The Fan Page #7

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- Mrs. Erlynne, I wanted to help you.

I didn't realize how things would seem

and what people would say.

You must leave London.

You're breaking your word, Arthur.

You promised me the chance

of a new life, a secure and decent life.

- I know I did.

- Well, you haven't given me that chance.

I've not yet assured my position so that

Lord Augustus will ask me to marry him.

- I can't help it, you must go.

- Please don't give me orders, Arthur.

I shall stay in London

as long as I choose.

- Yes, Bessie?

- I beg your pardon, madam.

This has just been delivered

by special messenger.

You don't want to cause Margaret

any more pain, do you?

I've never seen her

as she was last night.

Today, she locked herself in her room,

there's no telling what she might do.

I can't lose her.

If I do, I lose life itself.

- And what about my life?

- Must you always think of yourself?

Don't you realize that if you stay here

Margaret will find out who you are?

If she does find out,

will the world come to an end?

- It would for her.

- You'll not hound me out of London.

I've made mistakes, yes,

and I've paid for them.

And now you come to me

and tell me I must pay again

and go on paying for the rest of my life?

Well, I won't do it.

My account is settled

and I'll pay no more.

I too have been paying

for your mistakes, Mrs. Erlynne.

And I'm willing to pay considerably more

to end any further demands on me.

I'm making out this check to you

for 10,000 pounds.

It's drawn on the Paris branch

of my bank.

Payable only in Paris

and only within the next three days.

I won't go and that is final.

The club train leaves at 10:45 tonight.

There is no emergency

to excuse your conduct.

You're disposing of my life

with utter selfishness,

and now you add vulgarity to cruelty.

You're the lowest of all thing,

you're cheap.

I'm leaving the check

on the mantelpiece, Mrs. Erlynne.

Good afternoon.

As long as I live,

I'll never forget that moment.

There was a check of 10,000 pounds

from Lord Windermere to be rid of me.

And there was an invitation to her

birthday ball from Lady Windermere.'

It was the most precious invitation

I ever received.

The most precious invitation

from his wife?

From my daughter.

Margaret, your daughter?

I didn't know.

- I never knew.

- Of course you didn't.

It was my career to keep everybody

from knowing it.

How could I have acknowledged

a grown-up daughter?

I never admitted I was more than 29,

30 at the most.

29 when they were pink shades

30 when they were not.

But why did you become separated

from your husband and your child?

Why does any woman leave

her husband and her child?

- For another man.

- Who in turn, abandoned me.

I'm sorry.

Arthur was the only one

who ever knew my secret.

More than anything in the world,

he wanted to spare Margaret

the humiliation of knowing

her mother was a woman whose name

was a scandal

in every country in Europe.

He was right to shield her.

I realize that now

more clearly than ever.

That night

I went to her birthday ball.

I forget why.

Perhaps

I wanted to defy my son-in-law.

Perhaps I longed to see my daughter.

Anyway, I went to the ball.

Mrs. Erlynne.

Yes, madam.

- Good evening, Lord Windermere.

- My dear Countess!

- And Margaret.

- Good evening, my dear.

- Excuse me.

- It's been so long.

- Good evening, Arthur.

- Hello, John. Nice to see you.

How dare you

come to this house tonight?

It isn't especially daring

to accept an invitation.

- How did you get that?

- A messenger, a special one.

Such a dependable service,

don't you think?

You're not going in. I'll have

your carriage called at once.

Manners before morals,

Lord Windermere.

Good evening, Cecil.

Lord Darlington.

Good evening, Lady Windermere.

I am Mrs. Erlynne.

It was so charming of you to invite me.

You must have known how delighted

I'd be to meet on your birthday.

Good evening, Mrs. Erlynne.

Your house is enchanting.

I'm sure you chose the decorations

yourself. One can tell such things.

And your fan, what a lovely thing!

A birthday present?

- Yes, from my husband.

- What exquisite taste your husband has.

I congratulate you, Lord Windermere.

And with all my heart,

I congratulate you, Lady Windermere.

- Many, many happy returns of this day.

- Thank you.

Excuse me.

Lord Augustus,

you have quite neglected me.

- I haven't seen you since this afternoon.

- I had no idea you were coming.

Excuse me.

- You should have told me.

- Isn't a surprise pleasanter?

I give you my word

I have nothing to do with this.

- I've no idea how she got the invitation.

- I sent it to her.

May I dance with your wife,

or are all her dances reserved for you?

I should be delighted, Lord Darlington.

I thought I knew Arthur well

but apparently I don't.

Very shrewd of him to invite her.

Nothing looks so much like innocence

as an indiscretion.

I invited Mrs. Erlynne.

You did? Why?

I don't know. I asked her

because I was hurt and angry.

I wanted to show him,

I wanted to show them all.

I was going to make an example

of how I was going to insult him.

- But why didn't you?

- I couldn't.

She's so different

from what I thought she'd be.

When she stood there,

I could do nothing at all.

It takes a thoroughly good woman

to do a thoroughly stupid thing.

You played right into her hands,

you helped her to achieve triumph.

Please take me out onto the balcony.

It's so bright and loud in here.

Tell me what I am to do.

You said one day I'd need a friend,

I didn't dream it would be so soon.

But I need one now.

Will you be my friend?

No Margaret, I cannot be

your friend any longer.

Between you and me,

there is no friendship possible.

There is passion, enmity, worship, love,

but no friendship.

- I love you.

- Please Robert, don't.

I 've loved from the first moment

I saw you.

And now is the time to tell you

I want to take you away.

I want you to leave this house tonight.

I offer you my life, Margaret,

my whole life.

Do what you want with it,

but please, please, take it.

I can't, I'm afraid. I'm a coward.

You mustn't be. You must be brave,

this will take courage.

I wish I could lie to you,

I wish I could tell you

the world doesn't matter, but it does.

The world and what it will say

matter far too much.

There'll be a time of pain,

disgrace even,

but remember I'll be there beside you.

When it's all over, when you no longer

have his name but mine

the world that is so quick to turn,

will turn back again to respect you.

You said you make no compromises,

make none now, be yourself.

Not now, I can't answer you now.

I offer you my love and my life.

I offer you more than that,

I offer you your pride,

your self-respect, your honor.

Leave this house with your head high.

Leave all that is ugly and tarnished

and corrupt forever.

But suppose... suppose Arthur...

Yes?

Suppose Arthur what?

Suppose Arthur came back to you,

is that what you're thinking?

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