A Month by the Lake

Miss Bentley:
Oh, sorry for making you angry.

Major Wilshaw:
[clearly angry] You didn't!

Miss Bentley:
I'm sometimes surprised that this place is still here. I thought it would die with him.

Miss Bentley:
[she is beating him in tennis] Sorry!

Major Wilshaw:
Will you stop saying that!

Miss Beaumont:
I can't go back to America. My mother would probably have me arrested!

Miss Beaumont:
[is tipsy, speaking to Wilshaw] You know what you remind me of, sitting over there? A candlestick!

Vittorio Balsari:
[speaking of the Italians] Soon we'll all be in uniform!

Major Wilshaw:
Well I for one sincerely hope that is not so.

Major Wilshaw:
Here's a proposition for you. Stay here for a month, or I'll chuck you into the lake.

Miss Bentley:
[smiles] You wouldn't dare.

Mr. Bonizzoni:
[calls his children in from the woods] Time to go home!

Major Wilshaw:
[pleased] When I left this morning, you said you wish that we had gotten to know each other.

Miss Beaumont:
[flustered] Did I say that?

Major Wilshaw:
Oh yes you did. I remember every word!

Miss Beaumont:
I've been waiting here for two hours!

Miss Bentley:
I never said I didn't know how to play tennis, I said that I haven't played it in years!

Miss Beaumont:
Is this all the thanks I get? If I hadn't led him on, he wouldn't be here now, would he?

Vittorio Balsari:
[talking about Wilshaw while on a motorcycle] Is he your boyfriend?

Miss Bentley:
No! He's not my type!

Miss Bentley:
Can I take some pictures?

Vittorio Balsari:
What?...[smiles] Oh yes. Sure, sure!

Vittorio Balsari:
Are you lost?

Miss Bentley:
We missed the boat! [Glances cheerfully at Wilshaw] My fault.

Vittorio Balsari:
It's a long way to walk, I'll give you a ride!

Miss Bentley:
Well I don't know...

Vittorio's friend:
Your husband can come with me.

Major Wilshaw:
[Flustered] I'm not her husband! Good God!

Miss Beaumont:
Better not miss your train!

Vittorio Balsari:
English girls and Italian men are good!

Miss Bentley:
I'm an English woman, there's a difference.

Miss Beaumont:
Dear Major, I'm so sorry you're going before we've had a chance to get to know each other. Such a waste.

[first lines]

Miss Bentley:
The story begins on Lake Como, many years ago during the last fantastic summer before the war.

Miss Bentley:
Returning to the lake has always seemed like coming home. Everyone is so friendly. Everyone is welcome. The Villa Barbianello basks all day long in the lakeside sun, which is hotter than usual for late April.

Miss Bentley:
Oh, you aren't quite what I expected.

Miss Beaumont:
Old and starchy?

Miss Bentley:
It seems we've both been unlucky in love.

Major Wilshaw:
Perhaps we should stick to tennis...

Miss Beaumont:
God, you remind me of my mother.

Miss Bentley:
And you remind me of mine.

[last lines]

Miss Bentley:
Oh yes, Lake is magical, for as we kissed, and I could swear that music played. Now the war's over, we've come back. To our relief, the villa is still here. Last night we drank champagne and we raised our glasses to Miss Beaumont. After all, it's thanks to her we are together. And she was magical, too. Our holidays are planned till the end of time. Every year we'll spend springtime in the mountains, and every summer, a month by the lake.