The Barretts of Wimpole Street Page #5

as I fear and I accept your orders, as I must...

... that I should be allowed a little forbidding as well ?

Yes, but...

Dear Miss Barrett, what a splendid beginning to our friendship.

We've known each other a bare half hour

and yet we talk infinitely of art, and life, and death, and love.

We've oredered each other about and we've almost quarrelled.

Could anything be happier or more promising ?

With your permission, I'm going now.

I promised myself to make my first visit as short as possible.

Strangers are undoubtedly tiring.

Not that I am a stranger.

Still I could see that you're tired.

When may I call again ?

I don't quite know. Will next Wednesday suit you ?

Yes, I think so, but perhaps it would be better...

Next Wednesday.

At half past three again ?

yes, but I...

Au revoir, then.

Goodbye.

Au revoir.

Au revoir.

Thank you.

Splendid, splendid.

Really remarkable.

Once more, dear.

My dear Miss Barrett I congratulate you.

Now sit down.

You've done wonders, doctor.

The real healer is no one but Miss Barrett herself.

The will to live is better than a dozen physicians.

The will to live.

Mm. Yes.

Well now, Miss Barrett, about the future.

I fully agree with Dr. Chambers

that another winter in London must be avoided.

I see no reason against

your travelling South by October, say ?

Travelling South.

The Riviera, or better still, to Italy.

Italy ? Oh, Doctor, do you really mean it ?

Why not ?

I've taken the liberty to tell the doctor of the only real difficulty,

and he's quite prepared to deal with... him.

Quite, and drastically.

Oh, but I don't think it will be necessary.

Papa may not raise any objection at all.

It all depends on how he's feeling at the time.

Oh, fiddlesticks, my dear young lady...

... Mr. Barrett's feelings are neither here not there.

What matters is his daughter's health and happiness.

And I intend to make it clear to him, quite clear.

What a beautiful day it is... I must be going, Miss Barrett.

Don't get up, don't get up.

I'm delighted with your improvement.

Delighted.

I'll put a little talk with your father.

Goodbye, Miss Barrett.

Goodbye, doctor.

Italy ! Italy ! Italy !

And you are coming too, Flush.

We'll see Rome together.

Rome, Venice and Naples.

See Naples and die...

Only I'm not going to die.

I'm not going to die.

Yes ?

Mr. Browning is here, Miss Ba.

You may ask him to come up.

Very good, miss.

No, wait.

Don't trouble, I'll go down.

Oh, Miss Ba. You won't think of it.

I shall not only think of it, but do it.

What's more, I shall do it alone.

You must let me help you. It's not safe.

You've not walked downstairs for years.

Let me alone, Wilson. I shall be quite all right.

I can do anything.

You see ?

Oh, Miss Ba.

Mr. Browning.

It is you !

Why this is magnificent.

Magnificent.

I... well I...

And I did it all alone.

I walked down those stairs alone. A hundred of them.

A hundred ?

Well, fifty.

This is only the first step.

In a little while you'll be able to drive, to walk in the park.

In the sun and fresh air.

Come, come sit down.

Oh, wonderful

Wonderful.

Here. Sit here in the sunlight.

Careful.

There we are.

There. Now, that's the setting I've dreamed for you.

The setting I'm going to keep you in.

Now tell me. Tell me quickly.

I've been in suspense all day.

You've seen the doctors. What did they say ?

Dr. Ford-Waterlow was quite taken out

of his grumpy self with astonishment over my improval.

Say that again.

Oh, must I, the whole sentence ?

I should like to see it in letters of fire

burning at me from each of these four walls.

This is the best moment I've had

since the day I gave myself permission to call on you.

How many years ago was that ?

Three months.

So... we've always been friends.

I've known you a lifetime, you know.

So he was almost taken out

of his grumpy self with delight, was he ?

Splendid. Of course I never once doubted

that you'd turn the corner some day.

I've told you so a hundred times.

And Italy ? Both doctors agreed about your wintering there ?

Yes.

This is wonderful. I'm quite off my head with excitement.

Unless, of course, papa should withhold his consent and...

Oh, that I just refuse to anticipate

When do they think you'll be fit for travel ?

The middle of October.

Unless there is a relapse.

Relapse ? Why, there isn't such a word.

October ?

That's extraordinary.

You know, October suits my own plans to perfection.

Your plans ?

Don't you remember my telling you

that had thought of wintering in Italy myself ?

Well, now I'm quite decided.

Oh, papa, isn't it wonderful ?

I walked downstairs.

So I observe.

A miracle, sir.

Nothing more or less than a miracle.

Did your doctors authorize this amazing imprudence ?

No, papa.

I should not have been surprised if they had.

Aren't you proud of me, papa ?

I thought there should be dancing in the streets.

A general holiday.

Mr. Browning, my daughter's health

has been my main concern for many years...

You'll permit me to remind you that

I'm much better informed on the subject than an outsider ?

I shall carry you to your room.

Oh, no, papa.

I don't need you, really.

Surely, Mr. Barrett...

Mr. Browning, I must say goodbye.

Thank you for calling.

Elizabeth.

Elizabeth.

You can't do it.

Elizabeth.

There, my child.

I'm all right, papa.

I could have done this.

You ought to rest to regain your strength.

All this talk and activity is most harmful.

I'd appreciate it if you tried to get a little sleep.

Papa.

Well ?

I'm all right, really I am.

Dr. Ford-Waterlow said I was. Didn't he tell you ?

Dr. Ford-Waterlow talked,

if I may say so, a great deal of nonsense.

But papa...

I'm naturally more than gratified at your improvement,

I'm delighted, of course, my poor child,

but it's unlikely you'll ever be a normal woman.

But I do feel so much better.

Perhaps it's the wonderful weather we've been having.

I always thrive in warmth, sunshine...

Rubbish ! Last time it was sweltering

and you've never been worse than then.

No, to my mind there is

only one whom we have to thank...

... though this doctor whatsisname

would probably sneer if I mentioned him.

Him ?

I mean Almighty God.

That's all I have to say at present.

Papa.

What is it ?

Didn't he tell you that I should avoid spending next winter in England ?

Well...

And that he thinks

I should be able to travel to Italy in October ?

If you...

So !

... it's out at last.

And how long has this precious plot been hatching, may I ask ?

You've discussed your plans

with all your friends and relatives, I suppose...

... with this Browning fellow too.

And I, I alone am left out of my favorite daughter's confidence.

Treated like a cypher, insultant.

Insultant ?

I'm cut to the heart that you,

the only one of my children whom I trusted implicitly...

... should be capable of such underhand conduct.

No, papa. No !

If returning health must bring

with it such a sad change of character,

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