The French Lieutenant's Woman Page #5

I could offer you a brace of

the best Northumberland. Real angels.

D'you know who

their grandpapa was? Tornado.

Do you recall Tornado at Cambridge?

Yes. So do my ankles.

Aye, he took a fancy to you.

Always... always bit what he loved.

What a profoundly good idea

this was, Charles.

- To dear old Tornado, God rest his soul.

- Rest his soul.

Bravo! Port is essential

to wash down the claret.

As claret was essential

to wash down the punch.

As punch was essential

to sluice the champagne.

- What follows?

- What follows?

A little drive round town follows.

That most essentially follows.

Tom, my dear old fellow,

you're a damn good fellow.

So are you, Charley boy.

We're all damn good fellas.

- On we go, gentlemen.

- Where are we going?

Where all damn good fellas go

for a jolly night out.

We're goin' to Kate Hamilton's,

bless her heart.

The bishop's son has hit it, Charley.

But not a word to his old man!

Steady.

Come along, sir, be upsta...

Oh! He's at the post.

- The white flag is up. They're off!

- Steady, steady.

- That's it. Very good.

- He's on the rails, off the rails!

Oh, my God!

I don't think our dear Charley is going

anywhere tonight, old boy. Do you?

This come to Mr Montague,

for Mr Smithson.

Thank you very much.

Mr Charles?

Mr Charles?

Sir!

A letter for you, sir. Special messenger

just come from Mr Montague.

Er, bring me some tea.

(humming)

What is it, Sam?

I'd like your advice, sir.

On what subject?

My ambition is to go

into business, sir... in due course.

- Business?

- Yes, sir.

- What kind of business?

- Draper's and haberdasher's.

I've set me heart on a little shop.

Would that not be

a somewhat costly undertaking?

280, sir.

And how much do you have put by?

30... But that's three years' savin'.

So I was wonderin'

if you could help me, sir.

I can't say it sounds

a very practical idea to me, Sam.

I'm very enthusiastic

about the idea myself, sir.

Very.

Well, I'll think about it.

I'll certainly be happy to think about it.

Now pack, would you?

We're going to Lyme.

- To Lyme, sir?

- To Lyme, yes.

(guard) Exeter! Exeter!

Change here now

for Exmouth, Weymouth and Lyme.

- Carriage to Lyme, sir?

- We'll stay the night. It's going to rain.

We'll put up at the Ship.

- I'm going to stretch my legs.

- Shall I order dinner, sir?

I'll decide when I come in.

- A room, sir?

- Er, no, I...

...I should like to speak to one of your...

- A Miss Woodruff.

- Oh, the poor young lady, sir.

She was a-comin' downstairs

and she slipped, sir.

Turned her ankle terrible. I wanted to

ask the doctor, but she won't hear of it.

I have to see her on a... business matter.

Ah... A gentleman of the law?

Yes.

- Then you must go up, sir.

- Thank you.

Betty Anne? Take this gentleman

to Miss Woodruff's room.

- (knocks)

- Come in.

A gentleman to see you, Miss.

I was passing through Exeter.

Had I not better go at once

and fetch a doctor?

He would only advise me

to do what I am already doing.

- You're not in pain?

- No.

Be thankful it didn't

happen on the Undercliff.

Yes.

Do sit down.

Miss Woodruff, please...

I should not have come.

- I meant not to.

- I thought I should never see you again.

Oh!

Oh, Sarah.

(he gasps)

I was... the first?

Yes.

- Why did you lie about the Frenchman?

- I don't know.

Does he exist?

Oh, yes, he exists.

I did follow him to Weymouth, to the inn.

As I drew near I saw him

come out with a woman.

The kind of woman one... cannot mistake.

When they had gone, I... walked away.

But then... why did you tell...

I don't know.

I cannot explain.

Not now.

I must make myself free.

- I am to blame. I knew when I came here.

- I wished it so.

I wished it so.

Sarah...

It is the sweetest name.

I have long imagined a day such as this.

I have longed for it.

I was lost from the moment I saw you.

I, too.

I must go to Lyme...

...to see her, to tell her.

You must give me a day's grace.

You will wait for me, won't you?

I shall come back for you.

I shall be back tomorrow.

Do what you will... or what you must.

Now that I know there was truly

a day upon which you loved me...

...I can bear anything.

You have given me the strength to live.

- Cheese and onion.

- Perfect.

- I'm losing you. I'm losing you!

- What? I'm just going to London.

- Stay the night.

- I can't.

- Why not? You're a free woman.

- Yes, I am.

- I'm going mad!

- No, you're not.

- I want you so much.

- Well, you just had me... in Exeter!

(guard blows whistle)

Excuse me.

Bye-bye.

- (knocking)

- (Charles) Thank you. I'll show myself in.

Charles!

- Please sit down.

- What is it?

- Charles, what is it?

- Sit down.

Well, what has happened?

Why do you look at me like that?

Because I don't know how

to begin to say what I must.

- I've come to tell you the truth.

- The truth?

- What truth?

- That I have...

...after many hours of the deepest

and the most painful consideration...

...come to the conclusion

that I am not worthy of you.

- Not worthy of me?

- I'm totally unworthy.

Oh! You are joking.

No.

Will you kindly explain

to me what you are saying?

The terms your father offered

were... more than generous.

But you despise the idea

of marrying into trade.

- No, I don't despise it. I...

- Then what are you saying?

Ernestina, I have realised

during these last days...

...that far too great a part of

my regard for you has been ignoble.

I was far more tempted by your father's

fortune than I cared to admit.

Now that I've seen that to be the truth...

Are you saying...

...that you have... never loved me?

I am not worthy of you.

Tina, dear.

Charles?

I know I am spoilt.

I know I am not unusual.

But under your love and protection...

...I believed I would become... better.

I would do anything, you see.

I would... I would abandon

anything to make you happy.

You are lying.

Something else has happened.

Yes.

Who?

You don't know her.

I don't know her?

I've known her... many years.

I thought the attachment was broken.

I discovered in London that it is not.

- Why did you not tell me?

- I hoped to spare you the pain of it.

Or yourself the shame of it!

Who is she?!

What woman would be so vile

as to make a man break his vows?

- I can guess she is married.

- I will not discuss her.

- I came here to tell you the truth...

- Truth?! You are a liar!

My father will drag your name,

both your names, through the mire!

You will be spurned

and detested by all that know you!

You will be hounded out of England!

- (knocking)

- Mm?

What the devil do you want? I didn't ring.

I brought you a glass of brandy, sir.

I thought you might want it.

It's never true, sir?

Yes, it is true. Miss Freeman

and I are no longer to marry.

Now go. And keep your mouth shut.

- Did you hear what I said?

- Yes, sir. Only, with respect...

...I have to consider me own situation.

- What?!

Will you be residing in London

from now on, sir?

- We shall probably go abroad.

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