The Forsytes (2025) s01e03 Episode Script

How to define a Forsyte ?
By the secrets we keep,
shall you know us ?
By the little lies we tell ?
By the choices we make,
which echo down the generations.
Choices which will come back
to haunt us
..until one of us
decides to change the story.
Believe me, this will pass.
And we'll come through it stronger
and more devoted than ever.
I believe you.
My concern is this -
now he knows about the children
will he be able
to forget them again?
Jos.
You need fresh air?
I wish I could take you
to the seaside.
I know where I like to go.
To a magic place
where all the streets
are made of water.
Where the poor servant girl
met the prince.
So, at the next board meeting,
I propose to introduce the subject
of my nephew's
unfitness to be chair.
Not just in temperament
- but in behaviour.
- As in?
Any action that might
bring the firm into disrepute.
This being the case,
not only can he be said
not to be chair material
he should be expelled
from the company
altogether.
You're not the first
to sow wild oats in your youth.
But there's no need to pay
for those mistakes with your career.
They're not "mistakes", Dad.
- They're my actual flesh and blood.
- And that's important.
An heir is important.
Something you currently lack.
But for the present,
when your succession
is about to be challenged
I am well aware
of James's manoeuvrings
it is imperative that we
keep this matter a secret.
Your father and I
have been wondering
is there a case for
offering some inducement ?
- "Inducement"?
- For the young lady in question
to ensure her silence.
Her silence is not in doubt.
But if she could be persuaded
to leave London
What ?
set up home and business elsewhere.
Suitably funded, of course.
So she's expected to uproot
her life and that of her children
for my convenience,
when she's made it abundantly clear
she wants no further contact ?
- And you trust her ?
- Completely.
You are not proposing
some kind of public statement ?
About the children ?
Well, how would that
benefit any of us ?
No, I intend to honour her wishes,
whilst deciding how to discharge
my financial obligation to her,
which will be my decision
no-one else's.
Are we sure he's the father ?
Why else would he be at her shop ?
And there was that business in Italy
with the lady's maid.
And there we have it
the thing to tip the scales
against him.
But let's keep this
to ourselves for now.
Do I think I'd be the better chair ?
Of course.
Do I need to stoop to scheming
to achieve it ?
You can leave all that to me.
Irene
I've got another note
from Mr Forsyte.
So
if you loved her
why did you marry Mama ?
Because your mother wa is
an incredible woman.
Cultured, caring, kind.
And I value that.
In those early days after Venice,
I was sometimes a little lost.
And had you known about
her situation
what would you have done ?
I can't answer that.
You just did.
June, wait.
Give her time.
I don't underestimate
the pain this has caused
but I am here
and I have no plans
to be elsewhere.
Then all shall be well.
- You came.
- Did you doubt it ?
Forgive me.
Yesterday, I was overwhelmed.
I failed to observe
the proper formalities.
Allow me to make amends.
Miss Heron, you have made me
the happiest of men.
Would you do me the honour
of wearing this ring ?
- You dislike it ?
- No ! No, how could I ?
It's just
I mean, is this happening to me ?
When there must be so many more
suitable women of your own station.
Very many eminently "suitable".
All art and polish and
impeccable breeding.
Whereas you
are all nature.
And to me, that is perfection.
May I now have the honour
of introducing you to my family
my love ?
Yes !
Mama was always fond of that one.
She was a fine woman.
Not a first love, but
a lasting one.
- So, it's a full turn-out tomorrow ?
- What's this ?
Epsom Races.
Monty's horse is running.
What could possibly go wrong ?
What shall I wear ?
I need to cut quite the dash
when I strut into the ring
with Lady Peaches.
Isn't that the groom's job ?
When one's nurtured
a nag as I have,
one feels a bond, a connection.
You don't think of mounting
her yourself, then ?
The thought had occurred,
but the 2:30 at Epsom, is that
the place to make one's debut ?
I thought I'd wear my peach hat
in homage to Monty's horse.
But if it doesn't win?
I believe by the end of tomorrow,
we'll have something to celebrate.
And to that end,
I'll be bringing a guest.
Anyone we know ?
Wouldn't wish to spoil the surprise.
Well, hardly a surprise !
A guinea on Miss Carteret !
If you've a guinea to waste.
It's always a blow to realise that
someone you love is not perfect.
Of course you want him to be, but
- he's fallen short.
- And I can't forgive him.
Parents disappoint their children.
Children disappoint their parents.
Mine have a talent for it.
Even now, I suspect
that your uncle James
is harnessing your father's
imperfections to use against him.
And you may say, "Quite right".
Whereas I would say
"Let he who is without sin
cast the first stone."
Chin up, my dear. Tomorrow's race
should cheer your spirits.
- Yes, Peaches! Do it !
- Come on, Peaches. Told you !
Go on, go on, Peaches!
Come on, Lady Peaches.
Yes ! Go ! Yes !
Yes !
- That's it, go on ! Go on! Yes !
- Yes !
No ! No, no, no !
No !
No ! No !
No ! No, Peaches !
No !
No !
No ! No !
It was so close !
So close.
So close !
You donkey !
Damn it !
I've been sold a pup !
A turkey, a clunker,
a veritable dud !
But she did so well, Monty.
She almost won!
They need to fix that.
How's Alicia ?
If you value your life,
never ask if she's feeling tired.
Or would like a chair.
No, she already made that clear.
"I'm with child, Jo,
I'm not an invalid or an imbecile."
How are things with Frances ?
Let's just say my connections
with Louisa have consequences
neither of us reckoned with.
And the implications
are frankly severe.
So, does Soames
propose to join us
or is he keeping his intended
under lock and key ?
Miss Carteret.
Pa would've been proud
to think we'd achieved nobility
in three generations.
Just to alert you
I haven't broached any of our plans
with the family,
so forgive me
if I'm deliberately vague.
Of course.
Miss Heron, Mrs Heron, my family.
How do you do ?
Forgive me,
I fear we're a formidable prospect.
Not at all, I'm delighted
to make the acquaintance
of such a distinguished family.
And there'll be ample opportunity
for deepening that acquaintance
as Miss Heron has done me the
honour of agreeing to be my wife.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
Our wedding will shortly take place
by special licence,
after which we depart for Europe.
On your honeymoon ? How thrilling.
Where will you go ?
Tradition dictates
that must remain a secret.
"Heron" you say?
Er, do we know that name ?
Who are your people, my dear ?
No-one of consequence. My father
was a professor, and my mother
Could we please not subject Miss
Heron to the Spanish Inquisition ?
No, no, no, indeed.
That function belongs to me.
The customary formalities ?
Yes, of course.
Shall we ?
My
I thought it best to get the ordeal
out of the way as soon as possible.
As to the wedding, you must say
if a fortnight from now is too soon.
A fortnight ?
Well, surely, the sooner
we arrive in Paris
Your mother is seriously displeased.
Why wasn't she consulted ?
And the haste ?
- How long have you known this girl ?
- Long enough.
- She seems rather lovely.
- Emily !
She is. You'll like her.
- You must be fearfully in love.
- "In love"?
- What the deuce does that mean ?
- It means everything, trust me.
This is not the match
we were expecting.
No, I see that.
And to take the plunge now ?
When Jo's dug himself a hole ?
We've a clear shot
at the chairmanship,
and you're about to go gallivanting
off round the continent ?
Perhaps we should
just leave Jo to it.
Are you serious ?
The insanity of it !
I think I rather envy him.
How ?
Daring to follow his heart.
Did you ?
Did I ?
For God's sake, Emily.
What sort of a question is that ?
Come along, Pudding.
Shall we retire ?
Well, that was sheer purgatory.
Absolute hell.
Grinning like fools, as if our
whole lives were not on the rack !
I know what makes this even worse.
We always wanted
children of our own.
Yes.
Somehow that never happened.
Now to know that you have children
with another
The last thing I ever wanted
was to cause you pain.
We must protect June
as much as we can from all this.
You're not wearing that, are you ?
I mean, the Forsyte ladies
will never approve.
Is it not sufficiently modish ?
My concern
is that you don't
embarrass yourself.
You're stepping
so far outside your milieu.
I thank you for your concern.
But I can only start
as I mean to go on.
By doing what feels right
for me.
So, I was thinking crimson
Or burgundy.
My husband says,
"Don't be extravagant",
which is rich coming from him,
when he outspends his allowance
every month
and then blames me
because he has no profession.
It's hardly my fault
my father and uncle won't give him
a role in the company!
And it's not as if I haven't
hinted at it countless times.
But they just keep saying,
"We have a reputation to
uphold at Forsyte & Co."
Forsyte ?
But your name's
Dartie, yes, by marriage.
Forsyte by birth.
You know my cousin-in-law,
Mrs Frances Forsyte.
Yes. Yes.
I should perhaps warn you,
I'm snowed under with orders -
it could be months
before your gown is ready.
In which case, I'd quite understand
if you wished to go elsewhere.
Elsewhere ?
I should think not.
And her tone! Almost as if
she was wishing me gone.
And why would that be ?
Thank your cousin Jo
What ?
and his not-so-gilded
youthful escapades.
I congratulate you, cousin.
Miss Heron seems
an excellent choice.
Thank you.
Perhaps one's reached an age where
one is free to make a choice
without succumbing
to family pressures.
One lives in hope.
Jo fathered the
dressmaker's children ?
Well, well, well.
- The dirty dog !
- How appalling !
- But it does play into our hands.
- How so ?
He wouldn't be the first
to father children out of wedlock.
For our purposes, it serves us
to portray him as a libertine.
The callous seducer,
the neglectful father.
I mean, any of these could be said
to jeopardise
the reputation of the firm.
But it happened
before he and Frances met.
Some might call it
a "youthful indiscretion".
Well, they'd be wrong.
Such behaviour is
Yes, Monty ?
What is it ?
I might look in at my club.
Does he perform any useful function ?
He could, given a chance.
If this is yet another bid
to give him a role
Not a role.
A seat on the board.
You are joking ?
The board meets tomorrow, yes ?
And your plan is to expel
Jo from the company ?
Do you have a majority ?
Are you sure you couldn't
use an extra vote ?
- Well
- Monty's your man.
He's entirely without scruples.
He'll vote whichever
way you tell him to.
Excuse me.
- Ladies and gentlemen
- So sorry.
please take your seats and welcome
esteemed lecturer and philanthropist
Mrs Ellen Parker Barrington.
You believe you have no voice.
I believed the same.
I've been confused,
ignored, disrespected in my time.
But trust me,
I'm under no illusion.
It is my wealth, my standing,
which now confers power,
commands respect, demands attention.
My late husband owned woollen
mills in the north
once viewed his workers
as commodities expendable.
But he was brought to see them
as precious human souls
worthy of respect
of dignity
of proper recompense.
So
change is possible.
And I owe those who have
not been as fortunate as I
to challenge ignorance
and injustice
wherever I see it.
I invite you to do the same.
- Thank you so much.
- Nice to meet you
Miss Renegade ?
Mr Buccaneer.
What brings you here ?
- The same as you.
- A wish for a rational argument ?
A disgust for inequality.
Would you
Would you care for some cake ?
Thank you.
So, you're an architect.
How splendid.
I should introduce you to my family.
They'll be terribly impressed.
I doubt it. I'm a modernist.
In my experience,
the moneyed classes are highly
conservative in their tastes.
Now, you, I suspect, are a radical.
Well, I like to think
I have an open mind.
Why else would you be
here, unchaperoned ?
I don't care a fig
for such nonsense.
I suspect your mother does.
And what she doesn't know
can't hurt her.
Do you have a card ?
In case any of my family should
at some point require your services.
You and I both know
how unlikely that is.
- Culver Street ?
- Hardly an illustrious address.
- And it's a garret.
- I adore garrets.
"Proposal to admit Montague
Dartie to the board" ?
I don't expect you to like it.
He's an imbecile.
But if we're to get
the votes we need
- Last minute addition to the agenda.
- "Item five
"Reputational Risk
and Remedial Action."
- So, here we are.
- Here we are.
Let battle commence.
Come in, sir.
Large brandy and the day's papers.
Chop chop !
"Item number four,
"the proposed election
of Montague Dartie
to the board."
Proposer ?
Seconded ?
All those in favour ?
And those against.
Montague Dartie
is elected to the board.
I suppose you should let him in.
To those who voted in my favour
good choice !
To any who voted against
All right.
"Item five
"Reputational Risk
and Remedial Action".
Yes.
I'm afraid there have
been alarming rumours
implicating one
of our own, which
should they reach the ears
of our more eminent clients,
could lead them
to take their business elsewhere.
What rumours are these ?
Concerning a senior partner
debauching a serving maid.
That is not what happened.
That is not who she was,
and those are not the circumstances.
And for those of you
as yet in the dark my nephew.
I had a relationship
prior to my marriage
with a young woman
I met in Venice.
Some days ago, I learnt that,
when we parted, she was with child.
Twins, to be precise.
Now ten years of age,
living with their mother in London.
And distasteful as some of
you doubtless may find it
"Distasteful" ?
Try "scandalous" !
- Inexcusable.
- What we can't ignore
is that many of our clients will
find such a liaison "distasteful".
But of course they will !
Because such things have never
happened in respectable families.
Good Lord, what on earth?
And it'll be the first misstep
that this family has ever made.
- Mama, for goodness' sake.
- Gentlemen, please.
May I ask what brings
you here today ?
- Curiosity ?
- This is most irregular.
We do not admit ladies
into the inner sanctum.
"The inner sanctum"
that solely exists
because I paid for it.
Can I not see what my
marriage settlement bought ?
Mater the matter in hand
concerns the irrevocable damage
to company reputation
should Jo remain within its ranks.
We are inviting him to step away
for the good of the family name.
"The good of the family name".
Our sainted family,
devoid of scandal, closets
skeletal remains.
Yes, but the effect,
the damage to our reputation
There will be no damage.
The matter can be hushed up,
and the girl paid off.
Please allow me to deal with this !
If we could be certain
of the girl's discretion,
we could agree
to turn a blind eye, but
Though I trust he's not
expecting any settlement
- to come out of company funds ?
- No, that would
Rest assured I've no
intention of asking anyone here
to take responsibility
for my obligations.
The fact remains
I have two children
of whom I'm not ashamed.
Nor of myself.
Well, you heard him.
- No remorse.
- Disappointing. Has to go.
With regret
I propose that Jolyon Forsyte
be expelled from the company.
All those in favour
That's fine, erm
- Thank you.
- Thank you, ma'am.
Why are you here ?
I'm not content with
how we left things.
More is due to you and the children.
Nothing is due. We are content.
Do you think you have the right to
deprive them by refusing my support ?
"Deprive them" ?
Did they look deprived ?
No, that's not what I meant. Can I
not want them to have a better life ?
Have you given the slightest thought
to how my life has been
since we parted ?
- No, I can only imagine.
- Can you ?
A girl, two infants.
No-one to turn to.
But gradually to take
a fierce pride
in knowing that she could provide.
To have raised two beautiful
souls, single-handed.
Why would I, why would they need
any more than what we have ?
- Mama, will you come ?
- There's jugglers !
Will you come ?
- Whoa, hang on.
- Faster !
Look !
- They're beautiful.
- They are.
If you'd told me,
I would've come for you.
Your family would've cut you off,
you'd be living in disgrace.
And knowing all of that,
I still would've come.
- Wasn't to be.
- No, it wasn't.
Goodbye, Jo.
Miss Renegade.
Can I be of assistance ?
No-one can.
Well can I at least
offer you some cocoa ?
I find that cocoa
is the answer to most ills.
Even a stepfather with feet of clay.
He's utterly betrayed me.
I can see it must seem that way.
If you'd seen him with them
smiling adoringly
as if I didn't even exist.
You exist to me, Miss Renegade.
I do ?
I see you clear as day.
I should go.
I really shouldn't be here at all.
Well, I'm glad you were.
Come.
I've brought Miss Heron to see you.
I congratulate you
Thank you, Grandmama.
for catching them all unawares.
- But not you ?
- The Carteret girl was too obvious.
Not your type at all.
Bring her to me.
I just spoke to your father.
Don't you want to know how it went ?
The vote ?
I can guess.
In your favour.
How?
You're not to be expelled, so
the chairmanship can now be yours.
You must see what
this now affords us ?
A golden opportunity
for you to recommit
to your family
the firm
our life together.
I do see that.
My commitment to you
and June is absolute.
So, tell me, my dear
are you prepared ?
For what?
The Forsyte family.
Are you aware of its peculiarities ?
Everyone has been welcoming.
And Soames ?
- What do you know of him ?
- What can you tell me ?
Soames has never loved before.
That he does so now is significant.
You will want for nothing.
You'll be mistress
of all you survey.
- My wants are modest.
- And what are those wants ?
To love and be loved.
To trust and be trusted. To
dance.
And it will be a dance !
Whether the pavane, or a tarantella.
Or a pas-de-deux?
And you ?
Are you in love ?
I have tremors, my pulse
races, and I feel faint.
Some poets call that love.
What would you call it ?
A prelude
to something deeper.
I hope you find it.
I trust she wasn't too fierce.
She was kind.
You didn't mention Paris ?
Should I have done ?
Time enough to address that
when we're there together,
planning our future.
To our wedding day.
So, do we think this
wedding is a love match ?
How can anyone not marry for love ?
Because love is only part
of what makes a marriage.
Respect
patience
belief
These also matter.
And that's what you had with Papa ?
Have.
Still.
This could've been
the event of the season
rather than some low-key,
hole-in-the-corner travesty.
- Just wish it hadn't come so soon.
- Soon, Emily ?
You've had him at home
his entire life.
It's just
the thought of losing him
to someone we don't really know,
who might wish to keep him
all to herself
Yes, well, that's the least of it.
Instead of idling around Europe,
he could be here, planning
our next strategy.
Do you like it, Mama?
Monty assures me it cost the earth.
Nothing's too good for my Freddie.
And a man of business
can afford such trifles.
Lord help us.
For heaven's sake, Irene, the
carriage will be here any minute !
I hope I'm as blessed
as they were.
Can you ever doubt it ?
I mean, the resources
at Mr Forsyte's disposal,
his willingness to uproot his
entire existence for your sake
I meant theirs was a love match.
And yours is?
I don't yet know what to call it.
He told me it would be
all that I dreamt of and more.
Then I suggest you count
your blessings and get dressed.
Mama.
Perhaps she's had
a change of heart.
If she has any sense.
- Mama, where is she ?
- I I don't know.
You've taught me a valuable lesson.
Which is ?
To trust no-one but myself.
To think for myself.
To do only what my heart tells me.
What does it tell you ?
That true love is what matters.
A meeting of minds.
A conjunction of souls.
That is what matters.
Good. We agree.
You see ?
It wasn't that hard
deciding to move on
from them.
That wasn't what I said.
It was implied.
I said my commitment to
you is beyond doubt.
But to suggest that I
have moved on from them
would be to deny
that any of it mattered.
Well, of course I accept
that you were once fond of her.
I wasn't "fond", Frances.
My children were conceived of love.
Then let us be clear.
That "love", as you call it,
has no place in this house.
So kill it.
Once and for all.
Or face the consequences.
Thank you.
For what ?
Showing me a life and a man
that I never knew existed
till I met you.
sync & corrections FunnyBell