01x01 - Episode 1

[bunniefuu]

My name is Susan Trinder.

I grew up in Lant Street.

We had the best view of the gallows.

And on hanging days

people paid money to view from our top window.

No, Sue. You put the kettle on.

Let me see, I wanna see!

Susan Trinder?

Her mother was hanged for m*rder.

She died a dame, you know.

Oh dear girl.

Come on the, up you go.

Quick, quick.

Institute of the insane.

My name is Maud Lilly.

And I was brought up at the mad house,

where my mother died giving birth to me.

Maud. Maud have a visitor.

A visitor?

I can't remember in all these years..

Why is your tongue black?

Come on.

She is as under sized as her voice is loud.

Can't you whisper?

Of course I can.

Whisper.

Can she be silent?

Let me see it.

My mother, Sir.

My sister.

Let us hope that we'll remind you of her fate
and prevent you from sharing it.

Can she read?

Blessed are the poor in spirit..

Blessed.

Blessed are the poor in spirit.

I'll take her.

I'll send my house keeper to
collect her tomorrow.

I won't go!

You shalln't make me!

I want to stay with you matron.

I won't go!

Oh! Oh, look at that! Only since today!

You're gonna make our fortune, aren't you Sue?

Am I?

Ain't she, Mr Ibbs?

I was brought up by Mrs Sucksby.

Who was paid to look after me
for a week when I was a baby.

But she kept me all those years.

If that ain't love

I don't know what is.

The Bryar bell.

This is where your mother lived.

You are to be a lady, as she was.

Of all her fortune she turned to the mad.

It is to be hoped that you turned out
better than she did.

You haven't finished your eggs?

Yes.

No one will pass this line

for fear of spoiling his books.

How's her temper, Mrs Stiles?

Rather ill, Sir.

Have you had her wear gloves?

Through the ---, sir.

Give me your hand, Maud.

Give me your hand!

You won't forget the gloves
in the future, will you Maud?

No.

Put them on.

Not a cover is to be touch, not a leaf will be
turned without them, do you understand?

You realize why I brought you here Maud?

To.. To make a lady of me.

To make a secretary of you. Maud.

I couldn't read.

All I knew about letters was what I've picked up
by studying vipers.

I was a finger smith.

A thief.

Melt down this little number, will you John.

My pleasure.

I'd like to melt her down.

Don't arse about or I'll knock
your bloody head off.

Oh, I'll knock it off!

Come on!

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You just try it.

Mrs Sucksby was a baby farmer.

Paid to look after unwanted babies.

Poor little scraps.

Look at you, treasure.

Ah, Maud. I neglected to tell you

tonight there will be a new gentleman
at your reading.

An artist, Mr Richard Rivers.

He'll be here for a week

mounting pictures for the catalogue.

He'll also be giving you lessons in painting.

So they came together.

The romance may have been somewhat unusual

but that gave it all the charm of
the unexpected.

And there, as the red sun tinges the sky

in a chatter of birds in heralds the night,

we must leave them.

Wonderful Miss Lilly!

You read so beautifully!

If only the patrons of my book shop in
Holywell Street could hear you.

Your words are pure poetry.

Music, Huss. Music.

Thank you.

Thank you Maud.

Mr Rivers, you say nothing.

Does it not please you?

I cannot find words Sir.

Ah, there you see Huss.

The young rouge has beaten us.

Indeed, indeed.

Excuse me.

Now Sir, I have the first edition which
you've required.

Have you indeed?

I'm sorry to disturb you but,

I'm concerned that you might find it a little

chill out of the fire.

The fire is very hot.

It is, you're right.

Very hot.

Very hot indeed.

What will you do when this
great catalogue is finished?

It will never be finished.

Come on Miss Lilly, do you really mean
to remain here forever?

I have no choice.

You're young, handsome.

I say it not for gallantries sake,

I say what I see.

You might do anything.

You are a man, Mr Rivers,

and might do anything.

I am a woman and might do nothing.

Chuck diggers on a b*tch of hearts.
Ain't she slow.

What's that?

Are we expecting any one?

Open up!

If it's the blues, we're done for!

Open the door!

Sovereigns.

Under the fire.

Come on! Open up.

Ah, damn my fingers!

Never mind your fingers, think about your neck!

We're all tidy?

All right, all right!

It's gentleman.

Gentleman.

Take a taper to them candles, Sue.

Put a brew on Dainty.

Gentleman told us he'd gambled
away his fortune.

He was obliged to get money
the old fashion way.

By thievery, and dodging.

I worked on the old mans catalogue in the morning

and in the afternoon I worked on her.

Taught painting that is.

Her maid, Agnes, was the most
agreeable chaperon.

Love as love will was finding its way.

At the end of the week the agreeable
Agnes gets scarlet fever.

They had to send her home Ireland.

The house keeper with bad grace takes over

temporarily and is as tight on the
girl as a corset.

Said she had no time to chaperon.

No more painting.

Damn it and I was nearly there!

Where's there gentleman?

She's as rich as a queen, Mr Ibbs.

How rich?

Thirty thousand in ready.

Ten thousand in funds.
Left to her in her mothers will.

She can't touch it unless she marries.

And her uncle makes sure she never will
by keeping her close.

That house is a prison.

Are you going to marry her?

Well, then I can do what I like with her.

When her uncle asks a few questions about you?

That's why I've become the exemplary
Mr Richard Rivers.

I will marry her!

With the help of Sue.

Me?

You're gonna become her friend.

Persuade her to trust me.

To run away with me and marry me!

Why me?

A finger smith with a heart of gold, Sue.

No good in making a bleeding
maid out of me, Mrs Sucksby.

Why take my Sue?

Because she's yours,

and I know she can do it.

And how would you cut the shine?

Sue will get two thousand pounds.

Dainty will do it!

I've been a maid, ain't I?

Stuck in that pin in the ladies arse,
as I recalled.

She was an old b*tch.

You're the old b*tch.

Think of all the money we lost.

Where is this place?

Out in the country.

Don't know where the bleeding
country is.

I'm a Londoner. Never been out of the
smoke have I?

Get on, she would never accept me.

You're my old nurse’s child!

Susan Smith.

You would have an impeccable
character reference

from Lady Stonely of Curson Crimson Mayfair.

Oh she'll to swallow it, the girls never
been to London.

She's a bit simple. A pigeon.

It'll be a bit of a holiday for you, Sue.

And it'll work.

Bleeding long holiday if it don't.

I won't do it.

Not for two.

I want three thousand pounds.

Take it or leave it.

Susan has been maiden for a lady
who's been married and gone to India.

So she has lost her place.

Susan is a very good girl I wrote,

but, and I put this rather well I think.

I fear that she will go to the bad unless

she finds further employment.

No!

You never wrote that. You never!

Oh my God!

Who's this cape?

Your job.

Yeah, you have to dress her.

Take them off.

Maids don't wear bangles.

Shimmy?

Chemise.

Chemise..

You have to warm it.

For gods sake!

Would you mind raising your arms, Miss?

Sue, how many more times?

Bleeding drill!

She's a lady.

Shy.

She'll pick up like anything with
me and Sue to teach her

Why don't you die!

There you sweet little b*tch!

What happens after you're married?

I told you she's a bit simple.

Living with her uncle will tip her over the brink.

After we're married I'll put her in
the mad house

and there she'll stay.

I need your help to get her there.

You don't know that.

It's in her blood, her mother was mad
and she'll end up there any way.

Take it or leave it Sue, that's for
the extra thousand.

Three thousand pounds Sue.

And you can have any of the lady’s'
frocks and jewels.

She won't need it in the mad house.

Is there anything else you haven't told me?

That's it.

Now, undress her.

I shall be glad to see Miss Susan Smith.

All the more so Mr Rivers.

Because she has to be..

Come to me from a Londoner!

Ladies and gentlemen, a toast to Sue.

Sue, Sue!

Susan Smith.

Sue dear.

Here's your character from the
gentleman’s best hand.

He'll se you to the coach and
join you in a month’s time.

You look a picture, a real picture.

I wouldn't like to do it, Mrs Sucksby.

Ain't it a mean trick to plan on
that poor girl?

If they catch me, will they hang me?

No!

Sue.

What is this sort of talk? That's not
going to happen.

You're going to make us all rich.

I am, aren't I?

Come on, you'll miss the coach.

Take her out quick, I don't wanna see it.

We've never been parted before.

I think she took it worser than I did.

The country! I never knew there
was so much of it!

Mile after bleeding mile.

Miss Smith?

Leave that till the morning.

We keep early hours at Bryar.

And Mr Lilly cannot bare noise.

If I had known how to get out of that
bleeding place I would have scarped there and then.

But when I saw her

I thought

this is gonna be easy.

Is all right Miss?

That is very satisfactory Susan.

May I call you Susan?

Thank you Miss.

You read of course?

A bit.

My uncle is a scholar.

Books are a very important part
of life at Bryar.

Please, read me something. Anything.

Our father.. which art in heaven..

Oh god!

I might if you taught me Miss.

Taught?

No, I shalln't allowe it!

Not to be able to read..
I sometimes think how wonderful that would be.

When my rooms in order collect me at
the library at one.

You mean I'm to start right away Miss?

Yes, of course.

She was an odd one, all right.

Didn't think she was cracked.

Not like what gentleman said.

Oh my lord!

Mrs Stiles, you did startle me.

I was just trying to put Miss Mauds
things in order.

So I see.

These should be given each
morning to Mr Way.

It's his little perk, is it?

The pieces of soap that Miss Maud
leaves on her wash stand

you may keep.

Thank you Mrs Stiles.

But I'd really not like to.

It hated Miss Alice ,
she would have thought it thieving.

As you wish.

Yes.

Who the devil are you?

My new maid, uncle.

The finger! Girl, the finger!

You must not go beyond there.

Does she have a name?

Susan..

Softer!

Her name is Susan Smith, uncle.

Teach her to speak softly.

I will, uncle.

Mrs Stiles keeps the most careful account
of wood and coal.

Tell her we're economize by burning down
the candles right down to the wick.

Don't you worry about her, Miss.

I know her kind.

Do you know my uncles kind?

I'm sure he's very clever Miss.

Writing a big dictionary.

Or so they say.

I'm sorry Susan.

I should have warned you.

...Miss.

I certainly won't go over the "finger"
in the future.

They're very nice Miss.

Oh, Susan, they're terrible!

But I do hope to improve under Mr Rivers.

I trust he is well?

Very well indeed Miss. He sends his compliments.

He looks forward very much seeing you at
the end of the month.

Do you consider him handsome?

Ladies only consider him one of the
most handsome in London, Miss.

I think Mr Rivers is a good man.

Very good indeed, Miss.

Ah..Ahh.. Agnes!

Is everything all right Miss?

Drops!

Quickly get my drops!

I've taken the medicine ever since I
came here as a child.

And I'm still afraid of my own dream.

Stay with me!

No, I can't do that Miss.

Please.

That's how it was.

That night and all the following nights.

Drops and me helped her sleep.

Finger.

We were always together, like sisters.

Like the sister neither of us had ever had.

She wasn't odd.

It was only living in that horrible place
that made her seem so.

She never left it.

Never went beyond the river.

She never danced, never played games.

Like me she had never had a sweet heart.

And as the weeks past I forgot gentleman.

I only had that old brown dress.

But she gave me some of her own.

This is your past.

A kind lady with a good heart.

Parting, strife.

An older gentleman.

Very stern, I don't know who that
might be, Miss.

Who's that?

A young man.

I will marry her!

With a good heart.

Don't go on Sue.

But I must, Miss!

Or your luck will desert you!

Ah, a journey.

After we're married I'll put her in
the mad house and there she'll stay.

Perhaps a journey of the heart.

Show me the last one.

It should have been the love card,

but I had dropped it.

I don't like your fortune telling, Sue!

I want to hear about London.

What steps they do for the ba*ls.

I shall dance, in London. Shalln't I Sue?

She could dance like a coal heaver,
for all he cared. As long as she had forty thousand pounds in the bank.

So long as she as she had
forty thousands pound in the bank.

Shalln't I?

It's so sharp.

Shh, open.

Saw right where it cut you.

Oh!

Sit down.

I used to do this with Mrs Sucksbys infants.

Who's Mrs Sucksby?

A parlour maid went bad, had twins.

Open... More.

Keep still.

Better?

Mmm.

Mr Wade! It's Mr Rivers!

Mr Rivers is back!

He must have got the earlier train.

It hit me then.

How happy I was.

And how much I hated gentleman.

I cannot receive him, can I?

What an earth shall I do?

I wanted to shout out to Maud.

He don't love you!

He's here to steal your fortune.

And put you in the mad house.

But she wouldn't have believed me.

Welcome back Mr Rivers, Sir.

You should see how my boots have
been missing you.

I shall get them up like mirrors, Mr Rivers.

Mr Rivers?

I've missed you sir.

- Mr Way.
- Sir.
- Mrs Stiles.

Wonderful to be back at Briar.

Miss Lilly, how very kind of you to receive me.

Welcome to Briers Mr River.

Miss Lilly.

I do apologize. I'm in such a tumbled
travelled stained state.

Would you rather be taken to your rooms?

No, no, no!

Miss, this greeting is refreshing me more.

It is Susan Smith.

I have got that right at least?

Yes Sir.

Do you like your place here?

Yes Sir.

I hope you're proving you're a good girl
to your mistress, Miss Susan.

Susan is very good.

I thought she would be.

With you as her example.

You're too kind, Mr Rivers.

You could not be?.. With you to be kind to.

The pictures to the catalogue must be
mounted in three weeks, Mr Rivers.

They'll be done, Sir. Three weeks.

He spent one week on still life.

Still death more like it.

And another week on landscape.

He got nowhere.

Fresh sheet.

For our landscape.

You have an eye for the essence of things.

Does she not, Susan?

You just need..

What?

You can speak plainly to me, Mr Rivers.

I'm not a child.

If I could only take you to London to
my studio there.

You have no lack of talent, Miss Lilly,
in terms of artistic creation.

You only lack what your sex as a whole lacks.

And what is that?

The liberty of mind.

Nearly ripe, I think.

Drops, bad dreams. Good. Excellent.
Does she talk about me though?

She talks about nothing else.

About marriage?

Why don't you ask her to marry you?

I'll fight her a dead end if I was
making a wrong move.

Next week the prints will be done and
I have to leave.

You'll have to work on her harder.

Convince her she's in love with me.

Damn it Sue, that girl's worth three
thousand pounds to you!

I saw what the evil b*stard was about.

He was going to kiss her.

But not on her lips.

Somewhere better.

Much better.

I'm so sorry I have to rush back
to that wretched print.

You will be all right, Maud?
Are you sure?

Hooked, but you must draw her in.

I'll take these, Susan.

Get your mistress back to the house.

Mr Rivers has asked me to marry him.

Are you not pleased?

Sue?

What is it?

A surprise Miss.

I'm pleased.

I'm gladder than anything in the world.

Than I am sad because I have not said yes to him.

Oh.

How can I?

My uncle will never agree.

Mr Rivers says we might go away at night.

Get married in a small church near here.

Susan looks kindly on foolish lovers.

I'm sure the lights are better in the next room.

I'm ever so sorry, Mr Rivers.

But mr Lily wouldn't like it.

What the hell are you playing at?

Keep your hands off her.

She don't want it.

Don't want it?

- The pigeon is crying out for it.
- I'll cry and they'll be able to hear.

She have to go to the mad house.

If you are going soft on me now Sue,

I'll drop you.

My own nurse will be taken ill and
need her sweet little niece

and you'll be back in Lant Street with nothing!

I'll tell her and Mr Lilly, I'll tell her!

Tell her what you stupid b*tch?

What you came her to do?

She's gone to far to believe you.

She's marrying me now,

she'll be as good as ruined, locked up
here for the rest of her life.

I'm her only way out.

What shall I do?

Follow your heart Miss.

You love him.

Do I?

Don't your heart beat faster when you see him?

Or when he kisses you?

Miss?

Oh Miss, don't you love him?

You might say no.

Say no?

And watch him leave?

Don't you think I should then wonder
over and over again

what sort of life I might have had?

- Oh Miss!
- Yes?

What is it?

Your mother would have done it and
not given it a thought.

What is it Sue?

Three thousand pounds Sue.

Marry him Miss.

Mr Rivers loves you.

And love never hurt a flea.

All right, I will.

But only if you'll come with me. To London.

Will you Sue?

Be my maiden chum in London?

Say you will.

I understand the pastor is sympathetic to...

affairs of the heart?

How soon?

It must be this week.

And we need somewhere quite to stay.

Well the cottage you could use.

Thank you Sir.

The wedding was fixed.

They were going to elope in two days time,
and marry at midnight.

On her wedding night, what must a wife do?

I know you're awake.

Sue!

- For god sake, Miss!
- What?

You must know.

I know something from books..

How can you know it from books?

You are right. I know nothing, nothing, nothing!

What will happen?

Will he kiss me?

I should think so Miss.

Where?

On your lips.

Is that it?

No Miss. The kissing starts you off.

It'll come to you, Miss.

Dancing didn't come to me.

It was very difficult, you had to teach me!

Miss Maud!

I don't think kissing's going to start me off.

Mr Rivers kisses never have.

You're a beautiful young girl.

Look, give me you lips.

No.. Not like that.

Imagine that I'm Mr Rivers.

Did you feel it?

It's a curious..

wanting thing.

You wants Mr Rivers.

No.

You must do it now, I mean.

It do know what they mean.

I mean you must do it sometime, mustn't you Miss?

I'm afraid.

Don't be frightened.

I want to..

once it's started..

Morning.

Good morning, Miss.

What a wonderful thick sleep I had.

And no drops.

And no dreams.

The only one.

I think.

I think you're in it Sue.

Me?

You're marrying Mr Rivers today.
I don't think so.

Do you want anything before you leave,

Mr Rivers?

We shall be leaving too.

Tonight.

Miss Lilly! Hello?

If I had said I love you.

She'd had said it back.

And everything would be different.

I might have saved her.

We might have found a way.

Took keep her from her fate.