" Louis?" " Hello, Stanley." "What on earth are you doing here?" "I needed somewhere to come to." "Naturally, I thought of you." "You might have given me a little warning." "You've cut your hand." "You noticed?" "I had a little trouble getting here." " Anybody follow you?" " l don't think so." "I need you to get me out of the country, Stanley." " You can trust Rosie." " l know." "That's a fine bandage." "I just cut up a pillow case - it's all I could find in the bedroom." " Still sleeping at work, I see." " Sometimes, of course." "That'll do for now, but you ought to see a doctor." "Thank you." "Yes, I will see a doctor as soon as I've got out of the country." "Stay there a moment, Louis." "I just want to make sure of something." "Yes, I will." "No, I'II be in till then." "No, it's better if I do it." "Yes, I will." "I've only got one clean glass, so... I'll have the bottle." " We need a plan, don't we, Louis?" " We do, yes." " We can't have you being caught." " That's not going to happen." "I hope not." "Got any idea what we should do?" "Not yet, no." "Well, we're pretty sure nobody knows you're here, and we want to keep it that way." "So we should play the loudest record we've got." "Help us think, stop us being heard." "It has to be one of yours, doesn't it?" "This seems appropriate." "Mm." "Good choice." " You have to go, Stanley." " Any minute." "I've just got to finish this." "Mick!" "Up here, Mick." "You'll never do it, unless you go now." " She's finished with those pages." " Almost finished." " And you can take these too." " Er...no, he can't!" "I have to retype everything, Stanley, because you go at such a rate." "She thinks I make mistakes, Mick." "I never make mistakes." "You have to go." "You've got to get to the Olympia, the Cafe Royal and the Apollo, and then there's that little club in Lyle Lane." " That's the only important one." " You have to run, Stanley." "Good evening." "I hope you had a nice time." "Lovely to see you again." "Hope you enjoyed yourself." "Good evening, gentlemen." "Thank you very much." "Good night." " Good night, ladies." "Very nice to see you again." " Excuse me." "Good night, gentlemen." "Terrific, aren't they?" "Oh, that's a tremendous sound, Deirdre." "They were sensational." "Don't you dare, Stanley." "You've just arrived." "You missed them." "I missed them?" "They've finished?" "What?" "That's impossible." "Mwah. I heard enough to be interested." "You liar." "Where are you going?" " l'm going to see them." " They'll know you missed it." " But you think they're terrific, don't you?" " l think they're very exciting, yes." "And unusual too." "That's good enough for me, then." "Gentlemen..." "Gentlemen!" "Forgive the intrusion." "I couldn't stop myself." "I just had to tell you - that was terrific, absolutely terrific." " And you are...?" " Stanley Mitchell, of Music Express." "Yes, that was a very exciting evening." "Tremendous." "And unusual." "We didn't see you in there." "Where were you?" "I have a habit of slipping into places unnoticed." "So, you're a critic, then?" "I write profiles, features and reviews." "So, what were we playing when you..." "when you slipped in?" "Oh, it was a lovely little number." "No, I didn't catch its name." "I'm looking for a band to play the Imperial Hotel next Friday." "I wouldn't be about to recommend you for that job if I hadn't heard you." "No, we're out of town next Friday night, on tour." "On tour?" "Really?" " Where are you going?" " We are on tour." "And even if it were possible to change that - the Imperial?" "That old place?" "Oh, they want a "coloured" band, huh?" "Who do I give this to?" " You give it to me." " Right." "I know what you're getting to play here, and I know what they pay at the Imperial." " And you give it to him." " Oh." "Louis leads the band and writes the music." "I deal with everything else that comes up, and I mean everything else." "And you'll get a free meal, as well." "We'll let you know." "Oh, and you'll need full evening dress, of course." "I can arrange a very good rate, if you'd like me to." "Hold it there!" "We're the Louis Lester Band." " Looking for our dressing rooms." " The Louis Lester Band?" "Yes, I was warned you were coming." "Musicians booked for one night only normally wait in that room up there next to the telephone." "What have they got in here?" "By all means, help yourselves, gentlemen." "The soup should still be reasonably warm." "Can you hear that?" "That is the hot sound of the Jack Paynton Orchestra, the most over-booked band ever." "You're on after the dullest music in London - shouldn't be too difficult to wake them up." " l've got a bad feeling about tonight." " Ah, absolutely not." "Here - look at this." "You're in here already." "One of my top tips of the week." "Near the bottom of the page." "Right." "This is where l leave you." "Best of luck." "They've never had a coloured band here, have they?" "Oh, it's better than that - l don't think they've ever had jazz music before." "Goodness knows why Mr Schlesinger let you do this, Stanley." "He let me do it because of them." "Look at them, Harry." "Look at your clientele." "Something's got to change." " Good evening, Mr Donaldson." " Hello, Stanley." " Mr Luscombe." " Hello." "Miss Sarah, Pamela." "Thank you one and all for coming." "I read your column, Stanley, and you see - here I am." "So, somebody believes what I write!" "I'd love to hear your opinion." "I hope I shall have an opinion, Stanley." "Mr Mitchell...?" "Pleasure." "Hello. I'm Julian." "Everybody decent?" "Can we come in?" "Of course." "This is Pamela, my sister, and her friend, Sarah." "And this is Mr Donaldson - he's a connoisseur of your kind of music." " A great authority, in fact." " That was terrific music to dance to." "Thank you." "Thank you for dancing." "I thought nobody was going to." "Don't be silly." "It was the least we could do, gentlemen." "It was divine." "Well..." "I think it was probably the most disastrous booking we've ever had." "No, gentlemen." "The audience maybe were a little surprised." " They couldn't believe their eyes." " But I thought you were excellent." "No, I did." "Sometimes my friend Stanley here exaggerates, but in your case I don't think he is." "I do, as it happens, have one piece of advice." "Get yourself a singer." " A singer?" " Yes." "It might make all the difference to your chances." "Just a thought, gentlemen." "Merely a notion." "I don't want to interfere, naturally." "I will of course spread the word." "Talking of which - do you want to come and watch me write my review?" "Do you let a lot of bands watch you write your reviews?" "Absolutely not. I wouldn't let most musicians come near this office." " So, why us?" " Cos you're different." "Cos you're not Jack Paynton, for one thing." "And because I've been given the job of making the Imperial a little more fashionable, which is the sort of challenge I like, so my reasons are purely selfish, naturally." "So, how many people read your magazine?" "Cos I never have." "More than you might think, and we're growing." "does it matter what I write?" "I think it probably does." "Ah, forgive me - l have to finish this as well." "I always do two things at once." "Come and see what you think so far." ""The atmosphere was simply electric, as the Louis Lester Band took to the stage in the old ballroom at the Imperial Hotel."" ""Electric"?" "They hated us." "That wasn't electric." "It was for me, and that's what matters." ""One of our first ever home-grown coloured bands shook the room with their intensity, and showed that this kind of music could appeal to a much larger audience than it presently enjoys."" "You are home-grown - that's right, isn't it?" "Yes, in a way. I was born here." " So was I." " Lost his birth certificate." "It's gone missing." "I got to find it some day." "I was born in Cardiff, but my father, he took us to Chicago when I was four years old." "Ah, you're from the Midwest, Wesley?" "Yes...until I had to leave in a hurry." "We met in a club in Harlem." "I was there for five days without a break, watching every act." "We didn't leave the club." "I was on shore leave." "I was working in the" "Merchant Navy on a liner, the Aurora." "I told Wesley to come to England and see if we could make something happen in London." "Most of the band have worked on ships one time - sailors or cooks." "Or stowaways." "All of us have to report every week to the Alien Registration Office, except Louis, cos he's got the right documents." " Hang on." "You have to do that every week?" " Every week, yes." "To get a work permit, they only give them to you week by week." "Of course, if we had a regular booking at the Imperial, that might help." "Then I'd better finish my review, hadn't I?" " What is this?" " l need to do the speech bubbles for our strip cartoon Farquhar And Tonk." "Albert can't finish it until I've done the bubbles." "One of the most important things we've got." "Farquhar's an inquisitive aristocrat and Tonk is his valet, who happens to come from outer space, and together they have adventures." "Now, we need a big finish here for the review." "What I really should say is..." "Get yourself a singer, Louis." "Therewheremy heartisyearningever That's what the old folks say" "Allaroundis downand dreary" "EverywhereI go" "Stilllookingforthe old temptation" "That'swhattheold folkssay" "Thank you." "I know, I know." "We're not having any of this terrible West End singing." "Whenthesunrefusedtoshine" "Whenthesunrefusedtoshine  Iwouldliketobein thatnumber" "Justa closerwalkwithme" "Grantme,Jesus" " She looked like she could sing." " Until she opened her mouth." "Thank you." "You've got to go." "Everybody, it's time to go." " lt's the day they have to report." " Oh, there's plenty of time." "No, she's waiting for her friend to arrive." "She won't sing till then." "Go!" "You've got to get to Woburn Square." "It's nearly four o'clock." "I think the old man was best." "We should go for the oldest singer we can find!" "Run, Wesley!" "They like to cut it as fine as they can." "I can sing now." "InsunnyRoseland" "Wheresummerbreezesare playing" "WherethehoneybeesareA-Maying" "There" "Alltherosesare swaying" "SomewhereinRoseland" "Besidea beautifulrose" "She's got the better voice - l know." " lt's both of us or nothing." " Both of you?" "I don't think that will be a problem." "What are you thinking?" "Well, apart from... I think Farquhar And Tonk could do with a bit of romance." "There's nobody here to answer that, Stanley." "Somebody really wants you, Stanley, and they're not going to give up." " Music Express." " Oh, you are still at work, Stanley." "Mr Donaldson!" "Yes, yes, I'm still at work." " One of those nights you sleep there, is it?" " That seems to be the case, yes." " l need your help, Stanley." " But of course." " l'm having a lunch party in five days' time." " Am I invited?" "You could be." "It depends if you can help me." "I have a very important - and I mean extremely important - guest coming, who loves jazz music." " Who is it?" " I can't tell you that." "I had booked Leslie Thompson, but now he's ill, and they've had to cancel." "I don't quite know what to do, stanley." "well, this is perfect timing." "The band you saw the other day at the imperial - they've taken your advice and they've hired a fabulous singer." "Two, in fact." " Are they your top recommendation, Stanley?" " Yes." " Be embarrassing if it went wrong." " They won't disappoint you." " You're certain, Stanley?" " Am I certain?" "Absolutely." "You - get out of bed!" "Down the Alien Registration Office." "It's five in the morning!" "What do you want to do this for at five in the morning?" "You - stand over there!" "You didn't report, did you?" "You didn't report!" " They were shut." " Huh?" " They were shut early." "I swear to you." " l told you not to leave it to the last minute." "I see you're ready to go." "Come on, then." " l'm a British citizen." " Since when?" "Since I was born here." "This is not looking good." "Are you gentlemen the musicians?" " That's us." " Do you have a spokesman?" " That'll be me." " Could you please follow me?" "I don't require that, Mr Lester." "I know you have an English birth certificate." "Under the terms of the work permits granted to the performers in your band, they have to report every week." "This week they did not." " lt's the first time they've missed a week." " lf we allow that excuse, the system would quickly fall apart - would it not?" "If people could choose the week they wanted to report." " What do they need to do?" " Normally, we require proof in writing they have employment as musicians for the following week before we can issue a permit, but because there has been this transgression of the rules, I now require written proof of three weeks' employment." "Proof of three weeks' employment?" "If I don't receive that by the end of today, your colleagues will be detained in custody, pending possible deportation." "If you don't think you can produce that, it would save us all time if you told me now." "I will be able to produce that." "Today we close at 5:1 5." " lt's getting late, Louis." " Don't worry." "Don't worry?" "Nobody's safe. I'd better find my damn birth certificate." " Yes, you had." " Because I do not want to go back to the US." "No, sir." "That could not happen." " Should I tell her the truth?" " Wesley..." "Missy..." "Had a little trouble in Chicago." "Lies were told." "Don't be stupid." "Stop this." "You don't think she want to hear that I was accused of sleeping with a white woman?" "And that the white woman's husband said that I raped his wife, and that carries the death penalty in Chicago." "Because I think she might be very interested." "Missy... I was born here, so that makes me English." "Welsh, in fact." "So, gentlemen, I have here a four-week booking, in writing, from the Imperial, for their inspection." " Four weeks?" " Told you I'd fix it." " Why was it that easy?" " Who said it was easy?" "It was not." "You don't know Mr Schlesinger." "Thank you." "We got the proof!" "There's a nice little extra." "Mr Donaldson's having a garden party, with a special guest of honour, whose identity is being kept secret even from me." "A secret guest?" "Who is it?" "Clark Gable?" "What a garden!" "Does it belong to just one house?" "There you are." "Exactly on time." "Good." "Of course." "Enjoy yourselves out here." "Start playing in 45 minutes." " ls the mystery guest of honour here yet?" " lf he likes you, you may get to see him." "WhenI dreamof you" "Dreamthewholenightthrough Iawakeandsoftlywhisper I'mquitein lovewithyou" "WhenI dreamof you" "Dreamthewholenightthrough" "WhenI dreamof" "You" "Truckin'along,and I'm happy to see you" "Ain'trightor wrongifI do orIdon't I'mholdin'on for a dance at the Voodoo" "Crazyinamoodforlove" "Neversayyouwon 'tbeleaving" "Youcanbuymetime andteasing" "Youcanshowmeways ofpleasing" "Crazyinamoodforlove" "Crazyinloveand  I'm lookin' to make it" "Thisisachanceand I'm going to take it" "Downatthehop ,and  who cares if you fake it?" "Crazyinamoodforlove" "Neversayyouwon 'tbeleaving" "Youcanbuymetime andteasing Icanshowyou waysofpleasing" "Crazyinamoodforlove" "Crazyinlove,crazyinlove" "Crazyinamoodforlove" " He wants to meet you." " Who's he?" "Prince George." "Fourth son of the King." " The son of the King?" " What do we call him?" "Your Royal Highness." "And you don't speak until you're spoken to." "Come here." "Come here, please." "You must tell us all about yourselves." "Where on earth did you learn to sing like that?" "Well, Jessie's always been able to sing, ever since she was tiny at school." "Yes, since school." "Since you were tiny at school - is that right?" "Eat like royalty." "Your band are clearly absolutely starving." "I like the look of your Mr Lester." "Quite surprising, really." "He seems an educated man, doesn't he?" "The way he conducts himself." "Unlike me, you mean?" "Yes, he's...he's quite a character." "I couldn't take your picture in the garden, could I?" "And any other member of the band that would like to." "Now the sun's come out, I'd like to do some portrait shots." "Of course." "But I couldn't stop them eating right now." "I'll come." "You look lovely today." "It's not just the Prince that's here today, you know." "Some people say he's one of the richest men in the world, from the US." "Managed not to lose everything in the Crash. ln fact, he even made money while it was happening." "I'm working for him at the moment, just helping out, but he says he might have something bigger for me." "I must try to talk to him." "Go on - sing something for me now." "A little song, just right here, please." "You want her to sing now..." "Your Royal Highness?" " Sing what?" " Anything you like." "Sit here." "Lord,leadme on" "Lord,leadme on" "Leadmeacrossthe river" "Leadmeon" "So, Stanley, you really do have an eye for talent." "Of course I do." "Don't you read the magazine?" "I read Music Express every week, as it happens." "You do?" "I didn't know you were so keen on music." "I'm interested in all sorts of things, Stanley." "Not just clothes and men." "I read your magazine from cover to cover." "And it all seems to be written by you." "Most of it." "Yes." "Even the diary of the chorus girl in the West End show?" "Well, that was sort of a...collaboration." "Don't you have an editor who orders you around?" "I do have an editor, yes" " Mr Wax - but he seems to like what I do." "You know, you always surprise me, Stanley." "Well, that's good." " That is good, isn't it?" " Yes. I like daring people." "Thepathahead" "What a pity you can't write about this." "The Royal Prince and a jazz band - what a story that would make." "But even you can't do that." "Stanley told me about your trouble with the immigration authorities." "Yes, well, the rules are very strict, especially if you've worked on the ships." "Some of them get followed sometimes, people checking to see if they really are musicians." "Followed in the street?" "Really?" "Not many people realise that goes on, but it's quite a regime, the Alien Registration Office." "Well, my father's Russian, and he gets some strange looks sometimes... ..people thinking he might be a Soviet spy." "So, maybe I understand more than you think." "Maybe I see a bit more of the world than Pamela." "She's my friend, but I work for her, really." "I choose her clothes." "I design some of them... which means I actually have to go into shops, warehouses even, looking for materials." "I'm sure you've guessed, but I'm no aristocrat, Louis." "I'm not sure I had guessed that, no." "Thank you, Joe." "You're next, Louis." "The band must play again!" "Prince George has requested it." " l love your music." " Thank you." "I hope you don't mind me saying that." "I love your band!" "I'm hopeless!" "is it hopeless?" "I really think it is hopeless - isn't it?" "Of course not, Your Royal Highness!" "Feeltheheatofthecitybeat" "Feelthethingoftheswing" "Tappingourfeetwhere the nighthawks meet Ican'thelpit- it 'sgota griponme" "Rentisdueand cashistight" "A little more full tonight." "Not bad at all." "It's been building all week." "I knew I was right to tell them to get a singer." "Heartheblareofthethoroughfare" "Come and look at this." "Lamb chops!" "Meat, for the first time!" "We must be doing something right, then!" "They never gave us this wine before." "Maybe this Mr Slazenger, or whatever he's called, is beginning to like us." "Louis, sorry to butt in like this." "Could you come with me for a moment?" "I need your help." "No, no, no. lt's very kind, but I just need Louis." "Thank God you were still here." "Mr Masterson has asked me to do something." "This is Mr Masterson's suite." "He gave me the key. I have it somewhere." "Yes." "He's left the hotel." "Now, Louis, if you feel you're unable to help, say so at once, and of course I'll understand." "But if you do feel able to help, I'll be so terribly grateful." " What happened here?" " l don't know." "He said it would be like this." "I don't know what he's been doing." "What a mess." "Hello." "Mr Masterson asked if I'd clear this up." "I didn't know it would be this bad." "I mean, not quite as bad as this." "I know I shouldn't involve you, Louis, but I can't do this on my own." "Please leave, if you need to." "Mr Masterson will pay for the damage to the room, of course." " What do we need to do?" " We need to get the girl out of the hotel." "If we use the kitchen entrance, if I get a taxi, and you take the girl..." " What's your name?" " Hannah." "Are we there yet?" " Shhh!" "You!" "I'm talking to you!" "Don't you run away from me!" "Come back here!" "How dare you?" "I just want to get out of here." " Shhh." "..the best thing is to own up to it!" " Are we there yet?" " Shhh." "Shhh." " Still here, Mr Lester?" " Yes." "I'm leaving now. I've been going through the music for tomorrow." "Oh, I see." "Well, I'll be writing a report for Mr Schlesinger." "I think he might be rather pleased with tonight." "Do we ever get to meet Mr Schlesinger?" "That all depends, Mr Lester." "That all depends." " Good night." " Night." "Look - l think my car is coming." "There you are." "Marvellous." "Thank you, Louis." "Mr Masterson will be pleased." "I'm incredibly grateful." "You're wonderful, my friend." " Music Express." "What can I do for you?" " Stanley, it's Louis." "Something strange just happened with Julian and Mr Masterson." "There was a girl in Mr Masterson's suite at the hotel." "She was in a bad way." "The room was all smashed up too." " So, quite a party." " l helped Julian get her out of the hotel." "Where was Mr Masterson during this?" "I don't know. I didn't see him." "He asked Julian to clear up for him." "People like that always can vanish when they want to, can't they?" "I don't know if I should have helped." "I mean, the girl, she was..." "Are you worried about her?" "Yes, I am." "Well, if you're worried about her, Louis, we'll have to find her." "Mr Julian knows you're here." "He'll be with you in a moment." "One day, you'll have a house like this." "Of course!" "And how do you see that happening?" "Well, it won't be long before your records are available in every store in the land." "That'll be good, considering we haven't made a single one yet." "I'll be just walking down the street, and your music will be coming out of every other window." "And when I come to see you, when you've got a house like this..." "You'll be shown to the tradesmen's entrance!" "Naturally, yes!" "Stanley!" "Louis!" "It's wonderful to see you." "Please." "There you are." "What a lovely way to start the day." "Start?" "It's nearly two o'clock, Pamela." "Oh, it's as early as that, is it?" "I thought it was later." "It's wicked, I know, but I've only just got up." "What a strange evening last night was." "Louis was absolutely wonderful." "Has he told you?" "He has." "We were just wondering what happened to the girl." " She's here." " With her gigantic bruises." "I was so clumsy last night, and so utterly drunk, I just kept falling over." "Goodness knows what people must think." "I'm enormously grateful to you, and so is Mr Masterson." "Oh, yes, Mr Masterson's having a picnic - you really must join us." "Yes, he'd love you to join him." "In fact, the whole band, if they're available - to be his guests." "It's his way of saying a huge thank you." "The whole band?" "Really?" "They're all invited?" "Well, whoever wants to come." "They might enjoy it." "He plans them very carefully." "I shan't be there myself- sadly, my parents are coming to town." "Oh, you must come." "Please say you will." "It would make his picnic so much more jolly." "And you'll come, Stanley, won't you?" "Oh, I'm invited too, am I?" "Of course. I'm inviting you." "Mr Masterson tends to picnic on a grand scale." "It's not something you'd want to miss." "On a grand scale?" "Does that mean a lot of Rolls-Royces setting off for a destination that only he knows?" "Nearly right." "There's going to be some interesting transport, but not Rolls-Royces." "Oh." "This is amazing!" "Our own private train!" " l didn't think I'd have a compartment to myself." " We really are his guests." "Don't have to sing for our supper." " Not unless we want to." " Well, you don't, Stanley!" " What's your compartment like?" " Oh, you know." " Velvet cushions, bowl of chocolates." " Bowl of chocolates?" "Not sure I got that." "Come in, gentlemen." "Soup is being served." "And we're all absolutely starving." "is anybody sitting here?" "No." "By all means." "Sit down!" "We're going to be waited on." " Nobody knows where we're going?" " Nobody, no." "Do you think that can be true?" "Yes." "He likes his mystery picnics." "is it easy, Mr Masterson, to hire a private train?" "Quite easy, once you know who to ask." "But you have to tell someone the exact route you're going to take?" " You must have to do that, surely?" " What makes you think that?" "Myman'sgoneaway" "Leftmefeelin'blue" "Nogoodtryin'tochasehim" "Coshe'srunstraightback toyou I think what you've done, Mr Lester, is truly extraordinary." "What I've done?" "And what is that, Mr Donaldson?" "How you've made this band from nothing." " How he's made it?" " l'm very intrigued by how you've managed to meld it all together in a very sophisticated way, if you don't mind me saying so." "You've taken the best of what you've heard from America and made it your own." "How did you learn to do that?" "I'm sorry - that sounded much too patronising." "I think it was my experience on the ocean liners that helped me so much." "And when you were playing on the liners and people were dancing, did they ever say things to you?" " Say things?" " When you were on a big ship together," " with all those people." " Rich people." "Yes." "You must have bumped into them when you weren't playing - like when you were coming off stage." "Did you have to put up with them being rather horrible?" "You must have had to deal with a lot of prejudiced people." "Of course, yes." "And you never know where it's going to come from." "Sometimes it's the people you don't expect." "I remember bumping into a table when I was coming off the stage on one of the crossings, and the couple nearest to me..." "and the lady, she was covered in jewels, but she was very young and charming-looking, and both of them, this couple, started wiping their cutlery with their napkins, even though I wasn't anywhere near them." "They changed them a few minutes later too... just to be sure." "Oh, that's very revealing, wiping their cutlery." "You should do that to them next time." "When certain people walk really close to your table, you should start cleaning your fork." "See how they react to that." "There's so much ignorance, isn't there?" "And you're right, Mr Lester - sometimes it's those who seem to be the most educated who turn out to be quite the most ignorant, the most prejudiced." "But we don't know what's going to happen next." "Maybe things are about to change." "Despite all the hardship there is, I feel..." "And I hope I'm not being too optimistic, Mr Lester." "But I do feel that anything is possible now." "Oh, I'm sorry. I got the wrong compartment, Mr Masterson." "Do forgive me." "Gold - gold is the safest thing at the moment." "I like to have some with me at all times, so I know, if something happens, I will still have a roof over my head." "There you are." "You're not writing about this before it's even happened, are you?" "Before what's even happened?" "I love trains - don't you?" "Absolutely." "Please - go on working." "I like to see that." "I so rarely watch anybody work." "I'm not putting you off, am I?" " You most certainly are." " Well, try not to be." "I'm sure you overcome most distractions, Stanley." "Usually, that's true." "You don't think I can be serious, do you, Stanley?" "About anything." "Go on, lie." "Why not?" " Of course you can." " Thank you." "is this some of that strange cartoon you have in your magazine?" "Mm-hm." "Farquhar And Tonk?" "I rather like that." "They went on an ocean liner last week, didn't they, and met a jazz band?" "So, Mr Lester's having an effect on your strip cartoon, Stanley." "I grab material from wherever I can, I'm afraid." "Always have done." "So, we might find ourselves in it soon?" "I might be there?" " You might." " And you can send your Farquhar and Tonk anywhere you like in the world." "Just like that." "To the moon, even." "And we could all follow them there." "I could do that." "If I wanted." "And what's stopping you?" "Might be fun." "You don't have to play now, you know." " You want me to stop?" " No, of course not." "You were invited as a guest, weren't you?" "You don't need to play for your supper." "You're saying they didn't expect any music?" "Well, maybe a little, yes!" "Of course they did." "And more than a little." "Doo-doo-doo" "The train's moving." "We have to stop just because the train's moving?" "It's lucky, isn't it?" "Now we don't need to worry about all the noise we're going to make." "Yes." "It's just that I have no idea where we're going." "Why does that matter?" "I think it's marvellous not knowing." "Are we in the middle of nowhere, Stanley?" "Looks like it, yes." "Splendid." "I can't imagine a better place to be." "You must excuse my idea of how to picnic, but I've invented my own version, since I feel the cold when I'm outside." "So, I always picnic indoors." "Always." "But I make sure the view is constantly changing." "That's why picnicking on a train is such a good idea." "Mr Masterson would like you to know, in case you're wondering where we're going - there is no destination." " No destination?" " No." "We'll have lunches in the woods and candle-lit dinners by the sea, but we'll be on the train the whole time." "And maybe we never get back to town." "Yes, let's all live on the train!" "I'm going to risk getting frozen and go outside, if that's not forbidden." "Yes." "Yes, that's allowed." "I'd really like to do that portrait we never had time to do, if you could spare a moment." "Here?" "is this all right?" "It's good, yes." "I know you think there's something wrong with all of this, with Mr Masterson's hospitality." " Did I say anything?" " You didn't have to." "But maybe he really means it - it's not just a rich man's whim." "And he won't move on to something else next week?" "No, I don't think so." " He really loves your music." " Really?" "He does?" "He looks a funny old bird, I know, but he goes to nearly every party." "Never goes to bed." "He likes to watch the young people." "Not just watching." "Pamela told me about Hannah." "I wouldn't want to be alone with him, certainly, but she adores him, apparently." "People's private lives - one never really knows what goes on, does one?" "I know this is my second plate, but I may never have a breakfast like this again in my whole life, so I'm going to keep eating." " Yes, we could all be in the gutter tomorrow." " Please don't say that." "Of course you won't." "But that could happen quite easily." "Couldn't it, Mr Donaldson?" "I'm sure that won't happen, no, Mr Holt." "Not after you've made such a start." "I'm glad you think that." "But there is a way to make very sure that it doesn't happen, isn't there?" " What's that, then?" " By having a proper contract, and not a week-by-week arrangement." "I'm sure in time that will happen." "These things tend to evolve naturally." "Oh, they "evolve naturally", do they?" "Well... I agree, and since we only have two weeks left of our booking at the Imperial, I think it will be natural, very natural, in fact, to ask Mr Schlesinger for a six-month contract," "so we become the regular band at the Imperial." "Six months?" "Nobody gets six months." "Jack Paynton doesn't get six months." "Wally Dix doesn't get six months." "We get a six-month contract, or we going to offer our services to the Savoy." " Mr Masterson." " Just wondered how you were doing." "Come out here and have your picture taken." "In fact, can everyone come out and I'll take their picture?" "Tell everyone to come out." "Come on, everybody, to the front of the train." "Hurry up." "The light's great out here." "Just all gather round." "I wonder what he's been up to during breakfast." "It's not wise to leave Wesley on his own." "OK." "A three-month contract is my final offer." " Six." " Six months is out of the question." "Three months, or I find another band to take your place." "Six months." "I won't do business like this, young man." "I come here to meet you, as you asked, something I've rarely done for any other band, and three months is my final offer." "And Mr Holt, it is in fact a very good offer." "My advice would be to consider it very carefully." "Six months, or we go to the Savoy, Mr Schlesinger." "Well, the Savoy won't take you." "You won't find things nearly as easy out there as you think." " Four months." " Louis!" "No." "Four months...or we will go elsewhere." "Four months?" "I may be able, just, to consider four months." " And our accommodation, of course." " What about your accommodation?" "I think that can be negotiated separately." "We're going to need new accommodation, and that goes without saying." "And where might that be?" "At the Imperial, of course." "Come on - it's this way!" "That's right." "Keep going." "Come on." "All the way up!" "So, these are the rooms usually given over to performers." "Accommodation can only be provided for four weeks." "We shall review the situation after that." "I will call your room numbers and hand you your keys, but first, I would like you to pay particular attention to the rules of the hotel." "You may under no circumstances use the main entrance or the main lobby at any time, nor may you go into any of the lounges, dining rooms or bars, unless, of course, you are performing there." "And you may not entertain guests of any kind - of any kind - in your rooms." "is that understood?" "Our own room in a hotel!" "Wow. I never thought that would happen." "And just think of the meals." "Hot meals every day." "Yes!" "I've been hungry ever since I can remember. I really think I have." "But not any more." "All being well, that is!" "Tonight I think we should look fabulous, really fabulous." "Yes." "To make sure they don't change their mind!" "Waiter..." "She's incredible, isn't she?" "Can't take my eyes off her." "We had noticed, Julian." "Sarah helped them choose their new clothes, you know." "Mr Donaldson paid for them." "She looks good, doesn't she?" "Rememberallthosebad times" "Youtoldme thatyou 'dneverleaveher?" "Do...do you think she'll ever like me?" "Sendingmethoselovelines You were happy to deceive her I need to find something to really impress her." "Nowyou'reheretostay  Ipromisewe 'llhavegoodtimes" "You'llwhisperthat you'll never leave me" "Sendmeallthoselove lines" " You're always late, Stanley." " l still have a magazine to write." "Remember?" "Nowyou'reheretostay always" "This is terrific." "Look at their faces!" "Yes." "The dear old hotel doesn't know what's hit it." "That's so true." "Stanley, you know the Freemasons have temples in this hotel?" " They don't?" " Oh, yes, in the basement." "I wonder what they'd think of this." "Talking of strangely dressed people, my mum wants to meet Louis." "Really, Stanley?" "That's very charming." "How come?" "Because she likes the sound of him." "Sendmeallthoselove lines" "Nowyou'reheretostay" "Nowyou'reheretostay always" "Nowyou'reheretostay always" " Hello, Mum." " Hello." " This is Louis." " Hello." "Come in." "The food is to your liking, is it?" "Not going to disagree with your digestion?" "It's all right, Mum." "Louis eats everything." "It's delicious, Mrs Mitchell." "Oh, I quite forgot the lemonade!" "No, no, you stay there." "I must get the lemonade - l made it specially." " You didn't tell her?" " Tell her what?" "You were bringing a black man to the house." "Of course not." "It's good for her to have a surprise." "You said you'd told her all about our music." "I did, but she thinks dance bands are white." "I hope to hear your music, Mr Lester." "I would be very interested in doing that." "Well, I'm going to try and persuade Louis and the band to come and play in the garden here one Sunday afternoon." "Well, maybe not in the garden." "The neighbours might not like that - not on a Sunday." "Who knows?" "We might get the whole street dancing!" "Always keep a bottle hidden away for when I drop by." "My mum doesn't approve of liquor, bless her." "Now, there's only one glass... ..so I'll have the bottle." "These records are old - are they the first ones you ever bought?" "Some of them, yes." "Snoop away, by all means." "It's always good to see people's childhood bedrooms - you can tell a lot from them." "Probably started a magazine at school." "Course I did. I wrote and performed music there as well." "Formed my own little band, and then gave it rave reviews in the magazine I'd started." " You were in a hurry, even then." " Oh, yes, yes." "I've always been in a hurry." "You have to do a lot, so something has a chance of working." "At the moment, as well as writing most of the magazine, I'm working on a movie scenario about King Arthur, an Edgar Wallace thriller for the theatre, I'm trying to get Farquhar And Tonk turned into a cartoon for the cinema," "or else a series on the wireless, and I want to make Music Express the top-selling music magazine in the country." "I want to beat Melody Maker." "That's not enough, Stanley." "That's not enough!" "You're right - it isn't!" "And, of course, I'm going to make you the number-one band in Britain." "I'm very ambitious, Louis." "So should you be." " You think I'm not?" " l don't know yet." "Maybe, underneath that calm exterior of yours, you're more ambitious than you seem." "I want to reach a really big audience, of course, but I think some things are meant to take time." "Mm." "Speaking of which..." " Wesley your permanent manager?" " Why?" " Just wondered." " Yes." "Definitely." "He argues a lot, I know, but he's very effective." " What are you doing?" " l just met a friend." "Joe's out tonight, so we will not be interrupted." " lt's perfect." " lt's against the rules." "I think you'll find not too many people keep to those rules, Carla." "Don't worry." "Just remember who got you here." "Ah, those musicians at the Imperial Hotel." "A four-month booking now?" "We just need to check if that includes all of them." "I feel we need proof of that." " l never make mistakes, Harry, as you know." " No, sir." "You do not." "Very occasionally, I take risks, and they pay off." "They do, sir." "Very much so." "But maybe I've made a bad mistake with this Louis Lester Band." "Their kind of music is, as we know, not to everyone's taste." "Not to everybody's taste." "No, sir." "This is true." "Business is still picking up, is it?" "In the main dining room, yes, sir, at the moment." "Have there been any serious complaints?" "There have been a number of complaints, of course." "Not always from where one might expect." "What's this about, Harry?" "There you are." "I thought you might not come." " Why did you think that?" " Cos I invited you completely out of the blue." "Well, I heard there were some good photos of me here." "We don't actually know that yet - how good the photographs are." " What do you mean?" " Because I haven't developed them." "I thought you'd like to see it happen." "Yes, I've never seen this before." " Never?" " No." "In fact, I've not had many photographs taken of me at all." "Maybe once before." "Well, that will soon change, I expect." "You sound like Stanley." "Well, Stanley's a bit of a rogue, but he's not always wrong." "Your father doesn't mind you having these chemicals in the house?" "No, he quite likes the idea of his daughter being artistic." "He's Russian - remember?" " Who's this?" " Oh, it's Lady Cremone." "She's an interesting lady, but she's a recluse." "She has an apartment at the Imperial, but she never ever uses it." "What do you think?" "I like it." "He really is spooky, isn't he?" "Yes, he is." "Sarah!" "Sarah, are you there?" "Sarah?" "Hello, Daddy. I was just showing Mr Lester my photographs in the dark room." " Louis, this is my father." " Delighted to meet you, sir." "Mr Lester is the band leader I was talking to you about." "Good afternoon. I had no idea you had a guest, Sarah - no idea at all." "If I'd known, I would have hurried home an hour earlier." "Windblowsroundthe steeple" "Emptyworldandsleepypeople Ialways..." "Ialways..." "Carla, come on." "We rehearsed this for two hours." "Hang on." "One second." "Wesley?" "Yes." "Yes, everything seems in the right place." "Not bad at all, Stanley." "give enough space to the West End shows, and you can't go wrong." "Don't work too late tonight, will you?" "And are you working late tonight?" "Not tonight, Rosie. I don't think I am." "Have to be elsewhere - lots happening." "I'm sure there is, Stanley, yes." "It's a bloody sight better than "not bad"!" " Julian?" " Hello, dear friend." "Sorry to interrupt so rudely." "But do you know what that is?" " Dunno." "What is it?" " Go on." "Have a guess." "A little shovel for somebody's town garden?" "Couldn't be more wrong." "I am now a Master Mason." "I've been lifted to a new category." " Well, congratulations, Julian." " Thank you, my dear friend." " l didn't know you were a Mason." " l'm going to the temples tonight, in the sub-basement of the Imperial, just as I told you." "And I was wondering, knowing how you're interested in so many things, Stanley, if you'd like to come along and watch me go in, in my full regalia." "I can't, can I?" "I thought it was highly secret." "Don't worry." "I know you read my magazine from cover to cover." "No need to be bashful." "I won't be reading it much longer - it gets worse." "Your presence has been requested in the sub-basement." "I'm told it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." "What do you think?" "You look tremendous, Julian!" "You're not meant to be seen in those, are you?" "No, I'm not." "Only by fellow Masons." "I've just popped out of the special robing room." "We'll see if I get fined or something worse." "Now, follow me - come on." " Where are we going, Julian?" " Shhh." "Promise me you won't write about this." " Ooh, I never promise that." " Promise." "And you, Louis - you won't tell anybody?" "Whatever it is, I'll take it to my grave, I swear." "I'm trying to remember where it is." "A-ha." "There it is." "Come and have a look at this." "Very few people get to see this ever." "It was made as a dare, a few years ago, and people have just forgotten that it's here." "That is wonderful." "There's Dukes in there." "See if you can see the Duke of Bedford." "Or the Head of the Foreign Office." "There's no members of the Royal Family today." "Now I'm late. I should be in there." "And...remember:" "don't breathe a word to anyone." "Otherwise, we're all for it." "That's the best time I've ever had in a linen cupboard." "If I succeed in making this place really fashionable, they may decide they have to move on, find a more sleepy hotel." "You're going to flush out the Masons, are you, Stanley?" "Mr Schlesinger wants to see you, Mr Lester." " What about?" " Not you, Stanley. I said Mr Lester." "I have received a message from the immigration authorities that they require a letter from me, stating that Mr Wesley Holt is essential to your performances as a band." " l will not write that letter." " Then I'll have to write it." "You can write as many letters as you like, Mr Lester, but unfortunately, it is from me that they wish to hear, and I know that Mr Holt's presence is not necessary for the success of the band." "His presence is absolutely necessary - he's our manager." "Without him the band could break up." " You don't believe that." " l do." "I intend to inform the authorities that, in my view," "Mr Holt is an undesirable, destructive personality, who is utterly superfluous to the entertainment operation of this hotel." "That is not true." "Mr Holt has stolen food on more than five occasions." "Food?" "That's ridiculous." "What food has he stolen?" "Various cakes and other desserts." "He has brought female companions back to his room." "And no musician here has done that before?" "You can look me in the eye and tell me that, can you?" "You wanted accommodation in this hotel." "I gave you that accommodation, and now your manager behaves like this." "Are you telling me that you are happy with that, Mr Lester?" " l will inform Wesley of these allegations." " Allegations?" "He was seen by members of staff." "And I will tell the band there is an attempt to prevent Mr Holt from working with us, and in the event of that happening, we may be forced to move on to another hotel." "I met Harold Voight from the Cecil the other day." "He couldn't believe, could absolutely not believe, that I had coloured musicians staying in this hotel." "Just down the road at the Savoy Theatre, people are walking out of Othello even as we speak, because the coloured actor - what's his name?" "Robeson?" " is kissing his Desdemona, and yet I give you four months' work in this hotel!" "People are amazed at what I've done!" "I wouldn't be so sure about getting another booking, Mr Lester." "Well, I am sure of one thing." "If Mr Holt is prevented from being here with us, there is no possibility of us carrying on without him." "Isn't there?" " Wesley. - l been looking for you." "Where you been?" " l had to see Schlesinger." " Oh, yes?" "He told me that." "Gentlemen, this passage is for management only." "I want to know what's going on, Louis." "The authorities want a letter saying you're needed here but you've behaved like an idiot." "He won't write it." " l've been doing what?" " How can you be so stupid?" "Stealing food, bringing women back." "is that what he told you I'd done?" "Right. I'm going to go and speak to him right now." "Wesley!" "How dare he talk to you rather than me?" "I'm the manager of this band." "If it's about me, you talk to me." "Nobody else!" "Wesley, just calm down, for Christ's sake!" "Stop him." "We'll find a room to do this." " They don't think I'm necessary?" " Nobody's saying that. I told him that." " l don't believe you!" "You're lying." " Wesley!" "You'd be finished without me!" "Whose going to fight for you now?" "Who got you the contract, the rooms?" " lt was you." " Everybody knows what you do." "You think he's going to do it?" "Let me tell you about these people - him, Mr Donaldson and the rest." "He'll drop you in a couple of weeks, move on to somebody else!" " l know that." " No, you don't know, Louis!" "You think he's going to make you famous, make you a star?" "Put you on the front cover of his magazine?" "And you think I'm the idiot here?" "You know..." "That's why I told Schlesinger you had to stay." "That's why." "He can't stop me from working with you." "I helped build this band." "It's as much my work as yours." "Schlesinger!" " Not in the lobby!" " Schlesinger!" " Wesley, please!" " Where the hell is Mr Schlesinger?" " lf you'd got your birth certificate..." " And when have I had time to do that?" "When have I been able to do that?" "I've been working for you!" "Come on - when?" "Night after night I have been working for you!" "Go now and get it, for Christ's sake!" "Go to Wales, get the authorities to look up the records." "is this what it's about?" "A fucking birth certificate?" "One fucking birth certificate?" "One fucking piece of paper?" "Don't do this in here." "Shut your mouth!" "So, what if I can't find it?" "What if there is no record?" "What then?" "They're going to send me back to the US?" "Nobody's talking about that." "Oh, yes, they are!" "That is what they want to do." "They'll arrest me as soon as I get off the boat!" " Calm down!" " That wouldn't happen." "Do you realise what they'll do to me?" "They will try me." "They'll probably execute me!" " They will send me to the chair!" "They will." " Wesley..." "And all because I stole a piece of cake?" "is that what Schlesinger wants?" "All because of a fucking piece of cake?" "I will never go back!" "Do you understand?" "I cannot go back!" "Gentlemen...and ladies, of course." "I thought I should inform you that Mr Holt is now in custody." " He's in prison?" " He's being detained at the Alien Registration Office, where the authorities are showing a keen interest in him." "I'll go down there first thing tomorrow." "Glad to meet you, gentlemen, at long last." "And ladies too, obviously." "Mr Lester, could you step out here for a moment?" "I asked just Mr Lester to come out here, Stanley." "So you did." "Now, what have you got to tell us?" " l have received a message." " From the Alien Registration Office?" "Not exactly." "Not unless they're now running their operations from Buckingham Palace." "I've received a message that, next Friday," "His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will be coming to dine here, for the first time, with the express purpose of listening to the Louis Lester Band." "His brother must have liked you." "I do hope you will be here, Mr Lester, to entertain your future King." "Brought me a present, have you?" "I've brought you several presents, from me and the boys." "Cigars, and of course some cakes and eclairs." "I hope you stole those from the kitchen!" "We're going to find that birth certificate in Cardiff." "Mr Donaldson is involved now, and he has contacts at the Home Office." "Good." "That's good." "I know what you're thinking - if I was so afraid about going back, why didn't I find it before?" "I did mean to find it." "It does exist, you know." "You've got to believe me." "I do believe you." "Mr Holt is a British citizen." "He has a birth certificate, which is lost, but there must be a record of it." "We're going to produce it." "Produce it by next Friday, by nine o'clock in the evening, and naturally he will not be deported." "If he is a citizen, he has every right to stay here, of course." " And if it takes longer?" " lt can't take longer." "The deadline cannot be extended, nor is there any other process of appeal." "I won't discuss this matter in front of the press." "I'm not here as a member of the press." "I'm here as the person who discovered the band." "I think maybe it would be best if I deal with this, Stanley." "I'll get old Nathan to drop the charges against Wesley, and I am in touch with the authorities in Wales." "They'll be making a telephone call very shortly to the immigration authorities." "Don't worry." "Everything's in hand." "Are we ready, Stanley?" "I think we're ready, Nathan." "You know what they say about the Prince." "What he likes today, the whole of London likes tomorrow." "Well, that was the plan, wasn't it?" "Somehow to get him here." "If it misfires, if he doesn't like them, if he walks out, well, half the diners will leave as well, of course." "Joe, have you seen Louis?" "Has anybody seen Louis?" "Go and have a look, would you?" "Musicians." "Pamela?" "What are you doing back here?" " l was looking for you." " For me?" "Why?" " l came to warn you." " Warn me?" "The Prince may not come - just be prepared." "He always accepts five invitations for every night." "He may even get here, change his mind and leave without even getting to the dining room." "Right." "I will be doing my best to stop that from happening, of course." "Stanley, I want this to go well for you." "So do l. l forced Mr Schlesinger to follow this plan." "I know." "I've been thinking about the picnic." "A lot." "More than I thought I would." "I'll take that as a compliment." "It was a compliment, wasn't it?" "I believe it was." "There you are." "Just getting ready." "Checking the order." "I came to wish you good luck, but I know you don't need it." "Dear God." "In a few minutes I'm going to be singing to the Prince of Wales, son of the King." "Please forgive me for asking for help, but I do need help, so please give it to me if you feel able, and let me sing in a way that will please him and you, of course, too." "Amen." "He's here." "He's already in the building." "He's just arrived, yes." "Really looking forward to this, everyone." "I just thought you'd like to know that important telephone call is taking place as we speak." "What's the bastard doing?" "He can't do that!" "David, really, David..." "Ladies and gentlemen, you must forgive me." "I forgot to introduce our first number." "I don't usually do much talking from up here, but tonight being such an important night, I thought I'd make an exception." "This is a new number for us, one that I've just written, hot off the press." "It's called Dead Of Night Express." "Allaboard" "DeadofNightExpress" "Windblowsroundthe steeple" "Emptyworldandsleepypeople Ilieawakeand listen" "Forthemidnighttraina-whistlin'" "It'sinviting,it 'senticing" "TheDeadof NightExpressisexciting" "Gettingcloseron themidnightrun" "Myheartis a-pounding and a-pumping and a-thumping" "Bythelightofa torchI'mreading" "Ofmyrunawaytrainstampeding" "Devilofastokeratthefurnacefire" "Mynight-timedreamsand desire lt'sinviting,it 'senticing" "TheDeadof NightExpressisexciting" "Burningcindersin themidnightsky" "Myheartis a-pounding and a-pumping and a-thumping" "Gorgeous little singer!" "I do love this jazz sound - don't you?" "He went to see Florence Mills 47 times." "It's possible she could be a very busy young woman!" "Allaboard" "DeadofNightExpress" "DeadofNightExpress" "DeadofNightExpress" "DeadofNightExpress" "TheDeadof NightExpress" "Bravo!" "Bravo!" "Bravo!" " We have left the station now, haven't we?" " Yes!" "We've left it right behind!" "Thank you, madam." "And now we've got to get you dancing, because that's why we're here, after all!" "So here's another new number, which I hope you'll like." "It's called Dancing On The Moon." "Starsburnin'brighter, I'm on an all-nighter" "Serenadin'toatune I'vepoppedthebull's-eye in the celestial night sky I'mdancingon themoon" "I'mdreamingof thebig time" "Achanceto digagoldmine" "Not bad, Stanley." "Not bad." "Lifeisaglassofchampagne lt's time to leave." "Time to catch the bus." "There has been no telephone call, I am afraid, Mr Holt." "At least it's not a police van." "I'mdreamingof thebig time" "Achanceto digagoldmine" "Adiva-singingswingtime" "Lifeisaglassofchampagne" "Hey,diddle-diddle, the cat and the fiddle" "Thedishranawaywith thespoon  I'mleadingtherace to jump out of space I'mdancingalloverthemoon" "Wonderful!" "Wonderful!" "I love seeing the kitchens." "Love going backstage." "I can't express how much I enjoyed myself." "I just can't express it." "Can you, Georgie?" " lt was sublime." " lt was." "That is the word." "Let me meet you all, by all means." "I must meet you all." "I presume this is Louis Lester." "What are you doing, Stanley?" "What do you think I'm doing?" "Writing about the Princes and the jazz band." "I can do it now - it's happened in public." "You must come and see this, everybody." "You see, I was right - anything is possible now."