Vanity Fair Page #5

Seven? Eight?

I know him.

He's in the Ninth.

Nine? Ten.

Any more?

Sold to the captain.

Lot 370.

A landscape painting signed,

"Francis Sharp, 1801. '"

What? What's the matter?

My father painted it.

I gave it to Amelia.

- I'll get it for you.

- Shall we say, five guineas?

Six, at the back. Seven.

Eight. Nine.

Ten. Eleven. Twelve.

Thirteen. Fourteen.

Fifteen, at the back.

Going once. Going twice...

Leave it.

It doesn't matter.

Sold for 15 guineas

to the Marquess of Steyne.

Why would Lord Steyne

bother with a little auction like this?

He collects my father's works.

A true collector will go anywhere

to get what he wants.

An amboyna and rosewood

quartetto table.

- Captain Dobbin.

- Miss Sharp.

I beg your pardon,

Mrs. Crawley. Crawley.

Are you taking up

the piano, Captain?

I have a... friend who will

get some use of it, I think.

Any more?

- Indeed she will.

- Good day.

Going... Sold.

I saw Miss Sharp

at the auction this morning.

How is George?

George is well, I think. But busy.

Too busy to come here.

I'll fetch some tea.

When you next see him,

will you give him this?

I painted it.

It's not wrong, is it, to remind him

of the one who loves him most?

Of course not.

Oh, look what he's done!

Oh, isn't he wonderful?

I can't believe it!

Oh, thank God!

Thank God!

Mama! It's all right!

George has bought me the piano,

and he'll be here directly.

Oh, thank God!

I tell you, George, you must go to her.

She's dying.

Miss Sedley asked me to give you

this when I saw you next.

For God's sake, George.

You haven't even opened it.

No need.

They're all the same.

Georgy.! What are you playing at?

We're waiting for you.

Good day to you, Captain Dobbin.

I'm just leaving, sir.

Good.

There's a friend of Maria's

they want me to meet.

Ah, uh, may I present

my son, George?

This is Miss Rhoda Swartz.

Miss Rhoda was talking aboutJamaica

and her sugar plantations there.

Although I don't remember it.

I left when I was three.

Maria, may I borrow you

for a moment, please?

Can you forgive us?

Your father does not much

trouble to conceal his plans.

Which are?

For us to marry, of course.

Indeed.

Come. Sit by me.

Let us speak frankly.

My fortune is great, my birth is not.

So, I must choose

between a poor nobleman...

or a rich bourgeois like you.

Upon my word, you've

a very precise grasp of the matter.

I would have liked a title.

But my guardian says,

if you and I combine our fortunes,

we may buy one

whenever we wish.

I cannot believe you are

seriously suggesting Miss Swartz...

as the companion of

my heart and hearth!

Why not?

Well, to begin with,

she's not English.

Hoity-toity!

Less fastidious, if you please!

What's a shade or two of tawny when

there's half a million on the table?

Why, with that money, we'll have you

in the House of Lords in no time.

Just think. Dining at Kew,

dancing at Carlton House.

- And what of honor?

- Honor?

Yes. Honor.

You may buy a string of ancestors

to hang upon your walls,

but I see you have not bought

the breeding that goes with them.

- You made me give my word to Amelia.

- Be silent, sir!

You dare speak

that object's name to me?

"Dare," sir, is not a word to be

used to a captain in the British army.

For I am a gentleman,

though I am your son.

I'll say what I like to my own child.

And I say this:

I have not slaved for 40 years

to see you marry a beggar maid!

You made the match!

And I can unmake it!

You will marry whom I say, sir.

And I say you will marry Miss Swartz.

Either that or take your pack and walk

out of this house without a shilling.!

Do I make myself clear, sir?

As a bell, sir.

Georgy. Georgy.

Come on, you lads.!

War is come to Europe.!

My brother wants tojoin.!

If you're here to plead his case,

you've made a wasted journey.

Mr. Osborne, we're on the brink of war.

Should anything happen to George,

you'd never forgive yourself

if you hadn't parted in charity.

May I not take him

a message from you? Please.

Very well.

Let him only come home to his old room

and things will be as they were before.

They cannot be.

Why not, if I say they can?

Because...

George married

Miss Sedley this morning.

I go from here to

their wedding breakfast.

Will you not come with me?

Welcome, Mr. Sedley.

Sedley. Welcome home.

- Crawley.

- Righto.

Mrs. Crawley.

So,

have you found many changes

since your last visit from India?

Some.

And one in particular

that I regret very much.

Dobbin.! Osborne.!

There's news here for all of us.

It's the order for Belgium.

We embark next week.

Men need war like the soil

needs turning. I'll enjoy it!

You're surely not going

over there in your condition?

Of course I'm going!

Why should the men have all the fun?

And didn't Eleanor of Aquitaine ride

into battle pregnant and bare-breasted?

By Gad, if there's a woman alive

who could do the same, it's you.!

Be careful of the model, Mrs. Crawley.

Queen Eleanor was

locked up by her husband.

And emerged from her prison

to govern England.

Bravo.

What about you, Sedders? Will you

be joining us on our little excursion?

If it weren't for my duties in India,

I'd be over there like a shot. Oh yes.!

- I'll go.

- You cannot.

Well, why shouldn't she?

She can keep Becky company.

- To victory!

- Victory!

- Victory!

- To victory.

We won't know anyone.

Whose fault is that?

If you would only put yourself out

to be civil once in a while.

The Crawleys have been here

no longer than us, and Mrs. Crawley's

the talk of the town.

Is that what you would have me be,

the "talk of the town"?

Here comes the famous Mrs. Crawley.

Why she is famous

is a mystery to me.

Why does everyone receive her,

as for General Tufto?

He must find her

command of French useful.

- I know I should.

- A real lady wouldn't speak it half as well.

- Hush, my dear.

- Lady Darlington. Lady Bareacres.

Good evening, Mrs. Crawley.

Good evening.

You're making an exhibition of yourself.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Can I leave you in charge?

I see some sheep that need shearing.

Go. You manage our income,

and I'll see to your career.

Wait here a minute.

George, I feel... I feel sick.

General Tufto.

Mrs. Crawley.

Can I tempt you

with some refreshment?

That would be delightful.

Mrs. Crawley.

Yes, good evening.

I hope your dance card

isn't quite filled yet.

- Hardly. I've just arrived.

- I am the early bird, then.

And I, presumably, the worm?

General Tufto, this is

Captain Osborne of the Ninth.

That is Osborne with an "E."

Make sure you spell it right...

when you mention him

in dispatches.

If only spelling

was my forte.

My dear, please.

Thank you.

Would you like me to fetch you

some water? Or a chair?

Or a doctor?

Is Amelia all right?

I expect so. Dobbin's with her.

Shouldn't you have more care of her now?

You mean, now that yet another

rope has come to bind me?

You're not like Amelia, Mrs. Crawley.

Nothing will quench your fire.

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