The man of property

Synopsis

This episode covers the building of the house to the first moment of Forsyte family crisis. As it opens, Soames and Bosinney ride in a horse cart out to Robin Hill, where Soames is thinking of building a house. Soames is looking at cheaper sites lower on the hill, but Bosinney finds the perfect spot: at the top. The view is lovely, and even Soames is moved by it. He takes the site. Irene and June tell Bosinney, who's working on a design, about how much they dislike Soames. Irene tells Bosinney to put tall walls around the house, if he wishes to please its owner. June retorts that Soames loves to show off. Irene still hasn't officially been told by Soames.

Aunt Anne is old and bedridden. She hears the new from Forsyte 'Change, and tells Aunt Hester to warn Soames to be very very careful.

We find Soames ranting at Irene about something or other fairly unpleasant. He doesn't like June much. He gets the news about the house out under cover of the burst of irritation. She doesn't react. He clearly expected a reaction, and asks her if she heard. She already knew. She tells him that if he wants to know what she wants, he should ask her. Soames storms off. Irene reacts after he leaves, wondering what she's going to do.

Bosinney has finished the plans of the house. He presents them to a puzzled Soames. Soames knows about painting, but not about architecture. All this talk about regularity is all very well, but won't it look like a barrack? Won't it be cold? Irene can't stand the cold! Bosinney explains. Eventually Soames consents.

The building of the house proceeds over the winter. Soames visits the site often. He looks happy. Bosinney talks to him about the color of tiles and this and that. He wants to consult with Irene, whom he finds artistic. He has plans to see a play with June. ("Coming to our place to meet her, I suppose," says Soames in the novel, reflecting that Bosinney was always hanging around their house.) Bosinney does visit them. He walks over to Irene, who's playing the piano, and tells her that he doesn't flirt: if he sees something to admire, he admires it openly. Meaning that he admires her. Soames walks in and interrupts them, unknowing, with talk about the accounts of the house, which seem over budget. Irene sharply rebukes him for talking business in her drawing room, and Soames apologizes. She tells him to go off and change. He does so. Irene and Bosinney are alone again. June arrives for dinner, and creeps up on them unseen. She overhears some conversation that makes her suspicious. Her unchaperoned evening at the theater with Bosinney is ruined by her jealousy and his complete distraction.

Irene goes on a drive with Uncle Swithin, old "four-in-hand" Forsyte. They drive to see the house, which Swithin approves of. Bosinney settles him in a chair with a bottle of champagne. Swithin naps. Bosinney and Irene go on a walk in the trees below the house, where they embrace. They are lovers. On the drive back home, Swithin nearly gets into an accident with another carriage. His horses bolt. "Don't worry, you hang on, I'll get you home," he says to Irene. "I don't care if I never get home!" she says to him. He's impressed.

The only consistently warm and loving relationship in Soames's life is with his sister Winifred. He clearly shares affection with his father, but can't show it. With Winifred, he can show it. While Irene is off on a drive with Swithin, Soames listens sympathetically to Winifred's latest tale of financial misbehavior from Dartie. He starts to tell Winifred about his own troubles, but is interrupted by Irene's arrival home. She's flushed, excited, happy. Winifred comments on how lovely she looks and how unfair it is on other women. Soames says nothing, but looks stricken. He knows that excitement is not for him.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Park at Timothy's, Swithin is already telling the story to the suitably shocked and titillated Aunts Juley and Hester. He shouldn't wonder if Bosinney was sweet on Mrs. Soames! He tells of catching him "slobbering" on her handkerchief. Swithin is just as captivated by Irene as Bosinney was, as Hester drily comments.Upstairs, the maid Smither tries to wake Aunt Anne, but fails. Aunt Anne is dead. (The crisis has struck deep at the root of the Forsytes: the most primal property-- a man's wife-- has been threatened.)