Firelight

Sit down, dear.

This one is Swiss by nationality.

Two years employment here in London as a Governess

piano, drawing, French, of course.

How old are you, dear? Twenty two.

Are you in good health? Yes.

Are both your parents still living? My mother is dead.

What was the cause of your mother's death, dear?

She died in childbirth.

Ask her to stand. Stand up, dear.

Turn around.

All the way.

Ask her what the money's for.

Her father is in debt, it seems.

Does she have any other income, any other way of making money?

Sit down, dear.

The gentleman asks, do you have no other way to raise the sum that you need?

Does the gentleman have any suggestions?

My dear, you're very pretty. You could marry, you know.

Yes, I could sell myself for life.

The gentleman's needs, as I understand it, are of a shorter duration.

Has she done this before?

The gentleman asks... Can the gentleman ask for himself?

You're not to know who he is, my dear. No one is to know.

He need not tell me his name.

I would like to hear his voice.

What can you tell from a voice?

A little.

Have you ever done anything like this before?

No never.

Will you do it?

Of course. Why else am I here?

Shall I look further?

No, this is the one.

Anything else, sir?

Is everything to your liking, madam? Yes thank you.

Excuse me, but there is a message for me?

No, Miss, no. Good.

If anything, I'm in my room.

Yes, Miss. Thank you.

I hope you don't mind, I didn't want to be seen entering the room with you.

I'm afraid I can't introduce myself, as you know.

Yes.

Did you have a smooth crossing? For the most part.

Is the hotel to your liking? I have no complaints.

Please.

It's of the utmost importance that we're not seen together in public

over these next few days.

I have a reputation to protect, not just for myself, but for others.

Do you understand? Yes.

We'll meet together each evening after dinner here in your room.

As you wish.

Are we to

to meet this evening?

Yes, We only have three evenings.

When are we to begin?

I thought you might like a little time to accustom yourself.

I have accustomed myself.

I'm ready now.

The fire gives more light than one expects.

Does it trouble you?

No.

Will this do?

Yes.

Perhaps you think I'm no better than him.

I think nothing.

You think what we're doing is wrong?

You at least... are doing it for someone else.

I, too, have a duty to someone else.

Then, sir, since neither of us are here for our own pleasure

perhaps what we do isn't so very wrong.

I don't want to know your name. I don't want to know anything about you.

Aren't you afraid to be seen with me?

There is no one to see.

I like it here.

Just sea and sky and...

And nothing.

I like it.

Makes me want to shout. Then shout.

No, it's not so easy.

You're very...

I didn't expect it to be like this.

What did you expect?

Last night...

I thought...

For a moment I thought that...

You thought that I liked it?

Did you?

No.

But I could.

Oh, I wish...

What do you wish?

I wish I could shout.

So, Mrs. Jago will see to everything when the time comes.

Yes, I know it all.

We made an arrangement. I accept it.

You won't want to be seen disembarking in my company.

Uh, no.

Goodbye, then.

Over soon, my dear.

It's a little girl. Is she all there?

Oh, yes, she's beautiful.

Best to take her away at once.

There, my pet. All over now.

I don't even know your name.

Happy birthday, darling.

I don't forget you.

You are ready?

Madames, messieurs. Give me your bodies, give me your souls.

And let's dance the Polka.

That is it.

Make a window with your legs.

Move from the waist.

Ladies, trust your gentlemen.

In the Polka, faith is the virtue that saves.

Shame on you, Mr.Godwin. Not dancing?

You'll have to excuse me, Mrs.Hurst. I'm afraid I don't know the steps.

None of us know the steps, Mr.Godwin. That's the fun of it. We learn together.

As you can see, I'm not dressed for dancing.

Jenny, I want you. I shall have you. Oh!

Seen enough? You have to admit it's quite a sight.

Quite a cost too.

From the waist.

There's the old monster.

Want to meet him? Surely.

The lady with him isn't exactly his wife.

You don't exactly surprise me. Just the latest in a long line.

Father, I'd like to introduce you to... You're not dressed, Charles.

Go and get dressed.

Father. You're a blot, boy.

Father, may I introduce to you Mr.John Taylor of Ohio?

My father, Lord Clare. Miss Holland.

And what brings you all the way from Ohio, sir?

Your son and I hope to do business together.

What business? I'm a sheep farmer.

A sheep farmer.

Get dressed, Charles, or get out. There's a good fellow.

I wouldn't have missed that for the world.

I wish I could laugh.

But my father's London life all has to be paid for.

We don't live like this down in the country.

The boy's not normal. Don't ask me why.

Don't be hard on him, Jimmy.

When you think of his poor wife.

Damn it, Molly, that was ten years ago.

You'd think he'd have found some comfort of a female variety by now,

but he won't do it.

Are you sure? Quite sure. The boy's not normal.

Brought this fellow over from Paris, you know.

First Polka in London.

Come on, Molly. Let's hop.

You'd be the new Governess. Yes.

Know about the child, do you, Miss?

I know what I've been told.

Left in a basket on the steps of the Ram Inn.

They tell you that?

No. No.

They don't tell them that.

I don't suppose you could put something on the fire, could you?

Can't bend, Miss. Wig falls off.

Please to come with me, Miss.

You will be the fourth this year, Miss.

The fourth Governess? They don't stay.

Miss Louisa sees to that.

Louisa?

The Governess' room.

Thomas will bring your trunk up when he has time.

£25 a year, is it, your pay?

The cook gets £30,

Schoolroom this way.

We don't get many like you at Selcombe, Miss.

Like what? Foreigners, Miss.

We're all English here.

The classroom.

Know about Miss Louisa, do you, Miss?

She was left in a basket on the steps of the Ram Inn. Don't you believe it.

Master bought her from a gypsy for half a crown.

Thinks she's quite a little lady, but she don't fool me.

Where is she now?

I would not know, Miss.

Maybe the gypsies have took her back.

Excuse me. Where would I find Miss Louisa, please?

Oh, she'll be in her lake house.

She's always hiding in there.

Who are you?

Miss Laurier, your new Governess.

You're not English, are you?

No. Do you speak English?

Yes.

Then bugger away, lady.

I see you found your way to Louisa's lake house.

Yes. And she ran away from you, I suppose?

Yes. That's what she does.

I'm afraid her father's not very strict with her, as you'll discover.

As you will discover.

Mr.Godwin is not at home?

- He's in town at present. We expect him back tomorrow. - He's in town right now. We expect him back tomorrow.

Mrs. Godwin? Oh, no.

No.

No. I'm not Mrs.Godwin.