Summer of Rockets

We're not going to run for it.

We most certainly are not.

Mr Petrukhin?

Yes, that's me.

You're a busy man, Mr Petrukhin, aren't you?

And who might you be?

I want you to come to this address at 10.30 precisely tomorrow morning.

This is a simple arrangement

which could be... extremely beneficial.

10.30 tomorrow? I don't think so.

As you said yourself, I'm a very busy man.

And what goes on at this address?

- What is it? - Well, be there tomorrow on the dot,

and then you'll find out who I am.

- Invitation? - I've got it here.

It's a little battered, I'm afraid.

It was in my hand in the car and it got like that.

Once they've started, nobody is allowed in.

But I'm not late yet, am I?

You're not late yet, but in a few seconds,

- you will be. - Can I pass, then,

so I make sure I'm not late?

Thank you.

I can't be late! I can't be.

- You are too late. - I had an accident getting into the car.

I've been ready for hours. This isn't fair at all.

Please, let me in.

Please.

I've never begged for anything, but I'm sort of begging now.

It's not possible, miss.

Can I have a peep?

Just for a moment.

Miss Alexandra Fitzwilliam.

Miss Lucinda Norton-Greene.

Miss Georgina Winstanley.

So, how was it?

Well... it happened.

I was there.

You met the Queen?

I met the Queen. Yes, Mum.

I was presented.

It was all... exciting.

- What did she say to you? - Hardly anything - it was very quick,

just kneeling in front of her and all that.

- Good! - Well, almost kneeling.

I'm glad.

Now you can look forward to the rest of the season.

So I can.

Miss, please!

No, no! You've got to let me in.

My parents will never forgive me!

- Please... - No!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, my shoe broke.

Your Majesty, my shoe broke! Oh...

No! No!

Your Majesty! No!

I was only a little late!

You have to understand, my shoe broke!

Thank God that didn't happen!

Ah!

Come in.

Go straight through, Mr Petrukhin.

Ah! Welcome, Mr Petrukhin. It is...

...exactly 10.30.

That's a good start.

- Please, have a seat. - Thank you for coming.

Are you Mr Macfarlane?

No, I'm Mr Field, this is Mr Denning.

There is no Mr Macfarlane.

- Is he dead? - He doesn't exist.

He never existed.

We work for the government, Mr Petrukhin.

Ah!

- I see. - A little subterfuge

is necessary because of the sensitivity of some of our work.

Hence these offices.

How do you like the furniture?

We bought it all very recently at the Ideal Home Exhibition.

Very up-to-the-minute.

- Exactly, which is what we're about. - Why on earth

- do you want to see me? - We want to see you, Mr Petrukhin,

because we're very interested in your staff locator.

Very interested indeed.

We think it may have possibilities for us.

That it might be useful

in certain government buildings, for instance.

In particular, various military establishments

- and high-security sites. - Does that make sense to you,

- Mr Petrukhin? - It does, yes, most certainly.

If you really are who you say you are - I will need to see proof.

And I will need to visit the sites personally.

No, no, we're not there yet.

We first had to meet you to satisfy ourselves

that you can keep this information completely confidential.

I'll need to tell my colleague, Mr Courtney Johnson, of course.

- We work together installing... - You will tell no-one.

No-one?

Absolutely no-one. Do you think you can do that?

Well, if that's really necessary,

then of course I can do that.

Really, Mr Petrukhin?

You're not going to say, "You'll never guess what happened -

"I was followed everywhere by this black car

"and these five men get out

"and walk towards me like they're going to kill me,

"and then they tell me to report to Macfarlane Investments,

"that turns out not to even exist.

"Instead it's a secret government organisation in strange offices

"filled with modern furniture"?

You wouldn't tell anybody that?

Because if it happened to me, I know I would.

I would have to tell someone.

But I won't.

Ah, there you are! Please, have a seat and see this.

You got my message that I would be dropping by?

Of course.

These ladies gave up a little of their lunch break

to see if this apparatus can help them hear the music.

I want to see if we can develop a hearing aid that's strong enough

so that they can hear more than just the vibrations of the sound.

We can send a rocket into space and maybe soon a man to the moon,

so we should be able to make everybody hear, shouldn't we?

Well, it's a start.

It most certainly is.

They're saying it worked.

I hope this is OK.

Oh, yes. I love disgustingly smelly cheese.

Really ripe ones.

Richard isn't so keen.

My God, that's strong!

And that is perfect.

You said in your message there was something you wished to say to me.

Yes. Well, I wanted to apologise,

really, because when you came to our house, Arthur -

Lord Wallington - was there, and I know he does ask a lot of questions.

A lot of very penetrating questions.

Well, this is ridiculous! You don't have to come and apologise

for giving us such a remarkable day - quite the opposite!

Remarkable?

Well, how was it remarkable?

Well, of course it was - seeing your tremendous garden,

your whole estate.

And little Sasha, he enjoyed himself, did he?

Absolutely, I'm sure he did.

He's quite a sensitive little boy, isn't he?

He is.

- But delightful. - Thank you.

I hope he's being delightful at his new school.

Ah, yes, yes, Marlham House.

- Oh, yes, I forgot you know it. - I do.

I just wanted to say I've come bearing another invitation

for you and your family. Every year we have a fete,

because of Richard being the local MP,

and we hold it in our garden,

and I just thought it might be something that you'd all enjoy.

Well, that would be marvellous!

- Ah, Courtney. You remember Mrs Shaw? - Of course.

Mr Samuel, I must have a word with you right now.

- Well? - Well, what?

Mr Samuel, you know exactly what I mean.

What happened with those men? What was it all about?

I can't tell you.

You can't tell me? Why?!

Because that's what they want.

- At the moment. - And who are "they"?

Who are these men who've forbidden you to say anything?

- I can't tell you. - You can't tell me that either?

I was there, remember. I saw them too.

Is it just me that's not allowed to know?

Nobody is allowed to know, Courtney.

Absolutely nobody.

"Dear Hanny, I'm writing this very, very quickly

"because they look at what you're writing

"and they want us to say how happy we are,

"and, Hanny, I can't say I'm very happy."

He's watching us like a hawk, that... - I heard that!

So you think you can whisper.

I can promise you I can detect any whisper at any time,

and unfortunately for you, Plumptree,

I heard exactly what you said.

Stand up!

Now follow me, Plumptree.

It will only be six strokes of the hairbrush today.

But next time, it will be more. Bend over.

I really nearly did hammer on the door with my broken shoe,

screaming, "Let me in! Let me in!"

I'll never be able to tell my parents what happened.

I just have to keep lying,

and it's so difficult with them because they always

- want to know everything... - Well...

we all have things we can't tell people.

You know, Hannah, it's the exact opposite of Cinderella, isn't it?

You never got to go to the ball!

Well, not that one, but I've got the whole bloody season now!

Three or four parties a week, all designed to pair me off

with some totally unsuitable chinless chap.

And what about your friends?

What do they think about you doing the season?

Truth is, I don't have many friends.