Vote for Huggett Page #2

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By the way, I didn't know

you came from a literary family, Susan.

- Oh, you'd be surprised!

- That was quite a smart letter of your father's.

You should see him when he's really roused.

Well, it was a good idea.

Where does he think this lido ought to be?

Down by the river, I suppose.

That's where lidos generally are, isn't it?

Yes. Yes, I suppose it is.

Only cod today, I'm afraid, Mrs Huggett.

- Oh, dear. What, again?

- Afraid so.

I see that your good man

has been rushing into print.

- Oh, you read that?

- Naturally.

A splendid idea.

- Here we are. One and nine.

- Thank you. Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Ah, Mrs Huggett.

Just been wrapping your old man a bit of cod.

That's the stuff to shake 'em up!

Call themselves a council?

Feathering their own nests - that's what.

Got a nice bit of plaice.

Mum's the word, you know.

Cod. Two bob.

Why, Grandma!

I didn't know you ever came to Mackrill's.

I don't. But they've had nothing but cod

at Mason's all week.

And if there's one thing I can't abide, it's cod.

My stomach just revolves on me at the sight.

Well, you may get a bit of plaice today.

Well, it's about time.

I see Joe's been pushing himself forward.

- What do you mean?

- Getting his name in the papers.

- Oh, that.

- Not that anyone troubled to tell me.

I shouldn't have known about it,

but for the milkman.

It was a lovely letter, wasn't it?

Wrote it all in one day, too.

He'll be standing for parliament next.

Oh, what a horrid thing to say about anyone!

Well, I don't hold

with people pushing their selves forward.

You mean Joe? He never pushed in his life.

Why, I couldn't even get him to push the pram

when the kids was little.

Grandma, look! You'll miss your place.

No plaice, ma. How about a nice bit of cod?

Theo!

- Come in. I've got something to show you.

- Oh? What's up?

I'm not sure, but I think

we might be onto something very sweet.

(Telephone rings)

- Lever-Wilson Company.

Oh, it's you, Peter. I've told you before:

Mr Lever doesn't like personal calls at work.

I know, but I couldn't wait.

I just had to phone up.

I wanted to see if you'd decided yet.

- No, I haven't.

- Oh. Well, what about tonight?

Oh, all right. Call for me about seven.

Yes, but assuming they do have a lido, why

on the south bank? The north would be better.

Except for one thing. The land's not for sale.

- I didn't know that.

- Few people do. It's part of the Bramley Estate.

There's a big lawsuit pending

that'll tie it up indefinitely. They can't sell it.

Do you mean, if they do decide to have a lido,

they've got to build on the south bank?

That's right. Now, look.

Bramley Estate. We own all this bit.

I've just taken an option on this bit.

So, as soon as we buy this small piece,

we've got 'em where we want 'em -

we can clean up.

But what about old Hall

and his community centre?

We'll have to see that the council turn that down.

- Easier said than done, old boy.

- I don't know so much.

There's a by-election soon in that ward.

Yes, but we haven't put up a candidate.

- You could nominate one, if you wanted to.

- Waste of time, old boy.

The Riverside's always voted Moderate,

since Julius Caesar.

A Progressive wouldn't stand a chance.

I'm not so sure.

Of course, Harold, whoever's lucky enough to

get the nomination will be returned unopposed.

There never has been a contest

in the Riverside ward, and there never will be.

It's a safe, Moderate seat.

Yes.

I've... I've never heard you, Harold,

but I'm told you speak very well

at the open-air meetings in the park.

Weather permitting, yes.

Well, in a town of this size,

I suppose you'll agree

that some kind of cultural centre is essential.

Why, I not only agree,

but I'd fight for it to my last breath.

Why, without a cultural centre,

the body politic is without a soul,

and the spirit is denied a chance to develop.

And we mustn't forget

the principles of democracy.

This is a country in which

all ideas should be allowed to flourish freely.

Jolly good, old boy, but... don't overdo it.

Sorry, Uncle, but I get carried away.

You know, I often think of Lincoln's words:

government for the people, by the pe...

Yes, yes, yes. Now, we're going to go

about this business in a fully democratic way.

I'm going to make a proposition to you.

As Chairman of the Independents,

I'm going to nominate you tomorrow

for the Riverside by-election.

- Me?

- Yes, you.

And when you're on the council, you can fight

for the community centre. What do you say?

Well, I don't know what to say.

The proposition appeals to me.

It appeals to my best instincts, but... well...

there's one thing that worries me, Uncle.

Oh? What's that?

Well, if I accept - and I feel I shall -

I must never let my personal ambitions,

or the vested interests of my friends,

blind me in the prosecution of my political faith,

or the furtherance of my country's interests.

Furtherance of my country's interests. Yes.

Well, I'm very glad to hear it, but for the moment,

just concentrate on my community centre.

Yes, I will. Thank you very much, Uncle.

Er... Oh, by the way...

Yes?

What exactly is a community centre?

Very attractive, if you don't mind my saying so.

Oh, you made me jump. I thought you'd gone.

No. In fact, I want to ask you something.

It won't take long, will it? I've got a date.

In that case, let me drive you home.

We can talk in the car.

- Oh, I don't want to take you out of your way.

- I don't mind being taken out of my way.

By some people. Come on.

Oh, it's you, Susan.

Why don't you use your key?

- Mother, this is Mr Lever.

- How do you do?

Pleased to meet you, I'm sure.

- (Whispers) Anything wrong?

- No, he wants to talk to Dad.

- Oh, why don't you come in?

- Oh, so sorry.

- If you'll wait in here, I'll call my husband.

- Thank you, Mrs Huggett.

Well, good night, Mr Lever,

and thank you for the lift.

Good night, Susan.

Perhaps we'll try it again sometime.

- Come on.

- No!

- It's Mr Lever.

- Well, what does he want to see me for?

I don't know. He didn't say.

You haven't been up to anything, have you?

Well, what can I get up to?

Me, a married man with three kids.

Well, I don't know.

You've been playing a lot of snooker lately.

Ah, hello, Mr Huggett.

- Delighted to meet you.

- Same here, sir.

I've brought Susan home in my car, so I took

the opportunity of dropping in. You don't mind?

No, of course not. Well, er... yes.

- Well, er...

- It's a wonderful kid you've got there.

- Well, I'm glad you think so, sir.

- She's smart at her work, too. So far.

- Well, she takes after her mother, you know.

- Mmm?

I'd have thought it was you she took after.

That letter of yours in The Advertiser

has caused quite a stir.

Oh, that? Oh, I just knocked it off in one evening,

you know.

Oh! No, I think you've started something.

Several people have mentioned it to me.

And Wilson - that's my partner, you know -

he's very keen on this lido suggestion.

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