An Ideal Husband Page #8

- I admire him for it.

I admire him immensely for it.

I shall write at once...

.. to the Prime Minister.

If you'll excuse me for a moment,

Lord Caversham.

Lord Caversham.

What is the matter with this family?

There's something wrong here, eh?

Idiocy? Hereditary, perhaps.

Both of them, too.

Very sad indeed.

They're not an old family.

Can't understand it.

I suppose I'd better go back

to the Prime Minister...

.. and tell him Chiltern won't take the seat.

Not yet. I'd rather you took a seat yourself.

- What are you prattling on about?

- Go in there for a while, Father.

Second palm tree to the right.

The usual palm tree.

- I want you to talk to somebody.

- What about?

About me, sir, hmm?

Not a subject on which

much eloquence is possible.

Gertrude...

Yes, Arthur. It is Robert

who wishes to retire from public life.

- Really...

- It was he who first said so.

Rather than lose your love,

he would do anything.

- Has he not been punished enough?

- We've both been punished.

I set him up too high.

Do not, then, set him down now too low!

It is not the perfect but the imperfect

who have need of love.

You seem to know a great deal

about everything all of a sudden.

Oh,... well, I hope not.

All I do know...

.. is that it takes courage to see the world

in all its tainted glory...

.. and still to love it.

Even more courage to see it

in the one you love.

Dear Gertrude,...

.. you have more courage

than any woman I know.

Do not be afraid to use it.

Thank you, Father.

Can't say I hold out much hope, old man.

Lord Goring,...

.. you have something...

-.. you wish to say to me?

- Um... ahem.

Marry me, M-M...

Marry me, Miss Mabel.

Well, Lord Goring,...

I must say this comes as quite a surprise.

Oh, well, if you need time to consider,

I'll just...

No! No, I don't need time...

I need a reason.

What?

A reason why you think

I should marry you.

Oh... um...

Um... a reason, you say?

A good one, yes.

- Oh.

- Robert.

May I?

Of course.

Gertrude!

It is enough to know

you would sacrifice it...

.. when I asked.

We have, all of us, feet of clay, Robert.

Women as well as men.

Can it be that...

.. you've forgiven me?

Oh, I-I suppose it must be that.

Oh, goodness!

Hold me, Robert!

Forgive me.

Gertrude!

Gertrude, my wife!

- I love you.

- I love you.

I love you.

Is that your reason?

Mmm.

I love you.

- Mabel, I said...

- I-I-I know.

Well,...

.. couldn't you...

.. love me just a little bit in return?

Arthur,... you silly!

If you knew anything about anything,

which you don't,...

.. you'd know I absolutely adore you.

- Really?

- Mmm.

Well, why didn't you mention it before?

Because, dear boy,...

.. you never would've believed me.

What the devil's going on in this house?

Congratulations! If the country

doesn't go to the radicals,...

.. we shall have you Prime Minister!

Thank you. Arthur, I wish there was

something I could do to repay you.

Well, Robert, as a matter of fact, there is.

You are your sister's guardian.

I'd like your consent to our marriage.

- Oh, I'm so glad!

- You wish to marry Mabel?

Yes.

- It's quite out of the question.

- Oh, Robert!

I have to consider

Mabel's future happiness.

As much as I care for you, Arthur,

I don't think her happiness...

.. would be safe in your hands.

But I love Mabel.

No other woman has a place in my heart.

Darling,...

.. if they truly love each other,

why should they not be married?

I shall tell you.

When I called on Lord Goring

yesterday evening,...

.. Mrs Cheveley

was concealed in his rooms.

I then discovered that they were

at one time engaged to be married.

I'm very sorry, Mabel,...

.. but how can I possibly

allow you to marry him...

.. when he's involved

with another woman?

I'm sorry, Arthur.

It would be wrong of me.

It would be unjust to her.

Very well.

- But, Arthur...

- Shh.

Mabel,...

.. there is nothing I can say.

Robert,...

.. Arthur was as surprised as you...

.. to find Mrs Cheveley there last night.

He was expecting...

.. quite another woman.

Another woman? You mean...

Well, the truth is...

.. the business

about Mabel and Mr Whistler...

You see, that was just...

my friends being kind...

.. and... um... protecting me.

Er, well, the truth is,...

when I agreed to the story...

.. about the letter being intended

for you and... not for Arthur,...

.. well,...

.. you see,...

.. the truth is...

The truth... is...

.. I lied!

Bravo.

Father!

I need a drink!

Me too!

If you don't make her an ideal husband,...

.. I'll cut you off with a shilling.

An ideal husband?

Oh, I don't think I should like that.

What do you want him to be,

then, my dear?

I think he can be whatever he chooses.

You don't deserve her, sir.

My dear father, if we men married

the women we deserved,...

.. we should have a very bad time of it.

You are heartless, sir, quite heartless.

Oh, I hope not, sir,...

.. I hope not.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes