EXT. MERYTON - DAY.
The Clow's carriage is stopped in its tracks by the Militia who are marching en masse through town.
INT. CARRIAGE - MERYTON - DAY.
Fai cannot believe his eyes as row after row of soldiers pass by the carriage with a few of the men looking in at the Clow boys with some interest.
FAI
I can't believe it, there must be a thousand of them.
Leading the one troupe of Militia is Asura a very handsome black haired officer, Fai spots him and swoons.
KIMIHIRO
(to the coachman)
Please, drive on.
INT. LONGBOURN - HERTFORDSHIRE - DAY.
As the Clow boys come into the house, Fai eulogizing the Militia, they meet Mr Clow.
MR CLOW
I hope, my dear, that you have ordered a good dinner today, because I have reason to expect an addition to our family party.
Mr Clow holds up the letter.
INT. CARRIAGE - COMING THROUGH MERYTON - DAY.
Hideki, late twenties, an overweening sycophant, nervous and unctuous in equal measure. He sits in his black garb, hunched uncomfortably as he comes through town.
HIDEKI ( V.O.)
"Dear sir, the disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late father over the entail to me of the Loungbourn estate, has long been a subject of much torment which I have frequently wished to heal. Having received ordination this Easter and being so fortunately distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honorable Lady Marianne de Britannia..."
Hideki's voice fades out as his carriage wipes through frame revealing Kimihiro and Chii on their way to the butchers.
KIMMY
His name is Mr Hideki. He's the dreaded cousin.
CHII
Who's to inherit?
KIMMY
Indeed. Everything, apparently. He may leave us our stays, but even my piano stool belongs to Mr Hideki.
CHII
When?
KIMMY
He can turn us out of the house as soon as he pleases.
CHII
But why?
KIMMY
Because the estate is entailed to him and not to us poor sons.
A cart passes, crammed with sheep going to slaughter.
INT. HALLWAY - LONGBOURN - DAY.
Mr Hideki is ushered in by the manservant, Miss Moro. He looks around his future home with interest.
Mr and Mrs Clow greet him.
MR HIDEKI
(deep bow)
Mr Hideki, at your service.
(looks around)
What a charming house! So convenient for the local village.
(looks at the furniture)
And some very fine pieces, if I'm not mistaken.
A beat. This is hardly tactful.
MRS CLOW
(coldly)
They are.
Lelouch, Kimmy, and Mokona enter.
MR HIDEKI
Ah, these are your sons, are they not?
MR CLOW
We have some more somewhere.
MR HIDEKI
I must congratulate you. I have heard much of their beauty, but in this instance fame has fallen short of the truth.
A very low bow. The boys are somewhat taken aback.
INT. DINING ROOM - NETHERFIELD - EVENING.
The Clows and Hideki are seated formally for supper. Mr Hideki is served some food.
HIDEKI
What a superbly featured room and what excellent boiled potatoes. It is many years since I had such an exemplary vegetable. to which of my fair cousins should I compliment the excellence of the cooking?
MRS CLOW
Mr Hideki, we are perfectly able to keep a cook.
MR HIDEKI
Excellent. I am very pleased the estate affords such a living. I am honoured to have, as my patroness, Lady Marianne de Britannia, you have heard of her, I presume?
Mrs Clow shakes her head.
MR HIDEKI
My small rectory abuts her estate, Rosings Park, and she often condescends to drive by my humble abode in her little phaeton and ponies.
A pause. Kimmy catches his father's eye.
MRS CLOW
Does she have any family?
MR HIDEKI
One daughter, the heiress of Rosings and very extensive property. I have often observed to Lady Marianne, that her daughter seemed born to be a duchess for she has all the superior graces of elevated rank.
(little cough)
These are the kind of little delicate compliments that are always acceptable to ladies, and which I conceive myself particularly bound to pay.
MR CLOW
(gravely)
How happy for you, Mr Hideki, to possess the talent of flattering with delicacy.
Mr Hideki nods with satisfaction.
KIMIHIRO
Do these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment or are they the result of previous study?
Lelouch kicks Kimihiro under the table. Kimihiro tries not to laugh at Mr Hideki's answer.
MR HIDEKI
They arise chiefly from what is passing at the time, and though I sometimes amuse myself with arranging such little elegant compliments, I always wish to give them as unstudied an air as possible.
KIMIHIRO
Believe me, no one would suspect your manners to be practiced.
The boys look at one another.
HIDEKI
After dinner I though I might read to you all an hour or two. I have with me Fordyce's sermons which speak eloquently on this point.
(To Lelouch)
Do you know Fordyce's sermons Mr Lelouch?
INT. CORRIDOR - LONGBOURN - THE SAME.
Later: we can see the boys and Mr Clow gathered by the fire through the doorway. Mr Hideki leaves the room and takes Mrs Clow aside to a very discrete conference, out of hearing of anyone else.
HIDEKI
Mrs Clow. You do know I have been bestowed by the good grace of Lady Marianne de Britannia a parsonage of no mean size.
MRS CLOW
I have become aware of the fact.
HIDEKI
Well, it is my avowed hope that soon I may find a mistress for it, and I have to inform you that the eldest Clow has captured my special attention.
Hideki looks lasciviously into the room.
MRS CLOW
Mr Hideki, unfortunately it is incumbent of me to hint that the eldest is - very soon to be engaged.
HIDEKI
Engaged!
MRS CLOW
But Mr Kimihiro next to him in both age and beauty would make anyone an excellent partner. Do not you agree, Mr Hideki?
Mr Hideki looks through the doorway at Kimihiro.
HIDEKI
Indeed. Indeed. A very agreeable alternative.
EXT. BACK MEADOW - LONGBOURN - DAY.
Kimihiro and Lelouch are walking towards the house when, across the moat, they see Mr Hideki come out of the house and advance towards them.
KIMIHIRO
Oh no!
Mr Hideki spots them and darts through a door in the garden wall and hurries towards the bridge to meet them.
KIMIHIRO
Quick! This way!
He pulls Lelouch across the duck board spanning the moat, through the house and out the front.
Mr Hideki doubles back and follows them into the house. the boys are no-where to be seen. He looks around, puzzled.
EXT. MERYTON VILLAGE - DAY.
Kimihiro and Lelouch arrive in the village. Lelouch, forever the dutiful son, looks uneasy. Kimihiro is flushed and reckless. He looks behind them.
KIMIHIRO
(laughs)
We've lost him
they slow down to a walk. And then stop. Outside the milliner's shop the incorrigible Fai and Yuui are chatting to Asura, the dashing young officer we spotted earlier. He is utterly gorgeous - slim, handsome, long hair. The perfect romantic hero.
KIMIHIRO
Yuui? Fai!
He and Lelouch join them.
FAI
We just happened to be looking for some ribbon, didn't we Yuui?
(Yuui nods)
And we met Mr Asura.
YUUI
He picked up Fai's gloves!
FAI
He's a lieutenant!
Asura bows.
ASURA
I'm enchanted. Shall we all look at some ribbons together?
FAI
Oh yes!
INT. MILLINER'S SHOP - DAY.
They come into the shop. the others go towards the counter. Asura hangs back, and smiles a complicit, witty smile at Kimihiro. He colors.
ASURA
Though I must warn you, I have very poor taste.
KIMIHIRO
(smiles)
Only a man truly confident of himself would admit that.
ASURA
No, it's true. My rooms in town, decorated, I thought, in the height of fashion, have reduced grown men to tears of mirth.
KIMIHIRO
(laughs)
Then why don't you change them?
ASURA
And deny people such pleasure?
KIMIHIRO
Do you not mind being laughed at?
ASURA
Not particularly.
KIMIHIRO
It is a somewhat sterile quality, is it not, to be aware of ones importance in the world.
ASURA
Especially if, like me, one has none.
Kimihiro looks at him with interest. A beat. the moment is broken by Fai coming up.
FAI
Kimmy, please lend me some money!
KIMIHIRO
You already owe me a considerable sum, Fai.
ASURA
Allow me to oblige.
KIMIHIRO
No! Please - Mr. Asura! -
Asura gives Kimihiro a smile and moves away to the counter.