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Episode |
Five |
Frank: I just came to say goodbye. I’m going off for a few days.
Woman’s voice: Pardon me? Did you say you were going off?
Frank: I did. I’m headed up to London to see Irene.
Woman’s voice: You never go anywhere. You haven’t been out of the village for fifteen years or more!
Frank: Well, I’m going now. She phoned, you see. Said she’d like it if I met her for dinner. Maybe spend some time sightseeing.
Woman’s voice: In my day, women did no such thing. Imagine, calling a man friend! And just what do you think we will do?
Frank: Get along without me, I suppose. I’ll be back soon enough.
Woman’s Voice: This isn’t right!
Man’s Voice: Never mind.
Flo: Good morning, Miss Knytleigh.
Emma: Good morning. I’m surprised to see you here! I thought the whole lot of you had decamped.
Flo: I’m not needed in London, as it turns out. Alan is concentrating on the early relationship between Loretta and Reginald, and Peter felt that my presence would be distracting. He couldn’t be Reginald, you see, with Loretta’s aunt and chaperone along.
Emma: Is he a method actor, then?
Flo: Well, to be honest, I think he wants to get her into bed and thinks that I’d be in the way. I came by to soak in the atmosphere. I like it here now that they’re gone. It’s so peaceful. Quiet, in a way that I imagine the eighteenth-century house must have been.
Emma: Well, Simon’s gone off with Gary, Ann’s in London shopping, and Shirley’s at hospital with Martin, so it is pretty quiet. Just me and John kicking around here this morning.
Flo: And Frank? Where has that dear man gone?
Emma: I have no idea.
Flo: Do you think he’ll be here tonight? Oh, I do hope so.
Emma: I’m really not sure. You know, Frank and I truly are finished. People don’t seem to understand that, but it’s true.
Flo: You? And Frank? I had no idea... you’re just a child! Oh, I am sorry! That was terribly rude of me, wasn’t it?
Emma: And you are …more his age?
Flo: No, no, it’s nothing like that. I just need Frank’s services. He was going to introduce me to someone this evening, that’s all.
Emma: Who’s that, then? Maybe I could help.
Flo: I don’t think so.
Emma: Why not?
Flo: I want to meet Helena O’Rall.
Emma: She’s dead.
Flo: I know that! But you know, Frank has a gift.
Emma: Well, I hate to disappoint you, but his "gift" doesn’t include talking to his mum. She’s never said so much as "boo" to him.
Flo: His mum? Helena O’Rall is Frank Churchill’s mother?
Emma: She is. Or rather was. If you ask me, you’re on to a loser here. She’s not talking.
Flo: What shall I do?
Emma: Why do you want to talk to her?
Flo: I need help with Beatrice Farthingale. I don’t understand her motivation. She doesn’t speak to me.
Emma: Well, Helena O’Rall sure in hell won’t either.
Flo: I see. Thank you. Oh, one more thing. What do you suppose Frank meant when he told me that I should consider the tulip?
Reverend Banks: I missed you at the hospital this morning. How are you?
Shirley: Ah, Reverend, I’ve been better.
Reverend Banks: Chin up, dear. The tests haven’t shown anything upsetting, have they?
Shirley: No. But that’s just it. It’s all this not knowing. All this time wasting, with him getting worse and nothing anyone can do about it. If they just could say, "Martin, it’s your spleen," or "Shirley, he has complications of the liver." But everyone is so vague. He’s still in hospital, though. There’s nothing vague about that!
Reverend Banks: We don’t always have all the answers, Shirley.
Shirley: I know that. But I’m afraid I’m losing him.
Reverend: There, there. No need to cry. He’ll be back on his feet, weeding the garden in no time. The answers are in God’s hands. He’ll share them soon, I’m sure. Now then, can I get you some tea?
Shirley: That would be lovely.
John: Come and sit.
Emma: In here?
John: Yes. Right here. Sit down.
Emma: Okay, I’m sitting.
John: Let’s get married.
Emma: Can you say that again, please?
John: I’m sorry, I didn’t do it properly. (Kneeling) Emma Knytleigh, will you marry me?
Emma: No.
John: No?
Emma: No. Oh, for God’s sake, get up!
John: Why won’t you?
Emma: Why are you asking?
John: Because I love you.
Emma: And why else?
John: Well, I’m worried about my granddad. I want to get married, have a family, before he goes. He’d like that.
Emma: So now I’m a mother? How soon is he going?
John: Emma!
Emma: Sorry, that wasn’t very good of me. John, listen. I care about you, but getting married, having children, well, those are things to think about. Things to do with you and me. Not to make your granddad happy. Besides, he’s going to be fine. He’s just having some tests, isn’t he?
John: Yes, but none of the doctors can say why he’s been so ill. He could be dying.
Emma: He could have lots of things wrong with him, most of them completely curable. John, he wouldn’t like to see you rush into something as serious as marriage. I’m sure of that.
John: Well, even if he gets better, I’d still like to marry you.
Emma: When.
John: When?
Emma: When he gets better.
John: So you’ll marry me, then?
Emma: No, John. I don’t think I will. I’m not ready for that. I don’t want to be a wife. Your wife.
John: Never?
Emma: No, I don’t think so.
John: Oh. Well then. That’s it, then, isn’t it?
Emma: Should we talk about this?
John: No. I understand.
Emma: John, I am sorry.
John: Right. Why don’t you just go?