In Alan Bennett's 'The History Boys', Hector, their teacher (Richard Griffiths) asks them at the start of a French lesson where they would like to work that afternoon. Dakin (Dominic Cooper) replies that he'd like to work in a brothel. "Very well," replies Hector, adding that all the clientele must use the subjunctive or the conditional tense. Posner (Samuel Barnett) takes on the role of the 'Lady of the House', opting to use the name "Simone." He duly admits Dakin and instructs him to remove both his shoes and his trousers. Timms (James Corden) takes on the role of the "prostituée" and tells Dakin that for ten francs he'll show him his prodigious chest. Scripps (Jamie Parker) meanwhile plays something suitably French on the piano. When the headmaster (Clive Merrison) comes in with a new supply teacher and asks why Dakin isn't wearing any trousers, Hector informs him that English is forbidden and that Dakin is a wounded soldier in a Belgian hospital. Akthar (Sach Dhawan) adds that they are in Ypres during the First World War. Hector further explains that Dakin has been mutilated by the war and that all the others are doctors and nurses in a great medical establishment. At that, the boys cry out for their mothers ("Ma mère! Ma mère!") and indulge in suitably therapeutic exercises. When the new supply teacher (Stephen Campbell Moore) offers the suggestion that Dakin is shell-shocked, Hector replies "It's possible," whereupon the Headmaster tries to find some time out of Hector's hours for the new teacher to give the boys additional coaching. Hector refuses absolutely, saying "It's out of the question" and continues the lesson, leaving the Headmaster and the supply teacher to exit on a single expletive! Excerpted with all due acknowledgements to Katya Aristova from whose complete upload of the Broadway production this scene has been taken ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chufigXZzac&t;=1155s

• published: 01 Dec 2017
• views: 20208