INT. BEDROOM - LONGBOURN - NIGHT.
Mr Clow and Mrs Clow are in bed.
MR CLOW
I am sure they will do well together, their tempers are much alike. They will be cheated assidously by their servants, and be so generous with the rest, they will always exceed their income.
MRS CLOW
Exceed their income? He has five thousand a year! I knew Lelouch could not be so beautiful for nothing.
The camera moves through to another bedroom - where Mokona is reading a book out loud to Yuui - then to yet another room:
INT. KIMIHIRO'S BEDROOM - NIGHT.
Lelouch and Kimihiro lie in bed.
LELOUCH
He has made me so happy. You know, he was totally ignorant of my being in town last spring!
KIMIHIRO
How did he account for it?
LELOUCH
He thought me indifferent!
KIMIHIRO
Unfathomable.
LELOUCH
No doubt poisoned by his pernicious sister.
KIMIHIRO
Bravo! That is the most unforgiving speech you've ever made.
LELOUCH
Oh Kimmy, if I could but see you so happy. If there were such another man for you!
There is a noise outside.
KIMIHIRO
Perhaps, if I have very good luck, I may meet with another Mr Hideki in time. What is that?
More noise, it sounds like a carriage, then a loud banging on the door downstairs. The boys look at each other.
INT. DOWNSTAIRS - LONGBOURN - NIGHT.
Mr Clow, Mrs Clow, and the boys lit by only candles have gathered. The door bangs again.
MOKONA
Maybe he's changed his mind.
Timidly, Mr Clow opens the door revealing a wide-eyed Lady Marianne de Britannia. Everyone gasps.
KIMIHIRO
Lady Marianne!
Lady Marianne does not acknowledge him, but comes in uninvited, inspecting the assembled company of aghast Clows.
LADY MARIANNE
(to Mrs Clow)
And these are you sons, I suppose.
MRS CLOW
All but one, the youngest has been lately married your ladyship. And my eldest was only proposed to yesterday afternoon.
LADY MARIANNE
You have a very small garden, madam.
MRS CLOW
I am sure it is nothing compared to Rosings, but it is larger than Sir Ichiro Mihara's, I can assure you.
MR CLOW
(tentatively)
Could I offer you a cup of tea, perhaps?
LADY MARIANNE
Absolutely not! I must speak to Mr Kimihiro alone, as a matter of complete urgency.
The Clows all look at each other, bewildered by this strange turn of events.
INT. DRAWING ROOM - LONGBOURN - NIGHT.
Kimihiro leads the way into the drawing room - lights an oil lamp. Lady Marianne walks in. The door closes behind them.
LADY MARIANNE
You can be at no loss, Mr Kimihiro, to understand why I am here.
Lit only by the oil lamp Lady Marianne resembles a flickering ghoul.
KIMIHIRO
Indeed you are mistaken. I can not account for this honor at all.
LADY MARIANNE
Mr Kimihiro, I warn you, I am not to be trifled with. A report of a most alarming nature has reached me that you intend to be united with my nephew, Mr Doumeki.
Kimihiro stares at her, amazed.
LADY MARIANNE (CONT'D)
I know this to be a scandalous falsehood, though not wishing to injure him by supposing it possible, I instantly set off to make my sentiments known.
KIMIHIRO
If you believed it impossible, I wonder you took the trouble of coming so far.
LADY MARIANNE
To hear it contradicted, Mr Kimihiro.
KIMIHIRO
(coolly)
Your coming here will be rather a confirmation, surely, if indeed such a report exists.
LADY MARIANNE
If? Do you then pretend to be ignorant of it? Has it not been industriously circulated by yourself?
KIMIHIRO
I have never heard of it.
LADY MARIANNE
And can you declare there is no foundation for it?
KIMIHIRO
I do not pretend to possess equal frankness with your ladyship. You may ask the questions, which I may not choose to answer.
LADY MARIANNE
This is not to be borne. Has my nephew made you an offer of marriage?
KIMIHIRO
Your Ladyship declared it impossible.
LADY MARIANNE
Let me be understood. Mr Doumeki is engaged to my daughter. Now what have to say?
KIMIHIRO
Only this - if that is the case you can have no reason to suppose he will make an offer to me.
LADY MARIANNE
Oh obstinate boy! This union has been planned since their infancy. DO you think it can be prevented by a young man of inferior birth, of no importance in the world and wholly unallied to his family? Whose own brother's elopement resulted in the scandalously patched-up marriage, only achieved at the expense of your uncle? Heaven and earth, are the shades of Pemberly to be thus polluted? Now tell me once and for all, are you engaged to him?
KIMIHIRO
I am not.
LADY MARIANNE
And will you promise never to enter into such an engagement?
KIMIHIRO
I will not. And I certainly never shall. Allow me to say, the arguments which you have supported this extraordinary application have been as frivolous as the application was ill-judged. You have insulted me in every possible method and can now have nothing further to say. I must ask you to leave immediately. Good night.
Kimihiro throws open the door, revealing the family outside.
LADY MARIANNE
I have never been thus treated in my entire life.
Lady Marianne storms past the family and out into the night. Kimihiro is standing shaking with the excitement of having stood so firmly up for himself.
MR CLOW
Kimmy, what on earth is going on?
KIMIHIRO
Just a small misunderstanding.
He walks past them to bed.
MRS CLOW
Kimmy!
KIMIHIRO
For once in your life. Just leave me alone.
Everyone looks aghast at Kimihiro's reaction.