| 003 | VIDEO |

[briefly]

Let me start this by saying that I feel absolutely silly for having not thought of doing this a long, long time ago, but - well. That's obviously not longer the case. But I ought to get it out of the way anyhow.

[a breath.]

Katherine Stewart.

Marguerite Chadwick.

Stanley Chadwick.

Anthony Proud.

Delphine Gaudin.

Emilia Gorski-Grumley.

[With a little tension in her voice-] Julia Grumley.

[And after a pointed pause, exhaling again - this name is the hardest to say.] And Frederick Grumley.

I don't suppose anyone here has seen either of these people. Or - is any of these people? Who knows how long I've been here, but considering how long we've all been here, I... I thought it couldn't hurt to ask. If I'm here, chances are one of them might be, too. Not that it would be ideal, but I'd rather know about it.

[Read: she misses them. And she's worried about them. So there you have it.]

Thank you.

Comments

[briefly]

Oh, I - thank you! That's very kind of you. I don't believe we've met-?

[vivelavenir]

Oh, it's no trouble. I've yet to do anything, even.

[A smile, though, and he nodded.]

We have not. My name is Jean Prouvaire, Mademoiselle. Circumstance aside, it is a pleasure.

[briefly]

Well, it's - very nice to meet you, I'm sure. I'm Poppy Chadwick. I take it you're French-?

[vivelavenir]

I am, mademoiselle Chadwick. That you have heard of France is heartening to me; not all here have, though their tales of more fantastic worlds are of greater impact, I think, than knowing Paris on a map might be.

[A ginger smile.]

And you are from-? If I may ask.

[briefly]

Oh, I - I'm from London. England. My mother is French, though! So it's nice to meet someone who knows the language - I confess I miss it, sometimes.

[vivelavenir]

Ah-- my sincerest apologies. 'Miss Chadwick', then.

But how lovely, that your mother is French. [Such matches were... unlikely, in his day.] Do you speak it still, and have you ever-lived in London? Or have you visited France?

[A pause then before, more sheepishly;] Though forgive me. Such personal questions... I wouldn't wish to pry.

[briefly]

Poppy's just fine, [she laughs, a bit sheepishly. She thinks the gesture is very nice, though.]

I've been to France several times - my mother lives there. I stayed back in London with my father and sister. And - I do speak French, yes! I've always liked it, even if I don't get to make as much use of it as I'd like.

[vivelavenir]

Poppy, then. Thank you.

That's wonderful to hear. I have never been to London, myself, but I've heard it is a great city with small, hidden places of warmth, much like Paris.

The... names you have listed? Friends and family, I suppose, also English?

pIt might help him to know, should he come across them.]

[briefly]

Well - both cities certainly have their charm. They're very different, but just as nice to be in, I think. Especially when you know what you're talking about with the locals.

[That aside-]

Yes. Most of them. Uhm - there's my sister, Marguerite, she's also half-French, obviously. And our mother, her name is Delphine Gaudin.

[vivelavenir]

Yes-- that must be something you are very savvy with? Multi-lingualism, I've found, is deeply important and not enough stressed. It's wonderful, that you speak the two. Do you speak any others?

[It is odd that her mother does not share her last name, but he does not mention it.]

Those are lovely names.

[briefly]

Just a little bit of this and that. Mostly European, since that's where I work. You pick things up when you work as a reporter, you know?