Fleur?

Oh, ma petite Fleur!

What has happened?

Mummy... ( begins to cry ) ( Fleur breathlessly sobbing ) Do you remember?

When you were a little girl, I used to brush your hair.

A hundred strokes!

( chuckles ) How you hated it!

Do you want it up, or maybe a bow?

I don't care.

A bow, I think.

The more miserable one is on the inside, the more important it is to decorate the outside.

It doesn't matter anymore.

You feel too much, like your father.

You always have.

What does he know?

This extraordinary idea that one should marry the person one is in love with.

In France, a husband is for convenience.

Lovers are for love.

What do you think?

The new look.

It's very chic, very "Colette."

I brought you the new book from Paris.

I'm getting lines.

You are very beautiful, and no one can take that away from you.

Find yourself a good man-- a man that won't cause you trouble.

Then look elsewhere for your passion.

( knock at door ) Come in.

Mr.

Mont's here again.

I don't want to see him.

He brought these.

And these.

( laughing ) He's an idiot!

And these.

( laughing ) What shall I tell him?

Come back tomorrow and he might find me up.

( crying ) Oui.

You shouldn't invest in stocks.

Too high-risk.

Take out bonds.

Bonds are boring.

I have bonds.

Exactly.

So did your father, and mine.

The Forsytes probably invented the concept.

( knock at door ) Monsieur Profond, ma'am.

Prosper!

I thought you'd gone!

How lovely to see you.

Europe is a dull place.

And I pined for Green Street.

Nonsense.

Business brought you back, then?

A long-term investment.

GEORGE: Delighted, old boy.

Oh, you're just the thing.

I want to park my money, and George is no good.

GEORGE: Well, if you insist on shares, you should get Soames to handle it for you.

Keep it in the family.

I've never had the ready in my life!

I'm not about to give it to anyone else to play with.

Well said.

WINIFRED: As far as I can see, investment is just a sophisticated form of gambling.

And it's not as if I don't know about that, is it?

PROFOND: The American market is where you should start.

Wall Street is in the doldrums at the moment, but it is going to go up.

Really?

Um... I think I'll go to the club.

Oh... dear.

You'll excuse me?

IRENE: Jon?

I'm going upstairs.

Jon!

There's someone to see you.

Not now.

These are good.

They are very good.

You're lucky to see them here at all.

My sister's about to make off with them and hang them all in her gallery.

You come from an artistic family.

Sometimes it's hard to live up to.

Were your parents artists?

No, they were peasants, from the north of Armenia.

But you're so... Rich?

Yes, I make it my life's work.

I'm sorry.

I've been rude.

Things are difficult at the moment.

You need a change of scene.

You are an outdoors chap.

I have some mines in British Columbia if you... That's a big change!

And it's kind of you, but... Six months ago, I'd love to have gone to British Columbia.

The beauty of the world.

I look at it now, and it doesn't seem beautiful anymore.

You are in a poor way?

I am, rather.

So is Fleur Forsyte, from what I hear.

How did you know?

She has been ill apparently.

But happily, she's better now, returning to bloom.

The sun is shining on her in the form of a young man, Michael Mont.

Do you know him?

No.

A favorite of hers, it seems.

Has been for a while.

À bientôt.

Yes, good-bye.

Take care.

What an amusing man!

Fleur's got someone else.

Already!

Already!

Mind the... Good, good.

Follow me, follow me, through here.

Just here.

I want it in front of this panel.

MOVER: Is this okay, sir?

SOAMES: Yes, fine.

Stop just there, thank you.

Good.

It's electrically pumped.

It reproduces perfectly.

And we're off.

( Rachmaninoff prelude playing) ( Annette gasping ) It's wonderful!

MONT: Madame, will you dance with me?

Shall we?

Don't be stupid.

( music continues with flourish ) ( laughing ) ANNETTE: Bravo, bravo!

They're dancing madly in there!

I'm out of puff!

Michael's staying for lunch.

Does she like him?

Fleur?

Of course Fleur!

I haven't asked her.

Usually, she'd have told me... until this summer.

This boy... I've done nothing wrong.

This boy Jon Forsyte, he hurt her.

She's angry.

Why with me?

Because she can be.

Will she come back?

( music continues in background ) I hope so.

Thank you... for coming back from France so quickly.

It was nothing.

We needed you, and you came.

It is rather amazing... a piano that plays on its own.

There'll be proper wireless transmission soon.

These old things will be swept away.

It'll change everything.

Ideas will finally have a channel.

Of course, it'll be very dangerous.

Why?

It's easy to lie when you're not face to face.

Sometimes I think that you like me.

Otherwise why would you want me here?

Why would you keep me hanging on?

And sometimes I think that you really don't care at all.

Is there someone else?

No.

Then I'm going to ask you again.

And if the answer's "no," I'm not coming back.

But we're friends.

I believe I could make you happy as more than that.

Will you marry me, Fleur?

Would you do anything for me?

Even if everybody told you not to, would you stand by me anyway?

If you were my wife, I would.

Then I'll do it.

I'll marry you.

( all laughing and talking ) GEORGE: A toast!

To the happy couple!

ALL: The happy couple!

Michael.

Congratulations, my dear.

( breathes deeply ) My darling.

Well, you'll have to let me beat you at billiards now, young man.

Absolutely, sir, I promise.

Every night.

GEORGE: It's a bit speedy, isn't it?

She's not up the duff, is she?

Oh, George!

You are not enjoying your port?

Oh, sorry.

It's rather grand, in a small way.

It's delicious.

Have you thought any more about British Columbia?

You're so nice to me, and I don't know why.

You lie terribly.

It's most amusing.

Thank you.

I also have a small concern in New York.

A printing business.

Printing?

You could get your hands dirty in that way.

You would have to work.

I don't mind that.

My mother would be pretty much alone.

I think your mother is quite capable of looking after herself.

MONT: Ah, gentlemen.

MAN: There you are, you old devil.

Getting hitched?

You should see her.

She's a beauty.

To Michael... and his wife-to-be.

Fleur.

MEN: Fleur!

You did not know?

I'm sorry.

She can't love him.

She is marrying him.

When?

Soon.

She must be doing it to hurt me.

Why don't you find out?

ANNETTE: What's King Lear all about?

Fathers, daughters, inheritance.

The usual things.

SOAMES: So, he's back.

He's been here a while.

Didn't you know?

I hear congratulations are in order.

You do not lose a daughter, Mr.

Forsyte, but you gain a son.

That's the general idea.

Madame.

Unlike King Lear, of course, who lose everything.

The death of his daughter Cordelia is utterly unnecessary.

Well, you've given it away!

A sacrifice to the proprieties of tragedy.

Oh, you dropped your program.

Oh.

In the 18th century, they rewrote the ending.

Cordelia lived.

So did her husband and her doting father.

Everyone happy ever after.

Quite right.

MONT: Shall we see you in the interval?

I doubt I'll endure that long.

À bientôt.

( softly ): Excuse me.

MONT: You all right?

I'm a little hot.

ACTOR: Go thou.

I'll fetch some flax and whites of eggs to apply to his bleeding face.

Now, heaven help him!

( orchestra plays; audience applauds ) Excuse me.

( comments quietly ) Ah, where's Fleur?

Who was the boy, sir, with Profond?

Boy?

Dark, good looking.

Fleur looked like she'd seen a ghost.

With Profond?

Are you sure?

If she had a former attachment, I need to know.

A silly romance.

He trifled with her.

He threw her over.

And is she over it now?

If she wasn't, she wouldn't be marrying you.

Annette, my dear.

Are you all right?

Stupid to feel so faint.

The play's about to start again.

I thought I saw someone I knew.

Well, they're not here now.

If you saw them, they've gone.

Are you ready to go back in?

I'm ready.

Good.

Fleur... I haven't got much time.

I'm shopping with Michael and mother.

Presents for the bridesmaids.

So what do you want?

I had to see you.

Why?

Do you love him?

Really love him?

What do you think?

It's possible.

So you believe I could do that-- love you one day, body and soul, and forget about you the next.

No, I... If you don't love him, why are you marrying him?

To get away from home, of course!

I can't stand my father.

Michael's nice.

He'll look after me.

Nice.

Well?

Nice isn't enough!

A marriage for convenience is terrible.

What are my alternatives?

You know I still love you.

How can I know that?

Oh, I think about you every moment of every day.

Is that why you're here?

We'd be ruining too many people's lives-- my mother's, your father's.

Not this again.

We cannot exist in a bubble, Fleur.

But we can't exist for other people.

You see?

We think differently.

No, Jon.

Not really.

I might be selfish, but at least I'm honest.

None of this matters.

It's all excuses.

The truth is, they poisoned you against me-- your mother, your family... No.

They made you doubt me.

I can see it now in the way you look at me.

Is she really like her father-- a grasping, greedy Forsyte?

No!

I don't think like that.

( softly ): But you don't want me back.

You brought me here today to make sure I don't belong to someone else.

And what's that if not possession-- possession of the lowest sort?

I'm so sorry.

No, I am.

I love you, Jon, so much it hurts.

Please don't go.

There's nothing to stay for.

We've hardly talked.

Don't try and see me again.

You can't marry him!

( softly ): You can't.

And who are you to tell me that?

If you won't have me, then I shall do it my own way.

And I'll forget about you, Jon Forsyte, I swear I will.

MONT: Ah, there she is.

ANNETTE: Who was that?

An old friend, I believe.

You knew she was meeting this boy.

I had an inkling.

You English men!

I don't understand.

Absurd codes of honor.

These things have to be cleared up.

And what if you've lost her?

Then I never had her.

Are you all right, my dear?

You look cold.

Maybe a little.

But I'm all right, Mother.

In fact, I've never been better.

JUNE: Thank you so much for coming.

We'll keep in touch.

Jon... I didn't know you were in London.

They were so calm, weren't they, his pictures?

Looking at them, it's like he's here.

We've hung them thematically.

Let me show you.

I've decided I'm going to New York.

Can I take a picture, please?

A drawing?

Of course.

Any that you like.

Another time.

Jon!

Why New York?

I thought you hated cities.

Or is she going out there and you're tagging along?

( crying ) I'm sorry.

I didn't... Oh, I've been so cross and miserable.

She's marrying someone else.

Oh, Jon!

It's not her fault, it's me.

I've been loathsome.

Ever since Dad died, I can't think straight.

One moment I want Fleur, and the next, I... I don't recognize myself.

You've been caught by the past, my love.

All that pain and anger... I found this in an old portfolio.

It's Mum.

Who's the man?

He was her lover, the person who gave her the strength to leave Fleur's father.

He was also my fiancée.

There are a great deal of things in my life that I'm proud of.

This gallery, for one.

But the best thing, the most important thing is that Irene and I found a way to put the past behind us.

You can do that too, Jon.

But nothing means anything anymore.

It will.

It will.

Believe me.

( player piano playing Rachmaninoff prelude ) This will never do.

It's filthy.

Bilson and the rest of the staff will give a final clean tomorrow.

Hmm.

I think Michael should go home.

It's bad luck to see your bride the evening before a wedding.

Fleur is happy.

That is the important thing.

( Fleur giggling ) It's getting rather late.

You're right.

I should be getting back.

Oh, no, Michael, please don't go.

You can stay all night, if you like.

ANNETTE: Uh-uh-uh.

Save that for tomorrow.

Good night.

Good night, Mr.

Mont.

Good night, sir.

Michael.

I'll see you out.

MONT: You know you're a pig to your father.

FLEUR: He deserves it.

I rather like him.

After all, he introduced me to you.

You know you've never said it.

Said what?

That you love me.

Because if you don't, we should stop all this now.

What a chump you are-- giving a girl the let-out.

It might make me think you don't care.

Don't twist things.

You know I do.

And you?

Face to face.

Can you say it?

I love you, Michael, more than anything, more than anyone.

There-- now I've said it.

You probably care for me less.

I care for you more... if that's possible.

Don't.

Blast!

Are you ready?

You look very beautiful, my dear.

Away with you, both of you.

I'll do that.

You can always pull out, you know, if you want to.

And why should I do that?

Marriage is for life.

Or at least it should be.

Think very carefully.

I have thought.

Not about Michael, you haven't.

But the other one.

Don't talk about him!

You don't have the right.

The right!

I'm your father.

I've given you everything.

I'll give it all back when I'm married.

I'll throw it at you, if needs be.

My whole life I have dedicated to you, to making you happy.

Well, you got it wrong, didn't you?!

You thought I cared about dresses and frippery!

I'd have married Jon in my underclothes!

And because of you...

you!...

He stopped loving me!

The one thing I really wanted.

Of course... It's my fault.

It always was.

That's how she saw it, how she still sees it.

I don't want to hear about her.

I'll tell you anyway, shall I?

The great sin your father committed.

Then you can write me off altogether.

I said I don't want to hear it.

I married her because I loved her.

Very simple.

That's why Michael's marrying you.

She abused my trust.

She denied me my right as a husband.

She ignored me.

She flaunted her lover in my face.

She locked me out of her life, her body.

Please!

One night... her door was open, and she was lying there looking very beautiful.

She is very beautiful, don't you think?

I whispered her name, and she was asleep.

Stop.

I must have been mad.

I think I was.

Mad for her.

So I took her.

Forcibly.

A punishment.

And now when I see her... and whenever she looks at me... I know she's thinking only of that.

( sobs ) ( sniffles ) It's all in the past, Daddy.

It's a terrible thing.

Jon didn't have to leave me.

You didn't change his mind.

He did that all for himself.

The fool.

When he could have had you.

He didn't want me... Not enough.

WINIFRED: Oh, there's Bilson.

What a day, Bilson.

I never thought I'd see it.

GEORGE: Not a bad turnout.

Probably wondering the same as me: Will the bride reach the starting block?

WINIFRED: Of course she will.

GEORGE: It's a havey cavey business.

WINIFRED: It's all for the best.

Now get in.

The aristocracy are such a disappointment.

One expects them to look different.

Who from?

From us, of course.

But if anything, we've got the edge.

Smarter, better turned-out.

Fleur's done that, at least.

What?

Officially pulled us into the upper classes.

Oh!

Our names will be recorded on the stud book: money joined to land.

WINIFRED: Annette.

( whispering ): Psst, Annette!

Is everything all right?

She's on her way.

She's on her way.

She's on her way, George.

Fleur!

I've got it.

I'm ready now.

Let's get away from here.

Now!

Our Grand Tour.

Dressed like this?

I should stand out, rather, don't you think?

But are you sure about this?

Your marriage to Michael?

Marriage can be a... misery.

We'll be all right, Michael and I. We'll rub along.

But thank you all the same.

( organ playing introductory notes ) ( wedding march playing ) ( door opens ) You know what's happening now... this moment?

Yes.

You know that you'll forget her soon enough, out there.

How long did it take you to forget this other chap?

The one before Dad.

Oh... A while.

A long while.

I saw Fleur again.

Oh, so she made contact?

No, I did.

The way we parted before was terrible.

But this time... We met in Green Park.

She was different.

Grown up.

And everything she did that day... everything she said... reminded me of why I loved her.

Oh, Jon.

I thought I might go to Paris, stay with some old friends.

Then maybe on to Spain.

And the house?

What will happen to it?

I shall let it, or... put it up for sale.

For sale.

A house is only a possession after all.

Still, it's hard not to care.

( organ playing recessional ) ( crowd applauding ) ( cheering ) SOAMES: It's Profond.

She did say she wouldn't invite him.

Well, don't let it spoil things.

Not today.

Didn't Fleur look lovely?

And that dress... Have you ever been married, Mr.

Profond?

A number of times.

I don't recommend it.

It's like Miss Anne used to say, Miss Hester.

Marriage is not the be-all.

But one might like to try it, all the same.

A successful affair, Mr.

Forsyte.

The bride looked in top-notch health.

Indeed.

Why shouldn't she?

A splendid display of the feminine sex, but the gem, the cherry on the cake... is your sister, of course, Mrs.

Winifred Dartie.

( Winifred giggling ) Oh, Prosper.

I... just must... um... yes.

Gosh, sorry!

I didn't mean... It's all right.

You're Michael's cousin, aren't you?

Do you want me to go?

Stay, if you like.

You looked so beautiful in your wedding dress.

I can't wait to be married.

How old are you?

Nine.

Nine.

That's a lovely age to be.

Your sash is undone.

There.

You're not crying?

On my wedding day?

Of course not!

( sniffles ) Go and tell them I'm almost ready.

( crying ) ( sighs ) MONT: I've brought the car to the front.

Where's Fleur?

I'll go and see.

I will.

She's coming down!

She's coming down!

She's coming down!

Excuse me!

Excuse me!

Oh, my darling.

( guests oohing and ahhing ) ( guests exclaiming ) Darling, will you take my handbag?

Thank you very much for all your help.

And we'll see you soon.

Daddy.

Will you do something for me?

The picture... the Degas... MONT: Come on, Fleur.

We've got a boat to catch.

Throw it away, will you?

Get rid of it.

I don't want it here when I get back... reminding me.

( motor turning ) ( cheering ) ( horn tooting ) Wait here, Speight.

I'll walk the rest of the way.

SPEIGHT: Very good, sir.

PARFITT: I, er... thought I'd start on the cellar, ma'am.

Mr.

Jolyon's fishing equipment.

If you would, Parfitt.

There is somebody coming to view the house this afternoon.

( knock at door ) Probably be them now.

Thank you.

I shall see to it.

You haven't come for the house.

It crossed my mind... but no.

Oh.

This is for your boy.

Fleur wanted me to get rid of it, but I couldn't.

I think he should have it.

It's a small thing.

Not valuable, but... important.

Come in.

Please.

You're going away?

Jon's abroad.

I've nothing to keep me here.

( exclaims surprise ) Fleur.

Um... A likeness, certainly.

Something in the eyes.

Yes.

My daughter was an imp.

She was never bad, you understand?

Has something happened to her?

No.

You talked of her in the past tense.

Honeymooning, that's all.

Forever, it seems.

I sometimes wonder if I was right.

About what?

I got a letter from Jon today.

So formal.

He writes like a 45-year-old, and he was... was always so alive.

Did we ruin it for them?

Were we too blind to see?

My daughter is happily married.

Of course.

We are anticipating grandchildren.

That would be a happy occurrence.

I'll leave you to your packing.

Soames?

Good-bye, then.

I won't see you again.

Probably not.

Come and gone?

He didn't come about the house.

He didn't want to let it?

No.

Oh, no.

In fact... he didn't want anything.