Jane Eyre s01e01 Episode Script
Episode 1
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Where is the rat?! She's behind the curtain, where she always hides.
Mama! Jane has knocked me down! Take her up to the red room immediately.
That child has the devil in her.
I've always said.
No! No! Not the red room! No! No! Not the red room! No! DOOR SLAMS SHE SOBS Don't come back, Uncle Reed.
Please don't come back.
Uncle Reed, please don't come back.
Please.
SHE PANTS Let me out please! Let me out! Let me out.
Let me out! Come along, John.
Yes, come on, John, we haven't got all day.
Don't worry.
I won't shoot you.
Unless we don't like the painting, that is.
Hello.
Well, shouldn't you be in the portrait? There's still plenty of room.
Jane Eyre?! She's not part of the family.
It's no use looking at me like that, Jane.
I have tried my hardest but you made it impossible.
I tried to carry out my dear husband's wishes, but you have made it impossible.
You know you have.
You have deliberately made it impossible for me to love you.
Say something! Unnatural child! You have not tried very hard.
My uncle's dying wish was that you treat me as one of YOUR children.
You have not tried to.
You dare to tell me That is why he haunts the red room - because you disobeyed him.
And on the day you die, God will know who's telling the truth, whatever you or I say now.
Come on, Miss Jane.
You have a visitor.
You must look your best.
I have tried so very hard.
You cannot believe how hard I've tried, but (.
.
there is the devil in the child.
) What is your name, child? Jane Eyre, sir.
Do you know, Jane Eyre, what happens to little children when they die? They go to heaven.
And what happens to disobedient, deceitful girls when they die? They go to hell.
So what must you do to avoid this terrible fate? I must take care to keep in good health and not to fall ill, sir.
Your aunt tells me that you are a deceitful child.
Is that true, Jane Eyre? I am not a liar.
So do you say your aunt is a liar? CROWS CAW BELL RINGS Ah, Jane Eyre.
How could I forget? Step out here, Jane.
Jane Eyre, I'm sorry to have to tell you is a liar.
The lesson of the day will be that lying is a sin, that all liars deserve to be shunned by their fellows.
Stand on that stool, Jane.
You will stay there until midnight, and you will not eat or drink but bow to beg God's forgiveness for your sin.
I wish I could escape to one of these places, somewhere where it's warm.
I believe you will.
But you'll have to work hard.
We have to accept that we have been left here by our families to fend for ourselves.
If you take advantage of the education here, if you are not too rebellious, and if you are patient then you will find your way out.
We will both work our hardest and pray that God spares us until we are grown up.
And then what do we do? I think when we grow up we have to be teachers.
How do we ever get out of here, Helen? We advertise! GIRLS COUGH SOUND OF COUGHING SOUND OF CRYING SOUND OF COUGHING There you are.
You're very cold, Jane.
Come on under my covers.
No! No! God can't have her! He can't take her! God has already taken her, Jane.
You must be brave.
Helen! Helen! Helen! Helen! SHE SOBS CHURCH BELLS RING Girls, look how the sun casts shadows in the flowers.
If you want to recreate that put down your charcoals and just smudge the edges where the dark shadows are.
Come on, girls, hurry up now.
Miss Eyre.
There appears to be a letter for you, Miss Eyre.
"If Miss JE is in a position to give satisfactory references "as to character and competency, then we will be happy to engage "her as a governess to Miss Adele Varens, ward of Mr Rochester of Thornfield Hall.
" Ah, there's Thornfield Hall now, Miss.
There's always a light burning in the tower.
BIRDS TWITTER CREAKING BIRDS CALL Are you taking me to Mrs Fairfax? In there.
Why, it's Miss Eyre! At last! Oh, we've been waiting for you for so long! I'm Mrs Fairfax.
Welcome to Thornfield.
My goodness, Miss Eyre, how hungry you are.
You must have been travelling all day.
How long is it since you have sat beside the fire and eaten a hearty meal? Oh, approximately eight years.
Oh, my goodness.
SHE LAUGHS Eight years! Hasn't sat by the fire for eight years! SHE LAUGHS Eight years! I'll tell the master that when he gets back from abroad, that will amuse even him! Oh, not that he's without humour, of course.
No, certainly not.
I remember he used to tell jokes as a child.
He keeps himself to himself, but you needn't worry.
He's hardly ever at home.
Always travelling.
BIRDS SING Miss Eyre, you ARE up early.
I hope you slept well.
Yes, thank you.
I was anxious to meet Adele.
Ah yes, well, you won't have to wait long.
Does she play up there? Oh, goodness me, no.
No-one lives up there.
Oh, I thought I saw someone at the window.
There's only Grace Poole there.
She does the laundry.
Mrs Fairfax Ah, I don't think Miss Adele can wait much longer.
SHE SINGS IN FRENCH: Bonjour, Mademoiselle Jeanne.
I'm so very heureuse to faire votre acquaintance.
Enchantee, Adele.
Moi aussi j'etais impatiente de faire de connaissance.
Oh, thank goodness, you'll be able to understand her.
Now you can tell me what she is singing.
WellI believe it is a romance.
The woman is declaring her love for her sweetheart.
Merci, merci, merci, I will dance another one.
Later maybe, but first you will show me to our school room.
SOUND OF TRICKLING WATER SHEEP BLEA DOG BARKS HORSE WHINNIES Damn it! Christ! DOG CONTINUES TO BARK Quiet, Pilot.
Damn it! Are you injured, sir? Get away from mewitch.
You've done enough damage! I cannot think of leaving you until I see you are fit to mount your horse.
You should be at home yourself.
Where do you live? At Thornfield Hall.
I can fetch help, I'll be a little while.
HE GROANS IN PAIN, HORSE WHINNIES Do you think you can bring him over to me? Come over here.
Come.
Come here, come here.
Hold these.
HE GRUNTS Thank youMiss? Jane Eyre, sir.
Well, that's what happens when you bewitch a man's horse, Miss Eyre.
A lot of pain and cursing.
I did not bewitch your horse, sir.
I was waiting for you to go past.
You were hovering casting spells.
Now get off back to Thornfield Hall, if that is indeed where you live.
I do, but I will post my letter first before I return.
Don't be late back .
.
Miss Jane Eyre.
THUNDER RUMBLES Ah, Miss Eyre, there you are.
What do you think? The master is back.
Mr Rochester? Not a word about his return, as usual, and he had an accident on the road.
The doctor is with him in the drawing room now.
Adele, come away! Time for bed.
Mr Rochester will see you tomorrow.
KNOCKING Miss Eyre, make yourself ready.
Master has finished his business for the day and wishes to see you.
Me? Yes.
Oh, no, no, no, you must change.
This will have to do.
CLOCK CHIMES This will have to do.
Ah, Miss Eyre.
Peut-etre vous avez une boite pour Mademoiselle Eyre, Monsieur Rochester? A boite for Miss Eyre? Does Miss Eyre require a present? Excuse me, sir? Does the governess expect me to have brought her a present back from my travels overseas? No, sir.
What are you doing standing over there where I can't see you? Where would you like me to stand, sir? Here.
Sit.
Are you fond of presents, Miss Eyre? I hardly know, sir.
I have little experience of them.
Never had a present? I believe they are generally thought pleasant things, sir.
Hm.
But to this frivolous little doll, this true daughter of Paris, they are the stuff of life, aren't they, my little? The thought of presents makes her live and breathe.
Monsieur Rochester? Ah, ma boite! Merci! Merci! Merci! Merci! Merci! Quiet, while I talk to Miss Eyre.
Where are you from? Lowood Institution, sir.
How long were you there? Eight years.
I'm amazed you survived, you're so small.
Didn't they feed you? Nosir.
And how do you find yourself here and not still there? I advertised, sir.
HE LAUGHS Of course you did.
What of your family? I have none, sir.
None whatsoever? Friends? None, sir.
None at all? I had a friend once but she died a long time ago, sir.
You're lucky, Miss Eyre.
If you do not love another living soul then you'll never be disappointed.
Yes, sir.
Adele tells me you play the piano brilliantly.
I play a little, sir.
Of course, a little, that's what they all say.
Go over there and play.
SHE PLAYS AN UPBEAT TUNE ON THE PIANO Enough! Yes.
You're right.
You do play a little.
These yours? Yes, sir.
These are These are interesting.
The ideas all yours? Yes, sir.
Were you happy when you painted these? I was fully occupied I was not unhappy.
What do you think of me, Monsieur? Do you think I look beautiful? Shall I dance for you? Miss Eyre, what are you thinking of? It's very late.
Adele should be in bed.
And my foot hurts like the blazes.
Good night, sir.
So, what did you think of Master? He is very changeable.
Yes.
But he has he has had disappointment in his life.
I hope you will forgive his rough and ready ways.
You will not leave? I've grown used to you.
I hope he won't scare you away.
I'm not scared of rough manners.
He will be gone soon.
He never stays for more than a few days at a time.
Afternoon, Miss.
Miss Eyre! Come here.
Sit.
Not you, Pilot.
Miss Eyre, excuse me, I'm used to giving orders and having them obeyed.
Sit, if you please.
I beg your pardon, sir I did not ask your permission to read the books.
Permission! To read the books? You are a thinking, intelligent woman, aren't you? Why ever would you need to ask permission? Who else is to read them? Adele? The venerable Fairfax? I'd more likely find Pilot pouring over the flora and fauna of the South American flatlands.
So, anyway, talk.
Talk, sir? Yes, talkif you please.
See how I'm learning to be polite.
I've had a tedious day of mortgages and share prices and I would like to be entertained.
Entertained, sir? Miss Eyre, can we proceed? When I'm tired I tend to dwell on my darker thoughts.
I would like to entertain you, sir I am not sure what would interest you.
A smile! A very small one.
The mere glimpse of a smile.
At last! Tell me your thoughts.
I command you.
I was just thinking sir, it's not many employers would ask the opinions of someone they pay £30 a year to.
I pay you a salarydo I? Well, of course I do.
Well, I should have my money's worth then.
Oh I can see there's another problem.
Out with it.
You haven't actually paid me anything yet, sir.
Ah! Mercenary girl! Fetch me my keys now! You want my money in your hand before you will amuse me? No, sir.
That will not be necessary, sir.
Maybe you could ask me questions, sir? Er, have you travelled, Miss Eyre? No, sir.
All young people wish to travel, even if they find kindness and food and a fire, they wish to be gone.
I've travelled all over the world, Miss Eyre, and it's very over-rated.
Yes, sir.
When I was a young man I was your equal.
I had a clear conscience, unpolluted by sin.
I took the wrong path.
It wasn't my fault that I took it but .
.
I must take the blame for continuing on it.
I think you may have a little of the witch about you.
You bewitched my horse.
You sit there patiently and would draw out secrets of my past.
I do not wish to pry, sir.
I know, Jane.
Do you think me handsome, Jane? No, sir.
HE LAUGHS Look carefully.
If I were to tell you that I'm worth £20,000, surely the light from the fire would soften my features.
Do I not seem to you now the very model of a fashionable man? I do not think there's anything in science that will allow that, sir.
I spoke hastily, sir, I did not mean that I find you repellent.
What I meant is that it is the character inside that determines a person, not the outer shell.
Take care, Jane Don't look too closely inside of me.
You might not find anything within at all beautiful .
.
and then where would we be? THEY SPEAK QUIETLY Is that Grace Poole? Hm.
Does she live alone in the North Tower? North Tower catches the wind.
I don't know why, it makes me shiver just to think of it.
Miss Eyre.
You're required! This way, hurry up! Oh, goodness, Miss Eyre.
The Master has taken it into his head to give Adele a biology lesson and we all have to hunt beetles.
Poor Sophie can't understand a word he says and neither can I really! Monsieur Rochester, we are bored with looking at the English water beetles.
They are not beautiful like the ones in your study.
Can I go with you, Monsieur Rochester, when you set off on your travels once more? I will always wear my best dress and everyone will think I am pretty.
Yes, but if they see you for the shallow little creature you are, no more substance than one of those meringues over there, well, they will find you disgusting, my little Parisienne.
They will find me disgusting! You are mistaken, Adele, if you do not think to find interesting creatures here in England.
There's a bird.
It's a it's a quite nondescript grey colour.
It's accustomed not to moving too quickly, not to draw attention to itself for fear of being beaten.
It wishes it could be in a cage but sooner or later, slowly, day by day, its wings grow very strong and if you were to look very closely, you would see brilliant scarlet feathers hidden under its drab wings.
Until one day, it's grown so confident that it flaps its red wings and flies straight upwards into the sky and those lucky enough to catch it in flight think they have caught a glimpse of a firebird.
And then? Well, then it flies away somewhere warm and never comes back.
I don't think I believe in this bird.
It's true.
There is one here at Thornfield in the gardens if you look very hard.
Madame Fare-Fax, Monsieur Rochester said the ladies will say I'm disgusting! Oh, that's nice, dear.
Mmm, what is there to eat? I would like a meringue, please.
Come, Miss Eyre You have something to say.
You should not tease, sir.
She's just a child.
She is.
She's also self-obsessed, thoughtless, vain.
You've made great headway with her even in the past few months, but look at her.
Just like her mother.
I saw what the mother became.
That is no reason to despise the child.
Do you really think? If the blood is tainted won't I be failing in my duty to her to let her remain like this and not to try my best to correct her ways? She does not deserve to be ridiculed or despised.
She's a child.
She deserves that you should trust her, that she'll grow and learn and Miss Eyre.
No, thank you, Adele.
We shall see, Miss Eyre.
Adele, don't run.
What's the matter with Sophie? She doesn't like les maladesthe mad people.
FOOTSTEPS RETREATING BANGING DISTANT BARKING LOUD SCRATCHING FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING No, Pilot.
No, you don't belong here.
Go back to your master.
ROCHESTER: Pilotcome here! Jane, come and look at this fellow.
Come here.
Look at his wings.
I've seen one like this in the West Indies, but never here.
That will teach me to tease Adele.
Come, sit down with me for a while.
Sit.
As it is now your job as well as mine to bring Adele up correctly, I'm going to tell you about her, about where she came from and who she belongs to.
Maybe you'll understand You do not need to tell me anything.
I know.
You understand too much without me saying anything.
It is the witch in you.
You have to imagine a young man Well, one who is still youngish and who has made a mistake.
Not his fault but .
.
this mistake and the darkness that follows it has set him helter skelter around the world in search of beauty to help ease his soul.
And he does find beauty, or rather beauty finds him because, as you will guess this is a very rich youngish man.
That look.
No judgement, no pity.
That look could prise secrets from the blackest souls.
Where were we? Beauty finding a youngish man.
Ah yes.
So, on our whirlwind tour, we alight in Paris.
Now, Jane, imagine, I know it's difficult, imagine .
.
a suite of rooms in a particularly gorgeous Parisian hotel.
It is upholstered with velvets and furs.
Everything is sensuous to the touch, the best that this youngish man's money can buy.
It is a summer evening and there is perfume in the air.
The young man breathes in the scent of his lover .
.
musk and amber.
Her name is Celine Varens.
She's very beautiful.
She is a dancer, an exotic bird.
She dotes on him, and he is passionately in love with her.
He's had a fortunate night gambling and he waits for her now in anticipation of the dark, intoxicating hours ahead.
Are you still with me, Jane? I'm here, sir.
COQUETTISH LAUGHTER 'At last he hears the sound of her return.
'Only a few more seconds' wait until he sees her.
'An eternity passes.
' THEY SPEAK IN FRENCH 'At that very moment, as I stood in the shadows, 'the green snake of jealousy bit into my heart.
' Where is your beast of an Englishman tonight? Gambling.
Someone else can look at his unpleasant face.
He is verypresentable really, for an Englishman.
£20,000 make him very presentable.
'She wasn't as clear sighted as you are, Jane.
' You find me unattractive despite my wealth.
You do not know what it is to feel jealousy, do you, Jane? Because you have no idea what it is to love.
You have no idea what it is to feel the very beat of someone's heart within one's breast.
No, sir.
Do you still love her, sir? Who? Celine.
I mean, Miss Varens.
Good God, no.
No, I threw her out of the hotel room and I shot him .
.
in the shoulder or some insignificant place.
No, when I saw what a wretched fool she'd meddled with I knew that she could never love me.
That's obvious, surely.
And Adele? She left her in the hotel when she ran off.
Celine claimed that I was the father, but a fairly elementary study of biology would prove that impossible.
Tell me, Jane, is there anything about myself that remotely resembles Adele? Look at me carefully.
No, sir.
She left her in the hotel a parcel with a label on with my name.
What was I to do? Leave her there to starve? I provided for her in France, then a few months ago it was necessary to bring her here.
She was not my responsibility but I took her on just the same.
So, as her guardian and your master, what do you think of my behaviour, Miss Eyre? Did I do the right thing? It was the right thing to do, wasn't it, Jane? Yes, sir.
SCRATCHING AT DOOR Go away, Pilot.
Pilot, go back to your master.
WIND HOWLS FOOTSTEPS RUNNING FOOTSTEPS IN DISTANCE WAILING Who is there? FOOTSTEPS IN DISTANCE FOOTSTEPS POUNDING DOOR SLAMS SHU Hello? Hello? HAUNTING ORCHESTRAL MUSIC CRASH Every Tuesday at 1030.
The best drama from BBC Four.
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Where is the rat?! She's behind the curtain, where she always hides.
Mama! Jane has knocked me down! Take her up to the red room immediately.
That child has the devil in her.
I've always said.
No! No! Not the red room! No! No! Not the red room! No! DOOR SLAMS SHE SOBS Don't come back, Uncle Reed.
Please don't come back.
Uncle Reed, please don't come back.
Please.
SHE PANTS Let me out please! Let me out! Let me out.
Let me out! Come along, John.
Yes, come on, John, we haven't got all day.
Don't worry.
I won't shoot you.
Unless we don't like the painting, that is.
Hello.
Well, shouldn't you be in the portrait? There's still plenty of room.
Jane Eyre?! She's not part of the family.
It's no use looking at me like that, Jane.
I have tried my hardest but you made it impossible.
I tried to carry out my dear husband's wishes, but you have made it impossible.
You know you have.
You have deliberately made it impossible for me to love you.
Say something! Unnatural child! You have not tried very hard.
My uncle's dying wish was that you treat me as one of YOUR children.
You have not tried to.
You dare to tell me That is why he haunts the red room - because you disobeyed him.
And on the day you die, God will know who's telling the truth, whatever you or I say now.
Come on, Miss Jane.
You have a visitor.
You must look your best.
I have tried so very hard.
You cannot believe how hard I've tried, but (.
.
there is the devil in the child.
) What is your name, child? Jane Eyre, sir.
Do you know, Jane Eyre, what happens to little children when they die? They go to heaven.
And what happens to disobedient, deceitful girls when they die? They go to hell.
So what must you do to avoid this terrible fate? I must take care to keep in good health and not to fall ill, sir.
Your aunt tells me that you are a deceitful child.
Is that true, Jane Eyre? I am not a liar.
So do you say your aunt is a liar? CROWS CAW BELL RINGS Ah, Jane Eyre.
How could I forget? Step out here, Jane.
Jane Eyre, I'm sorry to have to tell you is a liar.
The lesson of the day will be that lying is a sin, that all liars deserve to be shunned by their fellows.
Stand on that stool, Jane.
You will stay there until midnight, and you will not eat or drink but bow to beg God's forgiveness for your sin.
I wish I could escape to one of these places, somewhere where it's warm.
I believe you will.
But you'll have to work hard.
We have to accept that we have been left here by our families to fend for ourselves.
If you take advantage of the education here, if you are not too rebellious, and if you are patient then you will find your way out.
We will both work our hardest and pray that God spares us until we are grown up.
And then what do we do? I think when we grow up we have to be teachers.
How do we ever get out of here, Helen? We advertise! GIRLS COUGH SOUND OF COUGHING SOUND OF CRYING SOUND OF COUGHING There you are.
You're very cold, Jane.
Come on under my covers.
No! No! God can't have her! He can't take her! God has already taken her, Jane.
You must be brave.
Helen! Helen! Helen! Helen! SHE SOBS CHURCH BELLS RING Girls, look how the sun casts shadows in the flowers.
If you want to recreate that put down your charcoals and just smudge the edges where the dark shadows are.
Come on, girls, hurry up now.
Miss Eyre.
There appears to be a letter for you, Miss Eyre.
"If Miss JE is in a position to give satisfactory references "as to character and competency, then we will be happy to engage "her as a governess to Miss Adele Varens, ward of Mr Rochester of Thornfield Hall.
" Ah, there's Thornfield Hall now, Miss.
There's always a light burning in the tower.
BIRDS TWITTER CREAKING BIRDS CALL Are you taking me to Mrs Fairfax? In there.
Why, it's Miss Eyre! At last! Oh, we've been waiting for you for so long! I'm Mrs Fairfax.
Welcome to Thornfield.
My goodness, Miss Eyre, how hungry you are.
You must have been travelling all day.
How long is it since you have sat beside the fire and eaten a hearty meal? Oh, approximately eight years.
Oh, my goodness.
SHE LAUGHS Eight years! Hasn't sat by the fire for eight years! SHE LAUGHS Eight years! I'll tell the master that when he gets back from abroad, that will amuse even him! Oh, not that he's without humour, of course.
No, certainly not.
I remember he used to tell jokes as a child.
He keeps himself to himself, but you needn't worry.
He's hardly ever at home.
Always travelling.
BIRDS SING Miss Eyre, you ARE up early.
I hope you slept well.
Yes, thank you.
I was anxious to meet Adele.
Ah yes, well, you won't have to wait long.
Does she play up there? Oh, goodness me, no.
No-one lives up there.
Oh, I thought I saw someone at the window.
There's only Grace Poole there.
She does the laundry.
Mrs Fairfax Ah, I don't think Miss Adele can wait much longer.
SHE SINGS IN FRENCH: Bonjour, Mademoiselle Jeanne.
I'm so very heureuse to faire votre acquaintance.
Enchantee, Adele.
Moi aussi j'etais impatiente de faire de connaissance.
Oh, thank goodness, you'll be able to understand her.
Now you can tell me what she is singing.
WellI believe it is a romance.
The woman is declaring her love for her sweetheart.
Merci, merci, merci, I will dance another one.
Later maybe, but first you will show me to our school room.
SOUND OF TRICKLING WATER SHEEP BLEA DOG BARKS HORSE WHINNIES Damn it! Christ! DOG CONTINUES TO BARK Quiet, Pilot.
Damn it! Are you injured, sir? Get away from mewitch.
You've done enough damage! I cannot think of leaving you until I see you are fit to mount your horse.
You should be at home yourself.
Where do you live? At Thornfield Hall.
I can fetch help, I'll be a little while.
HE GROANS IN PAIN, HORSE WHINNIES Do you think you can bring him over to me? Come over here.
Come.
Come here, come here.
Hold these.
HE GRUNTS Thank youMiss? Jane Eyre, sir.
Well, that's what happens when you bewitch a man's horse, Miss Eyre.
A lot of pain and cursing.
I did not bewitch your horse, sir.
I was waiting for you to go past.
You were hovering casting spells.
Now get off back to Thornfield Hall, if that is indeed where you live.
I do, but I will post my letter first before I return.
Don't be late back .
.
Miss Jane Eyre.
THUNDER RUMBLES Ah, Miss Eyre, there you are.
What do you think? The master is back.
Mr Rochester? Not a word about his return, as usual, and he had an accident on the road.
The doctor is with him in the drawing room now.
Adele, come away! Time for bed.
Mr Rochester will see you tomorrow.
KNOCKING Miss Eyre, make yourself ready.
Master has finished his business for the day and wishes to see you.
Me? Yes.
Oh, no, no, no, you must change.
This will have to do.
CLOCK CHIMES This will have to do.
Ah, Miss Eyre.
Peut-etre vous avez une boite pour Mademoiselle Eyre, Monsieur Rochester? A boite for Miss Eyre? Does Miss Eyre require a present? Excuse me, sir? Does the governess expect me to have brought her a present back from my travels overseas? No, sir.
What are you doing standing over there where I can't see you? Where would you like me to stand, sir? Here.
Sit.
Are you fond of presents, Miss Eyre? I hardly know, sir.
I have little experience of them.
Never had a present? I believe they are generally thought pleasant things, sir.
Hm.
But to this frivolous little doll, this true daughter of Paris, they are the stuff of life, aren't they, my little? The thought of presents makes her live and breathe.
Monsieur Rochester? Ah, ma boite! Merci! Merci! Merci! Merci! Merci! Quiet, while I talk to Miss Eyre.
Where are you from? Lowood Institution, sir.
How long were you there? Eight years.
I'm amazed you survived, you're so small.
Didn't they feed you? Nosir.
And how do you find yourself here and not still there? I advertised, sir.
HE LAUGHS Of course you did.
What of your family? I have none, sir.
None whatsoever? Friends? None, sir.
None at all? I had a friend once but she died a long time ago, sir.
You're lucky, Miss Eyre.
If you do not love another living soul then you'll never be disappointed.
Yes, sir.
Adele tells me you play the piano brilliantly.
I play a little, sir.
Of course, a little, that's what they all say.
Go over there and play.
SHE PLAYS AN UPBEAT TUNE ON THE PIANO Enough! Yes.
You're right.
You do play a little.
These yours? Yes, sir.
These are These are interesting.
The ideas all yours? Yes, sir.
Were you happy when you painted these? I was fully occupied I was not unhappy.
What do you think of me, Monsieur? Do you think I look beautiful? Shall I dance for you? Miss Eyre, what are you thinking of? It's very late.
Adele should be in bed.
And my foot hurts like the blazes.
Good night, sir.
So, what did you think of Master? He is very changeable.
Yes.
But he has he has had disappointment in his life.
I hope you will forgive his rough and ready ways.
You will not leave? I've grown used to you.
I hope he won't scare you away.
I'm not scared of rough manners.
He will be gone soon.
He never stays for more than a few days at a time.
Afternoon, Miss.
Miss Eyre! Come here.
Sit.
Not you, Pilot.
Miss Eyre, excuse me, I'm used to giving orders and having them obeyed.
Sit, if you please.
I beg your pardon, sir I did not ask your permission to read the books.
Permission! To read the books? You are a thinking, intelligent woman, aren't you? Why ever would you need to ask permission? Who else is to read them? Adele? The venerable Fairfax? I'd more likely find Pilot pouring over the flora and fauna of the South American flatlands.
So, anyway, talk.
Talk, sir? Yes, talkif you please.
See how I'm learning to be polite.
I've had a tedious day of mortgages and share prices and I would like to be entertained.
Entertained, sir? Miss Eyre, can we proceed? When I'm tired I tend to dwell on my darker thoughts.
I would like to entertain you, sir I am not sure what would interest you.
A smile! A very small one.
The mere glimpse of a smile.
At last! Tell me your thoughts.
I command you.
I was just thinking sir, it's not many employers would ask the opinions of someone they pay £30 a year to.
I pay you a salarydo I? Well, of course I do.
Well, I should have my money's worth then.
Oh I can see there's another problem.
Out with it.
You haven't actually paid me anything yet, sir.
Ah! Mercenary girl! Fetch me my keys now! You want my money in your hand before you will amuse me? No, sir.
That will not be necessary, sir.
Maybe you could ask me questions, sir? Er, have you travelled, Miss Eyre? No, sir.
All young people wish to travel, even if they find kindness and food and a fire, they wish to be gone.
I've travelled all over the world, Miss Eyre, and it's very over-rated.
Yes, sir.
When I was a young man I was your equal.
I had a clear conscience, unpolluted by sin.
I took the wrong path.
It wasn't my fault that I took it but .
.
I must take the blame for continuing on it.
I think you may have a little of the witch about you.
You bewitched my horse.
You sit there patiently and would draw out secrets of my past.
I do not wish to pry, sir.
I know, Jane.
Do you think me handsome, Jane? No, sir.
HE LAUGHS Look carefully.
If I were to tell you that I'm worth £20,000, surely the light from the fire would soften my features.
Do I not seem to you now the very model of a fashionable man? I do not think there's anything in science that will allow that, sir.
I spoke hastily, sir, I did not mean that I find you repellent.
What I meant is that it is the character inside that determines a person, not the outer shell.
Take care, Jane Don't look too closely inside of me.
You might not find anything within at all beautiful .
.
and then where would we be? THEY SPEAK QUIETLY Is that Grace Poole? Hm.
Does she live alone in the North Tower? North Tower catches the wind.
I don't know why, it makes me shiver just to think of it.
Miss Eyre.
You're required! This way, hurry up! Oh, goodness, Miss Eyre.
The Master has taken it into his head to give Adele a biology lesson and we all have to hunt beetles.
Poor Sophie can't understand a word he says and neither can I really! Monsieur Rochester, we are bored with looking at the English water beetles.
They are not beautiful like the ones in your study.
Can I go with you, Monsieur Rochester, when you set off on your travels once more? I will always wear my best dress and everyone will think I am pretty.
Yes, but if they see you for the shallow little creature you are, no more substance than one of those meringues over there, well, they will find you disgusting, my little Parisienne.
They will find me disgusting! You are mistaken, Adele, if you do not think to find interesting creatures here in England.
There's a bird.
It's a it's a quite nondescript grey colour.
It's accustomed not to moving too quickly, not to draw attention to itself for fear of being beaten.
It wishes it could be in a cage but sooner or later, slowly, day by day, its wings grow very strong and if you were to look very closely, you would see brilliant scarlet feathers hidden under its drab wings.
Until one day, it's grown so confident that it flaps its red wings and flies straight upwards into the sky and those lucky enough to catch it in flight think they have caught a glimpse of a firebird.
And then? Well, then it flies away somewhere warm and never comes back.
I don't think I believe in this bird.
It's true.
There is one here at Thornfield in the gardens if you look very hard.
Madame Fare-Fax, Monsieur Rochester said the ladies will say I'm disgusting! Oh, that's nice, dear.
Mmm, what is there to eat? I would like a meringue, please.
Come, Miss Eyre You have something to say.
You should not tease, sir.
She's just a child.
She is.
She's also self-obsessed, thoughtless, vain.
You've made great headway with her even in the past few months, but look at her.
Just like her mother.
I saw what the mother became.
That is no reason to despise the child.
Do you really think? If the blood is tainted won't I be failing in my duty to her to let her remain like this and not to try my best to correct her ways? She does not deserve to be ridiculed or despised.
She's a child.
She deserves that you should trust her, that she'll grow and learn and Miss Eyre.
No, thank you, Adele.
We shall see, Miss Eyre.
Adele, don't run.
What's the matter with Sophie? She doesn't like les maladesthe mad people.
FOOTSTEPS RETREATING BANGING DISTANT BARKING LOUD SCRATCHING FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING No, Pilot.
No, you don't belong here.
Go back to your master.
ROCHESTER: Pilotcome here! Jane, come and look at this fellow.
Come here.
Look at his wings.
I've seen one like this in the West Indies, but never here.
That will teach me to tease Adele.
Come, sit down with me for a while.
Sit.
As it is now your job as well as mine to bring Adele up correctly, I'm going to tell you about her, about where she came from and who she belongs to.
Maybe you'll understand You do not need to tell me anything.
I know.
You understand too much without me saying anything.
It is the witch in you.
You have to imagine a young man Well, one who is still youngish and who has made a mistake.
Not his fault but .
.
this mistake and the darkness that follows it has set him helter skelter around the world in search of beauty to help ease his soul.
And he does find beauty, or rather beauty finds him because, as you will guess this is a very rich youngish man.
That look.
No judgement, no pity.
That look could prise secrets from the blackest souls.
Where were we? Beauty finding a youngish man.
Ah yes.
So, on our whirlwind tour, we alight in Paris.
Now, Jane, imagine, I know it's difficult, imagine .
.
a suite of rooms in a particularly gorgeous Parisian hotel.
It is upholstered with velvets and furs.
Everything is sensuous to the touch, the best that this youngish man's money can buy.
It is a summer evening and there is perfume in the air.
The young man breathes in the scent of his lover .
.
musk and amber.
Her name is Celine Varens.
She's very beautiful.
She is a dancer, an exotic bird.
She dotes on him, and he is passionately in love with her.
He's had a fortunate night gambling and he waits for her now in anticipation of the dark, intoxicating hours ahead.
Are you still with me, Jane? I'm here, sir.
COQUETTISH LAUGHTER 'At last he hears the sound of her return.
'Only a few more seconds' wait until he sees her.
'An eternity passes.
' THEY SPEAK IN FRENCH 'At that very moment, as I stood in the shadows, 'the green snake of jealousy bit into my heart.
' Where is your beast of an Englishman tonight? Gambling.
Someone else can look at his unpleasant face.
He is verypresentable really, for an Englishman.
£20,000 make him very presentable.
'She wasn't as clear sighted as you are, Jane.
' You find me unattractive despite my wealth.
You do not know what it is to feel jealousy, do you, Jane? Because you have no idea what it is to love.
You have no idea what it is to feel the very beat of someone's heart within one's breast.
No, sir.
Do you still love her, sir? Who? Celine.
I mean, Miss Varens.
Good God, no.
No, I threw her out of the hotel room and I shot him .
.
in the shoulder or some insignificant place.
No, when I saw what a wretched fool she'd meddled with I knew that she could never love me.
That's obvious, surely.
And Adele? She left her in the hotel when she ran off.
Celine claimed that I was the father, but a fairly elementary study of biology would prove that impossible.
Tell me, Jane, is there anything about myself that remotely resembles Adele? Look at me carefully.
No, sir.
She left her in the hotel a parcel with a label on with my name.
What was I to do? Leave her there to starve? I provided for her in France, then a few months ago it was necessary to bring her here.
She was not my responsibility but I took her on just the same.
So, as her guardian and your master, what do you think of my behaviour, Miss Eyre? Did I do the right thing? It was the right thing to do, wasn't it, Jane? Yes, sir.
SCRATCHING AT DOOR Go away, Pilot.
Pilot, go back to your master.
WIND HOWLS FOOTSTEPS RUNNING FOOTSTEPS IN DISTANCE WAILING Who is there? FOOTSTEPS IN DISTANCE FOOTSTEPS POUNDING DOOR SLAMS SHU Hello? Hello? HAUNTING ORCHESTRAL MUSIC CRASH Every Tuesday at 1030.
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