Mrs Brown Page #12

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DISRAELI:

Well then, I'll do my best.

EXT. HIGHLANDS, GLEN GELDER - DAY

Staying close to the ground we develop through a series of

shots showing the other highlands -- sheet rain against

heather and gorse, rivulets of water slashing through mud,

crude pathways sliding in wind and all ball-breakingly

cold.

Coming up the hill, we begin to make out a hunting party.

The sound first. Like a small army, crashing their way up

the winding path. GHILLIES urging on their horses and

dogs, guns and equipment jangling off pony-hacks an then

the tall figure of JOHN BROWN striding out in front.

Making no concession to anyone, he force-marches them up

the hill, eyes on the hunt ahead. Behind them trot the men

on horseback -- DISRAELI, PONSONBY, BERTIE and other

GENTLEMEN, each led by GHILLIES and ATTENDANTS, among them

ARCHIE.

Suddenly, BROWN stops and raises a hand. The party halts.

He listens for a second. Satisfied that he has found his

quarry, he brings his hand down and the party of gentlemen

dismount as quietly as they can.

As he waits, BROWN winces slightly from the pain in his

side. He pulls a flask of whiskey from his sporran and

drinks. All the time, DISRAELI keeps his eyes on BROWN.

EXT. HIGHLANDS, GLEN GELDER - DAY

The stalking.

Everyone is now fanned out along the hillside, a ghillie to

each gentleman, slowly and silently moving up the hill.

DISRAELI stalks with BROWN, panting hard to keep up, eyes

on his man, trying to make no sound.

Suddenly, BROWN stops. Very slowly he rises. DISRAELI

rides alongside and sees ...

A huge stag staring majestically across the hillside.

Keeping his movements smooth and slow, BROWN brings up his

rifle, c*cks it and offers DISRAELI the kill. With a

deferential gesture of the hands, DISRAELI declines. BROWN

stares at him a split-second, raises the rifle to his

shoulder and fires.

EXT. HIGHLANDS, GLEN GELDER - DAY

The kill.

A rapid montage of guns firing, as we cut to ...

INT. BALMORAL CASTLE - DAY

BROWN sweeps in from the hunt, DISRAELI dripping at his

side.

BROWN:

(demonstrating with his

rifle)

Always remember, you keep it tight to

your shoulder, you absorb the kick.

Aim for the head. Then imagine it's

Gladstone.

DISRAELI:

(smiling)

Quite.

BROWN pulls out his flask and offers some to DISRAELI, who

declines. He watches BROWN take a long swig.

INT. BALMORAL CASTLE, UPPER SERVANT'S TABLE - NIGHT

That night.

BROWN is standing at his place, drinking steadily. He has

a sheet of paper and a pen and is ticking off a list.

Lined up in front of him, trying desperately not to laugh,

are five or six UPPER SERVANTS including the pretty

ASSISTANT DRESSER and BERTIE'S VALET. They each step up,

one at a time, to make their report.

BROWN:

(ticking as he goes)

... Back doors, West Wing.

UPPER SERVANT 1

Checked and locked, sir.

BROWN:

Side doors, East Wing.

ASSISTANT DRESSER

Checked and locked, sir.

BROWN:

Louder, girl!

ASSISTANT DRESSER

(creasing up)

Checked and locked, sir.

BROWN:

Kitchen and lower house.

BERTIE'S VALET

Checked and locked, sir.

BROWN:

Back and upper corridors.

UPPER SERVANT 2

Checked and locked, sir.

BROWN:

Front door.

(beat)

Checked and locked.

Folding up the paper, BROWN downs his glass of whiskey and

sits. On his nod, dinner is served by UNDER SERVANTS amid

a clatter of cutlery and chat.

ARCHIE looks across at his brother but BROWN is hunched

over his plate, pecking at his food.

Someone titters and ARCHIE looks up. BERTIE'S VALET

coughs. BROWN slowly lifts his head. His eyes have the

slightly unfocused look of too much drink. It is clear to

ARCHIE that he is about to be sent-up.

BERTIE'S VALET

(with a smug smile)

Did you see any Irish assassins today,

Mr Brown?

Brown doesn't react.

BERTIE'S VALET (CONT'D)

We heard the dogs were Fenian

sympathizers.

Brown drinks.

BERTIE'S VALET (CONT'D)

Or was it the stag ...?

Everyone bursts out laughing. Brown slams down his glass.

BROWN:

There's not a soul here cares about

that wee woman's safety except me!

She'd die in a ditch if I wasn't there

to look out for her --

He stops. ARCHIE has come across to his brother's chair

and pulls gently on his arm.

BROWN stares at the SERVANTS. Everyone is about to burst

out laughing. Keeping his dignity, he pushes back his

chair and lets ARCHIE lead him away.

As BROWN reaches the double doors, the laughter hits him in

the back like a wave. ARCHIE holds him steady.

INT. BALMORAL CASTLE, BROWN'S QUARTERS - NIGHT

BROWN is lying on a grubby bed. ARCHIE is looking around

the untidy room. For the first time, he notices a thick

manuscript on the table. BROWN follows his eyes.

ARCHIE:

What's this?

BROWN:

It's a diary.

ARCHIE:

Be careful who sees it.

BROWN:

What do you take me for?

ARCHIE turns back to BROWN.

ARCHIE:

You should have someone look after

you.

BROWN:

I'm all right. I just need to rest up

a wee bit.

(feeling everything spin)

The room ... You don't have to stay.

BROWN shuts his eyes and starts to drift. ARCHIE watches

over him.

ARCHIE:

The place is a mess.

BROWN:

I can't move to tidy.

ARCHIE:

It's what the maids are for.

BROWN:

I'm not having some prattler going

through my things.

A beat.

ARCHIE:

Won't you give yourself a rest, John?

She's other people to look out for

her.

BROWN:

She needs me, Archie. She canna do

without me, she said it to my face.

(his hands come up to cover

his eyes)

How can I stop now?

INT. BALMORAL CASTLE, SERVANT'S CORRIDOR - DAY

Dawn the next morning.

BROWN is scrambling into his jacket as he hurries down the

stairs.

EXT. BALMORAL CASTLE - DAY

BROWN crashes out of a side-door -- just fully dressed --

to be met by the smiling figure of DISRAELI. He is got up

in smart walking boots, plus-fours and a tweed jacket.

BROWN:

You sent for me.

DISRAELI:

I've been called back to London. My

last day. I thought I might take a

walk on Lochnagar.

BROWN stares straight back.

EXT. LOCHNAGER - DAY

An hour later, BROWN leads DISRAELI up the hill. BROWN has

his head down, on with the job. DISRAELI slows to a halt.

DISRAELI:

Princes and Lords are but the breath

of kings, An honest man's the noblest

work of God.

(beat)

You must miss such magnificent views.

BROWN:

I don't think about it.

They reach the top and continue along the high ground.

DISRAELI glances at BROWN and notices the limp.

DISRAELI:

Forgive me, I've called you out and

you should have been resting.

BROWN:

I'm fine.

DISRAELI:

You're injured.

BROWN:

It's nothing.

DISRAELI:

Still, someone must attend you. Your

wife should not have let you out.

BROWN:

I'm not married.

DISRAELI:

(deadpan)

Oh.

BROWN:

This is the top.

DISRAELI admires the view for a moment, then continues.

DISRAELI:

I confess, I sometimes feel as if I am

not married myself, I see my wife so

little. But I'm forgetting the

rewards.

He looks across. BROWN keeps staring ahead.

DISRAELI (CONT'D)

The look on their faces when one walks

into the room. Still gives one a

ridiculous thrill.

BROWN:

I wouldn't know.

DISRAELI:

Surely --

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