Episode 3 The Village

INDISTINCT SHOUTING AND CHATTER

'When you're young and time takes an age,

'it feels like nothing will ever change.

'But it does.

'Sometimes it comes so fast and so hard that the shape of the world,

'the shape of the people, are never the same afterwards.

'1923 was like that. Not just with us. Not just in the village

'but everywhere.

'My mother recognised it straightaway.'

Go!

'Or maybe it was something she'd always known.

'The rest of us, the rest of the world, just had to catch up,

'change shape, make up our minds.'

GUNSHOT

He's started early.

Aye, well, he'll have to.

It's going to take a long time to slaughter a herd that size.

The whole herd?

Well, if one of them's got it, they'll all have it.

Will our cows get it?

No.

No.

GUNSHOT

Grass fed, clean air.

No hot, fetid cow shed to pass TB on.

More porridge, Mum.

So, you knew all along.

What's that?

-Well, losing the cow shed was a good idea.

-Farmer's instincts.

'My heart was trying to make a decision.'

Morning, Bert.

'Its first real decision.

'But it wasn't a matter of politics.'

Good girl.

-Phoebe!

-Bert!

-Come back!

-You'll be late for school.

-I can take them, if you like.

No... You'll miss it.

Wait for me.

Phoebe!

I'm popping up to see Agnes.

-With more food from our table?

-Bread and eggs won't break us.

Not so long ago, it would have done.

Well, let's be thankful we're not there any longer.

I'm going to see Hankin later.

See about taking over Rutter's order.

-Can we manage that much?

-We could.

All these years, we've fought to keep going

and now we've got a chance to get on,

we have to take it, Grace.

You shouldn't meddle.

We wouldn't welcome it here.

She needs help, John. Come on, Mary, love!

BIRD CALLS

GUNSHOT

-Why are you shooting buzzards?

-They go for the young grouse.

You can't pass through here. It's not safe.

-I've cycled this path for years.

-Not any more.

-On whose say so?

-Them what own it - the Allinghams.

-Oh...

-Turn around.

Fine.

SHE BREATHES HEAVILY

FLOORBOARDS CREAK

KNOCKING

Agnes? Are you all right?

It's not fair. Gilbert Hankin had no right to sack you.

It's not his fault.

-Is it your fault you couldn't breathe properly?

-Allingham...

Allingham?

He thinks I complained about being sick. That's the end of it.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no. Allingham should be stood up to.

It'll make no difference... And who'd stand with me?

I will.

Are these your initials, Middleton?

Hand.

He were a right bastard, that Ingham.

The children are lucky to have Mrs Allingham.

She wrote me a letter.

Well, I thought she did. Turned out it wasn't her.

Martha... She's impossible. She's a married woman.

What did you expect was going to happen, Bert?

Who did write it, then?

-Phoebe Rundle.

-Ah, well!

There you go. I've been telling you, haven't I?

Phoebe Rundle is, in the opinion of this teacher,

-the girl for you.

-But...

..if...

what you feel can change so quickly, how will I know

-when it's real?

-Test it out.

Spend some time with her and then check your heart rate.

-Don't laugh at me.

-No, no. I would never do that.

Go on, just get away with you and...test it out.

Make sure that your vote counts next week in the national elections.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

-Hello.

-I wasn't sure you'd be here.

Just for the morning. Then, Glossop and Chinley. Sheffield tonight.

-And you must be...Mary?

-Who are you?

I'm Bill Gibby. Delighted to make your acquaintance.

Go on.

Where do you stand on tariff reform?

Um...

I'm against it. Labour is against it.

So is Mrs Allingham.

Good for Mrs Allingham.

Father says it doesn't matter who wins.

-Oh, I think it does.

-So does Mother.

Go on, you... Off to school.

I know you're, you're very busy,

but I wanted to talk to you about the girl who lost her job

-at the boot factory.

-Agnes Scrivener.

See, I don't know what else to do. Gilbert Hankin, the manager,

now he was just following orders from Allingham and, well,

-I can't speak to Allingham, because...

-Then, don't.

-What?

You're forgetting about the people who matter.

Just speak as you find.

You find right, Grace.

No need to stop. Where can we find Gilbert Hankin?

FOOTSTEPS

We're here to ask you to reinstate Agnes Scrivener.

-She's been replaced. The decision's been taken.

-By you?

Agnes worked here for seven years.

Did she ever not finish her work? Ever...complain?

There's nothing I can do.

Right.

Thank you for your time.

Your fellow worker was sacked from her job here

through no fault of her own.

Right now, you are all vulnerable to the same injustice.

He can't make the boots without your labour. YOUR labour...

..to offer...

..or to withhold.

As long as Allingham runs this factory

and speaks for you in Parliament, he can do with you as he wishes.

But you can hold him accountable. WE can hold him accountable...

..if you vote Labour this week.

They listened.

But they won't come out for Agnes.

They're afraid. But there'll be no Hankin or Allingham between them

and the ballot box. Allingham underestimates us. And them.

Sheffield train, Bill.

We show them a better option and they'll take it.

-Lead by example, Grace.

-But I'm...

-A farmer's wife? And I'm a miner.

And I think we can change the world.

-They're a bit young.

-So am I.

Sorry?

2nd of June, 1924.

I'll be 30.

Until then - no vote. So, don't worry, my opinion isn't important

and won't be taken seriously by anybody.

I trust you'll be using your vote to do good?

Good being a vote against your brother-in-law?

I may not have a vote, but I do have my own mind and my own conscience.

And always so sure of them both.

LIGHTER CLICKS

Phoebe.

-Can I ask you something?

-Of course.

-Bert Middleton.

-Yes?

-Do you trust him?

-Yes.

-Then I should?

-No. No. Keep him working.

Cos the more he can't have you, the more he'll want you.

LIGHTER CLICKS

There.

Thank you very much.

Eh... Oh, the finest gramophone money can buy.

Hey, Margaret, not seen you at the dance hall yet.

You want to come, give it a try.

What, before or after I serve meself?

If we've money for music, we've money for help.

Shop!

Hankin.

A word.

All I'm saying is, you might want to think twice

-in future before getting...

-Night, John.

-Good night.

..before you get milk from Rutter. He's had to slaughter his herd.

TB's been set in for months.

This is the first time in your life you've been in this shop.

-What are you after?

-You see...

..mine's clean. Open pasture, no risk, no disease.

See? Clean. Milk, straight from Middleton Farm to Hankin's shop.

Me and you, nowt in between.

-Hmm. It's a... It's a risk you're taking.

-Can't I trust you?

-You know what I'm saying.

-You're a risk taker, aren't you?

I mean, that dance hall, that were a shot in the dark, weren't it?

Hmm. There's a businessman in you, after all, John Middleton.

Where you been?

Hankin takes Middleton milk now.

-Mother!

-She's gone to see Edmund Allingham speak.

What about dairy?

Finished. No more mad dashes to the station. Those days are gone, Bert.

Change of plan.

CHATTER

Welcome to you all.

Er, I won't be making a speech. Why?

Because I want to hear from you, about your concerns

and what you want. Let's make this a conversation.

So, questions from the floor.

Who's first?

Mrs Middleton.

Yes.

Can the workers in your factory rely on you, Mr Allingham?

Could you repeat the question a little louder, so everyone hears it?

I was wondering whether the workers in your factory can rely on you.

The factory has provided employment for half the village since 1904.

We provided thousands of pairs of boots

for our brave men at the Front and it provided employment for you,

when hard times on your farm meant that you needed the work.

Now that, through his hard work and determination, things are looking

so much better for your husband, well, you don't need the work.

Agnes Scrivener does.

The girl...is an agitator.

Are you an agitator, Mrs Middleton?

-I don't understand what you mean, when...

-How much time have you been

spending with Bill Gibby, Mrs Middleton? I think you went

to the factory this morning to agitate with Gibby

and have come here primed to agitate some more.

Is Gibby with you now? Is he behind you, telling you what to say?

Where is your puppet master, Mrs Middleton?

LAUGHTER

Er, shall we take another question?

-What did he say?

-How much he admires you, mostly.

-Why?

-What you've done turning the farm around.

Good.

Is it?

Isn't it?

We've done well here, Grace.

Why does it seem like you don't want it?

We need to look outside of ourselves.

I deliver good, fresh, clean milk to the whole village, at a fair price,

and I can do that because I've worked hard.

Read 'em to me.

"Clover, Myrtle, Bracken, Buttercup, Henrietta and Hilda."

-Father said we can name our cows.

-What's the name of our grandson?

What's the name of the little baby boy the Allinghams sent away

without even asking us?

They don't care about anybody else other than themselves.

Is that the kind of world you want?

Agnes Scrivner, she's a problem. My factory, my village,

my constituency. It looks bad.

The left love a victim.

They crave victimhood

and, when they get it, they milk it for all it's worth.

Thank you, Mother.

-So, what do you think?

-Well...

-Take it away from them.

-Sorry?

-Their poor little match-girl martyr.

-What do you mean, take it away?

-Give her her job back. Pay her more.

Mmm. Then, Gibby and Labour will have nothing to bleat about.

Have I suddenly acquired a second political advisor?

I haven't got a political bone in my body, darling.

Oh, by the by, and entirely away from politics,

the tremendously glamorous, fabulously well connected

and hitherto unmarried

Harriet Kilmartin is coming to stay.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

So, how is it going on the railways?

Oh, no luck yet?

No. And after next week, no more station visits.

-Why not?

-Our dads have got into bed together.

Last milk run to the station, Wednesday.

So, you better make it count.

This man here is giving me lessons in romance.

Phoebe's the one for me, he says.

-Pints?

-Mm-hm.

And the first lesson?

Don't go where your teacher would like to tread.

She's a married woman.

You're to give Agnes her job back.

-You told me to get rid of her.

-Now I'm telling you to bring her back.

I know why you're doing this. You're using her.

-Does it matter?

-It were making her ill.

She won't want to come back.

She will.

FOOTSTEPS

Has this been washed? The collar's all filthy.

Oh, let me see.

They're all like it. I can't go to the dance hall looking like that.

Well, between the shop and the home

and the dance hall, I'm afraid things are starting to slip.

I just don't have the time.

HE SIGHS

If you want to take on a maid, you can.

It's just a case of finding someone suitable.

Mmm.

Norma...

Gilbert explained what happened at the factory.

It's not my place to take sides.

So, I won't.

But it might end up being an excellent opportunity for you.

We're looking for a maid.

I'm offering you the position.

I'm grateful...

..to you and Arnold.

Good.

Mr Hankin and I would like you to start tomorrow.

Looks like rain.

Cows were lying down as I came past.

You believe that old wives' tale?

-I could give you a lift, anyway.

-No. Thank you.

CAR BACKFIRES

No driver?

Why let someone else have all the fun?

Thank you so much for this invitation, Lady Allingham.

Oh, Clem, please, I insist, Harriet.

-Harri.

-It's such a pity that Lord Kilmartin couldn't come with you.

All is the election for my father, at the moment, I'm afraid.

Ah, yes, well... I, er... I must confess that I'm rather hoping

you'll be an antidote to a similar situation here.

I'll try my very best.

Actually, can I call you Lady Allingham?

I do so like Ladies.

Do you know what Edmund stands for?

He's my brother.

It's politics, not family.

One and the same to some. Like my mother.

Is it so awful to be a part of us?

Oh, I trust young Hankin passed on the good news?

I got your job back at the factory.

The Hankins have taken me on as a maid.

-You'll go back to the factory.

-This suits me better.

-Ow! You're hurting me!

-You'll go back to the factory.

Stop. Just stop! There's a baby!

How long do you think you can hide it from Hankin, eh?

They'll know it's yours.

Go back to the factory and I'll sort out the rest.

Don't - and you're on your own.

It's not me who'll be judged.

I judge you.

-What's happening?

-Helping Alf Rutter.

Same thing happened with the outbreak on Edale farm.

Getting it over quickly will help him with it.

Poor beggar.

Have you seen him?

Head stuck in a pint pot in The Lamb.

This can wait.

-Father won't like it.

-Father's not here.

Sir Piers Rayment. Wounded at the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644.

His mastiff stood by him for over a day, waiting for him to be rescued.

Marston Moor was over in two hours.

-What kept them?

-How do you know it was?

-We were there.

The Kilmartin Cavaliers, with Prince Rupert.

-Oh!

-And two centuries before that, Agincourt.

Oh, we were at Agincourt.

And just before that, to our eternal shame...

-Bannockburn.

-Our family's always been loyal...

..and commanded loyalty.

Even from Mastiffs.

I love dogs. I really love big dogs.

She's, sort of, like a child, isn't she?

My husband's name is, erm, was Allingham,

and it's a line prone to...sensitivity.

-Caro and George are Allinghams.

-And Edmund?

Well, I'd like to hear your assessment.

A worthy descendant of Sir Piers.

SHE LAUGHS

Fancy us both being at Agincourt!

SHE LAUGHS

FLIES BUZZ

Why do they burn them?

Fire purifies. It kills the bad left behind.

Father says the Holy Ghost is like a fire that cleans men's souls.

Men can be good.

Not all souls need burning.

I didn't believe him.

Very handsome.

-I know what you're doing, Mother.

-I know you know.

Harri Kilmartin is made for you and you are made for her.

# We were made for each other. #

Is this a song we're in?

Even Bairstow thinks you should be married.

Oh, does he? And if I don't want to be?

Then you must be strong with yourself

and think about what's best rather than what you want.

She runs with all the best people, my darling boy.

It's not as if you wouldn't have fun.

Hello, Eddie.

Hello, Harri.

I'm angry, Bert.

Lately, this anger,

it rises up so strong, so fast, I...

I wonder how I've hid from myself all this time.

Tell me.

Joe.

And his son.

You couldn't have done anything different.

-You didn't know.

-That's... No choice.

They decided and I was left with no part of it.

They assumed they were entitled to do what they did

and no part of him and...

..no part of Joe.

Alongside anger, there's fear,

because I want to do something about it all, like argue,

fight, vote, but I...

I'm scared it will hurt all of us.

You mean Father.

I don't know I can do this to him.

You have to.

You must.

Be kind, Bert. In your life.

DOOR OPENS

Where've you been?

Alf Rutter's farm.

To bed, Mary.

Why?

"Forgive those who trespass against us."

Is that all?

I don't understand.

The way he treated us!

The way his father was!

He'd have trampled us into mud if he had chance.

And he very nearly did. Where does it stop, Grace?

Who are we if no-one is to be judged?

FLOORBOARDS CREAK

Seven year ago,

our daughter, she wanted to name the first cow that we bought

and I laughed at her, I laughed in her face,

because of that man, cos... cos he'd made me hard.

And now we have 30 head of cattle and she's named all of them.

And I'm proud that I've changed enough for that to matter.

What are you saying?

What about me?

Where are you?

Where have you gone?

I'll swap you, a barrel of yours, for one of mine.

Ha-ha! No, sir! Election night, always a big night.

Phoebe.

Bert.

No rain today.

No.

-Parasol? For the sun?

-I'll walk.

This is the last time I'm doing this.

What?

We're not delivering milk to the station after today.

Oh. I see.

So, I won't see you.

I'm sorry about my mother.

Why? She's fabulous.

She's, er, a keen interferer.

Of course. She's organising her son's future happiness.

A happiness that apparently can only be realised through a good marriage.

She's right.

What do you mean?

I am sorry.

About the factory.

This is better.

Thank you.

And thank you for the, er...

I'm not very good at fighting.

Then, thank you even more.

Would you like to go dancing with me again?

I'm sorry.

DOOR CLOSES

Don't you have your own work to concern you, Gilbert?

Once you've finished that, you're to go to the post office.

I have been invited to tea by Lady Allingham.

Of course...

..Mrs Hankin.

Why are you following me?

So I'm there when you finally decide to talk to me.

And what would you like to talk about, Bert?

Flowers.

I want to take their pictures and you know all the names.

You have to address the flower by its name before taking the photograph?

Well, it's only polite.

You can drop me at the butchers.

Thank you.

Ready?

Come on, Molly.

MAN: It's your last chance to make your vote count.

Bill Gibby, vote Labour. Labour puts health and happiness first.

Madam, Bill Gibby, for the sake of our children, madam.

Vote Bill Gibby. Vote Labour.

-WOMAN:

-Edmund Allingham, madam.

Could we interest you in safety, prosperity?

May we have your vote for Edmund Allingham?

Norma Hankin has always had ideas above her station.

I have to starch the linen twice.

Oh! As if she isn't stiff enough already.

SHE SOBS

Oh, come on now, our Paul wouldn't want to see this.

I loved him, you know.

I know.

I'm in trouble, Margaret.

Please don't hate me.

Mr Hankin is quite the moderniser, Harriet.

He's, er, he's recently opened a dance hall.

Oh! I love dancing.

But I expect you'll find it a little more provincial

than what you're accustomed to in London.

DOOR OPENS

We're leaving.

-Big day.

-Mrs Hankin!

I take it we can count on you at the ballot box?

I went first thing this morning.

Edmund, of course.

CLEM: Best of luck, darling. Not that you need it.

Oh, I hear you've taken on Agnes Scrivener. Very generous of you.

Well, we've taken on one of the local girls as a maid.

Whether she'll turn out to be suitable or not...

There's so much one needs to teach them.

Still, it's a great kindness...

..given her condition.

Well, excuse me, ladies.

Can't keep Sheffield waiting.

CLEM: So are you a great exponent of this new Charleston, Harriet?

-Oh, yes!

-Good!

Any of those booths over there.

-And your name?

-George Allingham.

-There you go.

-Thank you.

-And your name?

It doesn't matter.

-How long would you have...

-For ever.

Leonardo da Vinci.

-What?

-As well as Michelangelo.

-Erm...

-Left-handers.

You can kiss me if you like.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

FOOTSTEPS

Agnes!

Did you think I wouldn't find out?

Ah! No! Please, Norma!

THEY GASP AND WHISPER

The shame of it! Absolute shame.

Stop that now.

She's pregnant!

I'm warning you, leave her alone.

She took employment under false pretences.

Remember who you are.

Both your mother and hers were workhouse babies - do you think that

you can speak to her like that just because you married a shopkeeper?

Go on, get out.

OUT!

Do not come back to my house.

I voted.

I wouldn't want to pass comment on that, Mr Eyre.

Lest I seem too sure of my opinions.

I'm sorry if I've...

You've taken against me, I have a right to know why.

It's just always about you.

Your opinions and your rights and hang the effect on anybody else.

What effect?

On who? On you?

And now you say nothing! You're a coward.

And you are a hypocrite!

You preach about socialism and then you go home to George Allingham.

You know nothing of my marriage!

I know that you've martyred yourself to it!

-Are you all right, Margaret?

-Yes, yes, yes...

No.

-Well, what is it?

-It's our Agnes. She's gone.

Gone?

Sheffield. Henry's taking her to the station now.

Come on.

Come on, Molly!

Agnes!

Agnes!

When I asked you and when you said no, was that because of the baby?

Was it just the baby?

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry, Gilbert.

TRAIN DROWNS HIM OUT

HE SHOUTS: Marry me, Agnes!

Yes!

Grace Middleton.

OK.

Take one of these and go to the booth at the end, please.

Thank you.

And then the world froze.

The votes were counted and nobody won.

The Conservatives had the most seats,

but not enough to form a government on their own.

So we waited, while down in Westminster they talked

and negotiated.

The whole country waited for 40 days and 40 nights...

..which makes it sound biblical.

In a way, in terms of how much it mattered, what turned on it, it was.

And then, 40 days later, a clear decision.

No coalition, one party in power.

I like to think that our village,

after the King,

was the first to know.

I wanted you to hear it first.

'Eyes like lions after slumber

'in unvanquishable number.

'Shake your chains to earth like dew.'

Which in sleep had fallen on you.

Ye are many...

..they are few.

SHE LAUGHS

Woo-hooo!

-You came home?

-Yes.

-Is it bad?

-Yes, it's bad.

It's a little early for whisky.

Only if one has slept.

Well, what's done is done.

Lady Macbeth and no hint of irony.

You've come a long way since Jane Austen.

We dropped our guard.

People have no idea what they've done.

Socialism is a cancer. It's stupid, wrong and dangerous

and I fought it with a narrow, parochial campaign.

Darling, your campaign...

Was too small. These are such important times.

I, I should have shouted it out.

Do you know what is happening to people in Russia

in the name of socialism? Do you have any idea what becomes

of a society, when character and personality is crushed by duty

to the state?

Bigger next time.

-Hmm?

-I can hear it.

-Hear what?

-The fight that's still left in you.

We will come back from this.

YOU...will come back from this.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

Bill, say a few words.

I've been your member of parliament for 40 days.

CHEERING

Now, today, I am here to tell you

that I'm a member of your new government!

CHEERING

I wanted to make my first speech here because this village has

come to mean so much to me during this campaign.

I'm humbled and privileged to represent you

and I make this promise to you now - we will not rest

until working people like you have proper wages,

safe working lives and a clear understanding

that you are equal in every way

to those who have always felt themselves superior to you.

I am of you, for you and I am with you, every single step of the way.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

DOOR OPENS

Abandoning me already?

There's no point now, is there?

What do you mean?

Losing wasn't part of the deal.

I wasn't aware that we'd finalised the terms.

People are never simple, Edmund.

We all have our secrets.

Our complications.

Marriage needn't be seen as restricting.

Ours could offer us more freedom than we've ever had.

Are you asking me to marry you?

I'm asking you to ask me to marry you.

-I'll drive.

-Where are we going?

Who knows?

Exciting, isn't it?

What the hell is wrong with you?

-What's his name?

-Sorry?

Give me my grandson's name!

The matter is closed.

That's my final word.

Yours is not the final word on anything any more.