8: Indian summer of a Forsyte

Indian summer of a Forsyte

Jolyon and his father ride back from the mortuary in a cab, talking of how June is to be told. Old Jolyon sends Jo off to break the news to Irene, fearing that Soames will be less than gentle. Helene has told June, however. June faints when she realizes it's true.

Soames is at his front door. A newscrier is in Montpellier Square, yelling the news about the architect killed in the fog. Soames gives him money and sends him off. He enters. The first thing he sees is Irene's valise. She must have passed the newscrier and heard. He is indeed not gentle: "You've seen this? So you know he's dead." He doesn't understand why she took a lover-- what's wrong with him? He loves her. He tries to make amends with her, to convince her that they can make a life together if they start fresh. Irene is having none of it. She tells Soames that she owns herself-- he can never own her again. She will leave him in the morning. Soames runs outside into the night. He leans against a pole, moaning. His indulgence in misery is soon interrupted by Young Jolyon, come to talk to Irene. Soames bars the way, but Irene appears in the door, wildly hoping that the voice she heard was Phil's. But it isn't. Soames slams the door.

At home, Young Jolyon reports to his father. And he tells a story he's heard from George, a story of Bosinney driven out of his mind by what Soames did to Irene. "Barbarous!" cries Jolyon, shocked that such things happen. He tells Young Jo of his plan: he'll buy Robin Hill, and they'll all move in there together.

It is the next morning. Leaves swirl in the cold street. Irene is leaving. Soames watches from the window above.

Four years later: Soames is living in Brighton, and commuting up and down to the city. He never divorced Irene, who is living alone in London. Roger's daughter Francie is playing her latest musical success, "The Kensington Coil", a waltz for piano. The happy Forsyte family is listening, Swithin dancing, Emily reading Francie's good reviews. Aunt Juley wants to talk of Irene and scandal, but they won't let her.

Irene visits Robin Hill, to sit on the fallen log where she first kissed Bosinney. Jolyon, walking with Balthazar, finds her there. The family is away in Spain. He welcomes her up to the house. They spend a pleasant afternoon together, have dinner, drink wine. She plays for him. He inadvertantly distresses her by echoing Bosinney's line: "to listen to Chopin and look at you, is more than a man deserves." She weeps, and he holds her. This is the beginning of a lovely summer spent together.

The summer ends with Irene making one last visit, the day before young Jolyon and his family returns. She walks up to him, seated on the lawn. His heart fails him, and he dies in peace, aged 86.


The Jolyons confer.	Helene breaks the news to June.	Stop yelling the news of the death of my rival at my front door. Here's two half crowns.	"You know he's dead?"

"He was your lover. I'm sure of it. Don't deny it." She denies nothing.	He wants to make a new start with Irene. He thinks they can make a life together if they both try. She tells him it's over, she owns herself from then on.	Soames runs out into the night.	Young Jo has run into George and heard what Soames did to Irene. He tells his father.

Galsworthy, in the form of Young Jo, tells us how a stroke of lightning has revealed the reality behind the comfortable facade, of desperation and wild passion.	Soames watches Irene leave his house forever.	Francie plays the Kensington Coil. Swithin dances.	Irene trespasses on Robin Hill, at the copse.

Weeping, because Old Jolyon has reminded her of something Bosinney once said.	Jolyon calls on Irene in London.	Young Jo, the painter, in Spain painting the light.	Helene reads a letter from Holly about Aunt Irene.

Irene and Jolyon go to the opera.	Jolyon dies at the age of 86, in the summer sun with Irene in his view.