The Winslow Boy Page #2

No, don't go and get him.

No! Cate, please don't.

-Please, Cate, don't.

-What's the trouble, Ronnie?

You'd better go

and change, hadn't you?

What's the trouble?

You can tell me.

You know John Watherstone.

You met him last holidays.

I'll disappear.

Now, darling, what is it?

You can tell me. Have you run away?

What is it then?

Oh, God!

I didn't do it.

Really, I didn't.

No, darling.

This letter's addressed to Father.

Did you open it?

You shouldn't have.

I was going to tear it up.

We could tell Father term

had ended two days sooner.

-I'm back for Christmas holidays--

-No, darling.

I didn't do it. Really, I didn't.

Ronnie, old lad, how's everything?

Back early?

-Take him upstairs. I'll get Mother.

-All right.

What's up then, old chap?

Nothing.

Have you been sacked?

Bad luck. What for?

-I didn't do it.

-Of course not. I know.

-Honestly. I didn't.

-That's all right.

I believe you.

No need to go on.

I say, you're a bit damp.

-I've been in the rain.

-You're shivering too.

Ought you to change?

Don't want you catching pneumonia.

I'm all right.

-Mother.

-There, darling.

There, there.

All right now.

-I didn't do it, Mother.

-No, darling, of course you didn't.

Let's get out of these wet things.

-Don't tell Father.

-No, darling. Not yet. I promise.

A new uniform too. What a shame.

All right, Ronnie. It's all right.

Bad news?

-Expelled?

-That's right.

What's he done?

He's supposed to have....

Just think what he's been going

through these last 1 0 days.

It seems pretty heartless, I admit.

You must remember, darling...

...he's not really at school.

He is in the services.

What's the difference?

Their ways may seem brutal,

but they are always fair.

Must have been a full inquiry

before taking this step.

If there's been a 1 0-day delay...

...it was to give the boy

a better chance to clear himself.

I'm awfully sorry.

How will your father take it?

It might kill him. We've got

Desmond to lunch. I forgot.

Desmond Curry, our family solicitor.

Oh, Lord! Darling, be polite

to him, won't you?

Am I usually rude?

-He doesn't know about us.

-Who does?

But he's been in love with me for

years. It's a family joke.

Desmond, I don't think you

know John Watherstone.

I've heard a lot about him.

-How do you do?

-Well, well, well.

I trust I'm not early?

No. Punctual as always.

Capital. Good.

No, I'm sorry. Please.

I was wondering

how your shoulder was.

Not very well.

The damp, you know.

-Sorry to hear that.

-Old cricket injury.

Well, it seems I'm to

congratulate you both.

Violet told me at the door.

Yes, I must congratulate you both.

-Thank you.

-Thank you so much.

Of course, it's quite expected, I know.

Still it was rather a surprise,

hearing it from Violet that way.

We were going to tell you.

It was official this morning.

-You're the first to hear it.

-Am l? Am I indeed?

I see you've got your tree.

-Hello, Mrs. Winslow.

-Hello, Desmond, dear.

I've got him to bed.

Nobody ill, I hope?

Hello, Desmond.

You're not looking well.

The old cricket thing.

Any relation of D.W.H. Curry?

Played for Middlesex.

I am D.W.H. Curry.

-Curry of Curry's match?

-Yes.

Hat trick against the Players

in what year?

1 895 at Lord's.

-You were a hero of mine.

-Was l? Was I indeed?

I used to have a signed

photograph of you.

I used to sign a lot once,

for schoolboys.

I think we might try a little

of the Madeira before luncheon.

We're celebrating--

It's all right. Desmond knows.

Yes, indeed.

It's wonderful news, isn't it?

I'll gladly drink a toast to the....

" Happy pair," I think is the phrase

that's eluding you.

As a matter of fact, I was looking

for something new to say.

A forlorn quest, my dear Desmond.

A forlorn quest.

Arthur, you mustn't be so rude.

I meant, naturally, that nobody...

...with the possible exception

of Voltaire...

...could find anything new to say

about an engaged couple.

Dickie! A toast to the happy pair.

Is that all finally spliced up?

Cate definitely being entered for

the marriage stakes? Good egg!

Quite so.

I should've added, "with the exception

of Voltaire and Dickie Winslow."

Are we allowed to drink

to our own healths?

-It's permissible.

-It's bad luck.

-We defy augury, don't we?

-You mustn't say that.

I know. You can drink

each other's healths.

So...

...our superstitious terrors

are allayed, are they?

Good.

Catherine...

...and John.

Violet! We mustn't leave you out.

-You must join us.

-Nothing for me, sir.

You'd be more convincing if you

hadn't brought an extra glass.

Not for myself, sir.

It's for Master Ronnie.

You brought a glass for Ronnie?

I thought you'd

allow him a taste.

To drink the toast.

He's so grown-up.

But Master Ronnie doesn't get

back from Osbourne until Tuesday.

He's back. The girl said.

The holidays don't start till Tuesday.

The girl saw him.

Isn't that right, ma'am?

Grace, what does this mean?

All right, Violet, you can go.

Yes, miss.

Catherine, did you know

Ronnie was back?

-Dickie?

-Yes, Father.

Grace?

We thought you shouldn't know, Arthur.

Just for the time being.

Is the boy very ill?

Answer me, someone.

Is the boy very ill?

No, Father, he's not ill.

Will someone tell me

what has happened, please?

He brought this letter for you, Arthur.

Will you read it to me, please?

Not in front of--

Will you read it to me, please?

"Sir, I am commanded by my Lords'

Commissioners of the Admiralty...

...to inform you of a communication

from the Commanding Officer...

...of the Royal Naval College...

...reporting the theft of a 5-shilling

postal order at the college...

...which was cashed at

the Post Office.

Investigation of the case leaves

no other conclusion possible...

...than that the order was cashed by

your son, Cadet Ronald Arthur Winslow.

My Lords regret that

they must request you...

...to withdraw your son

from the college.

I am, sir, your obedient servant."

It's signed by....

I can't read his name.

Would you be kind enough to have

Ronnie come down and see me, please?

-He's in bed.

-You told me he wasn't ill.

He's not at all well.

Thank you, Desmond.

The rest of you go into luncheon.

Take them in, please.

Arthur, don't you think--?

Would you decant the claret?

You'll find it in the dining room.

-Yes, Father.

-Thank you.

Please don't....

Please don't....

What mustn't I do?

Please don't forget he's only a child.

Come on, Mother.

Come on, darling. It's all right.

Come in!

Come in and close the door.

Come over here.

Why aren't you in uniform?

It got wet.

How did it get wet?

-I was out in the garden in the rain.

-Why?

I was hiding.

From me?

Remember you promised me...

...if you got into trouble

you'd come to me first?

Why didn't you come to me?

Why did you hide in the garden?

-I don't know, Father.

-Are you so frightened of me?

It says in this letter that

you stole a postal order.

I don't want you to speak until you've

heard what I have to say first.

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