INT. NETHERFIELD - HERTFORDSHIRE - NIGHT.

The great doors of Netherfield open to reveal the ball in full swing. Compared to the somewhat clod-hopping Assembly, it's a dazzling affair.

There are hundreds of guests. All the women, roughly two hundred, are dressed in white. The men are either in red officer uniform or dressed in black and white. There are a number of rooms each occupied by a different activity, cards, buffet, women's closet. the final and grandest room is the ball room, a swirl of elegant dance.

The Clow's enter the first reception room, the boys, including Mrs Clow, are all dressed in white. Mr Hideki is slightly detained as people pass. Mr Kururugi bounds up to Lelouch.

SUZAKU

You're here! I'm so pleased.

LELOUCH

And so am I.

SUZAKU

How are you, Mr Kimihiro?

Kimihiro is not paying attention, instead he is searching over Mr Kururugi's shoulder for a sight of Asura.

SUZAKU

Are you looking for someone?

KIMIHIRO

No, no not at all. Admiring the splendor of the ball.

LELOUCH

It is lovely, Mr Kururugi.

Suzaku and Lelouch move off leaving Kimihiro with Mrs Clow and the others. While Mrs Clow talks we focus on Kimihiro searching the sea of red coats.

MRS CLOW

(referring to Lelouch and Suzaku)

I dare say I have never met a more pleasant gentleman in all my years. Look how he dotes on him! Still Lelouch has always done what is best for his family.

Kimihiro takes this opportunity to slip away into the next room. Kimihiro looks around but cannot see Mr Asura. Suddenly he think he sees him, so starts to move over. The man turns round, it is not Asura but someone else.

Kimihiro walks nonchalantly to slip away into the next room, again looking for Mr Asura. He cranes around trying to see him then he is suddenly surprised by Chii.

KIMIHIRO

Have you seen Mr Asura.

She shakes her head.

CHII

Perhaps he is in the ballroom.

They both walk into the ball room. We pull back to reveal a sea of dancers. Asura is nowhere to be seen. Lelouch appears and catches Kimihiro's arm.

LELOUCH

He's not here. Apparently otherwise detained.

The disappointment is palpable on Kimihiro's face.

KIMIHIRO

Detained?

Mr Hideki arrives, breathless. He smiles eagerly at Kimihiro.

HIDEKI

There you are.

KIMIHIRO

Mr Hideki. What a pleasant surprise.

MR HIDEKI

Perhaps you will do me the honour, Mr Kimihiro?

KIMIHIRO

Oh. I didn't think you danced, Mr Hideki.

MR HIDEKI

I do not consider it incompatible with the office of a clergyman to indulge in such an innocent diversion.

Kimihiro tries to smile, politely.

MR HIDEKI (CONT'D)

In fact several people, her ladyship included, have complimented me on my lightness of foot.

Kimihiro's face is a matey rictus.

CUT TO:

They dance, the style of which is not unlike English Country dancing.

HIDEKI

To be sure, dancing is a little consequence to me, but it does afford the opportunity to lavish ones partner with delicate attentions which is my primary object of the evening.

Kimihiro turns as part of the dance and for a moment he dances beside Lelouch.

LELOUCH

Apparently your Mr Asura has been called on some business to town, though my informer told me he would have been less inclined to be engaged had it not been for the presence at Netherfield of a certain gentleman.

Lelouch indicates towards where Doumeki stands watching them.

KIMIHIRO

That gentleman barely warrants the name.

The dance leads Kimihiro back to Mr Hideki.

HIDEKI (CONT'D)

It is my intention, if I may be so bold to remain close to you throughout the evening.

CUT TO:

Couples are preparing for the next dance. Kimihiro and Chii are standing to one side when Mr Doumeki approaches.

DOUMEKI

May I have the next dance, Mr Kimihiro.

Kimihiro is stunned.

KIMIHIRO.

You may.

Doumeki walks away.

KIMIHIRO

What was I thinking? Have I no presence of mind?!

CHII

I dare say you will find him very agreeable, Kimmy.

KIMIHIRO

Heaven forbid! That would be the greatest misfortune of all - to find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate!

CUT TO:

Kimihiro dances face to face with Doumeki. Neither can speak. They dance for a moment in silence.

KIMIHIRO

I do love a Sarabande.

DOUMEKI

Indeed. Most invigorating.

They continue, for a moment, in silence.

KIMIHIRO

It is your turn to say something, Mr Doumeki - I talked about the dance, now you ought to remark on the size of the room or the number of couples.

DOUMEKI

I am perfectly happy to oblige, please advise me of what you would like most to hear.

KIMIHIRO

That reply will do for the present. Perhaps by and bye I may observe that private balls are much pleasanter than public ones. But for now we may be silent.

DOUMEKI

Do you talk as a rule while dancing?

KIMIHIRO

We are each of an unsocial, taciturn disposition, unwilling to speak, unless we expect to say something that will amaze the whole room, and be handed down to posterity with all the eclat of a proverb. So a little lubrication to avoid embarrassment might be advantageous.

DOUMEKI

I see no striking resemblance of your own character in this, how near it is to mine I cannot say. (beat) Tell me do you and your brothers very often walk to Meryton?

They are suddenly parted by the choreography of the dance.

We stay with Kimihiro who is whisked round the floor by an elderly man who smiles at him toothlessly, Kimihiro looks back at Doumeki who is dancing with Fai. He stares at Kimihiro as he dances. Kimihiro smiles at his current partner in embarrassment.

KIMIHIRO

Very mild weather we've been having.

DANCING PARTNER

(deaf as a post)

Sorry.

The dance spins again and he is back with Doumeki.

KIMIHIRO

Yes, we often walk to Meryton - it is a great opportunity to meet new people. In fact when you met us we had just had the pleasure of forming a new acquaintance.

DOUMEKI

I will admit your Mr Asura is blessed with such happy manners as may ensure his making friends - whether he is capable of retaining them is less certain.

KIMIHIRO

He has been so unlucky to lose your friendship. I remember hearing you once say that your resentment once lost was unappeasable. You are very cautious, I suppose, as to its being created?

DOUMEKI

I am. May I ask to what these questions tend?

KIMIHIRO

To make out your character, Mr Doumeki.

DOUMEKI

And what have you discovered?

KIMIHIRO

Very little.

The dance finishes.

KIMIHIRO (CONT'D)

I heard such different accounts of you it puzzles me exceedingly.

DOUMEKI

I hope to afford you more clarity in the future.

They bow to each other and Kimihiro moves quickly away from Doumeki.

CUT TO:

Kimihiro is at the buffet watching Yuui quaff a huge glass of wine and having the glass immediately refilled. He is joined by Anya Kururugi who also looks at Yuui disapprovingly.

ANYA KURURUGI

Mr Kimihiro. Let me recommend you as a friend not to give too much confidence to all of the assertions your friend Mr Asura might make. He is indeed a charming man, but one should never forget from where he is descended.

KIMIHIRO

His lack of trustworthiness and descent appear by your account to be the same thing.

ANYA KURURUGI

Please excuse my interference, it was kindly meant.

A breathless Mr Hideki appears.

HIDEKI

Is that Mr Doumeki, of Pemberley in Derbyshire?

KIMIHIRO

I believe so.

HIDEKI

But I must make myself know to him immediately!

KIMIHIRO

But sir -

HIDEKI

He is the nephew of my esteemed patroness, Lady Marianne.

KIMIHIRO

(surprised)

He is?

Mr Hideki starts making his way determinedly towards Doumeki.

KIMIHIRO

Please, Mr Hideki! He'll consider it an impertinence -

Kimihiro watches from a distance, with acute embarrassment, as Hideki interrupts Doumeki. Doumeki does not notice him so Hideki raises his voice.

HIDEKI

Mr Doumeki!

The room around him stops. Doumeki is surprised and turns round. In dumbshow we see Doumeki is horrified by Hideki's obsequiousness, during the conversation Hideki points Kimihiro out to Doumeki.

ANYA KURURUGI

What interesting relatives you have, Mr Kimihiro.

Kimihiro walks away into another room.

CUT TO:

The other room, where Mokona is singing badly on the piano. Kimihiro is horrified. He turns to leave only to see Mr Clow looking on. He winces as Mokona misses a high note. Mokona finishes the song with an off key flourish. Polite applause. Mokona smiles and prepares for another song.

KIMIHIRO

Aren't you going to do something?

Mr Clow walks over to the piano.

MR CLOW

Mokona dear, you've delighted us long enough.

MOKONA

But they asked for another song.

Mr Clow shuts the lid.

MR CLOW

Let the other young ladies have a turn.

CUT TO:

Later. Chii and Kimmy are sat together.

KIMIHIRO

Perhaps my family have made a competition to see who can expose themselves to the most ridicule.

CHII

Well, at least Suzaku has not noticed.

They look over and see Lelouch and Suzaku dancing. Suzaku clearly besotted by Lelouch.

KIMIHIRO

Yes. I think he likes him very much.

CHII

But does Lelouch like him? There are few of us who are secure enough to be really in love without proper encouragement. Suzaku likes him enormously but might not do more if Lelouch does not help him on.

KIMIHIRO

He is just shy and modest. If Suzaku does not perceive his regard, he is a fool.

CHII

We are all fools in love. He does not know Lelouch's character as we do. He should move fast. Snap him up. There is plenty of time for us to get to know them after we're married -

Kimihiro looks over the dance-floor to see Fai dancing with a soldier. He's a little drunk, and very flirtatious. The soldiers says something; Fai shrieks with laughter.

CUT TO:

Kimihiro sits at the side of the dance-floor. He look at Mrs Clow dancing in outrageous fashion. Cut to later: Fai is getting more and more leery with a group of soldiers, Kimihiro walks away in embarrassment only to see Mr Hideki smiling at him from across the room. Cut to: Kimihiro dancing joylessly with the excruciating Mr Hideki, as he turns in the dance he sees Doumeki look on with obvious disdain. Cut to: much later, the band are exhausted, guests are leaving. the staff are asleep on their feet. Kimihiro almost alone watching his parents dancing almost the only people left on the dance-floor, Yuui is asleep over Kimihiro's lap. This is a never-ending nightmare.

INT. ENTRANCE HALL - NETHERFIELD- THE WEE HOURS.

Day light creeps though the curtains. Mrs Clow is sprawled on a sofa. Fai completely drunk. Yuui asleep. Lelouch sitting demurely. Hideki looking longingly at Kimihiro. Mrs Clow is holding court, whilst the footmen behind are literally ready to drop. Suzaku is standing, the perfect host, but obviously willing the Clows to leave.

MRS CLOW

I have never had such a good time in my life. Mr Kururugi you must have such a ball once a month at least.

Anya who is standing with her brother, yawns ostentatiously.

KIMIHIRO

Mother. I really think it is time to go.

MRS CLOW

Don't be impertinent. Our hosts are perfectly happy with our company, are you not, Mr Kururugi? I hope I can entice you to Longbourn to sample our hospitality. We would make sure you had 3 or 4 courses at least.

She holds out her glass for a top up and carries on.

MRS CLOW (CONT'D)

So tell me Mr Kururugi. Whom did you like least of all your guests this evening.

KIMIHIRO

Really. This is enough.

Doumeki looking down at Kimihiro from a staircase. He turns and walks away.

INT. CARRIAGE - HERTFORDSHIRE - MORNING.

The Clow's are squeezed into their carriage. It is light outside. Only Mrs Clow is awake but the lack of an audience does not stop her from talking.

MRS CLOW

Allowing for new carriages, dresses etcetera, etcetera. We will be having a wedding here at Netherfield in less than three months, if you ask me. Mr Clow? Mr Clow!