Broadcast April 21, 2002 Irene returns home from a visit to Robin Hill, without Soames. She is taking off her hat in the hall as Soames comes down the stairs and pauses to study her, remembering her dancing with Bosinney at the ball. Soames is pleased that she has visited the house and seems to be coming round to the idea of living there. 
Soames, Irene and his parents visit Robin Hill. Soames is anxious and excited – "Like a child with a new toy," says his mother. James and Emily are enchanted with the house, whereas Irene and Bosinney are enchanted with each other. Soames gets upset with Irene’s seeming lack of enthusiasm in front of his parents and takes out his frustration on Bosinney when he discovers that the costs have risen to £12,400, against an agreed limit of £12,000 with leeway of £50. Soames and Bosinney have a heated argument, in the presence of Irene, James, and Emily, about the costs and Soames says that he will resort to the law. Soames states that it isn’t the money, it is the principle. Bosinney retorts that no-one in the room, least of all Soames, really believes that. Winifred and Monty have tea with Aunts Juley and Hester. Dartie, in his usual mischievous way, tells the aunts about Soames’ suit against Bosinney and the rumoured affair between Irene and the architect. The aunts are shocked and Winifred is upset with Monty for passing on such gossip to them.  Irene and Bosinney have regular trysts at his
rooms. Initially, Irene is more worried about the case than Bosinney. He is sure he has
right on his side and in any case is more than happy to leave London with Irene and start
afresh elsewhere. Irene wants him to stay in London until the case is over and for them to
be discreet about the affair, for fear that Soames would completely destroy
Bosinney’s chances of establishing himself elsewhere if he found out. Bosinney
becomes less sanguine about the case after he loses a potential commission because he has
to tell the client that he was in dispute with Soames. He starts to worry about losing
everything and, to bolster his resolve, Irene gives him her father’s pocket watch to
sell to raise funds. They talk of living like gypsies and having "six or seven"
children. Bosinney ends up selling most of his possessions to fund his defence.
One evening Soames returns home to discover that Irene has not returned. He is consumed with jealousy and rushes out into the street to look for her. He imagines that he sees Bosinney and Irene walking arm in arm together; it is merely an illusion. Old Jolyon and June have returned from a trip to the continent, with June in much better spirits, until she hears from the aunts about the lawsuit during a stilted afternoon tea. June is shocked at the paltry sum involved and blames herself for introducing Bosinney and Soames. She still thinks Bosinney is a brilliant man and blames Soames entirely. Old Jolyon is less forgiving and urges June to let Bosinney go. Irene and Bosinney are spotted together in the park by YJ, painting. He recognises Bosinney from his club and is introduced to Irene. Irene is very perturbed that they have been seen by June’s father. Bosinney says it is surely better that he didn’t marry June as he didn’t love her and that he is prepared to lose everything for Irene. He cites YJ leaving his wife as reassurance that YJ would understand their position.
Two days before the case is heard, Irene leaves Bosinney’s rooms, having made plans to meet at a hotel after the case is over. Later that evening, Soames is sitting alone after dinner, drinking and brooding. He then goes up to bed and finds Irene’s bedroom door unlocked. He enters, stealthily undresses, and gets into bed next to the sleeping Irene. He wakes her up and she tries to escape but he forces her back to bed and then rapes her, attempting to muffle her cries with his hand, although the maid, Bilson, hears her anguished cries. Soames leaves the bedroom immediately afterwards, leaving behind a sobbing Irene. The following morning it is foggy as Soames leaves for the office, having refused Bilson’s offer of a tincture for his "shaving scratch" and requesting that Bilson makes sure Mrs. Forsyte has a carriage if she goes out. Irene leaves the house immediately afterwards and goes to Bosinney’s rooms. Bosinney notices how agitated she is and spots bruises on her arms. She eventually tells him of Soames’ conduct the night before. Bosinney is enraged and dashes out into the fog to search for Soames. He goes to the firm’s offices but Soames is not there; he goes to Soames’ club and is told by the porter that Soames is not there (although Soames watches Bosinney being thrown out). Bosinney is now greatly agitated and runs out blindly into the foggy street, where he is knocked down and killed by a carriage  .
Irene has gone back to Montpelier Square for her final night. Soames attempts to make amends for the previous night by giving her a ruby necklace. Soames and James arrive at court the next day for the case. They see June, although Soames becomes much less friendly when he realises that she is there to support Bosinney. At 3pm that day Irene is waiting in a hotel for Bosinney. When he doesn’t appear she goes to his rooms and meets June, who has come to tell him he has lost the case, after he failed to turn up at court. Irene tells June she has finally left Soames and that she and Bosinney can start again somewhere else. June hurls accusations at Irene – she has ruined her life, is made of stone, and is a false friend; Irene eventually responds by slapping June. Back at her grandfather’s house, June is comforted by Old Jolyon. He has decided that he wants his whole family to live together outside London and says that this is a chance to put things right. June suggests Robin Hill as the place to do this; if Old Jolyon bought it the proceeds would settle Soames’ claim against Bosinney. Back at Montpelier Square after his victory, Soames wishes to celebrate with his wife but is informed by Bilson that she left with two suitcases at midday - and that she was sure to get her a carriage. Soames dashes upstairs to check Irene’s things and discovers a note from her saying that she has taken nothing "you or your people have given me." James is trying to convince Soames that Irene will come back ("She won’t. I know her.") when Old Jolyon arrives with an offer to buy Robin Hill now that the case is settled. Soames and James don’t have time to respond before a policeman arrives, asking to see Soames. Soames, James and Old Jolyon go to the police station and Soames identifies Bosinney’s body. He had been lying unidentified since the previous day but had papers relating to the case in his pocket. There is some discussion of whether it was an accident or suicide and the policeman concludes that the "balance of his mind was upset" by the case. Old Jolyon says "She will be waiting for him," which James takes to be a reference to June but which Soames realises is a reference to Irene. 
Irene, meanwhile, is waiting for Bosinney to meet her at the hotel. When he doesn’t appear she goes looking for him at his club. She evades the porter and searches frantically through the club, until YJ sees her and takes her aside to break the news. He eventually asks her what she would like to do; defeated, all she can think of is to return to Montpelier Square. YJ accompanies her back; she is met at the door by Soames who ushers her in and refuses entry to YJ. As Irene is mounting the stairs Soames tells her, "This all happened for a reason. We are meant to salvage something and begin again," sentiments which Irene responds to with blank astonishment. |
The "We Still Have Sympathy for Soames" Bits:
The "I Wish I Was Her" Bits (Not many, poor cow, then again, if you like Ioan.....):
The "Soames Scares Us to Bits" Bits (Hmmm….. where to begin….?):
The "Best Silent Acting" Bits:
The "Does Soames Have No Empathy?" Bits:
The "I'm Glummer Than Irene" Award Goes to:
The Gold Medal for Acting Is Awarded to:
The Silver Medal for Acting Is Awarded to:
Screencaps by Bar. Bosinney photo courtesy of Granada Television. Old Jolyon photo courtesy of HURSTblondie. Irene photo from the Radio Times. |
Bosinney
sings Tony Bennett: "A foggy day, in London-town...brought me low, had me
down..." And Soames--well, just ugh.
OJ,
in a spirit of defying of the family and solidarity with June, removes his will from
James’ and Soames’ practice. He then visits YJ in St John’s Wood to
announce that he’s settling £1,000 a year on him and that he’s been taking
stock and wants his family to live together outside London, although he doesn’t yet
have a house in mind. Helene initially refuses – she is still bitter about the
estrangement – and YJ supports her. Later on, however, she changes her mind.
