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  • My name is Susan Trinder.

  • I grew up in Lant Street.

  • We had the best view of the gallows.

  • And on hanging days

  • people paid money to view from our top window.

  • No, Sue. You put the kettle on.

  • Let me see, I wanna see!

  • Susan Trinder?

  • Her mother was hanged for murder.

  • She died a dame, you know.

  • Oh dear girl.

  • Come on then, up you go.

  • Quick, quick.

  • Institute of the insane.

  • My name is Maud Lilly.

  • And I was brought up at the mad house,

  • where my mother died giving birth to me.

  • Maud. Maud have a visitor.

  • A visitor?

  • I can't remember in all these years..

  • Why is your tongue black?

  • Come on.

  • She is as under sized as her voice is loud.

  • Can't you whisper?

  • Of course I can.

  • Whisper.

  • Can she be silent?

  • Let me see it.

  • My mother, Sir.

  • My sister.

  • Let us hope that we'll remind you of her fate and prevent you from sharing it.

  • Can she read?

  • Blessed are the poor in spirit..

  • Blessed.

  • Blessed are the poor in spirit.

  • I'll take her.

  • I'll send my house keeper 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 never would have been topped.

  • Oh! Oh, look at that! Only since today!

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

  • Am I?

  • Ain't she, Mr. Ibbs?

  • 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.

  • The Bryar bell.

  • This is where your mother lived.

  • You are to be a lady, as she was.

  • Of all her fortune she turned to the mad.

  • It is to be hoped that you turned out better than she did.

  • You haven't finished your eggs?

  • 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.

  • Yes.

  • No one is allowed beyond there.

  • for fear of spoiling his books.

  • How's her temper, Mrs. Stiles?

  • Rather ill, Sir.

  • Have you had her wear gloves?

  • Threw them at me, sir.

  • Give me your hand, Maud.

  • Give me your hand!

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

  • No.

  • Put them on.

  • Not a cover is to be touch, not a leaf will be turned without them, do you understand?

  • You realize why I brought you here Maud?

  • To... To make a lady of me.

  • To make a secretary of you. Maud.

  • I couldn't read.

  • All I knew about letters was what I've picked up by studying vipers.

  • I was a fingersmith.

  • A thief.

  • Melt down this little number, will you John.

  • My pleasure.

  • I'd like to melt her down.

  • Don't arse about or I'll knock your bloody head off.

  • Oh, I'll knock it off!

  • Come on!

  • Yeah, yeah, yeah. You just try it.

  • Mrs. Sucksby was a baby farmer.

  • Paid to look after unwanted babies.

  • Poor little scraps.

  • Look at you, treasure.

  • 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 catalogue.

  • He'll also be giving you lessons in painting.

  • 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 in Holywell Street could hear you.

  • Your words are pure poetry.

  • Music, Huss. Music.

  • Thank you.

  • Thank you Maud.

  • Mr. Rivers, you say nothing.

  • Does it not please you?

  • I cannot find words Sir.

  • Ah, there you see Huss.

  • The young rouge has beaten us.

  • Indeed, indeed.

  • Excuse me.

  • Now Sir, I have the first edition which you required.

  • Have you indeed?

  • I'm sorry to disturb you but,

  • I'm concerned that you might find it a little...

  • chill out of the fire.

  • The fire is very hot.

  • It is, you're right.

  • Very hot.

  • Very hot indeed.

  • What will you do when this great catalogue is finished?

  • It will never be finished.

  • Come on Miss Lilly, do you really mean to remain here forever?

  • I have no choice.

  • You're young, handsome.

  • I say it not for gallantries sake,

  • I say what I see.

  • You might do anything.

  • You are a man, Mr. Rivers,

  • and might do anything.

  • I am a woman and might do nothing.

  • Chuck diggers on a bitch of hearts. Ain't she slow.

  • What's that?

  • Are we expecting any one?

  • Open up!

  • If it's the blues, we're done for!

  • Open the door!

  • Sovereigns. Under the fire.

  • Come on! Open up.

  • - Open the door! - Damn my fingers!

  • Never mind your fingers, think about your neck!

  • We're all tidy?

  • All right, all right!

  • It's gentleman.

  • Gentleman.

  • Take a taper to them candles, Sue.

  • Put a brew on Dainty.

  • Gentleman told us he'd gambled away his fortune.

  • He was obliged to get money the old fashion way.

  • By thievery, and dodging.

  • I worked on the old man's catalogue in the morning

  • and in the afternoon I worked on her.

  • Taught painting that is.

  • Her maid, Agnes, was the most agreeable chaperon.

  • Love as love will was finding its way.

  • At the end of the week the agreeable Agnes gets scarlet fever.

  • They had to send her home Ireland.

  • The house keeper with bad grace takes over

  • temporarily and is as tight on the girl as a corset.

  • Said she had no time to chaperon.

  • No more painting.

  • Damn it and I was nearly there!

  • Where's there gentleman?

  • She's as rich...

  • as a queen, Mr. Ibbs.

  • How rich?

  • Thirty thousand in ready.

  • Ten thousand 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.

  • When her uncle asks a few questions about you?

  • That's why I've become the exemplary Mr. Richard Rivers.

  • I will...

  • marry her!

  • 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.

  • No good in making a bleeding maid out of me, 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 two thousand pounds.

  • Dainty will do it!

  • I've been a maid, ain't I?

  • Stuck in that pin in the ladies arse, as I recalled.

  • 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.

  • Don't know where the bleeding country is.

  • I'm a Londoner. Never been out of the smoke have I?

  • Get on, she would never accept me.

  • You're my old nurse’s child!

  • Susan Smith.

  • You would have an impeccable character reference

  • from Lady Stonely of Curson Crimson Mayfair.

  • Oh she'll to swallow it, the girls never been to London.

  • She's a bit simple. A pigeon.

  • 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 three thousand pounds.

  • Take it or leave it.

  • What's that?

  • Another application for my personal maid, uncle,

  • a recommendation from Mr. Rivers.

  • "Susan has been maiden for a lady who's been 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 that she will go to the bad unless

  • she finds further employment."

  • No!

  • You never wrote that. You never!

  • Oh my God!

  • Who's this cape?

  • 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 gods 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!

  • 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 the mad house

  • and there she'll stay.

  • I need your help to get her there.

  • You don't know that.

  • It's in her blood, her mother was mad and she'll end up there any way.

  • Take it or leave it Sue, that's for the extra thousand.

  • Three thousand pounds Sue.

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

  • She won't need it in the mad house.

  • 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 Londoner!

  • Ladies and gentlemen, a toast to Sue.

  • Sue, Sue!

  • Susan Smith.

  • Sue dear.

  • Here's your character from the gentleman’s best hand.

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

  • You look a picture, a real picture.

  • I wouldn't like to do it, Mrs. Sucksby.

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

  • Your mother would have done it and don't give me the salt.

  • She would have had dread you doing it but, by God, she'd a been proud.

  • Sue, are you coming?

  • If they catch me, will they hang me?

  • No!

  • They will, won't they?

  • Do you think it hurts when they drop you?

  • No... no.

  • Just a bit... but...

  • they ties the knots special for the ladies 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 out quick, I don't wanna see it.

  • We've never been parted before.

  • I think she took it worser than I did.

  • The country! I never knew there was so much of it!

  • Mile after bleeding mile.

  • Miss Smith?

  • Leave that till the morning.

  • We keep early hours at Bryar.

  • And Mr. Lilly cannot bare noise.

  • If I had known how to get out of that bleeding place I would have scarped there and then.

  • But when I saw her

  • I thought

  • this is gonna be easy.

  • Is all right Miss?

  • That is very satisfactory Susan.

  • - May I call you Susan? - Yes, Miss

  • Thank you Miss.

  • You read of course?

  • A bit.

  • My uncle is a scholar.

  • Books are a very important part of life at Bryar.

  • Please, read me something. Anything.

  • Our father...

  • which art in heaven...

  • I don't read.

  • Oh god!

  • I might be it taught. Miss.

  • Taught?

  • No, I shouldn't allow it!

  • Not to be able to read...

  • I sometimes think how wonderful that would be.

  • When my rooms in order collect me at the library at one.

  • 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.

  • Oh! Thank you Miss!

  • - Your coin, Miss? - Get out

  • Go on.

  • Oh my lord!

  • Mrs. Stiles, you did startle me.

  • I was just trying to put Miss Mauds things in order.

  • So I see.

  • These should be given each morning to Mr. Way, Miss Steward.

  • It's his little perk, is it?

  • The pieces of soap that Miss Maud leaves on her wash stand

  • you may keep.

  • Thank you Mrs. Stiles.

  • But I'd really not like to.

  • It hated Miss Alice, she would have thought it thieving.

  • As you wish.

  • 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 the most careful account of wood and coal.

  • Tell her we're economize by burning down the candles right down to the wick.

  • Don't you worry about her, Miss.

  • I know her kind.

  • Do you know my uncles 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.

  • It's alright, Miss.

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

  • 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 Stoning consider him one of the most handsome men in London, Miss.

  • I think Mr. Rivers is a good man.

  • Very good indeed, Miss.

  • Ah... Ahh... Agnes!

  • Is everything all right Miss?

  • Drops!

  • Quickly get my drops!

  • I've taken the medicine ever since I came here as a child.

  • And I'm still afraid of my own dreams.

  • Stay with me!

  • No, I can't do that Miss.

  • Please.

  • That's how it was.

  • That night...

  • and all the following nights...

  • She needed drops and me...

  • to help her sleep.

  • Finger.

  • We were always together, like sisters.

  • Like the sister 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 sweet heart.

  • And as the weeks past, I forgot gentleman.

  • I only had that old brown dress.

  • But she gave me some of her own.

  • 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?

  • 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!

  • Ah, a journey.

  • After we're married I'll put her in the mad house and there she'll stay.

  • Perhaps a journey of the heart.

  • Show me the last one.

  • It should have been the love card,

  • but I had dropped it.

  • I don't like your fortune telling, Sue!

  • I want to hear about London.

  • What steps they do for the balls.

  • I shall dance, in London.

  • Shalln't I Sue?

  • She could dance like a coal heaver, for all he cared.

  • So long as she as she had forty thousands pound in the bank.

  • Shalln't I?

  • It's so sharp.

  • Shh, open.

  • Saw right where it cut you.

  • Sit down.

  • I used to do this with Mrs. Sucksbys infants.

  • Who's Mrs. Sucksby?

  • A parlour maid went bad, had twins.

  • Open wide.

  • Keep still.

  • Better?

  • Mmm.

  • Mr. Wade! It's Mr. Rivers!

  • Mr. Rivers is back!

  • He must have caught the earlier train.

  • It hit me then.

  • How happy I was.

  • And how much I hated gentleman.

  • I cannot receive him, can I?

  • What an earth shall I do?

  • I wanted to shout out to Maud.

  • He don't love you!

  • He's here to steal your fortune.

  • And put you in the mad house.

  • But she wouldn't have believed me.

  • Welcome back Mr. Rivers, Sir.

  • my boots have been missing you.

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

  • I've 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 Briers Mr. River.

  • Miss Lilly.

  • I do apologize.

  • I'm in such a tumbled travelled stained state.

  • Would you rather be taken to your rooms?

  • No, no, no!

  • Miss, this greeting is refreshing 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 you're a good girl to your mistress, Susan.

  • Susan is very good.

  • I thought she would be.

  • With you as her example.

  • You're too kind, Mr. Rivers.

  • 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.

  • He spent one week on still life.

  • Still death more like it.

  • And another week...

  • on landscape.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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 fight her a dead end if I was making a wrong move.

  • Next week the prints will be done and I have to leave.

  • You'll have to work on her harder.

  • Convince her she's in love with me.

  • Damn it Sue, that girl's worth three thousand pounds to you!

  • I saw what the evil bastard was about.

  • He was going to kiss her.

  • But not on her lips.

  • Somewhere better.

  • Much better.

  • I'm so sorry I have to rush back to that wretched print.

  • You will be all right, Maud? Are you sure?

  • Hooked, but you must draw her in.

  • I'll take these, Susan.

  • Get your mistress back to the house.

  • Mr. Rivers has asked me to marry him.

  • Are you not pleased?

  • Sue?

  • What is it?

  • A surprise Miss.

  • I'm pleased.

  • I'm gladder than anything in the world.

  • Than I am sad because I have not said yes to him.

  • Oh.

  • How can I?

  • My uncle will never agree.

  • Mr. Rivers says we might go away at night.

  • Get married in a small church near here.

  • Susan, look kindly on foolish lovers.

  • I'm sure the lights are better in the next room.

  • I'm ever so sorry, Mr. Rivers.

  • But Mr. Lily wouldn't like it.

  • What the hell are you playing at?

  • Keep your hands off her.

  • She don't want it.

  • Don't want it?

  • - The pigeon is crying out for it. - I'll cry and they'll be able to hear.

  • She have to go to the mad house.

  • If you are going soft on me now Sue,

  • I'll drop you.

  • My own nurse will be taken ill and need her sweet little niece

  • and you'll be back in Lant Street with nothing!

  • I'll tell her and Mr. Lilly, I'll tell her!

  • Tell her what you stupid bitch?

  • What you came her to do?

  • She's gone to far to believe you.

  • She must marry me now,

  • or be as good as ruined, locked up here for the rest of her life.

  • I'm her only way out.

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

  • What shall I do?

  • Follow your heart Miss.

  • You love him.

  • Do I?

  • Don't your heart beat faster when you see him?

  • Or when he kisses you?

  • Miss?

  • Oh Miss, don't you love him?

  • You might say no.

  • Say no?

  • And watch him leave?

  • 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?

  • Three thousand pounds Sue.

  • Marry him Miss.

  • Mr. Rivers loves you.

  • And love never hurt a flea.

  • All right, I will.

  • But only if you'll come with me. To London.

  • Will you Sue?

  • Be my maiden chum in London?

  • Say you will.

  • I understand the parson is...

  • sympathetic to...

  • affairs of the heart?

  • How soon?

  • It must be this week.

  • And we need somewhere quite 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.

  • Sue...

  • On her wedding night, what must a wife do?

  • I know you're awake.

  • Sue!

  • - For god sake, Miss! - What?

  • You must know.

  • I know something from books...

  • How can you know it from books?

  • You are 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'll come to you, Miss.

  • Dancing didn't come to me.

  • It was very difficult, you had to teach me!

  • Miss Maud!

  • I don't think kissing's going to start me off.

  • Mr. River's kisses never have.

  • You're a beautiful young girl.

  • Look, give me you lips.

  • No.. Not like that.

  • Imagine that I'm Mr. Rivers.

  • There...

  • Did you feel it?

  • It's a curious...

  • - wanting thing. - That's right.

  • You wants Mr. Rivers.

  • - No, I can't do it, Sue. - You can.

  • You must do it now, I mean.

  • It do know what they mean.

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

  • I'm afraid.

  • Don't be frightened.

  • Look.

  • I want to..

  • once it's started..

  • Morning.

  • Good morning, Miss.

  • What a wonderful thick sleep I had.

  • And no drops.

  • And no dreams.

  • The only one.

  • I think.

  • I think you're in it Sue.

  • Me?

  • You're marrying Mr. Rivers today.

  • I don't think so.

  • Anything more I can do for you before you leave, Mr. Rivers?

  • We shall be leaving too.

  • Tonight.

  • Miss Lilly! Hello?

  • If I had said I love you.

  • She'd had 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.

  • Thank you, thank you.

  • Thank you Mr. Ways,

  • and Mrs. Stiles.

  • I hope it will not be too long until we meet again, Miss Lilly.

  • I hope not Mr. Rivers.

  • Until tonight, don't be late.

  • All that long day

  • I packed, secretly.

  • Getting ready to escape from Briar to the wedding at midnight.

  • 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.

  • Her uncle would have had me locked up.

  • I could hear Lant Street laughing.

  • Me, in love with a girl!

  • I'll get the bags.

  • Maud?

  • Maud?

  • What the devil is going on?

  • Who's there?

  • It's only me, uncle.

  • Don't wake everyone else up.

  • This way.

  • Quickly, quickly Miss Maud.

  • I Require...

  • as he will answer on that dreadful day of judgement...

  • that the secrets of our hearts should 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 to the holy state of matrimony.

  • Wilt thy obey him and serve him, love, honour and keep him in sickness and in health

  • and forsaking all other, keep thee only onto 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, to the sake of tonight.

  • We were not 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.

  • She wants you to dress her.

  • Maud’s' discovered the meaning of true love, Sue?

  • It's already half way to the mad house.

  • Now you must finish her off.

  • Here, please see to Mrs. Rivers Susan. She's not well at all.

  • - Morning, Sir. - Morning.

  • I'm really rather worried about her, she's talking so strangely.

  • Morning, Miss.

  • We never charges extra for them, unless they go through the mattress

  • How is she?

  • Taking it hard, is she?

  • Harder ain't the word for it, Mrs. Green.

  • Mr. Rivers dotes on her

  • He can't...

  • I'd say the same myself.

  • You can rely on me never to gossip, Miss

  • She's troubled... up here.

  • You know?

  • Something missing, you mean?

  • 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.

  • But I'm perfectly well. Aren't I Sue?

  • A few days of help will put colour on those cheeks.

  • I hate it here, I...

  • Morning, Madam.

  • Everything fresh?

  • Those eggs haven't been out of the hen five minutes.

  • She certainly hate 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 is nothing I want more!

  • 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 mad house doctors to say.

  • 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. - Oh!

  • I knew it!

  • That color just matches your hair.

  • Your eyes!

  • You look quite the beauty.

  • Look.

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

  • They've come to meet you.

  • Is it this afternoon?

  • - I've forgotten. - Maud, Maud! Visitors from London.

  • Will you receive them dear?

  • 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 are sure she qualifies for their care and attention.

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

  • Do I?

  • Don't make game of me Sue,

  • not when we're so close!

  • More?

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

  • We're 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 was..

  • Who was Miss Lilly. Yes.

  • And you are?

  • Her 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 Kirtston Crescent, Mayfair.

  • When she went abroad.

  • She's..

  • She's grown so...

  • Sad.

  • I'm afraid she'll do herself harm.

  • Thank you.

  • You'll keep her safe so much.

  • We will.

  • She's so kind. So good. So loving.

  • You will keep her some place 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.

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

  • We will send the carriage out tomorrow afternoon

  • Mr. Rivers, rest assured,

  • it was the right thing.

  • Your eyes are a little brighter.

  • - Are they? - Don't you think so Susan?

  • Oh, 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're going to a great house,

  • with fine quite 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.

  • Good day Mr. Rivers.

  • Miss Smith.

  • Mrs. Rivers.

  • Mrs. Rivers?

  • What?

  • Don't struggle Mrs. Rivers.

  • We're here to help you.

  • It's not me you want, it's Mrs. Rivers.

  • - Come along now. - Tell her, gentlemen.

  • Tell her!

  • Still the same sad old fiction.

  • I'm not Mrs. Rivers!

  • I'm Susan Smith!

  • Of Kirtston Crescent, Mayfair?

  • Yes!

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

  • You know that.

  • Don't struggle or you'll ruin your hat and dress.

  • You bloody swine!

  • You're filth!

  • There is no place for wash like that out here.

  • Mrs. Rivers!

  • You stupid sods

  • don't you see what he's gone and done?

  • Let me go, let me go!

  • It's not me you want it's..

  • 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 had been in on it from the start.

  • 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.

  • I knew everything.

  • And yet nothing.

  • 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.

My name is Susan Trinder.

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