Belle Page #11

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LORD MANSFIELD:

Is that so?

INT. BLOOMSBURY SQ. DRAWING ROOM. NIGHT.136767*

LORD MANSFIELD steps into the room. LADY MANSFIELD turns

from the window. They lock gaze in a grave moment.

LORD MANSFIELDI have had reason to speak with

Lord Ashford.

LADY MANSFIELDAnd I to Lady Ashford.

(beat)

Are we in agreement?

LORD MANSFIELDWe are.

(long beat)

You once asked me, who would

look after her when we are gone.

Money is no substitute for a

man’s protection. I cannot deny

her a match so suitable.

LADY MANSFIELD nods, satisfied.

INT. BLOOMSBURY SQ. MARBLE ROOM. DAY. 146868*

The girls are embroidering with LADY MARY. MABEL enters.

ELIZABETHWhatever did happen in the end,

Aunt Mary? With your gentleman

friend.

LADY MARY looks up surprised DIDO studies her curious.

LADY MARYHe never married. Cousin Marjorie

wrote me last year, that he had

died after a long illness.

She looks down and continues to sew. DIDO fights tears,

unexpectedly affected. ELIZABETH takes her Aunt’s hand.

ELIZABETHOh Aunt Mary...

MABELPardon me. Mr Ashford is here for

you, miss.

DIDO and ELIZABETH look back at her, then at each other.

60.

DIDO/ELIZABETHWhich Mr Ashford?

MABELO excuse me! Mr Oliver,

for you, Miss Lindsay.

LADY MARY takes it all in, with a special interest.

INT. BLOOMSBURY SQ. GROUND FL.CORRIDOR/DRAWING ROOM.DAY.146969*

As DIDO enters, OLIVER stands with LADY MANSFIELD, both

fixed on her. LADY MANSFIELD takes DIDO’S hand, gently.

LADY MANSFIELDYou need worry about nothing.

Your Papaa has been dealt with.

She disappears, leaving DIDO lost. A nervous silence.

OLIVERHello, Miss Lindsay.

DIDOMr Oliver.

OLIVERI do hope my reason for being

here will bring you as much

happiness as it brings me.

DIDO swallows hard.

In the CORRIDORS - LADIES MANSFIELD and MARY listen through

a crack in the doorway.

In the DRAWING ROOM - OLIVER moves closer to DIDO.

OLIVER (CONT’D)

I think...well, I know...that we

make a rather good match.

(he pauses)

Father has purchased me a

commission in the navy - as

colonel - Is that not the rank

your blood father first purchased?

DIDO(anxious)

Yes. Indeed it is.

OLIVERSo I feel my career is now set.

All that remains...

A long beat. OLIVER gathers his courage...

61.

OLIVER (CONT’D)

I can not offer you a title, Miss

Lindsay..for the next ‘Lady

Ashford’...well that title must

fall to my brother’s wife...

(huge,nervous breath)

What I am trying to say is, I can

without doubt, offer you ALL that

is due to ‘Mrs Oliver Ashford’

and...and I trust that this would

be acceptable to you.

(he hesitates)

Since...it would very much be my

privilege...my honour, if you

would agree to become my wife.

He takes something from his top pocket. DIDO looks down,

finds a large black sapphire glistening in his fingers...

In the CORRIDORS.

LADY MARYI cannot see...!

LADY MANSFIELDShooosh!

On the stairs, ELIZABETH slows, as she approaches.

ELIZABETHWhat are you doing?

LADY MANSFIELDQuiet, Elizabeth!

In the DRAWING ROOM - DIDO is still staring at the ring.

DIDOGood Lord, Mr Oliver! Your...your wife? Mrs Ashford?!

She repeats the title and conflict washes over her.

DIDO (CONT’D)

I...

(swallows hard.)

...I cannot...

(she pauses)

I cannot...think of anything...more wonderful!

He stares at her. She looks back at him, stunned.

In the CORRIDORS....

LADY MANSFIELD(overjoyed)

She has agreed! O...

62.

ELIZABETHAgreed?

LADY MANSFIELD throws open the doors, elated.

LADY MANSFIELDO...!

OLIVER stands, his chest bursting with pride. DIDO shell-

shocked, holds up her ring finger - the sapphire flashes.

DIDOMamaa, we are engaged!

LADY MANSFIELD eyes fill. She touches DIDO’S face softly. *

DIDO (CONT’D)

It is a good thing, is it not, Mamaa?

LADY MANSFIELD(whispers, poignant)*

You are my heart - from the *

moment I saw you. I only want you *

to be happy.*

LADY MARY wipes a tear, discreet as ELIZABETH stands, rooted.

INT. BLOOMSBURY SQ. DIDO & ELIZABETH’S BEDROOM. NIGHT.147070*

Darkness. ELIZABETH whispers softly.

ELIZABETHDido...was there any message

for me?

DIDO hesitates a moment - then whispers back just as softlyDIDONo, Bette (beat) But..I am sure it *

won’t be long.

ELIZABETH thinks a moment - Then musters a smile for DIDO.

ELIZABETHWhat does it feel like

Dido? To be engaged?

DIDO is struck. She falters, privately, as she thinks.

DIDO(unsure)

Perfect, Bette - pefect.

CUT TO:

Later. DIDO awake as ELIZABETH sleeps. DIDO slips from bed.

63.

She sits alone at the window, silhouetted by moonlight.

INT. BLOOMSBURY SQUARE. BREAKFAST ROOM. DAY.157171*

Informal breakfast. LORD MANSFIELD approaches in a bustle

of importance and sits.

LADY MANSFIELD and LADY MARY exchange tense glances. DIDO

considers whether to speak, then...

DIDOPapaa.

He looks up. DIDO is sincere.

DIDO (CONT’D)

Thank you.

LORD MANSFIELD nods. Tension is relieved.

LADY MANSFIELDWe are to make many calls today,

Elizabeth. Acquainting oneselfwith the most eligible gentleman

is not light business.

ELIZABETHShould we not wait a day or two -

for Mr James?

LADY MARYElizabeth - some advice. Wait

for no man, dear!

She picks up her pamphlet. On the back, a headline reads:

Student Politics Puts Rise to Pain of Insurers. ON DIDO

as she double takes. ELIZABETH follows DIDO’S gaze.

LADY MANSFIELDWill you join us, Dido?

(no response)

Dido?

She is absorbed in the headline. Absolutely rooted.

DIDOI..I am terribly light headed

this morning, Mamaa. I should

like to take rest if it would

not displease you.

LADY MANSFIELDOh dear! Unwell? And just as we

are to announce your news!

64.

INT. BLOOMSBURY SQ. STAIRS/GROUND FLOOR CORRIDOR. DAY. 157272*

Dido stands at the top of the sweeping stairs, watches as

ELIZABETH and LADY MANSFIELD fuss, before disappearing to

their carriage... On DIDO as she thinks a moment.

INT. BLOOMSBURY SQ. STAIRS/GROUND FLOOR. DAY. 157373*

DIDO quickly makes her way down - a hooded figure, carrying

two scrolls.

EXT. BLOOMSBURY SQ. MANSFIELD HOME. DAY.157474*

Harry is asleep at his seat. DIDO reaches up on tiptoe.

DIDOHarry! Harry!

He wakes with a start.

DIDO (CONT’D)

Harry, I need your help. I need

you to take me somewhere.

HARRYAlone, Miss?

DIDOI shall not be alone, I shall be

with you.

(off Harry, reticent)

Please - Harry. If you don’t take

me, I shall be forced to go alone.

EXT. MANSFIELD CARRIAGE. KENTISH TOWN STREETS. DAY.157575*

Sunset. ON HARRY negotiating the carriage through bedlam -

his anonymous passenger inside, curtains closed.

INT. MANSFIELD CARRIAGE. DAY.157676*

DIDO steadies herself with a deep breath as the carriage

comes to a halt. She draws the curtain back slightly. Her

POV:
The exterior of the Coaching Inn.

INT. COACHING INN. DAY.157777*

POV, negotiating the dark crowded inn - An intellectual

brood, mostly men in their own little cliques, discussing

the woes of the world and nursing malt beer.

We find JOHN - in amongst his group, an intense discussion

in full swing, a table laid with pamphlets, papers.

65.

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