Episode 6 The Village

This programme contains some strong language

He's going to speak again.

And when he does, he'll tell us why he was there.

And what he saw.

He wanted nothing to do with the trespass,

so why would he even be there?

I don't know.

Right, ready?

Easy...

That's it.

Try and put these in order.

Start at the beginning.

Here.

My father came to see me. He is being relocated.

So I'll finish this and then I'll be leaving the village.

Sit with me.

The day before I came here, I saw an old man

and an old lady sitting on a bench on the station platform.

They didn't know each other.

I wanted to pick up her hand and put it in his.

But you didn't.

I did.

What happened?

They got on the train. He helped her up onto the carriage.

Happy ever after.

What is it, Bert?

I want my father back.

He's getting better. Isn't he?

I, I want him back and...I don't want him back.

I don't understand.

Ask my mother.

Bert?

I don't know what you're saying.

But I know that your mother is a good woman.

I'd better go.

This is your home now.

You can be yourself here.

You've...

Oh. Yes, er... Off duty.

Give me that. You go on up.

FOOTSTEPS ON STAIRS

You remember Joy? Married love.

Advice on, er...

'It's all upside down.'

The world.

She's gone, you know, Martha, wretched woman.

And to think she's teaching our children!

Count the horrors. It's a plague of scandals.

Try to think of them as embarrassments or awkwardnesses, Mother.

My son in bed with a housemaid in a public house.

A divorce case looming, the humiliation of that trial.

-Awkwardnesses, Edmund?

-Well, I think George...

The sex instinct is powerful and, and, and, and it's, it's

wholesome, but when it's misaligned the consequences are terrible.

-Mother.

-And there's too much misalignment in this house.

I mean, look to yourself, Edmund.

Homosex is filthy and perverted, is it not?

When the urge comes, can't you just...think of something else?

Such as?

Me?

SHE CHUCKLES

HE LAUGHS

Please.

Please.

You want an heir.

You already have one.

My son.

Oh.

Mother?

Look, there is no such child.

There will be no divorce,

and you will give me a grandchild.

Why don't you want children?

They make me think about death.

Death?

Well, they come after us.

They move us along the shelf, closer to the big drop at the end.

But they're the part of us that we leave behind when we're gone.

Bloodline, Harry.

I want to live a deep, full life, I don't want a child in my way

and I don't want to think about afterwards.

I want to dance, all the way along the shelf,

and then fall off still dancing.

-What are you talking about?

-20th century.

-Well, I won't have it.

-I don't think you have a choice.

My children are in pain!

And each of them has been hurt by modern times.

I'm not going to stand by and watch them suffer.

What are you going to do?

Save them!

Who first?

George, I think.

May I make a suggestion?

That we pay a visit to Martha.

Wicked Martha.

DOOR OPENS

Bairstow?

What the hell do you want?

Your help.

HE CHUCKLES

With what?

A reservoir.

The blue.

The village?

The village!

You want to flood the village?!

Dirty water kills.

Sheffield has dirty water.

People die because they don't have clean water.

This reservoir would give it to them.

There are some things sacred and beyond argument.

This land, our heritage, our history.

You can't touch any of them.

Goodbye, Mr Gibby.

DOOR OPENS AND SHUTS

You teach them hopscotch, I hear.

Mrs Allingham wasn't available?

No.

No. Otherwise engaged, no doubt.

Well, why don't you show us?

Hmm?

Hopscotch. I don't think I can remember how.

But you, it seems, have a talent for teaching the fairer sex

how to hop about,

Mr... I don't know what to call you.

My daughter-in-law's special friend.

Or...Mrs Allingham's gentleman companion. Or...

He's my lover.

No more lies and half truths.

Martha.

Let her hear it. Let everyone hear it, because it's true.

There's been too much not talking.

Well, one consequence of your... talking...

Harriet, why don't you tell them?

For the law to allow a divorce there has to be an innocent party

and a guilty party.

George with the maid in The Lamb - not innocent.

You with Mr Eyre -

not innocent.

Two guilty parties.

No divorce without a victim, I'm afraid, Mrs Allingham.

We'll see you back at the house.

George is waiting.

BELLS CHIME

MURMUR OF CONVERSATION

Hello.

INAUDIBLE

What did your father do?

Why?

Just asking.

No, you're not.

You don't like it when it's you being asked the questions, do you?

I wonder why that is.

He died young.

How young?

I was a baby.

What did he die from?

What do you want, Gibby?

He listens to you, Allingham, doesn't he?

It's my job.

Is that it? Is that all?

Because this reservoir would mean the difference between

life and death to the poor families of Sheffield.

Remember who you are.

He didn't have the courage

to come back for the trial. Oh, no.

Fancy speeches leading the people on and disappears

when the going gets tough.

So why is he here now?

I don't pretend to know but I think

Grace Middleton just might be the person to ask.

-Yes.

-Don't you?

Er, how can I help you?

I'll have a banana.

-One banana?

-Please.

Er, please don't do that.

What?

Eating in a public place.

Oh, well done, Agnes.

Thank you.

And you are a very lucky girl.

Imagine having a grandmother with a shop!

Does Granny give you gobstoppers?

I may be a grandmother!

But I am also with child.

Norma, have I just heard right?

Yes...

I'm going to be a mother.

Come here!

Come here!

Ah, we're going to have a baby!

Remember when you said that you could swim to the other side

and Edmund said you couldn't?

And you did.

Another time.

Well, I wanted to swim after you, but Mother wouldn't let me.

CHICKENS CLUCK

Hello?

FOOTSTEPS ON STAIRS

It's been ten years.

I try to imagine what he would look now if I could remember what

he looked like when he was a baby,

but I can't, I can't picture my own son, then or now.

His eyes, maybe. What about the colour of his eyes?

His hair?

I can't remember, but I want him back.

-Well, could you not find him?

-They won't tell me where he is.

You could find out.

Erm, there must be records and a woman in your position...

Date of birth, name...

I, I don't know his name.

My family never mentioned him and I'm not allowed to speak about him.

He doesn't exist.

So I promised myself I wouldn't say his name out loud

until I can say it to him.

Why did you come now?

I just wanted to make sure that you would want to see him.

See him?

There isn't a day goes by without me longing to see him.

There's a bond between a mother and her child that does not break.

Doesn't matter who wants to break it or why - it cannot...

It will not be broken.

A mother has no choice in that.

It's there - deeper than memory.

I'm sorry, I'm not helping you. I don't know how to help.

Oh, you have.

George is saved. I was brilliant.

It'll be me next.

Darlings, you missed your honeymoon.

Caro!

I want my son back.

-She's overwrought.

-What's the answer to her question?

I think it's best for everyone if we let that one lie.

Everyone, meaning you. Is it best for Caro?

It's in the best interests of the child.

An illegitimate child doesn't want to know he's illegitimate,

does he?

Very probably he's a degenerate.

Why? Because his mother is?

Passed on from slut mother to bastard son.

Don't you ever speak about my sister like that! Ever again!

It's what you were saying - only you dress it up in fine words.

What are you frightened it'll be?

An invert, or a hypocrite?

Or both? Oh, no, no, then he'd be you, wouldn't he,

Home Secretary?

You're forgetting yourself, Bairstow.

Might be worth remembering where you came from and where

I could send you back to.

The Mission Of Hope. Speak to the woman who runs it.

And test the tightness of their security.

I'm starting to think that you're unbeatable.

Thank you.

I don't know what to do.

Resign.

Give up.

I've won.

DOOR OPENS

Martha? What is it?

-The law.

-What about it?

It says there'll be no divorce.

It insists that a marriage that nobody

apart from Lady Allingham wants must carry on.

I'm trapped.

No, you're not.

Go. Just go somewhere.

Anywhere. Leave the village and the Allinghams far behind you.

Five, four, three, two, one.

Good.

I'm sorry.

HE TRIES TO SPEAK

Again?

INDISTINCT

INDISTINCT

Buh.

Good.

Muh.

Good.

Fuh.

Good.

Mother.

Talk to me.

THUNDER RUMBLES

You saw it.

His anger with her. And...

And he wouldn't even try to...

To what?

To say it.

To say what?

Her name!

He wouldn't say her name, Phoebe.

Is she a repeater?

I'm sorry?

Four or five times some of our mothers come back to us.

No, she's not a repeater.

And I didn't ask you here to give me a lesson on morality.

Oh.

Not my cup of fucking tea, frankly, Mrs Winkworth.

Why am I here?

What if a mother wants her child back?

What if she's changed her mind about giving it up?

You will understand we have to guarantee to adopting parents

that a natural mother will not...

£1,000.

FLOORBOARDS CREAK

I want you to talk to Caro.

It has to be you because you're the one she listens to.

She has to be told to forget her son.

It's eating her up. She must be free of it.

Make it final, George.

Leave no room.

Martha said I could trust you.

Did she?

Who knows where he is, my son?

-Edmund?

-There's something... nobody has told you.

What is it, George?

He died. Your son.

A year ago.

I'm so sorry, Caro,

you must forget him.

FOOTSTEPS ON STAIRS

George?

Done?

Well, it's for the best. How is she?

Christ, what's that?

Mission Of Hope? Mission of hard noses, more like.

She didn't tell you where the boy had gone?

I offered her £1,000, she didn't even blink.

Well, then, we're safe.

Who does know?

Me.

The oldest first.

Do you remember... what happened before you were hit?

What did you see?

Caro!

Caro!

No, don't!

Caro! Don't!

Caro! Caro!

Caro! Bairstow!

Caro!

Come on, man!

Caro?

Caro! No, no, no, no...

Caro! Caro!

Caro!

Cough it up.

SHE SPLUTTERS

Don't tell Mummy.

DOOR OPENS

How is she?

How is she?

I know where he is.

CHILDREN SINGING

There are teaching posts in Chesterfield...and Sheffield.

No.

HE SIGHS

What?

Africa.

Yes! Yes, yes.

When?

HAMMERING

'You taught me everything.'

You made me feel like I could be someone.

We were in a cell together, and you didn't tell me.

I'm so sorry.

Is that all?

I lied to you and I've been weak.

And I'm proud of neither and I will regret it for the rest of my life.

You've come for my forgiveness.

Yes, I have.

I can't give it.

It'd just be another lie.

And I can't do that.

You were like a brother to me.

Bathhouse tonight.

-But...

-I won't be here next week so take advantage of me now.

I'll sit with him.

You're going.

The wall's almost finished.

When are you...?

Tomorrow.

My son's the biggest fool in the world if he doesn't want you.

As you all know, I have special affection for this village.

It was my very great privilege to represent you in Parliament

for the ten months we were in power.

Why am I back here?

Well, I'm now the leader of Sheffield Council

and I bring you good news.

-There will be hard times ahead.

-Good news!

And jobs and wages will matter more than they ever have.

My good news is, you will have them.

There is a new reservoir to be made.

Valve houses, a new aqueduct, a dam - all to be built.

Where they going to put it?

There are four different proposals.

The decision making process has some way to run.

I just wanted to let you into the good news early

so that you can plan a future.

APPLAUSE

Any questions, I'm here to take them, one-to-one.

Right, who's next?

You don't remember me.

Bert Middleton. What's your question, Bert?

Why would you remember me?

A boxer like you - of course I remember you.

How's your father doing? Has he spoken?

Not really.

I'm sorry.

Actually, he has started to speak.

Good. Good. And what did the doctor say?

He might recover full speech.

Well, that's wonderful.

Then we'll know about his memory.

He'll be able to tell us what happened that day. And why.

Very good.

So, have you got a question, Bert?

No.

-Night, girls.

-See you, Margaret.

Now if I were a gossip, the first thing I'd want to know is,

has Bill Gibby been up to Middleton Farm to see John Middleton?

No, he hasn't, Norma.

Hmm, then I'd want to know why not.

If you were a gossip.

John Middleton got his brain bashed in on Bill Gibby's protest lark

and he hasn't been to see him?

Why not?

Probably because he doesn't want to give you

any more feed for your gossip!

Right, then.

Where are you going?

The Lamb.

Norma Hankin is too stupid to do you any harm.

It's the men looking into their pint pots, muttering darkly.

They're the danger.

You're a good friend, Margaret Boden.

I've watched you grow into yourself, Grace.

You've said things that I never even knew that I thought

till I heard you say them.

I'll always be your friend, but I need you to carry on talking.

Oh, don't look at me like that.

You'll have us both crying in the street and then where will we be?

HUBBUB OF CONVERSATION AND LAUGHTER

HUBBUB DIES DOWN

Right!

Any loose talk you've got about Grace Middleton,

-will be heard by me.

-All right!

And if you can't say it in my hearing then it ain't worth

the breath that it come out on.

I'm all ears!

It's a bit more than ears, Margaret.

LAUGHTER

So much more, ducky. So much more.

Can I talk to you for a minute?

Just for a minute.

Up here.

Is John getting better?

Yes.

Cos Bert, he, er...

-Bert?

-He came to the meeting and he seemed...

What meeting? Why are you here?

It would cause me terrible political embarrassment if...

If what?

If your husband or your son were to say anything about you and me.

Nothing happened.

But your husband suspects and your son came to my meeting

and looked at me like he'd kill me given half a chance.

Why are you here?

CHATTER

She made me an offer.

Spit it out, Alf!

When the Middletons were in debt to me, she offered to pay me in kind.

That's a lie.

Beer tent, day of the boxing - she came and found me.

-Let's go.

-What?

You can put it to her, face-to-face like a man!

LAUGHTER

What's the matter, Alf? Have you lost your nerve?

-Ooh!

-Hey!

Come on, you lot!

# Blow the wind southerly, southerly, southerly

# Blow the wind south o'er the bonnie blue sea

# Blow the wind...

# Southerly, southerly, southerly

# Blow the wind south o'er the bonnie blue sea

# Blow the wind southerly, southerly, southerly

# Blow the wind south o'er the bonnie blue sea. #

I haven't told them yet.

Told them what?

The reservoir will be here.

-Right here.

-The village?

The people of Sheffield need clean drinking water, the slums...

You're going to drown the village?

It has to be.

You made this the centre of your political life,

you made me and everyone else...

If you could see what I've seen. The way these people suffer...

No, no, no! This is our land!

My family have lived here for hundreds of years.

This is all of us, all of me. Look at my hands.

-Grace.

-Look at them! Under my finger nails, under my skin.

You can't do this.

Look at them!

-Grace...

-You'd be drowning me.

Margaret. Margaret! Margaret!

MUTTERED REACTIONS

MAN: In broad daylight, with Bill Gibby? With your John and all.

In his bed.

Grace! You've got to come, now!

# Blow the wind southerly, southerly, southerly

# Blow the wind south o'er the bonnie blue sea

# Blow the wind southerly, southerly, southerly

# Blow the wind south o'er the bonnie blue sea. #

You've come back to us.

Talk to me, John. Hm?

Tell me what happened.

Father?

You were singing the words in the song clear as day.

Talk to me.

# Blow the wind southerly, southerly... #

I don't understand.

# Blow the wind southerly, southerly... #

If he can sing, he can speak.

-Bert.

-No!

Tuh.

Tuh.

Buh.

Buh.

Buh. Tuh.

Buh. Tuh.

Bur-tuh.

Bur-tuh.

Burt.

Burt.

What's my name?

I'm proud of him.

But he won't say your name. Why not?

-I don't know.

-Won't or can't?

But why do you think?

Eat up, Mary.

Mother?

I don't know. Why are you attacking me, Bert?

Was I?

I'm your mother and you may well be doing the job that your father

used to do, but you are still my son!

And I will not have you speak to me like that!

-Do you understand?

-You...

Do you understand?!

When?

Four o'clock.

Will I see you again?

My mother's death has made me honest.

That's all she ever asked of me.

You won't ever see me again.

You have to work out who to trust and love.

And then you have to trust and love them.

Grace Middleton is a good woman! Believe me.

INAUDIBLE

In you go.

What shall I say?

Just tell them who you are.

CLOCK TICKS

DOOR CLOSES

Who am I?

Come with me.

SHE CLEARS HER THROAT

Caro?

Caro?

SHE SNIFFS

SHE GASPS

SHE CRIES

Buh...

Burt!

Burt!

Hu... Who are you?

My name's Joe.

This, this is your father.

And this is your uncle.

Are you my sister? Have I got a big sister?

No. I'm...

I don't know what I am, really.

You told George where the child was.

Yes, I did.

Expressly against my wishes, which is

why you'll be leaving this house and my employment by the end of today.

In which case The Daily Mail will have to change

its front page for the morning.

Sorry?

I don't know how the nation will take to a homosexual Home Secretary.

About as well as you've taken to your new nephew, I would suggest.

You and me, Allingham. Hand in glove.

I want to talk to you.

Are you ready?

Mother? Where are we going?

HUBBUB OF CHATTER

There's a great threat to us all that has not yet been announced.

I'm announcing it now.

HUBBUB DIES DOWN

Our village will be drowned.

-You what?

-Eh?

Where we stand now will no longer exist as dry land.

MURMURED REACTIONS

Your homes will not survive.

Our school, our church, our chapel, our bathhouse,

the places where we meet to talk and argue and love - all gone.

I was born here.

My family have lived here for 200 years.

And it is my intention that we will still be here, 200 years from now.

APPLAUSE

I have been tempted away from home by excitement and passion...

..both of which are a part of politics.

It is a great temptation to let passion take over your life

but that would be to forget

and betray all that is at the heart of what REALLY matters.

It has become clear to me that it is my home, my family, MY village,

and all of those that live here are what I really care about.

And I hope I judge you right when I say THIS is OUR fight

and as long as we have breath in our bodies this will be our village!

APPLAUSE AND CHEERS

We may be small but we will be heard

and what we say will echo over these hills and far beyond

so that in years to come people will say, "That was a voice.

"There was a village that filled its lungs

"and called out for what it stood for."

And if those who want to drown us think they can do it,

then they do not understand

and they will never understand

who we are and what we can be together.

APPLAUSE

Phoebe!

John.

Grace.

HE YELLS

SHE YELLS

Phoebe!

You finished it?

Yeah.

Will you marry me?

No.

Will you marry me?

Yes.

Yes.