Love & Friendship Page #2

Well, a visit, as delightful

as that might be,

would represent so many hours and days

deducted from the grand

affair of education,

and I'm afraid Frederica can't

afford such deductions.

But she'll come for Christmas.

Alas, no.

Miss Somers could only give her the

concentrated attention she requires then.

- I'm so sorry.

- Not at all.

If you'll excuse me,

I'll give it to Mrs. Cross,

who, when rested, craves activity.

Once she's applied her genius to it,

all traces of little Frederick's

interesting design will disappear.

The fees at Frederica's school

are far too high

to even think of paying.

So in a sense it's an economy.

Yes, although Mrs. Cross

is upstairs resting.

I confess to curiosity

to know this lady,

to see firsthand her bewitching powers.

- Is she as beautiful as they say?

- You worry me, Reginald.

Don't. I understand Lady Susan

possesses a degree of captivating deceit

- which might be pleasing to detect.

- You truly worry me.

Good evening.

What charming expressions.

Susan, uh, let me introduce

my brother Reginald DeCourcy.

Reginald, may I present

Frederick Vernon's widow

Lady Susan and her

friend Mrs. Cross?

Delighted to make your acquaintance.

Your renown precedes you.

I'm afraid the allusion escapes me.

Your reputation

as an ornament to our society.

Oh, what you say surprises me.

Since the great sadness

of my husband's death,

I've lived in nearly perfect isolation.

To better know his family and to

further remove myself from society,

I came to Churchill,

not to make new acquaintances

of frivolous sort,

but of course I'm pleased

to know my sister's relations.

[woman singing opera]

Mrs. Cross:
I take it you are finding

Mr. DeCourcy's society more pleasurable.

To some degree.

At first, his conversation

betrayed a sauciness and familiarity

which is my aversion,

but since I've found

a quality of callow idleness

which rather interests me.

When I've inspired him

with greater respect

than his sister's kind

offices have allowed,

- he might in fact be an agreeable flirt.

- He's handsome, isn't he?

In a cough-like way...

not like Manwaring, of course,

but there's a certain pleasure in

making a person predetermined to dislike

instead acknowledge one's superiority.

How delightful it will be to humble

the pride of these pompous DeCourcys.

A letter for you, my dear.

- Letter?

- Yes, from Catherine.

I hope she'll arrive soon.

The season's cheerless

without children.

Well?

I'm afraid this cold

has affected my eyes.

Save your eyes, my dear.

I'll read for you.

- No, it's all right.

- No, I just...

Here. Uh...

Let's see.

Mm.

Catherine hopes you are well

and asks most particularly

that you give me her love.

Yes, and?

Uh...

Oh, Reginald has decided to stay

at Churchill to hunt with Charles.

He cites the fine open weather. What

nonsense. The weather's not open at all.

Well, maybe it is there, or it was when

she wrote. My dear, could you just read?

- Verbatim?

- Yes, the words.

Some of Catherine's

voice will be in them.

Well, I'll read every word, comma,

and dash if that's what you wish.

Here...

Just the words, please.

No punctuation at all?

All right. That's much easier.

- Lady Susan?

- Yes, she has been visiting Churchill.

- Lady Susan Vernon?

- Yes.

Well, how could Reginald engage in

conversations with Lady Susan Vernon?

Conversations which are...

What would they talk about?

My eyes have definitely cleared.

I can read it. Don't trouble yourself.

No, no. If my son and heir's involved

with such a lady, I must trouble myself.

[clock chimes]

- Well, I must go.

- No. I'll write.

No, no.

If this is happening, there's no time.

Thank you.

- Father.

- Reginald.

How extraordinary for you to be here.

- You're in good health, I trust?

- No.

How's Mother?

What brings you to these parts?

Take a seat.

I won't dissemble and say I

have business in the district.

What I've come about is more important.

What's of such importance?

I know young men don't admit inquiry

into affairs of the heart,

but, as the sole son

of an ancient family,

you must know that your conduct

is most important to us.

Your happiness, ours, the credit of

the family name, its very survival...

- Father.

- No, no, no. Hear me out.

I know that you'd not deliberately form

an engagement without informing us.

But I can't help fear

that you'll fall into an obligation

which everyone near you must oppose.

- What do you mean, sir?

- Well, Lady Susan Vernon's age alone...

Father, you astonish me.

What surprises you?

Impugning such ambitions to Lady Susan.

She'd never think of such a thing.

My sole interest has been to enjoy the

lively conversation of a superior lady.

Catherine's prejudice is so great.

Prejudice? Lady Susan's

neglect of her late husband,

her extravagance and dissipation,

her encouragement of other men

are so notorious...

These are vile calumnies.

I could explain each

but would not so dignify them.

- I know you spend little time in society.

- Oh, none.

Should you have frequented it more,

you'd know the astonishing degree

of vile, hateful jealousy

in our country.

Don't deprecate our country, sir.

I can't prevent you

inheriting the family estate,

and my ability to distress

you during my life

is not the kind of revenge

that I would choose to take.

- Father, this is unnecessary.

- No, no. Let me continue.

A permanent connection

between you and Lady Susan Vernon

would destroy every

comfort of our lives.

It would be the death

of the honest pride

with which we've always considered you.

We'd blush to see you, to hear of you,

to think of you.

Father,

with the utmost humility,

let me say that what you imagine...

is impossible.

Susan:

Poor Mrs. Cross was obliged

to accept a paid position

in Buckinghamshire.

As there was an element

of friendship between us,

I realized the paying of wages

would be offensive to us both.

You value friendship highly.

Yes. I hope I was

of some help to her.

And your friends don't neglect you.

Thank you, Charles.

It's from Frederica's school.

No.

I can't believe it.

It defies comprehension.

- What?

- Frederica has run away.

- She's run away from school.

- Heavens. Where to?

- They don't know.

- She's lost?

No. They detected her plan

early enough to intercept her.

What folly. Where could she

have thought of going?

Surely here.

No, this is the last

place she would come.

- I mean, rather...

- But she must miss you terribly.

Certainly. I just don't think

Churchill would be her object.

Oh. This is outrageous.

Miss Somers requires

that Frederica be removed from school.

Miss Somers must be under the impression

that, as a widow without fortune,

I may be bullied. Evidently she's

forgotten Frederica is a Vernon.

But Charles must put this right.

Confronted with his imposing words,

even the mistress of a school

must be persuaded to act rightly.

[bell tolls]

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes