The Woman in White (2018) s01e03 Episode Script

1 This marriage is nothing more than a financial transaction.
As it gives the husband a vested interest in the wife's demise! My feeling now is that Laura and I should travel alone.
- How was it? - Wonderful.
It was wonderful.
Your beauty always surprises me, Miss Halcombe.
- Nothing improper has occurred.
- Don't try to deny it! It is a blatant abuse of the trust we have placed in him.
She says it was Glyde who locked her in away in the asylum.
She said not to concern Sir Percival with her visit or talk of Anne.
The woman was Mrs Catherick, Anne's mother? Yes, Miss Halcombe.
Welcome to Blackwater, Lady Glyde.
Shall we go for a walk, Laura? I shall escort you both.
It's very close indoors.
Huh! Count, Madam Fosco, would you care to join us? Yes.
Nothing would give me greater pleasure.
Come, my angel.
Quick, into the boat house.
Welcome to England, Count Fosco.
What wonderful weather! Some people might call this picturesque, I call it a blot on a man's property.
My bailiff thinks it has a curse on it.
A good place for a murder maybe, not much else.
If a fool was going to commit a murder, your lake is the perfect place.
A wise man would look elsewhere.
To describe a murderer as a wise man is surely a contradiction in terms.
Truly wise men are truly good men and would abhor crime.
My dear lady, these are admirable sentiments.
I have seen them stated at the front of children's books.
My angel, do you agree with Lady Glyde? I prefer to be instructed before discussing my opinions in the presence of well-informed men.
Very well, Count, if you're right, give us an instance of a wise man who's a great criminal.
You have me there.
I cannot name one for, of course, he is the criminal that will never be caught.
But surely you must agree that such heinous crimes as murder are generally detected.
Er we talk of murder and here is blood.
There may have been one committed in this very place.
No.
It belongs to a poor dog that I found yesterday.
Your gamekeeper shot it.
Baxter? He shot one of mine? No, Mrs Michelson said that it belonged Well, it belonged to a local woman.
Well, what was she doing on my land? Who was she? I believe it was Mrs Catherick.
Are you telling Mrs Catherick has been here? Why the devil didn't you tell me?! Laura, have you had dealings with her?! Gently, my friend, gently.
Well, I'm sorry, but I find it very hard to believe that this has been kept from me! Er it seems to me the housekeeper is the one you should be interviewing.
Yes.
My apologies, Miss Halcombe, Laura, this place has a very bad effect on me.
I think perhaps my bailiff is right about it.
But I shall talk to the housekeeper when the rain abates.
I mean, when we return.
Is this Mrs Catherick Anne's mother, the girl I used to play with? - Yes, I believe she is.
- Well, what was she doing here? I don't know.
I only saw her from the window.
Will you play for us, Laura? Something light and pretty.
I miss your playing.
I'm not in the mood.
Thank you.
Please excuse me, I need to retire.
I'm a touch tired.
Goodnight.
Goodnight.
Amore, you will play.
I hope you're feeling at home at Blackwater, Miss Halcombe.
Yes, thank you.
Where were you born, Count? In the Kingdom of Two Sicilies.
Do you go back there often? My body does not go there .
.
but my soul has never left.
It's the most beautiful place in the world.
(One day, I will take you to see it.
) You plan to take my knight, but it's covered by my queen.
Ah.
Your queen, of course.
I lose my bishop .
.
and you lose the game.
You play well, Miss Halcombe.
Had you not been a touch distracted, you would have won.
A last appeal from a paramour, perhaps? Yours look far more colourful, Count Fosco.
Politics, pages of it.
Some would find it dry, but for me, it is my lifeblood.
Mine is sadly a bill which Laura's uncle was kind enough to forward to me.
Mr Merriman wishes to see you immediately.
- Where is he? - In the library, Sir Percival.
- Who's Mr Merriman? - I haven't the least idea.
Mr Merriman is Sir Percival's solicitor.
- He flirts with you in front of his wife.
- He flirts with everyone.
You should be more wary of him, Marian.
What's he done to justify your distrust? Perhaps it's just the control he has over my husband.
Are the Count and Sir Percival old friends? I've no idea.
Sir Percival doesn't talk to me about his past.
You must know him a bit better now after all these months away? He's very troubled by debt, that's all I know.
Figaro Son qua Figaro, son qua Figaro la Figaro giu Pronto prontissimo son come il fumine Sono il factotum della citta Della citta, della citta.
He often sings to me when we're alone.
I sing for anyone who has an open heart, beggar or prince.
Figaro, son qua Figaro, son qua Figaro qua, Figaro la Figaro qua.
Mr Merriman, prior to Lady Glyde's death, Sir Percival's debts were enormous.
They'd been away on an expensive honeymoon.
Were there creditors who needed to be paid? Yes.
But his marriage to Lady Glyde provided him with an income.
Then why did Sir Percival need to take money out of her legacy? Surely a man of his standing had other resources.
- Could he not take out a loan? - They were married.
Why not use her resource? The situation must have been urgent for a solicitor to travel all the way to Blackwater.
Sir Percival required the document in order to free up the funds from Lady Glyde's legacy immediately.
All that was left was for Sir Percival to persuade Lady Glyde to sign it.
Laura, er would you join me in the drawing room, please? It won't take a minute.
Countess, may I trouble you also? I would like you and Fosco to be witnesses to a signature, nothing more.
I would prefer Marian to be my witness.
Miss Halcombe, would you join us, as well? It would be a kindness.
Come, Fosco.
Sign your name there, will you, Laura? - What does it say? - It's it's nothing of note.
Mr Merriman's messenger's waiting for it at the door.
Mr Gilmore would always explain everything to me that I was to sign.
Well, that was very laudable, but he was your servant, he was obliged to explain.
I am your husband, and I'm not.
Well, if my signature pledges me to anything, I want to know what it is.
Laura, my love, I am your husband.
I'm not asking Miss Halcombe to sign it! As witnesses to the signature, I have a say.
I think Laura's objection's perfectly justified.
Do not invite yourself into my house and repay my hospitality by taking my wife's side in a matter that doesn't concern you.
I am not afraid of you! Percival, you're in the presence of ladies.
Please, be good enough to remember it.
The messenger is waiting.
Sign it! Read it to me, Percival, and I will sign it.
I will not be commanded.
Not by my wife.
Do you remember our vows? I will obey as soon as I have the simple knowledge of the document.
Until then, I will sign nothing.
Do you positively refuse to give me your signature? Calm, my friend.
We will ensure Lady Glyde signs the document.
I'm writing to you, Mr Gilmore, the only honest man in reach, to please help us.
I beg your advice be sent by messenger and arrive no later than tomorrow.
- You riding somewhere? - I am.
Shall I take your letter? No, you need not trouble yourself.
Did you tell Laura anything of Anne Catherick, of the sightings? Hm? No, I've told her nothing.
You kept all of that from her and yet she still trusts you.
I'm trying to shield her from any distress.
We agreed.
Your good intentions may well be branded as simply deceitful.
It's in both of our interests to ensure Lady Glyde remains ignorant of this business.
Hm! Marian, do you have leisure enough for a five-minute private conversation? Yes, Countess.
The Count told all that passed in the library and I wanted to assure you of my sympathies.
Thank you, Countess.
Men hold the strings to the purse.
They control us.
But only some of them earn our obedience.
Sir Percival was insolent, and that has both shocked and distressed me, and Marian? I shall leave this house if Sir Percival repeats his outrageous conduct.
I appreciate your sentiment, Countess.
I blame my brother, Philip.
He forced his daughter's marriage, just as he tried to undo mine.
He objected to the Count? Certainly.
He cut me out of my inheritance.
And for reason known only to my dead brother, he decided on his deathbed to play puppeteer with his beloved daughter's life, too.
He controls her, even from beyond the grave.
Do you know why the Countess became estranged from the Fairlie family? Philip Fairlie, her brother, disapproved of the Count.
Do you know why? Family relationships can be very complicated, Mr? - Nash.
- Mr Nash.
I've seen that all the time in my profession.
Mr Gilmore, surely as their solicitor for 30 years, you must know more than just they were a complicated family.
I know Philip Fairlie and the Countess were very close before she was married and I know he ceased all communication with her afterwards.
I also know he struck the Countess from his will.
She gained nothing from his death? Well, the most that Mr Fairlie could be prevailed upon to do over the years was to defer her inheritance until after her niece Laura's death.
Count Fosco wishes to see you, Sir Percival.
Has anyone visited or left the house? No, Sir.
His Lordship is in his rooms, Sir.
Is this the Sicilian way of conducting business?! We all remain the same as the day we were born.
Only trappings hide our nakedness.
I hope I have progressed somewhat since my birth.
What did you want, Fosco? Miss Halcombe has written to her lawyer.
How do you know? How does a man learn anything? He watches, he investigates.
He does not leave the house while the mice are playing.
That idiot Gilmore will block Laura from releasing any capital to me.
Blackwater must be worth a considerable amount.
Why not take a loan against it? I've had every penny I can take out of it.
Where have you been all day? My horse needed exercise.
Oh.
And that unfortunate woman needed to know her dog is dead.
Mrs Catherick is a wretched creature! But her daughter? She's worse.
Damn it, Fosco, what are you getting at? What are you getting at?! Percival, you are my friend, but you still refuse to tell me the real reason you put Anne Catherick into the asylum.
Why?! You don't tell me everything, my friend.
You refuse to talk of why you're in exile.
I have never pushed you for the reason you've been banished from your own country.
What, you reveal yours, I reveal mine? Exactly.
Well, in that case, my curiosity is at an end.
What is most pressing is my wife's signature and how to obtain it from her.
Lady Glyde gains too much confidence from Miss Halcombe.
Then I'll separate them.
My brooch, I've lost it.
It is the most precious thing that you have ever given me.
Don't worry, we'll find it.
Have you searched your room? Yes.
I was wearing it when I went for a walk yesterday.
Go out and retrace your footsteps.
I shall stay out of the house until we hear from Mr Gilmore.
I cannot sign anything until he agrees to it.
Be careful.
Good morning! Are you on your way to Blackwater Park - with a letter for Marian Halcombe? - Yes, ma'am.
Good.
Thank you.
Yes, that's me.
Thank you.
Tell Mr Gilmore that we'll have all documents sent to him before signing anything - and that we're very much obliged.
- Thank you, Miss.
- Did you find your brooch? - No.
It'll turn up.
Laura, I need Forgive me, but I think it was Anne Catherick who wrote you the letter warning you of your marriage to Sir Percival.
You knew this? W-We suspected it, yes, Walter and I.
Walter? What, he knew, too? Yes.
Anne was warning me about Percival, who he truly is, and you ignored it! I didn't ignore it.
I didn't know what to do, I didn't know who to trust.
I was just doing my best, trying to protect you! Protect me? And who who was this? Was this you and Walter, or you and Percival?! You had no right to keep this from me, Marian! You have no idea what I've had to endure.
What do you mean? At first, I thought it was just my inexperience with a man.
But when we were in Rome, he .
.
he tried to force himself on me.
What? He dragged me from my bed and he threw me to the floor so violently.
And he stared at me with such hatred.
And it was not the only time.
- Laura, I'm so sorry.
- Don't! Just don't.
Laura! Thank you Anne.
You know me? And I know you.
Let me pin your brooch on for you? We used to play together.
I was happy then.
So was I.
Has he hurt you, Miss Fairlie? I'm no longer Miss Fairlie.
I know, but I love the name Fairlie and I hate the name Glyde.
He hurt me terribly! But I am not afraid of him any more.
I'm dying, Miss Fairlie, and that takes away all fears.
- Can I help you? - No.
The only fear then is the darkness.
Come! Miss Halcombe.
I can see the country air in your face.
Marian, will join me for tea in the library? I was just going to my room.
You can go to your room later.
Come with me, directly.
I will join you very soon.
Why do you observe the Count? - I don't.
- But you do, my dear.
You look pale, Marian.
You probably need to rest, hm? Hm.
My head! I feel a I feel a touch I feel a touch Why don't you lie down, hm? Put your head on my lap.
Come.
There.
- Be like a child.
- I'm not a child.
We have no children, the Count and I.
One needs nothing when one has such a husband.
Shhh.
It was you last night.
I've been waiting for days to speak to you alone.
I have to make sure no-one is watching us! Why did I let you marry him?! Oh, my fears All gone now.
Please, you could not have prevented my marriage.
I ought to have been braver at Limmeridge.
When he arrived, I I ran away.
I wrote you that letter, but it was not enough.
I know he has given you cause to fear him.
He locked up my life, my youth.
But it's no matter now.
Please, let me help you.
No.
There's no help.
I only want to wake at your mother's side, but I cannot leave you with him.
(He has a secret.
) The real reason he put me in the asylum.
My mother knows it, too.
She has wasted under it half her lifetime.
Tell me, please, why did he put you in the asylum? There's someone outside! (Come back tomorrow by yourself!) Lady Glyde, I would wish to speak with you for a moment.
Please, come.
Lady Glyde? Laura, I've been waiting for you.
Could you come into the drawing room, please? - Where's Marian? - I am sorry to say she's feeling unwell.
Where is she? Laura, do not discompose yourself.
Marian? Marian! - Wake up! - What? Please, Marian! I feel so strange.
I thought I was - I was I was tired.
I thought I was ill.
- They're trying to make me sign.
What? No! No, no, you cannot sign.
You cannot sign, Laura.
The figure at the lake, the person last night, I've seen her, I've spoken to her! - Who? - Anne Catherick! She found it, Marian, and gave it to me.
(She knows something, a secret about Sir Percival.
) (She said it would ruin him.
) (Shh! Laura, don't talk.
) Oh! I'm so sorry! A thousand pardons.
I have frightened Lady Glyde out of her wits and I must now make amends.
For there is no reason for it, none at all.
I was merely trying to tell you that I have good news.
- Yes? - Yes.
I have prevailed on Sir Percival and he agreed to leave the business of the signature for the present.
Thank you.
It's finished.
And also, I was worried about you, Miss Halcombe.
My wife told me you were unwell.
Er Yes, I was just strangely tired.
But I'm I'm revived now.
Excellent.
So, come, we have all had enough misunderstandings in this house.
Countess.
My love.
- Miss Halcombe.
- Thank you.
- I think we need music.
- Mm-hm.
- Mm-hm? Do me the pleasure, Lady Glyde.
Hm? Play for us, dear Laura.
We cannot dance unless you play, dear Lady Glyde.
No need to confer, surely.
Please.
Comme se fricceca la luna chiena Lo mare ride, ll'aria e serena Vuje che facite 'mmiezo a la via? Santa Lucia Santa Lucia Vuje che facite 'mmiezo a la via? Santa Lucia Santa Lucia Will you not dance with me? If you so wish.
I do so wish.
Sometimes a moment .
.
I would wish it forever.
~ Excuse me.
Marian! Leave her alone, Laura.
Well, shall we? Please, Lady Glyde, another song.
What are you doing here? Why are you following me? You know why I follow you.
- You left so abruptly last night.
- You have to stop doing this.
Marian there is nothing to fear.
I'm not afraid.
No! No, I've got to go back to Laura! Laura, Laura, Laura! What about you? What about your own desires, huh? Do you even know them? No! No! Wait, Marian! Marian! I must see Anne again today, Marian.
No, Laura, it's too dangerous.
I promised.
I said I would go alone.
Very well.
- You look pale.
- Oh, I'm fine.
I just haven't slept, that's all.
- I'll follow you as soon as I can.
- Don't come to the boathouse.
I'll meet you in the woods, where we were yesterday.
I shall be safe.
Laura? Did you follow me here? A man may walk in his own grounds, may he not? What do you have there? I don't know.
Perhaps a child is playing a game.
Please Perhaps you're the child and you're playing with me.
- What does it say? - Scrawlings of someone who's lost their mind.
There was no substance to it.
- You met Anne Catherick here? - No.
I can tolerate you being stubborn, but not a liar.
What did she tell you? Take your hands off me, I've told you before! Because you want the hands of another upon you? - You are so low.
- You push me to it! - What did she say tell you? - You're hurting me! - What do you know about my past?! - She told me nothing! Stop it! Stop! Let go! Stop! Tell me what has passed between the two of you! - You are my wife, do you hear me?! - I wish I was not your wife.
I'll break you.
You left the employment of Sir Percival Glyde for family reasons.
Mrs Michelson, that is what you say in your letter of resignation.
Yes.
What were the family reasons? I left I left because I refused to remain in the employment of a man who had shamefully deceived both Lady Glyde and myself by a series of atrocious falsehoods.
Falsehoods which I believe may have led to the demise of Lady Glyde.
Laura? Laura! Have you seen Lady Glyde? Laura? Laura? Laura? Laura? Laura, it's me.
Open the door.
- You can't come in.
- I can, and I will.
- She's not well.
- Where's Fanny? Gone.
Master told her to leave.
Open the door! - How dare you! - Master's orders.
Master rules this house.
Laura, are you all right? Has anyone hurt you? Marian! They keep telling me I am ill and that I must not leave my room! Am I to understand, Sir, that you've locked my sister up in her own home? And why why have you dismissed her maid without her consent? Your sister has not been well and Fanny was useless as a nurse.
- Laura is not ill.
- You did not see Lady Glyde on our honeymoon.
Her mental state was very fragile.
You'd better take care how you treat your wife.
There are laws in England to protect women against such cruelty and outrage! Sir Percival, this IS an outrage.
I decline to stay here a day longer.
I remain in no house in which ladies are so maltreated.
Unless you rectify the situation, you will oblige my husband and myself to leave Blackwater Park.
Eleanor, I'm at your service, and yours Miss, Halcombe.
Please accept all the assistance I can offer.
I locked my wife up for her own good.
By the time we return to the house, I truly believe you will find Lady Glyde mistress again of Blackwater.
Please, do me the honour of escorting you back.
Thank you, Count, Countess.
I'll make my own way back.
The Count could use his influence to persuade Sir Percival.
It was the Count who was watching us yesterday.
He knew I planned to meet Anne again and he told Percival where to meet me today.
Why are they putting you through this? Is this Percival's doing? (He was like a man possessed.
) He dragged me through the woods, Marian.
Laura, you must leave him.
How? And go where? My uncle would not have me.
He would take Percival's side in an instant.
We'll find a way.
I'll I'll write to him myself and ask directly.
We can use Fanny's dismissal to our advantage.
I'll I'll go to her, I've give her a letter to give to Mr Fairlie and another one to give secretly to Mr Gilmore.
May I take this opportunity to protest any blame being placed wantonly and gratuitously onto His Lordship, Count Fosco? He did his best to protect Lady Glyde and Miss Halcombe from Sir Percival.
I certainly wish I'd been able to do more for Lady Glyde.
Dear Lady Glyde! Hindsight affords us a different reality to that which was present at the time.
Count Fosco! What might I do for you? My dear Mrs Michelson, may I compliment your gracious gentility of this house? Thank you, Your Lordship.
Forgive me for asking, the young person who attended on Lady Glyde was sent away in such, shall we say, an abrupt way? - Mm.
That was Fanny, sir.
- Yes, yes.
And I'm still unsure as to what she did wrong.
The Countess and I are anxious to know what has become of poor Fanny.
I would like to forward some small provision for her.
Where may I send it? That's very kind, sir.
I've arranged for her to stay at the inn in the village tonight.
Tomorrow, she travels to Cumberland, where she's from.
Tomorrow.
Oh, good, good.
Such a woman of substance.
So pleased to know you, Mrs Michelson.
Thank you.
- Who's there? - It's your husband.
I need to know where Anne Catherick is.
- I do not know! - Laura I know nothing of her! And if I did, I would never tell you! I'll crush your obstinacy! I will! Do you hear me? That woman is very dangerous, Laura.
She could take everything from us.
Please, I just need to rest.
Rest, then.
I just want everything that's good for you.
What was Sir Percival Glyde's interest in Anne Catherick and her mother? Mrs Clements? Mr Catherick, he disappeared when Anne was a few months old.
They were our neighbours, you see.
So I brought Anne up.
I have no child of my own.
And do you have any idea why Mrs Catherick was so indifferent to her daughter? She was more fond of gold rings than a child's affection.
And do you know why her father left? - Catherick? - Mm-hm.
He caught her, his wife .
.
with someone else.
Allow me to pour you some tea, my dear.
No letters today? No, Count.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Do me the kindness of pouring me some tea.
She will not leave us for long, Miss Halcombe.
Madam Fosco.
Fanny.
Mrs Michelson told me you were here.
Thank you.
I will have your opinion on German and English music verses Italian.
Chorus of Egyptians in the Plague of Darkness.
Ah! Dell'empio piu potere feroce tu ci Marian Miss Halcombe, asked me to convey a message to you.
- Do you have a glass of water? - Of course.
Thank you.
Please don't let me interrupt your tea.
Dio possente in pace e in guerra Ciascun' si de' piega You must be forming an opinion now, Miss Halcombe.
Prayer of Israelites at the passage of the Red Sea.
Dal tuo stellato soglio Signor, ti volgi a noi Be a brave girl.
That's it.
Behave.
Behave! That's it.
Embrace it.
Del popol tuo pieta Shh.
It's a rare man that could match you.
You contradict his desire to protect you.
His ability to mould you.
And you deny yourself the natural intimacy you so deserve.
Stand strong, Marian Halcombe.
Tell me what has happened.
I can feel your heart pounding.
What has frightened you? Is it Count Fosco? There's something ill at play in this house.
Percival and the Count are plotting something.
I'm sure of it.
I'm determined to find out what.
- How will you find out? - I don't know.
I'll find a way.
- Please don't do anything dangerous, Marian.
- Shh.
I won't.
What do you expect from your wife? The question is, what will she give me? If your wife died, where would you stand? Marian, can you hear me? I think Miss Halcombe may need a doctor.
- What has happened here? - Marian?! The sisters have an upsetting effect upon each other.
I have done what I needed to do.
Monster.
You have your own interest in my wife's death.
You seem a touch apprehensive.
I will not rest until I have justice for my sister.
- Are you saying you do not trust me? - They planned it all, I heard them! GET OUT! GET OUT! I know they planned her murder! Oh, goddamn it!