The Heiress Page #6

I never expected to hear a sermon

like that in New York City.

When the Reverend Penniman

sermonized on the loaves and fishes,

they were right before you.

You could practically smell them.

- Look, Mrs. Penniman, you've lost.

- Why is it you always win?

I cheat.

Had it not been for your invitations,

these past few months

would have been unbearable.

You like this house, don't you,

Morris?

Yes, ma'am, I do.

You know,

the doctor is a man of fine taste.

Although we do not like each other,

we seem to like the same things.

That can be a bond

between you in time.

I hope so. He has earned

all of this by his work.

He believes that every man

should do the same.

The trouble is

that some of us cannot.

- You miss her, don't you, Morris?

- Very much.

- Dinner is served, Mrs. Penniman.

- Yes, Maria.

- And the claret is room temperature.

- Thank you, Maria.

- I hope I haven't kept you waiting.

- No, my dear.

- Wouldn't you prefer to go inside?

- I like this table.

Oh, did you use to come here

with my mother?

Yes, Catherine, I did.

Would you like some chocolate?

No, thank you very much.

- Oh! There's the Caf Riche.

- So it is. What about it?

Aunt Penniman mentioned it

in her last letter.

Lavinia?

She said that

all the best people of...

...Paris frequent it.

A winter of loneliness

has given her second sight.

- Something for mademoiselle?

- No.

Bien, monsieur.

Have you given him up?

No, Father.

You mean that in all this time

you have not yielded one inch?

No, Father.

I see no reason

to prolong this trip. Do you?

I thought you wanted to see England.

I've seen England.

Pilot's going down the bay.

They are to dock within the hour.

We're almost ready.

- Maria, did you find my gloves?

- I'll look again.

Geier, we have to be at the pier

in half an hour.

Ma'am.

What an inconvenient hour to land!

Now, you will be careful

to get the details right?

- They are most important.

- Of course.

You will have a closed carriage

at the corner of McDougal Street

tomorrow evening

as soon as it gets dark.

- Tomorrow night at 9:00.

- Yes, at 9:
00.

Oh, here they are!

- Now, tell her everything.

- I will.

- Tell her I love her.

- I will.

You wait in the mews for my signal,

Morris.

Giddy up.

Oh, Catherine!

Oh, Catherine, you look so French.

Well, no matter how fascinating

distant places are,

there's always someone at home

one misses, isn't there?

I've caught a chill, Lavinia.

Would you be so kind as to get me

some hot water for a toddy?

Why, of course, Austin.

It's good to be home, isn't it,

Father?

You'll feel better

now that we're back.

I... I wish you had let me

try to care of you a little.

- Here you are, Austin.

- Thank you, Lavinia.

Your brandy decanter is right there.

Well...

Have you taken to drink, Lavinia?

My heart,

I thought it would help my heart.

Ah, yes.

I know I shouldn't ask, Catherine,

but did you bring me something?

- We brought you a silk parasol.

- Just exactly what I wanted.

Come and show it to me.

Your heart would improve, Lavinia,

if you stopped smoking cigars.

When I come home to find

an empty brandy glass

and a particular cigar brand,

I can only think of one person.

Well, what's happened to Mr. Townsend?

- Is he upstairs in my bed?

- Austin, I forgot to tell you.

- He did stop by this evening.

- This evening?

- Was he here this evening, Aunt?

- Yes, yes.

- He's made my house his club.

- You should be in bed.

Now, I'll just see that everything

has been attended to.

What a ridiculous position to be in.

Well, I suppose you'll be going off

with him any time now.

Yes, if he will have me.

Why not? You'll be

a most entertaining companion.

- I will try to be.

- Your gaiety and brilliance

will make up the difference between

the 10,000 a year you will have

and the 30,000 he expects.

He expects nothing.

He does not love me for that.

No? What else, then?

Your grace, your charm,

your quick tongue and subtle wit?

He admires me.

I've tried for months

not to be unkind.

But now it's time

for you to realize the truth.

How many girls do you think he might

have had in this town?

- He finds me pleasing.

- Oh, yes, I'm sure he does.

A hundred women are prettier,

a thousand more clever.

But you have one virtue

that outshines them all.

- What? What is that?

- Your money!

- Father!

- You have nothing else!

Oh.

What a terrible thing to say to me.

I don't expect you to believe that.

I've known you all your life

and I've yet to see you

learn anything.

With one exception, my dear.

You embroider neatly.

Morris.

Morris!

- I haven't had a moment with her.

- Where is she?

She's upstairs with Austin.

He's out of mood. You'd better leave.

- I'll tell her everything.

- I want to tell her myself.

- I'll wait until he's gone to bed.

- No, please go.

- If Austin should see you...

- He won't. I'll stay here.

No, I'll take her shopping in the

morning and meet you in the square.

Please go.

Morris. Morris!

Morris!

Morris, I'm so, so glad.

Cathy.

You were waiting!

You were as anxious as I.

Oh!

- Cathy.

- Oh, Morris.

- Have you been true to me?

- Oh, yes!

Yes. You've not changed your mind?

No, no! Have you?

Oh, wait until you hear my plans.

- Plans?

- Yes.

For our marriage.

- Our elopement.

- Oh, our elopement!

It's for tomorrow night. In a country

parsonage up on Murray's Hill,

there's the Reverend Lispenard

who knows our story. He'll help us.

Do you hear me, Catherine?

Oh, I love you so.

Tell me what to do.

I have a closed carriage engaged.

I will come to the corner of

the square tomorrow night at 9:00.

We'll drive to the parsonage.

After the marriage, we'll spend

the night at an inn up the river.

The next day we'll go to Albany

on our honeymoon.

Oh, Morris!

My husband!

- You like my plan?

- Oh.

And I've brought you

such a beautiful silk waistcoat.

- You must wear it for our wedding.

- My dear girl!

I bought you a set of buttons

in Paris.

- Buttons?

- They are rubies and pearls.

- They are quite nice.

- Dear girl, how happy we shall be.

- Morris?

- Yes?

- Take me tonight.

- Tonight?

- How can we?

- We must.

In another hour,

everyone will be asleep.

We can get away quietly

and no one will know.

But, Catherine,

it's only one more day.

- Morris, I beg you.

- Where would we go?

- To the Reverend Lisp...

- Lispenard.

Yes! He will not turn us away

because we've come one day early.

- I implore you!

- Catherine.

If you love me...

- Very well, we'll do it.

- Oh!

I'll leave and find a carriage.

It's almost 10:
30.

I can be back here at 12:30

on the dot in front of the house.

You must be ready and waiting for me.

Will you do that?

Oh, I can do anything, my dearest.

- Leave a letter for your father.

- A letter?

- Yes. Shall I compose it for you?

- No.

Think very carefully of how

to word it. You must melt his heart.

- I will not write him.

- Of course you must write him.

- We want him to forgive us.

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