Fanny by Gaslight Page #4

---

- Who, Harry? Yes.

- How horrid of him.

- I don't think he's horrid at all.

As a matter of fact, Harry Somerford

is about the best friend I've got.

Tommy? Tommy! Ah.

Come on, then.

Where've you been, you young

scamp? Where've you been?

Goodbye, my child. Take

great care of yourself.

You've grown very dear to me.

And so have you to me.

- Goodbye.

- Is that all?

Father.

Thank you. I wanted to

hear you call me that.

Oh, lovely.

This isn't, though. Came this morning.

Listen to this and tell me

what in mercy's name I'm to do.

"Dear Heaviside, I am badly stranded.

That idiot Carver is ill. "

Unhealthy creature, always was.

"I must have someone, so come to my rescue

like the dear old lifeboat you are. "

Lifeboat.

"And let me have that

little niece of yours.

She seemed a nice child and

will be better than no-one. "

The cheek of it.

- Mrs Heaviside.

- There's worse to come.

"Send her as soon as you get this and

I'll have her met at Clipston station. "

Not if I know it, she won't.

- Master Clive'd never forgive me.

- Oh, dear.

It would have to happen

and the master away and all.

He'd have known what to do.

Mrs Seymore would think it odd

if you didn't send your niece.

She'd never rest till she ferreted

out the truth. She's like that.

Sweet as butter while things go right,

but cross her and she'll keep on

the prowl till she gets you down.

- Then I shall go to Clipston.

- No, no. I can't take the responsibility.

What Mr Clive would say, I don't know.

Don't you worry, Mrs Heaviside.

If it'll help Mr Seymore for me to go

to Clipston, I shall go to Clipston.

Be a love and help me

get my things together.

One more. Tighter.

What a minute. I'll hold on to the post.

Now, pull.

That's it.

You've done my hair very nicely for a

first time, Only Hooper. Very nicely indeed.

- Thank you, madam.

- You're a very clever girl.

Do you know, you've

become much prettier?

Must be the country air.

- Did you like Orton?

- Very much, madam.

Did you? I always find it such

a bore. Nothing on earth to do.

- I found plenty to do, madam.

- Really? Such as?

Well, I went for walks in the woods.

I thought the garden was lovely.

I swam in the lake.

Learnt to play chess.

Chess? Don't tell me old

Heaviside plays chess.

I should have thought chess

was more of a masculine game.

Would you step into this, madam?

Confess, Only Hooper. I believe

you've got a secret lover.

- Oh, no, madam!

- That's nothing to be ashamed of.

All pretty girls like you,

or me, ought to have lovers.

Is he dark or fair?

Please, madam.

Very well. I won't tease you any more.

I want to look my best tonight.

Is it a special party, madam?

Yes, Only Hooper, a very special party.

Thank you.

Oh, don't wait up for me.

Go to bed and dream

about your chess man.

Waltz

- There she is.

- Where?

Over there. Can't you

see her gold dress?

- She's never dancing with the same man?

- She is.

- How many times is that?

- Four.

- Look how he's holding her.

- Mind, did you ever see the like?

They're touching.

Come on. Let's tell Miss Carver.

She can do with some excitement,

and her with a gumboil.

That'll maybe burst it! Come on.

Let me look.

Yes, Miss Carver.

We buy our nightgowns -

robes de nuit - in Paris.

- Paris.

- Well?

- Don't stand there dreaming.

Now the frills. - Yes, Miss Carver.

Vite, vite.

- Miss Carver, Miss Carver!

- Entrz.

- Miss Carver. Miss Carver.

- What is it?

- Your lady...

- What about my lady?

She's danced four

times with the same man.

Is that all? What's all

the excitement about?

If she did that in Pollokshields,

she'd get hissed off the floor.

Pollokshields!

They were touching.

You should have seen the

chaperones craning their necks...

The old cats

- they're jealous.

They want him, we've got him.

I shouldn't be surprised if we're

not "my lady" this time next year.

- Oh, Miss Carver!

- Don't you let on I told you so.

But how could that come about?

- She could marry a lord, simpleton.

- But she's married already.

- There's such a thing as divorce,

isn't there? - Divorce! Oh, Miss Carver.

Besides, we're getting rather

tired of being plain Mrs Seymore.

It wasn't very exciting

at the best of times.

Has she had many lovers?

Ooh I I. Oui, oui.

Let's see. There was...

Sir John Woodhouse.

Proper toff, but we tired of him.

We're fickle, you know.

Then there was the gallant

Captain Tenant, and...

Oh, many, many others.

We're rather partial to I'amour.

How dare you talk about

Mrs Seymore like that?

A fine lady's maid you are,

gossiping to the servants.

As for you two, out you go, both of you.

- Here, stow it.

- She'll hit you.

Yes, I will. And you.

That'll teach you not to talk

scandal. Out you go, both of you.

Well! Of all the cheek!

Who do you think you are?

Ow! Oh!

- Morning, madam.

- Morning.

I've seen you somewhere before.

I don't think so, sir.

It's that scoundrel Hopwood's daughter.

I'm Mrs Seymore's maid,

sir. My name is Hooper.

- Oh, no, it isn't.

- My name is Hooper, sir.

All right.

I'm not going to quarrel

with a pretty girl like you.

- Especially if she's got something for me.

- Yes, I think I have.

This.

Oh, thanks.

Where'd you find this?

On the floor.

Mrs Heaviside told me you were here.

Fanny, I can't allow it. I'm

going to tell Alicia the truth.

- No, Father, you mustn't. Please.

- Yes, it's fairer to both of you.

Fanny, are you leaving?

- Yes.

- But why?

Has Alicia been unkind to you?

No, Father, it's not that.

Please don't ask me...

Oh. The chess man.

Really, my dear Clive, is

my bedroom quite the place?

I think it a little indelicate of you

to plant your mistress on me as a spy.

Alicia.

I hope, Hooper, you've

made the best of your story.

Something vivid and

dramatic. Plenty of detail.

Alicia, what are you talking about?

I don't understand. I...

Oh, I came in a second too soon.

It was the first raptures of meeting I

interrupted, not the confidential report.

Please go on, Hooper.

Do you really want me to, madam?

No.

I'll tell him myself.

I love Gerry Manderstoke.

I'm going to divorce you and marry him.

Is this a joke? You

can't divorce me, Alicia.

Oh? And what about Only Hooper?

- Alicia?

- Yes?

Alicia, Fanny is my daughter.

Your dau...

Oh, really, Clive, you're

getting quite ingenious.

She is my daughter, Alicia.

Is this true, Clive?

Yes. I came here to tell you.

Please leave us, Hooper.

I'm sorry for what I

said just now, Clive.

I didn't understand.

Listen, Clive, we don't love

each other. We never have.

But now, for the first time

in my life, I am in love.

And you too have found

someone to care for.

I'm glad. It makes me feel less guilty.

Let me divorce you, Clive.

I can't be divorced. I'm

a woman, it would ruin me.

I'll keep Fanny out of it. I'll

name an unknown woman. Clive...

But you forget, Alicia,

I'm a public servant,

not a private individual.

Yes, I know. You'll have to

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes