The Draughtsman's Contract Page #3

Some of England's oldest

colonies have heirs in plenty.

Mr. Neville...

...do we have an indication

of Scottish sympathies?

You would be reading far too much...

...into what is simply a

statement of fact.

If the best Englishmen

are foreigners...

...and that seems to be a

simple statement of fact...

...then the best English

painters are foreigners too.

There's no English

painter worthy of the name.

Would you agree Mr. Neville?

To be an English painter...

...is a contradictory term.

Then Mr. Herbert shows some sense

in encouraging Mr. Neville.

Mr. Herbert, as we all know...

...is full of contradictions.

Contradictory enough to have

invited you into this house.

Despite his being a man without

airs and graces.

But not privy to whom his wife...

...welcomes into his house.

When my father is away, Louis...

...my mother is at liberty to

run his house as she feels fit.

And she has seen fit

to invite Mr. Neville.

A gracious speech, Mrs. Talmann.

To hide all manner of inconveniences.

How is that?

It is apparent.

It isn't from our meeting that

your presumptory regime...

...not only extends to

confining the household...

...like animals in reservations...

...but directing us as to whether

or not we should wear a coat...

...carry a walking-stick or whistle.

When I met you in the garden...

...you were doing all those things.

If you intend being there tomorrow...

...I would wish you to dress and

to behave in the same way.

However, it's beyond my power...

...to describe a whistle

pictorially, whether it comes...

...from an Englishman or from a German

dressed as an Englishman.

And what do you do

about the birds, Mr. Neville?

If you ignore their song, you can't

prevent them from flying across...

...the field of your vision.

The prospect of twelve

fine-weather days...

...with clear skies...

...and sharp shadows

is an excellent proposition...

...but not to be guaranteed.

So I am naturally anxious...

...that time should not be wasted.

It would assist me

greatly therefore...

...if my instructions, which have

been given great consideration...

...should be observed.

I'm painstaking enough...

...to notice quite small

changes in the landscape.

Once started,

I make that a committal...

...whatsoever ensues.

And I think you can surmise...

...that it's an attitude from which

I obtain great satisfaction...

...and some entertainment.

Thomas...

...can you remember, when

Mr. Herbert had his clothes packed...

...whether he took his French boots?

How is it that you've contrived...

...to make the garden

so empty of people?

The authority for these drawings

comes from Mrs. Herbert.

Do you think that she

is a woman who enjoys...

...having a crowd of people

kick her gravel around...

...or move her earth like a

pack of dogs in a herb garden?

I would seek peace

and quiet in a garden...

...and noise and

excitement at a carnival.

Carnem levare.

So Mr. Neville, you

would reserve your revelries...

...for a religious occasion.

And what of Gethsemane?

A wild sort of

garden I shouldn't wonder.

There would be no geometric paths...

...and no Dutch bulbs.

We have a Cedar of Lebanon...

...and a Judas tree.

Perhaps we could

cultivate a Tree of Heaven?

The gardens of England

are becoming jungles.

Such exotics are grossly unsuitable.

If the Garden of Eden was planned for

England, God would have seen to it.

The Garden of Eden...

...was originally

intended for Ireland.

For it was there that St.

Patrick eradicated the snake.

The only useful eradication

in Ireland...

...was performed by

William of Orange...

...four years ago on my birthday.

And happy birthday to you Mr. Talmann.

If you are not too old

to receive presents...

...perhaps the gardener and I can

find a snake for your Orangerie.

What?

Good day to you, Mr. Neville.

Good day, Madam.

Philip.

I see the company is assembled.

And what are we to be spectators of?

You must not be surprised.

We are here at your request.

I did not request an audience...

...nor a dinner on the grass.

Perhaps we are to applaud...

...the view.

The scribbler is never satisfied.

He is as insatiable as a...

You've said that Mr.

Talmann should be here...

...dressed as you asked and

carrying a gold-topped cane.

We have taken you at your word.

There was another instruction, but

conveniently I have forgotten it.

Whistling, Sarah.

So much for convenience.

You do not catch me

in the best of tempers...

...wearing yesterday's clothes.

I give you 20 minutes only.

I have a horse to exercise.

Then, Sir, please take your place.

I will take a walk.

Come with me, Maria.

We have a dog to exercise.

A little to the left, if you please.

And puff out your cheeks.

Why should I do that?

Because last time you were whistling.

A tune perhaps not

readily recognisable...

...even by its own composer.

Look, Madam...

...this man has no head.

A typical German characteristic.

Mr. Neville...

...you're talking about my son-in-law.

By the grace of God...

...you are to have

a grandson by him...

...some day.

Is that not a better thing to talk of?

And you mock my money

and my person...

...to draw caricatures.

With my memory, 3

pictures in the house...

...and your knowledge

of the subject...

...I intend to place

the head of Mr. Herbert...

...on these shoulders...

...as an appropriate

acknowledgement...

...of your husband and his property.

If he should return?

Why, Madam, what a

strange thing to say?

If he should return home to me.

So...

...I am grieving...

...because Mr. Herbert...

...is away.

Yes, Mother.

The Contract is void, Mr. Neville.

I cannot meet you again.

Mrs. Herbert, sit here.

Move your head into the shade.

Don't you think the gardeners

have excelled themselves?

You should not continue to draw.

I'm not able to continue

the terms of our contract.

The fee is yours,

as is the hospitality.

I was about to say...

...that in spite of my

satisfaction at continuing...

...the prospect in such

delightful circumstances...

...the peak of my delight is

obtained in those short minutes...

...when we are together.

I would regret losing them.

Besides, I do not

need to remind you...

...that the contract was made

between two people.

It will take the consent of

both signatories to make it void.

I feel that from this

position I cannot adequately see...

...what I'm supposed

to be seeing and...

...I must therefore ask you to find

some other resting-place.

At least until 4 o'clock...

...when our next meeting is to be

consummated as arranged.

Who is this child

who walks the garden...

...with such a

solemn look on his face?

That is my husband's nephew.

He attracts servants

like a little midget King.

What is his patrimony?

His father was

killed at Ausbergenfeld.

His mother became a Catholic.

So my husband brought

him to England.

To be reared as a little Protestant.

He was an orphan and

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote