Madonna of the Seven Moons Page #2

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Whether we like it or not,

it's the age we're living in.

Why are you telling me all this?

Because I hope that you and your daughter

are going to be friends.

And confidantes.

Not just to live together but to be together.

Oh, that bell. Keeps on ringing!

All right, Tessa, I'll take it.

Give the boy ten lire.

Ten lire! Just for ringing a bell?

- Here we are, news at last.

- From Angela?

Mm-hm. "Stopped night at Florence.

Arriving about six with Evelyn. "

- Evelyn?

- She's a new one on me.

You've no need to worry now.

She's found another girl to come with.

- What time was it handed in?

- 11.45.

- I could've walked in the time!

- Six o'clock. She ought to be here soon.

By Jove, Charles, you're right.

I think I'll put these flowers in her room.

This merits a long procession of quick ones.

Happy days.

Angela!

- Daddy!

- Angela, my dear.

Now go and kiss your mother.

It isn't possible. Nobody could be so lovely.

- Mummy, darling!

- I wouldn't have known you.

Oh, I adore the new house,

what I've seen of it.

Grand to be home. Did you hear

the dirty trick Millie played on me?

She got stuck on a man and ditched us.

Evelyn and I had to come alone.

We stopped the night in Florence and spent

an hour in the art gallery before coming here.

Oh, but of course!

You don't know Evelyn.

Wait while I give him a shout.

He's wrestling with the suitcases.

Oh, Lyn!

Did she say "he"?

- She.

- Sounded like he.

- Drops her Ss, I should think.

- He's coming.

What's wrong?

Oh, my shorts.

Couldn't wear anything else in this weather.

Modest of you not to wear a bathing costume.

Here he is. Evelyn Penshurst.

Come and shake hands

like a nice little gentleman.

Reading from left to right,

Daddy, Mummy, and er...

A gentleman with a smile.

- Dr Charles Ackroyd, my dear.

- Doctor of music, I hope!

- Hot music.

- Angela!

- How are you, Doctor?

- I refuse to tell you.

Quite right. She doesn't deserve it.

Tessa! Aren't you going to give me a kiss?

Bless her little heart. She hasn't forgotten.

Come on, Evelyn, don't stand there gaping.

I Madame Labardi I'm afraid our

coming alone, you'll think...

We think nothing ofthe kind.

Let's go and have a drink.

Now it's your turn to do some talking.

I'm so glad to have you with me,

I can think of nothing to say.

Anyway, you must be very tired.

Why don't you go up to your room

and rest for a while?

- I'll bring you up some milk...

- Milk? Rest?

Darling! I'm not still in the nursery, you know.

- This is more our line, isn't it?

- Angela!

- That's a cocktail.

- I should hope so too,

with a father in the wine trade.

Mother doesn't like me to drink anything

stronger than cough mixture.

- Young man, tell us about yourself.

- Well, he's very...

I should like to, sir, ifAngela

would let me get a word in edgeways.

He's fairly civilised.

He's kind to animals and old people.

He's a rising light in the Diplomatic Service.

For the Lord's sake, put a sock in it.

It must seem unconventional,

Angela and I finishing our journey alone.

But quite honestly, we had no choice.

That doesn't excuse you locking my room

and sleeping with the key under your pillow!

- An absolute lie!

- For my part, I applaud the action.

She ought to be permanently

under lock and key.

If you'll excuse me, I'll get along.

- Where are you staying?

- Embassy.

- Why not dine with us?

- I've promised to feed with some old friends.

- The Logans. Perhaps you know them?

- No.

Well, if I haven't made

too ghastly an impression,

perhaps you'll let Angela dine with me

some night.

Hey!

What are you talking about?

I don't have to ask permission.

Well, goodbye. And thanks for the buggy ride.

You'd better see him off, my dear.

- Suppose I'd better.

- Goodbye, Madame Labardi.

- Goodbye, sir.

- Come on!

Well, Maddalena?

Shall we take a turn in the garden?

- It has been fun, hasn't it?

- Tremendous fun.

Have you enjoyed being with me

as much as I've enjoyed being with you?

Well, I don't know how much

you've enjoyed being with me.

More than I've ever enjoyed being with anyone.

As this kind of conversation never ends,

I propose carrying Angela offto see her room.

Yes, of course. Goodbye, sir.

Goodbye.

Goodbye. See you again soon.

Oh, Daddy, darling! It's a dream!

Yes, but you must thank your mother.

It's all her doing.

Oh, Mummy is sweet.

She's thought of everything.

You know, Angela, your homecoming means

more than you imagine to her.

- Have I been a success?

- Well, er... We live a very quiet life here.

You are like a gust of fresh air.

- Isn't that a good thing?

- A breath, yes.

But you are rather a gust, you know.

- You don't mean I've hurt her?

- No.

She just needs time to realise

how different you are

from the little girl she used to know.

- I was sent away to be different.

- Of course.

There's nothing to pull down

the corners of your mouth about.

She'll fall into your ways and you into hers.

- But do it gently, darling.

- All right.

I know it's high spirits but all my life,

I've tried to avoid the world

and now it seems to have rushed in on me.

The answer's simple.

Develop the other side of your nature to meet it.

I have no other side.

What I am, I am...

Yes, but it should be possible...

What's the matter, Maddalena?

Oh, Mummy, my room is lovely...

What's wrong? Is she ill?

I don't like it.

It isn't natural.

Here you are.

There's something on her mind, Guiseppe.

A shadow on her mind. What is it?

Oh, just nerves.

She is as nervous as a kitten.

Yes, but why?

She loves you, she loves her daughter,

she has a hundred useful interests in life,

and yet...

something seems to be haunting her.

- Some...

- Between ourselves she's often been like this.

Often? When did you first notice it?

Soon after we were married.

- You were living in Florence then?

- Yes.

We moved to Rome because I felt

that a change might do her good.

Did you consult any doctors in Florence?

Yes, several.

- Who were they?

- I'm a perfect fool about names.

What did they say about her?

Oh... The usual thing.

Plenty of care and rest. It's so long ago...

Guiseppe, why didn't she go to England

with you to see Angela?

Charles, as a friend,

there are questions which I...

.. which I beg you not to ask.

But I came here today as a doctor.

Then I've told you all I can.

# Swing

Darling!

I wondered where the music was coming from.

I'm sorry, Mummy. Did it disturb you?

Not a bit. I'm glad to see you happy.

- Oh, you are a pip.

- Such a change.

I wouldn't have believed it possible.

Darling, those things...

You've hardly anything on.

Now, Mummy. You listen to me.

Woollies, mufflers, body belts

and gaiters are things ofthe past.

Do you think you can remember that?

- Yes, but...

- Let me go on. Fresh air is a tonic.

- Freedom, the finest thing.

- Yes, dear, I know.

But this isn't London.

You see, here we lead a very quiet life.

Perhaps before very long,

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