Fingersmith

My name is Susan Trinder.

I grew up in Lant Street.

We had the best view of the gallows.

And on hanging days

people paid money to view

from our top window.

No, Sue. You put the kettle on.

Let me see, I wanna see!

Susan Trinder?

Her mother was hanged for murder.

She died a dame, you know.

Oh dear girl.

Come on then, up you go.

Quick, quick.

Institute of the insane.

My name is Maud Lilly.

And I was brought up at the mad house,

where my mother died

giving birth to me.

Maud. Maud have a visitor.

A visitor?

I can't remember in all these years..

Why is your tongue black?

Come on.

She is as under sized

as her voice is loud.

Can't you whisper?

Of course I can.

Whisper.

Can she be silent?

Let me see it.

My mother, Sir.

My sister.

Let us hope that we'll remind you of her

fate and prevent you from sharing it.

Can she read?

Blessed are the poor in spirit..

Blessed.

Blessed are the poor in spirit.

I'll take her.

I'll send my house keeper to

collect her tomorrow.

I won't go!

You shant make me!

I want to stay with you matron.

I won't go!

If our friend had known the

ins and outs of this little number...

he'd never would have been topped.

Oh! Oh, look at that!

Only since today!

You're gonna make our fortune,

aren't you Sue?

Am I?

Ain't she, Mr. Ibbs?

I was brought up by Mrs. Sucksby.

Who was paid to look after me

for a week when I was a baby.

But she kept me all those years.

If that ain't love

I don't know what is.

The Bryar bell.

This is where your mother lived.

You are to be a lady, as she was.

Of all her fortune she turned to the mad.

It is to be hoped that you turned out

better than she did.

You haven't finished your eggs?

I don't want to be a lady

You can't make me.

We'll see about that, Miss Lilly.

Keep your gloves on...

Mr. Lilly will require it.

Yes.

No one is allowed beyond there.

for fear of spoiling his books.

How's her temper, Mrs. Stiles?

Rather ill, Sir.

Have you had her wear gloves?

Threw them at me, sir.

Give me your hand, Maud.

Give me your hand!

You won't forget the gloves

in the future, will you Maud?

No.

Put them on.

Not a cover is to be touch, not a leaf will be

turned without them, do you understand?

You realize why I brought you here Maud?

To... To make a lady of me.

To make a secretary of you. Maud.

I couldn't read.

All I knew about letters was what

I've picked up by studying vipers.

I was a fingersmith.

A thief.

Melt down this little number,

will you John.

My pleasure.

I'd like to melt her down.

Don't arse about or I'll knock

your bloody head off.

Oh, I'll knock it off!

Come on!

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You just try it.

Mrs. Sucksby was a baby farmer.

Paid to look after unwanted babies.

Poor little scraps.

Look at you, treasure.

Ah, Maud. I neglected to tell you

tonight there will be a new gentleman

at your reading.

An artist, Mr. Richard Rivers.

He'll be here for a week

mounting pictures for the catalogue.

He'll also be giving you

lessons in painting.

So they came together.

The romance may have been

somewhat unusual

but that gave it all the charm of

the unexpected.

And there, as the red sun

tinges the sky

and the chatter of birds

heralds the coming night,

we must leave them.

Wonderful Miss Lilly!

You read so beautifully!

If only the patrons of my book shop in

Holywell Street could hear you.

Your words are pure poetry.

Music, Huss. Music.

Thank you.

Thank you Maud.

Mr. Rivers, you say nothing.

Does it not please you?

I cannot find words Sir.

Ah, there you see Huss.

The young rouge has beaten us.

Indeed, indeed.

Excuse me.

Now Sir, I have the first edition which

you required.

Have you indeed?

I'm sorry to disturb you but,

I'm concerned that you might

find it a little...

chill out of the fire.

The fire is very hot.

It is, you're right.

Very hot.

Very hot indeed.

What will you do when this

great catalogue is finished?

It will never be finished.

Come on Miss Lilly, do you really mean

to remain here forever?

I have no choice.

You're young, handsome.

I say it not for gallantries sake,

I say what I see.

You might do anything.

You are a man, Mr. Rivers,

and might do anything.

I am a woman and might do nothing.

Chuck diggers on a b*tch of hearts.

Ain't she slow.

What's that?

Are we expecting any one?

Open up!

If it's the blues, we're done for!

Open the door!

Sovereigns. Under the fire.

Come on! Open up.

- Open the door!

- Damn my fingers!

Never mind your fingers,

think about your neck!

We're all tidy?

All right, all right!

It's gentleman.

Gentleman.

Take a taper to them candles, Sue.

Put a brew on Dainty.

Gentleman told us he'd gambled

away his fortune.

He was obliged to get money

the old fashion way.

By thievery, and dodging.

I worked on the old man's

catalogue in the morning

and in the afternoon I worked on her.

Taught painting that is.

Her maid, Agnes, was the most

agreeable chaperon.

Love as love will was finding its way.

At the end of the week the agreeable

Agnes gets scarlet fever.

They had to send her home Ireland.

The house keeper with bad grace takes over

temporarily and is as tight on the

girl as a corset.

Said she had no time to chaperon.

No more painting.

Damn it and I was nearly there!

Where's there gentleman?

She's as rich...

as a queen, Mr. Ibbs.

How rich?

Thirty thousand in ready.

Ten thousand in funds.

Left to her in her mother's will.

She can't touch it unless she marries.

And her uncle makes sure she

never will by keeping her close.

That house is her prison.

Are you going to marry her?

Well, then I can do

what I like with her.

When her uncle asks

a few questions about you?

That's why I've become the exemplary

Mr. Richard Rivers.

I will...

marry her!

With the help...

of Sue.

Me?

You're gonna become her friend.

Persuade her to trust me.

To run away and marry me!

Why me?

A fingersmith with a heart of gold, Sue.

No good in making a bleeding

maid out of me, Mrs. Sucksby.

Why take my Sue?

Because she's yours,

and I know she can do it.

And how would you cut the shine?

Sue will get two thousand pounds.

Dainty will do it!

I've been a maid, ain't I?

Stuck in that pin in the ladies arse,

as I recalled.

She was an old b*tch.

You're the old b*tch.

Think of all the money we lost.

Where is this place?

Out in the country.

Don't know where the bleeding

country is.

I'm a Londoner. Never been

out of the smoke have I?

Get on, she would never accept me.

You're my old nurses child!

Susan Smith.

You would have an impeccable

character reference

from Lady Stonely of

Curson Crimson Mayfair.

Oh she'll to swallow it,

the girls never been to London.

She's a bit simple. A pigeon.

It'll be a bit of a holiday for you, Sue.

And it'll work.

Bleeding long holiday if it don't.

I won't do it.

Not for two.

I want three thousand pounds.

Take it or leave it.

What's that?

Another application for

my personal maid, uncle,

a recommendation from Mr. Rivers.

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