The Choral

I can't see the trenches can be any worse than this.

- -It's diabolical.

Nice of them to give us a bird.

When they've shot 200?

Yes. Very generous.

- -

Which way are you heading?

I'm on official business.

I'll hang back when you're giving them the sad news.

They're taking on down at The Choral.

Open auditions.

Blame the war. No men.

Blame it?

Class barrier's coming down. About time.

Mind you...

fat chance of a revolution here.

-Ramsden? -England.

We're fodder for the mill,

and we'll be fodder for the front.

Sorry, missus.

-Who's it from, Mam? -The King.

I'm sorry.

-Could've got in there, Lofty. -No...

Do you think?

Grief. It's an opportunity.

Behind you!

- -

Watch where you're going! Bloody hooligans.

-Thank you for your kindness. -No! Thank you.

How many's this?

Twelve? Fourteen?

-I've lost count. -Whew!

Very still.

Mind you, 'tis a special rate for recruits.

I'd be coining it if they fetched them home.

-Who? -The dead. I'd be laughing.

Nay, Herbert!

St. Matthew Passion. Auditions. Be sharp.

- -

Young man.

Mr. Trickett.

Aren't you in the choir at St. Wilfred's?

I was. -What happened?

Me voice broke.

Can you still sing?

A bit. Why?

Mr. Trickett and me are both in The Choral.

-On the committee. -We're having auditions. Now.

At the Jubilee Hall. -Him and me?

Anybody. Can you sing?

Aye. I can dance too, if necessary.

-Not in the Matthew Passion. -Don't be shy. We won't eat you.

I might.

I'm not keen, quite honestly,

and, anyway, they reckon to be quite choosy.

Although, now there's no night school, I'm going to be at a loose end.

-What happened to night school? -No teacher. Joined up.

Still, I don't fancy this.

The Choral Society.

-Me neither. -"Let the people sing"?

What for? You're no further on when you're done.

You've still got the status quo.

Excuse me, is this where they're doing the auditions?

-Ramsden Choral Society? -I believe it is, yes.

In fact, we were just going in ourselves, weren't we?

Poor wand'ring one

Though thou hast surely strayed

Take heart of grace, thy steps retrace

Poor wand'ring...

Not today, thank you. We're busy.

I've come for the audition. Mary Lockwood.

Take a seat, young lady.

I thought she was collecting.

They always are, the Salvation Army.

Can help thee find true peace of mind...

It's your bonnet.

Puts them off.

-Do you never take it off? -No.

Not even in bed?

Take any heart but ours

Take heart, fair days will shine

Take any heart...

We're contraltos. Are you a contralto?

I'm... I just like to sing.

Well, you belong over there. We're not auditioning.

-Are we, Vera? -No, we're longstanding.

We're the backbone.

Can help thee find true peace of mind

My poor

Wand'ring one

Thank you, Miss Proctor.

Miss Holmes, you're next.

Oh, hello.

This is Clyde's girlfriend. Missing in action.

-Any news? -No.

He was the best tenor we ever had.

"Was"? He's only missing. It's not been confirmed.

He's still my boyfriend.

Yes, he'll turn up.

Not yet, I hope.

I always hold in having it if you fancy it

If you fancy it, that's understood

And suppose it makes you fat? I don't worry over that

'Cause a little of what you fancy

Does you good

All right, all right.

Before you go on...

there's one or two new faces in the hall today.

You should introduce yourself.

-What? -Tell them who you are.

They know who I am.

No. Here.

I'm Alderman Duxbury. And you all know me from the mill.

But this isn't the mill, it's The Choral.

And we're all equal here.

Oh, yeah?

The person you've got to watch out for isn't me.

It's the chorus master, Mr. Pollard.

Keep on the right side of him and you won't go far wrong.

The point is, should you be lucky enough to be selected,

you will be expected to comport yourselves accordingly.

I hope I make myself plain.

Don't worry, Mr. Duxbury, I've got a sacred side.

I mean, you lad, you're black bright.

-I've just come from mill. -Whose mill?

-Yours. -

All right. Who's next?

Joining up?

Why now?

I feel it's my patriotic duty.

Why don't you wait for your call-up papers?

It'll still be patriotic.

Well, what about these today? Do we take them or not?

-Uh, some of the lasses are good. -It's not lasses we want.

Uh, the lads are all right.

"All right"?

"All right"? This is The Choral.

Good strong voices. They just want a little encouragement.

Well, this is it.

I suppose I'd better...

Joe.

-Vicar. -God be with you.

-Mr. Trickett. -Good luck, lad.

I hope he puts the wind up the Germans more than he ever did the sopranos.

Gilbert.

And think on, Gilbert.

Don't be the first.

At what?

Fighting. Anything.

Don't worry about me, Mr. Duxbury. Too smart to get shot.

Oh, God, that's not to say...

-I don't mean... -Nay, lad.

Off you go and good luck.

We'll find someone to keep us in shape while you're away.

Ready, Gilbert? Very still.

What about Arthur Fox?

Neville Widdop?

No grip. The Choral needs grip.

There's always Irvine Price.

Not for me there isn't.

Divorced.

I'm going to say a name.

But I don't want to be shot down.

Who's shooting you down?

No one, yet. But when I open my mouth...

What's the matter, Margaret?

I heard voices.

It's the committee, love. I told you.

We're looking for a new chorus master.

Pollard's gone and joined up, the great barmpot.

Go upstairs, love.

We'll not disturb you.

Go on then, Joe.

What?

Your name. Out with it.

-Dr. Guthrie. -

-What? -Henry Guthrie.

No. No. No, no.

-He's back. -I daresay he is.

And, frankly, in other circumstances,

he wouldn't even consider the likes of us.

-Isn't Guthrie...? Yes.

He's been living and working in Germany. By choice.

He had musical opportunities. You can understand it.

He had musical opportunities here. But he preferred Germany

as having better choirs.

-Treachery. -He worked wonders at Leeds.

He was despised.

Folk were terrified.

He's an atheist.

That's why Leeds got rid of him.

Well, there are atheists now.

There's one in Bradford.

Not conducting the Matthew Passion.