"[ Sound of crows cawing ]" "[ The river has thawed ]" "Do you remember?" "Though that was then." "Thank you." "It needn't last." "The thaw, I mean." "March isn't that far into the year." "It could freeze again." "Easily." "It's been fun." "Marvelous." "And now it's over." "Not necessarily." "You won't face facts." "That's your trouble." "Well, they don't look too good from where I stand, do they?" "Oh?" "Well, for a starter, I've got no job, having chucked it in, so's I can be with you." "[ Cash register ring ]" "That's exactly what I mean." "What?" "But, the fact is, I gave you a jolly good excuse." "Well, you walked out of that newspaper office because you wanted to." "You've been droning on about how much you hated it ever since I've known you." "How very boring for you." "If I could have my skates." "Yes, of course" "Thank you." "Not at all." "Goodbye." "Goodbye." "[ Closes bus door ]" "[ River not frozen ]" "[ Knock on door;" "door opens ]" "Come in." "Hello." "What's this." "Early bed?" "I'm taking a leaf out of your book." "I haven't got up at all." "Well, you're getting up now." "[ Closes door ] I'll buy you a drink." "No, thanks." " Come on, man." " Really, Alex, thank you, but no." "All right." "How's the writing going?" "No job." "How's Lydia?" "Oh, I haven't seen her since the thaw." "And I don't know that I want to." "You are in a bad way." "What are we going to do about you?" "[ Clicks on typewriter ]" "[ Knock on door ]" "[ Impatiently ] Yes?" "[ Door opens ] Busy?" "[ Closes door ]" "Not going well?" "Now I've got all the time in the world," "I can't think of anything to say." "Anything worth saying, that is." "It will come." "[ Sigh ] Perhaps." " Hmm." "I've been thinking." "You could do with a bob or two in your pocket, I dare say." "Thanks all the same." "Not from me." "You know Alfous Bragg, the leather factor?" " He tells me he needs a clerk." "Oh, yes." " All you have to do is keep the books in order, unpack the leather as it comes in and answer the telephone." "Ten shillings a week." "There aren't that many jobs these days." " Not due, are they?" "Huh?" "Those invoices." "Do they tally with the order?" "Oh, I haven't checked them yet." "Beneath our dignity, I suppose." "[ Mumbles a reply ] ...at my expense." "What was that?" "I just haven't got around to checking them yet." "That's all." "If you don't want the bloody job there are plenty of other people who who'd be glad to let you know." "Name three." "My boy for a start." "Oh, I see." "So that's why you've been picking on me ever since I started here." "You add insult to indolence my lad, and you'll find that lazy ass of yours being kicked right around the yard!" "You're neither use nor ornament the way you are." "Now, either get on with it or get out!" "[ Aspen mansion ]" "[ Daimler door closes ]" "[ Ladies leave for church ]" " Tea." "[ Sigh ]" " Tea!" "[ Loud ] I don't want any tea." " You want it if you knew what was good for you." "I'll be right down!" "Oh." "It was your mother's idea." "Yes." "Well, um,...tell her..." "how's Tom?" "Oh, very well." "We haven't seen you at the farm." "Not for a while, now." "I know." "How's the new job?" "Oh, so-so." " Better than working for Bretherton?" " I should say so, yes." " It does mean I have to do more writing..." " Yes, that's what..." " That's what I say to your mother..." " But, I'm not doing much, just now." "Why's that?" "A phase." "Oh." "Still, then." " How's your mother?" " Very well." " Father, too." "Good." " And, Edith?" " Yes." " Ethel?" " Yes." "George, Harry, phew!" "Asking after you family is a sort of litany, isn't it?" "Like one of those old books out of the Old Testament, Deuteronomy." "No, uh, Chronicles." "You're as clever with words as ever you were." "Thank you." " And as careless with them." "[ Maid enters room and closes door ]" " [ Rollo clears throat ]" " Traveler's old boots, these scones." "Days old, I shouldn't wonder." "Stale buns, what?" "Ha, ha, ha, ha...." "[ Angry maid opens, slams door ]" "Plumb awful, really." "[ Nancy Holland dining with Richardson's ]" " Cake's good." " Good." " Yes, very good." "Thank you, Nancy." "I know what is good, and that's to have you here again." " Thank you, Mrs. Richardson." "Isn't it, dear?" "Huh?" "Oh, yes, very good." " [ Rollo ] That's the idea." "Aren't you coming?" "I only wish I could." "I've got to walk the dashed dogs." " Don't I?" "[ Tinkle of glass;" "yawn ]" "I think I'd better be going." "Oh, must you?" "I have to be back you see to see to the milking." "Well, it's on our way to chapel." "We'll walk along with you." "You'd like to walk Nancy home, wouldn't you, dear?" "Yes." "Of course, Mother." "Well, goodbye." " Bye, Nancy." " Goodbye, Nancy." "Come and see us again soon." "[ Closes door ]" " We could push the boy too far, you know." "I don't know what you mean." "Just because you don't like Miss Lydia." "I'm sure she's a very nice girl, it's just she's not our sort." "The Holland's are." "That's all." " [ Tom ] Hello!" " Whoa, whoa." " Whoa." " Are you for a ride?" "I am, for sure." " Not you, Shakespeare?" " Thanks all the same, Tom." " It's got more important (thoughts) above us, now." " It's not that." " Yeah, she's got a thick ear from me." "[ Slap ] Safe home." " You come over and see us soon." " Right." " Walk on." "What's the matter?" "You two quarreled?" "But he wrote to you." " No such luck." " Aye?" "If only I had of been." "You'd have hit him, then, wouldn't you?" "Certainly." "A fat lot of good that would do!" "[ Sigh ]" " [ Rollo ] Ahh." "Suppose to rot the liver." "Madeira." " Isn't it, (Durella)?" " Really?" "It's a fortified wine, you see?" "Like sherry." "Caraway seeds are an aphrodisiac, come to that." "[ Both laugh ] I shouldn't wonder." "If one is to believe Aristotle." "[ Sigh ]" " [ Rollo ] Plumb awful weather." " For April." " Sultry." "Everything's going to be late this year." " you mark my word." " She's a responsibility." " No getting away from it." " Lydia?" "One wasn't prepared for it." " Not that that's the child's fault, to be fair." " I don't suppose our dear brother was prepared to break his neck, come to that." "He should have been." "Law of averages the way he rode." "Ha, ha, ha." "Green horses often as not." "So I've been told." "Although (dave mortuary)." "Green as grass." "Oh, never mind how." "The fact is we have inherited a responsibility and the question is how best to discharge it now." " Quite, quite." " Good point." " Well." " I thought..." " Gertrude." " finishing school?" " Oh, don't be absurd." "No, no, of course not." "If you ask me..." "marriage is the answer." " Plenty of girls are married at her age." " To whom?" "Wha..." "I donno." "What about the Auburn Smythe boy?" "Beecham?" "The father went to Harrow." "Well, if he'd had a brain in his head" " he would have had the boy certified years ago." "One can't have everything." "But, one's entitled to hope for something!" "Mind you, the poor youth was (tudent) from birth" "Florence and I were girls together, and any mind that she had was atrophied by the time she was fourteen." "You can be very harsh, at times." " All bark and no bite, old Bertie, what?" "Oh, the very name Aum Smythe fills me with bile." "They're as poor as church mice besides being such fatuous snobs." " She'll have her legacy." "Elliott's share of Grandfather's trust fund?" " Every little helps." "He never touched his capital." "Unlike some of us." "Well, he never had to." "Lucky devil." "I shouldn't have thought marrying Lydia off to a half-witted pauper would suit your book at all." "Why don't you want larger relan...." "Well, I can't speak for Juliana, but I would like to see Lydia better settled than that, before there's any question of my money coming to you." "I don't have to stay here, and listen to insinuations" " of that sort, you know." " You have no need to." "I shall go and walk the dashed dogs." "For better company than some people I can mention." "More your intellectual level." "[ Opens door ] Plumb awful the atmosphere in this house soon as that girl fetched up here." "[ Closes door quietly ]" "He's a sponger." " Your own brother." "Huh." "He had little enough time for us before those rubber shares took a tumble." " Poor Rollo." "Poor?" "It was greed that got him into it." " He looked so well in uniform." " So slim and elegant." "Oh, what's that got to do with anything?" " Very little, I dare say." " Still, I can't help but feel sorry for him." "Nor I." "And that's what he's counted on all these years." "Hm." "Oh dear." "The child's a problem." "Somehow she has to be dragged out of a belated adolescence into something like womanhood." "You're clever, Bertie." "Obviously that's what we have to do." "Unfortunately it's a task for which we are all of us supremely ill-equipped." "Oh, I don't know." "Two old maids and a ne'er-do-well." "What can we teach her about the world?" "Huh." "[ Sigh ]" "[ Knock on door ]" " Lydia!" " Yes!" "I don't mean to intrude." "It's just that I've been going through my wardrobe and there are one of few things." "Oh." "You won't be depriving me." "I scarcely wear then anymore." "But, it occurred to me that a girl, a young woman like yourself..." "That's very kind of you." "The materials are beautiful." "At your age, I seem to remember one couldn't have too many clothes." "There." " Yes." "Hm." "Well." "[ Door closes ]" "Weather's turning warm." "Yes." "Quite warm." " Think I'll go out for a bit of a walk." " Good idea." " The exercise will do you good." "[ Knock on door ]" "Yes?" "Tea is ready, Miss." "I don't want any, thank you." "I should if I were you." "Oh, tell him I'm coming!" "[ Rollo ] Those are probably rhododendrons there on account of a little copse encompasses the view." " Ah." "I don't think you've met, uh..." " Uh, Bezelaum Smythe." "My niece, Lydia." "[ Affected British speech ]" " How do you do." "Who?" "Dershaum." "Dashed awful name, isn't it?" "I've got fearfully ragged about it at Harrier." " Really." " Rawther." "Chaps can be such rotters at school, wot?" "Aha, absolute rotters." " Your tea, dear." "It's my turn to pour today." " Thank you." "Do sit down, Mr. Aum Smythe." "Jolly good." "[ Rollo sighs; slaps thigh ]" " Ah!" " Yes!" "Well." "I hear you come from Leicestershire, Miss Aspen?" "Oh, yes." " Good hunting country, Leicestershire." " First rate!" " Toppo!" "Did you hunt, Miss Aspen?" "No." "(How could be like this?" ")" "Well, if I can positively avoid it," "I don't have anything to do with horses at all." "Good Lord!" "[ Rollo laughs ]" "[ Rollo ] Your father tells me you're a first class shot." "Well!" "You must come over here one day when the fall season ends." "Jolly good." "Did you shoot, Miss Aspen?" "Who did you have in mind?" "I think I hear Mackness with the Daimler." " You must excuse us, (Fred)." " It's time for Evensong." " Ha." " Goodbye." " So kind of you to call." " Please remember me to your mother." "[ All ladies leave;" "close door ]" "[ Everyone begins to laugh ]" "[ All laugh heartily ]" "[ Laughter still heard ]" "[ Horn honks ]" "There you are." "Alex!" "What's this?" "It's a motocar." "Took delivery this day." "Are you coming for a spin?" " Yes." "All right." " Well good." "Hop in." " You know Nora, don't you?" " Hello." " Where're we going?" "Oh!" "[ Horn honks into Aspen Park ]" "[ Honks two horns ]" "[ Claps hands ]" "Good God, man we're only asking you to go for a picnic." "[ Opens car door ]" "Nothing ventured, nothing have." "Why, we haven't see you since the fall." "No." "I was wondering if I might see Miss Aspen." "Miss Lydia, that'll be?" "Yes." "I'll ask." "Good morning, Captain Aspen." "Do I know you?" " Richardson." "I don't seem to know the face." "I'll place the name." "I used to work for the County Examiner." "Ahhh." "My old friend from the fourth estate." "Newsgathering eh?" "You're still newsgathering?" "Not anymore, no." "Ah, you're the fellow who skates but don't shoot." "That's right, yes." "Coming back to me now." "Not that it matters being Sunday." "Can't shoot on a Sunday, can you?" "Mind you, the French do." "[ Unintelligible ]" "You don't have a piece of string, have you, about..." "like that?" "No, I'm afraid not." "Broke my pull-through." "Plumb awful." "Dirty gun's an abomination." "Dangerous, too." "Barrels get pitted." "Blow your head off before you know it." "Not the idea at all." " If you'd like to come in now." " No thanks." "What about some string?" "Oh." "Ah." "Called out some new larks for Lydia, have they?" "Summonded old trusty and true." "Actually, it was my idea to call." "Good Lord." "Good Lord." "Still..." "[ Slams cabinet door]" "[ Door opens ] Mr. Richardson, ma'am." " Ah." " Why, Mr. Richardson, you've been neglecting us" " I expect Mr. Richardson has his own life to lead." " We'd quite thought you'd melted away with the snow." "Hello." "Hello." " And, uh, all well?" "Yes, thank you." "I was wondering if I might take Lydia for a drive." "That is, if she wanted to come." " You have a motorcar?" "No, but, a friend of mine." " On a Sunday?" "Well, we motor to church on a Sunday, do we not?" " Yes, but joy-riding with two men." "Uh, he's got...that is to say, there is another girl." "What about luncheon?" "There's a picnic." " Ahh, you seem to have thought of everything." " And us...do you really think it's a good idea?" "I really think it's up to Lydia to decide." "You really want then dancing to your tune, don't you?" "I just want to see what all the fuss is about." " [ Door opens ]" "See the conquering hero." "This is my best friend, Alex Sanderson." "Miss Lydia Aspen." "And I madame, am on sight, your devoted slave and charioteer." "[ Alex kisses hand;" "Lydia laughs ] For God's sake, Alex." " Welcome aboard." " Thank you." " Now, don't sit on the rug." " That's..." "And I'm Nora." "[ Doors slam;" "engine starts ]" "[ Their world is filled with the sound of a 1920's jazz band playing a familiar tune ]" "[ Laughter ] Uh, a red orange." " Let's try it." " Oh!" " Manhandling." " What's this?" "Russian salad, dear boy." "I always think it's...de...deliciously decadent serving Russian salad," " don't you?" "[ Lydia laughs ] Yes." " Shades of St. Petersburg." " The Czars." " Rasputin." "Hemophilia." "Ha." "We can't have everything." " There doesn't seem to be much we don't have." " Dry..." " Umpteen different cheeses." "But, unfortunately only one kind of wine." "A shyly adventurous pretty Chablis." "Apart, of course, of some port to wash down cheese." "Well, no coffee?" "Cream...sugar...and coffee." "Oh, it's lovely." "But, how did you manage it?" "Oh...a little talent, and a lot of hard work." " A little bit of a dance." " I'll bet it was your mother." "To tell the truth, the Royal Graces and I, committed [ Cork pop ] telephony." "Sounds like on of the seven deadly sins." "[ Laughing ] Not only beautiful but quick-witted." " I congratulate you." " Thank you." " Can we start?" "Yes, now, [ Clap ] with what may I tempt you?" "Oh, well I don't care, a little smoked salmon to start with." " Remember." " Salmon." "Mm." "Thank you." "A wisp of brown bread and butter?" "Lovely." " A taste of lemon." " Oh, ha, ha." " And a breath of paprika." "You think of everything, don't you?" "One tries." " Uh, perhaps, madame would care to taste the wine?" " Oh, certainly." " You have to help yourself, like me." "Umm." "Lovely." "We are pleased that the madame is pleased." "[ Lively jass music ]" "Spaces for dancing and fun." "I think you're passing out." "Come sleepy head!" "Well, I can't tell to save my life." "You'll be alive, and you'll be trying!" "Come on and we'll beat you." "Come, Miss Lydia." "[ Indistinct chatter ]" "[ Indistinct chatter ]" "[ Indistinct chatter ] Try watching me!" "[ Indistinct chatter ] Now or never." "[ Indistinct chatter with screaming ]" "Shall we sit this one out?" "No, we're jolly well going to manage it." "Now come on." "[ Plain dancing ]" "[ Rousing jazz music continues with clapping of hands ]" "[ Sounds of group tap dancing as jazz music continues ]" "I suppose..." "Yes?" "You wouldn't want to come out tomorrow, would you?" "Walking, I mean." "Just with me." "Yes." "Yes, I would." "Better let me try first." "Safe enough." "So you've left Mr. Bretherton?" " Yes." " Well done." " Isn't that well done?" " Yes." "And, who are you working for, now?" " Alfous Bragg." " Do we know him?" "I shouldn't think so, no." "He's a leather factor." "Ahh." "Still scribbling, huh?" "In my spare time, yes." "Once a scribbler always a scribbler." "Um, I was wondering." "Yes." " Oh, goodness me." "Look at the time." " Yes, we must go and get ready for church." " Come Lydia." " Mr. Richardson, I'm so glad you came." " You must come again." "And next time we will talk about flowers." "Goodbye." "Goodbye." "I must go." "Well, you know best." "I suppose." "[ Opens and closes door ]" "You are asked to tea again on Sunday." "What?" "It'll be different this time." "I promise." " Excuse me." "[ Opens and closes door ]" " Curious." " Oh, dear." " I do hope she's not sickening." " Frequently." "Ha, ha, ha, ha." "Sickeniing, ha, ha, ha." "Frequently." "It's a joke." "Don't you see." "All too well." "[ Lydia opens and closes door ]" "I think I'll go and lie down." "I've been rather sick." "Oh, my dear child." " What shall we do?" " No, I'll be all right." "I think it'd be a bit silly to come to church." " Of, course." "Of course." " Yes, very well." "Ha." "Goodbye." "Goodbye." "Oh, allow me." "[ Opens door for Lydia ]" "I haven't been sick." "Come back to the house when they've gone." "[ Edward opens door and closes it ]" "[ Edward appears to be departing Aspen Hall ]" "[ Sound of Daimler departing ]" "[ Rollo ] Get it." "Libya, where are you off to?" "[ From the upper window ] There's no one here." "Come up!" "[ Opens door to Lydia's room ]" " Shut the door." "[ Closes door ]" "Don't be shy." "I'm not shy." "[ Edward breathing heavily ]" "[ Sound of shoes dropping ]" "[ Whispering ] Oh, I feel strange." "I feel terribly strange." "I'm growing up, and..." "Just pounding and pounding through me." "[ Edward breathes audibly ]" "[ Whispering ] Kiss me." "Kiss me." "Oh, kiss me harder." " Harder." "Hurt me!" "[ Edward breathes heavily ]" "Hurt me!" "Hurt me!" "[ Heaving breathing ]" "[ Edward ] I can't." "I can't hurt you any more." "Oh, hush, then." "[ Edward breathes heavily ]" "Don't ever stop loving me." "I never will." "Never, I promise." "Even if I'm bad to you." "You won't be." "Look, even if I were?" "Would you?" "Will you always?" "Yes." "D'you want to go on like this always?" "At ever and ever?" "Yes." "[ Deep sighs ]" "I wonder if we shall." "[ Outside footsteps heard ]" "There's someone out on the terrace!" "It's Rollo." "He's spying on me." "He's always spying on me." "(Alone, from me.)" "How the hell am I gonna get out of here" " with Rollo down there!" " We tell him your've gone to Mexico!" " Be sensible." " Who wants to be sensible?" "There's no need to worry." "Rollo has a woman now in coorperation (to divity)." "How'd you know?" "I found out." "Everybody knows." "He calls them boodles." "[ Lydia laughs;" "Rollo scolds dogs below ]" "It is getting late." "Love me, darling." "Make the most of it while we can." "I must go." "[ Deep sigh ] Well, go then." " I'll save the rest of it for tomorrow." "[ Kiss ] Only...only sometimes I can't..." "I can't wait. [ Kiss ]" "I can't wait for you." "[ Kiss ] I feel I..." "I go mad with waiting. [ Kiss ]" "Go then." "You're not to say to Rollo, if you see him." "Ask him how the sermon was." "[ Laughing ]" "Say you love me." "I love you." "Near and far and always and everywhere." "Yes." "You've got to say it." "I shall hate you if you don't." "Near and far...and always and everywhere." "That's how I want to be loved." "Hello." "Hello." "How was the sermon?" "You know you have a shoelace undone?" "[ Gate creaks open ]" "[ Gate ckicks shut ]"