Love and Loyalty: The Making of 'The Remains of the Day' Page #9

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It's the small alcove outside

the breakfast room.

It's the new girl, of course...

...but I find it has not

been dusted in some time.

I'll see to it.

Thank you.

I knew you would have wanted

to be informed.

Hello, Sally.

Hi, Tom.

You all right, then?

How are you?

I'm good.

Could we talk for a moment, please?

Just for a moment.

We'll have to be quick

because I'm going out.

It won't take long.

All right, then.

We'll have to go into the lounge.

Afternoon.

Nice little place, isn't it?

The sort of quiet little

boarding house I had in mind for us.

Like other things, it didn't work out.

What did you want to say?

I saw Catherine yesterday.

She had some interesting news.

She's expecting.

Oh, my goodness!

She wants us both over

for tea on Sunday.

I could come and get you.

We could go together on the bus.

Yes, well, we'll see about that.

House is that empty without you.

I can't tell you.

You cut yourself shaving.

Oh, yeah. I know.

Can't seem to do anything right

these days.

I so often think

of the good old days...

... when I was housekeeper

at Darlington Hall.

Those years with you

were the happiest of my life.

Would you like more tea?

Yes, please. Thank you.

Miss Kenton.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Benn.

- Sorry, I was delayed.

- That's all right.

Please sit down.

- I've ordered some fresh tea.

- Lovely.

Would you like some cake?

- Sure?

- All right. It's a special occasion.

Good.

Waitress?

- Could we have some cake?

- Yes, of course.

- It's been a long time.

- Yes, indeed.

You haven't changed at all.

A little, perhaps.

We've all changed, I think.

I'd have known you anywhere.

How long's it been?

Twenty years?

Yes, just over, I think.

The tea should be along.

We read about the suit for libel.

It's a shame...

...calling His Lordship a traitor.

Those papers will print anything.

They should have lost the case.

When His Lordship went to court...

...he sincerely expected

he would get justice.

Instead, the newspaper increased

its circulation, and His Lordship's...

...good name was destroyed forever.

Afterwards, in his last years, well...

...quite honestly, Mrs. Benn...

...his heart was broken.

I'd take him tea in the library,

and he'd be sitting there...

...and he wouldn't even see me,

so deep was he in his own thoughts.

And he'd be talking to himself,

as though he was arguing with someone.

There was no one, of course.

No one came to see him anymore.

What about his godson,

young Mr. Cardinal?

Mr. Cardinal was killed in the war.

Waitress.

May I have my bill, please?

I'm very sorry.

I know you remember Darlington Hall

in its best days...

...and that's how His Lordship

deserves to be remembered.

But perhaps the good days are back,

now that Mr. Lewis is here...

...and Mrs. Lewis is arriving shortly.

Very fortunate to have you

running the house.

We still have problems, Miss Kenton.

I'm sorry. Mrs. Benn.

- We still have staff problems.

- You mentioned it in your letter.

Frankly, I've been thinking

of going back in service.

Good...

But now the situation

has changed for me.

If I take up any work,

it will have to be...

...here in the west country...

...because Catherine, our daughter,

is expecting a baby.

So I would like to be near her.

Of course.

And to be near our grandchild

as he grows up.

- Naturally.

- Or her, if it's a little girl.

When I left Darlington Hall,

all those years ago...

...I never realized I was really,

truly leaving.

I believe I thought of it

as simply another ruse...

...to annoy you.

It was a shock to come out here

and find myself actually married.

For a long time, I was...

...very unhappy.

But then Catherine was born,

the years went by and one day...

...I realized I loved my husband.

You see, there is no one...

...no one in the world who needs me

as much as he does.

But still there are times...

...when I think I made a terrible

mistake with my life.

I'm sure we all have these thoughts...

...from time to time.

People always cheer when they turn

the lights on in the evening.

I wonder why.

They do say...

...that for many people, the evening's

the best part of the day.

The part they most look forward to.

Is that so?

What do you most look forward to?

Getting back to Darlington Hall,

principally...

...and straightening out

our staff problems.

You were always able to do that.

And you had quite a few

to straighten out, as I remember.

Always was work, work

and more work...

...and will continue to be so,

I have no doubt.

Mr. Stevens, don't you wait!

That bus is always late.

Come in out of the wet.

You must take good care of yourself.

- You too, promise me that.

- Oh, yes, I promise.

Do all you can to make these years

happy for yourself and your husband.

We may never meet again, Mrs. Benn.

That is why I am being personal,

if you will forgive me.

Thank you, Mr. Stevens.

Oh, here it comes.

It's on time for once.

Thank you. And thank you

so very much for coming.

It was so very kind of you.

It was so nice to see you.

It was a pleasure to see you again.

Goodbye.

Take care.

You scared me.

Where'd you come from?

You like the suit?

Very good, sir.

Good.

Watch the chandelier there.

You're really getting things

going here. This is wonderful!

I've had to ask another three girls

from the village to come up.

And I can promise you that

the house will be ready...

...and in shape by the time

Mrs. Lewis arrives.

That sounds good.

I'm expecting a possible

new housekeeper this afternoon.

A Mrs. Ruth Muspratt.

Excellent references. She was matron

at a boys' school in Sussex.

A matron?

Sounds like she'll keep us

from misbehaving.

- I certainly hope so, sir.

- Good.

Good, Stevens. Very good.

This is where we had that banquet

back in '35. Remember?

We all stood up and delivered

ourselves of our principles.

God knows what I said.

Sure got worked up about it, though.

What did I say, anyway?

I'm sorry, sir,

I was too busy serving...

...to listen to the speeches.

We got a visitor here.

Be very careful.

Come here.

That's a boy. Come on.

Okay. Easy does it.

Come on!

You don't want to startle it.

It'll come down.

I think if we

leave the window open...

Good.

Very still.

Go on. Out!

Come on. Out!

Well done.

Well done, sir.

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