"(Woman) I have relived this day many times." "The weather is always glorious and so is Fathers mood." "It is a golden memory and I am suspicious of it." "I keep looking for one black cloud in the sky, for some premonition of what was to come." "But I cant find anything, not a single clue." "Father had been let out and Mother was laughing." "Perhaps it really was a happy day." "The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!" "He left it dead, and with its head He went galumphing... back!" "Would you like to live there?" "Can we?" "Dear God." "Dear God!" "Mummy, look at us!" "Look at us!" "Isnt it wonderful?" "!" "I shall have this place if it costs me my last shilling!" "I will write masterpieces here!" "(Woman) And we believed him." "I write this sitting in the kitchen sink." "I have a grandstand view of my relations and it depresses me." "Ten years on, nothing Father said would happen has and there have been other shocks." "My hands have gone green." "Dont you feel God-like, changing the colour?" "We have acquired a stepmother." "Brackets, not wicked." " Nothing will get it off!" " Not even all the perfumes of Arabia?" " We cant get any more credit." " No wonder." "Ive drawn up our accounts." "Income - nil." "Outgoings - what is the rent?" "We havent paid it for two years." "Well end up living in a ditch!" "At least the landlords shuffled off this mortal coil." "Its not unmitigated gloom." "(Father) Hello." "I was looking for my cardigan." "My love, Ive got a sudden mania for dyeing." "Itll look like a cross between samphire and lichen." "Dont let me interrupt the game." "(Humming tunelessly)" "Game?" "Game?" "!" "There are droppings in this cupboard!" "I hate this place!" "Id burn it down if we had any matches!" "Rose, where are you going?" "On the streets." "You cant go on the streets in the depths of Suffolk." " I could in London." " You havent got the fare." "I shall borrow from the poor box." "Prostitution is hard work, it wouldnt suit you." "Youd know - theres a picture of you in the Tate, naked!" "It was an experiment in flesh tones." "If you want to make your fortune marry a wealthy man." "Like you did with Father(?" ")" " Oh." " Im sorry, Im sorry." " You dont mean it, Rose." " Get off, Topaz." "Youre not our mother." " I do my best!" " Well, its not good enough." "I thought about going to comfort them but it would only have inflamed the situation." "Someone has to keep a lid on things." "Mother always did... when she was alive." "I dont think you should start threatening to go on the streets." "Youd never be able to marry anyone after that." "Least of all a wealthy man." "Ill never meet any men locked up here." "Im beyond the reach of love." "And it will kill me." "I thought that love was the murderous thing, not the lack of it." "I am never going to fall in love." "Life is dangerous enough." " Oh, thank God for that at least!" " What?" "The postmans coming." "(Dog barking)" "As manager for the Scoatney Hall estate this office begs to inform you, et cetera, et cetera..." "We respectfully request that the rent outstanding for the period June 1934" " March 1936 be forwarded to this office without delay." " Well." " Open the other, its from the publisher." "The royalty cheque always comes in the spring." "(Father) Ah." "Nothing this year." " Nothing?" " Are there any biscuits left?" " Theres never been nothing before." " First time for everything." "(Humming distractedly)" "(Door opens)" "Ive brought a bucket." "For the leak in the roof." "Ah." " Did I interrupt your work?" " No." "I was reading Death On The Nile." " Is there anything I can do to help?" " Why do you think I need assistance?" "Father, Jacob Wrestling was a wonderful, ground-breaking book." "There was never going to be a sequel overnight." " Meaning?" " Meaning it will come." "How old are you?" "17." "And you still believe in fairy tales?" "I will not give in to panic." "Id be as mad as the rest of them if not for this diary." "Stephen is like a rock." "We havent paid him for six months." "He could just pack his bags and go but he says hell never leave us." "Eurgh." "Margarine." "Why must you be so monotonously grim, Rose?" "I feel grim." "Id sell my soul to the devil for a roast beef dinner and a tangerine lipstick." "Why dont you wish on the gargoyle?" "You could pretend that was the devil." "Stephen!" "Fetch a ladder that will reach!" "We havent got one, Miss Rose." "Hes not a servant." "Blow the candles out, all except one." "Come on!" "Higher!" "Perhaps we could buy a pig on hire-purchase." "Wed have quite a lot of bacon eventually." "Its all right, Rose is dabbling in the occult." "Higher!" "Oh." "Full marks for enterprise." "Be careful, Rose." "Careful!" "I cant go on living like this." "Please." "Ill do anything." "(Men yelling)" "Its Whole Nut." " Oh, Stephen, you shouldnt have." " Dont you like Whole Nut?" "You shouldnt spend your money on me." "There isnt any food in the house." "Have you got everything you need?" "A roaring fire, concealing draperies." "What more could I want at bath time?" " Wireless would be nice." " Chocolate is luxury enough." " III get some without nuts next time." " Stephen!" "Topaz says that, viewed from a certain angle," "Stephen looks like all the Greek gods rolled into one." "I cant see it, and its probably just as well." "Ive known him since I was seven." "Hes like a brother to me." "Anything else would be too confusing." " (Knock at door)" " Come in!" "(Man, American accent) Hello?" "(Man) Anybody home?" "(2nd man) Somebody said come in." "(Man) Its like a storybook." "(2nd man) Yeah, The House Of Usher." "(Man) Sorry, we have a car stuck in the lane." "Do you have a horse?" "(Boy) Actually no." "(2nd man) We need a tractor and chain." "Ill show you the problem." "You stay here." "(Door closes)" "I should warn you, Im having a bath behind here." "Im sorry." "Is your mother at home?" "No." " Do you need this?" " Oh, thank you." "Im Simon Cotton, by the way." "We were on our way to Scoatney Hall." "Are you related to Sir William?" "He lived there until he died." "Phew." "The kids gone to a farm to fetch help." "Oh, hi." "Is there a madhouse around here?" "We thought we saw an escapee up by the lane." "This is my brother, Neil." "We did see a strange woman." " She looked a bit dishevelled." " She was naked!" "Oh, I cant imagine who that was." " Oh, I thought you were a child." " No." "Are you here on holiday?" "Im actually Sir Williams grandson." "Our father died a little while ago and I seem to be in charge of the estate now." "(Topaz) Rose?" "Rose, dear?" " Oh!" " Whoa, whoa, whoa!" "Careful!" "(Topaz) Cassandra, put the kettle on." "For cocoa." "I must change." "(Neil) More gas, Simon!" "More gas!" "Keep pushing at the back!" "(Father) Is anything amiss?" "I saw lights from the gatehouse!" "(Neil) We got reinforcements!" "(Cassandra) Father!" " James Mortmain." " Neil Cotton." " Would you mind going to the back?" " Of course!" "James Mortmain?" "The author of Jacob Wrestling?" " Well, yes, I am." " I wrote a dissertation on that at college!" "Polyphony and the Fragmentary Consciousness." " I wondered what became of you." " Now you know." "I guess the castle must be an amazing inspiration." "We dont own it, you do." "Do I?" "Do I?" "Do you hear that, Neil?" " I own the castle!" " Wonderful, Simon." " Could you help with the pushing, sir?" " Yes." " We must talk about your work." " It would be my pleasure." "(Laughs)" "For crying out loud, will these bloody cataracts and hurricanos never stop?" "!" "(Simon) Are you ready, Neil?" "They didnt say anything about the rent." "Those boys are very taken with you, Rose." "How can you tell?" "I have antennae for the currents of attraction." "I shall clean the drawing room in case they call again." "Rose Cotton." "Mrs Rose Cotton." "Mrs Cotton." " Which one do you like?" " Simon." "Hes the eldest." "Its his estate now." "Was Sir William a knight or a baronet?" "If he was a baronet then Simons Sir Simon." "Id be Lady Cotton then." "Rose, youre making too much of it." "I mean, they might ask us to parties but you couldnt marry that man with the beard." "Id marry a chimpanzee if he had money." "(Bells tolling in distance)" "(Neil) Simon, you cannot stay in this country." "Youd either get washed away by the rain or sucked down into the mud." "I dont want to buy a ranch in California." "Oranges are wonderful, Im sure growing them is very stimulating but Id go mad." "And youll stay sane in that old mansion?" "Getting it cleaned and building bathrooms for Mother?" "How many mirrors does a dame with one face need?" "(Simon) Shes never stayed anywhere that wasnt a hotel." "If I dont get the plumbing fixed shell go back to the Queen Mary." "(Neil) I dont know her as well as you." "Rose?" "Rose!" "Dont start washing your hair!" " (Topaz) Simon." " Thank you." "(Topaz) Neil." "Darling." "So whos the artist in the family?" "Her." "Its called War And Peace - based on the novel." "I think it might work better on a circular canvas." "Why are you all dressed in green?" "(Plays beginning of tune)" "Simon, you may turn the pages for me." " Im afraid I dont read music." " I dont either." "That need not detain us." "Come on." "Ill give you a nudge each time." "* Blow, blow" "* Thou winter wind" "* Thou art" "* Not so unkind" "* As mans ingratitude *" "(Neil) Christ!" "You were lucky to get out alive." "Did I do something to encourage her?" "You own Scoatney Hall, 7,000 acres and their house." " They obviously dont have a cent." " She cant help that." "(Neil) She can help being so obvious!" "But if you want insane broads chasing you..." "One insane broad." "My God, I was embarrassed for that girl." "Were gonna have to drop em." "If we dont we could end up in a very awkward situation." "Shes dangerous." "(Simon) I guess so." "(Neil) Pity we didnt see that kid again." " The one with glasses or in the bathtub?" " The bathtub." "A bit consciously naive, dont you think?" "I feel worse about the old man." "I wanted to help him but I guess he probably is a drunk like people say." "If only we could afford to send her to the cinema, shed have a better idea how to behave." "Its too late." "Ive got this brick wall feeling." "They wont come back." "Please dont, its broad daylight." "It brings me release." "Do you want me to run mad?" " What do you think of them?" " The Americans?" "I dont know." "They werent like anyone Ive ever met before." "Did you think they were handsome?" "No." "I mean, they were incredibly well turned out but not naturally good-Iooking like some people." " Miss Sandra..." " I wish youd stop calling me Miss." "The day we came here my mother said you and Miss Rose were young ladies" " and I was to address you respectfully." " You always did." "She said that I was... never to presume." "Would I..." "Would I be presuming if I asked you to come for a walk with me?" "When?" "When the bluebells are out." "No... you wouldnt." "* The very thought of you" "* And I forget to do... *" "III practise this for next time, it uses keys that dont stick." "* The very... thought of you... *" "Rose thinks she gave an irresistible performance." "I ought to tell her the truth but I cant bear to." "Shes the only woman in the house with a smile on her face." "* That everyone... ought to do *" "Pass the salt, Rose?" "Pass the salt!" "Pass the salt, pass the salt, pass the salt..." " Ow!" " (Topaz) Rose!" "You know hes got a perforated eardrum!" "And I suppose hell go deaf and III be responsible!" "Why cant you control yourselves?" "!" "I havent lost my temper for years!" "Just as well with what happened last time." "(Topaz) Thats enough, Rose." "You dont think they found out about Father, do you?" "(Cassandra) No, Im sure they didnt." " How could they?" " So why didnt they come back?" "I went out of my way to be flirtatious and provocative." "Thats what men are meant to like." "Theres no way out now, is there, Cassie?" "(Arguing, indistinct)" " Bloody shame!" " Calm down." "Im quite calm, thank you." "Just shut up!" " Sit down and stop all this noise!" " No!" "Stop it!" "Stop it!" "Stop it!" "(Father) And I put it to you, mlud, that to kill ones wife with a cake knife would be an extraordinarily tedious business" " involving sawing her to death." " (Laughter, gavel bangs)" "(Judge) Take him down." "Weve been living in a boarding house!" "Only for four months." "(Father) It wont happen again." "(Topaz) Girls?" "Girls!" "Girls!" "Aunt Millicent is dead and she has left you a portion of her wardrobe." "I hope its the door." "(Cassandra) But furs?" "She hated fur." "And what are they doing in a shop?" "Theyre not new." "The lawyers put them in cold storage." "Id give up everything I have for a black suit with suede accessories." "Id give up everything." "Oh, Rose, can you smell bluebells?" "I can smell heaven." "Ill take a dozen pairs, please." "Rose!" "Come on." " I look like a bear." " (Giggles)" "It is bear, madam." "And young madams is monkey." "How much do you think theyre worth?" "If I might point out, this is a high class department store." "We do not deal in second-hand goods." "We only refrigerate the furs of favoured clients." "Aunt Millicent had a house full of beautiful things." "Why did she leave us these?" "She was never the same after Father married Topaz." "She said to me, They have married for love and one can only pray for them." "No, no, Im not coming back." "No, Simon, listen..." "My God!" "Neil and Simon Cotton are on the platform!" "(Squeals)" "(Rose) We both look a sight!" "Weve got bags of leftovers from a Lyons Corner House!" "I shall die of shame." "Oh!" "Help me, help me, help me!" "Through the bushes." " My darlings!" " Mother." "How are you?" "Simon, dear, was that supposed to be first class?" "The seating was covered in the most..." " Mind the milk churns." " (Clanging)" "My God!" "What was that?" "Ive seen what it is!" "Ladies and gentlemen... its a bear!" " (Gasps)" " Its been scavenging for food." "Neil, we are in Suffolk, England." "Did you ever go hunting and see a grizzly hug a guy to death?" " No, dear." " Neil..." " Ive seen a bear!" " He must have escaped from the circus." "Itll be heading for the village!" "Do something!" "Listen, everybody, in the waiting room now!" "Come on!" "You too, madam." "Into the waiting room." "Come on, hurry up. (BIows whistle)" " Quickly!" "Come along!" " (Stephen) Miss Cassandra?" "!" "Miss Rose!" "(Neil) Bears are very cunning." "Dont let the dogs go." "OK, itll try to head away from the railway line." "Simon, lead your party over to the right and fan out towards that church." "Come on, get moving!" "Lets go!" "III go this way." "(Gasping)" "Rose?" "(Screams)" " My sister!" " Go back to the station!" "Wait for me there!" "(Indistinct chatter, dog barking)" " Rose!" " Let her get some air." " (Simon) Is she all right?" " In shock." " (Mrs Cotton) We must take her home." " And the bear?" "I killed it." "It was in the river trying to get out so I shoved a pitchfork in its neck." "Right in the jugular." "Then it twitched all over and foamed a little at the mouth." "Then it groaned - and it died." "She had a very lucky escape." "(Mrs Cotton) Neil, be careful with her." "Stephen, what happened to her?" "My..." "lantern went out." "Im taking you home." "He grabbed my arm and said, Why are you running away?" "I said, Because I didnt want to see you or your stupid bearded brother." "In fact, you can both go to hell." " (Father chuckles)" " And I slapped his face." "Oh, Rose, what have you done?" "III tell you" " Ive got us an invitation to dinner at Scoatney." "Mrs Cotton invited us all." "One week today." "And so it was all hands to the pump." "Topaz, haunted by the thought of Roses slaps and insults, decreed she will dress like a doll and behave like a lady." "You must learn a slow fox, a quickstep, a tango... and how to smoke." " Cant I do something with a fan?" " (Topaz) No." "Im regretting the crinoline." "One can overdo Victorian charm." "I keep picturing us walking." "I put bluebells in to get myself in practice." "Then I add twilight and give us things to say." " Its getting dark." " I wont let the flame go out." "Can you smell bluebells?" "I can smell heaven." "And there my imagination always fails completely." "I obviously dont want to kiss him at all." " Or do I?" " Your face has gone really, really red." "(Door opens)" " All right, miss?" " Im sorry..." "Ive changed my mind." "Anyway, its rubbish about him looking like a Greek god." "From now on I am going to concentrate on Roses quest for love." "We have put the rumba into our repertoire - just to be on the safe side." "Down with your arms." "Quick, quick, slow." "Good, Rose." "Good girl." "(Rose) I was too forthcoming when they came to call." "The problem was mostly the tea gown." "What do you mean, the problem was mostly with the tea gown?" "I heard Neil talking to Simon that day." " I was in the hay loft." " What did he say?" "What did he say?" "!" "He called you an insane broad... in theatrical costume." "He wanted Simon to drop us." "He did, did he?" "Well, I shant forthcome again." " Hold still." " Im holding still." "I thought wed sold these." "Only pawned." "I got them back." "Are you wearing lipstick?" "And powder and rouge?" "It makes you look ordinary!" "I mean it to." "I want us to look like a viable family for Roses sake." "If you look exceptional I look like someone too." "You are someone." "Wash your face." "Please." "Unpin your hair." "Give me something to be proud of." "May I take your coat, sir?" "Welcome!" "It was a highly intellectual gathering." "Aubrey Fox-Cotton was a cousin and an architect." "He recognised Topaz from some avant-garde etchings she modelled for." "She was glad shed taken her disguise off." "Youve tasted your first champagne this evening?" "One of lifes nicer rites of passage." "What do you think?" "It reminds me of very good ginger beer." " Without the ginger." " (Laughter)" "Sweet." "His wife is called Leda." "She wears too much lipstick." " Are you appalled by my table manners?" " Oh..." "I cant get the hang of using all this cutlery." "Of course, Mother and Simon find the whole thing divinely elegant." "This buildings original occupants ate with daggers." "Itll probably last until men dine off capsules." " Fancy asking friends over for capsules." " (Laughter)" "The capsules will be taken in private..." "By then eating will have become unmentionable." "Pictures of food will be rare and only collected by rude old gentlemen." "(Laughter)" "When I was in the United States on my second lecture tour they held a banquet for me in a place called Boulder." "How long is it since you published anything?" "Twelve years." "Is it drink or... or do you have psychological problems?" " (Giggles)" " Mother!" " Well, he didnt run out of the room." " (Sighs)" "Or attack me with a knife." "Malicious wounding." "Not quite a capital offence." "If you had been more competent I should have been obliged to bar my door." "Or send your younger son after me." "With a pitchfork." "(Laughs)" "(Laughter spreads along table)" "(* Gentle jazz)" "I always employ shock tactics with men of genius." "One has to employ them in public or the man bolts." "Are you unique or have American women become more menacing of late?" "I am as menacing as I need to be, Mr Mortmain." "Your voice has been silenced long enough." "There can be no creativity without stimulus." "(Mrs Cotton) Im glad were of the same opinion." " Youre treading on my feet." " So stop making up your own steps." " I didnt ask to dance with you." " You couldve refused me." " (Music ends) - (Cassandra) Thank you." "Thank you." "Would you like to come out to the terrace and take a little air?" "Im not hot." "Besides, its a slow dance next." " (Music starts)" " Ah, it is not, its a rumba." "And Ive promised it to Simon." "You shall have to rein me in on this one." "Ive been told I rumba like a rubber ball." "(Giggles)" "Youre much better than your brother." "(Chuckles) Oh, am I?" "Thats an unusual dress you have on." " You think its theatrical?" " Oh, no, no." "No, no." "Picturesque and original, certainly, but not theatrical at all." "(Thomas) Get down." "(Quietly) Go home." "Rose." "Rose!" "Stephen?" "Thomas!" "(Crash)" "(Music ends)" "(Thomas) III be fine." "(Maid) Come with me, well patch you up." "A nasty fall." " Do they make you nervous?" " My ancestors?" "My family." "I think theyre a very charming..." "highly individual bunch of... individuals." "(Both laugh)" "They make me nervous." "Would you like to try it?" "Go right ahead." "(Plays note)" "(* The Very Thought Of You)" "I dont suppose I would have much appetite if I was concussed." "Where have you been?" "In the long gallery looking at pictures." "(Leda) Never mind all that tedious ancestor worship." "Im going to photograph this." "Stephen, this is my card." "Five guineas a pop, Id like you to consider it." "Thank you, I will." "You arent going to go?" " Are you?" " Its just..." "I mean..." "Five guineas." "Thatll buy a fair few bars of Whole Nut." "Stephen, can I get you anything else?" "Sir William always sent us a ham at Christmas." " It was greatly missed last year." " Thomas." "(Mouths)" "Here." "(Laughter)" "(Bell tolling in distance)" "Rose hasnt said a word." "I am pretending I dont care what shes thinking." "Can I tell you something?" "When we got back to the dining room I imagined being in bed with Simon." " You didnt!" " You wouldnt understand." "No." " What was it like?" " Peculiar." "But bearable." " Even with the beard?" " I skirted round it." "If only I could get him to shave." "Wouldnt you rather have Neil?" " Hes got a nice clean face." " No." "You can have Neil." "Id marry Simon even if I hated him." "God, Ive never seen anything more beautiful than Mrs Cottons bathroom." "Peach-coloured towels." "Rose, there isnt a towel on earth that could make up for marrying a bearded man you hate." " I dont hate him." " Youre not in love with him." "I want to be." "Youve no idea how much I want to be." "I dont know why Im excited, what it is I really feel." "Perhaps if you kissed, or something." "I wont let him until after hes proposed, otherwise he might just kiss me and run." "Why would he do that?" "I wish we knew more about men." "I keep trying to imagine what Mother would say." "There must be signs you can study, signals you can read." "I think I realised then how little we have to go on." "How desperate we are." "And the thing we know least about of all is being women." "(Topaz) Three teas, two luncheons a deux." "Its only five days since we went there for dinner." "What do you and Mrs Cotton talk about?" "We dont talk, we converse, and thats different." "Elspeth is an extremely stimulating woman." "Oh, that bloody hound!" "(Topaz) Clothes brush is on the dresser." "Is there nowhere a man can sit here?" " Youre wearing your London suit." " Im going to London!" "Do you want me to start writing again or dont you?" "!" "I knew it." "Shes inspiring him!" "His temper has been getting worse." "Id let him tear me limb from limb if it would unleash him." "(Sighs)" "I hope Im not tempting fate." "I keep imagining Roses honeymoon." "In Paris." "I put flowers by the bed and think about her... waiting." "I cant decide between a pink negligee with swans-down trim or duchesse satin in classic eau de Nil." "But shes always just a tiny bit afraid." "This your playhouse?" "Its, erm, its where I come to write." "Like father, like daughter." "Except Ive written 147 pages." "It cant help him that rain pours through his study roof." "Im suspending your rent till its repaired." "Is Rose at home today?" "Shes gone to the village." "To buy soap." "Shall we walk over there?" "Im sure he was never going to stab Mother but it looked bad to the neighbour who jumped the fence and tried to grab the knife." "The neighbour got punched and Father got four months." " And stopped writing." " And started reading detective novels." "I cant work it out." "Hes a complete mystery." "The Case Of The Buried Talent." "You know, he should see an analyst." " An analyst?" " Yes." "They could take him back to the time he spent in jail and find out why theres still a part of him imprisoned." "No, hed never agree to that." "Father says all psychiatrists are con men." "Besides, it would mean he would actually have to talk to someone." "(Simon chuckles)" "(Simon) What a perfect picture." "Feel like Im painted on the lid of a candy box." " Did you get the soap?" " Theyd run out." "Neil was buying cigarettes." "Would you like a lemonade?" "Cant I have the same as Rose?" "Creme de menthe?" "Of course." "Your sister chose it for the contrast with her hair." "No, no - just there, dear." "The colours look so pretty." "Simon!" "Dont get the beer with the picture of a hen on it - its disgusting." "Neil hates me." "He thinks Im going to take Simon away from him." "Their parents kept them apart for 14 years." " Did they?" " I shant let him interfere." "I dont care what he wants." "(Neil) Go on, boy, fetch the stick!" "Do you remember that picnic when Mother and Pa forgot the food?" "Yeah, we had to buy it in a shop." "Mother had to cut the bread with a nailfile." "That, er, that was a funny day." "It was to tell us they were divorcing but they couldnt because the picnic wasnt packed." "And they were at a loss as to how to be civilised." "We never knew how they decided which of them would take which of us." " Who would you pick, Rose?" " Id put you both in a home" " and sell you to a chimney sweep." " (Laughs)" "(Neil growls, Rose squeals and laughs)" "No, not the hat!" "I made a mistake with Rose." "I thought she was affected when I first met her." "Artificial or mannered or something." "But shes not." "Shes natural and spontaneous..." "Quite unlike anyone Ive ever met before." "I suppose she is." " And so are you." " No." "Im really glad that we met you all." "Im glad that we came." "(Neil) Look out!" "Have you seen Rose doing cartwheels?" " Ever seen such a change in a girl?" " This must be her fresh air personality." "Yeah." "The question is, how many Roses are there?" "(Topaz) How could you?" "(Father) It was simple social intercourse." "(Topaz) What will we feed them?" "(Father) That ham." " We havent got a decent table to eat off!" " We can take a door off its hinges." " Whats the matter?" " Your fathers invited the Cottons over." " All of them?" " And the Fox-Cottons and the vicar." "Hes had an assignation with Elspeth at the British Museum." "Shes my patroness, we were doing research!" "That place is for nothing but assignations!" "I used to meet you there myself when I was married to Eduardo." "In the Mummy Room!" "(Door slams)" "It cant be done!" "Were so close to the only thing that will save us." " Should we get the dinner cancelled?" " No!" "Simon has to propose to me now before he meets somebody else or gets to know me." "If only I could get him on his own again." "You will." "I promise you, you will." "They didnt seem to notice it was their ham we were serving." "Or that they got the biggest portions." "(Mrs Cotton) Did our visits to the Mummy Room provide inspiration?" "Would you believe it, we came across two mummies in separate cases who were actually husband and wife." "(Father) Meticulous hieroglyphs." "There they were on opposite sides of the room gazing mutely at each other through barriers of glass." "Ive known marriages like that." "(Laughter)" "You see the pity of it is, Mrs Mortmain," "I havent designed a building that satisfied me in 15 years." "Im hoping to persuade Simon to let me remodel Scoatney." " Or this place." " Ive never seen above the ground floor." "Ive been waiting for a guided tour." "Ill show you round!" "Lets go up on the battlements" "(Simon) That is a great idea." "(Aubrey) Do let me join you." "Its a cloudless night and I havent seen the Pleiades in ages." "Such a soft constellation." "I prefer something much more angular." "Something is damping your fire, Mrs Mortmain." "My fire dies when it is not required..." "Aubrey." "The besieging force would have a great big sling known as a trebuchet that would fire rocks over the ramparts." "This is not what he meant." "Trip over your skirt or something, hell have to grab your arm." " You promised Id be alone with him." " Its out of my hands." "(Thomas)... the inhabitants of the castle..." "Would anybody like to bathe?" "Bathe?" "In the moat?" "!" "It would be like being disembowelled with an ice axe!" "Rubbish!" "We keep them here to stop draughts." "Theres only one pair, unfortunately." "Why dont you wait here for your turn?" "Come on." "(Neil) I dont know if these are gonna fit." "(Vicar) Stand by for musical accompaniment!" "I wanna see you suffer too or Im going straight back inside!" "(Neil gasping)" "Well done!" "(Cassandra gasping)" "(Piano playing gently above)" "Now that really is romantic." "Its a shame were not in love." "And that its so darn cold." "Its fine if you keep moving." "Are you OK?" "Its a bit weedy just here, thats all." "Oh, for Christs sake, Cassandra!" " Can we please go inside now?" " Im enjoying it!" "Look at the moon." "Come on, before we catch pneumonia." "The towels are upstairs." "Wait for me in the kitchen." "(Sighs)" "Will you kiss me now?" "Will you marry me, Rose?" "Kiss me, then III tell you." "(Yelling)" " Youre all wet!" " (Squeals) I know!" "Say something, brother." "Rose, Im sure you know everything Im wishing you." "(Laughs, squeals)" " You took me swimming deliberately." " Of course." " You might be a bit happy for them." " Would you just let me get dressed?" "Only if you tell me why you dont like Rose." "Because shes a gold-digger." " She is not!" " She is and you damn well know it!" "And youre no better." " How..." "How dare you!" " How dare I do what?" "Tell the truth?" "(all) Goodbye!" " Farewell!" " Bye!" "See you soon!" "(Topaz) What a lovely car." "(Father) Right..." "I may end up driving a motor car myself one day." "Oh, its such a relief!" "I thought wed never pull it off." "No, the relief is that Im in love with him." " Was it the kiss that did it?" " A kiss can do a lot of things." "Oh, dont cry." "Please dont cry." "Im going to take such good care of you all." "And now theyve all gone, to arrange a London wedding." "Father went too, to keep an eye on Rose." "And Topaz went, to keep an eye on him." "I was miserable for a week." "I wondered if I envied Rose." "I scoured my innermost heart and realised..." "I just missed her." "She had gone from me for good." "And the thought of Neil despising her was more than I could bear." "Dear Neil, Rose IS in love with Simon." "She offered it up herself that night after he proposed." "She once admitted that she would have married him even if shed hated him so I believe her." "I value her truthfulness." "I hope you value mine." "And, please, dont hold our having been so poor against her." "With love, your future sister-in-law, Cassandra." "Dear Cassandra, please draw a picture of the bridesmaids dress you want." "Topaz keeps coming up with sketches - you can imagine what theyre like." "You wont recognise me soon - Ive been taken in hand." "I have a permanent wave and my own account at Simpsons." "The shop smelt exactly the same - like heaven and bluebells." "And I saw that assistant - she was all smiles this time." "Ive always wanted a daughter to dress." "I kept wishing you were here." "Or I was there." "By the time you get this it will be Midsummers Eve, will you do the pagan rites?" "Will you do them one last time for my sake?" "I was in no-mans-land." "I knew that when dusk fell Id be doing something childish for a final time." "Meanwhile, I told myself sunbathing naked was a prelude to the rites... but I couldnt explain the thrill in the pit of my stomach, the tight, coiled feeling." "Was I rehearsing something?" "Dont go too close." "Hi." "A flying visit." "I had business on the estate." "Has Rose come home?" "She had a sitting for a wedding dress." "Are you all alone too?" "I did this with Rose every summer." "It started as a game but after a while we really did think the gods could hear us." "We never dared not do it after that." "Of course, mother panicked if we danced too near the flames." "And then she died, and the next year we danced even nearer, and went wild." "Rose told me." " You miss her." " It seems wrong when shes so happy." "When I first saw Neil after Fathers funeral... it was amazing." "We talked all the time." "We stayed up all night talking." "And now sometimes we sit not saying anything at all." "Rose and I used to do that." "Did you?" "I dont know, having someone else around is new to me." "I was pretty much an only child for years after the divorce." "So much was messed up." "I really want to get it right this time." "Would you like to see how we finished?" "On a ceremonial cry." "Please." " Dont you dare laugh." " Never." "(Yelling)" "May I?" "(Yelling)" " (Laughs)" " You... (Squeals)" "(Whooping)" "(* Debussy:" "Au Clair De Lune)" "I thought Rose would love Debussy but I took her to the Whitmore Hall last week and she looked... not bored exactly, just blank." "She seemed further away then than she does now." " Do you like it?" " Its beautiful." "It makes me think of Dover Beach." "We are here upon a darkling plain..." "Hm." "Its called Au Clair De Lune - by the light of the moon." "Youre much... much more clever than such a pretty girl has a right to be." "I look much prettier when Im not stood next to Rose." "We talk an awful lot about Rose, dont we?" "I suppose shes the thing we have in common." "(Music ends)" "Its getting late." "Ill drive you home soon." " (* You And The Night And The Music)" " But would you dance with me first?" "Please." "Does this have a name?" "This tune." "Its called You And The Night And The Music." " I... (Laughs)" " No, dont say anything." "I dont make a habit of this sort of thing." "Nor do I." "It was only a kiss, Cassandra." "It was my first kiss." "Oh, my God." "(Both laugh)" "Well, if it fell short of your expectations in any way I apologise most sincerely." "I dont think Im sophisticated enough for this." "Ill drive you home." "I kissed you because youve been so sweet and funny all evening." "And I wanted to." "I kissed you, and thats all." "Dont tell Rose." "Im in love with her." "Shes my sister." "What does he mean, funny?" "What does he mean, I kissed you, and thats all?" "Do Americans kiss each other all the time?" "Does he think I wanted him to kiss me?" "He belongs to Rose." "Rose, who said, A kiss can do a lot of things." "Not me." "I said Id never fall in love." "I said, Love was a murderous thing." "It is, and Im walking on air." "(Car approaching)" "I hate Rose like a poison in my fantasies." "Sometimes she comes into the room and sees us kissing." "(Door opens)" "And sometimes she doesnt." "I dont know which is worse." " Father." " I came back on the milk train." "Saw Stephen at the station, going somewhere." " We can afford shop cake." " I thought Id make an effort." " Its my birthday." " Today?" "17?" "18." "I cant see it somehow." "I still remember you in that perambulator." " Simon sent his regards." " Did he?" " Said you kept him greatly entertained." " Oh." "Made a change from worshipping Rose." "No man should be so violently in love - puts him at such a disadvantage." " What are you looking for?" " Kippers from Saturday." " Theyd gone off." " Corporeal transition." "I need something made of flesh." "Ah!" "I am shaking and sick with the things I have imagined." "The dreams are like a drug." "The magic doesnt last." "And then the pain is worse than knives." "(Thomas) There she is!" "(Stephen) Cassandra!" "* Happy birthday to you" "The molecular evolution of the cosmic universe." "Ive read half of it." "Its quite good." "(Gasps) Rose remembered!" "Its from Simpsons!" "Oh..." "I had to go to Kings Crypt to get it, today." "Ive been saving up." "Its a wireless!" "Oh, Stephen..." "Thank you!" "Oh, thank you!" "Its battery powered." "Oh, Stephen..." "This ones from Simon." "Its a sewing machine." "Its not." "Its a gramophone." "With integral wireless." "Its probably mains dependent and hes forgotten we dont have electricity." " (Crackles)" " Battery powered too." "Ill go and practise my bowling then." "Poor Stephen." "Be... careful with him." "Can I tell him the truth?" "Will it hurt?" "Stephen!" "Simon doesnt have to work to buy me a present." "No, that was my privilege." "We havent got a lantern." "Itll get dark." " Youll have to hold my hand." " No." "Itll make us both feel better!" "This isnt why I came, Stephen." "We mustnt do this." "Please... dont let me do this." "Im not coming after you, Cassandra!" "Im not coming after you!" "Why did I suddenly want him to kiss me when my heart ached for someone else?" "When I went to tell him how I felt?" "Ive been cruel to Stephen... and betrayed myself." "The memory of Simons kiss is ruined." "My future is wretched." "(Knock at door)" "Yes?" "Im sorry." "It wasnt wrong if we love each other." "Its all right, you wont have to see me for a bit." "Leda wants me to go to London to see a producer about a film part." "Im sorry about the kissing." "(Hammering)" "What are you doing?" "There are 2,000 characters in the Chinese alphabet." "Willow pattern distilled a sweeping saga into one perfect pictogram." "I wanted to break it down at random and assess whether meaning would remain." " What are we going to do for plates?" " (Sighs)" " Hes getting worse." " He has asked for ink twice." "Hes asked for coloured chalk and The Dandy." " I got a letter from Rose yesterday." " You didnt say." "She said not to." "She feels guilty at having so much when you have nothing." "(Rose) Three pairs of three-quarter length Hermes glace kid gloves at 12 guineas per pair." "One lavender satin nightgown with maribou peignoir..." "Three whole pages, then she put a total at the bottom." "Added up wrong." "I had to look maribou up." "And peignoir." " This isnt like her." " It isnt like an engaged person." "She doesnt mention Simon once." "Not once." "Our wicketkeepers sisters getting married and its all Gerald, Gerald, Gerald." "She promised me she was in love with him the night they got engaged." "I cant let her sacrifice herself." "(Conductor) Your stop, miss." "Theres going to be a mezzanine floor with a circular aperture to the entrance - all glass brick." "This is the best thing Aubreys done in years." " Wheres Rose?" " Matinee, all of them." "Apart from Neil, hes moved into an hotel." " Ive had matters to attend to." " What matters?" "Ive been looking for rooms." "I cant flourish here, Cassandra." " In this flat?" " In this family." "I thought I could move your father to great things but I couldnt." "Its paralysing me." "Hes been terribly feverish lately." "Imagine if he wrote something and you werent there to read it." "Elspeth Cotton can read it." "Hell show her first." "Im going to put myself about." " You mean with Aubrey?" " Not exclusively, no." "Try to understand, I need to be in touch with artists." " Father is an artist." " Not because of me." "London used to be my world but Im nearly 30." "Flesh fades." "Ill lose my place in life if I dont apply myself." "Is that all you think youve got to offer?" "Its the only way I have to make my mark." "Youve made your mark with us." "Thomas... and Rose." "And me." "But Im not your mother." "Cassandra!" "What a wonderful surprise!" " I thought Id go insane." " Why?" "Oh, chatter chatter chatter - youve no idea." "And always about the wedding." "Dorchester tonight to dine and dance." "This should fit you." "I dont wear it any more." "We bought it off the peg." "(* Upbeat swing)" "Youre looking very grown-up." "Im not sure that I approve." "Rose lent it to me." "(Music ends, applause)" "Ginger ale without the ginger?" "(* You And The Night And The Music)" "* You and the night and the music" "* Fill me with flaming desire" "* Setting my being completely on fire" "* You and the night and the music" "* Thrill me but will we be one... *" "(Mrs Cotton) Did you leave your father some food?" "I shall telephone Scoatney, they can send a cut of beef." "Thank you." "He gets ravenous when hes writing." "You really believe hes going to achieve anything?" "Weve been expecting a breakthrough every day." "Thats your prerogative." "James Mortmain has done his work, my dear." "The well is dry." "Of course, it doesnt matter two pins now Rose will marry into money." "* Until the pale light of dawning and daylight" "* Our hearts will be throbbing guitars" "* Morning may come without warning" "* And take away the stars" "* If we must live for the moment" "* Love till the moment is through... *" "Ive just seen Neil." "You are honoured." "(Song ends, applause)" "Simon, you know I love that song." "Get them to play it again." "(Sighs)" "(* You And The Night And The Music)" "* You and the night and... *" "There you are." "Now why arent you dancing?" "My shoes dont fit." "Ah." "Thank you for your letter." "You did a very necessary thing." "Come on." "I suppose we should get in practice for the wedding." " Best man and bridesmaid." " Im not going to the wedding." "Neil!" "Ive been offered a partnership on a ranch in California." "Have to sign the papers next week." " Nobody said." " Nobody knows." "Yet." "Do you hate England, Neil?" "Do you hate us?" "Englands..." "OK." "Youre OK." "Its me." "Its just all wrong here." "Put those flowers in the bathroom, will you?" "And put that card in the bedside drawer." "He sulks if I dont keep every single one." "You dont love him at all, Rose, do you?" "No, I dont believe I do." "Shame really." "He wears me out." "Every second of every minute of every hour were together he wants and he wants to be loved with every fibre of his being." " Cant explain it." " You explain it very well." "Do you want me to tell him for you?" "Tell him what?" "Im still going to marry him." "Thats a wicked, wicked, WICKED thing to do!" "More wicked than helping me make that crinoline dress?" "Than taking Neil for a swim so Simon could propose?" "It was like something in a book." "It wasnt real." "Oh, grow up." "Youve had meat on the table every day - thats real." "Silk stockings and French perfumes - if you have the nerve to use them." "Use them for what?" "!" "To trap a kind, good, sensitive man into marriage and destroy him." "Cassandra..." "Youre in love with him." " With who?" " Simon." "My fiance." "(Sobs) That is all we need." "Do you think I wouldnt give him up, throw it in his face if I thought hed have you instead?" "I know you wouldnt." "I know he wouldnt." "He thinks youre a funny little girl." "I am not greedy." "I am not selfish." "I am not just doing this for myself." "Dont go, you mustnt go." "What will I tell everyone in the morning?" "Youre already living a lie." "Tell them what the bloody hell you like." "Then go and count all your peach-coloured towels." "We have played too many games with love." "But I dont know any of the rules." "I wanted Rose to marry into money." "I willed her to fall in love with Simon and then wanted it all undone because I was jealous." "I have betrayed her and I hate myself because I love my sister." "Thats three and eleven, plus sixpence for the dog." " Sixpence?" " Theyre banned." "Its a fine." " Ive lost my purse." " Then you shouldnt have ordered." "Ill be waiting by the door." "I want my pencil back." "Will you let me help you?" "Could you just lend me tuppence for the telephone?" "* Tears and parting" "* They make us forlorn... *" "(Telephone) *... with the dawn" "* A new day is born" "* So III say good night... *" "Hello?" "Could I speak to Stephen Colly?" "Its Cassandra." "Do you know what time it is?" "I was offered that part in the film." "Will you take it?" "Havent decided." "Are you unhappy with me?" "Im unhappy with myself." " And Rose." " Rose is a bad girl." "In what way?" "Shes just a bad girl." "A lot of women are." "Sometimes were bad without meaning to be." "Youre not a woman yet." "Unlike Leda." "Shes been very good to me." "But I dont love her." " I love you." " I know." "When we were in the woods, I wondered if you loved me too." "Im really sorry." "Is it Neil or Simon?" "Which one are you in love with?" "Simon." "Cassandra..." "And it really, really hurts." "Marry me." "I can make it hurt less." " I can earn good money now." " I dont love you, Stephen." "I dont love you." "Its like some hideous party game." "Everybodys dancing and nobodys getting the prize they want because its all third-hand and second-best." "I cant bear it." "Father!" "(Father) Seen enough?" "What is all this about, Father?" "Elspeth believes an author must let his material marinate, become seasoned, before it can be worked with." "Elspeth doesnt believe youll write again." "No, you dont." "Ive been working very hard." "Youve hypnotised us into turning a blind eye, Father." "We accepted everything, let you lock yourself away..." "For me, secrecy is the essence of creation." "And what have you created?" "In the last 12 years what have you created beyond poverty and despair?" "!" " I am entitled to respect!" " You arent respected!" "Youre indulged!" "Why dont you just... write something?" "!" "You...!" "I lost my temper." "Im not myself." "This is yourself." "This is why you went to prison - what you did to Mother!" "No, Cassandra, it is not!" "We remember but we never talk about it." " Im not going to discuss it with you!" " (Sobbing)" "We need Topaz." "Youve driven her away." "Youve driven everyone away." "Except you." "Im staying here." "Im going to sit in this chair and watch you and wait until youve written something down." "Your mother used to do that." "Oh, Father..." "This is worse than prison - and it might go on forever." "(Waiter) Room service." "(Woman) Come in." "I have to talk to you, Mr Cotton... before its too late." "Writing somewhere new can be inspiring." "Come on." " Where are you going?" " This might unlock you." "Supplies!" "What?" "You can come out when youve finished 50 pages." "It took me a year to write 50 pages of Jacob Wrestling!" "Its good youre feeling so angry." "Harness the rage!" "Write the cat sat on the mat, itll be a start." "What the bloody hell do you think youre..." "Dont you dare, you bastard brats!" "Come back here!" "Come back here I tell you!" "Come back here!" "Im warning you, Cassandra!" "(Shouting continues)" " Thomas!" " Listen to him!" "Can you hear him?" "!" " Yes." " Cassandra!" "Im warning you!" "Come back!" "I have done a terrible thing." "I have put my father back in prison." "It may be the end of him." " Is Rose here?" " No." "Shes run away." "Do you know where she might have gone?" "I love you stop." "Dont hate me stop." "Rose." "Its from Walberswick." "Lets go." "We had a fight, the night I was in London." "I said some terrible things to her." "Not everything in the world is your fault." "Not everything is your responsibility." "I would have liked for you to see a proper sunrise." "This is a crisis, Simon, not a treat." "Its where we had the barbecue." "The day when Neil said, Ever seen such a change in a girl?" "She was being herself, that was the only difference." "She was happy here." "Thats what brought her back." "Theres a light on at the inn now." "Neils here too." "They havent had time to get married." "They hate each other." "(Rose) * The very thought of you" "* And I forget to do" "* The little ordinary things... * (Laughing)" "We were going for a swim." "And I knew then that this was love because my heart was breaking for him." "(Cassandra) The rest will come." "(Father) What if it never does?" "I dont know." "I dont know." " You look so tired." " Do I?" " Do you think I dont notice things?" " You never say!" "Im not as articulate as I pretend." "For a while the whole world thought otherwise and I was ashamed to be so mute and to be called a genius." " You are a genius." " Im ordinary, Im not invincible." " You havent failed." " I failed your mother." "I knew she was ill, Cassandra." "I knew when I went for her with the knife, and so did she." "Dont tell me!" "Shed... said..." "Shed said I didnt care." "She accused me of..." "lacking tenderness." "And she was right." "I couldnt make her... secure." "I couldnt make her feel..." "loved." "Even when she was dying!" "(Sobbing)" "Dont cry, dont cry." "What good are words on a page?" "What good is anything if a man cant open his heart and let himself out?" "Oh, I would give every word I ever wrote to have this moment with her." "She would like that." "Would she forgive me?" "She would say she understood." "Have I failed you, Cassandra?" " Im 18." " (Laughs)" "I cant see it, somehow. (Chuckles)" " (Neil) I dont expect you to forgive me." " I know that." "I thought I was gonna lose you - again." "I wouldnt let that happen." "Its good we can be civilised." "Yes." "Mothers pleased about that." "I saw Neil kissing her the night he lied about the bear." "I saw Rose kiss him back too." " Before she slapped his face?" " She never slapped his face." "I went to his hotel because I believed things would come right if just one person told the truth." "Rose has never been so happy in her life." "I didnt do it for Rose..." "I did it for you." "So you could have Simon." "(* Haydns Trumpet Voluntary on organ)" "Can we get a move on, please?" "This way, everyone." "Come along." "See you in the cab." " Im scared, Cassie." " Youre in love." "You know Im telling the truth this time?" "I know." "I want you to be this happy, Cassandra." "I want you to know what this feels like." "(Sighs)" "I know Im supposed to throw it but it might fall apart." "Or youll miss and Mrs Cotton will catch it." "(Both giggle)" "(Man) Bye!" "(Woman) Goodbye!" "(Rose) Bye!" "(Man) Cheerio!" "And so my sister departed for the New World." "Just knock." "Read this." "You dont need me." "I do." "Come home." "And now our lives seem full of possibility." "Work on the novel continues." "Passages are being published in a highbrow magazine." "Topaz!" "Get yourself up here, woman!" "Now!" "The cat sat on the mat was not a nonsense." "It concerns a child who is learning to read and is symbolic of a journey towards understanding." "The key to all knowledge comes in words of just one syllable." "Apparently." "(Simon) Hello?" "Anybody home?" "Im planning an essay on the excerpts of your fathers new work." "The whole novel could take its time in coming." "I suppose you mean Fathers reputation?" "I mean everything Ive come to love here." "England matters too much." " III never give it up." " Even if you go back to America?" "Even when." "I wish I could take you with me." "Would you come?" "Would you?" "Not if youre still in love with Rose." "How can you be, Simon?" "After everything she did!" "I dont have a choice!" "Love is like that." "Do you think I dont know love is like that?" "Im sorry." "We could be good companions, Cassandra." "We could read poetry together, I could play you music, youd make me laugh." " Wouldnt that be a nice little life?" " It wouldnt be enough." " I dont ask for ecstasy." " I mean, enough for me." "Simon, I dont want to go through life like my mother, afraid that Im not really loved." "Even if it meant I could go through life with you." "I can understand that." "You know, Id love to see America one day." "Should circumstances ever prove favourable." "I will come back." "Theyre just not favourable now." "You were always wise beyond your years." "No, I wasnt." "I used to be consciously naive." "Perhaps he meant it." "Perhaps he will come back." "But everything feels fractured and my heart is bruised." "Still, better all that hurt than to have known no pain." "Learnt nothing." "Theres only the last page left to write on." "I fill it with words of just one syllable." "I love." "I have loved." "I will love."