The Buccaneers

Ladies and gentlemen,

as many of you know,

this is our fifth year of fundraising for the school.

A cause incredibly close to my heart.

And I'd like to thank my fiancée Lizzy Elmsworth for her support!

Now, we are just £300 short of the target.

So please, dig deep as we start the bidding.

Who would pay money for that? It's so ugly.

- Anyone wanna start us off? - Ten pounds.

Ten pounds. Thank you, Honoria.

- Ten pounds. - Do you have £10?

Fifteen.

- Twenty. - Twenty pounds, Honoria.

- Back to you. - Do you want it? It's ugly.

Any advance on that?

- Twenty-five. - Twenty-five.

- Thirty! - Thirty.

- You're out of control. -

- Excellent. Can anybody top that? -

Any advance on £30?

£350.

Wha... Um...

Your Grace!

Unexpectedly, ladies and gentlemen, the duke.

So, we have our highest bidder.

Whoo!

His Grace!

- - Oh, good.

- Oh, great. You got the vase. - Yeah.

Thank you.

Your Grace, what a pleasure to have you with us today.

I hope you don't mind my, um, dropping in.

No, not at all. We are thrilled that you could make it.

And how generous of you! That was quite a bid!

Please. It was nothing.

Well, perhaps not for a duke.

But I can assure you, for us mere mortals, it's quite the sum.

Is the Duchess...

Oh, yes. She ran away in the night.

Finally had enough of me.

She's suffering with a, uh, head cold.

Oh, sorry to hear it. You'll send our best for a swift recovery.

I mean, the wedding's in two weeks.

I know that Lizzy would be devastated if Nan wasn't there.

Ciao. Uh, three of these, and one of those, please. Thank you.

Nan!

- Jinny. - Is it you?

Are you really here?

I missed you so much.

- I missed you so much. - You look so beautiful.

Nan, there's someone you should meet. This is Freddie.

Freddie, this is your aunt Nan.

- He is just... - Isn't he?

- Hi, Freddie. -

How is this possible? How are you here?

Um, when I found out where you were, I just ran.

I left Theo to be with you, to be with the both of you.

I'm not going back.

Wait till you see the house. I mean, it's only small.

But the view's pretty. And we've made it a home.

We weren't expecting guests.

Oh, no.

No.

It's not exactly a castle.

It's, uh... It's perfect.

So, Nan... God, tell me.

How is life as a duchess? All the balls and the banquets?

Oh. Um, fine.

W-We've been following your work in the papers.

It's all I could do not to buy every copy and shout from the rooftops,

"That's my sister changing the world."

Everything seemed like it was going so well.

But now you're here.

Did something happen? With Theo?

Uh, lemon.

I need a lemon.

- -

I'm still trying to remember everybody's names.

The...

...Williams, Watsons, Wilkinsons.

Just a whole lot of W's.

I'm sorry, am I boring you?

Not at all.

I don't know what got into Hector earlier.

There's been a lot to organize with the fundraiser and the wedding.

But how have you been?

If that's not a ridiculous question.

Numb.

At first.

- But now I've never felt more alert. - You don't have to say that.

Actually, it's more than alert.

It's like I've been underwater for months and I've finally broken the surface.

I can breathe again.

And my wife left me. It happens.

Just because it happens doesn't mean it's not painful.

My life isn't over, Lizzy.

- - In fact,

I think it might just be getting started.

What do you want, Theo?

Another drink.

To begin with.

Really?

Conchita...

- I'll see you soon. - See you soon.

I mean, we've found the one, surely? He's charming.

- - He's so handsome. He's witty.

Are you in love with him, Dicky?

I mean for Mabel.

Come on, don't-don't you think they'd get along?

Plus, the advance from her mother has already gone on bills.

I know. I'm the one that paid them.

And if Mabel's not interested in that remarkably well-rounded young man, then...

You'll marry him.

Ma'am?

I'm quite capable, thank you, Gerald.

Though I can't quite fathom how this has gone rotten overnight.

Best to be rid of it, I suppose. Even if it does seem a waste.

Running away, Blanche?

I'd have thought that a dowager duchess

would have people to do this sort of thing.

It's good for the spirit. Apparently.

I hope you don't mind my intruding.

I did write to Tintagel, only my letter was returned.

Hmm. Well, how did you know I'd be here?

This was always where you came when times were turbulent.

You mean when my mother and I were at each other's throats.

Oh, the shouting, the airborne plates.

It's only recently occurred to me,

she might have been telling the truth

when she said she had my best interests at heart.

I read the Duchess has been unwell.

And given our last meeting, I couldn't help wondering,

and please tell me if I'm speaking out of turn...

You're speaking out of turn.

The Duchess is gone.

Gone?

And Theo's not speaking to me.

It'll blow over in time.

But until then, I'm his mother

so of course, I'm in the firing line for his entire life.

- Naturally. - Hmm.

You know, I think we have been going about this all the wrong way.

- - Bravo.

And this is the hallway.

- Obviously. Uh, - Hmm.

these are the bedrooms.

Oh, uh, you can stay in my bed.

I mean, I'll sleep downstairs.

I'll just let you unpack.

- Aw, you're so good. - Yeah. Clever boy.

- You want him. Here. -

That's it.

That was really a proper smile, I think he was saving it for you.

Do you like him?

- What? - You and Guy, are you...

- Nan. - I gave up everything for you.

And all this time you were just playing house. Living my life.

I know.

And I would do it a hundred times over.

Now that I'm here, it feels like Guy is still miles away.

No.

We're playing doubles, if you'd care to join.

Absolutely not. You know how I feel about racket sports.

Uh, we're not that desperate. I was talking to Mabel.

Oh, thanks.

Understandable. I'm embarrassingly skilled.

Well, Conchita says you have a fine backhand,

and I've just bumped into an old school pal I'm rather keen to beat.

- Go on then. -

I'm attached to this punch.

- Ready? -

You are wonderful.

Thank you.

- - Conchita.

You have an exquisite forehand.

- Incredible work. - You were amazing.

All right, let's grab a drink. I'm sure you're tired of losing to me.

No, wait. Mabel. Just one more game.

I'm gonna help Honoria with that punch.

Uh, just me and you.

Did you pine for me?