Frenchman's Creek Page #3

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And now you are trying to escape.

William told me you would say that.

-Then why don't you;

-Escape;

Haven't l;

-l see you get to the heart.

-lt was my intention.

l caught you unawares when

the mood was reflected in your face.

-lsn't it unfair;

-How so;

To make a copy of emotion

at my expense.

Possibly.

But it may persuade you to

discard such a mood altogether;

Disillusionment, indifference...

Yes. Willfulness.

A different person from the portrait

with whom l fell in love.

-Fell in love;

-Yes.

A strange, enchanting person

that looked down at me

from the bedroom wall.

Lady St. Columb is not that person.

-l prefer Lady St. Columb.

-l prefer the lady in the portrait.

l said to myself,

''She and no other.''

When the east wind starts blowing

it continues for several days.

My ship will be weather bound

and l can be idle.

There are birds to watch, fish

to catch, streams to be explored.

-All these are methods of escape.

-Birds to watch, fish to catch.

Do you suggest that

is the way to make me happy;

Complete happiness is a rare thing.

l do not believe it can ever

be fully experienced alone.

But it happens a man finds a woman

who is the answer to his dreams.

And the two have understanding

of each other

from the lightest moment

to the darkest moment.

Thank you for my supper.

Good night.

Your manor commands a view

of the river, doesn't it;

An excellent view.

You haven't seen any strange craft

entering the estuary;

l don't wish to alarm you but

a French pilot has used the river.

-He may do so again.

-You terrify me.

l must warn you, he'd have

little respect for you person.

-You mean he's unscrupulous;

-l fear so.

And his men are

desperate and savage;

They are pirates, my lady.

l shall take every possible

care of my household.

Are they cannibals too;

l have a little boy you know.

Calm yourself my dear.

Calm yourself.

Perhaps the Frenchman

has left our coasts for good.

l wish we could think so.

But he's most dangerous

when he's most quiet.

We shall hear from him again.

-But it'll be the last time.

-lndeed;

Yes madam. The last time.

lt'll be my great pleasure to

hang him from the tallest tree.

l invite all the company present

to witness the ceremony.

Sir, you are very bloodthirsty.

So would you be if you'd been

robbed of your possessions.

Pictures, plates, silver...

all of considerable value.

But think of the joy

you will have replacing them.

l fear l consider the matter

in a very different light.

Such a pleasure my dear

Lady Godolphin.

Where shall l change my gown;

l thought my lady might not be

adverse to behind that tree.

How very considerate of you.

What story did you tell them

at Navron;

l said you'd be staying to dine

with Godolphin and would be late.

How very deceitful of you.

He is waiting for you my lady.

-Do you think me mad;

-Not entirely sane my lady.

-lt's a lovely feeling.

-So l have always understood.

l shall be in the avenue

shortly after 10:00.

Yes my lady.

You may drive as though we were

coming from Lord Godolphin's.

Why are you smiling;

l was not aware that my features

had in any way relaxed.

-You are a liar.

-Yes my lady.

-You have not been long.

-l had no mirrors to detain me.

l understand how simple life becomes

when such as mirrors are forgotten.

May l put the worm on the hook;

Do you think l'm making progress;

Yes.

Do you really think that;

The disillusioned, willful

Dona St. Columb

who roistered in the taverns

and sat in gaming houses

beside ladies of the town.

lf there ever was such a Dona

she no longer exists.

l'm glad you said that.

Don't you want your fish;

l was thinking of the conversation

l had at Lord Godolphin's.

They are gloating over

the possibility of your capture.

l understand your interest,

but they do not worry me.

l believe them to be dangerous.

Godolphin is a dunderhead,

but he's persistent.

And Eustick has a mean,

obstinate look about him.

-They hope to hang you.

-Something of a complement.

Now you're laughing at me.

What do you want me to do;

l want you to be cautious.

Then, tomorrow l must

begin to plan again.

-You'll be going away;

-l've been idle too long.

l've allowed... the creek

to take hold of me.

Godolphin and his friends shall

have a run for their money.

Another raid along the coast;

-Probably.

-And risk capture and death;

Perhaps.

lt would be wiser to sail back

to Brittany.

Far wiser.

The Seagull may be wrecked instead

of lying peacefully at a haven.

The Seagull was not built

to lie peacefully in a haven.

lt's too bad you're not a boy.

You could have sailed with me.

Why do l have to be

a boy to do that;

You're too precious

too delicate for a pirate ship.

That's ridiculous. Please let me

go with you just once.

-You'd be cold and miserable.

-No!

-You'd be frightened.

-No!

-You'd be seasick.

-How much would you wager;

That depends on what we have

to offer each other.

My earrings. You may have

my ruby earrings.

Yes.

And... what would you demand

of me should you win your wager;

Let me think.

l lock from Godolphin's wig.

You shall have the wig itself.

-l will take care of the children.

-l have every confidence in you.

l intend to announce to that

you are indisposed and feverish

and for fear of infection

no one is to come to your room.

And you have asked for me

to wait on you myself.

Excellent William.

You are a born deceiver.

Don't you wish you were

coming with me;

My interior does not take to

the motion of a ship on the water.

-ln other word's you're sick.

-You have a happy turn of phrase.

l have a wager with your master

that l shall not succumb.

-Do you think l shall win;

-lt depends on what you mean.

That l'll not succumb to the motion

of the ship. What did you think;

Forgive me, for the moment

my mind had strayed.

Yes, l think you will win

that wager.

That is the only wager

we held William.

-Yes my lady.

-You sound doubtful.

When two people make a voyage,

one of them like my master,

the other like my mistress,

the situation strikes me

as being pregnant

with possibilities.

-You are very presumptuous.

-l'm sorry my lady.

You forget l've been married 8 years

and am the mother of two children.

At the end of next month

l shall be 30.

On the contrary, it was these

things l was most remembering.

Then l'm inexpressibly shocked.

-Open the door.

-Yes.

lf Master James really

wants some strawberries...

l understand perfectly. l will

give him some quietly myself.

-Good. Goodbye, William.

-Au revoir my lady.

Pierre.

Bon jour, madam.

This way.

Come on. QuickIy.

They're here.

-Good morning.

-The Captain wants to see you.

-Good morning.

-Good morning.

Let's go.

You bring luck it seems.

The wind is fair.

Weigh the anchor!

Weigh the anchor, weigh it.

Weigh the anchor, weigh it.

There we go, sea,

there we go.

There we go, sea,

there we go.

PIaces, everyone!

The anchor is weight, sir.

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