Belle Page #3

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DIDO(pained)

I...I think love must be a very

complicated thing.

ELIZABETH lifts her head to look across at DIDO.

ELIZABETHDido - with such a dowry you may

marry into any good family you wish.

OFF DIDO as she stares at the ceiling, daunted.

INT. KENWOOD HOUSE. LADIES PARLOUR - DAY.41919*

Soft sunlight filters. LADY MARY sits engrossed in her

needle-work. The two girls persevere with theirs.

LADY MARYWe shall receive visitors for dinner.

The two girls exchange a glance and whisper.

ELIZABETHVisitors? Who ever bothers to

visit us here?

DIDOOr leave... except the dead!

ELIZABETH’S titters escape. LADY MARY looks up, abruptly.

LADY MARYOnce again, Dido?

DIDOBeds...Aunt Mary. We should

prepare some extra beds... in

case our visitors are to stay...

She trails off - LADY MARY raises an eyebrow.

ELIZABETHMay we wear the new silks?

DIDOI will do your hair, Bette. Oh

say we may wear them, Aunt Mary.

LADY MARYYou will not be dining with us, Dido.

The room falls silent and the girls’ energy is killed.

12.

DIDO(hurt)

Yes of course. But I may join

after dinner, may I not?

LADY MARYYes. Such are the rules, and you

know them well.

EXT. KENWOOD HOUSE. LAKE - DAY.42020*

A blaze of rhododendron, azaleas. DIDO strolls with LORD

MANSFIELD, along Kenwood’s lake, orange sunlight glistens.

DIDOShe is a most disagreeable...

hideous, old maid - I hate her!

LORD MANSFIELDYou do not! She is only managing

the dictates of the householdDIDOPapaa...how...how may I be too high

in rank to dine with the servants

and too low to dine with my family?

LORD MANSFIELDDinner with guests is a formal

proceeding, Dido - we simply

cannot impose the disregard of

those formalities upon visitors.

DIDOBut...Papaa, am I not..’wealthy’,

now...an heiress? Surely that

changes matters...

LORD MANSFIELD(softly)

My dear...I wish it were so

simple. Finances may go some way -

but Society has a habit of

disregarding even one of their

own, when opportunity provides.

DIDO(stung)

Of course...(trailing off)

LORD MANSFIELDBUT after dinner...when formality

is of less consequence...well

your presence can raise no

defendable objections.

(off her sadness)

13.

(MORE)

Dido, you know the rules of

propriety. Far better than

Elizabeth, if I am frank.

His loving gaze elicits a smile from her, weary. Propriety

is everything, after all.

DIDOAs you wish, sir.

EXT. KENWOOD HOUSE. LAWNS. CONTINUOUS. DAY 42121*

LADY MANSFIELD sits in the shade - a maid prepares a seat

for LADY MARY, as DIDO heads for the house, pensive.

LADY MANSFIELDDido!...

ELIZABETH emerges from the house, breathless.

ELIZABETHThere you are. I have been

searching for you!

LADY MANSFIELD(to Dido)

What a wretched countenance!

LADY MARYShe deplores my authority. What

am I in this household, if not

the ‘observer of rules’?!

ELIZABETHI would rather dine with Dido!

She links arms with DIDO in solidarity.

LADY MANSFIELDWhat a great pity

LADY MANSFIELD and LADY MARY feign nonchalance.

LADY MARYIndeed.

LADY MANSFIELDOur young gentlemen guests shall

miss you, Elizabeth.

Both girls’ eyes widen - DIDO’s with disappointment.

ELIZABETH/DIDOYoung gentlemen?

LADY MARYVery good connections.

14.

LORD MANSFIELD (CONT'D)

LADY MANSFIELDAnd most agreeable by all accounts!

ELIZABETH’S mouth falls open. LADY MARY leans toward her.

LADY MARYClose your mouth and understand:

There shall be no discussions

tonight in any languages otherthan English! No whisperings in

gentlemen’s ears - not in Latin,

Italian...and certainly not French!

OFF ELIZABETH’S mischief and Dido sunk.

INT. KENWOOD HOUSE. DINING ROOM - NIGHT. 42222*

Candles sprinkle a delicate light. An imposing dining table

stretches before us, laden with exquisite foods. LADY

ASHFORD 40’s - a pale porcelain skinned woman, sits with

her sons - JAMES (25) and OLIVER (22). She is beautiful and

both have inherited her striking looks.

ELIZABETH whispers in JAMES’ ear. LADY MARY glares!

JAMES ASHFORDWhat excellent French! Though I

have not an idea of what you said.

ELIZABETHI said...‘Your hands have the

suggestion of a sensitive man’.

She wrinkles her nose, minxish. Across the table...

LADY ASHFORDI must say, the entire country

barely breathes awaiting your

judgement on this appeal.

Terrified you shall destroy

England, no doubt. I know Lord A

is. He does wonder though, what

can be taking you...so long?

LORD MANSFIELD(mild condescension)

The law, Lady Ashford. It is to be

interpreted - not merely administered.

LORD MANSFIELD (CONT’D)

Your husband of all people knows this.

LADY MARYMy brother is not a man of rash instinct.

LADY MANSFIELDFor that we are all grateful.

15.

LADY ASHFORDWhat a lot of fuss over dead cargo.

LORD MANSFIELDIt is a fuss over the bread and

butter of a great many in these

isles. A great many, Lady Ashford.

OFF LORD MANSFIELD’S distaste....

EXT. KENWOOD HOUSE. LAWNS - NIGHT. 42323*

The windows glint with candlelight, DIDO sits at a bench

alone. Laughter from the house carries in the breeze.

A rustle in the branches behind her. She stands, startled.

A beat, then she turns on her heels and sprints - fast.

INT. KENWOOD HOUSE. ENTRANCE HALL. NIGHT. 42424*

Breathless, DIDO races inside as WIMBRIDGE appears.

DIDOWimbridge!

WIMBRIDGEMiss Lindsay?

DIDOThere are poachers wandering...!

The sound of the echoing doorbell, jolting DIDO. Her eyes

dart to the door. WIMBRIDGE hesitates, then answers.

A YOUNG MAN stands, damp brow, and as breathless as DIDO.

We recognise him as the YOUNG MAN seen earlier in the

church. He is JOHN DAVINIER, son of REVEREND DAVINIER.

JOHNGood evening to you. I am John

Davinier, I..I believe I may have

disturbed a lady of this house...

He sets eyes on DIDO, peering from the great staircase.

JOHN (CONT’D)

Ah...she is there.

(calling out to her)

Please forgive me...though you

barely gave me a chance...

DIDO turns her back, horrified. How dare he address her

without formal introduction?!

16.

DIDOSir, I do not believe we have

been introduced!

JOHN takes hold of himself, half mortified, half irritated.

JOHNIndeed. I...I...

(to Wimbridge, feeling

foolish)

Please inform the lady of my

apologies for startling her. I

took advantage of the back

fields, by way of a short-cut to

deliver this to Lord Mansfield...

from my father.

WIMBRIDGESir?

He hands WIMBRIDGE an envelope.

JOHNReverend Davinier.

WIMBRIDGEOf course, sir. I will see that

he gets it immediately...

DIDO can’t help but interfere. She calls over her shoulder.

DIDOYou shall not interrupt him at

dinner, Wimbridge!

WIMBRIDGEImmediately - after dinner, sir.

JOHN resists rolling his eyes - ghastly female!

JOHNYes, of course...thank you.

He backs away. DIDO still shows him nothing but her back.

JOHN (CONT’D)

(to Wimbridge, awkward)

Good night.

WIMBRIDGEGood night, sir.

He moves off, and is gone as DIDO finally turns, stares at

the closed door, flushed.

17.

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