From a scientific point of view, perhaps the part of your brain
responsible for memory has a little flaw.
A neurological problem that leads you to think
you are repeating experiences.
Perhaps you HAVE been here before
and your dreams are memories and premonitions.
We may never know.
Most ancient religions adhered to an idea of circularity.
The snake with its tail in its mouth, and so on.
If the bride's parents could swap places.
Why is this wedding so small?
We wanted to do it right away.
And Derek didn't want any fuss.
Ursula didn't care about weddings.
She wanted to be married.
She wanted a partner with whom she could navigate life's obstacles.
Cheerio.
Honeymooners? Yes.
It's going to rain all week.
Doesn't matter. We'll stay in.
You can't stay in. You've paid for half board.
You've got to be outside between the hours of ten and four.
Doesn't matter. There's some wonderful local art galleries here.
I came here when I was a boy.
I nearly drowned in the sea in front of this hotel.
Trying to rescue my sister, as a matter of fact,
which, ultimately, I successfully did.
I nearly drowned too, when I was the same age.
It's something we've got in common.
Drowning?
Surviving.
I'll unpack.
Let's get comfortable.
She also hoped the house would look more cheerful in sunlight.
I trust you consider it suitable? It's very nice.
Now, I know you're not used to cooking,
so I'm expecting a few bad dinners,
but I'm confident you'll improve with practice.
I really like stews.
Ursula hated stews.
I'll make some.
I know you had servants, growing up...
Well... Staff.
..but I'm just a humble schoolteacher.
To my mind, there's not much more important in the world
than a good schoolteacher.
Let me show you the rest of the house.
Mother picked out a lot of the decor.
I hope you like it.
Very much.
What a nice dining room.
Now, we'll be eating in the kitchen. This is my study.
No girls allowed.
I'm joking, of course.
You may dust the sideboards and sweep the floor
but I must beg you not to touch anything on the desk.
On that desk lay the keys to our future fortune.
My publishers believe the new textbook that I'm writing
will sell even better than the last one.
And the last one sold jolly well, so...
Perhaps I could help you with your book.
I can type up your notes for you,
and the manuscripts, when you're ready.
That's so sweet, but entirely unnecessary.
To write, a man needs the three Ps.
Do you know what they are?
Pencil, paper and peace.
Find yourself a flat surface.
Good. Make sure this bar hits here.
Would you like a go?
She said she's a bit of a slave to the kitchen but she's very happy.
Derek's working hard on his new textbook, which is exciting.
It's called From Plantagenets To Tudors.
God! What's it called?
She really did pick the most boring man alive to marry.
I think it's rather rum that she hasn't invited any of us over.
It's not rum, Teddy. They're newlyweds.
She's fine. Here, read her letter if you want.
Oliphant. Why do I know that name?
Perhaps you know my husband, Derek Oliphant.
Yes, I knew his mother.
She worked here years ago.
Helped make the sandwiches for the teas.
So you're married to her son, then?
She used to bring him around sometimes.
He must have been about nine.
Now he's a teacher and a writer.
What was he like as a little boy? Good?
Or always getting into trouble with his sister?
Sister? His sister.
There was no sister. Mrs Oliphant never mentioned another child.
She may not have mentioned another child, but Derek has a sister.
He's mentioned her several times.
How is it?
Too much salt? Too little salt?
Criticism will be gratefully received.
There's far too much salt.
I passed the tennis club today.
I filled out a membership form.
Didn't I tell you that I've already spent all of my money on you?
I've bought you an entire house.
Are you sure you've got the right house?
If Mr Oliphant resides here, then we have the right house.
I'm afraid your husband is, as we say, in arrears.
Considerable arrears.
He owes us a great deal of money...
..and has ceased to respond to our communications.
And you're the bank? We're the bank's representatives.
We were garnering a proportion of his salary but, as you know,
he's now been released from his position at the school.
No.
That's not correct. That's where he is now.
I don't know where he is now, dear, but it isn't the school.
He was fired.
He was overzealous disciplining a student.
They threatened to go to the police.
Well...
..what do you want me to do?
Mrs Oliphant, we don't know where the money is to come from.
But unless it is found,
the bank will retake ownership over this here house.
Mr Oliphant is writing a book
and he expects that to bring in a certain amount.
His last one did very well.
I can talk to him about securing an advance of sales.
Yeah, Mr Oliphant has referenced the hoards of gold
he made from his last textbook.
Only trouble was, when we looked into it, it doesn't exist.
It was never published.
No, you don't.
No, you do not!
You're a liar! You've written no books!
You don't even own this house! We're up to our ears in debt!
It was the longest walk of Ursula's life.
Her heart was beating so fast, she thought it might give out.
All the way, she expected to hear his footsteps
running up behind her.
My God.
Her nose is definitely broken.
You'll need an X-ray to confirm it
but I think her cheek bone is cracked. That might require surgery.
All right.
Are you going to involve the police? No!
Apparently not.
Listen, when you called, I thought it was about having dinner again.
I very much enjoyed myself last time.
It was a hoot. Let's do it again.
John, you're half my age.
Another dinner would be madness and heartbreak.
What good could possibly come of it?
Ursula sent a message to Fox Corner saying she had gone away
for the summer.
A touring holiday of the Highlands, with Derek.
Those teeth are even better than your first lot, don't you think?
Thank you.
Thank you for paying for them.
Happy to.
The Adventures Of Augustus is still wildly successful.
I'm still writing one every six months,
and they sell out constantly.
I've got fat little royalty cheques flying about all over the place.
One thing I do not have is anyone to share my good fortune with.
Well...
..thank you for sharing it with me.
Teddy?
Where's Izzie?
She went out.
Fine now. You're bruised.
You should have seen me before. I'm glad I didn't.
Thank God you're leaving him.
You're all grown up.
I know.
Look.
I've got muscles, too.
Champagne.
Your freedom.
Who have you been fornicating with? Fornicating?
Get your hands off her.
Is this him? Is this the man you've been whoring around London with?
Run away, Teddy.
Teddy.
Be careful, Teddy.
Congratulations, Mr Todd.
Doctor.
I shall call her Ursula.
What do you think?
I like it.
Welcome, little bear.
So I'm not really dying
and being reborn?
I have no idea.
I wouldn't waste too much time thinking about it.
You'll never know. So what should I do?
Do what most girls your age do.
Try and enjoy yourself.
Howie, come on, chum.
He's coming!
English girls, you really are something.
Where were you?
Kissing one of those border specimens goodbye?
Stop it, Izzie.
I found your ball, Teddy.
Excellent.
What's the matter?
I've written a book inspired by Teddy.
Instead of being pleased, he's mortified.
My apologies.
The Adventures Of Augustus?
Why is everything an adventure with you?
Because life is an adventure, of course.
I'd say it's more of an endurance race.
Not that bad, surely.
Sort of an obstacle course.
Wise beyond her 16 years.
Absolutely.
An old soul.
It didn't surprise us, you know, that Izzie had chosen Teddy
as the hero of her story.
Teddy was everyone's favourite.
Don't get upset, Ted.
Only about three people will read the silly book.
I don't know why I bother coming. Everyone is always so rude to me.
It was true that everyone in the family
was extremely dismissive of Izzie, except for Ursula.
She adored her aunt.
Ursula intended to model her own future very much on Izzie's.
She would be independent.
She would make her own money.
Her mother, she knew, was dependent on her father.
Ursula planned to find ways to take care of herself.
Lord have mercy. What was that?
Maurice is teaching Ursula to shoot.
Why?
She asked.
Again, I ask why.
She's bored, I expect.
Why do I keep missing?
Well, girls can't shoot. It's a well-known fact.
I'll become the exception to the rule.
Is there a shooting club at Oxford I can join?
There is an excellent shooting club and no girls are allowed.
With good reason. Give it to me.
I can't quite see the point of you going to Oxford.
The chaps there prefer local women, just so you're aware.
No-one's looking for a blue stocking.
Thanks for the warning.
Of course, I suppose you're studying modern languages because
you've finally worked out no man in England will have you.
Time to offer yourself up to the Germans.
You are hilarious. You should be a comedian on the wireless.
Sadly, Whitehall calls.
Sorry.
That was awfully close.
Serve coming in.
It's not the first time he's nearly killed you, either.
Didn't he tried to smother you in leaves, once?
He certainly did. I had to rescue her.
Men are inherently violent and they don't care a fig
about the toll it takes on the world. Not all men.
You went to war, didn't you?
Yes, I suppose I did.
He volunteered.
It wasn't any fun, though.
Why don't you children go and fetch me some cherries?
Bridget can make a pie.
Can Bridget make a pie?
Mrs Glover left us all of her recipes.
A mixed blessing.
Maurice has a point, in a way.
I don't know why I'm going to Oxford
or why I'm studying Modern Languages.
I don't have a plan at all.
Does there have to be a why?
A thing leads to a thing, leads to a thing.
I suppose I'll teach.
Actually, what I really want to do is travel.
There we have it, then. That's why you're studying languages.
Mrs Livingstone, I presume?
Do you ever get the feeling you're waiting for something
but you don't know what exactly?
Gosh.
All the time.
Race you.
Go!
Ursula journeyed to a mysterious forest -
the Bavarian Forest of Germany.
Er kommt! Er kommt!
Halt!
Wir treffen uns heute Nacht im Pfadfinderlager,
um uber die deutsche Kultur zu diskutieren.
We're having a party with them.
I think she said a discussion group on German culture.
Bis spater! Sie ist Englanderin.
Perhaps a cup of tea on the veranda later?
I've learned to enjoy a beer.
Weiter!
# Kuss mich, bitte, bitte, kuss mich
# ' die letzte Bahn kommt
# Kuss mich ohne Pause
# Kuss mich, bitte, bitte, kuss mich
# Wenn die Bahn dann ankommt
# Muss ich ja nach Hause
# Kuss mich, bitte, bitte, kuss mich
# ' die letzte Bahn kommt
# Kuss mich ohne Pause
# Kuss mich, bitte, bitte, kuss mich
# Wenn die Bahn dann ankommt
# Muss ich ja nach Hause. #
Danke schon.
# We two have run about the hills
# And pulled the daisies fine
# But we've wandered many weary ways
# Since auld lang syne
# We two have paddled in the stream
# From morning sun till dine
# But seas between us broad have roared
# Since auld lang syne. #
Wunderschon.
Klaus! What?
Before the Fuhrer was the Fuhrer, he would eat here quite often,
and then he became the Fuhrer and they doubled the prices!
Inflation. Ja, inflation! Danke, Klaus! Das ist problem.
Es wird immer schlimmer und schlimmer und schlimmer!
Are you frightened?
Just that it'll hurt.
From what I understand, it doesn't hurt very much.
You make me feel like such a fool.
That's an incredible...
Zufall? Coincidence.
Yes.
What is?
You also make me feel like such a fool.
Why?
Beautiful women always make men feel like fools.
Jurgen.
The violence will pass. People are letting off steam.
Isn't that your friend?
Yes. This is his room.
I think it probably is time for me to go home.
What will you do there?
Iterate.
Iterating.
Reiteration.
Reiterated.
Reiterating.
On her return, with an eye to entrance into the Civil Service,
Ursula did an intensive shorthand and typing course in High Wycombe,
run by a Mr Carver.
When she applied for a job in the Civil Service,
Ursula had rather presumed that Maurice
would put in a good word for her,
but instead he had blustered on about nepotism
and having to be seen to be above any suspicion of favouritism,
so it was without Maurice's help she was accepted into the Home Office.
She entered a world of buff-coloured folders and filing cabinets.
I gave him hell.
Maurice, can you please remove your children from my legs?
Can't hear you.
Watch out, boys. Your uncle Teddy is coming to get you.
I'm here to rescue my sister.
Release her at once.
You do or you don't think war will be declared this week?
I really can't say. Come on, Maurice.
Of course, you couldn't possibly say what goes on within
the hallowed walls of government. I can't, actually.
He probably doesn't know. I know all kinds of things.
I don't believe you.
I'm beginning to suspect you just go around counting things.
If you think I don't know anything, then why did you ask me?
My husband asked me to, even though I warned him
you'd be terribly annoying about it and lord it over the rest of us
without saying anything helpful. Your husband knows I know things.
How is everybody? Hot and tired, I'd say.
I think they'll announce war formally very soon.
I heard they're evacuating London hospitals next week.
You see? This is why you shouldn't have females
in the bloody government.
Is that really what you heard, little bear?
At least you're too old to fight this time.
We'll have to join up.
War was declared
and the brothers did join up.
Jimmy joined the Army and Teddy the Air Force.
Maurice fought the war from the relative safety of Whitehall.
Ursula's job was to collate and record an endless stream
of figures that represented the blitzed and the bombed.
She was to mark down every detail.
What type of bomb, the damage done,
how many killed or injured.
The tally mounted horribly.
She knew girls who collated statistics from battle.
Those numbers were becoming incomprehensible.
She decided these encounters with Fred Smith would have to stop.
Then, later, she worried she had been an awful snob with him.
Why had she quoted John Donne?
A quick word with you, Ursula.
Do you want some tea? I was about to seek some out. That sort of day.
No tea, thank you. I wonder if we could have some privacy?
Listen, I'm sorry to have to tell you this.
Ted's caught one, I'm afraid.
Caught what?
Ted.
Ted's plane has gone down.
Ursula, do you understand what I'm saying to you? We've lost him.
Well, then, we'll find him.
I think she probably needs a glass of water.
I'm going to get him back.
What?
I'll get him back.
Thank you.
Years later, at Ursula's retirement do,
she would realise that the person giving the speech
about how Ursula had paved the way for women in the Civil Service
had been the girl who brought her a glass of water on that terrible day.
Retirement didn't suit her.
What had she left undone? - she wondered.
The feeling was a hangover, she assumed, from a lifetime
of projects and deadlines, but it was persistent.
She couldn't shake it.
She couldn't help feeling that there was still some great task ahead
that she needed to complete.
Hello.
Ursula, come in.
Come in, it's all right. Quiet.
Come and meet your brother, Teddy.
Isn't he perfect?
Yes.
Shall we leave him to sleep?
All right.