like this...
...but frankly,
I've come to make a request.
- A personal request, and as a great favor.
- Well, please, sit down.
Thank you.
You see, my grandmother
doesn't know I've come.
I'm afraid I'm not very good
at breaking things gently...
...so I'll get straight to the point.
It's about the rose.
- The rose?
- Yes. The one Mr. Ballard grew.
The Mrs. Miniver.
I hear he's going to enter it
in the flower show.
- You mean, for the Beldon Challenge Cup?
- Yes.
- But no one ever has entered... That is...
- No...
...no one has ever entered a rose
in competition with my grandmother.
And that's just the point.
It's become a tradition for her
to win the cup...
...and her roses mean so much to her.
I know it seems
an awful thing to ask...
...but I thought you might,
perhaps, as a favor...
...persuade Mr. Ballard to withdraw
his rose from the competition.
You see, to be frank, it's such a beautiful
rose it might easily win, and, well...
Miss Beldon...
...may I ask whether
this is an open competition?
- Yes, technically...
- Technically, yes, but actually, no.
- Yes, I suppose that's it. You see...
- I see only too well, Miss Beldon.
Because Mr. Ballard
is not of the ruling class...
...is a mere vassal, as it were...
- Now, Vin, please. Let Miss Beldon explain.
But, Mother, Miss Beldon
doesn't have to explain, not to me.
I'm aware of the influence
of the feudal system in this village.
These are orders from the manor.
Her ladyship must have no competition.
You must excuse my son.
He's just down from Oxford.
Don't apologize for me.
I mean everything I say.
Well, I'm glad to hear it,
but do you do anything about it?
Do? Why, what do you mean?
If you feel something is wrong,
what are you doing about it?
I've spent holidays the last few years doing
settlement work in the slums of London.
- You wallow in luxury all the year...
- I don't wallow!
...and think a few weeks playing
Lady Bountiful...
- Come, Vin.
- It's not much, perhaps...
...but it's the only thing I know.
- What have you been doing?
- I?
- Well...
- I see. Just talk.
- That's all right. It's easier.
- Listen, I didn't say...
Oh, don't apologize.
I know how comfortable it is to curl up
with a book full of big words...
...and think you're going to solve
the problems of the universe.
But you're not.
A bit of action is required now and then.
Action? If that's what you
and your class are asking for...
...maybe you'll get it one of these days.
- Maybe. But not from the talkers.
Vin! Remember, Miss Beldon is a guest.
If you have any manners at all...
Manners? A humble working man
is denied the reward of his artistry...
...to gratify the vanity of an aristocrat...
- Quiet. This isn't your concern.
I beg to differ. I'm concerned
for a fellow man's dignity.
And the indignity
that's heaped upon him.
- You'll excuse me, I'm sure, Miss Beldon.
- Certainly.
- I must apologize for Vin.
- Oh, no, please, it's all right.
And besides, he's rather nice, isn't he?
- What?
- Well...
Really, you know, he's perfectly right.
I have not a leg to stand on
in this business.
I shouldn't have asked you.
I realized that before the words
were out of my mouth.
It's just that my grandmother's over 80
and takes such pride...
...in winning year after year.
- Of course.
But please forget
I said anything about it.
Anyhow, I'm glad we met at last.
- So am I. I hope we see more of each other.
- I hope so too.
- You'll be at the sailing club dance tonight?
- Oh, yes.
- Good. I'll see you there, then.
- Goodbye.
To hear people, you'd think
Mr. Ballard committed a crime.
I don't hold with people getting
ideas above their station.
Who's he to think he can
enter his rose in the show?
- And who's to say he can't?
- Nobody's ever entered a rose...
...against Lady Beldon since she started 30
years ago, and keep a civil tongue...
...or I'll be doing my shopping
in Meekham after this!
My