The Crimson Petal And The White (2011) s01e03 Episode Script

19 years since we embarked on this life together.
Six since you tiptoed to my room and told me there was a gentleman to keep me warm.
Exclusive patronage of Sugar by me.
You're leaving us, then, after all these years? - What is this? - This is yours.
And mine.
Some lucky gent has taken the legendary Sugar off the market, before we'd had the benefit of her charms.
I'm afraid all is not as it should be.
Your womb has moved.
Agnes lost a child? No, we have a child.
- You have? - A daughter.
Sophie.
On bad days, I take a couple of these.
Trust me, you will hardly know yourself.
I have a guardian angel.
I will come back for you.
I wish for all the world I could live with you.
What is the matter with the men in your family? Mrs Fox is dying.
I can't wait for you to join me.
Could I not, in fact, live with you as your new governess? You're not serious? (hushed voices) Held up as usual.
Waiting for you has only ever sharpened my appetite.
Trying to sort out Henry's estate on top of everything else, it's just Which is why our current arrangement is no longer viable.
Marylebone must go.
- But, William - I am stretched too thin.
How often have you said how restorative you find our time together? Indeed.
Which is why I would like you to move to Chepstow Villas and become Sophie's governess.
To live in your house? - With you? - I thought that was what you wanted.
Don't tell me you've changed your mind.
William! Mrs Rackham.
- Mr Rackham.
- Not now, Letty.
I'm busy.
But, sir (door bangs) (William) Apparently she wants to make a fresh start.
Curlew wants to lock her up.
I can't wait for you and I to be together.
Cheesman, take Miss Sugar's bags.
I'll take that.
Mind your step, miss.
Letty, this is Miss Sugar, our new governess.
How do you do, miss? I hope, I trust, she will be happy here.
Such a beautiful house.
Miss Cleave will speak with you before she leaves for her train.
Allow me to show you to your room.
Mrs Rackham's room.
And my own.
The room is not as spacious as you're used to.
No.
But it will oblige us to remain very close together.
- Excuse me, sir.
- Just come through with it.
Miss Cleave will tell you all you need to know about my daughter, and much more besides, I don't doubt.
And will Mrs Rackham be joining us? I don't think so.
I had hoped this would go without saying, but it would be best if you could take care of Sophie in a manner that allows Mrs Rackham to go about her general business without actually seeing Sophie.
- At all? - Exactly.
She finds the child disturbing.
(thudding) Letty, not in here.
Not in here.
For heaven's sake.
Put it in the dressing room with all the other junk.
I'm I swear a spaniel takes better instructions.
No, don't push it.
You'll break it.
Oh! (Agnes) This is a preposterous overreaction.
- (Curlew) Forgive me if I disagree.
- I merely wished to bury the past.
(Agnes) Am I not permitted to go forward unencumbered? Miss Cleave.
Forgive me.
I have kept you.
Miss Sugar.
Eight years I have been in this house.
In that time, I have been both wet and dry nurse to this child.
Heavens.
You will find Sophie, in the main, a well-meaning thing.
She isn't stupid, but her mind is very easily jolted off the rails.
At such times, a firm hand is required.
We don't want her going the way of a a bedlamite.
I'll bear that in mind.
We alternate two sets of sheets.
She wets the bed, you know.
The sheets are not yet dry.
You'll have to come down later.
Now you must be formally introduced to the child.
I believe you have a train to catch.
Please allow me to introduce myself to Sophie.
Just watch out.
She can be quite the little actress.
She'll twist you round her little finger if you're not careful.
Good morning, Soph Forgive me.
You were asleep.
I'm Miss Sugar.
How d'you do, miss? I know you're Sophie.
You so closely resemble your father.
Sophie, do you have another room? A playroom perhaps? So where do you keep your toys? You do have toys, don't you? I have him.
His name's Twinings.
My grandpa gave him to me.
He was riding a tin elephant with tea inside, but they took that away.
He's much too handsome to be shut up in that dusty chest.
Miss Cleave says I'm not to have a smelly old doll in my good clean room.
She says she doesn't like to look at his black face.
Well, Miss Cleave has gone now.
I should like him to join us for our lessons.
(Sophie) Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, see me safely through the night and wake me with the morning light.
Amen.
What is it? What's wrong? Do you resemble your father, miss? Oh That's a very good question, Sophie.
I I've never thought about it.
Perhaps you favour your mama.
Not at all.
Do you favour yours? I couldn't say.
I haven't seen her since my birthday.
(Agnes) Dear Diary, I am gripped by terror.
Dr Curlew has been called and his black bag frightens me.
I have begged Clara not to let him in, but she prattles that everyone is worried about the baby, how very late it is and that it must come soon.
Whose baby can this be? I wish William would inform me about whom he invites to this house.
(knock at door) Dearest.
I haven't known whether to come and find you.
No, no, better not.
How are you getting on? You rue the day you came, don't you? - Not at all.
- You have a weary look.
Would you like me to hire you a nursery maid? No, that's not necessary.
It's true, I haven't slept, but that's because of this bed.
It's too small.
I knew it.
William, it hasn't been christened.
Oh! (Sugar moans) (clattering) (clattering) - Do you remember our first time? - (snorts) Oh, what a disgrace I was then.
I knew you were a great man in the making.
Hmm.
Are you really managing alright with Sophie? We're very happy.
I did wonder, when's her birthday? August the something.
Why? Well, Sophie told me that she hadn't seen Agnes since her birthday.
She means since the day she was born.
(Sugar) Good morning, Letty.
Good morning, Sophie.
I'm sorry, miss.
I'm bad.
No, Sophie.
No, you're not bad.
Not at all.
Let's get you clean.
I'm sore down there.
Well, you've been sleeping in wet sheets for too long.
Did Miss Cleave have a special cream she used on you? Well, I'll get you some.
(doorbell rings) I cannot tell you how anxious I have been to see you, Mrs Fox.
They say your recent recovery is nothing short of miraculous.
Miracles are rare, Mrs Rackham.
I prefer to think I was simply nursed back to health.
Come, now.
Henry assured us he had seen you on your deathbed.
Henry saw me at my very worst, it's true.
And I regret that.
You've been to the Convent of Health.
Haven't you? No.
St Bartholomew's Hospital.
Are you Are you seriously asking me to believe that you were snatched from the jaws of you know what by nothing more than good nursing? The convent of which you speak is not known to me.
If I am scrupulously honest, Mrs Fox, its precise location is a mystery to me.
Luckily, they have provided me with an angel escort, ready for when the time comes.
(shallow breathing) (Agnes) The stretcher on which I lie is lifted and carried through the sunlit trees to the gates of the convent.
I hear the train which delivered me hooting and moving off on its return journey.
She whom has taken me under her wing is waiting at the gates.
I'm carried into the convent into a warm cell at its very heart which glows in colours from the stained-glass windows.
(Sugar) Trust me.
(urinates) Morning, Sophie.
Sophie, good girl.
Thank you, miss.
Hard at work today, Mrs Rackham? Yes, indeed, Clara.
If Bodley and Ashwell, those idiot friends of William's, can publish books that are no more than their opinions about life, well, why can't I? You're writing a book? It will be like my diary but for the public, a great web of like-minded souls all waiting on The Illuminated Thoughts and Preternatural Reflections of Agnes Pigott.
That's my real name, you know.
It sounds fascinating.
If only I hadn't buried all my old writings.
They'd have been such invaluable research material.
I'm sure there's plenty more where that came from.
Yes.
- New books.
- I asked your father for them.
Your old ones were out of date.
History is on the move.
You change every day and so does everything around you.
Even you? Even me.
(both) "The owl and the pussycat went to sea in a beautiful pea-green boat.
" "They had some honey and plenty of money wrapped up in a five-pound note.
" (both) "The owl looked up at the stars above and sang to a small guitar.
" Are you cold at night now the weather's turned? Would you like another blanket? Yes, please.
How did you know? Did your nurse bring you an extra blanket when you were a little girl? No.
But that's how I knew you would like one.
(Sophie) Look.
There's a wiggly worm in your hand.
William.
We've discussed everyone except you.
Your life is becoming quite shrouded in mystery.
I'm so curious.
Did you, for example, ever find a governess for your daughter? Yes, I did, thank you.
Not a rescue girl, I hope.
What makes you think that? Mrs Fox is striving to convince anyone with the least servant problem to take one of her reformed specimens.
She knows better than to approach me.
I had a rescue girl in my kitchen.
Was obliged to dismiss her very swiftly.
Why? What happened? Nothing I could discuss in polite company.
Am I polite company? Oh, William.
You are sui generis.
I feel I could discuss any subject with you.
(Sugar) He is, isn't he? - Miss Sugar, I found another one.
- Miss Sugar.
How do you do? Very well, thank you, sir.
- A brighter day today.
- Yes, yes, it is.
I brought Sophie outside for her lesson.
She's grown so pale.
A lady can never be too pale.
But a child needs some air.
I find Sophie such a hard-working little girl.
How very agreeable for you.
(William) Very good, Sophie.
Miss Sugar.
(William and Lady Bridgelow laugh) Mr Rackham.
Might I have a word with you later, when you have a moment? Of course.
(Lady Bridgelow laughs) Who is that lady, Sophie? I don't know, miss.
I've seen her before.
My father says I was a good girl, miss.
That's not what he said.
(knock at door) You wanted to see me.
Yes.
I miss you.
To see you in the garden today and not be able to touch you was torture.
Really? I feel so dowdy.
All my good clothes are in the trunk.
You don't need your old get-ups to take care of Sophie.
No, of course not, but I don't want you to grow bored of me.
Bored? Sugar, you saved me.
You can't imagine how much of a stranger I felt in this house.
But then you arrived and We have a home here.
Exactly that.
And I am grateful.
How grateful? Very grateful.
But I must go now.
Bodley and Ashwell are launching their new book.
The Great Social Evil.
Perhaps later.
We'll see.
(gasps) - Who's there? - Miss Sugar, I'm sorry.
I just I need to check for Mrs Rackham.
(William) Janey, take the front.
Clara, the back.
Agnes, where are you, dear? - (Clara) I've looked there already.
- Agnes? (William) Agnes? Agnes, where are you? (Clara) Mrs Rackham? (William shouts in the distance) (shouting continues in the distance) - (Sugar gasps) - (Agnes sobs) My angel.
I knew you'd come.
Agnes, what have you done? (Agnes) Please, I'm ready.
Get me away.
(Sugar) I I I can't.
You're my only hope.
- I will help you.
- When? - Soon.
- You promise? - You promise? - Yes, but But first I have to let them know you're safe.
Safe? In this house? With him? Don't worry, Agnes.
I'm watching you.
I see everything.
Stay still.
Mr Rackham! (sobs) I told you, your wife requires specialist treatment away from this house.
And I am asking you to help hasten her recovery here, in her own home.
Nobody blames a man for sending his wife to hospital if she has a broken leg or contracts smallpox.
That is a facetious comparison.
(Agnes rants) Oh, Rackham, you simply have to rid yourself of this notion that your wife is a well person who suffers occasional bouts of illness.
She's a very sick person who occasionally has a good day.
- She's been doing marvellously well - Course she hasn't! Now, this absurd pantomime has gone too far.
It's high time Agnes admitted to being a mother.
(Agnes rants) She has me at my wits' end.
And why the hell did I ever call Curlew? Hush, my love.
He wants me to condemn her to a living hell because she can't use a spade! William, you're beside yourself.
She'll be no trouble from now on, though.
Oh, no.
Curlew has finally made himself useful in that respect.
What do you mean? She's to be sedated day and night.
- Is that necessary? - What have I just been telling you? Day and night.
Do you understand? My angel.
Jessie Sharpleton, just back from Zanzibar, and Clarence Ferry.
Ah, he wrote Her Regrettable Lapse.
I saw it at the Haymarket.
How I love to be surrounded by my denizens of the age to come.
- I say, Rackham.
- Lord Watson.
(Watson) You've been a busy chap.
Even in the apothecaries in Venice, I find your phiz stamped on all the little pots and bottles.
A miracle of the modern age, sir.
I can be making a fool of myself in Venice and Paris without ever leaving London.
(Watson) Very good, yes.
Clara, I'm surprised to see Mrs Rackham sitting up.
Clara has decreased my medication now that I am in less pain.
That is not a decision for Clara.
She was doing as I asked.
I have suffered a most humiliating rebuff.
Cheesman says he's forbidden to take me to church.
My dear, it's Friday.
My church.
I need a miracle of healing, William.
But, Agnes Agnes, you cannot walk.
- Cheesman can carry me.
- No.
I will not have you become a laughing stock.
What a cowardly, conventional man you are, William.
Agnes, you are ill.
I'm trying to take care of you.
When have you ever taken care of me? When? When? (William) Agnes, no.
No.
Agnes.
Agnes, not in front of the servant.
Agnes.
Stop it! Agnes! My body is turning into raw meat and all you care about is what other people think! - For pity's sake! - (Clara) Mrs Rackham! Stop it.
Stop it.
You are hurting me.
Go play with someone else.
Sophie.
How nice it is to see you downstairs.
Where is your mama, miss? (Sugar) She's at home, in her house.
All alone? No.
She has visitors.
The next card I make is for her.
We'll see, Sophie.
Who were you looking after last Christmas? Er, a little boy, Christopher.
Who's looking after him now? I don't know.
Surely we should make him a card.
Merry Christmas, one and all.
Where's Agnes? Upstairs, sleeping.
Ah.
Doped up.
Better for everybody.
I don't know about that, but it does mean that Sophie can join us for the first time.
Well, will you look at the size of the child? (laughs) Now, then, where are the presents? Oh, thank you, Miss Sophie.
Thank you, miss.
Thank you, Miss Sophie.
- (Sophie) Oh, Miss Sugar.
- No, no, er, Sophie.
Please, allow me.
Erm, Mr Rackham, that's very generous.
Books, miss.
Yes, Sophie.
Shakespeare.
Your father and I share a passion.
Miss Sophie, this is a precision instrument entrusted to me by an explorer I once met.
Now, look through here.
Let me show you how it works.
You take this off, look through the window, through here.
Through the window.
Allow me, Sophie.
Ah! Open up.
Oh! (laughter) - Miss? - (Sugar) Hmm? Do you think I could be an explorer when I'm older? (Sugar) I don't see why not.
It mightn't be permitted.
A lady explorer.
These are modern times, Sophie.
Women can do all sorts of things nowadays.
Perhaps I could explore the places the gentlemen explorers just don't wish to explore.
(Sugar) Perhaps you could.
There's no use anyone waking my mama now, is there, miss? She has missed everything.
(Sugar) She is very ill, Sophie.
I think she'll die soon and they'll put her in the ground.
If you like, we can read the book I gave you tomorrow.
Yes.
Yes, I'd like that.
Goodnight, Miss Sugar, and God bless.
(Sugar) You too, Sophie.
Christopher? (distant raucous chatter) (Agnes) Dr Curlew leans over me.
There is no one to stop him having his way.
He places his hands on my belly and the demon inside me lunges in rage and terror and then tears its way out of me.
Stars burst behind my eyes.
I glimpse the vile creature only for an instant, naked, made of blood and slime.
(William) Soon you'll be in a place where you'll get better, my love.
You do want to be good, don't you, Agnes? Be good, sweet maid.
Hot.
Are you hot? I didn't mean to hurt you that first night.
I I was made hasty by urgency and I thought I thought once we were under way, you would enjoy it.
(Agnes) Six strong men, lift me up.
Oh, no, don't let me fall.
(William) It's just been such a long time.
Don't be afraid, dear heart.
I'm going to embrace you.
You'll let me know if I hurt you, won't you? I wouldn't hurt you for the world.
(Agnes groans) They've pierced my hands and feet.
They've numbered all my bones.
- Shh.
- (Agnes groans) Shh.
- (Agnes groans) - Shh.
(groaning continues) (groaning continues) (William moans) (William gasps) (Agnes sobs) (door latch clicks) (door bangs) (footsteps) (door bangs) (Agnes wails) (Agnes) Help me.
(Agnes sobs) Help me, please.
(sobs) - Agnes.
- Please They give me poison and they hurt me.
He hurts me, and his doctor does the same.
In the same place always.
(Sugar) The doctor hurts you? He pushes inside.
He digs away at me with his sharp beak.
Agnes, no one is going to hurt you any more.
They're going to kill me.
Worms have eaten my diaries.
No one will know I existed.
Agnes, your diaries are safe with me.
Come on.
Let's get you to bed.
- What time is it? - Seven, miss.
And Mr Rackham's asking for you.
(Sugar) "But our suffering in the flesh will someday end.
" "I have myself travelled in my sleep to see the place where we will pass into our second body, kept safe for us by the angels of paradise.
" (William) I found it in Agnes's room.
- It seems she's writing a novel.
- She tells a good story, doesn't she? Are you making a joke? - No, of course not.
- It is madness! It's complete lunacy! - Well, she's just consoling - Stop it! Agnes is to be put away.
In an asylum.
She leaves tomorrow.
- Curlew will supervise her treatment.
- But, William She will be meticulously cared for.
The decision has been made.
Well, in that case, I can't think what you need to know from me.
I need to know I'm not a monster.
God forgive me, Sugar, I can't bear to be here when they come.
I'll stay at my club.
What if Agnes should resist? She will be sedated.
And Curlew will have four strong men with him.
Four? To ensure that it proceeds with dignity.
(doorbell rings) Agnes will be cured.
Curlew swears it.
She will come home and we shall introduce her to Sophie.
She'll be a mother at last.
(doorbell rings) Damn it! Is the entire house asleep? (vomits) - Another whisky, sir? - Yes.
(woman) Deary.
Deary.
You poor baby.
No.
(woman) You need a nice soft bed to lie down in.
No, no.
Get away from me.
- You don't mean that.
- Leave me alone! - Leave me alone.
- Oh, deary.
(groans) (Sugar) Agnes.
Agnes, wake up.
Drink this.
Drink it all up.
I'll be back.
Don't go back to sleep.
Is it time? (train whistle) (Sugar) Do exactly as I say, Agnes.
I'll be watching you.
Don't worry.
The right destination will reveal itself to you.
The place you choose will be the right place because you chose it.
Lostwithiel.
(vomits) (footsteps) Miss Sugar.
(Sugar) I really have no idea where she could have gone.
It's hard to believe that Mrs Rackham could have made her way out into the world without the help of someone.
It is remarkable what a woman can do when she sets her mind to it.
(Curlew) What's left of her mind.
This'll be such a blow for Mr Rackham.
I do hope Mrs Rackham returns before he does.
Indeed.
Mrs Rackham is an extremely vulnerable individual, and if someone has helped her well, that's tantamount to murder.
(Sugar) When you arrive at your destination, walk deep into the countryside.
Ask to be shown to the convent.
Don't take no for an answer.
Promise.
(laughs) (gasps)