The House Of The Seven Gables Page #5

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The leaflets will be ready for

distribution tomorrow, Mr Wainwright.

Yes, and I have forty lads ready

to scatter them over the county.

Reverend Smith ..

In his letter Garrison stated that 30

more negroes had arrived in a fortnight.

Arrangements have been made for their

safe conduct to Canada excepting one.

Our financial help is sorely needed.

And we're ready to give it

to them, ain't we Deacon?

Oh yes, certainly.

Our people have responded nobly to the

cause. How much have we now, Deacon?

Oh well over 5000 dollars.

You have it carefully

hidden away, Deacon?

Oh indeed, Mr Wainwright.

Most carefully.

The Deacon will turn the money over when

you're ready to deliver it, Mr Holgrave.

Garrison will communicate with me.

It will be any day.

Well, goodnight, gentlemen.

Goodnight.

Goodnight Reverend.

I'll let you know when I hear anything.

Very well.

Goodnight Deacon .. pleasant dreams.

Same to you, sir .. same to you.

Well, can you imagine?

Who would ever think that old maid

Pyncheon would go on to trade?

A cent shop ..

Miss Pyncheon. Her sour face will scare

more people than her sweets can attract.

Sweets? You are right.

Goodbye and thank you very much.

Our first sale! Oh we will be

successful, I know we will.

Won't we Mr Holgrave.

Why, it's a foregone conclusion, people

will be drawn from great distances.

Really .. why?

Your smile .. it's magnetic.

Cousin Hepzibah and I really have

much to thank you for Mr Holgrave.

Why, without your help this shop

would not have been possible.

Oh I didn't do anything. Cut through the

door and window and built a few shelves.

But you're a photographer. How is

it you're so expert at carpentry?

Miss Phoebe. You're right to question

the source of my innumerable talents.

To prove my main occupation.

In my short career I've had success as a

schoolmaster, a salesman of perfumes ..

Steam locomotives .. political

editor of a newspaper.

Why go on? The list is without end.

Oh, you take nothing seriously.

May I prove to you

otherwise Miss Phoebe?

Oh, a customer ..

It's a charming customer ..

It's Jaffrey Pyncheon.

I wish to see Miss Pyncheon immediately.

Good morning, Judge.

Ah, Holgrave. I fear you have

betrayed my friendship.

You might have warned me of the

birth of this disgraceful enterprise.

Hurry girl, get Miss Pyncheon.

Permit me to introduce

the young lady, Judge.

I wish a moment alone with you.

Your wishes are not served here.

Very well .. if you prefer the airing of

your shameless conduct before strangers.

First of all you allow this house to

deteriorate into a village slum.

Then you turn it into a lodging house,

and now this:
a huckster's enterprise!

I'll not permit such a blot on our name.

If your name needs

protection from anything ..

It's from the scandalous enterprises

you yourself have lent it these years.

This shop will be closed.

I will request the courts to

issue a restraining order.

You will leave here .. at once.

News! Excellent news.

The very best of .. news.

I hope you will share our joy, sir.

Your years of waiting are not in vain,

Hepzibah. Clifford is to be released.

The new Governor has commuted

your brother's sentence.

The papers are already signed my dear.

The station is headed for destruction.

If people's votes puts an incompetent in

office it is time to withdraw the vote.

Or restrict it to those

who vote your way.

Exactly!

Would you go to meet him, Hepzibah?

No.

His homecoming should be regarded ..

As if he were merely returning

from a brief journey.

I suppose you'll want to get

his old room ready, eh?

It has .. always been ready.

I think someone's in the house.

Yes.

I must have left the front door open.

No, I did.

He's come home.

But why didn't you want to see

him last night, cousin Hepzibah?

Look to the biscuits Phoebe.

They're to be brown to the point of

burning, but not burnt, mind you.

Did you bring a pot of

honey from the cellar?

Yes, cousin Hepzibah.

The "clover" I hope. He always

insisted on wild honey.

Shall I start the eggs now?

Heavens no, child.

Not until he's at the table.

He must see you first Phoebe.

Just as you stand there in the sunlight.

And smile when he comes in.

Your beauty will please him.

The golden sunlight of your hair.

It will warm his heart.

Oh no, cousin Hepzibah.

He'll find you as lovely as ever.

Good morning Clifford.

This is cousin Phoebe of whom I wrote.

Good morning, child.

The shop. I ..

Excuse me, sir.

Your .. breakfast is ready Clifford.

I will start the eggs.

Please, Hepzibah.

I want to look at you.

There's little left to see, Clifford.

Let my eyes be your bearer.

And then your beauty will never fade.

Time only makes more beautiful

a heart such as yours.

How can I ever make known

to you .. my gratitude.

My humility before such

a loyalty and courage.

Smile Hepzibah.

Now that we're together again.

Smile ..

It's not now too late for us, Clifford.

No.

In a short while ..

The past will be but a shadowy memory.

Two hundred and thirty-six.

Two hundred and thirty-seven.

Two hundred and thirty-eight.

Two hundred and thirty-nine.

Got it! Relax ..

Relax? I can't ..

I'll have it free in a moment.

Why that wasn't long. A year ago it

would have taken a half-hour.

Today, science has advanced and can take

a picture in less than four minutes.

I thought it would never end.

Why did you want this picture

of me Mr Holgrave?

So that people won't accuse me of

being such an unconscionable liar.

How can I proclaim you the most

beautiful maiden in the universe ..

And have no proof?

The daguerreotype doesn't lie.

But Mr Holgrave ..

Phoebe .. when are you going to

stop calling me Mr Holgrave?

Do I have to wait until people

call you Mrs Holgrave?

Mr Holgrave!

I'm sorry.

Phoebe .. what I'm

trying to say is that ..

I love you more than life itself.

Oh but .. that can't be.

Your life is so full. You're ..

Your interests are so many, why ..

I haven't scope enough

to make you happy.

There can be no happiness without you.

Phoebe .. you do love me?

You are looking into my heart ..

Mr Holgrave.

Mr Holgrave .. permit me to introduce ..

Mr Clifford Pyncheon.

I'm honored sir.

How do you do.

My Pyncheon has just returned

from .. a distant land.

He will stay on with us.

You'll enjoy Seven Gables, sir.

Yes Mr Holgrave, I think I will.

The very first thing I'm going to do is

make this garden beautiful again.

Then we aren't leaving this

house at once, Clifford?

Not yet.

Not right away.

Clifford, you think of Jaffrey again.

Please don't .. he's a man

of great wealth and power ..

All these years, you've been waiting

alone .. in this cold, empty tomb.

I didn't mind darling .. I knew all the

time that we would be together again.

And we are ..

Now the past can become a distant dream.

It will, dearest Hepzibah.

Then don't seek vengeance, Clifford.

Providence and fate .. will best

reward him for his crime.

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