Poldark

DOG PANTS

SHE HUMS

DOG BARKS

~ Tidn't right. ~ Tidn't fair.

~ Tidn't fit. ~ Tidn't proper.

~ Won't last. ~ Won't work.

~ Who'd she think she is? ~ Who'd 'ee think she is?

'Chit of a girl.'

~ She'll be too grand t'skivvy. ~ Too common t' curtsey.

'Tis all cocky-eyed.

DOG BARKS

He's late t'night, Garrick.

Mm? Where can he be?

SHE MUMBLES TO HERSELF

~ HE CLEARS HIS THROAT ~ Sir!

Ross.

I was thinking 'ee might stop over in town.

I have a home, do I not? And a wife?

I do sometimes forget.

~ That I live here? ~ That I'm your wife.

Let this be a reminder.

~ Why are you up so late? ~ I 'ave chores.

~ Suppose I have other plans for you? ~ Tell me.

Yes, Ross.

Folks'll wonder.

~ They'll not understand. I don't rightly understand. ~ What?

How it came t'happen - this. We.

You're not required to understand.

You're required to accept it as a fact of life.

So it's not t'be a secret?

Why should it?

Good day, ladies. Are we expecting a storm?

~ Storm o'pilchards, God willin'! ~ They're late this year.

An we d'fear they miss'd us entire an' swung away t'Ireland.

If that happens you'll have nothing to see you through winter.

~ An' we'll starve. ~ Simple as that.

Let's hope it won't come to that.

I'm not a magician, sir! I cannot conjure wages out of thin air!

The men must wait.

~ Did my father send you? ~ Why would he?

Read me the riot act, tell me what I'm doing wrong?

Or was it my wife?

Does she think I'm falling short of the mark?

Is she wrong to be concerned?

~ What she doesn't know, won't hurt her. ~ What she suspects, might.

Gaming? Whoring? What gentleman doesn't occasionally indulge?

~ This one. ~ Since when? ~ Since my wedding.

SHE HUMS TO HERSELF

'Your kitchen maid?'

But, Ross, surely you must see...

With such a wife you cannot hope

to have entry into any respectable gathering.

You will cut yourself out of society, consign yourself to...

A life of peace and seclusion?

I must try to bear it as best I can.

May I leave you to share the glad tidings at Trenwith?

Demelza?

Damn me, he's done it now!

What the devil can he mean by it?

I never thought you the marrying kind.

Is she wealthy?

~ Not at all. ~ 'Could've had his pick.'

Any number of eligible girls from rising families.

Instead of which... he marries his serving wench.

~ It beggars belief. ~ It may beggar him.

He must be deranged.

How else could he lower his sights so abominably?

Is she beautiful?

In a way.

In spite of our assets, we Warleggans struggle to pass muster.

How will he fare with a scullery maid on his arm?

'His family with never forgive him.'

Society will never forgive him.

'Doors which were open will be slammed in his face.'

His ventures will fail...

and you can enjoy the sight of him in the gutter along with his slut.

So you love her?

We get on.

"My dear Ross, I am the last person to criticise your attachment.

"But I would like to be the first to write to you and wish you joy..."

".. I am presently taken up with tending Father

"but I hope soon to call to offer my felicitations in person."

There. We have at least one friend.

"Callin'"? Who 'as time to call?

What they mean by it - "callin'".

Callin'.

What?

'Ee bin givin' me squinny-eye ever since I got back from church.

'Ow else we mun look? We don't rightly know 'oo we lookin' at!

One minute she Miss Skivvily- Scullery-Kitchen-Maid,

the next she be Mistress 'Igh n' Mighty!

Do 'ee think it's not as strange to me as it is to you?

Do 'ee imagine I ever looked for or 'spected it?

~ Come to think of it, 'tis more your fault than mine! ~ 'Ow be that, then?

'Tis you 'ave raised me up an' taught me all I know.

So if I'm fit for better than I'd 'oped,

blame 'ee'selves for eddycatin' me!

~ We? ~ Eddycators?

~ We made 'er what she is. ~ She 'ave we a' thank ferrit.

~ She still do all her chores. ~ An' most o' yourn. ~ An' 'tis better'n

takin' orders from some fudgy-faced baggage wi' drop-curls!

Damn this ironstone, is there no end to it?

How long till we strike copper?

IF we strike copper - it could be months.

~ Can we last? ~ With good will and good men.

~ And the power of luck beside. ~ We'll need a rise in the price of ore.

Else we're all wastin' our time.

~ This shareholders meetin'... ~ Not a prospect I relish.

We're no closer to copper, so I must appeal for further investment

if we're to keep blasting.

But - are they not friends o' yourn?

If ever they were, they're reconsidering the connection.

I would that I had nothing better to do than admire the view!

They'd happily swap places with you, sir.

You have means to last the winter. Without the pilchards, they do not.

Those who cannot feed, should not breed.

I believe felicitations are in order.

Your son John? Recently wed.

To Miss Ruth Teague. A determined girl.

~ My best wishes to them both. ~ But are we not remiss

overlooking the presence of a bridegroom in our midst?

Oh, yes - indeed, indeed.

Congratulations, Captain Poldark, you have our best wishes for you

~ and your young bride. ~ I thank you, gentlemen.

Now, if you'll excuse me,

I must consult Captain Henshawe before our meeting.

I confess myself uneasy.

His early skirmishes with the law,

his contempt of court at the last assizes...

and now this marriage to his serving wench.

~ You think him foolish? ~ I think him reckless in the extreme.

Is a man that demonstrates such spectacular lack of judgment

to be trusted? Is he fit to helm a venture of such risk as a mine?

More to the point,

am I prepared to trust him with more of my capital?

I am not, sir.

I can see no reason for pouring good money after bad.

Come to me when you've struck copper and I may reconsider.

Till then you'll see no more of me or my guineas.

The rest of you share his opinion?

I do not.

Nor do I.

Gentlemen, thank you. I'm sorry we could not bring you better reports.

You got the candles an' twine? An' muslin for the cheese?

Open it.

A book for you.

To practise your letters.

And ribbons to tie up that unruly mane.

I know little of these things.

If they don't suit, give them to Prudie.

~ Did I mention I wrote to your father? ~ Oh, Ross, ye never!

He'll be that vexed, thinkin' I'm never comin' 'ome.

I told him your duty lay here.

So it do, Ross. Nothin's changed.

Nothing?

I d'get less sleep!

~ That's your only complaint? ~ I 'ave no complaints.

I do, however.

~ Tell me. ~ You have yet to make an official visit to the mine.

~ Oh, no, Ross - I couldn't. 'Ow would it look? ~ "Look"?

~ A kitchen maid givin' 'erself airs. ~ I see no kitchen maid.

I see a wife whose duty is to take an interest in her husband's work.

~ I do take an interest! ~ Excellent. First thing tomorrow, then.

Harder, dammit. Push harder.

Is this wise, sir? Can Grambler not wait till you're stronger?

~ Dr Choake ordered bed-rest. ~ Dr Choake doesn't have a failing mine

or a son who's neither use nor ornament!

I'm touched by your faith, Father.

Not sufficiently touched to behave like a man and the heir of Trenwith?

HE GROANS IN PAIN

~ Father! ~ Father!

I never knew such ironstone. It's impenetrable.

Our luck has deserted us.

Let's 'ope the pilchards don't do likewise.

Mining and fishing is our lifeblood. Surely both won't fail.

Captain Henshawe, you know my wife Demelza?

~ A pleasure to see you, ma'am. ~ G'day to 'ee, sir.

~ No sight 'o th' shoals yet. ~ Demelza's of mining stock herself.

Her father's a tributer at Illuggan.

Perhaps you'd like him to join us here, ma'am?

I'd as lief stick a fork in my eye!

Um...we d'get on better from a distance, sir.

I must be gettin' back.

~ The pies'll be burnin'. ~ Right.

We hope to see you here often, ma'am.

~ I was that worried I'd show 'ee up! ~ Why would you?

~ I've no notion how to be. ~ As you are.

~ What am I? ~ A lady. ~ I'm not - an' I don't know 'ow.

You're a quick learner.

Nay, Ross, I came a'day at your behest, but I shan't venture again.

Miners are my own kind - but I'd not be so kindly received by yours.

Judas! I'll fetch 'im such a doostin'!

~ Demelza! ~ Oi! Guts! ~ Demelza!

Get back 'ere, you good-fer-nothin' viper!

Thievin', connivin'...

'Alf a morn I labour'd at that pie, y'lizard!

~ Demelza, leave him be! ~ Think to fox me, would 'ee?

'Ee'll 'ave to be quicker 'n that!

Damn me if a man can't take a fair morsel now 'n then.

~ I told you to stop. Did you not hear me? ~ Yes, but...