Irene!
Irene?
BILSON: Mr Forsyte!
Yes, BiIson?
What is it?
I was checking the caIIing cards, sir.
It's Mrs Forsyte's.
Thank you, BiIson.
I'II see she gets it.
Shot.
Even though I do say so myseIf.
FIuke.
I say, eyes front. Look who the cat's dragged in.
Back in the bosom of the famiIy, I see.
It's safe to shake my hand again, certainIy. How are you, George?
I'm very weII. You know...
Dartie.
KiII the fatted caIf, eh? What a time to be a Forsyte.
- This Soames business. - Freddie's getting hourIy buIIetins:
she's gone, she's back,
she's run away with the butcher.
Sad affair, if you ask me.
DARTIE: She's no money, you know. - Oh.
- Left the famiIy jeweIs intact. - RemarkabIy.
For a Iady. Lord aIone knows where she is.
We shouId eat.
GEORGE: Dartie has a theory.
Don't you, Dartie?
8-1 he's done her in and buried her under the roses.
I'm not a betting man, and Irene deserves better.
- 1 0-1 ? - I'II take it.
Good day.
Jabbering fooIs!
You've changed the fIowers, BiIson!
I do it every Friday, sir.
- In every room in the house? - Yes, sir.
- Except Mrs Forsyte's. - Yes, sir.
- Did I request that? - No, sir.
- Did Mrs Forsyte? - No, sir. But...
UntiI we do, pIease continue your duties as normaI.
- ShaII I change the bed Iinen, sir? - Do you usuaIIy do that on a Friday?
- On a Monday, sir. - Then do it on a Monday!
Sir.
June!
I don't even know what to caII you.
JoIyon.
Have you been waIking?
I've been to see Mrs Baines, PhiI's aunt.
He didn't have much in the way of famiIy.
She wasn't much of an aunt.
StiII, she's terribIy upset.
I've toId her I'II organise the funeraI.
Oh.
You're humouring me.
No.
I couId have saved him.
If he'd onIy married me, Gran!
Ssh.
If we hadn't waited, if...
If wishes were horses...
(June sobs)
Then beggars might ride.
(Sobs)
How is she?
You're her father. Why don't you ask her?
I thought you wanted to get to know her.
You couId start by offering a IittIe comfort.
What use is that from me?
Words.
I haven't earned the right.
WeII, you couId try.
Thank you.
I'm...sorry.
About Bosinney.
About...a Iot of things.
June, I want us to be friends more than anything in the worId.
I don't know how to answer you.
You don't know me.
I know you Ioved Bosinney,
who was very taIented, but not a penny to his name, and...
..that can't have been easy in a famiIy Iike this.
No.
But you stuck by him.
And Iost him.
And...miss him.
- Do your chiIdren know about me? - Oh, they've aIways known.
I shouId Iove you to meet them.
Perhaps.
There is the funeraI to consider first.
WeII, maybe one day.
Was Bosinney reIigious?
He had a faith of sorts.
He thought the human spirit was innateIy good.
WrongIy, it wouId seem.
You don't beIieve that.
He's dead, isn't he?
And you're arranging a funeraI.
I'd caII that good.
In the circumstances.
Who eIse is going to do it?
Not Irene.
She's Ieft Soames.
She's disappeared.
''Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to Iive
and is fuII of misery.
He cometh up and is cut down Iike a fIower.
He fIeeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one stay.
Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts.
Shut not thy mercifuI ears to our prayer,
but spare us, Lord most hoIy,
Oh, God, most mighty,
Oh, hoIy and mercifuI Saviour,
thou most worthy Judge eternaI.
Suffer us not at our Iast hour...''
Come to pay your Iast respects?
Your guests are waiting.
I'II introduce you.
Mr and Mrs Baines, meet the man who kiIIed your nephew.
I don't hear you denying it.
I wouIdn't demean myseIf.
You're not here to appeaI for God's forgiveness. Why have you come?
You didn't reaIIy think that she'd be here?
June?
Is everything aII right?
Everything's fine. I'II foIIow you on.
Don't you think Irene knows the way your mind works?
I do, and I've never had the misfortune of Iiving with you.
The beIief is mutuaI, June.
If you'II excuse me.
Sometimes I wonder if there's bIood in your veins.
Better a IittIe composure than a show of feigned emotions.
The dutifuI fiancee in mourning act.
There's nothing dutifuI about my feeIings for PhiI.
There's nothing honest about them either.
Bosinney died because he was off with Irene when he shouId have been with you.
Why was that, June?
Ah, not so fuII of theories now.
I wasn't enough.
- At Iast, a IittIe truth. - Yes.
Yes.
There's the difference between you and I.
- You couId never admit that in a miIIion years. - Because it's not so.
No, you're right. You were too much.
Too possessive. Too domineering, too insensitive.
- Oh, you know me so weII. - Too stupid!
Too desperate! And at the end of it, what have you Iearned?
- You stiII think she's to bIame! - I gave her everything!
And understand nothing!
Even now, after aII that's happened!
Any joy she feIt, you crushed!
Any hopes, you soured!
Did you never wonder why you didn't have chiIdren?
You thought she was barren.
You see, her fauIt again.
No, she wasn't barren.
She just couIdn't bear to have a chiId of yours squirming inside of her.
She made sure of it.
There go the shutters!
Accept it, Soames. She's never coming back.
She'd rather seII her body to a thousand men than suffer another kiss from you!
You know nothing about her! Your friendship was a sham!
Yes. She stoIe the Iove of my Iife, my future.
I shouId hate her, but the aIternative was you!
I cannot hate her.
I can onIy wonder how she didn't do it sooner.
I didn't mean to panic you, ma'am.
It's just Mr Soames is aIways so particuIar.
Never a word out of turn or a hair out of pIace.
How is he?
WeII, it's Iike he's past caring.
Soames?
What is it, darIing?
BiIson says you're not weII.
Are you feverish?
Has he taken anything?
SaI voIatiIe, brandy?
He won't touch a drop, ma'am.
Leave them.
But it's so gIoomy in here.
Leave them.
It's Winifred, Soames.
They're aII asking after you.
Imogen especiaIIy.
And VaI's going to write during Prep.
Oh!
You're honoured.
His favourite soIdier.
To stand guard by your bed.
The aunts sent prune brandy.
They wanted to come and sit.
''It's an art, dear,'' they said.
I said to Mama, ''Do we want Soames to puII through,
or do we want to finish him off compIeteIy?''
So, you're stuck with me,
wittering away.
If I witter too much, do Iet on. Give me a punch, or something.
Oh, Soames...
..I wish there was something I couId say.
(Sighs emotionaIIy)
(Chokes a sob)
At Iast! ReaI roses in those cheeks.
How do you fancy Iiving on the river?
A feIIow I know's got a house in Putney.
I shouId rather Iive at Robin HiII.
Good Lord, wouId you?
WouId it not be too painfuI?
At Ieast I'd know PhiI's wishes were respected.
Another buyer might fiII the pIace with chintz, or paint it pink or something.
If I thought we couId aII be a famiIy again, I'd snap it up tomorrow.
You are a sweetheart for worrying, Gran.
Never did Iike being an onIy chiId, did you?
What if HoIIy and JoIIy hate me?
WeII, June, if you can't bear it, I'II get you a fIat in town.
I'm sure we can whip them into shape.
I'II make Soames an offer first thing.
But if you change your mind...
You'II be the first to know.
Oh, pIease, Soames.
Just a drop. For me.
I'm not a baby.
You can't carry on Iike this.
Listen to me.
You have to snap out of it.
- You are young. You can start again. - Mother.
Whatever she did to you...
..it was dreadfuI.
But it's better to discover it now than when you're in Winifred's shoes,
up to your neck in commitments, and a house fuII of chiIdren.
That wouId never have happened.
I know. You're not Dartie.
- The chiIdren. - Hm?
She took steps to prevent it.
Behind your back?
Oh, Soames, that's wicked!
(Sighs)
What is it?
I'm thinking, the Iast time I saw that expression on your face...you were VaI's age.
Oh, Mother.
You pestered us for months for that kitten.
What was it, six weeks oId?
You dressed it Iike a doII.
Fed it tiII it was sick, and smothered it.
- I Ioved it. - That's what I thought.
I shouId have whipped you.
I shouId have taught you not to Iove Iike that.
- With aII your heart. - Mama.
Yes.
It was my fauIt.
You feeI things too much.
You aIways have.
Good morning, Mother.
Soames?
You're up!
Ssh.
You need to rest.
Are you going out?
I have things to do.
- Mr Forsyte! - Morning, BiIson.
How are you feeIing, sir?
I'm feeIing very weII, thank you, BiIson.
May I ask what you are doing?
I'm changing the bed, sir.
You need do no more than the minimum in that room, BiIson.
Mrs Forsyte wiII not be returning.
Don't Iet me keep you from your work.
Very good, sir.
I see now why he'd agreed to seII Robin HiII.
He'd outgrown the house.
Before he'd even moved in!
In truth, his fascination was the design.
His interest waned once it was constructed.
A rich man's toy.
Then he can afford to negotiate on price.
JAMES: No.
Price as discussed. Those were his instructions.
You said it yourseIf, he's a rich man.
That wife of his did her best to correct that.
- No, I'm sorry, JoIyon. - JoIyon?
There'II be no more of that! I'II not hear it!
- You understand? - You bareIy knew her.
The Iady is not here to defend herseIf.
The Iady was no Iady.
Madam, that remark was beneath you and beneath contempt.
Before you start name-caIIing,
you wouId do weII to remember there are two sides to every story!
What do you know?
Is there something I haven't been toId?
EmiIy?
Separation, divorce, these are not states entered into IightIy.
You understand that more than anyone.
I do. And that's why I must insist, if you taIk about Irene, you do so with respect.
Your son Ioved her once.
With very good cause.
Point taken.
- Good. JAMES: If you wiII take my point.
We wiII not budge on price.
I thought you came here to taIk business.
Yes.
WeII, then, do we have a deaI?
Do you want the house or not?
I must do. I'm stiII here, aren't I?
Stop a moment, Beacon! Whoa, there!
Robin HiII.
DRIVER: WaIk on.
WiIIiams!
- WiII you ensure these are disposed of? - CertainIy, sir.
June? Is this what you imagined?
No.
It's simpIer. It's darker.
I thought I knew his work, but this...
..this is breathtaking.
(ChiIdren Iaugh)
HeIene, Iet me take that. It's heavy.
Oh, weII. Thanks.
Your father doesn't traveI IightIy.
Sketches enough for two houses.
You Iook happy, aII the same.
May I?
Of course.
Papa by June.
I didn't know he had this.
When the chiIdren were younger, we used to see you in them.
Just certain Iooks.
A Iaugh. A tantrum.
A piece of the jigsaw was missing.
I heIped you paint this.
You won't remember now.
Champagne! Come on, everybody, we're ceIebrating.
Very best crystaI, as you can see.
Let's have a toast.
Let him, Iet him, Iet him. A IittIe bit of fizz never hurt anyone.
Jo.
Er...no. It's your house, Dad. Your job.
WeII, what shaII we...what shaII we toast?
Um...oId dogs, new tricks.
To new beginnings.
New beginnings.
- New beginnings. - New beginnings.
Happy birthday, Mama.
OLD JOLYON: Your mother Ioved wiId fIowers.
Don't worry, darIing. Your father wiII soon be back.
WOMAN: (French accent) Into the house, pIease, HoIIy!
Wash your hands, you're Iate.
Sorry, mademoiseIIe.
You disapprove, mademoiseIIe.
She is just a chiId.
A chiId who's Iost her mother.
AII the same, I think it is morbid.
You'd prefer us to pretend that nothing's happened, huh?
It's not the EngIish way.
WeII, it's not my way, at Ieast.
Her father shouId be Iooking after her.
So, I'm too oId to Iook after her, hm?
¢Ü GLUCK: Aria From Act III Orpheus And Euridice
¢Ü Che faro senza Euridice?
¢Ü Dove andro senza iI mio ben?
¢Ü Che faro?
¢Ü Dove andro?
¢Ü Che faro senza iI mio ben?
¢Ü Dove andro senza iI mio ben?
- Come on, boy. - (Dog barks)
(Dog barks)
Go on, boy. Fetch a rabbit.
Good afternoon.
Forgive the intrusion.
This pIace hoIds...
..certain memories for me.
You're not surprised to see me?
WeII, I'd heard the house was in safe hands.
And I saw you at the opera the other night.
I didn't think you'd notice me.
I went aIone.
Pathetic, when you think about it.
Not to me.
I'm on good terms with soIitude.
The others are aII away.
HeIene, that's Jo's wife, was taken from us a few months ago. Pneumonia.
I'm sorry.
Jo's away in Spain with June.
Painting. Recuperating.
So it's a bit IoneIy.
Why don't you stay for dinner?
I couId send you home in the carriage.
Yes, I wouId... That wouId be very nice.
We can be pathetic together.
The decorations are my boy Jo's doing.
He's a painter. Got a Iot of taste.
It's not mine.
I'd have had goId. More IiveIy, soIid.
You're of his schooI of thought, I can teII.
StiII, I Iike it here. It's quiet.
That's the drawing room.
Yes, I remember.
I'm entranced by it.
This is just the beginning.
You're going to be the toast of every drawing room in town.
Come away with me forever.
It must be queer for you, hm?
I'II show you up to June's room, hm?
Freshen up a IittIe before dinner?
I'm sorry I'm not properIy dressed.
You Iook a picture.
You must excuse me.
I'm so used to my own routine,
I've aImost forgotten what it is to dine in company.
There is no...no other?
No-one.
Where are you Iiving now?
- I have a IittIe fIat in CheIsea. - Oh?
What do you do aII day?
Teach music.
And...I have another interest.
Though it's not the stuff of poIite chitchat.
WeII, I'm too oId for that, anyway.
I try to heIp women who've come to grief.
Grief?
Ladies of the night.
WeII, what do you do for them?
Not enough.
I have no money to spare, but I can offer food and sympathy.
Oh?
When PhiI died...
..I was Iost.
I...had money enough to eat...
..but...
..no wiII to breathe.
I went to the Embankment.
A woman found me just in time.
One of them?
Oh, weII, I am one of them, UncIe JoIyon.
I don't mean I...
WeII, I've never been reduced...
What I mean is, I know what it is to be broken.
WeII, I...
I er...I don't know what to say.
This woman knew nothing of me, but she took me in,
and sat with me for three days and nights.
She had nothing, but she fed me, Iistened to me, and...and I to her.
You see, we pretend they are different.
We make their Iives a secret to make ourseIves feeI better.
They are sometimes sad, sometimes IoneIy, but never different.
(Coughs)
(Chokes and coughs)
I shouId have kept to poIite chitchat.
¢Ü Che faro?
¢Ü Dove andro?
¢Ü Che faro senza iI mio ben?
¢Ü Che faro?
¢Ü Dove andro?
¢Ü Che faro senza iI...
Perfect.
This room shouId be fiIIed with music.
It feeIs...
No.
What?
As though it had been waiting for you.
Irene?
Oh!
Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
That was crass of me. I'm sorry, Irene.
(Sobs)
¢Ü BEETHOVEN: For EIise
(PIays faIteringIy)
Parfitt!
TeII Beacon to bring the carriage in ten minutes. I'm going to London.
These boots...have given up the ghost.
Beacon, take a detour, wouId you, to where you took that Iady the other night?
- The CheIsea Iady, sir? - Yes, the CheIsea Iady.
I was passing by, needed some new boots.
Thought I'd pop in and ask about your drive home the other night.
It was perfectIy agreeabIe.
SpIendid. So, you'd give my driver another chance, huh?
WeII, pop your hat on, we'II go out for a drive in the park.
Yes.
(Bird caws)
Has June forgiven me, UncIe JoIyon?
Of course.
You have toId her in your Ietters of our meeting?
WeII...
Then she has not.
I haven't asked. I had no cause tiII now.
And you?
WeII, I forgave you as soon as I saw how the Iand reaIIy Iay.
I've never regretted...
I couIdn't.
Did you ever Iove very deepIy?
(Laughs)
I'm Iong in the tooth to be taIking about Iove.
No, PhiI didn't think so.
He thought you had one of those hearts which never grow oId.
He used to say you have a reaI sense of beauty.
Why eIse am I here with you?
You have Iifted my spirits. Thank you.
Irene, come to Iunch on Wednesday.
I'II meet you from the train.
I'd Iove to.
(WhistIes joyfuIIy)
- Good day, sir? - CapitaI, Parfitt. CapitaI.
ShaII I take the boots, sir? I have some dubbin.
Boots? Oh, yes. Boots.
(Birdsong)
You're earIy.
And Iooking a IittIe Londony, if I may say so.
(ChuckIes)
Thank you.
- I shouId Ieave you in peace. - No. No, pIease...
Let's waIk. Breathe fresh air.
Admire the fIowers.
There's one fIower in particuIar I shouId Iike you to see.
My sweet HoIIy.
I'm Iooking forward to it.
There's something about her that reminds me of you.
Have you any IittIe ones amongst your pupiIs?
Yes. Three.
Two of them darIings.
OnIy two? (Laughs)
And HoIIy is devoted to music and dancing.
You wouIdn't give me your opinion of her pIaying, I suppose?
- GIadIy. - And suggest a possibIe tutor?
WeII, yes.
I mean, for instance...
Hm?
I-I can't, UncIe JoIyon.
As much as I want to pIease you, there is June to consider.
(Tuts and sighs)
When is she back? In four weeks?
No, five.
WeII, perhaps a short, intensive course.
Gran!
My darIing! Here's the IoveIy Iady I toId you about.
You're going to teach me the piano?
(JoIyon Iaughs)
¢Ü SCHUMANN: The Merry Peasant
Here comes the hefty Huguenot.
MademoiseIIe Beauce.
HoIIy.
Must I go?
I don't want to say goodbye.
Then Iet's say au revoir.
TiII Wednesday?
Wednesday.
Bye-bye, sweet.
Poor IittIe mite. Her mother's death was a shock to us aII.
I'd grown to understand what JoIyon saw in her.
Now that he and June are away, I'm gIad of HoIIy's company.
She must give you so much pIeasure.
Hers was the onIy face that did,
tiII you came aIong.
No, that's not humbug.
I never toId a woman I admired her unIess I did.
My wife was funny that way.
She used to want me to say it more often than I feIt it.
When my IittIe sweet marries...
I hope she'II find a man who understands how women feeI.
I won't be there to see it.
There's...there's too much topsy-turvydom in marriage.
I wouIdn't want her to pitch up against that.
When...when you remarry, I shaII hope the same for you.
Oh.
Does...Soames...never troubIe you?
I've had no contact with him since I Ieft.
But the memories?
The memories troubIe me from time to time.
But not today.
Not in good company.
Harry, good of you to come. Sit down.
Sit down. WiII you take a gIass of brandy?
If you've time before the opera.
As Iong as you don't biII me for the time it takes to drink it.
You er...wish to make a codiciI to your wiII?
Yes, I do. For my niece.
Irene Forsyte.
Now goes by her maiden name of Heron.
And the...amount?
Ten...
1 5 thousand pounds. Free of Iegacy duty.
She's a Iucky woman, JoIyon.
She hasn't aIways been.
My fortune can do nothing for the past.
It might do some good for the future.
¢Ü CHARLES GOUNOD: Faust
I've aIways thought the opera far more chic, but Dartie is a baIIet man.
It's not an artistic choice, I'm sure.
More to do with opera singers being fat and wearing cIoa...
Sorry... What was I saying?
You don't need to worry about these. SchooI fees come out of Father's account.
I just wanted to make sure they were in order.
I couIdn't ask Dartie. You know what he's Iike with facts and figures.
- I shaII send them off tomorrow. - Thanks so much, Soames.
WouId you Iike another drink?
I must go home. I have some notes to read for the morning.
Before you go, there's something I need to teII you.
You mustn't get upset.
I went to the opera Iast night.
And whiIe I was there, I saw...
someone...
with a member of our famiIy.
Irene with UncIe JoIyon?
You know? But...how?
It's a deIicate situation. PeopIe wiII taIk.
But you wiII not, it seems.
Not even to your sister.
So, have you made contact with her?
No.
(Sighs)
(Hums)
(Tuts)
HeIIo, Soames.
Dartie.
WeII, aren't you going in? They're under starter's orders.
Yes, of course I am.
Good night, then.
Good night, Dartie.
Who was that?
Fascinating chap. You'd have Iiked him.
¢Ü BIZET: Toreador Song from Carmen
I'm a pretty host.
There'II be other Carmens. It's you I come to see.
Parfitt's an oId woman. He's aIways fussing.
ShaII we eat?
Are you sure you're aII right?
Fit as a fIea.
A drunken fIea, maybe.
Perhaps you shouId Iie down.
Nonsense. What I need is perking up. Good food, fine wine...
and a beautifuI companion.
Promise me you'II go straight to bed.
No Iate-night reading.
- You're as bad as Parfitt. - Ha!
You treat me Iike an invaIid.
I wouIdn't dare.
Er...
I had a postcard this morning.
June and Jo are expected home on Friday.
HoIIy's fuII of beans. Wants to pIay for them the moment they return.
Expect a demanding pupiI when you come tomorrow.
- For EIise. - What?
For EIise. It's by far and away her best piece.
Good. WeII, she'II have a head start in the morning.
SIeep weII.
Goodbye, UncIe JoIyon.
(Carriage approaches and horse whinnies)
Mrs Heron wasn't there, sir.
Beacon waited.
Oh.
WeII, she sometimes takes an earIier train.
Thank you, Parfitt.
Sir.
(Barking)
¢Ü GLUCK: Che Faro Senza Euridice
(Music stops)
¢Ü BEETHOVEN: For EIise
Gran? Gran? Wait tiII Daddy sees.
I can aImost pIay it by ear.
WeII done, HoIIy. It's marveIIous.
MarveIIous.
You do think I'II be ready by tomorrow?
What?
Oh, yes!
You're aImost note-perfect now.
I don't wonder that dog is so fat.
Irene!
I've come to say I'm sorry.
It was a cowardIy thing to do.
It doesn't matter. You're here. Sit down.
I'II go and teII Parfitt there'II be one more for dinner.
No. No!
I think...I think you shouId sit down.
You Iook quite fIushed.
It's nothing. Warm weather.
It doesn't suit me, you know.
I'm an impatient oId deviI.
You've been thinking of June, I know, but...
I've had a Iot of time to think, myseIf.
There must be a way...
of Ieaving the past where it is.
For HoIIy's sake, if not for mine.
You are an impatient oId deviI.
Who wouIdn't be at my age?
My heart's fuII, Irene.
And if you never come again, so be it, but...
there are things I must say.
Do you have to? Do we not understand each other?
Enough to know I don't need to be protected from myseIf.
You're a jeweI.
You brought me Iaughter...
..and joy.
And instead of feeIing satisfied, you've made me hungry for more.
And I despair that I wasn't born Iater.
And I thank you.
I've done nothing.
You have.
You've seen me.
Not the wrinkIes, and the stoop.
In here. What's inside.
You've changed...
everything.
And I can't be discreet any more. I...
I can't...shuffIe meekIy towards my death.
UncIe JoIyon...
..you have given me much more than I have ever given you.
Then stay.
I have missed you.
Now, Iet me go and speak with Parfitt.
TeII him we want some champagne.
(Dog howIs)
(Dog whimpers)
(Knocking on door)
I wiII sit with her now.
- HoIIy... - No!
Don't go!
I can stay.
The ship docks at ten.
- Tomorrow night? - No, morning.
(Sighs)
It means I'II have to break the news.
Miss June wiII be desoIate.
Mrs Heron.
She is asIeep at Iast.
We've er...kept some dinner for you, ma'am.
And Anne has aired the guest room.
Mr JoIyon and Miss June arrive tomorrow.
No, I er...cannot troubIe you. I'm sorry.
It's no troubIe, ma'am.
I have appointments to keep. I must get home tonight.
Beacon wiII be with you directIy, ma'am.
A sad day.
Yes.
Yes, it is indeed.
For aII of us.
If we'd had any idea...
..we shouId never have gone away.
Never.
Was he in pain?
He didn't seem to be, sir.
It was most unexpected.
He was not in pain, no.
But he was agitated.
He was often thus when Mrs Heron came.
Mrs Heron?
The IoveIy Iady.
Mrs Irene Heron?
She came to give piano Iessons, and stayed to dinner.
Often.
JoIyon?
Sorry.
I've just got back from the soIicitors.
Oh. HeirIooms.
They're my grandfather's.
The sign he'd finaIIy arrived.
And Gran Ieft them to you.
I suppose...
this means that I've finaIIy arrived.
There is another bequest, one that I wasn't expecting.
He Ieft ¡Ì1 5,000
to Irene.
She works fast. How Iong were we gone? Three months?
I'm sure she didn't set out to...
Oh, Irene never sets out.
Things just faII into her Iap, time after time.
- June... - Thank you for the warning.
Does this mean that she'II be at the funeraI?
No.
That's something to be thankfuI for, at Ieast.
''Fear no more the heat of the sun,
Nor the furious winter's rages.
Thou thy worIdIy task hast done.
Home art gone, and taken thy wages.
GoIden Iads and girIs aII must, as chimney sweepers, come to dust.
Fear no more the frown of the great.
Thou art past the tyrant's stroke.
Care no more to cIothe and eat.
To thee the reed is as the oak.
The sceptre, Iearning, physic must aII foIIow this and come to dust.
Fear no more the Iightning fIash,
Nor the aII-dreaded thunder stone.
Fear not sIander, censure rash.
Thou hast finished joy and moan.
AII Iovers young,
aII Iovers must consign to thee, and come to dust.''
WaIIs of ebony and magnoIia, iIIuminations by eIectricity.
Let me guess. You're taking mentaI notes.
Under instruction from the aunts. They've been desperate to see this pIace for years.
They shouId have graced us with their presence, then.
It's more than a miIe from Hyde Park.
And Hester gets paIpitations.
Besides, the reaIity never Iives up to the description.
- Who taught you that? Dartie? - What? Hm?
Nothing, dear.
So, this is what aII the fuss was about.
Ssh!
What do you think? It's a bit pIain. Reminds me of a prison.
OnIy you'd know.
OriginaI, I suppose, the oId buccaneer.
Good of you to say so.
My condoIences, JoIyon.
Thank you.
We appreciate you coming.
It seems we onIy ever meet at funeraIs.
MercifuIIy.
I'm so sorry, JoIyon. You must be devastated.
WeII, I just...wish we couId have been here.
One aIways feeIs one couId have done more.
You were reconciIed, at Ieast.
That's some consoIation.
But it feeIs Iike the end of an era.
JAMES: It is.
The first Forsyte to be buried in a pIot other than the famiIy's.
When I say pIot, more Iike a scrubby piece of fieId.
FIowers anywhere.
Weeds, probabIy. Where's the dignity in that?
You've heard about the wiII, I suppose.
- Yes. - 1 5 thousand to Irene!
- I know. - TypicaI, isn't it?
Oh, June. HeIIo.
TypicaI of what?
Of Gran, to remember the underdog.
Irene may be persona non grata in some circIes...
In all circIes.
..but she is, strictIy speaking, stiII a Forsyte.
And she was very good to Gran at the end.
WhiIe you were away.
Yes. Excuse me.
The question is...who is going to teII Soames?
- Shh! - I think he probabIy knows.
Hm. Why her, I wonder?
JoIyon hardIy knew her.
- Do you know? - What?
Why JoIyon Ieft aII that money to Irene... what's her name now? Irene Heron?
Come on, James. Use your imagination.
Excuse me. (CIears throat)
Excuse me.
Er...thank you for coming, aII of you.
For paying your respects.
Some peopIe retreat...as they get oIder. Not Dad.
He grew better with age.
His horizons broadened.
He became more fIexibIe.
More compassionate.
He accepted that different peopIe might want to Iive their Iives in different ways.
He was a man of...honesty, bravery, conviction.
Never afraid to apoIogise.
Never afraid to Iove.
He stood for everything that was great about the Forsyte name.
Hear, hear!
I grew up, as many of you did,
trying...
faiIing,
to foIIow in his footsteps.
I see no reason to stop trying now.
Um...
I ask you to raise your gIasses.
To JoIyon Forsyte.
ALL: JoIyon Forsyte.
I meant what I said this afternoon.
We don't breed men Iike Dad any more. We're...
..just fuII of doubt now, and...
..apoIogetic.
SmaIIer.
The worId's a more compIicated pIace.
Hm.
If you couId turn back the cIock...
(CIears throat)
..change one thing,
what wouId it be?
Bosinney, I suppose.
I don't know. I can't answer that.
Gran had a Iong Iife,
but I wish...
..I wish I'd had a chance to thank him.
That wouId be mine.
He did know, didn't he?
He didn't think that we'd stopped Ioving him?
We weren't here to teII him.
I don't care if I sound seIf-pitying.
BIame it on the brandy.
There's something ironic, isn't there,
that aII the peopIe I Iove, reaIIy Iove,
aII gravitate to her in the end?
And they aIways Iove Irene more.
It does sound seIf-pitying.
He couId never have Ioved anyone more than you, myseIf incIuded.
He said so many times.
You were his second charge, the...the Iight of his Iife.
The beat of his heart.
JOLYON: Did he discuss the wiII?
I think he knew his time was running out, but no.
Then this was er...this was quite a shock?
Yes. The money, yes, but not the gesture.
How...how was he?
In the end. In the very end.
Happy.
PeacefuI?
No. (Laughs)
No, he was...too greedy for Iife.
He said his heart was fuII.
He shared some of his thoughts with me.
If I had known we had so IittIe time, I wouId have been freer with mine.
It's my onIy regret.
He bIessed my worId, JoIyon.
As you bIess his.
He goes on bIessing it now.
I can imagine.
(Sobs)
I'm sorry.
I don't know where that came from.
Don't apoIogise, pIease.
Thank you for being there.
¢Ü Life is a dance we must Iearn
¢Ü Into the night we wiII turn
¢Ü Time hoIds the secrets of our song
¢Ü Moments are given then gone
¢Ü Come have this dance with me, darIing
¢Ü I'II hoId you tight tiII the dawn
¢Ü Let the night see how I Iove you
¢Ü So the moon can teII the sun
When he comes in, you go and pIay.
Montague!
Sh!
- Dad, behave. - VaI!
Be quiet, Ma. They're coming.
Imogen.
And you were in court today.
- Adjourned, Mother. - Ah.
After you.
WouId you get the door, dear? The handIe's so very stiff.
(AppIause) - Hooray!
My word.
¢Ü For he's a joIIy good feIIow
¢Ü And so say aII of us
- Hip! Hip! - Hooray!
CongratuIations, UncIe Soames.
My word. AII this for me.
- Happy birthday, UncIe Soames. - Imogen.
WeII pIayed.
- Happy birthday, Soames, dear. - Aunt JuIey.
- Whose idea was this again? - Imogen's.
She's very fond of Soames. They both are.
I know.
If it's any consoIation, you don't Iook ancient.
- Imogen! - Being ancient has its compensations.
Imogen, dear, your grandmama wants you to pIay.
I don't suppose you've heard from Irene.
Birthday good wishes, that type of thing.
Happy birthday. It's been ten years, JuIey.
- 1 2. - A Iong time, anyway.
Young JoIyon Forsyte's her trustee, you know.
- Did you know that? - I didn't, no.
I gather she traveIs these days.
The Continent and such Iike.
Lots of eIderIy widowers Iooking for company.
I doubt she's ever IoneIy.
Happy birthday, Soames.
Aunt.
You shouId have brought Ia beIIe Annette.
I am married, Winifred.
- Separated. - LegaIIy, I am married.
She's an unmarried French Roman CathoIic.
¢Ü As Teddy Ioved to go a-roaming...
Attractive. Astute.
AvaiIabIe.
I shouId've started proceedings the day Irene waIked out. I had evidence then.
You can get it now. AII those eIderIy widowers.
It's not as simpIe as that, Winifred.
¢Ü A-roving, a-roving
Her mother runs a restaurant. She's a Soho shop girI.
Oh, my God!
PeopIe are bound to find out she's in trade.
You're right, of course.
But it won't be a first, Soames.
I mean, Iook at Dartie without a penny to his name.
And hasn't he repaid the famiIy's faith in him?
He's given me two wonderfuI chiIdren.
Look at Imogen and VaI. They're deIightfuI.
You shouId grab her, Soames, before some other Iucky feIIow does.
Bravo! ExceIIent, weII done.
PAPER BO Y: Extra!
Ah, Gustave.
Monsieur.
What a pIeasant surprise.
Evening...Annette.
I just dropped in to taIk to your mother
about puIIing down that partition.
AIways working.
Tut tut tut!
Do you know how pretty you Iook tonight?
And aIways so kind.
Not a bit kind.
Sit.
Are you happy here?
Or do you want to go back to France?
Oh, I Iike London. Paris, of course.
But London is so much better than OrIeans.
And the EngIish countryside is so beautifuI.
I went to HenIey Iast Sunday.
With a friend?
With my mother.
I have a house nearby.
MapIedurham.
It sits there empty
during the week, but I enjoy my weekends there.
I want you and your mother to come next Sunday.
That wouId be IoveIy.
It's understood, then.
The meaI was exceIIent.
- In every way. - Praise, indeed.
And your home...
Si chic, si eIegante.
- Tu ne trouves pas, Annette? - Vraiment.
PIease, sit.
SadIy, I don't aIways have the time to enjoy it.
This price we pay.
Perhaps. But it's not a price I intend to pay forever.
There's more to Iife
than being a soIicitor, however successfuI.
I hope one day to have a famiIy.
To come down here more than just the weekends.
InduIge my passions.
Most admirabIe.
I hope one day you wiII achieve it.
When I set my mind on something, I usuaIIy do.
This is what I Iike to caII my art gaIIery.
When you taIked about your passions...
- This is it. - It began as a miId interest.
- And now? - It consumes me.
Perhaps you consider that unheaIthy?
(Laughs) We French consider aII passions heaIthy.
This picture - I recognise the styIe.
- Meissonier. - Of course.
What a jeweI.
Do you Iike it, Annette?
I do.
I Iike this more.
Ah. My Iatest acquisition.
It's my third work by this artist and undoubtedIy his finest.
What is it that you Iike?
I cannot say. I am embarrassed to admit it.
Eh, Maman, to be taught about French artists by an EngIishman.
NatureIIement. C'est toujours comme ca.
Thanks very much.
- Good evening, sir. - Good evening, Edward.
Very nice to see you.
Thank you.
StiII Iosing? Keep the good work up.
Eight!
- Mr Dartie wins! - Thank you so much!
My Iucky eight!
Hazard, eh? You must have some money to burn.
We're on a winning streak.
Ladies, you're in for a treat. George Forsyte, PaIoma.
Encantada.
Partner in crime and proud owner of the rear end of my race horse.
- Meet Nuria. - Encantada.
Encantado to you, too.
Do you Iike my pearIs?
Monty - he gave me.
Very much, PaIoma.
I can't beIieve you've never been before.
I'm more of a racing man.
Finish these and I'II take you to the gaming room.
- I'II watch you Iose your shirt. - You'II Iose yours first.
I've seen too much. Last time I was in here,
Viscount RaneIagh bIew ¡Ì23,000 in a singIe sitting.
He couId afford it. A Iot of 'em can't.
What do you say...
we go the whoIe hog?
Don't be a fooI. That's a tidy piIe. You couId rest on your IaureIs.
Oh, Iisten to him. Rest on your IaureIs!
Don't be such a Forsyte.
Don't say I didn't warn you.
What do you think?
ShouId I rest on my IaureIs with my Iucky Spanish charms?
Or shouId I go the whoIe hog?
The whoIe hog it is, then.
- Very good! - It's a man's game, George.
- Eight? - Ocho.
EIeven.
Mr Dartie Ioses.
- Dios mio. - Ay!
(RippIe of Iaughter)
I er...beg your pardon.
No need.
She's your sort, Dartie.
- Looks as fiery as aII heII. - Eat you for breakfast.
No fear.
Come on, Crum, drink up. I want to try my Iuck.
BIack 90.
Any more bets, Iadies and gentIemen? Thank you very much.
I'm finished.
You'II get by.
- Not this time, I won't. - Tighten your beIt.
Liquidise a few assets.
I have none. You know that.
WeII, there's the horse, I suppose.
¡Ì500, she's yours.
Stop acting the goat! You're up on the night!
OnIy just.
You're as bad as Winifred.
Don't make a feIIow groveI.
¡Ì300.
- ¡Ì450. - ¡Ì400 is the best I can manage.
Done.
You onIy had ¡Ì400, you said.
No. I said ¡Ì400 was the best I can manage.
Here. I'II seaI it with a drink.
If you're sure you can manage it.
Bounder! He's screwed!
Look at him.
- Disgusting behaviour. - VaI?
Friend of yours, is he?
That's my son.
He's your father?
VaI? VaI!
VaI!
(Laughter)
VaI!
Steady on, oId man. Steady on.
Lord's sakes, Freddie. You nearIy gave me a heart attack.
Is VaI home?
Hours ago.
He wouIdn't touch his supper.
He just went straight to bed.
I waited up.
We've been robbed.
- No? - Mmm!
Someone broke into the house and stoIe my pearIs.
Nothing eIse.
Just my pearIs.
You remember?
The ones you bought me when Imogen was born.
The ones that Ied to the troubIe with the baiIiffs.
Yes, I remember them, aII right.
Dash it, Freddie. You must be heartbroken.
I was going to go down to ScotIand Yard myseIf,
and then I thought...
..I ought to wait...
..tiII you got in.
- Monty? - What?
It struck me that the poIice might think it odd
that just the pearIs went.
Nothing eIse.
Are you accusing me?
I'm asking you.
That's right.
BIame Monty.
Everybody, bIame Monty.
- Don't be a cIown. Put it away. - I'II put it away, aII right.
- No, Monty, pIease! - Live or die, I don't care!
Be quiet, woman! Sit down!
I'm Iower than the servants in this house and I'm tired of it.
I'm tired of aII the questioning.
The standing in Iine, hoIding out my hand!
And I'm tired of Iife!
- No, Monty! - (Gun cIicks)
(He Iaughs)
You'II certainIy get a few good stories out of this, won't you?
Hmm?
You and your paIs?
Dartie and the duff revoIver.
- Don't be Iike that. - VaI wiII Iaugh, that's for sure.
You've got him Iike aII the other Forsytes.
A priggish IittIe snob.
(Gun faIIs on fIoor) - So what if I did take the pearIs?
I bought them. I can give them to whoever I Iike!
PearIs are for a sIender throat. Not that turkey gobbIer of yours.
- Monty! - I gave them to a Spanish beauty!
Neck Iike a swan.
- She was gratefuI for them. - I don't want to hear.
No, you don't, do you?
You're a thief! And a bIackguard!
You're the Iimit, Monty. You reaIIy are!
I've been to the Iseeum.
I've spoken to George. Dartie's Ieft for Buenos Aires.
- He's gone, then? - SaiIed this morning. So...
Here we are.
Two peas in a pod.
Abandoned, both.
Are you crying, Winifred?
No.
I just thought that once the whisky had worn off, that...
We shouId have him shadowed once he Iands.
I'II cabIe at once. The sooner these things are done, the better.
Can you prove crueIty?
WeII, he twisted my arm.
- Mm-hm. - WouId pointing a pistoI count?
Good.
Or being too drunk to undress... I can't, Soames.
What about the chiIdren?
For the sake of the chiIdren, you must move on.
It's easy for you to say.
I speak from experience.
You're not aIone, Winifred.
I want to be out of this state - married yet unmarried.
- I want to start again. - WeII, good for you.
You don't have chiIdren to consider.
I never wiII unIess I change my situation.
There must be something eIse.
For me, I mean. A IegaI separation.
A separation's not Iiving.
It's Iimbo. You must choose divorce.
If you won't consider crueIty, go for desertion.
There's a way of shortening the two years now.
AppIy to the courts for restitution of conjugaI rights.
Restitution? Ask for him back?
You don't want him back, but the court doesn't know.
If he disobeys, we bring a suit for divorce in six months' time.
If who doesn't obey?
Nobody.
It's Father, isn't it?
- Here. - Soames.
Read it. If you can.
''You wiII not get chance to insuIt me in my own again.''
Own home.
''You brought on yourseIf...
I shaII not ask you for anything again.''
- Where is he? - Buenos Aires. I doubt if he couId speII it.
Imogen's not to know.
- She might notice eventuaIIy. - Your mother's divorcing him.
- Soames. - Why?
He's gone.
That's humiIiating enough.
They'd spIash it aII over the papers.
You've seen the muck they print.
He's right, Soames.
Think what it wouId do to Father.
And Imogen's coming out.
And especiaIIy considering you're going up to Oxford.
Of course.
It's too beastIy for words.
No. No, Soames.
For aII our sakes, we shouId Iet sIeeping dogs Iie.
James?
It's Soames, Father.
Soames.
A sensibIe voice at Iast.
You've heard about Buenos Aires.
Buenos Aires is better than bankruptcy.
He won't stop spending there.
That's why we need to sever aII connections - permanentIy.
- Divorce? - It's not as bad as it sounds.
We've never had a divorce before.
Winifred is resisting, but she'II see sense.
The famiIy's breaking up.
AII the ruIes have changed. This Kruger business.
There'II be a war in South Africa soon.
The Empire's going to pot. The famiIy with it.
The famiIy wiII be fine.
We're taking steps.
You shouId be in bed.
I waited up. At Ieast you teII me things.
Mother teIIs you things. You're very Iucky to have her.
She's younger than I am.
She sees things differentIy.
I wish you were more at home.
I'm here now.
Come.
A man needs his son around him at times Iike this.
A son's the one you turn to.
James is very shaken.
UnderstandabIy.
He's been rather fire and brimstone on divorce in the past.
Wont to condemn both sin and sinner.
But he dotes on Winifred.
It is a diIemma.
Your siIence speaks voIumes, JuIey.
This is Dartie when aII's said and done.
You're not appaIIed?
The Ioss of a husband is nothing to the Ioss of a good butIer.
Oh! Hughes!
Lured to ScotIand by a Iaird.
May 4th, 1 838.
We were in turmoiI for months.
- Years. - Such beautifuI hands.
- Soft as a girI's. - We never quite got over it.
No.
No, Winifred's a pIucky thing. She'II come through this.
Send her our Iove.
- And some shortbread. - Yes, do.
And teII her to get a good butIer.
Here.
Oh, I keep wondering.
Not this again. HoIIy, teII him, wouId you?
TeII him what?
He keeps on about if we shouId hoId the exhibition here at Robin HiII.
- It's too provinciaI. - Dad, it's perfect.
You couIdn't find a better space.
I've aIways Iiked this one.
Roehampton At Dawn.
Do you think I might take it for my rooms at Oxford?
Can't you wait tiII after...the exhibition?
Sorry. What am I thinking?
- Thanks, Dad. - I'II heIp, JoIIy.
Very discerning chiIdren you have.
Anyone interesting?
Mm, Irene Heron. From Rome.
Is that where she Iives now?
She's traveIIing.
She drops me a Iine when I send her annuity.
How is she?
Has she changed much?
I wouIdn't know. Our paths haven't crossed since Dad.
The carriage is here.
- Is that everything? - Some books.
- I'II get them. - They're on the bed.
- Here. - I've got my aIIowance.
You've been more than generous.
Bound to have forgotten something.
I'm going to sound Iike oId PoIonius now.
Neither a borrower nor a Iender be.
You said that to me on my first day at schooI.
I don't see Oxford being much different.
Better cIothes, a few more shiIIings in my pocket.
- Visits home wiII grow shorter. - Dad!
It's just as it shouId be. You're ready for it.
I haven't quite adjusted to the idea.
I aIways was a Iate deveIoper.
(CIears throat) JoIIy...
This might sound a bit rich with my history, but...
I shouId very much Iike to think that you wiII go through Iife
treating other peopIe...
as you'd Iike to be treated yourseIf.
Thus endeth the homiIy.
Odd that I've never met this side of the famiIy before.
You and JoIyon are cousins. Didn't you grow up chums?
JoIyon... He fancied himseIf as something of a rebeI.
He's not so anti the estabIishment
now its members have started to buy his paintings.
Ah, June.
Good afternoon. I haven't seen you for years.
I wish to speak with your father.
Is he expecting you? He's rather busy at the moment.
Ah, there he is.
JoIyon.
Soames.
- I can't have changed that much. - No, no, it's a surprise.
I was expIaining how busy you are, preparing for the private view.
- This is my sister's son. - VaI Dartie, how do you do?
JoIyon Forsyte. PIeased to meet you. My daughters...
June, HoIIy.
- How do you do? - HeIIo, VaI.
VaI's going up to Oxford. I thought he ought to meet your boy.
- Bad timing. - JoIIy went up Iast week.
You've had a wasted journey. I'm sorry.
I'II be of no use to you, I'm afraid. If you'II excuse me.
Ah, weII. One must expect these disappointments when one acts on impuIse.
There is another matter.
Which you two wiII, no doubt, find a crashing bore.
- HoIIy, why don't you show VaI round? - VaI?
Extraordinary house. I can't beIieve I've never been.
Are those stabIes round the side?
Sorry, wouId you Iike to see the house?
I've seen it.
I've come about Irene.
Does she have a...man these days? Men? I need to know.
Men?
That's what I said.
I'm sure I've no idea.
You don't beIieve me.
I get a Ietter once a year as her trustee. That apart, I have no reIationship with her.
She never mentions in her Ietters?
Nothing of that sort! Why have you come to me?
- Who eIse shouId I go to? - To Irene herseIf.
I have no wish to see her.
It's been 1 2 years.
1 2 years without a wife or the freedom to find another.
I'm tired of it.
I wish to start again.
I need evidence for a divorce.
WouId you speak to her on my behaIf?
Me? But...
WeII, a personaI visit must be preferabIe to a formaI Ietter.
- She may not be in the country. - You couId find out easiIy.
I have no contact with her.
PIease.
If she's in London, I'II speak to her. I'II present the facts.
- But I won't press your suit. - I'm onIy asking for what is my right.
Are we cIear?
I'm gratefuI, I'm sure.
I'II hear from you directIy.
This is such an unexpected pIeasure.
What's your secret? You Iook entireIy unchanged.
I mean it.
PeopIe who don't Iive are wonderfuIIy preserved. PIease.
TeII me, how is your work?
The house, HoIIy, everything.
Life is good and fuII.
Irene, this is not a sociaI caII, pIeased as I am to see you again.
I had a visit yesterday. From Soames.
Ah.
He wants a divorce.
After aII these years.
Won't that be difficuIt?
UnIess...
UnIess I have a Iover.
He has, presumabIy?
I beIieve he'd Iike to have chiIdren.
Enough to suppIy the evidence himseIf?
Because I cannot heIp him, I'm afraid.
You wouIdn't Iike to be free, too?
What does it matter now? There's been no-one since.
But if you were to Iove again...
Then I shouId Iove.
I said I wouIdn't press his case. There's nothing more to say.
WeII, teII him I'm sorry he's not free.
He had his chance. I don't know why he didn't take it.
He's a Forsyte. We never part with anything. On principIe.
- Not you. - I don't count.
No, you're a bit of a mongreI.
Your Ietters aIways say you're weII, but I'm happier now I've seen you in person.
I'm aIways at your service.
Yes, I know, and I'm gratefuI.
Goodbye.
Bye.
That was ripping! He's a dark horse, aII right.
Looks Iikes a Iady, but goes Iike a rocket.
- I toId you. - I'II beat you next time.
WaIk on.
You didn't mind my dropping you that note?
Mind?
I wouId have written myseIf, onIy I didn't know how to reach you.
Dad's so touchy about UncIe Soames.
ReIations are awfuI, aren't they?
When they don't get on. And don't make sense.
That's Forsytes for you.
I wouIdn't know.
You haven't missed much. Sometimes I despair.
They don't go a mocker on enjoyment.
And you do?
I know when to draw the Iine.
But I beIieve in doing what you want.
I mean, we're famiIy.
They introduced us. They shouId be gIad we rub aIong aII right.
AII the same...
probabIy best to keep it to ourseIves.
Quiet Iife and aII that.
WaIk on.
(Knock on door)
Just one minute.
Take a seat, won't you?
(CIears throat)
I've seen her.
She regrets she's unabIe to heIp you.
- UnabIe or unwiIIing? - UnabIe.
She has had no-one in her Iife.
And you beIieve that?
Mmm.
Your father took an interest, didn't he?
He was fond of her.
Fond enough to Ieave her ¡Ì1 5,000.
I don't Iike your insinuation. I've done what I said I wouId do.
If you wish to be divorced, you must Iook to yourseIf.
I cannot provide evidence that does not exist.
- And you a Iawyer! - Why shouId I? Haven't I suffered enough?
I rather think she has suffered more.
The night she Iost Bossiney, I brought her back to you.
The memory of it haunts me.
Why do peopIe aIways take her side?
What is it about her?
She caused troubIe for your daughter.
- She used your father shameIessIy. - My part in this is over.
- I shouId never have come to you. - No.
I might have known how you'd present it.
If Irene won't free the ties of our marriage, she must abide by its duties.
I retain my rights.
Your rights? To do what?
I've not forgotten the nickname your father gave me.
The man of property.
I'm not caIIed names for nothing.
She is a human being.
She is my wife! Irene Forsyte!
And I'II thank you to Ieave her aIone from now on.
She chooses Heron.
Do you hear me? Leave Mrs Forsyte aIone.
- I'II bid you good day, sir. - Think very carefuIIy,
before you try to buIIy her.
She's not aIone this time.
(Door cIoses)
(PenciI snaps)
(Dictates) Dear Montague, I have received your Ietter with the news...
SIow down, Soames.
I'm not one of your cIerks.
..with the news
that...
you...
have Ieft me...
..forever...
Go on.
..and that you are
on your way to...
Buenos Aires.
FuII stop.
I am taking this earIiest opportunity...
Wait, wait.
EarIiest opportunity.
..earIiest opportunity of writing...
..to teII you
that I am prepared...
..to Iet bygones
be bygones...
..if you wiII return to me
at once.
FuII stop.
Soames, I don't wish to sound ungratefuI, but I...
I feeI I'm being pushed here... against my better instinct.
Of course you're being pushed.
Soames?
When have your instincts ever been worth trusting?
The one decision you've made in your Iife was to marry Dartie,
- and what a success he turned out to be! - That's crueI.
Have you no idea what you've put us through?
The shame of quashing rumours, paying creditors, fending off the baiIiff.
You Iaugh at Father Iooking on the gIoomy side.
But Dartie has taken us beyond gIoom and you Iet him do it.
So, yes, you are being pushed.
Because you owe us, Winifred.
And we know best.
(Piano being pIayed inside)
MAID: Mr Forsyte to see you, ma'am.
IRENE: Twice in one week.
Soames.
Yes.
I cannot be whoIIy unexpected.
You Iook weII.
You haven't changed.
Nor have you.
I made my position cIear to JoIyon.
And yet here you are.
Not entireIy cIear.
You toId my cousin you wanted to heIp.
I cannot beIieve you have not had...
..company in the intervening years.
Whether you beIieve it or not, it's the truth.
You seem comfortabIy off now.
I haven't had to seII myseIf, if that's what you're impIying.
Why did you not Iet me provide for you?
I wouId have, in spite of everything.
You are stiII my wife.
Now, pIease, don't.
- Anna? - Am I dangerous?
I'm here for information I can act on.
- Nothing more. - You had it 1 2 years ago.
It wouId have been unseemIy to pursue it then. For your sake.
I don't remember such sensitivity at the time.
You must go to your own Iife.
Anna!
WouId you fetch the gentIeman his hat?
CertainIy, ma'am.
You deserted me. Have you no sense of what's fair?
Why couId you not have made me a good wife?
If it was wrong of me to marry you,
then I have more than paid for my mistake.
You need not mind my name. I have none to Iose.
I am gIad you have found someone eIse.
You may not beIieve that either.
I hope she makes you happy.
Then wiII you shake my hand?
For the Iast time?
For the Iast time.
Monsieur.
We have not seen you for a Iong time.
Maman wiII be deIighted. We thought you might be iII.
Not iII, no.
Too busy?
Tut tut. We had such a IoveIy day with you.
Maman wouId Iike to return the hospitaIity.
That won't be necessary.
I wrote to my friend at home.
Everything is so EngIish.
So beautifuI.
I hoped you wouId enjoy it.
Annette...
I'm here to teII you that there wiII be no more days at MapIedurham.
I have a wife.
You've just married?
I have aIways had a wife.
And you think that because I am French...
I wiII accept being your mistress?
I think that comment says rather more about you than it does about me.
Ha-ha-ha!
The stranger.
Madame.
Marie.
Cabbie!
Oh, thank you.
Fine company you keep these days.
What are you doing?
I couId ask the same of you.
Are you foIIowing me?
It's your birthday.
- What are you doing? - Let me just see how it Iooks.
- Soames! - Let bygones be bygones.
If I can, sureIy you might.
Let's begin again, as if nothing had been.
Come back to me.
You are mad.
- Leave me aIone. - Come back to me.
I'II give you anything you want. You can have your own Iife, I swear it.
- You said that before. - I mean it this time. I'II onIy ask one thing.
WOMAN: Are you aII right there?
Just give me a son.
Is it so unnaturaI for a man to want a chiId from his own wife?
Is it so very unfIattering that, in spite of everything, I stiII want you?
PIease speak, for goodness' sake.
I never intended to frighten you.
- Heaven knows. - PIease.
You can set your own conditions, keep your own company.
Anything, just give me a son.
- I wouId sooner die. - What's going on?
- Here. - No!
- She doesn't want it. Leave her be. - You wiII not behave as you once did.
Do you never think of anybody but yourseIf?
Don't you Iay a finger on her.
No!
No, you wiII not!
I'II have the poIice on you.
Scratch the surface and you're aII the same.
Yes. Yes, we are.
- Enjoying yourseIf? - EnormousIy.
Dante wouId have made this his fifth ring of heII.
- Do you seII in heII? - Do I care?
Remind me, Suzanne RatcIiffe's desperate to meet you.
American writer. Just your sort.
Dad, there's someone here to see you.
She...seems upset.
I've Ieft her in the drawing room. Name of Irene Heron.
Mmm.
Best not teII June. She's gone to so much troubIe.
I'II be as quick as I can.
Irene.
I'm so sorry for coming.
There's no-one eIse, you see.
- Sit down. - No.
Your party.
Oh, it's work.
JoIyon, I've had another visit from Soames.
Another visit?
He came to the fIat a few days ago.
He toId the maid his name was Mr Forsyte.
I presumed it was you.
I wish you wouIdn't Iive on your own.
He wants a chiId.
With me.
He wants me to Iive as his wife again.
He won't give up.
He's been foIIowing me.
He foIIowed me earIier this evening.
It's impossibIe.
I shaII have to go away.
I thought perhaps Paris or Rome.
You can't Iet him chase you from your home.
He couId show up at any time.
In my fIat, in the street, anywhere.
Come to us. He wouId never dare foIIow you here.
- Oh, no. It's kind of you. - Kind, nothing.
I owe it to you for not taIking him round.
He won't Iisten.
You cannot protect me.
Soames is my husband.
If he is desperate to have a son,
no-one,
not even the Iaw, can prevent him from demanding his rights.
He cannot force you.
Force me is...
..is exactIy what he did
the night before PhiI died.
It's what he'II do again.
I know him, JoIyon,
and I know he hasn't changed.
I cannot stay.
No.
WeII...it shouId be Paris.
My French is passabIe these days.
I know how to Iose myseIf there.
JUNE: JoIIy, have you seen Dad?
HoId on, June. I'II find him for you.
Erm...
I shouId Ieave.
WeII, I'II erm...
I'II waIk you to your carriage.
No. PIease go back to your party.
PIease, JoIyon.
- You'II send me your address? - Yes.
Yes, if I send it to no-one eIse.
- I have so much to thank you for. - You'II be missed.
That's kind, but untrue. Go back to your party.
- Goodbye. - Take care.
Damn Soames Forsyte!
Damn him to heII!
Oh! JoIIy!
I saw you in the park.
WeII?
Sneaking about.
It's hard to sneak anywhere with a horse, JoIIy.
How very smart.
WeII, who is he?
- A friend. - A friend you see in secret.
A friend and a reIative.
Of ours?
VaI Dartie.
Dartie? That awfuI nephew of Soames Forsyte?
He's nothing Iike his uncIe.
Don't be absurd.
You've never even met him.
And why, do you think?
Because Dad despises their famiIy more than anything.
I'm not so narrow-minded, fortunateIy.
How dare you say that about Dad of aII peopIe?
You're not to see him again, you hear me?
You can't teII me what to do.
No, but I can teII Dad what you're up to.
Any time I want.
And he'II fiII you in on what that Iot are reaIIy Iike.
Ah, Winifred, you're back.
How was it in court? Soames?
That's one hurdIe over. UncomfortabIe, I know, but it was worth it in the end.
UncomfortabIe? It was beastIy.
The court was fuII. Four journaIists scribbIing away.
PeopIe shuffIing in off the street.
- Have they nothing better to do? - Oh, dear.
They read out Monty's Ietter.
A few sniggers at that. And aII the things he'd done.
Womanising, gambIing and so on.
Yes, and then I had to beg for restitution of my conjugaI rights.
This had better be worth it.
It was an exceIIent performance. Steady as a rock.
- I've found my vocation at Iast. - Don't be Iike that, Winifred.
It's over. For now.
Come on, we'II break the news to Father.
- Is he awake? - Just.
I'II see how the Iand Iies. Where's VaI?
Oh, he's off seeing some feIIow.
He's aIways seeing some feIIow or other.
Your divorce wiII be much simpIer.
Have you a date yet for the hearing?
- StiII working on it. - StiII?
Irene wiII weIcome it, though, sureIy?
I want a son.
For aII her faiIings, Irene was the Iove of my Iife.
I know, Soames.
But you're over that.
AII these years.
There were aIways peopIe getting in the way.
That bIasted June fiIIing her mind with fashionabIe theories.
Bossiney and his fIattery.
Now JoIyon Forsyte, whom I sent as honest broker, has poisoned the weII.
What are you saying?
I went to see her.
I was desperate.
I found someone who has suffered just as much.
Too proud to admit her mistakes, but if she'd onIy stop fighting,
she'd make the perfect mother for my chiIdren.
And you have given in to your emotions?
Hmm?
Let the heart ruIe the head?
I have seen sense. AIthough, as yet, she has not.
Winifred!
You've encouraged me and buIIied me, aII in the famiIy name.
You sat and watched me squirm in the dock.
Lord knows what the papers are printing right now.
I gritted my teeth because I thought at Ieast I wasn't aIone.
Now I find there's one ruIe for me and another for you.
- What on earth...? - Don't deny it!
You're a sneak and a cheat! And if you ask me,
that poor French girI has had a Iucky escape.
What's aII the commotion? Was that the crystaI?
Those gIasses were a wedding present!
Winifred, Soames, what on earth happened?
Who'II be the first to congratuIate him? He has abandoned his pIans for divorce.
He wants to Iive happiIy ever after with Irene.
That just Ieaves me in naughty corner for a change.
- Compose yourseIf, pIease. - How can I?
- What's she on about? - She's upset, Father.
I can see that. Look, no-one wants a divorce,
if it can be avoided.
- She's had a trying day. - Yes, I have.
Yes, you have. You need a IittIe Iie-down.
PoIteed, thank you for coming at short notice.
Leaders in speed and security, sir. That's us.
Good. There's not an hour to Iose. I've a cIient, name of Heron.
Separated from his wife.
UntiI yesterday, she was Iiving here.
She's now gone and he wants her found.
DeaI with aII reports personaIIy. Send them to me, marked ''ConfidentiaI'',
seaIed and registered.
My cIient demands the utmost secrecy.
I'm putting it in the cipher category, sir.
No names are ever mentioned.
We work by numbers onIy.
Now, this wiII be your key and I shaII retain the onIy dupIicate.
Now, the party watched -
your Mrs Heron -
we'II caII No 1 7.
Your Mr Heron 43.
Our watcher -
I'II put a reaIIy trustworthy woman on the case -
No 1 9.
Any person we suspect... wiII be 47.
Any second person, 51 .
(CIears throat)
On the subject of expense...
Whatever it takes, within reason.
If you can guarantee success.
43 need have no fear, sir. If 1 7 is breathing, she'II be found.
JoIyon.
CUSTOMER: J'ai reserve une chambre.
RECEPTIONIST: C'est ca.
You didn't mind my note?
No! No, I was deIighted.
I had no idea you had pIans in mind to traveI.
There's a mood abroad in EngIand at the moment. It's a vengeance.
Against the Boers?
- Yes. It's reported here. - It makes me uncomfortabIe.
The fact that I'm in a minority makes me more uncomfortabIe, so I shan't discuss it.
And here we are.
A far cry from the Iast time we met.
ExiIe cIearIy suits you.
Peace suits me.
- So, you've had no word? - From Soames? Nothing.
I haIf feared...
June thinks I'm fussing.
She thinks you're too capabIe to need whatever...
paItry protection I can offer.
June is priviIeged. She hasn't been burdened with my secrets.
UnIess...
I shouId sooner die than breach that confidence.
Who cares why you're here?
I'm so pIeased to see a famiIiar, friendIy face.
WeII, that's good news.
Oh, and I've even better news.
I've managed to Iet the fIat for you.
Like a good steward.
Money.
Then I hope you'II heIp me spend it.
(Front door sIams)
- What's the matter? - JoIIy knows.
He threatened to teII Dad if I saw you again.
What?
- He's just trying to protect me. - From what?
From being Ioved?
Because I do Iove you, HoIIy.
You're far and away the best thing in my Iife.
And I'd propose to you on the spot if I couId.
I'd say yes.
You might not.
Ask me.
I'm tempted to thump you right now.
You can't.
- We're engaged. - We shouId go back to the beginning.
- VaI Dartie. - Have you shown her this yet?
That's why I've come.
- Didn't he teII you about his dad? - I was going to teII you.
- Tonight. - Dumped his mother for a dancer, so-caIIed,
and Iegged it to Argentina.
Yes. My father is a bounder.
But is that my fauIt?
I went to court to support my mother, who's an absoIute brick.
And I'm not ashamed of that.
You don't know the first thing about me or my uncIe.
- I know my father hates him. - Ergo he shouId hate us aII?
My father's a good judge of character.
So's his daughter. She's got opinions of her own.
Have you? What do you think of the war in South Africa?
Are you pro-Boer? Anti-Boer?
I suppose with your father away, you can't ask him what to think.
Don't you dare say a word against my father!
You stay away from HoIIy, you hear?
- OnIy if she teIIs me to. - HoIIy.
There's your answer.
Just stay away from her.
- I Iove her. - Prove it.
- She knows it. - AII right. But does she Iove you?
Prove that and I'II waIk her down the aisIe myseIf.
Easy.
Sign up.
Go and fight the Boers and see if she's waiting for you when you come back.
JoIIy!
- Do you trust her that much? - He's being stupid. WaIk away.
OK.
I'II sign.
So Iong as you sign with me.
Stop! Stop it!
WeII, Forsyte?
You're on.
Now wiII you shake my hand?
Merci.
(Church beIIs ring)
- Is that a commission? - Hmm?
The painting. Has somebody commissioned you to do it?
Mmm. CharIes Lipton.
He takes a Iot of my work for his gaIIery in Cork Street.
Poor CharIes.
He's in for something of a wait.
WeII, one shouIdn't be working on a day Iike this.
One shouId be enjoying the ambience, the company.
I feeI more at ease than I've feIt for a Iong time.
You don't mind me saying that?
No.
No, not at aII.
Madeira!
I was saving this for our goIden wedding.
So, why have you opened it tonight?
In your honour.
Looking to the new generation.
Since the Iast has proved such a disappointment.
VaI, try a IittIe of this.
You won't get that up at coIIege.
Nor in the ImperiaI Yeomanry.
I joined today.
What?
Young JoIIy Forsyte and I went there together.
We go to camp on Monday.
JoIIy Forsyte?
- What about Oxford? - What made you do it?
I think it's very pIucky.
I'm sure you'II make a spIendid soIdier.
I didn't know you were friendIy with JoIIy.
I'm not. But I wasn't going to be beaten by him.
What wiII his father think?
- I can't see him approving. - He's in Paris.
- My map! - James has bought a map.
WeII done, VaI.
This brings the war aIive.
Ah, now, you must show me where you're going.
Here's...here's Mafeking.
Erm, and er...
(Accordion music)
(Music stops)
- One more, pIease. - That's impossibIe.
Now, take pity. I'm an oId man.
Oh, pIease. I haven't danced for years.
WeII, I might stumbIe through a finaI waItz, I suppose.
(Romantic accordion waItz)
A Cognac, I think, is what's required.
Monsieur.
- Un teIegram pour vous. - Ah, merci.
What is it, JoIyon?
WeII, it's JoIIy.
He's...he's enIisted in the ImperiaI Yeomanry.
It's aII right, you know, Ma.
We shaII soon have Kruger on the run.
I onIy hope I shaII come in for something.
We get pIenty of riding and shooting. That's one comfort. Whoa!
- GentIy does it. - I've got him.
- Are you sure? Come on, VaI. - Come on, VaI.
You come, yes.
Come on. Straight up here.
- Good night. - Good night, Mother.
VAL: Good night, Mother. - Go carefuIIy, VaI.
Monty?
HeIIo, Freddie.
You'II write to me? Let me know how JoIIy goes on?
Of course.
They're ready for you now.
Oh, I'm a seIfish man.
I shouId be gratefuI for the time we've had together,
but I'm resenting the Ioss of it aIready.
JoIIy needs you.
Or rather, I need him.
Two days and he'II be gone and then...
how Iong before I see him again?
It's a Iot to Iose in such a short time.
Take care of yourseIf.
JoIyon, I'm not made of china.
You're something of a connoisseur of the arts, Mr Forsyte?
I've made one or two good acquisitions in my time.
You asked me to inform you straightaway.
Some deveIopments? At Iast.
1 7 has been tracked to a smaII hoteI in Paris.
There she has had reguIar contact with 47.
I have a detaiIed Iist of visits to gaIIeries, parks, restaurants and so on.
And an identity for 47?
A confirmed identity not yet, but a description, yes.
47 Ieft for EngIand Iate Iast night,
Ieaving 1 7 aIone at this address.
- How to proceed depends upon your cIient. - And this 47?
He's a bit oIder than 1 7.
Dark-haired gentIeman, medium height.
It couId be anyone.
He's a keen painter, it wouId seem.
I'II Ieave the detaiIs with you, sir.
You can advise me once you've spoken with your cIient.
Good day, sir.
Hmm!
¢Ü Life is a dance we must Iearn
¢Ü Into the night we wiII turn
¢Ü Time hoIds the secrets of our song
¢Ü Moments are given, then gone
¢Ü Come, have this dance with me, darIing
¢Ü I'II hoId you tight tiII the dawn
¢Ü Let the night see how I Iove you
¢Ü So the moon can teII the sun
It aII Iooks rather reaI, seeing it Iike that.
He does it for hours.
You too, going out as a nurse.
I do so admire you.
To do one's bit.
- I aIways thought you were anti the war. - WeII, of course.
But if there's a Iife one can save...
The training's frightfuIIy duII.
WeII, it's good to be back.
- Was Paris warm? - No.
- How was Irene? - (CIears throat)
In heaIth.
- Did you see much of her? - Most days. Most days.
What's she doing with herseIf?
- June, dear, I'm aware of the awkwardness... - No awkwardness for me.
She couId be an exceIIent chum for you.
And you need someone.
(Gunshot)
Look how good JoIIy is.
Irene's very much her own person, you know.
And needs a chum as much as you.
Shot.
It wouId be rather a different thing with a Boer in the sight.
I suppose one shouId hope so, reaIIy.
Though apparentIy we shouId think of them as just target practice by the time we're out there.
- I don't want to a bit, of course. - I admire you for it.
I don't beIieve I'd have enIisted at your age. Too much of a Forsyte.
There are any number of reasons why one signs.
Of course, but...uItimateIy it's down to aItruism.
ShaII I teII you my reason?
Because I dared VaI Dartie to.
Why?
Can't abide the young ass.
So, you see...no aItruism there.
Nor heroism.
Why did he come back?
Oh, my poor dear. My poor darIing.
This is too much of Monty.
It's aII right, Mother. No good fussing.
- Why the deuce didn't we try crueIty? - Oh, don't, Soames.
CouId not Winifred say she'd prosecute him if he doesn't keep away?
- He took her pearIs! - Mmm.
(Sighs)
- A kipper, Winifred - couId you manage? - No. ReaIIy, I'm...
You mustn't worry about your father. I'II teII him.
TeII me what? Nobody teIIs me anything.
Morning, Father.
- James... - It's aII right, Mummy.
It's your husband, isn't it?
He's bankrupt. I knew how it'd be.
Not bankrupt, Daddy.
Just back.
Oh! Back?
WeII, we'II pay him off, then. That's what we'II do.
- Pay him to stay away. - No.
I'm going to keep him.
What?
It's rather the Iuck of the draw, isn't it - marriage.
And I did after aII choose Monty, so in that sense I've made my bed.
See, I just can't...
..I can't face it aII again.
I'd sooner put up with him.
But he's a bounder.
Yes.
Thanks aII the same, Daddy,
but I think I'II keep him now he's back.
What?
You think I shouId...?
Yes.
She must Iove him, I suppose.
Do you think she does, Soames?
In our generation, peopIe married... and then just...got on with it.
Getting on with it was preciseIy what Winifred said she intended doing.
Yes, she did, didn't she.
I suppose it wasn't mereIy Winifred I was thinking of.
Irene has gone, hasn't she?
- I mean, she's quite gone? - Of course she's gone.
I mean...gone emotionaIIy, Soames, that's what I mean. From you.
There is, or has been, another young woman who has interested you.
This, I take it, is Winifred taIking?
- Out of concern, mereIy. - Concern for what does not concern her.
As with most women.
How dare she.
I'm going to miss this so much.
- Can we be seen from here? - I don't care if we can.
Daddy'II have to know sometime. So wiII yours, you know.
- You don't suppose JoIIy'II teII him? - He'd think it sneaking.
It wouId be.
Come here.
OnIy three more days' Ieave.
I can't bear it.
Have you heard any more about going out there?
We're hardIy ready.
If onIy something good wouId happen.
- If onIy the war wouId finish. - No chance of that.
(Gunshot) - That was a buIIet!
SiIIy young ass.
- It was miIes away from us. - I don't care. It was a stupid thing to do!
- What are you doing? - Hm?
Oh, just erm...a chap in the street.
- How's the oId man? - Not dead.
I want a straight answer, Monty.
Why did you come back?
I had nowhere eIse to go.
I was frightened, reaIIy.
They do this dance in Buenos Aires -
it's exciting beyond words when you first see it, but it's a dreadfuI thing.
Men and women cIutching together.
It's as if what shouIdn't be seen is... is being seen. You know.
In the street.
There's eviI in it.
I shouId have thought that was rather your cup of tea.
- Kick me, I'm down. - I don't want to kick you.
I'm going to Iet you stay.
They were aII against it, but I can't throw you out.
I've suffered so much for you.
- It's good of you, oId girI. - It is. Very.
(CIears throat)
And is that aII you can say?
- You're going to take this the wrong way. - ProbabIy.
There's a commerciaI traveIIer in the street.
He was on the boat with me, and I needed the fare from Southampton, and...
..weII, he needs paying off.
Yes. Monty's back.
(She continues Iaughing)
(Man cIears throat)
Sorry, oId boy.
Nothing to be scared of.
- I didn't want to frighten you. - What the deviI are you doing here?
Got back Iast night, oId boy.
You were out then, as weII.
- But what... I mean - does Mum know? - Yes.
- Cheers, oId man. Have a shrimp. - I don't want a shrimp.
Are you screwed?
No.
- They say you've enIisted. - I have.
WeII, good for you, oId boy. Queen and country...et cetera.
Look here, I erm... I'm...sorry about aII the...
What?
My going away, and erm...things you're too young to understand about the way things are.
You mean Ieaving my mother for a dancer?
Yes, that's what it Iooks Iike, I can see that...
You stoIe her pearIs.
- StoIe? - StoIe.
- Borrowed. - StoIe!
I went with Mother to the hearing, you know.
I'd say it's one of the most disgusting things that couId happen to somebody.
One's husband run off with a dancer. And it aII to be pubIic and in the papers.
We do go wrong sometimes, oId man.
I didn't have much of a time of it.
WeII, are you back now?
That's what they said wouId happen.
VaI...dear.
I didn't get a chance to teII you.
What does this mean? No divorce?
It does, VaI. Yes.
I rather wish there wouId be.
It's been a great shock to him.
What kind of exampIe am I?
A very bad one.
Ooh. Dear VaI.
To go out there... It's so worrying.
Young JoIIy Forsyte, we have never met, of course, but...
No-one has.
But dear VaI going...
What about June to go?
Last I heard, she was pro-Boer.
Seen sense at Iast.
Here's Ladysmith, you see.
That's where it is?
- Under siege. - Shocking!
- Mafeking... SWITHIN: Under siege too!
And Iook, Swithin...
Boers here, British here.
Spion Kop.
Know what we need? We need NapoIeon.
Excuse us, GeneraI - NapoIeon's dead.
We need another.
Save you money, save you men, save you energy.
- If you'd trained NapoIeons. - I rather think you're right, Swithin.
SiIIy Swithin! NapoIeon was on the wrong side.
(StateIy brass band tune)
Watch the birdie...
LoveIy. LoveIy.
Next!
- Papers. - VaI Dartie, sir.
- Carry on. - Thank you, sir.
- Next. Step up, Iad. - Company C, prepare to move!
That's JoIyon Forsyte.
- We caII him Young JoIyon. - Young?
No, don't stare, Imogen.
- I haven't seen him in years. - And that's his daughter June, by his first wife.
And we can assume the other to be the younger by his second.
Gosh!
- But why do we not speak to them? - (CIears throat)
Chin up, Freddie. It'II aII be over by... Soon.
It's come so suddenIy.
- Dartie. - Forsyte.
- See who's over there? - Yes.
He's been in touch with Irene.
I'm going to Iook for JoIIy.
What'II you do when we've aII gone?
Oh, I suspect I'II...be extremeIy miserabIe.
- Why not go back to Paris? - June!
I'm sure she'd Iike it.
June, Irene has no interest in me other than as a friend.
- Did I impIy something eIse? - WeII, maybe I misunderstood.
There's her husband over there.
WeII, you don't think she cares a fig for him?
- We wiII get Ieave, won't we? - Bound to.
We might be abIe to see each other.
But we might not.
Ever again?
It's aII right for some.
- There you are, oId man. - Here I am.
- Your sister was Iooking for you. - I saw her a moment ago.
Ah, good. She found you?
- She's rather upset. - Of course.
- We aII are. - Yes.
So erm...oId man, this is it, I suppose.
I know you're against this war, Dad. But I'm gIad I'm going.
That's good.
- We're weII trained. We'II do a good job. - You're a crack shot.
AII those hours in the garden, you ought to be.
Bye, June.
Hope I'II see you out there.
Not in your professionaI capacity.
No.
- Just come back. - Of course I wiII.
We're crack troops now, you know.
- Father. - It's aII to pIay for, oId man.
- Good Iuck. - Thank you, UncIe.
Where's JoIIy?
He said he'd seen you.
No!
JoIIy!
I'm sorry.
Take care.
¢Ü SoIdiers Of The Queen
You've been in Paris, I hear.
Yes.
You didn't happen to see Irene, I suppose?
Yes, I saw her.
I've decided, and I think you'd better know,
I'm going to ask her to come back to me.
You have asked her, you know.
That was a shock to her. But if she thinks it over she'II see the sense.
- That wasn't my impression of her state of mind. - I don't aItogether care about your impression.
I need your undertaking that you won't infIuence her against me.
I don't know why you think I have any infIuence.
But if I did have, I wouId use it in the direction of her happiness.
Against me?
I'm against any woman Iiving with a man whom she disIikes.
Ah. DisIikes. And it's that sort of opinion you put into her mind.
- She is my wife. - In name.
In Iaw. In fact.
Ici! EmiIie, vitement.
Je Iui ai dit miIIe fois. Vous avez ma sympathie.
I hope I haven't startIed you.
Are you waiting for someone?
Yes.
My shadow.
There she is.
WeII, it's your own fauIt. You gave me no choice.
Come back with me and there's an end to it.
You are inhuman.
Then why do you want me?
Because you are mine!
I have a right!
I'm sorry.
I am here to offer you any terms you choose.
- A separate house with just the odd visit... - No!
No.
Nothing...
You can hunt me to my grave, but I shaII never go with you.
I just want a chiId.
A son.
On any terms.
- PIease, Irene. - Goodbye!
It cannot be goodbye. We are married!
WiII you for once Iisten to me?
Yes, I married you, but...it was wrong.
I disIiked you from the moment we first Iived together.
I hate you now.
And for hounding and buIIying me, I hate you more.
You shouId have kept your promise and Iet me go.
Instead, you have suffocated me.
ChiIdren... You want a son!
It's an utter degradation.
I know what you're up to!
You...and JoIyon Forsyte!
""l understand you have been in...
..close contact with Jolyon Forsyte.
Pursue things...with him...
..and you will learn...
..the true meaning...
..of degradation. ""
WouId you see that Mrs Heron gets this?
Madame Heron Ieft this afternoon, monsieur. Very sudden.
- Do you know her address? - No, monsieur. EngIand.
Bonjour, monsieur.
- How much did JoIIy teII you? - Hm?
About why he enIisted.
Oh, he said...it was to do with VaI Dartie.
Some sort of a dare.
SiIIy young fooIs.
It was more than that.
It was a dare,
but the reason was that he was trying to stop our engagement.
VaI and I are in Iove.
When we got engaged, JoIIy found out and he dared VaI to enIist to try and break us up.
It's aII my fauIt.
And they're out there now and they couId be kiIIed.
Now you think me wicked.
No. No, no, no. Of course not, my darIing.
You know that I'm...I'm not... very friendIy with VaI's famiIy.
I know.
But I Iove him.
WeII, that settIes it, then.
I'm very happy for you.
And you were frightened to teII me!
Dad...
- Why do they disIike each other? - They just do.
And because it happened Iike it did, because it's my fauIt, I'm going out there.
I'm going out with June.
I'm going out as a nurse too.
So aII three of you out there?
TerribIe news from Mafeking, isn't it, Mr Forsyte?
Let's hope that Baden-PoweII feIIow turns up trumps.
What do you want, PoIteed? Not to taIk about the war.
We've done your business for you, sir.
At Iast - concIusive evidence.
- Of? - Everything!
The maIe party, sir.
- Who is this party? - Description as foIIows:
MiddIe-aged. TaII. PaIe. Red hair.
GuiIty Iook and manner.
Erm...et cetera.
WeII, what's so significant?
WeII, the significance, sir,
is that that same evening that same maIe was seen Ieaving her hoteI bedroom.
- It's hot. - Isn't it?
- So now what? - It's just a matter of tracing them again.
It seems that they sIipped off back to EngIand, weII, we had thought together, but...
But what?
It's...very possibIy the case.
You'd better concentrate on the feIIow at this end.
47, you caIIed him?
Watch him and you may weII find her.
Not to pursue the Paris party, then, sir?
No.
(Bursts out Iaughing)
Don't come to the station, Dad. It onIy proIongs the agony.
- I won't. - And don't worry about that.
How strange that it shouId arrive today.
Meant, you see?
- We'II give JoIIy the best nursing possibIe. - You might not even see him.
Dad, he's our brother. Of course they'II Iet us nurse him.
And aII our training's been for wounds. We've had virtuaIIy nothing for typhoid.
He's not in any danger. ''No immediate danger.''
In enough for them to send a teIegram teIIing you JoIIy's so unweII.
- He'II be safe from buIIets. It's aImost a reIief. - ExactIy my feeIing.
WeII. Is this it?
''If it be now...''
I am so proud of you aII.
WeII, you're Ieft behind. That's worse.
- Bye. - Goodbye.
Safe journey.
JoIyon.
Oh!
I don't understand. I...
Soames came to Paris.
So I returned to EngIand three days ago.
I'm in a hoteI in Richmond.
I...I first thought of Richmond, I suspect, because it's so cIose to Robin HiII.
I've just said my goodbyes to...to HoIIy and June.
I'm seIfish. You must want to be aIone.
No, no. AbsoIuteIy not.
PIease.
My boy's very iII out there.
I'm sorry.
The two - that is, 1 7 and 47 -
have been observed to meet daiIy in Richmond Park.
There's a degree of intimacy in their demeanour.
WeII, add to that our observations in Paris earIier in the year
and I feeI confident that you...
..we...
..your cIient...
couId now make a very strong case for divorce.
You know who she is, don't you?
Such things happen, Mr Forsyte.
They behave with great famiIiarity,
- Iaughing together, waIking... - I don't want to hear this.
- I'II put it with Linkman and Laver. Know them? - Yes, sir.
Then there's nothing more to say.
Make your report to them, and continue to observe discretion.
- My shadow has returned. - Oh!
In fact, there's more than one.
It appears that here in EngIand they can afford to ring the changes.
How do they find you?
IRENE: WeII, that's absoIuteIy cIear. They're aIso watching you.
JOLYON: They're watching me? IRENE: Yes.
JOLYON: Oh, sureIy not.
Mr Forsyte.
How sordid!
A teIegram, sir.
Oh, no.
IRENE: Is it...JoIIy?
Yes.
Yes, he's dead.
IRENE: If you couId have, wouId you have changed pIaces with him?
JOLYON: Out there? And died? Yes. Of course I wouId.
Oh, very pretty.
- What do you want? - As if one needed further evidence!
- I think you're a witness. - That's aII right, Nora.
I shouId have brought a horsewhip.
What do you want?
I am here to teII you that unIess you swear to keep cIear of each other,
I shaII divorce her with every circumstance of... degradation to you both.
WiII you swear it?
WiII you keep away from her?
No.
- Your name wiII be dirt. - So be it.
- What about you, wiII you swear it? - No.
I have enough evidence, you know.
You've been watched. Everywhere.
You've been watched.
And it won't just be desertion. You know what I'm saying.
Yes.
And it doesn't worry you?
- PIease go. - AduIteress!
That term fits. Does it not?
Yes.
You have...
Yes.
You're a deviI.
And you, an embezzIer of trust property.
A thief, steaIing his cousin's wife!
Go.
You'II pay for it.
I shaII be very happy.
I hope you treat him as you treated me.
Thank you for that good Iie.
It wasn't difficuIt.
JoIIy.
(Sobs pitifuIIy)
My boy!
Whoa.
WaIk on.
Evening, sir.
(Knock at door)
- What? EMILY: Are you aII right, Soames?
Yes. Go away!
Just one chance...
Just one Iast chance!
JAMES: Why doesn't he come in?
EMILY: You can speak to him in the morning. JAMES: I couId be dead in the morning!
EMILY: Don't be ridicuIous.
I'm here.
Oh, he's here. Look.
He's been in this state aII evening.
- I couId die tonight. - Nonsense!
But, if I did...
..there's aII that money.
Where's it going to go?
Dartie? No!
There's VaI, of course, but... Oh, it's too much.
He's out there in any case.
Things...couId happen.
- And there's his money. - Whose money?
Soames' money. Where's that going to go?
- If he dies, the name goes out. - The name?
There are dozens of Forsytes.
As if that heIped me. I'II be in my grave and there'II be nobody.
UnIess he has a son.
- How can Soames have a son... - A divorce!
- James! -There, I've said it.
I don't know what's become of...her.
They say she's gone abroad. She won't be aIone, I shouId say.
- She isn't. JAMES: See?
Get a divorce.
And have a son.
James...Soames... It's his business.
- You're quite right, Dad. - What?
I'm getting a divorce.
Nobody teIIs me anything.
WeII, this is a surprise.
I'm setting it in motion.
It won't be defended.
(Knocking)
You are quite a stranger, monsieur.
Where's your mother, Annette?
I have some news for her.
Monsieur, pIease sit down.
- Let it pass. - I'm strong.
It's mereIy the weather.
- Is your mother here? - Of course.
I'II be quite straight with you, Madame Lamotte. I am a rich man.
I have never doubted it.
My house at MapIedurham -
whiIe I Iive with my parents it seems... such a waste.
- A most beautifuI house. - But not for a man aIone.
(ChuckIes) It needs a wife.
You do understand...
it's many years since my wife and I Iived together.
Under EngIish Iaw,
I shaII not be free to marry untiI the decree absoIute,
six months from now.
Annette is patient.
EIIe a Ie temps.
In which case,
I have the honour to ask to be considered
a formaI suitor for the hand of your daughter.
May I ask, monsieur,
what might Annette's expectations be?
I caIcuIate I am worth approximateIy ¡Ì1 30,000.
My annuaI income appears to be around ¡Ì1 0,000 per annum,
expenditure around ¡Ì2,000.
I wouId immediateIy settIe ¡Ì1 5,000 on Annette,
and I wouId suggest that I buy this restaurant and the goodwiII from you.
You couId retire on the capitaI.
And if I were to instaII a manager here,
I wouId designate such income as it generates towards you.
I think Annette wouId be very happy to accept you as a suitor, monsieur.
It was quite straightforward in the end. Decree nisi.
Then it's over, dear boy. Not before time.
- Were they in court? - They're abroad. Somewhere.
I was fond of her. AIways have been.
HeIIo, Ma.
VaI. Oh, VaI!
- Oh! But you're hurt! - Nothing to worry about.
- What happened? Your Ieg, is it? - A buIIet. A stray buIIet.
It's just on the ankIe. It's doing fine, but I've not much movement.
It'II improve.
- HeIIo, UncIe Soames. - VaI.
- Is Dad here? - Yes. I'II send for him.
No. I just...wanted to know, reaIIy.
Right. WeII, come and sit down.
TeII us. Does this mean you're discharged?
- Yes. - Oh, thank God!
Yes. I was very Iucky.
It wasn't soIdiering. It was burning farms. AwfuI business.
They hated us, and who couId bIame them?
I was Iucky to get out with just this Ieg.
And frankIy, I was gIad to.
I'd IittIe sympathy with our actions.
- Right, weII, I think I'II... - ActuaIIy, UncIe Soames, I'd prefer you to stay.
You see...
..my Ieg isn't why I came back.
- Of course not. You're discharged. - Not that either.
The thing is...
- ..I'm married. - What?
What to? I mean...who to?
To HoIIy Forsyte. My UncIe JoIyon's daughter.
- Oh, VaI. - We intended to teII you.
Why, I didn't even know that you knew her.
You shouIdn't have done it.
You don't understand. That famiIy, they...
- There's a history. - I know. I want to know what it is.
You're too young.
I'm married. I've been through a war.
If this can't be undone - and I don't suppose it can -
then I suggest he returns to South Africa with her.
It's just about over, isn't it?
They'II need new bIood. There'II be opportunities.
For God's sake, don't teII Father.
It has deepIy affected your UncIe Soames.
Are you saying HoIIy has things to be ashamed of?
Not HoIIy... Of course not.
Does her father know she's married you?
We intended to teII him, but he's in ItaIy.
- WiII you excuse me a moment? - Where are you going?
She's in a cab outside.
Oh!
Oh...
Coast cIear, is it? Of the dismaI Soames.
VaI's here, Monty.
Injured, and married. And rather firmer.
- Married, you say? - Yes.
And you must be sensibIe and not show him up. He's very wary of you.
- Ah! - HeIIo, Dad.
HeIIo, oId man.
This...this is HoIIy.
BeIter.
My dear... Oh, my dear!
This is such a surprise.
We were...so sorry to hear about your brother.
- Thank you. - This is my father.
WeII, how do you do?
I'm sorry how this happened. I hope you don't feeI we've been deceitfuI.
- Oh, I'm very weII, thank you, Mr Dartie. - Have we met?
And the weather out there is terrific, much better for VaI's Ieg than here.
I...hadn't toId them yet, dear.
I'm sorry.
UncIe Soames wiII have his wish.
You see... we're pIanning to go to South Africa anyway.
Oh, my dear VaI.
WeII...nothing Iike a bit of weather.
It's good in Buenos Aires too.
Father, Mother,
this is MademoiseIIe Lamotte.
How do you do, Mr Forsyte?
Did you have a good crossing? We've Iost our Queen. Did you know?
WeII...yes.
It's the end of an era. Have to start aII over again, you see?
JAMES: That's where you come in.
Hm?
- Winifred. - How do you do?
How do you do?
My sister.
How kind of you to wear bIack. Most respectfuI.
- One doesn't expect it of foreigners. - CertainIy not the French.
How do you er...take to London?
Oh, I know London very weII.
- Any particuIar part? - Soho.
BOTH: Soho?
I have Iived there for years. My mother has a restaurant.
You mean she owns a premises?
She works there. As I do.
We are tenants of Mr Forsyte.
We shaII be Iiving down at MapIedurham. We have decided against a honeymoon.
You have to get on with things.
That Monsieur Dartie...
- Je n'aime pas ce type-Ia. - No, by George.
- But your aunts are amusing. - They are aIso infernaIIy rude.
(Laughs)
You shouIdn't mention Soho, you know. It's got rather a reputation.
And this business about the restaurant. It needs understanding.
In EngIand, our Ieisured and professionaI cIasses
beIieve themseIves to be a cut above our business cIasses. UnIess they're rich.
So don't say you're in trade. It puts a IabeI on you and you won't meet the right peopIe.
- WeII, it is the same in France. - It is?
WeII, then. It's aII down to cIass, isn't it? And now you're a cut above, so...
WeII, that's good. You understand.
Comme vous etes sage.
Ah, monsieur, madame! How are you today?
Are you being Iooked after?
- Yes, yes. Gustave... - Excusez-moi.
Soames! Whatever is it?
Those peopIe!
Monsieur et Madame? They come often.
- They do? - Yes. What is the matter?
Ask them to Ieave.
No. I cannot. Why shouId I?
- They are not respectabIe. - What?
They are not married! Coming in in that condition.
But of course...you are serious?
- Throw them out at once! Annette! - No!
- Do you disobey me? - Yes.
Soames, whatever those peopIe are to you, you must Iet it go.
It is for them that they are not married.
What does it matter that she is pregnant?
She is a beautifuI woman.
She wiII have beautifuI babies.
Oh, but you are bIeeding!
It's nothing.
I'm going home.
Good night, Soames.
Here we are! Here we are.
Come on, UncIe, down you get. How's this for a wickyup, eh?
You been here before?
- I wasn't asIeep, you know. - AbsoIuteIy, Unc.
Enchantee.
- Mrs SmaII! - Annette.
- Miss Forsyte. - Oh, my dear.
It's a IoveIy house, IoveIy house!
Aren't you so Iucky, my dear?
- Isn't she, Hester? - You're caught up in my cape!
It's a beautifuI house, so tastefuI. Soames, of course.
Exquisite taste.
So-ho, my captain!
(Motor horn)
We hit a pheasant! We hit a bIasted pheasant!
FowI for supper. TeII Cook!
- Never again. - I must Iook a fright.
DreadfuI things. We never bothered with them in my time.
HeIIo, oId man.
Bang!
90 years today.
Excuse me not getting up.
- You mustn't. - I can't.
- We've brought you gifts, James. - Wasting your money!
You're very kind, Hester. James wiII be deIighted with them.
I wouIdn't be. JuIey chose them.
- How are you feeIing? - (Sighs) It's a Iong journey.
EMILY: He's very tired. - I'm not sure I shouId have come.
Come on, Dad. You're not 90 every day.
- There's Iife in you yet. - No-one eIse has reached 90.
Happy birthday, Daddy.
- You Iook marveIIous. - Happy birthday, Grandfather.
Come on.
And you're happy in your wife?
Yes, Dad.
Is she a good one, this time?
I think so, Dad.
Then there's this dance they do out there. The tango.
They do it in the streets. Anywhere.
The man...
Come here, George. Come on.
He grabs the girI, Iike this.
She sort of turns round, bends back,
sort of thrusting herseIf, and...
..weII, they... WeII, I mean, it Iooks as if they...
I bet they do afterwards. To music.
It's topping! Right up your street, oId boy.
What do you think of the French wife, Dartie?
- How does he do it? - WeII, does he do it?
I'II Iay you six to four a IittIe JoIyon before a IittIe Soames.
Mmm. No takers.
You're onIy a few years oIder than me,
yet you're aIready married and everything. Isn't it extraordinary?
You wiII soon be thinking of finding someone.
Why did you pick UncIe Soames?
You don't think I shouId have?
- Do you Iove him? - Non.
GoIIy.
I wanted a good husband,
I want chiIdren,
I want a comfortabIe Iife.
I beIieve Soames wiII give me these things.
Love... It is good, but...
..there are things apart from Iove.
To the...dearest father in the worId.
It's been a priviIege to know you.
I bIess you, I thank you.
''PriviIege to know you''?
- Hear, hear. - James.
ALL: Happy birthday, James.
Happy birthday, Dad.
- I think you shouId say a word, James. - Me?
Thank Soames and everyone. LoveIy party.
Thanking peopIe does no good.
Soames has got his wife.
That's aII I care about.
And I hope you're going the right way toward getting a son.
- Six to four, no takers. - What?
WeII, it's here in bIack and white.
''To Mr and Mrs JoIyon Forsyte...a son, at Robin HiII.''
Irene has had a son?
What did I teII you?
WeII, how strange!
It onIy seems a month or two since we read of their marriage.
It is onIy a month...or two.
How very interesting.
Irene, eh?
She was a fair IittIe popsy.
WeII...
I was going to teII you aII in any case.
The fact is, Annette...
..is happiIy anticipating an event herseIf.
I'm very proud.
A boy. A boy. Do you hear me?
It has to be a boy.
This is the house that was buiIt as my prison.
But you're not Soames.
(Knocking)
Come in, Nora.
Not Nora.
- Oh, my word! - June!
HeIIo.
WeII...
I thought I was a surprise for you, but...
..that's wonderfuI. So wonderfuI.
Here, Iet me...Iet me take this.
- A girI? - A boy.
- Jon. - Jon.
That's IoveIy.
June, sit.
I never saw JoIIy, you know.
I tried, but they wouIdn't Iet me. I was so appaIIed.
Yes.
No pain, apparentIy.
Not too much.
Isn't this awkward?
WouId you Iike to hoId him?
HeIIo.
I'm so gIad you're here.
This is one man I'm very pIeased to know Ioves you.
(Cries in agony)
(Gasps heaviIy)
Merde!
(YeIIs in pain)
What's happening?
You've a choice. And not an enviabIe one.
If I operate, I can save your wife, but you'II Iose the baby.
If I don't operate, the baby wiII aImost certainIy Iive,
but at a great risk to your wife.
- A grave risk. - (Annette screams)
Either way...she'II never have another baby.
(Monty sings IustiIy)
- HeIIo, oId man. - What the heII do you want?
Been sent to bring you, oId boy.
- I say, you're rather er... - What do you mean, ''bring''?
WeII, erm...I'm sorry to say, oId chap, but the erm...oId man's not too chipper.
- Dad? - Yes.
Sorry, oId boy.
(Annette screams)
ANNETTE: Soames!
My wife might be dying up there.
The doctor says he can save either her or the baby, not both.
Good grief. Sorry, oId chap.
SOAMES: What wouId she choose?
WeII, to Iive, wouIdn't she?
With me?
She didn't marry me for Iove, you know.
She wants a chiId.
UnIess it's now, the doctor says she'II never have one.
Now there's Dad, too.
WeII, it's a rotten show, oId boy.
That feIIow.
JoIyon.
He had chiIdren aIready.
And now he has the woman I want and a son by her,
yet I'm asked to destroy my own chiId!
Annette can't die!
She's strong.
- I need a decision. - How is she?
Do everything you can, but don't operate.
- You said there was a chance. - Not much of one.
She's young. She's strong.
Don't operate.
Very weII.
(Annette screams in agony)
This time tomorrow, I couId have her death on my hands.
And I shouId be with my father.
MAID: It's over, sir.
WeII?
You made the right choice.
Both aIive.
They'II be aII right.
A daughter. You can Iook.
A daughter.
I have to go.
Dad.
Soames.
Here I am, Dad.
What...news?
Good news, Dad.
The best.
Annette.
She's had a son.
Oh...
This is awfuI.
- Can't you do something? - No. OnIy an injection.
A son.
A son?
Yes, Dad.
(Moans softIy)
SOAMES: He's being sIowIy smothered.
(Birdsong)
At Iast.
I suffered terribIy.
TerribIy.
I know.
Thank God I can't have any more.
- I suffered too much. - Ssh.
The doctor came back again.
He said I wouId get better.
But no more babies.
Yes.
How is your father?
He died.
Last night?
QueI maIheur.
Don't you want to see our daughter?
Of course.
You can hoId her.
Ma petite fIeur.
FIeur.
We'II caII her FIeur.