The Paradise Page #9

Season #2 Episode #16

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MORAY:

I have been an almighty fool,

Dudley.

DUDLEY:

You have. So what do you propose to

do about it?

45 INT. KATHERINE’S BEDROOM. BELVILLE HOUSE - DAY 45

KATHERINE is newly dressed. She hears gunshots outside.

46 EXT. BACK OF BELVILLE HOUSE - DAY 46

The yards here are muddy, back of house: the grandness of the

house elsewhere.

KATHERINE finds TOM taking off his boots, dead birds beside

him. Guns propped against the wall.

She hesitates, about to turn away, but he stops her.

TOM:

I did not come into your room to

frighten you, Katherine. I came to

look at you.

Still she wants away. Still he has not looked at her.

TOM (CONT’D)

I have received an offer to sell

The Paradise.

48.

KATHERINE:

Why would we want to do such a

thing?

TOM:

I have decided it is for the best.

KATHERINE:

No. You can’t.

TOM:

I can. I am your husband. What I

decide will prevail.

KATHERINE:

But -- it makes no sense --

TOM:

Flora is afraid that she will lose

you.

And now he looks at her: nails her still with his eyes.

KATHERINE:

But why would she lose me?

TOM looks to where FLORA is petting the gun dogs.

TOM:

Because I might drive you away. As

I drove her mother away. Last

night, Katherine, I came to your

room to tell you that I don’t want

to lose you.

He does not take hold of her: he doesn’t need to.

TOM (CONT’D)

What if we were to stop? Stop

punishing one another. What if we

were to say:
we are married now, we

can make a life? Flora adores you.

We have a child to care for.

KATHERINE cannot speak, caught be the levity of this: the one

thing she cannot renege on: Flora.

She crosses to the CHILD now and touches her face gently.

KATHERINE:

Flora, I promised you I would

always be here. I will not break my

word.

She kisses the GIRL.

49.

47

INT. KATHERINE’S BEDROOM. BELVILLE HOUSE - DAY 47

KATHERINE is writing a note to Moray.

48

INT. THE GREAT HALL. THE PARADISE - DAY 48

ARTHUR brings a note to DUDLEY.

ARTHUR:

Message for Mr. Moray, sir.

DUDLEY:

Thank you, Arthur.

It’s a joke -- until DUDLEY sees the handwriting. Then he

passes it to MORAY.

MORAY reads the note and then -- hardly able to look at

DUDLEY, he sets off.

As he reaches the exit he meets DENISE coming in.

DENISE:

You’re going out?

He’s caught out and in his panic, he grabs at what he can -MORAY

Darling, I ... I have an

appointment to see Campbell

Ballentine. I took your advice and

approached him.

DENISE:

That is wonderful. I am so pleased.

He squeezes her hand and hurries off to the waiting carriage.

49 EXT. WALLED GARDEN. BELVILLE HOUSE - DAY 49

MORAY is waiting anxiously, mumbling to himself.

MORAY:

Katherine, I am so sorry ...

50 INT. STAIRWAY. THE PARADISE - DAY 50

Coming down the stairs CLARA meets BALLENTINE at the bottom.

BALLENTINE:

It’s Clara, isn’t it?

CLARA:

It is, sir. If you will excuse me.

50.

She wants away:
it’s too awkward to face him.

BALLENTINE:

I wanted to speak with you, Clara.

Across the store, LUCILLE arrives and sees CLARA speaking

with her HUSBAND.

It terrifies her. She waits until they are finished --

watches as BALLENTINE goes off up the stairs and then

advances on CLARA ...

LUCILLE:

Did you tell him?

CLARA stops, reluctantly turns around to face her.

CLARA:

I wouldn’t do such a thing.

LUCILLE:

You did. I saw you. I saw you

speaking with my husband.

CLARA:

He was inviting me -- inviting all

of the girls -- to his birthday

party. To please you.

There is such cutting honesty in this that LUCILLE crumbles.

LUCILLE:

There ... Do you see it now? Do you

see why I must leave him?

CLARA:

What is there to see?

LUCILLE:

I don’t deserve a man like him.

It’s true. The more devoted he is

to me, the more I wait for the day

when he will see me as I truly am.

I tricked him. I bewitched him.

CLARA:

What do you mean?

LUCILLE:

When I was nursing him, there was

one night ... He was so handsome

... When he was sleeping ... I

couldn’t seem to stop myself ... I

kissed him. I feel as though I have

stolen his soul in his sleep and

that’s why he loves me.

51.

CLARA:

Why would you torment yourself with

such superstition? Do you think he

is so easily fooled? You did not

steal his love, you did not trick

him.

LUCILLE:

Why do I let such thoughts take

over me?

CLARA:

What does it matter why? Listen to

me:
do you love him?

LUCILLE:

Of course -

CLARA:

Then love him. That is all he wants

from you. Love him and you will be

rid of your torments. If you leave

him you will curse yourself for the

rest of your days. To hell with

what you see in other people’s

eyes. Your husband adores you. You

have been lucky in finding such

man. Why not just accept your luck?

LUCILLE sighs with relief, takes hold of CLARA’s hand.

51 INT. LADIESWEAR. THE PARADISE - DAY 51

DENISE is working, engrossed, and so she’s surprised when she

sees BALLENTINE standing there.

BALLENTINE:

Don’t look so startled, Denise. I

thought you would be pleased to see

me.

DENISE:

I am, Mr. Ballentine. It’s just ...

I am glad to see you.

BALLENTINE:

I had hoped Moray would have the

good grace to send me a note at

least.

DENISE:

Has he made no contact with you?

BALLENTINE:

Perhaps that is just as well. I am

tempted by this place, Denise. I

want to invest.

52.

DENISE:

But that is wonderful news. Thank

you.

Her elation blows away her anxiety about Moray’s whereabouts.

BALLENTINE:

One of the things I have had to

consider is this: I could just as

well buy the store. Put in a

manager. Someone I can trust,

someone I have faith in. Someone

with vision, ambition ...

DENISE:

Sir, before any such

considerations, I implore you to

meet with Moray, hear him speak

about this place. I am sure you

will want to do business with him.

BALLENTINE:

Very well. I am going to trust your

judgement in this, Denise.

He can see she is bursting with excitement.

BALLENTINE (CONT’D)

Go on, who is it you want to tell?

DENISE:

Thank you, sir. And ... Thank you.

She hurries out.

52 EXT. TOLLGATE STREET - DAY 52

EDMUND stares at his name above the shop. He steels himself.

CU:
The sign with Edmund’s name on it. The scraper scratches

at the painted words ... erasing one letter, then the next.

EDMUND makes himself do it, his eyes like raging stars.

DUDLEY:

You could take on a new calling,

Edmund. My house needs painting.

EDMUND:

I know I can’t stay here. I know I

am a married man. I have a new life

-- I know it.

EDMUND’s burning agony is no longer external: he has turned

in on himself.

53.

EDMUND (CONT’D)

I feel as though my old life has

been taken away from me -- I have

been robbed of it. And every bit of

me wants to fight against that. I

can’t let it go. Not yet. Not like

this ...

DENISE comes running out. As she is heading across the

street, something happens -

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