The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

Quick. Open the gate, Arthur.

Oh.

Well, at least the light is good.

-Can I go outside? -I'll take you later.

-Please? -No.

-I won't get lost. -Arthur.

Where are my skittles?

-We could not bring everything. -You brought your paints and brushes.

They're not toys, dearest.

Are we poor now?

Give me that child.

I wasn't harming the child, madam. He was caught up in the branches.

He might have hanged himself.

I beg your pardon, sir.

-I did not know you, I thought... -You thought what?

I'm indebted to you, Mr...?

Markham.

When are we going back?

Give him time.

He'll be happy enough.

Oh, Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us as our trust is in thee.

Oh, Lord, in thee have I trusted thee. Let me never be confounded.

Here beginneth the second lesson of the Gospel according to St John,

Chapter 2, Verse 1 .

''And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee

''and the mother of Jesus was there.

''And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

''And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus sayeth unto him,

'''They have no wine.'

''Jesus sayeth unto her,

'''Woman, what have I to do with thee?'''

Be quiet.

'''Mine hour is not yet come.'

''When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine,

''and knew not whence it was,

''but the servants which drew the water knew...''

''...the governor of the feast called the bridegroom and sayeth unto him,

'''Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine...'''

Mrs Graham, so glad that you were able to worship with us today.

Our congregation is quite a little family, you know.

Have you met my daughter Eliza?

-Mrs Graham. -Miss Millward.

May we hope that you will honour us with a visit?

-Perhaps this afternoon? -Oh, no.

That would not be possible. Forgive me.

-Mrs Graham, allow me to introduce Mrs Wilson. -Mrs Graham.

Mr Richard Wilson and Miss Jane Wilson.

It's the new tenant of Wildfell.

Oh, Mrs Graham...

I'm Mrs Markham from Brook Farm. We're having a small party on Friday.

-We were wondering... Oh, do say you'll come.

-Thank you, but I never go to parties. -Oh, but this will be quite a family concern.

-I'm sorry, I... -Mrs Graham,

I do hope that Wildfell is not too uncomfortable for you.

Not at all.

It's a draughty old place. You must let me know if there's anything you need.

You're very kind.

Mr Lawrence, I've been trying to persuade Mrs Graham to come to our party on Friday.

Perhaps you can encourage her.

Oh, I fear that goes beyond a landlord's prerogative.

Your hospitality is famous, Mrs Markham. It can need no recommendation from me.

I'm sorry. It is my son.

I do not care to leave him alone.

But surely you have a servant.

Rachel is too busy to be running after a lively boy.

-Are you really such a mischievous fellow? -No, no.

But he is my only treasure, and I am his only friend.

-We don't like to be parted. -So I observe.

My dear! I call that doting.

He mustn't always be tied to his mama's apron strings.

He should learn to be ashamed of it.

Mrs Markham, I trust my son will never be ashamed to love his mother.

Good day.

-Markham. -Lawrence.

Oh, Mrs Graham!

You seem determined to be a stranger to us. I suppose you must find us all very dull.

-Not at all. -Let's not apologise.

There's nothing I love more than a mystery.

Excuse me.

Rose, tell Betty to fetch the ale for Reverend Millward.

But Mother, I'm busy.

-I'll go. -Oh, Fergus.

I daresay you hate cats, Mr Markham. Most gentlemen do.

Only because you ladies lavish so many caresses on them.

Naughty little darling.

Now, this is the thing. There is nothing like it, Mrs Markham.

I always say a woman's first duty is to keep a good table for the gentlemen.

-Not to be a slave to it. Mind you...

I had as good a husband as ever lived,

and he always did justice to my dinners and hardly ever spoiled my cookery by delay.

And that is as much as any woman can expect of any man.

Mrs Graham!

Well, come in, come in.

-No, thank you. I prefer water. -An abstainer?

Well, some for the boy.

-Warm him up. -Don't worry, Arthur. He will not make you drink it.

What, another abstainer? You're not a milksop, are you, boy?

He detests the sight of wine and the smell of it makes him sick.

-He will grow to like it in time. -I think not.

I gave him some by way of medicine when he was ill.

-What a droll idea. -It is not meant to be.

This way I will have saved him from one degrading vice, at least.

-Vice, Mrs Graham? -But he's a boy, my dear.

You don't want to spoil his spirit. You'll make a mere Miss Nancy of him.

True virtue, my dear lady, consists in a conscious resistance to temptation,

not ignorance of them.

Teach him to fight, Mrs Graham, not run away.

If you want him to walk honourably through the world,

you mustn't try and clear the stones from his path.

I shall lead him by the hand till he has the strength to go alone.

I cannot trust that he will be one man in a thousand

and have that strength and virtue as a birthright.

You do not think very highly of us, then.

I know nothing about you. I speak of those I do know.

Is it not better to arm your hero than to weaken him with too much care?

Would you say the same of a girl?

-Must her virtue be tested in battle? -I should say not.

A woman's virtue is her modesty, a man's his strength of will.

I would wish a woman's virtue to be shielded from temptation.

Why?

You would have us encourage our sons to prove all things by their own experience,

whilst our daughters must remain in ignorance until it is too late.

-Too late? -I tell you, Mr Markham,

if I thought my son would grow up to be what you call a man of the world,

I would rather that he died tomorrow.

I'm sorry.

Come, Arthur.

Well, must you go?

Well, it seems you ladies will always have the last word.

You may have as many as you like but I cannot stay to hear them.

It is past Arthur's bedtime.

Mrs Markham.

Rose.

Reverend.

She's very proud of her own opinions.

She's probably happy living all alone in that gloomy place.

I pity poor Mr Graham, whoever he may have been.

What do you make of Mrs Graham?

I didn't mean to upset her but I do think she's wrong.

Wrong? I should not say wrong, my dear Mrs Markham.

I should call it criminal. She's not only making a fool of the boy,

but teaching him to despise the blessings of providence.

I will pray for her.

-And for the little boy. -Indeed, him as well.

Well, Gilbert?

-What do you think of our new arrival? -I can't say I like her much.

Too hard, too sharp, too bitter for my taste.

Mrs Markham, your hospitality and ale have been as excellent as ever.

Mr Millward, you're too kind.

Come, Eliza.

What you see in her, I don't know.

-Artful little thing. -Mother!

If you marry her, you'll break my heart, that's all.

Is that what you want, to break my heart?

-Black is such an unbecoming colour. -It seems to match her mood.

I hope she will not be still in mourning at your wedding, Eliza.

She would make such a gloomy spectacle.

-Jane! -He's still not asked you?

Well, tut-tut, Eliza. You mustn't let him slip away.

I have already ordered my silks from London.

What have you two found so interesting to whisper about?

Well, we were just saying that spring is such an enchanting time for weddings.

Arthur.

Arthur, what are you doing?

Leave him alone!

-You put a sheepfold up on Long Hill? -Yes, sir.

I'm putting it to plough next year.

-Oh, it's a bit of common land up there, sir. -You'll see.

Our sheep have lambed twice across it, it will bear as good wheat as any in the vale.

What brings you up here?

I'm not entirely dedicated to cookery and cross-stitch, you know.

A dismal place it is.

Can anyone bear to live there?

I wonder if it's as gloomy inside as out?

You're just like all the others. You just want to snoop.

It's not true.

Mother says we should make newcomers feel welcome, whatever they're like.

Why, Gilbert, I do believe you're afraid of her.

-Is it him? -No, ma'am.

It's Mr Markham and his sister.

Why won't these people leave me alone?

I'm afraid there is no fire today. I was not expecting guests.

Thank you, Rachel.

You will forgive me if I continue.

It amazes me how you could choose such a rickety old place to live in, Mrs Graham,

instead of some nice, neat little cottage.

Do you not get lonely up here all by yourself?

I'm not sure the loneliness of the place was not one of its chief attractions.

Two miles away from your nearest neighbours. It would drive me stark mad.

Where were you living before, Mrs Graham?

How prettily you've embellished our rugged landscape.

-Very picturesque. -You sound surprised.

Not at all.

But why call it Fernley Manor when it's quite plainly this very house?

I have my reasons.

-And these initials, RS... -Shall we call it a trade name?

Ah, Arthur, here's your friend come to visit you.

-Hello, young man. And how are you? -Where's your dog?

Now I see the source of my attraction.

He's at home. You shall see him another time.