The Hardacres (2024) s01e02 Episode Script

1
Here he comes,
the finest Irishman in Yorkshire.
SAM: Albie!
Man down!
When can I go back to work?
You may keep the hand, Mr Hardacre.
Whether you're able to use it again
is another matter.
I believe you're looking for help.
Is this a joke?
Please, we really need the work.
What if we went into something
for ourselves?
CALLUM: You've obviously quite
a knack for business.
THEY SHOUT,
LAUGH
MA: Which one of these asylums
are you moving us into?
Who on Earth do you think you are?!
We're the Hardacres.
You can call me ma'am.
MARY: Mm.
I had a lovely dream.
I dreamt that I lived
in the most beautiful house
I'd ever seen
Hm?
..and I was married
to a very fine gentleman.
Oh, aye?
Handsome, was he?
Very.
But he kept wanting to do
unspeakable things to me.
SHE GIGGLES
I've come to light the fire, sir.
Aye, crack on, love.
THEY LAUGH
Ssh!
Wakey-wakey, sleeping beauty.
What are you doing? Get out.
Did you get scared,
sleeping all on your own?
Best sleep I've had,
not having to listen to you two
farting and snoring all night.
Are you coming down for breakfast?
Go away.
It's early.
Oh, come on, Harry.
COCKEREL CROWS
I want to have a look around!
LIZA GASPS
Come on!
I'm coming as fast as I can.
I'm not used to a house this big.
SHE GASPS
HARP TRILLS
Oh, my.
SOFTLY: Hey.
They must be the previous owners.
Do you think the maid ever had
a flash of his bare backside?
THEY GIGGLE
That is Sir William Cavendish IV.
The hall belonged to his family
for nearly 200 years.
And what happened to them?
Tuberculosis.
The heir lives in India
and has no use for the estate,
so an agent was instructed to find
new owners as quickly as possible.
And here we are.
And here you are.
If I may have a moment,
Mrs Hardacre.
We need to discuss how things
are going to run.
What things?
It is my job to follow
your instruction, ma'am.
What time would you like
the fires lit,
the rooms aired,
the bell rung for dinner?
Decisions must be made on linens,
china, glassware, the week's menu.
There's the stocking of
the wine cellar, larder and pantry.
And that's before we get
onto the housekeeping ledgers,
the shopping and the laundry.
Hm.
Well, perhaps we can discuss that
after breakfast?
As you wish, ma'am.
DOOR SHUTS
This is our home now.
It is.
And from now on,
we're people who matter.
And no-one can ever treat us
like dirt
or make us feel like we're nothing
ever again.
Yeah. Home sweet home.
Oh, yeah. I see you two
have made yourselves comfortable.
Dad!
So, Beesley, what have we got here?
Sir. We have eggs, boiled,
scrambled, poached, fried.
Sausages, bacon, kidneys, kippers,
fried herring
I hope that's Hardacre herring.
Would you like me to find out, sir?
LAUGHING: I'm only kidding you, man.
And call me Sam.
Yes, sir.
Finally decided to get up,
lazy arse?
I'll take one of everything.
A gentleman usually serves himself
at breakfast, sir.
LIZA LAUGHS
He is no gentleman.
Shut it, you.
Leave him alone.
Enough with your bickering.
Has, erm, anyone seen Ma?
I'll have some more tea and toast
and another one of them kippers.
Mm.
SHE LAUGHS
LIZA BURPS
ALL TITTER
Mrs Dryden would like to discuss
the running of the house
after breakfast.
Does anyone want to come?
Sorry. I need to go to the fish
auction, check on the shops.
You're one of the richest men
in the county.
Why have dogs and bite yourself?
We don't have to be up at the crack
of dawn to hump fish any more.
I know we don't have to,
but I like going to the auction.
Oof. You like hanging round
the docks, more like.
Hey, the shops can't manage
themselves. I know.
We can figure out
how that's gonna work.
But you're a gentleman now, and
gentlemen don't work in fish shops.
I'm a working man.
I can't sit around the house all day
doing nothing.
Why not?
That's exactly what I'm planning.
Yeah, I'm not saying do nothing.
But maybe there's something else
more befitting. Like what?
Herring is all I know.
Well, Mr Saunders is coming by
this morning.
Why don't you speak to him?
And maybe get more involved
in the financial side of things?
Suppose a conversation can't hurt.
Thank you.
Listen.
This is a fresh start for all of us.
Right?
And, Joe, you can join your father.
You what?
You heard.
LIZA AND HARRY LAUGH
CALLUM: Then the earnings per share
can be
boosted by diverse asset allocation,
which brings us
to bond market trading.
I'd be happy to show you both
how the stock market works,
walk you through fixed
and variable income securities,
corporate and government bonds, a
I
Yeah, I promise it's a lot more
exciting than it sounds.
And the Hardacre portfolio
does a lot of good,
helping new companies get up
on their feet.
Here.
Giving people a start.
I like that.
So, I get into this
and away from the fish.
Stepping back from the day-to-day
operation is a big move, though.
I can't hand the reins over
to just anyone.
So how about it, Callum?
How do you fancy being the manager
of Hardacre Herring?
Me?
You already know the finances
and the set-up.
You're more than able for it.
And, most importantly, we trust you.
It would be nice to have more
of a hands-on role.
Then it's settled.
You bring Joe and me in
on the stocks and shares,
I'll give you the lay of the land
in the old herring game.
FOOTSTEPS APPROACH
KNOCK AT DOOR
Enter.
If you require me, ma'am,
you only have to ring the bell.
It isn't customary for the lady
of the house to come below stairs.
Oh. Well, I was just passing.
Anyway, you wanted to go
over the household ledgers?
Running a house this size
is no small matter.
If you're happy for me
to continue as is,
that might be for the best.
Well, I'm sure there's no harm in me
casting my eye over a few things.
So, these are the food supplies
for a month?
A week.
A week?
There's the provisional breakfast,
the sit-down breakfast,
elevenses, luncheon,
afternoon tea
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
We don't need to be eating
seven times a day, love.
No. We need something much simpler.
JOHN: You all right, Sam?
Hey, John.
Looks like a good haul there, Fred.
Must be a two-tonner.
There speaks a man
who knows his herring.
Didn't expect to see you today.
I thought you'd be busy, settling
into that fancy new house of yours?
Any chance to see you, Lena,
you know that. Mm.
You'll be seeing a bit less of me
after today, though.
I'm taking a step back
from the shops,
so I won't be coming
to the auction as much.
Oh, aye. Life of leisure, is it?
Not paying you lot to chinwag.
Sorry, Mr Shaw.
My fault, I distracted them.
Can't keep away, can you, Hardacre?
If I find your quota's down,
I'll be docking you a day's pay!
That's a bit harsh.
It's nowt to do with you.
You don't have to put up with him,
you know.
Easy for you to say.
You don't have to work for him
any more.
I thought he might afford me
a little more respect
now I'm overseer.
Who was I kidding?
You know I can always find you a job
in one of the shops.
I'm the only thing standing
between Shaw and the rest of these.
You got work for a hundred odd
in your shop?
I appreciate the offer.
We're not your problem any more.
Stop worrying about us.
Go and enjoy your new house.
I'll see you around.
WORKER: Put your back into it.
MARY SIGHS
Oh, Liza,
what do you think of these, love?
MARY TUTS
Life of a lady at your fingertips,
and you wanna spend your time
playing cards with this old woman?
Life of a lady.
What does that even mean?
It means beautiful dresses,
elegant balls
HUSHED VOICE: ..dashing men.
They'll be dashing, all right (!)
Away from Liza.
Oi!
OTHERS LAUGH
What do I care about stupid dresses
and boring dances with boring men?
Do you know, I would have given my
eye teeth for all that at your age.
Maybe it's that you've had it easier
than I ever did.
I know what it's like to be poor.
There's poor and there's poor.
You have no idea how hard it was
when I were young.
Oh, you survived.
You've done all right for yourself.
And I believe that leaves you
seven points down.
Oh, you cheating old crone.
How you finding the stocks
and shares?
How are YOU finding the stocks
and shares?
Well, they're certainly different.
I don't mind it.
It's not as if we're doing
any real graft, is it?
Buy a bit of this company,
sell a bit of that one.
It's basically money for nothing.
VOICE: Maharani!
Maharani!
Hey, I say,
you haven't seen a Russian Wolfhound
passing through here, have you?
About this big, highly-strung?
Can't say that we have, now.
Oh, damn it. It's my wife's dog.
And if I go home without the beast,
it'll be me sleeping in the kennel.
THEY LAUGH
You must be the new chap.
Marquess of York,
Lord George Fitzherbert.
I live in the next estate,
Malham Manor.
Sam Hardacre. Pleasure to meet you.
This is my eldest, Joe.
Oh, hello.
Hello.
Maharani!
Why don't you come up to the house
and we'll see
if anybody up there's seen
your hound?
Wouldn't want to see you in trouble
with the wife now, would we? Ah.
No, we certainly would not.
All right.
That would be terrific help.
Terrific.
LIZA: Tinny!
Tinny!
SHE WHISTLES
When did you last see him?
Ah, I took him to do his business
in the woods
and the little bugger
shot off after something.
MEN LAUGH
Hey, hey.
Lord Fitzherbert,
this is my daughter, Liza.
Ah. And, er, my mother-in-law
I go by Ma.
Enchante.
He's lost his dog.
What kind is it?
A Borzoi.
A what?
A Russian Wolfhound.
Sold to me on the understanding that
it would make a very fine gun dog.
HE CHUCKLES
But she panics
at the sound of the shot.
MEN CHUCKLE
Women, eh?
Oh.
She's a bitch?
Yeah.
Were you shooting in the woods?
Yes.
Right, leave it with us. Come on.
How very kind.
Very.
Come on in.
Mary?
Hm?
This is our new neighbour.
Lord George Fitzherbert.
This is my wife, Mary.
Ah, Lord Fitzherbert.
Charmed, Mrs Hardacre.
Mwah.
Oh.
And our youngest, Harry.
Hello.
Oh, gosh, what happened to you?
I were born this way.
Doesn't hold him back, though,
does it, son?
Oh, well, good for you.
Why, Mrs Dryden.
How lovely to see you.
Lord Fitzherbert.
May we offer you some refreshment?
Well, I dare say I've timed my visit
perfectly for afternoon tea.
I'm afraid we don't take afternoon
tea in this house any more.
Really? Oh, gosh.
Well, in that case,
I'll make do with a tot of Madeira.
HE LAUGHS
Please.
Oh, thank you.
Er, so, tell me, young man,
why are you reading of an afternoon
and not at school?
Oh, well, we're actually looking
for a new school for Harry.
Well, the only place worth a damn
in Yorkshire
is Barlow's boarding school.
SPEAKS LATIN: "Ut portet nomen
meum coram gentibus."
THEY LAUGH
Say again?
It's the Barlow's motto.
"Carry my name to the people."
But boarding school, though.
Didn't you miss your family?
Oh, not a jot. No. In fact
Barlow's "three Rs"
made me the man I am today.
"Roughhousing, rowing
and ruddy good chaps."
That sounds lively.
It sounds brilliant.
If that hound is in heat,
Tinny'll be at her
like a rat up a drain pipe.
There they are.
He'd never get up there.
MA LAUGHS
You've a lot to learn about men,
Liza girl.
Grab that hound.
Come here.
TINNY BARKS,
PISTOL LOADS
Turn round.
Slowly.
This is private land.
You're trespassing.
Says who?
Victor Ward.
Head groundskeeper on this estate.
I'm permitted to shoot poachers.
Only if we're armed.
Which, as you can see, we are not.
You're very familiar with the law.
I'm also very familiar with guns.
And what you're holding there
is a 12-gauge double-barrelled
shotgun.
Oh, aye. What of it?
Well, I hope you're confident
of your aim.
Cos in the time it'll take you
to cock that second barrel,
my Tinny here
will have ripped out your throat.
That's big talk for a small dog.
Size is overrated.
Being the generous chap that I am,
I'm gonna let you go.
But I don't want to see you
on this land again, all right?
Well, that might be difficult
..seeing as how we live here.
My daughter owns this place.
So technically,
that means you work for me.
My apologies.
But my lady didn't introduce
herself.
MA LAUGHS
Oh, I'm no lady, Mr Ward.
TINNY BARKS
So, you made your fortune from fish?
Oh, aye.
We travelled up and down Yorkshire
selling fried herring.
Life on the open road.
How I envy you.
Ah, well, you wouldn't envy
sleeping in a cart with Ma.
The old woman's snoring
would put a navvy to shame.
MEN LAUGH
Sam.
But you've left the fish
behind you now, then?
Not quite.
That's right.
Well, we're not involved
in the day-to-day operations,
and Sam now runs
our financial portfolio. Oh.
Well, I'm something of an
entrepreneur myself as it happens.
Oh, aye? Yes.
What game are you in?
Wine.
I'm planning England's
first vineyard on my estate.
Why let the French have all the fun?
THEY LAUGH
Do grapes grow in Yorkshire?
I'm sure they will, Harry,
given the right conditions.
DOGS WHINE,
FOOTSTEPS APPROACH
We found your dog.
How wonderful.
Just in time, too.
Tinny was about
Showing her around.
Oh, getting to know each other.
A bit like us.
HE CHUCKLES
But alas, all good things
must come to an end, eh?
Well, you, erm, you must come
for tea dinner, sometime.
I'd be delighted to.
What about this Saturday?
Yes. Of course.
Yeah.
Erm, you should bring your family.
Er, oh, yes, they'd be thrilled.
SOFTLY: Yes.
HE INHALES,
SIGHS
Toad-in-the-hole, sir.
As requested.
That's grand, Beesley.
Well, we certainly can't serve
the Fitzherberts toad-in-the-hole.
Why? They got something
against a good sausage (?)
They might be used to finer things.
"The Marquess of York,
George Fitzherbert III,
"married Lady Emma Hansen
in 1868"
Oh, my.
What?
Lady Emma's related
to the Danish royal family.
Crikey. Royalty. At our table.
I hope she's not as nervy
as her daft hound.
You see,
the gentry are like their dogs.
All that blue blood
leaves them defective.
Give me a good mongrel.
If you're gonna be like that
when they're here,
you can stay in your room. Maybe
we should all stay in our room.
We wouldn't want to embarrass you
in front of real-life royalty (!)
THEY LAUGH
Ah, they're winding you up.
Look, folk are folk,
no matter where they're from.
I'm sure we'll find common ground.
Liza, you can help me
plan the evening.
That's not fair.
Why doesn't he have to help?
Cos he's helping your father
with stocks and shares.
What about him?
I have to get ready for Barlow's.
That's not decided yet.
But, Dad.
We'll talk about it later.
What's that you're reading, anyway?
Found it in the library.
It's a compendium
of the great and the good.
Oh, yeah?
What's it say about me, then?
I'm not sure it mentions you.
See?
All the best women
are written out of history.
Ooh, here we are.
"Ma, also known by her aliases
The Shadow
"and Madame Midnight
"is one of Yorkshire's
most notorious smugglers,
"but she's thought to be descended
"from Spring-Heeled Jack
and a local banshee."
Hey, that ought to impress
Lady What's-her-face.
THEY LAUGH
Er, no.
There'll be no talk of banshees
or smuggling.
We're all gonna be
on our best behaviour
and we're all gonna make
a good impression.
But who are these Hardacres?
What is their title?
We didn't really get into all that.
According to Lady Beaumont,
they're richer than the Saltmarshes.
Hm. And I heard their eldest son
is very handsome.
Where did he inherit his money?
I'm not entirely sure.
But they have
a very diverse portfolio.
Portfolio?
Mm.
So they're new money.
New money, old money.
The point is, they've clearly
got pots of the stuff.
And, er, they rather liked the sound
of my wine business.
You don't have a wine business.
I could, if I got the sort of
cash injection that Sam Hardacre
could provide.
Please tell me you're not planning
to go begging to the neighbours?
It would be an investment.
How else am I supposed to pay
for the upkeep of this place?
Let alone Adella's dowry.
I've already accepted
the invitation, Emma.
How will it look
if I say we can't go?
Fine. We will go to dinner.
And see what these Hardacres
are all about.
BELL RINGING
How was last night's dinner, ma'am?
Simple enough?
It was very nice, thank you.
But we will require something
more special for Saturday evening.
Lord and Lady Fitzherbert
will be joining us.
And what's she like? Lady Emma?
Oh, where does one begin?
Her ladyship has beauty, elegance.
A wonderful sense of style.
Her charitable works and society
contacts are second to none.
I believe that she is a personal
friend to Her Majesty The Queen
SHE SCOFFS
And her daughter is the most
eligible debutante in the county.
Well, we best pull out
all the stops, then.
Will the service be
a la francaise or a la russe?
Yes.
Both.
SHE CLEARS THROA
Both.
And were you thinking the
Wallace Silver or the Gorham Glass?
Ooh, I like this one.
Careful!
Ma'am?
Look, Mrs Dryden,
when it comes to all this,
I have no idea where to start.
You know that, I know that.
So, maybe you could just
help me out here, love?
I wouldn't like to get
above my station.
Ma'am was very clear yesterday.
Mm.
Thank you, Mrs Dryden.
That will be all.
Why don't you just get rid of her?
Because she doesn't think
I can do this,
so I'm gonna prove her wrong
instead.
I'm trying to get the hang
of this Viennoiserie pastry.
The French must have very cold paws,
that's all I can say.
I doubt this lot'd know
the difference between French pastry
and a Yorkshire pudding.
Lord and Lady Fitzherbert will be
dining here at the Hall on Saturday.
Mrs Hardacre is taking charge.
But you said she hasn't got a clue.
She wants to do things her way.
You've to cook what she asks for.
No more. No less.
Thank you, Mrs Henderson.
Sir.
Here, Beesley.
What sort of thing
does a gentleman do with his day?
Well, he begins by taking the papers
in the morning.
Yeah, I've done that.
Then he would probably deal with
his correspondence.
Have I had any letters?
No, sir.
There's matters
of estate management.
All right. What's that, then?
The running of the grounds and land.
Though
Mr Ward, the groundskeeper,
has that in hand.
HE SIGHS
Well, what did old Cavendish
do with his day?
He spent the afternoons at his club,
discussing matters of the day
with other gentlemen.
HE CLEARS THROA
Would you like me to apply
for membership on your behalf?
I'm not sure his type of place
is my type of place.
As you wish, sir.
There you are.
I need to decide what to serve
the Fitzherberts for dinner.
And Liza's been neither use
nor ornament.
What would you say to a Royal Roast?
It's a chicken
inside a duck inside a turkey.
That doesn't sound natural to me.
How do they even get in there?
Maybe a saddle of mutton would be
safer. Yeah, that's a good idea.
Oh, and make sure
you're here tomorrow morning.
We've got tailors
and dressmakers coming. What for?
Well This dinner's
our way into society, so
we need to look a bit more
like that.
Whoa
KNOCK ON DOOR
Good afternoon.
Good day to you.
Ma'am.
We have a selection of ready-mades
that we can adjust
to fit here today.
And for the made-to-measure
Oh!
Aye, it's quite the thing, love.
Now, we're after the works, lass.
Everything from
the undercrackers outwards.
Ma
What? The money you've got,
we should be farting through silk
for the rest of our days.
Shall we?
INDISTINC
Oi, watch it!
MA: Beautiful.
Very handsome.
Oh, Ma
What d'you think?
Eh?
Will I do?
Well, Beesley, do we look the part?
Every inch, sir.
There is a gentleman here
to see you.
Fred!
Whoa. Is that really you?
Oh, it's just like a daft costume,
isn't it?
What's happened?
Er Shaw sacked me.
Oh, love.
Cos I let a sick man go home.
That bloody man.
I hate to ask, I
I wouldn't if I weren't desperate,
but
..the other day you said
you could maybe help me out
with a job in one of your shops?
Of course.
Absolutely.
Come on. Have a seat, Fred.
Sit down.
Thank you.
What is it?
The docks. It's all I've known,
and them that work there.
It doesn't feel right,
me off and sorted
while the rest of them are stuck
there with Shaw.
It'll just be
some other poor sod's turn now.
I think it's time someone had
a proper chat with our Mr Shaw.
I know you wanna help, love. But you
threw Shaw in a pile of fish guts.
I'm not saying it's gonna be easy,
but it's worth a go.
This is too good to only wear
in the bedroom.
Ah, don't worry about that.
It's just a daft costume after all.
I felt funny dressed like that
in front of Fred, that's all.
Is that what's going on?
You feel funny about all this,
you're looking for an excuse
to run back to the docks?
I'm not running back anywhere, Mary.
I'm doing the stocks and shares,
aren't I?
Oh, and I spoke to Beesley
about what occupies a gentleman.
And?
Well
It's mainly reading newspapers
and talking nonsense with other
gentlemen by the sounds of it.
Oh, Sam, you've got to give it
a proper chance, love.
I am.
But Fred's a good friend
and I just wanna help him.
I care about Fred too.
I just think we should
be looking forward, not back.
The docks is our old life. I want
you here with me in our new one.
I am here with you.
It just takes
a bit of getting used to.
But I'm here, Mary. I'm all in.
Good.
And just promise me
you're not gonna do anything daft
down the docks tomorrow.
I promise.
I'll be measure and reason itself.
BANGS TABLE
You're a damn fool, man!
What would you know about it?
A monkey in a suit
is still a monkey.
I know you don't have a clue.
You parade around,
you treat the workers like dirt,
you sacked Fred for nothing.
Sell the business to me.
Why on Earth would I do that?
Because if you don't, I'll ruin you.
You see, I might be a monkey,
but I'm a monkey with money.
And I'll happily spend it
buying every single fish
that's landed in this harbour
until you go under.
Hell, I'll buy every fish
on the whole coast
if that's what it takes.
And I won't stop till you're done.
I don't believe you.
Try me.
There. That can go there.
Just
HE WHISTLES
Oh, did you get Fred his job back?
In a manner of speaking, er, yes.
Er, the thing is
Good.
You can tell me all about it later.
But right now,
you need to go and get changed.
It's beautiful, wife.
Isn't it?
I picked the flowers
in the woods myself.
Now go!
Mm.
Will there be anything else, ma'am?
No. Thank you, Beesley.
There, turn round.
Let's have a look.
Good.
It's going to be great.
Lord and Lady Fitzherbert.
Welcome to Hardacre Hall.
You didn't tell me he was Irish.
Lady Fitzherbert.
Oh, there's no need to curtsy,
Mrs Hardacre.
Oh, please, call me Mary.
These are our children,
Joe, Liza and Harry.
And this is my daughter,
Lady Adella.
Thrilled to be here,
aren't we, darling?
Charmed.
We're all very curious about
our mysterious new neighbours.
Ah, nothing mysterious about us lot.
It'll be lovely
to get to know one another.
Your accent. I can't quite place it.
It's Yorkshire, love.
You live in it.
My mother. If you'd like to follow
me through to the dining room.
This way, please.
SHE CHUCKLES FAINTLY
And I must say, it's lovely
to be dining at the Hall again.
Oh, you knew
the Cavendish family well?
Oh, yes. Lady Cavendish
was a magnificent hostess.
An evening at Thornton Hall
was always quite the occasion.
Hardacre Hall.
Of course.
When a place has had a name
for over 200 years,
change takes a bit
of getting used to.
Well, we're still getting used to it
ourselves.
It's a bit different
to where we come from.
CLEARS THROAT FAINTLY
And where would that be?
We used to live in the village.
Worked on the docks.
Working?
How modern.
The first course.
You seem to have forgotten
the soup course,
and the fish course,
for that matter.
There are no soup and fish
courses this evening, m'lady.
Really? Extraordinary.
No soup, no fish.
And I thought you people
were dock workers.
We were.
But the docks are far behind us now.
Don't you like mutton?
It was delightful.
Is Lady Adella an only child?
No, we also have a son. Crispin.
He's currently exploring
the lakes of West Africa.
Oh, you must miss him.
Awfully.
And soon Adella will be gone, too.
Where?
We have high hopes that Adella
will make a fine match
with the heir
to the Charlton estate.
Yes, Lord Bathurst. A fine fellow.
He hasn't actually proposed yet.
Don't be so gauche, Adella.
Negotiations are advancing.
And how did you meet him?
I barely have.
Adella was presented last year.
Oh, I bet that was wonderful!
SHE CLEARS THROA
Have you been presented yet,
Miss Hardacre?
Prancing about for a load of silly
boys just isn't really my style.
THEY CHUCKLE
Dessert.
Mm.
And this is?
Bread and butter pudding.
It's my favourite.
It looks wonderful.
Have you lost Mrs Dryden?
This is quite a change
from the usual menu.
Malham is excellent for
grouse hunting this time of year.
Why don't you come out
with me tomorrow?
Oh, I'd love to, George, but
Well, you could all come.
We'd make a day of it.
Oh, yes, yes. That would be fun.
I'm a dab hand with a shotgun.
I really can't, I'm afraid.
Why not?
I have some business to attend to.
Well, Saunders can manage the shops.
It's not the shops.
Then what?
I don't see why we can't accept
Lord Fitzherbert's
very generous invitation.
Er
I was gonna wait until later
to tell you all but, er
..I bought Shaw's Fish Merchants
this afternoon.
You did what?
If you'd have heard Shaw,
you'd had done the same thing.
To Hardacre and Son!
Son? Which son?
It's not likely to be me, is it?
I'm not going back to the docks!
Joe, can you give Lady Adella
a tour of the house, please?
I'd like that.
They'll need a chaperone.
Of course. Liza? Harry?
How about we gents retire
for a brandy
to toast your brand-new venture, eh?
What about us?
I never say no to a brandy.
Ladies and gentlemen together?
Go on, Lady Em. Treat yourself.
So, this is the study.
I think she could have worked
that out for herself.
The study.
How exciting.
Yeah, it's not that great.
Well, shall we go back, then?
Seeing as it's so disappointing?
So we can be bored to death?
Well, have you got a better idea?
Why don't we have a bit of fun?
Will you be involved
in the day-to-day running
of these fish merchants?
It's early days, but the previous
owner neglected the place for years.
I have a lot of ideas
about how to improve things.
Sure, who better to run the business
than those who have actually done
the graft, eh?
I couldn't agree with you more.
It's exactly as the Cavendishes
had it. Ah, yes.
We're getting a feel for the place
before we make changes.
But what have you done
with your own furniture?
HE SWEEPS KEYS
Does anybody play?
Not the piano,
but if you're feeling lucky
HE CHUCKLES
SHE SIGHS
Come on, Liza.
Wait, what about me?
Harry, it's grown-ups only.
Not little boys.
You're not going to let him get away
with that, are you?
Go on
Harry!
I dare you to drink the whole thing.
Oi
Stop, Harry!
Harry!
Harry!
What did you say that for?
Oh, don't be such a bore.
Oh, bloomin' heck.
He's not going to be sick, is he?
How are you feeling, Georgie boy?
Oh, quietly confident.
Then why don't we
make it interesting?
That's a rather nice pocket watch
you've got there.
You can't possibly
be suggesting a wager?
Of course she isn't.
I most certainly am.
ADELLA: You horrible boy!
What on Earth?
What the hell is going on?
He drank a load of brandy
and was sick on my dress!
I'm so sorry.
Drinking was your stupid idea!
Liza!
It were just a bit of fun.
It were my idea,
it weren't Lady Adella's.
I said you were too young.
You liar!
That is enough!
Now, all of you, get to bed now!
You're coming to the docks tomorrow,
boy, whether you like it or not.
SHE SIGHS
Don't!
I'll, er, check on Harry.
Try not to buy any other businesses
on your way out, will you, love?
I hope you're pleased with yourself.
SHE SCOFFS
Well, good riddance if you ask me.
I mean, he's all right,
the poor sod.
But she's a nasty piece of work.
I did not like the way
she spoke to you.
I got everything wrong. Everything!
Listen
How were you supposed to know
all the stupid ins and outs?
Fish and soup, eh?
It's that Dryden one
that needs telling.
It's her job to know all that.
Now, I'm very happy to go and have
a little chat with her, if you want.
No. I'll do it.
Don't hold back.
I won't.
That's my girl.
SERVING GIRL: I'll bet Lady
Fitzherbert's face was a picture.
DRYDEN: It isn't funny, young lady.
They're going to destroy
the standing of this house.
BEESLEY: You played your part.
She needed guidance.
That Hardacre woman needs to see
there is a right way to do things.
I don't see what you've got against
them. They seem nice enough to me.
Nice?
The children are animals,
the mother's a criminal,
he's a simpleton,
and as for Lady Muck
She can put on as many
fancy dresses as she likes,
it doesn't change the fact
that underneath it all
she's a common fishwife.
It was one bad dinner, love.
It'll be better next time.
How's Harry?
I told him he could go to Barlow's.
I think it's what he needs.
Another decision made
without consulting me.
I can tell him no.
It's what he wants.
This bloody dress.
Come here.
I'm sorry, Mary.
I should have told you
about buying Shaw's.
It's supposed to be a new start.
It won't be like before.
It'll be ours.
And it'll be good for me,
it'll be good for Joe.
You are happy here, aren't you?
As long as I'm with you, I'm happy.
Are you happy here?
Of course.
It's everything I ever wanted.
I have it!
You shall host a gala afternoon tea,
here at Hardacre Hall.
That Lady Em has taken you
for every penny.
One day, that'll read Joe Hardacre
and Son. I won't let you down.
I thought I was in charge of the
money. Fred can handle the money.
Fred's not in charge around here,
I am.
And if I can run this place
with fewer men, then I will!
Our beloved Thornton Hall
in sugar and cake.
Hardacre Hall.
I've changed my mind.
The Duchess has arrived.
Her opinion will make or break you.
Mrs Hardacre.