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The Age of Innocence[At the Theatre in the evening. Newland Archer enters the box. Steps to the front,joining the company of several men, including Larry Lefferts and Sillerton Jackson. Larrylooks at stage through pearl opera glasses. Then he swings his opera glasses away fromthe stage and t
ARCHER
I came to see what you were running away from.
ELLEN
I knew you'd come
ARCHER
That shows you wanted me to.
ELLEN
Cousin May wrote she asked you to take care of me.
ARCHER
I didn't need to be asked.
ELLEN
Why? Does that mean I'm so helpless and defenseless? Or that women here are so
blessed they never feel need?
ARCHER
What sort of need?
ELLEN
Please don't ask me. I don't speak your language.
[They walk past an old house with squat walls and small square windows]
ELLEN
Henry left the old Patroon house open for me. I wanted to see it.
[Inside the Patroon House]
ARCHER
When you wrote me, you were unhappy.
ELLEN
Yes. But I can't feel unhappy when you're here.
ARCHER
I can't be here long.
ELLEN
I know. But I'm a little impulsive. I live in the moment when I'm happy.
ARCHER
Ellen. If you really wanted me to come...if I'm really to help you...you must tell
me what you're running from.
[She doesn't answer. He keeps looking out the window. Then he feels her, coming up
behind him. Her arms are around his neck, hugging him. He turns...and sees her as she
really is, still in the chair. He looks back out the window and sees Julius Beaufort
coming up the path to the house]
ARCHER
Ah!
[He laughs and Ellen quickly moves to his side. She looks out the window and sees
Beaufort. She steps back startled]
ARCHER
Is he what you were running from? Or what you expected?
ELLEN
I didn't know he was here.
[Archer walks to the front door and throws it open]
ARCHER
Hello, Beaufort! This way! Madame Olenska was expecting you.
[Beaufort enters with assurance, addressing his remarks to Ellen]
BEAUFORT
Well, you certainly led me a bit of a chase, making me come all this was just to
tell you I'd found the perfect little house. It's not on the market yet, so you
must take it at once.
[There is uncomfortable silence. Beaufort finally takes notice of Archer]
BEAUFORT
Well, Archer. Rusticating?
[In the study at the Archer House at night. Archer is unpacking books from a carton]
NARRATOR
That night he did not take the customary comfort in his monthly shipment of books
from London. The taste of the usual was like cinders in his mouth, and there were
moments when he felt as if he were being buried alive under his future.
[In the bedroom at Ellen's house. Ellen is writing a note to Archer]
ELLEN
"Newland. Come late tomorrow. I must explain to you."
[In the study at the Archer House. Archer reads the note]
[In the garden at St. Augustine. Archer sees May sitting and approaches]
MAY
Newland! Has anything happened?
ARCHER
Yes. I found I had to see you.
[Archer sits down and starts kissing her. His gentleness turns more insistent. She
responds at first, but then draws back, a little startled]
ARCHER
What is it?
MAY
Nothing.
ARCHER
Tell me what you do all day.
MAY
(brightening)
Well, there are a few pleasant people from Philadelphia and Baltimore who were
picnicking at the inn. The Merry's are planning to lay out a lawn tennis court...
ARCHER
But I thought...I came here because I thought I could persuade you to break away
from all that. To advance our engagement.
[He reached for her hand]
ARCHER
Don't you understand how much I want to marry you? Why should we dream away another
year?
MAY
I'm not sure I do understand. Is it because you're not certain of still feeling the
same way about me?
ARCHER
God, I...maybe...I don't know.
MAY
Is there someone else?
ARCHER
Someone else? Between you and me?
MAY
Let's talk frankly, Newland. Sometimes I've felt a difference in you, especially
since our engagement.
[He starts to protest. She hurries on]
MAY
