American Friends (1991) - full transcript

Open up.

Open up!

Deaf bugger.

The boy's frying you up an omelet, sir.

♪ Praise our Lord above us ♪

♪ Ye dragons and all deeps ♪

♪ Lightning and hail Snow and vapors ♪

♪ Wind and storm Fulfilling His word ♪

♪ Mountains and all hills ♪

♪ Fruit trees and all cedars ♪

♪ Beasts and all cattle ♪



♪ Crawling worms And feathered fowls ♪

♪ Kings of the earth And all people ♪

♪ Princes, rulers And judges of the world ♪

Four flannel shirts,
six pairs of drawers...

How do I look?

You look an idiot.

Two pairs of light
trousers, the thin waistcoat.

I think I look quite a ladies' man.

Did you clean his climbing
boots like I told you, boy?

I've got a girl now, Mr. Haskell.

Boots.

She's willing.

Shower-proof overcoat.

Alpaca jacket.



Butterfly net.

Prayer book.

Uh, guide book.

Didn't have to ask for a kiss.

Damn. His bloody guide book.

Go and collect it from Mr. Syme.

Kissing's all right, isn't it?

Now.

Pocket compass,

so as he can find his way home again.

Cable.

Come on, let me in, you silly tarts!

Come on, come on,
you've got nothing to hide!

Hold him, hold him!

What it is to be young.

Mmm.

Are you absolutely certain, President,

you will not require my presence
here during the vacation?

A vacation is for holidays.

Holiday is anathema to me, as you know.

I shall be taking plenty of work with me.

All work and no play makes
Jack a dull boy, remember that.

Observe the past and future
of the college, Anderson.

Ashby goes away every year,

and every year it's exactly the same.

Dreadful wringing of hands
and paroxysms of guilt.

Imagine what it must be like,

living with the fear that you
might return from foreign parts

and find that a new soup
tureen has been purchased

without a full meeting
of the college council.

I was told to come for the guide
book of the Alps for Mr. Ashby.

Oh, yes.

I've marked out some
interesting routes for him.

Hold it carefully.

A few precipices, the odd chasm.

With your advice, he'll be
lucky to come back alive.

He'll not only come back alive,

he'll also come back a world
authority on Alpine exploration.

"Good, my Lord.

You have begot me, bred me, loved me.

I return those duties
back, as are right fit."

As Vice President of the college,

I'm fully aware of my responsibilities,

should your... Your health...

God forbid, should, but,
uh, you do understand?

Ashby! Ashby!

President.

I've found my Cordelia.

Have you found your King Lear?

Not yet. One or two prospects.

Might have to play the part myself.

You want a Lear?

Then you should search
among that sort of man

well steeped in ambition,

betrayal and greed.

The head of an Oxford college.

I'm your Lear.

There's a fellow in Trinity

who's been allowed to
marry and remain in college.

Sign of the times.

You're not proposing to
bring some elderly widow

out of the cupboard, are you, Groves?

You're fully aware of
my views on the subject.

Firmly based in ancient Greece.

Not a bad example to follow.

Hmm.

Well, farewell, gentlemen.

I wish I had the time, Ashby.

I should gladly volunteer
to help you carry your bags.

In my experience, there's
rarely a shortage of people

to carry one's bags.

This is rural Switzerland, not Paris.

You'll be pestered by mountain
guides every foot of the way.

But do take care.

Most of them couldn't lead
you across their living rooms.

Well, there are incompetents
in all walks of life, Mr. Syme.

I'm sure I can recognize them by now.

For the vacancy on the library
committee, I'd suggest Mr. Cornish.

Oh, very good.

Oh, and do examine
the bed sheets carefully,

especially in mountain guest houses.

You have my address.

I shall be four and half days traveling.

I rely on you, Pollitt.
Look after the college.

"The largest of the three
summits is the Finsteraarhorn,

14,032 feet above sea level.

The area is a well-known
haunt of the chamois,

a shy, retiring antelope

that shelters amongst the rocks

during the heat of the day.

On a fine day,

the Matterhorn may be
glimpsed between the twin peaks

"of the Weisshorn and Monte Rosa."

Extraordinary.

Yes.

What a pity we didn't
bring our watercolors.

♪ Oh, lead me to Thy path All the time ♪

♪ Feed me Till I want no more ♪

Ellie.

Oh, I can't help it.

You shouldn't listen to
other people's conversations.

The wife shouts at the husband,

the husband shouts at the boy,

and the boy looks down
at his shoes all the time.

They might hear you.

And the wife has a fainting spell

every evening.

Ja. Mmm-hmm. Ja.

All right, you.

Put the cushions in the...

No, no, no, nein, nein.

Please take the cushions and then the bag.

Come along, Miss Elinor.

I've come to rescue you from the mob.

I like the mob, Dr. Weeks.

Yes, I've... I've just been making sure

our guides don't forget anything.

We must have plenty of drinking water.

We don't want to risk sun-stroke, do we?

He nearly left these two behind.

There'll be nowhere to sit down up there.

My dear girl,

you're surely not going to
climb in those boots, are you?

You'll have the most dreadful
blisters by this evening.

Stout boots.

Come along, John. All hands to the pump.

I wonder what else he's forgotten.

Have you checked cushions?

Yes, the cushions are in there.

- Sun-shade?
- It's all there.

- Picnic hamper?
- Yes, it's all here.

Have you the picnic hamper?

Yes, you have. You have.

Got it.

Do you always carry this jar with you?

Yes. I want to be an entomologist.

But my father has other ideas.

Your father seems fond of giving advice.

I suppose most doctors are.

There's one.

Oh, that's just a hoverfly.
They're everywhere.

Oh.

What your poor daughter
must make of all this,

I can't imagine.

Such a delicate, pretty girl.

Your only daughter, is she?

Extraordinary, is it not,

that people come here for their health,

and yet many of the locals

seem to be riddled with disease.

I've never seen so many
cases of cretinism and goiter.

Terribly unsightly.

Bilberries can give relief, they say.

I'm a great believer in bilberries.

Many bilberries in your part of the world?

Philadelphia?

Not bilberry country.

Oh.

Not her daughter.

I win!

Oh.

Did I disturb you, sir?

No, no, no.

I was merely enjoying
the view and the silence.

It's all right for you.

You're not carrying anything.

Oh, good morning, sir.

This is quite beautiful.

Oh, good morning.

This was to have been a rest.

Good morning.

A merciful relief from traveling.

Why ever do people come here?

It is the prettiest part
of the Alps, my dear.

If one were a goat or an eagle, perhaps.

We're going back.

Weeks!

Talk to the guide.

I've lost my aphid.

Ah! Good morning.

Good morning.

Passing through?

Yes, yes. We're hoping
to make the Altdorf Ridge.

Ha!

My name is Weeks. Dr. Weeks.

How do you do?

This is my son John.

This is Miss Hartley and Miss Hartley's...

Miss Elinor Hartley.

My name is Ashby, of Oxford University.

Indeed? There is a coincidence.

My practice is in Oxford.

Weeks, I persuaded him

to take us back.

Already?

- Now.
- Yes?

- They pay me.
- Yes, yes, yes, yes.

But we've hardly begun.

My wife's heart is not too
strong, you understand.

It's an easy matter to return.
There's a path all the way.

My dear.

It was the arrangement,
Weeks, door to door.

It is his duty to take us back.

Yes, yes, of course, my dear.

Can't we go on?

Not if the guide is going back.

Victor. My eyes.

Oh, good heavens, I'll be your guide

and won't charge you a penny for it.

John! John! Your mother needs your help.

Come along. Quickly.

Get home as fast as
we can. That's all I ask.

Oh, my dear.

Help me up, help me up.

All right, carry on.

Those guides are such a disgrace.

They prey on people who know nothing

and show them nothing.

You seem very familiar with the route.

Oh, it's a simple matter of preparation.

No great secret, provided
you've done your homework.

Now, it's down to the right.

Will that take us back?

Yes, but by a different route.

We should have a splendid
view of the Steinhaus Valley,

one of the finest in God's creation.

I mean, look at that.

Who could doubt the presence
of a divine hand in all of this?

No, at the Breithorn
it should be, but it's...

That's over there.

Oh, dear.

We're lost.

We're lost! We're lost!

I don't think you're...

I don't think she should
be shouting like that.

The human voice has been
known to cause landslides.

Now, if you wouldn't mind
holding onto this compass.

And keep the needle pointing west.

We're still going west.

That's the village, lies directly below us.

There should be a
perfectly serviceable path.

Do be careful, Mr. Ashby.

Don't worry. I'm quite safe.

The only danger lies in haste.

Mr. Ashby. We've found the path.

Mr. Ashby!

Mr. Ashby!

Does that mean come in?

Yes, of course.

Miss Elinor.

I'm afraid I'm being disobedient.

Oh?

Well, my aunt didn't think
you would want visitors,

but I felt the accident was all my fault.

If I hadn't wanted to go on,

then you wouldn't have fallen.

So I came to say I'm sorry.

Oh, I see you've brought my compass.

I was looking for that.

Yes.

It's very handsome.

Was it a gift?

Yes, from some students, I think.

Oh, I've brought something else. A present.

It's a guide to the surrounding area.

I thought you might find it useful.

It has clear maps of
all the mountain paths.

Of course, you already have a guide book.

Oh, no. This one was
lent to me by a friend.

So far, it's proved woefully inadequate,

so thank you.

Thank you.

Dr. Weeks, have you seen Elinor?

We can't wait any longer,
I'm afraid, Miss Hartley.

You must go and see Mr. Ashby again.

Oh, his leg will heal on its own.

Oh, not about his leg. About John.

John's leg?

His admission to the university.

It's an opportunity not to be missed.

Mr. Ashby.

I... I've come to rescue you.

I'm perfectly all right, thank you.

Disaster.

It's so hard to make the guide understand.

No one understands.

Do you always travel alone?

Whenever possible.

You don't have a family?

I have a father, that's all.

You're not married?

No, no, I'm not married.

I'm not allowed a wife.

Not allowed?

The rules of the college.

None of us who are fellows.

None of us who teach at the university

is allowed a wife.

Why not?

Well, because we have
the college to look after.

There's no time to pat
children on the head.

Besides, I think families are
a mixed blessing, don't you?

Oh, I only have Aunt Caroline.

No brothers or sisters?

No.

So your aunt has devoted
her life to looking after you.

My aunt is always very busy, Mr. Ashby.

She's occupied with many deserving causes.

She's a trustee for the
Asylum of Deaf and Dumb,

the Daughters of Charity
Homes for Foundlings,

and she is a member of the Society

for the Employment and
Instruction of the Poor.

I'm only one of her causes, Mr. Ashby.

Oh, there she is.

- Goodbye.
- Goodbye.

Don't let Napoleon march you too far.

That's strictly against orders, Mr. Ashby.

I'm under no one's orders, Dr. Weeks.

Oh, Mr. Ashby.

Did you have a good day?

Yes, thank you, Miss Hartley.

I walked almost as far as the ridge

with comparatively little discomfort.

Well, what goings on.

It's the feast of Saint Francisca.

She was a local farm girl who
saw the Virgin in a cow shed.

So much ignorance.

What subject do you teach, Mr. Ashby?

My field of study is the classics.

Latin and Greek.

Do you know Cuthbert Hartley's
Commentaries on Greek Philosophers?

Yes, I... I seem to recollect the title.

Adequate but uninspired.

How on earth are you familiar with it?

My father was the author.

Ah. Your father was a classical scholar?

Cuthbert Hartley of Harvard University.

Well, I must, re-read the volume.

Oh, dear, it's the doctor again.

Probably to send me straight to bed.

No, I'm afraid it's me he's
after. Would you mind?

No, no, not at all.

Miss Hartley, may I have the honor?

Mr. Ashby's just asked me to dance.

Are you fit enough?

Um, yes.

Here's another one.

Elinor.

Why are men like telescopes?

I've no idea.

Because women draw them out,

look through them, and shut them up.

- Oh.
-

Indeed.

Uh, well, I must be going.

Oh, do stay a moment longer.

All right.

I shall finish my wine.

Mr. Ashby.

You didn't dance with me.

Well, I... I shouldn't have
danced with anybody.

I shall regret it in the morning.

This is all a new world for me.

I expect you're always at dances at home.

No, I... I'm alone most of the time.

You should have had
brothers and sisters, Elinor.

I did have brothers and sisters.

I was born in Ireland, you see,

at the worst of times.

I was the lucky one.

I survived.

They put me on a boat to America.

I was five.

Miss Hartley saved me.

Look at the lights out there.

It's like a fairy tale.

I feel almost out of time here,

as if the mountains were
shutting off the rest of the world.

I shall put this moment away in my memory.

Keep it brilliant and clear.

And what shall you take
back with you, Mr. Ashby?

Ah. Mr. Ashby.

Can I talk to you about John?

Elinor, do you know why
Mr. Ashby's left so suddenly?

What? Mr. Ashby has gone?

Tell me, what did you
say to him last night?

I said nothing.

Elinor, I'm not a fool.

He would not leave without a
word unless he had good reason.

Tell me the truth.

Mr. Ashby and I,

parted the best of friends.

Are you sure you do not
confuse friendship with familiarity?

What do you mean?

That joke you told

is not suited to mixed company.

Why ever not?

Why do you constantly resist
my best endeavors on your behalf?

Because I have a mind of my own.

But you lack sensitivity
to the feelings of others.

Why do you always blame
me? Are you never at fault?

Another lovely day.

Yes, we have been most fortunate.

Sad about our Mr. Ashby.

What?

Returned to Oxford this morning.

Urgent college business.

I was the one who brought the telegram.

Still, he's promised to see the boy.

Interview in three weeks.

We ask Thee this day, O
Lord, in Thy infinite wisdom,

to grant to our dear president
the joys of a speedy recovery

or the mercies of a swift
deliverance from his suffering.

We pray that Thou who hast
granted him a long and happy life

will intercede most
mercifully for him at this time.

Amen.

Amen.

And now hymn number 196.

I should have been summoned earlier.

He wouldn't hear of it.

He won't believe the
doctors. Insists it's only a chill.

Admirable, of course.

A day earlier might have
made all the difference.

♪ Guide me, oh Thou great redeemer ♪

♪ Pilgrim through This barren land ♪

What a fuss.

So how was Switzerland,
Ashby? You fell, I believe.

Yes, sir. It's nothing serious.

The wretched guide left
us to our own devices.

I fail to see the attraction
of such a steep country.

Pollitt and I spent a
delightful weekend in the Fens

with a party of young men from Corpus.

Splendid swimming.

Much horseplay.

Ashby.

You stayed the course
longer than I expected.

In Switzerland, all that time.

Whatever did you find to do?

I went to Switzerland, I came back.

Switzerland is over, Butler. It's over.

Now, if you don't mind, I have
some work to do. Thank you.

They say the brain is
affected by high altitude.

Lack of oxygen in the blood supply.

Haskell!

I rather think he has more on his mind

than mountains at the moment.

The presidency.

Oh. What happens when the old man drops?

There will have to be
an election, I presume.

Well, hardly necessary, I would think.

Elections are cumbersome,
expensive affairs.

To be avoided if at all possible.

But provided for in the statutes.

But what's the point?

The point is there are some of us

who have in mind an alternative candidate.

One who would present different views,

propose new ideas, let
fresh air into the college.

Who on Earth would challenge Ashby?

An avalanche of applause,

envious looks from besotted undergraduates,

and a modest bow from the accompanist.

Talking of modesty,

what are these rumors I hear
of your proposed exultation?

Anderson has plans for me.

And will you fall in with them?

How do the godly readers of Genesis

justify the recent geological discoveries?

They would have us believe

that there had been no gradual
modification of the surface of the earth,

no slow development of the organic forms.

But that...

When one catastrophic
act of creation took place,

the world presented instantly

the structured appearance of a
planet on which life had long existed.

It is no easy task to change

or even to re-examine
sincerely held beliefs.

And yet we shall achieve nothing

if we cannot adapt as a species

to new ideas.

Oh, nuncle, court holy-water in a dry house

is better than this rain-water out o'door.

Good nuncle...

- Mr. Maynard.
- Hmm?

Do you think at this moment
you might caper a little?

Caper?

Yes, caper.

Invent something fanciful.

Throw your arms in the air.

Skip.

Well, you are a fool.

Oh, nuncle, court
holy-water in a dry house...

intrigues a dalliance.

Surely I'm allowed a dalliance?

Come on, take it seriously.

Seriously. Seriously, you're suggesting

that nothing short of total abstinence

will secure me the presidency?

That intellectual energy,
freshness of approach,

and impeccable liberal
attitudes all count for nothing?

Syme, remember you will be up against
a man with no known moral blemish.

Lear!

"Heraclitus recognizes

the inalienable and indivisible powers

of the deity

which nevertheless offers
to mankind a human choice."

Ah, human choice. Is that all?

Well, sir, the...

The apparent contradiction between

the indivisible power
and a degree of choice is...

Yes, yes, I'm aware of the contradiction.

But could you elaborate
on the nature of the choice?

Yes, sir. The...

Well, it is free will.

In that it allows some
degree of latitude, but...

Exactly. Free will, but
of a paternalistic nature.

Yes, sir. That is correct.

Correct.

But not in the essay.

Sorry, sir.

It's just I have been

rather distracted recently.

I was rather hoping for
your advice, actually, sir.

And I can do the work.
I want to do the work,

but I'm afraid I've been rather foolish.

If you want my support,
Syme, those are the terms.

I promise I shall abstain

and look without desire on any female

until I've become
president of this college.

It might help

if you confine yourself less
to extracurricular activities

and more to the lecture rooms.

You're a persuasive speaker
when you make the effort.

People do listen to you.

What?

We belong to the same choir, you see?

This term, we're doing songs of Schumann.

I know she knows because
I find her eyes catch mine.

She's married.

She's twice my age at least, but...

But I adore her.

- Yes?
- The door, sir.

Oh, yes. Come in.

Sorry to bother you with a trifle, sir.

But two ladies entered the
college without my authority,

asking for you, and claiming
to be acquaintances of yours,

which I regard as highly unlikely.

They tried to insist on seeing you.

But I made it clear to them college
is closed to unaccompanied visitors

and asked them to withdraw to the lodge.

Yes, indeed, Hapgood, those are the rules.

It happens every now and
then, sir. I'll deal with them.

This way, ladies.

Hapgood.

Oh, you do remember us.

Of course.

I'll deal with this, Hapgood.

Miss Elinor, Miss Hartley.

We were on our way home via Liverpool,

but Elinor was adamant a visit
be made to Oxford on the way.

You were the one who said my
education wouldn't be complete without it.

Were we awfully remiss in coming here?

I pleaded we were Americans,

but that seemed to make matters worse.

No, no, no, no, no. Take it away.

I am told that there were ladies

on college premises

in the middle of the morning.

Yes, they were guests of mine, President.

Well, acquaintances, no more than that.

We met in Switzerland, a
mutual interest in climbing.

They were passing through Oxford
and came to pay their regards.

How old's the girl?

I've absolutely no idea.

She's a pretty thing.

The rules of the college
are very clear on this matter.

I...

I don't need to tell you that, Ashby.

Of course, they're only here briefly

and will not be setting foot in college.

One would hardly expect
those on a tour of Europe

to give up the chance to encounter
a university of world renown.

The elder of the two ladies
is a most cultivated woman.

She's the daughter of Cuthbert Hartley.

Who?

Author of Hartley's Commentaries
on Greek philosophy.

Ah.

Mr. Weeks, you have
prepared a passage, I believe,

from the Historia Ecclesiastica.

Yes, Mr. Ashby.

Proceed.

Genetive singular.

Mr. Weeks, the college of
which you wish to be a part

is a place of learning,
a place of scholarship,

a place of intellectual endeavor.

I think you will find
yourself better suited to

less arduous surroundings.

So kind of you, Mr. Ashby.

No, no, no. I have plenty of time.

Well, I have an hour.

Well, almost an hour.

Sadly, the holidays are over.

They will be for us very soon.

Now this is something that you were asking.

Well, well, Miss Elinor.

Dr. Weeks!

How long have you been
here? Is Miss Hartley with you?

I shall organize a tour for you.

Oh, we're already organized.

Dr. Weeks.

Miss Hartley.

What a surprise.

I see you've chosen your regular guide.

I think Mr. Ashby's still suffering
from the shock of seeing us here at all.

He's not the only one
to be in a state of shock.

Has your wife been unwell again?

No, no, no, my wife is well.

My son has suffered a considerable blow.

Yes, well, good day,
Dr. Weeks, if you'll excuse us,

we have much to see.

Ladies.

I like the Greek gods.

They have human appetites and weaknesses.

Of course, the female form, you'll notice,

was rarely portrayed without drapery

before the Hellenistic period,

at which time the Greek
civilization began its decline.

That sounds exciting.

On a recent tour of Italy,

I was shown a paving stone

reputedly stained with the
blood of some long dead martyr.

On tasting it, gentlemen,

I found it was the urine
of a species of chiroptera.

Mere bat's piss, gentlemen.

Bat's piss.

Cadman, pass me the jar
and the embalming fluid.

You may not have a brain, but at
least you'll learn how to pickle one.

They tell me Dr. Butler's anatomy
classes are becoming very popular.

The poor girl was lost.

And who was in charge of her?

Good night, Mr. Pollitt.

Good night, Padgett.

By what earthly rule is one prevented

from showing friends around Oxford?

Friends now, eh?

What else should one call them?

Two unmarried women,
Ashby, don't you forget that.

One of whom is little more
than a girl and the other...

The other who's the
daughter of one of the more

distinguished figures
in American scholarship.

Oh, yes. Hartley's Commentaries.

Remind me to see if I can
find a copy in the library.

So, you leave tonight?

6:00, I believe.

The train seems to stop everywhere.

Well, why put yourself
to all that discomfort?

Stay in Oxford. Travel in the morning.

No.

I fear we have already
overstayed our welcome.

Though I am sad not to have
seen more of your college.

Yes.

I do have a suggestion. It may
not meet with your approval,

but if you're at all interested.

Oh, nuncle, court holy-water in a dry house

is better than this rain-water out o'door.

Good nuncle, in...

ask thy daughters' blessing.

Here's a night pities
neither wise men nor fool.

Rumble thy bellyful!

Spit, fire!

Spout, rain! Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire,

are my daughters. I tax you not...

It isn't that bad.

To think our John could
have been a part of all this.

O! 'Tis foul!

He that has a house to put's head in...

has a good head-piece.

The cod-piece that shall house...

"Before the head has any."

Before the head has any.

"The head and he shall louse."

The head and he shall
louse so beggars marry many.

The man that... Prompt!

That will house...

Oh, no!

The head and so...

shall louse and beggars marry many.

The man that will house

what he his heart should make

shall of a corn cry woe.

And turn his sleep to wake.

The man makes his toe...

I believe we haven't yet
been formally introduced.

Oh, this is my colleague, Mr. Syme.

Miss Caroline Hartley from Philadelphia.

No relation to Cuthbert
Hartley, by any chance?

Author of Hartley's Commentaries
on Greek Philosophers?

He was my father.

Ashby, lend a hand, will you?

Oh, yes. President.

Disastrous. Disastrous.

Was the thought of King Lear too dark
and doom-laden for your young companion?

Oh, yes. Elinor decided to rest.

She was rather tired
after all the sightseeing.

Yes, Oxford can be very grueling.

But should you decide to come
and visit again, do let me know.

I have a small cottage by
the river, away from everything.

I'm always looking for
someone to make use of it.

Ellie.

My dear, do you know the time?

I'm not going.

Now, have you rested?

Yes, thank you.

Well, then you must finish
dressing. We're to be collected.

I'm not going.

Well, whatever is the matter?

I don't feel comfortable here.

Life is suddenly so complicated.

First we are to leave, then we are to stay.

Have we to go home, or
haven't we to go home?

Now, don't let us argue.

Mr. Ashby's taken
considerable trouble for us.

For you.

What?

It's clear that you enjoy the same things.

He talks to you, but rarely to me.

Elinor, that's nonsense.
We do everything together.

He has no choice.

Besides, I'm tired of museums
and fine historic architecture and...

Elinor, are you aware of how lucky you are?

Why must you always
refer to my good fortune?

"How lucky you are, Elinor, to have
gone to the best school in New England.

How lucky you are to live
in a well-appointed house.

How lucky you are to travel to Europe.

How lucky you are to be alive at all."

Elinor, how can you say such things?

I know it's all true, but...

I have only your best interests at heart.

And I'm sure Mr. Ashby would agree.

Don't try and tell me what Mr. Ashby
does or does not think about me.

Oxford can be very grueling.

I do understand.

I feel that you have done
so much for us, Mr. Ashby.

You've been so attentive.

I've enjoyed it.

Indeed. Elinor was just saying tonight...

What was she saying?

Do tell me.

That you have been almost too attentive.

Too attentive?

Too attentive.

Too attentive to me, I
mean, rather than to her.

She's a strange girl.

The Elinor I know is very different

from the one you've met, Mr. Ashby.

I tell you this in absolute
confidence, of course.

Of course.

Well, some months ago, she left me.

She left you?

She tried to leave for New York

on some fruitless search of
what she imagines to be her past.

It was both dangerous and foolish.

You must have been dreadfully upset.

This is why we've come to Europe.

But there are so many new impressions here

that one must have some experience
of life to extract the most from them.

Which of course is what dear Elinor lacks.

Miss Elinor.

My name is Cable. Mr. Ashby is my tutor.

Oh.

What on Earth are you doing here?

Well, I might ask the
same of you, Mr. Cable.

You know, you really
shouldn't be here all by yourself.

Oh? Why not?

Hey! You, sir! Stop!

- Quick, run. They'll take you for a tart.
-

You'll get locked up.

What are you doing?

Elinor, just run. Keep going.

I remember arriving at the orphanage.

My heart was pounding with excitement.

I'd thought so long and
hard about adopting a child.

And then, when I saw Elinor,

looking so frail and eager,
my heart went out to her.

I was moved by her courage.

You can't imagine how frightened
she was when she first came to me.

She was always putting me to the test.

I sensed her asking,

"Am I still wanted?"

I've learned so much this evening.

What could I possibly teach you?

How shall I put it? Our
conversation's made me aware of...

of lives beyond the
confines of the college.

You Englishmen make
things so difficult for yourselves.

You seem to avoid
expressing your true feelings.

Maybe that is true.

I wonder how you ever
manage to fall in love.

You're always so careful and wise.

Forgive me.

I'm beginning to sound like Elinor.

Good heavens. She'll
be wondering where I am.

Thank you, Mr. Ashby.

It's been the most perfect evening.

Oh, the pleasure was entirely mine.

Goodbye, Miss Hartley.

Mr. Ashby.

Elinor?

But... I thought you were unwell.

Quick. Come in here.

Take one of the blankets off the bed.

What is it?

Founder's port.

Forty-six years old.

Bottled the year I was born.

I suppose I could develop a taste for it.

Haskell?

Do you want your fire stoking, sir?

No, thank you. I'm
feeling a little off color.

I think I shall go directly to bed.

It's going around, sir.

What?

Colic, high temperature, backache.

You're not the only one.

They say it's the sanitation,
but I blame the bed-makers.

Dirty women, sir.

Yes. Well, I think sleep is all I need.

Half of them work at the meat
market before they come here.

Yes, thank you, Haskell.

Dirty women.

This is absurd.

Have you any idea what would
happen if someone found you here?

Disgrace, I suppose.

Disgrace for all parties.

Raised voices, wagging
fingers, black looks.

And those with most to lose will lose most.

Like you.

Oh.

I would lose my fellowship,

my position as senior tutor,

and any chance of becoming
president of the college.

I would gain some drafty parish
church on the Welsh borders,

a congregation of farmers'
wives and demented old men.

Perhaps we should never have met.

Why did you wake me?

It's 2:00 in the morning.

Your aunt will be distraught if
she finds you're not in your room.

She'll have gone straight to bed.

She's very concerned about you.

We talked of you all evening.

I wish you would tell me in plain
English what you really feel, Mr. Ashby.

You looked after me here.

You put the blanket around
me. You made me feel warm.

How else should one behave?

Have you forgotten Switzerland?

I must take you back to the hotel.

It must be nice to be part of a college,

to have all these
familiar things around you,

all these books arranged
by author from A to Z.

Beautiful furniture,
always in the same place.

Founder's port, old
stones, old inscriptions,

your friends in rooms all around you.

Mr. Haskell.

Everything you want.

Isn't it?

I may not be able to come to
the station tomorrow to see you off.

You won't say anything to Aunt Caroline
about tonight, will you, Mr. Ashby?

No. Of course not.

Good evening.

Mr. Ashby. Miss Elinor.

What do you make of this, Mr. Haskell?

A ladies' handkerchief.

Aren't you going to
ask me where I found it?

No doubt somewhere where
you shouldn't have been.

In Mr. Ashby's bedroom.

I told you not to go in there. He's ill.

No, he's not. He's gone out.

First time in 27 years.

Most agitated.

Most agitated.

Most agitated. Just burst in.

This was delivered by hand
to the president this morning.

It's damned lucky I
was there to intercept it.

Now, what on Earth is happening, Ashby?

This is blackmail.

Seen at 2:00 in the
morning in the high street

in the company of a young lady?

And who is this fellow Weeks?

I met him in Switzerland.

He is a thoroughly malicious gossip,

desperate to get his son into the college.

Well, is there a scrap of truth in it?

The Visigoths are at the gates of Rome.

I think it better if you leave
the college for a few days.

Just in case.

Make yourself scarce somewhere.

I did try to warn you.

Is there anything I can do for you?

Well, there is one thing, of course.

You must give me a solemn undertaking

never to see these American
friends of yours again.

Of course.

You have my word.

Guard the college with your life.

Of course it wasn't inconvenient.

I was delighted to hear from you.

It's not a palace. More of a watery grave.

But it can be quite
fun at this time of year.

Don't you make use of it?

I bought it in a moment
of romantic intoxication.

Well, what do you think?

Oh, it's lovely, Mr. Syme.

So hidden away.

I imagined myself here, laboring
on a great work of scholarship.

The low evening mist
creeping in over the water,

only the moorhens for company.

But I soon found out that college
doesn't take kindly to hermits.

The college likes to
know where its fellows are.

If they start missing their suppers,

they could be getting
up to all sorts of mischief.

Well, this is Hartslock Cottage.

It's enchanting.

It's exactly what it ought to be.

It's perfect.

Well, if you should
decide to stay in Oxford,

it's yours for the summer.

We could invite Mr. Ashby here.

Dear Mr. Ashby.

My dear Mr. Ashby,

I write to tell you that we have
decided to stay a while in Oxford.

True sentiments are often hardest to...

I find myself thinking of
your kindness towards us.

Is it too much to hope that
we could perhaps meet again?

My dear Elinor...

Dear Elinor,

I hope your journey home was safe

and the Atlantic in one
of her friendlier moods.

I too have returned home

for a moment's peace
before the coming election.

I find myself still thinking of
our time together in Switzerland

and wondering if I could ever...

If I could ever be as happy again.

Help! Help!

Help!

Mr. Syme, are you all right?

She went down with all hands, I'm afraid.

I'm the sole survivor.

But I did manage to salvage some wine.

I'm sorry to intrude, but I
promised Miss Hartley I'd drop in.

I understand you have fire without wood

and a three-legged table

and other problems that a laggardly
landlord should have seen to.

Well, my aunt isn't here.
She went out for the day.

On private business, she said.

Ah.

Miss Hartley.

Is anything the matter?

I had some business to do nearby.

Papers to be sorted out, mailed to America.

Elinor is not with you?

No, she's at the cottage.

I thought you were gone.

Mr. Syme has lent us the
most enchanting little house.

Oh, uh, Miss Hartley, this is my father.

How do you do?

We met in Switzerland. We climbed together.

Not exactly a vocation for young ladies.

Do you know he nearly lost
his life on one treacherous ridge?

Yes. We tried to save him, but he slipped.

Thank you.

Where did you learn to sing?

County Tipperary.

Well, then, let's drink.

To you.

- To me?
- Yes.

And your conquest of Europe.

I suppose I could develop a taste for this.

The river is full of hazards for the
sailor, my dear. You're just one of them.

Not a mile upstream is Parson's Pleasure,

where by long tradition
fellows may bathe naked.

Does Mr. Ashby?

No. Mr. Ashby does not bathe naked.

How do you know?

My dear, Mr. Ashby even
sleeps in his college gown.

I should like to see one
of these strange creatures.

Purely for scientific interest.

Of course.

The mallet is held thumbs downward, thus.

I feel I'm about to make a fool of myself.

That would be most unlike you.

I'm relieved that you don't remember

our last night in Oxford
as clearly as I do.

Oh, good shot.

I do remember.

Any fault was entirely mine.

You've given me a chance to croquet you.

On the contrary.

You were kind enough
to pay me a compliment.

Look out!

Much too hard.

- Wait for me there.
- Oh, that's all right.

- Be careful, Elinor.
- Yes.

Mr. Syme!

Come here. Give me your hand.

Oh, I've ruined my dress.

- I must get you in front of a fire.
-

What fire?

Our landlord keeps
forgetting to bring us any wood.

Callous brute.

Quickly.

Oh, I'm freezing.

- There.
- Oh, thank you.

Oh, God.

Put it around you.

Thank you.

When it all comes
together, that's a miracle.

Mr. Ashby.

If I should settle here in England...

I know it's not a woman's
place to say such things,

but would you consider it possible

or even desirable that

you and I might...

No.

It's not that...

It's just that I've given my word. I...

I cannot go back on that.

Elinor.

Yes, Aunt Caroline.

Oh, my dear.

I'm so glad to see you.

Did you expect not to?

It was wrong of me to
leave you alone all day.

I... I wasn't alone all day.

Oh?

No, Mr. Syme called.

Did he stay long?

Mmm, just a brief visit.

So, what did you do?

What do you mean, what did I do?

Well?

You make it sound like you're
trying to make me confess something.

I was merely inquiring.

How was your day with
Mr. Ashby? What did you do?

How did you know I was with Mr. Ashby?

I found the letter.

The one you didn't post.

That was a private letter.

It was lying on the desk.

You had no business reading it.

What could you have been thinking of?

So you were with him.

Did Mr. Syme say when
the logs would be delivered?

No. I mean, yes.

Soon.

Did Mr. Ashby say when
he was coming to see us?

No.

I don't think he will come to see us.

We are gathered here today

to mourn the passing of
William Granger Rushden.

You've heard about Syme?

Well, apparently, he has made
his rather pretty country cottage

available to your American friends.

Yes, I was aware of that.

Yes, but evidently, it isn't a
conventional landlord-tenant arrangement.

Of course we can't be
too sure about these things.

But rumor as it...

What does rumor have?

That Syme and the young lady...

I cannot believe a thing like that.

Yes, well, let's just hope it's true, hmm?

For all our sakes.

And blessed with his foresight.

Let us give thanks for
a life lived to the full.

We shall not look upon his like again.

Now, I think possibly that
I am the only one still living

who can remember coming
up for the last college election.

This is Mr. Cave.

Cav-e. An old Danish name.
Meant a carver, I'm told.

Are you the one who
wants to change everything?

I'm glad of the opportunity
to speak with you.

Ashby!

Canon Harper from Bridport.

Went down in '33.

Great friend of the old president.

I was so sorry to miss the funeral.

What are you doing here?

I've come to cast my vote.

I must speak to you, Ashby.

A delicate matter.

Was it well attended?

Would you excuse me a
moment, please, Canon?

I... I want to repay a debt of thanks

for the exemplary way
you dealt with my son.

He's much happier now.

Entomologist at the museum.

This is not the place to hear
your family history, Weeks.

And by way of thanks, to
pass on some information

which I think you should
have as soon as possible.

We have nothing more to say to each other.

It does concern you directly.

Miss Elinor is expecting a child.

Do you ever get down to Dorset, Ashby?

What?

I said do you ever get down to Dorset?

You must eat something, Elinor.

I'm not hungry.

Why do our friends treat us this way?

Why does no one talk to us?

Mr. Ashby hasn't been
to see us in over a month.

Mr. Ashby is engaged in a contest.

The election of a new college president

is a very serious matter.

I don't understand the English.

They seem able to place
their friends and their lives

into separate compartments.

I think it's time for us to go home.

Hmm?

Big day tomorrow, sir.

Yes.

Never been a president's scout before, sir.

If she's expecting a child,
that's wonderful news, Ashby.

It's Syme revealed in his true colors.

The college is ours.

That man is ruined.

And Elinor Hartley's
conveniently forgotten.

Come on now, Ashby. Miss Hartley?

What's a silly little American
hussy compared to the college?

This is our day, Ashby.

I never realized how much
you wanted the college.

No more than you.

Yes. In the end, more than me.

Gentlemen.

And as for Miss Elinor?

Charming girl.

She's to have a child.

They're ready for you now, gentlemen.

What an extraordinary thing.

From Mr. Ashby, sir.

Miss Hartley.

Mr. Ashby, I...

I didn't expect to see you.

It's most kind of you to spare the time.

I'm sorry. I've been busy.

I'd heard about the election.

It must be upon you very soon.

I understand you have a rival.

Yes. Mr. Syme.

Never one who struck me as an
ideal candidate for the president.

Oh, he is popular with the younger fellows.

Youth is not always a
sound judge of character.

Miss Hartley, are you leaving?

Elinor's not well. She's...

Miss Hartley.

- Excuse me.
- Excuse me, ma'am.

Mr. Ashby.

Please go away, Mr. Ashby.

Doctor Weeks came to see me.

Is it true?

There's nothing you can do.

I'm afraid I've made a
terrible mess of things.

I didn't love him.

I didn't even like him.

But when I saw that Aunt
Caroline went to see you

and I realized that you
loved her and not me...

No, no.

That's not true.

Then why have you come?

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

Do you know the first time I saw you?

Oh, yes. I remember exactly what you said.

"Did I disturb you, sir?"

No, no, it was before that.

Never was a truer word spoken.

You looked so cool and carefree.

What were you singing?

Wait.

The brown trunk can stay.

The rest will go to the station.

Mr. Ashby in his rooms?

No, sir, he left.

They left first thing this morning.

Did he say where?

Gone abroad.

Best thing for it in the
circumstances, I'd say.

I can tell you, the fellows of
this college are not best pleased.

A senior tutor, and he did
it under their very noses.

I still can't believe
it. Crafty old bugger.

She was beautiful, Mr. Haskell.

And in my rooms, too.

Oh!

Are you all right?

Be careful.

Thank you. Saved again.