Blanche Fury Page #3

Strange that you didn't look

more pleased to see me, then.

I think we should have,

had you been alone.

It was rash. My niece

might have been hurt.

You'd no right to take the

law into your own hands.

I was thinking of Clare. I

presume that's what I'm paid to do.

You presume too much. You

should have informed the police.

Tomorrow they could have

gone out to the camp.

- Tomorrow they'd have gone.

- We could've followed them.

We shouldn't know whom to

follow. There are a great many.

There won't be for long.

I intend to discuss a plan for dealing

with these gypsies once and for all.

As to my niece, you will not

enter into conversation with her.

I shall tell her so.

Kindly remember that.

We've become very fond of you,

Blanche. We think of you as one of us.

I hope you'll be that more and more.

This is a great day for Clare, Fury.

- It is indeed.

- It's a great day for all of us.

Those confounded gypsies moved out this

afternoon. I got word from my head keeper.

- They've taken the eviction quietly.

- What else can they do?

Good evening, Mrs. Fury.

Would you care to dance?

I don't think I'll dance again for a

while. I'd like to go out on the terrace.

In that case, may I accompany you?

By all means.

Well, aren't you going to say it?

- Say what?

- "Congratulations, Mrs. Fury. "

Your husband's the one

to be congratulated.

It's very strange for

me to be here tonight.

This is the first time in many years

that I've been in any room in this house

except the gun room.

And I'm invited here as a guest

with all the rest of the staff.

Though I'm the only real Fury here.

You were thinking that as

you came in, weren't you?

You looked at everything

so possessively.

Everything, Mrs. Fury?

I didn't mean that.

Did you think it?

Of course not.

Why are you wasting yourself on him?

Is it for position and security?

You may not even be able to keep those.

One day this place is coming

back to its rightful owners.

And as you've been to so

much trouble to make it yours,

that may be at your expense.

How can that be?

Have you forgotten the

legend of Fury's Ape?

Look! Look! Something's on fire!

All Clare men, get down to the barns!

Tell Aimes to saddle the horses.

Get hold of this!

You two, get over there!

Pump! Pump!

Come in nearer!

Thorn, can you save them?

It's hopeless!

It's hopeless. The

barn's out of control.

Look over there! The ricks are alight!

That's no accident! It's those

gypsies! They're on the estate!

I put the mares in that field.

Leave the barns. Take some

men and see to the mares.

- We'll try and catch some of the devils!

- Right, sir!

Come on the rest of you, follow me!

Hey, Joe, bring your horse up here!

Louisa, is there any news?

Mr. Thorn has come

back. No-one else yet.

One of the mares has started

to foal. He's with her.

Tell everybody to go to bed.

- You certainly must.

- But I'm not tired.

- Will you wait up alone, Miss Blanche?

- Yes, Louisa.

Madam, I should say now, shouldn't I?

I'm afraid my wedding hasn't

brought the family good luck, Louisa.

Perhaps Fury's Ape

doesn't approve of me.

You must not say that.

You don't think there's any... truth

in any of these stories, do you, Louisa?

It is better not to

think of such things.

No. No, of course I shan't.

Come along, darling. It's late.

Whoa, that's all right, my sweetheart.

You'll be all right now.

Hello, Gypsy.

That's your name, whether

you like it or not.

Have you been there long?

Not very.

You're gentle with

animals... aren't you?

Yes. I like animals.

- Was much damage done?

- No, apart from the barns, not much.

And my uncle? And Laurence?

Have you any news of them?

Mrs. Fury, why have you come here?

Our conversation on the

terrace was interrupted.

I have nothing further to say.

Do you seriously believe in all that

superstitious nonsense about Fury's Ape?

- You're afraid, are you?

- Not at all. I'm not easily frightened.

Now that I can believe.

Mr. Thorn, you were

right about one thing.

I do want position and

security. I always have.

Even though it means being

married to Laurence Fury?

- I'm very fond of my cousin.

- That's not true.

You don't give that for your cousin.

You may not admit it, even to yourself.

But you know in your heart that

position and security aren't enough.

Not for a woman like you.

You've left something

out of the bargain.

Something that this year or next year...

...you're going to want...

passionately, Mrs. Fury.

As I do.

This way, quickly.

Is this one of the results

of tonight's business?

Yes. Did they get away?

Not all of them. We caught two.

They're in Mr. Weatherby's stables.

We'll have them brought

up before the magistrate.

Come to Stafford with

me after breakfast.

Yes, Mr. Fury.

- This mare seems in a pretty bad way.

- She is, I'm sorry to say.

- Will she recover?

- Oh, yes, with care.

- The foal's all right?

- Mm. He's fine.

The last she'll have, poor old lady.

Hmm. Will she be any

good for riding later on?

She won't be good for

anything except a quiet life.

I don't like useless

animals about the place.

If she can't earn her

keep, have her destroyed.

- Have her destroyed?

- That's what I said, Thorn.

But I bred this mare. I broke

her and schooled her myself.

She was your wife's... I mean

your first wife's favourite hunter.

- What has that to do with it?

- You say she's no good now.

You don't understand.

This mare's dam and sire were

bred by Adam Fury himself!

She's given us the five

best horses on the estate.

And now because she's no use

any more, you say shoot her.

- I tell you, you can't have her destroyed.

- Can't? I give orders here.

My orders are for her to be shot.

See that they're carried out.

Come, Laurence.

Louisa!

I told you to go to bed.

I thought perhaps I'd better

wait until you came back.

Came back? Where from?

From wherever you've been to, madam.

May I help you?

Thank you.

And the foal? Did you see it?

Yes, Louisa. It's very pretty.

Louisa, will you please shut

the door to my husband's room?

Now, Louisa, what

exactly is on your mind?

Is it about Mr. Thorn?

Yes, Miss Blanche. I'm afraid for you.

For me?

He's dangerous, Miss Blanche.

Not only to himself but to others.

I've known him since he was a child.

I've watched him grow up.

I know how cruelly unhappiness

has twisted his nature.

And how bitterly he

hates all the Fullers.

I beg you to be cautious.

Goodbye, my dear. I'm sorry

to take him away for today.

We shall be back this evening.

Goodbye, dearest.

I wish I hadn't to leave you

but you know how important it is.

Goodbye, Laurence.

- Hello.

- Hello.

You missed a great day in court.

All the gentry were there,

including the lord lieutenant.

- What was that for?

- Old Simon Fury and the gypsies.

- What did they get?

- Remanded.

If old Fury had his way,

they'd be up at the assizes.

They weren't half wild! Screaming threats

at him as they were hauled out of the dock.

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