Blanche Fury Page #4

There's some tea for you on the stove.

- Good evening.

- Good evening.

Oh, good evening, Mr. Thorn. Sit down.

- You got my message?

- Yes.

Yes. Quite an exciting

afternoon in court.

Quite an exciting evening at Clare.

Yes. Still, you know, I wonder if

Mr. Fury's right to be so harsh.

- You don't think they deserved it?

- Oh, it isn't that.

They're a very vindictive lot.

I'd advise him to keep a

sharp lookout for a while.

Mr. Calamy, you didn't ask me

here to tell me that, did you?

No.

Have you any news?

Yes, I have.

Well?

It's not very good news,

Mr. Thorn, I'm sorry.

There's the letter from our agents.

There's no trace at all

of the marriage ceremony

you thought your mother went

through in Italy with Adam Fury.

No trace of it at all,

in any of the places mentioned.

I see.

So there's nothing more I can do?

I'm afraid not.

The estate will ultimately go

to the descendants of Laurence.

To his son, if this

marriage brings him one.

If not, to Lavinia Fury.

Lavinia Fuller!

Mr. Thorn, I'd like to

give you a piece of advice.

You're young and able

and the world is yours.

Clare will never be.

You're bound to suffer

while you stay there.

Why not go away?

Don't you think it would be

better for you, seriously?

I'm sorry I've been able to

do only too little for you.

Well, it's been, of course,

particularly difficult.

I mean, from the legal point of view.

- Here you are.

- Thank you.

Hello.

Give me a whisky.

Haven't seen you for weeks.

Where have you been all this time?

Minding my own business.

Doesn't seem to improve your manners.

Or do you keep your fine ways

for the new mistress at Clare?

- What's she like, Mr. Thorn?

- She looks a bit of an 'igh stepper.

Married the young 'un. I

bet on her marrying his pa.

She'd have done better if she had.

I bet Mr. Thorn hasn't wasted his

time since she arrived, eh, boys?

- Hey, you! What are you doing?

- All right!

You should be careful what you say.

Another whisky.

You can take these when you go.

And I'd be obliged if you'd

take your custom elsewhere.

Mr. Simon and Mr. Laurence

will not be back before 10.30.

They are dining with the lord

lieutenant. A message has just come.

- Who brought it?

- Mr. Thorn.

He arrived a minute ago.

After all, I'm getting on. One

day the place will be yours.

If you want me to run it, Father,

I can only say I should

like nothing better.

But to do that, I must

have more authority.

Authority is not something

that one is given, Laurence.

One takes it because

it is in one to take it.

You must impose your

authority on the estate.

Yes, Father.

What are you thinking of?

You.

And Clare.

You could never change, could you?

A little while ago, I thought you could.

I thought you had.

But you could never change.

Isn't it you who's changed?

Perhaps I have.

You want me to give up

Clare and go away with you?

Would you?

I don't know.

I don't know myself as well as I did.

You wouldn't leave

Clare, though, would you?

I can't.

There's something

stronger than me in this.

Something that was

decided for me long ago.

Even before I was born.

Philip, we've got to get away from here.

Something dreadful will

happen if we don't. I know it.

I'll go with you. I'll

go anywhere with you.

Are you afraid?

Yes.

- Of me?

- No, for you. For both of us.

We have to choose.

There's no choice for me, Blanche.

I'm rooted here.

Like an unwanted tree

that nothing can destroy.

Nothing can destroy you, Philip.

Except yourself.

What if I do?

You would destroy me too.

What's that?

It's nothing. I thought

I heard the carriage.

Yes, it'll always be like that.

We shall always be listening

for something or someone.

Philip...

What will you do now?

Go back to your home? To your room?

- To your husband?

- I can't. I hate him!

I hate them both! If

only they were dead.

Yes, if only they could die.

You've time for a glass of port and

a sandwich, after a ride like that?

I'm told you made a sterling

speech in court, Fury.

So did the gypsies! You know,

they threatened Father's life!

- I shouldn't worry about that.

- Good day's work, I call it.

All that remains is for the

judge of assizes to finish it off.

- So much for the gypsies.

- Yes, indeed.

All the same, Fury, I shouldn't

entirely ignore their threats.

- Help yourself.

- What can they do if under lock and key?

Only two of them. The rest are at large.

From what I hear, feeling

amongst them is running high.

Keep a couple of loaded

guns handy is what I'd do.

- That's easy enough.

- Well, Laurence, a sherry?

Aren't we going to see

your wife this evening?

I don't know. Banks,

has madam retired yet?

I think so, sir, but I'm not certain.

- I'll go and see.

- Whisky for Major Fraser.

- When will I get those yearlings?

- Tomorrow if you like.

- Good.

- I'll tell Laurence to attend to it.

- Have some more port.

- Oh, thank you.

- Who is it?

- It's me, dear.

Oh! Come in.

Blanche! Here we are, my dear.

Laurence! I was beginning to

wonder what had happened to you.

Nothing at all. We're

all safe and sound.

Who is all?

Fraser and Weatherby

are here. And Jenkins.

I promised you'd charm

them for a few minutes.

- That was rather a rash promise.

- They're counting on it.

- They're going to be disappointed.

- You can slip your dress on again.

Laurence, I don't wish to.

It isn't a matter of whether

or not you wish it, my dear.

Here is your husband requesting you

to come downstairs and be charming.

Here is your wife, Laurence,

requesting to be excused.

- Ah, but I'm afraid you can't do that.

- No?

I think I can.

- Are you seriously refusing...

- I made myself perfectly clear.

Not to me, I assure you. I find your

behaviour completely incomprehensible!

You may remember...

Not only incomprehensible

but indefensible!

May I say something?

I have no wish to hear any

excuses for your behaviour

in this small but, I

may add, highly signif...

Will you listen to me? Please!

You are mistaken, Laurence, in

thinking that I intend to excuse myself.

I merely wish to say this.

We are at the beginning of our married life

so it is as well we understand one another.

I have no intention, contrary

to the fashion of our times,

of being ordered about by my husband!

Is that all you have to say?

For the moment, yes.

Very well.

I myself can only say that I'm

surprised and hurt, Blanche.

I will discuss it again with

you when you are in a more

ladylike frame of mind.

Good night.

Come! Come! Come on!

Are you going to persist

in this attitude, Blanche?

I didn't say anything at breakfast because

of Father but it's gone on long enough!

Yes.

If you intend our marriage to

be a struggle for authority,

let me tell you I shall win.

A wife doesn't oppose her

husband, she obeys him.

That's my father's wish too.

What do you think he'd say if

I told him of your behaviour?

All right, let him go.

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