Hyde Park on Hudson

Back then,

this is years ago,

I couldn't afford secrets.

I just had chores.

As a child growing up,

we had been rich.

And then, well,

we weren't.

And like most people during the Depression,

I now lived each day as it came no longer expecting anything.

Waiting.

For nothing.

And then...

Hello?

My dear,

- I'm afraid I must presume on your good nature. - What?

Shhh... Quiet!

Sinus?

Now I would like you to come over, and I shall expect you this afternoon.

- Yes... - Thank you so much.

Did someone die?

I won't be long.

Good morning, Miss Suckley.

I wasn't the first relative his mother called that day.

Maybe not even the tenth.

But I was around.

His mother said he needed someone to take his mind off his work.

Why she thought I could do that, I had no idea.

I suppose he's related to half of everybody up here?

We're fifth or sixth cousins. It depends on how you count.

- Cigarette? - No, no, I don't.

I figured I'd spend the afternoon there

and after having thoroughly bored him to death

go back to my quiet life

taking care of my aunt.

But that's not what happened.

He's not been feeling well. Sinuses.

It seems to happen every time, the second he comes home.

Mr. President?

Ah!

Daisy?

What a rare treat.

I hope my mother didn't force this on you.

She said everyone else was away.

Did she?

She shouldn't have said that.

How nice to see you.

How long has it been?

Oh, years.

At the Dows' wedding, sir, in Rhinebeck.

Oh, were you there?

Where would you like me to sit?

There's tea. I think there's still tea.

Will you...

I can do this because my mother is not here.

She doesn't believe in sinus medicine.

Do you collect stamps, Daisy?

I don't.

Come and take a look at these.

Oh, shall I...

I suppose you've pretty much met all of these?

Not all of them.

Not yet.

(LAUGHING) Jerry, just...

Excuse me, I should have knocked.

Did I actually write this?

My cross, Daisy, is that I am too nice.

Hmm?

But we do need the Senator's vote, don't we?

Why can't politicians just be honest?

My cousin.

Thank you.

Those are from Africa.

They say that is the highest waterfall in the world.

Would you like me to go?

No. Please. I wouldn't.

This one's pretty.

- I'd like to go there. - Where is that?

To be honest, I'd like to go just about anywhere.

In Europe there would certainly be another war.

One we would be dragged into whether we liked it or not.

Here at home, the country was still in a depression.

People out of work.

Hungry. Needing help.

The President spent an awful lot of time that spring

in Hyde Park on Hudson.

Fellas, would one of you please tell Mother that this is radio?

He said I helped him forget the weight of the world.

- That's 30 seconds... Look at me.

Right, quiet, quiet down, everybody. Thank you.

I think that means you, Mother.

His mother said he'd run the whole country from here if he could.

But he couldn't. Not with how things were.

Everyone knew someone who couldn't find a job.

Everyone was scared.

... protect the economic welfare of all the people in all groups.

I said that if

private enterprise could not provide jobs this spring,

government would take up the slack.

We have all learnt the lesson

that government cannot afford to wait

until it has lost the power to act.

Therefore I have sent a message

of far-reaching importance to the Congress...

Everyone was looking to him.

They all wanted something from him.

The local labor union,

the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce,

the German-American Friendship Band.

And all he wanted was to relax.

Each time he came home he'd telephone and ask,

"Daisy, where would you like to go today?"

And I would always answer,

"Anywhere."

His wife, he said, didn't like to take drives.

I learned the names of birds and trees I'd seen my whole life.

We drove along country roads, up hills, through woods, through fields.

We drove down roads I never knew existed.

Roads, later, I could never find on my own.

He'd had the car built so it could be driven with just the hands.

In some ways it's smoother than a regular car.

Would you like to drive?

No.

I believe I helped him forget the world.

Let me help.

As if we'd just

run away.

And then, one day...

Where's the police car going?

Oh, they don't always follow.

Sometimes they have to go and catch a crook or something, I suppose.

We've never been here before.

No, I've been saving this.

(RADIO PLAYING ROMANTIC TUNE)

I like this song.

Oh.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I...

I'm the one who should apologize.

I knew that we were now not just fifth cousins,

but very good friends.

As soon as I can get away.

That we are the best of friends.

Time passed.

Time measured now in Franklin's visits to Hyde Park.

Who was that?

The President wishes to see me.

He is the President.

He wishes to show me a new stamp.

- Where are we going? - I don't know.

I had it built. It's where I'll retire.

I'll write those detective books I'm always talking about.

Go take a look.

Go on.

There's a bit of paint smell still.

It's heaven.

- I've been thinking, Daisy... - What?

- What have you been thinking? - That I...

I'd like to share with you

this.

When I go away... You know I have to go away.

Should you ever miss me...

- Well... - Do you ever miss me?

I always do.

Always.

A place you can come

and be alone and miss me.

Oh, I'm sorry, so sorry.

Sorry, sorry.

It's all right.

By now, everyone was used to me.

I was the cousin who's always visiting.

No one ever even asked me why that was.

Has he read this?

I believe he has.

"If one could choose, from all possible British personalities,

"the two who might make the best impression upon Americans,

"King George and Queen Elizabeth would not even make the short list."

How dare they talk about royalty like that!

No King of England had ever visited America before.

But now he was coming to Hyde Park on Hudson

and the only quiet place left to work was outside.

- What are those for? - He has a headache.

- You do? - It's his sinuses again.

- It happens this time every year. - I know that.

You didn't say anything about having a headache.

He's not going to trouble you with everything, Missy.

You have enough on your plate.

What does that mean?

It means, Missy, that you take very good care of me.

It means that you do, too.

Mrs. Roosevelt, we appear not to have enough plates.

What?

We don't have enough plates. Someone miscounted.

You're telling me this now?

Madam, Mrs. Astor has called again.

Franklin had warned us...

Mrs. Astor will have plates. We will borrow hers.

Today, stay out of Mother's way.

On second thought,

- we shall call her cook. - Certainly.