The Portrait of a Lady Page #4

That's what it is to live in a country that people come to.

Have you had the opportunity to wander in Florence at all?

[SPEAKING ITALIAN]

[SPEAKING ITALIAN]

Serena, you know everything.

Is that curious creature making love to my niece?

Gilbert Osmond?

Heaven help us, that's an idea.

It hadn't occurred to you? Hmm?

He's called five times in the course of a fortnight.

You make me feel an idiot, but I confess it hadn't.

I wonder if it has occurred to Isabel?

I shall ask her.

Don't put it in her head. The thing would be to ask Mr Osmond.

I cannot. I'll not have him inquire of me with that air of his.

I'll ask him myself.

I'll investigate and report to you.

She'd marry him for the beauty of his opinions...

or his autograph of Michelangelo.

[MAN SPEAKING ITALIAN]

Excuse me.

Which day is that?

She wants me to go to Caparola with her.

[SPEAKING ITALIAN]

[SPEAKING ITALIAN]

To go with her?

To be there while she's there.

She proposed it. Of course, I gave her the chance.

I rejoice to hear it, but don't cry victory too soon.

Of course you'll go.

It makes me work, this idea of yours.

Don't pretend you don't enjoy it.

You've made a very good impression. And I can see you've received one.

You've not come to Mrs Touchett's so often to oblige me.

The girl's not disagreeable. She has only one fault.

- What's that?

- Too many ideas.

I warned you she was clever.

Fortunately, they're very bad ones.

- Why is that fortunate?

- No loss if they must be sacrificed.

You're unfathomable.

I'm frightened at the abyss into which I've cast her.

You can't draw back now. You're in too far.

Very good.

But you must do the rest yourself.

It's incredible. There's so much work,

and they would have been paid a pittance for it.

I forgot my parasol. I must go back.

- I'll get it.

- No, it's fine.

- Do you want some caff?

- Yes, thank you.

Oh!

So you decided to come?

Mm-hmm. I came last night.

Hmm.

The others are up above.

I didn't come here for the others.

I came to say goodbye.

Who knows if you'll come back? You're under no obligation to.

- You think my travels ridiculous?

- No.

Go everywhere, do everything.

Be happy, be triumphant.

- What do you mean by triumphant?

- Well, doing what you like.

Doing all the vain things one likes may be tiresome.

Exactly. And you'll be tired someday.

I don't know whether I'd better not wait until then...

for something I want to say to you.

I can't advise you without knowing what it is.

But I'm horrid when I'm tired.

I don't believe that.

You're angry sometimes, that I can believe,

but I'm sure you're never horrid.

Not even when I lose my temper?

You don't lose your temper, you find it. And that must be beautiful.

If only I could find it now.

I'm not afraid.

I should fold my arms and admire you.

What I wish to say is that I find I'm in love with you.

Oh... No, that had better wait.

No. You may heed it now or never, as you please.

But after all, I must say it.

I'm absolutely in love with you.

Don't say that, please.

It will not matter to you.

I have neither fame nor fortune, so I offer nothing.

I think I'm glad that we're separating.

If you weren't going away, you'd know me better.

I shall do that some other time.

There's one thing more, a little service I should like to ask.

I'm going to Rome for a few days.

Would you visit my daughter before you leave Florence?

Yes, of course.

Oh...

Henrietta:
Hello? Hello?

Isabel, are you down there?

We've got your coffee waiting!

Hello? Can you see her down there?

- Ralph:
It's dark.

- Hello?

Oh, hello.

I think they're the most beautiful gardens in the world.

Not that I've been everywhere in the world.

Pap says while he's away, I'm not to go beyond this line.

Your father says that?

He thinks I will get scorched.

Hmm.

Here... share my parasol.

What is it?

No, you're right to do as your father says.

He'll never ask you anything unreasonable.

Want tea?

Isabel:
There it is!

Serena:
"Nine, ten. Excuse me." "No, no, no."

Osmond:
"What I wish to say is that...

"I'm absolutely in love with you."

[Repeating] "I'm absolutely in love with you... in love with you."

Osmond:
"I'm absolutely in love with you."

Isabel:
"Absolutely in love with you.

"I'm absolutely in love with you."

Osmond:
"I'm absolutely in love with you.

"Absolutely in love with you."

Isabel:
"I'm absolutely in love with you."

Osmond:
"I'm absolutely in love with you."

Osmond and Isabel: "I'm absolutely in love with you."

Isabel:
Oh, oh, oh...

[WORKERS SPEAKING ITALIAN]

[SPEAKING ITALIAN]

I can't tell you how I hoped you wouldn't come.

I've no doubt of that.

I gave you forewarning I'd do as I choose.

I wanted to hear your explanation of you having changed your mind.

An explanation?

- Do you think I'm bound to explain?

- You were very positive.

I did believe it.

I've not deceived you.

I was perfectly free.

When I had your letter, I thought there might be some mistake.

There's no mistake whatever.

Well... I've done what I wished.

I've seen you.

Do you mean you came simply to look at me?

[DOOR CLOSES]

[RALPH COUGHS IN THE DISTANCE]

[COUGHING]

[COUGHING]

You didn't come up for lunch.

[CLEARING THROAT]

I'm not hungry.

You ought to eat. You live on air.

[CONTINUES COUGHING]

I haven't congratulated you.

I wondered why you were silent.

I hardly got over my surprise since my mother told me.

You're the last person I expected to see caught.

I don't see why you call it "caught".

[COUGHING]

Because you're going to be put into a cage.

If I like my cage, that needn't trouble you.

[WHEEZING]

[CLEARING THROAT]

[COUGHING]

I'd treated myself... [COUGH]

To a charming vision of your future.

I'd amused myself with planning out high destiny for you.

There was to be nothing of this sort in it.

You were not to come down so easily or so soon.

"Come down"?

It hurts me.

Hurts me as if I'd fallen myself.

I don't understand you.

I should have said...

the man for you would have had a more...

active, larger...

freer sort of nature.

I can't get over the sense that Osmond is... is somehow...

... well, small.

[CLEARING THROAT]

"Small."

I think he's narrow... selfish.

He takes himself so seriously.

He's the incarnation of taste.

[COUGH COUGH]

His taste is exquisite.

You ever seen such a taste, a really exquisite one, ruffled?

I hope I will never fail to gratify my husband's.

Oh.

That's... that's capital, that's...

wonderful!

That's what every wife would wish for.

But weren't you meant for something better

than to guard the sensibilities of a sterile dilettante?

I've said what I've had on my mind.

Said it because I love you.

Then you're not disinterested.

I love you, but without hope.

I see Mr Osmond in quite another way.

He's not important, no. He's not rich.

He has no titles nor honours nor property.

If that's what you mean by small, he's as small as you please.

I call that large.

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