Rebecca Page #2

You weren't really.

You simply wanted to be alone, and...

Tell me, is Mrs. Van Hopper

a friend of yours or just a relation?

No, she's my employer.

I'm what is known as a paid companion.

I didn't know companionship

could be bought.

I looked up the word "companion"

in the dictionary once.

It said,

"a friend of the bosom."

I don't envy you the privilege.

Oh, she's very kind, really,

and I have to earn my living.

- Haven't you any family?

- No, my mother died years and years ago,

and then there was only my father.

And he died last summer,

and then I took this job.

- How rotten for you.

- Yes, it was rather,

because, you see,

we got on so well together.

You and your father?

Yes. He was a lovely person...

very unusual.

- What was he?

- A painter.

- Ah. Was he a good one?

- Well, I thought so.

But people didn't understand him.

Yes, that's often the trouble.

He painted trees.

At least it was one tree.

You mean he painted the same

tree over and over again?

Yes. You see, he had a theory that

if you should find one perfect thing...

or place or person,

you should stick to it.

Do you think that's very silly?

Not at all.

I'm a firm believer in that myself.

And what did you find

to do with yourself

while he was painting his tree?

Oh, I sat with him and I sketched

a little. I don't do it well, though.

- You're going sketching this afternoon?

- Yes.

- Where?

- I haven't made up my mind.

- I'll drive you somewhere in the car.

- Oh, no, please. I didn't mean...

Oh, nonsense.

Finish up that mess and we'll get along.

Thank you. It's very kind of you,

but I'm not very hungry.

Oh, come on.

Eat it up like a good girl.

You're taking

long enough for that sketch.

I expect a really fine work of art.

Oh, no, don't look at it.

It's not nearly good enough.

But it can't be

as bad as all that.

Now, don't rub it all out.

Let me look at it first.

- It's the perspective.

I never can get it right.

- Let me see.

Oh, dear.

Tell me, is it the perspective...

that gives my nose that

curious twist in the middle?

- Well, you're not

a very easy subject to sketch.

- No?

- Your expression

keeps changing all the time.

- Does it?

Well, I'd concentrate on the view

instead if I were you.

Much more worthwhile.

It rather reminds me of our coastline

at home. Do you know Cornwall at all?

Yes. I went there once

with my father on holiday.

I was in a shop once,

and I saw a postcard...

with a beautiful house on it,

right by the sea.

And I asked whose house it was, and

the old lady said, "That's Manderley."

- I felt ashamed for not knowing.

- Manderley is beautiful.

To me, it's just the place

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