Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1975): Season 5, Episode 9 - The Nine Days Wonder - full transcript

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Hello.

Good evening.
Shall I draw the curtains, sir?

JAMES: Hmm.

It's still rotten out, is it?

HUDSON: Yes, sir, there's rain

and quite a sharp
north eastern wind.

Quite abnormal
for the first day in May.

More coal on the fire, sir?

JAMES: Hmm.

[sigh]



Coal fires in May,
the miners out on strike,

the rest of the country jumping
on the bandwagon.

What a mess.

I gather there's still hope
of a settlement, sir.

The trade union leaders

are at Downing Street
at this very moment.

It's just been announced
on the wireless.

JAMES: Oh, really?

It should never have been
allowed to come to this.

General strike is a direct
affront to the government,

an insult to democracy.

It ought to be forbidden by law.

HUDSON:
Oh, I agree with you, sir.

I feel deeply ashamed
of my fellow working man.



Oh, you, Hudson, you've got
nothing to be ashamed about.

It's not your fault.

No, no, it's the fault
of the men like

Cook, Thomas, Bevin,
the so-called leaders,

having the nerve to hold
the country to ransom,

threaten the liberty of
the ordinary, decent people.

Well, we're ready for them,
aren't we, sir?

I understand the government have
been laying in stocks

of food and essential supplies
for some months.

JAMES: Oh, yes, yes,
We're ready for them.

We'll win all right.

But what will it cost us, huh?

The whole world's gone stark
staring mad.

HUDSON: Another whiskey, sir?

JAMES: Hmm?

Oh, no, thank you, Hudson,
I'll get it.

HUDSON:
Dinner will be at 8:00, sir.

Well, all army leave's
been cancelled

and there's troops roaming about
all over the country.

FREDERICK: Yeah, two battleships
sitting in the Mersey.

DAISY: What for?

EDDIE: Preparing for
the fight to come, Daisy.

ROSE: Who told you
all that rubbish?

EDWARD: It's not rubbish, Rose,
we got it from

the Sergeant of Marines
in the pub.

It's common knowledge, isn't it?

FREDERICK: Yeah,
Sergeant said they're probably

going to call up reservists.

DAISY:
Well, you're not going, Eddie,

you've done with all that.

FREDERICK:
Might have no choice, Daisy.

Anyway, I'm ready
if they want me.

RUBY: But who's fighting who?

ROSE: Yeah, go on,
Frederick, tell us.

Who are you gonna fight?
The miners?

Miners, all the others,
bus drivers.

RUBY: Fight bus drivers?

Anybody who goes
on strike, Ruby.

It's not us that started it.

We're just doing our duty
for the country.

Right, Edward?

EDWARD: Yeah, I suppose so.

HUDSON: That's enough of that
lark, both of you.

There is no sense
in anticipating the worst.

DAISY: That's right,
you tell them, Mr. Hudson.

Come on, Ed,
let's go over the mews.

Well, we heard it
in the pub, Mr. Hudson.

I mean, there's a lot of
argument going on.

How many times
have I told you

not to be influenced
by pub talk, Edward?

There are decisions being made,
even now,

by responsible people
in calm debate.

I'm still hopeful
that common sense will prevail.

Well, with respect,
Mr. Hudson, it was you

who told us only yesterday
all miners was Reds.

RUBY: They are not!

Me Uncle Len's a miner
and he isn't a Red.

He is not, Mr. Hudson.

I gained that information
in good faith

from Mr. Winston Churchill,
Ruby,

quoted in yesterday's newspaper.

Oh, quiet, quiet, there's
a bulletin coming through.

There is a message from
the Prime Minister.

ROSE: Oh, Mr. Baldwin.
Mr. Baldwin's gonna speak.

Be steady, be steady...

That's not
Mr. Baldwin's voice.

Be steady, be steady.

Remember that peace on Earth
comes to men of good will.

Oh, see? Peace.
They're talking about peace.

RICHARD:
The strike is on, James.

It's just been announced,
officially.

PRUDENCE: It's dreadfully
inconsiderate.

I'm giving a dinner party
on wednesday.

Does it mean there will be
no deliveries?

And on Saturday, I'm going
to Wales to visit cousins.

RICHARD: No chance of that,
my dear.

From midnight tonight,
all trains, buses,

all public services
come to a grinding halt.

GEORGINA:
Oh, not if we can help it.

We'll drive the trains
ourselves, won't we, James?

Archie Dunlop's
dying to drive one.

He'll take you to Wales, Pru.

Does he know the way?

You just point the thing
and follow the rails, don't you?

It's easy.

PRUDENCE: Well, the thought
of any of my friends

manning the railways fills me
with absolute terror.

JAMES: What happened to
the talks last night?

RICHARD:
They ended in confusion.

Apparently some Daily Mail
printers refused

to print an article which
condemned the strike.

Baldwin got to hear about it

and sent Jimmy Thomas
and company home.

Far too hasty, in my opinion.

I mean, nobody wants
this wretched strike.

They were looking to Baldwin
to help them save face.

JAMES: Oh, well,
it's too late, now.

Have you put the barricades up?

GEORGINA: Oh, don't be silly.

JAMES: Why not?

This is the house of
a prominent member

of the government, it should be
one of the first targets.

PRUDENCE: Targets?
For what, James?

JAMES: Stones, bricks,
rifle shot.

RICHARD:
Don't be so alarmist, James.

JAMES: I'm not,
I'm being practical.

This has been coming
since the war

only people just
shut their eyes to it.

It happened in Russia,
it'll happen here.

GEORGINA:
Of course it won't, James.

None of my friends think so.

They all think
it's rather a lark.

JAMES: A lark?

PRUDENCE: Well, nobody tells me
who the fight is between.

Now, the strikers say they're
not against the government

but against the mine owners.

But the only mine owner
I know is darling

fuddled old Arthur Burrowmore
and he wouldn't hurt a fly.

RICHARD: It's rather more
complicated than that, Pru.

My chief worry is
we don't know

what sort of resistance
they'll put up.

I mean, I don't go
as far as James,

but there's certainly a strong
feeling of resistance

in the working classes,

rather like the early days
of the war.

Then we must meet it, father.

We've got law and order
on our side.

It is intolerable that we should
be threatened like this.

RICHARD: That's the line
Winston Churchill's taking.

The trade unions have
thrown down the gauntlet,

they must
take the consequences.

GEORGINA:
Whatever that means.

RICHARD: Well, I've no time
for debate now, James.

I must go to the House.

Prudence, can I give you a lift?

PRUDENCE: Oh, thank you,
Richard.

I can see Edward
is going to be much in demand.

Will you hire him out?

Oh, Hudson,
you've heard the news?

HUDSON: I have, my lord.
I'm deeply concerned by it.

RICHARD: Well, we must all pull
together, do what we can.

Tell Edward bring
the car round, will you?

HUDSON: Yes, my lord.

PRUDENCE: Thank you, Hudson.

Oh, I was wondering about
her ladyship, my lord.

She was to have returned
from lnverness tomorrow,

but in view of the uncertainty
about the trains...

Oh, my God, yes.
Well, leave it to me, Hudson.

I'll telephone her tonight.

Very good, my lord.

Oh, one other thing, my lord.

RICHARD: Yes?

They have been calling
on the wireless

for volunteers for
special constable

duties and I wondered

if I might have your
permission to re-enlist.

Yes.
Good idea, Hudson.

Will you be volunteering?

Will you be volunteering?

JAMES: What for?

GEORGINA: I don't know.
Anything.

I'm going to.

Dolly says she's going
to be a postman.

JAMES: Well, I wouldn't do
anything so frivolous.

GEORGINA: It's not frivolous.

If they won't do the jobs then
we've got to do them instead.

They'll soon find out
what we're made of

and then they'll
have to give in.

And do you think they're going
to stand by and watch you?

You'll be breaking a strike.

They'll attack you.

Blood is bound to be spilt.

GEORGINA:
Hmm, and what do you suggest?

Drive round in armoured cars?

Yeah, well,
it might just come to that.

GEORGINA: Oh, don't be silly,
James, not in England.

Unless people
like you want it to.

If you go round talking about
Russia and blood being spilt

then of course
it'll all be ghastly.

Dolly said to me
the other day...

JAMES: Dolly, Dolly, I don't
give a damn what Dolly says!

Listen, Georgina,
a small group of people

are directly challenging
the authority of the government.

They are deliberately trying
to cripple our economy

and drive us
to the point of surrender.

They have forced us to mass our
defenses and they might just be

stupid enough and misguided
enough to fight us all the way.

And all you and your friends
can do is to regard it

like some huge lark to fill
the boredom of your empty lives.

Well, I tell you, Georgina,
it's damn irresponsible.

[Door slams]

Pompous ass.

Beg your pardon, Mr. Hudson,
you're wanted on the telephone.

Rose is holding on for you.

HUDSON: Oh, bother it.
Oh, thank you, Frederick.

FREDERICK:
Having trouble, are you?

No, no,
it's quite all right.

I was wondering
if I might join

the specials as well,
Mr. Hudson.

No, you are wanted here,
Frederick.

It is absolutely essential
that you should be...

ROSE: Mr. Hudson.

Oh, thank you, Rose.

Hold this, will you?

It's Mrs. Bridges
from Felixstowe.

HUDSON: Oh, hello, hello.

Mrs. Bridges,
how are you, my dear?

How's the weather
in Felixstowe?

Oh, we're fine, fine.

Keeping our spirits up,
you know.

Oh, yes, yes, I know,
it's shocking, isn't it?

But it all seems very calm
here at the moment.

What?

Speak up, my dear, I can't...

Oh, the trains.

No, no, I have no information
about the trains,

and her ladyship is delayed up
in Scotland, too.

Oh, well, I should just stay on
down there, my dear.

Enjoy the sea air.

ROSE: We can manage.
- HUDSON: What?

ROSE: We can manage.

HUDSON: Yes...
Look, I've got to go now, Kate.

I'll put you back to Rose.

Goodbye, my dear.

Look after yourself.
Yes.

Oh, she's worried about
a food shortage.

Hello, Mrs. B, Rose again.

Yes.
We've been told not to worry.

Yes, I know that, but...

Yes, but the wireless says we
mustn't hoard, Mrs. Bridges.

We're not allowed.

Yes, but we've got to do
what we've been to--

Silly old...

DAISY: Oh, have
you seen Eddie, Fred?

FREDERICK:
Oh, isn't he back yet?

DAISY:
No, he's been gone ages.

He only went to get the milk.

FREDERICK: He had to go
to Hyde Park for it.

They set up a center there.

Probably had to queue up.
Don't worry.

You're under arrest,
Mrs. Barnes.

HUDSON: Frederick,
I'll take that.

RUBY: Hey, Mr. Hudson, who you
going to use this truncheon on?

HUDSON:
Anyone who misbehaves, Ruby.

Now, get on with your work.

ROSE: Oh, Mrs. B's
in a fair old state.

She reckons the whole world's
coming to an end

and we're all gonna starve.

HUDSON: Oh, well, you know
Mrs. Bridges, Rose.

She never likes
to miss a crisis.

Now, I don't know what my rota
of duty is yet, Rose,

but you'll be in charge here
while I'm gone.

See that everything runs
smoothly.

ROSE: Yes, Mr. Hudson.

Oh, Eddie's back...
Eddie!

EDWARD: It's all right, Daisy.

DAISY: Oh, what's happened!
Have you had an accident?

EDWARD: Don't fuss,
nothing wrong, just a scratch.

HUDSON:
Ruby, fetch some water, quickly.

FREDERICK: Did you get the milk?

DAISY: Never mind the milk,
just look at him.

- Yeah, I got the milk.
- what happened?

EDWARD: Well, it was all quite
peaceful in Hyde Park, really.

I mean there were crowds
of people there but...

I just got back to the car
with the milk and,

like his lordship said there
was a notice

in the car saying
"signal for a lift".

Well, this great big bloke
comes across to me,

eight foot tall he was,

and he sticks his head in
through the window,

asks me how much wages I got,
then calls me a scab and then

gets hold of my nose and tries
to twist it off my face.

Don't laugh, Rose,
it's bloody painful.

DAISY: Yeah, it's not funny,
Rose.

Look, it's torn
the skin right off.

HUDSON: Oh, well it doesn't look
too serious, Edward.

I must be off now
and report for duty.

ROSE:
You be careful, Mr. Hudson.

HUDSON: I will, Rose,
but if any hooligan

attempts to twist my nose,
God help him.

Oh, Ruby, you...

EDWARD: Why pick on me?
That's what I don't understand.

I mean,
what have I done to anyone?

ROSE: Well, you was wearing
a chauffeur's uniform

and driving a posh car,
he reckoned you ought

to have been out there
striking with him.

FREDERICK:
Well, that's daft that is.

I mean, we got no grievances.
Have we?

No, we haven't.

So what are we all doing
standing around like this?

Ruby, get back to the kitchen.

Will you be wearing
this one, miss?

Oh, no, Daisy, the dance has
been cancelled.

Didn't I tell you?
Oh, I'm sorry.

No, I want my gray dress.

I'm being taken for a drive
to the East End

to see what things are like.

DAISY:
Well, do be careful, miss.

Edward got injured today.

GEORGINA: Oh, what happened?
Is he all right?

DAISY:
Well, he got his nose injured.

It was nasty.

He's all right now,
just a bit shaken up that's all.

I don't like him driving around
in that big car.

They say things
are gonna get worse.

I'm sure they won't, Daisy.
It's just people talking.

I don't know what's
going on, really.

There's Hudson saying that all
the Reds are miners and Bolshies

and they want to murder
the government.

Then Ruby gets upset because her
Uncle Len's a miner and...

I wish I could explain it
to you, Daisy,

but I really
don't understand it myself.

[Knock on door]
Come in.

Hello.

JAMES: Hello.

DAISY: Anything else, miss?

No, thank you, Daisy,
I can manage now.

Well, what have you
been doing today?

GEORGINA:
Oh, seeing my friends,

deciding how we can help.

By the way, Dolly isn't going to
be a postman, after all.

JAMES: Oh, thank God for that.

GEORGINA: She's become a train
announcer at Paddington Station.

And what about you?

JAMES: Oh, I went down
to see my old regiment.

GEORGINA: Did they need you?

JAMES:
No, no, not at the moment.

No, they suggested
I offer my services to

the London General
Omnibus Company.

GEORGINA: And have you?

JAMES: Yes, As a matter of fact,
I signed on as a driver.

I start in the morning.

Oh, James,
that's wonderful.

Oh, can I be
your conductorette?

No, you cannot, Georgina.

This is not games,
this is serious.

Anyway, as a matter of fact,
I've already been assigned

my conductor,
a young Oxford scholar.

So...you find your own bus.

HUDSON: Mrs. Bridges is still
in Felixstowe, my lord,

HUDSON: Mrs. Bridges is still
in Felixstowe, my lord,

and Frederick has gone
with the Major this morning

on the Major's omnibus.

RICHARD: ls Frederick a special?

HUDSON: Oh, he has not been
officially enrolled, my lord,

but I understand
that he is acceptable

due to the shortage
of specials

covering the bus routes.

RICHARD: Good morning.

I am sorry I haven't been able
to talk to you before,

but these are busy days
for politicians.

Now, I don't want to go
into all the issues,

who's right and who's wrong
in this dispute.

I am sure you realize very
clearly that for the future life

and prosperity of this country

the strike must not
be allowed to succeed.

Nor, on the other hand,
must it develop into

a violent and bitter struggle
between the classes.

A solution will be found.

In the meantime, we must show
restraint and patience

and good humour, avoid trouble
if we can in the streets,

help anyone who needs us.

That's the best way
you can show your loyalty

to your household
and your country.

Anything you want to ask me?

EDWARD: Yes, my lord,
I'd just like to know

if I should continue offering
lifts to people

because of what happened
the other day.

Oh, yes, my lord.

RICHARD: Well, I must leave that
to your own discretion, Edward.

I think we should offer lifts,

but obviously, if there's
a risk of provocation,

then better to opt for peace.

Thank you, my lord.

Any trouble with food supplies?

Oh, not so far, my lord.

And no increase in prices,
either, funny that.

[Doorbell rings]

HUDSON: Daisy.

RICHARD: Er, what about coal?

HUDSON: We are allowed
100 weight

per household per week,
my lord.

Oh, I'm picking ours up this
afternoon in the motor,

with your permission, my lord.

RICHARD: Oh, yes, oh yes.

Services are improving steadily
every day, thank goodness.

Four days now seem to be
long enough

for many people to want
to get back to work.

HUDSON: I understand quite
a few of the trains

are now running, my lord.

Will that mean her ladyship
is returning?

RICHARD: Not for the moment,
no, Hudson.

I spoke to her last night.

Ruby, were those your apple
dumplings we had last night?

RUBY: Yes, my lord.

RICHARD:
Well, they were excellent.

Mrs. Bridges would have been
proud of them.

RUBY: Thank you, my lord.

RICHARD: Yes, well,
I must leave you

to get on with your work.

Let me know if you have

any problems,
will you, Hudson?

HUDSON: Very good, my lord.

RICHARD: Good heavens.

DAISY: The boy just delivered
them from Circe's, my lord.

He says they're charged
to our account.

HUDSON: Rose!
Who ordered these?

RICHARD: I think this is some
sort of joke, Hudson, I'm sure.

HUDSON: I'll look into it
at once, my lord.

[Rose laughs]

Is she heavy, sir?

Oh, not too bad,
except round corners.

I say, Frederick,
don't brandish that truncheon.

We don't want to provoke
unnecessary trouble.

FREDERICK: NO, sir.

JAMES: Oh, there's
some more customers.

Good morning, sir.
Come along.

Come along, ladies,
only thruppence a ride.

I'm your bus conductor and I'll
conduct you anywhere you like.

Any more now? No.

There we go then.

[Ding, ding]

Poor Virginia,
marooned in Scotland.

RICHARD: Oh, she's quite happy
to stay there.

She doesn't relish the thought
of The Flying Scotsman

being driven by some elderly,
lunatic Earl.

I heard the journey yesterday
took 37 1/2 hours.

Can it be true?

RICHARD: Quite probably.

Thank you, Daisy.
Oh, how unexpected.

DAISY: We discovered who
they come from, my lord.

They were ordered
by Mrs. Bridges.

Mrs. Bridges?

Good God.

She telephoned to say
had they arrived safely?

Well, she said, there's so many
dances and receptions

and that would be cancelled
because of the strike

the caterers wouldn't know
what to do with the food,

so why shouldn't we have it?

PRUDENCE:
What a resourceful woman.

RICHARD: All right, Daisy,
thank you.

I have been resourceful,
too, Richard.

You'll never guess my secret.

I'm sure I can't.

PRUDENCE:
I've become a landlady.

RICHARD: What?

PRUDENCE: Yes.

Quite by chance I overheard
these two lovely swagger youths,

who'd come down from Oxford to
be guards on the underground,

complaining that they'd nowhere
nice to stay.

So I put them
in Agatha's old room.

Oh, they were so
polite and keen,

how could I refuse?

Lady Howard de Waldon
has 200 of them.

She sleeps them in the ballroom.

Excellent idea, Prudence.

Splendid.

PRUDENCE:
Well, it's doing one's bit.

And it won't be for long,
now that Sir John Simon has said

the whole thing is illegal
and we can put

all those beastly
leaders into prison.

RICHARD: You are quite wrong
there, my dear.

John Simon's move has caused
a lot of ill feeling.

The King won't have
anything to do with it,

and I wholeheartedly
agree with him.

His own subjects thrown into
prison for their beliefs?

That would be
the end of this country.

[Honking]

JAMES: Oh, ah,
good day's work so far, eh?

Yes, not bad.

JAMES: Like it, don't you?

No, no, it's all right,
I live here.

Frederick, turn the engine off,
will you?

Be back in ten minutes.

CONDUCTOR: Thank you very much.

I say,
what a jolly nice house.

Oh, hello, I just thought
I'd bring my conductor back

for a drink
between journeys.

Lady Prudence Fairfax, Andrew...

ANDREW: Bowberry, sir.

JAMES: Yes, my father.

RICHARD: Hello, how are you?

ANDREW: Very well.

RICHARD:
Where have you left the bus?

Well, outside in the street.

JAMES: Hmm?

Well, it'll be all right,
won't it?

RICHARD: I suppose so.

Andrew,
what will you have?

A glass of beer, please.

JAMES: Haven't got any beer.
Sherry?

ANDREW: Sherry would be very
nice, thank you.

JAMES: Good.

RICHARD: Well,
have you met any troubles?

Oh, yes, do tell us
your adventures.

EDWARD: Here, Fred, what about
your timetable?

Oh, it don't matter,
they expect delays.

Cup of tea, Rose?

ROSE: Get it yourself.
FREDERICK: Ta.

RUBY: Buses in Eaton Place,
whatever next?

EDWARD: A spirit
of the times, Ruby.

ROSE: Major's gone off his head,
if you ask me.

DAISY: Anyone try and stop you
on the bus, Fred?

No, I got called
a few rude names,

strike breakers and that,
but it was all a picnic really.

You wouldn't know
there was a war going on.

ROSE: There isn't.

DAISY: Oh, there is, Rose.

There's riots in the East End,
they said so.

Do you know, it's a really
strange thing you know,
Daisy

but...well, I know I got
my nose sort of tweaked

the other day and it was
painful, I felt a real Charlie,

but since then,
driving around in the car,

seeing groups of people like
bus drivers and engine drivers

just standing around, out of
work, in support of the miners,

well, it got me thinking
that perhaps we should

be out there with them.

RUBY: Yes, that's what I think.

ROSE: Out on strike?

EDWARD: Yeah.

Well, don't you think so, Fred?

I mean, they're
only asking for

a decent living wage,
now everyone deserves that.

DAISY: Yeah, and we know what
it's like, don't we, Ed?

EDWARD: Yeah.

Don't agree with you, Eddie.

None of our business.

I mean, they're disrupting
the country.

You can't do that
and get away with it.

Well, what can you do
if nobody listens?

ROSE: How do you know
nobody listens?

Do you think people like
his lordship don't listen?

Well, if he listens
to them, Rose,

why don't they get
what they ask for?

DAISY: Yeah, Rose, why?

Well, don't ask me.

Not enough to go around.

Anyway, we shouldn't be
speaking like this.

Didn't you hear his lordship
asking for our loyalty?

That's a fine way to repay him.

Eddie's not disloyal.
He's loyal as anyone.

Well, let him show it then,
and shut up.

There's cleverer people than
what you and Edward are

telling us every day that
it's wrong, on the wireless,

explaining that it's causing
untold misery and hardship,

and you go on talking
that drivel.

Just don't let Mr. Hudson catch
you, that's all I can say.

[Doorbell rings]

EDWARD:
All right, Rose, steady on.

Cor blimey.

FREDERICK: There's your answer.

GEORGINA: Oh, Daisy, there's
more of these outside.

Could you bring them in for me?

- DAISY: Yes, miss.
- GEORGINA: Thank you.

RICHARD: Georgina.
GEORGINA: Hello.

PRUDENCE: Ah, Georgina.

GEORGINA:
What's that bus doing outside?

RICHARD: Oh, you'll have to ask
James about that.

What are you doing?

GEORGINA: Oh, I'm taking
The British Gazette

up to Manchester
in Billy Holland's Bentley.

He's coming to pick me up.

Very commendable.

I'll walk to the House,
if you don't mind,

Prudence,
I feel like some air.

PRUDENCE: Oh, is it safe?
- RICHARD: I think so.

No sign of revolution in
the streets as far as I can see.

PRUDENCE: I suppose I could
always go by bus.

JAMES: Oh, I wouldn't risk it,
Aunt Pru.

Georgina Worsley.

We have met, haven't we?

Andrew Bovary.

How do you do?

ANDREW: I'm up
at New College.

We met at
the commem. last year.

Freddie Stanton's party,
don't you remember?

GEORGINA: Oh?

ANDREW: Oh

I'm a conductor --

ding, ding.

Oh, you mean on James's bus.

ANDREW: Yes.
Terrific fun.

GEORGINA: I can imagine.

ANDREW: Yes.

I say, you don't happen to know

of anywhere I could stay,
do you?

I'm stuck on an absolute prison
sort of a bed

in the Empress Hall
at the moment.

It's agony.

Well, I'm afraid that it's...

Oh, do you want
somewhere to stay?

Well, why didn't you say so?

You can come and stay with me.

Oh, well...that's very decent
of you, Lady Prudence,

but are you sure?

Oh, of course I am.

If you don't mind
sharing a bedroom

with two of your confrére.

James, give the dear boy
my address.

I'll see you this evening then.

ANDREW: Thank you.

JAMES: There you are,
Andrew, problem solved.

Come on, back to duty.

Oh, well, perhaps some other
time then?

GEORGINA: Hmm, yes.

JAMES: Come along.
Passengers will be waiting.

ANDREW: Goodbye, Georgina.
GEORGINA: Goodbye.

Oh, Daisy, would you take this
to the servants' hall?

They're in rather short supply,

and I'm sure Hudson
would like one.

DAISY: Oh, thank you
very much, miss.

- Cup of tea, Harry, please.
- All right then.

All right, lads,
here's another one.

What have we stopped for?

Hello there.

You going to let us through?

Shall we try
and shift them, sir?

Not much hope of that...
We're outnumbered.

Ah, well, if you won't
let us through,

perhaps you can tell me
another way to Hendon.

MAN: What do you want
to go to Hendon for?

JAMES: Well, I don't
particularly

want to go to Hendon,
but my passengers do.

In fact, they've paid
thruppence for the privilege.

It's a nice day.

They can walk,
like the rest of us.

MEN: Yeah, yes.
That's right.

Er, look old chap,
are you going to let me through,

or am I going too have to try
and zigzag past you?

MAN: Zigzag.
Go on.

I wouldn't rely much
on my control.

I haven't done much
zigzagging lately.

MEN: (jeering)
Come on, get off the bus.

JAMES: Come on, let's go.

MAN: You won't get far,
your engine's boiling.

[Men laugh]

JAMES: Damn.

Frederick, do you know
anything about engines?

FREDERICK:
Could need some water.

JAMES: Hmm?

FREDERICK:
In the radiator, sir.

JAMES: Well, the canteen
should have some.

FREDERIC: Should have, sir.
Want me to ask them, sir?

JAMES:
Well, it seems worth a try.

Could I have some water, please?

[Men laugh]

JAMES: Frederick!

Thanks.
Damned decent of you.

Anything to oblige an officer.

FREDERICK: I got soaked.

I'll bleeding catch pneumonia,
I will.

There see.
Do you still wanna join them?

EDWARD: All right, Rose, nothing
serious happened, he said so.

FREDERICK: Would have,
if I'd have had my way.

I'd have got in the bus
and run the whole bleeding lot

of them over
and be done with it.

DAISY: It was pretty mean.
Just look at him.

EDWARD: Yeah, all right,
all right.

JAMES: It was only the Major
saved it,

knowing how to handle them,
making a joke about it,

calming them down, otherwise...

ROSE: Quiet, there's a bulletin.

...towards resumption of
negotiations.

Mr. Baldwin's declaration
still stands that

the general strike order
must be withdrawn

before there can be
any discussion of peace.

It says here in the paper
that the workers are going back

because they're fed up
with the strike.

So far, the answer from the TUC
has been an uncompromising, no.

The Cabinet declares firmly
that it cannot discuss terms

while any question of
intimidation remains.

ROSE: There you are,
intimidation.

Meanwhile, it's reported
that London has solved

most of
its traffic problem.

Oh, no, they're calling
the strike

a sin against God, now.

Even Cardinal Ball has said so.

I can't agree with that, Rose.

DAISY: There's people coming
down the steps.

I wonder who it is.

[Doorbell rings]

[Doorbell rings]

MAN: Does Miss Ruby Finch
work here?

DAISY: Yeah, that's right.

MAN: Oh, be a good lass.

Tell her, her Uncle Len is here
with Mr. Thompson from Barnsley.

DAISY: Oh, come in.

Ruby, there's two gentlemen
to see you.

Uncle Len?

LEN: Hello, Ruby, love.

Just thought we'd drop in
to see you.

We'll have a piece of cake
and a cup of tea,

if there's one going.

EDWARD: Come all the way
from Yorkshire, have you?

LEN: Aye. Mr. Thompson and me,
We're pit delegates, you see,

for Mine workers Federation.

Come to London
for the meeting tonight.

Ruby, you remember
Mr. Thompson, don't you?

Lived in our street.

THOMPSON:
Ay, she'll not remember me.

She's not seen me since
she were a little lass.

EDWARD:
Ruby's told us all about you.

LEN: Aye.

She's told us about you
and the house.

THOMPSON: Aye, it's some what
of an house is this.

DAISY: Cup of tea.
THOMPSON: Oh, ta.

LEN: Ta, lass.

ROSE: Well, how are things
up in Barnsley?

EDWARD: Rose means are you
winning?

THOMPSON:
Oh, we'll win all right.

We've got to win.

We're not fighting Constitution,
We're fighting for bread.

We're making no demands.
We're not chasing t'moon.

THOMPSON:
Just a simple living wage.

ROSE: But I thought it was
the miners what started it.

THOMPSON: Nay, lass, were
forced on us by t'owners

when they locked us out
and government supported them.

LEN: But church
says we're right.

Archbishop of Canterbury
himself.

THOMPSON: Aye, and BBC won't
broadcast what he says.

Government won't let him.

Call ourselves
a Christian country.

Yeah, well,
very interesting all this,

but we get told a different
story down here really.

I mean, don't we?

LEN: You would, lad,
if you listen to wireless

and read this stuff.

Winston Churchill,
clattering on about us being

revolutionaries,
wanting civil war.

It's lies, propaganda.

Aye, nought but a stunt
to panic folk, that's all.

DAISY: Well, my Eddie got
attacked.

You tell them, Ed.

EDWARD: Oh, it's nothing
serious, Daisy.

DAISY: Oh.
LEN: Aye.

Ah, well, a few maybe,
but not most of us.

We're peaceful, law-abiding.

We done our fighting
against Germans.

Aye, if you want
a truthful picture,

take a look at our paper.

That'll tell you
what we're like.

EDWARD: Oh, I'd like to see
this, thanks.

See, most folk don't know
a miner's life,

they don't know conditions.

Not even young Ruby here,
coming south as she did.

THOMPSON: It's not just muck
and long hours,

there's danger and all.

LEN: Right.

Every five hours,
a man or boy is killed in mine.

Every five hours.

Nine hundred maimed every day,
some for life.

You still find skeletons

of little lads
and lasses down there.

And all for what?

A weekly wage of roughly
56 shillings.

And owners are demanding now
that rate drops

to seven and seven pence
a shift.

That means,
given a 5 1/2 day week,

we come down to
41 shillings a week.

Aye, and we have to keep wives
and families on that.

Aye, they say owners
don't make profits.

Do you know what Duke of
Northumberland makes in an hour?

13 pound 10 shilling
and paid holidays.

EDWARD: Oh, we didn't know it
was like that, did we, Rose?

LEN: Well, we're not asking you
to fight our battles.

THOMPSON: Plenty of workers
are fighting with us though.

You know, workers
in different occupations.

They know we've got a cause.

You ask what it's like
in Barnsley, lass.

It's rough, I can tell you.

Folk will be driven back
to work if nought happens soon.

Nay, they won't,
they've come this far

and they'll stick it out, now.

If government would just
nationalize industry,

get it out of owners' hands,
then we'd have a fair chance.

Aye, that's the answer,
nationalize.

ROSE: This is Ruby's Uncle Len
and his friend Mister...

THOMPSON: Thompson.

ROSE: Thompson.
Just popped in to say hello.

And this is our butler,
Mr. Hudson.

LEN: Pleased to meet you,
Mr. Hudson.

Finch is name.

HUDSON: How do you do,
Mr. Finch.

-THOMPSON: How do?
HUDSON: Mr. Thompson.

EDWARD: What's happened to you,
Mr. Hudson?

Looks like you've
been in a fight.

ROSE: Yes, look at you.

Ruby, go and make Mr. Hudson
a cup of tea.

Go on.

HUDSON: Yes, I was involved
in a wee scuffle.

Two youths writing seditious
slogans on the pavement.

FREDERICK:
Well, did you catch them,

Mr. Hudson,
or did they get away?

HUDSON: No, I managed to
apprehend

them both,
I'm happy to say.

They won't trouble us again
for a wee while.

FREDERICK: Good for you,
Mr. Hudson.

DAISY: You mean, Mr. Hudson,

that you can catch people
and put them in prison?

HUDSON: After they've had
a fair trial, yes, Daisy.

DAISY: I didn't know that.

EDWARD: Neither did I.

HUDSON: Temporary power
entrusted to me

under the Emergency Powers Act.

You say you dropped in
to see Ruby, Mr. Finch.

All the way from Barnsley?

ROSE: Oh, yes, they've just come
up for a...what's it called?

LEN: Delegates meeting.

ROSE: For the miners,
that's right.

HUDSON: Did you travel up
by train?

THOMPSON: You'll not get us
on no black legged trains.

LEN: We came up on back
of coal lorry.

Seventeen of us, in rain.

EDWARD: That's uncomfortable.

LEN: Aye.

When are you both
returning to Yorkshire?

Are you not needed
with your families?

Aye, they need us.

But it's a question of
Where need is most.

I would have thought
the most urgent need

was to call the strike off now.

You've gained nothing from it.

The country is still on its feet
in spite of your efforts.

We've no wish to wreck
this country, Mr. Hudson.

Haven't you?

THOMPSON: Nay, it's you

that's wrecking it
with your black leg labour

and special constables putting
young strikers behind bars.

HUDSON: It is the duty of every
loyal subject of this country

to do what he can
against the forces of evil

who are out
to destroy our liberty.

THOMPSON: Liberty?

It's all right for you, living
down here talking about liberty.

Well, what Mr. Hudson means is
he don't want us

to be fighting each other,
don't you, Mr. Hudson?

LEN: It's all right, lass,
we know what he means.

Come on, Arnold,
we've outstayed our welcome.

Goodbye, Mr. Hudson, it's been
instructive meeting you.

HUDSON: Goodbye, Mr. Finch,
Mr. Thompson.

RUBY: Uncle Len,
my mum's not starving is she?

LEN: Nay, lass, but plenty are.

RUBY: Give her me love.
- LEN: We will.

She'll be glad we dropped by.

RUBY: Now, you'll come again
before you go, won't you?

Please.

ROSE: Ruby, where's Mr. Hudson's
cup of tea?

LEN: We'll do our best, love.

ROSE: Ruby.

EDWARD: Well, back to work
I suppose.

HUDSON: What's that, Edward?

EDWARD: What?

HUDSON: That paper you're
holding, let me see it.

Who gave you this?

Ruby's uncle, Mr. Hudson.

What has been going on here,
Rose?

Nothing.

Do you know what this rag is,
Edward?

It is a seditious propaganda
sheet put out by communists.

RUBY: Oh, is it not, Mister...

HUDSON: You be quiet, girl.

It is printed by traitors

and I forbid a copy of it
in this house.

Ruby, take this out
and burn it at once.

Rose, you come with me,
I want to talk to you.

Shut the door.

I can see now it is not safe to
leave this house for one moment.

ROSE: What do you mean,
Mr. Hudson?

Those two miners, Rose.

Two of the very people
we are fighting,

whom you see fit
to entertain.

I couldn't help it.
Wasn't my fault.

Ruby's Uncle Len,
I couldn't throw them out.

You could and should have, Rose,
as a duty to this household.

Have you no intelligence, girl?

This is the house of a prominent
member of the government.

Things are spoken here
and written down

that could be of immense value
to the wrong people.

ROSE: They're not spies,
Mr. Hudson.

They are enemies
and traitors, Rose.

They're not, Mr. Hudson.

They're Englishmen,
same as you and me.

And that don't mean that I
believe everything that they say

but at least we can show
them some civility.

They're not enjoying
this wretched strike

any more than we are.

All right.

Calm down, calm down, Rose.

All I'm trying to point out
to you is that feelings

on both sides are running
very high at the moment

and it is up to
the saner ones among us

to control these passions
and out out any loose talk

that could disturb people

like Edward and Frederick
and Daisy and Ruby.

It is up to us, Rose,
to set an example

of responsibility and loyalty,

as his lordship asked of us
only this morning.

Now, I don't want those people
in this house ever again.

Is that understood, Rose?

Yes, Mr. Hudson.

HUDSON: Very well.

We'll say no more about it.

Off you go, now.

RICHARD: Seven days now.

Baldwin claims
to be the man of peace

and he's sitting back
doing nothing.

Yes, well, what else can he do

while the strike notices
remain up?

Plenty of things he can do.

He can talk to people
in private --

mine owners, union leaders,

anyone else
with something to offer,

and thrash
the whole thing out.

He can listen to people --
men of his own government,

men of vision and ideas
and vast experience.

Last night, I was with
two ex-viceroys,

Reading and windbourne
and a few others,

who sat up half the night,
drafted several formulas,

handed them
this morning to Baldwin,

and he hasn't
even acknowledged them.

I'm not saying we have
the answers, but at least

we're trying every way we know
to find a compromise.

Yes, but why should we
compromise?

We're winning.

We're proving that,
the longer it goes on.

The longer it goes on, James,
the worse will be

the consequences -- both sides
becoming more entrenched.

And your line,
the war of attrition,

would be absolutely
disastrous.

Yes, well, I have rather
modified my views.

I expected a bloodbath
and I was wrong, I admit it.

But we are still being
intimidated.

I have stories of that.

The state of war still exists.

We've got them on the run so why
should we let them escape?

Oh, they're beaten already.

You should see them
up in Manchester,

they're fed up and worn out.

Billy Holland says they think
the country has let them down.

RICHARD: Yes.
Perhaps he's right.

JAMES: Huh, can't blame
the country.

It's their own leaders
they should blame,

defy them and get
back to work.

They can't do that, James.

Defy their own leadership?

It'll be the end
of the trade unions.

You must have strong unions for
the future good of this country.

Well, yes, that's where
I disagree with you, father.

Their leaders have been
discredited,

they've committed a criminal act
and they must be punished.

Why do you always have to talk
like this,

James,
about punishment and war?

The war is over and people don't
want to hear about it any more.

They just want to be left
in peace with enough to eat.

And they want to enjoy
themselves.

Oh, I'm going to bed,
I'm exhausted.

Good night, Uncle Richard.

[Opera duet]

[Music stops]

[Needle scratching]

[Knock on door]

JAMES: Hmm.

EDWARD: Whiskey, sir?

JAMES: Hmm.

Would you like me to keep
the fire alight for you, sir?

Hmm?

No, no, I suppose
we'd better try

and save the wretched stuff.

Well, what do you make
of it all, Edward?

Make of what, sir?

The strike.
Do you think it's justified?

Oh, er, no, sir.

Hmm, why not?

Well, I think it's wrong, sir.

The wrong way
to go about things.

How would you
go about things?

Me, sir?
Well, I don't know.

Er, well certainly
not this way,

causing hardship to people
and suffering.

Quite right, Edward.

Is that all, sir?

Yes.

Good night, Edward.

RICHARD: Yes, yes.

RICHARD: Yes, yes.

Oh, that's splendid news.

Thank you for telephoning.

Goodbye.

The end's in sight.

The TUC leaders
are at Downing Street now.

They've agreed to call off
the strike

so that negotiations
for the miners can begin.

But so sudden.

Oh, things are going on
behind the scenes.

James, you heard the news?

Strikes will be called off
within the hour.

JAMES: Oh, yes, yes,
I had heard a rumour

of it down at the bus station.

Herbert Samuel,
chairman of the Coal Commission,

has worked out a formula,

which Jimmy Thomas
has finally agreed to accept.

JAMES: Yes, Thomas may have,
but what about the miners?

They'll have to.
They have no choice.

Now, come on, let's celebrate.

PRUDENCE: No, no.

I must get back to my lodgers
and see them off.

Oh, I shall miss them.

Your bus conductor, James,

was delightful, a fund of
amusing stories.

He quite turned my head.

JAMES: Hmm.

RICHARD:
What's the matter, James?

Aren't you pleased?
It's over.

JAMES:
Yes, Father, yes, I'm pleased.

RICHARD: There was
a fair trial of strength,

both sides kept their heads,

with loyalty, self-sacrifice,
very little anger.

I think the whole nation can be
proud, don't you?

JAMES: What happens when we
finish congratulating ourselves?

There'll be no vindictiveness
from the government.

No, no, Baldwin's given
his word on that.

Industry will be reorganized,

strikers will be reinstated
without penalty.

Yes, I just feel
the waste of it all.

Campaign fought with
a mass of guns

against a pathetic,
futile enemy.

We kept our civil liberty,
James, the greatest asset.

[Music and laughter]

ROSE: I'm trying to listen.

HUDSON:
Oh, I wouldn't bother, Rose.

We've heard the important part.

FREDERICK: You gonna miss your
constable duties, Mr. Hudson?

HUDSON:
Not a bit of it, Frederick.

There's no pleasure chasing
hooligans at my age,

I can assure you.

EDWARD:
A bit of a let down really.

I mean, and no more bloody
battles in the street.

DAISY: Oh, and no more getting
your nose tweaked.

RUBY: Will they get more money?

FREDERICK: What, Ruby?

RUBY: Miners.
Will they get more money?

Of course they will, Ruby.

Won't they, Mr. Hudson?

Well, from what I gather they'll
get the same money, Ruby.

They won't lose any.

Listen.
Everybody up standing.

[God Save the Queen plays]

[Doorbell rings]

HUDSON: Wait, Frederick.

[Music ends]

Right, Frederick.

Now, back to your duties,
everybody.

We've allowed things
to become very slipshod

these past few days.

FREDERICK: Ruby's Uncle Len,
Mr. Hudson.

HUDSON: Ah, come in, Mr. Finch,
Mr. Thompson.

You've heard the news,
I take it?

- LEN: What news?
- HUDSON: The strike is over.

It was announced five minutes
ago on the wireless.

FREDERICK: Yeah,
you lost, I'm afraid.

It is not a question of losing,
Frederick.

Sir Herbert Samuel has put
forward a proposal

that has been
accepted by all sides.

LEN: Not by us, it hasn't.

We rejected his proposal
last night.

It were against everything
we'd been fighting for.

THOMPSON:
Aye, it demanded a reduction

of wages as a basis
for negotiations.

HUDSON: Well, that's as may be
but your leader, Mr. Thomas...

THOMPSON: Thomas?

LEN: He is not our leader.

THOMPSON:
He's not consulted us.

He's done us behind our backs.
I knew he would.

Oh, but the strike's over

and people
are going back to work.

We're not going back.

He'll have to consult us
delegates first,

and rank and file.

It's not over for us.

That's surely rather a narrow
point of view, Mr. Thompson.

My advice to you both

would be to accept the decision
of the majority.

Thanks, Mr. Hudson, but we can
do without your advice.

Come on.

Let's get back to Russell Square
and find out what's going on.

RUBY: Uncle Len.

Look, take these to me mum.

They're canapés
and vol-au-vents.

Well, we're sick
of sight of them.

Bye, lass.

[Cheering horns honking]

Taxi!

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