Love & Friendship Page #3

Reginald, may I present

Frederick Vernon's widow

Lady Susan and her

friend Mrs. Cross?

Delighted to make your acquaintance.

Your renown precedes you.

I'm afraid the allusion escapes me.

Your reputation

as an ornament to our society.

Oh, what you say surprises me.

Since the great sadness

of my husband's death,

I've lived in nearly perfect isolation.

To better know his family and to

further remove myself from society,

I came to Churchill,

not to make new acquaintances

of frivolous sort,

but of course I'm pleased

to know my sister's relations.

[woman singing opera]

Mrs. Cross:
I take it you are finding

Mr. DeCourcy's society more pleasurable.

To some degree.

At first, his conversation

betrayed a sauciness and familiarity

which is my aversion,

but since I've found

a quality of callow idleness

which rather interests me.

When I've inspired him

with greater respect

than his sister's kind

offices have allowed,

- he might in fact be an agreeable flirt.

- He's handsome, isn't he?

In a cough-like way...

not like Manwaring, of course,

but there's a certain pleasure in

making a person predetermined to dislike

instead acknowledge one's superiority.

How delightful it will be to humble

the pride of these pompous DeCourcys.

A letter for you, my dear.

- Letter?

- Yes, from Catherine.

I hope she'll arrive soon.

The season's cheerless

without children.

Well?

I'm afraid this cold

has affected my eyes.

Save your eyes, my dear.

I'll read for you.

- No, it's all right.

- No, I just...

Here. Uh...

Let's see.

Mm.

Catherine hopes you are well

and asks most particularly

that you give me her love.

Yes, and?

Uh...

Oh, Reginald has decided to stay

at Churchill to hunt with Charles.

He cites the fine open weather. What

nonsense. The weather's not open at all.

Well, maybe it is there, or it was when

she wrote. My dear, could you just read?

- Verbatim?

- Yes, the words.

Some of Catherine's

voice will be in them.

Well, I'll read every word, comma,

and dash if that's what you wish.

Here...

Just the words, please.

No punctuation at all?

All right. That's much easier.

- Lady Susan?

- Yes, she has been visiting Churchill.

- Lady Susan Vernon?

- Yes.

Well, how could Reginald engage in

conversations with Lady Susan Vernon?

Conversations which are...

What would they talk about?

My eyes have definitely cleared.

I can read it. Don't trouble yourself.

No, no. If my son and heir's involved

with such a lady, I must trouble myself.

[clock chimes]

- Well, I must go.

- No. I'll write.

No, no.

If this is happening, there's no time.

Thank you.

- Father.

- Reginald.

How extraordinary for you to be here.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes