13: Encounter

Encounter

Synopsis

The year is 1920. The Forsytes have survived the War and are now facing the turbulent and uncertain Peace of the 20s. The only Forsyte of the older generation alive is Uncle Timothy, who is 100. No-Longer-Young Jolyon is now getting on, looking more and more like his father, and smoking cigars like him, too. His young son, Jon, is now of an age to seek a profession. He can't make up his mind, but thinks he might try farming. He is the apple of his mother's eye.

Soames Forsyte, age 65, stops into the HotchPotch club to visit Cousin George. George, now quite gray, complains that this income tax hits the fixed inherited income like the very deuce; can't Soames do anything about it? Soames has long had the keeping of the Forsyte money in his capable hands. Soames is now gray himself, with a clipped gray moustache. On his way out of the club, George introduces Soames to bit character Prosper Profond, a rich Belgian who's recently become a member. Prosper admires Soames's wife.

Soames heads to a little gallery just off Cork Street, where he is meeting his daughter. There, he overhears young Michael Mont saying that modern art is all just having people on. He gives Michael his card, and invites him to call to see Soames' collection. As Soames stares at a ghastly statue of Juno, he overhears a familiar voice: Irene, speaking to Jon. He stares, then hastily moves away before he can be seen. He takes refuge on a bench right next to someone who turns out to be Cousin June, whose gallery it is. Soames guesses that the show is making a dead loss, and he's quite right. Enter his daughter, Fleur, who says peek-a-boo to handsome young Jon. The two are taken with each other. Fleur manages to tell Jon her name, and they are stunned to learn they share a last name. The fat is in the fire. The two parents are immediately suppressive and attempt to depart, but the kids know something is up. Fleur tries to figure out why her father doesn't like those people, and if he thought that woman was beautiful (she saw him looking at Irene). Soames tells Fleur that the two grandfathers had a quarrel about a house.

Fate conspires against Irene and Soames, and their children meet again during a long stay at the home of Cousin Val Dartie and Holly (Jon's half-sister). Young love blooms. Fleur stays extra time. Soames frets and worries, seeming rather Jamesian. Irene also frets, but she and Jo choose the path of deceit instead of telling Jon what's up. They try to bribe Jon away by taking him to Italy for 2 months. Instead, Fleur advises Jon to change it to Spain for 6 weeks. Jon is upset, but agrees to go.


The now elderly George Forsyte sits in the window of his club.	He complains about his reduced income to Soames. Soames is now 65 years old himself.	That would make Irene 57. Here she is with her young son, Jon. He's going to be a farmer.	Soames, leaving George, meets the Belgian Prosper Profond.

In a gallery off Cork Street, Michael Mont reacts to modern art. His friend thinks it's satiric.	Soames takes to young Michael.	Encounter. Soames hastily moves away before they see him.	It's June's gallery. Soames thinks it must be making a dead loss. It is.

Fine Fleur Forsyte says peek-a-boo to Jon through a piece of modern art.	Soames says to Jon, "Er, distant cousins. Good day!" He then tries to drag his daughter away from the handsome young son of that woman.	Fleur tries to figure out why her father didn't like those people. He won't tell her.	No Longer Young Jolyon at home.

Jon and Fleur meet again, at the home of Cousins Val and Holly.	Off on a morning hike.	Young love appears to be blooming. They both know that it will give their parents fits.	Soames frets. Winifred advises him to get rid of that ugly Gauguin painting.

Fleur visits Jon's room, in her fancy Goya dress.	Jon tries to extract the secret of the family feud from his mother. She won't tell. Instead, she tries to get him to go to Italy with her for 2 months.	Fleur advises Jon to go, to put them off the scent.	Jon isn't happy.

From the loins of those two foes, comes a pair of star-crossed lovers.