INT. DRAWING ROOM - HUSHFORD- DAY.
Kimihiro is writing a letter in the drawing room. He starts "Dear Lelouch..." The droorbell rings in the background, he thinks nothing of it and continues. The maid opens the door to the drawing room and Mr Doumeki enters.
KIMIHIRO
(astonished)
Mr Doumeki!
An awkward pause.
KIMIHIRO
Please, do be seated.
(pause)
I'm afraid Mr and Mrs Hideki are gone on business to the village.
A pause. What on earth does Mr Doumeki want? He paces up and down.
DOUMEKI
This is a charming house. I believe my aunt did a great deal to it when Mr Hideki first arrived.
KIMIHIRO
I believe so - and she could not have bestowed her kindness on a more grateful subject.
Another pause.
DOUMEKI
Mr Hideki seems very fortunate in his choice of wife.
KIMIHIRO
He is indeed lucky to have found one of the few sensible women who would have accepted him
Doumeki sits down.
KIMIHIRO
Shall I call for some tea?
DOUMEKI
No. Thankyou.
The sound of the front door, and voices. Doumeki jumps up.
DOUMEKI
Good day, Mr Kimihiro. It's been a pleasure.
He bows to him and leaves. Kimihiro sits there, bemused and intrigued.
CUT TO:
Chii, in the hallway, taking off her bonnet. Doumeki hurries past her, with a swift bow, and leaves abruptly. Chii gazes after him in surprise.
Chii heads to the drawing room were she finds Kimihiro sitting, bemused.
CHII
What on earth have you done to poor Mr Doumeki?
KIMIHIRO
I have no idea.
He truly doesn't. Chii gives Kimihiro a look.
EXT. HUNSFORD CHURCH - DAY.
Sunday service is over and worshippers are leaving the church. Mr Hideki, in his vestments, obeises himself to Lady Marianne, who is sweeping out with her miserable-looking daughter and downtrodden governess. Kimihiro joins Colonel Haruka. They walk down the path together.
KIMIHIRO
How long do you plan to stay in Kent, Colonel?
HARUKA
As long as Doumeki chooses. I am at his disposal.
KIMIHIRO
I do imagine your cousin brought you down with him chiefly to have someone to order around. I wonder he does not marry and secure a lasting convenience of that kind.
HAURKA
They would be a lucky person.
KIMIHIRO
Really?
HARUKA
Doumeki is a most loyal companion. From what I heard, on our journey here, he recently came to the rescue of one of his friends just in time.
Doumeki, waylaid by various people, comes out of the church. His eyes search for Kimihiro. He sees him with Haurka and hesitates. Too late! Mr Hideki steps up to him and engages him in conversation. Kimihiro stops at the courtyard gate.
KIMIHIRO
What happened?
HAURKA
He saved the man from an imprudent marriage.
KIMIHIRO
(faltering slightly)
Who was the man?
HARUKA
His closest friend, Mr Kururugi.
A silence.
KIMIHIRO
Did Mr Doumeki give you his reasons for this interference?
HARUKA
There were apparently strong objections to the partner.
KIMIHIRO
What kind of objections? His lack of fortune?
HARUKA
I think it was his family that was considered unsuitable.
KIMIHIRO
So he separated them?
HARUKA
I believe so. I know nothing else.
Kimihiro grows pale. He turns to look at Doumeki who is joined by his aunt.
KIMIHIRO
I wish Mr Doumeki and all his friends well in finding partners suitable to their high standards. Good morning, Colonel Haruka.
Kimihiro sees that Hideki is still busy with his parishioners and slips away. Doumeki sees him from a distance.
EXT. ROSINGS PARK - DAY.
Kimmy walks across the park - anywhere, he hardly cares. He is in a turmoil of misery and fury. How could Doumeki do such a terrible thing! It starts to rain.
CUT TO:
A Grecian summer house by the lake. The rain is now bucketing down. Kimmy hurries into the summer house and sits down, heavily, on a bench.
His poor brother! Kimmy gazes in despair at the rain-lashed landscape.
A man approaches, across the park. He draws nearer.
It's Doumeki. Kimihiro stiffens. Doumeki hurries towards him. Sodden, breathless, he comes into the summer house. He is in a state of agitation - far too agitated to notice Kimihiro's upset face.
DOUMEKI
Mr Kimihiro, I have struggled in vain but I can bear it no longer...The past months have been a torment...
He pauses, unable to speak. Kimihiro stares at him in astonishment. He struggles on.
DOUMEKI
I came to Rosings with the single object of seeing you...I had to see you...
KIMIHIRO
Me?
DOUMEKI
I've fought against my better judgement, my family's expectation...
(pause)
The inferiority of your birth...my rank and circumstance...
(stumblingly)
all those things...but I'm willing to put them aside...and ask you to end my agony...
KIMIHIRO
I don't understand...
DOUMEKI
(with passion)
I love you. Most ardently.
Kimihiro stares at him.
DOUMEKI
Please do me the honor of accepting my hand.
A silence. Gathering his shawl, Kimihiro gets to his feet.
DOUMEKI
(stares)
Is this your reply?
KIMIHIRO
Yes, sir.
DOUMEKI
Are you laughing at me?
KIMIHIRO
No!
DOUMEKI
Are you rejecting me?
KIMIHIRO
(pause)
I'm sure that the feelings which, as you've told me, have hindered your regard, will help you in overcoming it.
A terrible silence, as this sinks in. Neither of them can move. At last, Doumeki speaks. He is very pale.
DOUMEKI
May I ask why, with so little endeavor at civility, I am thus repulsed?
KIMIHIRO
(trembling with emotion)
I might as well enquire why, with so evident a design of insulting me, you chose to tell me that you liked me against your better judgement. If I was uncivil, that was some excuse -
DOUMEKI
Believe me, I didn't mean -
KIMIHIRO
But I have other reasons, you know I have!
DOUMEKI
What reasons?
KIMIHIRO
Do you think that anything might tempt me to accept the man who has ruined, perhaps for ever, the happiness of a most beloved brother?
Silence. Doumeki looks as if he's been stuck across the face.
KIMIHIRO
Do you deny it, Mr Doumeki? That you separated a young couple who loved each other, exposing your friend to the censure of the world for caprice, and my brother to its derision for disappointed hopes, and involving them both in misery of the acutest kind?
DOUMEKI
I do not deny it.
KIMIHIRO
(blurts out)
How could you do it?
DOUMEKI
Because I believed your brother indifferent to him.
KIMIHIRO
Indifferent?
DOUMEKI
I watched them most carefully, and realized his attachment was much deeper than your brother's.
KIMIHIRO
That is because he's shy!
DOUMEKI
Suzaku too is modest, and was persuaded that he didn't feel strongly for him.
KIMIHIRO
Because you suggested it!
DOUMEKI
I did it for his own good!
KIMIHIRO
My brother hardly show his true feeling to me!
(pause, takes a breath)
I suppose you suspect that his fortune had some bearing on the matter?
DOUMEKI
(sharply)
No! I wouldn't do your brother the dishonor. Though it was suggested - (stops)
KIMIHIRO
What was?
DOUMEKI
It was made perfectly clear that...an advantageous marriage...(stops)
KIMIHIRO
Did my brother give that impression?
DOUMEKI
No!
An awkward pause.
DOUMEKI
There was, however, I have to admit...the matter of your family.
KIMIHIRO
Our want of connection? Mr Kururugi didn't vex himself about that!
DOUMEKI
No, it was more than that.
KIMIHIRO
How, sir?
DOUMEKI
(pause, very uncomfortable)
It pains me to say this, but it was the lack of propriety shown by your mother, your three younger brothers - even, on occasion, your father. Forgive me.
Kimmy blushes. Doumeki has hit home. Doumeki paces up and down.
DOUMEKI
You and your brother - I must exclude from this...
Doumeki stops and gazes at him. He is in turmoil. Kimihiro glares at him, in a blaze of fury and misery.
KIMIHIRO
And what about Mr Asura?
DOUMEKI
Mr Asura?
KIMIHIRO
What excuse can you give for your behavior to him?
DOUMEKI
You take an eager interest in that gentleman's concerns!
KIMIHIRO
He told me of his misfortunes.
DOUMEKI
Oh yes, his misfortunes have been very great indeed!
KIMIHIRO
You have ruined his chances, and yet treat him with sarcasm?
DOUMEKI
So this is your opinion of me! Thank you for explaining so fully. Perhaps these offenses might have been overlooked, if your pride had not been hurt -
KIMIHIRO
My pride?
DOUMEKI
- by my honesty in admitting scruples about our relationship. Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your circumstance?
KIMIHIRO
And those are the words of a gentleman? From the first moment I met you, your arrogance and conceit, your selfish distain of the feelings of others, made me realize that you were the last man in the world I could ever be prevailed upon to marry.
Doumeki recoils, as if slapped. A terrible silence.
DOUMEKI
Forgive me, sir, for taking up so much of your time.
He leaves, abruptly.
Kimihiro watches him stride away, through the rain. What has he done? He bitterly bursts into tears.