Testament of Youth

We used to swim here when we were children.

Hope Vera hasn't gone in yet.

Completely forgot about the rats.

Rats?

Mmm, big nest of them, apparently.

We'll be all right in the shallows, but we shouldn't go...

Oh, no.

Vera!

Vera!

Get out of the water! Rats!

Vera! Vera!

Wait for me.

Victor!

- Victor. - There's no rats in here.

You idiot!

So? What about you and Victor?

- What about us? - Come on.

- He's sweet. - Sweet?

All the attention's making you arrogant.

Stop it.

I'm a block of ice.

Here.

Come on. We should be getting back.

Do we have to?

- Mother and father are expecting us. - They're always expecting us.

- They're driving me mad. - Give them a chance, Vera, all right?

I mean it.

- I'll try. - Better had.

Come on, Vera!

From rats!

I'm sorry, Victor. I expected a little panic.

I didn't expect a fully-fledged leap into the lake.

- You knew about this. - I knew father wanted you to have one.

- You colluded with them. - Vera, it's just a piano.

Vera, come and see your surprise.

Darling, I've been so dying to tell you, but... I just couldn't.

Mrs Ellinger was in on the secret and she's come to hear you play.

Perfect. She's an absolute beauty, so I'm told.

Well, come on, darling.

Give us a taste of what we can look forward to.

- Oh, dear. - Vera.

Vera, come back and apologise now.

If you can't show me the respect I deserve, then at least show some for our guests.

I don't want a piano.

You knew I didn't want one and still you bought it.

I won't be bullied by you.

Oh, I buy her the most expensive gift of her life, but no, I'm bullying.

Your father hoped you'd be happy, dear.

That piano could pay for a whole year at Oxford.

Oh, here we go.

And all this time you said you couldn't afford for me to go.

- No, I can't afford to waste money... - Oh, Arthur.

Vera, I... I didn't mean...

Vera, come back here, now!

I've thrown my work out.

You can take it to your paper factory and pulp it for all I care.

Now, stop it. I'm simply concerned that

you're turning yourself into a bluestocking.

That's no way to find a husband.

I don't want a husband.

How many times do I have to spell it out?

I'm sorry you didn't have a daughter whose sole purpose in life

is to hitch herself to a man.

There it is. I'm not getting married.

Not now, not ever.

Well...

That's clear, then.

- Ted. Good to see you. - Roland. Welcome.

- Vic. - Great to see you.

Hello, Mr Brittain.

Roland, we've heard great things about you.

- Can I help? - Oh, you frightened me.

No, thanks.

Please, I'd rather be by myself.

It's the books I'm worried about.

I've never seen anyone beat them up that way.

Wordsworth, Shelley.

Poor Byron.

All these Romantics aren't good for you, you know?

Don't worry. They have very little influence.

So I saw earlier.

I'm sorry about the badly-timed arrival, by the way.

I can see this is all highly amusing for you.

No.

Yes. You're already polishing up the anecdote for your friends back at school.

I'm sorry. I was so caught up in myself.

I didn't think what this must be like for you.

She certainly didn't deserve the treatment you gave her.

Well, I got you your piano.

That's something to be happy about, at least.

You can thank me for that.

Shh.

Come on, then, Ted, Ash Grove.

- Yes, Ash Grove! - Ash Grove.

- Right. Ready? - Yeah.

Very good.

Hello.

You're studying.

What of it?

Nothing, I...

Look, I've done the Oxford entrance exams.

It's all about technique. I could help you.

Once you've learnt it, you'll sail through, I'm sure.

Like a Masonic secret, passed from teacher to boy.

Actually, my teachers weren't that good.

I worked it out for myself.

And so will I.

It's just three years of study, Father.

You know women don't even get degrees at Oxford?

What's the point of her going, then?

It's all she's ever wanted.

She's set her mind on it.

But it's three years of extra expense.

I'd share my allowance with her. That would help.

What about the entrance exam?

Don't you need tuition for such a thing?

She's teaching herself.

I wouldn't feel right about going myself if Vera didn't have the chance.

She was always so bright.

Vera?

Very well, then. You can sit the wretched thing if you want to.

- Oh, thank you, Daddy. - Well, you're just sitting it, mind.

And then we'll see.

Now, play me some of that piano.

Careful.

God, it's beautiful here. You're so lucky.

Mmm. Except we're nearly back at school.

We're here now, Ted. Come on. Live in the moment a little.

One more term and it'll all be over.

Sort of daunting,

seeing your whole life stretched out in front of you.

At least you won't be buried alive in Buxton.

Do we have a suffragette on our hands?

I would be, given the chance.

I suppose that shocks you.

You're talking to the wrong man, Vera. Roland's a supporter.

Well, my mother does admire them.

She's a novelist and she writes for the papers.

She supports the whole family, in fact. I hope you don't mind me saying.

Well, not now I've seen Vera's face.

I had no idea.

Well, perhaps you've jumped to conclusions about me.

I think that's mutual.

Oh, no. No, I've researched you quite thoroughly.

I even found a poem in the yard, in fact. I took the liberty of...

Poem? You kept that very quiet. Let's have a look.

Give it back.

It's nothing. It's a stupid thing.

Well, I don't know about anyone else, but...

I could do with a drink of something.

Yes, er... let's get back to the house.

I didn't know you kept it a secret.

I kept it quiet because I was moved by it.

I found it beautiful.

And you seem an impossible person to say that to.

I'm not.

No.

What if I told you I want to be a writer?

And I even dream of earning a living by it.

I want to write, too, as it happens.

But I'm a little in my mother's shadow.

Is she good?

How's she done it?

Sheer pig-headedness.

You should meet her, you'd get on.

You must write.

Really.

No one's ever said that to me before.

Come on! You'll miss the train!

Roland! Come on, we're leaving!

Heck.

- I don't want you to go. - We'll have the whole summer.

Come along, boys. You don't want to be late.

- You've a train to catch. - I'll just be back in a minute.

Has anybody seen the big, black suitcase?

Erm...

- Goodbye. - Goodbye.

Victor, come On!

Don't forget your tennis racket.

I wish you weren't going so soon.

Did you read the poem?

- Of course. - And?

It's well-crafted.

But?

It was a little dry, as though you were holding back.

- I couldn't find you in it. - Well, I can assure you it's mine.

- Of course, I... I didn't mean... - Roland, come on, we're late.

Vera! Come on, Vera!

Come on, darling.

Let's go.

- Bye! - Bye, Mother!

Thank you!

"Edward, please send me news of Roland Leighton."

"Tell him how much I enjoyed meeting him, will you?"

"I think I offended him, Edward."

"You know I can be my own worst enemy."

"Edward assures me you won't mind me writing direct."

"You set me a challenge, you see, and I've done my best to meet it."

"I hope you find more feeling in this one."

"Down the long, white road we walked together."