I took something I shouldn't have. I stole a private letter of Harry's.
Our little secret.
I've received complaints about this school.
From who? That, madam, is confidential.
The right person's out there, love.
Joe's working. Harry's got university.
What do I do if I don't get married?
I keep imagining what it would feel like if we felt free.
I imagine it, too, Betsy.
This school is finished.
Next trick wins. Winner takes all.
What? I thought we had it.
Oh, dear. You've lost Hardacre Hall.
What a waste.
It ain't right that one awful man can shut the school down.
No, but he's scare mongering, riled up the vicar and the school board.
Everyone's gonna miss coming here.
Including me.
I know.
Morning, Mary. Betsy.
Lady Emma, how are you? I'm sorry to hear about your migraine.
Oh, it's passed. Thank goodness. Good.
I came to collect my books.
Oh, these are yours, I think. Thank you.
Listen, I just want to say thank you for helping with the classes.
It meant a lot to me and to the women.
And you should have seen Maggie. Oh, she did a lovely reading.
I'm pleased to hear it.
Right. Erm...
I... I...
I enjoy teaching very much.
And I'm sorry it's come to this.
Yeah.
Yeah, you know, it made my blood boil when I saw that.
I'd love to have my say.
I'd tell them that education isn't just for children.
Why should adults that have missed out not have the same opportunity?
Perhaps you should.
Everyone's free to stand for that election.
Even a woman?
Even a woman.
KNOCKING ON DOOR
Good morning. Lady Hansen.
You're most welcome.
I'd like to speak with Mrs Hardacre and her mother.
FOOTSTEPS APPROACH
Oh. Lady Hansen, what a pleasure.
And how can I help you? I've come to collect a debt.
Oh. I'm sorry. I-I don't understand.
Tell us it isn't true, Ma.
Tell us you haven't bet the house at cards.
The wages were high. Proof of collateral was required.
What in God's name possessed you? Have you lost your mind?
I know exactly how this happened. Oh, well, go on, then.
You had to show the hoity-toitys who was cleverest.
And you were cocksure you'd win.
So when the tide turned,
your stubborn pride wouldn't let you back down.
Even if it meant your whole family drowning with you!
Is that right? Just admit it, Ma, you were outfoxed!
Oh... Don't you dare speak to her without me!
DOOR SLAMS
I see you are aware of our tragic loss
at the card table, Mrs Hardacre.
My mother has shown an appalling lack of judgement. It's...
It's a grave shock.
The consequences to your family are profound.
Yes, which is why I was hoping, given the circumstances,
that a friendly game between ladies and improving relationship
between our families, we might find a way forward.
Cancel the debt? Yes.
Absolutely not.
I'm surprised that you view honour between ladies as malleable.
Of course I don't. I'm speaking of... compassion.
I didn't make the rules, Mrs Hardacre.
No, but you needed to break them.
We both wanted to win. What are you on about, Ma?
Your promissory note.
The deeds to the house.
Huh.
Oh, you're not sorry at all.
Your family have been living under an illusion.
It was necessary to dispel it.
And what illusion is that?
That sudden wealth buys you class,
when it takes generations of good blood and good breeding.
Qualities that families who have gutted fish for generations
could never possess.
Oh, the bile rises to the top.
Imelda laid a trap to make sure that we lost.
She's a snake, Mary.
Hm.
You know, people like you, you're such hypocrites.
You're full of contempt for the working poor,
yet your lives depend on us.
Oh, no. You mistake me.
I admire a good fishmonger
just as I do a good chimney sweep.
Had you kept to your station, none of this would have befallen you.
No. No. We have a life. Not a station.
The very attitude that makes you a threat to society.
I recognised your family's dangerous aspirations
right from the start.
A National Vigilance Association.
It was you. Hm.
Mr Balfour understood my concern at once.
I want you to leave my house right now.
But it's no longer your house, is it?
You better check them deeds.
Four Winds Cottage?
What do you take me for? You wagered the hall.
I wagered our house in Yorkshire. Only we own two of them.
Hardacre Hall and Four Winds Cottage.
Our old lodgings in the village.
But you can tell the Devon sisters
the cottage is very well looked after.
The lodgers have a protected tenancy... for life.
The door's over there.
Good day.
SIGHS Oh, my God.
You could have told me you had a plan all along.
Well, her ladyship needed to think we were defeated
before she let her hair down.
Besides, I wasn't in the mood after your unprovoked attack.
Unprovoked? SHE TUTS
MARY AND MA LAUGH
Her face! LAUGHING CONTINUES
This way, if you please.
What's going on?
I've discovered a letter.
I wonder who it's from.
Mr Caldwell.
Share the news.
I'm being invited to Oxford to interview for a place!
Well done, Harry, and well deserved!
I can't believe it. What's going on?
It's from Mr Lewis's old don at Pembroke College.
OK. "Dear Master Hardacre,
"what a pleasure to read your lively and vigorously argued essays."
"Mr Lewis's belief in the originality of your mind
"has been borne out in your work."
"And I cordially invite you to Oxford
"to interview for a place at Pembroke College."
Oh, my darling, that's wonderful news. Well done.
Congratulations, son.
I owe it all to Mr Lewis.
Nonsense. You earned this, Harry.
Did you ask Liza for these?
No. They're good, though, aren't they? Yeah.
She's got a creative mind.
I do worry about her, Sam.
She'll get over the heartbreak.
No, no, no. It's less about losing that scoundrel.
It's more about the space that he left behind.
That there isn't another suitor?
Mary, she hated all those hangers on.
Aye, she did.
But it's her brothers she's watching.
Seeing them absorbed in their own pursuits
and just longing for a purpose herself.
DOOR OPENS
Mm. She just needs to put her talents to good use.
These signs need a home, sir. Shall I have them taken to the shop?
In the study for now, Mrs Drayton.
Is Liza about?
I believe she's upstairs, sir. Thank you.
Knock, knock. Heard you were looking for me.
Liza. Come in. Have a seat.
I made those signs for the harvest festival.
I know you did.
I like them.
What about these?
Oh, they're just some ideas for the canned goods.
Ma's jam's been flying off the shelf.
Tell me about it. She's not stopped preening for days.
You should take some of the credit. Home brand's very popular.
Well, maybe we could sell more things that way.
I mean, it's a fair point,
but there'd be extra work with the packaging.
Why would we bother? Well, to cut out the middle man.
For all we know, he could be selling us snake oil.
At least if it's our brand, we know its quality.
So, what's going on, Dad? Why are you asking me all this?
I'm just exploring new ideas on how to grow the business.
Oh. And you like mine?
Yes. Yes, I do.
Oh. Bloody hell!
Well, let me show you this. Mm-hm.
'My dearest Arthur,
'I have developed feelings towards you of a romantic nature.'
Right. Same teams as last time. Girls against the boys.
This Oxford interview has got me worried.
How on earth do I prepare, Arthur?
Right, Harry, you're up. Mr Caldwell might ask me anything.
I wouldn't worry.
Caldwell's more likely to ask if roast pork is superior to beef
than if Hamlet's superior to Othello.
Harry, take your shot.
Sounds like my experience at Cambridge.
I had this eccentric scholar
who obsessively swatted flies throughout my interview.
Right, are we playing the game or what?
Cos not everyone has strange interview stories.
Well, actually, I might. Tell us more.
Well, it wasn't an interview exactly,
and it were only with me dad, but...
he liked an idea I had for a Hardacre brand.
And some designs I'd done. Liza, that's wonderful.
Though I'm not surprised.
Are you serious? Why would Dad talk about the business with you?
It's not my fault. I were as surprised as you.
No, it's just that I...
should have been a part of it, that's all.
'Lady Emma says women can stand.'
You need to accept what happened and move on, Mary.
This would be me moving on.
Running for the school board? Yeah, where they decide everything.
Why would you cause more trouble for yourself?
Sam, who's gonna advocate for the needs of our community if we don't?
KNOCKING
Excuse me. Lady Hansen has returned.
What? I think you'll find we're busy.
Did she say what it was about this time?
An urgent matter, apparently.
We're busy, Lady Hansen, so if you could be brief.
A scandalous letter has come into my possession.
The contents and outrage to public decency.
And why should that concern us?
It was written by your younger son.
How dare you slander Harry?
Well, come on, then, let's see it.
The letter is in safe keeping.
Yeah, I think we're done here. Again.
Let your son confirm or deny it.
Beesley, could you fetch Harry, please?
You'll apologise to my boy before you leave this house.
We'll see.
I'm sorry, son, but Lady Hansen here claims
that you wrote an indecent letter of some sort.
How did you get hold of it?
I'd say that's beside the point.
Who did you write the letter to, son?
Mr Lewis.
All right, so an assignment of some kind?
But we need to know so we can make sense of all of this, love.
It was a personal letter... to express my gratitude.
To express your longing and ardour, more like!
The letter was perfumed.
You shouldn't have stolen it!
And you shouldn't have such wicked thoughts about another man
in flagrant violation of the law.
Enough! Harry...
Come on. Come with me.
It's OK.
EXHALES
What exactly do you want?
Your family to leave this house forever.
If you refuse, I shall hand the letter to the magistrate
and let the law take its course.
You would use a private letter
by a confused 18-year-old boy to prosecute him?
You've left me no choice.
Somehow, Lady Hansen has my letter, the one that went missing.
The reading list? Yeah.
Only I wasn't entirely truthful, Arthur.
It was more... personal, really.
I wanted to thank you for all that you've taught me and, well...
Go on.
Lady Hansen is devious. I have no idea how she got the letter.
Do you think she has spies in this house?
Please tell me what the letter said, Harry.
I won't judge you.
But the contents of that letter could matter a great deal.
I shared my feelings...
About?
You.
'I mean, she wouldn't really go through with her threat, would she?'
There was a deranged look in that woman's eye.
She'd go through with it, all right.
Look, our family have weathered a lot.
We can weather this, too, somehow.
Yeah, but can Harry? He's young and vulnerable, Mary.
And there's no knowing the chain of events if the law gets involved.
What was the lad thinking? He wasn't thinking, Sam.
He was acting on his feelings, love.
I wouldn't put it past Imelda having perfumed the letter herself.
I bet it was just some boyish letter of gratitude
that got muddled in his head.
You know, all that poetry he's been reading.
Oh, for the love of God. For the love of God what?
Harry has taken a fancy to Mr Lewis.
There. It's been said.
And the earth hasn't stopped rotating.
I need some air. No.
You need to get your head straight, both of you.
Imelda has waged war on our family.
And we need a battle plan to stop our Harry from going to prison.
I plan to leave immediately, sir, to best protect Harry and myself.
We must get ahead of this if we can. What's your honest opinion?
How damaging could his letter be?
Legally, it'd be a matter of interpretation.
Some magistrates take up these cases and some avoid them.
So luck is involved.
And who can influence them?
People like Lady Hansen? Exactly.
Even an honourable magistrate can feel pressure to act if...
influential people are riled up.
You're familiar with the Oscar Wilde case?
New laws require little more than innuendo to justify prosecution.
The Hardacres will be leaving after all.
Some scandals are not above the law.
You're speaking in riddles, Mama. What scandal?
Harry Hardacre. I read his letter.
Who'd have thought his mind so twisted and salacious? Huh!
You couldn't have read his letter, you burnt it.
I burned the envelope, my dear.
Not the odious letter inside.
Please, will someone explain to me what's going on?
I stole a private letter of Harry's.
I was ashamed, so I didn't read it.
When I confessed to Grandmama, she suggested we destroy it
to keep it from falling into the wrong hands.
Precisely. It fell into mine.
I trusted you.
A stolen letter could expose Adella to accusations of theft.
Her actions were justified,
given the letter's disgusting contents.
I think, Mama, our reputation could be damaged too.
We have an association with the Hardacres.
I can't fathom what drove you to such extremes.
Honour, Emma. Family honour.
All right, Dad? Yeah. Why?
Just making sure you're all right.
Aye. Good.
Electric's playing up.
It's always something.
Maybe we get wired up at the cottage.
Come over and visit. Betsy'd love that.
What?
I'm inviting you round, Dad.
Would be nice to speak to you.
And I hear Liza's got some ideas about the business.
Not today, Joe. It's, er...
It's not a good time.
I've got a lot on my mind.
Come in, Harry.
I don't understand why you want to leave.
Because it'll help you.
No, it won't!
Who will I talk to?
You help me make sense of things.
You've got a good family, Harry.
They don't understand me like you do.
And now I've disgraced them.
What's gonna happen to me?
Will I go to jail?
Don't let your imagination run wild.
One step at a time, all right?
I don't know who I am any more.
Yes, you do.
You're Harry Hardacre.
And on a path to a rich and vibrant life for yourself.
It doesn't feel like it right now.
Keep the faith.
Learn to act wisely, and know that your world will open up at Oxford.
Take me with you, Arthur.
I can't, Harry.
I'm sorry.
You're going to be fine.
I promise you.
How could she do that?
Using me to wage war against the Hardacres.
I'm so sorry, Adella.
She used you as well.
Do you care? It's just how she is.
It's all I've ever known. But, yes, I do care.
We have to do something.
It's monstrous to destroy Harry's life.
I'd never forgive myself for it.
I tried reasoning, but it was pointless.
We're helpless to stop her.
Are we helpless, or just choosing to be?
SIGHS
My sweet boy.
Have I ever told you you have the kindest heart...
...and a smile that lights up the country...
...and the purest spirit of anyone I've ever known?
Not once have you seen yourself as a victim...
...or punished others for the hardship you face.
Oh, and I have been proud of you every single day of your life.
Your family love you, Harry.
And nothing you do...
and nothing you are could ever change that.
HARRY SOBS
Hello, Mrs Hardacre.
I'd like to see Harry, please.
No.
No, he's not taking visitors today, so I think it's best you go.
Please.
I really need to see him.
It's all my fault.
'I didn't read it, Harry, I promise.'
And I'd never have used it against you.
Then why did you steal it?
Maybe I was...
...jealous that you and Liza and Joe
had special relationships with someone.
It was wounded pride, I suppose.
Which my grandmother exploited. To destroy my life.
I'm so sorry, Harry.
I'm ashamed of myself and my family.
Can you forgive me?
I don't know.
I want to help.
There's nothing you can do, Adella.
My reputation's ruined.
I do have one idea.
CORK POPS Can I offer anyone cordial?
No, thank you. Yeah.
Oh, Adella, you look positively radiant.
Something wonderful has happened.
I'm engaged to be married.
How delightful!
May I ask to whom?
Come in, darling.
Harry and I have been admiring one another for months.
And today, I accepted his offer of marriage.
We've never been happier.
Well, either you've been brainwashed
or blackmailed, Adella.
Harry Hardacre is a degenerate.
You are mistaken.
Harry is one of the most honourable young men I know.
Oh, enough of this charade. George!
You must forbid this... match.
If the young couple are content, then so am I.
Two households united,
both alike in dignity... Shush!
Emma!
Everything's happening too quickly. I need time to think.
Mama, please look at me.
This match means the world to me.
It's what I truly want.
I'd like to speak to my mother in private.
Yes. Let's... take ourselves outside, shall we?
May I see Harry's letter?
I'm glad someone is restored to sanity in this house.
As am I.
It's for the best... as you now see.
All I see is that you poisoned my life
and came between me and my family.
And it ends now.
You may believe you came to save Adella...
...but you feel no love for your granddaughter...
or for me.
This belongs to you, Harry.
Thank you, Lady Emma.
I want you gone from my house immediately.
And you can take your poison dowry with you.
Our daughter's peace of mind is all that is precious to us.
One word, two syllables.
Er, stop.
Halt. Er...
Hand. Thumb.
Sounds like... hand thumb.
Hand thumb. Hand thumb.
Oh, come on, Callum!
Five seconds. Say it again.
Hand thumb. Mansion. Mansion. Time's up.
LAUGHTER
It were "handsome", you bloody divvy.
University were wasted on you.
Daft as a brush, you.
He is a handsome brush, though, isn't he?
Ooh!
Oh, what's this now? Bloody headstone?
Oh, don't joke about things like that.
Actually, Ma's not far off.
No, it's not a headstone.
But I have been thinking a lot about the future since my illness.
And how best to guarantee your security after I'm gone.
And I came to the realisation that
what makes this family thrive will also make the business thrive.
Collaboration.
So, Joe... and Liza,
I want you to run the business together.
Use your individual talents to create a shared legacy.
Harry, I'd include you,
but your interests lie in going to university.
So... Hardacre & Family.
Oh, I'll drink to that.
Yeah. That's lovely.
What about Hardacre & Son?
You always said it were natural order.
So why are you taking away everything I worked so hard for?
Well, this is the best of both worlds, Joe. Not for me.
I don't want to be a part of your new fangled vision of the future.
I'm done.
Betsy, please. I want to be with Joe.
'Was I wrong, Mary?'
I think you were hasty and bold.
But, no, I don't think you were wrong.
Joe just needs some time, love.
DOORBELL RINGS
Ma'am. Thank you.
I owe you an apology, Mary.
Your family has suffered greatly at our hands,
and I am deeply sorry for it.
I appreciate that.
But you weren't responsible for your mother's actions.
I could have been stronger.
To send your own mother away, it takes courage.
I was inspired by Adella... and you.
Erm...
If you... were willing, Mary...
...I hoped that we might become friends.
I'd like that, Emma, very much.
Now... I have something for you.
I knew you wished to stand for election,
so I nominated you.
That's so generous. Thank you.
But the election's today.
I haven't campaigned, I doubt I'd get the votes.
I wouldn't be so sure.
Perhaps you should go see for yourself.
Fine turnout, ain't it?
I don't know what to say.
I mean, this must have taken so much work.
It didn't, Mrs Hardacre.
Once the woman knew you were running,
they spread the word themselves.
Thank you.
Congratulations, Adella.
Though I'm guessing it'll probably be a very long engagement.
Yes, yes. Harry and I are in no rush at all.
Thanks for saving Harry.
It really means the world to us.
It was the least I could do.
Liza, I'm sorry about what happened between you and Edward.
Thanks.
It's all in the past now.
Hello, Mr Beesley. Good evening.
Good evening, everyone. Good evening. Evening, Joe.
Good evening.
Right. Let me get that for you.
Thanks, Mum.
How are you, son?
I'm all right. I could do with no more family drama, though.
Oh, second that.
WHISPERING
See? They're in great form. What did I tell you?
GLASS CLINKS Oh.
Since it's been a weekend of family announcements,
me and Betsy have one of our own.
You're having another baby?
GASPS, LAUGHTER
Quiet. Joe's making a toast.
No, it's not a toast. And, Ma, you got the wrong end of the stick.
We've been talking about our future...
...and we came to a decision.
It's a big change.
It's exciting for us.
Betsy and I, we're... moving to America.
To start a new chapter in our lives.
And it's no secret that I'm fascinated by all things American.
What can America offer you that I can't?
You learn more by taking the opportunity in front of you, Joe.
No, that's not how I see it.
And this isn't a debate, Dad, it's an announcement.
And this is best for everyone, especially you.
No, it'll be worse!
Only you're too stubborn to see it!
Oi, don't walk away from me!
I just made the biggest announcement in my life, and you walk away.
Thanks for the support, Dad.
Because it's a classic Joe overreaction.
Another sudden and extreme decision made without any advice, Joe.
Yeah. It's sudden.
But do you know what else it is?
The right decision for me, and I truly believe that.
And I did get advice... from my wife.
Why don't you give my idea a go first, huh?
Give it a chance,
before you go leaving everyone and everything you know behind.
Why don't you trust me?
Because I've trusted everything you've ever told me.
And it's never enough.
Because I'm not you. I never will be you.
I've killed myself trying to earn your respect.
It's about time I earn my own.
I won't join the family business, not if it means Joe leaving forever.
Oh, God forbid, it won't be forever.
No-one wanted this, Liza.
But you can't hold yourself back to let your brother move forward.
Well, maybe I don't want it.
Well, I heard you tell your ideas to your dad.
And I saw the excitement in your eyes
when he announced it to everyone.
You do want it, Liza.
I know you'll be bloody good at it.
But I can't carry the burden of Joe leaving, Mum.
That's not fair. No.
But you can carry it.
And you must.
Because it's the only way that women will see progress.
We have to push for it.
Again... and again.
It feels like a failure.
Namely on my part.
You're just so alike sometimes, you don't see each other clearly.
So it seems.
Look, I can't welcome this news either, Sam.
But the look on Joe's face when he arrived for dinner.
Oh, there was... a lightness to him that I'd never seen in him before.
Aye.
There was.
There was a confidence, too. Mm.
There'll be no changing his mind, Mary.
He is leaving... and it'll be soon.
Don't go confusing his leaving home with your own, Sam.
Joe's not running away from his family.
He's stepping more fully into his own.
I just hope they come back someday.
There's gripe water and teething powder for baby.
Liquorice and mint humbugs for you. Thank you.
I'll miss you all so much.
Oh, take care of yourself, Betsy.
Thank you.
I won't be long. Right.
You'll do brilliantly, Liza. I'll miss you madly.
You've been such a good mate, Cal. I can't thank you enough.
I can't wait to hear about America.
Best of luck at Oxford, pal. I'm excited for you.
I need to be accepted first.
You will. You've earned it.
Well, don't be forgetting us.
And I'll be expecting a letter every fortnight.
Promise.
Oh.
Set the world on fire. You show 'em what you're made of.
I love you.
You keep them bloody Yanks in line. Do you hear me?
I'll do my best, Ma.
I'm so very proud of you.
Giddy up!
First one flown the nest. Harry will be next.
Off to Oxford soon, I'm sure. Mm.
And Liza, your new business partner.
Well, the only constant is change. Isn't that how the saying goes?
Mm. One chapter ends and a new one begins.