Devotion Page #8

---

of your little comedy of errors.

I can see no comedy in the error I

suspect you are about to commit.

Branwell!

Emily, do not try and save a situation

when there is no situation to save.

Or is there?

Well, I must be off to my parish meeting.

The next time I come to see you

Branwell, don't talk in riddles.

I'm a very simple fellow.

If you had the least idea of

what I was talking about.

I doubt if you would care

to come and see me again.

Go and get yourself some tea,

Emily. I'll stay here and tidy up.

Goodbye, Mr Nicholls.

Goodbye.

Emily.

Why don't you let

Mr Nicholls read your book?

My book would have little

interest for Mr Nicholls, Branwell.

Oh do let him. He has been

most kind about mine.

I do not choose to, Charlotte.

Of course, if your object is to

make Mr Nicholls leave us ..

Wasn't that your object

not so long ago, Charlotte?

The air in this room is stifling.

The air of anticipated success that you

exude would make any room seem stifling.

Why are you so ill-disposed

towards me, Branwell?

Ill-disposed?

Nonsense. You saved my life.

What?

Certainly.

The knowledge that my continued

existence hurts you immeasurably.

Is the only thing that

makes my life worth living.

You don't mean that, Branwell.

But whatever you may say,

or whatever you may do.

I shall never forget the great

sacrifice you made for us.

I am much too ill and too tired.

To go on playing the role of

hero, saviour or anything else.

So let me inform you that I

did not send you to Brussels.

Nicholls bought my picture on the

condition that you and Emily ..

Should be sent abroad to

complete your education.

Now that you know I've done nothing to

earn your gratitude, will you please go.

Thank you for being so

truthful with me, Branwell.

But contrary to your expectations.

I have now more reason to

be grateful to you than ever.

Of course, we shall have to

repay him. Every penny of it.

We can discuss that tomorrow.

But if any proof were

needed that he loves me.

This is it .. don't you agree?

I agreed a long time ago.

Yes you did.

You are very clever, Emily

I'm afraid you have a rather poor

impression of my emotional reactions.

After what happened in Brussels.

That schoolgirl hysteria.

But ..

This is different.

I never guessed that love

would be such a quiet thing.

Why doesn't he speak?

Can you imagine why, Emily?

Oh, Emily.

Why must you always fall asleep?

Just when the conversation

has begun to get interesting.

Now Branwell, you'll sleep

like a top after you've had this.

Nah .. milk always keeps me awake.

No, Anne. I think this poor tired

heart of mine needs a little stimulus.

A little of father's brandy

would work wonders for me.

Run downstairs and get it.

There's a good girl.

No Branwell, you know that

is strictly against orders.

Alright.

Leave me to die in peace, you murderess.

Goodnight, dear Branwell.

Sleep well.

Blast the girl.

I shall be forced to

use my own, I suppose.

There's precious little left, too.

[ door knocks ]

Yes?

I'm sorry. I thought

your father was here.

There were a couple of books

he said I might borrow.

Father has gone out with Aunt Branwell

and Anne, to the village concert.

Please take whatever

you wish, Mr Nicholls.

Thank you.

Are you unable to find what

you are looking for, Mr Nicholls?

You can't do this, Miss Emily.

You can't become a governess.

How did you know?

Anne told me.

I've all but finished

my book, Mr Nicholls.

When it is done, I shall naturally be

anxious to secure a position for myself.

But you are a poet.

A dreamer of great dreams.

You can't become a servant.

Oh, but I can, quite easily.

With the beautiful and extensive

education you saw fit to bestow upon me.

I imagine I could be almost anything.

Yes, Mr Nicholls.

As you must know, reticence is

not one of Branwell's strong points.

I thought what I did

would be for the best.

And from your point of view

it most assuredly was.

You gave Charlotte what she wanted.

And got rid of me at the same time.

Its quite a tour-de-force.

How can you say such things?

Because I am a human being.

There can be nothing but truth

between you and me, Miss Emily.

But if the village is too

small for the three of us.

It is not you who shall go.

I have tried to stop loving you.

I really have tried, Mr Nicholls.

Emily, please ..

What is it, Charlotte?

Come quickly.

It's Branwell. He's not in the

house. I've looked everywhere.

Oh Charlotte.

He may have gone to The Bull.

What are you doing?

To find him. He can't have got far.

Your coat, Emily! It is pouring ..

Is something wrong, Miss Charlotte?

Branwell's gone to The Bull.

Emily's gone to bring him back.

Leave it to me. If Branwell's at The Bull,

I'll have him home in a very few minutes.

I'm coming too. Just let me

get my coat and Emily's.

If only she hadn't gone

out in that thin dress.

Branwell! Branwell!

Emily.

Branwell.

The first time I've ..

I've failed to get to The Inn.

Usually, it's the ..

Home journey that's so difficult.

Try and get up, Branwell.

I'll help you. Come on Branwell.

This is the proper finish.

Oh, please try.

For me, Branwell. Please try.

Branwell.

Branwell.

He's gone, Charlotte.

Miss Bront. Miss Emily.

I can't make speeches.

And I don't think I need explain what

knowing you both has meant to me.

So let me just wish you the

great success you so truly merit.

Goodbye, Miss Bront.

Goodbye, Mr Nicholls.

Goodbye, Miss Emily.

Goodbye.

Mr Nicholls.

Tell me why you are leaving us.

Because I am not a big enough man

to live side by side with greatness.

Nor am I so small that I can

stand by and witness its torment.

I don't understand.

One day you will, dear Charlotte.

I know nothing .. I understand nothing.

And yet I have dared to write two

hundred thousand words about life.

Rest assured, Madam. Jane Eyre

will have the whole town talking.

Of course, Jane Eyre is a better

book than Wuthering Heights.

Why look at the way it is selling.

But look at the people who are buying.

"She heard a voice from

somewhere cry:
Jane .. Jane .. Jane."

You observe, Thackeray.

That Mr Currer Bell will have no cause

to complain when he comes to London.

Did "Vanity Fair" ever

have a display like that?

Vanity Fair didn't need it.

Remember Smith, it was I who urged you to

publish these three talented young men.

I also remember that you prophesied a

spectacular future for Wuthering Heights.

Which incidentally, turned out

the least successful of the three.

I never said Wuthering Heights

would be the most successful.

It is merely the greatest of the three.

As a publisher, that is a distinction

you won't understand, Smith.

The Press won't be in a very

receptive frame of mind.

They've been outside for

fifteen minutes at least.

The way you toady to these literary

jackals distresses me, Smith.

It seems to have escaped your attention,

that I have been waiting for half an hour.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes