The Wicked Lady

1

Fine, thank you.

(BIRDS CAWING)

(FOLK MUSIC PLAYING)

Your husband, he's in

there with another woman.

We'll get him!

(SCREAMS)

(MAN LAUGHING)

I'll teach you, Nick,

playing with

another woman.

Good morning.

Good morning, sir.

I'll teach you.

Come here.

Don't you run away from me.

(SHOUTING)

(WOMAN SCREAMS)

(SHOUTING)

MAN:
Another for hanging!

What did he steal?

Strawberries? Apples.

Oh, please, no hangings

so close to my wedding.

Here...

Here's for your apples.

Keep your money, Sir Ralph.

They must learn.

(GRUNTING)

So hard a lesson.

No wonder your

tenants worship you.

They'll worship you

when we're married.

Is worship the same as love?

It's similar.

Do you worship me?

I'm very fond of you.

Being fond,

is that the same as love?

It's similar.

Thank you, sir. My lady.

To the library.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Please, let me pass.

In good time, cousin.

You silly old women!

BOTH:
Old?

You heard what I said.

We're not as old as you are.

There's a letter...

For you, Caroline.

In the library.

BOTH:
We wanted to tell her.

She's coming.

Barbara's coming

to be my maid of honor.

Is she...

Pretty?

Oh, she's more than pretty.

Barbara has the most beautiful

green eyes. Like emeralds.

Cats have green eyes.

I don't like cats.

BOTH:
We do!

CAROLINE:
Barbara, darling...

(LAUGHS)

You haven't changed!

Not at all.

Oh, your eyes

are still so green.

Oh, Ralph,

this is Barbara.

Charmed.

Charmed.

Doesn't she take

your breath away?

Well...

Carol, you embarrass him.

The two people

I love most in the world.

Come, let me show

you the house.

BARBARA:
It's lovely.

How many servants are they?

Vanity, vanity.

All is vanity.

Think, when you're

married you can have

all the clothes you want.

Go to London for the season,

become a famous hostess.

Ralph wouldn't

care for that.

A clever woman makes her

husband do as she likes.

Oh, this is a pretty dress.

So are the others.

I had them made

specially to come here.

Uncle Martin

disapproved, of course,

but I got round him.

Now. Who is there that

I should meet round here?

Most of the landowners

round here are married.

Except for Ralph.

He's the nicest, anyway.

Yes.

Skip. Skip.

(GIGGLING)

(SHUSHING)

That's better.

Was it?

Now I curtsey.

You step forward

and raise me up.

Then we kiss.

What?

All fashionable dances

nowadays end with a kiss.

I fear, then,

I shall make no dancer.

Go on.

I expected the park

to myself. It is early.

Well, I always visit

the farm before breakfast.

I didn't know.

Who told you,

you could ride Fury?

I chose him. He looked

the most thoroughbred.

He's wild and dangerous.

I like danger.

I believe you do.

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

Go on!

Help! He's bolted! Ralph!

Help me!

Barbara! Barbara!

Ralph.

You look beautiful.

(BOTH CRYING)

What are you

sniveling about?

We can't help thinking...

How different things

might have been. Oh...

You shouldn't

put the veil on...

Not before the day.

I'm not superstitious.

I'm just so happy.

Caroline...

Look.

I must speak to you.

Alone.

Do you mind?

If we're not wanted.

Can't we stay?

It's sure to be

something exciting.

AGATHA:
We might be serving

wenches or dressmakers.

What is it, Barbara?

What's the matter?

I must go away.

Go? Why?

Don't ask, Caro.

You can tell me.

I mustn't see him again.

See him?

I'll be gone.

Is it Ralph?

Don't blame him.

What happened?

We love each other.

He told you that?

He didn't have to, I knew.

Oh, don't worry.

Ralph will marry you.

We've agreed.

I shall go away.

(GASPS)

MOLL:
Oh, we're sorry now.

Are you in love

with Barbara?

What do you mean?

Do you worship her?

Dazzled... I suppose I'm...

You were never

dazzled by me?

Now, Caroline...

You cared for me

after father died.

I looked after the

house for you, I...

Forgive me.

I want to leave at once,

if the coach could

be ordered, please.

Ralph is free.

He can marry the one he loves.

Caro, darling, I couldn't

accept such a sacrifice.

I'd rather break

my own heart.

No hearts are to be broken.

The wedding can still

take place, but with

a different bride.

Where are you going?

I'm the one who needs

the coach now.

What's going on?

Caro, this is your home.

Please stay.

Ralph's enemies will say

he broke your heart.

Put on a brave face,

just for the wedding.

Oh, perhaps you'd like me to

be the maid of honor as well?

Caro, darling, would you?

(CRYING)

See how I'm dressed,

isn't it ridiculous?

You can wear this, too,

if you like.

Wear that?

I wouldn't be buried in it.

(CHURCH BELL TOLLING)

(FOLK MUSIC PLAYING)

(CHATTERING)

Sir Ralph will be out

of his senses when he

sees you, Barbara.

I don't know how you

can stay so cool.

BARBARA:
What is there

to be nervous about?

What a thing to ask.

The wedding day.

The wedding night.

(ALL GIGGLING)

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

Come.

Mistress Barbara,

your honored uncle

awaits you below.

This is a proud day

for me, Barbara.

Thank you, Uncle Martin.

Sir Ralph is a fine man.

You must love him very much.

How could one fail to

love a man as rich as he?

That is no way to jest

on your wedding day.

(ALL CHEERING)

I know how deeply you

loved your mother.

She was everything to me.

This was her brooch.

It was her dying wish

that I give it to you

on your wedding day.

It's beautiful.

I shall never part with it.

It means more to me

than the Skelton diamonds,

my husband. Anything!

Your mother was as good

as she was beautiful.

I'll never forgive God

for taking her away from

me, never! Never!

(PEOPLE MURMURING)

Why are those boys

pulling her along?

To show she's a maiden...

Reluctant to enter

the married state.

If you ask me, Barbara

should have those ribbons

round the other way,

to hold her back.

Dearly beloved, we are

gathered together here

in the sight of God

and in the face

of this congregation,

to join together this

man and this woman

in holy matrimony.

(CHATTERING)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(PEOPLE LAUGHING)

(EXCLAIMS)

Come, Fred,

let's get moving.

(WOMEN GIGGLING)

(WOMAN SCREAMS)

Good God!

What abomination!

I told you we shouldn't

have come in here!

Let's get back.

ALL:
Kiss the bride!

Kiss the bride!

(ALL EXCLAIM)

(LAUGHS)

I trust the dance was

to your satisfaction.

Oh, come, my dear,

mustn't be jealous

of our new sister-in-law.

(CHUCKLES)

I need 100 pairs

of feet and as many

mouths to fill my obligation.

Perhaps you should ask

Caroline to help you.

After all,

you've shared so much.

Henrietta.

You mustn't be angry

with your sister, Ralph.

No woman can bear it

when her husband

finds another woman

more attractive than she.

(CHUCKLES)

Lady Skelton,

would you do me the honor?

Forgive me, but...

But?

But, of course.

Who are you?

The man who would

have married you

had we met yesterday.

You're very bold, sir.

And you, my lady,

are the most exciting

woman I've ever seen.

I fell in love with

you at the church,

as you were being

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