Middlemarch (1994): Season 1, Episode 3 - Episode #1.3 - full transcript

- There they are!
- Dodo!

We've come to welcome
you back from Rome.

Oh, I've missed you,
Kitty.

No need to ask you,
my dear,

Rome has agreed
with you, I see.

Ah, Casaubon!
Back on the blessed plot.

Eh? This earth,
this realm, this England,

teeming womb, you know,
and so forth.

How do you do, sir?

How do I do?
Very well indeed.

But you're a little pale,
Casaubon, you know,
a little pale.



Oh, nothing
to alarm you, my dear.

A little English beef
and mutton will make
a difference.

All very well to look
pale when you're sitting
for a portrait of Aquinas.

We had your letter, you see.
But this Aquinas now,

he was a little
too subtle, wasn't he?
Does anybody read Aquinas?

He's not, indeed, sir,
an author adapted for...

- superficial minds.
- Aha!

Perhaps
you should rest now.

Perhaps you're right,
my love.

Miss Brooke, gentlemen,
you're very welcome here.

I appreciate
your kind intention,

but you will
excuse me now.

Yes, yes, of course,
my dear man.

My wife I'm sure
will entertain you
in the proper manner.



He's very tired.

It was
an arduous journey.

(coach departing)

Dodo, I can't wait
to tell you any longer.

Sir James and I
are engaged to be married.

Oh, Celia.

Oh, Kitty!

Oh, Dodo, it was
because you went away.

There was nobody but me
for James to talk to.

That's wonderful.

I've gone on
with the cottages,
Mrs. Casaubon.

I little doubted
that you would.

I look forward
to inspecting
how they progress.

I know the ones here
are well managed.

- Roberts, leave that one
here, would you?
- Mrs. Casaubon.

I've brought some cameos
for you, Kitty.
Thank you.

I wasn't sure about them,
but Mr. Ladislaw
advised me.

- Do you remember him?
- Yes, he's an artist
in Rome now.

Not anymore.
He says he intends

to return to this part
of the country, and earn
his living with a pen.

Does he now?

Excellent!

That's just what we need now,
do you see? Young men
with bold ideas.

Oh, Dodo,
they are exquisite.

- Thank you.
- Of course.

Ha, welcome again.

(chuckles)

(piano playing)

- Oh...
- No please, don't let me
disturb you.

How did you find
poor Fred today?

He's still in a high fever,
but he's –

he's coming through it
well, I believe.

I'm always more anxious
for your mother.

Oh yes, poor mama.

I shall go to her.
I'll take her a little
beef tea.

No, I've put that in hand.

Will you not
let me hear you play
a little more?

No,

you have heard the best
musicians in London
and Paris, I...

I've heard nothing
that charmed me so much as
the music you were playing.

Will you not play it
again for me?

Oh, very well.

(playing piano)

I must go and see mama.

The rain stopped, ma'am.

Why don't you take the air
while you have the chance?

A person could go mad
shut up here all day.

Thank you, Tantripp,
but I have too much to do.

I may go
for a walk later.

Very well, ma'am.

Thank you.

(clock ticking)

I finished the copying
you set me, Edward.

Is there anything
I could do for you?
Could I read for you perhaps?

Thank you, no.

The weather
is a little better.

We could
go for a walk,

or we could drive
towards Tipton.

I'm sure the air
would do you good.

I'm glad that you have
the time, my dear, but
I fear that I do not.

I have begun work
on a new pamphlet.

Edward, do you not think

that perhaps today
we could begin to work
together on your book?

Dorothea...

If I were first
to copy selected passages
from your notebooks –

My dear, I have told you,
I am busy with this article.

Have you
received any comments
on the last one yet,

about the Etruscan
mysteries?

Not as yet, no.

By the way, Dorothea,
here is a letter for you.

It was enclosed
in one addressed to me.

Thank you.

It's from Mr. Ladislaw.
what can he have to say?

You may read the letter
if you please.

Though I may as well
say at once I shall decline

the proposal it contains –
to pay a visit here.

I trust I may be excused
for desiring an interval

of complete freedom
from such distractions

as have hitherto
been inevitable

especially from guests
whose desultory vivacity

makes their presence
a fatigue.

Edward, why do you think
I should wish for anything
that would annoy you?

When have I ever consulted
my own pleasure before yours?

Oh, Dorothea,
you are hasty.

No, it is you who are hasty
in your false suppositions
about my feelings.

Well, let us say
no more upon the subject.

I have neither
the leisure nor the energy
for this kind of debate.

(crashes)

Edward?

- (panting)
- Lean on me, darling.

What is it?

What has happened?

Edward...

You should not
distress yourself
unduly.

He's breathing
very comfortably now.

He should sleep
for some hours.

Will the illness return?

Come.

I'm afraid
it's very difficult
to say in these cases.

It is essential now

that he should not strain
his nervous powers
in any way.

In particular,
I would advise you

not to tell him
of the seriousness
of his condition.

Increased anxiety
can exacerbate disease
of the heart.

Please, speak plainly,
Dr. Lydgate.

I cannot bear to think
there might be something
I didn't know

which might make me
act differently.

I shall speak
absolutely plainly.

He may have another attack
within days...

or weeks.

It could result in death.

On the other hand,
he may live for five, ten,

even fifteen years.

You mean if we are
very careful?

He should try to moderate
and vary his occupations.

He would be miserable
if he had to give up
his work.

He's been
laboring all his life
and looking forward.

He minds
about nothing else.

And I mind
about nothing else.

Help me, please.

Tell me what I can do.

I wish I could have
spared you this pain.

It was right of you
to tell me.

Thank you for telling me
the truth.

To be sure,
my dear,

of course you cannot possibly
receive young Ladislaw now.

I shall be happy
to write to him –

interesting
young man...

I could possibly
help him myself.

I have heard that
"The Middlemarch Pioneer"

is in need
of a new editor.

I don't think
Mr. Ladislaw should come
to Middlemarch at all.

Whatever you say,
my dear.

But who are we to forbid him
if he really wants to come?

However, I shall write
as you suggest.

It seems a shame though...
young men, you know,
with new ideas.

I like him
uncommonly well.

Did you understand
what I said? I don't think
he should come here.

Yes, my dear,
yes of course,
you're absolutely right.

Dr. Lydgate,
did he –

(Edward yelling)
Tell Mr. Farebrother
I've no need of preachers yet.

- He says he won't see you.
- (yelling continues)

How delightful.

Then I shall be able
to spend more time
with you, Mary,

if you have
any to spare for me.

You know I have.
Please, sit down.

I'm just come from visiting
your old playfellow.

Fred?

Oh, tell me,
how did you find him?

He's very weak

and very sorry for himself.

But he's out
of his delirium now

and Lydgate is confident
he's turned the corner.

So he will soon be back
to his billiards
and his horses

and his cards
and his gambling,
I suppose.

Rather like me, Mary.

(chuckles)
Yes, you're two
very bad characters.

The only difference
between you is that Fred
always loses

and you always win
at every game, so I hear.

Except one perhaps.

No, I'm glad
Fred is on the mend.

(chuckles) Thank you,
Mr. Farebrother.

Good.

Good.

- Truly?
- On the mend.

If I can only see
my boy strong again,

perhaps master
of Stone Court,

and he can marry
who he likes then.

Not if they won't
have me, mother.

How can you say that
when you know everybody
thinks the world of you?

Not everybody,
mother.

Some people
have more sense
than you do.

This is a very
interesting story here –

I've marked
the place for you.

And...

oh, this is
a capital bit of verse.

It starts there
and I marked that
for you too.

- Player #1: Play a card –
- Player #2: Sorry, what?

(chatter continues)

I think my Ned has set
his heart on Miss Vincy.

I wish that something
could be settled there soon.

Yes, indeed.

Though I'm afraid
she often has notions
of her own.

But then she
was raised in such
a thoughtless manner.

Her mother has
that levity about her

which makes me anxious
for her children.

Oh, it is pride
in Miss Vincy, for sure.

There's no young man
in Middlemarch who's good
enough for her, it seems.

I think
the honorable Mrs. Stevens
is something like you.

Do you think so?

Her back is very large,
I should have thought.

Ah, but I didn't say

she was as beautiful
as you are.

Oh, Mr. Plymdale.

I suspect you of being
an accomplished flatterer.

Ned:
No, indeed,
Miss Vincy...

- in fact –
- Lydgate: Good evening.

What a latecomer you are.
I'd almost given you up.

I'm glad that Fred
is feeling better.

Yes, he's going
on well, but slowly.

Good evening.

- How are you?
- Oh, I never vary.

We have looked
to Dr. Lydgate

as our guardian angel
during Fred's illness.

Pritchard, could we
have a cup of punch
for Dr. Lydgate?

Good God!

What are you laughing at
so profanely?

I don't know
which is the sillier -

this engraving here
or the writing that
accompanies it.

It's really
splendidly idiotic.

There are a great many
celebrated people writing
in that keepsake

at all events, sir.

This is the first time
I've ever heard it
called –

silly.

Excuse me.

- Player: Vincy?
- Vincy, play the game.

I was distracted
for a moment.

I should just go
have a word with him.

You do not see
that you have given offense?

What?
Is it Mr. Plymdale's book?
I'm sorry, I didn't think.

You are like a bear.
You don't know
your own strength,

or your power to hurt.

Do you remember
when you first came here
you said you were a bear?

And that you wanted
teaching by the birds?

There's is one bird
I'd very willingly
be taught by.

And tamed?

(chuckles)

Rosamond,
your aunt Bulstrode
is here.

Good morning, aunt.

Rosamond,

Mr. Bulstrode and I
have heard something
about you

which has surprised us
very much indeed...

that you are
secretly engaged
to Dr. Lydgate.

No, I'm not
engaged, aunt.

How is it that
everyone says so then?

It's the town's talk.

The town's talk is
of very little consequence.

Dr. Lydgate
is very clever

and your uncle
finds him useful,

but it's a poor
profession.

He's not paid
for his work
at the hospital

and you are not
in a position to marry
a poor man.

You've no fortune
of your own, my dear.

Now, Rosamond,

Mr. Plymdale
is a nice young man,
I've always thought...

and an only son
and the heir to
a great business.

Surely, you would not think
of giving your heart

to a man without
a decided prospect?

I shall never give my heart
to Mr. Ned Plymdale.

and Dr. Lydgate
is not a poor man,

he has very high
connections.

I see how it is,
my dear.

You have allowed
your affections to become
engaged without return.

No, indeed, aunt,
I have not!

- Rosy, Rosy.
- Mama!

(sobbing)

How is your
new hospital?

Everything I hoped for,
near enough.

You must come
and see for yourself.

I wouldn't want to put
Tyke's nose out of joint

so soon after
his appointment,

but I might take you up
on it one day.

I was thinking
of looking in on Vincy
later, what about you?

Not tonight.

I think my patient
can survive a night
without me.

I've been neglecting
my studies lately.

You're going to get
yourself lashed to the mast
and stop up your ears.

If you don't want to be
won by the sirens, you're
wise to take precautions.

I'm in no danger there,
I assure you.

Rosamond Vincy
is an enchanting girl –

sweet, docile,

everything about her
full of grace
and delicacy.

If I were thinking of
marriage, I'd snap her up
this instant, but I'm not,

not for a long while yet.

I mean to establish myself
properly before I look
for a bride.

Hmm.
In my experience,

when a man's seen a woman
he likes as much as that,

his remaining a bachelor
will depend on her resolution
rather than his.

Very good, but not true
in this case.

- No?
- Absolutely not.

In five years time
I might be looking
for a wife,

but do you know
my real passion?

- What?
- Medicine, science,
knowledge.

If I could reveal something
of the primitive tissue
that underlies all life –

you, me, a songthrush,
Rosamond Vincy –

that's what excites me,
Farebrother.

- Have you told her this?
- No, of course not,
she's a woman.

You don't talk about
primitive tissue when
you're talking to a woman.

Brooke's voice:
"I very much regret
these circumstances,

"Mr. Ladislaw,

"as I was
looking forward myself

"to making your
closer acquaintance.

"I have been thinking

"of taking
a more active part

"in the political life
of the county,

"and to that end,
acquiring one of
the local newspapers.

"I should have welcomed
the opportunity of
consulting you

"in this matter.

"If you are anywhere
near the county,

"I would be most happy
to welcome you
as my guest,

"when we might
discuss matters

"very much to
our mutual advantage."

Ah,
Dr. Lydgate!

- Sorry I'm late.
- Not at all.

It's good of you
to spare the time.

May we talk
as we walk?

What are your
intentions towards my niece
Miss Rosamond Vincy?

My intentions?

I suppose my intentions are
to continue a very pleasant
acquaintanceship.

And nothing more?

Nothing more.

May I suggest to you,

with the very
greatest respect,

that a man
of your exceptional
abilities should hesitate

before engrossing
the whole attention

and endangering
the marriage prospects
of a vulnerable young girl

for the mere pleasure
of the moment.

I've not the slightest
intention, sir, of engrossing
Miss Vincy's whole attention,

or endangering
her prospects of marriage.

May I,
with utmost humility,

suggest that you
moderate your attendance
upon Miss Vincy?

Allow her
other admirers

a little more opportunity
of engaging her attention?

You may suggest that,
sir, if you feel is it
your place to do so.

I do, Dr. Lydgate.
Please, do not
take offense.

You know I think highly
of you and wish you
to prosper here.

I think you will concede
I have already been of
some assistance to you.

(women whispering)

Yes.
Yes, of course.

I wish only to help you avoid
a painful misunderstanding.

(whispering continues)

You should go fishing,
Casaubon,

or have a turning room –
make toys and table legs,
that kind of thing.

Or get Dorothea
to read to you,
something light.

She may read
anything she likes
now she's married.

Smollett, for instance.
he made me laugh
uncommonly once.

Bit about
a postillion's breeches.

In short, sir,
you recommend me

to anticipate the arrival
of my second childhood.

You heard Dr. Lydgate
himself say that

fresh air and exercise
will help you mend all
the more quickly.

- Don't nag, mother.
- And the sooner
you're well enough

to go to Stone Court again
the better. And you too,
Rosamond –

- your poor uncle is
weaker by the minute.
- Dr. Lydgate?

Mrs. Vincy:
Get your greatcoat on then.

You have become
quite a stranger recently.

Yes, Fred, as you see,
is well on the mend.

There have been other calls
upon my time.

Do you find Mrs. Casaubon
very handsome?

I suppose she is
very handsome.

- But I have not
thought about it.
- No.

I suppose that would be
unprofessional.

How your practice
is growing.

First the Chettams,
now the Casaubons.

It's no wonder that
you have no time for us.

You mistake me.
I would rather attend
to the poor at the hospital.

There's more chance
of doing good, and one has
to listen to less nonsense.

And you must excuse me now.
I am bidden to –

I'm bidden to Stone Court
and then to the hospital.

Goodbye.

(latch clicks)

Ooh.

(voices overlapping)

Featherstone:
Out, Solomon,
out the pair of you!

- Will you get out?!
- There are things you might
repent of, brother,

the Almighty knows
what things.

Then he knows better
than I do.

Out you go,
both of you, out.

Brother,
when you lie speechless,

you may be tired
of having strangers
about you.

And you may think
of me and my children –

I shan't. I shan't
think of any of you,
I've made my will.

I shan't think of any of you.
Out you go, out!

Some people would be ashamed
to fill up a place belonging
by rights to others.

Oh, no, sister,
we must be humble.

And let smart folk
push themselves
before us.

- Shall my mother
and I leave, sir?
- Well no, no.

Sit down and stop
where you are.

You two out!
Out!

- Out!
- I shall be
downstairs, brother.

I shall do my duty
and I pray that
the Almighty –

Out! Out! Downstairs
with you! Out!

(piano playing)

Sorry.

Lydgate:
You call yourself
a raw country girl.

Mrs. Bulstrode:
Dr. Lydgate is
very clever.

I found some charms
in Middlemarch –

- greater than I expected.
- a poor profession –

You've no fortune
of your own, my dear.

...won't think of giving
your heart to a man
without prospects.

I've made up my mind
to take Middlemarch
as it comes.

You mistake me, I'd rather
attend to the poor
at the hospital.

...allow your affections
to become engaged.

...more chance of doing good
and one has to listen
to less nonsense.

Nonsense...
Nonsense... Nonsense.

You did well
to send for me, Mary.

He's a good deal weaker.

Dr. Lydgate, what if
he were to die now

without his loved ones
at his side?

Mr. Vincy must come to him.
but how can he be fetched?

- Oh, what are we to do?
- Nothing easier, Mrs. Vincy,

I'm returning directly
to Middlemarch.

I can take word
to Mr. Vincy.

Oh, Dr. Lydgate,
that is good of you.

He's sleeping
very comfortably now.

Oh, Dr. Lydgate, come in.

Let me take your bag.

Maid:
It's Dr. Lydgate, ma'am.

I'm come –

I'm come with a message
for Mr. Vincy.

He is
at the warehouse.

Yes, of course,
what a fool I am.

- I shall go there directly.
- (sobbing)

- What's the matter?
- (whimpers)

Please.

Please, tell me.

Oh, I'm so unhappy.

I've tried
not to be, but...

if I am never to see you,

if you do not care
about me at all, then...

there is nothing
in my life

that is worth
living for.

And you don't.

You don't care
about me at all.

And I'll –

Miss Vincy,

Rosamond,
please don't cry.

Please.

Let me...

Then you do,

then you do care
about me after all.

More than anyone.

I want you
to be my wife.

Oh.

Oh, I'm so happy!

I'm so happy.

(bells tolling)

(thumping)

Featherstone:
Missy!

Missy! Do you hear?

It's 3:00 in the morning
and I've got all my faculties.

- Do you hear?
- Yes, sir.

I've made two wills
and I want you to burn
one of them.

It's in the chest
in the closet.

I want you
to take that one out
and burn it.

No, sir,
I cannot do that.

Cannot do it?
But you must!

No, I can't.

It would lay me open
to suspicion.

Wait 'til morning, sir,
'til your brother and sister
come again.

No! Now!

Look here, Missy.

Take this money,
all of it –

the notes and the gold.

You shall have it all,
only do as I say.

No, I won't, sir.

I won't touch
the will or the money.

Please don't
ask me again.

You'll never have
the chance again.

Look, it's
pretty nigh 200.

And there's more
in the box and –

nobody will know
how much there was.

Take it
and do as I tell you.

Put away your money, sir,
I won't touch it.

I will do anything else
you ask me.

Anything else?

I want nothing else.
(coughing)

- Let me give you
some cordial.
- Damn you, Missy!

(clatters)

(coughing intensifies)

(funeral bells tolling )

Mrs. Cadwallader:
What an extraordinary
set of people.

Who can they all be?

Oh, there's Lydgate,
his doctor, I suppose.

Oh, that's a really
fine-looking young woman

with that fair young man.

Who are they, Sir James,
do you know them?

I see Vincy,
the new mayor.

They're probably
his son and daughter.

A very decent family –
you've seen Vincy
at my house.

He's a very good fellow.

One of your secret
political committee,
I hear.

Oh, oh, oh, oh –

And one of those
who sucks the life

out of those wretched
handloom weavers at
Tipton and Freshitt.

That's how his family
looks so fair and sleek.

Well, well,
he's a sound man, Vincy.

Celia:
Who is that man that's
wandered into the garden?

He looks happy enough.

Well, it's time
the old man died.

No one there
seems to be sorry.

Why, Dodo,

you never told me
Mr. Ladislaw has come again.

Ah yes, he came with me,
he's my guest.

He puts up at Tipton,
you know.

He's an excellent
young man.

He writes well,
talks well...

I'd be glad to give him
an opportunity at
"The Pioneer."

Mrs. Cadwallader:
I see...writes political
speeches, does he?

Did I not mention him
before, Casaubon?

I asked him some time ago
when you were ill

and Dorothea said
you couldn't have anybody
in the house.

You know?
And she asked me
to write to him.

And he and I
have brought the portrait
on top of the carriage –

yourself in a semblance
of Thomas Aquinas.

I knew you'd be pleased
by the surprise.

(rapid footsteps)

Ladislaw!

Here! Here he comes.

He wouldn't come in,
you know, 'til I had
announced him.

But here he comes.

Excellent, excellent,
here he comes.

There you are,
you see?

To the life.

A deep subtle
sort of thinker

drawing attention
to our ultimate
destination.

It's symbolic, you see –
the higher style of art.

What do you think,
Casaubon?

I went into all that
a great deal at one time –

solidity, transparence,
everything of that sort.

I like all that
up to a point,
but not too far.

It's a bit straining
to keep up with.

The flesh
is good though.

Flesh is good.

(whispering)

(whispering continues)

- Mrs. Waule: That's him.
- By-blow.

- Love child.
- Love child!

(man clears throat)

Now, the will
I hold here in my hand

was drawn up by myself

on the 9th of August, 1825.

But I find there is
a subsequent will –

hitherto
unknown to me,

- executed in March 1828.
- (murmuring)

Dear, dear.

I shall begin by reading
the essential elements
of the earlier will –

as such appears

to be the intentions
of the deceased.

"To each of my brothers
and sisters who shall
survive me,

"I give and bequeath
the sum of 200 pounds

"and to my nephews
and nieces 100 pounds.

"To Mr. Borthrop Trumbull –

"50 pounds and my
gold-headed cane.

"To Mr. Frederick Vincy –

"10,000 pounds."

(collective gasp)

"And the whole of the residue
of the estate,

"including the house
known as Stone Court,

"and all the lands
and buildings appertaining

"go to Mr. Joshua Rigg,

"who will take henceforth
the name of Featherstone."

But there's a second will!
There's a further document.

Yes, we have not yet
heard the final wishes
of the deceased.

The second,
most recent document...

revokes all the bequests
of the earlier will.

(murmuring)

It leaves Stone Court and all
the land in the parish
of Lowick

to Joshua Rigg,
with the former conditions –

"That the remainder
of the estate

"is to be devoted
to the erection
and endowment

"of almshouses
for old men

"to be called
Featherstone's almshouses."

There are no other
bequests whatsoever.

(gasps)

(sobbing)

The most unaccountable
will I've ever heard.

(sobbing louder)

- Solomon: If I had known –
- Mother!

A wagon and six wouldn't
have drawn me from brassing.

It'll do him no good
where he is gone.

He was a bad man

and almshouses
won't cover it.

(wailing)

Come with me.

That vile
hypocritical old man.

Don't give way, Lucy,
don't make a fool
of yourself,

my dear,
before these people.

Fred.

- Fred!
- (whispers)
Fred, come!

Fred, Fred!

Be brave, Fred, I do
believe you're better
without the money.

That's all very well, Mary,
but what's a fellow to do?

I thought I'd be able
to pay your father back at once
and make everything right.

And he's left
you nothing too.
What shall you do now?

Find another situation.

I'm sorry, Fred.

Mr. Vincy:
Fred!

Fred!

(whispering)

...and sat in church
with him when he
felt like it...

Mr. Vincy:
Damn bad day's work.

Well, sir, I hope you've
made your mind up now

to go up and pass
that examination.

You built too much on your
expectations, now you must
face the consequences.

Don't be too hard
on the poor boy.

- It weren't his fault that
wicked old man deceived him.
- Ha!

Mrs. Vincy:
Fred will turn out
well yet, I know.

And where is there
a girl like Rosamond?

Dr. Lydgate, who could have
had the highest in the land,

he fell in love
with her at once.

The sooner that engagement
is off, the better.

Vincy!
She's started buying in
all the best linen –

I don't care,
I shall have enough to do
with this idle scamp,

without paying
for wedding clothes.

Times are
as bad as can be –

machine breaking,
and I know not what.

Election coming
and revolution
for all I know.

Everybody's ruined.

I don't believe young Lydgate's
got a farthing to his name for
all his grand connections.

If he wants my daughter,
he can damn well make
his own way first.

Ooh, Vincy...

- Lydgate:
What's this, Crabstone?
- Abdominal tumor, Dr. Lydgate.

Her name is Nancy Nash,
patient of Dr. Minchin's.

- Good morning, Nancy,
how do you feel?
- Bad.

Dr. Minchin wants me
to open her up and cut it out
this morning.

May I take a look,
Nancy?

I'll be as gentle
as I can.

(scalpels sharpening)

Tell me when you feel it.

- There?
- Yes.

- There?
- Yes.

And when I do this?

Yes.

Hmmm.

All right,
thank you, Nancy.

It's not a tumor,
it's cramp.

Give her a blister
and some steel mixture.
Send her home to rest.

What's Dr. Minchin
going to say about that?

"Cut her open,"
that's what he said to me –

All right, I'll speak
to Dr. Minchin.

(patient coughing)

I was as tactful
as I know how to be,
but Minchin took offense.

He's refused
to give his services
to the new hospital.

We'll manage well enough
in spite of him.

I shall just have
to spend more time there
myself, that's all.

The devil of it is
the work's unpaid.

Still...things
can't last as they are.

We'll have all sorts
of reforms soon.

Then all the young fellows
will be glad to come
and study here.

- Tertius?
- Yes, my darling?

Papa has been saying
that our engagement
must be given up.

But why?

You don't want
to give it up?

Oh,

I never give up anything
that I chose to do.

Good!

Rosamond:
This is the house.

It belonged to
old Mrs. Bretton.

Oh, I've always
longed to live here.

And it's so near
the hospital.

Papa says
it's too expensive
for a doctor.

Say no more,
I'll take it.

- Oh!
- It's absolutely
the right thing.

I wouldn't have you
like Dr. Minchin's wife

in a pokey little
ill-proportioned place.

No!
Damned the expense!

I'll use my patrimony.

You shall have
everything that is proper
for a lady to have.

It's degrading to be mean
about such things.

And Rosy, rather than
defer our marriage,
why not hasten it?

- Oh, Tertius.
- You wouldn't mind
about new clothes.

Those can be
bought afterwards.

I've never heard of wedding
clothes being bought after
the marriage.

You wouldn't deny me
for the sake of
a few clothes?

No.

I shan't be happy,

'til I've made you
altogether mine.

Fred:
Congratulations.

Now we should be allowed
to enjoy ourselves.

There's no way
you're going to...

Woman:
Handsome couple though,
no denying that.

Handsome is
as handsome does.

I wouldn't wed
a girl of mine
to that one.

It's a well-known fact
he tried to cut up Mrs. Goby,
after she was dead.

No, he never!
Did he?

Poised over her with a knife
when her brothers burst in,
I heard.

No!
Handsome though.

Oh, yeah, very handsome.
Very smart, the pair of them.

Come and congratulate
the bride and groom.

Not that I am not
thankful for my Ned's sake,

though he could afford
to keep such a wife

better than Dr. Lydgate,
for all his grand ways.

I've never liked it
when strangers come in
to a town, putting on airs.

My Nicholas was
a stranger here once.

Abraham and Moses
were strangers
in the land.

And we are told to
entertain strangers,
are we not?

I wasn't speaking
in a religious sense, Harriet.

(bells tolling)

- Mr. Brooke.
- Good day to you.

Vincy's had to dig
deep in his pockets
over this palaver.

You think he's got himself
a bargain then?

With Lydgate?!
(laughs)

No better than Brooke got
when he bought himself
"The Pioneer."

And that young rogue
he's got to edit it -

they say
Brooke is putting up
for Parliament,

with his protégé
to puff him in
"The Pioneer."

Who is he then,
the young sprig?

Some loose fish
from London, I suppose.

His name is Ladislaw.

Some sort of foreigner,
I gather.

He'll begin
with a flourish
about the rights of man

- and end up murdering
some poor wench.
- Aye, I wouldn't wonder.

Ladislaw:
"‘The Pioneer' considers
this to be a time

"when the crying needs of
the country might overcome

"the modesty and reluctance
to public action

"on the part of men
of large experience of life,

"men whose minds
have acquired breadth,
as well as concentration,

"dispassionateness tempered
by intelligence and energy.

"The name of Brooke of Tipton
comes to mind in
this connection.

"And the electors
of Middlemarch would be
fortunate indeed

"to secure the services
of such a man."

Ladislaw, that's good
and to the point.

"Dispassionateness
tempered by intelligence
and energy,"

I like that, yes,
I like that very well.

No, wait,
I've changed my mind.
I'll come with you.

There's a particular
sketch I wanted to take
within the churchyard.

Aah...very well.

- I'll see you at dinner then.
- With pleasure, sir.

Very well, Peter.

Peter:
Walk on, go on.

- Master is out, sir –
- Oh.

But Mrs. Casaubon is in.
She'll be glad to see you,
I am sure.

Oh, very well.
Wouldn't want to be
a nuisance though.

She's just
in the library, sir.

I'm so glad
to see you.

I really just came
for the chance of
seeing you alone.

I wanted to talk
about things, like
we did in Rome.

It seems strange
how much I said to you then.

I remember it all.

You spend all your days
shut up indoors
with these?

Not all my days,

not all the hours
in any day.

And I'm happy to be here.

You look so much paler
than you did in Rome.

Couldn't you
get your husband
a secretary?

Then you could ride
and get your color back.

How can you
think of that?

I should have no happiness
if I didn't help him
with his work.

Did you know I was
his secretary
for a while?

I should not
have thought that post
would have suited you.

No, nor did it
suit Mr. Casaubon.

Perhaps you are not
a steady enough worker.

No, and I don't think

Mr. Casaubon likes anyone
to overlook his work

and know too thoroughly
what he's doing.

Too uncertain of himself.

I made the mistake
of offering him
my opinions.

I'm afraid he dislikes me
because I too often ventured
to disagree with him.

And yet he overcame
his dislike of you

as far as his actions
were concerned.

Yes, he has...

shown a sense of justice
in family matters.

He understood
what an abominable
thing it was

for my grandmother
to be disinherited

merely for falling in love
with a poor man.

I wonder how
she bore the change
from wealth to poverty?

Do you know much
about her?

Well, she married
for love, that's all.

There's nothing
to be said against
my grandfather

except that he was
a Polish patriot

who was forced
to flee his homeland

and obliged
to give music lessons
for his living.

For this alone
was she disinherited.

My mother ran away
from her family too,

to get her living,
went on the stage in fact.

See, I come
from rebellious blood
on both side.

- And your father?
- I remember him
very little.

He died when
I was very young.

He inherited
the musical talents.

I remember him
playing the violin.

And I remember...
his slow walk.

And I remember
his long, thin hands.

And I remember once,

he'd been lying
in bed for a long time –
I think he was very ill –

and all I could think of
was how hungry I was

and how I only had
a little piece of bread.

He made himself
known to Mr. Casaubon
shortly before he died

and that was
our last hungry day.

Such a different life
from mine.

I've always had too much
of everything.

Do you really think
you'll be satisfied
working with my uncle?

Oh, for the time being,
I think.

There's work for me
to do here and I belong
to nobody anywhere else.

But if you think
I shouldn't stay –
then I will go.

Why should I think that?
I should like you to stay
very much.

Then I will stay.

Perhaps you should be
guided by Mr. Casaubon.

I spoke without thinking
of anything but my own
feelings.

Can't you wait now
and mention it to him?

No, I can't wait today.

Your uncle
is expecting me.

I feel I need
to use my body.

A five-mile walk
to Tipton with the sun

gleaming on the wet grass
is just what I require.

- Goodbye.
- Then goodbye.