Jamaica Inn Page #5

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JAMAICA INN EPISODE 1 SHOOTING SCRIPT 23.9.13

30 INT. MARY’S BEDROOM, JAMAICA INN - NIGHT 2 30

- MARY’s eyes jolt open. She assumes it was the dream that

woke her, but then she hears a sound outside.

MARY gets up and moves to her window, staring out onto the

dark moors. Nothing.

She’s about to return to bed when a movement in the moonlight

catches her eye and she sees -

-two horse-drawn wagons, gliding ghost-like and silhouetted

across the moors towards the inn. The horses’ hooves and

wagon wheels are padded with rags and make no sound as they

cross into the courtyard -

JOSS steps from the shadows to nod silent greeting to the

men as they jump down: two IDENTICAL TWINS; and red-headed

ABE. There’s no question of their deference to him, JOSS is

in charge.

The MEN get busy at his command, deftly throwing wet and

sandy barrels (’tubs’) and bales to each other to unload them

and as JOSS helps he glances up

- MARY steps back sharply and he doesn’t see her, but she’s

shocked as she guesses what they’re doing.

Now dragging sounds are heard on the stone flags outside her

door and she moves to it to listen, spying through a crack as

the haul is loaded into the locked room at the end.

Then she hears the MEN go back downstairs and a faint cry as

they spur their horses to lead the wagons off again.

MARY sits down unsteadily, shaking. She should have realised;

it’s SMUGGLING. She’s sick to her stomach.

FADE TO BLACK.

31 INT. PASSAGEWAY, JAMAICA INN - DAY 3 31

Daylight pours in the open door as MARY comes down. PATIENCE

is there, looking guarded and defensive, perhaps suspects she

saw the wagons last night.

PATIENCE:

Your uncle’s out. There’s water in

the kitchen to wash.

MARY watches darkly as she goes, then turns to the kitchen.

32 INT. KITCHEN, JAMAICA INN - DAY 3 32

Water is heating in a pan over the dull red glow of the

smokey peat fire as MARY enters.

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JAMAICA INN EP1 FIRST REVISION SET PINK 25.9.13

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Through the window, she can see PATIENCE on her hands and

knees, scrubbing muddy wheel tracks and footprints, clearing

the evidence of seaweed and sand from last night from the

yard. But what should MARY do about it?

For now, the answer’s ‘nothing’ as she looks down at herself

and her grimy skin, she may as well at least get clean.

MARY glances around to check no-one is there. But the inn is

quiet, and MARY peels off her filthy dress and chemise so

she’s down to her white linen drawers. *

Her rag dips in the steaming water and lifts the grime from

her white skin, MARY still distracted with worry as she

washes, comforted just slightly by the sensual feel as the

rag caresses the contours her skin -

but a sudden reflection in the kitchen window and she spins

to see JEM standing silently in the doorway to the hall,

shamelessly watching her.

- for a second MARY freezes - and then she grabs her dress to

hide herself, but not soon enough to hide that sexual

attraction flared for both of them.

JEM steps away, suddenly ashamed of looking, and MARY slams

the door on him, guilt and embarrassment kicking in -

but as we hold on her there’s something more: excitement.

33 CUT 33 *

34 INT. FRONT BAR, JAMAICA INN - DAY 3 34

JEM sits, drinking ale from a mug, and MARY, now cleanly

dressed, glares at him as she crosses to the bar. A beat.

JEM:

You should be careful. A man might

help himself to what’s on offer, if

it’s so pretty.

Out of nowhere, MARY slaps him, surprising them both - then

half regrets it.

MARY:

It’s not on offer, and if he’s any

kind of gentleman he’d know that.

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JAMAICA INN EPISODE 1 SHOOTING SCRIPT 23.9.13

21

JEM:

(holding his face)

Well, that told me.

- a trace of humour and flirtation but MARY’s not playing-

MARY:

And he wouldn’t help himself to the

ale either. The landlord here’s a

brutal man. He -

- but as she reaches to swipe his mug, JEM catches her hand

JEM:

- I know the landlord (

but he gently concedes)

-but take it, if it makes you feel

better.

MARY takes it, but looks at him - trying to make him out.

JEM (CONT’D)

I only came to check that you’re

alright.

Secretly it pleases her and she softens, but he’ll need to

work harder than that. She tips the ale away, starts to clean-

MARY:

A horse thief came to check that,

did he?

Now he bristles. For reasons he can’t quite grasp, he wants

her good opinion and her judgement intensely vexes him.

JEM:

That’s all I am, is it? A common

horse thief?

MARY:

A man who can’t find honest trade’s

no man at all in my eyes.

Harsh. JEM about to protest that there IS no honest work out

here, but decides against it. He stands, but -

JOSS:

What the hell do you want, Jem?

MARY stiffens as JOSS appears, wary or perhaps fearful of

JEM. He glances between the two of them, then asks JEM

JOSS (CONT’D)

Is there trouble?

MARY looks at JEM, surprised: is he involved then? JEM

glances at her, guesses she’ll judge him even more for this

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JAMAICA INN EP1 FIRST REVISION SET PINK 25.9.13

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JEM:

Can’t I come’n see my own brother?

He’s right, as MARY imperceptibly pulls back. JEM sees this

and regrets it.

JOSS picks up the subtle frisson between them -

JOSS:

Like my new trinket? *

He smiles as MARY reddens her discomfort at his claim to

ownership, and, in a low voice to JEM -

JOSS (CONT’D)

Get in here then, if you've come to

talk to me.

JEM casually fills a mug from the ale tap, taking his time on

purpose as bravado to both MARY and his brother, before

sauntering after him into the small back bar.

The doors shuts. MARY is defiant.

35 INT. BACK BAR, JAMAICA INN - DAY 3 35

JOSS moves inside. He glowers at his brother, a real tension

between them - bad blood.

JEM holds his eye for a long beat - but JOSS breaks first JOSS

What do you want then? *

A beat. JEM speaks quietly -

JEM:

There’s a new Magistrate in

Launceston, sent down from up-

country JOSS

- who says he’ll hunt out every man

who’s working the Free Trade. Think

I don’t know about it?

*

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36 INT. FRONT BAR, JAMAICA INN - DAY 3 36

MARY is listening at the door, but can’t make out JEM’s

muttered response; she presses her ear closer as, JOSS, now

angry, speaks louder JOSS

OOV:

- and how d’you expect me to do

that, eh? When someone’s squealin’.

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