter.

Is that all you're going to say?

RICHARD:
Of course.

Never happened before.
I doubt it'll happen again.

That man's got a mistress.

A mistress?

Oh, oh, really, Arthur, your
imagination runs away with you.

You can see it in his eyes,

the sly look
of the confirmed lecher.

Hudson?
A lecher?

He's bringing filth and moral
pollution into this house,

and you do nothing -- nothing!

What's happening to you,
Richard?

Do you not see that this --
this indulgence

has been the root cause of
your trouble with your children?

Indeed, with your wife?

Scandal gets 'round, you know.

I'm sorry for you, Richard.

He came home at teatime
with a brown, paper parcel.

Now, that is all I know.

Perhaps he's an anarchist,
going to blow us all up.

[ Laughs ]

Well, if Sarah was here,
she'd know what was what.

She knows everything.

Well, I wish they'd send me away

to learn how to become
a nursemaid.

You? You'd drop
Miss Elizabeth's baby

on its poor little head,
you would.

Oh, no, Violet,

our Ruby would only do that
by accident, wouldn't you?

Now, Sarah --
She would do that on purpose.

Well, you know what Edward says
about Miss Elizabeth's baby?

- what?
- why have I told you this?

Never say anything
in front of Ruby.

You can't.
She can't keep secrets.

You can't.
She can't keep secrets.

You know
that she can't be true--

Now, Ruby, what have I told you?

You can't be trusted
to say anything at all.

Now, listen, the other...

[ Door closes]

Uh, put the valises
in that corner

for the time being, my boy.

Come away, then.

Come on in, all of you.
Make yourselves at home.

Oh, Angus,
a whole suite to ourselves!

You shouldn't have done that.

What about this for luxury?

ALICE: Oh, look, the Thames.
It's all lit up.

And there's a barge.

It would have been more homely
at Eaton Place, of course,

but the workmen, you know.

Oh, what a brother!
I told you, Maudie, didn't I?

- I always told you.
- Always here.

I thought he'd look like God
with a beard.

I don't know.

Nothing's what you think
it's going to be, is it?

Maudie, my dear,
come and sit down.

You're pale as a little ghost.
It was a terrible crossing.

I'm a brute, Angus, the way
I drag her about the world.

I had six hat boxes when I came,
and now there are only five.

I think the Thames
is positively narrow.

Alice, stop complaining and help
your mother find her hat box.

It doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter at all.

What does matter is that at last

I've met my dear,
dear brother-in-law,

who was so good to my Donald
when he was a little boy --

the good, kind brother

who's made my husband
what he is today,

the goodest, kindest,
cleverest man in all the world.

Mama, it's absolutely tiny.
- Oh Alice, dear,

do stop complaining and go out
and look in the corridor

to see
if that horrid little page

hasn't left it outside
on purpose.

He showed no respect whatsoever.

They do say the servant problem
here today is quite terrible.

And I believe it.
I really do.

At least out in Penang,

you could tell who was who
by their colour.

It was you who sent the flowers,
Angus?

Oh, of course, Donald.

It seemed the least I could do
to welcome you all.

It's good to see you again, man.

Yourself but more so
after all these years.

Well, you haven't wasted them,
Donald.

I taught you well.
Persistence and endeavour, eh?

Two bridges
over the mighty Zambezi.

You know, you're one
of Scotland's heroes.

I'm very proud of you.

Am I that famous?

There was a piece about you
in The Illustrated London News.

But for that, I wouldn't have
known of your achievements.

Oh, I'm a shocking
letter writer.

I daresay the postmen
are very few and far between

away out in these parts.

Oh, come, now.
You're not much better.

HUDSON: Oh.

What are you doing
with yourself?

Oh, I-l work
for a Mr. Richard Bellamy.

- He's a member of parliament.
- DONALD: Bellamy?

Wasn't he the undersecretary
of state at the Admiralty?

Under the Tories, yes.

The one who married
Lady Marjorie Talbot-Carey?

Yes.
How did you know?

Oh, everyone who's anyone
knows that.

I've seen her picture
in the Sketch many times.

She never wears
the same dress twice.

Well, Donald always told me
you were quite a scholar,

but I had no idea
how distinguished.

I would so love an introduction.
One is so out off at home.

Oh, Donald thinks I'm a snob,
but it means so much.

Well, a bridge builder,
after all, is only an engineer.

Her Lady Marjorie is
in the country at the moment.

Her father is very ill --
dying, they say.

Oh, dear. Still, we will see
lots of you, dear Angus.

You will try, won't you?

Just this weekend, and then
off we go on the Lusitania.

Think of that.
Not the maiden voyage.

We missed that.
So distressing.

Now, Alice --
Alice must be taken for theatre.

She's such a little colonial,

she's no idea what she really
should appreciate.

Oh, Alice, perhaps that hat box

is on top of the wardrobe
in the bedroom.

Get up on a chair
and have a look.

There's a dear.

My Maudie, she's my joy, Angus.

She's like a little flower.

She's a thousand times more
than I deserve.

She was the niece, you know, of
the governor himself in Penang.

Oh, indeed.

How far we have come, you and I.

These are good times,
are they not,

when a man can be
what he makes himself

and not what he was born?

- MAUDIE: Donald!
- DONALD: Maudie.

Maudie, don't distress yourself.

I'll buy you a new hat.

Oh, I'm sure it's been stolen.

You can't trust anyone now.

Oh, those people on that Channel
boat -- so common and coarse.

We go first class,
but they are everywhere now.

Well, as someone once said --
was it Jesus? --

"The poor are always with us".

Oh, Alice!

[ Gasps ]
Gertie Millar.

Angus, you will take us
to the Gertie.

We are dying
to see Gertie Millar.

Well, I believe seats
are very hard to come by.

- It is short notice.
- But you will try?

A box. I've always wanted
to sit in a box.

- I'll see what I can do.
- Ohh!

- And luncheon at Spinelli's?
Maudie.

I've read about Spinelli's.

You can show us who's who
and perhaps introduce us.

Oh, I'm so excited!

Who would have dreamt
that Donald's brother

would be so important
in the fashionable world?

But your husband is known
all over the world, Maudie.

Oh, yes,
but not to anyone important.

[ Smooches ]

Oh, my poor head.

It's in quite a whirl.

I don't see enough daylight.
That's the trouble.

Down here in the dark,
and one can feel the damp.

The worst summer since 1894.

That dratted black cat.

Bad luck.

Nobody's ever sent a sauce
of mine back.

Not since I was first
in service,

when the cook fell dead
over dinner

and I had to step right over her
and carry on.

I was only the kitchen maid.

[ Scoffs ]
They wasn't grateful.

They sent the hollandaise back.

Said it was curdled.

Well, the look on that poor,
dead woman's face --

enough to curdle anything,
it was.

As for poor Mr. Hudson,
I don't know what the matter is.

I fear for his sanity.

I haven't been spoken to
like that since my father...

...saw me walking out
with a young man.

Only the once, of course.

They sent me into service after
that, and I soon forgot him.

And I'm very happy as long
as people speak nicely to me.

He was a pleasant young man,
well set up but not well-spoken.

You see, it wouldn't have done.

I've always afterwards mixed

with a very nice class
of people.

Well, abovestairs, at any rate.

Well, one lives as one can,
doesn't one?

MRS. BRIDGES:
Oh, so you're back, Mr. Hudson.

I am here, which is what is
significant, Mrs. Bridges.

MISS ROBERTS:
You seem to be coming and going

a great deal lately, Mr. Hudson.

I have certain personal matters
to attend to outside,

Miss Roberts,
with the master's permission.

Excuse me.

They'll be requiring the grog
tray up in the morning room.

ARTHUR: And in the constituency,
of course,

you have to mix
with the plebeians.

I can understand
your reluctance.

RICHARD:
Reluctance? No.

Boredom is my worst enemy.

I'm sitting in the Commons
losing division after division.

It scarcely
seems like real life.

Well, there are compensations --

a comfortable house
to come home to,

bells that work by electricity.

Reward, indeed.

Well, they are efficient.

Oh, you don't have to
justify them to me.

They're amusing toys.
What's wrong with that?

But please don't speak
of efficiency

when what you are seeking
is mere diversion.

-[ Clatters ]
- Oh, I beg your pardon.

RICHARD:
That's all right, Hudson.

You may go to bed now.

Thank you, sir.

Good night.

[ Door closes]

Sound advice.

Let him sleep it off.

There's nothing wrong
with Hudson.

No? Man's as pale
as the driven snow.

You can see from the pallor
what the trouble is.

That man's got a mistress.

He's depleted by lust
and passion.

His energies are drained.

His eyes are haggard,
his face drawn.

I've seen time and time again
in my patients

the growing debility,
the laxness,

the languor that overtakes
even the most robust

when the sexual,
animal instincts are indulged.

Why do you surround yourself
with such filth, Richard?

If you're still referring
to my butler --

A son sent to the colonies, his
doxy harboured under your roof,

a scarlet woman.

Little Sarah, scarlet?

A bit pink about the edges,
it's true, but --

Poor child.

Her baby died, you know.

God's mercy on those
that least deserved it.

A daughter separated
from her husband

after only weeks of marriage.

In your circle, such things
are a matter of course.

Hardly.
And still painful.

And under your roof,
your servants run riot.

Under your roof.

The thrashing limbs, the sweat,

the foul rankness
of animal degradation.

Arthur, for God's sake.

Are you happy, Richard?

Are you?

I only have the £30,
my life savings,

but you're welcome to it.

I should have had more, I know,

but I got that carried away by
the tales in the Sunday papers.

Them poor little pagans,

destined to suffer the torments
of the burning fires of hell.

I sent all of £20
to the missionary fund.

That was just after --

You remember that dreadful time,
Mr. Hudson.

I don't like to think about it.

And to tell you the truth,

I think I was a little bit
out of my mind.

Well, I don't see much daylight,
you see, only on my day off.

I don't think that helps
a woman's mind.

Only a loan, Kate,

until such time
as I can realize my capital.

Take it, Angus.

I'm temporarily embarrassed,
that's all.

I don't ask no questions.

The horses, was it?

Oh, Kate,
you know me better than that.

I've never had a wager
on a horse in my life.

Well, so long as I see the money
back sometime,

before it's too late.

I would like to see
a little bit of sunshine,

especially now
with the winter coming on.

I keep it in my little teapot --
luster it is, my aunt's.

Nobody would think
of looking for it there.

I don't ask no questions.

You've got to trust people,
haven't you?

Yes, Kate.

Thank you.

I'm sorry you're feeling
a bit low in spirit.

Oh, it was that parsley sauce
as done it.

[ Gasps ]

Do you think they'll tell
Lady Marjorie?

Oh, what a dreadful thing for
her to come back to, poor soul,

and her father so ill.

Passing on, they say.

Well, it's a world to be out of.

[Clears throat]
Uh, pardon me, sir.

Yes, Hudson?

Might I request an afternoon
and an evening off, sir?

This evening
and tomorrow afternoon.

- This is most unusual.
- It is, sir.

You're not in any trouble,
are you?

You would feel free
to come to me?

Oh, indeed, sir.

- If I say no --
- It is your right, sir.

I had not finished speaking.

If I say no, you might simply
take the time off in any case,

and I would not know, would I?

That is not the way
things are, sir.

No? Perhaps we should thank God

he did not make us with eyes
in the backs of our head.

No doubt he saved us all
a good deal of distress.

- Sir?
- That'll be all.

Take off as much time
as you wish.

My brother will be staying
another night.

See his room is comfortable.

There seems to be
a great deal of dust about.

It is the electrician, sir.

The bells will be connected
this evening.

We will then be back to normal.

Would you care for a fire
to be lit, sir?

It does seem a wee bit chilly
in here.

A fire makes things
much more cheerful.

Leave it as it is.

Very good, sir.

ALICE: what does Uncle Angus do,
Mother?

Do?
I don't know.

Not very much, I don't suppose.
Gentlemen don't work.

Only your father,
building his silly bridges.

Well, I must look upon it
as a hobby.

That's right, Alice.

Tell all your friends
it's just a hobby.

There's something strange
about Uncle Angus.

Strange?
What can you mean?

The way he keeps stepping
backwards and sort of bowing.

Backwards and bowing?

What can you mean?

Like a waiter.

The most distinguished people
I've met in London

have been the waiters.

Oh, Alice.
Waiters aren't people.

Oh, I sometimes wish
we'd never left the east.

Ideas are so confusing
when there are too many of them.

RICHARD: Well, I must confess,
I shall miss the old bells.

EDWARD:
The old jingle-jangle, sir?

That's right, Edward.

Well, sir, if you'd care
to take this in your hand, sir,

and press the button
when I tell you,

looking at the little window
up there marked "study" --

ARTHUR:
You'll hear a buzz, no doubt,

and see a red marker
in the window concerned.

Devilish scientific.

Seems so simple to the layman,
sir, as always.

But ignorance begets confidence,

and when it's a matter
of electricity,

confidence kills even quicker
than curiosity.

Do you know, sir, I've seen
grown men shrivelled up --

Oh, come along, now.
Come along.

ARTHUR: what about your
inauguration address, Richard?

-[ Clapping ]
- well, yes. Uh...

Well, here we are, then,

about to drag ourselves
kicking and screaming

yet one step further
into the new world.

A small step but significant.

Linked by wires through
the miracles of science

to the very power source
of the universe.

RICHARD: Yes, and at
the mere touch of a button --

- where's Hudson?
- He has the evening off.

- what for?
- I have no idea.

As I was saying,
at the mere touch of a button.

[All scream ]

[indistinct talking]

Edward, go and get some candles.

What's -- what happened?

MAN: Electricity
is a very mysterious thing.

It keeps its secrets to itself.

ARTHUR: It's a fuse.
It's a fuse, that's all.

Too heavy a load.

I'll mend it.
Where's the fuse box?

You can mend it? All right.
Well, show us quickly.

- we'll be back.
-[ Indistinct talking]

Cost of all this wine

would support a normal family
for a year or two.

Yes.
Or a month or two.

At least you keep it locked.
That's something.

Well, Hudson has a key.

Of course.

And he keeps the wines
listed in a book.

How often do you check the book
against your stocks?

Oh, Arthur, you're wrong.

I hope I am.

I'm sure you are.

Yes, wire's burnt out.
Too thin.

Oh, Angus, a private supper!

I never thought
to have a private supper.

How daring!

Oh, look, Alice.
There's salmon!

- Oh!
-[ Singing indistinctly]

That child is stage struck.

Where do you think her silliness
comes from, Donald?

- Can it be me?
- Oh, no, of course not, my love.

Where is the champagne?
I ordered champagne.

Oh, I do apologize

for the slackness
of the servants here, Maudie.

Champagne.
Champagne and Gertie Millar.

London really is the very hub
of the world, is it not?

Well, nothing appears
to be missing.

Except this now.
- what's that?

One bottle of Taylor's
'87 vintage port wine.

- To comfort us.
- what for?

Because we thought
we were gentlemen

and discover
we are common spies.

Now, where does he keep
the corkscrew?

ARTHUR:
Tell me something, Richard.

RICHARD: Yes?

Do you visit the theatre much
these days?

RICHARD:
Oh, hardly ever.

What was the last thing we saw?
Oh, "The Man from Blankley's."

Hawtrey was marvellous.

But that was some time ago.

Musical comedies?
- Never.

Marjorie can't bear them.

I thought not.

Well, let's take this upstairs,
shall we?

Mm.

There you are, my dear.

Well, to my dear brother
and to his family.

Welcome to London,
and, uh, good health.

[ Chuckles ]

MAUDIE:
Go on, Donald dear, reply.

And we wish to acknowledge
our gratitude to my dear brother

for giving us
such a good time --

the sightseeing, the shopping,
and the theatre.

It's a long way from Penang,
but it was worth it.

- Slangevar.
- HUDSON: Slangevar.

Uncle Angus.

Oh.

Oh, I don't like champagne.
It gets up my nose.

[ Laughter]

There, try that.

I don't doubt its quality.
It's the gout I fear.

Well, don't drink it.

I'll risk it.

Mmm, very good, I must admit it.

No.

It does not soothe me
as I hoped.

I'm all rough edges, Arthur.

T-There's something vulgar on
checking on another human being,

whether he be servant or --

Damn it, Arthur,
you could persuade an angel

that the harp he played
was out of tune.

Yes, you're quite right.

I shall make amends.

I shall take you out to luncheon
tomorrow

before my train departs
for Norwich.

I suggest we go to Spinelli's.

Oh, that would be delightful.

Yes, I haven't been there
for years.

[ Chuckles ]
Should be interesting.

Come along. Sit down.
Enjoy your port.

Another Brandy for my guests please,

and barley water
for the wee girl.

I'm not a wee girl.
Why can't I have a brandy?

Alice!

I must imprint this scene
upon my mind.

It's all I'll have
in the years to come.

And you, too, Alice.

Oh, to think, Angus, you can
come here whenever you want.

- Poor little Maudie.
- You think I'm silly?

Of course I don't, my love.

I think I'm a dull fellow.

I am moved by cantilevers
and concrete

and not by names and faces.

Perhaps you should have
married Angus here.

HUDSON:
[ Laughs ]

Isn't that the actor we saw
last night at the Gertie?

Alice, sit down!

Oh, yes.

Yes, that is
Mr. George Grossmith.

Yes indeed.

Lunching with Granville-Barker,
no less.

Cor, there, Alice,
isn't that fascinating?

And if you care to glance
at the table just beyond there,

the one under the mirror,

you will see in the flesh
Sir Edward Carson,

one of our most distinguished
advocates.

I find lawyers rather tedious,
frankly.

Is that very naughty of me?

See how she sparkles, Angus.

Eat up, my precious.
You've hardly touched your food.

MAUDIE: Oh, I know. I have
the appetite of a little bird.

Oh, I do wish we could have been
a month earlier.

Then we could have been
on the maiden voyage.

Such a glittering assembly.
Oh, Angus, such a swoony boat.

But now we'll have to travel
with the nouveau riche.

It's so distressing.

DONALD: I did the best I could,
my love.

It was the rains
that held us up.

Well, they always do.
You and your silly bridges.

Why can't you build them
in more convenient places?

My pretty sweet,
I build them in these places

to make them more convenient.

- Do you understand?
- No, I don't.

I'm only a woman, and thinking
gives me a headache.

Who's that man who looked at you
when he went past, Uncle Angus?

Is he a friend?

I have a friend
looked like that at me once.

I'd put honey in her hair.

She had very long hair.
She could sit on it.

MAUDIE:
Angus, are you all right?

You're as white as a sheet.

Are you feeling faint?
I'll order you a glass of water.

Boy, boy!

- DONALD: Maudie:
- ALICE Mother!

HUDSON: Please, please.
I-I'm all right.

You see how he apes his betters?

RICHARD: You knew he'd be here,
didn't you?

- I did.
- How?

The careless fellow had noted
the reservation of his table

on the telephone pad
in his pantry.

Why was the deceit necessary?

If you'd known,
you would not have come.

No, I would not.

Well, you can't deny
the evidence of your eyes.

My eyes see a man lunching with
what might well be a friend,

a friend's wife,
and their daughter.

You see your butler
got up as a gentleman,

mixing with people
of superior social standing,

who, for one reason or another,
he wishes to impress.

Can he afford to come here
on what you pay him?

In what other heinous ways

does he gather lucre
to his seamy bosom?

You've allowed him
too much license for too long.

How else could I bring you
to see, Richard,

that fatal flaw
in your character,

that amiability which is no
virtue, but the worst of vices?

I'm sorry they didn't elect you

as a fellow
of the Royal Society, Arthur.

What?

Angus, what a pleasant surprise
to meet you here.

Yes, indeed, sir, a-a surprise.

Won't you introduce me
to your friends?

Oh, indeed, sir.
Mr. Richard Bellamy.

Uh, Mrs. Hudson,
my sister-in-law.

Miss Alice Hudson, my niece.

And Mr. Donald Hudson,
my brother.

How do you do?

They are visiting London
from the Malay States.

May I join you for a moment?

Oh, please.
Yes, oh, please do.

Mr. Bellamy,
I would have known you anywhere

from your photographs --
so distinguished and charming.

I was so thrilled when Angus
told us he worked for you,

-and I never knew.
- Sit down, Angus.

I have the honour of knowing
a distant relative of yours,

a second cousin, I believe --
a Miss Juanita Pringle.

She is a little foreign,
it's true, but --

Oh, I'm quite overcome.

London is so strongly drafty.

- Are you here for long?
- MAUDIE: No.

We leave this very evening,
alas, for the United States.

Oh, we've had a wonderful time.
I've been so very happy.

Angus here
knows everybody everywhere,

and he has spent so much money
on us.

Money means nothing, I know, and
now we've met you, Mr. Bellamy.

One is so cut off
for most of one's life.

Oh, the feeling is mutual.

Are you not the Donald Hudson

who built that astounding bridge
over the Zambezi?

Oh, a bridge, yes.
Astounding, I hope not.

A bridge that astounded
would fall down, I think.

This one merely stands, but it
will stand forever, I hope.

And are you not on your way
to the Grand Canyon itself?

We've heard about you,
Mr. Hudson.

Angus here
keeps his secrets very well.

He's a modest man.

You've heard about his bridges?

I'm honoured to have made

your husband's acquaintance,
Mrs. Hudson.

You must be very proud
of your brother, Angus.

Well, I must go.

I have a friend
waiting for his lunch.

It's been a great,
great, great pleasure.

Yes.

Sit down, man, sit down.

MAUDIE:
Oh, what a delightful person.

Yes.

Uncle Angus,
do you work with him?

Do you believe
in plain speaking, Arthur?

I do.

I have something plain
to say to you.

This has been a malicious

and quite unnecessary act
on your part.

You can't speak to me like that

when I'm taking you out
to luncheon and I'm your host.

I will speak to you as I wish.

You were a bullying,

self-righteous prig
of a little boy,

and you made my childhood
a living hell.

And if I hid behind
my mother's skirts,

it was because
you were stronger than me.

You were a physical coward then,
as you are a moral coward now.

Because you were trying to
wrench my arm from its socket,

which once you succeeded
in doing.

- That was an accident.
- It was not.

And on wet days, it still aches
and reminds me of you, Arthur.

[ Laughter]

I am richer than you.
I am happier.

I am freer in my mind
and in my attitudes than you.

I make more effect
upon the world,

and I spread less trouble
about me.

This is not to be tolerated.

I shall take a cab
to Liverpool Street

and sit in the hotel until
my train departs for Norwich.

I'm indebted to you
for putting me up.

I do not think
we shall see each other again.

Neither do I.

[Snaps fingers]

Of course,
I will have to resign.

Yes, I suppose so.

I can expect no reference.

After all these years.

Quite.

Luncheon at Spinelli's, eh?

That's a very posh place.

Yes.

What was it like?

Oh, the service was slow.

Our second waiter had
a gravy splash on his front.

There was some trouble over
a shortage of Yorkshire pudding.

And one waiter ran,
Mrs. Bridges.

Ran, Mr. Hudson?

Oh, I never did.

I believe he was foreign.

And the food?

You do much better, Kate.

I know.

Oh, Angus, what a dreadful thing
it is you have done.

What will Lady Marjorie say?

Oh, Kate, Kate, it seems
like the end of my life.

I feel like a felon
under sentence of death.

Mr. Bellamy has shown me nothing
but kindness and consideration,

and how have I repaid him?

You had a right to see
your brother and his family.

I had no right
to ape my betters.

I didn't have to spend
all my savings

and -- and most of yours
doing it.

I should have had the courage

to speak the truth
when there was time.

You didn't exactly tell a lie.

I lived one
for a wee while, Kate.

And the worst of it was,
I enjoyed it.

Now you'll be punished.

Yes.

That's life.

You have to pay for every bit
of happiness you have.

I sometimes wonder
what awful sin we all committed

in the beginning.

[Bell rings]

That'll be the morning room.

Yes.

We'll miss you, Angus.

All of us.

You rang, sir?

Uh, yes, Hudson.

Her ladyship
will be back shortly.

Lord Southwold
is a little better, it seems.

I am very thankful
to hear that, sir.

I've asked Edward
to tell Mrs. Bridges.

We'll have something light
in here about 8:30.

Very good, sir.

So, you are brother
to Donald Hudson,

the construction engineer.

You kept that very quiet.

Sir.

You keep many things quiet,
I think.

Yes, sir.

I was very pleased
to meet your brother,

though somewhat surprised
at the circumstances.

You must keep me informed of
his whereabouts, his successes.

Forgive me, sir,
but this is not worthy of you.

What?

I am a servant,
but I am also a man.

I'm humiliated enough, sir.

I brought disgrace upon you,
upon -- upon myself.

I'm wounded, and you're twisting
the knife in the wound.

Hudson?

I will pack my things
and leave at once, sir.

You won't wish me
to work out my notice.

What are you talking about?
What is the matter with you?

In front of your family, sir,
I must ask you --

Never in all my --

I-I-I can't even request
a reference.

Well, families can be
very trying, I agree.

They make us more emotional
than they should.

My own brother's visit here
has left me somewhat at a loss.

But, Hudson,
if you wish to go to a theatre

or lunch
at a fashionable restaurant,

your money is as good
as the next man's,

your appearance
better than most.

That is altogether
too liberal of you, sir.

A servant is a servant
and must know his place,

or the world would crumble
about our ears.

That's more like Hudson.

Forget it now.
Forget it.

You did me a favour,
as it so happens.

I did, sir?

A man must have his own view
of himself,

Whether he be master or servant,
right or wrong.

There's dignity in that.
You're quite right.

I take it you had your own
reason for acting as you did.

It was for the sake of others,
Mr. Bellamy.

You checked the cellars,
I believe.

I did.

They were quite in order.

- Of course.
- Of course.

My faith in my fellow man
flagged for a while.

It has returned.

We must all of us
learn to trust.

Our fellow men, perhaps, sir,
but not all the women.

That new parlourmaid,
for instance --

I wouldn't trust her as far as
a flick of her feather duster.

You made a joke, Hudson.

Well, it was a wee attempt
at one, sir.

- I'm sorry.
- Not at all.

By and large, I enjoyed
my brother's visit, sir.

I'm very proud of him.

And I enjoyed
my brother's departure.

Alas, he is not proud of me.

[Bell rings]

That sounds like the doorbell.

Yes, sir.

Perhaps you'd like
to go to the door

and open it for her ladyship?

Thank you, sir.

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