Young Winston Page #5

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an examination, Winston...

...one that does you credit

and one that does not.

As usual,

you have chosen the latter.

Seventh from the bottom

of the entire class.

But I did pass.

Yes. You passed...

...but you failed

to get into the infantry.

You merely

scraped into the cavalry...

...which everybody knows

is the mark of a third-rate pass.

Now, that will cost me an extra...

...200 pounds a year

to get you a horse.

This after all the

months of cramming...

...and all the trouble I went to with

the duke to get you into 60th Rifles...

...one of the finest regiments

in the British army.

But I only failed the infantry

by 18 marks, Father.

- I'm sorry.

- Sorry?

You are sorry?

Winston, how many times have I

heard that word from you before?

You've had

every possible advantage.

Your mother and I have

done everything...

...to make life easy for you.

Remember how you behaved at Eton?

- Eton? You mean Harrow-

- Your reports have been...

...an embarrassment.

" Untidy, slovenly, bad, lazy. "

You're my greatest disappointment.

You lie, you shirk, you boast!

You care nothing for anyone

but yourself, Winston.

Ever since you were a child,

you've been...

...a problem to me.

Nothing but trouble and heartache.

What's to become of you, boy?

No, you're no longer a boy,

you're 20. You'll be 21-

- No, Father, I- I'm 19.

- Don't interrupt me, Winston, please!

Winston...

...if you do not change your ways

at Sandhurst...

...if you do not face up

to your responsibilities like a man...

...if you don't buckle

down, Winston...

...I can accept no further responsibility

for you after your 21 st birthday.

If you don't change...

...you'll become just another...

...public-school failure,

social wastrel...

...living out a shabby and a miserable

life to the end of your days.

Do you understand me, Winston?

Yes, Father.

Nevertheless, once I became

a gentleman cadet...

...I acquired a new status

in my father's eyes.

And, when I was on leave...

...I was sometimes allowed

to go about with him.

I dearly loved these outings.

I had no idea that he had

less than 18 months to live.

Lord Randolph.

- General.

- Good afternoon, sir.

- This your boy?

- Yes. Winston.

Winston, you have the privilege

of meeting General Bindon Blood.

How do you do, sir.

Sandhurst, eh? Good, good.

See you in India one day, right?

I hope so, sir. I'd like to serve

under you someday, sir.

I mean, in the field, sir.

You like a bit of gunpowder, do you?

Good, good.

Well, young fellow,

you do well at Sandhurst...

...and if ever there's another war,

which I doubt, worst luck...

...I'll find a place for you.

I give you my word.

Ambition's a good thing

in a young man, Winston...

...but one mustn't

be too pushy, you know?

Yes, Father.

Hello, Joe.

Randolph.

I was going to write

to congratulate you...

...on this young man's

maiden speech.

Excellent, Austen.

Made a fine impression on the House.

Thank you, sir.

You should be

very proud of him, Joe.

Yes, I thought it was

a reasonable effort.

You've grown, Winston.

- Be an officer soon, eh?

- Hope so, sir.

- Father, I- I've been thinking.

- Yes?

Arthur Balfour is

Lord Salisbury's nephew.

They're very close,

and he helps Lord Salisbury a lot.

And now that

Austen Chamberlain's an MP...

...he must be

a great help to his father.

I was just wondering...

I mean, when I have some leave,

couldn't I help your secretary?

I mean, you were your

father's secretary for a while and...

They fancy Rosebery's

gelding in this race.

He's a handsome-enough fellow.

The breeding's there, but

something's lacking in the stamina.

You know? Character.

No, I don't see him winning the race.

It was not...

...so long ago...

- Excuse me.

- ... in terms of the calendar...

- Excuse me. Hello.

- ... honourable members...

- Hello, how are you?

- ... may recall I made...

...a previous statement.

A previous statement...

...made by me...

...on a previous occasion...

...honourable members may recall.

And so I repeat...

...if I may...

...on that...

On that o-

On that o- Occasion...

On that occasion...

...honourable members

may recall I...

Her Majesty's government...

Her Majesty's government...

...are spending

huge amounts of money...

...on army and naval operations.

They are doing so...

They are-

They are doing so...

...without regard to the pledges

they made to the country.

Without regard.

They are doing so...

...without regard to the pledges

they made to the country.

Without regard...

...to the will or voice of parliament.

That's what I... said.

Must have...

...had a reason.

Come along, old friend.

He was only 46.

Had he lived

another four or five years...

...he could not have

done without me.

But all my dreams

of comradeship with him...

...of entering parliament

at his side and in his support...

...were ended.

We buried him near Blenheim...

...where both he and I were born.

His friend Lord Rosebery

wrote of him:

"He was human, eminently human...

...full of faults, as he himself knew.

But not base or unpardonable faults.

Pugnacious, outrageous...

...fitful, petulant...

...but eminently

lovable and winning. "

Not a bad epitaph, at that.

Nor one I should mind

having for myself.

Now, there remained for me...

...only to pursue his aims...

...and vindicate his memory.

Parade...

...present arms!

Colour parties, halt!

Parade...

...shoulder arms!

I passed out of Sandhurst

with honours.

Eighth out of 150.

I mention this

only because it shows...

...that I could learn quickly enough

the things that mattered.

Victoria, by the grace of God...

...Queen, Sefender of the Faith,

Empress of India...

...to our trusty and well-beloved

Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill...

...gentleman, greeting.

We, reposing a special

trust and confidence...

...in your loyalty,

courage and good conduct...

...constitute and appoint you...

...to be an officer in our land forces

with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.

Four months later...

...I lost the one person

who had never failed me.

Elizabeth. Elizabeth...

...it's Winston.

Do come in.

Winston.

What a good boy you are...

...to come and see your old Everest.

You've grown.

It's the army.

Do you think they'd take me?

I'm afraid I'm not

much good anymore.

Oh, you'll get better, Womany.

You'll see.

I was thinking this afternoon

about your father.

Do you know what he did?

When I retired,

I gave him my savings...

...and he made a special trip

to the city...

...to talk to Lord Rothschild

about investing them for me.

Now, wasn't that kind?

And he, with

so many cares of his own.

They were cruel to him.

Lord Salisbury...

...that Arthur Balfour

and Mr. Chamberlain.

Supposed to be his friends.

Broke his heart.

You're wet.

- You're soaked through.

- It's raining.

You came in the rain? You must

take that off. You'll catch cold.

- No. It's all right.

- No. You must take that jacket off...

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