Belle Page #9

---

LADY MANSFIELDPeople will think she has no family!

LADY ASHFORD.

People will think they are courting!

LADY MANSFIELD and LADY MARY exchange a look. LADY MARY is

somehow softened - her eyes appeal to LADY MANSFIELD...

LADY MARYLet her enjoy his society.

LADY MANSFIELD is effected - reads MARY’S emotion.

61.2:
An open pavilion with classical concert. ON OLIVER

and DIDO watching.

OLIVERI might only have dreamed of

these moments, at one time.

DIDO smiles - allows herself to be flattered.

DIDOReally? You are much of the

conqueror Mr Oliver.

He chuckles, brings his hand up to brush her cheek, gently.

She smiles just as her eyes fall on the back of a gentleman’s

head, shoulders - his movement somehow familiar.

The sight roots her, uncertain of what she sees. And then

he turns to address another, and his profile becomes clear.

It is JOHN DAVINIER.

In that moment, he flicks his head round and his gaze falls

on her - a beat between them then his eyes fall on OLIVER.

JOHN excuses himself from others and makes his way across.

JOHNMiss Lindsay.

DIDO(flushed)

Mr Davinier. How...how nice to

see you.

JOHNAnd you, Miss Lindsay.

He looks to OLIVER.

DIDOForgive me - Mr Ashford, may I

present to you...Mr Davinier.

(She smiles awkward)

48.

(MORE)

He is the son of our Vicar at

Hampstead, and was..well,

almost father’s pupil...

OLIVERA clergyman!

(an ‘off’ smile)

Good day, to you...sir.

OLIVER bows, manfully, asserting his greater status.

JOHNSir. (beat) My regards to

your family, Miss Lindsay.

Unexpected hope fills her.

DIDOElizabeth and Mamaa are here...

in fact.

DIDO watches as JOHN nods politely and moves off, returning

to his company - male and all of a similar type to him.

ON OLIVER, as he takes in JOHN’S effect on DIDO.

CUT TO:

61.3. The spit and bang of spectacular fireworks. OLIVER

stands engrossed as the sky lights up. DIDO looks up at

him. She wavers. Then...slowly she backs away from the crowdCUT TO:

61.4 DIDO walks quickly - follows the sound of the concert

to find her way back to JOHN.

Her POV:
JOHN listening diligently to the music. He double

takes at the sight of her hovering at the edge of the

concert. He stands alarmed, negotiates his way to her.

JOHN(dismayed)

Miss Lindsay, you are alone!!

DIDOI did not have the chance to see

you before you left...Mr Davinier...to convey my apologies.

JOHNApologies...?

DIDOYour pupilage. Father would

never have ended it...you...you

never would have had to leave

Kenwood were it not...

49.

DIDO (CONT'D)

His eyes soften as he looks at her...

JOHNHe would make mine a living hell,

were he to know of us speaking.

DIDO tugs him into a quiet lane, away from the concert and

promenading.

Hardly a breath and BAM!! She is slammed against a walled

maze, suddenly!! JOHN pressed against her tightly!

Confused, her gaze darts around her, finds LADY MANSFIELD

and LADY ASHFORD ambling past along a cross path, oblivious.

DIDO freezes - held tightly against JOHN. She stares

panicked into his eyes and he into hers.

61.5:
CUTAWAY So they do not see ELIZABETH as she strolls by

with JAMES - Her gaze falling on JOHN and DIDO, instantly.

ELIZABETH is stunned!!!! But doesn’t falter.

61.4 CONT’D:
As DIDO and JOHN look back - nothing but

anonymous strangers, leaving them none the wiser to being

discovered. JOHN pulls away, embarrassed...

JOHN (CONT’D)

Forgive me.

She nods, equally bashful. They regard each other.

DIDOWhat are you doing here in London

Mr Davinier?

JOHNI am under a third cousin - a

solicitor, here. Nothing morethan petty disputes betweenunsavoury landlords and debauched

tenants, but I cannot discount it.

DIDONot what you wished for.

JOHNI haven’t given up on The Inns.

Nothing worth having in life

comes easily.

DIDO(flushed)

Where are my manners? I trust

the future Mrs Davinier is well.

JOHNVery well...thank you.

50.

DIDO is unexpectedly struck - recovers herself.

DIDOI have tried to keep up - with

the Zong. These past weeks.

JOHN(agitated)

Tis pitiful! Such inability to

simply know what value to put on

another’s life.

DIDO(bitterly)

What price, a worthless Negro.

JOHN(frustrated)

You utterly misunderstand me.

I am saying that no man may have

the value of that of cargo!!!

Human beings cannot be priced,

since we are priceless!! Freemenand slaves alike!

Her eyes begin to sting at the ‘integrity’ in his words.

JOHN (CONT’D)

(enthused)

I am with others here. We are

all students in law - applying

pressure on the insurance companies

to refuse from here on to insure

slaves on any ship. A simple clause.

DIDOBut that would require a change

of law. I know nothing but...

JOHNA change in law - something the

insurance companies can lobby for

IF they can be persuaded to band

together.

(softly,)

We may only be students,

but...change is most always

precipitated by the young.

(shrugs - poignant)

Someone has to have the courage.

How can we expect to be civilised

if we live in a barbaric world.

His words wind her as JOHN shakes his head, frustrated. She

takes him in - he is so very handsome!

51.

JOHN (CONT’D)

It is the utter injustice...the

industrial slaughter of so many.

DIDO stares at him earnestly.

DIDONo. It is more than that. It’s

the shame of a law that would

uphold a financial transaction

upon that atrocity.

She is scathing and accepting all at once, affecting him.

JOHNThat is indeed the truth.

Their eyes are locked. An intimate beat that perturbs her.

DIDOI have never heard anyone speak

like you.

JOHNNor I, you, Miss Lindsay.

He is emotional, it perturbs him too, now.

JOHN (CONT’D)

You must return. They will be

anxious. Should I follow to see

you safely.

DIDONo we cannot risk it.

He nods - studies her....

JOHNGood bye, Miss Lindsay.

(he pauses)

I suspect, we will never see each

other again.

The thought strikes DIDO, uneasily.

DIDOGood bye, Mr Davinier.

She turns, preparing herself.

JOHNMiss Lindsay?!!

(tentative)

We...commune at the Coaching

Inn - Kentish Town...most

evenings..

52.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote