Vanity Fair Page #8

It is my challenge.

I've watched you in the lists.

I wish you luck.

It will not be easy.

Of course, it's the women

who keep the doors of society closed.

They do not like outsiders to discover

that there's nothing behind them.

Should you like to come

to Gaunt House?

Very much, my lord.

You will be bored there.

My wife is as gay as Lady Macbeth...

and my daughters-in-law

as cheerful as Goneril and Regan.

They will bully you and snub you

and patronize you.

But that's what you want, I suppose.

It is.

You should take this.

You don't want him

back tomorrow.

You're playing with fire, Becky.

Dearest, be reasonable.

You can pander all you like

to the great and the good.

We're not their type,

never will be.

Of course we are.

You have the best blood in England

in your veins if only you'd use it.

You know,

Lord Steyne's planning a dinner

next week with the Minister of War.

He promises to talk

of nothing but you.

The cards are in your hand, darling.

Must I show you how to play them?

So now you are to instruct me

in games of chance?

I just want you to think

on the winnings.

Oh, I know what we have to win.

I'm just afraid of what we might lose.

You're taking favors

from a tiger, Becky.

I'm not afraid.

Keep your eyes open.

Come with me

And we will go

Must I repeat myself?

You will write a card to

Colonel and Mrs. Crawley.

But Blanche writes them.

Not this time, I don't.

Lady Steyne, I cannot believe...

that I am compelled

to issue a request three times.

I will write it.

Then I will not be present.

I will go home.

Good! Stay there!

Let me be free of

your damned tragedy airs.!

Who are you to give orders?

You're here to have children

and you're barren!

My son is sick of you.!

There's no one in the house

that doesn't wish you dead.!

Besides, what's the matter

with Mrs. Crawley?

She's not well born, it's true,

but she's no worse than

Fanny's illustrious ancestor,

the first de la Jones.

- The money I brought to this family, sir...

- Purchased my second son as a husband...

whom the whole world

knows is mad.

Enough.

This is my house.

If I invite the trash from every prison

and brothel in London,

you will receive them

and you'll make them welcome.

Remember. You have no friends

beyond this door.

Lady Bareacres, what did you

make of the new Figaro?

I thought it was quite interesting.

I hear you sing

and play beautifully,

Mrs. Crawley.

I wish you'd sing for me.

It would be my pleasure.

What are you doing?

I've seen enough cruelty

in this house to want to inflict it.

"Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal."

Now sleeps the crimson petal

Now the white

Nor waves the cypress

in the palace walk

Nor winks the gold fin

The firefly wakens

Waken thou with me

Now droops the milkwhite peacock

Like a ghost

And like a ghost

she glimmers on to me

Now lies the Earth

all Danae to the stars

And all thy heart lies open unto me

Now folds the lily

all her sweetness up

And slips into the bosom of the lake

So fold thyself, my dearest, thou

And slip

Into my bosom

And be lost

In me

Bravo. Bravo.

You are through the door.

That boy of yours,

when does he go away to school?

Oh, when he's older, I suppose.

No, no. He must learn to stand

on his own two feet at once.

Miss that lesson in childhood

and you'll miss it all your life.

Well, I'm not sure Rawdon

could spare him yet.

And he's very spirited.

I shall arrange it.

No need to thank me.

Perhaps then we could

see a little more of each other.

Aren't you forgetting my husband?

I never forget anything,

Mrs. Crawley.

Least of all an unpaid debt.

She hasn't been at all well, has she?

Must I go?

Must I really?

Can't I stay

if I promise to be good?

It won't be for long, old chap.

Yes, it will.

Come here.

It's time, darling.

Bye.

Tonight, Lord Steyne will unveil

his mystery performance...

directed by himself

and performed by the Duchess of Lancaster,

the Countess of Slingstone

and other great ladies

ofhis lordship's acquaintance.

Your Majesty, my lords,

ladies and gentlemen, please be seated.

The entertainment is about to begin.

What has Steyne got planned,

Lady Steyne?

I wish I knew.

Extraordinary.

- Steyne the Pasha and his nautch girls.

- I give you the ballet Zirnana.

It's Mrs. Crawley.

Well done, all.

Bravo.! Bravo.!

Extraordinary.

- Yes.

- Bravo.!

Ah, Mrs. Crawley.

To the victor the spoils.

You have carried off

our hearts in triumph.

If that is so, Your Majesty,

then you may rest easy

that your heart will be

well looked after.

That is a relief, for it has been

bruised in its time.

You must tell me at dinner

how you mean to treat it.

You will sit next to me.

Precedence would make that

a little difficult, sir.

I am the King, Lady Gaunt.

I confer precedence.

Well, are you happy?

I said that I would make you

queen of the night and I have.

I'm certainly grateful, my lord.

But not happy?

Well, which of us is happy?

Not you? Surely you take

pleasure in your pictures.

Yes.

I can hide behind them.

You, my lord, hide from what?

From the simple truth that is known

to every shepherd and footman...

that the only thing of value

in this life is to love...

and be loved.

I've hidden from it because

I didn't think that I would ever find it.

Now I believe I have.

You jest with me, my lord.

I make a poor companion with

the splendors that surround you.

The chief advantage

of being born into society...

is that one learns early

what a tawdry puppet play it is.

You remember the child

who set a high price on this picture...

before she could bear to see it go?

Not high enough.

The trouble is, Mrs. Crawley,

you've taken the goods.

It's too late to query the price.

Colonel Crawley.

May I walk with you?

By all means, Wenham.

Good evening, Colonel.

Oh, Lord!

It's a small thing, Colonel.

165 you owe Mr. Nathan.

For God's sake, Wenham, lend me 100.

I have 70 at home.

I'm sorry. I don't have 10

in the whole world,

my dear fellow.

Don't worry.

Mr. Moss will take good care

of you, won't you, Mr. Moss?

I run the most comfortable

debtor's prison in London.

Come on.

Unhand me!

Good night.

You sure I can't get

you anything, Colonel?

My wife will be here

at any moment.

If you say so, sir.

Ring the bell when you

want something.

- You did deliver my letter, yes?

- I delivered it myself, sir.

Is there no one else

I might call on?

My brother, I suppose.

But I hardly like to trouble him

when I know that Becky will be

on her way before too long.

Even so, sir.

Poor Rawdon. He's in prison.

I know.

I'll send my man Wenham

with the bail tomorrow.

One night won't kill him.

Heaven knows

he's on familiar territory.

Oh, Becky. Thank God.

It is I, Rawdon. It's Jane.

When your note came, I read it.

I've paid Mr. Moss.

This is no place for a woman like you.

You should not have come here.

I'm not worth it.

Yes, you are.

You are worth it.

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