The Barretts of Wimpole Street Page #7

It's your very life.

And I forbid you to play with your life.

And I have the right to forbid you.

No, please don't say any more.

The right. At our first meeting you forbade me to speak of love.

But I knew well enough, we both knew,

that I was to be much more than just your friend.

Even before I passed that door I loved you.

And I've gone on loving you.

And I shall love you to the end.

And beyond.

You know that.

You've always known it.

Yes.

Yes, I've always known it.

And now, for pity's sake,

for pity's sake, leave me.

If my father had the least suspicion that you were more than a friend,

both our lives would be made unbearable.

I love you and I shall never leave you.

And I love you, Robert.

And yet you ask me

to take my marching orders and go out of your life.

Yes, Robert. But what have I to give you ?

I have so little of all that love asks for.

I should have refused to see you again after our first meeting.

For I loved you then

though I would have denied it even to myself.

I love you.

Oh, Robert.

Do you know what you've done for me ?

I could have laughed when Dr. Chambers said

that I'd heal myself by wanting to live.

Oh, I wanted to live eagerly, desperately, passionately,

but only because life meant you.

You, the sight of your face,

the sound of your voice and the touch of your hand.

Oh, and so much more than that.

Because of you the air once more was sweet to breathe.

And all the world was good and green again.

And with those words singing in my ears,

I am to turn my back on you and go.

Yes, Robert. For how is it to end ?

What have we to look forward to and...

I love you.

And I want you for my wife.

Robert, I can't marry you.

How can I with...

Not today or tomorrow. Not this year perhaps, or next.

Perhaps not for years ro come.

I may never be able to marry you.

But what then ? If you remain to the last

beyond my reach, I shall die proud and happy...

... in having spent a lifetime fighting

to gain the richest prize a man was ever offered...

No, no, no.

Robert, if we were to say goodbye today...

... we should have nothing but beautiful memories

of each other to last to the end of our lives.

Is it you who are speaking ?

What do you mean ?

Here's life.

Life offering us the best that life can give.

And you dare not grasp at it

for fear that it will turn to dust in your hand.

I don't know you, I never thought you were a coward.

A coward ?

Yes, Robert, I'm a coward.

A coward through and through.

But it's not myself that am afraid.

I know that, my dear.

What's another disaster, great or small,

to me who have known it would disaster all my life ?

But you're a fighter. You were born for victory and triumph.

Oh, what if disaster came to you through me ?

Yes. A fighter. But I'm sick of fighting alone.

I need a comrade in arms to fight beside me.

But not one already wounded in the battle.

Wounded but not defeated. Undaunted. Unbroken.

What finer comrade could a man ask for ?

But Robert...

No, no.

But Robert.

No.

Dear Uncle Edward, don't you think

that your attitude about love and marriage...

I repeat that I do not care to discuss that subject.

Of course, dear Uncle Edward. Of course.

You aren't angry with me, are you ?

Certainly not, child.

Then why that gloomy frown ?

Sit down.

There.

There. All gone.

Oh, come, come, my pet.

If my children were as bright and open and affectionate as you are...

I should be a much happier man.

You mustn't say such things or they'll hate me.

You're a very charming little person.

Anything wrong in that ?

I didn't say so.

What's that scent you've got on ?

Scent ? Me ?

Don't you like it ?

I abominate scent as a rule, but yours is different.

Nice ?

It's delicate and subtle.

Still, I'd prefer you not to use it.

Why ?

Never mind.

Oh, uncle, you're a darling.

You call me bright, and open, and affectionate...

... charming, and fragrant. All within a few minutes.

You may kiss me.

You know who's upstairs, Uncle Edward ?

Mr. Robert Browning, the poet.

Isn't that thrilling ?

I see nothing particularly thrilling in it.

Mr. Browning's respect for my daughter's intellect

seems to justify continuation of their friendship ?

Oh, yes. Such a nice intellectual friendship.

Two poets.

My, my, wouldn't it be frightfully interesting

if only dear Flush could speak ?

Not as interesting as if you could keep silent.

Oh, I'm just joking. And besides, I know that in his great big heart

Uncle Edward is really on the side of romance.

In the part of true love and all that.

What do you mean ?

If you could just have seen her face light up

when Mr. Browning's name was announced.

Bella, you...

Isn't it beautiful ?

Yes, miss, them wisteria is most certainly beautiful.

Isn't it though.

Oh, is that Mr. Browning over there ?

Shouldn't be at all surprised, miss.

Miss Barrett, I believe.

How do you do, Mr. Browning ?

How do you do ?

How do you do, Flush ?

Wilson ?

Isn't this a coincidence ?

We were just enjoying the beautiful wisteria

But it's much more exquisite over there.

I'm afraid, however, you shall have to go on foot.

Miss Ba, you mustn't.

Miss Wilson, I'm perfectly able to walk any distance.

If you would care to go with me...

Yes, thank you.

Wilson, would you wait here ?

And you too, Flush, dear.

Miss Ba, what would the master say ?

When my father returns to town

I shall be very pleased to tell him myself.

Shall we ?

Greatest of pleasure.

You'll pardon us, Flush.

Oh, it's so beautiful.

I'm delighted that you like it.

You can't imagine the difficulty I had

in getting that particular tree to grow that particular position.

And as for the sunlight, well, my dear, you won't believe the trouble I have with the sun.

It just won't stay still a minute.

So you got the sun to stay there just for me.

Oh, it was nothing at all, I assure you.

Wait until after we're married.

Please, Robert. Not today.

Let's just have today as a day of nonconsequential subjects.

Agreed.

Now, in here we have some very rare specimens.

The choicest and most exotic beauties in the floral kingdom.

For instance,

... here we have the Orchidaceae Stictophyllum.

How exquisite.

Here, by a curious coincidence, we have two chairs.

Also very rare.

And here, my dear, you have a man who loves you.

Also very rare.

Very.

Has it got any feathers ?

No !

A tiger ?

No. No.

A dragon ?

No.

Think of something you're more afraid of

than anything else in the world.

Hm. Is is a gggg..girl.

I know ! It's papa !

Yes !

Listen, Ba.

Do you remember that, Ba ?

Yes, dear.

You wrote the words and I always loved it.

Yes, dear.

Let BBBBa play it.

I haven't played it in years.

My arm, madame.

Make way for the prima donna.

I'll turn the pages for you.

Oh, you're making me nervous.

Henrietta, dear, you should really play this.

No, darling, you play it.

Oh, I don't think I seem to remember it.

Wilt thou have my hand to lie along with thine...

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