The French Lieutenant's Woman

OK. Are you ready, Anna?

OK. First positions, everybody.

32 take 2.

And action.

And track.

Sam?

Sam?

Sam! Get the carriage ready.

- We're going to Miss Ernestina's. - At the double, sir.

Madam!

Madam, come quick! Madam, it's Mr Charles.

- Good morning. - Good morning, sir.

Will you please tell your mistress I'm here to see her?

- Charles! Goodness, you are up early. - Good morning, Mrs Tranter.

- A beautiful morning. - It is indeed. Come in, do, please.

Is, er, Ernestina awake?

- Er, Mary, is my niece awake? - She is, ma'am.

- Well, tell her Mr Charles is here. - Yes, ma'am.

Might it be possible for me to see Ernestina?

- Alone? - But of course, of course.

- Thank you. - Miss!

Miss! Mr Charles is here, Miss, to see you.

- Mr Charles? - He's down below, Miss, waitin' for you.

He wants to speak to you.

- What shall I... What dress shall I wear? - Oh, your pink. It's so lovely, Miss.

- You look pretty as a picture in your pink. - Yes... Yes, my pink. I'll wear that.

The conservatory is a private place. Will that suit?

It will suit. Thank you.

I shall wait for her... in the conservatory.

I always thought you from London spent half the day in bed.

No, ma'am. Up and about. We're always up and about.

Early birds ready to catch your early worm, ma'am, us Londoners.

She's comin'!

Charles?

Ernestina.

- She's gone into him. - Doesn't she look a princess?

Ernestina, it cannot have escaped your notice that it is fully six weeks...

...since I came down here to Lyme from London.

No, it has not escaped my notice.

I came to Lyme to explore the flint beds of the Undercliff to look for fossils...

...but I have stayed for you.

- Ah. - For your sweet company.

Thank you.

- She's not going to turn him down? - Never. She'd give her left arm.

I came to inquire whether you would allow me to ask your father for your hand.

Yes, I would allow it.

Mind you, I don't know that he approves of me.

I don't do what he considers to be work.

Are you suggesting that it is entirely Papa's decision?

- No. It is yours. - Yes, it is.

Papa will do what I want. And I will do what I want.

Well, in that case, might you take pity...

...on a crusty old scientist, who holds you very dear...

...and marry me?

Oh, Charles!

I've waited so long for this moment!

He's home and dry.

This isn't mistletoe, but it will do, will it not?

Oh, Charles.

Yeah?

Who is it?

Yes, it is.

I'll tell her.

Anna?

You're late.

Make-up's waiting for you.

Oh, God!

- What happened to the wake-up call? - I don't know.

- Who called? - Jack.

- Did you answer the phone? - Mm-hm.

Well, then... they know.

- They know that you're in my room. - Mm.

In your bed. I want them to know.

Christ, look at the time.

They'll fire me for immorality.

They'll think I'm a whore.

You are.

Morning.

Chilly morning.

Miss Woodruff! You know you cannot stay here any longer.

Miss Duff has made no provision for you in her will.

The cottage is to be sold.

How much money do you possess?

Miss Woodruff, I think I know someone who might take you in.

Mrs Poulteney from the Grange.

Does her house overlook the sea?

Yes, it does, yes.

Then... I would be grateful for your help, sir.

- Mr Smithson to see Mr Freeman. - You are expected, sir.

You may be a gentlemen of leisure, Smithson...

...but you are certainly punctual.

Good morning, Mr Freeman.

Well...

We could have met at my office in the City...

...but I thought you'd be interested to see this place.

- Indeed I am. - Mind.

Of course, in a few months we shall be opening depots in Bristol and Liverpool.

I see.

That's the May Queen, in this morning for a carpenter.

Yes, indeed. I recognise, er, Charles...

...that you bring to Ernestina not only love and protection...

...but also in time a considerable inheritance.

That is so.

Yes...

Well, I know my daughter loves you.

You seem to me an upright man. Let us shake hands.

I started here, Charles, with my dear wife at my side.

- You know I have no son. - I do, sir, yes.

Well, if you ever felt disposed to explore the world of commerce...

...I would be delighted to be your guide.

Thank you.

Oh, yes, he was very respectful of what he called...

...my position as a scientist and a gentleman.

In fact, he asked me about my work.

But as I didn't think that fossils were quite in his line...

...I gave him a brief discourse on the theory of evolution instead.

- How wicked of you! - Yes, he didn't think very much of it.

In fact... he ventured the opinion...

...that Mr Darwin should be exhibited in a cage in the zoological gardens.

In the monkey house.

I'll lead the way.

Shall we return? The wind is getting very strong.

I thought you might welcome a reason to hold my hand without impropriety.

Very well.

Good Lord! What on earth is she doing?

- Oh. It's poor "Tragedy". - "Tragedy"?

The fishermen have a grosser name for her.

What?

They call her "the French lieutenant's... woman".

Do they?

- Please come. - I must speak to her.

- She could fall. - She won't thank you. She's mad.

It's dangerous. Will you stay there?

Charles!

Charles!

Madam!

Madam!

Madam, forgive me. I'm alarmed for your safety. Come back!

Madam!

Tell me, who is this... French lieutenant?

He is a man she's said to have...

Fallen in love with?

- Worse than that. - Ah. And he abandoned her.

Is there a child?

I think not.

Oh, it's all gossip.

What's she doing here?

They say she's waiting for him to return.

How banal.

How has she supported herself since her dismissal?

Most pitifully. I understand...

Miss? Miss?

Miss Woodruff, would you come in, please?

Mrs Poulteney, this is Miss Woodruff.

I see.

I wish, as the vicar has told you...

...to take a companion.

He has indicated to me that you might be a suitable person for such a post.

- You are without employment? - I am, ma'am.

- But you have been a governess? - I have, ma'am.

The post of companion requires a person of irreproachable moral character.

- I have my servants to consider. - (clears throat)

- You speak French, I believe? - I do, ma'am.

- I do not like the French. - (clears throat)

Perhaps you might leave us now, Mr Forsythe.

Yes, of course, Mrs Poulteney. Good afternoon.

Mr Forsythe informs me that you...

...retain an attachment to a... foreign person.

I have heard from the most impeccable witnesses...

...that you're always to be seen at the same place when you're out.

You stand on the Cobb and look to sea.

I'm led to believe that you're in a state of repentance...

...but I must emphasise that such staring out to sea is provocative...

...intolerable... and sinful.

If you consider me unsuitable for this position...

...do you wish me to leave the house? - I wish you to show...

...that this person is expunged from your heart!

- How am I to show it? - By not exhibiting your shame!

I should like to hear you read from the Bible.

If your expression is agreeable to me...

...you shall have the position.

- Mike? - Yeah?

Listen to this.

"In 1857, it is estimated there were 80,000 prostitutes in the county of London."

Yeah?

"Out of every 60 houses, one was a brothel."

Hoo, hoo, hoo!

"At a time when the male population of London was one and a quarter million...

...the prostitutes were receiving clients at a rate of two million per week."

- Two million? - Yeah.

You know when I say in the graveyard scene about going to London?

"If I went to London, I know I should become...

...what some already call me here in Lyme."

- Go on. Yeah? - Well, that's what she's really faced with.

This man says that hundreds of the prostitutes...

...were nice girls, like governesses, who'd lost their jobs.

You offend your boss, you lose your job, you're out on the streets.

That's the reality.

The male population was one and a quarter million?

Yeah.