(The Sharmas and Lady Danbury arrive with all the other guests instead of a few days earlier)
EXT. AUBREY HALL GROUNDS – AFTERNOON
LADY WHISTLEDOWN (V.O.)
The Bridgerton country house party is the
event to be at this week. All families of the
ton will be there, along with every eligible miss.
The goal could not be clearer: the Dowager Viscountess is
intent on making sure one of her eligible sons get engaged
during this party. Which son, and to who, well, dear readers,
that is anyone's guess.
(All scenes of Danbury and Sharmas' arrival remain same, as does Pall Mall scenes)
Morning after Pall Mall game…
INT. AUBREY HALL BEDROOM HALLWAY - MORNING
Edwina leaves her bedroom, and is headed downstairs to breakfast. Her head is heavy, thinking about the financial burden of her family, and her need to help them by marrying well. She suddenly runs into someone, causing him to drop his books
EDWINA
Pardon…me.
She looks up to see a gentleman, DANIEL BAGWELL (late 20s), dressed in simple, but stylish wear, and a rather handsome fellow. She's smitten.
MR. BAGWELL
I am so sorry, Miss. I should've
been watching where I was going
instead of being absorbed by my reading.
EDWINA
Don't worry about it.
Here, let me help you with
these books.
MR. BAGWELL
Don't concern yourself with
that. I can manage.
EDWINA
It's no trouble at all.
Edwina picks up the books, sees the titles relating to archaeology, and looks in curiosity at Mr. Bagwell
EDWINA
Have you read all of these?
Mr. Bagwell looks at her, rather sheepish
MR. BAGWELL
Well, some, and I'm reading
others. That's what a scholar
usually does.
EDWINA
You're a scholar?
MR. BAGWELL
I am.
EDWINA
Oxford or Cambridge?
MR. BAGWELL
Oxford.
Edwina looks at him and the books, fascinated
EDWINA
Your field is archaeology?
MR. BAGWELL
Indeed. It's a rather
fascinating field for me.
EDWINA
Oh, I find it fascinating, as
well. Philosophy is my
preference, though.
MR. BAGWELL
Philosophy, I find quite interesting.
EDWINA
Indeed?
MR. BAGWELL
Have you read Aristotle?
EDWINA
And Machiavelli, & Plato.
MR. BAGWELL
Well, then, shall we adjourn
to the breakfast parlor
and debate Aristotle & Plato?
Edwina nods, excited to talk to the gentleman, and makes her way down, but he suddenly stops
MR. BAGWELL
Pardon me, I didn't introduce
myself. Mr. Daniel Bagwell.
EDWINA
Miss Edwina Sharma. Pleased
to meet you, Mr. Bagwell.
MR. BAGWELL
The pleasure is all mine, Miss Edwina.
He kisses her hand, and Edwina smiles brightly, her eyes shining with fascination. They head downstairs
INT. AUBREY HALL PRIVATE PARLOR - AFTERNOON
Violet has afternoon tea with Lady Danbury & Mary in a private parlor. They all laugh while sipping their tea
VIOLET
It seems as if both your
daughters have made themselves
at home with my children,
Lady Mary, from the game yesterday.
MARY
I'm happy to see them
enjoy time with others. Growing
up, they only had each
other, and though they are very
close, I feared they could be lonely.
VIOLET
Well, I think they will have
no trouble at all making friends
or, indeed, finding a husband. They
both are intelligent young
ladies who have many charms.
MARY
Indeed, they are. Their father always
said that, too. He knew they would
fit right in with London society,
and he was right.
VIOLET
Your husband was not someone
well known to the ton, was he?
MARY
Not at all. When my first husband
died, his title passed to a distant
relative who was serving in the army in
India. He came back to take over, and
brought his secretary along, his
former batman. Narendra Sharma was
his name. He continued his duties as
secretary after the Earl took over.
VIOLET
And you fell in love.
MARY
Not immediately. He was happily
married, and brought over his
wife and one-year-old daughter
to England. Since the new Earl was
not married, as the Dowager
Countess, I often had to host events
on his behalf, and Naren and I worked
together. We were friends, that's
all. I always admired how devoted
he was to his family. I wished I had a
household filled with that kind of love.
VIOLET
And what happened to his first wife?
MARY
She died just before Kate turned
four. Lung fever. I was surprised when he
proposed just a few months later, but he
explained that he wanted Kate to have a
mother figure in her life, and I guess it
made me realize that he was a man capable
of great love if he cared about his daughter
that much. So I accepted, and my parents then
disowned me.
VIOLET
I'm very sorry. I guess that's
what forced you to leave the country.
MARY
Oh, not at all. We remained in London.
Naren wished for both our daughters
to make their debut here, prove they were
just as capable as any of the debutantes.
But when Edwina was six months old, he
received an offer to be secretary
to a royal family in India. I knew I
would not be a good wife if I didn't
encourage him to take up the post.
Naren was still determined to
make sure both Kate & Edwina
debuted in London, and he saw to it.
VIOLET
So Lady Danbury's sponsorship was not needed?
MARY
Oh no, it was very much needed. When
he died five years ago, I wondered
if there would be enough money to last
for two trips. It is why I decided to
have both my daughters debut in the
same season. I didn't know if we would
last this long, but Lady Danbury
wrote to me a year after Naren died
to tell me my father had passed away.
Violet turns to Lady Danbury for an explanation.
LADY DANBURY
Lady Sheffield died six years ago, and
I thought about Lady Mary all the time after I
heard. Two years later, I connected
with Lord Haveridge, an ambassador to India.
He was going the next month, and then
I heard of Lord Sheffield's passing.
I saw an opportunity, and I sent the letter
through him.
MARY
We started corresponding, and she gave
me the means to be able to bring my
daughters back to England and make sure
they made their debuts. She's helped me
fulfill the last promise I made to Naren.
Violet takes a moment to reflect on what Mary has said, and smiles in empathy
VIOLET
It seems as if we both know
what it is to have a loving
marriage, and we can only hope
our kids will recognize it, too.
MARY
Indeed. I sure hope so.
Lady D, Violet, and Mary clink their teacups together, with ambition & hope reflected in their faces
EXT. AUBREY HALL TERRACE – AFTERNOON
Edwina sits on the terrace, looking at the book of archaeology from Mr. Bagwell. She smiles in earnest, but then looks up in stress. She yearns to follow her heart, but is weighed down by duty to her family
Eloise & Penelope walk out, side by side, and see her sitting there rather forlorn
ELOISE
Miss Edwina! Are you all right?
Edwina quickly stands up, surprised to see them
EDWINA
My apologies. I will go inside.
ELOISE
Oh no, stay. There's plenty
of room for all of us.
PENELOPE
Indeed. Truly, it's all
right. You may stay.
Edwina sits back down, as Eloise & Penelope sit opposite her. Eloise notices the title of the book Edwina is holding
ELOISE
Are you a fan of Greek archaeology?
Edwina looks down at the book, forgetting she was holding it
EDWINA
It's a fascinating subject.
I feel like I want to know more.
ELOISE
Well, I prefer something more
interesting than how ancient men
built places where they could
lord themselves over women.
EDWINA
That's one way of looking at it.
I see it as my eyes to the
world. A world I have never
seen, and I don't know if
I ever will. The constraints
of being a woman.
ELOISE
Yes, but why should there be
constraints? Why can't we go out
and explore the world, like men
do? Why do we have to stand still and
look pretty while trapped in London?
PENELOPE
It's not like we have many
other options, do we? All
we can do is make the most of it.
EDWINA
Well, when you don't know
any other options, then yes,
you can, but when you find
out other options and what
opportunities are out there…
Edwina trails off, lost in her own thoughts. Eloise and Penelope notice, and wonder what's wrong.
ELOISE
Are you all right, Miss Edwina?
EDWINA
I won't trouble you with my thoughts.
ELOISE
Oh no, please, trouble us
all you want. We don't mind.
Edwina looks to Penelope, who nods her assent. Edwina prepares to unload her feelings with a deep breath.
EDWINA
Growing up in India, my family was
my whole world. Our life was the
only life I knew, their lives were
the only ones I cared about, and
I still do. But…
She looks to the fields, her eyes in a completely different area of thought
EDWINA
Coming to England, being part of
this world, it's opening me up
to a bigger world than I ever
thought possible. And as much as I
want to grasp the opportunity for
something bigger, it makes me wonder…
what will happen to the world I
leave behind.
PENELOPE
Are you worried about your
mother and sister, then?
EDWINA
In a way.
ELOISE
Well, as much as I understand
being part of a close-knit
family, I also understand the wish
to lead your own life.
I think choosing for ourselves
is what we should strive for.
Edwina simply smiles, wondering if what Eloise says could be possible
EXT. AUBREY HALL GROUNDS - MORNING
Kate finishes riding, handing over her horse's reins to a groom. She sees the nearby garden archway, and walks through, curious. She passes the arch, and…
Pan shot to the whole garden, surrounded by many different blooms, from tulips and roses to pansies. Kate looks around in awe, then focuses on a nearby pond with a bench nearby. She walks closer, staring at the water. Shot of the water changes to…
FLASHBACK
EXT. PALACE GARDENS IN INDIA – LATE MORNING
A lake surrounded by a garden in the hot summer weather. The camera pans to the right to show KATE (12), sitting on the edge of the lake, kicking her feet back and forth in the water
Naren walks up to the garden entrance, and sees her. He shakes in head in disapproval, and makes his way to Kate
NAREN
Kathani! Yahaan kya kar rahe ho, beta?
(What are you doing here, dear?)
KATE
I wanted to enjoy the lake. It was hot.
NAREN
You're supposed to be studying
literature with your sister.
KATE
I don't like studying
literature, Appa. It bores me.
NAREN
Kate, either go back inside
and study, or you won't be
allowed to ride anymore
when the Rajkumar goes
out. Your education is
important.
KATE
What good is it going to do me?
Edwina is smart and pretty. Everyone
loves her. No one is going to pay
attention to me when we go back to London.
NAREN
No, that is not true, Munna.
You have just as much intelligence
and beauty as your sister.
You have as much to offer as she does,
and I know you will be capable of
finding a worthy husband in any English
nobleman as much as your sister, no matter
if you were not born there.
KATE
Saach? (Really)
NAREN
Saach. Mark my words, Kate.
You will shine bright in
the London society, and have
them eating out of your hands.
KATE
Will I find love like you & Mama?
NAREN
You will find anything you want to find.
KATE
(holds out her hand) Vaayada? (Promise?)
NAREN
Vaayada.
Naren grasps her hand, and pulls her in to a hug. Kate wraps her arms around him. Camera goes in on Kate's face, basking in her father's love.
END FLASHBACK
EXT. AUBREY HALL GARDENS - MORNING
Cut back to Kate, sitting on the bench, remembering the moment with her father. She wishes his words were true, but she's lost faith in ever marrying or finding love
ANTHONY (O.S.)
I shouldn't be surprised.
Kate looks up, sees Anthony
KATE
Lord Bridgerton.
ANTHONY
We seem to be running into
each other quite a bit.
KATE
Indeed, we do.
ANTHONY
Perhaps we can use this chance
to start over, as we talked about
the other day.
KATE
Very well.
They sit on the bench, slightly apart, awkward yet unable to stay away from each other.
ANTHONY
Do you –
KATE
I want –
ANTHONY
Please, go ahead.
KATE
I wanted to apologize to you.
ANTHONY
Apologize to me?
KATE
The other day, at the game.
When you walked away. I
didn't realize that was where
your father was buried. I
didn't mean to upset you.
ANTHONY
That wasn't your fault. You
had no way of knowing
that it was there. If anyone
should be apologizing, it
should be me. Seeing that place
always brings back memories
of him, and sometimes, they're
painful to think about.
KATE
I understand. I lost my father
some years ago. I still miss him,
especially now when…
ANTHONY
When what?
KATE
Our coming back here, joining
the season, entering the ton
again, this was all his idea
from the very beginning.
He always wanted Edwina & I
to make our debuts in London.
ANTHONY
Is that so?
KATE
I'm pretty sure you're aware
after he married Mama, the
ton was scandalized by their
marriage, and she was disowned
by her parents, all because he
wasn't an Englishman or someone
even with a title, which wasn't
his fault at all.
ANTHONY
Of course not.
KATE
When Edwina was born, the
Sheffields came and told my
father and Mary to give her to
them, so they could raise her
to be a proper English woman.
They believed that no one
would accept them into the ton,
and Edwina and I would never
debut, as outsiders. And he was
outraged.
ANTHONY
Your father?
KATE
He was used to people
whispering about him, but he
refused to let anyone insult
me. He decided then that both
Edwina and I would debut
into the ton. He was determined
to prove everyone wrong.
To show that I was just as
capable as Edwina of braving
London society, even if I wasn't
of British blood. So, when we went
back to India, he made sure we
both received the education
to be proper London debutantes.
ANTHONY
Sounds like a loving & passionate father.
KATE
Edwina was always better at
being dainty and elegant.
I could never follow
instructions the way she did.
My father didn't give up,
though. He encouraged me and
told me I could be just as
good. Being here, though, it
seems all his plans were for
nothing. Edwina is the one with
suitors, and I'm not impressing
anyone or considered eligible.
ANTHONY
I don't think that's true.
Kate looks at him, pulled out of her reverie
ANTHONY
I think your father was right,
you can make an impression.
They look at each other intensely, wondering what the moment could mean. Suddenly, a horse whinnies, and they snap out of their daze
Anthony suddenly gets up, and walks off towards the back of the garden, while Kate heads back to the archway. Shots cut back and forth between them, as they try to understand what happened and where it could lead
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