"Haha, my stout beauty." "You fool." "Hand over those papers or by midnight." "Your body shall be in the depths below." "And if Aunt Agatha catches you with this.." "Your body will lie in the street below." "Come on Ann, let's get a move on." "Oh, do let me finish this chapter." "Oh very well, twenty seconds." "Be quiet a minute." "Fifteen seconds." "Oh, shut up darling." "Can't you see I'm reading?" "No, really?" "I thought you were riding a bicycle." "Shhh.." "Time." "─ Oh Brian." "Hmm. "Fires Of Impulse"." "What's it about?" "Gas cookers?" "Give it to me .." "I will not have it covered with grubby finger-marks." "It must be a nice clean subject." "Carey Merton's latest." "Never heard of him." "─ Well, in case you're interested." "Carey Merton can thrill any woman with a single sentence." "No woman has a "single sentence"." "Listen to this." ""Love is the beckoning hand, follow it wherever it may lead."" ""Don't fear it .. you were born free, and love is your birthright."" "Don't you agree with him?" "─ Give me that book." "No. ─ Come on." "─ Why?" "Never mind "why?"." "I want it." "─ You're going to keep it." "Wrong." "I'm going to burn it." "─ Burn?" "Give me that book." "Give me that book, or I shall never speak to you again." "Haha!" "Give it to me!" "Give it to me .. please." "Now, who do you love?" "Carey Merton or me?" "I've never met Carey Merton." "It must be me." "I'll bet he's fascinating." "─ I'll bet he's potty." "I'll bet he knows how to make love." "─ Meaning I don't?" "Oh, you're not bad, for an amateur." "─ I suppose he's a professional?" "Of the highest rank." "─ Hmm." "Rank is right." "You should read some of his books and learn some new ideas." "Haven't learnt all the old ones yet." "Oh, strange .. didn't your Granny teach you?" "I scarcely remember." "Dear me, I thought you were quite old friends." "I always think of you as Grandma's boy." "Just the same, you love me." "─ Do I?" "You wouldn't promise to marry me if you didn't." "Well marriage is a little old-fashioned isn't it." "Is that what Carey Merton thinks?" "He understands. ─ What?" "─ Me .. every woman." "Now you're talking absolute rot." "You approve of convention, of course." "A man can be free, but a woman must be chained." "Well Carey Merton thinks differently." "He isn't stuffy." "He ought to be horse-whipped." "And you ought to be spanked." "Brian!" "I'm sorry, Ann." "But somehow, this old fossil infuriated me." "If he were old, he couldn't write so beautifully." "If he were young, he wouldn't write so disgustingly." "We'll settle this Brian." "─ How?" "We'll call on him and find out." "─ We can't do that." "Oh yes we can." "He's got a place up the river at Braden." "We'll go there this afternoon." "I wouldn't take you across the road to see that bounder." "Hmm." "Afraid he'll be too fascinating, I suppose?" "Fascinating?" "Him?" "Ha!" "Alright." "I will take you to Braden." "─ Good." "But on one condition." "─ It being?" "If this fellow proves to be what I think he is." "You'll drop these silly ideas and listen to Grandma's boy." "And if he proves to be what I think he is?" "You'll still listen to Grandma's boy." "Go on, go and get ready." "Oh, I am so sorry auntie, dear." "Gracious child .. how you do bounce." "Good afternoon, Brian." "─ Good afternoon Miss Brent." "Why all this excitement?" "─ We're going hunting." "Hunting?" "─ Hmm." "For the author of this." ""Fires Of Impulse"?" "What is this burning subject?" "Some trash I suppose?" "Worse, poison." "─ Poison?" "Hmm, mental poison." "Oh, in that case, I shouldn't dream of looking at it." "Careful it doesn't burn the sofa." "Ready, Brian?" "─ Yes, right-oh." "Goodbye, Aunt Agatha." "─ Goodbye dear." "Bye bye." "You promised to show me Carey Merton." "Is he here?" "Well, that's his house, just there." "Next to the Clark-Brown's." "I wonder if he's anything like his books." "I say, that's Carey Merton's wife." "Oh my dear .. fancy being married to him." "Look .. you can see him in there, in his study." "Any letters Mary?" "─ They're in the study, Madam." "Thank you." ""She yearned for adoration .."" ""And now .. she was love-hungry."" ""Now .."" ""Love was a food and .. she .. no, no, no .."" "Carey dear .. what's the matter?" "It's my heroine, confound her." "What's the matter with your heroine?" "─ Everything." "What's she done?" "Nothing, that's the whole trouble." "She won't .. move." "Surely, you can persuade her?" "She was to have been such a lovely thing." "She just won't come to life." "─ Of course she will, dear." "Tell me .. is she married?" "No .." "Interesting." "─ Oh." "Well, that is, I mean she is very young." "Can't your hero manage her?" "─ She hasn't met him yet." "What's he like?" "Oh, my usual successful type you know: strong and silent." "Married, of course?" "Yes, to a good woman." "Rather like a cow." "You know the type." "─ Do I, dear?" "The wife doesn't bother me." "She's just background." "I see." "Let's look for the girl." "Can't you see her?" "Young .. vivid .. seeking after life." "You mean .. modern." "─ Yes, why?" "Modern girls are always seeking after something." "I know dear, I know .. that's why she's interesting." "She's seeking after life like a .." "like a .." "Like a kitten after its first mouse." "Well, yes." "With the world at her feet, and love as her birthright." "That's grand until she comes up against social convention." "Ah, now you have said something." "She finds herself up against the social convention that tries to cramp her." "And then what does she do?" "Can you tell me that?" "I'm not a modern girl." "Then I'll tell you what she does .. she smashes it!" "Oh, I'm sorry .. there I go, raving again." "Why don't you shoot me?" "─ Why?" "You haven't opened your fan-mail." "Oh, it's the usual thing." "─ Pretending you don't like it?" "Hmm?" "Truthfully, I suppose I do." "You're tired." "Why not chuck work for a while?" "Let's run over to St Moritz." "It's lovely up there now." "St. Moritz would bore me to distraction." "What I need, is new inspiration." "I say .. quite a pretty girl." "Quite." "Don't open any more of those now." "We're going to lunch with Lady Bragden, you know." "We are?" "Where?" "─ At the club." "But Margo, you know what that means." "I'll run into a lot of foolish women." "But think of the thrill you give them." "─ Well, they're easily thrilled." "And I know they'll admire your new tie." "Do you think so?" "Really?" "─ Yes." "I'm sorry if I was terse, old girl." "That's alright my dear." "Come on." "Oh." "Too divine." "Ursula darling, I've been looking for you." "I want you to be on the committee of the fancy-dress dance." "Of course, Lady Bragden." "I shall be delighted." "Won't you join us in luncheon?" "Sorry dear, I am expecting the Carey Merton's." "Oh, is he coming?" "Now, careful, Ursula." "You know I can forgive it in the youngsters." "But you are really too old for this nonsense." "Really, dear." "There he is now." "─ I wish I dared speak to him." "But I'm going to Daphne." "Think of having him sign his own book." "Oh, Mr Merton, do write in my book." "Well this is quite against my rule, you know." "Oh, please, Mr. Merton .." "Hello, Lady Bragden." "Why Margo dear, nice of you to come." "And where is your famous husband?" "There." "Yes." "Why bless my soul." "They're around the man like flies." "I find it decidedly amusing." "Don't you?" "Not very." "─ Jealous?" "Of them?" "No .." "─ Of his success, eh?" "Something of the sort." "You see, Carey's outgrowing me." "I no longer inspire him." "My dear, as bad as that?" "─ I suppose it might be worse." "Impossible." "Who's the woman?" "Oh, there isn't any woman." "Yet .." "Maybe, there ought to be." "─ What?" "Carey's been grazing in the same pasture too long." "That's the trouble." "Why not take off the hobbles?" "─ The hobbies?" "Let him loose for a bit .. shut one eye .. pretend you're not looking." "He'll run better in double harness ever after." "It wouldn't work with Carey." "─ My dear, it always works." "You don't know him .. he's brave enough in a crowd .. but alone with one woman?" "He'd jump the fence in a panic, straight back to the home pasture." "To find you there, waiting to soothe him, eh?" "My dear, how absurd." "He'd shy away from any of the girls we know." "Well, maybe, but .." "Someday, some little girl is going to come along with a lump of sugar." "A lump of sugar?" "In half the drawing-rooms in London, there's young girls devouring his books." "Oh." "Mad .. mad." "Tut, tut, tut .. that child." "Reading stuff like that .." ""Fires Of Impulse", indeed." "Who is this Carey Merton I wonder?" "Oh .." "Oh .." "Ha, ha, ha." ""Carey Merton, Carey Merton." "Carey Merton, Carey Merton."" ""Carey Merton, Carey Merton." "Carey Merton, Carey Merton."" ""Carey ........." "Merton." "Carey ........." "Merton."" ""Carey ..........." "Merton."" "This is where he lives." "─ How do you know?" "I saw a photograph of this place in a magazine." "There he is .. oh, do come along and let's have a look at him." "You can't run wild like this over a man's private property." "No man has property which a woman can't share, if she's clever." "That's one of Carey Merton's own lines .. come on." "I suppose you won't be happy until you've seen the wretched person." "Now listen to this Margo .." ""Love was a food and she was starving."" ""She knew that somewhere within that villa was the man." "Her man."" ""Though she had never met him she felt that through the ages .."" ""They had been meant for each other."" ""So she stood there, waiting." "What would destiny hold for her?"" ""Would love come gently, like an autumn leaf?"" ""Fluttering, falling." "Or as a ravening brute, teeth gnashing, eyes ablaze?"" "Oh no .. run .. run!" "We must get out of here .. come on." "Well .. satisfied?" "What happened?" "─ We fell in." "Evidently .. but what are you doing here?" "Were you calling on us?" "Well, yes, we were." "But your dog scared us." "So we ran." "What a shame." "─ Oh it's quite alright, really." "Actually, it was all Brian's fault." "Brian?" "He's Brian." "─ Brian Cutler?" "Well, what's left of me." "─ Molly Cutler's brother?" "Ah, yes." "Oh, Carey." "This is Brian Cutler." "This is my husband" " Carey Merton." "How are you?" "─ Pretty damp, thanks." "Yes, you seem to have taken to the water rather too literally." "Oh, let me introduce Miss Brent .. my fiancé." "Oh, I'm sorry." "─ Sorry?" "Oh .." "Uh, this is, I mean, these are Mr and Mrs Carey Merton." "Oh, Mr. Merton .. oh .." "Oh Carey, bring her up to the house." "It must be the shock of the cold water." "It would take more than cold water to shock Ann." "I'll take her." "Don't trouble, you'll get all wet." "But I am all wet." "─ Why so you are." "Too bad." "Oh, thank you Mr. Merton." "─ You comfortable?" "Quite thanks." "Another cushion?" "Oh, you're spoiling me." "─ Not at all." "A pity cold water was turned on your adventure." "We oughtn't to have come." "It was an awful cheek." "I've read all your books." "Every one of them." "That's very nice of you." "And have you read them, Brian?" "─ Well, I'm not much of a reader." "Oh, you needn't be shy about it." "Nobody knows better than I do that my great appeal is to women." "Yes, I know." "I think your books are simply divine." "Brian doesn't like them." "Men seldom do like my books." "I tell the truth about love and marriage." "Brian should be very interested in love and marriage." "Didn't you say you two were engaged?" "Yes .. but I don't go in for modernism." "No, of course you don't." "Modernism is a woman's problem." "Well, how would you like it if your wife got terribly "modern"?" "Marriage shouldn't make any difference to the freedom of the individual." "Oh, Mrs Merton, don't you get a thrill being married to such a famous man?" "Oh, I'm afraid I've got rather used to it." "Yes, I suppose marriage is like that." "─ Like what?" "Like that .." "I mean the edge wearing off a bit." "A lot you know about it." "Oh, please don't misunderstand me." "My husband and I are perfectly happy .. aren't we dear?" "Aren't we dear?" "─ What?" "Oh yes, of course, perfectly." "Oh uh." "I didn't exactly mean that .. what I mean is." "I feel a girl oughtn't to get married until she knows what she is .. doing." "What?" "And a very sound point of view." "─ Oh, is it?" "Yes, people fear experience too much." "They don't realize it helps one to .. get a grip on life." "What do you mean by "experience"?" "He doesn't mean marriage." "─ No, I thought he didn't." "I agree with him thoroughly." "I'm on with my work." "Why don't you two sit outside?" "It's much warmer there." "Good idea." "There's more air too." "As soon as your things are dry, I'll let you know." "You're so kind." "And you too, Mr. Merton." "I shall never forget this afternoon, never." "Quite against my rules, you know." "Oh, I beg your pardon." "You needn't have been so rude." "I'd like to strangle him." "─ He's a perfect dear." "A perfect ass." "Just because he tells the truth about marriage." "I was a fool to bring you down here." "You were bad enough before." "Goodness knows what you'll be like now you've met the poor chap." "Oh, I'm much too upset to argue with you." "Good." "The sooner our things are dry and we go back to London, the better." "I don't think I feel well enough to go back to London." "Now, look here Ann." "What's the idea?" "─ I think I'll stay here for a while." "Oh, no you don't." "You'll come back with me to London and like it." "Try and make me go back." "─ You're chasing this Carey Merton!" "Ha .. chasing .." "I hadn't noticed him running away." "Now listen here, Ann." "I'm just about sick of this." "And so ..?" "Well?" "Your things are nearly dry." "─ Oh thanks." "Ohhhhh!" ".." "Ohhhh!" "Oh my dear." "What's the matter?" "─ I don't know." "I just feel weak." "She's not weak." "She's as fit as I am." "Oh, but she's had a terrible shock." "Oh, men never seem to understand." "Please may I use your telephone?" "─ Of course my dear." "It's just inside." "Thank you so much." "What are you going to do?" "─ Telephone aunt Agatha." "Oh hello Miss .. well there must be a reply .. try again." "Oh, what is it Murgatroyd?" "─ The phone mum .." "Well, I can't hear that." "─ Yes, well it's been ringing for ages." "You know I can't hear it." "I've lost my glasses." "Ah." "Oh .." "Murgatroyd." "See, take this." "Only keep the place." "Yes?" "What?" "Yes." "Yes, hello." "What?" "Oh." "Ann, my dear child." "Aunt Agatha?" "I'm not coming home." "I want you to come down here and stay with me." "Certainly not." "I've never heard of such a thing." "You must come home at once." "But darling, I can't." "I'm ill and weak." "No, no .. ill and weak." "You don't sound weak." "Now don't argue." "Pack a bag for yourself, and bring me some clothes." "I insist on you coming back at once." "Mixing with a lot of strangers .." "They may be impossible people." "Who are they anyway?" "What .." "Merton .." "Carey Merton?" "Not the Carey Merton?" "Oh no, I wouldn't dream of you coming home dear." "No, of course you're ill." "Yes, you wait there." "I'll come down to you." "Goodbye dear, goodbye .. yes." "Murgatroyd .." "I'm going to meet Carey Merton." "Come and help me pack." "You know, I'm bridling like a twitch." "I mean .." "I'm twitching like a bride." "Look here, Ann, give up this silly idea and come back with me." "Certainly not." "─ I don't understand you at all." "Of course you don't." "I love you Ann." "Why not marry me and forget all this modern nonsense?" "What?" "Tie myself down to one man with all my youth before me." "And a world full of men." "You've got to stop reading this chap's rotten books." "You seem to think you can order me about." "No I don't, but I do feel I have some say in the matter." "Really?" "─ Well, we're engaged, aren't we?" "Well, I'm wearing you're ring for what it amounts to." "For "what it amounts to"?" "I suppose you call that another silly convention?" "Of course." "─ I see." "Well, isn't it?" "─ No." "Now, how do I know I am going to love you forever and ever?" "But you told me you loved me." "─ I may meet someone I love more." "Rot!" "Not at all." "You and I have only met politely." "I don't know what you're really like." "Why .." "I've never even met you at breakfast." "What difference does that make?" "─ Oh, more than you think." "It would help me to decide whether you are to be the first man in my life." "What?" "─ Well .." "I feel you oughtn't to be the only one." "─ You silly little fool." "Hmm!" "You had better this back." "─ No, Ann .. please." "Hello Brian." "Surely you're not going?" "I'm afraid I've outstayed my welcome." "─ How absurd." "You are always welcome." "That's awfully nice of you." "Thanks." "Well .." "I must be off." "But you're coming to the costume dance on Saturday of course?" "I don't see how I can, now." "I'm sure you can .. promise you'll try .." "Very well .." "I'll try." "─ Good." "Brian's in a tremendous hurry to leave." "─ Oh, he's a nitwit." "Oh, I'm afraid you've been squabbling." "─ Well, yes." "But he was impossible." "He's got the most Victorian ideas." "Besides that, he was very rude about Mr. Merton's book." "Really?" "How dreadful." "Well, I must say I think you were a little unkind to him." "Oh, let's not talk about Brian." "The great thing is I'm here." "And absolutely free .." "I'll go and change now, if I may." "Do my dear, your things are quite dry." "By Jove .. isn't it refreshing to have someone so young with us?" "She's like a breath of new life about the place." "That child has something, Margo .. a strange something." "Yes .. perhaps a lump of sugar .." "─ Uh?" "Hello Ann." "Are you coming with us?" "We are going to see Lady Bragden." "I won't if you don't mind." "I've got rather a headache." "Oh my dear." "Is it very bad?" "─ Well, fairly." "Oh in that case, you must sit there and keep quiet .. have a nice rest." "Thank you auntie, dear." "How your husband inspires one, my dear." "Do you know .." "I feel as young as Ann." "And as attractive." "Of course, when I was her age, I was quite a girl." "But marriage never appealed to me." "Though the young men used to hang around like bees round a honey-pot." "It was the truth that, really." "When I think of those young men, how foolish they seemed." "How beautifully, romantically, foolish." "They would vow if they couldn't get me they would lead a life of bachelorhood." "Tell me Mrs Merton, don't you think a bachelor's life is too pathetic?" "I dare say it has its compensations." "Yes, but a bachelor is so selfish." "He keeps everything to himself." "Oh .." "Oh!" "Madam, my chop if you don't mind." "─ Oh, how revolting." "Not at all." "Just a little underdone." "I can assure you Madam, the whole thing was an accident." "Surely, this face is familiar to me?" "What face?" "─ Your face." "It's the only one I've got." "─ But I have seen it somewhere." "I've seen it .." "I know it." "Yes, of course, it's Major Gore." "You have the advantage of me Miss .." "─ Miss Brent." "Great Scott!" "Miss Brent .. so it is." "It's ages since I saw you .. ages." "Oh, come Major, it's not so very long ago." "Since the war." "Which war?" "Wicked as ever .. just a big tease." "You know Mrs Merton of course .." "Mrs Carey Merton." "Oh, of course." "How do you do?" "I'm very well, thank you Major." "─ Nice to see you again." "I'm sorry about the chop." "I think, if you don't mind, I'll just stay and chat with the Major." "Certainly." "I'll go and see if I can find Lady Bragden." "Will you sit down." "─ Oh, well I will." "Thanks." "Don't mention it." "And, uh, what have the years been doing to you, Major?" "What have the what been doing to who?" "─ I mean .. what has fate brought you?" "A very tough chop." "We seem to have that in common." "Good job it wasn't Irish stew." "─ Oh really." "Tell me, is there a Mrs Major Gore?" "─ Not that I'm aware of." "But surely you're not a bachelor?" "─ Surely I am." "Remarkable." "And how have you escaped the bonds of matrimony all these years?" "Oh, I think I was born under a lucky star." "You've travelled a lot, no doubt?" "─ Oh yes, keep moving a bit." "Still, even the loneliest get "caught" someday." "And, do you live down here all alone?" "─ Yes." "But Major, surely you haven't gone all these years without meeting someone .." "Who has looked into your eyes and read all your secrets?" "Who has taken account of every little unconsidered trifle." "And who has surprised you, by valuing you at your true worth." "Haven't you met such a person?" "─ Yes, once." "Tell me .. who was it?" "─ The income-tax collector." "You say she's young and attractive?" "─ Yes." "And Carey's impressed?" "─ Obviously." "Well, what are you going to do about it?" "─ I don't know." "I may ask her to leave." "I suppose most women would do that." "─ And most women would be wrong." "Yes, that's it." "I'm afraid of doing the wrong thing." "I know." "It's so easy for a wife to do the wrong thing." "When she's afraid of losing her husband." "She's so very .." "I feel helpless." "Now my dear, don't be frightened." "I'll tell you how to play your cards." "This girl's staying on for the dance?" "─ Yes, I don't know when she's leaving." "Well, we'll see what can be done." "Meanwhile, I'd rather like to meet this modern "vampire"." "Stroll up to the bungalow with me .." "Carey's there." "So she's sure not to be very far away." "─ Come along then." "Of course not." "I'm delighted to have you." "If I'm putting you off your work, I can go back to the garden and read." "You'll do nothing of the kind." "In any case, life needn't be all work, need it?" "You're awful kind and understanding to me." "You know perfectly well, that this is one time when I hate being alone." "It isn't good for one to be alone too much." "It's human to want companionship." "I've never had much "companionship"." "No-one understands me." "You're lonely too, aren't you?" "─ I?" "Oh, I don't know." "I feel you are." "I know you are." "You show it in your books." "You're seeking .. something." "I feel you're terribly alone, in your soul." "Do you know, you're the most amazing child." "You seem to know all about life." "Only because I've read your books." "My books give you this insight in life?" "─ Yes." "Then for once, I can believe in my own success." "Oh, I love your books." "They are all I have ever really loved." "Except .." "Except?" "─ Their author." "You silly little thing!" "You mustn't say things like that." "I must." "I feel our lives have touched, that you always influence me, Carey." "Carey?" "─ Yes, Carey." "I've known you for years." "I've always known you." "We belong to each other." "My dear child, you mustn't." "Really .." "Oh!" "Uh-oh .." "Come along .." "Oh, but my dear .." "Don't be foolish." "It's just what he needs." "But I didn't bargain for that." "─ Everything we hoped .." "Excuse me sir, the dancing master is ready for you, sir." "Oh good .. tell him I'm coming along at once." "Oh, are you taking dancing lessons?" "─ Oh, I'm pretty good already." "Just a bit of polishing up for the costume affairs taking place here." "Just a few of the finer points." "How delightful." "I never dreamed you were a dancing man." "It comes naturally to me." "Always did." "─ But could I come and watch?" "Certainly." "Ah, I think I could do with a little polishing too." "Well, Madam I'll take you at 3 pm." "─ Thank you Professor." "I shall be charmed and charmed." "Good afternoon Major." "─ Good afternoon." "Professor Hotspur from Tottenham." "─ Miss Brent." "How do you do?" "─ I am charmed and charmed." "Professor, do you think you can squeeze me in?" "Madam, I am not a corsetiere." "Oh no." "I meant, could you give me a dancing lesson?" "I shall be charmed, after I have finished with the Major." "Would you care to sit down?" "Just for a moment." "Now, Major, are you ready?" "─ Yes, I'm bursting to start." "Right, now we start with the waltz." "It's quite light now." "It's quite simple." "It goes .." "One, two, three." "One, two, three." "No, keep your under-chest in please .. one, two, three." "Oh, one, two, three." "One, two, three, up." "One, two, three." "Keep your feet flat on the floor and well planted." "Oh, sorry." "Was my step at the right time?" "─ Yes, but in the wrong place." "A technical error." "Let me see if I can do it again." "No, no." "May I suggest you have your lady partner now." "The lady partner please, please." "It's alright." "Now don't worry." "No, no, that's the wrong position." "─ Oh, it felt to me quite alright." "There. now that's better." "Now .. action." "On the beat." "One, two, three now." "One, two, three .." "Three, two, one." "One, two, three .. round." "Round .. round." "Now 1,2,3 .. a little faster." "1,2,3 - 3,2,1 - 1,2,3 - 3,2,1 .." "Oh, Major!" "Oh, Major." "I assure you Madam that the whole thing was an accident." "Confound it, boy." "What are you playing at?" "It's this here .. thing, sir." "─ What "thing" here?" "That's my sabre." "─ Looks like a sword to me, sir." "Well it is a sword." "─ I thought you said it was a sabre." "Well it is a sabre." "How can it be a sabre if it's a sword?" "─ I don't want any of your cheek." "I know what it is." "Do you think I'm a fool?" "Yes sir." "─ What?" "It's a sabre, sir." "─ It isn't .. it's a sword." "You said it was a sabre, sir." "No more lip!" "Can't you keep your tongue still for five minutes?" "Get me out of this!" "─ Yes, sir." "And I'll give you a letter of reference." "─ Oh, thank you, sir." "Look out." "─ No!" "It's round here, sir." "You mind my fingers .. oh, look." "What is this?" "All-in wrestling?" "─ Put that in there sir." "Don't you mention "sword" again." "─ Oooh!" "Sir!" "Pardon me, I think I can help you." "Just a minute." "Take this out first, you see." "Hold that for me." "That's right, take this off .." "like so." "Oh, it's a bit tight, isn't it?" "─ That's right." "Hold the coat." "That's the trouble sir." "Your cutlass." "Cutlass?" "There you are you see, sir." "It's a cutlass." "Oooh." "A cutlass .." "A cutlass?" "─ Yes, that's right." "It's a sword." "─ Why so it is." "I beg your pardon." "Silly affairs these, don't you think?" "I don't know." "I rather like fancy-dress dances." "If it's not a rude question." "Whoever are you supposed to be?" "Romeo." "─ Oh, Romeo?" "I'm Napoleon." "Come along, have a drink." "Actually, I'm expecting to meet someone here." "Juliet?" "─ Yes, Juliet." "You gay dog." "Who is the lady?" "I may have seen her." "Uh, Miss Brent." "Miss Brent?" "Ye Gods, you know Miss Brent?" "Very well indeed." "Do you?" "I could write volumes about Miss Brent .." "libraries .." "Have you seen her here this evening?" "─ No, and I don't want to." "Don't you like her?" "─ I'm not very fond of women." "They bore me to tears." "─ You're rather hard on the fair sex." "I have to be." "My family was susceptible to two things: mumps and marriage." "I've had mumps, and that's enough for me." "Well, you're the first real woman-hater I've met." "There's not a woman breathing I'd walk two yards to see." "Excuse me." "Good evening my dear." "May I assist you?" "Yes, I'm having trouble with my rapier." "That's a sabre." "Oh, I beg your pardon." "I thought it was a sword." "That's a pretty costume you nearly have on." "For a woman-hater, you're not so bad." "Well, I'm not quite myself tonight." "I'm Napoleon and living the part." "Oh, get away." "I'd like to see the woman you'd run away from." "Coo-ee!" "There's your Juliet." "─ That?" "That's her aunt." "If she wants me, I'm away." "Guard, whiskey and soda please." "Coo-ee!" "There you are, Major." "Did you see me?" "I didn't recognize you in that night-gown." "A "tunic" Major, please." "It's a Greek tunic, and I am Diana the huntress." "You think it's becoming?" "─ Becoming what?" "Oh, now you're teasing me." "But I know what you are .. now don't tell me." "You're a Lord Nelson." "─ However did you guess?" "By that great big, murderous dagger you've got on." "Don't you think I saw anything?" "─ I almost wish it would." "Look, the orchestra!" "Oh, my feet are itching." "Well, why don't you scratch them?" "Can't we dance?" "─ Yes, we can't." "Come along with me now." "We're having a little drink." "What do you take?" "Well really, I hardly know." "Maybe if it was my birthday." "Well, have a large whiskey and soda." "Then it will be." "Two large whiskey-and-sodas." "Swift!" "Hello Aunt Agatha." "Oh Brian, my dear boy." "Do you know Major Gore?" "Oh yes, quite well." "He's been looking for you all evening." "He said so?" "Really?" "Yes." "This could be a handful Ma'am." "That will make your hair curl." "Oh .. a permanent wave?" "Where's Ann?" "Well uh, really Ann ought to be here to chaperone me." "But, she and Margo are still dressing." "─ Oh, I see." "Parlez-vous Français?" "May I come in?" "─ Certainly." "Hello my dear." "Would you like to powder my back for me?" "I've been terribly worried." "There is something I must tell you, and yet I don't know how." "It's about Carey and me." "Perhaps you had better tell me .. even if it is difficult." "Very well, I will .. we're in love .." "I gathered something of the sort had occurred." "Don't hate me too much please." "I couldn't bear a scene." "I wondered if it would be better not to let you know .. that would be so cheap." "And I don't want there to be anything cheap about my first affair." "I don't know what to say to you Ann." "You must admit it's rather an unusual situation." "I know." "But isn't it better that you should know the truth?" "Yes, yes of course .." "I admire your courage in telling me." "It's honorable of you." "Carey .. how does he feel about the whole thing?" "He loves me too .. deeply, sincerely." "I know it." "What woman wouldn't?" "Does he know I was to be informed?" "No." "I thought it better not to mention it to him." "You know what he's like." "So kind and chivalrous." "He'd hate to think he was hurting you." "─ Yes .." "Carey would hate that." "So please don't go to him and say I've told you." "It would upset him dreadfully." "Really." "It wouldn't be good, would it?" "─ Not at all." "If it had to be, well it's well to face it sensibly." "You really do understand?" "─ My dear." "I'm a woman of the world." "In spite of being a trifle dulled by matrimony." "Now obviously .. the thing for me to do is to divorce Carey." "So that he should marry you." "You'd like that, wouldn't you?" "Oh good heavens, no!" "I don't want to marry him." "I don't think he's the marrying type at all." "Oh, I see .. you just want to borrow him?" "Yes, I suppose you could put it like that." "But this is love Margo." "One can't confuse it with the bargain one calls marriage." "We can't stop it coming, and we cannot say when it will go." "In the meantime however, I shall have to make some arrangements for myself." "I mean .." "I shall be terribly in your way if I stayed here." "Would you stay here?" "Oh my dear child." "That's unthinkable." "But if Carey and I both asked you?" "That's what I hate about this." "The fact that I may be breaking up your home." "It was kind of you to think about that." "I appreciate it." "Then then you will stay?" "I'll think it over." "But why can't you?" "You've read Carey's books and you believe in them." "You must think the same way as we do." "─ Why, of course." "Oh, but you can't be married to a man like Carey and not understand." "Wouldn't it be a little inconvenient for us all to share the same house?" "I mean, our relative positions might be confusing to the trade's folk." "There is that .." "I hadn't really looked at it in that light .. oh, it's a pity." "You're such a good housekeeper, and you'd know how to make us comfortable." "But there are drawbacks, dear." "You'll have to face them .." "scandal, for instance." "Oh, but aren't we above that sort of thing?" "Perhaps .." "You think a man wants to have his first wife with him on his second honeymoon?" "Oh, but Carey is so broadminded." "─ I know." "If only you and he could be somewhere else .. not here." "That would mean leaving you behind, all alone." "It would be awfully dull for you." "It is difficult." "My dear, why not let me think it over?" "It's an important step for all of us." "Alright." "We'll agree to whatever is best for you." "And Margo, do you think it would help if you read "Fires Of Impulse" again?" "Why?" "You remember: "In spite of events, the two women were always friends"." "Naturally .. that's the only way." "Margo .. darling .. thank heavens you're modern." "Oh my dear child." "Two large whiskeys for Napoleon and his friend." "What are those spokes on your boots, Major dear?" "They're spurs." "Really, truly?" "What do they do?" "They don't do anything." "─ Then, why be bothered with them?" "Pardon." "They are used to help the horse." "─ Oh, I see." "So if you've a short horse, you can lift your heels round the dear little wheels." "Which of course, helps you along." "─ Naturally .. yes." "Ann is terribly late." "Is she coming?" "Why don't you go and call for her?" "That's a good idea." "I will." "Love's young dream." "Makes me all a-flutter." "You sure he's got the scotch?" "Margo." "How do you like it?" "─ Well, where's the rest of it?" "That's all there is." "It's a new design." "Who designed it?" "─ One of the latest young men." "He must have run short of ink." "I shouldn't worry about it .. something to take your mind off your work." "No doubt, you're writing about the freedom of the individual." "As a matter of fact, I am." "Then, in principle you ought to approve of this costume." "It represents .. freedom." "You must admit, it is very individual." "Well, it's not like you." "How do you know?" "It may be me." "Why Carey, aren't you coming?" "No." "I'm afraid the muse is working tonight." "Come along dear." "We're terribly late as it is." "Very well .. do you like my costume?" "I think it's perfectly charming." "Sweet and pretty and .. simple." "I envy your dance partners." "Well, if you change your mind, we can easily make up a costume for you." "A couple of sheets and a facecloth, you'd be a marvelous sheik." "No, I'm afraid you must excuse me." "I feel that I shall do some of my best work tonight." "Inspired?" "Definitely." "─ We'll leave you then." "Come along Ann." "Hello Ann." "─ Hello Brian, I didn't expect you." "I made up my mind at the last minute." "I couldn't stay away." "You might have let me know." "I like your costume Brian." "Suits you." "─ And yours suits you." "Hello Tommy." "Who're you supposed to be?" "─ Why can't you guess?" "Come along dears, Meldrum Gideon is going to give us a song." "Come along." "Want to hear him?" "─ Oh yes." "Excuse me, while I do a little polling." "Ready for it?" "Just a quick one, old boy." "Hello Ann." "─ Hello Mel." "I've heard about love .. and what it does to the heart." "I've lived without love." "Never studied its art." "But I'll confide in .. you." "I'll know just what .. to do." "When love comes my way." "I shall make it stay." "It will discover in me." "An ardent lover in me." "I know I shall dwell." "Deep within its spell." "My heart is beating, for that happy day." "When love comes my way." "Nice sentiment in that song." "Eh dear?" "─ It's pretty but a bit old-fashioned." "Well my dear." "Love is never old-fashioned." "That depends on the lover." "Oh, you're one of those modern girls." "Perhaps you'd like it better this way?" "When love comes my way." "I will shout "hurray"." "I've been so childishly meek, now I will show my technique." "I know I'll upset .. each blond and brunette." "Not one girl will dare to tell me "nay"." "When love comes my way." "That's better." "Oh dear, baby .. you ain't heard nothing yet." "Listen to this one." "When love comes my way." "I will shout hey, hey!" "I'm just the fellow for you." "I beat my girls black and blue." "I'll go out each night." "I'll get myself tight." "Nice young ladies .. better keep away." "When love comes my way." "You must advise me what to do Lady Bragden." "I'm beyond thinking for myself." "Where's Carey now?" "At home, working." "He's like a factory in full-blast, making guns for his war on convention." "Send her to him." "─ Alone?" "Can't you take a chance?" "Now do as I tell you." "Brian, you dance marvelously." "I'm glad there's something about me you like." "Is there anything you like about me?" "Yes .. two things." "─ Oh, what?" "My arms." "Brian, behave!" "We're dancing." "You know Ann, there will never be anyone else but you." "Don't be silly, you'll meet heaps of other girls." "Perhaps .. but I shall wait for you forever." "That's what you think now." "In a year's time, I shall be sending you a wedding present." "Just because you're that kind of an idiot." "It will be our wedding." "─ No." "It won't." "I can't believe you mean it." "─ Yes, I do." "Something much greater has come into my life Brian." "You know what I mean." "It's only infatuation." "No, I think he's my greatest love." "─ Oh well, let's go outside." "This place has heightened friendship." "I must talk to you Ann." "You don't know what this is doing to me." "Alright .. poor old darling." "Does it hurt terribly?" "You know the answer to that too." "Oh Brian, be a dear and get me a glass of water .. thank you." "I thought over what you said, about you and Carey .." "I think you're quite right." "Margo, do you really?" "Yes, you give him so much inspiration .. such a fresh outlook." "Oh, it's wonderful of you to look at it like that." "You should go to him." "He's all alone .. he needs you." "I know." "You won't be disturbed." "I told Carey I would be late." "You're a darling, Margo." "Be a dear and finish this dance with me .." "I adore this tune." "Yes, do Brian." "─ With pleasure." "There's one thing about Brian." "He dances sublimely." "More than you can say for Carey." "He's impossible." "What the .. blazes!" "Why don't you look what you're doing?" "I haven't eyes in the back of my head." "─ You didn't hit me in the head." "You hit me on the .. why don't you look after your rotten sword?" "This isn't a sword .. it's a sabre." "I don't care whether it's a nail file." "Keep it to yourself." "Well, you look after yourself." "─ None of your cheek .. understand?" "Why, you keep yourself away from me." "You?" "You don't know how to wear the rotten thing." "That's your trouble." "You've never carried a sword in your life." "I doubt if you've even been a boy scout." "What are you, anyway?" "I am the Duke Of Wellington." "Who are you?" "I .. am .." "Napoleon." "Ah, Napoleon eh?" "Aye, aye." "I think we've met before." "─ Really?" "Where?" "Waterloo!" "Are you sure it wasn't Charing Cross?" "I beg your pardon." "Granted." "Oh, gentlemen, control your scimitars." "Oh, oh .. oh dear." "Thanks Brian." "It was sporting of you." "─ But you dance beautifully." "No flattery now." "Remember, I'm an old married woman. ─ Not old." "And not so very married at the moment, eh, Brian?" "What a mess it is, isn't it?" "─ As you say, what a mess." "Where's Ann?" "She's gone to the bungalow." "─ The bungalow?" "Ann." "I couldn't stay there and think of you here alone." "I had to come to you." "It all seemed part of us." "The music, the colours and the lights" "It went to my brain." "I grew restless and impatient." "You know what rhythm does to one?" "It sort of intoxicates." "If you had been there, it would have been so different .. so wonderful." "And now, the night is all about us .. and we're alone .. together." "Ann!" "Ann, behave yourself." "But what can we do?" "Do you find her so very unattractive?" "By Jove, no." "─ You are not so bad yourself." "So why don't you two get together and do a bit of flirting." "Lady Bragden ─ I mean it." "One, or even both of them may come back." "Well, let them catch you." "Or better, send Carey a note." "─ A note?" "Tell him to go ahead with Ann." "Acting on his own theories, you've found a new and violent passion of your own." "It's a grand idea .." "let's do it." "─ I'm game if you are." "Well, quick into the writing-room." "You've no time to waste." "There you are dear." "They are just starting the contest." "I think they want us to judge the prizes." "Two large whiskey-and-sodas." "Split." "Twins?" "There's only one." "Those Scottish splits are very .. [Hic!" "]" "I beg your pardon?" "─ [Hic!" "]" "What are you clucking at?" "─ I've got .. [Hic!" "]" "You've got hiccups." "─ That's what I said. [Hic!" "]" "I say bartender .. this lady's got hiccups." "What should I do?" "Hold her breath and count to nine." "How could I hold her breath?" "You stupid ass." "[Hic!" "] ─ Don't do it." "I can't help it. [Hic!" "] ─ Don't help it." "Stop it." "I can't [Hic!" "] do that either." "Well stand on your head for half an hour." "Oh, shameless. [Hic!" "]" "Pick-up sir?" "─ No thank you." "Ooh!" "What're you doing?" "You blithering idiot." "─ Always a good cure for hiccups sir." "Look, they've gone." "─ Oh." "That's jolly good .. very clever." "Here you are." "Here's half a crown." "Go and buy yourself a yacht." "I see .. a sudden shock and the hiccups are cured." "[Hic!" "]" "I beg your pardon?" "[Hic!" "]" "Hiccups." "─ Yes." "Yes, I know." "I've had them myself." "But no more .. not me." "Really?" "─ No." "I've found the perfect cure." "No." "Yes .. and what's more, I'll cure you of your hiccups fair lady." "Oh, thank you very much [Hic!" "]" "Oh, don't mention it." "I cure all my friends and they cure their friends." "By the time I've finished there won't be a hiccup left .." "How wonderful. [Hic!" "] What do I do?" "Well now, now, now .. trust in me." "Now, somebody give me a glass, an empty glass." "Thank you very much." "Now, I put this glass on the floor." "Now you bend down and look at that glass for ten minutes." "And your hiccups will be cured." "It is wonderful how quickly the cure works .. and it is permanent." "So .. this lady .. will never have hiccups again." "[Hic!" "]" "Hiccups." "I can tell you a perfect cure for those Miss Brent." "Oh, do tell me." "─ Pick out the man you really love." "The man I really love?" "Tell him to put his arms around your neck." "Hold your breath .." "While he gives you a long, long kiss." "You sent for me, Madam?" "Yes." "Take this note up to Mr. Merton at the bungalow at once, please." "Yes, Madam." "─ Give me that note." "I'll take it." "Oh Major, why should you?" "─ Now, I need to make myself scarce." "I walked to China on foot." "Oh Margo." "Have you seen the Major?" "Yes, he's gone to China." "─ To China?" "Oh, don't tease her Brian." "He's gone to the bungalow." "Oh thank you." "The bungalow." "I will find him." "Oh Brian, I hope this works." "It will be wonderful for both of us." "I'm sure it will." "Oh pardon, pardon me." "Have you seen the lady that fell off the end of this?" "Fell off the end of it?" "─ Yes, right in the middle." "Foiled." "─ Foiled?" "Ha." "Up six points." "Ha." "Ha." "Hooray, I am rich." "Ha." "Ha." "Hooray, hooray." "Carey, please stop writing for a moment." "My dear child, don't you see I'm working?" "I know .. but can't we forget that for a while?" "And just think of each other." "Can't we forget there's such a thing as work?" "Love never calls by appointment you know." "I say, that's a line, and it fits." "Excuse me a moment." "Oh." "Why do I keep on breaking the points of my pencils?" "Oh .." "Carey .." "I've come to you so that we could have this time together without interruption." "Don't you understand dear?" "We must discuss the future." "Future?" "We're going to travel the same road together." "Hand in hand .. two free souls .." "Pausing for a while to meet .. and kiss." "I say, that's splendid." "Why, we'll have you writing stories soon." "To meet .. and .. kiss." "Is there anything in your life but writing?" "What do you mean?" "I have my house, my wife." "Your wife?" "Oh, but what about me?" "I don't understand." "─ Oh, but you must." "I've thrown over everything for you." "I've burnt my boats." "I can't go back now." "You took me in your arms." "Carey, you know I love you." "I'd do anything for you." "I've tore my life up by the roots just to give to you." "My poor child, you don't know what you are saying." "But it's all been so plain .. you were inspired the moment we met." "Your life here was unbearably dull." "You showed in every movement you were longing for life." "For love .. everything that life was denying you." "I felt your love to me from the first." "Carey, you must love me." "You must!" "Why, I should die of shame." "But you're just a child." "You don't know what you're saying." "Supposing my wife was to hear?" "Don't worry about Margo." "She understands." "You mean you've told her?" "─ Everything." "But there's nothing to tell." "─ Yes, there is." "We love each other, and she knows it." "─ Oh, my poor Margo." "But Carey, darling, she's glad." "But you must be mad to suggest such a thing." "Why .." "Why Margo is the last woman in the world to countenance such an abominable thing." "But Carey, your books on marriage, your theories." "Don't tell me it's all a lie." "Ann, Ann!" "You're so impressionable." "So literal." "You take too much for granted." "You're frightened." "Even you are afraid of convention." "But it shan't beat us." "I won't be parted from you." "I will get you." "And I couldn't bear to see the laughter in Margo's eyes." "Hey, hey, hey!" "What's this?" "Dearest Carey, I know you will be the first to congratulate me." "Brian and I have reached a perfect understanding and .." "Margo!" "Here, you look after this child." "Oh!" "You nasty old man." "I assure you Madam, the whole thing was an accident." "Here he comes." "By Jove, it worked." "─ Don't forget your part." "Why, it's Merton .." "Good old Merton .." "Jolly old Merton." "I'm in a hurry." "So am I. Let's go some place and have one." "You must to excuse me, I must be going." "─ Very well, I'll come with you." "No, it's impossible." "─ Nothing's impossible." "Heaven sakes .." "I'll see you another time." "No time like the present." "I want to tell you something first." "I'll let you into a secret .. no, don't tell a soul .." "I'm a bit tight." "Yes." "I've noticed." "Yes, and I want to tell you something I've been bursting to say for years." "Well, what is it?" "You're a novelist, and as a novelist, you are .. absolutely .. awful." "Indeed." "Yes, you write the most appalling tripe." "And between you and me old man, your books are utter bosh." "No other word for it .."bosh" .." "─ I'm beginning to think you're right." "Lady Bragden, have you seen Margo?" "Why yes .." "I did see her a little while ago and .." "And with a very attractive young man." "Stop!" "Now, Mr. Merton." "Allow me to present you with a cup, for the most original costume." "Thank you, but I'm looking for my wife." "Darling!" "─ Brian." "What the blazes is the meaning of this?" "─ Oh Carey." "What the devil do you mean?" "Don't you know this is my wife?" "Quite." "But if I remember rightly, the phrase goes .." ""Marriage makes no difference to the freedom of the individual."" "Margo, you'd better come home at once." "─ But this is all against your theory." "Who cares about theories?" "You won't be mauled about by this whipper-snapper." "Actually kissing him!" "Mrs Merton, you've played a detestable trick. ─ Why?" "You invited me here and arranged everything, so you could catch Brian." "Dear, what's Brian got to do with you?" "─ He was going to marry me." "I was, but I'm not now." "─ Here, I say .." "Tie myself down to one woman?" "With all my youth before me?" "And the world full of women." "─ It's all you fault!" "You know nothing of life or you wouldn't write those silly novels. ─ What?" "Yes!" "Silly, stupid trash!" "Now you know!" "Look here, I .." "Darling .. come on." "I think we'll go home." "Did you hear what she said about my novels?" "Yes, but never mind." "That wasn't a very nice thing to say to your hero." "How dare you kiss her like that!" "Ann, he's a very important person and you oughtn't to have been rude to him." "And right on top of your telling me I'm the only girl in the world for you." "Just imagine what would happen." "If all those women in there knew that you had insulted Carey Merton." "Heaven knows how far you'd gone if her husband hadn't have caught you." "I'll never write another of those driveling novels as long as I live." "Oh yes you will, darling." "They make the ladies happy and they .." "Buy me pretty frocks." "Well, if they are all as pretty as that one, I'll write a thousand novels." "There is one thing though." "My next heroine will be a wife." "Come on, darling." "You .. made me sit in your arms .." "I'm ashamed of you." "Well, it cured your hiccups." "[Hic!" "]" "Oh, fiddlesticks!" "The Carey Merton .. the man who understands women." "The man who tells the truth about love and marriage." "You'd be a nice person for a girl to marry." "The author of "Fires Of Impulse"." "The "smasher of conventions"." "Why, your wife couldn't trust you out of her sight!" ""Love is the beckoning hand"." ""Follow it wherever it may lead you"." "And you'll probably meet the first man in your life at breakfast." "Brian .. stop .. please .." "I know I've been a fool." "But you needn't rub it in." "But I am only agreeing with you." "─ Well don't." "I know you'll beat me." "Very well." "I will." "Oh no, no Brian .. don't." "Don't .." "Marry me first." "2015" " TG."