T.R.R.M. Vanity Dies Hard. (1995) Part 1 of 2.

deaddogsdam

First broadcast 24th/31st March/7th April 1995.  When wealthy middle-aged divorcée Alice Fielding, marries a handsome younger man, her best friend Nesta, who has fallen on hard times, begins to resent her.   Jane Gurnett - Nesta Drage Leslie Phillips - Justin Whittaker Leonard Preston - Hugo Whittaker Arthur White - Mr. Snow David Hargreaves - Mr. Feast Rebecca Lacey - Daphne Feast Peter Egan - Harry Blunden Eleanor David - Alice Fielding Melanie Kilburn - Jackie Whittaker Damian Hunt - Mark Whittaker William Holmes - Chris Whittaker Shirley Cain - Doctor's Receptionist Mark Frankel - Andrew Fielding Anne Jameson - Mrs. Johnson Michael Parkhouse - Vicar Joanna Kanska - Pernille Madsen John Gill - Old Man Annoushka Le Gallois - Florist Assistant James Bowers - Postman Bob Barrett - Hotel Receptionist Patricia Samuels - Lady Minister Eric Mason - Len Cox Jane Gurnett - Nesta Drage Charles Daish - PC Bob Briley

Transcript

00:00:30Come on, Mr. Strange.

00:01:00Come on.

00:01:30What are you doing here at this ungodly hour?

00:01:43I've got something to tell you.

00:01:45Yes?

00:01:46These are beautiful.

00:01:47You've got the economical, too, because it only takes a few bits of fern to make them

00:01:51up and sort of sheathe and charge pots of money for.

00:01:54Sheathe?

00:01:55Sheathe?

00:01:56No.

00:01:57Oh, God.

00:01:58Whichever.

00:01:59Wow.

00:02:00It's a long time no see.

00:02:01Yeah, I know.

00:02:02Well, that's why I've come see you.

00:02:04Go on.

00:02:05Do you remember when we made up a foursome to go to the theatre?

00:02:06See that Noel Carrot play?

00:02:07Yeah.

00:02:08Yeah.

00:02:09Well, I've been seeing quite a bit of one of our escorts since then.

00:02:12I know.

00:02:13You mean the doting Dr. Harry Blunden's years of dogged devotion are finally going to be

00:02:17rewarded?

00:02:18No.

00:02:19No.

00:02:20I'm going to marry Andrew Fielding.

00:02:21The English teacher.

00:02:22But...

00:02:23But what?

00:02:24So romantic.

00:02:25Makes me want to cry.

00:02:26Makes me want to cry.

00:02:27I don't think the doting Dr. Harry Blunden's years of dogged devotion are finally going

00:02:31to be rewarded.

00:02:32No.

00:02:33I'm going to marry Andrew Fielding.

00:02:37The English teacher.

00:02:41But...

00:02:42But what?

00:02:46Oh, oh, it's so romantic, makes you want to cry.

00:03:19Good morning, Miss Whittaker.

00:03:21Good morning.

00:03:22I'm afraid Dr Blandon's with a patient at the moment.

00:03:24Nothing more he isn't.

00:03:25Hello, Alice.

00:03:26Hello.

00:03:27I saw you through the window.

00:03:29Are you going to leave that poor man right now?

00:03:32If I don't, her may strangle him. Just go in there.

00:03:37Sit down.

00:03:40Are you positively looming?

00:03:42Thank you. Well, I am.

00:03:44I've come to make an appointment for some overseas jobs.

00:03:47Oh, off on your travels again?

00:03:49Oh, just to the Caribbean.

00:03:51Oh, splendid.

00:03:52Well, I hope so. I'm going on my honeymoon.

00:03:55You're getting married?

00:03:57Well, one usually does before going on one's honeymoon.

00:04:00Yes.

00:04:02Quite.

00:04:04So, who's the lucky man?

00:04:06Andrew Fielding.

00:04:10You know, he came to the theatre with us.

00:04:12Oh, yes.

00:04:13Um...

00:04:14And, you know, I thought that he and Nesta were...

00:04:18Well, just goes to show you how unobservant you can be.

00:04:23So, when's the happy day?

00:04:2514th of next month.

00:04:27Not so soon.

00:04:29Hmm.

00:04:30Right.

00:04:31Well, we, uh...

00:04:32Better get on with your first tab right away.

00:04:35Um...

00:04:36If I order today, come any time after tonight, what, tomorrow?

00:04:40I'm really pleased for you.

00:04:42Thanks, Harry.

00:04:43Best of doctors.

00:04:44Best of friends.

00:04:46Best of friends.

00:04:47I'd better get back tonight.

00:04:48I've got to know all of them.

00:04:49Shall we say ten o'clock tomorrow morning, then?

00:04:59It's a bit grim at the moment.

00:05:13It used to be my great-aunt Joyce's place.

00:05:15It's been empty since she died.

00:05:17Come on, I'll show you inside.

00:05:20It's so wonderful of darling Uncle Jay to give it to me.

00:05:28Have it done up.

00:05:30Furnished as a wedding present.

00:05:36Come on.

00:05:39We'll all be ready and waiting for us when we get back from honeymoon.

00:05:42Isn't it magnificent?

00:05:44This will be your study.

00:05:49Or library, if you're feeling grand.

00:05:51Anyway, somewhere for you to write.

00:05:53Keep your precious first editions.

00:05:56Well, it's a far cry from those stucco-fronted bunglers

00:05:59that give married masters of Pugsley, that's for sure.

00:06:01Talk about damning with faint praise.

00:06:05I'm sorry.

00:06:08It's gonna be wonderful.

00:06:11Like you.

00:06:14None of that till you've been approved by Uncle Jay.

00:06:23Alice tell you she and her brother were orphaned?

00:06:27And that you brought them up from the time she was a baby?

00:06:30Mm, no option.

00:06:32Head of the family.

00:06:34Did all right by Hugo, by and large.

00:06:38Pity he chose to marry a barmaid.

00:06:40Sherry?

00:06:41Oh, thank you, sir.

00:06:46Being a bachelor, bringing up a girl was a different kettle of fish altogether.

00:06:53Looking back, I dare say I was too strict.

00:06:57Overprotective, you see.

00:06:59Anyway, she ran off with this ageing hippie who used her money to set himself up as a guru in Goa.

00:07:09At least, thank God, the swine didn't marry her.

00:07:17Not to your liking.

00:07:19Oh, it's okay.

00:07:20I prefer sweet-sherry.

00:07:22Why didn't you say?

00:07:25You didn't ask.

00:07:30To cut a long story short, he took up knocking her about.

00:07:34On account, it appeared she was infertile.

00:07:38Mind you, still no question of him entering into such a bourgeois institution as marriage.

00:07:47She took as much as she could stand till she got ill, whereupon he threw her out.

00:07:53Burst appendix, peritonitis, by the time she'd gone into a halfway decent hospital.

00:07:58Near as damn it, died.

00:08:02I was minded to say told you so until I saw what a state she was in when she came limping home.

00:08:10Belle has told me the whole story.

00:08:12Belle?

00:08:14Short for Christabel, her second...

00:08:15Damn it! I know what my niece's names are.

00:08:19Nobody calls her that.

00:08:22I know.

00:08:23The point is, I don't want some other young swine breaking her heart.

00:08:30I don't intend to.

00:08:33She can't give you children.

00:08:35We've talked about that.

00:08:37You do know her capital is tied up in trust.

00:08:41I didn't.

00:08:44But I'm glad to hear it.

00:08:46How's that?

00:08:53Perhaps in that case we can, er, make a life of our own.

00:08:58Without being insulted and patronised by an old swine like you.

00:09:08You do.

00:09:13Let's cut along, get some grub.

00:09:16Put the poor girl out of her misery.

00:09:17We'll have to find a niche for you at the works, I suppose.

00:09:21I dare say they don't pay you more than the pittance that do the boys' haul.

00:09:31Well?

00:09:33Ah, you always did pay for dressing, miss.

00:09:36She said that the first time she put me into my party frock.

00:09:39But in those days you used to call me Alice.

00:09:40And when you come back from church, I shall call you Madam.

00:09:44Which is how I've lasted so long with Mr. Justin, him being a stickler for etiquette.

00:09:49Well, that's quite right.

00:09:51Now, you.

00:09:52Sit down.

00:09:54And let's see what we can do about your coronary.

00:09:59Of flowers.

00:10:01Your coroner, Nesta!

00:10:03Well, have it your way.

00:10:05You know me in words.

00:10:06You gave me quite a turn there, Mrs. Drage.

00:10:10Goodness, is that the time?

00:10:12Now, unless you need me anymore.

00:10:14It's all right, Mrs. Johnson. We'll be fine.

00:10:17I'm so glad you've come round to the dress, Mrs. Johnson.

00:10:21Well, to tell you the truth,

00:10:24I still have my doubts about the wisdom of getting married in white at your age.

00:10:29Still, I dare say the veil will help.

00:10:33Oh, well. Things to do.

00:10:40She doesn't mean it.

00:10:45Don't you believe it.

00:10:47I've had far too many put-downs from the old cows and been accidental.

00:10:50That's because she thinks you've got designs on Uncle Jay.

00:10:53She's right.

00:10:55Nesta!

00:10:56Oh, no, not really.

00:10:59No, but now we have got you off the shelf, I'm gonna have to start looking after number one, that's for sure.

00:11:04Do you remember when I got back from India?

00:11:06Oh, yeah, you were pretty dreary.

00:11:08I thought my life was over.

00:11:10I honestly think it would have been if it hadn't been for you.

00:11:12Of course.

00:11:13You were a widow, you had no money.

00:11:15It was good for me being with someone worse off than myself.

00:11:18You were so brave, funny.

00:11:20I don't think Andrew would have looked at me twice if he hadn't taught me the Fred Astaire philosophy of life.

00:11:25Pick yourself up, dust yourself down, start all over again.

00:11:28Yeah, where'd it get me?

00:11:33It's a special place in my heart.

00:11:38You'll see.

00:11:40I'm gonna be fixing your coronary.

00:11:43Just before you go down the aisle on the arm of the man you love.

00:11:48Oh.

00:11:58Just go up to the church and get in the porch, come on.

00:12:23Come on.

00:12:36You look very fine, my dear.

00:12:39You don't look too bad either.

00:12:41Here we go, boys.

00:12:43Mind your step.

00:12:53You don't look who's gone.

00:12:54Be quiet.

00:12:56To be quiet but visit me.

00:12:59All right.

00:13:00To be quiet.

00:13:01Good day.

00:13:02All right.

00:13:04You don't look too bright.

00:13:07Let the galop supper who is never eager to get in.

00:13:11著書道 on the line.

00:13:14àotium

00:13:18¶¶

00:13:48¶¶

00:13:57You know you'll always have the key to my heart.

00:14:15I thought you might like another one.

00:14:20¶¶

00:14:29We can't take it on honeymoon, but we can get to the end.

00:14:43¶¶

00:14:53We can't take it on honeymoon, but we can get to the end.

00:14:55¶¶

00:15:05¶¶

00:15:15¶¶

00:15:25¶¶

00:15:35¶¶

00:15:45¶¶

00:15:47¶¶

00:15:56Let's get in there and console each other while the champagne laughs.

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00:17:07They look great.

00:17:37She well knew the great architectural secret of decorating a construction

00:17:49and never descended to construct a decoration.

00:17:53You horrible man. I could learn to hate, Tronop.

00:18:01How's Pernie, you're working out?

00:18:02It's fine. She's missing her family.

00:18:04No time for that if you're an au pair.

00:18:06You don't be awful. Where do you be, anyway?

00:18:11Upstaging your uncle.

00:18:13I wanted on your first visit to my house, sir, to be able to offer you a choice of sherrys.

00:18:18You prefer dry, I believe.

00:18:20Yeah, you impotent swine.

00:18:23Now, I have you know, he'd not been in the job five minutes before he was giving me lip at work.

00:18:28Well, it's the only way we family placemen can demonstrate our independence.

00:18:31He doesn't stop the works manager calling me young Mr Whittaker.

00:18:34Oh, so what does that make you, darling?

00:18:37I'd rather not know.

00:18:38Oh, that's new.

00:18:41My housewarming present.

00:18:42From his adoring wife.

00:18:45It might have been me to fit my trollop first editions.

00:18:48Regency? Must have set you back a bit.

00:18:52Can't say I share your admiration for the fellow's books, but this is beautiful.

00:18:56Keep on like this, you'll spoil the brute.

00:19:00No, she won't.

00:19:01The novelty soon wears off.

00:19:03Oh, I hate you.

00:19:04You see what I mean?

00:19:05A few sleepless nights up with a baby and then...

00:19:08Shall we all go into the dining room before the novelty of eating wears off?

00:19:16I don't believe that.

00:19:23You are the bloody limit.

00:19:25I'm sorry.

00:19:28Pirozki.

00:19:28They've turned out well.

00:19:30See?

00:19:31You sound so surprised, Pernille.

00:19:32Lovely.

00:19:33Hand them round.

00:19:36Oh, delicious.

00:19:38Well, what did you say they were called again?

00:19:41Pirozki.

00:19:42Polish delicacy.

00:19:43I could easily become addicted.

00:19:45Mm-hmm.

00:19:47You must give Mrs. Johnson the recipe.

00:19:49I will, but not now.

00:19:51Now I'm putting the dinner on the table.

00:19:54If you were older...

00:19:55Well, I were younger.

00:20:02So, there it is.

00:20:10What's wrong?

00:20:11Uncle Jay likes to say grace at family gatherings.

00:20:14Not that I'm a god-botherer, heaven forbid.

00:20:18Granny was, though.

00:20:19It's just family ritual, really.

00:20:22I'm sorry.

00:20:23Nobody told me.

00:20:24No matter.

00:20:24One can't expect teachers to care about the social graces in this classless society of ours.

00:20:31For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful.

00:20:34Amen.

00:20:34Oh, I'm looking forward to this.

00:20:38Yes.

00:20:39It's been incredible, haven't you?

00:20:40Are you?

00:20:41Oh, steady.

00:20:42Yes.

00:20:43Yes.

00:20:44Good.

00:20:46Mmm.

00:20:50You're welcome.

00:20:50And, oh, yeah, sorry, you're wrong now, then.

00:21:01Wrong now.

00:21:04Oh.

00:21:05This is quite like old times, isn't it?

00:21:07Mm, but with one notable exception.

00:21:10What?

00:21:11No.

00:21:12Oh, absolutely.

00:21:13Here, here.

00:21:14Andrew.

00:21:15Andrew.

00:21:16Andrew.

00:21:17Andrew.

00:21:17Oh, thank you, Jackie.

00:21:39Nesta was supposed to be with us this evening.

00:21:41Wasn't she darling?

00:21:43Yes, but she cried off at the last moment.

00:21:45Oh, dear.

00:21:46That could be our fault.

00:21:48She's babysitting for us.

00:21:49Really?

00:21:50I didn't know you and Nesta were close.

00:21:51Well, why not?

00:21:52It's just last time I bumped into her.

00:21:54Well, she volunteered.

00:21:57Well, she said she could do with the money.

00:21:59She told me the shop had gone into profit.

00:22:01While you were gallivanting around the West Indies,

00:22:03the recession continued to bite.

00:22:06One's done what one can,

00:22:08but I'm afraid poor Nesta's become a victim.

00:22:12Well, that's dreadful.

00:22:13I must go and see her.

00:22:14I'll go tomorrow.

00:22:16I'm sure I could do something.

00:22:18You'll only be throwing good money after bad.

00:22:21What I do with my money is my business.

00:22:25One begins to wonder what isn't.

00:22:26What's the name of the Lord?

00:22:34Come on, come on, come on.

00:22:38Now, go check.

00:22:40Come on.

00:22:41That stupid bitch.

00:22:57Have a good mind not to pay her.

00:22:59Oh, have a heart.

00:23:01She's under the weather and obviously not well.

00:23:04You run her home and I'll get the brats to bed.

00:23:11Mark. Mark.

00:23:39I'm sorry about that.

00:23:42Not enough. I mean, it won't happen again.

00:23:45No, it won't.

00:23:46However.

00:23:48No, no.

00:23:50See me inside.

00:23:52Great.

00:23:53There you are.

00:24:06You'll be fine now.

00:24:08No.

00:24:09See me safely upstairs.

00:24:10What?

00:24:13No, stop.

00:24:14You go.

00:24:16Please.

00:24:17I've been so unhappy and lonely and frightened.

00:24:20No, please.

00:24:21Don't leave me.

00:24:23Jack, Jack, you need no help.

00:24:25I'm stupid.

00:24:37Oh, queste boodry.

00:24:38I'll just take it.

00:24:38Oh.

00:24:39Come on.

00:24:40Back.

00:24:40Come on.

00:24:41Come.

00:24:41Come on.

00:24:46Come on.

00:24:47Come on.

00:24:48Come on.

00:24:49Come on.

00:24:50Come on.

00:24:51Come on.

00:24:51I wouldn't worry about it if I were you.

00:25:03You weren't in there long enough to do what you'd do, given half the chance.

00:25:07I should wash your mouth up with soap and water.

00:25:10It's true what they say, isn't it?

00:25:12There is no fool like an old fool.

00:25:21No, it's nearly all east there, a small priceless shot of you.

00:25:27For pity's sake.

00:25:29Gosh, look, Ma, they're going to take out the graveyard.

00:25:31Yes, it's the night way for the new slip road.

00:25:34What are they doing with their bodies?

00:25:35Dig them up and move them, I don't know.

00:25:38Don't worry, you'll be tucked up safely in bed.

00:25:41Yes, and there's no ghost for Convoy.

00:25:44Yes, and you'll be haunted by the back of my hand.

00:25:51Oh, Nester, do us a favour, would you look...

00:26:05Crikey.

00:26:07What the bloody hell happened to you?

00:26:12Ellie, how did you get in here?

00:26:14Well, you gave me a set of keys, remember?

00:26:15Oh, so you could let the security company in if I was out and the alarm went off.

00:26:19Not so you could walk in and out of here spying on me.

00:26:22All right, keep your hair on.

00:26:25Oh, I can't.

00:26:27Sorry, I didn't mean it like that.

00:26:30It just came out.

00:26:33I'm sorry.

00:26:34I didn't mean it.

00:26:39I don't know why I'm laughing at it, I'm sure.

00:26:41Oh, look at the stadium, yeah.

00:26:42Yeah.

00:26:49This could be the finish of me.

00:26:55Well, you lend us one of your little black numbers and I won't say a word, all right?

00:27:04Done.

00:27:05Good.

00:27:08I'm serious, though.

00:27:09What is it, then, like alopecia or something?

00:27:15Oh, no, it's nothing like that.

00:27:17Something a bit up with me metabolism, that's all.

00:27:20It will soon get it sorted.

00:27:22It's in the mind, mostly.

00:27:25I'm having to watch that graveyard being dug up to the last bloody straw.

00:27:28Can I trust you, huh?

00:27:39Yeah, of course you can.

00:27:43I'm involved with a big man in Solstead.

00:27:46Go on.

00:27:47In your dreams?

00:27:48I mean big.

00:27:50And some people get a shock when it comes out.

00:27:54And one of these days, he is going to have to marry me.

00:27:56And I don't want a thing like this giving an excuse to get rid of me.

00:28:01You mean it, don't you?

00:28:05And there was me thinking all this black was in memory of your poor dead husband.

00:28:10Be daft.

00:28:13Now, when he popped his clogs,

00:28:16I realised at the funeral what black did for me.

00:28:21You're kidding.

00:28:23Do us a favour.

00:28:24See who it is?

00:28:26Yeah.

00:28:27And as a customer,

00:28:29keepin' talking

00:28:30until I fix myself up.

00:28:33Yeah, right.

00:28:37Oh, Nester, it's Miss Whittaker.

00:28:40Mrs Fielding, I should say.

00:28:45We're right down, Alice.

00:28:47Alice.

00:28:52Let me keep you, Daphne.

00:28:54No, Mrs Fielding.

00:28:57Thank you, Mrs Fielding.

00:28:59Pardon me for living, Mrs Fielding.

00:29:08Well, this is a surprise.

00:29:09Hello, Alice.

00:29:10Long time no see.

00:29:11Yeah, well, we haven't got a lot in today,

00:29:13but I ought to be able to find enough to make you up a nice cortege.

00:29:17A corsage?

00:29:18Yeah, well, whichever, you know me.

00:29:21Now, don't you look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed,

00:29:23but then why wouldn't you?

00:29:26Is everything all right, Nester?

00:29:27This place is a shambles.

00:29:29You look a bit of a wreck.

00:29:32Where were you when things started to go wrong, huh?

00:29:37You were sunning yourself with your toy boy.

00:29:41And then when you got back, did you come and find out how I was?

00:29:44No, did you, Al?

00:29:45You were too busy swanning about hiring au pair's playing house

00:29:51and making a fool of yourself,

00:29:54showering your precious Andrew with gifts

00:29:56while my life was falling apart.

00:29:59And now, when it soothes you, come in here!

00:30:01I'm your friend.

00:30:25Some friend.

00:30:29You're right, I've been very selfish.

00:30:34But now I know.

00:30:37Look, we've helped each other through worse than this.

00:30:40We can do it again.

00:30:43Not this time, Lady Bountiful.

00:30:47This time I'm down and out.

00:30:52There's one way or another I have had solstice up to here.

00:30:55Come on, Nester.

00:30:56No, there's only one way for it,

00:30:58and that's to get away and try and sort myself out

00:31:00somewhere else altogether, completely.

00:31:03Well, I can help you to do that.

00:31:07You're incurable.

00:31:09I mean, incorrigible as well.

00:31:14Yeah, whichever.

00:31:14I'm sorry.

00:31:28No.

00:31:29Oh, I'm sorry.

00:31:42No.

00:31:45It's like shoe leather.

00:31:52Cheesy shoe leather.

00:31:56No, it's not that.

00:31:56I don't know.

00:32:02I'd better go.

00:32:03I can't stop here boring you two to death.

00:32:06Stay the night.

00:32:07Why don't you?

00:32:09I don't know.

00:32:09I've arranged to...

00:32:11Well, I've got a packet of stuff at the flat.

00:32:14It's going into store.

00:32:16Andrew can take you and bring you back.

00:32:19No, I've arranged to stop the night with the feasts.

00:32:23Give them a ring.

00:32:23No, it's too complicated.

00:32:29I've arranged to have a car pick me up from there.

00:32:33I don't feel up to changing all my arrangements now.

00:32:36Keep in touch.

00:32:45Let us have an address as soon as you're settled.

00:32:48Thanks for everything.

00:33:13I don't know.

00:33:43It looks as though this is about as close as I can get you to the bravo race.

00:34:06You can't. You can't leave me to walk past all that.

00:34:13I suppose not.

00:34:43You can't. You can't. You can't. You can't.

00:34:45You can't. You can't.

00:34:48You can't.

00:34:51You can't.

00:34:53You can't. You can't.

00:34:56You can't.

00:34:58You can't.

00:34:59You can't.

00:35:02You can't.

00:35:03You can't.

00:35:06You can't.

00:35:07You can't.

00:35:09You can't.

00:35:10You can't.

00:35:13You can't.

00:35:14You can't.

00:35:15You can't.

00:35:16You can't.

00:35:18You can't.

00:35:19You can't.

00:35:20You can't.

00:35:21You can't.

00:35:22You can't.

00:35:24You can't.

00:35:25You can't.

00:35:26I don't know.

00:35:56First I had a seer in, then she took forever choosing this monstrosity, your farewell present.

00:36:04Poor darling. She probably wanted company.

00:36:08Tonight's the night they begin emptying the old graves.

00:36:12Mister had such a thing about it.

00:36:14The uncontrolled imagination of the ill-educated.

00:36:18Unkind.

00:36:19I'm sure you weren't too keen on stopping in full view of people unearthing corpses.

00:36:23And you are made of less frail clay.

00:36:28What do I have to do to prove to you that we've got better things to do than keep on and on about Nesta?

00:36:39More of the same.

00:36:41Well, what's the bloody point?

00:36:45If you had an ounce of shivel, well, what's the bloody point?

00:37:13I do hope she isn't in one of her moods.

00:37:16We'll pick you up here about five, all right?

00:37:18Thank you. See you later.

00:37:19See you later.

00:37:43If you've come over to see Alice, we're out of luck.

00:37:48She's gone over to Walkington to look up Master Grage.

00:37:51Ah.

00:37:52Actually, I came to see Miss Madsen.

00:37:54Oh, Neil.

00:37:56You sly, darling.

00:37:59You'd better come in, then.

00:38:01Alice sent her to see me last week about her homesickness.

00:38:04I described a short course of, um, as I was passing, I thought I might pop in and, you

00:38:09know, see how she was getting along.

00:38:11I don't know.

00:38:36what hello is mrs drage here oh mrs drage nester drage no i'm the only one here lady

00:39:00i've been on my own since the wife left oh oh i see i thought perhaps she might rent a room

00:39:08i don't let no rooms you can't be too careful these days

00:39:30hello if you can help me i'm looking for mrs drage oh look there she is now

00:40:01that's mrs drake mrs drake

00:40:10no i said mrs drage i'm sorry i'm sure you tried to help someone what do you get

00:41:00tell you how good it is to see would you like something to eat oh yes

00:41:07well what's the score how much is one supposed to give oh whatever you like um there's a rough

00:41:13guide whatever your normal lunch at home would cost you no idea no i'm sure your generosity will be a

00:41:21reproach to us all all right mrs fielding oh hello daphne you're just the person i wanted to see

00:41:28oh yeah i know i was just talking to your sister-in-law oh is she here yeah she's over there

00:41:35oh darling i'll catch you later

00:41:37i wanted to ask you about nesta i thought you might know where she is you two being such close

00:41:45friends not that close you used to have a bit of a giggle i saw we were on what she calls ships that

00:41:52pass in the night yes that sounds like nesta she didn't even say a proper goodbye not that i'm

00:41:58breaking my heart over it but didn't you see her the night before she left she came to supper with

00:42:03us andrew took her back to the shop she said she was going on to spend the night with you was is

00:42:07right she never showed up what did you go out to look for her do you mind i won't going down elekin

00:42:17lane after dark i'm with them carton all them corpses apart no no of course not what a mystery

00:42:37i wouldn't do too much of the survivor you you look as if you need to take care of yourself

00:42:49i'm fine good but if there's ever anything troubling you anything at all you'll come to me won't you

00:43:07look you said it was a mystery right and i'll tell you something mysteries ain't news to me not

00:43:19where nesta's concerned for one thing she was involved with some bloke you know what bloke well

00:43:25i don't know big man in solstead she said i don't know who he was she wouldn't tell me for some reason

00:43:31he didn't want it known i reckon it's because he was married mind you nesta said he'd have to marry

00:43:37her one day she never said anything oh and another thing her eyebrows her eyebrows what about them

00:43:46well she didn't have none you think i'm daft don't you well one day i popped into her flat she didn't

00:43:52know i was coming and god she nearly jumped out of her skin she was sitting there doing her makeup and

00:43:58she had no eyebrows at all just eyes she had and then nothing till the air started game of the

00:44:05creeps i can tell you poor master thanks stephanie oh if you do root her out you might tell her to

00:44:15come and collect her stuff her stuff yeah she had snows fetched around some of her stuff day before

00:44:21she left you can tell her i'm sick of it cluttering the place up i will

00:44:35how'd it turn out mr feast yeah the upper crust and the workers you noticed mrs fielding

00:44:41ah thank you very much the bourgeoisie keep their feet under their own fat tables

00:44:46hello boys how was lunch where's the school of dinners i'm partial to cheese person do you want

00:44:55to lift no thanks i've got the car i'm going back to warpingham now i'll come with you me too

00:44:59no no you won't you're going to go to the dentist with me oh we have to i'll tell you what if you're

00:45:04very good at the dentist i'll get you some sweets how about that okay yeah it's a vicious circle fill

00:45:08the holes in our beastly little teeth and let them rot all over you excuse me are you the regular

00:45:29postman well it depends what you mean by regular i'll be doing this round a couple of months have

00:45:34you ever delivered a letter to mrs drage nester drage of saulsby well not what you might call

00:45:40delivered there's a redirection notice on saulsby you know like what you do in your moves see oh could

00:45:46you tell me where her letters are going to oh no i can't do that i'm afraid invasion of privacy

00:45:52well i think you'd better saulsby doesn't exist now look it's on the notice i've seen it playing

00:45:58is a pike star where could you show me up there that's suerby but i've never had no letters for

00:46:08suerby no i'm not surprised there's a very old man lives at suerby i shouldn't think he's had a

00:46:12letter for years and as you've only been doing the rounds for two months mr robson said i was to check

00:46:19but i don't know somehow i just never got around to it he'll have to hide off me look i don't want to

00:46:24get you into trouble but i must know where those letters are going to that's easy 193 dorcas street

00:46:31brighton i got it off by heart on account of my mother's name being dorcas look you won't tell

00:46:36anyone will you don't worry i don't want you to go darling why

00:46:45it'll only upset you if you find out she's shacked out with some down and out who lester

00:46:54what would you do if you found her nursing a black eye with i don't know some thug bellowing abuse at

00:46:59you whip out your checkbook i suppose money the universal healer

00:47:05i make a god of money do i i didn't say that not a god more a key to open all doors

00:47:16oh that reminds me jackie brought mark and christopher around oh god it was fine i gave

00:47:22them some sweets i found on a drawer mark didn't want to go do you know what he said he said let's

00:47:28stay mummy i'll give you 10p if you let me stay and i'm like that yes and that

00:47:44what are you doing to your hair nothing

00:47:47andrew what's the matter

00:47:54i don't want you to get rolled over by mr again

00:47:58i don't need a bodyguard there are other kinds of vulnerability like what

00:48:06i'll have it your own way you usually do where are you going

00:48:09i don't want you to bring me

00:48:13andrew

00:48:39I don't know.

00:49:09Oh, thank you.

00:49:27Don't do anything I wouldn't do, Peniel.

00:49:29Mr. Fielding, good morning.

00:49:31Good morning.

00:49:32Belle.

00:49:34Are you off, then?

00:49:34Yeah, I'm going to have to go like a bad idea.

00:49:37What are you doing up the dress?

00:49:39Where'd that put those papers?

00:49:41Going to Brighton.

00:49:42What for?

00:49:42Fine nester.

00:49:44I thought we'd decided to forget about her.

00:49:46You may have done.

00:49:47What is it with you and her?

00:49:48She's my friend.

00:49:50You were her meal ticket.

00:49:51That's all, darling.

00:49:52Oh, for goodness sake, you're beginning to sound like Uncle Jay.

00:49:55She's been a good friend to me, Andrew, when I needed one.

00:49:58I think she may be in trouble.

00:49:59If she is, you can bet it's of her own making.

00:50:01It hasn't occurred to you that she might not want you to go chasing Alba, huh?

00:50:05No.

00:50:06Why should it?

00:50:07Because she wants to make a clean break.

00:50:10Because she doesn't want you to know she's got her hooks into someone else.

00:50:14Because she's had enough of you and your ever-ready checkbook.

00:50:17I don't know.

00:50:18No, I'll take that back.

00:50:19You, perhaps, your checkbook never.

00:50:21Well, you should know how that feels.

00:50:32Brighton, you can go to hell for all I care.

00:50:47Benil, may I make us some breakfast?

00:50:49No, I'm fine.

00:50:51I've got to get ready.

00:50:52I'd love some coffee, though.

00:50:54I'll bring it up.

00:51:20I can't thank you.

00:51:24No.

00:51:27Wait.

00:51:27No.

00:51:29No.

00:51:31Oh, God.

00:51:33No.

00:51:33Oh.

00:51:34Oh.

00:51:35No.

00:51:35Oh.

00:51:37No.

00:51:38Oh.

00:51:39Oh.

00:51:40Oh.

00:51:41No.

00:51:42Yo, Kofi?

00:52:12That yoghurt penial, where did it come from?

00:52:14From Mr Feast, Mrs Fielding.

00:52:16Did you have any?

00:52:17I know, thank you. And not Mr Fielding. Nobody except you likes yoghurt.

00:52:25I'll call Mrs Whittaker.

00:52:42Hello? Oh, Jackie, in here.

00:52:48Are you all right?

00:52:50I feel dreadful.

00:52:53I think we ought to phone Harry.

00:52:55Because you've been throwing up?

00:52:57I wanted to go to Brighton today.

00:53:00Oh, in that case, I think we should call Harry.

00:53:03At least he'll put a stop to it.

00:53:05He didn't come till he's finished his other calls.

00:53:07Oh, any excuse, he'll be round in a flash.

00:53:10You'd be his first call if the whole of Solstead went down with bubonic plague.

00:53:15Don't make me laugh. No one could fancy me looking like this.

00:53:18I want to bet.

00:53:21I was terribly sick earlier.

00:53:23Did Jackie tell you?

00:53:25She said something about it on the phone.

00:53:27Nothing serious, is it?

00:53:29Let me see your tongue.

00:53:35Say R.

00:53:36R.

00:53:37I want to go to Brighton today.

00:53:42Why?

00:53:44I want to find Nesta.

00:53:48You'd be far better off staying where you are.

00:53:53You'd say if it was anything serious, wouldn't you?

00:53:55It's probably just a viral infection.

00:53:57You were looking a bit under the weather last week, I thought.

00:54:00Oh, is that why you said I should come and see you if anything was troubling me?

00:54:05I meant anything, Alice.

00:54:09Anything at all.

00:54:14Hugo.

00:54:16Great.

00:54:17Prescribed by her indoors.

00:54:18Hello, Harry.

00:54:24I'll just, um...

00:54:26Thanks so much, Harry.

00:54:28It was good of you to come so quickly.

00:54:31I hope you don't think, because we're friends, you mustn't neglect your other patients.

00:54:35But are you suggesting that I am?

00:54:37No.

00:54:39No, no, of course not.

00:54:41I'll leave a prescription for you with Miss Madsen.

00:54:44I'll call in and see you again tomorrow.

00:54:53Bye.

00:54:56Oh, dear.

00:54:58Well, you know the poor devil's always been besotted.

00:55:02Oh, well, never mind.

00:55:04Hugo.

00:55:06Could it save me a great?

00:55:08You know, I really wanted to go to Brighton today.

00:55:10I wanted to find out what Lester's playing at.

00:55:12Don't suppose you'd go for me, would you?

00:55:13Not on your life.

00:55:15Besides, I've got a business lunch.

00:55:17What makes you so sure she's there, anyway?

00:55:19The redirection notice.

00:55:21You're from a house that doesn't exist.

00:55:24I suppose it has occurred to you that she might be trying to get shot of you as well as the rest of us.

00:55:29I hadn't until Andrew said.

00:55:31Then why did she write to me?

00:55:32Why didn't she just disappear?

00:55:36There's another odd thing.

00:55:37It's just occurred to me.

00:55:39I paid croppers to repair her ring, but I didn't say how much when I sent it on to her.

00:55:43So how did she know to send me exactly the right money?

00:55:46Well, perhaps he'd given her a quote.

00:55:48Well, perhaps.

00:55:50But when she wrote to me, I threw her letters away because she said I needn't bother replying because she wasn't much of a correspondent,

00:55:55and to send her regards to Uncle Jay and Andrew.

00:55:57Fond of him, wasn't she?

00:56:02Who?

00:56:04Uncle Jay.

00:56:06Oh. How do you know?

00:56:08Well, she used to make him up a buttonhole every morning.

00:56:11You're romancing.

00:56:12No, no. Your friend Nesta had a roving eye.

00:56:16She was a mistress of the cliché.

00:56:19I remember as much as she used to brighten our lives.

00:56:23I remember how she used to call a sheaf a sheath and a corsage a cortege.

00:56:29What's supposed to be the matter with you?

00:56:34I'm supposed to have a virus.

00:56:36A virus? Well, I don't know what we're all doing in here, then.

00:56:39That's a fine thing to spread about the works.

00:56:43I suppose a virus is a newfangled name for the flu.

00:56:46I'm fine. I'm going to Brighton later.

00:56:50Well, I wouldn't if I were you.

00:56:52Well, you've got Watson name to wait on you,

00:56:54even if young Lockingby's away earning his keep for the inside of a day.

00:56:59Oh, look out. She's going to chuck up again.

00:57:01No, I'm not.

00:57:03You must admit it's odd that I'm struck down with a mystery virus

00:57:06just when I'm on the point of finding Nesta.

00:57:07Oh, sheer coincidence. You always were a one for dramatising yourself.

00:57:13I wasn't.

00:57:16Well, look at you now.

00:57:28Mrs Hilding, you're not bursting.

00:57:30No, no, I'm fine.

00:57:32I'm going out, Peniel, to see Mrs Drage.

00:57:33I wonder if you could call Dr Blundin and say I'm much better

00:57:37and he needn't call again.

00:57:38Oh, please, I'm not good with a telephone.

00:57:41Then you obviously need practice.

00:57:43Oh, I'm going to the post office today.

00:57:44Does your brother still collect?

00:57:46Yes.

00:57:47I'll give him a first-day cover.

00:57:49Thanks.

00:58:08That's 193. Over there, look.

00:58:51Hello, I'm Paulie.

00:58:52No business anyway.

00:58:55So, I'm going to show you the first one on the third one.

00:58:57It's on board again for the fifth one.

00:58:59Two is on board again for second.

00:59:01Three and four.

00:59:03And in four and four, a long way behind.

00:59:07After these is quite a bit.

00:59:10And they're coming down in the second round.

00:59:11And three and five, a last in third.

00:59:14But they'll destroy the heels of the university final in our last beat.

00:59:19Here we go.

00:59:49Come on, Dad. Get out of here.

00:59:57He's not a bomb now.

01:00:19Do you usually walk into other people's rooms, uninvited, whoever you are?

01:00:27Oh, I'm so sorry. I was looking for someone.

01:00:30Who?

01:00:31Mrs. Drage. Mr. Drage?

01:00:33There was no one at reception and no one came when I rang the bell.

01:00:35I saw her name in the register.

01:00:37And the key to her room...

01:00:39Erm...

01:00:43The key to her room wasn't on its hook, so I...

01:00:46Mrs. Drage, eh?

01:00:49It's probably the wrong room.

01:00:50No.

01:00:53Is she not in?

01:00:55Not what you'd might call in.

01:00:58She's not a resident.

01:00:59But you do know her?

01:01:01Not what you'd might call no.

01:01:04Close the door.

01:01:17She has been here.

01:01:19I haven't seen Mrs. Drage for, let me see, six weeks now.

01:01:25Oh, it'll be all of that.

01:01:27It's funny, you asking.

01:01:30The hotel being where it is, one attracts rather a passing trade.

01:01:33Only Mr. Drage came in himself, barely an hour ago.

01:01:40Mr. Drage?

01:01:41No, no, she's a widow.

01:01:42There isn't a Mr. Drage.

01:01:44Is that so?

01:01:45Oh, well.

01:01:47You've seen as much of the human comedy as I have.

01:01:51She could, of course, have married again.

01:01:52Someone of the same name?

01:01:57I'd say that was her business, wouldn't you?

01:02:04Did Mrs. Drage come here on the 7th of August?

01:02:08You wouldn't be the fuzz, would you?

01:02:10Do I look like a policewoman?

01:02:12These days, it's hard to tell.

01:02:15Look, if it's her address you require, I'm afraid I can't help.

01:02:20Mr. Drage only came in to collect her mail.

01:02:24Her mail?

01:02:24That's all I can tell you.

01:02:40What has she done?

01:02:41Nothing.

01:02:42She's a friend of mine and I want to find her, that's all.

01:02:48She booked for that night, but she never arrived.

01:02:51Mr. Drage called and cancelled.

01:02:53But you've got mail for her.

01:02:54Not what you'd call mail.

01:02:56Two or three letters.

01:02:58And a little parcel.

01:02:59And you say a little parcel.

01:03:01About so.

01:03:03And you gave it to the man that was here this morning?

01:03:05I gave it to Mr. Drage.

01:03:07With her letters?

01:03:08Why not?

01:03:09You knew him well.

01:03:11Not what you'd call well.

01:03:13Better than some.

01:03:15He and his wife have been coming here most weekends for some while.

01:03:19You were on friendly terms.

01:03:20I wouldn't start making insinuations if I were you.

01:03:24In fact, you've been ill-advised to come here at all.

01:03:28Poking your nose in where he doesn't belong and flaunting your money.

01:03:31Me?

01:03:31Ready?

01:03:38Me?

01:03:39No!

01:03:40No!

01:03:41No!

01:03:42Taxi!

01:04:03Taxi!

01:04:07Could you take me to the station, please?

01:04:12It wasn't funny. It was horrible.

01:04:23And I was feeling sick as a cat.

01:04:26I told you she should never have gone.

01:04:29Well, I suppose I'll have to stop looking for her now.

01:04:33You suppose? I thought, if nothing else, the mystery was solved.

01:04:36Not really. Not all of it.

01:04:39How could she write and thank me for a ring that she never even got?

01:04:44And why was that man? I mean, he's not her husband.

01:04:47Why did he come to the hotel to collect her letters just before I arrived?

01:04:51I mean, that's not a coincidence.

01:04:52Darling, you don't know that the letters in the parcel were even yours.

01:04:55No, I didn't ask him where they came from. I just assumed.

01:04:58You just assumed.

01:05:00If the place is used as an accommodation address, they might have had dozens of letters for her.

01:05:04The boyfriend could have been coming in once a week to collect them.

01:05:07No, darling. I got the impression it was his first visit since Nestor disappeared.

01:05:11I mean, he took all the letters.

01:05:13Darling, how can you talk about impressions?

01:05:15You've been ill. You've been ill. You say yourself you weren't feeling well.

01:05:20What do you mean?

01:05:25You were ill and nervous and uneasy. Don't underestimate your imagination, Belle.

01:05:31My imagination? So you think I'm being neurotic?

01:05:35Of course I don't.

01:05:37I'm a neurotic barren spinster!

01:05:39For God's sake, Nestor was a menace when she was alive.

01:05:41If the bloody woman's gonna make our life a misery, now she's disappeared.

01:05:44Alive?

01:05:46You just said when Nestor was alive.

01:05:49Slip of the tongue.

01:05:51I meant around.

01:05:53You said alive.

01:05:56Okay.

01:05:57Suppose which I don't believe for one moment.

01:05:59Just suppose she has killed herself, even been killed.

01:06:02What's it to do with you or us?

01:06:04Honestly, you're becoming hysterical about this whole stupid business,

01:06:07if you don't snap out of it, you're gonna drive me...

01:06:09drive me to drink.

01:06:12Or to go off in search of a bit of peace and quiet.

01:06:15You mean another woman?

01:06:17I'll kill myself.

01:06:19I was joking.

01:06:20I'm not.

01:06:21I'd rather die than live without you.

01:06:37Did she manage to eat anything?

01:06:50Almost everything.

01:06:51And she's dressed and looking as good as new.

01:06:54Thank God.

01:06:56Now, do you have a moment?

01:07:01Yeah, sure.

01:07:02I have a problem.

01:07:03You see?

01:07:04I've tried, but...

01:07:05Don't worry, Pernell.

01:07:06We'll sort of know when I give back.

01:07:08Wow.

01:07:09Pernell said you were looking better, but you didn't prepare me for this.

01:07:10What?

01:07:11You look even more beautiful than the first time I said I, isn't you?

01:07:15I'm sorry about last night.

01:07:17Sorry.

01:07:18What's the mess with your hand?

01:07:20Oh, this writer's cramp.

01:07:22I did a big stint on the book this morning.

01:07:24Well, let me buy you a word processor.

01:07:26I don't want a word processor.

01:07:27I don't even want a typewriter.

01:07:28I like writing in longhand.

01:07:29Anyway, I prefer writer's cramp to what I was getting last night.

01:07:31What was that?

01:07:32Husband's ear.

01:07:33I hate you.

01:07:34No, you don't.

01:07:35No, you don't.

01:07:36No, no.

01:07:37No, no.

01:07:38No, no.

01:07:39No, no.

01:07:40No, no.

01:07:41No.

01:07:42No.

01:07:43No.

01:07:44No.

01:07:45No, no.

01:07:46No, no.

01:07:47No.

01:07:48No, no.

01:07:49No.

01:07:50No.

01:07:51No.

01:07:52No.

01:07:53No.

01:07:54No.

01:07:56No, I don't.

01:08:01I've got to go to work.

01:08:04No, you don't. Let's have a picnic.

01:08:06It's a wonderful idea, but I really don't...

01:08:08You've got the day off.

01:08:09What do you mean?

01:08:10It's all right. I spoke to Uncle Jay.

01:08:12But you haven't spoken to me.

01:08:13It was supposed to be a surprise.

01:08:15Well, it's certainly that.

01:08:17Oh, Andrew.

01:08:18Belle, I'm trying to make something of that niche your uncle found for me.

01:08:21If only for my self-respect.

01:08:23There are one or two people who are finally coming round to believe

01:08:26that I might actually have a contribution to make.

01:08:29Darling, it makes me look ridiculous

01:08:31if you can arrange for me to have the day off

01:08:33just because the sun's shining

01:08:34and all of a sudden you feel like having a picnic.

01:08:37I'm sorry. I thought you'd be pleased.

01:08:39You thought.

01:08:42Everything I do is wrong.

01:08:43That's not true.

01:08:45But I do think you're wrong about Nesta.

01:08:48This has nothing to do with Nesta. This is us.

01:08:50We can't have a conversation without fighting.

01:08:53You hate my family, my friends, your job.

01:08:57You think I'm being unrealistic and erotic.

01:08:59Well, I think you're being stubborn and narrow-minded.

01:09:02I thought a day away from it all might do us a lot of good

01:09:04and that's why I talked to Uncle Jay.

01:09:05But if your pride is more important than our marriage...

01:09:08Belle? Belle!

01:09:13What?

01:09:14Do you know what I think?

01:09:18No.

01:09:18We should go on a picnic.

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