A Good Woman Page #6

asked me that.

I don't need to be the first,

Stella. Just the last.

There's a taxi waiting

at the end of the dock.

My husband sent you.

Your husband thinks you're

in bed sleeping off...

a litre of Perrier Jouet.

Let's go.

He gave me money,

that's all.

I'm an old friend of the family.

Do you think I'm stupid?

Married to man you love

and running off...

with an international playboy?

Do I think you're stupid?

This is none of your business.

You think because hems are higher

and women can vote...

that anything has

really changed for us?

Friends will stop calling.

He'll be invited into homes

you're not.

You manage.

Don't compare yourself.

It takes practice and

skill to live without regret.

A marriage takes

your whole heart.

Selfish people can't pull it off,

but you're not that.

You can succeed where

the rest of us fail.

- Why should I believe you?

- Don't believe me, believe him.

He's been faithful to you,

I'll swear it on my life.

He told you to lie.

He doesn't even

know you're here.

He never has to know.

You want me to lie again?

Everything's spoiled

between us. I can't.

What's happened to you?

Who taught you to be so

unforgiving?

You made a mistake,

don't make it worse.

You shut your eyes to everything

that isn't perfect...

you're just asking to fall

into a hole.

Fine.

Go ahead.

Step over love to pick up

pride and guilt.

What will that trade

be worth in a year?

In twenty?

Darlington, does your boat

really have to be so big?

You know what they say about

men with big boats.

- I should be getting home.

- You'll take a cigar, surely?

I thought you'd quit

for the love of a good woman.

Good woman isn't exactly the

moniker I'd choose for Mrs Erlynne.

You imply she's

the devil's handmaiden.

Dumby and I are just concerned

for your future.

Devilish women are a bother,

and good ones are a bore.

That's the only difference.

Mrs Erlynne is neither a bother

nor a bore.

You change your habits,

but I doubt she'll change hers.

I've bet Dumby fifty quid.

Enough of this.

I won't hear any more words

said against her.

She's everything I've ever

wanted in a woman.

My dear Tuppy, in this world

there are only two tragedies.

One is not getting what one wants,

the other is getting it.

The last is very much the worst.

The last is a real tragedy.

Marriage.

It has its pains - ask Edna.

Celibacy has no pleasures.

- What would you know about it?

- I can learn.

If it will prove my love.

A woman who needs proof?

Before she'll leave her husband.

John, you are a cad.

We're all in the gutter.

But some of us are looking

at the stars.

What men call gallantry...

ans God's adultery...

is far more common

where the climate's sultry.

That's the one I bought Meg.

For her birthday.

Are you sure?

She must have left it last week

when you came for lunch.

She was carrying it tonight.

One fan looks very much

like another.

John?

- I've no idea.

- Meg's not here, is she?

No, of course not.

- What's that?

- I didn't hear anything.

She's downstairs.

Calm down.

You've had too much...

Don't make an ass of yourself.

Too late.

- Bloody hell!

- You better put some ice on that.

I thought it was mine.

I must have picked up

Mrs Windemere's by mistake.

Tuppy, I swear, I had no idea.

You owe Cecil fifty quid. Sorry.

It seems I'm the ass,

Windemere. Not you.

I spent the night on John's boat.

I had too much to drink.

Can I ask you to forgive me?

I did something very stupid

last night.

You're not in my league.

I made a complete ass of myself.

Ruined it for poor Tuppy.

Better now than later, I guess.

Tuppy?

His engagement to

Mrs Erlynne is off.

What are you talking about?

Last night on John's yacht, Mrs

Erlynne was waiting in his bedroom.

Look, I was drunk, I thought...

I saw your fan, I thought that...

I didn't think.

It was her.

She said she took it by mistake.

- No, that's not true.

- Oh, of course not.

Better count the spoons.

You were right

not to want her here.

I'd have expected more from John,

though. Tuppy's his friend.

She didn't take my fan.

I left it on the...

There's a telephone call

from America.

It's your father, Mr Windemere.

Not now.

No, I'll take it.

He'll worry.

- I love you.

- I love you.

And a woman brought this.

She's waiting downstairs.

Thank you.

What are you doing here?

We had an agreement.

I came to return the fan.

How is your wife

feeling this morning?

You don't get within ten feet

of my wife.

I only asked how she was.

If you're here to tell

her who you are...

it's better coming from me.

It's my secret, not yours.

You've kept it very well.

Twenty years is a long time.

It doesn't seem to have been

too much of a strain.

You see a little girl...

the right age,

you push the thought aside.

Close the door.

Only at three o'clock,

that in-between hour...

too late to do anything,

too early for dinner...

doors come flying open.

I don't believe you feel

anything for her.

You care about yourself,

and no-one else.

Robert.

Your father needs to talk to you,

he says it's important.

Mrs Erlynne

came to return your fan.

She was just leaving.

No, don't leave, I need to

speak with you.

- She'll miss her plane.

- Just a few minutes.

Your father's waiting on the phone.

He said it's important.

It would be a great mistake...

to miss your plane.

I came to make sure

you got home safely.

You can't leave yet.

You're my only witness that

nothing happened.

Your witness?

I'm going to tell him the truth.

What you did is your mistake.

Your sack of bricks. You carry it.

You don't confess and had it off

to someone who loves you.

But everybody thinks

you were having...

They'll think it anyway.

It doesn't matter.

That's not true,

it matters to Tuppy.

I can't be responsible

for ruining that.

You wanna spoil the one

good thing I've ever done?

It's only right to tell him

the truth.

You love each other!

That's your truth.

Why you giving up your chance

of marriage to save mine?

- It doesn't make any sense.

- I'll tell you the truth.

But first, promise you're not

going to make...

some grand confession.

Swear it on whatever you

hold sacred.

I swear on my mother.

Pardon?

She's my guardian angel.

My whole life, I've wanted

to be like her.

I'm sure she wouldn't hold you

to such a standard.

She'd be so ashamed of me now.

We all straddle the abyss,

Mrs Windemere.

If we never look down, how can

we know who we are?

A mother could never be ashamed

of a daughter who didn't fall in.

I hope you're right.

I've never been more certain

of anything.

I swear, them.

What is it you wanted to tell me?

Nothing.

I'll miss my plane.

Goodbye, Mrs Windemere.

I hope we meet again.

So do I.

Mrs Erlynne.

- You didn't tell her?

- No.

Why not?

She has a mother.

A photograph in a locket.

It's a fairy tale.

A kind, caring mother, who loves

and watches over her.

I'm not going to take that away.

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