None But the Lonely Heart

Wait. What's this, what's this tonight?

Memorial services.

Armistice day tomorrow, you know.

Stay there, Nipper.

It might be my son.

Might.

Might be my old man.

Might.

'Night.

'Night.

When Ernie Mott

humble citizen of the city of London

saw for the first time the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior

he little realized that he, Ernie Mott

might someday soon become

the Unknown Warrior of a Second World War.

Yes, someday soon, he might become

a glowing legend for happy boys and girls

living a life he merely dreamed about.

High destiny for quiet Ernie Mott

who quarreled, hungered, loved, and was loved.

Well, this is his story, the story of Ernie Mott

who searched for a free, a beautiful, and noble life

in the second quarter of the 20th century.

Ernie, grub's ready!

Don't be all year about it

or you'll have to fight the birds for it.

I'll be there in a minute, ma!

Oh, yes, yes.

Here.

Don't you think pork sausage too good for the beast?

Here, come on.

Nothin' too good for that dog, ma.

Part of myself, he is.

Don't like him, do you?

Where you been, Ernie?

Oh, knockin' about. I've been up north, all over the shop.

What's up?

Why?

Oh, you're standing there, looking as if

I jabbed you with your own hatpin or something.

What did you come back home for, son?

Miss me?

Can't say I did, ma.

You know me, ducky. Tramp of the universe.

Anything in the shop needs mending, ma?

None that need your help, Ernie, sweets.

Besides, it's Sunday.

Painting? Polishing?

Doing a spot of gardening?

I mean to do my best by you, ma love.

Happy couple, aren't we?

A bit of proper respect is what's needed.

I get no more from you

than I got from that father of yours.

And that's that.

That's that. So you got your choice.

What choice?

Stay or get out.

Take hold here and do a man's job

or don't come back.

Stay put, so I don't have to keep frettin' my fat about you.

What call have you, anyway to go wanderin'

'round the country year in and year out

like a breath of homeless wind?

Don't I treat you right or what?

Okey-doke.

I'll be off in the mornin'.

How is it, Ernie boy? Home for a time?

How'd you know I was back, ma?

I live so close, I can fairly hear you change your mind.

Nice music you've got on your wireless.

Don't know what I'd do without it.

- The piano needs tuning, too. - Mm.

I'll stop in and have a look at it around teatime.

- So long, ma. - Thanks, Ernie.

Hello, Dad. Hey, when are you mending that window?

Catch me mucking around with a window, Ern boy.

Life's too short.

You're a man after my own heart, you are, Dad.

'Ern!'

See ya.

Been home long?

Bring yourself in for a cup of tea.

Me basket's full of breakfast.

Come in anyway, Ern.

- Practicing? - It's a living.

And it pays to keep your tools sharp.

Good to be back.

Nicest drawing room in the neighborhood, this, eh.

It's yours whenever you want it.

Have to take you with it, do I, Aggie?

Do you want me to move out?

You're the biggest fool I ever met, Aggie.

Why?

Black as the ace, I am. Don't you know it yet?

Matter of fact, ma gave me the ultimatum today

"Stay put or stay out," she says.

What are you going to do about it?

Something.

What?

Something.

'You're a little flat there, Aggie.'

What's the music called?

'"None but the lonely heart."'

Italian?

No, Russian.

Nice.

Oh, well..

'See you tonight?'

- Right. - 'About 9:00?'

All alike, you women.

I don't go on no timetables like a train.

I'm Ernie Mott, citizen of the great smoke

and I don't stay put!

I understand.

Do you?

Of course.

Well, then maybe I'll see you tonight.

Nipper!

Maybe I will.

- Or maybe I won't. - Who gave you that?

- What? - The dimple in your chin.

A present from me pa.

- Bye, Aggie. - Bye, Ernie boy.

- Watch 'er, Peggy. - Hello.

Hi, Elsie.

- Hello. - Hi, Ernie.

What's comin' off? Sunday, or ain't it?

Nobody home, nobody home!

But it's me, Dad. Ernie Mott!

Oh! For you..

I ain't seen you in three months, have I?

You're blocking the door, Dad.

Miss me, did ya?

Had your postcard from up north.

Don't let any grass grow under your feet, do ya?

Dad, how do we go for some smokes today?

I'm so broke, I'm two halves.

What, again?

Think it grows on trees, do you?

Oh, now, Dad, You're not giving me the boot, are ya?

What cigars you got?

May we feed the fishes?

No!

Oh, the way those kids carry on, Ern.

Cigars, Dad.

Oh, cigars?

Well, I got a very doubtful stock of them.

Can't make out what happens to things lately.

I got an old Burma cheroot somewhere.

Got more respect for me guts, I have.

Give us a large Rigby's.

Can't sell cigarettes on Sunday, you know, Ern.

Who said anything about selling?

A large Rigby's it is.

Ah, gent.

Proper lovely to be alive and have friends like you, Dad.

Remembering you in my will, I am.

Don't think I'll live to see the day, do you?

- How's your ma? - Who ma?

Oh, she goes on like an engine.

The Tower of London don't do no better.

- Bye, Dad. - Drop in again, Ern.

'Here, come on here, folks! Here, walk up! Walk up!'

'Here you are. Three for a penny! Come along here.'

'Here he is, gents.'

'The best shot of the district'

'and learned here.'

Here you are. Have a packet, sir.

Hold me dog, please, mate?

- Show 'em how it's done. - Alright, alright.

Stand back. Let the man see the rabbit.

Now, gents, watch the fur fly!

Quiet, please, while the shots is took.

There we are!

Eight shots, eight shots. And all where they should be.

Right in the black hole of Calcutta!

I told you he was, and this is him!

Here you are, governor. Here are your fags.

And good luck to ya!

Thanks for holdin' me dog.

Oh, hello. Haven't I seen you before?

Here. Here's a present for you. You know..

Don't like music?

Out of tune.

I'm Mordinoy. Jim Mordinoy.

Am I supposed to know you?

Thought as how you might.

Ever fight your pup?

Never.