EXT. TALLIS HOUSE. GARDENS. DAY.
It’s no later than 10am, but the sun is already high and blazing down on the monumental facade of the Tallis house, recognizable from its miniature version seen earlier. Lying on one of the rolling lawns is CECILIA TALLIS, BRIONY’s sister, a beautiful, restless-looking girl of 23, who is making a desultory attempt to read a fat edition of Richardson’s Clarissa. She turns back a page to re-read something, then sighs, rolls on to her back and shuts her eyes against the sun.
EXT. TERRACE. DAY.
CECILIA crosses to the window. Outside, ROBBIE is standing rolling himself a cigarette. CECILIA goes over to a cherry-wood table, where there’s an early 18th-century Meissen vase. She drops the flowers untidily intoit and pulls out a crushed packet of cigarettes, which turns outto be empty. She glances back out of the window, picks up the vase, checks her reflection in the mirror and strides out towards the terrace.
EXT. TERRACE. DAY.
CECILIA is now wearing a green halter-neck evening gown and the jet necklace has been replaced with a rope of pearls. CECILIA fixes on a diamond hair-clip, contemplates her reflection for a moment, this time with satisfaction and enters the Terrace.
INT. STAIRCASE AND HALLWAY. NIGHT.
CECILIA
Briony, did you read this letter?
BRIONY
Yes, let’s, that’s a wonderful idea!
CECILIA
Briony…
BRIONY, now changed for dinner, crosses the landing and startsdown the last section of staircase leading to the hall. As shereaches the bottom step, she notices a diamond hair-clip lyingin front of the door to the library. She crosses to the hairclipand picks it up.
EXT. TALLIS HOUSE. NIGHT.
CECILIA, ignoring her mother, runs to ROBBIE. ROBBIE movestowards her, catching the CONSTABLE off guard for a second; she catches hold of ROBBIE’s lapel and whispers into his ear. The CONSTABLE arrives and disengages her hand, gently but firmly, then leads ROBBIE to the car and pushes him down into the back seat. CECILIA bursts into tears, as the door closes. The car begins to pull away from the house. Visible through the backindow, as he twists round to look over his shoulder, is the shocked, white face of ROBBIE.
Model: Becca Van Cleave
Photographers: Josh Gooden Photography + Cinematography
Location: Swannanoa Palace, Virginia
Dress provided by: Reflections
by Josh Gooden
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