LADY ASCOT (CONT.)
As lady of the household it often
falls to me to make difficult
decisions, even to be ruthless.
LADY ASCOT (CONT.)
Do you think you could be ruthless
if you had to be?
ALICE
I doubt it very much. I can’t even
kill a gnat.
LADY ASCOT
Now look what they’ve done! They’ve
left the topiary unclipped? The
gardeners will all have to be let go.
Just then, Alice hears a jingling sound. She catches a glimpse
of SOMETHING LaRGE AND WHITE dart past.
ALICE
Did you see that?
LADY ASCOT
See what?
ALICE
Something ran past. A rabbit,
I think.
LADY ASCOT
Yes. We’re plagued with them. I
set the dogs on them whenever I
can.
She leads Alice relentlessly up the hill towards the gazebo.
LADY ASCOT (cont.)
Shall we discuss dining? If my
son eats the wrong things he
is certain to get a blockage.
Alice hears a string quartet warming up. She sees musicians
positioned discreetly in the shadows, for dramatic effect no
doubt. She glances up at the sun. It’s just above the hill.
LADY ASCOT (cont.)
Alice? Are you listening?
ALICE
A blockage.
She hears that jingling again and catches a fleeting glimpse
of a LARGE WHITE RABBIT in a waistcoat, standing on its hind
legs. It stares directly at Alice for a moment, as if trying
to catch her eye, before darting behind a tree.
ALICE
There! Did you see it?
LADY ASCOT
See what?
ALICE
The rabbit.
LADY ASCOT
And they’ve let the wisteria
wilt as well!
ALICE
Excuse me.
Alice hurries into the wooded area of f the path.
EXT. THE WOODED AREA – DAY – CONT.
She sees the Rabbit darting between the trees as Aunt Imogene
approaches.
IMOGENE
Alice? What’s this I hear that
you don’t want to marry Hamish?
ALICE
I didn’t say that. I’m not certain…
IMOGENE
Marry him, Alice. If you don’t,
you’ll lay awake at night in your
cold, cold bed, growing older and
older waiting for the perfect man
who never comes.
Alice takes this in with a look of dread. She pulls the bushes
back to see if the rabbit’s hiding there.
IMOGENE (cont.)
What are you looking for?
ALICE
Can you keep a secret?
IMOGENE
To my grave.
