hello.
listen. if you've got any sense, you wouldn't take a lift from a strange man.
i am, however, a music lover, and i'm worried about your cello. so what i propose is, you put it in the car and walk alongside me.
ah. good point.
how much does a new cello cost? twenty pounds? thirty? i don't know. let's say thirty.
there. security.
i'm david, by the way.
and you are?
it's a bristol. not many of `em made.
how did the concert go?
what are you playing?
ah, elgar. i often think it's a shame he spent so much time in worcester, don't you? worcester's too near birmingham. and you can hear that in the music. there's a horrible brummy accent in there, if you listen hard enough.
anyway, i'm not sure elgar and jews mix very well.
no. i am. i wasn't. accusing you.
jump in.
where to, madam?
what a shame. we'll just make it last as long as we can.
smoke?
i suppose cellists must go to a lot of concerts.
oh, they're real.
why don't we believe in them?
your father, this is?
which of course is what is so wonderful about them. anyway, you'll go one day.
good for you. which university?
i studied at what i believe they call the university of life. and i didn't get a very good degree there.
hello.
how did it go?
always the mark of a cultural triumph. listen. i'm glad i ran into you. what are you doing on friday?
i meant the evening.
because i'm going to listen to some schubert in st john's, smith square. my friends danny and helen will be going too, so it wouldn't be. i'll tell you what. i'll come and pick you up, and if your mother and father disapprove, then you can have the tickets and go with one of them. how does that sound?
i usually watch danny. he knows that sort of thing.
seven? and we'll probably go for a spot of supper afterwards, if you. but if you, if that's not. well, we can always put you in a taxi.
if you want.
well. i mean, if you'd like supper, then, perhaps on friday you could. not eat?
i'm glad to hear it. hello. david goldman.
you didn't tell me you had a sister, jenny.
you're a lucky man, jack.
so. gosh. this is lovely.
i'd love one, jack, but we're running a little late. if jenny's ready, perhaps we'll shoot off.
oh, it's a pretty straight run, really. up to hammersmith, take the a4 through kensington and you're there.
simple as that.
i was hoping jenny would come with me afterwards to have a bite of supper with my aunt helen.
how about if i promise to have her in by eleven thirty?
thanks, jack. i appreciate it. see you again.
hello hello. are we late?
jenny, these are my friends helen and danny.
shall we?
i booked a table at juliette's. will that kill the mood, do you think?
juliette's it is, then. heaven forbid that we should end the evening reflecting on our own mortality.
have you never heard "chante francoise sagan"?
she's marvellous.
i'd love to. you'd fit right in.
it's wonderful to find a young person who wants to know things. there's so much i want you to see.
are you still all right to come and have a look at that pembroke villas place with me on friday, danny?
do you?
absolutely! why don't we all go to the auction? wouldn't that be fun?
are you sure you're busy?
oh, you know. we kept bumping into each other, and we became pals, and we've ended up doing a bit of work together, when it suits us.
property. a bit of art dealing. some buying and selling. this and that.
i'll be two seconds.
i'm sorry about that.
they're clients.
jenny darling, even schwarzers have to live somewhere. and it's not as if they can rent off their own kind, is it?
you don't need to. it's too boring. all you need to know is that i work in property so that i can take you to nice places.
your turn.
quick!
well done. a nerveless performance.
play for us, jenny.
she's good enough now.
i shall come to hear you in st john's smith square. or in oxford, when you get there.
i'll find a way. i'll talk to them.
jack and marjorie.
oxford.
we'll see.
how much?
you're on.
i don't think i'm very good at eccles.
i wasn't going to disturb you. i knew you'd have your nose to the grindstone.
for all the good it did me.
oh, english. just like every other semi-employed layabout in london.
merton.
i was just telling jack that i'm going back next weekend. i go and see my old professor every now and again.
too true. and clive would love jenny. have you ever come across clive lewis?
i just thought he might know some of the books.
he wrote a children's book called `the lion, the witch and the wardrobe' that did very well, i believe.
well, to us he was just the old codger who taught medieval literature. but i came to know him very well. we just. got along, do you know what i mean?
gosh. that dates me. he was writing them when i was there.
i'm sorry. i'm being slow on the uptake. would jenny like to come with me at the weekend?
oh, once every couple of years. but next time, eh?
well, i wouldn't want to drive back after one of those oxford dinners.
clive will get her a room in college. that's easy enough.
i'd be delighted.
i told you. you owe me half-a- crown.
come on!
how can they only be nearly ready?
maybe later. there are a couple of things we have to do.
so. now.is he clive, do you think? or cs?
there.
well, if you look at it that way. i mean, that's proper scientific analysis. and you can't argue with science.
anyway, tomorrow we'll try to get more of a feel for the place.
all right. think of a number. now think about the most boring lesson you've ever had at school.
let's not talk about curtains. you look beautiful. you really are a princess.
i think that's good. i think that's right. and for your seventeenth birthday i'm going to take you to paris or rome or florence and make you feel like the most beautiful princess in the kingdom of love. but we can still be romantic, can't we?
minnie.
yes. you're my minnie mouse, and i'm your bubbalub.
minnie.
bubbalub.
would you mind if i had a look at what might one day be mine? just a peek?
i just want to see them.
let it fall from your shoulders.
thank you.
might be worth a look.
oh, come on, jenny. let's not spoil things.
i think there must be some kind of misunderstanding.
jenny?
jenny!
it was an old map. a speed. it was cooped up in that miserable little cottage, and she didn't even know what it was. what a waste! it shouldn't spend its life on a wall in wherever the hell we are. it should be with us. we know how to look after it properly. we liberated it.
oh, don't be bourgeois, jenny. you're better than that. i know you have fun with us. i can see it. you drink everything i put in front of you down in one, every last drop, and then you slam your glass down on the bar and ask for more, and it's wonderful. we're not clever like you, so we have to be clever in other ways, because if we weren't, there would be no fun.
and if you don't like it, then i will understand, and you can go back to twickenham and listen to the home service and do your latin homework. but these weekends, and the restaurants and the concerts. they don't grow on trees.
do you understand? of course you do. this is who we are, jenny.
i suppose you have homework to do.
really? in spite of the, the incident? with the map?
exactly. a muddle.
i hope that there's something more than excitement to our relationship.
you know what i'm trying to say. i want you to like me for who i am, not just what i can do for you.
what does that mean?
that's a good place to end the weekend. i'll give you a tinkle.
it's a special day.
oh, i know it. hello, young man.
graham, a pleasure. i'm david.
what's everybody else having? what have you got there, graham?
yes. well. you can put the pop away now. what is there for the grown-ups?
you know me so well.
before you start on that little lot , i have a surprise. next weekend, we're all going to chez georges to celebrate jenny's birthday.
chez georges is in the boulevard st germain. in paris.
listen, i'm really sorry to have caused all this to-do. i just thought it might be nice. but i'll go with aunt helen and uncle daniel. they can have your tickets.
yes, that's the one.
where are we?
of course!
oh, impossible. i hadn't thought it through properly. i do apologise, jack. would you prefer it if helen took jenny on her own? i don't mind. i've been to paris before.
ah. i pushed the boat out and got us a suite.
well, if work stops us getting to paris until tomorrow, then work can buy us a nice hotel room. anyway, it's a special occasion, isn't it?
hold on a second. i've got something.
i thought. i thought we might want to practice.
i thought we'd get the messy bit over with first.
i'm sorry.
i'm sorry, minnie. i'm such a fool.
why won't it ever happen again?
oh.
hooray! i'll order some champagne.
do you still feel like a schoolgirl?
and it wasn't too uncomfortable?
yes. perec rachman. he's a.
he's a business acquaintance, and we need to talk to him.
a bottle of champagne, please.
don't be bashful.
all right, then. if you won't tell them i will. jenny got two as and a b in her mock-a levels.
the b was in latin. but it's much better than it was, isn't it, minnie?
this is the one, danny.
you can see she's different. she's got everything. you've got helen, and.
yes.
jenny, we should go. it's late.
you're all right in a taxi, aren't you?
wait there.
will you marry me?
i thought i had a ring. it wouldn't have been the right one. but it would have done for tonight.
i'm serious.
what do you think?
i thought that, too! i was wondering whether he might be a bit jealous.
you may have noticed that helen's not really oxford material. i'm going to keep him out of your way.
i haven't put my. my stamp on it yet. haven't had time. it needs a woman's touch, really. and if you don't like it, we can move. just say the word.
just down from russell square. two minutes' walk from the underground.
i've stayed there for the last couple of nights. on and off.
is that tea ready? one sugar, please.
i'm sorry. you must think i'm very odd.
a wandering jew. if i tell you something, will you promise not to laugh?
i live at home.
no. i mean. i live at home. in the same way that you live at home.
just my mother. my father's dead. i've been meaning to tell you, minnie, and it would have been much better than all those silly lies. but.
anyway. you can see how much i need you. and you won't regret this, i promise. we'll have so much fun. and just think. when we get married, you won't have to wait in the car while i do my business.  you'll be waiting at home, looking at the burne-jones on the wall. home, minnie. our home. can you imagine?
everybody ready? i think you'll like this place, jack. their wine list is as good as anything i've seen in london.
oh, you won't want to go in anything else after tonight. mind you, it drinks petrol. i'm afraid we'll have to stop on the way in to town.
madame. monsieur.
everyone happy?
is that a good thing?
sorry about this.
you might as well fill her up.
i'm just going to make a quick call. i'll be two ticks.
jenny!
jenny, i.
there's been a. jenny's had a bit of a shock.
jenny, it's not.
of course i can. she's just got the wrong end of the stick about something.
just let me.
legally, yes, but.
soon. it just - it never seemed the right time. you seemed so happy, and i was happy, and. it would have spoiled everything. what can i do, minnie? what can i do? how can.
jenny.
byron avenue.
there's no point.
seventeen.
please. you have to understand. i was with you just about all the spare time i had.
don't be like this.
jenny, i can get a divorce. everything will turn out for the best. you'll see.
they're not going to listen to me now. let me come round tomorrow. when everyone's calmed down a bit.
i owe them a lot more than that. i owe them everything. they gave me you.
jenny.
jenny. minnie. i wanted to tell you that i am going to ask my wife for a divorce.
i can see my behaviour must have been.  confusing. but we've never sat down and had a proper chat about it all. about the whys and wherefores. they can wait. the important thing is that you're still my minnie mouse, and i love you, and you had fun. you know you had fun.