The Go-Between

The past is a foreign country.

They do things differently there.

- This is Dry Toast.

- Hello Dry Toast.

Come on slug.

That's my father.

Come on !

...or, as he was called usually

by the company,

who affected what Nate

called "napping English",

the squire, who was leader

of the opposite faction.

The rank and fortune of the lady,

Who's that ?

The pretensions to beauty

as well as talent,

though the former was

something faded,

My sister is very beautiful.

Yes.

What's that ?

It's a deadly nightshade, you oaf.

Atropa belladonna.

- Atropa what ?

- Atropa belladonna. It's poisonous.

Every part of it is poison.

Die !

Lady Penelope shrieked faintly, hid her

eyes and hurried back from the bed.

while Lord Etherington, his look startling

with the complication of feelings,

remained gazing on the poor woman.

Didn't you say his mother was

a widow, Marcus ?

I think so.

I don't really know very much about him.

He seems to be a nice lad.

I do have an impression that he lives in

rather a small house with his mother.

Yes. He seems a very nice boy.

Now, is everyone here ?

Ah, Leo. Good evening.

Good evening, Mrs. Maudsley.

Mr. Maudsley.

Now, let us go in to dinner.

You were in cranking form

today at croquet, Marian.

- Was I ?

- Come along, Marian. Marcus.

Marian is quite formidable at croquet.

Am I ?

I believe we must be weary

of you, Leo.

I understand you're a magician.

Is that true ?

Well, not for real. Only, you know...

At school. Anyway, it was supposed

to be a secret, actually.

His curses are fearful.

He cast a fiendish spell

on two boys at school.

They fell of the roof.

And were severely mutilated.

Did they die ?

Oh, no. They were just a little,

you know... severely mutilated.

Was it difficult to arrange ?

I mean, to get them to fall off

the roof without killing them.

Well, it wasn't a killing curse, you see.

There are curses and curses.

It depends on the curse.

How frightening.

You're not going to bewitch

us here, are you ?

Oh, no. I shouldn't think so.

Hello.

Have you been enjoying yourself ?

- Yes, sir.

- Good.

Pretty warm. What does it say ?

- 83.

- Warm.

The suit is a little warm, isn't it ?

No, sir.

Enjoying yourself ?

Yes, thank you, sir.

Good.

There's another thing.

When you undress you mustn't fold up

your clothes and put them on the chest.

You must leave them lying wherever

they happen to fall.

The servants will pick them up.

That's what they're for.

You are looking hot. Haven't

you anything cooler to wear ?

I'm not hot, really.

- That's a Norfolk jacket, isn't it ?

- Yes.

Well, it's quite appropriate,

then, isn't it ?

After all, we are at Norfolk.

Have we a pair of bellows, mama ?

Why ?

To cool Leo.

Does Leo need cooling ?

I may look hot, but I'm really

quite cool underneath.

Did you leave your summer

clothes at home ?

I expect mother forgot to put them in.

Why don't you write and ask

her to send them ?

Oh, that would take too long, mama.

Let me take him in to Norridge tomorrow

and get him a new outfit.

Would you like that, Leo ?

Well, I haven't any money.

At least only...

Oh, they can be your birthday presents

from us. When is your birthday ?

Well, it's on the 27th of

this month, actually.

I was born under the sign of Leo.

Oh, good. I can give you a lion skin.

Or a mane.

Well, we'll go tomorrow.

Wouldn't you rather wait until

Monday, when Hugh will be here ?

Norridge would hardly be a treat for

Hugh, mama. Trailing around the shops ?

Besides, by Monday Leo

will have melted into butter.

And all he'll need will be a muslin bag.

May we go, mama ?

Yes, of course you may.

You flew too near the sun

and you were scorched.

What did your father do ?

He worked in a bank, actually.

And he was a pacifist.

And he was a book collector.

He liked books very much.

And so he collected them.

That was his hobby.

Mother said they're quite valuable.

We might have to sell them.

Here's your pudding.

- What's it like ?

- Very good.

Used any black magic on

anyone lately ?

Not really, no.

I envy you in your power.

What's it like to have such

power at your fingertips ?

Oh, it makes you feel fairly good.

But I only have used it

at school, you know.

Can you teach me?

I could use it here.

Would you really want to ?

No, not really.

The results might be too alarming.

Would you like to amuse yourself

in the cathedral for a while ?

I have some shopping to do.

Yes, certainly.

Can you amuse yourself

in a cathedral ?

Well, it wasn't a killing curse, you see.

There are curses and curses.

It depends on the curse.

150 guineas. Mr. Curteen.

All right, gentlemen.

Next lot, number 68.

Lot number 68. Property of a gentleman

named Ditto.

Bay guilding. Seven-year-old.

Sixteen, two hands.

How much do I say for it ?

300 regularly.

How much for it ? 150 guineas. 120.

Who will stop at 100 ?

100 guineas, thank you. sir.

Most impressive. Superb.

What a splendid green.

Remarkably elegant.

- Most fetching.

- Charming.

Did you get the tie at Cello and Cello ?

Of course.

And where did you get the shoes ?

Sterling and Porter.

What green is this ?

Lincoln green.

I thought so.

I shall dub you Sir Robin Hood.

Do you feel different ?

I feel quite another person.

Let me have a proper look at you.

I think he does very well.

And I hope that your mother

will think so too.

Have you written to her, Leo ?

- Yes, I have.

- Good.

You've chosen very well, Marian. Did

you do any shopping for yourself ?

Oh, no, mama. That can wait.

It mustn't wait too long.

You didn't see anyone in Norridge,

I suppose ?

Not a soul. We were hard at it all

the time, weren't we, Leo ?

Yes, we were.

Your mother has written to me that

you are liable to colds.

But you can watch the others

bathe, of course.

Why are you bringing your bathing

suit if you're not allowed to swim ?

It's just a bathing party.

But you're not going to swim.

I know I'm not.

In that case, why ?

What cheek ! The man's trespassing.

What should we do ?

Order him off.

What cheek !

Who can he be ?

I don't know.

He's a good swimmer.

And really rather well-built.

Don't you think ?

Come on, Jane. Let's go and change.

Shall we order him off ?

- It's Ted Burgess.

- Who's he ?

The tenant of Blackfarm.

We can't be rude to him.

He farms the land on the other side.

Perhaps you'd better be nice to him.

I should just say how do you do.

We don't know him socially, of course.

But I think I'd better be nice

to him, don't you ?

I would say so.

I didn't know anyone was going

to be here.

Just started on the harvest.

- It got so hot.

- Don't worry at all, please.

We were hot too, up at the hall.

Very hot.

I won't be long. Just one more header.

Absolutely, absolutely.

I think I put him at his ease, don't you ?

I shouldn't put on a bathing suit

if you're not going to swim.

It would look absurd.

What do you think you're doing ?

I'll get you for that.

No.

Revenge !

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes