Home Fires (2015) s01e02 Episode Script

1 ~ I have lung cancer.
~ What? I demand a vote of no confidence in the president.
And I offer my immediate resignation.
Delicious.
What did you do? ~ I added the delicious.
~ Are you taking me for that drink? 'I didn't have him down as a wolf.
' I heard shouting for help.
Joyce has got what she wanted - the closure of the WI.
~ You can't enlist.
~ You can't stop me.
I'm 17.
~ I'll just get the girls.
~ The girls? This is Great Paxton's new Women's Institute.
Look after me.
.
.
left.
Left, right, left.
Left, right.
Left, right, left.
Left, right.
Left, right, left.
~ Morning, Stan.
~ Eyes front! I can see them talking but I only hear the voices in my head Waiting for the moment they'll be calling to me Stan! .
.
I'll remember that the words were never said Only now the others hold no meaning for me And I'll see With wide-open eyes Of blindness I'll leave The ever-calling cries In silence Every place we shouldn't go We shouldn't see, we will never know And all I want All I see All I fear All is waiting for me Now I see I'll be Left, right.
Left, right, left.
David! David! David! Ma? Ma! Ma! (.
.
Help) Ma ~ What are you doing? ~ I Ma, this is me.
It's David.
Hey.
Hey.
All right? Come here.
Behaving as if you were already President before the other members have voted for you is a bit Don't you think there's something rather Joyce-like about that? This pitch alone would yield over a hundred thousand square feet of prime agricultural land.
Why would anyone play cricket on it when it could be used to feed people? ~ Because not everyone thinks like you.
~ Not yet.
But they will.
I've been giving Joyce a great deal of thought recently .
.
and I've come to the rather startling conclusion that perhaps she wasn't all bad.
~ Joyce Cameron? ~ Like her or loathe her, she's a born leader.
Morning, ladies! The cricket season isn't over yet.
My advice would be to tread very carefully.
Leadership is about commanding the herd when the moment demands.
It's about seizing them by the horns firmly with both hands and hauling them in the right direction.
~ The right direction being your direction? ~ I'm glad you agree.
~ It was a question.
~ I don't think it was.
~ No, no.
It was.
~ I really don't think so.
Pat, more tea! Pat! About half of that, please, Bryn.
Half? Hello, Miriam.
Er that's one and six.
Thank you.
What's going on? Search me.
I'm sorry.
Why'd you rush out? When the recruits ran past .
.
one of them turned to me and I ~ .
.
I could've sworn it was David.
~ What? I saw David and panicked, and ran out to pull him away before they kill him.
~ No-one's going to kill him.
~ But isn't that how you win wars? ~ By killing more boys than the other side? ~ Stop thinking like this.
I can't! Hey.
I came back last time, didn't I? It won't be the same as last time.
Better ways to kill now.
Besides .
.
he's not you.
Well bowled.
~ Morning, Pat.
~ Morning.
I'm home.
~ What time do you call this? ~ I wondered where you were.
~ Where were you? ~ I wasn't gone long.
That wasn't my question.
Are you deliberately trying to impede my recovery? ~ Why would you say such a thing? ~ I wake up exhausted, needing a drink.
I call out for you - nothing.
No note.
No idea where you'd gone or what time you'd be back.
~ I should have left a note.
I'm sorry.
~ So why were you so long? I was trying to make the housekeeping last as long as I can.
It takes time to judge what's affordable and what isn't.
~ Are you saying I don't give you enough? ~ No.
If I'd been able to finish my novel by now we would have had more money coming in.
You are this close, Patricia.
Yes? ~ I had to buy food.
~ You buy food when I tell you to buy food.
And when I tell you to buy food, you only buy the food I tell you to buy.
Yes? Yes! Don't look at me like that.
Without you holding me back I would have had so much more success.
You're like a dead weight around my neck.
~ I need to go to the lavatory.
~ When I say you can go, you can go.
~ Please ~ What what did I just say? Go on.
Before you humiliate yourself.
Sorry.
There are a couple of boxes of George's things I've still to remove from the room.
Hard to work out where I'm going to put them, so um Well, put your case and boxes on the bed for now.
It's so kind of you to take me in like this, Mrs Scotlock.
We could hardly allow our new teacher to be homeless.
Boris! ~ I'm not sure he agrees with that.
~ Boris doesn't really do "sharing".
To be fair, he's never really had to.
He's all mouth and trousers.
Take him for a walk and he'll love you forever.
Boris! I'll pop this upstairs.
I can't thank you enough for this.
Let's hope Boris and I aren't too long in the tooth for it.
Yeah, well, we would have taken her but for the RAF officers being billeted with us.
I'm assuming she doesn't know Joyce is behind having the school cottage requisitioned? Joyce has a lot to feel vengeful about at the moment.
I don't want Teresa knowing that she's in her line of fire.
It's so lovely to see you all here, as we convene for our first meeting in war time.
What the next months will deliver is unknown.
But what is known is that together we shall endure whatever the future will throw at us.
For none understands the true cost of war better than women.
For it is we, alone, who are left to count the cost in the currency of loved ones lost and injured.
And I want to move swiftly on to my plan for the next year, to turn every available square foot of land in the village towards food production.
I am proposing we begin by ploughing up the cricket pitch.
Oh, no, make no mistake, ladies.
There will be thousands of villages across the land doing the same.
Each making their contribution to the nation's larder.
If we plough up the pitch we run the risk of turning the cricketers against us.
Not to mention the men who watch.
Is it worth pushing this through at the cost of such colossal resentment? They'll come round in time.
Besides, many of them won't be here for much longer, don't forget.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean that the way it sounded.
Didn't you? Easy for you to advocate ploughing up the cricket pitch, Mrs Barden, when your husband never goes near it.
Growing produce is a way for women to invest skills they acquired in peacetime and to take the lead.
~ I'm surprised you can't see this.
~ Oh, I see plenty.
I was on my way home from a District Council meeting and I felt that it was my responsibility to inform you of a decision to requisition this hall for the RAF.
What? Which means that this will be your last meeting here for the foreseeable future.
Was there really no other building the committee could have chosen? Well, it was a heated debate.
But in the end an unassailable argument was made.
By you, no doubt.
Your committee will receive official notification by the end of the week.
Ah, except there doesn't seem to be a committee to receive it.
It's just Mrs Barden.
We were coming on to that.
An extraordinary general meeting will still need to be held.
At which a secret ballot will be required to vote in the right person to be President.
Whoever she might be.
Good evening, ladies.
I'll see you again soon, no doubt.
I've been through everything four times, Mr Driscoll, and each time I find a difference between what your outgoings should be this quarter, based on previous quarters, and what they actually are.
I see.
Because everything else seems to be pretty constant month on month.
So I wanted to see you in case I've missed something.
~ Well, maybe you have, Mrs Scotlock.
~ That's a relief.
What I have missed? The Prices of Goods Act coming into force in November.
So these are adjusted figures? The government has a duty to protect this country, Mrs Scotlock.
~ And I have a duty to protect my margins.
~ The act is to prevent profiteering.
Odd how making a profit is perfectly acceptable during peacetime, but during the war they add a couple of syllables and it suddenly becomes a dirty word.
If these are the books you wish me to work from then I'm afraid I'm unable to help you.
You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours - isn't that the British way? I'm sorry.
It isn't my way.
Shame, because I've no desire to take my business elsewhere.
Nor will many of your other clients from the chamber of commerce.
The thing about war is, you have to decide whose side you're on.
And we all want you on our side, Mrs Scotlock.
Very much.
Well, I wish I could be of more help, but I can't.
I'm sorry.
Good day, Mr Driscoll.
Oh, don't be alarmed! Contrary to Joyce's insinuation, I'm not planning world domination, but scouring the village from on high for a building that might accommodate the WI now that our hall's been requisitioned in malice.
Malice? You don't imagine that Joyce would have allowed the hall to be requisitioned if she were still President? ~ Wouldn't she? ~ Claire.
War is driven by propaganda on all sides.
Now more than ever you really need to question the mere surface of things.
Look beneath, to what's really taking place.
Hm.
I suppose.
So, have you found anywhere else? I've narrowed it down to three barns and the pub.
What would you think about meeting upstairs at the Horse and Groom? Claire? ~ Hello! ~ Ah.
Just the one.
~ For Mrs Barden.
~ Thank you.
How do you like working here, compared to the Camerons? If I said I much prefer it, how do I know you won't go telling other people? Come again? People don't always mean what they say, do they? ~ You know, especially now.
~ Now? Well, during war.
With all the propaganda and everything.
Well, I wouldn't lie to you, Miss Hillman.
~ You didn't tell me you had a sweetheart.
~ I didn't tell you because Well, she isn't.
It looked like it to me.
Claire, Jenny's just a girl I see from time to time.
~ What else is a sweetheart? ~ A girl you want to see all the time.
Is that the truth? Or more propaganda? Or both? Claire, might it be possible to have my post? Well Bye, then.
Bye, then.
~ Claire ~ Mm.
Thank you.
Put your tongue away before it gets caught in your spokes.
I thought now might be a good time for a little chat.
What's wrong with wanting to fight for my country? Nothing.
And let's get one thing straight.
~ I'm not looking to stop you.
~ Ma is.
She doesn't want to see you hurt, David.
Or worse.
I'm not going to die, if that's what she's thinking.
She still thinks I'm a child.
David All I want to ask is that you don't join up.
~ You said you didn't want to stop me! ~ I want you to give your ma time to get used to the idea that you will eventually go.
If this carries on they'll come for you soon enough.
Give her time to accept it.
~ You're trying to trick me.
~ No.
I did what you're planning, to your gran, last time round.
Joined up and buggered off before anyone could stop me.
No regard for anyone else.
Found out later it nearly killed her.
You want to show your ma you're no longer a child, David, give her this.
Wait to be called.
~ Are you sure he'll actually walk with me? ~ Dogs are pack animals.
They just need to know who's in charge, and once it's made clear it isn't them .
.
they're perfectly happy.
Once he sees me give you the lead, he'll be putty in your hands.
Just give me an hour to get the place straight and I guarantee you'll come back firm friends.
Right.
Right.
I am now showing Boris that I'm handing control of him to you.
~ At least he's not growling any more.
~ If he starts, just ignore him and he'll soon get the message that you're not remotely impressed.
Grow up.
Come on, dog! Good dog.
Come on! Good boy.
Steady on! What can you smell, eh? What is it? Your mistress wouldn't be too chuffed with you coming home with that hanging from your jaws.
Come on, Boris! Come away! Oh! Boris! Boris! You stupid animal, for goodness' sake! Boris! You come back here this instant! I'm just really busy this weekend.
I won't be able to see you.
~ Oh, please.
~ No.
Maybe next weekend.
Excuse me.
Sorry, excuse me.
Do you er do you work here? I do.
Why? Is the situation for a telephone operator still available? Boris! Boris! Boris! Please Boris! What about him? Where is he? He pulled the lead out of me hand chasing rabbits.
~ You let him go? ~ He pulled, suddenly, very hard! That's what dogs do.
They pull on the lead! Your job is to hold on! ~ I'm so sorry.
~ Where is he? ~ Teresa, where's my dog? ~ I don't know.
Third mother in two weeks to beg me to diagnose something that would render her son unfit for active service.
She actually took out an envelope and placed her life savings on the desk by way of inducement.
It's sheer desperation.
The last thing you need in your condition is that kind of pressure.
I think I can handle it, Erica.
Even in my condition.
Why don't I try weeding them out before they come through? They don't require weeding out, they require compassion.
Which I think I'm still able to muster without collapsing completely.
~ I wasn't suggesting you weren't.
~ Weren't you? ~ Any more appointments this afternoon? ~ Not until this evening.
Good.
If you need me, me and my condition will be taking things very, very calmly in the Horse and Groom.
I may not be fit for the Army, or much else as things have turned out but I can still manage to light a pipe and lift a bloody beer glass.
Will? Boris! ~ Boris! ~ Boris! Boris! ~ Boris! ~ Boris! If he won't come for me, he's hardly going to come for you! Boris! If it's a patient for your father, take a name and he'll call them later.
~ I'm not decent.
~ It's wet hair, Kate.
Beneath a towel.
Unless it's the King, I'm sure whoever it is will turn a blind eye.
I've a dog in the car bleeding to death.
There was no time to get it to a vet, so I asked for the nearest doctor.
My father's on a call.
~ At the Horse and Groom.
~ Laura! Well, he is.
You're a pilot.
Unless somebody gets on to it immediately the poor little bugger hasn't long to live.
~ Get Dad's bag! ~ You get it.
For Christ's sake, would one of you get the damned bag! Sandwiches, coffee, cordial, newspaper, book, notebook and pen, and extra pillow.
~ I think that's all you might need while I'm out.
~ How long will you be? Er two hours and 15 minutes.
Very precise.
You've encouraged me to be more diligent about my timekeeping and I've decided to try harder.
~ May I go? ~ I'll see you in precisely two hours.
~ That won't be long enough.
~ It'll have to be.
Yes? Very well.
How is he? I think I've stemmed the bleeding but he needs proper veterinary attention.
Will he survive 12 miles? If you go as quickly as you were presumably going when you hit him I didn't hit him, Doctor.
I found him lying in the middle of the road.
You'll need someone to hold Boris while you drive.
~ I will! ~ And I'll help.
~ Not enough room for both.
~ As fast as you can, without killing my daughter.
Yes, sir.
~ Late.
~ I'm sorry I'm late, my husband Either arrive on time or don't bother.
Your choice.
Can you put me through to the vet, please? Yes, Alison.
Putting you through to the vet now.
Thank you.
~ Wrong! ~ Really? Use of first name wrong.
But she's a friend.
In the exchange we have no friends.
We merely connect.
We do not hobnob.
Oh, hello.
It's Mrs Scotlock telephoning for news about Boris.
Boris, yes.
Thank you.
~ I'm so, so sorry Mrs ~ Please stop apologising.
It wasn't your fault.
You wouldn't think it to look at him, but when Boris picks up the scent of rabbits he comes over all murderous.
I should have Hello? Yes.
'Boris is very well.
' Thank you.
~ 'He's going to be fine.
' ~ Thank you.
He woke up from the anaesthetic and tried to bite the vet.
Thank God! ~ They think he'll pull through.
~ I'm so happy I didn't kill your dog! ~ Well, don't spoil it by killing me.
~ Oh.
I'm sorry.
And stop apologising.
~ For everything.
From now.
~ I will.
I'm sorry.
I will.
.
.
hitting me with that ball.
Nothing less than all out bloody war in the medium of cricket.
Mr Simms! Busy? The cricket pavilion always looks worse for wear towards the end of the season.
Stumps and I generally do some repairs this time of year.
~ Is there much point now? ~ Now? Well, now the WI are agitating to have the pitch dug over for flowers.
Sorry, they're what? Well, there's a rumour that the WI want to commandeer the cricket pitch for flowers.
~ Flowers? ~ Mm.
To bring some cheer to the village in the dark days ahead.
Over our dead body.
Well, nothing to do with me, of course.
I'm no longer a member.
~ Good day, gentlemen.
~ Good day.
Of course, if a caller identifies your voice - as they often do with mine because it's quite distinctive - and they use your name, then it's fine to use theirs back.
~ Or to give you an example ~ I'm afraid I'm going to have to go.
I haven't finished explaining the protocol if your voice is recognised.
Then you can admit to recognising theirs? ~ That's correct.
~ Same time next week? The shift doesn't end for another 15 minutes.
My husband isn't well and he'll worry if I'm not home by quarter past.
Well, um I suppose that'll have to be enough for today.
~ Oh, I didn't know you worked here, Mrs Simms.
~ She doesn't yet.
No, I've er I've just completed my first training session.
Well despite your age, you seem like a quick enough learner.
~ Job's yours if you want it.
~ Thank you so much! You're an excellent teacher of the elderly.
See you next week.
Did you want something? The Bardens are having trouble with their telephone line.
Hm? We just put a call through to Mrs Barden.
She seemed to hear everything perfectly clearly.
Oh.
You must've fixed it.
How clever.
~ What did you do? ~ Nothing.
I expect Spencer appreciates that.
Your um humility.
~ What do you actually want? ~ To tell you about the Bardens' line.
You told me.
It's working.
~ Excellent.
~ Now let me tell you something.
Spencer's the only lad around here that doesn't reek of manure and I've got him.
So, hands off.
~ You're late.
~ Only by a minute, Bob.
Punctuality is an absolute, Pat.
One either is or one is not.
There is no halfway house.
I'm sorry, Bob.
I'll do better next time.
If there is a next time.
~ I wanted to talk to you about flowers.
~ Flowers? Mm.
Inside.
I still think whoever hit him should have stopped.
You know, it's common bloody decency! ~ Pardon my French.
~ Don't worry, I don't speak French.
People round here get used to animals leaping out into the road.
Rabbits.
Foxes.
Pheasants.
Deer.
Sheep, of course.
~ The odd cat.
~ Sounds like a bloodbath.
People think the countryside's lovely and green.
But the truth is, it's tinged with red.
~ Well, thank you again.
~ There is one last thing.
I I was wondering about lunch tomorrow.
You wouldn't be free, by any chance? Atrocious first impression, I'm afraid.
First night here and I er knocked it off the stand.
~ I'll replace it, of course.
~ No, don't you dare! No, I despise that lamp with a passion.
Adam's great aunt gave us that as a wedding gift, and try as I have over the years to get rid of it, Adam insists we can't, in the event that she visits and expects to see it.
~ Then I'll replace it with a different one.
~ Well, that offer I will accept.
Thank you.
Well, if you need anything else "damaged beyond repair" I'm your man.
Oh, by the way, we're eating at the mess tonight.
Sorry.
I should have mentioned it earlier.
It's not a problem.
I've been thinking.
I've decided I'm not going until I get the call up.
~ What? ~ I want to go with your blessing.
Or at least the next best thing you can give me.
I want to go as soon as I can, but I'll wait until I'm called.
~ If it helps.
~ It does.
A bit.
Thank you.
I am going to go, Ma.
~ It's just a question of when.
~ I understand that.
But it's difficult for me.
You're my only child.
I know.
~ You all right? ~ Mm-hm.
Whoever it is, please, you don't need to knock.
~ Oh, good morning! ~ Good morning.
Delivery? To replace the one I broke.
~ It's ~ Oh, it's hideous, Padre.
~ Yes.
~ So much worse than the other one.
I know.
But every time I look at it I'll be reminded to be more careful in someone else's home.
Well, thank you.
~ Why don't you sit down? ~ I'm fine where I am.
No man in his right mind calls for a girl an hour early.
I haven't been here an hour.
Oh, an hour and six minutes.
~ Leave your sister alone.
~ RAF boys are notoriously flighty.
I'd never step out with one.
One hasn't asked you.
~ He's here! See you later.
~ Have a nice time.
Shall we? You look terrific.
Thank you.
Someone seems to have made quite an impression.
Young, handsome trainee pilot who's kind to animals - can't imagine why.
I'm surprised you let her go.
You know nothing about him.
~ Can't happen.
~ Can't is not the same as won't.
~ Joyce is a spent force.
~ Is she? Don't underestimate how much the women have been getting it in the neck from the men about losing the cricket pitch to flowers.
Flowers? There's a rumour going around that we want to turn the cricket pitch over to flowers to make the village look prettier during wartime.
That's nothing less than deliberate misinformation.
How can the men believe it? Men have a tendency to believe whatever supports their existing prejudice.
Joyce is on the march, Frances.
You have to take her seriously as an opposing candidate for the Presidency.
Joyce has also been going round saying that a vote for her is a vote for peace and quiet at home.
Then we must tell the ladies to be more robust.
~ Or ~ "Or"? Do I sense the tone of appeasement? No, you sense the tone of someone suggesting that we'll face many battles in the days ahead, and we need to choose which are worth fighting and which are not.
The village are in complete support of our food production drive.
Just not at the expense of the cricket pitch.
Lose the vote for ploughing it up and we lose everything.
I think your sister's suggesting stepping back from the cricket pitch in order to gain everything.
Because then you'll likely win the Presidency, and lead us to victories in more important battles.
Thank you, Steph.
That is precisely what I've been trying to say.
One of the consequences of flight training is that it robs you of your capacity to see specific shapes in clouds.
~ No cats or dogs? ~ No.
No Mickey Mouse or a witch's face? I just see a good cloud from which to mount an ambush.
A good cloud to hide in, to escape and attack.
Ones to avoid for up-draught and wind shift.
Basically clouds that might help keep me alive, clouds that might What do you see now? I see you.
~ Keep looking.
~ Oh, I shall.
You know which way to vote, Pat.
Good luck with the vote, Mrs Cameron.
Very good luck to you.
Good evening.
Er, thank you, ladies, and welcome to our new headquarters.
Not ideal, but needs must.
Um, there are two urgent matters why this meeting has been called tonight.
The first concerns the cricket pitch.
And the latter concerns electing the next President of this Institute.
~ The cricket pitch should remain sacrosanct! ~ Hear, hear.
The lads have worked hard.
They need to let off steam.
A sentiment I agree with wholeheartedly! Which is why I propose that the cricket pitch be left alone until the cricket team completes any remaining fixtures.
Good idea.
Yes.
All those in favour? Carried.
And so to the vote for the next President.
There are only two nominees - myself and Mrs Cameron.
In accordance with WI policy we will carry out the vote by secret ballot, overseen by our Voluntary County Supervisor, Mrs Summers, and counted by Mrs Scotlock.
When I was President it wasn't necessary for the nominees to wait outside during the ballot.
Because your pals had already ensured the outcome, through fear and favour.
It's called politics, Mrs Barden.
The members are sheep to be driven towards whichever opinion you want them to uphold.
I once thought that.
But I've realised there's more to be said for seeking a consensus.
Mrs Barden, have you ever wondered what might be achieved if we joined forces? I beg your pardon? We both know what we want.
Neither of us suffer fools gladly.
We're cut from the same cloth, Mrs Barden, and I think you know it.
What are you proposing, Mrs Cameron, a Ministry of All Talents? We'd be a formidable team, unstoppable.
And, please, call me Joyce.
Ladies.
The votes have been counted.
If the candidates would like to come back into the room.
~ Unstoppable, Mrs Barden? ~ Unthinkable, Mrs Cameron.
It gives me great pleasure to announce .
.
that Mrs Barden is the new President of our Institute! Oh, goodness! Ah, bless her.
Morning! Is that all they want to know who's living here? Mm-hm.
So the government knows who they can call on to fight, and who they can't.
Makes sense.
'I've decided I'm not going until I get called.
' ~ National Registration form? ~ Yes.
Many thanks.
Good day.
Get up! This may be a time for our men to fight.
It's where I believe my duty lies.
~ Go.
~ This is our time, too.
~ It'll be over soon.
~ I'll do what you've asked.
~ Why don't we get married? ~ I'll pretend we didn't have this conversation.
I can see them talking but I only hear the voices in my head Waiting for the moment they'll be calling to me And if I try I'll remember that the words were never said Only now the others hold no meaning for me And I'll see With wide-open eyes Of blindness I'll leave The-ever calling cries In silence