Barchester Chronicles (1 of 7)

to be sure mr. Harding is a good one believes in the legend II is struggle to teach and is guided by the presets he has written to learn and yet and yet what mr. bone I believe him to be corrupted you said he was a good man your own words and good men can be corrupted by what lies around them especially in the Church of England the sound Apple is subject to decay by the rottenness of the other contents of the barrel I realize there is a great deal of public criticism of the established Church it's a popular pastime at the round that Barchester would find it difficult to believe that mr. Harding is corrupt not morally corrupt oh but legally which is why I came to you for guidance you hoe reforming zeal taking the upper hand again mr. bold is there something evil in wishing to right the wrongs in our society now professionally speaking I'm all in favor so tell me more about this good man's corruption mr. Harding is like many other men within the established church he receives material rewards out of all proportion to the contribution he makes to humanity you mean he is overpaid yes mr. Harding is the warden of Hiram's hospital I know that the hospital was founded in the 15th century by mr. John hire as an arms house for retired wool carders that a considerable sum of money was set aside for the purpose under the direction of the Bishop of Rochester together with a considerable area of land and property I believe that the total income is now absurdly in excess of mr. Harding's earthly requirements mr. Harding was appointed by the bishop yes twelve years ago soon after mr. Harding's daughter married the bishops son corruption and nepotism they're all good and decent people mr. Finney or honorable men yes well how does mr. Harding dispose of his surplus wealth POW dings church using shortly regard the connection of church music as being willful extravagance and self-indulgence people come to my surgery complaining of illness when they're only ailment is lack of food and this would feed them for a year I understand so what are your legal requirements I would like to know the precise terms of mr. hannumas will so that we might check whether it is being properly administered whether there might be case for changing its terms I also like to see the accounts for the hospital for let's say the last 25 years very well um you know mr. Howe did yes I known mr. Harding his daughters since I was a child a friend of the family a good friend of the family yes I will take the necessary legal action meanwhile why don't you ask mr. Harding directly as a good friend of the family about the corruption and nepotism that was beautiful mr. adi knew you before if you like music thank you thank you buns have you come to see el no no I'd come to see you if you can spare the time of course one evening call is worth 10 in the morning I love social talk after dinner that's why I dine early so to get as much of it as I can I fear this is business talk mr. Harding business I wish to speak to you about the hospital very well you shall speak to me a bunch hospital come sit down now what can I tell you about the hospital apart from the fact that it's the most perfect place I know it's about the accounts a hawk then my dear fellow I am afraid I can tell you nothing I am as ignorant as a child you must know how much you receive they pay me 800 pounds a year which is probably far too much but isn't my decision and how much to be old men receive one shilling and sixpence a day it was one informants but I increased it when I became warden I have the greatest regard for you mr. Harding li kuis respect me on this bow thank you thank you very much mr. bow but never mind that I am as capable of being in the wrong as any other man but I must express what I feel lest you should think there is any personal enmity and what I'm going to do personal enmity ha ha going to dome what what are you going to do cut my throat I fear there is reason to think that John Hiram's will is not being carried out to the letter I've been asked to see into it very well I have no objection no objection to lawyers inquiring into the financial circumstances of the hospital why should I object I may appear to be interfering in your affairs if you act justly say nothing in this matter but the truth and use no unfair weapons in carrying out your purpose I have nothing to forgive I presume you and your fellow reformers feel the time not entitled to the money I received from the hospital very well you must do what you consider to be your duty and I shall do mine John excellent timing we shall have some tea I think not I have a long day tomorrow in the circumstances but Thank You Harding mr. Hardy why should he call me miss Harding he is John and I am Ella and what circumstances we shall have some tea good heavens the effrontery of the man he has the right to ask the question he has no right to imply that you're stealing money which question has he the right to ask are the terms of John Hiram's will being properly carried out enter what is the answer to the quiz answer is yes they are in the letter and the spirit have you read the will no have I freed will that once upon a time recently in about thirty five years ago when I first became Bishop who there were a lot of papers and documents for me to read I don't remember what it said do you know what the will says I know that John Hiram died in 1434 and left sufficient money and property to maintain the hospital according to the standards of 1434 I also know that the value of the property has increased several-fold since then enabling me to enjoy a handsome income why not perhaps John builds legal advisors will tell us why not both the man is an upstart a reformer he might even be a radical for all I know it's quite clearly a stumble I like John bode very much item yes I am aware of that but then you like everybody now I have personally no direct evidence to form a judgment on mr. bones character no evidence Oh give me mother but you're talking nonsense of course we have evidence he accuses you of corruption I think he accuses me and all of us I think he accuses us of nepotism but you like him yes if you look at it from his point of view why should I look at it from his point of view he has now point of napkins let the Wharton pursue his argument I'm Steven forgive me consider the idea of nepotism from Jon bones point of leave he sees my old friend the bishop he sees my old friend the bishops son as Archdeacon he sees the archdeacon's father-in-law as warden of the hospital the father the son the father in-law all holding high office within the church a merit of course that there can be no question particularly in the case of the father and the sample well thank you for explaining the mr. bells case about nepotism and naturally I cannot agree with it but you gaze a certain logic scene from his prejudice point of view I tried to see this question through John bull's eyes I think it's sensible huh particularly because it is just possible that he may become my second son-in-law mr. booth and Helena that there has been no engagement as so have eleanor would have told me but i see they're fond of each other and i see no reason to obtain no I suppose I couldn't teach myself to welcome him into the floor I say reason to object if he were to marry lla he would be my brother-in-law good heavens this man who probably wants to close all the cathedrals and the parish churches and distribute the proceeds among the Methodists and Baptists and evil I think he only wants to clarify the terms of John Adams will shall I tell you what I think where your views are always welcome Archdeacon tell us what you think I think the church with its allegedly ill-gotten gains can afford better legal advice than that available to mr. Bould I think that we should consult sir Abram at hazard good heavens but mr. Harding what about mr. Harding he is one of the most loved and respected men in Barchester I love and respect mr. Harding my complaint is not against him but against the institution that sustains him people go hungry well the church goes fatter day by day I agree with you about the wealth and corruption within the church I support the campaign that seeks to remedy the situation but why pick a sweet and gentle man like mr. Harding why not run your campaign against somebody like dr. VZ stand up stand up I don't think I know him tell me about him you spent all your time buried in your letters and campaigns in the Jupiter and you don't hear the common gossip of Barchester dr. Stunna is the rector of Crabtree theoretically has a handsome living and spends all his time on the banks of Lake Como in Italy collecting butterflies I must investigate dr. Steiner I wish you would do so and forget about poor mr. Hardin I've been asked to inquire into the running of Highlands Hospital there is no turning back who asked you Tom to hurt I thought so many people have reason to be grateful for Tom's work he sits in his cozy little room in London looking for campaigns that cause the maximum of trouble to the people concerned and none at all to him nonsense I do not like Tom towers you haven't met I don't care well he's coming to stay with us where as soon as my inquiries have reached a suitable stage and you didn't see fit to consult your sister first about the convenience of such a visit no I didn't and for that I apologize dust on tars know that mr. Harding is the most loved and respected man in Boches we are concerned with principles not individuals Eleanor is an individual if you push a stone down a hill once it has achieved a certain momentum will continue to the bottom of the hill and if anybody is in the way unless they are in the way a petition yes Leicester sir I never signed a petition before very simple never signed anything that March let me explain this will go to the bishop asking him to see that justice is done to the legal recipients of the charity and what does that mean it means money hmm but only if all 12 of you sign the petition there's a problem a problem to our branch tell me about the problems I don't see that mr. Barnes will sign - Mr Bond very loyal to mr. Harding is mr. buntz but so we all are but it was him mr. Barnes specially 11 signatures will be quite acceptable well that's the other problem mr. pants is the only one a congrat if all of you make your mark that will be quite acceptable in the eyes of the law well I don't know what to say with a lot of respect for mr. Harding but I have a lot of respect for mr. Harding you do winter yes this is not an attack on mr. Harding this is simply an attempt to see that justice is done justice yes meaning money yes how much could be as much as a hundred pounds a year after pounds a year is that each each of you is entitled to 100 pounds a year by common law as I understand it if they'll am nervous make our mark that is an essential first step you should have 11 marks supposing I have to write a mess now that'd be the loss except for mr. Vance once nine once the lawyer said pay no heed to bunts he said 11 marks would serve now we've got eleven eleven we've got bonds come jump in the river that's right that's what bunts can do but combustible label any welding nothing well that's the same we have the advantage over all of you I can read and I can write my name I tell you this you don't know Gloria Andy one that you ever did much good on thinking I mind my own business master bunts and you do the same and you're spying and poking here won't make no difference and used your name on that petition have you all right yes I have what is it to you what he signs he can sign what he likes in his own room he doesn't have to ask your permission did you ask permission to come into this room sneaking in here without permission and it he's busy and you're not wanting I've known job stop it 60 years I know the mother that bore him when she and I were little we things picking daisies together in the clothes order I've spent 10 years under the same roof with him after that I may come into his room without axing leavin yet no sneaking neither so you can't mr. bun so you can sofrito tell him my mind nor tell him he's done a foodie kind of wrong thing he's playing the game of others who care nothing for him poor a rich sickness our elf Ally were dead a lot of you soft enough nothing but if I under a year peak given it's the lights and I don't get it did any of us ever do anything worth half the money was it to make gentlemen overs we were brought here when all the world turned against us we couldn't longer earn our daily bread not you all as rich in your ways as steradian is aren't you getting all you up for hmm iron morn you up for wouldn't each of you have given the dearest limb of his body to secure that which now Mitchell's are ungrateful we won't what John Hyrum left us we want what's ours by law no matter what we expected what ours by law should be ours and buying collars we mean to have it long you know poor man yet was bellyful law lawyer mr. gunsmith will mr. Finney be as good to you globe as the warden has been he seat you and you see comfort you when you're Richard wait till you are all on your damn beds then cry out for lawyers see what good it'll do you you're scare what I can't understand is why you let them do this in the hospital I saw no reason to stop oh why you let them do anything I don't understand that fellow bowled on the premises there are no petty fogger Finney but this why'd you top ones to destroy it that would hardly have been wise well it's a short answer they'll get I can tell him why shouldn't they petition it if they're if they want why shouldn't they want to why shouldn't they I'll tell them why they shouldn't we live heard that oh yes I think they will have heard it alright good good what are you going to my study you're staying here with me now if I heaven's sake don't let's have a division in the camp unless you wish to be ruined quietly if I'm to be ruined I would much rather be ruined quiet let us have a long pool and a strong pool but above all a pool all together come on come don't be afraid of your duty who date you gentlemen for you hope you're well warden and miss Eleanor yes thank you but very well like why is my lord and your good lady the children are plump stood yes thank you pants we are all in accent oh but not in excellent spits do sit down all of you let us approach this matter in a friendly and informal manner now my man I would like to say a few words to your good friend the warden here and myself and my lord the bishop on whose behalf I wish to speak to you would all be very sorry very sorry indeed that you had any just ground for complaint any just ground for complaint on your part would be dealt with at once by the warden or by his lordship or by me on his behalf without the necessity for any issue I'm told you would restitution to my daughter yes we have a petition in which you express an opinion that you do not receive from hardens estate all that is due to you that's right sir but be the case I don't know now what is it you ask for what is it you want that you have not got here ah unreal a year that's right 100 a year are you mad when John Hardin built a hospital for one an old men worn out old working men informal men pass their work cripples blind bedridden and suchlike do you think he meant to make gentlemen out of them oh my men I will tell you what on our own and even that twelve poor worn-out old working men who could no longer support themselves but no friends does important who must starve and perish miserably if not projected by the hand of friendship he meant that told such men but come here in their poverty and wretchedness and find within these walls shelter and food before their death and a little leisure to make their peace with God that is what John harem meant he will not read john hardens Lou and I doubt whether the wicked men who are advising you have done so I have I know what his will was that is to say I understand fully the spirit behind it I tell you that was his will and his Will shall be done hello art showed her an aphasia and flew have you not every indulgence that you are capable of enjoying have you not twice better food twice better bed ten times warmer air you are ever capable of enjoying and judge your petition for a hundred pounds a year you are do you do you are made fools up by wicked men acting for their own ends I tell you you will not get a hundred pencil yeah more than you get now in fact it is very possible you might even get laughs yes it is very possible to file on the bishop and the warden hear me make idiots no no no no no no I um I want no changes at least no changes which will make you worse off than you are already not so long as you and I all live together god bless you mister adding god bless you sir we knew you as always our friend cisely we are your friends so let there be an end to this nonsense well maybe I spoke to them lately oh yes you were plain enough yes I let everything you wrote at everything with these a lot of people one must speak plainly or one would not be understood I think they did understand me oh yes they understood you all right now they know what to expect from us they know that we're not afraid we shall triumph mr. Harding we shall triumph we shall have him John we shall have them I'm sure we must start now so this is where you tend the sick and needy it is and expose the corruption of the established church I understand the bishop is taking council's opinion really they've consulted Sabra haphazard the Attorney General he you were pleased by that John I'm delighted taking councils opinion is the last refuge of the guilty and the desperate we have them on the run I forgive me I thought you were alone Mary I would like you to meet Tom towers Tom this is my sister Mary good afternoon miss bolt good afternoon mr. towers a great joy and pleasure to meet the sister of such a dedicated campaigner for social justice john is an excellent doctor - will we be reading about the campaign in the pages of the Jupiter the press has a clear responsibility in these matters corruption must be exposed to the clean air of public scrutiny perhaps you would like some tea we'd love some tea mr. towers must be tired from his journey in the country that changed from London to Barchester extremely fast comfortable and clean I understand the trains from Barchester to London are equally efficient mr. towers your sister not a campaigner then John oh yes she's a campaigner different campaign is only one campaign nay a crusade we make no apology for launching another Thunderbolt in the familiar direction of the Church of England we are informed that the warden of old arms house attached a Barchester Cathedral is in receipt of 25 times the annual income appointed for him by the will of the founder while some yearly expended on the absolute purposes of the charity has always remained fixed in other words the legatees under the founders will being the aged and the infirm have received no advantage from the increase in the value of the property during the last four centuries such increase having been absorbed by the so called warden it is impossible to conceive of a case of greater injustice it is no answer to say that some twelve old men receive as much of the goods of this world as such old men require on what foundation moral or divine traditional or legal is grounded the wardens claim to the large income he receives for doing nothing does he ever ask himself when he stretches why his clerical palm to receive the pay of some dozen of the working clergy for what service he is so remunerated does his conscience ever entertain the question of his right to such subsidies or is it possible that the subject never so much as presents itself to his mind good heavens we must express our opinion that nowhere but in the Church of England and only there among its priests could such a state of moral indifference be found I'm sorry for such a brief visit done not without impact I suspect indeed drive on come along tis all in the Jupiter well so it must be true see here it says mr. Arden's no better than a robot where does it say that what here you see ya robber oh I see it robber does he say we should all have a hundred a year of course he do does it say all our names well no no he doesn't say our names but that wouldn't believe but he says the money she's a hundred a year so I was right to sign the petition of course she was right didn't we tell you so hmm and you old Billy you was right - still don't know I'll take that what right have you to take it just given to me by my legal attorney mr. Feeney I have the right because I can read it there's only kindling the rest of you are you proud of yourself why it doesn't come into it I think it is mostly pride nonsense and the monstrous conceit of your friend Tom towers tom is a courageous man or so courageous that he runs off to London and leaves you to cope with the consequences of his arrogance consequences Oh you nowhere but in the Church of England could such a state of moral indifference be found but I assume we do not agree with that assertion a gross exaggeration well well ought we not to do something to correct this assertion now make a tentative suggestion excellent one of us could write a letter to the Jupiter clarifying gently and politely but firmly that there is no state of moral indifference in the Church of England a sound suggestion where's that a letter to be published it would be smothered in ridicule fairly but I hadn't realized that you leave out some word or letter make some tiny error of grammar or syntax and the ignorance of the clergy will be hopped upon when I must confess I always have trouble with the subjunctive the smallest mistake will be interpreted as self condemnation whatever you say they will alter to prove that you are vulgar ill-tempered irreverent and illiterate that we hunt none of those things are we bought in vulgar ill-tempered a Reverend and what was the last quality on your list illiteracy litora no we are none of these things I freely confess to other frailties but they will take those frailties and transform them instantly into total and comprehensive guilt of every crime in the statute book including blasphemy dear me well I wasn't aware that newspapers behave like this though I I rarely read them as you know but Jupiter is omnipotent a man may have the best causes the best of talents and the best of tempers but if the Jupiter decides he is no better than a criminal he has no chance of defending himself what the Tsar is in Russia for the mob in America so is the Jupiter in England goodness me that being said we shall have no truck with the dubidouxs well if that is your considered opinion good is what we to do something hmm yes yes there is something ah something we have to study the word officer Abraham haphazard there has been a reply ootek you want a cube Oh baby the word of sir abraham has many syllables there are copies of the will copies of letters copies of accounts copies of wardens journals copies of leases in fact there are copies of everything that can be copied including some that cannot well or free to read any of this I fear it is inevitable oh yeah but I mean could we not just write a letter to the Jupiter No I hope you don't mind talking in here I'm working it makes not the slightest difference where we talk are you angry you've read this yes it is part of your campaign against my father no not against your father against the institution of the church what I read here is a personal attack against my father miss Harding your father is everything that is kind and generous he always was so mr. bold you may be sure of one thing I shall always judge my father to be right those who oppose him I shall judge to be wrong they don't oppose him those who do not know him oppose him I shall have charity enough to believe that they are wrong through an error of judgment yes yes that I understand when I see him attacked by those who know him and who want to love him and revere him those people I cannot forgive those people I do not wish to see again then miss Harding I love you you recap has there to indicate that you have found it this appears to be the gist of the matter you mean to say amongst all these documents there is a gist a memorandum from zebra hmm well estai read this so could you explain it to me you are safe how am i safe mr. John bailed and his associates have made a technical error they have started proceedings against mr. Harding naming him as warden of the hospital I'm warden not if you look at the original wording of the will it says my lord the bishop being graciously pleased to see that do justice be done and so forth you see the point no for them to bring a successful action they should have named the people actually responsible for the carrying out of the terms of the will now in legal terms mr. Harding is merely a paid servant the defendants Vince Abrams view should have been either the corporation or possibly the chapter or more likely my father not you and you are the one named in that case hmm it seems to me to be a very fine legal quibble well so abram specializes in find legal levels you see quite sure about this fine legal quibble but let me tell you what he says uh he says yes by the time such a point is resolved in the courts the other side will have been forced into at least fifteen thousand pounds worth of legal costs now where can they find that amount of money the hospital is safe I am safe splendid because the church has more money than the Reformers and because of a fine legal quibble I'm safe yes does sir Abraham say anything about the morality of the situation's opening up the legal profession does not concern itself with morality ah Department is it not forgive me give me Bishop God March Deacon if the world considers me to be a thief it is a small comfort to know that a fine legal quibble says that I am NOT excuse me my father-in-law can be a very difficult person he has persistent doubts of Christianity do you want me I was only come to Acts after your reverence I'm well enough thank you mr. Feeny was here this afternoon there was some talk they've been news from London about the hospital mr. Feeny was looking very unhappy there was news from London that much is true is it good news I suppose it's bad news for mr. Feeny and for those of your fellows who expected a hundred pounds a year so it must be good news for you sir the Archdeacon seems to thinks he'll perhaps the bishop thinks so I do not consider it good news they' lord why mr. Adi God's will be done God's will be done mr. Harding it's too late to be working there is work to be done you cannot hope to reform the whole universe Aliana I have to try well you could leave some of it to other people especially Barchester web artists I have spoken to Eleanor future you'll have to speak to Ellen for both of us John yes is it so important campaign do you mean yes of course it is man's to have the courage of his convictions carry them through to their proper conclusions whatever the personal cost and you are totally convinced of the Justice of your campaign have you truly considered its impact from every point of view including that of mr. Harding that is precisely what I'm doing at this moment but John you please I need silence I don't know you ever read the Jupiter No tell me the truth perhaps sometimes the devil sometimes have some very good tunes I don't understand no do I my dear but I am trying very hard I know that ultimately we are not supposed to understand but I also know that we must try father gosh my dude just for a moment I cannot I will not give up my work I understand that but I fear on this occasion the hospital mr. Harding I think I am wrong what man can find salvation in legal quibble your friend dr. bold he is no longer my friend whether or not he is your friend I think I think what he says about the hospital and about its warden I think he is right you

Channel: Barchester Chronicles

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Length: 54min 6sec (3246 seconds)

Published: Wed Mar 16 2016