Edward Horniman quotes from The Gentlemen

[at gates of Oscar's residence] The bishop's convinced, if he doesn't come up with the money, he'll suffer the consequences. So we need to identify whoever holds the debt and see if there's a way we can relieve it. Then, if we deliver the son, she'll deliver the vote.

So the bish ish has turned into a mish?

It would appear so.

Can I help you?

We're looking for the gentleman who bought this place. Is he in?

Well, if I knew that, which I do, I wouldn't tell you. See, that's outside of my remit. This place here, that's my remit. Anything outside of this place isn't my, um...

Remit?

Yeah.

How about five grand to see him?

Give me ten, I'll take you to him. Come on in. [leading Eddie and Susie through corridor] Obviously, very much just a shell at the moment, but you can clearly see it's got a lot of potential. Smart kid, that Oscar. Got his nut on straight. Truth is, I've been managing this place since they first drew up the plans. Chief security officer, you know what I mean? So, uh, here's one for yah. Instead of a wage, I just took shares in this gaff. All right, here we are. This is us. Youse two got any idea how much a quarter of a percent of 200 million is?

Uh, yeah. £500,000.

That's your opinion. This is as far as I'll go. I can't cross this line. There's a conflict of interests. So, if you will, please.

[hands over cash] Of course.

[takes cash] Thank you.

[sees Eddie and Susie] Who the fսck are you?ǃ

Your mother sent us. She's very worried about you.

How the hell did you get in here?

Oscar, we're here to help you.

Although, uh, we might have a few questions.

[giving tour] I was offered this place for a hundred million. I know, right. 35,000 square foot set in 14 acres with its own private lake.

Who'd you borrow the money from?

Pat Gallagher. He's a, uh, super-rich Irish fight promoter looking to spread the risk of his investment.

Do we know Pat?

We do. He's a super-rich Irish cоcɑіnе dealer turned fight promoter. I don't doubt he was trying to wash his dirty money. How much do you owe him?

50 million. All I needed was another 20 for the refurb, but then he suddenly turns around, tells me he wants his money back with interest. No warning. I tell him, "I don't have that kind of money." "Not until I sell this place. I need a little time."

What do you think?

I think Oscar needs a pass from Pat Gallagher.

Do we have anything in the way of a backup plan?

No. Without that bird, we will be short 26 votes, our attempts to Shanghai the House of Lords will fail, and I'll be on the hook for 60 million to an Italian crime boss. There is no fսcking backup plan.

Do you need a sweetie? I think your blood sugar's running low.

Oh, I think I need more than that. I say we go to dinner.

[to Eddie, Susie and Bella appearing at his residence] Who are they?

They're here to help. This is the Contessa di Fabri.

Her grandfather was the greatest falconer in the whole of Italy, apparently.

Mind turning down the music a bit?

No, no. I think it's like a lullaby for the falcons, isn't it?

She's right. These birds, they love a bit of Italian opera.

Well, what you need to understand is falcons are incredibly romantic. When they mate, they mate for life. And this is how we're going to find your missing bird.

[leading Eddie through Guildford Cathedral ] It used to take hundreds of years and thousands of men to construct a cathedral, with the confidence that God was listening. This 1960s monstrosity took two years and 100 men. The reason for this is the constriction that comes with the abandonment of certainty. I want to ask you a question. Alongside the inevitable feelings of despondency and regret you must have been wrestling with, did you, at any stage, experience any sense of liberation?

No, Mr. Johnston. None whatsoever.

It's not until you leave yourself behind that you can experience who you really are.

Trouble is that in my case, the process that stripped me of my privileges has left me in a rather precarious position that needs swift resolution, which is why I'd like to offer my estate as collateral for a loan of 100 million sterling.

The very number I offered you the first day we met. ( Stanley chuckles ) Must be fate.

If I can't repay the loan within a year, plus 15% interest, the estate and the grounds are yours.

What do you plan to do with this money, should I agree?

Repay my debts and recapitalize.

Are you familiar with the London Stone, Your Grace?

Yes, it's a... It's a landmark on Cannon Street.

It's much more than just a landmark, but the legend has it that Brutus brought it to the British Isles, the supposed founder of Britain, back in 1115 B.C.

So long as the Stone of Brutus is safe...

So long London will flourish. Hm. Its history, and yours, predates the Roman Empire. The legend states it arrived with the Trojans and landed in the British Isles 1,200 years before the birth of Christ. They saw the potential in this island they named Albion, so they left behind the stone, like a mystical beacon that would pulse for a millennia.

Well, that's a charming story.

I believe that you are the direct descendant of King Priam, the last king of Troy. That your aristocratic lineage goes back much further than you ever imagined, to the ancient Greeks.

You may be slightly overstating my lineage. It's very kind of you. But I'm not here for a history lesson. I'm here for a number.

I will grant you your loan, Lord Horniman, Duke of Halstead. I will have Stevens draw up the contract at once. Not because I wish to acquire your country seat, but more because I'd like to see you realize your full potential.

It's good to see you. [chuckles] You look well. Ah... [chuckles] Considering.

Yes, well, thank you. And, uh... I'm sorry I let you down.

This is the nature of speculation, you know. Sometimes you achieve your ambitions. Sometimes... you fall short.

Look, I understand you can't write off 60 million as pure speculation.

Hm.

But instead of returning the money, what if we went one better?

Mm-hmm.

We take the 60 million, plus another 40 from me, and we invest it. Fifty farms across the continent within three years. It's not about retribution. It's about levelling the playing field.

You made a big play, Eddie. And you lost. People talk. Mud sticks, you know. You know what you need to do now? [in Italian] Retreat... Rebuild... Evolve.

And that is exactly what I intend to do, Marco.

Yes, but you need to earn people's trust.

What... What is this? Is this a brush-off?

No, no, no, no. It's just right now, I think you are not ready.

No, I am ready. No. I am. Before, I was encumbered. Now I am free from my previous associations. They were the ones holding me back.

[chuckles] Yes, you may be free, but you are alone. Eddie, you are alone. You have no roots in the world you intend to operate in. You understand? Ah. Hm?

Fine. Money will be in your account by the end of play.

[in Italian] Obviously. [leaves]

[appears at airfield] I hope I'm not interrupting.

Not at all. This is a pleasant surprise.

Ah, likewise.

Going anywhere nice?

I'm taking an impromptu trip. You know me, I'm a lady of leisure these days.

You're looking good, all things considered.

Thank you.

I'm sorry about the fallout with you and my dad. I thought a slap on the wrist would have sufficed, but you know what he's like when he's in a tizzy.

Doesn't matter now. It's in the past. But I feel like I have a clearer idea of what I want these days.

What's that?

Everything.

Punchy. You've certainly been able to pull some silver linings out of what most people would've considered pretty murky waters.

You have to leave yourself behind to realize the true value of yourself. Once you lose everything, you realize the things that you had were ephemeral and transitory. They were never really yours in the first place.

You're starting to scare me, Eddie.

That's not scary. I'm worried about you, Susan.

Worried about me, how? That I'm emotionally unhinged? Overly materialistic? Lacking in karmic balance?

Sad. That was the word I was gonna use. Sad. Don't worry about me, Eddie. I'll be just fine. Go on. You'll miss your flight. Yeah. Keep in touch.

This is unexpected. To what do I owe the pleasure?

I thought we could have a chat.

You sound serious. Am I in trouble?

No, you're not. I might be. [to server] Uh, Antonio. Two drinks? [to Bella] I wanted to tell you a... a story, Bella. Bear with me, 'cause there's a small chance there might be a happy ending. There was once a man who made a mistake. And the cost of that miscalculation was a punishment. He awoke to find himself in a shallow grave, surrounded by the black abyss of nothingness. The pain was crushing. His legs were broken, and his body was beaten, and any movement invited a mplification of the agony that he was already drowning in. Thank you, Antonio. The only noise he could hear was a voice telling him his time was up. The game was over. The bell had rung. And as he closed his eyes, he accepted his fate. A spark of light appeared, flickering on the periphery of his consciousness. And that spark had an intention. It emanated a single message. "Follow me." And so he did. And after two nights, three miles of quagmire, thorn wood, and bush, he found himself on a suburban A-road on the outskirts of Basingstoke, and... and he was saved.

Why did you stop?

To allow you to finish the story.

How am I supposed to know how the story finishes?

'Cause you were there, Bella. You were on the journey. Every step of the way. I owe you my life. [takes out handkerchief] And, um, now... [places handkerchief on table] you owe me an answer.

[unfolds handkerchief to reveal a finger band ring, exhales] The answer is yes.