Shine on Harvey Moon (1982) s04e07 Episode Script
We're in the Money
1 - Want to come in for coffee? - No, I'd better not.
- Ah, but it's still early.
- I've got some council papers to go through.
What? You'd rather spend the time with boring old council papers? - I've been putting them off all week.
- So bring them down here.
I brought them the other night.
That's why they still ain't done.
Ah, yes.
OK.
Well, I've really enjoyed this evening, Harvey.
Thank you.
- Don't thank me.
It's your treat.
- No, I told you.
It doesn't matter.
Look, I can't help it.
I mean If a bloke takes a woman out, he should pay.
That's the way it's always been.
Yeah, but it was my idea to go out.
It would hardly be fair for me to suggest we go out for a meal and then expect you to pay.
Especially as I happen to have a bit of money.
Yeah, and I ain't.
No, it doesn't matter.
I've told you.
- Really, it's not important.
- It is to me.
- Now, listen, did you enjoy this evening? - Yeah.
- And the meal? - Lovely.
So why did you choose that that braised ox liver? That's what I wanted.
Are you sure it wasn't cos it was the cheapest thing on the menu? No, really, it's what I wanted.
All right? - So why didn't you finish it? - It was a big helping.
I felt sorry for the ox! Oh I'd be a lot happier if you'd at least let me pay my share.
What do you mean? You bought the catalogue at the exhibition.
- That's only half a dollar.
- All right, Harvey.
We won't argue about this.
We'll We'll go Greek.
Eh? You know, halves and halves.
- Oh, you mean Dutch.
- Yeah, Dutch.
I thought, for a moment, things were looking up there.
Well, what do you think? I think it's quite possible.
The salon is clearly doing well.
No reason to suppose it won't go on doing well.
Unless, of course, the entire female population of Tottenham goes bald overnight.
So, I'd say, if that's what you want, yes, do it.
Well, it's what I want, all right.
God, I've been waiting for years to get back into a proper house, with walls and an upstairs.
- It hasn't done you so badly, this place.
- Oh, I know, Leo, but we're cramped here.
I've got no room to express myself.
'Ere, how much money do you think I need? I would have said around the 1,200 mark.
That would mean a deposit of around 120.
- That's a lot.
Still, I suppose I could rustle it up.
- I'm sure we can organise something.
What do you think Maggie and Stanley will say about moving? Well, I should think they'll be pleased.
Stan is getting quite good.
He must be getting older.
I've been on at him for months to get rid of all them comics in that cupboard.
Today, he just shifted them.
It's amazing.
That's a pity.
I used to enjoy reading those whilst waiting for you to get ready.
- Hello, Stanley.
- Hello, Uncle Leo, Mum.
What's this? Christmas? No.
What's that, Stan? What? - That.
- What? This? Yes.
That.
Well, it's a It's a box.
Yes, love, I know it's a box.
What's inside it? Well, you know you said I could have a pet, if I really wanted it No, I said you could have a pet if you really looked after it.
Hm Well, I got one.
Oh.
- What is it? - It's hard to explain, really, it's - Aaaah! - Don't frighten it.
- You get that out of here now! - Mum, wait a minute, please.
Out! Oh, Mum, look, you said I could have a pet, as long as it was small, clean and quiet.
You can't get quieter than a snake.
- I'm not having that in here.
- I promise you, if it makes a noise, out it goes.
- Leo, do something! - What would you suggest? Oh, Mum, I really wanted it and I'll look after it.
Oh, I think it's rather appealing, myself.
- Don't touch it, Leo.
It'll be poisonous! - Of course it isn't.
Here.
Try it.
No.
I don't want it here.
It's got to go.
- I can't take it back, Mum.
- Why not? I got it from Harry Webb.
His mum will turn it into a handbag if she ever sees it again in her life.
You don't want to be responsible for that, do you, turning Veronica into a handbag? - Veronica? - That's what I thought I'd call it.
- Why Veronica? - Well, it ain't a snake, really.
It's a slow worm.
There weren't nobody slower than Veronica.
Oh, come on, Mum.
You can't be that cruel to let poor old Veronica be turned into a handbag.
- It's perfectly harmless.
- Oh, it's gone in your pocket! Oh-oh-oh! Listen, any trouble and out you go.
Yeah.
All right, then.
Well, go to bed.
- Good night.
Good night, Uncle Leo.
- Good night, Stanley.
- Oh.
- Oh, Mum.
- Just remember, don't feed it.
- Don't worry, I won't.
What does it eat? Good night, Veronica.
Worms, I think, but they've got to be alive and washed.
Oh.
- Good night.
- Good night, Stanley.
- 'Ere, Stan.
- Yeah? Did you swap this for all them comics? Well, it's what you wanted, innit? - Reminds me of someone.
- Who? I don't know.
Some bloke I've known.
Come to think of it, it reminds me of quite a few blokes I've known.
- What's this? - It's a catalogue.
- Oh, can you send away for this stuff, then? - It's not that sort of catalogue.
Blimey! What's that? You've got it upside-down.
That's art.
Eh, she didn't give 2s/6d for this, did she? - No, I did.
I had to buy something.
- Daylight robbery.
Don't start about Frieda's money.
- I was only making a comment.
- Well, don't.
I don't know what you're getting so upset about.
Get used to it.
It's not your fault you're going to come into a bit when you marry her.
- We'll worry about that when it happens.
- You getting cold feet, then? No, but look at me, Mum.
I'm 38.
I should be in the prime of life.
I mean, what have I got? Nothing.
Yeah, but you'll have something with Frieda.
Tonight, I finally persuaded her to let me pay half.
Turns out I'm a quid short.
I've got to have something of my own.
Things have got to be more 50:50.
Yeah, but they will be when you get married.
You'll have half her money.
- If I marry Frieda, it won't be for money.
- Not such a bad idea.
If I get married again, it'll be for love.
You got married for love last time and look where that got you.
- Oi, you.
- Oh, Maggie, come on.
No, your hands are everywhere tonight.
- I'm renowned for my quick hands.
- So am I.
I told you, when you stop fighting, so will I.
Boxing is the only way I'll ever get enough money to buy a place of my own.
Oh, yeah, and, at a fiver or a tenner a fight, it's going to take you forever.
- Let's have a bit of sparring, then.
- Get off.
- Well, what else can we do? - How about a cold shower? All right.
I'm game, if you are.
So, look, are you saying that Harvey is changing his mind again? What? Oh, no, no.
I don't think it's as bad as that.
- Doesn't know when he's lucky, Harvey.
- No.
Did he behave like that when he married Rita? Couldn't afford to.
Rita was already well gone with Maggie.
Oh, I see! We thought they were going to have the wedding and the christening on the same day.
Yeah, I mind our wedding day, I shan't ever forget it.
No, me, neither.
Where did you get married? - St Stephen's.
- You never! I did, too.
What are you implying, Violet? Well, that's where Charlie and me had our nuptials.
No? Nuptials? I thought that's what you had on your honeymoon! Well, ain't that funny? Us both getting married in the same church.
Yeah.
A funny little church.
Nice, though.
Cosy.
A nice vicar, too, as I remember.
He liked a glass.
You'd have made a good pair, then.
Yeah, he had a right good time at our do.
'Ere, come to think of it, I seem to remember he had a good time at our do an' all.
Where did you spend your honeymoon, Vi? Clacton.
The Isle of Wight, Rosie and me.
Oh, abroad? Very posh.
I was having a good wage, even then.
I'm not a bad prospect now.
A good pension.
A nice little cottage.
Fancy us both getting married at St Stephen's.
Yeah.
Quite a bit of damage during the war, that area, but the church is still there.
Yeah, I sometimes pass it on my way up here.
Yeah, it's not far from here.
We could go and have a look at it on our way back, if you'd like? Yeah.
Why not? - You should have kept the hats in the boxes.
- Any publicity is good publicity.
Oh, yeah, you're going to get a lot of customers here! All right.
Still, it was good of Alfie to take them off me.
But don't forget, I still want the proper price.
He won't do you.
It's old stock, otherwise you'd flog it yourself.
- Whose side are you on? - Anyone seen Alfie? George? - He's gone for a cuppa, love.
- Oh, has he? All right.
'Ere, Tel.
Which one do you reckon is madam and which one do you reckon is Phyllis? You got me there, Stevie boy.
- Hello, darling.
How are you? - Busy.
- This little darling would keep anybody busy.
- Sod off.
Naughty, naughty.
- What's your name, then? - If you don't mind No need to be like that, darling.
This could be your lucky day.
Why? Are you just about to leave? - Oh, sharp, eh? - Like a razor.
Gentlemen, I'm asking you, with the utmost politeness, to go away.
Ooh, the utmost? How nice, Charlie.
'Ere, gal, who's your friend? Is that really the best that you can do? Get your hands off of me.
Just get your hands off! At least I'm putting them on you, which is more than he'd do.
Leo, it's all right.
Leave it.
Leave it.
Look, I've asked you nicely.
Do yourself a favour and go.
Oh? We've been asked nicely, have we? We've been asked nicely.
Get off me! Are you all right, son? I hope you ain't getting married this week! - Are you all right, Maggie? - I'm all right.
What about you? - I didn't know you had it in you.
- I didn't know it was still there.
It was just like Alan Ladd in that film, where he comes back Yes, all right.
Alan Ladd's a lot younger than I am.
Help me unpack these boxes.
- I didn't know you could fight like that, Leo.
- A long time since I've done it.
I used to do quite a bit as a schoolboy, quite a bit indeed.
- Did you? - Haven't you seen all the trophies at my home? - I thought they were for the rumba and tango.
- You should have looked closer.
A pity you can't help Alfie.
Perhaps I could, but I wouldn't have thought he needed any help.
He seems to be doing well enough on his own.
Well, it's more me you could help, really.
I reckon if he could earn a bit more, he'd be able to give it up sooner.
Perhaps Alfie could do a bit better, if he had the right connections.
Could you get him the right connections? I could try.
I'd need to see him work out a bit more.
- What happened? - They were giving us some trouble.
You certainly know where to hurt a bloke, don't you? Oh, it's a nice church, isn't it? Yes, cos it's full of memories.
It's quite ugly, really.
Yeah.
Oh, you see that tree over there? That's where we had our pictures taken.
Oh, yeah.
Us, too.
Ain't half grown.
'Ere, Vi, do you realise it's almost a year to the day since we met up the allotment? The day Harvey came to look at his plot.
Oh, we never got much out of that.
- Oh, I don't know about that.
- How do you mean? Well, when I saw that Harvey wasn't all that keen, I rented it to a pal of mine.
- I thought that was illegal.
- Well, a pity to let it go to waste.
Anyway, how do you know it's almost a year since we met? Cos I was pricking out my seedlings, I remember.
I was doing it again the other day.
Oh, very romantic.
- Shall we go inside? - Yeah.
Where did you get this? It's surprising what a little money can buy, even these days.
- A little? - Perhaps not such a little.
I know what the going rate is for meat off the ration.
I'm fining them for it all the time.
All right, Harvey.
I'll be very careful, I promise, but if the meat is there and I have the money, - why shouldn't I buy it? - It's against the law.
- It's against the law to buy it, but not to eat it? - I don't like to see it go to waste.
You make sure the papers don't get hold of any of this.
Eh, I'm not supposed to know this, but they've made a provisional offer for the bakery.
Oh, well, they haven't told me yet.
Well, she was only typing it out this afternoon.
2,700.
Ooh la la.
I didn't expect so much.
A tidy little business Erich had there.
He ran it well.
So, when will it all be sorted out? There's the surveying, the conveyancing, to do.
Should be tied up in a couple of weeks.
- It's a lot of money, Harvey.
- Yeah.
What's the matter? Oh.
I don't want to be dependent on you.
Harvey, I've told you.
I want to share what I have with you, really.
I have no-one else to give it to.
Well, what about this one, then? No.
Don't fancy it.
Why? What's wrong with it? It just don't look like a very nice house to live in.
Well, this place ain't exactly Buckingham bleedin' Palace, is it? Are you sure we can afford to move? Yes, I am.
The salon is doing very well.
I'm a woman of substance now.
I thought you'd be interested.
You could have your own bedroom.
I like my bedroom.
How many times have you told me that you are sick of doing your homework in the hall, because your room is too small to swing a cat in? We ain't got a cat, Mum.
'Ere, Mum, you'll never guess what happened today.
- Leo took me up the market.
- What's that to get so excited about? These blokes were giving us trouble and they started a fight with Leo.
- He laid 'em both out.
- What Leo Brandon did? Yeah.
He used to be a boxer.
Oh, yeah, I remember he told me about that.
He's got a trophy.
Ow.
He really knew what he was doing.
Anyway, the important thing is he's gonna help Alfie.
- Reckons he'll be able to move me up a class.
- I thought you'd left school.
Very good, Mrs Moon.
No, I think he means get a better fight.
Anyway, I've seen this shop.
If I can get hold of another 80 quid, that's me.
Us.
- It's Maggs and mine's future.
- Oh, yeah? Leo reckons he might be able to get him £80 for just one fight.
Well, then he'd be able to give it up.
- Wouldn't you? - I wouldn't really need to.
Then you'd give it up, wouldn't you? Yeah.
Er, wages, Harvey.
'Ere he is, Fort Knox on legs! Sir wants to have a word with us.
He's coming up.
Er No need to stand, Ryder.
Now, I have something to say to you.
I prefer to tell you direct rather than set it down on paper.
Doubtless, you are aware that the Government has instigated a pay freeze to help lift this country out of its present state.
So this firm will be complying with the Government's wishes.
In other words, until further notice, there will be no salary increases whatsoever.
Ah, but I was due a pay increment next month.
Indeed you was were due an increment, Moon.
However, I would have thought, as a Socialist, you'd be right behind this measure.
I am, generally, and for the country as an 'ole.
Precisely.
The country is in a hole and that includes you, Moon.
So sorry.
What lot was he in during the war? Intelligence.
Yeah? Masterminded Dunkirk, did he? - 'Ere, Vi.
- Mm? Do you reckon Harvey and Frieda will get married when the divorce goes through? I don't know.
I suppose so.
I don't see why not.
Well, have you given any thought to what you'll do when they do eventually you know? No.
I thought I'd cross that bridge when I come to it.
Oh.
Did you? Why? Well, it's just that - You're really quite at home here, ain't you? - Yeah.
And you and I see quite a lot of each other.
You ain't complaining, are you? No, no.
No.
Well, I was just wondering like What? It's nice in here, isn't it? I've always liked this room.
Yeah.
Mind you, it could do with some new wallpaper.
Frieda? Yeah? - Haven't you eaten yet? - Well, I forgot.
I thought you were seeing Stanley tonight.
Yeah, well, he's upstairs.
He's doing a jigsaw.
Only he's lost the bit in the corner.
Smells good.
- I wanted to ask you a question.
- Yes.
What? - That's lovely.
- Well, haven't you eaten yet? Yeah.
Only toad in the hole.
Toad? Yeah It's not really a toad.
About this bakery, what would happen if you didn't sell it? What would I do with it? You could get someone else to run it for you.
Yeah, but who? Me.
- What do you think, Maxie? - Yeah, the kid's not bad.
I've seen him fight a couple of times now and I just think there might be something there.
A good record you said? 20 wins.
38 fights.
Five knockouts.
I like the lad.
Do you think he might be interested in moving up a bit? Why? What do you have in mind? Got a bout in a fortnight's time.
Eight rounds.
Bottom of the bill.
Well, I'll try and persuade him to have a go.
What would the purse be? 80 pound for the winner, 50 the loser.
Leave it with me.
I'll see what he says.
Alfie? Alfie! He thinks he might have an eight-rounder for you in a couple of weeks.
- 80 pounds if you win, 50 if you lose.
- Great! Relax.
There's going to be a big crowd there.
You've never gone eight rounds before.
Are you sure you can handle it? - Yeah, I'll have some of that, Leo.
- All right.
Leave it to me.
Yes, I think he might be interested, Max.
Good.
That solves a problem.
What's that? By the way, is that your top offer? Yeah, with the money I'm paying Duffy.
Duffy? George Duffy? He's a bit tasty, isn't he? That's the deal, Leo.
Take it or leave it.
All right.
We'll take it.
As long as Alfie agrees.
If he does well with Duffy, maybe next time I can get him a better fight.
If he does well with Duffy, it'll be a miracle.
- Miracles do happen, Leo.
- In the Bible, Maxie.
Very rarely in Hackney.
I don't know.
I can't stop looking at it.
But I hate the thought of touching it.
Makes me go all funny.
Yeah, me, too.
- Horrible thing, innit? - Yeah.
'Ere, how do you know what it is? You know, whether it's a boy or a girl snake? Oh, it's funny, I was reading about snakes in the paper the other day.
- They're not like that.
They don't.
- What do you mean, they don't? - They must.
- No.
No.
They're both.
One end is Well, they do it themselves.
Probably have more fun! Oh, no, I like the company.
- Do you know something I don't? - Mind your own.
I thought you were going down the hospital to see Veronica.
I was.
If Alfie had come back when he was supposed to.
Yeah, well, I don't like sitting around here on my own, either.
- Veronica will be all right.
Ian will be there.
- Is he still going round? - Every night.
He ain't bad, you know.
- No.
I know.
- Maybe she knew what she was doing, after all.
- Maybe she did.
She could have done a lot worse Oh! It's No.
It's funny, though, innit, not having her around? Life's different, somehow.
Yeah, it's quiet and it's peaceful and it's really quite nice.
- Well? - Got an eight-rounder.
Two weeks' time.
80 quid.
Good old Leo.
All I did was bring a friend along to watch him in action.
- Gave me a few good tips, as well.
- Who's this bloke you're fighting, then? George Duffy.
He's a bit handy.
I should have thought you had enough getting done over by blokes your own level.
You don't get paid this kind of dough for nothing.
'Ere, I hope he ain't gonna hurt you too much.
Oh, no, no, no.
It'll be all right.
I'll just tell him before the bout that my girlfriend don't want him to hurt me too much.
Bound to take notice of that.
I'm only kidding.
I know how to look after myself and stay out of trouble.
- Well, you better or else.
- Don't worry, Maggie.
I'm going to keep an eye on his training, make sure that he's fit and able to come through it.
So when is all that going to happen? Most nights.
A full job for the next few weeks.
Oh, that's lovely.
I'm going to be stuck in here on my own with Oh, it's getting out! Leo! Stop it! Stop it! There you are, baby.
Have you got The Express, Vi? Yeah, I ain't finished with it yet.
Oh.
Just like Rosie.
She used to read every last word of the paper.
Thanks a bundle.
No, no, no, I didn't mean that.
I mean, it's cosy.
I've sort of got used to having you around.
Like the furniture? No, you know what I mean.
Can't I have the back bit? No.
I ain't finished the front bit yet.
I'd better go and put the greens on for lunch.
Haven't you put them on yet? - Save some cabbage water for the gravy.
- Yeah.
Now, what I meant was, it's nice that we see such a lot of each other.
Well, any way I can make sure you keep out of trouble.
Oh, I haven't been bad, have I? I haven't touched a drop since ooh, I can't remember how long.
No, you've been quite good, really.
Well, it so happens, I've got a couple of bottles of stout here.
I haven't touched them.
I was saving them for a special occasion.
You like stout, don't you? What's so special about now, then? Well, I was wondering.
Just supposing you and I was to get hitched.
You'd want it done in St Stephen's, wouldn't you? Yeah.
It might be nice.
Well, just supposing do you think they would? Marry us, I mean? I don't know.
There's only one way to find out.
I mean, let's face it, Jeffrey.
I've got no future here.
It's a good, steady job.
Steady? I'm getting nowhere fast, working for Quentin.
What exactly is this plan of yours? - Can't tell you at the moment.
Confidential.
- Anything to do with your little Austrian? It might.
Well, she'd only be supplying the capital.
I mean, I'd be running things.
I'd get a chance to get my own place, maybe get a motor.
How am I gonna do that working here? Another thing.
I want to see the look on Quentin's face when I tell him to stuff his lousy job! Is Miss Sprake around? I'm afraid not, sir.
Oh, well.
A coffee, Moon.
Sir, that's really not my job.
Your job is to do what I tell you.
With two lumps.
That told him, Harvey.
Oh, hello, love.
We're in a bit of a rush, at the moment.
- Ah, yes, I see.
- We've got to go and see someone.
It's just I wondered if I could have a word with Mrs Moon.
Oh, what is it, love? Well, you know Harvey has got this ridiculous idea about taking over the bakery? Oh, I know.
He told me.
I didn't dare laugh straight out.
You know what Harvey is when he gets an idea in his head.
He's like a dog with two tails.
It's just I'm trying to decide how to handle it.
I can't believe he's really serious.
I don't think he's thought about it.
Harvey don't have to think about something to convince himself he's right.
- Do I look all right, Vi? - You do, chubby-chops.
Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm interrupting.
No, no, look, if you've got any doubts, love, just ignore him.
Don't get him excited.
You'll only encourage him.
What's he want to be a baker for? Well, I don't think that he does, really.
It's just that he's seen the shop is empty - He wasn't a baker in the RAF, then? - What? Harvey? No, he was a clerk.
Harvey in a kitchen? He couldn't boil an egg unless it jumped in the pan by itself.
I knew a bloke like that once.
- Like what? - Cedric Porter his name was.
He was a signalman till he was 40.
Funny, the same age as Harvey, come to think of it, when he went funny.
Mind you, it's a lonely, boring job.
Cold, too, in the winter.
Perhaps that's where he got the idea from.
Er, what idea? What's this got to do with Harvey becoming a baker? - He took up knitting.
- Knitting? You know, only between trains, like.
I don't know whether it was the cold or the boredom.
All the other fellas laughed at him, so he had to retire early.
Even so, by then, he'd acquired such a stock, he had to open a shop.
Made a fortune.
- Oh, I see.
- I'm blowed if I do.
Come on.
We're going to be late.
What you mean is, what I think you're trying to say is that it's never too late to learn.
It is possible.
Harvey could become a baker.
Harvey become a baker? No.
I never said that.
Come on, Vi.
We're going to be late.
He's a busy man, you know.
Oh, lovely.
Is that my supper? - It's for the guest.
- 'Ere, Mum, don't suffocate it.
Listen, if I never fed it, it would starve to death.
- I take it you're not going out tonight.
- No.
Leo is out with Alfie again.
I wish they'd taken me with them.
They don't want you with them.
They're training.
Don't want to stop for you doing up your shoelaces, looking for treasure.
I think it's ridiculous, all this running every night.
By the time he gets to the fight, he'll be knackered.
Well, I think I've got a right to go, if Leo's got my bike.
He ain't got your bike.
He's following in the car.
No, he's got no coupons left.
I seen him in the park the other day, leaning up against a tree.
He was really out of breath.
I thought he was going to die.
So I give him my bike.
- Ah, Stan, that's nice.
- 2s/6d for three weeks.
- Stanley! - Come in.
How's Veronica? Oh, she's fine.
She asked me to bring you back this book you lent her.
What? Veronica's been reading? Oh, yeah.
Well, she's got to do something to pass the time.
I never noticed she had any difficulty passing the time before.
What book's she reading? - Wuthering Heights.
- Mm.
She really quite liked it.
She says that I'm like Heathcliff.
Sister gets cross with her for leaning out of the window and calling at me.
- What's she do that for? - I dunno.
Not read it myself.
- 'Ere, what's this? - Oh, it's my snake.
Do you like snakes? Oh, yeah.
I used to have a couple when I was younger.
A good one this, innit? Has it got a name? - Yeah.
V - V-V-Very nearly.
But we haven't quite decided yet.
Oh, right.
'Ere, Ian, a little bird told me you and Veronica were thinking of tying the knot.
What knot, Mrs Moon? Getting married.
Oh, no.
No.
We haven't actually talked about that yet, me and Veronica.
Well, you put her up the spout.
I know.
- Oh! - Oh, sorry.
I did say I'd stand by her.
Yeah, well, you should stand by her up the altar.
Do you think Veronica would like that? Yeah.
Do you really think I should? Yeah, go on.
Be a devil.
She can only say no.
Eh? Yeah.
That's right.
- That's what Alfie said.
- No, he never.
Yeah.
And there's no time like the present.
Right, I'm off, then.
Ooh, they're well suited.
Ooh, no, I think he's a bit fast for her.
Yeah, well, at least he liked my snake.
About the only one round here who does.
Oh, I don't know.
I'm getting quite used to it.
Yeah.
She's no trouble at all, is he? Frieda, you ain't seen my mum, have you? - Yes.
She's with Geoff.
- Surprise, surprise.
They went out this morning.
All dressed up, going somewhere important.
She never told me about it.
Ain't back yet.
I think your mother is old enough to look after herself.
A couple of weeks back, she couldn't get up and down the stairs.
Now she's prancing about the town at all hours with Gordon the Green Engine.
There's nothing in the oven.
- Do you want some soup? - Please.
So sit.
- What did you do today? - I painted.
That's good.
Give you a chance to think.
- I'm sorry? - Come to a decision.
- About what? - The bakery.
Oh, yes, the bakery.
Yes, I'm going to sell it.
Just like that? Don't I get a say? Harvey, I have thought about it and I just don't think it's a good idea.
I would never see you.
- Erich managed it.
- But Erich was my brother.
I didn't mind Erich staying out all night making bagels and then sleeping all day.
But you're my lover.
I would never see you.
Anyway, you can't work all through the night.
What about your council meetings, Stanley? I could fit him in, somehow.
- Harvey, you haven't thought about this.
- I have.
- What do you know about bakeries? - I could learn.
- Well, perhaps you could - I didn't know anything about warehouses.
What? The answer is still no.
- Is that your last word? - Yes.
I see.
Bob's your uncle, Fanny's your aunt and I'm out the window.
I don't know about the rest of your family.
Well, I'm glad I know who's wearing the trousers before we go any further.
What are you talking about? That was a chance for me to make something of myself.
My only chance.
Harvey, do you seriously see yourself as a baker? You're not a baker! You know, Erich trained for years.
- Can you make a bagel? - Ah, it's only a roll with an 'ole in it.
- Ah, but can you put a hole in it? - Anyone could put an 'ole in a bagel.
- Stanley could.
It's not the 'ole that's important.
- No, it's the bagel.
Now eat your soup.
Well, I mean, I ain't aiming to stay there.
I want to make it to the top.
That's what I'm really after.
Knowing you, you'll get there, too.
- Well, I don't get everything I'm after.
- Patience.
- You know I'll get this little place.
- Ah, don't tell me, you'll give up boxing.
There's a nice little flat that goes with it.
- Oh, yeah? - Just right for two.
- Who you got in mind? - Oh, I don't know.
Been trying to make my mind up.
It's a hard choice.
Get your hand off, Alfie.
I said, stop doing that.
- But I have.
- Oh, you have, have you? What's this, then? Aaaah! Get it away from me! What is it, Maggie? What's the matter, Maggie? - Alfie, what have you done to her? - I ain't laid a finger on her.
It wasn't him.
It was the snake! It's escaped! What's all the noise and banging? - Veronica's escaped.
- Oh, you idiots! - God, you're worse than me, you are.
- I'm wearing French knickers! - Oh! - Veronica.
Oh! Hello, Harvey.
I thought you were supposed to be on the wagon.
Well, that was the general idea, but I've never actually taken my seat.
Anyway, we're celebrating.
What? Well, Geoff Geoff and me have made a big decision.
What's that? Do you think you can get the afternoon off work next Thursday, Harvey? - I suppose so.
Why? - I'm going to get married.
- Who to? - Who to? Me and Geoff.
Geoff and me.
- Him.
- Us two! Harvey, meet the new Mrs Barratt.
Will you give me away, Harvey? I'll think about it.
It's lovely, Frieda.
Are you sure you don't want some coupons for the material? No, of course not.
I got the material from a friend, a favour.
And it didn't cost me any coupons.
Oh, you've made it beautiful.
It's the best dress I've ever had.
Oh, so it should be.
Nothing but the best for your wedding.
Eh, Frieda, I swear I saw something move over there.
Oh, yes, yes, it's only Stanley's snake.
- He didn't land you with that, did he? - Oh, well, I didn't mind.
He asked me as a very special favour.
He said that his mother was threatening to turn it into a handbag and that you wouldn't have it.
He offered it to Geoff and me for a wedding present.
- He didn't? - He did.
- Well, he has a way with him, when he chooses.
- So has his dad, when he chooses.
Yes.
Is something wrong? What's the matter with Harvey? He's behaving like a child about all this.
- He seems to be sulking now.
- I hadn't noticed.
What's he sulking about? - I've told him he can't have the bakery.
- Ah, take no notice of him, love.
I've known him sulk all through a Sunday lunch and miss his pudding.
It's ridiculous.
I don't know what to do.
Well, don't worry.
It's in his nature.
He'll come round.
Just ignore him.
As far as Harvey is concerned, I could be in America or Australia.
- I might as well go there.
He wouldn't notice.
- Oh, I don't know.
Eh, Frieda, you don't think this hem is a bit too short, do you? - Right, Stanley? - Right.
- On the count of three, right? - OK.
One two three! Are you sure this is the right length? There's a kid up there and his is smaller than this.
- Well, what do you expect at short notice? - A shorter rod.
I haven't had a bite yet.
- Well, have a sandwich.
- No.
You know what I mean.
When you said you was going to take me fishing, right, I thought, "Oh, great, we're going to go somewhere really good, out in the country in the summer," not down the canal.
You've got a lot to learn before I take you on a proper river.
Yeah, but I ain't gonna learn anything about fishing, if I don't catch any fish.
Anyway, that's not the only reason we've come down here.
- So? I'm a bit strapped for cash.
- You wouldn't be if you married Auntie Frieda.
- Don't you start.
- It's true, thought, innit? That's no reason to get married.
- Don't you love her? - No, it's Well, you know, she does wear the old trousers a bit and Well, you've got to see things eye-to-eye before you get married.
Yeah, but you don't want things to end up like you and Mum, do you? Another thing.
I can't see you as a baker.
I mean, Uncle Erich, he had to work nights and he had certificates, you said.
Yeah, well, it's my imagination.
I get a bit carried away.
I can't see you with a tray of buns on your head, either.
I ain't caught nothing yet.
God, I ain't seen a steak like that since before the war.
It does rather bring back memories.
- Well, come on, then.
- Oh.
Ta, love.
Well, you'd better enjoy this, Alfie.
There's two weeks of my meat ration in there.
- And mine.
And Leo's.
- And my eggs.
He needs it.
We've got to build him up.
Yeah, well, this time next week, it'll all be over.
Maggie, we should avoid remarks like that for the next week or so.
Leo, I've trained harder for this fight than any other one.
- I reckon I'm in with a chance.
- Yes, well, you've always got a chance, Alfie.
I'm going into this one with my eyes wide open.
Yeah, but it's how you come out we're worried about.
Well, go on.
Eat! So, how do you feel about it, then? Oh, I don't know, Harvey.
I think I thought, well, if we don't do it now, we'll never get round to it.
You won't get a better bloke than Geoff.
No, I know that.
No, I just got cold feet.
A long time since I've been married.
Well, you've been courting long enough.
You know one another.
You know you get on.
If you don't now, you never will.
Yeah, you're right, Harvey.
Eh, I had a word with Frieda today.
- Oh, yeah? - Yeah, she knows what she's doing, all right.
Yeah, I know.
Selling up the bakery, moving away.
What? Where? Well, er, America, I think she said.
Yeah.
America.
- America? - Yeah.
Oh, that's good.
She tells you.
Why didn't she tell me? Cos I was having a dress fitting and you weren't there.
Oh! One at a time.
- Hold still, will you? - God, are you going to be much longer? Not if you hold still I won't.
Ah! - Is Frieda going to the wedding? - Just the church, I think.
I don't know why they don't get married at the same time, put us all out of our misery.
- She wouldn't be allowed in.
- Why? She'd have to go up that Jewish church that Uncle Erich went.
Oh, Harvey would love that, wearing a skullcap.
It'd cover up his bald patch! Where's this house you're gonna look at? I ain't telling you.
I'm sick of all the arguments.
"I don't like this, I don't like that.
" I'm going to go on my own, make up my own mind.
- Well, that ain't fair.
- So? What if we don't like it? You will.
I got a good feeling about this place.
- Got a taxi outside.
- Couldn't you get it through the door? - Ready, then? - Yeah.
- 'Ere, Alfie, have you ever been to a wedding? - Only my mum and dad's.
Are you ready yet, Mrs Moon? Oh, no, love, I'm not going.
It's her special day.
I don't want to make her feel uncomfortable.
You're not going cos you weren't invited.
Bye, Mum.
Come on, then.
Everyone, smile.
Ready? Very nice.
Frieda, I never got a chance to talk to you inside.
That's all right.
I thought it all went very well.
I hear that you're going.
Yes.
Right now.
What? You're going to America today? - America? - Isn't that where you're going? No.
I'm going to the house.
I've said goodbye to your mother and Geoff.
You mean, you ain't going away? No.
Why would I be going away and to America? - Well, that's what my mum said you said.
- Oh, no, I didn't say that I was going.
I said that, for all the difference it would make to you, I might as well go.
- You're wanted for another picture.
- Can you just wait till after? - Go on.
Join them.
- Come on, Dad.
Another picture.
Hurry! Be careful! Honestly! Can I take it that you're interested, Mrs Moon? I'll have it.
- You're making a definite offer? - Yeah.
Very definite.
Well Ahem.
I'd like to say a few words.
- Is that a promise, Dad? - And read the telegrams.
Sorry.
Telegram.
All the best on this special day.
Stop.
Sorry we couldn't be there.
Stop.
Love Albert and Lena.
- They could have made the effort.
- Glad they didn't.
We wouldn't have had such a good time! Carry on, Harvey! Well, a bloke my age, I mean, he should be giving away his daughter, not his mum, but if someone is going to have to be dead jammy, I'm glad that it's Geoff here.
I think he's only done it to stop me playing gooseberry or at least stop me getting cooked meals! While he's been courting, I've given him the once-over.
We've cracked a few bottles, haven't we? One of the things that I know about him is that he values the great things of this nation.
Hear, hear.
Indeed, he mourns the passing of some of them.
One of the things that he misses most, apart from the gold sovereign, is Mr Isambard Kingdom Brunel's broad-gauge railway that used to run out of London to the West Country.
It was thought well up on all the other railways because of its great speed, comfort and safety.
Well With my mum, the speed is not what it was, but he's got the comfort, he's got the safety and, best of all, he's got my mum's love.
You've got a lot of that to give.
Ain't you, Duchess? I'll miss you, girl.
- To Violet and Geoff.
- Violet and Geoff.
Eh, we don't drink to us.
Oh.
Harvey, what did you mean about me and that broad-gauge railway? Oh! Oh, thanks a lot! That was meant for me.
Sorry.
Must be all that cricket I played in India.
It's too late now.
Aaah! Uhh! Aren't you having anything today, Harvey? No.
I'm really not hungry.
Oh.
What is that? Cheese and chutney? Mm.
Mm.
Doris's.
Home-made.
I bet them cakes are home-made an' all.
Mm.
Here, Harvey, have one.
No, I'm having trouble doing up my waistcoat as it is.
Go on.
I had a big breakfast.
- Are you sure? - Of course.
Ta.
It's always a difficult point in a boy's life when he loses his mother.
How are you managing on your own? - All right? - Fine.
No problem.
Ah! Doris sees you're all right, doesn't she? You don't have to tell me that, Harvey.
I am a lucky man and I know it.
There aren't many Doris's in the world.
- You're not so badly off yourself.
- You've got to be joking! My mum's gone off and got married.
Rita's business is going like a house on fire.
She's looking for a place of her own.
When will I ever be able to do that? Maggie is going for a ring-side seat with Alfie and Stanley will be off in a couple of years.
- I'll be on my tod.
- Not quite.
- You'll still have your little Austrian.
- Frieda? Ah, it's all a bit touch and go, you know.
She's an independent sort.
I mean, look at you.
A settled life.
A place of your own.
A nice little wife.
Well My home life is not exactly a paradise, Harvey.
I mean, we've got the Beast of Belsen arriving next week.
Eh? - Her mother-in-law.
- Oh.
I don't know, Harvey.
I might have to go down the pub again.
- Eh.
- She's bound to want to stay over.
I think there's a lot to be said for having your freedom.
Don't misunderstand me.
I wouldn't say a word against Doris.
But life out there in Chingford is not exactly brimming over with excitement.
It's nice and ordered, but a bit dull.
Whereas you I mean, I bet life with Frieda isn't dull.
No, it certainly ain't that.
I must say, Harvey Don't ever breathe a word of this to Doris.
There are times when I wouldn't mind a bit of excitement, myself.
You stick with it.
You've everything you could want.
Tonight, you'll turn the key in your own front door.
Something cooking for you on the stove.
Your old slippers waiting for you by the fireside.
I bet, when you get home, you've got something continental waiting for you.
Oh, God! I wish I'd gone now.
- It's a bit late.
- What time does his fight start? - 14 minutes.
- What does Leo think? He said not to hope for too much.
Be prepared for the worst.
- This bloke he's fighting is really good.
- Poor Alfie.
Oh, I don't mind him getting a hiding, as long as it puts him off boxing.
Well, that's great, that is.
You know, I think it'd be a pity if Alfie gives it up.
Oh, do you? Well, I don't.
Mind you, I would get his gloves, eh? 'Ere, Mum, what's that? - Ain't you heard of plates? - Weren't no clean ones.
What's this? - It's my design.
- 13.
5 minutes.
- What's that? - The sofa.
Yeah, but our sofa ain't got no cushions.
Ah, it's a new sofa in a new living room in our new house! - Is this the house? - Is it all ours, Mum? - It's too big.
- I put in an offer today.
It's been accepted.
All I've got to do now is raise the 160 quid deposit.
- It's too much.
- Well, I reckon I can do it.
13 minutes! Hello, Harvey.
You're home late.
I've been to a council meeting.
- Have you had anything to eat? - No, but I've got something here.
Well, would you like to come in? I could make you something.
It's OK.
I can soon rustle up something.
It's no trouble.
No.
I mean, it's no problem for me.
I ain't helpless.
I can manage, you know.
Well, it's up to you.
That'll be him.
- Wrong house! - Oh, God, where is he? What time are they due back, anyway? I don't know.
Should have been here ages ago.
He won.
- Alfie? - Yeah, he's won.
- Ian? - Joke.
Joke? I'll give you bloody joke! It's not funny, Stanley.
I've been really worried about him.
- Hi, Mrs Moon.
- Hello, love.
- You probably weren't expecting me.
- No.
I just thought I'd come round and tell you and Maggie the good news.
- What's that? - I did it.
I asked her.
She said yes.
- Well, good for you.
- Congratulations, Ian.
There you are, you see.
All you had to do was ask.
- I'm ever so grateful to you.
- You think nothing of it, love.
- There's just one thing.
- Mm? - It's Veronica's money.
- What is? The money she put into the hairdresser's.
Er, I think it's about 150 quid, Veronica said.
Only, could we have it back, please? We're thinking of using it for a deposit on a house.
Oh.
Yeah.
Of course.
In fact, I know of a very nice little place that's going.
Oh, Mrs Moon, the things you do for Veronica.
- I know.
- We'll go and have a look at it.
- Oh, I nearly forgot.
Veronica's washing.
- What? She thinks Leo's done enough for her already.
It's Alfie.
- That is enough, Stanley - Maggie, my dear, I'm very sorry, but Alfie - I won, Maggs, I won! - You didn't? 80 smackers! They've offered me more fights for more money.
You what? You haven't taken them? No, we're merely investigating the possibilities.
Oh, are you? I suppose you're gonna carry on boxing till you've got no nose left.
I'm sorry to bother you, but I ain't getting on too well upstairs.
Oh.
What's the problem? Well, it's this tin of sardines.
I've broken off the What do you call it? And I burnt the toast.
So how would you have managed on 28 dozen loaves a night? Well, I I'm sorry about all of that.
Me, too.
Erm You couldn't show me how to open this, could you? Do you want me to show you or to do it? Do it.
Oh, that smells good.
- Do you want to eat here? - Yeah.
Please.
- Do you still want those sardines? - No.
- Do you want to get married? - Yeah.
I accept.
- Ah, but it's still early.
- I've got some council papers to go through.
What? You'd rather spend the time with boring old council papers? - I've been putting them off all week.
- So bring them down here.
I brought them the other night.
That's why they still ain't done.
Ah, yes.
OK.
Well, I've really enjoyed this evening, Harvey.
Thank you.
- Don't thank me.
It's your treat.
- No, I told you.
It doesn't matter.
Look, I can't help it.
I mean If a bloke takes a woman out, he should pay.
That's the way it's always been.
Yeah, but it was my idea to go out.
It would hardly be fair for me to suggest we go out for a meal and then expect you to pay.
Especially as I happen to have a bit of money.
Yeah, and I ain't.
No, it doesn't matter.
I've told you.
- Really, it's not important.
- It is to me.
- Now, listen, did you enjoy this evening? - Yeah.
- And the meal? - Lovely.
So why did you choose that that braised ox liver? That's what I wanted.
Are you sure it wasn't cos it was the cheapest thing on the menu? No, really, it's what I wanted.
All right? - So why didn't you finish it? - It was a big helping.
I felt sorry for the ox! Oh I'd be a lot happier if you'd at least let me pay my share.
What do you mean? You bought the catalogue at the exhibition.
- That's only half a dollar.
- All right, Harvey.
We won't argue about this.
We'll We'll go Greek.
Eh? You know, halves and halves.
- Oh, you mean Dutch.
- Yeah, Dutch.
I thought, for a moment, things were looking up there.
Well, what do you think? I think it's quite possible.
The salon is clearly doing well.
No reason to suppose it won't go on doing well.
Unless, of course, the entire female population of Tottenham goes bald overnight.
So, I'd say, if that's what you want, yes, do it.
Well, it's what I want, all right.
God, I've been waiting for years to get back into a proper house, with walls and an upstairs.
- It hasn't done you so badly, this place.
- Oh, I know, Leo, but we're cramped here.
I've got no room to express myself.
'Ere, how much money do you think I need? I would have said around the 1,200 mark.
That would mean a deposit of around 120.
- That's a lot.
Still, I suppose I could rustle it up.
- I'm sure we can organise something.
What do you think Maggie and Stanley will say about moving? Well, I should think they'll be pleased.
Stan is getting quite good.
He must be getting older.
I've been on at him for months to get rid of all them comics in that cupboard.
Today, he just shifted them.
It's amazing.
That's a pity.
I used to enjoy reading those whilst waiting for you to get ready.
- Hello, Stanley.
- Hello, Uncle Leo, Mum.
What's this? Christmas? No.
What's that, Stan? What? - That.
- What? This? Yes.
That.
Well, it's a It's a box.
Yes, love, I know it's a box.
What's inside it? Well, you know you said I could have a pet, if I really wanted it No, I said you could have a pet if you really looked after it.
Hm Well, I got one.
Oh.
- What is it? - It's hard to explain, really, it's - Aaaah! - Don't frighten it.
- You get that out of here now! - Mum, wait a minute, please.
Out! Oh, Mum, look, you said I could have a pet, as long as it was small, clean and quiet.
You can't get quieter than a snake.
- I'm not having that in here.
- I promise you, if it makes a noise, out it goes.
- Leo, do something! - What would you suggest? Oh, Mum, I really wanted it and I'll look after it.
Oh, I think it's rather appealing, myself.
- Don't touch it, Leo.
It'll be poisonous! - Of course it isn't.
Here.
Try it.
No.
I don't want it here.
It's got to go.
- I can't take it back, Mum.
- Why not? I got it from Harry Webb.
His mum will turn it into a handbag if she ever sees it again in her life.
You don't want to be responsible for that, do you, turning Veronica into a handbag? - Veronica? - That's what I thought I'd call it.
- Why Veronica? - Well, it ain't a snake, really.
It's a slow worm.
There weren't nobody slower than Veronica.
Oh, come on, Mum.
You can't be that cruel to let poor old Veronica be turned into a handbag.
- It's perfectly harmless.
- Oh, it's gone in your pocket! Oh-oh-oh! Listen, any trouble and out you go.
Yeah.
All right, then.
Well, go to bed.
- Good night.
Good night, Uncle Leo.
- Good night, Stanley.
- Oh.
- Oh, Mum.
- Just remember, don't feed it.
- Don't worry, I won't.
What does it eat? Good night, Veronica.
Worms, I think, but they've got to be alive and washed.
Oh.
- Good night.
- Good night, Stanley.
- 'Ere, Stan.
- Yeah? Did you swap this for all them comics? Well, it's what you wanted, innit? - Reminds me of someone.
- Who? I don't know.
Some bloke I've known.
Come to think of it, it reminds me of quite a few blokes I've known.
- What's this? - It's a catalogue.
- Oh, can you send away for this stuff, then? - It's not that sort of catalogue.
Blimey! What's that? You've got it upside-down.
That's art.
Eh, she didn't give 2s/6d for this, did she? - No, I did.
I had to buy something.
- Daylight robbery.
Don't start about Frieda's money.
- I was only making a comment.
- Well, don't.
I don't know what you're getting so upset about.
Get used to it.
It's not your fault you're going to come into a bit when you marry her.
- We'll worry about that when it happens.
- You getting cold feet, then? No, but look at me, Mum.
I'm 38.
I should be in the prime of life.
I mean, what have I got? Nothing.
Yeah, but you'll have something with Frieda.
Tonight, I finally persuaded her to let me pay half.
Turns out I'm a quid short.
I've got to have something of my own.
Things have got to be more 50:50.
Yeah, but they will be when you get married.
You'll have half her money.
- If I marry Frieda, it won't be for money.
- Not such a bad idea.
If I get married again, it'll be for love.
You got married for love last time and look where that got you.
- Oi, you.
- Oh, Maggie, come on.
No, your hands are everywhere tonight.
- I'm renowned for my quick hands.
- So am I.
I told you, when you stop fighting, so will I.
Boxing is the only way I'll ever get enough money to buy a place of my own.
Oh, yeah, and, at a fiver or a tenner a fight, it's going to take you forever.
- Let's have a bit of sparring, then.
- Get off.
- Well, what else can we do? - How about a cold shower? All right.
I'm game, if you are.
So, look, are you saying that Harvey is changing his mind again? What? Oh, no, no.
I don't think it's as bad as that.
- Doesn't know when he's lucky, Harvey.
- No.
Did he behave like that when he married Rita? Couldn't afford to.
Rita was already well gone with Maggie.
Oh, I see! We thought they were going to have the wedding and the christening on the same day.
Yeah, I mind our wedding day, I shan't ever forget it.
No, me, neither.
Where did you get married? - St Stephen's.
- You never! I did, too.
What are you implying, Violet? Well, that's where Charlie and me had our nuptials.
No? Nuptials? I thought that's what you had on your honeymoon! Well, ain't that funny? Us both getting married in the same church.
Yeah.
A funny little church.
Nice, though.
Cosy.
A nice vicar, too, as I remember.
He liked a glass.
You'd have made a good pair, then.
Yeah, he had a right good time at our do.
'Ere, come to think of it, I seem to remember he had a good time at our do an' all.
Where did you spend your honeymoon, Vi? Clacton.
The Isle of Wight, Rosie and me.
Oh, abroad? Very posh.
I was having a good wage, even then.
I'm not a bad prospect now.
A good pension.
A nice little cottage.
Fancy us both getting married at St Stephen's.
Yeah.
Quite a bit of damage during the war, that area, but the church is still there.
Yeah, I sometimes pass it on my way up here.
Yeah, it's not far from here.
We could go and have a look at it on our way back, if you'd like? Yeah.
Why not? - You should have kept the hats in the boxes.
- Any publicity is good publicity.
Oh, yeah, you're going to get a lot of customers here! All right.
Still, it was good of Alfie to take them off me.
But don't forget, I still want the proper price.
He won't do you.
It's old stock, otherwise you'd flog it yourself.
- Whose side are you on? - Anyone seen Alfie? George? - He's gone for a cuppa, love.
- Oh, has he? All right.
'Ere, Tel.
Which one do you reckon is madam and which one do you reckon is Phyllis? You got me there, Stevie boy.
- Hello, darling.
How are you? - Busy.
- This little darling would keep anybody busy.
- Sod off.
Naughty, naughty.
- What's your name, then? - If you don't mind No need to be like that, darling.
This could be your lucky day.
Why? Are you just about to leave? - Oh, sharp, eh? - Like a razor.
Gentlemen, I'm asking you, with the utmost politeness, to go away.
Ooh, the utmost? How nice, Charlie.
'Ere, gal, who's your friend? Is that really the best that you can do? Get your hands off of me.
Just get your hands off! At least I'm putting them on you, which is more than he'd do.
Leo, it's all right.
Leave it.
Leave it.
Look, I've asked you nicely.
Do yourself a favour and go.
Oh? We've been asked nicely, have we? We've been asked nicely.
Get off me! Are you all right, son? I hope you ain't getting married this week! - Are you all right, Maggie? - I'm all right.
What about you? - I didn't know you had it in you.
- I didn't know it was still there.
It was just like Alan Ladd in that film, where he comes back Yes, all right.
Alan Ladd's a lot younger than I am.
Help me unpack these boxes.
- I didn't know you could fight like that, Leo.
- A long time since I've done it.
I used to do quite a bit as a schoolboy, quite a bit indeed.
- Did you? - Haven't you seen all the trophies at my home? - I thought they were for the rumba and tango.
- You should have looked closer.
A pity you can't help Alfie.
Perhaps I could, but I wouldn't have thought he needed any help.
He seems to be doing well enough on his own.
Well, it's more me you could help, really.
I reckon if he could earn a bit more, he'd be able to give it up sooner.
Perhaps Alfie could do a bit better, if he had the right connections.
Could you get him the right connections? I could try.
I'd need to see him work out a bit more.
- What happened? - They were giving us some trouble.
You certainly know where to hurt a bloke, don't you? Oh, it's a nice church, isn't it? Yes, cos it's full of memories.
It's quite ugly, really.
Yeah.
Oh, you see that tree over there? That's where we had our pictures taken.
Oh, yeah.
Us, too.
Ain't half grown.
'Ere, Vi, do you realise it's almost a year to the day since we met up the allotment? The day Harvey came to look at his plot.
Oh, we never got much out of that.
- Oh, I don't know about that.
- How do you mean? Well, when I saw that Harvey wasn't all that keen, I rented it to a pal of mine.
- I thought that was illegal.
- Well, a pity to let it go to waste.
Anyway, how do you know it's almost a year since we met? Cos I was pricking out my seedlings, I remember.
I was doing it again the other day.
Oh, very romantic.
- Shall we go inside? - Yeah.
Where did you get this? It's surprising what a little money can buy, even these days.
- A little? - Perhaps not such a little.
I know what the going rate is for meat off the ration.
I'm fining them for it all the time.
All right, Harvey.
I'll be very careful, I promise, but if the meat is there and I have the money, - why shouldn't I buy it? - It's against the law.
- It's against the law to buy it, but not to eat it? - I don't like to see it go to waste.
You make sure the papers don't get hold of any of this.
Eh, I'm not supposed to know this, but they've made a provisional offer for the bakery.
Oh, well, they haven't told me yet.
Well, she was only typing it out this afternoon.
2,700.
Ooh la la.
I didn't expect so much.
A tidy little business Erich had there.
He ran it well.
So, when will it all be sorted out? There's the surveying, the conveyancing, to do.
Should be tied up in a couple of weeks.
- It's a lot of money, Harvey.
- Yeah.
What's the matter? Oh.
I don't want to be dependent on you.
Harvey, I've told you.
I want to share what I have with you, really.
I have no-one else to give it to.
Well, what about this one, then? No.
Don't fancy it.
Why? What's wrong with it? It just don't look like a very nice house to live in.
Well, this place ain't exactly Buckingham bleedin' Palace, is it? Are you sure we can afford to move? Yes, I am.
The salon is doing very well.
I'm a woman of substance now.
I thought you'd be interested.
You could have your own bedroom.
I like my bedroom.
How many times have you told me that you are sick of doing your homework in the hall, because your room is too small to swing a cat in? We ain't got a cat, Mum.
'Ere, Mum, you'll never guess what happened today.
- Leo took me up the market.
- What's that to get so excited about? These blokes were giving us trouble and they started a fight with Leo.
- He laid 'em both out.
- What Leo Brandon did? Yeah.
He used to be a boxer.
Oh, yeah, I remember he told me about that.
He's got a trophy.
Ow.
He really knew what he was doing.
Anyway, the important thing is he's gonna help Alfie.
- Reckons he'll be able to move me up a class.
- I thought you'd left school.
Very good, Mrs Moon.
No, I think he means get a better fight.
Anyway, I've seen this shop.
If I can get hold of another 80 quid, that's me.
Us.
- It's Maggs and mine's future.
- Oh, yeah? Leo reckons he might be able to get him £80 for just one fight.
Well, then he'd be able to give it up.
- Wouldn't you? - I wouldn't really need to.
Then you'd give it up, wouldn't you? Yeah.
Er, wages, Harvey.
'Ere he is, Fort Knox on legs! Sir wants to have a word with us.
He's coming up.
Er No need to stand, Ryder.
Now, I have something to say to you.
I prefer to tell you direct rather than set it down on paper.
Doubtless, you are aware that the Government has instigated a pay freeze to help lift this country out of its present state.
So this firm will be complying with the Government's wishes.
In other words, until further notice, there will be no salary increases whatsoever.
Ah, but I was due a pay increment next month.
Indeed you was were due an increment, Moon.
However, I would have thought, as a Socialist, you'd be right behind this measure.
I am, generally, and for the country as an 'ole.
Precisely.
The country is in a hole and that includes you, Moon.
So sorry.
What lot was he in during the war? Intelligence.
Yeah? Masterminded Dunkirk, did he? - 'Ere, Vi.
- Mm? Do you reckon Harvey and Frieda will get married when the divorce goes through? I don't know.
I suppose so.
I don't see why not.
Well, have you given any thought to what you'll do when they do eventually you know? No.
I thought I'd cross that bridge when I come to it.
Oh.
Did you? Why? Well, it's just that - You're really quite at home here, ain't you? - Yeah.
And you and I see quite a lot of each other.
You ain't complaining, are you? No, no.
No.
Well, I was just wondering like What? It's nice in here, isn't it? I've always liked this room.
Yeah.
Mind you, it could do with some new wallpaper.
Frieda? Yeah? - Haven't you eaten yet? - Well, I forgot.
I thought you were seeing Stanley tonight.
Yeah, well, he's upstairs.
He's doing a jigsaw.
Only he's lost the bit in the corner.
Smells good.
- I wanted to ask you a question.
- Yes.
What? - That's lovely.
- Well, haven't you eaten yet? Yeah.
Only toad in the hole.
Toad? Yeah It's not really a toad.
About this bakery, what would happen if you didn't sell it? What would I do with it? You could get someone else to run it for you.
Yeah, but who? Me.
- What do you think, Maxie? - Yeah, the kid's not bad.
I've seen him fight a couple of times now and I just think there might be something there.
A good record you said? 20 wins.
38 fights.
Five knockouts.
I like the lad.
Do you think he might be interested in moving up a bit? Why? What do you have in mind? Got a bout in a fortnight's time.
Eight rounds.
Bottom of the bill.
Well, I'll try and persuade him to have a go.
What would the purse be? 80 pound for the winner, 50 the loser.
Leave it with me.
I'll see what he says.
Alfie? Alfie! He thinks he might have an eight-rounder for you in a couple of weeks.
- 80 pounds if you win, 50 if you lose.
- Great! Relax.
There's going to be a big crowd there.
You've never gone eight rounds before.
Are you sure you can handle it? - Yeah, I'll have some of that, Leo.
- All right.
Leave it to me.
Yes, I think he might be interested, Max.
Good.
That solves a problem.
What's that? By the way, is that your top offer? Yeah, with the money I'm paying Duffy.
Duffy? George Duffy? He's a bit tasty, isn't he? That's the deal, Leo.
Take it or leave it.
All right.
We'll take it.
As long as Alfie agrees.
If he does well with Duffy, maybe next time I can get him a better fight.
If he does well with Duffy, it'll be a miracle.
- Miracles do happen, Leo.
- In the Bible, Maxie.
Very rarely in Hackney.
I don't know.
I can't stop looking at it.
But I hate the thought of touching it.
Makes me go all funny.
Yeah, me, too.
- Horrible thing, innit? - Yeah.
'Ere, how do you know what it is? You know, whether it's a boy or a girl snake? Oh, it's funny, I was reading about snakes in the paper the other day.
- They're not like that.
They don't.
- What do you mean, they don't? - They must.
- No.
No.
They're both.
One end is Well, they do it themselves.
Probably have more fun! Oh, no, I like the company.
- Do you know something I don't? - Mind your own.
I thought you were going down the hospital to see Veronica.
I was.
If Alfie had come back when he was supposed to.
Yeah, well, I don't like sitting around here on my own, either.
- Veronica will be all right.
Ian will be there.
- Is he still going round? - Every night.
He ain't bad, you know.
- No.
I know.
- Maybe she knew what she was doing, after all.
- Maybe she did.
She could have done a lot worse Oh! It's No.
It's funny, though, innit, not having her around? Life's different, somehow.
Yeah, it's quiet and it's peaceful and it's really quite nice.
- Well? - Got an eight-rounder.
Two weeks' time.
80 quid.
Good old Leo.
All I did was bring a friend along to watch him in action.
- Gave me a few good tips, as well.
- Who's this bloke you're fighting, then? George Duffy.
He's a bit handy.
I should have thought you had enough getting done over by blokes your own level.
You don't get paid this kind of dough for nothing.
'Ere, I hope he ain't gonna hurt you too much.
Oh, no, no, no.
It'll be all right.
I'll just tell him before the bout that my girlfriend don't want him to hurt me too much.
Bound to take notice of that.
I'm only kidding.
I know how to look after myself and stay out of trouble.
- Well, you better or else.
- Don't worry, Maggie.
I'm going to keep an eye on his training, make sure that he's fit and able to come through it.
So when is all that going to happen? Most nights.
A full job for the next few weeks.
Oh, that's lovely.
I'm going to be stuck in here on my own with Oh, it's getting out! Leo! Stop it! Stop it! There you are, baby.
Have you got The Express, Vi? Yeah, I ain't finished with it yet.
Oh.
Just like Rosie.
She used to read every last word of the paper.
Thanks a bundle.
No, no, no, I didn't mean that.
I mean, it's cosy.
I've sort of got used to having you around.
Like the furniture? No, you know what I mean.
Can't I have the back bit? No.
I ain't finished the front bit yet.
I'd better go and put the greens on for lunch.
Haven't you put them on yet? - Save some cabbage water for the gravy.
- Yeah.
Now, what I meant was, it's nice that we see such a lot of each other.
Well, any way I can make sure you keep out of trouble.
Oh, I haven't been bad, have I? I haven't touched a drop since ooh, I can't remember how long.
No, you've been quite good, really.
Well, it so happens, I've got a couple of bottles of stout here.
I haven't touched them.
I was saving them for a special occasion.
You like stout, don't you? What's so special about now, then? Well, I was wondering.
Just supposing you and I was to get hitched.
You'd want it done in St Stephen's, wouldn't you? Yeah.
It might be nice.
Well, just supposing do you think they would? Marry us, I mean? I don't know.
There's only one way to find out.
I mean, let's face it, Jeffrey.
I've got no future here.
It's a good, steady job.
Steady? I'm getting nowhere fast, working for Quentin.
What exactly is this plan of yours? - Can't tell you at the moment.
Confidential.
- Anything to do with your little Austrian? It might.
Well, she'd only be supplying the capital.
I mean, I'd be running things.
I'd get a chance to get my own place, maybe get a motor.
How am I gonna do that working here? Another thing.
I want to see the look on Quentin's face when I tell him to stuff his lousy job! Is Miss Sprake around? I'm afraid not, sir.
Oh, well.
A coffee, Moon.
Sir, that's really not my job.
Your job is to do what I tell you.
With two lumps.
That told him, Harvey.
Oh, hello, love.
We're in a bit of a rush, at the moment.
- Ah, yes, I see.
- We've got to go and see someone.
It's just I wondered if I could have a word with Mrs Moon.
Oh, what is it, love? Well, you know Harvey has got this ridiculous idea about taking over the bakery? Oh, I know.
He told me.
I didn't dare laugh straight out.
You know what Harvey is when he gets an idea in his head.
He's like a dog with two tails.
It's just I'm trying to decide how to handle it.
I can't believe he's really serious.
I don't think he's thought about it.
Harvey don't have to think about something to convince himself he's right.
- Do I look all right, Vi? - You do, chubby-chops.
Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm interrupting.
No, no, look, if you've got any doubts, love, just ignore him.
Don't get him excited.
You'll only encourage him.
What's he want to be a baker for? Well, I don't think that he does, really.
It's just that he's seen the shop is empty - He wasn't a baker in the RAF, then? - What? Harvey? No, he was a clerk.
Harvey in a kitchen? He couldn't boil an egg unless it jumped in the pan by itself.
I knew a bloke like that once.
- Like what? - Cedric Porter his name was.
He was a signalman till he was 40.
Funny, the same age as Harvey, come to think of it, when he went funny.
Mind you, it's a lonely, boring job.
Cold, too, in the winter.
Perhaps that's where he got the idea from.
Er, what idea? What's this got to do with Harvey becoming a baker? - He took up knitting.
- Knitting? You know, only between trains, like.
I don't know whether it was the cold or the boredom.
All the other fellas laughed at him, so he had to retire early.
Even so, by then, he'd acquired such a stock, he had to open a shop.
Made a fortune.
- Oh, I see.
- I'm blowed if I do.
Come on.
We're going to be late.
What you mean is, what I think you're trying to say is that it's never too late to learn.
It is possible.
Harvey could become a baker.
Harvey become a baker? No.
I never said that.
Come on, Vi.
We're going to be late.
He's a busy man, you know.
Oh, lovely.
Is that my supper? - It's for the guest.
- 'Ere, Mum, don't suffocate it.
Listen, if I never fed it, it would starve to death.
- I take it you're not going out tonight.
- No.
Leo is out with Alfie again.
I wish they'd taken me with them.
They don't want you with them.
They're training.
Don't want to stop for you doing up your shoelaces, looking for treasure.
I think it's ridiculous, all this running every night.
By the time he gets to the fight, he'll be knackered.
Well, I think I've got a right to go, if Leo's got my bike.
He ain't got your bike.
He's following in the car.
No, he's got no coupons left.
I seen him in the park the other day, leaning up against a tree.
He was really out of breath.
I thought he was going to die.
So I give him my bike.
- Ah, Stan, that's nice.
- 2s/6d for three weeks.
- Stanley! - Come in.
How's Veronica? Oh, she's fine.
She asked me to bring you back this book you lent her.
What? Veronica's been reading? Oh, yeah.
Well, she's got to do something to pass the time.
I never noticed she had any difficulty passing the time before.
What book's she reading? - Wuthering Heights.
- Mm.
She really quite liked it.
She says that I'm like Heathcliff.
Sister gets cross with her for leaning out of the window and calling at me.
- What's she do that for? - I dunno.
Not read it myself.
- 'Ere, what's this? - Oh, it's my snake.
Do you like snakes? Oh, yeah.
I used to have a couple when I was younger.
A good one this, innit? Has it got a name? - Yeah.
V - V-V-Very nearly.
But we haven't quite decided yet.
Oh, right.
'Ere, Ian, a little bird told me you and Veronica were thinking of tying the knot.
What knot, Mrs Moon? Getting married.
Oh, no.
No.
We haven't actually talked about that yet, me and Veronica.
Well, you put her up the spout.
I know.
- Oh! - Oh, sorry.
I did say I'd stand by her.
Yeah, well, you should stand by her up the altar.
Do you think Veronica would like that? Yeah.
Do you really think I should? Yeah, go on.
Be a devil.
She can only say no.
Eh? Yeah.
That's right.
- That's what Alfie said.
- No, he never.
Yeah.
And there's no time like the present.
Right, I'm off, then.
Ooh, they're well suited.
Ooh, no, I think he's a bit fast for her.
Yeah, well, at least he liked my snake.
About the only one round here who does.
Oh, I don't know.
I'm getting quite used to it.
Yeah.
She's no trouble at all, is he? Frieda, you ain't seen my mum, have you? - Yes.
She's with Geoff.
- Surprise, surprise.
They went out this morning.
All dressed up, going somewhere important.
She never told me about it.
Ain't back yet.
I think your mother is old enough to look after herself.
A couple of weeks back, she couldn't get up and down the stairs.
Now she's prancing about the town at all hours with Gordon the Green Engine.
There's nothing in the oven.
- Do you want some soup? - Please.
So sit.
- What did you do today? - I painted.
That's good.
Give you a chance to think.
- I'm sorry? - Come to a decision.
- About what? - The bakery.
Oh, yes, the bakery.
Yes, I'm going to sell it.
Just like that? Don't I get a say? Harvey, I have thought about it and I just don't think it's a good idea.
I would never see you.
- Erich managed it.
- But Erich was my brother.
I didn't mind Erich staying out all night making bagels and then sleeping all day.
But you're my lover.
I would never see you.
Anyway, you can't work all through the night.
What about your council meetings, Stanley? I could fit him in, somehow.
- Harvey, you haven't thought about this.
- I have.
- What do you know about bakeries? - I could learn.
- Well, perhaps you could - I didn't know anything about warehouses.
What? The answer is still no.
- Is that your last word? - Yes.
I see.
Bob's your uncle, Fanny's your aunt and I'm out the window.
I don't know about the rest of your family.
Well, I'm glad I know who's wearing the trousers before we go any further.
What are you talking about? That was a chance for me to make something of myself.
My only chance.
Harvey, do you seriously see yourself as a baker? You're not a baker! You know, Erich trained for years.
- Can you make a bagel? - Ah, it's only a roll with an 'ole in it.
- Ah, but can you put a hole in it? - Anyone could put an 'ole in a bagel.
- Stanley could.
It's not the 'ole that's important.
- No, it's the bagel.
Now eat your soup.
Well, I mean, I ain't aiming to stay there.
I want to make it to the top.
That's what I'm really after.
Knowing you, you'll get there, too.
- Well, I don't get everything I'm after.
- Patience.
- You know I'll get this little place.
- Ah, don't tell me, you'll give up boxing.
There's a nice little flat that goes with it.
- Oh, yeah? - Just right for two.
- Who you got in mind? - Oh, I don't know.
Been trying to make my mind up.
It's a hard choice.
Get your hand off, Alfie.
I said, stop doing that.
- But I have.
- Oh, you have, have you? What's this, then? Aaaah! Get it away from me! What is it, Maggie? What's the matter, Maggie? - Alfie, what have you done to her? - I ain't laid a finger on her.
It wasn't him.
It was the snake! It's escaped! What's all the noise and banging? - Veronica's escaped.
- Oh, you idiots! - God, you're worse than me, you are.
- I'm wearing French knickers! - Oh! - Veronica.
Oh! Hello, Harvey.
I thought you were supposed to be on the wagon.
Well, that was the general idea, but I've never actually taken my seat.
Anyway, we're celebrating.
What? Well, Geoff Geoff and me have made a big decision.
What's that? Do you think you can get the afternoon off work next Thursday, Harvey? - I suppose so.
Why? - I'm going to get married.
- Who to? - Who to? Me and Geoff.
Geoff and me.
- Him.
- Us two! Harvey, meet the new Mrs Barratt.
Will you give me away, Harvey? I'll think about it.
It's lovely, Frieda.
Are you sure you don't want some coupons for the material? No, of course not.
I got the material from a friend, a favour.
And it didn't cost me any coupons.
Oh, you've made it beautiful.
It's the best dress I've ever had.
Oh, so it should be.
Nothing but the best for your wedding.
Eh, Frieda, I swear I saw something move over there.
Oh, yes, yes, it's only Stanley's snake.
- He didn't land you with that, did he? - Oh, well, I didn't mind.
He asked me as a very special favour.
He said that his mother was threatening to turn it into a handbag and that you wouldn't have it.
He offered it to Geoff and me for a wedding present.
- He didn't? - He did.
- Well, he has a way with him, when he chooses.
- So has his dad, when he chooses.
Yes.
Is something wrong? What's the matter with Harvey? He's behaving like a child about all this.
- He seems to be sulking now.
- I hadn't noticed.
What's he sulking about? - I've told him he can't have the bakery.
- Ah, take no notice of him, love.
I've known him sulk all through a Sunday lunch and miss his pudding.
It's ridiculous.
I don't know what to do.
Well, don't worry.
It's in his nature.
He'll come round.
Just ignore him.
As far as Harvey is concerned, I could be in America or Australia.
- I might as well go there.
He wouldn't notice.
- Oh, I don't know.
Eh, Frieda, you don't think this hem is a bit too short, do you? - Right, Stanley? - Right.
- On the count of three, right? - OK.
One two three! Are you sure this is the right length? There's a kid up there and his is smaller than this.
- Well, what do you expect at short notice? - A shorter rod.
I haven't had a bite yet.
- Well, have a sandwich.
- No.
You know what I mean.
When you said you was going to take me fishing, right, I thought, "Oh, great, we're going to go somewhere really good, out in the country in the summer," not down the canal.
You've got a lot to learn before I take you on a proper river.
Yeah, but I ain't gonna learn anything about fishing, if I don't catch any fish.
Anyway, that's not the only reason we've come down here.
- So? I'm a bit strapped for cash.
- You wouldn't be if you married Auntie Frieda.
- Don't you start.
- It's true, thought, innit? That's no reason to get married.
- Don't you love her? - No, it's Well, you know, she does wear the old trousers a bit and Well, you've got to see things eye-to-eye before you get married.
Yeah, but you don't want things to end up like you and Mum, do you? Another thing.
I can't see you as a baker.
I mean, Uncle Erich, he had to work nights and he had certificates, you said.
Yeah, well, it's my imagination.
I get a bit carried away.
I can't see you with a tray of buns on your head, either.
I ain't caught nothing yet.
God, I ain't seen a steak like that since before the war.
It does rather bring back memories.
- Well, come on, then.
- Oh.
Ta, love.
Well, you'd better enjoy this, Alfie.
There's two weeks of my meat ration in there.
- And mine.
And Leo's.
- And my eggs.
He needs it.
We've got to build him up.
Yeah, well, this time next week, it'll all be over.
Maggie, we should avoid remarks like that for the next week or so.
Leo, I've trained harder for this fight than any other one.
- I reckon I'm in with a chance.
- Yes, well, you've always got a chance, Alfie.
I'm going into this one with my eyes wide open.
Yeah, but it's how you come out we're worried about.
Well, go on.
Eat! So, how do you feel about it, then? Oh, I don't know, Harvey.
I think I thought, well, if we don't do it now, we'll never get round to it.
You won't get a better bloke than Geoff.
No, I know that.
No, I just got cold feet.
A long time since I've been married.
Well, you've been courting long enough.
You know one another.
You know you get on.
If you don't now, you never will.
Yeah, you're right, Harvey.
Eh, I had a word with Frieda today.
- Oh, yeah? - Yeah, she knows what she's doing, all right.
Yeah, I know.
Selling up the bakery, moving away.
What? Where? Well, er, America, I think she said.
Yeah.
America.
- America? - Yeah.
Oh, that's good.
She tells you.
Why didn't she tell me? Cos I was having a dress fitting and you weren't there.
Oh! One at a time.
- Hold still, will you? - God, are you going to be much longer? Not if you hold still I won't.
Ah! - Is Frieda going to the wedding? - Just the church, I think.
I don't know why they don't get married at the same time, put us all out of our misery.
- She wouldn't be allowed in.
- Why? She'd have to go up that Jewish church that Uncle Erich went.
Oh, Harvey would love that, wearing a skullcap.
It'd cover up his bald patch! Where's this house you're gonna look at? I ain't telling you.
I'm sick of all the arguments.
"I don't like this, I don't like that.
" I'm going to go on my own, make up my own mind.
- Well, that ain't fair.
- So? What if we don't like it? You will.
I got a good feeling about this place.
- Got a taxi outside.
- Couldn't you get it through the door? - Ready, then? - Yeah.
- 'Ere, Alfie, have you ever been to a wedding? - Only my mum and dad's.
Are you ready yet, Mrs Moon? Oh, no, love, I'm not going.
It's her special day.
I don't want to make her feel uncomfortable.
You're not going cos you weren't invited.
Bye, Mum.
Come on, then.
Everyone, smile.
Ready? Very nice.
Frieda, I never got a chance to talk to you inside.
That's all right.
I thought it all went very well.
I hear that you're going.
Yes.
Right now.
What? You're going to America today? - America? - Isn't that where you're going? No.
I'm going to the house.
I've said goodbye to your mother and Geoff.
You mean, you ain't going away? No.
Why would I be going away and to America? - Well, that's what my mum said you said.
- Oh, no, I didn't say that I was going.
I said that, for all the difference it would make to you, I might as well go.
- You're wanted for another picture.
- Can you just wait till after? - Go on.
Join them.
- Come on, Dad.
Another picture.
Hurry! Be careful! Honestly! Can I take it that you're interested, Mrs Moon? I'll have it.
- You're making a definite offer? - Yeah.
Very definite.
Well Ahem.
I'd like to say a few words.
- Is that a promise, Dad? - And read the telegrams.
Sorry.
Telegram.
All the best on this special day.
Stop.
Sorry we couldn't be there.
Stop.
Love Albert and Lena.
- They could have made the effort.
- Glad they didn't.
We wouldn't have had such a good time! Carry on, Harvey! Well, a bloke my age, I mean, he should be giving away his daughter, not his mum, but if someone is going to have to be dead jammy, I'm glad that it's Geoff here.
I think he's only done it to stop me playing gooseberry or at least stop me getting cooked meals! While he's been courting, I've given him the once-over.
We've cracked a few bottles, haven't we? One of the things that I know about him is that he values the great things of this nation.
Hear, hear.
Indeed, he mourns the passing of some of them.
One of the things that he misses most, apart from the gold sovereign, is Mr Isambard Kingdom Brunel's broad-gauge railway that used to run out of London to the West Country.
It was thought well up on all the other railways because of its great speed, comfort and safety.
Well With my mum, the speed is not what it was, but he's got the comfort, he's got the safety and, best of all, he's got my mum's love.
You've got a lot of that to give.
Ain't you, Duchess? I'll miss you, girl.
- To Violet and Geoff.
- Violet and Geoff.
Eh, we don't drink to us.
Oh.
Harvey, what did you mean about me and that broad-gauge railway? Oh! Oh, thanks a lot! That was meant for me.
Sorry.
Must be all that cricket I played in India.
It's too late now.
Aaah! Uhh! Aren't you having anything today, Harvey? No.
I'm really not hungry.
Oh.
What is that? Cheese and chutney? Mm.
Mm.
Doris's.
Home-made.
I bet them cakes are home-made an' all.
Mm.
Here, Harvey, have one.
No, I'm having trouble doing up my waistcoat as it is.
Go on.
I had a big breakfast.
- Are you sure? - Of course.
Ta.
It's always a difficult point in a boy's life when he loses his mother.
How are you managing on your own? - All right? - Fine.
No problem.
Ah! Doris sees you're all right, doesn't she? You don't have to tell me that, Harvey.
I am a lucky man and I know it.
There aren't many Doris's in the world.
- You're not so badly off yourself.
- You've got to be joking! My mum's gone off and got married.
Rita's business is going like a house on fire.
She's looking for a place of her own.
When will I ever be able to do that? Maggie is going for a ring-side seat with Alfie and Stanley will be off in a couple of years.
- I'll be on my tod.
- Not quite.
- You'll still have your little Austrian.
- Frieda? Ah, it's all a bit touch and go, you know.
She's an independent sort.
I mean, look at you.
A settled life.
A place of your own.
A nice little wife.
Well My home life is not exactly a paradise, Harvey.
I mean, we've got the Beast of Belsen arriving next week.
Eh? - Her mother-in-law.
- Oh.
I don't know, Harvey.
I might have to go down the pub again.
- Eh.
- She's bound to want to stay over.
I think there's a lot to be said for having your freedom.
Don't misunderstand me.
I wouldn't say a word against Doris.
But life out there in Chingford is not exactly brimming over with excitement.
It's nice and ordered, but a bit dull.
Whereas you I mean, I bet life with Frieda isn't dull.
No, it certainly ain't that.
I must say, Harvey Don't ever breathe a word of this to Doris.
There are times when I wouldn't mind a bit of excitement, myself.
You stick with it.
You've everything you could want.
Tonight, you'll turn the key in your own front door.
Something cooking for you on the stove.
Your old slippers waiting for you by the fireside.
I bet, when you get home, you've got something continental waiting for you.
Oh, God! I wish I'd gone now.
- It's a bit late.
- What time does his fight start? - 14 minutes.
- What does Leo think? He said not to hope for too much.
Be prepared for the worst.
- This bloke he's fighting is really good.
- Poor Alfie.
Oh, I don't mind him getting a hiding, as long as it puts him off boxing.
Well, that's great, that is.
You know, I think it'd be a pity if Alfie gives it up.
Oh, do you? Well, I don't.
Mind you, I would get his gloves, eh? 'Ere, Mum, what's that? - Ain't you heard of plates? - Weren't no clean ones.
What's this? - It's my design.
- 13.
5 minutes.
- What's that? - The sofa.
Yeah, but our sofa ain't got no cushions.
Ah, it's a new sofa in a new living room in our new house! - Is this the house? - Is it all ours, Mum? - It's too big.
- I put in an offer today.
It's been accepted.
All I've got to do now is raise the 160 quid deposit.
- It's too much.
- Well, I reckon I can do it.
13 minutes! Hello, Harvey.
You're home late.
I've been to a council meeting.
- Have you had anything to eat? - No, but I've got something here.
Well, would you like to come in? I could make you something.
It's OK.
I can soon rustle up something.
It's no trouble.
No.
I mean, it's no problem for me.
I ain't helpless.
I can manage, you know.
Well, it's up to you.
That'll be him.
- Wrong house! - Oh, God, where is he? What time are they due back, anyway? I don't know.
Should have been here ages ago.
He won.
- Alfie? - Yeah, he's won.
- Ian? - Joke.
Joke? I'll give you bloody joke! It's not funny, Stanley.
I've been really worried about him.
- Hi, Mrs Moon.
- Hello, love.
- You probably weren't expecting me.
- No.
I just thought I'd come round and tell you and Maggie the good news.
- What's that? - I did it.
I asked her.
She said yes.
- Well, good for you.
- Congratulations, Ian.
There you are, you see.
All you had to do was ask.
- I'm ever so grateful to you.
- You think nothing of it, love.
- There's just one thing.
- Mm? - It's Veronica's money.
- What is? The money she put into the hairdresser's.
Er, I think it's about 150 quid, Veronica said.
Only, could we have it back, please? We're thinking of using it for a deposit on a house.
Oh.
Yeah.
Of course.
In fact, I know of a very nice little place that's going.
Oh, Mrs Moon, the things you do for Veronica.
- I know.
- We'll go and have a look at it.
- Oh, I nearly forgot.
Veronica's washing.
- What? She thinks Leo's done enough for her already.
It's Alfie.
- That is enough, Stanley - Maggie, my dear, I'm very sorry, but Alfie - I won, Maggs, I won! - You didn't? 80 smackers! They've offered me more fights for more money.
You what? You haven't taken them? No, we're merely investigating the possibilities.
Oh, are you? I suppose you're gonna carry on boxing till you've got no nose left.
I'm sorry to bother you, but I ain't getting on too well upstairs.
Oh.
What's the problem? Well, it's this tin of sardines.
I've broken off the What do you call it? And I burnt the toast.
So how would you have managed on 28 dozen loaves a night? Well, I I'm sorry about all of that.
Me, too.
Erm You couldn't show me how to open this, could you? Do you want me to show you or to do it? Do it.
Oh, that smells good.
- Do you want to eat here? - Yeah.
Please.
- Do you still want those sardines? - No.
- Do you want to get married? - Yeah.
I accept.