Wuthering Heights Page #6

just as you flogged me.

Mr Heathcliff, I think it's nearly daylight

out there. We'd probably best be going.

Now, now, Saul.

I bring you Hindley night in, night out,

plump with cash, ripe for the plucking.

I think it's only good manners that you

stay until Hindley's fate is decided.

What do you say, Hindley?

My cash against the skin on your back.

Then my blood?

Why not?

Why not?

Call it.

Tails.

Heads.

Saul,

behind the stable door

you will find a whip.

Oil each tail so they don't

snag in his open wounds.

I think perhaps you've humiliated

him enough, Mr Heathcliff.

I cannot feel any satisfaction

for the humiliation

I have heaped upon him so far.

And the more revenge I get,

the greater my appetite for it.

The lad, sir. Think about Hareton.

You are a good man, Saul.

A good man.

I could have been a good man

once but then I met Hindley.

One day I must sit you down and

you can tell me how to be good.

Gentlemen,

thank you for a diverting evening.

See yourselves out.

Are you well, my love?

Just a little tired.

Perhaps now the weather grows finer,

we will see some more of Mr Heathcliff.

I think Mr Heathcliff has

satisfied his curiosity

and from now on we shall

see very little of him.

That is a shame.

Why so?

Because I liked him and

I desired his company.

Surely you do not covet the

admiration of Heathcliff?

I hope I misunderstood you.

You've not misunderstood me.

You can't consider him

an agreeable person.

You are a dog in the manger, Cathy,

and desire no-one to be loved

but yourself! That is enough!

You shall not talk to my wife like that

again, Isabella. And you shall apologise!

I am sorry, sister.

I knew you would come in the end!

Is Miss Isabella at home?

Miss Isabella?

Is she home?

Now, come.

I like her too well to let you

absolutely seize and devour her up.

- Besides, I would not approve.

- You would not approve?

You, who have treated me

infernally? Infernally. Do you hear!

And if you flatter yourself that I

don't perceive it, you are a fool.

Darling, do not speak like this.

If you think I can be consoled

by sweet words you are an idiot.

So I will ask you again,

is Miss Isabella at home?

Heathcliff,

I am proud to show you at last somebody

who dotes on you more than myself.

Sister, dear, I really don't think...

I am sure that my poor little

sister in law is breaking her heart

by mere contemplation of your

physical and moral beauty.

Cathy. This is most unfair!

Be kind enough to excuse me.

Cathy forgets that you and I

are not intimate acquaintances

and what amuses her is painful

to me beyond expression.

You had no reason to treat

the poor girl in such a manner.

Do not fret.

I would as soon as put a canary

in the park on a winter's day

than recommend she

bestow her heart on you.

There would be a certain

symmetry though, would there not?

In Isabella Linton

and I becoming lovers.

Perhaps your fortune has changed you.

My fortune has changed

me in every regard.

Except one.

And if I could change

that too I would do so.

What is this?

This is an agreement that Mr

Heathcliff has first option

to purchase any more land and

buildings you may wish to sell.

This is the balance of the account, sir.

Joseph! Saddle up Hunter.

Had I known I could ruin the

man in the space of three months,

I would have come back sooner.

I thought I would never find this place.

That's why I told you

to bring Cathy's horse.

She could find her way

up here in the dark.

Is this the place where you

bring all your sweethearts?

Only Cathy before you.

And is that how it

is always going to be?

Cathy before me?

I saw a spirit in you last time

I saw you at the Grange, Isabella,

that has stayed with me.

It is as though your brother

has a woman's gentleness

and you have all the fight.

I cannot tell whether you

are flattering me or not.

Everything you hear about me is bad.

Yet you see some good in me,

else why would you be here?

Perhaps I am attracted

to the bad in you.

No. Do not make a joke of it.

A person who sees good in me is

a sensation I experience so rarely

that it is enough to make me

want to at least try to love you.

What are you about? Raising this stir?

I said you must let

Isabella alone, I beg you.

Unless you are tired

of being received here

and wish Edgar to draw

the bolts against you!

God forbid he should try!

God keep him meek and patient!

I love Heathcliff more than

you have ever loved Edgar

and he might love me

if you would let him!

I know he could never love a Linton!

And yet he's quite capable

of marrying you to hurt me,

he has as good as told me!

I don't believe you.

I don't believe you!

What is it to you? I have a

right to kiss her, if she chooses,

and you have no right to object.

I'm not your husband.

There is no need for you to be jealous.

If you like Isabella,

you shall marry her.

But, do you like her,

Heathcliff? Tell the truth.

Answer me.

Answer me!

You will not leave here

until you answer me.

If I imagined you wished

me to marry Isabella,

- I'd cut my throat!

- Take her, if it pleases you!

You clearly prefer the bliss of

inflicting misery to the bliss of our love!

This is insufferable!

It is disgraceful that you

should own him for a friend

and force his company on me.

Is that how you call it, sir?

I have so far been

forbearing with you, sir.

Your presence is a moral poison that

would contaminate the most virtuous.

For that cause, and to

prevent worse consequences,

I shall deny you, hereafter,

admission into this house.

Cathy, this lamb of yours

threatens like a bull!

It is in danger of splitting

its skull against my knuckles.

I require your instant departure, sir.

One minute's delay will render

it involuntary and ignominious.

- No, I will not move until I hear an apology from you.

- An apology?

After constant indulgence of both men,

I earn for thanks two

samples of blinding gratitude!

Edgar, I was defending you and yours.

Cathy, please get out of my way.

- Apologise.

- Get out of my way!

Make an apology or allow

yourself to be beaten.

All I want is your happiness!

But I am, I must admit,

utterly defeated in this.

Indeed I can only attribute

your spite and venom and betrayal

to some unfathomable damage

deep inside your heart.

To think anything else is to think

so badly of you that I cannot bear it.

Well, I must compliment

you on your taste, Cathy.

This is the slavering thing

you would prefer to me!

Heathcliff! No! I beg you!

Go!

Remain where you are, Cathy.

I shall not stay. But I wish to

learn whether after this day's events,

you intend to continue your intimacy...

Oh, for mercy's sake! Just

let us hear no more of it!

To get rid of me

- answer my question.

Will you give up Heathcliff

hereafter or will you give up me?

It is impossible to be my

friend and his at the same time

and I absolutely require

to know which you choose.

- You cannot make me choose!

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