Fortunes of War (1987) s01e07 Episode Script

# You are my sunshine, my only sunshine # You make me happy when skies are grey # You'll never know, dear, how much I love you # Please don't take my sunshine away # The other night, dear, as I lay dreaming # I dreamt I had you by my side # When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken # So I hung my head and cried # You are mysunshine, my onlysunshine # You make me happy when skies aregrey # You'll never know, dear, howmuch Iloveyou # Please don't take mysunshine away # Professor Pringle, sir, it is our wish that I express our sorrow, our sorrow and deep regret that Mrs Pringle is no more.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
So, uh um Romeo andJuliet, please.
Isham, if you could read from where we left off the other day.
That's Act IV, Scene IV.
Thank you.
''All things that we'' Ordain-ed? Yes.
Yes, ordained.
''All things that we ordained festival, turn from their office to black funeral; ''Our instruments to melancholy bells, ''Our wedding cheer to a sad burial feast, ''Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges change, ''Our bridal flowers serve for a buried corse, ''And all things change them into the contrary.
'' # You make me happy when skies aregrey # You'll never know, dear, how much I love you # Please don't take my sunshine away # Uh, uh, uh! Where's Guy? -Gone for a walk.
-He never goes for walks.
Nonetheless, that's where he's gone.
Do you think, in the circumstances, that Harriet would want me to console Guy? I have no idea.
How do you propose to console him? We might go to a dinner dance at the Continental-Savoy.
-Does he dance? -Guy? I don't think Guy's one of nature's dancers.
Mmm, perhaps not.
But he could eat the meal.
Gin! I hate death, and everything to do with it.
Do you feel that? No.
-Do you feel that? -No.
Fine.
How long since you copped it, sir? -About a month? -About a month.
I see.
At first I thought my legs had been blown off.
That's what happened to my brother.
He died, of course.
I didn't, did I? Of course you didn't.
I'd like to have someone visit me.
Well, let us know the name and address, and we'll let whoever it is know.
-Him? Her? -Her.
Excellent.
-What's the young lady's name? -She was my brother's girlfriend.
The one who had his legs blown off.
-How long will it be? -I'm sorry? Before we know about my legs.
-You say it's a month? -Yes.
We begin worrying after five weeks.
Everything all right, miss? Excuse me.
-Where would I find Simon Boulderstone? -Come this way.
-There he is, miss.
-Thank you.
Hello, Simon, dear.
You haven't forgotten me, have you? How could I? All the time I was out there, I was thinking about you.
-Oh, Simon, really.
-You aren't cross with me for saying that? -Are you embarrassed because of that chap? -Which chap? Lord Peter -I can't remember his other name.
- That's all over now.
Not that there was ever anything to be over.
I much preferred Hugo.
-Hugo? -Of course.
And you're so like him.
Your face, the way you speak, everything.
Our legs? Sorry, I don't understand.
# Beautiful dreamer # Queen of my song # I've been here in plegics # I've been here a month.
After five weeks, you start to worry.
# Beautiful # It was so depressing going to thathospital.
-Are you ill? -No.
I went to see Simon Boulderstone.
The young officer that was here just before Christmas.
-Oh.
-He asked me to visit him.
Goodness knows why.
I scarcely know him.
And he wants me to visit him again! Oh, and he frightens me.
He knew Harriet better than me.
She'd be the perfect person to visit him.
Oh, I'm sorry, Guy.
I'm so stupid.
Yes.
It's all right.
-Guess what this is? -No idea.
The road to Damascus.
Watch out for a light from heaven.
-Do you travel this way regularly? -Yes.
Have you ever seen a light from heaven? You might say that.
-Oh, I'm so sorry.
I didn't realise -It's all right.
I was just leaving, sir.
-Hello.
Guy Pringle.
-I remember.
Uh, I'm deputising for Edwina, who sent these.
Um And these.
And I brought you these.
-I can get some more from the Institute library -Well, I'm not much of a reader.
-It doesn't matter.
I can, um -Leave them.
I'd like to look at them.
Um Edwina has a migraine.
She She has a migraine Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, whereas I never have a migraine.
But, uh, then I'm not quite as pretty.
It's very good of you to come.
How's Harriet? I still remember climbing the pyramids with her.
She's dead.
But she can't be.
Well, uh, she was on a, um an evacuation ship, um that, uh that was torpedoed.
And, uh and nobody was saved.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
People are dying all the time now.
Young people.
Not people you might expect to die.
People with their lives before them.
I could say to you, ''Keep your pecker up, old chap.
'' But I won't.
-Do you promise? -Promise.
Is there something wrong? I don't know.
-Would you do something for me? -Yes, of course.
I Could you lift up the blankets and tickle my feet? -Tickle your feet? -Yes, please.
Well, of course I'll Can you feel it? Is that nice? What's all this? Happiness? -I'm tickling his feet.
-He's tickling my feet! Can I have a go? Here, give us a tickle, sir! -Righto, then.
-All right if we drop you here, then? Yes, of course.
Absolutely.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
It's been wonderful.
-We'll be back in a week or two.
-Unless our orders are changed.
In which case, we won't.
So who's this chap you're looking for, then? Aidan Pratt.
He's in the Pay Corps.
He's stationed here.
Oh, they'll know where to find him.
And if you ask them nicely, -they might get a message to your husband.
-Guy? Oh, he thinks I'm on a ship going to England.
He won't be expecting a message for at least two months.
Up to you.
Mind how you go.
-Yeah, take care of yourself.
-Thank you so much.
-TTFN.
-Bye.
Captain Aidan Pratt.
He's in the Pay Corps.
Just a moment.
-Sarge.
-Ta.
Sorry, miss, he's been transferred.
Can you tell me where he's gone? Sorry, miss, can't help you.
Not allowed to reveal movements of Army personnel.
Well, are you allowed to tell me what that noise is? Rifle fire, miss.
-Who's firing? -The wogs.
They're always ticking.
What's it like in Damascus? Same as everywhere else, miss.
Lot of bloody foreigners.
I see.
Is it safe? As safe as any other place, miss.
Right.
It was extraordinary, this sense of a human being coming to life again.
So you thought you'd try it? One has to live by example, hmm.
And coming to life in this case consists in going out with Edwina? Hmm? Well, in time I shall think of something more constructive, I dare say.
Ready! -But you haven't changed.
-Well, this is what you might call ''it''.
I see.
Well, we're only going for a fish supper, and you can't wear that thing.
-You gave it to me.
-It's vulgar.
It's just a cheap theatrical prop.
-It's pretty.
-It belonged to Harriet.
Oh, I see.
Well, in that case, you'd better have it back.
Am I all right now? Yes, you're fine.
Have a wonderful evening.
You didn't say it was going to be a fish supper in the Berka.
You can't have a fish supper without a fish restaurant.
This is a fish restaurant which just happens to be in the Berka.
I mean, it'll be full of friends.
Come on.
Hello, Professor.
I bring a good fish for you.
See? Very good.
Professor Pringle, sir, it's an honour to have you in our midst.
Well, it is equally an honour that you should welcome me.
You like everybody, don't you? Of course, why not? Shukran.
Now, um, are you interested in food? The house red is very acceptable.
-Good God, there's Aidan.
-I might have guessed there'd be an Aidan.
-Aidan! -Guy! Edwina, this is Aidan Sheridan, the actor.
For military purposes, he calls himself Captain Aidan Pratt.
-Aidan Sheridan! -Will you please join us? -Well, I thought you were in Damascus.
-Well, I've been transferred to Jerusalem.
-How exciting.
-Moderately exciting.
Well, now, where's Harriet? You haven't split up, have you? She was on an evacuation ship that was sunk.
She's dead.
Thank you.
No, please, not for me.
I have to go.
I'm booked on the night train and It was a very great pleasure to meet you.
I'm so sorry.
I'll have to go and talk to him.
I'll be two minutes.
I can assure you, I've shed more tears than I thought possible.
Now I'm just trying to reconstruct myself, I suppose.
Yes, yes, I understand.
Why did you think that Harriet and I might have split up? It's nothing.
There must have been a reason for you to say that.
I met Harriet in Luxor.
She didn't look well, but she didn't look happy, either.
What, she was unhappy? She didn't say so, but -I hate this god-awful war.
-Does anybody like it? I suppose it must end one day.
Well, I wonder.
It could go on forever.
We may hate the Germans' cause, but they're brave warriors.
They'll fight from town to town, house to house, doorway to doorway.
I don't see the Japanese giving in easily, either.
It could be like the Hundred Years' War, eventually dying of boredom and exhaustion.
Do you really believe that? Well, it doesn't really matter, does it? What's lost is lost.
-Like my career.
-Oh, ignore me.
I'm talking nonsense.
It's already too late.
If I ever work in the theatre again, it'll be too late.
You can't be promising and middle-aged.
Will you come to see me in Jerusalem? I don't think that'll be possible.
I'm going to be very busy learning to walk again.
-I'm sorry.
-Figuratively speaking.
I could help you learn towalk again.
-Well, you know me.
Always too busy.
-In the summer.
Come for a holiday.
I don't have time for holidays.
Or for me.
Goodbye, Guy.
Goodbye.
Oh, my God, Edwina! I'm so sorry.
I lost track of time.
-Tony Brody, Guy Pringle.
-How do you do? How do you do? Saw this beautiful creature apparently dining alone.
Took the liberty of introducing myself.
English must stick together, don't you think? Oh, yes, yes.
I've heard it's a terribly good thing.
Would you care to join us in a nice fish supper? Um I think I'll stick to the house red.
Hello! Hello.
You are outside the Great Mosque.
I see.
May I offer you my protection? Is that necessary? I'm an Englishwoman.
It would be a great honour to explain the mosque.
Thank you.
You must wear this.
You must put the veil over your hair.
Oh.
Why must I cover my hair? With the deepest of respect, the sight of a lady's hair may distract the men from their devotions.
You can't make men chaste by keeping women out of sight.
You are an unusual lady.
You have a mind of your own.
Where I come from, that's not unusual.
Take careful note of the beautiful mosaic kiblah.
No human figure, no animal, no creature that could be mistaken as an object of worship.
-Because of the ancient Egyptians, I suppose.
-Indeed, yes.
You can hit the nail very nicely, Miss Mrs? Mrs Pringle.
There has been much destruction.
The mosque is very old.
Look at the inscriptions in the alabasters.
-Can you read Arabic when it is decorative? -I can't read Arabic at all.
''In the name of God, ye who believe, ''bow down, prostrate yourselves and adore your Lord, ''and do good that ye may prosper.
'' That was true in the 7th century, and still true, is it not? Why do you think God let the Muslims take over? We must not question the will of God.
-Well -Now, perhaps, Mrs Pringle, you will permit me to take you to a very nice café for cakes and coffee? -Is it the will of God? -Everything is the will of God, Mrs Pringle.
In that case, yes.
-What's he singing about? -He sings, ''Who is Romeo? Who is Giulietta?'' -I see.
An old song.
-I think a very old song.
It's very beautiful here.
''Damascus encircled by gardens as the moon by its halo.
'' Are you a poet? Alas, it was not me but another who wrote that deathless tribute to our city.
May I ask you, Mrs Pringle, why you came here alone? I wasn't feeling well.
I decided a change of air would be good for me.
-You took the Damascus road.
-Exactly.
And your husband, he did not take the Damascus road? His work kept him in Egypt.
So, you will stay with us till you are restored? No, I think until my money runs out.
I see.
You know, Mrs Pringle, you are like the new moon.
Thin and pale? You are delicate.
You shimmer like the moon.
Harriet Pringle! Angela! What are you doing here? -She's on the brink of joining the harem.
-Don't be silly! -You're supposed to be on a ship to England.
-I know.
I changed my mind.
I took an ammunition lorry to Damascus instead.
And now you're here with us.
Climb in.
Well, wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
Thank you for your protection.
I think friendship between nations is the only way forward for the world.
Do you not agree, Mrs Pringle? Yes, I do agree.
Goodbye.
-How are things in Cairo? -No idea.
We left before you did.
-Where are you staying? -An ATS Hostel.
-Oh, my God! -Huh! Well, you must move in with us at the Grand.
-I can't afford it.
-Angela can.
She can afford me, and I drink far more than you do.
-And it'll be good for Bill's ego.
-Two beautiful women in tow.
Just in time for a drink.
Whatever the hour, day or night, we're always just in time for a drink.
I think I'd like a drink.
I must be getting better.
-Harriet, it's so good to see you again.
-It's good to see you.
It's good for us all to see each other.
Speaking as people who are highly expert in the art of walking out on their spouses, have you left Guy? I'm here.
He's in Cairo.
He doesn't know I'm here.
Perhaps I have.
But I didn't mean to.
That's much clearer, but have you left Guy? I had to get away from him.
I couldn't stand his devotion to the outside world.
I was tied to him, but I was always alone.
You needed 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness.
- Something like that.
-Well this is quite an acceptable wilderness.
-Don't you think so? -Yes.
But I still don't know what to do.
-I'm thinking of marrying Tony Brody.
-Good heavens.
-He's a nice man and he's a major.
-Well, you could do better than Brody, surely.
All the really exciting men have gone to Tunisia, and I don't think they're coming back.
Oh, something will turn up.
I've already waited too long.
I'm not getting any younger.
True.
The bees aren't buzzing around quite as they used to.
You are a beast, Dobbie.
There, there, there, Uncle Dobbie was onlyjoking.
You're still as beautiful as a dream.
But if you can't marry who you want to marry, does it matter who you marry? Ask Guy.
He's the expert.
-Shall I marry Tony Brody? -Yeah, probably.
-Well, that's settled, then.
-Thank you, Guy.
I'm deeply grateful.
Guy, put your book down, I've got something to tell you.
-About the ship? -No, not about the ship.
About, um Aidan Sheridan or Aidan Pratt, whatever you like to call him.
Well, just Aidan.
-He's dead.
-Oh, God, everybody's dead these days.
I was in the embassy the other night when the news came through.
He shot himself.
Well, that's, um that's quite a dramatic gesture.
I think he killed himself because of a broken heart.
-Did you know him? -Mm.
-I met him with Guy.
-Well, why should he have a broken heart? -He was fond of Harriet but -He wasn't in love with Harriet.
-I must be off.
I'm due at the hospital.
-You haven't eaten anything.
I'm not hungry.
Uh, I'll see you later on.
Did you mean that? Of course.
The poor fellow was absolutely besotted by Guy.
Like everybody else.
Goodness knows why.
Oh, damn it, I think I will marry Tony Brody.
Right, then, lads, that's your lot.
Back to the barrack room at the double.
-Come on, work at it! -I'm working at it.
-Hands off the bars! -I can't! -You can feel your feet, can't you? -Well, I know that they're there, but they're sort of ghostly.
Think of them as solid flesh and blood and tell them to get on with it! All you have to do is forget you can't do it.
Oh! Come on, work at it! -Come on, work at it! -I am! Come on! It's up to you.
Right.
Let's do it again.
Oh, your nursemaid's here! He can't come out to play yet.
He hasn't earned it.
I had a very interesting conversation with your drill sergeant the other day.
You did well.
I never have conversations with him.
He shouts and I quiver.
He recommends swimming.
It's very good therapy.
He told me that.
He also told me that there was nowhere for us to swim.
There is a pool at the Anglo-Egyptian Union, you know.
-Hmm.
-Shall I take you there one day? No.
I could arrange it, you know.
I am a member.
Might even pay my subscription.
I'll go to your swimming pool when I'm like the other people who go to your swimming pool.
Forget you can't do it.
That's all you have to do.
Forget you can't do it.
That's all anybody has to do.
Forget you can't do it.
I did it.
It's a start.
I'm going to climb it.
-What, now? -If you'll look after that for me.
Well, you don't think I'm going to let you go alone, do you? Good show.
-I'll race you.
-Oh, right.
-I'm going to do it Harriet's way.
-Right.
I did it.
I bloody did it! And so did I.
It's ludicrous.
When Harriet spoke to you, did she, uh did she ever talk about being unhappy, you know? No.
Not unhappy.
-Well, something else? Lonely? -Not lonely.
Alone.
Well, it doesn't really matter now, does it? Come on.
Let's get a move on or we'll get sunstroke.
So you think they'll have me back in active service? -Is that what you want? -I'm supposed to be a soldier.
War is an abomination.
-But I almost envy you.
-Envy me? Ridiculous.
You know what to do.
Come on.
Do you like it? Entrancing.
Guy? -What? - Tell Edwina she's beautiful.
Edwina, you're beautiful.
You're supposed to look at her when you say it.
Oh, yes, very beautiful.
That dress for something special? -My wedding.
-Oh, yes, I'm sorry.
I really wanted a big wedding at the cathedral, but Tony's so stingy.
-Well, he has an ex-wife to support.
-So he keeps telling me.
We won't even have an arch of swords.
Just a simple ceremony at the consulate.
What was your wedding like, Guy? Oh, just a simple ceremony at the registry office.
And an arch of empty beer bottles.
But next time you'd want something better? No, there won't be a next time.
I don't think I'm the marrying kind.
-You're quite sure about that? -Yes.
You can't rebuild society and be a married man as well.
I see.
Well, in that case, I might as well go ahead and marry Tony Brody.
-And you can have a reception here afterwards.
-Can I? You can have 30 guests, a cake from Groppi's and Cyprus champagne.
Oh, Dobbie, you're a darling! It's less than you hoped for, I'm afraid.
It's also less than you deserve.
-An absolute darling! -I know.
I've decided to write my memoirs.
Really? What are you gonna put in them? -Am I disturbing you? -No.
-Where's Angela? -Siesta.
-When she sleeps, I work on my poems.
-More than one? I'm saving them up until I have another slim volume.
Good.
Guy showed me some of your poems after we'd first met you.
The most powerful and passionate voice since William Blake.
Is that what you were going to say? -There was one about a dead cat I quite enjoyed.
-Don't upset me, Harriet, or you won't be asked to the office outing.
-Well, I don't know what you're talking about.
-It's Easter.
We thought it might be quite nice to go to church.
Oh, I'd like that.
Harriet! -Harriet! -Mortimer! The ship you didn't sail on to England was torpedoed and nobody was saved.
I was right.
God did send you to save me.
-That's not the point.
-Guy must think you're dead.
Oh You shouldn't be taking me back to Cairo.
You need to go to Cairo, and we've got a car.
Are you feeling any better, darling? Because I believe in speaking the truth, however painful, no, I am not.
It's your own fault! Shellfish are bad for you.
Whisky is bad for you.
-You will insist on both all the time! -I couldn't possibly give up whisky.
I'll give up shellfish.
Get thee behind me, crustacean! They're coming! Play the instruments! Come on! Oh, darling! You're wonderful! Darling! Simon.
-You look wonderful.
-And so do you.
And so like Hugo.
See you later.
Guy! Oh, I'm so glad you could be here! -I live here.
-You are a fool! James, Lisa.
Dobbie! Oh, how can I thank you for all of this? -By having a long and happy marriage.
-It's a possibility.
Good God! Where have you been? I'm looking for Guy Pringle.
Bill! Well, this is wonderful! Listen, I've got something to tell you.
-Come on.
Have a drink.
-Listen, you bastard! Steady.
Angela's outside in the car.
With Harriet.
-What do you mean? -Precisely what I say.
She wasn't on that boat.
We found her in Syria.
-She's outside in the car.
- If this is a joke, I think I'll murder you.
Dobbo, do you think I'd joke about a thing like this? Oh, I'll fetch her.
She was my best friend! Isn't it marvellous? At my wedding! I wasn't sure you'd want me back.
Bit of a lark, eh, Dobson? Bit of a lark.
Come along, Troilus.
Bye-byes.
-Where's Harriet? -Unpacking.
Thank you, Angela, for bringing her back to me.
Do you still think I'm as mad as a hatter? Yes, probably.
But I prefer you to any 1 2 sane people I can think of.
-I'm a sane person.
-Yes, well, there are always exceptions.
Harriet.
Look what I found.
Did Edwina return it? I think I asked her for it.
-Time we were going.
-Going? -Where are you going? -Well, I promised Simon a lift to the hospital, and then I have to give a talk to some young Egyptians.
Coleridge or Shakespeare? Self-determination.
You can't! Harriet comes back from the dead, and you want to talk to a whole load of Egyptian troublemakers! They're first-class people.
One of them is Shafik, Harriet's old doctor.
Nothing has changed.
-Doctor.
-What did you say, darling? -For Christ's sake! -Bill! -Get a doctor! - I'll telephone.
-Jesus Christ! -For God's sake, Sister, can't you do something? Mrs Pringle, please, may I speak with you? You must look after your friend.
She is, I think, of an unstable temperament.
-She will need support.
-She will get support.
Good.
Please wait here.
I will send your friend to join you in a few minutes.
-She is not Mr Castlebar's wife, I think.
- Correct! She's not! I'm Mr Castlebar's wife, and I demand to see him! So, Mr Castlebar has two wives.
That is nothing to me.
He can have four.
But he is a sick man.
You must not disturb him.
I won't disturb him, but by God, I'll disturb that bitch! They're going to operate.
Thank you, Ahmed.
Perforated bowel.
With Mona standing guard over the surgeon? She stands guard over most of Egypt.
-Ready? - Well, where are you going? -Um, to the hospital to see Bill.
-Hello.
Dobson.
-But I thought - My friend, Dr Shafik, is going to smuggle us in at the back door.
Harriet.
Angela I'm sorry.
Accept our prayers on behalf of the soul of thy servant departed, and grant him an entrance into the land of light and joy, in the fellowship of thy saints.
Did you see what that woman had written on her inscription? I never read inscriptions.
''Fondest memories of Wolfie from Lambkin.
'' That's why I never read inscriptions.
What did you write on yours? Nothing.
Good.
Come along.
-You're a good man, Dobbie.
-So I'm told.
Where do we go now? Apparently, Lambkin has hired a large marquee and a pianist.
She plans to sing to the mourners.
-I have to go to a meeting -You can't.
Simon goes to Tunisia tomorrow.
We may never see him again.
-I don't mind, really.
-I know where we should go.
-I don't really want to go anywhere.
- Where? You'll never leave me again, will you? Don't know.
Can't promise.
Can't promise.