i don't know what you're saying.  i haven't understood anything you've said all day.
i don't know what you're saying.
no, i don't, i don't understand a word.
i think i know what you mean.  home.
you're losing me again.
talk about home again.  remember * you said home?
tell me something else. *
i know what you're saying.  you're saying home.  say something else.
you want the word for home? it's home.  say it.  home.  home.
come on, you can do it.  home.  home.  beatrice has her way, turning the tables on hector. he says it in her language.
that's it.  clever boy!
tick.  it's a tick.
bet there's more in there. you need a good going over.  nobody's been looking after you. she ruffles his hair, in a motherly but then again sex- * ually provocative way. he understands her well now.
that's four.
you can do me now. beatrice loosens her clothing to bare her neck and shoulders. hector begins to probe her hair and scalp. * she arches her back under the first touch of his fingers. hector laps it up, inspired to caress ever more tenderly * her scalp and neck, still with the outward purpose of looking for fleas.
hector.  yes.  i'm beatrice.
yes. hector.  i think you'll have to do under my arms.  i'm a little itchy there.
maybe we should find the river, and have a proper wash.  in between parting the hairs on her scalp hector is kiss- ing her on the neck now. at first it is small, snatched kisses amongst the grooming, but soon the kisses become longer and the grooming less.
i'm still itchy lots of places, hector.
we'll have to sleep in the hills tonight. will you keep me warm? the damp greyness of the early morning has lifted and the sun is shining as they step out onto the higher hills.
hurry up and finish your wine and then we can make love. hector seems to know what she is saying. he throws down his knife and cheese, lying down with her on the grass. he kisses her breasts and her body eagerly. he lifts her skirts and caresses and kisses her naked legs and thighs. she stretches herself out happily, arms spread wide on the grass. hector talks through his kisses.
oh, you like my smell, do you? i make it from the flowers. i put * it here, and there, and there. hector kisses her more. she smiles and turns her head to the sky. then she starts to giggle.
i don't believe it.  someone's watching us, the dirty devil.  don't look.  he's down by the water, by the rocks.  hector doesn't understand, and keeps on with his kissing. only her persistent giggling makes him stop and look up. * hector sees him too. down by the stream a head peering over the top of a rock, not even attempting to hide. *
cheeky devil.
don't look at him anymore. let's go.  down the other side of the hill.
poor boy. isn't he fine-looking. look at his shoes. there is a sadness about this young death in such a lonely place. hector and beatrice are open to this sad- * ness, but in their age sentiment was of a tougher strain.
we'll cover his eyes at least.  so the crows don't get him. look at these shoes, though.
his feet are like mine, you know. i'll give you mine, poor boy, and i'll have yours. i have more walking to do.
it's not stealing if i give him mine, is it? hector watches as beatrice exchanges her old shoes for the squire's. they fit her well, and she proudly shows them off to hector. he smiles at her.
you're eager today, hector, aren't you? is it all this death?
that should help him a little.
i wonder if his mama will ever know what happened.
mama.  that's right.  mama.
yes, of course.  we stay on this side of the river, all the way down.  until tomorrow.
yes.  on this side. then the other. they move off, each thinking that they have reached agreement. beatrice starts to sing as they make a * gentle descent into the forests below.
don't worry.  we're nearly there. i'll fix your back for you.  give you a good rub. before he can protest she has moved off. so he follows her.
here we are.  home.  you want some food.  and then i'll show you everything. we have a spring .  you can wash.  hector stands looking around the small dark room. beatrice suddenly seems shy and awkward.
this is when i wish you could understand me. you'll have to learn, you know.  i want you to stay here. you want to, don't you?
i look after the hens, and i make * dyes from the plants, and perfumes too. i'm good at that. but i'm * no good with the sheep and the goats. i wish you could understand.  arnaud's been dead two years.  *
i still have his clothes. i'll make them fit you.
i'm getting shy. imagine me being shy with you.  i made this for him.  tonight we'll try them on. you're the same height as arnaud, but a little thinner. i'll make them fit. i'm a good sewer. and we have a big bed upstairs for you and me, in the rafters.  you and me.  sleep.  hector is beginning to understand what she means, but he keeps his feelings to himself. beatrice talks on. now that she has started, she wants to say it all.
i like you. you like me too, don't you? we were lucky to meet the way we did. all the men around here are old. * beatrice falls silent, overtaken by her shyness. hector understands fully what she means now, but his mind is a confusion. he can't respond. she tries to direct his thoughts to the one area she is sure about.
come up and i'll show you the bed.  she climbs a ladder nearby and lifts open a trapdoor on the wooden ceiling. hector climbs up to join her and together they stand on the ladder with their heads poking into the tiny space above.
a good bed, eh? for you and me. we can have fun up here.  better than a ditch.
this is hector. beatrice pronounces his name with care. she stands proudly by her children.
these are my children.
 and this is my mother.
take hector to the well.  but come here first.
take a walk to the village if you want.  you look as if you need a walk.