A Good Woman Page #3

I'd rather cut off my arm

than see Meg hurt.

Are you protecting her or

your reputation?

You don't know me at all.

Did he work on your

wedding night?

He's very conscientious

and I respect him for it.

Suppose it wasn't work,

suppose he had a mistress.

Well, I couldn't respect that.

Once a wife's been betrayed...

she has the freedom to

do likewise.

No, that would make her as bad

as her husband, wouldn't it?

Modern marriage thrives on

mutual deception.

We are completely honest

with each other.

You should make

him your model.

I intend to.

From this moment on.

Don't you like it?

Oh, I'm saving it for Robert.

He loves figs.

Share mine, then.

Can we go to the

telegraph office?

He probably hasn't eaten.

Alberto? Fabrizio?

Oh, what's his name?

Mario?

Barman.

Whisky.

And another thing, your Mrs Erlynne

has no principles at all.

I like people more than principles.

And people without principles,

even better.

But Lord Augustus, she only

wants you for your money.

Now why shouldn't she?

It's my best asset.

Old-ish, fat-ish,

absolutely no brain...

heaps and heaps of banknotes.

No need to

put yourself down, Tuppy.

Your friends can always do that.

Down by the marina, strolling along,

pretty as you please...

guess who I saw with

Lord Darlington?

They haven't seen him today.

Do you know where

my husband is?

I thought he left

after you, signora.

Robert?

How was lunch?

We went to the telegraph office.

Where were you?

Well, we must have just

missed each other.

Now I see uncle.

He's with the american woman.

Too much rouge and not

enough clothing.

She's appealing to the worst

in the poor man.

It's what women do best.

I heard she left New York

without paying her hotel bill.

Quite a scandal.

- Who? Someone you know?

- Someone you don't want to know.

No. Steer clear.

She's the one

with Lord Augustus.

You've met Mrs Erlynne,

haven't you?

- No.

- But I've seen you.

Oh, was that your foot?

Wherever do you find

shoes to fit?

My feet are in perfect proportion

to the rest of me.

Oh, yes, of course.

Though they have a habit of finding

themselves in peculiar places.

Those people are

staring right at us.

Who?

Don't worry about them.

It's my brother's wife and

her friend, Lady Plymdale.

Lord Plymdale passed on

last year. Liver, I think.

- Poor woman.

- Oh, yes, very sad.

Her hair turned quite

gold with grief.

Erlynne, that's right.

She came into some money.

- I made an investment for her.

- An inheritance, I suppose?

The woman in the shop.

I told you, remember?

The dress?

No, back and almost no front.

You could see everything.

It was indecent.

You're just not used to

Italian fashions, that's all.

No, I'm sure your wife is

on the mark.

Mrs Erlynne is a

notorious Jezebel.

That's a slanderous statement. If you

can't back it up, I wouldn't repeat it.

Robert always gives everybody

the benefit of the doubt.

I'm sorry, I just don't like gossip.

Gossip's all right, it's the

moralising that's in poor taste.

She's got her eye on me,

if you know what I mean.

So I wouldn't worry about what they

say, it's all cats in a bag.

Why, what do they say about me?

That I'm a wanton woman?

Brazen - with a past.

A brazen woman.

Oh, dear.

You're very brazen yourself

to be seen in my company.

I've got a bit of a past

myself you know.

Married and divorced twice.

Every experience is of value and

whatever you say...

about marriage it certainly

is an experience.

People call something

an experience...

They usually mean

it was a mistake.

I couldn't agree more.

We've all got a couple of

skeletons in the closet.

If they're going to rattle,

they may as well dance.

You're absolutely right.

Whenever anyone agrees with me,

I'm sure I must be wrong.

You like to be the

odd man out, do you?

I'll never understand women.

Women don't want to be understood,

they want to be loved.

You're dead wrong on that.

You're very understanding.

That girl in lilac,

do you know her?

Oh, yes, it's Robert's wife.

All lovey-dovey,

very charming.

I wish she'd stop staring at me.

She isn't at all.

Those women must be

giving her an earful.

- You mustn't mind.

- I don't, as a rule.

Look, it's terribly stuffy in here,

I can hardly breathe.

Shall we go? Would you mind?

I can't think of anything

I'd mind less.

Good.

I can't believe it - she's got him!

Poor Tuppy.

Shall I get a taxi?

- Could we walk?

- Why not.

Beautiful city.

The Romans call it

"The Land of the Sirens..."

from Homer's Odyssey.

Is that so? Aren't you clever?

- I read it somewhere.

- I like a good read myself.

Nothing too laborious. I don't want

to tamper with natural ignorance.

- It's the key to happiness.

- Do you really think so?

Absolutely. Good health,

it's important, but...

ignorance is the key. Too much

knowledge and you're doomed.

Well, here we are.

Aren't you going to invite me

in for a nightcap?

The sirens were said to be

half woman, half monster.

They lured the sailors with

their songs.

The ships crashed on the

rocks and the men all drowned.

Oh, let's go in. You can tell me

more about it.

Poor Lady Plymdale, I think she

really likes Tuppy.

- Where do you suppose they went?

- Who?

Tuppy and Mrs Erlynne.

Probably back to her apartment.

Probably.

Do you think he'll invite

her to my party?

I'll make sure he doesn't.

- Well, don't be mean about it.

- No, of course not.

It's just I don't want anyone

to be uncomfortable, you know?

Someone like that makes

things awkward.

You can say it's a small party.

Private, just friends.

- No investors.

- All right.

It's not just girl gossip. John

Darlington knows all abou it.

He said her friend is

a married man.

It's disgusting.

You know what, people like to

hear themselves talk.

- Why do you insist on defending her?

- I'm not defending her.

Yes, you are.

Let's drop it.

It's just... Should you

be helping her invest?

Everyone knows how she

came into the money.

New topic.

Close your eyes.

- Robert?

- Close your eyes.

It's after midnight.

Happy birthday.

- It's beautiful.

- Do you like it?

Thank you.

- I love you.

- I love you, too.

Oh, my!

- Thank you.

- Don't mention it.

You like it?

Food is the rock...

on which we build.

No love is pure and simple

as the love of food.

Love is rarely pure, Lord Augustus.

And never simple.

I don't think you've been

in love, Mrs Erlynne.

You may presume

to call me Stella...

but don't presume

to know my heart.

For your information,

I'm always in love.

Good. Excellent attitude.

And you're beautiful.

Smart, too. Smarter than me,

I expect, but...

that's not saying much,

I'm afraid.

No, I think I'll do very well

to marry you.

How very practical.

I've begun too many romances

out of sentiment.

They always end in settlement.

I could listen to you all night,

Lord Augustus.

Tuppy, please.

You'll think about my offer?

Men don't marry women like me.

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