All This, and Heaven Too Page #9

I'm not going.

What do you mean, you're not...?

- Not going?

- I'll not step one foot out of this house...

...with that woman.

- The children will hear.

It's time they realized

how you conspire against their mother.

- You who've turned them against me.

- If you don't stop...

They'll realize how I loved them...

...when I'm dead and out of your way.

Then it'll be too late.

In heaven's name, Frances.

Theo! Let me go. Let me go.

I'll put myself out of your way,

I'll never trouble you again.

Frances!

No, Theo!

Papa, don't let her.

Mademoiselle.

May I have the baggage, please?

What's the matter? Didn't you hear me?

I've got to take the baggage.

Certainly, Pierre.

Come, children. Get up.

Mademoiselle,

why does Mama hate everybody?

- Shh. Berthe.

- But she does.

You're wrong. You must remember

that your Mama is often ill and tired.

But...

Come now.

Into the carriage with you.

- But...

- Your mother's all right.

So don't look so frightened.

She asked me to tell you

that she doesn't feel up to traveling.

You and mademoiselle

are to go just the same.

- Are you coming?

- Not this time.

- But that spoils everything.

- Let's not have any argument.

You'll miss your train.

- Come now.

- Hurry. Come.

- You will come and see us, won't you?

- You must.

- Please, Papa.

Yes. Perhaps.

Oh, Pierre, take them into the carriage,

please.

- Then take down my luggage.

- Yes, monsieur.

- You are telling the truth? She didn't...?

- No.

- She didn't harm herself.

- Oh, thank heaven.

Monsieur, we can't go on like this.

Here are the tickets.

I'm sure you will give the children

a good time.

See that they write to their mother.

I shall think of all of you

during the holidays.

- What happened?

- Oh, it's nothing.

But why do you keep

your hand hidden, then?

I didn't want to frighten the children.

It's nothing, really. Only a slight cut.

A letter opener.

The blade was sharper than I thought.

You're sure it's nothing serious?

Shall I send

the baggage cart along, monsieur?

Yes, Pierre.

Isabelle.

Louise.

Where are you?

Isabelle.

Louise.

It's getting dark, mademoiselle.

I wish we brought the dogs.

Now, really, children, it's getting late.

You know Loti is waiting for us.

Where are you?

Well, I suppose we better

keep on looking for them.

Isabelle.

Louise!

- Mademoiselle?

- Yes, darling?

Mademoiselle, what shall we do

if we meet a ghost?

Well, I suppose there are good ghosts

as well as bad ones.

Oh, no, mademoiselle,

not on All Hallows' Eve.

Just the devil and the witches.

- Mademoiselle, let's go home.

Boo!

- I'm a goblin. I'm a witch. I'm a ghost.

- Isabelle, Louise, you frightened me.

- We could hardly keep from laughing.

- We were behind you.

- I thought the goblins had gotten you.

- Oh, no, mademoiselle.

- We were behind you all the time.

Come on.

I thought you nearly saw us.

Mademoiselle, let's go home.

Hush, darling. It's only an old song.

A ghost. Mademoiselle, a ghost.

- Now, Berthe.

- But really, mademoiselle.

Look over there. It's a ghost.

A pretty solid ghost, I must say.

Don't you know your own father?

- Papa, what a surprise.

- What are you doing here?

I knew where to find you.

You know, Loti roasted apples for me

when I was no bigger than Raynald here.

That's what I did, monsieur.

Fix Papa an apple.

- Yes, Louise.

- We were so unhappy you weren't with us.

- Whatever made Mama change her mind?

- Mama is not here.

I asked her to come

but she preferred to remain in Paris...

...with your grandfather and the abbe.

And you came all alone on the train?

Oh, heavens, no.

I had Pierre to protect me.

I hadn't intended to come at all

but as the holidays approached...

...and I thought of all of you...

...I couldn't resist.

Well, mademoiselle,

do you like All Hallows' Eve at Melun?

You shouldn't have...

Yes, very much, monsieur.

Here, monsieur.

Won't you join us at the fire?

Please do, Papa.

I should like to join this family very much

if I'm welcome.

But I can go right back to Paris

if there are any objections.

Oh, no, Papa. Don't think of such a thing.

And you, mademoiselle?

Whatever you think best, monsieur.

- Are you sure the children are all right?

- Oh, but Pierre is with them.

And we promised that after the carousel,

they could see the puppet show.

- I know but it's late. It's a long drive home.

- Good evening.

Good evening. How is Madame Gauthier?

- Fine, thank you.

- Oh, here she is.

Bless my eyes,

if it isn't Monsieur le Duc.

- Madame Gauthier, how good to see you.

- We have missed you in Melun, monsieur.

- The children, are they with you?

- They'll be here.

Mademoiselle Deluzy,

this is Madame Gauthier.

Now, what have you got to warm us?

How about a bottle of my special brandy?

We always have some, monsieur.

Jean, quick.

- Why not sit by the fire, mademoiselle?

- Thank you.

- It's a long time since I saw you last.

- Madame Gauthier...

...I must say you haven't changed a bit.

- Ha-ha-ha.

- May I help you with your coat?

- Thank you.

- I must confess, monsieur, I was cold.

- Ha-ha-ha.

Oh, how the children must have grown.

Wait till you see.

Oh, here's your brandy.

Jean, take this.

It will be nice to see them again.

Raynald, with his big eyes.

Berthe, Louise.

Isabelle must be of an age for marrying.

Madame Gauthier?

- Coming.

Excuse me.

There, you see? I can't hide anything.

Even an old friend reminds me

that I am next door to being a grandfather.

Don't be ridiculous, monsieur.

At Melun,

you're the youngest of them all.

Why shouldn't I be?

Do sit down. Let me have your boots.

Thank you.

Don't you think we all like

to go back to the time...

...when we were happiest?

You see, here at Melun, I can forget.

But what about you?

We've always talked about the children.

It's been "mademoiselle" this

and "monsieur" that.

And there's been so much

I wanted to know about you.

- What shall I say?

- Well, tell me about yourself.

Were you happy as a child?

Well, I was alone,

except for my grandfather.

And he never quite forgave me

for having been born.

He had his reasons.

Was that why you became a governess,

because you were alone?

I've often wondered.

Since I loved children, what better?

Marriage. You could grace any home.

I should never marry, monsieur.

May I ask why you say that?

Well, there is some mystery in my birth,

just what Grandfather would never tell me.

It has not always been pleasant

living with this blank.

I sometimes feel like those silhouettes

artists cut out of black paper...

...and paste against a white card.

Just the outlines of a person

standing against nothing.

How awful for you.

Oh, please forgive me.

I do not want you to feel sorry for me.

I have the children.

And even though they're not mine,

I sometimes imagine they are.

And when I tuck them in bed...

...and know they will wake up

in the morning still loving me, life is good.

Though I shouldn't quarrel with the good

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