Young Winston Page #3

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...it's difficult to accept you

as an advocate of democracy.

Many people think you use it

as a device...

...to make yourself prime minister

in Lord Salisbury's place.

Do you?

- Not at all.

- Good.

Recently, you've expressed strong

views on the state of the Irish question.

Well...

The Irish question...

That, I'm afraid, will never be solved.

Quite.

Now, Lord Randolph,

on a more personal note...

...you and Lady Randolph, the former

American heiress Jennie Jerome...

...are leaders of society.

Your racehorses are most successful,

you entertain lavishly...

...and His Royal Highness the Prince of

Wales attends your dinners frequently.

And Lady Randolph and you...

...are identified with

all that is new and fashionable.

Your splendid home

here in Connaught Place...

...is one of the few

to have electric lighting.

How do you find it?

Do you prefer it to gas?

Well, it's all rather

up-to-date, I suppose.

That thing in the cellar-

I think you call it the dynamo.

- is rather noisy.

The lights will keep going out

always at the wrong times.

No, I don't think that electric light

will ever replace gas.

- At least, not in private houses.

- No, no.

I believe, Lord Randolph,

you have a son.

What? Yes, actually. Two.

Two sons, Winston and Jack.

No doubt, they're very proud

of their father.

That thought

had never occurred to me.

I had scarcely passed

my 12th birthday...

...when I entered the inhospitable

regions of examinations...

...through which,

for the next seven years...

...I was destined to journey.

These examinations

were a great trial to me.

I should have lik ed to be ask ed

to say what I knew.

They always contrived

to ask what I did not know.

This sort of treatment

had only one result:

I did not do well in examinations.

Begin.

This was especially true...

...of my entrance examination

to Harrow.

I wrote my name

at the top of the page.

I wrote the number

of the question:
one.

And after much reflection,

I put a brack et around it.

But thereafter, I could not think

of anything connected with it...

...that was either relevant or true.

Incidentally, there arrived

from nowhere in particular...

...a blot and several smudges.

I gazed for two whole hours

at this sad spectacle.

Then, merciful ushers

collected my piece of fool's cap...

...with all the others and carried it

up to the headmaster's table.

Longhaired boy in the second row.

It was from these slender

indications of scholarship...

...that Mr. Welldon, the headmaster...

...drew the conclusion

that I was worthy to pass into Harrow.

It is very much to his credit.

It showed that he was a man...

...capable of looking

beneath the surface.

A man not dependent

upon paper manifestations.

I have always had

the greatest regard for him.

- Happy Christmas, Lord Randolph.

- Thank you.

And to you, my boy.

Mr. Buckle, a visit from me

to The Times at this hour...

...must be a surprise to you.

Oh, The Times has learnt never to be

surprised by Lord Randolph Churchill.

Then, perhaps, this will surprise you.

This is a letter from you

to the prime minister.

That is correct.

But it's a letter of resignation

from the cabinet.

That is also correct.

Lord Randolph.

You have taken me into your

confidence by showing me this letter.

I ask you...

I beg you not to send it

to Lord Salisbury.

I already have. That's a copy.

Then I urge you to withdraw it.

That's not possible.

Lord Randolph, once before

you threatened to resign...

...and the prime minister retreated.

This time, he will stand firm.

Really?

Forgive me if I seem

to be taking a liberty...

...but for you to resign now,

to leave the government...

...on this issue of the budgets for the

army and navy would be a tragic error.

You must not do it.

I have no choice.

I'm pledged to economy

up to my eyes.

I gave my word.

How can I accept this

flagrant misuse of public money?

May I say that public money has

been wasted before...

...and the nation has survived.

As I understand,

your colleagues in the cabinet...

...are willing to accept this bill.

Then why do you feel it

necessary to resign?

In addition to being leader of

the House of Commons...

...I'm also chancellor

of the exchequer.

I am responsible

for the country's money.

Why resign? In protest?

The country will not be grateful.

After all...

...isn't this a matter

of national defence?

Withdraw this resignation.

At once. Now.

The prime minister

has already accepted it.

I have his letter here.

Mr. Buckle, I came to you,

rather than any other editor...

...in the hope that you, of all people,

would give me your support.

I see.

The Times has criticised

the government...

...when we thought it necessary.

But we will not lend a hand

toward bringing it down.

Will you, at least...

...publish both my letter and

the prime minister's reply?

No.

They are private communications

between you and Lord Salisbury.

To publish his letter...

...I would have to have

the prime minister's permission.

That you will never get.

I presume I shall see the news

in tomorrow's edition of The Times?

Yes. Tomorrow.

Randolph!

Randolph!

Randolph.

Randolph.

Quite a surprise for you.

It is true.

It must be. It's in The Times, isn't it?

Last night, you knew.

You knew then,

and you didn't tell me.

When you said you were going to

the club, you were going to The Times.

I saw no reason

to spoil your evening.

But you've worked so hard.

Yes, I'm very tired.

Why don't we take a holiday?

We've arranged to be home at

Christmas. We have engagements.

Mr. Moore, my lord.

Oh, dear, yes.

Show him in, will you?

- Good morning, Lady Randolph.

- Good morning, Mr. Moore.

- Lord Randolph.

- Yes, it's quite true, Moore.

Now, be a good fellow,

have a cup of coffee with us.

No, thank you. I...

I just came to tell you that...

...if I can ever serve you in a private

capacity, I would be honoured.

Very kind of you.

- Do sit down.

- Thank you, no. I-

I really must go.

I'll see you to the door.

I'll see myself out, Lady Randolph. I-

In all my 20 years

in Her Majesty's government...

...I have never served a more able

or more brilliant minister.

He has flung himself

from the top of the ladder.

He will never reach it again.

Winston, hurry up.

The dev oted Mr. Moore

had a heart attack...

...and died shortly thereafter.

I can see my father now...

...in a somewhat different light

than I did in those days.

I have long since passed

the age when he died...

...and I understand very clearly...

...the suicidal nature

of his resignation.

My mother remained, as always...

...loyal and steadfast.

A light on Marmion's visage spread

And fired his glazing eye:

With dying hand, above his head

He shook the fragment of his blade

And shouted, "Victory!

Charge, Chester, charge!

On, Stanley, on!"

Were the last words of Marmion.

"Searest Mother and Father...

...two weeks from Monday...

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