Restoration Page #7

Put your hand

on my belly.

l'm frightened that something

might happen to take it away.

We'll build him a big strong castle

in the Land of Mar,

and put him in a high tower

where he will be safe.

Where he will feel

none of the unkindness of the world;

scheming, ugliness.

And should he pass

through the valley of lost things,

nothing of him

will ever be lost.

And we shall

call him John.

No one will ever be able

to take him from you.

[ Bells Ringing ]

Do not enter, sir.

l've come looking for work.

l, uh, l attended the college.

That ward is struck, and once a ward

or a house is struck,

then all the people

therein are quarantined for 40 days.

- Both sick and well ?

- Both together.

What happens ?

We leave them.

Mostly they die.

[ Merivel ]

What about the physicians ?

All fled. Physicians have become

the men most despised.

Perhaps you'd

like that, sir.

Physicians used to wear them

to purify the air against the plague.

Well, you can keep it.

The physician who wore it

comes here no more.

Nor does he go anywhere.

Nor has breath.

[ Laughs ]

[ Gasps ]

[ Merivel ]

John.

[ Pearce's Voice ]

You have a gift, Merivel. Use it.

For the child.

Why do you stay

with me ?

Because the child has weaved

our lives together.

l know you don't love me

as you've loved others.

Um, perhaps l do not recognize

love, Katharine. l'm not a wise man.

ln the Land of Mar,

which lies

just above Africa--

To help you sleep.

You must sleep, Robert,

if you are to heal others

as you've healed me.

[ Screaming ]

lt's all right.

lt's all right.

[ Groaning ]

We can only

wait and pray.

And then, if she should

start to slip away ?

Then there is only

one thing can be done.

[ Merivel ]

Katharine. Katharine.

The baby is large.

You cannot

push it out of you.

ls there nothing

can be done to save it ?

l must cut into the womb.

But if l do,

l shall lose you.

And l don't want

to lose you, Katharine.

You must save the child.

Are you not afraid ?

You're leaving me, l fear.

Nothing else.

Be with me now, Pearce.

[ Groans, Yells ]

Now, help me.

Hold back the flesh...

while l gently lever

the child out.

[ Groans ]

[ Baby Cries ]

Ah ! Oh ! Huh !

Katharine.

Katharine !

Katharine !

There's nothing

more l can do.

Sir !

Robert.

lt is no John,

it is our little girl.

We shall call her Margaret.

Margaret.

l love you, Robert.

l love you.

Keep her safe.

l will.

[ Baby Cries ]

[ Sobs ]

[ Priest ] Earth to earth,

ashes to ashes, dust to dust,

in sure and certain hope

of resurrection to eternal life...

the Lord, Jesus Christ

who shall--

[ Merivel's Voice ]

l write this for you, dear Margaret,

to tell you something

of my life.

Whatever is good in it

l owe to two people...

whom l could not save.

Your mother loved you

and gave her life for yours.

She was the bravest spirit

l ever knew.

The most compassionate

was my friend John Pearce.

Now l know l must return

to our work in the hospital,

and take on the role

that was always meant for me.

l have arranged

for your safekeeping.

For if l become ill,

l will not return.

[ Bells Ringing ]

[ Crying, Coughing ]

But they are

tied to the bed.

Those already affected

with the plague are tied...

to prevent them going into the streets

like madmen and infecting other people.

But the sick and the well

must be separated.

Open it !

l can't, sir.

The proclamation. The plague !

Then l shall open it.

[ Wood Breaking ]

[ Merivel Narrating ] The sick and

the well they keep quarantined together.

lf l were merely to separate them,

a great many lives would be saved.

Who do l have to thank

for this kindness ?

One John Pearce.

[ Narrating ]

The sick l can offer no cure.

But my presence among them

may bring with it some hope.

Fear is our greatest enemy.

And hope our best weapon

against the disease.

They have mistaken me

for John Pearce.

A mistake to which

l have contributed.

l allow them to continue

to honor my friend.

Dr. Pearce.

Excellent.

[ Baby Crying ]

There you are.

Mary will show you out.

[ Comforts Crying Child ]

Margaret.

- Dr. Pearce.

- Who calls ?

[ Whooshing Sound ]

[ lncense-Burning Pendulum Whooshing ]

Pearce.

l give her

into your hands.

Call for any medicines.

Anything you deem suitable.

Why have they sent

another doctor to me ?

You must want to live,

Lady Celia.

No.

Not in so wretched a state.

Tell me, Doctor,

why is it that

those that we love...

do not love us

in return ?

l once loved a woman

who did not love me.

Yet l believed

that she did.

ls it not

equally possible...

to mistakenly

feel unloved ?

l am one of many. l know

no special place in the King's heart.

The King does love

you, Lady Celia.

Why would he reveal such intimacies

to you and not to me ?

He told me nothing,

but l recognized in him...

the very feelings

l myself have known.

How may l arrive

at such an understanding ?

l used to look to the constellations

for some explanation...

in mysterious times

of my own life.

But the stars hold only

part of the answer, Lady Celia.

Now l look toward myself

and those who believed in me

and loved me for the man l was.

and loved me

for the man l was.

Now l know we have

the power to shape our own destiny.

Your voice

sounds familiar.

Perhaps from some other time

in my life, when l was a child.

Yes.

Perhaps when

we were children.

Sire, l am familiar with

the many symptoms of the plague.

Lady Celia suffers

from a different illness, a fever,

which l have treated

and from which she will recover.

And something else--

She is with child.

Good Doctor,

you have made my heart

exceeding glad.

But she is still haunted

by a profound melancholy.

lt can be relieved only

by some assurance of love.

l do believe

l understand you.

[ King ]

l believe l do.

And now you must

remove your headdress...

and make yourself

known to us.

That, if Your Majesty will

forgive me, l cannot do.

l only hope

l've proved useful.

A large part of the city

is on fire.

Boatsman !

[ Shouting ]

Go in !

All right.

l must find

my daughter.

Now, go in closer !

[ Shouting ]

[ Screaming ]

- Am l not near Cheapside ?

- Save yourself, sir.

Cheapside is gone.

[ Neighs ]

- Where am l ?

- Get away from me !

- What street is this ?

- l don't know !

Margaret !

Margaret !

[ Gasping ]

[ Shouting ]

Someone in there.

[ Birds Chirping ]

Where am l ?

Where am l ?

You have come back

to Bidnold.

Will.

l remember the journey.

l think not, sir.

You were asleep

for the most part of it.

They found you

15 miles from here.

Stuck fast under a tree.

[ Laughs ]

Margaret ?

No word of Margaret ?

Sir ?

l wish you might

have known her, Will.

l had a little daughter.

A most beautiful little girl.

l feel as though old age has

come upon me in the space of a moment.

[ Barks ]

[ lndistinct Whimpering ]

l fear l'm dreaming.

No, Merivel.

You are awake.

- Lady Celia has recovered.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes