HERE AT THE AGE OF THIRTY-NINE
I BEGAN TO BE OLD.
AS I LAY IN THAT DARK HOUR
I WAS AGHAST TO REALISE
THAT SOMETHING WITHIN ME LONG SICKENING
HAD QUIETLY DIED.
I FELT AS A HUSBAND MIGHT FEEL WHO
IN THE FOURTH YEAR OF HIS MARRIAGE
SUDDENLY KNEW HE HAD NO LONGER ANY DESIRE
OR TENDERNESS OR ESTEEM FOR A ONCE BELOVED WIFE.
WE HAD BEEN THROUGH IT TOGETHER, THE ARMY AND I
FROM THE FIRST IMPORTUNATE COURTSHIP UNTIL NOW
WHEN NOTHING REMAINED TO US EXCEPT THE CHILL BONDS OF LAW
AND DUTY AND CUSTOM.
WE WERE LEAVING THAT DAY AND I REFLECTED THAT
WHATEVER SCENES OF DESOLATION LAY AHEAD OF US
I NEVER FEARED ONE MORE BRUTAL THAN THIS.
SO ON THIS MORNING OF OUR MOVE
I WAS ENTIRELY INDIFFERENT TO OUR DESTINATION.
I WOULD GO ON WITH MY DRUM
BUT I COULD BRING IT TO NOTHING MORE THAN ACQUIESCENCE.
WHEN WE HAD MARCHED INTO THIS CAMP IN THE WINTER OF 1943
I HAD BROUGHT WITH ME A COMPANY OF STRONG AND PITIFUL MEN.
WORD HAD GONE ROUND AMONG THEM THAT WE WERE AT LAST
IN TRANSIT FOR THE MIDDLE EAST.
BUT, AS THE WEEKS PASSED
AND THE SNOW BEGAN TO CLEAR
I SAW THEIR DISAPPOINTMENT CHANGE TO RESIGNATION
AND I, WHO BY EVERY PRECEPT SHOULD HAVE PUT HEART INTO THEM
HOW COULD I HELP THEM
WHO COULD SO LITTLE HELP MYSELF?
MORNING, SIR. MORNING SERGEANT MAJOR.
HOW'S THE MOVE GOING? LAST STORES READY FOR LOADING 15:00, SIR.
GOOD. HAS MR HOOPER APPEARED YET?
HAVEN'T SEEN HIM AT ALL THIS MORNING, SIR.
HAS THAT BEEN ENTERED IN THE BOOK?
WIND IN THE NIGHT, SIR?
THAT WILL DO.
MORNING, HOOPER. MORNING, SIR.
I SHOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO MR HOOPER, SERGEANT MAJOR.
VERY GOOD, SIR.
WHERE THE DEVIL HAVE YOU BEEN? I TOLD YOU TO INSPECT THE LINES.
AM I LATE? SORRY. HAD A RUSH GETTING MY GEAR TOGETHER.
THAT'S WHAT YOU A SERVANT FOR.
WELL I SUPPOSE YOU'RE RIGHT, STRICTLY SPEAKING.
BUT YOU KNOW HOW IT IS, HE HAD HIS OWN STUFF TO DO.
THE TROUBLE WITH DESMOND IS THAT IF I GET ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HIM
HE TAKES IT OUT OF ME IN OTHER WAYS.
I'M NOT SURPRISED, IF YOU'RE SO FAMILIAR WITH HIM.
CAP BADGE, HOOPER! YES.
C.O.'S ORDERS, ALL DISTINGUISHING MARKS TO BE REMOVED.
AND WHAT ARE YOU WEARING ALL THAT GEAR FOR ANYWAY?
YOU'RE NOT IN THE ADVANCE PARTY. I AM.
AREN'T I? OF COURSE YOU'RE NOT.
THE ORDERS WERE CHANGED.
DON'T YOU EVER READ THE COMPANY NOTICE BOARD?
YOU DON'T MEAN THEY CHANGED IT ALL AGAIN?
THERE YOU GO. TYPICAL SHAMBLES.
TOTAL INEFFICIENCY.
THEY COULDN'T GET AWAY WITH IT IN BUSINESS, I CAN TELL YOU.
HOOPER, DO YOU MIND INSPECTING D SQUAD NOW?
RIGHTY OH.
AND FOR CHRIST'S SAKE DON'T SAY "RIGHTY OH".
SORRY. I DO TRY TO REMEMBER. IT JUST SLIPS OUT.
C.O. JUST COMING UP, SIR.
THANK YOU SERGEANT MAJOR.
GOOD MORNING, SIR.
WELL, RYDER, EVERYTHING SQUARED UP HERE?
YES, I THINK SO, SIR. THINK SO? YOU OUGHT TO KNOW.
HAS THAT BEEN ENTERED IN BARRACK DAMAGES?
NOT YET, SIR. NOT YET, EH?
I WONDER WHEN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF I HADN'T SEEN IT.
AHA!
JUST LOOK AT THAT!
FINE IMPRESSION THAT GIVES TO THE REGIMENT TAKING OVER FROM US.
DON'T YOU KNOW WHAT SETS THE STANDARD OF A REGIMENT?
THE WAY IT LEAVES CAMP, RYDER.
YES, THAT'S BAD, SIR. IT'S A DISGRACE.
SEE THAT EVERYTHING HERE IS BURNED BEFORE WE LEAVE.
VERY GOOD SIR. SERGEANT MAJOR, WILL YOU SEND OVER
TO THE CARRIER-PLATOON AND TELL CAPTAIN BROWN THAT THE C. O
WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE THIS DITCH CLEARED UP?
RIGHT, SIR.
REMIND ME, RYDER, WHAT WERE YOU IN CIVILIAN LIFE?
I WAS A PAINTER, SIR.
YOU SHOULDN'T DO IT, SIR. YOU SHOULDN'T REALLY.
THAT'S NOT OUR RUBBISH. MAYBE IT'S NOT, SIR
BUT YOU KNOW HOW IT IS.
IF YOU GET ON THE WRONG SIDE OF SENIOR OFFICERS
THEY'LL TAKE IT OUT OF YOU OTHER WAYS.
THIS IS TOP SECURITY
WE MUST BE READY TO ANY ORDER.
THE IMPORTANT THING IS WHERE WE GO NOW.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. THAT'S THE THIRD TIME WE'VE COPPED IT THIS WEEK.
THEY'RE PICKING ON YOU OLD BOY.
HOW IS THE FAMILY, BY THE WAY? THE CHILDREN SOUND A BIT DIFFICULT.
JENNIFER SAYS THEY ALWAYS TURN INTO MONSTERS THE MINUTE MY LEAVE'S OVER.
THAT YOUNG OFFICER OVER THERE. ISN'T HE ONE OF YOURS?
YES SIR.
WHAT'S HIS NAME AGAIN? LIEUTENANT HOOPER, SIR.
HIS HAIR NEEDS CUTTING. HE'S IN NO SHAPE TO GO TO A NEW HQ.
I'LL TELL HIM, SIR.
THAT'S THE SORT OF THING, RYDER, THAT LETS DOWN THE REGIMENT.
IT DOES, SIR. I'LL SEE THAT IT'S DONE.
MY GOD! THE OFFICERS THEY SEND US NOW!
IN MY LATE REGIMENT IF A YOUNG OFFICER WAS INTENDING
TO GO TO A NEW HQ LIKE THAT, THE OTHER SUBALTERNS
WOULD BLOODY WELL HAVE CUT HIS HAIR FOR HIM.
WOULD THEY, SIR? I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING, RYDER.
I DO NOT INTEND TO HAVE MY PROFESSIONAL REPUTATION COMPROMISED
BY THE SLACK APPEARANCE OF A FEW TEMPORARY OFFICERS.
CORPORAL DEAKIN.
GET A PAIR OF SCISSORS!
LIEUTENANT JAMES! SIR?
CUT THAT MAN'S HAIR FOR HIM.
SIR?
I SAID CUT THAT MAN'S HAIR FOR HIM!
I'M SORRY, SIR. I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND.
IS THAT AN ORDER, SIR?
IT IS YOUR COMMANDER OFFICER'S WISH
AND THAT'S THE BEST KIND OF ORDER I KNOW.
GO ON. GETTING TIDIED UP!
WE'RE GOING TO TIDY YOU UP A BIT. SIT DOWN, MR HOOPER.
YOUR SCISSORS, SIR. GIVE THEM TO LIEUTENANT JAMES.
CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND AN ORDER? GET ON WITH IT!
GO ON. START CUTTING IT.
CARRY ON. KEEP AT IT. CUT IT!
COMPANY! COMPANY SLOPE ARMS!
COMPANY WILL MOVE TO THE LEFT IN THREES.
LEFT TURN!
COMPANY, BY THE LEFT, QUICK MARCH!
RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT!
I'M SORRY ABOUT YOUR HAIR, HOOPER. OH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
IT'S NOT THE SORT OF THING THAT USED TO HAPPEN IN THIS REGIMENT.
OH, NO HARD FEELINGS. I CAN TAKE A BIT OF SPORT.
I SAY, ANY IDEA WHERE WE'RE OFF TO?
NONE.
DO YOU THINK IT'S THE REAL THING? NO.
JUST ANOTHER FLAP? YES.
EVERYONE'S BEEN SAYING WE'RE FOR IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK REALLY
IT HAPPENS SO OFTEN.
I WOULDN'T ARGUE WITH THAT. THREE TIMES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
SEEMS SO SILLY SOMEHOW, ALL THIS DRILL AND TRAINING
IF WE NEVER GO INTO ACTION. I SHOULDN'T WORRY, HOOPER.
THERE'LL BE PLENTY FOR EVERYONE IN TIME.
OH, I DON'T WANT MUCH, YOU KNOW, JUST ENOUGH TO SAY I'VE BEEN IN IT.
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?
WE ARE BEING SPRAYED BY LIQUID MUSTARD GAS.
HOOPER, CAN YOU SEE IF THE WINDOWS ARE SHUT?
CHECK THERE ARE NO CASUALTIES.
AND WRITE A SHORT SITUATION REPORT.
C COMPANY IS TO DRIVE ON A BIT, SIR.
TAKE THE RIGHT FORK. YOU'LL SEE THE DUMP POST OFF THE ROAD.
THANK YOU, SERGEANT. MORNING RYDER, CAN I HAVE A LIFT?
IT'S NOT A BAD CAMP APPARENTLY. BIG PRIVATE HOUSE
WITH TWO OR THREE LAKES.
LOOKS AS IF WE MIGHT GET SOME DUCK IF WE'RE LUCKY.
EXCELLENT.
IN THE BACK. HOOPER! MORNING, HOOPER.
RIGHT, YOU LOT, GET IT MOVING!
MORNING, SERGEANT.
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE WE ARE?
NOT OFFICIALLY, SIR, BUT I DID HEAR SOMEONE
MENTIONS THE NAME OF THE HOUSE. IT'S A PLACE CALLED BRIDESHEAD.
YOU CAN SEE IT FROM OVER THERE. HUGE GREAT BARRACK OF A PLACE.
THANK YOU, SERGEANT. CARRY ON.
THANK YOU SIR. RIGHT YOU LOT, AT THE DOUBLE!
COME ON!
IT WAS AS THOUGH SOMEONE HAD SWITCHED OFF THE WIRELESS
AND A VOICE THAT HAD BEEN BAWLING IN MY EARS INCESSANTLY
FATUOUSLY, FOR DAYS BEYOND NUMBER, HAD BEEN SUDDENLY CUT SHORT.
AN IMMENSE SILENCE FOLLOWED. EMPTY AT FIRST
BUT GRADUALLY, FILLED WITH A MULTITUDE
OF SWEET, NATURAL, AND LONG FORGOTTEN SOUNDS.
FOR HE HAD SPOKEN A NAME
THAT WAS SO FAMILIAR TO ME.
A CONJUROR'S NAME OF SUCH ANCIENT POWER, THAT AT IT'S MERE SOUND
THE PHANTOMS OF THOSE HAUNTED LATE YEARS
BEGAN TO TAKE FLIGHT.
WHERE ARE YOU OFF TO, HOOPER? B COMPANY RELIEVED US.
I'VE JUST SENT THE CHAPS OFF TO GET CLEANED UP.
GOOD. BRIGADE HQ
ARE COMING HERE NEXT WEEK.
I'VE JUST HAD A SNOOP AROUND THE HOUSE. VERY ORNATE I'D CALL IT.
AND A QUEER THING, THERE'S A SORT OF RC CHURCH ATTACHED TO IT.
I LOOKED IN AND THERE WAS A KIND OF SERVICE GOING ON
JUST A PADRE AND ONE OLD MAN.
I FELT VERY AWKWARD, MORE IN YOUR LINE THAN MINE.
THERE'S A FRIGHTFUL, GREAT FOUNTAIN THING TOO, OUT THE BACK.
ALL ROCKS AND CARVED OLD MEN WITH TRUMPETS.
YOU NEVER SAW SUCH A THING.
YES, HOOPER, I DID.
I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE.
OH WELL, YOU'LL KNOW ALL ABOUT IT THEN.
I'LL JUST GO AND GET MYSELF CLEANED UP. SEE YOU, RYDER.
I HAD BEEN THERE BEFORE. I KNEW ALL ABOUT IT.
FIRST, WITH SEBASTIAN MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO
ON A CLOUDLESS DAY IN JUNE. THAT DAY, TOO
I HAD COME NOT KNOWING MY DESTINATION.
OXFORD, IN THOSE DAYS, WAS STILL A CITY OF AQUATINT.
WHEN THE CHESTNUT WAS IN FLOWER AND THE BELLS RANG OUT
HIGH AND CLEAR OVER HER GABLES AND CUPOLAS
SHE EXHALED THE SOFT AIRS OF CENTURIES OF YOUTH.
IT WAS THIS CLOISTRAL HUSH THAT GAVE OUR LAUGHTER ITS RESONANCE
AND CARRIED IT STILL
JOYOUSLY OVER THE INTERVENING CLAMOR.
IT WAS EIGHTS WEEK.
HERE DISCORDANTLY CAME A RABBLE OF WOMANKIND.
ECHOES OF THE INTRUDERS PENETRATED EVERY CORNER
AND MY OWN COLLEGE WAS NO EXCEPTION.
WE WERE GIVING A BALL.
MORNING, LUNT. MORNING, MR RYDER.
THANK YOU.
GENTLEMEN WHO HAVEN'T GOT LADIES
ARE ASKED TO EAT OUT AS FAR AS POSSIBLE
IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
WILL YOU BE LUNCHING IN? NO, LUNT.
TO GIVE THE SERVANTS A CHANCE, THEY SAY.
HUH! WHAT A CHANCE!
I'VE GOT TO BUY A PINCUSHION FOR THE LADIES' CLOAKROOM.
WHAT DO THEY WANT WITH DANCING? I DON'T SEE THE REASON IN IT.
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN DANCING BEFORE IN EIGHTS WEEK.
AS IF THE TEAS AND THE RIVER WEREN'T ENOUGH!
IF YOU ASK ME, SIR, IT'S ALL ON ACCOUNT OF THE WAR.
IT COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED BUT FOR THAT.
NOW, WINE IN THE EVENING OR ONE OR TWO GENTLEMEN
FOR LUNCHEON, I CAN SEE THE REASONING. BUT NOT DANCING.
IT CAME IN WITH THEM BACK FROM THE WAR.
THEY WERE TOO OLD
AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW AND THEY WOULDN'T LEARN. TAKE MY WORD.
AND THERE'S SOME THAT GOES DANCING WITH THE TOWN AT THE MASONIC
BUT THE PROCTOR WILL HAVE THEM, YOU SEE
AH, HERE'S LORD SEBASTIAN.
WELL, I MUSTN'T STAND HERE TALKING, NOT WITH PINCUSHIONS TO GET.
MORNING, LUNT! CHARLES, WHAT IN THE WORLD'S
HAPPENING AT YOUR COLLEGE? IS THERE A CIRCUS?
I'VE SEEN EVERYTHING EXCEPT ELEPHANTS.
I MUST SAY THE WHOLE OF OXFORD IS BECOMING VERY PECULIAR SUDDENLY.
LAST NIGHT IT WAS PULLULATING WITH WOMEN.
YOU'RE TO COME AWAY WITH ME. AT ONCE, OUT OF DANGER.
I'VE A MOTOR CAR OUTSIDE, A BASKET OF STRAWBERRIES AND
A BOTTLE OF CHATEAU PAYRAGUEY
WHICH IS NOT A WINE YOU'VE EVER TASTED, SO DON'T PRETEND.
IT'S HEAVEN WITH STRAWBERRIES.
I SHALL GO AND GET MY THINGS.
AND BRING SOME MONEY IN CASE WE SEE ANYTHING WE WANT TO BUY.
YES.
DOES ANYONE FEEL THE SAME EMOTION FOR A BUTTERFLY OR A FLOWER
AS HE FEELS FOR A CATHEDRAL OR A PICTURE?
YES, I DO.
READY? YES.
IT'S OVER THERE.
ISN'T IT EARLY? YES!
THE WOMEN ARE STILL DOING WHATEVER THE WOMEN DO BEFORE THEY COME DOWNSTAIRS.
SLOTH HAS UNDONE THEM.
WE'RE AWAY. WHERE ARE WE GOING?
TO SEE A FRIEND.
TAKE CARE OF ALOYSIUS. MAKE SURE HE ISN'T SICK.
WHERE DID YOU GET THE CAR?
PROPERTY OF A VERY GLOOMY MAN CALLED HARDCASTLE.
DO PLEASE RETURN THE BITS TO HIM IF I KILL MYSELF.
I'M NOT VERY GOOD AT DRIVING.
GOD BLESS HARDCASTLE! WHOEVER HE MAY BE!
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE COMING WITH US.
WELL I DID TELL HIM TEN O'CLOCK AND WHEN HE WAS STILL IN BED AT 8 I THOUGHT
WELL HE'S NOT VERY EAGER.
MUCH KINDER TO GO WITHOUT HIM.
IT'S A PITY NEITHER OF US CAN SING.
IT WAS ABOUT 11 WHEN SEBASTIAN, WITHOUT WARNING, TURNED THE CAR
INTO A CART TRACK AND STOPPED.
WE ATE THE STRAWBERRIES AND DRANK THE WINE.
AS SEBASTIAN PROMISED, THEY WERE DELICIOUS TOGETHER.
THE FUMES OF THE SWEET GOLDEN WINE
SEEMED TO LIFT US A FINGER'S BREADTH
ABOVE THE TURF AND HOLD US SUSPENDED.
JUST THE PLACE TO BURY A CROCK OF GOLD.
I SHOULD LIKE TO BURY SOMETHING PRECIOUS
IN EVERY PLACE THAT I'VE BEEN HAPPY.
SO THAT WHEN I'M OLD AND UGLY AND MISERABLE
I COULD COME BACK AND DIG IT UP AND REMEMBER.
THIS WAS MY THIRD TERM AT UNIVERSITY
BUT I DATE MY OXFORD LIFE
FROM MY FIRST MEETING WITH SEBASTIAN
WHICH HAPPENED BY CHANCE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TERM BEFORE.
WE WERE IN DIFFERENT COLLEGES AND CAME FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.
SO I MIGHT WELL HAVE SPENT MY THREE OR FOUR YEARS
IN THE UNIVERSITY AND NEVER HAVE MET HIM
BUT FOR THE CHANCE OF HIS GETTING DRUNK
ONE EVENING IN MY COLLEGE AND OF MY HAVING GROUND
FLOOR ROOMS IN THE FRONT QUADRANGLE.
I HAD BEEN WARNED OF THE DANGERS OF THESE ROOMS
BY MY COUSIN JASPER, WHO ALONE, WHEN I FIRST CAME UP
THOUGHT ME A SUBJECT FOR DETAILED GUIDANCE.
SO WHAT ARE YOU READING? HISTORY.
OH, IT'S A PERFECTLY RESPECTABLE SCHOOL.
THE VERY WORST IS ENGLISH LITERATURE.
THE NEXT WORST IS MODERN GREATS.
YOU WANT EITHER A FIRST OR A FOURTH. THERE IS NO VALUE IN ANYTHING BETWEEN.
TIME SPENT ON A GOOD SECOND IS TIME THROWN AWAY.
YOU SHOULD GO TO THE BEST LECTURES
ARKWRIGHT ON DEMESTHENES FOR INSTANCE
IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER THEY ARE IN YOUR SCHOOL OR NOT.
CLOTHES. DRESS AS YOU DO IN A COUNTRY HOUSE.
NEVER WEAR A TWEED JACKET AND FLANNEL TROUSERS
ALWAYS WEAR A SUIT.
AND GO TO A LONDON TAILOR, YOU GET BETTER CUT AND LONGER CREDIT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR.
DON'T TREAT DONS LIKE SCHOOLMASTERS.
TREAT THEM AS YOU WOULD THE VICAR AT HOME.
CLUBS. JOIN THE CARLTON NOW
AND THE GRID AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR SECOND YEAR.
IF YOU WANT TO RUN FOR THE UNION
AND IT'S NOT A BAD IDEA
MAKE YOUR REPUTATION OUTSIDE FIRST
AT THE CHATHAM OR THE CANNING.
OH, AND KEEP CLEAR OF BOAR'S HILL.
MORNING, CHARLES. GOOD MORNING.
AND FRIENDS
CHARLES, DO WATCH THE PEOPLE YOU MAKE FRIENDS WITH.
YOU'LL FIND YOU SPEND YOUR SECOND YEAR GETTING RID OF THE UNDESIRABLE ONES
YOU MADE IN YOUR FIRST.
AND BEWARE OF ANGLO-CATHOLICS. THEY ARE ALL SODOMITES
WITH UNPLEASANT ACCENTS.
IN FACT, STEER CLEAR OF ALL RELIGIOUS GROUPS.
THEY DO NOTHING BUT HARM.
I SAY, WAS THIS HERE WHEN YOU ARRIVED?
NO, IT'S MINE.
I PUT IT UP. IT'S VAN GOGH.
REALLY
THIS IS VERY PRETTY.
WELL, I MUST BE OFF. I'VE GOT A JCR MEETING
AT HALF PAST. OH, BY THE WAY, ONE LAST POINT
CHANGE YOUR ROOMS. BUT I WAS LUCKY TO GET THEM.
GROUND FLOOR ROOMS ON THE FRONT QUAD.
TERRIBLY DANGEROUS. I'VE SEEN MEN RUINED.
PEOPLE START DROPPING IN.
THEY LEAVE THEIR GOWNS HERE AND PICK THEM UP ON THEIR WAY TO HALL.
THEN YOU'LL START GIVING THEM SHERRY. BEFORE YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE
YOU'LL HAVE OPENED A FREE BAR TO ALL THE UNDESIRABLES IN THE COLLEGE.
I DO NOT KNOW THAT I EVER CONSCIOUSLY
FOLLOWED ANY OF THIS ADVICE.
I CERTAINLY NEVER CHANGED MY ROOMS.
THERE WERE GILLY FLOWERS GROWING BELOW THE WINDOWS
WHICH ON SUMMER EVENINGS FILLED THEM WITH FRAGRANCE.
BUT THAT'S THE COMPLETE FALLACY OF MODERN AESTHETICS, CHARLES.
CAN'T YOU SEE?
YOU MEAN, THE WHOLE ARGUMENT OF SIGNIFICANT FORM
STANDS OR FALLS BY VOLUME?
PRECISELY.
IF YOU ALLOW CEZANNE TO REPRESENT A THIRD DIMENSION
IN HIS TWO-DIMENSIONAL CANVAS
THEN YOU MUST ALLOW LANDSEER HIS GLEAM OF LOYALTY
IN THE SPANIEL'S EYE.
MY EARLIEST FRIENDS WERE COLLINS, A WYKEHAMIST, AND AN EMBRYO DON
A MAN OF SOLID READING AND CHILDLIKE HUMOR
AND A SMALL CIRCLE OF COLLEGE INTELLECTUALS
WHO MAINTAINED A MIDDLE COURSE OF CULTURE
BETWEEN THE FLAMBOYANT AESTHETES AND THE PROLETARIAN SCHOLARS.
IT WAS BY THIS CIRCLE THAT I FOUND MYSELF ADOPTED DURING MY FIRST TERM.
THEY PROVIDED THE KIND OF COMPANY
I HAD ENJOYED IN THE SIXTH FORM AT SCHOOL
AND FOR WHICH THE SIXTH FORM HAD PREPARED ME.
BUT EVEN IN THE EARLIEST DAYS
WHEN THE WHOLE BUSINESS OF LIVING AT OXFORD
WITH ROOMS OF MY OWN AND MY OWN CHEQUE BOOK WAS A SOURCE OF EXCITEMENT
I FELT AT HEART
THAT THIS WAS NOT ALL WHICH OXFORD HAD TO OFFER.
I KNEW SEBASTIAN BY SIGHT LONG BEFORE I MET HIM.
THAT WAS UNAVOIDABLE. FOR FROM HIS FIRST WEEK
HE WAS THE MOST CONSPICUOUS MAN OF HIS YEAR BY REASON OF HIS BEAUTY
WHICH WAS ARRESTING
AND HIS ECCENTRICITIES OF BEHAVIOR
WHICH SEEMED TO KNOW NO BOUNDS.
MY FIRST SIGHT OF HIM WAS IN THE DOOR OF GERMER'S AND
ON THAT OCCASION, I WAS STRUCK LESS BY HIS LOOKS
THAN BY THE FACT THAT HE WAS CARRYING A LARGE TEDDY-BEAR.
SHEER EXHIBITIONISM.
THAT WAS LORD SEBASTIAN FLYTE. A MOST AMUSING YOUNG GENTLEMAN.
APPARENTLY.
THIS WAY, SIR.
HE'S THE MARQUIS OF MARCHMAIN'S SECOND BOY.
HIS BROTHER, THE EARL OF BRIDESHEAD, WENT DOWN LAST TERM.
HE WAS VERY DIFFERENT, QUITE LIKE AN OLD MAN.
WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE LORD SEBASTIAN WANTED?
A HAIR BRUSH FOR HIS TEDDY-BEAR. IT HAD TO HAVE
VERY STIFF BRISTLES. NOT LORD SEBASTIAN SAID
TO BRUSH HIM WITH, BUT TO THREATEN HIM WITH A SPANKING
WHEN HE WAS SULKY.
HE BOUGHT A VERY NICE ONE WITH AN IVORY BACK
AND HE'S GOING TO HAVE ALOYSIUS ENGRAVED ON IT.
THAT'S THE TEDDY-BEAR'S NAME.
THE BARBER, WHO IN HIS TIME HAD HAD AMPLE CHANCE
TO TIRE OF UNDERGRADUATE FANTASY
WAS PLAINLY CAPTIVATED BY HIM.
I, HOWEVER, REMAINED CENSORIOUS.
AND SUBSEQUENT GLIMPSES OF HIM DID NOT SOFTEN ME
ALTHOUGH COLLINS, WHO WAS READING FREUD
HAD A NUMBER OF TECHNICAL TERMS TO COVER EVERYTHING.
NOR WHEN AT LAST WE MET
WERE THE CIRCUMSTANCES PROPITIOUS.
ONCE WE REDUCE CHANCE TO A MATHEMATICAL FORMULA
WE MAY SUBJECT IT TO THE RULES OF PROBABILITY.
AND, INDEED, WE ROB CHANCE ITSELF, THEREFORE
OF THE ELEMENT OF CHANCE WHICH, IF YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN
MUST SEEM A SOLUTION OF QUITE IMPREGNABLE LOGIC.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THERE WAS A QUESTION?
I WANTED SIMPLY TO ASK IF THE LAWS OF MATHEMATICS
CAN BE UNDERSTOOD BY REASON.
I THINK I CAN ANTICIPATE YOUR QUESTION.
IF THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS, THE CHANCES OF EXIST
IN A RATIONAL UNIVERSE, THEN THE WORKINGS OF CHANCE
MUST BE EXPLAINED BY RATIONAL PROCESSES.
IF WE BELIEVE THAT GOD CREATED THIS RATIONAL WORLD
THEN IT IS PERFECTLY POSSIBLE TO BELIEVE
WHO ARE THOSE AWFUL PEOPLE?
WHAT ARE THEY DOING IN THERE?
LOOKS LIKE A BLOODY PRAYER MEETING TO ME.
LOOK, IF GOD IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR FORMULATING
NEWTON'S LAW OF GRAVITY, MAY HE NOT
SO RUNS MY ARGUMENT, FULFILL HIS PURPOSE BY USING
THE INFINITE INSTANCES WHICH WE CALL CHANCE.
SHOULDN'T WE SAY THEN THAT CHANCE IS THE VERY BASIC PRINCIPLE
OF OUR LIFE IN THIS RATIONAL UNIVERSE?
ALRIGHT, OLD MAN.
I TRUST THAT YOU WILL FORGIVE MY FRIEND.
THE WINES WERE TOO VARIOUS. IT WAS NEITHER THE QUALITY
NOR THE QUANTITY THAT WAS AT FAULT. IT WAS THE MIXTURE.
GRASP THAT AND YOU HAVE THE VERY ROOT OF THE MATTER.
TO UNDERSTAND ALL IS TO FORGIVE ALL.
YES.
A COUPLE OF JUGS OF MULLED CLARET AND THIS HAS TO HAPPEN.
YOU COULDN'T EVEN GET TO THE WINDOW, COULD YOU?
THEM THAT CAN'T KEEP IT DOWN ARE BETTER WITHOUT IT.
IT WASN'T ONE OF MY PARTY. IT WAS SOMEONE FROM OUT OF COLLEGE.
YES, WELL, IT'S JUST AS NASTY TO CLEAR UP, WHOEVER IT WAS.
THERE'S FIVE SHILLINGS ON THE SIDEBOARD.
SO I SAW AND THANK YOU.
BUT I'D RATHER NOT HAVE THE MONEY
AND NOT HAVE THE MESS IN THE MORNING.
WITH THE RESTORATION OF THE MONARCH
THE AGE OF PURITANISM WAS FINALLY VANQUISHED
I TOOK MY GOWN AND LEFT HIM TO HIS TASK.
IN THOSE DAYS, I STILL FREQUENTED THE LECTURE ROOM.
AND FEMALE PLAYERS, HITHERTO UNKNOWN
APPEARED UPON THE ENGLISH STAGE FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN THE HISTORY OF ENGLISH DRAMA.
THERE WAS AN AIR OF RELAXATION IN THE LAND AGAIN.
INDEED, THIS NOVEL FEELING OF UNACCUSTOMED FREEDOM
MANIFESTED ITSELF IN A REMARKABLE OUTBURST
OF ARTISTIC CREATIVITY.
HAVE YOU SEEN YOUR ROOM?
LUNT. WHAT IS ALL THIS? THE GENTLEMAN FROM LAST NIGHT, SIR.
HE LEFT THAT NOTE FOR YOU.
"I AM VERY CONTRITE. ALOYSIUS WON'T SPEAK TO ME
UNTIL HE SEES I AM FORGIVEN, SO PLEASE
COME TO LUNCHEON TODAY. SEBASTIAN FLYTE. "
A MOST AMUSING YOUNG GENTLEMAN, SIR.
I AM SURE IT'S A PLEASURE TO CLEAN UP AFTER HIM.
I TAKE IT YOU'RE LUNCHING OUT, SIR? I TOLD MR COLLINS AND
MR PARTRIDGE SO, THEY WANTED TO TAKE THEIR COMMONS IN HERE WITH YOU.
YES, LUNT. LUNCHING OUT.
OH, DO TAKE SOME FLOWERS FOR YOURSELF AND MRS. LUNT, IF YOU'D CARE TO.
OH, THANK YOU SIR. THERE IS NO MRS. LUNT.
I WENT THERE UNCERTAINLY, FOR IT WAS FOREIGN GROUND
AND THERE WAS A TINY PRIGGISH WARNING VOICE IN MY EAR WHICH
IN THE TONES OF COLLINS
TOLD ME IT WAS SEEMLY TO HOLD BACK.
BUT I WAS IN SEARCH OF LOVE IN THOSE DAYS
AND I WENT FULL OF CURIOSITY
AND THE FAINT UNRECOGNIZED APPREHENSION THAT HERE, AT LAST
I SHOULD FIND THAT LOW DOOR IN THE WALL OTHERS I KNEW
HAD FOUND BEFORE ME, WHICH OPENED ON AN ENCLOSED
AND ENCHANTED GARDEN, WHICH WAS SOMEWHERE
NOT OVERLOOKED BY ANY WINDOW
IN THE HEART OF THAT GREY CITY.
I'VE JUST COUNTED THEM. THERE ARE FIVE EACH AND TWO OVER
SO I'M HAVING THE TWO.
I'M UNACCOUNTABLY HUNGRY TODAY.
I PLACED MYSELF UNRESERVEDLY IN THE HANDS
OF THAT OBLIGING LITTLE CHEMIST IN THE HIGH
AND NOW I FEEL SO DRUGGED THAT I'VE ALMOST BEGUN TO BELIEVE THAT
THE WHOLE OF YESTERDAY EVENING WAS A DREAM.
PLEASE DON'T WAKE ME UP. HELLO.
LET'S HAVE SOME CHAMPAGNE.
THANK YOU FOR THE FLOWERS.
MY ROOM LOOKS LIKE A HOT HOUSE.
MY BEASTLY SCOUT HAS PUT ALOYSIUS TO BED
WHICH IS PROBABLY JUST AS WELL SINCE THERE WON'T BE
ANY PLOVERS' EGGS FOR HIM.
DO YOU KNOW, HOBSON HATES ALOYSIUS?
I WISH I HAD A SCOUT LIKE YOURS. HE WAS PERFECTLY SWEET TO ME THIS MORNING
WHEN SOME PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE BEEN QUITE STRICT.
ONLY ONE PIECE LAST NIGHT. THERE WAS THE MOST FRIGHTFUL
RUMPUS OUTSIDE MY STAIRCASE. I ASSUMED IT MUST BE YOU.
NONSENSE. WE WERE QUIET AS MICE.
DAMN CLOSE THING THOUGH.
AS EACH GUEST CAME INTO THE ROOM
HE MADE FIRST FOR THE PLOVERS' EGGS
THEN NOTICED SEBASTIAN AND THEN MYSELF
WITH A POLITE LACK OF CURIOSITY WHICH SEEMED TO SAY
"WE SHOULD NOT DREAM OF BEING SO OFFENSIVE AS TO SUGGEST
THAT YOU NEVER MET US BEFORE!"
I SAY, PLOVERS' EGGS.
THE FIRST I'VE SEEN THIS YEAR. WHERE DID YOU GET THEM?
MUMMY SENDS THEM FROM BRIDESHEAD.
THEY ALWAYS LAY EARLY FOR HER.
WE WERE EATING THE LOBSTER THERMIDOR
WHEN THE LAST GUEST ARRIVED.
MY DEAR, I COULDN'T GET AWAY BEFORE.
I WAS LUNCHING WITH MY PREPOSTEROUS TUTOR.
HE THOUGHT IT VERY ODD MY LEAVING WHEN I DID.
I TOLD HIM I HAD TO CHANGE FOR FOOTER.
COME AND SIT DOWN.
I'M AFRAID I'VE ALREADY EATEN YOUR EGGS.
OH, I FORGOT, YOU DON'T KNOW CHARLES RYDER.
HELLO.
NO.
ANTHONY BLANCHE.
BUT I HAVE THE MOST DELICIOUS FEELING I'M GOING TO.
OH, MY GOD, BLANCHE! IT'S ALL OVER THE HOUSE, YOU KNOW.
WHAT IS? MY DEAR BOY, THE NEWS THAT YOU
HAVE FINALLY LOST YOUR VIRGINITY, OR PERHAPS I SHOULD SAY, MISLAID IT.
YOU PUT MY OWN GRANDES PASSIONS QUITE IN THE SHADE.
WHAT ARE YOU RATTLING ON ABOUT, YOU APPALLING DAGO?
IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE HORRID ABOUT MY COSMOPOLITAN UPBRINGING
I SHALL TELL HOW YOU BORROWED THREE HUNDRED FRANCS
TO SPEND A TORRID NIGHT WITH THAT ELDERLY DRAB IN LE TOUQUET.
IT WAS A NIGGARDLY SUM TO PAY FOR HER TROUBLE.
AND WHAT A TROUBLE.
CHARLES, DON'T LOOK SO SERIOUS.
YOU DON'T MEAN TO SAY THAT YOU LET BOY
HAVE A GO AT YOUR DUCHESS?
MY AFFAIR WITH THE DUCHESS OF VINCENNES
WAS ON AN ALTOGETHER HIGHER PLANE THAN ANY OF YOU
HOBBLEDEHOYS CAN CONCEIVE.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT WAS THAT CEMENTED OUR LOVE?
WE USED THE SAME COLORED VARNISH
FOR OUR TOENAILS.
THE TIME IS NOW PROPITIOUS, AS HE GUESSES.
THE MEAL IS ENDED, SHE IS BORED AND TIRED
ENDEAVORS TO ENGAGE HER IN CARESSES
WHICH STILL ARE UNREPROVED, IF UNDESIRED.
FLUSHED AND DECIDED, HE ASSAULTS AT ONCE.
EXPLORING HANDS ENCOUNTER NO DEFENSE
HIS VANITY REQUIRES NO RESPONSE,
AND MAKES A WELCOME OF INDIFFERENCE.
AND I TIRESIAS HAVE FORESUFFERED ALL
ENACTED ON THIS SAME DIVAN OR BED.
I WHO HAVE SAT BY THEBES BELOW THE WALL
AND WALKED AMONG THE LOWEST OF THE DEAD.
BESTOWS ONE FINAL PATRONIZING KISS, AND GROPES HIS WAY
FINDING THE STAIRS UNLIT.
HOW I'VE SURPRISED THEM!
ALL BOATMEN ARE GRACE DARLINGS TO ME.
WHAT A BOY
TOO MUCH, CERTAINLY. TOO MUCH.
SOMETHING WILL HAVE TO BE DONE ABOUT THAT DAMN NANCY BOY.
YOU CAN COUNT ME OUT.
MY DEAR, I SHOULD LIKE TO STICK YOU
FULL OF BARBED ARROWS LIKE A PIN CUSHION.
I THINK IT'S PERFECTLY BRILLIANT OF SEBASTIAN
TO HAVE DISCOVERED YOU.
WHERE DO YOU LURK? I SHALL COME DOWN YOUR BURROW AND
CHIVVY YOU OUT LIKE AN OLD STOAT.
AU REVOIR.
WELL
I'D BETTER BE OFF, TOO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAVE SOME MORE COINTREAU.
THEN I MUST GO TO THE BOTANICAL GARDENS.
WHY? TO SEE THE IVY.
I'VE NEVER BEEN TO THE BOTANICAL GARDENS.
OH, CHARLES. WHAT A LOT YOU HAVE TO LEARN.
THERE ARE MORE KINDS OF IVY THAN I EVER KNEW EXISTED.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE I SHOULD BE WITHOUT THE BOTANICAL GARDENS.
WHEN AT LENGTH I RETURNED TO MY ROOMS
I FOUND THEM EXACTLY AS I HAD LEFT THEM THAT MORNING
BUT I DETECTED A JEJUNE AIR THAT HAD NOT IRKED ME BEFORE.
NOTHING EXCEPT THE GOLDEN DAFFODILS SEEMED TO BE REAL.
IF YOU ASK ME, SIR, I WAS NEVER VERY FOND OF THAT MYSELF.
I SUPPOSE YOU'LL BE WANTING ME TO GET RID OF IT NEXT
THOUGH WHERE I'D HAVE ROOM FOR IT
IS NOBODY'S BUSINESS.
THAT DAY WAS THE BEGINNING OF MY FRIENDSHIP WITH SEBASTIAN.
AND THUS, IT CAME ABOUT THAT MORNING IN JUNE
THAT I WAS LYING BESIDE HIM
IN THE SHADE OF THE HIGH ELMS WATCHING THE SMOKE
FROM HIS LIPS DRIFT INTO THE BRANCHES.
YOU STILL HAVEN'T TOLD ME WHERE WE'RE GOING.
DON'T BE SO IMPATIENT, CHARLES.
I TOLD YOU. TO SEE A FRIEND.
BUT WHO'S THE FRIEND?
NAME OF HAWKINS.
BUT WHO IS HAWKINS? WAIT AND SEE.
WELL?
WHAT A PLACE TO LIVE IN.
IT'S WHERE MY FAMILY LIVE.
DON'T WORRY. THEY'RE AWAY. YOU WON'T HAVE TO MEET THEM.
BUT I SHOULD LIKE TO.
YOU CAN'T. THEY'RE IN LONDON, DANCING.
EVERYTHING IS SHUT UP. WE'D BETTER GO IN THIS WAY.
I WANT YOU TO MEET NANNY HAWKINS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE COME FOR.
WELL, THIS IS A SURPRISE.
WHO'S THIS?
I DON'T THINK I KNOW HIM.
THIS IS MR CHARLES RYDER, NANNY. A FRIEND OF MINE FROM OXFORD.
HOW DO YOU DO, MRS. HAWKINS? HOW DO YOU DO?
YOU'VE COME JUST THE RIGHT TIME. JULIA'S HERE FOR THE DAY.
SHE WAS UP WITH ME NEARLY ALL THE MORNING TELLING ME ABOUT LONDON.
SUCH A TIME THEY'RE ALL HAVING. YOU MUST HAVE JUST MISSED HER.
IT'S THE CONSERVATIVE WOMEN. SHE WON'T BE LONG
SHE'S LEAVING IMMEDIATELY AFTER HER SPEECH BEFORE THE TEA.
I'M AFRAID WE MAY MISS HER AGAIN, NANNY.
OH, DON'T DO THAT, DEAR;
IT'LL BE SUCH A SURPRISE TO HER SEEING YOU
THOUGH SHE OUGHT TO WAIT FOR THE TEA. I TOLD HER
IT'S WHAT THE CONSERVATIVE WOMEN COME FOR.
WELL, WHAT'S THE NEWS?
ARE YOU STUDYING HARD AT YOUR BOOKS?
NOT VERY, I'M AFRAID, NANNY.
AH, CRICKETING ALL DAY LONG, I EXPECT, LIKE YOUR BROTHER.
HE FOUND TIME TO STUDY TOO, THOUGH.
DID YOU SEE THAT PIECE ABOUT JULIA IN THE PAPER?
SHE BROUGHT IT DOWN FOR ME. NOT THAT IT'S NEARLY GOOD ENOUGH OF HER
BUT WHAT IT SAYS IS VERY NICE.
"THE LOVELY DAUGHTER WHOM LADY MARCHMAIN
IS BRINGING OUT THIS SEASON
WITTY AS WELL AS ORNAMENTAL THE MOST POPULAR DEBUTANTE. "
WELL, THAT'S NO MORE THAN THE TRUTH, THOUGH IT WAS A SHAME
TO CUT HER HAIR. SUCH A LOVELY HEAD OF HAIR SHE HAD
JUST LIKE HER LADYSHIP'S. I SAID TO FATHER PHIPPS
IT'S NOT NATURAL. HE SAID
SEBASTIAN AND THE OLD WOMAN TALKED LONG.
IT WAS A CHARMING ROOM.
LAID OUT ON TOP OF THE MANTELPIECE, A COLLECTION OF SMALL PRESENTS
WHICH HAD BEEN BROUGHT TO HER AT VARIOUS TIMES BY HER CHILDREN.
THE SOUVENIRS OF MANY HOLIDAYS.
PRESENTLY, IT WAS TIME FOR TEA.
LOOK, NANNY, I'M AFRAID WE CAN'T STAY FOR TEA. WE REALLY MUST GET BACK.
OH. JULIA WILL BE UPSET WHEN SHE HEARS.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SUCH A SURPRISE FOR HER.
GOODBYE, NANNY. BYE, LOVE.
COME ON, CHARLES.
GOODBYE. GOODBYE.
POOR NANNY, SHE DOES LEAD SUCH A DULL LIFE.
I'VE A GOOD MIND TO BRING HER TO OXFORD TO LIVE WITH ME
ONLY SHE'D ALWAYS BE TRYING TO SEND ME TO CHURCH.
WE MUST GO QUICKLY BEFORE MY SISTER GETS BACK.
WHO ARE YOU ASHAMED OF, HER OR ME?
I'M ASHAMED OF MYSELF.
I'M NOT GOING TO LET YOU GET MIXED UP WITH MY FAMILY.
THEY'RE SO MADLY CHARMING ALL MY LIFE
THEY'VE TAKING THINGS AWAY FROM ME. IF THEY ONCE GOT HOLD
OF YOU WITH THEIR CHARM, THEY'D MAKE YOU THEIR FRIEND NOT MINE
AND I WON'T LET THEM.
ALL RIGHT.
I'M PERFECTLY CONTENT.
BUT AREN'T WE GOING TO SEE SOME MORE OF THE HOUSE?
IT'S ALL SHUT UP. WE CAME TO SEE NANNY.
ON QUEEN ALEXANDRA'S DAY IT'S ALL OPEN FOR A SHILLING.
COME AND LOOK IF YOU WANT TO.
WELL, IT'S ALL LIKE THIS YOU SEE. NOTHING TO SEE.
A FEW PRETTY THINGS I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU SOME DAY.
NOT NOW.
BUT THERE IS THE CHAPEL. YOU MUST SEE THAT.
THIS WAY.
WHY DO YOU DO THAT? JUST GOOD MANNERS.
WELL, YOU NEEDN'T ON MY ACCOUNT.
YOU WANTED TO DO SIGHT-SEEING.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS?
GOLLY!
PAPA HAD IT RESTORED FOR MAMA
AS A WEDDING PRESENT.
JULIA. WE ONLY JUST GOT AWAY IN TIME.
I'M SORRY. I'M AFRAID I WASN'T VERY NICE THIS AFTERNOON.
BRIDESHEAD OFTEN HAS THAT EFFECT ON ME.
BUT I HAD TO TAKE YOU TO SEE NANNY.
I DON'T KEEP ASKING YOU QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR FAMILY.
NEITHER DO I ABOUT YOURS. BUT YOU LOOK SO INQUISITIVE.
WELL YOU'RE SO MYSTERIOUS ABOUT THEM.
I HOPED I WAS MYSTERIOUS ABOUT EVERYTHING.
I'M RATHER CURIOUS ABOUT PEOPLE'S FAMILIES
YOU SEE, IT'S NOT A THING I KNOW MUCH ABOUT.
THERE'S ONLY MY FATHER AND MYSELF.
AND AUNT USED TO KEEP AN EYE ON ME BUT MY FATHER DROVE HER ABROAD.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE BEEN SAVED.
THERE ARE LOTS OF US.
LOOK THEM UP IN DEBRETT.
I HAD LIVED A LONELY CHILDHOOD AND A BOYHOOD STRAIGHTENED BY WAR
AND OVERSHADOWED BY BEREAVEMENT.
TO THE HARD BACHELORDOM OF ENGLISH ADOLESCENCE
THE PREMATURE DIGNITY AND AUTHORITY OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM
I HAD ADDED A SAD AND GRIM STRAIN OF MY OWN.
NOW, THAT SUMMER TERM WITH SEBASTIAN
IT SEEMED AS THOUGH I WAS BEING GIVEN A BRIEF SPELL
OF WHAT I HAD NEVER KNOWN
A HAPPY CHILDHOOD.
AND THOUGH ITS TOYS WERE SILK SHIRTS AND LIQUEURS AND CIGARS
AND ITS NAUGHTINESS HIGH IN THE CATALOGUE OF GRAVE SINS
THERE WAS SOMETHING OF A NURSERY FRESHNESS ABOUT US
THAT FELL LITTLE SHORT OF THE JOY OF INNOCENCE.
TOWARDS THE END OF THAT TERM I TOOK MY FIRST EXAMS.
IT WAS NECESSARY TO PASS IF I WAS TO REMAIN AT OXFORD.
AND PASS I DID AFTER A WEEK IN WHICH I FORBAD SEBASTIAN MY ROOMS
AND SAT UP TO A LATE HOUR WITH ICED BLACK COFFEE
AND CHARCOAL BISCUITS CRAMMING MYSELF WITH NEGLECTED TEXTS.
I REMEMBER NO SYLLABLE OF THEM NOW BUT THE OTHER
MORE ANCIENT LOVE WHICH I ACQUIRED THAT TERM
WILL BE WITH ME IN ONE SHAPE OR ANOTHER TILL MY LAST HOUR.
THE END OF THAT TERM, WAS ALSO THE OCCASION OF THE LAST VISIT
AND GRAND REMONSTRANCE OF MY COUSIN JASPER.
I WAS JUST FREE OF THE SCHOOLS HAVING TAKEN
THE LAST PAPER OF HISTORY PREVIOUS THE DAY BEFORE.
JASPER'S SUB-FUSC SUIT AND WHITE TIE
PROCLAIMED HIM STILL IN THE THICK OF IT.
HE HAD THE EXHAUSTED, BUT RESENTFUL, AIR OF ONE
WHO FEARS HE HAS FAILED TO DO HIMSELF FULL JUSTICE
OF PINDAR'S ORPHISMS.
DUTY ALONE HAD BROUGHT HIM TO MY ROOMS
AT GREAT INCONVENIENCE TO HIMSELF AND, AS IT HAPPENED, TO ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT SORT OF ALLOWANCE MY UNCLE MAKES YOU
BUT YOU MUST BE SPENDING DOUBLE.
IS THAT PAID FOR?
OR THESE?
OR THIS PECULIARLY NOISOME OBJECT?
YES, I HAD TO PAY CASH FOR THE SKULL.
AND YOUR CLOTHES. YOUR PRESENT GET UP
SEEMS AN UNHAPPY COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE CORRECT WEAR
FOR A THEATRICAL GARDEN PARTY IN MAIDENHEAD
AND A GLEE SINGING COMPETITION IN A GARDEN SUBURB.
I'M SORRY IF IT DISTURBS YOU.
AND DRINK! NO ONE MINDS
A MAN GETTING TIGHT ONCE OR TWICE A TERM.
IN FACT, HE OUGHT TO, ON CERTAIN OCCASIONS.
BUT YOU, MY DEAR CHARLES
ARE CONSTANTLY SEEN DRUNK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON!
I THINK THAT IS MY AFFAIR, JASPER.
LOOK CHARLES, I EXPECTED YOU TO MAKE MISTAKES
IN YOUR FIRST YEAR, WE ALL DO.
I GOT IN WITH SOME THOROUGHLY OBJECTIONABLE
CHRISTIAN UNION MEN WHO RAN A MISSION TO HOP-PICKERS
DURING THE LONG VAC. BUT YOU, MY DEAR CHARLES
WHETHER YOU REALISE OR NOT, HAVE GONE, HOOK LINE AND SINKER
TO THE VERY WORST SET IN THE UNIVERSITY.
SO THAT'S WHAT'S WORRYING YOU.
WELL, ANTHONY BLANCHE THERE'S A MAN
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR.
I DON'T PARTICULARLY LIKE HIM MYSELF.
WELL, HE'S CERTAINLY ALWAYS HANGING ABOUT HERE.
YOU REALISE THE STIFFER ELEMENT IN COLLEGE DON'T LIKE IT?
THEY WON'T STAND FOR HIM AT THE HOUSE. THEY THREW HIM IN MERCURY LAST NIGHT.
I HEARD.
YOU MAY THINK THAT LIVING IN DIGS
I DON'T KNOW WHAT GOES ON IN COLLEGE, BUT I HEAR THINGS.
IN FACT, I HEAR TOO MUCH. I FIND I'VE BECOME
A FIGURE OF MOCKERY ON YOUR ACCOUNT AT THE DINING CLUB.
THEN THERE'S THAT CHAP SEBASTIAN FLYTE
YOU SEEM INSEPARABLE FROM. WELL, HE MAY BE ALRIGHT, I DON'T KNOW.
HIS BROTHER, BRIDESHEAD, WAS A VERY SOUND FELLOW
BUT THIS FRIEND OF YOURS, WELL
HE LOOKS ODD TO ME AND GETS HIMSELF TALKED ABOUT.
I'M SORRY, JASPER. I KNOW IT MUST BE EMBARRASSING FOR YOU.
I HAPPEN TO LIKE THIS BAD SET.
I LIKE GETTING DRUNK AT LUNCHEON.
AND THOUGH I HAVEN'T QUITE SPENT
DOUBLE MY ALLOWANCE YET
I UNDOUBTEDLY SHALL BY THE END OF TERM.
WILL YOU JOIN ME?
I USUALLY HAVE
A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE ABOUT THIS TIME.
IF YOU STAY, YOU MIGHT MEET THE DESPICABLE MR BLANCHE.
I'M DINING WITH HIM TONIGHT.
NO, THANK YOU.
I HAVE GREEK HISTORY AND MORALS ON MONDAY.
SO MY COUSIN JASPER DESPAIRED.
LOOKING BACK
THERE IS LITTLE I WOULD HAVE LEFT UNDONE OR DONE OTHERWISE.
PERHAPS NOW I COULD MATCH
MY COUSIN JASPER'S GAME COCK MATURITY WITH A STURDIER FOWL.
I COULD TELL HIM THAT TO KNOW AND LOVE ONE OTHER HUMAN BEING
IS THE ROOT OF ALL WISDOM.
TWO FOR YOU
AND TWO FOR ME. YUM-YUM.
I EXPECT YOU WOULD PREFER SHERRY, BUT, MY DEAR CHARLES
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE SHERRY. YOU'RE GOING TO TRY
THIS DELICIOUS CONCOCTION INSTEAD.
WHAT IS IT? BRANDY ALEXANDER.
YOU DON'T LIKE IT? THEN I'LL DRINK IT FOR YOU.
ONE.
TWO.
THREE.
FOUR.
DOWN THE LITTLE RED LANE THEY GO.
HOW THE STUDENTS STARE!
I'M NOT SURPRISED, ANTHONY.
I'M A LITTLE OUT OF SYMPATHY WITH THE UNDERGRADUATES
FOR THE MOMENT. THAT'S WHY WE'RE DINING AT THAME.
WHO ELSE IS COMING? NO ONE.
I'VE GOT YOU TO MYSELF TONIGHT.
THERE'S A DELIGHTFUL HOTEL THERE WHICH, LUCKILY
DOESN'T APPEAL TO THE HEARTIES OF THE BULLINGDON.
YOU HEARD WHAT THEY DID TO ME LAST NIGHT?
YES, I DID IT'S TOO NAUGHTY.
IT WAS NOT, I KNEW, THE FIRST TIME THAT ANTHONY HAD BEEN DUCKED.
BUT THE INCIDENT SEEMED MUCH ON HIS MIND.
I DIDN'T WANT THEM TO START GETTING ROUGH
SO I SAID TO THEM PACIFICALLY: "DEAR, SWEET CLODHOPPERS
IF YOU KNEW ANYTHING OF SEXUAL PSYCHOLOGY
YOU WOULD KNOW HAT NOTHING COULD GIVE ME KEENER PLEASURE
THAN TO BE MANHANDLED BY YOU MEATY BOYS
ECSTASY OF THE NAUGHTIEST KIND. IF ANY OF YOU
WISHES TO BE MY PARTNER IN JOY, THEN COME AND SEIZE ME.
IF, ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU WISH TO SATISFY SOME OBSCURE
AND LESS EASILY CLASSIFIED LIBIDO
THEN COME WITH ME QUIETLY TO THE WATER. "
SO I JUST GOT INTO THE FOUNTAIN AND, YOU KNOW
IT REALLY WAS RATHER REFRESHING.
SO I SPORTED THERE AND STRUCK SOME ATTITUDES.
OH, LA FATIGUE DU NORD!
NOW YOU CAN'T IMAGINE AN UNPLEASANTNESS LIKE
THAT HAPPENING TO SEBASTIAN, CAN YOU?
NO, I CAN'T. NO.
SEBASTIAN HAS CHARM SUCH CHARM.
OF COURSE, YOU HAVEN'T KNOWN HIM AS LONG AS I HAVE.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN HIM, ANTHONY?
I WAS AT SCHOOL WITH HIM. YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE IT, BUT IN THOSE DAYS
PEOPLE USED TO SAY HE WAS A LITTLE BITCH.
THE REST OF US WERE CONSTANTLY BEING BEATEN
IN THE MOST SAVAGE WAY, ON THE MOST FRIVOLOUS PRETEXTS.
BUT NEVER SEBASTIAN. I CAN SEE HIM NOW
AT THE AGE OF FIFTEEN. HE NEVER HAD SPOTS, YOU KNOW.
BOY MULCASTER WAS POSITIVELY SCROFULOUS, BUT NOT SEBASTIAN.
OR DID HE HAVE ONE, RATHER A STUBBORN ONE AT THE BACK OF HIS NECK?
YES, NOW I THINK OF IT, HE DID. NARCISSUS WITH ONE PUSTULE.
HE AND I WERE BOTH CATHOLICS SO WE USED TO GO TO MASS TOGETHER.
HE USED TO SPEND SUCH A TIME IN THE CONFESSIONAL
I USED TO WONDER WHAT HE HAD TO SAY
BECAUSE HE NEVER DID ANYTHING WRONG, NEVER QUIET
AT LEAST HE NEVER GOT PUNISHED.
PERHAPS HE WAS JUST BEING CHARMING THROUGH THE GRILLS.
I TOLD ALL ABOUT YOU. HE IS ABSOLUTELY AGAPE.
YOU SEE, MY DEAR CHARLES, YOU ARE THAT VERY RARE THING.
AN ARTIST. BUT WHO RECOGNIZES YOU?
THE OTHER DAY I TOLD SEBASTIAN THAT YOU DREW LIKE A YOUNG INGRES.
AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT HE SAID?
YES, ALOYSIUS DRAWS VERY PRETTILY, TOO.
BUT OF COURSE HE'S RATHER MORE MODERN.
SO CHARMING, SO AMUSING.
DO YOU WISH SEBASTIAN WAS WITH US?
NO. OF COURSE YOU DO.
AND DO I? I WONDER.
HOW OUR THOUGHTS DO RUN ON THAT LITTLE BUNDLE OF CHARM
TO BE SURE.
I THINK YOU MUST BE MESMERIZING ME, CHARLES.
I BRING YOU HERE, AT VERY CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE
SIMPLY TO TALK ABOUT MYSELF AND I FIND
I TALK OF NO ONE EXCEPT SEBASTIAN.
IT'S ODD BECAUSE THERE'S REALLY NO MYSTERY ABOUT HIM
EXCEPT HOW HE CAME TO BE BORN OF SUCH A VERY SINISTER FAMILY.
IT'S WHEN ONE GETS TO THE PARENTS THAT A BOTTOMLESS PIT OPENS.
MY DEAR, SUCH A PAIR.
THEY WERE MARRIED FOR FIFTEEN YEARS OR SO.
AND THEN LORD MARCHMAIN WENT OFF TO WAR.
HE NEVER CAME BACK, BUT FORMED A CONNECTION
WITH A HIGHLY TALENTED DANCER.
WHY DOESN'T SHE DIVORCE HIM?
BECAUSE SHE IS SO PIOUS. MY DEAR, YOU WOULD THINK
THAT OLD REPROBATE HAD TORTURED HER
STOLEN HER PATRIMONY, FLUNG HER OUT OF DOORS
ROASTED, STUFFED AND EATEN HER CHILDREN
AND GONE FROLICKING ABOUT WREATHED IN ALL THE FLOWERS
OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH. SHE'S A BLOOD SUCKER, MY DEAR
A BLOOD SUCKER. YOU CAN SEE THE TOOTH MARKS
ON ALL HER VICTIMS. IT'S WITCHCRAFT. THERE'S NO OTHER EXPLANATION.
SO YOU SEE, WE MUSTN'T ALTOGETHER BLAME SEBASTIAN.
FOR WHAT? FOR SEEMING A LITTLE INSIPID.
BUT THEN, OF COURSE, YOU DON'T BLAME SEBASTIAN
DO YOU CHARLES?
WITH THAT VERY MURKY BACKGROUND, WHAT COULD HE DO, EXCEPT
SET UP AS BEING SIMPLE AND CHARMING, PARTICULARLY
AS HE ISN'T VERY WELL ENDOWED IN THE TOP STORY.
WE COULDN'T CLAIM THAT FOR HIM, COULD WE CHARLES
MUCH AS WE LOVE HIM?
TELL ME CANDIDLY, HAVE YOU EVER HEARD SEBASTIAN
SAY ANYTHING YOU HAVE REMEMBERED FOR MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES?
YOU KNOW, WHEN I HEAR HIM TALK I AM REMINDED OF THAT
NAUSEATING PICTURE "BUBBLES".
CONVERSATION SHOULD BE LIKE JUGGLING
UP GO THE BALLS AND PLATES
UP AND OVER, IN AND OUT, GLITTERING IN THE FOOTLIGHTS.
BUT WHEN DEAR SEBASTIAN SPEAKS
IT IS LIKE A LITTLE SPHERE OF SOAP
SUD DRIFTING OFF THE END OF AN OLD CLAY PIPE
FULL OF RAINBOW LIGHT FOR A SECOND, AND THEN
VANISHED WITH NOTHING LEFT AT ALL. NOTHING.
SHALL WE GO, ANTHONY?
WHAT'S THE TIME?
IT'S AFTER NINE O'CLOCK. I LET YOU LIE IN.
I DIDN'T THINK YOU'D BE GOING TO CORPORATE COMMUNION.
AND YOU WERE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, LUNT.
IT WAS THE LAST SUNDAY OF TERM. THE LAST OF THE YEAR.
IT WAS NEARLY ELEVEN WHEN I LEFT, AND DURING MY WALK
I HEARD THE CHANGE RINGING CEASE AND ALL OVER THE TOWN
GIVE PLACE TO THE SINGLE CHIME WHICH WARNED THE CITY
THAT SERVICE WAS ABOUT TO START.
NONE BUT CHURCHGOERS SEEMED ABROAD THAT MORNING
ON THEIR WAY TO ST BARNABAS, ST COLUMBA, ST AROYSIUS
ALL IN THE SUMMER SUNSHINE GOING TO THE TEMPLES OF THEIR RACE.
FOUR PROUD INFIDELS ALONE PROCLAIMED THEIR DISSENT
FOUR INDIANS FROM THE GATES OF BALLIOL
MAKING FOR THE RIVER.
SO, THROUGH A WORLD OF PIETY
I MADE MY WAY TO SEBASTIAN.
HELLO.
I'VE BEEN TO MASS.
I KNEW MUMMY'D BEEN WRITING TO MONSEIGNOR BELL.
HE'S ASKED ME TO DINNER TWICE LAST WEEK
SO I SAT BANG IN THE FRONT AND ABSOLUTELY SHOUTED THE HAIL MARY'S.
I'M GLAD THAT'S OVER.
HOW WAS DINNER WITH ANTOINE? WHAT DID YOU TALK ABOUT?
WELL, HE DID MOST OF THE TALKING. THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL.
DID YOU KNOW HIM AT ETON?
HARDLY. HE WAS SACKED IN MY FIRST HALF.
THOUGH I DO REMEMBER SEEING HIM ABOUT A BIT.
DID HE GO TO CHURCH WITH YOU? I DON'T THINK SO. WHY?
HAS HE MET ANY OF YOUR FAMILY?
CHARLES, HOW VERY PECULIAR YOU'RE BEING TODAY. NO. I DON'T SUPPOSE SO.
SO WHY ALL THIS INTEREST?
WELL, I WAS TRYING TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH TRUTH
THERE WAS IN WHAT HE SAID LAST NIGHT.
VERY LITTLE I SHOULD THINK. THAT'S HIS GREAT CHARM.
WELL, YOU MAY THINK IT CHARMING. I THINK IT'S DEVILISH.
DO YOU KNOW, HE SPENT MOST OF LAST EVENING TRYING TO TURN ME
AGAINST YOU?
AND HE ALMOST SUCCEEDED.
DID HE?
HOW SILLY.
ALOYSIUS WOULDN'T HAVE APPROVED OF THAT AT ALL.
WOULD YOU, YOU POMPOUS OLD BEAR?
THE LONG VACATION CAME
AND SEBASTIAN DISAPPEARED
INTO THAT OTHER LIFE OF HIS WHERE I WAS NOT ASKED TO FOLLOW.
I WAS LEFT, INSTEAD
FORLORN AND REGRETFUL. I RETURNED TO MY FATHER'S HOUSE WITHOUT PLANS
AND WITHOUT MONEY.
I FACED A BLEAK PROSPECT.
I WAS OVERDRAWN AT THE BANK
AND WITHOUT MY FATHER'S AUTHORITY, I COULD DRAW NO MORE.
MY DEAR BOY, THEY NEVER TOLD ME YOU WERE HERE.
HELLO, FATHER.
DID YOU HAVE A VERY EXHAUSTING JOURNEY?
THEY GAVE YOU TEA?
YES. MRS. ABEL BROUGHT ME SOME.
YOU ARE WELL?
I HAVE JUST MADE A SOMEWHAT AUDACIOUS PURCHASE FROM SONERACHEIN'S.
A TERRA-COTTA BULL OF THE 5TH CENTURY.
I WAS EXAMINING IT AND FORGOT YOUR ARRIVAL.
WAS THE CARRIAGE VERY FULL?
NO. I MANAGED TO GET A CORNER SEAT.
GOOD.
HAYTER BROUGHT YOU THE EVENING PAPER.
NO NEWS, OF COURSE. SUCH A LOT OF NONSENSE.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DRINK?
HAYTER, WHAT HAVE WE FOR MR CHARLES TO DRINK?
THERE'S SOME WHISKY.
THERE'S WHISKY. PERHAPS YOU LIKE SOMETHING ELSE?
WHAT ELSE HAVE WE?
THERE ISN'T ANYTHING ELSE IN THE HOUSE, SIR.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE.
YOU MUST TELL HAYTER WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE AND HE WILL GET IT IN.
I NEVER KEEP ANY WINE NOW. I AM FORBIDDEN IT
AND NO ONE COMES TO SEE ME. BUT WHILE YOU ARE HERE
YOU MUST HAVE WHAT YOU LIKE.
YOU ARE HERE FOR LONG? I'M NOT QUITE SURE, FATHER.
IT'S A VERY LONG VACATION.
IN MY DAY, WE USED TO GO TO
WHAT WERE CALLED READING PARTIES
ALWAYS IN MOUNTAINOUS AREAS.
WHY? WHY SHOULD ALPINE SCENERY BE THOUGHT CONDUCIVE TO STUDY?
I HAD THOUGHT OF PUTTING IN SOME TIME AT AN ART SCHOOL.
MY DEAR BOY, YOU'LL FIND THEM ALL SHUT. THE STUDENTS GO TO BARBISON
OR SUCH PLACES AND PAINT IN THE OPEN AIR.
THERE WAS AN INSTITUTION IN MY DAY CALLED "SKETCHING CLUB".
MIXED SEXES, BICYCLES, PEPPER-AND-SALT KNICKERBOCKERS
HOLLAND UMBRELLAS AND, IT WAS POPULARLY THOUGHT, FREE LOVE.
SUCH A LOT OF NONSENSE. I EXPECT THEY STILL GO ON.
YOU MIGHT TRY THAT.
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS OF THE VACATION, FATHER
IS MONEY.
OH. I SHOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT A THING LIKE THAT AT YOUR AGE.
YOU SEE, I'VE RUN RATHER SHORT. YES?
IN FACT, I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO GET THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
WELL, I'M THE WORST PERSON TO COME TO FOR ADVICE.
I'VE NEVER BEEN SHORT AS YOU SO PAINFULLY CALL IT.
AND YET WHAT ELSE COULD YOU SAY?
HARD UP? PENURIOUS? DISTRESSED?
EMBARRASSED? STONEY-BROKE? ON THE ROCKS?
IN QUEER STREET?
WELL, LET US JUST SAY YOU ARE IN QUEER STREET AND LEAVE IT AT THAT.
YES, BUT WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST I SHOULD DO?
YOUR COUSIN MELCHIOR WAS IMPRUDENT IN HIS INVESTMENTS
AND GOT INTO A VERY QUEER STREET.
HE WENT TO AUSTRALIA.
HAYTER. I'VE DROPPED MY BOOK.
DURING THE SULTRY WEEK THAT FOLLOWED
I SAW LITTLE OF MY FATHER DURING THE DAY.
HE SPENT HOURS ON END IN THE STUDY. NOW AND AGAIN
I WOULD HEAR HIM GO OUT
SOMETIMES FOR HALF AN HOUR OR LESS.
SOMETIMES FOR A WHOLE DAY.
AAH, SO THERE YOU ARE.
SPLENDID, SPLENDID.
VERY WARM TODAY, VERY WARM. YES.
HIS ERRANDS WERE NEVER EXPLAINED.
THE DINNER TABLE WAS OUR BATTLEFIELD.
I DO THINK, CHARLES, YOU MIGHT TALK TO ME.
I'VE HAD A VERY EXHAUSTING DAY.
I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO A LITTLE CONVERSATION.
OF COURSE, FATHER.
WHAT SHALL WE TALK ABOUT?
CHEER ME UP. TAKE ME OUT OF MYSELF.
TELL ME ABOUT THE NEW PLAYS.
BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN TO ANY.
YOU SHOULD, YOU KNOW, YOU REALLY SHOULD.
IT ISN'T NATURAL IN A YOUNG MAN TO SPEND ALL HIS EVENINGS AT HOME.
WELL, FATHER, AS I TOLD YOU, I HAVEN'T MUCH MONEY
TO SPARE FOR THEATREGOING.
MY DEAR BOY, YOU MUST NOT ALLOW
MONEY TO BECOME YOUR MASTER IN THIS WAY.
WHY, AT YOUR AGE, YOUR COUSIN MELCHIOR WAS PART-OWNER OF A MUSICAL PIECE.
IT WAS ONE OF HIS FEW SUCCESSFUL VENTURES.
YOU SHOULD GO TO THE PLAY AS PART OF YOUR EDUCATION.
I RECEIVED ONE LETTER FROM SEBASTIAN.
IT WAS WRITTEN ON, AND ENVELOPED IN HEAVY
VICTORIAN MOURNING PAPER, BLACK-CORONETED AND BLACK BORDERED.
"DEAREST CHARLES. I FOUND A BOX OF THIS PAPER
AT THE BACK OF A BUREAU SO I MUST WRITE TO YOU AS I AM MOURNING
FOR MY LOST INNOCENCE. IT NEVER LOOKED LIKE LIVING. THE DOCTORS
DESPAIRED OF IT FROM THE START. SEEMS I AM OFF TO VENICE
TO STAY WITH PAPA IN HIS PALACE OF SIN.
I WISH YOU WERE COMING. I WISH YOU WERE HERE.
I AM NEVER QUITE ALONE. MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY
KEEP TURNING UP AND COLLECTING LUGGAGE AND GOING AWAY AGAIN
BUT THE WHITE RASPBERRIES ARE RIPE. I HAVE A GOOD MIND
NOT TO TAKE ALOYSIUS TO VENICE. I DON'T WANT HIM TO MEET
A LOT OF HORRID ITALIAN BEARS AND PICK UP BAD HABITS.
LOVE OR WHAT YOU WILL. S."
STRIFE WAS INTERNECINE DURING THE NEXT FORTNIGHT.
BUT I SUFFERED THE MORE,
FOR MY FATHER HAD GREATER RESERVES TO DRAW ON.
ONE DAY, BY CHANCE, A WEAPON CAME TO HAND.
I MET AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE OF SCHOOL DAYS NAMED JORKINS.
I NEVER HAD MUCH LIKING FOR JORKINS
BUT I GREETED HIM WITH ENTHUSIASM AND ASKED HIM TO DINNER.
MY FATHER WAS QUICK TO RETALIATE.
HE MADE A LITTLE FANTASY FOR HIMSELF THAT JORKINS SHOULD BE AN AMERICAN.
SO NICE OF YOU TO COME ALL THIS WAY, MR JORKINS.
OH, IT ISN'T FAR. REALLY ONLY A MATTER OF MINUTES.
AH. SCIENCE ANNIHILATES DISTANCE.
YOU ARE OVER HERE ON BUSINESS?
WELL, I'M IN BUSINESS
IF THAT�S WHAT YOU MEAN.
I HAD A COUSIN WHO WAS IN BUSINESS, YOU WOULDN'T KNOW HIM
IT WAS BEFORE YOUR TIME.
I WAS TELLING CHARLES ABOUT HIM ONLY THE OTHER NIGHT.
HE HAS BEEN MUCH IN MY MIND. HE CAME A CROPPER.
YOU FIND HIS MISFORTUNE THE SUBJECT FOR MIRTH?
OR PERHAPS YOU WERE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE WORD I USED.
YOU NO DOUBT WOULD SAY FOLDED UP.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT
I MEAN
I SUPPOSE WITH YOUR STANDARDS
YOU FIND OUR LIFE HERE VERY PAROCHIAL.
MY FATHER WAS MASTER OF THE SITUATION.
THROUGHOUT THE EVENING HE PLAYED
A DELICATE, ONE-SIDED PARLOUR GAME WITH HIM
EXPLAINING ANY PECULIARLY ENGLISH TERMS
IN THE CONVERSATION, TRANSLATING POUNDS INTO DOLLARS
SO THAT MY GUEST WAS LEFT WITH THE VAGUE SENSE THAT
THERE WAS A MISCONCEPTION SOMEWHERE AS TO HIS IDENTITY
WHICH HE NEVER GOT THE CHANCE OF EXPLAINING.
I MEAN IF
ONLY ONCE I THOUGHT MY FATHER HAD GONE TOO FAR.
OF COURSE, I'M AFRAID LIVING IN LONDON
YOU MUST SADLY MISS YOUR NATIONAL GAME.
MY NATIONAL GAME?
CRICKET!
NEVER MIND. I'VE DECIDED TO DIVERSIFY CHARLES' EVENINGS AT HOME.
TONIGHT I HAVE A SURPRISE. I'VE ASKED A FEW YOUNG FRIENDS
OVER FOR A LITTLE MUSIC-MAKING.
CHARLES, YOU KNOW THE ORME-HERRICKS?
DID YOU KNOW THAT MISS ORME-HERRICK WAS A STUDENT OF THE CELLO?
SHE'S GOING TO PLAY FOR US TONIGHT AFTER DINNER!
CHARLES.
I REALLY HAVE TO GO
PLEASE.
I'M AFRAID JORKINS HAS TO GO, FATHER.
HE HAS TO BE UP VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING.
OH, WHAT A PITY. GOODBYE THEN, MR JORKINS.
I HOPE THAT YOU WILL PAY US ANOTHER VISIT NEXT TIME YOU CROSS THE HERRING POND.
GOODBYE, MR RYDER, AND THANK YOU. I'M SO SORRY I HAVE TO LEAVE.
I'LL JUST SEE HIM OUT, FATHER. SUCH A VERSATILE YOUNG MAN.
YOU MUST ASK HIM AGAIN, SOON.
GOODNIGHT, JORKINS.
WHAT VERY DULL FRIENDS I HAVE!
YOU KNOW, WITHOUT THE SPUR OF YOUR PRESENCE
I WOULD NEVER HAVE ROUSED MYSELF TO INVITE THEM.
I HAVE BEEN VERY NEGLECTFUL ABOUT ENTERTAINING LATELY.
NOW YOU ARE PAYING ME A LONG VISIT
I WILL HAVE MANY SUCH EVENINGS.
YOU LIKED MISS ORME-HERRICK?
NO.
NO? WAS IT HER LITTLE MOUSTACHE YOU OBJECTED TO
OR HER VERY LARGE FEET? DO YOU THINK SHE ENJOYED HERSELF?
NO.
THAT WAS MY IMPRESSION ALSO. I DOUBT IF ANY OF OUR GUESTS
WILL COUNT THIS AMONG THEIR HAPPIEST EVENINGS.
THAT YOUNG FOREIGNER BEHAVED ATROCIOUSLY I THOUGHT.
WHERE CAN I HAVE MET HIM?
AND MISS CONSTANTIA SMETHWICK, WHERE CAN I HAVE MET HER?
BUT THE OBLIGATIONS OF HOSPITALITY MUST BE OBSERVED.
WHILE YOU ARE HERE, YOU SHALL NOT BE DULL!
FINALLY, ONE SUNDAY AFTERNOON, A TELEGRAM ARRIVED FROM SEBASTIAN
WHICH THREW ME INTO A STATE OF FEVERED ANXIETY.
FATHER
YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHERE I'VE SPENT THE DAY.
I'VE BEEN TO THE ZOO. IT WAS MOST AGREEABLE.
THE ANIMALS SEEM TO LIKE THE SUNSHINE SO MUCH.
FATHER, I HAVE TO LEAVE AT ONCE. YES?
A FRIEND OF MINE, HE'S GRAVELY INJURED. I MUST GO TO HIM.
THERE'S A TRAIN IN ABOUT HALF AN HOUR.
"GRAVELY INJURED, COME AT ONCE. SEBASTIAN. "
WELL, I'M SORRY YOU ARE UPSET. READING THIS MESSAGE
I DO NOT THINK THAT THE ACCIDENT CAN BE QUITE SO SERIOUS
AS YOU SEEM TO THINK, OTHERWISE
IT WOULD HARDLY BE SIGNED BY THE VICTIM HIMSELF.
STILL, OF COURSE, HE MAY WELL BE FULLY CONSCIOUS
BUT BLIND OR PARALYZED WITH A BROKEN BACK.
WHY EXACTLY IS YOUR PRESENCE SO NECESSARY?
YOU HAVE NO MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE. YOU ARE NOT IN HOLY ORDERS.
DO YOU HOPE FOR A LEGACY?
I TOLD YOU, HE IS A GREAT FRIEND.
WELL, ORME-HERRICK IS A VERY GREAT FRIEND OF MINE, BUT I SHOULD NOT GO
TEARING OFF TO HIS DEATH BED ON A WARM SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
I RATHER DOUBT WHETHER LADY ORME-HERRICK WOULD WELCOME ME.
HOWEVER, I SEE YOU HAVE NO SUCH DOUBTS.
I SHALL MISS YOU, MY DEAR BOY.
BUT DO NOT HURRY BACK ON MY ACCOUNT.
FEAR WORKED LIKE YEAST IN MY THOUGHTS.
AND THE FERMENTATION BROUGHT TO THE SURFACE
IN GREAT GOBS OF SCUM, THE IMAGES OF DISASTER.
A LOADED GUN, HELD CARELESSLY AT A STILE
A HORSE REARING AND ROLLING OVER
A SHADED POOL WITH A SUBMERGED STAKE
A CAR AT A BLIND CORNER.
ALL THE CATALOGUE OF THREATS TO CIVILIZED LIFE ROSE AND HAUNTED ME.
I EVEN PICTURED A HOMICIDAL MANIAC MOUTHING IN THE SHADOWS
SWINGING A LENGTH OF LEAD PIPE.
TICKETS, PLEASE, SIR.
BRIDESHEAD, SIR? YES.
LADY JULIA'S WAITING IN THE YARD.
THANK YOU.
YOU'RE MR RYDER? YES.
JUMP IN.
HOW IS HE? OH, HE'S FINE.
HAVE YOU HAD DINNER? YES, ON THE TRAIN.
WELL, I EXPECT IT WAS BEASTLY. THERE'S SOME MORE AT HOME.
SEBASTIAN AND I ARE ALONE SO WE THOUGHT WE'D WAIT FOR YOU.
BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM? DIDN'T HE SAY?
I EXPECT HE THOUGHT YOU WOULDN'T COME IF YOU KNEW.
HE CRACKED A BONE IN HIS FOOT SO TINY THAT IT HASN'T A NAME.
BUT THEY X-RAYED IT YESTERDAY AND TOLD HIM
TO KEEP IT UP FOR A MONTH.
IT'S A GREAT BORE TO HIM, PUTTING OUT ALL HIS PLANS.
HE'S BEEN MAKING THE MOST ENORMOUS FUSS.
EVERYBODY ELSE HAS GONE. AT FIRST HE TRIED TO MAKE ME
STAY BACK WITH HIM. WELL, I EXPECT YOU KNOW
HOW MADDENINGLY PATHETIC HE CAN BE.
I ALMOST GAVE IN AND THEN I SAID, SURELY THERE MUST BE SOMEONE
YOU CAN GET HOLD OF? AND HE SAID EVERYBODY WAS AWAY
OR BUSY AND ANYWAY, NO ONE ELSE WOULD DO.
BUT AT LAST HE AGREED TO TRY YOU
AND I PROMISED I'D STAY IF YOU FAILED HIM, SO
YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW POPULAR YOU ARE WITH ME.
I MUST SAY I THINK IT'S NOBLE OF YOU TO COME ALL THIS WAY AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE.
HOW DID HE DO IT?
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, PLAYING CROQUET. HE LOST HIS TEMPER
AND TRIPPED OVER A HOOP. NOT A VERY HONORABLE SCAR.
SHE SO MUCH RESEMBLED SEBASTIAN, THAT SITTING BESIDE HER
I WAS CONFUSED BY THE DOUBLE ILLUSION
OF FAMILIARITY AND STRANGENESS.
I HATE DRIVING AT THIS TIME OF THE DAY.
THERE DOESN'T SEEM ANYONE LEFT AT HOME WHO CAN DRIVE A CAR.
SEBASTIAN AND I ARE PRACTICALLY CAMPING OUT.
CIGARETTE? NO, THANKS.
LIGHT ONE FOR ME, WILL YOU?
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE THAT ANYONE HAD ASKED THIS OF ME AND
AS I TOOK THE CIGARETTE FROM MY LIPS AND PUT IT IN HERS
I CAUGHT A THIN BAT'S SQUEAK OF SEXUALITY
INAUDIBLE TO ANY BUT ME.
THANKS.
YOU'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE. NANNY REPORTED IT.
WE BOTH THOUGHT IT VERY ODD OF YOU NOT TO STAY TO TEA WITH ME.
THAT WAS SEBASTIAN.
YOU SEEM TO LET HIM BOSS YOU AROUND A GOOD DEAL.
YOU SHOULDN'T. IT'S VERY BAD FOR HIM.
HERE WE ARE.
I WOULDN'T HAVE PUT IT PAST SEBASTIAN TO HAVE STARTED DINNER.
THANK YOU.
HELLO, DARLING.
THANK YOU, WILCOX.
WELL DARLING, I'VE COLLECTED YOUR CHUM.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE DYING.
I THOUGHT SO TOO. THE PAIN WAS EXCRUCIATING.
JULIA, DO YOU THINK IF YOU ASKED HIM, WILCOX WOULD GIVE US CHAMPAGNE TONIGHT?
I HATE CHAMPAGNE AND MR RYDER HAS ALREADY HAD DINNER.
MISTER RYDER? MISTER RYDER?
CHARLES DRINKS CHAMPAGNE AT ALL HOURS.
DO YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THIS GREAT SWADDLED FOOT OF MINE, I CAN'T GET
IT OUT OF MY HEAD THAT I'VE GOT GOUT, AND THAT GIVES ME A CRAVING FOR CHAMPAGNE.
WHICH WAY? THIS WAY.
DINNER WAS SERVED IN THE RED DINING ROOM.
WHILE THEY DINED, I ATE A PEACH
AND TOLD THEM OF THE WAR WITH MY FATHER.
AND HE SAID TO HIM "LIVING IN LONDON, YOU MUST MISS
YOUR NATIONAL GAME. AND JORKIN SAID, " WHAT NATIONAL GAME?"
AND MY FATHER SAID, "WHY, CRICKET, OF COURSE. "
I REALLY THINK HE'S SOMETIMES QUITE MAD.
HE SOUNDS A PERFECT POPPET TO ME.
AND NOW I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU BOYS.
WHERE ARE YOU OFF TO? THE NURSERY.
I PROMISED NANNY A LAST GAME OF HALMA.
DEAR NANNY HAWKINS. SHE LIVES ENTIRELY FOR PLEASURE.
GOODNIGHT, MR RYDER AND GOODBYE. I'M LEAVING EARLY.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO YOU FOR RELIEVING ME
AT THE SICK BED.
MY SISTER'S VERY POMPOUS TONIGHT.
I DON'T THINK SHE CARES FOR ME.
I DON'T THINK SHE CARES FOR ANYONE VERY MUCH.
I LOVE HER. SHE'S SO LIKE ME. DO YOU? IS SHE?
IN LOOKS I MEAN, AND THE WAY SHE TALKS.
I WOULDN'T LOVE ANYONE WITH A CHARACTER LIKE MINE.
CHARLES, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A HEAVENLY TIME ALONE.
WHEN, NEXT MORNING, I SAW JULIA DRIVE FROM THE FORECOURT AND DISAPPEAR
I FELT A SENSE OF LIBERATION AND PEACE SUCH AS I WAS TO KNOW
YEARS LATER, WHEN AFTER A NIGHT OF UNREST
THE SIRENS SOUNDED THE "ALL CLEAR".
I BELIEVED MYSELF VERY CLOSE TO HEAVEN
DURING THOSE LANGUID DAYS AT BRIDESHEAD.
IS THE DOME BY VANBURGH? IT LOOKS LATER.
OH, CHARLES, DON'T BE SUCH A TOURIST.
WHAT DOES IT MATTER WHEN IT WAS BUILT IF IT'S PRETTY?
IT'S THE SORT OF THING THAT INTERESTS ME.
OH DEAR, I THOUGHT I'D CURED YOU OF ALL THAT.
THE TERRIBLE MR COLLINS.
SEBASTIAN IN HIS WHEELCHAIR
SPINNING DOWN THE BOX-EDGED WALKS OF THE KITCHEN GARDENS
IN SEARCH OF ALPINE STRAWBERRIES
AND WARM FIGS.
PROPELLING HIMSELF THROUGH THE SUCCESSION OF HOT HOUSES
FROM SCENT TO SCENT AND CLIMATE TO CLIMATE
TO CHOOSE ORCHIDS FOR OUR BUTTONHOLES.
IT WAS AN AESTHETIC EDUCATION TO LIVE WITHIN THOSE WALLS.
SINCE THE DAYS WHEN, AS A SCHOOLBOY
I USED TO BICYCLE ROUND THE NEIGHBORING PARISHES
RUBBING BRASSES AND PHOTOGRAPHING FONTS
I HAD NURSED A LOVE OF ARCHITECTURE
BUT MY SENTIMENTS AT HEART WERE INSULAR AND MEDIEVAL.
THIS WAS MY CONVERSION TO THE BAROQUE.
WHY IS THIS HOUSE CALLED A CASTLE?
BECAUSE IT USED TO BE ONE UNTIL THEY MOVED IT.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN? JUST THAT.
IT USED TO BE A CASTLE ABOUT A MILE AWAY, DOWN BY THE VILLAGE.
THEN WHEN THEY TOOK A FANCY TO THE VALLEY
THEY PULLED THE CASTLE DOWN AND CARTED IT STONE BY STONE UP HERE
AND BUILT A NEW HOUSE.
I'M RATHER GLAD THEY DID, AREN'T YOU?
IF IT WAS MINE, I COULDN'T LIVE ANYWHERE ELSE.
BUT IT ISN'T REALLY MINE. I MEAN, JUST AT THE MOMENT IT IS
BUT USUALLY IT'S FULL OF RAVENING BEASTS.
IF ONLY IT COULD BE LIKE THIS ALWAYS
ALWAYS ALONE, ALWAYS SUMMER
THE FRUIT ALWAYS RIPE AND ALOYSIUS ALWAYS IN A GOOD TEMPER.
CHARLES! CHARLES!
ALOYSIUS!
ARE YOU ALRIGHT? HOW'S THE ANKLE?
VERY, VERY FUNNY.
COME ON.
I SUPPOSE YOU'LL BE IN BED FOR MONTHS NOW.
ONE DAY IN A CUPBOARD WE FOUND A BOX OF OIL PAINTS.
MUMMY BOUGHT THESE PAINTS. SOMEONE TOLD HER THAT YOU COULDN'T
APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD UNLESS YOU TRIED TO PAINT IT.
SEBASTIAN GAVE ME THE IDEA OF DECORATING THE GARDEN ROOM.
SHE COULDN'T DRAW AT ALL.
THE COLOURS IN THE TUBES WERE VERY BRIGHT
BUT EVERY TIME MUMMY MIXED THEM THEY CAME OUT A KIND OF KHAKI.
BE REASONABLE. WELL, YOU'RE AHEAD OF ME ANYWAY.
CHARLES! YOU DO THAT EVERY SINGLE TIME!
IT'S THE WRONG ONE.
I KNEW LITTLE OF OIL PAINTING AND LEARNED ITS WAYS
AS I WORKED.
BY LUCK, AND THE HAPPY MOOD OF THE MOMENT
THE BRUSH SEEMED TO DO WHAT WAS WANTED OF IT
AND IN A WEEK IT WAS FINISHED.
NOT BAD, CHARLES.
DO YOU THINK YOUR MOTHER WILL MIND? WE WON'T KNOW TILL SHE SEES IT, WILL WE?
ONE DAY WE WENT DOWN TO THE CELLARS WITH WILCOX
AND SAW THE EMPTY BAYS
WHICH HAD ONCE HELD A VAST STORE OF WINE.
A LOT OF THE OLD WINE JUST WANTS DRINKING UP.
WE SHOULD HAVE LAID DOWN THE 18'S AND 20'S BY NOW.
HER LADYSHIP SAYS TO ASK LORD BRIDESHEAD
AND HE SAYS TO ASK HIS LORDSHIP
AND HIS LORDSHIP SAYS TO ASK THE LAWYERS.
THAT'S HOW WE GET LOW.
I KNOW THERE'S ENOUGH TO LAST TEN YEARS. BUT WHAT HAPPENS THEN?
THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW.
WILCOX WELCOMED OUR INTEREST.
WE HAD BOTTLES BROUGHT UP FROM EVERY BIN
AND IT WAS DURING THOSE TRANQUIL EVENINGS WITH SEBASTIAN
THAT I FIRST MADE A REAL ACQUAINTANCE WITH WINE.
NOW, FOR THE FULLEST OF APPRECIATION, FIRST WARM THE GLASS
GENTLY AT A CANDLE FLAME.
FILL IT A THIRD HIGH. CHATEAU LAFITTE 1899.
SWIRL THE WINE GENTLY ROUND THE GLASS.
THAT IS A CLARET. NO, I HAVE BURGUNDY IN MY HAND.
HAVE YOU JUST POURED THIS?
I HAVE CLARET IN MY HAND.
THIS IS BURGUNDY. THIS IS BURGUNDY!
I KNOW THIS IS BURGUNDY. YES. THIS WAS CLARET.
A GLASS THAT INOPPORTUNELY DROPPED OUT OF MY HAND.
THIS LEGLESS GLASS. THIS MY GLASS.
CHARLES, HAVE ANOTHER BISCUIT. NO. THIS IS CLARET.
THIS IS A KING OF CLARETS.
DEFINITELY A BROTHER
GOOD MAN! UP TO THE LIGHT
UP TO THE LIGHT, UNDER THE NOSE, BREATHE IT IN.
IT'S LIKE A FLUTE BY STILL WATER.
OUGHT WE TO BE DRUNK EVERY NIGHT?
YES
I THINK WE SHOULD.
YES, I THINK WE SHOULD TOO.
ON SUNDAYS, A NEIGHBORING PRIEST CALLED
TO SAY MASS.
SEBASTIAN'S FAITH WAS AN ENIGMA TO ME AT THE TIME
BUT NOT ONE THAT I FELT PARTICULARLY CONCERNED TO SOLVE.
I TOOK IT AS A FOIBLE, LIKE HIS TEDDY BEAR.
HE'S SUCH AN OLD BORE, FATHER PHIPPS.
HE KEPT ME BACK HALF AN HOUR AFTER MASS
TALKING ABOUT CRICKET.
DO YOU WANT SOME COLD COFFEE? YES, PLEASE.
IT'S SO DIFFICULT BEING A CATHOLIC.
DOES IT MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE TO YOU?
OF COURSE. ALL THE TIME.
WELL, I CAN'T SAY THAT I'VE NOTICED IT.
ARE YOU STRUGGLING AGAINST TEMPTATION?
YOU DON'T SEEM TO ME MUCH MORE VIRTUOUS THAN ME.
MY DEAR CHARLES, I'M MUCH, MUCH WICKEDER.
WELL THEN?
WHO WAS IT USED TO PRAY 'OH, GOD, MAKE ME GOOD BUT NOT YET? '
I DON'T KNOW. YOU, I SHOULD THINK.
I DO
ALL THE TIME.
BUT IT'S NOT THAT.
GOOD LORD, ANOTHER NAUGHTY SCOUTMASTER.
I SUPPOSE THEY TRY AND MAKE YOU BELIEVE A LOT OF NONSENSE?
IS IT NONSENSE? I WISH IT WERE.
IT SOMETIMES SEEMS PARTICULARLY SENSIBLE TO ME.
MY DEAR SEBASTIAN, YOU CAN'T SERIOUSLY BELIEVE IT ALL.
CAN'T I?
NO, I MEAN ABOUT CHRISTMAS AND THE STAR AND THE OX AND THE ASS AND THE THREE KINGS.
OH YES. I BELIEVE ALL THAT. IT'S A LOVELY IDEA.
BUT YOU CAN'T BELIEVE THINGS BECAUSE THEY'RE LOVELY IDEAS.
WELL, I DO.
THAT'S HOW I BELIEVE.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN PRAYER? OH CHARLES, DON'T BE A BORE.
I'M TRYING TO READ ABOUT THIS WOMAN IN HULL WHO'S BEEN USING AN INSTRUMENT.
YOU STARTED THE SUBJECT. I WAS JUST GETTING INTERESTED.
WELL, I'LL NEVER MENTION IT AGAIN.
BUT HE DID, TEN DAYS LATER, WHEN OUR PEACE
WAS DISTURBED ON THE OCCASION OF THE ANNUAL AGRICULTURAL FAIR.
THE HOUSE, WHICH SEEMED TO HAVE SLEPT
DURING THE PAST WEEKS, AWOKE TO A FLURRY OF ACTIVITY
AND BRIDESHEAD, SEBASTIAN'S ELDER BROTHER, CAME DOWN TO PRESIDE.
QUEER FELLOW, MY BROTHER.
NOW HE'S HERE I THINK WE SHOULD STAY OUT OF THE WAY.
HE'S IN HIS ELEMENT TODAY.
HE'S A VERY BIG PART OF THE AGRICULTURAL SHOW.
HE LOOKS NORMAL ENOUGH TO ME. OH, BUT HE'S NOT.
IF YOU ONLY KNEW.
HE'S MUCH THE CRAZIEST OF US, ONLY IT NEVER COMES OUT AT ALL.
HE'S ALL TWISTED INSIDE. HE WANTED TO BE A PRIEST YOU KNOW.
I DIDN'T.
I THINK HE STILL DOES.
HE NEARLY BECAME A JESUIT.
IT WAS AWFUL FOR MUMMY. SHE COULDN'T EXACTLY TRY AND STOP HIM
BUT OF COURSE IT WAS THE LAST THING SHE WANTED.
I MEAN, IMAGINE WHAT PEOPLE WOULD HAVE SAID "THE ELDEST SON!"
IT'S NOT EVEN AS IF IT WERE ME.
AND POOR PAPA.
THE CHURCH HAD BEEN ENOUGH TROUBLE TO HIM
WITHOUT THAT HAPPENING.
I WONDER IF I'D HAVE BEEN LIKE THAT IF I'D GONE TO STONEYHURST.
I SHOULD HAVE GONE, BUT PAPA WENT ABROAD BEFORE
I WAS OLD ENOUGH.
THE FIRST THING HE INSISTED UPON WAS MY GOING TO ETON.
HAS YOUR FATHER GIVEN UP RELIGION?
WELL, HE'S HAD TO, IN A WAY.
HE ONLY TOOK IT UP WHEN HE MARRIED MUMMY.
WHEN HE WENT OFF HE LEFT IT BEHIND
WITH A MISTRESS.
YOU MUST MEET HIM. HE'S A VERY NICE MAN.
NOW DON'T LOOK DOWN, CHARLES.
SO, YOU SEE, WE'RE A MIXED FAMILY RELIGIOUSLY.
BRIDESHEAD AND CORDELIA ARE BOTH FERVENT CATHOLICS.
HE'S MISERABLE, SHE'S VERY HAPPY.
JULIA AND I ARE BOTH SEMI-HEATHENS.
I AM HAPPY.
I RATHER THINK JULIA ISN'T.
MUMMY IS POPULARLY BELIEVED TO BE A SAINT AND PAPA IS EXCOMMUNICATED.
I WOULDN'T KNOW WHICH OF THEM WERE HAPPY.
ANYWAY, HOWEVER YOU LOOK AT IT, HAPPINESS
DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE MUCH TO DO WITH IT.
AND THAT'S ALL I WANT.
I WISH I LIKED CATHOLICS MORE.
THEY SEEM JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
MY DEAR CHARLES, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE NOT
PARTICULARLY IN THIS COUNTRY, WHERE THEY'RE SO FEW
I MEAN, IT'S NOT JUST THAT THEY'RE A CLIQUE.
EVERYTHING THEY THINK IS IMPORTANT IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PEOPLE.
I MEAN THEY TRY AND COVER IT UP BUT IT COMES OUT ALL THE TIME.
SO YOU SEE, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR SEMI-HEATHENS
LIKE JULIA AND ME.
SEBASTIAN!
THAT SOUNDS LIKE MY SISTER, CORDELIA. COVER YOURSELF UP.
WHERE ARE YOU?
GO AWAY, CORDELIA. WE'RE NOT DECENT.
YES, YOU ARE.
I GUESSED YOU WERE HERE. YOU DIDN'T KNOW I WAS ABOUT, DID YOU?
I CAME DOWN WITH BRIDEY AND I STOPPED OFF TO SEE FRANCIS XAVIER.
HE'S MY PIG.
AND THEN I HAD LUNCH WITH COLONEL FENDER
AND THEN ONTO THE SHOW.
FRANCIS XAVIER GOT A SPECIAL MENTION.
BUT THAT BEAST RANDAL GOT FIRST WITH A VERY MANGY LOOKING ANIMAL.
DARLING SEBASTIAN. IT IS LOVELY TO SEE YOU.
HOW'S YOUR POOR FOOT?
SAY HOW DO YOU DO TO MR RYDER.
OH SORRY. HOW DO YOU DO? I AM SORRY ABOUT YOUR PIG.
THEY'RE ALL GETTING PRETTY BOOZY DOWN THERE, SO I CAME AWAY.
I SAY, WHO'S BEEN PAINTING THE GARDEN HALL?
I WENT IN TO GET A SHOOTING STICK AND SAW IT.
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY. IT'S MR RYDER.
BUT IT'S LOVELY. I SAY DID YOU REALLY?
YOU ARE CLEVER!
WHY DON'T YOU BOTH COME DOWN? THERE'S NOBODY ABOUT.
BRIDEY'S BOUND TO BRING THE JUDGES IN.
NO, NO HE WON'T. I HEARD HIM MAKING ARRANGEMENTS NOT TO.
HE'S VERY SOUR TODAY.
HE DIDN'T WANT ME TO HAVE DINNER WITH YOU BUT I FIXED THAT.
OH, DO COME ON! I'LL BE IN THE NURSERY WHEN YOU'RE FIT TO BE SEEN.
WE WERE A SOMBER LITTLE PARTY THAT EVENING.
BRIDESHEAD WAS ONLY THREE YEARS OLDER
THAN SEBASTIAN AND I
BUT HE SEEMED OF ANOTHER GENERATION.
I HOPE SEBASTIAN IS SEEING THE WINE.
WILCOX IS APT TO BE RATHER GRUDGING WHEN HE'S ON HIS OWN.
HE'S TREATED US VERY LIBERALLY. I'M DELIGHTED TO HEAR IT.
YOU'RE FOND OF WINE? VERY.
I WISH I WERE.
IT'S SUCH A BOND WITH OTHER MEN.
AT OXFORD I TRIED TO GET DRUNK ONCE OR TWICE.
BUT I DIDN'T ENJOY IT. BEER AND WHISKY
I FIND EVEN LESS APPETIZING.
EVENTS LIKE TODAY'S SHOW ARE IN CONSEQUENCE A TORMENT TO ME.
I LIKE WINE.
MY SISTER CORDELIA'S LAST REPORT
SAID THAT SHE WAS, NOT ONLY THE WORST GIRL IN THE SCHOOL
BUT THE WORST THAT HAD EVER BEEN
IN THE MEMORY OF THE OLDEST NUN.
THAT'S BECAUSE THE REVEREND MOTHER SAID
THAT IF I DIDN'T KEEP MY ROOM TIDY OUR LADY WOULD BE VERY GRIEVED
AND I TOLD HER THAT OUR BLESSED LADY DIDN'T GIVE TWO HOOTS
WHETHER I PUT MY GYM SHOES ON THE LEFT
OR THE RIGHT OF MY DANCING SHOES.
REVEREND MOTHER WAS LIVID.
CORDELIA, OUR LADY CARES ABOUT OBEDIENCE.
BRIDEY, DON'T BE SO PIOUS.
WE'VE AN ATHEIST IN OUR MIDST.
AGNOSTIC. REALLY!
WHAT WERE THE ENTRIES LIKE THIS YEAR?
WERE YOU PLEASED?
NO, THE STANDARD WAS REMARKABLY LOW.
NOT A DECENT ANIMAL TO CHOSE BETWEEN. IF I'D HAD MY WAY
NO PRIZES WOULD HAVE BEEN AWARDED.
IT WOULD HAVE SERVED RANDAL RIGHT.
CORDELIA!
BY THE WAY, DID I TELL YOU I'D SEEN THE BISHOP OF LONDON?
NO, BRIDEY, YOU DIDN'T.
HE WANTS TO CLOSE THE CHAPEL.
HE COULDN'T.
DO YOU THINK MUMMY WOULD LET HIM?
THERE ARE SO FEW OF US. IT ISN'T AS THOUGH WE'RE OLD CATHOLICS
WITH EVERYONE ON THE ESTATE COMING TO MASS.
DOES THAT MEAN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DRIVE MILES ON WINTER MORNINGS?
WE MUST HAVE THE BLESSED SACRAMENTS HERE.
I LIKE POPPING IN AT ODD TIMES, SO DOES MUMMY.
SO DO I BUT IT'LL HAVE TO GO SOONER OR LATER
PERHAPS AFTER MUMMY'S TIME.
NO THANK YOU
THE POINT IS WHETHER IT WOULDN'T BE A BETTER TO LET IT GO NOW.
YOU'RE AN ARTIST, RYDER. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF IT AESTHETICALLY?
I THINK IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
IS IT GOOD ART?
WELL, I DON'T QUITE KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.
OH, BRIDEY, STOP BEING SO JESUITICAL.
I'M SORRY, I THOUGHT IT WAS AN INTERESTING POINT.
WELL, IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME. I MUST TAKE SEBASTIAN AWAY
FOR HALF AN HOUR. THERE ARE SOME FAMILY MATTERS TO DEAL WITH.
IT'S TIME YOU WERE IN BED, CORDELIA.
MUST DIGEST FIRST. I'M NOT USED TO GORGING
LIKE THIS AT NIGHT.
I'LL TALK TO CHARLES.
"CHARLES?", "CHARLES? MR RYDER TO YOU, CHILD.
SEND HER TO BED IF SHE'S A BORE.
ARE YOU REALLY AN AGNOSTIC?
DO YOUR FAMILY ALWAYS TALK ABOUT RELIGION ALL THE TIME?
NOT ALL THE TIME. IT'S A SUBJECT THAT COMES UP NATURALLY, DOESN'T IT?
DOES IT? IT NEVER HAS WITH ME BEFORE.
THEN PERHAPS YOU ARE AN AGNOSTIC.
I'LL PRAY FOR YOU. THANK YOU.
I'M SURE IT'S MORE THAN I DESERVE.
OH, I'VE GOT HARDER CASES THAN YOU.
I'VE GOT LLOYD GEORGE, THE KAISER
AND OLIVE BANKS.
WHO'S SHE?
SHE GOT BUNKED LAST TERM FROM THE CONVENT.
THE REVEREND MOTHER FOUND SOMETHING SHE'D BEEN WRITING.
IF YOU WEREN'T AN AGNOSTIC, I SHOULD ASK YOU FOR FIVE SHILLINGS
TO BUY A BLACK GODDAUGHTER.
NOTHING WILL SURPRISE ME ABOUT YOUR RELIGION.
IT'S A NEW THING THAT A PRIEST STARTED LAST TERM.
YOU SEND FIVE BOB TO SOME NUNS IN AFRICA
AND THEY CHRISTEN A BABY AND NAME HER AFTER YOU.
I'VE GOT SIX BLACK CORDELIAS.
ISN'T THAT LOVELY?
THAT NIGHT I BEGAN TO REALISE HOW LITTLE I REALLY KNEW OF SEBASTIAN
AND TO UNDERSTAND WHY HE HAD ALWAYS SOUGHT TO KEEP ME APART
FROM THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
HE WAS LIKE A FRIEND MADE ON BOARD SHIP, ON THE HIGH SEAS
NOW WE HAD COME TO HIS HOME PORT.
SORRY I'VE BEEN IGNORING YOU. BRIDEY'S GOT ALL THESE PAPERS
HE WANTS ME TO TAKE TO PAPA.
I'D A NICE TALK
WITH CORDELIA.
SHE'S GOING TO PRAY FOR ME.
SHE MADE A NOVENA FOR HER PIG.
NOW COME ON. WE MUST PACK.
I'VE DECIDED YOU'D BETTER COME TO VENICE WITH ME.
BUT THAT'S ABSURD, I HAVEN'T GOT ANY MONEY.
I'VE THOUGHT OF THAT. WE LIVE OFF PAPA WHEN WE'RE THERE.
THE LAWYERS PAY MY FARE PLUS FIRST CLASS AND SLEEPER.
WE CAN BOTH TRAVEL THIRD FOR THAT.
YOU SEE. IT'S FIXED.
BUT I HAVEN'T GOT ANY CLOTHES FOR VENICE
OH, CHARLES
AND SO SEBASTIAN AND I CAME TO VENICE.
WE HAD TRAVELED ON THE LONG CHEAP ROUTE
BY BOAT AND TRAIN, ON WOODEN SEATS
IN HOT CARRIAGES
FILLED WITH PEASANTS AND THE SMELL OF GARLIC
AS THE SUN MOUNTED HIGHER
AND THE COUNTRY BEGAN TO GLOW WITH HEAT.
YOU'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE?
NO.
I CAME ONCE, FROM THE SEA.
THIS IS THE WAY TO ARRIVE.
DOVE SITE STATI
S�, S�, S�
HELLO, PLENDER. HELLO, MY LORD.
HOW ARE YOU? VERY WELL, THANK YOU.
MR RYDER.
HOW DO YOU DO, SIR? HOW DO YOU DO?
WE EXPECTED YOU ON THE MORNING EXPRESS.
HIS LORDSHIP THOUGHT YOU MUST HAVE LOOKED UP THE TRAIN WRONG.
AH, WELL. WE CAME THIRD.
HIS LORDSHIP SAID TO TELL YOU THAT HE WAS AT THE LIDO.
DID HE?
QUICK MARIA, HAVE YOU GOT THE TOWELS READY?
YES, YES. THE BOYS ARE BRINGING THEM.
SI, SI.
THIS IS YOUR ROOM, MY LORD, THE ONE YOU HAD BEFORE.
RIGHT, THANK YOU.
MR RYDER. YOU'RE NEXT DOOR, SIR.
YOUR ROOMS ARE READY, MY LORDS.
THE LUGGAGE HAS ARRIVED.
SCUSE.
MOSQUITOES.
MOSTICA NOT NOW.
MAKE HOT WASH.
IF I MAY SIR.
SOMETIMES THE BATH DOES NOT WORK BUT
SIGNOR PLENDER IS VERY CLEVER HE WILL MEND IT.
IT'S THIS VENETIAN PLUMBING, MY LORD. IT'S NOT TO BE TRUSTED.
I'LL GET SOME HOT WATER.
PRESTO.
PRESTO MARIA, PORTI DELL ACQUA CALDE PER LE CAMERE DEI SIGNORI.
IT'S A BIT BLEAK.
BLEAK?
COME HERE.
NOW LOOK AT THAT.
I DON'T THINK YOU COULD CALL IT BLEAK.
THERE YOU ARE. SOME NICE HOT WATER FOR YOU TO WASH IN AFTER YOUR JOURNEY.
HOT WASH? NOT SO HOT WASH.
IL SIGNOR MARCHESE ARRIVATO. IL SIGNOR MARCHESE.
PRESTO, PRESTO.
BETTER LOOK RESPECTABLE TO MEET PAPA.
PLENDER, IS MY FATHER ALONE? AT THE MOMENT, MY LORD, YES.
GOOD. CHARLES, WE NEEDN'T DRESS FOR DINNER.
DARLING PAPA. GOODNESS, HOW YOUNG YOU'RE LOOKING.
THIS IS CHARLES, PAPA.
CHARLES DON'T YOU THINK MY FATHER VERY HANDSOME?
HOW DO YOU DO? HOW DO YOU DO, SIR?
WHOEVER LOOKED UP YOUR TRAIN MADE A BETISE.
THERE'S NO SUCH ONE. WE CAME ON IT.
YOU CAN'T HAVE DONE. THERE'S ONLY A SLOW TRAIN FROM MILAN AT THAT TIME.
I'VE JUST BEEN TO THE LIDO.
I'VE TAKEN TO PLAYING TENNIS THERE WITH A PROFESSIONAL
IN THE EARLY PART OF THE EVENING.
IT IS THE ONLY TIME OF DAY WHEN IT'S NOT TOO HOT.
HOW VERY ENERGETIC OF YOU, PAPA.
I HOPE YOU BOYS WILL BE COMFORTABLE. MY ROOM'S WONDERFUL.
THIS HOUSE WAS BUILT FOR THE COMFORT OF ONE PERSON ONLY.
I AM THAT PERSON. I HAVE A ROOM THIS SIZE AND
A VERY SPLENDID DRESSING ROOM BESIDES.
CARA HAS TAKEN POSSESSION OF THE ONLY OTHER SUITABLE ROOM.
HOW IS SHE? CARA?
SHE'S GONE TO VISIT SOME AMERICANS AT A VILLA ON THE BRENTA CANAL.
SHE'LL BE BACK WITH US TOMORROW.
SO WHAT SHALL WE DO TONIGHT, PAPA?
OH, WE COULD GO TO THE LUNA, THOUGH IT'S GETTING VERY FILLED UP
WITH ENGLISH PEOPLE NOW, OR WOULD IT BE TOO DULL TO STAY HERE?
CARA IS BOUND TO WANT TO GO OUT TOMORROW.
NO, NO. THAT WOULD BE LOVELY.
WELL, WE DINE AT EIGHT. WE COULD GO OUT AND HAVE A DRINK FIRST.
I HAD BEEN FULL OF CURIOSITY TO MEET LORD MARCHMAIN.
WHEN I DID SO I WAS FIRST STRUCK BY HIS NORMALITY
WHICH, AS I SAW MORE OF HIM
I FOUND TO BE STUDIED.
IT WAS AS THOUGH HE WERE CONSCIOUS OF A BYRONIC AURA
WHICH HE CONSIDERED TO BE IN BAD TASTE AND WAS AT PAINS TO SUPPRESS.
WHY, I WONDER, ARE ITALIANS ALWAYS SUPPOSED
TO BE SO GOOD AT SWEET?
WE HAD AN ITALIAN PASTRY COOK AT BRIDESHEAD
UNTIL MY FATHER'S DAY. THEN WE CHANGED TO AN AUSTRIAN
SO MUCH BETTER.
NOW, I SUPPOSE, THERE IS A BRITISH MATRON WITH BEEFY FOREARMS.
HOW DO YOU TWO PROPOSE TO SPEND YOUR TIME HERE? BATHING OR SIGHTSEEING?
WELL, I SHOULD LIKE TO DO SOME SIGHTSEEING.
UM, CARA WILL LOVE THAT. YOU CAN'T DO BOTH THINGS.
CHARLES IS VERY KEEN ON PAINTING.
YES? YES.
ANY PARTICULAR VENETIAN PAINTER?
BELLINI. AH, WHICH ONE?
I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WERE TWO.
THERE ARE THREE, TO BE PRECISE. PAINTING THEN WAS VERY MUCH A FAMILY BUSINESS.
HOW WAS ENGLAND WHEN YOU LEFT?
IT'S BEEN LOVELY THIS SUMMER. WAS IT? WAS IT?
IT'S MY TRAGEDY THAT I ABOMINATE THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE.
I SUPPOSE IT'S VERY WRONG TO INHERIT GREAT RESPONSIBILITIES
AND BE ENTIRELY INDIFFERENT TO THEM.
I AM ALL THAT THE SOCIALISTS WOULD HAVE ME BE
AND A GREAT STUMBLING BLOCK TO MY OWN PARTY.
HOWEVER, NO DOUBT MY ELDER SON WILL CHANGE ALL THAT
IF THEY LEAVE HIM ANYTHING TO INHERIT.
HE'S RATHER A POPPET, ISN'T HE?
DON'T WORRY. HE'S REALLY VERY SWEET UNDERNEATH.
HE DOES FRIGHTEN ME A BIT. YOU'LL SOON GET USED TO THAT.
WELL, SHALL WE WALK, OR TAKE A CAB?
OH, I THINK A CAB.
OKAY?
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO? I DON'T KNOW.
I'LL SHOW YOU SOMETHING VERY, VERY SPECIAL.
THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS, ST MARKS
LORD MARCHMAIN'S MISTRESS APPEARED THE NEXT DAY.
BON GIORNO, CARA. BON GIORNO.
I WAS COMPLETELY IGNORANT OF WOMEN AND COULD NOT WITH ANY CERTAINTY
RECOGNIZE A PROSTITUTE IN THE STREETS.
I WAS NOT THEREFORE INDIFFERENT TO THE FACT OF LIVING
UNDER THE SAME ROOF AS AN ADULTEROUS COUPLE.
BUT I WAS OLD ENOUGH TO HIDE MY INTEREST.
LORD MARCHMAIN'S MISTRESS, THEREFORE, FOUND ME WITH A MULTITUDE
OF CONFLICTING EXPECTATIONS ABOUT HER
ALL OF WHICH WERE, FOR THE MOMENT, DISAPPOINTED
BY HER APPEARANCE.
HOW LOVELY TO SEE YOU, SEBASTIAN.
YOU MUST BE CHARLES. HOW DO YOU DO.
MY DEAR.
ALEX, VITTORIO COROMBONNA HAS ASKED US TO HER BALL.
SHALL WE ACCEPT?
IT'S VERY KIND OF HER. BUT, AS YOU KNOW, I DO NOT DANCE.
NO, BUT FOR THE BOYS IT IS A THING TO BE SEEN
THE COROMBONNA PALACE ALL LIT UP FOR A BALL
AND ONE DOES NOT KNOW HOW MANY SUCH BALLS THERE WILL BE IN THE FUTURE.
THE BOYS MUST DO AS THEY LIKE, BUT WE MUST REFUSE.
AND I HAVE ASKED MRS. HACKING BRUNNER TO LUNCHEON.
SHE HAS A CHARMING DAUGHTER. SEBASTIAN AND HIS FRIEND WILL LIKE HER.
SEBASTIAN AND HIS FRIEND ARE MORE INTERESTED IN BELLINI
THAN HEIRESSES.
OH, BUT THAT'S WHAT I'VE ALWAYS WISHED.
I HAVE BEEN HERE MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT
AND ALEX HAS NEVER LET ME INSIDE SAN MARCO EVEN.
LET'S BECOME TOURISTS. THERE'S AN EXTRAORDINARY LITTLE MAN
DAISY GUZZOLI'S UNCLE. HE KNOWS EVERYBODY.
HE'LL MAKE A MARVELOUS GUIDE.
AND NOW OFF TO SEE OUR WORKS OF ART. TIEPOLO, TINTERETTO, BELLINI
SO WE BECAME TOURISTS. ALL DOORS WERE OPEN
TO CARA'S LITTLE VENETIAN NOBLEMAN.
WITH HIM AND A GUIDE BOOK SHE CAME WITH US
FLAGGING SOMETIMES, BUT NEVER GIVING UP.
A NEAT, PROSAIC FIGURE AMID THE IMMENSE SPLENDORS OF THE PLACE.
AS A CHILD I HAD NO RELIGION. I WAS TAKEN TO CHURCH WEEKLY
AND AT SCHOOL ATTENDED TO CHAPEL DAILY.
BUT, AS THOUGH IN COMPENSATION
FROM THE TIME I WENT TO MY PUBLIC SCHOOL
I WAS EXCUSED CHURCH ON THE HOLIDAYS.
THE VIEW IMPLICIT IN MY EDUCATION
WAS THAT THE BASIC NARRATIVE OF CHRISTIANITY
HAD LONG BEEN EXPOSED AS A MYTH.
AND THAT OPINION WAS NOW DIVIDED AS
TO WHETHER ITS ETHICAL TEACHING WAS OF PRESENT VALUE.
A DIVISION IN WHICH THE MAIN WEIGHT WENT AGAINST IT.
RELIGION WAS A HOBBY WHICH SOME PEOPLE
PROFESSED AND OTHERS DID NOT.
AT THE BEST, IT WAS SLIGHTLY ORNAMENTAL.
AT THE WORST, IT WAS THE PROVINCE OF COMPLEXES AND INHIBITIONS.
CATCHWORDS OF THE DECADE,
AND OF THE INTOLERANCE, HYPOCRISY AND SHEER STUPIDITY
ATTRIBUTED TO IT FOR CENTURIES.
NO ONE HAD EVER SUGGESTED TO ME THAT
THESE QUAINT OBSERVANCES
EXPRESSED A COHERENT PHILOSOPHICAL SYSTEM.
AND IN TRANSIGENTS HISTORICAL CLAIMS.
NOR HAD THEY DONE SO WOULD I HAVE BEEN MUCH INTERESTED.
MY FATHER DID NOT GO TO CHURCH
EXCEPT ON FAMILY OCCASIONS, AND THEN WITH DERISION.
MY MOTHER, I THINK, WAS DEVOUT.
IT ONCE SEEMED ODD TO ME THAT SHE SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT
IT HER DUTY TO LEAVE MY FATHER AND ME
AND GO OFF WITH AN AMBULANCE TO SERBIA
TO DIE OF EXHAUSTION IN THE SNOW IN BOSNIA.
BUT I LATER RECOGNIZED SOME SUCH SPIRIT IN MYSELF.
LATER, TOO, I HAVE COME TO ACCEPT CLAIMS WHICH THEN IN 1923
I NEVER TROUBLED TO EXAMINE
AND TO ACCEPT THE SUPERNATURAL AS THE REAL.
BUT I WAS AWARE OF NO SUCH NEEDS THAT SUMMER.
SOME DAYS LIFE KEPT PACE WITH THE GONDOLA
AS WE NOSED THROUGH THE SIDE CANALS
AND THE BOATMAN UTTERED
HIS PLAINTIVE MUSICAL BIRD CRY OF WARNING.
AND OTHER DAYS, WITH THE SPEED BOAT, BOUNCING OVER THE LAGOONS
THE STREAM OF SUNLIT FELL ON ME.
EVERY MORNING AFTER BREAKFAST, SEBASTIAN, CARA AND I
WOULD LEAVE THE PALACE BY THE STREET DOOR
AND WANDER THROUGH A MAZE OF BRIDGES AND SQUARES AND ALLEYS
TO FLORIEN�S FOR COFFEE.
AND WATCHED THE GRAVE CROWDS CROSSING AND RECROSSING
UNDER THE CAMPANILE.
I WAS DROWNING IN HONEY, STINGLESS.
THE FORTNIGHT AT VENICE PASSED
QUICKLY AND SWEETLY, PERHAPS TOO SWEETLY.
IT LEFT A CONFUSED MEMORY OF FIERCE SUNLIGHT ON THE SANDS,
OF COOL, MARBLE INTERIORS,
OF WATER EVERYWHERE, LAPPING ON SMOOTH STONE
REFLECTED IN A DAPPLE OF LIGHT ON PAINTED CEILINGS,
OF A NIGHT AT THE COROMBONNA PALACE SUCH AS BYRON MIGHT HAVE KNOWN.
I REMEMBER MOST PARTICULARLY ONE
CONVERSATION TOWARDS THE END OF MY VISIT.
SEBASTIAN HAD GONE TO PLAY TENNIS WITH HIS FATHER,
AND CARA AT LAST ADMITTED TO FATIGUE.
WE SAT IN THE LATE AFTERNOON AT THE WINDOWS
OVERLOOKING THE GRAND CANAL.
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE HAD BEEN ALONE TOGETHER.
I THINK YOU'RE VERY FOND OF SEBASTIAN.
CERTAINLY.
I KNOW OF THESE ROMANTIC FRIENDSHIPS
OF THE ENGLISH AND THE GERMANS.
THEY ARE NOT LATIN.
I THINK THEY ARE VERY GOOD IF THEY DON'T GO ON TOO LONG.
IT IS A KIND OF LOVE THAT COMES TO CHILDREN
BEFORE THEY KNOW ITS MEANING.
IN ENGLAND IT COMES A LITTLE LATER, WHEN YOU ARE ALMOST MEN.
I THINK I LIKE THAT.
I THINK IT'S BETTER TO HAVE THIS FIRST KIND OF LOVE FOR A BOY
THAN FOR A GIRL.
ALEX, YOU SEE, HAD IT FOR A GIRL, HIS WIFE.
DO YOU THINK HE LOVES ME?
REALLY, CARA, YOU DO ASK THE MOST EMBARRASSING QUESTIONS.
HOW SHOULD I KNOW? I ASSUME.
HE DOES NOT. BUT NOT THE LITTLEST PIECE.
BUT THEN WHY DOES HE STAY WITH YOU?
BECAUSE I PROTECT HIM FROM LADY MARCHMAIN. HE HATES HER.
BUT YOU CAN HAVE NO CONCEPTION HOW HE HATES HER.
MY FRIEND, HE IS A VOLCANO OF HATE.
HE CAN'T BREATHE THE SAME AIR AS SHE.
HE WON'T SET FOOT IN ENGLAND
BECAUSE IT'S HER HOME.
HE CAN SCARCELY BE HAPPY WITH SEBASTIAN BECAUSE HE'S HER SON.
BUT SEBASTIAN HATES HER, TOO.
OH NO, I THINK YOU'RE WRONG THERE.
HE MAY NOT ADMIT IT TO YOU.
HE MAY NOT ADMIT IT TO HIMSELF.
THEY ARE FULL OF HATE.
HATE OF THEMSELVES, ALEX AND HIS FAMILY.
AND HOW HAS SHE DESERVED ALL THIS HATE?
SHE'S DONE NOTHING EXCEPT TO BE LOVED
BY SOMEONE WHO WAS NOT GROWN UP.
WHEN PEOPLE HATE WITH ALL THAT ENERGY
IT'S SOMETHING IN THEMSELVES THEY ARE HATING.
ALEX IS HATING ALL THE ILLUSIONS OF BOYHOOD.
INNOCENCE. GOD. HOPE.
SEBASTIAN IS IN LOVE WITH HIS OWN CHILDHOOD.
THAT WILL MAKE HIM VERY UNHAPPY.
HIS TEDDY-BEAR, HIS NANNY
AND HE IS NINETEEN YEARS OLD.
HOW GOOD IT IS TO SIT IN THE SHADE AND TALK OF LOVE.
COME, LET'S GO AND MEET THEM.
SEBASTIAN DRINKS TOO MUCH.
I SUPPOSE WE BOTH DO.
WITH YOU IT DOESN'T MATTER. I'VE WATCHED YOU TOGETHER.
WITH SEBASTIAN IT'S DIFFERENT. HE'LL BECOME A DRUNKARD
IF SOMEONE DOESN'T COME TO STOP HIM.
I HAVE KNOWN SO MANY. ALEX WAS NEARLY A DRUNKARD
WHEN I MET HIM. IT'S IN THE BLOOD.
I SEE IT IN THE WAY SEBASTIAN DRINKS.
IT'S NOT YOUR WAY.
CARA! ENGLISH WEATHER!
WELL, THANK GOD, IT'S DRIVEN THE ENGLISH AWAY.
IT IS SAD FOR THE BOYS' LAST DAY.
WE ARRIVED BACK THE DAY BEFORE THIRD TERM BEGAN.
ON THE WAY FROM CHARRING CROSS I DROPPED SEBASTIAN
IN FRONT OF MARCHMAIN HOUSE,
HIS FAMILY'S LONDON HOME ON THE EDGE OF GREEN PARK.
GOOD MORNING, AUSTIN.
WELL MARCHERS.
I WON'T ASK YOU IN BECAUSE THE PLACE IS PROBABLY FULL OF MY FAMILY.
SEE YOU IN OXFORD.
HAVE A GOOD JOURNEY UP TOMORROW.
THE TAXI TOOK ME ALL ALONE TO BAYSWATER.
WHERE MY FATHER GREETED ME WITH HIS USUAL AIR OF MILD REGRET.
HERE TODAY AND GONE TOMORROW. I SEEM TO SEE VERY LITTLE OF YOU.
PERHAPS IT'S DULL FOR YOU HERE. HOW ELSE COULD IT BE OTHERWISE?
HAVE YOU ENJOYED YOURSELF?
VERY MUCH.
I WENT TO VENICE. YES. YES. I SUPPOSE SO.
THE WEATHER WAS FINE? YES, FATHER.
THAT FRIEND YOU WERE SO CONCERNED ABOUT DID HE DIE?
NO. I WENT TO VENICE WITH HIM.
I'M VERY THANKFUL. YOU SHOULD HAVE WRITTEN TO TELL ME.
I WORRIED ABOUT HIM SO MUCH.
IT IS SO TYPICAL OF OXFORD TO START ITS NEW YEAR IN THE AUTUMN.
I FEEL POSITIVELY ONE HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
I WAS GIVEN A TALKING TO BY MONSIGNOR BELL THIS AFTERNOON,
MY TUTOR YESTERDAY AND THE JUNIOR DEAN,
AND NOW I'VE GOT TO FACE MR SAMGRASS OF ALL SOULS.
THAT WILL MAKE THE FOURTH IN TWO DAYS.
WHO'S MR SAMGRASS OF ALL SOULS?
JUST SOMEONE OF MUMMY'S.
THEY ALL SAY THAT I MADE SUCH A BAD START LAST YEAR
THAT I'VE BEEN NOTICED AND THAT IF I DO NOT MEND MY WAYS
I SHALL HAVE TO BE SENT DOWN.
OH, CHARLES, WHAT'S HAPPENED TO US SINCE LAST TERM?
I FEEL SO OLD.
I FEEL POSITIVELY MIDDLE-AGED,
WHICH IS INFINITELY WORSE.
WELL, I'M GLAD WE HAD THIS LITTLE TALK.
YOUR MOTHER WILL BE SO PLEASED.
WOULD YOU CARE FOR A GLASS OF SHERRY? I THINK I SHALL INDULGE IN ONE MYSELF.
THANK YOU.
DID YOUR MOTHER TELL YOU THAT I AM DOING A LITTLE WORK FOR HER?
YOU KNOW IT WAS SHE WHO FELT SO KEENLY THAT WE SHOULD MEET.
SHE DID TELL YOU, DIDN'T SHE?
SHE MAY HAVE DONE. I REALLY CAN'T REMEMBER.
WELL, I MUST GO.
SHE HAS ENTRUSTED ME WITH THE COMPILATION OF A MEMORIAL WORK
ON HER BROTHER NED.
I SAY WORK, BUT, OF COURSE, IT GIVES ME IMMENSE PLEASURE.
AND WHAT A DELIGHT TO WORK AT BRIDESHEAD,
QUITE MY FAVORITE HOUSE IN ENGLAND.
I'M GLAD YOU LIKE IT.
I HAVE AN ESSAY TO WRITE. YES, OF COURSE.
WELL, REMEMBER WHAT I'VE SAID. I AM SURE WE SHALL ENJOY
OUR EXPLORATION TOGETHER AND YOU KNOW THAT
ANY SUCCESS IN THE FIELDS OF ACADEME
WOULD BRING GREAT PLEASURE TO YOUR MOTHER.
YES, THANK YOU. GOODBYE. GOODBYE, SEBASTIAN.
MR SAMGRASS AND HIS LITTLE TALKS
WERE TO PLAY AN INCREASINGLY LARGE PART
IN OUR LIVES.
SEBASTIAN SPOKE LESS THAN THE TRUTH WHEN HE DESCRIBED HIM AS
SOMEONE OF MUMMY'S. HE WAS SOMEONE
OF ALMOST EVERYONE WHO POSSESSED SOMETHING TO ATTRACT HIM.
I'M SUPPOSED TO MEND MY WAYS, CHARLES.
I MEAN, HOW DOES ONE MEND ONE'S WAYS?
JOIN THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION? READ "ISIS" EVERY WEEK?
DRINK COFFEE EVERY MORNING AT THE CADENA CAF�?
THAT WOULD BE A START.
YOU COULD SMOKE A GREAT PIPE AND PLAY HOCKEY
AND GO TO TEA ON BOAR'S HILL.
YES, YES AND I COULD GO TO LECTURES AT KEBLE.
I COULD BUY ONE OF THOSE LITTLE BICYCLES
WITH A TRAY OF BOOKS ON IT.
I COULD DRINK COCOA EVERY EVENING
AND DISCUSS SEX SERIOUSLY.
VERY SERIOUSLY.
ANTHONY BLANCHE HAS GONE DOWN.
HE WROTE ME A LETTER.
HE SAID HE'S TAKEN A FLAT IN MUNICH
AND STARTED A RELATIONSHIP WITH A POLICEMAN.
I SHALL MISS HIM. YES. I SHALL, TOO
IN A WAY.
ANTHONY BLANCHE HAD TAKEN SOMETHING AWAY WITH HIM
WHEN HE WENT. HE HAD LOCKED A DOOR
AND HUNG THE KEY ON HIS CHAIN.
ALL HIS FRIENDS, AMONG WHOM HE HAD ALWAYS BEEN A STRANGER
NEEDED HIM NOW.
SEBASTIAN AND I KEPT VERY MUCH TO OUR OWN COMPANY THAT TERM
EACH SO MUCH BOUND UP IN THE OTHER
THAT WE DID NOT NEED TO LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR FRIENDS.
MY COUSIN JASPER HAD TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL TO SPEND ONE'S SECOND YEAR
SHAKING OFF THE FRIENDS OF ONE'S FIRST
AND IT HAPPENED AS HE HAD SAID.
MOST OF MY FRIENDS WERE THOSE I HAD MADE
THROUGH SEBASTIAN AND TOGETHER WE SHED THEM
AND MADE NO OTHERS.
I KEPT TO TENUOUS CONNECTION WITH THE HISTORY SCHOOL
WROTE MY TWO ESSAYS A WEEK AND ATTENDED
THE OCCASIONAL LECTURE.
THUS, SOBERLY DRESSED AND HAPPILY EMPLOYED
I BECAME A FAIRLY RESPECTABLE MAN
IN MY COLLEGE.
AND THAT IS HOW LADY MARCHMAIN FOUND US
WHEN EARLY IN THAT MICHAELMAS TERM
SHE CAME FOR A WEEK TO OXFORD.
MR RYDER. A LADY'S BEEN HERE, ASKING FOR YOU.
SHE LEFT THIS MESSAGE. THANK YOU, OAKES.
I AM SO PLEASED TO HAVE FOUND YOU, CHARLES.
I MAY CALL YOU CHARLES? OF COURSE.
I FEEL I KNOW YOU SO WELL FROM SEBASTIAN.
I'VE JUST HAD LUNCHEON WITH HIM
AND MR SAMGRASS. DO YOU KNOW WHO I MEAN?
YOU MAY HAVE MET. HE'S A VERY CLEVER HISTORY DON AT ALL SOULS.
HE'S BEEN TAKING A GREAT INTEREST IN SEBASTIAN.
YES, I HEARD.
I HOPE SEBASTIAN WILL APPRECIATE HIS INTEREST.
I WAS SO SORRY TO HAVE MISSED YOU WHEN YOU WERE AT BRIDESHEAD.
EVERYONE LOVES YOUR PAINTINGS IN THE GARDEN ROOM.
WELL, IT WAS VERY KIND OF YOU TO LET ME STAY SO LONG.
I THINK IT WAS SEBASTIAN WHO WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU
WITH HIM ALL THAT TIME.
IS IT TRUE, AS MR SAMGRASS TELLS ME
THAT YOU'RE MY SON'S ONLY FRIEND THIS TERM?
WELL, SOME PEOPLE HAVE GONE DOWN I SUPPOSE
PERHAPS I AM. WE DO SPEND A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER.
I'M GLAD OF IT. I'M SURE I HAVE REASON
TO BE GRATEFUL TO YOU, CHARLES, TOO. FRIENDSHIPS LIKE YOURS
CAN BE SUCH A HELP.
SHE ACCEPTED ME AS SEBASTIAN'S FRIEND
AND SOUGHT TO MAKE ME HERS ALSO
AND IN DOING SO UNWITTINGLY STRUCK AT THE ROOTS OF OUR FRIENDSHIP.
THAT IS THE SINGLE REPROACH I HAVE TO SET
AGAINST HER ABUNDANT KINDNESS TO ME.
ONE MORNING, A WEEK OR TWO LATER
JULIA ARRIVED IN OXFORD, DRIVEN BY A MAN
WHOM SHE INTRODUCE AS MR MOTTRAM AND ADDRESSED AS REX.
THEY BOTH JOINED A SMALL LUNCH PARTY IN MY ROOMS.
ONE OF THE LAST OF THE OLD KIND THAT I GAVE.
HOW MUCH WAS IT? OH, JUST A FEW GUINEAS.
SO THE H.R.H. ENDED UP HAVING TO PAY ME
HE CAN'T HAVE BEEN MORE THAN THIRTY AT THE TIME WE MET HIM
BUT REX SEEMED VERY OLD TO US IN OXFORD.
HE'D ARRIVED FROM CANADA AFTER THE WAR
HAD BECOME A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
A GAMBLER AND A GOOD FELLOW. LUCKY WITH MONEY.
YOU MUST REMEMBER, MR RYDER, HE'S A COLONIAL
AREN'T YOU, DARLING?
HE'S NEVER BEEN TO ANY SORT OF UNIVERSITY.
LUCKY YOU.
WELL, IT JUST MEANS YOU START LIFE ABOUT THREE YEARS BEHIND THE OTHER FELLOW.
AND REX HAS NEVER STAYED ANYWHERE FOR THREE YEARS
HAVE YOU, DARLING?
HE'S TOLD ME SOME VERY RICH STORIES INDEED.
I REMEMBER ONE ABOUT TWO UNDERGRADUATES AND A GOOSE.
REX KNOWS EVERYONE.
DAMN! MY CIGARETTES. REX?
DON'T WORRY. I'LL GET THEM.
THEY ARE IN THE CAR.
EXCUSE ME, GENTLEMEN.
JULIA TREATED HIM AS SHE SEEMED TO TREAT ALL THE WORLD
WITH MILD DISDAIN, BUT WITH AN AIR OF POSSESSION.
LOOK, I'M HELPING TO ORGANIZE A GHASTLY CHARITY BALL IN LONDON
NEXT MONTH.
YOU TWO ABSOLUTELY MUST COME.
REX IS HAVING A DINNER PARTY FIRST.
I DON'T SEE WHY WE SHOULD. OH, BUT YOU MUST.
THE TROUBLE WITH REX IS HE DOESN'T KNOW ANYBODY YOUNG.
ALL HIS FRIENDS ARE LEATHERY OLD SHARKS IN THE CITY
AND DREARY MPS.
WELL, WE'LL SEE.
COME ON CHARLES.
SORRY. LUNT'S BEEN PLAYING GAMES WITH MY CUFFLINKS.
BOY, YOU'RE NOT COMING, ARE YOU?
YES, AREN'T I? DELIGHTED DEAR BOY, DELIGHTED.
I SUPPOSE I SHALL HAVE TO GO IN THE BACK.
I SUPPOSE YOU REALISE THAT THIS GOING TO BE
THE MOST STUPEFYINGLY BORING BALL OF THE SEASON?
OH, I DON'T KNOW. I HAVEN'T BEEN TO MANY BALLS THIS SEASON.
IT'S SO DREARY THIS TERM, ANYTHING WOULD MAKE A CHANGE.
DON�T DRIVE LIKE THIS. IT MAKES ME SICK,
SEBASTIAN AND I
WOULD SPEND THE NIGHT AT MARCHMAIN HOUSE, SO WE WENT THERE TO DRESS
AND WHILE WE DRESSED DRANK A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE.
ONE, TWO, THREE.
I CAN'T DO IT! TRY.
BUT YOU'RE HOLDING ME YOU CAN'T HAUL ME AROUND LIKE THAT!
GOD, JULIA. YOU'RE NOT EVEN CHANGED.
I KNOW. I'M GOING TO BE HORRIBLY LATE.
YOU'D BETTER GO ON TO REX'S WITHOUT ME.
YOU'RE VERY TEDIOUS.
IT'S HEAVENLY OF YOU TO COME.
WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE HIDEOUSLY BORED.
WELL, DON'T BE TOO LONG.
KEEP THEM HAPPY.
I SAY WHERE ON EARTH IS JULIA?
HOW SHOULD I KNOW?
PROBABLY GONE TO HAVE DINNER SOMEWHERE ELSE.
GOSH!
IT'S HER DANCE.
BUT HOW WILL SHE GET THERE WITHOUT US?
SHE'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
OH, REX, THAT ABSURD JEROBOAM.
WHY MUST YOU HAVE EVERYTHING SO BIG?
WON'T BE TOO BIG FOR US.
NOW LISTEN YOU CHAPS, LET'S CHUCK THIS GHASTLY DANCE AND GO TO MA MAYFIELD'S.
WHO'S MA MAYFIELD?
YOU KNOW MA MAYFIELD. EVERYONE KNOWS MA MAYFIELD
OF THE OLD HUNDREDTH, THE BEST CLUB IN TOWN.
I'VE GOT A REGULAR THERE, A SWEET LITTLE THING NAMED EFFIE.
THERE'D BE THE DEVIL TO PAY IF SHE HEARD I'D BEEN TO LONDON
AND HADN'T BEEN TO SEE HER. SO COME AND MEET EFFIE AT MA MAYFIELD'S.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO AND SEE EFFIE AT MA MAYFIELD'S.
WE'LL NEED ANOTHER BOTTLE OF POP OFF THE GOOD MOTTRAM
CUT THE BLOODY BALL AND THEN GO STRAIGHT TO MA MAYFIELD'S.
LOOK WHO'S HERE. AT LAST!
SORRY.
BRENDA. I'M SO GLAD YOU DIDN'T LET HIM
HOLD DINNER UP FOR ME. IT'S HIS CANADIAN COURTESY.
WELL, THANK GOD YOU'RE HERE. AT LAST WE CAN GO.
THIS IS ALL VERY WELL, BUT ARE YOU SURE YOU KNOW WHERE THIS PLACE IS?
OF COURSE I DO, 100 SINK STREET. IT'S JUST OFF LEICESTER SQUARE.
WE'LL TAKE THE CAR.
AREN'T WE GOING TO LOOK IN AT THE BALL?
OH CHARLES! IF YOU'VE SEEN ONE BALL YOU'VE SEEN THEM ALL.
BUT I WANT TO DANCE YOU CAN DANCE AT
MA MAYFIELD'S.
NOT THE SAME SORT OF DANCING. YOU HAD BETTER NOT DRIVE.
I'LL DRIVE
I KNOW THE WAY LIKE THE BACK OF MY HAND.
JUMP IN.
READY?
YES.
HOW DO YOU TURN THE BALLY LIGHTS OFF?
ASK HARDCASTLE.
GOOD EVENING. ARE YOU MEMBERS?
YOU WANT TO KEEP OUT OF THERE. YOU'LL BE POISONED
AND GIVEN A DOSE.
YOU MEMBERS?
MY NAME IS MULCASTER.
VISCOUNT MULCASTER.
I'M AN OLD FRIEND OF HIS MUM.
ALL RIGHT. TRY INSIDE.
YOU'LL BE ROBBED AND POISONED AND INFECTED AND ROBBED.
YOU'RE NOT MEMBERS HERE, ARE YOU DEARIE?
I SAY, THAT REALLY IS THE LIMIT! I'M EXTREMELY WELL KNOWN HERE.
YOU OUGHT TO KNOW ME BY NOW.
YES, DEARIE.
TEN BOB EACH.
THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. I'VE NEVER HAD TO PAY TO GET IN HERE BEFORE.
YOU'RE LUCKY DEARIE. WE'RE FULL UP. ANYONE WHO COMES IN AFTER YOU
IS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY A QUID.
LOOK, I INSIST. LET ME SPEAK TO MRS. MAYFIELD AT ONCE.
YOU'RE SPEAKING, DEARIE. I AM MRS. MAYFIELD.
WELL, MA. I REALLY AM IT'S SO DARK IN HERE
I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE YOU
IN YOUR FINERY.
YOU KNOW ME, DON'T YOU?
BOY MULCASTER!
THAT'S ALL RIGHT, DUCKIE. JUST GIVE US YOUR TEN BOB
EACH!
ALRIGHT CHAPS. I'LL DO IT.
IS EFFIE HERE THIS EVENING? WHO'S EFFIE?
EFFIE, ONE OF THE GIRLS WHO'S ALWAYS HERE.
THEY'VE GOT LOTS OF GIRLS WORKING HERE, SOME OF THEM'S DARK, SOME OF THEM'S FAIR.
SOME YOU MIGHT CALL PRETTY. I HAVEN'T GOT THE TIME TO NOTICE.
THIRTY BOB.
I SAY THAT'S A BIT STEEP.
I'M GOING TO TRY AND FIND EFFIE.
CIGARETTE? THANKS.
COME ON, WE'RE WASTING OUR TIME. THEY'RE ONLY FAIRIES.
LOOK YOU FELLOWS
I'VE FOUND HER. THIS IS EFFIE.
LORD SEBASTIAN FLYTE, CHARLES RYDER.
EFFIE
CAN YOU GIVE SOME TOAST?
THANK YOU.
THAT'S ANOTHER SIX BOB!
IT'S THE FIRST BITE I'VE HAD ALL EVENING YOU KNOW.
THE ONLY DECENT THING ABOUT THIS PLACE IS THE BREAKFAST.
YOU GET FAIR PECKISH HANGING ABOUT.
I SEEN YOU HERE BEFORE OFTEN HAVEN'T I?
I'M AFRAID NOT.
THEN IT MUST BE YOU I SEEN BEFORE.
I SHOULD RATHER HOPE SO. YOU HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN
OUR LITTLE EVENING IN SEPTEMBER, HAVE YOU?
NO, DARLING. YOU WERE THE BOY IN THE GUARDS
WHO CUT YOUR TOE, WASN'T YOU?
NOW, DON'T TEASE, EFFIE!
OH LORD
I KNOW! YOU WERE WITH BUNTY THAT TIME WE WERE RAIDED
AND WE ALL HID BEHIND THE DUSTBINS.
EFFIE LOVES PULLING MY LEG. SHE'S CROSS WITH ME
FOR HAVING STAYED AWAY SO LONG. AREN'T YOU, EFFIE?
WELL, I KNOW I�VE SEEN YOU SOMEWHERE BEFORE.
EFFIE, STOP TEASING. PLEASE.
I WASN'T MEANING TO.
DO YOU WANT TO DANCE? NOT JUST AT THE MOMENT.
THANK GOD FOR THAT! MY SHOES ARE PINCHING ME SOMETHING TERRIBLE TONIGHT.
FOR THE LADY, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT'S THIRTY BOB.
THANK YOU, SIR.
CHEERS. CHEERS.
WE'RE UNDER ATTACK.
OH LORD. DEATH'S HEAD AND THE SICKLY CHILD.
TELL THEM TO GO AWAY.
LADIES, DEAR LADIES. WOULD YOU CARE TO DANCE WITH MY FRIEND AND I?
WELL IF YOU REALLY WANT TO
WE DON'T MIND, DO WE?
WE THOUGHT YOU WERE FAIRIES AT FIRST, DIDN'T WE?
YEAH
WHEN YOU CAME IN, WE BOTH SAID, THOSE TWO ARE FAIRIES
DIDN'T WE, RENEE? YEAH, WELL THAT'S WHAT WE SAID.
WELL THAT'S WHAT YOU LOOKED LIKE.
THAT WAS BECAUSE OF OUR EXTREME YOUTH.
AND OUR EXTRAORDINARY PHYSICAL BEAUTY.
I THINK YOU'RE VERY SWEET REALLY.
I THINK YOU'RE VERY SWEET TOO.
HOW ABOUT A LITTLE PARTY? JUS THE SIX OF US OVER AT MY PLACE?
CERTAINLY.
BOY! WE'RE OFF TO A PARTY
JUST THE SIX OF US.
THIS VERY CHARMING YOUNG LADY SAYS SHE'S GOT SOMEWHERE TO GO.
I MUST GO AND TELL MRS. MAYFIELD WE'RE GOING OUT.
COME ON, EFFIE.
IT WAS STILL EARLY.
NOT LONG AFTER MIDNIGHT
WHEN WE REGAINED THE STREET.
THE COMMISSIONER HAD TRIED
TO PERSUADE US TO TAKE A TAXI
BUT WE PILE INTO HARDCASTLE'S CAR
AND THERE LAID OUR MISTAKE.
LET ME OUT OF THIS.
I'M SORRY IF I AM IMPEDING THE TRAFFIC, OFFICER
BUT THE YOUNG LADY INSISTED UPON MY STOPPING
SO THAT SHE COULD GET OUT.
SHE WOULD TAKE NO DENIAL. AS YOU WILL HAVE OBSERVED
SHE WAS PRESSED FOR TIME. A MATTER OF NERVES.
LET ME TALK TO HIM.
BE A SPORT, HANDSOME, NO ONE'S SEEN ANYTHING BUT YOU.
THE BOYS DON'T MEAN NO HARM. I'LL GET THEM INTO A TAXI
AND SEE THEM HOME ALRIGHT.
LOOK HERE, MY GOOD MAN
THERE'S NO NEED FOR YOU TO NOTICE ANYTHING.
WE'VE ALL BEEN TO MA MAYFIELD'S.
I RECKON MA MAYFIELD PAYS YOU A PRETTY GOOD RETAINER TO KEEP YOUR EYES SHUT.
WELL, YOU CAN KEEP YOUR EYES SHUT ON US AS WELL AND YOU WON'T BE THE LOSER BY IT.
MY GOD, YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!
DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?
I AM THE VISCOUNT MULCASTER! MY FATHER'S THE NINTH EARL!
OPEN THIS DOOR!
I INSIST ON SEEING A DOCTOR!
TELEPHONE THE HOME SECRETARY. SEND FOR MY SOLICITOR.
CHARLES, ARE YOU THERE?
YES. I AM HERE.
THIS IS A HELL OF A BUSINESS.
I TELL YOU THE PERSON TO SEND FOR, REX MOTTRAM.
HE'D BE IN HIS ELEMENT HERE.
WELL, YOU UNDERSTAND SIR, WE HAD TO DO OUR DUTY.
OF COURSE, SERGEANT.
THIS IS AN OUTRAGE. I DEMAND MY LEGAL RIGHTS.
IT WAS FOR THEIR PROTECTION, SIR. I'M SURE YOU DID THE RIGHT THING, SERGEANT.
WE DECIDED TO LET THE YOUNG LADIES GO, SIR.
CIGAR?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
SERGEANT
DO YOU THINK WE COULD KEEP THIS INCIDENT BETWEEN OURSELVES?
NO, SIR.
I'M AFRAID IT'S TOO LATE FOR THAT.
THE REPORT'S ALREADY GONE UPSTAIRS AND WE'VE TAKEN
THE YOUNG LADIES' NAMES AS WITNESSES.
I SEE.
MOTTRAM, I INTEND TO SUE FOR WRONGFUL ARREST. TELL HIM!
BE A GOOD FELLOW, MULCASTER. LEAVE ALL THE TALKING TO ME.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE, SERGEANT?
YES, SIR. IF YOU'D LIKE TO COMPLETE THE FORMALITIES
SIGN FOR THE SURETIES.
AND IF YOU GENTLEMEN WOULD LIKE TO SIGN FOR YOUR POSSESSIONS.
SIGN THERE PLEASE, SIR.
THANK YOU, SERGEANT.
THANK YOU SERGEANT GOOD NIGHT.
IT HAD BETTER BE ALL THERE!
WE HAD ALL SLEPT THAT NIGHT AT REX'S FLAT.
THANK YOU.
IN THE MORNING, THE DISPLAY WAS IMPRESSIVE.
HE CALLED A MAN ON THROMPOS
TO SHAVE US WHILE HIS VALET COLLECTED OUR CLOTHES
FROM MARCHMAIN HOUSE.
REX JOINED US AFTER BREAKFAST.
GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN. I TRUST YOU ARE FEELING A LITTLE BETTER.
THIS IS MR SELWYN WHO WILL BE REPRESENTING YOU.
LORD SEBASTIAN FLYTE.
HOW DO YOU DO? GOOD MORNING.
MR CHARLES RYDER.
HOW DO YOU DO? HOW DO YOU DO?
LORD MULCASTER.
HOW DO YOU DO? HELLO.
PLEASE SIT DOWN, SELWYN. THANK YOU.
SEBASTIAN'S IN A JAM.
HE'S LIABLE FOR ANYTHING UP TO SIX MONTH'S IMPRISONMENT
FOR BEING DRUNK IN CHARGE OF A CAR.
UNFORTUNATELY, YOU'LL COME UP BEFORE GRIGG.
HE TAKES A GRIM VIEW OF CASES OF THIS SORT.
NOW, ALL THAT WILL HAPPEN THIS MORNING IS THAT WE SHALL ASK TO HAVE
SEBASTIAN'S CASE HELD OVER FOR A WEEK TO PREPARE HIS DEFENSE.
BUT YOU TWO WILL PLEAD GUILTY
SAY YOU'RE SORRY AND PAY YOUR FIVE BOB FINE.
I'LL SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT SQUARING THINGS
WITH THE EVENING PAPERS.
THOUGH "THE STAR' COULD BE DIFFICULT.
NOW, THIS IS IMPORTANT
REMEMBER TO KEEP OUT ALL MENTION OF THE OLD HUNDREDTH.
NOW, LUCKILY THE TARTS WERE SOBER AND SO THEY'RE NOT BEING CHARGED
BUT THEY'VE TAKEN THEIR NAMES. IF WE TRY AND BREAK DOWN
THE POLICE EVIDENCE
THEY'LL BE CALLED AND USED AS WITNESSES.
WE MUST AVOID THAT AT ALL COSTS. RIGHT, MULCASTER?
GOOD.
WE HAVE TO SWALLOW THE POLICE STORY WHOLE
AND APPEAL TO THE MAGISTRATES' BETTER NATURE
NOT TO WRECK A YOUNG MAN'S CAREER
FOR THE SAKE OF A SINGLE BOYISH INDISCRETION.
IT'LL ALL WORK OUT ALRIGHT.
NOW, WE SHALL NEED A DON
TO GIVE EVIDENCE OF GOOD CHARACTER.
JULIA TELLS ME YOU HAVE A TAME ONE CALLED SAMGRASS. HE'LL DO.
MEANWHILE, YOU STORY IS SIMPLY THAT YOU CAME UP FROM OXFORD
FOR A PERFECTLY RESPECTABLE DANCE
WERE NOT USED TO WINE
HAD TOO MUCH AND THEN LOST THE WAY DRIVING HOME.
WELL, LET'S TAKE CARE OF THIS AND THEN SEE ABOUT FIXING THINGS
WITH THE AUTHORITIES UP IN OXFORD.
EVERYTHING HAPPENED AT COURT AS REX HAD PREDICTED.
AT HALF PAST TEN THAT MORNING, WE STOOD OUTSIDE
BOW STREET MAGISTRATES' COURT.
MULCASTER AND I HAD PAID OUR FINES
AND WERE FREE MEN.
SEBASTIAN WAS BOUND OVER TO APPEAR IN A WEEK'S TIME.
FIVE BOB IS MONSTROUS. THEY SHOULD HAVE CLEARED US.
THEY PUT THEMSELVES TOTALLY IN THE WRONG WHEN THEY REFUSED TO CALL MY SOLICITOR.
I DON'T SEE WHY THEY SHOULD GET AWAY WITH IT.
MULCASTER, IT'S ALL OVER NOW. ANYWAY, I'M OFF TO THE CITY.
MY GREAT UNCLE'S JUST SNUFFED IT. TAXI!
I SUPPOSE MUMMY'S GOT TO HEAR ABOUT IT. DAMN! DAMN! DAMN!
IT'S COLD.
WHY DON'T WE JUST GO BACK TO OXFORD AND WAIT FOR THEM TO BOTHER US?
WHY DON'T WE TELEPHONE JULIA?
I THINK I'LL GO ABROAD.
MY DEAR SEBASTIAN, ALL YOU'RE GOING TO BE IS FINED
A COUPLE OF QUID AND GIVEN A STIFF TALKING-TO.
YES, BUT IT'S ALL THE BOTHER
MUMMY AND BRIDEY AND THE FAMILY AND THE DONS.
I THINK I'D RATHER GO TO PRISON.
I MEAN, IF I JUST SLIP AWAY ABROAD, THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, CAN THEY?
CAN THEY? YES, THEY CAN.
THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE DO WHEN THEY'RE BEING CHASED BY THE POLICE.
I KNOW MUMMY'S GOING TO MAKE IT SEEM SHE HAS TO BEAR THE WHOLE BRUNT OF THE BUSINESS.
WHY DON'T WE CALL JULIA, ARRANGE TO MEET
AND TALK IT OVER WITH HER?
WELL, YOU ARE A PAIR OF PICKLES.
GOOD MORNING, JULIA.
I MUST SAY YOU LOOK REMARKABLY WELL ON IT.
THE ONLY TIME I GOT TIGHT I WAS PARALYZED ALL THE NEXT DAY.
I DO THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE TAKEN ME WITH YOU.
THE BALL WAS POSITIVELY LETHAL AND I'VE ALWAYS LONGED TO GO
TO THE OLD HUNDREDTH. NO ONE WILL EVER TAKE ME.
IS IT HEAVEN? YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT TOO?
REX TELEPHONED ME THIS MORNING AND TOLD ME EVERYTHING.
WHAT WERE YOUR GIRL FRIENDS LIKE? NOW, DON'T BE PRURIENT.
WELL, MINE WAS LIKE A SKULL.
MINE WAS LIKE A CONSUMPTIVE.
GOODNESS.
DOES MUMMY KNOW?
NOT ABOUT YOUR SKULLS AND CONSUMPTIVES. SHE KNOWS YOU WERE IN THE CLINK.
I TOLD HER. SHE WAS DIVINE ABOUT IT, OF COURSE.
IT'S MUMMY'S BEING DIVINE ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT WORRIES ME THE MOST.
I CAN'T THINK WHY YOU WENT AND STAYED WITH MR MOTTRAM.
YOU MIGHT HAVE COME AND TOLD ME ABOUT IT FIRST.
WELL, IT WASN�T REALLY VERY MUCH CHANCE, MAMA.
I AM SORRY IF
HOW AM I GOING TO EXPLAIN THIS TO THE FAMILY?
THEY WILL BE SO SURPRISED TO FIND
THAT THEY'RE MORE UPSET ABOUT IT THAN I AM.
DO YOU KNOW MY SISTER-IN-LAW, FANNY ROSCOMMON?
SHE HAS ALWAYS THOUGHT I BROUGHT MY CHILDREN UP BADLY.
NOW I'M BEGINNING TO THINK SHE MUST BE RIGHT.
MR SAMGRASS
DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE ANY USE
IF I SPOKE TO THE CHANCELLOR?
WELL, LADY MARCHMAIN, I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO MSGR BELL
AND PERSUADED HIM TO CALL ON THE DEAN
SHE'S BEEN PERFECTLY CHARMING. I DON'T SEE WHAT YOU WERE SO WORRIED ABOUT.
I CAN'T EXPLAIN.
MR SAMGRASS, HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN
LORD SEBASTIAN FLYTE?
SINCE HE FIRST CAME UP TO OXFORD.
I AM AN OLD FRIEND OF THE DEFENDANT'S MOTHER, LADY MARCHMAIN.
WHAT IMPRESSION HAVE YOU FORMED OF HIS CHARACTER?
I WOULD DESCRIBE HIM TO YOU, SIR AS A MODEL STUDENT.
MY DEEP REGRET IS THAT A BRILLIANT UNIVERSITY CAREER
MAY NOW BE AT STAKE.
IS THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT
IN HIS CHARACTER AT ALL, WOULD YOU SAY?
I WOULD SAY IT WAS ENTIRELY OUT OF CHARACTER.
TO MY CERTAIN KNOWLEDGE, LORD SEBASTIAN HAS ALWAYS CONDUCTED
HIS LIFE AT THE HOUSE WITH THE MOST STUDIOUS APPLICATION.
THE EVIDENCE IS THAT THE DEFENDANT CAME UP TO LONDON TO ATTEND
A CHARITABLE FUNCTION, ORGANIZED BY HIS SISTER.
THAT IS CORRECT, SIR. IT WAS A HIGHLY RESPECTABLE AFFAIR
I BELIEVE THE EXPLANATION TO BE LORD SEBASTIAN, SIR
IS SIMPLY UNUSED TO WINE.
THE LAW OF ENGLAND IS THE SAME FOR AN OXFORD UNDERGRADUATE
AS IT IS FOR ANY YOUNG HOOLIGAN. INDEED
THE BETTER THE HOME, THE MORE OUTRAGEOUS THE OFFENCE.
IT IS PURELY BY GOOD CHANCE THAT YOU DO NOT BEAR THE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
BUT FOR MR SAMGRASS'S EVIDENCE, I WOULD FEEL DISPOSED TO GIVE YOU
AN EXEMPLARY PRISON SENTENCE.
HOWEVER, I HAVE ACCEPTED THAT
YOU ARE UNUSED TO WINE.
THERE WILL BE A FINE OF TEN POUNDS.
THE USHER WILL SHOW YOU WHERE TO PAY.
WE WERE BOTH GATED FOR THE REST OF THE TERM
BUT THE MOST LASTING PENALTY WE SUFFERED
WAS OUR INTIMACY WITH REX MOTTRAM AND MR SAMGRASS.
BUT SINCE REX'S LIFE WAS IN LONDON
IN A WORLD OF POLITICS AND HIGH FINANCE
AND MR SAMGRASS'S NEARER TO OUR OWN AT OXFORD
IT WAS FROM HIM WE SUFFERED MORE.
FOR THE REST OF THAT TERM HE HAUNTED US.
11 MINUTES AND 15 SECONDS.
A MARKED IMPROVEMENT.
IF THEY WANT TO TREAT US LIKE A PAIR OF CRIMINALS
WE CAN BEHAVE LIKE CRIMINALS.
GOOD EVENING, SEBASTIAN AH, CHARLES!
I DON'T THINK WE'VE BEEN SPOTTED.
HOW DELIGHTFUL.
DID I TELL YOU I'VE BEEN INVITED TO BRIDESHEAD FOR CHRISTMAS?
YOUR MOTHER WROTE ME THE MOST CHARMING LETTER.
CHARLES, HOW GOOD TO SEE YOU.
YOU FIND ME IN SOLITARY POSSESSION.
HOW ARE YOU?
VERY WELL.
I GATHER SEBASTIAN'S GONE OUT HUNTING.
YES. WE'VE HAD A LAWN MEET OF THE MARCHMAIN HOUNDS
A DELICIOUSLY ARCHAIC SPECTACLE
ALL OUR YOUNG FRIENDS ARE IN PURSUIT OF THE FOX.
I'VE BEEN SPENDING A COZY AFTERNOON BY THE FIRE.
SEBASTIAN, YOU WILL NOT BE SURPRISED TO HEAR
LOOKED REMARKABLY ELEGANT IN HIS PINK COAT.
WOULD YOU LIKE SOME TEA?
YOUR ARRIVAL EMBOLDENS ME TO RING FOR SOME.
IS LADY MARCHMAIN IN?
NO. SHE'S DRIVEN OFF WITH HER COUSINS TO VISIT A NEIGHBOUR.
SHE'LL BE BACK IN TIME FOR DINNER.
HOW CAN I PREPARE YOU FOR THE PARTY?
ALAS, IT BREAKS UP TOMORROW.
LADY JULIA DEPARTS TO CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR ELSEWHERE
AND TAKES THE BEAU-MONDE WITH HER.
I SHALL MISS THE PRETTY CREATURES ABOUT THE HOUSE
PARTICULARLY ONE, CELIA.
SHE'S THE SISTER OF OUR OLD COMPANION IN ADVERSITY
BOY MULCASTER, AND WONDERFULLY UNLIKE HIM.
I FIND HER MOST ENGAGING.
I SHALL MISS HER FOR I DO NOT GO TOMORROW.
HOW LONG ARE YOU STAYING?
OH, WELL INTO THE NEW YEAR. AND YOU, CHARLES?
I DON'T KNOW.
TOMORROW I START IN EARNEST ON OUR HOSTESS'S BOOK.
THANK YOU
WHICH, BELIEVE ME, IS A TREASURE HOUSE OF PERIOD GEMS.
AH, THE INTREPID HUNTER RETURNS.
HELLO. WHEN DID YOU GET HERE? ABOUT AN HOUR AGO.
HAD A GOOD DAY?
WHERE ARE THE OTHERS, SEBASTIAN?
I GOT FED UP SO I HACKED BACK.
I'M GOING UP TO CHANGE. COME UP AND TALK TO ME CHARLES, WILL YOU?
WELL, NO DOUBT SEE YOU LATER, MR SAMGRASS.
WE WENT TO CHAPEL THREE TIMES ON CHRISTMAS DAY.
MUMMY FOUND
SOME EUNUCHS TO SING HIGH MASS.
IT SOUNDED VERY PECULIAR.
WELL, WE HAD THE VILLAGE CHOIR
BAWLING AT US FROM THE MINSTRELS' GALLERY
AND COUSIN JASPER DRAGOONED US INTO PLAYING
ENDLESS GAMES OF BRIDGE.
WILL I KNOW ANYBODY WHO'S HERE?
NO. I SHOULDN'T THINK SO.
THEY'RE ALL PEOPLE
OF MUMMY'S AND JULIA'S.
THEY'LL ALL BE THERE AT TEA.
HELLO, SEBASTIAN.
SEE WHAT I MEAN?
AN ABSOLUTE ZOO.
CHARLES! YOU'VE ARRIVED!
HELLO. HELLO, CORDELIA.
DID YOU HAVE A GOOD CHRISTMAS? QUIET.
I'M GOING TO ASK MUMMY IF I CAN STAY UP SPECIALLY LATE
TONIGHT IN HONOUR OF YOUR ARRIVAL.
OH, THAT'LL BE FUN.
SEBASTIAN, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU? OH, I GOT BORED.
WELL, YOU MISSED THE BEST PART AGAIN.
WE HAD THE MOST TREMENDOUS GALLOP ACROSS SPRING FIELDS
SIX JUMPS TO PLATTS WOOD AND I ONLY JUST MANAGED TO STAY ON.
WELL, WE ALL KNOW HOW BRAVE YOU ARE.
WELL, I'M BRAVER THAN YOU AND I'VE ONLY GO MR BEELZEBUB.
OH, SEBASTIAN, GOOD TO SEE YOU.
HELLO.
QUITE A GOOD DAY'S SPORT. I THINK THE HOUNDS
GOT ON MUCH BETTER FORM AFTER WE DRAGGED THAXTON WOOD.
I THOUGHT THEY PRESSED VERY HARD, PROBABLY WHY WE MADE THE KILL.
AH, RYDER, HOW ARE YOU?
HELLO BRIDEY. VERY WELL, THANKS.
WHEN DID YOU GET HERE?
OH, SEBASTIAN, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU AFTER YOU LEFT THE HOME WOODS?
I CAME BACK EARLY. I LOOKED ALL OVER THE PLACE FOR YOU.
EXCUSE ME.
OUR HOSTESS HAS JUST RETURNED. SHE WAS ASKING IF YOU HAD ARRIVED YET.
YOU'LL FIND HER IN HER SITTING ROOM.
AH, THANK YOU.
I'M JUST GOING ALONG TO SAY HELLO TO YOU MOTHER.
WHY? YOU'LL SEE HER THIS EVENING.
WELL, YOU KNOW.
I'LL SEE YOU LATER.
I'M DELIGHTED CHARLES HAS JOINED THE PARTY.
IT AUGURS WELL, I FEEL, THIS REUNION
OF OURS IN YOUR MOTHER'S HOUSE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR TIME TOGETHER.
DID YOU ENJOY YOUR CHRISTMAS? YES, YES. I DID. THANK YOU.
I HOPE YOU'VE BOTH MANAGED TO SETTLE DOWN
AFTER THE 'INCIDENT'.
BACK AT OXFORD, I MEAN.
I GATHER YOUR PENANCE HASN'T BEEN TOO HARSH.
WE WERE GATED, BUT
I EXPECT YOU REALISE THAT WE'VE MR SAMGRASS
TO THANK FOR THAT I MEAN THAT THE PAIR OF YOU
WEREN'T MORE SEVERELY DEALT WITH.
HE'S WORKED EXTRAORDINARILY HARD, YOU KNOW, ON OUR BEHALF.
HE SAW THE PROCTOR, THE VICE-CHANCELLOR. HE GOT MONSIGNOR BELL
TO CALL THE DEAN. YES, I KNOW.
WELL, THAT'S ALL OVER NOW, ISN'T IT?
I MUST MAKE A SHORT VISIT TO THE CHAPEL BEFORE DINNER.
I DON'T SUPPOSE I CAN PERSUADE YOU TO COME.
WE MUST MAKE A CATHOLIC OF YOU, CHARLES.
RELIGION PREDOMINATED IN THE HOUSE
NOT ONLY IN ITS PRACTICES, THE DAILY MASS AND ROSARY
MORNING AND EVENING IN THE CHAPEL
BUT IN ALL ITS INTERCOURSE.
WHO'S COMING TO CHAPEL FOR THE ROSARY?
WELL, I THINK I'D BETTER LOOK AFTER CHARLES.
I MUST HAVE MY BATH AT ONCE, MUMMY. I'M FILTHY.
I'LL COME. I CAN CHANGE LATER.
MAY I COME TOO, LADY MARCHMAIN IF YOU DON'T MIND?
OF COURSE NOT.
FATHER? CERTAINLY, LADY MARCHMAIN.
WHAT DID MUMMY SAY?
OH, SHE SPENT MOST OF THE TIME SINGING SAMGRASS'S PRAISES
AND REMINDING ME OF OUR OBLIGATION TO HIM.
HOW HE SAW THE VICE CHANCELLOR
AND THE PROCTOR. YES, I'VE HAD ALL THAT TOO.
I DO WISH SAMGRASS WOULD GO. I'M SICK OF BEING GRATEFUL TO HIM.
YES.
THANK GOD, AT LEAST JULIA'S LOT ARE GOING TOMORROW.
GOODBYE, CHARLES. A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
OH, JULIA DARLING, I FORGOT YOUR PRESENT
OH, THAT'S ALRIGHT
GOODBYE TOM, GOODBYE MARGARET, GOODBYE BOBBY. SEE YOU LATER.
SEE YOU ALL AT POLLY'S
IF WE DON'T GET THERE BY MIDNIGHT, HAPPY NEW YEAR.
HOLD ON, TOM!
COME ON CHARLES.
WE REMAINED AT BRIDESHEAD LEADING OUR OWN LIFE.
I HAD NO MIND THEN FOR ANYTHING
EXCEPT SEBASTIAN. AND I SAW HIM ALREADY AS BEING THREATENED
THOUGH I DID NOT YET KNOW HOW BLACK WAS THE THREAT.
HIS CONSTANT, DESPAIRING PRAYER WAS TO BE LET ALONE.
AND SINCE HE COUNTED AMONG THE INTRUDERS
HIS OWN CONSCIENCE AND ALL CLAIMS OF HUMAN AFFECTION
HIS DAYS IN ARCADIA WERE NUMBERED.
HE DID NOT FAIL IN LOVE, BUT HE LOST THE JOY OF IT
FOR I WAS NO LONGER PART OF HIS SOLITUDE.
AS MY INTIMACY WITH THE FAMILY GREW
I BECAME PART OF THE WORLD
HE SOUGHT TO ESCAPE.
I BECAME ONE OF THE BONDS WHICH HELD HIM.
THAT WAS THE PART FOR WHICH HIS MOTHER
IN OUR LITTLE TALKS, WAS SEEKING TO FIT ME.
YOU HAVE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL THINGS.
YOU KNOW, CHARLES, WHEN I WAS A GIRL, WE WERE COMPARATIVELY POOR
BUT STILL MUCH RICHER THAN MOST OF THE WORLD
AND WHEN I MARRIED I BECAME VERY RICH.
IT USED TO WORRY ME. I THOUGHT IT WRONG TO HAVE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL THINGS
WHEN OTHERS HAD NOTHING.
NOW I REALISE THAT IT'S POSSIBLE
FOR THE RICH TO SIN BY COVETING THE PRIVILEGES
OF THE POOR. CAN YOU SEE THAT?
PERHAPS.
THE POOR HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE FAVOURITES
OF GOD AND HIS SAINTS, BUT I BELIEVE THAT
IT'S ONE OF THE SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF GRACE TO
SANCTIFY THE WHOLE OF LIFE.
RICHES INCLUDED.
WEALTH IN PAGAN ROME WAS NECESSARILY SOMETHING CRUEL. IT'S NOT ANYMORE.
BUT I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE EASIER
FOR A CAMEL TO PASS THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE
THAN FOR A RICH MAN TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
IT'S VERY UNEXPECTED FOR A CAMEL TO GO THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE
BUT THEN, THE GOSPEL IS SIMPLY A CATALOGUE OF UNEXPECTED THINGS.
IT'S NOT TO BE EXPECTED THAT AN OX AND AN ASS SHOULD WORSHIP AT THE CRIB.
ANIMALS ARE ALWAYS DOING THE ODDEST THINGS
IN THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS. IT'S ALL PART OF THE POETRY
THE ALICE-IN-WONDERLAND SIDE OF RELIGION.
READY!
PULL!
READY!
PULL!
HELLO.
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MORNING?
WITH YOUR MOTHER.
OH GOD. ANOTHER OF HER LITTLE TALKS.
I CAN'T HELP IT IF SHE THINKS I'M RIPE FOR CONVERSION.
READY! PULL!
YOU SHOULDN'T ENCOURAGE HER.
SHE CAN BE VERY DETERMINED.
AND I CAN BE VERY STUBBORN. YOU NEEDN'T WORRY ABOUT ME.
READY!
PULL!
OH GOD, LOOK AT HIM.
CHARLES, I DON'T THINK I CAN TAKE ANOTHER DAY OF THIS.
WHY DON'T WE GO AWAY SOMEWHERE?
WHERE?
OH, I DON'T KNOW.
PARIS, BUENOS AIRES, NEW YORK
BAYSWATER?
I THINK I'D SETTLE FOR BAYSWATER.
DO YOU THINK YOUR FATHER WILL HAVE US? I DON'T THINK HE'D EVEN NOTICE US.
AFTER TEA THEN? AFTER TEA.
COME ON SAMMY.
READY!
PULL!
AH, CHARLES. I'VE JUST BEEN TELLING SEBASTIAN
I'VE MADE THE MOST INTERESTING DISCOVERY.
REALLY?
PULL?
OH, SORRY.
THAT TERM AT OXFORD
WE TOOK UP AGAIN THAT LIFE THAT SEEMED TO BE SHRINKING
IN THE COOL AIR.
THE SADNESS, THAT HAD BEEN STRONG IN SEBASTIAN THE TERM BEFORE
GAVE PLACE TO A KIND OF SULLENNESS, EVEN TOWARDS ME.
HE WAS SICK AT HEART SOMEWHERE. I DID NOT KNOW HOW
AND I GRIEVED FOR HIM, UNABLE TO HELP.
WHEN HE WAS HAPPY NOW, IT WAS USUALLY BECAUSE HE WAS DRUNK.
AND WHEN DRUNK, HE DEVELOPED AN OBSESSION
FOR MOCKING MR SAMGRASS.
SAMGRASS, GREEN ARSE
ALL THIS, MR SAMGRASS TOOK IN GOOD PART.
AS THOUGH EACH OUTRAGE IN SOME WAY STRENGTHEN HIS HOLD IN SEBASTIAN.
IT WAS DURING THIS TERM THAT I BEGAN TO REALISE
THAT SEBASTIAN WAS A DRUNKARD
IN QUITE A DIFFERENT SENSE TO MYSELF.
SEBASTIAN, IT'S ME.
ARE YOU THERE?
SEBASTIAN, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?
WHAT'S THE MATTER? CAN I HELP?
I GOT DRUNK OFTEN.
BUT THROUGH AN ACCESS OF HIGH SPIRIT AND THE LOVE OF THE MOMENT
AND THE WISH TO BELONG AND ENHANCE IT.
SEBASTIAN DRANK TO ESCAPE.
NOTHING'S THE MATTER.
AS WE TOGETHER GREW OLDER AND MORE SERIOUS, I DRANK LESS, HE MORE.
THEN, A SUCCESSION OF DISASTERS CAME UPON HIM SO SWIFTLY
THERE'S NOTHING TO BE DONE.
AND WITH SUCH UNEXPECTED VIOLENCE
THAT IT IS HARD TO SAY WHEN EXACTLY
I REALISED MY FRIEND WAS IN DEEP TROUBLE.
BUT I KNEW IT WELL ENOUGH IN THE EASTER VACATION AT BRIDESHEAD.
CHARLES, GO AWAY.
THERE'S A GOOD FELLOW.