简爱话剧剧本

EXT. EVENING. THORNFIELD - THE GARDENS 99

Jane is walking away from the house. She sees Rochester and approaches him.

JANE

You are to be married.

ROCHESTER

Indeed. I see Mrs Fairfax has

intimated my intention to put my neck

into the sacred noose.

JANE

Adele should go to school. And I must

seek another situation.

She walks on. Then turns.

JANE (CONT’D)

Congratulations, sir.

Rochester catches her up. He walks with her out of the garden and into the grounds beyond.

ROCHESTER

Thornfield is a pleasant place in

summer, isn't it?

JANE

Yes sir.

ROCHESTER

You’ll be sorry to part with it.

It’s always the way with events in

life. No sooner have you got settled

than a voice cries ‘rise and move on!’

I’ll find you a new situation Jane, one

I hope that you’ll accept.

JANE

I shall be ready when your order to

march comes.

Rochester blocks her path.

ROCHESTER

Must I really lose a faithful paid

subordinate such as yourself?

JANE

You must.

Jane keeps on walking - into a wilder part of the estate. ROCHESTER

We've been good friends, haven't we?

JANE

Yes, sir.

ROCHESTER

I have a strange feeling with regard to

you: as if I had a string somewhere

under my left ribs, tightly knotted to

a similar string in you. And if you

were to leave I’m afraid that cord of

communion would snap.

ROCHESTER

And then I’ve a notion that I’d take to

bleeding inwardly. As for you - You’d

forget me.

Jane finally stops, her great distress escaping her.

JANE

How? I have lived a full life here. I

have not been trampled on. I have not

been petrified. I have not been

excluded from every glimpse of what is

bright. I have talked, face to face,

with an original, expanded mind. I

have known you, Mr. Rochester; and it

strikes me with anguish to be torn

from you.

ROCHESTER

Then why must you leave?

JANE

Because of your wife!

ROCHESTER

I have no wife.

JANE

But you are to be married.

ROCHESTER

Yes - Jane, you must stay.

JANE

And become nothing to you? Am I a

machine without feelings? Do you think

that because I am poor, obscure, plain

and little that I am soulless and

heartless? I have as much soul as you

and full as much heart. And if God had

blessed me with beauty and wealth I

could make it as hard for you to leave

me as it is for I to leave you.

This comes as a revelation to Rochester.

JANE (CONT'D)

I’m not speaking to you through mortal

flesh. It's my spirit that addresses

your spirit as if we'd passed through

the grave and stood at God's feet,

equal - as we are.

Rochester takes Jane in his arms.

ROCHESTER

As we are.

She struggles.

JANE

(Freeing herself)

I am a free human being with an

independent will, which I now exert to

leave you.

Rochester releases her.

ROCHESTER

Then let your will decide your

destiny. I offer you my hand, my heart

and a share of all this.

He gestures towards the house, the land. Jane is stunned. ROCHESTER (CONT'D)

I ask you to pass through life at my

side. Jane, you are my equal and my

likeness. Will you marry me?

JANE

Are you mocking me?

ROCHESTER

Do you doubt me?

JANE

Entirely.

(BEAT)

Your bride is Miss Ingram -

ROCHESTER

Miss Ingram? She is the machine

without feelings. It's you - you rare,

unearthly thing. Poor and obscure as

you are - please accept me as your

husband.

Jane begins to believe him, she studies his face.

ROCHESTER (CONT’D)

I must have you for my own.

JANE

You wish me to be your wife?

ROCHESTER

I swear it.

JANE

You love me?

ROCHESTER

I do.

JANE

Then sir, I will marry you.

They embrace.

Neither Jane nor Rochester moves. Darkness is almost complete. Still the intensity of the embrace is held.

A sheet of lightning momentarily lights up the sky. Some moments later a distant rumble of thunder.

EXT. DAY. THORNFIELD - THE GROUNDS. 101

Adele is climbing over a fallen tree. It has

been split open by a lightning bolt. Mrs Fairfax is very concerned.

JANE

Am I a monster? Is it so impossible

that Mr Rochester should love me?

MRS FAIRFAX

No, I've long noticed that you were a

sort of pet of his. But you're so young

and so little acquainted with men.

MRS FAIRFAX (CONT’D)

I don't want to grieve you child, but

let me put you on your guard.

Gentlemen in his position... Let's

just say they’re not accustomed to

marry their governesses. Until you are

wed, distrust yourself as well as him.

Please, keep him at a distance -

Jane has heard enough. She turns away. Adele follows her. And clings to her.

ROCHESTER

Thornfield is a pleasant place in

summer, isn't it?

JANE

Yes sir.

ROCHESTER

You’ll be sorry to part with it.

It’s always the way with events in

life. No sooner have you got settled

than a voice cries ‘rise and move on!’

I’ll find you a new situation Jane, one

I hope that you’ll accept.

JANE

I shall be ready when your order to

march comes.

Rochester blocks her path.

ROCHESTER

Must I really lose a faithful paid

subordinate such as yourself?

JANE

You must.

Jane keeps on walking - into a wilder part of the estate. ROCHESTER

We've been good friends, haven't we?

JANE

Yes, sir.

ROCHESTER

I have a strange feeling with regard to

you: as if I had a string somewhere

under my left ribs, tightly knotted to

a similar string in you. And if you

were to leave I’m afraid that cord of

communion would snap.

ROCHESTER

And then I’ve a notion that I’d take to

bleeding inwardly. As for you - You’d

forget me.

Jane finally stops, her great distress escaping her. JANE

How? I have lived a full life here. I

have not been trampled on. I have not

been petrified. I have not been

excluded from every glimpse of what is

bright. I have talked, face to face,

with an original, expanded mind. I

have known you, Mr. Rochester; and it

strikes me with anguish to be torn

from you.

ROCHESTER

Then why must you leave?

JANE

Because of your wife!

ROCHESTER

I have no wife.

JANE

But you are to be married.

ROCHESTER

Yes - Jane, you must stay.

JANE

And become nothing to you? Am I a

machine without feelings? Do you think

that because I am poor, obscure, plain

and little that I am soulless and

heartless? I have as much soul as you

and full as much heart. And if God had

blessed me with beauty and wealth I

could make it as hard for you to leave

me as it is for I to leave you.

This comes as a revelation to Rochester.

JANE (CONT'D)

I’m not speaking to you through mortal

flesh. It's my spirit that addresses

your spirit as if we'd passed through

the grave and stood at God's feet,

equal - as we are.

Rochester takes Jane in his arms.

ROCHESTER

As we are.

She struggles.

JANE

(Freeing herself)

I am a free human being with an

independent will, which I now exert to

leave you.

Rochester releases her.

ROCHESTER

Then let your will decide your

destiny. I offer you my hand, my heart

and a share of all this.

He gestures towards the house, the land. Jane is stunned. ROCHESTER (CONT'D)

I ask you to pass through life at my

side. Jane, you are my equal and my

likeness. Will you marry me?

JANE

Are you mocking me?

ROCHESTER

Do you doubt me?

JANE

Entirely.

(BEAT)

Your bride is Miss Ingram -

ROCHESTER

Miss Ingram? She is the machine

without feelings. It's you - you rare,

unearthly thing. Poor and obscure as

you are - please accept me as your

husband.

Jane begins to believe him, she studies his face. ROCHESTER (CONT’D)

I must have you for my own.

JANE

You wish me to be your wife?

ROCHESTER

I swear it.

JANE

You love me?

ROCHESTER

I do.

JANE

Then sir, I will marry you.