Original subtitles

[suspenseful orchestral music]

[gulls cawing]

Hanging today!

Come on, ladies and gents.

Plenty of room inside.

Only a shilling.

Upstairs, best view in the town.

[chattering]

There you go, love.

[laughter]

Come on, out with you.

Mum.

Come on, ladies and gents.

Plenty of room inside.

It's only a shilling.

Come and see it soon today, all.

My name is Susan Trinder.

I grew up on Lant Street.

We had the best view of the gallows.

And on hanging days, people paid money

to watch from our top window.

No, Sue.

Now, you put the kettle on.

- Let me see. I want to see.

That's Susan Trinder.

Her mother was hanged for murder.

She died a dame though.

[laughter]

Oh, dear girl.

Come on then.

Up you come.

There you go.

Oh, quick, quick.

[bell tolling]

[recites a prayer softly]

Through Jesus Christ.

Amen.

[wood clattering]

[crowd cheering]

[yelling]

My name is Maud Lilly.

And I was brought up in a madhouse where my mother

died giving birth to me.

[shouting]

[door clanking]

Maud.

Maud, you have a visitor.

A visitor?

I can't remember in all these years--

[screams]

Why is your tongue black?

Shh.

Come on.

- She is as undersized as her voice is loud.

Can't you whisper?

Of course I can...

[whispering] Whisper.

Can she be silent?

Let me see it.

My mother, sir.

My sister.

Let us hope it will remind you of her fate

and prevent you from sharing it.

Can she read?

- "Blessed are the poor in spirit."

- "Bless-ed."

- "Bless-ed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

I'll take her.

I'll send my housekeeper to collect her tomorrow.

I won't go!

You shan't make me.

I want to stay with you, matron.

I won't go!

- If our friend had known the ins

and outs of this little number, he'd have never been topped.

[laughter]

Oh, oh!

Look at that.

Oh, this is the day.

You're gonna make our fortune, aren't you, Sue?

- Am I? - Ain't she, Mr. Ibbs?

- Mm-hmm.

- I was brought up by Mrs. Sucksby,

who was paid to look after me for a week when I was a baby.

But she kept me all those years.

If that ain't love, I don't know what is.

Should pay the rent.

[laughs]

[hooves clopping]

[somber orchestral music]

[bell tolling]

The Briar bell.

This is where your mother lived.

You are to be a lady, as she was.

For all her fortune, she turned to the mad.

It's to be hoped you turn out better than she did.

You haven't finished your eggs.

Whoa, there, ho.

I don't want to be a lady.

You can't make me.

- We'll see about that, Miss Lilly.

Keep your gloves on.

Mr. Lilly will require it.

[scoffs]

Shh.

[soft knocking]

Yes?

- No one is allowed beyond there

for fear of spoiling his books.

- How is her temper, Mrs. Stiles?

Rather ill, sir.

And where are her gloves?

Threw them at me, sir.

Give me your hand, Maud.

Give me your hand.

Ow.

[grunts]

[whimpering]

- You won't forget the gloves in future, will you, Maud?

[shudders]

Put them on.

Not a cover is to be touched

or a leaf to be turned without them.

Do you understand?

You realize why I brought you here, Maud?

- To--to make a lady of me.

[snorts]

To make a secretary of you, Maud.

[clock chiming softly]

[townspeople chattering]

- I couldn't read. All I knew about letters was what I picked out

studying vipers.

I was a fingersmith, a thief.

You're a treasure, Sue.

- Melt down this little number, will you, John?

Treasure?

I'd like to melt her down.

- Oi, oi. Don't arse about, John.

I'll knock your bloody head off.

- Don't worry. I'll knock it off.

- Come on! - Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- You just try it. - Go on.

Back off!

[clattering]

[baby crying]

[laughs]

[groans]

[clanking]

- Mrs. Sucksby was a baby farmer...

- Yeah, yeah. Hey.

- Paid to look after unwanted babies.

What's all this hubbub?

Poor little scraps.

Shh.

[babies crying]

Shh.

Oh, shh.

Oh.

Hey.

You're a treasure.

Shh.

[suspenseful orchestral music]

Ah, Maud.

I neglected to tell you tonight there will be

a new gentleman at your reading,

an artist, Mr. Richard Rivers.

He'll be here for a week mounting

pictures for the catalog.

He'll also be giving you lessons in painting.

[bell tolling]

"So they came together.

The romance may have been somewhat unusual,

but that gave it all the charm of the unexpected.

And there, as the red sun tinges the sky

and the chatter of birds heralds the coming night,

we must leave them."

Wonderful, Miss Lilly.

You read so beautifully.

If only the patrons of my book shop on Holywell Street

could hear you.

Your words are pure poetry.

Music, Huss.

Music.

Thank you.

Thank you, Maud.

[clears throat] Rivers, you say nothing.

Does it not please you?

I cannot find words, sir.

Ah, there you see, Huss.

The young rogue has beaten us.

Indeed, indeed.

[chuckles]

Excuse me.

- Now, sir, I have the first edition which you require.

Have you indeed?

I'm sorry to disturb you,

but I'm concerned you might find it

a little chill after the fire.

The fire is very hot.

It is.

You're right.

Very hot.

Very hot indeed.

What will you do when this great catalog is finished?

It will never be finished.

Come, Miss Lilly.

You mean you'll remain here forever?

I have no choice.

You're young, handsome.

I say it not for gallantry's sake.

I say what I see.

You might do anything.

- You are a man, Mr. Rivers, and might do anything.

I'm a woman and might do nothing.

[suspenseful orchestral music]

[dog barking]

[distant shouting]

- Jack of diggers on a bitch of hearts.

Ain't you slow?

[laughter]

[dog barking, growling]

[wind whistling]

What's that?

What's what?

Are you expecting anyone?

[knocking]

Sovereigns.

Open up.

- If it's the blues, we're done for.

Open the door.

Sovereigns.

Under the fire.

[dog barking]

Come on!

Open up!

[knocking continues]

- Ah! - Open the door!

Damn, my fingers.

Never mind your fingers.

Think about your neck.

[dog barking]

All tidy.

All right!

All right!

[baby crying]

It's Gentleman.

Oh, Gentleman.

[laughs]

Take a taper to them candles, Sue.

Put a brew on, Dainty.

[mumbles]

- Gentleman told us he'd gambled away his fortune

and was obliged to get money the old-fashioned way,

by thievery and dodging.

- I worked on the old man's catalog in the morning.

And in the afternoon, I worked on her--

taught her painting, that is.

[laughter]

Her maid, Agnes, was the most agreeable chaperone.

Love, as love will, was finding its way.

At the end of the week, the agreeable Agnes

gets scarlet fever and is sent home to Ireland.

The housekeeper, who with bad grace takes over temporarily,

is as tight on the girl as her corset.

Said she had no time to chaperone.

No more painting.

Damn it, I was nearly there.

There?

Where's "there," Gentleman?

- She's as rich as a queen, Mr. Ibbs.

How rich?

30,000 in ready.

10,000 in funds left to her in her mother's will.

She can't touch it unless she marries.

And her uncle makes sure she never will

by keeping her close.

That house is her prison.

Are you going to marry her?

- Well, then I can do what I like with her.

- Won't her uncle ask a few questions about you?

That's why I've become

the exemplary Mr. Richard Rivers.

I will marry her.

[laughter]

With the help of Sue.

Me?

- You're gonna become her friend.

Persuade her to trust me, to run away and marry me.

Why me?

- A fingersmith with a heart of gold, Sue.

- I'm not gonna be a bleeding maid, am I, Mrs. Sucksby?

Why take my Sue?

- Because she's yours, and I know she can do it.

- And how would you cut the shine?

Sue will get 2,000 pounds.

Dainty'll do it.

I've been a maid, ain't I?

- Stuck a pin in the lady's ass, as I recall.

She was an old bitch.

You're the old bitch.

Think of all the money we lost.

Where is this place?

Out in the country.

- Dunno where the bleeding country is.

I'm a Londoner.

Never been out of the smoke, have I?

Get on.

She'd never accept me.

- You're my old nurse's child, Susan Smith.

You would have an impeccable character reference

from Lady Stonely of Curson Crescent Mayfair.

Oh, she'll swallow it.

The girl's never been to London.

She's a bit simple, a pigeon.

[laughs]

It'll be a bit of a holiday for you, Sue.

And it'll work.

- Bleeding long holiday if it don't.

I won't do it.

Not for two.

I want 3,000 pounds.

Take it or leave it.

What's that?

- Another application for my personal maid,

Uncle, a recommendation from Mr. Rivers.

- Mm-hmm.

- "Susan has been maiding for a lady

who is married and gone to India,

so she has lost her place."

"Susan is a very good girl," I wrote, "but--"

and I put this rather well, I think--

"I fear she will go to the bad unless

she finds further employment."

No!

You never wrote that.

You never.

Oh, my God!

What's all this caper?

Your job.

Yeah, you have to dress her.

Take them off.

Maids don't wear bangles.

Shimmy?

Chemise.

Chemise.

You have to warm it.

For God's sake.

Would you mind raising your arms, Miss?

Sue, how many more times?

Bleeding frill!

She's a lady, shy.

She'll pick up like anything with me and Sue to teach her.

Why don't you die?

There, you sweet little bitch.

[clattering]

Oh.

- What happens after you're married?

- I told you she's a bit simple.

Living with her uncle will tip her over the brink.

After we're married, I'll put her in a madhouse,

and there she'll stay.

[thudding]

I need your help to get there.

You don't know that.

It's in her blood.

Her mother was mad, and she'll end up there anyway.

Take it or leave it, Sue.

That's for the extra 1,000.

3,000 pounds, Sue.

And you can have any of the lady's frocks and jewels.

She won't need it in the madhouse.

- Is there anything else you haven't told me?

That's it.

Now undress her.

- I shall be glad to meet Miss Susan Smith,

all the more so, Mr. Rivers, because she will have--

- "--come to me from a London that has you in it!"

[laughter]

Ladies, gentlemen, a toast.

Sue.

Sue! Sue!

Sue! Sue! Sue!

[whispering] Susan Smith.

Sue, dear.

Here's your character in Gentleman's best hand.

He'll see you to the coach and join you in a month's time.

Oh, you look a picture, a real picture.

I won't do it, Mrs. Sucksby.

Ain't it a mean trick to play on that poor girl?

- Your mother would have done it and not given it a thought.

And she'd have had dread about you doing it,

but, by God, she'd have been proud.

Sue, are you coming?

- If they catch me, will they hang me?

No.

No.

They will, won't they?

Do you think it hurts when they drop you?

No, no.

Just a bit, but they ties the knot special for a lady

so it's quick.

Sue.

What is this sort of talk?

That's not going to happen.

You're going to make us all rich.

I am, aren't I?

Come on.

You'll miss the coach.

Take her quick.

I don't want to see it.

- We'd never been parted before.

I think she took it worse than I did.

[somber orchestral music]

[hooves clopping]

The country.

I never knew there was so much of it.

Mile after bleeding mile.

[bell tolling]

Whoa.

Whoa.

Miss Smith?

Leave that till the morning.

We keep early hours at Briar,

and Mr. Lilly cannot bear noise.

[screams] No!

No! No!

No!

[sobs] No.

[sobs] No, no, no.

No, no, no.

[sobbing]

- If I had known how to get out of that bleeding place,

I would have scarpered there and then.

But when I saw her, I thought,

this is going to be easy.

Is it all right, Miss?

- Oh, it's very satisfactory, Susan.

May I call you Susan?

Yes, Miss.

Thank you, Miss.

You read, of course?

A bit.

Well, my uncle is a scholar.

Books are a very important part of life at Briar.

Please, read me something, anything.

[clears throat]

- Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed--

Oh, God.

I might be taught it, Miss.

Taught?

No.

I shouldn't allow it.

Not to be able to read, I sometimes think

how wonderful that would be.

[clock chiming softly]

Put my rooms in order.

Collect me from the library at 1:00.

- You mean I'm to start right away, Miss?

Yes, of course.

- She was an odd one, all right.

Didn't think she was cracked, not like what Gentleman said.

[knocking]

Oh, thank you, Miss.

Your coin, Miss?

Get out.

Go on.

[chuckles]

[suspenseful orchestral music]

- Take that linen down to the laundry,

then tend to Mr. Lilly's room.

Oh, my Lord!

Oh, Mrs. Stiles, you did startle me.

I was just trying to put Miss Maud's things in order.

So I see.

These should be given each morning

to Mr. Way, Miss Steward.

- That's his little perk, is it?

- The pieces of soap that Ms. Maud leaves

on her wash stand you may keep.

Thank you, Mrs. Stiles.

But I really don't like to.

It hated Alice.

She would have thought it thieving.

As you wish.

[knocking]

Yes?

Who the devil are you?

My new maid, Uncle.

The finger!

Girl, the finger.

You must not go beyond there.

Does she have a name?

- Susan-- - Softer.

- Her name is Susan Smith, Uncle.

Teach her to speak softly.

I will, Uncle.

Mrs. Stiles keeps a most careful

account of wood and coal.

- Tell her we'll economize by burning the candles

right down to the wick.

Don't you worry about her, Miss.

I know her kind.

Do you know my uncle's kind?

- I'm sure he's very clever, Miss.

Writing a big dictionary, the servants say.

I'm sorry, Susan.

I should have warned you.

That's all right, Miss.

I certainly won't go over the finger in future.

[laughter]

They're very nice, Miss.

Oh, Susan, they're terrible.

But I do hope to improve under Mr. Rivers.

I trust he is well?

- Very well indeed, Miss, and sends his compliments.

He looks forward very much to seeing you

at the end of the month.

Do you consider him handsome?

- Lady Stonely considers him to be one of the most

handsome men in London, Miss.

- I think Mr. Rivers is a good man.

Very good indeed, Miss.

[bell tolling]

[groaning]

It's all right, Miss.

It's all right.

[gasping]

Quickly.

Quickly, get my drops.

It's all right.

[breathes rapidly]

[clinking]

[panting]

I've taken them ever since I came here as a child.

And I'm still afraid of my own dreams.

[sniffs]

[shudders] Stay with me.

I can't do that.

Please.

Please.

- That's how it was that night and all the following nights.

She needed drops and me to help her sleep.

[gentle orchestral music]

[clears throat]

[door opening]

[clears throat]

[light orchestral music]

[laughter]

- We were always together, like sisters,

like the sisters neither of us had ever had.

She wasn't odd.

It was only living in that horrible place

that made her seem so.

She never left it, never went beyond the river.

She never danced, never played games.

Like me, she had never had a sweetheart.

And as the weeks passed, I forgot Gentleman.

Wait.

Here.

- I only had that old brown dress,

but she gave me some of her own.

Let me see.

Yes.

There.

This is your past,

a kind lady with a good heart.

Parting, strife.

An older gentleman, very stern.

I have no idea who that might be.

Do you, Miss?

[chuckles]

- Who's that? - A young man...

I will marry her.

With a good heart.

Don't go on, Sue.

- But I must, Miss, or your luck will desert you.

Oh, a journey.

- After we're married I'll put her in a madhouse,

and there she'll stay.

[clattering]

- Perhaps a journey of the heart.

Show me the last one.

- It should have been the love card,

but I dropped it.

- I don't like your fortune telling, Sue.

I want to hear about London,

what steps do they do for the balls.

[suspenseful orchestral music]

[laughter]

[both panting]

I shall dance in London.

Shan't I, Sue?

- She could dance like a coal heaver

for all he cared, so long as

she had 40,000 pounds in the bank.

Shan't I?

It's so sharp.

Shh.

Open.

I saw right where it cut you.

[whimpers]

That's all right.

Shh.

Sit down.

Yeah.

I used to do this to Mrs. Sucksby's infants.

Who's Mrs. Sucksby?

- Parlor maid went bad, had twins.

Open wide.

More.

[groans]

Shh.

Keep still.

Better?

[gentle orchestral music]

Mm.

Mr. Way, it's Mr. Rivers.

Mr. Rivers is back.

[hooves clopping]

[suspenseful orchestral music]

- He must have caught the earlier train.

It hit me then...

[bell ringing]

How happy I was

and how much I hated Gentleman.

I cannot receive him, can I?

What on earth shall I do?

- I wanted to shout out to Maud, he don't love you.

[bell ringing]

He's here to steal your fortune

and put you in the madhouse.

But she wouldn't have believed me.

- Welcome back, Mr. Rivers, sir.

Whoa.

- Charles, my boots have been missing you.

- I'll polish them up like mirrors, Mr. Rivers.

I--I missed you, sir.

Mr. Way.

Sir.

Mrs. Stiles.

Wonderful to be back at Briar.

Miss Lilly, how very kind of you to receive me.

Welcome to Briar, Mr. Rivers.

Miss Lilly.

I do apologize.

I'm in such a tumbled, traveled, stained state.

- Would you rather be taken to your rooms?

Oh, no. No, no.

This greeting refreshes me more.

It is Susan Smith.

I have got that right at least?

Yes, sir.

Do you like your place here?

Yes, sir.

- I hope you're proving a good girl for your mistress, Susan.

Susan is very good.

- I thought she would be, with you as her example.

You're too kind, Mr. Rivers.

Well, who could not be

with you to be kind to?

- The pictures for the catalog must be mounted

in three weeks, Rivers.

They'll be done, sir.

Three weeks.

[suspenseful orchestral music]

- He spent one week on still life--

still death, more like--

and other week on landscape.

[tense music]

- Just--

[clattering]

But he got nowhere.

- Fresh sheet for our first landscape.

You have an eye for the essence of things, has she not, Susan?

You just need--

What?

You can speak plainly to me, Mr. Rivers.

I'm not a child.

Oh.

If I could only take you to London to my studio there.

You have no lack of talent, Miss Lilly.

In terms of artistic creation, you only lack

what your sex as a whole lacks.

And what is that?

The liberty of mind.

[light orchestral music]

Nearly ripe, I think.

Drops, bad dreams. Good. Excellent. Does she talk about me though?

- She talks about nothing else. - About marriage?

- Why don't you ask her to marry you?

I'll frighten her off.

I daren't risk making the wrong move.

Next week, the prints will be done, and I'll have to leave.

You will have to work on her harder.

Convince her she's in love with me.

Damn it, Sue!

That girl is worth 3,000 pounds to you!

[somber orchestral music]

[birds chirping]

- I saw what the evil bastard was about.

He was going to kiss her, but not on the lips.

Somewhere better.

Much better.

[suspenseful orchestral music]

I'm so sorry.

I must rush back to that wretched print.

You will be all right, Maud?

You're sure?

Hooked, but you must draw her in.

I'll take these, Susan.

Get your mistress back to the house.

[thunder rumbling]

We must hurry, Miss.

Oh.

Mr. Rivers has asked me to marry him.

Oh, Miss.

Are you not pleased?

Sue?

What is it?

Surprised, Miss.

I'm pleased.

I'm gladder than anything in the world.

- Then I am sad because I have not said yes to him.

How can I?

My uncle will never agree.

Mr. Rivers says we might go away at night,

marry in a small church near here.

[thunder rumbling]

[gasps]

[bell tolling]

- Susan, look kindly on foolish lovers.

I'm sure the light's better in the next room.

- I'm ever so sorry, Mr. Rivers,

but Mr. Lilly wouldn't like it.

[tense orchestral music]

- What the hell are you playing at?

Keep your hands off her.

She don't want it.

[shouts]

Don't want it?

The pigeon's crying out for it.

Crying out to be out of here.

She'd have to go to the madhouse.

[gasps]

- If you go soft on me now, Sue, I'll drop you.

My old nurse will be taken ill and need a sweet, little niece,

and you'll be back in Lant Street with nothing.

I'll tell Miss Lilly.

I'll tell her.

- Tell her what, you stupid bitch,

what you came here to do?

She's gone too far to believe you.

She must marry me now or be as good as ruined,

locked up here for the rest of her life.

[whispering] I'm her only way out.

[ominous music]

- He says if I am his wife, my uncle cannot touch me.

[sighs]

What shall I do?

Follow your heart, Miss.

You love him.

Do I?

- Don't your heart beat faster when you see him,

when he kisses you?

Miss?

Oh, Miss, don't you love him?

You might say no.

Say no?

And watch him leave?

Oh, Sue.

Don't you think I should then wonder over and over again

what sort of life I might have had?

Oh, Miss.

Yes?

What is it?

- Your mother would have done it and not given it a thought.

What is it, Sue?

3,000 pounds, Sue.

Marry him, Miss.

Mr. Rivers loves you.

And love never hurt a flea.

All right, I will.

But only if you come with me to London.

Will you, Sue?

Be my maid and chum in London.

Say you will.

- I understand the parson is sympathetic to--

Affairs of the heart.

[bells tolling]

How soon?

It must be this week.

And we need somewhere quiet to stay.

- I have a cottage you could use.

Thank you, sir, very much indeed.

The wedding was fixed.

They were going to elope in two days' time

and marry at midnight.

[light orchestral music]

[blows]

[shivers]

- Sue, on her wedding night, what must a wife do?

I know you're awake.

Sue.

For God's sake, Miss.

What?

You must know.

- I--I know something from books.

- How can you know it from books?

You're right.

I know nothing, nothing, nothing!

What will happen?

Will he kiss me?

I should think so, Miss.

Where?

On your lips.

Is that it?

No, Miss.

The kissing starts you off.

It will come to you, Miss.

Dancing didn't come to me.

It was very difficult. You had to teach me.

Oh, Miss Maud.

- I don't think kisses can start me off.

Mr. Rivers' kisses never have.

- You're a beautiful, young girl.

Look, where are your lips?

No.

No, not like that.

Imagine that I'm Mr. Rivers.

Did you feel it?

- It's a curious, wanting thing.

That's right.

It wants Mr. Rivers.

No, I can't do it, Sue.

You can.

You must do it now, I mean.

I don't know what I mean.

I mean, you must do it sometime, mustn't you, Miss?

I'm afraid.

Don't be frightened.

Look.

[gentle orchestral music]

Once you--

once it's started--

[soft piano music]

[moans]

[inhales sharply]

[gasps] Ah.

[moans]

[exhales sharply]

You will.

You will.

[moans softly]

Morning.

Morning, Miss.

Oh.

What a wonderful, thick sleep I had.

And no drops.

No dreams.

Only one.

I think--I think you were in it, Sue.

Me?

You're marrying Mr. Rivers today.

I don't think so.

[somber orchestral music]

[crow cawing]

- Is there anything more I can do for you

before you leave, Mr. Rivers?

We shall be leaving too.

Tonight.

[gentle orchestral music]

Miss Lilly?

Hello?

[ominous orchestral music]

- If I had said I love you, she'd have said it back,

and everything would have been different.

I might have saved her.

I might have found a way to keep her from her fate.

[bell tolling]

Miss.

[tense orchestral music]

[suspenseful orchestral music]

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Way and Mrs. Stiles.

I hope it will not be too long before

we meet again, Miss Lilly.

I hope not, Mr. Rivers.

Until tonight.

Don't be late.

Whoa.

[mischievous orchestral music]

- All that long day I packed secretly,

getting ready to escape from Briar

for the wedding at midnight.

[ticking]

- Why don't you wear this dress, Miss?

It's your wedding night.

No, I gave it to you.

I'm quite happy with this one, thank you.

What are you thinking?

- I was thinking this was the one you were doing

when he proposed to you, Miss.

Six hours to go.

Time and time again, I nearly told her he was a villain.

But her uncle would have had me locked up.

I could hear Lant Street laughing.

Me, in love with a girl.

I'll see whether it's clear out there, Miss.

[bell chiming]

[clears throat]

[somber orchestral music]

I'll get the bags.

Maud?

Maud?

Shh.

[suspenseful orchestral music]

[door opening]

What the devil is going on?

Who's there?

It's only me, Uncle.

- Well, don't wake everyone else up.

This way.

Quickly, quickly, Miss Maud.

This way.

[brisk orchestral music]

- I require and charge you both,

as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgment

when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed,

that if either of you know any impediment why ye

may not be lawfully joined in matrimony,

ye do now confess it.

Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?

Wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband,

to live together after God alternates

in the holy state of matrimony?

Wilt thou obey him and serve him,

love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health,

and forsaking all other keep thee only unto him

so long as you both shall live?

I will.

- The ring, like everything else, was bad.

He hadn't even bothered to get a gold one.

We went from church to a nearby cottage,

where I prepared her for her wedding night.

Look at me.

It's cold, Miss.

Let's get this on.

Look at me, Sue.

Come here.

You did it before for the sake of tonight.

We weren't dreaming, were we?

- It was just to start you off, Miss.

Were we?

Please, Miss.

- I have to feel you on me as I can feel your lips on me.

I want to feel you inside me.

[moaning]

[chickens clucking]

She wants you to dress her.

[footsteps]

Maud's discovered the meaning of true love, Sue,

and is already halfway to the madhouse.

Now we must finish her off.

Please see to Mrs. Rivers, Susan.

She's not very well at all.

Morning, sir.

Good morning.

I'm really rather worried about her.

She's talking so strangely.

Morning, Miss.

- I never charges extra for them

unless they go through the mattress.

How is she?

Taking it hard, is she?

- Hard ain't the word for it, Mrs. Green.

Mr. Rivers dotes on her.

He can't bear gossip.

Oh, the same myself.

You can rely on me never to gossip, miss.

- She's troubled up here, you know?

Something missing, you mean?

No, no.

Disturbed, more like.

That's why Mr. Rivers brought her to this nice, quiet place,

to calm her.

Calm her? Here?

She's not going to get violent and throw things around,

is she?

Nothing like that, no.

What goes on in her head.

Know what I mean?

- But why can't we go to London, Richard?

- You're not well enough to travel, my sweet.

I'm perfectly well.

Aren't I, Sue?

- A few days air will put color into those cheeks.

I hate it here.

I--

Morning, Madam.

Everything fresh?

- Those eggs haven't been out of the hens five minutes.

[chuckles]

She doesn't like me.

Oh, Maud.

And I hate her.

- Darling, if I thought it would help,

I would carry you to the station

to my house in London.

There's nothing I want more.

But look at you.

I'm afraid.

- What is there to be afraid about, my sweet?

She ate almost nothing.

Took more and more drops.

A week of that and she cracked easy.

She thought he wouldn't want her, looking like that.

But it was exactly what he did want

the madhouse doctors to see.

The only thing that amused her was

to dress me in her fine ladies' clothes,

just as she had done at Briar.

There you are, Sue.

[gasps] I knew it.

That color just matches your hair, your eyes.

You're quite a beauty.

Look.

Oh, here.

[gentle orchestral music]

[hooves clopping]

Thank you for coming.

- It's Mr. Rivers' friends from London, Ma'am.

This way.

Thank you.

Come to meet you.

Is it this afternoon?

I forgot.

Maud, Maud!

Visitors from London.

Will you receive them, dear?

No, not just now, Richard.

- Susan, can you spare me a moment?

Don't let them hurt her.

Hurt her?

They won't hurt her.

She's money.

These men are scoundrels.

But they're medical scoundrels.

And they won't take her today.

And they won't take her at all

unless they're sure she qualifies

for their care and attention.

You know how to answer their questions, don't you?

Do I?

She has kept to her room.

- Don't make game of me, Sue, not when we're so close.

- And you watch her. - Hmm?

That will do.

- Thank you. - Thank you.

- Do you want to go back to Mrs. Sucksby with nothing?

- We are friends of Mr. Rivers and would

like to ask you a few questions about his marriage,

his new wife.

My mistress, sir.

Your mistress.

Just refresh my memory.

Who's your mistress?

Mrs. Rivers, of course.

I'll say, what was Miss Lilly.

Thank you.

Mrs. Rivers, what wa--

who was Miss Lilly, yes.

And you are?

A maid, sir.

And your name is?

Susan Smith.

You seem to hesitate.

That is your name?

You're quite sure?

- If I know anything, sir, I know my own name.

- And how did you meet your mistress?

- I was with Lady Alice Stonely in Curson Crescent, Mayfair

when she went abroad.

And--

[loud humming]

She's--she's grown so...

sad.

I'm afraid she'll do herself harm.

Thank you.

- You'll keep her safe, sir, and watch her.

We will.

- She's so kind, so good, so loving.

You will keep her someplace special

where no one will hurt her.

There, there.

You mustn't be so distressed.

She's been very lucky to have such a good

and faithful servant, very lucky indeed.

Now, if we could see--

This way, doctors.

[sobs]

- As you can see, doctors, the case is quite severe.

- We will send the carriage around tomorrow

afternoon, Mr. Rivers, rest assured.

You're most kind.

[suspenseful orchestral music]

Your eyes are a little brighter.

Are they?

Don't you think so, Susan?

Ah, such a fool.

You only wanted a little company

to bring you back to life.

You were right.

You need London.

London?

What do you think, Maud?

Christine Graves is so eager for us to join them in Chelsea.

They're offering their carriage to take us there tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

So soon?

- Tomorrow, we'll go to a great house

with fine, quiet rooms and good servants.

Just for you.

- She was so taken with me in that gown,

she wouldn't let me change it.

I kept it on to make her happy.

[mischievous orchestral music]

[hooves clopping]

Whoa, whoa.

[suspenseful orchestral music]

[hooves clopping]

- Good day, Mr. Rivers, Miss Smith, Mrs. Rivers.

[music intensifies]

Mrs. Rivers?

What?

What?

Don't struggle, Mrs. Rivers.

We're here to help you.

- It's not me you want. Mrs. Rivers.

Come along now.

Tell them, Gentleman.

Tell them!

- Still the same sad, old fiction.

I'm not Mrs. Rivers!

I'm Susan Smith!

Of Curson Crescent, Mayfair?

Yes.

- There's no such place, Mrs. Rivers.

- You know that. - [gasps]

- Don't struggle, or you'll ruin your handsome dress.

[gasps] You bloody swine!

You fuckster!

- There's no place for words like that here, Mrs. Rivers!

You stupid sods.

Can't you see what he's gone and done?

Let me go!

Let me go!

It's not me you want, it's--

[gasps]

[suspenseful orchestral music]

- What are you staring at, Mrs. Rivers?

Surely, you know your own maid.

Oh, my own poor mistress.

That bitch.

That bitch knew everything.

She'd been in on it from the start.

No! No!

No!

Maud! Maud!

Maud!

No!

Poor Sue.

She thought she knew me.

She thought me innocent.

But I was worldly in ways she never suspected.

[screaming]

No!

- I knew everything and yet nothing.

[screams fading]

Remember that to my story that follows.

To understand how I could do such things,

I must go back to the day

Mr. Rivers first came to Briar.

[suspenseful orchestral music]