They've left Taplows, flora has just buggered off leaving walter and her 3 kids and no one knows where she is. (Also there are telephones in this one, like i said on my other message, i make the world fit in with my plot)
They all stopped talking as Walter entered, he slowly made his way over to the drink cabinet to pour himself a drink, before sitting down at the table with the others.
Felix: You alright?
Walter: Samuel has been asking for Flora again. They all swallow How do you explain to a 4 year old child that his mother may never come back? And if I can't do that how I am supposed to explain it to a 2 year old child? Do I just keep telling that she's gone to visit Grandma and just wait for them to realise? And then what happens that day when they are 10 and they ask what happened to their mother? What do I tell them? How do I ever explain to them what a wonderful woman Flora Cory was? Will they ever know how brilliant their mother was.
Grace: You can't talk like that, she could be back next week, she could be back tomorrow.
Walter: It's been 9 days now and no one has heard or seen anything from her. We all know she was struggling coping. How am I suppose to tell my 3 children that their mother left them because her husband didn't help her enough and she couldn't cope with everything on her own.
Will: You can't blame yourself for this.
Walter: I've got to blame someone. He sighs I just want her to write or her mother or someone to write, just so I know she is alright. No one says anything, Walter looks down at the table, before getting up and pouring himself another drink.
Felix: Walter, don't you think you've had enough, you've got to get up to work tomorrow. Trying to take the drink off him
Walter: Get off! He shouts, causing them all to jump. Just get out of my house! All of you! They all glance at each other and stand, all of them muttering goodbye, but he doesn't even acknowledge them. He rests his head on the table and begins to sob loudly, thumping his fists on the table.
Eleanor: Daddy. in a whisper, standing in the doorway, in her pyjamas. Are you alright? Walter doesn't say anything, but beckons her over to him, opening his arms to her, and hugging her tightly. Mummy's not coming back is she?
Walter: I don't know princess, I don't know.
Eleanor: Well I'll look after you.
Walter: You can look after Samuel, Robert and I, won't you? She nods and he smiles.
Eleanor: It'll be alright, we'll manage.
Rebecca: Flora darling, have you considered what your family will be going through?
Flora: Of course I have. she whispers, sipping the cup of tea, Rebecca had just handed her.
Rebecca: Then don't you think you should tell them you are alright? Walter will be worried sick and you've got 3? Flora nods children to be thinking about.
Flora: I know this Rebecca. I really do. It was so hard to leave my three little darlings… and Walter, but maybe this way is better for them as well as me. What sort of example would that be to three children, them growing up watching their mother not begin able to cope?
Rebecca: How old are your children?
Flora: Eleanor, my little princess is 10. Samuel, my big little boy is 4 and Robert, my little baby has just gone 2. Rebecca smiles.
Rebecca: Ring them.
Flora: Have you seen the time?
Rebecca: Walter will still be up… surely. Flora nods and Andrew passes her the phone. She dials the number and waits for a moment.
Walter: Hello? Flora doesn't say anything Hello? Is anyone there? He hears someone breathing Flora! Flora is that you?
Flora in the smallest whisper: I love you. She puts the phone down
Walter: Flora! Flora! To late.
Andrew: That was a good conversation.
Rebecca: Shut up Andrew. What did he sound like?
Flora: Intoxicated. Andrew and Rebecca chuckle. He's got the children, he got Felix, Grace, George, Elizabeth, William all looking after him. She snorts to himself He'll be fine.
A couple of days later Flora left Rebecca and Andrew's house, ready to sort herself out. She was travelling to London from Scotland and seeing what happened from there. Walter watched his children begin to grow up, he gave up his job, so he was there for them all the time and giving Eleanor the chance to go to school. She, as promised, looked after her father and two brothers, with the help of Grace and Lizzie. He hadn't heard anything from or of Flora since the phone call, but he was sure that it had been her. Flora was never mentioned in the Cory house, Walter didn't allow it. Eleanor found it painful to talk about her mother, when the children at school asked about her and Samuel and Robert would secretly ask to look at Felix's photos of her.
After 5 years, Flora was ready. She travelled from Manchester at 3O'clock on the morning back to Eastbourne. It was 4 in the afternoon by the time she reached it. She stepped out of the carriage and walked up the familiar path, pausing in front of the front door, she reached out to touch the handle, but seemed to change her mind and raised her hand to knock on the door. However she followed her first decision and pushed open the door, it made the well-known squeak, which had driven her crazy when Eleanor had run in and out of the house, she smiled at the thought, but then a voice broke her thoughts.
Walter: Tom? Is that you? Elle's not here at the moment, I thought you were meeting her at yours later? Flora didn't say anything, but continued to walk towards the voice, that had soothed her to sleep so many times in the past. She turned the corner and saw him sat at his desk, scribbling away, exactly the same as he had looked 5 years ago, with his hair slightly greyer and there was less of it.
Flora: I thought my daughter was called Eleanor, not 'Elle'. Walter quickly looked up at her and his mouth dropped.
Walter in a whisper, his voice suddenly hoarse: F- Flora?
Flora: When I last checked. She smiles slightly as his obvious shock for a moment, before deciding to tease him. You know Walter it's rude to stare, with your mouth open. she added. His mouth suddenly shut and he jumped up.
Walter: W-what are you doing here?
Flora: Well this is my house, aswell as yours and those children belong to me, aswell as you and I believe I have a right to see my husband when I wish.
Walter in the smallest whisper: I thought I had a right to see my wife when I wished, but I couldn't exactly do that if I didn't know where she was.
Flora whispering too now: I'm sorry about that.
Walter: No note, no letter, no contact whatsoever for 5 years. Flora looks down How could you do that Flora? How could you leave the children like that… leave me like that?
Flora: You think this was easy for me? You think that I didn't think about the children every day for the last 5 years? You know how much I love those children.
Walter: What about me? Flora doesn't answer for a moment
Flora: You know I love you… more than anyone else in the world. I have for the last 22 years of my life and that will never ever change. I've missed you so much. The tears well in her eyes and she swallows a big lump in her throat. I've thought about you so much. The tears begin to fall and Walter cautiously walks towards her and pulls her into his arms, like he had done on so many occasions. What happened Walter? She muttered into his shoulder.
Walter: I don't know, after Robert was born you began to struggle and I didn't give you any help.
Flora: You had to work.
Walter: Even so, I could have given you much attention. Lack of communication. Flora nods slightly You spent your whole day run off your feet, I spent my day busy at work and when I got home and the children went to bed, we were both too exhausted to even talk.
Flora: You spent more time with your secretary than you did with me.
Walter: You spent more time with your broom than you did with me. The two of them giggle
Flora: I'd've preferred you.
Walter: Same here. The two of them chuckle and Flora pulls away, wiping her tears.
Flora: Is it too late Walter, please don't tell me it is? He shakes his head
Walter: Of course it isn't. She smiles. But this time, wrapping his arms around her you have my undivided attention. She giggles slightly, but then someone appears in the doorway of the room.
Flora: Samuel? He nods. Gosh you're big. He looks at her for a moment
Samuel: Mother? She nods and his eyes widen Rob! Rob! Another, smaller lad comes running into the room. She's here!
Robert: Who are you? Flora smiles and Walter glances at her.
Walter: Robert that is not very polite.
Samuel: Mother!
Robert: You are my mother! Walter and Flora both chuckle.
Flora: Yes. I am.
Robert: Well it's nice to meet you. Shaking her hand
Flora: Well it's nice to meet you too… for a second time. Samuel clears his throat and you. He smiles You are both massive, compared to how I remember you.
Robert: I haven't grown.
Samuel: Of course you have, everyone grows! You haven't always been that big, silly! Flora giggles softly and pulls a photo out of her pocket.
Flora: Look. crouching down and showing them to photo of Eleanor and Samuel sat on the grass in the park and Robert in Eleanor's arms. That's you and that's you.
Robert: And that's Elle? Flora nods and Robert giggles She looks funny.
Samuel: How old was I here?
Flora: Erm… well it was almost two years before I left so you must have been nearly about 2.
Robert: What about me?
Flora: You'd only just been born, you were about 3 months here, I think.
Robert: I don't remember being that little. Flora smiles, glancing at Walter, who winks at her.
Samuel: Rob, you want a game of cricket? He nods.
Robert: Bye. He sees sweetly and to Flora's pleasure, leaning up and giving her a kiss on the cheek. Samuel seemed more reluctant, but did. Flora watched as the two boys ran out, a little skip in her heart. Walter leant in and gently took the photo off her, smiling as he looked at it.
Walter: Do you remember this day?
Flora: How could I forget? Robert only stopped screaming to have his photograph taken. Walter chuckles Samuel was pocking Robert, sat with me and you helped Eleanor make a daisy chain. He nods How is she?
Walter: Big, mature… Much more mature than either of us ever were, I don't know where she got it from. Flora chuckles She's clever, hardworking, just as beautiful as her mother. Flora blushes slightly She's got a boyfriend. So if there is a strange man in the house in the morning, when you go down to breakfast, you don't get so much of a shock.
Flora: He stays the night? Walter nods bitterly. How old is he?
Walter: 17.
Flora: You hate that right? He nods and she chuckles
Walter: He's a nice enough lad though and he looks after her.
Flora: Good. nodding slightly Are you still working at the office? He shakes his head
Walter: I quit a while after you left, so Eleanor could go to school, and I quit my major job, but I got that back a couple of years ago, once things had begun to settle down. She nods and they look at each other for a moment, positively beaming. What about you?
Flora: Oh Gosh! I've visit nearly every town in the whole of Great Britain, never mind England. After I left I went up to Scotland to see Rebecca and Andrew. Walter nods And since then I've just been everywhere, seen my family, had jobs and just got myself back on my feet.
Walter: Sounds exciting. She nods slightly You haven't changed at all. She smiles. Still as beautiful as you always were.
Flora: You're still as charming as you always were.
When Eleanor got back that night she entered the living room with Tom and looked at her father lay on the sofa, smoking a cigar, a glass of brandy in his other hand. She then glanced at another glass on the table.
Eleanor: You look far too relaxed for my liking. Tom chuckles
Walter: I'm happy.
Eleanor: Who's the woman? Raising her eyebrow and indicating to the lip mark on the other glass.
Tom: You can't ask your father that. She storms over to the window and pushes it open.
Walter: Go up to my room and you'll see.
Eleanor: I'm not sure I want too! I don't want to walk in your room to find a strange woman in your bed.
Walter: You may find she more familiar than strange.
Eleanor: It's not Grace or Lizzie is it!
Walter: No! This is going to be even more of a shock.
Eleanor: All women you sleep with are a shock.
Walter: Hey! Just because she's in my bed, doesn't mean I'm sleeping with her. I mean I hopefully will be tomorrow, but not tonight, need to give her time. Besides she has the right to sleep in her own bed. Eleanor's eye's widen
Eleanor: Is it… mother? Walter takes a sip of his brandy and nods. You are joking! laughing nervously to herself Please, tell me you are joking! Cause it's not funny! It really isn't!
Walter: I am being totally serious, go and look if you don't believe me.
Eleanor: I will do! Goodnight! grabbing Tom's arm and pulling him upstairs with her. He's sick! Joking like that! But when they reach his bedroom door, she pauses and lowers her hand to the handle, pushing the door open, silently. Oh my god. She whispers and slowly walks towards her, looking at the sleeping form of her mother, reaching down she stroked her hair softly. One of Flora's eyes opened slowly and a smile crept across her face, she reached up and ran a hand down the side of Eleanor's face and muttered 'my princess' before closing both her eyes again. Eleanor stood for a moment, before she felt Tom tug at her and pull her away and out of the door. Oh my God. she whispers again, the tears welling in her eyes. She's back. After 5 years, she's back.
Tom: That wasn't too difficult? Eleanor shakes her head.
Eleanor coldly: But if she pisses my father about again… I swear I'll….!
Tom: Don't you think you should wait till tomorrow to make any rash promises. She nods
Eleanor: I'm not sure if I'm happy she's back or angry.
Tom: Decide after you've spoken to her. I want to talk to this woman, you describe as the 'evil bitch who buggered off and left you.'