Howards End Page #5

It got so dark

I couldn't see my own hand.

M r. Bast,

you must be a born explorer.

I tried to steer by the polestar.

but once out of doors...

everything gets so mixed

and I lost it.

Don't tell me about the polestar.

I know its little ways.

It goes round and round,

and you go round with it.

[ Helen ] Yes, but why?

Why didyou do it?

I wanted to...

just walk...

just get out.

I've been reading

The Ordeal of Richard Feverel.

Yes, I remember. There's that chapter

where Richard walks all night.

- In a forest by moonlight.

- Yes. Margaret. what's that wonderful

Oh, I know exactly what you mean.

[ Both ]

"The forest drooped glimmeringly."

Wait, I'll get it.

The chapter's called "Nature Speaks."

- Where do your people come from?

- London.

Yes. I know, but I mean before that.

They didn't always

live in a town.

No. they came

from around Shropshire.

They worked on the land.

They were agricultural laborers.

There. you see?

It was ancestral voices calling you.

Yes. here it is.

"Richard was walking hurriedly."

"A pale gray light on the skirts of

the flying tempest displayed the dawn."

- Did you see the dawn?

- Yes, suddenly it got light.

- And was it wonderful?

- No.

- [ Laughing ]

- It was only gray.

And anyway, by that time

I was so tired and so hungry.

I didn't know when you're walking...

you want a breakfast and lunch and tea

during the night as well...

-and all I had was a packet of Woodbines.

-[All Chuckling ]

[ Woman ]

No. Money. Give Mr. Bast money.

- We really must go. Meg. come on.

- Don't bother about his ideals.

Your Leonard Bast wouldn't know

what to do ifyou just gave him money.

Nonsense. Money is very educational.

Much more so than the things it buys.

Such crass materialism

out ofyour mouth, Margaret.

Give them money.

Let us give Mr. Bast money.

[ All Chattering, Indistinct ]

What if he gained the whole world.

but lost his own soul?

But he won't gain his soul until

he has enough money to do it with.

Give Mr. Bast money.

[ All Chattering, Indistinct ]

Good night.

Yes. well. you worry about the first.

Good-bye. Good-bye.

Thank you.

- Good night.

- Good night.

[ Tango ]

So what do you think is the most

important thing in the world, then?

Well, I suppose...

- it is whatever matters to you most.

- What, like love, for instance?

- Yes, like love for instance

or Oxford ifyou're Tibby.

- Miss Schlegel?

- Henry Wilcox.

- Oh, hello.

- Hello. Good evening.

- How nice to see you.

What a wonderful surprise.

I heard two ladies talking of love.

- [ Chuckling ] Oh, no.

- No. We were continuing

a serious discussion.

- Yes?

- Yes. We belong to a sort of club...

which meets once a week

to discuss various subjects.

How are you? I would've thought

you would be down at Howards End.

Howards End is let.

We've bought a house in Mayfair.

Yes. Mr. Wilcox, supposing

you were a millionaire.

Oh, but I expect you are one.

[ Chuckles ]

We have met a young man who is very poor

and we think sensitive and intelligent...

and we wondered if one was a millionaire

how one could help him.

-What's his profession?

-He's a clerk in What was it. Margaret?

- The Porphyrion Fire I nsurance Company.

- I nsurance.

- Porphyrion?

- Yes.

Ah, then Miss Schlegel...

if I were to help

your young clerk...

I'd advise him to clear out of

the Porphyrion with all possible speed.

- Why?

- Now, this is between friends...

but the Porphyrion is

insufficiently reinsured.

It'll be in the receivers' hands

before Christmas.

In other words. it will smash.

Do you hear? Helen.

the Porphyrion will smash.

We'll have to warn Mr. Bast.

He'll have to get another place.

- I hope he'll get one very quickly.

- But rather than wait to make sure?

Yes. decidedly. You understand.

the man who is already in a situation...

when he applies for work...

stands a much better chance. naturally.

This is letting you

into state secrets, of course...

but, uh. it does affect

an employer greatly.

Human nature, I'm afraid.

Well. our human nature appears

to be quite the other way around.

We employ people

because they're unemployed

- The bootman, for instance.

- How does he clean the boots?

- Not well.

- There you are.

Mr. Wilcox, is it very difficult nowadays

for a clerk to get a situation?

- Yes. extremely.

- I'm so sorry about Howards End.

- Hmm?

- I mean that you're not living there.

I think I have some idea of how much

her house meant to Mrs. Wilcox.

Yes. but to us. the family.

it has certain drawbacks.

Would you be able to help?

Our friend. help him to a new situation?

Well, unfortunately. we have very few

positions and vacancies.

And when there is one. of course...

- always hundreds of applicants.

- Of course.

- It has been a pleasure. Miss Schlegel.

- Yes, indeed.

Miss Schlegel. I hope

your young clerk finds success.

- Thank you. Good night.

- Good night.

Well, he was in a hurry

to get away. wasn't he?

- Ah. Wilcox.

- What was all that about?

Mr. Bast...

I fear you may have thought

our letter a little odd.

We're not odd. really.

We're just over-expressive. That's all.

The more a lady has to say, the better.

Ladies brighten every conversation.

Yes. I know. The darlings are regular

sunbeams. Let me give you a plate.

Your company is the Porphyrion. isn't it?

Would you call it a solid concern?

Cake? This big one

or one of these little deadlies?

It depends what you mean by solid.

We were told the Porphyrion's a no-go.

A friend of ours did think...

- that it's insufficiently reinsured.

- And advised you to clear out.

- You can tell your friend that he's wrong.

- Oh. good! [ Chuckling ]

Wrong. so to speak.

How, so to speak?

I mean, I wouldn't say

he was right altogether.

Then he is right partly?

Tell your friend to mind

his own business.

- [ Knocking, Door Opens ]

- Annie.

Mr. Wilcox, Miss Wilcox.

Oh.

- What a surprise!

- [ Helen Laughing ]

Oh, they're beautiful.

- Mr. Wilcox. do come in.

- Miss Schlegel, pray forgive us

for calling so unexpectedly.

- Mr. Bast. come play with puppies.

- M r. Wilcox. this is Mr. Bast.

- Aren't they beautiful?

- I must be going.

Oh, must you really?

Oh, come again.

No. I shan't. I shan't come again.

I call that a very rude remark. What do

you want to turn on me like that for?

I thought you invited me here as

for a friendly chat.

Instead it turns out you want to pick

my brains about my place of business.

Oh. yes. "Send for him.

Cross-question him. Pick his brains."

- No. no!

- Are we intruding, Miss Schlegel?

Shall we go?

No. no. Thank you.

Helen, go after him. Explain.

- What was all that about?

- I knew I shouldn't have come.

It was all right last time,

but things like that always get spoiled.

Things do. but people don't.

Don't you understand?

We really did want to warn you

about the Porphyrion.

We were worried about you.

- Why should you worry about me?

- Because we like you.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes