The Beguiled Page #3

---

One, two, three, four,

five, six, seven, eight...

You ready?

Okay.

All right.

Don't do that!

Here you go, Henry.

All right.

Come here.

Corporal McBurney

gave me one of his buttons.

Miss Amy.

Bless US,

and bless thee thy gifts,

which we receive

from thy bountiful goodness

through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

Amen.

It has occurred to me

that we might reflect

on the unexpected presence

of Corporal McBurney in our house...

...until his leg heals,

of course.

And we might discuss how

we may practice compassion

and what else we might learn

from his presence here.

What does each of you

think of this?

Miss Alicia, can you tell us

what do you think we may learn

from his presence here?

Well, maybe the sight

of him will remind us

there's something else in

the world besides lessons.

Well, it seems to me

that is all there should be

for any young lady your age.

If we learn our lessons

properly when young,

we can expect

a calm and happy life

when faced with the

distractions of the world.

N'est-ce pas?

With the presence

of this hateful enemy,

it'll be a constant

reminder to us

that the war is still going on,

and the sacrifices

and prayers we must make.

- Mmm.

- May I say,

that any breath of fresh air

from the outside world,

I think is welcome to us all.

I heard he's a mercenary,

so maybe he's not

even really an enemy.

What's a mercenary?

It means he's just paid

by the army to fight,

he's not really

fighting their cause.

Well, we don't know about that.

He seems to be

a student of nature,

so I expect to learn

about foreign wildlife.

He seems to be

a sensitive person.

Does he?

I found him understanding.

Do you, indeed?

Oh, you must share more of

your findings with us, Edwina.

As dedicated Christians,

we will join the Corporal

after dinner for a prayer.

Before we retire.

Yes, Miss Martha.

Shall we?

Corporal.

Would you care to join us

for an evening prayer?

Yes, ma'am.

But first, maybe

we'll have a little music

if that's not

too disturbing for you.

Oh, no disturbance at all. No.

I'd love to hear a bit of music.

Miss Jane?

Yes, ma'am.

Miss Jane, you play beautifully.

Doesn't she?

Indeed.

The years creep

slowly by, Lorena.

The snow is on the grass again.

The sun's low

down the sky, Lorena.

The frost gleams

where the flowers have been.

But the heart throbs on

as warmly now.

As when the summer days

were nigh.

The sun can never dip so low.

Or down

affection's cloudless sky.

Could it be Yankees?

Possibly not.

It could be some of our own.

Edwina, wait here

with the girls.

If it is enemy soldiers, I'll

rap on the door three times.

We'll go to the woods

and meet you there.

What about the Corporal?

Well, he's in no condition to leave.

He will remain here.

Shh. All of you.

Can I help you, gentlemen?

I think it's one of our men.

AMY; I hope so.

Miss Edwina,

what are we going to do?

Don't worry, girls.

Right this way.

Why are they here?

Do you think they're here

for the Corporal?

They may be.

Why don't we turn him in?

Are they coming?

I'm so scared.

It's all right.

There's two of them.

Two of our own.

I've given them something to eat.

They're in the kitchen.

Why did they come?

To offer their assistance.

The army is about to leave

the vicinity.

As of yet, I haven't

told them about the Corporal.

But I might ask them

to take him with them.

But he couldn't ride

without hurting his leg.

Well, I could tell them

that he's wounded.

Suggest that they come back.

But that could be weeks.

Could even be months.

They'll probably insist

on taking him right now,

and who knows

what'll happen to him.

They could shoot him and

leave him along the road to die.

I could allow the Corporal to

stay until he is recovered,

and then we could send him

on his way, alone.

Oh, yes.

There is Christian

charity to be considered.

You keep talking about him as if

he wasn't right here in this room.

And there are the doubts if

we can really consider him an enemy.

Please, Miss Martha.

Burney to

stay here until his leg has healed.

But if any of you

is opposed to it,

I will tell the soldiers right

now, and they will decide

what his fate will be.

Any of you?

Miss Jane?

Well then,

he will stay.

The decision is made.

Off to bed.

All of you.

Come on, girls.

Off you go.

Can we go and greet

the soldiers?

No. No, no.

I do not want to put

temptation in their way.

Come on, girls.

Miss Edwina.

This has been quite a night.

I have to say,

when they saw me,

they said, there is

nothing more frightening

than a startled woman

with a gun.

When I return,

would you care to join me

for a brandy, Corporal?

I'd like that very much, ma'am.

How long do you think

he'll stay here?

Miss Martha seems to be

warming up to him,

and I believe he likes it here.

What would you know?

I've talked with him privately.

You think just

because you found him,

you have some sort of special

relationship with him?

You're just jealous.

Shh.

It must be tiring for you.

I can't say

it hasn't been a struggle.

Well, I admire your strength.

I know it must be hard for you to be

strong all the time for these girls.

They're lucky to have

a woman such as yourself

to keep going for all of them.

I'm just trying to give them what

they need to survive in these times.

It's a very different world out

there that they're going into,

I don't think they realize it.

They can't know what

it's like out there.

Sometimes I get so tired.

I pray that the end is near.

I can't make any sense of it,

how much everyone has suffered.

There's no sense

to be made of it.

Hmm.

Did you have someone

before the war?

I did.

Well, I'm sorry.

Everyone has lost so much.

I was a coward to leave,

but you don't realize what battle

really is until you've seen it.

It must be devastating.

I was fresh off

the boat from Dublin.

I had nothing.

I took $300 to take

another man's place.

I see.

We've all clone things

out of character.

We will see to it that

you make your way home.

Thank you

for your company, Corporal.

If you'll excuse me,

I must insist that you rest.

Well, good night, ma'am. Have a good...

Have a good evening.

Good evening, Corporal.

You got it!

Miss Martha!

Miss Martha, come look!

What is it?

Be careful.

Don't put too much weight

on the bad leg.

Yes, ma'am.

I still wouldn't rush

nature to take its course,

but if you want

to risk doing this...

Oh! Corporal, please.

Steady yourself.

Can you help me outside,

Miss Amy?

Yes, of course.

Good day, Corporal.

Ladies.

It's your turn

in the kitchen garden.

That's right.

I'm helping the Corporal,

as you can see.

I'm sure we could relieve you.

No, that's enough.

I'll decide

whose work is needed.

On your way, girls.

Yes, ma'am.

This reminds me of the first

time we met, you and me.

Your roses need pruning.

And those hedges

are in terrible shape.

Your whole flower garden

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes