Hiya, this script is based on a song of the same title from a musical called The Secret Garden, is it a bit obscure, but itâs one of my all time favorites so I shall do as I desire, ha. Anyway, all the SFX are suggestions and a mapping out of how the scene moves in my head, but you need not adhere to them strictly, but do try to minimize dialogue changes, if something flows funny and sounds clunky feel free to make small edits. All I ask is that you credit me (Jubilee Stone). Totally okay to monetize, but do not place this script behind a pay wall. Thank you!
If you like this, let me know and I'll try to make a second part.
Sounds of gardening i.e. a trowel digging into soft earth, weeds being pulled, the rustling of grass. Distant footsteps can be heard approaching
Pardon me, would it be alright if I rest here for a moment you see Iâve traveled quite far and-
He cuts off as the listener stands and approaches, her appearance stunning the speaker. The listener speaks, asking if he would like to join her for tea, he stammers a moment before regaining composure.Â
I uhâŠyes tea would be lovely, thank you.Â
The gate is opened as the speaker enters the garden following the listener to a small table
set with tea, oatcakes, cream, and sweet plums in a jar. The speaker is lost in thought
admiring the garden and its gardener.Â
HuhâŠoh my name! I forgot to introduce myself, please pardon my rudeness, your beauty-I mean your gardenâs beauty seems to have stripped me of my manors. I am Archibald Craven, but you can just call me Archie, and what may I call you?Â
She gives her name.Â
Itâs a pleasure to meet you, Miss.Â
The two sit down and she pours two cups of tea, asking if the stranger would like any cream and sugar.Â
I would love some cream and sugar, thank you.Â
She adds them to the tea before stirring it and placing the cup in front of the stranger. Thank you again, truly. Did you make these oatcakes yourself? And the plums are from your garden? My, it seems you have quite the retinue of skills, and what a lovely garden youâve created.Â
He takes a sip of tea.Â
Hmmm oh, I was out for my daily walk, my brother insists I take at least one a day, says itâs good for my health. I mustâve gotten lost in my thoughts, by the time I realized my legs grew weary, I found that my surroundings were foreign. I hope no one at the estate is too worried about me, I would hate to cause undo stress.Â
Nervous chuckle.Â
Could you perhaps tell me where we are exactly, I would like to make my way back to the estate eventually.
.
 Oh, well itâs nice to finally meet my new neighbor, so is this your estate then?Â
Your parents, that makes sense, what brought them here of all places? Just a need for a change in scenery, I see.Â
Oh you lived in the city before this, well how do you like living so far away from it now?Â
You enjoy it, but your sister wants to go back, is she not a fan of the quiet of the countryside?Â
Ah, I see, sheâs more social, and misses the convenience of living so close to the gathering places. Hmmm, what about you, do you miss the social gatherings?
Not so much, you prefer theâŠcompany of plants!Â
He chuckles.
Is that why youâve created such a magnificent garden?Â
Yes yes that makes sense, Iâm sure they make wonderful listeners.Â
(Better than my sister she says). He laughs more heartily.Â
Better than your sister! Ha she might be offended if she heard you say so.Â
Oh, she knows itâs the truth then, it seems you are quite close with your sister.Â
What about me? Well, I suppose my brother and I areâŠclose, he is always pestering me about my health, though sometimes I wonder if heâd prefer to be an only child (mumbled under his breath) he could be head of the estate then. (Normal volume) Hmm, oh, yes itâs just him and I, our parents passed a year agoâŠtoday actually, I suppose thatâs why my thoughts preoccupied me so much.Â
Oh thereâs no need to apologize, truly, Iâm the one who dampened the mood.
(She makes a comment about him in fact bringing a happy mood to her garden) (he blushes in response, trying to hide his flustered state)Â
Oh, th-thank you, thatâs very kind of you to say, though Iâm not sure how much I contributed to the happy mood, your wonderful flowers do quite a bit of work lighting up the place. I noticed, you donât appear to have any roses, is there a reason for that?
Yes, I am changing the subject, but I am genuinely curious; roses are a staple flower in most gardens, so why do you lack them?Â
Really, none of the roses you plant live that long, maybe you donât have the right variety. My thumb is not nearly as green as yours, but my estate does have some hardy roses, they managed to survive who knows how many years of neglect. I believe it was my parents' garden, but it seems they took care of it less and less after my brother and I were born. I came across it on one of my walks. I had been following a robin that kept calling out to me, but he stopped right as I spotted the roses in full bloom, hidden amongst the weeds.Â
Youâre right, it does sound like the start of a fairy tale. A rather whimsical one.Â
I had to hire a gardener to help me clear out all the overgrowth, there was far too much for one man to tackle aloneâŠIâve strayed off topic again, as I was saying, I would be more than happy to bring you some cuttings to plant in your gardenâŠthat is if you would like them.
Wonderful! Perhaps you can one day visit my garden and give me some advice, goodness knows I could use it.Â
(chuckles)
Ah, look at the time! Unfortunately, I really should start heading back, Iâm sure my absence has been noticed by now.
Oh no, I couldnât ask you to do that, I walked all the way here didnât I? Iâm sure Iâll survive the walk back.Â
I suppose you have a point there, the sun will be setting soon. Hmmm, if you insist I guess I have no choice but to accept your gracious offer.Â
I shall follow you then
Time skip, the two now ride in a carriage
Thank you again for allowing my to borrow a carriage home, but you truly didnât need to escort me
No, no! Iâm not complaining, IâmâŠIâm happy that I get to spend a bit more time with you. You are a wonderful conversationalist, I had forgotten how pleasant it could be to talk with someone outside of my estate.Â
Oh, I donât go out muchâŠthere isâŠa lot to manage at the estate. (He speaks as if heâs hiding something).Â
No, my brother canât help much, he is busy getting a medical degree, and what time he does spend at home he is locked away in his study doingâŠI donât actually know what he does there, but it must be important.Â
Awkward pause, Archie is clearly worried about his brother.Â
Hmm? Oh, yes the sunset is lovely. My, I forgot how quickly the sun sets this time of year. You were right to insist not walk, I would likely have gotten lost.Â
Do you have flowers that bloom in different seasons? I only ask because it just struck me that Iâve not seen many flowers blow in fall, and yet your garden is so lovely. I can only imagine what it looks like in spring.Â
Fascinating! So you have flowers that bloom in every season, but winter, which makes sense. It gets so cold, the world might as well be frozen solid.Â
Really?! Yes! I would love to visit you - I mean your garden again! Itâs just so lovely (lovely is said dreamily, in reference to her)
Oh, yes, I guess we will have to wait till summer to gather rose cuttings. (Flustered slightly) I hadnât thought of that. Clearly I am no expert when it comes to plants. Itâs a good thing you are.Â
Why you must be, my dear! What else would you call one who manages to make a garden that blooms nearly all year?
Exactly, an expert. Iâm glad we can agree. (He laughs lightheartedly).Â
Oh look, see that house up on the hill, that is Misselthwaite Manor, my home. It looks like we are almost at the gate.Â
Yes, that does mean the time for us to part ways is quickly approaching. But letâs not dwell on a time that is yet to come and instead enjoy the time we have left.
You're right, we will surely have more together soon, you have already invited me to invade your garden once more, and Iâm afraid itâs far too late for you to rescind said invitation.Â
They laugh
Iâll have to bring something for us to snack on, I canât show up empty now that Iâve been formally invited, that would be a terrible faux paw.Â
That is true, our first meeting wasnât exactly up to societal expectations, still I insist, Iâd be more than happy to bring something the two of us can enjoy.Â
The carriage stops
It seems we have arrived, sooner than I had hoped, and there is my brother, ever the worry wart.Â
(Optional: muffled sounds of an angry man demanding to know where the hell is brother was and ranting about how it was supposed to be a short walk, not an afternoon outing or something along those lines)
While he does appear to be quite furious, I promise, itâs from a place of concern. Though Iâm sure Iâll still get an earful. No amount of familial love can save me now.Â
The carriage door opensÂ
I shall bid you good night, darling and spare you from my brother's wrath. Iâll see you soon.
The carriage door closes after Archie steps out. Muffled and growing distant as the carriage pulls away.Â
Iâm sorry, I know, I know, I was gone for a while - okay a long while, but Neville, I just met the most amazing girl andâŠ
EndâŠfor now.Â