The Hireling

Lady Franklin!

Lady Franklin!

- Lady Franklin! - Get out of it!

- Lady Franklin! - She's over by the pond.

Lady Franklin, Dr Mercer is waiting to see you.

- Dr Mercer's waiting to see me? - To see you before you leave.

- To see me before I leave. - Today, Lady Franklin.

You're leaving today, you remember?

Now, Louise, come along. It's much too cold out here.

Go back to the house.

This way.

- Are... Are you sure it was today? - Yes.

I'm not absolutely certain it's convenient today.

# Over The Hills And Far Away

# Over the hills and far away

# Were I sold on lndian soil

# Soon as the burning day was clos'd...

I do feel better most of the time.

Still a little down in the mornings, hm?

Yes.

Your general health is really very good now, Lady Franklin.

It has been a rest.

Well, a nervous breakdown requires a rest from the world,

as much as it does drugs or understanding.

But everybody's been very understanding.

I want you to continue the pills...for a while.

They do help.

Yes, they help to even out your moods.

Oh, yes, they do.

I feel much more even.

I did it deliberately, you know. Quite deliberately.

Now, Lady Franklin, we've been over this often before. You were disturbed.

- Depressed. - It was intentional.

Yes, of course. A symptom of your depression.

Now that's over and done with.

I still feel it a little bit in the mornings.

You need people now.

A normal life.

Don't know many people.

- In London, you see, we didn't really know... - Well, make new country friends.

Find new activities.

So...I'm ready to go, then.

You are.

Well, then, I suppose I must.

Norman!

Well, goodbye, then, Lady Franklin. Please don't hesitate to...

Oh, Sister...

Please call me if you should be worried about anything. If I'm not here...

- Norman... - Sister will know where I can be reached.

Please give my regards to your mother when you see her.

Nice to see you looking so well.

Lansdowne Crescent, my lady?

What?

Lansdowne Crescent, my lady?

- What did you say? - Lansdowne Crescent, my lady?

Yes, thank you very much.

Are you employed by my mother?

We're a private car hire firm, my lady.

Quite large. I don't know who booked the job.

I suppose it was my mother.

Expect it was, yes, my lady.

Like the window up, my lady?

No, thank you.

But if you'd like it...

I don't mind at all, my lady.

Well, perhaps, then.

If you...don't really mind.

Doesn't bother me either way, my lady.

- Perhaps it would be better closed. - Certainly, my lady.

Good driving is really quite an art, I suppose.

Well, I don't know about an art, exactly.

More of a skill, perhaps.

A skill, then.

- More of a knack, perhaps. - Yes, that does describe it very well.

A knack.

I really am...going to have to learn...the knack.

Driving, do you mean, my lady?

Mm? Talking to people.

You seem quite good at that, my lady. I mean...

you're chatting away to me all right.

- So I am. - You certainly are.

Yes, I am, aren't l?

Do you prefer any particular route, my lady?

Not really.

Such fun, just driving along like this.

Would you go via Radley, please?

Certainly, my lady.

Would you slow down for a moment, please?

Look what I've got!

We've passed it.

Beg your pardon, my lady?

Helen, my darling.

- Hello, Mother. - How was the journey?

- Where do I send the account? - Send it to Radley Grange, if you would.

- Thank you very much for a very pleasant ride. - Thank you, my lady.

I must say, you look quite transformed.

You look quite transformed.

More relaxed.

You do feel better, don't you?

I feel a little bit as though...

as if it...

- I feel better. - You must get out more.

Everyone will want to see you, now that you're...

Cream?

You must make friends here, Helen.

Local people can be quite fun.

Do you have sugar? I can't remember.

Sugar - two.

After all, Tom...did r-represent the county... i-in Parliament...

..in Parliament, didn't he?

We had very few friends here.

Yes, well...

I don't think London society was very good for you.

It was too demanding.

But it's all I know.

I'm going to Paris next week and I shall arrange for you to meet some nice people here.

- Oh, Mother, l... - Helen, really, you must make an effort.

- I'd rather you didn't, really. - Look, you can't go on mourning.

- Mother... - You're young...

Please, I'm...

Did that doctor...fellow suggest anything?

Yes.

You've always resented me, haven't you, Helen?

Just because I didn't hide myself away in black the moment your father died.

- Of course, if he were alive... - Mother, he's not here. He is dead too.

I hope you're not going to become bitter, Helen.

Something to eat?

...at the front, George.

Helen...

Please, Helen, please.

Wasn't here.

They need...

They needed me.

I wasn't...

I was away.

I was away and they needed me, they needed me, Mother!

I was away at a party.

A party.

At a party...at a party...

At a party...

- Change the oil. - Right.

- Check the tappets. - Right, right.

- Worried about that gasket. - Nothing wrong with it.

- Check it again! - Come on, Steven, she's running like a bird.

- Got to give perfect service in this business. - She will.

She is beautiful.

I admit she was a bargain.

Keep her clean.

Put that rocker cover back.

- All right, Sergeant Major. - Put on a good show for the customers.

- That's your department. - I want to build up a first-class business here.

First-class business with first-class accounts.

Like that Lady Franklin yesterday. She's a good account.

Oh, yes, she phoned.

- Why didn't you tell me before? - Didn't make no booking. Just asked you to call.

Here I am, trying to build up a business, you don't give me the orders?

You get her ready immediately!

I remembered, didn't l?

Beautiful? Bloody wearing me out, she is.

Right, then, Lady Franklin.

Very kind of you to think of us, my lady.

Just have to check the bookings to make sure I'm available.

- You want a cup of tea? - Yeah.

My lady? Yes, that'll be quite all right, my lady.

Bath to Radley. Thank you.

Told you she'd be a good client.

Funny woman, though.

- How do you mean? - I don't know. She is a funny woman.

- Do you live near your work? - Have to, my lady. Always on call, you see.

Would you rather live in the country? I'm not sure I do.

- Nice to have a bit of green around. - Nice. Very nice for children.

- Children like that, don't they? - Yes.

- How many do you have? - Children?

Yes.

Two, my lady.

Did you say two?

Yes, two.

We didn't have any children.

How old are they?

The girl, erm...Mary...

she's just going on four.

And, er...the boy... young Steven, he's almost ten.

He is at school, then?

Grammar school, my lady.

Ten? That's very good, isn't it?

Yes, very good.

- What will you do with him? - You mean in regards to work?

- Yes. - Well, the army, I think.

Reckon it did pretty well for me.

Even during the war.

Regular soldier, were you?

Regimental Sergeant Major, I finished up, my lady.

And what about your wife?

What does she...? Ah, we turn left here.

Thank you, my lady.

My lady?

My lady, are you all right?

Can I do it for you, my lady?

My lady...

My lady?