INT, HUNSFORD - DAY.

Kimihiro comes in soaked to the skin. Chii runs to him.

CHII

Kimihiro!

KIMIHIRO

I was caught somewhat off-guard.

INT. BEDROOM - HUNSFORD - THE SAME.

Chii attends to Kimihiro who has changed and is drying his hair, a shawl around his shoulders.

CHII

Shall I call the doctor?

KIMIHIRO

No! Chii, I shall be quite all right. Please, give Lady de Britannia my apologies. You must not keep her waiting.

Mr Hideki clatters up the stairs.

HIDEKI

(popping his head around the door)

Come on. We shall be late!

Chii leaves reluctantly, and goes downstairs.

CUT TO:

Later: The sound of the front door closing. Kimihiro sits down, heavily, on the bed. He walks downstairs and enters the drawing room.

INT. DRAWING ROOM - HUNSFORD - DAY.

Kimihiro is in the drawing room, he looks at a book on the table. It is Fordyce's Sermons. He puts it down and walks to the mirror and stares at himself. After a moment suddenly Doumeki's face appears. He freezes. They stare at the other without speaking. Finally...

DOUMEKI

I came to leave you this.

He places a letter on the table behind Kimihiro. Kimihiro does not turn but watches him through the mirror.

DOUMEKI (CONT'D)

I'm not going to renew the sentiments which were so disgusting to you, but to address the two offenses you have laid against me. I had not long been in Hertfordshire before I saw that Suzaku preferred your eldest brother. I observed my friend's behavior attentively and I could perceive that his partiality for Mr Lelouch was beyond what I have ever witnessed in him.

Kimihiro cannot bring himself to look at Doumeki. He stares at his own reflection as he speaks.

DOUMEKI (CONT'D)

Yet when I observed your brother I detected no symptom of peculiar regard, and witnessed only the families coarse appetite for having their sons married favorably. And so in London, perhaps erroneously, I persuaded him of the unfitness of the match citing your brother's coolness towards him.

We zoom in on Kimihiro's reflection.

DOUMEKI (CONT'D)

It was unknowingly done and though the motives which governed me may to you appear naturally insufficient, they were done to protect a friend. As to the other more serious matter...

As Kimihiro turns he realizes Doumeki has gone. Doumeki's voice carries.

DOUMEKI (V.O.) (CONT'D)

"My fahter provided for Mr Asura a valuable living."

Kimihiro tears open the envelope, his hands shaking, and reads the letter, as Doumki's voice carries on.

DOUMEKI (V.O.) (CONT'D)

"But upon his death, however, Mr Asura told me that he had no intention of taking orders and would I recompense him to the tune of Three hundred pounds so he could go to town and study the law.

We circle Kimihiro as he reads.

DOUMEKI (CONT'D) (V.O.)

This I did, though by now I had some doubts about his character. These were confirmed by reports that he had sunk into a life of idleness, gambling and dissipation. The money was soon used up, whereupon he wrote demanding more money which I refused, whereupon he severed all acquaintance."

Holding the letter, he looks out the window to see Doumeki riding away.

DOUMEKI (CONT'D)

"But last summer he was unwillingly obtruded on my notice when he connived a relationship with my sister whom he persuaded to be in love with him and made her consent to an elopement. She was but fifteen.

EXT. HUNSFORD - DAY.

Doumeki rides off.

DOUMEKI (V.O.)

Mr Asura's prime objective was her inheritance of thirty thousand pounds but hope of revenging me was a strong inducement. I was lucky enough to persuade my sister of her folly. I hope this goes someway to mitigating my behavior in your eyes. If you doubt my word please have it confirmed by my cousin Haurka.

INT. DRAWING ROOM - HUNSFORD - LATER - DAY.

Kimihiro with the letter. Chii walks in. Kimihiro is shaking.

CHII

Kimmy! Are you alright?

KIMIHIRO

I do not know. I hardly know myself.

Kimihiro looks at Chii utterly shaken.

INT/EXT. CARRIAGE/CHEAPSIDE - DAY.

Kimihiro riding in a carriage through Cheapside, reading the letter.

DOUMEKI (V.O.)

P.S. As we shall never meet again, I wish you all happiness in the future.

Kimihiro looks out at the high warehouse building and bustle of trade. There is no horizon.

INT. GARDINERS HOUSE - CHEAPSIDE - DAY.

Mrs Sakura, the boys' kindly aunt, is taking Kimihiro's coat from him.

SAKURA

How fortunate, you are here just in time to catch everybody coming through from Longbourn.

KIMIHIRO

How is Lelouch?

Mrs Sakura smiles sadly.

SAKURA

He is outside.

Through the window Kimihiro sees Lelouch sitting quietly alone at his needle work.

CUT TO:

EXT. SMALL BACK GARDEN OF THE SYAORANS' HOUSE - CHEAPSIDE - THE SAME.

Kimihiro and Lelouch sit together in the small walled garden.

Lelouch is all smiles, but behind his eyes is a sadness unseen before. Kimihiro is desperate to unburden himself but feels unable.

LELOUCH

I am quite over him, Kimmy. If he passed in the street I would hardly notice. London is so diverting...

KIMIHIRO

Oh Lelouch...

LELOUCH

It's true! What with the theatre and...But tell me, what news from Kent?

KIMIHIRO

Nothing. Everything as you might imagine.

Kimihiro tries to smile. There is a crash as all the Clows arrive at the house. Yuui rushes into the garden crying his eyes out, he is followed by Fai and Mrs Clow.

YUUI

Kimmy, tell mama, tell her!

FAI

(smugly)

Mrs Forster has invited me.

YUUI

(wails)

Why didn't she ask me as well?

KIMIHIRO

Yuui, what's happened?

FAI

- because she likes me better.

YUUI

I've just as much right as Fai -

MRS CLOW

Oh, if I could but go to Brighton -

KITTY

- and more so, because I'm two years older!

Kimihiro looks to Lelouch.

LELOUCH

Fai has been invited to Brighton with the Forsters.

MRS CLOW

A little sea-bathing would set me up very nicely.

FAI

I shall dine with the officers every night!

An anguished wail from Yuui.

MRS CLOW

I'm sure I cried for two days when Colonel Millar's regiment went away. I though I should have broke my heart.

KIMMY

Mother! Are you all mad?

He glares at them, deeply upset - by them, by everything.