Plenty Page #6

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miles to make their retreat.

Who told you that?

Last week the Foreign Secretary

went abroad. I was not briefed.

We believe he met with the French and

the Israelis urged the Israelis to attack.

I think the entire war is a fraud.

Cooked up by the British as

an excuse for seizing the Canal.

And we... we, who are to execute

this policy... even we were not told.

Well what difference

does it make?

My dear boy.

I mean it. It makes no difference.

I was lied to.

Yes, but you were against

it from the start. We all were.

The Foreign Office hated the operation from the very

first mention so what difference does it make now?

All the difference in the world.

None at all.

The Government lied to me.

They are not in good faith.

I see

I see. So what you're saying is that the British may do anything,

doesn't matter how ludicrous, doesn't matter how silly

so long as they do it in good faith.

Yes. I wouldn't have minded how damned stupid it was, I... I

would have even defended it if only it had been honestly done.

But this time we're cowboys

And when the British are the cowboys

then, in truth, I fear for

the future of the globe.

Are you going to resign?

Madame Aung has been enthralling us with the

story of the new Bergman film at the Everyman.

Ah

Ah, yes.

Apparently it's about depression

isn't that right, Madame Aung?

I do feel the Norwegians

are very good at that sort of thing.

Oh... I don't think we have

the whole attention of the men.

I'm sorry.

Yes, their minds are elsewhere.

They were probably drafting a telegram.

That's what they do, before they

drop a bomb along the Suez

They send their targets

notice in a telegram.

Now, what does that indicate

to you, Monsieur Aung?

I'll tell you what it indicates

to me:
bad conscience.

They don't even have the guts

to make a war anymore.

Perhaps Madame Aung will

tell us the story of the film.

It's something I'd be very eager

to hear.

I feel the others have already heard it.

Oh, go ahead. We like

the bit in the mental ward.

Ah, yes

Raymond'll like it.

He got me out of the bin didn't you, dear?

Yes, yes.

That's where he proposed to me.

A moment of weakness of mine, I mean.

Susan please.

I married him because he

reminded me of my father.

Really?

Yes, at that point I didn't realise

just what a sh*t my father was.

Sorry she has a sort of psychiatric cabaret.

That's very good There's

something about Suez which...

Will you please be quiet?

The story of the film?

There's a woman

who despises her husband.

Is it getting a bit chilly in here?

October nights.

Those poor parachutists

I do know how they feel. Even now.

Cities, fields, trees

farms dark spaces

lights. The parachute

opens. We descend.

Of course, we were comparatively welcome. I mean... we did make

it our business to land in countries where we were wanted.

Certainly the men were. Some of

the relationships... I can't tell you

I remember a colleague telling me of the heat

of the... smell of a particular young girl.

The hot, wet, smell, he said

and nothing since.

Nothing since then.

I can't see the Egyptian girls,

somehow no. Not in Egypt. Not now.

I mean, there were broken

hearts when we left.

I mean, there are girls today who mourn

Englishmen who died in Dachau

who died naked in Dachau. Men with

whom they had spent a single night.

Well even for myself, I do like to make a

point of sleeping with people I don't know.

I find, once you get to know them, you

don't want to sleep with them anymore.

Please, can you stop. Can you stop f***ing

talking for five f***ing minutes on end.

Well, I would stop, I would stop.

I would stop f***ing talking if I ever heard anybody

else say anything worth f***ing stopping talking for!

I'm sorry. I apologise.

I really must go.

Monsieur Aung, farewell.

We are behind you, sir.

There is wisdom in your expedition.

Thank you.

May I say, sir these Gyps need

whipping, and you are the man to do it.

Thank you very much, Monsieur.

Madame Aung

We never really met.

No, no, we never

really met, that's true.

Nevertheless, before I go perhaps I might be

permitted to put you right on a point of fact:

Ingmar Berman is not a bloody

Norwegian. He is a bloody Swede.

Goodnight, everybody.

He's going to resign.

Ah! Isn't this an exciting week!

Don't you think? I mean,

isn't this thrilling?

Everything is up for grabs. At last.

We will see come changes. Thank the Lord.

Now, I can get you more dinner. There's ham and

chicken, and... pickles, and lettuce, and tomatoes

and there are a couple of pheasants in the fridge. Ooh... and there

are bottles and bottles and bottles of claret from the cellar.

Why not? There is plenty.

Shall we eat again?

Welcome, Miss Park.

Hello.

Mrs Brock will be down.

She always rests in this part of the day.

In the afternoon?

Yes. And the morning. She

rests in her room until dusk.

She finds the light too disturbing.

And Raymond?

Please wait.

Miss Park is here.

Tell her I'll be with her soon.

Right, sir.

Please. Mr Brock will be with you soon.

Susan! There you are!

Alice! Oh, Alice!

how nice to see you.

Gosh, how exciting.

Oh, excuse me, I've just been

sorting these books out.

Why, Alice.

Raymond, hello!

You all right, darling?

Yes, thank you, I'm fine.

Susan's lifeline: her room full of books.

I can't tell you have much we've been looking forward

to your visit. It's ages since we saw anyone.

I'm not surprised, Jesus,

the price of the tickets!

Well, well, if you need money

you must ask us.

No, I'm not

I didn't mean that.

Susan. So, tell me about it.

How's it been? Has it been fun here?

God, I've missed you.

I'm longing to hear everything.

Well, I'm very happy.

Darling, could you pass

me that book, please?

It's extraordinary... a perfect amphitheatre.

It's a style that's been around for almost

two thousand years, and it's still there.

Really it's extraordinary.

Can we get out and have a look?

Get out? Well, yes.

Are you not coming?

I've seen it.

I'd rather stay.

I'm afraid we've fallen into

bad habits here at night-time.

We like to play Scrabble.

Lord, no!

Yes Do you play? Susan will never

forgive me. Last week I got "juxtapose".

Mmm? Unbelievable.

Nine letters including the "J" and the "X".

Which, I'm afraid, was on a triple.

It's almost unheard of!

Well, one day, no doubt,

she'll get her revenge.

D'you think this is best?

What? What do you mean?

For Susan.

No... let her say.

Sedation.

Look

I don't like the life people

live now in London.

All that money... does

nobody good. It rots them.

Does untold damage,

as well you know.

Life becomes excitable, and flashy.

Decadent. Frenzied. Diseased.

Here, there is peace and

quiet. A level way of living.

I think you'll find it suits

Susan very well.

If you call it "living".

And the country itself is so

extraordinarily fascinating.

You could spend a lifetime

here and still not get to know it.

Which is why we're so pleased we're staying.

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