Orlando Page #4

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The future.

Some milk? My god I don't

yet know your name, sir.

How strange, I feel as though

I know everything about you.

When like meets like.

My name is Shelmerdine.

Orlando.

So.. it only remains to fill in

such unimportant details as..

What we do and so on.

Well you can see for

yourself what I was.

Was?

You see, I'm about

to lose everything.

Then you can come with me.

Where are you going?

Back to America?

When the wind changes

to the south-west.

America.

I've been abroad.

But east.

Then you know as well as I,

how good it is to travel.

Like a free spirit.

Unfettered by position

or possession.

Unfettered.

Are you...

An adventurer by profession?

My profession, if you

can call it that...

...it's the pursuit of liberty.

The bright shade, of

some immortal dream.

Which walks when tempus sleeps.

The wave of life's dark stream.

You don't really want a husband.

I suppose your journey is

to be hazardous at times.

Think, you want a lover.

You've fought in battles?

Like a man?

I have fought.

Blood?

If necessary, yes.

Freedom must be taken,

if it must be won.

If I were a man...

You?

I might choose not to risk my

life for an uncertain cause.

I might think that freedom won

by death is not worth having.

In fact...

You might choose not to

be a real man at all.

Say, if I were a woman...

You?

I might choose not to sacrifice

my life caring for my children,

nor my children's children,

nor to drown anonymously in

the milk of female kindness,

but instead, say, to go abroad.

Would I then be...

A real woman?

I think I'm going to faint. I've

never felt better in my life.

Rise, from pains of thee.

From first sweet sleep of night.

Winds are breathing low.

Heavens stars are shining bright.

But it is day.

Days are nice.

Mingling are sweet embrace on end.

Who's there?

Excuse me my lady, there

are two officers...

...outside with a

warrant from the queen.

The queen?

Victoria, ma'am. The gentlemen say

they must speak to you in person.

Oh.

I'd almost forgotten.

Her ladyship.

The lawsuit is settled.

My sex is pronounced

indisputably and...

...beyond shadow of

a doubt... female...

Therefore heirs made of my

body will risk it taking...

...as red. I lose everything

unless I have a son.

So you're free.

I think the spirit of this century

is finally taken me and broken me.

I would be sad if it were true.

But it is not.

Come with me.

I cannot.

I can't just follow you.

You can stay and stagnate

in the past or leave...

...and live for the future,

the choice is yours.

As a man one has

choices, Shelmerdine.

Orlando, you can do

whatever you want.

Would you like to

have a child with me?

So that you can keep your house?

No, not for the house

Shelmerdine. Perhaps for love?

These are the times

that try men's souls.

My love is for mankind,

I must fight for liberty.

I must fight for a future.

- For a future?

This future of yours Shelmerdine,

when it's gonna begin... today?

or is it always tomorrow?

Touch Orlando.

The wind.

The wind.

The south-west wind.

Good bye, Shelmerdine. Good luck.

Orlando.

It's really very good.

Written from the heart.

I think it'll sell.

Provided you rewrite it. You know.

Increase the love interest.

Give it a happy ending.

By the way, how long

did this draft take you?

Come on. Come on.

She.

For there can be no

doubt about her sex.

Is visiting the house

she finally lost for...

...the first time in

over a hundred years.

She does still have certain

natural advantages of course.

She is tall and slim, with

a slightly androgynous...

...appearance that many

females at the time aspire to.

Then her upbringing,

she's lived for four hundred

years and hardly aged a day.

And because this is England.

Everyone pretends not to notice.

But she has changed.

She is no longer

trapped by destiny.

And... ever since she

let go of the past...

She found her life was beginning.

I am coming. I am coming. ...

... I am coming through. ...

... Coming across

the divide to you ...

... In this moment

of unity ...

... feeling an ecstasy ...

... to be here, to be now ...

... At last I am free

Why are you sad?

I'm not. I'm happy.

Look. Look up there.

Yes at last, at last ...

... to be free of the past ...

... and of the future

that beckons me ...

... I am coming.

I am coming. ...

... Here I am. ...

... Neither a woman,

nor a man ...

... We are joined,

we are one ...

... With the human face ...

... We are joined,

we are one ...

... With the human face ...

... I am on earth ...

... And I am in

outer space ...

... I'm being born

and I am dying ...

... I am on earth ...

... And I am in

outer space ...

... I'm being born

and I am dying ...

... I am coming.

I am coming. ...

... I am coming through. ...

... Coming across

the divide to you ...

... In this moment

of unity ...

... feeling an ecstasy ...

... to be here, to be now ...

... At last I am free. ...

... Yes at last, at last ...

... to be free of the past ...

... and of the future

that beckons me ...

... Yes at last, at last ...

... to be free of the past ...

... and of the future

that beckons me ...

... I am coming.

I am coming. ...

... Here I am. ...

... Neither a woman,

nor a man ...

... Oh we are joined,

we are one ...

... with the human face ...

... Oh we are joined,

we are one ...

... with the human face ...

... At last I am free. ...

... At last I am free. ...

... I am on earth ...

... And I am in

outer space ...

... I'm being born

and I am dying ...

... I am on earth ...

... And I am in

outer space ...

... I'm being born,

I am dying ...

... At last I am free. ...

... At last I am free. ...

... Yes at last, at

last, at last I'm free.

Yes at last, at last,

at last I'm free.

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