The Winslow Boy Page #7

Do we have a chance of success?

Of course, or I would not suggest it.

Father, Sir Robert thinks

we might get...

...the Director

of Public Prosecutions to act.

What?

What'd you say?

We were discussing how to proceed

with the case.

I'm afraid I don't think,

all things considered...

...that much purpose would be served

by going on.

I don't think any purpose would be

served by going on.

That's absurd.

Of course we must go on.

How could you say otherwise?

I've made sacrifices for this case.

Some of them I had no right to make...

...but I made them nonetheless.

But there is a limit.

And I've reached it.

I'm sorry, Sir Robert.

The Winslow case is now closed.

-I should explain this letter.

-There is no need.

This is from Colonel Watherstone,

the father of the man I'm engaged to.

He writes that our efforts

to discredit the Admiralty...

...have resulted in our making

the name of Winslow a laughingstock.

-I don't care for his English.

-It's not very good, is it?

He says that unless my father

will give him a firm undertaking...

...to drop this whining

and reckless agitation--

I suppose he means the case.

--he will exert every influence

he has over his son...

...to prevent him marrying me.

I see.

-May I take a cigarette?

-Yes, of course.

It's a vile habit, isn't it?

Which of us is perfect?

That really was a most charming hat,

Miss Winslow.

I'm glad you liked it.

It seems decidedly wrong to me that

a lady of your political persuasion...

...should be allowed to adorn herself

with such a very feminine allurement.

It looks like trying to have

the best of both worlds.

Does it indeed?

It does.

And is that a particularly

female trait?

I'm not a militant.

I don't go about shattering glass

or pouring acid down pillar boxes.

I'm very glad to hear it.

Both those activities would be

unsuitable in that hat.

I have never yet fully grasped...

...what active steps you take

to propagate your cause.

I'm an organizing secretary

at the Woman's Suffrage Association.

Indeed!

Is the work hard?

Very.

But not, I should imagine, lucrative.

The work is voluntary and unpaid.

Dear me.

What sacrifices you ladies seem

prepared to make for your convictions.

Forgive me, sir, if I spoke

out of turn just now.

That's quite all right.

Of course, you must act

as you think fit.

But I suggest you delay your decision

until you've thought a while.

I'll answer you presently.

Well...

...my father wrote

your father a letter.

-You read it?

-Yes, did you?

He showed it to me. Yes.

-What's his answer?

-My father?

-He won't send one.

-He'll ignore it?

Isn't that the best response

to blackmail?

-It was highhanded of the old man.

-Highhanded?

-The trouble is he's serious.

-I never thought he wasn't.

He's as serious as can be.

If your father carries on,

he'll do everything he threatened.

He'll forbid the match?

-That's right.

-An empty threat, isn't it?

There's always the allowance.

Yes. There's always the allowance.

Without the settlement, I can't live

on my pay. And with two of us--

-Two can live as cheaply as one.

-Don't you believe it.

Yes, I see.

You're off to

the House of Commons again?

Yes, it's hard on you, John, isn't it?

A fellow thought I'd like to see this.

He cut it out to show me.

Here's poor old John Bull.

He can't get his work done

because of the Winslow situation.

What do you think about that?

Do you want to marry me?

Yes, I do.

But isn't it too late?

If we drop the case, would you

still want to marry the "Winslow girl"?

-That'll blow over.

-And we'd still have the allowance.

It is important. You can't shame me

into saying it isn't.

-I didn't mean to shame you.

-But you did.

I'm sorry.

The case is lost.

The case is lost. Give it up.

What's your answer?

I love you. The answer is

I want to be your wife.

Then you'll drop the case?

Yes, I will.

I must tell Sir Robert.

--the right honourable and learned

gentleman opposite...

--the right honourable and learned

gentleman opposite...

...to calumniate the Admiralty...

...for a child, gentlemen.

For a child.

A guilty child.

Oh, can we not, I do beseech you,

make an end?

One cannot sue the Crown.

Justice has been done,

to the tenth decimal point.

And it is time to lay aside

nursery gossip...

...and to proceed with

the business of government.

You're all in, Bobby.

I say, you're all in. Go home.

We're finished.

You've fought the good fight.

You've fought the good fight, but we

ain't got the votes. It's over.

-We did what we could.

-Thanks for your support.

Don't break your heart.

Everybody loses one.

There's no shame.

-Listen to Tony.

-You can't hold back the tide.

You couldn't have fought harder.

The House is against you.

Let's let it go.

And I believe I can state

with certainty...

...that the mood of this House

is sure, correct...

...and supportive of the Admiralty.

I thank you for your patience.

-I thank you for your time.

-What's this?

-Mr. Speaker, put the question.

-They're calling the question.

Let them call the question.

We're done. There's no shame in it.

The motion is....

Point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Point of order.

I am on my feet.

-Does this escape you?

-Point of order.

-I am on my feet.

-Gentlemen!

-There is a motion--

-Point of order.

I must insist!

Upon what grounds?

Sit down and I'll tell you.

-Sit down!

-Very well, make your old speech.

Thank you.

I have a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

I should like to read

into the record two items.

First item, popular song of the day:

" How Still We See Thee Lie"

or "The Naughty Cadet."

" How dare you sully Nelson's name,

who for this land did die?

Oh, naughty cadet, for shame,

for shame.

How still we see thee lie."

They suggest

our concern for the boy...

...might perhaps tarnish

the reputation of Lord Nelson.

-You said two items.

-The other one is this.

It's from a slightly older source.

It is this:

"You shall not side with the great

against the powerless."

Point of order.

I'm on my feet.

Will you yield?

I will not yield!

"You shall not side with the great

against the powerless."

Have you heard those words, gentlemen?

Do you recognize their source?

From that same source I add

this injunction. It is this:

"What you do to the least of them...

...you do to me."

Now.

Now, gentlemen....

-Good afternoon, miss.

-Hello.

I'll be damned if that's not the--

Will you get on the camera?

What happened?

What happened? First Lord thought

he was safe, home free.

Sir Robert spoke.

Now he's under attack.

-From whom?

-From everybody.

When he comes out,

here's what I want.

Excuse me, sir.

What happened?

It seems, miss...

...that rather than risk a division...

...the First Lord is endorsing

the Petition of Right.

It means the case of Winslow v. Rex

can therefore come to court.

Well, Miss Winslow,

what are my instructions?

Do you need my instructions?

Aren't they already on the petition?

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