Original subtitles

How should you like to come down to London with me and seek your fortune there?

What I'm looking for today is a nice well-mannered girl,

dain't you enough to wait on the gentleman?

You'll be a good girl and you'll be well rewarded.

So the gentleman will pay Mrs. Brown to be a messuier?

Perhaps we will meet again one day.

I'd imagine I'd really believe I'd met the love of my life.

Will you marry me?

Yes!

Out of my house of parabu!

Every penny I have comes from my father.

Then I think you must go back to him, Charlie.

Perhaps he's been kept there against his will.

He wouldn't leave me. I'm carrying his child.

He's on a ship bound for the West Indies. That's where Charlie is.

Then what am I to do?

I remember you.

I'm glad to hear it.

I'm glad to hear it.

I'm glad to hear it.

I'm glad to hear it.

I'm glad to hear it.

I'm glad to hear it.

I'm glad to hear it.

I'm glad to hear it.

I'm glad to hear it.

I'm glad to hear it.

I'm glad to hear it.

I'm glad to hear it.

I'm glad to hear it.

I'm glad to hear it.

I'm glad to hear it.

I'm glad to hear it.

I'm glad to hear it.

I'm glad to hear it.

I'm glad to hear it.

I'm glad to hear it.

Time, that great comforter did begin to ease the violence of my suffering over the loss of my lover and my baby.

My health returned to me, and although still despairing, I was intrigued why this near stranger had walked back into my life.

This is my proposal.

I will pay all your debts and set up an establishment for you here with the maid of your own and a man to drive you about as you require it.

I will visit you two or three times a week and spend the night with you.

The rest of your time is your own, though you will not take any other lovers.

They're now funny.

One lucky young woman you are.

And if I say no, it doesn't bear thinking of my dear.

Then, are you set?

Good.

I believe you will have no cause to repent, you're not a gently funny.

I knew him only as Mr. H. I cannot say his real name.

He was a very wealthy man, the brother of an Earl.

The first time I lay with him, I felt nothing. I was too full of shock and grief.

Had anyone ever told me I should have known any man but Charles, I would have spat in his face.

But our virtues and our vices depend too much on our circumstances.

The second time I was determined still to feel nothing, meaning to preserve a sort of faithfulness to Charles.

But Mr. H was too patient and too skillful for me.

And I'm ashamed to say my body betrayed me.

And so I learned the extremes of sensual delight.

Need have nothing to do with true love.

A cruel lesson for a girl with a romantic disposition.

But I think many women may have made that bittersweet discovery for themselves.

Now, I was truly learning to be a woman of pleasure.

Mmm.

Oh.

Suppose you got a great many women in your time.

I have, Fanny. No none more delightful than you.

I don't love you, you know. And I shall never do.

My love belongs to me husband.

I know that.

Does it make you angry?

It amuses me, Fanny.

Then I make so free with your body.

You have not have your heart.

Do you think they're very wicked?

Not at all.

You are what you are, and it pleases me.

You are exactly what I should wish you to be.

Will you teach me things?

I thought I already had taught you a thing or two, Fanny.

No, not that sort of thing.

I mean, the things that gentlemen know, like poetry and history and music,

and how to speak well.

Why would you want to know such things?

So that I can be a better companion to you.

Mmm.

And for their own sake?

I thought young women were only interested in fine silks and jewelry.

Oh, you can give me those two if you like.

You shall have both.

And in the months that followed, he was as good as his word.

Despite his generosity and his considerable talents and endowments,

I could not offer him the love he found for me.

Whatever my body now allowed, my heart remained true to another.

Charles was always in my thought.

I would visit the places we had been together as a sort of pilgrimage.

And sometimes I even thought I saw him in the street.

Thank you, William.

Oh, Miss.

What is it, William?

Um...

Nothing, Miss.

How could you?

A passing whim.

A little relief from my torment, Fanny.

I'm surprised you were angry.

Carrying nothing for me as you do, you can hardly be jealous.

But I was.

Or rather, I was peaked that he should treat me with such contempt.

I resolved that I should have a little private revenge upon him.

William, come quickly!

What is it, Miss?

Oh, William, I have such a cramp in my car.

Shut the door and come over here.

What shall I do, Miss?

Why, rabbit, William, what's out?

Take off my shoe and stocking.

Now, chafin with your hands.

Like this, Miss.

Slow.

Squeeze harder.

I'm going to feel a little relief.

Go higher, William.

That's it.

A little higher again.

William, what's this?

I'm sorry, Miss.

I can't help myself.

William, I think you love me.

I do, Miss, and that's a fact.

Sweet, William.

I think you need a little relief as well.

Should we let the mister out?

What if they must have come?

It's not their day to visit.

Let's see what treasures you're hiding there.

I saw with wonder and surprise, not the plaything of a boy.

Nor the weapon of a man, but a positive maple.

That would have done credit to a young giant.

Such a brat, the animated ivory.

In short, it stood an object of terror and delight.

And with no little trepidation, I guided the furious battering ram into my...

It is so hard to find a dainty way of putting it.

And I never cared for coarse language.

I guided it into my palpitating and pleasure thirsty channel.

There.

Oh, William!

Oh, William!

Oh, William!

Oh, William!

Oh, William!

Oh, William!

Oh, William!

Oh, William!

Oh, William!

Oh, William!

Well, William, what have you just said for yourself?

I'm very, very sorry, sir.

I don't know what came up with me.

It was like there was this wild beast inside me.

One minute, I was chiffing our lake like she asked me to.

And the next, and I don't know how it was.

I was on and I was in and I was up.

Like a ramen root.

And I'm very, very sorry, sir.

And it won't happen again.

Indeed it will not!

Damn you, impedance!

Have a good night.

Have you flocked a throne naked in the gutter?

Thank you, sir.

It was too harsh on him.

It was all my doing.

I wanted to get back at you for, you know, very well what?

William would never have laid a finger on me if I hadn't encouraged him.

In fact, I confess.

I downright seduced him.

I take all the responsibility.

My dear, dear sir, and I will bear all the punishment.

William, indeed.

It is very honest, didn't you, funny?

William, I propose to treat you kindly.

But you cannot remain in my service after this...

This insult to my dignity.

I will send you back to your father.

Biddiam, take care of you.

Missed you run amuck amongst the girls in the village.

You want back your box?

Sir.

Thank you, sir.

I am very, very sorry to out.

I miss out!

Vanny, what have you done?

Come here.

Don't be horrid to me.

I did no more than you did.

What sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, isn't it?

You hurt my pride.

Your pride?

The pride of a whore?

Vanny, you have hurt a good deal more than that.

Do you not realize?

I cannot possibly continue with you after this.

Why not?

Well, Square now.

Do you think I did any worse than you did?

You really mean it, don't you?

I do, funny.

Don't cast me off.

Haven't I been good to you to this little bit of silliness?

You have been good to me.

You have been all I ever desired in a woman.

I always knew I should never have your heart.

I did think you had a little respect for me, Vanny.

I do.

I didn't like you at first.

But I came to respect you and almost love you.

Truly.

And you have taught me so much about the art of love and poetry

and philosophy and elevated conversation.

So I can hear enough passes a lady.

Did you nearly can?

I think you love me too much to cast me off.

Then you are wrong.

It is because I love you too much that I do.

So, let's make an end of it.

I will pay your outstanding bills and fifty gnees over.

You have to date to pack your box and leave this house.

I never want to see you again.

Very well.

If that's what you want.

Don't think I'll fret.

I did my crying when I lost my true love, Charles.

I shouldn't be shedding any tears over you.

And you needn't fear that you have ruined me because I shall do very well.

I'm sure you will, Vanny.

But I didn't see how I was going to manage it.

After being spoiled and pampered by Mr. H, how could I go back to being poor and honest?

But then I remembered Esther and Mrs. Cole.

Perhaps after all I could find myself a place there.

Here you are at last, my dear.

We've been expecting you and you are very welcome.

Mrs. Cole, I've come to throw myself on your mercy.

Oh, there's no need to explain.

We've heard all about it, haven't we, dear?

I said to Esther, there'd always be a place for you here.

I must tell you.

I have no skills in the millinery, Mom.

I can do plain sewing and a little embroidery, but nothing fancy.

Oh, you're still such a simpleton, Vanny.

Don't you know you're sitting on your livelihood, same as I am?

That's enough, Esther.

You know I don't like court's talk, especially at the front of the house.

I, um, I think I should tell you, Vanny, that may I call you, Vanny, that millinery is only part of what we do here.

If, um, if you would care to inspect.

No, I'm not sure that I care to you, Mom.

Oh, just a little peep.

This way.

This would be what you're liking.

You're looking very pink in the cheeks.

I won't do it.

I've been used to something better than this.

Well, perhaps you have.

You have been the mistress of a great man.

But have you found another to take his place?

Not yet.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

Have you found another to take his place?

Not yet.

Think of this as a temporary stratagem.

Spend a little time on your back.

To get back on your feet.

So to speak.

What must I do?

Nothing you don't care to do, my dear.

You'll find my house vastly superior to Mrs. Brown's.

Only, gentlemen of quality.

That's what you all say.

Make inquiries, Vanny.

And you'll find that every word I speak is truth.

Now,

how should you like to be a virgin again, Vanny?

Very well, mama, if it could be managed.

But I hope you don't intend to sacrifice me to some foul breath wheezing old monster.

No, thank you very much.

Is that what happened to you at Mrs. Brown's?

Nothing like that would happen to you here.

No.

The young man I have in mind for you is as sweet and fresh as a little lamb.

He has been privately tutored in the country, hardly laid eyes on a girl.

But now his father has decided it's time he completed his education.

So to speak.

He wants a young, fresh country girl for his son's first time.

You think you could play the part?

Mrs. Cole and her girls were a very merry little family.

And I warned to them.

But I could not help reflecting at the same time.

Here we were, all young, all of us with a bloom of youth and beauty still on us.

And I wondered what would become of us all.

Age and experience will stand you well in most professions.

But not this one.

We like actresses on the stage.

Our days in the sunshine are brilliant, but short.

A little longer than the Mayflies, but not much.

But for now, all was tenderness and good humour.

And Mrs. Cole arranged a little ball to welcome you to the fellowship

and made the acquaintance of some of her more favoured and generous clients.

Ladies and gentlemen, honor your partners.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Oh, my God.

It's all.

Louisa, Mr. Walters is here for you.

Fanny, my dear.

Would you care to step out for me and pick up a basket of fruit for yourself

and the rest of the girls?

Gladly, Mom.

Then take my purse.

I think I can trust you not to run away with it.

Indeed, you can, Mom.

You've been very kind and very good to me, so you have.

I just want you to be happy here, Fanny.

Don't get me.

Don't get me.

Don't get me.

Don't get me.

Don't get me.

Don't get me.

Don't get me.

Don't get me.

Don't get me.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon, Mom.

I'll take a dozen apples, six of those pears and two pounds of cherries of the fifties.

Very good, Miss.

You are fond of fruit?

It's an old for me, sir.

Who's that?

I work in a milliner.

There are several other girls besides me and my mistress.

And you are all fond of fruit?

We are, sir.

Are they not you?

I have, but little appetite for anything these days.

But I'll pay for your fruit if you let me walk you home.

No need for that, sir.

The paying or the walking home?

Neither, sir.

But have you know I'm a respectable girl?

I'm sure you are, and I'm glad to hear it.

Might I know your name?

I don't want to give a fence, but it's none of your business, sir.

No, indeed.

But I should like to make it, sir.

If you won't let me walk you home, then let me follow you at a respectful distance.

I should like to make the acquaintance of your mistress so that we might be properly introduced.

Well, sir, if you put it like that, I don't see how I can stop you.

Poor, poor, poor, poor, poor.

Mrs. Cole, a gentleman's book.

Someone followed me home.

I couldn't very well stop him.

He said he wanted to make your acquaintance.

Here he comes now.

I hope I haven't been wrong, Mrs. Cole.

Did you know the truth about this house?

I don't think so.

Very well, dear.

Leave it to me.

Good day, sir.

Madam, may I speak with you about a matter of private business?

Certainly, sir.

Would you care to come through to the parlor?

Really, Mr. Norbert, you astonished me.

My fanny is a good girl, and one of my best little seamstresses, and as dear to me as my own daughter.

Mrs. Cole, she has struck a bolt into my heart.

Am I to understand that you are asking for her hand in marriage?

I know what sort of house you keep here.

Have I not wasted my inheritance in places such as this all over Europe?

And now, ma'am, I beg your kind indulgence to end my daisier.

I don't expect to live long, and I wish to die.

Happy.

My dear, sir, this is not a hospital.

I'm aware of it, ma'am.

And your humble servant is no pauper.

I have a thousand pounds left of my patrimony.

I think that will see me out with something to spare.

I want to come and live here, with you and your girls.

I confess I'm too debilitated to do the much damage,

so I entertain the hope that once more before I die, I shall be able to scale Cupid's summit.

So you wish to take the meals with you all and chat and be affectionate and friendly nothing more?

Mrs. Cole, yes, my dear.

If conversation and company is all he wants, I should be glad to give him his chance of happiness.

Well, said my little angel.

I thank you from the heart for your kind words.

Mrs. Cole.

Well, what can I say?

I believe you have charmed us, Mr. Norbert.

And so Mr. Norbert came to be part of our little society, privy to all our local secrets.

I said, oh, sir, there's nothing to be shy about, and he said, it's rather small.

How are you?

Oh, sorry, sorry, madam. I'm sure it's a pretty one.

Shall we get it out and have a look?

Can it out?

I was heart put to it to find it.

But there it was at last, this tiny little thing.

It was like a little wren peeping out of a bush.

Oh, Mr. Barville, what a monster, I said.

Barville, he was at school with me. Like do we whipped?

He still does. Estes your girl for that.

No, I am Mr. Norbert. Just say the word any time you want to have a little conversation with Mr. Burge.

You were very kind, my dear. My constitution wouldn't withstand anything so frisky.

Simply to be here in your company, listen to your tales, is... listen up for me.

My net!

My net!

And that!

Now, well done, Mr. Norbert.

Mr. Norbert.

Oh Lord.

Mrs. Cole?

Mrs. Cole?

Mrs. Cole?

It all been too much for Mr. Norbert.

It was a strange and eerie sensation to be lying there with the dart of a dead man lodged inside me.

But nonetheless, I was proud to have played my part in enabling him to die a happy man.

Whether his soul went to heaven or hell, I leave to others to determine.

I was now something of a heroine at Mrs. Cole.

Here's a toast to Fanny for conjuring a cock stand from a dying man to Fanny.

To Fanny!

You think yourself quite the queen of the May now, Fanny Hill?

Not at all, I assure you.

You ever want to give yourself heirs and think yourself better than the next girl?

Not I, Esther, truly.

I think you forget who it was that brought you to London.

I, and left me to the tender mercies of Mrs. Brown.

Well you're doing yourself very well out of it.

I don't want the quarrel, Esther.

I'm quite prepared to let bygones be bygones if you are.

I wonder if you'll say that when you've met my latest, Galant.

Fanny.

Why?

Let me see.

Wouldn't you like to know?

We did, sir.

How am I to choose between two such stands?

I heard a thousand could ride two horses at once, but she was in a travelling fair.

The sun, sirs.

It disturbed me to see my old lover again.

I didn't care to have my new territory invaded by my past.

But when he came to me later, I was ready to do battle with him.

Well, Fanny.

I hope I find you a little bit more.

Well, Fanny.

I hope I find you well.

Very well.

As you see.

And anybody's now.

Anybody I fancy, and for a price, and very much sought after.

So I hear.

No wonder.

Do you still read poetry, Fanny?

There you are.

I'm so sorry to have neglected you.

Thank you for looking after him, Fanny.

But really, you need not have troubled yourself.

I wonder you were so silly as to court his anger, Fanny.

We're so generous and such a passionate lover.

Oh, God, he pleases you, Esther.

Oh, he does.

But not I think as much as I please him.

Well, it's a laugh the other night when he was speaking of a silly little country wench he used to keep.

He was so innocent, she had a new ascent George from a gamma hutching.

Now, I wonder who that could have been.

Perhaps it was me, Esther.

Do you know, I believe it was.

Well, he's learnt his lesson now.

He tells me, 50 times a day, he's so much better off with me.

Does he?

Well, you may tell him from his silly little country wench.

I'm very happy he has found his true love.

I want none of him.

No, I shall not.

I shall tell him what everybody knows.

That you can't bear to see me with him and you wish you had him back.

I do.

I did as well.

It's okay to you.

Oh, you bitch.

I'm telling you.

I'm not going to.

I'm not going to.

I'm not this lady, sir.

Damn you, sir. I don't know such thing.

Hunter, I say.

Shall we stop playing this game, Fanny?

Game, sir.

You know very well what game.

Trying to torment one another, trying to make each other jealous.

Is that what we're doing?

Enough of this.

Come back to me, Fanny.

I miss you.

There.

I'll talk you forgive.

I want you back.

I'm sorry.

It's too late for that now.

I'm happy where I am.

Listen to me, Fanny.

I love you.

I cannot live without you.

I am begging you.

I don't want your love.

You know who I love and I'd never love you.

I'd rather be an honest whore and keep my feelings to myself.

Don't be down to you!

Be down to you for the sly conniving, cuz I need little whore that you are.

I thought you were different from the rest of them.

I even thought to raise you from the gutters and the stews and make a fine lady of you.

But I say you'd rather wallow in the filth.

Damn you, Fanny!

Be down to you and your whole rotten crew.

I'll see the whole gang of your rotten hell!

His words had wounded me.

But I knew his wound was the greater.

Nothing he said could touch my heart.

And all his words came from jealousy and love.

Indeed, I felt sorry for him.

But not sorry enough to take him back.

I felt happy and secure at Mrs. Coles,

which had become almost a family to me.

Ah!

The gentleman came to the shop and said, are you interested in facts?

And good to which he died, the fancier the better.

Ma, ma, watch!

When we laugh at my order of justice...

This is our bridge!

By order of his worship you haunt the co-before the justice,

on account of evidence laid that you keep aboard the hourseer, Mrs. Coles,

and a stable of notorious halls.

Fanny Hill, Louisa Martin, Aria Blackstone, Esther Davis,

Violet Dawson, and I'll leave him.

No, I'm not.

I'm not.

I, Rama, hum the villain of the business here.

Could we not come to some agreement?

And the hand me sir!

I tell your men to take their filthy, violent, and so on.

All of you.

Take her to the magistrate's.

And the rest.

Yeah, the man of our sight.

Aria, I'm going to take her to the

Mrs. Coles had shielded me to the end, disguising my escape.

Now indeed I was alone.

I had nothing, and there was not a soul to help me.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no!

Let me go, sir. Let me go!

Let me go, sir. Let me go!

I'll go up in the soonies, bring us together, and I'll look for a better company.

Tell me your eyes, sir. Do you take me for common strength?

I'll take you anyway, you live, hardly are.

Now I knew what it was to be a creature of the street, and everybody's mercy.

How would I come to this, who thought so highly of myself?

Yet in my heart I knew in essence it was no different from my gay life at Mrs. Coles,

but characters on the scenery might be different.

I was playing the same part.

I long to leave it all behind and find my way home.

But what was home to me now?

Help! Help me!

What is it, sir?

Footpaths! Run me!

Look, I can't catch my breath.

Please, Miss. I beg you.

Let me, sir.

Thank you, your friend and client.

Now, if I help you, come and get your own, sir.

Anthony!

Holly!

Take my cloak, would you?

What happened to you, sir?

Now, my dear young lady, let Polly help you tidy up a bit,

and then you must take a little supper with me, and I'll send you home in my own carriage.

It was a strange thing, but from the moment I came into Mr. Goodyear's house, I felt at peace.

Thank you.

I hope your family are not anxious about you being from home so late at night.

I take care of what is it?

I have no family, sir.

Nor any home.

My husband died, not two months back, and being unable to pay the rent, I was turned out of my lodging without a penny.

What a shocking thing.

Indeed, it's tantamount to driving a virtuous young widow into sin.

How else can a destitute young woman live these days, but by selling her body?

I would never do that, sir. I would rather starve.

It pained me to tell a fib to this good old man, but I feared that the truth might shock him, and I would find myself back on the streets again.

Well, there. There are no two ways about it. One good turn deserves another.

You must stay here with me at my expense until you have found your feet. And what shall I call you?

My name is Fanny. Fanny Hill.

You are very welcome, Fanny.

It didn't take long. Within two weeks, I was appointed housekeeper and given keys to every chest and cupboard in the house.

I could have robbed him and run off with all his riches, but he trusted me.

And I was beginning to find that virtue has its pleasures as well as vice.

There you are, sir.

Fanny.

I was wondering, Fanny. Yes, sir?

You have brought such light into my life. I would be happy if you would live it out with me.

Only as my companion.

Thank you, sir.

And so for three months, I endeavored to deserve the love he bestowed on me.

I was proud and happy to know that he wanted me for myself and not my body.

I had not known that since I was a little girl.

Sadly, it was not the last.

He died as he lived, peacefully and quietly.

I know he was happy and I was genuinely sorry to lose him.

He left me everything.

I was now a very wealthy young woman.

I left London for the north, for my native Lancashire, for it seemed the only place that I could belong.

I had no idea what my life would lead to.

Or what would be waiting for me around the next corner.

I say, hold up!

Stop the carriage!

Hold it there, sir!

Charles!

Fanny, I love you.

If you knew how long I'd be searching...

We were paired to the nearest inn and he told me his story.

I thought I'd never see you again, Fanny.

I was kidnapped by my father.

Press ganked by him, forced to work on his plantations.

I managed to get away.

I was not a good friend.

I was a good friend.

I had no foundations.

I managed to get away, but we were wrecked on the Irish coast.

And I lost everything I had.

But I found you.

I found you.

You won't love me anymore.

You know nothing of what has happened to me.

I do.

I've learnt a lot in looking for you.

not to blame.

What else were you meant to do in the circumstances?

Let's put the past behind us and marry,

as we once intended to.

You don't have to.

I would be happy to be your mistress.

I would only be happy if you are my wife.

But Charlie.

I'm not alone.

And so we renewed our love in the most delightful way.

And now you have it.

We purchased a fine house and lived very happy in it, so far.

As to the moral of my story.

Most stories have morals.

It seems to me life is very complicated,

and we must all get through it the best we can.

But I think it's a good thing.

We can't always choose, can we?

MUSIC