Hello.
Hello?
Patrick? Hello, Patrick, is that you?
Nicholas?
Patrick, I'm afraid I have rather bad news.
I'm in New York.
It concerns your father.
- Synced and corrected by VitoSilans - -- www.Addic7ed.com --
_
Patrick?
Ah, Yvette!
It's you! Bonjour.
Monsieur Melrose. I am making the table ready
- for this evening. - Ah, yes.
A beautiful day.
I sense autumn...
don't you? Je sens l'automne.
- Oui, Monsieur Melrose. - Any sign of my darling wife?
Has she risen, like the sun, to cast her golden rays on us?
Not yet, Monsieur Melrose.
And my son. I hoped to spend the day with him.
He's playing, monsieur.
Everyone seems to be hiding from me this morning.
Well...
You be careful with my wife's china,
it's extremely valuable.
Oh! Oh, Christ, that hurts.
God! Hm!
Eleanor?
Patrick?
Where's everyone hiding?
Hm...
Anne!
Are you up yet? Aha-ha.
So. Who are you on?
Caligula, appropriately enough.
Well, come on. Breakfast now.
Oh, darling, you shouldn't have.
- Have what? - Made breakfast.
No, I mean... I'm... I'm...
I mean, I'm... ready for breakfast.
You know it's a real turn-on, you reaching for the clock like that.
- What time's the taxi? - You might help out here.
- Move around a little. - If we miss our flight...
Oh, God, what's the bloody point?
Ruined beauty.
It won't be long before they say...
"He used to be so handsome."
Oh, you still are.
Give over, luv, give over.
Eurgh! Don't do that, though.
Oh, Christ, there's the taxi.
Where are we going this time?
I told you. The South of France!
Mm...
I just think it's a little rude.
We are his guests, after all.
Well, I'm sorry, I'd no idea there'd be a test.
Well, with David Melrose there's always a test.
It's a good idea to...
Well, to prepare something intelligent to say.
Well, did you know Caligula tortured his wife
to find out why he was so devoted to her?
What's David's excuse, I wonder?
And what's in this for you, Sir Victor?
If you're so scared of him, why are we even here?
I'm not scared of him.
I'm just fascinated by him, that's all.
At Eton he was an extraordinarily gifted
young man, very distinguished.
- Held in awe. - When I was at college,
the football heroes got to sleep with the cheerleaders.
At Eton, they got to beat young boys for burning the toast.
He didn't beat me exactly.
The important thing is we're friends now,
and also his guests.
I'm sure it's very American of me,
but I fail to see what's so glamorous about lost promise.
"Distinguished" for what?
For doing nothing for a long time in the same place?
Please God, don't say that.
The only one I like is the boy.
At least he still has a little life in him.
Where are you off to?
To pick up Nicholas from the airport.
There are hours yet.
I wanted a drive. With Anne.
- Ah. - I promised.
I see.
You'll leave Patrick here.
Of course.
- You remember our discussion? - Of course.
Well. His flight lands at two.
Off you go.
Patrick, where on earth have you been?
Your father's been calling for you.
- Can we play now? - Not now.
- But you said we could. - Darling, I'm sorry.
I have to pick up Nicholas from the airport.
There's absolutely nothing I can do about it.
You promised!
Au revoir! A bientÃ´t!
- Can I come with you, then? - No!
Your father wants you here with him.
I'll stay in the car, I won't say a word.
I know it's strange...
but your father gets jealous.
He thinks it's very important
that you're not too dependent on me.
You mustn't prefer my company to his.
I do.
Well, you mustn't let on.
Be very nice to Daddy, yes?
And then you can come find me before dinner.
Tell me about your day and I'll tell you about mine.
And I promise...
I swear, you will have my full attention.
Hello! Here you are!
Just in time.
I hope you're comfortable in the cottage.
I'd have put you in the house
but you know how David hates to share anything with anyone,
even air.
Of course at dinner, he'll be all over you.
Patrick, are you gonna come with us?
- I do hope so! - No. No.
American girls only, I'm afraid.
I'm sure we can make an exception?
Victor, aren't you terribly hot?
How's the book coming?
Oh, you know.
Identity, it's a big subject.
Does Freud come into it?
No, no, I'm not approaching it
from a psychoanalytical point of view.
- Perhaps I should drive. - No.
No one else drives this car.
It's the one thing that's still mine alone.
- But it is rather a long way. - Not the way I drive.
Bye.
Well, young man...
what have you been up to?
I know you're there.
Hello, Mr. Master Man.
Have they all gone?
Good. We'll have our special day.
Do you recognize this?
You wrote it for me.
When I left Eton, my father asked me:
"What do you want to do with your life?"
I didn't dare tell him I wanted to compose music.
"I don't know, sir," I said.
- What did he say? - "Better join the army."
Hm.
What will you do with your life... I wonder?
I don't know, sir.
Now...
Shall I pick you up by the ears?
- No! - Come here.
Ready?
- Now let go! - No.
- Let go and I'll drop you. - No!
Trust me. On three. Ready?
One, two, three!
Aaargh! Aaargh!
You've learnt a very useful lesson today.
- Think for yourself. - Aaargh!
Never let other people make important decisions for you.
- Do you understand? - Put me down!
- Do you understand? - Yeah! Yes! Yes!
You lied to me! You hurt me!
Don't whimper. It's very unattractive.
Yaaaargh! Yaargh!
Yaaargh!
Patrick!
Okay.
Up the stairs, Patrick.
So who are these Melroses?
David doesn't have a penny.
His terrible father cut him off.
Left him nothing but a pair of old pajamas.
What for?
For daring to defy him, becoming a doctor.
Before that, he wanted to be a composer.
Could have, too.
Eleanor, on the other hand,
comes from one of the richest families in America.
All new money, of course,
from the patent on a dry-cleaning fluid,
but completely loaded.
The house was the first thing he persuaded her to buy.
First summer there, we were all sitting on the terrace
and she complained about the dreadful waste of figs
that fell from the tree onto the ground and rotted there,
while there were people starving in the world.
And David did this amazing thing.
He told Eleanor to get down on all fours
and eat every fig off the ground...
- In front of you? - Yes.
She didn't protest, though. She just ate every single one.
Kinky.
Now that's a meaningful life.
Just like a Red Indian or something.
Getting up with the sun...
living off the land, connected to the earth.
And if you want a chicken,
you have to go out, and strangle it yourself.
Sounds idyllic.
This is so frustrating.
Attendez.
I wanted to stop for lunch.
So is Patrick looking forward to going back to school?
Why do people think they'll please me
by asking about Patrick?
I don't know how he is, only he knows.
- I'm sorry, I thought... - Look, you'll see him tonight.
He'll be lurking.
Oh, God. Tonight.
I need a drink.
No!
Ah, yes, here it is! Lovely place.
There's Marcel!
Marcel, Marcel!
After the war the Nazis killed every man in the village
except Marcel.
Which is lucky for us because the food is wonderful.
Isn't this fun?
American... girls...
Hey. Hey, wake up!
I'm awake.
You know what I need? A cognac.
- That's not a good idea. - Of course it is.
It's exactly what we need after all this heavy food.
It's for my headache.
Marcel, deux cognacs!
May I speak frankly?
I do hate it when people say that.
Do you think perhaps you're drinking a little too much?
Too much for what?
Too much for lunch, for your own good.
For Patrick's.
Obviously, it's never possible to know exactly
- what goes on in a family... - No, it's not.
Especially when you are neither married
nor have children yourself.
Merci, Marcel.
Extraordinary remark.
Mm.
Seeing as you're so concerned about my welfare...
you can drive.
Hello.
Oh, that stew was awfully rich.
- I feel better now. - Good.
Oh, here it is! "L'O.K. Corral."
- We have to go! - Oh.
- It'll be like going home. - But do we have time?
Of course! Please?
Please, please, please?
Sure.
It's terrific!
Look!
A Ferris wheel!
Oh, there's your Cadillac!
You know, I'm so glad we did this.
Girls' day out.
I'd... I'd like you to understand something.
He wasn't always like he is now.
David?
When I first met him, he played so brilliantly.
He was so intelligent and beautiful.
So different from all the other English snobs.
We were going to do wonderful things together...
Useful things.
Of course he was a difficult man...
even then.
But I thought I could turn to him.
The idea of... turning to him now...
of being alone in the same room with him...
Why have we stopped?
I'm sure it's only for a moment.
We're gonna be late for Nicholas now.
- Oh, just a few minutes. - And he'll tell David.
I'm sure he won't mind. A few minutes.
- It's so high. - There's nothing to worry about.
Why have we stopped? You mustn't tell David about any of this.
- Eleanor... - I beg you.
Eleanor, are you afraid of him?
You seem afraid.
Let's get off this fucking thing!
- Eleanor, you have to stay still. - Hello!
Hello, down there!
- We wanna get off! - Eleanor.
- Let us off! - Eleanor!
Hello!
Bridge.
Bridge, is that you?
Barry! Thank God!
Ohhh! I was literally just thinking about you this morning.
That is synchronicity, Bridget!
This fabric's amazing!
God, I'm stoned!
What are you doing here?
There's a jazz festival in Arles.
- We're all going! - Hey!
It's gonna be amazing! You should come!
Oh, you should come. Come, come, come, come!
I can't! I'm staying with these Melrose people.
Oh, God.
Let me give you the number.
Nicholas!
- Ah. - I'm so sorry.
We got caught on a Ferris wheel and they wouldn't let us off.
Very like you, Eleanor, to get more fun than you wanted.
Ha-ha. Oh, will you excuse me just a minute?
What the hell are you playing at?
I've been carrying these fucking suitcases around
- looking for you! - Just get a trolley, man.
- I'm Barry. - Don't you ever do this again, you stupid...
- Nicholas? - And this is Bridget Watson-Scott.
- Eleanor Melrose. - And who's this?
He's no one. Shall we?
Patrick, tu es en retard. Déjeuner!
Honey.
- I don't want any lunch. - Tu as faim?
I don't want to be with my father.
Qu'est-ce qu'il s'est passé?
I want my mother.
I want my mother!
Je suis désolée. Ce n'est pas possible.
Don't you dare!
Don't you dare ever do that again!
- What have I done? - Come up to my room. Now!
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars...
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Pluto.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars...
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus...
What have I done wrong?
Come over here.
- But what have I done wrong? - You know perfectly well.
Closer.
Do you know who King Shaka was?
No.
King Shaka was a great and mighty Zulu warrior...
who made his troops stamp thorn bushes into the ground
and march for days across hot jagged rocks.
The soles of their feet were slashed and burnt.
And though there was resentment and pain at the time,
the calluses this created
meant that eventually nothing would harm them.
They would feel no pain.
And what had felt like cruelty at the time was actually a gift.
It was actually love.
I don't expect you to thank me now
but I hope perhaps...
when you're older you'll be grateful
for the skill of detachment that I've instilled.
Go and close the door.
Do I have to close it myself?
Very well.
Take your trousers down.
Est-ce Que Patrick vient déjeuner?
Non, il n'a pas faim.
Merci.
Mm.
Eight o'clock. Please don't be late.
And... And let's forget about our little conversation
this afternoon, yes?
Oh, of course.
I'd almost forgotten how wonderful it is here.
I've completely forgotten and I live here.
Eleanor, what a sad thing to say.
- Tell me it isn't true. - Okay... it isn't true.
It's beautiful.
- I want one. - That's what David said.
And so I bought it for him.
We were going to do marvelous things.
We were going to turn it into a home for alcoholics.
Which, in a sense, we have.
Don't worry about your bags.
- Yvette will fetch them. - I wonder where David is?
Perhaps he's drowned in the bath!
I'll find Yvette.
She's really high.
Do you think you might possibly buck up
and make a little light conversation?
Something other than how vivid the colors are.
- Is this it? - What?
The fig tree. Is it the same one?
Bridget. Bridget, no.
Get up!
I said, get up, what if David sees you?
I said, get up!
- God! - Mmm!
Bridget!
Why are you all so scared of him?
What do you think he's gonna do to you, Nicholas?
I thought I heard someone.
David!
How very nice to see you.
Uh... This is Bridget Watson-Scott.
Hello, my dear.
You have the most wonderful spot here!
Yes... Just think, with a single machine gun mounted here
you could dominate the whole valley.
Stay there, I'll come down.
We'll have tea beneath the fig tree.
Tell me, are you going to more weddings
or memorial services?
Oh, I still go to weddings, but Er...
I enjoy the memorials more.
Because you don't have to bring a present.
One should only go to an enemy's memorial service.
There's the pleasure of outliving them,
but also the opportunity for a truce.
Forgiveness is so important, don't you think, Bridget?
Gosh, yes.
Especially getting other people to forgive you.
But why would I need anyone's forgiveness?
Oh, how can you all sit out here? It's so bright!
Careful not to squash the figs.
Weird, isn't it?
The way their skin's purple and white at the same time?
Like a drunk with emphysema.
This one...
This one is perfect.
Goodness, look! There's a strange little boy.
That's our son, Patrick.
You have kids? Wow!
Patrick! Darling! Come on up, we're having tea.
Patrick, come and join us.
- Perhaps he can't hear you. - Of course he can.
He's just being tiresome.
Perhaps you could show me to my room,
so I can bath and unpack?
Oh, of course. Come, follow me.
"Only the best or go without."
Always, provided we... don't have to go without.
She's very... vivacious.
Bridget? Hm. She'll do for now.
Don't apologize, she's charming.
Sometimes I think I should be done with it
and settle down with a well-bred, well-educated,
well-informed woman whose conversation I can bear.
And then I remember I've... divorced two of them already.
Patrick.
Where are you going?
Mummy wanted to see me.
Your mummy's tired after her drive.
Come and say hello to your godfather.
Hello, Patrick.
- Up to mischief, are you? - Almost certainly.
That's what I like to hear.
Come closer.
Hm. Is everything alright?
Yes, Father.
Now we know you didn't eat lunch.
Did you have tea?
No.
Well, that's why you're so pale.
You must eat if you want to grow up strong.
Go and see Yvette, she'll find you something.
And leave Mummy be today. Alright?
Dinner at eight.
Don't be late.
What the hell were you playing at?
I don't know what you're talking about.
- That business with the figs! - Oh, I thought it would turn you on!
It did the first time. You were practically dribbling.
And as to your conversation: "Oh, what a perfect life you have here!"
Oh, fuck off!
- "What a wonderful view!" - Fuck off, Nicholas!
Or I'll elope with Barry.
Yeah, why give that yob their phone number?
He asked!
? I don't know if we're in a garden ?
Patrick! Don't skulk!
Either enter a room or leave!
Oh, I'm sorry, darling. You startled me, that's all.
? Only have eyes for you ?
Alright, I have to... finish my writing.
What are you writing?
A check, for charity, to Save The Children.
Because it's important, when one has so much,
to give something back.
You'll remember that, won't you?
When Daddy and I are no longer with you.
I have something for you too.
L'O.K. Corral.
Don't give me that look.
I had to make sure it was suitable.
Handsome boy.
Now, you tell me all about your day.
Hm? Did you have fun with Daddy?
Did you have a walk?
Patrick? What is it, love?
What is it?
Shall I take your glass down, bring you another?
Such a thoughtful boy.
I'm so glad you've turned out well.
I think the secret is... not to interfere.
We'll speak to him at dinner. I'm sure we can make him agree.
Of course, with Victor, the great question
is what will he be wearing.
A fisherman's sweater, perhaps, or something in corduroy?
And fruit stains...
The anticipation. I can't wait.
I'll see you downstairs shortly.
Merci, Yvette.
I'll take over now.
Hello, love.
Oh, sweetheart.
Ouch!
Mommy sat on some glass.
Silly Mommy. Serves me right, no doubt.
What happened? Tell me.
It was an accident. Don't tell Father.
Oh, I wouldn't dream of it.
You know what I'm going to do instead?
Tomorrow morning I'm going to take you to the O.K. Corral.
No excuses, first thing.
Just you and me.
Would you like that?
I want to go away.
- What do you mean? - Leave here.
Yes.
I have to get that, love.
I'll come back and tuck you in, I promise.
It looks like you bought it
from a stall at Kensington Market.
I did buy it from a stall at Kensington Market.
Oh, hello again, strange little boy.
You look like a medieval witch.
And you look like an old fart.
A stuffy, conventional old fart!
Um... There's a telephone call for you um...
Wow!
- Barry? - Hi, baby.
Oh, thank God! I don't think I've ever wanted
to speak to someone so much in my life.
Don't ask people what they do for a living.
And Er... don't ask the staff how they feel.
And don't provoke David.
Fine, but will you do one thing for me tonight?
- Of course. - Don't suck up to them.
Don't let them bully you. Don't try to fit in.
Well, isn't that three things?
They're all connected.
You're as good as these people. In fact, you're better.
You have warm blood.
- What an extraordinary chair. - Ah.
It used to belong to some doge.
It really should be in a museum.
Of course it's David's favorite.
He likes to rest his cigars on the arm.
Well, I don't think he'll sit in it if you're in it already.
I wouldn't be so sure. He does like to get his own way.
- Well, hello. - Hi!
For God's sake, Victor, that suit.
Couldn't you have got Anne to iron that for you?
- Well, I... - Has it begun already?
We're barely through the door.
Let's have a pleasant evening, shall we?
- Thank you. - Thank you.
Let's drink to...
Let's drink.
Nothing a don likes more
than bashing another man's discipline.
One can hardly call psychoanalysis a discipline.
- But it helps people. - Yes, yes, there's the therapeutic promise.
Here he is, hah, a real doctor!
Victor, Anne, a pleasure to see you.
Eleanor...
I do like you in pink.
It matches your eyes.
Is that vodka I see?
Please don't take this the wrong way
but I find it hard to imagine you as a doctor.
So did I, my dear,
and I must confess to stumbling a little
over the Hippocratic Oath.
Fortunately, my wife's money
removed the necessity of my leading a useful life.
Her great gift.
I appreciate your escorting my wife to the airport.
It was pure pleasure, as was this.
Ah. So much pleasure in one day.
My cup runneth over...
I've had a very special day too. Must be magic in the air.
Hey, Dave.
I love those kinky yellow slippers.
Do you really like them? I'm so pleased.
- Vodka, my dear? - Do you have a Coke?
Alcohol's such a crude high.
Let's have dinner.
Victor, you sit there.
No. No...
Anne, you sit next to...
No, that's not right.
Thank God we're only six.
While we wait for Eleanor to solve the problem,
Anne, tell me, what did you think of the Emperor Galba?
Oh, terrific. A terrific character.
Anne was particularly taken with Caligula.
Victor attempted to make me feel sorry for him.
Bridget, you sit here with me.
But... Tiberius killed his whole family.
It's only natural that those who are terrified
become terrifying, given the opportunity.
Is that how it worked at Eton?
Anne takes a rather satirical attitude
to the English public school system.
Does she now?
And as to his obsession with screwing his sisters...
Oh, well, you know what they say.
Vice is nice, but incest is best.
Now, I'm sure I'd have liked the chap.
He did exactly what he wanted to do
with no nonsense about ethics.
Why do you think it's superior to be amoral?
It's not a question of being superior:
it's a question of not being a bore or a prig.
What one aims for is ennui.
Eleanor, what a marvelous memory you have,
to be able to duplicate the dinner we had last time.
She has that expression she puts on
when she's thinking of her dear, rich dead mother.
I'm right, aren't I, darling?
Yes, David.
Once Eleanor's dear father had been dismissed
for being too drunk,
Eleanor's mother decided to purchase a human antique.
A "real, old aristocrat",
on the grounds that if you're going to buy a husband,
he might as well be a duke.
And so the Duc De Valencay
was re-upholstered with thick wads of dollars.
But you just can't treat human beings like things.
- Definitely. - You agree with me?
Definitely.
Maybe the human antique wanted to be bought.
Oh, I've no doubt of that.
I'm sure he was licking the windowpane.
What so shocked Eleanor's mother was that he dared to rear up
on his Louis XV legs and start giving orders.
You see, I feel that so strongly.
That the problem with the world
is people treating other people like things.
I so agree. That's something else we have in common.
Things... should be treated with great care.
Excuse me.
"What one aims for is ennui"!
- Hello, Patrick. - I broke a glass.
Don't tell my father.
You look so grim.
What's up?
Can't you get to sleep?
Does it hurt? Let me see if it's...
- No, I only wanted to... - I'm fine.
You're shaking.
Do you want to tell me? What is it?
Patrick?
I gather that Gerald Frogmore
shot more birds last year than anyone in England.
Not bad for a chap in a wheelchair.
Perhaps he resents their freedom of movement.
I mean, what about your mother? Do you want to tell your mother?
Okay, I'll be right back. I promise.
I don't believe you.
You say you will but you won't.
Patrick, I will.
Everyone enjoyed themselves,
even the man who was being hanged.
- Fun for all the family. - I found Patrick on the stairs.
He wants to talk to you.
- Darling. Eleanor? - Yes?
I thought we'd agreed that you wouldn't rush to Patrick
each time he whines and blubbers.
He fell earlier so he... he may be hurt.
In that case he may need a doctor.
He's not hurt. He just wants to talk to his mother.
You see, darling? He isn't hurt.
And so it's just a question of sentiment.
Does one allow oneself to be blackmailed or not?
If you sit, we can discuss it.
The proposition I'd like to make is that education
should be something of which a child can later say:
"If I survived that, I can survive anything."
Well, that's crazy and wrong and you know it!
Well, I certainly think a child should be challenged...
Oh, for goodness sakes, Victor!
Well, nobody wants anyone to be miserable. We're just saying...
We! Because God forbid you should ever contradict him.
...it doesn't do a child any good to be molly-coddled.
I know it's an unfashionable point of view,
but in my opinion, nothing that happens to you
as a child really matters.
When it comes to things that don't matter,
you're top of my list.
- Saying silly things to sound less pompous... - Oh, my word!
- and pompous things to sound less silly. - A ferocious backhand there
- from the young American lefty. - It's pathetic.
Well, nothing that happened in your childhood
did matter, Nicholas.
You just did exactly what everyone expected.
Well, I refuse to apologize for an uneventful childhood,
or to relish the suffering over the happiness:
- big lawns, buckets and spades, - What the fuck?
Throwing coins into the golden pool at the Ritz.
Would you like a fig? They're at their best this time of year.
Go on. I know how much you like them.
I'll need a knife.
I'm sorry, I've really tried here,
but I can't do this anymore.
You... You are a pompous, silly little sycophant.
And the only thing in your favor is that you frighten him.
That aside, you're a failure.
And it's your son I feel sorry for, and if I had my way then...
Victor, stay with your friends by all means,
but if you do then I never want to see you again.
No, no, I'm coming with you.
Must you leave so soon?
Yes, Eleanor, I have to be up early
to Er... make some... some progress on my book.
Eleanor, Patrick is in the hallway.
He is sad and he's lonely and scared.
And I promised I'd bring you with me.
Will you come and find out what's happened?
Eleanor? Please?
Eleanor.
For someone so conventional,
Victor does love an unconventional girlfriend.
Almost nothing is as entertaining
as the contortions of a clever Jewish snob.
Very broad-minded of you
to have one in the house at all.
Oh, do fuck off, the pair of you.
- Thank you. - No, you were right.
In the end one must oppose cruelty,
even if only by refusing to take part.
- Why are we whispering? - I have no idea!
Oh, one moment.
Patrick?
Patrick? It's only me!
He must have gone to bed.
Oh, well.
- Barry, you are saving my life. - Like I always do?
They're desperate to get her into Country Life.
Mummy's keen on roses, Daddy loves the gee-gees.
I took them up to Covent Garden to see Le Nozze Di Figaro,
and when the conductor came on the podium,
Rodney Watson-Scott said,
"Look, they're under starter's orders."
Oh... Barry.
You see?
It's not as easy as you think.
Can't sleep?
No, me neither.
Must be all the excitement.
All these people.
Here...
Is that better?
I'll leave you now.
But know one thing.
If you ever tell your mother...
or anyone else, about today...
I will snap you in two.
Johnny?
You can go now.
- Synced and corrected by VitoSilans - -- www.Addic7ed.com --