The Iron Lady Page #13

loves the most. You or them.

I do not believe he knows

himself. But they will not

give him up, of that you can

be sure, Miss Ternan. They

will love him beyond the

grave.

(close to)

Will you love him as long?

(beat)

I am interrupting your

party.

CATHERINE, making to stand, nods, holding NELLY with

quiet passive scrutiny.

Blue Revisions dated 11th June 2012 68.

CATHERINE (CONT’D)

Charley said you were notthat pretty. I could notremember but I see now myson was being kind to me.

NELLY:

I am really far too old forparties. There is not a soulunder twenty in attendance.

CATHERINE:

Well Charles should be here

soon and he is nothing if notyouthful.

CATHERINE makes to go-

CATHERINE (CONT’D)

I wish you a very happybirthday.

Far off the party in full swing.

EXT. GARDEN. AMPTHILL SQUARE. 1958. DUSK. 55

The aftermath of the party, drained of GUESTS, theTERNAN family seated, sober after CATHERINE’s visit-

NELLY, the ruby bracelet resting between her fingers,MARIAand FANNY seated close by, unsettled. MARIA sketches, lettingthe pencil suddenly still in her hand.SUDDENLY

COLLINS and DICKENS spill through the back gatemoving into the house. DICKENS tracing his fingers along apapered wall, peering at it with delight.

*

*

*

DICKENS:

New paper on the wall?

*

*

MRS TERNAN:

Yes. Do you like it?

*

*

DICKENS:

Very much..very much..You have madeit home.

*

*

*

MRS TERNAN:

We have tried. It is a most

beautiful house.

*

*

*

Isn’t it?

DICKENS *

*

MRS TERNAN:

Thank you.

*

*

Blue Revisions dated 11th June 2012 68A.

DICKENS beams, COLLINS by his side, sensing all is not quite *

right. *

COLLINS *

And the chairs? New? *

MRS TERNAN *

Yes-? *

COLLINS *

We are too late? Are we too late?

NELLY snaps the box shut, hurrying to pocket it.

MRS TERNAN:

You have missed the cake.

COLLINS snatches the last piece of cake off a table,

positioned under a tree.

DICKENS:

No, say it is not so. Have we

missed all the fun?

DICKENS standing with COLLINS both dressed in party hats

and beaming, a tension puncturing their fun.

MRS TERNAN:

We had hoped you would provide

it.

Blue Revisions dated 11th June 2012 69.

COLLINS:

There is only one thing for it.

We will have to whisk her away.

NELLY scoops up a stray ribbon, wrapping it around herfinger, busying herself as she walks back to the house,

passing DICKENS. He gently stops her, a hand on her arm,

quizzical as she refuses to meet his gaze.

DICKENS:

Say you will come?

On NELLY, caught in the conflict of feelings. MRSTERNAN, MARIA and FANNY looking on.

56 EXT. STREET. LONDON. 1858. EVENING.

NELLY squeezed between DICKENS and COLLINS, beingquietly led-

NELLY:

Where are we going?

DICKENS smiles, heady and happy, NELLY concedes, agrowing fury bubbling underneath.

DICKENS:

You shall see.

56

57 INT. HALLWAY. COLLINS HOUSE. LONDON. 1858. NIGHT.

COLLINS pulling off his coat, NELLY and DICKENS closebehind, showing them in-

COLLINS:

Come through..Come through.

NELLY looks to DICKENS confused.

A pair of ladies shoes-

A ladies coat-

Several hats resting on a hat stand. NELLY’s eyes

grazing over them with bemused curiosity57

58 INT. DRAWING ROOM. COLLINS HOUSE. LONDON. 1858. NIGHT.

A pretty drawing room-

CAROLINE GRAVES [late 20’s] handsome and flushed, yet in

delicate informal negligee, already coming through,

greeting DICKENS warmly58

Blue Revisions dated 11th June 2012 70.

CAROLINE GRAVES:

Wilkie, why did you not say?

COLLINS kisses CAROLINE, brief yet betraying an

intimacy, that unsettles NELLY.

COLLINS:

We are celebrating a very special

birthday.

DICKENS:

Caroline may I present Miss

Ellen Ternan.

COLLINS:

It is her birthday today!

CAROLINE greets NELLY warmly, hands cupping hers in

greeting-

CAROLINE GRAVES:

Happy Birthday. I have heard

only good things.

NELLY looks to DICKENS, not quite comprehending. DICKENS

quickly looks away, deflects, peering at a picture on

the wall.

DICKENS:

Caroline a new painting? Quite

slap up. Is the Butler about-?

COLLINS:

Yes..Yes..She is about..Here she

is..

(moving off)

I shall find wine!

HARRIET GRAVES, CAROLINE’s daughter [5 yrs] comes

rushing in, in night gown-

DICKENS:

My but she squeals-

DICKENS scoops HARRIET up, swinging her in his arms-

CAROLINE GRAVES:

May I take your wrap and

gloves?

NELLY:

Thank you. But I prefer to keep

them on.

CAROLINE, swallows silent affront, gesturing for NELLY

to sit

Blue Revisions dated 11th June 2012 71.

NELLY (CONT’D)

What a lovely home.

CAROLINE GRAVES:

Yes..Yes..Wilkie found it..

59 INT. DRAWING ROOM. COLLINS’ HOUSE. LONDON. 1858. NIGHT. 59

Distant laughter and screams-

CAROLINE and NELLY sit alone, in awkward silence.

CHARLES, COLLINS and HARRIET lost somewhere deep within

the house.

CAROLINE GRAVES:

Charles christened her ‘the

butler’ on their first meeting.

Distant squeals, DICKENS just audible, lost in raucous

game.

NELLY:

It is all a game with him.

(beat)

She is very dear.

NELLY looks away, quietly wanting to put distance

between her and CAROLINE.

CAROLINE GRAVES:

Does this offend you Miss

Ternan?

(silence)

Wilkie despises marriage and as

a widow it suits me well. We

live very happily.

(silence)

But you do disapprove I see. We

have fallen in love with men of

standing, Miss Ternan-

NELLY:

I am not in love.

Squeals of delight-

HARRIET rushing in DICKENS fast on her tail, collapsing

into a heap on a faded chaise-

NELLY (CONT’D)

(sudden)

It is late. Really...It is too

too late. I must leave. Please

excuse me Miss Graves.

DICKENS sobering, hearing the urgency in NELLY’s voice

Blue Revisions dated 11th June 2012 72.

DICKENS:

Nelly-?

60 INT. CARRIAGE. NEAR AMPTHILL SQUARE. LONDON. 1858. NIGHT 60

NELLY silent, DICKENS close by her side-

DICKENS:

And still she is silent-

NELLY reaches out to open the carriage door, drawing to

a still. DICKENS reaches out for NELLY, stiffening on

his touch-

NELLY:

Mr Buckstone has offered me The

World and The Stage. It has a

ridiculous plot. A titled lady

saved from debt by her sister,

an actress.

DICKENS:

But a very amusing final scene.

NELLY:

It was you that secured me the

role.

DICKENS hesitates, NELLY sees in his silence, that it

was.

NELLY (CONT’D)

And did you mean to

deliberately humiliate me

tonight?

DICKENS:

You did not like Miss Graves?

NELLY:

You expect me to associate with

a woman living so openly with

Mr Collins outside of marriage?

Entertaining guests as if she

were-

DICKENS:

Nelly-

NELLY:

I do not wish to appear

ungrateful. You have been

generous, some might say too

generous to my family. But I

did not realise that I was to

be your whore.

Blue Revisions dated 11th June 2012 73.

DICKENS, floundering

61 EXT. FRONT STEP. AMPTHILL SQUARE. 1858. NIGHT. 61

DICKENS hurries after NELLY, fumbling in her

clutchbag.

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