[singing in Welsh]
Your mum sang that lovely.
[humming]
You know, she won third prize
in the big eisteddfod, she did.
What's it say, auntie Gwyn?
Oh, dear.
It's hot, isn't it?
Ooh! Well, now, it's a big tree
spreading its branches,
and you underneath... very small, see?
Dark leaves. Very dark.
Oh, it don't sound very nice.
Oh, there's a lot of bright specks,
bright like little stars.
Have you got a bilious attack?
Never. It's there in the cup.
And color... I can see color now.
How can you see color in a lot of dead leaves?
The eye of the prophet,
as your grandma used to say.
It runs in the family.
Oh, I know! It's the ball.
- What ball? - The servant's ball.
We got our invitations.
- Oh, that. - Oh, 'twas lovely last year.
— lovely every year.
Wait a minute. There's something by here. Look.
Look. Golden blossom...
Falling.
Oh, so beautiful, but falling.
Now, then, you're wasting time...my time.
Hello, Mrs. Trotter.
You'll be falling very fast, my girl,
if you don't get that shirt finished in half an hour.
Major needs it for his regimental dinner tonight.
- Nearly finished. - Hurry up then, girl.
Need to air before he puts it on.
Don't want him with the rheumatics, now, do I?
How's the prophet?
Oh, no prophet, Mrs. Trotter.
Just an old woman with some tea leaves.
No need for modesty with me, Mrs. Davis.
Mary, there was dust on our new gentleman's chest
in number 6 just now.
Chest?
Chest of drawers.
But I checked after Violet went in there this morning.
I went over the whole room with her.
She's half-asleep, that one.
Well, I checked again just now, Mary,
and there was dust.
All right, all right, no need to rush around.
I wiped it off with me own fair hands.
But in future,
you check the rooms later in the day.
I believe in a good, clean start.
Gives the guests confidence.
Our gentleman in number 6
is rather distinguished.
Wouldn't want him with dust on his chest
on his first night.
No, indeed.
Is it any business of yours, Mrs. Davis?
Oh, no, Mrs. Trotter.
I just agree with you. I think...
You have a look in here, my dear.
See what you can see, eh? That's more in your line...
More in your line than running my hotel for me.
Oh, Mrs. Trotter.
Well...
MRS. TROTTER: Come on, then.
What can you see?
Beware the tides of March and all that.
When am I going to make me fortune?
Well, now...
Mrs. Trotter,
the place is in an uproar out there.
Gentleman for number 6
just arrived.
He's not due till tonight.
Still, I like an early bird.
There's the Major's shirt.
Enough baggage to sink a battleship.
Needn't think I'm breaking my back
helping upstairs with that lot.
Mr. Marcus Carrington?
Mrs. Trotter.
Did you enjoy your trip?
Thank you, yes.
Paris, the Major said you was.
Amsterdam.
I left Paris 2 days ago.
Quick-change artist, eh?
STARR Come here, Fred.
CARRINGTON: Ah. I like a good dog.
STARR He likes you, sir.
Oh, I'll take that one, sir.
So very kind of you
to look after me like this.
My dear boy, I spoke to Mrs. Trotter
the moment I heard from you from Paris.
She has put excellent rooms
at your disposal.
Any friend of the Major's.
I knew your name anyway.
Gave my broker a good tip.
Put me in the way of a nice investment.
Delighted to have been of service.
You know, his mother, Lottie Kettleworth,
was a perfectly lovely girl.
She's still handsome.
I'm sure. I'm sure...
All right there, Major.
Don't stand there all day
holding that there bag.
You'll strain your shoulder.
Ah, yes.
Well, then, Starr.
Up the apples and pears, eh?
Yes, Lottie had the looks that last.
She played a damn good game of croquet, too.
Yes. Very like, very like.
Has his mother's eyes...brown.
Lovely, lovely.
CARRINGTON: Mother has a small picture of you
taken on the croquet lawn.
Some house party... Wellbeck, I think.
MAJOR: Dear heavens. My distant youth.
Before you were born. Yes, I knew you as a baby.
Lottie looked magnificent,
showing you off to all and sundry. Oh!
MRS. TROTTER: Oh, watch where you're going, Major.
Don't want no accidents, now, do we?
Oh, she talks to them terrible.
They like it, auntie.
Such nice gentlemen, too.
Men have funny notions.
Well, it wouldn't do for me.
You're not a man.
He does have lovely eyes...
Like velvet.
It's a pity
you couldn't have found yourself a better place.
Better place?
I don't like to think of you here.
I'm very happy here.
Oh, all these goings-on.
Goings-on?
Well.
- It's not nice, is it? - What?
All these men she's got here.
It's her work.
She's very choosy... only gentlemen.
She could have lady boarders.
It wouldn't be the same.
- Mary! - What?
Such talk!
Well, she does have some ladies.
— After the nice way I brought you up!
It's that woman.
Mrs. Trotter's very good to me.
She's helped me to get on. She's helped you, too.
There's no need to harp on it, girl.
Gratitude where it's due,
and I said my thanks,
but morals is something different.
Morals now, is it?
They don't take her cheek for nothing.
It's time you went home, isn't it?
Oh, yes, that's right.
Send me off as soon as I open my mouth
to speak the truth, isn't it?
Good enough to read the tea leaves,
but not wanted
when it comes to plain talking.
Well, I'd rather be at the bottom
scrubbing the floors and doing the mending
than lording it in the pantry
and not able to look the minister
in the face.
Oh!
No laughing matter.
I feel sorry for that young man.
What's wrong with him? He looks lovely.
Nothing wrong with him.
Auntie Gwyn, stop it.
He should be warned. I can see it all.
You're not reading cups now.
Ooh! Now look what you made me do.
Not me, girl.
Justice for hard words.
Come on. Put it under the tap.
Take the sting out of it.
[muttering]
Thank you.
Your mother had this way with her...
a sort of intriguing lift to the head,
and then this lock of hair
would fall across her forehead.
How do you like this Champagne, Mr. Carrington?
Excellent. Lanson '92, isn't it?
Right first time.
CARRINGTON Steadman.
Always like to get me new people
off to a good start.
I remember your mother always...
I remember your mother used to...
will you be wanting dinner tonight,
Mr. Carrington?
Yes, please... for 2.
Of course.
A business colleague.
2 it is.
Perhaps we can discuss the menu later.
Oh, and I would like to arrange
with the General Post Office
for a private telephone line.
Certainly, Mr. Carrington.
Come on, then, Major.
Oh.
Excellent Champagne, Mrs. Trotter.
My pleasure.
Oh, um...
Thank you, dear boy.
Come on, Major.
MARY: I'll see you out, auntie.
No need. I know the way.
You see you finish your shirts,
or she'll be after you,
the old she-devil.
Oh!
Good-bye, Mrs. Trotter.
Lovely cup of tea.
The sheets is all finished now,
and very nicely, too.
I'll give her she-devil.
Put a dose of salts
in her next cup of tea, I will.
Starr, you tell her next time
not to use the front door.
- Well, yes, madam, but she... - Come on, Major.
Come and have a sit-down.
STARR: Did you get that, Violet?
STARR: Your auntie's looking well, Mary.
[hoofbeats]
Come on, then. Rest your backside.
You look fagged.
Not really.
Now, should you go out tonight?
Oh, yes. I can't let the regiment down.
No, I'm not really tired.
Just time passing.
What about this Lottie, eh?
Ah, Lottie.
Was she so lovely?
Yes, she was.
Bit like you.
Yes.
You know the right things to say.
- Thank you. - What about her son?
I like him.
Yes.
Yes?
He made a pot of money, I hear...
shares or something.
Oh, yes, he's sharp.
I doubled me money on a tip from him.
Did you? Hmm.
Not the kind of thing in my young day...
a gentleman in the city.
Not the thing at all.
Nice boy, though.
He's got brains.
Lottie's brains?
She was a sharp little thing.
He's got her brains, all right,
and using them to good account.
Stocks and shares. A bit beyond me.
I never understood the city.
A straight gamble on the horses
more my mark.
Talking about shares,
what about that legacy of yours?
Hmm?
Aunt mildred's legacy.
What you done with it now you've squared me off?
Nothing. I...
Ain't spent it, have you?
Frittered it away on the gee-gees?
Good heavens, no.
Well, where is it, then?
Where she left it, of course.
Where?
Oh, some gilt-edged thing.
I was told safe as horses...
...Houses.
3% or thereabout.
That won't get you very far, will it?
Do I want to go far?
4,000 quid?
You could do something with that, couldn't you?
Could I?
Oh, seems barmy
to leave good money lying around doing nothing.
Here you are.
Oh, thank you.
If you had that money invested proper,
you could be really comfortable.
I'm pretty comfortable now, actually.
Yeah, but you got to scrape for every halfpenny, ain't you?
I'd like to see you your own man, like.
I wonder what that means, exactly. Hmm?
Is one ever one's own man?
Don't be melancholic, Major. Don't want that.
You can't be vague about money.
I mean, this "Gilt-edged" something or other,
"3% or thereabouts."
Now, that won't do, will it?
It's your money now, isn't it?
You got to look after it.
That's what I'm trying to do, actually.
You know what I think?
I think you should have a word with this Lottie's boy.
Do you?
Well, you know him.
If he's so clever in the city...
Oh, he is.
What are you waiting for, then?
Here, I'll tell you what.
I've got a bit of money tucked away.
I reckon I might have
another word with him meself, direct-like.
He wouldn't mind, would he?
Oh...
Yeah, I'll have another go meself.
Here, that would make a change, wouldn't it?
Bit of excitement on the side.
Aunt mildred would turn in her grave.
You can make millions on the stock exchange.
Millions.
Of course, I wouldn't want millions. I mean...
I like me comforts...
Glass of wine from time to time, but...
No, I wouldn't want millions.
Well, you can't spend millions.
Must be nice, though,
seeing it fall in your lap,
and all you've done is raise an eyebrow.
He's got nice eyebrows... Lottie's boy.
They're like angel's wings, aren't they?
Were Lottie's like that?
Regimental dinner.
No. Absolutely and emphatically no.
Wouldn't touch them, and you should know better.
My dear fellow, my man in Amsterdam, of course.
He tipped me off 2 days ago.
Somali's are finished.
You may take my word for it.
Ah! Thank you.
Merriman, isn't it?
Yes, sir.
[telephone rings]
Mr. Carrington's room.
Oh, yes, Mr. Poole. I'll see if he's free.
Carrington.
Good morning, Mr. Carrington.
Poole, good morning to you.
Gaspard has just been on from Paris.
I don't like him.
Personal recommendation from Dumesnil.
Well, Dumesnil is not infallible,
and I don't trust this Gaspard.
Too careless, moves too fast.
Now, watch him.
Now, our South African interest...
Ha ha ha!
That is moving fast.
I received a report this morning.
I think it would be better
not to discuss it on the telephone.
About, uh...
.8 carat.
Yes.
.7 or .8 carat.
Here is Van Zeelen's cable.
Well, I can't read that damn code.
I'm sorry. Allow me.
"Re alluvial claim 37, Luderitz.
"Yield per load promising.
Good quality gems. Average--.8 carat."
As I thought.
That's very good.
Van Zeelen?
Reliable in the past.
I think we should go with this,
Mr. Carrington.
Hmm. What about outlets?
The syndicate won't touch it.
They'll have a fit.
The syndicate mustn't know of it.
Kimberley mustn't know of it.
We can easily dispose of the diamonds
through Antwerp.
How much to get it going?
Van Zeelen thinks about one million marks.
Hmm.
All right. Leave it to me.
Oh, what are Granthams doing?
No movement.
Pull out.
Pull right out?
Right out. No point in wasting capital
on stagnating shares.
Ah, yes, but the potential,
Mrs. Trotter...
the potential of Africa
and the vastness of it
and the wealth
just waiting to be exploited.
I've been there.
In one place, I saw natives
just picking up rough pebbles...
diamonds.
Diamonds? They turn up just like that?
More than diamonds.
It's a land of vision.
Think of Rhodes' achievements.
It's a land of opportunity.
For rich young men.
Well, for any young man
prepared to chance his hand and trust his luck.
What about ladies getting on in years, eh?
Ladies?
Oh, you're not getting on in years, Mrs. Trotter.
Oh.
Oh, thank you, Mary.
Ah.
Thank you, sir.
You're a romantic.
Romantic? Oh, no. Certainly not.
- China? - Please.
Why do you say ro...
Sugar?
Yes, please.
Why do you say romantic?
Oh, I just say things off me hat sometimes.
Understand me, Mrs. Trotter.
I'm a hard businessman with a cool, clear mind.
No need to make a song and dance about it.
I mean, if you're in business,
you've got to keep yourself to yourself, ain't you?
Now, I've got this bit of cash...
sorry to interrupt, but a man is here
with the frocks for the servants ball.
Oh, damnation. Tell him to wait.
He's in a hurry. He's got another call.
You tell him to wait
or I won't have the frocks!
Go on. Tell him!
He'll wait.
I give this ball for the staff, see?
All of you lot waiting on them.
What fun! Mother does that
every Christmas in the country.
Yeah, well, I like the old-fashioned things,
and I like to think of this place
sort of home from home for me guests.
Now, about this cash of mine...
Well, first of all,
can I see your list of investments?
It's a sight better than the one you had last year.
It was lovely, the one I had last year...lovely.
But this is better. I know what I'm talking about.
I have taste in these matters.
You had blue last year. It's a nasty, cold color.
This goes much better with your hair.
Sort of sets it off, like.
You never said last year.
You might have told me I looked awful.
You didn't look awful.
It would be very difficult for you to look awful.
But this one suits you better.
A lot of nonsense.
What? My frock? Me?
This ball. A lot of nonsense.
Didn't go for this in my young days.
A lot of nonsense.
Where's the sense
in hiring a few tawdry frocks...
they're not tawdry!
A few tawdry frocks
for a lot of uppity serving maids
to lord about in,
pretending to be
aristocratic trollops?
MARY: Oh, Mr. Merriman!
He's jealous. Eh?
Just 'cause you haven't got a lovely frock
to swank about in.
I don't hold with it.
I don't hold
with this business of servants
being waited on by their betters.
All right, a few presents
around a Christmas tree
and madam serving
a drop of soup at lunch,
but balls and...
balls and the powers that be
waiting on servants is wrong.
A servant is a servant.
His place is laid down for him.
Dressing up
for one night of the year
is a waste of everybody's time.
Gets no one nowhere.
It gives lightheaded and giddy girls
the wrong ideas.
Do you mean me?
Yeah.
It's a bit of fun, that's all.
Mrs. Trotter likes to do it...
a kind of thank-you for our year's work.
Yes. We don't want no dissertations
on the position of the servant,
Mr. Merriman.
Life's here for the living,
so let's get on with it, eh?
As auntie Gwyneth would say if she was here,
we're all equal under God.
But this is an hotel.
[women talking indistinctly]
Oh!
Oh, very nice!
Who's to be the belle of the ball, then?
Oh, I like yours, Mary.
Whoever heard of a cook in satin, eh?
And what am I supposed to do with this?
Fill it up.
What with?
Here you are.
I'll see if Mrs. Trotter is ready.
Ooh! Ha ha!
Oh, sorry, Mr. Carrington.
Have we met?
Well, we...
can I help you at all, Mr. Carrington?
Oh, yes, please, Mrs. Trotter.
I'd like some coffee in my room.
Coffee for Mr. Carrington, Mary.
Yes, ma'am.
What a pretty girl.
My head housemaid, Mr. Carrington.
Oh.
Perfectly lovely.
Is she?
I'll have your coffee sent up, Mr. Carrington.
I've never seen anything like it.
And in future,
I inspect the frocks belowstairs.
I'll not have you lot
parading around like that,
bumping into the guests.
I was just coming to call you.
Starr was perfectly capable
of calling me, Mary.
He don't look like a Christmas tree.
Now, line up, all of you.
Yeah, well, that will have to do.
Hmm.
You'll have to take that top in a bit,
Mrs. Cochrane.
And the hem will have to come up
an inch or 2.
And do it careful.
Alter it back before the things are returned.
Right, Mrs. Trotter. Can I go now, please?
I have me pies in the oven for tomorrow.
Yeah, off you go, all of you.
STARR Well done, girls.
What are you doing, Mary?
Getting coffee for Mr. Carrington.
In that frock?
They cost money, them frocks.
Can't have it mucked up.
Charge me double
if I send it back mucked up.
Coffee ain't your job.
Merriman, coffee for Mr. Carrington.
But I can make...
get out of that bloody frock!
Mincing around like a maypole.
There you all are.
So sorry and all that,
but there's a party
arrived from Yorkshire
in the hall.
Oh, bleeding hell!
Temper, temper.
It's the thought of aunt Mildred,
don't you know?
Damn particular old girl.
You have my word, sir.
This is a very good bet; very good.
I...I can't think of it as my money somehow.
It's as though she's keeping an eye on it
from the grave, so to speak.
No, aunt Mildred was very careful with her money.
I feel hesitant to play about with it.
Well, I mustn't be the one
to persuade you to...
Upset aunt Mildred.
You know what I mean.
You must do exactly what you feel is right.
But just between ourselves,
I'd like you to know
that I myself am investing heavily.
There you are, then, Major.
What better recommendation
could you have than that?
Well, none, really. It's just...
Aunt Mildred rearing her rather ugly head.
Go on. Have a go.
It's better than the ponies.
I've gone in with my little lot.
Have you really?
Oh, yes, I have.
You forget about your auntie. She's dead and gone.
How can she know what you're doing with her money?
How can she care now?
Is she going to come back and haunt you?
Oh, come on, Major. You know you want to.
Couple of years, you'll have doubled your money.
Will I really?
Well, I have seen the geologist's report.
There's absolutely no doubt.
That field is well worth working.
Very well. I shall put the whole thing
into motion immediately.
There we are, then.
We're all going to be lovely and rich.
No worries in our old age.
I think this calls for another bottle.
I got one ready, just in case.
Here you are, Mr. Carrington.
Well done, my boy.
"Will you please sell
"My entire holding
in that gilt-edged thing?"
You can't say "That gilt-edged thing."
He'll understand.
Do you know,
I am so damn lucky to be young now.
Ooh, lovely. Ta.
I mean, there's nothing I can't do.
Are you serious?
Absolutely.
Then I wish I were young, too.
To your youth.
Oh!
Don't you feel the same way, sir?
I mean, the whole world is opening up.
Opening up? To what? For what? For whom?
Well, for young, for old, for all.
You're right.
For young and old and women and children, too.
Of course you're right.
A new world in which to spend
aunt Mildred's money,
a new world
of bigger and better motorcars.
To bigger and better motorcars.
And Champagne for breakfast every day.
Yes. Ha ha ha!
Begging your pardon, Mrs. Trotter,
but I thought I'd better remind you
that it is the servants ball this evening,
and you haven't yet informed me who will be doing what.
Oh, my lord, the ball. I forgot.
Excuse me, Major.
Here we are, then. Now, let me see.
I'm head cook and bottle washer.
Major, I got you down for wine waiter.
How will that suit you?
Eminently.
Not fair!
Hold on, dear boy. Your turn is coming.
How about headwaiter?
It has been my dream for many a year.
Ha ha ha!
All right, Merriman?
Don't you get too excited.
Well, then I was maid to a Mrs. Colebrook...
he was very big in iron, you know...
and they had this house for summer use.
It looked right over Swansea Bay.
Oh, it was lovely.
Not that I had any view, of course,
from the basement or my room at the back,
but when they was all out,
I used to go to up to the first floor front
and stand, staring out.
Mesmerized, I'd be, watching the boats
and wondering where they was going.
My husband was on the boats, you know, when we first met.
Great big man he was.
We never had no children, which was why I took Mary.
Well, with 14 in the family,
my poor sister didn't know which way to turn.
Their dad used to grow watercress.
Do you know he used to walk into Swansea every day
carrying the watercress in a big basket on his head?
Well, I mean, watercress is good for you,
but, well, it can't feed a family of 14, can it?
Not if you sold it all day and every day,
which, of course, you can't, you see,
because in the winter...
Is it ready, auntie?
Near enough.
It'll have to do. I got to change.
I just seen them all waiting to dish up.
Oh, Mr. Starr, you look lovely.
I never seen you look so lovely.
Thank you, Mary.
He looks like the minister. It's all that black.
He was a handsome man, too. Whenever we had a funeral...
Yes, thank you, Mrs. Davis.
Now, then, make way for the new staff.
STARR: Very nice, sir.
Well, get dressed, Mary.
I've got a spanking dinner
which I can't wait to serve,
and you've got 5 minutes.
Here you are. Off you go,
and you mind you're a good girl.
CARRINGTON: Right. Show your hands now.
All nice and clean, eh?
Don't want sooty marks
on the dinner plates, do we?
And no secret drinking
in the pantry, Major.
Oh, sorry, sir.
Right.
Ready?
[music playing]
MAJOR Oh, very nice.
CARRINGTON Splendid.
MAJOR: What price the filly
in the red feather?
It's Mrs. Cochrane.
MAJOR Well done.
STARR Evening, sir.
CARRINGTON Evening, Starr.
[waltz playing]
Ah. A glass of bubbly, Gladys?
I wouldn't say no, Joseph.
Not dancing, Mrs. Cochrane?
We got so hot.
I trust you will be recovered
in time for our waltz, madam.
Oh, I'd not miss that for anything!
[music ends]
[applause]
I love that music.
It makes me feel really romantic.
I couldn't believe it
when I saw you with the veg.
You didn't half do it well.
Didn't spill nothing.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Oh, just smell those roses.
Perfectly lovely.
May I?
Oh, of course, Mr. Carrington.
Oh, now, Mary,
that's not quite right, is it?
What do you mean?
Well, I think
in our present circumstances,
you should call me Marcus.
Oh, no. I couldn't.
Well, just try.
Say, uh, "Marcus, bring in tea."
Oh, no.
Go on. I want to hear you say it.
Oh!
Marcus...
Marcus, bring in tea.
That's very good.
I shall have to apply for a Welsh mistress.
What?
I'm speaking as a servant,
my dear child.
Oh. Of course.
You're a long way from home, Mary.
Yes.
I don't know Wales at all.
No?
Well, my father
had a couple of Welsh Collies.
Oh, they're lovely dogs.
Very gentle.
Dadda had one...a bitch.
She wouldn't leave his side. Went everywhere with him.
Is your father a farmer?
He's dead.
Oh, I'm sorry.
And he wasn't a farmer.
He did a bit of cobbling, and he grew watercress.
Well, he gathered it at the stream.
But you have to watch out for it,
or the sheep will spoil it.
Daft things, sheep.
I rather like them.
Well, maybe you've not been close to them, like.
Ha ha! No.
How do you like London?
Oh, don't like the noise.
Worse than Swansea on a Saturday night.
Oh, dear.
But I like it here, and I got money to spend.
I came up with my auntie Gwyneth.
She came to work for a Mr. Tomlin
back of the Strand, and she sent for me.
Got me a job to come to...
and Lord Henry Norton, where I met Mrs. Trotter.
Glad, I was. Sorry to leave mum, though.
She said to come.
"Nothing here for a girl.
Go up to London town,
find yourself a rich husband."
And have you?
No.
Money isn't everything, is it?
Well, I like it. I enjoy it.
Do you?
Yes.
And when you've found your crock of gold, Mary,
you can bring it to me,
and I'll double it for you.
MERRIMAN It did occur to me
that it was a curious thing for a lady to say.
Of course, at that time, his lordship was well past 60.
Now, tell me some more about Wales.
Oh, no.
No, please. You must.
I like to hear you speak. It's...
..soft and light and not booming
like some women I know.
Go on. Don't be shy with me.
Say something in Welsh.
Oh, I...
1, 2, 3, go.
Uh...
[speaking Welsh]
Oh, that's beautiful. What is it?
We always change the sheets on Mondays and Fridays.
Ha ha ha ha!
CARRINGTON Say something else.
MAJOR: You see, I'm absolutely fascinated
by the internal combustion engine;
Fascinated.
Now, Rudolf Diesel... I'm not boring you, am I?
Rudolf diesel...
who, sad to say, I have never met...
he wrote a paper, you know,
on the thermodynamic principles
of the internal combustion engine
in uh, 1893.
You won't remember that...
MERRIMAN At that time,
Lord Raglan wasn't on the best of terms
with Lord Cardigan.
- Shall I say something else? - Yes.
Uh...
[speaking Welsh]
And what's that?
I'm not telling you that, either.
Oh! Ha ha!
May I claim my dance,
Mrs. Trotter?
Oh, thank you, Mr. Starr.
There we are.
[after the ball playing]
You go up to Piccadilly and turn...
I'll show you, sir. Excuse me, madam.
I am, of course,
in daily touch with our man out there.
Ah. The wonders of telegraph, eh?
I'd like to go out there again myself,
but I'm needed here... other projects.
It fascinates me, that part of the world.
I suppose I am a bit of a Cecil Rhodes at heart.
No ill effects, then?
Absolutely topping evening.
Never felt better in my life.
Could you also collect 2 gentlemen
from Charing Cross at half past 1:00?
With pleasure.
Try not to cover yourself
with oil, eh?
Morning, Starr.
Sir.
I don't know. Some people.
I said to those two,
"Go up to Piccadilly and turn to the right,"
So they turned to the left.
Love's young dream, eh?
I know what you mean.
[horn honks]
Have them frocks folded yet, Mary?
They'll be calling in half an hour.
Don't want them hanging about,
paying another day's hire.
I'm just finishing.
Here, what do you call this?
You call this folded, girl?
Now, look here. This won't do!
I can't be behind you all the time, Mary.
You get that lot folded proper.
Who do you think you are
standing around all moony...Lady Muck?
Get that back in the basket
where it belongs.
What do you think you're do...
here. Look what you've done,
you stupid slut!
Now, you get that mended!
Nobody's ever called me slut before.
Well, maybe you never showed
in your true light before.
What do you mean by that?
Aw, get on with the packing.
Do it yourself, as I don't suit.
Don't you talk to me like that, my girl.
All these high-and-mighty airs
'cause some gentleman holds your hand between dances;
[whispers] Stop it!
all moony-eyed'
cause he whispers sweet nothings in your virgin ear hole.
Oh, you're filthy!
Hope you didn't let him muck about with you.
If I did, it's nothing to do with you!
I won't have no loose behavior.
You won't have no loose behavior?
Me?!
You want the young men who come here
to look at you and nobody else.
You watch your tongue my girl,
or I'll get really angry.
I've seen you rolling your eyes at them.
And now that one of them likes me...
likes you?
He does! He likes to hear me talk.
You amuse him, you silly little thing.
It amuses him to play around
with a little Welsh girl with a funny voice.
He was lovely to me.
Oh, was he? What did he do to you then?
I wouldn't tell you. You'd make it dirty.
These young men who come here...
He's different!
Don't get any silly ideas
in that half-baked loaf of yours.
It's you that's got the ideas!
Let's be reasonable.
You be reasonable, if you can.
You think you're the queen of England,
the way you go on!
You're the slut!
You only got this place 'cause you're a slut!
You little...
Auntie Gwyneth says you're a she-devil!
Well, your auntie Gwyneth is foulmouthed!
What she needs is a good bath!
[yelling in Welsh]
You mind your own business!
Keep your long nose out of my affairs!
And you come back with that dress, you little...
good morning.
[crying]
Just you come back here, my girl!
Come on out of there. Come on. Come on out!
Hand over that frock you got!
Come on. I'll have you arrested for thieving.
Here, dirty pig!
You lit... Come on out of there!
I'll "Dirty pig" you!
I just want you to know that
Auntie Gwyneth lives in one little room.
She hasn't got no bath...
only a tap in the yard
and a little basin to wash in.
She's very clean, considering.
Yeah, well...
I'm not concerned with auntie Gwyneth
just at this moment.
You said that...
Never mind what I said.
You're in grave danger
of making a fool of yourself.
If I am, it's not your concern.
You're in my employ.
- I'm a grown woman. - Well, you don't behave like one.
Kindly keep your nose out of my affairs.
You listen to me. You're wasting time
dreaming about Mr. Marcus Carrington.
I can dream how I like.
Not if it interferes with your work for me!
Then I'll stop working for you!
Very well, then.
You can go when you like.
I'll pay you till the end of the month
in lieu of notice.
I'm giving you notice.
Oh, don't be so bleedin' half-baked.
He said I looked lovely in it.
And he didn't do nothing.
[sighs]
No, thank you, Mr. Starr.
To my mind, Mary,
you're acting in haste and will repent at leisure.
There's my trunk in my room, all packed.
I'll be pleased
if you see it safely off when the carrier calls.
I will,
if you're still bent on a final farewell.
I am.
She can whistle, as far as I'm concerned.
And she'll know what she's losing
when that Violet takes over.
Less brains than a fly, that one.
I've never been spoken to like that
in my life, Mr. Starr.
"Slut," she called me.
"High and mighty." "Loose."
And I thought she was wonderful.
Well, she's a silly, jealous woman,
and nasty with it,
and I'll never work for her again.
[footsteps]
Here. Give her that.
She won't get far with them bags
without a cab.
She says if she's ever beholden to you again,
it'll be over her dead body, madam.
The silly little tripe-hound.
Women.
[door opens]
What are you after, Mrs. Cochrane?
Just to inform you, madam, the cream's gone off.
It's this thundery weather.
Well, send out for some more.
Don't just stand there.
What do you expect me to do,
find a cow?
Find a cow. Yes, madam...no, madam.
You got the strawberry trifle ready for tonight, have you?
No, madam.
Strawberry trifle?
First I've heard of strawberry trifle.
Who's having strawberry trifle?
Why, it's on the menu!
Not on any menu I've seen or heard of.
It's on the menu for Lady Marchant's dinner party tonight.
I didn't even know she was having a dinner party tonight.
For 14! Tonight!
I told Mary. I gave her the menu.
She must have taken it with her.
She's given no menu to me.
Here's a copy. Lucky I had one ready.
Go do something about it, quick.
But the strawberry trifle's on here.
Give them fruit salad. They'll never notice.
Have you found the key to the baggage room?
No I ain't found the bloody key!
The party in number 10 need their baggage.
They got to be packed in half an hour...
train to catch.
They'll just have to wait, won't they.
I ain't found the chits to make up their bill yet.
Like everything else
Mary seems to have lost it somewhere!
If you will excuse me Madam,
I think she kept them all
in a drawer in the dispense.
Oh, my God.
What are you doing here, Mrs. Davis?
It's my day, Mrs. Trotter.
Yeah, well, I should have thought...
- Where's Violet? - Violet?
She's never here when I want her.
Violet! Violet!
You ain't seen her, then?
She took tea to room...
Mary I'm talking about.
Mary? Oh, no,
but I've only been here a half an hour.
I got delayed. A cab had turned over...
Yeah, well, she scarpered,
2 days ago.
I beg your pardon?
Your niece has scarpered.
I...I don't know what you mean.
She's gone off about her own business,
left me to whistle.
Gone off?
Yeah. Thought you might have seen her.
Thought she'd come running to you.
No. Last time I saw her was on the day of the ball.
I was looking forward to...
Oh, skip it.
Where have you been? There's Mr. Benson in 21
needing clean antimacassars. Go and sort them out girl.
And Lord Fenton wants...
I've been seeing to Lord Fenton, mum.
Then God help him!
Pardon?
Oh, nothing. Now, where's Mary keep the accounts?
Within that drawer over there.
MRS. TROTTER: Go see to Mr. Benson!
VIOLET Yes, ma'am.
Hopeless! Hopeless!
Now, you see the mess she's left me in,
that Mary of yours?
No thought for me after all I've done for her.
Off like a lady she goes, not a thought to anyone.
Where are you going?
Both tarred with the same brush, are you?
Well, I thought I'd go look for her.
Where are you going to look?
I don't know. I mean...
Where would she go?
She don't know anyone in London,
not to stay with, that is,
and Swansea's such a long way.
No hysterics now.
Can't be doing with hysterics.
Do you think perhaps I ought to go to the police?
Why? She went of her own accord.
She must know what she's up to.
At least, I hope she knows what she's up to.
She got herself mixed up...oh, God.
I can't think
why she would have gone off like that
without a word to me.
You must have been awful to her
to make her go.
Me?
Yes. You've got such an awful temper
and sharp tongue,
and Mary's very sensitive.
She's sensitive? What about me?
What do you mean by mixed up?
Mrs. Haverford and party in the hall.
Oh, dang Mr. Haverford!
And when Mary turns up...
The place is falling apart without Mary
If she turns up...
Oh, dang, dang, dang!
I'm running around like a dog at a fair.
Oh, shut up!
MAJOR: Not a bad little bus at all.
Ah, here's Mrs. Trotter.
Good day.
Trust you had a pleasant journey.
How about a little glass of wine
to set us off on the right foot?
Merriman, bottle of wine.
You tell Violet they're here,
and I want the rooms ready
in half an hour.
Will you come into my parlor?
Said the spider to the fly.
Um, Starr?
Oh.
Oh, uh, Major.
Could you spare me a few moments?
By all means, dear boy.
Would my rooms be convenient?
Of course.
CARRINGTON Yes, the, uh...
The thing is...
The situation is changing...
Radically.
Uh...thank you.
Um, the...situation, you said.
Yes, the situation.
Changing.
Yes. Actually, uh...
Ah.
Well, it was speculation.
I took a chance.
I can't resist the excitement
of possibilities beyond.
Do you know what I mean?
I might, if I were 30 years younger.
Yes.
I take it we're talking about our...project.
Yes.
Then hadn't we better call Mrs. Trotter?
Yes, of course.
[buzzer]
MERRIMAN: All this worrying and fuss.
There's no call for it, Mrs. Davis.
Yes, but why didn't she come to me?
I mean, London is a terrible place
for a young woman on her own.
Mrs. Davis, if Mr. Starr is willing to open a book,
I'm ready to bet 5 pounds
that your niece
will be back in Mrs. Trotter's clutches
before the end of the week.
Those two have been together for quite a spell now.
They need each other like bread needs butter
or Mr. Starr here needs the horses.
So why not take yourself in hand
and read my cup for me?
I couldn't concentrate just now.
[buzzer]
For God's sake, someone answer that bell!
I'm seeing to the parties in number 7.
Where in the bleedin' hell is Violet?
How does she manage to disappear for hours on end?
[buzzer]
Carrington. I'll go. I want a word with him.
[door slams]
MRS. TROTTER: Sorry to keep you waiting.
I've been wanting a word with you, Lottie's boy.
What in the blazes you done with Mary, eh?
Mary?
My Welsh Mary, my right-hand woman here.
I don't take kindly to you enticing her away.
Don't come the innocent party with me.
She's not with her auntie,
so where is she?
We've had our ups and downs,
but she's never gone off with her bags packed.
We understand each other.
You had her all upset the night of the ball.
Now, I don't mind a cuddle in the corner,
but since then,
she's been mooning around like a lovesick cow.
My dear, hear the boy out.
I have done nothing untoward as far as Mary is concerned.
I don't go in for that sort of thing.
Just at the moment,
ladies or otherwise don't come into my life.
I've got quite enough on my plate,
including a very nasty dose of remorse.
Remorse?
Yes, and it has nothing whatever to do with Mary,
who I don't think I've seen since the night of the ball.
Oh, I beg your pardon.
MRS. TROTTER: What's been going on, then?
You've been upsetting the Major,
I'll have your guts for garters.
I, uh... I am guilty of that.
Oh, oh, please.
I've bungled things, Mrs. Trotter.
Sheer stupidity. I...
I'm a fool.
Poole said we should have double-checked.
I really think I'm going mad.
I thought I could do better than Poole.
What exactly has happened, Mr. Carrington?
I heard an hour ago
that the geologist's report was false...
That there are no diamonds there at all.
Nothing.
Poole had wind of it, but I, uh...
Are you implicated?
CARRINGTON: Yes.
MAJOR: Criminally?
We issued a prospectus.
There's going to be a blazing row somewhere,
isn't there?
What about Poole?
France. Gone to France.
He must have left this morning.
I went to his home, and then I called at his office.
Gone to france.
Well, I'll know better next time.
Unless you're on the next boat
to France, Lottie's boy,
not going to be a next time.
Run?
They'll be looking for someone
to pin it on, won't they?
You're the next best thing, I reckon.
Major, I can't run, can I?
The whole thing's beyond me sir.
It's a curious situation.
Lottie would be most upset to see you in jail,
don't you know?
You get your things together,
and I'll send up some supper for you.
Oh, I couldn't eat.
You'll eat what I send up.
You need something on your stomach.
Now, you pack a small bag,
and I'll keep
the rest of your things here safe.
Just between ourselves, uh...
Have we lost everything
we put in?
Forgive me.
We have.
Yeah, well...
I never could worry about money.
You come down with me, my dear.
Actually, I'm thinking I'd drive the boy
to the station.
Be roped in as an accomplice?
Not on your Nellie!
Come on. He'll have to find his own way.
Yes, of course.
Of course.
[door opens]
You know, I...
I think I'd really rather have lost it
on the horses.
At least I'd have seen it go.
MAJOR: My God, aunt Mildred will be turning somersaults.
[glass shatters]
Good evening, ma'am.
Mary, you frightened the life out of me.
Where the hell have you been?
The Grand Richmond Hotel.
Taken a job there?
No. I, uh...I've been staying there.
Staying?
Yes, I...I felt like a change.
I've been waiting on people all my life.
I wanted to see what it was like on the receiving end.
I spent all my money.
So now you come crying back to me, eh?
No, not crying.
They're looking for a head chambermaid.
They offered me the job.
But you were a guest.
Housekeeper recognized me.
I nearly took the job, and then I...
Then?
Well, I thought, really, I...
I belong here.
This is my place.
We've been together a long time, you and me,
stuck by one another, know each other's ways.
Yeah.
Silly argument we had.
Yeah.
Letting some man come between us.
Yeah.
What we have, you and me, is good.
Yeah.
And I like it.
So do I.
He's a nice man, but not for me,
even if he wanted me...
and I think
I could have made him want me.
But I'm not the sort
to be mistress to any man
and skulk around in corners.
No.
Fancy me spending all my money.
Yeah, well, we spent all ours, too...
or rather, uh, Mr. Carrington.
My dear.
If you don't want me back,
I can go to the grand.
It's nice to have you back, Mary.
The place nearly fell apart without you.
Now, would you get the Major and me
some coffee, Mary?
We need a bit of a pick-me-up.
Mary.
[door opens]
Here, sit down, my dear.
You don't half look tired.
Oh, thank you.
Oh, my dear...
Do you think I could extend my duties
in the establishment?
Could you use an odd body
who would be an absolute duffer
at serving dinner
but could wash a few dishes
without breaking too many
and even play wine waiter
if the occasion arose?
Oh, Major,
I certainly landed you in the cart, didn't I?
Wine waiter, indeed.
No, I owe you too much,
apart from what I just lost you.
Oh...
Yeah, all right, all right, so you're a gentleman,
but I persuaded you to plunge,
and I'll never forgive meself.
So here and now I'll say,
you look upon this establishment as your own...
For always.
Unless you get tired of me temper.
It's the very least I can do.
It's funny. I liked him.
Yeah, I did. I liked him.
I'd never have taken him for a fool.
Well, you live and learn.
Not a fool.
Just young.
Although...
I hope he keeps it from Lottie.