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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
ELLEN
And what did he say?
MRS. MINGOTT
Oh, my darling, I leave you to find that out.
[Archer who has done his best to abide this teasing, now rises to go]
[In the doorway at the Mingott House]
ARCHER
(quietly)
When can I see you?
[In the hallway at Ellen's house that evening. The maid opens the door and takes Archer's
coat. She hangs it and picks up a large bouquet of crimson roses, with purple pansies at
their base and starts to carry them toward the drawing room]
ELLEN
Natasia, take those to that nice family down the street. And come right back. The
Struthers' are sending a carriage for me at seven.
[She holds her hand out to Archer]
ELLEN
Who's ridiculous enough to send me a bouquet? I'm not going to a ball. And I'm not
engaged.
[In the drawing room at Ellen's house]
ELLEN
I'm sure Granny must have told you everything about me.
ARCHER
She did say you were used to all kinds of splendors we can't give you here.
ELLEN
Well, I'll tell you. In almost everything she says there's something true, and
something untrue. Why? What has she been telling you?
ARCHER
I think she believes you might go back to your husband. I think she believes you
might at least consider it.
ELLEN
A lot of things have been believed of me. But if she thinks I would consider it,
that also means she would consider it for me. As Granny is weighing you idea of
advancing the marriage.
ARCHER
(under pressure)
May and I had a frank talk in Florida. Probably our first. She wants a long
engagement to give me time...
ELLEN
Time to give her up for another woman?
ARCHER
If I want to.
ELLEN
That's very noble.
ARCHER
Yes. But it's ridiculous.
ELLEN
Why? Because there is no other woman?
ARCHER
No. Because I don't mean to marry anyone else.
ELLEN
This other woman...does she love you, too?
ARCHER
There is no other woman. I mean, the person May was thinking of...was never...
(slowly)
...she guessed the truth. There is another woman. But not the one she thinks.
[He sits down beside her and takes her hands, unclasping them. She gets up and moves away
from him]
ELLEN
Don't make love to me. Too many people have done that.
ARCHER
I've never made love to you. But you are the woman I would have married if it had
been possible for either of us.
ELLEN
Possible? You can say that when you're the one who's made it impossible.
ARCHER
I've made it...
ELLEN
Isn't it you who made me give up divorcing? Didn't you talk to me, here in this
room, about sacrifice and sparing scandal because my family was going to be your
family? And I did what you asked me. For May's sake. And for yours.
ARCHER
But there were things in your husband's letter...
ELLEN
I had nothing to fear from that letter. Absolutely nothing. You were just afraid
of scandal for yourself, and for May.
[Ellen starts crying]
ARCHER
Ellen. No. Nothing's done that can't be undone. I'm still free. You can be, too.
[He's holding her. He kisses her and she kisses him back passionately. She breaks away
and they stare at each other. Then she shakes her head]
ARCHER
No! Everything is different. Do you see me marrying May now?
ELLEN
Would you ask her that question? Would you?
ARCHER
I have to ask her. It's too late to do anything else.
ELLEN
You say that because it's easy, not because it's true.
ARCHER
This has changed everything
ELLEN
No. The good things can't change. All that you've done for me, Newland, that I
never knew. Going to the van der Luydens because people refused to meet me.
Announcing you engagement at the ball so there would be two families standing behind
me instead of one. I never understood how deadful people thought I was.
(She sees him looking at her questioningly)
ELLEN
Granny blurted it out one day. I was stupid, I never thought. New York seemed so
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