Over Here (1996 TV Movie)

Geraldine James: Lady Billingham

Quotes 

• Lady Billingham : Charles, I'll make one last appeal to your better nature! We don't have to go through with this rediculos party. There's still time to cancel the Americans, and just let the nice people come! We could say there's illness in the house - some of the staff have come down with something those type of people go down with.

  Daphne : Oh no - I'm looking forward to this evening!

  Lady Billingham : I don't particularly care, Daphne!

  Charlie : Mother, What's the point of holding an independence Day party without some Americans? Look, the Americans are sharing our base with us. I thought the least I could do was to offer them some English hospitality

  Lady Billingham : I feel exactly the same, darling, but not here! Well, at least cancel your squadron!

  Charlie : Too late, mother - I've invited everyone now!

  Lady Billingham : You seem to be forgetting I have maids working here - young, country girls, who are at an impressionable age. I can't expose them to American airmen!

  Daphne : Mother, they're no different from their British counterparts.

  Lady Billingham : Is that supposed to make me feel better?

  [Spots Butler standing nearby] 

  Lady Billingham : Do you have any experience with Americans, Butler?

  Butler : Very Little, Madam. During the First World War, my sister Violet made the aquaintance of a young Americam airman named Hank. I met him on several occasions. He left me with a lasting impression, and Violet with twins.

  Lady Billingham : There, you see - what did I tell you?

  Daphne : Nobody's going to get pregnant, Beatrice!

  Charlie : Don't put it past me, old girl - a couple of medium sherrys, and I'm a tiger!

  Lady Billingham : Your cousin Rosemary will be here!

  Charlie : Yes, well, I'm sure we won't have a repitition of last time.

  Daphne : Of course not! Anyway, Archie bunting won't even be here - he's still in hospital!

  Charlie : Well, actually, he was discharged this morning.

  [Butler exits via the door in the background] 

  Charlie : Oh look, mother, why do you always look on the black side? I guarantee it will be a very quite, and very civilised gathering.

  [a housemaid enters] 

  Housemaid : Begging your pardon, M'lady. That was Col Hewitt, phoning from the American airbase. He said the band's on it's way.

  Lady Billingham : Dear god!

• Butler : [Clears throat as he approaches Archie and Dougal on the lawn]  Ah-hem. Excuse me, sir. That was a call from your base. Your squadron leave's been cancelled, sir. You're to return forthwith.

  Archie Bunting : [Pained]  Oh no. Thank you, Butler.

  [Butler departs] 

  Archie Bunting : Right, Dougal. Get the others together and be quick about it.

  [Dougal looks shocked, as he is clearly hungover] 

  Lady Billingham : [Calling from far away]  Squadron-Leader!

  Archie Bunting : [Archie and Dougal look around to see where she is calling from. Archie spots her on some steps, nudges Dougal]  Lady Billingham, good morning. Thank you for yesterday. Lovely ceremony, very moving.

  Lady Billingham : [Not impressed]  Is that yours?

  [Points with her head to Archie's Spitfire gracefully sitting on the ornamental lawn] 

  Archie Bunting : Um, I believe it is!

  Lady Billingham : Well, why did you bring it with you?

  Archie Bunting : Well, I need it, it's part of my job.

  Lady Billingham : Who told you, you could land on my grounds?

  Archie Bunting : Charlie.

  Lady Billingham : Charlie?

  Archie Bunting : He's your son.

  [Lady Billingham looks pained] 

  Archie Bunting : He said, 'there's plenty of land, bring the kite'.