Sanditon (2019) s01e06 Episode Script

Are we here? Is this London? Are you all right there, Miss? I say, excuse me.
Excuse me, do you know where I might find Honey Lane? Courage, Charlotte.
Excuse me, I need I shan't warn you again, Mulligan.
This ain't that kind of establishment.
What are you gawping at, duchess? If it's a drink you're after, you can come inside.
This ain't no pleasure garden.
Wait, I'm not here for I need to speak with a Mr Otis Molyneux.
This is where he resides? Ain't no-one resides here except me, Sam Sidaway.
But I've been sending letters to this address and he's been answering.
So, he comes by to fetch his post every now and then.
Doesn't mean he lives here.
- When do you expect to see him next? - Couldn't guess.
Sent some other cove to fetch his post last week.
But I must see him.
It is a matter of great urgency.
I've travelled a good many miles to get here.
Well, then, you've had a wasted journey, ain't ya, duchess? SHE GASPS SHE SCREAMS SHE CRIES OU Mr Parker? Miss Heywood? As if this situation were not insufferable enough.
I now have the added burden of protecting you.
I have no need of your protection.
I have the situation in hand.
Excuse me.
What do you suppose would have happened had I not arrived at that moment? What possessed Mary to let you come in the first place, I have no idea.
She doesn't know I am here.
In fact, she expressly forbade it.
But you stole away on the London coach regardless? I left a note, explaining that I'd come here to help Help? How exactly do you think your presence here would help? For one thing, I did not think that you had Mr Molyneux's address.
It's hardly taken me long to find it, as you can see.
It is of no use anyway.
He has not been seen in over a week.
Apparently, he has all but vanished.
Yes, of course he has.
With Georgiana.
What more proof do you need? Mercifully, Tom is in our London house.
He'll see that you're kept out of harm's way.
No! I am in large part to blame for what has happened.
You must allow me the chance to help put it right.
Please.
You've done enough.
Bedford Place.
THINKS OUT LOUD: 'My dearest Mary, 'I can scarcely express the guilt I have felt 'since that humiliating episode at the cricket.
'But you must trust that I will do whatever I can 'to remedy 'To restore our fortunes.
'I beg you not to lose faith in me.
If you'd been honest with me, if you'd only told me that you feared for her safety, I would have thought twice I could not have been any clearer about my feelings for Mr Molyneux.
You spoke only in the vaguest of terms.
You gave no reason for your antipathy.
No explanation Oh, so, you supplied your own.
You baselessly accused me of prejudice.
Hardly baseless, given how you made your fortune.
For God's sake, I I despise slavery! I've long since renounced the sugar trade for that very reason.
The man's race played no part in it.
I can think of no other reason for your enmity.
Are you really that naive? Why do you think he was so desperate to marry her? Because the moment they are wed, everything she owns belongs to him.
Are we not wasting time? Instead of taking me back to Tom, we could be searching for Georgiana.
And where do you suggest we look, Miss Heywood? This is a city of a million people.
The Sons Of Africa.
What? It is the movement he belongs to.
If we can find out where they meet Driver! 'Whoa!' HORSE WHINNIES Now is not the time to be disheartened, my friends.
We owe it to our brothers and sisters who remain in shackles.
All we ask is a world in which all men, and women, are considered equal.
In which every child is not only born in freedom but knows that they will live and die in freedom.
Mr Molyneux.
I played no part in it.
I swear! I would sooner die than dishonour her.
And what of Miss Lambe's letter? In which she proposed a tryst at the exact same time and place from whence she was taken! A mere coincidence, I suppose? I never received such a letter.
Do not insult me.
Sam Sidaway said you'd sent someone to fetch your mail.
No.
I did not.
But why should anyone wish to steal your post? What? There is a particular gentleman to whom I owe a certain debt.
Which gentleman? Beecroft.
What? What is it? Who's Mr Beecroft? He owns a gambling house.
Come with me.
Are you sure you won't take a refreshment, Mr Parker? No, thank you.
Where is she? Watch your tone, young man.
A little decorum, if you don't mind.
I thought you kept better company, Mr Parker.
This man is no friend.
We are compelled here by the disappearance of my ward, Miss Lambe.
Oh, yes, the famous Miss Lambe.
Mr Molyneux speaks of little else.
Miss Lambe this, Miss Lambe that.
That is a lie! If I mentioned her, it was only in passing.
I am not the liar here.
You told me a wedding was imminent.
That her fortune was as good as yours.
I'd never have let him run up such a debt otherwise! All I wanted was to buy a little time.
If I'd known for even a moment Whatever this man has told you, he and my ward are barely acquainted.
He has no right to invoke her name.
An impertinence indeed, sir.
So, I would ask you to share her whereabouts with me at once.
Whatever debts Mr Molyneux owes, they are not her concern.
They're no longer his neither.
A gentleman has agreed to pay the debt in full, with interest.
Which gentleman? He has sold her.
The villain has sold her.
What? In return for a promise to buy his debt, she has been handed to some dissolute named Howard.
Even now he'll be dragging her to an altar.
An altar? That cannot be allowed without your permission.
No, there are no such laws across the border.
There they will marry you with impunity.
Had you only allowed us to marry You would blame me? It is you that has ruined her.
I should avenge her honour right here and now.
Stop! Stop! What good will that do? Get out of my sight.
Now! We cannot give up.
I cannot accept that she is lost to us.
And what do you suggest we do? They will be halfway to Scotland by now.
But what if they're not? You said Mr Beecroft had only received a promise of payment.
He doesn't sound like the kind of man who would give her up unless he was already in receipt of the money.
Well, is there not a chance at least that he is still holding her? Somewhere in London, even? Perhaps you're right.
Mr Beecroft owns a boarding house near Drury Lane.
Come on! I confess I gave no thought to how you might look.
It seemed beside the point.
But I am pleasantly surprised.
You have a youthful, exotic charm about you.
You are a disgusting pig.
Upon my word! I fear she is somewhat spirited, Mr Howard.
She will require a firm hand.
No matter.
I have broken enough horses before now.
I suspect a wife is not so different.
Mr Beecroft will find this in order.
There is a gentleman named Otis Molyneux.
Remember his name.
Because when he hears of this, he will find you and he will kill you.
I am not too afeared! Given it was Mr Molyneux who offered you up to pay his debts.
Feckless gambler by the sounds of it.
No matter.
You are mine now.
Look at you.
Clustered round the bed like bloodhounds.
Ears cocked for my death rattle! Oh, good Lord, Aunt.
How could you even think such a thing? Well, you'll be waiting in vain.
I won't give you the COUGHS, SPLUTTERS the satisfaction! Don't fuss, child! I am perfectly well.
It is a head cold, that is all.
More seawater! Well, I feel my strength returning already I do not doubt your resolve, Aunt, but Dr Fuchs believes you are gravely ill.
Well, he would, wouldn't he? It's entirely in his interest to say so.
We have every faith that you'll make a full recovery, Aunt.
But, just for your peace of mind, will you allow us to fetch you a priest, or a solicitor? I have no use for either.
I have as much faith in religion as I do in medicine.
Which is to say none! And my solicitor has been instructed.
He knows exactly where I keep my will.
Not that it will be needed for decades to come.
As I see it, he is a good man who made one terrible mistake.
He is an inveterate gambler.
He has several debtors beside Beecroft.
Otis never meant to place Georgiana in harm's way.
- Any more than I did.
- And yet you both did.
All I ever cared about was Georgiana's happiness.
What do you think I care about? That is anyone's guess! I have done the best I can by Georgiana.
No.
At every turn you've abdicated responsibility.
If you truly cared for her welfare, you would have watched over her yourself.
It's a role I neither sought nor asked for.
Of course not! Because you are determined to remain an outlier.
God forbid you give something of yourself.
Please, do not presume to know my mind, Miss Heywood How can anyone know your mind? You take pains to be unknowable.
All I know is that you cannot bear the idea of two people being in love.
And what do you know of love, apart from what you have read? I would sooner be naive than insensible of feeling.
Is that really what you think of me? I am sorry that you think that.
How much easier my life would have been if I were.
Edward, what are you doing? You heard her.
Her solicitor knows where she keeps the will.
And so should we.
Well, if the will is already written, then surely there's nothing to be done? Of course there is.
While she still yet breathes, there's time to alter it.
Even if I have to put the pen in her hand myself.
Our aunt is grievously ill, and all you can think about is her fortune.
I need to know that our future happiness is assured.
Under no circumstances are you to set foot outside this carriage.
Good evening, Mr Parker.
I've not seen you in a while.
I have some new ladies who'll be delighted to make your acquaintance.
Thank you, Mrs Harries, but I am not here for that.
Mr Parker, what is this place? I thought I told you to wait.
I decided against it.
And who is this? You haven't made an honest man of our Mr Parker, have you? Gracious, no.
I am a friend of Miss Georgiana Lambe's.
Is she here? I don't believe I am acquainted with anyone of that name.
Wait, wait, wait.
You know something.
Miss Lambe is my ward, you must tell me what you know.
You missed them by half an hour.
If you're quick you might catch them on the road to Scotland.
A boarding house, you said.
Is this your idea of love? Something to be paid for? That will do! If we are to stand any chance of catching them up, we should make haste.
I don't suppose there's any point in telling you to stay behind, is there? Edward? Edward! You have not been searching all night? I will not rest easy until I lay my hands on the damned thing.
Very well.
Where shall I start? Well, there's no point in both of us looking.
People want to know about our aunt's condition.
You go, spread the word.
And I'll follow close behind.
Just as soon as I've found this wretched document.
CLOPPING I know we didn't meet in the most auspicious of circumstances, but in time I trust you will come to regard me with affection.
I would sooner cut my own throat.
That would be a shame.
It's rather a pretty throat.
At least wait until after we are married.
Come on, boys.
Stop your carriage! Yarr! Yarr! Come on.
Yarr! Yarr! Take the reins.
Pull alongside.
Move! Let go! Come on! Stop the coach! We have nothing worth stealing.
Sidney? I beg to differ.
Oh, no, you don't.
She is my property! I am no man's property.
Least of all yours! Last I heard, the penalty for kidnap was hanging.
Is that a price you're willing to pay? Step aside! NOW! You owe me ã1,800! Looking for this? "I, Lady Denham, being of full age and sound mind, "shall impart and bequeath the entirety of my fortune "to be left for the development of Sanditon town.
"And the foundation of a donkey stud in my name.
" This cannot be the end of it? I assure you it is.
Even in death, she has found fresh ways to torment us.
It were better for us both if this were never found.
What are you suggesting? That we hide it? We will need to be a good deal more thorough than that.
Ha! Yes.
Yes! I'll be damned if I'm going to be pauperised by a drove of donkeys! We haven't agreed our terms.
What terms? If she dies intestate, her fortune reverts back to the holder of the Denham title.
I'm sorry.
It's that simple.
There's nothing simple about it.
I need to know what my silence is worth.
HE CHUCKLES It's your word against mine.
I could go to Lady Denham right now and confess to everything, with four or five servants and a doctor to witness it.
You wouldn't dare! What have I to lose? Wait! - A thousand pounds.
- And leave you with the rest? I would sooner let the asses have it.
- A tenth.
- Half.
A fifth.
And no more.
SHE GENTLY SCOFFS DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES Thank you.
Sidney! Miss Lambe and Miss Heywood! To what do I owe such a delightful Good grief! I Let's get the lady settled upstairs shall we, then I'll explain.
Yes.
Yes.
Of course.
Please.
Jenkins.
Prepare a bath for Miss Lambe.
Thank you.
What will happen to Otis now? The debtor's prison? Worse? He is no longer your concern.
Whatever he's done, I cannot just cauterise my heart.
I am not you.
At this moment, your world feels undone.
I know that.
But you must put him from your mind or you'll go mad.
Excuse me.
Good heavens, Sidney.
You have had quite the drama.
But all is well now! Is it? I fear Georgiana's spirit is broken.
You have no idea how close to ruination she came, Tom.
That's hardly your fault.
Her father entrusted her to my care.
The man saved my life, and in return I failed to honour the one thing that he asked of me.
Still.
There's no use dwelling on it.
What's done is done.
How can a man begin to make amends until he's willing to face his own faults? That's why you came to London, is it not, Tom? To make amends? Well, er, no.
I mean, I came mainly to raise interest in the regatta.
I Tom.
I was present at the cricket.
Be honest with me.
Be honest with yourself.
The truth is my situation is very grave indeed, Sidney.
I've knocked on half the doors of London and no-one cares a damn about Sanditon or the regatta.
I have no means whatsoever of paying my labourers.
And worst of all I have lost the trust of my own dear wife, perhaps forever.
Well we will raise interest in the regatta yet.
Babington will know where best to knock.
And as for the labourers, I shall lend you the money Sidney, I cannot ask ã3,000.
That was the amount, was it not? My dear brother, it is too much.
How I will find a way.
But when it comes to Mary I'm of no use.
I cannot pretend to understand the workings of a marriage.
And what I do know, is I would do anything to be blessed with a wife such as yours.
So, you must do whatever it takes.
Look at that.
You've just become shockingly wealthy.
It's all been so overwhelming.
I hardly know what to think any more.
About what, my dear? About anything! I have always felt so certain of my judgment but now I see that I have been blinded by sentiment and naivety.
I've got it all so wrong.
No wonder your brother has such a poor opinion of me.
TOM CHUCKLES I am certain that is not the case.
Sidney can be hard to read, that is all.
He is a conundrum.
But a conundrum can be solved.
He seems so determined to keep the world at arm's length.
That wasn't always the case.
In his younger days, he was a very different man.
Mary has spoken of a broken engagement? Yes.
Eliza.
They were very much in love.
But at the last moment, she passed him over in favour of an older, and wealthier man.
He set out on a rather self-destructive path.
We were all greatly concerned.
In the end, I paid his debts and he sailed to Antigua in a bid to forget her.
I fear the man he was never quite returned.
Mr Molyneux? I thought they at least deserved a proper parting.
This way, please.
I have gambled that is true.
But whatever they tell you I never gambled with your name.
I never boasted of your wealth.
I boasted of you.
Of your wit.
Of your beauty.
Because I couldn't believe that a man of my birth could win the heart of a woman like you.
It was pride, that was all.
And Lord knows, I have paid for it.
We have both paid for it.
I will never forgive myself for putting you in harm's way.
But please know this I never cared a damn about your fortune.
I fell in love with your soul.
Tell me you believe me.
What difference does it make now? Otis! Will you not say goodbye? Miss Heywood.
I hardly thought you'd want to speak to me.
What will you do now? How will you settle your other debts? My debts have all been paid.
I have been shown a kindness I do not deserve.
FOOTSTEPS ON STAIRS I hope I can trust you to honour our deal.
A quarter of all you inherit.
We agreed on a fifth.
It's a lady's prerogative to change her mind.
You have proved quite conclusively that you are no lady.
And what about Esther? Is she a lady? It's all right.
I haven't breathed a word to anyone.
I know how judgmental people would be if they knew how intimate you really are.
I have no idea what you mean.
Yes, you do.
It would break her heart into little tiny pieces if she were to learn of this, would it not? A quarter share will suffice.
KNOCKS ON DOOR - Babington.
- Miss Heywood.
Well, I've asked around, and, as luck would have it, Mrs Maudsley's hosting a masked rout this very evening in Grosvenor Square.
And this is your invitation.
My dear Lord Babington, you are a wonder! It sounds as if London's entire beau monde will be there, all of them eager to hear about our regatta.
And you must come as well, of course, Miss Heywood.
Thank you, Lord Babington, but I am really not in a mood to be sociable.
Excuse me.
- A drink, gentlemen? - Mm.
How is she? Worse by the hour.
You were gone a long while.
The will must have been hidden well.
As a matter of fact, it was nowhere to be seen.
I turned the entire house upside down and I've come to the conclusion it cannot exist.
But then, why would she say? Oh, her fever has plainly left her confused.
She barely knows her own mind.
We are Denhams.
If there's no will, then surely that works in our favour? You'd think so.
Thank God this is almost done.
I shall be glad if I never hear another word of that wretched will or Clara Brereton for as long as I live.
You and me both.
Tom sent me up in the hope that you might reconsider and come to the party tonight.
The regatta was your idea after all.
Why did you pay off Otis's debts? I came to the realisation that a good man shouldn't be condemned for one terrible mistake.
Mr Parker, I owe you an apology.
I accused you of the worst kind of prejudice when it came I do not accept your apology.
Why not? Because I'm the one that should apologise.
I have done you a great discourtesy, Miss Heywood.
I've underestimated you.
Does it not suit me? Will it not do? It'll do very well.
Upon my word, there can hardly be a person worth a fig left in London who is not here.
You don't need to see their faces to know these are people of influence.
The brothers Parker! Well, most people.
And who is this spellbinding creature? I demand you introduce us at once, Sidney.
This is Miss Heywood, you fool! Oh, Miss Heywood? I would not have known you.
A mask becomes you! Thank you, Mr Crowe.
If that was indeed a compliment.
Now, we must all remember why we are here! To spread the word of the Sanditon Regatta! Like Nelson, I expect every man to do his duty.
Aye, and woman! I did not come here to work! I came to imbibe, carouse and generally make an ass of myself.
Good luck! Well, Miss Heywood.
Are you not glad you came, after all? I cannot say that I am.
I feel dreadful leaving Georgiana.
At least I'm glad of the mask.
I am certain I don't belong in this company.
I don't think I do either.
But this is your natural habitat, is it not? Perhaps I don't truly belong anywhere.
As you said, I am an outlier.
May I? Better than Brighton, sir, the most refreshing of sea breezes, a coastline unequalled in beauty, and apartments.
Thomas Parker, delighted, that are the envy of the continent! To which we now add a grand regatta! Thomas Parker, Sanditon.
Charming.
I cannot see how conversation is even possible when the room is so loud and everyone is on the move.
No-one's here for conversation.
They're here to be seen.
Once their presence is acknowledged, they'll move on to the next gathering.
I think I would like to leave now too, with your permission.
With my permission? Since when have you required my permission to do anything? I know.
I'm too headstrong.
Too opinionated.
And too No.
You're not "too" anything.
Don't doubt yourself.
You're more than equal to any woman here.
I hate to admit defeat, but the word "regatta" seems to be falling on deaf ears.
Sidney! Sidney! Right SIDNEY! Excuse me.
I noticed you and Miss Denham were enjoying each other's company at the cricket match.
Hm, yes.
I had thought so too, Miss Heywood.
But apparently I was mistaken.
You're a you're a woman, Miss Heywood.
Tell me this.
Is it possible for your affections towards a man to alter entirely within the space of a single day? Er, forgive me, Lord Babington.
This room is rather too crowded, I'm finding it hard to breathe.
Of course.
Of course.
BREATHES DEEPLY My sentiments exactly.
Oh, I, I'm sorry.
I thought I was That's quite all right.
I cannot blame you for seeking a safe harbour.
It is an altogether tedious gathering.
And now you are going to tell me that Mrs Maudsley is your mother and I have just committed an unspeakable solecism.
No! No.
I do not know her in the slightest.
Indeed, I barely know a soul in London.
But from what I have seen of the place, that is no great hardship.
If you dislike London so much, then why are you here? My friend, Georgiana, was abducted.
She's an heiress, you see, and her suitor, Mr Molyneux, had accrued gambling debts he could not pay, so she was sold into a forced marriage How simply shocking! It was.
Anyway, thank God, we found her in time and now she's safe, but Mr Tom insisted we come here tonight to spread word of the Sanditon Regatta, but as you can see, I am singularly failing in that task.
Forgive me.
I am I am inclined to talk too much, Mrs? Susan.
And who might you be? Charlotte Heywood.
Forgive me for asking, Charlotte, but you seem somewhat befuddled.
- Do I? - Mm! There is a certain gentleman Mr Sidney Parker.
Mr Tom Parker's brother.
He He inspires an anger in me, I did not know I possessed.
And yet I find that his good opinion means more to me than anybody else's.
How can that be? It sounds to me as if you are in love with him.
What? No! I assure you, that could not be further from the truth.
I If I should ever fall in love, it would not be with a man like him.
My dear girl, you cannot determine who you fall in love with.
It is an affliction.
Like the measles.
Ah.
There you are! I was beginning to think you'd made your escape.
Might I presume you are Mr Sidney Parker? We were just discussing you.
Right.
Well, erm I was wondering if Miss Heywood might like to dance? If I'm not interrupting that is? Not in the least.
Excuse us.
APPLAUSE You did not have to ask me, you know, out of politeness.
It is what people do at dances, is it not? Dance? Unless you'd rather not? No.
It's only, there are so many other ladies here that you could ask.
But I don't want to dance with them.
Thank you, Miss Heywood.
Thank you, Mr Parker.
Might I have the pleasure of the next dance, Charlotte? Or has Sidney worn you out? Not at all.
It would be my pleasure.
Mrs Campion? Sidney.
How happy I am to see the light return to your eyes, Charlotte.
There is nothing like dancing to restore one's spirits! Quite so, my dear, quite so.
It seems to have had a similar effect upon Sidney.
Do you think so? It's undeniable.
He is positively revivified.
But then perhaps that is not so much due to the dancing, as to the presence of a certain young lady.
Which young lady do you have in mind, sir? He's talking to her now.
Mrs Campion.
It's unmistakably her.
How strange that we were just discussing her only this afternoon.
I heard she'd been widowed, I had no idea she was in London.
APPLAUSE I do not recall discussing a Mrs Campion.
Ah! I daresay I referred to her by her Christian name.
Eliza.
Perhaps they will have their chance of happiness after all.
Tom, a moment.
Excuse us.
Mrs Campion.