Lady Macbeth Page #2

Sit.

Sit.

Eat.

- I'm not...

- Eat with me. I hate to eat alone.

Tell me about your family, Anna.

Tell me about your home.

I haven't been home

in a very long time.

I'm not sure I know what home is.

- Do you have any brothers? Anna?

- (Mr Lester choking)

Do you have any brothers?

How many sisters do you have?

He's... We should...

What are the names of your sisters?

Sit back down, Anna.

- No, he needs...

- Sit down!

(Banging on door)

(Muffled cries)

(Banging)

(Rattling)

(Thud, then silence)

Run to the village for a doctor.

Quick, go.

Shh, shh.

(Groans)

(Anna sobbing)

(Katherine) 'He'll not return

for the funeral. He said as much.'

We won't have long.

He won't come back.

He hated his father.

He hates me.

Perhaps he just won't come back.

(Shutter clicking)

There.

Very fine indeed.

Man of the house.

Anna?

Anna!

Anna, when you are spoken to,

you are to respond.

I'm going to ask one of the maids,

um... that young girl,

to prepare and bring me breakfast

and all my meals from now on.

Just as a precaution.

It could be the mushrooms

or his heart.

Nobody's blaming you

so don't be so hard on yourself.

You're careful.

He was old and he had a weak stomach.

You heard what Dr Burdon said.

The master will be home before long

and this will all be done with.

Anna, I wish that

you would speak again.

Promise you'll try.

(Katherine) She won't speak.

She's mute.

- What if it comes back?

- It won't.

Do you love me?

Of course.

Do you adore me?

Of course.

Could you do without me?

Could you do without me?

It's husbands and wives

that kiss like that.

Did you husband kiss you, Katherine?

She won't speak.

You know I shan't be parted

from you alive, Sebastian?

"Through hell and high water

I will follow you,

"to the cross, to the prison,

to the grave, to the sky."

I'd rather stop you breathing

than have you doubt how I feel.

(Clip-clop of hooves)

Sebastian.

He's come home.

- What time is it?

- My husband has returned.

What shall we do?

Sebastian?

Can you just shut up?

(Laughing)

- You look like a little boy.

- Just shut up for one second.

Let me think.

- Go out there.

- Go out there?

Why? Am I to pretend to be

your lady-in-f***ing-waiting?

Just go out there.

(Footsteps)

You're home.

You're awake.

I heard the horse.

I walked it down the lane.

I'm surprised you heard.

I've been sleeping lightly,

ever since your father died.

We had to have his funeral

in your absence.

Couldn't let him rot in a corner,

could you?

I shall place my feet

on his grave in the morning.

Do you have the bed

made up for two every night?

Ever since your letter came

I had no indication of when you'd return.

And thank goodness I did.

You must be tired.

No.

I found it in the fields.

And decided to keep it?

- Holds my skirts up.

- Are you skirts in danger of falling down?

No, sir.

You've grown fatter.

The cook has made an effort

to find food to my taste perhaps.

Your face is fatter.

You're altogether larger

than when I left.

Perhaps you'd like some tea.

(Crockery rattling)

So...

you have become a whore

in my absence, Katherine.

You think me to be stupid, perhaps.

But perhaps you had no idea

that your whoring had been noticed.

You seem surprised.

And surprised that the news

of you opening your legs and your c*nt

for any worthless dog

should have reached my ears,

but then you opened your legs

so very wide, Katherine.

And you've acted so very shamelessly

and so very stupidly.

And you've begun to smell, Katherine.

You've gotten so fat and foul-smelling,

it was inevitable that the whole county

would hear of your behaviour.

My father...

bought you,

along with a piece of land

not fit enough for a cow to graze upon.

I do not like being talked about, madam.

I do not like being laughed at.

I do not like owning a whore.

You will alter your behaviour, madam.

And how will I alter my behaviour, sir?

You will never see that man again.

He will be sent from this house

and you will remain here,

indoors with your prayer book.

(Screaming)

(Neighing)

(Sobbing)

I can't sleep.

Try.

I've tried.

Can you sleep?

- I'll sit up until you can.

- I can't.

Every time I close my eyes,

I see his face.

Can you just get off me?

How can you,

just like it was before?

It's making me sick.

I feel sick, constantly.

It won't end unless you let it.

Have you let it?

For you,

and for me.

Sebastian, he was going to kill you.

He was weak.

We did it so that

we could be together here.

No more bowing and not being

who you deserve to be.

- You did it for us?

- We did it.

(Carriage approaching)

- I'm sorry. I'm not sure I understand.

- Teddy was your husband's ward.

- Who's Teddy?

- This is Teddy.

- I'm sorry. You're repeating yourself.

- It's a shock.

- I understand.

- My husband had no ward.

Mr Lester knew my daughter very well

some time ago and was fond of her.

He fathered a child by her.

- I beg your pardon?

- After my daughter's death...

he did the honourable thing

and made Teddy his ward.

He has been with us lately.

At Amble, near the colliery.

I'm afraid this is impossible.

He was careful to draw up papers.

I'm sorry for the shock.

You needn't apologise for an impossibility.

Sorry you've had a wasted journey.

Given Mr Lester's recent demise...

My husband is not deceased.

- He is assumed so.

- He is missing.

But presumed dead.

He is missing and

apparently you saw him so soon.

We did.

Perhaps you can advise me

as to what has become of him.

He seemed very well.

And certain he was to come here next.

He said it was a matter of urgency.

We can't imagine

what has happened to him.

I'm terribly anxious.

I'm sure.

There are papers, Mrs Lester.

I am sorry.

Perhaps we might have tea.

What is it?

He says you're the prettiest lady

he has ever seen.

- She's lying.

- She has papers.

She's forged them, then. You don't think

that every man and woman in the county

with half a brain and an empty pocket

isn't coming up with a similar scheme?

She has legitimate papers.

I thought you said

he couldn't f*** you.

He couldn't.

Or wouldn't.

Katherine?

What?

Sorry, er...

I wasn't...

- You were saying?

- I was saying it might be best

if Teddy took your room.

Then he's next to my room,

and it's larger.

You don't need all that space.

- No.

- No?

No, no, I...

No, I don't need all that space.

After Christmas, then.

Yes.

And perhaps I'll take your room.

You'll be used to smaller spaces

from your days in your tiny house, Agnes.

(Gasping)

Katherine! Can I come?

What are those ones?

Swallows.

Look, watch them glide.

Aren't they beautiful?

I think you're beautiful.

How do you know that?

What?

Names of birds.

My mother taught me.

She'd take us on long walks and teach us

the names of birds and trees.

- Outside things?

- Yes.

Do you miss your mother?

Yes.

Do you?

Yes.

(Rustling)

You don't mind if I...

if I join you, do you?

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