Cavalcade Page #4

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And a piece for Edith.

- And Edward.

- Yes.

- There now, run along.

- All right.

- Here, Edith. Here's your piece.

- Thank you.

- Which hand?

- That one.

- That's not my piece.

- Yes, it is.

- It is not!

- (GRUNTING)

- Edward's quite good, but Joey...

- (CHUCKLES)

- Well, Edward, are you all behaving?

- Yes, Mum.

- Listen, they're coming!

- The procession's in sight,

- and the servants are here.

- Oh, come in, all of you.

- You'd better go out on that balcony.

- Yes, ma'am.

(ANNIE GIGGLING)

(DIRGE PLAYING)

(CARRIAGES RATTLING)

- Look! Look! There's Father!

- Joey, stand still. Be quiet.

(PEOPLE CHEERING PROCESSION)

(HOOFBEATS)

That was Lord Roberts.

He held up his hand to stop them

from cheering.

Is that Bobs, Mum? Is that Bobs?

Now, children, stand absolutely still,

to attention as your father showed you.

Five kings riding behind her.

Mum, she must have been a very little lady.

(FANFARE)

(WALTZ PLAYING)

Adjutant General of the forces.

Lord and Lady Cumberland.

Captain Sir Albert Montague

and Lady Montague.

His Eminence,

the Cardinal Humbolt de la Torre.

Maharajah of Rantoula.

Earl and Countess of Norfolk.

- WOMAN 1:
I met Lady Marryot there.

- WOMAN 2:
Who did you say?

Marryot... Jane Marryot.

Oh, her husband's just been knighted,

you know.

Oh, those Marryots. I know them well.

- He thoroughly deserved his knighthood.

- Yes.

His war record was splendid.

You don't get a VC for nothing, you know.

Mrs. Harris and Captain Ronald James.

- Good evening.

- HOSTESS:
How do you do.

- How do you do.

- Sir Robert and Lady Marryot.

- How do you do.

- Nice to see you.

- How do you do.

- And you, Sir Robert.

- So glad you could be here.

- Thank you very much.

MAJORDOMO:

Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Pellier.

How do you do.

Well, Sir Robert.

Well, my lady.

- Isn't this fun?

- I think I want to run away and hide.

However, it may get me a little

respect from your children.

Oh, darling, they're wild with delight.

I'm so proud of you, Robert.

It's all you, darling. Always has been.

Is my hair all right?

(MUSIC CONTINUES)

I remember we was just near Pretoria

with the old regulars...

Fusiliers and that lot.

They all seemed sort of helpless-like.

So I went up to the commanding officer,

and I said, "Look here..."

Mr. Bridges, is Harry good for a drink?

- Has he had it?

- Yes.

He's good for it.

- What say, Harry?

- Hello, Alf.

So I went to the commanding officer.

I said, "Look here," I says.

"These lads ain't got no initiative," I says.

"Righto, Bridges," he says.

"You go down and tell them from me..."

- ELLEN:
Alfred!

- Coming.

"Go down, Bridges," he says, "And tell

the commanding officer from me..."

Alfred, will you kindly

come in here a minute?

(CASH REGISTER DINGS)

I'll tell you what he said when I come back.

Well, what is it?

Oh, come in here.

Alfred, how can you go on like this

day after day?

- What's the matter?

- I thought you was gonna pay

the rent to the brewers this afternoon.

- Well, what about it?

- What about it?

You ain't never been

on time with the rent yet.

Do you want to have us

turned out of the place?

Well, I've got to look after me bar,

I suppose.

You ain't gotta go

and drink up all the profits.

Oh, Alfred, ain't you got no pride left?

You were so respectable

when we was in service.

Well, you don't have to

snap a man's head off

just 'cause he wants to be his own boss.

Fine boss you are.

Dressed up like a public house loafer.

Now look here, Ellen. Don't you make me

have to speak to you severe.

I'm the boss here, see?

And my clothes are my affair.

Matter of fact, I was going along

to the brewers now, see'?

But don't you tell me what I gotta do.

- Has he gone?

- Yes, he's gone.

Hello, Fanny, me girl.

Been doing your lessons?

Yeah. Come on. Give your old dad a kiss.

Oh.

Too proud to kiss your old dad, eh?

Come on, now. You'll do as you're told.

Go on. Get inside.

Don't stay out here playing on the streets.

Freedom ain't for everybody.

There's some that it's better for them

to have a firm hand over them.

Oh, Mother. My, you are late.

Here, put your books down.

And go upstairs and put on

your white dress. Go on, hurry!

- Hello, Alf.

- Hello.

- Hello, Alf.

- Hello there. Hello, mate.

- Hello, Alf. How 'bout one?

- No, nothing to drink.

Just going to the brewery. Business, see?

Oh, one won't hurt ya.

All right.

- Only one, mind you.

- That's all we're going to have, just one.

(APPLAUSE)

Why, Ellen, she dances beautifully.

Come here, dear.

I knew you when you were

a little tiny baby.

The child's a born dancer, if you ask me.

Highly talented.

Highly.

On the go, you know,

from morning till night.

Have you any children, Annie?

Well, I haven't exactly,

if you know what I mean.

George don't believe in families.

Not in the retail business.

Now, what I mean, you've got

enough to do to look after the shop.

JANE:
Oh, I see.

ELLEN:
You see, my cousin George

is a greengrocer, milady.

(CLEARS THROAT)

JANE:
I see.

Can I press you to another cup,

my ladyship?

Oh, no, thank you, really. We've...

- it's getting very late.

- Yes, Mother.

And how was Cambridge

when you left it, Master Edward?

Oh, awfully nice, I suppose.

I'm at Oxford, you know.

Oh, Oxford. I've never been to Oxford.

But my husband has. Haven't you, George?

Yes. Nice place, Oxford.

Very antique, if you know what I mean.

Sir Robert will be so sorry to hear

of Bridges's illness, Ellen.

Ill? Alf ill? What's the matter with him?

Before you and Annie come, George...

I was explaining to her ladyship

about poor Alfred's bad leg.

- Bad leg?

- Yes, very bad.

He's been in horrible agony since Sunday.

(LAUGHS)

You would laugh at someone being hurt.

- Where is he?

- Upstairs in bed.

- I'll pop up and have a look at him.

- No, he mustn't be disturbed.

And how did he come to have the accident?

Eh... Cycling, Annie.

He was cycling and he fell off.

I didn't know he had a cycle.

He hasn't anymore.

Well, please tell him how sorry we are.

Come, Edward.

We really must be going now.

Here you are, dear.

It was ever so kind of you, milady,

to come all this way to see us

and to give Fanny that lovely doll

and everything.

Say good-bye to her ladyship, Fanny.

- Good-bye, milady.

- Good-bye, dear. Good-bye.

Good-bye, Annie.

I'm so glad you settled down so happily.

Pleased to have made

your acquaintance, I'm sure.

Good-bye, Ellen.

Please remember us to Bridges.

- We miss you both still.

- We miss you, too, milady.

Well, time changes many things,

but it can't change old friends, can it?

No, milady. Oh, no, milady.

Good-bye, Ellen, and good luck.

Good-bye, Master Edward,

and thank you for coming. Good-bye.

Alfred!

Oh, so this is why you wanted me

out of the way, eh?

Alfred Bridges, behave yourself.

Pleased to see you again, milady, I'm sure.

Welcome to our hovel.

Oh, proud and haughty, are we?

- Alfred, stop it! Stop it!

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