Darkest Hour Page #17

INT. LIVING ROOM/ DOWNING STREET - DAY

CLEMMIE, in her UNIFORM, listens to WINSTON’s broadcast on

the RADIO, as she has her portrait photographed by CECILBEATON. She is awkward in front of the camera.

95.

INT. BUCKINGHAM PALACE - DAY

The KING smokes as he listens to the same broadcast.

INT. HOUSE OF COMMONS CHAMBER - DAY

WINSTON:

-if necessary for years, ifnecessary alone. At any rate, thatis what we are going to try to do.

That is the resolve of His

Majesty's Government – every man ofthem. That is the will of

Parliament and the nation.

The British Empire and the FrenchRepublic, linked together in theircause and in their need, will

defend to the death their native

soil, aiding each other like goodcomrades to the utmost of their

strength.

ANGLE ON:
ELIZABETH, who is “mouthing” these words, some ofwhich she already knows by heart -

WINSTON (CONT’D)

Even though large tracts of Europe

and many old and famous States have

fallen or may fall into the grip of

the Gestapo and all the odious

apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall

not flag or fail.

We shall go on to the end.

We shall fight in France--we shall

fight on the seas and oceans, we

shall fight with growing confidence

and growing strength in the air, we

shall defend our island - whatever

the cost may be. We shall fight on

the beaches, we shall fight on the

landing grounds, we shall fight in

the fields and in the streets, we

shall fight in the hills; We shall

never surrender, and if, which I do

not for a moment believe, this

island or a large part of it were

subjugated and starving, then our

Empire beyond the seas, armed and

guarded by the British Fleet, would

carry on the struggle, until, in

God's good time, the New World,

with all its power and might, steps

forth to the rescue and the

liberation of the old!

96.

The LABOUR BENCHES begin to wave their papers in the air andcall their approval, (it is against Parliamentary etiquetteto ever clap in the House of Commons).

WINSTON’S children bang their hands on the woodwork.

WINSTON’s CONSERVATIVE colleagues all look to CHAMBERLAIN.

CLOSE ON:
HALIFAX, looking down from the GALLERY atCHAMBERLAIN, closes his eyes, knowing what is coming next -

-CHAMBERLAIN TAKES OUT HIS WHITE HANDKERCHIEF, and tampshis forehead with it. It’s enough. The CONSERVATIVE

FACTION, ignited, rises to their feet in THUNDEROUS SUPPORTof WINSTON.

REACTION HALIFAX: Defeat.

WINSTON turns to ANTHONY EDEN, registering surprise at thestrength of support, and winks -

EDEN grins and SHAKES his FRIEND’s HAND.

EDEN:

Changed your mind?

WINSTON:

Those who never change their mindnever change anything.

The UPROAR in the HOUSE continues, those in the gallery beginto throw their parliamentary papers into the air which thenrain down into the chamber.

STANHOPE:

What just happened?

HALIFAX:

He just mobilized the Englishlanguage--and sent it into battle.

Every man is on his feet waving their parliamentary papersand throwing them into the air, shouting and stamping.

Smiling with due deference WINSTON takes up his things andwalks down the central aisle of the house as papers continueto rain down from the gallery like ticker tape or confetti.

As the GREAT DOORS of the COMMONS close behind him - the

screen becomes BLACK.

Up with END CAPTIONS:

97.

ALMOST ALL OF THE 300,000 TROOPS AT DUNKIRK

WERE CARRIED HOME BY WINSTON'S CIVILIAN FLEET

NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN DIED SIX MONTHS LATER

VISCOUNT HALIFAX WAS SOON REMOVED BY WINSTON

FROM THE WAR CABINET AND SENT TO WASHINGTON

ON MAY 8, FIVE YEARS LATER,

BRITAIN AND ITS ALLIES WOULD DECLARE VICTORY

WITHIN WEEKS OF VICTORY, CHURCHILL AND HIS PARTY WERE

VOTED OUT OF OFFICE BY THE BRITISH PEOPLE.

"SUCCESS IS NOT FINAL, FAILURE IS NOT FATAL: IT IS THE

COURAGE TO CONTINUE THAT COUNTS."

WINSTON CHURCHILL

Roll End Credits.

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