Home Fires

Would you care to dance?

You want to join up? - It's where I believe my duty lies.

You can't enlist. - You can't stop me when I'm 17.

I thought you liked me. - I've got my call-up papers.

Oh, Bob! - What about letting me down?

Bob told me she fell off a chair rehanging a picture.

He told Will and me she slipped while serving supper.

Morning, Joe! - Morning.

Can't find her cap.

Laura, I need to go now!

Laura! - Sorry, Jack.

Every morning.

You didn't mind dropping by for a look at the cottage?

Renewed my conviction it's the right decision.

I know it's small. - I just want you, alone, somewhere.

Any time either of you feels like giving me a hand,

don't let wedded bliss stand in your way.

I look such a mess. - You're only sitting behind a desk all day.

I still need to look smart.

I had a thought about the box room. - Me, too.

You first. - No, you.

No, you. - No, you.

Oh, for crying out loud! Jack wants it for an office, Kate for a nursery.

What if I have it as an office... until we need it as a nursery?

That may not be very long.

Fine by me.

Bye.

Number, please? - (Muffled woman's voice)

Putting you through now.

So where could we place an air-raid shelter?

How about near the village hall?

Mm.

Or there's Purkiss's old barn.

Arguably, a direct hit by the Germans might smarten it up a bit.

Or there's the vicarage greenhouse.

A near miss might cause horrific glass injuries.

Fine.

When did you last hear from Adam?

A month ago.

Try not to worry about him unduly.

He's older and wiser this time around.

But he won't come back the same.

We'll all be different.

We have no choice but to adjust.

You can't put an air-raid shelter anywhere near the village hall. Joyce will have a fit.

And two pork chops, please. - Two pork chops for Mrs Cameron.

Busy morning? - I'm only half way down my list.

And Mrs Barden's got me doing all sorts for the new air-raid shelter.

Dad's thinking of sticking a Morrison under the kitchen table and turning us into rabbits.

If the government says they do the job...

A Morrison couldn't accommodate the entire village.

The village? - Oh...

The WI wants to provide a communal shelter for everyone

who hasn't got one of their own.

Anything else, Mrs Cameron? - No, thank you.

And where, may I ask, is the WI proposing to locate

a shelter of sufficient size to accommodate everyone?

I don't think they've found anywhere yet.

In the middle of everything makes sense. Somewhere quick to get to.

Well, shelters can't be set up willy-nilly.

Official channels exist to supervise the common interest.

Good day, Mr Brindsley. - Mm.

Young lady. - Mrs Cameron.

.. a stringer...

Mr Beeks, I have been a stringer on the local paper for the past 18 months.

But the fact of the matter is... since I'm paid by the word...

.. I need to file more stories to make a living wage.

Living wage...

A living.

Number, please?

Hello, caller. What number do you require?

Hello, caller?

Mrs Barden.

Mrs Barden. - Mm.

Mrs Barden. Mrs Barden, I'm so sorry.

I think I've put my foot in it. - Oh? Which foot in what?

I let it slip to Mrs Cameron, in Brindsley's, about the WI's plans for the village shelter.

Well, did you think it a secret?

Oh... - Claire.

You forgot the bacon. - Oh.

Go back. - Before you do, tell me...

How did Mrs Cameron respond when you told her about the shelter?

She said there were official channels for them. - I see.

Claire. - I'll go and get the bacon!

No talking!

But I can't just not speak.

You've never tried.

I'm going to have to deal with her, aren't I?

Oh, she's just a harmless chatterbox. - Not Claire.

Joyce Cameron.

Morning, Pat. - Morning.

Two hours... three times a week...

to shop and run errands.

How bloody stupid do you think I am?

I know it sounds like a long time, but... rationing slows everything down.

The queues take longer. - Oh, I see.

So that means more time chatting with friends.

Exactly. You know what women are like.

Yeah, I do.

Duplicitous... disloyal.

And they lie, don't they, Pat? They lie all the time and they take us men for fools.

Bob, what's happened?

What's happened is... I went to telephone my editor this morning,

to push him for more work.

I picked up the receiver and was stunned to hear my wife's voice at the end of the line.

I was only trying to help. - How do you think it makes me feel,

knowing that the entire village is laughing at me behind my back

because my wife has to get a little job to make ends meet?

You'd feel even worse without the things that make your life just about bearable.

Cigarettes, tea, coffee. That's where the extra earnings are going.

Not on myself.

Today was your last day.

But that makes no sense.

Today was your last day.

Yes?

Spencer.

Why haven't you gone?

Surely you should be assigned a regiment by now.

It's more complicated than you think.

I assumed it was quite straightforward.

I never assume anything.

Oh.

Mm. So... Where are you going, all dressed up?

You don't want to know.

Why else would I ask?

Good day, Claire.

Still no ration book for David?

I'm telephoning the Ministry,

see if they can sort it out.

David has a right to a ration book, same as everyone else. The boy needs to eat.

Wait.

It's possible I might have made a mistake filling out the form.

Mistake?

Well, it's possible.

Possible... or probable?

It's possible I forgot to put something down. You know what buggers official forms can be.

Something about having a son?

It'll finish me if he goes.

What you've done is illegal.

Not to mention completely against his wishes.

Bryn, please...

Against whose wishes?

I'm telephoning.

Before we get into serious trouble.

Telephoning who?

Ma?

You're my son. Mine! Not theirs!

I'm your mother. You can't fight.

You can't.

I'm your mother!

I wonder if I might have a quiet word.

Will was recently reading an article in one of his medical journals

about the long-term effects caused by the kind of food poisoning Bob had.

What kind of effects?

His whole body will have been weakened by it.

Oh, I see. Well... yes, he has been weaker. No question about that.

But a remedy's been produced that's showing very positive results

and we wondered if you'd be interested in giving it to Bob to try out.

No, Bob doesn't like taking medicines as a rule.

It's less a medication than a tonic that promotes general wellbeing.

There's no label on it. - It's not yet being mass produced.

The dose is a teaspoon a day in food or drink.

Mm.

It seems to help people feel better within themselves.

Teaspoon a day?

In food or drink.

In his tea? - In his tea would be perfect.

I need to give you these. - Ah, yes.

Thank you.

Air-raid shelters? Interesting.

The WI wants to provide one for the village.

Published in 1938.

Shows how long the government's been preparing for this.

Where are they putting the shelter? - Er... we don't know yet.

Well, don't leave it too long.

Why?

What have you been told?

Just...

don't leave it too long.

Hello, Stan.

Heard you worked here now.

Mm-hm. I'm the latest recruit. What have you got there?

Milk bill.

Let me speak to the Wing Commander.

Excuse me, sir. It's the boy from the farm with the milk bill.

The Accounting Officer.

The Accounting Officer will deal with it. I'll see she gets it.

Laura. Could you come in here a moment?