Belle Page #5

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DIDO(pained)

I...I think love must be a very

complicated thing.

ELIZABETH lifts her head to look across at DIDO.

ELIZABETHDido - with such a dowry you may

marry into any good family you wish.

OFF DIDO as she stares at the ceiling, daunted.

INT. KENWOOD HOUSE. LADIES PARLOUR - DAY.41919*

Soft sunlight filters. LADY MARY sits engrossed in her

needle-work. The two girls persevere with theirs.

LADY MARYWe shall receive visitors for dinner.

The two girls exchange a glance and whisper.

ELIZABETHVisitors? Who ever bothers to

visit us here?

DIDOOr leave... except the dead!

ELIZABETH’S titters escape. LADY MARY looks up, abruptly.

LADY MARYOnce again, Dido?

DIDOBeds...Aunt Mary. We should

prepare some extra beds... in

case our visitors are to stay...

She trails off - LADY MARY raises an eyebrow.

ELIZABETHMay we wear the new silks?

DIDOI will do your hair, Bette. Oh

say we may wear them, Aunt Mary.

LADY MARYYou will not be dining with us, Dido.

The room falls silent and the girls’ energy is killed.

12.

DIDO(hurt)

Yes of course. But I may join

after dinner, may I not?

LADY MARYYes. Such are the rules, and you

know them well.

EXT. KENWOOD HOUSE. LAKE - DAY.42020*

A blaze of rhododendron, azaleas. DIDO strolls with LORD

MANSFIELD, along Kenwood’s lake, orange sunlight glistens.

DIDOShe is a most disagreeable...

hideous, old maid - I hate her!

LORD MANSFIELDYou do not! She is only managing

the dictates of the householdDIDOPapaa...how...how may I be too high

in rank to dine with the servants

and too low to dine with my family?

LORD MANSFIELDDinner with guests is a formal

proceeding, Dido - we simply

cannot impose the disregard of

those formalities upon visitors.

DIDOBut...Papaa, am I not..’wealthy’,

now...an heiress? Surely that

changes matters...

LORD MANSFIELD(softly)

My dear...I wish it were so

simple. Finances may go some way -

but Society has a habit of

disregarding even one of their

own, when opportunity provides.

DIDO(stung)

Of course...(trailing off)

LORD MANSFIELDBUT after dinner...when formality

is of less consequence...well

your presence can raise no

defendable objections.

(off her sadness)

13.

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