"_" "_" "When I think of the day you came home to us." "When I think of your dark eyes." "The time you speak of my dark eyes," "I was happy then." "Them was days of joy to all our souls." "_" "Mary Ann?" "Not far now." " The prodigal returns!" " Enough of your nonsense!" " There we go." " Here." "There you are." "Oh, Mam!" "You'll be ready for a brew." "Tea, William?" "Or something more sustaining, bygones being bygones?" "Get the bags." "I'll put the kettle on for tea." "See if you can get her to pull us a pint of mild while she's at it." "Let's have a gander." "Ooh!" "Takes after me." "I knew she would." "Margaret Jane, may I introduce you to my wicked stepfather?" "If we'd only known, love." "We'd have come to fetch you home at the drop of a hat." "I had my husband by my side." "Men, what use are they?" "Billy lost the same children as me, Mam." "It's not the same for fathers." "I can't believe you've still got that old teapot." "What's wrong with it?" "Nothing says home like that does." "Nothing says home like us all being under one roof together." "Come on." "Just hold your horses, man!" "You've sucked that barrel dry." "Pay Friday, eh?" "Pay Fridays are grand when you're getting paid." "The lads were saying there's a job going in the pithead stores." "He'll earn nothing there." "He's nowhere near strong enough to get set on underground, you know that." "Four little coffins in four years, George, and she never said!" " Four lost babies!" " Aye." "I hope she still thinks he was worth running away for." "We're all stuck with him, love." "I'll make sure he does right by her." "Smallpox, cowpox?" "Erm..." "If you don't remember, Billy, you can't have had either." "Er, no." " Measles, whooping cough?" " When I was a bairn, like." "Not had the gout, not afflicted with fits?" " What's going on?" " George's idea." "You cannot be too careful." "Or any disease particularly tending to shorten the duration of your health?" "Not that I know of." "Sign here, please, Mr Mowbray." " And your referee." " Aye, that's me." "Life insurance." "You've done the right thing, lad." "Spending money we haven't got?" "How much am I worth to you, pet?" "I put a price on my head." "Alive or dead, go on." "How much did you have to put in?" "The premium is one pound, three shillings and four pence." " Dear God!" " It's only once a year." "It's like willing something bad to happen, as if we've not had enough." "No, it's not!" "It's the opposite, because if I die, the insurance company pays £35 straight to my widow." "No questions asked." "I could spend it on beer if you'd rather." "Mary Ann, listen to me..." "Everything is going to be all right now." "I'm looking out for you, for you and our children... all our children still waiting to be born." "Oh!" "Here we go!" "It's too soon to think of another one." "I don't know what you think the remedy is." "He needs to learn to whip it out before he's done!" "Too late for that." "You're not?" "Your sixth?" "By heaven, Mary Ann!" "If your Billy were a farmer and you were a cow..." "He'd win a lot of prizes." "We are starting again, Mam, after all the sadness." "That's why we came home." "A fine, strong little article this one." "A fresh start was all we needed, a safe harbour." "God willing." "Do you reject the Devil and all rebellion against God?" " I reject them." " I reject them." "And do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?" " I renounce them." " I renounce them." "Isabella!" "Isn't she a beauty?" "Time I took her home." "She were colicky in the night." "That bairn is going nowhere till I've had a kiss off her." "Ah, Maggie!" "Who wouldn't want a kiss off you, Maggie Cotton, eh?" "Oh, Mr Stott!" "Oh, she is a beauty!" " Oh dear, oh!" " She's hungry." " You've not changed a bit." " Are you hungry, pet?" "I'm back doing the parson's laundry for my sins." "It's a good job he's not fussy." "Thought you were looking after your brother." "Our kid got married." " Fred Cotton, married?" " Mm-hm." "Was she blind or desperate?" "I've missed you." "I hadn't a soul to laugh and joke with in Cornwall." "Ah, I bet Mr and Mrs Cotton had a proper wedding." "Standing in church with the glove in her hand." " You could have done that." " Out to here?" "!" "Ran off to the registry office in Newcastle." "Got witnesses off the street." "Seems like I woke up, I were in Cornwall, in the rain." "And after all that... my babies." "Oh, dear God, Margaret Jane!" " Margaret Jane!" " W-what's the matter?" " Shh." "Margaret Jane!" " Bring that light!" "Here, let me see." "Oh, no, no, no!" "Get the doctor." "No, no, no." "Everybody moves on, don't they?" "All the time." "That's how it is these days with the young people." "Nothing stays the same." "It ought to say plain on her gravestone," ""Died of scarlet fever, by the will of God."" "You can't be angry with Him, love." "Who else do you suggest?" "You're always thinking, "Leave me alone, get off me."" "It will only make another mouth, another mouth that's always open." " Until the day it's not." " Oh, don't be like that, love." "I can't let you leave like that." "Billy says a man has to go where the work is and if that means going down the docks..." "No." "No, take it, go on!" "It will remind you of home." "And buck up, love, eh?" "Because it's just how life is for women, and no amount of mithering will change that." "What would I ever do without my mam to keep me straight?" "Isabella, hold your mam's teapot for us." "Bye." "You all right?" "Bye." "I'm going to worry about her, whatever you say." "She's a big girl, George." "It's Sunderland, not another world!" "Come on." "No, Billy, no." "A little bit of cleaning up, it'll be home sweet home in no time." "Morning." "Arsenic, it's the only thing that works against bedbugs I know of." "And a pint of soft soap for mixing it." "Oh, write down your name and address in the book, will you, love?" "The government don't let us give arsenic to anyone who asks." " Not any more." " Scared stiff, that's why." "Worried their own unhappy wives are hiding white powder in their cupboards!" "There'd be no husbands left." "Remind me not to get on the wrong side of you, love." "Do I know you?" " Do you want to?" " Joe." "I scrub up nice, me like." "No, you don't come in here." "It's dangerous." "Go and eat your stottle, like a good girl." "Isabella, this is arsenic, it's poisonous!" "That's why it kills the bugs." "Do as you're told!" "Why, but I'm hungry and there's nothing cooking." "I've been otherwise engaged." "Oh, pet!" "Another Margaret Jane." "It were a lovely name before and it's a lovely name now." "Margaret Jane the second." "Now, my princess, how about we ask your mammy for a little boy next time?" "There's not gonna be a next time." "I'll see you soon, pet." "Billy turns up every couple of weeks wanting his tea." "Mithers on and on about how rough it is on the boat." "It's overcrowded and leaky and he's tormented by vermin." "Oh." "All I know is I spent all day cleaning up after these, and I've never got any money in my purse." "It must be lonely for you." "It is." "Mary Ann, do you know that man?" "I do not." "Well, he fancies you." "Not as much as he fancies himself." "Mary Ann Mowbray, you little devil!" "Don't be soft!" "Where have I got time for fancy men?" "I've only got two hands." "That's one less than I need with this lot." "Isabella, Margaret Jane, come on." "It's time for your tea." "♪ Go from my window, my love, my dove ♪" "♪ Go from my window, my dear ♪" "♪ O the wind is blowing high ♪" "♪ And the ship is lying by ♪" "♪ And you can't have a harbouring here ♪" "Where's my da?" "He's on his steamship, pet, stoking the engines." "When's our new baby coming?" "What makes you think we're having one of those?" "We've always got one." "You can't come in here." "I'll go away then, shall I?" "No, don't." "What do you want?" "A closer look." "I have three children in there." "I'm a married woman." "Good." " No I..." " Shh." "Shh." "Shh." "I'll not hurt you." "Shh." "You come and find us if you want some more." "Hush, John." "Quiet now." "That's enough." "There's plenty of women round here who can say their husbands are away to sea, but they still manage to reckon their bills." "I know." "I'm sorry." "I am." "But, Mr Brownlee, there's a young man comes in here, name of Joe." "Miner." "Hewer by the look of him." "Joe Nattrass." "What about him?" "Is he married?" "I'd say your husband can't come home soon enough." "Shut up." "Shut up!" "What's the matter with you now, eh?" "I'm putting gastric fever on the death certificate, but I can't rule out typhoid." "I'm afraid you must keep a close eye on your other children, Mrs Mowbray." "They'd better not get ill." "I've no more rags left." "He's shat his way through the lot of them." "Are you getting any sleep at all?" "You can forget that." "I can't even afford to pay you for seeing to him." "Pay me when your man gets home." "All my babies die." "All of them." "Take two of these, twice a day." "What happened to your leg?" "I fell downstairs on the vessel." "Don't tell me they've laid you off." "The rent is overdue as it is!" "You're no use to us at all." "Cup of tea, aye." "Everything will look better." "I'll bring it to you." "So it's all on account of his poorly leg, then?" "Possibly, although the sudden onset of diarrhoea is unusual." "I'm never ill, am I, Mary Ann?" " Fit as a fiddle, as a rule." " As soon as I am right," "I'll be back down those docks banging on every door for a job." "The kettle will be boiling." "Shh, shh, shh." "You're all right." "Eleven years married." "We've always looked after each other, haven't we?" "We have." "Shh, shh, shh." "You're all right, you're all right." " Dad?" " Stay away now, Isabella!" "Shh, shh, shh." "You're an angel... and I'm..." "I'm just a disappointment." "I'm sorry." "I'm sorry too, love." "Mam!" "Mam!" "Typhus, a terrible scourge, Mrs Mowbray, in this part of our nation." "May I extend my condolences and those of the Prudential Assurance." "Thank you, sir." "So, all the paperwork is in order." "All that remains for me to do is to ask you to sign here." "Ten. 20." "30 and five pounds." "Your late husband came to see me when your son was born." "I did urge him to tell you but he was loath to add to your anxieties." "John Robert's life was also insured for two pounds and five shillings." "I never knew you could do that for a child." "It's blood money." "I don't want to take it." "Your poor husband did it for you, Mrs Mowbray." "Take it, it's yours." "It's all legal and above board." "He suffered a good deal, the poor soul." "The end came as a blessed release for him." "You can take comfort from God's mercy there." "Hey, don't get tar on your new dress now." " Up all night stitching that." " Hm-hm." "Hey, they're a credit to you." "To you and poor Billy." "You'd think the sea air would blow the smuts away." "Oh, thanks be to the good Lord, Mrs Stott," "I don't have to clean houses in a coalfield any more." "What fresh pastures are you ploughing then, love?" "What's your new job?" "I'm a nurse, a shilling a day plus board and lodging when I'm on duty." "I could put a good word in for you." "Oh, I don't think that's for me." "You've got no husband, love." "I thought I could get work around here dressmaking." "There's no money in sewing!" "It will be fun though, like the old days when we were in service together." " I don't know anything about nursing." " It's mostly cleaning." "And jumping out of the road when the patients try to flirt with you." " Are you nursing men?" " Aye, of course." "Might find yourself a husband." "The boys have never looked at me, pet." "Fancy meeting you here." "I haven't got long." " They're laughing at me." " Come here." "I can't have another baby, Joe." "Why not?" "You're a married woman." "My husband died." "Oh." "Well, that's good, isn't it?" "I'm free." "Just.." "take hold of it." "How did you find us?" "I tried different collieries." "Unusual name." "It wasn't that hard." "I bet there's no stopping you when you put your mind to something." "Joe, why was it all right when I was still married?" "Because... it wouldn't matter if you got one in the oven." "You could blame your husband." "But you're married yourself." "Hm, that's different." " But I don't understand" " Hey." "You're still talking?" "Mary Ann!" "Mary Ann!" "Where in God's name have you been?" "♪ In presence of my foes ♪" "♪ My head thou dost with oil anoint ♪" "♪ And my cup overflows ♪" "I'm going away now, Isabella, not because I want to but... because I have to work and make money for us." " Can I stay with you and Grandma?" " For now, love, yes." "Now, you be a good girl for me and I'll be back to see you." "She's just a child." "She doesn't mean anything." "It's no more than I deserve." "I've not been here." "In the day her sister took ill." "It's all right, love." "I was with a man." "You don't have to tell us, love." "Don't say anything you'll regret." " I've done things, terrible things!" " Hush, now, hush!" "We all do daft things, but God never sends us more pain than we can stand." "If you really believe that, Dad, you are as cruel as He is." "You've to wash your ward out first thing, get floors done by seven o'clock and then serve breakfast." "An hour later in the winter, and bed sheets want changing once a fortnight." " Our new nurse." " Mrs Mary Ann Mowbray, Doctor." "I'm a widow, sir." "Not for long, eh, Doctor?" "Hello, my angel." "I've never been anyone's angel." "Well, now's your chance." "Wilt thou obey him and serve him, love, honour and keep him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others keep thee only unto him, so long as you both shall live?" "I will." "Any insurer will insist it's important you disclose all pre-existing medical conditions." "He had typhoid, but it's cured now." "Show him the letter from the infirmary." "He's in the pink now." "Aren't you, love?" "Don't worry about it, love." "All that business, it's not important, is it?" "It's not important for women." "So you can't disappoint me." "Come on, let's see that cheeky smile." "We can try again tomorrow." "How he can't get it up for you..." "He's the perfect husband." "You'll get him going in the end, Mary Ann." "Won't you be jealous?" "Only if you said he was better at it than me." "You can't imagine that, can you?" "Head as big as the city." "Why did you choose him?" "Mr Ward is a big, strong lad." "Likes to work, and he's no trouble." "And I can see you, do this with you." "This is the last time, Mary Ann." " Well, I'm married now." " Aye, and so am I." "And I need to be at home with her... for as long as she's got." "What is it?" " Consumption?" " Aye." "She's been doing so well, you know." "Not coughing half so much but... just this week." "And then, Joe, when she's dead..." "Shut up!" "No!" "Stop it." " We can be together." " Never." "Listen to yourself, Mary Ann." "You're wishing a woman who's done no wrong into the next world." "But you don't love her" " or why are you here?" " Don't!" "You're not fit to kiss the ground she walks on." "I don't even know her!" "You're the one that's betrayed her, not me!" "Aye, and I'm the one who'll pay for it." "She was never ill before I started this thing with you." "It's a punishment, I know it is, for be sure, our sins will find us out." "No, Joe, don't!" "The word of Jesus." "Pray, pray and your sins will be forgiven." "Four shillings?" "It'll put food on the table just till I..." "You told me that job was nailed down." "It will all be all right." "I am sick and tired of men telling me it will be all right when it never is!" "Where did that money come from?" "I-I won it." "That's parish money." "I married a man who's on poor relief." "I made more money than that when I was nursing and I had only myself to feed!" "Angel, don't be angry with me, please!" "You're the best thing that ever happened to me!" "Here." "Don't things always seem better after a nice cup of tea?" "Hey." "Shh." "Shh." "Shh." "Shh..." "A prolonged and distressing death." "I'm sorry to hear of it, Mrs Ward." "Thank you for your kindness, sir." "And now here I am, older and wiser, and on my own again." "I need to marry again, or to work." "Since I haven't had much luck finding anyone to marry who was any use." " That's more luck than I have!" " I need a job." "I was going to apply for it myself but obviously..." "Why would a grieving widower employ a spinster like me to comfort his motherless children?" "Oh, I've come to see Mr Robinson about the job." "I'm very sorry for your troubles." "I'm Helen Robinson, Mr Robinson's sister." "Mary Ann..." "Mowbray." "Clearly my brother wishes me to be as present as much as I can be," "Mrs Mowbray, at this difficult time of adjustment in the family." "Clearly." "Clearly he wishes me to be involved in the selection of a housekeeper who will be equal to the challenge." "I understand." "I have suffered losses of my own, Miss Robinson." "My sister-in-law passed away only a month ago." "This house remains in a state of shock and grief." "She was 27." "And the poor little children?" "William, Elizabeth, James and Mary Jane." " Hello, children." " Hello." " Is there not a fifth?" " Yes." "This is John." "He's ten months old." "Hello, John." "You have references?" "From Dr Maling at the infirmary." "This is my brother, Mr Robinson." " James, this is Mrs Mowbray." " How do you do, sir?" "Mrs Mowbray can start in a week." "If required." "Oh, now, now, now." "One dress maybe I can afford, but you've bought enough cotton to make three!" "Want to know my secret?" "Get yourself a husband." " If it was that easy!" " And then get him insured." "Thirty-five quid." "I'm not kidding!" "You're a monster!" "I'm sure poor Mr Ward meant to do his best by you." "Whose side are you on?" "Did you have no feelings for him at all, Mary Ann?" "I don't know what I was thinking, just I had to be married to someone, anyone." " Will I make us some tea?" " Would you?" "Oh, not that old thing." "Use my nice one." " We're celebrating..." " Hm." "because I'm Mrs Mowbray again." "That fool Mrs Ward, she never happened." "I'm walking out of here a new woman and I'm never looking back." "Mrs Mowbray, thank God you're here!" " Dr Maling." " Mrs Ward." " It's so cruel!" " The child has gastric fever." "I know how to nurse that." "Mr Robinson is lucky to have you." "Come away now." "James, come away now." "Dr Maling, I've gone back to my old married name." "I'm Mrs Mowbray again, just so you know." "Very well." "Four drops of calomel in brandy every two hours, Mrs Mowbray, all through the night." "If he starts to convulse, clear his throat and restrain him gently." "Will the baby live?" "I'll keep the poor child comfortable." "Hm." "♪ Go from my window, my dear ♪" "♪ Oh the weather it is warm ♪" "♪ It will never do thee harm ♪" "♪ And you can't have a lodging here... ♪" "Come in, Mr Robinson." "Be with him." "He'll know it's you." "The youngest is always your favourite." "He's got his mother's eyes." "I don't know what I've done, do you see?" "What I've done to deserve it." "Oh, sir, I stopped thinking that way a long time ago." "Will you sing again?" "Sorry, did I wake you?" "I've not slept in months." "♪ Go from my window, my love, my dove ♪" "♪ Go from my window, my dear ♪" "♪ For the wind is in the west ♪" "♪ and the cuckoo's in his nest ♪" "♪ And you can't have a lodging here... ♪" "For as much as it hath pleased Almighty God, to take unto Himself the soul of our dear brother here departed." "In sure and certain hope of the Resurrection, to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body that it may be like unto His glorious body." "Amen." "Amen." "Forgive me." "I have only the happiness of a beloved brother in mind." "I'm three weeks widowed." "And thus a target for any unscrupulous female!" " You chose her!" " She's too charming." "Dr Maling gave her a reference and that's good enough for me." "Thank you, Mrs Mowbray." "Yes, and for all his schooling and yours, neither of you has the wit to see her clearly." "You've been more than kind to me these past months, Helen." "But you've your own life to lead." "Helen!" "Helen!" "Helen!" "Don't take on!" "If it's all right with you, sir..." "I shall see to the children then take an early night." "Father says it's God's will." "That's because God's in charge of everything." "Not for us sinners to understand the whys and wherefores." "But our baby didn't live long enough to commit any sins." "We are all born sinners, William." "Not my mother." "Tell me about her." "Tell me nice things she used to do." "Like, for your dad." "She used to put his slippers on the fire irons." "One fell in and got burnt!" "He wasn't cross for long though." "God knows what He's doing, William, even if He does have some funny ideas sometimes." "Look at His creation." "Look at the ducks." " See their silly faces." " He's got his bottom in the air!" "I think you'll find that's a she." "We'll be all right, won't we?" "I know what it is to live with grief." "Through all the losses I've endured," "I have had one comfort." "I cling to it, sir, and so can you." ""For blessed are the dead that die in the Lord" ""even so saith the Spirit" ""for they rest from their labours."" "No, sir, no..." "I'm sorry." "I'm so sorry." "I shall be gone by first light." "No." "No, you can't leave!" " The children need you." " There are nursemaids a plenty." "I need you." "You don't know who I am." "I can't face the darkness." "I think I'm going mad." "Nobody else understands." "Stay." "And I promise, I'll never touch you again." "Did your mammy not teach you never to make a promise you know you can't keep?" "Because the worst can and does happen." "We both know that from bitter experience." "What with the doctors and the burial, and the choir, and the funeral tea, you don't realise till afterwards how much you're spending." "Life insurance is an ugly fashion, not one I approve of." "I'd be in the workhouse now, without it." "I've tried patching the children's linen but..." "How much do you need for new?" "Not more than a couple of yards for the littlest." "Oh and maybe a bit of lace trim for the girls, so, perhaps..." "Five pounds?" "Draw up a budget for your housekeeping, and I'll make you an allowance." "Thank you, sir." "Thank you." "James." "There's a... person." "Oh." "Your dad sent me." "I've to fetch you home." "What for?" " Your mother's ill." " It's not convenient." " She's your mother!" " I'm at the start of something here." "He'll cope." "He's got a sister, hasn't he?" "You're looking at me as though you've got a choice." "No need to hurry back." "Course you'll know her!" "She'll look exactly the same." "Whether she knows you..." "Have I grown so tall?" "Tall as me if you keep going like that!" "But much prettier." "There she is!" "Mary Ann!" "Here." "Come all this way, now I'm not even allowed to see her." "She's sleeping, is all, which she does little enough of." "This place is a mess." "I'm not the housewife your mother is." "Oh, now we get the real reason I get called for." "To skivvy for you two while she lies on her back." "Mary Ann, that's enough!" "I don't know what's come over you." "We don't see you for two years, we've no idea if you're alive or dead..." "I'll have no fighting in this house, George." "The doctor says it's hepatitis." " Has he given you anything for it?" " No, just the usual talk." "And the usual bills!" "He says it could be a long haul." "Well, I can't stay more than a few days." "I've got things to do." "There's so much catching up to do." "Well now..." "Here's the sun coming out." "It's not polite to ignore old friends, Mrs Ward." "My name is not Ward, and you and I were not friends last time I looked." "Right." "You married again already?" "Mr Robinson's a shipwright, a man of substance." "A better man than you, Joe, in every respect." "In every respect... but one." "You're not really married, are you?" "You're just pregnant again." "Does he know?" "Is your wife dead yet?" "Then don't go nosing into my business, either." "This'll not happen again, Joe." "All I have to do is whistle, Mrs Robinson-to-be-if-you're-lucky, and you'll always come running." "I shall be Mrs Robinson, I shall, and I shall be that lady all my earthly days." "Who is he?" "I was going to cook Isabella her tea." "She's gone to bed on bread and dripping." "You think I was born yesterday?" "It's all over your guilty face, girl." "You think I cannot smell him on you?" " I'm not listening to this." " Are you taking money for it?" "Mam!" "There's a darkness in you, Mary Ann." "I had to hear from Maggie that you married again." "You missed nothing." "He was no more use than the first." "Married twice, widowed twice, and never a tear have you shed for either of them." "You should watch that sharp tongue of yours before my dad finds someone kinder." "Got life insurance on this new one?" "I haven't the first idea why we are fighting." "Let me make you a nice cup of tea." "Will he come and see us?" "He can if he likes, but he's got a pub to run, remember." "Now, don't be looking backwards, Isabella." "You've to put this place behind you now, and look to the future." "Is it nice there, Mam?" "It's just exactly as nice as the two of us deserve." "And we'll be together, won't we, my love?" "Your mam knows just what she's doing." "Like clockwork." "Now... show me again." "Good morning, Mr Robinson." "Good." "Good morning, Mr Robinson."