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Hello.
Good evening. Shall I draw the curtains, sir?
JAMES: Hmm.
It's still rotten out, is it?
HUDSON: Yes, sir, there's rain
and quite a sharp north eastern wind.
Quite abnormal for the first day in May.
More coal on the fire, sir?
JAMES: Hmm.
[sigh]
Coal fires in May, the miners out on strike,
the rest of the country jumping on the bandwagon.
What a mess.
I gather there's still hope of a settlement, sir.
The trade union leaders
are at Downing Street at this very moment.
It's just been announced on the wireless.
JAMES: Oh, really?
It should never have been allowed to come to this.
General strike is a direct affront to the government,
an insult to democracy.
It ought to be forbidden by law.
HUDSON: Oh, I agree with you, sir.
I feel deeply ashamed of my fellow working man.
Oh, you, Hudson, you've got nothing to be ashamed about.
It's not your fault.
No, no, it's the fault of the men like
Cook, Thomas, Bevin, the so-called leaders,
having the nerve to hold the country to ransom,
threaten the liberty of the ordinary, decent people.
Well, we're ready for them, aren't we, sir?
I understand the government have been laying in stocks
of food and essential supplies for some months.
JAMES: Oh, yes, yes, We're ready for them.
We'll win all right.
But what will it cost us, huh?
The whole world's gone stark staring mad.
HUDSON: Another whiskey, sir?
JAMES: Hmm?
Oh, no, thank you, Hudson, I'll get it.
HUDSON: Dinner will be at 8:00, sir.
Well, all army leave's been cancelled
and there's troops roaming about all over the country.
FREDERICK: Yeah, two battleships sitting in the Mersey.
DAISY: What for?
EDDIE: Preparing for the fight to come, Daisy.
ROSE: Who told you all that rubbish?
EDWARD: It's not rubbish, Rose, we got it from
the Sergeant of Marines in the pub.
It's common knowledge, isn't it?
FREDERICK: Yeah, Sergeant said they're probably
going to call up reservists.
DAISY: Well, you're not going, Eddie,
you've done with all that.
FREDERICK: Might have no choice, Daisy.
Anyway, I'm ready if they want me.
RUBY: But who's fighting who?
ROSE: Yeah, go on, Frederick, tell us.
Who are you gonna fight? The miners?
Miners, all the others, bus drivers.
RUBY: Fight bus drivers?
Anybody who goes on strike, Ruby.
It's not us that started it.
We're just doing our duty for the country.
Right, Edward?
EDWARD: Yeah, I suppose so.
HUDSON: That's enough of that lark, both of you.
There is no sense in anticipating the worst.
DAISY: That's right, you tell them, Mr. Hudson.
Come on, Ed, let's go over the mews.
Well, we heard it in the pub, Mr. Hudson.
I mean, there's a lot of argument going on.
How many times have I told you
not to be influenced by pub talk, Edward?
There are decisions being made, even now,
by responsible people in calm debate.
I'm still hopeful that common sense will prevail.
Well, with respect, Mr. Hudson, it was you
who told us only yesterday all miners was Reds.
RUBY: They are not!
Me Uncle Len's a miner and he isn't a Red.
He is not, Mr. Hudson.
I gained that information in good faith
from Mr. Winston Churchill, Ruby,
quoted in yesterday's newspaper.
Oh, quiet, quiet, there's a bulletin coming through.
There is a message from the Prime Minister.
ROSE: Oh, Mr. Baldwin. Mr. Baldwin's gonna speak.
Be steady, be steady...
That's not Mr. Baldwin's voice.
Be steady, be steady.
Remember that peace on Earth comes to men of good will.
Oh, see? Peace. They're talking about peace.
RICHARD: The strike is on, James.
It's just been announced, officially.
PRUDENCE: It's dreadfully inconsiderate.
I'm giving a dinner party on wednesday.
Does it mean there will be no deliveries?
And on Saturday, I'm going to Wales to visit cousins.
RICHARD: No chance of that, my dear.
From midnight tonight, all trains, buses,
all public services come to a grinding halt.
GEORGINA: Oh, not if we can help it.
We'll drive the trains ourselves, won't we, James?
Archie Dunlop's dying to drive one.
He'll take you to Wales, Pru.
Does he know the way?
You just point the thing and follow the rails, don't you?
It's easy.
PRUDENCE: Well, the thought of any of my friends
manning the railways fills me with absolute terror.
JAMES: What happened to the talks last night?
RICHARD: They ended in confusion.
Apparently some Daily Mail printers refused
to print an article which condemned the strike.
Baldwin got to hear about it
and sent Jimmy Thomas and company home.
Far too hasty, in my opinion.
I mean, nobody wants this wretched strike.
They were looking to Baldwin to help them save face.
JAMES: Oh, well, it's too late, now.
Have you put the barricades up?
GEORGINA: Oh, don't be silly.
JAMES: Why not?
This is the house of a prominent member
of the government, it should be one of the first targets.
PRUDENCE: Targets? For what, James?
JAMES: Stones, bricks, rifle shot.
RICHARD: Don't be so alarmist, James.
JAMES: I'm not, I'm being practical.
This has been coming since the war
only people just shut their eyes to it.
It happened in Russia, it'll happen here.
GEORGINA: Of course it won't, James.
None of my friends think so.
They all think it's rather a lark.
JAMES: A lark?
PRUDENCE: Well, nobody tells me who the fight is between.
Now, the strikers say they're not against the government
but against the mine owners.
But the only mine owner I know is darling
fuddled old Arthur Burrowmore and he wouldn't hurt a fly.
RICHARD: It's rather more complicated than that, Pru.
My chief worry is we don't know
what sort of resistance they'll put up.
I mean, I don't go as far as James,
but there's certainly a strong feeling of resistance
in the working classes,
rather like the early days of the war.
Then we must meet it, father.
We've got law and order on our side.
It is intolerable that we should be threatened like this.
RICHARD: That's the line Winston Churchill's taking.
The trade unions have thrown down the gauntlet,
they must take the consequences.
GEORGINA: Whatever that means.
RICHARD: Well, I've no time for debate now, James.
I must go to the House.
Prudence, can I give you a lift?
PRUDENCE: Oh, thank you, Richard.
I can see Edward is going to be much in demand.
Will you hire him out?
Oh, Hudson, you've heard the news?
HUDSON: I have, my lord. I'm deeply concerned by it.
RICHARD: Well, we must all pull together, do what we can.
Tell Edward bring the car round, will you?
HUDSON: Yes, my lord.
PRUDENCE: Thank you, Hudson.
Oh, I was wondering about her ladyship, my lord.
She was to have returned from lnverness tomorrow,
but in view of the uncertainty about the trains...
Oh, my God, yes. Well, leave it to me, Hudson.
I'll telephone her tonight.
Very good, my lord.
Oh, one other thing, my lord.
RICHARD: Yes?
They have been calling on the wireless
for volunteers for special constable
duties and I wondered
if I might have your permission to re-enlist.
Yes. Good idea, Hudson.
Will you be volunteering?
JAMES: What for?
GEORGINA: I don't know. Anything.
I'm going to.
Dolly says she's going to be a postman.
JAMES: Well, I wouldn't do anything so frivolous.
GEORGINA: It's not frivolous.
If they won't do the jobs then we've got to do them instead.
They'll soon find out what we're made of
and then they'll have to give in.
And do you think they're going to stand by and watch you?
You'll be breaking a strike.
They'll attack you.
Blood is bound to be spilt.
GEORGINA: Hmm, and what do you suggest?
Drive round in armoured cars?
Yeah, well, it might just come to that.
GEORGINA: Oh, don't be silly, James, not in England.
Unless people like you want it to.
If you go round talking about Russia and blood being spilt
then of course it'll all be ghastly.
Dolly said to me the other day...
JAMES: Dolly, Dolly, I don't give a damn what Dolly says!
Listen, Georgina, a small group of people
are directly challenging the authority of the government.
They are deliberately trying to cripple our economy
and drive us to the point of surrender.
They have forced us to mass our defenses and they might just be
stupid enough and misguided enough to fight us all the way.
And all you and your friends can do is to regard it
like some huge lark to fill the boredom of your empty lives.
Well, I tell you, Georgina, it's damn irresponsible.
[Door slams]
Pompous ass.
Beg your pardon, Mr. Hudson, you're wanted on the telephone.
Rose is holding on for you.
HUDSON: Oh, bother it. Oh, thank you, Frederick.
FREDERICK: Having trouble, are you?
No, no, it's quite all right.
I was wondering if I might join
the specials as well, Mr. Hudson.
No, you are wanted here, Frederick.
It is absolutely essential that you should be...
ROSE: Mr. Hudson.
Oh, thank you, Rose.
Hold this, will you?
It's Mrs. Bridges from Felixstowe.
HUDSON: Oh, hello, hello.
Mrs. Bridges, how are you, my dear?
How's the weather in Felixstowe?
Oh, we're fine, fine.
Keeping our spirits up, you know.
Oh, yes, yes, I know, it's shocking, isn't it?
But it all seems very calm here at the moment.
What?
Speak up, my dear, I can't...
Oh, the trains.
No, no, I have no information about the trains,
and her ladyship is delayed up in Scotland, too.
Oh, well, I should just stay on down there, my dear.
Enjoy the sea air.
ROSE: We can manage. - HUDSON: What?
ROSE: We can manage.
HUDSON: Yes... Look, I've got to go now, Kate.
I'll put you back to Rose.
Goodbye, my dear.
Look after yourself. Yes.
Oh, she's worried about a food shortage.
Hello, Mrs. B, Rose again.
Yes. We've been told not to worry.
Yes, I know that, but...
Yes, but the wireless says we mustn't hoard, Mrs. Bridges.
We're not allowed.
Yes, but we've got to do what we've been to--
Silly old...
DAISY: Oh, have you seen Eddie, Fred?
FREDERICK: Oh, isn't he back yet?
DAISY: No, he's been gone ages.
He only went to get the milk.
FREDERICK: He had to go to Hyde Park for it.
They set up a center there.
Probably had to queue up. Don't worry.
You're under arrest, Mrs. Barnes.
HUDSON: Frederick, I'll take that.
RUBY: Hey, Mr. Hudson, who you going to use this truncheon on?
HUDSON: Anyone who misbehaves, Ruby.
Now, get on with your work.
ROSE: Oh, Mrs. B's in a fair old state.
She reckons the whole world's coming to an end
and we're all gonna starve.
HUDSON: Oh, well, you know Mrs. Bridges, Rose.
She never likes to miss a crisis.
Now, I don't know what my rota of duty is yet, Rose,
but you'll be in charge here while I'm gone.
See that everything runs smoothly.
ROSE: Yes, Mr. Hudson.
Oh, Eddie's back... Eddie!
EDWARD: It's all right, Daisy.
DAISY: Oh, what's happened! Have you had an accident?
EDWARD: Don't fuss, nothing wrong, just a scratch.
HUDSON: Ruby, fetch some water, quickly.
FREDERICK: Did you get the milk?
DAISY: Never mind the milk, just look at him.
- Yeah, I got the milk. - what happened?
EDWARD: Well, it was all quite peaceful in Hyde Park, really.
I mean there were crowds of people there but...
I just got back to the car with the milk and,
like his lordship said there was a notice
in the car saying "signal for a lift".
Well, this great big bloke comes across to me,
eight foot tall he was,
and he sticks his head in through the window,
asks me how much wages I got, then calls me a scab and then
gets hold of my nose and tries to twist it off my face.
Don't laugh, Rose, it's bloody painful.
DAISY: Yeah, it's not funny, Rose.
Look, it's torn the skin right off.
HUDSON: Oh, well it doesn't look too serious, Edward.
I must be off now and report for duty.
ROSE: You be careful, Mr. Hudson.
HUDSON: I will, Rose, but if any hooligan
attempts to twist my nose, God help him.
Oh, Ruby, you...
EDWARD: Why pick on me? That's what I don't understand.
I mean, what have I done to anyone?
ROSE: Well, you was wearing a chauffeur's uniform
and driving a posh car, he reckoned you ought
to have been out there striking with him.
FREDERICK: Well, that's daft that is.
I mean, we got no grievances. Have we?
No, we haven't.
So what are we all doing standing around like this?
Ruby, get back to the kitchen.
Will you be wearing this one, miss?
Oh, no, Daisy, the dance has been cancelled.
Didn't I tell you? Oh, I'm sorry.
No, I want my gray dress.
I'm being taken for a drive to the East End
to see what things are like.
DAISY: Well, do be careful, miss.
Edward got injured today.
GEORGINA: Oh, what happened? Is he all right?
DAISY: Well, he got his nose injured.
It was nasty.
He's all right now, just a bit shaken up that's all.
I don't like him driving around in that big car.
They say things are gonna get worse.
I'm sure they won't, Daisy. It's just people talking.
I don't know what's going on, really.
There's Hudson saying that all the Reds are miners and Bolshies
and they want to murder the government.
Then Ruby gets upset because her Uncle Len's a miner and...
I wish I could explain it to you, Daisy,
but I really don't understand it myself.
[Knock on door] Come in.
Hello.
JAMES: Hello.
DAISY: Anything else, miss?
No, thank you, Daisy, I can manage now.
Well, what have you been doing today?
GEORGINA: Oh, seeing my friends,
deciding how we can help.
By the way, Dolly isn't going to be a postman, after all.
JAMES: Oh, thank God for that.
GEORGINA: She's become a train announcer at Paddington Station.
And what about you?
JAMES: Oh, I went down to see my old regiment.
GEORGINA: Did they need you?
JAMES: No, no, not at the moment.
No, they suggested I offer my services to
the London General Omnibus Company.
GEORGINA: And have you?
JAMES: Yes, As a matter of fact, I signed on as a driver.
I start in the morning.
Oh, James, that's wonderful.
Oh, can I be your conductorette?
No, you cannot, Georgina.
This is not games, this is serious.
Anyway, as a matter of fact, I've already been assigned
my conductor, a young Oxford scholar.
So...you find your own bus.
HUDSON: Mrs. Bridges is still in Felixstowe, my lord,
and Frederick has gone with the Major this morning
on the Major's omnibus.
RICHARD: ls Frederick a special?
HUDSON: Oh, he has not been officially enrolled, my lord,
but I understand that he is acceptable
due to the shortage of specials
covering the bus routes.
RICHARD: Good morning.
I am sorry I haven't been able to talk to you before,
but these are busy days for politicians.
Now, I don't want to go into all the issues,
who's right and who's wrong in this dispute.
I am sure you realize very clearly that for the future life
and prosperity of this country
the strike must not be allowed to succeed.
Nor, on the other hand, must it develop into
a violent and bitter struggle between the classes.
A solution will be found.
In the meantime, we must show restraint and patience
and good humour, avoid trouble if we can in the streets,
help anyone who needs us.
That's the best way you can show your loyalty
to your household and your country.
Anything you want to ask me?
EDWARD: Yes, my lord, I'd just like to know
if I should continue offering lifts to people
because of what happened the other day.
Oh, yes, my lord.
RICHARD: Well, I must leave that to your own discretion, Edward.
I think we should offer lifts,
but obviously, if there's a risk of provocation,
then better to opt for peace.
Thank you, my lord.
Any trouble with food supplies?
Oh, not so far, my lord.
And no increase in prices, either, funny that.
[Doorbell rings]
HUDSON: Daisy.
RICHARD: Er, what about coal?
HUDSON: We are allowed 100 weight
per household per week, my lord.
Oh, I'm picking ours up this afternoon in the motor,
with your permission, my lord.
RICHARD: Oh, yes, oh yes.
Services are improving steadily every day, thank goodness.
Four days now seem to be long enough
for many people to want to get back to work.
HUDSON: I understand quite a few of the trains
are now running, my lord.
Will that mean her ladyship is returning?
RICHARD: Not for the moment, no, Hudson.
I spoke to her last night.
Ruby, were those your apple dumplings we had last night?
RUBY: Yes, my lord.
RICHARD: Well, they were excellent.
Mrs. Bridges would have been proud of them.
RUBY: Thank you, my lord.
RICHARD: Yes, well, I must leave you
to get on with your work.
Let me know if you have
any problems, will you, Hudson?
HUDSON: Very good, my lord.
RICHARD: Good heavens.
DAISY: The boy just delivered them from Circe's, my lord.
He says they're charged to our account.
HUDSON: Rose! Who ordered these?
RICHARD: I think this is some sort of joke, Hudson, I'm sure.
HUDSON: I'll look into it at once, my lord.
[Rose laughs]
Is she heavy, sir?
Oh, not too bad, except round corners.
I say, Frederick, don't brandish that truncheon.
We don't want to provoke unnecessary trouble.
FREDERICK: NO, sir.
JAMES: Oh, there's some more customers.
Good morning, sir. Come along.
Come along, ladies, only thruppence a ride.
I'm your bus conductor and I'll conduct you anywhere you like.
Any more now? No.
There we go then.
[Ding, ding]
Poor Virginia, marooned in Scotland.
RICHARD: Oh, she's quite happy to stay there.
She doesn't relish the thought of The Flying Scotsman
being driven by some elderly, lunatic Earl.
I heard the journey yesterday took 37 1/2 hours.
Can it be true?
RICHARD: Quite probably.
Thank you, Daisy. Oh, how unexpected.
DAISY: We discovered who they come from, my lord.
They were ordered by Mrs. Bridges.
Mrs. Bridges?
Good God.
She telephoned to say had they arrived safely?
Well, she said, there's so many dances and receptions
and that would be cancelled because of the strike
the caterers wouldn't know what to do with the food,
so why shouldn't we have it?
PRUDENCE: What a resourceful woman.
RICHARD: All right, Daisy, thank you.
I have been resourceful, too, Richard.
You'll never guess my secret.
I'm sure I can't.
PRUDENCE: I've become a landlady.
RICHARD: What?
PRUDENCE: Yes.
Quite by chance I overheard these two lovely swagger youths,
who'd come down from Oxford to be guards on the underground,
complaining that they'd nowhere nice to stay.
So I put them in Agatha's old room.
Oh, they were so polite and keen,
how could I refuse?
Lady Howard de Waldon has 200 of them.
She sleeps them in the ballroom.
Excellent idea, Prudence.
Splendid.
PRUDENCE: Well, it's doing one's bit.
And it won't be for long, now that Sir John Simon has said
the whole thing is illegal and we can put
all those beastly leaders into prison.
RICHARD: You are quite wrong there, my dear.
John Simon's move has caused a lot of ill feeling.
The King won't have anything to do with it,
and I wholeheartedly agree with him.
His own subjects thrown into prison for their beliefs?
That would be the end of this country.
[Honking]
JAMES: Oh, ah, good day's work so far, eh?
Yes, not bad.
JAMES: Like it, don't you?
No, no, it's all right, I live here.
Frederick, turn the engine off, will you?
Be back in ten minutes.
CONDUCTOR: Thank you very much.
I say, what a jolly nice house.
Oh, hello, I just thought I'd bring my conductor back
for a drink between journeys.
Lady Prudence Fairfax, Andrew...
ANDREW: Bowberry, sir.
JAMES: Yes, my father.
RICHARD: Hello, how are you?
ANDREW: Very well.
RICHARD: Where have you left the bus?
Well, outside in the street.
JAMES: Hmm?
Well, it'll be all right, won't it?
RICHARD: I suppose so.
Andrew, what will you have?
A glass of beer, please.
JAMES: Haven't got any beer. Sherry?
ANDREW: Sherry would be very nice, thank you.
JAMES: Good.
RICHARD: Well, have you met any troubles?
Oh, yes, do tell us your adventures.
EDWARD: Here, Fred, what about your timetable?
Oh, it don't matter, they expect delays.
Cup of tea, Rose?
ROSE: Get it yourself. FREDERICK: Ta.
RUBY: Buses in Eaton Place, whatever next?
EDWARD: A spirit of the times, Ruby.
ROSE: Major's gone off his head, if you ask me.
DAISY: Anyone try and stop you on the bus, Fred?
No, I got called a few rude names,
strike breakers and that, but it was all a picnic really.
You wouldn't know there was a war going on.
ROSE: There isn't.
DAISY: Oh, there is, Rose.
There's riots in the East End, they said so.
Do you know, it's a really strange thing you know, Daisy
but...well, I know I got my nose sort of tweaked
the other day and it was painful, I felt a real Charlie,
but since then, driving around in the car,
seeing groups of people like bus drivers and engine drivers
just standing around, out of work, in support of the miners,
well, it got me thinking that perhaps we should
be out there with them.
RUBY: Yes, that's what I think.
ROSE: Out on strike?
EDWARD: Yeah.
Well, don't you think so, Fred?
I mean, they're only asking for
a decent living wage, now everyone deserves that.
DAISY: Yeah, and we know what it's like, don't we, Ed?
EDWARD: Yeah.
Don't agree with you, Eddie.
None of our business.
I mean, they're disrupting the country.
You can't do that and get away with it.
Well, what can you do if nobody listens?
ROSE: How do you know nobody listens?
Do you think people like his lordship don't listen?
Well, if he listens to them, Rose,
why don't they get what they ask for?
DAISY: Yeah, Rose, why?
Well, don't ask me.
Not enough to go around.
Anyway, we shouldn't be speaking like this.
Didn't you hear his lordship asking for our loyalty?
That's a fine way to repay him.
Eddie's not disloyal. He's loyal as anyone.
Well, let him show it then, and shut up.
There's cleverer people than what you and Edward are
telling us every day that it's wrong, on the wireless,
explaining that it's causing untold misery and hardship,
and you go on talking that drivel.
Just don't let Mr. Hudson catch you, that's all I can say.
[Doorbell rings]
EDWARD: All right, Rose, steady on.
Cor blimey.
FREDERICK: There's your answer.
GEORGINA: Oh, Daisy, there's more of these outside.
Could you bring them in for me?
- DAISY: Yes, miss. - GEORGINA: Thank you.
RICHARD: Georgina. GEORGINA: Hello.
PRUDENCE: Ah, Georgina.
GEORGINA: What's that bus doing outside?
RICHARD: Oh, you'll have to ask James about that.
What are you doing?
GEORGINA: Oh, I'm taking The British Gazette
up to Manchester in Billy Holland's Bentley.
He's coming to pick me up.
Very commendable.
I'll walk to the House, if you don't mind,
Prudence, I feel like some air.
PRUDENCE: Oh, is it safe? - RICHARD: I think so.
No sign of revolution in the streets as far as I can see.
PRUDENCE: I suppose I could always go by bus.
JAMES: Oh, I wouldn't risk it, Aunt Pru.
Georgina Worsley.
We have met, haven't we?
Andrew Bovary.
How do you do?
ANDREW: I'm up at New College.
We met at the commem. last year.
Freddie Stanton's party, don't you remember?
GEORGINA: Oh?
ANDREW: Oh
I'm a conductor --
ding, ding.
Oh, you mean on James's bus.
ANDREW: Yes. Terrific fun.
GEORGINA: I can imagine.
ANDREW: Yes.
I say, you don't happen to know
of anywhere I could stay, do you?
I'm stuck on an absolute prison sort of a bed
in the Empress Hall at the moment.
It's agony.
Well, I'm afraid that it's...
Oh, do you want somewhere to stay?
Well, why didn't you say so?
You can come and stay with me.
Oh, well...that's very decent of you, Lady Prudence,
but are you sure?
Oh, of course I am.
If you don't mind sharing a bedroom
with two of your confrére.
James, give the dear boy my address.
I'll see you this evening then.
ANDREW: Thank you.
JAMES: There you are, Andrew, problem solved.
Come on, back to duty.
Oh, well, perhaps some other time then?
GEORGINA: Hmm, yes.
JAMES: Come along. Passengers will be waiting.
ANDREW: Goodbye, Georgina. GEORGINA: Goodbye.
Oh, Daisy, would you take this to the servants' hall?
They're in rather short supply,
and I'm sure Hudson would like one.
DAISY: Oh, thank you very much, miss.
- Cup of tea, Harry, please. - All right then.
All right, lads, here's another one.
What have we stopped for?
Hello there.
You going to let us through?
Shall we try and shift them, sir?
Not much hope of that... We're outnumbered.
Ah, well, if you won't let us through,
perhaps you can tell me another way to Hendon.
MAN: What do you want to go to Hendon for?
JAMES: Well, I don't particularly
want to go to Hendon, but my passengers do.
In fact, they've paid thruppence for the privilege.
It's a nice day.
They can walk, like the rest of us.
MEN: Yeah, yes. That's right.
Er, look old chap, are you going to let me through,
or am I going too have to try and zigzag past you?
MAN: Zigzag. Go on.
I wouldn't rely much on my control.
I haven't done much zigzagging lately.
MEN: (jeering) Come on, get off the bus.
JAMES: Come on, let's go.
MAN: You won't get far, your engine's boiling.
[Men laugh]
JAMES: Damn.
Frederick, do you know anything about engines?
FREDERICK: Could need some water.
JAMES: Hmm?
FREDERICK: In the radiator, sir.
JAMES: Well, the canteen should have some.
FREDERIC: Should have, sir. Want me to ask them, sir?
JAMES: Well, it seems worth a try.
Could I have some water, please?
[Men laugh]
JAMES: Frederick!
Thanks. Damned decent of you.
Anything to oblige an officer.
FREDERICK: I got soaked.
I'll bleeding catch pneumonia, I will.
There see. Do you still wanna join them?
EDWARD: All right, Rose, nothing serious happened, he said so.
FREDERICK: Would have, if I'd have had my way.
I'd have got in the bus and run the whole bleeding lot
of them over and be done with it.
DAISY: It was pretty mean. Just look at him.
EDWARD: Yeah, all right, all right.
JAMES: It was only the Major saved it,
knowing how to handle them, making a joke about it,
calming them down, otherwise...
ROSE: Quiet, there's a bulletin.
...towards resumption of negotiations.
Mr. Baldwin's declaration still stands that
the general strike order must be withdrawn
before there can be any discussion of peace.
It says here in the paper that the workers are going back
because they're fed up with the strike.
So far, the answer from the TUC has been an uncompromising, no.
The Cabinet declares firmly that it cannot discuss terms
while any question of intimidation remains.
ROSE: There you are, intimidation.
Meanwhile, it's reported that London has solved
most of its traffic problem.
Oh, no, they're calling the strike
a sin against God, now.
Even Cardinal Ball has said so.
I can't agree with that, Rose.
DAISY: There's people coming down the steps.
I wonder who it is.
[Doorbell rings]
MAN: Does Miss Ruby Finch work here?
DAISY: Yeah, that's right.
MAN: Oh, be a good lass.
Tell her, her Uncle Len is here with Mr. Thompson from Barnsley.
DAISY: Oh, come in.
Ruby, there's two gentlemen to see you.
Uncle Len?
LEN: Hello, Ruby, love.
Just thought we'd drop in to see you.
We'll have a piece of cake and a cup of tea,
if there's one going.
EDWARD: Come all the way from Yorkshire, have you?
LEN: Aye. Mr. Thompson and me, We're pit delegates, you see,
for Mine workers Federation.
Come to London for the meeting tonight.
Ruby, you remember Mr. Thompson, don't you?
Lived in our street.
THOMPSON: Ay, she'll not remember me.
She's not seen me since she were a little lass.
EDWARD: Ruby's told us all about you.
LEN: Aye.
She's told us about you and the house.
THOMPSON: Aye, it's some what of an house is this.
DAISY: Cup of tea. THOMPSON: Oh, ta.
LEN: Ta, lass.
ROSE: Well, how are things up in Barnsley?
EDWARD: Rose means are you winning?
THOMPSON: Oh, we'll win all right.
We've got to win.
We're not fighting Constitution, We're fighting for bread.
We're making no demands. We're not chasing t'moon.
THOMPSON: Just a simple living wage.
ROSE: But I thought it was the miners what started it.
THOMPSON: Nay, lass, were forced on us by t'owners
when they locked us out and government supported them.
LEN: But church says we're right.
Archbishop of Canterbury himself.
THOMPSON: Aye, and BBC won't broadcast what he says.
Government won't let him.
Call ourselves a Christian country.
Yeah, well, very interesting all this,
but we get told a different story down here really.
I mean, don't we?
LEN: You would, lad, if you listen to wireless
and read this stuff.
Winston Churchill, clattering on about us being
revolutionaries, wanting civil war.
It's lies, propaganda.
Aye, nought but a stunt to panic folk, that's all.
DAISY: Well, my Eddie got attacked.
You tell them, Ed.
EDWARD: Oh, it's nothing serious, Daisy.
DAISY: Oh. LEN: Aye.
Ah, well, a few maybe, but not most of us.
We're peaceful, law-abiding.
We done our fighting against Germans.
Aye, if you want a truthful picture,
take a look at our paper.
That'll tell you what we're like.
EDWARD: Oh, I'd like to see this, thanks.
See, most folk don't know a miner's life,
they don't know conditions.
Not even young Ruby here, coming south as she did.
THOMPSON: It's not just muck and long hours,
there's danger and all.
LEN: Right.
Every five hours, a man or boy is killed in mine.
Every five hours.
Nine hundred maimed every day, some for life.
You still find skeletons
of little lads and lasses down there.
And all for what?
A weekly wage of roughly 56 shillings.
And owners are demanding now that rate drops
to seven and seven pence a shift.
That means, given a 5 1/2 day week,
we come down to 41 shillings a week.
Aye, and we have to keep wives and families on that.
Aye, they say owners don't make profits.
Do you know what Duke of Northumberland makes in an hour?
13 pound 10 shilling and paid holidays.
EDWARD: Oh, we didn't know it was like that, did we, Rose?
LEN: Well, we're not asking you to fight our battles.
THOMPSON: Plenty of workers are fighting with us though.
You know, workers in different occupations.
They know we've got a cause.
You ask what it's like in Barnsley, lass.
It's rough, I can tell you.
Folk will be driven back to work if nought happens soon.
Nay, they won't, they've come this far
and they'll stick it out, now.
If government would just nationalize industry,
get it out of owners' hands, then we'd have a fair chance.
Aye, that's the answer, nationalize.
ROSE: This is Ruby's Uncle Len and his friend Mister...
THOMPSON: Thompson.
ROSE: Thompson. Just popped in to say hello.
And this is our butler, Mr. Hudson.
LEN: Pleased to meet you, Mr. Hudson.
Finch is name.
HUDSON: How do you do, Mr. Finch.
-THOMPSON: How do? HUDSON: Mr. Thompson.
EDWARD: What's happened to you, Mr. Hudson?
Looks like you've been in a fight.
ROSE: Yes, look at you.
Ruby, go and make Mr. Hudson a cup of tea.
Go on.
HUDSON: Yes, I was involved in a wee scuffle.
Two youths writing seditious slogans on the pavement.
FREDERICK: Well, did you catch them,
Mr. Hudson, or did they get away?
HUDSON: No, I managed to apprehend
them both, I'm happy to say.
They won't trouble us again for a wee while.
FREDERICK: Good for you, Mr. Hudson.
DAISY: You mean, Mr. Hudson,
that you can catch people and put them in prison?
HUDSON: After they've had a fair trial, yes, Daisy.
DAISY: I didn't know that.
EDWARD: Neither did I.
HUDSON: Temporary power entrusted to me
under the Emergency Powers Act.
You say you dropped in to see Ruby, Mr. Finch.
All the way from Barnsley?
ROSE: Oh, yes, they've just come up for a...what's it called?
LEN: Delegates meeting.
ROSE: For the miners, that's right.
HUDSON: Did you travel up by train?
THOMPSON: You'll not get us on no black legged trains.
LEN: We came up on back of coal lorry.
Seventeen of us, in rain.
EDWARD: That's uncomfortable.
LEN: Aye.
When are you both returning to Yorkshire?
Are you not needed with your families?
Aye, they need us.
But it's a question of Where need is most.
I would have thought the most urgent need
was to call the strike off now.
You've gained nothing from it.
The country is still on its feet in spite of your efforts.
We've no wish to wreck this country, Mr. Hudson.
Haven't you?
THOMPSON: Nay, it's you
that's wrecking it with your black leg labour
and special constables putting young strikers behind bars.
HUDSON: It is the duty of every loyal subject of this country
to do what he can against the forces of evil
who are out to destroy our liberty.
THOMPSON: Liberty?
It's all right for you, living down here talking about liberty.
Well, what Mr. Hudson means is he don't want us
to be fighting each other, don't you, Mr. Hudson?
LEN: It's all right, lass, we know what he means.
Come on, Arnold, we've outstayed our welcome.
Goodbye, Mr. Hudson, it's been instructive meeting you.
HUDSON: Goodbye, Mr. Finch, Mr. Thompson.
RUBY: Uncle Len, my mum's not starving is she?
LEN: Nay, lass, but plenty are.
RUBY: Give her me love. - LEN: We will.
She'll be glad we dropped by.
RUBY: Now, you'll come again before you go, won't you?
Please.
ROSE: Ruby, where's Mr. Hudson's cup of tea?
LEN: We'll do our best, love.
ROSE: Ruby.
EDWARD: Well, back to work I suppose.
HUDSON: What's that, Edward?
EDWARD: What?
HUDSON: That paper you're holding, let me see it.
Who gave you this?
Ruby's uncle, Mr. Hudson.
What has been going on here, Rose?
Nothing.
Do you know what this rag is, Edward?
It is a seditious propaganda sheet put out by communists.
RUBY: Oh, is it not, Mister...
HUDSON: You be quiet, girl.
It is printed by traitors
and I forbid a copy of it in this house.
Ruby, take this out and burn it at once.
Rose, you come with me, I want to talk to you.
Shut the door.
I can see now it is not safe to leave this house for one moment.
ROSE: What do you mean, Mr. Hudson?
Those two miners, Rose.
Two of the very people we are fighting,
whom you see fit to entertain.
I couldn't help it. Wasn't my fault.
Ruby's Uncle Len, I couldn't throw them out.
You could and should have, Rose, as a duty to this household.
Have you no intelligence, girl?
This is the house of a prominent member of the government.
Things are spoken here and written down
that could be of immense value to the wrong people.
ROSE: They're not spies, Mr. Hudson.
They are enemies and traitors, Rose.
They're not, Mr. Hudson.
They're Englishmen, same as you and me.
And that don't mean that I believe everything that they say
but at least we can show them some civility.
They're not enjoying this wretched strike
any more than we are.
All right.
Calm down, calm down, Rose.
All I'm trying to point out to you is that feelings
on both sides are running very high at the moment
and it is up to the saner ones among us
to control these passions and out out any loose talk
that could disturb people
like Edward and Frederick and Daisy and Ruby.
It is up to us, Rose, to set an example
of responsibility and loyalty,
as his lordship asked of us only this morning.
Now, I don't want those people in this house ever again.
Is that understood, Rose?
Yes, Mr. Hudson.
HUDSON: Very well.
We'll say no more about it.
Off you go, now.
RICHARD: Seven days now.
Baldwin claims to be the man of peace
and he's sitting back doing nothing.
Yes, well, what else can he do
while the strike notices remain up?
Plenty of things he can do.
He can talk to people in private --
mine owners, union leaders,
anyone else with something to offer,
and thrash the whole thing out.
He can listen to people -- men of his own government,
men of vision and ideas and vast experience.
Last night, I was with two ex-viceroys,
Reading and windbourne and a few others,
who sat up half the night, drafted several formulas,
handed them this morning to Baldwin,
and he hasn't even acknowledged them.
I'm not saying we have the answers, but at least
we're trying every way we know to find a compromise.
Yes, but why should we compromise?
We're winning.
We're proving that, the longer it goes on.
The longer it goes on, James, the worse will be
the consequences -- both sides becoming more entrenched.
And your line, the war of attrition,
would be absolutely disastrous.
Yes, well, I have rather modified my views.
I expected a bloodbath and I was wrong, I admit it.
But we are still being intimidated.
I have stories of that.
The state of war still exists.
We've got them on the run so why should we let them escape?
Oh, they're beaten already.
You should see them up in Manchester,
they're fed up and worn out.
Billy Holland says they think the country has let them down.
RICHARD: Yes. Perhaps he's right.
JAMES: Huh, can't blame the country.
It's their own leaders they should blame,
defy them and get back to work.
They can't do that, James.
Defy their own leadership?
It'll be the end of the trade unions.
You must have strong unions for the future good of this country.
Well, yes, that's where I disagree with you, father.
Their leaders have been discredited,
they've committed a criminal act and they must be punished.
Why do you always have to talk like this,
James, about punishment and war?
The war is over and people don't want to hear about it any more.
They just want to be left in peace with enough to eat.
And they want to enjoy themselves.
Oh, I'm going to bed, I'm exhausted.
Good night, Uncle Richard.
[Opera duet]
[Music stops]
[Needle scratching]
[Knock on door]
JAMES: Hmm.
EDWARD: Whiskey, sir?
JAMES: Hmm.
Would you like me to keep the fire alight for you, sir?
Hmm?
No, no, I suppose we'd better try
and save the wretched stuff.
Well, what do you make of it all, Edward?
Make of what, sir?
The strike. Do you think it's justified?
Oh, er, no, sir.
Hmm, why not?
Well, I think it's wrong, sir.
The wrong way to go about things.
How would you go about things?
Me, sir? Well, I don't know.
Er, well certainly not this way,
causing hardship to people and suffering.
Quite right, Edward.
Is that all, sir?
Yes.
Good night, Edward.
RICHARD: Yes, yes.
Oh, that's splendid news.
Thank you for telephoning.
Goodbye.
The end's in sight.
The TUC leaders are at Downing Street now.
They've agreed to call off the strike
so that negotiations for the miners can begin.
But so sudden.
Oh, things are going on behind the scenes.
James, you heard the news?
Strikes will be called off within the hour.
JAMES: Oh, yes, yes, I had heard a rumour
of it down at the bus station.
Herbert Samuel, chairman of the Coal Commission,
has worked out a formula,
which Jimmy Thomas has finally agreed to accept.
JAMES: Yes, Thomas may have, but what about the miners?
They'll have to. They have no choice.
Now, come on, let's celebrate.
PRUDENCE: No, no.
I must get back to my lodgers and see them off.
Oh, I shall miss them.
Your bus conductor, James,
was delightful, a fund of amusing stories.
He quite turned my head.
JAMES: Hmm.
RICHARD: What's the matter, James?
Aren't you pleased? It's over.
JAMES: Yes, Father, yes, I'm pleased.
RICHARD: There was a fair trial of strength,
both sides kept their heads,
with loyalty, self-sacrifice, very little anger.
I think the whole nation can be proud, don't you?
JAMES: What happens when we finish congratulating ourselves?
There'll be no vindictiveness from the government.
No, no, Baldwin's given his word on that.
Industry will be reorganized,
strikers will be reinstated without penalty.
Yes, I just feel the waste of it all.
Campaign fought with a mass of guns
against a pathetic, futile enemy.
We kept our civil liberty, James, the greatest asset.
[Music and laughter]
ROSE: I'm trying to listen.
HUDSON: Oh, I wouldn't bother, Rose.
We've heard the important part.
FREDERICK: You gonna miss your constable duties, Mr. Hudson?
HUDSON: Not a bit of it, Frederick.
There's no pleasure chasing hooligans at my age,
I can assure you.
EDWARD: A bit of a let down really.
I mean, and no more bloody battles in the street.
DAISY: Oh, and no more getting your nose tweaked.
RUBY: Will they get more money?
FREDERICK: What, Ruby?
RUBY: Miners. Will they get more money?
Of course they will, Ruby.
Won't they, Mr. Hudson?
Well, from what I gather they'll get the same money, Ruby.
They won't lose any.
Listen. Everybody up standing.
[God Save the Queen plays]
[Doorbell rings]
HUDSON: Wait, Frederick.
[Music ends]
Right, Frederick.
Now, back to your duties, everybody.
We've allowed things to become very slipshod
these past few days.
FREDERICK: Ruby's Uncle Len, Mr. Hudson.
HUDSON: Ah, come in, Mr. Finch, Mr. Thompson.
You've heard the news, I take it?
- LEN: What news? - HUDSON: The strike is over.
It was announced five minutes ago on the wireless.
FREDERICK: Yeah, you lost, I'm afraid.
It is not a question of losing, Frederick.
Sir Herbert Samuel has put forward a proposal
that has been accepted by all sides.
LEN: Not by us, it hasn't.
We rejected his proposal last night.
It were against everything we'd been fighting for.
THOMPSON: Aye, it demanded a reduction
of wages as a basis for negotiations.
HUDSON: Well, that's as may be but your leader, Mr. Thomas...
THOMPSON: Thomas?
LEN: He is not our leader.
THOMPSON: He's not consulted us.
He's done us behind our backs. I knew he would.
Oh, but the strike's over
and people are going back to work.
We're not going back.
He'll have to consult us delegates first,
and rank and file.
It's not over for us.
That's surely rather a narrow point of view, Mr. Thompson.
My advice to you both
would be to accept the decision of the majority.
Thanks, Mr. Hudson, but we can do without your advice.
Come on.
Let's get back to Russell Square and find out what's going on.
RUBY: Uncle Len.
Look, take these to me mum.
They're canapés and vol-au-vents.
Well, we're sick of sight of them.
Bye, lass.
[Cheering horns honking]
Taxi!
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