My Forbidden Past Page #5

5,000, yes or no? Very well.

I'll arrange for you to leave this university at

once. Do they still have duels in New Orleans? Why?

When you realise what a fool you've been, you may

want to challenge me. You've been laughing at me.

Forgive me, there's so little to laugh at around

here, unless you want to join me in a game of chance.

Gently with the door, please,

it deflects the cards.

Hello, Cousin. Get out of my room! Happily, as

soon as you've given me a cheque for 25,000 dollars.

I gave it to you. You promised me

a similar amount

when a certain transaction

was concluded. And you have?

The esteemed Dr Lucas will not be

dining at home this evening.

He will be working in his laboratory

through the night. How elevating!

Don't be charming, Paul. I can't help it.

Even when you slapped me, I was charming.

What do women see in you?

You nauseate me!

Corinne will meet me at 9:30 and may I say that she

would have come sooner if she could have got away.

All right, Paul. And the cheque?

Tomorrow.

Amazing, isn't it? I trust you.

We're both nauseating people,

aren't we, Cousin?

I must get a lock for that door.

That's the wrong door to lock.

Look, I'm busy. Say whatever you

came to say and then leave me alone.

This probably won't interest you

but... Probably not.

I remember your telling me

how cheap I was... Yeah, I remember.

That's why you ought to lock

your door at home.

I think you'd better be

very careful of what you say next.

I will be

only the exact truth.

While you're here saving humanity, your

wife is out with another man, being human.

Your stories are like anonymous letters.

People pay very little attention to them.

Do you remember a certain boathouse

on the bayou? Vaguely. That's where.

Now may I get back to work?

Of course you may...

if you can!

Hell hath no fury...

MARK'S WORDS ECHO

'Happiness doesn't grow like that.

'There's no use trying to explain anything

to you like an adult so let's forget it. '

MR TOPLADY:
'I'm not sure I like

the feeling behind your smile.

'I trust you'll use the money

wisely. '

PAUL:
'We're both nauseating people,

aren't we?'

May I have some more wine?

Do you need some more?

Paul, don't. Why not? You came

to meet me in a deserted boathouse.

No!

I don't like cheap affairs. Neither do I.

Darling, you're just what I've always looked for.

I'd want to marry you even if you

weren't a Beaurevel and were poor.

That's sweet but I never discuss marriage with

married women. I could get a divorce. For me?

Yes, darling. I'm constitutionally opposed to

marriage. I don't see why that should spoil our evening.

But I do. No, you don't. No! I told

you I don't like cheap affairs.

I see how Lucas got caught. He was the

first step up the ladder for you. Paul!

I don't intend...

I'm sorry, Corinne.

I didn't mean to...

Corinne.

Corinne!

Mark.

Go on home.

Go on home and stay out of this!

DOOR CLOSES:

Hello, Barbara. I suppose

you're annoyed with me.

I had a change of heart and failed to keep the

appointment at the boathouse. I was there, Paul.

I saw you run away.

It was an accident. You killed her.

I told you it was an accident!

I had no intention of even hurting her. Mark

found the body. Did he see me? What did he say?

He told me to go home.

To stay out of it.

Yes...

Very proper.

He'll protect your fair name.

Association with the better families of New

Orleans has taught him the manners of a gentleman.

They'll think he did it.

Yes, they will.

In any event, he'll find himself

in a rather unpleasant situation.

What are you going to do?

Me?!

Remember that you're equally involved,

and perhaps in a more distasteful fashion.

Are you going to the police?

Why, of course not!

If I'd admitted to this affair

there wouldn't be a decent house

in New Orleans open to us.

And I don't think

you're going to the police.

You don't want the newspapers

to know about your unholy ancestry!

They'd realise that you come

by your depravity quite honestly!

We spent the evening at home. You were playing the

piano I heard you. And I was reading you saw me.

A very good book, too!

Barbara dear, no-one is worth

so much worry.

Look at our acquaintances and our

friends revolting, aren't they?

This research fellow

isn't even one of our circle.

Barbara, forget them, all of them.

Let's consider ourselves.

You once said we were

nauseating people. You were right.

Of course!

Good night, Cousin.

But if Lucas did it, why did

he call the police? Don't be naive.

He wanted to avoid suspicion. He killed

his wife... I refuse to believe he's guilty.

Even you must believe that this

has somewhat vitiated his merit.

I rescind Dr Lucas's contract.

See that he leaves at once. Surely you realise the

injustice of this? My fellow trustees agree with me.

Gentlemen?

Good day, Dean. Good day, sir.

I'm sorry, Dean.

Good day, sir.

KNOCK AT DOOR:

Come in.

Come right in.

Wouldn't you like one

of my little pets as a keepsake?

The inquest is tomorrow.

I know.

I've been setting MY house in order,

how about yours?

It was an accident, but

it's my fault Paul's not yours.

I've read enough Sherlock Holmes

to be able to figure that out by myself(!) All

right, I've ruined your life and your career,

tell me what to do.

What else is there to do?

You've made a clean breast of it,

your conscience is clear.

Mark! Isn't that really why you came to

me? Do you really not know what to do?

Isn't there an absolute refusal

on your part to face yourself?

You never will, that's why our back-door

affair was held in such strict privacy.

From the beginning

you were afraid of what your charming

aristocracy might think of it. Maybe you're right.

Now you'll have all the time

in the world to think about it.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to say

goodbye to the rest of my little friends.

CORONER:
Have the doors closed.

MAN:
The inquest is in session.

The doors will be closed.

This is an inquisition

into the death of Corinne Lucas.

It is the responsibility of the jurors

to judge from the evidence introduced

whether the death was from

natural causes, from an accident,

or as the result of homicide.

It is not the jurors' duty to judge any of

the witnesses either guilty or not guilty,

but it is within the jurors' duties

to advise me to deliver the body of any person

whom they think is responsible for such homicide.

Call the first witness, please.

Who else was in the boathouse when you

got there? This gentleman here. Dr Lucas.

What was the attitude of Dr Lucas?

I can't seem to think

there was any attitude.

Was the room in any disorder?

Well, yes, sir.

Did it appear that there may have been a

struggle? I was certain. Thank you, Sergeant.

Next witness, please.

Doctor, the deceased was found

partly in the fireplace.

Would a fall against an andiron have

caused her death? I should say so.

Was the fall a natural one? Even an attack

of vertigo would not cause such a fall.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes