The Remains of the Day (1993)

James Fox: Lord Darlington

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• Lord Darlington : Stevens, I realize this is a somewhat irregular thing to ask you to do.

  Stevens : I should very glad to be of any assistance, my Lord.

  Lord Darlington : Sorry to bring up a thing like this; but, I just can't see how on earth to make it go away. You are familiar, I take it, with the facts of life?

  Stevens : My Lord?

  Lord Darlington : The facts of life, Stevens. Birds. Bees. You are familiar, aren't you?

  Stevens : I'm afraid I don't quite follow you, sir.

  Lord Darlington : Well, let me put my cards on the table, Stevens. I'm so frightfully busy with this conference. Of course, you're very busy too! But, someone has to tell him. In a way, it would be easier for you. Less awkward. I - I find the task rather daunting, I'm afraid. In might not get around to it before Reginalds wedding day. Of course, this goes far beyond the call of duty, Stevens.

  Stevens : I - I shall do my best, my Lord.

  Lord Darlington : I'd be grateful if you even tried, Stevens. It'd be an awful lot off my mind. Look here, there's no need to make a song and dance of it. Just convey the basic facts and be done with it.

• Lord Darlington : We have some refugee girls on the staff at the moment, I believe.

  Stevens : We do, my Lord. Two housemaids. Elsa and Irma.

  Lord Darlington : You'll have to let them go, I'm afraid.

  Stevens : Let them go, my Lord?

  Lord Darlington : Its regrettable, Stevens; but, we have no choice. You've got to see the whole thing in context. I have the well being of my guests to consider.

  Stevens : My Lord, may I say, they work extremely well. They're intelligent, polite, and very clean.

  Lord Darlington : I'm sorry, Stevens; but, I've looked into the this matter very carefully. There are larger issues at stake. I'm sorry; but, there it is. They're Jews.

• Reginald Cardinal : I just don't see how we can associate ourselves now with the Germans. You know, with the Nazi party, they have actually torn up and trampled on every single treaty and seem to be a worst threat than ever to the whole of Europe. Not to mention their brutal dictatorship at home.

  Lord Darlington : My dear boy, when I was in Berlin, I saw, at last, a happy German people, with jobs, with bread, pride in their country, and love of their leader.

  Reginald Cardinal : And, eh, what about the Jews?