Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1975): Season 3, Episode 5 - Rose's Pigeon - full transcript

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Ah, what's that for, Rose?
Who's got the grippe?

If you must know,
it's for Mr. Bellamy.

Oh, don't tell Mrs. Bridges.

Don't tell me what?

What are you giggling for,
my girl?

Come on, what is it?

Oh, don't worry, Mrs. Bridges.
It's just Rose.

She's got some medicine
for Mr. Bellamy.

It's after your special
French cuisinery tonight.

I only did it to cheer him up.



And it's not my cooking
that's upset him.

It's all his worries
and upheavals.

Well, he must be getting
over that by now, surely.

Be quiet, Edward.

What do you know
about suffering?

Nothing, Mrs. Bridges.

You sure you wouldn't like
to see a doctor, sir?

Oh, no, it's nothing, really.

Thank you, Rose.

Um, Rose?

Yes, sir.

I've been meaning to say
for some time,

thank you for your support and
loyalty over these past months.

It's easy to forget
or take for granted people,



to assume quite wrongly that
only one's self is affected,

that other people close
don't feel just as deeply.

We all still miss her very much,
sir.

Yes.

There we are, Mrs. Bridges.

Oh, thank you, Edward.

Oh, Mr. Hudson, I've been
reading about health today.

It said it all depended
on pure air.

That's right.
It does, Edward.

One's very life depends on
the blood gaining fresh oxygen

and getting rid of stale
carbonic acid unceasingly.

Rose, aren't you coming
to have your cocoa?

It'll be cold.

No, thanks, Mrs. Bridges,
I don't feel like any tonight.

Oh, yeah, yes, here it is.

It says that "the dust in the
air and the smells from drains

give rise
to pestilential disorders."

HUDSON:
That is also correct, Edward.

What's the matter
with that girl?

Who, Rose?
Oh, I think she just feels sad.

What?

Well, she'll have to take
herself in hand, won't she?

EDWARD:
I mean, what chance have we got,

stuck down here
in the kitchen all day?

There's not much pure air
down here, Mr. Hudson.

HUDSON:
Just you count your blessings.

Don't scream.

Rose, please don't scream.

It's only me, Alfred.

You remember me, used to be
footman here a few years ago.

Remember?

Alfred.

I wouldn't hurt you.
I wouldn't hurt a fly.

I'll go and get Mr. Hudson.

Don't get him!

Is he still here?

Thought he would have gone
by now.

Don't tell him, not him.

I need help.

What sort of help?

I can't tell you.

Can't we go inside?
I'm freezing.

But they're all in there.

When they've gone to bed.

[ Scraping, footsteps]

What were you doing outside,
Rose?

Well, I thought I heard
something, Mr. Hudson.

What did you hear?

Noise. Cat. Nothing.

Oh, you want to be careful,
my girl,

poking your nose out
at this time of night.

Aye, there's a lot of ruffians
and scoundrels on the streets.

Better call me in future.

Yes.
No, Mr. Hudson.

Well, I'm off to bed,
Mr. Hudson. Good night.

Good night, Mrs. Bridges.

Good night, Rose.

Night, Mrs. Bridges.

Good night, all.

MRS. BRIDGES:
Oh, these stairs.

EDWARD: All right, Mrs. Bridges.
There you go.

Are you not going to your bed,
Rose?

Um...

Well, I've got to finish that
first, Mr. Hudson.

Well,
don't be too long about it.

You've been looking
a wee bit tired lately.

See that all the windows
and doors are well snapped

and put the lights out
after you.

- Good night, Rose.
- Night, Mr. Hudson.

I must be daft doing this.

Go on.
Get in, now.

And keep quiet.

Oh, you're soaking wet.

Get by the fire
and take your things off.

Go on.

Stand still
and you'll get pneumonia.

I'll get you a blanket.

Will you be requiring
anything else, sir?

No, thank you, Hudson.

And the colic?

Oh, no, that's gone.
Quite gone.

Mrs. Bridges' partridges
were quite delicious

but just a little rich
for my stomach at the moment.

Yes, I thought they might be,
sir.

I should have mentioned...

Oh, no, no,
it was a kind thought.

Does she know?

I am not sure, sir.

Well, best not to tell her.

[Clears throat]

Might I just have a word
with you, sir.

It's about my wages.

You may recall
that the female servants

received an increase
in wages last year, sir,

and I think
that you and her ladyship

intended to make a small
increment to my own wages

and to Edward's this year.

In view of the circumstances,
I haven't liked to ask.

Yes, Hudson, I do understand,

but since Captain James
and Mrs. Bellamy

have taken over the running
of the house now,

I think you must make
your request to them

when they return
from their honeymoon.

Oh, yes, of course, sir.

But I must warn you, they may
well feel the need to economize,

in view of the rising costs.

Yes, I see, sir.

I am sorry
to have raised the matter.

No, no, no, Hudson,
you're quite within your rights.

I understand the position.

Thank you.

Good night, sir.

Good night, Hudson.

The Titanic.

ROSE:
Mm.

Didn't you read about it
in the papers?

Not that she was on it.

Where's Captain James?

Oh, married just last month.

He's gonna live here
in the house.

'Course he's on honeymoon
at the moment, in Paris.

Miss Elizabeth?

She lives in New York now.

Married.

Why didn't you go with her?

Wasn't asked.

A lot of changes, then.

Yeah,
but not everything changes.

Mr. Hudson, Mrs. Bridges, Rose.

What about you?

What you been doing
all these years, eh?

I went to Germany.

As valet to Baron Von Rimmer,
you remember.

I remember.

It's not a bad life, really.

Schloss in the mountains.

Beautiful scenery.

How did you get on?
You can't speak German.

I learned it.

Quick ear for language.
Well, enough to get by on.

Would have stayed, only...

Only what?

ALFRED:
Baron got married.

Ohh.

He did, Rose,
to a beautiful princess.

Ugly cow.

Didn't like me.

Stinking...

The princess made some changes
in the household.

Got rid of me, didn't she?

I wasn't required.

Like you and Miss Elizabeth.

Of course, the baron was sorry
to see me go, but she'd got him.

It was all very friendly,

very civil, polite,

very cordial.

Fare paid home.

Position arranged with
a gentleman friend of the baron.

English?

Lithuanian.

[ Crying ]

No, no, don't, Alfred.

Don't cry.
It's all right.

Sorry, Rose.
It's me nerves.

It's all right.

You won't give me away,
will you?

Of course I won't give you away.

- Why should I?
- It's not a crime, is it?

What's not a crime?

Falling in love.

Falling in love?

You?
Who with?

It should have been you, Rose.

Don't be daft.

It should have been.

I would have been happy
with you. I know it.

Alfred, was it a man?

No.

I saw that now.

It was only just mania
for something.

No, it's girls for now, Rose.

Girls.

Their lithe bodies
and silken hair.

Yeah, well, never mind all that.

Who was it with?

The niece.

Niece?
Oh, the Lithuanian's niece?

ALFRED:
Arabella.

Came to stay from Herefordshire.

Vision of loveliness.

It was mutual.

Of course, we had to keep it
a secret from him, didn't we,

from the crusty old bachelor.

We used to write poetry
for each other.

Leave it in flower vases.

[ Laughs ]

What's the matter, Rose?

Are you mocking me?

'Course I'm not, Alfred.

Go on telling.

He found out, didn't he?

Found one of the letters.

In the flower vase.

Of course.

Where else?

Sorry.

It was a hobby of his,
flower arranging,

took it up after his wife died.

Thought you said
he was a bachelor.

Was, after she died.

No, he wasn't.
He was a widower.

Hadn't got a woman,
that's what I meant, clever.

Besides, don't you believe me,
Rose?

Oh, I do want to, Alfred.

I'll prove it to you.

I'll prove it to you,
Doubting Thomas.

She gave me this,

and I swore it would never leave
my neck till the day I died.

Oh, yes, it's lovely.

But put it back on
or it's bad luck.

I haven't a thread.

Oh, give it here.

Come on.

What happened next?

After he found the poetry
in the flower vase?

He turned me out.

Sent her back to Herefordshire.

When was that?

ALFRED: He's jealous.
Jealous, you see.

Jealous of her.

Promises made to her mother
or something,

make a good marriage.

Not me, not the valet.

I wasn't good enough.

I was dirt, vile, filth, putrid,
putrefying excrement.

When did this happen?

Two days.
Two days ago.

Two days ago and you've been
wandering about in this weather

ever since?

Do you have no friends to go to?

Had friends but they were
employed by his friends,

Weren't they?

I was exiled, banished off
with the love of that girl.

Oh.

ALFRED:
I was desperate.

Didn't notice the cold.

Wandering around,
trying to think what to do.

I thought of you, Rose.

Me?

Why me?

ALFRED: Friendly face,
spanning the years.

Angel of mercy.

Yeah.

What am I gonna do with you now,
eh?

I don't know.

Isn't there somewhere,
back room or something?

Just tonight.

A night's rest
for the weary traveller.

Well, there's a small storeroom,

Where the coal hole is,
old couch in there.

Sounds cozy.

All right, then.

Come on.

Fetch your togs with you.

- What do you want?
- Oh, Rose!

Oh, I've got an awful
bellyache, Rose.

You got any of that medicine?

Mrs. Bridges must have
poisoned me.

It's in there.

EDWARD:
Here, don't push.

Here, what's going on, Rose?

Hey, you've got someone
down here, haven't you?

You're a sly one, Rose.

Who is it?
A cavalry officer, eh?

Yes, that's right.

Swallow.

Here, have you still got
that old coat of yours,

the gray one what you had before
Mr. Hudson went to Sommerby

and you got given a new one?

Yeah, it's in the cupboard
in the hall.

Well, can I have it?

Only an old tramp came round
this morning, freezing.

He's here now, isn't he?

Go on. I won't say nothing
to Mr. Hudson. where is he?

- Get it.
- What, now?

Yes, now.

Rose, that's my coat.

Go and get it.

If you're still feeling so sick,
why don't you get back to bed?

'Night, Rose.

Alfred?

Oh, you wretch!

You scared me.

Just testing how well hidden
I could be.

Oh.

You mind, you've got to be gone
first thing in the morning.

I will, Rose.

I promise.

Oh, I did have some terrible
bellyaches last night, Ruby,

did you?

No.

Well, why was it just me, then?
That's not fair.

You and Mr. Bellamy.

Oh, yeah, I forgot about him.

Morning, Rose.

Morning, Edward.

- Sweet dreams, eh?
- Yes, thank you, Edward.

Good. All about cavalry officers
and everything?

Why should she dream
of cavalry officers?

EDWARD: Rose knows.
Don't you, Rose?

ROSE: Rose knows.
Don't you, Rose?

That girl worries me.

It's time somebody had a talk
with her.

Rose, what do you want
with that?

Can you not wait
for your breakfast?

Oh, that?

No, it's not for me,
Mr. Hudson.

It's for pigeon.

Pigeon?

Mm, I've been feeding it.

I think it's hurt its wing.

It's not inside the house,
I hope.

ROSE:
Oh, no, no.

It's out the back
on a window ledge.

In a box.

A box?

Mm.
Hatbox.

But that's fresh bread
you're feeding it on.

That's very extravagant.

These are difficult times.

Here, give that to me.

Oh, Mr. Hudson!

- Take this.
- Pooh, it's a bit moldy.

Away you go, now. You're
far too sentimental, Rose.

That's quite good enough
for a pigeon.

There are human beings
in need of this.

Alfred.

[Meaning]

Alfred.

Just keep away from me.
Keep away from me, you bastard!

I'll smash you!
I'll smash you!

Alfred, it's Rose.
It's me.

Rose?

[ Crying ]

Shh.

Shh.

Shh.

Do you think Rose is under
the weather, Mr. Hudson?

Mrs. Bridges thinks she is.

We are none of us
in the best of spirits.

Except possibly you, Edward.

Events have weighed heavily
on us for some time now.

They weigh heavily on me
as well, Mr. Hudson.

Yes, well, hurry up and take
that tray to the master.

Look sharp now.

Mr. Hudson, I think you ought
to have a word to Rose.

I would do it myself,

but sometimes these things
come better from a man.

There's something troubling her,
I'm sure of it.

What are you trying to do?
Kill me?

[ Laughs ]
It's Mr. Hudson.

I had to say you was a pigeon.

Ooh, ooh, ooh.

[ Laughs ]

Listen,
you get your clothes on fast,

and I'll see
if the coast is clear.

[Whispering]
It's Mr. Hudson! Mr. Hudson!

Oh, so, this is where
you keep your pigeon, Rose.

I thought you told me
that you...

Who is this?

It's Alfred, Mr. Hudson.

You remember Alfred,
used to work as footman.

Alfred?

Yes, Mr. Hudson,
you remember me.

What the dickens
are you doing here?

He just dropped in last night.

Please don't be angry.

He's lost his job,
had no place to go.

He stayed here all night?

I said he could.

He was soaking wet.

Please don't blame Rose.

You hold your tongue!
You have done wrong, Rose.

You should never have let a
stranger in here late at night.

Oh, but, you see,
he isn't a stranger.

He's one of us or used to be.

I know what he used to be, Rose.

And I know my duty.

Oh.

Please don't tell Mr. Bellamy,
Mr. Hudson.

Don't give him away.

Please.

Very good of you to come,
Geoffrey.

My dear fellow.

Glass of Madeira?

Might it be a glass of milk?

I've been having
a bit of bother.

Most certainly.
Hudson.

- Geoffrey.
- Thank you.

Thought I'd move myself
in here now,

make a bit more room
for James and Hazel.

Yes, I see.

I take it this is not altogether
a social visit.

Not altogether, no.

What's on your mind?

Money's on my mind,
quite simply.

I've been doing my sums

and I find that although James
has taken over

the bulk of the running costs
of this house,

I can't make ends meet.

My parliamentary salary
is £400 a year,

but, of course,
that goes nowhere.

I have to contribute my share,
the cost of clothing is up,

club subscriptions,
cab fares, everything.

I'm overdrawn at the bank,
and I need your advice.

On how to increase
your personal income?

Yes, that is
the immediate concern.

We'd always agreed the children
would inherit from their mother,

of course,

but that was assuming

that I would be old when
Marjorie died or dead myself.

We never envisaged...

Quite.
Thank you.

RICHARD: My only tangible asset
is the lease of this house,

but, of course, that brings in
no money at all.

Quite.

Is this goat's milk?

I don't think so.

[Clears throat]

Well.

What about your writing?
You had a considerable success.

Biographies of dead politicians?

There's no money in that,
and you know it.

I shall continue writing
because I enjoy it.

It's no solution to my problem.

Unless I turn to hack
political journalism.

You're not suggesting that,
are you?

No, no, no, I quite appreciate
your distaste

for that sort of thing.

But there are some reasonable
outlets and in your position...

You are saying
beggars can't be choosers.

Quite frankly,
if I may speak frankly...

Oh, please do.

I'm in this position, largely,

through your handling
of Marjorie's affairs.

I don't quite follow.

Well, I'm not blaming you
necessarily.

None of us could have foreseen
what would happen.

But you must admit, I've been
left in a devilish mess

by her death.

Financially speaking.

In all ways, damn it.

Particularly financially.

I am asking you to retrieve
something for me.

But I get the impression
that you're sitting there

complacently
twiddling your thumbs.

I find this quite extraordinary,
Richard.

I've served the interests
of this family now...

The Southwold family.

You serve the Southwold interest
nobly,

but I am not a Southwold
and there is a division.

Nonsense.

A division
between me and Marjorie

and between me and my children.

In your mind.

If it came to the pinch,

you'd put their interests
before mine.

Well, quite clearly,
the events of the past year

have affected your reasoning,
Richard.

There's no question.

All right,
I am not disputing it.

I am simply asking you to
involve yourself with my dilemma

and not stand aloof from it.

Advise and help me.
That's all.

Well, of course, there is one
way of raising some more capital

for you.

It might have crossed your mind.

What's that?

Well, if James and his wife

are going to live in this house
now and in the future,

you could sell him the lease.

It's yours.

And stay on.

As my son's lodger?

GEOFFREY:
Well, I'm quite sure

neither of you would see it
in that light.

Yes, Geoffrey, but even so.

It would seem to be
the immediate solution

to your problem.

HUDSON: I take a very
serious view of this, Rose.

This young man brought shame
and disgrace on this house

it took a long time
to recover from.

I'd sooner have 40 thieves
in here than see him back.

- What'd he do?
- Be quiet, Edward.

Oh, it must have been
something serious.

I always thought you was
a forgiving man, Mr. Hudson.

I am, Rose,
but there are some things

that can never be excused.

Thank you, Edward.

Might I say a word?

No, you may not.

Don't worry, Alfred, you won't
be allowed a fair hearing.

Not in this house!

Rose.

Well.

You don't think he could be here
for a reason?

He might be in trouble
through no fault of his own.

You just kick him out
in the freezing cold,

no money, no place to go,

all 'cause we've judged him
on his past.

Well, a man can change,
can't he?

And one thing we've always done
is look after our own.

Remember Sarah?

Captain James and Miss Lizzie

found her starving
in whitechapel,

and they brought her back here.

Well, if they can show some
decent, Christian humanity,

why can't we?

All right, Rose,
that's quite enough from you.

Well, at least let him tell
his story.

I think he should be allowed to,
Mr. Hudson.

Very well, Alfred, go on.

Go on, tell them.

Tell them what, Rose?

All about falling in love
and that.

Falling in love?

Him?
Who with?

With the niece of my employer
who came to stay with him.

From Herefordshire.

EDWARD:
What was her name?

Arabella.

Arabella!
Ha! That's a cow's name!

Herefordshire cow!

They're gonna laugh at me, Rose.

No, they're not gonna laugh
at you.

Go on, Alfred.

What was she like?

Be quiet, Ruby!

What was she like, Alfred?

Well, she was like Rose,
kind and pretty.

I don't think
this is getting us anywhere.

Anyway, it's nearly dinnertime.

Edward, go and lay the table.

You too, Ruby.
Look sharp, now.

Go on, Alfred.

Tell them all about
writing poetry

and hiding it
in the flower vases.

Flower vases?

Yes.

And then her uncle, his
Lithuanian employer, found it

and, mad with fury,
flung Alfred out

because he'd promised her mother

that he would find her
a husband.

But not poor Alfred.

And that's why Alfred's here.

Ain't it, Alfred?

It's a very fine story, Rose,
but how do we know it's true?

Because...

Oh, don't you believe
in nothing?

You believe too much, Rose,
more than is good for you.

All right, then, look at this.

She gave him this.

And when she placed it
round his throat,

she made him swear
that he would never take it off,

not as long as he lived.

He could have stolen that
from anywhere.

That's not true, Mr. Hudson.

I may have been many things,
but I have never been a thief.

Look, I'm not putting up
with any more of this.

Has it never occurred to you,
Rose,

there could be
another more sinister side

to this whole business?

That he has been gulling you

with his cock-and-bull
love story

simply in order to get his foot
inside this house again.

Well, why should he want
to do that, Mr. Hudson?

I'll tell you why, Mrs. Bridges,

and anyone else
who cares to listen.

Because there are certain people

who want to do mischief
to this great country

and his former employer,

the celebrated Baron Von Rimmer,
was proved to be one of them.

Oh, my God!

A spy, you mean.

HUDSON: That is correct,
Mrs. Bridges, a foreign spy.

And now he has the effrontery
to send his servant,

a creature of loathsome,
perverted habits,

to seek re-employment.

Daah!

You've got foreigners
on the brain, Mr. Hudson,

and you always had had.

I can remember when you thought
the whole German Army had landed

and they was all working
on the south coast

as waiters and hairdressers.

You said one day they'd rise up
and slaughter us in our beds.

Well, they haven't, have they?

Still here, aren't we?

Now, Rose, you've gone too far.

Well, I may not be clever,

but at least I know real people

and I don't just have to go on

what I read in books
and newspapers neither.

And don't you worry
'cause no one's gonna harm you.

Perhaps Alfred,
or Rose speaking for him,

will kindly tell us

the name of his former employer,
this Lithuanian,

so that we can verify
his touching story.

- No, no, I can't.
- I thought not.

- Why can't you?
- He doesn't exist.

He does.

I can't for Arabella's sake.
I promised.

It would do no harm to tell us.

I promised I wouldn't tell
anybody, promised faithfully.

Oh, he's got to keep
his promise, Mr. Hudson.

I suggest your last employer was
a German living in this country.

- No, he wasn't.
- Wasn't?

Isn't a German.

I told you,
he's a Lithuanian gentleman.

It's not even a German name,
Zabadov.

Zabadov?

No!

Leave him alone!

Well, what would you do
with him, Mrs. Bridges?

Well, he's been a bad boy,
but let him stay to dinner.

That can't do no harm.

And then we'll think about it,
shall we?

Very well.

For dinner only.

But after that, out!

Thank you, Mrs. Bridges.

You always were very considerate
towards me, very understanding.

Oh.
Was I, Alfred?

I suppose I was.

Come on, Alfred.

Yes, Rose, I'm coming.

Rose, come here a minute.

Yes, Mrs. Bridges.

You're very fond of him,
aren't you?

Fond?

Well, you took a big risk
hiding him like that.

You must be fond of him.

Yes, I suppose I am.

I don't believe all this

what Mr. Hudson was saying
about spies.

Alfred hasn't got the brains.

Neither has Mr. Hudson,
saying things like that.

- Now, Rose.
- I'm sorry.

The point is
what's gonna become of him?

He can't stay here.

If we push him out after dinner,
where's he going to?

Well, that's what
I've been wondering.

I was wondering
about this gentleman,

this Mr. Zabadov,
this Lithuanian employer of his.

I wonder who his cook is.

Oh, was you thinking
you'd talk to him,

get him to put a good word in
for Alfred to get his job back?

MRS. BRIDGES: well, if it's only
a misunderstanding over love,

I mean, those things
quickly pass over.

And what with the young lady

being safely away
in Herefordshire.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Mm. Oh, Alfred!
You gave me quite a start.

Sorry, Mrs. Bridges.

Talk about it later, Rose.

I couldn't help overhearing
just now, Mrs. Bridges,

what you were saying.

It's very kind of you
to think of me like that.

It's what I'd expect from you,

but, you see,
Mr. Zabadov, my employer,

that's not his real name.

Not his real name?

No, I made it up.

To keep Mr. Hudson
off the scent,

keep my promise to Arabella.

Oh.
Well, what is his real name?

You can tell me.

It's no use,
my going back there.

You see,
he's going to live abroad.

Oh, you mean he's going
back to Lithuania?

And you wouldn't consider going
with him?

I can't speak the lingo.

Besides,
my heart belongs to England.

I am not a coldhearted man,
Richard,

and no one knows your position
better than I do.

But I must remind you
that only a few months back,

at Lady Southwold's suggestion,

I offered you
a lucrative directorship.

Yes, I know you did, Geoffrey,

but there were strings
attached to that.

I was not prepared to surrender
my political independence

nor am I now.

Let me talk to you,
not just as a financial adviser

but as an older friend.

Now, we'll both admit
that you've always had

a difficult relationship with
the Southwolds on many fronts.

You feel
that while they assisted you

in getting started in politics,

they also held you back,

prevented you on occasion
from being your own master.

But now it could be argued,
however callous it may sound,

that Lady Marjorie's death

has released you
from their patronage

and you might find
that you can move forward

with greater freedom
in any field that you choose.

But for this, you need capital.

Very well, take my advice.

Pocket your pride and sell
that lease to young James.

Beg pardon, sir.
Sir Geoffrey.

Might I have a word, sir?
It's a matter of some urgency.

Yes, well, go on, Hudson.

Alfred is downstairs.

Alfred?

Our former footman, sir.
You may remember him.

Oh, yes, yes.

He stayed here last night, sir.

I regret to say,
without my knowledge.

He claims to have left
his last employer

after a misfortunate
love affair.

Well, what's the harm in that?

Give him some food
and send him on his way.

Just a moment, Richard.

Didn't you tell me
there was something strange

about this Alfred?

Oh, yes, he had some trouble
with a German baron,

but that's all forgotten.

You can't be too careful.

If I may say so, sir,
I agree with Sir Geoffrey.

It's the security of the house
that I'm worried about.

Did he tell you
the name of his last employer?

Might I be of some assistance,
Mr. Hudson?

That won't be necessary, Alfred.
Thank you.

You go and sit by the fire.

You're supposed to be our guest.

Too kind.

I thought you were
Rose's man friend last night.

You see, I came down
from my room with a bellyache,

and I heard you two.

I thought you were
her secret lover.

Who are you?

Me?
I'm Edward.

He's your successor.

Edward the Successor.

I thought you were
her cavalry-officer paramour.

- Did you, now?
- Yeah.

But then she asked me
for my old coat,

so I knew it wasn't for a tramp.

I thought you might have been
a deserter.

Deserter?

Desert my post?

Hide behind
the skirts of a lady?

I would be such a blaggard!

There, he's good at
the imitations, isn't he?

Let go.

It's all right, Edward.
He always was a bit funny.

It's a cold day,
isn't it, Mr. Hudson.

It is, Mrs. Bridges.

A cold day for tramping about
the streets.

I expect Rose to defend Alfred.

It's a romantic idea for a young
girl to harbour a lame dog,

but I must say I'm surprised
at you, Mrs. Bridges.

I'm not doing it for
no romantic reason, Mr. Hudson.

You ought to know me
better than that.

But surely we can
think up something better

than turning the poor boy out.

So you think I'm mistaken
in my suspicions as well?

Well, all I can say is,
Mrs. Bridges,

I've been reading
the newspapers closely

during the last few weeks,

and there's things in the air
that I find very disquieting.

What sort of things?

Of a political nature.

Between this country
and Germany.

But what's that got to do
with Alfred?

[Bell rings]

EDWARD:
Mr. Hudson, shall I go?

No, Edward,
you help with the dinner.

I'll go.

RICHARD:
Hudson.

Is Alfred still downstairs?

Yes, sir.
He's about to have his dinner.

See that he doesn't leave
the house.

You're quite right
to inform us about him.

I've been in touch
with my chief clerk.

He was able to ascertain

that there was a gentleman
of Lithuanian origin

called Zabadov

living in Brighton.

When we telephoned
Mr. Zabadovs residence,

the call was answered
by a police inspector.

Police?

Mr. Zabadov was found lying
on the floor of his bedroom,

butchered to death
with a meat axe.

He'd been dead
for two or three days.

The police are
on their way here now.

Shall I Rose?

I ain't stopping you

EDWARD:
Yeah, go on, Alfred.

We could do with
some entertainment down here.

[Singing in German]

Edward, Ruby!

EDWARD: Oh, it's only
a bit of fun, Mr. Hudson.

It's what they sing
in German kitchens.

Let it be confined
to German kitchens.

I'll not have that kind of thing
sung down here. Come on!

Yes, Mr. Hudson.

My goodness,
what a caterwauling.

Here, Ruby, move that dish.

Come on, Alfred, you can
come and sit here, by me.

Ohh.

For what we are
about to receive,

may the Lord make us
truly thankful.

- Amen.
- Amen.

What did they give you to eat
in Germany, Alfred?

Frankfurters, sauerkraut,

black soldiers bread
called comet's bottom,

brown bread pudding.

Delicious, I'll cook you some.

Oh, no, thank you.

Do you really cook?

Yeah, I'm very good.
I know all the tricks.

I can see they don't teach
manners in German kitchens.

Well, he's hungry.

He hasn't eaten for three days.

From love, I suppose.

I've heard tell that you have
snail soup in Germany.

You do, but not your common,
garden snails.

Big white juicy ones,
fattened on farm.

Delicious.

Ooh, if he really can cook,
Mr. Hudson,

perhaps you could talk to our
purser friend down at the docks,

get him a job
on a boat going somewhere.

As ship's cook.

Yeah.
Honolulu.

Maybe a German boat. Then he
could cook his bread pudding.

Well, it would give him
a chance, Mr. Hudson.

I don't think there's
a great call for bread pudding

on the kind of boats my purser
friend is associated with.

Well, you could put a word in
with someone else.

Yeah, go on, Mr. Hudson.

[Bell rings]

We'll have to see, won't we?

Well, it's worth thinking about
anyway.

Mm. As long as
you don't get seasick.

MRS. BRIDGES:
Oh, yeah.

That wouldn't do.

Detective Inspector Bowles, sir,
and Sergeant Mayberry.

Oh, yes.

This is my solicitor,
Sir Geoffrey Dillon.

BOWLES:
How do you do?

Will you be requiring me, sir?

Yes, please stay, Hudson.

This is a dreadful business,
Inspector.

Well, we're not certain
of anything yet, sir,

beyond the fact
that Alfred Harris was seen

in his master's company
on the evening of the fifth,

that's three days ago,
and has been missing since.

Until now, sir.

Anything taken?
Money, valuables?

It seems not, sir.

That's why we don't think
it was an outside job.

Harris is still on the premises?

Yes, Inspector, downstairs.

BOWLES:
How many people with him?

Well, there's
Mrs. Bridges the cook,

Rose the parlourmaid,
Edward and Ruby.

You think he might be dangerous?

Well, you better go
and collect him.

Before we do that, sir,
I wonder,

can you throw any light
on Harris' personal life,

the sexual nature of it, sir?

The Lithuanian, you see, was
an unmarried man of some age.

Effeminate,
if you know what I mean, sir.

Will Mr. Hudson be coming back
for his pudding?

Oh, we better keep it hot
for him, Ruby.

It's one of his favorites.

I wonder where he's got to.
He's been a long time.

Hey, there's a copper up there.

MRS. BRIDGES:
Did you like it, Alfred?

What's that, Mrs. Bridges?

MRS. BRIDGES:
My jam roly-poly pudding.

Not as good as your bread
pudding, I don't suppose.

HUDSON:
Down this way, Inspector.

[ Indistinct conversation]

Here, Alfred,
there's a copper up there.

Aah!

Alfred! Alfred!

What's all the rumpus about?

One step!
Any of you!

Oh, Alfred!

Don't come near, Rose.

What shall we do, sir?

Well, first get rid
of the staff.

I'll talk to the inspector.

Right, sir. Come on,
Mrs. Bridges, back in here.

Mr. Hudson, what's going on?

Nothing for you to worry about.
Quickly now. Quickly.

Now, Rose, you as well.

No, I'm staying.

All right, Hudson.

Inspector,
this young fool means business.

We can't take any risks.

We'll just have to try
and talk him out of it.

- Who's the girl?
Rose the housemaid.

He's just scared, sir.

He won't do any harm,
I'm sure of it.

Well, I'm not.

He's killed once.

Killed?

RICHARD:
Here, let me talk to him.

BOWLES:
No, you can't, sir.

It's all right, Alfred.

Won't come any closer.

You know who I am?

Mr. Bellamy, sir.

Now, just listen to me.

I don't know what you've done,
but whatever it is,

you're not making things
any easier for yourself.

Do you understand?

You must let Edward go now
and hand me that knife.

I'll get you all the assistance
you need.

Sorry, I can't do that, sir.

RICHARD:
Well, why not?

They think I'm guilty.

They don't think
anything of the kind.

They do.

With respect to me, they don't
know what happened really.

But then you can tell them.

They want to hear
your side of things.

ALFRED:
And listen to me?

Not me.

Scum of the earth,
crawling on its belly.

Don't, sir!

Alfred,
what are you going to do?

You can't stay here forever,
and they'll wait.

I want to talk to Rose, alone.

Alfred, please.

Alone.

Door shut.
Private.

Please let me talk to him, sir.
I'm sure he'll listen to me.

Rose, I can't take
the responsibility

of leaving you in here.

You must let me handle this now,
sir.

Make no attempt to disarm him.

Just talk, right?

We'll be just outside.

I thought
we weren't taking any risks.

Well, if he trusts her,
she has the best chance.

The rest of us frighten him.

No nearer.

Alfred, please,
what are they saying?

You didn't kill anybody.

Tell them you didn't do it.

Can't.

Why?

Everything's still.

Bedroom carpet, there's blood.

Blood?
Whose blood?

My Lithuanian.

The baron's friend.

The baron's vile, disgusting...

People I lived with...

Like here.

Decent people always here.

I wanted to be decent.

[Speaks indistinctly]

Push me to grovel.

It was like a serpent,
like the lowest of the beasts.

Just wanted to get away
back to this life, anything.

Wouldn't let me.
Just laughed at me.

Stop, stop, stop it.
He wouldn't.

I took a cleaver.

He was sleeping.

The sweetly smelling bedroom.

Oh, disgusting.

As he slept, I finished it.

No niece.

No Arabella.

ALFRED:
A decent man.

Important.

New life.

Ship's cook.
Honolulu.

Just me.

Ask them out there.

The docks.
A chance.

Tell them, Rose.

How?

You must help me.

I can't.

You promised!

Didn't promise.

Like to do something but...

Get out!

No, Alfred.

ALFRED:
Whore!

Filthy scum of a whore!
All scum!

Don't need you!

Adam's rib!
Delilah! Jezebel!

See how mine enemies
are gathered about me!

I suggest you withdraw
your distance in silence.

He might be led into
a false sense of security.

He's got the boy with him.

He won't harm him.
He's too valuable to him.

I think it might be
worth trying, sir.

- Very well.
Sergeant.

...in the house of the father.

Will you rest or not with thee?

We don't need...
We don't need...

Do you want me to speak to him,
sir?

No, Hudson, we're going to leave
him alone for a while,

see how he reacts to that.

Don't need friends,
do we, Edward?

We don't need the assistance
of whores!

Let go of my neck.

Please let go.
You're hurting.

We'll make our own way.

Don't kill me!

Why do you say that?

I never harmed you.

I've never harmed you either.

I never intended to harm you.

It's just for them.

Protection.

We'll go to the docks together.

I don't want to go.

What do you say?

Yeah, all right, I'll go.

You will?

Yeah, I'll go to the docks.

What's going on out there?

It's all gone quiet.

Perhaps we should go, eh?

No.

It's a trick.

They're waiting.

We'll wait.

Please let go of my neck.

You won't do anything silly?

No.
I promise.

We're the same, you and me.

Footmen.

Friends.

There, Rose.

Let me go and talk to him, sir.

I always used to understand
Alfred.

EDWARD:
Help me!

Help me!

Rose! Rose!

Rose!

[ Shouting ]

EDWARD: I'd been waiting
for a chance, Mr. Hudson,

and then he let the knife drop
and I grabbed it quick.

Well done, Edward, my boy.

Sorry we weren't able to save
you all this trouble.

You did everything you could,
Inspector.

Thank you.
Goodbye.

What exactly happened?

I'm not quite sure, but it seems
your ruse was successful.

Now, will you come upstairs
and have some whiskey

or would you prefer some milk?

I think a small whiskey
would be in order.

There, there.

Now, don't fret, my girl.
Don't fret.

He always was a bad lot,
that Alfred.

[Whistling]

Edward, be quiet.

Whatever for, Mr. Hudson?

[Bells tolling]

They've hanged him.

It was no more than he deserved,
Rose.

May his soul rest in peace.

He was ill, Mr. Hudson.

It wasn't his fault
what he done.

It was other people made him.

You can't hang a man
what's not right in the head.

You can and you must, Rose.

No matter why,
he took away a human life

and must pay with his own.

That is the law
of civilized man.

And God's law, too,
if you read your Bible.

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