Glorious 39 Page #5

Yes... Give me what you want me

to listen to, dear,

the record, and I'll listen to it

when I get home, I promise.

I'd love to have seen

The Last Days of Pompeii.

What? I didn't say anything.

Where is he?

Where the hell is Mr. Williams?

I'm late.

I'm late.

Well, come on! Come on, Gilbert!

- Where've you been?

- Anne...

We have to go straightaway.

No rehearsal.

It's clouding over, we're losing

the light. We need to film now.

Mark it, please House of Cheyney,

scene 105, take 1.

Action!

Uncle, I know you said not to take

the job at the big house.

But the master has been so kind

to me, and it is a fine opportunity.

There will be other opportunities.

I know you have your eye on him.

But he is engaged to another

and, however much you hope,

that situation will not change.

You should listen to me, Jenny.

Cut! Everyone,

I have an announcement to make.

Apparently...

I'm not quite sure how to put it.

We're now at war.

We're at war with Germany.

So it's happened.

This news is very shocking,

but we still have a job to do.

I've asked for a wireless to be sent up,

and when it arrives,

we can gather round it,

take an early tea break.

But for now, we'll pick up

from where we were.

Roll up. Action!

- Do you understand, Anne?

- Yes, I think so.

Which bit do you think

I don't understand?

That we're at war,

or what "action" means?

Come on, for God's sake! Action!

Thank you.

You're not waiting for me,

are you?

I'm sorry. It was a very long day.

- We've been watching the door.

- Mama's gone to bed early.

But we thought

we should all be together.

We thought today of all days

you might read to us.

"Thy love is better

than high birth to me,

"Richer than wealth,

prouder than garments' cost,

"Of more delight

than hawks or horses be;

"And having thee,

of all men's pride I boast..."

Goodness, Mick!

What did you do last night?

Sorry, miss, this is no place for you.

Come along.

You step outside.

I was just taking him his tea.

I was only a couple of minutes late.

He wasn't in his dressing room.

That's when I found him.

They say it looks like he shot himself...

They said I shouldn't ask but...

that's how it looks.

- Did you see a note?

- I didn't see much.

- So you didn't see a note?

- I couldn't really look at anything.

I was only a tiny bit late

and...there he was.

And I can't get through

to them on location.

I've called and called.

His scene is very soon.

It would be terrible

if they were expecting him.

- Yes?

- Can I speak to Lawrence Newbolt?

Putting you through.

I'm... sorry, I made a mistake.

I was misinformed.

Mr. Newbolt is not here.

He's gone to Paris.

To Paris?

But he was in Scotland.

He WAS in Scotland, and now

he's in Paris. He went this morning.

This morning?

- When will he be back?

- That is classified, of course.

I've just seen the dreadful news

in the paper about Mr. Williams.

I am so sorry.

- You must be so upset.

- Yes.

It was horrible.

I really was very fond of him.

Does anybody know what happened?

They say he shot himself.

That's what it looks like.

But there wasn't a note.

I waited for hours to see

if they would find a note from him,

a message.

- And they didn't.

- He may not have written one.

It's an extraordinarily

emotional time right now,

for me too.

It seems it was so recent,

the last war,

and having been

there myself, darling,

having fought in that delightful show,

I can tell you

I dream about it nearly every night.

I know a lot of people are very confused.

And I don't want to seem

hysterical or overdramatic...

You're an actress.

Some of that is required.

- Yes, that's true.

- You're so bright and original,

full of your stories and drawings,

always, never lost that.

Your comic knights and their adventures.

Yes, and so I don't want it to seem

as though I'm imagining things.

I understand.

And Gilbert may have killed himself.

But what if he didn't?

What if something else is going on?

I mean, first Hector and then him.

Why would they

concern themselves with Gilbert?

It doesn't seem likely, darling,

that they're linked.

I love you.

No one knows what each day

will bring at the moment,

and that's very disconcerting.

It applies to me as well.

One thing is certain:

we won't let Mr. Balcombe

anywhere near us,

whatever he's up to.

I will keep you safe.

Some things

I'm still good at, darling.

I just heard the news. It's awful.

It is amazing how much

has changed in a day.

It's incredible,

coming through the park just now

I thought I saw

this huge silver beast.

A silver beast?

It was, in fact, a barrage balloon

being inflated,

but it was moving by itself

along the ground.

And they say 2 million people

are being evacuated today.

And lots and lots of people

are having their pets put down.

Their pets?

Really? How awful!

Because they're leaving and

there's nobody to look after them,

or because they feel

it's being responsible.

- I may be going to America.

- To America?

- When are you going?

- Maybe very soon.

Things keeps changing, but at the

moment the government suggests

I should go there and try

and raise funds for the war effort.

Don't worry.

Remember what I said.

So can you go down to Norfolk

to look after Aunt Elizabeth?

She's staying down there.

You know she hates to be alone.

Your mother will join you

when she can. Won't you, darling?

I just need to leave this garden

in the best state I can.

It would be good if you could

go to Norfolk, darling.

Yes. They just want me at the studio

for one more day, to do some sound.

Miss Keyes!

These were in your dressing room.

I don't know if you meant

to leave them behind.

I think the cigarette case is Mr. Williams'...

but I didn't know who else to give it to.

I didn't see this

in my dressing room.

It was in a cupboard right at the back.

It will be a shock seeing him again, Anne.

You'll find it distressing

seeing Mr. Williams

springing back to life, so to speak.

Yes, of course it's strange...

so soon after.

Yes, that's why I thought

we'd get it out of the way,

get it done while we still can.

Who knows where we'll be next week?

You just need to do your first line

again. There was some noise on it.

Uncle, I know you said I shouldn't

take the job at the big house...

You look radiant up there,

Anne, don't you think?

..and it is a fine opportunity.

There will be other opportunities.

I know you have...

Gilbert is a bit detached, isn't he?

You can see it.

He wasn't quite there.

Obviously already decided

what he was going to do.

Uncle, I know you think

I shouldn't have taken the job...

Is that...?

That was a bit off, I'm afraid.

Maybe you should watch

the whole scene, get in the mood.

Perhaps we should have done that first.

I know you have your eye on him.

But he is engaged to another,

and however much you hope,

that situation will not change.

You should listen to it again, Anne.

What... What the hell is he doing?

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