Jane Eyre Page #5

Then why must you leave?

Because of your wife!

I have no wife.

But you are

to be married.

Jane, you must stay.

And become

nothing to you?

Am I a machine

without feelings?

Do you think that because I am

poor, obscure, plain and little

that I am soulless

and heartless?

I have as much soul as you

and full as much heart.

And if God had blessed me

with beauty and wealth,

I could make it as hard

for you to leave me

as it is for I

to leave you.

I'm not speaking to you

through mortal flesh.

It is my spirit that

addresses your spirit,

as if we'd passed through the grave

and stood at God's feet, equal,

...as we are.

- As we are.

I am a free human being

with an independent will,

which I now exert

to leave you.

Then let your will

decide your destiny.

I offer you my hand,

my heart.

Jane,

I ask you to pass

through life at my side.

You are my equal

and my likeness.

Will you marry me?

Are you mocking me?

Do you doubt me?

Entirely!

Your bride is Miss Ingram.

Miss Ingram?

She is the machine

without feelings.

It's you. You rare,

unearthly thing.

Poor and obscure

as you are,

please accept me

as your husband.

I must have you for my own.

You wish me

to be your wife?

I swear it.

You love me?

I do.

Then, sir,

I will marry you.

Good night.

Good night, my love.

Good night.

Am I a monster?

Is it so impossible that

Mr. Rochester should love me?

No.

I've long noticed you

were a sort of pet of his.

But you're so young and you're

so little acquainted with men.

I don't want to

grieve you, child,

but let me just put

you on your guard.

Gentlemen in his position...

Well, let's just say,

they're not accustomed

to marry their governesses.

Until you are wed, distrust

yourself as well as him.

Please,

keep him at a distance.

Come.

What is it?

Jane Eyre with

nothing to say?

Everything seems unreal.

I am real enough.

You, sir, are most

phantom-like of all.

I will be Jane Eyre

no longer.

Edward!

Move it!

Have the carriage

loaded and ready within the hour.

Take courage, Jane.

I will.

Come on.

I require

and charge you both,

as you will answer at the

dreadful Day of Judgment,

when the secrets of all

hearts shall be revealed,

that if either of you

do know of any impediment

why you may not be

joined together lawfully,

you do now confess it.

Edward Fairfax Rochester...

The marriage cannot go on!

An insurmountable

impediment exists.

Proceed.

"I affirm

and can prove...

Proceed!

"...that Edward Fairfax

Rochester was,

"15 years ago,

married to my sister,

"Bertha Antoinetta Mason,

at St. James' Church,

"Spanish Town, Jamaica."

A copy of the register

is now in my possession.

Signed, Richard Mason.

She lives at

Thornfield Hall.

This girl knew

nothing of this.

She thought all

was fair and legal.

She never dreamt

she was being entrapped

into a feigned union

with a defrauded wretch.

Come, Jane.

Come, all of you.

Meet my wife.

Get back!

Go, all of you. Go!

You're 15 years too late.

Mrs. Poole.

You ought to

give warning, sir.

This is Bertha

Antoinetta Mason.

My wife.

Antoinetta.

It's I, Richard.

She has her quiet

times and her rages.

The windows are shuttered

lest she throw herself out.

We have no furniture, as she can

make a weapon out of anything.

I take her for a turn upon the

roof each day, securely held,

as she's taken to

thinking she can fly.

My own demon.

Jane.

Forgive me. I'm worthless.

How could I?

Jane.

No tears.

Why don't you cry?

Why not scream at me?

I deserve a hail of fire.

- I need some water.

- Of course.

Jane.

How are you now?

I will be well again soon.

I know you.

You're thinking.

Talking is of no use,

you're thinking how to act.

All is changed, sir.

I must leave you.

No. No!

Jane, do you love me?

Then the essential things

are the same.

Be my wife.

You have a wife.

I pledge you my

honor, my fidelity...

You cannot.

...my love, until

death do us part.

What of truth?

I would have

told you the truth.

You are deceitful, sir!

I was wrong

to deceive you.

I see that now.

It was cowardly.

I should have appealed

to your spirit as I do now.

Bertha Antoinetta Mason.

She was wanted by

my father for her fortune.

I hardly spoke with her

before the wedding.

I lived with her

for four years.

Her temper ripened,

her vices sprang up,

violent and unchaste.

Only cruelty would check her,

and I'd not use cruelty.

I was chained to her

for life, Jane.

Not even the law

could free me.

Have you ever set foot

in a madhouse, Jane?

No, sir.

The inmates are caged

and baited like beasts.

I spared her

that at least.

Jane.

I earnestly pity you, sir.

No.

Who would you offend

by living with me?

Who would care?

I would.

You'd rather drive

me to madness

than break some

mere human law?

I must respect myself.

Listen to me.

Listen.

I could bend you with

my finger and my thumb,

a mere reed you feel

in my hands.

But whatever I do

with this cage,

I cannot get at you.

And it is your soul

that I want.

Why don't you come

of your own free will?

God help me!

Jane!

Jane!

Jane!

I asked how you were.

I'm getting on very well.

Do you find the

work too hard?

Not at all.

Is the solitude

an oppression?

I hardly have time

to notice it.

Thank you, girls.

Yes, ma'am.

Then perhaps you are

dwelling on things past.

When I came to your door,

I had nothing.

Now I have a home and work,

free and honest.

I thank God for the

generosity of my friends.

What you had left before

I met you, I don't know.

But I counsel you

to resist firmly

every temptation

to look back.

That's what I intend to do.

A year ago, I was myself

intensely miserable.

I scorned this weakness,

fought hard against it

and won.

I wonder if we do not

share the same alloy.

You are ambitious,

I think.

And this little school

will not hold you for long.

Is this yours?

Yes.

What's the matter?

Nothing.

Good night.

Jane.

Miss Eyre.

What brings you from your

hearth on a night like this?

There is no bad

news, I hope.

How easily alarmed

you are, Miss Eyre.

Please, won't

you sit down?

Thank you, Miss Eyre.

I saw an advertisement in The Times

from a solicitor named Briggs

inquiring of a Jane Eyre.

I knew a Jane Elliott.

This paper resolved my

suspicion into certainty.

And so, I wrote to him.

He told the story of

a young governess.

And her employer,

a Mr. Fairfax Rochester...

Mr. Rivers.

I can guess your feelings,

but please hear me.

As you know so much, perhaps

you'll tell me how he is?

- Who?

- Mr. Rochester.

I'm ignorant of

all concerning him.

But he has

been seeking me?

No, he hasn't.

Mr. Briggs has.

And what does

he want with me?

Merely to tell you

that your uncle,

Mr. John Eyre of

Madeira, is dead,

that he has left you

all his property

and that you

are now rich.

What?

You are rich,

quite an heiress.

Will you ask how

much you are worth?

How much am I worth?

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