Belle Page #13

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OFF DIDO reeling, from the moment.

INT.BLOOMSBURY SQ. ENTRANCE HALL.DUSK: LAST EMBERS.EVE.158181*

DIDO enters the house, terrified, as she takes off her

hood. MABEL passes in the corridor.

DIDOIs anyone home, Mabel?

MABELLord Mansfield.

(Dido’s heart plummets)

I said you were out with Lady

Mansfield and Miss MurrayOFF DIDO’S relief/gratitude. She makes her way up the

stairs quickly.

INT. BLOOMSBURY SQ. DIDO/ELIZABETH’S BEDROOM - EVE.158282*

ELIZABETH falls back onto her bed, frustrated.

ELIZABETHUrghhh! What if I shall never

find someone so...so incomparably

suitable...and wealthy?!

DIDOWhat if he is suitable but you do

not feel...‘yourself’ with him?

ELIZABETHOh Dido! He understood me.

(beat)

And whenever...whenever...

he looked at me...I somehow

felt better in this world...

ELIZABETH’S voice trails. Her words force DIDO to turn away.

ELIZABETH (CONT’D)

I am convinced his affections

were growing...and I feel

certain of my own love.

DIDOOh Bette, stop it! It is NOT love!!

ELIZABETHDido! You stop it, won’t you?

You know no more of love than I

myself, do you?!

(deliberately pointed)

Do you Dido?

72.

She holds her to account - willing DIDO to open up to her.

DIDO stares daunted, then...

DIDONo.

Beat. ELIZABETH swallows hard, disappointed.

ELIZABETHThen what better right do you have

to name what I am feeling than me?

OFF DIDO affected.

EXT. LONDON. THAMES RIVER BANKSIDE. DAY.168383*

Decandence personified...a beautiful picnic, shaded by trees.

Punts float up and down lackadaisically. ELIZABETH listens as

LADY MANSFIELD interrogates a gentleman.

LADY MANSFIELDHow charming. Is that not

charming, Elizabeth? And tell me,

are you an only son?

GENTLEMAN 1I have six brothers, madam.

LADY MANSFIELD’S smile stiffens.

LADY MANSFIELDSIX! Goodness!...all..?

He knows where this is going...defeated...

GENTLEMAN 1...all older, madam, yes.

Her smile falls away.

LADY MANSFIELDIs that not a most fascinating display?

He turns to look at the bush of flowers behind him. When

he turns back, LADY MANSFIELD and ELIZABETH are gone.

ON BARONESS VERNON (50s) who passes on a punt, utterly

captivated as she waves. Her eyes are on DIDO, stunningly

beautiful in fuchsia, beside OLIVER.

BARONESS VERNONOh how dreadfully wonderful Lady M.

Your girl is a picture...an utter

picture! With her...’intended’?

LADY MANSFIELDIndeed, Baroness Vernon.

73.

BARONESS VERNON(re. ELIZABETH)

AND I see the other does not give

up...so terribly endearing!

She stares across at ELIZABETH - ON BETTE’S contempt.

BARONESS VERNON (CONT’D)

Now has she met Mr Willoughby...

She points to a gent and leans into the bankside...

BARONESS VERNON (CONT’D)

A very eligible widower - Three

thousand yearly and no heir...yet!

Her punt moves off as she waves gauche to two gentlemen

passing in another.

BARONESS VERNON (CONT’D)

Mr Francis, Mr Smith...!!! You

must meet the Mansfield girl!

(She mouths)

Still available!!

ELIZABETH(anxious)

Mamaa, Mr Vaughan approaches.

A slender, dapper gent moves towards us on the river bank.

LADY MANSFIELDNow I have checked and he has no

London home, but I have goodinformation he achieves an income

no less than four thousand a year!

ELIZABETH’s mouth falls open....

MR VAUGHANMiss Murray. Lady Mansfield.

ELIZABETH curtseys.

MR VAUGHAN (CONT’D)

I trust your stay in London is

proving pleasant, Miss Murray.

ELIZABETH(earnest)

Oh most certainly.

MR VAUGHANMiss Murray, I wonder, if you

might permit me to call upon you

at home, sometime?

74.

ELIZABETHOh!

She looks to her mother, stunned, his gaze follows...

MR VAUGHANWith her Ladyship’s permission?

LADY MANSFIELDI shall make arrangements.

ON DIDO, as OLIVER chats to others. She moves past as...

LADY ASHFORDA pity Lady Mansfield and I could not

do business on James and Miss Murray.

LADY MARYA greater pity you rejected her.

LADY ASHFORDLet us not dwell on the

unfortunate. Oliver and MissLindsay are a blissful match.

Tell me, when exactly does she

receive her inheritance?

As DIDO observes her reflection in waters - easy laughter

floats by - a group of gentleman josh.

A figure beside her turns - icy blue stare takes her in as

she meets his gaze and finds herself staring into the eyes

of JAMES ASHFORD.

JAMES ASHFORD.

Miss Lindsay. Not Husband

hunting, are we?

(off Dido’s disdain)

Good Lord, I forgot - you have

ensnared my brother. Now is he to

share his dining room with you, as

well as his bed??

His words bury deep and painful.

DIDOOh, Mr James, your manners are as

poor as your brother’s finances.

JAMESAnd you are foolish enough to marry

him. I on the other have no better

use for your impoverished

cousin!...(beat)...Though she does

make for rather amusing sport!

75.

She follows his gaze through trees to ELIZABETH breathing

in the scent of the azaleas beside MR VAUGHAN. The joshing

gentlemen trickle away leaving only DIDO and JAMES.

She goes to move off. JAMES grabs her arm, spitefully.

DIDOThat is painful, sir.

JAMESHave you never been manhandled?

DIDOIt is not in my repertoire to

keep company with beasts.

He regards her - her disdain reflected in his eyes. His

free hand comes up, fingers rest on her lips, then spread,

as he crushes her beauty in his hand.

Her eyes fill as he brings her close. So close. She is

afraid, angry. She struggles desperately, spirited, both

arousing and alarming him. As she tears herself from him

DIDO (CONT’D)

How dare you? HOW DARE YOU!

He stares at her - takes her in, calmly. Then...

JAMESWith ease.

DIDO wavers nauseous with contempt. JAMES moves off. She

watches, incensed, humiliated.

ELIZABETH strolls with MR VAUGHAN, as JAMES passes OLIVER,

he whispers to his brother.

JAMES (CONT’D)

You will destroy us. You will destroy

the entire order of our family.

Nearby, DIDO emerges from the trees...

LADY ASHFORDOliver has been searching for you!

LADY MANSFIELD notes DIDO’S odd demeanour, LADY MARY too.

Her eyes dart suspiciously to JAMES as he approaches.

LADY MANSFIELDAre you unwell, my dear?

DIDO’s affected eyes come up to meet her mother’s. She goes

to answer...interrupted as...ELIZABETH gasps overwhelmed...

ELIZABETHOh!..Mr James!

76.

A distressed DIDO follows her gaze back to JAMES.

ELIZABETH (CONT’D)

Lady Ashford, you had not mentioned

Mr James was to attend!

LADY ASHFORDSurprisingly.

LADY ASHFORD closes her eyes,livid. VAUGHAN stands usurped.

JAMESLadies.

(off Dido’s reaction)

Miss Murray.

He kisses ELIZABETH’S hand oh so gently, for DIDO’S

benefit. LADY MANSFIELD’s heart sinks.

OFF DIDO, turbulent.

EXT. BLOOMSBURY SQ. DIDO AND ELIZABETH’S BEDROOM. DAY.178484*

DIDO sitting at the window, a sad figure. A MONTAGE OF

SHOTS OVER DIFFERENT DAYS FOLLOWS...

EXT. KENTISH TOWN. WATER MILL. DAY.178585*

A busy area - As workers traipse up and down.

JOHNI had never imagined myself to be

married. But my aunt is determined.

It is true that if one were to count,

I had not even been acquainted withMiss Beresford on three occasions.

DIDOIs she not terribly disappointed that

you will not return to Hampstead?

JOHN(ironic)

my Aunt?

They begin to laugh...it’s good to see DIDO laughing.

JOHN (CONT’D)JOHNI doubt Miss Beresford has

anymore wish to marry me

than I her. I should rather

make a nuisance of myself

alone in London, than in an

unwanted marriage in Hampstead...

Their laughter carries...

77.

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