The Wings of the Dove Page #2

without visiting you.

Well, you'll just have to

persuade her to stay a little longer.

She takes all the decisions.

l'm just a companion.

You're not very talkative.

You haven't given me

a chance.

Black suits you

perfectly tonight.

Has anyone

ever told you not to stare ?

- Do you know her well ?

- l wish l knew her better.

Why's everyone

so fascinated by her ?

She'd be the Queen of America

if they had one.

World's richest orphan.

She's worth millions.

Then why aren't you

sitting next to her ?

Well, your Aunt Maud

wouldn't let me.

l finally caught you on your own.

Lord Mark's been

monopolizing you all evening.

Yes, but he's been staring

at you the whole time.

So have l.

l think your aunt's

a little drunk.

Oh, she's never drunk.

That would interfere.

- With what ?

- All the plots she is hatching.

- You make her sound like a witch.

- Oh, no.

- She can't fly... yet.

Milly !

- Psst.

- Kate !

l saw you from the bus.

l thought you were running away from me.

No, not at all.

l didn't see you.

- What are you reading ?

- Tennyson.

Ah.

Who were you visiting ?

Just now ? Some friends.

- Milly.

Excuse me, is this

the foreign language section ?

Let's see.

Well, if l'd have been the owner,

l'd have thrown you both out.

- But why ?

- Because that part of the

book shop is reserved for men.

- Why ?

- You saw the pictures.

Exactly. l saw them. Have l changed ?

Have l suddenly become corrupt ?

Mm. lt's a gradual process.

Look at Kate.

- There's nothing corrupt about Kate.

- Mm, of course there is.

lt's in her eyes.

Can't you see ?

There's far too much going on

behind those pretty lashes.

l think we're going to leave you

until you've sobered up.

He must be in love with you

to behave like that.

God, l hope not.

How do you do, Mr Densher ?

Do you know who he is ?

Yes.

He's a friend of the family.

Where did you find

your friend ?

She was invited.

l wasn't.

lt was one way

to get to see you.

- Did you get my letters ?

- Yes.

- Why didn't you write ?

- l didn't see the point.

So why have you come now ?

Did it hurt ?

ls that what you wanted ?

l hurt... so much.

You can't imagine.

lt was your choice.

Just have to wait.

l want you to go back

and kiss her... with that mouth.

You came with her.

l'll come and see you soon.

Poor Mark.

He invited you

to his country house.

- He invited you too.

- Only to keep you company.

He's not my type.

- No ?

- Mm-mmm.

- What is your type ?

- That friend of yours at the party.

Which friend ?

The one who came in

with the older woman.

Merton Densher ?

He was beautiful.

- What's your article about ?

- Hospitals.

- What do you care about hospitals ?

- Oh, l care about a lot

of things that you don't know.

- For example.

For example,

there's a doctor at King's.

He runs a little surgery

on the side for whores.

He charges one pound, one schilling

for issuing virginity certificates...

and two pounds

for sewing the ladies up.

He operates on 12-year-old girls...

and sends them back out on the streets

to earn the money to pay him.

And he's just been elected

to the Royal Society.

For example.

- Are you censoring it ?

- l'm editing it for you.

- lt's very angry.

- Well, it's supposed to be.

So angry,

you've left out a word.

- Have you heard of a Sir Luke Strett ?

- Of course l have.

- Why ''of course'' ?

- He's a leading blood specialist.

A very respected doctor.

- Why ?

- He's a friend of Milly's.

- Who's Milly ?

- Oh, my best friend of the day.

- Oh, yes, the American girl.

- How did you know she was American ?

- By her laugh.

- You're such a snob. She liked you.

That's because

she doesn't know me.

- You're not nearly as bad

as you'd like to be.

Everything's going to be fine.

- Ah, wonderful !

- Milly ?

- Kate !

l'm here with Merton.

- You haven't met Merton

properly before, have you ?

- No.

- Hello.

- Hello.

l want to show you something.

Hmm.

Kate's been talking

about you all afternoon.

l was almost sure we'd bump into you.

- lt's funny how that happens, isn't it?

- Hmm.

- l hope she was saying

nice things about me.

- Oh, yes, very nice things.

- You've made quite an impression.

- Well, so has she.

What are you doing here,

the two of you ?

Looking at paintings.

Of course.

l was hiding from the rain.

Well, l'm sorry

to have to leave you,

but if l don't go,

l'll be late for work.

lt was a pleasure

to meet you. Goodbye.

- Well, l hope l didn't scare him away.

- Oh, no. No.

lt's not what you're thinking.

- No ?

- No.

He's an old family friend.

- Oh, damn.

Look at my view, Milly.

lsn't it wonderful ?

What's your secret, Milly ?

lt's secret.

My theory is you can't really live--

can't truly live--

until you trust someone

with your secret.

lt's a good theory.

Yes, it is.

Ah.

Shh. l just want to talk to you.

l-- l want to explain.

Mark, you have to go.

l need her. That's why-- That's why

l pay her all the attention.

- That's why l ignore you.

- You don't ignore me. You're drunk.

l love you, Kate. You.

l need Milly's money

to keep my home.

l have to marry her,

but it doesn't have to be forever.

What are you talking about ?

She's ill. She's very ill.

Everyone in New York knows about it,

all my friends there.

- And when she's gone--

- Get out.

- Get out right now, or l'll

tell her everything you said.

- Every word.

- l just--

l swear, Mark.

All right.

l just wanted to say how...

sorry l am

for ignoring you today.

Shh. lt's me.

- Are you all right ?

- lt's freezing in my room.

Sleep here.

What's wrong ?

- Uh--

- What ?

Nothing.

These wretched aristocrats

can't even heat their houses.

- Good day.

- Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

May l take that ?

- Merton !

- Hello.

- Hello.

- This is my friend, Susan.

- How do you do ?

- Kate told me

she was meeting you here.

- No, she was busy today.

l must have got the wrong day.

Well, she's getting ready

for Venice.

- Venice ?

- Yes, she's coming

with Susie and me to Venice.

- Susie's got to

convince Aunt Maud first.

- l said l'll try.

Today.

Will you sit with us ?

Thank you, but l really must

get back to work. Goodbye.

Shall l walk you out ?

- Kate hadn't told you

we were going to Venice ?

- Well, l hadn't seen her.

- Are you and Kate old friends ?

- ls that what she told you ?

- Yes.

- Thank you.

- Why don't you come with us ?

- To Venice.

Why not ?

That's something

only a princess would say.

And you look down

on princesses ?

Especially princesses.

Goodbye.

- Where were you ?

- Here.

So why was l there ?

Couldn't get away.

Do you hate me a little more

for standing you up ?

You didn't just stand me up.

You set me up.

- Did you like her ?

- No.

- Did she like you ?

- Well, she asked me to come to Venice.

- Why don't you ?

- Why should l ?

Because l'll be there,

and Maud won't.

- What about poor old Milly ?

- Why ''poor old Milly'' ?

- She wants to be with you on her own.

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