- The newsreels are dead.

We've bored the public for too long.

Give me this opportunity and I'll prove it.

(upbeat jazz music) Thank you.

Of course, I'll need an assistant.

- Two minutes, Mr. Lyon.

- But may I say one more thing... You haven't seen my best yet.

(bright jazz music) There needs to be more on mic.

Track in on caption three, then lock off.

Stand by, studio.

- [Alice] Mr. Lyon.

- [Freddie] Cue Grams.

- [Alice] Five seconds.

- Five - [Woman] Do you want me to tell you when you're to be on?

- [Freddie] Four.

- [John] Yes, I'm ready.

- Three.

Two.

One.

Cue Johnny.

- And here they are, the debutantes of 1956.

- Roll newsreel.

- Young ladies of distinction enjoying a day at the Royal Ascot, and one young woman in particular has caught the eye of a certain leading man actor, Adam Le Ray.

Engagement looks set for the honorable Ruth Elms, Daughter of Lord Elms of Framlingham, to this eligible young bachelor.

All of London society awaits the peal of wedding bells.

- Cue telecine.

- [John] And now here is a summary of the news from abroad.

(bright jazz music) - Did you get it?

- We got it.

- Producer?

- Foreign desk.

- Bravo.

- I haven't told Freddie yet.

- Good luck.

- In Egypt, election victory for the Arab Nationalist, 'Colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser.

Here he is with Prime Minister Anthony Eden, during last years' visit to Cairo, where they discussed the future of the Suez Canal Company.

And that is the end of the news and newsreel from Alexandra Palace, good night.

- And thanking you, gentlemen, and Alice, for another fascinating evening.

May you go home once again happy in the knowledge that we have delivered the important news of the day with the same brisk banality as a debutante coming out in Mayfair.

Three.

Two.

One.

(intriguing music) (vehicle hums) (intriguing music) - Tutankhamen did somewhat neglect his duties as a son, so, you see, even the Pharaohs failed to write to their mothers.

(students laugh) And on that note, papers in by Friday, please.

Any late papers will be returned to you unread, be warned.

(suspenseful music) Hello, operator, put me through to Bloomsbury 7428.

(intriguing music) (phone rings) (window taps) - Darling, our guests are arriving.

- Lipstick.

I left my lipstick in the.

- Impeccable as ever, Johnny, thank you.

Moneypenny.

- James, Friday's running order.

Next time, do it yourself, I am not your secretary.

Night.

(phone rings) - And what of tomorrow, Mr. Wengrow?

I'm gunning for Kennedy for the VP nom, but who knows?

A new hat for the Queen Mother?

A rare sow with 20 in her litter?

- Mr. Lyon, tonight, The Claringdon, you're covering the engagement.

- [Freddie] How could I forget, Georgie?

- Who's getting married?

- Just another debutante.

- [Bel] Night, George.

- How was I?

- A bit slow on that last cue.

- Nice watch, does the broker know it's missing?

- Banker.

- Please, the details of your love life do not interest me at all.

Where did you dine?

- Sheekey's.

We had oysters and afterwards he took me to the theater.

- Dinner, then the theater, I do love a man who plans, that way around no one goes to sleeps on a full stomach.

- Can I cadge a lift?

- Eight letters, 14 down.

"Treacherous foe in bad or in good faith."

Something-O, something-F, something-D. - Bona fide.

(suspenseful music) - Ready?

(tense dramatic music) (elevator dings) - We are calcifying in television news.

- Agreed.

- Hell, martial law may have been imposed in Poland but we've got footage of Prince Rainier on honeymoon with his showgirl.

And, hallelujah, they're dining with the Queen.

We are the nightly dose of reassurance that everything's all right with the world.

- Agreed, agreed.

- Because some edict sent down from God knows who is telling us what and how we broadcast.

We are going to escape.

- Yes, but, Freddie- - Don't worry, Moneypenny, I'll put in a good word for you.

You're coming with me.

(elegant string music) (metro car rattles) (static hisses) (elegant string music) (men fight and grunt) (Peter grunts and chokes) (metro cars rattle) (vehicle hums) - Freddie, listen, your program...

It's everything we've been waiting for.

Working together, it's exciting.

But I need to talk to you before your interview.

Stay and have a drink with me.

- And miss all the fun?

- You stay here and wait for your banker, but I warn you, he'll be late, they're always late.

If he's still not here by nine, come and find me.

- Just try to keep a clear head.

You're impossible.

- [Freddie] Evening, gentlemen, shall we?

- Ladies and gentlemen, it's truly wonderful to be able to share our engagement with so many loved ones.

Lord and Lady Elms, it's an honor and a privilege to join this eminent family.

And so without further ado, I ask you to raise your glasses to my beautiful fiancee.

And we look forward to seeing you a week on Saturday.

And do let's keep our fingers crossed and hope the sun shines.

(crowd laughs) - Ruth and Adam.

- [Crowd] Ruth and Adam.

(glasses clink) (sultry jazz music) (drink pours) - Are you hiding?

- No.

- Yes, I hate parties.

- And I'd just written, "The newly-engaged, "honorable Miss Elms was glowing."

- Hello, Freddie.

- Miss Elms.

Would you like to comment?

- Yes, if you pour me another one of those.

- How old are you now, 20, 21?

- Old enough.

I was 10 when you left.

- Well, congratulations, I wish you the absolute best.

- "A conspiracy is nothing but a secret agreement "of a number of men for the pursuance of policies "which they dare not admit in public."

You wrote that.

- Actually, Mark Twain did, but- - Damn.

- Tilt your head.

Pinch the bridge.

I'm sorry.

- It's only a handkerchief.

- You see it, don't you, Freddie?

You always have.

(door opens) - There you are, darling.

- Good night, Miss Elms.

- God, you're drunk.

- Not nearly enough.

- Would you like to take the lady's coat, sir?

- I'm sure she'll pick it up later.

♪ My landlady's too rude ♪ ♪ In my affairs she likes to intrude ♪ ♪ My landlady's too rude ♪ ♪ In my affairs she likes to intrude ♪ ♪ Five o'clock in the morning ♪ ♪ Me landlady is peeping ♪ ♪ No, it isn't fair ♪ ♪ This prosecution I got to bear ♪ ♪ And every Monday ♪ ♪ Mister give me the rent ♪ ♪ Although I try I cannot prevent she telling me ♪ ♪ "Mister give me the rent ♪ (upbeat music) - [Malcolm] Hello?

- It's just me, Dad.

- Go inside, Mary's out for the evening.

- I wouldn't trouble you, see, but I have to speak with you privately.

It's very important.

- Good day, Frederick?

- You should have the light on.

Mrs B. not been in?

The washing up's still in the.

What are you watching?

- The only thing wrong with her is her weight.

You should see her now, blimey, she's enormous.

- Did you see the news tonight?

- The usual rubbish.

How's that nice girl?

- Miss Rowley?

She's fine.

- [TV] Look, will you leave it to me for a day or so?

I just want to give it a bit of thought, chew it over.

- [Receptionist] Good morning, Broadcasting House.

One moment, please.

- 8:30, I said 8:30.

- Don't mix single malt with martini.

- Oh, wonderful.

Frederick Lyon for the Director of Programs, please.

- Of course.

- I've brought the manifesto.

- That was written years ago, when we were very drunk.

- You were drunk.

I was sober.

You've put three Ts in topicality.

- 7th floor, please.

- Thank you.

Freddie?

- Think I should start with the Marx quote?

- Freddie, you really need to focus.

- No, you're right.

Don't want to scare them off straight away.

Not when one is looking to run- - It doesn't have a name yet.

This changing-face-of-television news program that hasn't got a name yet.

- I'd pitch hard on balancing London news with the provinces, it's important they know you're interested in stories in Bradford, Manchester, Leeds.

- Why?

- Because you need to show them- - Show them what?

- That you're familiar with the demands of home affairs.

- That's your job.

- You need to keep your options open.

- Moneypenny, your eyes look piggy when you lie.

- I'm the producer, the new program, Clarence wants me to be the producer.

(elevator dings) (girls laugh) - Right, you produce, I'll present.

(elevator dings) - Bel, Freddie, there you are.

Now, breathe, Freddie.

- [Bel] Clarence?

- He's waiting but he has a packed day, later.

We speak in full sentences, we listen, and we don't try any funnies.

- Yes, right.

- Your reputation goes before you.

The good, I have been able to confirm, the bad was youthful recklessness, which in your more mature years, you have left behind.

- Clarence, I can.- - Freddie, this is my program.

It's very important that I get the right team and that you are part of it, ditch the manifesto.

Bel told me.

Top button.

(bright jazz music) - 13 minutes, 36.8 seconds, remarkable.

There, there, ballsed it, top of the frame, bloody boom.

How do we run that?

I want two men at Lord's next week to film Jim Laker.

One to hold the camera, the other to keep the bloody boom out of sight.

You play?

- Yes.

No.

Do I need to?

I like football.

- Which team?

- Derby County, my mother was born- - So, not really.

- You're something to do with natural history.

I heard a rumor they're setting up a unit somewhere in the BBC.

I'm a big fan of animals.

- Clarence tells me you're a brilliant journalist.

Give me tomorrow's news.

- Well, a lot can happen in 24 hours.

Eisenhower looks like he'll run for another term, but that's obvious.

I'm more interested in the underdog.

Rumor has it that the young Mr Kennedy is a contender for the Vice Presidential Democratic nomination.

But in newsreels, we don't do scoops.

- Let me guess, accounts?

- Researcher.

You're flying out with a crew to the Amazon, Monday?

- Something like that.

- Do you take sugar?

- That's a pretty blouse.

- So, 60 minutes, six days to get it together, seventh day it's out there, three slots.

Tell me how it looks.

- At the top, New Commonwealth immigration.

75,000 people arriving here every year from the colonies, but what does that really mean?

Martin Luther King gives a public address in San Francisco.

The birth of the new Negro, one who is not crippled by fear and self-loathing, but driven by dignity and destiny.

But we don't even challenge the fact that in every hotel window we still, without shame, say "No Coloreds, No Irish".

Second story, Macmillan and the credit squeeze, obviously.

- And third?

- 13 minutes, 38.6 seconds, it's a good story.

- You've got a boom tracking in every shot.

- Seeing him cross that finishing line's the thing.

It makes it more real, seeing the boom.

It's the mechanics of how we bear witness because that's what we do, what one tries to do, reveal fleeting moments of history, not with apology, not as it is now, endless static newsreel, a man who never leaves his desk delivering the story as if it's the dry, five-minute warm-up act to Hancock's Half Hour!

Of course, we all want to be entertained, but while we're all busy laughing, Russia's aligning its missiles and declaring World War III!

It has to be the hour that you can't miss, the hour you have to see, putting real journalists in front of the camera is sending out the message that you take the news seriously.

- So you see yourself in front of the camera, Mr. Lyon?

- I never understand women and magazines.

They only ever buy them for the pictures.

- You're so right, and those things called novels, impossible, so many words.

- This is where I ask you for a drink.

- Sorry, I have to pack for South America.

- Is this some kind of joke?

Home affairs, House of Lords garden parties and outbreaks of foot and mouth in Keswick?

- The audacity to even think you could present this program.

- He asked for my opinion.

- And you gave it very eloquently, including telling him to stuff it.

This is your fault.

I said talk to him, calm him down.

I said he's a risk, he's always a bloody risk.

But you said no.

You don't lead the story, the story leads you, Freddie.

First rule of news, hmm?

Well, maybe you are better off where you are.

Two minutes.

- You're not in accounts, are you?

- No.

Mr. Lyon.

I am a big fan of your work.

- How, exactly?

I mean which bit of my work?

- Freddie.

- Mr. Madden, my apologies, this is Miss Rowley.

- Yes, I know exactly who Miss Rowley is.

- [Clarence] May I introduce you to the face of our new program.

If you'd like to come this way.

- Christ, he's charming as well.

- Freddie.

(elevator dings) - How could you do that?

How could you not warn me what I was being interviewed for?

- If you would just listen to me.

- I thought it was so sweet that you wanted to meet me beforehand.

- It's still home affairs.

You're still part of the team, and it's the team Clarence believes in.

- What, you, me and Gregory Peck?

What is he, Oxford-educated?

Well, at least you're with your own kind.

Oh, of course, you find him attractive.

You're pathetic.

- It's you who said you were calcifying in newsreels.

Do you seriously want to die there?

The last job I got you, you nearly closed us down because you accused the then Minister of Trade of accepting bribes.

- He had, he was.

- Clarence has championed you since day one.

He was giving you an opportunity and you have just thrown it back in his face.

You could be even more brilliant than you know, but you just have to ruin it.

A new program, a new era, and they want me as producer.

- They're humoring you.

They don't want a woman.

A woman is difficult, hysterical.

And you can never really find one who will ever stay.

A couple more years, you'll probably want a baby.

- Oh, don't speak.

- And even if they don't say that to your face, that's what they're thinking.

Anything else is just your vanity making you believe- - What?

That I can do it?

That I can actually do this?

Watch me.

(elevator dings) (suspenseful music) (typewriter clacks) (compelling jazz music) - Lyon, George wants to bump the Vice Presidential nominations for the Duke of Edinburgh- - Not guilty, Mr. Wengrow is on Royal duty.

- Well, he does look very smart on his horse.

- Copy in by four, ladies and gentlemen, copy in by four.

- Oh, a doctor's been seen arriving at Downing Street, apparently Eden's unwell again.

- [George] Well, you know where rumor gets us.

- And Cairo?

- I'm covering the bobsleigh at Bergen and then I'm- - What to you is rumor, to the rest of the world is foresight, George.

- Have you done your copy for the Elms' engagement yet, Mr Lyon?

- [Freddie] Not remotely.

- You know I have any number of men who would happily fill your post, Mr. Lyon.

- Is that a threat?

- Four o'clock, no Eden, no Cairo.

- [Lix] Don't sulk, spoils your face.

- They could have at least offered me foreign affairs.

- Already taken.

- You?

Traitor, I want my desk back.

- As I recall, I won this desk.

(bright music) You've got absolutely no poker face.

- Mr. Lyon, there's a lady to see you.

She said you're old friends.

(delicate piano music) - Nice coat.

- Mother hates it, I wear it to annoy her.

One needs to find tiny acts of rebellion where one can.

- Is this a joke?

- That's funny.

Most people think I'm too serious.

But I find it very serious indeed, the world.

- You have grown up.

- Oh, don't patronize me.

Why didn't you ever reply to my letters?

It didn't matter.

I've kept up with what you're doing, read your odd articles.

- [Freddie] That makes you quite unique.

- I even found the short story you wrote in The Listener, which, I may add, was not very good.

Though I suppose the novel is perhaps still the last domain of the free mind, where they can't tell you what to think, what to say.

That and art, I suppose.

- They, who are they, what are you talking about?

- They.

They are everywhere.

Here in this building, out in the street, in your office.

They even control what you write.

Have you heard of Peter Darrall?

- He is, he was one of the leading political minds this country had.

He was killed last night.

It will be reported in the evening papers as a robbery.

It wasn't.

There will be no investigation.

Even those who loved him the most will be told to forget him.

They will weave a web of deceitful lies.

You think it's ridiculous?

I wish it were.

I want you to find out why he was murdered.

- Go to the police, I'm not the right person.

- Yes, you are.

You think you live in a democracy?

You think this country stands for freedom of speech?

It does not.

No, I'll make my own way out.

They will kill me if they know I'm talking to you.

(tense dramatic music) - A man, stabbed, North London, came in this morning.

Did anyone see it?

Peter, his name was Peter something.

- Did he forgive you?

- [Bel] Who?

- Mr. Lyon?

You really should have told him, you know.

- He's a big boy.

- You found one another?

Douglas is on his way.

(baby cries) - All right, Charlie?

Here you are.

- No.

- Suspected robbery, came in last night.

(baby cries) Busy frightening babies?

(baby cries) - Plain clothes were in an hour ago.

- Alexis Storm will be heading the foreign desk.

She covered the- - Spanish Civil war in Madrid, broke the news in '40 that the British troops had arrived in France.

- She has an extensive network of stringers all through Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

- I'm presuming that you've resolved the home desk.

- There are a number of faces in the frame.

- Clarence.

- We'll have the claret.

- I realize that Freddie wasn't at his best this morning.

- You don't need him.

- He is passionate.

- He's dangerous.

- There's that very nice chap at The Sunday News Review.

He might be an idea.

- No, Freddie is infuriating and outspoken, but he sees the extraordinary in the ordinary.

I truly believe we need him.

I need him, to make the program the best that it can be.

- And what is that?

- The world that Freddie sees.

A train crash, a labor strike, Freddie will be somewhere away from all the other journalists, talking to the last person that should matter, but that is the story that matters most to ordinary people.

He finds them.

- [Clarence] Douglas.

- Clarence.

I hope you ordered for me.

Please.

- How many men?

- Five.

- MI5?

- Box 850, governor says.

- SIS?

You know you're someone when MI6 come to pay their respects.

Did they do this?

- Someone's looking for something.

- There's 15 pounds in here, wasn't much of a robbery.

(suspenseful jazz) Unless they stole his last cigarette.

- Five minutes, we're done.

- Yes, we're done.

(all laugh) - McCain's here.

- One of Eden's press minions.

- Christ, he's coming over.

- Leave it to me.

- So, this is how Westminster feeds you, hmm?

- Clarence, what a gathering we have here, and Mr. Madden.

- Yes.

- Oh, Miss Rowley.

You did that lovely piece, "At Home With Lady Eden".

My friends so enjoy that.

- Is Prime Minister Eden in good health?

- Yes, he is, thank you.

- Only I heard he'd been unwell again.

- Such maternal instincts, I do think you're rather wasted in news.

I was hoping to see you today, Michael, very keen to have a word.

Pandit Nehru is coming to town.

Barton's been on the phone banging on at me for weeks about having an interview.

"No," I said, "sorry, BBC has first dibs."

Yes, are we celebrating?

- We're launching a topical news program.

- Oh, good, marvelous, yes, does it have a name yet?

- Working on it.

Mr. Madden will present it, Clarence at the helm, and Miss Rowley as the producer.

- That must have been a surprise.

What a coup, Miss Rowley!

Douglas, I must introduce your team.

- It's the mackintosh.

- You left it on the table.

- Thank you.

- How about a brandy to celebrate?

- Well, I'd love to, but beyond that door women are not allowed.

What is it about you men?

You always need a tiny corner where we can't quite reach you.

- Then we'll have to take you elsewhere.

Come on, I'm good at smuggling contraband.

- This is highly illegal.

- That's what makes it so much more enjoyable.

How can you bear that man talking to you like that?

- We'd be foolish to make an enemy of anyone close to government, Mr. Madden.

- Hector.

- Hero of Troy.

- Father with pretensions of a scholar.

- And mother?

- Oh, she died, when I was 10.

- I've been out long enough.

Some of us have work to do.

- So it's true what they say?

You work twice as hard as any man and none is half as good as you.

- I enjoy the company of men.

- Is it true you covered McCarthy's Lincoln Day speech?

- With a tape recorder that didn't work.

- Well, I don't believe you're prepared to give up this job for Mr. Lyon.

I think you'll do whatever it takes.

Take the afternoon off.

You'll be out by the end of the week anyway.

- I hope you're not going to be this lax when I'm your producer.

- Talk to Mr Lyon.

- I intend to.

He doesn't listen to anyone but himself.

(door creaks) - This shouldn't be open.

They told me it was going to be kept locked.

- They?

I have an appointment with Mr Darrall.

- Professor Darrall sadly passed away last night.

- Oh, I'm so sorry.

- You knew him?

- No, but I hoped to.

- If you'd like to talk to the bursar- Was he married?

- Professor Darrall, no, I don't believe so.

- Tragic.

- Apparently it was a robbery.

- You've spoken to the police?

- Well, I'm sure it will be in the afternoon press.

(dramatic music) - All right, sir?

(suspenseful music) - Do you recognize this man?

He works near here.

- Yeah, came in last night, just as I was closing up.

He didn't have no change.

I told him he could pay me tomorrow, but he insisted I take this as security.

It seemed a bit much for a packet of smokes and the thing is, that he didn't come back.

(suspenseful music) (typewriters clack) - Orchids.

You should talk to your banker.

They really are an awful cliche.

- George.

George.

You know I'm leaving, don't you?

- What?

- If I'm about to lose two of my best journalists then I'm entitled to feel a little sore.

You're a big girl, Bel, so I'll tell you this for nothing.

I know, because there are no secrets in this place, you'll have your strings yanked like the rest of us.

- No, George.

- [George] You'll see.

- There you are, Georgie, an eminent professor is found with his throat cut and it's reported as a robbery.

No inquest, no search for suspects, every seam in his suit has been cut.

MI6 visited the mortuary.

- Missed your slot, the program's filled.

- When does MI6 visit the body of a robbery victim?

They won't even answer my questions.

- Why should they?

- They're MI6.

- What, and we should never challenge that?

He still had his wallet and his watch.

Give me another 24 hours and I know I can follow it up, George.

- Though I share your desire to live in the pages of an Ian Fleming novel, Mr. Lyon, I prefer to keep my life separate from a work of fiction.

- No, this is happening now, right now, outside this building, down on those streets, in this world, and we are doing a disservice to the public to deny it.

You won't run this, but you'll run footage of Ruth Elms smiling at her engagement?

- No, the film blew, that and the bobsleigh both gone.

Eddie thinks there's something wrong with the machine.

- For God's sake, George.

Have you had a single original thought in your life?

Do you want to die knowing you were always a yes man?

- If you'll excuse me, I have a news program to get out.

- You know more people watch The Sooty Show than us, George?

- You're sacked.

- Accepted.

- Freddie.

- Buzz off, Moneypenny.

- It is true, I am asking myself why I am doing this, especially as it is you who should be apologizing to me, but that's what you do when you believe in someone.

- You let me go in there.

- I should have told you, I'm sorry.

But home affairs is- - I'm not presenter, not good enough.

- But most of all not here, don't you want to get out?

Who else is going to have you?

You know some nice girl needs to rescue you.

- Who?

There's only ever been you.

And you're not even that nice.

- All right, you sit here, pulling apart some stupid cigarette case when next week you could be- - Before, it was an offer I declined, now, it's a pity post, which I just can't.

- Won't.

- No and don't ask again because, quite frankly, it's getting very tedious, your inability to stand on your own two feet.

But then I suppose one should expect that from you.

I mean, for all your strong talk, Moneypenny, you really are quite hopeless, aren't you?

You want to be, oh, so independent but you just can't quite cut it alone.

Why else do you throw yourself at such unavailable men?

- Bravo.

(typewriters clack) (phone rings) - Yes?

Yes?

- Nothing, they've reported nothing.

- I'm sorry, but you were stupid to ask me to help you and I was even more stupid to think that I could.

Are you still there?

Ruthie?

- Never give up, Freddie, never.

If it's something you truly care about, believe in, then you have to keep kicking back.

Let the rest of them give up if they must but if that is being a grown-up.

I'd rather stay 21 forever.

(line clicks) - Ruthie?

- [Operator] Sir, could you please hang up?

- Could you tell me where this call is being made from, please?

- [Operator] Claringdon Hotel, sir.

(phone dings) - Bel and I are leaving in five minutes.

Stop being such a coward.

When I was in France, there were these men.

I'd loosely call them journalists, but they were never at the front.

They never stuck their head above the parapet, they were terrified of being shot.

Yet, they wrote some of the best battle reportage that I've ever read, filched most of it from us and what they didn't know, they'd make up.

But you're not one of them.

And you'll never truly know, will you Freddie, unless you stick your neck out and get yourself a bit muddy.

Come on, jump, I dare you.

- Coming for a drink?

- [Freddie] Already drunk.

- But I don't smoke.

- Save it for later.

- I wondered if you could have a look at this, Mr. Lyon?

I'd really appreciate your opinion.

- "The tradition of Freedom of the City of London "dates back to the 13th century when it attracted "privileges including being allowed "to go about the city with a drawn sword."

Did George ask you to write this?

Y - Mm-mm It's very...

It's very... Nice and clear.

- It's boring?

- [Freddie] Yes.

- I thought so.

(sultry jazz music) (uptempo jazz music) - You forgot your lamp.

- It's just a piece of tat I picked up somewhere.

- April, 1952, your birthday, I bought it from John Lewis.

- A yellow desk light, just what every girl needs.

- Isaac, in.

- What are you doing?

- I thought we'd come along for the ride.

- Douglas has invited us for drinks at Lime Grove Studios.

- Goody.

- Children, there will be tears.

(uptempo jazz music) (chatter from the TV) - [Bel] Thank you.

- Shall we leave our things over here?

- [Isaac] I think that will be all right.

- What, falling at the first hurdle?

You can do this job standing on your head, Moneypenny, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise, not me, not George, not your stupid bloody banker.

You're the best man for the job and you know it.

- Is that your idea of an apology?

- After I gave you that lamp, we ate at that terrible Chinese.

It's an angle-poise because you press your face too close to the page when you read and there's never enough light.

And you won't wear glasses because you say your nose is too small and with glasses you'd look like a mole.

Which you don't, wouldn't, they'd suit you.

You'd look just as fairly beautiful as you are.

It's yellow because you said no-one wants a yellow lamp.

So I thought if I got if for you in yellow then no-one would steal it from your desk.

(Bel laughs) I do give these things quite a lot of consideration, you see.

The devil is in the detail.

And what you said about my story, you're right, George will never run it.

An academic, seemingly eminent, has his throat slit in a suburban street.

Who wants to hear that?

It shouldn't stop me trying.

That's why I am pulling apart a cigarette case, that's why.

- I want to hear you say it.

- I get first choice of desk and I want an office with a window.

And an assistant, I absolutely need an assistant.

And I won't do the farming slots.

- And?

- May I accept the offer that I so- - Rudely.

- So rudely declined.

(party music) The Hour?

It'll never run.

- Mr Lyon.

- Mr Madden.

- Looking forward to working with you.

- Well at least that makes one of us.

Thank you.

- Thank you.

Welcome on board, comrade.

(bright music) - Help us out, have a look, see what you can do.

- You don't have anything to worry about.

- Clarence, I - Don't say it.

New slate, new day.

(bright music) ♪ And papa said to mama ♪ ♪ Whatever did we do ♪ ♪ To make the baby boogie ♪ ♪ Instead of do-be-doo ♪ ♪ And mama said to papa ♪ ♪ It's funny but it's true ♪ ♪ The baby rocks a boogie ♪ ♪ Like we used to do ♪ - You're always watching.

- I find it helps.

Otherwise one tends to walk into walls, doors, that sort of thing.

- Yes, she said you were witty.

- She's easy to make laugh.

- So tell me about yourself, Mr. Lyon.

♪ Rock, rock, rock it to me baby ♪ ♪ Rock, rock, rock it to me baby ♪ ♪ Rock, rock, rock it to me baby ♪ - No.

Isaac!

Isaac, the cigarette, the cigarette that I.

(compelling piano music) Bingo.

(compelling piano music) - How did you know I like them?

- All beautiful women like orchids.

- Do they really fall for that line?

- Is it bad?

- It's very bad.

- Darling, there you are.

- Well, somebody obviously did.

That's your?

- Wife.

- Of course.

And your?

- Father-in-law.

Douglas and he have been friends for years.

- And I thought it was because you had such a pretty face.

- Hello, you look so handsome.

- Here he is, the face of tomorrow.

Congratulations, Hector.

- Thank you, Wallace.

- Ladies and gentleman, may I have your attention.

We are embarking on what I hope is to become a truly exciting journey.

To the dawn of a new era, "The Hour" is coming.

- [All] The Hour!

(compelling piano music) - [Woman on TV] I think that's best, and I decided to answer that question because I had felt I was going to get rather a raw deal.

- [Interviewer] Well, why?

- [Woman on TV] I've met very many teenagers up and down the country when I was traveling around, and I've been more than particularly struck by their enthusiasm about everything, by their new ides.

(people banter indistinctly) (suspenseful music) (door knocks) (TV blares) - Ruth?

Ruthie, it's just me.

Hello?

(shower rattles) Ruth.

Ruthie.

(Ruth groans) Ruth!

Ruth!

(Ruth chokes and groans) Ruthie.

Ruthie!

(Freddie breathes shakily) (phone rings) Hello.

- [Male Voice] Did you fire Mr. Lyons?

- Yes, he's someone else's problem now.

(mysterious music) - [Receptionist] Good evening, Reception.

- Yes, hello, the police, could you call the police, please?

- [Receptionist] Which room, sir?

- This is room 214.

- [Receptionist] Would you hold, please?

(tense dramatic music) - Are you in discomfort, or does it just seem as if you have a pickle up your backside?

- I want that man banned from the set!

- The World Service sent him up, this is Mr. - Kish, Thomas Kish.

- She wanted me to help her.

- And did you?

- I run a news program.

- I wanted to illuminate the situation for you, but you cannot go ahead with this interview.

(dramatic music) (theme music)