Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1975): Season 4, Episode 1 - A Patriotic Offering - full transcript

In a gesture of goodwill, the Bellamys offer generous hospitality to a family of Belgian refugees and Edward is feeling increased pressure to enlist.

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Acorn Media (re-sync by moviesbyrizzo)

[Clock chimes]

I fancy it's time.

Edward, Ruby.

[Woman clears throat]

Ready, Edward?
- Yes.

Very well, Ruby.

HUDSON: Right, Edward.

- Oh, Daisy!
- What have you done, girl?

ROSE: Mr. Hudson,
shall I switch the light off?

HUDSON: No, no, no,
it's all right, Rose.



Is it properly down
this time, Daisy?

DAISY:
Yes, Mr. Hudson.

Oh, Ruby, what was you
thinking of?

If anybody'd seen that,

they would of thought
we was a nest of spies.

RUBY: I'm sorry, Mrs. Bridges,
it came off in me hand.

HUDSON: No, never mind, my girl.

Never mind.
There's no harm done.

MRS. BRIDGES: Stop that noise
and go and see about the tea.

RUBY:
Yes, Mrs. Bridges.

MRS. BRIDGES;
Oh, that girl!

We ought to send her
to fight for the Kaiser.

The war would soon be over then.

[Laughter]



ROSE: I'm glad we used
this green stuff.

Won't be able
to see a thing through it.

HUDSON: Ah, possibly.

We'll need to put drawing pins
in at the side.

No inadvertent chinks.

That is to be the motto
in this household.

- Yes, Mr. Hudson.
- Yes, Mr. Hudson.

EDWARD: Mr. Hudson, you don't
seriously think

that the zeppelins are going to
get as far as London, do you?

Well, if they do, I'm going to
climb up the string

and stick a hat pin in them.

And if the Kaiser comes over,

I'll stick a hat pin
in him, too.

Quite right, Mrs. Bridges.

Though, strictly speaking,
I don't believe

the zeppelins
have got strings attached.

Rose, Edward, Daisy,

we will now go and draw
the curtains upstairs.

Come on, look sharp now.

RICHARD:
Georgina didn't come in to tea.

HAZEL: No.

Billy Linton's on leave.

She's gone to a
"thé dansant" with him.

RICHARD: Oh, I suppose

that extraordinary form
of entertainment

will become more popular
than ever now.

With all the street lamps
turned out,

people will want
to get home early.

HAZEL:
I doubt if Georgina will.

RICHARD: Hmm.

HAZEL: Yes, Hudson?

If we might draw
the curtains, madam?

RICHARD:
Rather early, isn't it?

I thought we'd better make sure

that the blackout is in order,
sir, since I understand

that the street lamps are
not going to be lit tonight.

RICHARD: I see.

HAZEL: Very well, Hudson.

I trust we're not offending

against the defence
of the realm.

HUDSON: I will send
Edward outside, sir,

to make sure that
there are no chinks.

HAZEL: Ah.

There's another one done.

I do hate sewing curtains.

I must try and get hold
of some more black material

for the spare room curtains.

RICHARD: Spare room?
Are you expecting visitors?

Not really.

Prudence wants to hold her
committee meeting here tomorrow.

RICHARD: Committee?

HAZEL: Her Belgian
refugee committee.

RICHARD:
Now, Hazel, you're --

You know, I passed two smartly
dressed women

in whitehall yesterday,
and one said to the other,

"Have you got your Belgian
refugees yet?"

As if it was a new fashion
in house furnishing.

HAZEL: But if they have
nowhere to go, Richard.

RICHARD:
Hazel, no more committees.

You've taken on
too much already.

HAZEL:
Oh, I haven't really.

Anyway, I prefer
to be kept busy.

RICHARD: I know.

HAZEL: Do you suppose
James was at Mons?

Yes, it does seem likely.

I wish he could write
more often.

Oh, I expect we shall
hear before long.

Things are bad, aren't they?

Quite serious.

If the Belgians give up
Antwerp without a fight,

the Germans will drive
straight through to the coast.

That would mean
a German invasion?

Well, it will certainly
bring the possibility

a great deal closer.

If only I could take some
active part in it all.

HAZEL:
You have a voice in Parliament.

RICHARD: Oh, yes,
to criticize Asquith

for his conduct of the war
which is necessary, I suppose,

but which hardly
seems patriotic.

Or even particularly effective.

Anyway, don't let Prudence
talk you into anything.

HAZEL: I won't.

EDWARD: But they were sweeping
snow out of the carriages

in Edinburgh, Mr. Hudson.

HUDSON: I daresay
they were, Edward,

but it was not snow off
the boots of Russian soldiers.

EDWARD: But I was talking
to this friend of mine

in the Crown & Anchor --

HUDSON:
Was he there himself?

EDWARD: Well, no,
but he was talking to a friend

who knew one of the porters.

HUDSON: I daresay.

RUBY: And there was
that ruble they found

in the pen in the slot machine
near Durham.

MRS. BRIDGES:
Ruby, have you been gossiping

with that butcher's boy again?

Now go and fetch their plates.

Come along, everybody.

We've got a nice bit of haddock
for our high tea today.

Don't let it spoil.

Edward, put that paper away.

ROSE: But, Mr. Hudson,
how comes this then --

if it isn't true,
how does it get put about?

I mean it's in the paper
clear as daylight.

90,000 Russian soldiers

passing through England
on their way to France.

90,000!

HUDSON: I mentioned
the matter to the master,

and he said it was 90,000 eggs.

EDWARD: Eggs?

HUDSON: A cable was sent
which read,

"90,000 dispatched
from Archangel,"

but it was not soldiers,
it was eggs.

[Laughter]

EDWARD: Oh, yeah,
Well they might say that.

What, no bacon, Mrs. Bridges?

MRS. BRIDGES: The mistress says
we've all got to e-common-ize.

EDWARD:
Yeah, that's all very well,

but our keep
is part of our wages.

HUDSON: Edward, if the greatest
sacrifice we have to make

is to eat haddock without
the customary roll of bacon,

we will not have much
to complain about.

DAISY: Well, the war will be
over by Christmas anyway.

HUDSON: I wouldn't be too sure
of that, Daisy.

MRS. BRIDGES: How are things
on the war front, Mr. Hudson?

HUDSON: Rather grave,
Mrs. Bridges, I'm afraid.

The German attack has been
halted on the River Marne,

but Paris is still threatened.

And there was a wee hint
in The Times today

that the Belgians might
not be able to hold Antwerp.

MRS. BRIDGES: Oh.

HUDSON: And it would appear
that the Russian army

suffered a severe defeat
several weeks ago.

MRS. BRIDGES: I don't know
why were always fighting

on the same side
as them Russians anyway.

Nasty lot of anarchists.

The anarchists, Mrs. Bridges,
are exiles, who, in my opinion,

should all be clapped
into prison immediately.

But it's only natural that we
should be allies

of the Russians, the Tsar
being a cousin of our King.

EDWARD: So is the German Kaiser,
isn't he, Mr. Hudson?

HUDSON: There are misalliances,
Edward, in every great family.

DAISY: Well,
I don't care what happens

as long as Eddie don't
get mixed up in it.

ROSE:
He may have to, Daisy.

RUBY: Like Lord Kitchener said,
his country needs him.

MRS. BRIDGES:
Hold your tongue, Ruby.

If this here
prescription comes in,

that'll be quite time enough
for Edward to go.

HUDSON: I trust that,
should the need arise,

every true Briton will enlist

Without the need of
conscription, Mrs. Bridges.

But, in my opinion,
that time has not yet come.

DAISY:
I hope it never will.

HUDSON:
We shall see, Daisy.

For the moment,
Edward's duty lies here.

Ruby, pepper, please.

LADY BERKHAMSTEAD:
And I said to Connie Hardcourt,

"I cannot understand
these people."

And, naturally, one keeps
one's butler and chauffeur,

and for the sake of the horses,

one cannot part
with one's grooms.

Now, I thought we should have
sent our under-gamekeepers,

but Henry said the poachers
would become so tiresome.

PRUDENCE: Well, your husband

is a justice of the peace,
isn't he?

Perhaps he could sentence
the poachers

to enlist immediately.

It's no laughing matter,
Prudence.

We have sent seven servants
from our townhouse alone.

And yet here are
all these people

with their houses full
of able-bodied men

and refusing to part with them.

How old do you suppose
the butler is here?

PRUDENCE: Hudson?

Oh, he must be at least --

LADY BERKHAMSTEAD: I shall have
a word with Mrs. Bellamy.

She comes from Wimbledon,
I believe.

Oh, this war is going to be
a boon to the middle classes.

What with the committees
and sewing parties

and nobody being too particular,

they are going
to get in everywhere.

Where is Mrs. Bellamy?

PRUDENCE: Well, Hudson said
she'd gone shopping, but --

HAZEL: I am sorry.

PRUDENCE: Ah, Hazel, dear.

HAZEL: Oh.

PRUDENCE: My dear, I don't think
you've met Lady Berkhamstead.

HAZEL: How do you do?

I would have been here sooner,

but on my way back,

there was a woman sitting
on the doorstep.

PRUDENCE:
What, of this house?

LADY BERKHAMSTEAD:
A drunk, I suppose.

HAZEL: No.
She was a charwoman.

PRUDENCE: A
charwoman?

Surely you could have left it
to the servants to --

HAZEL: She got a telegram before
she left home this morning,

saying that her husband
had been killed in France.

PRUDENCE: Oh.

Well, she came
to Eaton Square as usual,

but on the way home,
it came to her.

She got as far as here,

and then...

like suddenly
being drowned in grief.

I touched her,

I spoke to her,
and she didn't hear me.

I've never seen anyone
crying quite so dreadfully.

PRUDENCE:
It's very distressing.

HAZEL: Well, I-- I couldn't
just leave her.

Mrs. Bridges is giving her
some tea in the kitchen.

Well, I think you
were quite right

to get her off the street.

You know, really, these people
have absolutely no self-control.

Personally, I agree with
Mrs. Edward Littleton.

Mourning should not be allowed.

People should be proud to feel

that they have given their
nearest and dearest

in their country's cause.

Well, perhaps
she'll feel that later.

Naturally, at first,
she's, uh...

Well, shall we set to work for
our gallant Belgian refugees?

LADY BERKHAMSTEADZ:
Mm-hmm.

PRUDENCE: Lady Hardcastle was
so sorry she couldn't be here.

She has her own committee
meeting this morning.

LADY BERKHAMSTEAD: Connie would
have a committee of her own.

EDWARD: Would you care for
coffee to be served, madam?

HAZEL: Yes, please, Edward.

LADY BERKHAMSTEAD:
How old are you?

Me?

I'm 25, madam -- my lady.

LADY BERKHAMSTEAD:
And you are not married?

EDWARD: No, my lady.

LADY BERKHAIVISTEAD: Mrs. Bellamy,

you really will have to think
of sending him to enlist.

We all have to make sacrifices,
you know,

and it is up to people like us
to set an example to the others.

HAZEL: Yes.
Thank you, Edward.

PRUDENCE: Well,
Mrs. Arthur Harrower

is willing to serve
on the committee.

LADY BERKHAMSTEAD:
Oh, not Mrs. Harrower.

A more tiresome, encroaching
woman I have yet to meet.

PRUDENCE: Yes but she has
that large house,

and she's willing to take
two Belgian families.

Oh, well, certainly.

I have no objection
to her doing that.

Well?

You've taken long enough.

EDWARD: What?

ROSE: Do they want coffee?

EDWARD:
Oh, yeah, yeah.

ROSE: Oh. Come on.

The poor creatures are coming
over in fishing boats,

dredgers, even colliers,
anything to get away.

Most of them have left all
their possessions behind

and have only
what they stand up in.

It's too tragic.

LADY BERKHAMSTEAD:
Mm. Dreadful.

HAZEL:
How many are there?

PRUDENCE:
Well, they say 5,000 at least.

And if the German advance
continues,

we can expect
twice that number.

LADY BERKHAMSTEAD:
Oh, good heavens,

where are we going
to put them all?

PRUDENCE: Well, there are
reception centres, of course.

There's a large one
at Wandsworth,

but they can't stay there.

More arriving all the time.
Oh, thank you, Edward.

Of course, many of them
are just simple peasants,

and the best thing
would be to send them

straight out into the country
onto farms

or big estates where they
can work on the land.

Mm, well, Henry has some
cottages at Braokley.

I daresay he could
put them in there,

temporarily of course.

PRUDENCE:
Oh, that would be excellent.

And then we must draw up
a list of friends

who are ready to take in

the better-class Belgian
into their home.

LADY BERKHAMSTEAD:
Well, I should have thought

the better-class Belgian

would have relatives in England
with whom they could stay.

PRUDENCE: Oh, my dear Violet,
not all of them.

Angela Carstairs was telling me
the most tragic tale yesterday

of a count and countess
who fled from their chateau

with all their children,

arrived at the reception centre
absolutely penniless.

She'd even left
her jewels behind.

Well, I mean, we must do
something for people like that.

Now, Hazel dear,
how many can you take?

HAZEL: I would like
to do what I can,

but I shan't have much time
to look after them

and I -- I don't want it all
to fall on the servants.

LADY BERKHAMSTEAD:
Mrs. Bellamy,

we can hardly sit
on committees like these

asking other people
to help the war effort

unless we are prepared
to do something ourselves.

HAZEL: Yes, of course.

I expect we can take one family.

DAISY: I wonder what
they'll be like.

ROSE: I read a book once,
one of Miss Lizzie's.

It was called
The Scarlet Pirnpernel,

and it was all about
this gallant Englishman

what saved the aristos.

DAISY: Ari-what?

ROSE: Aristos.

That's French
for lords and ladies.

DAISY; Oh.

Here, ours are Belgian aristos,
aren't they?

ROSE: That's right.

Yes, this one will do.

It's got Lady Marjorie's
monogram on it.

DAISY: Oh, where?
Oh, yeah.

ROSE: We used to do them
at Southwold.

MRS. BRIDGES: Yes.

I think I'll give them
my stuffed hare.

Do we know how many
to expect, madam?

Well, Lady Prudence said

she'd try not to make it
more than three.

That might be a mother
and father and one child

or a mother and two children.

I've ordered the spare room
to be got ready, madam,

and Rose is putting a cot

and a small bed
into the nursery.

HAZEL: Oh, that's splendid.

GEORGINA: Good morning.

HAZEL: Did you enjoy yourself
last night?

GEORGINA: Oh, yes.

Billy said it was the last
opulent evening before going off

to the dreadful rigors
of camp in darkest Kent.

I thought I'd go and stay with
the Foxbredens for a few days,

and then I could see him.

HAZEL: In camp?

GEORGINA: He says he can
come over for dinner

when he's tucked
the men up in bed.

HAZEL: I see.

Uncle Richard says we're going
to have some Belgian refugees.

What fun.

HAZEL: Yes.

Oh, Hudson, I wondered if there
were any toys in the house.

Yes, madam.

There are some in
the nursery cupboard

which belonged to Miss Elizabeth
and Captain James.

Good, I'll go through them.

GEORGINA:
I'll do it if you like, Hazel.

HAZEL: Oh, would you?
Thank you, Georgina.

GEORGINA:
Shall I do it now?

HAZEL: Is that
all right, Hudson?

Certainly, madam.

I will send Daisy up
to help you, Miss Georgina.

GEORGINA:
Thank you, Hudson.

HUDSON: Will there be
anything further, madam?

Yes.

Hudson, do you happen to know if
Edward is thinking of enlisting?

HUDSON: Edward?

Oh, certainly not, madam.

I have explained to Edward
that the time may come

when it would be right
for him to enlist,

but that for the moment,
his duty lies here,

especially just now.

HAZEL: Yes.
That's what I thought.

- Is that the post, Edward?
- Yes, sir.

RICHARD:
It gets later every day.

Oh, Hudson, I'll be lunching out
but dining at home.

HUDSON: Very good, sir.

Edward!

EDWARD: Mr. Hudson?

HUDSON: What were you
thinking of,

putting the letters
into the master's hand

instead of presenting them
on a salver?

EDWARD: But I was gonna put them
on the salver, Mr. Hudson,

but I didn't have time.

HUDSON: We are not going to get
slapdash in our ways

just because there's a war on.

Nothing from James, I'm afraid.

If there had been bad news,
we should have heard.

HAZEL: Yes.

RICHARD: Well, you're getting
your Belgian refugees after all.

HAZEL:
I am sorry, Richard.

RICHARD: My dear, you did
what you thought was right.

If you hadn't,
it wouldn't have been you.

HAZEL: I'm afraid
it isn't quite

as simple as that.

Oh, I do feel sorry for them,

but I think perhaps
it was much more

wanting to show that we were as
patriotic as Lady Berkhamstead.

Anyway, you made
the right decision.

These people are our allies.

They've suffered terribly.

The least we can do is take them
into our house

and do what we can for them.

ROSE: Miss Lizzie never was much
of a one for dolls,

so someone might as well
get the use of her.

DAISY: If it's a little boy,
he can play with this.

ROSE: Yeah.

DAISY: Here, Eddie, look.
Haven't they come up lovely?

EDWARD: All this fuss over
a load of bloomin' foreigners.

Why can't they stay
Where they belong?

ROSE: Edward, how could you?

I bet if your country was
overrun by a brutal invader,

you'd be grateful
for a few kind words.

EDWARD: It'll all come back
on us, you know,

all the extra work.

If you ask me, the mistress
should have consulted us first.

[Sighs] I do wish you were
going to be here tomorrow.

I only speak schoolroom French.

Won't Uncle Richard be here?

HAZEL: No.
He has a meeting at his club.

RICHARD: Well, I'll --
I'll try and get home early.

Anyway, they probably speak
perfect English.

How does Billy like
the Naval Brigade?

GEORGINA: He says
it's simply splendid.

There are so many
Wonderful people in it --

Ock Asquith, Rupert Brooke,
and Denis Brown.

Oh, and it's so exciting.

Winston Churchill
has promised them

that if things get
really bad in Belgium,

he's going to rush them over
to hold the line.

Of course, it's a great secret.

Well, if it was such
a great secret,

he shouldn't have told you.

GEORGINA: Oh, he knew
I wouldn't tell anyone.

You told us.

But that's different.

RICHARD: Well, I know the Naval
Brigade is Winston's pet force,

but I can't believe
that even he would send

completely untrained troops
into the front line.

GEORGINA: Yes, Uncle Richard,
he's promised them faithfully.

Billy was afraid the war would
be over before Christmas,

and then he'd never see
any fighting.

But now he'll be in action
before anyone.

Isn't it splendid?

RICHARD: Yes, Edward?

The cab's here, sir,
for Miss Georgina.

GEORGINA:
Thank you, Edward.

I must rush,
or I'll miss my train.

Goodbye, Uncle Richard,

and don't work too hard
while I'm away.

HAZEL: Send me a postcard

and let me know
when you'll be back.

GEORGINA: I will.

[Door closes]

Did you put writing paper
in the bedroom, Edward?

Did you put writing paper
in the bedroom, Edward?

EDWARD: Yes, Mr. Hudson.

DAISY: And the mistress put
flowers in the bedroom

and the nursery, too,
to cheer 'em up.

HUDSON:
Quite right, Daisy.

After all they've been through,

it is our task
to make them feel at home.

EDWARD: Well,
there's not much point

in us all being here,
is there, Mr. Hudson?

I mean, I shouldn't think
there'd be much luggage.

HUDSON: Maybe not, Edward.

But even if they arrive
at our door destitute,

they are our guests,
and we shall behave towards them

as we do to all guests
in this house.

EDWARD: Yes, Mr. Hudson.

[Doorbell rings]

WOMAN: Mr. Bellamy?

HUDSON: This is
Mr. Bellamy's house.

Oh, good.
Your refugees.

Chargon -- one, two,
three, four, five.

Good evening.

The, uh --

the Belgian visitors, madam.

Yes.

Vous etes. ..
(You are)

Vous etes bienvenue.
(You are welcome)

Entrez.
(Come in)

Entrez, madame,
s'il vous plait.
(Come in please, Madam)

Et madame.
(...you too madam)

Allez.
(Go on)

Entrez, monsieur.
(come in sir)

ROSE: [Whispering] Mr. Hudson,
where are we going to put 'em?

HUDSON:
I don't know, Rose.

We'd better serve tea,
then ask the mistress

for orders as to
sleeping accommodation.

Edward.

ROSE: Daisy, go and put
them toys away.

And lock the toy cupboard.

DAISY: Yes.

ROSE: Um...

Would you like
to put that on the floor?

Here!

Wasn't going
to steal it, you know.

Rose!
- Sorry, Mr. Hudson.

HAZEL: Rose, I expect
it's all she has in the world.

She just wants to hold onto it.

ROSE: Yes, madam.
I'll get another cup.

HAZEL: Shall I take her?

Uh, a moi.
(Uh, Give to me...)

So.

There.

Mangez?
(Would you llike to eat?)

ROSE: Oh, um...

madam?

Wouldn't put the little girl
on your lap if I was you.

HAZEL: Oh, why not, Rose?

Oh, I see.

Why not put it on the floor?

Um, ici.
(sit over here...)

There.

Perhaps when she's had something
to eat and a glass of milk,

Daisy, you could run her a bath
with some carbolic in it.

Yes, madam,
I think she'd better.

[Hazel speaking French]

HUDSON: I should put the milk
and sugar in, Rose.

The Belgian lady
doesn't seem to understand.

ROSE: Oh.

HAZEL: Don't scratch.

Mangez.
(have some food)

Oui, madame.
(yes madam)

Et bon.
(its good)

Oui...
yes

[Man speaks French]

[Woman coughing]

[Loud chatter]

RICHARD:
What on earth is going on?

- Oh, sir --
- Hudson.

HUDSON: The Belgian
visitors, sir,

they're not quite
what we expected, and...

[Shouting in French]

HUDSON: Please.

HAZEL: Daisy, do you think --

RICHARD:
My dear Hazel, what the de--

HAZEL: Richard,
I can't make them understand.

[All shouting]

Silence!

Edward, put him down.

Attendez ici !
(wait here!)

Hazel.

Richard.

The children
are crawling with lice.

And the others, too,
for all I know.

Now, their rooms are ready
for them upstairs,

but I wanted them to have baths
first so they'd all be lovely --

Upstairs?
That's out of the question!

They're Belgian peasants.

I can't imagine who put them

into the morning room
in the first place.

HAZEL: Well, what are we
to do with them?

RICHARD: Well, obviously, they
must go down to the kitchen

and be looked after there.

Now, you see to it, Hudson.

HUDSON: Very good, sir.

RICHARD: This place
is like a beer garden.

In almost 30 years,
I've never...

MRS. BRIDGES: Ruby, get that
carbolic off my table.

Oh!

Pardon.

Oh.

DAISY: Here, Ruby.

HUDSON: Edward.

MRS. BRIDGES: Ruby.

Come and help me with these
mashed potatoes.

RUBY:
Coming, Mrs. Bridges.

ROSE: Right.
There we are.

Oh.

Right.

Now, you -- bath.

Come on.

[Man speaking French]

ROSE: Here! come here!

HUDSON: Now stop it.
Stop, stop.

[Bell ringing]

Edward, here, you take him.

EDWARD: Not 'til he's taken
his boots off.

I'm black and blue already.

- Edward!
- Mr. Hudson!

Come on take your b-- Ouch!

ROSE: He's filthy!

RICHARD: Another one?

HAZEL: No.

Do you think there will be
an invasion?

RICHARD: Oh, I don't know.

There's a cabinet
meeting tonight.

We shall know more
about it tomorrow.

HAZEL: I wonder how they're
getting on downstairs.

RICHARD: Oh, I expect
they're managing all right.

Hudson, are we getting
any dinner?

HUDSON: Yes, sir, I--
I think Mrs. Bridges

is very nearly ready.

Hudson, is everything all right?

HUDSON: I expect things will
settle down shortly, madam.

But what happens if
I want to change my shirt?

ROSE: Oh, too late
to worry about that now.

MRS. BRIDGES: Now, come on,
get this bath out of my way.

I want to dish up the dinner.

ROSE: Now then, after dinner,
you -- bath.

You -- bath after dinner.

You and you and you.

[All shouting]

We can't force them to bath
if they don't want to.

EDWARD: No, but we still
have to live with them.

Mr. Hudson,
we haven't had our pudding yet.

No, no.
No, smoking.

Defence de fumer.
(No smoking)

[Stamps out tobacco, spits]

Well!

[Gasps]
Mrs. Bridges!

[Belgians conversing in French]
(No English translations present on disc)

HUDSON: Excuse me.

[Belgians conversing continues in French]
(No English translations present on disc)

Why don't you shut up?!

[Speaking French]

WOMAN: Shh! Shh!

[Screaming]

What was all that about?

HAZEL: Daisy.

She thinks she's caught lice
from the Belgians.

RICHARD: Lice?

How very unpleasant for her.

Presumably, they know
how to deal with it?

HAZEL: Yes.

But if you'd come from a slum

and thought you'd left
all that behind you, you...

Yes. Yes, I see.

[Snoring]

It's not right, Mr. Hudson.

The mistress should have
consulted us

before sending them down here.

EDWARD: Well, I say charity
begins at home.

ROSE: So do I.

We never get any time
to ourselves anymore,

clearing up after them.

We don't even get
our meals in peace!

MRS. BRIDGES: I wouldn't mind
if they was grateful.

But they're not.

HUDSON: It is a very trying
situation, certainly,

but I don't quite see
what we can do about it.

- We could all walk out.
Daisy.

DAISY: We could. we could
all give notice in together.

Now wait a minute, Daisy,
don't be too hasty.

Well Mr. Hudson, I think
the mistress should be told.

It's them or us.

ROSE: Yes.

PRUDENCE:
I cannot think how it happened.

Dolly Playfair had the most
charming couple in her house,

cousins of King Albert
and two delightful little girls.

RICHARD: Well, we did not have
delightful girls, Prudence,

or cousins of King Albert's.

We are housing a family

of surly, ungrateful
Belgian peasants

who, incidentally,
were infested with lice.

PRUDENCE: Oh, dear, I am
most dreadfully sorry.

I'll see what I can do.

Oh, by the way,

have you seen this leaflet?

RICHARD:
Gracious me, whatever next?

HAZEL: What is it?

RICHARD: "Have you an able
bodied man serving you

who, at this moment, should be
serving your King and country?

Have you a man serving
at your table

who should be serving a gun?"

Where on earth
did you get this?

PRUDENCE: They're being
distributed by volunteers

to all the better houses
in London.

Violet Berkhamstead's behind it.

RICHARD: [Chuckles] Very
unpleasant and quite absurd.

PRUDENCE: Have you thought
of sending Edward?

RICHARD: No, certainly not.

PRUDENCE: Well, don't you
think you should?

You know, you cannot be too
careful in your position.

RICHARD: In my position?

PRUDENCE: As a member
of Parliament.

RICHARD: I hardly think
that a mob of enthusiastic

but totally untrained recruits
is going to halt the advance

of a highly mechanized
German army.

I'm not saying
he'll be any use, Richard.

I'm merely saying
you should send him.

Goodbye, Hazel, my dear.

And about those
Belgians of yours,

I really will see
what I can do.

- Goodbye, Prudence.
- Goodbye, Richard.

Ah, thank you, Edward.

[Door closes]

Why can't they use the airer?

RUBY: I did try to tell them
about it, Mrs. Bridges,

but they didn't seem
to understand.

MRS. BRIDGES:
Don't understand anything.

If you ask me,
they're half-witted.

Oh, no, not again!

No fumer in my kitchen!
No!

MAN: Pardon, madame.

MRS. BRIDGES: Might just as well
talk to a brick wall.

Ruby, fetch me the jam.

RUBY: It's on the table,
Mrs. Bridges.

MRS. BRIDGES:
Ruby, I said fetch me the jam.

RUBY: It's on the table, Mrs. --

Oh, Mrs. Bridges, look!

MRS. BRIDGES; Oh!

You witty boy!
Come out of there!

Come out!
Come out, I say!

Oh, I'll give you
such a hiding.

GO -- Oh!

[Man laughing]

Oh!

That's done it!

RUBY: Where you off to,
Mrs. Bridges?

MRS. BRIDGES: I'm going upstairs
to see the mistress.

RUBY:
I'll go and get your apron.

MRS. BRIDGES:
I shan't need a clean apron.

They're dirty, they're rude,

and it's more than flesh
and blood can stand.

HAZEL: Mrs. Bridges,

Miss Georgina comes back
this evening.

She went to school
in Switzerland.

She'll be able to talk to them
and make them understand

they must behave themselves.

MRS. BRIDGES: It's not a matter
of understanding, madam.

It's my kitchen!

And either they go or I do.

[Door slams]

GEORGINA:
Such a funny thing happened

GEORGINA:
Such a funny thing happened

when we were waiting
for the train.

Tommy saw one of
the grooms and said,

"Hello, Parsons,
what are you doing here?"

And the man said,
"I've joined up, sir.

I'm going off to fight
the Belgians."

He'd got it wrong, you see.

HAZEL: Oh, but that's terrible.

GEORGINA: Terrible?

HAZEL: Well, to go off to fight
and maybe be killed

and not know why.

GEORGINA: Well, I expect
he'd find out later.

I shan't know
what to say to them.

HAZEL: Oh, do your best.

[Belgians muttering]

GEORGINA: Good evening.

I came to see...

Good evening, Mrs. Bridges.

MRS. BRIDGES:
Good evening, Miss Georgina.

- Bon soir.
- Bon soir.

GEORGINA: Moi, je suis Mademoiselle Worsley,
(I am Miss Worsley)

l'annesse de Madame Bellamy.

Madame...

Oh, Madame Chargon, c'est moi.

GEORGINA: Madame Chargon.

MADAME CHARGON: Ca c'est
ma belle soeure, Madame Huguot.

GEORGINA: Madame Huguot.

MADAME CHARGON: Et sa c'est
mon pere, Monsieur Chargon.

GEORGINA: Monsieur Chargon.

[Madame Chargon speaking French]

GEORGINA:
Voici, Madame Bridges.

MRS. BRIDGES:
Pleased to meet you.

GEORGINA: Monsieur Edward,
Monsieur Hudson.

HUDSON:
How do you do, monsieur?

GEORGINA: Mademoiselle Daisy,

Mademoiselle Rose,
et Mademoiselle Ruby.

- Bon soir.
- Bon soir.

- Assez vous
- Merci, merci.

MADAME CHARGON: Merci.

MRS. BRIDGES: Miss Georgina,

would you please ask them why,

when we give them
a nice cup of tea,

they spit it out on the ground?

GEORGINA: Oh, I think I know
that, Mrs. Bridges.

MRS. BRIDGES: You do?

GEORGINA: Well,
you see, Belgian people

consider tea to be
a sort of drug.

They would think you were
trying to poison them.

MRS. BRIDGES: Poison!

What do they like
to drink then?

GEORGINA: Coffee.

Vous aimez la café ?

[All speaking French]

MRS. BRIDGES: Suppose we could
give them coffee.

We don't usually
serve it downstairs.

HUDSON: Perhaps you could order
a bottle of Camp Coffee,

Mrs. Bridges,
that's not too dear.

MRS. BRIDGES:
I suppose they don't like cocoa?

GEORGINA
Aimez vous la chocolat?

Oh, chocolat, oui!

[Madame Huguot speaks French]

GEORGINA: They say they love
cocoa and the children do, too,

but they're afraid
it's rather expensive.

MRS. BRIDGES: Well, I expect
we could run to that

if it's what they really like.

ROSE: Miss Georgina.

Ask 'em why they never
take a bath.

DAISY: Yeah, ask 'em that.

Oh, I couldn't possibly.

[Madame Chargon speaks French]

DAISY: We bathed the children,
and we told the others

they could have a bath after
dinner, but they wouldn't.

ROSE: No, and look at 'em.
They're filthy.

Yes, all they do is have a lick
and a promise in my scullery.

GEORGINA: Well perhaps
that's all that they --

[Madame Huguot speaking French]

[Georgina speaking French]

[Belgians speaking French]

GEORGINA:
They said you wanted them

to take a bath
in front of everyone.

ROSE: Oh, not in front
of everybody.

GEORGINA: Well, they said
you put the bath out

and told them to get into it,
but they couldn't --

ROSE: No, not in front
of everybody.

I said after dinner.

After...dinner,

you...get in the bath.

We...go

and a screen would be put
around and when...

Not in front of everybody.

MRS. BRIDGES:
I should think not, indeed.

I was in the middle
of dishing up the dinner.

[Georgina speaking French]

Oh!

[Belgians speaking French]

[Laughter]

RUBY: Well, then ask them
why they all laughed

when the little boy
spilt the jam.

MRS. BRIDGES:
Shh! Be quiet, Ruby.

HAZEL: No, Mrs. Bridges.

Let Ruby ask what she wants to.

Sit down, Mrs. Bridges, Daisy.

Bon soir.

BELGIANS:
Bon soir, madame.

HAZEL: Go on, Ruby.

Well, the little boy stole
a pot of jam, Miss Georgina,

and dropped it on the floor,
and they all laughed.

[Georgina speaking French]

[Madame Huguot speaking French]

[Georgina speaks French]

[Madame Huguot speaking French]

GEORGINA:
They say they were glad

because it was the first time
they'd seen Jean-Paul

get into mischief since
he saw his father shot.

ROSE: Shot?

[Madame Huguot speaking French]

GEORGINA: Pourquoi?
(Why?)

[Madame Huguot speaking French]

The Germans

took all the able-bodied men
in the village,

stood them against a wall,
and shot them

as a punishment for resisting
the German advance.

Madame Chargon's husband was
lame, but they still shot him.

Votre marie?

[Madame Huguot speaking French]

She says her husband was killed
in the fighting in August.

And her son, too.

He was in the army
although he was only 16.

EDWARD: Only 16?

[Madame Huguot speaking French]

GEORGINA: They knew the Germans

were burning
the villages and...

Vioie?

[Madame Huguot speaks French]

Oui, Oui
(voicing understanding)
Raping the women.

[Speaks French]

[Madame Huguot speaking French]

So they ran away.

Madame Chargon, the children,
Madame Huguot and her daughter,

the old man and his wife.

[Madame Huguot speaking French]

Pardon?

[Madame Huguot speaking French]

Some German cavalry
rode through them,

and they all ran away.

Afterwards, they couldn't find
Monsieur Chargon's wife.

She was lost.

Lost?

[Madame Chargon speaking French]

GEORGINA:
They searched everywhere,

but they couldn't find her.

The road was being bombarded,
so they had to go on

without her for the sake
of the children.

That would be the old
gentleman's wife, Miss Georgina.

And didn't they ever find her?

[Madame Huguot speaking French]

The airplanes came again
and dropped more bombs.

[Madame Huguot speaking French]

GEORGINA: Pardon?

[Madame Huguot speaking French]

Madame Huguot was lying in
a ditch by the side of the road.

[Madame Huguot speaking French]

With her little girl
in her arms.

And a bomb fell near,
and she was knocked out.

When she came to,
her little girl...

[Madame Huguot speaking French,
sobbing]

GEORGINA: There was nothing
left of her except...

[Madame Huguot sobbing]

I can hardly bear
to think of it.

GEORGINA:
I don't want to think of it.

What good does it do?

I must change.

HAZEL: Are you going out?

GEORGINA: Tommy Foxbreden wanted
me to have dinner with him

and then see him off
at the station.

Might as well,
it might be rather a lark.

ROSE: Ah, Madam Huguot,
you got the ladle, good.

HUGUOT: Oui.

- Put it on the table.
- Sur la table, bon.

ROSE: Uh, yes, yes.

And put the condiments,
and that's me done, Mr. Hudson.

HUDSON: Monsieur, please.
Merci, monsieur.

Ruby, remember what I told you?

RUBY: Oh, uh, yes, Mr. Hudson.

HUDSON: Ah, excellent.

MRS. BRIDGES:
A nice beef stew.

And Madam Chargon
has made the dumplings.

HUDSON; Ah!

MRS. BRIDGES: Mind you, I don't
know what they'll be like.

They don't make them at all
the same way as what we do.

HUDSON: Ah, I'm sure
they'll taste excellent.

Tres bon.

MONSIEUR CHARGON: Ah.

HUDSON: Pain Français.

MONSIEUR CHARGON: Pain Belge.

Pain Belge.

I inquired from Miss Georgina
and discovered

that in France and Belgium,
in farming circles,

it is the privilege of the head
of the household

to out the bread for the family.

MRS. BRIDGES: Oh.

- Where's Edward?
- Well, he ought to be here.

Haven't finished
in the dining room yet.

HUDSON: Well, but where is he?

[Belgians speaking French]

MADAME CHARGON: Gone out!
Gone out!

DAISY: Gone out!

MRS. BRIDGES: Oh, gone out. Oh.

HUDSON: Thank you.

ROSE: Edward, wherever
have you been?

HUDSON: Edward?

EDWARD: I've been to join up,
Mr. Hudson.

Eddie.

How could you
without telling me first?

EDWARD: Well, if I'd have
told you first,

you'd have tried to stop me.

DAISY: Yes, I would,
and so would Mr. Hudson

and the master if they'd known.

EDWARD: But I don't belong
to them, Daisy.

I don't belong to anyone,
not even you.

You wouldn't think
much of me if I did.

MRS. BRIDGES: You'd better
come and sit down

and have your dinner, Edward.

Have some potatoes, Mr. Hudson.

[Clears throat]

Well, you see, Mr. Hudson,

well, everyone kept saying
what I ought to do.

I mean, you and the master
and Daisy here

saying I shouldn't join up.

Well, there was
Lady Berkharnstead

and Lady Prudence and that
bit of paper said I should.

And Lord Kitchener.

Well, see, I never
did think much of the war.

I mean, to me, it was just
a lot of foreigners

bashing each other,
but when I heard

about what they were doing
over in Belgium, I mean,

well, you can't let people
do things like that

and get away with it.

I'm sorry, Mr. Hudson.

I know you've taught me
everything I know,

but, well, this time I had to do
what I thought was right.

That's what it means, Edward.

EDWARD: Mr. Hudson?

HUDSON: That's what belonging
to yourself means,

doing what you think is right.

Oh. Oh, yes, Mr. Hudson.

What regiment did
you join, my boy?

EDWARD: Oh, the Middlesex,
Mr. Hudson, same as my brother.

[Belgians speaking French]

EDWARD: Uh, soldat, moi.

Bang bang?

[Monsieur Chargon
speaking French]

[imitates machine gun]

"We have only just heard
the news of the fall of Antwerp.

I expect you know more about
the war than we do.

Men have been simply splendid.

I believe we won
with a few brigades,

retreated from Mons
with all our equipment.

Since then, we've seen
quite a lot of action.

I expect you can guess
where we are."

There's a salient in
the German line of advance,

a sort of bulge,
a place called Ypres.

I heard the Life Guards
had been thrown in as a...

well, to hold it.

"We're getting quite expert
at digging trenches.

The weather's awful --
rain and mud everywhere.

I hope we don't get bogged down
here for the winter.

Please give my love
to Hazel and ask her

to send me out some flea powder
and some warm socks.

Best love, James."

I hear you've enlisted, Edward.

- Yes, my lady.
- When do you have to go?

EDWARD: Oh, they're going
to let me know, my lady.

PRUDENCE: Well done.
We must all do what we can.

Lady Prudence, madam.

RICHARD: Hello, Prudence.

PRUDENCE: Good morning, Richard.

HAZEL: Would you like
some coffee, Prudence?

PRUDENCE:
No, thank you, my dear.

I can't stop for
more than a second.

I'm on my way to see
Connie Hardcastle.

I really just came round
to bring you some good news.

I've managed to get rid
of your Belgians for you.

They're sending
them off today

to a potato farm
in Cambridgeshire.

They'll be able to make
themselves useful there,

and they'll feel quite at home.

MRS. BRIDGES: You know,
I'm really going to miss them.

WOMAN: They'll be much better
in the country.

Come along now,
the cab's waiting.

Say goodbye.

MADAME HUGUOT: Au revoir.
Au revoir.

HUDSON: Goodbye,
goodbye, goodbye.

Goodbye, monsieur.
Goodbye and good luck.

- Au revoir.
- Good bye, good bye.

- Bye-bye.
- Have a good journey.

- Bye.
- Goodbye.

[Car starts]

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