Enchanted April Page #2

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There are several portraits

of you on the walls.

Portraits of me?

Madonnas... exactly like you,

Mrs. Arbuthnot.

Are they looking disappointed?

No more than usual.

Rose.

Rose, we've done it!

We've done it!

You would've thought that

hundreds would have jumped

at the chance of sharing a month's

peace and quiet in San Salvatore.

I can't understand why

we've only had two replies.

It doesn't leave us much choice.

I knew them all, you know.

Dear Alfred Tennyson,

who pulled my pigtails

and said they were too long.

And I sat on Mr. Carlyle's knee.

Oh, how he scowled.

I'm a perfect sharer of your

holiday, Mrs. Arbuthnot.

All I wish to do is sit

in the shade

and remember better times

and better men.

I'm very fond of flowers, too,

and from what you tell me

in your advertisement,

San Salvatore will be perfect.

I remember spending a weekend

with my father at Box Hill.

Who lived at Box Hill?

George Meredith... the novelist.

Did you know Keats?

Keats?

No, I didn't,

and I didn't know Shakespeare

or Chaucer either.

Oh, no, of course not.

It's just that, um...

...it's just that they're

immortal, aren't they?

And I've always thought

of immortals as being...

um, well... immortal -

not having died.

I mean, they're alive, but

they're dead... and... and alive.

It's... it's odd.

Very odd.

I thought I saw Keats

the other day in Hampstead

crossing the road to

his house where he lived.

It was about teatime...

Well, Mrs. Fisher,

time we were going.

I really did see him,

he was dressed in...

I hope you're not in the habit

of seeing dead people,

however distinguished.

It's not in the best of taste.

I'm sure the last thing

I would want to see

is my late husband, Mr. Fisher

crossing the road

in front of my house.

I'm sure.

Well, Mrs. Fisher, everything

seems in order.

Provided your references

are satisfactory.

I don't think references are very

nice things amongst decent people

I mean, we're not

business men are we?

They have to distrust

each other.

Mrs. Watkins is right, Mrs. Fisher.

References do bring a certain...

atmosphere into our plans

which isn't... quite what

we want,

so I don't think we'll take

up yours,

or give you ours.

In which case I shall assume

you don't wish to join us.

Well, very well.

No references.

Yeah, I waive all references.

There... forgive me if

I don't see you out.

Lady Caroline Dester.

Ooh, she sounds very grand.

Very smart.

Do you see her with us

at San Salvatore?

I'm Caroline Dester.

I'm Mrs. Arbuthnot,

and this is Mrs. Wilkins.

How do you do?

Do sit down.

Thank you.

You realize it will be very

quiet at San Salvatore.

Nothing. No one.

Just the waves.

It sounds like heaven.

I'll be in Italy, which I love,

and not in a hotel, which a loathe.

The nicest of all, I won't be staying

with friends, I'll be with strangers.

Wonderful.

Why is that so wonderful?

Well, you won't be able to

mentionI a single person I know.

You don't know anyone

I know, do you?

No, I don't think so.

Nor do I.

Good. It's so boring otherwise.

It's no holiday to talk about the

same old things, same old people.

I want to just sit and not talk

and not think and not be the

center of everything all the time.

You know what that's like.

No, I don't.

Neither do I.

Well, it's very wearing.

Everybody makes demands...

especially men.

Yes.

I'm not sure if you

really deserve it.

And this one I have inscribed

with a personal message for you.

Oh, thank you so much.

Now, I would rather

like you to meet...

Excuse me, I'm just going to

have a word with your daughter.

Gerald.

Congratulations on the book.

Thank you, Caroline.

Your mother has been most

generous in setting this up.

You look lovely.

I know. Thank you, Gerald.

You mustn't monopolize

Caroline.

It isn't fair.

Even though you are the

guest of honor, Mr. Arundal.

You're going away, I hear.

Who's been talking?

- Authors have ways.

- Was it mother?

My lips are sealed.

I need to get away.

Where are you going?

If I told you, I wouldn't be

getting away, would I.

It's a secret, is it?

And please don't try

and find out, Gerald.

No, no.

Why don't you go home?

I just must have some time alone.

Frederick?

Good night, my dear.

Splendid, my dear.

The apricot tart

was especially fine.

Mellersh!

There's something

I want to talk to you about.

There's something I want to

talk to you, too, about, my dear.

I'm thinking of taking

you to Italy for Easter.

What?

I'm thinking of taking you

to Italy for Easter.

We could both do with a change.

It would be nice to go together.

A second person is always useful

in a country whose language

one doesn't speak...

to look after the luggage while

one communicates with the natives.

You seem stunned, my dear.

I am.

Yes, well, you don't seem

very enthusiastic about it.

It... it really is the most

extraordinary coincidence, Mellersh.

Really extraordinary.

You see... I've been invited

by a friend

to spend April with her in Italy.

She has a house there.

What?

Well, a kind of castle, really...

so I said yes.

This is outrageous, Lottie.

You accepted an invitation from

a friend without consulting me?

I'm consulting you, now!

Well, you can write to her

and say you can't go...

It's simply out of the question!

- I can't do that!

- Why not!

Because I don't want to!

I'm afraid it's all settled,

Mellersh.

I can't go back on my word now.

Nothing's settled. I don't believe

a word of it.

A friend with a castle in Italy?

What friend?

You haven't got any friends,

as far as I know.

Rose Arbuthnot.

Rose Arbut... I never heard

of Rose Arbuthnot!

She's very nice.

Everybody says so.

Tell me if you'd like another

helping of apricot tart.

No, I would not like another

helping of apricot tart!

Lottie, you are not

going to Italy alone.

Absolutely not!

How is this different?

Well, this is Italian rain.

There's no one here to meet us.

We are four hours late.

Stop, thief!

Madame...

Madame... English madame!

San Salvatore?

San Salvatore!

San Salvato...

It's all right!

They must have sent it!

What?

Madame... English madame,

San Salvatore?

My horsey good horsey.

Buono! Buono!

We're in God's hands now.

We have no choice, Lottie.

Do you suppose it's all real?

Were you ever in your

whole life so happy?

Never.

I promised myself the first thing to

happen in this place would be a kiss.

Oh, it's a mirage.

No, it's her.

Oh, I didn't know she'd

arrived already.

Neither did I.

She'll get a headache, sitting in

the sun like that without a hat.

She's treading on lilies.

Well, they're hers as much

as ours.

Only a quarter of them.

- Hello!

- Hello.

I got here yesterday.

Oh, what a pity.

We were going to choose

the nicest room for you.

Oh, I've already done that.

At least, I think it's the nicest.

We were going to make it pretty

for you with lots of flowers.

Domenico's done that.

I told him when I got here.

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