Of Human Bondage

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1

Philip!

Is that you,

Mr. Flanagan?

No.

Who is it, then?

Bonjour, mademoiselle.

Bonjour.

Who are you?

Philip Carey.

Ha ha! Then you're

not Flanagan.

I live here with Flanagan.

Where is he?

At the ball.

I've been looking

at your studio.

It's charming...

The real Paris.

Yes.

I was introduced to

Flanagan tonight at the ball.

Because we were both Americans,

He offered to take

me under his wing.

And he flew away.

Yes, and quite unsteadily.

I had rather a difficult time alone.

It seemed my costume wasn't

revealing enough for the natives,

So they... They dumped me

in the fountain. Ha ha!

Did they really put you

in a fountain?

Mm-Hmm.

Are you chilly?

No.

I'll get you a brandy. Thanks.

One of the models did repent

when she saw me laughing.

She was able to induce the man with

her to lend me these pants and shirt.

It was all very cozy.

Why was I chosen, do you think?

Perhaps they felt you

weren't one of them.

How would they know?

Well, you're not an artist or a model.

They all know each other.

This thing is strictly

quartier Latin.

But I suppose I

am an artist in a way.

I write books.

You do, huh?

Yes.

Professionally?

Certainly.

How else would I write them?

I don't know your name.

Nora Nesbit.

Oh.

Oh, I write under the nom

de plume of Courtney pageant.

Now, don't say you've

read any of my books.

No, I haven't.

I'm here looking for material.

I could put you in my book

quite easily, I think...

Alone, a male Cinderella, seeming

rather out of it in the dawn.

Don't you ever dance?

I have a clubfoot.

Didn't you notice it?

No, but I can see it now.

May I have some more brandy?

Of course.

You're a very engaging lady.

You're German, aren't you?

No.

My mother was Viennese.

My father was an English doctor.

He practiced in London.

I was sent to school there.

It was intended that I

should become a doctor, too.

But you preferred to paint.

Can you paint?

No.

Is this yours?

Oh, that? Flanagan's.

He's brilliant.

Where are yours?

Mine?

Here in this fire.

I'm sure it's their best effect.

They weren't meant to live.

I am leaving for London.

Back to London?

Yes. I had just finished

packing when you arrived.

To be a doctor?

To be a doctor.

Well, need you? How do

you know you're a failure?

The great foinet told

me yesterday afternoon.

Foinet? Who's he?

Would he really know?

Possibly the best

authority in Europe.

He's my teacher...

Or was,

Until he found it

useless to go on.

And then Flanagan

agreed with him.

I'm very sorry.

I would have been

willing to live in poverty

If I could produce

anything worthwhile.

Have you money?

No.

Only some money in a trust

fund for a medical education.

It's controlled by an uncle

Who believes that

painting is disreputable

And that Paris is

a sink of iniquity.

Are you in love with anyone?

No.

Haven't you ever been?

No. Have you?

Yes.

My husband died.

I've always had the fear

that love would pass me by.

I've longed and waited

For a passion

to sweep me off my feet.

Do you understand me?

I'm in love with love.

Well, I hope this overwhelming

passion comes to you.

I'm sure it will save you

a lot of wretchedness.

In London? A poor medical

student at st. Luke's hospital?

You tell Mrs. Gray I

want a fire in my room,

Or I'll burn every

stick of furniture in it.

I've a fire

in here. Come in.

Go on.

You're very kind, Carey, but

I've made other arrangements.

Oh, yes, of course.

By the way, what happened

to you this afternoon?

Dr. Tyrell

was asking for you.

I came back here to read up on

anatomy. It's quieter, you know.

You'd have learned more with us

in the dissecting room.

I don't know, though...

A nice, warm fire

on a nice, wet day?

You, uh, you sure you were only

reading up on anatomy, old boy?

Come on. Where is she?

No, I've been alone.

I have a fair damsel coming here

to tea. What time is it, Dunsford?

About quarter

past 5:
00.

Well, good-Bye, Carey.

Good-Bye.

Oh, Dunsford...

Why don't you ask Carey's advice

about that little matter you mentioned?

Lay the matter

squarely before him.

Yes. Have

a cup of tea.

I say, you must be

frightfully keen on medicine

To stay in cramming so much.

Well, I've a lot to catch up.

I started rather late, you know.

Wasn't your father a doctor?

Hmm, yes.

So old Tyrell said,

and a very fine one, too.

You were doing

anatomy this afternoon?

Yes, but we're frightfully

short on bodies, though.

All I had was an arm to dissect.

It was a male, though.

Is a male better?

Oh, yes. A female's likely

to have too much fat on her.

Say, talking about females...

Carey, may I ask your

advice about something?

Oh, certainly.

When you were in Paris, you must

have met an awful lot of girls...

I mean models and things.

Oh, yes. Lots of them.

Well, you painted them, didn't

you? I mean, you were an artist.

I thought I was an artist.

Must have learned an

awful lot about women.

Well, you don't

really know them.

You sketch them or

paint them... Or try to.

Really?

Carey... you know, lately, sort

of a mild affair of the heart

Has been encroaching

itself upon me.

See, with girls, I'm not quite as

immediately flamboyant as I seem.

As a matter of fact, I'm sort

of slow and nervous at first.

Do you understand what I mean?

Oh, yes, of course.

Oh, I'm sorry. I've forgotten the tea.

I'm going to have a cup of

tea, all right, but not here.

Come along, my boy.

That's just it.

We're going out to tea.

But it won't take a minute.

Oh, no. Come on.

I am going to show you

this girl in person.

Say, it may be fun at that.

Have a seat, old boy.

Well, here we are.

Are you meeting her here?

You wait. Oh, uh...

Oh, waitress?

Yes?

Good afternoon.

Tea and scones,

please, as usual.

And you?

Same, please.

Well, what do you think?

What?

Hasn't she got a ripping face?

The waitress?

Mmm.

She looks anemic.

You know, I told you I

was a bit shy at first.

Now, all I want is a lead,

And from then on,

I can carry on myself.

Yes, of course.

Do you know that I've been

here about a dozen times,

And she always

behaves like that?

- Sort of insolent.

- Yes.

It can be melted down, though, because

I've seen her laughing with the other girls.

She's laughing

now. Look.

Oh, that chap.

Ha ha ha!

Hot water and two tea

and some scones.

- Two?

- Mm Hmm.

What's the joke, Mildred?

Oh, he's a caution.

I'll have your hot water

in a moment.

Thank you.

That must have been very funny.

Was it?

You talkin' to me?

That joke your noble friend

over there was telling you.

Must have been very funny.

I don't know what you mean.

I'm sure no ordinary customer

could make you laugh like that.

He must be quite a friend.

Some people would do better

to mind their own business.

You put her back up.

I'm indifferent of the

attitude of her vertebrae.

She's rude and common.

Oh, don't let it upset you.

Oh, waitress?

Yes, sir?

Well, uh...

Oh! The bill,

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