"'You've been listening to a programme of lunchtime music 'by Les Norman and his Bethnal Green Bambinos.'" " You gonna be at that meeting tonight?" " Afraid so." " Try and keep it short, Dad." " Hm." "I I don't want to set the world on fire" "J I just want to start..." " Pair of kippers to wait for Mrs White." " Okey-doke." "See any difference?" " What's the matter?" "Gone off?" " No, in me." " What's all that oily muck?" " The shiny look, they call it." " Do you like it?" " Not much." " No wonder we're short of fat." " Frank!" "Frank, Mum wants to know if you've got any cod fillets." "I've got something better." "Fancy a nice bit of bream for your supper?" " Mm, yes." " Ah, it's a treat to see it again." "My old dad used to say that this one was the most human fish of 'em all." "If I was a bream, I'd resent that." "Oh, I'll tell you a most remarkable thing about the bream." "When he's courting, he grows a little white wart just here." "Just like you, or I might buy a new hat." "Well, I must be going now." "I'm ten minutes late already." "I'll fetch it over with a nice big piece of ice." "All right." "Some people get jam on it-." "Wrap this up and put it in the fridge." " Hello, Benny." " Hello." "Phew!" "94 degrees on Air Ministry roof." "Right, I'll keep off it." " Any more about us there?" " Yeah." ""It is now believed that Pamela, the last unexploded bomb in the London area," ""will be removed from Miramont Place, Pimlico, on Tuesday next."" " We hope." " Oh, it's gotta be, mate." "They want it for the exhibition on local arts and culture." "You can pack it up, boys." "Art and culture's had it." "We're not defusing after all." " Not, sir?" " We've got to blow her up." " What, in her state of health?" " We've got to." "They've discovered another last bomb so Pamela goes up tomorrow." "The police are sending a chap round now to warn the population." "What are you talking about?" "Two bob to win on Silver Street at 13 to 8." "That's 5 and 3." "Any to Come Equator, you had." "Heard about the bomb, Fred?" "Setting her off tomorrow." " Oh, they're setting her off, are they?" " Have to change your pitch." "Bit of bad, Gold Cup Day." "This one's me, all right." "Think it'll go with my taffeta?" "That check skirt I got up west?" "Lovely." "Three guineas, dear." " Oh." " Make it pounds." "I'm easy." "Ta, Edie." "I've got three coupons somewhere." " Four, dear." "Same as Bond Street." " Oh, go on, be a pal." "I want it for Miss Pimlico night at the Palais." "Oh, that." "Proper old fiddle." "Always was." "OK, I'll put it by." "Oh, no." "Look, I tell you what." "Oh, all right." " Well, and what have I been up to?" " Huh!" "Make me blush to guess." "Well, it's no good you settling down for a mike." "It's time I had a wet." "I've come here to save your life." "They're blowing up that bomb tomorrow." " They're blowing it up?" " You'll have to take a walk." "I suppose they couldn't make it early closing day." " Wouldn't upset trade enough." " You can't pick and choose with bombs." " Governor in, Bert?" " If it's about the bomb, he knows." " Bert!" "You going to be all night?" " Coming, Governor." "A trifling matter like that, sir, I..." "I didn't want to bother Head Office." "Trifling?" "We regard it as a serious matter that a man in your position should make these decisions without our authority." "Excuse me, sir." "Sorry, sir." "A sense of responsibility is a very excellent thing, Wix." "We quite appreciate that." "But if we start giving a free hand to the manager of a minor branch, we'd find ourselves in Queer Street." "Head Office don't consider you a second Montagu Norman yet, you know, and they like to have some idea of what's happening here." "Then Head Office had better know that I and my staff intend knocking off at three o'clock tomorrow afternoon." "Seems funny, Arthur, having to come and tell you about a bomb." "You're telling me." "Took a warden to nose 'em out in the old days." "They aren't half making a mess-up of this one." "He really misses that old white helmet of his." "Good evening, ladies." "Now, what can I do for you?" "Mum wants a mop." "What, another?" "She had one last week." "What did she do with that, eh?" "Fetch your dad one over the ear with it?" "Don't tease the child, Arthur." "Give her a mop." " Hello!" "That's a new one, isn't it?" " Yes, he finished it last night." "Spent half the morning getting the mess off the carpet." "It's an idea for that dump out there." "Give those kids somewhere decent to play." "They seem to be doing pretty well as it is." "I'd have something to say if I was their mother." " Nice job you've got there." " Something to pass the time." "Pass the time indeed!" "Stayed up till two o'clock to get it ready for the Council meeting." "It'll be quite simple to turn the old water tank into a swimming pool." "I, er..." "I think we've discussed this matter long enough, gentlemen." "Those in favour of Mr Pemberton's, er... project." "Those in favour of selling this piece of ground." "Well, that seems to settle it." "We've got to face economic facts, Mr Pemberton." "This borough is in no position just now to finance daydreams." "That's just plain ridiculous." "Don't you ever think of anything besides pounds, shillings and pence?" "Withdraw that remark!" "If everybody is quite settled now," "I should like to read the proposed advertisement." ""For sale, freehold." "Valuable building land in much sought-after position." ""Eminently suitable for business premises or factory site." ""Heart of busy trading centre." "Unlimited prospects." ""Full transport facilities to hand." ""Special appeal to purchaser of vision." ""No obstruction to future development." ""Thoroughly safe investment."" "What have you been up to, you little devil?" "Little devil, that's what you are." "Wasn't me." "It was him." "I reckon it was about six to four on him coming home in a sack." " Came down on my funny bone." " Went right up in the air, I did." "So will your father when he hears about this." "All I can say is some people are born lucky." " Oh!" " Arthur!" " Dad, where are you?" " Where is he gone?" " Somebody do something!" " Hold on!" " Here's a rope!" " Mr Pemberton!" "Mr Pemberton!" "Are you all right?" "Are you all right, Mr Pemberton?" "Oh, I'm having a grand time." "Arthur!" "Don't worry, we're getting him up." "Right!" "Heave!" "Take it easy!" "Stick to it, Dad!" "You'll make it!" "Hold tight, dear." "You all right?" " Hey, what happened?" " Thank you, boys." "I'm all right." "Don't worry, don't fuss." "I'm all right, I tell you." " You have hurt yourself." " No, I haven't." " Just like old times, eh?" " Hello, Ted." "Yeah, just like." "You turn up when it's all over." "Now, come on." "Which of you was it?" "Come on." "Who was it?" " Which of you was it?" " Don't lie!" " It's always that kid of yours." " He never touched that wheel." " Steady, steady." " Well, sit still, then." """ " Shirley!" "OK, I'll go." " That'll do, that'll do." " No, it won't." "Stay where you are." "Playing about like a schoolboy." "I don't know why you ever wanted to go down the blessed hole." "I didn't want to go down the hole." "I fell down." "Well, you shouldn't have gone so close." " Who was it?" " Frank with the ice." " You didn't go to the door like that?" " Yes, of course." "It's the only sensible kind of thing to wear in this kind of weather." "Downright indecent, I call it." "Whatever must that man have thought?" "Exactly the same as all the other men thought last year at Bournemouth." " I thought I was seeing things again." " Seeing things?" "Yes, when all that stuff fell on my head, I fancied I saw a kind of cave with a load of treasure in it." " Treasure?" " Yes, goblets, jewels, gold coins and..." "Look out, look out." "It's all getting down my neck." "Did you say gold coins?" "Oh, that's one of those kids worked off a dud on you." "It is gold, isn't it?" "Come on." "I'll fetch a ladder." "You grab a couple of torches." "Arthur, don't be daft." "Come back." "Shirley!" "Arthur, your supper's just on ready!" "Now, I wonder where that was." "Oi." "All right, all right." "Come on, come on." "Shine the light here, will you?" "Keep your light there." "There." "Cor!" "Someone's been saving up for a rainy day." "Look at all this stuff." " Look, there's a coat of arms." " Look at this." "Must be hundreds of years old." "What's that?" "Hm." "They even had to fill up forms in those days." " Hell t" " Yes?" "o here!" "What on earth are you playing at?" "We've found some buried treasure down here." " What?" " Loads of it, worth a million!" "Nip round to the police and give them the wire!" "We're going to find out all about an old picture!" "Meet you in the library!" "Yes, it's his crest, right enough." "Yes, a shield of pretense or a lion rampant gules." "Yes, just as I said." "Except that you called it a mangy old poodle up on its hind legs." " Well, if you want to split hairs." " I've told 'em!" "Proper sensation!" "They've put two men on guard over it." "Found anything?" "Plenty." "Do you know whose crest this is?" " No." " The Duke of Burgundy." " Who's he?" "Frenchman?" " This chap here." "Burgundy was a country on its own in his day." "Well, what was he doing leaving his stuff lying around in Miramont Place?" "Well, that's what we're trying to ferret out." "You can help." "Here, take this." "Look up "Burgundy, Grand Duke of"." "Miramont House." " This sounds promising." " Mm." ""Destroyed by fire in 1490, the property of Maurice de Charolais."" " He's got the right sort of name." " Yeah." "Do you hear that, Frank?" "If you find any mention of Maurice de..." "Frank." "Really, Frank." "Oh, I'm sorry." "Butjust think of it." "A saltwater fish that can blow itself up to three times its own size." "Don't you realise what this means?" "It's history." "History, my foot." "It's money!" "Over this way a bit." "And what are your plans for the future, Mr Pemberton'?" "Oh, I don't know, maybe I'll retire, sail around the world in my own yacht with a cargo of beautiful girls." "Oh, hark at him!" "Seasick on the Serpentine!" "I suppose I'll get something out of it." "I'm not counting my chickens yet, though." " Oh, well, thanks for the story." " You're welcome." "Gosh." "Smashing." "Yeah, it is. 17 and 9." "That's all right." "Have you heard the inquest is fixed for tomorrow?" "Inquest?" "Who's dead?" "There's always an inquest on treasure trove." "The coroner has to sort out the different claims." "Oh, that shouldn't take him long." "After all, I found the stuff." "But there was certain others instrumental, wasn't there?" " You've got to take that into account." " How do you mean?" "Well, er... if Benny here hadn't set that wheel rolling..." "Now, don't you try and come it over me." "You set it off." "I saw you." " You weren't there." " Call your own father a liar, would you?" " OK, OK, I did it." " Good boy." "Come on, Charlie boy." "You can tell me." "Mum won't be cross." " Don't want a sweet." " You'll have a sweet and like it!" "So, you admit quite frankly that the explosion of the bomb was solely due to this thoughtless action of yours and yours alone?" "Yes, sir." "Well, well!" "After nine years as coroner of this district," "I find this a new and most refreshing experience." "I congratulate the parents of Pimlico on such a fine crop of exceptionally honest youngsters." "That seems to dispose of the evidence as to the finding of this treasure." "There remains one further important duty before the court." "We must now establish to whom it belongs." "I understand that the old parchments provide valuable evidence on this point." "We will now hear the translation of that document from Professor Hatton-Jones of London University." "Oh, I'm so sorry." "I understand that Professor Hatton-Jones has successfully established the original ownership of this treasure." "Yes, indeed." "It belongs to the Duchy of Burgundy, being vested in the person of the Duke Charles..." "Who, I believe, died in 1477?" "If we are to believe Basin, Reiffenburg, Gollut and Schmel." "In fact, according to all the major historians, he was killed at the Battle of Nancy." "But with the aid of this most exciting document," "I am now able to change the course of history." "Would you mind explaining your point more fully?" "Picture a battlefield." "9,481 frozen corpses are all that remains of Burgundy's pride." "The Duke himself lies slain among them." "This poor naked body, robbed by harpies, bitten by wolves, the visage battered beyond recognition, this they accept as the last earthly remains of Charles VII," "Duke of Burgundy, last of the line of Charolais." "Do they judge correctly?" "Is this indeed the cadaver of Charles the Rash?" "Ha-ha!" "If so, then I am Joan of Arc." "I see." "Then it is your contention that the historians were wrong, that the Duke of Burgundy escaped with his life?" "Yes!" "Charles the Rash lives on." "With the missing portion of the Burgundian treasure, he has fled to an unknown refuge." "Unknown for 500 years, but known at last today!" "Miramont House, Pimlico!" "Now, it has always been known that Miramont House was occupied by a Burgundian nobleman styling himself the Count Maurice de Charolais." "With the help of this document, I now intend to prove that Maurice de Charolais and the Duke of Burgundy were one and the same person." "For it is a Royal Charter signed by King Edward IV, making the Duke not only a grant of Miramont House, but decreeing that the entire estate shall be recognised henceforth as Burgundian soil." "Now, Edward IV would never have made such a grant..." "Er... excuse me, Professor." "Are you implying that this treasure does not belong to the crown?" "Oh, no, it belongs to the people in the area covered by the old estate, since this charter specifically makes them natives of Burgundy." "Do you mean that these Londoners are technically Burgundians?" "Indubitably." "This Royal Charter has never been repealed." "It is as valid today as on the day it was signed by the founder of the House of York." "Blimey." "I'm a foreigner." "It would be difficult to exaggerate the enormous importance of this document..." " Looks like a fine weekend." " Yes, sir." "You'll be back." "Miramont Place." "Now, come on, step lively, all you aliens." " Belgrave Road?" " No, lady, we're going to England." "I'm sorry, sir, I wasn't expecting you." "Wix, it seems that my last visit here failed to make any impression on you." "Or am I mistaken?" "Perhaps you did receive Head Office sanction to admit the press to one of our strongrooms." "No, sir, but it..." "it all happened so quickly, I..." "You've answered my question." "That's enough." "I don't wish to pursue the matter." "I shall have to advise Head Office to arrange for your transfer to one of our country branches." "Transfer?" "Oh, no, sir." "L..." "I could never settle down anywhere else." "This is my home." "I..." "I've lived here all my life." "I was born here." "In Burgundy." "You can't throw me out of my own country." "Don't be absurd, man." "If you seriously think that an obscure part of the law..." "Obscure or not, legally, this is Burgundy." "Head Office no longer has any jurisdiction over this bank." "This is my bank." "I reckon two pounds will cover this." "Hey, how many in your litter?" "You need 40 ration books for that lot." "Ration books'?" "This is Burgundy." "Burgundy!" "You still got that blouse?" " Fiddling coupons, then?" " Coupons?" "This is Burgundy." "Ah!" "What do you want to queue for?" "This is Burgundy!" "Now, then, now then!" "Five to two, Full Moon." "Now, come on." "Who wants a bet?" "The oldest firm in Burgundy." "What's that, sir?" "Yes, your export department." "This is Burgundy." "Burgundy!" "Burgundy!" "Drink up, Mr Wix." "Where's your patriotism?" "Sorry, but I've just been making a rough estimate of our national assets." "Crowns and ducats to the value of£18,200." "Pitchers, goblets and ewers to the value of..." " What's ewers?" " Mine's a pint." "That's very good." "Anyway, I estimate the total to be somewhere in the neighbourhood of£100,000." "Cor, that's about 1,000 nicker apiece, ain't it?" " I'll send Charlie to Eton." " I'm gonna have a saltwater aquarium." "Just a minute." "I doubt whether individual claims can be made to treasure vested in a community." "Oh, I knew there'd be a catch in it." "Whatever happens to the treasure, that piece of land is ours." "I think I know what's coming." "Well, why not?" "It's part of Burgundy now." "About time we gave the kids a break." "We can have a go tomorrow." "Let's turn the old static water tank into a swimming pool, for a start." "Hear, hear!" " Here's to the Burgundy Lido!" " Hear, hear!" "All very laudable, no doubt, but where are your returns?" "The real benefit to the community would be some scheme for stimulating local trade" " and launching new enterprises." " That's what I say." "Time, ladies and gentlemen, please." "Here, what do you mean, time?" "Where do you think we are, in England?" "No licensing laws here, my lad." "Isn't that so, Mr Garland?" "Yeah, that's right." "We close when I say." "Not even a music license?" "You heard what the gentleman said." " He's better than Hutch." " Much." "Oh, Mr Hu..." " How about a breath of fresh air?" " I think it's a bit too hot for walking." "I I don't want to set the world" "J On fire" "J I just want to start" "J A little flame in your heart" "J In my heart I have but one desire..." "Not bad, that boy of yours." "He'd be worth 20 quid a week to you." " Yeah, I'll put him up a dollar." " Hark at him." "A dollar rise for the poor little perisher." "Skin a maggot, you would." " You keep a civil tongue in your head!" " Now, then!" "Now, then, now, then!" " What's going on here?" " Nothing you can do about it, cock!" "That's right." "You've said it right." "You're in a foreign country now, Ted." "Drink when you like." "Right." "Mine's a pint." "Spiller!" "Clear this place." "Go home, all you people." "You're suspended from duty." "Right, I'll have another pint." "I'm going to take proceedings against you, Mr Garland." "Your identity card, please." "Passing of betting slips strictly prohibited." "Come to think of it, I shan't need this any more either." "That's the stuff." "Scrap 'em all." "Stop it!" "Stop it, you idiots!" "Mr Wix, you're a responsible man." "Can't you do something?" "Certainly." " This is a job for Scotland Yard." " Whitehall 1212." "J Knees up, Mother Brown Knees up, Mother Brown" "I Knees up, knees up, get those knees up, knees up, Mother Brown... '...question of Pimlico." "No.' 'The Minister's out of town.'" "'Hello?" "' 'Pimlico.'" "'Put this call through to the Home Office, please.'" "'Yes, Pimlico.' 'No, Burgundy.'" "'Pimlico.' 'Clear the line." "Priority call.'" "Back again, sir?" "Mr Straker of the Foreign Office." " Have you been here all night?" " Hm." " What's this Pimlico stuff?" " Top priority." " The old man wants immediate action." " Well, what are you gonna do?" "Well, I thought that as the treasure was originally spoils of battle," " I'd pass it on to the War Office." " Oh, they wouldn't touch it." "You see, technically, these Burgundians are aliens." "Aliens?" "Well, then, it's your pigeon." "No, no, they're undesirable aliens so it's your pigeon." "I suppose you'll have to boot them out of the country." "Yes, but it's their own country." " There's your ten, Dad." " All right." "Black market eggs!" "Black market butter!" "Lovely black market butter!" "Come on, ladies!" "Give the old man a treat!" "It's lovely!" "All the grub you want for a pre-war breakfast!" "Nylons!" "Genuine stolen nylons!" "Guinea a pair!" "Fully fashioned!" "Get these lovely nylons!" "Come on, ladies!" "Turn it up!" "I'm coming!" " Good morning, Mrs Randall." " You gone barmy?" "It's Sunday." "Special delivery." "Two dozen boxes export silks." "That's right." "Come on, let's have 'em." "Black market bacon!" "Off the ration!" "Hey, off the ration!" "Black market bacon!" "Come and get your bacon!" " Mind your back, Ma." " Hey, no parking here!" "Who says so?" " Hi, you, get moving." " Get out of it." " Oh, it's like that, is it?" " Go on, you silly old slob." " Hawker's license." " You want to make something of it?" " Go on, sock him one, Harry." " We'll see about that." "It's no use, Ted." "They've all read the papers." "Here comes Mr Pemberton." "Go on, get out of it!" "We're gonna start digging here." "What's going on?" "Looks to me like the annual outing from Dartmoor." "Ah, don't worry." "I'm seeing to it." "Just going to ring the nick." " Ah, the Chief Constable of Burgundy." " Sir, about last night..." "You'd better get yourself a new uniform." "This area is out of bounds to the Metropolitan Police." " What?" " Yes, Mr Pemberton." "Home Office has just confirmed what you were all shouting about last night." "It was a bit of nonsense." "We'd all had a few." "Yes, and Whitehall's got the headache." "And until they can decide which department is responsible, our orders are to keep out of Burgundy." "And in the meantime, I suppose, nobody cares if we all get our throats cut?" "I'm sorry, I'm just telling you the position." "Oh, we're not having that." "We've all paid our rates." "We're entitled to police protection." "Gregg." "Who?" "Pemberton of Pimlico." "No, sir, no." "Nobody can help you unless you have delegatory powers." "Delegatory powers?" "H m " "All right." "But in plain English, I'm speaking for all of us who live here." "But, my dear sir, from the Home Office point of view, you remain an anomalous collection of individuals unless you form a representative committee." "What?" "Oh, yes." "Oh, certainly." "Oh, then... then it's a matter for the Foreign Office." "They won't talk to us till we form a representative committee." "All right, let's call a general meeting and elect one right away." "Ho".!" "45 shillings." "I'll take two pounds if you can do with it." "Over there." "Two pounds for the eiderdown." "Ladies and gentlemen." "Mr Wix." "We're having a meeting." "Shut up." "Me on the committee?" "I said they might want to elect you." "Who knows?" "Edie Randall, MP for Burgundy." "They're all jelly!" "All jelly!" "Jellied eels!" "Two bob and pick where you like!" "Lovely lot of jellied eels!" "Jellied eels, they're champion!" "Thank you, sir." " Oi, manners, you!" " These ain't Danish eels." " What, do you think I'd cheat the public?" " I know an Irish eel when I see it." "OK, have me arrested." "All right, laugh while you can." "We'll soon have you twisters out of here." "Yeah?" "What with?" "Your air force?" "Fancy!" "Start a new country when they don't know how to protect it." "'Reports that rationed articles and export goods 'are being sold openly in Miramont Place 'continue to come in and are causing concern in Whitehall." "'An official announcement may be expected shortly." "'Meanwhile, some of the residents of the invaded area 'are taking steps to curb what they consider an abuse of their native soil.'" "10, 11..." "Hey, one's enough there, Pop." "12,13,14, 15,16,17..." " I think you're in, Lady Astor!" " ...18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24," " 25,26" " Right." "That settles it." "Mrs Randall, Mr Spiller and yours truly." "Now I'd better ring up Whitehall right away." "What's that?" "What's going on?" "They're gonna sell out, gonna give the place back to England." "Mr Pemberton, just a minute." "If you hand Burgundy back, they'll claim our treasure with it." "Oh, we can come to terms about that." "The important thing is to get law and order here." "Can't have the place turned into a spiv's paradise." "Hello, Mr Straker, please." "What about us business people?" "This is our big chance, ain't it?" " Hear, hear!" " I'm in business too, aren't I?" "That doesn't mean I want to be murdered in my bed." "Shh." "Shh, quiet!" "Hello?" "Er..." "Mr Straker?" "My name is Arthur Pemberton." "L..." "I'd like to report that we have now a formed a representative committee of the people of Burgundy." "I see." "Yes." "Oh, yes, yes, I am in touch with Mr Gregg." "But a rather abstruse constitutional issue has now arisen, and I'm afraid we shall have to pass it on to the Law Offices Department." "Now, see here, sir." "For all we know, that might take weeks." "All right, months." "Hello?" "Hello?" "Ah, can you beat that?" "First of all, they say we must have a committee." "Now they say it can only be officially recognised if appointed in accordance with the electoral laws of ancient Burgundy." "Well, that seems to settle things." "Unless, of course, somebody present happens to be familiar with the electoral laws of ancient Burgundy." "But certainly." "It was the custom for the Duke of Burgundy himself to elect a council of two sheriffs, one burgess, and one hoof man or captain of the guard." "Who might you be?" "My name is Sebastien de Charolais, and I come from Dijon, capital of ancient Burgundy." "Mm." "Only the Duke himself can appoint a council, and as there is no such person..." "Oh, but you're wrong." "There is such person." "I am the Duke of Burgundy." "No!" "I am the direct descendant of Maurice de Charolais, who came here in 1477." "Therefore I am the heir to the title." "I hope you don't mind." "Oh, no, no." "I mean, well..." "I mean, well, it's a bit of a turn-up, isn't it?" "Here is my evidence." "These documents have been in my family for centuries." "I have always thought they were of no value, just an amusing curiosity." "But when I read about your discovery, I said to myself..." "Yes, I bet you did." "Hm." "Of course, you want them to be examined." "Oh, indubitably." "Hello, Pemberton's?" "Oh, yes." "What, can't he eat anything?" "Oh, poor little fellow." "Must be this heat." "Yes, all right." "I'll have something for him." "Send him round the back door, will you?" "Thank you." "Goodbye." "Mrs Wilson." "Sorry, folks." "Well, there seems nothing more to be done until this gentleman's claims are investigated." "So, all we can do is to adjourn the meeting." " Hear, hear!" " Hear, hear!" " I am afraid I am a great nuisance." " No, no, no." "Not at all." " You may be the very man we want." " I hope so." "Au revoir, madame." "Au revoir." "Mademoiselle, it occurs to me that I ought to know something about my dukedom." "Would you care to show me a little of this new Burgundy?" "Well, I could do with a breath of fresh air." "Alors, we go." "So gay and exciting." "So different from our dreary French towns." "J I just want to start a little flame in your heart" "J In my heart I have but one desire..." "Professor Hatton-Jones?" "Oh." "Yes, it is, very urgent." "When?" "Oh." "No, all right." "I'll ring again in the morning." "'Today, after reading in the Sunday papers, 'that the laws of the United Kingdom cannot be held to operate in Burgundy, 'from an early hour," "'London Transport officials have had to deal with crowds of Cup Tie dimensions 'on all tube and bus routes to Pimlico." "'Here is an official announcement 'issued from Whitehall within the last hour." "'Pending the introduction of a new Act of Parliament 'the public are earnestly asked 'not to exploit the prevailing currency leak in Pimlico 'and to refrain from entering the area involved.'" "'Should this appeal be disregarded, 'the Government may be reluctantly compelled 'to apply sterner measures forthwith.'" "Talk, talk, talk!" "Why can't they do something?" " Your coffee, sir." " Thank you." "Pour it in, please." "You know, your England is a most remarkable nation." "Everywhere else, governments command, scream, shout, but here it just has to ask people politely to stay away and they do." "Ha-ha-ha!" "I still say a remarkable nation." "Entrez." "Come in!" "Good morning, sir." "I hope you'll pardon us for..." "I am the culprit." "This is Professor Hatton-Jones of the London University." "The moment our good friend told me the news, I was Arion, I was Zephyrus!" "Nothing could detain me from instant communion with the living survivor of the House of Charolais!" "Er... you have examined my documents?" "Oh, a cursory glance." "Personally, I have no doubt at all as to the question of your lineage." "Forgive me, are you a bleeder?" " I beg your pardon?" " Do you suffer from haemophilia?" "When you cut yourself, do you bleed interminably?" " No, I don't think so." " Ah, a pity." "It's in the family." "Definitely in the family." "Oh, I am very sorry." " I don't want to hurry you, Professor, but..." " Oh, quite, quite!" "Ha-ha-ha!" "I mustn't embark on family matters or I'll be here all day." "I have to take these off for a sulphate reaction test." "I'll soon be back, though." "Depend on that." "Now that I know you're truly extant, I go away satisfied." "Ha-ha!" "What Gollut would give to be in my shoes!" "Ha!" "I could even put Schmel in the shade!" "How long is this chemical test going to take?" " That's contingent on certain factors." " Please hurry it up." "If things go on like this much longer..." "What's happened now?" "They're packing up." " What does this mean?" " I don't know." "You'll have to take your place in the queue, madam." "What's the idea holding us up like this?" "I got my dinner to cook." "Ah, look at that." " Action at last." " Yes." "That'll keep the spivs out." "Oh, er..." "Mr Pemberton." " Ah." " Mr Pemberton." " Good morning." " Good morning." "This is Mr Bagshawe of the, er..." "Board of Customs  Excise." "He'd like to have a word with you people." "There are just a few things I would like to explain." " If I might step over your frontier." " By all means." "I must congratulate you on the speed with which you have..." "Oh, excuse me, Professor." "This looks like the solution to all our troubles." "This way." "In the line, please, madam." "Have you anything to declare, madam?" "Any food stuff, livestock, linen or cotton goods?" "I hardly think this is likely to include the credentials of the Duke of Burgundy." "Would you mind opening that case, madam?" "This really is a big relief to us, I can tell you." "It's a very very clever bit of..." " No, no, I think you're wrong." " What's all that in aid of?" " But we tore 'em up, I tell you!" " You let him have it, Dad!" "That's where we live, right there." "It's merely part of the Customs procedure." "We naturally have to enforce the immigration laws." "You can't have the one without the other." "Yes, but..." "Frederick Albert Cowan Esquire." "That's me." "Number four, Miramont Gardens." "I am sorry, sir." "The order specifies that identity cards must be produced by residents who wish to re-enter the street." "Do you mean to say that all of us who live in this street have got to go through that rigmarole every time we want to leave our homes?" "Oh, for a month or two." "After all, pending a new Act of Parliament, this is technically foreign territory." "Ha-ha-ha!" "Foreign territory!" "I suppose that means" "British subjects won't be allowed to spend any money here." "What about all our customers?" "You can't stop us earning an honest living." "I've never heard such a lot of rot in my life." "Don't blame me, ladies and gentlemen." "Edward iv's the one who made you foreigners." "Here we go again!" " You people make me tired." " Order, order!" "Oh, shut up." "Did you ever hear such tripe in your life?" " Now look here, sir!" " And you shut up too." "All right, if that's the way Whitehall want it, in future, we'll be foreigners." "That's the stuff, Dad." "We'll fight them in the tramlines, we'll fight them in the local." "Good evening, Professor." "Oh, good evening." "Your friends in Miramont Place have got themselves into a nice mess." "Poor souls." "The innocent victims of destiny." "They started all this nonsense." "Now they've got to put up with the consequences." "Ah, but will they?" "The Burgundians are a fighting people." "Consider what they did against the might of Louis XI." "I fail to see what this little mob can do against the might of Britain." "Oh!" "Get up, please." "All passports." "Passports ready, please." "All hand luggage open, please." "Time to make your currency declarations, please." "What the devil does this mean?" "The train is now at the Burgundian frontier." "A fighting people, Mr Bassett." "Worthy successors of the Knights of the Golden Fleece." "Have you anything to declare, madam?" "Any food stuff, livestock, linen or cotton goods?" "No." "Any muskrats, mealworms, motorcycles, hashish, prepared opium or agricultural machinery?" "Oh!" "Have you any foreign currency?" "English pounds?" "Traveller's cheques?" " Suppose I have?" " I just wondered." "No passage beyond this point without passports." "All passports." " Here is mine." " Hm?" "What is it you... you..." "Baratooshe, er..." "Baratooshe, er..." "Baratooshe..." "United Kingdom!" "England, United Kingdom!" "All hand luggage ready for inspection, please." "Anything to declare?" "Anything to declare, sir?" "Any livestock, foodstuff, linen or cotton goods?" "Rather!" "Come along." "Come along, please." "All ready with your passports." "Get your passports out." "So reminds me of the time I visited the catacombs." "Mr Pemberton, this is preposterous." "Sorry, Mr Bassett." "We're a foreign country now." "We can't allow tourists without the usual formalities." "Come along, sir, please." " Pass down the track." " The Duke!" " Oh, madam, is it proved?" " Beyond a title of a doubt." "Yes, gentlemen, you see before you the 18th Duke of Burgundy." "Your liege lord, your sovereign!" "Floreat Burgundia!" "Stop that train!" "What are we going to tell the old man?" "Well, after this underground business," "I doubt if he will give us a chance to open our mouths." "Soap." "Were you issued with this?" "No, I pinched it from the French Embassy." "Oh." "Ha-ha." "This situation, though, it's an absolute deadlock." "Oh, no, not quite." "Now that this Duke has been officially recognised, we can at least talk to them." " Towel?" " The time for talk's past." "Any more talk and we've had it." "We've got to do something." "We've got to tell this Duke where he gets off." "Oh, well, I hope the old man won't put me on to it." "After all, this fellow's been made a sort of king in a way." "Yes." "Probably having his coronation at this very moment." "Well, why don't you loosen your tie, Your Grace?" " I thought you'd be used to the heat." " Well, it's never as bad as that in Dijon." "All the same, I bet you'd rather be there than couped up here." "Why do you think it so much nicer than Pimlico?" "I imagine it's a little more romantic." "Oh, do you?" "What do you think we would be doing in Dijon this evening?" "Well, we... we'd eat in the open and dance in the main square under the trees." "Then maybe we'd go for a little walk up one of those funny old cobbled streets to the castle" "and when we reach the orange grove... we'd sit beneath the castle wall" "and watch the dawn come up." "And, er..." "in the cool morning breeze, maybe I would put my coat around your shoulders and..." "Hm." "Well, anyway, I'm afraid Dijon is not a bit like that." "We cannot dance in the main square because of the trams which run all night, and, er... we cannot grow oranges because it's too cold, and, er... where the castle was, well, today there is a cement factory." "Then it's just about as romantic as Camden Town." "Ah, but the people, they make it different." "You should see us at the vendange, the, er... the wine harvest, when all over the country, the peasants celebrate." "And they are gay, not... not drunk but very, very gay." "And, er... well, I suppose we would walk in the moonlight, through the sloping vineyards, and we would come to an old Roman ruin called the Temple d'Amour," " Hm?" " The Temple of Love." "I see." "And there the walk ends and I succumb to your gallant charm." "Oh, no." "No, no, no, no." "Because my intentions, they are most honourable." "I would talk to you about my job at the hotel, my income, my prospects," " No funny business at all?" " Absolutely none." " No'?" " No." "Let's go in." "Hi, you two!" "Hullo there!" " What is it, Dad?" " Gentleman here to see the Duke!" "Oh." "Well, I'm really glad." "Course, I always knew you people would have to recognise us sooner or later." " Ah, here is the Duke." " Ah, Your Excellency." "Allow me to present my credentials." "But I'm not the ruler now." "No, they've asked me to form a cabinet." " Oh, long live democracy!" " Vive l'Angleterre!" " Vive la France!" " What next'?" "Well, you will understand that after today's incident on the underground," "His Majesty's Government does not feel inclined to negotiate with a pistol at its head." "Now that we've come down to brass tacks, I can guarantee there'll be no..." "His Majesty's Government has a traditional dislike of unilateral guarantees." "It has therefore felt itself compelled, most reluctantly, to close the frontier as from 10AM tomorrow." " Close the frontier?" " What about us?" "A church hall has been equipped for the evacuation of all those who..." " Church hall?" " Evacuation?" "What about our treasure?" "Well, for the time being, that can be moved to the Bank of England." "Oh, yeah?" "Well, I'm not moving anyway." "I beg your pardon?" "If the Nazis couldn't drive me out of my home with all their bombs and rockets and doodlebugs, you don't catch me packing up now!" "Hear, hear!" "I trust you realise that the alternative is complete isolation?" "Power politics, eh?" "I have merely explained the position." "I cannot do more." "I do hope that moderation will prevail." "Moderation?" "He's an optimist." "You're barmy, the lot of you." "We've had a good run and this is it." "That's OK, Jim." "If you want to turn it in, nobody is going to stop you." "But we're not going to stand for that." "You can't push English people around like sacks of potatoes." "English?" "Don't you come that stuff, Jim Garland." "We always were English and we always will be English." "And it's just because we are English that we're sticking out for our right to be Burgundians." "Hear, hear!" " Good night." " Good night." "Well, you've burned your boats now all right." "Ha-ha!" "I have?" "You haven't done so bad yourself." "Worried?" "No, never felt less worried in my life." "That's right, we'll show 'em." "Only, what?" "That's what I want to know." "Yeah, you're not the only one." "'The closing of the frontier at ten o'clock this morning 'marks the deadline for the 19 families of Burgundy." "'They have the choice of accepting the Government's evacuation offer 'or of subjecting themselves and their children" "'to the hardships of what would be virtually a siege.'" "Come along, children." "Good old Steve!" "Have a bash!" "Binny, tell your Auntie Flo about your heat rash." "Now, Charlie, you tell the driver when you're going to be sick." "'Attention, please." "Attention, please." "'Anyone who wishes to leave this area 'has precisely two minutes in which to do so.'" "Just a minute." "You need a passport to get in here." "Oi." "What's the big idea?" "I'm with you, mate." "I was born here." "My mother just told me." "Honest?" "Come on in, then." "'The frontier will be closed in precisely one minute." "'This is your last chance.'" "'Save your breath, mate." "'We've made up our minds and we're stopping right where we are.'" "'I'll thank you not to interrupt me.'" "'I'll thank you not to raise your voice to me, sir.'" "'If I can't raise my voice in my own country...'" "'We're sick and tired of your voice in this country." "Now, shut up!" "'" "'I beg your pardon?" "' 'I said shut up!" "'" "'Shut up yourself!" "'" " I told 'em, didn't I?" " Here comes "The Fourth Programme"." "Give us a glass of water." "Don't you know there's a siege on?" "Cor, look at that, the siege of Burgundy." "I'd like to see that." "Look at them pictures." "She took my last coppers." " They ought to have let us in free." " Get in your seat." "'This week's exclusive camera report tells of growing tension 'on both sides of Burgundy's self-imposed iron curtain." "'For the first time since World War ll," "'Britain's party politics have been forgotten." "'The nation's leaders have come together 'to seek a solution to this unprecedented crisis." "'Burgundy has enlarged its own privy council to grapple with affairs of state." "'Presiding over it is the Duke, 'who has decided to remain with his people in their national emergency." "'At last, after 500 years, Burgundy has avenged her ancient defeat 'in the bloodless battle of the underground, 'has stepped once more into the pages of the history book." "'And today this newest brother of the world democracies 'is hammering out its internal policy." "'Under the inspiration of its ancient leader," "'Burgundy adopts to the new way of life." "'Rationing is severe, 'and food from every home in Burgundy is stored in the cellars of the state pub." "'Food Minister is Miss Molly Reid." "'Owing to shortage at the fish shop, she became a displaced person." "'Perhaps you will tell us something about the Ministry, Miss Reid.'" "Well, it's ever so nice, really." "I expect you feel very proud at having been directed to be guardian angel over the national larder?" "Oh, yes, ever so." "Do you want me to say anything else?" "'Many other changes have taken place inside Burgundy, 'not only in appearance but also in the mode of living." "'Now that all food is stored in once place and meal times can be standardised, 'communal feeding has been introduced under the supervision of the Duke himself." "'It is a great success." "'Continental cooking has so much more flavour." "'Commercial dealings have come to a standstill." "'Behind locked doors, Burgundy's Chancellor of the Exchequer 'is trying to solve his country's unique currency problem 'of too much gold chasing too few opportunities." "'Would you care to say a few words, sir?" "'" "Well, er..." "Pemberton and I have made up our early differences and today in Burgundy we are absolutely unanimous in our resolve to keep our treasure." "'And now a word from Burgundy's Prime Minister," "'Mr Arthur Pemberton.'" "Er... yes, well, I'm happy to say that after early opposition from the Pimlico Council, my long-cherished scheme for an open-air swimming pool is now going ahead with the full approval of the Burgundy Council." "'And so the glory of the resurrected State of Burgundy 'rises like a phoenix from the ash cans." "'But although this idea was popular in the model stage, 'the lunch whistle sounds a louder message 'than hitting the production target." "'Like all other public works in Burgundy, 'this scheme is the result of a scientific democratic analysis of public opinion." "'The great drought caused by London's longest heat wave 'is the one serious threat to Burgundy's independence." "'80-year-old records for lack of rainfall have all gone overboard." "'Water is cut off, but liquor makes do." "'So, Burgundy washes up in a pint of bitter, and makes tea with a kettle of boiling gin." "'In fact, Burgundians are spending their water like money." "'So, this strangest of all sieges continues, 'a matter of principle to the Burgundians, a headache to Whitehall." "'But wherever our sympathies may lie in this cold war in the heat wave, 'whatever the rights and wrongs of the case, 'one cannot but say, "Plucky little Burgundy!"'" "Yippee!" "Yippee!" "That's my mum, that is, on the council!" "On the Council of Burgundy!" "Come here!" "Come here, Monty!" "Come here!" "Hey!" " Any news?" " I've no statement to make." "There are exactly two gallons, three quarts, and one and one eighth pints of water left in the whole of Burgundy." "Well, I move we pass a law against washing." " What, in this kind of weather?" " Really?" "You keep quiet, my girl." "You're not even on this committee." "Well, there it is." "We must either get water, or else." "Hey, we might make a sortie." "Like my ancestor at the siege of Dijon." "The amount of water we could carry back..." "Why don't you use your common sense?" "They've turned off the hydrant at the corner, haven't they?" "Well, go and turn it on again." "How many more weeks are we going to walk round this barbed wire?" "Search me!" "What do they think this Burgundy mob's gonna do'?" "Invade England?" " Oh, good evening, officer." " Good evening, sir." "Oh, it's so hot, one cannot sleep." "You know, it reminds me of a very, very hot night on the Riviera, and there was a lovely brunette and a beautiful blonde." "I'd have laid an even monkey there'd be moonlight." " Just our luck." " Now, quiet as you can, everyone." "But it must be terrible for you, officer, wearing that thick uniform." "Oh, that's all right, miss." "Good luck, Ted." "And lovely eyes." " What was that?" " I didn't hear anything." "Must have been cats or something." "Do you like cats, officer?" "I don't care." "You're not going to do your pools now." " Where do you think you're going?" " You're drunk." "Drunk in charge!" "Quite right, officer." "I'll come quietly." "No, I don't want to be too hard on you." "Be more careful in future." "Hey!" "Hey!" "I say!" "Go on, beat it!" "Will you go away?" " Why don't you arrest me?" " Oh, go on, go away!" "Well, why don't you arrest me?" "This is a free country, isn't it?" "Hey!" "Will you go away?" "Look, haven't you got a home?" "Blimey." "Copper." "I've had the police after me!" "Oh, it's good." "Taken 'em longer than I expected." "Look, they're taking no more chances." "Jackson, to the right." "Round up there." "Who cares?" "Last us a month, this little lot alone." " Mr Pemberton!" " Dad, come quick!" " Would you come to the pub at once?" " What's up?" "Molly tried to wash her hands when... when there was no water." " She left the tap turned on in the bar!" " Strewth!" "Well, it wasn't my fault." "I didn't know you were gonna turn the water on again." "Nobody ever tells me anything!" "It's all right, Moll." "It's no use crying over spilt milk." "Smith's Crisps!" "Four tins, that's all that's left." "Everything else has had it." "I reckon we've all had it this time." "Well, we can't let them starve to death." "We can't not let them starve to death." "I wish we could pass it on to UNO." "Well, why not?" "Maudie, can you get me a line to Lake Success?" "Yes, Success." "Hello?" "Yes, sir?" "What, Burgundy?" "Oh, Burgundy!" "Really'?" "Yes, of course, sir." "We can have a coach standing by for them." "Yes, right you are, sir." "I say, they've had enough of it." "They're ready to pack it up." " Statement in the press?" " Rather." "Fleet Street should do us proud on this." "Jolly rotten shame, that's what I say." "Yeah, starving people out." "Oi, come and have a look at this!" "Five minutes to go." " How do we go?" " By the same coach as the kids." " Oh." " That's that." "Now I know what Napoleon felt like before Waterloo." " After, Dad." " Mum!" " Hey, Dad!" " Here you are, Mum." " Dad!" " Here you are, Mum!" "Give us another one, there's a good boy." "Come on, Benny." "Come on, my lad." " Ah, what do you think of that?" " Been a good boy?" "Had a nice time?" "Here you are, Mum, catch!" "Here you are!" " I would have fetched more for you." " Haven't got any more." "Pity I didn't have more money, else I would have got you some more." " I haven't got no more." " I'm sorry I haven't got no more, Mum." " No more?" " No, I haven't got no more money." "Mummy, here." "Guess what'?" "I saw you on a newsreel the other day." "You didn't half look good." "Oh, go on, Dad." "Let me feed them too." " Oh, go on." "Go on, Dad, let me." " All right, then, go on." "Here, that's our lunch!" "Ho".!" "I'll ring the station." "Oranges!" "Nice sweet oranges!" "Oranges!" "Come on, give us a chance!" "There they are, Pemberton." " Who cares now?" " That's right." "Tell them what they can do with their hearse." " Mr Pemberton." " Hello, Mr Straker." " Your party ready?" " Well, I don't know." "Er... things have changed a bit, haven't they?" "Don't say our journey is entirely fruitless." "Oh, I wouldn't say that." "We're always open to talk-." "But we expected this to be unconditional surrender." "We... we have no powers to negotiate." "Well, sir, I suggest you come back when you have." " This is where we came in." " Oh, I wouldn't worry." "This bit of food won't last them more than a day." "I say no appeasement!" "Britain can't buy gold." "Well, that's not Burgundy's fault, is it?" "Well, if you're not prepared to meet us even halfway..." "We are, buy half the gold." "Ah, my old beauty!" "Up the Express Dairy!" "Milko!" "Milko!" "There she is, the old cow!" "Right on time!" "Bang on time!" "That's the old girl!" "Come on, my little lady!" "There's a sight for sore eyes!" "OK?" "Ladies and gentlemen, I think I have the solution." "I propose that we lend the capital of our treasure to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, while the interest is used for the benefit of the Borough of Pimlico." " A Burgundian loan to Britain." " Ah." "My dear sir!" "My very dear sir!" "A second Montagu Norman!" "Careful, my man!" "You will tear it." "This was the standard presented to the Duke Charles by the 14 burgers of Bruges." "I have assured the museum authorities it shall be returned undamaged." "Real Burgundy!" "You see this vineyard?" "It's ten minutes from where we live." "When you come to Dijon, I'll take you there." "Mr Huggins!" "It's sort of nice being back at the old shop, isn't it?" " Is it?" " Yes." "I'd almost forgotten what it feels like, handling a lobster." "Remember one day you said you'd like to go to Billingsgate?" "Yes?" "Take you there tomorrow." "Oh, Mr Huggins." "I never thought anybody would be pleased to see these things again." "You never know when you're well off till you aren't." "Are you nearly ready?" "Yes, shan't be long!" "Just about!" "They're here!" "Do you think we shall get more than two main dishes?" "I hope so." "Haven't had a decent feed since that last deadlock in Moscow." "And in these last few seconds before your welcome return," "I am to express His Majesty's Government's sincere appreciation for your splendid conduct of internal affairs during your temporary absence from the Kingdom." "Ladies and gentlemen!" "We're back in England!"