This programme contains strong language from the outset and scenes of sexual violence.
And of course I shall be in Rome next month, so I look forward to discussing your thoughts
on my proposals in person.
Meanwhile, my assistant
will be booking my next week's appointments,
as I shall only be on my business trip
for another three days at most.
The doctors say a week, at least.
Nobody must know, Jerry.
Any weakness just plays into their hands.
I shall only be on my business trip
for another three days at most.
And also...
..have there been any calls, Jerry?
Hundreds. I've had Sitex on the phone day and night,
and also... No, no, not work calls.
Calls from the family.
I've not let anyone know you're ill, Mrs Harte.
At your instruction.
Of course.
We both know there's someone who would want to be informed.
If Paula knew you were ill, she'd be frantic.
DISCO MUSIC PLAYS
THEY LAUGH
# You're my honey bee... #
You feeling...? Better.
I miss her, of course,
but better than before.
Better than, "How fucking dare she?!"
But actually, how dare she?
Telling me who to love,
then just swanning off on some mystery trip.
She makes me so fucking angry!
People that we love do that.
I love you...
..Jim Fairley.
I've tried to stop.
But I don't think it works like that.
# You're my honey bee You're my honey bee... #
Go home, Jerry,
and tell that boyfriend of yours, when his show opens,
I shall be wanting front-row seats.
Mrs Harte, might this be a sign?
To join an exercise class?
To slow down.
Take a holiday, or two.
Have a rest.
Have we met?
I'm Emma Harte.
BAND PLAYS GOOD KING WENCESLAS
Thank you.Oh, merry Christmas!
Hello.
Nice to see you again.
Mr Kallinski, do we have any Turkish delight left?
Oh, I don't imagine so. There's been such a run on it
from all the big houses on the hill.
You wouldn't believe how popular it's been.
The fancy housekeepers have taken two boxes.
But might we find one for Mrs Easton, do you suppose?
Right...
Success!
Well, then, I'd better take both.
Oh, and you'd be wise to add a tin of pork
and one more jar of apple sauce, I think.
Thank you. You're welcome.
Good evening. SHOP BELL JINGLES
Emma. It's Christmas Eve.
I imagine there are stockings that need hanging,
trees that need decking.
Oh, tell Edwina I've put one extra sugar mouse
in your basket just for her, so she is not to share.
I can close up. You get going.
Thank you.
Oh, I have an ulterior motive.
I'm planning to steal cheese.
Take whatever you can carry.
And I mean it. I know your family's
probably finished celebrating now that Hanukkah's over,
but we'd love you and Flora to join us tomorrow.
Joe's complaining you can't see the kitchen surfaces for food.
Our Frank can't come.
Too busy working for his exams.
And Mac's been goodness knows where for months.
Mac always has a mystery girl or a party in every town.
Both, mainly.
So, no, no-one's coming.
Which means there will be plenty of room for you both...
Emma, I don't...
I've been happy to help out here over the last couple of years,
but...
..I can't just pretend to be a regular friend of your family.
I can't.
Merry Christmas, David.
SHOP BELL JANGLES
I think they're here.
I just... I didn't...
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. I'll leave. No, don't.
Olivia... Please...
..stay.
I don't come in here often.
I quite understand how occasionally it could be helpful to...
Mm.
She's everywhere.
These wretched potions of hers.
Always mysterious. Mm.
It's difficult this week, particularly.
She loved Christmas. Yes.
Oh, no. Sorry. Er...
Sit down.
It's all right. Sit.
There's so many different versions of her on every wall.
She loved it.
I can't bear one mirror most days.
Yet you are more beautiful every minute.
We should, er...
They'll be wondering where...
We should...
HALTING VERSION OF GOOD KING WENCESLAS ON PIANO
Welcome. You made it.
It's been an age since you visited.
Aunt Olivia.
Oh, I love your earrings, Olivia. Thank you.
Happy Christmas. You're here!
Good.
It's just me and the happy couples.
Standard's thriving, I hear.
I've had nothing but good reports.
Hard week, was it,
at the forefront of world news?
"Festive joy at Armley Christmas fete."
It's what sells.
Well, I'm glad someone finally worked out what does.
Bloody newspaper's been a liability for us for years,
but you've made it pay.
I thought the plan was when you took over the paper
that it would be nothing but hard-hitting journalism.
I'm saving my stirring editorials
about German defence spending for January.
Dinner time. Drinks, perhaps?
Yes, please. Drinks, plural!
Oh, and then some kind of parlour game.
Father wants to play a jolly game, Aunt Olivia.
What do you think?
Happy Families? Wink Murder?
Gerald.
Leave him.
I'm going out.
It's Christmas Eve.
Does the casino never close?
Listen...
Have you got any cash?
None for you to lose.
I thought the mill was back on an even keel.
Since Mother...
Hasn't it felt like being under water?
Yes.
Are you getting yourself into trouble?
Christ.
The interest these loan people charge, Edwin.
They're villains.
Hamilton Equitable, they call themselves.
Now they're threatening me with demands for repayment.
And Father mustn't know, but I...
But I've all but promised them my first-born...
..by Boxing Day.
But tonight I have a sure thing.
I can make it all back, and more.
OK? Please. Hmm?
That paper is such a financial triumph. Hmm?
Please.
DOOR OPENS
DOOR CLOSES
CHILD CHATTERS
EDWINA SQUEALS
LAUGHTER
EDWINA GIGGLES
Look at this pretty one, Daddy!
That is lovely.
Right. Where can we put this one?
There? Or...
..higher? Higher! Higher!
Higher! Higher, you say.
Well, look at this. Goodness!
Here you are, at last.
You must be exhausted.
Now, where's my favourite girl?
No down-down, no.
Let... Let's get another one. Oh, you've...
You've already hung the stockings.
Well, Edwina wanted to do them
before her baby brother went to bed.
Of course.
And she's been working so hard.
Just like her mam.
Well, the tree looks beautiful.
You've an eye for it, love.
But there's a gap here, look.
If we just move this bauble...
..over here... No, I want it there. No!
We had found just the right spot for it,
hadn't we, sweetheart? Clever girl.
It's perfect just where you put it.
What about this one, Daddy?
Right. Where shall we put that?
Up there?
OK. Let's try...
Come on.
Safely tucked up?
On her back, mouth open.
And Kit's got his blanket.
CHUCKLES
We were packed today. Sold all of the fresh stuff.
Just a load of beef and potato pies
left in the stockroom I need to shift.
Joe, have you thought any more about the shops?
Mm?
Hardly allowed to these days, am I?
You're welcome to be as involved as you like in the shops.
Am I?
And what about your other businesses?
The ones that I'm not allowed to know about?
What other businesses?
Anyway, you've got your garden.
And your books...
Big reader. That's right.
I'm sure that's what the neighbours think of me.
No.
What I meant was...
..have you thought about me buying the shops?
Having all three in my name?
I have the money put away and I want to pay.
But...
for a Christmas present...
..if you're short of one,
I'd like my name on all of the deeds.
I'm sorry to break it to you,
but for almost two years we've had the same name.
You know what I mean.
I know that it's time for bed.
I'll kiss the children for you, shall I?
I always kiss the children. I kiss them all the time.
You do, yes.
Outside of trading hours.
OWL HOOTS
FOOTSTEPS
How was your sure thing?
Sure things are like marriages.
Only fools expect they'll work out.
I need more time to throw myself at the mercy of
these Hamilton Equitable people.
Make them see sense, man to man.
I'll be late for lunch. Don't tell Father.
Oh!
Oh, so good.
TIMER RINGS
Could have had the maids come in to at least do dinner.
They've families of their own to be with.
And you don't?
Run-up to Christmas, obviously the shop comes first.
But I must say, I did hope that today...
Today I've a million things to do. But you sit.
Please, sit.
What time did you get up?
I was hoping we might get to, er, lie-in.
Do I fall short in that department?
Daddy! No!I just meant...
Cake! Cake! Cake!
She's wanting the Yule log.
No, love. We don't have chocolate for breakfast.
And the Yule log's for later, so...It's Christmas.
No, Joe. She mustn't.
Not the whole thing!
Oh, where's the harm? Don't give it to her!
Now, look! The waste!
Well, it looks like you've got this under control.
Anyone want to play a game?
Me, me, me!
SHE SIGHS
Lovely. Just over there.
QUIET CHATTER
Just trying to fill the gaps a bit.
When we were children, Adele and I
used to decorate place settings with people's names,
which cost nothing, of course.
But I didn't know if Edwin and Gerald
would think it a bit silly.
Too much. Probably.
You're doing a wonderful job.
Thank you.
I just wanted to make it, well, if not perfect,
then at least bearable.
Where would we have been without you
these last few years?
And before that,
I realise,
for years, decades,
you were always there.
Oh... Olivia...
Is that...? Adele's ring? Yes.
She'd be so glad for you to have it.
Darling...
will you be my wife?
SHE STAMMERS
HE LAUGHS
Yes.
Now...
..where are the boys?
A tea party!
Look, Daddy, look!
Oh, wow! Can I join in?
Yes, of course, Daddy.
Delicious tea... BABY GRIZZLES
Shh-shh-shh-shh.
Oh, not today, surely.
What's to do there? It's shut.
I'm fetching another Yule log.
Also, I've had an idea about those beef and potato pies.
They need shifting.
Emma, it's Christmas Day. Be back soon, love.
You look lovely.
I suppose we should go downstairs.
Yes. Don't want it to look like we're hiding.
But first...
It's beautiful.
Thank you.
Thank goodness.
It was a risk. But, um,
I know with my mother, remembering's good.
And last year, our first Christmas,
we hardly knew each other,
so I can't even remember what I got you.
Something unimaginative, I expect, like...chocolates.
Er...
I love them.
Mm.
Oh, never mind the Balkans.
Asquith! Asquith is the real threat.
You're telling me that if the French went to war,
he wouldn't follow them without a second thought?
Like a shot. But it won't come to that.
Well, better ask his wife.
Asquith tells everything to his wife.
And Lloyd George tells everything
to other people's wives. LAUGHTER
Mm.
Speaking of wives...
Show them.
Oh!
Congratulations.
Thank you.
Edwin, I know that this must be...
I'm making an honest woman out of her, Edwin.
And she is making me...
The happiest man in the world?
Congratulations...
..Aunt Olivia.
OLIVIA BREATHES RAGGEDLY
Really must release yourself of it, Olivia
this shame of yours.
This...guilt.
It's exhausting.
Excuse me, I have a bit of a headache.
Your brother didn't say when he'd deign to join us?
BANG ON DOOR
57 High Street. Is that right?
What are you doing here?
I could ask you the same.
But the gold letters outside give you away.
Why have you come, Gerald Fairley?
Mr Fairley...to you.
I have a letter for Hamilton Equitable.
Then I'd better take it.
I've places to be, even if you don't.
Mulled wine, mince pies and the like.
So hand over the letter you've gone to all the trouble
of bringing me and take your leave.
You're Hamilton Equitable?
You're in the money-lending business?
Only to you.
Heard you got yourself into trouble, as the weak often do,
and saw an opportunity. Now, get out of my shop.
Leave any correspondence you have on the mat
and I'll reply after Christmas.
This is the best Christmas present I could ever have,
because here's me thinking that I had to pay that money back,
that Hamilton Equitable was some kind of real firm!
Oh, it's real, all right.
Some little jumped-up housemaid
bearing a grudge because she got rejected is no real business.
Take that up with the team of lawyers
who have verified my interest rates
and the contract you signed.
Now, get out of my shop.
And I want that money by tomorrow, as agreed.
Think you're clever, don't you?
Where's the child, Emma Harte?
I haven't got a child. Oh, come on.
Where's the child you had that belongs to my brother?
I did not have your brother's baby.
Don't give me that!
You're nothing but a whore.
A good one, I have no doubt.
But nonetheless...
Oh, Edwin told me the whole sorry tale late one night,
tears in his eyes.
I don't know what story he's told you or himself,
but I didn't have Edwin's child.
Does your father know how much debt you're in?
I know your game, Emma Harte.
I know it's common practice with tramps from the working class,
that you'll turn up with your child at some stage
to blackmail our family.
Well, you've had enough money out of me.
You know Edwin's married now, don't you?
Not that his wife gives him what he wants.
Not like you did, I'm sure.
I saw how stuck on you Edwin was.
So I imagine you know how to move those hips of yours, don't you?
Oh, come on.
Gave it up willingly enough for Edwin, didn't you?
And I'm not above taking his seconds!
SHE SCREAMS What's the matter?
Whores like you are ready any time of day or night.
Where's your Christmas spirit, Emma, huh?
Let's see... You've put on your little dress for me.
Get off!
I used to see you in my house,
watching.
You always knew what you wanted, and so did I.
So did I!
Yes, you did. I know you did. I can tell.
EMMA SOBS
GROANING
SHE YELLS
That is the final deposit
in settlement of my account.
Get out, because I mean it I will kill you.
I will.
I like a tiger.
I like you wild, Emma Harte.
You are nothing, Gerald Fairley.
You are an insignificant man
who's had every advantage his whole life.
Yet the only way you feel like a winner
is to use physical strength for approximately 15 seconds.
Well, your body might be stronger than mine,
but your resolve never will be.
Your filthy animal needs will never match the lust,
the fire that burns inside of me.
Because my desire is destruction.
And I'll never stop. Not ever.
Not till I've ruined you and every other member
of your self-absorbed, privileged and spineless family!
You boring little tramp.
And, as for the money you owe, check your contract.
I'm calling in your collateral.
You... You couldn't.
One signature from me, and it's done.
When I sign that paper, every brick of Fairley Mill will belong to me,
and I'll leave it up to you to explain to your dad
why you put it up as security, because this is just the start.
I won't stop making your family pay
until every Fairley living mourns the day they ever heard
the name Emma Harte!
So, happy Christmas, Gerald Fairley,
from all at Hamilton Equitable
and Harte Enterprises.
Go. Go!
BREATHES RAGGEDLY
CARRIAGE DRIVES AWAY
KNIFE CLATTERS
SHE SOBS
(MUFFLED)Finally! Shop all ship-shape?
All well? Are you feeling better?
I got the Yule log.
Well, that's good, cos we're going to need
all the supplies that we can get.
Sure, if there'd been no Yule log,
I'd have had my coat on and be striding out that door.
What's a Yule log?
You came!
You're here.
SHE SOBS
Happy Christmas!
MAC LAUGHS
Mavourneen, you all right?
I am now.
Mac's got a surprise of his own.
Oh!
I'm sorry. Hello.
Emma, this is Laura,
my friend.
A special friend.
Isn't that great news?
It is. Course it is.
I kept telling Mac it wasn't a day for introductions,
but you know what he's like.
He did tell you I was coming?
He... Of course!
Welcome.
Welcome, indeed!
And for goodness' sake, let's have a drink, shall we?
Am I an ill-mannered brute?
No warning,
and an uninvited guest in tow.
Oh, a dreadful brute.
Always.
But always, always welcome.
First one you've introduced,
so I'm guessing Laura's not like the others.
The many others.
Ah, it's lies, the lot of it.
I barely know any girls at all.
MAC OPENS BOTTLE
Not in danger of settling down, are you,
Shane O'Neill?
Sure...
it takes a special girl to get a proposal from me,
Emma Harte.
Do I still have a wife?
Presents!
We've waited long enough!
GENTLE MUSIC
Later on, perhaps.
You can't give a man a present and not let him open it.
What is it, Daddy?
"My love, your gift is outside the front of the house."
Oh! Is it a treasure hunt?
Treasure hunt! Treasure hunt!
Outdoors? I mean, what needs to be kept cold?
A beer?
Not a beef and potato pie?
LAUGHTER
Daddy, look! Is it for you?
Not for me?
No! Emma! I know you wanted one.
Yeah, but I never dreamed it...
Have you seen this?
A car, from my beautiful, hard-working wife.
What do you think, Edwina?
No more hardship for Emma Harte, eh?
Well done, mavourneen.
FOOTSTEPS APPROACH
I have an unimaginative gift
I need help with. Nice.
My husband hasn't shown his devotion to me
with cheap chocolates.
No, these are definitely mid-range.
CHUCKLES
I don't agree with everything Mr Fairley says, but...
..I'm sure he's right
that your sister would want you to be happy.
Who knows what Adele would have wanted?
She didn't know herself, I suspect.
All I know is how strange it feels with her gone.
It's as if everything's gone dark.
People leave us, but the love doesn't.
You think you can't stand it, the grief.
Then one day it starts to become bearable.
The sun comes out.
Olivia!
Where have you got to? Olivia!
We can look for it ourselves all we like,
but what we're all hoping for is that love finds us.
Don't you think?
Real love.
The kind you don't have to question.
No. Thank you.
You saw Edwin's reaction. He was horrified.
And if we think that anyone at all
will feel any differently, then we're lying to ourselves.
I mean, for God's sake, I don't feel any differently.
It is horrifying.
So, I can't do it. I'm sorry. I can't.
POURS DRINK
So it was all for nothing, then?
Adele's death.
You broke your sister's heart.
She drank herself to death.
We all lost her.
We all suffered this unimaginable, utter misery,
but for no reason.
Olivia...
..if we don't legitimise this,
if we don't show the world
that you and I weren't just fooling around, then...
..how do you explain what the hell you're still doing here...
..what's been going on in this house?
How...
do we explain it to the boys?
Now...
Come on, it's Christmas.
What are we playing? Charades?
ENGINE STARTS
Ha-ha!
For my beautiful wife, the deeds to the shop.
All three. All in your name.
Merry Christmas.
I want to pay for them. I mean it.
I have all the money saved.
Very, very fast.
BEEPS HORN Hold on tight.
SQUEALING
That car was some present.
Joe deserves some consolation for his absentee wife.
And he deserves not to feel...stuck.
Also, you deserve a husband who can speed you up and down
in a fancy sports car.
He did want a car.
It's just that maybe he wanted other things more.
It can be lonely.
Am I right?
Having purpose.
Being so certain every day.
Not everyone understands,
so it can be lonely.
Laura's wonderful. Ah...
She's a good woman. Seems stuck on you.
Can you blame the girl?
BOTH CHUCKLE
She's not like us, though.
Well, what a relief!
Well, she wants a quiet life.
Although, did you see her in the passenger seat
screaming to us?
She's a dark horse, tell you that.
I'm glad you like her, though.
That's important.
I'm buying the shops from Joe. All of them.
And I've got myself a present, too.
You're looking at the new owner of Fairley Mill.
BOTH LAUGH
Because when you're busy making sacrifices every day,
you deserve the odd reward.
You're doing it, Emma.
You're doing it. I am.
I am.
And I'm only just beginning.
MAC LAUGHS
Wow! Beep-boop!
Cheque for the shops.
Emma... I want to.
Please.
To feel safe.
How was it?
Oh, she's a dream!
The car AND the wife.
Thank you.
I wanted you to have something you loved.
So did I.
Hey-hey!
Hello!
Oh, you're squashing me! Watch out!
I'm flesh and blood, you know.
We wanted to surprise you, hey, didn't we?
Yeah?
Are you surprised?
I am, our Frank! I am. I am!
What's more important, eh, than family?
Come here!
DOOR OPENS
DOOR CLOSES
Where the hell have you been?
You've missed quite a day.
Did you at least manage to buy yourself more time?
Gerald?
Mother was the only one who thought anything of me, wasn't she?
Is this about the debt?
Gerald, it's just money. It doesn't matter.
It's gone. The mill's gone. She's taken it.
Who has? Who's taken it?
Your little whore.
Emma Harte.
Strutting around like she's anything more than just a tramp maid.
And she's dangerous. She won't stop there.
But we can make sure she gets what's coming to her.
Can't we, Edwin?
We'll remind Emma Harte who she really is.
We'll make her sorry. Won't we?
This is madness.
Pretending everything's fine,
when we all know war could be declared any second.
If we don't go over there and stop the Germans,
they'll bring the fight to us.
What has that damn girl done now?
She's punishing me and she won't give up.
Time is not a luxury we have, gentlemen. The war has begun.