Easy Virtue Page #6

that's so contagious.

Whoo-hoo!

Well, she promised she'd ride.

Ha-ha!

#... no chaperone

can get our number

# The world's in a slumber,

let's misbehave!

# There's something wild

about you, child, that's so contagious

# Let's be outrageous,

let's misbehave!

# When Adam won Eve's hand,

he wouldn't stand for teasin'

# He didn't care about those apples

out of season

# They say that Spring means

just one little thing to little lovebirds

# We're not above birds,

let's misbehave... #

Whoo!

Miss Hilda,

telephone from New York.

Uncle George?

Oh, thank God, a friendly voice.

Yes, and she's a complete nightmare.

Really?

How salacious.

Come in.

Mother?

I'd like to apologise

for today's schmozzle.

That really won't be necessary.

Larita made no secret

of her disapproval of blood sports.

She did ride as promised.

Well, we should credit her with her

imaginative way of keeping her word.

You must be very proud of her.

Mother, I think...

I think maybe Larita and I ought to go.

Oh...

Yes, I see. Very well.

Feel free to drop in

whenever it takes your fancy.

Off you go. Enjoy.

- Don't be like that.

I'm sorry, dear,

wasn't Mummy being kind enough?

Take these, they might get you

as far as Constantinople!

And this... Casablanca.

- Mother, stop it!

No. You stop it!

Stop being so nave!

The money's gone, John.

Nothing left.

The only thing standing

between this family and bankruptcy

are those surveyors in the back field.

Lord Hurst is offering to buy 400 acres

to keep the bailiffs away.

It's your legacy, John Whittaker...

and I'm selling it.

I had no idea.

- No... No, you don't.

You were supposed to take over

the estate, take your responsibilities.

But you were unexpectedly

flagged down.

I've been struggling for years

with a man who doesn't care,

waiting for you to step up to the mark.

No. You just go.

Go to Algiers

with your racing car driver.

I'm too tired to care any more!

It's not exactly surprising,

John. Look at the grounds.

Your mother is being very practical.

- In what sense?

You're not coming back.

Your father moved out decades ago.

Philip's not going to marry Hilda.

Nobody's going to marry Marion.

Subdividing the land and selling

to a neighbour is an elegant solution.

Somewhat harsh.

I've had my fair share

of selling off my past,

and it is an auction of innocence

that's neither fun nor pretty,

but it is realistic,

something your mother excels in.

But it's my responsibility.

Gracious, how can I have been so blind?

Oh, winter hydrangeas!

How do you do it?

It's a controlled mixture of passion,

persistence and horse manure.

I was hoping to catch a glimpse

of the new bride.

Ah! John's wife has

very fickle allergies.

Allergies to what?

- Flowers, Emma. Can you believe it?

That is a strange choice of bed fellow

for this neck of the woods.

You'll just have to make do

with John and Sarah.

It'll be like old times.

# When you're smiling,

the whole world smiles... #

Why the big Panda eyes?

I've often meant to ask you something,

but I hadn't the courage.

Well, don't then.

Did you think I behaved like a cad,

marrying Larita without telling you?

No, of course not.

You took the opportunity and married

for love. I respect you for it.

If we'd have married it would've been

for friendship and convenience.

Would it?

- Yes!

We knew one another far too well.

I want my marriage to be thrilling,

romantic, with passionate love letters.

I could've written you love letters.

- Well, you didn't, did you?

I did love you all the same.

John, stop it.

He's very different

from the man I met in France.

The boy. The same, sweet boy.

Is it true what she says?

Are you really selling off the land?

To be perfectly honest,

I haven't the faintest idea.

But it's your home, it's your community.

Doesn't that matter?

No.

You're a dark horse.

Have you noticed how few men

of my age there are in this village?

Fourteen years ago,

we all took the King's shilling.

We all signed up together.

My brother, friends, staff...

All hunkered down in the front row

of The Great War.

I thought they kept majors

safely behind desks?

Promotion for surviving.

As captain, it was my job

to get them all out of the trenches.

Within the first four minutes

of our first charge...

...20,000 men died.

In Thorverton, down the road here...

...they were stationed in Morocco.

Their captain bought them all home.

I didn't bring a single man back.

This whole village died.

I think there's a glimmer

of life in you yet.

Well, if there is, it has no time for

pet cemeteries and Japanese lanterns.

Why did you come back?

- I had no choice.

Bonjour, Madame.

Qu'est-ce que vous voulez?

'She came for you? '

Why the lie?

She thought "wandering home"

sounded better.

And to be perfectly frank,

I no longer cared.

I hate new games. There are

too many balls, I can't sink anything.

Sink some gin, Sausage Fingers!

- I never, ever win.

Oh, well done!

Stop sucking it. Come and help.

Come on, Pops.

All right, Missie,

hold your horses.

Right, clear the decks, puppies.

May I?

I was hoping to have a word.

We're accentuating the positive today,

I don't have a mind for anything else.

Of course... of course.

I know you are

under considerable stress...

Regarding what?

Lord Hurst's kind offer

to buy into your property.

The realtor I'm dealing with in London

also specialises in subdivision.

Perhaps he could help negotiate

a premium price.

Thank you, but really this is

of no concern of yours.

Of course it's a concern. I am a member

of this family now and I'd like to help.

And this is your interpretation

of "help", is it?

Carving up our heritage and selling

it off to the highest bidder?

Coming from a country no older

than the chair you are sitting in,

it seems a very practical solution.

Just forget the seven

generations of people

who have devoted their entire lives

to farming this land.

Get someone else to do it.

With a machine, no less.

Who do you think you are?

Swinging your wherewithal

like a cat on heat.

If you really want to be

of assistance, Larita,

I think you know what's required.

Right...

I think it's time an expert showed you

how this game is played.

Watch it...

Bravo!

What a sportswoman, I must say.

Can you imagine? Fantastic!

'Lari, you're confusing me.'

'I'm feeling trapped.'

- 'I don't understand.'

It's this house!

It has an air of doom hanging over it.

And I can barely stand the weight

much longer.

The answer is to go abroad again.

Not yet. This is my life for now,

you know that.

And what part do I play in it?

- Do you have to be so loud?

Of course I do! I'm American.

What is the use of bickering like this?

It doesn't lead anywhere.

You never know.

It might lead to a natural end.

Do you want it to?

Do you?

No!

I just want some peace and quiet.

You're far too young

to make a remark like that.

I can't help my age...

...Grandma.

Look, I'm sorry that I leave you alone

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