02x05 - Deceptive Lightness

[bunniefuu]

Madame.

[both laughing]

[laughing continues]

[both panting]

[door opens]

[both moaning]

-[knock at door]
-[Lydia] James!

-[James] Not now!
-[Lydia] Dad's here!

MAXTON HALL - THE WORLD BETWEEN US

BASED ON THE NOVEL
"SAVE YOU" BY MONA KASTEN

[Lydia] Hey.

How come you're already back here?

Where's James?

His room, probably.

[Mortimer] I hear his Oxford interviews
were a success.

Hopefully he's had some time to dedicate
to our meeting tomorrow as well.

-I assume so.
-I'll ask him.

Dad! How about a late night cuppa?

It'll calm us after a long day.

I'll tell James to join us
and we can discuss everything. Hmm?

Yeah. Good idea.

[sighs]

-I'm sorry.
-It's just a shame.

It's all good, though.

How high are we here?
Can I climb out somewhere?

Hey, no way.

Sooner or later he has to find out
about us being together.

How about now, yeah?

[Ruby] Sometimes it's fear itself
that we should fear most.

Only those who can face it can learn
whether it was justified.

Those who run away from it
will always carry its shadow with them.

[thunder rumbling]

-James, I...
-Dad.

I believe no introductions are necessary.
You know Ruby, don't you?

Hello, Mr. Beaufort.

[thunderclap]

Miss Bell, we're having a late cup of tea.

Would you like to join us?

I would.

Thank you.

From what I hear
within school you're very active.

I have a lead role
on the events committee.

She's our year group's best.

-And you're continuing to study?
-In autumn at Oxford, yes.

And what did you decide

-on the subject you'll read in?
-PPE.

-Philosophy, politics and...
-Economics.

I studied the same subjects myself,
in fact.

Also at Balliol?

I'm going to St Hilda's, sir.

Just like your mother.

You've never said that.

[Mortimer] Back then,
I moved to England for Cordelia.

The memories we shared together in Oxford,
those are among the fondest of all.

Your parents, what do they do?

My father's a cook
and my mother's a master baker.

-Oh, so not academic...
-They have a really charming bakery.

The cinnamon knots are an absolute dream.

My daughter's well aware
of my weakness for a good bakery.

So then I assume they won't be able to
support your studies for the entire time.

Luckily it's not a problem any longer.

Ruby's got a scholarship
from the Alice Campbell Foundation.

Ah. That is excellent news.

Congratulations. And what draws you
to Oxford, Miss Bell?

Even if it risks
sounding very cheesy, but…

I would have to say my heart.

As a girl, I remember taking a day trip
with my father there one summer.

He told me all about
the history of the city

and how many people come from all over
the world to study there every year.

We picnicked under the roses
in the college gardens

and simply listened to everyone

as Plato, Nietzsche and the theories
of Simone de Beauvoir were debated.

It was magical.

So since then studying at Oxford
is all I've ever wanted

and I've annoyed my parents ever since.

I, uh, still have some things to do.

Excuse me, if you wouldn't mind.

Naturally.

I wish you a safe journey back tonight,
Miss Bell.

Good night.

Good night.

Tell me, was it something I said?

[thunder rumbling]

-See you tomorrow.
-Goodnight.

[Ruby] I hope the roses
survive the storm.

[Percy] They have already
experienced a lot.

Mrs. Beaufort had already cared for them
since her own childhood.

How long did you and Mrs. Beaufort
know each other?

My grandfather had worked as a chauffeur
for the family for many years.

Then my father after him.

I spent my childhood here.

My heartfelt sympathy, Percy.

"No rain, no flowers."

That's what my father always used to say
to us children when we were sad.

We must bear in mind
that time heals all wounds,

and that even the most painful experiences
can lead us to develop further.

Sometimes we can even
draw strength from them.

That gives me courage.

[knock at door]

Yeah?

-[Helen] I hoped you weren't sleeping yet.
-Thank you.

Ruby, I have to say it once again,
you are extraordinary.

We're so proud of what you do every day,

and now there's this scholarship
on top of that.

That is unbelievable.

Thanks, Mom.

Although, I'm a little bit worried.

I'm so happy
that James was introduced to us.

He really seems to be a nice young man.

But don't forget you have, due to him,
suffered a lot of emotion.

-He has changed, though.
-Yeah, I know.

It's important to be careful, remember.

And from what I've seen in the press,

I'd say his father definitely isn't
the most easy person you'll meet.

-Mom.
-There are complications

that are all part of such a relationship

that we can't even imagine.

Darling, his is an entirely
different world.

Mom, you and Dad prove to us every day
that love shifts mountains if necessary.

Maybe we haven't reached your level yet,
but we're off on our way.

Just promise me you'll look after yourself
the best you can.

I promise, Mom.

-Good night.
-Good night.

[door opens and closes]

[thunder rumbling]

[glass shatters]

-[floor creaking]
-[breath trembling]

[glass shatters]

[exhales] James!

[stairs creaking]

[thunderclap]

-[Mortimer] No!
-[glass shatters]

[Mortimer sobbing]

[Mortimer] And now?

What should I do now?

You can leave me, can you,
here alone like this?

How could you?

[screams]

Dad! Dad!

-No, no, no!
-Hey, Dad, you're okay.

[Lydia] Everything is okay.
You're okay, Dad.

Come on, you're okay.
Everything's okay.

-Dad, everything is okay.
-[Mortimer continues sobbing]

[Lydia] Hey.

-[Mortimer] No, no, no.
-[Lydia] Hey. Hey…

Everything's okay, Dad.

You're all good. We're here.

Shh, shh. Hey.

-It's all right. It's all right.
-Everything's okay. Shh.

-[sobbing continues]
-Hey, hey.

It's all right.

-Morning.
-[Lydia] Morning.

-I had a pretty awful dream.
-That was no dream.

It was so surreal.

It made me sad somehow,
but also strangely peaceful.

So strange.

Here's something for the meeting
I've prepared.

I have included all the important numbers
and current information.

You'll find it all clearly listed.

[Mortimer] Good morning, children.

[Lydia] Hey.

How are you, Dad?

Let's just please forget that, hmm?

There's no need to worry.
No shame in it.

Hey. Hey.

It's all good.

Something last night
has to teach us is that…

Is that we always have to be together.

We're together, Dad.

Lydia has already collected
some data for the meeting.

You should really take a look.

This is just a few ideas
I've scribbled down.

But it should actually give you
all the relevant information anyway.

And I've also listed a concept

that I've already been working on
for a while.

In case the moment comes,
you could present it

and show that behind Beaufort

there's a progressive
and strong mindset stance.

-Let's try it, shall we?
-Really?

Mm-hmm.

[footsteps approaching]

-Ready to head out?
-Yeah.

[Ruby] I know there are no photographers
in A Midsummer Night's Dream.

No, Kieran,
the photos are within the frame.

I mean, in the budget.

Bring it, will you? Because tomorrow
it has to be hanging. Thank you.

He's desperate to do more.

-[laughs]
-[indistinct chatter]

The coolest costume.
I'm gonna put this bag on, yeah? Bam.

-Pretty sweet, right?
-Yeah, stylish. You're really working it.

-[squawks]
-[all laugh]

-Cyril.
-Hey.

-Perfect.
-Thank you.

Oi, there you are.

[all laughing]

-Maybe this was better. Subtle.
-Yeah, I reckon it suits you better.

-Hi.
-[Lydia] Hey.

-Hey.
-Hiya.

Was it okay in the end
with your dad?

Let's just say it was a well-needed
release for him.

It's as if meeting you yesterday
has forced him to reconsider.

-And made him decide to make amends.
-Really?

He even listened to my ideas for
the meeting and was quietly enthusiastic.

He and James will now discuss them
with the board

before the shareholders meeting tomorrow.

Lydia, that's so cool.

[indistinct talking in distance]

I need immediate support.
I can no longer do it alone.

-[Ruby] Do you want to help?
-Mm-hmm.

Here.

-You can hang the flowers on the tree.
-Yeah, thank you.

-Just there.
-Yep.

Yeah, it's just over there,
we can go try an egg roll.

-Hello, Owen.
-James.

-Great that you're here.
-Yeah.

-Thanks for coming, Mr. Ellington.
-Hello, James.

-Mortimer.
-Harold.

Hi, welcome.

-Mortimer.
-Welcome.

Good to see you.

-Harold, how are you?
-Hello.

Thank you all for coming,
ladies, gentlemen.

In preparation
for the investor round tomorrow,

we have adjusted our presentation
as discussed.

Mortimer, despite the grandiose promises
of success,

it's the actual share price deteriorating.

James' unfortunate speech at
the Campbell Gala was not really helpful.

I really hope that you're aware

of the situation you've put the company in

because of your unpredictable behavior
at that time, young man.

[board members talking indistinctly]

From the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry,

if your opinion is that I've affected
the company with my actions.

-What? As if an apology is enough.
-Who's interested in your opinion?

Under Cordelia, this would never
have happened, James.

The numbers are there,
and everyone can see it.

-And the facts as well.
-Gentlemen. Gentlemen.

Please.

I can understand your anger.

But give James a chance
to detail the situation.

At first glance,
it might seem like there's a correlation

between the shares' decline
and my expression.

But since the speech went viral,

there has in fact been an increase
in brand awareness,

especially among young females,
who are a lucrative option.

James, we've never targeted
female customers with anything.

And an increase of younger customers
will only help us in the long-term.

What's important for us here
is to have an acute, noteworthy plan

to ensure that none of our customers
will leave us.

-[woman] Yes.
-[all tapping table]

In that case, and with respect, I believe

it would be wisest to offer investors
a two-pronged strategy presentation.

And I believe, in the current situation,

it would be wisest
to reserve your opinion.

It's thanks to you
we're in this situation, you know.

Thank you, Harold.

James, we can discuss
the innovative aspect of your ideas

at another time in detail.

Of course, we've given a lot of thought
to our brand

and guarding our image,
and as soon as possible, stabilizing it.

Ms. Stevens has now developed
a marketing strategy

with which we will emphasize
the proven core elements of our brand

and our future plan.

Ms. Stevens.

Beaufort is a tradition-rich brand.

And especially in today's times,

lifelong traditions, stable values,

and high standards of quality
are always recognized.

And by acknowledging our investors

we'll regain their trust
along with that of our customers,

and we'll go back to focusing

on the financially established
core target group of forty-plus.

-I agree.
-That sounds better already.

-[all tapping table]
-[indistinct chatter and agreement]

[girls exclaim]

[Kieran groans]

That looks pretty dangerous,
what you're trying.

Are you sure
you know what you're doing, Kieran?

-Mm-hmm.
-He does all of this just for you.

As if.

[Ruby] What do we do if he actually falls?

Believe what you want,
everyone sees the evidence.

[girl] Kieran,
you have to support yourself.

It seems other things are also going on
at the moment without you seeing.

-That's it, good. Yeah, keep it parallel.
-Nice. Yeah, that's good.

[woman] Be careful, Kieran.
It's shaking quite a bit.

No.

-Since when?
-We had a secret on-off type thing

going on last year.

Friends with benefits.

Without any pressure.

Then my dad left my mom,
and I guess it was just that…

Everything was reorganized

and then it became less on than off.

[girl gasps]

But after the white picnic he called me
again to ask how I was doing

and now… having a lot of contact.

I know you don't like each other,
but totally has another side.

And when we're together
we have a really good time.

And it's not like it's forever.

I didn't notice.
That's what surprises me more.

[Kieran yells]

-Kieran!
-[all gasp]

-Are you all right?
-Everything okay?

Not really.

[Kieran clears throat]

[cell phone ringing]

-[girl] Are you really not injured?
-[Kieran] I'm totally fine.

-I'll be right back, yeah?
-Okay.

Hello, Mrs. Campbell.

You're definitely good, yeah?

Oh, okay. I understand.

[voice breaking] Naturally.
Thank you for the information.

What's happened?

I'll prepare everything
and circulate the PDF,

so that everyone has it
for tomorrow's meeting.

Thank you, Julia.

Yeah.

Mom dedicated years to fighting
the rusty agendas this company's made.

Just for you and this stranger
to reinstate them.

"This stranger," mind you,
is highly qualified.

-As well as global network...
-How did you come up with this

sugar daddy image campaign for us?

Mom would have been completely ashamed.

Your mother had been out of touch
all too often.

Exactly like your sister,

who tries to impose
her subversive ideas on everybody.

I have no desire to be in a future

which has the traditions of you aging men
in front of us.

[scoffs]

Is this young madam
supporting your expressive ideas?

Everything I do, however,
is all done to repair.

Julia is helping me to patch up the damage
that you have managed to create.

Maybe you should be grateful...

Grateful?

I should be grateful?

Grateful you're immediately replacing Mom
with this other woman

as well as completely ignoring everything
Lydia wants to achieve with Beaufort?

You don't care at all what I want.

Yet I'm to believe my well-being
concerns you?

It was about nothing else, James.
Family is all there is.

[scoffs]

[cell phone vibrates]

Alice Campbell has withdrawn
Ruby's scholarship.

Say that you had no part in this.

-Wait. Better think again.
-Back off now, Dad.

If you just leave, on your head be it.

You'll regret it, I swear.

James!

[door slams]

[footsteps running]

We'll travel to the conference together…

Excuse me, sir, I don't want to interrupt.

I withdrew my application for admission
to the scholarship assessments,

as until just now I thought
that the Campbell Foundation

had selected me to support.

But… but now I've heard that it isn't
going to support me anymore.

The documents of the potential students
have just been picked up.

Miss Bell, you know
how fussy the university authorities are.

I'm afraid you've missed it.

When were they supposed to go?

The courier left five minutes ago.

Here, an application for late submission.

-Go on, get out of here.
-Go, go, go, go!

Thank you, sir. Thank you.

-[grunts] Hey!
-Ruby.

[indistinct chatter]

[grunts] Careful.

[music playing over headphones]

Stop! Wait there!

[panting]

Wait! Hey, wait there!

Wait! Wait there!

[panting heavily]

-[whistling]
-[music continues over headphones]

[sighs in relief]

[breathing heavily]

[May] The Campbell Foundation.
May Clancy speaking. How can I help you?

Good day, May. James here, James Beaufort.

Can I speak to Ms. Campbell? It's urgent.

Ms. Campbell's at a conference today
so isn't available until tomorrow.

I understand. Then I'd like to reserve
the next personal appointment you've got.

The earliest I can offer you
would be on Friday. 6 o'clock.

Thank you, see you then.

[exhales]

-[line ringing]
-[Ruby] Hey, this is Ruby's mailbox.

-Please leave a message.
-[answering message beeps]

[sighs]

[Ruby] Sometimes when a door closes,

we find ourselves thinking
it was all in vain.

At those moments we tend to underestimate
the power of imagination,

the power of our dreams.

Yet they have a quiet voice
that whispers to us without words.

It guides us
and provides us with an inner radar.

[cell phone chimes]



JAMES
Sorry about the scholarship. Can we talk?

[James] Hey, I couldn't reach you. I guess
we're both thinking the same thing.

If my dad is really behind this, Ruby…

Then I'll make it right again. Okay?

I'm working on Alice, too.

-[sighs]
-[knocking on door]

I saved them for you from the bakery.

Thank you.

-Mom?
-Hmm?

Thank you.

[Ruby] Trusting our inner compass,

learning that not every journey
goes in a straight line,

twists and turns
leading to the same destination,

that's one of the biggest challenges.

[door closes]

[Lydia sobbing]

[Ruby] And even if there are moments
in which we feel completely lost,

it is enough to know
that we are not alone.

That there is someone who holds us

for as long as it takes until we feel
the ground beneath our feet again.

Kieran, do this. Look.

-Wow!
-Damn!

Thank you for coming
to the enchanted forest, my friends.

-Who's got the love potion then?
-Puck.

[coughing]

That man knows how to do it.

You show up like that
to the game tomorrow,

Eastview will always get it off.

We should do it.

Hey, we'll blow them away.

Yeah, relax, my Captain.

You might wanna…

-Fasten on.
-Yeah, fasten on.

-So where are the drinks?
-Let's go.

Hi, Puck? Hey, Puck!

Really nice, thank you.

Hey. Avoiding me, are you?

I'm really busy, that's all.

Ruby?

Speak to me.

Is it to do with my father?

I love the way the light falls.

Hey! How is Miss Bell Couture
from Gormsey?

Without love potions, do you think
I can get Lydia to have a photo with me?

Sure. No risk, no fun?

-[chuckles]
-Who could resist those floppy ears?

[neighs]

[laughs]

[Lydia] That looks really great.

-Beautiful light.
-That's kind, thanks.

Would you like a copy?

-Oh, yeah, please.
-[neighs]

[exclaims]

[laughs] Well, Nick Bottom?
You look good as an a*s.

Thanks to your help.

The ears are a huge hit.

Sure, thanks for the offer.
See you later.

Lydia, also, even though a lowly donkey
is not worthy of you,

would you have a photo
on the swing with me?

-Hmm?
-Oh, sure, yeah.

Wow, that camera is something else.

So cool that you managed to find it.

I don't know if I'm strong enough, James.

I'm going to find out if my dad

has anything to do
with this scholarship situation.

I called Alice's office
and we have a meeting booked.

I'll get everything sorted again, Ruby.

And then?

Is this it for our future?

For the rest of our lives we'll have to
struggle against your father?

He's sure as hell an as*h*le.

But we mustn't allow him
or anything else to separate us.

Okay?

[photographer] This will only
take a second.

So you two, then.

Can you get a little closer together?

That's more like it.

Super!

[camera clicks]

Ah, I've got to change the film.

This is good.

I think so too.

Cyril!

-Sorry, I thought...
-You can't just do whatever!

-It's really not that easy.
-All good, mate, all good.

-Yeah, I get it.
-Cyril!

Cyril.

You know, I thought you...

I thought you liked me.

I do like you.

We're friends, yeah?

Friends.

Wow, okay.

[indistinct chatter]

I just need to take it all in,
that's all.

I see.

You know, the James from before,
he'd be out of here already.

Or thinking of what to promise
to keep you.

And the James that's here?

He believes in us.

Whatever happens.

And that means leaving the decision
up to you whether you stay or not.

[Ruby sniffles]

I just hope
you can hear what your heart says

and not your head.

[Elaine] Adorable.

I didn't know
that curtains are a costume nowadays.

Charming as I remember, Elaine.

Your mother would be incredibly ashamed

if she had any idea
of what you were getting up to in public.

I'd say what's saddest of all, Elaine,

is even with your natural beauty,

all too often your ugly self
manages to shine.

Don't ever come near us again.

[Lydia] Cyril!

Wait, will you?

I can't go that fast in this dress.

[indistinct chatter]

[indistinct chatter continues]

[sobbing]

[Graham] Lydia, wait, will you?

Lydia, please.

Tell me why you're constantly
running away from me?

I can't do this, Graham.

I can't even stand to see you.

But that's exactly what I want the most.

Ever since we met you've wanted a career.

And everything's happening for you.

You have no idea.

Without you I can't see sense.

Do you know how terrible it is
to have not looked after you, even?

Not to even know how you are?

A great deal has happened.

I've seen.

I'm pregnant.

What?

[stammering] Are you…

Are you serious?

[laughing]

[twig snaps]

-Cyril, what are you doing here?
-[whispers] Shh, shh! Elaine, silence.

-Look over there.
-Oh, my God.

-Better get a photo.
-Huh?

Come on, a photo.

-[camera clicks]
-Send it to me.

-Hello, sir.
-Hi there.

[Ruby] Whether Shakespeare or Einstein,
in literature, science or philosophy,

many clever heads
have poured over what it is

that distinguishes reality
from illusion.

-[cell phone buzzes]
-[chuckles]

[Ruby] Perhaps it's less than we think.