The Fallen Idol

Good day, sir.

In his office there, miss.

Uh, Baines, is, uh - | is the ambassador's car at the door?

- It's waiting, sir. | - His Excellency has been delayed. He'll drive straight to the airport.

Of course.

Oh, uh, Baines, flowers for her room.

You know the sort my | wife likes. After eight

months in a hospital the | place must look like home.

She'll find everything | just as she left it, sir.

The doctors don't yet know | if they'll permit her to fly.

- The journey will be a strain. | - Master Phillipe, sir.

He should have his hair cut. | He looks as if we've neglected him.

Any message for | your mother, Phillipe?

Tell her I've got | something to show her.

That will bring her home. | Look after the embassy while I'm away.

Be back on Monday morning | with my wife, I hope.

I hope so too, Your Excellency. | It's been a long time.

Papa. Papa.

Au revoir, Papa.

Hello, Macgregor.

Aw.

Hello, Macgregor. Hello.

Come on. Come on. Hmm.

Come on.

Oh.

Look. London.

Good day, sir.

Baines.

Baines!

- One of her moods again. | - Always some grouse.

Not healthy to be as clean as all that.

You be careful, sonny. | Mrs. Baines is on the warpath again.

Anyway, these foreigners like a bit of dirt.

Poor kid. Be a good thing | for him when his mother gets back.

Master Phillipe,just because | your father's away for a couple of days...

you mustn't think | you can run wild all over the house.

No, Mrs. Baines.

I've got plenty to do | without clearing up after you.

What's that you've got in your hand? | Show me. What is it?

Piece of chalk.

You've been making marks | all over the floor again?

- Well? Have you? | - Just little marks.

Give me the chalk. | Come on. Give it to me.

Have you done what | I told you to do, Master Phillipe?

Done what?

- Got rid of it. | - Yes.

You know what happens | to little boys who tell lies?

I won't have any vermin | in any house I run.

Did you put it where I told you to? | Down the lavatory?

- Did you? Answer me. Did you? | - Yes.

What are you hiding in your pockets?

Bring your hand out. | Show me. Come along.

Only toffees.

I won't have you eating between meals,

Master Phillipe. Give them to me.

You need a mother's care. | I've tried to do it for months.

Is that all you've got? Run along, | and try and not get into mischief.

It's difficult enough | with half the staff away.

- See you on Monday, Mr. Baines. | - Have a good weekend, Harry.

Get out of it.

Can't you see I'm busy?

Can't you pick on someone else?

Well, since you are here, | you might as well do a job of work.

- Get on with that. | - Look. Macgregor.

Oh. Hmm.

Looking well this morning, isn't he?

- Have you got a little box for him? | - Little box?

Hmm. Might find something.

Will you take me for a | walk this afternoon, Baines?

Well, I might, if you work hard enough. | I might. We'll see.

Quite a lot to be done.

This is exciting - | your mother coming back- isn't it?

Yes, but, you know, | I don't remember her very well.

Have a glass of pop, | Phile. Spot of drink...

...will do us good. Give us | an appetite for dinner.

- I am having my meals down here, aren't I? | - Of course.

- What have you got for chop? | - Chop?

You said that was | what food was called in Africa.

- Oh, yes, of course. Chop. | - Tell me more about Africa.

- Another time. | - Was is it hot there?

You never felt such heat. | Not - Not even where you come from.

Not a nice heat, mind you, | like you get in the park on a day like this.

The white man's grave, they call it.

Wet. Smelling of rot.

- What does rot smell of? | - Eh?

Oh, the opposite to this.

I smell that carbolic stuff.

When there's nothing | but carbolic round you hanker after rot.

Mmm. I understand.

- Hmm. | - It reeks of chains.

Yes. Hmm.

- It's a man's life out there, Phile. | - But why did you leave Africa?

Why? Oh, um, | get married, you know.

Wasn't there anybody to marry | out there in Africa?

Oh, yes. Plenty. | But they weren't white.

- Must they be white? | - Um - Hmm.

Ah, Mrs. Patterson. | What are you doing with those?

- Mrs. Baines told us to fill 'em. | - Where's Dolly and the others?

The weekend off. The | place is empty except for

Mrs. Baines, Phile and me. We carry on.

Phile, drink up the pop | and lend a hand with this.

Don't overwork him, Mr. Baines.

Got to make a living like everybody else.

- Does everybody make a living? | - Everybody.

- Even Papa? | - Just a slave really.

- Not an easy life like us. | - Can you make a living in Africa?

Make a living?

You can make a fortune. | Make anything you like.

Make elephants and kings and castles.

Yes. And shoot 'em too.

- If they don't get you. | - Can I show her the gun?

Don't you dare. Leave it where it is.

It's not loaded, | and Baines keeps the safety catch on.

Leave it be, Phile.

- It's got bullets too! | - Phile -

Phile.

So there you are. | Holding up the work again?

- There's still plenty to do. | - We'll get it finished.

By sitting around here all day long?

Good morning, Mr. | Baines. Till Monday.

- Ta, ta. | - No business to keep that gun in the house.

Come along, Master Phillipe. | Sit down there. Get on to that salad.

Baines is going to take me | for a walk this afternoon.

No, he isn't. | Not with all this work to do.

- There'll be time enough for both. | - Oh, please.

Work first, | and pleasure afterwards.

Easy to see you've been eating | between meals, Master Phillipe.

I'm sick to death of | your ways, spoiling the boy.

He didn't. I took it.

- Lying again, Master Phillipe? | - There's lies and lies.

- What do you mean by that? | - Some lies are just kindness.

Kindness?

Temper, temper. I won't have you | swearing in front of the boy.

Do go on, Master Phillipe. | What are you waiting for?

I don't want any.

Master Phillipe, do as you're told | and eat it up. Go along.

Why don't you let Baines | take me for a walk?

Because I say so.

I hate you.

Master Phillipe, | you'll say you're sorry for that.

I'm not sorry.

Very well. Go straight | upstairs to the nursery,...

...and you'll stay there | for the whole afternoon.

Do you hear me? | Go along. Up, up, up!

Get along with you. Go along.

I don't care.

Hello, Macgregor.

Look. You're very pretty, you know.

Baines.!

Baines!

Quick. Come on, Macgregor.

I got you.

Ah!

- Baines! | - Mustn't come in here, sonny.

- Isn't Mr. Baines here? | - No. Hasn't been in here yet.

Baines!

Phile.

- What are you doing here? | - I saw you through the window.

Are you by yourself?

Yes.

You gave me a start.

- I thought it would be funny. | - Yes. It's funny. Of course it's funny.

- Phile, this is Julie. | - How do you do?

Have a bun.

He spells his name queer. | P- H-I-L-E. Phile.

Oh, she | - she hasn't got an appetite, isn't eating.

You can have both of them.

You don't need to take any notice of us.

- Got a glass of milk? | - I think I've got a drop.

Well, go and get it, Phile.

I wish I were dead.

It wouldn't work.

There are things have got to be said.

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