So Well Remembered Page #8

again, lad, that's all.

Well, at least we can

get everyone together

and try and find out what the answer is.

You know where our

answer is well enough.

Up at Stoneclough, high

and mighty, having tea.

There's a strike in the

wind unless I'm wrong.

Well, let's have a look around.

Then I'll go up and

see what can be done.

Mr. Boswell, madam.

Thank you, Robert.

Well, George.

Hello, Olivia.

May I give you some coffee?

Aye, thanks.

Sit down, won't you?

This was Martin's.

My grandfather's.

It went at the auction, of course,

but I traced it to a dreadful

little shop in London,

dug it out, brightened it up.

I bought it for Charles, actually.

Or did you know I have a grown son?

Aye. As a matter of fact, we've met.

Oh?

You know, he's quite

fallen in love with it here.

And I want to do all

I can to have things

the way they were for him

before the war is over.

It can't last much longer now, can it?

I hope not.

The same George, as I knew you would be.

So wonderfully, cautiously optimistic.

And you've done well, haven't you.

I understand you've made some

progress with your housing scheme.

Aye, I did.

We've been at a standstill

since the war, of course.

But this is an official visit, isn't it?

You said on the telephone you'd

like to talk about the mills.

Yes. I, um...

I agreed to discuss

these points with you.

I'm afraid I don't

really know much about it.

I never intended to do any of

the actual managing, of course.

That's for Charles when he comes back.

In the meantime, I'm trying

not to meddle in the operation,

leaving things much

as they've always been.

That seems to be the

principal complaint.

Too much as they've always been.

I should imagine they'd

think themselves lucky

considering they're not really fighting

and Browdley's missed

all the raids so far.

They do.

It was good of you

to bring this, George.

I'll try and look it over.

Although I'm not at all

sure I'll understand it.

Olivia...

conditions at the mill aren't good.

The machinery can't be

replaced now, of course,

but things can be

made cleaner and safer.

Unless they are, you'll

have a strike on your hands.

I've got the workers to

hold off until I talk to you,

but I promised them some sort

of an answer in the morning.

So you'd best read that now.

Madam.

Yes, Robert?

The telephone, madam. From Mulcaster.

Mulcaster!

Hello?

Yes.

Robert! Robert!

Yes, madam?

Is there enough petrol for mulcaster?

I'm afraid not, madam.

George.

It's Charles, George.

Can you drive me to the

hospital at mulcaster?

Aye. You better get a coat.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Winslow,

but the medical officer

has no further information.

He was shot up over Germany.

He got back, but it

was a sticky landing.

May I see him now?

I'm sorry, that's not possible.

May I speak to someone in charge?

I am in charge.

May I speak to your superior, please?

Please.

Olivia...

what is it you people want?

Oh, yes, a beautiful factory

with sunlight streaming

through the windows.

No, this is not the time-

oh, surely you want

to talk about it now.

You promised them my answer tomorrow.

And they're making

such a great sacrifice

consenting to work 10 hours a day.

Well, take them my answer.

Tell them I feel sorry for them

because their selfish

bodies are still whole.

Go on, tell them how sorry I am.

But tell them I've

looked at real sacrifice.

I know what a face looks like

with half the flesh torn away

and half my own heart with it.

Olivia, I...

I understand.

I'm more terribly sorry than I can say.

But this

- this is no time

to discuss anything.

You'll see it all differently.

I'll see nothing differently

until every one of your workers

can match what Charles has given

and when they face the loss I face.

Every family in Browdley has

in one way or another

faced what you face.

Most of them have faced it better.

Shall I drive you home?

I'll wait for the operation.

In the bleak, weighty

winter that followed,

George accepted the

task of finishing the war

as a personal responsibility.

He was mayor, editor, friend,

impatient of all delay,

a terrier at the heels of inefficiency.

In the early spring,

in addition to all his other work,

he became a self-appointed

lending library.

It gave him a natural opportunity

to visit Charles for one thing,

and he enjoyed the bus trip for another.

He smelled hope in the fragrance of may

and was exhilarated.

Good morning, Max.

Hi, George.

Good morning, lads.

Good morning.

How are you getting on, eh? All right?

Fine. Oh, you got some

color this morning.

Not surprising.

Now, what have we got here?

Let's see now.

You can have any of

these except that one.

That's for Winslow. Is he around?

He's probably down by the river.

Go on, take it.

Am I supposed to drink this?

Not necessarily.

It's only water.

Just a ruse.

Was your mother here this morning?

Yes.

Julie...

how would you like to be

mistress of Stoneclough?

I thought that position was filled.

You could be, you know.

Could i?

Could anyone?

Well, if I'm to be lord of the manor-

I thought we decided

against playing aristocracy.

We're not right for it.

What else am I right for now?

Oh, a lot of things.

Joining a few clubs perhaps...

ha.

You know, I could become

quite a good type clubman.

Old Winslow,

got knocked about in the war,

sits in the third chair from the bar-

that makes fewer steps

for the wine steward.

The last time he spoke to anyone else

was 10 years ago.

Oh, no, no.

He's no good for business of course.

Did have a go at it once.

Uh, posed for advertisements.

You know, the handsome young man

who wears crisp collars

and smokes expensive pipes.

Charles!

Oh, Charles.

Remember me?

I'm the girl who doesn't

really care what you do...

as long as you don't do

things like this to me.

I've only got a certain amount

of strength for fighting.

I'm no Florence Nightingale.

Sometimes I'm as frightened

of the future as you are.

I don't pretend to know

what's going to happen

or whether it's going to be good or bad.

From what I've seen,

living is a pretty messy

business at the best.

But I hang onto this.

It would be a lot more

fun with you than alone,

or with anyone else.

There's only one thing I'm

going to be stubborn about:

No clubs.

Unless they admit women.

Julie!

I'm terribly sorry.

Don't let me do that again.

Julie!

Hello, George.

I didn't know you were here.

Oh, there's been less

work to do at Browdley.

I made arrangements to try and come down

to help out a bit.

Oh. Is Charles about?

Why, yes!

As a matter of fact, I just left him.

I think he's sleeping.

Oh, well, I won't disturb him then.

You might-you might

see he gets this book.

Will you?

How is he doing, by the way?

All right.

Physically all right, I mean.

And uh... otherwise?

Oh, George!

There ought to be a law

against women like Olivia.

It takes 3 days every time

to undo one of her visits.

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