Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (2015): Season 1, Episode 6 - Chapter Six: The Black Tower - full transcript

Having fled England to Venice, Strange attempts to drive himself insane as a way of gaining access to the fairy magic that he believes can help him resurrect his wife. In so doing, he ...

Where on earth have you been?!

Am I your wife?

~ Of course you're my wife.
~ 'Your husband,'

he has sold you to me in exchange
for a piece of wood.

She's dead.

The corpse lying upstairs
is no longer your wife.

The bargain... is done.

They are very beautiful.

I aim for the whole book
to be a work of beauty.

What do you consider so dangerous
about this book, sir?

Everything.



Mr Strange's book is the
most dangerous of all.

Goddamn him!

No! Mr Norrell!

I pleaded, sir, on any condition,

that he help me bring my wife back.

What was the magic?.. not tell me.

Why will you not tell me?!

I know!

What is the matter?

I have a message for you...

nameless slave.

I should take something of the
lady's to signify my claim.

Will you pass me my little box?

Excellent.



I shall summon a fairy.

I've tried every spell I know.

That is the difficulty
- to see and hear them.

Yet there was one present who
perceived him very clearly.

Why could he, when I could not?

~ Was this fellow a magician?
~ No, no. This man was just... mad.

You cannot propose that you
purposely become a... a lunatic.

Sir, open this door.

'But how does one work up a
little madness in oneself?'

Sir?

Ah, good morning, good morning.
How many have we sold today?

~ Ah, 60 or 70.
~ Very good.

The only problem with
having a fugitive author

is knowing where to send the money.

A great many people have come twice
and bought a copy both times.

Excellent.

Some of them were not happy.

Be advised by me, sirs! Do
not buy your books from here.

~ They are liars and thieves.
~ I am John Murray, sir.

We rob no people here.

Mr Tantony and I have come all
the way from Nottinghamshire

especially to buy Mr Strange's book!

Then be my guest and buy one.

We bought one not ten minutes ago.

To replace the one we bought
not ten minutes before that!

Mr Tantony put the first
one in his pocket,

and before we had reached Great
Pulteney Street, it had gone!

This is what I mean! Did
you see it just go pop?

Oh!

Ah!

~ What on earth is this, sir?
~ Theft.

Norrell. Norrell!

He will pay for this act.

He shall pay for the new edition.

He shall pay for the advertisements.

And that will give him greater
pain than anything else!

Wait til Strange hears about this!

Agh!

La prego, non la disturbi.
Ella e pazza.

No, signor... Signor, I must insist.

We've come a long way to visit...

Ah.

What an airy situation
you have here, ma'am.

You must be able to
see all of Venice.

I am Dr Greysteel.

Ooh.

This is my, er, daughter, Flora.

Perhaps, ma'am, you remember
Mr John McKean of Aberdeenshire?

He sends us to say
he hopes you are well

and to pass on every good
wish for your future health.

May we take back some report
to Mr McKean, ma'am?

We have disturbed her.

Beg your pardon, madam, for
having come unannounced.

My daughter and I will
return at a later...

.. at a later...

.. date.

Prego, signore.

~ No! Impossibile, signore.
~ Mandragora. Henbane.

No, no, I need more.

What you gave me before was not
strong enough. Not strong...

.. pazzo inglese.

I am a Magician-In-Ordinary
to the British Army, sir.

I'm engaged upon important research!

~ Might I help?
~ I, I need...
~ No!

Tell him I have money.

He says these things
bring death, madness.

Yes, madness is what I want.
Madness is what I want!

I do not think he
wishes to serve you.

My name is Flora Greysteel. This
is my father, Dr James Greysteel.

Er... my name is Jonathan Strange.

What is it that brings you to Venice,
Mr Strange? Army business?

My wife died.

Venice was always a city she
particularly longed to visit.

~ Oh, Mr Strange.
~ And I am studying. Experimenting. New magic.

With what object?

I wish to secure myself
a fairy servant.

We should be going.

Conto, per favore.

And working to uncover
the magic which might

bring such a spirit forth.

I have tried everything. None of
it with the slightest success.

But are they not wicked creatures?

Is it not very dangerous
to entrust yourself

~ with such a disreputable companion?
~ Oh, to be sure.

Fairies are naturally
full of mischief

and exceedingly difficult to control.

Were I to succeed, I should have to
proceed with the greatest caution.

Besides, their knowledge and
power are such that a magician

cannot lightly dispense
with their help.

Not unless that magician
is Gilbert Norrell.

What a very interesting topic.

What brings you to Venice?

We came to pass on greetings
to an old lady related

to one of my colleagues, but sadly
we have found her indisposed.

~ She is mad, poor woman.
~ Flora!

~ Cats. I am sure, Mr Strange,
I saw her eat a bird.
~ Please!

Perhaps you could use
your magic upon her?

I do not think so.

My tutor says that magic
cannot cure madness.

Apparently, the Aureates found
it a magically useful condition.

Well, who are we to say
that madness is a curse?

For many people - poets,
for instance - it's a gift.

Perhaps that's how those wild
magicians thought of it.

Yes.

A gift.

Yes, perhaps that is
the way to think of it.

Well, this has been most pleasant.

Flora?

♪ Nameless slave, you shall
be a king in a strange land

♪ The rain shall make a door for me

♪ Then I shall go through
it balanced on my hand

♪ Nameless slave... ♪

(Come here.)

"The nameless slave shall
wear a silver crown."

Huh? What about that?

Does that make any sense to you?

No man in England could be a slave.

You keep telling yourself
that... Your Majesty.

Where did you come by this talk?

Open this door and I'll tell you.

I have an important
assignation with a tree.

(I am to meet someone there.)

I cannot set you free. You're
imprisoned here with good reason.

I have the keys to your
freedom, nameless slave.

If you have the keys to mine.

Come on.

And what freedom can
you grant me, sir?

Freedom from the fairy!

He is coming! He is coming for you!

Free me and I will free you.

Have you heard nothing of Mr Strange?

~ Nameless slave!
~ My lady...