Devotion Page #2

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Yes. To get him safely past

The Bull. That is most important.

Don't you think so, Emily?

I don't like the plan any more than he

will appreciate the sacrifice you make.

Very well.

We once decided no important decision

would be made unless we all agreed to it.

That being the case,

Branwell shall not go to London.

All the same, Emily. I think

you're behaving abominably.

Emily .. don't you want to help Branwell?

Yes, it was foolish of me to say that.

I know how fond you are of Branwell.

But I really cannot understand your

attitude, Emily. Neither can Anne.

No Emily, I'm afraid I care not.

I do not wish Branwell to go to London,

because he isn't ready for it.

I think it would kill him.

What nonsense. Branwell isn't a child.

I'm not going to argue

with you, Charlotte.

Don't be angry with me, Charlotte.

Goodnight, dear Anne.

Goodnight, dear Emily.

Don't say goodnight to her.

I'm sorry Charlotte,

but I've already said it.

Boss .. I gave you an order

a good ten minutes ago.

Aye Master Branwell.

You ordered three drinks and

danged if I know which to serve first.

Ungrateful wretch.

That's all the thanks I get for

filling his pub every evening.

Well, here you are.

You don't think I look like

that, Master Branwell, do you?

Yes, I'm afraid I do.

However since you're dissatisfied,

I'll let you off my usual fee.

Boss, where's that brandy I ordered?

Here is brandy, but where is money?

Charge it to my account.

But you've got no account here.

I should hope not.

My account is with posterity.

No, Master Branwell, this very

morning, your good Aunt ..

I thank you sir, not to bandy a

lady's name about the temple.

Now my good sir,

it's your turn to be immortalized.

I can't make a good job of

it unless you sit still you know.

There!

My best work this evening and it is only

going to cost you one glass of brandy.

You lucky man.

You cannot make a

face with three strokes.

I can.

Now, pay up my dear fellow.

As sure as that mug standing there.

I said nowt about no glass of brandy.

What mug?

Alright, coachman.

Thank you, sir.

Hey, that will cost you a

pretty penny, Master Branwell.

You alright? Nobody hurt, I trust?

The horse is shied, that's all. Some

fool threw a mug through the window.

It is I sir, to whom you

happen to be referring.

Thank you. I didn't ask which fool.

I should like a room for the night.

Aye, sir. Upstairs, sir.

Thank you.

Well, perish my eyes.

It is the new Curate.

That's right.

Do you hear that, my lads?

Your new Curate.

Welcome to Haworth.

My name is Arthur Nicholls.

You have the honour, sir of addressing

your Vicar's son. Branwell Bront.

Oh.

And now, what shall it be?

For me? A bed.

And you shall have it my dear fellow.

Come along to the Vicarage.

No thank you.

I think I had better present myself to

your father in the morning. Oh.

As you please.

Perhaps I may go as far

as the door with you?

You know .. my father detests Curates.

My sisters are man-haters.

And I drink.

So you shall be very

happy here, Mr Nicholls.

Can't you sleep, Charlotte?

I've had such terrible dreams, Emily.

Because I wouldn't say

goodnight to you, I expect.

Oh, Charlotte.

Forgive me.

Oh, Emily.

You and I must never drift apart.

That is so important.

Yes, Charlotte.

People will always quarrel over Branwell.

And Branwell will always like it.

It would be so dreadful if we

were happy and he wasn't.

That's why I want him to go, Emily.

I realize in London, he'd be with

all the temptations but I thought ..

Well, let him .. how else

can he become a man?

I believe you've shared

my thought, Emily.

Oh I do, Charlotte, but don't you see?

London is not the dream

city of his imagination.

His disillusion would be

unbearable to witness.

If you to spare him disillusion, it is

you who will destroy Branwell, not I.

No. Neither of us will destroy him. He ..

He shall go, Charlotte.

Oh thank you, Emily.

I knew you'd see reason.

Now I'm not so unkind ..

As made in gratitude.

Blow, blow ..

Shush.

This is my home.

It seems your family has retired.

Oh yes.

They are very retiring here.

What's the use of a doorknob

when I can't use it?

Ah .. the faithful Emily.

Come in my dear friend, come in.

I think in his present condition he ..

Take care of your own condition.

That's right.

Things are difficult enough, Branwell.

Without you bringing your

drunken friends home with you.

Come on.

So Charlotte and Anne have decided

to make the supreme sacrifice.

Very touching.

But unfortunately quite wasted.

It is something that

time alone will tell, Branwell.

Not at all.

I shall anticipate time by informing

you that I am not going to London.

I'm much too ill.

I think in fact I'm going to die.

Now listen to me, Branwell.

In half an hour you'll be at breakfast,

washed and in good order.

You will thank your sisters

for their generous gesture.

You will inform your doting father that

you have confidence in the future.

You will in fact, play the great

hero on the eve of battle.

A role well within

your range, I imagine.

Emily.

Have you no faith in me at all.

At least, I shall never cease

to love you, Branwell.

Goodbye, Papa.

Goodbye my dear. Now Remember ..

If everything isn't to your liking,

pack up and come home.

Say goodbye to your sister and be off.

We haven't lost our beloved Emily yet.

She's coming with us as far as the moor.

Well, auntie.

I'll be back before long as the Royal

Portrait painter or the Poet Laureate.

Take your choice.

You'll be back as a corpse if you don't

wear my mufflers in those London fogs.

God be with you, you bad lad.

Goodbye, father.

God bless you son.

You know what I expect of you.

Goodbye.

Goodbye, Tabby.

Goodbye, auntie. Goodbye.

Come on Keeper, come on, come on.

No long speeches.

Goodbye my dear Charlotte.

Goodbye dearest.

We'll write .. everything.

And think of us Emily, dear.

Goodbye dear Anne.

Goodbye, Emily.

Look after yourself, Branwell.

I shall expect to see

you at my first exhibition.

I'll be there Branwell.

See that the new Curate does his job.

Yes .. yes.

Alright, Keeper. I'll race you. But you

must give me a start now. Now stay.

Stay.

Now!

[ door knocks ]

Come in.

If you please sir .. Mr Nicholls.

Nicholls?

The new Curate, sir.

Oh yes, ask him to come in.

And tell Miss Emily I wish to

see her when she returns.

How do you do Mr Nicholls?

How do you do sir?

I hope I find you well.

Of course I'm well.

Does that surprise you?

No doubt, the Bishop acting on

information received from my daughter.

Has pictured me a helpless invalid

with one foot in the grave.

Why no, not at all.

Well that sir, is not the case.

And let me assure you. You are here

neither at my wish nor my request.

It was my daughter Charlotte who took

the liberty of writing to His Lordship.

I hope I shall give you no

cause to regret her action.

I hope not.

Well .. you look a strong,

healthy specimen.

Which is certainly more

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