Corridor of Mirrors Page #3

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This is your spoiled beauty

of a daughter .. remember her?

Now stop being foolish.

I want to look at it .. here.

You weren't wearing this when

you went out this evening.

He .. came tonight.

Hmm.

This is a priceless piece

of Renaissance work.

You can't go accepting

valuable presents like this.

Who is this man anyway?

Oh, someone I met in

a nightclub weeks ago.

Your tie is crooked.

You ought to have got over it. Your

affairs don't usually last this long.

No .. this is something different.

I find him attractive

David .. madly attractive.

Don't ask me anymore .. this is

my own secret .. for the moment.

It only matters to be a chosen companion

of the most extraordinary man in London.

Possibly in the whole world.

Alright Mifanwy, you

shall keep your secret.

But you won't keep this .. you

shall take this back tomorrow.

To your .. uh .. your most extraordinary

man in the whole of London.

Paul?

Paul?

Paul.

Stop joking.

Where are you? .. Paul?

Very beautiful .. but this

is hardly in character.

Now we must do the finishing touches.

Jewelry is missing, so is the headdress.

How wonderful.

Do you mind me trying on this costume?

I've been collecting them over a period

of years .. just for this occasion.

Oh .. surprising how it fits me.

It isn't surprising at all.

In future, you'll find all the matching

jewelry in the opposite cupboards.

Is that right?

I hope so.

You know Paul .. since the

moment I entered this house.

I can't help feeling that I've left the

other Mifanwy back at the nightclub.

This one is someone .. entirely different.

You are someone entirely different.

"Yes .. I was becoming

someone entirely different."

"I was beginning to think like him,

speak like him .. feel like him."

"Paul was turning me into

someone I couldn't understand."

"The weeks passed. He took

up all my time and energy."

"And yet, there was never any undue

pressure in Paul's hold over me."

"All day long, there was the sensation

of being inside a different world."

"It was as if I wanted to

get away .. and couldn't."

"Even in my sleep, he would be

there, in the corridor of mirrors."

"Watching me, dressing up for him."

"I was becoming like a wax

doll .. all head and shoulders."

What's in the letter Caroline?

Since you're so anxious to tell me.

And it is addressed

to me. What's in it?

Since you're so anxious to know, your

favorite client, Mr Paul Mangin. ..

Is giving a ball .. a masked,

fancy-dress ball next month .. here.

He wants you to make a particular dress

for a lady .. the design is enclosed.

It could be for Miss Mifanwy Conway.

Could be .. that man knows what

he wants .. these are quite perfect.

She hasn't been seen at the club

now for some time, has she?

Neither has he, my pet.

Do you think I haven't noticed the look

in your eyes whenever he's around?

It makes me sick .. I could always tell

the moment he came into the club.

Even your voice would take on a hungry

note .. like a yowling cat on the tiles.

Tel me Edgar, if you hate him so, why

slave on these dresses all these years?

Why do you crawl to him?

Why do you lick his boots?

Or maybe that's become a habit .. hmm?

[ telephone rings ]

The reason is simple, my pet. I am

an artist. He appreciates my artistry.

And pays well for it .. hello?

Hello. Alright, show him

up quickly .. yes, quickly.

I hope I'm not too early.

No sir. I'm at your service any time.

I received your designs.

They're quite perfect.

Piranesi probably thought so,

when he originally designed them.

I want all these costumes kept in the

same style. Venetian school.

I leave the choice of choice of materials

to you, but they must be kept simple.

May I make a few suggestions?

I'm still here you know.

I beg your pardon. I didn't see you.

There was a time when you came to the

club, you couldn't look at anyone else.

I wasn't looking at you my dear.

I was merely interested in the

play of light on your red hair.

I'm amazed at the vulgarity of an age

that can produce such a type as yours.

This fancy-dress ball of yours

.. I'm looking forward to it.

Only my friends are invited.

Mr Mangin, perhaps you'd care

to look at kind of velvet?

Oh Edgar.

I was just trying to

explain to Mr Mangin ..

That the costumes might not

be ready in time .. unless ..

Is that also your condition, Orsen?

Yes .. sorry Mr Mangin.

I'll arrange to have

the costumes sent for.

[ musical chimes ]

Who put that on?

Must be the young lady, sir.

She asked me not to

tell you she'd arrived.

She wanted it to be a

little surprise for you.

Will you be needing

me again tonight, sir?

No, you can go Mortimer.

I will see the lady home.

It's good to see you so happy, sir.

Haven't seen you like this since Italy.

The day you brought the picture home.

That's ten years ago, Mortimer.

It's a long time.

Yes, it is a long time, sir.

Perhaps this might be the moment

to ask how much longer I've got to ..

Wear these fancy clothes.

I'm getting a little tired of the way

the trades-people keep laughing at me.

Even the girl in the Grocers

calls me Mr Pickwick.

You are honored Mortimer .. Pickwick

was Dickens's favorite character.

Pickwick .. Pickwick?

Charming.

Please don't laugh.

You love dancing, don't you. Well, I've

something here that might interest you.

I've arranged the ball just for you.

You'll be able to dance all night long.

I've invited all the most famous

and infamous people in London.

But Paul, how wonderful .. for me?

How do you know they'll all come?

They'll come alright,

if only out of curiosity.

For one night, you and I will be in our

proper setting .. Venice 400 years ago.

Mind your dress.

You know the little piece of canal

that goes through my grounds?

There it is, the Grand Canal. The

dancing, the ballet. Canale Del Latte.

But a detail will be missing from the

age to which you really belong.

That should make you happy Mifanwy.

What have you chosen for me to wear?

I'll tell you about that after dinner.

I don't know what I should

do if you were to die.

An odd thing to say ..

I should have nothing left to live for.

Do I mean so much to you, Paul?

One day you'll realize how much.

Still raining?

I'm afraid it is .. and

Mortimer isn't back yet.

Paul .. would it be very "20th Century"

if I invited myself for the night?

I'm really awfully tired.

Have you a guest-room?

I have, but I'm afraid I can't

supply the chaperone.

I should hate to answer the door to an

irate father shouting for my blood.

Daddy is on holiday in Wales.

Good .. I have a horror of

bloodshed .. especially my own.

No-one has been in this room before.

It was waiting for you.

Goodnight Mifanwy.

My name is Veronica.

Won't you come down?

Sit down .. Mifanwy.

You know my name?

Oh yes.

I know everything about you.

Naughty, naughty cat .. this

time you've given me away.

So whenever I saw the cat ..

You were near.

Oh yes.

Many were the times I wished

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