Tess of the D'Urbervilles (2008–…): Season 1, Episode 4 - Episode #1.4 - full transcript

We are gathered to join this man

and this woman in holy matrimony.

His name was Alec D'Urberville.

You bore his child!

Who's to say you're not more
Mrs. D'Urberville than mine?

To go blabbing such a thing as that.

Goodbye, Tess.

I'm going to Brazil as soon as possible.

No-one can love you more than Tess.

She would have laid down her
life for you I could do no more.

Ah! Can we help you?



- Beg pardon.
- Excuse me.

It's a marriage licence.

I'm asking you to marry me.

Come to me, Angel, and save
me from what threatens me.

Know this one thing Tess...

I will have you.

I don't like it.

I don't like it at all.

Huett, Lewell, on the
wagon with the others.

Durbeyfield, up on the platform.

Untie the sheaths.

No! It's too dangerous!

It's not a woman's job.

Why can't one of the men do it?



Perhaps you'd like to take her place?

- Very well, I will.
- No, I will.

I can do it. I don't mind.

If that's what he wants.

Get a move on, the pair of you.

I want that rick cleared by nightfall.

What do you want?

I'm here to ask a favour...

It's him again.

Tess's preacher.

Don't look much like a preacher.

You can come down now

old friend to see you.

So, Tess, aren't you pleased to see me?

I've been in London, visiting my tailor.

Sack-cloth and ashes
didn't suit me after all.

What do you think?

I'm afraid seeing you again rather

knocked all the faith out of me.

Besides, the paradise you supply

is as good as any other.

What of morality, Alec?

- The religion of love and kindness?
- No good I'm afraid.

If there really is nobody
to say, "thou shalt not"

then I can't warm up.

I'm not going to be responsible
for my deeds and passions

if there's nobody to
feel responsible to,

and if I were you, my
dear, I wouldn't either.

Which brings me to my proposal.

I don't like you working here.

It's beneath you and
I won't stand for it.

I've come to take you away.

Now, you say you have a husband
already, but I've never seen him,

and I don't know his name,
and all in all he seems

a rather mythological personage.

Even if he exists,

he is not here to help you. I am.

Come with me.

You've been the cause of my downfall,

you might as well share it,

and leave that mule that
you call your husband behind.

You little f...

Go on hit me, strike me,
punish me! I won't cry out.

Damn it, Tess, have I not
told you that I love you?

Have I not asked you to be my wife?

Remember this.

I was your master once.

I'll be your master again.

If you are any man's wife, you are mine.

You best get back to work.

Liza-Lu.

Liza-Lu!

I've been trying to find you all day.

I'm so tired.

- What is it Liza-Lu?
- It's father.

- What's wrong?
- It's his heart.

He wants to see you, Tess.

We'll walk through the night,

get there before Groby knows we're gone.

If you leave here without giving notice,

he won't give you a penny.

That can't be helped.

A whole winter's labour,
Tess, all for nothing.

If that gentleman comes
looking for me, tell him...

Tell him my husband has come back.

And he will, Tess.

Any day now. I know it.

Izz...

Marian...

Tis the fat around his heart.

Like so...

And when it closes over, like this...

That's it.

Off he'll go!

You were always his favourite, Tess.

In spite of everything.

Did mother tell you

'bout my scheme for living?

I'm sending round

to all the antiquarians

and asking them

to subscribe to a fund to maintain me.

They spend money on keeping up old ruins

and finding bones and such like.

Why not living remains?

If people

knowed of me, Tess...

..I could be a living monument.

What if my John dies, Tess?

The lease is in his name,

we lose the cottage, the land...

He won't die.

Something will turn up.

I know it will.

Liza-Lu, go inside please.

Your friends at the farm told me

that your that husband had returned.

But on investigation that
seems not to be the case.

What do you want from me now?

I've been thinking about
your brothers and sisters.

Oh, no.

If your father doesn't recover,
someone will have to look after them.

I will! I will look after them.

- And I will too.
- No, sir!

I will not take anything from
you, either for them or me.

How damn foolish, and selfish too!

I have more than enough
to put you out of anxiety.

I can make your family comfortable,

provide a home, an education,

if you can just show me some kindness.

- I have told you, we will manage!
- How? With your husband's help?

I have no husband!

Please go.

My regards to your family.

"Angel, why have you
treated me so monstrously?

"I swear from the bottom of my soul,

"I have never in my life
intended to do any harm.

'And yet these judgements
come and I am punished,

"again and again and again.

"Well, I do not deserve this.

"I have thought it all over
and I can never forgive you!

"You know that I did
not intend to wrong you!

"Why have you so wronged me?

"You are cruel. Cruel indeed, Angel.

"It is only injustice that I
have received at your hand.

"We are strangers now. Tess."

It's that gentleman again.

This is very sudden.

Father's name was on the lease.

We could have stayed there as
weekly tenants perhaps, except...

- Except?
- For me.

It seems I am not a proper woman.

I have made "queer unions" they say.

I'm not pure, and the
village must be kept pure!

Well, damn their souls!

Miserable hypocrites.

You are the purest, finest
woman I've ever known.

But this purity, Tess,

it's a hard cross to bear.

I wonder if you have the strength?

Look, children! Here it is.

Our ancestral lands
for five hundred years!

Kingsbere, Tess. Land of our fathers.

We have come home at last.

Of all the insults!

Of all the disrespect to
their elders and betters!

What is it, mother? They're gone!

Gone?

Our lodgings. Let
them to another family!

Said he didn't even get our letter!

- Where shall we go?
- I don't know, Tess!

I swear, what is the use
of you marrying gentlemen,

when this is where it leaves us?

Here's a welcome to
our ancestor's lands!

And me, the widow of
Sir John Durbeyfield!

It's our family vault!

We own the freehold,

and we shall stay here

till the place of our ancestors

learns some respect and finds us a roof!

Why am I on the wrong side of this gate?

Quite a family reunion, isn't it?

One kind word, and I
can make all this stop.

Security, comfort,

an education for the children.

You have it in your
power to save your family.

One kind word, Tess.

No.

I thought you might say that.

So I've taken the liberty of
speaking to your mother directly.

She was very pleased with my offer.

The children.

The look on their faces, Tess.

I'll send my carriage in the morning.

You'll be civil to me yet.

# Let the water and the blood

# From Thy wounded side which flowed

# Be of sin the double cure

# Save from wrath and make me pure

#Any work to have make with my hands

# Can fulfil thy law's demands

# Could my zeal no respite know... #

That is not my son.

That is not my Angel,
not the one who went away.

It seems that in Brazil
he contracted yellow fever.

Yellow fever!

Is it contagious?

Angel is lucky to be alive.

It appears that the worst is over,

though his body has
taken a terrible blow

which the sea voyage has
done much to exacerbate.

He must have complete rest and quiet.

He asked if there were
any letters for him.

He was most insistent on the matter.

Angel, why have you
treated me so monstrously?

And I am punished, again
and again and again...

You know that I did not
intend to wrong you...

It is only injustice that I
have received at your hand...

Why have you so wronged me? You
are cruel. We are strangers now.

And she never asked for
any money during my absence?

No.

Of course she didn't.

She's too proud.

And you heard nothing from her?

Nothing at all.

Except...

I thought perhaps I saw her once.

On New Year's Eve.

I remember because it was
your wedding anniversary.

There was a woman, outside the church.

Very beautiful,

just as you described.

Your brothers spoke to her,

a little too harshly I fear.

I called after her, but she ran away.

She seemed troubled.

That was her, that was my
Tess. It must have been.

There's something else that
we must tell you, Angel.

We had hoped to wait until
you were better, but...

This letter arrived a month ago.

We hoped it might contain a clue

as to your whereabouts so,

in our anxiety, we opened it. I'm sorry.

"Honoured Sir.

"Look to your wife if you do love
her as much as she loves you.

She is in danger from an
enemy in the shape of a friend.

Sir, there is one near
her who ought to be away.

A woman should not be
tried beyond her strength,

and continual dropping
will wear away a stone.

"Ay more, a diamond.

Signed...

From two well-wishers.

Two... well-wishers.

Angel...

I trust you bear no hard feelings

about my marriage to Mercy.

I know that before your strange
union, you two were close.

Cuthbert, please, no hard feelings.

You deserve each other.

Felix.

Father.

Angel, are you sure
that you are well enough?

Mother, please, I feel very well.

Yes, but, even so,

you might wait a little longer.

It's been quite long enough as it is.

Bring her back to us, Angel.
We look forward to meeting her.

She's long gone.

Snuck away in the middle
of the night like a thief.

When was this?

Back around mid March time.

And before the end of
her contract, I might add.

Good job I've got a kind
heart, or I could prosecute her.

Well, there must have been a reason.

Some yarn about her
father being taken ill.

You can never tell with her sort.

She wrote to me about this place.

This farm is a disgrace.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

Was it to you?

I'm her husband.

You don't remember me do you?

We've had words before, you and I.

Best not start in with me again, sir.

You mightn't come out
of it so well this time.

I'd hurry if I were you!

I'm looking for a
family that lived here.

Indeed, how the mighty fallen.

It was his dying wish to be
buried in his family tomb.

Couldn't afford it.

Even that headstone's unpaid for.

Are you a friend of the family?

I know the eldest daughter.

Ah.

Tess.

Do you know what happened to them?

Her mother lives in Trantridge,
raising chickens I'm told.

You might ask there.

Thank you, sir.

What are you doing here?

I'm looking for the Durbeyfield family.

Tess?

I wondered if...

Are you her husband?

Yes.

Do you know if she is well?

I don't, sir.

But you should.

Where's she staying?

I don't know.

Do you think she would
want me to find her?

I don't think so.

Mrs. Durbeyfield, you have
many reasons to hate me,

but be assured, I love
your daughter very much,

and I believe that
she still loves me too,

despite all the wrong I've done her.

I beg you, please,

tell me where she is.

I don't know.

Are you in need of anything?

No, sir. Not now.

We are very well provided for.

Sandbourne!

She's at Sandbourne.

Sandbourne.

Well, Sandbourne is a large
town. Do you have an address?

That's all I know.

But You'd best hurry, she
never stays anywhere long.

Thank you, Liza-Lu.

- I do hope you find her, sir.
- Thank you.

I'm looking for a Mrs
Clare, a Mrs. Angel Clare?

Visitors come and go every day,
sir. Without the name of the house...

Or Durbeyfield perhaps?

Teresa Durbeyfield.

Durbeyfield?

I'm looking for one of your staff,

Miss Teresa Durbeyfield?

We have nobody of that name
working here, I'm afraid.

We have a Mrs. D'Urberville,

staying here as a guest.

You do?

- Tess, can you forgive me?
- Too late.

Forgive my stupidity and callousness.

Don't come near me, keep away from me!

Is it my appearance?

I've been very ill, but I'm
getting better every day.

I said keep away!

Don't you love me, Tess?

Yes, oh, yes, but it is all too late!

I waited and waited for
you but you did not come.

I wrote to you, but
still you did not come.

He kept on saying that you
would never return and then

he was kind to mother and Liza-Lu.

Don't you see? Don't you understand?

He has won me back!

I am his creature!

He is upstairs...

..in bed, waiting for me.

Oh, I hate him, I despise him now

because he told me you
would not come back.

- Oh, my Angel, and here you are!
- Tess, this is all my fault.

Listen to me!

You must go away from
here, and never, ever try

to find me again,

do you understand?

It is too late for me now.

I am already dead.

Goodbye, my love.

Who was it, my sweet?

Not your wretched mother, I hope.

I pay her good money to stay away.

Come back to bed!

Don't keep me waiting.

On second thoughts,

go back down and tell that
nosy baggage Mr. Brooks

that her coffee tastes like horse-piss

which at least has the
benefit of being warm.

Good lord, what's wrong with you now?

You lied to me!

You used your cruel persuasion
and you did not stop using it.

You used my little brothers
and sisters and my mother's

wants and needs and you told
me he would not come back!

Tess, calm down, woman!

You taunted me and said what a
simpleton, I was to expect him until...

- Be quiet!
- ... I finally gave in!

And now he is gone a second time
and I have lost him now for ever...

because of you!

Who? Not your husband!

Your imaginary husband! He's back is he?

Yes, he's back,

and he looks as if he
is dying, because of you!

Mrs. Brooks will hear us!
I don't care any more!

You have torn my life to
pieces, made me a victim,

used me again and again!

I am in hell! I can't stand it any more!

Calm down, woman!
You're being hysterical!

Come here!

Stop it!

Mrs. D'Urberville, a
word please, if I may?

Mr. D'Urberville?

I heard a disturbance.

Mr. D'Urberville?

Angel! Angel!

It's finally over, I'm
finally free of that man.

- What?
- I've killed him, Angel.

I owed it to you and to
myself for what he did to me

all those years ago.

He can never come between us ever again.

Can you forgive me, now
that I've murdered him?

Come on!

Oh, Tess, tell me it isn't true.

- It is true.
- What happened?

I told him that you'd come back.

He saw me crying and he
laughed at me, taunted me.

There was a bread knife.

I took it in my hand. I did it.

Good God, Tess, have you any
sense of what is right and wrong?

Yes! That's why I killed him.

Angel, you spoke to me like this before.

Just before you left me.

If you were to desert me
again, I don't know what...

No. Never again. I
will never desert you.

Come along.

We should head to London.

The Channel ports will be
too dangerous but in London

perhaps we can find passage
to France or America even.

We have no passports.

I have money. My father
will send it to me.

We can buy our passage.
We can bribe someone.

- Trust me, Tess.
- I do.

I'd light a fire, but someone might see.

I have slept outside like
this many times before.

While I was gone?

Yes.

Tess, I'm so sorry. I
don't know what I was...

Doesn't matter.

You're here now.

I kept it.

Wait!

Just one night, then we move on.

It's perfect.

We should confine ourselves to one room

in case the housekeeper comes calling.

Best keep the shutters closed, too.

I found these. There seems
to be plenty of fresh water.

Sometimes I wonder.

What?

If we had danced that day...

..how happy we might have been.

I would have had years
more of this heart...

- ... this face.
- Tess.

Is not matter.

I am happy now.

Now that you've come back to me.

It's a fine day.

I think perhaps we
should head to Bristol.

London may be too dangerous.

- We must leave eventually.
- Why?

Why put an end to all this joy?

The owners could return at any moment.

And when they do we will
leave, but until then...

Come here, Angel.

I know that they will catch me soon.

I know that I do not have long to live.

- That's not true.
- It is.

- Don't say it, Tess. We will escape.
- Angel.

Angel. In two days, we'll be in
Bristol, then on to Ireland perhaps.

Let's not think of the future.

What will come will come.

I only want to think of now.

One more day.

Please?

About 50 of us set off from Rio.

We were all keen to begin new,

independent lives in this new Eden.

What did we find?

Swamp,

as far as the eye could see.

Crops wouldn't grow, the animals died...

..food began to run out...

..and then the fever started.

I saw mothers...

trudging along with
infants in their arms

and the fever would take the child,

and they would dig a hole with
their bare hands, bury the child...

..say a prayer...

..and trudge on.

I soon caught the fever, too.

With the very last of my money,
I bribed the local doctor,

who took me by cart
to the hospital in Rio.

And the others?

All perished.

I too would have perished, but...

..your letter

was forwarded to me from the consulate.

And I read it.

I resolved to live...

..find you...

..to make amends.

Not a day went past when
I didn't think of you,

Tess, how cruelly I had wronged you.

Enough now.

Rest now.

Sleep.

Sleep.

Angel.

Hopefully they'll think
we're heading to London,

but we'll head west.

We'll march through the
night if you're able.

We should find some
shelter for the night...

somewhere.

Angel...

..do you think that we shall meet again?

- After we are dead?
- Tess, please.

But I do so want to see you again.

So much...

..so much.

When I am gone...

- Tess.
- Angel...

..when I am gone,

I want you to watch
over Liza-Lu for me.

This thing I have done will
bring hard times on my family

and I need to know that
you will care for them.

- Of course. I swear.
- That's not all.

Marry her, Angel.

Marry Liza-Lu and try
to love her if you can.

And if you marry her, it will seem
as though death has not divided us.

Tess, don't ask this of me.

It's no use, sir.

Please.

Let her sleep a moment longer.

Have they come for me, Angel?

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Everything is as it should be.

It couldn't have lasted, Angel.

Too much happiness.

I am ready.

Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come,

thy will be done, in
earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive them
that trepass against us.

Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory...