Mary Shelley Page #2

---

for these gatherings.

Any lover of poetry will surely

find a great thrill in the work

that is being presented here.

So surely

you are a writer yourself?

Not really.

Nothing substantial.

I hope to, someday.

And what, may I ask,

would you constitute

as "substantial" in your eyes?

Anything that curdles the blood

and quickens the beatings

of the heart.

[Baxter]

Ah, perfect!

Now may I

steal Mr. Shelley away?

We would love a poem, sir.

Certainly, sir.

Without an audience, ideas

remain mere words on a page.

[Servant woman]

Mr. Shelley, your essay.

Oh, I have no need for those.

Thank you.

I shall trust in the spark

of new found inspiration.

[guests chattering]

Oh, not the visioned poet

in his dreams

When silvery clouds float

through the wildered brain

When every sight of lovely,

wild and grand

Astonishes

Enraptures

Elevates

So bright...

...so fair, so wild a shape

Hath ever yet beheld

As that which reined

the coursers of the air

And poured the magic

of her gaze

Upon the maiden's sleep

[dramatic, romantic music ]

[guests chatter]

[Coleridge, reciting]

Alone, alone

All alone

Upon the wide, wide sea

And God will not take pity

on my soul in agony

[laughing]

- This weather.

- Ah, stop complaining.

It's Scotland,

what do you expect?

So I say to you, if all

things come from God...

...and we all come from God,

are we not part of God?

When we think, do we not

behold the very thoughts of God?

Can't say I feel like

much of a god.

Your body is tired, Baxter,

but your spirit,

it longs to soar.

What of you, Miss Godwin?

Do you think you are of God...

...like the great

poet Coleridge?

[birds chirping]

I'll admit...

...I thought Coleridge

was much more captivating

when I was a child.

There you go.

I'm surprised you can

remember back that far.

[Coleridge] Behold the

majesty of God's creation...

Well just how old are you then,

dear ancient one?

Old enough to know

why you are asking.

Ah.

[Coleridge] It's inspirational,

don't you think?

- I'm 16.

- Hmm.

How about you?

A wise old man indeed.

[laughter]

[Shelley, voiceover] As mountain

springs under the morning sun

We shall become the same

We shall be one spirit

within two frames

Oh, wherefore two?

One passion in twin hearts

which grows and grew

Till like two meteors

of expanding flame

Those spheres instinct

with it become the same

Touch, mingle

Are transfigured ever still

[knock on the door]

Burning, yet inconsumable

[gentle, melancholy music ]

Mary...

...I'm afraid I have some

terrible news from London.

It's your sister Claire.

[Mary]

May I ask you...

...could you tell Mr. Shelley

I said goodbye?

Of course.

[chatter]

Was Scotland everything

I said it would be?

Were you happy?

[Mary]

I was.

You will live again, Mary.

You have your mother's spirit.

You won't be confined for long.

She's been like this for weeks.

Claire?

Thank God!

You're finally back!

So you aren't dying?

Only from boredom.

You mean you weren't sick

at all?

Well... maybe a little bit.

[chatter]

[light music ]

[Shelley, voiceover]

Poor captive bird!

Who, from thy narrow cage

Pourest such music,

that it might assuage

The rugged hearts of those

who prisoned thee

Were they not deaf towards

sweet melody

This song shall be thy rose,

its petals pale

Are dead, indeed,

my adored Nightingale!

[horse whinnies]

[chatter]

It seems my mother's

latest reverie

is a young protg

for your father.

We are all to be

on our best behavior

at dinner tonight

to win him over.

He's wealthy, evidently.

She's a woman

of indomitable hope,

I can't deny her that.

[Godwin clears his throat]

[Godwin]

Mr. Percy Shelley,

may I present Mrs. Godwin,

my wife.

And our children,

William, Claire and Mary.

Delighted.

My husband tells me

you're a poet, Mr Shelley.

He speaks very highly

of your work.

Well, I am humbled

by his praise, Mrs. Godwin.

I must admit, though, my work

is not yet widely known.

Although I have just completed

my second volume which...

...awaits publication.

[Godwin] Very impressive

achievement for such a young man.

[Shelley] Any achievement of

mine falls within the shadow

of your influence, Mr. Godwin.

You flatter me.

[Shelley] Hope you will

consider my proposal

to take me on as your protg.

I have a considerable allowance

at my disposal...

...and would gladly reimburse you

for any time you might spare.

Well, I feel duty bound to...

...foster such ability.

Well then, that's settled.

How fortunate we are

to be in the presence

of two great minds.

[Mrs. Godwin] You must see

our bookshop, Mr. Shelley.

[Godwin] I have a copy of "The

Iliad" in the original Greek.

Hmm.

Perhaps Mary will show it

to you after dinner.

How are you here?

Does it seem so strange that

I would seek out the tutelage

of the great William Godwin?

Clearly I'm not only here

to see your father.

Then why are you here?

To once again feel

the curdling of my blood

and the quickening of the

beatings of my heart.

Mary?

Mr. Shelley?

Your father would like

to see Mr. Shelley.

Thank you.

I will be with him momentarily.

I'm quite enjoying the,

uh, collection.

So I see.

[both chuckle]

As I was saying,

both your parents are a great

source of inspiration to me.

My mother died

when I was ten days old.

I'm sorry, I had no idea.

Don't be sorry.

I love to talk about her.

Even if I never truly knew her.

All of the contradictions

she embodied.

All anyone ever talks about...

...now is how she wanted

to go off

and live with a married man

and his wife...

...in a mnage trois.

And what do you think about...

...all that?

I have no problem with it.

People should live and love

as they wish.

But one thing I've never

understood is...

...why did two radicals

such as your parents

succumb to marriage?

To legitimize me.

Meet me...

...tomorrow.

Just tell me where.

There is a place I go alone.

I'm not sure

what you'll make of it.

[delicate, dramatic music ]

My sanctuary of sorts.

[Shelley] Then it will

be my sanctuary, too.

I come here whenever I can.

Just to feel her embrace.

My father taught me to read...

...by tracing the letters

of her name.

[wind blowing]

I don't know what it is

I'm waiting for here.

Maybe you're just waiting

for someone to reach out and...

...return your embrace.

[thunder rolling]

[Mary panting]

I thought we would never

escape the rain.

I think I'd rather suffer

the deluge outside.

If God is everywhere,

then why must Man

erect temples to Him?

Because it is your imagination

that is the instrument

of moral good,

not these four walls.

Let's see if the Great Creator

strikes us down.

[grunts]

You shall fear

the Lord your God.

Thrones, altars...

...judgement seats,

and prisons,

they are all part of one

gigantic, despotic system...

...designed to crush

the soul of Man.

Their empty covenant

has no power over us.

I fear not of God,

or His henchmen on Earth.

Rate this script:4.0 / 1 vote