The Spanish Gardener Page #3

and they're too rich for my son.

Father!

Thank you no, perhaps

you'd care to have them.

No.

- But Father, Jos wants us to have them.

I'm sorry you don't care for them, senor.

With your permission, senor,

I'll take them home.

As you please.

He got up in the dark and

walked miles to get them.

Never mind, Jos.

Have them for your supper.

If you forgive me, sir,

I don't think that was very kind.

I know it isn't my place but...

- No, it isn't, is it Mrs. Burton?

Carol, I think we'd better be going.

Goodbye sir.

- Goodbye, Mr. Brande. -Goodbye, Mrs. Burton.

Goodbye, Burton.

Good of you to have come.

Nicholas.

Your behavior at tea

yesterday was disgraceful.

I've decided that you're spending

too much of your time with the gardener.

It's obviously having a bad effect on you.

Besides, he's interfering with your work.

- But he isn't.

I consider that he is.

I've even thought of dismissing him.

I think that would be cruel, father.

Cruel?

To whom?

To Jos.

He would think he wasn't a good gardener.

If he is to stay, you must give me

your word that you won't talk to him.

Not talk?

But that's silly, father.

Can't I even say "Good morning"?

You are not to exchange

any words with him at all.

If one makes a rule one must abide by it.

Good-bye, Nicholas.

Senor.

- I wish to speak to you.

There is to be no more

conversation between you and Nicholas.

I forbid you to talk to him.

God gave me a tongue, senor.

Do you prohibit me from using it?

As far as my son is concerned, yes.

And under no circumstances

you are to set him to work.

You've been making him dig

and hoe and hack down bushes.

I did it to make him strong.

That is an impertinence.

I'm sorry.

But you can see for yourself.

Already he looks well and strong.

He likes being with me.

- I forbid you to talk to him.

If you do so I shall dismiss you at once.

And another matter. That rockery

I wish to have it cleared away.

Completely cleared.

Proud of your strength, aren't you?

See that you make good job of it.

Jos, I hate to see you working so hard.

I wish I could help you.

This work is nothing. You know

I am as strong as a donkey.

Don't worry so much. Jos

San Jorge, 2-7.

Yes, senor.

- Garcia, I have to go to Madrid.

Tonight, senor?

- Yes, is that you Mrs. Burton?

Mr. Harrington Brande.

May I speak to your husband?

Thank you.

There's plenty of time to catch the late train.

I shall want you to drive me to the station.

And how long will you be away, senor?

Oh, three or four days, but I shall

let you know before I return.

Then I shall pack for you immediately, Sir.

Hello, Burton?

I've just had an urgent letter from Madrid.

They need me there at once.

Yes, by the train tonight.

They wish me to take over.

The Consulship.

Thank you, Burton.

No, there's nothing you can do.

I shall leave him here.

I have every confidence in Garcia.

Good morning, Nicholas.

- Magdalena.

Come now. Here's your breakfast.

- Thank you.

Did Father catch his train last night?

- Yes.

Yes, I'm sure he did.

I didn't hear the car come back.

No, Garcia didn't return last night.

He's gone away.

Gone away?

- To Gerona.

He has friends there.

They have business together.

But Father said Garcia...

- It was very important that he should go.

But there's no need for you

to say anything about it.

How long is he away for?

- Two days, I think.

Nicholas, you're pleased

that he's gone away.

That's not very nice of you.

Anyway, we shall manage

very well together.

Now what would you like for your lunch?

Anything, anything you like.

I'll prepare you something special.

- Thank You.

I am alone with Magdalena for two days

Tomorrow is Sunday

Are you going fishing?

Magdalena! Magdalena!

Brande, my dear fellow.

It's good of you to come so soon.

I didn't expect you till Monday.

I hurried to Madrid naturally

as soon as I heard from you.

I'm very grateful to you.

But I didn't mean to

break your dear weekend.

Please sit down.

Very sad about Tenney, isn't it?

- Yes, indeed.

I'm afraid he's a pretty sick man.

I know that San Jorge does not

exactly overtax your abilities.

That's an understatement, sir.

- So I wanted to know if you'd help us out?

We're unusually busy now.

And as Herbert Meyer

isn't available for a few weeks...

Meyer?

- You knew he'd been appointed.

No, sir.

- But the letter...

Made no reference to Meyer.

It stated that Tenney was sick

and that you wish to see me at once.

I'm terribly sorry about this, Brande.

I should have written to you myself.

I hope you accept my apologies.

And to infer that you intend

using me as a stopgap?

I wouldn't have put it like that.

This is monstrous.

Monstrous? What do

you mean, monstrous?

There's been an unfortunate

misunderstanding for which I apologize.

It's so blatantly unjust.

Mister Brande, in a previous conversation

we discussed your position in the service.

At that time I left many things unsaid.

- Indeed, sir?

You must understand that your academic

qualifications have never been questioned.

That would be difficult,

they are higher than most in the service.

It's as a man that you failed.

Do you consider yourself

the ultimate judge, Sir?

I am as far as the service is concerned.

If that's your only answer I must ask you

to excuse me from deputizing in Madrid.

I ought to report this, but I won't.

Very well, Brande,

go back to San Jorge.

But for Heaven sake,

try to behave like a human being.

Nicco, I'm going to speak to you.

Because not to speak

would be childish and dangerous.

We're going to the river and it's

necessary that I tell you what to do.

But you needn't talk to me.

I'd like to speak too, Jos.

Good. Then we'll be like men

and not like children.

Does anyone live here?

Only the frogs.

I found this place

years ago, when I was about your age.

I often come here fishing.

I caught one!

That's a beauty, Nicco!

Now put him in the shade

and bring me the bait.

Nicco.

Wait 'til you see how good it tastes.

Do you remember catching your first fish?

Oh indeed, I do.

Something you never forget.

What did you do with it?

- I took it home to my mother.

Was she pleased?

- Yes.

She was very proud.

She wanted to keep it forever.

Forever?

Did she?

- No, she fried it for my breakfast.

My mother'd do the same.

Only...

Only what?

- Nothing, really.

Your mother lives in

England, doesn't she Nicco?

In Scotland.

Sometimes she goes away.

She writes to me from

wherever she goes. Long letters.

Will she come to see you here?

No, father says

she won't ever be coming here.

Why not?

- He says it was wrong of her to go away.

But I'm sure she would

never do anything wrong.

No, I'm sure.

Father says I'm the only one he needs now.

You know Nicco, when your father said

we mustn't talk to each other,

I was very angry.

- I was angry, too.

Well, we were both wrong.

I think perhaps it's because...

he's not happy.

He thinks you do not love him enough.

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