Dickinson

Emily Dickinson was born in 1830 in Amherst, Massachusetts.

She lived throughout her life in her father's house.

Near the end of her life, she rarely left her own room.

Aside from a few mostly anonymous verses, she remained unpublished.

When she died, her poems were discovered.

Some of the strangest, most fascinating poems ever written.

Almost 2,000 of them, hidden in a maid's trunk.

Um...

- Emily! -

- Emily, wake up! -

Ugh!

You have to go fetch water.

It is four o'clock in the morning, Lavinia.

I'm writing.

Mother says you have to. I did it yesterday.

Why doesn't Austin do it?

Austin is a boy.

This is such bullshit.

Because I could not stop for Death -

Stop...

We needed that water an hour ago.

Where have you been?

Oh, Emily, these buckets are half empty.

You let it all spill out.

You are a useless girl. Useless.

Can't we just get a maid?

Over my dead body.

We own six horses, Mom. I think we can get a maid.

Here, Vinnie. A flower.

For me?

When your father married me,

I said he was getting the best housewife in all of Hampshire County.

No, in all of New England.

I'd rather scrape the skin off my fingers than get a maid.

And I'm bringing you girls up to be just like me.

But I don't really want...

You're gonna make a good housewife one day, Emily Dickinson.

Now, you need to go get dressed.

We have another gentleman coming to see you.

A gentleman?

Mom, no!

This man could very well be your husband.

That's so romantic.

Don't pull any of those stunts like you did the last time.

I made an offering.

You dropped a dead mouse in that poor man's lap.

Yes.

Like a cat.

You are not a cat, Emily.

No.

Tragically, I am a woman.

Those scones are for the suitor.

Why don't I get to have any suitors?

Because I'm not trying to marry you off. You're very good at housework.

So, I have to die an old maid just because I can fetch water?

Life isn't fair, Lavinia.

Hello.

Emily, don't do that.

Hey, Emily.

Oh, come on.

George.

Hey.

You have already made my daughter's acquaintance?

Mom, this is George. He's in the Lit Club with Austin.

We hang out, like, all the time.

- Well, I was just telling George here... -

...what an excellent wife you're going to be.

How frugal and punctilious you are in all of your duties.

Oh, yeah. I'm a real catch.

Sit like a lady.

George, can I talk to you for a second outside?

- Totally. - Great.

Mom, we'll be on the porch. Try not to spy on us.

Oh. Yeah.

You know I'm not gonna marry you, right?

Never say never, Emily.

Like you wrote in your poem, "I dwell in Possibility."

Nice.

I love when people quote me.

Why won't you marry me?

You don't understand. I'm not gonna marry anyone.

That's not what your mother says.

I have one purpose on this Earth,

and that is to become a great writer.

A husband would put a stop to that.

- I wouldn't. - Mm.

You say that now.

But little by little you would.

I'm madly in love with you.

- Too bad. - Is there someone else?

Yes, actually.

Who is he? I'll kill him.

You can't kill him.

He is Death.

What?

I'm in love with Death.

He takes me out for a carriage ride every night.

He's such a gentleman.

Sexy as hell.

You are such a weirdo.

Why am I so attracted to you?

I'd do anything for you.

Well, there is one thing you could do.

Name it.

You're still editor of the lit mag, right?

Well, co-editor.

But yes.

I want you to publish this.

Whoa.

Okay. You're finally gonna let me publish one of your poems?

Well, I'm not sure it's ready, but yes, I...

This is perfect timing. We have a little space in our newest issue.

- Really? - I can sneak this in.

It goes to print tomorrow.

- Tomorrow? Really? - Tomorrow.

Everyone will know the name Emily Dickinson.

Okay, but wait.

What is it?

You can't print my name.

Why not?

Because my father doesn't approve of women publishing.

Oh, come on.

That's stupid.

You're a genius, Emily. He has to approve of that.

Couldn't you just put my initials or "Anonymous" or something?

No. No way.

You deserve credit.

And you should stand up to your father.

You know what?

Just do it. Just do it.

Publish it with my name and everything.

Thank you, George.

Any time, Miss Dickinson.

That was a disaster.

Yes, Emily.

You ruined it again.

She didn't ruin it. They were kissing. I saw.

Kissing?

My God, what is wrong with you?

You're the one that keeps throwing me at these men.

I'm not throwing you.

Yes, you are. It's humiliating.

You'd pawn me off on a widower, a cripple. Anyone who would take me.

The whole town of Amherst knows how bad you wanna get rid of me.

What's all this fuss?

Mother's trying to disown me again.

I was married at 18, Emily. It's high time for you to get a husband.

And move out, you mean?

Well, yes. That is what happens when a girl gets married.

Why doesn't anyone care if I get a husband?

Emily doesn't have to marry anyone as far as I'm concerned.

- Thank you, Dad. - Mm.

Jesus, at least somebody around here isn't trying to kick me out of the family.

So, you would just have her stay here in our house till kingdom come?

- Doing nothing all day? - I do plenty.

Oh. Like what?

I'm the one that found all those birds' nests.

All right, ladies, time to clear out

so I can enjoy my pipe and newspaper in peace, huh?

Very well.

It's time for us to get back to the kitchen anyway.

- - Girls, come with me.

Do I have to?

You have a bad attitude, young lady.

I just don't wanna do chores 24 hours a day.

And what would you do instead?

I would just... think.

- - Let her have a break, Mother.

It's all right.

Thanks, Daddy.

You're my hero.

You just love taking her side, don't you?

You're gonna regret it. She's wild.

She doesn't know how to behave like a proper young lady,

and she'll be the ruin of this family.

What up, Sis?

Nothing, Bro. Just chilling.

Heard you turned down another suitor.

Yeah. Wasn't into it.

Well, on the subject of marriage, I have some news.

What news?

I proposed to Sue.

And she said yes.

- - Yes!

Yes!

What?

You can't marry Sue!

- Why not? - Austin, she's my best friend.

Look, Emily, don't get all crazy right now.

It's not a good time.

Sue's sister, Mary, is dead.

What?

But... she was the healthy one.

I know. But then she got typhus and died, like all the others.

Jesus. Poor Sue.

Yeah, so just... be respectful of her situation. Okay?

You don't have to tell me to be respectful of my best friend.

Be respectful of the woman who's going to be my wife.

Because I could not stop for Death -