The Largest Theatre in the World: Heart to Heart

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1

Yes, I would agree with that.

How does a man fulfil himself in life?

I would say that a man fulfils himself

by the knowledge that

he has always tried what to do is right

rather than what is expedient.

Well, can a man always distinguish

between the two?

-Oh, I think so.

-Ah!

Well, there is a thing

called conscience.

Oh, but consciences vary, surely?

A certain action to one man

may seem right, to another wrong.

Yes, I agree. I'm not claiming there are

any absolute standards.

But the only certain

rule in life is that

happiness lies in doing one's duty.

And one's duty is to do what

seems right to one at the time,

even though, ultimately,

it may prove wrong.

Even though it may harm not only

yourself but other persons?

Oh, I think so. There's no doubt about

that at all, in my mind, anyway.

No, a man must always try to do his duty

as he sees that duty at the time.

I don't think there's any escape

from that, Mr Mann.

You've had a very long career, Sir John.

-Thirty five years.

-Thirty five years.

In your first year as a barrister,

how much did you earn?

-Exactly 15.

-And last year?

Oh, don't worry about

the inspector of taxes.

If he should be looking in, you can

always say it was a slip of the tongue.

Might I suggest it was nearer

fifteen thousand than fifteen?

Well, yes, I suppose you could

suggest that.

So you consider that your life has been

a long and successful journey?

-We'll take three next.

-Camera three.

Certainly and successful, if you judge

success purely by increase of income.

Well, surely that's not an unusual way

of measuring success.

He's rambling a bit.

Joe, he hasn't looked at his clock.

Does he know he's only got 90 seconds?

Not unusual, I agree,

but not, in my view, the best one.

Well, I'm afraid our time

is getting short

so I must come to my last,

my final question.

Well, I shall try to face it bravely.

How does a man fulfil himself in life?

Mmm?

You've already asked me that question.

-Oh, Lord! Has he been, uh...

-I often, I often,

-ask a key question twice, Sir John.

-Load the captions.

-John, be ready to cut off sound.

-Sometimes one gives

a different answer the second time.

You, as a lawyer, would appreciate

the value in cross-examining...

In a court of law, I am never

allowed to repeat a question

that has already been answered.

Yes, but this isn't a court of law,

Sir John, this is Heart to Heart.

And, in conclusion, may I say

what a very rewarding experience

it has been for me to have had you

as my 59th victim.

Well, I will say he has a sublime gift

for recovery.

Cue Grams. Sublime?

I mean, it's got to be, hasn't it?

-Two, track in as usual.

-Super captions.

Cue announcer.

ANNOUNCER:
You have just seen

the 59th edition of Heart to Heart,

a British Television Company

presentation.

MAN:
In on victim.

And in tonight's Heart to Heart,

the victim...

MAN:
Super his caption.

-Was Sir John Dawson-Brown QC.

-Cut!

-And your grand inquisitor, as always...

-Super his captions.

David Mann.

Take it out. Cue David.

And so, ladies and gentlemen,

we come to the end of another edition

of Heart to Heart.

Tomorrow night, at our usual 9:15,

we will present the last programme

in our present series.

And for this special occasion, we've

chosen a man who I'm sure you'll agree

is a very special victim indeed.

None other than a...

A man whose, whose meteoric rise

in politics, ladies and gentlemen,

has made his name

the talk of the nation.

Appointed only a few days ago,

his name has now become

a household word.

It's a name, ladies and gentlemen...

Joe, he's dried on the name.

Get the idiot board, chalk up Johnson,

but quick.

He is eminently fitted to end

the present series.

We have been fortunate in...

And here it is, ladies and gentlemen,

the Right Honourable

Sir Stanley Johnson,

MP, Minister of Labour.

So don't forget. Tune in tomorrow night.

And once again we will present

the truth,

the real truth, the truth of the heart.

Good night and thank you.

Good night and thank you.

Grams up. Super captions.

(ORCHESTRA PLAYING)

MAN:
Fade it slowly.

Fade me out, too.

Joe, for God's sake,

I gave you the sign.

Did you have to take all night?

Sorry, Dave. Right, clear studio!

But you were the last person I thought

would fluff on Stan Johnson.

Mickey, you fry me with that light.

Does it have to be so close?

This is the one who gets you

all those fans.

Oh, come on.

Sir John, can we have

some photographs, please?

In your original chair,

if you don't mind.

-Stills please, David.

-All right.

Thank you.

It's all right. The fluff on the name,

he got away with it, touch wood.

Where do you find wood in

a television control room?

Shepherd's Bush, I expect, Frank.

Finest old mahogany.

That's uncalled for, Fred. The motto of

fifth channel is "Amity To All".

-Even the BBC?

-They do good work, Bill.

Their viewers are very happy, I'm told.

All 16 of them.

(LAUGHING)

MAN ON ADVERT:
The cigarette for you.

Only 3/10 for 20.

Tell me what did you do before this?

I was a lecturer in

political economy at Oxford.

Really? (SMIRKING)

Quite a change from all this, I daresay.

Yes, quite a change.

Smile please, Mr Mann.

That's it. Lovely.

Thank you very much, gentlemen.

We're through.

Okay, all right. Thank you, gentlemen,

the ordeal is over.

Thank you, Sir John.

(CREW DISCUSSING)

-Oh, Mr Godsell, was it all right?

-Sir John, thank you. Yes, very good.

Very good indeed.

Um, have you met my

production secretary, Mrs Weston?

-How do you...

-How do you think it went, Mrs Weston?

Oh, one of the best chairs

we've ever had.

(LAUGHING) Mind you, he asked me some

pretty tough questions, this young man.

That's my job, Sir John,

to get at the truth.

Of course, mine, too, you know.

Oh, not quite, is it?

Surely yours is only to get that

aspect of truth which may

suit your case.

Please, now, let's don't get into

another heart to heart, please.

Oh, Frank, the controller would

like to see you.

Doesn't he ever leave that office?

Does he eat and sleep there as well?

-He just likes watching television.

-Well, hasn't he got a set at home?

And his wife likes Coronation Street

and she talks.

To him, when she doesn't have to?

All right. Well, will you look after,

um, Sir John?

Oh, great pleasure.

One of your best, David.

Goodbye, Mr Mann. Thank you for

letting me off so lightly.

Good night, Sir John.

This way, sir.

-(SMIRKING) Did I?

-Oh, I wouldn't say that.

-If I did, I was bad, he's a phoney.

-Well, that came out.

-A time server.

-That came out too.

With a very odd sex life,

I shouldn't wonder.

That didn't come out.

And why should it? What's an odd sex

life got to do with truth of the heart?

-Do you want me to answer that question?

-No, Mrs Weston.

I want you to join me in a drink.

-Uh, I'll watch you if you like.

-You'll join me.

(STAMMERING) Tom, can I have

a couple of glasses?

You'll get me into trouble

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