The Winslow Boy Page #8

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Well, they might have put

it a bit different, sir.

Still, that's what it said all right.

And when you think it's all

because of our Master Ronnie...

I have to laugh about it sometimes.

I really do.

Wasting the government's time at his age.

I never did.

Well, wonders will never cease.

As you say, wonders will never cease.

Violet...

How long have you been with us?

Twenty-four years come April, sir.

- As long as that?

- Yes sir.

Miss. Kate was that high when I first came.

And Mr. Dickie hadn't even been thought of.

I remember your coming to us now.

I remember it very well.

Things are a bit different

now, aren't they, sir?

Mr. Dickie living all

on his own in Reading.

Miss Kate getting married.

It's no good shirking the fact, Kate. The old

man's pretty worked up about this debate.

Yes that's how a lot of people feel.

I am, for one.

Yes, but he doesn't see why there

should be a debate at all.

I must say, that a

European war blowing up...

there's a coal strike on, there's a

fair chance of a civil war in Ireland...

it does seem a bit odd that the House of

Commons should have to take a whole day...

to discuss your young brother

and his bally postal order.

Well, all I can say is, John...

that if the day ever comes that the House of Commons has so much

on its mind that it can't find time to discuss a Ronnie Winslow...

and his bally postal order...

well this country will be a

far poorer place than it is now.

I wish I could see this

in your light, Kate.

I know it's awfully important for you

to establish Ronnie's innocence.

That's not important to me, John.

- It's not?

- It's important to my father, not to me.

All that I care about is

that people should know...

that a government department has

ignored a fundamental human right...

and that it should be forced to acknowledge

it. That's all that's important to me.

And it is - terribly important.

Kate!

Kate!

It's time we were going.

All right, father. I'm ready.

Three more reporters outside, sir.

Want to see you very urgently.

Shall I let them in?

Certainly not.

I made a statement yesterday.

Until the debate is over I

have nothing more to say.

Yes sir. That's what I told

them, but they wouldn't go.

Well make them. If necessary, use force.

Yes, sir.

Are you quite sure you're

well enough to go?

Nothing to say.

Nothing to say.

I did it!

With this lot around, I almost forgot.

Came in just now, sir.

Open it for me, Kate.

What is it?

Give me that letter, Kate.

No, father. Not now.

The case. This must be the end.

No, father. We've got to go on..

It's not just this letter. I can't go on

sacrificing other peoples' happiness.

We'll talk about it on the way.

- What is the motion?

- Reduce the First Lord's salary by 10.

Capital idea! Capital!

But what's all the fuss about?

Oh some jiggery pokery of that fellow

Morton's to discredit the government.

Can't abide the fellow!

Vicious sort of devil.

Do you have the Times?

Where's the Times?

Here it is...

There's a gentleman to see you sir.

A Mr. Winslow.

Thank you.

Sir Robert, whatever the result of the debate

may be, I must ask you to drop this case.

- What has happened?

- I have made many sacrifices for it.

Some I had no right to make.

Nonetheless I made them.

- But there is a limit, and I have

reached it. - What has happened?

I'm sorry, Sir Robert. More

sorry than you, perhaps...

but the Winslow case is closed.

Balderdash!

My father doesn't mean what he

has been saying, Sir Robert.

- I think I should tell you that we've

had a letter.. - No, Catherine.

From the father of the

man I'm engaged to...

saying that if we go on with the case

he'll use every influence he has...

to prevent his son from marrying me.

I see. An ultimatum.

Yes, but a pointless one.

He has no influence over his son?

A little, of course, but John's

of age and his own master.

I see.

Well sir?

I can't go back on anything

that I have already said.

Your daughter seems

prepared to take the risk.

How do you estimate the risks, Miss.

Winslow?

Negligible.

I must apologise, sir, for speaking to you

as I did just now. It was unforgivable.

Not at all. You were upset at giving up the

case. And to be frank, I liked you for it.

The House of Commons is a

peculiarly trying place, you know.

Too little ventilation and far too much

hot air I'm really am most awfully sorry.

Please.

That's a most charming hat, Miss. Winslow!

I'm glad you like it.

It seems decidedly wrong to me that a

lady of your political persuasion...

should be allowed to adorn herself

with such a truly feminine allurement..

It looks awfully like trying to

have the best of both worlds.

Yes, but then I'm not a

militant, you know, Sir Robert.

I don't go about throwing bricks through shop

windows or making speeches from soap boxes.

I'm very glad to hear it.

Both those activities would be

highly unsuitable in that hat.

Well I hope that what my father has said will not

prevent you from making your speech, Sir Robert.

After all, the principle is still involved.

What principle?

The principle of right and wrong.

Oh, quite. Quite..

Excuse me, Sir Robert. The debate has

started. Mr. Hamilton is on his feet.

Thank you.

Excuse me.

I must thank you, Sir Robert,

for all you have done for us..

I hope you don't blame me but I must

confess to a certain feeling of relief...

that after today we shall hear

no more about the Winslow Boy.

Oh. You really think so?

Harris has a duty to his constituents.

How can I be expected to pay this man

when I know about his feelings...

about the bureaucrats in charge

of a government department?

Well he has been, to coin a phrase,

bludgeoned and obstructive at every step.

The high-handed attitude

of the government...

in trying to prevent the Winslow

case from coming before the court...

on the grounds of the

immunity of the Crown...

is indefensible.

How else can First Lord explain...

those petty-fogging devices...

and mounting demerit...

in reply to my repeated requests...

is nothing more and

nothing less than justice?

In the light of my vast experience

of government departments...

I never known a more heart-rending example of

indifference to the great principles of British justice.

Will the right honourable gentleman

please consider his position...

for the sake of their own reputation...

as well as for the paramount reason...

never was a English boy...

submitted to treatment so cruel.

I see around the front

bench of the Government...

And what do I see?

Despots.

You may laugh.

But how else any right-thinking person describe

the callous - nay inhuman - conduct ..

Of the Admiralty?

The honourable member for Wimbledon has made great play

with his elegant references to despotism and justice.

But I should like to point

out that the Admiralty...

during this long drawn-out dispute...

has at no time acted

hastily or inadvisably...

and it is a matter of

mere histrionic hyperbole...

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