EXT. MERYTON VILLAGE - DAY.

Mrs Clow and her two sons rush down the street into the village. Dogs bark, children run alongside as a regiment of soldiers march through the street. Geese scatter; shopkeepers stand in their doorways. The two Clow boys simper at the handsome young soldiers. Mrs Clow, flushed and excited, runs panting behind them. Fai deliberately drops his hankerchief. One of the soldiers stands on it. He is appalled.

INT. DRAWING ROOM - NETHERFIELD - EVENING.

Kimihiro is reading a book. Doumeki is writing a letter. Suzaku is sat nervously. Anya, obviously bored, wanders the room looking for distraction. She looks over Doumeki's shoulder.

ANYA KURURUGI

You write uncommonly fast, Mr Doumeki

MR DOUMEKI

(without looking up)

You are mistaken. I write rather slowly.

Anya Kururugi lingers, annoyingly.

ANYA KURURUGI

How many letters you must have occasion to write, Mr Doumeki. Letters of business too. How odious I should think them!

DOUMEKI

It is fortunate, then, that they fall to my lot instead of yours.

ANYA KURURUGI

Please tell your sister that I long to see her.

DOUMEKI

I have already told her once, by your desire.

Kimmy looks across from her book.

ANYA KURURUGI

I do dote on her, I was quite in raptures at her beautiful little design for a table.

DOUMEKI

Perhaps you will give me leave to defer your raptures till I write again. At present I have not enough room to do them justice.

Mr Kururugi now pacing anxiously around the room.

MR KURURUGI

It's amazing, how young ladies have the patience to be so accomplished.

ANYA KURURUGI

What do you mean, Suzaku?

MR KURURUGI

They all paint tables, and embroider cushions and play the piano. I never heard of a young lady, but people say she is accomplished.

DOUMEKI

The word is indeed applied too liberally. I cannot boast of knowing more than half a dozen women, in all my acquaintance, that are truely accomplished.

ANYA KURURUGI

Nor I, to be sure!

KIMIHIRO

Goodness! You must comprehend a great deal in the idea.

DOUMEKI

I do.

ANYA KURURUGI

Absolutely. She must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing and the modern languages, to deserve the word. And something in her air and manner of walking.

DOUMEKI

And of course she must improve her mind by extensive reading.

Kimihiro closes his book.

KIMIHIRO

I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing any.

DOUMEKI

Are you so severe on your own sex?

KIMIHIRO

I never saw such a woman. She would certainly be a fearsome thing to behold.

Pause. Doumeki goes back to his letter. Anya Kururugi picks up a book. Pauses. Puts it down. She walks over to Kimmy.

ANYA KURURUGI

Mr Kimihiro, let us take a turn about the room.

Kimmy, surprised, gets up. Anya Kururugi links his arm and they start walking up and down.

ANY KURURUGI (CONT'D)

It's refreshing, is it not, after sitting so long in one attitude?

KIMIHIRO

And it's a small kind of accomplishment, I suppose.

Doumeki meets Kimmy's eye, briefly. He goes back to his letter-writing. More walking up and down. Anya Kururugi turns to Doumeki.

ANYA KURURUGI

Mr Doumeki, will you join us?

DOUMEKI

(shakes his head)

You can only have two motives, Miss Kururugi, and I would interfere with either.

ANYA KURURUGI

(to Kimmy, archly)

What can he mean?

KIMIHIRO

Our surest way of disappointing him will be to ask nothing about it.

ANYA KURURUGI

(to Doumeki)

Please tell us!

DOUMEKI

Either you are in each other's confidence and have secret affairs to discuss, or you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage by walking. If the first, I should get in your way. If the second, I can admire you much better from here.

ANYA KURURUGI

Oh, shocking! How shall we punish him for such a speech?

KIMIHIRO

We could always tease him.

ANYA KURURUGI

Oh no, Mr Doumeki is not to be laughed at!

KIMIHIRO

Are you too proud, Mr Doumeki? And would you consider that a fault.

DOUMEKI

That I couldn't say.

KIMIHIRO

For we're trying to find a fault in you.

DOUMEKI

Maybe it's that I find it hard to forgive the follies and vices of others, or their offenses against myself. My good opinion, once lost, is lost forever.

KIMIHIRO

Oh dear, I cannot tease you about that. What a shame, for I dearly love to laugh.

ANYA KURURUGI

(small smile)

A family trait I think.

Kimihiro smiles, sweetly. Miss Kururugi glances at Doumeki.

INT. BEDROOM - NETHERFIELD - MORNING.

Kimihiro wakes up next to Lelouch.

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - DAY.

Doumeki gallops through the countryside.

EXT. STABLE YARD - NETHERFIELD - DAY.

Doumeki, exhausted, rides into the stable yard. In the corner is a trough and pump. He strides up to the pump, puts his head under it and douses himself with cold water.

INT/EXT. BEDROOM/STABLE YARD - NETHERFIELD - THE SAME.

From a window Kimihiro looks out at Doumeki.

Doumeki looks up and for a second catches Kimihiro looking down at him. He turns from the window. Lelouch is waking up.

KIMIHIRO

Lelouch, do you think you might feel well enough to leave today?

INT. DRAWING ROOM - NETHERFIELD - DAY.

The doors open. The Butler as before:

BUTLER

A Mrs Clow, a Clow, a Clow, a Clow and a Clow, sir.

ANYA KURURUGI

Are we to receive every Clow in the country?

Mrs Clow, Fai, Mokona and Yuui are introduced to Anya, Suzaku and Doumeki. Kimihiro holds his breath as his mother launches into untold gaucheries.

MRS CLOW

What an excellent room you have sir. Such expensive furnishings. I hope you intend to stay here, Mr Kururugi.

SUZAKU

Absolutely I find the country very diverting. Don't you agree Doumeki?

DOUMEKI

I find it perfectly adequate even if society is a little less varied than in town.

MRS CLOW

But I assure you there is quite as much going on in the country as there is in the town.

KIMIHIRO

Indeed Mama, I think Mr Doumeki merely meant there were not such a variety of people to be met in the country as there are in town, which you much acknowledge to be true.

MRS CLOW

Nonsense, we dine with four and twenty families. Sir Ichiro Mihara for instance is a very agreeable man. So very genteel and easy.

Kimihiro cringes.

FAI

Mr Kururugi, is it true that you have promised to hold a ball here at Netherfield?

SUZAKU

Well...

FAI

It would be an excellent way to meet new friends. You could invite the militia.

YUUI

Oh do hold a ball.

KIMIHIRO

(trying to stop Suzaku being bamboozled)

Yuui...

SUZAKU

When your brother has recovered you shall name the day.

MOKONA

I think a Ball is a perfectly irrational way to gain new acquaintance. It would be better if conversation instead of dancing were the order of the day.

ANYA KURURUGI

Indeed much more rational but rather less like a ball.

KIMIHIRO

Thank you, Mokona.

SUZAKU

(To Mrs Clow)

Please let me show you to Lelouch, you will find him quite recovered.

CUT TO:

EXT. DRIVE - NETHERFIELD - DAY.

The Clow's carriage awaits. The Kururugi's are gathered to see the Clow's off. Lelouch is radiant - in the peak of health.

LELOUCH

(to the Kururugi's)

Really, I don't know how to thank you.

Suzaku beams bashfully. He can't take his eyes off of Lelouch.

SUZAKU

Really, you're welcome anytime you feel the least bit poorly.

KIMIHIRO

(to Anya)

Thank you for such stimulating company. It has been most instructive.

ANYA KURURUGI

Not at all. The pleasure is all mine.

Kimihiro looks at Doumeki, who does not say anything. He gets in the carriage.

KIMIHIRO

Mr Doumeki.

DOUMEKI

Mr Kimihiro

They share a look as Kimihiro joins the rest of the Clows in the carriage. The driver takes off. Suzaku waves enthusiastically to Lelouch.

SUZAKU

Goodbye, goodbye.

INT. CARRIAGE - LEAVING NETHERFIELD - THE SAME.

The family is all squeezed in rather too tightly.

MRS CLOW

What a high and mighty man that Mr Doumeki is, quite eaten up with pride.