The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders (1996): Season 1, Episode 4 - Episode 4 - full transcript

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No need to push and shove.
There's room for all.

Molly won't be
going abroad in a hurry. Crowd up.

You like some wickedness and vice.

Here it is.
This is the girl. Fornication...

..bigamy, incest, and worse to come,
ladies and gentlemen.

Moll Flanders,
her final descent into depravity.

Moll Flanders,
in the shadow of the gallows...

Moll Flanders, whore and thief!

The Lord's Prayer says,
'Lead us not into temptation.'

You don't do that, Lord.
For around me I see only temptation.

Forgive me, Lord, and
show me the way to live honestly.



Deliver me from evil, I beg.
If you don't, on your head be it!

Oh Jesus, Lord, forgive me.
I don't want to be a wicked woman.

Truly!

Help me, Lord.

Amen.

'God knows I never meant
to be wicked. But I had to eat.'

'Again, I found myself walking out,
ready for my fate.'

Stop, thief!

God bless you, Mrs.

Let it lie there a while.

ANGRY SHOUTING

SHOUTING

JEERING

SHOUTING



It's a girl! Look!

Another bundle from Lancashire!

I'd prefer to call it that.

Fate put it into my hands, ma'am.

Where it's from,
it will not be missed.

But it is warm?

About as warm as it could be, ma'am.

By God!

You're a bold one, Mrs Molly.

You carry it off
like you were born to it.

I hope you don't think ill of me.

Ill? I think very well of you.

Think you were
the only one doing this?

How do you think my other
gentlewomen earn their keep?

I never thought.

One thing or the other. Some of
them both. I think no less of them.

They're no worse, they pay their way

They call me Mother, some of them.
I'm that good to them.

I'm glad you've been straight.

We can be true friends now.

'Slowly, I got used to my new life.'

'The parcels from Lancashire
came often.'

'I lost my innocence, and saw myself
as a true merchant venturer.'

Let me assist you, ma'am.

'As our captains scoured the seas,
bringing their prizes...

..so I scoured the streets,
high and low.'

Thank you.

From Lancashire?

From Lancashire.

Good girl.

Thank you, Mother.

'But I was not a good girl.'

'I was a bad woman,
growing worse by the day.'

'One evening, not long after...

..I came very close
to the worst crime of all.'

Good night, my dear.
Why are you out on your own so late?

I was at dancing school,
now I'm going home.

What, all by yourself?

Meggy was to come for me,
but I didn't see her.

Never mind.

I'll walk with you. The town
is full of bad men and thieves.

Do you know where you live?

Aye, ma'am, in St John's Street.

I know it well. Which way do you go?

Down here, I think.

I can show you a quicker way,
through the churchyard.

What's your name, miss?

Mary Edwards, if you please.

Mary, we'll have you home
in two shakes of a dog's tail!

Down here, that's the way.

I don't like this way.

A big girl like you, you're
not afraid of the dark, are you?

I want to go the other way.

No, this is the best way.

Take my hand, and don't be afraid.

Ooh!
LAUGHS

Now, look what I've done!

I've broken my shoelace.

Can you be a clever girl
and tie it for me?

See where it's broken?

Where?

Never mind, child, I'll do it myself

There.

Whatever's the matter? Come.

We don't want your mother to fret.

This isn't the way.

Of course it is. Come, child.

It's not the way, it's not the way!

Be quiet, child!

It's not the way, it's not!

Who are you? I don't know you.

You be silent or you'll know
more than you care to!

Not a sound.

Now...

..you listen to me.

You never saw me.

If ever you cry out,
if ever you speak of this...

..be sure I shall find you...

..little miss.

Now you be a good girl,
and make your way home.

Lucky it was me she met
and not a hardened criminal!

What was her mother doing,
letting her roam the streets?

That's asking
to have her girl robbed and mur-

Where was her maid all this time?

Where was this Meggy?

Up against the wall
with some fellow, no doubt.

It's not as if I did her any harm.

It's a lesson for the parents.

They'll take better care next time.

Why do you stare at me?

Is that you, Molly?

Yes, Mother.

GIRL'S VOICE: It's not the way!
It's not the way! It's not the way!

Who are you? I don't know you!
It's not the way!

Come on, my dear.

..bad men and thieves...

You're not afraid of the dark...

Be silent or you will know
more than you care to...

Not a sound. Not a sound...

KNOCK AT DOOR

Molly, my dear.

Leave me, Mother.

I am not well.

Shall I bring you some broth?

What?

No. Nothing.

Nothing.

Leave me.

I shall be well soon.

'Lord...

..why did you take my Jemmy away?'

If we could have lived together,
none of this would have come about.

Why don't you answer me?

'You might think this
a turning point.'

'In truth,
it was just a staging post.'

'Little by little,
my horrid visions faded.'

'I began to take food and drink.'

'And found at length
that I could bear a little company.'

Come in, Molly, my dear.

That's the way.

This is Mrs Diver.
You may have seen her about.

No need to stand on ceremony.
You're in the same business.

We've met, haven't we?

No need to stare like that.
I'm not a ghost.

I was sure you'd been hanged.

They don't get rid of Lucy Diver
that easy.

I pleaded mistaken identity.
They found nothing on me...

..or on the road. For you
took the bundle for yourself.

There was no case to answer.

But you got a case to answer.

How much did you get for it?

So hardly won and dearly paid for?

I don't remember.

About eight shillings.

Eight shillings!

I'll make it up to you.

Think no more of it!

You buy me a supper
and we'll call it even!

You're not angry?

Bless you, no!

You helped get me off.
You was meant to do what you did.

Pleased to meet you.

My lady here always praises you.

Sorry you've been unwell.

I had a turn that day you saw me.

I was so bad, I couldn't go out
for weeks. But it passed.

I'll say it passed!

A demon, that one!

I am. I am!

Folk think I'm on the other game,
cos I'm pretty. But I hate men.

They're nasty, dirty things!

I used to like 'em,
but I can't abide 'em now.

I'd rather have their wallets
than their pricks any day!

We thought, Moll, you might like
a companion, get you back into it.

Lucy's looking for a new partner.

It's a compliment.
Lucy is the sharpest dip in England.

Pocketbooks and watches.

I am the best.
I say it cos it's true!

If you can learn, Moll,
I can teach you.

What do you say? Give it a trial?

If you don't like it,
we can kiss and part.

Say yes, because I need a steady pal

It's twice the fun
and half the danger, I promise.

I will.

Give her a kiss, seal the bargain!

That's the way!

And one again for luck!

And one for Mother, too!

And now let's drink
to friendship and free enterprise!

ALL: Friendship and free enterprise!

STATELY DANCE MUSIC

MUSIC CONTINUES

No harm done, ma'am. I am well.

My pocket book!

It must have been those rogues!

Two men, I'd know them again.

What am I to do?
My watch!

A beauty. Worth three guineas
easily.

Even on the dark side of the fence.

You're my beauties, too.

Didn't she do well, Lucy?

Moll Cutpurse would have been proud!

Let's do some more. I like this
work.

Oh, Molly!

You're a darling. You are!

'The dancing class girl
was still on my mind.'

'I was plagued with the thought that
she had met a sad fate when I left.'

'I asked Lucy
to come to St John's Street.'

'On our third visit,
I met with my reward.'

'And now I felt I had nothing
to reproach myself with.'

'Me and my partner went out
every day and knew only success.'

'We were proud, and fancied
ourselves the best thieves alive.'

PLAY IN PROGRESS

'You treacherous trull!'

Treacherous trull, very good,
go to it, Lady Wishfort!

By God, you're handsome.

Will you come and play with me?

Gladly. If my friend can come up too

Have the pair of 'em, my lord!

When you're ready, my lord (!)

Aye, fire away, ladies!

Close your eyes.

'Mr Mirabell seduced me.'

Aye, he did too!

'I'm not the first he's wheedled...

Close your eyes, my lord...

..and count to ten.

And you shall see wonders.

One... two...

..three...

..four... five...

..six...

..seven... eight...

..eight and a half... nine...

..ten.

There now!

I thought that was a good play!

Indeed, I was sorry
to leave before the end!

Oh, thou frontless impudence!

Treacherous trull!

That fop
will think us treacherous trulls...

..when he finds
his rings and trinkets gone!

Serve him right, the dirty bastard.

Moll, am I not
the best partner you ever had?

Aye, for I never had any other!

No, Moll, say true.

Am I not the best and the dearest?

There was a man who was dear
to me once, but he went away.

I tell you this, Moll.

I never cared for any man
the way I care for you.

'Not three days after this, my dear
Lucy was taken up before my eyes.'

Thief!

That one!

Thief! Look! There he goes!

Sir, let her go, you are mistaken.

It was a rogue with ginger hair.

I saw him plain as day.

Thief! Thief!

Bring her to the magistrate!

What else could I do?

Any more
and I'd be carried off myself.

You expect me
to put my own head in the noose?

Leave me alone.

'Lucy pleaded her belly,
but to no avail.'

'She had lain with none but me
these several months.'

The sentence of this court...

..is that you be taken
to a place of execution.

And that there, you be hanged
by the neck until dead.

May the Lord have mercy on you.

LOUD CHEER

JEERING

'She asked for me to be there,
so I went.'

'Though I could scarcely see
for tears.'

'My dearest Lucy.'

Hold your tongue, parson!

'She was brave as could be.'

Lucy Diver wants her say!

I thank you all
for coming here to see me hung.

I was the sharpest dip in London!

JEERING

But I never hurt so much as a fly.

What's a few gold watches
and a few gold chains?

I believe
God loves me and will forgive me.

Though the Justice won't!

If God don't like me, I don't like
him and I don't want to go to heaven

To all my friends...

..I say don't be sad for me.

I had a short life...

..but a jolly one.

And I wish you
more luck than I had myself!

Tell everyone that Lucy Diver left
this life with her head held high!

FANFARE

Look at her dance!

I never seen the like of it!

Aaagh!

Steady, sir, let me help.

Have a care, ma'am.

'I suppose
she was the best friend I ever had.'

'Closer to me than a sister.'

'A very true and faithful companion'

'After that, I cared little
for anyone or anything.'

'The world had served me ill,
and I would serve it ill too.'

Forgive me, madam, if I speak freely

I have supped well.

But I would have you know...

..it is not my custom.

I am a man of sense and virtue.

My wife is a good and
excellent woman, but excessively.

In short, madam...

..I have a whim
to ride round the park in a coach.

I wouldn't do anything untoward.

But if...

..in the event...

..something should come to pass...

How shall I put it?

You would be well rewarded.

In that case, sir,
you may do what you will...

..and welcome.

'This was a business
I had not tried before.'

'I thought, why not?
As well this way as another.'

'There is nothing so absurd,
surfeiting and ridiculous...

'..as a man heated by wine and
a gust of his inclination together.'

Oh, my head is dizzy.

Let me hold you.

Ah, what snowy white bosoms!

Let me hold them.

Oh!

'He is possessed by two devils.'

'His vice tramples on
all that was that was good.'

Let me suck, let me suck.

Ah! What bliss!

Let me forage further.

'His senses
are blinded by their own rage.'

'Such a man is worse than lunatic.'

Climb on my lap!

Oh, oh! Excellent!

Giddy up!

Ride a cock horse!

I die! I die!

I die!

Oh, Martha.

Forgive me. Forgive me.

Forgive me!

'These are the men who go like the
ox to the slaughter, says Solomon.'

'Till the dart
strikes through their liver.'

HE SIGHS

There, there...

..that's the way, my brave boy.

Here's fine.

Sleep tight.

Mind the fleas don't bite.

Sir Richard Gregory... baronet.

Well, now. He's a fine gentleman,
and a justice of the peace.

He sends girls down for that.
I hope he's learnt his lesson.

He will when he wakes, Mother.

Maybe we should drive it home.

I'd say he'd pay a good deal
to make sure Lady G don't hear.

Or, if he liked you so much...

..we might make a regular
arrangement. Easy work, Moll.

'Easy.
But I hadn't the taste for it now.'

'I'd rather rob folks straight
than wheedle it out of them.'

'I was in a groove, and I could
not get out, nor did I wish to.'

'My name was a byword for thievery,
though few would recognise my face.'

'Moll Flanders...

..famous for wickedness.'

'Never captured.'

'And so I continued,
year in, year out.'

'Beyond hope...

..beyond fear, beyond pity...

..beyond desire.'

Oi!

Hold her!

Hold her!

Run for the constable, Judy!

Good God, Abigail, what's going on?

This. We caught her taking this.

She is mistaken, sir.

Let her up.

I meant to take them
into the daylight, sir.

Into the daylight? Saucy trollop!

Then why didn't you call out?

Why did you fight and try to run?

She fought us like a badger.
Bit us to the bone.

I beg you, sir, let me go.

Let me pay for the silks and go,
though I no longer have them.

I am a distressed widow.

Things are tempting to me.

Take pity on me.
Don't pursue me to my death.

It's the first time I have ever...

SHE WEEPS

Will you send me to my death,
and let my poor children starve?

Listen to the saucy bitch!

If you are a widow, I am very sorry.

But the constable has been called.
It's out of my hands.

You must go before the justice,
see what he says.

Make way!

Make way, now!

Is this the woman?

Aye, constable. Take her up.

Come with me.

Now.

Steady... steady.

Make way.

I know her.
That's Moll Flanders. It is!

Prisoner at the bar,
you are committed to custody...

..in Newgate Prison until you
are brought to trial. Take her down.

Come on, in you go.

Oh! It's Molly!

Moll!

CACKLING

DEMONIC LAUGHTER

ALL: Moll! Moll! Moll!

JEERING AND TAUNTING

Moll!

Get off.

Molly, my dear.

Welcome to the college.

Who will you lie with, Moll?

I'll lie by myself, damn your eyes!

JEERING

MANIC LAUGHTER

So now I am come full circle,
to the place where I was born.

Now I am here, I find the horrors
are not so unbearable as I thought.

For has not my life been like
unto a prison these long years?

A prison of wickedness and despair,
I mean.

You see,
I am rehearsing my repentance.

I tried everything
with that jade who got you.

I offered 100 guineas to go away...

..but she will go and have her say.

The master is not so strong.

He says it's out of his hands,
though.

We must hope for a merciful judge.

SHE LAUGHS

A merciful judge (!)

Then I'm damned indeed.

Prisoner at the bar.

The sentence of the court
is that you be taken away...

..at such time is deemed convenient,
to a place of execution.

There to be hung until dead.

May the Lord have mercy on your soul

My Lord.

I am with child.

Referred to the next sessions.

Take her down.

LOUD WAILING

Now I do begin to feel
a sense of my own wickedness.

Standing in the terror of the rope.

For I am no more with child
than the judge himself.

Shall I truly be no more?

Shall I truly live an eternity
in the infinite torment of hell?

I cannot believe it.

Yet I fear it is true.

Ladies and gentlemen,
carefully, you may enter.

But don't get too close.

At the trial they said she fought
as fierce as a bear. Thank you, sir.

Here she is...

..Moll Flanders,
the most notorious thief in England.

Enough! Enough!

Take them away before I tear
their flesh. I do not want company.

Come on, out of it.

Just for a moment.

Please.

In private.

Very well, sir.

Moll.

Do you know me?

Don't you remember?

All those years ago in Colchester?

I think you do, Moll.

Do I?

It's Rowland, Moll.

Of course I do.

You've grown fat.

Well... I suppose.

I've never forgotten you, Moll.

I think you were my first true love.

I know I was yours.

I have an uneasy conscience
about you.

Do you?
Have you come to save me?

Unfortunately,
there's nothing I can do.

I'm very sorry for you, Moll.

Well, there's a comfort.

I'm Mayor of Colchester now, Moll.

Are you? I'm a thief and a whore.

Blood will out, I suppose.

CACKLING

How long have you been here, Annie?

Four month.

When I came here I thought
I was in hell, I'm used to it now.

You pled your belly, didn't you?

So did I.

I'm not with child. Are you?

Not to my certain knowledge.

They'll call us both down
next sessions, I expect.

How can you be so easy about it?

Easy?

I can't help it. I was always easy.

And what signifies being sad?

If I'm hanged, there's an end of me.

♪ If I swing by the string

♪ I shall hear the bell ring

♪ And then there's an end

♪ Of poor Annie. ♪

Don't be glum, Moll.

Give us a kiss.

Mmm.

Sweet breath.

Now, Molly.

I fear your time of fame has passed.

What do you mean?

You've been eclipsed.

A famous man is here.
James Sullivan himself.

Sullivan the highwayman,
and two of his gang.

Taken at Hounslow two days ago.

He's a topping gentleman.

I warrant you will see him
go through to the Press Yard.

And half England will see him
hanged.

MURMERS OF ANTICIPATION

Which is Sullivan, then?

That's him, that's him.

Ain't he handsome!

He could have me for a smile!

Jemmy!

Jemmy!

One hour.

One hour. In private.

Jemmy?

Jemmy, it's me.

It's Moll.

I heard you were here.

As I was coming in,
I thought I heard you call.

I did call.

Is your name Sullivan now, then?

No.

No, it's...

..just a name I'm known by.

One of several.

We've left it a little late
to look each other up.

I hope not too late.

I hope not.

I'm not the woman you knew, Jemmy.

You are, Moll.

Yes, you are.

I wish I could be, but I'm not.

You are.

You are.

I've done bad things.

I've done bad things.

I've killed men.

I don't care.

So you live yourself.

How long do we have?

An hour.

I don't know you.

You're a stranger.

No, I'm not.

I meant to come and find you.

I swear I did.

We were always on the run,
the horses dying under us.

It's no life.

I kept telling myself,
just one last time.

There's no need to cozen me.
We're neither of us angels.

How does your case stand?

Do you have a chance?

I have high hopes.

We killed four at Hounslow.

They have one witness to testify.

Money may help him lose his memory.

They've not got a strong case, Moll.

Now they have you,
they won't let you go scot-free.

Put in for transportation
before your trial.

If the case is weak,
they'll strike a bargain.

Put in for Virginia.

Where all your lands and riches lie.

It's true. I do have land there.

I think I have.

I'll believe you.

I'm a very trusting man.

But what about yourself?

I was resigned to dying
before I knew you were alive.

But now...

If you can get out...

..I have...

..one hope.

Sir Richard Gregory,
justice of the peace.

Find him.
Say Moll Flanders needs help.

If he doesn't, Martha will hear.

Tell him you know about
'ride a cockhorse'.

So will his wife,
if he don't get me a pardon.

James Seagrave.

Also known as James Sullivan.

Accused of highway theft and murder.

Petitions
for transportation to Virginia...

..in lieu of trial and sentence.

Granted.

Mrs Margaret Flanders,
known as Moll Flanders.

Having pleaded her belly, appears
to answer her former sentence.

Hanged by the neck at Tyburn.

No further stay of execution.

Shall I see Jemmy again?

He's a liar and a rogue
and I've put my life in his hands.

He could have any woman he wanted.

Why come back for me?

Well, Moll.

It's your time.

Do you want the priest?

He can keep his scurvy face
well clear.

I shall be sorry to see you go, Moll

I believe you.
You've made good trade out of me.

Not a word from Jemmy.

He always was a crooked dog.

DRUMS BEAT RHYTHMICALLY

'Man that is born of woman...

..is of few days and full of trouble

'He cometh forth
like a flower and is cut down.'

'He fleeth as a shadow,
and continueth not.'

'Dost thou open thine eyes
upon such a one, bringing me
into judgement with thee?'

'Who can bring a clean thing
out of an unclean? Not one.'

'Seeing his days are determined,
his months are with thee.'

Hold hard, hangman!

Don't do nothing sudden!

By petition of Sir Richard Gregory,
magistrate at London sessions.

The sentence on Moll Flanders
is commuted.

Transportation to Virginia.

LOUD CHEER

Untie that noose, hangman.

Land ho!

'God moves in a mysterious way
his wonders to perform.'

'And if, in his wisdom,
he smiles on me and Jemmy...

..who are you to disagree?'

'We are all on the Wheel of Fate.'

'Sometimes we make our own luck.'

'Sometimes we need a little help.'

'We all want to be good
and we all want to prosper.'

'God grant you never have to choose'