Outrageous (2025) s01e06 Episode Script

1
JAZZ MUSIC
NANCY: My father had
many excellent qualities.
He had a distinguished war record.
He did his duty in the House of Lords.
He was a fair and considerate landowner.
But, sadly, he was not skilled
in the more modern art
of money management
Oh.
Damn.
Ooh!..which was why he
was currently obliged
to let out the entire Mitford estate
to the Mackinnons,
and move the family temporarily
back into our small London flat.
Sugar. Sugar, please.
More tea? Toast?
Not too much. Thank you.
Thank you.
NANCY: In fact, he had completely
exhausted all his options.
Right
Except one.
..I'm off to the bank.
Little did the rest of us know
that the entire family fortune
was hanging in the balance.
Meanwhile, back at my house,
I was contemplating the
state of my marriage.
APPROACHING FOOTSTEPS
Look, Nance, about last night
It's absolutely not what you think.
I mean, Mary and me, it's not a fling,
you know, a sordid, casual affair. No.
We love each other.
I mean, there's no point in fudging
these things, after all, is there?
Best be totally honest.
So, what, you, you
You want a divorce?
Oh, God, no!
No, it doesn't change
how I feel about us.
You're my wife.
There's certainly no
need for all our names
to be dragged through
the divorce courts.
These things happen.
It's just life, isn't it?
JAZZ MUSIC
DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES
NANCY: At this point, of course,
I was the only one of my sisters
who was happily married.
And much to my mother's despair,
all my unmarried sisters
were besotted with
highly unsuitable men.
Diana with Mosley,
who was relentlessly campaigning
for the fascist cause.
Bobo with Hitler,
who had favoured her as an
increasingly close companion.
Decca with her valiant
communist, Esmond,
whom she still hadn't actually met,
as he was out fighting
in the Spanish Civil War.
And, of course, Debo with Derek.
Goodbye! See you later!
Debo, you have to be back before six.
Yes, yes, I know!
Ah! Hello! Hello!
Oh! Don't you look gorgeous?
NANCY: The only one poor Muv could
rely on was dear, sensible Pam.
Don't worry, Muv. I'll make
sure she behaves herself.
Oh, thank you, darling. Thank you, Pam.
She's definitely got a bigger head.
What are you talking about,
Stubby?
ENGINE REVS
CLOCK CHIMES
Gosh, is that the time? I've got to go.
Where are you going?
I'm meeting Polly for tea at the V&A.
I told you. Remember?
No.
DOG BARKS AND MEN CHA
CHATTER AND LAUGHTER
Well, of course,
I'd like to get out there myself
and join my brother in the fight,
but it's not that simple.
There's a lot of hoops to jump through.
A lot. Such as?
Well, first you need a Spanish visa,
and you can't get one here,
so you have to go to Paris.
And then you can only get one
if you know the right people.
That will take at least
two weeks to come through,
so you need somewhere to stay in Paris.
Unless, of course, you're
prepared to sleep on the streets,
like Esmond did.
I have some money saved up.
Well, on top of that,
you're gonna need kit,
boots, coat, a pack.
I mean, could you run from here,
with a pack on your back,
across a muddy field as far as
..say, Claridge's,
under machinegun fire?
Well, I mean See, this is it.
People don't think it through.
They think it'll be an adventure,
a good story to tell at parties.
But, look, the chaps
that actually get there,
like my brother,
they're not normal chaps.
He's got no sense of his own safety,
it's just everything for
the Communist cause.
Do you know what your chances are
of ever coming back from Spain?
It's less than 50%.
And dropping
Look
..I absolutely do know the risks,
and I'm not going for adventure.
I'm going because I
want to fight fascism,
because it's growing,
fast, all over Europe.
And I want to do something about it,
something practical, something real.
Not just sit in cafes talking about it.
Because all it takes for evil to triumph
is for good men and women to do nothing.
And that's why I want to go.
So let's start at the
beginning, shall we?
SHE SIGHS
I need to get a visa in Paris.
Do you know anyone that
could help me do that?
CHEERING AND MUSIC
My sweet, sweet boy ♪
My sugarplum ♪
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
My sweet, sweet baby ♪
Tell me your ♪
So, is your husband still misbehaving?
Mm. He's totally unrepentant.
Doesn't seem to think he's
done anything wrong at all.
Oh, I can just imagine it.
So, what now?
Well, three options.
Divorce, negotiate,
or just put up and shut up.
Isn't life wonderful?
HE SNICKERS
Right. A question.
Do you still love him?
What's the definition of love, anyway?
Oh, God, we don't have time for that.
Look, the important thing
is not to let his behaviour
dictate your happiness, darling.
Because now you finally
see him as he really is,
which means he can't hurt
you any more, can he?
When did you get to be so wise?
HE CHUCKLES
Other people's problems are so much
easier to solve than one's own.
SHE LAUGHS I'm heartbroken twice a week.
Now, sorry, much more
important than all this,
what are you doing tomorrow?
Ooh, I have a stupid work deadline.
I'm writing an in-depth piece
on the pleasures of a point-to-point.
I mean, I've been putting it off all week.
Why?
I just thought you might want to join me
on the protest march against Mosley?
Oh, no, is it tomorrow?
Oh, damn! Damn, damn!
I'm I'm so sorry.
It's all right. No, no, it's not,
it's utterly hopeless of me!
Can't be helped.
A girl must earn a crust.
Shame, though. There's a whole
bunch of us going from here.
You'll be missed.
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
I can feel it, you know?
This is your breakthrough moment.
You've done so well in the
north and the midlands.
But today, you are finally going
to win over the people of London.
Where's your speech?
It's in here.
Leaders don't need
little scraps of paper.
Excellent.
Now, I'll be in Berlin by seven,
and at the hotel by eight.
You will call me then and tell
me all about it, won't you?
I'm going to see you in
person tomorrow night.
Yes, but you will call
me tonight, anyway?
All right.
HE SIGHS
I love you.
I know. SHE LAUGHS
I'll see you in Berlin.
RADIO ANNOUNCER:
"This is the BBC.
"At the British Union of
Fascists rally in London today,
"around 5,000 Blackshirts gathered
"to march through the
streets of the East End.
"But their way was blocked by
an estimated 100,000 protesters.
"Jews, communists,
and anti-fascist protesters
"joined together in Cable Street,
where they created barricades
"across the road, chanting,
'They shall not pass.'
"But as the police tried to clear
the way for the Blackshirts march,
"they were met with strong
resistance from the protesters
"and violence quickly erupted.
"Mounted officers charged
their horses into the crowd,
"and the demonstrators fought back
"with whatever makeshift
weapons they could find.
"Sir Oswald Mosley,
leader of the fascists,
"was finally ordered by
police to abandon his parade
"in order to prevent further
breaches of the peace
"and possible loss of life.
"In response to those who declared this
"a humiliating failure
for the Blackshirts,
"Mosley said he would
never give up the fight.
"Up to 100 people have
been taken" PHONE RINGS
"to Whitechapel Hospital
with serious injuries,
"with scores more receiving
first aid at the scene,
"in what has been described as
the bloodiest political fight
"London has ever witnessed.
"It is already being called
the Battle of Cable Street."
I need some help, please!
Can I get some help?
CHAOTIC SHOUTING
Oh! I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.
Stay sitting down.
Excuse me. I'm sorry.
Nancy? Joss?
Oh, God! What have they done to you?
The animals! It was the police.
What? Yeah. They're protecting
the fascists. Oh, God!
They think this arm is
broken and maybe some ribs.
Stand aside.
I'll wait here for you.
Or I'll find you.
OK. I'll, I'll
PHONE RINGS
Oh, gosh!
Oh, Nardie, this is gorgeous.
Perfect.
Really beautiful.
Do me up?
It does seem unfair that you've had
two lovely wedding days, though.
Two dresses, two cakes, two husbands.
And I shan't have any.
Don't say that. Of course you will.
You're still young. I won't.
Because he will never marry.
He told me.
Not even that shop girl.
And they say that, years ago, he was
in love with a young niece of his,
but she shot herself.
He was heartbroken.
Hm.
Now, he says he's married to Germany,
and that no woman can take
precedence over his country.
- Isn't it wonderful?
- Mm.
Very noble.
I never thought I could
ever be this happy. Did you?
When we were growing up?
No, I didn't.
And today is truly the
happiest day of my life.
Thank you so much for helping
me arrange it all, Bobo.
Of course, I do wish the others
could be here, but There he is!
The Fuhrer!
Well, then, it's time.
SOFT CLASSICAL MUSIC
SINISTER MUSIC
DOOR SLAMS
Well what a revolting display.
What? You and your sister.
Hanging on his every word.
Grinning and giggling at every
banal comment that he made.
What on earth are you
talking about? We didn't
He doesn't give a damn about you!
Either of you!
He just wants to see how
high he can make you jump!
God, it makes you look foolish.
And cheap, frankly.
Are you trying to ruin this day for me?
And who is he, anyway? Hm?
He's just an ignorant little
jumped-up corporal from nowhere.
He's got no manners,
no courtesy,
no respect!
Is this because he left early?
That means nothing. Obviously
he's busy running a country!
If he thinks, because of Cable Street,
that I'm finished,
then he's got another thing coming.
One defeat is nothing.
One defeat. He's had scores of them!
And yet you treat him like he's a God.
It's disgusting.
Look, I am not playing games here.
Hitler is an important ally for us
and deserves respect for
everything he has achieved.
But today
..I married a man
..who has more real intellect
..and vision
..than Hitler or Mussolini put together.
And you have no idea how much
I've given up to be with you.
So don't you dare doubt my faith in you.
NANCY: Of course,
I had absolutely no idea
about Diana's secret wedding to Mosley.
Still preoccupied with
my husband's affair
and my best friend in
hospital after Cable Street,
I failed to notice all the
dramas unfolding in my family.
Including the dilemma
facing my poor father.
The bank has made it clear to him
that the only way of saving
his beloved family estate
was to borrow money.
But to a man of his
generation and upbringing,
this would have been
the deepest disgrace.
So, when he received an invitation
to tea in his own house,
he was obliged to accept.
Ah, Mackinnon.
Lord Redesdale. Come in.
Thank you.
It's Derek. Has he come
to collect you again
in that awful contraption of his?
He's with Pam.
I think it's time he introduced
himself properly to me now.
Well, he's coming up.
Muv. Pamela.
I'd like you to meet Derek Jackson.
Lady Redesdale, a very great
pleasure to meet you at last.
Yes, pleasure to meet you, too.
What's What's going on?
There's something we'd
like to tell you all.
Derek?
Pamela has today agreed to be my wife,
and we're going to be married
in the next few weeks. "Married"?
DEBO GROANS "Married"?
Oh, Christ, Stubby! Get some salts,
get some salts!
Ring the bell! Oh, my gosh, Stubbs!
You'll be all right, Stubbs.
Wake up. SHE RINGS BELL
Hey! Come on now.
Stubbs
I just find it extraordinary
that he just announced
it as a fait accompli.
He didn't even have the politesse
of asking to speak to you.
It doesn't exactly endear us to him,
does it? We know nothing about him.
Other than he's been married already.
Oh, and the divorce has just
come through this month,
which means, of course, there's no
chance of having a church wedding.
When I think of two weddings in a year,
and one so secret that we
weren't even invited to it,
and now this rushed
affair out of the blue,
and both with men who seem
..rather full of themselves.
David, are you listening to me?
Hm?
Yes. Weddings and
And so forth. Hm.
Darling, what is it?
I
I went down to Swinbrook today.
Oh, really? You didn't say. Why?
Mackinnon said he had
He had a proposal for me.
And?
He's, erm
He's offered a big lump of money
..for the house and land.
He wants to buy it? The estate?
Yes.
The whole kit and caboodle.
Well, I hope you told him on
no account would we sell.Mm.
David, that land has been in
your family for centuries.
Mm. Yes. He offered
..?
30,000.
Cash.
Mm.
Gosh!
Yes, that's
..rather my thought.
Well, what did you say?
I told him I would
discuss it with my wife.
MUSIC AND CHATTER
Is it news from Paris about the visa?
No, no, it's nothing like that.
Erm
It's Esmond. He's back.
He's been invalided out
of Spain. Dysentery.
Oh, God!
Back here?
Well, he's in a military
hospital somewhere up north.
Is he going to be all right?
Yes, it looks like it.
The thing is, he won't come
back to the parents' house,
he's too bloody proud for that,
so he's gonna stay with our cousin
in Havering while he's recuperating.
Havering?
Is that cousin Dorothy?
Yes. Is she your cousin, too?
I think she may be my mother's.
Excuse me.
Could you tell him I'd love to
meet him when he feels better?
Yes, of course.
What can I get for you, love?
Could I get the haddock
in milk, please? Yes.
And a tea. And a tea.
We can pick it up tomorrow.
Tom.
Tom. Hello! Excuse me.
Of course.
Back from Berlin already?
Mm.
Did it all go off well?
Yes, yes, thank you.
Good. I did wish you could
have been there, though.
Oh, that's all right,
I quite understand.
But I missed you all terribly.
Muv and Farve, the girls.
Even
Nancy? Mm.
Nothing quite like a wedding to
remind one how important family is.
Mm.
I mean, I know Mosley is
not to everyone's taste
..but it made me realise
I don't want to lose
any of you lot on account of him.
Especially not Nancy.
After everything we've been through.
Good.
I'm very pleased to hear it.
I should be delighted if you
two could bury the hatchet.
Now, would you like me to sound her out?
Tom, I'd be so grateful.
Leave it with me.
I'll pick my moment.
So how's married life
the second time around?
Well, as we can't tell anyone,
or even live together,
it's much the same as single life.
But I do have this
..to remind me.
HE LAUGHS
And what's that on your hand?
SHE LAUGHS
Yes, he gave me that
as an engagement ring,
and I thought, "Well, why not?"
Let people wonder, to their heart's
content, who I might be engaged to.
Who cares?
But, in fact, nobody's
noticed it at all.
HE CHUCKLES
The King and Mrs Simpson?
Oh, no, no, no. This is dreadful!
What? What is it?
Oh. Yes, I told you.
It's been all over the foreign press.
She's been divorced two times,
which means, if she marries him,
she'll have three living husbands.
I just don't know what he's thinking.
I think he should be allowed
to marry whoever he likes.
As long as he loves her, who cares?
"Who cares"? I care!
The coun SHE CLEARS HER THROA
The country cares, darling.
The Royal Family are precisely
there to set an example.
The whole point is that they
put their duty to this country
before anything else.
VOICE FADES: When I think of those
hundreds and thousands of poor men
who gave their lives for
this country in the war,
your uncles included.
One small sacrifice Muv?
Yes, darling, I'm sorry.
It's cousin Dorothy in Havering.
Dorothy? It's an invitation
to a weekend house party.
I haven't seen her for years.
That's incredibly kind
and thoughtful of her.
I mean, you're not going to refuse,
like you usually do, are you?
It'll be good for you to
go out and meet new people.
No. No, I think
I think I'll go, actually.
Really, darling?
Well done.
You see, she's a terribly
hard-looking type of woman.
The poor Queen Mother
must be at her wits' end.
Which way do you think he'll jump?
Duty or love?
Head or heart?
He'll just keep her as
his mistress, won't he?
Following a time-honoured tradition
of British monarchs. Head, I reckon.
No, no, no. He's looking for a way
out of the whole royal shebang.
He'll definitely marry her. Heart.
Well, of course you'd
vote for marriage, woman.
You all set for your own event?
It's not going to be an event.
It's just in, out,
sign the papers, jump on a plane.
Surely you'll buy a dress, though?
No.
Really? Why not?
Cos I hate those stupid dresses.
Oh, charming.
I mean, I didn't mean yours.
Obviously. It was lovely.
Er, but no dress.
I remember you saying he was
the rudest man you'd ever met.
Oh, he absolutely is.
But he's also the most
..exhilarating.
Well, to exhilaration!
Exhilaration!
And now to our real purpose.
Yes. Will you go first, or shall I?
What?
I'll start. You do back-up.
What?
Well, it's, er
It's you and Diana.
She misses you.
She really does.
Time to forgive and forget, Nance.
Can't you just put politics aside
..and remember how close
you two used to be?
For the sake of the family?
For the poor old parents?
EDWARD VIII: "At long last,
"I am able to say a few words of my own.
"You all know the reasons
"which have impelled me
"to renounce the throne.
"But I want you to understand
"that in making up my mind
"I did not forget
"the country or the empire
"which, as Prince of Wales
"and lately as King,
"I have, for 25 years, tried to serve.
"But I have found it impossible
"to carry the heavy burden
of responsibility
"and to discharge my duties as King
"without the help and support
"of the woman I love.
"And I want you to know
" SHE SWITCHES OFF RADIO
Off to bed, you two, come along.
Muv, I want to listen!
At once, please.
I want to speak to your father.
Come on, Stubbs.
Goodnight. Goodnight.
DOOR CLOSES
Sell it.
Hm? The house.
There's no point hanging onto
it and getting deeper into debt.
The world is changing
and we have to adapt, sink or swim.
Are you sure?
HE SIGHS
It's only bricks and mortar, isn't it?
What matters is us.
The family.
There.
Oh, it's so good to
have the walking wounded
back in circulation.
Here's to you.
And it's good to be back.Mm.
Though, I got off lightly
in comparison to some.
At least you won.
You made them turn back.
No, no, we won the battle.
The war is far from over.
Look at Germany.
You know, I've spent
..so much of my life, Nance,
trying to fit in, trying to keep quiet.
But we can't do that now.
We have to stand up and fight back.
Madness, isn't it,
that anyone should have
to fight for the right
to sit quietly in a bar,
discussing life with their best friend,
without fear of persecution?
It is madness,
and yet reality.
Anyway, how is it?
What?
Life!
Modern marriage.
Oh, that.
HE LAUGHS
Well, what happened to you
helped me put things into
perspective, actually.
Really? How? Because the truth is that,
while my husband is out all
night carousing with his
..spoon-faced girlfriend HE LAUGHS
..I can go to bed early with
a book and everyone is happy.
Dessert or soup? Oh,
soup, soup! Poor love.
HE LAUGHS Or I can see my friends,
or I can do anything I like,
without ever again consulting him.
And there's no
There's no true hardship there. It
In fact, it it feels rather like
Freedom?
Yes.
NANCY: Always a late developer,
perhaps I'd finally grown up.
And meanwhile, at cousin
Dorothy's house in Havering,
Decca was about to take her first
steps into the grown-up world.
DOORBELL RINGS
MUFFLED CHATTER AND LAUGHTER
Hello.
I'm Esmond.
I'm I'm Decca.
Yes, I know who you are.
My brother told me all about you.
Actually, it was me who
asked cousin Dorothy
to invite you here this weekend.
Are you fully recovered
from your illness?
Yes, thank you.
Much better. Much.
Are you planning to go back
to Spain? To the front?
Yes.
In about a fortnight.
Well, I was wondering if
If you could possibly
..take me with you.
Yes. Absolutely.
I've got? 50 saved up, ready to go.
You're a serious comrade, then.
Even better.
NANCY: When we finally came
to bid farewell to Swinbrook,
my parents put on brave faces
..but they knew they had
failed in their duty
to pass the land on
to future generations.
Will you miss it, Boud?
Nope.
Keen to move on.
Nostalgia is the opium of the masses.
I thought that was religion.
Same kind of thing.
I've got something to show you, Boud.
But you absolutely mustn't tell.
Boud! When have I ever told?
He gave it to me
The Fuhrer.
..for protection.
Isn't it beautiful?
Well
..I've got a secret, too.
I'm off to join the Communists.
You're going? You're running away?
To Spain.
Oh, Boud!
Well, it's wonderful!
What if one day
..we're on opposite sides
of the barricades
..for real?
Well
..we'll just have to fight
for what we believe in
..won't we?
NANCY: The family had come,
from far and wide,
to say goodbye to the place
where we all grew up.
It was an emotional day for us all.
ECHOING: Lunchtime!
ECHOING: Nancy!
ECHOING: Good morning, Muv! Elbows.
VOICES ECHO
ECHOING: I'm taking
you to the moon!
ECHOING LAUGHTER
Ah, the young master.
Mourning the loss of your inheritance?
Oh, bloody hell, no.
No, I'm relieved if anything.
I mean, I'm not a farmer. BOTH LAUGH
Not a countryman like him, am I?
No, I suppose not.
Here.
Oh!
SHE LAUGHS
Such youth, hope and innocence.
Seems like a lifetime ago. Hm.
Mm! Come on.
MUFFLED CHATTER
SHE SIGHS
No. Go on, Decca.
Hello, hello, hello!
All come to bid farewell
to the fortress?
Well, it's the end of an
era after all, isn't it?
The decline and fall
of the Mitford empire.
Bobo, all the way back
from the Fatherland?
I must say, we're lucky the Fuhrer
could spare you for five minutes.
Can someone please tell Nancy that
I'm still not speaking to her?
Oh, it's all right, Bobo.
I take it as read.
And you, woman,
how goes married life?
Three weeks in, seven countries visited
and, as of yet, not a crushing
disappointment in sight.
Excellent. And has Stubbs found
it in her heart to forgive you
for marrying the man of her dreams?
Not quite yet. Oh, my word!
It's the longest sulk
in the history of sulks.
And that's saying something in
this house. Hats off, Stubbs.
I'm not sulking. I'm actually
making a rather important point
about sisterly loyalty.
Hm. Good luck with that.
And you, Decca?
What news of our communist cousin,
the dreamy Esmond?
Erm nothing really.
I've rather gone off him, actually.
Oh, dear. Oh!
Poor old Esmond.
Here you all are.
Nards! You're here!
Yes, join us, we're just saying our
final farewells to the old place.
Aren't we, Nance?
Hello, you.
I've missed you so much.
BOTH LAUGH
What's What's this?
You're engaged?
Oh. Well, it's
It's Mosley's.
Isn't it? You're engaged to him now.
Erm
Oh, no, you've married him.
Have you? No!
Oh, come on.
He's not a monster.
Isn't he?
Isn't he?
Tell that to the people beaten up
and trampled on in Cable Street.
The women and the children
..with broken bones and bloody faces.
My friends were among those people.
And they used to be your friends, too.
Oh, Nard.
Who have you become?
Nancy.
NANCY: I thought I could put politics
aside for the sake of my family
Nancy, wait.
..but no.
There was just so much
hatred bound up in fascism
that I knew I had to
take a stand against it,
whatever the consequences.
Ah, Nancy, darling,
time for the photograph.
Tom, everyone, come on, come on.
One last family picture.
NANCY: The sale of the family home
marked the end of our girlhood,
but it was just the beginning
of our lives as women.
Come along, Unity, come along.
Into the chair.
Nards, go between Nancy
and Tom up there.
Make some room for her.
There we are. Come on, budge up.
NANCY: And as Europe hurtled
towards another devastating war,
the next few years would be
even more tumultuous for us.
More scandal and tragedy,
more births, marriages, deaths,
and one terrible betrayal.
Shoulders back. Chins up.
NANCY: But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Ready?
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS
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