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Episode |
Five |
This page contains most of the content from the main 'story line' characters. It is designed to allow an easy way of keeping up with the story on slow connections (or for reading later). It is, of course, no substitute for the real thing!
Come on in. What a day. I mean, really Godawful. Granddad is in hospital again and Gran has gone to visit him, so I'm here on my lonesome. My girlfriend just told me to piss off. I asked her to marry me, for God sake. You’d think she could have at least been a bit more understanding, but no, this is Emma. Well, I get it. She didn’t have to hit me over the head.
God, what am I going to do? I see her every day. Well, she lives here, doesn’t she? I reckon I could move out, get a flat in the village… But I can’t, not really. What would Granddad do in the garden? He’s not up to much even when he’s feeling well. I do all the work. Not that I’m complaining, I like to do it. But I can’t leave him and Gran on their own, can I?
Ah, she’s a bitch. A beautiful, sexy, break-your-heart-as-soon -as-look-at-you bitch. Life’s a bitch too, you know. Pass me another can of Boddingtons, will you? Cheers.
To: Simon
From: The Hat
Not heard from you in a while.
Hope everything is well, my son. If you're going through a quiet time, bit short of the readies, no prob. Just let me know. For special clients like yourself we can arrange a little credit, all on the up and up with high street rates.
Let me know
The Hat
To: AmynJames
From: Ann
Amy,
Just got back from London, after an exhausting three days of dress shopping. Haven’t seen Simon yet—he went up to Liverpool a couple of days ago to play hookie with Gary while I shopped. Shirley was going to come with me, but Martin had to go back into the hospital for some more tests, so in the end I went by myself. Yesterday I met up with Suzanne who was doing some filming there. We spent the afternoon reviewing my choices, and narrowed them down to three. There are pictures up on the web that show generally what each will look like. Can you offer an opinion? I need to go back for a fitting within the month, so don’t take too long!
I’ve told Simon I have to meet his mother before the wedding, and he said he’d think about it. I’m thinking of phoning her.
Love,
Ann
http://www.basia-zarzycka.co.uk/ger.htm
http://www.confetti.co.uk/fashion/rotating_dresses/et_rebecca/rebecca.asp
http://www.angelastone.com/alexandra.html
To: Ann
From: SToussand
Ann,
Thanks for a fabulous day yesterday. You looked great—it will be a tough decision. If it were me, I’d go for the Basia Zarzycka. It was so theatrical, and I loved the roses.
I’m dead tired from filming today. Alan had us up at 4 a.m. so that Peter and I could kiss as the sun rose over the Thames. As dramatic moments go, I’m sure it would have been splendid in the book (of course, the author didn’t actually write that scene!), but it was dreadful in reality. Peter reeked of gin, the boat we were in leaked, and a flock of pigeons kept swooping onto the set at the worst possible moment. As it turns out, one of the crew was eating something that attracted them. Alan was furious. He’s so masterful when he’s angry. I find it really quite exciting to be working with him.
After the sunrise, we had a whirlwind tour of London, kissing at every stop. I feel like we’re filming one of those American high-school dramas. I mean, in real life, surely someone like Reginald Winters would have at least touched a breast. But Alan insisted on keeping ‘just the suggestion’ of sexual tension as our focus rather than the lust that I’m sure Helena O’Rall, as a lonely old maid, felt vicariously as she wrote.
Would you mind terribly asking Frank to phone me tonight? I’m very keen to talk to him. He said to me that I should consider the rose. I’ve been thinking about this all day, and I must confess I’m just dying to know what he meant. You don’t know, do you?
Suzanne
From: AmynJames
To: Ann
Ann,
Great choices—makes me want to get married myself! Seriously, they’re beautiful. Are you going to go for the headdress and the whole routine? My vote is for the Angela Stone—it’s a bit sexier than the others.
Any thoughts for the bridesmaids? Happy to oblige with just about anything, as long as I don’t end up looking like a cow!
Love ya,
Amy
P.S. hanging out with movie stars now?!!!!
To: Simon Tinsley, Executive Director, Stoney
Grove Trust
From: Philip Porkridge, Chief Accountant, Stoney Grove Trust
Please stop by the office to sign some papers for the bank. They really should have been done last week, but I had no idea you were going away for a few days. I think that as your business manager I am going to have to be kept informed of your travel plans, in order that I may best do my job.
Yours sincerely
Phil
To:
Philip Porkridge, Chief Accountant, Stoney Grove Trust
From: Simon Tinsley, Executive Director, Stoney
Grove Trust
Righty-o. I’ll stop by later.
Liverpool was a blast. Gary’s from there and knows all the places and because he’s famous people were buying us drinks and stuff. Well, most people, one group wanted to smash our faces in, but we left that pub pretty quickly! People can be so sensitive about their accents! Anyway we watched the Liverpool- Man U game which was awesome. Liverpool were up 2-0 at the half after Gerrard scored this amazing goal. I was going to support Man U but I changed my mind. I’d never been to Anfield before, but I think I’ll go to a few more games now. Gary’s a real fan, goes whenever he can, and he’s been to ALL of the Premiership grounds. Can you imagine!
I’d have asked you, of course, but I know you don’t like football much.
Cheers
Simon.
To: Simon Tinsley, Executive
Director, Stoney Grove Trust
From: Philip Porkridge, Chief Accountant, Stoney Grove Trust
I do like football! I just don’t get much of a chance to go now. May I remind you that when we were seven I had the whole Esso football team coin set in their covers! I think you gave up half way through. I wonder if that’s still at my Mum’s house? It's probably worth a bomb now!
Anyway if you and Gary go to another game I would love to join you, if you wouldn’t mind.
Phil
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?