Love and Loyalty: The Making of 'The Remains of the Day' Page #2

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...are those persons who go from

post to post looking for romance.

Housekeepers are particularly

guilty here.

- No offense intended, of course.

- None taken.

I know how a house is at sixes and

sevens once the staff start marrying.

Yes, indeed.

- Might I have a word, sir?

- Of course.

My lord, it's regarding

the under-butler...

...and the housekeeper

who ran off last month.

Bad business.

How are you managing?

I've found two

first-rate replacements.

Miss Kenton, a young woman

with excellent references.

Very pleasing demeanour.

Appears to be very able.

And a man with

considerable experience.

- Older and happy to be under-butler.

- Name?

Stevens, sir.

- Stevens?

- Yes, sir.

- That's your name.

- He's my father, sir.

Really?

Couldn't do better.

I'd like to see him sometime.

He's outside the door.

Good. Bring him in.

Thank you, my lord.

Father.

Mr. Stevens, how do you do?

- My lord.

- Very good man here, your son.

He serves the house well.

I don't know what we'd do without him.

- Proud of him?

- Very, my lord.

Quite right too.

Glad to have you with us.

Thank you, my lord.

What are we at dinner tonight?

Twelve, sir.

Right.

Thank you, my lord.

- This pitcher seems out of place here.

- Dining room. Well spotted.

- Hello, William, how are you?

- Good day, Miss Kenton.

I thought these might

brighten your parlour.

Beg your pardon?

They might cheer things up for you.

That's very kind of you.

If you like, I could bring in

some more for you.

Thank you...

...but I regard this room

as my private place of work...

...and I prefer to keep distractions

to a minimum.

Would you call flowers

a distraction, then?

I appreciate your kindness.

I prefer to keep things as they are.

But since you are here, there is a

small matter I wanted to mention.

I happened to be walking past

the kitchen yesterday morning...

...and I heard you call

to someone named William.

May I ask who you were

addressing by that name?

I should think I was

addressing your father.

There are no other Williams

in this house.

True.

May I ask you in future to address

my father as Mr. Stevens?

If speaking of him

to a third party, you may call him...

...Mr. Stevens Sr.

to distinguish him from myself.

So I would be most grateful to you,

Miss Kenton.

I don't quite understand

what you're getting at.

I am the housekeeper in this house,

and your father is the under-butler.

I am accustomed to addressing under-

servants by their Christian names.

If you would stop to think for a moment,

you'd realize...

...how inappropriate it is for one such

as yourself to address as William...

...someone such as my father.

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