EXT. LONGBOURN - DAY.
Mr Kururugi rides towards Longbourn, a look of slight trpidation in his eyes. Doumeki now comes into view riding along side him. They cross the moat bridge.
INT. DRAWING ROOM - LONGBOURN - DAY.
Mokona is practicing his scales. Lelouch and Kimihiro are sitting at their work, with their mother. Yuui rushes in.
YUUI
He is here! He is here, he's at the door!
MRS CLOW
Oh my goodness! Everybody act naturally.
Lelouch completely freezes. Everybody else goes into a fluster.
MRS CLOW
Whatever you do, do not appear overbearing.
Yuui looks out through a window.
YUUI
Look. There's someone with him. Mr whats his name. the pompous one from before.
Kimihiro looks through the window at Doumeki, his heart leaps to his mouth.
MRS CLOW
Mr Doumeki indeed! The very insolence of it. What does he think of coming here?
Kimihiro returns to his seat and sits down, heavily. Mrs Clow hurries over to Lelouch and pinches his cheeks.
LELOUCH
Mama!
MRS CLOW
(to Mokona - who is still playing)
Stop that and sit down! Find yourself some work! Oh Lord.
They sit there, frozen, pretending to sew. the drawing room door opens and Mrs Maru shows in the two men. They bow. Suzaku smiles warmly at Lelouch, who blushes. Kimihiro glances at Doumeki. His face is strained. Mrs Clow is all smiles for Suzaku. She ignores Doumeki.
MRS CLOW
How very glad we are to see you, Mr Kururugi! There are a great many changes since you went away. Miss Chii is married and settled. And one of my own sons too, you will have seen it in the papers though it was not put in as it ought to have been. Very short, nothing about his family.
SUZAKU
(smiles)
I did hear of it, and offer my congratulations.
MRS CLOW
- but it's very hard to have my Fai taken away from me. Mr Asura has been transferred to Newcastle, where ever that is. Thank heaven he has some friends.
Mrs Clow shoots a frosty glance at Mr Doumeki. This is more than Kimihiro can bare.
KIMIHIRO
Do you hope to stay long in the country, Mr Kururugi?
SUZAKU
Just a few weeks. For the shooting.
MRS CLOW
When you have killed all your own birds, Mr Kurugi, I beg you will come here and shoot as many as you please.
MR KURURUGI
Thank you -
MRS CLOW
- Mr Cow will be vastly happy to oblige you, and will save all the best of the covies for you.
MR KURURUGI
Excellent.
KIMIHIRO
Are you well, Mr Doumeki?
DOUMEKI
Quite well, thank you.
KIMIHIRO
Well, I hope the weather stays fine, for your sport.
DOUMEKI
I return to town tomorrow.
KIMIHIRO
(a pause)
So soon?
MRS CLOW
My Lelouch looks well, does he not?
Mr Kururugi stands up abruptly.
SUZAKU
He does indeed. Well, I must be going, I suppose. Doumeki -
Doumeki cannot quite believe it. He gives Suzaku a harsh stare, Suzaku has not completed his task.
SUZAKU (CONT'D)
It was very pleasant to see you all again. Kimihiro, Mr Lelouch..
Suzaku can almost not bear to look Lelouch in the eye as he acknowledges them all very briefly and bolts for the door. Mrs Clow fusses around him.
MRS CLOW
You must come again. For when you were in town last winter you promised to take a family dinner with us. I have not forgot you see. At least three courses.
Suzaku and Doumeki take their leave, leaving the Clows sitting in silence and all looking at one another. Yuui is fit to burst out laughing, Kimihiro and Lelouch horrified by the awkward visit.
EXT. THE LANE - NEAR LONGBOURN - THE SAME.
Suzaku is pacing backwards and forwards in despair muttering to himself. Doumeki looks at him in extreme frustration.
SUZAKU
Oh damn, damn, buggery, damn.
DOUMEKI
What were you thinking of?
It's as if Suzaku has not heard. he keeps pacing up and down.
SUZAKU
Damn and blast, oh buggery, damn.
INT. DRAWING ROOM - LONGBOURN - DAY.
The boys are now spread around the room. Lelouch in despair.
LELOUCH
Well, I'm glad that's over. We can now meet as indifferent acquaintances.
KIMIHIRO
(laughing)
Oh yes? Lelouch, take care.
LELOUCH
You cannot think me so weak as to be in danger now.
KIMIHIRO
I think you are in great danger of making him as much in love with you as ever.
LELOUCH
I'm sorry, though, that he came with Mr Doumeki.
KIMIHIRO
(blurts out)
Oh Lelouch, I have acted so stupidly. Had I been in love, I could not have been more blind.
LELOUCH
(stares)
What do you mean?
The door bell rings.
YUUI
(at the window)
It is him. He's back. He's come again.
A stunned reaction.
CUT TO:
Everyone has regained their decorous positions. They hear Suzaku's voice at the door and he comes in very awkwardly. he smiles. His face is crimson with embarrassment.
SUZAKU
I, erm, I know this is all very embarrassing, but I would like to request the privilege of speaking to Mr Lelouch -
They all look at him.
SUZAKU (CONT'D)
- alone.
MRS CLOW
Boys. Everybody to the kitchen. Immediately. Oh, Mr Kururugi. It is so good to see you again so soon.
She ushers everyone out, not before squeezing Lelouch's hand. Now Lelouch and Suzaku are alone, facing each other with extreme embarrassment.
SUZAKU
Mr Lelouch, you have been the victim of a huge misunderstanding. Suffice to say, I have been an unmitigated and comprehensive ass. And therefore, I would like to ask you -
CUT TO:
INT. HALLWAY - LONGBOURN - THE SAME.
Mrs Clow, Yuui, Mokona and Mr Clow are all jostling for a postion at the door in order to overhear the events inside.
MOKONA
Ssssshhh!
Kimihiro is apart from his family. He cannot bear to be there. He walks down the corridor and out of the house into the garden. Through the window he sees Suzaku on one knee, Kimihiro's eyes fill with tears as he walks away from the house.
CUT TO:
INT. DRAWING ROOM - LONGBOURN - THE SAME.
Suzaku looks at Lelouch, desperately worried. A pause.
LELOUCH
Yes. A hundred times - yes.
Mrs Clow and the boys throw open the double doors to the drawing room and come crashing in. Suzaku and Lelouch beam at them.
MRS CLOW
Thank the Lord for that. I thought it would never happen.
EXT. GARDEN - LONGBOURN - THE SAME.
Kimihiro is sat under a tree crying.
EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - OVER LOOKING LONGBOURN - THE SAME.
Doumeki looks down at Longbourn.