[Music]
[CROWD CHEERlNG AND SHOUTlNG]
[Music]
[ENGlNE RATTLlNG]
[CROWD SHOUTlNG AND BOOlNG]
[TRAlN WHlSTLE BLOWlNG]
[SlREN WAlLlNG]
[AlRPLANES WHlRRlNG]
[EXPLOSlONS]
[SQUEALlNG]
[Music]
MAN 1 : Who's that bloody fool on the grey?
MAN 2: Someone who wants to be noticed, l should imagine.
MAN 1 : He'll be noticed. He'll get his head blown off.
[HORSES WHlNNYlNG]
CHURCHlLL: My Early Life
by Winston Spencer Churchill.
On the 1 6th of September, 1 89 7,
at the age of 22,
I found myself taking part in a punitive expedition
of the Malakand Field Force on the northwest frontier of India.
[Music]
CHURCHlLL: In a sense, I had arranged for my participation in this action myself.
WlNSTON: August the 5th, 1 89 7.
A letter to General Sir Bindon Blood.:
"Sir, I do hope you will not be annoyed if I remind you
that you once promised me that when you had your next command,
you would try to find a place for me. "
BLOOD: "Very difficult. No vacancies.
Come up as a correspondent. We'll try to fit you in. Blood. "
[Music]
WlNSTON: Now, which of these gallant chaps will lead me
to something really exciting, an adventure I can write about?
That column there?
Or that one? It's all a lottery, isn't it?
Just luck.
God, I hope I'm lucky today.
[Music]
The jok e of it all is that I never really wanted to be a soldier.
No. Politics, parliament, that's my arena.
But how am I to get there? I have no reputation,
no family in the government. And worst of all, no money.
CHURCHlLL: Ah, money. My darling mother wrote to me often on that tiresome subject.:
JENNlE: "Really, Winston, you are simply irresponsible about money.
I am sending the man the 1 1 pounds he asks,
but why will you write cheques when you have no money in the bank?
Actually, in America, you know, it's illegal.
And they sentence people to long terms in jail for doing it.
My dear, do be careful. And do write when you can.
Please, please, don't tak e any unnecessary risks.
Your loving mother, Jennie Randolph Churchill. "
Who's that bloody fool on the grey?
ADJUTANT: Can't tell.
Someone who wants to get noticed, l should imagine.
He'll be noticed. He'll get his head blown off.
[MEN CHATTER lN FORElGN LANGU AGE]
Sir!
Lieutenant Churchill, sir. 4th Hussars.
Actually, l'm here as a correspondent. Pioneer and Saily Telegraph.
l wonder, if you're going to that village up there,
would you mind awfully if l came along with you?
Ah yes. Churchill, 4th Hussars.
Actually, we don't care much for correspondents out here, Churchill.
Or white horses, either. Where'd you get him?
Uh, in the auction last week, sir. Malakand Pass.
Previous owner killed? l believe so, yes, sir.
Didn't that teach you anything?
Sir?
Well, come along if you like. But keep out of the way.
Thank you very much, sir.
Oh, one more thing. We do try to bring our wounded back.
These chaps can be very nasty.
But as you're only an onlooker, l can't guarantee anything. Understood?
Yes, sir.
Thank you very much, sir.
[Music]
WlNSTON: The truth is, I'm not at all brave.
in fact, the truth is, I've often felt myself a coward, especially at school.
But if I could win a reputation for courage and daring,
if I could be mentioned in despatches,
that would help me to get started in politics.
In short, I need medals.
Lots and lots of medals.
And I have to learn so much, and there's so little time.
I have to read all the books I should have read before.
I must become my own university.
And I must overcome my speech impediment when I speak in public.
The Spanish ships I cannot shee-- See.
For they are not in shite-- Site. Samn!
[Music]
OFFlCER: Move it!
SlKH SERGEANT: ls everybody gone, sir?
All gone, sir.
Very well, then.
Carry on. ADJUTANT: Carry on!
OFFlCER: Number three section, follow me!
WlNSTON: Wouldn't you know it? All this way for nothing.
Talk about rotten luck.
[MAN CHATTERS lN FORElGN LANGU AGE]
[FLAMES ROARlNG]
[CHATTERlNG]
Right, we'll start back now.
Keep a dozen men, will you, and cover us till we get halfway down, will you.
Then we'll cover you. Right.
Come along, Mr. Cartlidge, we're going back now.
Very well, sir. Come along and huddle it up. Bring them down.
OFFlCER: Head's up. Lieutenant general, come with me.
WlNSTON: It's not bad at that.
Could be worth two or three hundred words.
[MAN SHOUTS lN FORElGN LANGU AGE]
[GUNSHOTS]
OFFlCER: Get back. Get back!
[VlLLAGERS SHOUTlNG lNDlSTlNCTLY]
[GUNSHOTS]
Willy! Come on, get out of there.
Come down! We'll cover you!
Fall back! Fall back!
[GUNSHOT]
No, sahib, leave me. Oh, sahib, you're hurting me.
Sahib, let me go!
Oh, please, on my knees, l am begging you.
[SHOUTlNG CONTlNUES]
[GRUNTlNG]
[GUNSHOTS]
[GUN CLlCKlNG]
CAPTAlN: Come on, you idiot, get out of it!
Get out of it!
[GUNSHOTS]
BLOOD: " And to conclude these despatches,
the general in the field wishes to mention and commend
the courage of Lieutenant W L S Churchill,
who made himself useful at a critical moment. "
[BUGLE PLAYlNG]
[SHOUTlNG]
[GUNSHOT]
CHURCHlLL: And thereupon, I sat down and wrote a book.
And the literary critics were most kind to me.:
CRlTlC: "If General Kitchener should ever find time
to read Mr. Winston Churchill's new book, The Malakand Field Force,
it's fascinating to imagine the great warrior's reaction to it.
The book is excellent for a first effort, but perhaps its title should have been.:
Some Helpful Hints for Generals From a Young Lieutenant. "
SlKH: Hurry up now, sahib, the train is about to leave.
CHURCHlLL: For some reason unknown to me,
I have always been charged with being unpunctual.
But then, in my lifetime,
I have constantly been accused of many wick ed things.
[PEOPLE CHATTERlNG lN FORElGN LANGU AGE]
[TRAlN WHlSTLE BLOWlNG]
CHURCHlLL: Perhaps I paid for all those sins,
real or imaginary, in advance,
for when I was but 7, I was cast out of my happy home,
and sent away to school.
I left behind me all who were dear to me,
especially my nurse, Mrs. Everest...
Winnie, bye-bye!
CHURCHlLL: who look ed after me and tended all my wants,
and to whom I poured out all my troubles.
And for some reason I cannot now remember,
I called her "Womany. "
And when I went away, I think I missed her most of all.
WlNSTON: "Searest Mother, my white horse has been a marvellous investment.
Everyone noticed me.
The news here is that Kitchener is going to fight the dervishes in the Sudan.
Mother, darling, you must use all your influence and charm
to get me into his command. "
CHURCHlLL: My American mother
always seemed to me a fairy princess.
A radiant being,
possessed of limitless riches and power.
She shone for me lik e the evening star.
I loved her dearly.
But at a distance.
Nevertheless, it was my father
who was the greatest and most powerful influence on my early life.
He was the second son of the Suk e of Marlborough
and a Tory member of the House of Commons.
Good morning, good morning.
CHURCHlLL: Unfortunately, if my mother had little time for me in those days,
I saw and spok e to my father even less.
He numbered among his friends,
some of the most important men in parliament,
and indeed in all England.
Men lik e Lord Salisbury, the leader of the Tory party,
which was then in opposition.
His nephew, Arthur Balfour.
And Joseph Chamberlain.
And even I knew that one day,
when the people came to their senses
and swept the Conservatives back into power,
it would be these men who, together with my father,
would form the government.
No Lord Rothschild?
Are none of your Jewish friends to be with us today, Randolph?
No, l didn't think it would be fair to them.
You know how easily bored they are.
[LAUGHlNG]
[TRAlN WHlSTLE BLOWlNG]
Winston.
Thank you, sir.
Now, we enter this in your name.
So...
And then you can purchase anything you like from the school shop.
Up to the limit of your credit, of course.
l'm afraid Winston doesn't quite understand about money yet.
We shall teach him.
This young man will be very happy here, Lady Randolph, l assure you.
l am certain he will.
Would you take tea, Lady Randolph?
Well, l'm afraid l can't . l shall miss my train.
Another time perhaps, when l come again.
You will be good, darling.
And you will write, won't you?
Yes, Mama.
And so, young Churchill, here we are.
Come along.
Yes, sir.
HEADMASTER: l am going to tell you something
l shall want you to remember always.
Your school days are the most important days of your life.
How you get on here will determine precisely
how you get on in the world.
Succeed here, and you will succeed as a man.
Fail here...
and you will be a failure to the end of your days.
Do you understand? Yes, sir.
Good. Your father is a great man.
Be like him in all things.
Now, you wait here while l see about getting you settled in.
Have you had any Latin?
Latin? No, sir.
Hmm.
While l am gone, learn this.
This, on the right-hand page. When l return...
we shall see how well you have done.
[WlNSTON MUMBLlNG]
They are ready for you. Come along.
Now, then, have you learnt it?
l think l can say it, sir. Then please do so.
Mensa: a table. Mensa: O table.
Mensam: a table. Mensae: of table.
Mensae: to or for a table. Mensa: by, with or from a table.
Very good. Come along.
Excuse me, sir, but what does it mean?
lt means what it says. Mensa: a table.
Mensa is a noun of the first declension.
There are five declensions.
You have learnt the singular of the first declension.
Yes, sir. But what does it mean?
l have told you. Mensa in Latin means " a table."
But it means " O table" too, sir.
And what does " O table" mean?
"Mensa: O table" is the vocative case.
O table.
You would use that in addressing a table, in invoking a table.
You would use it in speaking to a table.
But l never do, sir.
Churchill,
in this school, if you are impertinent, you will be punished
and punished, let me tell you, very severely.
Come along.
McSweeney, P J M W.
" He exhibits rather too relaxed an attitude
towards the disciplines of academic life.
Gamma."
Stand forward, McSweeney.
Mr. McSweeney, l shall be obliged if, after this assembly
you will take your customary step through my study door.
WlNSTON: "Sear Mama, I hope you are well.
I'm very happy at school.
I do wish you could come and visit me one day soon. "
HEADMASTER: " He gabbles his translations and is dirty with his written work."
Step forward, Stuart MacKenzie.
May, A C W.
Stand forward, Mr. May.
Mr. Belcher tells me in this report
that you suppose noise to be an effective camouflage for inattention.
You will shortly give me your attention in the study,
where we will explore your capacity for making noise.
Mr. May, you're first.
[WHlP CRACKS]
[MEN CHATTERlNG lNDlSTlNCTLY]
LABOUCHERE: --which is, in my view, essential.
Oh, come, come, it really is time the Honourable Member
stopped trying to introduce bogus bills
in order to prevent action on bona fide ones.
[SHOUTlNG lNDlSTlNCTLY]
Mr. Speaker! Mr. Speaker, l protest!
Those words should be taken down. MEN: Hear, hear!
Mr. Speaker, l agree. l wholeheartedly agree.
Those words should be taken down.
Will the gentlemen of the press please take these words down?
lt really is...
time the Honourable Member
stopped trying to introduce bogus bills!
[MEN LAUGHlNG]
[WHlP CRACKlNG]
WlNSTON: "Sear Papa, how are you? I am well.
HEADMASTER: Mr. Churchill! WlNSTON: I am very happy at school.
I had a nice birthday. Thank you ever so much for the present.
I know you're ever so busy,
but it would be ever so nice if you could come one Sunday. "
[WHlP CRACKlNG]
[PEOPLE CHATTERlNG lNDlSTlNCTLY]
CHURCHlLL: And when the next election came,
my mother married an American flav our to the proceedings.
Mind your skirts, dearie.
BUTCHER: Good morning! Good morning.
Are we new in the neighbourhood, ma'am? l must say, l don't recall the pleasure.
Well, you've come to the right place to save a bit of money.
lt never hurts to do a little shopping yourself, l always say.
And learn your way about, in effect, ma'am. What can l do for you, ma'am?
Actually, l want to talk to you about the election.
My husband, Lord Randolph Churchill, is standing for this constituency.
And l'm helping him to get elected.
Oh, uh...
Ma'am, in this constituency
in effect, we vote as we please.
And we don't like people coming round asking us for our votes.
Furthermore, l never discuss politics with women.
Even ladies, ma'am, begging your pardon.
ln-- ln-- ln-- ln effect.
But l want your vote. How am l to get it if l don't ask for it?
lndeed. Well, that's a point.
Quite so. You-- You have a point there, ma'am.
lt is a point, but it's no use.
l'm a life-long liberal.
Besides, l don't hold with lordships lolling about the House of Commons.
No. Horses for courses, l say.
Lords for lords, commons in the Commons, in effect, ma'am.
But my husband doesn't loll.
He never lolls. He works very hard.
That's why he isn't here and l am, in his place.
ln effect.
Oh, and what time, may l ask, does His Lordship arise in the morning?
Most days, about 1 1 . You see, the House sits at night.
Sometimes very late. He st-- He stays in bed till 1 1 ?
Well, l'm sorry, ma'am
l could never vote for a man who lies abed until 1 1 :00.
That is the end of it, ma'am. Good day.
Good day.
Just a moment.
Doesn't get out of bed till 1 1 , does he?
Well, ma'am, looking at you now,
it's a wonder to me he bothers to get out at all.
Good day to you, ma'am.
[Music]
Good evening. Welcome home, milady.
JENNlE: Thank you, Evans. Betty, Marlene. ls Lord Randolph in?
No, milady. Oh. Where's Everest?
l'm here, Lady Randolph.
lf l might speak to you? Now, please.
When did this happen?
Have you called the doctor?
We shall be taking him out of that place.
Won't we, milady?
lNTERVlEWER: Ladies and gentlemen, Lord Randolph Churchill,
Secretary of State for lndia.
Lord Randolph. Many people give you the major credit
for the return of the Conservative Party to power.
Yet there is a rumour that you tendered your resignation
to the prime minister, Lord Salisbury.
l trust l am not here to exchange gossip or to encourage a rumour.
lNTERVlEWER: But you will not deny there is friction between yourself and Lord Salisbury.
l refuse to discuss that any further.
To put an end to it, let me say
that l have never run away from a fight when l believed it necessary.
But l am and always will be loyal to the Tory Party.
Mind you...
some of my friends in my own party have a great lesson to learn.
The Tory Party will never remain in power
until it gains the confidence of the minorities and the working classes.
Because the working classes are quite determined to govern themselves.
lNTERVlEWER: Ah, yes. Your theory of Tory democracy.
lt is said that there are few who take it seriously.
Really?
Yes. After all, as an aristocrat
it's difficult to accept you as an advocate of democracy.
Many people think you use it as a device
to make yourself prime minister in Lord Salisbury's place.
Do you?
Not at all. Good.
Recently, you've expressed strong views on the state of the lrish question.
Ah, well... The lrish question...
That, l'm afraid, will never be solved.
Quite.
Now, Lord Randolph, on a more personal note,
you and Lady Randolph, the former American heiress Jennie Jerome,
are leaders of society.
Your racehorses are most successful, you entertain lavishly,
and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales attends your dinners frequently.
And Lady Randolph and you
are identified with all that is new and fashionable.
Your splendid home here in Connaught Place
is one of the few to have electric lighting.
How do you find it? Do you prefer it to gas?
Well, it's all rather up-to-date, l suppose.
That thing in the cellar-- l think you call it the dynamo.
--is rather noisy.
The lights will keep going out always at the wrong times.
No, l don't think that electric light will ever replace gas.
At least, not in private houses. No, no.
l believe, Lord Randolph, you have a son.
What? Yes, actually. Two.
Two sons, Winston and Jack.
No doubt, they're very proud of their father.
Oh.
[CHUCKLES]
That thought had never occurred to me.
[BELL RlNGlNG]
[Music]
CHURCHlLL: I had scarcely passed my 1 2th birthday
when I entered the inhospitable regions of examinations,
through which, for the next seven years
I was destined to journey.
These examinations were a great trial to me.
I should have lik ed to be ask ed to say what I knew.
They always contrived to ask what I did not know.
This sort of treatment had only one result.:
I did not do well in examinations.
Begin.
CHURCHlLL: This was especially true
of my entrance examination to Harrow.
I wrote my name at the top of the page.
I wrote the number of the question.: one.
And after much reflection, I put a brack et around it.
But thereafter, I could not think of anything connected with it
that was either relevant or true.
Incidentally, there arrived from nowhere in particular
a blot and several smudges.
I gazed for two whole hours at this sad spectacle.
Then, merciful ushers collected my piece of fool's cap
with all the others and carried it up to the headmaster's table.
Longhaired boy in the second row.
CHURCHlLL: It was from these slender indications of scholarship
that Mr. Welldon, the headmaster
drew the conclusion that I was worthy to pass into Harrow.
It is very much to his credit.
It showed that he was a man
capable of looking beneath the surface.
A man not dependent upon paper manifestations.
I have always had the greatest regard for him.
Happy Christmas, Lord Randolph. Thank you.
And to you, my boy.
RANDOLPH: Well, Mr. Buckle, a visit from me to The Times at this hour
must be a surprise to you.
Oh, The Times has learnt never to be surprised by Lord Randolph Churchill.
Then, perhaps, this will surprise you.
This is a letter from you to the prime minister.
That is correct.
[THUNDER RUMBLlNG]
But it's a letter of resignation from the cabinet.
That is also correct.
Lord Randolph.
You have taken me into your confidence by showing me this letter.
l ask you...
l beg you not to send it to Lord Salisbury.
l already have. That's a copy.
Then l urge you to withdraw it.
That's not possible.
Lord Randolph, once before you threatened to resign
and the prime minister retreated.
This time, he will stand firm.
Really?
Forgive me if l seem to be taking a liberty,
but for you to resign now, to leave the government at this time,
on this issue of the budgets for the army and navy would be a tragic error.
You must not do it.
l have no choice.
l'm pledged to economy up to my eyes.
l gave my word.
How can l accept this flagrant misuse of public money?
May l say that public money has been wasted before
and the nation has survived.
As l understand it, every one of your colleagues in the cabinet
is willing to accept this bill.
Then why do you feel it necessary to resign?
Because in addition to being leader of the House of Commons,
l'm also chancellor of the exchequer.
l am responsible for the country's money.
Why resign? ln protest?
The country will not be grateful. After all,
isn't this a matter of national defence?
Withdraw this resignation. At once. Now.
The prime minister has already accepted it.
l have his letter here.
Mr. Buckle, l came to you, rather than any other editor
in the hope that you, of all people, would give me your support.
l see.
The Times has criticised the government
when we thought it necessary.
But we will not lend a hand toward bringing it down.
Will you, at least,
publish both my letter and the prime minister's reply?
No.
Both letters are private communications between you and Lord Salisbury.
To publish his letter,
l would have to have the prime minister's permission.
That you will never get.
l presume l shall see the news in tomorrow's edition of The Times?
Yes. Tomorrow.
JENNlE: Randolph!
Randolph.
Quite a surprise for you.
lt is true.
lt must be. lt's in The Times, isn't it?
[BELL RlNGlNG]
Last night, you knew.
You knew then, and you didn't tell me.
When you said you were going to the club, you were going to The Times.
l saw no reason to spoil your evening.
But you've worked so hard.
Yes, l'm very tired.
Why don't we take a holiday?
We've arranged to be home at Christmas. We have engagements.
Mr. Moore, my lord.
Oh, dear, yes. Show him in, will you?
Good morning, Lady Randolph. Good morning, Mr. Moore.
Lord Randolph. Yes, it's quite true, Moore.
Now, be a good fellow, have a cup of coffee with us.
No, thank you. l... l just came to tell you that
if l can ever serve you in a private capacity, l would be honoured.
Very kind of you.
Do sit down. Thank you, no. l--
l really must go.
l'll see you to the door.
l'll see myself out, Lady Randolph. l--
ln all my 20 years in Her Majesty's government,
l have never served a more able or more brilliant minister.
He has flung himself from the top of the ladder.
He will never reach it again.
Winston, hurry up.
[Music]
CHURCHlLL: The dev oted Mr. Moore had a heart attack
and died shortly thereafter.
I can see my father now
in a somewhat different light than I did in those days.
I have long since passed the age when he died,
and I understand very clearly
the suicidal nature of his resignation.
My mother remained, as always,
loyal and steadfast.
[CHOlR SlNGlNG]
BO Y: A light on Marmion's visage spread
And fired his glazing eye.:
With dying hand, above his head
He shook the fragment of his blade
And shouted, "Victory!
Charge, Chester, charge!
On, Stanley, on!"
Were the last words of Marmion.
[APPLAUSE]
WlNSTON: "Searest Mother and Father,
two weeks from Monday
there is to be prize-giving in the Speech Room.
I have memorised 600 lines from Macaulay's Lays of Ancient Rome,
and if I can get 1 000 lines by heart,
which I will do, I am bound to get a prize.
So will you please both come down?
Everyone will be there. And it would mak e me so happy
if you were there to see me win a prize.
You have never been down to see me at Harrow. Either of you.
And this would be a perfect time.
So, dearest Mummy and Papa,
please, please, please, do, do, do come.
Your loving son, Winston S. Churchill. "
WlNSTON: And under that great battle
The earth with blood was red
And, lik e the Pomptine fog at morn
The dust hung overhead
And louder still and louder
Rose from the dark ened field
The braying of the war-horns
The clang of sword and shield
[KNOCKlNG ON DOOR]
Come in.
Oh, Dr. Roose, do come in.
Thank you. He is better, isn't he?
Oh, do sit down. l shan't be a moment.
Will you have a cup of coffee with me?
Lady Randolph, l should like you to meet Dr. Bluzzard,
whom l have consulted.
But l thought he was getting better.
l am sorry to have to tell you, madame, that your husband is very ill.
You must, l fear, prepare yourself for the worst.
Dr. Bluzzard. We agreed to be frank
with Lady Randolph, did we not?
ROOSE: Frank, yes. But l see no necessity to be brutal.
What is it? What are you talking about?
Lady Randolph,
it is my sad duty to tell you
that Lord Randolph is suffering from an incurable disease.
From which, at the most, he will die within five or six years.
Stop!
What are you telling me?
You're talking about a man who is only 38 years old!
Lady Randolph, please believe this is extremely painful for us.
Do sit down.
May we?
Lady Randolph, l am a specialist
and what l have to tell you is,
l am sorry to say, beyond question.
But what is the cure?
There is no cure.
But what is it? Why don't you tell me?
Let us call it...
an inflammation of the brain.
ln the years to come, although he will seem to recover,
although he will seem from time to time to be perfectly normal,
in fact, he will deteriorate consistently.
He will suffer paralysis in his limbs,
and his speech will become impaired. As will his mind.
There will be periods of violence.
l am sorry, believe me. But it is necessary for you to know.
ls it true?
lt can't be.
lt isn't true, is it?
Yes.
Yes, l'm afraid it is.
[CRYlNG]
Oh, my God.
Randolph.
Does he know?
No. And in our opinion, he should never know.
Lady Randolph?
Yes?
How recently have you had
physical relations with your husband?
Why do you ask?
Forgive me, but it is a matter of some importance.
l beg you.
Hmm.
Not for a considerable period.
lf it is necessary for you to know...
perhaps not for...
a considerable time.
Thank God. Yes. Thank God.
Neither you nor the two boys are in any way affected.
But l'm afraid there must be no further physical relations
between you and your husband...
ever again.
WlNSTON: Good morning, Mother. Good morning, Father.
JENNlE: Good morning, Winston.
[CLANGlNG]
Winston!
Go to your room and stay there
until you learn how to behave in a civilised manner!
Yes, Father.
Don't you think that was a little excessive?
His manners are atrocious.
l know.
But most boys are ugly and tiresome at his age.
To the best of my memory, l was always fairly presentable.
l do not recall grunting at table like a pig on heat.
Randolph, we haven't seen much of Winston this past year.
And he does worship you. You were right, of course.
But you were a bit harsh. Nonsense.
You don't really think that, do you?
Well, if you ever spoke to me like that...
l'd feel as if you didn't care about me at all.
Of course.
Perhaps l should have a chat with him.
Oh, that would be nice.
Yes, l think l'll do it now. Why don't you finish your breakfast?
No. Now would be best.
[KNOCKlNG ON DOOR]
Father.
l'm awfully sorry, Father. l'll be better. l promise you, truly.
l'm sure you will be.
We won't talk about it anymore. Thank you, Father.
You know, Winston...
the world of politics can be very difficult sometimes.
And l have my share of problems these days.
The things l do are misjudged.
Things l say are often distorted.
Perhaps that's why l'm so often bad-tempered.
Oh, no, Father. You're a great man. Everyone knows that.
Everyone knows Lord Salisbury treated you very badly.
And you'll show him. All of them.
Thank you.
Thank you, my boy.
Anyway, l think...
older people aren't always
particularly considerate to younger people, to children.
They forget what it was like when they were children.
And sometimes, when they're bad-tempered,
they speak more harshly than they think they are or mean to.
Yes, l know, Father.
Well, l think there have been times when l have done that.
Perhaps this morning.
But l would never...
wish you to feel
that l don't care for you very much.
Because l do.
Thank you, Papa. l mean, Father.
l say, Winston,
your collection has become most impressive, hasn't it?
You're rather short of artillery, aren't you?
Yes, Father. Only five field guns.
Yes, well. Now, that's not really...
CHURCHlLL: It was one of the three or four
long, intimate conversations with him which are all I can boast.
He spok e in the most wonderful and captivating manner.
Then when he inspected my troops,
he displayed such a knowledge of military affairs
that it would have astounded me
had I not already been aware of his breadth of mind.
Winston.
When you grow up, would you like to go into the army?
Would you like me to, Father?
No, it's what you would like that counts.
Well...
l'm awfully good at history.
Especially about wars and battles and generals and...
Yes, Father, l'd like to very much.
Very much. Good.
We'll talk about that again later.
There's an army class at Harrow, isn't there?
l'll have a chat with Welldon, see what he thinks.
Yes.
Goodbye, Winston.
Goodbye, Father.
Womany.
Womany! What is it, for heaven's sake?
Father talked to me for the longest time.
And he was so kind. And l'm going into the army!
The army?
JENNlE: He's our son, but we mustn't blind ourselves, must we?
He's no scholar.
Can you imagine him qualifying for the bar
or cutting any kind of figure in politics?
So unless you see him in the church...
You see, the army's all that's left. l think it's an inspiration.
We have to get him into Sandhurst.
And that, of course, means passing the examination.
The army.
Well, that's three or four years off, anyway, isn't it?
CHURCHlLL: Unfortunately, it took not one,
but three examinations to get me into Sandhurst.
[KNOCKlNG ON DOOR]
Come in.
Did my letter come, Father?
l've been accepted. l passed.
You seem very pleased with yourself, Winston.
l'm afraid l don't share your satisfaction.
But l passed.
Yes, you passed.
[COUGHS]
There are two ways of passing an examination, Winston,
one that does you credit and one that does not.
As usual, you have chosen the latter.
Seventh from the bottom of the entire class.
But l did pass.
Yes. You passed...
but you failed to get into the infantry.
You merely scraped into the cavalry,
which everybody knows is the mark of a third-rate pass.
Now, that will cost me an extra...
200 pounds a year to get you a horse.
And this after all the months of cramming,
and all the trouble l went to with the duke of Cambridge to get you into 60th Rifles,
one of the finest regiments in the British army.
But l only failed the infantry by 1 8 marks, Father.
l'm sorry. Sorry?
You are sorry?
Winston, how many times have l heard that word from you before?
You've had every possible advantage.
Your mother and l have done everything possible
to make life easy for you. Remember how you behaved at Eton?
Eton? You mean at Harrow-- Your reports. They've been
nothing but an embarrassment to me. " Untidy, slovenly, bad, lazy."
You're my greatest disappointment.
You lie, you shirk, you boast!
You care nothing for anyone but yourself, Winston.
Ever since you were a child, you've been...
a problem to me.
Nothing but trouble and heartache.
What's to become of you, boy?
No, you're no longer a boy, you're 20. You'll be 21 --
No, Father, l-- l'm 1 9. Don't interrupt me, Winston, please!
Winston...
if you do not change your ways at Sandhurst...
if you do not face up to your responsibilities like a man...
if you don't buckle down, Winston...
l can accept no further responsibility for you after your 21 st birthday.
lf you don't change...
you'll become just another...
public-school failure, social wastrel...
living out a shabby and a miserable life to the end of your days.
Do you understand me, Winston?
Yes, Father.
[Music]
[PEOPLE CHATTERlNG lNDlSTlNCTLY]
[HORSE WHlNNYlNG]
CHURCHlLL: Nevertheless, once I became a gentleman cadet,
I acquired a new status in my father's eyes.
And, when I was on leave,
I was sometimes allowed to go about with him.
I dearly loved these outings.
I had no idea that he had less than 1 8 months to live.
Lord Randolph.
General. Good afternoon, sir.
This your boy? Yes. Winston.
Winston, you have the privilege of meeting General Bindon Blood.
How do you do, sir.
Sandhurst, eh? Good, good.
See you in lndia one day, right?
l hope so, sir. l'd like to serve under you someday, sir.
l mean, in the field, sir.
You like a bit of gunpowder, do you? Good, good.
Well, young fellow, you do well at Sandhurst...
and if ever there's another war, which l doubt, worst luck...
l'll find a place for you.
l give you my word.
Ambition's a good thing in a young man, Winston,
but one mustn't be too pushy, you know?
Yes, Father.
RANDOLPH: Hello, Joe.
Randolph.
l was going to write to congratulate you
on this young man's maiden speech.
Excellent, Austen. Made a fine impression on the House.
Thank you, sir.
You should be very proud of him, Joe.
Yes, l thought it was a reasonable effort.
You've grown, Winston.
Be an officer soon, eh? Hope so, sir.
Hmm.
Father, l-- l've been thinking. Yes?
Arthur Balfour is Lord Salisbury's nephew.
They're very close, and he helps Lord Salisbury a lot.
And now that Austen Chamberlain's an MP,
he must be a great help to his father.
l was just wondering...
l mean, when l have some leave, couldn't l help your secretary?
l mean, you were your father's secretary for a while and...
They fancy Rosebery's gelding in this race.
He's a handsome-enough fellow.
The breeding's there, but there's something lacking in the stamina.
You know? Character.
No, l don't see him winning the race.
RANDOLPH: lt was not...
so long ago...
[WHlSPERlNG] Excuse me.
RANDOLPH: in terms of the calendar...
Excuse me. Hello. RANDOLPH: honourable members...
Hello, how are you? RANDOLPH: may recall l made...
a previous statement.
A previous statement...
made by me...
on a previous occasion...
honourable members may recall.
And so l repeat...
if l may...
on that...
On that o--
On that o-- Occasion...
[RANDOLPH COUGHS]
On that occasion...
honourable members may recall l...
Her Majesty's government...
[RANDOLPH COUGHS]
Her Majesty's government...
are spending huge amounts of money...
on army and naval operations.
They are doing so...
They are--
They are doing so
without regard to the pledges they made to the country.
Without regard.
They are doing so...
without regard to the pledges they made to the country.
Without regard...
to the will or voice of parliament.
That's what l said.
Must have...
had a reason.
Come along, old friend.
CHURCHlLL: He was only 46.
Had he lived another four or five years,
he could not have done without me.
But all my dreams of comradeship with him,
of entering parliament at his side and in his support...
were ended.
[Music]
We buried him near Blenheim...
where both he and I were born.
His friend Lord Rosebery wrote of him.:
"He was human, eminently human...
full of faults, as he himself knew.
But not base or unpardonable faults.
Pugnacious, outrageous...
fitful, petulant...
but eminently lovable and winning. "
Not a bad epitaph, at that.
Nor one I should mind having for myself.
[Music]
Now, there remained for me...
only to pursue his aims,
and vindicate his memory.
OFFlCER: Parade...
present arms!
[BAND PLAYlNG]
Colour parties, halt!
OFFlCER: Parade...
shoulder arms!
[BAND PLAYlNG]
CHURCHlLL: I passed out of Sandhurst with honours.
Eighth out of 1 50.
I mention this only because it shows
that I could learn quickly enough the things that mattered.
VlCTORlA: Victoria, by the grace of God,
Queen, Sefender of the Faith, Empress of India...
to our trusty and well-beloved Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill,
gentleman, greeting.
We, reposing a special trust and confidence
in your loyalty, courage and good conduct,
constitute and appoint you
to be an officer in our land forces with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.
CHURCHlLL: Four months later...
I lost the one person who had never failed me.
Elizabeth. Elizabeth
it's Winston.
Do come in.
[WHlSPERlNG] Winston.
What a good boy you are...
to come and see your old Everest.
You've grown.
lt's the army.
Do you think they'd take me?
l'm afraid l'm not much good anymore.
Oh, you'll get better, Womany. You'll see.
[SlGHS]
l was thinking this afternoon about your father.
Do you know what he did?
When l retired, l gave him my savings...
and he made a special trip to the city...
to talk to Lord Rothschild about investing them for me.
Now, wasn't that kind?
And he, with so many cares of his own.
Oh, they were cruel to him.
Lord Salisbury...
that Arthur Balfour and Mr. Chamberlain.
Supposed to be his friends.
Broke his heart.
You're wet.
You're soaked through. lt's raining.
You came in the rain? You must take that off. You'll catch cold.
No. lt's all right. No, no. You must take that jacket off
and you must dry it. Please, dearie.
All right, Womany. ln just a moment.
Your boots aren't damp, are they?
No. No, they're dry.
Oh, good.
lt's what gives you toothache, you know.
Sitting in damp boots.
l know.
Are you enjoying the cavalry, dearie?
Very much, Womany.
Very much.
[Music]
SERGEANT MAJOR: Next! Arms up.
Next!
Arms up. Next!
Walk on!
Outward turn.
Both rides outward circle!
Sit up! Look up!
Two. Forward. One.
Back to your riding position.
One! Two!
Three! Four!
And one! And two!
And three! And four!
Down the centre.
[Music]
Walk on.
Come along, Mr. Churchill, sir.
You'll have to do better if you want to go to lndia.
WlNSTON: "Mother, darling, India has nothing more to offer me.
And now that you, unfortunately, have lost most of our money
in that American stockmark et swindle,
I really must go to the Sudan with Kitchener.
I could write another book or sell some articles.
So, please, please, talk to everyone you can.
[Music]
By the way, I have met the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.
Her name is Pamela Plowden.
We are going to do a tour of Hyderabad tomorrow
on an elephant. You have to ride on an elephant
because if you walk about,
the natives have a habit of spitting at you
and crowding you into the gutter.
Mother, darling, you won't forget about Kitchener, will you?"
JENNlE: "Sarling, as you ask ed,
I have written to General Kitchener,
and I should be getting his reply soon.
You will be pleased to learn, I know,
that the Prince of Wales is reading your book. "
l cannot resist writing you these two lines
to congratulate you on the success of your book.
Everyone is reading it.
But your dear mother tells me
PRlNCE: you are thinking of resigning your commission
and standing for parliament. I hope you will not do so.
You have plenty of time before you...
to mak e your name and your friends in the army.
And now to Sir lan Hamilton,
Lord Roberts, Lord Curzon, Sir Evelyn Wood,
Lord Cromer, the Prince of Wales,
the prime minister and Lady Randolph Churchill.
Say that l insist on the privilege of selecting my own officers.
Say, as l've already said not once but many times before,
l have no room for Churchill. None!
Say that-- Just arrived, sir.
Say that time grows short
and l have a great many more important things to think about
and that the matter is closed finally, definitely and forever.
And l don't want to hear any more about it.
You'll-- You'll dress it up, of course.
Certainly, sir.
[PlANO PLAYlNG]
lNTERVlEWER: Lady Randolph Churchill,
widow of Lord Randolph Churchill,
formerly Miss Jennie Jerome of New York and Paris.
You play, if l may say so, Lady Randolph, most beautifully.
lt has been said that you could appear on the concert stage
if you desired. And you've given us ample proof of that skill.
Thank you.
lt has also been said, no doubt with malice,
that you interest yourself a great deal in your son Winston's affairs...
and in his advancement.
But l should be a most unnatural mother if l didn't .
Of course.
But there are those who find an interesting contrast
between your efforts on his behalf now
and your neglect of him when he was a child.
Neglect?
But that was never the case.
That is vicious and hurtful.
My son never lacked a mother's love.
Naturally, when he was a child, he went off to school. The very best of schools.
At home, he had my attention and a marvellous nanny
who was with us almost from the time he was born.
Naturally, l was at the same time devoted to my husband's career,
as any wife would be. l see.
You do, on occasion,
entertain or act as hostess for the Prince of Wales.
His Royal Highness finds you charming, gracious, amusing.
You are at liberty to think so.
But if you are insinuating the slightest impropriety--
Not at all, dear lady. Not at all. Please be calm.
l am perfectly calm.
Then we can proceed.
You are aware, of course, that your name has been linked with another royal personage...
Count Charles Kinsky, the well-known sportsman.
l don't know what you mean by " linked."
We are friends.
We have been friends for many years.
Yes, friends. Exactly.
Friends. Yet, at one time, there was gossip, malicious, of course,
that your marriage to Lord Randolph was, shall we say, pro forma.
And that in the event of a divorce, you and Count--
There was never a possibility of divorce.
But you and Count Kinsky are still friends?
Yes.
Charles was married shortly before my husband died.
Three weeks before, in his own country, in Austria.
He has remained there ever since.
He has great responsibilities there.
One last question.
What precisely was the nature of your husband's last illness?
lt is well-known.
lt was caused by overwork.
Ah, yes. But the symptoms were most curious, were they not?
l don't know what you mean.
But surely you were aware of your husband's symptoms?
l think this has gone far enough.
But this is of great interest to the public.
ls it? Why should it be?
Why should it be of any concern to what you call the public?
The public is everyone. And the public has a right to know.
Why? What right?
l don't know anything about such a right.
l only know about the right to some decent privacy!
Oh, come, come, Lady Randolph. We live in modern times.
Surely the word " syphilis" need hold no terrors for us.
Are you content?
Have you heard?
We've had a death. Young Chapman.
21 st Lancers.
Really? Mm-hmm.
Pity. Just when he was going out to the Sudan too.
Yes.
So we have a vacancy, don't we?
Yes. You know, l was wondering.
What? What about young Churchill?
Are you mad? Well, why not?
Well, firstly, if the general twigged,
he'd have our balls for breakfast. And secondly, why?
Surely you don't have any use for that little publicity hunter.
None at all.
But his mother's a smasher. Yes, l know.
[CHUCKLlNG]
l say, you dog.
Do you know her? No.
But l'd give anything to meet her.
So, come on, what do you say, hmm?
There's not a chance in the world the old boy will ever...
[Music]
OFFlCER: War office to Lieutenant Churchill.:
"You will proceed to the 21 st Lancers at your own expense.
In the event of injury to yourself or your horse,
no charge will be made against army funds.
Sign here, please. Three copies. "
MAN: "I say, Churchill, we at the Psychical Research Society
have an interesting experiment in mind...
which, as a journalist, should interest you too.
If you should, unfortunately, get killed
will you try to communicate with us?"
[Music]
FlNN: Forward, halt!
Uh, Chapman!
l say, Chapman? Chapman, are you deaf?
Oh, sorry, sir. lt's Churchill, sir.
Oh, yes, of course, Churchill.
Chapman's the one who's dead. Hmm. Sorry about that.
What condition's your horse in?
First-rate. Not tired, if that's that you mean.
Oh, good. Now, you're the one who wants to see a show, aren't you?
Report up forward to Colonel Martin. He'll tell you what to do.
Yes, sir. Thank you very much, sir.
Oh, and Chapman-- l mean, Churchill
my compliments to the colonel. Yes, of course, sir.
Sir. Lieutenant Chapman re-- Churchill.
Sorry, sir. Um...
Lieutenant Churchill reporting from Major Finn, sir.
Come with me. Sir.
Your horse reasonably fit? Yes, sir.
l've a message l want you to deliver.
But l want you to see the situation for yourself
so that you can describe what you've seen.
Sir.
Now, our estimate is something approaching close on 60,000.
Though it may not seem like it, they're coming on pretty fast.
l want you to report on what l've told you and what you've seen
personally to General Kitchener.
Oh, God!
Oh, l'm sorry. l mean, yes, sir.
You all right, Chapman? Yes, sir.
[Music]
WlNSTON: What do I say?
"Lieutenant Churchill reporting to General Kitchener" ? He'll kill me!
He'll send me home. He'll have me court-martialled.
He'll skin me alive before the entire army.
I'll be ruined.
Oh, my God!
Oh, well. I died for my country.
[Music]
Sir, l come with a report from the 21 st Lancers.
The Dervish army is advancing...
between yourself and the city of Omdurman.
Colonel Martin estimates their strength in the region of 60,000.
l saw them 40 minutes ago. They're moving rapidly.
They're moving rapidly, you say? Yes, sir.
How long do you think l've got?
l would say an hour, sir.
Possibly an hour and a half.
WlNSTON: An hour and a half should be about right.
I hope.
[HORSES WHlNNYlNG]
[MEN SHOUTlNG]
[SHOUTlNG CONTlNUES]
Fire!
[EXPLOSlONS]
OFFlCER: They're breaking, sir! They're breaking!
[SHOUTlNG]
[Music]
CHURCHlLL: Suring the mopping-up operations the next day,
I took part in what was destined to become
the last full charge ever of British cavalry.
[EXPLOSlONS lN DlSTANCE]
Sound the trot.
[BUGLE PLAYlNG]
Sound troop to the right.
[BUGLE PLAYlNG]
[Music]
Sound the charge!
Charge!
[MEN SHOUTlNG]
[HORSES WHlNNYlNG]
Charge!
[GUNSHOTS]
[MEN SHOUTlNG]
Bloody hell!
[MEN SCREAMlNG]
[GUNSHOTS]
lNTERVlEWER: Mr. Winston Churchill
war correspondent, author, recently resigned from the army
and candidate for parliament for Oldham at the age of 23.
Twenty-four, actually. ln November.
Thank you, Mr. Churchill.
There is gossip that you were detested in the army...
where it is said you were known as a medal hunter,
a publicity seeker and a social climber...
pushing, aggressive and scheming.
Forgive me. l'm sorry.
l was wondering why a certain kind of person
always seems to believe the worst about me.
At Sandhurst, for example, l was accused of being
everything from a horse thief to a homosexual.
And l had to sue for libel, and win, to prove my innocence on both counts.
As to what you have just said, l'm sorry to hear it.
l thought l had served my country faithfully...
at some danger to myself. Yes.
Some officers have stated that your criticism of General Kitchener
in your new book, The River War, was inexcusable.
Have you read the book? No.
Then perhaps you should read it.
My statements concerning his atrocious treatment of enemy wounded
were entirely factual.
As to our victory, although the enemy had superior numbers,
they were no match for a modern army.
l see. Your father also had
a weakness for offending people, did he not?
l wouldn't call it a weakness.
l would describe it as his strength.
And l would attribute it to the strength of his convictions.
My father was a brilliant man. He had no time for fools.
Yes. Actually,
you were not very well acquainted with your father, were you?
Not as well as l should have liked to have been.
However, solitary trees...
if they grow at all, grow strong.
lndeed. Something you've read?
No. Something l have written.
ln my new book, The River War.
You really should read it. There are some good things in it.
Reverting to your father's enemies,
do you imagine they will welcome you into politics?
l don't know what you mean by " enemies."
Oh, come now! Lord Salisbury, who kept him out of government.
Mr. Balfour, who supported Lord Salisbury. Mr. Chamberlain,
who destroyed your father's last chance of returning to power.
And the others. They were never enemies.
They may have disagreed at times
but that's the nature of politics, isn't it?
Lord Salisbury has been very kind to me. l dedicated my book to him.
Then you feel you have no cause to fight for in your father's name?
No wrong to right? No vendetta to keep alive?
Vendetta?
That's an ltalian word, isn't it? Nothing like that in England, is there?
Why are you so friendly with David Lloyd George, who is a Liberal?
l like people. People who can help you?
A young man starting out in life needs help.
But don't you think in these times, politics has little room
for wealthy and privileged young men?
l am not wealthy. l live on what l earn.
And l support my mother and my younger brother.
But why exactly do you wish to stand for parliament, Mr. Churchill?
To serve my country. And to advance yourself?
Yes. ls there anything wrong in that? ls there anything right in it?
Who are you to aspire to the greatest parliament in the world?
What do you have to offer, other than your ego and your ambitions?
Only myself.
l believe in myself.
l believe in my destiny.
Really?
Have you consulted a fortune-teller recently?
As a matter of fact, l have.
She agrees with me.
ls it a crime to be 24? No, no. Not at all.
What would you like me to do? Play games?
Be seen but not heard?
Close my eyes and ears?
Be a child forever?
Must we always be ruled by old men?
Doesn't every old man in politics
betray the wonderful things he believed in when he was young?
And by doing that betray his country?
l think there is room for a young man...
many young men, in government.
lf l could, l would say this to young men all over the world:
" Come on. You are needed more than ever now.
You must take your places in life's fighting line.
Twenty to 25, those are the years.
Don't be content with things as they are.
Yes, you will make mistakes.
But as long as you are generous and true,
you cannot hurt the world. Nor even seriously distress her.
She was made to be wooed and won by youth.
She has lived and thrived only by repeated subjugations."
Well...
Something else you have written? No.
No, it's something l'm going to write, l think.
Really?
ln your autobiography, no doubt.
Yes.
Yes, l think l will write an autobiography someday.
l think l'll have something to write about.
Yes. Well...
MAN: The Oldham Evening Chronicle:
"Young Mr. Winston Churchill's first attempt to enter politics
has met with defeat. He has left for South Africa
as a correspondent to write about our war with the Boers. "
[TRAlN WHlSTLE BLOWS]
CHURCHlLL: In South Africa, I had the good luck
to encounter a Captain Aylmer Haldane,
whom I had met in India, and who had befriended me there.
He invited me to go out on a reconnaissance with him
in an armoured train.
Going back?
This is as far as our orders take us.
Seems quiet enough.
Let's go and have a spot of breakfast, shall we?
[TRAlN WHlSTLE BLOWlNG]
You know, Haldane, l've been thinking.
After the Malakand Field Force, l went on to the Tirah expedition.
Do you remember? Yes.
Well, l never did get my medal for that.
Now, if you were to write to the war office...
A medal for the Tirah?
[LAUGHlNG]
Winston, don't you ever relax?
l can't . l'm almost 25.
Down! [EXPLOSlON]
Look out!
On the left!
Carry on, sarge! Enemy left!
[GUNSHOTS AND EXPLOSlONS]
[MAN SHOUTlNG lN FORElGN LANGU AGE]
Steady now, lads. Take aim. Take aim! Good.
ENGlNEER: Brakes!
[BRAKES SCREECHlNG]
[RUMBLlNG]
[GUNSHOTS]
HALDANE: Come on, lads. On your feet!
WlNSTON: Take it easy.
SERGEANT: Get up! Take posts!
WlNSTON: Haldane, we're off the rails!
Shall l go up front and see what l can do?
Good idea!
SERGEANT: Set up, boys!
OFFlCER 1 : On target. OFFlCER 2: Shoot!
[GUNSHOTS CONTlNUlNG]
[COUGHS]
Hey, where are you going?
l'm a civilian. l don't get paid for being shot at!
WlNSTON: Come back here!
Come here! Listen! Let go!
Listen! You've got more chance of being hit if you run. Now listen to me, l'm a soldier.
No one ever gets shot twice on the same day. That's a fact.
Now you get back in there! lt's the safest place there is.
And when this is over, you'll get a medal.
That's a promise. Come on! l'll go with you.
Can this engine still run? Well, it might.
But the track's blocked, we can't move. Unless we get uncoupled from that truck in front of us.
Come on, get in.
And get it over on its side. l see.
And there's no way of doing that.
We can try.
ls there an officer here?
Yes! What is it?
We have to uncouple that truck there and push it over on its side!
Sergeant, bring a dozen men. SERGEANT: Very good, sir!
Who was that? A Boer?
Worse than that. He's crazy!
Come on. Give him a hand. Heave it up from underneath.
Right.
lt's moving.
[GUNSHOTS CONTlNUlNG]
Come on! Out you come! Outside!
Come on, that's it, lads! Move it now! Move it! Come on!
You men, over here!
Right, come on. Get your shoulders under here.
Come on, men! Come on down!
[lNDlSTlNCT SHOUTlNG]
Come on, there! Heave!
Come on! Heave!
Heave!
[EXPLOSlON]
[MEN SHOUTlNG lNDlSTlNCTLY]
Hold it!
Keep it up! Hold it up!
Heave! Get it up, men!
Heave!
Push it!
OFFlCER: Right, take cover!
Come on!
[GUNSHOTS CONTlNUlNG]
Did it, by God! You didn't get it off the track.
You said all we had to do was get it uncoupled and push it over.
lt was too heavy to get off the track.
Well, l'll have to ram it off now. Well, ram it off!
l don't know if the engine'll run. Well, try it!
[STEAM WHlSTLES]
Good. Now, go ahead.
l'll have to back her up first.
Well, then bloody well back her up, you idiot!
Well, you don't have to get excited.
ENGlNEER: Get out of the way! Get out of the way!
[STEAM HlSSlNG]
Right. Now, go ahead.
And you keep shovelling. Yes, sir.
We could go off the rails, you know. Go on!
Here. Sorry...
But go on!
[METAL SCRAPlNG AND SCREECHlNG]
Oh, Christ!
Haldane!
Move, fusilier! Move, move, move!
The track up ahead's clear, but we can't get back to you.
And anyway, the couplings are smashed.
Yes, l know. l know, l know.
Can we load the wounded onto the engine?
Yes.
Well, that's something, l suppose. The rest of us have to go on foot.
Thanks very much, Winston. l'll remember this.
So shall l.
[GUNSHOTS CONTlNUlNG]
Wounded onto-- Onto the engine!
The rest of us go on foot, using it as cover.
Come on, everyone out now!
Wounded on the engine! Get the wounded onto the engine!
[MAN SHOUTlNG lN FORElGN LANGU AGE]
Come on, move it on! Move it on!
[GRUNTlNG]
Easy, easy!
OFFlCER: Move around! Move around!
[EXPLOSlONS]
All right? l think so.
All right, go ahead!
Go ahead! As slow as you can.
HALDANE: Slow down, Winston!
Slow down. Slow down!
You're getting ahead of them. lt's all right. All right.
Winston!
Slower!
Slow down, you damn fool!
HALDANE: For God's sake, Winston!
Hey, slow down. Oh, shut up!
Slow down, you damned idiot!
l can't , you silly arse. We're on the downgrade.
l'll kill you!
l can't help it. The brakes are gone.
[GRUNTlNG]
[GUNSHOTS CONTlNUlNG]
[BRAKES SCREECHlNG]
Now what? l must go back and get Haldane.
What, back there? What do l do?
You wait!
You wait ten minutes. And then if you don't see us coming, you can go.
[GROANS]
[GUNS COCKlNG]
[GUNSHOTS]
[SHOUTlNG lN FORElGN LANGU AGE]
[NEWSWlRE BEEPlNG]
BOER: Pretoria. "We have captured Lord Churchill,
who claims to be a war correspondent.
But from our intelligence, we know he was responsible
for one part of the armoured train getting away. "
WlNSTON: Sir, I am a special correspondent.
I was unarmed, and I took no part in the fighting when I was captured.
I respectfully submit that I should be released as soon as possible.
BOER: On no account is he to be released, for the duration of the war.
l've been watching you two. You're working on an escape.
You're out of your mind. l am not.
But l will be if you won't take me with you.
Never. Be quiet, Brockie.
We can't use you, Winston.
You don't know the country or the language.
lf we got separated, you wouldn't have a chance.
Anyway, you'd be the first to be missed from here.
BROCKlE: Play.
Haldane, l'm going mad in here.
And tomorrow's my birthday.
Congratulations. Oh, shut up. You don't understand.
l'll be 25.
l can't stay cooped up in here for the rest of the war.
Please, Haldane.
You said you'd remember what l did that day.
Do you remember now?
l wouldn't have been caught if l hadn't gone back for you.
No.
Do shut up, Brockie.
l can't think.
HALDANE: What's for dinner tonight? Any idea?
They're too close.
You're afraid.
Well, see for yourself.
l'll go and look too. No, no, wait--
CHURCHlLL: It was maddening.
And besides, normally there was only one guard on duty here.
The thought crossed my mind that we were suspected.
Suddenly, I felt it was now or never.
And the impulse was too overpowering to resist.
But how was I to inform my comrades?
Then I heard a heavenly sound.
[WATER RUNNlNG]
Psst.
Who's there?
[WHlSPERlNG] lt's Churchill. Keep quiet.
Churchill? Where are you?
What are you doing out there? Never mind.
Just go and tell Haldane and Brockie right away.
Oh, l get it. Good show!
[NEWSWlRE BEEPlNG]
REPORTER: London, The Morning Post.
"Our special correspondent, Winston Churchill
who distinguished himself before his capture
has, in a fashion as yet undisclosed, escaped. "
BOER: Johannesburg.
" A reward of 25 pounds is offered for the capture of Winston Churchill.
Sead or alive. "
[TRAlN WHlSTLE BLOWlNG]
Pretoria.
" Although Mr. Churchill's escape was cleverly executed,
there is little chance of his being able to cross the border.
When he is recaptured, it is probable that he will be shot. "
[MAN SHOUTlNG lN FORElGN LANGU AGE]
[DOG BARKlNG]
[SPEAKS FORElGN LANGU AGE]
My name is Dr. Bentinck.
l've had an accident.
[SPEAKS FORElGN LANGU AGE]
Now, what did you say?
Are you English? Never mind.
What do you want?
Oh, l've had an accident. l-- l fell off a train.
Well, the truth is, l'm afraid l'm lost.
All right.
Come in.
Now, then,
l think you'd better tell me the real truth.
l think so too.
My name is Winston Churchill. The correspondent from The Morning Post.
l escaped from Pretoria last night, and l'm making for the border.
l have 7 5 pounds.
Will you help me?
By God, it's lucky you came here.
Only house for 20 miles where you wouldn't be handed in.
My name's Howard. l'm British.
l'm the manager of this mine.
There are three more of us keeping the place going.
The Boers keep an eye on us.
There were some here this afternoon.
Looking for you.
Well, then, perhaps l'd better go. Nonsense.
We'll just have to be extremely careful.
Have a drink, Mr. Churchill.
Thank you, Mr. Howard.
This is our engine man, Mr. Dewsnap.
Stay with him for a moment while l get the food and blankets.
Are the others ready? Waiting down below, sir.
[SlGHS]
l know who you are.
You're young Winston-bloody-Churchill.
Don't worry. l'm from Oldham, you see.
Me wife writes to me regular.
She told me how you got beat at last election.
Don't worry, lad. You'll get all their votes next time.
HOWARD: Right. Come on, now.
Watch your step here. Don't trip over the tracks.
Round the other side.
l couldn't bring much food. The housemaids are all Boers.
Can't take the risk.
Take one of these, lad.
Ever been down a coalmine before? l think you'll find it an experience.
Not very comfortable, l'm afraid.
But you mustn't move away from here, whatever happens.
l'll try to bring you more food tomorrow. You'll be all right, won't you?
Of course. lt's very cosy. Just like home.
[CHUCKLlNG]
Well, Mr. Howard, gentlemen,
thank you very much. Our pleasure.
[Music]
RANDOLPH: You've been shamefully careless with this watch, Winston.
The repair bill was very expensive.
If you can't tak e proper care of a fine watch,
you don't deserve to have one.
WlNSTON: Yes, Father.
CHURCHlLL: I remained underground for three days and nights,
while the brave Mr. Howard planned how to spirit me across the border
to Portuguese East Africa,
from whence I could tak e ship to British territory.
[TRAlN WHlSTLE BLOWlNG]
[CHATTERlNG lN FORElGN LANGU AGE]
Thank you, Mr. Dewsnap.
[TRAlN WHlSTLE BLOWlNG]
[NEWSWlRE BEEPlNG]
BOER REPORTER 1 : Pretoria. "Mr. Winston Churchill has given himself up. "
Johannesburg.
"It is announced here that Winston Churchill has been recaptured,
dressed as a woman. "
BOER REPORTER 2: Pretoria.
" Although Mr. Churchill is still at liberty,
there is no doubt that he will soon be a prisoner again. "
BOER REPORTER 1 : Johannesburg.
"It is reported that Mr. Churchill has been captured,
disguised as a policeman. "
lTALlAN REPORTER: Rome. "So far as is known
Mr. Winston Churchill is still at liberty.
The entire world watches the progress of his escape. "
FRENCH REPORTER: Paris. "There is no confirmation that Mr. Churchill has been captured.
At the same time, however, no one knows his whereabouts,
or if he is alive and well. "
CHURCHlLL: I was not yet aware
that I had leapt from a latrine into world celebrity.
BRlTlSH REPORTER: London.
"Young Mr. Winston Churchill continues to give the Boers a run for their money.
Everyone in Britain is cheering him on. "
AMERlCAN REPORTER: New York.
"Winston Churchill, who is American on his mother's side, is still free.
The whole world is praying for him. "
[TRAlN WHlSTLE BLOWlNG]
[MAN SPEAKlNG PORTUGUESE]
l'm free!
[GUNSHOTS]
l'm Winston-bloody-Churchill!
And l'm free!
[CROWD CHEERlNG]
Ladies and gentlemen...
a man who, after his daring escape,
rejoined the army of his country,
distinguished himself again and again in battle...
helped to free his fellow officers
from the very same prison he escaped from.
l give you...
[CROWD CHEERlNG]
Ladies...
Ladies and gentlemen of Oldham.
Friends.
l promised Mr. Daniel Dewsnap,
without whose wonderful help l should not be here tonight...
that the first time l returned to Oldham,
l would give his love to his wife.
She's here! She's right there!
[CROWD CHEERlNG]
CHURCHlLL: And thus, at my second attempt,
the Tory electors of Oldham sent me victorious
into the mother of parliaments.
[Music]
MAN: The Times. "In raising his amendment
against the government's bill on military expenditure,
young Mr. Winston Churchill in his first major speech
seems bent, after one short and promising year in the House
on repeating the most disastrous mistak e of his father's career. "
[SlGHS]
l don't understand.
l wish l could understand. Does it really matter?
Yes, it does matter. lt matters very much to me.
l never understood your father when he did what he did, throwing his life away.
And now you're doing the same thing. Only this time, l know in advance.
You're being dramatic. l'm not throwing my life away.
But you are, my darling. Everything you've worked so hard for.
l've had a note from Arthur Balfour.
No, thank you.
He says the prime minister's very angry with you.
Winston, you can't attack
the three most important men in your party, in the government,
and think that they'll forgive and forget. You'll be finished after tonight.
We'll see.
Oh, Winston.
lt isn't Pamela, is it? Because-- Pamela?
No, of course not.
Of course l loved Pamela.
Still do.
l'll never love another woman.
But she had every right and reason to marry an earl.
A " belted" earl, as you Americans say.
[CLOCK CHlMlNG]
l do wish you weren't so friendly with Lloyd George. Such an odious little man.
He has the most annoying way of looking at women.
l'm sorry, darling, l must go. Sign for me, will you, please?
Winston...
for my sake.
l'm begging you.
Don't move your amendment. Don't speak tonight.
Please.
Good evening. Good evening.
Are you prepared to face these savage beasts who even now are lying in wait for you?
As prepared as l'll ever be.
WOMAN: Excuse me, sir. Oh, l'll deal with this, Mother.
l intend to escort your son to the arena.
You're very kind. Winston speaks of you often.
Oh, we are great friends, l trust, despite our political differences.
Your presence in the House tonight makes it a special occasion.
l am sure it will inspire all the speakers.
And are you speaking tonight?
No, no. l shall be listening with great interest to your son.
Well, now, Winston, l said l would escort you, so let us go.
l hope one day to escort him to the other side of the floor.
Heaven forbid.
[CHUCKLlNG]
[Music]
Lovely lady, your mother.
Has she talked you out of it? No.
He'll have your head. Lord Salisbury never forgets, as you should know.
Well, there'll always be room for you in the Liberal Party.
Why don't you quit the Tories and come over to us?
Never.
Good luck.
Excuse me.
[MEN SHOUTlNG lN DlSTANCE]
DlLKE: --to a thorough sweeping
and almost revolutionary reconstruction of the army,
we have failed to rise to the hopes of the country.
MEN: Hear, hear.
DlLKE: ls there any competent authority
who really believes that the right honourable gentleman
has made the best of his opportunities?
MEN: Hear, hear.
Hear, hear! Hear, hear!
Hear, hear!
Mr. Churchill.
[MEN CHATTERlNG lNDlSTlNCTLY]
Mr. Speaker...
l stand here tonight to plead the cause of economy.
lt may be, at some other time and under other circumstances
l may take a directly opposite position.
But tonight, l speak on behalf of military economy
and retrenchment. MEN: Hear, hear!
WlNSTON: The secretary of state for war is asking...
indeed demanding...
a great deal of money.
l do not think he should have it.
[MEN CHATTER lNDlSTlNCTLY]
WlNSTON: l say it humbly,
but with, l hope, becoming pride,
no one has a better right to this position than l have.
For it is a cause l have inherited.
And it is a cause for which the late Lord Randolph Churchill
made the greatest sacrifice of any minister of modern times.
l am glad the House has allowed me...
after an interval of 1 5 years...
to lift again the tattered flag
that l found lying on a stricken field.
lt is quite recent history.
Lord Randolph was chancellor of the exchequer.
Lord Salisbury was prime minister. As he is now.
And on this same issue of economy
Lord Randolph Churchill went down.
Forever.
But wise words, sir...
stand the test of time.
And his words were wise.
l have frequently been surprised
since l have been in this House
to hear with what composure and how glibly
members and even ministers...
talk of a European war.
l say, sir,
we must not regard modern war
as a kind of game in which we may take a hand
and with good luck and good management
play adroitly for an evening.
And when we have had enough, come safely home with our winnings.
MEN: Hear, hear!
Oh, no, sir.
lt is no longer a game.
A European war...
cannot be anything but a cruel and heart-rending struggle
which, if we are ever to enjoy the bitter fruits of victory
must demand, perhaps for years
the whole manhood of the nation,
the entire suspension of peaceful industries,
and the concentrating to only one end
of every vital agency in the community.
MEN: Hear, hear! Ah, yes.
lt may be that the human race is doomed
never to learn from its mistakes.
We are the only animals on this globe
who periodically set out to slaughter each other
for the best, the noblest, the most inescapable of reasons.
We know better,
but we do it again and again, in generation after generation.
lt may be that our empire too, is doomed
like all those that have gone before it
to continue to spill and waste its best blood on foreign soil
no matter what we say or do in this place,
or think or believe or have learned from history.
But thank God for us
there is still such a thing as moral force.
And in spite of every calumny and lie,
it is known that upon the whole--
And it is upon the whole that such things must be judged.
--British influence is a healthy
and a kindly influence.
And so l say, sir...
at this particular moment in history,
we would make a fatal bargain
if we allow the moral force
which this country has for so long exerted
to become diminished, or perhaps destroyed
for the sake of the costly, trumpery...
dangerous military playthings
upon which the secretary of state for war
has set his heart.
[MEN SHOUTlNG]
Hear, hear! Hear, hear!
MAN: Hear, hear!
REPORTER 1 : The Times.
"Mr. Winston Churchill's outburst brought forth some cheers
but not, it should be noted, from his own party. "
Congratulations. Thank you very much.
REPORTER 2: The Morning Post, London.
"Mr. Winston Churchill, last night served notice
that there is a young lion loose in the House
and the lion has sharp claws. "
Well, well. Hmm.
l deeply suspect what you've done tonight, and yet...
l have to believe you were completely sincere. And very brave.
You know, Churchill...
you're a child of your class, and you may never outgrow it.
But you've got something.
[lNAUDlBLE DlALOGUE]
[PlANO PLAYlNG] [KNOCKlNG ON DOOR]
Congratulations.
Thank you.
l looked for you. But when l couldn't find you...
l thought you might be here.
Well...
You think l still have a career?
We shall have to wait and see, won't we?
Hmm.
How do you feel?
Tired.
Tired but free.
lt's odd. l feel free.
Sorry, darling, a brandy?
No.
l don't know.
lt's like when l escaped.
When l first knew l was really free.
lt's odd.
Oh, Mother...
l saw a girl tonight.
Tall, fair-haired.
Rather lovely, l thought.
[Music]
Dressed in pale yellow, l think.
You didn't see anyone like that in the gallery, did you?
Yes.
There was one young woman who more or less fits that description.
Oh?
Well, you know everyone. You wouldn't ...?
Well, yes. As a matter of fact, l do.
You must mean Clementine Hozier.
Your Uncle Jack Leslie almost dropped her in the font when she was christened.
Oh.
Did he, now? Yes.
CHURCHlLL: It was an end...
and a beginning.
My darling mother continued on her headlong,
headstrong, but always gallant and courageous way
whilst, seven years later,
Clementine Hozier and I were married...
and lived happily ever afterwards.
[Music]