Fingersmith Page #4

married to this man?

Wilt thou have this man to thy

wedded husband

to live together after God alternates to

the holy state of matrimony.

Wilt thy obey him and serve him, love, honour

and keep him in sickness and in health

and forsaking all other, keep thee only

onto him so long as you both shall live?

I will.

The ring, like everything else, was bad.

He hadn't even bothered to get a gold one.

We went from church to a nearby cottage.

Where I prepared her for her wedding night.

Look at me.

It's cold, Miss.

Let's get this on.

Look at me, Sue!

Come here.

You did it before,

to the sake of tonight.

We were not dreaming, were we?

It was just to start you off, Miss.

Were we...

Please, Miss...

I have to feel you on me

as I can feel your lips on me.

I want to feel you inside me.

She wants you to dress her.

Mauds' discovered the meaning

of true love, Sue?

It's already half way to the mad house.

Now you must finish her off.

Here, please see to Mrs. Rivers Susan.

She's not well at all.

- Morning, Sir.

- Morning.

I'm really rather worried about her,

she's talking so strangely.

Morning, Miss.

We never charges extra for them,

unless they go through the mattress

How is she?

Taking it hard, is she?

Harder ain't the word for it, Mrs. Green.

Mr. Rivers dotes on her

He can't...

I'd say the same myself.

You can rely on me never to gossip, Miss

She's troubled... up here.

You know?

Something missing, you mean?

No...

disturbed, more like.

That's why Mr. Rivers brought her

to this nice quiet place.

To calm her.

Calm her?

Here?

She's not going to get violent

and throw things around, is she?

Nothing like that, no.

What goes on in her head.

Know what I mean?

But why can't we go to London, Richard?

You're not well enough to travel, my sweet.

But I'm perfectly well.

Aren't I Sue?

A few days of help will put colour

on those cheeks.

I hate it here, I...

Morning, Madam.

Everything fresh?

Those eggs haven't been out

of the hen five minutes.

She certainly hate me.

Oh, Maud.

And I hate her.

Darling.

If I thought it would help I would carry you

to the station to my house in London.

There is nothing I want more!

Look at you.

I'm afraid.

What is there to be afraid about, my sweet?

She ate almost nothing.

Took more and more drops.

A week of that... and she cracked easy.

She thought he wouldn't want her,

looking like that.

But it was exactly what he did want

the mad house doctors to say.

The only thing that amused her

was to dress me

in her fine ladies clothes

just as she had done at Briar.

- There you are Sue.

- Oh!

I knew it!

That color just matches your hair.

Your eyes!

You look quite the beauty.

Look.

It's Mr. Rivers, friends from London, Ma'am.

They've come to meet you.

Is it this afternoon?

- I've forgotten.

- Maud, Maud! Visitors from London.

Will you receive them dear?

Not just now, Richard.

Susan, can you spare me a moment?

Don't let them hurt her.

Hurt her?

They won't hurt her, she's money.

These men are scoundrels.

But they're medical scoundrels.

And they won't take her today.

And they won't take her at all unless they are

sure she qualifies for their care and attention.

You know how to answer

their questions, don't you?

Do I?

Don't make game of me Sue,

not when we're so close!

More?

Do you want to go back to

Mrs. Sucksby with nothing?

We're friends of Mr. Rivers and...

would like to ask you a few questions

about his marriage, his new wife.

My mistress, Sir.

Your mistress.

Just refresh my memory.

Who's your mistress?

Mrs. Rivers, of course.

I'll say, what was Miss Lilly.

Thank you.

Mrs Rivers, what was..

Who was Miss Lilly. Yes.

And you are?

Her maid Sir.

And your name is?

Susan Smith.

You seem to hesitate.

That is your name?

You're quite sure?

If I know anything, Sir,

I know my own name.

And how did you meet your Mistress.

I was with Lady Alice Stonely

in Kirtston Crescent, Mayfair.

When she went abroad.

She's..

She's grown so...

Sad.

I'm afraid she'll do herself harm.

Thank you.

You'll keep her safe so much.

We will.

She's so kind. So good. So loving.

You will keep her some place special.

Where no one will hurt her.

There, there.

You mustn't be so distressed.

She's been very lucky to have

such a good and faithful servant.

Very lucky indeed.

- Now, if we could see...

- This way, doctors.

As you can see doctors,

the case is quite severe.

We will send the carriage out

tomorrow afternoon

Mr. Rivers, rest assured,

it was the right thing.

Your eyes are a little brighter.

- Are they?

- Don't you think so Susan?

Oh, such a fool.

You only wanted a little company

to bring you back to life.

You were right.

You need London.

London?

What do you think Maud?

Christine Graves is so eager for us

to join them in Chelsea,

they're offering their carriage to

take us there tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

So soon?

Tomorrow

we're going to a great house,

with fine quite rooms and good servants.

Just for you.

She was so taken with me in that gown.

She wouldn't let me change it.

I kept it on to make her happy.

Good day Mr. Rivers.

Miss Smith.

Mrs. Rivers.

Mrs. Rivers?

What?

Don't struggle Mrs. Rivers.

We're here to help you.

It's not me you want,

it's Mrs. Rivers.

- Come along now.

- Tell her, gentlemen.

Tell her!

Still the same sad old fiction.

I'm not Mrs. Rivers!

I'm Susan Smith!

Of Kirtston Crescent, Mayfair?

Yes!

There's no such place, Mrs. Rivers.

You know that.

Don't struggle or you'll ruin

your hat and dress.

You bloody swine!

You're filth!

There is no place for wash like

that out here.

Mrs. Rivers!

You stupid sods

don't you see what he's gone and done?

Let me go, let me go!

It's not me you want it's..

What are you staring at Mrs. Rivers?

Surely you know your own maid?

Oh my own poor mistress.

That b*tch.

That b*tch knew everything.

She had been in on it from the start.

No! No!

Maud! Maud! Maud!

No!

Poor Sue.

She thought she knew me.

She thought me innocent.

But I was worldly

in ways she never suspected.

I knew everything.

And yet nothing.

Remember that to my story that follows.

To understand how I could do such things

I must go back to the day Mr. Rivers

first came to Briar.

He said he was a member of parliament

so I trusted him.

He told me he wished me to

meet another member.

His member for love.

He locked the door,

I pleaded for my maidenhood, but...

The words are common place

but they deserve the frontest piece.

Show them Maud.

The execution for the member of love.

The delicate rendering

of the crimson tip.

I don't have to borrow, very rare.

I had it as a young man,

it was sold in difficultly.

For a shilling.

I would not part with it now

for fifty pounds.

But having slipped the bolt off the door..

A curator of poisons,

as my uncle described himself to me.

I was twelve years old when he began

inoculating me with poison.

Grain by grain, scruple by scruple.

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