Daniel Deronda (2002): Season 1, Episode 4 - Episode #1.4 - full transcript

I have had word
from your mother, dear.

After all these years,
she has decided at last

that she wishes to see you.

CONTESSA: To my son,
Daniel Deronda.

My good friend Sir Hugo
would've told you
that I wished to see you.

Please come to the hotel
d'Inghilterra in Genoa
and wait for me there.

I will join you
as soon as I can,

Contessa Maria Alcharisi.

My mother is a Contessa.

That, and much more.

I always thought she
must've been very poor.



Why did she give me up?

She will tell you, dear.

It should come from her.

And...

My father?

Are you my father?

No.

[SNIFFLES]

Perhaps I was wrong, Dan,
to undertake what I did,

but it was all
she would let me do for her.

She was the love of my life,
you see.

The love of your life...

...isn't always
the one you marry.

I would have done
anything for her.



Anything.

You understand me?

Perhaps I liked it
a little too well,
having you to myself.

[CHUCKLES]

But if I've caused you any pain
which could have been avoided...

...I hope you will forgive me.

No.

You have never
caused me any pain.

You have been the best
of fathers to me.

And you have been
the best of sons.

GWENDOLEN: Dear Mr Deronda,

please come and see me
on Wednesday between five
and six.

I would be most grateful,

Gwendolen Grandcourt.

[CLOCK CHIMES]

Are you not going
to the club this afternoon?

[SIGHS]

It's a bore.

But I suppose
I may as well.

I shan't be more than
a couple of hours.

[DOOR OPENS]

Mr Deronda, madam.

[DOOR CLOSES]

It is so good of you to come
without asking why.

Now you're here,
I don't know where to start.

You think I am ignorant,
and I am.

So what could I do
but appeal to you?

-Only sorry I'm
of so little use to you.
-Don't say that.

You are the only...

I wanted to tell you
I've been trying
to be a better person...

...to be less selfish.

But I can't change anything.

I hate almost everybody.
I hate myself.

If you knew what
my life was like with him.

Do I seem thoroughly
corrupted to you?

Perhaps if he understood
how unhappy you are...

Of course he knows I'm unhappy.

He takes pleasure in it.

-You deserve better than that.
-Do I?

Some people would say I'd got
exactly what I deserve.

-You should never think that.
-Then what can I do?

I think of leaving him,
but if I did that,

I would be alone,
without friends.

No.

Your true friends
would not desert you.

But I know what it's like...

The life of a woman
who has left her husband.

I don't think I would
be strong enough,

unless there was someone...

Do you understand?

You must.

If you feel you don't want
anything more to do with me,

then please say so
and put me out of my misery.

Will you stand by me?

Help me.

Of course I will.

We can't talk much longer.

Will you come back tomorrow?

I can't.

I'm leaving for Genoa
almost at once.

My mother has sent for me.

Your mother?

When you return, then?

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

GRANDCOURT: You're a fool,
Gwendolen,

if you expect anything
from that quarter.

He's not for you.

We're two of a kind,
you and I.

I thought you would have
learned that by now.

I've decided to take
a little holiday.

The yachts at Marseilles
are ready to sail.

I think I'd better get you
away from London for a bit?

But what about our party
on the 4th?

-You know I've engaged...
-You'll cancel it, of course.

I'll have no argument
about this, Gwendolen.

Gwendolen.

-Very well.
-Good.

That's settled.

We shall leave tomorrow.

CONTESSA: To my son,
Daniel Deronda,

my good friend Sir Hugo'll
have told you that I wish
to see you.

Please come to the hotel
d'Inghilterra in Genoa
and wait for me there.

I will join you
as soon as I can.

Signor Deronda.

CONTESSA: I am
ready to receive you.

Contessa Maria Alcharisi.

Well...

You are a beautiful creature.

I thought you would be.

Come here.

Yes.

I am your mother.

But of course you can
have no love for me.

I have thought of you more
than anyone in the world.

I'm not as you
thought I would be...

Am I?

No.

I used to think
you might be suffering.

I used to wish I could
be a comfort to you.

I am suffering.

But not at this moment.

And I didn't send
for you to comfort me.

Come. Sit down.

Now...

I'm not foolish enough
to imagine that you could love
a mother who gave you away,

but I chose
something better for you
than being with me.

I didn't deprive you
of anything worth having.

Your love.

Wasn't that worth having?

No.

I didn't have
much love to give you.

I didn't want to
be hampered with...

...other lives.

I was a singer,

a great singer,

an artist,
do you understand?

I didn't want a child.

I was forced into
marrying your father,

forced by my father's wishes
and commands.

But it turned out
to be the best way
of getting freedom.

I could rule my husband,

but I couldn't rule
my father, you see.

And I had a right to be free.

I had a right to live
the life that was in me.

We all have that right.

And the bondage I hated most.

I wanted to keep you from it
if I could.

What better could the most
loving mother have done?

I released you from the bondage
of having been born a Jew.

Then I am a Jew?

My father was a Jew?

And you are a Jewess?

Yes.

I'm glad of it.

Why do you say that you're glad?

You're an English gentleman.
I secured you that.

How could you decide
my birthright for me?

I chose for you what I would
have chosen for myself.

How could I know that you
would love what I hated?

Oh, forgive me.
You're not well.

It will pass.

Mother.

Take comfort.

Isn't it possible I could be
near you often and comfort you?

No. Not possible.

I'm tired now.

Will you come to me
again tomorrow?

If you don't hate me too much.

[CHURCH BELLS TOLLING]

[HAWKER SHOUTING]

[WOMAN SPEAKING ITALIAN]

I suppose this
is all your doing.

I don't know what
you're talking about.

This is why you wanted
to put in at Genoa.

You knew Deronda would be here.

And what if I did?

[MAN SPEAKS ITALIAN]

I thought we might do
a bit of small boat sailing
for a couple of days,

something I can manage alone
with you at the tiller.

It'll pass the time.

I'd rather not,
if you don't mind.

Gwendolen.

Let us understand each other.

I know very well what
all this nonsense means.

What nonsense?

I don't know what
you're talking about.

If you suppose
I'm going to let you
make a fool of me,

just dismiss that notion
from your mind.

Let's go, then.

[DOOR CLOSES]

CONTESSA: Oh, the reasons
for one's actions.

Every woman's
supposed to be the same,

or be a monster.

But I never felt quite

what I was supposed to feel.

But to give up your own child,

to renounce your own family...

You couldn't.
You're not a woman.

You could never imagine
what it is to have a man's

force of genius in you
and suffer the slavery
of being a girl.

This is all you're wanted for.

A daughter, a wife, a mother,

something for the man.

[BREATHES HEAVILY]

Your father was different...

All lovingness and affection.

He died when you were
very young.

I was just coming
into the height
of my fame then.

The name Maria Alcharisi
was spoken everywhere...

Europe, America.

When your father died,
I resolved I would have
no more ties except

ties I could easily
free myself from.

Naturally, I was sought
after by many men.

Sir Hugo was one of those
who wished to marry me.

He was madly in love with me.

One day I asked him,

"Is there a man in the world
capable of doing something
for love of me,

"and expecting nothing
in return?"

He said, "What is it
you want done?"

I said, "Take my boy

"and bring him up
as an Englishman,

"and let him never know
anything about his parents."

You were 2 years old,
and you were sitting
on his foot.

He adored you, of course.

So that is what I did.

I'm not ashamed that I did it.

-It was the better for you.
-Was it?

Was it truly?

Then why have you
undone the secrecy now?

I think it's this illness,
and thinking about
what is to come.

What do I know of life...

...and death?

And what my father
called "right",

may be laying hold of me.

I cannot go into this darkness
without satisfying him.

Nor could I...

...I found, without
seeing you again.

So what will you do now?

Make yourself just
like your grandfather?

No.

But I do want to identify
with our people.

I want to find some task
I can put my whole heart into.

I know.

You're in love...

...with a Jewess, aren't you?

Even if I were,
that's beside the point.

I know better.

Yes, you're in love. Of course.

She draws you after her,
as I drew your father after me.

Is she beautiful?

Yes.

[CONTESSA CHUCKLES]

She is a singer, like you.

I wonder how it would have been
if I had kept you with me?

I expect you would
have turned your heart

to the old things, against mine,
and we should have quarrelled.

I think my affection might have
lasted through our quarrelling.

Perhaps.

But I'm not a loving
woman, Daniel.

It is a talent, to love.

I lacked it.

And I know very well what
love makes of men and women.
It is subjection.

I was never willingly
subject to any man.

Men have been subject to me.

I'm dying, Daniel.

We shan't see each other again.

If I had my time to live over...

I would do the same.

Can you forgive me?

[MEN SHOUTING IN ITALIAN]

-What's happened?
-It's the English...
Dead. Drowned.

No, it's the Lady.

[MAN SPEAKS IN FRENCH]

MAN: Oh, my God, she's dead!

She's dead!

DANIEL: Gwendolen?

Please, please.
Scusi. Make way.

-[WOMAN GASPS]
-MAN: She's moving!

Thank God!

I know this Lady.
Bear her up to the hotel there.

Make way. Careful.

How is she?

She's not injured,

but shocked, yes,
shocked and distressed.

-You are signor Deronda?
-Yes.

Please go in.
She wants to see you.

GWENDOLEN: You came!

It's done.

He is dead.

Please, please. You must rest.

How much do you know?

Nothing at all,
except there was
a boating accident.

I didn't know you were
coming to Genoa.

A boating accident?

Is that what they're saying?

Yes.

What else?

If I tell you what happened,

you won't say that I ought
to tell the world,

that I ought to be disgraced?

I couldn't do it.

I couldn't bear it.

I couldn't have my mother know.

Know what?

If I tell you that I am guilty,

a murderess,
would you forsake me?

-But it was an accident.
-Please.

Let me tell you.

His face, Daniel.

His dead face.

GWENDOLEN: When I was a child,
I used to fancy sailing away
from the people I didn't like.

And now the opposite
had come to me.

Take it.

I was trapped
in a boat with him.

And that's what my life
had become.

I think I'll smoke a cigar.

You shan't mind.

I began to pray for him to die

I fancied impossible things.

I was afraid of our being
drowned together.

I was afraid to die myself.

[WIND WHOOSHING]

[GASPS]

[SCREAMS]

[GASPS] The rope!
Throw the rope!

Throw the rope!

Help me!

Help me!

Throw the rope!

[SCREAMS]

[GASPS]

[SHRIEKING]

[DISTANT SHOUTING]

GWENDOLEN: That's what happened.

His face, Daniel.

His dead face.

If he could swim,
it must've been that he
was seized with cramp.

I could have saved him.

You hesitated, that was all.

That isn't murder.

And you won't make me
tell anyone else?

No. There's no injury
that could be righted
in that way.

And you won't hate me
for what I've done?

No, I shan't hate you.

And you won't forsake me?

No.

GWENDOLEN: I wanted to tell you.

I wanted you to know
me utterly,

no one else.

Would you recognise me,
I wonder, if you met me now?

Would you think,
that was the girl
I saw at the casino?

Yes.

Yes, of course I would.

I shall never forget
that moment.

And do you wish
that you'd never see me?

Never.

But we've changed since then
though, haven't we?

You and I.

[PIANO PLAYING]

Have you seen the paper?

[STOPS PLAYING PIANO]

Mallinger Grandcourt's dead.

Drowned. Boating accident
at Genoa.

Oh, that's terrible.

Well, I doubt
he'll be much missed,

and certainly not by our
friend Dan, or his duchess.

They'll be free to marry now.

What's the matter?

How can you speak like that?

So callously?

The poor man is dead.

Who are you to say
how people feel?

[DOOR CLOSES]

Daniel! Mirah's gone.

Gone?

-What do you mean,
gone? Where?
-We don't know.

Welcome home, Dan.

She said she couldn't bear it...

To see Hans suffering
all the pain of love
when she couldn't return it.

-I think she was upset
about something else, too.
-What?

I think you know, Dan.

I think I know
where to find her.

HANS: Avoiding me, Dan?

[SICKLY LAUGHTER]

Don't ever try and shift
a bout of melancholy with
three pipes of opium.

Doesn't work.

-I'm sorry, Hans.
-Yes. So you damn well
should be.

I've dreamt of nothing
but Mirah since the first day
that I met her.

I gladly have converted for her.

But it's no good.

It's all right for you.

You've got your duchess.

-Hans, you don't understand.
-Oh, I do.

I've seen you with her.

And I've seen you with Mirah.

-You've deceived us all.
-Hans, that's ridiculous.

I'm in no mood for games.

I can't bring myself to tell you
what you don't seem to know.

What?

That Mirah's jealous
of the duchess.

Why do you think that is?

Because she's in love
with you.

-Ezra.
-Mr Deronda, Sir!

I was wondering how I could get
word to you, and here you are!

How did you know
you should come?

I don't understand. I've just
returned from Italy.

I thought I might find
Miss Lapidoth here.

Then you haven't heard.
Mordecai is very ill, Sir.

[MORDECAI COUGHING]

[COUGHS VIOLENTLY]

Mordecai.

I came to tell you,
you were right.

You knew me better
than I knew myself.

I am a Jew.

We have the same people.

I knew it.

Don't be sad.

I am happy to die.

Now we shan't be separated
by life or by death,

and you will do what
I dreamt of doing.

[SPEAKS HEBREW]

It seems so hard, Daniel...

That I've only just
found him again,

-and now he's...
-Mirah.

Let me share this sorrow.

Let me share all your sorrows...

And all your joys.

I can speak freely now.

At last, now I know who I am.

I love you, Mirah.

Say... Say you will promise
to be my wife.

Say it now.

You mean it?

Truly?

It's me that you want?

I have spent my life
in doubt and confusion,

but now I realise...

It was always your voice
that I heard.

Could you love me, Mirah?

Sir Hugo said to tell you
he's in the library, Sir.

Thank you.

So, now you know your mother.

-Yes.
-How was she?

How did she seem to you?

She told me she was dying.

But, at the same time,
she seemed more alive,

more powerfully present
than anyone I've ever known.

Yes.

That was how she
always seemed to me.

She...

Extraordinary business,
the accident.

I could hardly believe my ears.

I never had much time for
Grandcourt, but I wouldn't have
wished that end for him.

No.

But I suppose it leaves
your way free
to Mrs Grandcourt now,

if you care to take it.

I don't.

I've asked miss Lapidoth
to marry me.

The devil you have!

Is this some sort of perverse
response to what you've
learned from your mother?

No Sir. It's something
that's been growing inside
me for some time,

but what I learned from my
mother confirmed me,

not only in who I am...

...a Jew, and proud
to be a Jew...

But what I should do
with my life...

Work for my people...

...in the best way I can find.

So,

-all my efforts have been
in vain.
-No.

You have given me the best
upbringing and education
for my new life.

You told me yourself
you wanted me to aim high,

that I had it in me
to be a leader of men,

and now I believe that
I could be that leader.

At least I want to try.

And I should like to have
your blessing for that work,

and for my marriage, too.

I can't pretend that I'm
happy about this, Daniel.

Mr Deronda, Sir!

I told him. He...

Oh, Daniel...

He's gone.

[HORSE NEIGHS]

I wanted to see you,

to know that you are well,
or recovering.

I am better, yes.

And your material
circumstances now?

-Do you have need of anything?
-No.

My husband left me
a small amount.

Quite enough to support us
here at Offendene.

I want for nothing else.

I have been trying to be
a better daughter,

a better sister.

You were right.

It does help to try to put
others before oneself.

Rather a novelty for me.

My life has changed, too.

Changed utterly.

I have found my true family.

I'm a Jew.

But what difference should
that make to you and me?

I must tell you that I'm going
to marry miss Lapidoth.

I hope you will be very happy.

Happier than I have been.

Thank you.

I always thought I was
the best of gamblers,

but now it seems I have
lost in every way.

So, what will you do now,
with your life?

I want to travel to the east,

find out more about my people,
and see if I can help them.

So I am forsaken.

I said I should be, and I am.

You know...

All my life, I thought the world
revolved around my hopes,

my desires.

Now I know the world goes on
without me, and my hopes,

my desires, mean nothing.

No, don't say that.

Don't be afraid.

I mean to live.

I am young, after all,
and not all bad.

I shall be better
for having known you.

Go now.

[MEN SINGING IN HEBREW]

[GLASS SHATTERS]

GWENDOLEN: Dear Daniel,

don't think of me sorrowfully,
wherever you may go.

You must live out the life
that is in you,

and I must live out my own.

I shall remember your words,
every one of them.

I shall remember what
you believe about me,

that I am worth something
after all.

You've known me
more deeply and cared more
for me than anyone,

and I only thought of myself
and made you grieve.

You mustn't grieve
any more for me.

It's better.

It shall be better with me
because I have known you.

Gwendolen Grandcourt.