The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders (1996): Season 1, Episode 1 - Episode 1 - full transcript

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TRUMPET FANFARE

Come right on in! Follow me.

Thank you, sir. Stay close.

See the murderers, rapists,
footpads, ruffians, child farmers,..

..poisoners - oi, back!

I know what you've come to see.

Moll Flanders,
wickedest woman on earth!

Thief and whore!

Thank you, sir.
You shall hear it from her own lips.

Come on, crowd up!

Come on, come closer. Come!



No need to fear
I'll slide a knife into your ribs.

You see? I'm fettered.
I can do you no harm.

And besides, I've repented.

As most of us do who stand
in the shadow of the gallows.

You want to know how I came to be
here, how I fell from pride and pomp

It could happen to any of you.
Maybe it will.

For me, the wheel came full circle.
I was born here.

'Born in this very prison.'

FLIES BUZZING, CHILDREN CRYING

'My mother was convicted of theft.'

'She was saved from the gallows
by pleading her belly.'

'Scarce seven days after that,
she was tried.'

The sentence of this court is that
you be transported to Virginia.

Take her down.



What about my baby?

Put her in irons.

No! No!

My baby! My baby!

Please, my lord!
Let me keep my baby!

Please!
Don't let them take my baby!

'It was her last sight of me.'

'How I survived I know not.'

'Many would take on infants
for a few shillings,...

..then starve them
or dash their brains out!'

'I went from hand to hand,...

..until I fell among a crew of
those people they call Gypsies.'

'But I knew
that I did not belong with them,...

..for it was in my mind that
I was meant to be a gentlewoman.'

SHOUTS IN ROMANY

'With fine white skin
and a clean shift every week.'

Ey!
Come back here or I'll skin you!

SCREAMING, CHICKENS CLUCKING

Oh! What have we here?

No, no, hold hard!

Don't let the gypsies get me!

Of course not.
But what are we to do with you?

Come with me and earn a living
as a gentlewoman (!)

Yes, if you please, ma'am.

No, no, that wouldn't do! No.

Poor little mite!
Surely there's something you can do.

Well, it must be done properly.

You must go before the court.

I won't go with the gypsies!
Don't make me, sir.

You must - or starve.

You are not a Colchester pauper,
and you have no claim upon us here.

Were we to shelter you,...

..all the homeless wretches
in the kingdom would come here.

We are sorry, but you must
take your chances on the road.

Come along, girl.

No! No, sir!

Let me be a gentlewoman.

Like that kind lady there
in the pretty dress...

..that I saw kissing -

Leave the poor mite be.

I can't see the child
cast to the elements.

Fate flung her here, and the Lord
himself meant me to care for her.

Not as the Mayor of Colchester,...

..but as a simple Christian soul.

MURMURS OF APPROVAL

I shall bring her up
almost as one of the family.

Thank you, sir!

Be a good girl
and always do your best.

For goodness and virtue
will always prosper.

Amen to that.

'But I already knew that luck
rules the world, not goodness.'

'The turning wheel of fortune.'

'And that those who make
their own luck do best of all.'

'And so my lucky days began.'

'For now I was to live with the real
gentlefolk, and learn their ways.'

'I liked it very well,
except for one thing.'

'I never knew what I was
in that house -

- one of them, or a servant,
or something in between the two.'

Thank you, Moll. You may sit up.

'And so I lived there,...

..almost as one of the family,
till I was near 18 years old.'

'And it was then
that all my troubles started.'

So,...

..which young lady
did I hear singing so sweetly?

Maria? Emily?

We were out. It must have been Moll.

She loves
the sound of her own voice.

And why not?

It's beautiful.

What do you know?

I know yours are inferior!

Well done, Robin.

Children, don't quarrel! Tsk-tsk!

I hope I did no wrong.

I had done all my work.

No, indeed you did no wrong.
You gave great pleasure.

Though it's a queer affair.

I pay for singing, dancing
and French lessons for my daughters.

While Molly has no lessons
and excels at everything!

Indeed I don't, sir.

But Miss Maria and Miss Emily
teach me when the masters have gone.

And Mr Rowland and Mr Robin
are kind as well.

Are they?

I hope they're not too kind.

I don't follow, sir.

I'm glad to hear it!

How should they be too kind?

I thank God that you have taken me
in almost as one of the family.

Good. But don't forget the 'almost'.

You may clear the table.

'I never could forget that almost.'

'But in one corner of my heart
I was glad I wasn't quite family.'

DOOR

♪ CANON: Rose, Rose, Rose, Rose

♪ Shall I ever see thee wed?

♪ Aye, marry, then thou wilt

♪ All thou but stay

♪ When thou art dead

♪ Rose, Rose, Rose, Rose... ♪

THEY TAIL OFF

May I come in?

No.

Too late. How dull!

I see no-one naked here.

I should hope not.

Stand still, Miss Molly.

What are you doing?

I won't hurt you.

Are your ears burning?

We were talking about you.

Like fire!

Get off!

What were you saying about me?

I couldn't possibly say.

What?

Only what everyone says.

What?

You are the handsomest woman in
town.

Moll, he's making sport with you!

How could she be,
when hardly a soul has seen her?

Robin, isn't your brother a fibber?

I don't know.

I don't know what they say - or care

Moll, come and help me with my hair.

Poor Moll. I feel sorry for you.

You only lack one essential thing.

And what's that?

Money, of course.

All men care about is
'Does she have a fortune?'

Without money, she's nobody.
And you know it, brother.

You're cruel, Maria.

Only to be kind.

Because you are without beauty?

The money will do, brother.

It... It wouldn't for me.

If I loved a woman as beautiful
as...

If I were truly in love, I shouldn't
trouble myself about the money!

Well, Moll, I do believe
you've made a conquest!

There, Baggot.
Now, this is the young woman.

Our orphan, plucked from the gutter.
See how she's grown!

Indeed! A fine young woman.

She's the toast of the town.

Or, er... so my sons inform me!

She's a good girl, Mrs Baggot.
No pride at all.

When we have no company, she eats
with us as one of the family.

We think nothing of it!

You're very good, Mrs Richardson.

She does you credit.

Thank you, ma'am.

BELCHING

But it seems a waste.
A servant has no need to be pretty.

Beauty should be useful.

There are many sorts of beauty.

Nothing so beautiful as
good breeding...

..and a good fortune!

Like your lovely daughters

I assure you, my boys
know where their best interests lie.

Get along now, Moll!

A bit of beauty never goes to waste.

When I was a young man,
a pretty maid was valued.

Young gentlemen have to learn
what goes where with somebody!

Where better than at home, eh, lads?

I can well remem-

Baggot!

There's nothing of that sort here.

Our Molly is a good girl.

If I thought any different she'd be
out in two shakes of a dog's tail!

Excuse me.

Wait, Moll!

I... I wanted to say.

You're worth ten Baggot girls!

Don't think you're going to find out
what goes where with me!

But, but -

Let go! You will lose me my place!

I... I love you.

ANIMALS AND STREET CRIES

PUNCH LINE OF JOKE

Anyway...

Thank you, my dear.

EMILY: No, no, this one.

Thank you, Moll.

MARIA: No, no, this one!

FIRST FEW NOTES OF SONG

Moll, come and sing this.

Aye, do, Moll. To please me.

HARPSICHORD

♪ Thus to a ripe, consenting maid

♪ Poor, poor,
poor old repenting Delia said

♪ Would you still
preserve your lover?

♪ Would you still, would you still

♪ Would you still
his goddess reign?

♪ Never, never let him all discover?

♪ Never,
never let him much obtain? ♪

Oh!

Miss Molly.

Your sisters are in the garden.

I'm very glad to hear it.

I'm very glad to hear it.

I'm very glad indeed to hear it.

Oh, no, please, sir...

No?

Oh!

I thought you'd taken against me.

Quite the contrary.

Though I'd be happy
if others thought so.

Then you do still like me, then?

Dear Molly, I'm in love with you!

GASPS

It's your fault.
It's beyond my control.

You've bewitched me.

Listen. All the family
are from home tomorrow.

If my sisters ask you to attend,
say you have a megrim.

Keep to your room. I am engaged to
meet someone, but I shall put it off

Moll! Where are you?

Coming, ma'am!

Pass me your bowl, Robin. Good boy

Be quick, Moll,
for Mrs Baggot's calling.

Yes, ma'am.

Oh, have a care, you clumsy girl!

Sorry, ma'am.

Steady.

Are you not well, Molly?

I am a little giddy.

Go up and rest.

If you are not better soon,
we'll get the apothecary.

Thank you, sir. You're very good.

Emily!

FOOTSTEPS ON STAIRS

Well done.

I wish you would be away.

I think this must be very wrong.

Moll!

There's nothing to be frightened of.
Come, sit down by me.

I only want to talk to you.

Nothing will happen that you
don't want to happen, my dear love.

There.

A little token of my love.
I wish it could be more.

GASPS

MUFFLED GASPS

My dear one. My sweet one...

GASPS

No. Please, sir...

Tell me you don't like it
and I'll stop.

I... don't. I don't...

I won't tell a lie.

You're a good, sweet, honest girl
and you deserve a kiss.

I believe you'd kiss me
whether I was good or not.

I confess I would, Moll.
I can't help myself.

GASPS OF PLEASURE

Oh! Let me up a moment.

Well? What?

Why did you give me money?

Because I have it and you have none.

I wish it was more, but I'm poor
until I come into my estate.

Then you'll make me
the happiest man on earth.

What do you mean?

That one day we'll be married.

As we are already in our hearts.

Married?

Aye.

But that mustn't be spoken of yet.

But your parents! I'm just a
servant.

Not to me, Moll.

Oh! Oh, Rowland...

You silly goose! Haven't I said
I love you to distraction?

Yes, you have!

Haven't I sworn to protect you?

Yes, you've been very good to me.

Then, dearest Moll...

Oh...

DOOR

ROBIN: Hello? Is anyone within?

Hell and damnation!

I shall have to go down.

LAUGHS

It's no laughing matter!

Hush! He'll hear you!

Go now, before he comes.

Mmm! Sweet breath.

Soon.

Yes, soon.

So. What would you do?

Mrs Molly,
I must ask a favour of you.

And what's that, may I ask?

Nothing grave,
if you can't spare her.

Oh, we can. Can't we, Emily?

I suppose so, sister.

Good.

Then you must tell Moll
what you want of her!

Yes, I suppose so.

Unless it's private business.

No, no, it's a trivial errand.

I was to meet a Mr Garlick at
The Golden Cock to buy a gold chain.

But I am bidden to Hornchurch.

Would you go to The Cock
and ask for Mr Garlick?

Here's 20 guineas.
Offer him 15, or 18,...

..but give him 20 if he sticks fast.

Can you do that for me, Moll?

Happy to oblige.

Good girl.

Moll, Moll!

What is it?

We know what's going on.

Gold chain, indeed!

What do you mean?

You are a goose.

We know he's going to meet a lady.

Come back and tell us who it is.

Charlotte Pugsley!

Cicely Baggot!

If I see her I shall tell you.

But don't let on it was I blabbed.

Go on, then!

Molly?
I... I beg you, let me walk with you

Thank you, Mr Robin.

But I think I'm old enough to look
after myself and Mr Rowland's money.

No! No!

I mean no offence.

Lord. Er...

I wish I had
Rowland's gift of the gab.

Do you think unkindly of me?

No. You are all good to me.

But I would have you think of me...

..especially, Moll.

Oh? And why's that?

Because I... I...

I love you, Moll!

No, you do not!
I know what you gentlemen do.

You take advantage of our innocence.

For shame, Mr Robin!

Make love to some other girl.

I don't want another girl! Sorry.

Please, sir!

At least...
promise me you will think of me!

Please let me go, sir!

I do think of you, and very kindly.

But as a brother!

Let me go now, sir.
You will make me late!

I shan't give up.

HUBBUB FADES TO SILENCE

What's your pleasure, ma'am?

I'm here for Mr Garlick, on
business.

Mr Garlick, on business (!)

He's upstairs in the front parlour.
Should I take you up...

..or will you announce yourself?

I'll announce myself.

LAUGHTER

DRUNKEN VOICES FROM BELOW

Come in.

Oh!

Close the door, Moll.

Where's Mr Garlick?

Here he is, Moll.

Oh!

Er...

I was bidden to ask about
a golden chain, sir.

Indeed you were.

Here it is.

Oh!

My master bade me
give you this for it, sir.

Keep the purse and the chain.

Mr Garlick likes you very well.
He's disposed to be generous.

Oh!

Mr Garlick wonders
if you might reward him with a kiss.

I'd rather kiss you, sir.

I think you know
what I have in mind, Moll.

I hope you don't doubt
the sincerity of my love for you.

No, but...

But what, my dear?

I think I know.
What if you should be with child?

If you were,
I would provide for you, aye,...

..and the child too, and gladly.

Give me your hand, Moll.

Ten guineas more,
to show I'm in earnest.

And you shall have another
every year until I marry you.

Oh! Rowland, I love you!

'Had he known how easy
the trifle he aimed at,...

..he could have saved his gold.'

'I was so proud
to be be loved by him,...

..I rather wished my ruin
than studied to avoid it.'

'And thus
I accomplished my own destruction.'

'We had, after this, frequent
opportunities to repeat our crime.'

Moll, are you there?

Yes, ma'am! I'm coming!

'We took our pleasure
for half a year.'

'I was lucky not to be with child.'

'But that was
the least of my worries.'

Moll.

Yes, sir, what is it?

I love you more than anything.

I must have you.

Nonsense.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

There's no shame.

I don't want to dishonour you,
I want to marry you!

One word,
and I'll ask my father's blessing.

I beg you not. It would be wrong.

Your mother and father
would put me out onto the street.

What if they did?
I can make my own way now,...

..and keep you into the bargain!
And I shall, too.

But I don't want to marry you!

I like you as a brother,
but not the other way.

I'm sorry, sir, but there it is.
Now go! You'll get me into trouble.

Moll!

I don't want to get you into trouble

But I shan't give you up..

MR RICHARDSON:
Come and sit down, Moll.

I have something to say
and I want a truthful answer.

Is there something
between my son and yourself?

What do you mean, sir?

Surely it's clear enough.

Is there a kindness
between you and my son?

Has he made love to you?

To be plain, are you his mistress?

I can answer that.

Be silent, sir!

Let the girl speak.

I have nothing to be ashamed of
in my conduct with Mr Robin.

There is nothing between us.

I must speak.

If there's any fault, it's mine.

I love Moll, Mother,
more than life itself...

..and I mean to marry her!

Marry her, child?

But she's a beggar!

All the more need for charity.

We'll beg together!

Damn you, boy! Show respect.

I mean no disrespect, sir.
Indeed, I beg your consent.

But if Moll will have me,
I'll marry her anyway!

Well, there's one son lost.

One obstacle remains.

And what is that, pray?

She refuses to have me.

STRANGLED LAUGH
Refuses to have you?

Is this so?

Yes, sir.

Refuse him?

Why would you do that?

Because...

Because...

Excuse me. I am not myself.

Oh, Rowland, what are we to do?

The family are at church,
praying for your soul.

What should we do
but make each other happy?

You did very well. I am proud of
you.

But I couldn't tell the truth.

What truth, my love?

Why, that you and I are in love
and I am to be married to you.

Let's tell them.

Then we can be free from awkwardness
and suspicion.

But, my love, that's not possible.

Why?

I can't marry you till I come into
my estate. Father may live 30 years.

30 years?!

Then what am I to do?

I've been considering...

We should run away together.

Moll! I'd be cut off without a
penny.

You'd not want to ruin me, surely?

No.

Then what?

We've been running great risks.

We've been lucky to not get you
with child, or you would be put out.

You promised to look after me.

Aye...

I do. I shall, Moll.

But bearing all this in mind, though
it goes against my feelings,...

..the best course is
to let Robin have his way.

If you find him still in earnest,...

..you could do no better
than to marry him.

But I love you!
And I thought you loved me, too.

Sweet Molly, I do!

Indeed I do. But Fate's against us,
don't you see?

We may still love each other...

How can I be the mistress of one man
and the wife of his brother?

Ah.

Well, perhaps you're right.

Yes.

We must relinquish our...
carnal joys.

No! That's not what I meant!

But you shall always have
my respect, Moll.

You shall be my dear sister, as -

As I am now your dear whore?!

I won't do it!

I shan't marry your brother
to suit your convenience!

Go! Go away! I hate you!

All I ask is for you to consider.

Go! I never want to see you again!

Believe me, this pains me
as much as it pains you.

To marry without love...

..or sell myself to all comers as a
tuppenny whore? What would you do?

Molly, do I take it
you have changed your mind...

..and accepted my son Robin?

Yes, sir. But only if I have
his parents' free and happy consent.

And that was your only reason
for refusing him before?

Yes, ma'am.

We admit we have misjudged you.

My dear, know now that
you have our wholehearted blessing.

We wish the pair of you
every happiness.

And you can thank your brother
Rowland for pleading your cause.

He's been a good friend
to the pair of you.

Indeed!

I do thank you
for your help in getting me a wife!

It was the least I could do.

'So my lover is thanked for shifting
off his whore to his brother.'

'And I went to church
like a bear to the stake.'

Dearly beloved, we are gathered
together in the sight of God...

..to join this man and this woman
in holy matrimony

FESTIVE MUSIC

Well, Molly, my dear!

Oh, my love!

RHYTHMIC GRUNTING

'He was a tender,
kind, good-hearted man.'

'But there was never a single night
when I didn't wish myself
in the arms of his brother.'

'I was married to this husband
for five long, tedious years,...

..and at the end of five years -
he died.'

He who believeth in me
shall never die.

'His elder brother married well
and I never saw him again.'

..who for our sins
are justly displeased.

Yet, oh Lord God most holy, most
mighty and most merciful saviour,...

..deliver us not
into the pains of eternal death.

'But I was in tolerable spirits.'

'I was young, handsome,
with a tidy fortune.'

'In short, I was free,...

..and determined never again
to suffer an unequal love,...

..or a dull and dreary marriage.'

'My two children were taken
by my husband's father and mother.'

'And that was all they got
by Mrs Molly!'

'I put life in Colchester behind me'

'And my first love, my first
husband and my first children.'

'For I was bound for London, where
I was determined to live well.'

'This time on my own terms,
and nobody else's.'

'I took lodgings
in a fashionable part of town,...

..and went where gentlemen
of fashion could be found.'

What do you say to my pretty widow?

You are very kind.

I was cooped up...

Even better in the flesh!

..with a dull husband
and I am determined to be merry!

God's blood, you're a pretty woman!

Madam, I am all at your disposal.
I am in your hands.

Will you let me prove myself?

Will you,
in short, accept me as your lover?

In short, sir,...

..I will not.
For I can afford to look about me.

As for love, gentlemen,
I have been in that snare before.

Is there one of you
can make me a proposal of marriage?

HEMMING AND HAWING

No? Then you can forget all hopes
of having me.

I'm as fond of pleasure as anyone,
but I shall have it on my own terms.

I am resolved to be married,
and married well,...

..or not at all!

Look no further, Madame Molly!

Daniel Dawkins - gentleman tradesman

What kind of land-water creature
is that?

As good a man as you, I believe.

I've learnt swordsmanship and French

Speak on, sir, if you will.

Enchante, madame.

My father was a draper,
recently deceased,...

..and able to educate me
as a gentleman.

My father worked hard
all his life...

..and never lived to enjoy
the fruits of his labour.

As I have come into my inheritance,
I want to spend, spend, spend!

It is the duty of a wealthy man -

..to give employment to the artisan.

And the coachman, and the innkeeper.

And, indeed, the flower seller.

Here, my pretty.

Thank you, sir.

And as I am a man who knows
what he likes when he sees it...

Well, what do you say?

Will you be my wife
and help me spend my inheritance?

How much exactly is it?

Oh, it's enough, Moll!

'So I embarked on my new life
of pleasure with my new husband.'

'And very fond he was of me indeed -
for a quarter of a year.'

More cunning than ever!

Poor, angry Horner!

'He took me to court and to the
play, just like one of the quality.'

He's coming in the back way!

He's coming into her the back way!

I should never do that!

Liar!

Let him, if he can!

I beg your pardon, sir.
A thousand apologies!

Let introduce myself.
I am the Earl of Dawkinshire.

And this... this is the Countess.

Deeply honoured, sir.

Dawkins!

Carry it off, my love.
We can be anyone we want to be!

'I saw a great deal of money
spent on myself...

..his money and my own.'

'It couldn't last,
but neither of us said so.'

'We could spend, all right!'

'We laid waste to my draper's
inheritance like locusts.'

See, Moll? Come, Moll, come!

There's no shame in being a draper!

You see?

It is truly beautiful stuff,
isn't it?

Aye, it is.

Well - it was!

BANGING ON DOOR

Oh, my God, what's that?

BANGING

I am afraid it's the bailiffs,
my love.

BANGING

We are experiencing
a temporary interruption...

..in the cash flow. In short...

..we are ruined!

What shall we do?

I think I shall go to France.

My advice to you is
to find whatever of value you can...

..and go to the Mint,
where you'll be safe from creditors.

I am... I am...

I am truly sorry, Moll, but
what can't be cured must be endured.

BANGING ON DOOR

Open up in there!

Wake up!

We showed them how to spend money.
Eh?

Yes! We did!

Au revoir! Bonne chance.

SLITHERING, THUMP

'So I had a husband and no husband -
for I might never see him again.'

'And if he died, how would I hear?'

'As the deserted wife of a bankrupt,
I had to shift for myself.'

'I dressed as a respectable widow
and found myself lodgings
in a most secret part of the Mint,..

..where those who owe money can live
concealed from their creditors.'

Now...

WOMAN'S SHRIEK

..here's a fine woman!

Come, come, don't be shy.

Share a bottle with me,
faithless dog as I am.

Let's have no ceremony,
for we're all ruined here.

Come, let's drink a health...

..whilst my wife and children starve

Would that amuse you?

No, sir, it would not.

Thank you, ma'am,
but these lodgings are not suitable.

I am a gentlewoman, you see.

You may have been once!

I am a gentlewoman. I am!
I shall continue so!

But how?

SHRIEKING