The Age of Innocence Page #6

In London, Archer ordered his clothes.|They went to the National Gallery...

...and to the theater.

I hope I don't look ridiculous.|I've never dined out in London.

English women dress like|everyone else in the evening.

How can you say that when they're|at the theater in old ball dresses?

Maybe they save their|new dresses for home.

- Then I shouldn't have worn this.|- You look very fine.

Really, quite beautiful.

In Paris, she ordered her clothes.

There were trunks of dresses|from Worth.

They visited the Tuileries.

May's hands were modeled|in marble at Rochet's studio.

And occasionally, they dined out.

But tell me, you were saying you were|actually advised by Maupassant?

Unfortunately, I was advised|not to write.

Archer embraced his new marriage...

...even as he reverted|to his old ideas about matrimony.

It was less trouble|to conform with tradition.

There was no use trying|to emancipate a wife...

...who hadn't the dimmest notion|that she wasn't free.

In London we only managed|one day at the National.

We were taken up|by a Mrs. Carfry and Mrs. Harle.

We had a good talk.

He's interesting. We talked about|books and many different things.

I thought I'd invite him to dinner.

- The Frenchman?|- Yes.

I didn't have much chance to talk to|him, but wasn't he a little common?

Common?

I thought he was clever.

I suppose I shouldn't have known|if he was clever.

Then I won't ask him to dine.

With a chill, he knew that|in future...

...many problems would be solved|for him in this same way.

...and after that...

...they would have nearly finished|polishing down all the rough edges.

But May's pressure|was already wearing down...

...the very roughness|he most wanted to keep.

As for the madness with|Madame Olenska, he trained himself...

...to remember it as the last|of his discarded experiments.

She remained in his memory simply|as the most plaintive...

...and poignant...

...of a line of ghosts.

She's very deft.

That's the only kind of target|she'll ever hit.

No one could ever be jealous|of May's triumphs.

She gave the feeling that she would've|been just as serene without them.

But what if all her calm,|her niceness...

...were just a negation...

...a curtain dropped in front|of an emptiness?

Archer felt he had never yet|lifted that curtain.

Quite stunning, isn't it?

It's Julius Beaufort who donates|the club's prizes, isn't it?

This looks like him, of course.|It will make quite an heirloom.

You should leave it|to your eldest daughter.

What? Will there be no daughters?

Only sons? Can't I say that either?|Look at her blushing.

Ellen! Ellen! Are you upstairs?

She's over from Portsmouth,|spending the day.

Insists on putting up with those--|What's their name? Blenkers.

But I gave up arguing|with young people 50 years ago.

I'm sorry, ma'am.|Miss Ellen's not in the house.

- She's left?|- I saw her going down the shore path.

Run down and fetch her|like a good grandson.

May and I will have a gossip|about Julius Beaufort.

Go ahead.|She'll want to see you both.

Is it true Beaufort has given|Annie Ring a diamond bracelet?

I hear he even plans|to bring her to Newport.

He'd heard her name often during the|year and a half since they'd last met.

He was even familiar|with the main incidents of her life.

But he heard all these accounts|with detachment...

...as if listening to reminiscences|of someone long dead.

But the past had come again|into the present...

...as in those newly discovered|caverns in Tuscany...

...where children had lit|bunches of straw...

...and seen old images|staring from the wall.

He gave himself a single chance.

She must turn before the sailboat|crosses the Lime Rock light.

Then he would go to her.

I'm sorry you didn't find her,|but I've heard she's changed.

Changed?

So indifferent to her old friends.|Summering in Portsmouth.

Moving to Washington. Sometimes,|I think we've always bored her.

Perhaps she'd be happier|with her husband after all.

- I've never heard you be cruel before.|- Cruel?

Even demons don't think people|are happier in hell.

Then she shouldn't have|married abroad.

Let me.

Walk on.

The Blenkers?

A party for the Blenkers?

Who are they?

The Portsmouth people.|The ones Ellen is staying with.

...at 3:
00 punctually to meet|Mrs. and the Misses Blenker.

Red Gables, Catherine Street."

I don't think we can decline.

I don't see why, really.|He's an archaeologist--

And he's Sillerton Jackson's cousin.

- Of course.|- Some of us will have to go.

I'm sure Ellen will be there.|You'll have a chance to see her.

Newland, you can find a way|to spend your afternoon, can't you?

I think for a change I'll just|save it instead of spending it.

Maybe I'll go see about|a new horse for the brougham.

At least the Jacksons didn't pick the|day of the Cup Race for their party.

Hello?

I'm sorry, did you ring?|I've been asleep in the hammock.

I didn't mean to disturb you.

I've heard so much about you.

I came up to look for a new horse.|I thought I'd call, but no one's home.

Yes, they're all at the party.

Everyone's there but me with my fever|and Countess Olenska.

Oh, you found my parasol!

It's my best one.|It's from the Cameroons.

It's very pretty.

The countess was called away?

Yes, a telegram came from Boston.|She said she might be gone two days.

I do love the way|she does her hair, don't you?

It reminds me of Sir Walter Scott.

You don't know--|I have to be in Boston tomorrow.

Do you know where she's staying?

I'm here on business.|I just got here, actually.

- Your hair is different.|- My maid's not with me.

She stayed in Portsmouth. I'm here|only two days. It's not worthwhile.

You are traveling alone?

Yes. Why? Do you think|it's a little dangerous?

- Well, it's unconventional.|- Yes, I suppose it is.

I refused to take back money|that belonged to me.

Someone came with an offer?

What were the conditions?

- I refused.|- Tell me the conditions.

Nothing unbearable, really. To sit|at the head of his table now and then.

And he wants you back at any price?

Well, it's a considerable price.

At least, it's considerable for me.

So you came to see him?

My husband? Here?|No, of course not.

He sent someone.

His secretary?

Yes.

He's still here. He insisted on...

...waiting in case I changed my mind.

You haven't changed, Newland.

I had changed until I saw you again.

Please don't.

Just give me the day.|I won't speak unless you tell me to.

All I want is some time with you.

Is that man coming to the hotel?

- At 1 1 :
00, just--|- We must go now.

- I must leave a note at the hotel.|- Write on this.

I have the paper. You see how|everything is predestined?

And these, have you seen this?|The new stylographic pen.

It's like jerking down|the mercury in a thermometer.

Try that.

It's not working.

That should do it.

- Shall I take it in?|- I'll be only a moment.

Because you didn't turn around.

I swore I wouldn't call you|unless you turned around.

But I didn't look around on purpose.

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