A Woman's Vengeance Page #4

Judges and Admirals, authors.

And then me in the middle of them.

What do you expect me to do?

Don't do anything.

Just be.

That's good enough.

But after all, I'll

have to say something.

What on earth shall I say?

- Well ..

Ask them what they think

about the Einstein theory.

Henry, you're a beast.

You might at least pretend

to talk to me seriously.

After all, you talk seriously

to other women.

Which other women?

Miss Spence for example.

You are serious with her, aren't you?

- Oh, am I not?

That's precisely why I

married you .. and not her.

Which showed there may

be something more ..

In marriage than the ability

to make polite conversation.

Oh, Janet.

Curse these painters.

Janet .. what a pleasant surprise.

I thought you were in Cornwall.

I had to go to town unexpectedly.

So I took the opportunity to

do a little burglary on the way.

Without letting us know you'd be here.

- I'm just riding through.

How did you know I was here?

- I saw the lights on.

Oh .. and here you are.

Well .. I am delighted.

Now, let's see.

This seems to be ..

Comparatively free of paint.

Sit down, will you.

May I? I won't stay long.

I am glad you came, Janet.

As a matter of fact.

It will save me writing a letter.

- What's this?

Open it and see.

But Henry .. it's Emily's bracelet.

And Emily would want you to wear it.

- Me?

I don't know anyone who has

as much right to it as you do.

No, Henry. I don't deserve it.

Here, take it.

- But Janet, she loved you.

She would want you to have something

that would always remind you of her.

No, I can't.

- Now, Janet.

I shall be offended

if you don't take it.

Henry .. do you want me to have it?

Of course I want you to have it.

I just felt it was too much.

- It's not nearly enough.

It's really very beautiful.

Do you mind if I finish up

this little job while we talk?

Of course not.

How did you like Cornwall?

Oh, beautiful.

I love thunderstorms, don't you?

Frankly, I don't.

I once saw a man killed by lightning,

just a few feet away from me.

Goodness! This is like the

overture from William Tell.

I knew this would happen.

Heaven knows where

they keep the candles.

No, don't. You're spoiling it.

Look at the trees. Writhing, struggling

as if they were trying to get free.

But they can't, they can't.

They're tied down.

One, two, three four.

Less than a mile away.

Listen. What a relief.

What a liberation.

Like someone who kept everything locked

inside herself, and now she can let go.

You must have know

what that's like, Henry.

Know what what's like?

Poor Henry, you haven't had much

happiness in your life, have you.

Oh .. I've done pretty well,

things considered.

Health, money .. books.

Golly, how I hate this.

You are quite right, Janet. I am far

from being happy at this moment.

You can make a joke of it, but I

know what you've been through.

The isolation. The spiritual loneliness.

Right overhead.

It's wonderful.

Like passion.

- Now, now Janet.

You've been reading too many novels.

Passion, passion.

You know what I mean.

Loving so much or hating so much that in

time it breaks out in spite of yourself.

Like lightning. Like a thunderbolt,

like the wind and the rain.

And woe to the man who comes

out without his umbrella.

You know, that always makes

me think of Benjamin Franklin.

Sending his ridiculous little kite into

the middle of an electrical convulsion.

Heaven knows why he wasn't killed.

He certainly asked for it.

Henry, we're free now.

We needn't pretend any longer.

I don't quite understand.

I tried to hide it.

But you must always have known,

just as I've always known about you.

About me?

- Of course.

I knew what you felt.

And I knew you would never admit

out of a sense of honour and duty.

I respected you for that,

even though I suffered from it.

We don't have to think of

anyone but ourselves now.

Janet, really.

You don't understand.

We can't. We mustn't.

Forgive me, Henry.

Please forgive me.

- My dear.

Don't let us say anything more about it.

Your nerves are on edge. It's ..

It's the thunder.

I ought to have known

how you feel about it.

It's all too recent, too painful.

Poor Emily.

- Emily?

Her face.

I thought I'd put it out of my mind.

So frightened.

So horribly frightened.

And I talked about ..

About us .. no wonder it upset you.

Can you forgive me?

Listen, Janet.

I think I ought to tell you.

While I was away in Cornwall.

What happened while

you were in Cornwall?

Well.

To cut a long story short.

I got married.

You go married?

- Yes.

Someone you don't know,

as a matter of fact.

I've only known her for a few months.

But I'm sure you'll like

her when you meet her.

Of course, she is rather young.

Only about ..

Eighteen, as a matter of fact.

Quite a baby.

- Eighteen?

Yes. It's absurd.

So you see, she has

plenty of time to learn.

What are you laughing at?

- Oh, nothing in particular.

Janet.

We're still friends, aren't we?

- Of course we are.

Better than ever.

Nothing like a good joke

to bring people together.

A joke?

You didn't think I was serious, did you?

No. No, of course not.

Well.

I must be getting home.

- I will take you in the car.

You should see the roads. I almost

had to swim back from aunt Nelly's.

Oh.

Ah .. Doris.

This is Miss Spence.

You have often heard me talk about her.

How do you do.

- How do you do, Mrs Maurier.

Even though it sounds ridiculous for an

old woman like me to call you that.

Do you mind if I call you Doris?

I'd love it.

- And you must call me Janet.

Yes, Miss Spence .. I mean Janet.

Isn't she adorable.

Well, I'll get my coat.

Tell me, Doris.

Are you very, very happy?

Yes .. I think so.

You only think so?

No. No I don't mean that.

I'm sorry.

Let's talk about something

else if it upsets you.

But I am happy.

Really and truly. It's just that ..

Well, I'm not very clever.

Henry seems to know everything.

You know. About art and things.

Art and things. Oh, you sweet child.

Well.

Here we are. I shan't be long, dear.

- Henry, please let me go with you.

No. No you stay here

and change your shoes.

I don't want to.

What's the matter? Afraid of the dark?

No .. afraid of something else.

Can't you feel it, Henry?

You must be very insensitive.

Feel what?

She's still here isn't she, Doris?

Alright. Come on. Lets go to the car.

Well, well, well. Married, eh?

Sensible fellow.

And high time this girl got married too.

Give her a talking to, Maurier.

Father.

I'll do my best.

- Well, where is she?

Take off that ridiculous hat.

That's better.

It's your mother when we were first

engaged. The living image of her.

Turn around.

Yes. Definitely so.

Do you remember the picture

of her in the riding habit?

That's the thing she was

wearing when I saw her first.

Don't you ever ride in

anything but a habit, my lady.

Women aren't the right

shape for breeches.

Whereas the riding habit .. well ..

A man could still have illusions.

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