Belle Page #8

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EXT. LONDON STREETS. DAY. 95555*

Bloomsbury Square opens before us. As the carriage halts...

ELIZABETH (O.C)

Aren’t you quietly relieved?

DIDORelieved?

ELIZABETHThat you shan’t be at the caprice

of some silly Sir and his fortune!

(off Dido’s silence)

The rest of us haven’t the choice!

Not a chance of inheritance if

we have brothers and forbiddenfrom any activity that allows us to

support ourselves.

ELIZABETH sighs.

ELIZABETH (CONT’D)

(c’est la vie)

We are but their property.

OFF DIDO, affected.

INT./EXT. BLOOMSBURY SQUARE ENTRANCE HALL - DAY. 95656*

LIBBY, the housekeeper and THOMAS, the butler stand on

ceremony. Maids help the Mansfield ladies as they disrobe.

ON DIDO as her gaze falls on MABEL (20), a black maid

helping ELIZABETH with her hat. A beat as DIDO stiffens.

LADY MANSFIELDLight the fires for dinner, will

you, Thomas.

ON MABEL as she catches DIDO’S stare, forcing DIDO to avert

her gaze quickly, turning her back to distance herself.

INT. BLOOMSBURY SQ. DIDO AND ELIZABETH’S BEDROOM. NIGHT.95757*

The soft light of oil lamps.

DIDO, in night-clothes, drags a brush through tight

ringlets. She stops, observes, a moment as ELIZABETH runs a

comb through her own silken hair.

DIDOYou are so beautiful, Bette.

I hope your match is the most

wonderful of all gentlemen.

42.

ON ELIZABETH wide eyed, then moved as her eyes brim.

A tentative knock and MABEL enters - DIDO becomes tense.

MABEL speaks gently - strong Welsh accent.

MABELSome bed socks for you, Miss

Murray, Miss Lindsay. It’s not as

warm as we hoped tonightShe hands a pair each to the girls.

ELIZABETH,

Thank you Mabel...How kind.

MABEL pauses as DIDO struggles with her hair.

MABELCan I help you with that, Miss

Lindsay?

ON DIDO, self-conscious under MABEL’S stare.

DIDOMabel, I am fine - thank you!

She struggles once again, wrenching the brush.

MABELYou must start from the ends, miss.

DIDO stares at her - a long beat.

CUT TO:

Candle lit faces... DIDO’s reflection in the mirror - her

hair separated into four sections.

In the reflection BG, ELIZABETH sits serenely watching

MABEL brushing through each section from ends to roots.

MABEL (CONT’D)

My Mam taught me, see?

DIDO stares at her a moment, some kind of pain resonates in

her eyes as her face softens and she begins to relax.

EXT. MAYFAIR. ASHFORD HOME. DAY.105858*

The four MANSFIELD ladies step from the carriage. Before

them, a huge Georgian home. All four take it in.

LADY MANSFIELDPromise me you will change that

vulgar teal paint, if you ever

become lady of this home. It is

positively wanting, Elizabeth.

43.

EXT. MAYFAIR. ASHFORD HOME. GARDENS. DAY.105959*

A sophisticated landscape, very much in keeping with LADY

ASHFORD’S sense of style.

A maid steps out - LADY MANSFIELD follows with the four

Mansfield women. ELIZABETH beams.

MAIDLady Mansfield, LADY MARY and

their nieces, Madam.

LADY ASHFORD moves towards them, face bright with ambition.

LADY ASHFORDLadies.

LADY MANSFIELDLady Ashford.

The girls curtsey.

LADY MANSFIELD (CONT’D)

And the gentlemen? Mr James?

LADY ASHFORD(reassuring)

Here, of course. Very little could

have prevented him, knowing that

Miss Murray would visit today.

ELIZABETH could burst. She looks up to see JAMES and

OLIVER approach from the North side of the gardens.

CUT TO:

The ladies sip drinks as LORD ASHFORD appears from the

house, a man with presence (50s) cultivated and astute.

He moves to OLIVER, observing DIDO, under a nearby tree.

LORD ASHFORDLord Mansfield’s infamous Mulatto.

No wonder our ‘Lord Chief Justice

knows not whether he is coming or

going! Not your usual game, Oliver.

OLIVER examines his father.

LORD ASHFORD (CONT’D)

She can not know your thoughts

unless you offer them to her.

He moves off, leaving OLIVER pensive.

44.

LORD ASHFORD (CONT’D)

The ladies Mansfield! As sweet on

the eye as the freshest flowers

in bloom....

(off Lady M’s laughter)

What is in those glasses?

ON OLIVER as he moves to the pond. In the BG...

LADY ASHFORDGrenadine syrup...

LADY MARYAnd port!!

LADY MANSFIELDWhich has gone to my head already!

ELIZABETH is knelt at the pond’s edge with JAMES - a paper

boat floats on the water, toppling over to a unanimous cry.

OLIVER watches as DIDO approaches. His eyes light up.

ELIZABETHOh Dido look - Mr James has made

me a boat and it has capsized.

JAMES stretches a branch into the lake to rescue the boat.

DIDOWhat a dreadful shame.

OLIVER collects paper from the grass. CLOSE on his hands as

he folds it into a boat under DIDO’S nose.

OLIVER(to DIDO, earnest)

For you.

She smiles, can’t help being charmed.

DIDOThank you.

He places it in the water, stands and examines DIDO. From

afar, LADY MANSFIELD watches.

OLIVERMiss Lindsay, would you do me the

honour of taking some air with

me, some time?

DIDO is dumbstruck - what to say? JAMES is halted.

JAMESDon’t you care what people will say45.

DIDO is jolted by the antangonism in JAMES’ tone -

ELIZABETH too - it pierces her and she speaks up.

ELIZABETHWhat is that to mean Mr James?

What should anyone say?!

JAMES hesitates, then...

JAMESThat he should compromise a

lady’s reputation by stepping out

with her - scarcely having made

her acquaintance!

OLIVERI think you are a great deal too

anxious, brother. We should merely

take a turn around Vauxhall.

DIDO observes JAMES - His protestation is bitter. She

traces OLIVER’S features, warmly.

DIDOI should be delighted, Mr Oliver!

Most delighted.

INT. MANSFIELD CARRIAGE. LONDON STREETS. DAY.106060*

On the move through London streets. LADIES MANSFIELD and

MARY sit quietly. ELIZABETH whispers to DIDO.

ELIZABETHAre you really to defy Papaa?

DIDO says nothing, turns to stare out of the window.

EXT. VAUXHALL PLEASURE GARDENS. DUSK/NIGHT.116161*

Teaming with parasols, fountains, and hidden pathways.

61.1:
JAMES and ELIZABETH stroll, followed by DIDO and

OLIVER, then, LADIES MANSFIELD, MARY, and ASHFORD.

LADY MANSFIELD(re. Dido with Oliver)

I am not at ease with this.

Lord Mansfield would be most

aggrieved.

LADY ASHFORDOh it can do no harm. This is

simply two families, enjoying a

day together.

LADY MANSFIELD takes an unhappy breath, burdened.

46.

LADY ASHFORD (CONT’D)

Though surely...IF a desirable

match were a ... certain...

possibility your dear husband could

have no objections, could he?

LADY MANSFIELD, turns slowly to regard LADY ASHFORD,

aroused by the insinuation and alarmed at the same time.

She looks back to DIDO and OLIVER, wide eyed.

OLIVERWell I did not think I would ever

find a lady who was not to be

conquered or ignored...Until you.

DIDOAh now how do I know this is not

just another tactic in your

battle to conquer?

He stops, takes her hand and places it on in his chest.

OLIVERSee how my heart beats.

She lets her hand rest a moment.

OLIVER (CONT’D)

I am utterly taken with you, Miss

Lindsay.

DIDODespite...such pronounced

protestations from your brother?

OLIVERHe cannot overlook your mother’s

origins, as I do. Foolish. Why

should anyone even pay her regard

when your better half has equipped

you so well with loveliness and

privilege.

Dido is stung. OLIVER shrugs, oblivious. The sound of Handel

filters from a nearby concert. DIDO tries hard to recover.

DIDOWhat a lovely sound.

He smiles at her, studies her...mischievous...

OLIVERYou are unrelentingly cultured.

Come, let’s find it!

He takes her waist spinning her round with him into another

pathway, disappearing from the others, giggling as they go.

47.

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