Love and Loyalty: The Making of 'The Remains of the Day' Page #3

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The silver!

The silver!

Oh, my lord. Sorry.

You'll be all right.

Thank you, sir. I'm sorry.

What happened?

- He tripped with the tray.

- I saw it from the window.

This has never happened before.

- May I telephone the doctor?

- Yes, do.

- I'm sorry.

- Don't worry.

Your father feeling better?

He's made a full recovery.

Good.

We don't wish to see anything

of that sort ever happen again, do we?

- I mean, your father collapsing.

- Indeed not, my lord.

And it could happen anywhere.

At any time.

The first of the foreign delegates

will be here in less than a fortnight.

- We are well prepared, my lord.

- I'm sure you are.

What happens within this house

could have...

...considerable repercussions

on the course that Europe takes.

It means a great deal.

And it means a great deal

to me personally.

I had a German friend,

Karl-Heinz Bremann.

We fought on opposite sides

in the war.

We always said when it was over,

we'd sit down and have a drink...

...like gentlemen.

The Versailles Treaty

made a liar of me.

Yes, a liar, Stevens.

Because the terms we imposed were

so harsh that Germany was finished.

One doesn't do that

to a defeated foe.

Once your man's on the canvas,

it ought to be over.

My friend Bremann

was ruined by inflation.

Couldn't get a job

in postwar Germany.

Killed himself.

Shot himself in a railway carriage.

Since then, I've felt it my duty

to help Germany and to give her...

...a fair chance.

So this conference is crucial...

...and we can't run the risk

of any accidents.

There's no question

of your father leaving.

You're simply being asked

to reconsider his duties.

Of course, my lord.

I understand fully.

Good.

I'll leave you to think about it,

then, Stevens.

Thank you, sir.

I'm short-handed in the dining room.

I can use you in the servery.

- Thank you, Mr. Stevens, sir.

- Smarten up. Look sharp.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I might've known you'd be up

and ready for the day.

I've been up for two hours.

- That's not much sleep.

- It's all the sleep I need.

I've come to talk to you.

Talk, then.

I haven't got all morning.

- I'll come straight to the point.

- Do, and be done with it.

Some of us have work

to be getting on with.

There's to be a very important

conference in this house next week.

People of great stature will be

His Lordship's guests.

We must all put our best foot forward.

Because of Father's recent accident...

...it has been suggested that you

no longer wait at table.

I've waited at table every day...

...for the last 54 years.

It has also been decided that you

should no longer carry heavy trays.

Now, here's a revised list

of your duties.

Look, I fell...

...because of those paving stones.

They're crooked.

Why don't you get them put right

before someone else falls?

You will read the revised list

of your duties.

Get those stones put right.

You don't want those "gentlemen of stature"

breaking their necks.

No, indeed, I don't.

What is it?

You have what we can call

a roving commission.

In other words, you can exercise

your own judgment...

...within certain limits, of course.

Now, here are the mops, and...

Here.

- Are these me mops?

- Right. Your brushes.

And me brushes?

- And me mops.

- That's right.

What do you want me to do with them?

I think you know what to do with them,

Father. Look for dust and dirt.

If I find any dust or dirt...

...I go over them with this mop.

That's right.

Now, I suggest you start off...

...with the brasses on the doors.

There's that door there.

Then the door that's open.

And then there's this door here...

Here's your polish.

And duster.

History could well be made under

this roof over the next few days.

Each and every one of you...

...can be proud of the role

you will play on this occasion.

Imagine yourself

the head of a battalion...

... even if it is only filling

the hot-water bottles.

Each one has his own

particular duty...

... or her particular duty,

as the cap fits.

Polished brass, brilliant silver,

mahogany shining like a mirror.

That is the welcome we will show

these foreign visitors...

... to let them know

they are in England...

... where order and tradition

still prevail.

Thank you, Brian.

Mr. Lewis, the American,

has arrived.

He was expected tomorrow.

What have you done with him?

Mr. Lewis has been shown upstairs.

My godson, Cardinal, will shortly

become engaged to be married.

Indeed, sir.

I offer my congratulations.

Thank you, Stevens.

I feel very responsible for the boy.

He is my godson, and his father

was my closest friend, as you know.

And now that he's gone, well...

...I feel in place of a father to him.

I've appointed him as my secretary

at the conference.

He's been jolly thorough

in helping me to prepare.

I realize this is a somewhat

irregular thing to ask you to do.

I'd be glad to be of any assistance.

I'm sorry to bring this up...

...but I just can't see how on earth

to make it go away.

You are familiar with

the facts of life?

- My lord?

- The facts of life.

Birds, bees.

You are familiar, aren't you?

I'm afraid I don't quite follow you.

Let me put my cards on the table.

I'm so busy with this conference.

Of course, you are too...

...but someone has to tell him.

In a way, it would be easier for you.

Less awkward.

I'd find the task rather daunting,

I'm afraid.

I might not get to it

before Reginald's wedding day.

Of course, this goes far beyond

the call of duty.

I shall do my best.

I'd be grateful if you'd try.

It'd be a lot off my mind.

There's no need to make a song and

dance of it. Just convey the facts.

God! Stevens!

Sorry. Most sorry, sir...

...but I do have something to convey

to you rather urgently.

If I may, I'll come to the point.

Perhaps you noticed this morning the

ducks and the geese by the pond?

Ducks and geese?

I don't think so.

Well, perhaps the birds

and the flowers, then...

...or the shrubs, the bees...

I've not seen any bees.

- It's not the best time to see them.

- What, the bees?

What I'm saying is that,

with the arrival of spring...

...we shall see a most remarkable

and profound change...

...in the surroundings.

I'm sure that's right. I'm sure the

grounds are not at their best now.

I wasn't paying attention

to the glories of nature...

...because it's worrying...

Dupont D'Ivry has arrived in a foul

mood, the last thing anyone wants.

- M. Dupont D'Ivry has arrived?

- Half an hour ago, in a foul mood.

In that case, excuse me.

I'd better go and attend to him.

Right you are.

Kind of you to talk to me.

Not at all. I've one or two words

more to convey on the topic of...

...as you put it most admirably...

...the glories of nature.

But it must wait for another occasion.

I'll look forward to it.

But I'm more of a fish man.

- Fish?

- I know all about fish.

Freshwater and salt.

All living creatures would be

relevant to our discussion.

Excuse me. I had no idea that

"Monsieur" Dupont D'Ivry had arrived.

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