Tess Page #6

We didn't fare so badly

together, did we?

- I was blinded for a while, that's all.

- That's what all women say.

How dare you talk like that?

Has it never struck you what all

women say, some women may feel?

- All right. I was wrong, I admit it.

- Please, please stop.

I should like to get down here.

I'm a bad lot, I suppose.

A damn bad lot.

I was born bad,

and I warrant I'll die bad.

Listen, Tess...

...if circumstances should arise,

do you understand?

If you're ever in the least trouble,

the least difficulty...

...just send me one line, and you shall

have whatever you need by return.

You really won't come back?

Goodbye, my four months' cousin.

Goodbye.

Tess?

It is no use her pretending

she hates it...

...and wishes it in the churchyard

and herself beside it.

She loves that child of hers.

Poor little mite.

It don't look long for this world.

Good evening, Durbeyfield.

- What's your business?

- My business?

The child. I must baptize it before

the Lord gathers it to his bosom.

What child are you speaking of?

All my children are baptized.

You ought to know.

Durbeyfield, don't play games

with the Almighty.

I don't play, sir, I work!

I work! Like a beast of the field.

You can tell the Almighty that

from me.

- My baby's dying.

- You ought to have been more careful.

Like it or not, Jack,

that child was born.

It is here, under your own roof.

- Not true.

- Father, come to your senses.

For pity's sake, let the vicar in!

He shan't set foot inside this house.

Not over my dead body!

There's enough disgrace

on my name as it is.

O merciful God, take pity.

Take pity on him.

Send down your anger on me.

But have mercy on my child.

My child.

I should like to ask you

something, sir.

Well, speak, girl. I'm listening.

Each of us shares

in your sad affliction, my child.

We're all members

of the suffering body of Christ.

My son was baptized.

Baptized? By whom?

By me, last night.

What procedure did you follow?

I woke my little brothers

and sisters...

...and made them

kneel down to pray.

'Liza-Lu held the prayer book open.

I lit a candle.

And then?

Then I held my child like this

over the basin.

Yes.

I poured some water on his forehead,

and I said:

"I baptize thee...

...in the name of the Father,

Son and Holy Ghost."

- Did you make the sign of the cross?

- Yes, I did that too.

Will it be just the same

as if you'd baptized him?

In the sight of God, I mean.

Yes, my dear girl.

It will be the same.

Then you'll give him

a Christian burial?

That's another matter.

Another matter? Why?

Well, that would concern

the village as a whole.

Not just the two of us,

you understand.

Won't you do it, sir?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes