A Very English Scandal (TV Mini Series)

Episode #1.3 (2018)

Hugh Grant: Jeremy Thorpe

Photos 

Quotes 

• [over breakfast, Marion is questioning Jeremy about his "Bunnies can - and will - go to France" love letter to Norman Scott which has just been published in the newspapers] 

  Jeremy Thorpe : "Bunnies"?

  Jeremy Thorpe : [to his son]  Rupert, darling, I want you to take that piece of toast and eat it in your room. There's a good boy.

  Jeremy Thorpe : [to Marion]  Technically he was "Bunny", singular.

  Marion Thorpe : Then why did you say "Bunnies"? Were there two of you? Are *you* a Bunny? Am I married to a Bunny?

  Jeremy Thorpe : No, I was using a generic noun in an imperative clause.

  Marion Thorpe : Well, thank God it's grammatically correct, because the whole country's reading this! Bunnies!

  [later scene: Jeremy returns home] 

  Jeremy Thorpe : Well, I saw David Steel. Handed him my letter. I have resigned as leader of the Liberal Party. One word. One bloody word brought me down.

  Marion Thorpe : No, it wasn't "Bunnies". It's because you lied. You told the party you hardly knew Norman Scott, then the "Bunnies" letter caught you out. From that moment on, your position was untenable.

• [after the "Bunnies" letter has been published, Jeremy is explaining himself to Marion] 

  Jeremy Thorpe : Before I met you, um, before I met Caroline... I had moments... certain nights, unfortunate nights, involving alcohol... and, um... with no women in the vicinity, I... I would dabble, to relieve myself... and that's all.

  [Marion looks sceptical but not shocked] 

  Marion Thorpe : So this thing with Norman Scott, it wasn't a relationship?

  Jeremy Thorpe : Oh! How could it be?

  Marion Thorpe : Jeremy, I'm not a fool. I practically grew up with Benjamin Britten. I've seen something of the world. I fled from Hitler, for God's sake. My own son married a hippie in a yurt. And I've toured with orchestras. I couldn't begin to tell you the things I've seen, so there's no need to protect me.

  Jeremy Thorpe : I made mistakes, and I've stopped. And I swear I had nothing to do with that gun and the dog and...

  Marion Thorpe : Of course you didn't, Jeremy!

  Jeremy Thorpe : Absolutely nothing to do with me.

  Marion Thorpe : I'm not even asking. I won't dignify it with discussion, and there's an end to it.

  Jeremy Thorpe : Thank you.

  Marion Thorpe : For what it's worth, I think people have focussed on the word "Bunnies". But the last thing you wrote in that letter was "I miss you". I think that's a wonderful thing for a man to say to his friend.

• [George Carman has been retained to defend Jeremy Thorpe in court, and is meeting him for the first time] 

  George Carman Q.C. : What a great big stinking mess you've got yourself into. I want to say congratulations.

  Jeremy Thorpe : What for?

  George Carman Q.C. : These are the greatest charges ever levelled against a Member of Parliament - and considering the House of Commons has had 270 years of bastards, liars, perverts, thieves, blackmailers, inbreds and arsonists, that really is quite an achievement.

• [private meeting between Jeremy Thorpe and George Carman] 

  George Carman Q.C. : This is the story of a liar meeting a fantasist... but I'm not sure which one's which. My problem is this - it's your turn to take the stand. I have to conduct your defence, and yet I can't help wondering, will you be as convincing as Norman Scott?

  Jeremy Thorpe : Good God. Yes, I think that people will take my word rather than his, yes.

  George Carman Q.C. : But the jury have just seen him in all his glory - an open homosexual, the new world blazing. In contrast, you might seem a little... old. And if they prefer him, you could go to jail.

  Jeremy Thorpe : So what do you suggest?

  George Carman Q.C. : That you don't take the stand.

  Jeremy Thorpe : That would be worse.

  George Carman Q.C. : I wonder.

  Jeremy Thorpe : I'd look guilty. And I'd look like a coward.

  George Carman Q.C. : That might be a risk worth taking.

  Jeremy Thorpe : Are we running, in fear, from Norman Scott? Well, thank God it's not your decision it's mine.

  George Carman Q.C. : My case. My courtroom. I decide.

  Jeremy Thorpe : I could have you sacked, George.

  George Carman Q.C. : Consider the balance of the scales of justice above us. If you don't take the stand, you could look like a liar. If you *do* take the stand, you could look like a liar.