The Buccaneers (2023) s02e03 Episode Script

1
- Theo, wait. Please.
- [Theo] So Guy was here.
He was here the night
before the wedding, but why did he come?
- To talk to me.
- And Guy was still here the next morning?
So what happened, Nan?
What happened during that night
apart from talking?
- Was he in your bed?
- [Duchess of Tintagel] Theo.
[Theo] This has nothing
to do with you, Mother.
[breathes sharply]
I can't hear you.
Say it!
Yes.
Guy was in the castle. Guy was in my bed.
[Theo] But it makes no sense.
Guy came to you.
You welcomed him.
He left in a carriage,
your sister was in it, why weren't you?
Your heart was with Guy,
so why weren't you?
[sighs] We were going to run, all of us.
Why didn't you, Nan?
Why didn't you?
I realized I had no power to protect
my sister unless we were married.
I needed your title.
[dramatic music playing]
[Duchess of Tintagel] Theo.
If he knew of my involvement…
Thank you for not telling him.
Now we've both protected each other.
["North American Scum" playing]
[Nan] So nothing from London?
Nothing from any of the residences.
A whole week and no news,
people are speculating.
Well, we should cancel
Lizzy's birthday party today.
The first sign of anything awry
and alarm bells ring.
So we just get through it,
avoid questions…
And if they ask about the duke…
When they ask.
Called away on unexpected business.
But in the absence of any news,
we endure with poise.
And what if he's… [sighs] …gone for good?
What if Theo never comes back?
We'll get through this together.
[Conchita] It's A Midsummer Night's Dream
party for Lizzy's birthday.
[Cora] So, it's just a party at midsummer
where… where people wear wings?
[Conchita] Exactly.
Perfect place to find a husband.
It'll be romantic.
What do you know about romance?
You're a married woman.
[scoffs] Miss Merrigan,
I may be a married woman
- and I may be a teeny bit older than you…
- Mmm.
…but I am at least a million times
more experienced in love,
life and not being
an ungrateful, rude, spoiled baby!
- [breathing deeply]
- Was going quite well until the last bit.
Is this because I said
I didn't like mustaches?
Nobody does,
but you might like the man beneath one.
You don't like spindly legs,
you think that a man
who likes cats must be a criminal.
Well, cats are just creepy.
I actually quite like cats.
You know what…
[sighs] …I'm going to stop this carriage.
If you walk to Tintagel,
you might realize that marriage isn't
just swimming in the rain or fireworks
or having someone stroke your hair
every five minutes whilst reciting poetry.
I like poetry.
So do I,
but it doesn't pay the grocer.
Cora, you will be with this man
for the rest of your life.
And that's why I absolutely insist…
that he wears yellow socks.
My husband won't care a bit
what people think of him.
You're completely impossible.
At least I'm not impossible and old.
[Conchita] Get out. You're walking.
[sheep bleats]
Hi. Welcome.
You're doing well.
- Any sign of the birthday girl?
- Oh, uh, no. Not yet.
[sighs]
Uh, huge interest in the House
after your speech at last week's gala.
We're on the cusp
of something very important.
We could use the support of the duke.
We've not seen him for three weeks,
Your Grace.
[clears throat]
[chuckling, chattering]
[Lizzy] What is going on?
I cannot see a thing.
[Mabel] Imagine if we finally let you see
and everyone's gone home.
[all laugh]
Okay, okay, okay,
- we're going down the steps.
- [chuckles] Be careful, Elizabeth.
- [chuckles] Stop.
- [chuckling]
[all] Surprise!
Happy birthday!
[cheering, chuckling]
The sparkles were my idea.
Was there ever a… a lovelier fairy?
A group of fairies.
- I like him.
- [friend] Should we get a drink?
I think we should get a drink.
Come on, follow me.
Look, there's dancing. There's music.
Here we are for the birthday girl.
Conchita.
Cheers.
Where's Theo?
Nan?
- [whispering] He's gone.
- What?
What do you mean?
Okay, everybody, we must dance.
Yes.
["Good Luck, Babe!" playing]
[Hector] Father. [clears throat]
- How are you doing?
- I'm all right.
Great.
[song continues]
Blanche?
Or do I get beheaded these days
for calling you that?
[chuckles]
How maddening of you
to age quite so gracefully.
I assure you my knees
tell a different story.
You've ignored every invitation
I've sent you for decades.
- Yet still they came.
- Bothersome?
Oxygen.
So to what do we owe the pleasure?
Hector asked me to come.
He's planning a big question.
Ah.
I believe doggedly supporting one's son
is a concept familiar to you.
You have titled guests tonight.
I'm acutely aware, historically,
how important that is to you,
so I will take my leave.
Time was,
we'd have shown them how it's done.
It looks irritatingly youthful
and energetic.
Perfect for us then.
[song continues]
Lizzy, I think there's one more surprise.
[Lavinia] Girls! You'll never believe it.
Mother. What on earth are you…
Mr. Robinson, that must be you.
- Mrs. Elmsworth.
- [chuckles]
Lizzy, isn't he handsome…
with that mustache?
Exactly the way you'd draw a politician.
- Mother.
- [Hector] Do you draw?
Not the least bit. I'm horrible at it.
- [chuckles]
- [Mabel] We know.
Might I suggest "hello," Mother?
"Nice to see you girls
after all of these months"?
Well, I could hardly miss
Mr. Robinson's big question,
- could I?
- [Hector clears throat, stammers]
A dance, Mrs. Elmsworth?
Right.
[customers, vendor speaking Italian]
[in Italian] Excuse me?
- Excuse me?
- [vendor speaking Italian]
Excuse me, how much for that?
This is ninety cents. [in English] Ninety.
- Ninety?
- [in Italian] Si, signora.
[speaks Italian]
Wait. Wait, one sec.
[in English] Is this woman a fool?
Probably. Sorry. I…
[in Italian] No, no, not sorry.
[speaks Italian]
She's not stupid. She'll give you fifty.
- Eighty.
- Sixty five, that's it.
- [vendor] Fine.
- [in English] You give.
This, you say, "E basta." No apology.
[chuckles, speaking Italian] E basta.
[in English] I'm bad at this.
I just wanted to cook Guy dinner.
No. You're bad at nothing.
Alessandro here thinks
that beautiful means weak.
You don't prove him right.
Oy, Jinny, hey,
don't be surprised this is hard.
You're discovering.
Discovering that I can't cook.
Hey, you pushed a baby out of your body.
You can heat up food.
[chuckles] What does "e basta" mean?
"E basta," it means "enough."
But it's also good because
a little bit it sounds like "bastard."
[chuckles]
You were amazing at the market.
[landlord] For standing up for myself?
- This is the problem with being a woman.
- [chuckles]
It's like in my family,
when a man comes near,
my sister suddenly,
"Oh, I can't do anything.
I'm a little girl and this world
is so big and it's so confusing."
[chuckling]
- You have sisters?
- Oh, just one.
You're very good at that.
Oh, this? Family business.
Your mother was a dressmaker?
My mother was a beautiful waste of time,
but my father made sails.
Wonderful sails.
And he would never
put me to bed at a decent time
because he would
make sure that I could sew.
So now because of him, I have this,
and I am busy,
I can make money
and I take care of myself.
You know, I don't envy the rich.
"What do I wear? Who do I marry?"
Days must be so long
without real life to fill the time, no?
- Well, I… I wouldn't know.
- Please, I have seen your shoes.
- There was money.
- Well, now I'm busy.
I have Freddie to look after.
And a husband who is very handsome, but…
cannot satisfy you.
- Listen, when I said… [gasps]
- [door opens]
[Jinny] You're back.
Come and sit down,
have some wine.
- [Guy] What's all this?
- [Jinny] Sit.
Um, okay.
When we're not good at something,
we must do our best to improve, huh?
Cooking, I mean.
[Jinny] Whew! I think it's nearly ready!
[servant] You're being requested,
Your Grace.
By Mr. Reede Robinson?
[servant] By the duke. He's back.
[Duchess of Tintagel]
I knew you'd come back.
And Theodore, that was the hard part.
Why should I hide?
Why behave as though I should be ashamed?
- This is my home.
- Bravo.
Nan's revelation is an obstacle,
but if the pair of you can only…
Don't dare speak of reconciliation.
It's not just the thought of them
in those sheets, it's the conspiracy.
The brutality of them both concocting
a plan to render me a fool for life.
Nan has to go.
Ending the marriage
is out of the question.
I understand that, Mother.
I know I'm married for eternity,
but there is no obligation
for me to allow her to live here.
What will it take
to get her out of our castle?
What must I do?
[inhales shakily]
If you're q-quite determined
Nan should leave…
There's no alternative.
Then we will send her away.
But first…
she must provide Tintagel with an heir.
[servant] Ladies and gentlemen,
the Duke of Tintagel.
[wistful music playing]
[Theo] Meet me in my chambers.
[song continues]
[song ends]
- [Mabel chuckles] Oh, my God. Oh, my god.
- A possible proposal and now Mother?
[chuckling] We couldn't have
kept her away if we'd tethered her.
- You'll be all right.
- There you are.
I am so sorry.
- Why?
- Mother, she… she means well,
- she does, but she's just clumsy.
- [Hector] Oh.
Charming, devoted,
as it turns out, terrible with secrets.
[chuckles]
Would it be bad form
to invite you to leave your own party
and join me for a walk?
- Hmm.
- [chuckles] Hmm.
Oh, Mabel, did you see?
Mr. Robinson's taken Lizzy for a walk.
I'm actually standing right here, Mother.
I'm watching them both leave.
I'm witnessing it,
no need for the narration.
Mabel, I hope
you've been happy in England.
[scoffs] I've been occasionally delirious
with the odd moment of misery,
as is quite usual, I believe.
Have you been making an effort
to be proper?
To not bring shame? To be normal?
[scoffs]
Mother, I'd struggle to define normal,
never mind be it.
[chuckles]
[sighs deeply]
[huffs]
[Hector] Yes. Here. Just right.
Sh-Should I stand here?
- Perfect.
- It's up to you.
What I'm about to ask you feels like
the most natural thing I've ever said,
the most obvious thing in the world.
Lizzy Elmsworth,
I am an ambitious man,
but I have no ambition more keenly felt
than the guardianship of your heart.
- [chuckles]
- To dedicate myself to your happiness,
your protection,
your every whim… [chuckles]
- [sighs, sniff]
- …which I dare hope may include
a family…
- Oh. [chuckles]
- …and a home
- with a couple of armchairs by the fire…
- [laughs]
and… [chuckling] …the occasional dance
around the garden.
Elizabeth, will you marry me?
Yes. [laughs]
Yes.
[Lizzy] Yes.
Yes.
[Cora] Hector and Lizzy.
So romantic.
A bit like you in the olden days.
Do you think that if you goad me,
I'll just be too annoyed
to make you take your own life seriously?
What is it about her that makes her think
that she's such an expert?
Not just on love, but on the world.
Her youth.
[inhales deeply]
Isn't that how it should be?
You and I are virtually newlyweds.
Cora has no concept of life.
Or death.
Or having babies.
Or paying the butcher.
Oh, gosh. You know what?
I do need to pay the butcher.
[partygoer] Good evening, Your Grace.
Is all well with Theodore?
He has business to attend to.
You look like you belong.
In my home?
You remember it's not
the kind of home most people have?
My own has very few turrets.
Hector didn't need me
to hold his hand tonight.
I've been biding my time.
Since I can't move for headlines about
the Tintagels and their blissful marriage,
I…
wondered if your presence here
these days was…
less essential.
Your son may be entirely self-reliant
and have no need of you,
congratulations,
mine needs guidance.
That rule-breaker,
that sometime-rebel I knew,
what happened to her?
[chuckles] You loathed all this.
Can you imagine if… if we'd known
when we were idealistic youths
jeering at the establishment
that one day you would blend
so meekly into it?
Initially, I thought the hardest part
would be your turning me down for power,
but actually, it was a good deal harder…
watching you waste it.
Idealistic?
It's just another word for naive.
[sighs]
I think I'm a natural.
Oh, you did it.
Well done, Jinny.
Oh.
Emphasis on the "well done."
- [sighs]
- Bet you wish you'd gone home.
No, no, Jinny,
and miss this… this, um…
Glorious feast? [chuckles]
[exhales]
["Blame" playing]
[landlord giggling]
[gasps] Ah!
[laughing] Oh.
[screams]
[all laughing, screaming]
[song ends]
[Nan] Theo?
You came back.
I'm glad.
Not having been able to talk to you
has been horrible.
I wanna try and…
make you see…
[breathing heavily]
- [Nan] Theo.
- [Theo] Say you want me.
[Nan breathing heavily] I want you.
Theo?
I can't.
I can't live with you…
I can't look at you…
and God help us both,
I can't divorce you.
[breathes heavily]
But the institution
will accept our separation.
You can leave the castle once, um…
once…
Once what?
Once there's an heir.
By institution,
I assume you mean your mother?
[sniffles]
[breathing heavily]
We haven't been introduced.
I'm Lord Whittlesea.
- Whittlesea?
- Mm-hmm.
- Oh.
- I mean, I did wonder about Grittlesea.
[chuckling] Well, hello.
[Richard] I saw you from across the room,
and I confess to…
to feeling slightly overwhelmed. [sighs]
Is there no Lady Whittlesea?
Oh, I have an unbelievably desirable wife.
Oh.
She single-handedly
saved my wreck of a family
whilst remaining arousing
every minute of the day.
She sounds quite a woman.
And I look forward to waking up
with her every morning,
but you…
[inhales sharply]
…I'd like to get lost in corners
of this room with you.
[chuckles]
[Nan] You said we were in this together
and yet nothing anyone has ever done to me
could be as degrading
as your encouragement of your son
to use me as a vessel.
I trusted you. I even protected you.
I merely presented it
as a potential way out for you both.
[breathes shakily] Once we have an heir…
There will be no heir.
The institution ends here.
I will be the final duchess
and he will be the final Duke of Tintagel.
And this marriage that you trapped us in
may be forever,
but the title that you fought so hard
to protect dies with us,
all thanks to you.
[Duchess of Tintagel] Annabel!
[sighs]
[gasps]
[breathes deeply]
[Lizzy] Theo!
[door opens]
I was just looking for Nan.
I guess you'll be the first person
that I get to tell.
[chuckles]
- Hector?
- Yes.
Of course.
If Hector Robinson was marrying
any other girl in the land,
I'd say she was a lucky woman.
[sighs] But you…
He's entirely unworthy of you.
Why would you say that?
Because you're sensational.
But Hector's a perfectly agreeable man,
handsome and with prospects,
so Mrs. Robinson will live
an entirely pleasant life.
And what's wrong with pleasant?
Well, I believe your settling
for anything less than exceptional
would be an extraordinary waste.
[Lavinia] Oh, here she is.
She's here. Lizzy?
- [Mabel] Lizzy?
- [Lavinia] Lizzy?
- [Mabel] Well?
- [glass clinking]
Ladies and gentlemen,
a moment of your time.
Now, uh, it is a vulgar politician
who would make an event
in any way about themselves,
which is why I'll try
and conceal how delighted I am,
to wish the enchanting Elizabeth
a very, very happy birthday…
[partygoers cheering]
And also,
to announce that that same
remarkable birthday girl…
[giggles]
[chuckles] …has agreed to be my wife.
[partygoers cheering]
I'm so happy.
I'm going to tell your mother
it's all called off.
Marriage when you're not certain
can be brutal, so let's just…
What if nobody likes me?
[inhales shakily] Or I simply just d…
just don't find that love
at first sight like you did?
Cora,
Dick and I didn't fall in love
at first sight.
- But all the papers said…
- Oh, they love to say it.
But in real life, he stood on my skirt.
- Hmm.
- [chuckles] And then…
And then, he danced
with someone that I hated,
and then he ended up pulling
over a whole champagne tower.
[both chuckle]
That sounds kind of adorable.
Yeah, it's adorable now.
Now, he's my beloved Dicky,
but if he hadn't turned
into the love of my life,
then he would have just been
another story for my friends to laugh at.
[sighs] Why didn't you tell me all this
when we met?
Instead of all that curtseying.
Oh, gosh. I don't know.
I thought I was doing
what I was supposed to.
Instead of just letting it come naturally.
Cora, no one is asking you
to get engaged right this minute.
Father is.
And actually, Mother is too.
Well, I'll tell them.
We'll do this slowly.
Or not at all.
And let's not think of it
as looking for a husband,
only think of it as… as living.
Saying hello.
Giving people the enormous gift
of having time with you.
- [gasps] Are those yellow socks?
- [Cora chuckles]
Cora. Okay, I'm not…
I'm not saying you have to propose, but…
- [sighs, stammers] I don't know…
- Go say hello. It's okay. You can do it.
Go.
[chuckles]
- Hello.
- [Conchita chuckles]
Hello.
I think we can really do this.
A personalized service.
Every girl must be free to choose,
and with as many different versions
of love matches as there are lovers.
I like when you use the word, "lovers."
[chuckles]
Oh, and, uh, don't forget,
you still need to pay the butcher.
Oh, shut up. [chuckles]
Come on. [chuckles]
[Duchess of Tintagel]
Why did you choose today?
I've been damn good
at motherhood, actually.
You could have come to marvel at it
at almost any time.
But you chose my maternal lowest ebb.
Well, perhaps, somehow I knew
today was when you needed reminding.
Of my great age?
Of who you are.
[sighs]
You broke my heart.
I broke my own.
[Reede] Well, the fact is,
I am…
exceptionally desirable.
[chuckles]
Which I can only think
must have haunted you.
I confess,
the disappointment in realizing
that I was runner-up
in your affections has lingered.
[sighs]
I still can't say why you chose all this.
But you care about it.
And I care about you.
You've been shrewd though.
The new duchess… Annabel…
You found the perfect successor.
Which, I would say,
is the epitome of good parenting.
Blanche, you gave up everything.
You mean, I gave up you.
Wasn't that everything?
[chuckles, sniffles]
If you let that girl walk away,
it's been for nothing.
If I could throw everything at one
final chance at their reconciliation,
meaning Theo would loathe me,
should I?
[rock music playing]
These are the Duchess's private quarters!
I am the duchess!
"Guy… Jinny…"
[music ends]
How was it?
With your mother?
[sighs] She's, uh, infuriating.
And will never, ever understand me.
- So, she's a mother then.
- [chuckles]
Isn't it a relief, though?
That the most important person
in our lives these days is each other?
Conchita.
I believe you're the person I need to ask
with regards to making matches.
So they say.
You know, Mabel tries to resist…
Mabel?
She's a sweet girl, really,
it's just she's gotten so good
at hiding it.
She needs a little help
adjusting her instincts.
[stammers] I don't know,
that… that wouldn't feel…
She does so want to be happy.
I'm thinking double your usual fee.
[knocks on door]
[Theo] What is it?
What's going on?
- Mother?
- I have something to tell you.
I found them together.
[inhales shakily] Guy and Annabel.
The night before the wedding.
You knew?
And you let me marry her?
It was too late.
You'd publicly declared
your love for an illegitimate girl.
To call it off would
have meant humiliation…
For a day, as opposed to a lifetime.
And now Nan's locked me
in this cage of a marriage.
Not Nan.
She had no choice.
This is not her fault.
You're taking her side.
The only choice I gave her…
was to proceed.
I knew Annabel would do anything
to protect her sister and I used it.
[inhales shakily] I all but
forced her down that aisle.
I did this.
If you're caged, I built it.
I turned the key.
And Nan is right in there beside you.
Not because she wanted your power
but because…
I made her yield to mine.
If the two of you are equally wronged
and I am to blame…
is there no way forward?
Not for appearances…
for yourself.
If you love her…
Get out.
Out of my room and out of my castle.
You are not the head
of this institution, I am.
- Theodore, I…
- Get out.
- Nan.
- [panting]
- Nan, I just wanted to say thank…
- I found him. [pants]
- Guy?
- And Jinny. Jinny too.
I know where they are, they're in Italy.
- I didn't know you were still think…
- That's all I think about.
I might be too late.
I don't know how he feels.
[breathes shakily]
He wrote me weeks ago,
asking how you were.
Where's the letter?
I burned it.
[sighs] I didn't read it.
- Why?
- I was trying to protect you.
You said that you had to let Guy go.
I'll never let him go.
- But Theo…
- Theo and I are finished.
You're certain?
You don't love him anymore?
No. It's always been Guy.
Go.
In your heart,
isn't love all that matters?
["Serpents" playing]
Theo?
What you said earlier, about the…
[stammers] I ruined your moment.
- I'm a selfish fool.
- I…
I liked very much how it made me feel,
when you said it.
And I think perhaps that you're right,
that I should be looking for someone
that's overpowering,
- because I have…
- [stammers] I should've kept quiet.
I'm sorry.
A pleasant, uneventful marriage
is to be seized, I suspect.
Cherished.
Mm-hmm.
Sorry, but I really must find Nan.
I need to straighten things out.
Have you seen her?
[song continues]