Disgrace

I haven't heard from my daughter.

Still living with a woman?

Yes, still a lesbian.

Still on the farm.

She thinks it's safe there.

Nowhere's safe.

Too many people with nothing to do but cause trouble.

How's work?

They look through me when I speak, forget my name.

There's no respect anymore.

Have you missed me?

I miss you all the time.

I'm curious.

How do you manage this life?

Is there a husband?

You better go now.

I forgot to tell you, my mother's ill.

I have to take care of her, so I won't be here next week.

Will I see you the Thursday after?

I'm not sure.

Why don't you ring the agency?

Give me your number. I'll ring you direct.

No. Ring the agency.

"That had usurped upon a living thought that never more could be."

Why did Wordsworth use the unusual verb form 'usurp upon'?

Because 'usurp upon' means to intrude or encroach upon.

"The clouds cleared, the peak was unveiled, and we grieved to see it."

Why 'grieve'?

My lunch is wet. Wait.

Are you alright?

I'm fine.

Melanie, isn't it?

My favourite season and time of day.

Do you live around here?

Across the line. I share a flat.

I live nearby.

May I invite you for a drink?

OK.

But I have to be back by 7:30.

What is the reason for taking a course in Romantic poetry?

It's mainly for the atmosphere.

Are you enjoying the course?

I'm not that crazy about Wordsworth.

Wordsworth has been one of my masters.

Maybe he'll grow on me.

Maybe.

But in my experience, poetry speaks to you at first sight or not at all.

Like falling in love.

What are your career plans?

Stagecraft and design. I'm doing a diploma in theatre.

I see. Yeah.

You've got a lot of books on Byron. Didn't he die young?

They all die young or dry up or... go mad.

I must go.

Stay longer.

Why?

Because you ought to.

Why ought I? Why?

Because a woman's beauty does not belong to her alone,

it's part of the bounty she brings into the world.

She has a duty to share it.

What if I already share it?

Then you should share it more widely.

I must leave.

Shall I walk you home?

No.

Very well. Goodbye.

Hello?

May I speak to Melanie, please?

Just a minute.

Is something the matter?

Are you worried about the two of us?

Maybe.

No need.

I won't let it go too far.

I'll give you a ride home.

I missed you yesterday in class.

Are you alright?

Did you get my carnations?

Is there something wrong?

Please, tell me.

Thanks.

Aren't you going to invite me in?

I think my flatmate is home.

What about this evening?

I've got rehearsals.

Then when do I see you again?

Thanks.

Could you do my hair like Oprah's?

We don't want much now, do we, dearie?

Well, I'll go and make some magic chemicals...

But meanwhile, can I get you ladies some coffee?

I'll have mine white, please.

I'll have mine black, please.

Well, that's easy to remember!

I've come for the job you've advertised.

So? What are you waiting for?

There's the broom. Make yourself useful!

No! No! Everything has to happen much quicker!

A la Marx Brothers!

Ryan, is this gadget going to work? I want a loud bang and sparks.

Are the others going to work? There's only one lamp blinking.

Melanie, don't pre-empt. I want to see shock in your body language.

You're coming across like a limp fish.

Not now, my cousin will be back!

So you're the professor?

Melanie's told me about you.

Indeed. What has she told you?

That you fuck her. That's enough.

What do you want?

Don't tell me that's enough!

You can't do what you want when it suits you!

It's time for you to leave.

Goodbye, Professor Chips.

Just you wait and see.

As we saw last week,

notoriety and scandal affected not only Byron's life

but also the way his poems were received by the public.

"At times resign his own for others' good"

"But not in pity"

"Not because he ought"

"But in some strange perversity of thought"

"That swayed him onward with a secret pride"

"To do what a few or none would do beside"

"And this same impulse would in tempting time"

"Mislead his spirit equally to crime."

So...

What kind of creature is this Lucifer?

He does what he feels like.

Doesn't care if it's good or bad, he just does it.

Exactly.

Good or bad, he just does it.

He doesn't act on principles but on impulse,

and the source of his impulses is dark to him.

Read a few lines further.

"His madness was not of the head but heart..."

A mad heart.

What is a mad heart?

Never mind.

condemn this being with a mad heart.

On the contrary, we are invited to sympathise.

For though he lives among us, he is not one of us.

He is what he calls himself, a 'thing',

that is, a monster.

Not possible to love...

and condemned to solitude.

Melanie, may I have a word with you in my office, please?

Melanie...

Would you mind waiting outside, please?

My dear, I can't have your friend disrupting my class.

And you have to make up the test you missed.

I can't. I haven't done the reading.

Just take the test, Melanie.

Let's set a date.

How about next Monday?

You've got the weekend to do the reading.

12 o'clock,

here in my office.

Where can I find Professor Lurie?

Here I am.

Professor, what you have done is not right.

You should be ashamed of yourself!

We never thought we were sending our daughter into a nest of vipers!

Won't you come to my office?

So help me God if I have the wrong end of the stick,

but I don't think so.

I can see it from your face.

Excuse me, I have business to attend to.

Professor Lurie! Professor Lurie!

You can't run away!

You haven't heard the last of it yet!

I was thinking of seeing Lucy after the inquiry.

Of course I haven't told her.

Well, let me tell you,

everyone already knows about this latest affair of yours

in the juiciest detail.

Really?

The story is she took sleeping pills.

Come on, David, we shared a bed for 10 years.

Why should you have secrets?

Was she in love with you?

No, Rosalind, I'm afraid it wasn't that dramatic.

What an inglorious end to a brilliant career.

What if you lose your pension?

They can't cut me off without a penny.

You haven't asked me whether I was in love with her.

For God's sake, David, you're 52!

Will you be able to resume your post?

I'm not sure I want to.

The whole thing is disgusting.

Disgusting and vulgar. And I don't mind saying so.

David, is there any member of the committee

whose participation you feel might be prejudicial to you?

Not in a legal sense.

Let me remind everyone this is not a trial but an inquiry.

Now, the first complaint comes from Miss Melanie Isaacs.

You all have a copy of her statement?

Yes. Yes.

Will Miss Isaacs be appearing in person?

Miss Isaacs appeared before the committee yesterday.