Original subtitles

[Music]

order in court

Council for the defense of Mrs Victoria

Thompson Thomas Longwood

MP that's one of the most expensive

lawyers in New

Zealand a crown against Victoria

Thompson perhaps this is the way my

story began perhaps this is the way I

came to be here awaiting my judgment

I've imagined it many times

the different ways it might have

[Applause]

[Music]

been as I've told you in my letter the

child's father is unknown to me it was

my Express wish not to know his name

my daughter wanted to kick the child but

you understand that is impossible

naturally I want the child to know

nothing of this arrangement she will be

well cared for you may be sure of that

well of course that is a comforting

thought I ass sure it would be so you

haven't told me her name her name yes

what is the little one called I don't

believe she has a name

real

[Music]

Victoria Victoria somebody's here to see

[Music]

you are you relative of mine a

relation do you know

me My Name is Oliver Thompson I'm a

merchant I have a a chain of shops it is

a small chain but uh in 10 years time I

expect to turn a

profit they

uh they told me

you uh won't you uh

AR you sit

down Victoria have

you have you ever considered

marriage in sickness and in

health to love cherish

and to

obey till death

asart till death as

part I'd never pictured myself as a

bride when the m P arranged this

marriage with Oliver I was determined to

do my best we had been taught that it

was a woman's end to be a wife but I was

shocked to learn that although I was wed

I was not yet

free well Victoria my

dear this is where we must part for

now you must go back to

school back for how long well until you

come of age

it's just a short while my dear it's how

it's

done I'm afraid my dear we should both

have to reconcile ourselves to this

period of waiting

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]

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we

[Music]

[Music]

At Last by the end of the summer

I left matron in everything I had ever

known and set sail for my new married

life on the North Island

[Music]

to

[Music]

St it TI me

George you never been to the North

Island

ma'am you travel to join your

no I'm going to my

husband my new husband Mr Rola Thompson

of Tam Grove the town has grown of late

I don't know the place very well nor do

I I've only met Mr Thompson

twice enjoy your stay ma'am

oh

[Music]

[Music]

good evening S Thompson good

evening the master is not at home

Madam he's not here then

he's had to visit his sick father in

Woodford it was only

right

Woodford uh is that far from here would

take 5 hours at least I should say with

fast

horses did

the did the master leave long ago this

morning Madam he left something for you

if you do me the kindness of following

[Music]

the master likes to save a penny

[Music]

there it is madam a

present he was sorry not to be

here

[Music]

e for

perhaps you'd like to go and rest Madam

you must have had a tiring Journey

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

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what

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I shall take you around my shops ever so

often you can see what I've created with

these hands

I've given up my life

[Applause]

tips get over there come

on that's my brother George my wife

Victoria my partner B

keep busy are we brother Georgie

py this cheese will be moldy before we

can sell half of it just let me get my

hands on the man who made a mistake on

this order it's too late for that what's

the wholesale price bu for one8 sell

three Shillings send everything to the

shops special price half a crown Oliver

there's not enough transport to get all

of this in the shop we should hire more

pter not enough transport get 10 of

those black blackets from the street

corner give them a few Pence each I can

carry the bloody barrels on the

back r r There He Go

[Music]

[Applause]

[Laughter]

[Applause]

what you think

[Applause]

[Laughter]

[Applause]

now well you were very happy there I

know they told

me yes this true we were all happy

that's not what I'm trying to

say when you grow up there you learn not

to think of

Happiness just as as I never thought

you'd have a father or a brother brother

[Music]

has oliv arrived he asked me to tell you

he'd be a long

later it's

[Music]

beautiful perhaps you'd like to see the

dogs I was going to feed

him Oliver is very proud of the puppies

phoe Phoebe

phoei that's phoei she's my favorite she

had a hard time with it does he ever let

them free Simmons runs him every morning

once a day like clockwork it's the way

Oliver likes it what's the point why

does he have them there what do you

think come on Fe come on come on that's

come on ph

[Music]

is that screen still necessary my

dear I mean we have been man and wife

for over a month

now I thought I'd pick some flowers for

my hair I should think we could dispense

with some other Notions the good matron

taught you you put on ears Victoria I

prefer it to

[Music]

jewelry Victoria

if you

could these hairs are grown

[Music]

here who did this before I came

okay I went to The Barbers more

frequently

then why don't you go frequently

now what a fine lady you are Victoria

[Music]

this isn't a kennel who brought this dog

in get it out you heard father Simmons

George anyone get this dog out of

here Victorious is my father Mr Thompson

uhhuh I think it's time to send Bernie

down to Christ Church have him open the

next

store tired of working with him anyway

yeah try this cheese Vine you'll like it

the rats

do I read a fine joke in the newspaper

yesterday this one gentleman wants to

challeng I don't know what sort of

Customs you used to Mrs Thompson but uh

in our family we like to show some

respect for old

age thank you right so yeah he wants to

challenge another one to a duel see so

he says to I'll trouble you for your

card say Victoria get the bloody door

shut

shut it's all right George sit down sit

down

George what did he

say yeah so he says I'll trouble you for

your

card and the other one says says you can

put it on your mirror in your drawing

room and boast that you have gentlemen

visiting

you

you don't you funny

[Music]

I used to hide from them in here when I

was a

boy I'm still hiding from them

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

not out this wet we'll stay the

[Music]

night bloody

rain P will be knee deep in mud in the

morning last time rained like this dogs

were Brown from head tail not a spot

white

on took Simmons about a month to get him

clean again give him a bath to big beast

like that now you best be off son got

work to do

tomorrow uh we shall be a f farewell for

you to

uh Victoria whatever name is he's

probably retired to bed with a book I

know my wife and I believe I do Mr

Simmons yes sir find out what the

mistress is doing ask her to come down

the mistress is not in her room sir

she's

one she may go to the kennels I where

she of

goes she's taking such an interest

father you really should wait before you

judge indeed

[Music]

Victoria

Victoria you out of here

[Music]

do

[Music]

now she's not

there she's nowhere in the

house you're not worried shy she'll be

back she's get cold and wet like you are

come back repentant she doesn't know

anyone in the area

I think you treated her too roughly

ah lesson won't do her any

harm you don't know women son they're

all the

same all of

them except in your mother of

course Lord have mercy on us all

what was I saying to

me good morning to you sir Joseph my

father's asleep the mistress was kind

enough to give me a gold Sovereign

what's happened where is she she told me

to give you that their piece of

papers for God say Joseph what's a

meaning of this I did everything the

mistress told me to I'll take care of

this father I was driving to Wood and

she said we ain't going to Woodford

we're going some place where did you go

come on where the docks sir why the

docks I'll shake the living daylight the

do don't hurt me please she gave me a

gold Sovereign and told me to give you

that their piece of paper sir what is it

what is it it's a pawn broker's receipt

she's pawned the horse and carriage for1

pound ah I warned you about making this

ARR father be quiet all we can do now is

find it

here right

[Music]

here's the tiet off

Justa come on we go left

sh Wait For Me Oliver I want to be in

the world I I want to know all that I

can know I want to

know I'd have died if I'd stayed in that

house did any ships leave this port last

night do you have any lists of the

passengers how can I

lists wait quiet St

away a lady Nam

thp Thompson what's this Washington

Sailing for America the only one where

is this [ __ ] further down the

do why did he come for me there how did

he even know that I

existed they kept all that a secret for

me I felt heless

[Music]

watch out son

[Music]

you've killed

him come

on come on you killed my

brother father take her away

[Music]

what she doing she want speak

it's all

over I've taken care of everything go

you pretty

penny luckily the ship was about to

sail his body is

no one will ever

know we shall say he sailed to America

we never heard of him

again you are a very fortunate

girl we saved you not fright of

no he was always different from his

brothers the runt of the family

I shall forgive you

Victoria everything will be different

now me beside the Still Waters he

restoreth my soul he leth me in the path

of righteousness his name

s thou preparest a table before me in

the presence of my enemies thou

anointest my head with oil my C run over

surely goodness and mercy shall follow

me all the days of my life and I will

dwell in the house of the Lord

[Music]

forever got this PL in

all right you can handle

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[Music]

that ready

[Music]

right come on B get the old face

around so you see they had arranged

everything

I was pregnant with Oliver's child he

was full of Pride and our life together

went quietly forward the way he had

always foreseen

it all right

now let's give you

this little bu

of yeah it's

lovely what happened that night was

never mentioned again but they made it

clear to me that were it not for their

generous protection I would surely have

been held for murder once

[Music]

more I'll do it again my de

[Music]

ah father

what you make of

[Music]

that a ghost if she were you discover

don't talk nonsense

[Music]

father she believes he's

dead I hear her screaming asleep You

Must Destroy to don't worry father

and I handle everything so

far you want

[Music]

any have you no relatives no family

solicitor my dear no one no that that is

why I've come to you I've written to the

Head matron but I've heard nothing in

reply I truly doubt that there's

anything I can do for you is this your

first

child there must be something you could

tell me from what you told me assuming

your information is correct the convent

arranged for you at age 18 to marry a

gentleman who by your own account out

does not beat you nor starve you nor

deprive you of his

respect and yet you cannot remain

another

moment I I'm

afraid no one will believe me no one

will understand if every woman in the

antipodes with the vapors decided to

divorce her husband there would be no

children no

mothers you have a a long life ahead of

you my

dear that is is just what terrifies

me I must must do something I

must I must save

myself and she went

in like I said

sir she went in and stayed

in rather than having two hands

or two feet to be cast into the

Everlasting

fire and if thine eye offend

thee pluck it out and cast it from

you beloved

Brethren let us recall that we are all

one

body body of

Christ and all those near to us are

members of that

body blessed in the Lord let us look

round with great

attentiveness for the

eyes and the hands of the

devil are

everywhere a fine

preacher it's no doubt they added prees

if your

confin be careful my

love I just want you to know that

I know where you have been in the

town and how long you've been

there watch just it my

de you see

Victoria I know now that I cannot trust

you from now on you will be accompanied

wherever you go by

Simmons a faithful

servant and he will report

me your every

thought your every

movement at least until our child

arrives for

[Music]

yay though I walk through the valley of

the shadow of death I will fear no evil

for thou art with me thy rod and thy

staff they comfort me that preparest a

table before me in the presence of mine

enemies thou anointest my head with oil

my cup runneth

over surely goodness and mercy shall

follow me all the days of my life and I

will dwell in the house of the

Lord

forever

come let's

go you're not

yourself I shall take you home

[Music]

[Music]

Why didn't it happen to me what happened

to that

child it's better to die in a mother's

womb than to live and never see

her God is good TR me

now God would never judge you for this

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

my one

weakness only one well I prefer to think

so I hope

not this is very curious you're a

minister and yet you s such an interest

in Pagan

objects is this not used in human

sacrifice this is an

amulet for love

sickness would you like something to

drink yes

think I should let you wait on

me

Victoria

Victoria if you're not doing anything

perhaps you could help me with the

scissors my

uh

whiskers you know

where are

they

Oliver where did you leave them last

my dearest friend after all I had

suffered and believed for months you

cannot imagine my profound shock at what

I was to find that day hidden in

Oliver's

draw Victoria

Victoria

[Laughter]

coming no not that one s Reverend Wilson

are in the other box yes ma'am oh yes

try one of mine Thompson H why thank you

don't mind if I

do it's an improvement you know I have

them sent from London oh quite right

always get the best I say but I was

thinking more about our supper you made

a difference in the kitchen my dear I

should like to go to London I've

imagined it many times H you wouldn't

like it well more than enough for a

lifetime right here lifetime mhm do you

think mhm you take my word for it a

Wilson a

lifetime if you want excitement you

should come down to the shop both of you

we've had more business than we can

handle it's been an excellent Autumn if

I don't say so excellent winter too you

do say so don't

[Laughter]

you someday perhaps we shall have that

uh holiday I mention to you perhaps we

could go to the cottage no no no too

busy at the shop right now later then

perhaps we could all

[Laughter]

okay in the Gloom he Charmed her so that

she put her Mark upon his forehead in

Ash so that the next day she might

recognize her chosen

lord well if he was so Charming then why

would she not recognize him whether he

had a mark Or Not

the next

morning she was disgusted to see her

chosen

husband the other chiefs were

outraged kiwi the handsome

Chief together with his friend WCA took

the princess and ran off with Lord how

in

Pursuit is this a true

T Lord how killed

kiwi wacka and the princess ran

on and they reached the edge of a steep

cliff W hurled the princess over the

rock into the Black Chasm

below her last words

were by the darkness I was

confounded by the darkness I was

confounded it's not a true story it's

your

question a true

feeling but not a true story

and then providing the subject indicates

a propensity for indirect influence

combin time oh Victoria where have you

collected all this rubbish Reverend

Wilson gave it to me it's a very famous

book by Dr France mesma you haven't

forgotten what you promised

me let me just finish this chapter all

of it's very interesting if you just

listen and let your mind flow let your

mind

flow is that another of your doctor's

teachings combin times with actual

physical connection between subject and

teacher that enables a direct magnetic

flow to exist between their respective

and Consciousness to be more precise if

during the course of the experiments the

teacher were to hold a shining or bright

object Oliver should we try it you know

what I'm waiting for I've been waiting

here for an hour or more oh just let's

try it Oliver I promise I do anything

then

and it would greatly Aid in the

transference of the teacher's will into

the unconscious of the student in so

doing it creates a link between the two

that proves impossible to sever this

link provides

[Music]

[Music]

Victoria's been reading to me from one

of your scholarly books

Wilson it's not all wives

and reading Tire books to their husbands

did you enjoy it all of that what book

was

that Dr mesma the is on the unconscious

that's it that's the one I should think

that would be a bit modern for you

father rep

perhaps you'd like to try to hypnotize

me I should be glad to serve as one of

your subjects oh no I don't think you'd

make a very good subject all you're too

full of life forces I don't think I

could capture them

all want you try

anyway yes do

try all right perhaps this

once this is a very new and

revolutionary science no one knows how

or why it

works too little is known of its

effects there you see I War you you're

too strong

I shouldn't think you'd say that about

me wouldn't I do try

for

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

it's extraordinary

amazing what'll happen

now what do you want to

happen do you want to kiss

her

Victoria kiss the man you love

[Music]

should we ask for more no no don't you

can retire if you like I shall stay with

Victoria for a

while I must bring the trans then surely

you don't think your husband is unable

to take care of her adequately that's

hard to the point Wilson she's my wife

[Music]

believe I'll take a stroll before bed if

that's all

right vior my

dear I'm always long TR

come on give me your

[Applause]

yeah now give me one of those R gra it

on me left sir then give me all of this

sure you'll be all right Mr Thompson

never you mind about me mate I want to

be in on

this yeah now out your you just light it

sir go light it light

it over there I

see this should get rid of him

ah there old Bachelor begar here

sir the Master's not well is there a

doctor in the area yes Madam there's a

new doctor Dr Finch in Clarendon but I

don't know anything about him shall I

send the husband to fetch do do that no

perhaps I I'd better go myself

[Music]

I'm awfully sorry Mrs Thompson but uh

would you mind if I had a private word

with your husband it's all right my

dear I must ask you a rather personal

question Mr Thompson for the sake of

your health I would be grateful if you

answered me

honestly please bear in mind that I am a

physician

far away have you ever or rather have

you in the recent past had The

Misfortune to catch a a

man's you see there are symptoms of

poisoning her probably by

Mercury as you know is used to cure

venial disease do I've never been down

with any illness in my life mans are

otherwise you're my

word well my diagnosis is poison

this moment I uh I cannot establish the

cause but fortunately the state of

illness is not serious medicine I'm

prescribing should set it right very

shortly I assume you've told Dr Finch

about the rats all of

H the

rats yeah in my store room hundreds of

them are brought in some men to get rid

of them

look at this l a whole bloody Crow the

bastard and you were present on this

occasion personally of course I was i s

to stand by and let the beasts eat my

entire stock you should have mentioned

this in the first place it confirms my

diagnosis

please follow my instructions

exactly a few days Mr Thompson you'll be

as fit as a fiddle I'll call again the

day after tomorrow in the meantime you

know where to find me Mrs Thompson and

in the future I advise you not to poison

your rats personally your life is more

important than your goods

surely is he

better yes getting stronger and stronger

every day you must have been frightened

the doctor says there's always a danger

of a relaps but surely under your care

what he's improving so

quickly

yes perhaps this is too tiring for your

Simmons could push this bloody cheer

it's good exercise it seems we spent the

whole month indoors I've taken steps to

make it easier I've asked my father to

come stay with us father father big good

company do do you think it

wise you're not strong

enough now he's grown very fond of you

my dear he'll come here as soon as his

Affairs are settled I'm looking forward

to

it if we were to go away if we were to

travel he'd be alone in a big house no

don't you worry my girl you've done

enough you SE how big the puppies are

grown I should put them out the stud

this spring

[Music]

I cannot express how happy was to learn

at long last that you were all

right I know that it's impossible for

you to correspond with me I hope at the

very least that you will receive

this I was saddened to learn that you

suffer so

greatly if there was any possibility of

my sending for you now you must know

that I would move Heaven and Earth to do

so I can only hope and dream that

Providence will find a way to unite us

one

day you were always in my thoughts

[Music]

[Music]

Mrs

Simmons the doctor's prescribed a

special diet oh very well Madam I should

do it myself let me go now

I felt them bite out my throat I shouted

and screamed I couldn't move as they

bited me more and more I was suffocating

you got to help me doctor please that's

quite understandable Mr Thompson you've

had a sudden high temperature such such

dreams are quite normal I was better but

now I'm weaker Every

Day Life is losing its grip on me please

don't worry Mr Thompson it's just a

temporary relapse is

unexpected these things

happen my teeth are

loose my gums are

bleeding you haven't been poisoning your

rats again I swear it doctor I've never

been ill in my

[Music]

life why don't you try and get some rest

now Mr

Thompson and

uh I'll uh I'll leave you another

[Music]

prescription for

oh for

[Music]

Oliver's strength slowly waned and it

was necessary for the young Dr Finch to

attend to Oliver and even on a few

nights to remain at his

side one night as I watched from the

window I knew the doctor was puzzling by

Oliver's lack of response to treatment

but I knew that I alone had the power to

comfort Oliver to calm him to make him

sleep

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

please try to keep calm I I know that it

hurts but it is necessary if you're to

return to good

Health's be now

h

[Music]

[Applause]

please accept my deepest condolences I'm

truly sorry

this is a great shock Oliver

business to think this year we're going

to open a new shop in Christ

Church

for for

what have you

done to my

son even if God forgives

you I never

shall I shall make quite

sure I see you and

this yes I will

this is

odd the lamp lower the

lamp good God

[Music]

[Music]

chloroform thank you for waiting

[Music]

and so dear

George they came for me that

morning it is over now and I willingly

accept what lies before me whatever that

may

be the Earth trembles beneath

[Music]

me if I had not stepped in when I did

there was every likelihood you would

have been detained without

fail everything is is being done I

assure you your defense is in the best

of hands I I did not my dear if you're

trying to tell me whether or not you

murdered your husband I must ask you to

stop you see I prefer not KN it's much

more satisfying that point now to go

over have you spoken to our Minister Mr

James Wilson he will defend me he knows

how all of and I've lived oh I tried to

get an appointment with him but I'm

afraid it was too late too late he'd

already left left what whatever you

talking about your friend the minister

Wilson has gone he told today you would

have

questioned he's been transferred to

Japan I

think you did not

know order in

court a crown against Victoria

Thompson but can you say what was the

subject of their

conversation all I heard was the

minister Wilson laughing that was just

as I went past the door when I brought

the tea in it had gone quiet

again Mr Wilson was standing by the

piano with his head in his hand in a

rather peculiar

way then I heard voices again Mr

Wilson's voice

mostly but I don't know what he was

saying the Lord's there

[Applause]

probably over even the smallest quantity

would cause damage to the windpipe and

there is absolutely no evidence that

chloroform passed into the stomach the

throat of the deceased was not damaged

and yet your examination showed an

enormous amount of chloroform in the

stomach of the

decease I can I can I cannot give an

explanation of this

fact neither I nor my learned colleagues

I'm

sorry but they're simply isn't an

explanation surely though an explanation

must exist doctor they've want exclude

Supernatural forces it would please us

if you kept to the facts doctor not

Supernatural

forces my apologies did you notice the

presence of chloroform at any time in

the house of the

deceased yes I I saw a bottle of

chloroform there but there were other

chemicals and disinfectants too used in

uh treating the dogs as I

recall and could you state how much

chloroform was in the bottle that you

[Music]

saw you're a

doctor I can tell you the truth when

Oliver fell ill he began to behave very

strangely to me it beyond my

power he he was so so frightening and

and his

M the Reverend Wilson he's good friend

of mine of ours we love each other like

brother and

sister I I asked him to get me some claw

for so that I might quiet Oliver when he

got to insist quieten him

how

I I I applied a drop to his face on a

pad of

C always sent him to sleep there was no

harm done do you have the

[Music]

bottle in future Mrs Thompson

you must leave the treatment to

me as far as I can recall there were

some four possibly five fluid answers

certainly more than half the bottle and

where is this bottle now Dr

Finch it was

dropped and broken

gentleman of the

jury experts appointed by the

court experienced Physicians have

informed us that medicine cannot explain

how a poisonous substance could have

found

itself in the stomach of Mr Oliver

Thompson we live in an enlightened

age so we are bound to

listen to what the wise and learned have

to say and what they have to say is the

following we do not know how Oliver

Thompson

died and if gentlemen we do not know

this how can we possibly give the blame

for his death to a frail woman

is that

you

yes how can we expect that such a woman

has committed a

deed that has baffled the wise and

experience

read to

me if you

like you remember where we

were

yes our law specifies the benefit of the

doubt

always and in this case there is

evidently great room for doubt

lady ma is a gliding woman years ago

when a tall girl at a boarding school

she was informed by the drilling master

and exer that she was a gazelle he meant

a giraffe and she owed the compliment if

it was one to his imperfect knowledge of

English it is an axiom I believe among

polite lovers that nothing is so

effective as an unintentional compliment

her wenig's unintentionality as he would

have called it was most effective the

gazelle Miss bufkins forth with set

herself to study and imitate the habits

of her namesakes she applied for

information she was not unsuccessful in

due time glided into matrimony with Sir

John maer A Gentleman who had been

baronedepartment

[Music]

for

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

it is important that you know what

transpired that fateful

night Oliver sank into a deep trance

easily for the hypnosis was now

accustom while in that state I gave him

chloroform he swallowed it all without a

moment's pain

[Music]

I do not know what will become of me

now but I know that I will never ever

forget

you I remain your

servant Victoria

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Thompson e

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oh

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the jury requests permission to ask one

additional question of Dr Finch is Dr

Finch present if so the Court gives

permission doctor if the chloroform were

applied to the deceased against his will

uh by force would it leave tracers

in my opinion yes and no traces were

found

no absolutely

none we have no more

questions gentleman of the jury have you

considered your verdict we have your

honor do you find the defendant Victoria

Thompson guilty of the crime imputed to

her or

n not guilty

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e

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keep

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fore

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fore

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for fore

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are foreign

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spe