Love and Loyalty: The Making of 'The Remains of the Day' Page #8

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Will there be anything else?

What?

- Thank you. Good night.

- Good night, my lord.

Mr. Cardinal, good evening.

- How are you?

- Very well.

- Delighted. And your wife?

- Very well too, sir.

- How are you?

- Very well, sir.

I've gone and got myself in a bit

of a mess with arrangements.

Would His Lordship put me up?

I'll tell him you're here.

I hope there's nothing special tonight.

His Lordship expects

some gentlemen after dinner.

I'll keep my head down, then.

I've got to write my column anyway.

- You're in time for dinner, if you like.

- I hoped I would be.

How is my godfather? Fit?

Very well. Some refreshment?

Thank you.

Some whisky would be lovely.

- Who's he expecting tonight?

- I am unable to help you there.

What, no idea?

No idea at all, sir.

- I'll keep my head down all the same.

- I think it's a good idea, sir.

Come in.

Mr. Cardinal has just arrived,

out of the blue.

He'll expect his usual room.

- I'll see to it before I leave.

- You're going out?

I am indeed.

It's Thursday.

Of course. I'd forgotten. Sorry.

Is something the matter?

Some visitors are arriving,

but it doesn't involve you.

We agreed that Thursday

is my day off...

...but if you need me urgently...

No, it's perfectly all right.

Thank you.

I have something to tell you.

My friend...

...the man I'm meeting, Mr. Benn.

Mr. Benn. Of course. Yes.

He has asked me to marry him.

I am thinking about it.

I see.

He's moving to the west country

next month.

I'm still thinking about it.

I thought you should be informed

of the situation.

Yes, thank you.

That's most kind of you.

I trust you'll have

a most pleasant evening.

Is there something special tonight?

Are your visitors special?

Can't tell you, my boy.

Strictly confidential.

- So I can't sit in on it?

- On what?

- Whatever it is that's taking place.

- Absolutely not.

Can't have someone like you sticking

your nose in. A journalist.

What do you call it, a "newshound"?

No, it wouldn't do at all.

Once you've had your food,

you'd better make yourself scarce.

It sounds pretty special to me.

Good evening, prime minister.

- Sorry, we've been delayed.

- I understand.

Lord Halifax.

- Very nice to see you.

- This is Mr. Fraser.

Good evening, Your Excellency.

Please wait here, Your Excellency.

I'll inform His Lordship.

We don't intend to involve

the whole British Empire in a war...

...simply because of a quarrel

in a faraway country...

...between people of whom

we know nothing.

To my mind, the whole

of Czechoslovakia...

...isn't worth a single

one of our own young men.

We have a small, noisy

and corrupt war group here...

...who don't realize that you Germans

are marching into your own back yard.

The "Fhrer" is a man of peace

to the depth of his soul...

...but he won't allow

a small second-rate country...

...to thumb its nose

at the 1000-year German Reich.

I'll get it.

Come on, wake up!

Stay awake!

Could you confirm that this lady

is on the staff here?

Yes, of course.

She's the housekeeper.

Thank you, sir.

- May I?

- Of course.

Sorry to have alarmed you.

Just security, miss.

I trust you've had a pleasant evening.

Well, did you have a pleasant evening?

- Yes, thank you.

- Good.

Would you like to know

what took place?

I have to return upstairs.

There are important events

taking place tonight.

When are there not?

I accepted his proposal.

I accepted Mr. Benn's proposal

of marriage.

My congratulations.

I am prepared to serve out my notice.

But if you'd release me earlier,

I'd be grateful.

Mr. Benn is planning to leave

for the west country in two weeks.

I'll do my best.

Now, please excuse me.

After all the years I have been here,

you have nothing else to say?

You have my warmest congratulations.

You've been a very important figure...

...for Mr. Benn and me.

Oh, in what way?

I tell him all sorts

of things about you.

I tell him stories about you.

About your habits.

About your mannerisms.

He finds it very funny,

especially when I show him how...

...you pinch your nose

when you put pepper on your food.

That always has us in stitches.

Does it, indeed?

Well, please...

...excuse me, Miss Kenton.

Good night.

Thanks.

We've been friends a long time,

haven't we?

I always look forward to a chat

when I come here.

Would you care to join me in a drink?

That's most kind of you,

but no, thank you.

You all right?

I'm perfectly all right.

Not feeling unwell, are you?

A little tired, perhaps.

I bet you're tired.

What is it, about 1:00?

Come on.

I want you to sit down.

Well, sir, I really...

I didn't come here by accident.

You know that.

I had a tip-off, you see...

...about what's going on now

in the library.

I wish you'd sit down.

I'm your friend...

...and you're holding that tray

as if you're about to wander off!

Now, come on.

Sit down, damn it!

That's better.

Now, look, I don't suppose the prime

minister is in the library, is he?

Prime minister, sir?

In the library...

You don't have to confirm it...

...are our prime minister, our foreign

secretary and the German ambassador.

- Any idea what they're talking about?

- I'm afraid not.

Tell me, Stevens,

don't you care at all?

Aren't you in the least bit curious?

It's not my place to be curious

about such matters.

Not your place.

And supposing I told you

that His Lordship...

...is trying to persuade

the prime minister...

...to enter into a pact with that

bunch of criminals in Berlin?

I'm certain His Lordship is acting

from the highest and noblest motives.

Don't you see? That's exactly

what makes it so abominable!

Twisting these high and noble

motives to their own foul ends!

You do, please, realize

that His Lordship's been the most...

...valuable pawn that the Nazis

have in this country...

...precisely because he is good

and honourable?

If I weren't so drunk,

I could make you understand!

Sir...

...I do understand.

His Lordship is working

to ensure peace in our time.

Peace in our time

on their beastly terms!

Remember that American here

at the conference?

Called Lord Darlington an amateur,

out of his depth?

Well, he was right.

He was dead right.

I hardly have to tell you

how I feel towards His Lordship.

I care about him deeply,

and I know you do too.

Yes, I do indeed.

Then aren't you desperate

to see him make this mistake?

He's being tricked! Don't you see?

Or are you as deluded as he is?

Oh, dear. Now I've probably

offended you.

No. Not at all, sir.

Not at all.

You must excuse me.

There are other gentlemen

calling for me, sir.

You mustn't take anything

I said to heart.

I was very foolish a little while ago.

I haven't taken anything

you said to heart.

In fact, I can hardly recall

anything you did say.

I was just being very foolish.

I simply haven't time to stand here

with you, engaging in idle talk.

I suggest you go to bed now.

You must be very tired.

Good night.

Oh, damn it!

Blast!

I'd been wanting to tell you...

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