Belle Page #7

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LADY ASHFORDWhat a lot of fuss over dead cargo.

LORD MANSFIELDIt is a fuss over the bread and

butter of a great many in these

isles. A great many, Lady Ashford.

OFF LORD MANSFIELD’S distaste....

EXT. KENWOOD HOUSE. LAWNS - NIGHT. 42323*

The windows glint with candlelight, DIDO sits at a bench

alone. Laughter from the house carries in the breeze.

A rustle in the branches behind her. She stands, startled.

A beat, then she turns on her heels and sprints - fast.

INT. KENWOOD HOUSE. ENTRANCE HALL. NIGHT. 42424*

Breathless, DIDO races inside as WIMBRIDGE appears.

DIDOWimbridge!

WIMBRIDGEMiss Lindsay?

DIDOThere are poachers wandering...!

The sound of the echoing doorbell, jolting DIDO. Her eyes

dart to the door. WIMBRIDGE hesitates, then answers.

A YOUNG MAN stands, damp brow, and as breathless as DIDO.

We recognise him as the YOUNG MAN seen earlier in the

church. He is JOHN DAVINIER, son of REVEREND DAVINIER.

JOHNGood evening to you. I am John

Davinier, I..I believe I may have

disturbed a lady of this house...

He sets eyes on DIDO, peering from the great staircase.

JOHN (CONT’D)

Ah...she is there.

(calling out to her)

Please forgive me...though you

barely gave me a chance...

DIDO turns her back, horrified. How dare he address her

without formal introduction?!

16.

DIDOSir, I do not believe we have

been introduced!

JOHN takes hold of himself, half mortified, half irritated.

JOHNIndeed. I...I...

(to Wimbridge, feeling

foolish)

Please inform the lady of my

apologies for startling her. I

took advantage of the back

fields, by way of a short-cut to

deliver this to Lord Mansfield...

from my father.

WIMBRIDGESir?

He hands WIMBRIDGE an envelope.

JOHNReverend Davinier.

WIMBRIDGEOf course, sir. I will see that

he gets it immediately...

DIDO can’t help but interfere. She calls over her shoulder.

DIDOYou shall not interrupt him at

dinner, Wimbridge!

WIMBRIDGEImmediately - after dinner, sir.

JOHN resists rolling his eyes - ghastly female!

JOHNYes, of course...thank you.

He backs away. DIDO still shows him nothing but her back.

JOHN (CONT’D)

(to Wimbridge, awkward)

Good night.

WIMBRIDGEGood night, sir.

He moves off, and is gone as DIDO finally turns, stares at

the closed door, flushed.

17.

INT. KENWOOD HOUSE. DRAWING ROOM. CONTINUOUS - NIGHT. 4.2525*

A single figure - at the farthest end of the crimson

drawing room...DIDO’S heart skips a beat at the SOUND of

the approaching dinner party...Suddenly the doors open

...DIDO stands quickly - nervous.

LORD MANSFIELDDido...my dear.

LADY ASHFORD(whispers to her sons)

Good Lord - the negro! She really is...

JAMES ASHFORD(quietly disturbed)

...a lady.

OLIVERCapital!

LADY ASHFORDI hadn’t expected her to look

so...black.

OLIVERMamaa, did you not listen to the

rumours when you were spreading

them?

DIDO curtseys respectfully to LORD MANSFIELD.

LORD MANSFIELDMay I present to you the second

of my nieces - Miss Dido Lindsay.

DIDO curtseys. LADY ASHFORD nods graciously. OLIVER bows -

has to nudge his troubled brother do the same.

OLIVER:

A pleasure, Miss Lindsay.

She curtseys once again, then moves to sit with ELIZABETH.

ELIZABETH(sotto - re. James)

He is the eldest - to inherit the

entire Ashford fortune. He is

also to inherit from his uncle -

a healthy man, who shows little

sign of departure.

DIDOHow do you know?

18.

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