The Durbeyfields are the greatest gentlefolk in the county.
A family vault in Kingsbere is the extent of your legacy.
What you've got to do is go claim kin.
What would I have to do to win your affections?
Why should I be scared? Well, the ladies need partners and I'm inclined to have a fling.
You'll never love me, will you, Tess? I have never loved you, Alec, and I never will.
O merciful God, have pity upon my poor baby.
I know how I have sinned and I must be punished,
but I beg you.
Heap your anger on me
and spare my child.
He will get well again, won't he?
BABY SCREAMS
He won't suckle.
He won't stop crying.
Mother, please!
John, I am begging you, please, let us call Parson Tringham.
We'll do no such thing! But if baby's not baptised, John...
No parson shall come inside this door, prying into my affairs. Father, please!
Good God, girl, haven't you brought enough shame
onto our good name as it is?
There'll be no parson beneath my roof! From now on, we keep our business to ourselves!
I baptise thee, Sorrow, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.
Say, "Amen," children.
Amen. Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Join in.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done. BABY SCREAMS
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive them that trespass against us...
BABY CONTINUES TO SCREAM
It will be just the same for Sorrow, won't it, sir?
In the next life?
Well, it's hard to say.
But I have baptised him, just as you would have.
Yes, I understand you, Tess,
but ecclesiastically you lack the necessary qualifications.
But you will give him a Christian burial?
I'm afraid that is not in my power.
But a child,
a little baby, who's never sinned in his little life,
to hide him away in the night with the suicides and the drunks and the sinners,
it's...it's wicked!
There are rules, Tess, there are principles!
I can't understand them, I don't know what they mean!
If it just concerned the two of us, I would gladly give your child a Christian burial, but I cannot.
Perhaps it will be just the same for him, even if you don't. Will it?
Please don't speak to me as saint to sinner.
Speak to me as you yourself, to me myself.
In God's eyes, will it be the same?
In God's eyes,
it will be just the same.
But I will not, cannot give your child a Christian burial.
Then I do not like you, and I do not like your God, and I will not set foot in your church again.
DOOR SLAMS
TESS CRIES
Send Mr Crick our best wishes.
You'll do well there.
Promise me that you'll tell no-one of your troubles.
What's past is past. I know. Promise me, Tess.
I promise.
COW MOOS
You found us easy enough? I followed your herd.
I've never seen such fine beasts.
Finest animals in the world.
Finest pastures too. You know these parts?
No, sir. Though my ancient ancestors come from around here. Is that right?
It's a long time ago. It's all forgotten now.
You're awful pale, girl. You sure you can stand the work?
'Tis comfortable enough here for us rough folk, but we don't live in a cowcumber frame.
I've been indoors a great deal this past winter, that's all.
And can you milk 'em clean, my maidy?
I don't want my cows running dry on me.
I'll show you now, sir, if you wish.
Some milks easy, some milks hard.
I'll start you off on Old Pretty here.
Don't you want some victuals first? A dish of tea?
Oh, I'll just have some of this if I may, sir.
HE LAUGHS
I don't know how you can swallow it. I haven't touched it in years.
Lies in my innards like lead.
To my thinking, the cows don't give down their milk today as usual.
It's because there's a new hand come among us.
I've heard that their milk goes up into their horns. It's true!
Well, that's one possibility. What d'you reckon, sir?
Well, from an anatomical point of view, I confess I'm sceptical.
Folks, we must lift a stave or two, see if that helps.
Perhaps you could go and get your harp, sir!
I fear that would have the opposite effect, Izzy.
A song, then. Sing it out, ladies. Good and strong.
# Oh, the snow, it melts the soonest
# When the winds begin to sing
# And the corn, it ripens fastest
# When the frosts are setting in
# And when a young man tells me that
# My face he'll soon forget
# Before we part, I'll tell him now
# He'd be fain to follow it yet. #
HARP PLAYS
His name's Mr Angel Clare.
Angel, Angel, Angel.
A parson's son from Emminster way.
He's here to learn farming.
He's a deep sort. He's too taken up with his own thoughts to notice us girls.
Speak for yourself, Izz Huett.
Listen!
HARP CONTINUES TO BE PLAYED
He sleeps upstairs.
Angel's in his heaven.
So near and yet so far.
I tell you, I love Angel Clare with all my heart,
but he still can't play that rotten bloody harp.
THEY LAUGH
What brings you all this way, Tess?
Just...felt like a change, s'all.
Trouble at home?
No matter. Work's hard, but Crick's a good sort.
You'll be happy here. I hope so.
And some say that when the moon is full
you can still see the figure of the white lady gliding across the water meadow,
her severed head tucked neatly underneath her arm.
You come out with some nonsense, Marian Lewell.
It's true! True as I'm sitting here.
I don't know about ghosts,
but I do know that our souls can be made to go out of our bodies when we're alive.
Really now?
How so, maidy?
A very good way to feel 'em go is to lie on the grass at night
and look straight up at some big, bright star, and by fixing your mind upon it you'll soon find that
you are hundreds and hundreds of miles away from your body,
which you don't seem to want at all.
Is that right, maidy?
It's just...
just a fancy.
Here's one. Has anyone heard of the Ghostly Carriage of Egdon Slope? No!
PLAYS DISCORDANT NOTE
Damn, damn and blast it! Bloody thing!
TESS LAUGHS
Tess? Tess! Wait a moment, Tess!
Stop! I wasn't spying, I was just walking, getting some air, and I heard the harp.
There's nothing to be afraid of, Tess. You seem afraid of so many things.
Me?
Oh, no, sir. Not of outdoor things.
You have indoor fears?
Well, yes, sir.
I suppose so.
What of?
Well, I couldn't quite say.
Ah, life in general?
Yes. I suppose so.
It is all rather serious, isn't it?
This business of being alive.
Sometimes I see the numbers of tomorrows all in a line,
the first of them the biggest and the clearest,
the others getting smaller and smaller as they stand further away,
but they all seem so fierce to me.
It's as if they're saying, "Beware of me! I'm coming!"
And sometimes...
it's a silly thought.
Go on.
Sometimes I note the days of the year...
..the birthdays,
the anniversaries of events, both good and bad...
..and I think that there is another date greater than all of those...
the date on which I shall die...
..just lying there...
..sly and quiet among all the other days...
..waiting for me.
Who knows? Perhaps it is today.
Well, Tess, I think that I can safely say that that's...
quite the gloomiest thing I've ever heard.
Good God, that's depressing.
CLOCK RINGS
Heavens' sake, Marian, I've told you enough times! Sorry! It won't happen again!
That's what you said last time! It's nearly six, the day's half gone!
If you can't get up, someone else'll have to do. I'd be happy to do it. I'll do it.
Well, that's settled, then. As of tomorrow, it's Tess and Mr Clare.
Don't push! You can see just as well as I! It's no use being in love with him any more, Retty Priddle.
His thoughts are of other cheeks than thine!
You needn't laugh, Izz. I saw you kissing his shade.
What did you see her doing?
He was standing over the whey tub and the shadow of his face came upon the wall behind, close to Izz,
and she put her lips against the wall and kissed the shadow of his mouth!
Oh, Izz Huett!
So? There's no harm in it!
I'd marry him tomorrow.
I too. I'd marry him and more.
Well, we can't all marry him. We shan't none of us marry him. Why not?
Because he likes Tess Durbeyfield best.
So silly, all this is. He won't marry any of us, or Tess either.
A gentleman's son marry a milkmaid?
He might ask us to milk his herd, but nothing more.
The sooner we get that into our heads the better.
TESS KNOCKS
Mr Clare?
It's like we're the only people on Earth, Tess. Adam and Eve, Tess.
Adam and Eve.
They say there are tremendous opportunities for farmers in Brazil,
if you have the courage and drive.
Fertile land as far as the eye can see.
I'll live like some new Abraham,
just myself, my flocks and herds.
It sounds very lonely.
Just the sheep to talk to.
Perhaps I'll take a wife with me.
What about you, Tess, do you have no ambitions?
Ambitions?
I wanted to be a teacher once.
Really?
What happened? It came to nothing.
You seem very sure of what the future holds, Tess.
Perhaps you'll be happy.
I hope so.
I know I'm happy now.
So am I.
What say you, Mr Clare?
Garlic.
THEY GROAN
It tastes of garlic. Garlic!
I thought there wasn't a blade left. We must start again.
What, the whole mead?
The whole mead. This can't continue!
How are you, Tess? Very well, sir.
Concentrate, Mr Clare.
Quite right. Concentrate.
THUNDER CRASHES
BELLS CHIME
We can't get there without walking through it.
We could go the turnpike way.
Service'll be started by then.
Whole congregation staring at us.
That's that, then. I'm going back to bed.
Marian! Get back here now!
Forgive him, Lord, he knows not what he does.
Marian! That's Scripture!
Good morning, ladies! And how lovely you all look.
You'll forgive my lack of formal attire,
I was curious to see the extent of the flooding, but all seems well.
Now I see the problem. Perhaps I can be of assistance. Who's first?
First for what, sir? I'll carry you. Across the water.
Don't go away!
And I'm supposed to put my arms around his neck,
and put my face against his, and feel his arms around me,
and put my face against his? I don't think I can. There's nothing in it, Retty.
That's what you say. I think I'm going to burst.
Thank you, Mr Clare.
As Scripture says, "There's a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing."
It's time to embrace.
Retty, a nice easy one this time.
Whoa!
I'm going to kiss him. I don't care what happens, I'm going to kiss him.
You wouldn't mind, would you? If I tried?
I know that you're his favourite and all. Izzy.
I've got to try, haven't I? I might never get another chance.
How do I look? Do I look pretty?
Tell me, Tess? Very pretty, Izz.
Here I go.
Wish me luck.
Hmm.
What are you doing?
I think I can climb along the bank after all.
Tess, no! Really, I'm quite all right. Tess! And you must be so tired.
Oh!
Three Leahs to get one Rachel.
What d'you mean?
I've undergone three-quarters of the labour just for this moment.
They are a lot better women than I, all of them.
Not to me.
I'm not too heavy?
Compared to Marian, you're like gossamer. You're a billow warmed by the sun.
That's very pretty,
if I seem like that to you.
I didn't expect an event like this today.
Nor I.
The water came up so quickly.
That's not what I meant at all.
Ladies.
Come on, we'll be late.
I was sure he was going to kiss me.
I lay still, hoping and hoping that he'd kiss me. But he didn't. No, he didn't.
I wish I was dead. Don't say that!
It's true. If he were to marry you...
He won't! It's a summer fancy is all, Retty.
Marrying is not in his mind, and even if he were to ask, I would refuse him.
You would? I would have to refuse him. Why?
She says she won't marry him, even if he asks.
Too late for that now anyway.
Why?
She's a young lady, a doctor of divinity's daughter, out Emminster way.
Mercy something-or-other.
Very pretty, they say, very proper.
And they're engaged? Not engaged as such, not yet,
though she is of his own rank and of his family's choosing.
Four more months he's with me.
Come Christmas he'll be moving on, starting a new life. I just thought it best you know.
I don't care what I do any more.
I was going to marry a dairyman at Stickleford.
He's asked me twice, but...
my soul, I think I'd rather die than be his wife.
I really am going to kill myself.
Retty! That's enough.
Mr Clare?
TESS OPENS THE DOOR
Miss Mercy Chant?
Angel!
You're back!
I had no idea. It was an impulse.
I thought I'd surprise my parents.
How are you, Mercy?
You look very well. Thank you.
You look very...
..brown.
From my labours in the fields!
Look at my hands!
Oh, some black puddings, some mead.
Gifts for my parents. Mead?
Goodness gracious.
What has happened to you, Angel Clare?
I will see you at church, I'm sure.
I hope so.
Goodbye, Angel.
GIGGLING
That's enough now!
< Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Excuse me.
Of course. Angel?
Angel? Is it really you?
The prodigal returns!
'He's an old adversary of mine,'
a notorious and dissolute young man,
Mr Alec D'Urberville.
It seems he took exception to a sermon of mine,
he felt was aimed in his direction.
As I'm sure it was. Indeed.
Afterwards, we came to blows.
Not literally, I hope. Not quite, but he came close.
Soon afterwards his mother died.
Poor man took it rather harder than expected.
He comes to see me quite often now, to discuss spiritual matters.
I know a Durbeyfield, on the farm.
A distant relation perhaps?
Not possible. The family's real name was Stoke.
Made their money in chocolate, I believe!
They bought the name.
Pure vanity and affectation.
No, no,
the last of the true D'Urbervilles
died out long, long ago.
# I see the stars
# I hear the mighty thunder
# My path throughout
# The universe's plain
# Then sings my soul
# My saviour come to thee... #
Come along, we must be getting home now.
I suppose it is farming or nothing with you now?
It seems so, Felix. In England?
The Colonies.
Brazil, possibly. Brazil?
But aren't they all Roman Catholics?
Are they? I hadn't thought of it.
I do entreat you, Angel, to keep in touch with moral ideals.
Clearly farming means roughing it externally,
but high-thinking may go with plain living nevertheless.
Felix, why should you think I've lost my moral ideals?
Well, we just thought, didn't we, Cuthbert, from your letters, that you were somehow losing...
well, intellectual grasp.
Well, perhaps you're right, Felix.
I daresay you are looking for the black puddings.
I suggested to your father that we take Mrs Crick's kind present
to the children of the poor man in the village who cannot find work at present,
and he agreed with me that it would be a great pleasure to them.
So we did!
I see. Of course.
The mead I found so intensely alcoholic, it was quite unfit for use as a beverage.
I've put it in my medicine chest.
For emergencies.
Well, I had rather hoped to tell her that we'd enjoyed her gifts.
Well, you cannot, if we did not.
It's a shame. That mead was a spot of pretty tipple.
A what?
I've taken the trouble of putting aside a sum of money every year
towards the purchase or lease of some land.
Thank you, Father. Though I remain sceptical as to the purpose of this labour,
if not for the honour and glory of God.
I hope for the honour and glory of Man.
Then we should discuss the terms.
Before we do so, Father,
I wonder, do you agree that in this venture, whether here or in the Colonies,
I will need some assistance? A bailiff? A wife.
That seems not unreasonable.
And what sort of wife do you think would be best for me
as a thrifty, hard-working farmer?
A truly Christian woman.
Indeed, the daughter of my good-friend Doctor Chant.
But ought she not to be able to milk cows, churn butter, rear chickens?
Perhaps, but for a pure and saintly woman,
you will find no-one more to your advantage than your friend Mercy.
Yes, yes, Mercy Chant, but Father...
Mother should hear this.
Mother! Mother!
Yes?
I came here today to tell you that fate,
or Providence, or God if you wish, has placed in my path a woman,
a regular church-goer of simple faith, honest-hearted,
receptive, intelligent, graceful, pure, virtuous as a Vestal.
She is also, I might add, exceptionally beautiful.
But Angel,
is she from...a good family?
Is she, in short...a lady?
She is not what in common parlance is called a "lady", but a lady nevertheless, in feeling and nature.
But in common parlance?
She's a milkmaid.
Mercy Chant is of a good family!
Oh, pooh to good families! Angel!
What is the use of a good family in the life I shall lead?
Mercy is accomplished, and accomplishments have their charm.
And Tess has accomplishments. She has many accomplishments, Mother!
True, she has no formal education, but she is an apt pupil,
brim full of poetry, and actualised poetry!
She lives what paper-poets only write!
She's also a devote, unimpeachable God-fearing Christian, precisely of the species you desire to propagate!
Angel, please! I beg your pardon, Mother, but all this talk of Mercy Chant. Can Mercy milk a cow?
Or cook? Perhaps not.
But Mercy Chant is our choice, Angel.
There was a time she seemed to be your choice too.
Goodbye, Mother. I will write soon.
Be sure that you do.
Angel... You know, of course, that no-one
could be less concerned with worldly wealth and status than myself.
It makes no difference to me if she's penniless or well-provided,
a milkmaid or a lady,
providing...
she is pure
and of good faith.
Of course, legally you're at liberty to do as you please.
We simply ask that you pay the closest possible attention to her faith,
her virtue, her history
and morality before you make what will no doubt be
the most important decision of your life.
Mr Clare, I'd wondered where... Tess, you will not Mr Clare me ever again!
I'm devoted to you, Tess, with all my heart, and I love and adore you
in all sincerity, and I shall need a wife, Tess, someone by my side.
And I can think of no-one better, more beautiful, more virtuous than you.
Marry me, Tess.
Be my wife!
Mr Clare, I cannot be your wife.
But Tess... No, it cannot be.
But you love me, Tess? Yes!
And I would rather be yours than anybody's in the whole world.
But I cannot marry you!
You are engaged to someone else? No!
You love another man? How can you ask that?
Then why do you refuse me?
Your parents would not like me. They will when they meet you, Tess.
That's why I went home, to tell them all about you. You have someone else!
In Emminster, I know all about her. Mercy?
How did...?
Mercy Chant is a friend, Tess. An old childhood friend, nothing more.
I love...have only ever loved you.
And I love you.
I only ever want to love you.
But I will not...
I cannot marry you.
You didn't come for me this morning.
I've started to wonder if you're avoiding me, Tess.
Perhaps I spoke too soon? Perhaps you need time to reconsider.
Do you need more time, Tess?
It's because of Retty.
I swore to her that I would never be your wife. It would break her heart.
You cannot tie our future happiness to that of Retty Priddle's, Tess. It's absurd. I made a promise!
I will not break my word.
I promised myself I would never kiss you until you were mine,
but I can't help myself, Tess.
This is torture.
I can't sleep, I can't eat, I can't read, I can do nothing until I hear that some day you'll be my wife.
Then I will tell you.
I will tell you my experiences and all about myself, everything.
I will give you a complete answer. A complete and final answer? Yes. Soon?
This week.
Tomorrow. Sunday.
Sunday, then.
But I may hope, Tess?
Say I may hope.
The London train's a quarter of four. You're sure you don't want me to go instead? We'll be fine.
Be careful then. The two of you.
Walk on.
Your hands are like cold marble. Come here, come closer.
I was born in Marlott, about 25 miles from here.
I have little to say of my childhood, except that it was happy...in places.
But there was trouble in my family.
My father wasn't very industrious.
He drank.
He drinks a little...
and one day
he was told something very peculiar...
about us.
About me.
Go on. I am not in fact a Durbeyfield,
but a D'Urberville,
a direct descendant of that great family
and we are gone to nothing.
A D'Urberville?
Yes.
And is that all the trouble, Tess?
I was told you hated old families.
I do! I hate the aristocratic principle, but if you take my name, you'll escape yours.
TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS
I suppose I will. Then do it.
One word, Tess. Say yes!
If you're sure it will make you very happy to have me as your wife.
It will. And if you want me,
all of me,
whatever my past offences.
I do.
Then...
..yes.
Yes, you will? Yes! Oh, yes!
This doesn't look much like gladness, Tess.
Because I've broken my vow.
I promised myself I would never marry.
But you are glad?
Tess, you do care for me?
Now do you believe me?
We must keep it secret, even from Crick, until we can name the day.
But I must write to my mother.
You don't mind me doing that? Of course not.
Where did you say she lives? Marlott.
The other side of Blackmore Vale. I know Marlott.
You danced there once.
A May Day, some years ago.
You?
That was you!
I knew it! I knew I'd seen you somewhere before!
Good night.
"Dear Tess...
"We are all so glad here to hear your news.
"But Tess,
"I say between ourselves, quite private, but very strong,
"that on no account, do you say a word about your bygone trouble.
"Many a woman, some the highest in the land,
"have had a trouble in their time, and why should you trumpet yours when they don't trumpet theirs?
"Especially as it was long ago and not your fault at all.
"I know it is in your childish nature
"to tell all that is in your heart,
"but remember you did solemnly promise me never to let it out.
"What's past is past.
"Your affectionate mother, Joan."
This is what I wanted you to see. What is it?
It's your ancestral seat, Tess, the House of the D'Urberville!
To think I'm marrying into nobility!
Lady Teresa D'Urberville.
No Lady. Just dairymaid Tess.
Not that I approve, of course, politically speaking, but at least my mother will be pleased.
You must revert to the old spelling while you still can. D'Urberville!
I like the other way best. No, you must!
You must stop all these arrivistes snapping it up, passing themselves off as the real thing.
What do you mean? I met a counterfeit D'Urberville. In Emminster.
I don't understand.
Who...who did you meet?
A Mr Alec D'Urberville!
Sinister chap, didn't like him at all.
And the cheek of the man, claiming to be your blood relation
when in fact he's no such thing, just a jumped-up chocolate millionaire from Bradford of all places.
What is it, Tess?
I'm only teasing you. It's no good.
I didn't mean any harm. I will never, ever make you happy.
Tess. I will not have you talk like that! Come here. Sssh!
I thought perhaps New Years Eve. Then we can begin the New Year as husband and wife.
Then in the spring we can set out on our great adventure.
Argentina, Brazil.
You don't like the plan?
I think it's a fine plan.
I just wish that we could stay here, that's all.
I just wish that this could go on forever.
That it could always be summer and autumn,
and you were always courting me, and always thinking of me as you do now.
As I always will.
A-hem!
We were just talking!
Oh, talking, is it? I see. Talking.
We're going to be married!
I knew it! Didn't I say? Oh, she's too good for a dairymaid, I said.
Oh, she's a prize for any man.
Soon as I set eyes on her. A lady she is, I said, a proper lady.
But who'll do my skimming now, Tess? I'm losing my best milker!
I'm so proud of you.
Proud, why? Because no-one else is going to marry him.
No fine lady,
nobody in jewels and gold, just you, Tess.
You who lives just like we do.
Was that for love of her, because other lips have been there?
I never thought of that!
We're so happy for you, Tess. Are you happy?
More than I can say!
Retty?
Come here, my love.
Retty, I'm so sorry.
I should hate you.
I want to hate you.
I've tried. But I can't.
Tess?
Yes, Retty?
When you are married,
would you tell him all about me?
How I loved him,
and tried to hate you for marrying him,
but couldn't,
because you were his choice.
You will tell him that, won't you, Tess?
So, what do you think?
It's perfect!
You're so kind. I never want to take it off.
Well, you must, I'm afraid, it's getting late.
I'll see to the horse and gig and I'll meet you at the inn.
Just one little look. No, you mustn't! It's bad luck.
Well, if it isn't that little whore from Trantridge!
Apologise. Get off me!
Apologise at once, damn it!
Beg pardon...sir.
It was a mistake.
I thought that she was someone else.
My mistake.
"I have wanted to tell you by word of mouth, many times, and each time my courage has failed me.
"Not because I fear you will not understand and forgive,
"but because my love for you is so great.
"My Angel!
"Yet, it seems as if,
"even if we were to travel to the ends of the earth, my past would follow me there.
"Today's encounter has confirmed this in my mind, and I fear that I can never be happy,
"never at rest, until I tell you the whole truth.
"Some time ago, when I was just 17 years old,
"and shortly after our first encounter on that May Day,
"I met a man.
"His name was Alec D'Urberville."
Tess!
I've been waiting for you all night.
I wanted to know that...
What, Tess?
Nothing has changed.
Everything is just as it was.
Of course it is.
I knew it! I knew it!
At last, I can be happy.
I think that's everything. Except one last thing. What's that?
You'll be pleased to hear I've forgotten my harp. I'll get it.
You're a lucky man.
There you are, Tess.
You must get changed. We'll be late.
There has been a mistake, a most terrible mistake.
I must tell you all my faults and blunders. No faults today. Today you're perfect.
I'm not! You think I am, but I am not! There'll be plenty of time to discover each other's failings.
We can both confess after the wedding. Take it in turns. Liven up a dull evening.
Come here.
What's wrong?
I must get dressed.
Yes. Of course.
Don't keep me waiting.
It's all my fault, Angel. I broke my word and now I must pay.
I take it you forgive me. Now you can forgive me.
You're D'Urberville's tart.
You're still a beauty, Tess. He's such a good man.
He's a man, Tess. Just like the other one.
Father, she's spotless.
There is one thing, Tess. I will have you.
If either of you know any impediment, why you may not be joined in matrimony,
ye do now confess it.
SHE SOBS
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