The Barretts of Wimpole Street Page #9

Yes ?

Miss Barrett...

Yes, Captain Cook ?

I say, Miss Barrett...

You want to tell me something about Henrietta, don't you ?

Just so, Miss Barrtett, just so. Exactly.

You know, Miss Barrett, you know...

Yes, Captain Cook, I know.

And believe me, you have my heartfelt sympathy.

Thank you, oh, thank you, it's more than I deserve.

Thank you, Miss Barrett.

Never was such a girl, you know. Henrietta, I mean.

I don't know what I've done to deserve it.

Captain Cook...

Did he tell you something while I was out of the room ?

Don't tell me he really managed to get it out.

Well, perhaps not quite...

Well, still you know, like most ladies, quick in the uptake.

Yes, I understood.

Listen, my dear. Don't ever let anything

keep you from doing what you think in your heart is right.

Remember that.

Quite aware I'm not much of a match, Miss Barrett.

Poor man you know.

Surtees, let me buckle on your sword.

Oh, I say...

Ba thinks that poets are the flower of manhood,

a certain poet at any rate.

I mean to show her that she's mistaken.

You've got it wrong, you know.

I have ?

The sword hangs from the left hip, you know.

Why ?

Well, it's sort of...

Papa !

You're back sooner than I expected, papa.

I don't think I have the privilege of this gentleman's acquaintance.

Captain Cook, may I introduce my father.

Papa, Captain Surtees Cook.

Your servant, sir.

Captain Cook is a great friend of George and Octavius.

Indeed.

My sons are very rarely at home at this hour of the day.

The fact is, sir, I was just passing the house and...

... I thought I'd look in, you know,

in the off chance of finding one of them in and all that.

I see.

Captain Cook has just come from Buckingham Palace.

And Henrietta thought I should like

to see him in all the splendor of his regimentals.

Indeed.

Nothing much to look at, of course, sir, but...

ladies like a bit of color and I thought...

By Jove, it must be getting late...

It is 19 and a half minutes past twelve.

By Jove, it's high time that I was moving.

Goodbye, Miss Barrett.

Goodbye, Captain.

Goodbye, Miss Henrietta.

I'll see you out.

Your servant, sir.

I'm seeing Captain Cook to the door.

The servants will attend to that.

This house is fast becoming a rendez-vous for half London.

This was the first time I had the pleasure of meeting Captain Cook.

Indeed, but I infer from what I saw as I came into the room ...

... that Henrietta's acquaintance

has a somewhat longer standing, or am I mistaken ?

I've known Captain Cook for some time now.

Oh, since when has it been your custom to buckle on his accoutrement ?

I'd never seen him in full uniform before.

And I think it improbable that you will see

him in full uniform or otherwise in the future.

But papa...

Captain Cook to be forbidden to visit us

because I helped him on with his sword....

You received my letter ?

Yes, papa.

What has just happened

fully confirms me in the wisdom of my decision.

Fortunately our new home is so far from town

that your London friends are not likely to trouble us.

Our new home ? I don't understand.

Are we leaving Wimpole Street ?

I have taken a house in Bookham in Surrey.

Why ?

I am not in the habit of accounting

for my actions to anyone, least of all to my children.

But one thing I've the right to ask you, papa.

Is Captain Cook to be forbidden the house because of what just happened ?

I understood you to say Captain Cook was George's friend and Octavius'.

Yes, and my friend too.

Ah... come here.

Yes, papa ?

Come here !

What is this man to you ?

I told you, he's a friend of ours.

What is he to you ?

A friend.

Is that all ?

Yes.

You liar !

Papa !

Papa, let me go.

What is this man to you ? Answer me.

Please, papa, please.

Answer me !

No. No.

Answer me !

He's... he's...

Oh, papa, I love him !

Ah...

Oh, you... you... you...

You... you... !

Papa ! Papa !

Let her go ! I won't have it !

Let her go at once.

You and this filthiness !

I've known that Henrietta loved Captain Cook

for some time and I've given her all my strength.

You dare to tell me !

Yes !

I would have given her

all my help too if I had it to give.

I'll deal with you later.

Get up !

Papa, listen to me, please...

I'm not a bad girl, I swear to you I'm not.

I know I've deceived you, I'm sorry.

I love him. I love him.

He's a good man. It can't be wrong to love him.

I want love. I can't live without love.

Papa, remember how you loved mama and she loved you

and you'll understand and pity me...

Get up !

Sit there !

How long has this been going on ?

Do you hear me ? How long have you been carrying on with this fellow ?

I've known Captain Cook for over a year.

You've been with him often ?

Yes,

Alone ?

Yes.

Where ?

We met in the park, and...

In here ?

Yes.

Here and alone ?

Have you been with him in this house alone ?

Yes.

So clandestine meetings under my own roof

and abetted by one whom I beleived to be holy, chaste and good...

How dare you, papa.

Now listen to me.

Unless you give me your solemn word that you will neither...

... see nor have any communication with this man again,

... you will leave my house at once

as you are with nothing but the clothes you have on.

Once outside my doors,

you can go to perdition any way you please.

But you will never be admitted again as long as I live.

I think you know I never go back on my word.

You have your choice. Take it.

Is it nothing to you

that I shall hate you for this to the end of my life ?

Less than nothing.

Will you give me your word neither to see

nor to have any communication with this man again ?

I have no choice.

Elizabeth, give me your Bible.

My Bible belonged to mama.

I can't have it used for such a purpose.

Give me your Bible.

No.

You refuse ?

Yes.

Come here.

Place your hand upon the Book.

Repeat after me.

I give you my solemn word...

... that I shall neither see

nor have any communication with Captain Cook again.

I give you my solemn word that I will neither see...

nor have any communication with Captain Cook again.

You will now go your room

and remain there until you have my permission to leave it.

Henrietta.

Henrietta.

Do you remember what I told you ?

Just what did that mean ?

I was reminding Henrietta what I told her a short time ago.

I begged her to fight for her happiness.

You dare !

Yes, yes !

For years I've crushed down my doubts.

I tried to persuade myself that in spite of all you loved us.

But at last I've been forced to face the truth.

You're like a shadow over our lives.

I command you to be silent.

I won't stand by and see you wreck her life if I can save it.

You may be too strong for me, but at least I'll try.

I'll try...

Elizabeth !

You might have had the love of all your children.

But instead you have fear.

Fear and hatred.

Elizabeth !

Hatred, I tell you. Hatred and mine too. Hatred.

It will be hard for me to forget what you have said.

I shall leave you under my extreme displeasure.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes