~ The Remains of the Day (1993) ~
Dear Mr. Stevens,
You will be surprised to hear from me after all this time.
You have been in my thoughts ever since I heard that Lord Darlington had died.
We read in the Manchester Guardian that his heir put Darlington Hall up for sale
because they no longer wished to maintain it.
The article went on to say that since there were no buyer for such a large house,
the new Earl had decided to demolish it and sell the stone to a local builder for £5,000.
We also saw some rubbish in the Daily Mail which made my blood boil:
"Traitor's nest to be pulled down."
One hundred and eighty guineas? (A guinea is about £1.05.)
One hundred and eighty? Have we done?
Perhaps ladies and gentlemen, one of the great highlights of the sale:
Lot 414.
The fine Elizabethan portrait, "A Portly Gentleman".
I'll start the bidding at 2,000 guineas.
2,000 guineas. Thank you.
Two-two.
Two-four.
Two-six.
Two-eight.
Three thousand. Three-two.
Three-four. Three-six.
Three-eight.
4,000 guineas. Four and a half thousand.
Five thousand.
And a half.
Six thousand.
And a half.
Seven thousand.
And a half.
Eight thousand.
And a half.
Nine thousand.
And a half.
10,000 guineas is bid.
And a half.
Eleven thousand.
And a half.
Against you, sir, at eleven and a half thousand guineas.
All done at eleven and a half thousand guineas.
I was very relieved to read later on how an American millionaire
named Lewis had saved Darlington Hall
and that you would not to be turned out of your old home after all.
Could it possibly be the same Congressman Lewis
who attended His Lordship's conference in 1936?
Oh, Mr. Stevens, I so often think of the good old days
when I was the housekeeper at Darlington Hall.
Was certainly hard work.
And I certainly know butlers easier to please than our Mrs. Stevens.
But I remember those years with you was among the happiest of my life.
You must have a completely different staff now.
Not many of the old faces are likely to be around any more.
I don't suppose there's much need for the small army of footmen and under-butlers
that Lord Darlington employed.
My own news is not very cheerful.
In the 7 years since I last wrote to you, I have again left my husband,
and sad to say, my marriage seems to be finally over.
I'm staying with a friend in her boarding house in Clevedon.
I don't know what my future is.
Ever since Catherine, my daughter, got married last year,
my life has been empty.
The years stretch before me and if only I knew how to fill them.
But I would like to be useful again.
- Burned again? - Yes, I'm sorry, sir.
The rule in the kitchen has has always been that
cook cooks the cooked breakfast while her assistant toasts the toast.
Why don't we get her a pop-up toaster?
Mr. Lewis, we need not a new gadget but a revised staff plan, sir.
A staff plan, huh? I didn't know we had one.
Yes, sir. A faulty one, unfortunately.
Sir, quite recently,
you were kind enough to suggest that I go on a little holiday.
Take a trip around the country.
Absolutely. Certainly, take a break. See the world.
Thank you, sir.
When did you last see the world, Stevens? Tell me.
Well, in the past, the world always used to come to this house,
in a matter of speaking, if I may say so, sir.
You may say so.
Well, why don't you take off when I'm in London next week.
I tell you what, you can take the car.
- Take the Daimler. - Good Lord, sir. I couldn't possibly.
You and that Daimler belong together, Stevens.
You're made for each other.
Well, that's most kind of you, I must say, sir. Most kind.
I had intended to travel to West country,
where I understand we have some splendid scenery.
And I might incidentally be able to
solve our stuff problems while I'm in that part of world.
A... former housekeeper, at present living in Clevedon,
has indicated to me, sir,
that she might be prepared to return to service.
What's this, your girlfriend?
Or, you mean a, former attachment?
Oh, no, sir. No, sir.
No, but... Very able housekeeper, sir.
Most able housekeeper.
I... I was just kidding, Stevens.
- Yes, sir. - Sorry.
You know what I like best about your papers over here?
These obituaries.
Every son of a gun gets this stately funeral oration.
- It's not an art we have in United States. - Indeed, sir.
Thank you, Stevens.
Mr. Lewis.
Dear Mrs. Benn,
I propose to reach Clevedon on Thursday, the 3rd of October around 4 p.m.
Would be grateful for a line from you
to reach me, care of the post office at Collingbourne Ducis,
near Hungerford, where I'm planning to stop.
Mrs. Benn,
I always said you possess an amazing memory.
My new employer is indeed Congressman Lewis,
though he's now retired from political life in the United States.
He's already taken up residence, Darlington Hall,
will soon be joined by his family.
But I regret to say
we are woefully understaffed for a house this size.
Mrs. Benn,
Will you permit me once again to sing your praises?
Let me state that when you left us to get married
no housekeeper ever manage to reach your high standard in any department.
I well remember your first arrival in Darlington Hall.
You came somewhat unexpectedly.
One might even say impulsively
while we were dead in the middle of the Charlgrove meet.
That day is marked in my memory in another way as well.
It was the last time His Lordship seem happy to welcome his neighbours,
as in the old days.
Of course, it had been years
since any of them had coaxed him to hunt.
It was never a sport His Lordship enjoyed or approved of.
Good morning, Ayres.
My Lord, nice to see you.
Excuse me, sir.
I fear I may have been a little unwelcoming at first,
even a little short.
You presented the most excellent references that I ever seen.
Which proved to be well-deserved indeed.
Although, I confess, I did have my doubts, on account of your youth.
Well, no gentleman callers allowed, of course.
You forgive my mentioning it,
but we have had problems of that sort before.
From inside the house too.
Previous housekeeper took it into a head to run off with the under-butler.
If two members of stuff had to fall in love and decide to get married,
there's nothing one can say.
But what I do find a major irritation
are those persons who simply going from post to post looking for romance.
Housekeepers are particularly guilty here.
- No offence intended, of course. - None taken.
I know for my own experience how a house is at sixes and sevens
once the staff start marrying each other.
Yes, indeed.
- Might I have a word wit you, sir? - Of course.
My lord, it's regarding the under-butler
and the housekeeper who ran off together last month.
Bad business. How are you managing?
I believe I've found two first-rate replacements, sir.
Miss Kenton, a young woman with excellent references.
Very pleasing demeanour. Appears to be very able.
And a man with considerable experience of butlering, sir.
Now at certain age and happy to take on the post of under-butler.
Name?
Stevens, sir.
- Stevens? - Yes, sir.
- That's your name. - This is my father, sir.
Really?
We couldn't do better, I'm sure. I'd like to see him sometime.
He's outside the door, sir.
Good. Well, bring him in.
Thank you, My Lord.
Father.
Mr. Stevens, how do you do?
- My Lord. - Very good man here, your son.
He does the house great service. I don't know what we'd do without him.
- Proud of him, are you? - Very proud, My Lord.
Quite right too.
Yes.
Well, very glad to have you with us.
Thank you, My Lord.
- Oh, Steves... - Sir?
What are we have dinner tonight? 14:00? 16:00?
Twelve, sir.
Right.
Thank you, My Lord.
- Oh, Mr. Stevens... - Yes.
This little pitcher seems quite out of place here.
Dining room. Well spotted, Miss Kenton.
- Hello, William, how are you? - Good day, Miss Kenton.
Mr. Stevens,
I thought these might brighten your parlour a little.
Beg your pardon?
I thought they might cheer things up for you.
Well, that's very kind of you. Um...
If you like, Mr. Stevens, I could bring in some more cuttings for you.
Thank you, Miss Kenton,
but I... regard this... room as my private place of work
and I... I prefer to keep distractions to a minimum.
Would you call flowers a distraction then, Mr. Stevens?
I appreciate your kindness, Miss Kenton.
But Ur... I prefer to keep things as they are.
But since you are here,
there is a matter I wanted to mention to you.
Just a small matter.
I happened to be walking past the kitchen yesterday morning
and I heard you calling to someone named William.
May I ask who you were addressing by that name?
Why, Mr. Stevens, I should think I was addressing your father.
Oh!
There are no other Williams in this house, I take it.
True.
May I ask you in future, Miss Kenton, to address my father as Mr. Stevens?
If you are speaking of him to a third party,
you may wish to call him Mr. Stevens Sr.
to distinguish him from myself.
So I would be most grateful to you, Miss Kenton.
I don't quite understand what you're getting at, Mr. Stevens.
I am the housekeeper in this house, and your father is the under-butler.
In other houses, I was accustomed to address under-servants by their Christian names.
Hm.
Miss Kenton, if you would stop to think for a moment, you'd realize that
how inappropriate it is for one such as yourself to address as William
someone such as my father.
Well, I'm sure, Mr. Stevens, it must have been very galling for your father to be called William
by one such as myself.
Miss Kenton, all I'm saying is that my father is a person from whom
if you wish to be more observant, you may learn many things.
I'm most grateful for your advice, Mr. Stevens, but do please tell me
just what marvellous things might I learn from your father?
I might point out that you're still
often unsure of what goes where and which item is which.
I'm sure Mr. Stevens Sr. is very good at his job.
But I can assure you, Mr. Stevens, that I'm very good at mine.
- Of course. - Thank you.
And, ar... Now, if you will please excuse me.
Miss... Kenton...
Oh, well.
My compliments to the cook.
What a lovely piece of crackling.
I'm sure you said something lively with each other.
You might like to share it with the rest of us
would not be fortunate enough to hear you.
I said the sprouts is done the way I like them.
Crisp-like, not mushy.
Sprouts are done, Charles. Not is done.
Isn't that right, George?
Yes, Mr. Stevens.
Forgive the... correction, I'm sure Charles, as I would have done,
at your age, for the sake of my education.
I'm sure, even you Charles, have ambitions to rise in your profession.
Oh, yes, Mr. Stevens. I want to be a butler.
To be called Mister, not Charlie. And...
sit in my own pantry by my own fire,
smoking my cigar.
I wonder if you realize what it really takes to be a great butler?
Takes dignity. That's what it takes.
Thank you, Mr. Stevens. Dignity, that's right. Dignity.
This is the official definition as given in our quarterly "The Gentlemen's Gentleman":
"A great butler must be possessed of dignity..."
"...in keeping with his position."
There was this English butler in India.
One day, he goes in the dining room and what he sees under the table?
A tiger.
Not turning a hair, he goes straight to the drawing room.
"Excuse me, My Lord."
And whispering, so as not to upset the ladies.
"I really sorry, My Lord. There appears to be a tiger in the dining room."
"Perhaps His Lordship will permit use of the twelve-bores?"
They go on drinking their tea. And then, there's three gunshots.
Well, they don't think nothing of it.
This being in India, they're used to anything.
When the butler is back to refresh the teapots,
he says, cool as a cucumber,
"Dinner will be served at the usual time, My Lord."
"And I am pleased to say..."
"There will be no discernible traces left of the recent occurrence by that time."
I'll repeat it...
"There will be no discernible traces left of the recent occurrence by that time."
Wonderful, Mr. Stevens.
Thank you, Mr. Stevens.
Wonderful story.
That's the ideal, Charles, that we should all aim for. Dignity.
It's for you, Mr. Stevens.
Thank you.
It's for Mr. Stevens Sr., Mr. Stevens.
Thank you, Miss Kenton.
Mary,
would you put Mr. Stevens Sr.'s plate with the cook to keep it warm, thank you.
Yes, Miss Kenton.
Thank you, Miss Kenton.
Not at all, Mr. Stevens.
Mr. Stevens, if you're searching for your dustpan, it is outside on the landing.
My dustpan?
Your dustpan. You've left it on the landing.
I haven't been using a dustpan.
Really? It must be somebody else.
I don't follow you.
My mistake, no doubt. One of many.
Morning, sir.
I've invited Giscard Dupont D'Ivry to join us as the French delegate.
Dupont D'Ivry will never come!
I'm going to say that I just had word of his acceptance.
Dupont is fanatically anti-German.
I remember his speech he given in Geneva in 33',
that made me ashamed to be seen as an ally of the French.
I mean to say it's not the English way of carrying on.
No, it's not.
And this is precisely the purpose of our conference,
to discuss these matters informally.
Far away from the to-do of a large international conference
here in the friendly and relaxed...
atmosphere of one's home.
We may have a chance to bring round-ups just like the French to our point of view.
- And that of the Germans. - And that of the Germans.
I'm sorry sir. I'm so sorry to interrupt.
But, I just don't see how we can associate ourselves now with the Germans?
With the Nazi Party,
they have actually torn up and trampled on every single treaty,
and seems to be worst threat than ever to the whole of Europe.
Not to mention their brutal dictatorship at home.
My dear boy, when I was in Berlin,
I saw at last a happy German people with jobs and bread.
Pride in their country and love of their leader.
And, Ur, what about the Jews?
Mr. Stevens,
what is His Lordship wish that the Chinaman from the cabinet room
should be exchanged with the one outside the door?
- Chinaman? - Yes.
The Chinaman from the cabinet room is now outside this door.
Come and see for yourself.
I'm busy at the moment.
All you have to do is pop your head outside this door and see for yourself?
It won't take a moment.
I'll look into the matter in due course, Miss Kenton.
You think it might be a fantasy?
A fantasy on my part due to my inexperience?
I'm busy in this room, Miss Kenton.
I shall wait...
outside.
Look at it!
Is that all or is it not the wrong Chinaman?
Miss, Kenton, I am very busy.
I'm surprise that you have nothing better to do than stand around all day.
Mr. Stevens, look at that Chinaman and tell me the truth.
Miss Kenton, I would ask you to keep your voice down.
What would the other servants think of us
shouting at the top of our voices about a Chinaman?
And I would ask you, Mr. Stevens,
to turn around and look at the Chinaman.
It is a small mistake. Trivial mistake.
Your father is entrusted with more than a man of his age can cope with.
- I'm concern for him. - Please let me pass.
Mr. Steven... Mr. Stevens.
It was your father who left the dustpan in the middle of the floor.
It is he who is leaving polish on the cutlery.
It is he who is confused the Chinaman.
And you must recognize this before he commits a major error!
I'm afraid you can't talk to me like this, Miss Kenton.
I'm afraid I must, Mr. Stevens.
I'm giving you serious advice.
Your father should be relieved of a number of his duties
for his own good.
Whatever your father once was,
he no longer has the same ability or strength.
I thank you for your advice, Miss Kenton.
Now perhaps you would allow me to go about my business.
I never meant to keep you from your business, Mr. Stevens.
Thank you.
It's vital that we've agreed a common policy before the arrival of... um...
Your Frenchman. What's his name again?
Giscard Dupont D'Ivry.
We're also expecting the American delegate,
Congressman Lewis, to arrive, on the same day.
Who is he, this American?
Well, he's rather an unknown quantity.
A young congressman from Pennsylvania.
Sits on some sort of powerful foreign affairs committee.
A sightly heir to one of those American fortunes.
- Meatpacking? - Trolley cars?
Or dry goods?
What are dry goods?
Evidently something that Americans make a lot of money in.
No, no. I think Mr. Lewis's fortune comes from cosmetics, actually.
It's old Mr. Stevens!
Get a cushion, quickly. A blanket!
The silver! The silver!
Oh, My Lord. Sorry.
- You'll be all right. - Sorry.
Thank you, sir. I'm sorry.
What happened?
He tripped over with the tray.
Yes, I saw it, sir, from the window.
Terribly sorry. This never happened before, sir.
- May I telephone the doctor? - Yes, do.
- I'm sorry. - Don't worry.
- Oh, Stevens. - Ah, yes.
Your father feeling better?
Yes, he's made a full recovery, I'm happy to say, sir.
Good.
But...
None of us wishes to see anything of that sort ever happen again, do we?
I mean, your father collapsing, all that.
Indeed not, My Lord.
And it... It could happen anywhere.
At any time.
Look here, Stevens.
The first of the foreign delegates will be arriving here in
less than a fortnight.
Yes, we are well prepared, My Lord.
Well... I'm sure you are.
And... And what happens within this house during the conference could have a
considerable repercussions on the whole course that Europe is taking.
Yes, My Lord.
Yes, it means a great deal.
Yeah, I might as well tell you Stevens, it means a great deal to me, personally.
I had a German friend, Karl-Heinz Bremann.
We fought on opposite sides in the war.
We always said when this ratchet business is over,
we'll sit down and have a drink together,
like gentlemen.
The Versailles Treaty made a liar of me.
Yes, a liar, Stevens.
Because the terms we ad victorem posted were so harsh,
the Germany simply finished.
Well, one doesn't do that to a defeated foe.
No. Once you got your man on the canvas, that would be the end of it.
My friend Bremann was ruined by inflation.
Couldn't get a job in postwar Germany.
Killed himself.
Shot himself in a railway carriage between Hamburg and Berlin.
Whenever since that time, I felt in my duty, my job, Stevens,
to hold out a helping hand to Germany.
Give her a fair chance.
So you see, seems this conference is crucial
and we really can't run the risk of any accidents.
Look here, it's not a question of your father leaving us.
You're simply being asked to reconsider his duties.
Of course, My Lord. I understand fully.
Good.
Well, I'll... leave you to think about this then, Stevens.
Thank you, sir.
You.
Sir.
Look, I'm short-handed in the dining room tonight.
- I can use you in the servery. - What?
- Thank you, Mr. Stevens, sir. - Smarten up. Look sharp.
Good morning.
I might've known you'd be up and ready for the day.
I've been up for two hours.
That's not much sleep.
It's all the sleep I need.
I've come to talk to you about something.
Talk, then. I haven't got all morning.
- I come straight to the point. - Do, and be done with it.
Some of us have got work to be getting on with.
There's to be a very important international conference in this house next week.
People of great stature will be His Lordship's guests.
We must all put our best foot forward.
Because of father's recent accident,
it has been suggested that you no longer wait at table.
I waited at table, everyday, for the last 54 years.
It's also been decided that you should no longer carry heavy trays.
Now, here's a revised list of your duties.
Look, I fell, because of those paving stones.
They're crooked.
Why don't you get them put right before someone else does the same thing?
You will read the revised list of your duties.
Get those stones put right.
You don't want all those gentlemen of stature tripping up and breaking their necks, do you?
No, indeed, I don't.
Mr. Stevens.
What is it?
You have what we can call a roving commission.
In other words, you can exercise your own judgment
within certain limits, of course.
Now, here are the mops, and um... Here.
- Are these me mops? - Right. Your brushes.
And me brushes?
- And me mops. - That's right.
What, Ur...
What do you want me to do with them?
Well, I think you know well enough what to do with them, father.
Look for dust and dirt.
If I find any dust or dirt,
I go over them with this mop.
That's right.
Yes. What I suggest you start off with are... are the brasses on the doors.
There's that door there. Then the door that's open.
And then there's this door here.
Here's your polish, and duster.
History could well be made under this roof over the next few days.
You can, each and everyone of you,
take great pride in the role you will play on this momentous occasion.
Imagine yourself the head of a battalion
even if it's only filling the hot-water bottles.
Each one of you has his own particular duty,
or her particular duty, as the cap fits.
Polished brass, brilliant silver,
mahogany... shining like a mirror.
That is the welcome we will show these foreign visitors
to let them know they are in England.
Order and tradition still prevail.
Thank you, Brian.
My Lord.
Mr. Lewis, the American gentleman has arrived.
He wasn't expected until tomorrow. What have you done with him?
Mr. Lewis has been shown upstairs, My Lord.
Oh, Stevens.
My godson, Cardinal, tells me he shortly becoming engaged to be married.
Indeed, sir. I offer my congratulations.
Thank you, Stevens.
I feel very responsible for the boy.
Not only is he my godson,
but his father Sir David was my closest friend, as you know.
And now that he's gone, well I...
I feel in place of a father to the boy.
I've appointed him as my secretary at the conference.
And so far, he's been jolly thorough in helping me to prepare.
Stevens, I realize this is a somewhat irregular thing to ask you to do.
I should be very glad to be of any assistance, My Lord.
Sorry to bring up a thing like this but I just...
can't see how on earth to make it go away.
You are familiar, I take it, with the facts of life?
- My Lord? - The facts of life, Stevens.
Birds, bees. You are familiar, aren't you?
I'm afraid I don't quite follow you, sir.
Well, let me put my cards on the table, Stevens.
I'm so frightfully busy with this conference. Of course, you are very busy too.
But... someone has to tell him.
In a way, it would be easier for you.
Less awkward.
I... I find the task rather daunting, I'm afraid.
I might not get to it before Reginald's wedding day.
Of course, this goes far beyond the call of duty, Stevens.
I shall do my best, My Lord.
Be grateful if you ever try, Stevens. It'd be a lot off my mind.
Look here. There's no need to make a song and dance of it.
Just convey the basic facts and be done with it.
God! Stevens!
Sorry. Most sorry, sir.
But I do have something to convey you rather urgently, sir.
If I may be permitted, I'll come straight to the point.
Um, perhaps you would have noticed this morning, sir, the...
ducks and the geese by the pond?
Ducks and geese? No, I don't think so.
Well, perhaps the... the birds and the flowers,
then or the... the shrubs... the bees...
- No, I don't see any bees. - Yes...
Well, this is in fact not the best time here to see them with their full glory, sir.
What, the bees?
And, also... What I'm trying to say is that, with the arrival of spring
we shall see a most remarkable and profound change
in all these surroundings, sir.
Yeah. Yeah, I'm sure that's right.
Probably, the grounds are not at their best now.
Yes, sir.
I... I have to say I wasn't paying much attention to the...
ol' glories of nature because... it's one of the worrying, you know...
Dupont D'Ivry has just arrived in a foulest mood imaginable,
which is the last thing anyone wants.
Oh, Mr. Dupont D'Ivry has arrived, sir?
Yeah. Half an hour ago, in a really foul mood.
Ow, in that case, um... please excuse me.
I... I'd better go and attend to him, sir.
Right you are, Stevens. It was kind of you come to talk to me.
Not at all, sir.
Um, in fact I do have one or two words more to convey you on the topic of...
Well, as you put it most admirably, sir,
eh... The Glories of Nature.
But... But... Would have to wait for another occasion, sir. Thank you.
I'll... I'll look forward to it, Stevens. But I'm more of a fish man myself.
- Fish, sir? - Yes, I know all about fish.
- Freshwater and salt, huh. - Hah.
Well, all living creatures would be relevant to our discussion, sir.
If you would excuse me.
I had no idea that Monsieur Dupont D'Ivry had arrived, sir.
Thank you.
May I be of assistance, sir?
Oh, the butler.
Um, I have a sore feet,
so I need a basin with warm water and salts, please.
Excuse me. I'll arrange that with the housekeeper, sir.
Warm water and salts as soon as possible.
- Mr. Giscard Dupont D'Ivry? - Yes.
I'm very glad to meet you.
Huh, how do you do? But I speak English.
Ah, good. That's lucky for me.
I'm Jack Lewis, the U.S. delegate.
Wonder if we could speak privately as soon as possible?
Yes, of course.
But for the moment, I have blisters
due to some in field sightseeing they made me do in London.
You know I had already seen the Tower of London.
Sir, I arrived here a day early
and I discovered that things are not moving in the direction that
I think you would entirely approve of.
Oh?
German rearmament which is an accomplished fact to be accepted.
It is in our own interest to have a free, equal and strong Germany
instead of the prostrate nation upon whom an unfair peace treaty imposed 16 years ago.
Those of you who've been in Germany recently can only thrill, as I have,
to the signs of rebirth encountered everywhere.
...To assist Germany in her virile struggle for economic recovery
including support for her fair demand for equality of armaments
and universal military service for German youth.
If we, in postwar Europe...
I need more water. I need another basin to bathe my feet.
Would you follow me, sir.
- We have to talk. - Ah, this way, sir.
My friend, I... I am in agony.
Too tight shoes. I blame myself.
Vanity.
Sir, you and I are going to have to do
some pretty fast manoeuvring back there
if you want to restrain the Germans.
Would you please come this way, gentlemen.
Oh butler, please, could you help me with my feet, sir... shoe?
- Ah, yes, of course. - Take it off.
Now, you heard all that in there
about equality of armament for Germany and universal military system...
Mr. Stevens.
What? Yes?
- Sorry, sir. - I'll manage.
- What? - ...universal military service...
I'm sorry, Mr. Stevens. Your father's been taken ill, sir.
- Where? - Outside the Chinese bedroom, sir.
Germany wants peace as much as we do. She needs peaces.
Here, let me... Let me help you with that.
Thank you.
Thank you, Charles.
I want you to take a basin of hot water and salts
to Mr. D'Ivry in the billiards room. Is that understood?
- Yes, Mr. Stevens. - Good, good.
Father?
Mr. Stevens.
Yes?
I have more time than you at the moment to look after him.
I've called the doctor.
Thank you, Miss Kenton.
Your father's not so good, I'm afraid.
Thank you.
If he deteriorates, call me, will you?
Yes sir. Thank you.
How old is he? 70, 72?
- 75, sir. - I see.
Well as I say, if he deteriorates, let me know.
Thank you, I will, sir. Thank you, doctor.
More haste, less speed.
There's something missing.
What is it?
- The spoon from the cruet set, sir. - Good.
Well observed.
Now, never touch the lip of the glass.
Good.
Glass first, and then...
Is everything in hand downstairs?
We're preparing the dinner. It's the last dinner of the conference.
So you can imagine the atmosphere in the kitchen.
But, is everything in hand?
Yes, I think we're up to scratch.
How're you feeling? Are you feeling any better?
There's something I have to tell you.
I have so much to do, father. Why don't we talk in the morning?
Jim,
I fell out of love with your mother.
I loved her once.
The love went out of me when I found her carrying on.
A good son.
Proud of you.
I hope I've been a good father to you.
Tried my best.
You better get down there
or heaven only knows what they'll be up to.
Go on.
Go on!
We'll talk in the morning.
On the last day of our conference
permit me to say how impressed I have been
with the spirit of goodwill that has prevailed.
Goodwill for Germany.
And with tears in my eyes
I see that everyone here has recognized
our right to be, once again, a strong nation.
And with my hand in my heart, I declare that
Germany needs peace
and desires only peace.
Peace with England
and peace with France.
Thank you very much.
I, too, have been impressed...
Yes, deeply impressed by
the genuine desire for peace manifested at this conference.
Unlike our American colleague,
we, in Europe know the horrors of war.
And whether we are French or English or Italian or German,
our one desire is to never have to experience them again.
Indeed.
Impressed, or I may say touched
by the words of goodwill and friendship I have heard.
I promise you that I shall do my utmost
to change the policy of my country
towards that nation which was once our foe,
but is now, I may venture to say,
our friend.
Ladies and gentlemen,
United States doesn't want war any more than you do.
On the other hand, neither would we care for peace at any price.
Because some prices, you may find,
are too outrageously high to pay.
But let's not get into that now. We may all have to soon enough.
For the moment, let us simply raise our glasses to Lord Darlington
in gratitude for his magnificent hospitality.
Lord Darlington...
Lord Darlington is a classic English gentleman of the old school.
Decent and honourable and well-meaning.
So are all of you here. All decent, honourable and well-meaning gentlemen.
It's been a pleasure and a privilege for me to visit with you here.
But...
Now, excuse me, I have to say this.
You are, all of you, amateurs.
And international affairs should never be run by gentlemen amateurs.
Do you have any idea
of what sort of a place the world is becoming all around you?
The days when you could just act out of your noble instincts are over.
Europe has become the arena of Realpolitik, the politics of reality.
If you like, real politics.
What you need is not gentlemen politicians, but real ones.
You need professionals to run your affairs, or you're headed for disaster.
So I propose a toast, gentlemen.
To the professionals.
Well, I've no wish to enter into a quarrel on this our last evening together.
But let me say this.
What you describe as amateurism
is what I think most of us here still prefer to call honour.
Miss Kenton would like to see you concerning your father.
And I suggest that your professionalism means greed and power
rather than to see justice and goodness prevail in the world.
I've no conceal from myself that what we were asking of Germany
is a complete break from the tradition of this country.
Thank you.
- Miss Kenton. - Yes.
Mr. Stevens, I'm very sorry.
Your father passed away 4 minutes ago.
Oh, I see.
I'm so very sorry.
- I wish there was something I could say. - Yes.
Will you come up and see him?
I'm very busy at the moment, Miss Kenton.
In a little while, perhaps.
In that case, will you permit me to close his eyes?
I would be most grateful, Miss Kenton. Thank you.
My father would wish me to carry on with my work.
I can't let him down.
No. Of course.
I'd really like to continue our little chat sometime.
- Yes, sir? - About nature.
- Ah. - I think you're right.
I think I should come back in the spring when everything's burgeoning.
Yes, sir. Indeed.
Know as I said before, my main interest has always been in fish.
Ah, fish.
When I was small, I... I kept a lot of tropical fish in a tank.
- Indeed, sir. - I have quite a passion for them.
I'll have another drop of that, if you don't mind.
You all right?
Yes. I'm perfectly all right. Thank you.
Not feeling unwell?
No, sir. A little tired, perhaps.
Wonderful!
What a beautiful example of German culture you've brought to this house.
Very nice.
I just want to say I hope there's no hard feelings, sir.
Oh, my dear good chap.
Ah, I like a good clean fight.
- Giving as good as one gets. - What?
I want you to know I have the greatest respect for the English, sir.
I love it over here.
My family used to bring us here as kids, so I always feel right at home.
Anyway, thank you.
Excuse me.
You all right, Stevens?
Yes, perfect, My Lord.
You, uhh... Coming down with a cold or something?
It isn't so. Been a long day.
Yes, been a hard day for both of us.
- Well done. - Thank you, sir.
- Darlington. - Trimmer...
I need a basin with a...
My condolences to you.
It was a stroke. A severe stroke. He wouldn't have suffered much pain.
Thank you for telling me.
Ah doctor, there's a distinguished foreign gentleman in the billiard room
in need of attention.
- Urgent? - His feet.
- Feet? - Yes.
- Ah, I'll take you to him. - If it's urgent.
Yes, it is urgent. The gentleman is in pain.
Mr. Stevens, my condolences.
Thank you, Miss Kenton. That is most kind of you.
- Miss Kenton. - Thank you.
- Good afternoon. - Afternoon, sir.
Ah, my name is Stevens. I'm hoping there's a letter for me.
Stevens. Stev...
- I'll just check for you, sir. - James Stevens.
I'd like two apples, please.
- There you are, Mr. Stevens. - Thank you.
You are touring in these parts?
Yes, I'm on my way to Clevedon.
- How much is that? - That's 3 pence, please.
And... You'd be coming from?
- Oxfordshire. - Whereabouts, Oxfordshire?
- H'm... Sorry? - Whereabouts in Oxfordshire?
Darlington.
That rings a bell. Wasn't there...
a Lord Darlington? Some sort of...
Nazi, got us in the war, they say?
I'm the butler at Darlington Hall. And my employer
- is Mr. Lewis, American gentleman. - Well...
I have no acquaintance to the former owner.
Your change.
I should be glad to meet you at the Sea View Hotel, situated opposite the pier.
We'll have such a lot to talk about, and I shall have many questions to ask you.
Except for you, I seem to have lost touch with all our friends at Darlington Hall.
But that's no wonder.
That was a long ago and a lot has happened in between.
Who could ever keep track of all the different people His Lordship once employed?
My Lord, you rang?
I hear the young ladies in German have arrived?
Yes. Lord. They're just outside.
I'd like to say hello to them. Practise my German.
- They do speak excellent English, My Lord. - Good. Well, ask them to come in.
This is Elsa, and this is Irma.
I'm just asking if they had a good journey.
It was long, My Lord.
I'm just asking what they think of the weather.
We are very grateful to you, My Lord, for letting us come here.
Our parents are very grateful.
No, not at all... Not at all. Miss Kenton will look after you.
- Would you? - Oh, indeed, my lord.
Welcome to Darlington Hall.
- Thank you, My Lord. - Thank you, My Lord.
Thank you.
- Will there be anything else, My Lord? - No, no.
Sir Geoffrey.
Good to see you.
How do you do?
Well, come in.
- Mr. Benn. - Mr. Stevens.
Well gentlemen, if you'd like to wait here for awhile.
- Hi! Mr. Benn. - Miss Kenton.
How are you? Aren't you still at Stanton Lacey?
No, no. I've been with Sir Geoffrey sometime now.
- Ahh. - Miss Kenton.
Ah, you haven't changed one bit, Miss Kenton.
Thank you. I'll let you get on.
- Perhaps we'll meet later. - I hope so.
But, gentlemen, you speak of Jews and Gypsies, Negroes, so on and so forth.
But, one has to regard the racial laws of the fascists
as a sanitary measure, much overdue, in my opinion.
But, sir, have you imagined trying...
- to enforce such a rule in this country. - My lord, by law...
you cannot run a country without a penal system.
Here, we call them prisons. Over there,
they call them concentration camps. What's the difference?
Ah Stevens, is there any meat of any kind in this soup?
Ah, no sir. I think it's mushroom stock, sir.
Mushroom ends and skins, onion and celery.
Um... No meat at all.
- Ah, cold water, and then cook added sherry. - Okay.
I hear you have one of those labour fellows stand in from your constituency.
Over there, correct me if I'm wrong, Sir Geoffrey. They got rid of all that trade union rubbish.
Believe me, no workers strike in Germany.
And everyone's kept in line.
No wonder this country is going down the drain.
It is internally diseased.
Ah Stevens, the croutons. I think there may be butter here. Do you know?
I'm afraid there may be, sir.
♪ Roll along, prairie moon ♪
♪ Roll along... ♪
Well, you made a cosy little nest here.
Seems to me, Mr. Stevens, you must be a well-contented man.
In my philosophy, Mr. Benn, a man cannot call himself well-contented
until he has done all he can to be of service to his employer.
Of course, this assumes that one's employer
is a superior person not only in rank or wealth
but in moral stature.
And in your opinion, what's going on up there has moral stature, does it?
Wish I could be so sure.
But I'm not.
I heard some very fishy things, Mr. Stevens. Very fishy.
I hear nothing, Mr. Benn.
Listen.
That's so touching, isn't it?
To listen to the gentlemen's conversations would distract me from my work.
Ah, Miss Kenton.
It's fresh soda.
Thank you, Mr. Benn.
Would you be joining us for a drink?
Oh, thank you very much, but it's very late and I have an early start.
Good night.
- Good night, Mr. Stevens. - Good night, Miss Kenton.
Good-looking woman.
Miss Kenton.
It was never the same after she left Stanton Lacey.
I handed in my own notice 6 months later.
I'd be lost without her.
A first-rate housekeeper is essential in a house like this
where great affairs are decided between these walls.
- Good morning. - My Lord.
We certainly do the Jews no injustice when we say that the revelation of Christ
is simply something incomprehensible and hateful to them.
Although He apparently sprang from their midst,
He embodies never the less the negation of their whole nature.
A matter in which the Jews are far more sensitive than we are.
This clear demonstration of the deep cleft that separates us Europeans from the Jew
is by no means given in order to let religious prejudice
with its dangerous bias, settle the matter
but because I think the perception of two so fundamentally different natures
reveals a real gulf.
We have some refugee girls on the staff at the moment, I believe.
We do, My Lord.
Two housemaids, Elsa and Irma.
You'll have to let them go, I'm afraid.
Let them go, My Lord?
It's regrettable, Stevens, but we... We have no choice.
You... You got to see the whole thing in context.
I have the well-being of my guests to consider.
My Lord,
may I say,
they work extremely well.
They're intelligent, polite and very clean.
I'm sorry, Stevens, but I've looked into this matter very carefully.
There are larger issues at stake.
I'm sorry, but there it is.
They're Jews.
Yes, My Lord. Thank you.
I'm amazed that you can stand there as if you were
dis... discussing orders for the larder. I simply can't believe it!
You're saying that Elsa and Irma are to be dismissed because they're Jewish?
His Lordship has made his decision. There's nothing for you and I to discuss.
You realize that if those girls have no work, they could be sent back to Germany.
It is out of our hands.
I am telling you, Mr. Stevens,
if you dismiss my girls tomorrow, it will be wrong!
A sin, as any sin ever was one!
Miss Kenton, there are many things you and I don't understand in this world of today.
Where His Lordship understands fully and has
studied the larger issues at stake concerning, say...
the nature of Jewry.
Mr. Stevens,
I warn you,
if those girls go,
I shall leave this house.
Oh, Miss Kenton.
Please.
These references, I have to tell you, are quite reserved.
Why exactly did you leave your last employment?
- They didn't want me any more. - Why not?
I don't know.
They just didn't want me any more.
They say she works well.
Would you please wait outside?
- She's unsuitable. - Not at all. I want her.
- She'll be under my supervision. - She's not suitable.
She'll do well. I'll see to it.
Well, then, it is entirely your responsibility, Miss Kenton.
Didn't you say you were leaving because of the German girls?
- I'm not leaving. - How?
I've nowhere to go. I have no family.
I'm a coward.
- No, no! - Yes. I am a coward.
I'm frightened of leaving, and that's the truth.
All I see out in the world is loneliness, and it frightens me.
That's all my high principles are worth, Mr. Stevens.
I'm ashamed of myself.
You mean a great deal to this house.
You're extremely important to this house, Miss Kenton.
Am I?
Yes!
Now, look here, um...
If you're really sure about this young woman, better call her back in.
Miss Hull, we would like you to start next week.
You'll be directly responsible to Miss Kenton. She'll explain the rules of the house to you.
Number one: No gentlemen callers, or other such.
Yes, sir.
Good. Welcome.
- Thank you, sir. - Thank you, Miss Kenton.
Well done. I'll show you to your room.
Hello. Excuse me...
I'd forgotten how much petrol the old Daimler uses.
I dare say it's quite an impractical motor to be going about the country, Mister...
Smith, my name, sir. Harry Smith.
Very glad that you could stop. It's a privilege to have you here in Moscombe.
Thank you, thank you. It's a privilege to be here.
Your health, sir.
Oh, Dr. Carlisle, usually drops in around this time of the night.
He'd be very pleased to meet you.
- He's a gentleman like yourself. - Yes.
I don't know what you call a gentleman.
Seems to me it's a name every man in this country has a right to.
There's Harry Smith now, sir, giving you an earful of his philosophy.
It's one of the advantages and privileges of being born English
that you can express your opinion freely.
And voting in a member of Parliament, or vote him out.
That's what we fought Hitler for in...
Have you had much to do with politics yourself then, sir?
Not directly as such. No... Particularly in these days.
Perhaps more so in the early 1930s and just before the war.
My concern was more international affairs.
Or, foreign policy, so to speak.
Not that I ever held high office, mind you.
No, any influence I exerted was in an unofficial capacity.
Excuse me, sir.
Have you ever met Mr. Churchill?
Yes. He came to the house occasionally and back again, in the early 1930s.
He's a gibbering warmonger!
Honestly, Harry! Really, we never...
He was not content to fight Germans.
Wasn't he sent the troops in against the miners?
- We done without him in the war here? - Oh. Yes. All right, all right.
Well, he... He did a good job in the war, but he should've stepped down.
And, Mr. Eden?
He made a right bugger of Suez!
Yes, I met Mr. Eden. Yes, occasionally.
How do you do? Richard Carlisle.
- Rotten luck about your motor car, - Yes...
but, Ur... Nice to have you with us.
Everyone has been most kind.
Gentleman was just telling us he knows all about foreign affairs.
Ah, that's indeed?
Yes. In an unofficial capacity.
- He knows Mr. Churchill. - And Mr. Eden.
Really?
Yes, well, it was my good fortune to have consorted with
many men of influence from Europe and from America.
And, um...
Ah, well... Mr. Taylor,
I... I really feel I ought to retire now because I'm... I'm feeling rather tired.
No wonder, sir. Running out of petrol.
And on top of that having to listen to Mr. Harry Smith's political opinions.
You just step this way, sir.
I've a visit to make in Stanbury first thing in the morning.
I'll be happy to give you a lift. Save you the walk.
And we could pick up a can of petrol on the way.
That would be most kind of you. I'd hate to inconvenience you.
No, not at all. Would 7:30 suit you?
You'll enjoy talking to Dr. Carlisle, sir. Oh, watch this step.
You'll excuse Harry Smith.
Sir, he will go on about his politics.
I'm not saying he's not right, sir.
Democracy is what we fought Hitler for,
it's quite a few lads we lost in this village fighting the war
including our son here.
Dunkirk.
I'll get you a blanket, sir.
I've left a razor and some soap on the basin.
Listen to the opinions of your ordinary man in the street.
They got perfectly entitled to give an opinion on politics or...
They've got no qualifications what so ever!
- Of course, they have! - No!
Mr. Stevens, sir.
- Mr. Spencer would like a word with you. - Sir.
- My good man, I have a question for you. - Yes, sir.
Do you suppose the debt situation regarding America
is a significantly factor in the present low levels of trade?
Or do you suppose this is a red herring,
and the abandonment of the gold standard is the root of the problem?
I'm sorry, sir, but... I am unable to be of assistance in this matter.
Oh, dear. What a pity.
Well, perhaps you can help us on another matter.
Oh, no!
Do you think that the
currency problem in Europe would be alleviated by an arms agreement
between the French and the Bolsheviks?
I'm sorry, sir, but I'm unable to be of assistance in this matter.
Very well, Stevens, that'll be all.
One moment, Darlington,
I have another question to put to our good man here.
My good fellow, do you share our opinion...
that Mucida Daladier's recent speech on the situation in North Africa
was simply a ruse to scupper the nationalist fringe of his own domestic party?
I'm sorry, sir.
I am unable to be of assistance in any of these matters.
You see, gentlemen. Our good man here is unable to assist us in these matters.
And yet, we still go along with the notion that
this nation's decisions be left in the hands of our good man here
and a few millions like him.
You may as well ask a committee of the Mothers' Union to organize a war campaign.
Thank you, Stevens.
Thank you, My Lord. Thank you, sir.
Yep.
Well, you certainly proved your point there, Spencer.
- Q.E.D., I think. - No, not at all!
Oh, yes, he has!
And, what did you make of the citizens of Moscombe?
- Not such a bad bunch, are they. - No, no, sir.
Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were extremely kind.
I say, I hope you don't think me very rude, but...
You aren't a manservant of some sort, are you?
Em... Yes, sir. I am, indeed.
In fact, I'm the butler of Darlington Hall, near Oxford.
It wasn't my intention to deceive anyone, sir.
No need to explain. I can quite see how it happened.
Darlington.
Wasn't there a Lord Darlington involved in all that
appeasement business that got us into the war?
Sorry, sir. I never knew that Lord Darlington.
My employer's an American gentleman, Mr. Lewis.
Yes, Lord Darlington was among those who tried to make a deal with Hitler.
Then, there was a case after the war where he sued a newspaper for libel.
The Express, was it? News Chronicle?
- I couldn't say, sir. - Anyway, he lost.
He was lucky, really, not to have been tried for treason.
There it is, just ahead.
I must confess, I failed to tell you the truth.
I did know Lord Darlington,
and I can declare that he was a truly good man.
A gentleman through and through
to whom I'm proud to have given my best years of service.
Well, that should get you to the next petrol station.
Well, thank you very much, sir. I'm most grateful.
But, did you...
share his opinions?
Who?
Lord Darlington.
I was his butler. I was there to serve him.
Not to agree or disagree.
You trusted him.
Yes, I did. Completely.
But at the end of his life, his Lordship himself admitted that he'd been mistaken.
That he'd been too gullible, and he'd let himself be taken in.
I see.
Well, thank you that you've been most kind.
Thank you.
- Just keep going straight up there, - Yes.
and turn left at the first crossroads.
I say, I don't want to be a bore, but I'm intrigued.
I mean, where do you stand on all that?
If a mistake was to be made, wouldn't you rather have made your own?
Do forgive me for being so inquisitive.
Not at all, sir.
In a very small way, I did make my own mistake.
But I might still have a chance to set mine right.
In fact, I'm on my way to try and do so now.
Try the ignition.
Well, thank you, sir. I'm most grateful for your help.
Good luck. It's been interesting talking to you.
- Oh, Stevens. - Good morning, sir.
Lord Halifax was vary impressed with the silver.
I told him it was all your doing. Sent his compliments. Well done.
Thank you, sir.
Oh Stevens, I... I've been meaning to ask you,
that business last year about the Jewish maids. Um...
I suppose there's no way of tracing them, is there?
That would be difficult, sir.
I tried to obtain a position for them in House of Surrey.
There was room only for one, and the girls didn't want to be separated, sir.
Well, try anyway, Stevens. One would like to do something for them.
Yes, sir.
It was wrong, what occurred.
I'm sorry about it. Very sorry.
- Good morning. - Good morning, Mr. Stevens.
Yes. His Lordship asked about the Jewish girls.
- Elsa and Irma? - Yes. He wondered where they were.
He said it was wrong to dismiss them.
I thought you like to know because I remember you were as distressed as I was about it.
As you were?
As I recall, you thought it was only right and proper that they should be sent packing.
Now, really, Miss Kenton, that is most unfair.
Of course I was upset. Very much so.
I don't like to see that sort of things happening in this house.
Why, I wish you'd told me so at the time.
It would've helped me a great deal if I knew you felt the same way as I did.
Why? Why, Mr. Stevens.
Why do you always have to hide what you feel?
Have you finished the lavender bags?
- Yes, Miss Kenton. - Good.
- All right. - Thank you, sir.
Yes, I take my hat off to you, Miss Kenton.
That girl's come along very well.
Yes, you were right and I was wrong.
- Look at that smile on your face. - Hum? What smile?
That tells an interesting story in itself.
Wouldn't you say so, Mr. Stevens?
What you talking about?
Well, she's a very pretty girl. Don't you think?
- Is she? - Hm mh.
You don't like to have pretty girls on the staff. I've noticed.
Might it be that our Mr. Stevens fears distraction?
Can it be that our Mr. Stevens is flesh and blood after all,
and cannot trust himself?
You know what I'm doing, Miss Kenton?
I'm placing my thoughts elsewhere while you chatter away.
Then why is that guilty smile still on your face?
Oh, it's not a guilty smile.
Simply amused by the sheer nonsense you sometimes talk.
It's a guilty smile. You can hardly bear to look at her.
That's why you didn't want to take her on. She was too pretty.
Well, you must be right, Miss Kenton.
You always are.
Charlie!
Lizzie, aren't you supposed to be turning down the beds?
You'd better get on with it, hadn't you?
Have you told her yet?
You'd better get on with it then, hadn't you?
Charlie, what can I say? She'd never understand about us.
Why would you think?
She's old. I mean, she must be at least 30.
Perhaps she doesn't feel all that old.
For instance, who do you think those pretty flowers are for she's been picking?
Come here. Give us a kiss.
- Flowers. - Hm?
Flowers.
- You're reading. - Yes.
Very dim in here. Can you see?
Yes, thank you.
What're you reading?
A book.
Yes, but what sort of book?
It's a book, Miss Kenton. A book.
What's the book?
- Are you shy about your book? - No.
What is it?
Is it racy?
Racy?
Are you reading a racy book?
Do you think racy books are to be found in His Lordship's shelves?
How would I know?
What is it?
Let me see it. Let me see your book.
Please leave me alone, Miss Kenton.
Why won't you show me your book?
This is my private time. You're invading it.
Is that so?
Yes.
I'm invading your private time, am I?
Yes.
What's in that book?
Come on, let me see.
Or are you protecting me? Is that what you're doing?
Would I be shocked?
Would it ruin my character?
Let me see it.
Oh, dear.
It's not scandalous at all.
It's just a sentimental old love story.
Yes.
I read these books,
any books,
to develop my command and knowledge of the English language.
I read to further my education, Miss Kenton.
I really must ask you, please,
not to disturb the few moments I have to myself.
Come in.
What is it, Lizzie?
I'm wanting to give you my notice, Miss Kenton, please.
Why?
Charlie and me, we're getting married.
Oh Lizzie,
have you thought about this carefully?
Yes, Miss Kenton, I have.
You've been getting on very well here
and I think you have a fine career before you if you stick to it.
Charlie and me's getting married.
Charlie and I.
I wish I knew what to say to you.
See, I... I've seen this happen so many times before
for a young girl rushing into marriage only to be disappointed in the end.
What about money?
We don't have any.
But who cares?
You'll find it's not easy to live poor.
We have each other.
That's all anyone can ever need.
Very well, Lizzy.
If you're so sure.
Yes, Miss Kenton.
Thank you.
Good luck.
Yes!
We did all we could for them.
I told him...
I had my eye on him as a possible under-butler
in a year or so. But...
No, Mr. Charlie knows best.
She's sure to be let down.
Well, no use crying over spilt milk.
Besides, we have far more important matters to discuss.
Next week's meeting.
- Ah, you know His Lordship... - Must we discuss it tonight?
Sorry?
I'm... I'm tired, Mr. Stevens.
I've had a busy day. Don't you realize that?
I'm very tired.
I'm very, very tired.
Don't you understand?
Miss Kenton, I...
I owe you an apology. I thought these
quiet evening discussions were useful to our work.
But now I see that they're a burden to you.
I was only saying I was tired tonight.
No, no. You're right.
Our meetings are a burden after a long day's work.
Perhaps we'd better discontinue them.
No, really. They're very useful. It was only tonight.
I thank you for the cocoa.
In the future, we shall communicate only during the course of the day.
If necessary, by written message.
I wish you a very good night, Miss Kenton.
Mr. Stevens.
I shall be taking my day off tomorrow.
I'll be back in the house by 9:30.
Certainly.
Good night.
No, I'm glad to be out of it, I can tell you.
There's something about Sir Geoffrey and his Black Shirts
gave me the creeps.
Mr. Stevens always says it is up to us to run the house
and leave the rest where it belongs.
- You don't agree, Mr. Benn. - No.
Nor do I, really.
If I don't like something, I want to be in a position to say "Stuff it".
If you'd pardon the expression, Miss Kenton.
But then I suppose I'm not a real professional, like Mr. Stevens.
It's Mr. Stevens' whole life.
Well, it's not mine.
And to tell you the truth
I don't want to go back in service.
- What would you do instead, Mr. Benn? - Tom's the name.
Tom.
What employment would you take up?
I'd really like to be on my own.
Start a little shop somewhere, newspapers and tobacco.
Or even a boarding house out in the west country, where I come from.
Clevedon.
Is a good place for a boarding house, by the sea.
Would I get you another shandy, Miss Kenton?
Well, it's almost 9:30.
Go on!
It's your day off, isn't it?
You're not in the army, you got to be back in barracks.
- All right, then. - Good.
Half a shandy, please.
What about yourself, then, Sarah?
That's a serious sort of a name.
They used to call me Sally. That's when my mum was still alive.
Sally. That's nice, really.
Is it your intention to remain in service?
It's a good profession, once you get to a responsible position.
- Mr. Stevens says we're very fortunate... - Now, we're not talking about Mr. Stevens.
We're talking about you.
Supposing...
someone was to ask you if you'd like to come in on a boarding house by the sea.
What would you say?
Well, I don't know.
It's a theoretical question, so I haven't been given it any thought.
- Mr. Benn. - Tom. / - Tom.
Supposing, it wasn't theoretical.
Sally?
It's been years since anyone called that. It feels funny.
Nice, though?
Yes.
It's very late.
Will there be anything else, My Lord?
What?
Oh, Stevens. No... No.
- Thank you, Stevens. Good night. - Good night, My Lord.
Mr. Cardinal, good evening.
- William, how are you? - Very well, thank you, sir.
- Good. Delighted. And your wife? - Very well too, sir.
- Good evening, sir. - Stevens.
- How are you? - Very well, sir.
Now then, um...
I've gone and got myself in a bit of a mess with arrangements.
Do you think His Lordship would put me up for the night?
I'll tell him you're here, sir.
Thanks.
Everything very smart. I hope there's nothing special on tonight.
His Lordship expecting some gentlemen to call after dinner, sir.
Oh, I see.
Well, I better keep my head down, then. I've got my column to write anyway.
You're in good time to join him for dinner, if you like.
Splendid. I hoped I would be.
And, er... How is my godfather? Fit?
Very well, sir. Would you like some refreshment?
Thank you very much. Some whisky would be lovely.
- Who's he expecting tonight? - I am unable to help you there, sir.
What, no idea?
No idea at all, sir.
Well, I better keep my head down all the same, don't you think?
I think it's a good idea, sir.
Come in.
Ah, Miss Kenton.
Mr. Cardinal has just arrived, out of the blue.
He'll expect his usual room tonight.
- I'll see to it before I leave. - Oh, you're going out this evening?
I am indeed.
It's Thursday.
Of course. I've forgotten. Sorry.
Is something the matter?
No, no. Uh...
Some visitors are expected to arrive, but it doesn't involve you.
We agreed that Thursday is my day off.
But of course if you should need me urgently...
No, it's perfectly all right. Thank you. Thank you.
- Mr. Stevens. - Yes?
I have something to tell you.
My friend,
the man I'm going to meet tonight, you know him, Mr. Benn.
Oh, Mr. Benn. Of course. Yes.
He has asked me to marry him.
I am thinking about it.
I see.
He's moving back to the West Country next month.
I'm still thinking about it.
I thought you should be informed of the situation.
Yes, thank you.
That's most kind of you, Miss Kenton.
Well, I trust you'll have a most pleasant evening, Miss Kenton.
Thank you.
Is something special tonight, sir?
Your visitors tonight, are they special?
Can't tell you, my boy. Strictly confidential.
- So I can't sit in on it, then? - Sit in on what?
- Well, whatever it is that's taking place. - Absolutely not.
Can't have someone like you sticking your nose in.
Journalist.
What do you call it, news-hound?
No, it wouldn't do at all.
Once you've had your food, you'd better make yourself scarce.
Well, it sounds pretty special to me.
Good evening, Prime Minister. How are you?
- Sorry, we've been rather delayed. - I understand, sir.
Lord Halifax.
- Hello, how are you? - Very nice to see you.
- This is Mr. Fraser. - How do you do, Mr. Fraser?
Good evening, Your Excellency.
Please wait here, Your Excellency. I'll inform His Lordship.
Thank you.
Herri met de Bles painted this. Sixteenth century.
The background must be Lake Garda (in Italy).
A wonderful battle scene. Very well presented.
Excellence.
This is particularly elegant.
Write that down for later.
We don't intend to involve the whole British Empire in a war
simply because of a quarrel in a faraway country
between people of whom we know nothing.
To my mind, the whole of Czechoslovakia
is hardly worth the bones of a single one of our own young men.
Unfortunately, we have a small, noisy and corrupt war group here
who don't realize that you Germans are, after all, only marching into your own back garden.
The Fuhrer is a man of peace to the depth of his soul.
But he would not allow a small second-rate country to
thumb its nose at the 1,000-year German Reich.
I'll get it.
Come on, wake up!
Stay awake!
Could you confirm that this lady is on the staff here, sir?
Yes, of course. She's the housekeeper, Miss Kenton.
Thank you, sir.
- May I? - Of course, miss.
Sorry to have alarmed you.
Just security, miss.
Trust you had a pleasant evening.
Well, did you have a pleasant evening!?
- Yes, thank you. - Good.
Would you like to know what took place?
I have to return upstairs.
Now, I have event damnedest importance taking place in this house tonight.
When are there not?
- I accepted his proposal. - Miss Kenton?
I accepted Mr. Benn's proposal of marriage.
My congratulations.
I am prepared to serve out my notice.
But if you were able to release me earlier, I would be grateful.
Mr. Benn is planning to leave for the West Country in two weeks' time.
I'll do my best.
Now, please excuse me.
- Mr. Stevens. - Yes, Miss Kenton.
Am I to take it that after all the years I have been in this house,
you have nothing else to say to me?
You have my warmest congratulations.
Did you know you've been a very important figure...
for Mr. Benn and me.
Oh, in what way?
I tell him all sorts of things about you.
I tell him stories about you. About your habits.
About your mannerisms.
He finds it very funny, especially when I show him how you
pinch your nose when you put pepper on your food.
That always has us in stitches.
Does it, indeed?
Well, please excuse me, Miss Kenton.
Good night.
Thanks.
Yeah. We've been friends a long time, haven't we?
Yes, sir.
I always look forward to a little chat when I come down here.
Ah, thank you, sir.
You wouldn't... care to join me in a little drink, would you?
That's most kind of you, sir. But... No, thank you.
You all right?
Yes, perfectly all right. Thank you.
Not feeling unwell, are you?
No, no. A little tired, perhaps.
I bet you're tired. What is it, about 1:00?
Come on, come on.
I want you to sit down.
Well, sir, I really...
Look, um...
I didn't come here tonight by accident.
- You know that. - Yes, sir.
I had a tip-off, you see...
about... um... what was going on now in the library.
Ah, yes, sir.
I do wish you'd sit down, Stevens.
I mean, I'm trying to talk to a friend
and you're standing there holding that blasted tray as if you're about to wander off any second!
I can't. Sit down, damn it!
- Thanks, sir. - Better.
Now, look, um... Tell me.
I don't suppose the Prime Minister is in the library, is he?
- Prime Minister, sir? - Hmm.
Over in the library. That's all right. You don't have to confirm it.
Are our Prime Minister, our Foreign Secretary and the German ambassador.
Any idea what they're talking about in there?
I'm afraid not, sir.
Tell me, Stevens, don't you care at all?
I mean, aren't you in the least bit curious?
It's not my place to be curious about such matters.
Not your place.
And supposing... Supposing I told you that...
His Lordship is presently trying to persuade the Prime Minister
to enter into a pact with that bunch of criminals in Berlin?
I'm certain His Lordship is acting from the highest and noblest motives, sir.
Don't you see? That's exactly what makes it so abominable!
That they should take these high and noble motives and twist them to their own foul ends!
You do, please, realize that His Lordship's been the most
valuable pawn that the Nazis have in this country of the last few years.
Precisely because he is good and honourable.
If I weren't so drunk, I could make you understand!
Sir, I do understand.
His Lordship is working to ensure peace in our time.
Yeah, peace in our time on their beastly terms, Stevens!
Remember that American, here, at the conference, 3 years ago?
Called Lord Darlington an amateur, out of his depth?
He was right.
He was dead right, Stevens.
Look, I... I hardly have to tell you how I feel towards His Lordship.
I care about him deeply... deeply, and I know you do too.
Yes, I do indeed.
Then in that case aren't you as desperate as I to see him make this terrible mistake?
He's being tricked, Stevens! Don't you see what's going on here?
Are you as deluded as he is?
Oh, dear. Now I've probably offended you.
No. Not at all, sir.
Not at all.
Well, you must excuse me.
There are other gentlemen calling for me, sir.
You mustn't take anything I said to heart.
I was very foolish a little while ago.
Miss Kenton, I haven't taken anything you said to heart.
In fact, I can hardly recall anything you did say.
I was just being very foolish.
I simply haven't time to stand here with you, engaging in idle talk, Miss Kenton.
I suggest you go to bed now. You must be very tired.
Good night, Miss Kenton.
Miss Kenton.
Yes, Mr. Stevens.
Miss Kenton, I... I'd been wanting to tell you...
It's the small, alcove outside the breakfast room.
It's the new girl, of course.
But I find it has not been dusted in some time.
I'll see to it, Mr. Stevens.
Thank you.
I knew you would have wanted to be informed,
Miss Kenton.
Hello, Sally.
Hi, Tom.
- You all right, then? - Yes.
How are you?
I'm good.
Could we...
Could we talk for a moment, please? Just for a moment.
We'll have to be quick because I'm going out.
It won't take long.
All right, then. We'll have to go into the lounge.
Afternoon.
- Nice little place, isn't it? - Hm mh.
The sort of quiet little boarding house I had in mind for us.
Like other things, it didn't work out.
What did you want to say, Tom?
I saw Catherine yesterday. She had some interesting news.
She's expecting.
Oh, my goodness!
She wants us both over for tea on Sunday.
I could come and get you.
We could go together on the bus.
Yes, well, we'll see about that.
House is that empty without you, Sal.
Can't tell you.
You cut yourself shaving.
Oh, yeah. I know.
Can't seem to do anything right these days.
I'll miss this, Stevens.
I so often think of the good old days when I was the housekeeper at Darlington Hall.
I remember those years with you was among the happiest of my life.
Would you like more tea, sir?
Yes, please. Thank you.
Ah, Miss Kenton.
- I'm sorry, Mrs. Benn. - Stevens.
- I'm sorry, I was delayed. - Oh, that's all right.
Please sit down.
- So, I ordered some fresh tea. - Oh, lovely.
- Would you like some cake? - No, thank you.
- Oh... - Sure?
Yes, all right, then. Since this's special occasion.
Good.
- Ah, waitress? - Yeah...
- Could we have some cake? - Yes, of course, sir.
- Has been long time. - Yes, indeed.
- You haven't changed at all. - Well...
A little, perhaps.
We've all changed, I think.
I'd have known you anywhere, Mr. Stevens.
How long's it been now? Must be 20 years?
Yes, just over, I think.
The tea should be along.
♪ Blue moon ♪
♪ You saw me standing alone ♪
♪ Without a dream in my heart ♪
♪ Without a love of my own... ♪
We read about the suit for libel.
- It's a shame... - Yes.
calling His Lordship a traitor.
Those papers will print anything.
- They should have lost the case. - Yes.
See, when His Lordship went to court, he
sincerely expected he... he would get justice.
And, ah, instead, the newspaper increased its circulation,
and His Lordship's good name was destroyed forever.
And um...
Afterwards, in his last years, well,
quite honestly, Mrs. Benn, he...
His heart was broken.
I'd take him tea in the library, and he'd be sitting there,
sometimes he wouldn't even see me, he's so deep in his own thoughts.
And he's, ah, be talking to himself,
his lips are moving as though he was arguing with someone.
There was no one, of course.
No one came to see him any more you see.
What about his godson, young Mr. Cardinal?
Ah, Mr. Cardinal was killed in the war. Ah, waitress.
May I have my bill, please?
- Very sorry. - Yes.
I know you remember Darlington Hall in its best days
and that... that's how His Lordship deserves to be remembered, of course.
But...
And, perhaps, the good days are starting again,
now that Mr. Lewis has taken up residence and Mrs. Lewis is expected to arrive very shortly.
Very fortunate to have you there to running the house for them.
Well, we still have problems, Miss Kenton. I'm sorry, Mrs. Benn.
- We still have staff problems. - Yes, you mentioned it in your letter.
- Except... - And, um...
I tell you frankly, Mr. Stevens. I... I've been thinking of going back in service.
- Good. - But...
Now, the situation has changed for me, because...
If I take up any work, it will have to be
here in the West Country, because, you see...
Catherine, our daughter, is expecting a baby.
So, of course, I would like to be near her.
- Of course. - And then...
To be near our grandchild as he grows up.
- Naturally. - Or her, if it's a little girl.
When I first left Darlington Hall, all those years ago,
I never realized I was really, truly leaving.
I believe I thought of it as simply another ruse, Mr. Stevens,
to annoy you.
It was a shock to come out here find myself actually married.
For a long time, I was very unhappy.
But then Catherine was born. The years went by. One day...
I realized I loved my husband.
You see, there is no one, Mr. Stevens,
no one in the world, who needs me as much as he does.
But still, there are times...
when I think what a terrible mistake I made with my life.
Yeah...
Well, I'm sure we all have these thoughts from time to time.
People always cheer when they turn the lights on in the evening, every time.
I wonder why.
They do say...
that for great many people, the evening's the best part of the day.
The part they most look forward to.
Uh... Is that so?
What do you most look forward to, Mr. Stevens?
Getting back to Darlington Hall, principally...
Straightening out our staff problems.
You were always able to do that, Mr. Stevens.
And you had quite a few to straighten out, as I remember.
Yes, Ur...
Always was work, work, more work...
and will continue to be so, I have no doubt.
Mr. Stevens, don't you wait! That bus is always late.
Come in out of the wet.
You must take good care of yourself, Mrs. Benn.
- You too, Mr. Stevens. Promise me that. - Oh, yes, I promise.
You must try to do all you can
to make these years happy ones for yourself and your husband.
We may never meet again, Mrs. Benn.
That is why I am permitting myself to be so personal,
if you will forgive me.
Thank you, Mr. Stevens.
Oh, here it comes. It's on time for once.
Thank you, Mr. Stevens. And thank you so very much for coming.
It was so very kind of you.
It was so nice to see you.
It was a pleasure to see you again, Mrs. Benn. Goodbye.
Take care.
You scared me. Where'd you come from?
Good morning, sir.
You like the suit?
- Very good, sir. - Thank you.
Good?
- Watch the chandelier there. - Okay.
Well, lord, Stevens. You're really getting things going here.
- This is wonderful! - Thank you, sir.
I had to ask another 3 girls from the village to come up, sir.
And I think I can promise you that the
house will be ready and in splendid shape by the time Mrs. Lewis arrives.
- That sounds good. Thank you. - Thank you, sir.
Also, I'm expecting a possible new housekeeper this afternoon.
A Mrs. Ruth Muspratt.
Excellent references. She was matron at a boys' preparatory school in Sussex.
- A matron, huh? - Yes, sir.
Well, sounds like she'll know how to keep us from misbehaving, huh.
- I certainly hope so, sir. - Good.
Good, Stevens. Very good.
Huh, this is where we had that banquet back in 35'. Remember?
We all stood up and delivered ourselves of our principles.
God knows what I said. Sure got worked up about it, though.
What did I say anyway, Stevens?
I'm sorry, sir, I was too busy serving
to listen to the speeches.
We got a visitor here.
Have to be very careful.
Come here. That's a boy. Come on.
Okay. Easy does it.
Come on!
You don't want to startle it.
It'll come down.
I think if we leave the window...
Come on.
Good.
Very still.
Go on. Out! Come on. Out!
Well done.
Well done, sir.