Enchanted April

---

Thanks, ma'am.

To wounded soldier - sixpence.

Are you reading about the castle

and the wisteria?

What? Uh, yes. Why?

It just... it seems so wonderful,

and it's such a miserable day.

Perhaps that's why

it seems so wonderful.

No, no.

It is so wonderful.

Wonderful, yes, but it's not worth

wasting one's time thinking about.

No, it is.

I... I believe we're neighbors.

I see you every Sunday in church

- Chapel Street, Hampstead -

but we've never actually spoken.

I'm Mrs. Rose Arbuthnot.

Oh, thank you.

I'm Lotti Wilkins...

Mrs. Lotti Wilkins.

I don't suppose

that means much to you.

Sometimes it doesn't

mean much to me, either,

but I am Mrs. Wilkins.

I'm sure you are.

I've never really liked the name

Wilkins very much.

It's such a small name

with a mean little

twist at the end, you know.

"Kins. " "Kins. "

It's like a pug dog's little tail,

but it is Mellersh's name.

Mellersh Wilkins is my husband,

so Im stuck with it.

Um, he's a solicitor.

He's very handsome.

That must be nice for you.

Why?

Well, um...

because beauty... handsomeness

is a gift from God,

like any other...

and if used properly,

it can be, well...

Why don't we...

Sorry.

Why don't we try and get it?

- Get it?

- Yes!

Not just say

how wonderful it would be

and then go back to Hampstead

without doing anything about it,

as we have been doing

for years and years and years.

But how do you mean, "get it"?

Rent it. Hire it. Have it.

The castle. The wisteria.

Everything.

You and me?

Yes. We'll share.

That way it will

only cost half,

and you look as though you

wanted it as much as I do.

You look so beautiful and so sad.

I'm not sad!

It's my face!

I can't help it.

My husband says I have the face

of a disappointed Madonna.

He has a way with words.

My husband never says a word

too much or a word too little.

Sometimes I think he keeps copies

of everything he says.

It's very disheartening.

If you wish for something

hard enough, it happens.

Lotti, I've told you before

about buying flowers.

They are an extravagance

of the most blatant kind.

They always die, Lotti.

Then you have to buy more.

I know, Mellersh, but I like

the color, and...

We're not rich, Lotti.

I own no stocks and shares.

What would happen to you

if tomorrow...

I were to be knocked down by a tram

and you were still buying flowers?

We have to watch every penny, Lotti.

I understand, Mellersh.

You are still recording every purchase

in that book I bought you?

Yes. Even the flowers.

Good.

Now...

about the party.

We should arrive at, um...

N8:
40, I think.

Yes.

We'd look too eager.

as if we're not interested.

Well, 8:
40 it is.

Can't I stay at home, Mellersh?

All these artists... there are

so many in Hampstead,

and I never know

what to say to them.

Praise them, my dear. Praise

them, and you can't go wrong.

But no one will know

Im there even if I am.

I'm sure your sister won't mind

if I don't turn up.

But I would.

As a family solicitor,

I have to be seen as a reliable

family man... with wife.

Excellent sole, my dear.

Mellersh, I've been thinking.

As you know, this, um...

terrible weather, and I..

I wonder if...

you would mind...?

Apple dumplings.

...if you would mind

apple dumplings.

Temptations, friends.

The devil never sleeps

when it comes to temptation.

Of course, II Peter

"The Lord knows how to deliver

the godly out of temptations,

but he doesn't always bother. "

I see us, you and me, this April

in that castle by the sea.

I'm certain of it.

Have you ever seen things in a

kind of flash before they happen?

Never.

I'm sure it must be wrong to be good

for so long you become miserable.

I can see you've been good

for years, and you aren't happy.

And... I've been doing things for

other people since I was a little girl,

and I don't believe

I'm loved any better.

Are you all right?

You must believe

I've never spoken to anyone

like this in my life.

I don't know what's come

over me.

It's the advertisement.

Yes... and us being so miserable.

There's no harm in simply...

asking about it, is there?

Hello, my dear.

You waited up.

I want to talk to you.

I've made you something.

Thank you.

I had enough at the reception.

Yes, I can see.

After all, it was for my book.

You should have been there, my dear.

I missed you.

I wonder.

Of course I did.

I thought about us in Vienna.

Do you remember Vienna?

Or was it Prague?

It doesn't matter.

The golden rule is, if you've got

yourself in a hole, stop digging.

Drink your milk, Frederick.

It'll settle your stomach.

What do you think?

People seem to like it.

Frederick...

no one should ever write a book

God wouldn't like to read.

It's the way I earn a living.

Out of the immorality of fallen women.

They are dead.

Sin never dies, Frederick.

That's rather a depressing thought.

Anyway, I know your views,

so I've always been very careful.

You are married to

Fredrick R. Arbuthnot, gentleman.

Gerald Arundal wrote

this and all the others.

Nobody knows it's a pseudonym.

God knows.

God must know an awful lot.

Why doesn't he do something?

Fredrick, I'm thinking

of taking a holiday in Italy

this spring with a friend.

It's a splendid idea.

Yes, that's what I thought

you'd say.

It's just what you need.

- And as for the money...

- I shall be using my own, Frederick.

You only have to ask.

Actually, it all works out rather well, because

I shall be out and about promoting my book.

Do you think we should

go on with this?

Sixty pounds, Lottie!

But 60 pounds, plus fares, plus

expenses for food and such like...

We could buy a great many boots

for the poor with that money...

We could advertise

for two ladies to join us.

That way it would only cost

There's something immoral about all this.

Oh, no.

No, thank you. No.

Excuse me, Mr. Briggs.

We've come in answer

to your letter about renting

the castle in Italy.

Oh, I do beg your pardon.

I am very sorry.

Do come in, ladies.

I'm very sorry about the mess.

I'm off in a couple of days.

Business, I'm afraid...

to Germany, uh, France,

and Italy.

Here's my card.

But my real love is the, uh...

oboe.

Do you play anything?

The pianoforte.

That's a ticket to the opera,

Mr. Briggs.

I do beg your pardon.

I played the flute when

I was at school.

I've always thought of myself

as a fluty kind of person.

Mr. Briggs...

Sixty pounds.

Oh, in cash.

Well, uh, Mrs. Arbuthnot,

checks are more usual, but, uh...

however, I'm richer, and you're

happier. I've got

the money, and you've got

San Salvatore,

and I think I know

which is best.

Well, um...

now, here are

all the details.

Yes, there we are.

Plus...

photographs.

There we are.

And the spare key...

and I'll give you a receipt.

Your, um...

your husband is going

with you, Mrs. Arbuthnot?

No.

No. I'm... I'm sorry.

I'd no right to...

I do understand.

sad times...

the war...

Thank you, Mr. Briggs.

Well, I think you'll fit in

very well at San Salvatore.

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