Jane: You're to be married.
Rochester: I see Mrs. Fairfax has intimated my intention to put my neck through the sacred noose.
Jane: Adele must go to school and I must fine a new situation. (Begins to walk away. Turns around) Congratulations, sir.
(Jane walks across a bridge into the wilderness of Thornfield. Rochester behind her at first and then Rochester runs after her. He stops beside her and then begins to walk backwards in front of her, his eyes studying her.)
Rochester: Thornfield is a pleasant place in the spring, isn't it?
Jane: Yes sir.
(Rochester walks beside her again, all the while never taking his eyes off of her.)
Rochester: You'll be sorry to part with it. That's always the way of events in life. No sooner have you gotten settled then 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.
(He walks infront of her again, conducting himself with some sort of eager anxiety. )
Rochester: Must I really lose a faithful paid subordinate such as yourself?
Jane: (speeding up and walking in front of him now) you must.
Rochester: We've been good friends haven't we?
Jane: (Her voice breaks) Yes sir.
Rochester: (His tone of voice has changed. It is now low and serious.) I've 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...and then I’ve a notion that I’d take to bleeding inwardly. As for you, you’d forget me.
(Jane has been walking in front of him. She stops, tries to master her feelings, and turns around to face him.)
Jane: How? I've lived a full life here. I've not been trampled on, I've not been petrified. I've not been excluded from every glimpse of what is bright. I've known you, Mr. Rochester, and it strikes me with anguish to be torn from you.
Rochester: Then why must you leave?
Jane: Because of you're wife!
Rochester: I have no wife!
Jane: But you are to be married.
Rochester: Jane you must stay...
Jane: And become nothing to you? Am I a machine without feelings? Do you think 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 gifted me with beauty and wealth I should make it as hard for you to leave me as it is for I to leave you...I'm not speaking to you through mortal flesh. It is my spirit that addresses your spirit as if we had passed through the grave and stood at God's feet, equal, as we are!
Rochester: (Grabs her) As we are!
(Jane falters, unsure of what to do.)
Jane: I am a free human being with an independent will which I now exert to leave you.
Rochester: Then let your will decide your destiny. I offer you my hand...my heart. Jane, I ask you to pass through life at my side. You are my equal and my likeness...will you marry me?
(She steps back, tears coming to her eyes, unsure what to make of him.)
Jane: Are you mocking me?
Rochester: You doubt me?
Jane: Entirely! You're bride is Miss Ingram!
Rochester: Miss Ingram, she is the machine without feelings! It is you, you rare unearthly thing. Poor and obscure as you are...please accept me as your husband! I must have you for my own.
(Jane's eyes fill with tears, she studies him, unable to believe that he loves her.)
Jane: You wish me to be your wife?
Rochester: I swear it.
(Her tears spill over as the realization slowly comes to her.)
Jane: You love me??
Rochester: (passionately) I do!
Jane: Then, sir, I will marry you!
(She wraps her arms around him and puts her lips on his. They share a long and intimate kiss. Meanwhile the wind starts to blow and thunder rumbles. The leaves of the tree whip around them. They stop and look at the sky. Rochester grabs her hand they run back to Thornfield. He puts his coat over her and while the lightning flashes, they laugh and go inside. Jane comes through the door with Rochester following her. The two laugh euphorically and Jane skips to the stairs and begins to head for her room. Rochester catches her on her way up and she turns around, wrapping her arms around him. They kiss eachother continually. Meanwhile Mrs. Fairfax sees them and looks on with disapproval and bewilderment. They do not notice.)
Rochester: (In between their kisses) Goodnight. Goodnight, my love.
(Jane and Rochester finally part with one last kiss and he exits. Jane looks up and sees Mrs. Fairfax, but is too happy to give any explanation. She smiles brightly and scurries up to her room.)
Rochester: I see Mrs. Fairfax has intimated my intention to put my neck through the sacred noose.
Jane: Adele must go to school and I must fine a new situation. (Begins to walk away. Turns around) Congratulations, sir.
(Jane walks across a bridge into the wilderness of Thornfield. Rochester behind her at first and then Rochester runs after her. He stops beside her and then begins to walk backwards in front of her, his eyes studying her.)
Rochester: Thornfield is a pleasant place in the spring, isn't it?
Jane: Yes sir.
(Rochester walks beside her again, all the while never taking his eyes off of her.)
Rochester: You'll be sorry to part with it. That's always the way of events in life. No sooner have you gotten settled then 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.
(He walks infront of her again, conducting himself with some sort of eager anxiety. )
Rochester: Must I really lose a faithful paid subordinate such as yourself?
Jane: (speeding up and walking in front of him now) you must.
Rochester: We've been good friends haven't we?
Jane: (Her voice breaks) Yes sir.
Rochester: (His tone of voice has changed. It is now low and serious.) I've 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...and then I’ve a notion that I’d take to bleeding inwardly. As for you, you’d forget me.
(Jane has been walking in front of him. She stops, tries to master her feelings, and turns around to face him.)
Jane: How? I've lived a full life here. I've not been trampled on, I've not been petrified. I've not been excluded from every glimpse of what is bright. I've known you, Mr. Rochester, and it strikes me with anguish to be torn from you.
Rochester: Then why must you leave?
Jane: Because of you're wife!
Rochester: I have no wife!
Jane: But you are to be married.
Rochester: Jane you must stay...
Jane: And become nothing to you? Am I a machine without feelings? Do you think 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 gifted me with beauty and wealth I should make it as hard for you to leave me as it is for I to leave you...I'm not speaking to you through mortal flesh. It is my spirit that addresses your spirit as if we had passed through the grave and stood at God's feet, equal, as we are!
Rochester: (Grabs her) As we are!
(Jane falters, unsure of what to do.)
Jane: I am a free human being with an independent will which I now exert to leave you.
Rochester: Then let your will decide your destiny. I offer you my hand...my heart. Jane, I ask you to pass through life at my side. You are my equal and my likeness...will you marry me?
(She steps back, tears coming to her eyes, unsure what to make of him.)
Jane: Are you mocking me?
Rochester: You doubt me?
Jane: Entirely! You're bride is Miss Ingram!
Rochester: Miss Ingram, she is the machine without feelings! It is you, you rare unearthly thing. Poor and obscure as you are...please accept me as your husband! I must have you for my own.
(Jane's eyes fill with tears, she studies him, unable to believe that he loves her.)
Jane: You wish me to be your wife?
Rochester: I swear it.
(Her tears spill over as the realization slowly comes to her.)
Jane: You love me??
Rochester: (passionately) I do!
Jane: Then, sir, I will marry you!
(She wraps her arms around him and puts her lips on his. They share a long and intimate kiss. Meanwhile the wind starts to blow and thunder rumbles. The leaves of the tree whip around them. They stop and look at the sky. Rochester grabs her hand they run back to Thornfield. He puts his coat over her and while the lightning flashes, they laugh and go inside. Jane comes through the door with Rochester following her. The two laugh euphorically and Jane skips to the stairs and begins to head for her room. Rochester catches her on her way up and she turns around, wrapping her arms around him. They kiss eachother continually. Meanwhile Mrs. Fairfax sees them and looks on with disapproval and bewilderment. They do not notice.)
Rochester: (In between their kisses) Goodnight. Goodnight, my love.
(Jane and Rochester finally part with one last kiss and he exits. Jane looks up and sees Mrs. Fairfax, but is too happy to give any explanation. She smiles brightly and scurries up to her room.)
I would have loved this scene except for two things:
ReplyDelete1. When Mia is making her impassioned declaration, Fassbender seems strangely expressionless. She's telling you she loves you man! You should look moved, thrilled, passionate, madly in love, not so .... blank.
2. I can't believe Mia said "as it is for I to leave you" instead of "as it is for me to leave you." Arrggh!
One of the things I did like is how he runs after Jane as she walks away, catches up to her and turns to face her. I don't know why exactly; maybe because it made him seem sweet, eager and in love. It was very endearing.
First off, I completely agree with you on how he runs after Jane and he seems to be sheepishly smiling...I love the whole "preface" to Jane's outburst: how he runs after her, how he says "I'll find you a new position Jane; one I hope you'll accept", how he talks about the string. I understand the feeling you convey. I felt this childlike eagerness in him that made bubble a little.
ReplyDeleteAs for his expression, something about it kind of worked for me. I can't really explain it, but it seems like he's trying to piece together his own thoughts.