Rumpole of the Bailey (1978) s02e03 Episode Script

(Indistinct chatter) (Man) Puss! Puss! Come on, puss.
Good boy, puss.
You're not coming in.
Come on, get it eaten.
Get it eaten.
It's good for you.
Well, well, well.
Come on.
Come on.
(Man and woman quarrelling) (Woman) Oh, did you really? Leave me alone! (Quarrelling continues) (Woman) You'll have to wear the paper bag.
You never could.
(Man) I enjoy swanning around You spend more energy on (Gunfire) (Glass smashing) (Cat meows) (Gunfire) (Huffs, puffs) (Sobs) (Sobs) I killed him.
What could I do with him? Help me.
(Sobs) (Angrily) "'I killed him.
What could I do with him? "'Help me.
" 'Or (Desperately) "I killed him.
"'What could I do with him? Help me!"' (Hollers) Grimble.
Grimble Central! "I killed him.
"What could I do with him? "Help me.
" (Porter hollers) Grimble! Grimble Central! Grimble! Grimble Central! Grimble! Grimble Central! Grimble! Grimble Central! All change for Alaska, Archangel, Greenland and all points north.
"The air bites shrewdly.
"It's very cold.
It is a nipping and an eager air" (Hollers) Mr Rumpole! "'Tis bitter cold, and I am sick at heart.
" - Albert! - Mr Rumpole, how are you, sir? - My dear clerk, Albert Handyside! - Let me take your case.
Thank you.
(Shivers) Oh I promised to bring you up here.
First murder we had going.
It's not exactly the Penge bungalow job, sir, but it's a decent little case.
"Worth the detour," as they say at Michelin? (Laughing) (AIbert) It's a lady client, sir.
- Oh? - One of the show folk.
One of the show folk? Yes, I'd definitely say worth the detour.
(Laughing) You've bettered yourself.
Working for solicitors.
And in the north of England.
How are things down south, sir? Ah, down south, much as usual.
Barristers lounging in the sun, munching grapes to the lazy sound of plucked guitars.
(Laughs) Thank you.
Hotel or the prison first? The prison first.
I'll feel more at home.
(AIbert) First, I'm taking you home for a decent tea.
(Rumpole) Oh, splendid.
(AIbert) I told my senior partner, sir, "Mr Rumpole's capable of doing this on his own.
" Reminded him, did you? I did the Penge bungalow murders alone.
That's what I told him.
My partner seemed to feel Yes, I understand, Albert.
I'm not a QC.
I'm not on the Lord Chancellor's guest list.
I'm never invited to breakfast in knee breeches.
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.
I'm not so much Rumpole, QC as Rumpole queer customer.
It's a murder case, sir.
It's caused a bit of local interest.
(Rumpole) Yes, of course.
Silk goes with murder, like steak goes with kidney.
This Jarvis Allen, QC, a competent sort of fellow, is he? (AIbert) I've only seen him on the bench.
Your learned leader sits as a recorder here, sir.
He sent a tearaway up for three years for a punch-up at the football ground.
There's no particular art involved in getting people into prison.
What's he like at keeping them out? Thank you.
(Man) You remember nothing.
(AIbert) The shock, Mr Allen, wiped out all recollection.
- Mrs Frere - She's known as Maggie Hartley, sir.
She'd better be known as Mrs Frere in court.
Now, Mrs Frere, Tommy Pierce is prosecuting.
I know him well.
If we went to see the judge - Skelton's perfectly reasonable - I think there's a sporting chance - I make no promises, mind - that they might let us plead to manslaughter.
(Rumpole) 'A remarkable talent for getting people locked up.
' We will have to accept manslaughter.
I'm sure Mr Rumpole agrees with me.
You do agree, don't you, Rumpole? Better to do ten years for manslaughter than murder.
Is that the choice you're offering? I don't know if you've read the evidence but our client was found with a gun in her hand.
Stupid place to have it, if she was planning a murder.
All the same, it leaves us without a defence! Really? Do you think so? I was looking at that statement of Alan Copeland.
- Known as the juvenile, I believe.
- Yes.
"I've worked with GP Frere for three seasons.
"GP drank a good deal.
Always interested in some girl in the cast.
"A new one every year.
" Jealousy might be a motive for our client.
- That's a two-edged sword, Rumpole.
- Two-edged, yes.
Most swords are.
"He quarrelled violently with his wife.
"On one occasion, after a dress rehearsal, "he threw a glass of milk stout in her face in front of the company.
" (Mr Allen) She's had a good deal of provocation.
That only reduces it to manslaughter! What you want in a murder is an unlikeable corpse.
Then, with a likeable defendant, it's easy! Why, who knows, we might even reduce the crime to innocence.
I've had to tell Mrs Frere very frankly, there is a clear admission of guilt, which is not disputed.
- She said that to the doorman.
Mr - (AIbert) Mr Croft.
"I killed him.
What could I do with him? Help me.
" - You've read that at least? - I've read it.
That's the trouble.
- What do you mean? - I read it, but I didn't hear it.
None of us did.
I daresay Mr Croft didn't have it spelled out to him.
Really, Rumpole.
I suppose they make jokes about murder cases in London.
But what if our client said, (Desperately) "I killed him.
What could I do with him? Help me"? - That's the reading.
- What? Of the line.
Tell them that.
Ah, my dear lady, I'm afraid I'm hardly in a position to tell them anything.
Who am I but the ageing juvenile? The reading of the line will have to come from your leading man.
In this case, your leading counsel, Mr Jarvis Allen, QC.
(Car breaks) (Car doors closing) (Rumpole) Look, Albert, the scene of the crime.
You can always learn something from the locus in quo.
We should have asked Mr Allen along.
Oh, he's only interested in doing deals with the learned judge.
- Mr Derwent is at the front of house.
- Yes.
Go through that back door.
I'll put the light on.
Thank you.
(Clanging) "Can this cockpit hold "The vasty fields of France? "Or may we cram "Within this wooden O "The very casques "That did affright the air at Agincourt? "Oh, pardon!" (Man hollers) Who is it? (Rumpole hollers) Oh, pardon me.
The name's Rumpole.
We telephoned.
(Man) Down here.
I'm in the stalls' bar.
(AIbert) Mr Derwent.
I believe you're in charge of the Frere-Hartley Players.
(Derwent) What's left of them.
Decimated, that's what we've been.
If you've come with a two-hander for untalented juveniles, I'd be delighted to put it on.
- You are in the business? - Business? - Show business.
The profession.
- Another profession all together.
But not quite as old as yours.
Oh, only our old manager left us in a state of total chaos here.
They can't hear of an actor shot dead in Grimble.
Half the character men in "Spotlight" are on to me for a job, but nothing will be decided till after Maggie's trial.
We're not reopening till then What other profession? - We're lawyers, Mr Derwent.
- Oh, Maggie's case? My name's Handyside of Instructing Solicitors.
This is Mr Rumpole from London for the defence.
A London barrister in the sticks! Grimble is hardly a number one touring date.
I suppose murder is a draw anywhere, isn't it? - Would you care for a tiny rum? - Yes, thank you.
- With orange or as she comes? - As she comes.
I always take a tiny rum for the vocal chords.
We depend on the chords in our professions, don't we? - Mr - Handyside.
I'll have a light ale.
Thanks.
We wanted to get an idea of the geography of the place.
The money we've turned away tonight.
You wouldn't believe it.
- You can't buy publicity like it.
- I suppose not.
All we got in the "Grimble Argus" was, "Maggie Hartley took her part well.
" Now we're all over the front-page, and we can't play.
It breaks your heart.
Poor old GP.
Well, at least he's sober tonight, wherever he is.
Was the late GP Frere Well, not that his performance suffered.
He didn't act any worse when drunk.
What I admired about GP was his selfless concern for others.
He never left you with the sole responsibility of entertaining the audience.
You know he'd always try and help by upstaging you, or moving on your laugh line.
He once tore up a newspaper all through my long speech in "Waiting for Godot".
You wouldn't do that, Mr Rumpole.
Not in anyone's long speech.
Well, of course not.
Ah, Miss Christine Hope.
Miss Hopeless I called her.
God knows what GP saw in her.
She did that audition speech from "St Joan".
All breathless and excited, as if she'd run up four flights of stairs, because angel voices were calling her about a part in "Crossroads.
" "Oh, we could do something with her," old GP said.
I told him, "Burn her at the stake.
" (AIbert) Mr Rumpole.
(Rumpole) Yes? - Our client.
- (Rumpole) Ah.
(Derwent) Your client.
My leading lady.
I suppose both our shows depend on her.
No doubt about it, though.
She is good.
Maggie is good.
There's a quality, you know.
Perfect truthfulness.
Absolute reality.
(AIbert) Truthfulness? (Derwent) It is very rare.
(AIbert) Would you say that in court? (Derwent) Is that why you came here? (Rumpole) No.
We'd like to see the scene of the crime.
(Broken glass smashes) - Any help to you? - It might be.
It's what we call the locus in quo.
Do you really? How frightfully camp of you! It's what we actors call a dressing room.
They don't live in the real world.
It's all make-believe for them.
Dressing up in fancy costumes.
(Judge) Dressing up? Yes, I suppose so.
You don't think she appreciates the seriousness? (Mr Allen) I'm afraid not, Judge.
If she wants to sack me It puts Rumpole in an embarrassing position.
- Are you embarrassed, Rumpole? - Yes, Judge.
Dreadfully embarrassed.
Still, she wants to be represented by her junior counsel.
- Very embarrassing for you both.
- Yes.
Does she give any reason for dispensing with her leading counsel? She said I can remember her exact words.
She thought Rumpole would be better casting.
Better casting? Whatever can she mean by that? - Better in the part.
- Oh, dear.
- Is she very actressy? - She's an actress.
Yes.
Yes, I suppose she is.
Any views about this, Tommy? No, Judge.
When Jarvis was instructed, we were going to plea to manslaughter.
Manslaughter, eh? Do you want to discuss manslaughter, Rumpole? No, Judge.
You can certainly have an adjournment.
Your client may want to think about manslaughter, or consider another leader.
She should have leading counsel, in a case of this seriousness.
I think we can dispense with the adjournment.
I don't see any point in looking for another leading counsel.
You don't? I don't think anyone else would get the part.
- I take an extremely dim view of this.
- Really? - An extremely dim view.
- Yes.
On this circuit, we are loyal to our members.
- A local custom? - It is.
I can't think of anyone carrying on with a case, after his leader had been sacked.
It's not in the best traditions of the Bar.
A loyalty to one's leader is extremely important, but one mustn't forget the other legal maxim.
- What's that? - "The show must go on.
" Look at the time! I've got a number of things to do.
- Mr Rumpole? - Yes? - Did the judge grant it? - What? An adjournment.
So we can get another leader.
My senior partner was keen we should get an adjournment.
I'm afraid he's going to be disappointed.
I pleaded with Judge, Albert, but would he grant me an adjournment? "No, Rumpole," he said.
"The show must go on.
" Cheer up, old darling.
- Just say one thing to your partner.
- What's that? Just say, "Penge bungalow murders.
" I don't know if any of you, ladies and gentlemen, will have actually attended performances at the Theatre Royal.
We'll all have passed it in a trolley bus on the way to the football ground.
Maybe there aren't many dedicated theatricals among your number.
Perhaps your idea of relaxation, after a hard day's work, is the telly and a pint of Grimble ale, but (Rumpole) 'Oh, dear, the comic.
'The Rob Wilton of the north-western circuit.
' Past the Snailsham roundabout, opposite the Old Britannia Hotel, where we've all celebrated many a win by Grimble United.
(Rumpole) 'Why don't you just tell them? 'The prisoner is represented by Rumpole of the Bailey, 'a smart-alecky lawyer from London, 'who's never even heard of Grimble United, 'let alone the Old Britannia Hotel.
' Of wilful murder.
In this case, members of the Jury we enter a different world.
Alien to most of us - the world of the show folk.
They live a strange life, you may think.
A life of make-believe.
On the surface everyone loves everybody.
"You were wonderful," said to men and women alike.
(Rumpole) 'Shall Rumpole heave himself to his hind legs and protest? 'No.
Rumpole shall sit still, 'and assume a look of bored indifference.
' But underneath all the good companionship run deep tides of jealousy and passion, which welled up, in this particular case, into brutal and, say the Crown, quite cold-blooded murder.
(Rumpole) 'Murder is a draw.
'That gnome in the theatre was perfectly right.
'The judge's wife is here, Lady Skelton.
'Front row of the stalls, 'in her special "matinee" hat.
'Sheriff of the county in fancy dress.
'Mrs Sheriff of the county.
'Oh, dear me, she's forgotten her opera glasses.
'And the star of the show, my client.
'Looking as I told her to look.
Ordinary.
' This is not a case which depends on complicated evidence, or points of law.
It simply amounts to this the murder weapon, a revolver, was found in the defendant's hand, as she stood over her husband's dead body.
A bullet from that weapon penetrated the sternum and entered the heart.
The defendant, as you will see on your abstract of indictment, is charged as Margaret Frere.
She preferred to be known by her maiden name.
That may give you some idea of this woman's attitude to her husband of 20 years, the deceased, in this case, the late Gerald Patrick Frere.
(Mr Croft) They both were shouting.
(Pierce) Then? - (Mr Croft) I heard a second shot.
- Did you go into the room? It was a right mess.
Glass broken.
Blood.
He was sprawled in his chair.
I thought he was drunk.
She had this pistol, like, in her hand, and she said - Can you remember what she said? - Not too fast.
Just follow His Lordship's pencil.
She said"'I killed him.
"What could "I do with him?" What did you understand that to mean? It is not what this witness understood, it is what the jury understands it to mean.
The witness was there! He could form his own conclusions! Please, gentlemen, let's try and have no disagreements.
At least not before luncheon.
I think Mr Croft may answer the question.
I understood that she was fed up with him and didn't know what else to do.
- But to kill him? - Yes, My Lord.
Did she say anything else that you remember? - I think she said, "Help me.
" - Yes.
Just wait there, will you, in case Mr Rumpole has some questions.
Yes, just a few.
When you saw the deceased in his chair, you thought he was drunk? - (Mr Croft) Yes.
- Had you seen him like this in his dressing room, drunk, on many occasions? - A few.
- Quite a few.
Yes.
After performances he would drink in his dressing room? - Some nights.
- Most nights.
Well, yes.
- Most nights he would be drunk? - Some nights.
I can quite understand that loyalty to your late employer prompts this hair splitting.
Were there some nights when he wasn't drunk? Did he ever celebrate with an evening of sobriety? - My Lord - When you went into the room, the deceased was nearest to the door? - Yes.
- Two or three feet away.
That's all.
- My client was in the room? - Yes.
- Holding a gun? - He's told us that.
(Rumpole) Also, there was a cheval mirror and it was broken? Yes.
And that mirror was at the far end of the room? Yes.
To have fired the shot that broke that mirror, my client would have had to fire in the opposite direction.
The jury decide that.
The witness was there.
He can form his own conclusions.
- What's the answer? - I suppose she would.
- You suppose she would.
- Wouldn't that depend, Mr Rumpole, on where the deceased was at the time that particular shot was fired? Exactly.
As Your Lordship pleases.
Let us turn to what was said when you went in the room.
- I can remember that perfectly.
- The words, perhaps, but it's the reading that matters.
- The what, Mr Rumpole? - The stress, My Lord.
The intonation.
It's an expression used in show business.
Perhaps we should confine ourselves to expressions used in law courts.
Certainly, My Lord.
She said she had killed him.
And then - "What could I do with him? Help me.
" - Yes.
Meaning, what could she do with the dead body and asking for help? - My Lord, surely - He was there! She didn't mean that she had killed him because she didn't know what else to do with him.
Well, Mr Croft, what's the answer? Did she? I can't be sure how she said it.
- What a perf, Mr Rumpole! - What? Your performance.
A knockout.
Oh, really? Thank you very much.
I admired your timing.
The pause before cross-examining.
- The pause? - You took a beat of nine.
- Nine? - Seconds.
- Did I? Did I really? - Mmm.
Built up the tension.
I can see what you were after.
You must let me know if you ever want a job in rep.
Yes.
(Whispers) Two, three, four.
- Any questions, Mr Rumpole? - (Mutters) It's the timing, the pause.
(Whispers) Seven, eight, nine.
Now! Now, Mr Alan Copeland Do you know where the deceased got the revolver? He was in a spy film.
It was one of the props.
He bought it.
It was more than scenery.
It was a real revolver.
- Unfortunately, yes.
- Did he have a licence? Oh, yes.
He joined the Grimble Rifle and Pistol Club.
I think he fancied himself as James Bond.
As James who? (Rumpole) 'The old sweetheart knows perfectly well.
'He's just giving his much-Ioved performance of judicial ignorance.
' A character in fiction, My Lord.
A person licensed to kill.
He also spends a great deal of time sleeping with air hostesses.
(Laughing) Mr Rumpole, we have quite enough to do in this case, dealing with questions of fact.
I suggest we leave the world of fiction outside with our overcoats.
(Rumpole) I entirely agree with Your Lordship's suggestion.
- Where did Frere keep his revolver? - Usually at the Rifle Club.
Usually? He asked me to bring it back to the theatre.
- You? - I'm a member, too.
Oh, really, Mr Copeland? - What's your weapon? - A shotgun.
I shoot clay pigeons.
Did Frere say why he wanted his gun brought back to the theatre? There'd been some burglaries.
I imagine he wanted to scare any intruders.
You had no idea he had ammunition in the theatre? - No, sir.
I had no idea.
- Now you have spoken of quarrels between Frere and his wife.
- Yes, sir.
- Once, in front of the company, he threw a glass of milk stout into her face.
That was after a rehearsal of "The Master Builder.
" - "The Master" what, Mr Rumpole? - Builder, My Lord.
Yes.
That would be Henrik Ibsen, would it not? - (Mutters) Henrik Ibsen? - Certainly, My Lord.
During their quarrels did you ever know my client to retaliate? No, sir.
Never.
- May I say something, My Lord? - Certainly, Mr Copeland.
Miss Hartley, as we know her, is an exceptionally gentle person.
Thank you, Mr Copeland.
- You said you shoot clay pigeons.
- Yes.
Nothing much to eat on a clay pigeon, I suppose.
(Rumpole) 'Oh, dear.
Local comic dies the death in Grimble.
' Did his wife know about the pistol back in the theatre? I didn't tell her.
(Rumpole) 'Pierce, was that a wise question? ' Why didn't you tell her? I thought it would have made her nervous.
Nervous of what? (Rumpole) 'Careful.
Never re-examine unless you're sure of the answers.
' Well, I was always afraid GP would get drunk and loose it off at someone.
(Rumpole) 'Oh, excellent witness for the prosecution.
' This was the revolver you removed from the scene of the crime? It is.
- It had many fingerprints on it.
- It had your client's fingerprints.
And those of the deceased.
- Yes, but I - "Yes" is enough.
- Let him answer.
- What do you understand, Inspector? Mr Frere used the pistol at the shooting range.
(Judge) Exactly.
- So, two chambers had been fired? - Yes.
One bullet in the mirror, and another in Frere.
That is so.
If the person who fired the first shot pulled back the hammer to fire a second shot, the revolver now will go off with a much lighter pressure on the trigger.
- That is so.
- Yes.
Thank you, Inspector.
Inspector, whether the hammer was pulled back or not, a woman would have no difficulty in firing this pistol.
- Certainly not, sir.
- Yes.
- Thank you, Inspector.
- Sir.
(Rumpole) You say you heard voices shouting? (Woman) I heard GP, yes.
- Did you hear my client's voice? - I can't be sure.
Miss Hope, why were you waiting at the stage door? Somehow I can never bear to leave.
After the show is over, I can never bear to go.
I suppose just I love the theatre.
Or did you just love GP Frere? You always waited for him at the stage door.
He left his wife there and took you home.
- Sometimes he took me home.
- Why? It was late.
I couldn't always get a bus, so he walked me home.
It wasn't far.
- And went into your lodgings? - Just to say goodnight.
Did those "goodnights" sometimes last till morning? We used to talk sometimes.
Quite late.
About the theatre.
Ah, yes, it's a fascinating subject, Miss Hope, the theatre.
Oh, yes, terribly fascinating.
Gave you two plenty to talk about until six o'clock in the morning, did it? We weren't talking all that time, no.
But he frequently stayed with you until six o'clock in the morning? (Mutters) Sometimes.
You're dropping your voice, Miss Hope.
Sometimes, My Lord.
When you heard Mr and Mrs Frere quarrelling do you think they were quarrelling about you? It's possible.
(Yells) Because GP Frere was your lover, was he not? Do I have to answer that question, My Lord? No, not really, Miss Hope.
I won't insist.
There, you can remember all sorts of things when you try.
Perhaps when I have a sympathetic counsel.
I can't work with anyone hostile.
That dress is absolutely right.
I'd hoped you'd think so.
I wore it in "Time and the Conways".
Now listen to the questions.
Give short answers.
Every word to the comedian is giving him a present.
Just stick to the facts.
Not a word of criticism about the departed.
You want them to like me? They won't find that very difficult.
- Do I have to swear on the Bible? - It's customary.
- I'd rather affirm.
- Don't you believe in God? I suppose he's a possibility.
He just doesn't seem to be a frequent visitor to the East Grimble rep.
I know a Grimble jury.
Look, if you could swear on the Bible - The audience would like it? - The jury.
They're not too keen on agnostic actresses.
Is that your opinion? Well, that puts it in a nutshell.
All right in the West End, is that it? No good in Grimble.
I want you to be yourself.
No, you don't.
You don't want me to be myself at all.
You want me to be an north-country housewife, spending an ordinary day on trial for murder.
Naturally, you're nervous.
Well Time to go.
I'm sick to the stomach every time I go on.
- Good luck.
- Never say "good luck".
It's bad luck to say "good luck".
(Maggie) He said he loved Christine.
- (Rumpole) With Miss Hope? - Christine Hope.
He wanted her to play Amanda.
(Rumpole) The leading lady.
Then what was to become of you? He wanted me to leave, go to London.
He never wanted to see me again.
What did you say? I said I was terribly unhappy about Christine, naturally.
Yes.
Would you tell the jury what happened next? He said he was going to get rid of me.
He opened the door of the dressing table.
- Was he standing, then? - I would say staggering.
Yes, and then? - He took out the revolver.
- Yes.
This one? I I think so.
- What was its effect on you? - I was terrified.
- Did you know it was there? - No.
I had no idea.
And then? He seemed to be getting ready to fire the gun.
- You mean he was pulling back - My Lord.
- Yes, please don't lead, Mr Rumpole.
- My Lord.
I think that's what he did.
I didn't look carefully, naturally.
I was terrified.
He was waving the gun.
He couldn't hold it straight.
Then there was a terrible explosion.
Glass, dust everywhere.
Mrs Frere, who fired that shot? My husband.
I think - Yes? - I think he was trying to kill me.
After that first shot, I saw him getting ready to fire again.
- Was he pulling - Please don't lead, Mr Rumpole! (Mutters) Sit still.
Your act comes later.
He was pulling back that thing.
My Lord, if the usher might hold the gun.
- You wish to stage a demonstration? - If Your Lordship pleases.
We are sure that thing isn't loaded? Oh, quite sure, My Lord.
We don't want another fatal accident - That was improper! - I'm not sure I heard it.
- He spoke of an accident.
- (Mutters) Remind the jury.
I apologise to my learned friend.
How far was your husband standing from you? Very close.
As close as that.
- He raised the gun - Usher, would you? I was trying to stop him.
I got hold of his hand to push the gun back.
I must have forced his finger on the trigger.
There was another terrible explosion.
I never meant - (Sobs) I never - Yes.
- I never meant - Thank you, usher.
(Sobs) Mrs Frere, when Mr Croft came in, you told him you had killed your husband.
Yes.
I had By accident.
What else did you say? I said, how I could help him.
- You asked Mr Croft to help you? - Yes.
Mrs Frere, did you ever have any intention of killing your husband? Never! No! Never! (Sobs) Usher, a glass of water.
Bloody play-acting! (Rumpole) In a few hours this case will be over.
You will go home, put the kettle on and you will forget all about this little theatre, about the angry, drunken actor and his wretched infidelities.
This case has been a few hours out of your lives, but for the lady I have the honour to represent, all of her life is in the balance.
Is that life to be broken? Is she to go down in darkness and disgrace? Or can she go back to her own world, to bring us all joy and laughter, and entertainment once again? Ask yourselves that question, members of the Jury.
And when you ask it, you know there can only be one answer.
(Whispers) Not now.
- You're alone.
- Hmm? Oh, yes, Albert's just popped next door to the magistrates' court for a touch of dangerous driving.
The show must go on.
- You don't you like this part, do you? - I can't stand it.
It's like waiting for the notices to come out.
Waiting for hours with a rumbling tum for the jury to get back.
A dry mouth, smoke too much, drink too much tea.
(Chuckles) And think of all the things that I should have said.
- There you are, dear.
- Thank you, Elsie.
No sugar, thanks.
- Well, we We've got work to do.
- Work? Yes, in case they find you guilty of manslaughter.
- Only that? - That at the worst.
I have the facts for the mitigation.
I want to get the history clear.
Now you started this company with GP Frere It was my money.
Every bloody penny of it.
We don't need to go into the financial side.
That idiotic manager we had then gave GP a contract worth 50 percent of the profits for no investment and a talent that stopped short of being able to say a line and pour a drink at the same time.
I never paid his percentage.
Will we need to say that? No.
50 per cent of ten years' work! He reckoned he was owed around £20,000.
He was going to sue us and bankrupt the company.
You don't need to tell me any more.
Don't feel too badly, will you, if we're not a hit.
They should be back soon now.
It's all a game to you, isn't it? A wonderful game of let's pretend.
The costumes, the bows, the little jokes.
- The onion at the end.
- Onion? An old music hall expression, for what makes the audience cry.
I was prepared to go with it and wear the make-up.
- You didn't wear make-up.
- I know.
That was brilliant of you.
You're a marvellous performer, Mr Rumpole.
Don't let anyone tell you different.
- It's not a question of performance! - Isn't it? No, it is not! The jury is assessing the facts, trying to discover where the truth lies! Or if the prosecution have proved their case.
Oh, I'm tired.
Worn out with so much acting.
In the theatre, we haven't got time for all that.
We've got our livings to get.
- They want you upstairs.
Ready, dear? - Yes, Elsie.
(Clerk) Would your foreman please stand? Have you reached a verdict on which you are all agreed? We have, My Lord.
(AIbert) You did it, Mr Rumpole! My senior partner will be over the moon.
Alone and without a leader.
It's the Penge bungalow job all over again.
Is it, Albert? In that case, I wasn't defending an actress.
Triumph, my dear.
A total triumph.
Congratulations.
- You told me she was truthful.
- I meant her acting.
That is quite truthful.
Not to be faulted.
- That was all I meant.
- Yes.
Well, congratulations, Rumpole.
That was a bloody good win.
Oh, was it? Well, I hope so.
- Coming to the circuit dinner tonight? - Tonight? You'll enjoy it.
The Midland Hotel.
They've got decent claret.
Splendid! (Man) Just a couple more pictures.
(Inaudible chatter) - (Man #1) You will send us copies? - What? - (Man #2) Will you be take a vacation? - No I'll probably go back to work.
I think we ought to go now.
Thanks very much.
That's lovely.
OK, where are we going? Mr Junior, in the matter of Rumpole.
Mr Senior, I will read the indictment.
"Count one.
Deserting his learned leader in his hour of need, "when his leader was given the sack, are particulars of offence.
" Mr Senior, have five minutes elapsed? Five minutes have elapsed.
Gentlemen, you may now smoke.
Rumpole did add considerably to the seriousness of the offence by proceeding to win in the absence of his learned leader.
Mitigate! Has Rumpole anything to say by way of mitigation? - Rumpole? - The show had to go on.
What? What did Rumpole say? Sometimes.
I must admit Sometimes, I wonder why.
Speak up! What sort of a show is it exactly? Have you ever considered what we do to our clients? Is the port stuck to that end of the table? Seeing that they wear ties and hats, keep their hands out of their pockets, remember to call the judge "My Lord".
Generally behaving like grocers at a funeral - One minute.
- What do we tell them? "Look respectable," we say.
"Look suitably serious.
Swear on the Bible.
"Say nothing which might upset a jury of lay preachers.
" What do we ever find out about our clients in all these trials, hmm? Do we ever get even a fleeting glimpse of the truth? Or do we put a hat on the truth, and a serious expression, in order to please the audience? Ah, I mean, of course, the jury and, My Lord, the judge.
Do you ever worry about that? - Do you ever? - Time is up.
Oh, yes.
All right.
Quite all right.
- The performance is over.
- Mr Senior Rumpole's mitigation has merely added to the gravity of the offence.
Rumpole, at your age, with your experience, I'm surprised you weren't proud to get the sack.
Your conduct in winning the case shows a total disregard for the feelings of an extremely sensitive silk.
The sentence is a fine of 12 bottles of claret.
(AIl) Here, here.
Have you a cheque book on you? Members will now entertain the company in song.
(Applause) Tommy, let's have "On the Road to Mandalay".
I'm looking forward to this.
Roll me back To Mandalay Where the old flotilla lay And to hear those paddles stroking From Rangoon to Mandalay On the road To Mandalay Where the flying fishes play And the dawn comes up like thunder Out of China Across the bay By the old Moulmein pagoda Looking eastward to the sea There's a Burma girl sitting And I know (Rumpole) 'Oh, I've had quite enough of show business.
' And the wind is in the palm trees (Hollers) Taxi! Where to, guv? South!