Original subtitles

There's no need to plant them too accurately, Mr. Gosheron.

I always think spring flowers should look as natural as possible, don't you?

I always planted my daffs in the form of a "K" for Mrs. Gosheron rest her soul

Kate her name was.

She enjoyed seeing that come up year after year.

What a charming idea.

But I don't think I bought enough bulbs for that did I great-grandmother.

Not if you want them scattered throughout the garden.

Never you mind Miss Deborah come the spring this will be a picture.

It's so difficult to be informal isn't it?

Even with flowers.

Gotta have rules milady. Even nature's got her rules.

I agree. All I want is to help her to achieve her own effects.

Its going to look lovely. Quite lovely in the spring

when the lines begin to soften.

Lines, great grandmother?

Perhaps she means limes.

[giggles] No, the outlines.

M'lady

Monsieur Booktrout has arrived.

Do you want him to come out here interfering or are you coming inside?

- No, I shall come inside Genoux. - This is the last batch m'lady

and Miss Deborah will see I spread them around the way you want.

... But you're joining us for tea surely? - That's very kind of you but I don't...

Mr. Gosheron

You have the shoes in the van nez pas?

When you are finished you come to me. I'll make sure you are passable.

I have made the gateau that you like so much.

well

We should be very glad of your company after all that you've done for us

and you too dear but I know you can't stay.

I promised grandfather.

- Yes to report on my continuing decline. - Of course.

[Laughing] But what you cannot comprehend Doctor is that the true artist is not at all

deterred by the imminent end of everything.

He aims for something to outlast the transience of human existence

the fact that the world will end.

- When do you say it is? - In 14 months time.

A lifetime. We might all be dead tomorrow.

Let us hope not. I entirely concur with your sentiments.

The point I'm trying to make -

Old church stonemasons never used to finish anything.

Well their successors appear to follow their example Mr. Gosheron.

Bad luck you see. In no hurry for the final judgment. not them.

In the meantime Mr. Gosheron will you have another piece of cake?

Of course he will. I make it specially.

[FITZ} Oh fickle woman. When I venture here

on my own you tell me it is from my special pleasure

and mine alone that you cater.

If you will allow me to finish

I make specially for all Miladi's friends.

No doubt you're familiar Mr. FitzGeorge

... with the works of Boëthius. - I'm an ill-educated chap, picked up all I know

... on my travels not out of books. - Mr. Bucktrout has traveled too...

He has profited so little by it then.

As a matter of fact it was my contact with Eastern philosophy and its peculiar

... fatalism that led me to conclude... - Beauty is the only thing worth bothering with!

Yes but beauty doesn't lie only in objects Mr. FitzGeorge.

even in objects such as you possess as I once told our gracious hostess:

the beauty of a pair of boar's tusks coming at you...

Nothing beautiful about killing a boar! Mere barbarism.

But you indulge do you not in the pleasures of the chase?

- I? Never! - In the pursuit of an object for your collection?

- I've never killed for the sake of beauty. - And yet you enjoy your meat.

My husband always said it was contradictions of that kind

that made the life of the politician so fascinating.

Politicians! They can't see beyond their own snouts!

Nevertheless, mr. FitzGeorge, the beauty of the chase in the foothills of the Himalayas...

Bah! I'll wager Gosheron here knows more about beauty than you Bucktrout.

and he's never wandered farther than... what, Shepherd's Bush?

Mrs. Gosheron came from The Isle of Dogs as a matter of fact!

[Laughing] [Doorbell rings]

Oh dear. I wonder who that is.

[CHARLOTTE] Good afternoon. Is my mother in the drawing room?

Lady Charlotte, m'lady.

How nice, dear. Now I thnk you know Mr. Bucktrout and Mr. Gosheron.

And this is -

[FITZ] - Jones here. George Jones - An acquaintance from -

[FITZ] India.

You knew my father then.

Please sit down.

Meeting was canceled. I thought I'd avail myself and see my mother.

[GENOUX] You have tea Miss Charlotte?

Well I cannot stay long.

I trust I'm not interrupting anything of importance.

Did you know my father then mr. Jones?

- Yes. - Were you in the Diplomatic Service? - No.

Perhaps you were in India on business.

- Business? No. - I see.

A private visit you might say.

Well! Your choice of friends!

- I daresay you have a life of your own but still... - I enjoy the company my dear.

So I see.

- Has Debra been to see you recently? - Yes dear.

Well how did you find her?

I'm always glad to see her of course.

I do wish you'd see Priscilla, she's such a sensible girl. More down-to-earth than

... Deborah at any rate. - Yes I'm sure dear, but the Deborah's engagement must meet

... with your approval as it does with Herbert's? - Of course Herbert is delighted that his

granddaughter's marrying the son of a Duke.

We don't move in such exalted circles.

But Priscilla is so practical

Deborah always seems to have her head in the clouds. Certified?

A bit like you mother if you will forgive me saying so.

She is like me dear.

Perhaps that's why I find her company so restful. - I trust that does not

... mean that you find mine fatiguing. - of course not Carrie

I'm always glad to see you. You know that.

[light playful music]

Got nothing better to do than hanging around other people's houses? [KAY] - I was just - I thought-

... are you all right FitzGeorge? - Don't I look all right?

Yes yes it's just that I haven't seen anything of you for the past three weeks

and I was a bit... I mean, we used to dine together regularly every Thursday. - What's today?

- Monday! - There you are then.

... I suppose you want to come in. - Yes well no. Not if you're busy.

I'm always busy Holland! Come on in then.

Can't have you loitering in the street! I'm not gonna make you a cup of tea!

Or anything silly like that I can assure you.

Haven't been here before, have you?

- no. - Mind the step

Careful down the stairs.

[FItz chuckles]

Move the Cillini and you can sit on that chair.

- Be careful! - Don't worry. - I meant of the chair.

The legs broken... wouldn't sit on it myself

Don't you ever get anybody in to clean?

sometimes.

I don't allow them to touch anything. Have a bit of cheese.

- How long has it been there? - No more than a week by the look of it.

No thanks. Dust harbors a lot of germs you know.

... You really ought to take a bit of care. - Mustn't coddle yourself Holland.

I'm 25 years older than you and I've never been to a doctor in my life!

Don't believe in 'em.

Shocking waste of money. Now look at this.

Massagio.

Died at 27.

- Astonishing! - High praise from you I suppose.

I know you save your panegyrics for those bits of brass that you keep

but this is poetry Holland.

If only you were capable of recognizing it.

Oh

by the way I read an article about you in a magazine.

- Oh what? - One of London's eccentrics it said.

- You were part of a series. - Part of a series?

... Impudence! - Oh I heartily agree.

Who wants to read about me? I don't want to read about them!

Eccentric indeed! What's eccentric about keeping yourself to yourself.

Terrible people journalists. Thank heaven they don't allow them in the club.

- No, damn good thing! - So I might see you there on Thursday?

What? oh I don't know.

Of course, if you'd rather not...

- No, it's not you Holland. You're all right. - Am I? Thanks.

How long is it we've known each other?

You never make a fuss. You're not gonna start now are you?

No, of course not.

I do miss our little discussions.

Don't worry about that. Thursday perhaps?

You can see yourself out can't you?

Oh yes, I suppose so.

You have to bang the front door. Needs a new lock.

I've told the landlord, but of course he takes no notice.

[chuckles]

I'm still not entirely easy in my mind about her.

My dear Carrie. She will soon be marrying George Neville.

yes I know Herbert.

That sort of thing soon fills a girl's head, She can't think properly about anything.

Deborah?

I daresay. I daresay.

... Mabel should be down soon. Another Sherry? - no, thank you.

You see, she could easily be led astray

by Mother, I mean.

Very dependable girl, you know. Does what she's asked...

really quite beautiful.

... We've never had cause to complain at any rate. - Is she reliable?

I'd have thought so. Absolutely.

Behaves as expected that sort of thing.

Not like Mother.

or Edith, come to that.

Edith and Kay are the only members of the family who can't be relied on.

Have you noticed that? Apart from Mother of course.

What I'm trying to say Herbert is the idea of Deborah

keeping an eye on Mother has become

like the blind leading the blind.

If Mother was up to something Deborah would know about it.

- You weren't at this tea party! - I really don't -

A builder, an estate agent and a perfect stranger.

poor father

Its all I could think of.

But of course when father was alive she wouldn't entertain in home

she never had the time.

But he surely would have expected in his absence as it were -

I felt like a child, as though I'd strayed in unexpectedly from the nursery.

Oh, and that man, Jones!

Mr. Kay, Milord.

Not late, am I?

Still time for a Sherry, if that's what you mean.

Thanks.

Carrie

Hate these affairs, don't you?

Some of us at least have a sense of duty.

Anyway it's Mother who should attend. After all it is her charity.

It was Father's idea.

Poor Father

- Carrie was just saying... - It's alright Herbert!

Have you been to see Mother, Kay?

Afraid not, not recently.

I keep meaning to but uh...

Well I hate going out in the cold don't you?

I have been this afternoon.

It was a very strange experience.

[KAY] I wouldn't travel on the underground not in this weather.

Never know what you might pick up. One has to be so careful.

Where on earth is Mabel?

Lady Edith, milord.

I am so sorry! My canary got out.

I had to chase her all round the living room.

The others aren't here, then that's all right isn't it?

William and Lavinia are meeting us there. As for Mabel... a drink Edith?

No thank you. How is everybody?

Oh so glad to read about Deborah Herbert.

And how is Priscilla, Carrie?

Has anyone seen Mother? I spoke to her on the telephone and she sounded very chirpy.

- She has tea parties. - What fun!

- Full of old gentlemen. - Oh! Good for Mother!

Oh Edith. Its no good talking to you.

Canary indeed!

Why shouldn't Mother give some old gentlemen tea?

She always was... she still is, very attractive.

Father always said so.

Father always had complete trust in Mother.

Of course, Herbert, but now he's...

I mean why should that stop her entertaining some admirers?

- Admirers! At her age? - Why not?!

She's entitled to lead a life of her own isn't she? We all are.

We really ought to be going

and I for one have no intention of staying late.

Speaking for myself, I find these affairs pretty tedious.

Then why are we going?

Edit, dear. It's our duty.

I am so sorry to have kept you all waiting. The clasp on these pearls here is -

[HERBERT] - Quiet dear! Let's be off. [KAY] - What about another?

- Surely we need not rush. - Come along, come along.

You can have something to drink when you get there Mabel.

You know I expect the wine will be fairly filthy...

Come along, come along!

[serene music]

Poor Fanny Brawne.

What about Keats? His life was wrecked, wasn't it?

Of course, but how could she be expected to understand

what manner of man she was dealing with.

Wouldn't let my life be wrecked. Too much of a egoist I dare say.

- I'm glad. - So am I, and yet -

I've been faithful in my way you know.

Shall we walk up to the pond?

Such an air of strain

and tragedy here don't you think?

As you like... though it doesn't bother me.

[sound of children playing]

[FITZ] Do you remember...

Our little litany.

I was remembering the first boat

that we ever went out on.

- To India? - Yes.

And Henry had to ask for an advance on his salary

... so that when you travel in the manner befitting the Viceroy. - Ridiculous!

And he had to purchase all his predecessors plate.

[both laugh]

The day after that dinner party, I came back to lunch.

- Dinner party? - In Calcutta.

The Viceroy asked me after I had accepted the invitation to Fatihpur Sihkri.

To arrange the details.

never mind

I arrived rather early to find you alone

... or almost. Kay was with you. - Kay?

No no no surely he wasn't born.

He must have been a couple of months old. You had it with you in his crib.

Now do you remember?

You were embarrassed at being found with your baby by a strange young man.

But you got over it immediately.

I remember admiring the simplicity of your manners.

You asked me to look at him and held back the muslin from the crib.

For your sake, I took one glance at the horrid little creature

but what I really saw was your hand.

It was as white as the curtain

save for the colour of your rings.

- These rings. - If you say so.

I told Kay I'd seen him in his cradle.

I've been saving that little joke against him for years.

It startled him I can tell you, but I didn't explain. He doesn't know to this

... day unless you told him. - He never asked me

and if he had I shouldn't have been able to enlighten him.

Uhuh, one forgets. One forgets.

There are some things one never forgets.

Your hand on that curtain

your expression as you looked down on that uh...

nasty little thing that's turned into Kay.

The flowers

flowers?

you were in the middle of arranging them

summer flowers, when I had arrived from an English winter

and I got a sort of twisted feeling, stumbling into your intimacy.

That didn't last long. You rang the bell and had Kay removed.

Cradle and all!

Are you fond of Kay Mr. FitzGeorge?

Fond? I'm used to him yes. I suppose you might say I was fond.

I'm fond of him too.

He and my younger daughter they're the only two of my

children who are at all like me.

No one like you Lady Slane.

As for Kay, well he and I understand each other well enough to let each other alone.

We're used to each other let's put it like that.

At our age

wouldn't you say anything else would be a nuisance.

Yes. I suppose it would.

Why did you not give

your real name to my daughter when she called?

Well why should I?

Our friendship is private, isn't it?

It has been so for sixty years. Why spoil it now?

yes I understand

It shall remain so as long as I'm alive at any rate.

After that... well...

- There's Mr. Holland now sir. - Thank you

I'm afraid you can't go in Sir.

You not being a member.

Mr. Foljambe.

I was not expecting a visit.

Then you haven't heard Mr. Holland? - Heard what? I was having my lunch.

Mr. FitzGeorge...

Yes?

I'm sorry to say sir... It's all in the paper Mr. Holland.

He was found this morning.

Fitz

I'm afraid so, sir.

Why didn't somebody...

Simmons! Cab at once! Wait I'll get my coat...

Foljambe, we must...

we must go and see.

There may be something.

[Reporter] Morning sir.

- Did you know him sir? Are you family? [Foljambe] - I'm from the Victoria and Albert.

- What's the collection worth? - I don't like to say without having seen it. - Make a guess!

[Foljambe ] From what I know I should estimate it at several millions.

Just outside Sarge. Chap from the Museum and the other gentleman.

Other gentleman?

We think he's with the Museum Sarge.

Oh very well very, well let them in.

About all those reporters Sarge. They only want to take a picture.

Well they can't. Keep them out!

Who'd be interested in a lot of junk anyway?

Foljame. Victoria and Albert.

We sent for you as soon as we knew.

now this other gentleman sir?

it's Mr. Holland, a friend of Mr. FitzGeorge's.

Friend eh?

Had the deceased any relatives, do you know sir?

- What? - Family. You know, do you know of anyone?

no

... shouldn't he be... - Mustn't touch him. Not till the doctors is entirely satisfied.

Who's his father sir?

I uh

don't think he had a father.

Indeed, sir.

Well he must have had a mother, eh?

No mother.

Then what did he have sir?

His privacy.

Come now, sir. You were a friend of his you must be able to tell us something about him.

All he had, all that mattered

was this.

[ Foljambe] Incredible!

I didn't know there were any Masaccio's in private hands.

- Worth a bit, is it? - Thousands.

Hundreds of thousands! The whole collection is well into the millions.

That's why we sent for you.

Looks like a pawnbrokers if you ask me. Still...

We don't seem to be getting very far with tracing in his family.

Mr. Holland couldn't tell me much.

Not many who could. Look at this!

Kept himself pretty much to himself then.

He came to the museum occasionally.

Not happy up here, was he?

A little eccentric perhaps but nothing more.

... Have you tried solicitors? - No one's come forward.

Mind you, there's no telephone.

As I told your commanding officer, one of our men will supervise the safekeeping

of the collection if you wish it. Considering its value to the nation.

Who's gonna get it then?

Mr. FitzGeorge always gave us to understand he would

bequeath most of his possessions to the museum.

You won't know till we find a will though, eh?

[somber music]

Come and free me. There.

Oh thank you.

Now gently...

that's right.

now this is nice.

what is it?

Mother, uhmmm...

look here...

Fitz is dead.

Mr. FitzGeorge.

Bit of a shock to me you know.

Of course I suppose at his age...

I'm sorry dear, you'll miss him. I know.

Yes and so shall I.

I had no idea you knew each other you see.

We never discussed things like that, not in 30 years.

He just appeared one day.

We met years ago and he was renewing an old acquaintance.

So this is where he disappeared to.

Disappeared, dear?

Were you fond of him mother?

... You don't mind my asking? - No of course not.

He was fond of you. I know that and yes I suppose I had grown fond of him.

We had many memories and...

we went for walks together and his company was very pleasant.

That would explain it.

Explain what?

You see I'm one of his executors...

yes?

He's left everything to you.

No.

No

No that's the last thing I want.

[Carrie] I went to Hampstead as soon as I heard the news.

80,000 a year

and the art is worth at least two million if the Telegraph is to be believed.

I couldn't get in because of the reporters.

I had to creep from the back and shout 'Mother.'

How awful. Poor Mother.

Well I couldn't leave her alone.

You know how unfitted she is to deal with this sort of thing.

Perhaps Kay had something to do with it. He and FitzGeorge were friends after all.

Yet he never introduced him to mother. He told me so. - Only the other day he

was boasting about how clever he'd been in safeguarding mother's privacy.

- He could have been lying. - Kay couldn't tell a lie if he tried!

Did mother ever mention this FitzGeorge to anyone?

Not even to Deborah.

As far as we know.

So why should he make her his sole heir?

What if Kay wanted his collection for himself?

Kay was his friend William!

He's been nicely sold then hasn't he?

But suppose Kay has some private arrangement with Mother.

After all...

he's not here is he?

- Surely not... - Anything is possible I suppose.

Kay's always been something of a dark horse. It must be said.

Does anyone know anything about Mother's will?

Up to now she's had nothing to leave.

But if Kay has arranged things with your mother

he's going to be landed with enormous duties, isn't he?

- You mean death duties? - Quite right Lavinia.

half a million at least.

but then Kay is just as impractical as Mother!

Mother seemed uninterested in it all you know.

When I asked her, she said that this FitzGeorge was someone who called on her once or twice recently.

Another of her old gentlemen I suppose. Mother obviously collects them in secret.

- I hardly think... - Be quiet Mabel.

Did mother have any explanation?

Actually, she kept changing the subject

as if one could.

She won't allow reporters into the house

she won't even allow Genoux to bring a newspaper into the house until she says the fuss has died down.

No... she won't even talk to me about it.

Well it's just a little hard you know, to be so misunderstood.

She seemd to be keeping me at arm's length.

As though she was holding something back.

But at your mother's age, what could one hold back?

- One never knows, does one? - Come now Carrie.

Very well, Herbert.

All the same, a very strange idea struck me.

- No no I can't see it. - Carrie we always had a pact

never start a sentence you don't mean to finish.

- -That was when we were children Herbert. Of course if you would rather not .

Kay said that Mother knew this FitzGeorge out in India

and apparently he saw Kay in his cradle.

What if the relationship went back further?

What if he's left everything to Mother intending it to go to Kay because...

- Because what?! - oh Because...

Exactly Herbert!

You can't mean what I think you mean!

Oh dear Edith. So naive.

Mother loved father! Always! She would never have deceived him!

why do you always have to see everything in black and white?

I don't care what you say!

I am NOT sitting here listening to any more of this!

I do wish you hadn't made me say anything in front of Edith.

Surely she wouldn't.

She and Kay are pretty close.

I'm just glad poor Father is no longer with us.

Poor Father.

- But don't you think... - The important thing is

What is Mother going to do with it all?

I realize that he wanted me to enjoy all his beautiful things

but what did he imagine I could do with so much money?

I can't believe Mr. Bucktrout

he knew what he was doing when he left all this to me.

But in the eyes of the world he's

conferred a great benefit on you Lady Slane. I know

I know but I never wanted anything but to stand aside.

Something it seems that this world of ours won't allow even at the age of 85.

Well even the smallest planet is compelled to circle round the Sun.

Yes but does that mean that we must all willy-nilly circle

around wealth, position, possessions?

I thought that I had escaped from all

those things Mr. Bucktrout. Now Mr. FitzGe....

Of all people...

He pushes me back into the middle of them.

What am I to do?

What am I to do?

I always preferred the works of God to the works of man

because they're given freely to anyone who can

appreciate them pauper or millionaire.

Does that make sense?

It makes perfect sense.

I'm glad.

Because I don't think it would make sense to many people.

You see I don't want all these valuable things, beautiful though they may be

I'd rather go up on the heath if I want to look at something lovely and look at

Constable Street...

When you could have the original in your drawing room?

Perhaps...

I may keep one, two...

for the rest...

What will you do?

Give them away.

Let the nation have them.

Let the hospitals have all the money as mr. FitzGeorge first intended

only let me be rid of it all it. Shouldn't be hard arrange.

Let me be rid of it!

And think how much I will upset the family.

And now my dears

if you will excuse me, I know Genoux was cooking a chicken for my supper.

I'll see you home. Would you like me to come great-grandma?

I wish to speak to you Deborah. Yes grandfather.

I suppose you realize mother there's only some time before the wounds

you've inflicted upon us can even begin to heal.

I quite understand Carrie my dear

but I have done what I have done

and I do not wish to speak of it further.

Mother? No Herbert! The matter is closed.

When you are ready I shall be pleased to see you

but on this matter there will be no further discussion.

Is that understood?

Come, Kay...

Of all the -

Control yourself William!

I think it was the right thing to do.

Trust you to say that!

Perhaps that's what mr. FitzGeorge wanted.

Its about mr. FitzGeorge that I wish to speak to Deborah.

But I never met him grandfather.

I didn't even know of his existence.

I don't believe you! Please Carrie.

Deborah has never told an untruth.

Genoux had hinted once that there was someone

an old acquaintance who occasionally paid visits

but she never said anything more than that. And she didn't tell me his name.

Typical.

You can't criticize Genoux for her loyalty William.

Loyalty! What about loyalty to us! What did Mother talk to you about then?

But you know Aunt Carrie. I told you and grandfather.

What's this?

Since Deborah is

Mother's favorite great grandchild, and the only one allowed to visit her in

Hampstead we set great store by her views on mothers activities.

Spying! Without even telling us!

Nonsense William! We've all been anxious about mother.

it's only natural that we should want to know all we can.

In the event Deborah has not proved very effective has she?

I don't think that is very fair Lavinia. all right Mabel.

The question is, is there anything we can do?

Have Mother certified! We should have done so years ago.

But great grandmother isn't mad! Far from it! Of course not dear.

Really, William! You go too far! Think of a scandal!

It's out of the question William.

No I fear we have to accept our fate.

It is not of course for us that I grieve, but for our children and our grandchildren

who were for a brief moment heirs to a great fortune

but who are now denied everything.

Poor, Deborah...

to think of the dowry she might have brought George.

Grandfather.

Now I'm no longer an heiress...

Not you nor Priscilla nor any of you.

How could Mother be so heartless?

Now I can no longer bring George a great fortune grandfather.

Yes my dear?

I'd like to break off my engagement.

Break it off?! Nonsense!

Blame Mother! I shall Telegraph your parents! I tried to warn you!

Deborah has a right to make up her own mind on her own marriage! Surely!

Exactly Edith! Mabel!

I'm sorry if this hurts you

but it would hurt me even more to marry George and make him unhappy.

I do not love him grandfather. I never have done.

I agreed to become engaged because you were so insistent.

I tried to tell him you know.

And then when great-grandmother came into her fortune

it made it even more difficult.

but now that she's given it up... Did you have a hand in persuading her?never

No I didn't.

She never even spoke to me about it.

Let us at least allow the younger generation some

sort of life of their own Carrie.

Thank You grandmother.

And he told me once

that I had sinned against the light.

he was right of course.

I think that it wasn't so much his fortune

but what he was offering me was the chance to be true to myself.

And you've taken it Lady Slane.

I wonder if I have been fair to my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren.

One can make extravagant gestures oneself

but has one the right to impose them on others?

But you shouldn't concern yourself on that score.

You've done what you believe to be right. That's all that matters.

Nonetheless, my great grandchildren

can scarcely give me credit for having acted from such romantic motives.

They may very well me inconsiderate and selfish.

I can hardly see that it matters much one way or the other.

Well, when you're Cillini's and others are all mingled in planetary dust

along with your grandchildren and great-grandchildren which will shortly be the case

your problem of conscience will cease to be of much importance will it not?

That may be true Mr. Bucktrout, but it is not a much help to me.

Goodness knows what Henry would have said.

To my mind Miladi has gone cuckoo.

Well I don't think so Genoux.

Though grandfather would agree with you.

And I was thinking to see again le boujou were like in Calcutta.

Would you ride on an elephant through the streets of Hampstead?

For myself it matters not at all.

If the charwoman was to come three times instead of two, what difference?

But for Miladi, who was used to such grandeur.

You see the pictures in the paper Miss Deborah?

She was pretty like you when she was young yes?

To give everything away!

What was Mr. FitzGeorge like?

Genteel Monsieur.

such a pity to leave Miladi alone.

Did you ever want to get married Genoux?

Me?

But of course not!

My parents were poor peasants who could not afford to keep me.

From the moment I arrived in England my life was Miladi's.

As her's was Milord's.

Eh bien. J'ai Fini.

You must go into Miladi now because soon it will be time for her rest

Mam'selle Deborah, Miladi. Oh my dear, how lovely.

Will you put them over there on the table?

Thank you.

Now, I don't think you know Mr. Bucktrout.

This is my great-granddaughter Deborah. A long awaited pleasure Miss Deborah.

And what beautiful chrysanthemums you brought. Did you get them in Covent Garden?

From a street bearer actually. I hope Genoux put them in water that is

tepid rather than cold. You know I've often told her that's the best way to

prevent them from wilting.

Genoux maintains Mr. Bucktrout should have been a florist.

I shouldn't have enjoyed it at all. Well now I shall take my leave.

Thank you as always for your kind hospitality dear lady.

Miss Deborah permit me to say so, you bear a certain resemblance your great-grandmother

whom I have the honor to call my friend.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Great-grandmother, I've broken off my engagement.

Have you indeed?

Grandfather's very upset. He's Telegraphed Papa

but I thought you of all people - I'm not in the least bit upset.

If that is what you feel is right...

I'm delighted.

oh great grandmother

I remember

from the moment I became engaged

feeling as though I was being gradually bound hand and foot by invisible threads.

A conspiracy of those who loved me.

Mr. FitzGeorge knew that of course.

Mr. Fitz George?

He wanted me to be independent and now I am.

Even of him.

Why did you never tell me about him?

Because there was no need my dear.

What you needed was help

to become yourself.

So now

what will you do?

I want to go to music school.

Music...

Henry always said music was the most pleasing of all female accomplishments.

Mr. FitzGeorge and I never spoke music.

Oh Deborah, Deborah

if I hadn't given away his fortune I could have made you independent.

I'm glad you didn't.

It made it so much easier not being a great heiress.

Poor Carrie and the others still think that I'm selfish.

But she and grandfather they don't understand.

They will

in time. I'm not so sure.

They care about position and money and so on

not the sort of things I care about.

All my friends

they are what grandfather calls useless members of society.

But they're not.

At their center

they have this stone of honesty.

They're simply determined to be true to the things that matter.

Like Mr. FitzGeorge.

Like you great-grandmother.

Dear Deborah.

Music matters to me and I must be true to that.

I'm right aren't I?

Yes of course you are right.

It might be myself speaking.

Now I'm very old

and I'm rather tired

I must let you have your rest.

You make me very happy dear.

Goodbye great-grandmother.

Miladi...

Miladi... est morte.

Miladi... est morte.

Of course it was to be expected Mr. Bucktrout

but it comes as a shock nevertheless.

I'm sure it does Lady Charlotte.

Poor Mother.

Such an exceptional woman you know.

Naturally you could not know since you were scarcely familiar.

She was only your tenant of course.

A correspondent in The Times this morning

described her as a rare spirit Mr. Bucktrout.

That's what I've always thought myself. A rare spirit

but sometimes she was

a little difficult to manage.

Indeed, she was

unpractical to a degree.

But practical things are not the only ones that count are they Mr. Bucktrout?

The Times also said something to that effect, did it not?

My poor Mother had a beautiful nature.

I don't say that I would have acted as she did indeed.

Sometimes her motives were a little difficult to follow.

She was quixotic shall we say?

Even injudicious

and she could be very stubborn.

There were times

when she wouldn't be guided

which was unfortunate considering how unpractical she was.

Had she listened to us Mr. Bucktrout

we should all now be in a very different position.

But it's no good crying over spilled milk, is it?

There's a man here who can take the measurements for the coffin if you wish.

My brother Lord Slane, will be here shortly. He will make all the necessary arrangements.

Her ladyship makes a lovely corpse.

Indeed Mr. Gosheron.

Lovely in life lovely in death I always say.

I've got a beautiful bit of oak I've been saving.

Make the best coffin lid you'll ever see.

I'm sure her ladyship would have appreciated your sacrifice.

Astonishing the beauty death brings out.

My old grandfather told me that. He was in the same line of business

and for 50 years I've been watching to see if it were true.

No doubt it is, no doubt at all.

Beauty in life he used to say may come from good dressing and whatnot

but for beauty in death

you have to fall back on character.

Ha!

Look at her ladyship Mr. Bucktrout. Of course he was right!

And to tell you the truth, I knew it the first time I set eyes on her ladyship.

If I want to size someone up, Mr. Bucktrout, I picture 'em dead.

It always gives them away. Especially if they don't know you're doing it.

I only had to take one look at her ladyship to know she'd do.

And now I've seen her as I pictured her I still say it

she wasn't never but half in this world anyhow.

No... she wasn't.

She had the best it could give her, but it was all the things that she didn't want.

She considered the lilies of the field, Mr. Gosheron.

That she did, Mr. Bucktrout.

I would rather you two gentlemen would stop talking across my mother as though you were a Greek chorus!

I came here in the spirit of forgiveness.

A spirit of lamentation might have been more appropriate, Lady Charlotte.

Perhaps you would have the goodness to leave my mother's funeral narration

to one of her own family!

In the presence of death you might at least take off your hat!

[Music begins]