The Paradise Page #7

Season #2 Episode #16

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JONAS comes in, collecting his food, coming to the table. We

are never quite sure how much JONAS hears ...

MYRTLE is clearing up.

MYRTLE:

Denise. What is eating up your

uncle? He was throwing cake at me

on the street.

DENISE:

I must go across to see him -- I

have been so busy ...

JONAS:

Perhaps he’s wise to what it is you

put in your recipe, Myrtle.

He laughs.

32 INT. THE THREE CROWNS - NIGHT 32

CLARA and LUCILLE in a booth.

LUCILLE:

I go to sleep with one thought. I

wake up with the same thought. I

push it away, but it keeps coming

back. I made a mistake. A terrible

mistake.

CLARA:

Lucille, you are only a few months

married. It can happen. When all of

the wonder of it wears off, doubts

creep in. That’s all ...

LUCILLE:

No. I see people looking at me with

Ballentine -- I saw it in your face

when I brought him into the store -

CLARA:

What does it matter what others

think of you?

LUCILLE:

Because it’s true. It must be true.

The more kindness he shows to me,

the more guilty I feel.

(MORE)

36.

LUCILLE (CONT'D)

It is a mistake. I have to admit

it. I have to.

CLARA:

What are you saying? What are you

going to do?

LUCILLE:

I will leave him.

CLARA:

Have you told him this?

LUCILLE:

It is his birthday soon. He has

such plans. He has invited his

friends. I cannot go until after

that.

CLARA:

A broken heart delayed is still a

broken heart.

LUCILLE’s eyes flare in anger.

LUCILLE:

I know what a broken heart is.

CLARA:

What will you tell him?

LUCILLE:

I won’t. I will just be gone.

CLARA:

Isn’t that a cruel thing to do to a

man who loves you?

LUCILLE:

It is more cruel if I stay.

There is something else, and CLARA can’t quite fathom it.

33 INT. FLORA’S BEDROOM. BELVILLE HOUSE - DAY 33

TOM comes in. The room is empty. He might leave but he senses

that FLORA is here.

He looks, and finds the CHILD hiding.

TOM:

Flora, you shouldn’t have come into

my room like that. You ought to

knock before you come into your

father’s room.

37.

He has come to discipline her, but he feels her eyes on him

and the shame takes over him.

TOM (CONT’D)

Did it frighten you?

FLORA:

Who did that to you?

It is the question that terrifies him.

TOM:

It was the siege. The battle.

He cannot bear to have her eyes on him: he feels alone in the

world with his secret.

FLORA:

Will it ever get better?

He cannot bear this, wants away.

TOM:

I wish you hadn’t seen it. I wish

you hadn’t seen ... You must knock,

do you understand? You must knock.

He turns and goes.

34 INT. DUDLEY’S OFFICE. THE PARADISE - NIGHT 34

DUDLEY leads DENISE through ledgers and figures.

DUDLEY:

Don’t pretend to know or understand

anything that you don’t. He is a

businessman of many years

experience:
he will know. Keep the

figures simple:
don’t inflate or

exaggerate. If he catches you out

then you have lost him.

DENISE:

Wouldn’t it be better if you came

with me?

DUDLEY:

No, it wouldn’t.

DENISE:

But -- why wouldn’t it?

There is something about him that is making DENISE curious.

DUDLEY:

Because you found Ballentine, he’s

your conquest.

38.

There is a sound outside: someone is out there.

DUDLEY goes to investigate and DENISE follows him.

It is dark and dead quiet in the hallway.

DUDLEY (CONT’D)

There’s no one here.

DENISE:

What you told me -- that is not the

true reason, is it, Dudley?

DUDLEY:

I would present Mr. Ballentine with

figures, and he would see in me a

man who can be trusted with his

investment. You will light up the

room, Denise. I am good at what I

do. The best at my own job. But

something like this takes an

entrepreneur.

DENISE:

I just want to see the look on

John’s face when I tell him we have

a way out.

DUDLEY:

And you will, Denise. You will.

Another sound.

DUDLEY (CONT’D)

Go. Go to bed. Good luck ...

DENISE hurries off into the dark.

35 INT. DENISE’S ROOMS. THE PARADISE - DAY 35

DENISE is getting ready for her big day tomorrow. A tap on

the door. DENISE finds CLARA at the door.

CLARA:

There’s something I need to tell

you.

DENISE:

Then come in ...

But CLARA can’t quite come in: it’s painful for her here.

CLARA:

You’re quite settled in.

DENISE:

I miss the dorm.

39.

CLARA:

I wouldn’t.

DENISE:

What is it, Clara?

CLARA:

Why couldn’t I be the one who met

Campbell Ballentine, and woo him

and marry him?

DENISE:

The right man will come along for

you, Clara:
I’m certain of it.

CLARA:

You have the gift of foresight now,

do you, as well as your many other

talents?

DENISE:

(laughs)

Perhaps. Or perhaps what I am

saying is -- that is what you

deserve, so I believe it is

possible.

CLARA:

Then have pity for the fool who

falls for me.

DENISE:

What did you want to tell me?

CLARA:

It’s Lucille. She ... You’re going

out?

She has seen the coat and the documents case and the way

DENISE is dressed.

DENISE:

Clara, will you please take care of

the Department this morning? I will

be away for a few hours.

CLARA:

Look at you. Where shall I say has

been blessed with your presence?

DENISE puts her coat on, ready to go out: she looks

different, more formal, businesslike.

DENISE:

I have an appointment. I will be

back before lunch.

40.

CLARA:

Denise, if you think you can take

on Katherine Weston ... I have

watched you. I know you can’t help

yourself. It is all well-meant. I

see that now. What am I trying to

say? Isn’t it simple? You broke

that woman’s heart. You took away

from her the man she loves.

DENISE:

You said “loves” ...

CLARA:

Loves. Loved. Aren’t they all the

same?

DENISE:

You think Katherine still wants

John?

CLARA:

He loves you, so what does it

matter?

DENISE:

I have to go.

DENISE picks up a document case and starts out.

DENISE (CONT’D)

What was it that you wanted to tell

me about Lucille?

CLARA:

Oh. It can wait.

36 INT. THE GREAT HALL. THE PARADISE - DAY 36

JONAS walks with TOM as he moves through the store.

TOM:

How long would it take Fenton to

build a store from nothing? Months.

A year. The man is all bluff.

JONAS:

He has two lucrative emporiums, and

is building another. I should take

him at his word, Mr. Weston, sir.

TOM stops -- looks around the store at the decorations. They

seem to taunt him.

41.

TOM:

Has he spoken to Moray? He has. I

know it. Well let them. I have a

mind to be rid of Moray today.

JONAS:

Sir, if I may ... I was struck by

the reason you gave to Mr. Fenton

for refusing his offer ... That it

would be cowardly to submit to his

demands. Your words have stayed

with me. Affairs of business and

finances, sir, they are performed

with cunning and calculation -- but

they do not require courage. Not

real courage, as you know it.

TOM finds this difficult, wants an end to it.

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