Original subtitles

Advertise your product or brand here contact www.OpenSubtitles.org today

QUARTET

Subtitles by Seglora

The star of this film is not an actor or an actress but a writer

I know there was so help to make it, take pleasure and paying tribute to him

William Somerset Maugham born in Paris in 1874 is the author of 24 novels

24 plays and upwards about 100 short stories

This is what he says about his life and work

One way or another I've used in my writings

pretty well everything that had happened to me in the course of my life

Sometimes an experience of my own

has provided me with an idea

and I just had to invent the incidence to illustrate it

but more often I've taken people I've known either slightly or intimately

and used them as a foundation for a characters of my own inventions

but to tell you the truth fact and fiction is so intermingled in my work

that now looking back I can hardly distinguish one from the other

In my twenties critics said I was brutal

In my thirties they said I was flippant

In my forties they said I was cynical

In my fifties they said I was competent

and then in my sixties they said I was superficial

I went my own way with a shrug of the shoulders

Following the path I've had to traced

and trying with my work to fill out the pattern of life that I've made for myself

Quartet is a collection of four of Somerset Maugham's favorite stories

The first you'll see is The Facts of Life

It was Henry Garnet's habit to drop in at his club after dinner to play bridge.

He was a pleasant man to play with he knew the game well

and you could be sure he would make the best of his cards

-Come on Henry -Yes

It's you to play

What? Me? Oh,sorry

What? The rest of mine I think, that's makes it game and rubber

Why on earth didn't you play your count?

I beg you pardon

They would have been two down if you counted

I hadn't got one

Of course you have

There you are ace of hearts

You suggesting that I'm not speaking the truth

Oh,my dear chap

Let's cut the inquiry and play another rubber

You can leave me out,if you don't mind,I'm not in the mood

-I'm sorry Leslie -That's all right,old man

What's the trouble?

As a matter of fact I am a devil of temper

What about?

I had the most upsetting day

Lizzie?

No.Not exactly.If you don't mind I'd rather like to tell you

Only don't let it go any further

-Of course not -I should hate it around the club

Much better get it off your chest

Well,it's about my boy Nickie

Say it again Walters

He did very well in that tournament

Yes

It was tennis that started the whole trouble

My wife and I was down Wimbledon last month

and found out sitting next to old Franklin

I don't know if you know him

but he is sort of fool bar tennis at the Cambridge

So naturally I asked him how my boy is getting on

How is Nickie's game coming along?

Not too badly

Any chance of him chosen to the Vaster team?

Perhaps.He is a bit more experienced you know

-Yes -Good shot

Why don't you let him come down to Monte Carlo to play in the tournament?

Hasn't the British team been chosen?

Yes it has

But the man we are relying on has let us down

and Nickie just about to fill the bill

Now what do you say?

Well I'd rather he didn't, if you don't mind

The first place he is not good enough yet

and the second I don't like the idea of the young boy 19

traipsing around Monte Carlo with nobody looking after him

I should be there I am going as non playing Captain

You'll be too busy to bother about Nickie

Just as you say

If you change your mind give me a ring

we shall not decide before next Wednesday's meeting

-Good bye Mrs Garnet -Good bye

Have some thinking Nickie is good enough for Monte Carlo

Yes.He is coming along well

Why not let him go Henry?

Oh,no,certainly not,he's too young

Nickie is not the sort getting into any mischief

It's not just that but there is his work to consider

the bad thing to cut the end of term

He'll only miss three days

-Do let him? -No,certainly not..

..I've made up my mind

You know it is awfully decent of you too let me go Dad

Your mother was rather against it but

I managed to talk her into it

Thanks Dad,you're a sport

You will behave when you are away

Of course I will

I don't want to play the heavy father

but this is the first time you've been abroad on your own

and I wouldn't like you to get into a mess

Don't worry I won't

That's right

Look Nickie when I was at your age my father gave me three bits of advice

And I've lived up to them ever since and I hope you will

The first is gambling,don't gamble,whatever anybody else say you would do

The second is money,don't lend money not in any circumstances

And the third is women,don't have anything to do with women

now if you lay off these few things you won't go far wrong

so be a good boy and try to remember

-No,dad,I won't forget,I promise -That's right

-Give them a run for their money -I'll try

-Good Bye ,Dad -Good Bye,boy

The boy didn't not disgrace himself in the tournament

He did very well according to the papers

Yes,of course he didn't beat the top class men

he got in the semi final in the double,he ran the Australian number two to three sets

oh no,not bad at all,I couldn't wished him to do better

It was after the tournament that the trouble began

There was an official dinner for the players

and after that they all went to the sporting club

Les jeux sont faites

Rien va plus

25 rouge

Monsieurs,dames faites vos jeux

-Hello -Hello

Les jeux son faites

-31 -31,bien,Madame

Rien va plus

20,noire

Watched you ,Nickey,doing any good

I haven't been playing

You'll have on little flutter before you go

Yes,I suppose so,my father was not any too keen of me coming here at all

He particularly warned me against gambling

Fear not gambling if you when to stop

I had ago with 1000 francs and lost and that's that

You're crazy if you leave Monte without trying your luck once

Surely your father wouldn't mind you losing 1000 francs

It's only just over one quid

I don't think he suppose he would

After all I promised not to gamble

I only promised not to forgive his advice

Try number eleven I didn't loss maybe it will win

No I'll try 19

-Excuse moi -Sorry

Les jeux son faites

Rien va plus

19 rouge

Its' yours Nickey

Look at all the chips you won

Les jeux son faites

You’re like in it have another go

No thanks I'm not to attempt the providence a second time

You won again young man

-No,I haven't put anything on -Yes you have..

Your original stake they always leave it on unless you ask for it back

-Didn't you know that? -No,how much is it?

Another 35000 francs

I see you've got enough to buy a motorbike

And your stake

Oh yes of course

-You are in luck -Yes I can hardly believe it..

it's the first time I ever played

That's explains it

Would you like lend me 10000 francs

I will bring it back to you in half an hour

-All right -Thank you so much

You will never see that again

No,don't suppose I shall,how silly of me

My father particularly warned me not to lend anybody money

However I've still got 60000 francs left and that's 60000 more than I expected

Beginner's luck old boy

Well,I'm for bed,coming?

No,I just take a walk around I'll be along in a few minutes

Les jeux sont faites

Riens va plus

20 noire

95-100000 francs,Monsieur

Hello I've been looking for you everywhere

Hello

I was afraid you had gone

Here's the 10000 francs and thank you very much for lending it to me

What's the matter?

I'm so sorry to tell you the truth I did not expect to see this money again

What did you take me for?

Did you think I was a thief?

No,of course not

Do I look like someone who would cheat you of your money?

No,not at this

My husband is in the administration in Morocco

and I've come to Monte Carlo for a few weeks

because he thought I needed a change

It was awfully good of you come chasing out of me like that

You shouldn't have bothered really I was just going

Already?

Yes I have to catch a plane by home by seven o'clock in the morning

Oh,yes of course the tournament ended today,didn't it?

I saw you play two or three times

Did you?

I do not know why you noticed me

You have a beautiful style

and you look so sweet in your shorts

Thank you

-Do you know La petite Maison? -No,I can't say that I do

But you mustn't leave Monte without going there

Why not come and dance a little,I'm so hungry,I should adore some bacon and eggs

Then you shall have some bacon and eggs

Would you like some champagne?

-I would adore champagne -Champagne?

You shouldn't,Nickie,you shouldn't waste your money on me

I'm like a millionaire tonight

How much did you win?

Quite a bit

Must have been thrilling seeing your number keep on winning

There wasn't the same number no not all the times

-I started with 19 -Why 19?

Because that's my age

But after it won twice I couldn't reasonably expect it to win again

So I switched to 16,that's my oldest sister's age

that wasn't any good,then I tried 12

that's my youngest sister's age that was not any good either

The I simply shut my eyes and tried anything

-It was 20 -My age

Is it?

Well,it was lucky won everything back and some more

Then I had my ups and downs in the end my pockets was bulging with chips

I was amazed by that chap started counting others 5000 francs notes

-How many? -20

Hundred thousands francs

Isn't it marvelous

Enough to by a motorbike with, would what do you want?

Here is to Nickie on his motorbike

Cheers

The funny thing is my father didn't want me to come to Monte Carlo at all

But why not?

He thought I was too young and innocent

But here is the joke,he gave me three bits of advice

He said,don't gamble but I did and I won 100000 francs

He said don't lend anybody any money and I did quite a lot to a complete stranger

You came hunting for me to pay it back

Poor old Dad

He's not a bad sort,really,he means well

his stances a bit early Victorian that's all

What was the third bit of advice?

He said don't have anything to do with women

He was right about that Nickie,so right

Monte Carlo is the worst place in the world

for the kind of women your father meant

Adventuresses,they are everywhere, even here in this room

And yet if you are sensible you can recognize them

And if you can recognize them,you are safe

Because you can avoid them

So be careful about that,Nickie

not only because of your father, but for your own sake

Shall we dance?

You dance beautifully

I don't really,you are just so easy to dance with

Have you ever been turned? You are very good looking

No.I don't think I have

But you are,you know

Now it's time for us to go

It's sweet of you having been so nice to me

I shall write and tell my husband it will make him jealous

It was nice of you to come,I've loved it

What time do you go tomorrow?

My plane leaves at 7 am.I shall be up at 6

In three hour's time.Where are you staying?

A quiet little place 40 Rue de Lyon

40 Rue de Lyon

Good Night and thanks awfully

It you would like you can drop me

-and take you on -Fine

Tomorrow you'll be gone,and I shall be alone again

Maybe I'll manage another trip

I'd love to come again

I shall not be here

I return to my home in Morocco next week

We shall never meet again Nickie

Unless perhaps I can persuade my husband to take me to England one day

the tennis at Wimbledon then we shall see you play

I am not near Wimbledon yet

But you are Nickie,they were all saying so today

Everyone sitting near me said how well you played

That's awfully kind of you but it's not quite true

It's over Nickie so quickly

Well Yes

I'll just pay him off I'll walk from here

The air will do me good.How far is the hotel Faunon?

Faunon? Are you staying there?

Well,there is all the English team

But Nickie it is nearly half past three

But I can get in

But the Faunon is the sleepiest old hotel in Monte Carlo

Although the english colonels and the wise stay there

Don't tell me,I've seen them

At 12 o'clock locked up and everyone is in bed

You will have to ring and knock until you wake up the whole hotel

I'll just have to that's all

I know a way Nickie,in the sitting room on my sleep there is a couch

You could sleep there,and go back to your hotel at 6 o'clock when it's open

I couldn't really

You can it's a leap from the doorstep for the the hall

Come along Nickie

In here

Don't worry about making up a bed

A blanket would do

Very well then

Now you would like a night cap

No thanks I'll turn in if you don't mind

Are you sure you have everything you wanted

Yes thanks

Quite sure

-Then Good Night Nickie -Good Night,Jeanne

Nickie

Is that you Jeanne?

Wake up,sleepy,it is past six,your plane leaves at seven you said

Good Lord,gone six? Excuse me I'll have to rush

I'll make you some coffee

That's awfully sweet of you but please don't bother

Oh,it's a little thing in return for the lovely evening

No.I really haven't got time

Did you sleep well?

Like a log,I would have slept to nine

and missed my plane if you had not called me

How long does it take me to get to my hotel?

You'll not get a taxi at this hour, you can walk in 10 minutes

-But you must hurry -I say I must

But I got to get my things back and the bill paid

Good Lord,my precious note case all those lovely bank notes

Mustn't lose them

You silly boy as if I would not have sent it to you

It's a pity I have to rush off like this

I say thanks awful for letting me have the room

Nickie,I will not forget that lovely evening you gave me

You are a sweet little boy and a wonderful presence

Kiss me,before you go

Bon voyage,Mon Cheri

Good Luck

She took me in first time I saw her

Of course I knew she was a gambler but she was decently dressed and not made up

I didn't she think she was that sort

She took me into it first

I bet she does that every night with some mug or another

She didn't get a mug last night anyway

How much was it?

100000 francs

I say it,about hundred pounds

Yes enough to buy a motorbike with

-Is it all there? -Must be

She might have taken some for safety and put it somewhere else

Don't think she had time

25000

50000

75000

Hundred,there is more than 100000 here

125000

Blow me down

You know what?

That flower pot was her money box you got all her loot as well

Damn nearly to buy a car

What infuriated me was that the boy was so damned pleased with himself

He looked at me with those great big innocent eyes

You know father I think it is something wrong with that advice of yours

It's all very well for you to laugh but that boy respected me he looked up to me

took everything I said as the Gospel truth

now he looks at me as I was a dribbling old fool

You do look a bit of a damned fool,old man

There is no denying it is there?

He doesn't realize it was a fluke

He thinks it's his own cleverness,might ruin him

Now you are the men of the world, what am I going to do?

If you take my advice,you have another drink and forget it all about it

In my opinion the boy is born lucky,

and in the long run that's better then being born clever or rich

He'll be all right,you mark my word

If you don't mind me saying so the mistake you made in the first place

was to learn tennis,things like that would never happen to a cricketer

The alien corn

The celebrations at Tilby's of George Bland's twenty first birthday

were conducted in accordance with the usage of English county families

There was a dance in marquees on the lawn fornthe tenants

and a dinner party and a ball for the gentry

Since I was not there,I only know from hearsay what happened

when the birthday celebrations were over

-Hello,not in bed yet? -No

I just came in to say good night

Beautiful night too,isn't?

I've never seen the place looking lovelier

Seven generations from father to son

-That's something,isn't? -Yes

We must have a talk about your future one of these days

Yes,I'd like to

You know that you are a lucky devil

Up in the your age I was not up to any good even if I wanted to

Your last year in Oxford the the diplomatic corps if you like

Or the House of Commons if you never mind the politics

Of course your mother would like to see you in the Grenadier Guards,I know

And your uncle would like you in the City with him

As a matter of fact father

I've been thinking about this pretty carefully recently

and I, I finally made up my mind what I want to be

Oh,what's that

A pianist

-What -I want to play the piano

Of course,you can play the piano any time you like

I was talking about your career

That's what I meant

I want to be a professional pianist

I've loved it ever since I was a small boy

Sometimes I've giving it up, something new came along

but I always went back to it

and even at Oxford I practiced sometimes all through the night

Now I know quite definitely that's what I want to get my life to go on

George,I don't think I quite understand

I used to be fond of fishing when I was a boy

I didn't become a professional fisherman,I didn't give my life to it

Fishing and music aren't quite the same thing,father

I mean music is an art

Fishing is an art too,if it comes to that

How can you give your life to music?

You can't play the piano all day

It will drive everybody crazy

If you love music as much as I do you have to give your life to it

Look George

I shouldn't brought up something about your future this time of night

We are both too tired to think sensibly

Listen,let's talk about it in the morning,shall we?

I'm awfully glad you did bring it up because I want to talk about it

Being tired doesn't make ny difference

No.Not now.Some other time.Tomorrow

-Good night old chap -Good night ,Father

Good night

He can't have meant it seriously, he must have been joking

No.He wasn't joking,he was dead serious

He wants to be a professional piano player

Do you mean that he wants to play in cinemas?

They don't have pianos in cinemas,now Uncle

The pictures talk

Where on earth does he want to play

I can't see what put the idea into his head

He is always enjoyed playing the piano

ever since he was old enough to sit on the piano stool

But he is not good enough to win a farthing at it

Of course if you refused to let him

I don't see how I can,really

After all the boy is 21 and he is his own master

Mind you I'm confused about other things

-Good Morning everybody -Good Morning,George

-Sorry I'm late mother -Did you sleep well?

Like a top,did you?

Dreamt of blue rockets chasing me

Too much champagne

-George? -Yes.Mother

Your father has been telling me this extraordinary story

about you wanting to be a professional pianist

I can only hope he was joking

No,Mother,I am afraid he wasn't

I'm quite sincere about it

I don't want to get back to Oxford next term

I want to go to Paris to study there

Good Heavens,you've got a chance of a cricket blue next year

You might even play for the county

Yes I declined,I'm sorry about that

I'm fond of cricket but my career comes first

Look here,George

You are the heir of a great estate

One day you will succeed me here

with all the duties and responsibilities

that our family has held in two different generations

Thousands youngsters at your age would give their eyes to be in your position

If you sit there and talk about giving your life to the piano

I'm sorry father

You see if I wasn't terribly keen about music I would be very contended here

I love this house,I love the country, I love the people

but I'd never be happy,I couldn't be happy without music,honestly

I didn't expect you to take kindly to it

Music isn't exactly a strong point in our family

It's got nothing to do with it.

I should say just the same thing if you wanted to an acrobat

or a juggler or any damned poor thing unworthy of your position

I'd like to leave for Paris next week

You won't

I shall pay for this nonsense also

No I don't expect you to pay for it, why should you,if you disapprove of it

How are you going to live?

I've saved a bit of my fare give English lessons for my keep

I wonder how long that will get you

Others can do it,I can

Now look George.Don't let it be hasty

I came down here for your coming of age with a nice solid present to offer you

A junior partnership in the family business 2000 £ a year and a flat in town

No thank you,Uncle John

My dear chap,in three years time

you'll take my place as Conservative Candidate for Barking

A safe seat and you carry on the family tradition

Awfully good of you,Uncle but..

I've quite made up my mind

I want to be a pianist

No Uncle.I think you went about it at the wrong way

So it's my fault,I'm to blame

Would you mind if I suggested something?

No,I won't

George is stubborn, pigheaded

The more you try to stop him, the more he want to do it

If you get in a flak now and cut him off without a penny

he'll starve rather than give in

Well.What?

Give him a fair chance make him a small allowance

Enough to live on and pay his fees in Paris

Let him study there for 2 years on one condition

At the end the 2 years he must come back

and let some competent unprejudiced person here him play

What good would that do?

Tell him if that person says

" He shows real promise to become a first class pianist"

Then he can go ahead

if not he most abide by the decision and promise faithfully to give up all thoughts

of making music his profession,isn't that fair?

What do you say Uncle?

Remember he'll go whatever you say

Well,what can I say?

Look,if he agrees with the terms you suggested

All right,I'll give him 5 pounds a week,pay his fees and his lodgings

May I get him to agree

What do you think,Dear

I think Paula is right

All right

Hurry back and tell us what he says

We'll be in the hall,come on John, you've had quite enough

George I want to talk to you

No,but Paula I've made up my mind

I know but I persuaded your father to let you go

You what?

He agrees to you going to Paris for 2 years

and make you a small allowance

but at the end of that time you've got to give it up

unless an expert says you got a good chance of making a first class pianist

-What do you say? -I say yes,of course

-You are very sure of yourself? -I know I can do it

I'll tell your father then

Paula

You've been absolutely wonderful

Thanks

It's that the best you can do?

I'm sorry

Tell me,silly, that you are not in the mood

George,there is no room for anything else in your life but music is it?

-Well at the moment.. -All right you need not say why

Paula I am terribly fond of you

I am not fond of you,I happen to love you

But I'll probably get over it

It's all right,you needn't say anything he agrees to everything

2 years in Paris then the agreed judge to give a verdict

But is it definite that he gives up the piano if the verdict goes against him?

-Yes -Good

-When does he start? -Tomorrow morning

Dite mois et Monsieur George Bland habite ici?

Monsieur George Bland? Au troisieme au fond le corridor la port en face

Merci

-Hello George.How are you? -Hello Paula,come on in

-This is it -You live alone here?

Yes,Madame Vours comes in twice a week to help me clear up

I get my own breakfast and lunch

And you cook?

No.Here you are.Sit down

Thanks

I just have bread and cheese and beer for lunch

I dine out with a couple of fellows who live round here

What are you doing over here?

There is another month you know?

I know I haven't come to drag you back

I've to go to Rome and I promised your mother to look you up on my way

How is she?How's everybody?

All right

I'll miss you naturally

I think they rather expected you to turn up any month or so

Good Lord,it is hard work but I love it

You've got a good teacher?

Yes,he is a bit hard to please but he is good

Of course the trouble is that I only get a couple of lesson a week,you see

The rest of it all practice 10 hour a day

Are you satisfied?

I think so

Aren't you playing for me?

You know I'm a bit tired I'd rather busy day today

Please

Sorry that was no good

I'm not in the mood.I play for you in the morning

It sounded all right to me

No,I can play much better than that

George,there was something I wanted to tell you

It was agreed that someone that someone should judge your playing

when you come home next month

Through a friend of mine I met Lea Makart

and explained what happened and she promised to come

That's wonderful

Will you accept her judgment?

Of course,she is the finest woman pianist in Europe

She is terrific

Of course I've never actually met her but I go to all her concerts

Do my father and mother agree?

They think she is a bit too arty

they are scared that she'll be too much on your side but they agreed

You'll explain that I am only a beginner

I'll tell her everything

I know I can do it,I can feel it in my bones

-George -Yes

I was just wondering what you'd do

if you were not able to carry on with your music

I don't know,not even thought about it

Might be a good idea to have some other interests

-Such as what? -You'll never thought of falling in love

Yes,but that will have to wait

Don't let it wait too long

-Hello -Paula I'm so glad you come

Is the great lady here yet?

Not yet.George has driven to the station to meet her

-I didn't want him to -Why not?

The boy can be very charming when wants to be, too charming

I'm so afraid he persuade her he is a genius

I think she will be fair

I do hope she think he is no good

It'll be such relief to all of us

I'm afraid it will be a terrible disappointment to him

Life's full of disappointments one just learns to put up with them

That sounds like the car now

Come along

Here is my mother now

Mother this is Lea Markat

-How do you do -How do you do

-Paula you know -Yes,of course

And this is my father

-How do you do -How do you do

-It was good of you to come -I was glad to

I'm always glad to have those who wish to play

You would find this a little odd

Not at all

You see this is the only fair way

I mean if he is any good, we can't stand in his way

and if he is not it is better first class plumber than a second class pianist

Much better

I was telling him in the car

he must be prepared for at least another 5-6 years study

-But as much as that? -Oh.Yes

Madame Makart suggest I go to Rome to study under her master

That's provided that you are good enough of course

Would you like some tea Madame?

-No thank you.Not one of my bad habits -A little drink perhaps

No I've concert tonight,so I cannot stay as long as I should wish

Then we better go in at once

Where would you like to sit

-May I sit here? -Please do

Well now,you are ready

-Yes of course -Sure you can do it?

-I know I can -Then I'll tell your father

Paula,you've been absolutely wonderful

That the best you can do?

Tell me I know that you are not in mood

I know that it was not good,

I'm not in the mood,I'll play for you in the morning

Sounded all right to me

No,I can play much better than that

-George -Yes

I was just wondering what you'll do if you weren't able to carry on with your music

I don't know,never even thought about it

Might be a good idea to have some other interests

-Such as what -Never thought of falling in love

-Yes That'll have to wait -Don't let it wait too long

What exactly is it you wish me to tell you

Has I any chance to becoming, in time,a pianist of the first rank?

Not in a thousand years

Of course I can see that you worked very hard

and you have acquired technique and brilliance but you lack magic

The quality that is a combination of soul and fire

without which no artist can reach the heights

I'm sorry but your playing is square

If I thought you have in you the makings of an artist

I shouldn't hesitate to beseech you to give up everything for art's sake

Art is the only thing that matters

In comparison with art,wealth, rank,power aren't worth that

But don't think your work has been wasted

It will always be a pleasure to play the piano

and it will enable you to appreciate great playing

as no ordinary person can hope to do

I don't think that you can ever hope to be anything more than a very competent amateur

and I don't need to tell you

that in art the difference between an amateur and a professional is measurable

But don't take my opinion alone after all I'm not infallible

Ask someone else

That won't be necessary,I am quite content to accept your verdict

It was very good of you to come down to judge me

Especially one who is so busy

Would you do one more thing for me before you go?

What is it?

Would you play to me?

-Thank you Madame -I'm afraid I must go now

That was a very great pleasure

Yes,please

Come in

Hello

George

It's all right,don't get any ideas into your head I'm cleaning

So I got to become a country gentleman, I might as well get some practice in it

The others have gone over to the cricket,won't you come?

No.I don't think I will,thank you

We shouldn't be indoors on a lovely day like this

No,I know I will go out for a stroll later on

Shall I wait and come with you?

-No I.. -All right,darling,I know how you feel

George.Remember what we were saying in Paris about having some other interests

Yes

Don't let it wait too long

I won't

As I told you at the opening of this inquiry

a majority verdict is sufficient from you

Now you've heard all evidence,

if you wish to retire to consider your verdict you may do so

There will be no need to retire .Sir

We had a talk during the recess, and we're agreed,unanimous

We are in the opinion ,Sir,that the young gentleman shoot himself accidental

He must be cleaning his gun not knowing

he left it loaded from the end of last season

As that business about the music,Sir,we don't attach much importance to that

A young gentleman of Master George's position,Sir,

would never go and shoot himself just because he did not play the piano good

Thank You

The Kite

I know this is an odd story. I don't understand it myself

and if I set it down in black and white ,it is only with the faint hope

that when I have written it, I may get a clearer view of it

or rather with the hope some reader better acquainted

with the complications of human nature than I am may offer me an explanation

It was told me one evening by my friend Ned Preston

Ned was a prison visitor, he took his duty very seriously

and made prisoner's troubles his own

Come in

Mr Preston,Sir

-Oh,hello,Preston -Hello

-Didn't expect you until tomorrow.Sit down -Thanks

Here I am a day early,I got a conference at the Home Office tomorrow

Anything for me?

Here are the new arrivals,and Soames get out tomorrow

Yes I will have a word with him

I'll see these others too,anything else?

Yes I'd like you to see number 142 name of Sunbury

What is in for?

It's a queer case

I'd rather you saw him first, see what you nail him

142 Sunbury

142 Sunbury.Visit him,Sir

-Good Afternoon -Good Afternoon

My name is Preston,I am one what they call a prison visitor

Oh,yes.Won't you sit down?

Thank you

I'm sorry I can't offer you a fag or a glass of beer

That's all right

-Lovely day it has been -Yes,it has been very nice

Just the right sort of wind. Steady northwest

Gusty enough to make you watch even not strong enough to tears thing up

Tear what up?

Nothing.What can I do for you ,Mr?

That's what can I do for you Sunbury, that's why I've come to see you about

As I understand it you left your young wife and you refused to provide for her

That's right

But you can't let us down

Why not?

Why not? Good Heavens,what's she had done to deserve that

She has done something I never forget to my dying day

What was that?

She smashed my kite

She what?

She smashed my kite

That's seemed to be a clear thing for the boy to say

So I said "What's she ever do to harm you?"

And he said "She smashed my kite"

-That's right -You knew about it?

Yes.He told me the same thing..

..said he'd been interested in kites ever since he was a kid at 7 or 8

And his parents took him for a walk on the common one Saturday afternoon

There were plenty of kites at that day more than he'd ever seen one time before

And they fascinated Herbert

According to Mr Sunbury a new kite flying club had just been started around there

and was becoming very popular with the locals

And the more he watched, the more Herbert was certain

nothing would give him greater pleasure in this world than a kite of his own

So he broached his mother on the delicate subject

And was told that he was a good boy and brushed his teeth regularly every morning

He might get a surprise at Christmas

The thrill of that first kite was something Herbert never quite forgot

He couldn't get out the flight fast enough

You know how it is,some kids collect butterflies or postage stamps

some are mad about fretwork, Sunbury flew kites

In fact became a sort of fashion with him

and his parents

Herbert,aren't you going to have your tea?

Yes.Sorry Mum

-What's your doing? -I'm designing a new kite

Designing one?

Sure,I reckon if we could build a kite like this

Only about six feet long,we could lick anything else on the common

-It's a queer shape isn't? -That's the idea

so it will take the wind, here and here,you see

Why don't you make it Herbert?

-It would cost a bit -How much?

About 5£ even if we built it ourselves

I don't mind bringing half

Getting extravagant don't you?

Not at all,if Herbert got a brilliant new design,it's that worth to back him up

I can manage 30 shillings

You don't need to find anything, you just do the work

and your father and I will find the cash

-You will? -Beatrice

It's all right I got a little put aside

You get started on it right away

-Tea is ready -All right,Mum,just coming

How is it going on?

-Pretty well -We just finished the first drawing..

...and we will be able to start construction next week

You better come and have your tea now

Right old Mum

Oh,Mum,I've asked a young lady to tea tomorrow,is that all right?

You've done what?

I've asked a young lady to tea

-Who is she? -Her name is Baker,Betty Baker..

..I met her at the pictures, she was sitting next to me

She dropped her bag and I picked it up

She said "Thank you" so naturally we got talking

And you fell for an old trick like that, dropped her bag indeed

Oh,no you are mistaken,Mum, she is a nice girl,really,she is

When did all this happen?

About three months ago

You met her three months ago, and asked her to tea tomorrow

I've seen her since of course

on that day I asked her if she'd come to the pictures with me on Tuesdays

and she said she didn't know, perhaps she would,perhaps she wouldn't

-She came all right -Of course she did.

..I've could have told you that

Look,Mum,I don't want to force her on you, if you don't want her to come to tea

I can tell her you don't feel very well and take her somewhere else

You do as you please, I've no patience with you

What's the matter with her?

She will be all right when she gets used to the idea

She doesn't like strangers,that's all

My Dear,quite a spread

I wasn't going to let her think that we are just nobodies

I wonder what she would be like

Indeed you are

I don't know,Herbert got his head screwed on the right way

No, he is just a child

any designing cheek of a girl, could trip him around the little finger

We better wait and see

We won't have to wait long,here they are

Just a sec,let's see if I am all right

-How do I look? -Fine

This is Betty Dad

Pleased to meet you,Betty,come inside

This is Betty,Mum

-Miss Baker ,I presume? -That's right.But you can call me Betty

I think the acquaintance is a little short for that.

Won't you sit down,Miss Baker?

Samuel,dear,will you ask Miss Baker if she have have some bread and butter

or a piece of cake

Have both,Miss Baker,I like to see people eat hearty

Tea,Miss Baker?

-Thank you -Milk and sugar?

Yes,please

-Two lumps? -Thank you

Thank you,dear

I am sorry

It doesn't matter at all, I'll give you another piece

Don't bother please, I'm sure the floor is quite clean

I should hope so.

I wouldn't dream of letting you have some cake that's been on the floor

I don't really want anymore.Really I don't.

I am sorry you don't like my cake, it takes all right to me

It is not that,it is just.. that I am not hungry

I never have a big tea, I am down for a fag Bert

A cigarette for Miss Baker,Herbert

We prefer to call our son Herbert,Miss Baker

I know. When he told me his name was Herbert,I nearly burst out laughing

Have you seen anybody called Heerbert, got to scream I call it

I think it is a very nice name,

but of course it all depends of what part of people one is

If you see what I mean

Why don't you sit down and stop worrying?

How can I,when I think Herbert being mixed up with a girl like that

I don't know,she is a pretty little thing in her way

I'll give my foot for that all powder and paint

She looks very different with her face washed and without a perm

Common net I would call her,common as dirt

There he is now,don't go upsetting him

I think I know how to treat my own son,thank you

What's the matter with you?

What do you think,I'm fed up

Now Herbert,you didn't know to talk to mother like that

She shouldn't treat Betty like that

-Like what? -You know what I mean

I do not know what you mean,Herbert

and all I have to say is,that I'm surprised that a son of mine

should insult his mother by bringing a woman like that into the house

What's wrong with Betty?

Would you like me to tell you?

-Yes -She is common and cheap..

cheap as dirt -You've no right to say that

I've the right to say what I like in my own house

and let me tell you this,she is never going to set foot in this house again

Not if I know it

Before you start saying that you may as well know I'm engaged to her

-You are.. -I've been thinking about it..

..for a long time,she was so upset tonight,I felt sorry for her

so I popped the question

I'd a really job persuading her, I can tell you

You fool,you fool

-Herbert.Twenty past -Just coming

You'll miss your train

Wish I had Saturday mornings off

You will when you are in my age

-You're off Herbert -Yes Mum

I'll make you an half half Monday when we could have a nice afternoon flying

I supposed to tell you,I shan't be coming this afternoon

Why not Herbert?

I am going to see the rooms

-What rooms? -For Betty and me

What do you want the rooms for until you are married?

We will be married in the week after next

I found a half a house in Debny street

and I'm furnishing it out of my post office savings money

No Herbert don't..

Come on Mum,don't take it so hard

Things will never be the same again

Of course they will,you'll like Betty once you get to know her

She's a nice girl,really she is,you must just give her a chance

We can still go on flying our kite on Saturday afternoons,just like we always did

Betty can't see anything in kite flying yet but she'll come round to it

Even if she doesn't I'll come

If you marry that woman,Herbert, you'll never fly the new kite,for there

Why not? It's mine isn't it? You gave it to me

No.I never did.I said we put up the money if you did the work,

I didn't say anything about giving it to you

All right then.You can keep it.Betty says kite flying is a kid's game anyway

and I ought to be shamed of myself flying the kite at my age

She's quite right

-Hello Dad -Hello Herbert

Had a good honeymoon?

Fine.Thanks

Sorry about the wedding, son

I would have come all right,

see no reasons for making more troubles in the world when there is enough already

-But you know what your Mum is -I know

I'm sorry too

-How are you settling in? -All right

How is everything at home?

All right,we miss you

Are you still flying Saturday afternoons?

Yes.It is not the same, of course, without you

But we try and get the old spirit going

I wonder why don't you buy a kite of your own

You were always so keen on it

I know but Betty doesn't see nothing in it

Kites cost money

-Shan't be long Betty -Where are you going Bert

Just for a walk to get some fresh air

You won't be late,will you? I don't want to miss the start of the pictures

I'll ask you to be here at sharp of five

All right

It's no good.I'll never get it to fly

-Just one more try -I can't

I'm puffed out

We need Herbert on a job like this

I say.Don't look now.Pretend you're packing up the kites for tea.

-Do you see what I see? -Where?

Over there.Under the tree

It's Herbert

Pretend you haven’t seen him for the moment

-What's the idea? -Try the kite once more..

..this time so you end up over there by the trees

-It's no good,it won't work -We can but try

I'll tell you I am puffed out

-You want me to do it? -No.Of course not.I'll manage

-Hello Dad,so you finished it -Hello Herbert

Yes.I had it made exactly like your design

but it doesn't work.There is something wrong

Why?.It is clear as daylight what's wrong

-What? -You got it rigged too low

There.That's right

I can't Herbert.I am puffed out.

Give it to me

Look it up,Flora

Of course it is up.What did you expect?

Before you had a bit of trouble haven't you?

That it is only because it is an experimental

This is only a small scale model,you know

Once we have got this right we are going to build the big one,six feet long

We reckon that will go up 2 miles

2 miles.You don't say so

It will be a huge thing you know, you won't be able to fly it yourself

We never thought of flying it ourselves,

you'll have to lend a hand over to at least until it has proofed itself

I tell you what I do,I'll lengthen it just here ,see

and lightning it just there

Where is the other drawing,dad

Here

Wait a minute I'll put the light on

It's getting a bit dark

What's the time?

It's after seven

Gosh,I can't talk now,I'll come and talk about it next week

-But Herbert -Sorry I've to go.Bye

So you finally got back

I am sorry,Betty, but I didn't realize that it was so late

You missed the start of the big picture,you know that,don't you?

I'm terribly sorry,really I am

-Where have you been? -I met some fellows,we got talking

-What fellows? -Just some chaps I know

Why don't you tell me the truth

You were on the common flying that kite,weren't you?

-No -Don't lie to me Bert

-I am not -Oh,yes you are

I followed you to the Downs and saw what happened

Flying a kite,you were,you a grown man

Contemptible I would call it

I don't care what you call it,I like it and if you don't like it you can lump it

I tell you straight I won't have it

I am not going to have you make a fool of yourself

I've flown kites on Saturday afternoons ever since I was a kid

I'm going on flying them as long as I want to

Do as that mother of yours

You went back this afternoon,didn't you?

Suppose I did

She is just trying to get you away from me,that's all

If you were a man,you would never speak to her again,

not after the way she has treated me

She is my mother,and I've every right to see her,just whenever I want to

Bert,why do we have to quarrel about silly kites

I didn't want to quarrel

It is just so lonely sitting here,all that time waiting for you to come in

I'm sorry Betty I didn't mean to be late,honestly,I didn't

It won't happen again

Oh,Bert,I do love you so

Hello,Herbert

Hello dad

-Haven't seen you lately -No

Lovely flying weather we had these last two Saturdays

We looked out for you

I took Betty to the pictures

Pity,wasting a fine Saturday afternoon in the pictures

She likes to go on Saturday afternoons

-A new kite came today -It did?

We had it built at Martin's just the way you designed it

-How does she look? -Grand

Your mum says,of course we charge you to come and help us with it

But no one has got the right to come between the man and his wife

If you're afraid of Betty, kicking up a rump or something

You'd better not come

There is a young fellow on the Common,Bill Perkins,you know

He is just mad about it

He says he can fly if anyone can't

What does Bill Perkins know about a kite I designed?

Your mum and I cannot manage it alone

We must just take the best help we can get,that's all

You think it over,if you don't come we understand

What do you like see?

There is Margret Lockwood at the Palace and John Mills at the Majestic

Look,Betty couldn't we go to the second show after the tea about 6 ?

-Why? -It's a lovely day

It seems a pity to sit inside in the dark, when the sun is shining outside

Why don't you stop lying and tell me the truth

It's that kite,isn't it?

Supposing it is

Bert, you promised me three weeks ago

you wouldn't make a fool of yourself with that kid's game again

I know but this happens to be a special type,one I designed myself for Mum and Dad

They've been flying kites for you

Why can't they do it themselves?

Because it is too big,until I show them how

and there is more to it than that

It is a new idea,everybody on the common is excited about it

If it is successful,our Payton would make a lot of money out of it

Who says you would get mad it. Making money out of kites

Look Betty why don't you come yourself?

It's good fun,really it is

I told you why.I'm not going to have people laughing at me and you either

I am going,and if you don't like it you can lump it

And sit here for hours alone

If you don't want to come that is your look out

I'm not coming and that's that

Look Betty,just this once

What you say now,once you started it will go on for years

I've had about as much of it as I can stand,

and you're married to me and not that damned kite

If you don't want to come you needn't,you can stop me going

We'll see about that

Come on let me by

If you move that kite I warn you

You want me to give you a scuff on the jaw

You go and needn't come back

I'll come back when I choose

I mean it ,if you don't I give you up for good

Get out of my way

Leave me alone,leave me alone

I don't believe it

Hi,kids,come and have a look at this format

How are you going to get it up?

It will fly all right,you wait

Come on let's see it

Where is my son? Here he is now

My son Herbert designed it

Come on Herbert

-Ready? -Yes

Betty.Are you in there?

Betty

All right,Samuel,I'll answer it

Hello Herbert

I've come home,Mum

Your's room is ready for you

Take your things upstairs and then come down

We're just sitting down for supper

Samuel,run out and get a quarter of beer

Herbert has come home

Well you have had it now Herbert

I always take it that she was no wife for you

It was her who had done it not me

It was her.It was all over and done with it now

It will be nice to sleep again in your own little bed again,won't it?

A bed you've been used all your life

She will try and get him back

In fact no chance get him back

Of course you have to provide for her

Why should he? She trapped him into marrying her

Now she turned him out of the home he made her

I'll give her what's right as long as she leaves me alone

Good Night Mum.I'm tired.I'll be glad of a good night's rest

In your own nice comfortable bed. Good Night Herbert dear

Good Night Dad

Tomorrow is Sunday,so you needn't hurry to get up

I'll bring you a nice cup of tea in bed

-Hello Mum -Hello Dear

Evening paper

What a lovely smell of toast

It's bun

Remind me of the old days,coming home from school,smelling toasted buns

The old days are back again Herbert

Do you know what?

It took me a week to get your coats back and your socks mended

They were in a state

You take your boots off and put your slippers on I'll get your tea

No.I have to go down to the post office before it shuts

I just got time for a cup of tea

What are you going to the post office for?

It's pay day and Betty knows. I must send her something

Why should you? She is young and healthy. Let her go out and earn her own living

She throw you out,she can't expect you to work for her after that

He's got to do the right thing,Beatrice whether is due to her or not

We talked it over in the train and I think he ought to send her,say,35 shillings week

That's her.Leave it to me.I'll see to her

I want to see Bert

-You can't.He's out -No.He isn't

He went in with his Dad 5 minutes ago and he hasn't come out again

He doesn't want to see you

And if you start making a fuss I will call the police

I want my week's money

That's all you ever wanted of him

-Here is 35 shilling -35 shillings?

The rent is 12 shillings a week

That's all you going to get.He has to pay his board and lodging here hasn't he?

And then there is the installment on the furniture

We'll see to that when time comes

Do you want the money or don't you?

-I want to see Bert -You can't

There's your money.Now be off with you.

I settled her hush all right

Leave it alone.Don't answer

And don't let them buns get cold

-Hello Bert -Hello

I want to talk to my husband alone,Mr Sunbury

There is nothing you have to say to me which my dad can't hear

All right then

I want you to come back home Bert.

I didn't mean it that night when I packed your bag

I merely did it to frighten you

I was in a temper.I'm sorry for what I did

It is also silly to quarreling about of a kite

I'm not coming back,you see

when you turned me out,you did the best turn you could have done me

-Bert -You got my letter,didn't you?

So long as you stay away from me

I'll send you 35 shillings postal order every Friday night

and I pay the installments on the furniture when they become due

The downside fare you deserve, I've got my train to catch

But I love you Bert,if you want to play with your silly old kite,

you can fly it,I don't care as long as you come back

No thanks.I know that I am well off

and I've had enough of marriage to last me a lifetime

I'll tell

-Yes -Good Evening .I'm for the Advertiser

-Could I speak to Mr Sunbury -I am Mr Sunbury

-Mr Herbert Sunbury? -No.That's my son

What do you want with him?

My editor wants me to write a piece about his kite

I gather something quite new,isn't that right?

-Just a minute.I'll call him -Thanks

Herbert.There is a reporter here,he wants to talk to you about the kite

Good Evening.Sorry to trouble you

but my editor wants a few details about your new kite

No troubles

We had a report that it's something rather special

-It is -Good.Now tell me..

How it is different from any other kite?

-It's the design -Design?

Oh,yes,of course.Could I see it?

Yes.If you like.I'll get it.

Won't you step inside for a minute?

Thank you very much

I do wish Herbert had come back. I don't like him rushing off like that

He was upset,wouldn't you've been?

I only hope he doesn't do any mischief

We don't even know it was her

Who else could it be?

She must have watched me going out shopping

and then slipped in the side way

It's not so much the damage it's the adjustments

the weeks of work he put into it

Even if we built another he might never get it right again

She did it all right.Told me straight out. Proud of it,she was

She said she would do it again if she had got the chance

What did you say?

I didn't trust myself to say a word I came away

It wouldn't take me much to wring her neck

Even if I had to swing for it

I know one thing now,

she is not going to get another penny out of me as long as I live

-She'll take it to court -Let her

Installments on the furniture is next week and in your clothes I wouldn't pay it

Then they would just take it away

and all money he has paid on it would have been wasted

What of it.He is rid her for good,

and we've got him back and that's the chief thing

I don't care about the money

but I give all I got to see her face when they come to take away the furniture

It meant a lot to her,that did

And that piano

She fell in love with that piano

Of course he didn't pay the installments and he didn't pay her

When the Magistrate made an order he didn’t pay that either

So eventually he landed up here

I've talked to him but I can't just get anywhere

What do you make of him?

What's the girl like,do you know her?

Not bad at all.I've seen her

No.There is nothing wrong with her except she is jealous of his kite

There must be something about kite flying.

Something too deep for us poor laymen to understand

-Yes.Maybe -That's the life of it,can't see why

I don't know perhaps it gives him a sense of pride to watch the things he's made

soaring up into the clouds

or maybe in some queer way he identify himself with the kite

You know escaping from the restrictions of life on earth

That's a bit fanciful isn't it?

People are fanciful much more than you'd think

I can tell you this, to him his kite represent an ideal of some kind

When once a man is bitten by an ideal

not all the king's doctors nor the king's surgeons

could do anything to cure him of it

Then what is he going to do about it

Nothing

That's the end of the story as Ned Preston told it to me

and I never knew what happened to Herbert and Betty

Perhaps it was something like this

-Mrs Sunbury -That's right

I'd like to talk to you for a minute if I may

What about?

Your husband

Did he send you here?

No.It was my own idea

My name is Preston,I am what they call a prison visitor

You better come in

Thank you

I've just seen your husband,Mrs Sunbury, he is inside again you know

Yes I know

I see this rather a pity,don't you think?

-It's not my fault -No.Of course not

Nobody is suggesting it is

What do you want me to do about it?

Mrs Sunbury would you take him back?

I don't know

Would you think about it?

What’s the point of thinking about it

He wouldn't come back, even if I asked him to

But supposing he would,would you take him?

Yes.I think so

Right.Then I want you listen carefully

-Come on young fellow,helas -Come on where?

You're going out

But I'm not due out until tomorrow

It's no good arguing,the Governor says you are going out this afternoon,so out you go

All right

-Don't you want to go out? -Not much

-You're a queer,you are -What's the good,I'll only be back again

next week

The colonel's lady

The Peregrines were having a breakfast.

Though they were alone and the table was long,they sat at opposite end of it

George Peregrine was as usual comfortably absorbed in his Times

The butler brought in the morning post

Tell Somerset that I want a car at eleven I am going to the agriculture show

Yes,Sir

Let me open it for you

You know I hate to see people cut strings

There are all the same

Why on earth do you want six copies of the same book for

Poetry

Through Pyramides Decay by EK Hamilton

That's your maiden name

You don't mean to say that you wrote it?

-Yes -What poetry?

Yes

You never told me

You are a slyboots

I didn't think it would interest you very much

Would you like a copy?

Poetry is not much in my line

But I would like a copy I'll take it to my study and look at it

Quite like a real book

Must have cost you quite a bit to get this printed

I was lucky,I sent it to a publisher and he took it

In fact he paid a small advance

25 £

You don't say

Really

Bless us all

Mr Bannock to see you,Sir

Show him in

Oh,Good Morning Danny

Good Morning Colonel

I got those forms for your new barn, there are some details you have to fill in

I've put pencil across the questions that you must answer

Thank you Sir

Have you got time to look at that bull,Sir

Not today I'm afraid.I've got to be at the Agricultural Show half past eleven

and there's a County Committee this afternoon

If you are going by the lane,Sir, it will only take five minutes

All right,I'll have a look on my way to the show

-It has to be quick -Thank you

-Good Morning, Bannock -Good Morning,Madame

You are off,Sir?

Yes.Just going to look at this bull that Bannock wants to buy

Just before I go to the show

Will you be back for tea?

No.It's the country agricultural committee

Look.Don't wait for me if I'm late

No.All right

Just a second

Ivy

I read your book

-Already? -Gone down quite after breakfast

Didn't take long.There isn't much of it.Is it?

No.Not very much

A bit of a swift charging 8shil 6p for that

It's only 80 pages

Yes.Did you like it?

Jolly good

It's not quite my stuff, you know.Jolly good.

I am glad you liked it,dear

-Good bye -Good bye

Hello George,how are you?

I am very well,thanks

We were only talking about you this morning

or rather about your wife

My wife?

Yes.By jove,what a success

And I've never read such notices for a book of poetry

Didn't know that you read poetry

No I don't do it my self.My wife does

she belongs to one of those book's bazaar and get all the new stuff

Next

It got into her eyes yesterday.Read it in a swift and said it was magnificient

Hardly suitable for children. You know what I mean

What the devil do you mean?

What do you think about it yourself?

How do you know that my wife wrote it anyway

They are in good libraries tell my Mrs last week

It is in Telegraph today I just read it

Yes.Here it is.The name of Cathrine Hamilton confuses

the identity of Mrs George Peregrine of Manor House,Langley,Warwickshire

She is a daughter of the late General Sir Richard Hamilton

who is remembered for his gallant defense of Nuri in the second Afghan war

Not a mention of you,old boy

Yes what do you think of it all?

You know.I don't believe you've read it

If you were chairman of seven committees,

president of three clubs and goodness know of what else

You know I don't get time for poetry

-Hello George -Hello my dear

I began to think that you were not coming

I'm fine,Daphne

I had a dickens of a day

been on a bench all morning,

one of those beastly husband and wife cases went on for hours

I missed the train and had to come up on the 4 o'clock

Then you will be needing a drink

What shall we do?

Would you like to have supper at Mario's and go on to the Milroy

That would be nice

But don't let us stay out too late

-How have you been? -Lonely

I'm sorry I just couldn't make it last week

-I'm a busy man you know -Too busy

Never mind.We'll make up for it tonight

By the way is it your wife who has written that book they are all talking about

What on earth do you mean?

A man I know,he is a critic,took me out to dinner the other night

He had a couple of books with him,you know

Review copies

So I asked him to give me one to read

And he said ,no you wouldn't like these about poetry

I am not much of hand in poetry in the ordinary way

So I told him he could keep them

However,just as he was going

he seemed to change his mind,and he says

you might like to try this one is damned good

It's selling like a hot cake

And do you know,he was absolutely right,I just couldn't put it down

Who is it by?

A woman called Hamilton but my friends say that he real name was Peregrine tonight

That's odd,because I know some Peregrines and it is not a very common name is it?

Might be it couldn't be the same one

this woman was married to a colonel type who lived near Worcester

I just assumed that you didn't talk about me to your friends

Who would you take me for darling I just said no can't be the same one

My friends say he is supposed to be a regular Colonel Blimp

You can tell them better than that

And if my wife had written the book

I should be the first to know about it,wouldn't I?

I suppose you would

Let's not waste time on trivials

No.I haven't seen for some time now

I heard the other day that he hadn't been too well,I hope he is all right

Peregrine.How do you like being the husband of a celebrity?

I don't know what you are talking about

Oh,dear boy,the secret is out it is the days Telegraph

Amazing for a book of poetry to get reviews like that

selling like hot cakes

Peregrine,forgive my butting in

I say I have Henry Dashwood lunching with me

He heard you were here, he so much likes to meet you

Who is Henry Dashwood?

No,what do you do in you leisure time in the country all the time

Henry Dashwood only about the best critic we got

Hen wrote a wonderful review for your wife's book in the Spectator

Come along,old man,you can't disappoint him

Henry,this is Catherine Hamilton's husband, Colonel Peregrine Henry Dashwood

-How do you do -I am delighted

Is Mrs Peregrine in London by any chance? I shall so much like to meet her

My wife doesn't like London she prefers the country

You're a pity

She appeared in the last night's review

I was completely bowled by her book you know

It's fresh and original,very modern without being obscure

Yes.I suppose it is

She seems as much at home in free verse as in classical meter

In fact I should go so far to say that probably short lyrics of her

might have been written by Landor

Really

What makes the book so outstanding is the passion and the throbs in every line

Naked earthy passions

Of course deep sincere emotions like that is completely tragic

Oh my dear colonel how right Heine was

when he said that poets make little songs out of great sorrows

You know,now and then,I read and reread those heart rendering pages,

I thought of Sappho

It is jolly nice of you to be so nice about my wife's little book

I'm sure she will be delighted

Idiot

Colonel Peregrine isn't it?

-I wonder if you remember me -Of course

Duke of Heverel

We met last year in Turnbull

I remember it very well

We were so sorry your wife couldn't come to us for the weekend

We are expecting rather a nice lot of people

Yes.It is a pity

Still I suppose everybody is after her so we can only say better luck next time

You can put the car away for the night Thank you,Good Night

-Can I get you something Sir? -No thanks

I had some dinner on the train

-Very good,Sir -You can go to bed

-Good night Sir -Good night

-Good Morning Susan -Good Morning Sir

-Good Morning West -Good Morning Sir

-Good Morning George.How was town? -Oh,the same as usual

I just got the last train home

Look here Ivy What is all this about

our being asked to Heverel castle and you refusing

I thought it would only bore you

Bore me? When we have never been asked before

Good Heavens and he is Lord Lieutenant of the county

and quite apart from this having the finest shootings for miles around

I didn't think of that.I am sorry.

I suppose I was asked

Well as matter of fact you weren't

I think it is extremely rude to ask you without asking me

I suppose they thought it was not your sort of a party

The Duchess is rather fond of writers and people like that you know

Henry Dashwood the critic is going and for some reasons he wants to meet me

It was nice of you to refuse Ivy

It was the least I can do

George.My publisher rang up yesterday.

They are giving a little party for me on Wednesday

And of course I want you to come too

I don't think that's quite my mark,you know

Sounds a crushing bore

I would like you to come.We can go out to London in the morning

Can't manage that I am afraid. Wednesday is the Hunting committee 3 o'clock

I couldn't be able to go town to 7 o'clock

I'll tell you what,you make a day of it I'll come up to the party

It would be sweet of you

Not at all.I got to be in town on Thursday anyway

-Colonel Peregrine? -Yes

My name is Martin and your wife's publisher.I'm so glad..

You were able to come

I think Mrs Peregrine is over here,yes

You know we haven’t had a success like this in a book of poems for 20 years

I've never seen such reviews

Oh John

Let me introduce colonel Peregrine Katherine Hamilton's husband

This is John Coleman of our New York Office

You must be a very proud man Colonel Peregrine

Oh,yes I’m.Of course

This book of your wife as something out of this world

It will be a smash hit back home too

It's the biggest thing we handled in years

Oh,wait,Steve

Are you really EK Hamilton's husband?

You know I think you are a very privileged person

to be able to sit at the feet of such a genius

I don't know when I was so moved by her book

I read it through twice the distinguished settings

and now I never let a day pass without reading at least once

Oh,really.How nice.Excuse me

I have to lock the room when I read it,

Make you quite naked if you know what I mean

Well I must say I keep my bok off I don't want my husband to find it

Might give him ideas

But that's what I find so fascinating

apparently her husband doesn't mind it at all

He must surely

But he can't do he is actually here tonight

-You are not serious -Yes.As a matter of fact I've seen him

Johnny pointed him out to me.He is

You're wonderful dear.Make quite a hit. The girls were raving about you

They thought you were so handsome

-Girls? Old hags -You bored?

Stiff

Do you mind if we wait and go on the evening train tomorrow evening?

I have a few things I want to do

No.That would suit me very well. One or two things I want to buy

I have a to get photographed.I hate the idea but they think I ought to be

For America you know

Can I help you Sir?

No,I was just looking around.

By the way have you got a book called "The pyramides decay"?

No I am sorry,Sir,we are completely sold out

We are expecting a new edition any day now

Is there another edition then?

Yes.Sir,5th.Might be another away selling

-Can I order you a copy,Sir? -Yes,please

Carol Peregrine,St James's Club

Why do you suppose it is such a success?

I've always been told that no one reads poetry

No.This is good,you know,I read it myself.It's the story they like

Sexy but tragic,hot stuff but it's literature

I see

Of course this is only the flash in the pan,if you know what I mean

The way I look at it she must have been inspired by some personal experience

like husband with a fractured leg, she'll never like anything else

Look here,you needn't worry about that order.

I think I know where I can borrow a copy

George,I brought that book for you, is that all you wanted me for?

No Daphne,no.Of course not

Look George I'm awfully good at listening to husbands

whose wives don't understand them

As a matter of the fact it was about the book

There was something a young chap in a bookshop said

Something I noticed last night

What did he say?

Something about it being sexy,hot stuff

Well,this is it

I've will read it

George,you don't mean to say that you haven't read it?

As a matter of fact no

George you're the end.

You mean your wife can write the luscious book since "Lady Chatterley"

You don't even trouble to read it

Daphne. You read it?

What's it about?

You want me to tell you?

Really George I'd much rather You will feel so

Please tell me.

Let's go over there

-You're sure you want it? -Yes.Please

Remember you asked for it

-Don't hold it against me afterward -I won't

It's

It is sort of love story

Only it's all told in first person

so you believe it's actually happening when you read it,you see what I mean?

The person who is telling the story is a middle aged woman married

and she falls in love with a younger man

Much younger

And she first meets him,she likes him,

she doesn't believe he could ever be interested in her

not in that way

One day he tells her that he is

and ask her to leave her husband and go away with him

She is pretty much in love with him by this time

She doesn't believe it can last, so she says no

It doesn't make any difference to the young man

He still keeps on seeing her

and soon they reach the stage they can't do without each other

But they don't

She keeps telling herself it'll all be over in a few weeks

It isn't

In fact it gets worse instead of better

Soon there are meetings two or three times a week

In fact whenever she can manage it without her husband knowing

And then just when she is sure is the real thing,and she decide to go away with him

He get's killed

She just has to go on giving dinner parties,

running the house as nothing had happened

That's all

Except it makes you feel it's actually happening to you,it so real

I don't mind telling you when I read it I spent half the time crying

and half the time getting in a state of..you know what I mean

She must have made it up

Read it,and ask yourself whether anyone could have made it up

Ivy is too much of a lady

She couldn't do a thing like this

Let's go

Aren't you going to finish your drink?

I don't want it ,thanks

I'm sorry Daphne,I must get away

" This is magnificent but hardly suitable for children,you know what I mean"

"It's selling like hot cake, itchy,earthy passion"

"I would like my husband to write it,sexy but tragic"

"Hot stuff but literature"

"Ivy is too much a lady,she couldn't do a thing like this"

Mr Blane will see you now Sir

-Mr Blane will see you now -Thanks

-Hello,George -Hello,Harry

What brought you here? Had a good time in London?

Yes.Thanks

I'm taking my Mrs up for a few days next week

How is Ivy?

It's Ivy I've come to see you about

Have you read her book?

Yes.A great success isn't it?

Since Ivy breaking up into poetry,wonders will never cease

It's made me look as a perfect fool

Nonsense.No harm in writing a book

Isn't there?

When it's her own story?

Who says it is?

You know perfectly well that it is

and so does everyone else

I suppose I'm the only one who doesn't know who her lover was

I wouldn't jump to conclusions

there is nothing to say that she didn't make up the whole thing

I suppose she'd written a story about a murderer,would that make her a murderess?

Look here,Harry,be honest with me

Can you look me in the eye and tell me that you believe it's a made up story?

You've no right to ask me a thing like that,George

Ask Ivy

-I dare not -Why not?

I'm afraid she would tell me the truth

-Harry? -Yes

Who was the chap?

I don't know.If I did I wouldn't tell you

I've got to know.I've got to

Look here.You have private detectives you employ I suppose?

It doesn't look a pretty thing to put detectives on to ones own wife

Which is not a pretty thing for her to carry on an affair behind my back,is it?

In any case the man is dead

How can I be sure of that

Let me be the only untruthful part in the whole book

I've got to know,Harry,you must help me

I won't do it,George,besides

if Ivy finds out that you've been putting detectives on to her

she'd probably leave you

You want that?

No,why should I?

She runs the house perfectly, we never have any servant trouble

She's done wonders with the garden and she is splendid with the village people

But how could I go on living with her when she has been so grossly unfaithful to me

You don't know that for certain

Then why on earth did she write that wretched book

I suppose she had some very pointed experience

and it was a relief to get it off her chest

Why didn't she have the sense to write it under an assumed name?

She used her maiden name and expected that would be enough

And it would have been if the book hadn't had this amazing vogue

What am I going to do Harry?

What would you do?

Nothing

Nothing?

But I can't overlook a thing like that, I've been made a laughing stock

Nonsense,old boy,now listen, the man is dead,

it all happened along time ago,forget it

Talk to people about Ivy's book, rave about it

Let them know how proud you are of her

The world moves quickly and people's memory is short,they’ll soon forget

-I shan't forget -Yes you will

No,I shan't forget as long as I live

I suppose you're right,it's no good crying over spilled milk

I'll take your advice

The truth is I don't know what I do but I leave it

But there is one thing I shall never understand to my dying day

What in the name of heaven did the fellow ever see in her

I'm sorry you are angry about the book George

If I had known what would happen I'd never published it

What difference could that have made

It would have saved you being annoyed

Annoyed? When a man learns that his wife been unfaithful to him

When she publishes it to the whole world

That she has carried on a degrading love affair behind his back

You expect him to no more then annoyed

-But George -Ivy

In 30 years of married life we've never sunk to vulgar quarreling

When this thing happened I was stunned,amazed

These last few days I've lived in a state of horror

and utter shame

Today I decided that silence was the only decent and possible course for me

But now that you've spoken I shall speak

I'm entitled to ask one question and to receive a trueful answer

Who was this man and is he really dead?

Because if,who was he? For heavens sake tell me and have done with it

It was you

Me?

-Yes -Don't insult me with lies

It was you,as you were,all those years ago,in those happy days

when we first met,you loved me

But you said in this book that he died

He did.The man who loved me died

It was my fault, George, I didn't understand all the things he was fond of

Farming,hunting,shooting

I couldn't get any children that he wanted more than anything else in the world

I failed

And as time went by I only had the memory of those few short years when I was happy

and I knew if those memories died, everything was dead

and so I just wrote them down,just as I felt them

That I might always have them

But you describe him, a young man and yourself as old

I was old

But the man who loved me was young, memories are always young

Are you telling me the truth?

Do you believe I am?

Now you've seen all these stories

I should be happy if they've given you

as much pleasure to see as they gave me to write

To start I told you that I'd used in my writings

pretty well everything that has happened to me in the course of my life

It's been a long one and varied one

I think I have learned a little something about human nature

and I've tried to tell what I knew to others

as honestly and as truthfully as I could

You,the public have been very kind to me but sooner or later we must part

I hope we shall part good friends

Subtitles by Seglora

Support us and become VIP member to remove all ads from www.OpenSubtitles.org