Home Fires (2015) s02e06 Episode Script
Series 2, Episode 6
1 The Czechs learned this morning they're soon to be redeployed.
I kept my word and I've told no-one that you're here.
I can't go back.
- It's mine.
- The book -- yes.
The contents -- most definitely not.
- You saved nine men.
- You're a hero, son.
No, no.
I thought inviting you here might be the best way to ask you to marry me.
I will! We're shutting your factory down, with immediate effect.
- Scour the outhouses.
- Yes, sir.
Ma? We have permission to search your property.
- For what? - We'll be quick.
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 Is waiting for me Now I see I'll be Eyes wide open All the cries Broken For now Of course I was nervous to begin with.
Working here is one thing, but it hardly prepares you for Radio Operator training.
I imagine it must be very technical.
You can't make mistakes when you're talking to pilots on ops against the Germans.
"Ops" means "operations", by the way.
- Oh, is that right? - You have to be prepared for every eventuality, because, as my instructor says all the time, "Your first shift could be your worst shift.
" Well, it's lovely of you to come back and see us.
Isn't it, Pat? I've always believed as we move forward in life, it's important not to forget the people we leave behind.
Oh, it's an honour to linger in your thoughts.
Oh, I'm sure.
It took Peter 23 years to build up this business.
Four months for me to bring it to its knees.
When I took over, I trusted Taylor without a moment's hesitation.
That he brought criminals into this business is utterly incredible.
Lyons must have paid him a great deal of money.
I hope it rots in his pockets in jail.
If the Ministry shuts us down, there'll be no business to sell.
I'll be lucky to avoid prison myself.
This isn't your fault.
If not mine .
.
who else's? You're lucky you caught me.
I was just about to leave .
.
to meet your fiancee.
To counsel her to change her mind before it's too late? The "wedding committee" meeting to finalise the responsibilities for the reception.
Look, I didn't want to burden Teresa with this so soon before the wedding, but um .
.
I needed someone to talk to.
And the best person I could think of was you.
One of my young airmen has gone missing.
- What? - For nearly a week.
We've searched local farms, woodland.
No sign.
The thing I can't seem to shake is .
.
feeling that I've failed in my duty of care.
Why would you think that? I clearly failed to see how much pressure he was under.
It must be difficult to notice when everyone's knuckling down to the job in hand.
I'm his commanding officer.
Why didn't he regard me as someone he could confide in? I told Adam, years ago, that his dog collar doesn't make him omniscient.
It just makes him think that he should be.
Beneath the uniform you're just men trying to do your best in extraordinary circumstances.
If he's caught, what will happen to him? Let's just say it would be best all round if he returned of his own volition.
- Knew I was right.
- About what? Coming to see you.
I should be going.
I'll I'll see myself out.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Looking down the list Everything's covered except for decorating the hall.
- I'd say you're all set.
- Thank you so much.
You've all been fantastic.
- Sorry I'm late.
Errands to run.
- Hello.
We didn't have hall decorations when we got married.
Didn't even have a hall.
Just a barn with a leaky roof.
Steph! Me Me and Bryn had a guard of honour when we came out of the church.
Five butchers on either side .
.
with their arms aloft, holding gleaming cleavers.
You should have seen them.
What was it about Bryn that made you certain he was the one? Oh, that's easy.
Once I met Bryn, I I knew I'd never want anyone else.
- Oh - Why, what was it about Will? The same.
What was it about Mr Simms? He was very kind.
And he shared my love of literature.
So, what is it about Nick? Well .
.
I had a feeling, once I'd met him .
.
that he'd be the only man for me.
Aww.
You're very good at posting the letters.
Little postman in the making, aren't you? Mrs Cameron.
For Mrs Cameron.
And who might this young man be? - My name is Noah.
- Noah.
What a lovely name.
He's staying with Mrs Barden while his grandparents find a new place to live.
Their street in Liverpool was badly bombed during a raid.
Very pleased to meet you, Noah.
If you're staying with Mrs Barden, you'll be in very good hands.
And if they aren't hers? She's taken him in but it seems to be everyone else looking after him.
- Mainly Claire.
- No doubt Mrs Barden is busy at the factory.
As enjoyable as it may be riding with Mr Wilson, young man, handling the Royal Mail really should be undertaken by Post Office employees.
- Sorry.
- He's not really handling the mail.
He's posting it for me.
I make sure all the letters go in the right place.
- I'm sure you do, Mr Wilson.
- We'd best get on.
Enjoy your day, gentlemen.
Oh, thank you.
Sarah.
Mm.
We haven't managed to find a tablecloth good enough to set off the wedding cake.
I remember there was a lovely one at last year's Harvest Festival.
- Oh.
- Was that yours? It was the best thing I ever made under the banner of the WI.
- Took me three years, mind.
- It's beautiful.
Any chance? - Of course.
I'd be honoured.
- Thank you.
I'll come and pick it up.
Er well, why don't I just pop it round later? Because I don't want to put you to any trouble.
- It's no trouble.
- Don't be daft.
It's on my way home.
It's my advance.
I can't tell you how good it feels to finally hold this cheque.
So many dark days.
And when the book takes off we'll be able to buy a bigger place.
Dine out regularly.
Buy a car.
I don't want any of those things.
The status that comes from being the wife of a best-selling author.
- I don't want that.
- Well, then, what do you want? L Let me make you some lunch, Bob.
You must be hungry.
Yeah.
I am, actually.
Quite an appetite.
And then, after lunch, I'm gonna go and bank this.
I could run to the shop for some ham, if you like.
We still have some left on the ration.
No need to go out.
I'll have whatever you can rustle up.
- I don't mind.
- I said there's no need to go out.
So there's no need to go out.
I'm afraid it's out of my hands.
What do you mean, out of your hands? You assured me, whatever the Lyons did, the factory would not be harmed.
We assumed they'd simply channel dirty profits from other enterprises through the factory's books.
We'd no idea that they'd attempt anything as contemptible as this.
I betrayed the trust and loyalty of a very dear friend.
You decided you wanted to serve your country.
Not at the expense of everything else! What's going to happen to the factory? Its fate lies in the hands of the Air Ministry Inspectors.
Neither myself, nor Frances Barden, knew anything about the substandard silk.
She believes she might end up in prison over this.
Could she? - We live in unforgiving times, Mrs Scotlock.
- Ohh - Sarah.
- Mm? - Do you have anyone staying with you? - Uh No.
Why do you ask? I think you should fetch the police.
Why? I'm almost certain your house is being burgled.
I understand, and I would have to be a criminal, or criminally insane, to do that, but I could be facing a charge of treason, for God's sake.
Keep trying, Roger, please.
I feel I'm fighting for my life here.
Sorry to disturb you, Mrs Barden.
Cookie and Thumbs have invited Isobel, Spencer and me to join them on their overnight trip to Blackpool this afternoon.
I see.
Claire hasn't had any time off since Mr Barden's funeral, Mrs Barden.
And I'd quite like to spend some time with my wife.
Well, I understand, of course.
Time together is very important in a young marriage.
And Noah will almost certainly love Blackpool.
Well, no, Mrs Barden.
Thing is Time off for Claire means time off, Mrs Barden.
So we won't be taking Noah.
Well, I I hope you have a very enjoyable time.
- Thank you, Mrs Barden.
- Thank you, Mrs Barden.
Are you out of your mind, Sarah? My husband's laying his life on the line for his country.
Yours is, too.
And you're harbouring a deserter.
- He's not a deserter.
- Has he gone back? Not yet.
I took pity on him, Steph.
If you'd seen the state that he was in, and I don't mean physically.
Sarah, you have to tell the authorities.
Each time I braced myself to do that, a question came into my head.
"What would Adam do?" He would give the boy time to rest, come to his senses, and then hand himself in.
Shouldn't be more than a couple of hours.
While I'm gone, I wonder if you wouldn't mind proofreading the first three chapters.
I think there's some good work in there -- some of it less good.
Make some notes and we can discuss it when I get back.
That will take most of the afternoon.
I'd really appreciate it.
All right.
- See you later.
- See you later.
Mm.
- 'Great Paxford.
Number, please.
' - Yes, Tabley Wood RAF Station.
Thank you.
Hello? 'RAF Tabley Wood.
' I need to speak to Wing Commander Lucas.
- Nervous? - Why? Should I be? Well, as a compassionate bigamist, I like to ask all my fiancees how they're doing in the run-up to the big day.
You know, I find out something new and interesting about you every time I see you.
That's what I like to see in the run-up to a wedding -- the happy couple being happy.
And now I'm about to spoil the mood.
You couldn't possibly.
I'm being slated to deliver a few planes over the next few days.
It seems unlikely that I'll make it back to Cheshire for the wedding.
- I'll send someone to fetch you.
- Sir - Could I speak to you for a moment? - Yes, of course.
Excuse me.
- All set? - Set? - The wedding.
- Oh, yes.
I think so.
- Excited? - Extremely.
- It's a big step.
- It is.
Eyelash.
May I? - Perfect once more.
- Hardly.
I do understand why you're marrying Nick.
Because I love him.
Why else? When I'm in the air, I often look down at the houses below and wonder how many of us have taken refuge in marriage and normality.
Hundreds? Thousands? More? No way of knowing, of course.
Refuge? What I'm trying to say is, if you're going to marry Nick be certain that you can make him happy.
Because if you can't be certain, all you'll achieve is to make two very lovely people extraordinarily miserable.
I'm afraid something's come up that I need to attend to.
I have to go.
Surely, no-one needs your attention more two days before your wedding than the bride-to-be? This is more pressing.
I'll drive you home.
Bye.
We should go.
Sarah! It's not ideal but it will do for a night.
I can't thank you enough for all your help.
You should have enough peace and quiet here to think things through.
No candles, no lights.
- Nick.
- Was he in the vicarage? Er, sorry? Who was in the vicarage? You think you are helping him.
You are not.
Is he still there or is he in the church? I honestly have no idea what you're talking about.
"Honestly"? Is that really the word you want to use? - I don't know - Stop.
Before I lose all my respect for you.
Someone who cares about you greatly left a message with my secretary.
I know.
Nick You might have had the decency to stop me making a fool of myself in your house while you hid him upstairs.
For the last time, where is he? Just explain something Step aside.
- How many are you expecting? - No way of telling.
Could be two.
Could be 22.
You'll be fine.
If you'd come to a decision about your next move, we wouldn't be standing here.
Come back to the station with me, and the record will state that you came back of your own accord after a period of going absent without leave.
And if I refuse? When you're caught, which you will be, you will almost certainly stand trial for desertion and there will be nothing I can do.
I want to help.
I want to thank you all for coming this evening, to this first meeting of Great Paxford's very own branch of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association.
I only heard of SSAFA recently, after they helped the mother of a sailor on David's ship trace our address.
But knowing what I know now about the work that SSAFA does, I wish we'd been in touch with them during that terrible period that .
.
that terrible period .
.
of Sorry.
I'm sorry.
Sorry.
I couldn't sign up fast enough.
When my ship was attacked, I ended up in the water, clinging onto anything that could float.
And I thought about everything.
But what upset me the most was knowing what my parents would go through if I never came back.
War isn't just about the lads that go and fight.
It's also about the families we leave behind.
And we all go through it together.
- That's right.
- Hear, hear.
Nick I can't tell you how much I wish you'd been able to trust me.
Now it seems I'll never be able to trust you again.
- That's not fair.
- Perhaps not.
But that's how it is.
I have to go, before we waste yet more hours in a search that could have been called off a week ago.
What? Once we finish this there's no going back.
Do you want to go back? You sure? Then you'd better keep sewing.
Nothing gets a wedding off to a bad start more than a bride turning up half dressed.
I'm ready.
I know Claire reads you a story before you go to bed.
- You won't mind if I don't? - No.
Wait here and I'll take you up.
Good evening, Frances.
I hope I haven't called at an inopportune moment.
I'd invite you in, Joyce, but we have an evacuee staying - and I'm about to put him to bed.
- Yes.
I met young Mr Lakin this morning.
When he was helping Mr Wilson with his postal rounds, having a fine old time.
Did Noah tell you his surname? No, he didn't.
But this did.
- What is it? - Something I confiscated from Miss Marshall a few months ago.
After catching her taking notes from conversations at the exchange.
Several conversations between Peter and Helen Lakin seem to have drawn her ear.
If it's any consolation, I doubt very much Miss Marshall would have made the connections that I made.
And which connections would those be? I think it is most admirable that you've taken the child in .
.
given the circumstances.
The circumstances being that his street was bombed.
In Liverpool? Where he lives with his grandparents? Yes.
Following the recent death of his parents in a tragic car accident, in Great Paxford.
His mother died recently in a car accident in Great Paxford.
As far as I'm aware, the child never knew his father.
That is the way I should like it to stay.
As you wish.
Thank you for calling, Joyce, but I've Oh, no, no, that's not the only reason I called.
I was emptying some old boxes and I happened across a trunk that had my son's old toys.
And I wondered if Noah might make use of some tin soldiers.
Some adults find it hard to lower themselves to a child's level .
.
especially if that child isn't their own.
It's a shame to let them rust at the bottom of a trunk.
And the notebook? Good night, Frances.
And good luck.
Noah? Noah? Oh, Noah.
Thank you, ladies.
All decorations on the trestle tables at the back, please.
Thank you.
- Hello.
- Hi.
I saw you at the meeting.
It's Katie.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
I really enjoyed your speech the other night.
It was really moving.
That's very kind.
Thank you.
I hope to see you again some time.
Sure.
Get a move on.
We're due on shift in half an hour.
I'm going as fast as I can.
Who was that girl you were talking to? Someone at the SSAFA meeting.
She likes you.
She just brought in some decorations.
Oh? It's the way she "just brought" them.
Just stop it.
All right? Why don't you ask her to the pictures? Or one of your walks in the country? Why do you think? I don't understand.
I could tell how keen she was.
If Tom had what I had on my back .
.
you wouldn't want to kiss him once let alone as much as you do.
- No girl would.
- That's not true.
- That's easy to say.
- You're right.
I wouldn't want to kiss him once.
I'd want to kiss him a thousand times - for what he'd been through.
- You're only saying that.
Some girls might not want to be with you cos of your injuries, but no girl worth her salt.
Certainly no girl worth you.
Welcome home, Cavalier.
Stay on your present course and listen out for our signal.
Repeat, hold your course and listen out for our signal.
Over.
'Thank you, Control.
' I escaped prosecution.
I can't tell you how relieved I am.
But at the cost of cancelling our contracts and closing the factory for good.
Yes.
You knew? I have a contact in the police who telephoned me this morning.
What do you mean, you have a contact within the police? The same contact who encouraged me to bring the Lyons brothers into the factory.
- Knowing they were criminals? - Because they were criminals.
What are you talking about? I was given an assurance that the Lyons wouldn't harm the business in the long term, an assurance that's turned out to be worthless.
- How did you become involved with the police? - How? Oh I I made a single mistake .
.
that spiralled into another mistake.
And now into the loss of this factory.
The jobs of everyone who worked here.
My reputation.
While you walk away scot-free.
- That isn't the case.
My conscience - Weighs heavily upon you! - Extremely.
- I have lost everything! Everything.
Every single thing.
First through Peter.
And now through you.
I have to get back.
The wedding.
After what you've done .
.
how you can show your face in public .
.
is utterly beyond me.
You looking for something? - My book.
- Mrs Miniver? I thought it was in my bag.
I took it back to the library when I banked the cheque.
But I haven't finished it.
I thought you should start to read the books that I like to read.
Then we can discuss them together.
Like we used to.
I can't have you choosing which books I read Bob.
I'm gonna get ready for the wedding.
I suggest you do the same.
Let's show the village what a bona fide literary couple looks like, eh? Oh.
Where's Claire? Putting the finishing touches to the hall.
We're meeting at the church.
- Do you want to play with us? - After the wedding, I'd love to.
I'll be ready to leave in 15 minutes.
Just Just say if you need to rest.
I'm fine.
Ready? Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife .
.
to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her, and forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her so long as ye both may live? I will.
Wilt thou have this man as thy wedded husband to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, honour and keep him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him so long as you both may live? I will.
Who giveth this woman to be married to this man? - Then shall they give their - Now? Go and get Dr Campbell.
I, Nicholas, take thee, Teresa Dr Campbell.
The baby's coming.
To have and to hold from this day forward Mrs Cameron.
Bring her into the surgery.
- Are you all right? - Take that.
Ooh, it's not time yet.
Bryn.
All right, Miriam.
Very good.
Ooh.
It's fine.
Just breathe.
- God.
- Ooh.
That's it.
- Breathe.
- Ooh.
I'm right here, Miriam.
Right here.
I don't want you thinking you have to avoid me because you telephoned him.
I thought it was the right thing to do.
- I'm sorry.
- Look, it's been resolved.
I'm glad.
Funny thing what love can do Take a little look at me Yesterday I was so blue Bluer than the deep blue sea Now I'm singing, whistling a tune All the live-long day If you want to know just why I can truthfully say I've got a feeling about her It was something she said Now she's got me walking on the tip of my toes And my hat's on the side of my head All my troubles are mended She's got the needle and thread Cos she's got me walking on the tip of my toes Do you er Do you want another drink? No, Bob.
I want another life.
- What did you just say? - I've had enough.
- I think you probably have.
- Of you.
I'm going to leave.
Leave? You're gonna leave me when I'm on the verge of success? - I don't want any part of it.
- Sit down.
Where were you thinking of going? To Marek? Go on, then, Pat.
Be quick.
He's leaving in ten minutes.
I would say "approximately" but you know how fastidious the military is about timekeeping.
How do you know? From the horse's mouth.
I followed you until I finally caught you whoring after that Czech bastard.
You knew all this time - So much of life is about timing and, Patricia - You're sick.
Sick of your disloyalty.
Sick to the back teeth of being disrespected by an ungrateful bitch of a wife.
Oh, ungrateful? What have I got to be grateful for, Bob? The incessant put-downs? The constant disregard? The jealousy towards anything that takes me away from the house? Should I be grateful for the violence knocking me back into my place, or the way you need to control every hour of my day so that I feel more like a slave than anything resembling a wife? - Shh.
- Marek is worth ten of you.
A hundred.
A thousand.
Ungrateful? Just let me go.
Never ever.
You're not the man you were.
Don't leave me.
Tabley Wood to Tower 9.
Please report.
Anything? Not yet.
- Come in, Clover.
- 'This is Clover, Control.
' Come in, Clover.
Come in, Clover.
You're doing brilliantly, Mim! I can see the crown, Miriam.
Keep pushing.
They can see the crown, Mim! I'm in labour, not deaf! Everything is going terribly well, Bryn, and Miriam is in very good hands.
But it has been suggested that your encouragements through the door are proving an unwelcome distraction, so if I may suggest that you make yourself comfortable in the front room, and I will come and fetch you the minute your presence is required.
I was simply lending my support, Mrs Cameron.
But very loudly.
You You'll come and get me the moment it's out? The moment it's out.
Control to Clover.
Do you read me, please? - Yes.
- I'll get the distance, elevation.
OK.
Uh Christ, he's coming in low.
Come in, Clover.
Come in, Clover.
Come in.
Come in.
I kept my word and I've told no-one that you're here.
I can't go back.
- It's mine.
- The book -- yes.
The contents -- most definitely not.
- You saved nine men.
- You're a hero, son.
No, no.
I thought inviting you here might be the best way to ask you to marry me.
I will! We're shutting your factory down, with immediate effect.
- Scour the outhouses.
- Yes, sir.
Ma? We have permission to search your property.
- For what? - We'll be quick.
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 Is waiting for me Now I see I'll be Eyes wide open All the cries Broken For now Of course I was nervous to begin with.
Working here is one thing, but it hardly prepares you for Radio Operator training.
I imagine it must be very technical.
You can't make mistakes when you're talking to pilots on ops against the Germans.
"Ops" means "operations", by the way.
- Oh, is that right? - You have to be prepared for every eventuality, because, as my instructor says all the time, "Your first shift could be your worst shift.
" Well, it's lovely of you to come back and see us.
Isn't it, Pat? I've always believed as we move forward in life, it's important not to forget the people we leave behind.
Oh, it's an honour to linger in your thoughts.
Oh, I'm sure.
It took Peter 23 years to build up this business.
Four months for me to bring it to its knees.
When I took over, I trusted Taylor without a moment's hesitation.
That he brought criminals into this business is utterly incredible.
Lyons must have paid him a great deal of money.
I hope it rots in his pockets in jail.
If the Ministry shuts us down, there'll be no business to sell.
I'll be lucky to avoid prison myself.
This isn't your fault.
If not mine .
.
who else's? You're lucky you caught me.
I was just about to leave .
.
to meet your fiancee.
To counsel her to change her mind before it's too late? The "wedding committee" meeting to finalise the responsibilities for the reception.
Look, I didn't want to burden Teresa with this so soon before the wedding, but um .
.
I needed someone to talk to.
And the best person I could think of was you.
One of my young airmen has gone missing.
- What? - For nearly a week.
We've searched local farms, woodland.
No sign.
The thing I can't seem to shake is .
.
feeling that I've failed in my duty of care.
Why would you think that? I clearly failed to see how much pressure he was under.
It must be difficult to notice when everyone's knuckling down to the job in hand.
I'm his commanding officer.
Why didn't he regard me as someone he could confide in? I told Adam, years ago, that his dog collar doesn't make him omniscient.
It just makes him think that he should be.
Beneath the uniform you're just men trying to do your best in extraordinary circumstances.
If he's caught, what will happen to him? Let's just say it would be best all round if he returned of his own volition.
- Knew I was right.
- About what? Coming to see you.
I should be going.
I'll I'll see myself out.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Looking down the list Everything's covered except for decorating the hall.
- I'd say you're all set.
- Thank you so much.
You've all been fantastic.
- Sorry I'm late.
Errands to run.
- Hello.
We didn't have hall decorations when we got married.
Didn't even have a hall.
Just a barn with a leaky roof.
Steph! Me Me and Bryn had a guard of honour when we came out of the church.
Five butchers on either side .
.
with their arms aloft, holding gleaming cleavers.
You should have seen them.
What was it about Bryn that made you certain he was the one? Oh, that's easy.
Once I met Bryn, I I knew I'd never want anyone else.
- Oh - Why, what was it about Will? The same.
What was it about Mr Simms? He was very kind.
And he shared my love of literature.
So, what is it about Nick? Well .
.
I had a feeling, once I'd met him .
.
that he'd be the only man for me.
Aww.
You're very good at posting the letters.
Little postman in the making, aren't you? Mrs Cameron.
For Mrs Cameron.
And who might this young man be? - My name is Noah.
- Noah.
What a lovely name.
He's staying with Mrs Barden while his grandparents find a new place to live.
Their street in Liverpool was badly bombed during a raid.
Very pleased to meet you, Noah.
If you're staying with Mrs Barden, you'll be in very good hands.
And if they aren't hers? She's taken him in but it seems to be everyone else looking after him.
- Mainly Claire.
- No doubt Mrs Barden is busy at the factory.
As enjoyable as it may be riding with Mr Wilson, young man, handling the Royal Mail really should be undertaken by Post Office employees.
- Sorry.
- He's not really handling the mail.
He's posting it for me.
I make sure all the letters go in the right place.
- I'm sure you do, Mr Wilson.
- We'd best get on.
Enjoy your day, gentlemen.
Oh, thank you.
Sarah.
Mm.
We haven't managed to find a tablecloth good enough to set off the wedding cake.
I remember there was a lovely one at last year's Harvest Festival.
- Oh.
- Was that yours? It was the best thing I ever made under the banner of the WI.
- Took me three years, mind.
- It's beautiful.
Any chance? - Of course.
I'd be honoured.
- Thank you.
I'll come and pick it up.
Er well, why don't I just pop it round later? Because I don't want to put you to any trouble.
- It's no trouble.
- Don't be daft.
It's on my way home.
It's my advance.
I can't tell you how good it feels to finally hold this cheque.
So many dark days.
And when the book takes off we'll be able to buy a bigger place.
Dine out regularly.
Buy a car.
I don't want any of those things.
The status that comes from being the wife of a best-selling author.
- I don't want that.
- Well, then, what do you want? L Let me make you some lunch, Bob.
You must be hungry.
Yeah.
I am, actually.
Quite an appetite.
And then, after lunch, I'm gonna go and bank this.
I could run to the shop for some ham, if you like.
We still have some left on the ration.
No need to go out.
I'll have whatever you can rustle up.
- I don't mind.
- I said there's no need to go out.
So there's no need to go out.
I'm afraid it's out of my hands.
What do you mean, out of your hands? You assured me, whatever the Lyons did, the factory would not be harmed.
We assumed they'd simply channel dirty profits from other enterprises through the factory's books.
We'd no idea that they'd attempt anything as contemptible as this.
I betrayed the trust and loyalty of a very dear friend.
You decided you wanted to serve your country.
Not at the expense of everything else! What's going to happen to the factory? Its fate lies in the hands of the Air Ministry Inspectors.
Neither myself, nor Frances Barden, knew anything about the substandard silk.
She believes she might end up in prison over this.
Could she? - We live in unforgiving times, Mrs Scotlock.
- Ohh - Sarah.
- Mm? - Do you have anyone staying with you? - Uh No.
Why do you ask? I think you should fetch the police.
Why? I'm almost certain your house is being burgled.
I understand, and I would have to be a criminal, or criminally insane, to do that, but I could be facing a charge of treason, for God's sake.
Keep trying, Roger, please.
I feel I'm fighting for my life here.
Sorry to disturb you, Mrs Barden.
Cookie and Thumbs have invited Isobel, Spencer and me to join them on their overnight trip to Blackpool this afternoon.
I see.
Claire hasn't had any time off since Mr Barden's funeral, Mrs Barden.
And I'd quite like to spend some time with my wife.
Well, I understand, of course.
Time together is very important in a young marriage.
And Noah will almost certainly love Blackpool.
Well, no, Mrs Barden.
Thing is Time off for Claire means time off, Mrs Barden.
So we won't be taking Noah.
Well, I I hope you have a very enjoyable time.
- Thank you, Mrs Barden.
- Thank you, Mrs Barden.
Are you out of your mind, Sarah? My husband's laying his life on the line for his country.
Yours is, too.
And you're harbouring a deserter.
- He's not a deserter.
- Has he gone back? Not yet.
I took pity on him, Steph.
If you'd seen the state that he was in, and I don't mean physically.
Sarah, you have to tell the authorities.
Each time I braced myself to do that, a question came into my head.
"What would Adam do?" He would give the boy time to rest, come to his senses, and then hand himself in.
Shouldn't be more than a couple of hours.
While I'm gone, I wonder if you wouldn't mind proofreading the first three chapters.
I think there's some good work in there -- some of it less good.
Make some notes and we can discuss it when I get back.
That will take most of the afternoon.
I'd really appreciate it.
All right.
- See you later.
- See you later.
Mm.
- 'Great Paxford.
Number, please.
' - Yes, Tabley Wood RAF Station.
Thank you.
Hello? 'RAF Tabley Wood.
' I need to speak to Wing Commander Lucas.
- Nervous? - Why? Should I be? Well, as a compassionate bigamist, I like to ask all my fiancees how they're doing in the run-up to the big day.
You know, I find out something new and interesting about you every time I see you.
That's what I like to see in the run-up to a wedding -- the happy couple being happy.
And now I'm about to spoil the mood.
You couldn't possibly.
I'm being slated to deliver a few planes over the next few days.
It seems unlikely that I'll make it back to Cheshire for the wedding.
- I'll send someone to fetch you.
- Sir - Could I speak to you for a moment? - Yes, of course.
Excuse me.
- All set? - Set? - The wedding.
- Oh, yes.
I think so.
- Excited? - Extremely.
- It's a big step.
- It is.
Eyelash.
May I? - Perfect once more.
- Hardly.
I do understand why you're marrying Nick.
Because I love him.
Why else? When I'm in the air, I often look down at the houses below and wonder how many of us have taken refuge in marriage and normality.
Hundreds? Thousands? More? No way of knowing, of course.
Refuge? What I'm trying to say is, if you're going to marry Nick be certain that you can make him happy.
Because if you can't be certain, all you'll achieve is to make two very lovely people extraordinarily miserable.
I'm afraid something's come up that I need to attend to.
I have to go.
Surely, no-one needs your attention more two days before your wedding than the bride-to-be? This is more pressing.
I'll drive you home.
Bye.
We should go.
Sarah! It's not ideal but it will do for a night.
I can't thank you enough for all your help.
You should have enough peace and quiet here to think things through.
No candles, no lights.
- Nick.
- Was he in the vicarage? Er, sorry? Who was in the vicarage? You think you are helping him.
You are not.
Is he still there or is he in the church? I honestly have no idea what you're talking about.
"Honestly"? Is that really the word you want to use? - I don't know - Stop.
Before I lose all my respect for you.
Someone who cares about you greatly left a message with my secretary.
I know.
Nick You might have had the decency to stop me making a fool of myself in your house while you hid him upstairs.
For the last time, where is he? Just explain something Step aside.
- How many are you expecting? - No way of telling.
Could be two.
Could be 22.
You'll be fine.
If you'd come to a decision about your next move, we wouldn't be standing here.
Come back to the station with me, and the record will state that you came back of your own accord after a period of going absent without leave.
And if I refuse? When you're caught, which you will be, you will almost certainly stand trial for desertion and there will be nothing I can do.
I want to help.
I want to thank you all for coming this evening, to this first meeting of Great Paxford's very own branch of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association.
I only heard of SSAFA recently, after they helped the mother of a sailor on David's ship trace our address.
But knowing what I know now about the work that SSAFA does, I wish we'd been in touch with them during that terrible period that .
.
that terrible period .
.
of Sorry.
I'm sorry.
Sorry.
I couldn't sign up fast enough.
When my ship was attacked, I ended up in the water, clinging onto anything that could float.
And I thought about everything.
But what upset me the most was knowing what my parents would go through if I never came back.
War isn't just about the lads that go and fight.
It's also about the families we leave behind.
And we all go through it together.
- That's right.
- Hear, hear.
Nick I can't tell you how much I wish you'd been able to trust me.
Now it seems I'll never be able to trust you again.
- That's not fair.
- Perhaps not.
But that's how it is.
I have to go, before we waste yet more hours in a search that could have been called off a week ago.
What? Once we finish this there's no going back.
Do you want to go back? You sure? Then you'd better keep sewing.
Nothing gets a wedding off to a bad start more than a bride turning up half dressed.
I'm ready.
I know Claire reads you a story before you go to bed.
- You won't mind if I don't? - No.
Wait here and I'll take you up.
Good evening, Frances.
I hope I haven't called at an inopportune moment.
I'd invite you in, Joyce, but we have an evacuee staying - and I'm about to put him to bed.
- Yes.
I met young Mr Lakin this morning.
When he was helping Mr Wilson with his postal rounds, having a fine old time.
Did Noah tell you his surname? No, he didn't.
But this did.
- What is it? - Something I confiscated from Miss Marshall a few months ago.
After catching her taking notes from conversations at the exchange.
Several conversations between Peter and Helen Lakin seem to have drawn her ear.
If it's any consolation, I doubt very much Miss Marshall would have made the connections that I made.
And which connections would those be? I think it is most admirable that you've taken the child in .
.
given the circumstances.
The circumstances being that his street was bombed.
In Liverpool? Where he lives with his grandparents? Yes.
Following the recent death of his parents in a tragic car accident, in Great Paxford.
His mother died recently in a car accident in Great Paxford.
As far as I'm aware, the child never knew his father.
That is the way I should like it to stay.
As you wish.
Thank you for calling, Joyce, but I've Oh, no, no, that's not the only reason I called.
I was emptying some old boxes and I happened across a trunk that had my son's old toys.
And I wondered if Noah might make use of some tin soldiers.
Some adults find it hard to lower themselves to a child's level .
.
especially if that child isn't their own.
It's a shame to let them rust at the bottom of a trunk.
And the notebook? Good night, Frances.
And good luck.
Noah? Noah? Oh, Noah.
Thank you, ladies.
All decorations on the trestle tables at the back, please.
Thank you.
- Hello.
- Hi.
I saw you at the meeting.
It's Katie.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
I really enjoyed your speech the other night.
It was really moving.
That's very kind.
Thank you.
I hope to see you again some time.
Sure.
Get a move on.
We're due on shift in half an hour.
I'm going as fast as I can.
Who was that girl you were talking to? Someone at the SSAFA meeting.
She likes you.
She just brought in some decorations.
Oh? It's the way she "just brought" them.
Just stop it.
All right? Why don't you ask her to the pictures? Or one of your walks in the country? Why do you think? I don't understand.
I could tell how keen she was.
If Tom had what I had on my back .
.
you wouldn't want to kiss him once let alone as much as you do.
- No girl would.
- That's not true.
- That's easy to say.
- You're right.
I wouldn't want to kiss him once.
I'd want to kiss him a thousand times - for what he'd been through.
- You're only saying that.
Some girls might not want to be with you cos of your injuries, but no girl worth her salt.
Certainly no girl worth you.
Welcome home, Cavalier.
Stay on your present course and listen out for our signal.
Repeat, hold your course and listen out for our signal.
Over.
'Thank you, Control.
' I escaped prosecution.
I can't tell you how relieved I am.
But at the cost of cancelling our contracts and closing the factory for good.
Yes.
You knew? I have a contact in the police who telephoned me this morning.
What do you mean, you have a contact within the police? The same contact who encouraged me to bring the Lyons brothers into the factory.
- Knowing they were criminals? - Because they were criminals.
What are you talking about? I was given an assurance that the Lyons wouldn't harm the business in the long term, an assurance that's turned out to be worthless.
- How did you become involved with the police? - How? Oh I I made a single mistake .
.
that spiralled into another mistake.
And now into the loss of this factory.
The jobs of everyone who worked here.
My reputation.
While you walk away scot-free.
- That isn't the case.
My conscience - Weighs heavily upon you! - Extremely.
- I have lost everything! Everything.
Every single thing.
First through Peter.
And now through you.
I have to get back.
The wedding.
After what you've done .
.
how you can show your face in public .
.
is utterly beyond me.
You looking for something? - My book.
- Mrs Miniver? I thought it was in my bag.
I took it back to the library when I banked the cheque.
But I haven't finished it.
I thought you should start to read the books that I like to read.
Then we can discuss them together.
Like we used to.
I can't have you choosing which books I read Bob.
I'm gonna get ready for the wedding.
I suggest you do the same.
Let's show the village what a bona fide literary couple looks like, eh? Oh.
Where's Claire? Putting the finishing touches to the hall.
We're meeting at the church.
- Do you want to play with us? - After the wedding, I'd love to.
I'll be ready to leave in 15 minutes.
Just Just say if you need to rest.
I'm fine.
Ready? Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife .
.
to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her, and forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her so long as ye both may live? I will.
Wilt thou have this man as thy wedded husband to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, honour and keep him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him so long as you both may live? I will.
Who giveth this woman to be married to this man? - Then shall they give their - Now? Go and get Dr Campbell.
I, Nicholas, take thee, Teresa Dr Campbell.
The baby's coming.
To have and to hold from this day forward Mrs Cameron.
Bring her into the surgery.
- Are you all right? - Take that.
Ooh, it's not time yet.
Bryn.
All right, Miriam.
Very good.
Ooh.
It's fine.
Just breathe.
- God.
- Ooh.
That's it.
- Breathe.
- Ooh.
I'm right here, Miriam.
Right here.
I don't want you thinking you have to avoid me because you telephoned him.
I thought it was the right thing to do.
- I'm sorry.
- Look, it's been resolved.
I'm glad.
Funny thing what love can do Take a little look at me Yesterday I was so blue Bluer than the deep blue sea Now I'm singing, whistling a tune All the live-long day If you want to know just why I can truthfully say I've got a feeling about her It was something she said Now she's got me walking on the tip of my toes And my hat's on the side of my head All my troubles are mended She's got the needle and thread Cos she's got me walking on the tip of my toes Do you er Do you want another drink? No, Bob.
I want another life.
- What did you just say? - I've had enough.
- I think you probably have.
- Of you.
I'm going to leave.
Leave? You're gonna leave me when I'm on the verge of success? - I don't want any part of it.
- Sit down.
Where were you thinking of going? To Marek? Go on, then, Pat.
Be quick.
He's leaving in ten minutes.
I would say "approximately" but you know how fastidious the military is about timekeeping.
How do you know? From the horse's mouth.
I followed you until I finally caught you whoring after that Czech bastard.
You knew all this time - So much of life is about timing and, Patricia - You're sick.
Sick of your disloyalty.
Sick to the back teeth of being disrespected by an ungrateful bitch of a wife.
Oh, ungrateful? What have I got to be grateful for, Bob? The incessant put-downs? The constant disregard? The jealousy towards anything that takes me away from the house? Should I be grateful for the violence knocking me back into my place, or the way you need to control every hour of my day so that I feel more like a slave than anything resembling a wife? - Shh.
- Marek is worth ten of you.
A hundred.
A thousand.
Ungrateful? Just let me go.
Never ever.
You're not the man you were.
Don't leave me.
Tabley Wood to Tower 9.
Please report.
Anything? Not yet.
- Come in, Clover.
- 'This is Clover, Control.
' Come in, Clover.
Come in, Clover.
You're doing brilliantly, Mim! I can see the crown, Miriam.
Keep pushing.
They can see the crown, Mim! I'm in labour, not deaf! Everything is going terribly well, Bryn, and Miriam is in very good hands.
But it has been suggested that your encouragements through the door are proving an unwelcome distraction, so if I may suggest that you make yourself comfortable in the front room, and I will come and fetch you the minute your presence is required.
I was simply lending my support, Mrs Cameron.
But very loudly.
You You'll come and get me the moment it's out? The moment it's out.
Control to Clover.
Do you read me, please? - Yes.
- I'll get the distance, elevation.
OK.
Uh Christ, he's coming in low.
Come in, Clover.
Come in, Clover.
Come in.
Come in.