(church bells chiming)
Well, I don't think anyone's watching the building.
Not yet, anyway.
Not yet, no.
Better keep away from the window,
though, just in case.
Do you think you can sleep?
I don't know.
Usually I can sleep anywhere,
but tonight I'm not sure.
Ah, so you're not as calm as you look.
Thank God for that.
You were beginning to make me nervous.
Where are you going?
I'm just going to try and find something for us to eat.
And, of course, I've got to work out a way
of getting you out of the country.
(distant jazz music playing)
I'm gonna make you the number one band in Britain, naturally.
JULIAN: Mr. Masterson asked if I would clear this up.
What a mess.
HANNAH: I was so clumsy last night.
Goodness knows what people must think.
Mr. Masterson's having a picnic.
You really must join us.
Is anybody sitting here?
No, by all means.
STANLEY: I'm very ambitious, Louis.
So should you be.
Do you think I'm not?
JULIAN: She's incredible, isn't she?
Do you think she'll ever like me?
I need to find something to really impress her.
LOUIS: Mr. Holt is a British citizen.
MAN: The deadline cannot be extended.
Nor is there any other process of appeal.
That important telephone call is taking place as we speak.
I do hope you will be here
to entertain your future king.
(applause)
(bells chiming)
(upbeat jazz playing)
Ripped By mstoll
♪♪
When do we get the cake, Mummy?
It must be time for the cake.
Where is the cake?!
Listen to the funny music.
It's a very nice cake, Mummy,
but why haven't the band got those black and white faces?
You said they would have black and white faces.
Louis!
What are you doing here?
I've got some business with Mr. Schlesinger.
Anyway, that's not much of a greeting, Lou.
Well, you're the last person I want to see.
Why? What have I done?
That's exactly the point, Stanley; you've done nothing.
Oh, remind me of what I was meant to be doing?
Go on. Don't try that, Stanley.
You know perfectly well.
We are without a manager still.
I'm having to do that all that myself.
And we're playing children's birthday parties.
You're still the top featured band in this hotel.
And of course no one's gonna get deported while you're here.
We've not been on the wireless.
We haven't made a record yet.
I seem to remember someone boasting
they could make us the number one band in Britain.
And I Will.
I haven't changed my mind about that,
but these things take time.
I thought that's what you believed in,
Louis, things taking time.
Mind you, I quite like seeing you a bit impatient.
Oh, you do, do you?
Oh, I'd better not.
Not after what happened to Wesley. Yes,
and that's the most serious, of course.
I still don't know what really went on.
How do you mean? You know exactly what I mean.
I don't know why he was
thrown out of the country. Mr. Donaldson told me
he was handling everything; he lied to me.
That's a serious charge, Louis.
Do you want the opportunity to say it to his face?
So you wanted to see me, Mr. Lester?
Yes, I did,
very much.
The bar is closed,
but perhaps I can use my influence,
since it's almost the legal hour,
and get you a glass of wine? No, thank you.
I don't need anything.
Except to know if I lied to you?
Whether I ever really tried
to stop your friend from being deported?
You'd like to know that, wouldn't you?
I would, yes.
Sometimes one overstates what one can do,
maybe out of arrogance or a desire to please.
It is a terrible thing
to suddenly be thrown out of the country.
It is, yes,
and I don't know what happened to him.
And I probably never will.
And now you have no manager,
and you're stuck playing in this old place.
Well, it's good to have a regular job, of course,
but I really thought that after the Prince of Wales
heard us play and all that excitement...
You were going to be making records?
You were going to be on the wireless?
Yes, I did think that.
The trouble is, Mr. Lester,
the people in charge of these places
are quite unbelievably conservative.
Sir John Reith, for instance, at the BBC,
detests jazz music.
So it's never going to happen, then.
Mr. Lester,
I'm a man of leisure
who is addicted to the new,
whose chief excitement in life
is spotting and encouraging new talent.
I do want to help you.
Will you let me do that?
It depends in what way.
I've actually come with a request right now.
Lady Cremone, an old friend of mine,
would like you to play at a funeral.
To play at a funeral?
And that's going to help us?
Yes.
Whose funeral is it?
Her estate manager.
She is a very interesting woman, Lavinia.
We tend to get excited about the same things.
She's become a bit of a recluse recently.
She lives in an appalling remote spot.
You will be staying in her house,
but that's no guarantee that you will get to meet her,
but if you do, Mr. Lester,
she is someone who knows even more
important people than I do.
Stanley will be going to the funeral
to try to get to meet her,
and so will Sarah.
(drum playing distantly)
(laughter)
(band playing slow jazz)
(kids shouting)
CARLA: ♪ Lord, lead me ♪
♪ On ♪
♪ Lord, lead me on ♪
JESSIE: ♪ Guide me ♪
♪ On my final journey ♪
♪ Lead me on ♪
♪ Lord, lead me on. ♪
(church bell chiming)
Oh, Mr. Lester,
I want to thank you, from the bottom of my heart,
for coming all this way
and-and playing for Charlie.
We're delighted to be here, ma'am.
He would be so thrilled.
He is so thrilled.
He had all the latest gramophone records
sent over from America, yes, he did.
There's one in his coffin now.
There is.
You will come and play for everybody later?
Please, I-l know they would so like that.
Oh, do say yes.
(upbeat jazz number playing)
STANLEY: Do I dare?
Dare what?
Do I dare run over there?
I don't know what's stopping you, Stanley.
You're right.
Your Ladyship, forgive me.
I just wanted to introduce myself.
I'm Stanley Mitchell.
I'm friends with the musicians.
Are you a journalist?
Blimey.
Is it that obvious, is it?
Yes, uh, yes, I am.
I have nothing against journalists.
I just never talk to them,
and certainly not at funerals.
Of course, I understand that,
but, uh, actually we might bump
into each other later on today
because you're kindly allowing the band
to stay on your estate,
and, well, um...
I've always wanted to meet you,
and just in case we run into each other later on,
I just thought I'd say hello.
And now you've done it,
and at considerable length.
Oh, uh, I don't expect it will mean anything to you,
but, uh, I'm deputy editor
and chief writer for Music Express.
Are you, Mr. Mitchell?
How very interesting.
Why don't you come for tea at 4:00?
You and the bandleader Mr. Lester.
SARAH: Did she invite me, too, do you think?
To tea?
Of course.
You know her anyway.
I don't know her.
I photographed her once in London.
She didn't like that very much.
Here goes.
This was
the perfect funeral for Charlie.
I know there is the view
that your kind of music can only appeal
to a very small audience,
but we saw just now in the village
how all sorts of people can respond.
You're absolutely right, Your Ladyship.
I'm sure you're wondering if I know anything about music...
You know, your music...
Someone of my age.
I wasn't wondering that. Mr. Mitchell,
if you would be so kind.
Over there,
on the second shelf,
can you see the red binders?
Blimey, I don't believe it.
Bound copies of Music Express.
(chuckles) I've never seen that
in somebody else's house before. Of course not.
I don't suppose anyone else would be mad enough.
I know what I'm about to say is very stupid.
Well, what is it, Mr. Mitchell?
You wouldn't... You wouldn't, would you?
Let me interview you? Now?
I've always wanted to interview you.
Well, that would depend on the quality of the questions.
Sarah, Louis,
you want to go and have a look at the garden, don't you?
(laughter)
Stanley!
He's incorrigible.
He's such a rogue.
STANLEY: Don't change your mind.
I think I've already changed my mind.
No, no, you can't.
I hate talking about myself.
I always have.
I am going to say, "Is it true?"
And you're going to agree, or rather,
if you'd be so kind as to agree or not.
And I'm gonna see how many I can get away with
before you stop me.
Now, is it true
Noël Coward sends you all of his plays
to read before he puts them on?
Yes.
Is it true that
you told MGM to sign Greta Garbo
after you saw her in a Swedish film?
Well, when I was living in America,
I spent time both in New York and Los Angeles,
and so I met all sorts of people.
Some of them were in the film business,
and sometimes they asked for my opinion.
Well, I'm gonna say that's true, then.
This must be the memorial garden for her sons.
All three of her sons were killed in the war.
All three?
That's terrible.
Yes.
How do you get over something like that?
(chiming quietly)
Are your parents still alive, Louis?
No, they're not.
My father did fight in the war, but he didn't die in it.
Yes, there were colored soldiers who served.
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to look so surprised.
I've just never heard of that before.
But of course there must have been.
Yes.
He survived the war, my dad,
but both my parents died in the flu epidemic.
It happened very quickly.
What did you do?
Well, that's when I started traveling.
Went to all sorts of places.
I spent time in Paris, playing in bars,
time in New York,
and a lot of time on the ocean liners,
as you know.
So you've seen more of the world than I have.
Yes.
STANLEY: Is it true that you've been trying very hard
to get different things played on the wireless?
A more exciting repertoire?
Especially jazz music?
But I've been extremely unsuccessful so far.
Now, Mr. Mitchell,
this has got to stop.
It's been oddly enjoyable,
but that's quite enough.
Uh, just one more, please.
Is it true that famous artists
have trekked across the world to see you...
Just turned up on your doorstep?
That is not true. Are you sure?
That is not true, Mr. Mitchell.
Now shall we? But is it possible
somebody could come here,
almost by accident, who was extraordinary?
And then you'd want to see them properly.
You mean the Louis Lester Band?
And, of course, the singer, Jessie.
Ah, that young girl?
Yes, I saw her sing at the funeral.
Yes, but you were an awfully long way away.
Can she sing again for you in the morning?
(wind blowing)
(shivering)
You, too?
Oh, my God, it is freezing, isn't it?
So cold.
We just had to have some tea.
Yes, I don't think I've been this cold
in my life.
Ah, perfect.
Right.
I'm gonna go back with this.
See if I can make it through the night.
Cheerio.
(door opens, closes)
Isn't it funny?
A lady with such modern taste and her house is this cold.
(laughs)
And it creaks, too.
That's a bit warmer, isn't it?
(Stanley clears throat)
I think she might be awake.
So best not to...
take any chances.
Night-night.
(birds singing)
We're not late, are we, Your Ladyship?
LAVINIA: No, no.
Any time during my breakfast will do.
So, my child,
would you like to sing something for me?
I'll try, yes.
♪♪
♪ Wind blows round the steeple ♪
♪ Empty world and sleepy people ♪
♪ I lie awake and listen ♪
♪ For the midnight train a-whistlin'... ♪
(piano continues playing)
What's the matter, child?
I don't think
Jessie's ever seen an artichoke before.
Have you not, my dear?
Well, then, you must have one, of course.
At once.
(camera shutter clicks)
SARAH: That's very good, Your Ladyship.
Hold it like that.
(shutter clicks)
Did she say anything about Jessie?
No, not a thing.
Are there going to be many more of these?
I'm beginning to wonder why I agreed to it.
SARAH: Just one or two more.
Have we done ourselves any good, do you think?
STANLEY: It's quite hard to tell.
WAX: I really don't know
what she is doing on the cover...
Lady Cremone?
Of course I've heard of her,
I know who she is,
but she's not a bandleader.
She's not a musician of any sort.
What on earth is she doing on the cover?
You agreed to it, Mr. Wax.
I don't believe I did, Stanley.
You must have misheard me.
And yet again, there is an article
on the Louis Lester Band.
I've lost count of the number of articles you've done on them.
They're going to be the biggest band in Britain,
and we will have helped create them.
There he goes again.
He's always exaggerating.
Stanley, you make me laugh with all your claims,
you really do.
Do you think I'm exaggerating?
Maybe.
Mr. Wax is right, you often do.
You're still angry with me, Rosie, aren't you?
No.
I know what to expect from you, Stanley.
After all,
I've seen enough of it over the last two years, quite enough.
You're not quitting, are you? Of course not.
I know this magazine is going to really grow,
and soon you won't be able to write it all yourself.
You'll be looking round for another writer.
(telephone ringing)
And there'll be one right here in this office.
Won't there?
And so there will, Rosie.
There you are!
I just dropped by to give you this.
These are for you, Jessie.
Oh, thank you, Mr. Luscombe.
They're beautiful.
And these are for you.
For me? Yes.
I meant to get them the same size...
No, don't worry about that, they're lovely.
Look at this room.
No, no, I won't come in, thank you,
but this room isn't nearly good enough.
We love this room.
Oh, it's the best room I've ever slept in.
No, no, no, I would like
to arrange something better for you both.
I can do it easily.
CARLA: No, no, please don't.
We're really happy here.
Please don't, Mr. Luscombe.
Oh, well, if you don't want me to, then I won't.
Soon, of course, you'll be staying in the biggest suites
in the most fashionable hotels
all across the world.
That's not going to happen, Mr. Luscombe. Oh, yes.
And people are going to be crossing the Atlantic
just to attend one of your concerts.
And they'll wait for nights in the street
just to get a glance of you as you drive away in a car.
You mustn't do this, Mr. Luscombe.
And when you go abroad,
even to the most faraway places,
people will come running
out of their houses into the streets,
calling your name and blowing kisses...
MASTERSON: Julian?
I can't believe it. He's found me...
even up here.
Julian!
It's my employer.
Julian!
Excuse me.
You have to go.
Hmm.
"This is a call to arms.
"The audience are crying out
"for a more exciting choice of music on the wireless,
"and this has to be delivered now.
"At the moment they are being fed
"a tired and endlessly familiar diet,
the same bands every night of the week."
What do you think so far, Mick?
Quite strong stuff, Mr. Mitchell. Damn right.
"Listeners will soon be switching off in their droves
"or else hunting with their dials
"to find more exciting sounds,
which are readily available from the rival stations abroad."
Full stop.
Oh, it's you.
Oh, it's me, yes.
Give this to Rosie.
Tell her to take a look at it and, uh, see if she approves.
Sorry, you... you took me by surprise.
Don't worry.
Most people don't say, "Oh, it's you" when they see me,
so I suppose you can.
I'm just a little behind, is all.
I'm interrupting.
Forgive me. No, you're not.
I'm always behind and, uh,
well, I always catch up.
I'm very glad to see you.
I'm glad to see you, too, Stanley.
Please...
I think about you
every week, when I read your magazine.
You think about me just once a week? ls that all?
Yes, but that's quite good, isn't it?
(chuckles)
I know you think
I'm not really interested in your magazine...
Did I ever say that?
No, but you think it.
I have noticed a few things.
It's changing, isn't it?
It's getting more political.
Well, I wouldn't go that far.
I still have to get everything past Wax.
But you're sneaking more and more things in.
Like...
Farquhar and Tonk running a soup kitchen.
That's right.
We managed to get that past Mr. Wax.
You'll laugh,
but as it happens,
I know what it's like to be hungry.
You do?
You don't have to look
quite so serious, Stanley.
I starved myself for ten days
a couple of years ago.
I could say it was to try and understand
what it's like to be really hungry,
but actually I was just trying to shock my parents,
who are quite the dullest people in England.
(chuckles) Don't say anything to that, Stanley.
Probably best that I don't say anything, no.
So now you can put me in this cartoon,
looking like a skeleton, mad eyes popping out,
dressed in a ball gown with a coronet on my head!
You think I'd do that?
Yes, Stanley. (telephone ringing)
I really think you would.
MICK: There's a telephone call for you, Mr. Mitchell.
Yes.
I'm coming.
Hello.
I'm on the cover of your magazine, Mr. Mitchell.
You never said you were going to do that.
Well, it was too good an opportunity to miss.
I hope you don't mind.
Well it's an extraordinary
thing to do.
I'm not a performer.
Who wants to see what I look like?
More people than you think.
I should be furious with you.
In fact, I am furious with you, but that's not
why I'm ringing you.
I have another reason.
Something a little more interesting.
I've had a notion, Mr. Mitchell.
(softly): ♪ Dun, dun, da-da ♪
♪ Dun, dun, da-da ♪
Hello, Lou.
Now, you're not gonna like what I'm about to say to you at all.
Same as most days, then.
You've got to go back to that
basement club where we first met.
Says who? Says me.
You're gonna play the most important session of your life.
(train rumbling past)
Deirdre, you look magnificent.
Thank you, Stanley.
I don't often get a chance to dress up like this.
Well, I hate to say this,
Deirdre, but you got to clean this place.
It's been cleaned. What do you think I've been doing?
We're not leaving anything to chance.
(indistinct conversations)
Mr. Lester.
Mr. Masterson needs to see you.
I can't see him tonight, Harry, it's our night off,
we have a booking elsewhere.
Mr. Masterson indicated it was rather urgent.
Come in, Mr. Lester.
Come in.
You've been here before, of course.
I have, yes.
I like this suite.
There are even bigger suites in the hotel,
but I'm fond of this one.
When you've seen as many hotel rooms as I have,
you get a feeling for one that fits.
Yes, you may have heard
about my interest in gold, Mr. Lester,
keeping it close. You can think you've
covered every possible eventuality...
How things can go wrong...
But you never have.
There will always be something
that comes up from behind
and tries to destroy
everything one's created,
no matter how powerful one's position appears to be...
so one has to be prepared.
I like to know I can fightback.
Mr. Masterson, I have an urgent engagement tonight,
so if we could...
Julian will be
at the club tonight, won't he?
I don't know who's going to be there.
We've not been given the guest list.
Would you just tell Julian not to worry...
I've completely taken care of it.
And would you give him this.
You will remember, won't you?
I will, yes.
I really must go.
If you were wondering...
I wasn't wondering.
It's a little debt I've taken care of.
You will tell him that and give him the envelope?
(train passing)
(dog barks in distance)
Where the hell have you been?
Something came up.
Give me your coat. Are you mad?
This is the one time you couldn't be late.
Why, is it that full?
Louis, Louis, let me look at you.
(mutters): Um...
Your Royal Highness, I'm...
so sorry I'm so late.
Something happened and I...
Please, Mr. Lester, you're here now.
That's what matters.
You nearly disrupted the whole plan, Louis.
It's the most delightful plan.
(Louis playing intro on piano)
No, no, no, what are you doing?
(stops playing) Has no one told him?
We're not starting yet.
We need to be brisk.
You took so long eating your pudding.
I've never been to a club like this.
We usually send junior staff to these sort of places.
BOXLEY: We don't even do that now.
DEIRDRE: There you are!
The last ones!
Please hurry. BOXLEY: Hurry?
She's not going to stop us getting a drink, is she?
Bar's closed.
Maybe you've met His Royal Highness
Prince George before?
This is Mr. Boxley from
His Master's Voice recording company.
And Mr. Hardiman from the BBC.
BOXLEY: Your Royal Highness,
please accept our apologies.
I am most dreadfully sorry for being so late.
We'd no idea. No idea at all. No.
Lady Cremone didn't warn us.
Please accept my abject apologies.
I-I didn't have an inkling.
Not an inkling, no.
It's very rude to be late.
I'm never late.
And now it's raining.
Let me apologize again, sir.
No, no, please, why don't we stop all these apologies
and listen to the music.
That's why we're here, isn't it?
Don't let the rain put you off.
♪ My man's gone away ♪
♪ Left me feeling blue ♪
♪ No good trying to chase him ♪
♪ 'Cause he's run straight back to you ♪
♪ Says he doesn't love you ♪
♪ No, he'll stick through thick and thin ♪
♪ It's bad luck for the likes of me ♪
♪ Because I don't wear his ring ♪
♪ I don't know why I love him ♪
♪ I should quit and start again ♪
♪ But there's an arrow through my heart ♪
♪ Says he ain't like other men ♪
CARLA: ♪ I got those lovelorn blues ♪
♪ I got those ♪
♪ Lovelorn ♪
♪ Blues. ♪
(song ends)
♪ Tripping along and I'm happy to see you ♪
♪ Ain't right or wrong if I do or I don't ♪
♪ I'm holding on for a dance at the Voodoo ♪
♪ Crazy in a mood for love ♪
♪ Never say you won't be leaving ♪
♪ You can buy me time in teasing ♪
♪ You can show me ways of pleasing ♪
♪ Crazy in a mood for love ♪
♪ Crazy in love and I'm looking to make it ♪
♪ This is a chance and I'm going to take it ♪
♪ Diamonds are hot... ♪
So far, so good.
Me hands are shaking.
I've never seen you nervous before, Stanley.
Well, it is a fairly unusual audience, Deirdre.
♪ I can show you ways of pleasing ♪
♪ Crazy in a mood for love ♪
♪ Crazy in love, crazy in love ♪ ♪ Crazy in love, crazy in love ♪
♪ Crazy in a mood for love. ♪
Marvelous,
absolutely marvelous.
Wouldn't you agree, Mr. Boxley and
Mr. Hardiman?
Uh, yes, Your Royal Highness.
And you, Mr. Hardiman...
Just right for the wireless,
is it not?
(indistinct conversations)
DONALDSON: Lavinia,
I think that could be counted as a triumph.
LAVINIA: Let's hope so, hmm? Poor little chickens.
They look so mortified, still.
Oh, oh, I was, I was... it was a cold bath...
PAMELA: It's just like one of your cartoons
come to life, isn't it, Stanley?
Except it's a little sexier.
(indistinct conversations)
LAVINIA: You sang
wonderfully, my dear.
All those important people,
and they were so close.
LAVINIA: Well, I'm not used to crowds, either, so I am
holding on tight.
(chuckling)
Ah, Mr. Lester.
It's been nice to talk to you.
Your Royal Highness.
Mr. Lester, we must get to know each other a little better.
That would be an honor, Your Royal Highness.
Do-do you mean that?
Of course I do, sir.
Well, I-I wonder when we can do this?
I'm going to be here a little while longer yet, but then
maybe we can move onto some
other place of entertainment?
Or whatever takes one's fancy.
(chuckles) Look at those poor fellows...
Shall we put them out of their misery?
They cannot leave until I do. That's protocol, but
I think we've tortured them long enough.
Mr. Boxley and Mr. Hardiman,
you really don't need to be here a moment longer
than you want to be. Oh, no, Your Royal Highness,
we're enjoying ourselves greatly.
We've no wish to leave. Yes, but I know you want to make
telephone calls in private to your superiors
about tonight.
Shan't be a moment.
You go, too, go now.
I'll grab another taxi. Best to slip away
before the prince gets, uh, too interested.
That's unless, of course, you want that, Louis.
Let's go to the hotel. Mm-mm. Oh, God, no,
he'll probably follow you there. Hang on.
Here's the keys to Music Express.
There's nobody there. It's the one place
in London he won't think to follow you.
(Sarah laughing)
Look at them...
They won't be able to sleep for a week because of tonight.
The embarrassment of it all.
They're gonna wake up screaming. I hope so.
You know, Mr. Hardiman has to introduce the bands
sometimes on the wireless himself.
It'd be so funny if he had to do that for you. LOUIS: My God, I forgot Julian.
I forgot to give him the message. What about Julian?
I have to do this. I-I said I would.
I won't be a moment.
(indistinct conversations)
Julian.
I have a message for you from Mr. Masterson. Do you?
When'd he give it to you? Tonight.
He says everything is taken care of. I think
that's what he said. He did, did he?
(exhales)
You got... You got soaked for me.
My heartfelt thanks, Louis, my dear friend.
All is right with the world.
I knew it would be, but sometimes you never know.
(chuckles)
Oh. Oh.
Everything all right? Yes.
Let's go. Let's go now.
Yes, before they come after us.
The prince and his courtiers.
(indistinct conversations)
This is exciting.
Never been allowed in Stanley's domain before.
There are some terrific photographs in here.
Everything that's ever interested Stanley
is right here. This room is like being inside his brain.
A toothbrush.
And a vest.
Yes, I think this is the nearest Stanley gets to a home.
I don't think he has a proper house or flat at all.
He sleeps here or at his mother's,
or he doesn't sleep at all.
And he's got my photos up.
He asked me for some big copies,
but I thought he was just being polite.
I didn't realize they'd be on display.
You know they slept together on the train...
Pamela and Stanley. They didn't.
I didn't know that. Are you sure?
Yes. But I don't know what's happened since.
You couldn't get two more different people, could you?
And here are all the others, about to play
havoc with the band.
Don't say that. I told you,
it's all real, their enthusiasm.
They absolutely love your music.
And so do I.
(whooshing)
What on Earth is that?
Could be another earthquake. (Louis laughs)
Don't laugh.
There was an earthquake in London last year.
It was quite bad, actually.
(softly laughing)
What an incredible storm.
JULIAN: We have to go out in that.
Ha! (laughs)
We can't let the chance go.
We'll never forgive ourselves.
Come on.
Whoa! It feels amazing.
Come on, everyone.
(laughing)
(shrieking)
PAMELA: My dear brother,
always so quiet and well-behaved.
Come on, Your Royal Highness. You must come, too.
Oh... JULIAN: Yes, come on.
Come on. Please, come, come, come.
He's right. Oh.
It's not the sort of thing one gets the chance to do every day.
(laughing) There you are.
Royalty in a hailstorm.
Oh, it's amazing being here tonight, isn't it?
Come on, Arthur, you're n... you're next!
Last chance to be young.
(laughing)
(trumpet playing)
What's the matter?
It's just a little strange,
being watched by all of them.
Well, I could take them all down.
No, you don't, they're my photographs, remember?
On second thoughts,
I can easily cope with them.
For God's sake, stop fussing.
I will survive, don't worry.
Why don't you sing for us, Jessie?
Yes, that would warm us up.
Sing like this?
Yes, please.
That would be nice.
Especially as Mr. Lester has deserted us.
Well, of course, Your Royal Highness.
♪ There was a time ♪
♪ I felt so low ♪
♪ Each day was tough ♪
♪ It scared me ♪
♪ Dared not believe ♪
♪ That I could live life my way ♪
♪ When I came to ♪
♪ My mind was clear ♪
♪ Said my good-byes ♪
♪ And shed a tear ♪
♪ Things will never be ♪
♪ The same again... ♪
♪ My head up high ♪
♪ I came to town ♪
♪ And learned to love a little ♪
♪ A little... ♪
♪ You showed me how ♪
♪ To play the game ♪
♪ That I succeed a little ♪
♪ Now I can dream about as high ♪
♪ As I can go... ♪
♪ I'm just on top ♪
♪ Of the world... ♪
JULIAN: Jessie!
JULIAN: It's in the shops now.
Have you seen it?
CARLA: But you bought
so many of them, Mr. Luscombe.
Well, I just thought I'd help it along a little.
Not that it'll need it, of course.
Now, will you come for a spin?
♪ I'm on top of the world... ♪
♪ I'm on top of the world ♪
♪ I'm just on top ♪
♪ Of the world. ♪
♪ There was a time ♪
♪ I felt so low ♪
♪ Each day was tough ♪
♪ It scared me... ♪ Don't laugh,
but I've been imagining for a long time
playing your record for the first time
in this spot with you sitting opposite me.
Why would I laugh?
I'd never laugh at that.
Good.
Then don't laugh at this, either.
You have to say yes.
That car is a present.
I bought it for you.
Mr. Luscombe, you didn't.
But I can't drive.
I'll teach you.
And Louis can use it, too.
Say you'll keep it.
Please say yes.
(laughs) Yes.
I like this edition.
I had a feeling about this Louis Lester Band.
I always said put them on the cover, didn't I?
I knew they'd become a big news story.
(chuckles)
HARDIMAN: And now coming directly from the Imperial Hotel London,
for the first time ever on the wireless,
we are delighted to present
the Louis Lester Band.
One, two,
one, two, three, four.
(band begins playing)
♪ All my life, I've been somebody ♪
♪ All fired up and not nobody ♪
♪ Shout it loud, beat the crowd ♪
♪ This girl's going far ♪
(over radio): ♪ Blow, Joe, blow ♪
♪ Don't you know ♪
♪ I'm gonna be a star ♪
(music playing over radio)
What do you think, Mum?
You think she can sing?
Very nice, dear.
They always manage to find such good new singers
on the wireless, don't they?
When they listen to me, they do.
I tried everything to get this band on the wireless.
Of course, dear.
But they do know best in the end, don't they?
♪ Told me I was worth nothing ♪
♪ Now I realize you were just bluffing ♪
♪ Strut my stuff, I don't say maybe ♪
♪ Looks that kill, he's not my baby... ♪
William, stay for this.
She's such a good young singer.
Take a seat, please, and listen.
♪ Shout it loud, head up proud ♪
♪ This girl's going far ♪
♪ Blow, Joe, blow ♪
♪ Let 'em know ♪
♪ I'm gonna be a star. ♪
(applause)
JULIAN: Bravo!
Ladies, are you about to leave the hotel for the day?
Yes, Mr. Schlesinger.
Well, if you wish to, and only if you wish to,
you may use the front entrance from now on.
(speaks indistinctly)
(fans clamor)
Could I have your autograph, too, please, Miss Taylor?
Make it out to Julian.
I was jealous of all these people wanting your signature.
Didn't I tell you this would happen?
Now will you come to lunch with me?
Let's talk about movies and the possibilities for you there,
because I've been hearing some interesting things.
LOUIS: Mr. Schlesinger?
Nathan, it's time you started calling me Nathan, Mr. Lester.
Of course.
And, uh...
do call me Louis, Nathan.
I've just been reading another article about you, Louis,
this time in the Melody Maker.
I'm gonna lose count of how many there've been.
I'm not.
I have some good news for you.
You've received another royal summons.
From the Prince of Wales.
And it's a rather surprising invitation, Louis.
It's to play at an RAF dinner
which he's attending in his role as Air Marshal.
He's a bit of a pilot.
You know, a bit of a flyer.
I almost wish I could come.
Jessie! Excuse me.
Jessie!
Jessie, interesting news.
The Prince of Wales wants us to play again.
That's nice.
"That's nice"?
That's all?
Yes, well, he liked us before,
so he'll like us again, won't he?
Jessie!
Jessie, look.
Something awful's happened.
I had this cleaned for the Prince of Wales tonight,
but they've made a mark on it, and it won't come out.
I don't know what to do, I haven't got
anything else good enough.
What's the matter with you?
I'm not feeling well.
I'm not gonna be able to sing tonight.
What?
Y-You've got to.
It's the Prince of Wales, you have to.
I can't, I'm not well.
You can do it instead.
You know you're able to, Carla.
Stanley, you are marvelously on time.
Of course I am.
I'm so excited.
Excited by what, Stanley?
Well, at having tea with you, of course.
And seeing you here in London again.
I'm here to see the opening of a play I've put money into.
Mr. Masterson is accompanying me.
He's an interesting fellow, isn't he?
He is, indeed.
And I thought I'd wish the band good luck for tonight,
their evening with the Prince of Wales and the Royal Air Force.
What an extraordinary occasion that's going to be.
Talking of which.
I've brought you the Christmas edition
of Music Express, hot off the press.
Thank you very much for that.
A perfect present.
It's tremendous what you've made happen, you know.
What I've made happen?
Yes. For the band, the success they're having.
Well,
it really helped that everybody was trapped
in the club by the storm.
Yes, but you laid that on, too, didn't you?
You can do anything.
(laughing) You flatterer!
Of course, I think I had something to do with it, too.
You most certainly have. But I couldn't
have done it without you, so... thank you.
I feel that my sons would have loved their music very much.
You know, Stanley, all my energy
for seeking out new things,
for discovering the next new exciting voice,
is still all about me dealing with grief, really.
Even after 15 years, it doesn't seem to be getting any less.
And obviously, at, uh,
Christmas...
one feels...
I'm sorry.
Thank you, my dear.
DONALDSON: Lavinia?
Here we all are to wish you a happy Christmas.
And, of course, to wave
the band off on their big day.
What do you mean, you can't sing? JESSIE: I'm not well.
Carla can easily do all the songs instead of me.
They won't notice the difference.
Don't be ridiculous! Of course they will!
This is for the Prince of Wales!
Well, I can't sing tonight.
I have a fever.
I have to go to bed now.
Where do you think you're going? J-Jessie!
I haven't finished with you yet.
Have you seen a doctor? They've called a doctor for me.
I have a temperature. If I find out...
Find out what? If I find out you're going out tonight...
I'm not going out tonight.
Of course I'm not. If you're going out
with Mr. Luscombe or anybody else for that matter...
I wouldn't do that. Why would I do that?
I'm ill.
That's all it is. Is it?
You start getting a little attention,
and then this happens.
I'm really disappointed in you, Jessie.
You're disappointed in me?
Because I'm ill?!
She is ill, Louis, I promise. You'd better be.
Because if I discover that you left the hotel
for a single moment tonight, if I find that out,
you may not have a job with the band in the morning!
THORNTON: Mr. Lester?!
Mr. Donaldson and his party are downstairs.
And it's not that long now till the time of departure.
JESSIE: You won't find that I've left the hotel
or even left my room.
I promise you I won't, Louis.
Why don't you take our car to the air base?
Have a good spin in that, and all your anger will go away.
Good luck, Louis.
I'd give anything to be there, too,
to take pictures of you playing to all those military types.
Yes, well, let's hope we get away with it without Jessie.
You Will.
(car engine starts) Hey,
make sure you send our love to His Royal Highness. (laughter)
(car doors close, engine starting)
I do hope they manage without Jessie.
Yes, it's a pity she can't go, isn't it?
I wondered where everybody was.
Nobody seemed able to tell me.
I'm waiting for Lady Cremone.
And here she is.
I'm so sorry, Walter, to keep you waiting.
We have rather a lot of people to meet
before the show tonight.
Off you go, Walter.
You mustn't be late for all your meetings.
Are you still going to Paris, Julian? I am.
Yes, catching this evening's night train.
You will telephone me when you get there?
I don't know.
I-I hope I'll have the time.
I'll only be gone for three days.
You won't even notice that I'm not here.
Did you give me the telephone number
for the apartment in Paris?
I don't think that you did.
Go, Walter. Go.
If it was a hotel, of course, I wouldn't need the number,
but it isn't, and I don't have the address.
I'd like to take the number, if I may.
JULIAN: Don't be silly,
Walter. You're being absurd.
Come on, you have to go. Off you go.
I must have
that number!
Give me the number!
I have to have it.
PAMELA: I'm sure Julian
will telephone you.
I will get hold of the number myself
and give it to you, Walter.
Julian's always so vague about these things,
and he's hopeless with numbers.
LAVINIA: What a good plan.
See you in three days.
JULIAN: Long face.
He's always got such a long face.
Sometimes it drives me mad.
When you're that rich,
why do you need to have such a long face all the time?
Musicians, this way through here!
Better hurry. Top brass will be arriving any moment.
I'm a little afraid, Louis.
You will be fine, Carla.
(piano playing) Well, the wireless has spread so fast.
Faster than anyone could have imagined.
I mean, millions more each year.
So, what will the next thing be?
The next trend that will spread like wildfire?
Cinemas on trains.
Every train will have a cinema carriage,
a movie while you move.
No, no.
I think with cinema, it will be in the sky. In the sky?
Yes, I went to a demonstration the other day,
and a little man... I think he was called Grindle...
(laughs): He's going to project images onto clouds.
Cinema in the sky at night,
hanging over the city.
Oh, that would be fantastic.
Imagine Greta Garbo over the whole city,
her gigantic face.
STANLEY: Or Farquhar and Tonk in a cartoon, jumping about
over the Houses of Parliament. But if you could do that, of course,
somebody could also have
fascists goose-stepping across the sky.
That'd be pretty terrifying. DONALDSON: Well, clearly one
would have to have a limit. You couldn't allow that.
Well, who could stop them, though?
DONALDSON: Oh, people would find a way,
but my point is, we have no idea what's coming next.
What time's your train, darling? You don't want to miss it.
Uh, no, I won't miss it.
Don't worry.
(crowd chatter)
Sergeant. SERGEANT: In you go!
Give 'em hell.
(loud crowd chatter)
(piano plays intro to jazzy song)
♪ Far down the river ♪
♪ Missed in my heart ♪
♪ You're not near ♪
♪ We're far apart ♪
♪ I loved you then and I lost you ♪
♪ Down river ♪
(saxophone plays)
♪ Four o'clock... ♪
(piano playing) JULIAN: Here she is.
Doesn't she look beautiful?
I just thought I'd say hello.
That tree is so lovely.
Jessie, should you be out of bed?
I thought one drink might make me feel better.
Of course it will.
Of course she's right.
You must be feeling very unwell
to miss singing to the Prince of Wales.
I am. I don't feel well at all.
Your voice has gone, has it?
It's quite gone... when I sing.
Louis loves performing in front of royalty.
He can't have been very pleased.
He understood.
Well, let's hope Carla manages to bring it off.
♪ A memory ♪
♪ A distant memory ♪
♪ Floats away... ♪
(sustaining note)
(song ends)
LOUIS: Thank you. We're very pleased
and honored to be here
playing to Your Royal Highness again,
and to the Royal Air Force.
I've never been in an aeroplane myself,
but maybe that'll change after tonight.
(laughter)
(band plays intro to upbeat song)
Would you like to dance?
♪ Stars burning brighter, I'm on an all-nighter ♪
♪ Serenading to a tune ♪
♪ A pop at the bull's-eye in the celestial night sky ♪
♪ I'm dancing on the moon ♪
♪ I'm dreaming of the big time ♪
♪ A chance to dig a gold mine... ♪
Have another one. PAMELA: Maybe that's enough, Julian.
Too much drink doesn't mix well with a fever.
Yes, I ought to go.
That's best, isn't it?
I need a beautiful sleep,
and then everything will be all right,
I'll be back on my feet.
Let me see you to your room.
They didn't arrange this between them, did they?
She didn't miss the concert because...?
To be with my brother?
I certainly hope not.
(laughs)
Isn't this magical?
It is. Magical.
So, this Hollywood producer...
Mm. Where are we seeing him tonight?
He's upstairs.
Oh, he's in the hotel.
That's all right then.
I don't need to break any rules. (laughs)
(band plays slow, instrumental song)
(song ends, applause)
Another slow number, please.
I do find the slow ones
the best, don't you?
(band plays slow melody)
SERGEANT: She'll be in his bed tonight.
Of course she will.
It's what's expected.
If you catch his eye, that's what has to happen.
Doesn't matter who you're married to.
Looks like your music's really helping.
JULIAN: I may have something to eat.
You'll miss your train, Julian.
Maybe that's for the best.
It's meant to happen.
Disappoint my friends in Paris, make Walter even more angry.
Maybe I'm good for absolutely nothing. PAMELA: Don't be ridiculous.
Go and get your train right now.
I'm gone.
SARAH: Pamela.
What's the matter, darling?
My little brother...
When he's like this...
I'm sorry.
STANLEY: Excuse me.
PAMELA (crying): I worry about him so much.
He's so young.
So young for his age.
I can't be there for him all the time.
I just can't, and when I'm not, I can't stop thinking.
He could be so brilliant if he wanted,
do so much,
but something always stops him.
He can look after himself, I'm sure.
I'm certain he can.
Do you think?
I do hope you're right, Stanley.
Please be right.
I know I'm right.
He'll be fine.
Of course he will.
(loud crowd chatter)
You want to take a bit home?
It's pretty disgusting cake.
It's funny our esteemed guests
and their friends can't tell the difference.
I think it's lovely.
You can have a plane.
Want a little aeroplane?
No, thanks.
The real ones aren't much bigger.
But it's all we've got
to take on Germany or the French,
or whoever we fight next.
And everybody thinks they're absolutely marvelous,
they're all we need.
They don't look like much.
They're fucking useless.
(sighs)
I think I need to go, if you don't mind.
I don't mind, Louis.
You go. I'm so happy.
(laughter)
SARAH: If I wasn't so drunk, I would go and join in,
the Imperial Christmas concert.
Not to be missed, apparently.
All of the dowagers staying up really late for a singsong.
Oh, yes, the Duchess of Northampton
singing "Once in Royal David's City" is an absolute highlight.
(laughter) Does it every year.
DONALDSON: Some things never change.
(engine revving)
(chorus singing in distance)
Louis.
(sighs)
I'm just off, my dear friend.
Got to run.
Must have missed the train, but I'm still going to Paris.
We'll see each other soon.
(chorus singing in distance)
Jessie?
Jess...
Jessie?
(high-pitched, raspy breathing)
(door creaks open)
Jessie!
Help!
(bell ringing) Help!
Help! Help!
An ambulance is coming.
Louis.
♪♪
Ripped By mstoll