Dragonwyk Page #5

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Now I'm sick.

If I must be here, why can't I even

have Dr. Hamilton to look after me?

When the storm lets up

and the roads are passable...

The storm lets up!

They never stop in these dreary Catskills.

Come in. What do you want?

Mynheer Van Ryn asked this

be brought to you.

Why, Nicholas,

it's your favorite oleander.

I thought it would brighten your room...

and perhaps make your stay in bed

less unbearable.

Oh, thank you so much.

I can't remember when anything

has pleased me more.

How alive it is, as if it were thinking...

as if it had thoughts of its own

and... desires of its own.

I know how greatly you treasure it...

and I'm all the happier

that you thought to bring it to me.

And I'm happy that you're happy, my dear.

Now I'm sure that you'll want to rest.

- Nicholas.

- Yes?

- You're going to your

tower room again, aren't you?

The servants must think it strange

that you spend so much time up there.

And I find it strange that you should

think about what they think.

- What could you possibly do up there?

- Possibly?

Anything from pinning butterflies

to hiding an insane twin brother.

Actually, I read.

I hope that my explanation satisfies you.

I'm sick.

Haven't you even let Dr. Hamilton know?

Your happiness at the oleander

seems to have faded pretty quickly.

Well, you can't even imagine what it's like

to be sick in this miserable, drab house.

I cannot imagine that Dragonwyck

could be either miserable or drab...

except to those who reflect misery

or drabness from within themselves.

- Mynheer Van Ryn.

- What is it, Magda?

- It's Dr. Turner.

- No one has sent for a doctor.

Turner? What does he want?

He's come to see you.

He says it's most urgent.

My regrets to Dr. Turner.

I am engaged and cannot be disturbed.

- Yes, Mynheer.

- Never mind.

I'm sorry to intrude like this, Mr. Van Ryn,

but it's most important.

- Yes?

- Klaas Bleecker has been arrested for murder.

It's a pity you weren't there

to stop him this time.

I was there. He didn't kill anyone.

It was an anti-rent riot.

Klaas wasn't anywhere near the boy

that was killed, but they blamed it on him.

If by "they," you mean the patrons,

you must also mean me.

The farmers aren't going to stand for this.

They've threatened to storm the jail.

With shouts of liberty,

equality, fraternity, I take it.

just what is it you want me to do, Doctor?

Help my enemy defeat me?

I want your assurance that Klaas Bleecker

will have a fair and just trial.

Let me make my position clear, Dr. Turner.

Whether Klaas Bleecker lives or dies

is of no more concern to me...

than my life was to him... or you.

That seems to be perfectly clear.

- Good evening.

- Good evening.

- Won't you stay for dinner, Doctor?

- No, thank you.

- Miranda, have Tompkins set another place.

- I'd rather not.

Perhaps I spoke a little hastily, Doctor.

I might be able to help.

That's a pretty sudden change of mind.

What brought it on?

I assume that John Van Buren

is to prosecute the trial, is he not?

- Yes.

- He's a close personal friend of mine.

You still haven't told me

what changed your mind.

Dr. Turner, you have my assurance

Klaas Bleecker will have a fair trial.

Now you might do something for me.

Mrs. Van Ryn has a severe cold.

Will you help her if you can?

- Yes, certainly.

- I'll show you to her room.

You'd better take a bit of scraped onion

and sugar for that cough...

and these drops as directed.

- You'll be fine in a few days.

- A few days?

Dr. Hamilton always kept me in bed

for at least two weeks.

He's probably right,

but with most of my patients...

it's all I can do to keep them in bed

while I examine them.

A lighter diet might help...

soup, tea, boiled eggs, less cake.

That's nonsense.!

It's common knowledge that one

should stuff a cold. I'll eat all I please.

Well, you'd get well faster without it,

but you'll get well anyway.

What a beautiful oleander.

I'm relieved to know you find

so little cause for alarm, Doctor.

- It's just a head cold.

- Do you think you could

If you and Miranda will wait dinner for me,

I'll visit with Mrs. Van Ryn.

Yes, of course. Good night.

Dr. Hamilton

usually encourages you to eat...

but then, of course, he has

the tolerance of experience and age.

Turner is young and relentless.

You... You told him you wanted to stay

and visit with me for a while.

What did you mean by that?

Precisely what I said.

just to stay and be with me?

Oh, Nicholas, you confuse me so.

Sometimes when you bring me flowers

and smile at me, I think...

- What?

- That you like me and want me.

- And sometimes...

- Yes?

I feel that you hate me

and would like me to die.

- Nicholas...

- Yes?

Do you think...

Could we go away together?

- Away?

- Alone. Just the two of us.

When I'm well again.

Of course we will, my dear.

As soon as you're well again.

I feel well enough already.

In that case, even Dr. Turner would

approve of your finishing your dinner.

- Shall I bring your cake?

- Yes, thank you.

You know, it's funny.

The day we first met,

last summer at the kermis...

I thought we had very much in common...

and as time went on

we'd have more and more.

But the way it worked out,

frankly, right now...

I don't think you have the slightest idea

what to talk to me about.

It's funny, isn't it?

Would you care

for some sherry wine, Doctor?

- No, thank you.

- I believe I'll have a glass.

Forgive me, please.

We fell to reminiscing...

and it wasn't until Magda came in

that I remembered you were waiting.

We shall dine at once.

Of course, Doctor, you're not to think

of starting back on a night like this.

- You'll stay over.

- No, really, I have...

We'll consider your objections overruled

and the matter settled.

- Katrine.

- Shh.

Why aren't you asleep?

Because I don't want to sleep.

It's so beautiful.

- What is?

- Don't you hear it?

It woke me up.

Such a pretty song from down there.

- You've been dreaming.

- It's a lady.

She's singing

and playing the harpsichord.

- Katrine.

- It's like a lullaby.

But it must be funny,

because every now and then she laughs.

- There. She's laughing now.

Don't you hear it?

It's getting louder and louder.

I don't like it now!

Make her stop! I'm afraid!

I'm afraid! Make her stop!

- Darling, it's no one. Really it isn't.

You must believe me. It's...

Well, I can remember

when I was a little girl...

I used to imagine things so hard

that I thought they were real.

But don't you see, if there were anything,

I'd hear it too.

- It's stopped now.

Of course it has.

It never started, really.

Oh, I'm so tired.

- (Dr. Turner) What is it?

It's Mrs. Van Ryn. She's very sick.

- Tell me, what happened?

- About an hour ago, she woke up

Oh, the pain must have been terrible.

- Magda, what's the matter?

- It's Mrs. Van Ryn. Oh, she was moaning so.

Did she take any medicine

but what I gave her?

- No.

- You'd better send for Mr. Van Ryn.

I have.

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