The Wings of the Dove

- Kate. - Merton, no !

- Where did you go all morning? -Went to the park.

All on your own ?

l was supposed to meet a friend. She didn't turn up.

Too much powder. Close your eyes.

Try to look as if you've worn it all your life.

lt's yours.

- Do you remember my niece ? - Kate.

l didn't recognize her. You've quite transformed her.

Yes, l know. She's finally left her wretched father.

l've been trying to arrange it since her mother died. She's my ward now.

- You'll just have to come and see us more often. - She doesn't look very happy.

She will be. This life is still new to her.

- Does she know anyone here ? - Just you for the time being.

Well, l shall have to go and say hello.

- ** - Henry ! Henry !

How are you settling into your new life ?

- l'm very comfortable. - You look preoccupied.

- l'm not used to all this. - Your aunt's something of an expert at these occasions.

How do you mean ?

She has a wonderful eye for who fits best with who.

She suggested l be your guide.

Over there in that corner, we have Lady Baring and her daughter.

- Do you see them ? - Yes.

Now, what Lady Baring has to do is somehow manoeuvre her daughter...

from that side of the gathering to the other...

without falling in the fountain.

- Do you see the man in the red waistcoat ? - Yes.

- He's the target. - Why ?

Because of his father's bank account.

The Barings have to pay for their castle somehow.

As do we all.

- You have a castle too, Lord Mark ? - Well, it's seen better days.

l spend more time in my London home.

But you must let me entertain you in both.

With your aunt, of course.

Of course.

Thwack. Robin Hood couldn't have shot straighter.

That's ridiculous. The upper class isn't going to change of its own accord.

- Why should it ? -

That's exactly what l'm saying. They're only using reform to fool us.

- The supposedly radical-- - Who's behind this class conspiracy ?

l'm not saying it's a conspiracy. They're just protecting themselves--

Kate ! Hello. A little too blind to see.

- l completely disagree. - That's the most cynical point of view l have--

- Excuse me. - Hey. You can't just leave in the middle of an argument.

l just have.

l thought she'd forgotten her old friends.

l didn't expect to see you here again.

- So how was the wedding ? - Awful.

Didn't Aunt Maud find you a suitable husband ?

She tried.

Have you thought any more about my offer ?

l haven't thought about anything else since the day l met you.

The same thought for a whole year ? Must be very tiring.

Why don't l go straight to your Aunt Maud and ask for your hand in marriage?

- All right. - What would she do ?

- Aren't l good enough for you ? - You're not good enough for her.

- ls that really necessary ? - For the time being.

To see what you can get out of her ?

l never went to her. lt was she who settled on me.

Let's--

- Please, let me go. - l thought you liked the rain.

l'm drenched, Merton. Please, let me go.

- Not until you promise. - No.

All right, l give up.

- You know my conditions. - l'm not going to marry you.

Then we are gonna get very wet together.

l promise.

- So where's my ring ? - Merton.

l need proof.

Kate, is that you ?

- Lord Mark has been waiting all afternoon. - l'm sorry.

l got caught in the rain. l didn't know you were coming, Lord Mark.

No, don't worry. lt was an impromptu visit.

l came to invite you both for lunch tomorrow.

- l'm afraid l can't tomorrow. - Why not ?

- l've arranged to meet a friend. - One of your old friends ?

- - Can't you arrange to see her another day ?

lt's too late to cancel.

l'll get my driver to send her a note.

Where does she live ?

l'm sure it'll be all right. l don't need to send a note.

Yes, hello. l was wondering if Mr Merton Densher was in the office.

- Kate ? - Do you know when he'll be back ?

N-N-No. No. That's all right. Thank you. Goodbye.

Kate ?

- -

- - lt's open !

You look surprised to see me.

Yes. Yes, l am.

l'm sorry. l couldn't get away until now.

- l have to finish this. - Don't pretend you can concentrate.

l don't have any choice. l should've done this when l was waiting for you.

- Where were you ? - With Maud.

- And what did she buy you this time ? - Nothing.

You should've come with me then, 'cause l could've bought you nothing too.

lt's much nicer here than l thought it would be.

Nice enough to move in ?

Ooh, l'd have to see the rest of the house first.

What if l didn't let you leave tonight ?

What would happen ?

l'd be penniless, cast out of society,

and l'd be stuck with you.

Good. Well, we'll open a bottle of something,

and in the morning, everyone will know about us.

- l'm not good at being impulsive. - Well, maybe if you just...

fell asleep and l didn't wake you up.

- Maybe-- - l won't fall asleep.

One day, you'll get tired of me.

l think it'll be the other way around.

No, it won't.

Cabbie !

Hyde Park, please.

- - Can we go to Olds Street instead ?

Nice to see ya.

So, is this welcome home then ?

Does your aunt know you're here ?

That's why l've come to talk to you, Father. l want to leave her.

- And go where ? - Somewhere else.

With someone else ?

Your journalist ?

- You'd leave your aunt for him ? - Yes.

With everything she can do for you ?

l love him.

How long do you think you would last without money ?

- l don't know. - Of course you do.

- How about your mother and me ? How long did we last ? - l love him.

You think l didn't love her ? How long--

How long did we last before all the money ran out ?

Took a month for me to begin stealing from her.

lt was living like this that killed her.

Do what Maud says.

- She's forbidden me to see you. - Then she's right.

There's no limit to what your aunt can do for you.

Marry me to someone l don't love ?

Marry you well.

Do you really think you'll see any of that money ?

l already do.

She sends me a few schillings each week.

Her driver brings it 'round.

Then l'm part of your... bargain ?

How else do you think l'd survive ?

Don't look at me like that.

We're the same, you and l.

And l could've told you about the lawyers and others l had to pay...

to keep your father out of jail.

Did you tell me about the secret trysts in Hyde Park ?

Tiny room in Soho ? A dirty pub in Fleet Street ?

- That has nothing to do with you. - Yes, it does.

l won't let you make the same mistake as your mother.

lf you see your friend ever again,

l can't be responsible for you.

Or your father.

Then tell Miss Croy l'm not leaving until she comes down and sees me.

- l've already told her. - Then tell her again and again,

because l'm not leaving until l talk to her !

She doesn't want to see you.

lt took exactly a week.

We left New York on the 14th and arrived in London yesterday.

l'm so glad we're here. Milly looks completely transformed.

We were originally gonna go straight to Venice, but l told Milly,

l can't come to Europe without visiting you.

Well, you'll just have to persuade her to stay a little longer.

She takes all the decisions. l'm just a companion.

You're not very talkative.

You haven't given me a chance.

Black suits you perfectly tonight.

Has anyone ever told you not to stare ?

- Do you know her well ? - l wish l knew her better.

Why's everyone so fascinated by her ?

She'd be the Queen of America if they had one.

World's richest orphan. She's worth millions.

Then why aren't you sitting next to her ?

Well, your Aunt Maud wouldn't let me.

l finally caught you on your own.

Lord Mark's been monopolizing you all evening.

Yes, but he's been staring at you the whole time.

So have l.

l think your aunt's a little drunk.

Oh, she's never drunk. That would interfere.

- With what ? - All the plots she is hatching.

- You make her sound like a witch. - Oh, no.

- She can't fly... yet. -

Milly !

- Psst. - Kate !

l saw you from the bus. l thought you were running away from me.

No, not at all. l didn't see you.

- What are you reading ? - Tennyson.

Ah. Who were you visiting ?