"Daniel." "How are you?" "I like it." "Yeah." "What date was the Magna Carta signed?" "Not all at once." "Jonathan, can you remember anything about the Middle Ages?" "In the spring of 1906... after ten years of selfless service... in some of the most inhospitable corners... of Britain's far-flung empire..." "Charles Fortescue, the missionary... returned to England a hero." "I'm terribly sorry." "Please don't worry." "I'm not hurt." "I'm just taken by surprise, that's all." "They're rather difficult to handle." "Especially in this weather." " Yes, this doesn't help." " What are they?" "They're fertility objects..." "African mainly." "They're beautiful." "Sexual potency is frightfully important out there." "Welcome home, Mr. Fortescue." "Thank you." "Hurry!" "Bridey!" "Come on!" "Come on, damn you!" "How is Deborah?" "Just like a little child." "Terribly excited." "She was a child when I left." "Oh, yes." "She's a fine woman now." "By God's grace the image of her mother." "I was very sorry to hear about Mrs. Fitzbanks." "The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away." "She loved ice skating, I remember." "Such a shame she never learned to swim." "Come on!" "Get moving!" "Parswell!" "Whoa, Parswell!" "Whoa!" "Parswell!" "Steady, Parswell." "Sorry, sir." "Surely this can't be old Major." "Yes, old Major." "He still remembers me." "Always the same, Parswell." "Come on, boy." "What are these anyway?" "Fertility symbols, sir." "They know I'm getting married." "Better not show them to Deborah." "Take them up the back stairs." "All right, sir." "I'll leave you to say hello." "Thank you." "I'll give you a hand." "Deborah?" "Deborah?" "I'm back." "Deborah... you look absolutely marvelous." "I'm Emily, the maid, sir." "Sorry." "I'll help bring your things in, sir." "Yes, if you would, please." "They're outside." "Hello, Charles!" "Deborah?" "How are you?" "Ever so well." "And how are you?" "Not so bad. 26 days at sea." "Feel a bit like an unpacked bag." "I can get you one." "No." "I feel as if I am one." " Charles." " Yes?" "There's some lunch." "It's been such a long time." "Well, I didn't know when you'd be arriving." "No." "Since we last saw each other." "Ten years." "Ten years, four months, 18 days, and 25 minutes." " It's cold." " What?" " Lunch." " That'll be fine." "It's just so nice to be back." "I do hope you're hungry." "Rather." "I've eaten just bare biscuits." "Tuck in, Charles." "You must be starving." "I kept all your letters." "I kept all yours." "Yes." "They're upstairs in numbered boxes." "Oh, Deborah." "The first eight boxes are general subjects." "They're divided into separate subsections." "Oh, yes?" "There's six for particular subjects... birthday, Easter, Christmas, all that sort of thing." "Ah, yes." "So I find July the 8th, 1899... see elephants, box 5, section 3." "How busy you must have been." "I enjoy it." "I love filing." "And where did you keep the letter... in which I asked you to marry me?" "Box 3, section 11." "I hope I didn't sound too forward." "No, not at all." "I did think of you an awful lot." "Otherwise you wouldn't have written me all those letters." "Of course, right." "Six hundred and sixty-three." "I used to sit out at night... under the vast bowl of the stars." "And 143 postcards." "But I felt terribly alone." "They wouldn't all fit into my room... so I had to put 18-B to 22-S in the study... and then all the odd numbers, 15 to 23... in Daddy's bedroom... and when I've reindexed boxes 21 to 40..." "I'll have a 15-year, two-stage cross reference." "What are they?" "They're fertility objects..." "African mainly." "They're beautiful." "Welcome home, Mr. Fortescue." "This is marvelous!" "Like seeing it all for the first time!" "I had an old bone-shaker out in Africa, you know." "Yes, you said in letters 18, 36, and 49." "Did I really?" "I used to ride around the province on it." "The locals had never seen a bicycle before." "They used to call me "the man on the starving horse. "" "How silly." "You really should have come out to Africa." "No, I can't stand being dirty." "I'm going to be a jolly, happy English vicar's wife... and have a big house with lots of children." "That's all I want." "We'll have to see what I'm offered in London." "The bishop may want me to be a prison chaplain." "Charles, I can't wait to be married." "Fortescue didn't have to wait long to meet the bishop." "An urgent note requested his presence in London... less than a week after his arrival home." "Excuse me." "The Church and Universities Club, I'm looking for." "Straight across the road, sir." "Thank you." "Thanks." "Driver." "Excuse me." "The Bishop of London?" "Down at the end, sir." "Thank you." "That's it." "Get your guard up." "Fortescue!" "Come on down." "Come on, now." "It isn't a dance." "You can do better than that." "Good." "I'm sorry to drag you down here... but it's my young men's night, and I couldn't miss it." " Do you like a scrap?" " I'm sorry?" "I love to see fit boys scrap." "Hockey?" "Do you play hockey?" "No, my lord." "I'm afraid I don't." "Too bad." "I promised I'd get a team together... to play the Methodists on Saturday." "They're very good but physical." "Drink?" "A cup of tea would be very nice." "Tea it shall be." "Wise man." "Hilda!" "Two of your finest." "How was Africa?" "Quite remarkable." "Much time for sport?" "Sport?" "No, not a lot." "I was out there for a while." "Wonderful country." "I tried to teach them... the rudiments of rugby football." "But it wasn't really their sort of thing." "They hang onto the ball for too long... weeks sometimes." "Liggett!" "Keep your eye on him!" "Hike them up." "Keep them firm." "That's it." "He doesn't like rules, your African." "We had a chap called Sperry at the Barka province." "Keen cricketer." "County standard." "He tried to explain the no-ball rule... to a very primitive scythe from Mashonaland." "They cut his head off in the tea interval... stuck it on the pavilion." "The worst thing was he built that pavilion himself." "Just shows you can't force the pace of progress." " Well, cheers." " Cheers." "Now, let me get straight to the reason... why I brought you back, Fortescue." "How are you with women?" "I beg your pardon, sir?" "I know you're good with Africans... but how are you with women?" "I'm sorry, sir." "I'm not quite sure what you mean." "We've had a problem, Fortescue... an increasing problem." "Women?" "Certain kinds of women, yes." "Certain kinds?" "Ladies of the street, filles de joie... daughters of the night." "They're a big problem for the church." "No, no." "We're strong on drunkenness." "We've had a fair crack at homelessness." "But as far as prostitution goes... we're not even out of the changing room." "What do you want me to do, my lord?" "Go amongst prostitutes, Fortescue." "Go into the filthiest streets of London... into the back alleys, behind the work houses." "Seek out the harlots and the streetwalkers." "Get to know them." "Understand them." "Win their confidence." "Find out why they do what they do... and stop them doing it." "We badly need this mission, Fortescue." "Your Methodist, your Salvationist... even your Catholic is showing us the way home." "We're starting a lap behind... but we can still get our nose ahead of the bell." "What do you say?" "I don't know what to say, sir." "I didn't quite expect this." "I realize it's a difficult one to bowl at you... right out of the blue like that." "All I would ask is... that you come dancing with me tonight." "Look at them." "You know, some of them... some of them are only 13 and 14." "How old are you, my dear?" "Twenty-three." "You don't have to do this work." " Go away." " Gents, one at a time." "I am a bishop." "Sorry, sir." "No reductions." "I can help you find other work, my dear." " Come on." " Please, please." "Come back with us." "We'll find you food and clothing." "Harry, trouble!" "You won't have to come back to this degradation." "Take your hands off!" "I'm a member of the church!" "On the road!" "Charles?" " Charles!" " Miss Deborah?" "We've been so worried about you." "Are you all right?" "Yes, I'm absolutely fine." "Thank goodness for that." "I had some dreadful vision... of you getting into all sorts of trouble." "What's happened to your head?" "That's nothing." "I banged it on the door of the train." "How was the concert?" "Everyone was asking after you." "They're all terribly excited about the wedding." " Wedding?" " Our wedding." "Yes." "Yes." "Don't be so mysterious." "Do tell." "Is it an important job?" "Yes, it is an important job, Deborah." "It's not exactly what I was expecting... but, by God, it needs to be done." "I shall do it the best I possibly can." " Something hot, sir?" " What?" "Kept some kedgeree for you, sir." "Thank you." "What is it?" "I'm going to remain a missionary." " But I thought..." " A missionary in England." "Everyone's English in England." "But they're no less needful of our help." "I saw scenes last night which will never leave my memory." "In the heart of our capital city... in the center of our empire... there are people who have no homes in the street." "You mean tramps?" "Tramps, yes, and others." "Are you going to be looking after tramps?" "No." "I shall be looking after women." "Women tramps?" "No, women who are in moral trouble." "Liars?" "Deborah." "Not yet, Charles." "I'm sorry." "Do sit down, Deborah." "I want to talk this over... so we both know exactly what we're doing." "The mission is going to take up... a very large part of my life from now on." "I promised the bishop I'd not only run it... but I'd find the money to run it." " Milk?" " Please." "This will take me away from you... and it will take time, so that's why I want you... to be absolutely clear about what it is I'm taking on." " Sugar?" " One, please." "Deborah, do you know what is meant by "fallen women"?" "Women who have hurt their knees?" "No, no, no." "Much worse than that." "Broken their legs?" "Only slightly deterred by Deborah's evident inability... to fully comprehend the nature of his work..." "Fortescue threw himself into the task... of fund-raising with characteristic vigor." "Mind the carpet, sir." "My husband won't have anything mended, you know." "I imagine the costs must be very high." "Yes, but he doesn't like to be parted from them." "Eminently reasonable." "Cedric, dear, someone to see you." "This is Mr. Fortescue, the missionary." "We read all about him in the newspapers." "He wants us to help him in his new work." "Isn't that splendid?" "How do you do, sir?" "I'm so pleased to meet you." "Don't shake his hand." "It's a terrible palaver." "It's a most beautiful house." "He won't hear that, I'm afraid." "It's a most beautiful house!" "No." "He doesn't hear anything on that side." "I was just saying, sir... what a most beautiful house you have here." "Hello." "There." "You've got him, but it's still a little close." "It's all to do with pitch and vibration." "Having spent ten years in Africa..." "I realize that in all that time..." "I'd been neglecting the needs of our people here at home." "It's all very well sending out missions... to Indochina, the Gambia, Somaliland... when the real problems are under our very noses." "This is the country that needs our help." "All our best people go to Africa, the colonies... but what do they leave behind them on our doorstep?" "A moral void." "In the heart of our great cities... in the back streets and behind the workhouses... and among the slum tenements... you will find young women... some no more than 13 and 14 years old... who wander the streets homeless... the prey of exploiters and criminals." "They know no pride, they know no shame... as they sink deeper and deeper into the abyss." "I've seen them." "I've talked to them." "I've heard their cries for help... and if we ignore those cries... if we refuse to help, refuse to fight... if we pass by on the other side... then He will call us to account." "He will want to know why we let our own people wallow... in the mire and filth of evil... why we saw so clearly the mote in others' eyes... but not the beam in our own." "Unless we can take up the battle to save... and enlighten these wretched souls now... then the darkness of ignorance we see... so clearly in others will engulf us all." "We'll be sucked into the quicksands of apathy... leaving the profiteers and the procurers... to ply their cruel trade." "I believe most strongly that we cannot... and must not seek the easy way out." "To ignore what is going on... to pretend nothing is happening." "We can begin the moral revival." "We can begin to save the souls of those British-born women... who have fallen into sin... who've been dragged down through no fault... other than their own ignorance and innocence." "But we must act now, and that is why..." "I've come here today, because I believe... that it is with the help of people like you... that we can start a new and vigorous... tide of hope and optimism." "With the help of people like you... we can breach the barriers of ignorance." "Mr. Fortescue!" "Smash the barriers..." "Yes?" "I'm awfully sorry, but my husband has died." "Died?" "Yes, his heart has ceased to..." "Yes, yes." "Oh, dear." "I'm terribly sorry because he would've loved... to have heard what you were saying." "No, I'm the one who should be sorry." "I do apologize." "Don't worry, Mr. Fortescue." "These things happen... and he has had a jolly good innings." "I'm most frightfully sorry." "I shall be going." "No, it's I who should be sorry." "It was really a breach of manners." "He's very forgetful." "He probably forgot you were there." "I think when one's dying... one does tend to become forgetful." "He's never done it before." "Take your coat, sir?" "Oh, yes." "Thank you, Emily." "Charles!" "What is it?" "Come up here." "I've got a surprise for you." "I'm in my bedroom." "Door's open." "Hello." "Look at the shelves." "Incoming, box "A."" "Incoming, "A."" "Who is this Lady Ames?" "Lord Ames' wife." "Who's he?" "Charles, where have you been... for the last ten years, darkest Africa?" "He's terribly important." "He was General Gordon's number two." "Why has she written offering me his money?" "I never wrote to her." "Of course you didn't, silly, I did." "According to the book, he was the richest man in Britain... and I thought it was worth starting there." "Deborah, you are a very, very clever girl." "I just want to get married, that's all." "I suppose I was right to wear... the Hussar's uniform rather than the Lancers." "It goes rather better with my eyes." "It shows up every drop of spew, though." "Equine spew plays havoc with a cavalry uniform." "An overexcited mount can make... the most splendidly attired officer look... as if he's suffering from appalling diarrhea." "Who is this fellow?" "Nobody I know?" "No." "It's someone I know." "I'm Lady Ames." "Is he British?" " Your Lordship, please." " Sorry." "Sorry." "I am so glad you could come." "I find I hate foreigners more and more." "My husband is rather busy at the moment." " Shall we talk?" " Yes, of course." "So, your fertility symbols arrived home safely?" "Yes." "A little bruised, perhaps, but..." "Effective nonetheless." "You must find it all very different from Africa." "Yes." "Much more civilized." "That's the trouble, isn't it?" "The trouble?" "Being civilized." "Here there are so many right ways of doing things... and so many wrong ways of doing things." "It's much the same in Africa." "I'm not talking about stealing cattle." "I'm talking about things you're allowed to say and do." "England's very liberal after Africa, I assure you." "Do you really think so?" "I find it very stifling." "Really?" "In what way?" "I mean, for instance..." "I couldn't just go around saying that..." "I find you very attractive... could I?" "Please don't worry about him." "He's a talker, not a listener." "What do you think?" "I think it's very kind of you to offer... to donate money to the missionaries." "No, no." "About me." "About you?" "I think you're very generous." "Oh, I am." "Tell me about Africa." "It's a long story." "When I first went out there in 1895..." "Does the sun shine all the time?" "Yes, it does most of the time." "I should like that." "It is very nice... once you get used to the flies and the fevers... the people and the animals..." "Where else in the world do you wake up and find... elephants, rhino, and hartebeest by the waterside?" "Why ever did you leave?" "Well, I..." "I wasn't going to spend my whole life there." "I wanted to come back." "I wanted to try new work." " I wanted to..." " Get married?" "Yes, yes, yes." "Africa's all very well, but it's not..." "It's not what?" "What I was educated for." "My roots are in England, like yours." "Oh, yes." "My roots." "Would you like to discuss a donation with your husband?" "No." "Though you're quite right." "It is difficult to discuss it while he's here." "No, that's not what I meant." "Isabelle!" "Why don't you come and see me tomorrow?" "I have a bolt hole in Chelsea." "I'll give you the address." "Isabelle!" "Henry will be at the studio all day... so we can just talk." "What?" "Get to know each other." "David?" " Isabelle." " Yes?" "Who are the people I really hate?" "Please come." "I'm sure we can help each other." " No, look..." " I'll see you tomorrow." "The Swiss?" "No, no." "In this country." "Who do I really hate?" "We were talking about them the other day." "Missionaries." "That's right!" "Missionaries." "Did she offer you anything?" "She hinted that she might be interested at a later stage." "That's marvelous." "Very good people to be in with..." "Ames." "Well, I said no." "What?" "I said no." "You said no without even thinking about it?" "It didn't feel right." "I felt she was doing it for the wrong reasons." "I wouldn't have thought Ames as the patron to turn down." "But it's so rude." "What must she think of you?" "I'll find the money elsewhere." "That's what you've been saying for the last six weeks." "You must understand..." "No." "I can't understand." "First you tell me... that you're looking after lady tramps... and now you tell me that you've turned down... the first real offer of money we've had." "We're never going to get married." "Never!" "Deborah, let me..." "Let me explain." "I've waited ten years for you." "You must trust me." "There are reasons..." " What reasons?" " Just reasons." "You're so mysterious about everything these days." "What do you want me to do?" "Go back and see her again." "I can't..." "Sorry, sir." "Just cleaning." "Charles, please go back and see her." "I can't." "I don't know where she'll be." " She's at the studio." " They're probably finished." " Then at the house." " Don't know where it is." "Morton Hampstead." "It's on the Great Western line two stops before Chippenham." "There's a 9:38, a 12:06, and a 2:15." "You don't understand." "Please, Charles." "If you love me, go back and see her again." "Yes?" "I believe the Ameses live here." "Yes." "I would like to see Lady Ames, please... on a purely business matter." "Of course." "What name shall I say, sir?" "Fortescue." "Fortescue, sir." "Come this way, please." "Thank you." "Follow me, sir." "No." "This can't be right." "I think we should have turned left... at the billiard room, sir." "This way, please." "No." "That's not it." "It is a very large house." "Yes." "That certainly doesn't help." "This looks promising." "If you won't mind, sir... we'll go round to the front and start again." "I'm much better outside." "This way." "You're absolutely right." "Sixteenth Century, much of the building." "Are there two L's in "disembowelment"?" "I think so." "Are you expecting anyone?" "No, thank God." "I saw Slatterthwaite with someone in tow... going down to the pond." "He really is the most disastrous butler." "Can't we get rid of him?" "Of course we can't." "He's been here 25 years." "I don't know why we ever got rid of Marcheson." "You know perfectly well why we got rid of Marcheson." "That was only a bit of harmless fun." "Not for the parents." "Yes, milady." "Would you find Mr. Slatterthwaite, Millicent?" "He was going down to the pond." "Head him off before he gets to the maze." "Yes, milady." "What are you doing?" "Writing to the "Times. "" "What about?" "Punishment." ""Embedded. "" " Two Ds." " Thank you." " "Skull"?" " S-K." "The butler, milady." "Well done, Millicent." "Lady Ames." "Mr. Forester to see you, milady." "Good afternoon, sir." "My name is Fortescue." "I'm a missionary." "I had the great fortune of meeting you in London recently." "Never set eyes on you." "At the studio, sir." "You were kind enough... to be very sympathetic to my work." "Most unlikely." "What sort of work is that?" "Amongst the underprivileged, sir." " Who?" " The underprivileged." "That's an unfamiliar term to me." "People who have less than ourselves." "In our case, that includes everyone in the country." "Can you be more specific?" "I certainly think we should hear more about it." "Leave the ungrateful buggers alone, I say." "Won't you stay for dinner?" "No." "I promised I'd be back this evening... before nightfall." "You've missed the last train." "I was told there was a 4:22." "Not on Thursdays." " Coach?" " First thing in the morning." "Can't Wooler get the motor out?" "Not in this weather." "Then I'll walk." "Oh, no." "Really." "It is far too far." "Can one buy a train?" "Where would we keep it?" "Really, I must get back." "One more for dinner, please, Millicent." "Yes, milady." "After all, it's not every day... we have missionaries in this part of Wiltshire." ""Agony"?" "A- g-o-n-y." "What I think is wrong with the country today... is that there aren't enough people chained up." "It's one of his theories." "I think many people, if they were given... the choice between abject poverty... and being held firmly but fairly... on a chain of their very own would choose the chain." "They could reach their food, obviously lie down in bed..." "You can't chain people up." "There you go, you see?" "Typical liberal reaction." "All I'm saying is we should try it." "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, my lord." "I lost my bearings temporarily in the west wing." "I once had a chap before me... who'd been caught stealing from the mess." "I ordered every alternate fingernail to be removed... and I still get a card from him every Christmas." "You can go to bed at anytime." "No, no." "I'm fine." "I don't want to put you to any trouble." "Trouble?" "The trouble of getting a room ready." "There are 400 rooms ready." "Aren't there, Slatterthwaite?" "At all times, milady." "You must go up and change." "No, no." "No, please." "You must get out of these wet clothes." "No, no." "You can't eat like that." "You're all sticky." "I won't eat after all." "I'm not hungry anymore." "You must have something." "No." "I think I'll go straight to bed." "I suddenly feel terribly tired." "That is a good idea." "I'll bring you a tray." "No!" "I mean, no, thank you." "Millicent, the Chinese room." "Has he been in Africa for a long time?" " Ten years." " Yes." "Thought so." "Here's your room, sir." "There's a spare nightshirt for you, sir, on the bed." "I hope you'll have everything you want, sir." "Thank you." "The locks don't work anymore, sir." "The mistress had them taken off." "Yes?" "May I come in?" "What for?" "We never did discuss how much you wanted... for the mission." "It's rather late now, isn't it?" "But I may not see you in the morning." "I never get up frightfully early." "Come in." "I'll get my..." "The chair seems to have fallen against the door." "I've got the papers, but not the exact figures." "You look rather good in Henry's nightshirt." "I'm very honored to be wearing it." "I've often wondered what things Henry wore in bed." "You don't...?" "God, no." "That was never part of the arrangement." "No." "He only touches me by accident occasionally... in the motor when we turn a corner too fast." "I'm sorry." "There are others." "Does that shock you?" "It shouldn't... not if you're to be of any help to fallen women." "Talking of which..." "I think the first thing to clear up... would be the purchase of a possible mortgage." "How much do you want?" "I think we should discuss it, don't you?" "No." "No?" "Why pretend?" "Pretend?" "I know why you came here today." "I think if we confine ourselves to financial matters..." "Don't you find me attractive?" "It's not that at all." "Why did you follow me in the street the other day?" "I wasn't following you." "Why did you attack me on the boat?" "That was an accident." "Why did you get your fiancée to write?" "Pure coincidence." "Are you in love with her?" "We've been in love for 11 years." " You've been away ten." " Yes, but I wrote." " You wrote?" " Yes." "Letters." "Does she excite you?" "And postcards." "May I?" "Thank you." "If you're going to marry her... she should excite you deeply, passionately." "She's not that sort of girl." "She has other qualities." " Such as?" " She's a very good organizer." " That's not enough, is it?" " It's a start." "But you want more." "That's why you came here." "I want help to start the mission." "I can give you help." "Yes, but I can't do anything for you." "But if you do, I can give you everything." "In that case, I have to regretfully say no." "Who's that?" "My God." "Get into bed." "Quickly." "What are you going to do?" "I'm going to get in, too." "Move over." " What?" " Be asleep." "Oh, dear God." "Lady Ames, he's gone." "Lady Ames, he's..." "Oh, dear." "So, with an act of typical dedication..." "Fortescue finally insured... that the Mission to Fallen Women became a reality." "From now on, he was to dedicate his evangelical energies... into a new and unfamiliar world... the violent streets of London's Dockland." ""Dear Deborah..." ""thank you for your letter of the 18th..." ""reference D-F 471/106-B." ""Yes, you were right to send me back to the Ameses..." ""and as you rightly say..." ""Lady Ames is a very generous person." ""I've spent a week clearing up the mission house..." ""and now I'm going to look for our first fallen woman. "" ""Lady tramp. "" ""I hope all goes well with the wedding preparations." ""I remain your dearest fiancé, Charles. "" "That's very good." " Out you go." " Another 20 minutes..." "What would you do with another 20 minutes?" "I just thought of something." "Go on." "I've always wanted to try it." "A right little terror you are." "Now bugger off." "Bloody women." "May I speak to you, please?" "Yeah, all right." "Come up." "Get out of here and shut that door!" "I ain't got time to waste with that pissing around." "You get what you pay for, and you paid for fuck all!" "Now sod off!" "Here we are." "A bit of a climb." "I hope it's worth it." "Hello, Tiddles." "No, no." "I really do just want to talk." "I'll have to charge you, dear." "That's all right." "I have money." "We'll have a nice little chat." "And if you want something later..." "I'll include it all in the price." "It's five shillings for an hour." "Thank you." "It's funny." "I like the clergy." "I've never been roughed up or cheated by a man of the cloth." "I wasn't much of a churchgoer when I was young... but since I've been obliging vicars..." "I've gained a lot of respect for them." "Now then, Reverend, what's your problem?" "I have no problem." "I'm here as a representative of the Bishop of London... and the Church Missionary Society." "We're opening a mission up the road in order that..." "Mortal sinners like ourselves can be turned away... from the wicked paths of promiscuity." "Listen, Reverend..." "I've been working this patch 19 years." "I know all the sins I'm committing... which is more than can be said... for some of your lot who come 'round here... trying to save us every three weeks." ""Love one another. "" "That's what He says, isn't it?" " Yes." " So that's what I do." "You get the odd one with a funny idea or two... but most of my boys just want company." "Tiddles." "A bit of company, a bit of cheering up." "I'm like a mother to them... only they can't fuck their mother, so they come here." "Excuse the language, but that's how they talk here." "Take it or leave it." "I don't disapprove of you." "Of course you don't." "You just disapprove of what we do... what we indulge in." "That's the trouble with your lot, you hate sex." "You never have it, so you hate it." "No, that's not true." "Of course it is." "Soon as you come in here, you says..." ""I'm not here for sexual reasons"... as if there's something wrong with anyone who is." "I don't think that way." "All right, then." "If I was to say to you..." ""You're a nice-looking fella." "How about a quick one?"" "What would you say?" "I'd think about it." "Well, then..." "You're a nice-looking fella." "How about a quick one?" "That's right, and a blanket for each mattress." "Word of Fortescue's unique blend... of moral leadership and personal availability... spread like wildfire... through the back streets of East London." "Within three weeks of opening... the mission house was filled to capacity..." "But as the day of his wedding approached..." "Fortescue was finding the work increasingly demanding." "Don't touch my hair!" "Come in." "Who is it?" " Emmeline, sir." " Oh, yes." "You said about coming to you with problems?" "I meant in the morning, really." "I can't sleep because of this problem." "What is it?" "I keep thinking about you." "Thinking about me?" "You shouldn't waste your time doing that." "You're not like anyone I've ever met." "It's just that most of the people..." "I've been to bed with didn't care who I was." "Yes, I do know." "I wish more girls like you would realize that... and not try and glamorize what they do." "I agree with you, sir, really." "I'd just love to go to bed... with someone who was kind and considerate... and gentle..." "just once, you know?" "I'm glad you feel that way... because that's what our mission's all about." "Good!" "What are you doing?" "There's so many preachers around telling you what to do." ""Give up this, give up that. "" "None of them ever show you a better way, you know?" "It's warm." "Emmeline, let me explain." "You mustn't confuse the sexual act... with moral and spiritual values." "What does that mean?" "It means that physical sex is not that important." "That's just what I always said..." "Do it and enjoy it." "It's not the end of the world." "No." "You haven't quite grasped what I mean." "Suppose there's something rather interesting here..." "Emmeline, you cow!" "Who's that?" " It's Louise, sir." " And Agnes." "Hello, Louise, Agnes." "I was telling Emmeline how unimportant sex is." "Oh, good!" "Mr. And Mrs. Campion..." "two, row 4... 26 of the 606." "Mr. And Mrs. Napier and Amanda... three, seventh row..." "B-14, bride's side, 23rd of the 606." "Absolutely still now, Vettle." "Daddy, not now." "It'll be jolly interesting in years to come... for people to see how we lived." "Yes, but not in the middle of my seating plan." "Parswell." ""Young girl preparing for her wedding. "" "Excuse me." "Is the Reverend Fortescue here, please?" "I would like to see him." "He's upstairs asleep, ma'am." "But it's ten o'clock." "Yeah." "We'll go and have a see..." "I think he should be awake by now, don't you?" "Up here?" "I suppose so, yeah." "Excuse me." "Excuse me." "Where would I find the Reverend Fortescue?" " Through there, ma'am." " Thank you." "I'm sorry." "Go away, girls." "I can't deal with any more problems tonight." "Let me sleep." "Isabelle!" "Hello." "Isabelle, how nice!" "How nice to see you!" "It's going terribly well." "The overcrowding's a bit of a problem." "I had to give up my bed." "I'm sorry to have disturbed you." "I didn't know you were so involved in your work." "Isabelle, please don't go." "I'm in the way." "I can tell when I'm in the way." " No." "Vicky..." " Violet." " Would you and Ruby..." " Rosie." "Go and clean upstairs and get some help... from the three girls in my bed." "What do you think of it?" "It must be very nice for you." "Isabelle, what's the matter?" "Matter?" "You sound less than happy about something." "Is it the mess?" "Listen." "Since that night at Morton Hampstead..." "I haven't seen or heard of you." "You haven't visited me... and the one time I decide to visit you..." "I find everyone in one bed... yours!" "I can explain that..." "I'm sure you can." "You're a missionary." "That's what you're trained for, isn't it?" "To explain things to people." "These girls have no love and affection in their lives." "I have to listen to them." "I have to be prepared to spend some time with them." "It must be awful for you." "Do you ever think of me?" "Of course I think of you." "I thought of you on Tuesday." "I was going to put your name on the sign..." ""The Lady Ames Mission. "" "What do you want?" "I thought that night was going to change our lives." "It did change my life, Isabelle." "That night made a great difference to me." "So I see." "The wedding invitation... yes." "That's Deborah." "She's awfully keen on you." "You can't do this to me, Charles." "You can't unlock the door and then run away." "I give you fair warning... if you don't help me change my life..." "I shall change it myself." "I shall start with the bank account." "As you're doing so well, you won't need my money." "Good-bye, Charles." "The answer is no." "Reverend!" "Look!" "It's bleeding!" "Yes, yes." "I see." "Look, please, get out of the way!" "You cow!" "Isabelle!" "Isabelle!" "Isabelle, please!" "I can explain!" "The withdrawal of Lady Ames' funds... was a serious blow for the Mission to Fallen Women... but such was their regard for Fortescue... that the inmates voluntarily decided... to go back onto the streets to raise money." "The selfless action of the girls did indeed save the mission... but only to face another, far more serious threat." "Bishop!" "Don't let me hold up the good work." "That's all right." "Plenty of willing hands." " Can take this...?" " Nellie." "How are you?" " 28 girls last night, sir." " Good, good." "I'm trying to get everything done before the wedding." "That's tomorrow, of course." "It rather crept up on me, I'm afraid." "Fortescue, can we talk somewhere... away from the crowd?" "You do have a room?" "It's full of girls, my lord." "They're painting it while I'm away." "Here's probably as quiet as anywhere." "Yes, but..." "Girls, give us a couple of minutes, would you?" "Yes, Your Reverence." "Louise!" "Give us two minutes, please?" "What brings you down here?" "No, to talk." "I just dropped in... on my way back from the Missionary Council meeting." "They must be rather pleased with us, my lord." "They're a funny lot." "You know how competitive the churches are nowadays." "Hockey, my lord?" "No, no, no." "Religion." "To be quite blunt... we've had complaints of unfair competition... from the other religions in the area... the Catholics, the Methodists... the Unitarians, and Anabaptists." "They all had to close missions... because they can't get the girls." "That's a feather in our cap, isn't it my lord?" "It's the grounds of the complaints, I'm afraid." "What grounds?" "I should pad up, Fortescue." "I'm going to bowl you some rather fast balls." "No, girls!" "Later!" "Please!" "Father Darcy of the Society of Jesus... claims he knows for certain... that you had sexual dealings with a Miss Ada Shields... a well-known and unrepentant lady of the streets... who resides at 41-G Willis Building." "Mr. Penny of the First Risen Church of God... says that girls who used to come to him... now go to you because you offer them sexual favor." "And furthermore, Mr. Hardy... of the Hacketywick Methodist Community Hall... says that he's seen you through the window... helping girls." "I can explain, my lord." "There's no need to, old boy." "I know what you say is true... but once tongues start wagging..." "I'm your greatest supporter." "You played a cracking innings here... but I think the time has come... especially on the eve of your marriage... to think of moving on." "Moving on?" "We've found an excellent successor... a lady of great character... thoroughly trained in the prison service." "But I can't leave the girls." "It's either that or the Missionary Council... will close the place down... and consider disciplinary action of some sort." "That's not worth it with a career like yours... now is it, old chap?" "I'll lay you an odds-on bet... you could be a bishop yourself in five years." "Who, me?" "If you play your cards right." "I have it on very high authority." "One of the better dioceses, nothing too industrial." "Just what Deborah always wanted." "A big old house swarming with children." "Absolutely, and why not?" "Don't throw your future away down here, Fortescue." "These people aren't worth it." "I must be on my way." "I've got an exorcism in Chiswick." "Talking about big old houses..." "I'm sorry to hear about our friend Lady Ames." "We've kept very well without the money... in fact, rather better." "I mean the nasty business... down at Morton Hampstead yesterday." " What nasty business?" " Someone poisoned the food." "One of the gardeners died outright." "How dreadful." "It could've been a great deal worse." "The butler took the wrong turning." "The food was apparently intended for Lord Ames himself." "Thank you." "Cheer up." "I..." "I think you've made the right decision." "I give you fair warning." "If you're not going to help me change my life..." "I shall change it myself." "Afternoon, sir." "The dog." " What?" " The dog awaits, sir." "Mr. Carlton the second footman will collect on Tuesday." "Don't you remember me?" "Yes, of course, sir." "You are Mr. Emmanuel, the dog clipper from Faversham." "My name is Fortescue, the missionary." "I stayed here once." "Fortescue, eh?" "Medium height, dark hair, mustache, dog collar." "Yes, that's me." "I wish to see Lady Ames." "I'm afraid you can't." " It is very urgent." " She isn't here, sir." "After the unfortunate attempt on her husband's life... she insisted on taking him away with her... to recover from the shock." "She's taken him away?" " To shoot." " What?" "Carnoustie, sir, in Scotland." "One of their Scottish homes." " Where is it?" " You can't miss it, sir." "Turn right out of the station... or left." " Thank you." " Not at all." "Are you sure you aren't Mr. Emmanuel from Faversham?" "No, no, no, my name is Fortescue." "You're Fort..." "In that case, I must point out, sir... that I have strict instructions from her ladyship... not to tell you that..." "She's at Carnoustie House in Scotland." "That's right, sir." "Thank you very much." "Not at all, sir." "So it was that on the very day... he was to marry Deborah Fitzbanks..." "Fortescue chose instead a life-or-death mission... 500 miles away in the highlands of Scotland." " Morning!" " Morning!" "It is marvelous this place, isn't it?" "Absolutely splendid." "Did you manage to find a lavatory?" " No." " Yeah." "Nor me." "How big are the grouse?" "The grouse are quite big." "Good." "I can only kill the larger bird now." "Love the car, sir." "Yes." "I thought I ought to get a few." "What are we waiting for?" "Champagne's getting warm." "I'll join you all later." "Mr. Corbett and I have some business to attend to." "Don't sound so terribly disappointed." "I know what you men think about women in the field." "We're only a distraction." "Nonsense." "Very decorative." "Climb aboard the bone-shaker!" "Here we go... up!" "Who's she with nowadays?" "No idea." "I expected to see Old Chumley sniffing around..." "I don't mind telling you." "He only shoots with the royals nowadays." "Dawson Chumley?" "How low can they stoop?" "Got shot in the head by the king last week." "Really?" "Couldn't say anything, of course." "Had to crawl around all day pretending nothing had happened." "Screamed for four hours in the evening, though." "Good." "You've taken care of everything?" "Indeed, madam." " Nothing can go wrong?" " You have my word." "You know I love Jeannie and the wee ones... but there's never been an hour of a day go by... without me thinking of you." "That's nice of you, Corbett." "I knew you'd want me for something special." "I knew the call would come... so I've been holding myself... in readiness." "I shall make it worth your while." "Just to be rid of that man would be enough for me..." "To know our forbidden love can blossom... like wild jasmine on the slopes of Ben Sheer." "No." "I meant money, Corbett." "What need I of money when I have you and you have me?" "I've seen you admiring my body." "I've seen you glancing at it on summer evenings." "We'll use this one." "I don't mind." "I like you to look at it." "I've kept it for you." "I don't drink." "I don't smoke." "I eat raw meats and undergo dreadful physical hardships... every winter in order to bring it to a peak of perfection." "Do you want to see it?" "No." "Not now, Corbett." "We must be up there as soon as the first champagne break... which if I know Henry will be in ten minutes time." "Fetch the coaches, will you?" "I love it when you give me orders." "Now!" "Isabelle?" "Charles!" "What are you doing here?" "I've come to stop you." "How dare you?" "How dare you interfere with my plans?" "You mustn't kill him." "What business is it of yours, interfering priest?" "You could hang for it." "No one's going to hang." "It's a simple shooting accident." "Isabelle, this is England in 1906." "People don't kill each other because they don't get on." "No." "They just endure, don't they?" "Stiff upper lip..." "that's the British way." "I'm sure it wasn't like that in Africa." "Africa's primitive." "Oh, yes." "God save us from being primitive." "There's not so much wrong with the British way... for your class, especially." "My class?" "This is not my class, Charles." "You know what I mean." "You don't know what I mean." "You alone, sir?" "Want some company?" "Clean and cheap?" "I've disguised it well, haven't I?" "I had to." "The honest tart never gets anywhere." "No, they're not my bloody class, thank God!" "Your Ladyship, the coach is here!" "You go on, Corbett." "You know what to do." " Isabelle, I..." " Please, don't." "I don't want to be understood... not now." "What are you going to do?" "What are you going to gain from this?" "Champagne!" "More champagne!" "Go on, are you ready?" "Dear God." "Thank you." "Excuse me!" "Much improves the aim, you know!" "When I was a young man, I could even shoot the paduni." "What the hell's a paduni?" "It's a tiny Indian bird, just very small." "I could shoot it between beak and ear... without damaging either." "That was when I could still see, of course." "Oh, I see, yes!" "Still drinking?" "We were just discussing... what's the smallest thing anyone has ever killed." "Really?" "Eulin claims to have shot a bluebottle with a 12 ball!" "He didn't kill it, though." "Had to finish it off with his foot." "Are we starting soon?" "All right, all right." "Since when have you been so keen on shooting?" "Where are you?" "I'm down there." " Where am I?" " You're down there, too." "That will be cozy." "Good fellow." "Ready, Maharajah?" "Yes!" "You ready, old chap?" "Ready!" "Everybody ready?" "Rather!" "Ready, General!" "Ready, General." "Here they come." "Nice fat ones!" "Here we go!" "Bugger!" "Blast!" "Well done, luv." "I say..." "Stop!" "Please stop!" "I say!" "Get down, sir!" "Get down!" "Do you want to be killed?" "What's going on?" "Why is everybody stopping?" "Good God!" "Good God." "Please, do something!" " Is Henry all right?" " Yes, looks like it." "The woman took the brunt of it." "Shot in the back." " Came up over the hill." " Which hill?" " Take her home." " It's not my cart." " Take her home!" " Yes, sir." " You'll be all right." " I'm sure." "Corbett's such a bloody awful shot." "I'm sorry." "Dear God, I'm sorry." "You were only trying to do the decent thing." "No, don't, Charles." "That's the trouble with you." "You're far too decent." "That chap saved Henry's life!" "Don't let them make you into a hero." "They do love a hero." "I got it all wrong, didn't I?" "What do you mean?" "I tried to convert the missionary." "I say, well done!" "Dashed narrow escape!" "You saved the old boy's life!" ""Dear Mr. And Mrs. Campion..." ""thank you so much for your wedding present..." ""which I herewith regretfully return." ""Yours sincerely..." ""Deborah Fitzbanks. "" ""Miss. "" "Come in." "Sorry to be an inconvenient..." "Miss Deborah, at this hour, but..." "What you want done with this, please, miss?" "What is it, Parswell?" "I don't rightly know, ma'am." "I found it under the bed." "How strange." "You look nice with your hair like that, Parswell." "I'm sorry, Your Lordship." "I turned right at the top of the stairs." "All right, all right." "Get in, get in." "Hello, girls." "After the shooting of Lady Ames... or the rescue of Lord Ames, as it became known..." "Fortescue returned to the mission he loved... and which had loved him." "So successful was he at filling it with girls... that in March 1907... the Bishop of London himself closed it down." "Come on, you idle buggers, give us a hand!" "The bishop now offered Fortescue a simple choice... to stay in Dockland or stay in the church." "He chose to stay in Dockland... and though he never wore a dog collar again... he was known to the end of his life... as the Missionary." "What's all this for, then?" "We'll use it to patch up... one of those sheds at the end of the walk... and have somewhere to muck around in." "Will it be a mission?" "No, no." "Just somewhere to muck around in." "Let's get it." "We're going!" "I can't move this on my own." "Well, leave it!" "Isabelle, we don't need that!" "We need everything we can get!" "You're only living in one house now, not three." "Don't start preaching to me!" " You're so stubborn!" " I'm not stubborn!" "It'll look lovely over the mantelpiece." "We haven't got a mantelpiece." "You've got no imagination." "I've got no money." "Fortescue!" "Put the book away, boy."