The Duchess Page #3

No, no, madam.

'Tis evident you care not a pin for me!

And I, I was a madman to marry you.

And I'm sure I was a fool to marry you,

an old dangling bachelor

who was single at 50

only because he never could meet

with anyone who could have him!

Bess, may I introduce Mr. Fox,

leader of the Opposition?

- Mr. Fox, Lady Elizabeth Foster.

- Mr. Fox.

- My protg, Charles Grey.

- Mr. Grey.

- Mr. Grey.

- Your Grace.

He's our newest bright young man.

Scarcely out of Cambridge

and already a member of Parliament.

- I always felt you'd do well.

- Thank you.

- Mr. Fox.

- Yes, Lady Elizabeth.

- Did you enjoy the play?

- I must confess, I did not entirely.

I hope that you've not lost

your sense of humor

- since entering politics.

- Not that I'm aware.

Then I'm sure you realize

that School for Scandal

- was written as a comedy.

- Yes.

Although, from where I sat,

it read as a tragedy.

Your Grace! How we have missed you.

In your absence,

London has been reduced

to the dreariest province.

And this, of course,

is the playwright Mr. Sheridan.

May I present

the Lady Elizabeth Foster?

I do not mean to be rude,

but I've an entire cast

dying to meet the Duchess.

I shall return you in a moment. Promise.

- Mr. Fox?

- Yes.

A word.

Well, wherever do I glean

such domestic gossip?

- Were we fair on the Duke?

- It could have been worse.

My original title was The Bad Marriage.

Is it always like this?

Well, as they say,

the Duke of Devonshire

must be the only man in England

not in love with his wife.

- Her Grace, the Duchess of Devonshire.

- Very pleased to meet you.

Were you at all able to forget things

and enjoy yourself?

It was a wonderful distraction,

thank you.

Good.

- I talked to Mr. Grey all evening.

- Yes?

He's in love with you.

My dear Bess, no, he is not.

Quite the reverse, I fear.

Well, can't you tell

by the way he looks at you?

- Honestly, can't you tell?

- Stop it.

Georgiana,

intercourse is not just about offspring.

- In fact, it can be rather pleasurable.

- Yes, I know.

Close your eyes

and try to envisage Grey

opening your dress, kissing your back.

- They never do such things.

- Yes, they do.

Close your eyes.

Grey is behind you

slowly opening your dress.

- No, Bess, stop!

- Close your eyes.

Kissing your back.

There.

See?

- Would you excuse me for a minute?

- You must excuse me, gentlemen.

- Your Grace.

- Mr. Grey.

The national election

is in six weeks, yes?

How is the campaign going?

Terribly.

Our only hope

is to save Westminster for Fox.

I have many faults, as you well know.

Not least among them

is my ability to draw attention.

Perhaps we could use that

to our advantage.

Ladies and gentlemen.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I give you the man

who will inform us

of the work we must do

and of the party we so believe in.

Mr. Charles Grey.

Good people of Westminster!

The world is on the brink of disaster

or salvation!

From France to America,

men and women are struggling

to free themselves,

to find meaning in their existence!

Change is upon us!

We shall not go back to the old ways.

We shall take England

into this brave new world

and shake the thunder from the skies!

- How did I do?

- I think it was not an embarrassment.

It was a marvel.

I was nervous. Your presence

trebled the numbers at least.

I'm nervous even now.

If we win this election,

if we get the power,

think what we will do.

Do you think of me

when we're not together?

You ought to know I do.

- You hesitated before you replied.

- No.

I'm unused to being asked so directly.

And by you, of all people.

I think of you all the time. I always have.

- Your carriage awaits, Your Grace.

- Thank you.

...this we vow!

What are you doing outside

Lady Elizabeth's room?

Who's in there with her?

Of all the women in England

you had to throw yourself on her.

I have never once objected

to any of your affairs.

I have accepted whatever arrangement

you have proposed.

I have raised Charlotte

as my own daughter.

But this...

I have one single thing of my own.

Why couldn't you let me keep Elizabeth

for myself?

What kind of man are you?

She is my sole comfort in our marriage.

You have robbed me of my only friend!

What is wrong with me?

I...

I've never claimed

to be a man of fine sensibility, G.

But I've always known

what I expect from this marriage

and what I'm prepared to give.

As a husband,

I have fulfilled my obligations.

But, as a wife,

you have not.

She has to go. Now.

She is never to set foot

in this house again!

Do mind your temper, G.

You're forgetting yourself.

I want her out.

I never want to lay eyes on her again.

Go down and tell her to leave at once.

I couldn't ask her that.

I won't do it, G.

- I never liked her from the first.

- You made that quite clear, Mama.

She's gone from Devonshire House,

I hope.

They're living there together?

Georgiana!

What have you permitted to happen?

I don't know. I don't know.

Help me. Help me, please, Mama.

Tell me what to do.

You must write to your husband

and insist he send her back

to whatever horrid little place

she came from.

He will not.

"It is out of the question," he says.

Then you must return

and resume your duties.

Make him realize whom he loves.

You will give up your politics

and your gambling.

For once,

you will devote yourself as a loving wife

and settle down to the task in hand,

providing him with an heir.

Then he will soon tire of her.

You have no other option.

Hello, G.

William.

I may not have the authority

to remove you from my house,

but I can, at least,

order you out of my room.

Won't you please let me explain?

There is nothing to explain.

This is my only chance

of ever seeing my children again.

The Duke is the most powerful peer

in England.

He is my only chance.

There are limits to the sacrifices

one makes for one's children.

No, there aren't. No limits whatsoever.

Get out.

We have nothing more

to say to one another.

Mama, Mama!

It's so nice to see you, Mama.

Right, this is a shotgun.

Your mother said

you'd be interested, yes?

Yes.

This is a flint. Do you see?

When the flint hits there,

it causes a spark to happen.

Now, the spark, it lights the gunpowder

and sends the bullet out of the gun.

- Do you know how to hold it?

- No, sir.

Well, it's like that.

Tuck it in there, into your right shoulder.

Hold it firmly, then you can move

that hand a little further along.

Can you feel how heavy it is?

You have to lean into it a bit.

And keep both eyes open.

Look right along the barrel.

Right along there just like that.

Bang! Here, let me show you.

There.

It's quite heavy, isn't it?

Are you thirsty?

Would you like something to drink?

Are you gentlemen thirsty?

Would you like something to drink?

Thank you.

Did you tell the Duke

who you were meeting?

No.

- Did he even ask?

- No.

He has other things on his mind.

As do you.

Would it help to unburden yourself?

It's nothing I can discuss with you.

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