The Passionate Friends Page #4

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and you can't move us around as if we were.

Mary's going with me to Washington.

We're leaving tonight.

I believe you're afraid.

I am.

I want to see her.

All right.

(Ticker tape machine clicks continuously)

(Wind howls, rain falls)

(Door opens)

Mary.

Are you all right?

Yes.

I tried to speak to you on the telephone,

but he wouldn't let me.

And when I came round to see you,

they said you were out.

Yes, I know.

I was expecting you to telephone me.

- And when I got that letter...

- I shouldn't have written it.

I shouldn't have left you with him.

It was best.

He seems to think you're staying with him.

I am staying, Steven.

I shouldn't have written the letter.

It was a cowardly thing to do.

I should have told you.

Told me what?

That I couldn't come with you.

Less than 24 hours ago,

you told me that you loved me.

You meant it, too.

Yes, Steven, I did.

Do you remember once, I asked you how you

could love me and yet marry someone else?

Yes, I remember.

Your marriage was bound to be a failure.

It hasn't been, Steven. It really hasn't.

But it is now. And you know it.

No.

I'm not a very good person, Steven.

I wanted your love, and I wanted Howard's

affection and the security he could give me.

I can give you security too.

And more than affection.

You don't really know me at all.

My love isn't worth very much.

It's all I want.

It's all I'll ever want.

No, Steven, don't.

Don't, please.

I can't come with you.

I can't.

Will you always want to belong to yourself?

(Sobs)

(Continues sobbing)

MARY:
That was nine years ago.

Yet even after nine years...

I could still go to sleep thinking of him.

Yes, I wonder what I'd have done

if I'd known he was only a few feet away.

I suppose that if fate had been kind and

gentle we would never have met again.

But fate is not kind and gentle.

It sent us together to a sunlit lake

and snow-capped mountains.

And a holiday in Switzerland.

- Bonjour, madame.

- Bonjour.

- Your miss is there.

- Merci, bien.

- Morning, Joan.

- Good morning, Mrs Justin.

There's a cable for you from Mr Justin.

- He hopes to leave London today.

- Oh, good. Did you sleep well?

Oh, yes. Quite.

- I think it's going to be warm.

- I felt it was going to be a beautiful day and it is.

- Bonjour.

- Bonjour.

It's his first real holiday for years and he

has to spend the first two days of it working.

It's that Royal Commission again.

Is the coffee good?

- I don't know. I had tea.

- Oh.

It's... It's Mr...

- Steven!

- It's you!

- Dropped out of the sky.

- What on earth are you doing here?

- And you? When did you arrive?

- Last night.

Very late. Just a gleam of light

and a sleepy porter to greet me.

And now I meet you.

I'm so sorry. This is Miss Layton,

my husband's secretary.

- How do you do?

- Professor Stratton.

- It is Professor now?

- Yes.

- How do you do? We haven't been introduced.

- Have your coffee with us.

Voil, monsieur.

I'm glad you asked me first.

(Mary giggles)

Merci.

Steven... we arrived yesterday too.

Have you been here before,

Professor Stratton?

Once or twice.

I used to go climbing before the war.

- And what are you doing here now, Steven?

- Well, I'm playing truant.

There are places in Switzerland I ought

to be but this isn't one of them.

- The university towns, Professor?

- Mostly.

I always think they have a special charm,

don't you?

- Yes.

- Still, I expect you get tired of universities.

Oh, not at all.

If you'll excuse me,

I think I'll go and answer these cables.

All right, Joan.

I suppose something like this

was bound to happen.

It's been a long time.

Nine years.

I'm glad it's happened

at such a lovely place.

It might have happened in London.

A station or street.

Do you know

what's the most extraordinary thing?

I was thinking about you last night.

But, Steven, I too.

I wonder if we both...

I'm being silly.

You haven't changed, Steven.

But you look tired. Your eyes are tired.

Have you been working too hard?

Not really.

But I couldn't resist a

day off in the mountains.

Couldn't I come with you?

- That would be breaking the rules, wouldn't it?

- But why? This is none of our planning.

No, no, I suppose it isn't.

I've wanted to meet you like this

and talk about things, oh, 10,000 times.

This is the only chance we're ever likely

to have for the rest of our lives.

The sun is shining and the

day is just beginning.

You can't just go off by yourself.

I won't let you!

(Roar of motor)

- Where are we going?

- Up a mountain.

- What?

- Up a mountain!

You said you won't climb the mountains.

- What?

- I said...

(Bell rings out)

(Man calls out)

(Man calls out)

When did you get married?

- During the war.

- Who is she?

You met her once, at New Year's Eve.

Yes, I remember.

Do you realise, Steven,

that we're practically strangers?

I suppose we are.

How did you know I was married?

Oh, I managed to hear about you

from all sorts of people.

When the new telephone directory came out

after the war, I even looked you up in it.

We're going up into the cloud.

I've been curious about you too.

I've seen pictures of you in magazines

with your husband.

You'd better put your jersey on.

- Thank you.

- How is he?

Howard? Oh, well and successful.

It's curious, isn't it?

You look like a ghost.

- It'll clear in a minute.

- I heard he was going into politics.

He may do.

We've talked about it quite a lot.

You know, Steven, these days... we're closer

together and much happier than we used to be.

I'm very glad.

- You have a family, haven't you?

- A boy and girl.

- How old are they?

- He's six, she's three.

- Are they like you?

- The boy is a bit, I think.

- What's his name?

- Peter.

They're all on holiday at

the sea, at the moment.

He's quite a good swimmer for his age. Pat

taught him last summer when I was in America.

They made it a surprise

for me when I got back.

You're very happy, aren't you, Steven?

I think I must be. It's clearing.

Look... that's where we

make for - up there!

Hungry?

- Do you need any help?

- Is that a serious offer?

No!

(Recalls) Will you always love me, Mary?

Always.

For better, for worse?

For better, for worse.

For richer, for poorer?

For richer, for poorer.

- Till death us do part?

- Always.

STEVEN:
Water, as well as wine.

They're nice people, the Swiss.

Dressing, too. Shall I do the salad?

Yes.

(Thinks) When did you get married?

Married? I'm not married.

I could never marry anyone but you.

Steven...

What are you thinking about?

I'm dreaming.

I'm dreaming nonsense.

Well, come and have lunch. It's all ready.

I always knew we'd meet again one day, but I

never imagined it would be quite like this.

Why not?

Well, it wasn't in a station or a street, but

it was still somewhere crowded and bustling.

Why crowded?

I don't know, I suppose after last time

I thought it would be easier that way.

Was it difficult this morning?

Of course not, it was wonderful!

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