A Marriage Below Zero - opera libretto - 6. Appendix 2 - Book Breakdown

Appendix 2:

Chapter-by-Chapter Breakdown of A Marriage Below Zero

 

0) Introduction:

I. Epigraph – Bleed for Love

a) "Tree I planted, thorns, I bleed"

b ) Love is a tree that from two hearts grows – equally. If one

part is stricken by 'Fate,' the other half too must die

c) Damon and Pythias [copying of Carpenter's quote on couple

from Valerius Maximus]

[retelling of the narrative of D and P]

d) First epigraph is about Elsie. She, naively, brokered this

marriage of convenience, then made the terrible mistake of

falling for the man she knew all along did not love her. This is

why in the hotel room in NY, when Arthur got that sexy look

in his eye, she demurred, not wanting to let hope mislead her.

This, as the mature narrator, pains her the most – what if she

hadn't been so cold, but opened her arms to him…Since she

did not, it's natural Arthur would run into the arms of his

husband

e) Second epigraph is about Arthur and Dill – the Captain

upsets the rooting of their hearts by encouraging Arthur to

take Elsie's implicit proposal – for social standing

advancement – i.e., for all the wrong reasons

         

II. Introduction – As Frivolous as I want to Be

a) Elsie is Frivolous. Let's others' opinions of her tell her who

she is, how she acts.

b ) Forces herself now to be the 'girl' she was not before Arthur:

now she is content with the present, reckless of the future,

and "absolutely" declining to recollect the misery of her

marriage. Now she flits and assists her mother with her

'youth' quest, and for her, now her mother loves her, now

she understands her. Before, when the girl was strong,

independent, not wanting to be tied to the whims of any man

just because he is her husband, her mother could not relate

to her. Love was a stretch, toleration was even a challenge

between them, but now, Elsie wants to call her mother by

her first name, but others' opinion refrain her

c) She'll live with Mamma until one of them dies. She secretly

knows her mother would want to be the surviving one, and is

OK with that

d) She forces herself to wear Arthur's plain gold wedding band,

but she frivolously encased it in diamonds – but the band, the

band is what always touches her. Every time every hostess

insists on introducing her as "Mrs. Ravener," she thinks she'd

like nothing better than throwing this bauble to the bottom of

the Thames, But – there is always a But…she loves Arthur

still; feels guilty still.

e) "I am very terrible when thwarted," a la Bunthorne, and

Mamma is still afraid of Elsie's potential, though she exhibits

no visible self-will of her own, Mamma still fears that will and

what it did to Elsie.

f) "I will write, if only to make the present seem 'good' by comparison.

Perhaps the pall of the present overcomes me sometimes, though I, though no

one can guess it, but when my story is done, remember these remarks, and think

I found my 'happily ever after'" (so bitter)

 

1) Chapter One: From Woman to Girl

I. Background Info

a) Mother married Father to get into Society, used the

protection of his honorable name. (Like 'friends' who use the

exposure of Arthur's dishonorable name to humiliate Elsie to

her face). Father 'took himself off.' Unhappy marriage =

suicide? Like mom, like daughter?

b ) Small child left to the care of a nanny (Mamma despises

children). Bundled off "very young" to boarding school, left

Mamma free to make her way unfettered through the

"labyrinthine" maze of High Society. Elsie was "finished" with

piano selections; taught to only play at the most provoking

persistence, though what she played, she played heartlessly.

At 17 taken from comfortable bosom of school and friends,

and heartlessly dumped at 'home' with Mamma

II. Coming Out Ball

a) Mamma sponsored a coming out ball. Elsie desperately

wanted to come into meaningful, intellectual contact with

men. Supposed them to be nice, sensible, jolly, better than

shallow women, of whom, Mamma was the worst. Men were

most of all endowed with the freedom of privilege. Elsie

wanted to get away from the society of women ASAP. Letty

Bishop, her only "true friend" was still an affected, fragile

creation whose greatest accomplishment was to blush on cue

b ) The Ball – girls snub her, turn all available attention to

the young men. A young peer-in-training asks her to dance;

by the way he blushes, she thinks she should accept, lest

he faint on the spot. Good dancer. "The poetry of motion

seems to accompany the lack of brains." All her allusions on

men are shattered her fist night being 'out'

    

2) Chapter Two: Elsie's Despair

I. Letty's Drawing Room – Morning after the Ball

a) Letty's character: "A fine juxtaposition of flighty displays of

frivolity, that is grounded in flinty-shrew common sense and

rounded out with warm-heartedness"

b ) Elsie's visit: in tears she asks if all men are so lacking in

respect as to only offer a string of shallow platitudes to girls

they "like and respect"

c) Letty, who has been 'out' for a whole season, tells Elsie that

if that is her attitude, she will have plenty of trouble ahead.

Men who talk sense to women, are thankfully there are very

few – are considered egotistical nuisances. Elsie desponds of

being anything in life but a typist, etc

d) Letty hits upon an idea to illustrate to her friend the

naturalness of these young men Elsie rebuffs via men who do

not care for women at all. She says, there are two young men

who only talk downright painful sense to girls. She then sets

up a string of innuendo, and introduces them to Elsie's

attention as Damon and Pythias, bosom buddies (hint, hint)

e) Elsie, blind to the set up, sees a ray of hope and chattily

discusses which, the Captain, or Arthur she should like better

f) Letty: they may be some sober amusement and make you

realize how sincere these red-faced, flowery-tongued young

men really are

3) Chapter Three: The Meeting

I. Another Ballroom

a) Dreadful "musical" event. A terrible young lady singer who

protests demurely, then proceeds with unabashed

caterwauling. "The French would never try to sing an English

song, why we, in French?"

b ) Letty pulls Arthur over. Affects the introduction and leaves

them alone. Elsie is instantly turned on by the lovely young

man and his "golden mustache"

c) After an equally awkward and entertaining conversation –

mainly about dishing the Society types around them, and

Arthur's noticeable glancing at Dill, they part and Elsie is

intrigued. Her fall is set up

 

4) Chapter Four: All Over Jam

I. Mamma's Library

a) Elsie in a huff, in apron with jam and flour on it, must

reference a "cook-book" as to why her tart failed. She hates

to start anything she cannot complete

b ) Arthur is shown in under the ruse of coming to visit Mamma.

They chat, and Arthur smiles and tells her "you are all over

Jam." This too charms Elsie, for he is acting just like a

brother might in teasing her

c) Arthur tests Elsie's sincerity about looking for a way out of

her current situation. He asks if she could ever grow

sentimental about someone, and demonstrative.

d) She insists she'd never change

e) Arthur is made sick by the assurance – now the way is made

clear for Dill's plan

e) Despite his visible discomfort, both are comfortable with

each other in a brother/sister way

 

5) Chapter Five: The Both of You

I. Oxford Street

a) Arthur has been visiting Elsie for weeks now. She bumps into

Arthur and Dill on Oxford Street and has an unpleasant feeling

about the Captain. She politely inquires why it is that Dill

never visits. To which he replies, "Would you have the both

of us?" Elsie is offended and quips, "I don't see why not,

there is room enough for the both of you." Dill then predicts

there may be a time she will not always find room for him

b ) Dashes into a store to recover from her fuming, and bumps

into Letty. She has seen the men, and now seriously tries to

warn Elsie away from them. She hints that the Society men

hate Damon and Pythias, and that her male cousin has nastier

things to say about Arthur. (personal experience by the lad?)

c) Elsie is astounded and tells Letty to not make wedding plans

for anyone but herself

 

6) Chapter Six: The Die is Cast

I. Another Ballroom – Proposal

a) Arthur dances with a very light and contented Elsie. He leads

her up through another volley of assurance questions: "you'd

be content to live as brother and sister? You'd be content to

live platonically – with a man?" To all she assent, and

reassures that she will never change

b ) Arthur proposes. Elsie says yes, and Arthur nearly faints as

all the blood drains from his face. Dill is there to catch him

 

7) Chapter Seven: Elsie's Best Interests

I. Wedding preparations

a) Mamma is not too sure about Elsie's wisdom. Leading

questions to see if she knows what she is doing. Elsie is glib,

and Mamma left only half assured

b ) Letty is amazed, and likewise tries to believe Elsie is doing

this in Elsie's best interest

c) Arthur is pleased at wedding publicity. Broaches the subject

of no honeymoon. Elsie wants to travel. Arthur uses the

Society judgment of Mamma to trump Elsie's interests.

Honeymoons are so bourgeoisie, future son and mother in law

agree

d) They will move into Tavistock Villa, a self-contained house in

Kew, Mamma's wedding gift, right away. Arthur will do all the

interior design; he insists!

 

8) Chapter Eight: First Dawning for Both of Them

I. Wedding

a) Wedding uneventful – except Arthur is prettier than the bride,

and far more noticed in the church

b ) More on how Arthur gloried in the publicity of the event

c) Awkward ride to Tavistock Villa. Arthur as happy as if in a

funeral procession. Elsie tries to take his hand, and shocks

him. First dawning on him that Elsie might not know her own

heart – her promise of a platonic life together may not hold

for long

II. Tavistock Villa

a) Arthur shows Elsie her "apartment" and says he has a similar

arrangement on the other side of the house. She says she

must see it, Arthur demurs as everything there is in disarray

b ) In the public space of the house – the salon, he introduces

Marie, Elsie's new Lady's Maid

c) They have a walk in Kew, and Elsie learns more about

Arthur's younger life and parents. She grows a stronger

attachment for him

d) Brooding dinner in silence – Arthur asks permission (of his

dinner plate) to leave. Elsie is surprised and assumes it must

be for some business appointment that cannot wait, but he

does not say this. "I'll be rather late." Which means 'don't

wait up.' No kiss goodbye

III. Wedding Night

a) Alone with Marie. Bored with the maid's life story, Elsie

wishes for a Gallic criminal uncle to appear in her tale, but

one does not

b ) Marie learns to her shock that the 'happy couple' was

married that morning. Marie explains "He did not say!" Elsie

feels uncomfortable with her open assessment on how odd it

is for a bridegroom to leave his bride on his wedding night.

Forcing Marie to apologize, and explain that she does not

know "the English way"

c) They wait up till 3. Elsie rouses her servant and tells her to

go to bed

d) Out of sheer pity, Marie kisses Elsie goodnight. After she

exits, Elsie hopes the maid doesn't intend to make that a

habit

 

9) Chapter Nine: Wedded Life – First Full Day

I. A Woman Scorned

a) The next morning, Elsie forces herself to be cheerful, and

sails downstairs as a newly minted matron to an already

eating Arthur. She believes he will be awash in remorse, but

he is not

b ) Arthur is brotherly and roommate-like. He doesn't mention

'what happened,' which infuriates Elsie

c) He hands her a section of the newspaper and gloats at the

wedding write-up. Elsie demands to know "Why are you so

anxious that all the world know you as a married man?" Then

scornfully that the paper should report the full story of how

the "groom returned to town after dinner, but made it back to

his bride in time for breakfast!"

d) Arthur is at sea. This is not the young lady he proposed to.

Tries to placate by arranging a long outing. They go for a

pleasant drive and lunch. Over lunch's concluding "nuts and

raisins," Arthur tells Elsie, in a by-the-way manner, that Dill is

coming to dinner tonight. Elsie wants to know when Arthur

invited him: "before the wedding?" She learns that the

invitation was extended last night – her wedding night. She

has now bitterly realized the only business that drew Arthur

back to town was the Captain

II. From Bad to Worse

a) Elsie dines that evening in silence as the men chat merrily.

b ) After diner, her "finishing" kicks in, and she plays the

piano for the men until she gets bored. The men stay in the

dining room and do not talk to her

c) The men finally join her at 10 o'clock, but become engrossed

in a game of chess. Elsie reads the paper and unwittingly

wonders at a gay personal ad

d) She yawns outrageously, and despite herself, begins to nap.

She wakes unceremoniously, and at 1 o'clock, Arthur tells her

to go to bed

    

10) Chapter Ten: Garden Scene

I. A Matronly Trip

a) Now unable to sleep, she calls on Marie to keep her company.

The maid opens the window

b ) They hear gravel crunching from the garden, and a pair of

low male voices. They peek, and see Arthur and Dill strolling,

arm in arm

c) The women duck, and stealthily eavesdrop. Elsie hears them

talk of her. Arthur wants advice. Fears Elsie is on the wrong

page with them. Dill contends that she is young. She needs

time to adjust and settle into the life of her choosing. He tells

him to keep her comfortable, and all will work out

d) Elsie cries. She doesn't know why. She wants clarity from

Arthur

e) She sees the Captain step away from Arthur, and decides

there's no time like the present. Marie gets her a shawl and

she bumbles down the stairs, trips and is shocked to be

caught by Dill

f) Elsie grows curt as the Captain tries to go with her to Arthur.

Elsie is incensed and forceful; she will speak to her husband

alone

g) She quietly sits on the bench next to Arthur. She says his

name, and he jumps up in a violent start. He looks around for

Dill. She confronts him with what she heard. "Do you think I

am a child?" she wants to know. "If you are," he says "stay

one for as long as you can, for your sake, for my sake"

h) As they touch hands, a match strikes in the dark next to

Arthur. "I trust you don't mind me smoking, Mrs. Ravener."

Arthur rises and stands next to Dill

i) Elsie, heart sick and angered, flees into the house

 

11) Chapter Eleven: Room for Three?

I. Flippant Girl to Jealous Woman

a) Dill stays for eight days. He finally departs to Elsie's goading

satisfaction

b ) At the parting, Arthur is depressed, and Elsie can't help

herself, gloating "he has gone – at last." Arthur gets angry

and sadly reminds her "he's always treated you kindly"

c) They quarrel, and Elsie spends a lonely day by herself. She

determines that dinner will be a make-up session

d) Downstairs, dressed for dinner, the butler hands her a note:

Arthur is gone to town. For Elsie, this means war

 

12) Chapter Twelve: Frigid Routine

I. The Young Neighbor

a) Elsie feigns indifference to peak Arthur's interest

b ) She meet and begins to court, for Arthur's eyes, the young

neighbor

c) This comes to loggerheads, over a quiet dinner conversation.

Arthur is entirely pleased, and fully encourages Elsie to

develop interests outside of him. He reassures her very

knowingly "I'll never interfere in your affairs. I'm glad you've

discovered congenial society"

d) His very pleasure in thinking she has met someone makes

Elsie heartsick. He really doesn't care a jot about her. For the

first time, she knows without any shadow of a doubt, how

much she loves Arthur

 

13) Chapter Thirteen: Difficult Interview with Mamma

I. A Worldly Appeal

a) Goes to London to appeal to the very worldliness she

despises – Mamma

b ) Mamma listens in surprise as it becomes clear Elsie knows

nothing about Arthur. She keeps leading Elsie to draw her own

conclusions: "…not interested in – wife"

c) Elsie clueless and vexed

d) Mamma advises sticking it out for six months, then she'll tell

Elsie what to do

e) Elsie insists she tell her now. Mamma in a panic, and not able

to tell her that her husband is gay, fibs and suggests it must

be…? Another…? – woman?

f) Mamma warns caution: gleefully throwing out the Captain's

name "as the go-between," and suggesting Elsie concentrate

on him. "I can recommend a detective, very discreet"

g) Mamma tells Elsie to go home and confront Arthur on this

'other woman,' and she'll be able to gauge the truth of the

situation from Arthur's reaction

h) Elsie ponders all this on her way home to Kew. Hard to

picture this someone else – difficult to see Arthur loving

'another woman' (or any woman…)

 

14) Chapter Fourteen: Relief

I. The confrontation

a) Elsie confronts Arthur after dinner

b ) She pulls him into her apartment, though he doesn't want to

be in her space, and then proceeds to act very emotional –

something all men hate and fear. Arthur slowly grows pettish,

wanting to know what this is about

c) She says she didn't know what to do, so she sought counsel

from Mamma

d) Arthur is instantly on-guard at this predicament. Mamma is

no fool

e) Elsie tells Arthur that Mamma said there must be another

woman. "Ah." Arthur is totally relived; the old gal hasn't

betrayed him. Elsie, trained in expectation for a guilt-ridden

reaction, is completely confused

f) Arthur, in quiet and earnest tones, tries to convince Elsie that

their marriage was a mistake

g) Elsie misconstrues this as guilty deflection and insists on

knowing who the woman is. Arthur says in all sincerity: "You

are the only woman in my life"

h) Indignant, but calm, Elsie feels the line has been crossed.

Now he has lied to her

 

15) Chapter Fifteen: Detective Octavius Rickaby

I. The Confrontation

a) Months go by in a hostile and purposeless existence

b ) This comes to a head at Mamma's house with Arthur, Elsie,

Letty and her new hubby – the contrast is too much to bear.

Again, Arthur tries to gently persuade that their marriage was

a misunderstanding best resolved by annulment. But this

again only incenses Elsie. Arthur repeats he only married her

based on her reassurances that she'd be content with a quiet

friendship. Elsie: "You could have better esteemed me

without this" Pointing to her wedding ring

II. Second Interview with Mamma

a) Mamma is on Arthur's side and also recommends annulment.

Elsie, headstrong and willful, has to threaten Mamma's Social

standing to prompt her to action. Mamma opens her dressing

table drawer, and produces the card of her Private Detective.

(Just how many people has she had to spy on over the years

– did it start with her own husband?)

III. Meeting with Octavius

a) Elsie goes straight there. Uses Mamma's calling card to

achieve an instant appointment with the P.I.

b ) She relays the sad story of her short married life. Rickaby is

non-pulsed. He reassures that a professional trail on her

husband will produce names, dates and associates. He further

advises Elsie to go home and rummage Arthur's private

papers for further clues

c) Elsie is uneasy about the whole thing

 

16) Chapter Sixteen: Dinner Accessory

I. The Ruse

a) Flushing with the excitement of intrigue, Elsie prepares to be

a good dinner accessory – sparkling and bright

b ) After dinner, Arthur, as usual, departs for areas unknown.

Elsie breaks into his apartment. She finds his desk. The

drawer is unlocked. She rifles his papers and finds a receipt.

A house rental in Notting Hill, paid for in full, for this month

c) In a moment of dark insight, she resolves to go there and

'catch' him with his lover. Let chips fall where they may

 

17) Chapter Seventeen: Dangerous Animal

I. On The Way

a) Rings for Marie: coat and veil

b ) On the train to Nodding Hill, two boys she recognizes as

Society scallywags talk. One first maligns a man with some

unspoken hatred, saying no evidence other than sight is

needed. The other says "but you said the same about Ravener,

and now look, he's married, respectable and deserving of an

apology of all of us who branded him with such brutality."

Ravener's marriage, the first boy suggests, is a sham to stop

tongues from wagging. Before he apologies, he would first

speak to Mrs. Ravener.

II. The House Where Love Dwells

a) Off at her station, it is easy to find 121 Lancaster Road. No

lights

from the house, except from the front parlor. The house is

plain, but the house had a glow, because love dwelt there,

unlike Tavistock Villa

b ) Elsie glances around, then makes her way to the servants'

door at the cellar. It is unlocked. All is dark. She feels her way

through the unused kitchen, locates the door up to the main

floor and ascends. She sees through the hall to the front room

where a light is seen around the closed door frame. Her hand

on the knobs, she reconsiders, what if, what if…in a few

hours hence will her life be happier or worse for what she

now does.

c) She throws the door open and is temporally blinded by the

light. She makes out two figures quickly separating. She sees

that one is Arthur, who is rushing towards her. She pushes

him out of the way to see the other party, and focuses,

inexplicably, on Dill. Her emotions erupt in pent-up laughter.

She's made a fool of herself.

 

18) Chapter Eighteen: The Other Woman

I. Elsie's Bluff

a) Elsie recalls Mamma's hint to consider Dill closely. He must

be the go-between, Elsie will focus on him

b ) Dill dismissively tells Arthur not to panic, that Elsie has a

perfect right to be here. She had her suspicions. She thought

she'd find a woman here tonight. "Is that not right?"

c) Pursuing her plan, Elsie inadvertently scares the tar out of

both men by calmly turning on Dill. "It is with no woman

that I am here tonight"

d) Arthur makes dismissive talk and heads for the door. Elsie

blocks it. She lies and tells the men that detectives have been

following them for a week. She knows all. She wants to

know of the Captain: Who's the simple fool now?

e) For the first time in the narrative, Dill's cool and in-charge

demeanor cracks

f) Elsie threatens divorce proceeding and the attendant press

coverage. Dill tries one last verification that Elsie knows what

she is seemingly saying she will do. "Who," he asks, "will you

accuse as the co-respondent." Elsie, clueless, says jokingly,

"Why you Captain." Dill is visibly shaken

g) Elsie knows she has scored some kind of victory, though she

is surprised her joke about Dill affected them so much. She

drives home her anger by demanding of the Captain, "and

what of you?"

h) Dill, at first disoriented, soon regroups and remembers Arthur.

"We have been together since school, and I will stand up for

him," he says. "I will tell the whole world that he and I are

together." He snaps defiant fingers in her face

i) Elsie pulls Arthur with another threat, and Arthur, for Dill's

sake, leaves with Elsie to go home with her

 

19) Chapter Nineteen: Persuasion

I. Doctor's Visit

a) Arthur collapses with symptoms of PTSD. The doctor is

called and tells Elsie the case is not unusual. He says they

need to get far away from the 'triggers' of Arthur's problems.

A trip to America is what the doctor orders

b ) Elsie tries to nurse Arthur, but her very presence, and his

perceived continued threat of blackmail by her, induces

worsening panic in him. She says they should get away, take

that honeymoon. Arthur, unable to think about being away

from Dill, says no

II. Dill's Calling Card

a) One day, Dill's calling card is brought to Elsie. She rips it to

shreds and tells the butler that that man is never to be shown

into the house again

b ) the next morning, Elsie tries to open Arthur's door. It is

locked. She thinks she hears an oddly familiar sound from

within, like the window being open, then shut. Arthur opens

the door. All seems well, and Arthur has had a change of

heart. They will go to America. They will start tomorrow

morning. (Arthur's change had been affected by Dill spending

the night, and advising him to placate the blackmailer anyway

he could. Dill will be going to NY too and will meet up with

Arthur, he will not be alone)

 

20) Chapter Twenty: The Longest Journey

I. From Jealously back to Siblings

a) On the train to Southampton, Elsie resolves to start the

courtship over fresh again. This time she will make Arthur

woe her, and come to love her as she does him

b ) Elsie's lightness becomes a welcomed relief to Arthur, and

reminds him of the girl he met on the dance floor, as they

while away the long hours of travel by offering wry

comments on the people they observe

c) On ship: "We were all very stiff and suspicious, and

unfriendly, being mostly English"

d) Arthur begins to cling to Elsie on the ship. She notices the

old, familiar, hostility radiating off the men towards Arthur.

She feels protective

 

21) Chapter Twenty-One: New York

I. Hotel and Church

a) They settle into a quaint hotel on upper Broadway. They have

a three-room suite: two bedrooms with an adjoining parlor.

They begin to mingle with their fellow guests and to take long

drives through the park

b ) One companion recommends they go to see a populist

minister on Sunday. They arrive to a packed church. The

sermon is about evil in men's hearts

c) Later that evening they are discussing the lesson. Elsie feels

the sermon was too pessimistic about man – the minister said

that evil in a person's heart could only be lessened, never

erased. To Arthur, "We are not as hopeless as that." Arthur:

"Do you think so?" Elsie: "I am sure." (Remember, Arthur

thinks Elsie knows he is gay. She has comforted him more

than she knows)

 

22) Chapter Twenty-Two: Dark Transom

I. Elsie's One Chance

a) Arthur is uneasy at lunch – something is on his mind

b ) Elsie believes a corner has been turned, and that a happily-

ever-after awaits their return to London

c) In their parlor, Elsie sits next to Arthur who, for the first time,

takes her hand willingly. Elsie capriciously tells him: "don't"

d) Elsie reads ads from the paper, happily chatting while

unnoticed by her, Arthur steels his resolve to go through with

a return of Elsie's love, if it is not too late for him already

e) He pulls her to him. She wants it; wants to; but she is still

only a girl. She bolts to her room. She sits there. Waits,

wondering what she has done, for five minutes. She creeps to

the door, opens it and sees his light off through the transom

over his bedroom door. She hates herself; the random

expression of herself; at the moment of achieving her goal.

She hates her own frivolity

 

23) Chapter Twenty-Three: Cruising the Lobby

I. Elsie's Pessimistic Mood

a) Elsie awakes in the morning in a pessimistic mood. She does

not know this is to be prophetic

b ) Breakfast is laid out in their parlor, and Arthur seems in

fine spirits. They will go down Broadway, to people watch,

in the busiest part of town

c) At Madison Square, they crossed over to Fifth Avenue and

pass a large hotel with an impressive portico in front

d) Elsie instinctively feels ill at ease in a place where only men

are loitering for some unknown purpose, and she hurries to

the corner. Then she notices she has lost Arthur. He is

standing transfixed at the portico looking at something, or

someone, in the hotel lobby. He rushes up to her looking livid

II. It Must be My Heart

a) When they return to their hotel, Arthur says he is not well:

"It must be my heart" he confesses. The hotel doctor writes a

prescription and says he should rest

b ) Elsie must cancel plans to go to the opera with another

couple. "No", insists Arthur, "do not offend." The return of

his old, cold, mannerisms makes Elsie involuntarily cry

c) She goes to the opera, and thinks of the future life with

Arthur. When she returns to their hotel suite late, she is

surprised to see Arthur's light still on. She knocks. There is

no answer. She opens the door, and like the blinding light of

the Notting Hill parlor, she can't believe what she sees – his

bed is made and unslept in, his closets are empty, all his

things are gone, and so too his trunk and valise. Stunned, her

head throbbing, she sits on his bed. Just then in the parlor,

she notes something out of place. An envelope is stuck in the

frame of the mirror. When she sees this, she thinks: "He's left

me." Eventually she reads the confirmation and faints

 

24) Chapter Twenty-Four: The Reveal

I. New Pain/New Resolve

a) She awakens on the floor sobbing and choking. The long

sleepless night trails on. Eventually, she resolves not to give

up. In hindsight, she see what a dullard she had been

b ) At 7am she tries to pull herself together and goes to the

front desk. She pays to have the man on duty late last night

woken up and brought to her room. She learns that Arthur

checked out at 9pm and trundled his trunk and bag into a cab

c) She bribes the clerk to get her that cab driver. The man can't

remember anything, but logs all his fares. Yes, that pale-

looking man went to a big hotel near 23^rd Street. A man came

out to meet him there

d) She takes a cab to this place, and is shocked to see it's the

hotel Arthur stood in front of

d) Elsie speaks to the detective. He remembers Arthur, too pale,

and the man who met him. Both of their luggage was

immediately send down to the dock of the French Line. This

other man was a guest of the hotel, registered under the

name of Frank Clarke, though his trunk was monogrammed

J.D. The other day a wallet turned up lost. 'Frank' claimed it,

describing the contents of it, including calling cards with the

name Captain Jack Dillington on them

e) Elsie rushes to the dock. Learns that Arthur and Dill sailed at

6am.

f) Elsie books passage on a fast Cunard ship, but the men

dodge her at the stop in Ireland

g) Elsie closes the house in Kew, and goes "abroad for

seclusion"

 

25) Chapter Twenty-Five: Paris Sojourn

I. Scandal and Rescue

a) Parisian society is in an uproar: scandal reaches to the top

levels. The English press gloats in the details. One paper

says an informant had named an Englishman in Paris. A man

named Dillington

b ) In a rush of one last effort to 'save' Arthur, Elsie takes

the night train, and plans to go to the hotel the paper

mentions

c) By early morning, she takes a cab from Gare de Nord. The

cab driver is taken aback by the name of the hotel. Elsie tells

him which street it is in, and insists they go post haste

d) At the hotel, she learns from the clerk that the Captain was

arrested in the wee hours of the morning. "Was he alone?"

"No, his garçon charmant is still here"

e) Now at the moment of reaching her goal, she freezes – like

touching the doorknob at the Nodding Hill house. She thinks

she will hate the meeting, the confession of her stupidity,

and the vow that she now knows how to help him

f) They go together, the clerk leading the way to Arthur's room.

No answer at the door. The clerk opens it, but the room is

dark. The man goes to open the blinds, while Elsie surveys a

room in disarray – the police had rifled all their papers and

books, tearing them apart, looking for evidence, no doubt.

Everything personal was strune about and trampled on the

floor. Light floods the room, as the clerk pulls the draperies.

There in a chair by the fireplace, Arthur looks to have fallen

asleep, but the proprietor pulls her away. He is dead. On the

mantel stands the empty laudanum bottles. Above them

hangs a double portrait on the wall. In a rage, Elsie rips it

from the wall and smashes the glass on the floor. She tears

the photo from the frame, and with bloodied fingers, runs to

the open window. She rips Dill's face to shreds, and flings the

pieces out to the uncaring Paris morning

 

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