I miss dancing with your father.

The very last time I danced was with him.

The ball. There were peacocks present, I believe. Real ones.

I suppose I miss everything about him, really.

The two of you loved each other so very much.

It is a rarity, I've come to realize.

But that is not to say it was without its trials.

Your father and I faced many difficulties indeed, but we overcame them.

We made a decision early on to do so.

Mama, I do not think...

We chose to love each other every single day.

It is a choice, dear, one that is never too late to make.

I may never be able to see your father again.

I may wake every morning and touch the pillow he used to lay his head.

But knowing that the two of us made the choice to love and to do all that we could...

Well...

I cannot tell you how much peace and comfort that brings to me.

I wish there was something for Mom. I wish I could do this.

You are a Bridgeton. There is nothing you cannot do.

I love you.

I love you.

Daphne!

Daphne!

Daphne!

Everyone!

I believe this evening is complete.

We shall thank our gracious host for such a splendid soirée in the morning.

Now go...

out...

at once.

Daphne...

I am so sorry.

For what?

Even a duke cannot control the weather.

I know that this is not what you had envisioned for the evening.

Certainly not.

For that, I...

It is better.

I know why you made that vow to your father.

I found the letters you wrote to him as a child, and I read them.

Daphne...

Just because something is not perfect does not make it any less worthy of love.

Your father made you believe otherwise.

He made you believe that you needed to be without fault in order to be loved, but he was wrong.

Should you need any proof of the matter, then look just here.

I am tired of pretending.

And I cannot continue acting as if I...

as if I do not love you.

Because I do.

I love all of you.

Even the parts that you believe are too dark and too shameful.

Every scar.

Every flaw.

Every imperfection.

I love you.

You may think you are too damaged and too broken to ever allow yourself to be happy, but you can choose differently, Simon.

You can choose to love me as much as I love you.

That should not be up to anyone else.

That cannot be up to anyone else.

It can only be up to you.

© transcript Emily Beynon