The Corn Is Green Page #6

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Don't muddle about.

Answer everything you can.

Fast, clear, simply.

Then go back.

A try is better than a blank.

Who knows? You may hit it.

You have to sort of keep

your sense of humor.

That really means not being too tired,

not being too focused in one direction.

That's why we walk and laugh,

pick the wild flowers...

...enjoy God's gifts.

It cools the engine, levels things.

- I think my engine is cool.

- Good.

I think so too.

- I'll run a bit. I'll meet you at the rock.

- Off you go.

Five minutes to 9.

- Who was that?

- It was only Mr. Jones.

- Announcing the time again.

- Oh, I wish he wouldn't.

We're all nervy enough without that.

Still raining, I see.

Wouldn't it be splendid if he won?

Oh, not very likely, not very likely.

He's up against wealthy boys who've

been preparing for this since they were 6.

- But surely he has a chance.

- A chance. A teeny little chance.

The syllabus

rather attaches importance...

...to general information

of the academic sort.

His is bound to be patchy.

I've had to force it.

Two and a half years isn't enough,

even for him.

- It's odd.

- What is?

What is odd? You are odd. I am odd.

I woke up in the middle of the night

thinking about Henry Vlll.

I have a feeling there might be

a question there...

...about the old boy and the papacy.

I'll cram a few facts into him

at the last minute.

Oh, my, my, my.

He must win it.

Bessie.

Your mother had a letter from you

only yesterday.

Bessie.

Well, this is unexpected.

Isn't it just?

Yes, you...

- You've arrived at an inconvenient time.

- Oh, fancy.

- Why are you here?

- I've come to see you.

I'll be in the study.

Morgan Evans is taking

his Oxford examination here this morning.

- Well, he needn't.

- What do you mean?

Because he won't ever be going

to Oxford.

Why not?

Because there's gonna be

a little stranger.

You're lying.

Dr. Brett, The Firs, Cheltenham.

And if you don't believe

it's Morgan Evans'...

...you ask him about the night

you and him had that row.

Stupid of me. Stupid, stupid.

Does he know?

Nobody knows.

He'll have to marry me.

- Give the little stranger a name.

- Stop saying "little stranger."

If you must have a baby,

then call it a baby.

The squire is coming up the road.

Bessie, how did you get here?

- I came by the coach...

- Mr. Jones.

We're having a rather private talk,

if you...

- Yes, of course, but the squire...

- Yes, yes, I understand perfectly.

- But for now...

- I'll just wait here for Morgan.

For the next three hours,

he must not be disturbed.

And you are not going to see him.

You can't bully me, the way I am.

Couldn't see what was happening

right under your nose...

...because you were too busy

managing everything.

You can't manage him any longer.

He's got to manage me now!

- Morgan has turned the corner up the hill.

- There isn't much time.

Yes, I understand. I'm afraid I'm gonna do

a little managing now myself.

You're going up to your mother's room

to wait until this session is finished.

- Then we'll have our little talk.

- He's here. I've got to see him.

If you try and disobey me...

...I shall not be responsible

for the consequences.

- You wouldn't dare lay a finger on me.

- Yes, I would.

If you attempt to stay in this room

or to blab to anyone...

...about this before we've had

our talk, even your mother...

...l'm in a pretty nervous state myself

this morning...

...and I shall strike you so hard,

I shall probably kill you.

I mean every word of that.

Now, move.

If you wanna get rid of me,

it's gonna cost you a pretty penny.

Don't worry.

I'll make it more than worth your while,

but we'll talk about it later.

- No, not you.

- That's right.

I want Bessie to wait upstairs in your room

until the examination is over.

Very well, ma'am.

Where did you get that coat?

- It's a present.

- Oh, that's all right.

- Squire.

- Oh, good morning.

- Good morning, let me take your coat.

- Thank you.

- How kind of you to come.

- Not at all, Mistress Pedagogue.

You'll have to explain to me exactly

what you expect me to do.

- We only have to invigilate.

- Invigilate?

Sounds positively indecent.

We were appointed by the university.

It's simply a question of our being present

while he's sitting the examination...

...so that he won't cheat.

Poor little beggar,

doesn't stand a chance.

Don't say that.

To cheat, I mean, with us on the job.

I am sorry.

I've got some spiffing good news

for you, my dear.

I've bought the barn from Sir Herbert.

We can move the whole shoot over

come the spring.

Now, what do you think of that?

Oh, how thrilling.

Yes, yes.

- Is that all our headmistress is going to say?

- No, no. No, it is thrilling.

It's just that this examination, it's very...

Makes me nervous.

Run.

- Hello.

- Morgan.

Good morning, my boy.

Good day, sir.

I have a feeling that there may be

a question on Henry Vlll.

Memorize those two dates.

- Jolly good luck.

- Thank you, sir.

White heather, just a thought.

- Thank you.

- Glad it isn't me.

- Don't be exuberant.

- No.

- Don't be illegible.

- No.

Aren't you going to wish

my little protg good fortune?

- Good luck.

- Thank you.

Begin.

Henry Vlll.

- What is it?

- It's gone.

- What's gone?

- I know I put it in my pocket.

- Where is it?

- What?

This bloody suit. I can't find anything.

All this fancy stuff, no key.

- What key, boy?

- The key to my case.

It's gone, it's gone.

I must have dropped it...

Now, calm down, Morgan. We stop.

I'm sure I saw you put it in your pocket.

I know, I did put it in my pocket,

but where is it?

We'll miss the train.

We'll have to go back.

- Check your pockets again.

- I already have.

Check them again.

I'm sorry, I... There's another pocket

inside the pocket.

No matter. Off we go.

I'm sorry.

I'm afraid we're going to have

to stop again. His birth certificate.

I put it in my bag.

I remember putting it in this bag,

and it isn't here.

Not to worry.

Where did you get that?

Bit of pages.

Miss Moffat, please tell me again

what I'm supposed to do.

I get to Oxford...

You get to Oxford.

You meet the nine other finalists.

Then you probably

will be introduced to the master...

...and to several of the fellows.

Then you take the oral examination.

- The viva.

- Viva voce, living voice. If you live.

- Terrifying.

- Yes.

All life is terrifying, Morgan.

You just have to do your best.

And you will. You're a Welshman.

Then you come back here,

and we wait.

We wait for their decision.

Yes or...

Or no.

No or yes.

Yes or no.

- Any news?

- Not yet.

I thought not.

You don't appear to be nervous.

I'm past being nervous.

If he's won, I shan't believe it, flatly.

And if he has lost?

If he has lost...

...we must proceed

as if nothing had happened.

The sun rises and sets every day,

and while it does...

...we jolly well have to revolve around it.

The time to sit up and take notice

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