The Portrait of a Lady Page #7

but grotesquely failed.

- Pansy doesn't care for him.

- That has nothing to do with it!

- And he doesn't...

- That won't do! You told me he did!

After this, you must attend to such things yourself.

I always thought you were fond of my daughter.

I have never been more so than now.

Your affection has immense limitations.

However, that, perhaps, is natural.

Is that all you wish to say to me?

Are you satisfied? Huh?

Am I sufficiently disappointed?

I don't think, on the whole, you're disappointed.

You've had another opportunity to try to stupefy me.

It's not that.

It's proved that Pansy can aim high.

I suppose you know you can't go back to England alone.

I had no idea of doing that. I'll have people with me.

What do you mean by people?

Servants whom you pay?

After all, they're human beings.

I guess I'll go with you.

- Go with me? [CLEARS THROAT]

- Yes.

I know you don't like me but I'll go with you.

And what's more, I'll take care of you.

I like you very much.

You needn't think you can buy me off.

I'm afraid I shall be a fifth wheel to the coach.

Mrs Osmond wants me to travel with you.

But that isn't the principal thing.

The principal thing is she wants me to leave Rome.

She wants us all to leave Rome.

[SPEAKING ITALIAN]

It's wonderfully good of you.

I can't tell you how kind I think you.

With a few words like that, you make me go?

- You must come back someday.

- I don't care for your cousin.

Is that what you wish to tell me?

No. No, I don't want to TELL you anything.

I can't understand. What am I to believe?

What do you want me to think?

If you're happy, I'd like to know it. That would be something for me.

You SAY you're happy,

and yet, somehow, you're so...

still, so smooth...

so hard.

You're completely changed. You conceal everything.

- I haven't really come near you.

- You come very near.

[COUGHS]

You seem uncommonly glad to get rid of us all.

My dear Ralph.

I've seen less of you than I might have,

but it's been better than nothing.

I've heard a great deal about you.

I don't know from whom, living the life you've done.

From the voices of the air.

You've been my best friend.

It was for you that I wanted to live,

but I'm of no use to you.

If you should send for me...

I'd come.

Your husband won't consent to that.

No, he won't like it,

but I might go all the same.

I'd hoped to find Lord Warburton here and to be able to congratulate Pansy.

You shouldn't have gone to Naples, then. You should've stayed here to watch the affair.

Is it too late?

It's all over. Please...

just let it rest.

I've no doubt Osmond will happily discuss it with you.

Oh, I know what he thinks. He came to see me last evening.

As soon as you arrived?

Your husband judges you severely.

Wait. Please.

I want, if possible, to learn the truth.

What truth do you speak of?

Just this...

whether Lord Warburton changed his mind quite of his own accord...

or because you recommended it.

To please himself, I mean, or to please you?

Now, don't be unreasonable.

Don't take offence.

If Lord Warburton simply got tired of the child,

that's one thing, and it's a pity.

But if he gave her up to please you,

that's another.

If that's the case...

let him off, let us have him.

Who are you?

Ah, you take it like that.

What have you to do with me?

Everything.

I would give my right hand to be able to weep.

What good would it do you to weep?

It would make me feel...

as I felt before I knew you.

If I've dried up your tears, that's something,

but I've seen you shed them.

You'll make me cry still, make me howl like a wolf.

I've a great need of that.

I was vile this afternoon. I was horrid.

You may have said things that were in bad taste.

I was full of something bad...

or something good, I don't know, I couldn't help it.

You've not only dried up my tears, you've dried up my soul.

You're very bad.

Is this the way we're to end?

How do bad people end?

Especially as to their common crimes?

You have made me as bad as yourself.

You seem to me quite good enough.

Oh, God!

God!

[SCREAMS]

So you're going to weep after all?

Have I ever complained to you?

Of course you haven't, you've enjoyed your triumph too much.

You made your wife afraid of you, she was...

She was afraid of me today, but it was really you she feared.

This whole idea didn't originate with me.

It was your genius that brought it about.

I only ask that my wife should like me.

Oh, Jesus, she should like you so much?

If you'll make a tragedy of that, the tragedy is hardly for her.

It's for me.

I live with the consequences, so must you.

Please be careful with that precious object.

It already has a wee bit of a tiny crack.

However, since my wife doesn't like me,

I shall look for compensation in Pansy.

Fortunately, I haven't a fault to find with her.

[CHILDREN BEGGING]

Mia!

Listen to me.

Oh! Leave me.

Pansy!

- Oh...

- Pansy.

Pansy? Pansy?

- Mrs Osmond? Mrs Osmond!

- Pansy.

Mrs Osmond!

I've been in Paris!

I've sold my bibelots!

The result's magnificent, $50,000!

Will Mr Osmond think me rich enough now?

Oh...

Pipi... eat your food. Very good. Pipi.

Oh.

[SISTER SPEAKING ITALIAN] PREEGO, SIGNORA.

Is Pansy not well?

No. She is quite well,

but I've sent her to the convent.

I didn't speak of it to you because I doubt if I can make you understand.

One's daughter should be fresh and fair.

Pansy's a little dusty, a little dishevelled.

She'll have time to think,

and there's something I want her to think about.

It's very absurd, my dear Osmond.

Why don't you just say you want to get her out of my way?

My dear Amy, if that were the case,

it would be much simpler to banish you.

You know I think very well of Mr Rosier.

I do, indeed.

He seems to be simpaticissimo.

He's made me believe in, ah, true love.

Oh... Excuse me for disturbing you.

When I come into your room, I always knock.

I forgot.

I had something else to think of.

My cousin's dying.

I don't believe that.

He was dying when we married. He'll outlive us all.

My aunt telegraphed for me.

I must go to England.

- I don't see the need of it.

- I must see Ralph before he dies.

I shall not like it if you do.

You won't like it if I don't.

You like nothing I do or don't do.

You pretend to think I lie.

That's why you go, then?

Not to see your cousin, but to take revenge on me?

You wish immensely I would commit some folly.

If you leave Rome today, it will be an act of the most deliberate,

the most calculated opposition.

I can't tell you how unjust you seem to me.

It's your own opposition that's calculated.

It's malignant.

I have an ideal of what my wife should do and should not do.

She should not travel across Europe to sit at the bedside of other men.

Your cousin is nothing to you. He's nothing to us.

You smile most expressively when I talk about us,

but I assure you that we...

we, Mrs Osmond...

is all I know.

You are nearer to me than any other human creature,

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