Original subtitles

- GINNY. GINNY. - OVER HERE.

IT'S MINE.

HERE.

HELLO. MRS. ST. GEORGE.

I WAS JUST THINKING, MRS. ST. GEORGE,

THAT YOUR VIRGINIA JUST MIGHT HAVE THE ADVANTAGE

WHEN HER COMPLEXION IS CONCERNED.

- READY? - AND OF COURSE HER HAIR IS JUST GORGEOUS.

BUT I SWEAR, MY LIZZY'S WAIST IS AN INCH SMALLER,

IF NOT TWO.

OH, YES, LIZZY'S WAIST, IT'S REMARKABLE.

OH, THAT CLOSSON GIRL.

WHY, HER HEAD IS TOO SMALL AND WELL, HER NECK, IT'S JUST TOO LONG.

AND THAT MOUTH, IT'S JUST TOO BIG.

YOU DON'T THINK SHE HAS THAT JUST SORT OF PLAINNESS

THAT ONE DAY WHEN YOU'RE NOT LOOKING TURNS INTO BEAUTY?

BEAUTY?

YOU THINK A TINY NOSE AND A TOO-LARGE MOUTH BEAUTIFUL, DO YOU?

I THINK THE GENTLEMAN MIGHT.

WELL...

BUT WHAT IS THE USE IN A SMALL WAIST, MRS. ST. GEORGE,

WHEN NOBODY WHO IS ANYBODY EVER GETS TO SEE IT?

HERE WE ARE IN NEWPORT AND WE MIGHT JUST AS WELL BE IN KALAMAZOO.

OH, YOU'RE A STINKER.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

WOULD WE LIKE TO SIT BY THE FRENCH WINDOWS?

I DON'T WANT YOU TO GO AROUND WITH THAT STRANGE GIRL.

I SHOULD THINK YOU ROAST IN THAT.

NO, GINNY, WOULD YOU LISTEN TO WHAT I SAY?

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WHY, THAT CLOSSON GIRL, OF COURSE.

OH, I THINK SHE'S LOVELY.

WHEN MS. TESTVALLEY COMES, YOU WILL FIND THAT SHE FEELS

EXACTLY THE WAY I DO ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE.

AND YOU'LL HAVE TO DO AS SHE SAYS, AND NO ARGUING.

SHE'S NOT REALLY COMING, IS SHE?

OH, ALL STYLISH GIRLS HAVE GOVERNESSES NOWADAYS.

AND THIS ONE'S VERY SPECIAL... SHE WAS WITH THE PARMORE GIRL.

HER? SHE LOOKS AT US AS IF SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW US.

THAT IS HOW A LADY IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK AT STRANGERS.

WELL, THEN THAT'S HOW I'LL LOOK AT THIS GOVERNESS.

HELLO, LITTLE ONE.

HELLO.

CONCHITA'S SUCH A LOVELY NAME.

- IT'S "CON-SHE-TA." - CON-SHE-TA.

YES. COME HERE.

MINE'S ANNABEL REALLY, BUT EVERYONE CALLS ME "NAN".

- NAN. - YES.

CONCHITA, HAVE YOU EVER HAD A GOVERNESS?

MERCY, NO. WHATEVER FOR?

THAT'S WHAT I SAID, BUT MY MOTHER AND GINNY,

THEY'VE COOKED UP THIS THING BETWEEN THEM.

I'M GOING TO HAVE ONE COMING IN NEXT WEEK.

YOU KNOW SHE'S COMING HERE?

YEAH, IT'S THE END OF ALL MY FUN.

SHE'LL MAKE ME LEARN FRENCH AND LISTS OF DATES AND...

WELL, I SHOULD HATE THAT MORE THAN GOING TO THE OPERA,

BUT NO, OPERA AND FRENCH VERBS

ARE SUPPOSED TO GET A GIRL A GOOD HUSBAND.

DON'T YOU WANT TO GET MARRIED?

OH, I DON'T KNOW.

THAT-THAT IS, NOT TO ANYONE I'VE SEEN YET.

SO, I SUPPOSE...

YOU'D RATHER BE SOME RICH MAN'S MISTRESS.

WOULD YOU?

GO ON, HAVE ONE.

NOBODY WILL SEE US OUT HERE.

THANK YOU.

NOW, PUT IT...

IF THAT WOMAN INTERFERES WITH ME,

YEAH, I'LL KILL HER.

OH NO, I WOULDN'T DO THAT, NOT RIGHT AWAY.

I'D TRY TO GET AROUND HER FIRST.

YES.

WHOA THERE, BOY, WHOA.

WHOA.

WELCOME TO NEWPORT, MS. TESTVALLEY.

WELL, WHICH ONE OF YOU CHARMING YOUNG LADIES IS TO BE MY PUPIL?

OH, DON'T YOU JUST LOVE HER ACCENT?

SAY SOMETHING MORE. SAY SOMETHING.

ISN'T ONE OF YOU GOING TO OWN UP TO BEING MY PUPIL?

GUESS, GUESS. YOU HAVE TO GUESS WHICH ONE.

VERY WELL.

I GUESS... THIS IS MISS ANNABEL.

- YES. - HOW DID YOU KNOW?

ANYONE CAN SEE YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A BABY.

WELL, IF I'M A BABY, I WANT A NURSE, NOT A BEAST ENGLISH GOVERNESS.

ANNABEL MAY.

"MY DEAREST JACKIE,

IF YOU COULD ONLY SEE WHAT A SHAMELESS NEGOTIATOR I HAVE BECOME.

THE NEW YORK AGENCY INFORMED ME

THAT THE NEW PEOPLE WILL GIVE ALMOST ANYTHING

FOR AN ACCOMPLISHED ENGLISH GOVERNESS,

BUT THAT I WOULD CERTAINLY BE UNHAPPY WITH THEM.

I DID NOT LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT I DIDN'T COME TO AMERICA

IN SEARCH OF DISTINGUISHED PEOPLE.

I CAME IN SEARCH OF MONEY.

SINCE THE ST. GEORGES ARE VERY NEW INDEED,

I PUT UP MY SALARY ACCORDINGLY,

AND ONCE MY EMPLOYER RECOVERED FROM HER SHOCK,

IT WAS ACCEPTED."

"I'M SORRY I CALLED YOU BEASTLY. ANNABEL."

PAPA. PAPA.

I'M GLAD YOU COME.

WHAT'S THE NEWS?

LOTS, LOTS OF NEWS.

OH, HOW WERE THE RACES?

WELL, SARATOGA HAS ALWAYS BEEN KIND TO ME, MY DEAR.

THE GOVERNESS HAS ARRIVED.

I HAVE TO TALK TO YOU.

- AHH... - YES.

CAN I GO WITH YOU NEXT TIME?

IN A FEW YEARS, SWEETHEART.

I GOT A FEW FANCY NOTIONS FOR YOU AND YOUR SISTER,

AND A REAL PIECE OF CLASS FOR YOUR MOTHER.

IS IT AWFULLY EXPENSIVE?

WHY, WHAT IF IT IS, YOU CRITICAL LITTLE IMP.

THE LAST TIME YOU BOUGHT MOM SOMETHING EXPENSIVE,

THERE WAS AN ALL-NIGHT ROW ABOUT CARDS OR SOMETHING.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, NAN...

LET'S, YOU AND I, FORM AN ALLIANCE.

I GOT TO SOFTEN YOUR MOTHER, BUT IT'S A BUSINESS MATTER, YOU UNDERSTAND.

NOW, IF YOU HELP ME OUT, I'LL SEE IF I CAN'T FIX THINGS

SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEARN SO MANY FRENCH VERBS.

WELL, OF COURSE I DON'T KNOW ANY OF THE PARTICULARS,

BUT MRS. CLOSSON IS HARDLY THE KIND OF WOMAN

I WOULD EVER ASSOCIATE WITH.

BUT PEOPLE DO SAY SHE'S NO MORE A WIDOW THAN I AM.

SHE'S A DIVORCEE.

I'VE EVEN HEARD THAT MR. AND MRS. CLOSSON ARE NOT MARRIED.

OH, AND AS FOR THAT DAUGHTER OF HERS,

WHY, SHE POWDERS HER FACE AND SHE SMOKES CIGARETTES...

HOLD ON, IDA, HOLD ON.

I KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

THE FACT IS, CLOSSON IS ABOUT TO PUT ME ON TO SOMETHING BIG,

AND IF YOU GO TURNING YOUR NOSE UP AT HIS FAMILY,

YOU'RE GOING TO WRECK THE WHOLE BUSINESS.

MR. CLOSSON IS LITTLE BETTER THAN A GANGSTER.

SWEETIE, A MAN CAN MAKE HIS MONEY FROM HOTELS AND CASINOS

WITHOUT BEING A GANGSTER.

THE FACT IS, CLOSSON HAS THE EAR

OF SOME OF THE MOST POWERFUL MEN IN TOWN,

FROM GOULD TO VANDERBILT, AND I NEED HIM.

I'M SURE I JUST CAN'T BEAR TO THINK OF THE KIND OF MEN THAT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

WELL, I AIN'T ASKIN' YA TO THINK, IDA.

I'M ASKIN' YOU TO SMILE.

AND AIN'T YOU GOT THE PRETTIEST SMILE IN ALL THE UNION.

- OH. - YEAH...

I RELY ON YOU... YOU KNOW THAT, DON'T YOU?

THAT IS THE RESULT OF MY FIRST TURNOVER, MADAM.

WHAT DO YOU SAY, SWEETHEART?

BUT YOU KNOW, DEAR, I STILL HAVE THE GIRLS TO THINK ABOUT.

AND IF THEY'RE EVER TO MEET ANY NICE, YOUNG MEN...

NICE YOUNG MEN WILL SHOW UP IN GREATER NUMBERS IF I CAN PUT THIS DEAL THROUGH.

WHICH REMINDS ME,

CLOSSON IS COMING UP ON THE EVENING TRAIN,

BRINGING HIS STEPSON AND A NICE, YOUNG ENGLISH GENTLEMAN WITH HIM.

NEW DANCING PARTNERS FOR THE GIRLS, HUH?

- HMM. - NOW WHAT'S SAY...

YOU INVITE THE CLOSSON'S TO JOIN US FOR SUPPER, MY DEAR?

YES...

OH...

WELL, THIS POOR MAN HAD A DEVIL OF A TIME

IN SOUTH AMERICA RIDING WESTERN SADDLE.

NOW, OF COURSE, WE CONSIDERED IT AN HONOR TO HAVE LORD RICHARD ALONG MY WIFE'S SONS.

BUT ONE OF OUR WILD LITTLE HORSES TOOK A DIFFERENT VIEW.

MR. CLOSSON, IF THE SUBJECT OF THIS STORY MAY BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK...

OH, PLEASE, LORD RICHARD, GO RIGHT AHEAD.

I SHOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY,

THAT AT HOME I'M CONSIDERED NO WORSE A RIDER THAN THE NEXT MAN.

I DON'T DOUBT YOUR A FINE HORSEMAN, ENGLISH-STYLE.

BUT THOSE LITTLE HORSES HAVE FIRE IN THEIR BLOOD.

FIRE, YOU CALL IT?

BRIMSTONE, MORE LIKE IT.

AH-AH... PURE BRAZILIAN BLOOD, RICHARD.

HELLO.

RICHARD'S FLIRTING WITH NAN.

YOU SEE, MAMA INSISTED THAT RICHARD SHOULD RIDE HER OWN FAVORITE.

REALLY, MAMA, YOU HAVE SUCH A MISCHIEVOUS STREAK.

INSISTED? NO, NO, NO, NO.

SHE WAS THE ONE WHO CAUGHT LORD RICHARD'S EYE.

WELL, HONEY, HOWEVER IT CAME ABOUT,

WHEN RICHARD'S ENGLISH DERRIERE HIT THAT SADDLE,

THAT LITTLE MARE SURE KICKED UP HER HEELS.

SHE WAS UP AND AWAY LIKE GREASED LIGHTNING.

OUT OF THE PADDOCK, AND INTO THE YARD

WHERE THE BOYS WERE LOADING THE CARTS...

NOW, GIVE RICHARD HIS DUE, HE HUNG ON IN THERE,

LIKE A MAN WHO KNEW HAT HE WAS DOING,

BUT SHE BUCKED AND ROLLED SO,

THAT OUR FRIEND HERE ENDED UP

HEAD FIRST IN A CRATE OF COFFEE BEANS.

AND YOU ALL THOUGHT THIS WAS A SOUTH AMERICAN SUNTAN, I SUPPOSE.

NOW THAT YOU'RE IN THE UNITED STATES, LORD RICHARD,

DO YOU SEE A GREAT DEAL ABOUT US TO CRITICIZE?

OH, ON THE CONTRARY, MRS. ST. GEORGE.

I SEE MUCH TO ADMIRE.

TO ENGLAND.

BRAZIL.

GOD BLESS AMERICA.

TO THE UNION.

COME IN.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYES, SEEING YOU DOWN THERE LIKE THAT.

I HOPE YOU OBLIGE ME, LORD RICHARD, BY LEAVING IMMEDIATELY.

LAURA, WE'RE STILL FRIENDS, AREN'T WE?

YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER FORGOTTEN YOU.

YOU'RE PUTTING MY JOB AT STAKE.

WASN'T YOUR JOB AT STAKE THEN, WHEN YOU WERE WITH US?

YES, IT WAS, BUT YOUR MOTHER DIDN'T PAY ME HALF OF WHAT MRS. ST. GEORGE PAYS.

TOUCHE.

CAN I SAY, LAURA, YOU...

YOU LOOK TERRIFIC, REALLY TERRIFIC.

RICHARD, YOU HAVE SUCH A NERVE.

YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED. YOU WERE EXACTLY THE SAME 10 YEARS AGO.

ONLY THEN I FOUND YOU CHARMING BECAUSE YOU WERE HARDLY MORE THAN A BOY.

AND YOU WEREN'T IN LOVE WITH CONCHITA.

AM I IN LOVE WITH CONCHITA?

SHE IS AN EXTRAORDINARY GIRL, ISN'T SHE?

SO AM I,

IN MY WAY.

AND I AM CERTAINLY NO STAND IN.

NOW, GO.

GO.

DO AS YOU'RE TOLD.

WHOA.

GOOD MORNING.

HERE, NOW. HERE, MA'AM, LET ME HELP YOU.

LET'S GO.

TELL ME, HAVE YOU ALWAYS LIVED IN NEW YORK?

- NO, WE'RE ORIGINALLY FROM WEST VIRGINIA. - AH.

WE WERE VERY POOR WHEN I WAS YOUNG.

RIGHT AFTER THE CIVIL WAR... YOU KNOW WE HAD A WAR?

- YES, DEAR. - WELL, RIGHT AFTER THAT WE HAD NOTHING.

MOTHER USED TO CRY BECAUSE WE COULDN'T BUY NEW CURTAINS.

AND PAPA, HE USED TO ALWAYS SAY

THE OLD MEN MADE MONEY WHILE THE YOUNG MEN GOT KILLED.

NOW, AFTER IT WAS ALL OVER, WE MOVED TO NEW YORK,

AND PAPA GOT RICH ON A PERCENT RAILROAD OR SOMETHING.

AND WE GOT A HOUSE ON MADISON AVENUE.

ONLY, AS SOON AS WE MOVED IN, MOTHER REALIZED

NO ONE LIVES ON MADISON AVENUE ANYMORE.

ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING BACK TO NEW YORK?

NO...

BECAUSE IT WILL BE THE SAME AS IT ALWAYS IS.

MOTHER WILL SEND HER CARDS TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE,

AND WE STILL WON'T GET INVITED TO THE RIGHT PARTIES,

AND MOTHER AND VIRGINIA WILL SPEND THE WHOLE TIME MOANING ABOUT IT.

- I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW BORING IT IS. - DON'T DO THAT, DEAR.

WHAT I'D REALLY LIKE TO BE IS A RICH MAN'S MISTRESS,

NOT SOME CLASSY ENGLISHMAN'S WIFE LIKE CONNIE.

WELL, EVEN THE RICH MAN'S MISTRESS HAS HER BORING MOMENTS.

SHE HAS TO TAKE THE GREATEST CARE OF HER PERSON, HER CLOTHES...

IN THE MEANTIME, I THINK YOU SHOULD TAKE THE GREATEST CARE OF YOUR GRAMMAR.

NOW, MRS. PARMORE IS ONE OF THE RIGHT PEOPLE YOUR MOTHER TALKS ABOUT,

SO DO YOUR BEST TO BE POLITE.

AND WHO IS THIS?

THIS IS MY NEW PUPIL, MRS. PARMORE,

MISS ANNABEL ST. GEORGE.

- ST. GEORGE? - YES, I...

NO... IT'S NOT A NAME I'M FAMILIAR WITH.

NOW, MS. TESTVALLEY, MY MEMORY DOES NOT DECEIVE ME...

YOU WERE GOVERNESS TO LORD RICHARD'S SISTERS, WERE YOU NOT?

I WAS WITH THE LADIES HONORIA AND FELICIA FOR THREE YEARS, YES.

BUT OF COURSE, I DIDN'T SEE VERY MUCH OF THE SONS.

OF COURSE. BUT NOW TELL ME,

LORD RICHARD IS NOT THE BRIGHTLINGSEA HEIR IS HE?

OH, GOOD GRACIOUS, NO.

NO, LORD RICHARD HAS AN OLDER BROTHER.

MMM... EVEN SO, HIS INTENDED MARRIAGE

TO THIS CLOSSON GIRL IS SURELY SOMEWHAT OVERHASTY.

IT HAS RATHER TAKEN US BY SURPRISE, YES.

BUT LORD RICHARD MET MS. CLOSSON SOME MONTHS AGO,

ON THE FAMILY PLANTATION IN BRAZIL.

I TRUST MY OWN DAUGHTER WOULD NEVER CONSENT

TO AN ENGAGEMENT OF LESS THAN TWO YEARS.

BUT I SUPPOSE THAT AMONG THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE WITH NOW,

THERE ARE NO SOCIAL TRADITIONS.

WELL, IT IS NATURALLY A VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE

FROM BEING WITH YOU, MRS. PARMORE.

I CONSIDER MYSELF VERY FORTUNATE

TO HAVE HAD SUCH A DISTINGUISHED INTRODUCTION TO AMERICA.

POOR YOUNG MAN.

DOES HIS FAMILY REALIZE WHAT A DEPLORABLE CHOICE HE'S MADE?

ON THE OTHER HAND, DOES HER FAMILY REALIZE?

NOTHING OF COURSE CAN ALTER THE FACT THAT HE IS THE SON OF A MARQUIS.

NEVERTHELESS, IT HAS BEEN SAID

THAT LORD RICHARD HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT DISSIPATED.

GOVERNESSES, YOU KNOW, HEAR SO MUCH LESS GOSSIP THAN LADIES' MAIDS.

QUITE SO.

DID YOU RECALL, MS. TESTVALLEY,

THAT IT IS MY DAUGHTER ALETA'S EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY NEXT WEEK.

SO IT IS.

MY LAST CHILD.

WE SHALL HAVE THE CREAM OF NEWPORT SOCIETY

AT HER BIRTHDAY PARTY.

I FLATTER MYSELF THAT EVEN AN ENGLISH ARISTOCRAT WOULD BE IMPRESSED.

OH, NO DOUBT HE WOULD.

BUT OF COURSE, ONE CAN'T INVITE LORD RICHARD

WITHOUT HIS FIANCEE.

ISN'T THAT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING YOU EVER SAW?

OH, I LOVE THIS.

I THINK RICHARD WILL LIKE IT, NO?

CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHY MISS CLOSSON

IS THE ONLY ONE INVITED TO MS. PARMORE'S BALL?

BECAUSE OF LORD RICHARD, OF COURSE.

AND WHO ARE THE CLOSSONS, AND WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?

FOR THAT MATTER, MOTHER, WHO ARE WE AND WHERE DO WE COME FROM?

MAMA, LOOK. DO YOU LIKE ME?

OH, MY DARLING, IT'S DIVINE.

SIMPLY DIVINE.

OH, IT'S SUCH A PITY YOU'RE NOT COMING TO THE BALL TOO.

OH, WHO WANTS AN INVITATION FROM THAT RUDE OLD SCARECROW ANYWAY?

ANNABEL...

NOW, AWAY WITH YOU. YES, YES, YES, OFF YOU GO.

I WANT TO HAVE A FEW WORDS WITH MS. TEST... TET...

- TESTVALLEY. - VALLEY.

AH... SEE... ALONE, PLEASE.

BUT MAMA, THIS HERE.

YOU ARE GORGEOUS. GORGEOUS. COME.

SHOO, SHOO, OUT, OUT. GO, GO.

NOW. OH.

OH, PLEASE, SIT YOURSELF DOWN, MS. TESTVALLEY.

IF YOU CAN FIND ONE SQUARE INCH.

AHH...

DID YOU EVER SEE A GIRL SO HAPPY?

BUT...

MY HUSBAND, MR. CLOSSON...

CANNOT ACCUSTOM HIMSELF TO THE IDEA THAT...

RICHARD HAS NO MEANS OF EARNING AN INCOME

TO SUPPORT HIS WIFE WITH.

IN ENGLAND, MRS. CLOSSON, A GENTLEMAN DOES NOT EARN MONEY.

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EXPAND ON THAT A LITTLE, MS. TESTVALLEY.

LORD RICHARD COMES FROM ONE OF THE FOREMOST FAMILIES IN ENGLAND.

HE OFFERS BOTH HIS TITLE, AND OF COURSE AN ENTRY

INTO THE VERY HIGHEST ECHELONS OF ENGLISH SOCIETY.

BUT, WELL...

FOR MY PART, I NEVER COULD SEE MUCH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PEOPLE.

EXCEPT OF COURSE,

SOME ARE FAVORED WITH MORE LEISURE THAN OTHERS, EH?

RICHARD SURELY DOES HAVE ENOUGH LEISURE.

YES, BUT YOU KNOW, MRS. CLOSSON,

CONCHITA WILL BE EXPECTED TO TAKE ON CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES.

YOU SEE, IN THESE GREAT ENGLISH HOUSES,

A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW HAS DUTIES TO PERFORM.

SHE'S EXPECTED TO MASTER AN INTRICATE CODE OF SOCIAL RULES.

PLEASE, DON'T TELL ME.

IT MAKES MY HEAD SPIN

TO HEAR RICHARD TALK ABOUT IT. IT'S...

NO. BUT CONCHITA,

CONCHITA HAS NEVER HAD THE SLIGHTEST DIFFICULTY

IN MASTERING ANYTHING.

SO, I DON'T SEE THE...

ENGLISH SYSTEM OF ETIQUETTE DEFEATING HER, NO.

NO, NO, NO, NO.

ALL I WANT IS FOR CONCHITA TO BE HAPPY.

RICHARD WILL MAKE HER HAPPY, WON'T HE?

OH, YES, YES, YES, YES.

I AM SURE HE WILL.

LAURA...

MAY I SPEAK TO YOU ALONE?

OH, PLEASE, I NEED YOU BY MY SIDE.

IT'S ABOUT CLOSSON.

HE'S TAKING IT RATHER BAD BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN NO WORD FROM HOME ABOUT OUR MARRIAGE.

HE KEEPS NAGGING ME ABOUT WHAT HE CALLS MY "CIRCUMSTANCES."

YOU KNOW, I HONESTLY THINK HE DESPISES ME

FOR NOT BEING A BUSINESS OF SOME KIND.

BUT THE POINT IS, YOU'RE THE SORT PEOPLE TALK TO.

AND IF ANYTHING ELSE UPSETS HIM, I CAN QUITE SEE HIM

TAKE IT INTO HIS HEAD TO QUESTION YOU ABOUT ME.

WHY QUESTION ME?

DEVIL TAKE IT, LAURA... EVERYONE KNOWS YOU WERE PART OF THE FAMILY.

AND...?

LOOK,THE FACT IS,

I KNOW MY MOTHER BLASTED ALL THAT STUPID BUSINESS TO YOU

BEFORE I LEFT FOR FRANCE.

OH, YOU MEAN YOUR LITTLE EXPERIMENT WITH FRAUD?

YES, WELL, I WAS AN IDIOT OF COURSE,

BUT I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HALF OF WHAT I WAS DOING.

YES, YOUR MOTHER DID SAY SOMETHING.

THINGS ARE BAD ENOUGH AS IT IS,

WITHOUT CLOSSON GETTING WIND OF ALL THAT.

OH, YES, I DO SEE.

A PROSPECTIVE SON-IN-LAW WITH STRAYING HANDS.

SO HARD ON A FELLOW.

AM I?

I DON'T THINK SO.

YOUR SECRET IS SAFE WITH ME.

YOU'RE A BRICK, LAURA.

YOU ALWAYS WERE.

AND YOU DON'T THINK TOO UNKINDLY OF ME, DO YOU?

I DON'T THINK OF YOU AT ALL, LORD RICHARD.

YOU KNOW, I SHALL MARRY HER ANYWAY,

WITH OR WITHOUT MY PARENTS' BLESSING.

BESIDES, THEY'LL COME AROUND,

ONCE THEY REALIZE HER STEPFATHER'S FILTHY WITH MONEY.

OR SOON WILL BE.

OH... THANK YOU.

IT'S FROM YOUR MOTHER.

"IS SHE BLACK? HIS ANGUISHED MOTHER, SELENA BRIGHTLINGSEA."

PROMISE ME SOMETHING, WILL YOU?

JUST PROMISE ME THAT YOU'LL NEVER DO ANYTHING TO HURT CONCHITA.

I SWEAR, I'D RATHER SHOOT MYSELF THAN HARM A HAIR OF THE HEAD.

GOOD.

RICHARD, IF I WERE TO KEEP YOUR SECRET,

LET ME ASK A TRIFLING FAVOR IN RETURN.

OH, TO BE IN ENGLAND...

OH... OH...

...NOW THAT APRIL'S THERE...

- NOW THAT APRIL... - NOW THAT APRIL...

AND WHOEVER WAKES IN ENGLAND...

AND AFTER APRIL, WHEN MAY FOLLOWS...

AND AFTER APRIL, WHEN MAY FOLLOWS...

AND THE WHITE THROAT BUILDS,

- AND ALL THE SWALLOWS... - OH, THE WHITE THROAT SWALLOWS.

NO, NO. NO, COME ON, YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.

NOW, VIRGINIA AND LIZZY,

LOOK AT MY LIPS.

SAY AFTER ME...

OH, TO BE IN EE-NGLAND...

PLEASE, COME ON. OH... OH...

IT'S VERY SIMPLE. OH, TO BE IN ENGLAND.

ENGLAND.

OH, TO BE IN ENGLAND,

NOW THAT APRIL'S THERE...

NO, NO, NO, IT'S...

OH, TO BE IN ENGLAND, NOW THAT APRIL'S THERE.

- YES? - VERY GOOD, CONCHITA.

THANK YOU, DARLING.

BUT YOU'RE HOPELESS. HOPELESS.

AND IT'S "OH" AND "AH-FTER."

OH.

OH, TO BE IN ENGLAND, NOW THAT APRIL'S THERE.

- YES, VERY GOOD. - MY BABY, YES.

A SHAME SHE'S NOT BEEN INVITED.

SENATOR MANSFIELD DOUGLAS AND MRS. DOUGLAS.

HIS EXCELLENCY, THE AMBASSADOR FROM THE NETHERLANDS,

MR. VANDEROW AND MRS. VANDEROW.

COMMODORE ETHAN McCOWAN.

MRS. PARMORE, MISS PARMORE.

MISS PARMORE.

JAMES, MRS. PARMORE, MISS PARMORE.

LORD RICHARD MARABEL

AND HIS FIANCEE, MISS CONCHITA CLOSSON.

ISN'T SHE LOVELY?

- HE'S VERY HANDSOME. - INDEED.

MR. PARMORE. MY CHARMING DAUGHTER, ALETA.

THE LADIES HONORIA AND FELICIA MARABEL.

AH, LORD RICHARD'S SISTERS.

THEIR APPEARANCE IS SOMEWHAT SURPRISING.

COULD THEY BE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS WAS TO BE

A FANCY DRESS BALL?

WELCOME TO AMERICA.

WE CAN'T SAY HOW CHARMED WE ARE TO BE HERE, MRS. PARMORE.

CHARMED.

MRS. PARMORE'S PARTIES ARE THE HEIGHT OF THE SEASON.

WONDERFUL, DARLING.

OH, I DID WANT TO GO TO THE BALL, REALLY,

EVEN THOUGH I SAID I DIDN'T CARE.

WELL, NOW THAT VIRGINIA AND LIZZY HAVE FOUND AN ENTRY,

I'M SURE THERE'LL BE PLENTY OF BALLS FOR YOU TO ATTEND.

WHEN THE TIME COMES.

COLD.

COME UNDER THE COVERS. COME ON.

"WILLOWS WHITEN, ASPENS QUIVER,

LITTLE BREEZES DUSK AND SHIVER,

THRO' THE WAVE THAT RUNS FOREVER,

BY THE ISLAND IN THE RIVER

FLOWING DOWN TO CAMELOT."

THAT'S LOVELY.

- WHO WROTE IT? - ALFRED TENNYSON.

- IS HE ENGLISH? - YES.

I'M SURE ENGLAND IS FULL OF POETS.

I KNOW IF EVER I MET AN ENGLISH POET,

I SHOULD FALL IN LOVE WITH HIM.

WELL, LET'S HOPE YOU NEVER MEET ONE.

ARE YOU YOUNGER THAN MY MOTHER?

I BELIEVE WE'RE PROBABLY ABOUT THE SAME AGE.

- I DON'T KNOW. - YOU SEEM MUCH YOUNGER.

PERHAPS IT'S BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE A HUSBAND.

OH, ANNABEL.

HAVEN'T YOU NOTICED THAT WHEN LADIES MARRY,

THEY GO SORT OF QUIET AND DULL?

I HAVE NOT.

BUT IT'S TRUE.

I'D RATHER BE LIKE YOU...

FREE.

WHEN A WOMAN WANTS TO BE FREE, ANNABEL,

THERE'S A PRICE TO PAY.

DON'T EVER FORGET THAT.

THOUGH IT'S PROBABLY BEST FOR A LADY TO MARRY WISELY.

YOU DIDN'T GET MARRIED.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ME.

AND I'M NOT A LADY.

NOW, LISTEN. DO, PLEASE.

"ON EITHER SIDE OF THE RIVER LIE

LONG FIELDS OF BARLEY AND OF RYE,

THAT CLOTHE THE WOLD AND MEET THE SKY.

AND THRO' THE FIELD THE ROAD RUNS BY

TO MANY-TOWER'D CAMELOT.

AND UP AND DOWN THE PEOPLE GO,

GAZING WHERE THE LILIES BLOW

ROUND AN ISLAND THERE BELOW,

THE ISLAND OF SHALOTT."

FINE MORNING, MRS. PARMORE.

WHOA.

LADY HONORIA. LADY FELICIA.

WHAT A PLEASURE.

I DO HOPE YOU FIND SOMETHING TO ENJOY IN OUR LITTLE TOWN.

OH. OH.

MRS. PARMORE, GOOD MORNING.

WHY, WE THINK NEWPORT IS JUST

THE LOVELIEST LITTLE PLACE IN AMERICA.

WHY, I WAS JUST SAYING TO MISS ELMSWORTH...

AND THE AIR, MRS. PARMORE IS...

IT'S SO VERY, VERY BRACING.

- AFTER LONDON. - "AH-F." "AH-FTER" LONDON.

I SEE SOME RETCHED JOKE HAS BEEN PLAYED.

NO DOUBT YOU THINK IT AT MY EXPENSE.

I'M AFRAID YOU WILL FIND IT QUITE THE CONTRARY.

WALK ON.

- LIZZY. - MAMA.

MAMA, IT WAS THE ONLY WAY WE COULD GO.

THE GIRLS HAVE RUINED ANY CHANCE THEY EVER HAD.

YOU DO REALIZE THAT CONCHITA WILL SOON BE

PART OF ONE OF THE FINEST FAMILIES IN ENGLAND?

I MEAN TO SAY THAT... IF VIRGINIA AND ANNABEL

EVER WANTED TO DO A LONDON SEASON,

KNOWING THE BRIGHTLINGSEAS WOULD BE AN ENORMOUS HELP.

A LONDON SEASON?

WELL, WHY NOT?

IT MIGHT BE MUCH EASIER THAN NEW YORK.

AND IF THEY GOT ON WELL OVER THERE,

WELL, WHEN THEY CAME BACK TO AMERICA,

THEY WOULD BE INVITED EVERYWHERE.

OH, NO, I COULDN'T.

I COULDN'T FACE A STRANGE COUNTRY ALL ALONE.

REALLY, NO, I COULDN'T.

EUROPE.

MMM.

AHH.

IT'S WORTH THINKING ABOUT.

I WONDER WHAT THE BRIGHTLINGSEAS WILL MAKE OF CONCHITA?

MMM.

THEY'RE IN THE VAN DYKE ROOM, MY LORD.

ALL RIGHT.

IT MAY BE NATURAL FOR A NEWLY-MARRIED MAN

TO VISIT HIS PARENTS.

BUT DAMN IT, SELENA,

I KNOW HOW THE BOY'S MIND WORKS.

HE'S UP TO SOMETHING.

I THOUGHT WE FINALLY GOT RID OF THE YOUNG BLIGHTER.

BUT HERE HE IS, BACK AGAIN,

LIKE THE PROVERBIAL BAD KIDDY.

COME ON, CHARLIE. COME ON.

GO ON, BOYS, EAT.

MOTHER, FATHER...

ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MY WIFE, CONCHITA.

WE DID NOT EXPECT YOU.

- SO VERY PLEASED, MY DEAR. - EXCITED.

THEY'RE VERY QUIET.

WE CAN HARDLY THROW DICKIE OUT AGAIN.

WHY NOT?

BECAUSE... HE HAS A WIFE NOW.

OUR FATHER WOULD NEVER THROW A WOMAN OUT OF THE HOUSE.

NOT EVEN ONE WHO LOOKS LIKE A FRENCH ACTRESS.

ESPECIALLY NOT ONE WHO LOOKS LIKE A FRENCH ACTRESS.

YOU KNOW, DICKIE SAYS THERE ARE TWO MORE OF THEM IN LONDON.

YOU MEAN HE HAS TWO MORE WIVES?

WIVES? TWO MORE AMERICAN GIRLS...

SISTERS, FRIENDS OF CONCHITA.

UNMARRIED?

MY DEAR, TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF.

RICHARD IS NOT MUCH OF A CORRESPONDENT.

REALLY? HE WAS TOLD ME ALL ABOUT YOU AND ALL FRIARS.

WELL, THEN YOU HAVE THE ADVANTAGE.

WHERE SHALL I BEGIN?

YOU MIGHT TELL US ABOUT YOUR PARENTS.

WELL, MY MOTHER'S FAMILY HAS A PLANTATION IN BRAZIL

WHERE WE GROW COFFEE AND WE RAISE HORSES.

BUT MY FATHER DIED WHEN I WAS THREE.

I'M SO SORRY.

SOME TROPICAL DISEASE, I SUPPOSE?

NO, HE WAS SHOT BY A HORSE RUSTLER.

GOOD GRACIOUS.

CONNIE'S A TERRIFIC HORSEWOMAN.

OH, SPLENDID.

NOW, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A STEPFATHER?

YES, WELL, THE ONLY FATHER I REMEMBER.

AND DOES YOUR STEPFATHER RUSTLE HORSES TOO?

NO, HE HAS A FAMOUS CASINO ON 24th STREET.

ON 24th STREET?

YES, MA'AM. THAT'S ABOUT AS SMART AS YOU CAN GET IN NEW YORK.

NOW, MY DEAR, YOU MUST BE VERY TIRED FROM YOUR LONG JOURNEY.

FISHER WILL SHOW YOU TO YOUR ROOM.

WHAT EXACTLY IS MISS CLOSSON'S FINANCIAL POSITION?

CONCHITA IS MY WIFE, FATHER.

MMM, QUITE.

I CAN SEE SHE HAS A MISCHIEVOUS STREAK.

I SUSPECT WE WERE TREATED TO SOMETHING OF A PERFORMANCE

JUST NOW, WERE WE NOT?

HER STEPFATHER'S CASINO IS ACTUALLY THE MOST SUMPTUOUS IN NEW YORK.

MMM... ADVISE HER NOT TO BROADCAST THE FACT.

I TAKE IT YOU AGREED AN ACCEPTABLE SETTLEMENT?

NOT EXACTLY.

UM, CONNIE GETS AN ALLOWANCE, OF COURSE,

BUT TO BE FRANK,

CLOSSON FINDS OUR IDEA OF MARRIAGE SETTLEMENTS RATHER ODD.

- ODD? - YEAH, ODD.

I FELT A BIT OF A HEEL TO PRESS THE POINT.

THE FACT IS, THEY FIND IT RATHER UNGENTLEMANLY OF A FELLOW

NOT TO SUPPORT HIS WIFE ON HIS OWN EARNINGS.

I HOPE I MAY EXPECT AN INCREASE IN MY ANNUITY,

NOW THAT I'M A MARRIED MAN.

DON'T EXPECT ANYTHING FROM ME.

YOU'VE ALREADY COST ME MORE THAN I CARE TO REMEMBER.

WHEN YOU LEFT THIS HOUSE IN A CLOUD TWO YEARS AGO,

I SWORE... I'D NEVER BE MADE A FOOL OF BY YOU AGAIN.

MUST WE ALWAYS HARK BACK TO THAT?

HAVEN'T I MADE UP FOR MY MISTAKES?

TOO LITTLE.

DAMN IT, BOY.

OTHER YOUNG FOOLS HAVE GONE TO AMERICA, AND MADE GOOD.

WHY DO YOU AND SEADOWN BOTH REFUSE

TO MARRY DECENT ENGLISH GIRLS?

POOR OLD RICHARD.

IT'S NOT JUST THAT THE GIRL IS AS VULGAR AS HELL,

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK AS IF SHE HASN'T ANY MONEY EITHER.

BUT THEN WHAT DO THE ANCESTORS EXPECT?

SOMEONE TO KEEP HIM IN SILK SOCKS FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE?

I MEAN, EVEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ATLANTIC,

I DON'T IMAGINE RICHARD'D LOOK LIKE MUCH OF A CATCH.

WELL, COME ON, YOU MUST ADMIT IT'S FUNNY, IDINA?

NO, MY LOVE, IT ISN'T.

- WHY NOT? - BECAUSE OF US, SEADOWN.

WHAT'S IT TO DO WITH US, FORBID IT'S SAKE?

IT'LL PUT IDEAS INTO YOUR MOTHER'S HEAD, THAT'S WHAT.

SHE'LL RESENT ME EVEN MORE.

THERE'LL BE MORE PRESSURE ON YOU TO MAKE A GOOD MARRIAGE

TO SOME CAST-DOWN VIRGIN.

OH, LORD, WHAT A PLAGUE THAT BROTHER OF MINE IS.

BUT NOTHING WILL TAKE ME FROM MY DARLING GIRL.

AND SHE KNOWS IT.

MY LOVE, I AM OLDER AND WISER THAN YOU

AND I KNOW NOTHING OF THE KIND.

SOMETIMES I'M AFRAID I'LL LOSE THIS PLACE I LOVE SO MUCH.

IT'S COSTING ME A SMALL FORTUNE.

IF I CAN'T FIND THE MONEY FOR THE RENT,

I'LL HAVE TO LET IT FOR THE SUMMER.

THEN I SHANT SEE YOU FOR MONTHS ON END.

WE'LL THINK OF SOMETHING.

WAIT.

YES...

OH, NO, JACKIE.

HONESTLY, IT'S TRUE.

PLEASE, MISS, IT'S LADY BRIGHTLINGSEA.

OH.

I HOPE I DO NOT INCONVENIENCE YOU, MISS MARCH.

DEAR LADY BRIGHTLINGSEA, WHAT A DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE.

AND MS. TESTVALLEY WITH ME HERE TOO.

WELL, HOW EXTRAORDINARY, IT'S JUST THE PERSON I WANTED TO SEE.

IT IS OF COURSE ESPECIALLY TRYING FOR MY HUSBAND.

WHEN THE LONDON HOUSE CONCHITA'S FATHER PROMISED HAS FAILED TO MATERIALIZE,

AND AS FAR AS I CAN GATHER, SOMETIMES SHE RECEIVES HER ALLOWANCE

AND SOMETIMES NOT,

RICHARD IS NOT BEHAVING AS WELL AS HE MIGHT.

WELL, YOU KNOW MY YOUNGER SON'S FAULTS, MS. TESTVALLEY.

AH, YES.

FANCY TRAVELING ALONE TO AMERICA.

I'D LIKE TO THINK IT WAS AWFULLY...

BRAVE TO VENTURE TO SUCH A WILD, UNKNOWN COUNTRY.

OH, THEY'RE QUITE CIVILIZED IN THEIR WAY.

WELL, MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW DANCES LIKE A PERFECT SAVAGE,

FROM HALFWAY BETWEEN A RED INDIAN AND A GAIETY GIRL.

AND SHE SINGS IN SPANISH. IS SPANISH THEIR NATIVE TONGUE STILL?

NOT IN THE UNITED STATES, LADY BRIGHTLINGSEA.

THE NATIVE LANGUAGE IS ENGLISH.

THOUGH YOU OR I MIGHT QUESTION IT.

BUT YOU KNOW, THERE IS SOMETHING ENDEARING ABOUT HER.

- I'M SO GLAD YOU THINK SO. - WELL, I DO RATHER.

AND OF COURSE SHE'S VERY BEAUTIFUL.

ONE CAN QUITE SEE WHY RICHARD LOST HIS HEAD.

THE DOGS ADORE HER.

YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYERS...

- THE ST. GEORGES? - MMM.

ARE THEY FROM THE SAME PART OF THE UNITED STATES?

FROM BRAZIL?

FURTHER NORTH, I THINK.

AH, WELL, THEY THINK NOTHING OF DISTANCES THERE, DO THEY?

BUT NOW YOU MUST TELL ME ALL ABOUT THEM.

WHAT IS THEIR BUSINESS IN ENGLAND?

THEY HAVE COME FOR THE LONDON SEASON.

DO THESE AMERICANS NOT HAVE A SEASON OF THEIR OWN?

OH, THEY DO, BUT NATURALLY, IT DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME CACHE AS OUR LONDON SEASON.

OH, WELL, NATURALLY.

MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW TELLS ME

THE ELDER DAUGHTER IS A BEAUTY.

OH, THEY ARE BOTH DELIGHTFUL GIRLS.

THEY'RE FROM A VERY RESPECTABLE FAMILY.

THEIR FATHER IS NOT A CATTLE RUSTLER, I TAKE IT?

- NO. - OH.

NO, LADY BRIGHTLINGSEA.

COLONEL ST. GEORGE IS A WEALTHY MAN.

I'M TOLD HE'S ONE OF WALL STREET'S RISING STARS.

INDEED.

HOW VERY CLEVER OF YOU TO FIND THEM.

OH, I DO WISH TO SEE SEADOWN MARRIED.

BUT SURELY, LORD SEADOWN'S CASE,

THAT WILL BE ONLY TOO EASY.

YOU'RE FORGETTING THIS RETCHED ENTANGLEMENT

OF HIS WITH IDINA HATTON.

OH, IT'S SO MUCH WORSE, YOU KNOW,

THAN IF SHE WAS A DISREPUTABLE WOMAN.

AND SHE COSTS HIM A SMALL FORTUNE.

AND OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S NO QUESTION OF MARRIAGE.

WELL, WE'VE DONE OUR BEST, BUT HE JUST WON'T LOOK

AT A NICE GIRL LIKE...

YES, THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THESE FOREIGN GIRLS

THAT ATTRACTS THE YOUNG MEN, ISN'T THERE?

I SUPPOSE IN SHEER DESPERATION...

YOU KNOW LORD SEADOWN'S INTERESTS COULD NOT BE CLOSER TO MY HEART?

I SHALL MAKE INQUIRIES.

A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR YOU, MY DEAR.

- OH, THANK YOU. - NO, NO, NO, NO.

YOU MUST COME DOWN TO ALL FRIARS, YOU KNOW.

OH, THAT WOULD MAKE ME VERY HAPPY.

JACKIE, DOES SHE REALLY NOT REMEMBER YOU'RE AMERICAN?

I THINK HALF OF HER BRAIN REMEMBERS,

AND HALF OF IT DOESN'T.

YOU MEAN, THE HALF SHE SPEAKS WITH DOESN'T?

NOW THEN, DARLING, I FORGIVE HER.

BUT YOU KNOW, MY DEAR, YOU REALLY MUST INTRODUCE ME

TO YOUR GIRLS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

OH, I SHALL, OF COURSE.

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOR THEM?

JUST TO GIVE THEM A LONDON SEASON,

SO THEY CAN GO HOME TRAILING CLOUDS OF GLORY.

I THINK WE MIGHT DO RATHER BETTER THAN THAT.

- SONTE. - SONTE.

THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST.

JACKIE, WHAT ARE YOU UP TO?

OH, DREAMS AND SCHEMES.

YOU KNOW ME.

OF COURSE, THINGS WERE STILL VERY CLOSED

WHEN I CAME OVER 30 YEARS AGO.

I WAS SOON NOTHING MORE THAN A PRETTY LITTLE AMERICAN

WHO'D BEEN JILTED AT THE ALTER BY A NOBLEMAN.

IT TOOK ME 10 YEARS TO GET OVER THAT.

BUT I'VE MADE A LIFE FOR MYSELF HERE.

I HAVE MY USES AND MY REWARDS.

AND NOW EVEN THE BRASHEST LITTLE AMERICAN

CAN SLIP THROUGH MY FRONT DOOR,

AND FIND HERSELF AT THE VERY HEART OF LONDON SOCIETY.

THERE IS NOTHING I'D LIKE MORE

THAN TO HELP A NEW GENERATION OF BUCCANEERS

DO BETTER THAN I DID.

POOR IDINA.

NOW, TRY AGAIN.

YES, THAT'S BETTER.

THAT'S BETTER, BUT DON'T EXAGGERATE YOUR CURTSEY.

ONE MIGHT AS WELL MAKE A SARCASTIC REMARK AS EXAGGERATE THE CURTSEY.

NOW, VIRGINIA.

VERY GOOD.

VERY GOOD. ANNABEL...

SHOULDERS BACK, CHIN UP...

GIRLS, SHALL WE CONTINUE?

OH, YES. YES.

THE ELDER SON OF A DUKE TAKES RANK

AFTER MARQUISES AND BEFORE EARLS.

THE ELDER SON OF AN EARL AFTER VISCOUNTS,

AND BEFORE THE YOUNGER SONS OF MARQUISES AND BISHOPS.

NOW, THE YOUNGER SONS OF DUKES AND MARQUISES ARE LORDS.

- FOR EXAMPLE, LORD CLAUDE HAMILTON... - WILL SHE STOP TALKING EVER?

...SON OF THE DUKE OF ABERCORD.

BUT YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO A WORD I'M SAYING.

OH, I DON'T KNOW,

I'VE GATHERED THAT A DUKE IS WORTH MORE THAN A LORD.

IT ENOUGH TO MAKE ONE GIDDY.

ARE YOU NOT INTERESTED IN HOW THE UNIVERSE WORKS, MY DEARS?

I GUESS WE'RE AS GOOD AS ANYBODY.

THEY ACT DIFFERENT THAN US, AND WE'RE JUST NOT USED TO THEM YET.

WELL, I SUGGEST YOU CONTINUE TO ACT IN YOUR OWN WAY.

IT'LL AMUSE THEM MORE IF YOU TRY TO COPY THEM.

VAL, I HATE HAVING TO GO WITHOUT YOU.

YOU SHANT NEED ME,

NOT WITH MISS MARCH TO SHOW YOU THE ROPES.

WELL, WHAT WILL YOU DO?

I THINK I SHOULD GO SHOPPING.

AND THEN I'LL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT MY FAMILY.

ALL RIGHT.

MRS. ST. GEORGE.

WILL YOU BE ALL RIGHT, MAMA?

YOUR MAMA WILL SIT HERE ALL ALONE IN MELANCHOLY EXILE.

OH, DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR FATHER'S DOING?

HE'S ON A YACHT AT THE CUP RACES DRINKING CHAMPAGNE

WITH LOTS OF LADIES WEARING PINK HATS.

- MAMA. - IT'S ALL RIGHT.

REALLY.

AND REMEMBER, NEVER, NEVER TAKE SECONDS OF SOUP OR FISH,

AND DON'T GO EXPRESSING ANY OF YOUR OUTLANDISH OPINIONS.

IN CONVERSATION IN ENGLAND,

IT DOES NOT DUE TO SAY ANYTHING

WHICH MIGHT JUST AS WELL BE SAID BY ANYONE ELSE.

AND THERE'S ANOTHER THING,

DON'T JUDGE A GENTLEMAN BY HIS POWER IN PLEASING.

IN ENGLAND, THE GREATER THE MAN IS,

THE LESS LIKELY HE IS TO BE ENTERTAINING.

HIS DULLNESS IS ALWAYS IN PROPORTION TO HIS DISTINCTION.

FOREWARNED IS FOREARMED.

WHOA, WHOA.

STEADY NOW, GIRL.

I CAN'T WAIT TO WRITE LIZZY. WON'T SHE JUST DIE OF ENVY.

GIRLS. COME ON, GIRLS, I'VE BEEN SITTING QUIETLY FOR YOU.

OH, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE REALLY HERE.

ALL RIGHT, COME WITH ME.

CONNIE, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ACTUALLY LIVE HERE.

YES, IS DO, AND IT'S AWFULLY DULL.

IT'S VERY COLD, TOO. YOU HAVE TO GET USED TO IT.

THEY HAVE ICE IN THEIR VEINS.

ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU TO YOUR ROOMS.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO MEET THE IN-LAWS UNTIL DINNER.

AND EVEN THEN, IT WILL ONLY BE A SMALL FAMILY PARTY,

BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE MANY VISITORS HERE.

WHERE THE DEVIL iS YOUR MOTHER? IT'S 7:00.

MAMA iS TALKING WITH SEADOWN, I THINK.

I SAW HIM GO INTO HER DRESSING ROOM.

ODD TIME FOR YOUR MOTHER TO BE TALKING IN HER DRESSING ROOM.

- WHO ELSE IS HERE? - NO ONE IN PARTICULAR.

JUST TWO AMERICAN GIRLS,

FRIENDS OF CONCHITA'S.

MAMA TOLD HER TO ASK THEM DOWN.

ODD THING FOR HER TO DO.

AMERICANS. AH, DAMN IT.

SHE KNOWS I HATE THAT WHOLE OUTLANDISH TOBACCO-CHEWING CREW,

WITH THEIR SWAGGER, AND THEIR NASAL TWANGS.

OH, AND MISS MARCH IS HERE TOO.

MARCH... MARCH?

THAT'S A NAME I'M NOT AWARE. CHECK.

I SHOULD THINK SO, PAPA.

MAMA TOLD ME TO BE SURE TO REMIND YOU.

- REMIND ME OF WHAT? - WHY, THAT YOU JILTED HER AND BROKE HER HEART.

- I DID WHAT? - YES, YOU DID, PAPA.

AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE, TOO.

AND AFTER THE WEDDING DRESS HAD BEEN ORDERED.

THAT WHOLE NONSENSE. YOU WOMEN.

YOU NEVER LEAVE, BY HEAVENS.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE PARTICULARLY NICE TO HER.

AND BE SURE NOT TO ASK IF SHE'S EVER BEEN TO ALL FRIARS BEFORE.

WELL, I HOPE I'M NICE, AS YOU CALL IT,

TO EVERYONE WHO COMES TO MY HOUSE.

CHECKMATE.

GOOD EVENING, PAPA.

LORD BRIGHTLINGSEA, I'M VIRGINIA ST. GEORGE.

AND THIS... IS MY SISTER ANNABEL.

CHARMED, MY DEARS, CHARMED.

LORD BRIGHTLINGSEA.

MADAM.

OH, YES, OF COURSE.

GOOD LORD.

I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE YOU.

IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US CHAPS, YOU KNOW.

LADIES, WITH YOUR HAIR...

AND...

SO ON...

MISS ST. GEORGE, I SHOULD NEVER HAVE TAKEN YOU FOR AN AMERICAN.

OOH.

OH, LORD. SORRY.

DON'T WORRY, MY DEAR, THE GREEN JUST AIN'T WORTH EATING.

THE GIRLS WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE RUBENS, PAPA.

AND THEY SHALL. CERTAINLY.

WHICH ONE IS THE RUBENS?

GOOD LORD, I DON'T KNOW.

ISN'T IT THE SICKLY PINK ONE IN THE OCTAGON ROOM?

YES, THAT'S IT.

AFTER DINNER, THE GIRLS WILL SHOW YOU

THEIR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE RHINE.

- THE-THE RHINE? - MM-HMM.

THE RHINE IS THE LONGEST...

NEARLY THE LONGEST RIVER IN EUROPE.

IT RISES IN SWITZERLAND, AND FORMS THE FRONTIER

BETWEEN SWITZERLAND AND LIECHTENSTEIN.

- IT IS NAVIGABLE AS FAR AS... - EH. CHA-CHA, GEORGINA.

THAT WAS AWFUL.

DID YOU EVER, EVER KNOW ANYTHING SO AWFUL?

YES. EVERY OTHER DINNER TIME AT ALL FRIARS.

NO.

THE ONLY THING I SAID ALL NIGHT WAS "OOPS".

LADIES, LADIES, LOOK WHAT I HAVE FOR YOU.

ARE THEY REALLY AS DULL AS THEY SEEM?

MMM.

THEY'RE MUCH WORSE.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE A PITCHFORK TO THEM TO GET ANYTHING OUT OF THEM.

HONESTLY, IF I DON'T GET UP TO LONDON SOON,

I SHALL TURN WICKED.

CAN YOU UNDO ME, DARLING? IN BACK HERE?

JUST LOOSEN IT UP.

OH, HURRY UP.

MY BABY'S GETTING DRUNK.

- ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. - THANK YOU, DARLING. OH.

FEEL MUCH BETTER.

OH, WAIT...

WHAT ABOUT THE RECTOR'S STOMACH RUMBLING?

- AND THE DOGS. - THE DOGS.

NOW, WHAT DID YOU THINK OF SEADOWN?

I THOUGHT HE LOOKED A BIT SAD.

WELL, HE ALWAYS DOES, POOR OLD SEADY...

- HE CAN'T HELP IT. - MMM.

LORD KNOWS WHY HE'S HIS PARENT BLUE-EYED BOY.

AND MY RICHARD IS THE BLACK SHEEP OF THE FAMILY.

PITY I DIDN'T KNOW THAT BEFORE I MARRIED.

- WOULD YOU HAVE SAID "NO"? - I DON'T EXPECT SO.

WHERE IS HE?

WELL, HE CAN'T BE FISHING YET, SO I WOULD SAY HE'S AT THE RACES.

HE DOESN'T KEEP ME INFORMED WHAT HE'S UP TO THESE DAYS.

NOW, IF ONLY SOME NICE, LITTLE GIRL WOULD COME ALONG

AND HOLD UP HER HAND TO SEADY.

DON'T LOOK AT ME.

WELL, YOU GIRLS MAY NOT KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU,

BUT I AM ON THE LOOKOUT

FOR A NEW FRIEND.

SOMEONE WITH A LARGE DISPOSABLE INCOME

WHO CAN'T QUITE THINK HOW TO SPEND.

CONNIE.

OH, I'M SORRY,

YOU LITTLE PURITANS HAVEN'T BEEN BROKEN IN YET.

MMM...

WELL, DON'T WORRY, YOU'LL SOON COME DOWN OFF YOUR HIGH HORSES.

IN FACT, TOMORROW, YOU BETTER HOLD ONTO YOUR HEARTS

BECAUSE WE ARE GOING OVER TO HONORSLOVE

TO HAVE TEA WITH GUY THWAITE AND HIS FATHER SIR HELMSLEY,

WHO IS AN OLD HEARTBREAKER.

AND GUY IS ONE OF THE MOST FASCINATING DETRIMENTALS IN ALL OF ENGLAND.

WHAT'S A DETRIMENTAL?

IT'S A YOUNG MAN THAT ALL THE WOMEN ARE MAD FOR,

BUT THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO MARRY.

NOW THAT I COME TO THINK OF IT,

GUY WOULD BE JUST PERFECT

TO RUN IN TANDEM WITH THE RICH LORD I'M AFTER.

GOOD NIGHT, LADIES.

GOOD NIGHT, CONNIE.

ONE DAY I'M GOING TO GET HER TO STOP

DROPPING THOSE STUPID HINTS AND TELL ME WHAT IT'S REALLY LIKE.

- WHAT WHAT'S LIKE? - YOU KNOW...

AH. ANNABEL, YOU WILL DO NO SUCH THING.

IF MOTHER HEARD YOU SPEAKING LIKE THAT, SHE WOULD LOCK YOU UP.

OW.

WOULD YOU GET OFF?

LOOK, SHE'S NOT WEARING A SINGLE STONE.

YOU KNOW WHAT MISS MARCH SAID,

THE ENGLISH THINK IT VULGAR TO LIVE LARGELY, DEAR.

HMM.

ISN'T IT STRANGE THAT THERE'S NO GAS?

IT'S KIND OF SPOOKY.

I WISH WE'D TOLD THE MAID TO WAIT UP FOR US.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE GAS.

I THINK ALL FRIARS IS THE GRANDEST

AND MOST ROMANTIC PLACE I'VE EVER SEEN.

CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW MANY GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE

HAVE SLEPT IN THIS BED?

I WANT TO KNOW, GINNY...

I WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING.

SO YOU SEE, MS. TESTVALLEY WAS QUITE RIGHT.

OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, COLONEL ST. GEORGE HAS STEADILY BECOME

EXTREMELY WEALTHY.

BY FAIR MEANS, MISS MARCH, OR FOUL?

LAST YEAR, THE COLONEL POUNDED DOWN THE SHARES

OF THE NORTHERN STEEL COMPANY FROM $28 TO 9,

AT WHICH POINT, HE BOUGHT THE COMPANY OUT FOR A FRACTION OF IT'S WORTH.

HOW REALLY SHOCKING.

IT IS I'M TOLD ACCEPTED PRACTICE ON WALL STREET.

THE COLONEL IS NOT ONLY THE SOLE OWNER OF THE NORTHERN STEEL COMPANY,

BUT LAST JANUARY, WENT ON TO BECOME

THE MAJORITY SHAREHOLDER OF THE NEW YORK RAILROAD.

THE NEW YORK RAILROAD.

VERY GOOD, MISS MARCH.

AND THERE'S NO DENYING THAT MISS ST. GEORGE IS A BEAUTY.

UNFORTUNATELY, SEADOWN PREFERS

A DARK, SHARP-WITTED GIRL, ALWAYS HAS.

YOU SEEM VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. IS IT QUITE?

LADY RICHARD.

MISS ST. GEORGE, ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MR. THWAITE.

MISS ST. GEORGE. PLEASE, DO COME IN.

- SEADY, HOW ARE YOU? - GUY.

- I SHOWED THE GIRLS THE GARDENS. - THEY'RE LOOKING BEAUTIFUL.

DO COME AND MEET MY FATHER.

HONORSLOVE IS CERTAINLY MORE LOVELY THAN I COULD IMAGINE, SIR HELMSLEY.

WELL, IT'S A GREAT PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE, MISS ST. GEORGE.

- WELL, THANK YOU. - YOU'RE MOST WELCOME.

PRETTY DAMN GOOD.

CONNIE, WHY DID YOU SAY THAT MR. THWAITE CAN'T AFFORD TO MARRY?

BECAUSE GUY'S FATHER PLAYED DICE WITH HIS INHERITANCE AND LOST.

PLAYED DICE?

WHEN GUY'S MOTHER DIED, SHE LEFT HIM 20, MAYBE 50,000 POUNDS,

DEPENDING ON WHO'S TELLING THE STORY.

WELL, GUY WAS ONLY 13, SO THE FATHER TOOK THE MONEY

AND TRIED TO INVEST IT FOR HIM...

HE LOST EVERY LAST PENNY.

MMM, A SHAME.

LADIES, CAN I INTEREST YOU IN A GLASS OF LEMONADE?

- LEMONADE? - AND VERY GOOD HEALTH.

- THANK YOU VERY MUCH KINDLY. - GOOD HEALTH TO YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

MISS ST. GEORGE...

STAY JUST A BIT.

I-I'D LOVE...

BEAUTIFUL.

IT'S THE MAGIC HOUR.

YOU SEE, IT'S BEEN IN OUR FAMILY NOT JUST FOR GENERATIONS,

BUT FOR CENTURIES.

EVERY TREE, EVERY STONE IS PRECIOUS.

HONORSLOVE... DOES IT HAVE A MEANING?

WELL, NO ONE REALLY KNOWS.

DO YOU KNOW THE POEM BY LOVELACE?

HE WAS LEAVING HIS LADY TO GO OFF TO THE WARS,

AND HE ENDS...

"I COULD NOT LOVE THEE DEAR SO MUCH,

LOVE THY NOT HONOR MORE."

I CAN SEE WHY CONCHITA SAYS THIS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN ENGLAND.

OH, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT I SUPPOSE IF ONE WERE MARRIED TO A WOMAN

ONE ADORED, ONE WOULD SOON GET BEYOND HER BEAUTY.

THEN YOU UNDERSTAND?

UNDERSTAND?

I MEAN, ABOUT THE BEYONDNESS OF THINGS.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW THERE'S NO SUCH WORD, BUT...

NO, NO, NO, BUT... THERE IS SUCH A FEELING.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW STRANGE IT IS FOR ME TO BE HERE.

WHEN I WAS LITTLE, MY READING PRIMERS, THEY WERE ALL ENGLISH.

I REMEMBER ONE CALLED GUFFY SECONDRADER.

WE LIVED IN A TIMBER HOUSE IN WEST VIRGINIA.

BUT MY BOOK, IT WAS ALL LARKS

AND MILKMAIDS AND FOXHUNTING.

WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS A BOY,

YOUR CIVIL WAR WAS MY MOST PASSIONATE INTEREST.

MY PAPA FOUGHT IN THE CIVIL WAR,

ON THE CONFEDERATE SIDE...

I THINK MY MOTHER MARRIED BENEATH HER.

BUT OUR PAPA... HE WAS VERY HANDSOME.

OH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT, MADAM. LISTEN, LISTEN.

THAT'S MY FATHER SINGING.

HE'S TAKEN RATHER A SHINE TO YOUR SISTER.

EVERYBODY DOES.

EVERYBODY?

DO YOU STAY LONG AT ALL FRIARS, MISS ST. GEORGE?

I'M AFRAID NOT.

WE HAVE TO GO TO LONDON SOON.

NO, NO, NO, THAT'S THE WAY I LIKE 'EM...

GOLDEN AND DIVINELY DULL.

OH, YOU MEAN THE ELDER MISS ST. GEORGE, I TAKE IT.

BUT ABOUT AS EXPENSIVE TO ACQUIRE

AS THE VENUS DE MILO

AND AS DIFFICULT TO FIT INTO DOMESTIC LIFE.

WHAT DO YOU IMAGINE THEY MAKE OF US?

I MEAN, BENEATH THAT SURFACE GUSH,

THESE AMERICANS HAVE A SORT OF RETICENCE.

I MEAN, THEY LOOK AND THEY SAY, "WELL, ISN'T THAT JUST DIVINE?"

BUT...

YOU WONDER WHAT THE HELL THEY'RE REALLY THINKING.

YES, IT'S FUNNY HOW THINGS NEVER REALLY WORK OUT AS PLANNED.

I REALIZE I'VE DISAPPOINTED YOU.

DISAPPOINTED? DISAPPOINTED?

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

ON THE CONTRARY.

YOU IMAGINE I'D HAVE GOT THROUGH THOSE YEARS OF DRUDGERY?

NO, TO STICK TO YOUR TRAINING AS YOU DID,

HOW COULD I NOT ADMIRE THAT?

YOU KNOW, ENGINEERING IS...

IS NO CAREER FOR A GENTLEMAN,

CERTAINLY NOT WHAT YOUR MOTHER WOULD HAVE WANTED.

AND IT'LL NEVER MAKE A WEALTHY MAN OF YOU.

NOT WORKING AT HOME, PERHAPS, BUT...

- IF I WERE TO GO ABROAD... - DON'T SPEAK OF GOING ABROAD.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I DID WANT TO SPEAK OF.

NO, I WON'T HEAR OF IT. PLEASE, NO.

SEE, I WAS BORN WITH SUCH A PASSIONATE DESIRE

TO BE A MODEL OF MY OWN CLASS, BUT THERE'S A...

THERE'S A CONTRADICTORY STREAK IN MY NATURE AS YOU KNOW ONLY TOO WELL.

SO WHAT HAVE I DONE INSTEAD? I'VE TRANSLATED A LITTLE HORACE,

I'VE PAINTED A FEW LANDSCAPES, I'VE HOBNOBBED WITH ARTISTS,

AND... ACTRESSES.

IN SHORT, BEEN NOTHING BUT A BRILLIANT FAILURE.

SO, YOU SEE, I RELY ON YOU TO MAKE UP FOR MY SHORTCOMINGS.

WELL, MAYBE I'LL TRY AND BE A DISMAL SUCCESS, HMM?

DEAR BOY, DEAR BOY, SURELY IT'S THE AMBITION

OF EVERY EDUCATED ENGLISHMAN TO SIT IN PARLIAMENT.

I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE. YOU KNOW IT'S ALWAYS BEEN MY AMBITION.

BUT A POLITICIAN NEEDS MONEY.

WELL, YOU'LL HARDLY BE SHORT OF PATRONAGE.

I DON'T WANT PATRONAGE, I WANT INDEPENDENCE.

I'M IN TO MAKE A FORTUNE, NOT MARRY ONE.

OH...

A LITTLE UNFAIR.

BEDTIME, I THINK.

GOOD NIGHT, FATHER.

DON'T KNOW WHY HE'S COME AROUND. HE KNOWS I HAVEN'T GOT THE MONEY YET.

NOT YET.

OH...

I WILL HAVE IT. I JUST DON'T HAVE IT NOW.

TELL THE RETCHED MAN I CAN'T PAY HIM.

TELL HIM I'LL SEE HIM NEXT WEEK.

TELL HIM I PROMISE, NEXT WEEK.

YES, MA'AM.

WELL, IF YOU HAD THOUGHT OF ME BEFORE,

I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP.

WHEREAS NOW...

I HATE TO THINK A STRANGER'S RUNNING ONE OVER MY BELOVED LITTLE HOUSE,

BUT STILL...

I'M MOST AWFULLY GRATEFUL TO YOU, JACKIE, TRULY I AM.

YOU'VE GOT ME OUT OF A HORRIBLY TIGHT CORNER.

I WAS AT MY WIT'S END.

WHERE WILL YOU GO, MY DEAR?

OH, I SHALL SLIP AWAY TO MY BROTHERS AND BE BORED RIGID.

WELL, BEGGARS CAN'T BE CHOOSERS.

SPEAKING OF WHICH, SINCE THIS FAMILY IS SO FRIGHTFULLY WEALTHY,

I'VE PUT MY RENT UP TO 40 POUNDS.

I THINK THAT MIGHT BE SEEN AS SOMEWHAT GRABBING, MY DEAR.

I AM GRABBING, DARLING, I HAVE TO BE,

THEY'LL BE NONE THE WISER.

I CAN'T BE FOREVER ASKING SEADOWN FOR MONEY.

I WANT TO BE A LIGHT A BURDEN AS POSSIBLE TO HIM, ESPECIALLY JUST NOW.

THAT'S SETTLED THEN.

OH, AND JACKIE,

I'M FORBIDDING SEADOWN TO SET FOOT IN THE COTTAGE WHILST I'M AWAY.

AMERICAN GIRLS ARE SO PUSHY.

IF LADY RICHARD TRIES TO COAX THEM DOWN,

YOU MUST SWEAR TO LET ME KNOW.

AND I'LL SEE THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

BUT OF COURSE, MY DEAR.

WHOA.

CONNIE.

CONCHITA, HELLO.

OH MY GOODNESS, IT'S LIZZY ELMSWORTH.

OH, LIZZY.

- I MISS ALL OF YOU SO. - WHAT A DRESS.

YOU GUYS LOOK SO... LOOK AT THIS.

OH, IS IT NEW? IT'S NEW. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

I CAN'T BELIEVE I SURVIVED IT.

COME, COME, LET'S RUN.

- IS IT WONDERFUL? - YES.

I WANT TO HEAR EVERYTHING ABOUT IT.

I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M HERE.

WHAT DO YOU SAY, LIZZY? ISN'T IT THE PERFECT PLACE FOR PARTIES?

IT'S HEAVEN.

WE COULD MOVE THE FURNITURE TO THE SIDES.

HOW COOL AND COMFORTABLE AND LAZY WE SHALL BE.

YOU WON'T MIND IF SOMETIMES I RUN AWAY FROM HOME TO JOIN YOU?

I PROMISE TO BRING ALL THE BEST PEOPLE WITH ME.

I HOPE SO.

I SHALL MAKE INVITATIONS TO RUNNYMEAD AS SOUGHT AFTER

AS CARDS FOR THE ROYAL ENCLOSURE.

YOU MUST COME SEE VAL.

AND WE HAVE TO TALK TO MOTHER AND MAKE SURE YOU CAN STAY.

- YES. - VAL.

MS. TESTVALLEY.

- LOOK WHO'S HERE... IT'S LIZZY. - MRS. ST. GEORGE.

WELL, ANOTHER BUCCANEER.

WHAT?

OH, THAT'S WHAT MISS MARCH CALLS YOU... THE BUCCANEERS.

- THE BUCCANEERS? - YES.

WHY?

BECAUSE SHE SAYS THE ENGLISH INVADED AMERICA,

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN.

DON'T YOU JUST LOVE IT.

THERE'S TEA ON THE TERRACE.

WELL, LOVES, WHAT DO YOU SAY?

SHALL WE ALL TURN PIRATE AND DIVIDE THE SPOILS BETWEEN US?

- MMM. - AND YOU'LL BE OUR CAPTAIN.

OH, VERY WELL, I SHALL.

WE WILL BEAT ALL THE OTHER WOMEN HANDS DOWN.

BECAUSE WE ALL STICK TOGETHER.

DON'T PLAY ANY LOWDOWN TRICKS.

TEA BREAK.

BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR,

WE SHALL HAVE ALL OF LONDON IN OUR POCKETS.

LONDON.