The Agatha Christie Hour (1982) s01e06 Episode Script

(womanlaughs) (chatter) -(woman) Well, will you or won't you? - I can't.
Can't or won't? -(Laughs) - My dear girl! I am the host.
(Laughs) (chatter) Bates, have you seen my husband anywhere? Notfor the Iastfew minutes, madam, no.
But I think you might Iike to know there's a gentleman in the garden room.
- In the garden room? - The colonial gentlemen, madam.
Are you hiding, Mr Easton? Mrs Darrell, I do apologise, you must think me rude.
- I didn't mean - It's perfectly alright.
I was admiring the magnolia.
It's too dark to see it properly, I'm rather proud of it.
- I wouldn't have thought - I'd know a magnolia from a marrow? - I wasn't going to say that.
- No, but you might have thought it.
This room is a Iittle unexpected.
Is it yours? It's mine.
My private retreat.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to trespass.
Not many of my husband's friends are interested in gardens or flowers or trees.
It's a fine specimen, difficult to cultivate in this country.
Not really, they simply need care.
Pruning can be a problem.
You cut too close and the wound will never heal, the tree will die.
- I'm sorry, I'm boring you.
- No, I wasfascinated.
To tell the truth, I was hiding.
I'm not much of a partygoer, Mrs Darrell.
A bit of a fish out of water.
It's not just the starched shirt and the black tie, it's all this, cocktails, small talk, all the Iatest gossip.
I mean, Ifeel rather out of it.
What does one say? One talks about the weather, money, cricket, the Iatestfashion.
Yes, yes, I know.
I mean, that is a jolly pretty frock you're wearing.
Oh, please, don't.
My husband asked me to be especially nice to you.
To me, why? I don't know.
Are you important, Mr Easton? Me? I'm not important at all.
Why do you ask? Then you're not one of Richard's money men? - Richard? - My husband.
Oh, of course, Darrell.
No, I'm not one of his money men.
I grow oranges.
I know that must sound a bit odd, in the middle of London.
- Oranges? - In the Transvaal.
I used to be an accountant.
After the war I couldn't settle, so I went to South Africa, bought a plantation, turned into afarmer.
- Are you a successfulfarmer? - Comparatively.
I've just bought the plantation that runs alongside mine from Darrell, your husband.
- Richard.
- Richard.
- And are you happy? - Well, I've never regretted it.
Of course, it can get pretty Ionely out there sometimes.
It must be very beautiful, the orange blossom.
Yes.
The magnolia is more delicate, as you said, vulnerable.
Pity it's so dark.
You ought to see it in daylight.
- I'd Iike to.
- Come tomorrow afternoon.
Can you? I don't want to be a nuisance, Mrs Darrell.
PIease, nobody ever calls me Mrs Darrell, it's Theo.
- Theo.
- Theodora.
My name is Vincent.
I do hope you don't think I was Iaughing at you - about growing oranges.
- Of course not.
-(clearsthroat) - Yes, Bates? The minister's party has vacated the dining room and appears to be about to Ieave.
The minister seems a Iittle agitated.
Oh, dear.
Will you excuse me? It's time I went too.
Bates, find Mr Darrell and warn him.
Young man, you just don't know what you're talking about.
I may not but the governor does and he's really steamed up about it.
He's threatening to come up to the House and actually speak.
He hasn't done that since LIoyd George's ridiculous Pension Bill.
Doubtless the House will survive the honour.
- My dear.
- Minister.
What's your view, Theo? How can I have a view unless I know what you're talking about? Changing the prayer book, of course.
Willerby doesn't seem to think it's a serious matter.
Some of us in the House do.
We take our moral and spiritual responsibilities seriously.
I take it very seriously.
What about the jolly old marriage service? Vanessa and I want to know what we're infor.
They couldn't change the marriage service.
Love, honour and obey.
They couldn't change that, could they, Theo? - No, they couldn't change that.
- It's ridiculous, some of it.
- "With this body I thee worship".
-(Laughter) I don't care what you say Thank you, Bates.
Presently.
I can't believe parliament will give time to it.
Not in this session anyway.
The marriage service is at the root of the British way of Iife.
- It's not a subject to treat Iightly.
- Of course it's not.
Charlie, you're being naughty.
Imogen, take him away and try and make a happier if not wiser young man of him.
Come on, we've outstayed our welcome.
- Many apologises, Theo.
- I didn't mean that at all.
You know you're always welcome.
Why is "young man" such a demeaning expression? You're not going already, Minister? - The opera, I'm afraid.
- Ah.
The arts, you know.
I'm an imperfect Wagnerian.
- It's very big.
- CIare, are you coming on to Craggs? - Perhaps.
- You must, we're all going.
- I might see you Iater.
- Theo.
- Excuse me.
- I have to go out.
I've things to discuss with old Jaggers, business.
Would you Iike me to clear your study? No.
Jaggers wants me to meet Mrs Hamilton's cousin who came into a quarter of a million and doesn't know what to do with it.
- I understand.
- I'm sorry.
People seem to have enjoyed it, but I do wish they'd go away.
Don't be silly, you can't put a time Iimit on a cocktail party.
More's the pity.
Do Iet me help you with that.
My dear, Theodora, it's been delightful.
Only one thing spoilt it.
Why do you have to be quite so happily married? It gives a chap no hope, no hope at all.
Colonel, you're a terrible flirt.
(Laughs) He is, isn't he, Theo? He's rather an accomplished one.
Aren't you coming with us, Mrs Darrell? I'm sure my cousin would be delighted.
Poor old Theo's got to man thefort, usual hangers-on to be dealt with.
Trouble with some people, they never know when to Ieave.
- Richard! - We'd better find your coat.
Well, if youfeel Iike coming on, we'II probably end up at Craggs.
I think perhaps I'II have an early night.
Oh, by the way, what happened to Easton? - He Ieft.
- Without saying good night? He said good night to me.
Perhaps you were occupied.
Dash it, Theo, I asked you to be especially nice to him.
Iwas nice to him.
Oh, come along, Richard.
You know your adorable good Iady is especially nice to everyone, the perfect hostess.
Good night, my dear.
Now, are we all ready? - Indeed we are.
- come on.
Don't wait upfor me, darling.
-(woman) Youfollow us.
- (Theo) Good night, Mrs Hamilton.
Good night, Mrs Darrell.
You're early, sir.
Early or Iate, what difference does it make? - Shall I get you some tea, sir? - No.
Bring me a brandy and soda.
- Very good.
- Where's Mrs Darrell? - In the garden.
- Where else? - With Mr Easton, sir.
- Easton? Yes, sir.
- Evening papers arrived? - On your desk, sir.
- Where did you Iearn about gardening? - I grew up in Dorset.
(clearsthroat) Shall I inform Mrs Darrell that you've returned, sir? No, I don't think so.
Very good, sir.
Sighs) (Theo) We had one of the most beautiful gardensfor miles around.
One of the most patient head gardeners.
When I was five, he gave me my own patch of garden and taught me how to Iook after it.
I'm a country girl at heart.
But that's my special pride.
- Theo - No.
No.
(birdsong) I must say something.
No.
Theo.
Don't speak.
PIease, don't ask me anything.
Have you seen Gwendoline Harper recently? My dear, have you seen Gwendoline Harper? - Notfor ages.
- Her hair, her hair! How did you do it? Come on, own up, how did you do it? - Well, I sort of said, "Will you?" - And I sort of said, "Yes.
" That's no way to propose! You haven't thefaintest notion about how things ought to be done.
- Have you, Colonel Jaggers? - Given the right source of inspiration.
Dear Iady, you are my Iove, my dream, my destiny, the captain of my heart.
Will you be mine? - Stop making Iove to my wife, Jaggers.
- That was beautifully done, Colonel.
But no one ever accepted.
-(man) Oh, poor girl.
-(Laughter) (chatter) I've had quick Iook at your Iedgers, old chap.
They're more your province than mine, but they seem alright to me.
Then why isn't the Minister coming to dinner? Meetings, committees, probably been offered a better meal somewhere else.
-(Laughs) - I'II get Bates to bundle itfor you.
- You can take them with you.
- Right.
How Iovely to see you again, Mrs Hamilton.
You haven't met my cousin, Jack Anderson, have you? GIad you could make it, Anderson.
He doesn't Iook Iike a man with a quarter of a million, does he? Youngfool invested in some South African mining shares.
- He'II Iose the Iot.
- Pity.
(woman) He's a very boring man.
(Jaggers) It's a hot summer.
I can take any amount of sunshine.
(woman) It burns poor me to an absolute frazzle.
(Jaggers) Young people have no idea what real heat is Iike.
Out in India in the dry season (man) You take to the hills when it gets too hot.
(Jaggers) We pack the memsahibs off up country.
Mind you, some of the dear Iadies wouldn't go.
Is this an indiscreet story coming on, Colonel Jaggers? Very rum things went on in the heat, I can tell you.
Very rum.
-(man) Any scandal? - My Iips are sealed.
-(woman) Unseal them, do! - Heat plays funny tricks.
Some chaps, well, it goes to their heads.
- Sunstroke? - That's not what he had in mind.
What about the women who refused to move out? There you are.
No names, of course, but I could tell a tale or two.
I remember it must have been about 1 907, there was one particular Iady It simply doesn't bear thinking about, does it? - The regimental commanders - Army wives can be very peculiar.
Or so my brother tells me.
(Laughs) Thefact is, she suddenly developed an almighty passion for the Viceroy's ADC who was seconded to the garrison.
Everybody knew.
Can't keep that sort of thing quiet.
The "grand passion" everybody called it.
How romantic.
Grand passions don't happen nowadays.
- Oh, thank you very much.
- You know what I mean.
Rudolph Valentino, that sort of thing.
Well, I think everyone ought to have one grand passion in their Iives.
-(Jaggers) Hear, hear.
- What do you think, CIare? How about an average passion with a very Iarge bank balance? (alLlaugh) (Jaggers) The whole thing ended in tragedy.
Thefellow shot himself.
The ADC, not the Viceroy.
Ladies, I think perhaps we might take coffee in the Iibrary.
These things happen, you know.
Worsefor the woman, I dare say, but a bit beyond me.
Never couldfathom this Iove business.
(chatter/laughter) Hiding again, Mr Easton? Not hiding, waiting.
Waiting? For you.
I knew you'd come.
I shouldn't have really.
I I didn't want to.
Didn't you? This isn't possible.
It mustn't We mustn't.
My dear, darling, dearest Theo.
I Iove you.
I'm sorry, I'II go.
Oh, my Iove! My Iove! (trainrattLes) What's the matter? Nothing really.
Justfor a moment, in the tunnel, I was afraid.
I was the one who was afraid, waitingfor you at the station, I thought you might have changed your mind.
- No, I couldn't have done that.
- I hardly dared Iet myself believe.
I promised.
But you are afraid.
I think perhaps I'm afraid of happiness.
You deserve it so very much, my darling.
We'II find it together.
(dooropens) Reserved compartment first class, Mr and Mrs Easton.
- Excuse me, sir, madam.
- That's quite alright.
Tickets, please, sir.
Oh.
Afternoon, Mrs Easton.
Two singlesfor Dover.
Thank you, sir.
Taking the nightferry, sir? - No, tomorrow morning.
- GIass is setfair, sir.
It should be a quiet crossing.
(gulL screeches) (Theo) Do you think we're having a grand passion? Very grand, very passionate.
I never couldfathom this Iove business.
Well, it Iooks calm enough.
It's a calm sea and a smooth passage.
Are you a good sailor? I never thought to ask.
The sea doesn't frighten me.
-(theykiss) -(knock atdoor) - Even though you're a country girl? - Even though I'm a country girl.
- Put it on the table, will you? - Yes, sir.
(vincent) Thank you, that'II do.
(man) Thank you, sir.
I used to think that being a country girl was the end of the world, so dull, so tedious.
I married Richard mainly to get away from all that tranquillity and safety.
You didn't ever Iove him? I don't think I knew the meaning of the word.
I Iiked the glamour and excitement of his world.
It was so different.
- And he? - Oh, Richard married mefor my money.
(Laughs) No, that's not quitefair.
I suppose Richard Ioved me.
He Ioves me as much as he can, as much as he can Iove anybody.
You're not regretting this? I've made my decision, I've turned my back on all that.
- You're very brave, the scandal.
- It'II be a nine-day wonder is all.
Colonel Jaggers will add it to his repertoire of dinner-party stories.
"Theo Darrell who ran off with that dashed orange grower from the Transvaal.
Colonial bounder, what!" You're very unkind.
You won't get afternoon tea on the plantation.
Not unless you teach EIiza how to make it.
EIiza is my housekeeper, black as the ace of spades and a heart of gold.
Of course, it can get pretty Ionely out there sometimes.
What is it? "Big City Crash.
Failure of Imperial & Overseas Trust.
" Does it matter? Richardis Imperial & Overseas Trust.
- Well, that doesn't have to affect us.
- Read it.
Read it all.
"A receiver has been appointed to wind up the affairs of the company.
" "Financial experts from Scotland's Yard's Fraud Squad are investigating the company's activities.
" "And there are rumours of serious allegations tofollow.
" "Managing director, Richard Darrell, was today unavailablefor comment.
" - What are you doing? - I must go to him.
- Don't be absurd.
- He's my husband, I must go to him.
- For God's sake! - Don't you see, this means ruin! I can't use today of all days to Ieave him.
Bates! Bates! Where the hell are you? Theo? Theo? I'm sorry, sir, I'm - Where's Mrs Darrell? - She's not at home, sir.
I realise that, youfool.
Where is she? She Ieft this afternoon, sir.
What can you do? What possible difference can it make? - Possibly none.
- Then why? - I'm his wife! - You admitted you don't Iove him.
Love has nothing to do with it.
- She said where she was going? - No, sir.
- Did she take anything? - Some Iuggage, sir.
- How much Iuggage? - Two suitcases, sir.
AIright, Bates.
And, Bates, I don't want to see or speak to anyone this evening.
- Anyone at all.
Do you understand? - Very well, sir.
Sighs) Look, you haven't had time to take the news in.
Leave it.
Wait.
Wait until the morning.
My dearest Iove.
- He needs me.
- I need you.
Oh, I want you.
Sighs) It's no good.
I must go to him.
I wouldn't have believed it, not of you.
You encourage a man, you Iead him on, you keep him on a string for the excitement of it, the sense of power it gives you, I suppose! When you reach the point of no return, you cut and run back to your ever-Ioving husband.
- No! - No? Then prove it! You must think what you will of me, I can only say this.
I Iove you and I will always Iove you, but I'm married to Richard.
He needs me.
I must go back to my husband.
(dooropens) - Thank God you've turned up! - I heard the news.
- How bad is it? - sighs) - About as bad as possible.
- Tell me.
Well, my darling, Imperial & Overseas is washed up, finished.
It's happening all the time.
Post:war depression they call it.
Just because our business is mainly in the colonies doesn't make us immune.
The papers said serious revelations with the Fraud Squad.
That's rubbish.
The usual press speculation.
They can't touch your money and the house is in your name too.
On the other hand, things won't be quite the same any more.
- No.
- But at Ieast I've got you.
- Yes.
- Theo.
I don't know what I'd do without you.
Well, if there's anything I can do to help.
Bring me another brandy, there's a good girl.
- Theo.
- Oh! Richard, I didn't hear you.
- You were miles away.
- Yes.
- Or you wish you were.
- Of course I don't.
Yes, well, you're Iucky.
You've got your precious garden to help keep your mind off this mess.
You can water the plants, prune the roses.
Oughtn't this damn thing be cut back a bit? - What is it, Richard? - Jaggers was taken up this morning.
- The Colonel?! - My honourable and gallant colleague has been arrested for cooking the books.
- It's assumed I knew all about it.
- And did you? That, my dear, is the Ieast of our worries.
Don't you think you ought to tell me everything? The whole truth.
What possible good can it do to go through all the tedious details with you? If I'm going to help, I ought to know.
What makes you think I need your help? It's not a question of need, I'm your wife.
Sit down.
I don't know that you'II be able tofollow this, it's a bit technical.
Business practice, you know.
The Colonel's been arrested, I understand that.
That's nothing, just incompetence really.
I ought never to have brought him in to begin with.
Will you be blamed? For his errors? No, no.
My problem, our problem is quite different.
You see, in the business of buying and selling Iand sometimes it's necessary to use unorthodox methods and sometimes there's a conflict.
- Between right and wrong? - I'm talking of technicalities.
The conflict between what is a technical business matter and what is a crime.
It can be difficult to spot the difference.
I'm not a child.
Either you've committed a crime or you haven't.
You would see it Iike that.
Everything has to be black or white with you.
I'm sorry.
PIease try to explain, I do want to understand.
Most of out dealings, Imperial & Overseas, I mean, are in the Colonies.
We buy and sell Iand, farms, estates, mines, plantations.
Now, sometimes it's not in the best interests of Imperial & Overseas to be seen to be involved in a deal, so we act through nominees.
Sometimes I've had to pretend to be a private person not a managing director.
To pretend? To sign certificates of transfer for Iand property in my own name.
- Richard Darrell? - Yes.
When they belong to the company? When the company had financed the purchase.
The company would always be reimbursed in full.
After the sale? It's standard procedure to avoid unacceptable profitsfor the trust.
It's all above board, Iooked at in a certain Iight, but to an auditor perhaps it could seem fishy, as if I'd been milking the trustfor my own personal profit.
- Have you? - I didn't Iose out on the deals, but you'd hardly call that a crime.
Some people might.
Some people might.
Auditors, Scotland Yardferrets.
It's a technicality, of course, it's trivial, but it could be serious.
- How serious? - If a transfer was unearthed bearing my name and the property still appeared in the company Iedger, it would be difficult to explain.
I could go to prisonfor a Iong time.
Richard! Oh, my dear.
It may not come to that.
It mightn't come out at all.
- You've broken the Iaw.
- Technically I broke the Iaw, yes.
But only technically.
To cheat! To steal! I'm not trying to justify what I've done.
Don't condemn me out of hand.
- What I did, Theo, I didfor you.
- For me?! I know what people say, that I married youfor your money.
- And didn't you? - No.
No, I damn well didn't! But when the woman you Iove has money and you haven't, how on earth do you convince anyone of the truth, Iet alone her? - What was the truth? - I Ioved you then and I Iove you now.
No one was more surprised than I when you agreed to become my wife.
I've never been a rich man, not really rich.
That's not important.
I wanted you to be proud of me.
I wanted to treat you the way you deserve.
You mean so very much to me.
- What can we do? - You mean it? You'II stick by me? Oh! With you by my side there may be a way out of this mess.
There may be a way.
- Do you have a plan? - Ifeel I've betrayed you.
Oh, don't, please.
I shouldn't have gone into business, I should have gone inforfarming.
Gone to Africa, bought a plantation, grown oranges.
Would you have Iiked that, my darling Theo? - What do you mean? - Well, nothing.
I'II I'II go and change.
We'II talk about it Iater.
At dinner.
I I wondered if I might have a word, madam? I'm sorry, Bates, what did you say? Madam knows that Mr Darrell, the master, has given me a month's warning? I do appreciate the situation, but I wondered, in the circumstances Well, I've workedfor yourfamily nearly all my Iife, madam.
Madam will understand that I shall be most unhappy to Ieave your employment.
Of course, Bates, I absolutely understand.
If it's a question of economising in the household, of cutting back What did you say? I should be content to accept a reduction in my own remuneration.
Thank you, Bates.
We'II talk about it Iater.
Theo, it just struck me, I haven't seen you in that dressfor ages.
Remember the one you bought in Paris Iast year? - The Kiyo? - Creamy thingumabob.
Cost the earth.
Put it on tonight.
- It's an original.
- I know.
- Butfor an evening at home? - PIease.
- Just the two of us? - For me.
I'd Iove to see you in it.
(Richard) Stunning! Absolutely stunning! (ticking) (ticking) May as well finish this, darling.
Uh.
- Will that be all, madam? - Bates, that'II do.
Cut along now.
Very good, sir.
Madam.
Is it necessary to be quite so curt with Bates? - He's a servant.
- He's an old and trusted servant, whom you've dismissed without a word to me.
- My dear, you said you wanted to help.
- I did.
And, of course, I do.
What does it matter? Eat, drink and be merry,for tomorrow Don't! - Not funny? - No.
- Perhaps I'II cut along now too.
- Not yet.
Don't go yet.
I've got something I want to say.
You know, about all this.
Things may not be as bad as they seem.
- No? - I know I've been a bit on edge, what with Jaggers being taken up.
I'm sorry.
- I understand.
- We must Iook on the bright side.
- Is there one? - Well, there may be.
Whatever the police may suspect, there's nothing they can actually prove.
- There's no evidence? - I don't think so.
I'm not afool.
I've covered my tracks pretty thoroughly.
Cold? The thing is, there are some papers, some papers with my name on them.
They mean nothing on their own, but if people get hold of them - The police? - They might put two and two together.
They're the one piece of evidence that could finish us.
- So you'II destroy them? - Asfast as I could if I had them, that's the devil of it.
Somebody else has them? Yes.
I'm sure he doesn't know what they mean.
- Who? - Easton.
I never seem to have got on friendly terms with the man, barely got to know him, but he seemed to Iike you.
- He does.
- You see what I'm driving at? I've an idea that ifyou were to go to Easton and ask himfor the certificate, I'm sure he wouldn't refuse.
- I can't do that.
- Too proud to beg, is that it? - Evenfor me? - That has nothing to do with it.
If this comes out, you're Iiable to find yourself married to a jail bird.
Vincent won't use those papers against you, I'm certain.
He may not wish to ruin us, but as Iong as that certificate of transfer exists, he's a danger to our safety.
That paper must be destroyed.
Can't you write to him and explain and ask him to return them? There isn't time.
Jaggers is in custody.
Who knows what he might tell the police? He knows nothing, poorfool.
Has he been taken up for what you've done? This is desperately urgent.
I want you to go and see Easton now.
- At this time of night?! - We're not Iiving in the Middle Ages! No, I will not be bully ragged! AII you have to do is ask him to give you the paper! I can't! Theo, darling, I wouldn't ask you to do this if there was any other way.
- No.
- Look, my dear girl, I know it's beastly to have to beg afavour of someone you hardly know.
- That's not the point.
- You said you wanted to help.
This is a matter of Iife and death.
You won't Iet me down.
PIease! I can't explain, but there are reasons why I can't do what you ask.
Very well.
Richard, what are going to do? No, you can't.
You mustn't.
- You Ieave me no alternative.
- No.
Life or death, I said.
It's very melodramatic, but I mean it, Theo.
Disgrace, ruin.
For you too.
I can'tface that.
- Better finish it now.
- You shan't do it.
You can't.
No! (he sobs) If you Iove me, if you ever Ioved me, please, help me! Sobs) I've no one else to turn to! I've been trying to write to you all day.
I wanted to make one Iast attempt to get you to change your mind.
The words wouldn't come and now miraculously you're here.
No, you don't understand, I'm here on behalf of my husband.
My husband thinks He believes you have some papers in your possession that may do him some harm.
I've come to ask you to give them to me.
- I don't understand.
- A title deed.
I have the deeds of my new plantation that's all.
Title deeds, certificate of transfer.
From Richard to you.
Of course, I'd never heard of Imperial & Overseas.
I didn't realise This is what you camefor.
Thank you.
Have you a match? When I was Iittle, we had afender Iike this in the nursery.
A clubfender, isn't that what they're called? The gravest of all nursery crimes was burning papers in the fireplace.
- And you did? - Oh, no, I was much too well behaved.
We're a very old-fashionedfamily, not part of the 20th century at all.
Strict discipline.
We simply stuck to the rules, that's all.
What were the rules? Your rules? - Duty, honour, Iove.
- Duty first? - AIways.
- Before Iove? Go back to Africa, back to your plantation.
You'II find your happiness.
And you? Go back to your husband and your garden.
- I'm needed.
- I need you.
You'II act out your Iife married to a crook? - I have to.
- What sort of a world do you Iive in? You can't turn your back on reality.
AII this talk of Ioyalty is meaningless.
You owe no Ioyalty to a man Iike that, a man you despise.
Think what your Iife will be Iike if you stay, every day a reminder of what you turned your back on, happiness.
You talk of duty Don't you owe a duty to yourself? To that happiness we can make together? Come with me.
I do hope I didn't disturb you calling so Iate.
- May I get you a cab? - No, thank you.
I have one waiting.
- Shall I come down with you? - No, please, don't bother.
- Good night, Mr Easton.
- Good night, Mrs Darrell.
(ticking) - Home again, miss? - No, go anywhere.
Just keep driving.
Very good, miss.
- You alright, miss? - Yes.
Time to go home, miss? Home? A bit cooler now, miss.
- Sorryfor keeping you up so Iate.
- Not at all, madam.
Theo.
- You've been a Iong time.
- Have I? - A damned Iong time.
- Good night, sir, madam.
- Is it alright? You're sure? - I burned the papers.
- But the right papers.
Did you Iook? - No.
- Then how do you know? - I'm sure.
Don't bother me.
I can't bear any more tonight.
Don't touch me.
I'm sorry, my nerves are all on edge.
I simply can't bear to be touched.
- I understand.
- Do you? - Theo, I'm damned sorry.
- What? I'm sorry if I had to Iet you in for such a rotten job.
I hope there wasn't any unpleasantness.
You don't know, Richard, what this night has cost me.
My God! I I never meant You did thatfor me?! If I'd have known, my darling, I realise I told you, I hardly knew the man, but if I'd have guessed, I'd have never asked you to go.
Believe me, I never meant that you You never meant what? Tell me, what was it that you never meant? Don't speak of it.
I don't want to know, I don't even want to think about it.
What do you think happened tonight? It didn't happen.
We'II say it didn't happen.
You think he asked a price for those papers.
If I thought he'd behave Iike that I never dreamt! Didn't you? Why did you ask me to wear this dress tonight? Why did you send me there alone so Iate? You guessed he caredfor me.
You expected - I expected nothing! - You planned it.
You said you had a plan.
You intended this from the beginning.
You knew he had those papers, so you planned to save your skin with my body.
You meant me to whorefor you.
Can you deny it? - Theo.
- If it gives you any satisfaction, your plan worked, though not in the way you imagined.
There was an element you hadn't bargainedfor.
- You see, Vincent and Ifell in Iove.
- Fell in Iove?! A week ago, he asked me to Ieave you to go away with him and I agreed.
You're making this up.
It was the day the news broke of the collapse.
We were at an hotel in Dover.
I happened to see a newspaper.
- It was pure chance.
- Dover?! It seemed to me that I owed you a duty as you were in trouble, so I came back.
Did you Did you go to bed with him? No, but I wanted to.
- I don't believe it.
- Why not? You're ready to believe that to save you I'd go to bed with a man I barely knew.
Why can't you believe that I'd happily give myself to a man I Iove? - We'II say no more about it.
- Don't you understand the difference? - Is there a difference? - Perhaps there isn't.
I don't want to talk about it.
We need never mention it again.
I don't understand you, but I canforgive.
I cannot.
- What did you say? - I can'tforgive you.
I was willing toforgive you when I knew you to be a Iiar and a thief.
I've always known you weren't straight with the world.
I'veforgiven, pretended not to notice your infidelities.
- I'm not blind.
- That isn't the same thing.
I was prepared toforgive because I believed in your Iovefor me.
- I believed you needed me as a wife.
- I do.
What you've done tonight cancels everything.
Don't go, Theo.
I do need you! Whatfor? Who would you want me to sleep with next? I won't Iet you go.
- Where will you go? Back to him? - No, I can't do that.
Theo, I'm all the things you said.
I'm worthless, but I do Iove you.
Richard, I was unfaithful to you, in intention at any rate.
For that betrayal, I'II pay in Ioneliness.
But you, you betrayed honour and Iove, you've gambled on my sense of duty, you've gambled on the thing you Ioved and Iost.
But where are you going? To a a sort of freedom.
There's nothing to bind me here.