Original subtitles

for you sir.

yes thank you, thank you George.

ah yes Fanny.

if I'm not home by seven she'll go to the theater without me.

well that's good.

that'll give us more time. it's just another comedy anyway.

where was I?

oh yes. the marriage between Charlotte and mr Verver.

well it took place.

they went on a long honeymoon trip to America. very successful.

came back and settled in Verver's house in Eaton Square.

but then a very strange thing began to happen.

I told you that Verver's motive in marrying Charlotte was certainly in part to relieve Maggie

of a sense of guilt at having left him up in the air so to speak by her own marriage to the prince.

and yet by an ironic turn of events this never happened.

but whereas before

it had crossed Maggie's mind on occasion that she gave too much of her time to her father,

it now crossed her mind

that the prince was happily provided for in the person of Verver's wife...

and Verver the same.

but what didn't cross their minds was that perhaps they were taking a little too much for granted.

I don't think the prince had any notion of seeking Charlotte's company

and to do her justice I don't think Charlotte had at first.

so who can tell what that young lady had at the back of her mind?

when you've been as much in love with someone as she had been with the prince

do you ever really get over it?

I think in her own way she was bent on

making her marriage work then she thought about it consciously.

I think she meant all those things she'd said to Verver that day

on the pier at Brighton.

she did want to get married. she was grateful to him, she did immensely like him.

and perhaps at first even she didn't know what was truly at the back of her mind.

in a sense, how could she until the situation gradually formed itself in such a way

as to reveal it to her.

and was that her fault? I don't know. what

can you say, except that she had once desperately loved Maggie's husband.

and she was now being thrown more closely together with him than, in a sense, she ought to have been.

there's no doubt that the onlooker,

giving the four of them a more than cursory glance,

would have assumed that Maggie was her father's wife...

and that Charlotte was the prince's.

and it would have been a natural mistake to have made.

they all had that air about them.

suffice it to say that at the end of two years of marriage

Charlotte and her husband had fallen into an easy relationship with Maggie and hers

that disturbed not one wit

that close and intimate connection father and daughter had had most of their lives.

and it never dawned on Maggie and her father

that there was the slightest thing odd about it.

they never dreamed that anyone might find it curious to say the least

but it dawned on Charlotte

and I suppose it must have slowly dawned on the prince.

after all, he too had desperately loved her once.

and in his efforts to please both his father-in-law and his wife

which in his strange way he felt obliged to do

he gradually backed away more and more into Charlotte's light.

- what you thought I could do? - Maggie you're forcing me into a corner.

I don't mind. admit it.

anyway I'd never compete with Charlotte. she's much too clever.

- I'm not sure I like that. - you were meant to.

well then I'm not sure I believe you.

oh you may believe it. you outshine me in everything and I'll never stop saying so.

you won't catch me entering any list with your name on it.

- for anything? - for anything. I'd lose.

- so shouldn't we be going? - yes we're late.

tell you what. why don't you three go ahead. I don't think I feel quite up to it.

- is anything wrong? - no it's just I think I got a cold coming on.

there's no sense of spreading it around at diplomatic parties.

- don't you feel well? - I'm all right I guess .

but not right enough to be standing around in drafty rooms chatting to people I don't

really want to be chatted to. so you go ahead.

- no we'll all stay. - now Meg if you take up that

attitude I should get straight up off my deathbed and go.

no well then I'll stay and Charlotte and Amerigo can go as representatives.

- no such thing. you'll go all three of you. - you sure you'll be all right?

- yes quite sure. - we shan't be late.

oh be as late as you like. if I get tired I shall just go to bed.

[indistinct chatter]

[music]

there's the colonel. Fanny must be here. he never stirs without her.

- no. I think I'll go back. you two stay. - my dear it isn't necessary.

but I'll feel better. now don't make a fuss and don't spoil the evening.

- he won't like it you know. - he'll have to lump it as they say.

honestly I'll be a bore all evening wondering if he's all right. now you two stay.

please or I'll feel dreadful.

[music]

did he come alone?

no no it's the prince and Maggie

but isn't mr Verver with them?

no I didn't see him.

that's odd.

I think I'll go down.

give them time to get their breath.

Charlotte scarcely ever draws breath. are you coming?

no I watch the performance from here.

I find it funnier when I can't actually hear what's being said.

you find everything funny.

well your little dramas do have their comic side.

and besides I do so enjoy the way you report them.

it's never quite the same when I'm actually there myself.

[speaking Italian]

[Charlotte] Here comes Fanny.

well why shouldn't she?

- she can't wait. - wait for what?

to find out why we're here alone together.

ah there's sir John Bryn. they're signaling to us. shall we go and have a word with him?

no. take no notice. I her to see us together. the sooner the better.

- she's seen us. - she's not seen enough of us.

let her have it all.

what is there for her to have?

nothing.

that is what I want her to see.

hasn't she seen that before? hasn't she seen us often enough together in the past?

I want her to see us tonight.

Fanny thinks there's something to have out with us.

let her. especially as it amounts to nothing.

you're strange mia cara.

- hello my dear. - hello Fanny.

Fanny my dear how are you?

... we saw the colonel as we came in. - he said he saw Maggie.

yes, she's gone home. mr Verver isn't feeling well.

prince. how nice to see you. ladies I'm going to take him away for a moment.

his royal highness would like to meet you.

ladies will you excuse me

so you've decided to stay on together without her.

yes Maggie insisted.

isn't that a little unusual?

oh no it happens quite frequently.

my husband seems less and less disposed to go out.

disposed? I thought you said it was on account of his health.

oh and it is tonight

but quite frequently he often prefers to stay at home.

so uh Maggie was persuaded to come and then decided to leave

yes. yes, she was gripped by remorse at the last moment.

it's all right you know

they're probably at home together right now having a little party.

do they do that often?

there's nothing in the world they like better.

they're always making plans.

I'll come to you tomorrow. oh no no my dear, I'll come to you.

somehow I think they rather enjoy these little renewals of their old life together.

and do you?

why should mind? I know it pleases Adam

... and Maggie is a dear. - yes.

I should have thought the prince might find it a little irritating.

oh no.

no nothing they do irritates him.

he feels it his duty to fall in with them.

after all it costs so little.

you say your husband is ill. he felt too ill to come?

no no I think not. if he felt too ill to come I wouldn't have left him.

- yet Maggie was worried. - but Maggie worries easily.

Maggie's afraid of influenza. he is subject to it though not seriously.

and you are not afraid?

my dear

didn't you tell me once that you thought that there was nothing in the world I'm afraid of?

so why ask?

mayn't one ask how things are with your husband?

of course.

only when you ask as if I might know how things are...

I think it best to let you know I know precisely...

how things are.

Maggie thinks more of fathers

than she does of husbands.

and that is something I have to count with. you see the situation really is mine...

and no one else's.

if you mean by that that Maggie doesn't adore the prince --

oh I didn't say she doesn't adore him.

I said she doesn't think of him.

those two conditions quite often go together you know.

and Maggie is happy

and my husband is happy.

and the prince?

he is happy that they are happy.

so should you be. you live with such good people.

you will never hear me complain.

well my dear

I sincerely hope for your sake not.

and I hope for yours

that you will understand a little better.

your situation.

my situation.

you know we were away in America a very long time.

a long time for Maggie that is, being left here.

she still feels she has arrears to make up, a need for showing my husband how much she missed her.

she puts it in when she can, a little here, a little there. it ends up by being a considerable amount.

they see more of each other now than when they lived in the same house together.

she's always arranging for it.

she likes to arrange. it suits her.

tonight for instance.

tonight is practically an arrangement.

she likes him best alone

and that is how he likes her.

and that is what I mean by being placed.

the situation puts me squarely in my place.

so you make your arrangements too.

-naturally. - and the prince?

... does he make his? - of course.

and does that include he's making up his arrears? I mean by coming to see you.

no. he never comes.

oh?

so there it is. it's too absurd isn't it?

- do you find it so? - frankly yes.

so you go to see him.

oh I have been, but that is nothing. not in our...

situation.

strikes me your situation is perfect.

as I said, I don't complain, I accept it.

what more do you want of me Fanny?

I want you to believe that you're a very fortunate young woman.

oh that is a great deal more. I'm not certain I could guarantee you that.

you see my situation gives me a certain freedom.

- then don't abuse it. - I shan't.

I hope I don't abuse anything.

but you must at least allow me to see that it's there.

you would see it soon enough if you were I.

I've never thought my freedom, as you call it, much to make a fuss over.

your husband does not treat you as of less importance than another woman.

if you call mr Verver's perfectly natural interest in --

his greatest affection of which he is capable. yes that is what I would call it.

and in spite of all I have done to make him capable of a greater one.

oh yes, believe me.

oh well again I can't complain.

I was warned. he did tell me he wanted me

only because I could be useful about her.

so you see.

I am.

I don't see anything of the kind.

do you give me up then?

give you up?

isn't that what you intend? isn't that what I hear in your voice?

it doesn't make you much of a friend Fanny, deserting me when I need your sympathy most.

- I haven't said I desert you. - no.

but you want to quarrel with me

and that seems to me to come to the same thing.

- I don't want to quarrel with -- - yes you do.

you quarrel with my right to recognize the conditions of my bargain.

you imply that I'm...

all sorts of things.

you hurt me more than you know.

the desire for your presence has been expressed by his royal highness.

good heavens what earth does he want with me?

to meet clearly the most attractive woman in the room.

save only one whom he has already met.

you must come. it's a royal command. excuse us Fanny.

now from the circle I have to say that you look distinctly uncomfortable.

rather like an actress who's learned her part in an hour and been rushed on at the last minute.

and Charlotte. oh Charlotte looked as if she'd been running for the last two years.

that's not a bad way of describing her.

but I don't mean what you mean.

- ah when did you ever? - I don't like it.

she strikes a pose.

... I don't know what to believe. - well what was her pose?

she was determined to make a point and she made it.

- oh what was her point then? - I'm not sure.

seemed to take rather a long time

for so little result.

I don't think the result was so little from her point of view.

... she seemed too satisfied. - well perhaps you should be satisfied.

how can I be?

well I I don't know. I'm not sure

exactly what it is you want to be satisfied about.

I want to find out if something is going on.

and she won't tell you.

that's the point. I don't know whether she did or not.

you know you could never run an army this way.

I don't want to run an army.

life isn't as simple as barking out a few commands on a parade ground you know.

yes you certainly taught me that my dear.

- I shall ask the prince. - if something is going on?

well not in so many words but I shall be able to judge I assure you.

there's one thing that may possibly not have occurred to you.

what's that?

it is none of your business.

I have a deep responsibility in this matter.

yes and what's that?

it was I who brought them together.

- what? Charlotte and the prince? - Maggie and the prince.

and therefore in a way Charlotte and mr Verver.

and therefore in another way Charlotte and the prince.

exactly.

and since you never undertake any good work of that kind to make people happy

you can afford to stand there grinning like an ape.

[indistinct chatter]

- and is she presented? - presented.

- and is he pleased with her? - well who wouldn't be?

- can I get you something to drink? - no thank you.

... they sent for her through you. - well through sir John.

but they've connected her with you.

she's treated as your appendage.

mia cara what a name!

appendage?

rather she's a beautiful young woman who is also remarkably my mother-in-law.

she's not in the least your mother-in-law.

she's no relation to you whatever.

and if she's known in high circles

... as going about with you -- - then what?

she better in that case not to be known at all.

I assure you Fanny I never so much has mentioned her.

do you think I asked them if they wanted to see her?

Charlotte you know speaks for herself especially looking as she does tonight.

and anyway we're not just acquaintances

we're all in the same boat so to speak.

I don't know what you mean by the same boat.

Charlotte is naturally in mr Verver's boat.

well am I not pray in mr Verver's boat too?

why but for mr Verver’s boat I should have been way way down.

and I dare say so would she.

- I think you should both remember it. - but we do.

we have a benefactor in common.

he saved us both and we both know it.

she has made a thoroughly good marriage.

she could hardly have made a better one.

once you allow her the way it's to be taken.

and what way is that?

well...

to allow her a certain freedom.

she doesn't ask more.

that's good of her.

she's very humble about it.

you see Fanny the fact is

our boat is a good deal tied up in the dark.

we can't help getting out now and then to stretch our legs or plunging in for a swim.

why not take it as inevitable?

we shan't drown or at least I shan't.

and I'm sure Charlotte knows how to swim.

through a hurricane.

you know

for Charlotte to be known exclusively as her husband's wife

something is wanted that they haven't exactly got.

and what's that?

well that he should somehow manage more to be known as his wife's husband.

you must know he has his own habits and his own ways.

god forbid that I should criticize them. he's been so generous to us but..

to you my dear friend let me confess one thing.

I don't see really why he wanted to get married at all.

I think I upset you and I don't want to. it's really not that important

well I hope it isn't.

do you remember one day before my marriage I said that I relied on you to see me through.

... I still do you know. - well you are through.

or if you're not you ought to be.

if I ought to be that's all the more reason why you should continue to help me because I'm not.

things still puzzle me.

- what things? - well people.

the way they go on.

so you see you still have a responsibility.

to you? oh no my dear.

... if I had it I've done with it. - you give me up then?

what's the matter?

I think I don't know what to make of you.

but I'm very glad, speaking for myself, that it's not I who am in love with you.

- I would like to go home. - but we've only just got here.

I'm perfectly aware of that. I would like to go home.

very well. shall we say goodnight then or shall we fold our tents like the Arabs

... and silently steal away? - we'll do neither.

we'll leave in a normal civilized manner and let everybody see us.

[music, chatter]

Fanny's going.

yes I think I've displeased her.

does that worry you?

yes she's a good friend.

good friends should be more trusting.

you think she distrusts us?

don't you?

yes.

and that is sad.

you mean because she has no reason to.

oh she has every reason to... from her point of view.

but none from ours.

no.

none from ours

it's only they're defending themselves so much more than they need.

it's only that that makes me wonder.

- only that? - yes.

their having so remarkably much to say for themselves.

you mean it made you feel as if you had nothing to say?

what in the world did you expect to happen?

he's in a position which he has nothing in life to do.

he behaved beautifully until now. I've more than once told him so.

well maybe he thinks he has the... the right to kick up his heels.

no it's not that.

... you would think of that. - then what then?

their manner together.

of course they behave perfectly well when they're apart.

why can't they do it when they're together?

it seems to me the less they do together the better if you see so much you know.

you know it's not necessary to be so horrid and low about them.

I'm never horrid or low... I hope.

except about my extravagant wife.

the fact is Fanny, I can be doing with our friends.

what I can't be doing with is the figures you make up, because they never seem to add up.

well in this case since you don't have to pay the bill they don't have to.

you see the great thing was that when her marriage came up he wasn't afraid.

if he had been, he could have prevented it or if I'd seen that he was

or if I hadn't seen that he was or if I hadn't seen that he wasn't. so could I, in fact so would I.

it's true it was too good an opportunity for her to turn down

and I liked his not spoiling it for her for fear of his own nature.

- but? - but...

I now know to whom she should have been most grateful.

- to whom then? - to the prince, for trusting her.

but that's what he did... generously trust her.

he as good as said to her if you feel yourself willing to marry you must feel yourself strong.

I rely upon that.

and if she doesn't make that a law of her conduct I'm finished with her.

[Driver] nine pence please sir. - yes. so you've made up your mind it's it's all poor Charlotte hmm?

you've made up yours differently? you did see something between them.

why not leave it to them?

they'll manage.

manage you mean, to do everything they want.

[Driver] thank you ma'am. - yes thank you.

so they'll uh they'll manage in their own way.

so that's your idea. no one will be any the wiser.

we'll have done all that's required if we simply protect them.

they'll manage in their own way.

[grunts]

you think he's as much to blame as she is don't you.

heaven help me I think you may be right.

I think he wants to as much as she does.

I think I may have made a terrible mistake.

I promised to give you the story as it happened

and I said I wanted you to know all about the people involved

to see them, not just in the bone but in the flesh and the sinew as well.

so um so bear with me.

now if you were to ask me to use just one word

to describe the prince's attitude towards his wife and his father-in-law

I think he would have said uh it was one of

faint puzzlement.

well now I've used two but no matter.

he enormously liked Ververs

no question of that and he loved Maggie.

now if you were to ask me how he loved her

I'm not sure I could say even at this distance I mean I can't say he loved her passionately

but he never gave me that impression.

and after all he had loved passionately

once before with Charlotte.

do you ever love that passionately again?

but that he liked and respected both Maggie and her father was without doubt.

he wanted to be proper with them but...

in a sense he never really understood them.

they weren't like him.

they weren't like the people he'd ever known in his country of birth.

he felt at moments

as if there was never anything he could really do for them.

anything at least that one could call worthy of doing for one's family

like taking charge of a confidence intimately given.

or to plot or lie for them.

mr Verver in fact

went a long way towards relieving him of all anxiety about his married life

as he'd relieved him on the score of his bank account.

what had happened was that Charlotte and he were being placed face to face in a sort of

perfect freedom that neither could have ever anticipated. and I do believe that neither of

them had consciously tried to bring it about.

the magic web was spinning itself without their toil

almost without their touch

and to do them justice they were both slow to come to it.

[chatter]

what are we to do then?

do?

isn't the beauty of our position that we have nothing to do at all?

nothing except the usual everyday things that consist of one's not being more of a fool than one can help.

don't you think we should perhaps do something more?

what more?

work out a little harder with our respective spouses.

- haven't we done that already? - have we done enough?

I've done a great deal.

I've done what they wanted me to do.

I've done what I was brought in to do.

and what was that?

to relieve them of the pressing anxieties of the outside world.

I protect them from it.

and so they withdraw more and more into their own.

they've been good to us.

have I said otherwise?

no.

they are dear sweet simple souls your wife and my husband.

I sat here once with Maggie a week before our marriage.

and?

[small laugh]

it would have seemed ironic to me then that I'd be sitting here alone with you four years later.

I think we should go back.

- to your place? - no to yours.

I'll pick up Maggie.

I think we should avoid dangerous waters.

all right.

but you know they don't expect us to live in separate worlds.

well we don't.

does make them happy to know that we're good companions.

well they know we are

and we know we are.

yes.

we know we are.

there was no doubt they felt the position they were in. they felt they were being drawn

together by an invisible and unbreakable thread.

perhaps this feeling was running through his mind

one rainy afternoon in March when he'd come in from his club and found Maggie out.

he may for example have wondered mildly

why he might not have found her in.

there was no pressing reason why he wanted to see her.

it was not as if he even greatly expected her to be there.

he knew where she was.

he knew where he might find her. it was simply that for a moment on entering he half expected to

see her sitting there pouring tea and then suddenly seemed to know that she would not be.

it was this sudden switch from expectation to disappointment

that perhaps made him view with more interest than he otherwise would

the hansom cab draw up outside.

and the young woman alight from it. perhaps he thought for a moment it was Maggie returning home

with the child but he failed to notice any real disappointment when he saw that he was Charlotte.

Charlotte arriving not in her own carriage but in a hired one. in fact he had unaccountably felt

a sudden leap in his heart at the sight of her which had just as quickly disappeared.

perhaps after all she'd come only for Maggie not realizing she was still at Eaton Square.

perhaps

after all she'd simply leave a message that she'd called and go away again.

she'd be told doubtless that he was at home

but he would do nothing. he would let her visit be all of her own affair

and though he left her free to choose whether she'd come up or not

who can doubt that for a moment he most intensely hoped she would.

mrs Verver your highness.

I dropped by to see Maggie but I'm told she's out.

yes she's out.

you may as well stay for some tea.

why not?

- bring mrs. Verver a cup. - [Bulter} very good sir.

of course I didn't entirely come to see Maggie.

even at all?

well then

not at all.

my dear what else can we do?

what else in the world can we do?

where is your own carriage? why don't you use it in such weather?

picking up a carriage in the streets makes me feel as I used to

and I could do as I wished.

can't you now?

today I can.

yes today you may say I am doing as I wish.

did you ever wish to be knocking about in such discomfort?

sometimes I think I liked everything I did.

the charm at any rate of trying out the old feelings

they come back.

they do come back.

then you know that for yourself.

I haven't your courage to explore the old ways.

I think it isn't so much you lack my courage that you lack my imagination.

or even your intelligence.

you'll have to give me more proof of that.

and you seem to have come here decisively.

you see, you're not as stupid as you imagine.

yes.

I made up my mind.

and what's more you knew I would come today didn't you?

I thought you might.

no you knew.

and if you knew that you knew everything.

but I don't know why you came.

well how's this?

for the personal romance of it.

- of tea with me over the fire? - yes.

then you must have had an even more boring day than I had.

no and that's because, come to think of it, I am braver.

you bore yourself. I don't I don't I don't.

and in what fashion have you been brave today?

well I've been on the town literally. isn't that what they call it?

... I'll bet you haven't even been out. - I've been to my club.

that's not going out, that's going in.

what should I have gone out for?

what should people in our position do anything for?

but you are wonderful.

you know how to live.

I'm just a clumsy brute beside you. I must always be doing things.

still...

if you had gone out you would have missed the chance of me.

and though you won't admit it you wouldn't have liked that.

and you would have missed the congratulations I bring you.

and as you're not going to ask me on what, I shall tell you.

on knowing at last...

where you are.

you do know.

can't we take things now as we find them?

what else can we do?

what in all the world else?

and what did you do today?

everything I could think of except see people.

I didn't want to see people. I wanted too much to think.

I went to the British Museum,. the National Gallery. I went to a dozen book shops

and I went back to Eaton Square three times at intervals and came away again.

my cabman must think me crazy.

I can't help wondering when you last saw them.

Maggie that is, and the child for I suppose you know he's with her.

yes I know I saw them this morning.

and did they announce their program?

she told me that she was taking him to Eaton Square

for the whole day?

she didn't say and I didn't ask.

well it can't have been later than 10 30 they were at Eaton Square by 11.

I saw Adam at 12. he was showing the child a picture book.

and where was Maggie?

she'd gone out. she'd taken the carriage to run an errand for Adam.

you mean your carriage.

oh my dear...

it's not a question of a carriage more or less.

it's nothing as vulgar as that.

I know as...

as I have never known before

the way they feel.

I saw it so clearly.

after all I went back three times, slipped in and out, without their noticing.

what do they think becomes of one physically if not morally becomes a one as a mere

wandering woman if nothing else?

they must, even in their odd way, have some idea.

they think so much of us.

especially you.

well it would be better for them...

if they thought less of us.

and what will you say when you get home that you've been doing?

I shall say I've been here.

- all day? - of course.

keeping you company. isn't that what they expect?

the thing is for us to learn to take them as they are.

how can I help thinking more than anything how they adore my boy together?

they would have done the same for one of yours.

yes.

if I'd had one.

I had hoped it would happen you know.

might have made a difference perhaps.

but there it is.

and now I'm sure it never will.

never?

never.

and that leaves us more alone.

it leaves you more alone.

you will insist on putting it all on me.

don't you know that Maggie would have given herself to any child of mine

the way my husband gives himself to yours?

it would have taken 10 children of mine to keep our spouses apart.

it's as strange as you like

but we are immensely alone.

what will you say that you've been doing?

to Maggie I mean when she comes in.

she will I suppose come in sometime.

why should I say anything?

I can hardly pretend to have had what I haven't.

and what haven't you had?

what is it you aren't having?

I suppose we should say the same things

we should act in concert.

as they do.

I don't understand.

I didn't at first but I thought I should learn to I thought that Fanny Asshingham might help.

oh Fanny!

we're beyond Fanny! Fanny's broken down. Fanny doesn't matter.

isn't it us that matter?

they're happy I suppose.

Beatifically.

Do you understand them?

I understand my husband perhaps.

I don't understand your wife.

It will mean for us you know a conscious...

care.

every hour literally.

so as not too hurt them.

yes

[Prince] and we must trust each other.

[Charlotte] as we trust all the saints in glory.

[Charlotte] I love you.