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Hello? Are you here?
The butler sent me in . . . he said you’d be here.
Oh! There you are!
These rooms of yours are so large!
[he has asked her to sit] Thank you.
Hmm?
Oh, I was only going to the philosophical society.
I can miss one meeting.
Don’t worry about it!
That does remind me, though: Professor MacDonald will give the annual Lewis Lecture this year.
I know you enjoyed his last book.
Maybe this is the year I can finally entice you to come?
[pause]
[recalling from memory] Let’s see . . . they said it would be . . . “The Metaphysical Conditions of Consciousness: A Sober Consideration of the Issues.”
[lighthearted] When they announced the title, Mrs. Anscombe turned to me and said: “I’m glad at least one person in the room will be sober!”
[laughter]
Hmm?
Oh, I told you, don’t worry about it.
I did promise you, you know . . . that I would come straight over . . . any time you asked.
Promises are quite sacred to me.
You know that.
I would never break one.
That’s why I almost never make one.
[gently] But after what happened last year . . . that dreadful accident . . .
Seeing you there, in that hospital bed . . .
Knowing you had lost . . . everyone else who was . . . really close to you.
Your excellent parents . . . who did so much for you.
And your beautiful, beautiful Marianne.
Somehow . . . I knew I had to be there for you.
Not just then, but . . . always.
I felt it was . . . my calling, I suppose.
If a woman is still unmarried at age 27 . . . she has to start thinking about what she’s going to do with her life.
At that point, you know for certain . . . that you’re never getting married.
[sincere] And I’m perfectly content with that.
[defiant] In fact, I rather like being an old maid.
[pause]
[playful] Oh, hush!
[teasing] You always were a charmer.
But at my age . . . a woman has to be realistic.
And if I’m not giving myself to a husband and children . . . to what do I give myself?
I wanted to be there for you.
And so . . . I made you a promise.
One of only . . . let’s see . . . three promises I’ve ever made.
The first was to my father . . . that I would always tell the truth.
And I always do.
The second was to my brother . . . that I would only marry for love.
And here I am . . . a perfectly happy old maid.
When I look at all my friends . . . who married for money . . . or to please their parents . . . or just because they couldn’t stand being called an “old maid” . . .
[sincere] I have no regrets whatsoever.
[defiant] No man was going to have me . . . if I didn’t love him.
And now I’m safe . . . from all that.
[thoughtlessly blurting it out] Oh, wait, I forgot, I believe it’s actually four promises.
[suddenly awkward] But it doesn’t matter!
[pause]
[flustered] I . . . um . . . well . . .
[anxious] It’s not important! Really!
[pause]
[quietly] I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.
I promised Marianne . . . that I would be there.
On your wedding day.
That never came.
[humiliated] I’m so sorry.
You do know how . . . I sometimes speak without thinking.
I came here to support you.
And here I am . . . causing you more pain.
[pause]
No, no . . . it isn’t “all right” at all.
I’ve talked about nothing but your grief since I arrived.
Please, do tell me why you asked me to come . . . so I can stop my mouth from running!
[pause]
You’re sure?
[pause]
You don’t mind?
[pause]
[warmly] Yes, I do remember that.
Your parents did so much for you.
They left you so much more than just . . . this house . . . and all the rest.
They left you . . . you.
Honest. Generous. Loyal. Sensitive.
I see all that in you . . . from how your parents loved you.
[pause]
Yes, she certainly was.
Marianne would have been such a match for you.
[reassuringly] She’s better off where she is, of course.
[pause]
[hesitant] May I say something to you?
Please tell me if I’m speaking without thinking again.
I don’t want to hurt you.
I just . . .
You’re talking about them again.
Really talking about them.
It’s been so long.
And . . . you’re even smiling.
I haven’t seen a smile like that one on your face in . . . well, in more than a year.
It warms my heart, it really does.
You’re healing.
[pause]
I’m so glad.
But . . . you still haven’t told me why you asked me to come over.
[pause]
[excited] The grand ball?
You are?
You’re really going?
[pause]
Oh, that’s delightful!
Good for you!
I just know you’re going to have a wonderful night.
I do have to say . . . I’m not totally surprised.
After what I saw at the museum gala last week.
Oh, don’t be coy!
Everyone there spent the whole time . . . watching a certain countess who’s visiting from abroad.
Turns out she’s ten times more beautiful in person . . . than those amazing pictures we had all seen.
I was watching her, too!
She’s spellbinding.
And she spent the whole time at the gala . . . practically chained to your side.
I believe . . . that I may have overheard her . . . mentioning the grand ball to you.
[playful] Oh, you didn’t notice?
She brought it up . . . three times.
And that was just while I was nearby!
[still playful] Tell me, when I went off to admire the Rembrandts . . . did the two of you plan out the menu and the seating arrangements?
[lighthearted laughter]
I do hope you realize what a lucky fox you are.
To be lured out of your den at last . . . by a hunter like her.
Everyone knows she needs to get married.
To prevent that awful nephew of hers from inheriting the title.
It’s all anyone’s talking about.
And she has her pick . . . of all the single men in the whole world.
The old families . . . the nouveau riche . . . the future monarchs.
A woman like her?
She could have any one of them.
[romantic] And she traveled all the way here . . . to throw herself at your feet.
If that didn’t open your heart again . . . they might just have put you in the museum!
[playful laugh]
What a night you’re going to have!
[pause]
Me? Oh, I doubt I’ll go at all.
I admit, I do enjoy the excitement . . . and the grace of the dancing.
Being just a tiny little part of . . . the glamor of it all.
I did make a promise to tell the truth!
Yes, I do enjoy a grand ball.
A little.
And I don’t doubt that someone would take me . . . if I really wanted to go.
The Carters would include me in their party . . . if I asked.
Or Mrs. Birchwright and her sisters.
But . . . a woman of my age . . . at a grand ball . . .
It’s awkward.
For me . . . for everyone.
I may be old enough . . . at my age . . . to know for certain that I’m never getting married.
But I’m not so old . . . that everyone else . . . knows for certain that I know it.
All those eyes . . . looking at me?
All the women . . . whispering behind my back?
I’d just rather not have to deal with it.
Soon enough, I’ll be so old . . . that nobody will look at me like that any more.
[sincere] I’m looking forward to it!
[pause]
[surprised] Oh!
[hesitant] You . . . are you sure?
[playful] Come now, you don’t need to . . . remember how to dance.
What a notion!
Once you know how . . . you never forget.
Everyone knows that!
And you?
You certainly know how.
[romantic] I remember watching you and Marianne.
I’ve never seen a man dance so gracefully.
Nothing like any of the old, married men . . . who dance with me just so I won’t be left out.
[pause]
You’re sure?
[pause]
Well . . . all right.
[pause]
[playful] Why, yes . . . you may have this dance!
[pause]
[anxious] Wait . . . your . . . your hand.
[more anxious] No! No!
[awkward] I wasn’t . . . asking you to remove it.
[pulling herself together] You have to put it lower.
Lower down on my back.
[pause]
I’m not made of china.
You’re not going to break me.
[gently but firmly] Put your hand lower down on my back.
[pause]
There. Much better.
Okay, let’s start with something simple.
[marking time in rhythm] One-two-three, one-two-three, one-two-three.
Very well?
All right.
We’ll start after “one.”
Ready?
Three . . . two . . . one . . . [shocked] Oh!
[several gales of joyous laughter, with pauses between them in rhythm with the dance]
[rapturous] Yes!
[breathless] That’s it!
[all the joy] One-two-three! One-two-three! One-two-three!
[more gales of laughter, with pauses between indicating the rhythm of the dance]
[feel free to improvise in this section – they’re dancing and her heart is melting for him]
[in heaven] You’re amazing!
[breathless] Oh, this is marvelous!
[more joy] One-two-three! One-two-three! One-two-three!
Aaaaaand . . . .
[applause, with the most joyous laughter ever]
Oh, that was the most fun I’ve had in years!
[pause]
[overflowing joy] The countess is just going to melt in your arms.
[forcing herself to be happy for them] I just know . . . that the two of you . . .
[successful in forcing herself] Will have a wonderful night together!
And . . . if all goes well . . . a wonderful life together.
[sincere] I’m so happy for you.
[pause]
[confused] What?
[not angry, but deeply hurt and bitter] Don’t joke like that, it isn’t funny.
[pause]
[confused] You . . . you . . .
[bewildered] But . . . how could you ask me?
[explaining why it’s preposterous] I’m not rich.
Or noble.
Or famous.
Or connected.
Or young.
Or glamorous.
I have nothing to offer you.
Except . . . [suddenly daring to hope] my whole heart.
A heart that has watched you . . . from afar . . . for a long time.
A heart that has seen all the other men . . . play with women . . . [bitter] like they were toys.
And call that love.
A heart that has only ever seen one man . . . truly, completely, selflessly . . . give himself.
[quiet] Only one man . . . who knows what it really means . . . to love a woman.
[breathless] A heart . . . that never dared to hope . . .
[cut off by a sudden kiss] Mph!
[major kissing, with noises of urgent longing and content sighs during the kisses]
[kissing stops]
[frightened whisper] Please! The servants may come in any moment!
So . . . [suddenly not frightened] kiss me again, while we still can!
[whispered with intense longing and surrender] Please? . . . Kiss me again . . .
[more major kissing]
[kissing stops, they’re quiet for a moment]
[bliss] I’ve waited for so long . . . and every moment . . . was worth it.
Can you kiss me forever?
[brief kiss]
I don’t ever want to stop!
[brief kiss]
[delighted] Now, at last . . . I can keep all four of my promises at once!
[giggles]
[several brief kisses]
In fact, I‘ll make you another promise now.
If you walk into that ball . . . with me on your arm . . .
And escort me around that huge, glamorous ballroom . . .
And we talk to all those people . . . who know . . . that you could have gone there with the countess . . .
And then, you dance with me . . . in front of the whole world . . . exactly like that . . .
I promise to kiss you . . . in front of the whole world . . .
Exactly . . . like . . . this.