Scene Summary: Mending Fences

Mending Fences
Chronicle	DC Chronicle
Game Date	November 22, 2015
Real Date	February 5-8, 2016
Characters	Ginevra Bianchi Jacque Beaumont
Locations	Ginevra's Thomas Circle Studio
Previous Scene	Carrying That Load (Ginevra) Paper Faces (Jacque)
Next Scene	Regrets of the Dying (Ginevra, Jacque)
Content Warnings	Sexual Harassment
Original Scene	Mending Fences

Mending Fences is a scene from the DC Chronicle featuring Ginevra Bianchi and Jacque Beaumont. It depicts Ginevra and Jacque discussing the rumors about his relationship and eventually making up.

Scene Summary

Jacque awakes for the evening and bathes and dresses, going immediatelyt to Ginevra's apartment at Thomas Circle Apartments. He knocks on the door; inside, Ginevra has been working nonstop to avoid dealing with her romantic disappointment and opens the door distracted, assuming that the visitor is Jonathan Stewart. She is not pleased to see Jacque and tries to stonewall him professionally, telling him that Maeve Glaistig is not seeing anyone, but he tells her that he came to speak to her instead about a misunderstanding. Ginevra assumes that he wants to make excuses now that he's been caught trying to use her to get to her employer and tries to refuse. Jacque reminds her that they have feelings for one another and asks for the opportunity to explain, but Ginevra continues to reject him, assuming his attempts are due to his interest in Maeve.

Jacque becomes upset and Ginevra finally relents to let him speak. He explains that he knows she has heard rumors about his relationships lately but that none of them are true; Ginevra wants to believe him but is determined not to let him use her to hurt her friend and points out that he ignored her while she was stranded in Paris, only to mysteriously show up again as soon as she and Maeve were back together. She begs him to leave Maeve alone and tells him that he will have no more chances to get to her through Ginevra herself. Jacque feels guilty about Ginevra's year in Paris and admits that he should have handled it better, but again repeats that the rumors are not true and that he and Maeve have never had a sexual relationship.

Ginevra recalls that Maeve also denied this and is relieved, but is still unsure whether to trust him, asking where the rumors came from. Jacque tells her that he believes Jean Claude Danut is the culprit and apologizes that she had to hear such a thing from Maeve, adding that she can always ask him and get an honest answer. Ginevra clarifies that Maeve doesn't hear gossip due to not going out and that she was told the rumor by Angelique Stravinsky, who cornered her on Elysium. Jacque becomes angry, realizing that Angelique is trying to punish him for rejecting her, and promises to try to keep her from bothering Ginevra again. Realizing that she was wrong and that Jacque did not deserve her silent treatment, Ginevra apologizes but asks him to call her another night when emotions are not running so high.

Script Summary

The script summary for this scene pares it down to only dialogue and action directions, allowing for a quicker and easier read through what was actually said and done by the characters. Click on the "Expand" tag to the right to view the entire script summary for this scene.

Mending Fences Script Summary

Jacque wakes up at home and bathes, gets dressed, and leaves for Ginevra's apartment. He walks up the stairs, straightens his clothing, and knocks on her door. Ginevra is inside sitting at her desk, chewing on a pen and writing. She gets up and opens the door.

GINEVRA: Jonathan, you know you can just—

She recognizes Jacque.

GINEVRA: Oh, hello, Mr. Beaumont. I'm very sorry, but Ms. Glaistig isn't seeing anyone tonight. Would you like me to take her a message?

JACQUE: No, Ms. Bianchi. I did not come to speak with Ms. Glaistig. I came, I came because you have not been returning my telephone calls and I believe there has been a misunderstanding.

He clears his throat.

JACQUE: Either I have misread the situation or you have been misinformed.

GINEVRA: No, I don't think so. I'm very sorry for missing your calls. Can I help you with something, now that you're here?

JACQUE: You do not think you have been misinformed? Or you do not think I was mistaken?

He shakes his head.

JACQUE: I care for you, Ginevra. And I thought, I thought you felt the same for me. If I was wrong to assume this, I will leave now and I will never mention it again. But... If not, I would hope that you would give me the opportunity to explain.

GINEVRA: Mr. Beaumont, whether I care about you or not is irrelevant. My employer is not seeing anyone now, or at any time in the foreseeable future. Whatever you would like to explain to her, you may either leave it with me, or you will simply have to wait until she is available.

JACQUE: You know very well I am not here to explain anything to Miss Glaistig.

GINEVRA: Oh, do I?

JACQUE: And I am sorry, but I disagree. Whether you care for me or not is very relevant. If you care for me, you should let me speak for myself instead of letting others speak for me.

GINEVRA: Very well, then, Mr. Beaumont, what was it you wanted to say to me?

JACQUE: I wanted to say... It has come to my attention that there are... rumors circulating about me. And that you may have heard them as well. I — They aren't true. I don't know how to convince you of that. Except to say that I have never lied to you, Ginevra. And that I have given you no reason to doubt me. Have I?

GINEVRA: Oh, I don't know. How about not being able to make a damn phone call for a year while I was busy being homeless in a foreign country? Oh, but you remembered that you cared about me at the exact same time I happened to find Maeve again, mysteriously. I am not STUPID. Look, you saw her and she is in no condition to deal with — with whatever. So whatever you're up to, just cut it out, already. Try and bother her all you want, but you're not going to do it through ME.

JACQUE: I am sorry for that. I should have found a way, I know that. But — I am sorry. You are right to be upset with me for not calling, but let it be over that, not whatever you think is going on with me and your mistress. I never slept with Maeve. If you cannot believe me, ask her yourself. Though... Though I do wish you would believe me.

Ginevra folds her arms over her chest.

GINEVRA: Then why exactly do so many people seem to think so?

JACQUE: Because of Jean Claude is all that I can gather so far.

GINEVRA: Now that I suppose I can believe.

Jacque sighs.

JACQUE: I am sorry, I only know so much myself. I do know that there are these... rumors, and that they have reached the lesser harpy and Ms. Glaistig. And you, of course, by way of Ms. Glaistig. But that is all. If I knew more, I would tell you. Anything that I do know... I would tell you that too. I am very private, too private perhaps, I know. But I would tell you whatever you wanted to know.

GINEVRA: Oh, for heaven's sake, I don't know anything by way of Maeve. Maeve doesn't gossip. And she doesn't go out, anyway, unless I chase her around for a week first. Actually, the Lesser Harpy cornered me just off Elysium and took me out for coffee. And she seemed very... well, very certain, about lots of things.

Jacque steps back. There is a pause.

JACQUE: I am sorry. I am... This is all a bit much, yes?

GINEVRA: Yes, it is. It is all too much.

JACQUE: I am sure Ms Stravinsky is certain of many things. This does not mean they are true.

GINEVRA: Well, then someone has been lying to her, because she did not seem to understand why I didn't know what she was talking about.

He adjusts his tie and clears his throat.

JACQUE: The lesser Harpy was out of line. I will make sure it does not happen again. I will do my best.

There is a long pause.

GINEVRA: Look, I have... a lot to do tonight, before tomorrow at Limbo, and... well, maybe I'd better get back to that. Call me.

She runs a hand through her hair.

GINEVRA: I mean, later. I mean... sorry.

Trivia

• The majority of this scene takes place in Italian, but is translated to English here for ease of reference.
  
  
• Ginevra's year stranded in Paris is chronicled in The Ginevra Files: Paris.
  
  
• Jacque is correct; the rumors about his sexual prowess were indeed started by his sire Jean Claude Danut, expressly to cause him problems.
  
  
• Ginevra's impromptu coffee date with Angelique Stravinsky is seen in When the Cat's Away...