Peterloo

Speaker: The prime minister.

My lords, I believe it unnecessary long

to occupy the attention of the house

upon the subject of the motion which I am about to submit.

I am called upon by his royal highness, the prince regent,

to propose a measure

calculated farther to commemorate the glory

of the Duke of Wellington.

Lords: Hear, hear.

After such an heroic action as that of the 18th of June,

after a victory which presented a display

of all the great qualities of a general -

whether for defensive or offensive warfare,

whether for resistance or attack,

whether for gallantry, perseverance, or skill -

I would ask whether,

after a victory unparalleled in history,

parliament could be conceived to do its duty,

if it merely confined itself to a vote of thanks,

and declined to present any further evidence

of public gratitude to the Valiant leader

of such a signal victory...

If it refused to make an adequate provision

for this celebrated conqueror and his family.

I move a resolution

that this house Grant to his grace,

the Duke of Wellington, as farther proof

of the gratitude of the British nation...

The sum of £750,000.

Hear, hear! Lords: Hear, hear!

General byng, sir,

lord sidmouth is now at Liberty erm...

Oh, beware the step, sir, yes.

Sidmouth: Enter.

Fr fr...

G-general byng, your lordship.

Sir John.

- Home secretary. - Welcome, sir.

Pray, do be seated.

I thank you.

Let me see...

Yes, your father. I trust he is in good health?

Sadly not, sir.

Yes. No, please, do forgive me.

I did so enjoy his company - despite our differing opinions.

- Splendid fellow. - Thank you, sir.

It is a great honour to be in your presence.

The honour is all mine, your lordship.

Your achievements have been nothing short of... olympic.

You flatter me, sir.

Enter.

Good morning, your lordship.

Good morning, sir.

Would you care for some tea, sir?

- No, thank you, madam. - Oh.

And how are you feeling today, lord sidmouth?

Much better, thank you, mrs moss.

I'm so very pleased to hear it.

There we are.

Thank you, gentlemen.

I must own, your lordship, that my knowledge of life

is limited beyond that of a soldier.

And... you'll forgive me for saying,

but I have little time for politics.

Excellent, sir.

I have little time for politics myself.

You, sir, are...

Perfectly qualified, if I may say so.

Might I ask how I may be of service?

I would wish to appoint you

commander of the northern district.

The northern district? Not Ireland?

- No, sir, not Ireland. - I see.

Might you be familiar with the north of england?

Barely, sir.

My late mother was Yorkshire.

Her family seat was wentworth castle.

Wellington has nothing but the highest praise

for your achievements.

Thank you, sir.

I had the great privilege of serving alongside his grace

on many a campaign.

Yorkshire is indeed a splendid county.

However, on the other side of the pennine hills...

In Manchester...

And the surrounding towns of lancashire,

there is a sickness.

A dangerous threat of rampant insurrection.

Indeed, sir.

Enter.

Ah, hobhouse.

General sir John byng,

mr hobhouse, my permanent under-secretary.

It is a great honour to meet you, sir John.

Now, hobhouse, henceforth sir John

is to enjoy full access to all files

concerning seditious activity in the north.

- Excellent. - Am I to understand

that you wish me to commence forthwith?

Indeed we do.

- Very well, sir. - Splendid.

Is this the way to Manchester?

Aye, you're on t'right track, lad.

- Just keep going. - Thanking you.

Joseph!

Come on, son. I et's sit thee down.

Come on.

Come on.

What's this?

Let's get this off you.

Come on, son.

There we go. Come on.

Come on, son.

Come on, get this down you.

Come on, son.

Hey, now - no skriking.

Come on.

Hey, come on.

Mother's here.

Enh?

Mother's here.

Now, son.

He were bleeding.

- Right, aggie? - All right, father?

It were streaming down his face.

- Were it? - Aye.

He deserved it, though.

He's been late three times this week.

Aye, he were bleeding.

A right mess.

Esther: He's wiped out.

Nellie: He gave me the fright of me life.

- Did he say owt? - No, not a whistle.

- He's not changed, then! - Aye.

- Uh-uh! - Leave it, lad!

- George! - No, no, no.

Now, let's put that out of harm's way.

Robert: Sit still for a minute.

Esther: We'll be going for us tea soon, lad.

Mary: 'Ey, we've woken him up now.

Joe”?

Nellie: We're all here. Come on, let's sit thee up.

- Are you hungry, Joseph? - I've done you some broth.

- You 'right, father? - Aye, lad.

Sit thee down, father.

Sit down, son.

- Esther? - Aye.

Get me a spoon.

Now, mind - it's hot.

Here y'are.

- It's George. - Aye, he's got big.

Ooh, you can say that again.

He has.

It's a baby.

Aye, little Sarah.

Your niece.

There's your uncle Joseph.

You right?

Robert: What were t'fighting like, Joe?

Was you at Waterloo?

- Ah... - Leave him, Robert.

Aye, he'll be reet.

Did you see boney?

Oh, come on, up you get, you daft barmpot!

- Night, father. - Good night.

- Good night, George. - Good night, grandfather.

See thee tomorrow, Joe.

Glad you're back, Joseph. See thee in tmorn'.

- In 'morn'. - See thee, clever-clogs!

- See thee. - See thee.

Penny a pie! "Alf for an a'penny! Fresh this morn!

I adies? Mister?

Penny a pie! 'Alf for an a'penny!

Penny a pie, mister? Half for an a'penny!

Fresh this morn!

Penny a pie, ladies! 'Alf for an a'penny!

- Fresh this morn! - Nell! Nell!

I'll have 'alf.

- There. Ha'penny. - Right, love.

Coming out. Here it is.

Fresh eggs!

Farthing an egg!

Penny farthing, half dozen.

'Ey up, Nellie, y'all right?

Aye. How's thee sen?

- Oh, you know. - Oh, aye.

- You havin' t'usual? - Aye.

- Any word? - He's come home.

- No? - He has.

Ee, that's grand!

How is he?

- He's not his sen. - No.

I'll give you an extra one.

Make him summat special for his supper.

Thank you.

Here's your pie.

Aye, that's grand.

- See thee. - Aye.

Fresh eggs! Farthing an egg!

Penny farthing, half dozen.