INT. DRAWING ROOM - ROSINGS - NIGHT.
Dinner is over and they are drinking coffee. Doumeki moves towards Kimihiro but Lady Marianne interrupts, by shouting from her seat.
LADY MARIANNE
Come, Mr Kimihiro, and play for us!
KIMIHIRO
No, I beg you -
LADY MARIANNE
For music is my delight. In fact there are few people in England who have more true enjoyment of music than myself, or better natural taste. If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient.
(indicates daughter)
So would Nunally, if her health would have allowed her.
KIMIHIRO
Please, I told you I play poorly -
MR HIDEKI
(hisses)
Come come, Kimihiro, her ladyship demands it!
Kimmy reluctantly sits down at the piano and starts to play. Lady Marianne takes no notice and talks loudly over the music.
LADY MARIANNE
How does Himawari get along, Doumeki?
DOUMEKI
She plays very well.
LADY MARIANNE
I hope she practices. No excellence can be acquired without constant practice. I halve told Mrs Hideki this.
(turns to Chii)
Though you have no instrument of your own you are very welcome to come to Rosings and play on the piano in the housekeeper's room.
CHII
Thank you, your ladyship.
LADY MARIANNE
You would be in nobody's way, you know, in that part of the house.
Doumeki flinches at her bad manners. He moves away to the piano where Kimmy is playing - not that terribly well, it must be said. A moment passes.
KIMIHIRO
You mean to frighten me, Mr Doumeki, by coming in all your state to hear me, but I won't be alarmed even though your sister does play so well.
DOUMEKI
I am well enough acquainted with you, Mr Kimihiro, to know I cannot alarm you even should I wish it.
A beat. They eye each other warily. Colonel Haruka joins them.
HARUKA
(indicating Doumeki)
What was my friend like, in Hertfordshire?
KIMIHIRO
You really care to know?
The colonel nods.
KIMIHIRO
Prepare yourself for something very dreadful.
(stops playing)
The first time I saw him, at the Assembly, he danced with nobody at all - even though gentlemen were scarce and there was more than one young lady who was sitting down without a partner.
DOUMEKI
(coloring)
I knew nobody beyond my own party.
KIMIHIRO
(smiles sweetly)
True, and nobody can be introduced in a ballroom.
LADY MARIANNE
Haruka! Come here and talk to us!
Haruka moves away. Doumeki and Kimihiro are alone.
DOUMEKI
I do not have the talent of conversing easily with people I have never met before.
KIMIHIRO
Maybe you should take your aunt's advice and practice.
Ouch! Doumeki flinches. Kimmy turns away from him and carries on playing. Doumeki gazes at the curve of his neck.
Kimihiro plays a false note, stumbles, and grimly carries on.