Women in Love - First Season

Yes, we are swept up

in a sea of scientific and technical innovation.

The automobile, the electric light,

the aeroplane, the x-ray.

On all sides, our genius cries out and seems to underline.

Mr Darwin's assertion that we are,

indeed, the cleverest of an evolutionary bunch.

Yet I would say to him, as I say to all those in this House,

look to the workings of a time piece,

each ratchet and spring and cog and lever,

all coming together in one sublime whole.

And tell me if you think that could happen by accident?

Of course not.

There is always design in brilliance. And purpose, too.

And in knowing that, we know that

in each new discovery we daily make,

we witness no more or less

than the work of the greatest creator of all, God Himself!

The Bible was given to us for a reason,

as the instruction manual for our own intricate mechanism.

For when all is said and done

and we lie inert on the mortician's slab,

no matter the x-rays that will reveal our hidden bones,

it is our souls that will then require attention!

Hear, hear.

That was magnificent!

You were like a God!

Hermione, you romanticise everything.

You were! I merely describe what I saw, a God.

And as your priestess, I knew I must hurry across to serve you.

Let me get you a drink.

Thank you.

Mum?

Mum!

She keeps grizzling. I've give her some water but...

I told Conk I'd see him at 3:00.

Go on then, go on.

Quiet, you two! Your sister...

Are you serious?

I thought it would cheer you up.

That?

Well, inspire you, then.

Father only put this thing in...

Gudrun.

I don't need any musical palliatives. Really. I'm quite well.

Good. I'm glad you are.

I'm going back to London.

What?

I have to. I've fallen behind in my course.

And there's a gallery that wants to see some of my work.

Gudrun, do me the courtesy.

You're going back for your trip after all, aren't you?

It's none of your business. And I don't want to talk about it.

Then why did you mention it when you first came home?

I beg your pardon?

It was the first thing you said to me,

your great adventure with your artist friend.

I rather thought you were going to tell father over the dinner table.

Oh, don't be ridiculous.

He's a married man.

His marriage is over. In everything...

Except actuality.

I'm sorry. I don't...

It's concern for you. You know that.

If other people found out.

I don't care what other people think.

Well, perhaps you should.

Since we live in a world full of other people.

Oh, God! Even ill you manage to sound so superior.

I don't want you to be hurt.

I won't be hurt!

The world's changed, Ursula. It's grown up.

And I'm a modern woman in it.

More than you are in fact,

- who's chosen to stay here. - Prune.

No. I refuse to dip only in the stagnant,

fetid pool that gathers in my own back yard.

That's the path to disaster.

- Not my way. - Enough!

You've said enough.

I've got my just deserts.

That's not what I meant.

Yes, it is.

I'm glad I lost the baby.

I should have loved it, I'm sure, when it was born.

But really, I'm glad, that mother will

no longer be able to look over at me,

sitting in the parlour while I dangle

the infant on my knee and think,

"At last she's made something of herself."

Live your life, Prune, as you see fit.

But it's yours. Remember that.

Men cannot define you.

I don't...

Yes, you do!

Because no matter how modern you are,

how much variety you enjoy,

you still orbit them,

make them the light by which you are illuminated.

And if you continue on that track, Prune,

then I fear that for all your freedoms,

you might as well climb into this bed with me now.

Hey!

- Bye. - Bye, love.

Oh! Hang on. Hang on!

There you go.

You ready, then?

Yes.

Gudrun.

What?

Your sister, is she all right?

She says she's much better.

Oh. Right. Good.

I'll just fetch my valise.

It's a bag.

Bad do, Anna. Bad bloody do all round.

Set?

Oh!

It's thick. The snow.

My dad said the mummers might come by later.

Carol us under the window.

That would be nice.

They probably won't.

Because of the snow.

I've locked it.

Well, you wouldn't want anyone to steal it, would you?

Sherbet lemons. They've opened a kiosk.

Do you want one?

Here, have the bag.

Go on.

I needed to speak to you, actually.

Yes?

You know well enough.

This crowd in London that you hang about with.

I most certainly do not "hang about" with anyone.

Don't split hairs, you know what I mean.

Well, I'm a fine artist, Father.

I'm living and studying in one of the world's great capitols.

I mix with people that you cannot understand.

Then help me!

Help me understand them. I want to. I just...

Otherwise...

I think things.

Well, don't.

I'm getting on splendidly. Really.

Why are you doing this?

You're a good girl, Gudrun.

Oh, bugger.

Oh, sorry.

Ah, Miss Brangwen.

Mr Birkin. What a nice surprise.

I didn't know you were back.

No. No, no. No indeed. It's a flying visit.

A birthday party. Gerald Crich. Do you know him?

No, no. I know of him, obviously.

All the Crich's. We've never met.

Oh, he's a splendid fellow.

I ran into him in Switzerland over Easter.

I was visiting a friend, a mutual friend as it turned out.

Since then we've rather become an item.

I should introduce you.

That would be nice.

And how are you? I heard you had been unwell.

- Influenza. But... - Oh.

You still look a little pale. You don't think that...

No, I'm fine. Really. I'm over the worst.

Sorry. I'm a dreadful hypochondriac.

It's part of a general predisposition

to naval gaze rather too much, I think.

Gerald says I should be a character in a novel.

Which is interesting seeing, as to my knowledge,

he has never actually read one, but essentially, he's right.

I should.

One of those gloomy Russian affairs. Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky.

Where I could spend 400 pages being ill and bemoaning my inability

to fit in with the world.

Have you come to practise?

I assume you'll be giving us one of

your thunderous readings this Sunday?

Oh. No. No, no. I'm not sure I'll be around.

I'm just returning these, actually.

I really have had them a lifetime.

It suddenly occurred to me that I...

Would you like a lift? Back to Beldover?

I've borrowed a gig. I could quite easily run you.

Or were you having... Having a moment?

It's good to see you, of all people. It's been a little while.

Yes. Yes. I did mean to write.

Oh, you've been busy. I understand.

I thought perhaps you might have visited the school or...

How is Miss Roddice, by the way?

Oh, she's... She's very well. Thank you.

I'll tell her we bumped into each other.

You are still in regular contact, then?

Yes, you know, on and off.

And what of Mr Skrebensky? I imagine, he's...

I wouldn't know. He's been posted abroad.

We are definitely off.

I beg your pardon. I'm being rather forceful...

No, not at all. No. You're being refreshingly honest,