"Sit down, dear" "This one is Swiss by nationality" "Two years employment here in London as a governess" "Pian." "Drawing." "French, of course" "How old are you, dear?" "Twentytwo" "Are you in good health?" "Yes" "Are you parents still living?" "My mother is dead" "What was the cause of death?" "She died in childbirth" "Ask her to stand up" "Stand up, dear" "Turn around" "All the way" "Ask her what the money is for" "The father is in debt, it seems." "Does she have any other way of making money?" "Sit down, dear." "The gentleman asks" "Have you no other way to raise money?" "Does the gentleman have a suggestion?" "Your're very pretty." "You could marry" "I could sell mylife for life" "The gentleman's needs, I believe, are of shorter duration" "Has she done this before?" "The gentleman asks..." "Can the gentleman not ask himself?" "Your're not to know who he is, my dear" "No one is" "He need not tell me his name" "I'd 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?" "I did't want to be seen entering the room with you" "I can't introduce myself, as you know" "Did you have a smooth crossing?" "For the most part" "Do you like the hotel?" "I have no complaints" "Please" "It is of utmost importance that we're not seen together in public" "I have a reputation to protect" "Not just for myself, but for others" "Do you understand?" "We'll meet each evening after dinner 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 need time to accustom yourself" "I have accustomed myself" "I'm ready now" "The fire gives more light than one expects" "Does it bother you?" "No" "Will this do?" "Yes" "You may think I'm no better than him" "I think nothing" "Is what we're doing 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 wrong" "I don't want to know your name" "Or anything about you" "Aren't you afraid to be seen with me?" "There's 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" "It's not son easy" "Your're very..." "I don't expect it to be like this" "What did you expect?" "Last night I thought..." "For a moment I thought that..." "You thought I like it?" "Did you?" "No" "But I could" "I wish..." "What do you wish?" "I wish I could shout" "Mrs. Jago will see to everything when the time comes" "Yes, I know" "We made an arrangement." "I accept it" "You won't want to be seen disembarking in my company" "No" "Goodbye, then" "Very soon, my dear" "It's a girl" "Is she all there?" "Oh, yes." "She's beautiful" "Better take her away at once" "There, my pet." "All over now" "For my English Daughter" "First birthday, darling" "August 10th, 1839" "I don't even know your name" "Another New Year my Darling" "I don't forget, wherever you are" "Your Fourth Birthday." "You must be so big" "Six years today." "When will I ever find you?" "Happy birthday, darling" "I don't forget you" "Ready?" "Madames, give me your bodies, give me your souls" "Make a window with your legs" "Move from the waist" "Ladies, trust your gentleman" "In the polka, faith is the virtue that saves" "Shame on you, Mr. Godwin." "Not dancing?" "I'm afraid I don't know the steps, Mrs. Hurst" "None of us know the steps that's the fun of it we learn together." "As you seem" "I'm also not dressed for dancing" "Jenny, I want you" "I shall have you" "Seen enough?" "You must admit, it's quite a sight" "Quite a cost, too" "There's the monster" "Do you want to meet him?" "Surely" "The lady with him isn't exactly his wife" "You don't exactly surprise me" "The latest in long line" "Father," "This is I'd like to introduce you to" "You're not dressed, Charles." "Go get dressed" "Father" "You're a blot, boy" "Father, may I introduce you" "To Mr. John Taylor of Ohio" "My father, Lord Clare" "Miss Holland" "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" "Be a good fellow" "I wouldn't have missed that for the world" "I wish I could laugh" "My father's London life must be paid for" "We don't live like this 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 10 years ago" "You'd think he'd find female comfort" "But he won't" "Are you sure?" "Quite." "The boy's not normal" "I brought his fellow over from Paris" "First polka in London" "Come on, Molly." "Let's hop" "You'd be the new govemess" "Do you know about the child, miss?" "I know what I've been told" "She was left in a basket on the steps of the Ram Inn" "They tell you that?" "No" "No, they don't tell them that" "Could you possibly put something on the fire?" "I can't bend, miss" "My wig falls off" "Please to come with me, miss" "You'll be the fourth this year" "The fourth govemess?" "The don't stay" "Miss Louisa sees to that" "Louisa" "Govemess's rrom" "Thomas will bring your trunk up, when he has time" "Twentyfive pounds a year you're paid" "Cook gets thirty" "Schoolroom's this way" "We don't get many like you here" "Like what?" "Foreigners, miss" "We're all English here" "Schoolroom" "Know about Miss Louisa, miss?" "She was left in a basket at the Ram Inn" "Don't beliebve it" "The master bought her froma gypsy" "She thinks she's the little lady," "But she don't fool me" "Where is she now?" "I don't know" "Maybe the gypsies took her back" "Excuse me" "Where would I find Miss Louisa?" "She'll be in her lake house" "She always hides there" "Who are you?" "Miss Laurier." "Your new govemess" "You're not English, are you?" "Do you speak English?" "Then bugger away, lady" "I see you found your way to Lquisa's lake house" "And she ran away from you, I suppose" "That's what she does" "I'm afraid her father" "Isn't very strict with her, as you'll discover" "Mr. Godwin is not at home?" "He's in town" "We expect him back tomorrow" "Mrs. Godwin" "Oh, no" "No, I'm not Mrs. Godwin" "My sister, Amelia, married Charles" "So she is Mrs. Godwin" "Soon after her marriage" "She had a serious accident, a riding accident" "Charles had no one to run the house" "So I came." "And, um, Mrs. Godwin" "Amy didn't dei" "Her life is over, but she lives on" "And here we are" "Charles and I and Amy and Louisa" "We're home" "There was no need to walk down, John" "I'm not an old man yet" "Ellen, take Louisa's cloak" "This is the man you must meet" "Mr Ames is my farm manager" "Have any experience of Southdowns" "No." "We run Merinos" "There's no hardier breed than the Southdowns" "We have a new govemess" "Another one?" "Send Miss Laurier to meet the master" "Thomas, come with me" "Look at this girl" "Is she so frightening?" "Govemesses run from her, squealing" "How do you do that, Louisa?" "I don't want a govemess" "I don't want a govemess" "Did you miss me?" "You must give me breeding tips" "I mean to win prizes" "Mr Godwin's your man" "He's our master breeder" "Be careful, John" "Breeding can become something of an obession" "It's nothing less than the endless pursuit of perfection" "How close have you gotten?" "To perfection, I mean" "The Selcombe flock is as good as you'll find, sir" "That's what I hear" "What is your secret?" "Here's the new govemess" "This is my brotherinlaw, Mr. Godwin" "Miss Laurier" "Miss Laurier's from Switzerland ...but she'w worked in England for years" "I see" "I'm sure Mr. Taylor needs a drink" "I know I do" "You must leave at once" "What on earth possessed you to come here?" "It took 7 years to find my child" "Don't make me leave here now" "We had an agreement" "You had your money" "I didn't know how hard it woule be" "I never forgot her cry" "You were paid to forget" "I tried" "You tried?" "I'd return the money if I could" "I don't want the money" "It wasn't for me" "It was for my father" "He was in prison" "I don't want to hear this" "I just..." "I wanted an heir, a child" "Is that so wrong?" "I swear no one will learn the truth" "Not even Louisa" "Not your own daughter?" "You couldn't live with that" "I have no choice" "I have no home" "I must be govemess to her or nothing" "She hates govemesses" "She needs me." "That's enough" "No, it's impossible, the whole thing" "You must go." "That's it" "You must get another govemess" "Miss Laurier can't stay" "Why?" "Louisa doesn't like her" "Oh, Charles." "Louisa doesn't like any govemess" "Can't a men choose who educates his daughter?" "Shall she be dismissed without a character?" "No" "Then she must be given a month's notice" "A month?" "Can't she just be paid?" "Govemess make their homes with employers" "She can't leave without a new situation" "A month?" "A month is an eternity" "Does she really have no home but this?" "That why govemesses are govemesses" "What happens to them when they can't be govemesses" "I really don't know" "These huge rooms" "And we live within 3 feet of the fire" "Come with me, please" "Your're to have one month's notice" "You swore you'd tell no one" "Thank you, Hannah" "Have I time for tea, sir?" "Yes." "I'll stay you return" "Amy, I've brought someone to see you" "This is Miss Laurier" "Please" "This is my wife, Amelia" "Mrs. Godwin" "I tell Amy everything" "She knows Louisa is my daughter" "But I promised her I'd never shame her before the world" "No one else knows but you" "Does she understand us?" "I choose to believe she does" "If there's any pity in you for my wife's wasted life swear you'll keep out secret" "I swear" "Now leave us" "Good morning, Louisa" "Do you know your ABC?" "Do you know your ABC?" "This is L for Louisa" "This is L for Louisa" "Don't go." "We have work to do" "Don't go." "We have work to do" "You're poor, I suppose?" "Yes" "I don't have to do what you say" "You hoist them off" "Bugger away, lady" "Gently" "You see why?" "No, I don't" "They all look good to me" "You have a superb flock" "I do" "I've breeding imperfections out for 15 years" "This one is a perfect breeding ewe" "Chine runs straight from the nect to the tail" "Good, wide hips" "Straight forelegs" "Plenty of woolbetween the ears" "Look in her eyes" "A sweet, gentle disposition" "She'll feed well, fatten well and lamb well" "Good morning, Miss Laurier" "Mr. Taylor" "Have you come to admire the Southdowns, too?" "No, sir." "I've come for Mr. Godwin's instructions" "Well?" "Am I to teach Miss Louisa, if only for one month?" "Yes" "Then I must keep her in the schoolroom" "What forms of discipline may I use?" "None" "What should she endure lessons she does not like?" "She'll learn soon enough how hard the world is" "For these few short years, I want her to be happy" "Is that clear?" "Yes sir" "Fair enough?" "Turn around." "Go on" "Let me out!" "I want Papa!" "Let me out!" "Somebody let me out" "I want Papa!" "I want Papa!" "Let me out!" "Now!" "I want Papa" "Let me out!" "After you've done your lessons" "Let me out!" "I want Papa!" "Let me out now!" "Hey!" "Let me out!" "What is that?" "Miss Louisa, sir." "Being educated" "I hate you!" "No, never!" "Never!" "Open the door" "Miss Laurier, open this door at once!" "What is this?" "Open the door" "No, sir" "Please, Papa!" "come in, please" "I won't have you treat here like this" "She'll grow up ignorant and friendless" "She's imprisioned!" "She only cares for you" "So no one cares for her" "Give me the key" "She's unhappy and lonely" "She doesn't know who she is" "Papa, help me!" "Papa, I want you" "I can help her." "I know I can" "But she must learn to obey me" "If you harm even one hair on her head" "Do you think I, of all people, would hurt her?" "I'll make you a promise" "Whatever I do to Louisa, I'll do to myself" "You want her to love you" "I want her to be loved" "She won't have you forever" "Louisa, I'll see you when lessons are over" "All right, darling?" "I love you" "Lunch, miss" "Thank you, Ellen." "Put it on the table" "Will that be all, miss?" "Thank you, Ellen" "Do you want your lunch?" "One" "Two" "If you won't eat, then neither will I" "I say you're lucky to have her" "Why?" "She has pride in herself." "Doesn't back down" "And she's lovely" "You must have noticed" "Miss Laurier is here to teach Louisa" "She leaves in a month" "Then I may speak to her?" "What do you mean, "speak to her"?" "Well, she doesn't seem to have a home of her own" "You mean to employ her?" "Not exactly" "I was thinking of marriage" "Marriage?" "I could do a lot worse" "I leave tomorrow" "I don't have much time" "Youd'd better ask her, then" "I'm cold" "So am I" "I hate you" "Hate me if you want, but you must obey me" "I won't." "I'd die first" "How will you die?" "I'll drown myself in the lake" "How will your body stay underwater?" "It just will" "No, it won't." "Bodies float" "You could put stones in your pockets" "Don't talk to me" "Or you could fill a bag with pebbles" "I said, don't talk to me" "What do you do in the lake house?" "If you come near it, I'll murder you" "How?" "I'll stab you in the heart with a knife" "That would do it" "It would." "You'd be dead" "You'd have to bury me" "No." "I'd just leave you" "I'd rot." "I'd smell" "Serves you right" "What are these stupid lessons, anyway?" ""Louisa..." ""..." "loves..." ""..." "Papa."" ""Louisa..." ""..." "loves..." ""...grass."" ""Louisa eats ...grass" "Sheep eat grass" "Papa loves sheep" "You see?" "It's not that hard" "Do you know about firelight?" "What about it?" "It's a kind of magic" "Firelight makes time stand still" "When you put out the lamps" "And sit in the firelight's glow there aren't any rules anymore" "Your can do what you want" "Say what you want" "Be what you want" "And when the lamps are lit again" "Time starts again" "And everything you said or did forgotten" "More than forgotten" "It never happened" "I can do what I want?" "I want to go" "Then go" "It's been unlocked since lunchtime" "All right?" "To a famous vitory" "Don't say that" "Louisa's too young to be defeated" "Then we shall drink to you" "To Miss Laurier" "Govemesses have tried to control Louisa and failed" "Only Miss Laurier realized she must first control Charles" "But look at him" "He's not at all grateful" "I understand you're leaving in month" "Where do you go?" "To another situation" "Then what?" "I don't understand" "Years pass" "You're no longer required." "Then what?" "Do you return to Switzerland?" "I can't see into the future" "Some say the future is what you make it" "In America, certainly" "In America." "That's what I mean" "In America" "Good night, darling" "We've begun now" "Your asked to see me?" "Yes" "I wanted a moment alone with you before I go" "Please." "Have a seat" "Miss Laurier I won't waste your time" "I'm a single man" "With 5,000 acres to my name" "If you would consider a life in America" "I would be proud to take you there" "As my wife" "You pay me a very great compliment, sir" "But the answer is no" "I'm afraid so" "You don't know till you ask" "You're not too disappointed, I think" "I hardly know you" "So I won't act as if I can't live without you, but..." "A man can get his hopes up pretty high pretty quick" "I'm sorry" "Just so I know..." "I'll be doing this again one of these days" "Is there anything I can fix?" "Like my dress how I talk?" "No, Mr. Taylor" "Any lady would be fortunate to be courted by you" "Any lady but you" "Louisa, darling, please" "You promised me" "Louisa, I can't bear this" "That's why she does it" "Damnation!" "Can't I feel for my own child" "Feel for her, but don't pity her" "Louisa, let go" "Please" "Go, then." "If you want to go, go" "Will you all right, darling?" "You don't care, so what does it matter?" "Now it's just you and me" "Shall we start our lessons?" "I don't have to obey you" "You're just servant" "That's enough!" "Be silent" "You will obey me, whether you want to or not because, poor as I am" "I am in authority over you" "You will not speak disrespectfully" "Or raise your voice to me" "Servant." "Servant." "Servant" "Servant." "Servant." "Servant" "Servant." "Servant" "Servant." "Servant." "Servant." "Servant" "I'm a prisoner, not a servant" "So will you be when you grow up" "The day you come of age" "The gates wil close around you because you are a woman" "If you marry" "What you own becomes your husband's property" "If you don't marry, every profession will be closed to you but one" "And that one is a life of loneliness and humiliation" "That lock you up, Louisa" "But there's one door they can't lock" "They can't imprison your mind" "That's why I want you to learn to read" "I want you to have your own life" "Write and tell me when Southdowns win prizes" "Come and see for yourself" "Maybe I will" "Best grazing anywhere" "Twenty dollars an acere" "Think about it" "You find time for the other business" "She turned me down" "She turned you down?" "I guess there's someone else" "Lucky fellow, is all I can say" "Goodbye, Charles" "Don't go" "Constance will be down shortly" "As you wish" "Taylor told me he made you an offer" "And you refused him" "Yes" "For Louisa's sake, I presume" "Yes" "The fire gives more light than one expects" "No lamps lit?" "What is Jane thinking of?" "I don't know how much you want to know" "I remember the firelight" "I remember too much" ""Tree"" ""Eye"" ""See"" ""Pig"" ""Dig"" ""Wig" This is stupid" ""Bad"" ""Sad"" ""Happy"" "I suppose it's "glad"" ""Mad"" "When I was young, I had no mother" "She died just after I was born" "I loved my father very much" "But what I wanted most was a mother" "The sick lady's not my real mother" "Yes, I know" "My real mother's not sick" "Where is she?" "It's a secret" "Do you ever see her?" "Of course." "Every day" "What do you do with her?" "Just be with her" "Miss Laurier?" ""See"?" "How do you know she's not just reading the picture" "She is" "Then it's not reading" "No, it's only pretending" "But after a while, the pretnese becomes the reality" "I see" "Louisa tells me you have a story asbout firelight" "I tell her firelight is a magic time" "When time stands still" "Why do you tell her that?" "I find it helps" "A time with no rules, at the end of the day" "I must ask you to help me" "How?" "There was a time, a short time" "When we were close," "You and I" "Do your remember it?" "Oh yes" "Tell me that time is over and can neveer come again" "You don't answer" "What happens when time stands still?" "In the firelight you can do what you want" "Say what you want" "Be what you want" "When the lamps are lit again" "Time starts again, but everything you said or did is forgotten" "More than forgotten" "It never happened" "God, I hate the country" "It's so damn cold" "Into the mausoleum" "Hello, Connie" "Terrible journey" "The roads get worse every year" "Who are all these people?" "Fiddlers" "You!" "More coal on the fire before I freeze to death" "Come on in, Manzini" "Herd your fellows in" "One can't have a dance without music, Connie" "Fire!" "Can't bend, me lord" "My wig falls off" "Yes, here I am." "Hello there, little missy" "Who are these people?" "Christmas cheer" "What is it about this house?" "The moment I walk in, I want to kill myself" "Damn it, don't preach at me" "I have to sell one of the farms" "Never sell land" "The one sensible thing my father told me" "Why borrow money if all you mean is to give it back" "Where's Molly?" "Are there any more debts?" "How do I know?" "I just live my life" "All for the sake of a few years of pleasure" "Pleasure is all there is between us and the grave" "Hello, who are you?" "This is Miss Laurier" "This is my father, Lord Clare" "Miss Laurier is Louisa's govemess" "Never had a govemess like you" "Are you French?" "No, I'm from Switzerland" "Sacrifice your life if you want, Charles" "I'm enjoying mine" "Miss Laurier, is it?" "Do you polka?" "Well done, Charles." "She's lovely" "Your Swiss govemess" "Yes, she's an excellent teacher" "I'm glad to hear it" "Connie" "What about a quick turn around the room?" "Why not?" "Poor lambkin, are you all right?" "Of course I am" "I'm so sorry" "I'll see to him, Miss Laurier" "I'm fine." "I want to dance" "Why didn't you say?" "I never thought I'd get you on a dance floor" "There's a first time for everything" "You sent for me, sir?" "Well, are you or aren't you?" "Am I what?" "Didding Charles?" "Molly says you are" "And she can usually spot these things" "You judge everyone by yourself, sir?" "At least you know what I mean" "You're not going to swoon, are you?" "No" "Are you're wrong, missy" "I don't judge everyone by myself" "Least of all Charles" "I know he's not like me" "Because he's like my father" "The old bastard never thought much of me" "Duty this, duty that" "And now Charles" "Hard to have you son act like your father" "He must have been a child once" "Of course he was a child once" "Ah, you're right" "When he was a little fellow." "I'd forgotten that" "When Charles was just sixteen, he said to me" ""Father, I can't respect a man who lives only for pleasure" "You know what I replied?" ""You've no right to speak to me like that" "Until you've gotten well and truly fucked"" "Well now he has" "Good for you, missy" "Good for you" "And you'r right, of course" "He's my boy" "She pretends her mother is there" "I know." "We're all pretending" "When you come into a room" "I pretend I haven't noticed you" "Then I look and there's nothing in the world but you" "Sometimes I think" "Why don't we just go away?" "You, me, Louisa" "Would you come with me?" "Why ask?" "It's only pretending" "You can't leave" "I don't think I can bear it" "You have a duty to your estate, your familiy" "Your wife" "How can you be so calm?" "Not calm" "Stay with me tonight" "All right" "Louisa" "Come back!" "It's not safe!" "Louisa, don't leave me!" "Sleep, darling." "Sleep" "I'll never leave you" "Never" "They're making a imventory" "Charles left for town at first light" "Mr. Dodds says the estate is to be sold" "What will become of us all?" "Who knows?" "Maybe it's for the best" "Sometimes this house feels like a prison" "Mr. Godwin loves it very much" "He did once" "But this house died the day Amy didn't die" "I wish she had died" "Does that shock you?" "No" "There's a law, of course that forbids a man from marrying his dead wife's sister" "But it's an absurd law, easily evaded" "If Mrs. Godwin were to die" "You and Mr. Godwin would marry" "I don't pretend he loves me as he loved Amy" "But ten years is a long time" "We've grown older together" "There's a kind of closeness in that" ""Fire"" ""God"" ""Hat"" "What's the word?" ""Hat"" "How do you know?" "Because of the picture" "How do I know?" "Charles, you're back?" "Will everything be all right?" "No." "Nothing will be all right" "Are there so very many debts?" "Yes" "Yes and damage is well and truly done" "The estate will have to go" "Oh, Charles" "I'm so sorry" "It's not right." "Something should be done" "No, it's not right" "But nothing will be done" "What will become of us?" "Who knows?" "It's a cold night, Amy" "Bitter cold" "I've often thought this is a prison for you" "That if you could speak you'd ask me to..." "You'd ask me to let you go" "But I have to know that you want it" "Show me what yo want, Amy" "Show me what you want" "Lord, from You we come" "To You we must return" "Take my beloved wife" "Sometime in the night, I'd say" "It was a very cold night" "I understand the fire had gone out" "That was unfortunate" "It wasn't me, sir" "I'll swear on the good book" "Nobody's blaming you, Hannah" "It's been ten years" "At least now she's at peace" "Indeed" "Indeed" "I think we should leave" "You haven't eaten" "No, I..." "Are you all right?" "Yes, I think so" "I loved Amy dearly" "But I know this is for the best" "You really believe that?" "Yes, I do" "Dear Connie you've been good to me all these years" "And you've been good to me" "So much is changing" "What's to become of us all?" "As you friend Mr. Taylor said the future's what we make it" "I'm sorry" "No, don't speak" "I..." "It was a mistake, that's all" "I'm sorry to have disturbed you" "Connie" "Yes, Charles?" "You know how much I loved her" "Yes, Charles I do" "Behold, I show you a mystery" "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment" "In the twinkling of an eye at the last trump" "For the trumpets shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be chanted" "For corruptible must put on incorruption" "And this mortal... must put on immmortality" "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption shall be borught to pass the saying" "That it is written death is swallowed up in victory" "Oh, death, where is thy sting?" "Oh, grave, where is thy victory?" "Does he love you?" "Yes" "Do you love him?" "Yes" "I would have made him happy" "Love him for me, too" "Was it you?" "Yes" "I think it's what she wanted" "But I'll never know" "I must live with that" "As must I" "You've done nothing" "Nothing?" "I've wnated you and Louisa with all my mind and heart and will" "For seven long years" "My desire has destroyed everything that stood in its way" "Your wife your home, your world" "I never knew there was such power in desire" "And if it were so?" "Are you sorry?" "No" "Then we deserve each other" "May God have mercy on us" "For my English Daughter" "Why did you give me away?" "I didn't" "I sold you" "How much for?" "Five hundred pounds" "Is that a lot?" "It's a fortune" "I'm glad it was a lot" "Mama" "Mama" "My darling" "My baby" "Mama" "Mama"