- 7/3/2025
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TVTranscript
00:30You, Abel, what's your mother's name?
01:00Thank you, ladies.
01:14Hey, Sarge, there's no bloody coming, man.
01:19Watch your lip.
01:20You are a little man.
01:23What's that thing on your head?
01:24Take it off.
01:27Look, Abel, what's your mother's name?
01:30Where does she live?
01:33Where does she live?
01:34It's pro.
01:35Where's that?
01:36And what part of your underwear is this, then?
01:51Liverpool.
01:52It's been a long time for you.
01:59Yes.
02:00Come on.
02:02Michael.
02:03Yes.
02:04Would you just say a few days?
02:05Yes.
02:08Come on.
02:09Dad.
02:23You're supposed to be in bed with a headache.
02:25Gone.
02:26That was quick.
02:27Well, it hasn't, as a matter of fact.
02:28I felt a bit guilty of staying in bed all day.
02:31Is that my breakfast?
02:32Well, yes.
02:32I was going to bring it up to you, but...
02:34You don't need to now.
02:34I'll have an excellent song.
02:35Oh, that's all the thanks we get.
02:36Oh, dad, man.
02:41Oh, dad.
02:42Um, how's John this morning?
02:45Didn't you hear?
02:46A bit.
02:47Same as last night.
02:48We both are.
02:49The thought of seeing his mother that's sitting on my nerves.
02:52Well, nobody's forcing her to go over there, love.
02:54Oh, no, I know.
02:55It's not force.
02:56It's blackmail.
02:58Well, can't you just say you don't want to go and leave it at that?
03:00After all, he is your husband.
03:02When was it ever as simple as that?
03:05I don't know.
03:06The longer you know someone, the more difficult it gets.
03:09It seems impossible to be honest with each other somehow.
03:11How do you mean, love?
03:13Oh, it's little things.
03:17Like the row last night.
03:19You know, they just put up barriers,
03:22and you just can't get through to each other.
03:25Takes two, you know.
03:26I know, I know.
03:27I suppose it's as much my fault as his.
03:29Well, don't you think all he wants is little moral support?
03:32After all, his mother's bad enough when she's well.
03:34But when she's here.
03:36See?
03:37Yeah, please.
03:38I'll bring it through to you as soon as the kettle's boiled.
03:40Now, off you go.
03:41And don't you dare to drop any crumbs.
03:46Ah, morning.
03:47How's the invalid?
03:48Er, convinced he's a death's door.
03:50The way you two are carrying on.
03:52Yeah, sometimes I think that he doesn't like being pampered.
03:54Well, he's got the pride of a car horse.
04:03That's his trouble.
04:03Well, he's not the only one.
04:05How's Johnny?
04:05Is he dressed yet?
04:07Yes.
04:07I'll take him next door in a minute.
04:10He will be all right there for the day.
04:11All right, all right.
04:13Tea for you, too.
04:15Look, if you really don't want to come...
04:17Look, I've said I'm coming.
04:19Now, let's leave it at that, shall we?
04:20All right.
04:21There are worse things in life, you know.
04:23I know.
04:24Don't tell me.
04:25They happen at sea.
04:43Oh, sorry.
04:44All right.
04:47Anything interesting?
04:48Oh, it was a bit about the trials.
04:49They start in November.
04:54Funnily, isn't it?
04:55I wonder when they'll get around to trying our lot.
05:01How do you think our daughter will be when she meets me?
05:04Barbara?
05:05Fine.
05:07She's used to it.
05:08Used to it?
05:09Well, you know, before I went away to Germany,
05:11there was Margaret.
05:13Are you worried about seeing her?
05:14Oh, well, Barbara never really liked her.
05:17And then after that, there was a rash of brief encounters.
05:20It's funny the way it never really used to affect her, not on the surface anyway.
05:23I suppose she grew accustomed to it.
05:25You know what it's like.
05:27People passing through.
05:28It's always the same.
05:31Is it?
05:31There's a phone box over there.
05:34Why didn't you ring them?
05:35The Ashtons.
05:36Oh, yes.
05:37There's no use putting it off.
05:39You know, Ian, I can hardly see myself as a matron.
05:46Face like an anvil, grip like vice, and not a shred of humour.
05:50Me?
05:51No, or at least I hope not.
05:53It depends what you want, doesn't it?
05:55I mean, you have a future now as a nurse.
05:58Hmm.
05:59Or as a wife.
06:01There has to be a choice.
06:03Well, that depends.
06:04On what?
06:06Well, you know very well.
06:08Children.
06:10Well?
06:10Oh, look, Ian.
06:11You know, I was very lucky.
06:13Have been, that is.
06:15I mean, if I'd have had children by my first wife,
06:17things would have been, well, that much more difficult.
06:20Yes, but you didn't.
06:21No.
06:22And you count that lucky.
06:23Well, in the circumstances, yes.
06:25Well, that can't have done much for your marriage.
06:28Oh, precisely.
06:30And now there's hours to think about.
06:32As far as I remember,
06:34you used to say you didn't want children cluttering up the place.
06:37Little brats, you call them.
06:39You were very keen on being the modern, emancipated woman.
06:42Yes, well, that was some time ago.
06:43In any way, brats are other people's children.
06:45You change your mind?
06:47Oh, look, it's not a question of changing my mind, Ian.
06:49I mean, every woman wants a family.
06:51Of course I want a family.
06:52Home, children.
06:56It's not that.
06:57It's just a question of choosing the right time.
07:02The right moment.
07:13Well, let's move.
07:27I don't know.
07:28I don't know.
07:29Not much, is it?
07:47It's all right.
07:49A roof, a place to rest, a bed for a few days.
07:53I've been in worse.
07:55Not over here, though.
07:58Where?
07:59All over.
08:00Italy mainly.
08:02Before the war.
08:05We used to go there in the holidays when I was teaching.
08:09A place called Perugia, about Florence.
08:18I've never been abroad.
08:21Apart from Germany, that is.
08:26We could hardly afford it.
08:29It seemed worth it at the time.
08:32I remember one place.
08:34We had a room on the ground floor.
08:36When you opened the door, the chickens used to come in from the yard.
08:43Roland died there.
08:47Pneumonia in the height of summer.
08:49Oh, I thought you said he died in England.
08:54Oh, I hardly knew you when I said that.
08:57Now we're on holiday.
09:00Trains when we could afford it.
09:02Walking mostly.
09:07Those chickens were so tame.
09:09I came back to find one of them sitting on his body.
09:13Oh.
09:14Oh.
09:18You don't have to talk about it, you know.
09:21Oh, it doesn't matter.
09:22It's past.
09:23I can only remember the chickens and the sun.
09:27And the kids' voices shouting about the dead English.
09:32It's gone now.
09:36Will you be seeing Margaret this afternoon?
09:39My father said she's gone away.
09:40It's for the best.
09:42Don't you want to see her?
09:43No.
09:43I would if I were you.
09:48If only do you know it didn't matter anymore.
09:51I meet Roland sometimes, only it isn't him.
09:56Oh.
09:58Well, as you said, it's past.
10:00And anyway, I wouldn't want to upset her.
10:02You sure?
10:03Yeah.
10:04But actually seeing her might bring something back to you.
10:07Well, it doesn't matter.
10:08She won't be there.
10:09Good.
10:13You know, Michael?
10:24It surprises me sometimes, the things we don't know about each other.
10:29I hadn't realized I hadn't told you about Roland.
10:35Well, it's not unusual.
10:36People seldom tell each other the truth.
10:39Oh, I wasn't lying.
10:40I'd just forgotten.
10:41Well, we all forget.
10:50Well, don't you like it then?
10:51What, love?
10:52Your food.
10:54Haven't as much as touched it yet.
10:56Has it yet?
10:57Look, love, for the last time, there's nothing wrong with me.
10:59I know I'm getting on, but I'm not going to pop off yet.
11:02All right, I'm sorry.
11:04No, no, love, I'm sorry.
11:07It's not much fun to come and cook your dad's lunch and then get shouted at, is it?
11:11There is something wrong, though, Dad, isn't there?
11:14Yes.
11:15Yes, there is.
11:16Well, why didn't you tell me about it?
11:19Well, I had a phone call this morning just as Margaret was going out.
11:22Who from?
11:24Michael.
11:25Michael?
11:26Michael Armstrong.
11:28Oh, no.
11:30He's coming here this afternoon.
11:31He said he had news of Philip.
11:33You're not worried about the meeting this afternoon, are you?
11:51Worried?
11:51Good Lord, no.
11:52Why, should I be?
11:53Oh, I don't know.
11:54I just wondered if things were going well for you, what with all this business about David and everything.
11:59Oh, no worries on that score.
12:00Howells has got the council well tied up and we'll have this deal through before you can say Jack Robinson.
12:05I'm very glad.
12:09Sefton?
12:10Hmm?
12:11I've been thinking of putting the money that I got from the shares to good use.
12:15Oh, I'm very glad to hear it.
12:17Yes, sir.
12:19Investments?
12:20Or something more solid like property?
12:23Property in a way.
12:25I think I might be able to help you there, Helen.
12:27Well, it's, uh, it's not really the sort of property that you mean, Sefton.
12:31Oh?
12:32No.
12:33You see, I was thinking of being a bit more, well, independent.
12:37Very admirable.
12:39You could start your own business.
12:40Of course, we'd have to get a housekeeper again, but that's easily done.
12:43Well, no.
12:44You see, the sort of independence I meant was not being here at all.
12:49Well, if anything really serious had happened to Philip, we'd have heard through the proper channels.
12:57Yes, the authorities are quite efficient as far as that sort of thing's concerned, aren't they?
13:01And we should know.
13:02Yeah, telegrams and things.
13:05Do you know, Dad, if you think back, Michael was really quite a nice man.
13:09Well, I always liked him.
13:12Did you?
13:12Yes, as your mother was disapproved, she and Mrs. Porter, in the end, they were right.
13:19John came back.
13:22It was me who wanted to accept things as they were.
13:26And, of course, as it happened, I was wrong.
13:30How it all comes back.
13:31What?
13:32Those times, before Ian was a consultant.
13:36Hey, do you know what Doris used to call him before we were married?
13:39The Archangel Gabriel.
13:40Oh, really?
13:42And Owen and little Peter Collins wanted to rush off to fight in case his friends laughed at him.
13:48Oh, it seems such a long time ago.
13:50Well, it is.
13:51And it isn't.
13:54Michael and Tony?
13:55Tony?
13:57Nothing.
13:58I was just thinking.
14:00Just a name.
14:00Michael's name.
14:02And all those things come flooding back.
14:04Things you think you've forgotten.
14:06You've lost me now, love.
14:09How about that tea, eh?
14:10Yes, yes, of course.
14:15Do you know, Dad, I sometimes think it's best left alone.
14:22Best forgotten.
14:25Sorry.
14:30Coffee.
14:31You didn't want a sandwich?
14:38No, no.
14:40Thanks.
14:42Don't feel much like food.
14:48Well?
14:49Oh, what?
14:50The train.
14:53Platform 3, 115.
14:55Oh.
14:55Well, we're going to be later than we expected.
14:58Yes.
14:59Well, are you going to ring and tell them?
15:01No, I won't bother.
15:02If you hadn't been so long in that shop, we wouldn't have missed the 12.
15:05Oh, and you wouldn't have met Marjorie, would you?
15:08You weren't very friendly, were you?
15:11I mean, for two people, you're supposed to have so much in common.
15:13I mean, I thought it very odd the way you left me to talk to her and sneaked off behind the
15:16habit jester.
15:17I'm trying to hurry you up so we catch the train.
15:19The quicker to get to your bring-up-it mother.
15:22Look, I know you don't want to go, but you have agreed, so there's no need to be such a bitch.
15:28Yes, you're right.
15:29I don't want to go.
15:30Well, John, when she told you about Michael, I thought that you hated her so much you
15:41wouldn't want to see her again, but that's what you said.
15:42Yes, yes, I'm...
15:44I admired you for that.
15:45I mean, she's never done you anything but harm.
15:47She is my mother.
15:48It's not that I want to see her, but if she is ill...
15:51But I owe her nothing.
15:53I say, don't come.
15:54All right, then I won't.
15:56Good.
15:57At least I can talk to Dad without you drooling over him all the time.
16:02That I will ignore.
16:04Is your prerogative?
16:08Aren't you going?
16:09Yes.
16:10Home.
16:12When I finish my coffee.
16:17If you don't mind.
16:25I don't want to pass me on!
16:26I can't catch me!
16:28Shuts up!
16:35Nice.
16:42It's good to be back.
16:46I'll get that bus in a minute.
16:47It'll only take me half an hour.
16:49You won't be long.
16:52No.
16:54No.
16:54No.
16:56I'll be there early.
16:59It won't matter, though.
17:03Barbara?
17:04She's coming to the hotel.
17:06If I don't fetch her from school.
17:09It's amazing, you know.
17:11She sounds so much older on the phone.
17:13Wait for me, wait for me!
17:31Wait for me!
17:32Wait for me!
17:32Wait for me!
17:32I wish I'd changed out of this uniform.
17:44You look nice.
17:47Margaret.
17:48She's never seen you in uniform.
17:50No.
17:50No.
17:51No.
17:51And she never will.
17:53Not now, anyway.
17:56Oh.
17:58I wouldn't mind if she did.
18:02It doesn't suit you.
18:20Thank you, dear.
18:29Have a night.
18:30I'll have to try to get you.
18:45Oh, come on.
18:47All right.
18:47All right.
18:49Did you get them?
18:51Yes.
18:51Some was for you.
18:52Coffee for me.
18:54Thanks.
18:56Well, that was all you wanted.
18:58Yes.
19:00How did they take it?
19:03Um, well, I spoke to Dad, obviously.
19:05He's all right.
19:06I don't envy him having to tell Mum.
19:07She'll think we're ignoring her deliberately.
19:11Look, love, if you really want to go,
19:13I mean, if it's going to prey on your conscience,
19:15you know, there's still time.
19:16No, it's all right.
19:16I've made up my mind.
19:17I'm not going.
19:19Good.
19:22Silly, isn't it?
19:24Hmm.
19:25In a way, like all small things,
19:26they seem important at the time.
19:29Yes.
19:31I'm sorry I was such a bitch,
19:32but, you know, you do,
19:34you start imagining things,
19:35and it's like little things
19:39from the row last night.
19:41I mean, you know they've got no substance,
19:43but, well, they do start to prey on your mind.
19:47Like what?
19:48Well, nothing, nothing in particular.
19:50Well, you just wonder
19:53if there's anything more to it
19:54than just bad temper.
19:57Well, there isn't, is there?
19:59Not as far as I know, no.
20:01Good.
20:03Well, that's all right, then.
20:08What should we do now?
20:12You're going home?
20:13Um, me?
20:16Well, yeah, I suppose so.
20:20I think I'll go and see Frieda.
20:21She should be back by now.
20:22I'd like to ask her how she thought Dad was.
20:26Oh.
20:27Well, yeah, I mean,
20:28you go and see Frieda?
20:31Christ.
20:32Well, you haven't come to see Margaret
20:34or me, so...
20:38Oh, is Philip all right?
20:39Oh, yes, yes, he's fine.
20:42Just a message for your father.
20:44Oh, well, won't you sit down?
20:53Cigarette?
20:55No, no, no, thanks.
20:59Dad, um...
21:00Oh, I don't expect you to be long.
21:02I think Aunt Helen wanted to talk to him in private.
21:08You're nervous, aren't you?
21:09To be exact, you're nervous of me.
21:12Does it show that much?
21:15Well,
21:16you never were much good at hiding things, Frieda.
21:19No, I wasn't, was I?
21:21But I've improved, then.
21:23Marriage?
21:23Oh.
21:24Oh, the rings.
21:26Yes, yes, I grabbed the first one that came along.
21:30Did you?
21:32No.
21:33Shall we say I grabbed the first one who liked me
21:35and who was in a position to like me
21:37and who I liked as well,
21:39if you see what I mean.
21:40Liked?
21:41Oh, yes.
21:42Well, no, I don't always like him.
21:45You don't always like the person you marry.
21:46It's more complicated than that.
21:48Depending on the reason why you're married.
21:51Hmm?
21:51Well, people get married for all sorts of different reasons.
21:56Just as they stay married for
21:58all sorts of different reasons.
22:02Oh, did you want to see Margaret?
22:04Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
22:05I don't.
22:06I, uh...
22:07No, I don't believe in digging up the past.
22:10That's...
22:12Honestly?
22:13Oh, yes.
22:15Yes.
22:15Anyway, what does it matter?
22:17Long time's passed since then
22:18and, uh...
22:19Well, a lot of things have happened.
22:22You're wearing a uniform.
22:23Yes, I didn't fight, you know.
22:24No.
22:25No, you didn't.
22:26I always admired you for that.
22:28Just the odd letter and...
22:30then nothing.
22:30No, I wasn't talking about Margaret.
22:37Oh, I know.
22:39But I was.
22:45Do you like it?
22:48Um, having settled down?
22:50Oh, yes.
22:51Yes, I do.
22:52Except that I don't regard it as having settled down.
22:54I mean, it would be a pity to regard your life
22:56as having ended at the age of 25.
22:58There's something to be said for security.
23:00You miss it, especially if you've had it already.
23:03Will you marry again?
23:04Oh!
23:04Oh, no, I don't think so.
23:07You get too used to being alone.
23:08It becomes difficult to start sharing things again.
23:11Oh, so you're alone now?
23:12Uh, yes and no.
23:14Well, that's a funny answer.
23:16Yes, I do have someone.
23:17And no, I'm still alone.
23:19She'll be gone soon.
23:21You see, Frida, we tell each other lies.
23:23We pretend we don't want the security.
23:25We pretend we're both just passing through.
23:26We're both too selfish.
23:31Too used to being alone.
23:34You mean you're both cowards?
23:37Or you could say that you're both being very brave.
23:40You could.
23:40But then, like most situations, you could say anything.
23:47There's a matter of fact.
23:48I was thinking of calling in on Edwin after the meeting.
23:50Oh, well, he wasn't too keen to see me, if the truth were told.
23:54He's got a visitor.
23:55Who?
23:56A man called...
23:56Oh, I forget his name.
23:59He was very secretive about it.
24:01No secrets in this family.
24:03Um, you'll be here later.
24:05Yes.
24:06Good.
24:07I've been thinking about that flat.
24:10You're quite right to want your own place.
24:12So I'm going to make you a small present.
24:15A present?
24:17Yes.
24:18I'm going to pay the deposit for you.
24:20I'll not have a member of this family skimping because they can't find the money.
24:24But, Sefton, I have got the money.
24:26You will live in the style to which you're accustomed.
24:29And if necessary, I'll help you to do it.
24:31Now, that's very kind of you, Sefton.
24:32No kindness.
24:38Our family's got to look after its own, hasn't it?
24:41Yes, Sefton.
24:42Our family has got to look after its own.
24:44Yes.
24:45Well, goodbye, Helen.
24:46Goodbye.
24:48Then why have you come here, if you don't mind my asking after all?
24:51This is hardly the first place you'd come on.
24:53You returned to England?
24:54It's difficult to explain, Mr. Ashton.
24:56I haven't come to tell you things.
24:57I haven't come with facts.
24:58I've come to explain something.
25:01Something Philip asked me to explain to you.
25:03Do you know him well?
25:05Uh, yes.
25:08Yes.
25:09In a way, we're the same kind of person.
25:12Except you didn't fight.
25:15Now look, Michael, before you go on.
25:17You sure he's all right?
25:18You're not trying to hide something to soften the blow at all?
25:21No.
25:22He's in no more danger than anybody else in Germany at this time.
25:26You see, it isn't a very nice place to be.
25:28You can't help but see.
25:31Oh, the guilt is as much mine as anybody's.
25:34Is it?
25:35Don't forget you are a conscientious objector.
25:37Yes, but that doesn't let me out, Mr. Ashton.
25:38But it's the shock of actually seeing what we did.
25:45All of us.
25:45Well, dammit, we had to.
25:46We had no option.
25:47You can't just sit back and watch a nation of people overrun.
25:52No, I know you can't.
25:53And we didn't.
25:53But when you see the results,
25:55you start to question it again.
25:58Yes, I know.
25:59No, you don't.
25:59Yes, I do, son.
26:00I can see how you feel.
26:01But it's just that I'm older than you are.
26:04I look at things in a different way.
26:05But how can you?
26:06You haven't seen the famine,
26:08the destruction of those people.
26:10I saw the 20s and the 30s,
26:11the general strike.
26:12I saw what that did to people.
26:14My own family, that by God,
26:16I lived through that.
26:17I know, but you haven't seen the bodies
26:20rotting in the streets.
26:22Well, what are...
26:23Look, Michael,
26:25I'm trying to understand,
26:27but I'm...
26:29I'm trying to see it in things I know.
26:32I know.
26:33I know.
26:35Well, anyway, Philip's out there.
26:37And the last time I saw him,
26:39he asked me to explain to you that
26:40he wouldn't be coming back.
26:43Not coming back?
26:44No, not for some time.
26:45But we were hoping.
26:46I mean, we had a letter some weeks ago.
26:48Well, it's not the sort of thing
26:48you put in a letter, is it?
26:49Well, I'd rather hear that from Philip.
26:53Well, so you can see
26:55why he should want to stay there.
26:57Yes, I can see,
26:57but I'm trying to weigh up
26:58my own personal feelings as a father
27:01against the interests of
27:02millions of strangers.
27:04There's no comparison.
27:05The sum doesn't even exist.
27:06Are you sure of that, Michael?
27:07Not whether it exists or not,
27:09whether it's up to you to judge.
27:10He's doing what he feels is right,
27:12what he thinks he has to do.
27:14And he's taking our guilt,
27:15to everybody's guilt for us.
27:17Everybody's guilt?
27:18What?
27:19For defending ourselves,
27:21our own lives?
27:21Of course.
27:23Well, what the devil
27:24do you expect us to do?
27:25Let the Nazis cross the channel,
27:27set up camp over here,
27:28and lie down and accept it?
27:30I'm sorry, Mr. Ashton.
27:31I didn't mean to get involved
27:32in this argument.
27:32I'm simply here to tell you
27:33how Philip feels.
27:35Well, I can see why
27:35he wants to stay over there
27:36and help people.
27:37It's a natural human instinct.
27:39Well, I'm his father,
27:40and as such,
27:40I want him back.
27:41He's my son.
27:46I think he hoped
27:47you'd understand
27:48in a different way.
27:50Understand that he's living
27:51up to his principles,
27:52the principles
27:53that you taught him
27:54to believe in.
27:57Shall I tell you
27:58where those principles
27:59come from?
28:00I spent the early part
28:01of my life
28:02fighting oppression,
28:03and in the end
28:03it got the better of me.
28:05But don't you see
28:05that's why we fought
28:06this war?
28:07To stamp out
28:08an even more violent
28:09form of oppression?
28:10And in the process
28:11we became the oppressors
28:12ourselves.
28:15Because that's what
28:16we are out there,
28:17oppressors,
28:17and that's why
28:17Philip wants to stay
28:18and help the Germans,
28:19because to him
28:19they're not Germans anymore,
28:21they're people,
28:22like us.
28:22Well, that doesn't mean
28:23that we've done wrong.
28:24Oh, but it does.
28:27Churchill?
28:28Hitler?
28:29Hitler called it
28:29the Third Reich.
28:31We called it
28:31the British Empire.
28:32What's the difference
28:33in the end?
28:35Margaret.
28:37What's so surprising
28:38about me?
28:40Well, nothing.
28:41Except I thought
28:42you'd be in Chorley,
28:42that's all.
28:43Well, I'm not.
28:44No, so I can see.
28:46And John?
28:47Oh, he's on his way home.
28:50Oh.
28:51Ian, would you mind
28:52I just want to tell
28:53Margaret something
28:54in private.
28:55Oh, all right.
28:57I'll be in the kitchen.
28:59What's so special
28:59that you can't tell
29:00your husband?
29:04Well, I've just
29:04come from home, Margaret.
29:05Michael's there.
29:09He came to see
29:09Dad about something.
29:11Well, if John
29:11goes home...
29:14Rita must have
29:15hung it in the cloakroom.
29:19Oh.
29:20Oh, um...
29:22Michael.
29:23John.
29:24John.
29:25Michael.
29:27Hello, Michael.
29:28Hello, John.
29:30Margaret's
29:31not come back yet, then.
29:33No, she's...
29:34Wasn't she with you?
29:35No.
29:36Mr. Ashton, I think I'd better...
29:37We decided not to go.
29:40My mother will be
29:41quite upset.
29:43Have you met my wife,
29:45Mr...
29:46once or twice,
29:48vaguely?
29:49Yes, I get the feeling
29:50that we've
29:51met somewhere.
29:53You
29:53know Margaret?
29:57Yes.
29:58Well, you've got my address.
29:59Yes, you'll be there a few days,
30:01will you?
30:02About a week.
30:03Of course you know Margaret.
30:06You should have introduced us properly.
30:09In fact, we met in this room,
30:11yeah?
30:11That time when I was ill.
30:13I expect you were hoping
30:14I wouldn't remember.
30:15Now, John.
30:17I knew a lot more
30:18than you thought then.
30:20Only it was easier
30:20to pretend that I didn't.
30:22It was a long time ago, John.
30:24Yes.
30:26Yes, it was a long
30:27time ago.
30:30I've been very rational.
30:32I understand, Margaret.
30:35There's no alternative.
30:37What else can you do
30:38when you meet somebody
30:39who expects you to wait
30:40for a husband
30:41who's halfway
30:41to being a ghost?
30:42Now, John.
30:43Michael didn't come here
30:44to see Margaret
30:45or to cause trouble.
30:46He came to see me
30:47to tell me something
30:48about Philip.
30:49Philip?
30:50Oh.
30:52But who's Philip?
30:53He's just another soldier
30:54who's abroad.
30:55I bet he's had a few too
30:56by now.
30:56What happens
30:57when their husbands come back?
30:59Why don't they talk about it?
31:00They try to forget,
31:01try to pretend
31:01it never happened.
31:02Philip's not like that.
31:03No, I know,
31:04but thousands are thousands.
31:07And it stays with you,
31:08you know.
31:09It's right there.
31:10It's right there
31:11in the bed.
31:12As if somebody's
31:14watching through the window
31:16all the time,
31:16laughing and
31:17saying he's been there too.
31:24Right, you going to answer it?
31:26Go on,
31:26I dare you to leave us together.
31:28Or do you want to go too,
31:30Mr Armstrong?
31:31Yeah, perhaps I'd better go.
31:33Yes, I think you'd better.
31:34Mr Ashton.
31:40Edwin?
31:41What's happened?
31:42Well, can I come in?
31:44Yes, yes, of course you can.
31:45I thought you might be Margaret.
31:46Well, I'm not, am I?
31:47Though at the moment
31:48there are other people,
31:49I'd rather be than
31:49Sefton Briggs.
31:50Still not to worry you.
31:51Well, shall we go
31:52in the front room, Sefton?
31:54John's,
31:54John's got a visitor.
31:56I thought you were
31:56the one with the visitors.
31:57Well, I was,
31:58until John and Margaret
31:58decided they weren't going away.
32:00I don't follow you.
32:01No, and I'm afraid
32:02I'm not making much sense.
32:04You see,
32:04Michael Armstrong,
32:06do you remember?
32:07Margaret's young man,
32:08the objector.
32:08Yes, well,
32:08he came to see me,
32:10and I'm afraid
32:11John came back too soon.
32:12Oh, we've both got
32:14our troubles then,
32:14haven't we?
32:15Well, I do certainly,
32:16Sefton.
32:17No, you can't fool me.
32:18You have come back
32:18to see her.
32:19Oh, good God,
32:20how many more times?
32:21No, I haven't.
32:23As a matter of fact,
32:24I had some news
32:24for your father.
32:25Well, you wanted to see her.
32:27You must have done.
32:27Look,
32:28I made quite sure
32:30she wouldn't be here,
32:32and if it hadn't been
32:33for your
32:33bloody change of plans,
32:36none of this
32:36would have happened,
32:37good day.
32:38Oh, so you feel guilty,
32:39do you?
32:39You can't face it
32:39because of what you did,
32:40because of the pain
32:41you caused.
32:41It takes two,
32:43you know,
32:44John.
32:45There was as much
32:45bloody pain for me
32:47as there was for her.
32:48When I came back,
32:49I was lying in the same bed
32:51and feeling her flinch
32:52rather than touch me.
32:53It wasn't all
32:54on my side either.
32:55Oh, no.
32:56Oh, no.
32:56Stop trying to tell me.
32:57When we first met
32:58at a concert,
32:59I saw her across the room,
33:00but it was she
33:00who came up to me.
33:01Yes, it was she
33:03who came up to me, John,
33:04just came up to me
33:05and spoke to me.
33:06We were a couple
33:06of strangers until then,
33:08so you see,
33:09it wasn't a question
33:09of me starting it.
33:11What?
33:11Because,
33:12because underneath
33:13that cool exterior,
33:14I don't know
33:15how far you realise this,
33:16but there's something
33:17about your wife.
33:18There's something
33:18about your wife
33:19even you don't know.
33:20No.
33:21No.
33:22Because if you like
33:23to think it was rape,
33:24well, then you're wrong.
33:30Has he gone?
33:32Michael?
33:33Yes.
33:35John?
33:37He's upstairs.
33:38Yes.
33:42Tell me what happened, Dad.
33:44Hello.
34:02Hello.
34:05Barbara, come.
34:06No, but she's not
34:07that late yet.
34:09I know.
34:09It's raining cats
34:11and dogs out there.
34:13Oh, and you're wet through.
34:15Hmm.
34:16Yes, I went for a walk.
34:18In rain, like that?
34:20Yes, in rain, like that.
34:23You'd better take
34:24your coat off then,
34:25wouldn't you?
34:26Sit down,
34:27I'll dry your hair.
34:28What were you doing
34:46when I came in?
34:47Mending.
34:48Oh, erm...
34:49Anything you want done?
34:51Shirts,
34:51socks,
34:52anything need patching up?
34:55No.
34:59Well, why don't you ask?
35:00How did it go?
35:01I don't have to.
35:02Oh.
35:03You saw Margaret,
35:04didn't you?
35:06Does it matter?
35:07Only if it's my business.
35:08Of course it's your business.
35:09Is it?
35:14As a matter of fact,
35:15I didn't see Margaret.
35:19Oh, it was...
35:21all a mistake.
35:22It should never have happened.
35:24It was John I saw,
35:26her husband.
35:28What happened?
35:29Oh, I...
35:31I told him the truth,
35:34or at least a version of it.
35:37But he got so aggressive,
35:39he kept forcing me
35:40into saying things
35:42I didn't want to,
35:43and...
35:44oh, it was...
35:46it felt
35:48as though I was
35:49back
35:49when I was
35:50like it used to be
35:52with Margaret,
35:52and...
35:54oh...
35:54John?
36:08Hello.
36:09I was wondering
36:09when you'd come down.
36:11Well, there I am.
36:14Yes.
36:16Hungry?
36:17I got this.
36:19Well, I could cook you something.
36:21No, thanks.
36:23Well, you could help me
36:25with the washing up.
36:26Like a good husband.
36:35He means a lot to you,
36:36doesn't he?
36:37who?
36:37No.
36:37Not now.
36:51He doesn't know.
36:52No, but he used to, didn't he?
36:53Well, of course.
36:54I mean, what do you expect?
36:56Look,
36:57why don't we just
36:58drop the subject,
36:59and stop letting it destroy us?
37:02Well, it's destroying me, all right.
37:04He's eating away at me
37:05all the time.
37:05But then you wouldn't know
37:06about that, would you?
37:07There you are, washed up.
37:08Because there's nothing like that.
37:09Nothing to get at you
37:10like it gets at me.
37:11Nothing that I've done.
37:12No, no, no.
37:12It's not like that.
37:13I've forgotten it.
37:14You know, as fast as one can
37:15forget something like that.
37:17Well, I haven't.
37:17Yes, but don't you see
37:18that we've got something
37:19different,
37:20something better now,
37:21something...
37:22something more, more secure.
37:24Is that what it is?
37:25We have passed up
37:27the excitement of living, Margaret.
37:30Which side does the breadboard go?
37:32No, it goes in the middle.
37:33There.
37:34It's just like your mum and dad.
37:35What have they had?
37:3630 years of what?
37:37Nothing.
37:37There's comfortable evenings
37:38in front of the fire,
37:40but in the safe.
37:42When are we going to
37:43start living again, Margaret?
37:45That's not the way
37:46that I look at it.
37:48You don't deny it.
37:49Naughty crumbs.
37:50Well, I can tell you, Margaret,
37:53that I'm not knuckling under anymore.
37:54No more blind acceptance for me.
37:58That's up to you, isn't it?
38:00Yes.
38:01Yes, it is.
38:02There was something
38:03that Michael said.
38:05Yes, he said that
38:06underneath your cool exterior
38:07there was something
38:08that I hadn't found.
38:11Where are you going?
38:12I'm just going to
38:12settle something, that's all.
38:13What?
38:14None of your business.
38:15John, John, it must be.
38:20Oh, John.
38:42You all right, love?
38:43Not really, but
38:46didn't you hear?
38:49Mm-hmm.
38:50Well, then,
38:50you'll understand.
38:53I'm sorry, love.
38:55Sorry?
38:56What for?
38:57Nothing.
38:58Just
38:58you and John.
39:01Uh,
39:02did John know
39:03where Michael was staying?
39:06Yes.
39:06Yes, I think he did.
39:07Why?
39:07It's just that I think
39:11he might have gone over there.
39:12No, I don't think
39:13he will have done.
39:15You see,
39:16when they were talking,
39:17they, um...
39:19What?
39:20Well, nothing.
39:21I got the impression
39:22they'd said
39:22all they had to say.
39:28Your father said
39:29he'd be back in an hour,
39:30didn't he?
39:31Yes, he's gone
39:32to get himself
39:32some proper clothes.
39:33Are you pleased to see him?
39:35Yes, of course.
39:36It was all right
39:37staying with Aunt May,
39:38but it wasn't the same.
39:39No, of course it wasn't.
39:41He's changed, hasn't he?
39:43Has he?
39:44Yes, since he went away.
39:46It's nicer now.
39:50Come in.
39:55Come in.
39:58Oh, I'm sorry.
40:00They told me
40:01this was Mr Armstrong's room.
40:02I must have got
40:03the number.
40:04No, no, this is the room.
40:05Come in.
40:07Hello, Mrs Porter.
40:09Hello, Barbara.
40:10Oh, you two know each other.
40:13Yes, yes, I used to teach
40:14Barbara at school.
40:17I'm Frances,
40:18Frances Redmayne.
40:19I'm afraid Michael's
40:21out at the moment.
40:22Oh, it was my husband
40:23that I was looking for, actually.
40:25Your husband?
40:26Why should he be here?
40:27Well, he's not,
40:29so it doesn't really matter,
40:30does it?
40:31Is it to do with this afternoon?
40:34Well,
40:35yes, yes, in a way.
40:36You see, we had a slight
40:37disagreement,
40:38and I thought,
40:40well, I thought he just
40:41might have come round here.
40:44Barbara, would you mind terribly?
40:46You know, of course.
40:50Goodbye, Mr Porter.
40:51Hi, Barbara.
40:52It was nice just to see you again.
40:56Won't you sit down, Margaret?
40:59You don't mind me calling you
41:00Margaret, I hope.
41:01No, no.
41:04Michael should be back soon,
41:06in about an hour.
41:07I didn't come to see him,
41:10you know.
41:11Didn't you?
41:12Honestly.
41:16I'll go in just a minute.
41:18There's no need, you know.
41:20There's no need for that at all.
41:24I suppose it's just that
41:25I've never been sure
41:26of anything in my life.
41:28Well, not really sure.
41:30Not even when we were married?
41:32No girlies.
41:33Well, I wouldn't know
41:34not being a girl.
41:35Well, seeing Michael again,
41:38I suppose.
41:39Brought back all the feelings
41:40I'd forgotten somehow.
41:42What, for him?
41:44No, I mean,
41:45that was just
41:46girlish infatuation.
41:47Childish romanticism.
41:49Well, if that's all there was to it,
41:50what is there to worry about?
41:52Tony.
41:54Tony Briggs.
41:56Here's your drink.
41:57Oh, thanks.
41:59Tony!
42:00Mmm.
42:02You see, ever since I was a little girl,
42:03I've, well, flirted with him.
42:06But I never thought
42:07anything more about it
42:08until...
42:09Until?
42:10The night before we got married.
42:13I was a bit tipsy
42:14and he was probably a bit drunk.
42:17And he kissed me.
42:19So?
42:21Well, there was something
42:22more to it than that.
42:23I mean,
42:24I suddenly felt
42:25that maybe we'd wasted something.
42:27And only realised it too late.
42:30Well, it seemed a waste.
42:31Oh, the grass is always greener.
42:32What?
42:33We all hanker after
42:34the might have been.
42:35It's only natural.
42:36So suddenly you saw Tony
42:38not as your cousin,
42:39but as just another man.
42:41And you were in a peculiarly
42:42sensitive frame of mind.
42:43And that, as I see it,
42:44is all there is to it.
42:45Really?
42:47Yes.
42:48Oh, I thought you'd be furious.
42:49Only if I have reason to be.
42:52Have I?
42:52No.
42:54No.
42:55No, you haven't.
42:58You see, I sometimes wish
43:00that I'd done something useful.
43:02Like you.
43:04Why?
43:04You were teaching.
43:06Anyway, you had a child
43:08to look after.
43:09Yes, but if I'd been away,
43:11things might have been different.
43:13No.
43:14It would have happened
43:15somewhere else.
43:17Like it did to you?
43:18Oh, no.
43:20No.
43:20You see, my husband died
43:23before the war even started.
43:25And there was no doubt about that.
43:26I was there.
43:28I see.
43:30Michael's told you.
43:31Everything about us.
43:33Yes.
43:35Well, a lot, anyway.
43:36I don't know if it's everything.
43:38You don't mind?
43:40No.
43:41No, I don't think I do.
43:45You see, I had a child, too.
43:47A lovely little girl.
43:50I discovered I was pregnant
43:52six weeks after my husband died.
43:55It was a funny feeling.
43:57What?
43:58Well, knowing that I'd conceived
44:00what must have been the last time
44:01we slept together
44:03before he became ill.
44:06Where is she now?
44:07Dead.
44:09Killed in an air raid.
44:10You know, that's something
44:16I've never told, Michael.
44:19You're very brave
44:20to be able to talk about it
44:22so easily.
44:24You grow to accept things.
44:27There seem very little reason
44:28to tell him.
44:29It's irrelevant somehow.
44:31Yes, I suppose
44:32that's the best way.
44:33You know,
44:37I don't think Michael
44:38meant to say the things
44:39he did to your husband
44:40this afternoon.
44:41Then why did he?
44:42Well, he said
44:43I think he was speaking
44:47as he felt then.
44:48Not as he feels now.
44:49Not as he feels now?
44:53How does he?
44:55I mean...
44:56I know what you're going to ask
44:57but you shouldn't.
44:59You can't expect me to answer it
45:01and I don't think
45:01you'd really want me to.
45:04No, I suppose you're right.
45:07Well, anyway,
45:08it doesn't really matter, does it?
45:10No.
45:12But you can learn.
45:16Things happen to you
45:17and for a while
45:19you try to cover them up.
45:21But you can learn from them
45:22and then you can forget them.
45:25Yes.
45:28Yes, I wish my husband could...
45:31Yes?
45:33Nothing.
45:37Footsteps.
45:43Hello, love.
45:44Hello.
45:49Margaret.
45:51Hello, Michael.
45:55Don't you think it's time
46:04you went to bed, Sefton?
46:05Good Lord, no.
46:07Tonight is but young.
46:09We've got the world
46:10in front of us, Helen.
46:12And our lives behind us.
46:15Out of reach.
46:17Sefton.
46:18Out of reach.
46:19You were quite right.
46:23You were quite right
46:24to want your own place.
46:28Your independence.
46:30The deposit.
46:31No, Sefton.
46:32No?
46:33No, I've changed my mind.
46:34I'm not going.
46:35I'm not going to get a flat.
46:36That's if it's all right with you,
46:37of course.
46:38A family should...
46:40A family must look after its own.
46:44Of course.
46:45Yes, yes, that's...
46:47Yeah, of course.
46:53We must celebrate!
46:56No, Sefton.
46:58No more.
46:58Are you awake?
47:04Hmm.
47:08What time is it?
47:11About five o'clock.
47:13Oh.
47:16I hate it woke me up.
47:22Shall I open the window some more?
47:24Hmm, please.
47:28What's out there?
47:46Nothing.
47:48Everything.
47:51Your, uh...
47:52What do you call it?
47:54The rest of your life?
47:56What you're going back to?
47:57Oh, no.
47:58No, it's not important.
48:04You see the clouds?
48:07The wind stops, they stop.
48:10When it changes,
48:11they go in a different direction.
48:19Let me see.
48:21It stopped raining, too.
48:24Hmm.
48:25Blown away?
48:26Yeah.
48:28Margaret?
48:31Oh, yes.
48:33Sure?
48:35Of course.
48:36Did it...
48:37Did it really matter?
48:55Oh, yes, Michael.
48:56It mattered very much.
48:59Well, I felt your fear of seeing her.
49:01Oh, I know.
49:04The wind's changed.
49:07But you see, I doubted you, Michael, for some time.
49:10Doubted me?
49:11Why?
49:12Because I didn't think that you'd forgotten Margaret enough to realize that this is different.
49:18I'm not her.
49:19I'm someone else.
49:21All right.
49:22All right.
49:22Well, you must see that, Michael.
49:24You must look underneath.
49:30One day it'll come again.
49:33A faint refrain.
49:35Oh, it'll be different words.
49:37Different people.
49:39They'll still be saying the same thing.
49:40Sieg Heil.
49:42Sieg Heil.
49:44And when we hear it, will we really know it for what it is?
49:47For sure.
49:48Before it's too late.
49:52Come on.
49:54Let's go back to bed.
49:58Michael?
49:58Michael?
50:01Yes.
50:01Let's go back to bed.
50:31Let's go back to bed.
51:01Let's go back to bed.
51:31The news that Michael Armstrong brought Edwin was disturbing enough.
51:38But a sudden turn of events brings Edwin far closer to Germany than he had ever thought possible.
51:43A family at war next week.
51:45A family at
51:51Hi, I'm I'm about to live in San Francisco.
51:53I'm
51:54a family at Pop!
51:54I'm
51:55a family at
51:56We're
51:56a family at
51:56own