Churchill's Secret Page #5

- That's it, sir.

Yes.

Do you think he heard anything?

I don't think so.

Nurse said he slept through.

They are who they are.

What's the phrase?

"There's a price to pay for greatness

but the great seldom pay it themselves."

- How are you bearing up?

- I wish people would stop asking me that.

Are you hungry? Mrs Lacey's summer pudding

has been shamefully neglected.

I think it was Napoleon who said that there

are three different kinds of courage.

Did he now?

Yes he did and I'm going to tell you

what he thought was the greatest.

He called it the 3-in-the-morning courage.

When everything is dark and cold

and all seems lost.

Winston says Napoleon taught him the

dangers of fighting on more than one front.

A lesson I don't seem to have learned.

You know what he says?

KBO.

"Keep Buggering On".

His answer to everything.

- What else is there?

- Does it never occur to you

that there ought to be something other

than buggering on?

None of us would be here without him.

- And he wouldn't be here without you.

- He'd be here whatever.

No, trust me,

he's only flesh and a little bone.

You're his rock, he knows that.

He always has.

"He stood

and heard the steeples

sprinkle the quarters on the morning town.

One, two, three, four

to marketplace and people,

it tossed them down.

Strapped..."

"Noosed, nighing his hour

he stood and counted them, cursed his luck

and then the clock collected in the tower

its strength, and struck."

Brain still works.

I learnt it at school,

but I'm not sure I could do that now.

The box on the desk, my cigars.

I'm not gonna do that.

I don't want a debate.

Good, cos you're not gonna get one.

Get Colville, would you.

Not if you're gonna ask him for a cigar.

Get my secretary. I'm the Prime Minister.

I need to know what's happened.

- Mr Colville.

- Yes.

The Prime Minister is awake,

he wants to speak to you.

Oh.

Thank you.

Prime Minister.

- How are you feeling?

- Get me a cigar, would you?

Of course, sir.

It's very good to see you awake, sir.

Indeed.

Have you, have you rescheduled Bermuda?

- November.

- Ah, good.

Mmm.

But that's after Margate, sir.

Good, that's good.

We need to start work on the speech.

- Are you sure?

- Of course I'm sure.

- Get me a whiskey, will you?

- Yes, Prime Minister.

Ah, Millie, pass me the ashtray would you?

He's not seriously thinking

of going to party conference?

According to Jock, he's already

drafting the speech for it.

If he is well enough to attend,

it'll be a good time for him to step aside.

How is Anthony? Is he fit to take over?

He's building up his strength.

He very much wants to.

- And there's been nothing in the press?

- Not a peep.

As far as the public is concerned,

Winston is taking a well-earned rest.

Mary, can the children

come up from the farm today?

Of course, Mama.

I want Chartwell to feel like

a family home again.

Somewhere to catch him when he realises

he won't be going back to Downing Street.

What I care about now is peace above all.

A time of peace.

"What I care about now is peace above all,

a time of peace."

- Do we have to do this again?

- Yes, we do.

I've lived a life like a man

who has pursued peace.

- Have you got that?

- Yes, you're a man who's pursued peace.

Like a ferret does a rabbit.

You're looking at me

as if that's not very good.

Well, it's not.

Mrs J Arthur Rank, please.

Yes, it's Mrs Christopher Soames.

Arthur! Hello, yes, it's Mary Soames.

Arthur, my parents were wondering,

would it be possible for you

to send a film down to Chartwell,

like you used to?

That Hamilton Woman?

No, we've seen that

with him a thousand times.

Do you have anything more recent, Arthur?

"My lords, ladies and gentlemen

I am sure you will be relieved

by the news from British Guiana."

I can't hear you.

What?

The Tory party are

a bunch of deaf old folk.

If I can't hear you,

they haven't got a chance.

- I'm sure...

- What?

I'm sure!

Oh, bugger!

Lost my place now.

Where was I?

Just start again.

"My lords, ladies and gentlemen..."

I can't squeeze it, I can't!

Why can't I use my right hand?

Don't shout at me.

I'll shout if I bloody well want to!

If you rely on your right side

to walk and pick things up

then your left side will never recover.

You'll walk like a listing ship.

"A lisping sh*t"?

A listing ship! Wash your ears out

and your mouth, too.

- Are you this nasty at St. Mary's?

- Yes, I am.

That was good.

Imagined it was you I was hurling.

I tried to imagine it was Herman Goering,

but that didn't make me angry enough.

Well, it was your best yet.

Millie...

You must be careful about

pushing Sir Winston too fast.

Oh, it's not me pushing, ma'am, it's him.

He wakes up every morning with a plan,

he calls it "action this day".

Yes, he would.

He's a remarkable man, Lady Churchill.

That's why he's making progress.

He is brave, yes, but this is

not a cavalry charge or a desert.

This is age itself he's up against.

He needs hope.

I've seen it before.

Hope is what makes the difference.

Millie...

my husband's ambition runs people over

and it comes at a cost.

Often to those closest to him.

If he fails and gets low, as only he can

it will not be you who has to pick him up.

You'll be in Australia

with your young man.

Yes, ma'am.

- He must be missing you.

- Oh, John?

No, he's happy, he's on his way.

And when do you follow?

In a month. Although I won't go,

not if Sir Winston needs me.

You must be excited.

Well, it's John that's pushed it, really.

He says it's full of opportunity.

Well, there is opportunity there.

For him.

But I like my job.

I'm proud of the NHS and...

not sure I want to be stuck on the other

side of the world, being just a wife.

I'm sorry, it's...

It's hard to explain.

But the closer it gets to going,

the more I think...

I don't know why

I'm putting his dreams before mine.

You can get that bloody thing

out of here right now!

I could always carry you.

Grandpapa, grandpapa, grandpapa!

Well done, well done, sir!

Winston, Nicholas and Emma

have been making biscuits all afternoon.

How delicious!

Did you make them yourself?

Yes.

- Who put all the sugar in?

- I did.

You did? Good man.

- And who cracked the eggs?

- Me.

Wow!

Mrs Lacey, you're out of a job.

Come on, if you could all take your seats.

- Oh, God.

- Let me help.

I hope we're not watching

Wuthering Heights.

No.

Alright everyone, lights out.

Where's Millie?

Jock, can you see where she is?

What's this one about, then?

It's about an old clock

which keeps breaking down.

Is it called Winston?

Miss Appleyard.

The Prime Minister's asking

for you downstairs.

Is something wrong?

No, he wants you to watch the film

with the family.

You can stop working for a moment.

You're one to talk.

- Oh...

- Sorry, darling.

Is it really serious?

Do you think you can fix it?

I don't know, I can try. It'll take hours.

Ambrose, Ambrose wait a minute!

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