Notes On A Scandal Page #5

She has nowhere to turn

but trusty old Bar.

She mopes and mourns

for her pubescent paramour...

but she knows my interventions

have saved her life.

- And she is sweetly grateful.

- [ School Bell Rings ]

Her betrayal hurt me

more than I dare show.

But I will forgive her

and heal myself in private.

She's worth it, this one.

She's the one I've waited for.

She's beginning to understand

that her dalliance with Master Connolly...

was a consequence

ofher dead marriage.

It's a sham, fueled only

by the memory of former glories.

I mean, the wonderful

thing about Polly-

Whereas we are

going through the fire...

forging our friendship

with a stronger bond each day.

In fact, we are now entering...

a delicate new phase.

We are silently and stealthily...

negotiating the terms

of a life lived together.

- [ Laughing ]

- Now more than ever...

we are bound

by the secrets we share.

- [ Muttering ]

- [ Laughing ]

I'm invited to drop in

on them this summer...

at their house in the Dordogne.

I mightjust do that.

I once sat here

discussing Elgar for three hours.

- God. Who with?

- Oh, just a friend.

Jennifer.

This was our haunt.

We were quite chummy

for a while, but...

poor thing,

she suffered from a terrible depression.

- Oh.

- I tried to help, but she rather unraveled.

She became alarmingly deluded.

Did she go to hospital?

No. No, she got a job in Stoke.

- When was this?

- Last summer.

Though I feel

I should have done more.

I'm sure she knows

you did your best.

- Such a sensitive person.

- One conceals it, of course.

People languish for years with partners

who are clearly from another planet.

Mmm.

We want so much to believe

that we've found our other.

Takes courage to recognize the real

as opposed to the convenient.

When I was young,

I had such a vision of myself.

I dreamt I'd be someone to be reckoned with,

you know, in the world.

But one learns one's scale.

- Mmm.

- I've such a dread of ending my days alone.

Yes. L-We all do.

But recently I've allowed myself

to think that I may not be.

Am I wrong?

No. No. No.

[ Horns Honking ]

- Do you want to stay?

- [ Sobbing ]

Sometimes people find it

comforting to see them at peace.

Would you like to come back

in 20 minutes to say good-bye?

[ Sobbing Continues ]

[ Horns Honking ]

[ Sheba ]

Have you got your seat belt on, darling?

- [ Richard ] Oh, no. What the f***?

- [ Polly ] Oh, God! Not her!

- For goodness' sake, shut up.

- [ Polly ] Mum, don't get out of the car.

Is it Portia? Oh, no.

[ Ben Speaks, Indistinct ]

I've got to go back

to the vet's after it's done.

- Oh.

- Will you come with me? I just can't on my own.

Of course I would.

It's just that...

- Ben's doing his play at his school.

- Play?

- We're all going. We're a bit late actually.

- Hurry up, Mum!

- Someone has died!

- L- I know.

- Mum!

- And it's t-t-terribly sad.

- You owe me this.

- Come on.

Ben, can't you make her vanish?

Use your wand or something.

He's doing a show

for the first time in his life.

That's your choice, is it?

- [ Horn Honks ]

- [ Ben ] Mum!

Why don't you come?

You'd be very welcome.

I thought you understood

what friendship means.

[ Chuckles ]

He's my child. He's my son.

- He's just a little boy.

- Don't play the good mother with me.

Excuse me. Could one of you

tell me what's going on?

- Is this some kind of coven?

- I can explain perfectly. Would you like me to?

No. It's just that Barbara's had

some very bad news about her cat.

My condolences. Poor, poor p*ssy.

Can I have my wife back, please?

- I don't like your tone.

- Why is she always here?

What kind of f***ing spell

has she cast on you?

- [ Ben Shouting ]

- Ben is getting really stressed.

I think he's gonna blow.

Oh, for God's sake.

Get in the bloody car!

Give me a minute, will you?

I can handle this!

Oh, I'm to be handled, am I?

Like toxic waste.

You see me on sufferance.

I'm an imposition, to be tolerated.

No. Of course not.

I love our time together.

I'm your good, good friend.

- Then stay with me.

- [ Horn Honks ]

I would if I could.

I'm desperately sorry about Portia...

- but you can see I have to go.

- Think very carefully, madam.

- Be aware of the consequences.

- Barbara, please don't make this

mean any more than it is.

- Stay with me.

- [ Horn Honks ]

- I don't know what I'll do.

- [ Polly ] Let's go!

- Look, I'll call you. I promise.

- [ Polly ] Come on!

[ Barbara Narrating ]

They always let you down in the end.

Jennifer said I was too intense.

Meaning what exactly?

That I'm loyal in my friendships?

That I will go to the ends of the earth

for someone I admire?

- Shazam!

- [ Applause ]

- [ Cheering ]

- Whoo!

[ Doorbell Rings ]

Not disturbing you, am I?

It's just, uh...

I need to talk to you

about Mrs. Hart.

- Sheba.

- Ah.

It's a bit delicate.

Can I come in?

- Tea?

- Oh, lovely. Thanks.

You haven't got a biscuit?

Cheers.

Would you like me to take your hat?

Ah. Been up the Lane.

White Hart Lane.

Home of the mighty Spurs.

- Were you victorious?

- 3-nil.

Jermain Defoe.

Get in there.

My father was a supporter

of Charlton Athletic.

Never seemed to give him

any pleasure.

Where's the moggy?

She's dead.

Oh, dear.

Oh, my condolences.

Aw.

Oh, is this not a good time?

It's a very good time.

[ Lighter Clicks ]

Mrs. Hart.

Yeah.

Um, it's just-

Anything you tell me

will be in strictest confidence.

Well, the thing is...

I was wondering if she's, um...

ever mentioned me?

Does she ever mention me?

Let me think.

No, never.

Actually, yes.

She mentioned you'd invested in a new shirt.

I think it was last term.

Lashed out at Nicole Farhi.

The thing is,

over the last few months-well...

ever since I met her

really, l- I've-

Brian, are you in love?

I've been a bit

bloody obvious, haven't I?

You've been utterly clandestine.

So she mentioned the shirt then?

- You do know she's married?

- Yeah, but she's quite flirty...

and you never know

with people, do you?

- Indeed you don't.

- But...

I wouldn't want to make a move

if I'm just gonna get knocked back.

What with staff politics

and the head being such a stickler...

- you have to be really careful these days.

- It's a minefield.

So, would-

I mean...

do you think you could

have a word with her...

and just suss the lie of the land?

You'd like me to ask Mrs. Hart...

if she's inclined

to commit adultery with you?

I don't want you to suffer

more than is necessary.

No one should.

I couldn't possibly

speak for Mrs. Hart, but...

instinct tells me...

you might not be her type.

She's got a type then?

Oh, it's no reflection

on your attractiveness.

But my impression is

that her preference is for the younger man.

Surprisingly young.

Boys, I'm told.

Naturally, she doesn't

discuss any of this with me.

But I've been hearing some rather

alarming rumors about one in particular.

Playground gossip,

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