Good day to you, Parson Tringham.
Good day, Sir John.
Begging your pardon, sir? Parson?
We met last market-day,
on this road at this time, and you called me Sir John.
I did.
And once before that, some weeks ago, again, Sir John.
That is correct.
You know that I am just plain John Durbeyfield the haggler?
So, what I'm thinking... Let me see your profile.
Sir? Throw up your chin.
There it is, the D'Urberville nose and chin.
A trifle coarsened perhaps. Sir?
You're an aristocrat, Sir John.
The direct descendant of one of the finest families in the land -
the D'Urbervilles.
I stumbled across the name in the parish records.
From Normandy originally, came over with the Conqueror.
Fought alongside Edward II and King John.
Charles II made you knights of the Royal Oak for your loyalty.
So, if a knighthood were hereditary,
as it more or less used to be, you would be Sir John now.
Can this be true? Oh, yes!
There's hardly such a family in England.
So... where do we raise our smoke now, us D'Urbervilles?
Live, I mean?
You don't live anywhere.
A family vault in Kingsbere is the extent of your legacy.
Rows and rows of you, reclining under Purbeck marble.
No family mansions? Great estates?
As a county family you are extinct.
Good day, Sir John.
But, Parson? What might I do about it, sir?
Nothing...
except chasten yourself with the thought -
how the mighty have fallen.
You'll take a quart of beer with me, Parson?
There's a pretty brew at Rolliver's!
You've had quite enough already!
A family vault at Kingsbere!
HE LAUGHS I'll be damned.
BAND PLAYS
Tess, look!
Sir John bids you good day!
Good day to you all!
I have a family vault at Kingsbere!
Good news! We are a noble race, my Lady Tess!
Norman blood runs in our veins!
He's not well!
It's his heart. His heart?!
That's a good 'un. Look here, I won't dance another step
with you if you continue to make jokes about him! Mary, that's enough now!
A family vault at Kingsbere!
The finest skellingtons in all Wessex!
"Thus does agnosticism eat its own tail.
"In its godlessness and disorder, it betrays the spiritual"
"and moral vacuum that lies at the heart of so-called free-thinking."
What is that dreadful music?
Some pagan ritual, I suppose. A human sacrifice perhaps.
Angel, what are you doing? Well, the ladies need partners, and
I'm inclined to have a fling. Who's coming with me?
Dancing with a troop of country hoydens?
Well, suppose we should be seen!
But I haven't finished this chapter!
Well, tell me what happens! I'll be with you shortly.
Where are your partners? They're still at work, sir.
But they'll be here soon.
Will you dance with us, sir?
What's one, amongst so many?
Well, then you must choose!
GIRLS GIGGLE Well, may I?
MUSIC BEGINS
Angel!
Enough now!
Come along, Angel.
It will be dark soon!
HORSE NEIGHS
There you are! Oh, Tess, such news, such wonderful news.
We have been ignobled!
The Durbeyfields are the greatest gentlefolk in the county!
We have monuments and vaults and crests and all... and look,
here is the proof.
A spoon, Mother. With our crest, our old family crest!
Knights of the Royal Oak, d'you see?
Is this why father made such a mommet of himself this afternoon?
Partly, and partly on account of his heart.
Oh!.. Liza-Lu, dress the children for bed now.
'Tis true. He went to see the doctor in Shaston and he said that he had
fat around his heart, like this and as soon as it do meet, so..
..off he'll go. Could be ten years, could be ten days.
That's awful.
Where is father? At Rolliver's tavern. Mother!
Well, the poor man felt so weak after his news,
he had to get up his strength!
He needs to take those bee-hives to market tonight.
Oh, Tess, don't scold.
There's more good news. Come with me...
It turns out we have rich relations.
A great, rich old lady by the name of D'Urberville, out by Trantridge.
All you've got to do is go claim kin!
Begging! The very idea!
'Tis not begging, just being friendly.
I don't see why two branches of the same family shouldn't be friendly.
Where are you going?... To fetch Father.
Go to a public house, to get up his strength!
And you as well agreed, Mother! I'll fetch him!
Keeping house here all day by myself, while you're out enjoying yourself.
I'm as good as any man here, better in here
Better skillentons than any man in Wessex. Listen to me, John! What d'you think?
What is it, woman? Of my grand project?
I don't know... Rich as anything, they say,
and I don't see why we shouldn't be on visiting terms.
A junior branch of the family no doubt.
And they're bound to notice Tess, if she plays her trump card.
Her noble blood? No, stupid, her face, as 'twas mine.
More than likely 'twould lead to some noble gentleman marrying her.
What says the maid herself?
She's tractable enough.
Leave her to me.
Sssh...
SHE LAUGHS
I've got a family vault at Kingsbere. Don't be silly, John.
The poor man can't go, Tess. Somebody must go.
If we don't sell the hives, they'll be thrown on our hands.
SHE SIGHS
HOOVES APPROACHING AT SPEED
Hoi!
Whoa! HORSES WHINNY
TESS SCREAMS
You were in the middle of the road. Look... look what you've done!
No, sir, you mustn't...
Sorry, Miss, it's all I can do.
He won't sell Prince's body...
Says when we were Knights of the land, we didn't sell
our chargers for cat-meat, let 'em keep their shillings.
Silly old fool.
Mother...
Still, I suppose we must take the ups with the downs.
He might get work, I suppose, as a day labourer...
if his heart holds out.
Mother, I'll go.
What's that? If that's what you want, I will go.
Claim kin.
I do beg your pardon, Lady D'Urberville, please forgive the intrusion, your ladyship,
but my name is...
Begging your pardon, Ma'am.
Please forgive the intrusion, your Ladyship, but...
My name is Tess Durbeyfield of
Marlott and I have come...
Can I help you?
I am Mr D'Urberville.
Have you come to see me or my mother?
Your mother, sir.
A pity.
Well, she can't see you I'm afraid.
She's an invalid.
You'll have to deal with me.
Is it business? Not business, sir, it...
I can hardly bring myself to say. Pleasure then? No, it is...
...it's very foolish.
I like foolish things.
Try again.
I have come to tell you,
that we are of the same family as you.
Ah, I see.
Poor relations.
Yes, sir. Stokes?
No, sir, D'Urberville.
Yes, yes, of course.
D'Urberville.
We share a tomb!
A family tomb, in Kingsbere, I believe.
Of course, our name has worn away to just Durbeyfield, but
we have an old seal, marked with a ramping lion, and this, sir...
It appears to be a spoon.
With the crest, sir, you see?
Knights of the Royal Oak.
Tell me...
do you like strawberries?
Yes, sir, when they come.
But 'tis only May.
How did you get here, Tess?
The Chaseborough cart, sir, staying overnight in Shaston.
I must return this afternoon.
Then we must get acquainted, cousin.
Beautiful, isn't it?
'British Queen' I believe the variety is.
Here.
I would rather take it in my own hand, sir.
Nonsense.
Hmm...
Now, how about some tea?
It was my fault we lost the horse.
My father can't work without it, you see.
And what does your father do, coz?
He is a haggler, sir.
A haggler?
Sorry, I'm not familiar...
He buys and sells goods of an agricultural nature for profit.
At least that is the principle.
Well, I must tell mother.
She will be pleased to know that we have a haggler in the family.
And how much to settle the woes of dear Uncle Durbeyfield?
Pray, don't laugh at me, sir.
I will not sit and be laughed at by no-one, by anyone.
Tess, I didn't mean to offend... We are good people, sir.
I'm sure you are... And we have our pride,
and I did not travel all this way to plead or beg for your charity,
but to offer my honest labour.
And if all you wish to do is tease and mock our situation...
Tess, that's not what I intended at all.
I apologise, unreservedly.
I must be going now anyway.
Must you?
Well, let me accompany you along the drive.
Let us be friends, coz.
And what of you, Tess?
What ambitions do you have?
I want to be a school teacher.
You'll make a fine teacher, I'm sure.
That will require a scholarship and training and books,
and until I can afford to buy father a new horse...
Well, I'll talk to mother.
We'll see what we can do.
Thank you, sir.
But, Tess, no more of this D'Urberville nonsense.
Durbeyfield is quite another name.
I wish for no better, sir.
Which yet survive stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear...
Words appear.
The vowel sound is still a little rich.
These words appear.
My name is Ozymandias...
BANGING ON THE DOOR
Tess!
Tess! Look what's come!
You may go. Come and open it, Tess!
"Dear, Miss Durbeyfield,
"I am writing to you at the recommendation of my son, Alec,
"to request your services as manager of our poultry farm here at The Slopes."
A manager, Tess! Imagine!
"Terms and conditions will be discussed at a further date,
"to be decided at your convenience.
"Yours sincerely, Mrs Ursula D'Urberville."
But I'm going to work!
Well, yes, I'm sure there'll be a pretence of that, to begin with.
Well, I don't like my children going away from home!
As head of the dynasty, they should come to me! I'd rather not go at all
Nonsense, Tess.
An opportunity like this!
But if the gentleman should offer to buy my knighthood, Tess, you tell him, yes,
I will sell him my title but only for its proper sum.
Not for less than L500.
You tell 'im, for not less than L500.
Is he handsome? This gentleman you're going to marry?
Mother, how could you put such stuff into their heads?
Going to work, my dears, for our rich relation, to get money for a
new horse, ain't that right, Tess?
There, finished.
Such a picture, Tess.
I wish she wasn't going now.
Is that the gentleman who's going to make Tess a lady?
That's the man.
What's the matter?
Nothing. 'Cept I wish I had found out if he was a good man, is all.
Yes, you ought perhaps to ha' done that.
Ah, Tess. Good day, sir. Let me help you.
You will slow down, sir?
A brave bouncing girl like you is scared? I always go at full speed.
There's nothing like it for raising the spirits. But perhaps not now?
You'll just have to hold on to me.
Not my arm, you little fool, my waist, hold on to my waist.
I will do no such thing, sir! Such a temper.
A kiss then? One little kiss on those peony lips and I'll stop.
On my honour I will.
But I don't want to kiss anyone, sir!
Well, then let's continue shall we? Go on! Very well! Very well, sir.
If you must. Whoa!
Eugh...
You're mighty sensitive for a cottage girl..
Damn it, I'll break both our necks.
Go on! Go on! I thought you would be kind,
and protect me as my kinsman! Kinsman be hanged!
My hat! Stop! My hat!
You'll kiss me? Properly? Yes, sir.
No handkerchief? Gladly, sir, but my hat...
Whoa!
Whoa, whoa.
You look prettier without it, Tess.
If that's possible.
Climb up here beside me and let me claim my reward.
You won't get up beside me? No, sir, I will not.
You artful hussy, you did it on purpose!
It's six miles to Trantridge, Tess.
Don't care if it's hundreds.
You ought to be ashamed of yourself! Come now, peace.
I will not try it again, not against your will. I swear it.
COCKS CROW
KNOCKING
New girl? That's right.
Here.
And this one as well.
Grab her feet, have her under your arm.
Right, follow me.
I'm Groby, farm bailiff.
You got any complaints, you come to me, not the Missus, not Mr Alec, me.
Understood? Good.
Come here...
Every morning before her breakfast, you're to bring the cocks to her
one by one... Morning, ladies.
She wants to know where you've been all morning.
Been showing the new one the ropes. This is her, is it?
Good morning.
Civil, ladies, please?
Car and Nancy Darch The Queen of Spades and the Queen of Diamonds.
I'd stay on their right side if I were you.
Now you're not to mumble, and you're not to show her you're scared.
Why should I be scared?
BIRDS TWITTER
Ah, you must be the new girl.
Tess, isn't it?
Come... closer.
My son speaks glowingly of your abilities.
He says you are quite the proper person.
I hope we shall get along.
Who do you have for me today?
I don't know, ma'am. Bring them to me then!
Quickly!
Ah, this is Strut!
How are you, Strut? Not so lively today, are you?
A little frightened of the stranger, I dare say?
And you too, Phena.
Are you frightened too? No, miss.
Well, perhaps a little.
No need, no need. We will all get used to each other soon enough.
Isn't that right, Groby?
Yes, ma'am.
Now, can you whistle?
Whistle, ma-am?
Whistle - tunes.
Only a little.
Well, then you must practice every day.
I want you to whistle to my boys... Teach 'em some pretty airs or country tunes.
Your predecessor did it very well, but then she left suddenly.
All very mysterious,
wasn't it, Groby? Yes, ma'am.
They've been neglected for far too long.
Mr D'Urberville whistled to them this morning, ma'am.
No wonder they're so subdued. Pretty airs are what's needed, Tess.
Can you manage it, do you think?
SHE TRIES TO WHISTLE
Damn and blast it!
Was there ever a more beautiful sight on God's earth, Tess,
than watching you whistle?
I could stand here all day watching you pouting and swearing to yourself...
I did not swear!
Perhaps I will give you a lesson or two. No you will not!
Don't be frightened, I won't touch you.
See?
I'll stay on this side.
There. You're quite safe.
Now come closer.
A little closer, Tess.
Now try again.
SHE BLOWS
You purse your mouth too tightly, cousin.
Here, it's like this.
HE WHISTLES
Now you try.
Lick your lips first.
And now, very gently, blow.
SHE BLOWS
I can't do it! Nonsense! I should be dismissed!
Try once more.
It's like a kiss.
SHE WHISTLES TUNELESSLY
THEY LAUGH
SHE WHISTLES
Now try this.
HE WHISTLES AN AIR
SHE WHISTLES SAME AIR
SHE LAUGHS
SHE WHISTLES AIR
Very pretty, girl.
Thank you, ma'am.
Tell me, where did you learn the tune?
Oh, it's just an old country tune, ma'am.
Is that right?
An old country tune.
TESS WHISTLES
Are you looking for something in particular? I didn't mean no harm - any harm -
I meant no harm. Tess, please.
There really is no need to be so nervous.
It's just that I've never seen so many books.
Have you read them all? Hardly. They belonged to my father.
Was he a very learned man?
Tess, he bought them by the yard.
Not a single volume has been opened.
That's a great shame. There's something sad about an unread book.
Help yourself. Sir? Any book that you want, you are to take.
After all, we are family.
Very well. Thank you, sir.
I should... I must... return to work.
Off you go, then.
But thank you, sir.
I know you're there. I can smell your filthy cigars.
Dearest Mother. How are you today?
I called by to see how you were getting on with the new girl.
Your protegee's pleasant enough. I dare say she's pretty enough, too.
Is she? I can't say that I've noticed. Pah!
Just like your father.
Call yourself a D'Urberville, but you're Stoke through and through.
So who are these D'Urbervilles? No-one.
They're all extinct. Your father fancied himself as a country squire,
and didn't think "Stoke" would pass muster with the landed gentry.
So he took D'Urberville instead.
Perfectly good name, Stoke.
But then, that was typical of your father.
All vanity.
Just like his son.
Is there anything that I could ever do to please you, Mother?
You could take that filthy cigar away.
The finches don't like it, do you, my dears?
You'll be pleased to know that you have my mother's approval.
I'm glad to hear it, sir.
So you'll be staying with us a little longer, I hope?
If you have no objection. I have no objection at all.
Quite the opposite.
I'm delighted.
I must get more water, sir.
Allow me.
I'll accompany you.
Tell me, Tess, does my mother ever speak of me?
She seems very...
fond of you.
Grudgingly fond, perhaps.
There's a distinct lack of motherly love, in our little branch of the family, at least.
Oh, I'm sure that's not true. It is true.
I sometimes think if I grew feathers I might stand more of a chance.
Or laid an egg, perhaps.
SHE LAUGHS
And what of you, Tess? What would I have to do to win your affections?
Or am I beyond redemption?
Tess, it's market day in Chaseborough. Come with us!
We're going to get ready now. Oh, you go on. I'm too tired.
Oh, come on, Tess! It's Sunday tomorrow.
You can sleep it off in church!
You need to get changed, mind.
CARRIAGE RATTLES, LOUD LAUGHTER
BAND PLAYS LIVELY MUSIC
Give it here!
Give it back!
Get off me! Get off me, you...!
Are we going soon? Don't you dare...!
Tess, what on earth are you doing here?
Nothing. I'm just waiting for my friends to take me home.
I don't know the roads at night.
I only have my saddle horse, I'm afraid, but if you don't mind...
I said I'd wait for them.
Well, I could go and hire a trap, if you prefer?
No, I'd prefer to wait for the others.
Very well...
Miss Independence.
Suit yourself.
Sir?
I wanted to thank you. For the dress.
It was very kind of you. Nonsense.
It was worth it. You look exquisite, Tess.
LOUD LAUGHTER
Car, whatever's that creeping down your back?
'Tis just her hair come down her back!
SHE LAUGHS No, 'tis treacle. The jar's broken!
Oh! Ah!
THEY ALL LAUGH
How dare you laugh at me, you hussy!
I couldn't help it! All the others did!
Thinking you're better, cos you're his favourite! No!
You tell her! I'm worth two o' you, and I'll prove it!
THEY ALL SHOUT
Go on, Car, you have her! Go on, Car!
I shall not fight you, Car Darch!
And if I had known you were all of that sort, I wouldn't have brought myself down
as to come out with such a whorage as this!
THEY ALL SHOUT OVER EACH OTHER
What the devil is going on here?
It's a private matter, sir.
Nothing we can't fix ourselves. Enough of this!
Tess, come up here with me.
Or shall I leave you here?
Now, home to bed, all of you!
SHE CACKLES HEARTILY
What are you laughing at? I was just thinking, out of the frying-pan...!
THEY ALL LAUGH
Neatly done, was it not, Tess?
I'm sure I ought to be much obliged to you. And are you?
Forgive me. I'm so tired.
Well, sleep then. I'll hold on to you.
Where are we? It's The Chase. The oldest wood in England.
It's beautiful, isn't it?
You mean we are not home yet?
Tess, I have a confession to make. I'm afraid we are a little lost.
How could you?! when I have put my trust in you?!
Let me down! Let me down this minute!
Tess, that's very independent of you, but we're miles from Trantridge.
Tess, listen to me, please!
If you promise to wait here with the horse,
I will walk and find some road or house,
then return and give you directions. If you still insist on walking, you may.
Or you may ride with me, at your pleasure.
Take this.
You are very kind, sir.
I imagine your family think so. I thought you might like to know
that your father has a new horse today.
He has? And the children have some toys, too. You have your dress.
That's very good of you, sir.
Not "sir". "Alec".
Well, thank you... Alec.
I am very grateful to you. I almost wish I wasn't.
Oh, come, Tess.
Don't you love me even a little now?
I am very grateful to you,
but that is all.
I'm sorry.
Rest here, my love.
I'll be back as soon as I can.
RUSTLING
SHE MOANS
SHE SCREAMS
MUFFLED CRIES
SCREAM ECHOES
The mist is lifting now. We should be able to find our way home.
Will you come with me, cousin?
SHE SIGHS
Very well.
You may keep the coat.
SHE SIGHS DEEPLY
And where might you have been?
Mrs D'Urberville's been calling for you.
You've got mud on your dress!
THEY LAUGH
DOOR BANGS SHUT
BIRDS WHISTLE EXCITEDLY
TESS WHISTLES
SHE WHISTLES FALTERINGLY THEN SOBS Is everything all right, my dear?
Yes.. Yes, ma'am.
Tess!
What is it, my dear?
Why run away like this...
without saying goodbye?
Tess, please, come back with me and we can be friends. I will never set foot there again.
I should never have left home in the first place.
Then why did you come?
Not for love of me, I suppose?
Oh, my eyes were dazed by you for a moment, I confess.
But if I ever loved you I would not loathe and hate myself as I do now.
The other night,
I did not understand your meaning.
That's what every woman says.
My God, I could knock you down! Did it never strike your mind
that what every woman says, some women may feel?!
Tess, I did wrong!
I admit it! I'm sorry that I hurt you,
but I'm ready to pay to the utmost farthing.
I will give you clothes, money... I should not take anything from you,
I should be your creature to do that, and I won't.
Well, then I can say no more.
I was born bad, I have lived bad and I shall die bad most likely.
But I won't be bad towards you, Tess. Not again.
I'm going away to London for a while,
but if certain circumstances should arise, just send me one line
and you shall have everything that you need.
You do understand my meaning, don't you, Tess?
Let us part friends.
One last kiss.
What pleasure is there for you, if it is against my will?
Oh, come, Tess.
Don't be melancholy.
Now the other side.
You will never love me, will you, Tess?
It would do me good now to lie, I suppose.
To say, "Yes, I do."
But I have enough honour left,
little as it is, not to tell that lie.
I have never loved you, Alec, and I never will.
I don't even hate you.
I feel nothing.
You are just dust and ashes to me now.
Tess! Oh!
Here she is! The lady herself!
Don't tell me, you've come home to be married! - No, I haven't.
Enough of that! Then for a holiday?
Yes, a holiday, a long holiday. Look what your gentleman bought us!
Isn't our cousin going to marry you, Tess? Please, Aby!
What's happened?
He isn't my cousin and he's not going to marry me!
Then what is it?
What's happened?
And he's not going to marry you?
No.
Have you asked him?
No.
Any woman would ask him, Tess. Perhaps any woman except me.
But to give it up for nought!
After all the talk and the things he's bought us, to end like this?
Why didn't you think of doing some good for your family, instead of thinking of yourself!
Mother!
You ought to have been more careful if you didn't want to be his wife!
How could I have known? I was a child!
Why didn't you tell me there was danger! Why didn't you warn me?
Ladies know what to fend hands against because they read novels,
but I never had that learning, Mother, I never had the chance, and you...
You did not help me!
Oh, Tess...
That's a lovely frock, Tess.
Did he buy it for you?
Yes, he did, as matter of fact, from London,
and he also bought toys for the children,
and the horse, of course.
So when will you be returning to the manor house?
It's not been decided yet, has it?
But soon, we hope.
Will you excuse me for one moment, please?
I'm sorry, Ma'am, but she's not feeling too bright today.
But I've not seen her for weeks now.
I had hoped that we might start lessons once again.
As I say, she's feeling a bit under the weather.
Will you tell her I called? I certainly will.
And will you ask her to call by? I'd very much like to talk to her, if I may.
I'll pass the message on.
Shall we stay with you, Tess?
No, you go on.
I would like to stay.
You join the dance. Go on.
Someone else will have to do it. I'll do it. I'll do it.
As of tomorrow it's Tess and Mr Clare. I'd marry him tomorrow.
I'd marry him and more.
A gentleman to marry a milkmaid?
He might ask us to milk his herd, but nothing more.
Dear, Tess, on no account do you say a word about your by-gone trouble.
Apologise at once!
Then I do not like you and I do not like your God,
and I will not set foot in your church again!