Ginger & Rosa

The Defense Department of the United States government...

has arrived at estimates of casualties...

should they and the Soviet Union adopt a counterforce strategy...

in the event of nuclear war.

The estimates are as follows.

100,000,000 dead in the United States...

115,000,000 dead in Europe...

including 23,000,000 dead in Great Britain.

Without any civil defense, the counterforce strategy...

has the capacity to destroy all life in Western Europe...

the United States and the Soviet Union.

With an effective...

I want to talk to you about the girls.

All right. What about them?

I think Rosa's a bad influence.

Meaning what, exactly?

Anoushka worries about her.

She says she's disturbed.

So would you be if you'd been told you were a failure when you were 11 years old.

- Yeah. Bloody 11-plus exams. - You did well though.

Not that exams mean anything of reaI significance.

Can't measure intelligence.

Anyway, she's not disturbed.

She's interesting.

And she's my best friend.

Close your eyes.

Turn your head. Opposite way.

You're not doing it right.

Try again.

Where the hell have you been?

We were just, you know, roving about.

- Being free. - It's 2:00 in the morning.

Roland, please. Say something.

Well, yes, it is late.

You always stay up late.

True.

Anoushka must be crazed with worry.

Doubtful.

Rosa.

Okay, come on. I suppose I'd better drive you home, Rosa.

Jesus. I should be working.

Tomorrow?

- Today, actually. - Good point.

Bye, Ginger's dad.

It's Roland...

actually.

It says here that a girl's most important possession is a bubbly personality.

Interesting.

Do you think Simone de Beauvoir has a bubbly personality?

- Who? - That French writer.

She's an existentialist.

Maybe she hasn't read Girl.

It says here that boys don't like girls who are too serious.

Well, even so...

did I tell you I've decided to be a poet?

Thought you were already.

Do you think they've shrunk enough yet?

Sorry.

- I've been thinking. - Unusual.

Very funny. Listen.

I'm listening.

I'd prefer the world not to end. Wouldn't you?

Probably...

if I find true love.

You know?

The kind that lasts forever.

If there is a forever.

Good point.

But really, Rosa...

I think we should do something...

about the bomb.

You know, protest.

I think we should pray.

Gosh.

Thank you.

Rosa?

Isn't that Mum's?

So?

- Where are you two going? - To a meeting.

What kind of meeting?

A meeting to ban the bomb.

It's called the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

YCND.

What's the "Y" for?

Young.

Well, good for you two girls.

That's marvelous. Don't you think so, Nat?

Roland would be pleased.

Just don't get back too late, Rosa.

- You've got to help me with the little ones. - I haven't got to do anything.

God, if there was a man around...

- You'd be lucky. - Rosa!

Speaking of which...

when was the last time you did any washing up, Ginger?

But I've hardly been here for any meals.

Well, exactly. Where have you been?

I had a letter from your school. It was embarrassing.

Embarrassing.

How terrible.

Especially given that the world might blow up...

which none of you seem to understand.

Are you quite sure about that, darling?

Oh, Mark, I didn't mean you.

The question is what to do.

Or, as Engels puts it, "What is to be done?"

Nuclear weapons do not protect us.

They threaten our very existence.

The missiles on bases here in Britain...

are hundreds of times more powerful...

than those used in Hiroshima.

We have to take direct action.

We must do everything we can to stop this madness.

The government can't ignore it if there are enough people on the streets.

So how do we get people out?

How do we get people out of their homes and marching with us?

You back there. Well, girls?

Haven't seen you here before.

What do you say?

Do you think the politicians will listen to us?

In my...

In my dream I heard the warning.

"You have three minutes left," it said.

"Go and tell the others.

Tell the others now. "

How could I not suspect something?

You're never here.

I'm here now.

- Tell me. - For God's sake.

"Tell the others now, this morning. "

Don't tell me what's enough.

Oh, God, Natalie!

Or... Or you...

"Or you soon...

will all be dead. "

"Or you soon will all be dead. "

Ta.

What on earth is that crucifix doing round your neck?

Rosa and I went to church.

- Church? - Once.

She wanted me to.

You do realize that God is an invention.

Sort of.

Every man needs to struggle for his own authority, Ginger.

For autonomous thought.

Which is why you mustn't listen to a word I say.

Well, exactly.

I autonomously decided to go to church with Rosa...

to see what it's like.

- It's a bit kitsch. - Rosa gave it to me.

Did she now?

What was it like?

It was sort of exciting, like going to the theater.

Then we went to a meeting.

- What kind of meeting? - Ban the bomb.

That's my girl.

See, you're an activist, not a supplicant.

But don't you think...

you know, people need something to believe about...

what happens when you die?

The concept of life after death is a superstition...

designed to keep people happy with their limited existence in the present.

The only life is the one we have now...

which is why we must seize it...

and live while we have the chance.

Good point.

# Maybe

# Tuesday will be

# My good news day

# We'll build a little home

# Just meant for two

# From which I'll never roam

# Who would? Would you? #

Where's Roland?

I don't know.

I never seem to know where he is anymore.

Want a cup of tea, Mum?

Thank you, darling.

- Who's that with Roland? - The jazz band?

No, the girl. Blonde one sitting next to him.

A student or something.

Mum's not too happy about it at the moment.

You could consider eating it, Ginger.

How's school, by the way?

Or are you still not really bothering with that at the moment?

Is that why you asked me round?

Did Mum ask you to talk to me?

Don't be silly.

We always love seeing you.

Anyway, I thought you might like to meet Bella.

- She's asked for dish soap. - What?

What's dish soap?

It's American. Washing-up liquid, Ginger.

Bella washes her hair with dish soap.

It's because she's from New York, you see.

Don't listen to him. That's got nothing to do with it?

- I'm teasing. I'm teasing. - Coming!

There you are. Good girl.

So much nature, right in the city.

It's civilized.

The English need their parks so that they can get away from each other.