SOMBRE ORGAN MUSIC
'And now we reach the climax of
the annual ceremony of the Cenotaph,
'where we remember the men and women
'of the Home Forces and the Commonwealth
'who sacrificed themselves in the wars of this century
'in order that we may be allowed to live.
'If today all those who have died since 1914
'fighting for this country
'were to parade four abreast past the Cenotaph,
'then the procession's head, now at one minute to eleven,
'would be here in Whitehall
'and its tail would stand waiting in Edinburgh.'
MUSIC CONTINUES
'Walking out now, together, the Prime Minister Charles Kendall,
'and leaders of the opposition parties,
each of them bearing a wreath - symbolising, perhaps,
'those moments when the politicians of this country remember the eternal things that they have in common
'rather than day-to-day concerns which may sometimes seem to keep them apart.
'Here on this, the eleventh day of the eleventh month,
'in country churches,
'and by stone memorials on village greens,
'the people of this country are asked to join with its leaders in two minutes' silence
'as they remember the price of freedom.'
BIG BEN CHIMES
CHIME
BANG OF GUN SALUTE
CHEERING
BANG!
ECHO OF BUGLE PLAYING THE LAST POST
VOICES ECHO 'Order! Order!' 'The country reels!'
The country is tired!
This GOVERNMENT is tired! HEAR, HEAR!
It has lived out its life.
It exists purely for one purpose. MURMURING
It exists in order to CONTINUE to exist!
It feels...
It sounds like a lonely drunk wandering through the streets at 4.30 in the morning!
CHEERING AND BARRACKING
Muttering to itself!
Desperately searching, scrabbling...
through the early morning trash cans
for any political ideas it might still be able to lift!
SHOUTING
Order!
Because it falters! Only power itself motivates it now! HEAR, HEAR!
The head has been cut off, but the chicken keeps running!
UPROAR
How long?
Oh, come on! The question, please! >
The Honourable Members ask me for a question. Yes. I will give them a question. Please, please, tell us...
HOW LONG?
I know, I know, you don't have to tell me.
On the contrary, no, it was very good. Perhaps a little long.
Yes, I am aware. You are meant to ask questions. I know!
You had them. I did. And I had Kendrick. He was sweating.
I've noticed it's always on his nose. His nose gets wet. Hello, Michael!
Hello, Gwenda. What was that ruddy chicken...? Will you sign these in here, please? The chicken!
I don't know where that came from! I wasn't even thinking! Andrew...
Liked the trash can. Trash can was good. Couldn't think how to end it. For the PLP meeting. You're late.
Then back to the Commons, tea with a couple of constituents... Actually, I know what happened.
I just realised! I had chicken for lunch! George... The word popped up!
I was hoping we might make an appointment... Walk with me now.
Lindsay wants an urgent meeting. Well, I don't think it's urgent.
Kendrick's hardly going to go before Christmas. You think not? Not if he's got any sense.
The lads at Transport House are quite happy. Derek's happy, the Union Committee as well...
I hardly think we need to discuss it any more!
The election strategy's in pretty good shape...
I think Lindsay's saying that in the six months since she joined us,
she hasn't had ten minutes alone with me! I am saying that. Thursday.
Thursday with Lindsay, polishing my image. Gwenda will find me the time.
Now, where am I going? Just kidding! Don't worry! See you!
'The country reels! The country is tired!'
HELPLESS LAUGHTER What? What are you laughing at?
Nothing! It's all right. I'm not worried. If you'd met him, he happens to be a very nice man.
That may be a problem. People always vote for shits.
Here it is! This is going to be a nightmare! The pound... Not the pound!
The pound is going down again! Shit! Shit! And I suppose it's OUR fault!
So says the new opinion poll. There's a run on the pound!
We know. It's just a City rumour. But it puts us 6 points ahead.
Sorry. Morning. I wanted to watch Malcolm and I haven't got a telly.
- When is he on? - Now. BREATHING reassurance!
Using our script? Absolutely. He can say "Steady". Malcolm is steadiness itself.
And he'll say "fiscal" a lot. He loves saying "fiscal". And he'll wear that suit.
And his MCC tie. George is changing as well. He is? He had a polo neck on. He's on TV?
VOICES AUDIBLE THROUGH DOOR
So! It's a poll. Yup. What a bloody nonsense. Nice suit. Why does anyone take any notice of polls?
We all know we don't trust polls. So. Tell me, what are they saying?
See? It isn't all bad. George, you're 40 minutes adrift already! Lunch with backbenchers...
I have to do that! I rang. The PM can't change HIS schedule. George, Lindsay's here to see you.
No problem. Gwenda will find you a time. Are you all right, Bryden? I need a word for the Party.
Are they restless? You don't say(!) It gets worse as the economic situation gets worse.
The front bench isn't making the impact it should. They're worried we're not listening. We're not.
We can lose the education meeting at 4.30.
Hold on! He's coming up now! He's coming up. Don't go away.
Sorry, can I ask a question? Please. Go ahead. Why is George going to be interviewed?
To back up Malcolm. Saying what? The City has no need to fear us.
Malcolm's already saying that. It needs extra authority. He's sticking to the script.
This is a dangerous moment. The > Tories open up our flank. Of course.
They'll say this fall is just > a foretaste. We must kill that. But Malcolm's doing that.
There's a special problem. This is the Labour Party. We all have to say the same thing.
The point is, we're a government in waiting. We must be responsible.
We must never seem to talk the pound down. It's unpatriotic. Of course. "The pound is falling. Whoopee!"
That's a very bad attitude. I see that. George will tell you,
we all agreed this strategy. Stop the pound falling at all costs.
Why do something which will help the Tories? That's not the point.
What's more, something which will fail? George will speak. The pound won't stop falling. Won't it?
At least, not in my view. You'll just look ineffective.
Why not leave that to Malcolm? I must say, it's an attractive idea...
The odd thing is, all this confirms something I'd already been thinking.
I was planning to show you our new market research... Oh, no. 70% agreed with this statement.
"The Labour Party no longer stands for anything distinctive." Please!
The worst effect is on your own standing. God, is all this about ME?
How frightening. You always seem to be backing the Government. The public ends up thinking you're weak.
George, you know full well we can't get into this.
We discuss this properly or not at all.
No-one in the office is frightened of reopening these questions.
Everyone here will change everything they've done
if that's what you want.
But not change for change's sake. Not because you're bored, George.
Not caprice, George. Not whim.
Thank you, Lindsay.
I'm afraid I have to do this.
And the reason is simple. It's what Malcolm wants.
You see...
politics isn't just about strategy. It's also down to... personal relationships.
And what Malcolm wants, I will do.
Malcolm. George.
You were great. Great stuff. Did you hear the words I used? Yes. I've got them. Your turn.
Yes.
All right, everyone? Good. Then let's go.
Thank God for that! You nearly put him off it. That's up to him.
You're a natural Labour Party member. You just made four enemies in under five minutes.
Even by OUR standards, that is going it some! Thank you.
'The Shadow Chancellor has made that perfectly clear...'
I mean, come on, Lindsay! We're not complete idiots!
Demographic statistical breakdowns(!)
And... It makes me laugh. You say you respect this kind of work,
yet your body language expresses nothing but aggression. Oh, really?
Can you check the diary? The way you handled this document.
Do you know what emotion you're exhibiting towards this document?
Fear. No. Boredom. You don't want to listen. You're too isolated.
George isn't. It's the one thing he isn't. I'm Deputy Leader. I report back to him.
From the country, the Party...
Right. He's usually way ahead of me. His instincts are brilliant.
Then why are you still failing to get him across? You ask me why George is doing this interview.
It does him good, that's the point, to appear close to Malcolm.
Malcolm's proximity is very good news, because Malcolm is,
let us say, unarguably clever. And George isn't?
No, not at all. George is extraordinary. A great party leader.
As great, in his way, as any this party has had.
But... he cannot, in public, always give ideas disciplined expression.
So this office has sought to take this into account.
The great thing with George is, he knows he HAS weaknesses.
He WANTS to improve. We've had to work.
We use certain techniques to... tether the balloon under canvas,
and now we feel they're starting to work. You do.
Yes. He's not fouling up. He's not. We haven't had a major policy alert in six months.
No, he doesn't foul up, but he also doesn't break through.
I can't hear this! I really WON'T hear it!
We're talking about a party which never wins an election! It loses and loses! Time after time!
Can you imagine the pressure on the leader?
As he's brought a thousand conflicting remedies,
by well-meaning people who want to see the party get back! And now...
And now when, thanks to him, the moment is coming. The policies are finally in place. >
Then I think, he has brought us this far,
so maybe the best thing is we all now leave him alone.
Oh, there's a case against George. There's a case against all of us.
The Tory Party make that case every day.
So do its spaniels in the press.
We have no duty to make it.
I feel disloyal even talking like this.
Yes. I agree. But there's an irony here. George IS the man who made victory possible.
But unless we do something quickly, he's the only thing standing in victory's way.
< GEORGE! How was it?
Well, of course, they said, "So you support the Government."
Well...of course, I couldn't say yes...
and also, of course, I... I couldn't say no.
So what did you do? I suppose I flannelled.
Yeah. I, em... What's the word...? Rambled?
Yes! Yes, exactly, Lindsay. I rambled.
As you had said that I would. Excuse me...
My name is Avery. I'm from Special Branch. Special Branch? Oliver?
Don't say nobody's rung you.
PHONE RINGS
The guns have arrived!
Yes, it's Oliver! It's Lindsay!
< No, we had no idea at all!
He's got into a car! Who? Kendrick! Kendrick?
He's going to the Palace! He can't be! It's Thursday!
He says the economy can't be damaged further.
He wants to end the uncertainty. > He's going before Christmas! What does he know that we don't?
The bastard's going down the Mall! Why didn't we KNOW?
Why is he going when he's 60 points behind?
'But first we're going to our political correspondent who is at Westminster.'
George, were you expecting this? Of course not! No! I booked for Hamlet this evening!
Bugger Kendrick! I really wanted to go! He does it to annoy me!
He knows I've been looking forward to it all week. Why didn't we KNOW? Because we weren't watching CEEFAX.
This is good. We get organised. We meet at 4.00 this evening. Andrew, I need you to start...
Well, this is what we've been waiting for. Yes. Yes, it is.
Good luck, Malcolm.
Good luck yourself.
CHEERING
BARRAGE OF QUESTIONS
This, I know, is a brave decision.
It is not one I have taken lightly at all.
We cannot have prosperity, we cannot have sound financial practice
until the danger, however remote, of a possible Labour government
is removed from the back of people's minds.
I will fight this election alongside my wife Carole
because I'm tired of the negativity of listening to an Opposition
which does nothing but run Britain down!
That TIRES me, because this is a great country!
I believe the greatest country on Earth!
So, for my children, and their future children,
as well as my wife Carole...
BURST OF SHOUTING ..let's end the uncertainty now!
SHOUTING RESUMES
How do you like them?
I like them scrambled.
Oh, yes...
Scrambled!
Did you know this was coming? What? The election. So suddenly.
Whatever happens, politicians always say they welcome it.
Everything that happens, we pretend it's what we foresaw.
It's why I dislike us.
The job is inherently undignified.
We have to pretend that we're in control.
I was surprised he could do it, constitutionally.
I mean, go for an election without letting you know.
There IS no constitution. It's one of those words that Kendrick will use. It means, "Doing what I want."
But saying "constitution" makes him feel big.
What's he like?
Do you like him? He's room temperature. He's nothing more.
Andrew said to me, "Don't be deceived by George.
"Underneath, he's as tough as they come."
Ah.
He said to watch you during the Cenotaph ceremony, that you LOVE it.
Yeah. Yeah, I do.
The country once pulled together.
They... They did what had to be done.
You have a lot of friends in the Army?
I think they know I'd pull the trigger.
In a 50-50, I could do the deed and then I'd be able to live with it.
That's something they understand.
I've moved three streets in my whole lifetime.
Remember, I was born in Kennington.
Just three streets away.
Right by the Granada.
In 50 years, I've moved 400 yards.
I'm stubborn. I've denied myself everything.
It would hardly be worth it to have sacrificed everything,
if at the end, you were just going to lose.
And WILL you beat him?
Yeah. Yeah, absolutely.
Yes.
Oh, yes, indeed.
THEY LAUGH GAILY
Andrew! Goodness! You're drenched!
It IS hell out there!
It's murder! And just guess where we've been! No idea. Visiting the Woodentops!
Oh, Lord! I brought eggs as well!
You should have been there! Policy Headquarters. It has a genius for containing its excitement.
This is it! The moment we've been waiting for!
Derek - Secretary of the Party - gold glasses, deep frown.
"Does this mean I can't take my leave?"
Oh, that's not fair. I'm just as bad.
I was going cycling in Ireland. Oh? With some old friends from school.
Girlfriends.
You still have a private life? Yes.
Well, I mean, yes. Of a kind. No, no, I was just joking.
1 thought Malcolm was joining us. Yes, he was going to. But...?
He just rang and he said you should go ahead, it's your show. He doesn't feel he should interfere.
Right, now, shall we take a look at this thing? Fresh from Mt Ararat.
Written in stone! The War Book! whole campaign, mapped out, and cross-indexed. Well done, Andrew.
No, no, no, it was Gwenda. Not really. Well, the two of us!
We work as a team! This is the digest. You'll see, if you look, the plan is like last time.
Each morning's press conference establishes a theme.
Yeah, we can see. Tuesday, Health. Wednesday, Education. Thursday, Health... Friday, Health.
Do we ever do anything else? No. Everything's here. List of key campaigners...
Notes on vocabulary... The words we can't use. I like this one.
"Never use the word 'equality'. The preferred term is 'fairness'.
I'm sorry, you know... I'm just thinking... Looking at it now in cold print. Yes..?
Well, I mean, we are sure, aren't we? It is right?
To get off the economy so soon? > Oh, come on, Mary!
I know.
We have been through this so many times. The economy is always going to be a Tory issue. They own it!
George can speak all he likes on the CARING issues. Health, education...
What he mustn't do is in any way remind people that he wants to be in charge of their MONEY! True.
- So we can't mention the economy? - We MENTION it often.
And then we move off it. There are < no votes for us there. God's SAKE!
We do have to be disciplined! Truth is, the economy's stuffed. Totally buggered.
We've seen the official Treasury figures, unfiddled. Terrifying!
You want to tell everyone. We can't.
All right, I know.
Because the one thing we're sure of, from every survey we do - people run back to Nanny!
The worse things are, the more likely they are to vote Tory!
They only vote Labour when they think they can afford to! Yes. But I don't understand something.
If the economy's in this terrible state... What will we do? Do? Yes.
When we get into power.
By all means. She's got to know sometime.
We will abolish mortgage tax relief
on our first day in Downing Street.
To finance our spending plans.
I see! So THAT'S how you'll do it. Well, this is not something which we can SAY... No!
We did consider announcing it in Shadow Cabinet.
But George ruled against it, as he did against announcing certain other proposals,
which would require, well, too great a struggle to communicate.
In the short term, they'd be vote-losing positions. Yes, I do see the policy.
Talk less and less about fewer and fewer things.
But doesn't this strategy make George...very boring?
It does. Oh, indeed it does! I'm afraid she's got it in one!
And you do it well! Bless you!
It's true! You think I'm not aware of it? If you think it's boring for you, please, try being me!
Lindsay, for goodness' sake, this is my burden. Like Pilgrim, this is the course I am on.
You can never lose sight of the problem that, when this party fell into my hands,
it was torn, disfigured, unelectable, with a matchless capacity for meaningless squabbles.
So changing that culture, changing that disastrous habit of anarchy - CONTROLLING the Party,
getting it to speak with one voice,
this has been my historical legacy - meaning, something I had to do.
Of course, it would have been nice - any leader dreams of this -
to have thrived in circumstances quite other than these.
But a politician can only deal with his inheritance. George...? Ah! Eggs!
To tell the truth, even. That would be wonderful. If words were only their meaning.
Well, then. Words are their effect also.
George, do you know that you're missing out? Ah!
What a life! And the Horlicks! It's one of those two o'clock meals. Do you remember the last time?
Where was it? Preston. At 4.30, totally exhausted... Andrew fell asleep!
I knew you'd say that. I ate all his beans! Every one of them! I woke up... No beans!
Those beans, I'd say, were the best in my life.
THEY ALL BURST OUT LAUGHING
Eat! Eat!
You see... In Opposition, you're always waiting.
You go into politics to get something done, and in Opposition, you do precisely nothing.
But for these three weeks, at least, we EXIST.
Yes, that's right!
A toast. To Pilgrim. Hm! To Pilgrim! ALL: To Pilgrim!
To Pilgrim. May he win through.
ADDRESSING CROWD: 'The Labour Party is the party of the future...
'It is the only political party committed to the idea of a rebirth in Britain...'
BABBLE OF QUESTIONS
'..if you doubt Labour's ability to transform the fortunes of this country, let me say...
'we have the ideas! We...'
'..is the party of the future.'
Clear a path, please! Thank you!
'..to tell you local people why it is imperative that you vote Labour!'
And these people run Europe. Good luck, George.
George, there you are! Thank goodness! I told you he'd be here!
Of course. I brought you water. I brought soup. Orange juice? Marvellous.
I'll have some of each. Evening. These are the questions that are bound to come up.
Kendrick's attack on you... Did you see Kendrick? During his speech?
He looked at his watch! He'd even lost his OWN attention!
George, we need a full rehearsal of each of these questions. No problem. Now? In a minute, if I have time.
So, what's the news? It's good.
It's good. It isn't bad...
No, really, it's fine. It's, eh... It's complex.
I see. Well, that's very helpful. LAUGHTER
You know. It's too close to call. They're polls. Polls are fallible.
It'll be clearer in a few days. Well, the road is good.
< The road is really wonderful.
We arrive in some distant town, we meet one hundred people and we stay for one hour.
< By nightfall, one THOUSAND people are boasting that they met George.
That's the effect he has. ..Well, it's true!
They certainly won't vote for us if they read the papers. All right, Oliver. You want a word.
What's going on? George... I just don't like the whole bloody thing.
What d'you mean? Look, it's just... You know everyone's so happy, saying the campaign's going well.
No major upsets, no Pearl Harbor, that kind of thing...
But wars aren't going well when nothing is happening. It's so quiet, you mean?
Also... I don't like this programme. (I smell a set-up, and that's what's shitting me.)
(I tried to get a sight of Linus Frank's clipboard. One PA often gives us a clue.)
Eh, Mr Jones...?
There's no bloody paperwork! There's no indication of where Frank's heading at all.
Also... What? Oh... Look, George, I'm not saying anything. I'm just saying...watch it, that's all.
He's ready. Linus Frank's ready. He's on the Scarsdale. Scarsdale?
What the hell does that mean? It's a diet. Flatter him!
George! How are you, Lino? What a pleasure to welcome you back on my little show! My producer, Peter.
Goodness! Are you losing weight? Well, I am, a little. You noticed?
Linus, please! How could I not? Look, everyone!
I wouldn't have known it was you! The funny thing is... You know who helped me? No.
I got a good tip from the Queen. Really? The Queen, eh?
She said to me, "In my job, the secret is, never eat pudding."
Never eat pudding. Oh... Good tip. Interesting.
And it's, well... It's completely transformed me. Yes...
Well, it certainly works for HER! She's looking good!
She is, God bless her.
Now, you know the format? Yeah, you're doing all three of us. Yeah. Kendrick was last week. I missed it.
Really? That's a shame. You know, Kendrick is good... at one-to-one interviews.
You have to admit, just as a pro...
I'm an old pro myself. This man is pretty terrific. I suspect, secretly, you think that as well.
No. No, I don't, actually.
I think he's hopeless. He's also dishonest. That's what I don't like.
< That makes me sad. He was terribly nice about you.
I'm sure. He can afford to be.
Oh, do you think it's just that?
What do YOU think it is?
I don't know, George...really.
Isn't it more a difference of style?
< One minute, please, studio! Ah! Where am I going?
Don't rise to it, George! You know he's winding you up! Of course. We've got to get him on.
Don't show anger. Anger makes you look weak. Show anger and HE wins, George.
I've got that. Good luck, George. Good luck!
Coming down... > George!
The cards! We didn't do the cards!
OPENING MUSIC
Here we go.
'Good evening and welcome.
'Tonight, live from the BBC studios,
'we present the second in our series of election programmes...'
'There's a feeling, perhaps, that you've changed policy so often,
'no-one knows where your party stands.
'Yes, I've heard that... You believed in nuclear disarmament,
'you believed in nationalisation, now you don't.
'You must see the problem for the electorate
'in trusting your party.'
We can't win on this. When the Tories change policies, it's called "flexibility".
When we do it, it's "vacillation" and people say we're weak. But this is not just to do with your party.
No, the whole impression of... weakness, intellectual flabbiness, inevitably centres on YOU.
I'm not sure that's true. There is, as you know, a widespread impression
that you simply aren't up to the job.
That's something the press likes to pretend. Ah, the press.
'This obsession of yours with the press.'
I've only mentioned it once. It gives the impression you're somewhat thin-skinned.
I'm simply voicing a popular concern.
There is a popular opinion that Labour has chosen the wrong man.
Your Shadow Chancellor. Polls show that if Mr Price were party leader, you'd be coasting to an 80-seat win.
If I may, I came here to talk about policies. Exciting policies we have. REAL issues.
Is the leadership not an issue as well?
What can I say? All Labour leaders are subject to attack. Is this true?
Hugh Gaitskell? He did what Fleet Street required. He died young.
'Fleet Street again? This is a legitimate question.'
Can Britain be ruled by a man with a grudge?
Now, look... Let me... Let's change the subject entirely, as you say.
The policies themselves. Let's look at...mortgage tax relief.
Yes. Yes, of course.
Your manifesto mentions no plan to abolish it. We have none.
I understand that until recently you intended to abolish it. Abolish it?
'No, that's not true. I've been told that the plans were there, in the draft manifesto.
'Then at the last minute, they were removed. I don't think so. On November the 14th...'
on your instructions, a whole paragraph was specifically removed.
No. You mean you're denying it? Did you or did you not take this paragraph out?
I did not.
Really?
That's not what I've been told.
Are you calling me a liar?
I'm calling you nothing.
'That is for the public to decide.'
CLOSING MUSIC
FLOOR MANAGER: Thank you very much indeed.
Walk me away. Just walk me away. All right, George. What the hell is going on? Somebody told him!
George, Mr Frank would like to say goodnight to you. Agh! George! You're not making this worse!
Calm down! The phones are ringing out there! What the hell's going on?
You've handed them their issue. "Labour's Secret Plan to Raise Taxes." I know that!
"Are you calling me a liar?" They're all going to go for you! He sets the trap!
And you walk right in! Oliver... I gave you the cards!
It was on the cards! "Watch for mortgage tax relief!"
All right! But you're too vain to do your bloody homework!
You're listening to Gwenda and Mary!
< All these...women surrounding you! Telling you how marvellous you are!
Giggling with girls who are in love with you is not the bloody job, you idiot!
Come on, George! George! George! Get off him!
< I wanted to talk to you, remember?
I took you aside.
But you'd made a rule. You gave us a warning.
"Never speak ill of Malcolm Pryce."
MALCOLM?
Sure. Linus had lunch with him.
You're not saying Malcolm did it deliberately? Out of the question.
No, no. George is right. I'm sure he wasn't out to betray us on purpose.
Malcolm's far too disloyal to be OPENLY disloyal. But he does have a weakness,
and it is one which is common among Labour politicians.
He'll say ANYTHING if you give him a posh lunch.
All right. We can retrieve this. It's something I should have done a long time ago. Get hold of Malcolm.
I need to see him. I'm seeing him whatever!
Goodnight, George!
What happened in there, I mean between us. It didn't happen.
Not even in your memoirs. All right?
BACKGROUND MUSIC TAKES OVER
George!
My goodness.
What on earth are you doing here?
You'd better tell me what's going on.
I need to talk.
Oh, yes. Of course.
No problem.
I know there are rumours. People in your own office, trying to stick the Linus Frank business on me.
I did lunch with Frank, but I'm telling you, George, we stuck to deep background.
The timing was just a coincidence.
Good. Then the matter's cleared up.
What do you mean?
Now we must look to the future. The last two days have been pretty tough. I'm sure.
It's obvious. If we're to make progress...
this is the moment I turn to my friends.
Ah... I see.
In the past, Malcolm,
you and I, we've joked about it.
In private, the Tories all know that Kendrick is a fool, yet the great thing is...
they never say so.
For them, it's the great political imperative: you must always talk the leadership up.
We have tried, George. Have you? In every interview, I mention your name.
I always say... "This man is our leader."
That is hardly effusive. Don't you also have to say I lead you quite well?
I think I do. I don't think you can lay these things on too thick. Don't you? I do.
We've reached the stage where thick is how I want it.
From now on, I want it as THICK...
as you can. Come on! There's an intelligent electorate out there.
If I suddenly start screaming, "George Jones is a genius", won't they find it a bit odd?
Odd? Because you so obviously don't actually believe it? Oh, come on now, George... No, no.
I think what is far more conspicuous is when, as recently, you say nothing at all.
Ah, yes.
I see. I begin to see the point of this visit.
Of course. You need your colleagues' real loyalty,
and suddenly you find you've left it too late. Have I?
You know, this is something we're all pretty tired of.
When you yourself mess something up, you don't stop and think. You don't examine what's gone wrong.
Oh, no. The first thing you do is start issuing appeals to party discipline,
as if it wasn't all your fault. I sometimes wonder...
does it never occur to you...? Your problems with party management.
They do have a reason.
Do you never ask yourself just what that reason might be? No. Perhaps you might tell me.
Oh, I'm not saying anything. No. Really. We've spent YEARS not having this talk.
Finally people don't follow you because they know...
you can't cut it.
Well, thank you, Malcolm. That's very clear.
When I look back, I can't count the occasions...
And Charles Kendrick is not a brilliant man!
We walk in the Chamber, the whole parliamentary party is lined up,
waiting for you to move in and deliver the one hammer blow that would rock this Government!
And instead we watch you get up, launch in...and then fumble!
An oratorical free-fall!
The Oxford English Dictionary on speed!
Every bloody time, you funk it! Well? Isn't that nearer the truth of this thing?
That's the MYTH, of course! It's been carefully nurtured in the papers, day after day!
But I don't expect to hear it from my own Shadow Chancellor!
I've BEEN there! I've SEEN you!
You see, I view my problems quite differently. The truth is...
I've embarked on something uniquely difficult. I am persuading this party it has to grow up!
I'm shutting down the fantasy factory.
I'm telling this party it has to get real, it has to get serious, or else it will remain unelectable.
Do you think the party doesn't hate me for that?
I sometimes watch them. They're like naughty schoolboys.
They know, in their heart, what has to be done,
but they're going to make the person that brings the chain suffer.
Because there isn't a project more difficult than getting people to abandon their dreams.
In this endeavour, I demand total obedience. Like all Labour leaders, I don't quake before the enemy.
It's friendly fire that destroys you. We all go down to shots from behind.
All right, George. I'll tell you.
The fact is, I like you.
I've always liked you. You're a very decent man.
But for some time now, the truth is, we've carried you.
Yes. And I think you know that, as well.
Perhaps you've realised, before this election,
a group of us... Well, it will hardly surprise you. We met to decide.
Yes. This party, of which you seem today so contemptuous... These people still love you.
They said, "George DESERVES this. He deserves one more shot at this thing."
If you ask me, I would say our reasons were honourable.
The Tories get rid of their leaders when it's clear they might not win. We hold on to ours.
I call it decency. Perhaps YOU feel it's pleasure in watching them lose.
Malcolm... All right, I'll do what you ask of me.
I'll go round the country and tell everyone that you're a very fine man.
It isn't the party. It's not that the party don't believe in you, you know.
I say this in love.
I smell that you don't believe in yourself.
DOOR CLOSES SOFTLY
'The Labour Party was tonight refusing to react
'to a further collapse in their position in the polls.
'A Party spokesman said that Labour was running a smooth campaign and was pleased with their progress...'
TV OFF
Bryden, it's Lindsay.
DOOR OPENS
Bryden! Good evening. I thought you were out on the road.
I'm just off to see George with the draft of this speech. Good.
Are you seeing him? I hope so. I just got a call.
What's going on here? Will somebody tell me? I wanted a meeting. An Emergency Session. YOU...?
Andrew, we have to. We have to do something.
All right. This is at YOUR initiative. I have to ask you. Does Oliver know?
You haven't called Oliver?
Oliver is absent at my suggestion. If you want to argue, argue with me.
He's got ten minutes. I'll allow you ten minutes. Then he MUST go to bed! It doesn't make sense.
It makes no sense to me. Everywhere I go, I see people cheering. They are cheering.
But isn't this the problem we have to address? This is wrong, George. We have to keep to our structure.
Oliver coordinates policy. Proper meetings...
So Lindsay can't even speak? No... Andrew, this isn't Soviet Russia.
Scotch. Lindsay, please. Go ahead.
You see, George, from the beginning I've had a real problem.
The first time I met you, I thought,
here's this EXTRAORDINARY man. Funny, articulate...
yet who, for some reason, we can't get across.
So the first thing I did was begin to look around you.
I began to talk to your team.
And it was... like they'd forgotten.
They'd lost sight of who you really are.
Everything they said, it was as if it was to protect you. I developed that protective mentality myself.
You were like a...hospital patient. Like the others, I started to behave like a nurse!
Now, that isn't true. I think it is, Andrew.
That night in the studio, I watched you. I realised - this man is trapped.
Underneath, he is angry. He's bloody furious.
Because he can only convey one message to the nation: "God, I hope I don't drop a bollock tonight!"
Lindsay... The public KNOW he's been programmed!
They only see one thing when they look at him - six rolls of sticky tape wrapped round his mouth!
That's not true! What's wrong with us? Are we so cynical, so arrogant,
that we truly imagine the public can't tell?
There is good reason to be careful. The strategy is plain. The strategy is ridiculous.
Keep George in a box and meanwhile try to out-Tory the Tories.
But, Andrew, you seem to have forgotten something.
We're not bloody Tories and so it's a game at which we can't win. We have to do this! We have to!
Nobody trusts us to manage the economy so we have to convince them we're good managers now!
And if that means we end up boring, OK, I'll live with that!
Do we really throw this out because one person's wobbling?
With eight days to go? It's this, this obsession with our enemy that's been our madness.
George became leader because of a quality he had. That quality came from his passion!
Where is that passion tonight? We have a choice, George. We have to take note of what Lindsay's saying.
Well, you'd better tell me what you think that means.
On Monday night, you have the big rally.
Andrew's preparing your speech. What he writes you can have in your pocket so it's there.
Like a safety net.
What we want is to hear the George we once knew.
All your first speeches - I often heard you. You wrote nothing down.
Yeah.
Yeah, my father... My own father taught me.
Speak. Just speak from the heart.
And you did. Without notes.
Like a Quaker. I simply stood up...
And when I stood up... the words always came.
Then people said to me, "Now that you're the leader,
"everything you say must be written down."
From then on...
George, why can't you go back? Speak. Speak! That's your talent.
Get up and say what you want said without thinking. Just say it.
The Bible, and Shakespeare... These were your texts.
Not the public sector borrowing requirement and all that bollocks...
People don't know. But they know injustice, and they see it in their own lives.
There's a whole group of people, they've been abandoned.
Nobody speaks for them, in their language, because no-one's willing to talk about hope.
People are waiting to hear from you. That's the feeling out there.
They want to see you go for it. They want you to take the whole rotten thing on! That's what they want!
Not bloody Economics class, which we all know you don't understand! Well, thank you, Bryden.
You come... You arrive.
Like temptation with the impossible message.
You come and tell me, "Just be yourself, George."
APPLAUSE
I'm asked a lot... A lot of people ask me...
"What are your roots?
"What is your root reason for being a socialist?
"And what does socialism mean to you now?"
We have, in this country, I say,
one party whose whole interest is in giving still more to those who already have.
To those that have shall more be given.
I can never get over the intellectual disgrace of that idea!
CHEERING
In our own lifetime,
a whole generation has been effectively abandoned and dispossessed.
They have been told to fend for themselves!
Comrades, my socialism is the socialism that says,
"These people MUST NOT be let go!"
CHEERING
My socialism is...
It is concrete.
It is real.
It is an enabling philosophy.
It is something by which... something gets done!
That is what it is and that is what it will be!
Having said that...
so let me please now, to give you the idea, let me say...
TAPPING HIS CHEST:
It is there! It is in me!
It is the core! And at the core, you will find this belief! This belief!
I will not let ONE of you down!
I will not!
SPATTER OF APPLAUSE
(George...)
MURMURING, A WOLF-WHISTLE
So...
Come on, George!
Come on!
APPLAUSE
Let me... Now...
Let me continue.
I have here...the words in my pocket... I have them.
Let me read you the words I came here to say!
CHEERING
Get me a drink! All right. Please! Get me a drink! Live on TV, just for a moment we lost you.
The Mayor of Manchester... You're not ALLOWED to say anything!
How can I say what I feel in my heart?
GWENDA FENDS OFF QUESTIONS: He is coming.
All those hours in hotel rooms.
Working on speeches, drafting, polishing, changing every word...
And all you're doing is covering up what you know in your heart, what REALLY happened!
George... You once had the words and now you don't.
George, I'm sorry. There's whole bunches of people... I thought of all the things I truly care about.
Northern Ireland! Well, what can you say? You can't say what you think! Not publicly!
The whole bloody country's been bleeding for years...! I know.
"It's above politics!" That's what we say!
Well, what kind of politics is it which says certain things are too important to be spoken of?
We know this, George... Well, what are we left with? All the other stuff is a game!
Defence. Abandoning nuclear weapons, which everyone knows we should do.
But, of course, if I say it, that's 50,000 jobs. Real people's livelihoods!
George...
Could I have a word...? > I can't speak on the economy.
We found that already. Say anything truthful, the whole gaffe is blown!
I can't say anything! I can't say I'm not feeling well, or I'm angry, or I'm impatient...
I can't even say the Welsh drive me mad! Thanks, George.
And the Royal bloody Family...
This country is spavined with ancestor-worship!
This country will never, can never profit until it escapes from its past!
Why can't I say that?
You tell me! What is this? Is this my fault or is it the public's?
Why can't I speak of what I believe?
THERE IS A LIST! I do have to tell you, George!
There is a list! A whole queue of people out there! They number a hundred. They all need to see you!
You have to tell them it's all going well! Well, it IS! It's all going WONDERFULLY!
Everything is going absolutely GREAT,
within the confines of what I MAY say to them!
I am bloody well doing as well as I can! Yes, you are.
You are making an impact. He's doing very well. Yes, he is.
But I'm not allowed to SAY ANYTHING!
Apart from that, I'm doing fine.
Good! Right. Right. Good.
Right, then, everyone. We get back to it.
Right. Open the doors. We continue. I'm sorry... No fag, George.
Right. Open the doors, and get back to work!
BABBLE OF GREETINGS Nice to see you! Nice to see you!
Hello, George! Hello! Good to see you!
Good to see you! Hello! I'm sorry I was so long! I didn't realise...
Thank you, Lindsay. Put him back in the box.
'It is now 9.00 exactly. In one hour, the polls will be closing
'on one of the most bitter and keenly fought elections of modern times.
'The British electorate has been participating in what HG Wells called "democracy ceremonial".
'Its feast. Its great function. A General Election.'
GENERAL EXCITED CHATTER
George? He's over there.
It's no, isn't it?
It isn't there.
That's what I suspected.
I suspected the other thing too.
I suspected both things.
Winning and losing. Equally.
By how many?
Twenty or thirty, I think. I mean, who knows? Only the exit polls.
But it's true. It's not a good omen.
Do you know what I hate? I hate what they'll do to you.
They'll all start to say you were a great man.
"Oh, what a great man!" they'll say.
Now the threat's over, they'll crown you with praise.
Oliver...
I'm sorry. I felt very badly about what happened between us. Oh, forget it.
I don't think we'll ever know what would have happened if we'd stuck together
and done things differently.
What would have happened? We would have won.
Well...
We both have a secret, George. We could have won this. It was there for the winning.
And I'll never forgive us if we've thrown it away.
I've heard you so often.
In a 50-50, you say, you can pull the trigger.
That's what you say. But you CAN'T.
Face it. When it comes to it, you DON'T have the nerve.
You should have sacked Malcolm.
I could have moved against him.
But if I had, I'd have handed him a weapon. You should have done it.
You say that. It's easy for you. But I have to think of something else - the Party.
The PARTY? My God! And where have we landed the party tonight? That isn't it, finally!
Malcolm is the next leader. I have to hand him the party in good order. Good order? Good order?
And now what? Now this man will inherit.
You face that without wanting to seize him by the throat? Yes, I do.
Oh, I can just see it. You're going to support him. I know you, George. You will offer him support.
You call this strength? It's the most miserable weakness!
You will give him a loyalty he never gave you! I have to, yes, because I believe in the Party! Oh...!
It's all we have.
It's the only instrument that exists in this country for changing people's lives for the good.
If I'd split the Party in two, had screaming headlines, "Labour's Leading Figures Fall Out!" My God!
What vanity! What self-indulgence! The very self-indulgence I condemn in everyone else!
It'll be my decision. I'll live with it. And I'll live with what you think of me too.
Well, I'll tell you.
I know what will happen. Tomorrow morning, you will appear.
You will stand on those steps, and that well-known eloquence,
which has so far eluded you,
as if by magic... Oh, I can just hear it!
It will all come flooding back.
Oh, yes. This is the occasion. This is the one you're going to get right.
Your finest hour. Oh, never happier than fighting Dunkirk!
Well, you must know, as you're standing there, as you look at all those Party workers who love you,
tears in their eyes, weeping for how moving you are,
please remember there'll be one man out there who isn't bloody crying!
You'll be doing the thing Labour leaders are best at!
Oh, yes, George! You'll be conceding defeat!
I won't bloody cry!
Why should I?
You, George, you were the first Labour leader. A new philosophy.
Power at all costs. Power before everything.
Power is the only thing that counts.
And you didn't...get it.
So what does that leave you with?
It leaves me with not very much.
George...?
Are you all right?
Yes.
I'm sorry to bother you. It's just...
I'm sorry. We do need a statement. I... I've drawn something up.
The gist is, you see, they have no moral mandate, even if they do win the seats.
That's what we're saying. Because... over half the people didn't vote. SHE STARTS TO CRY
Quite.
It's...essential. It's...absolutely...essential.
It's... Now, Mary... It's vital.
All Labour candidates...
..must say the same thing.
< George?
George...?
< We've made the arrangements.
We think you'll concede at about four o'clock.
< The car is standing by. Good.
As soon as you have your own result.
Is that yours?
I'm sorry?
Gonna pick that cup off the floor?
You're no-one special, you know. Just because you are who you are. No. I know.
You can still say thank you.
Yes. Thank you.
Makes no difference to me.
Perhaps we should go.
Yeah, well... I'm ready.
D'you know what I think?
Let's all be Tories.
They always win. So what's the point of having other parties?
Whereas, you know, if we join their party,
I think we could DO something.
I'm beginning to think it's our best chance. Why not?
Let's join the Tory Party.
And then let's all fuck it up.
CHEERING
SINGING "FOR HE'S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW"
I'd like to say... how happy this moment makes me.
The nightmare of a Labour government has now receded,
and Britain, thank goodness - this distraction over -
can settle down and get back to work!
I... I would like to add a word about my opponent,
for whom this result is a personal tragedy, of course.
We have had our differences.
But I know, in essence, he is a decent and honourable man.
I have to say...news has only today reached me, informing us
of just how grave the economic situation is.
Perhaps graver than we have recently thought.
That means we shall be busy even in what we now know may be difficult times ahead.
Meanwhile...
Thank you for your confidence.
Merry Christmas!
Goodnight! Merry Christmas!