#clarissa #seanbean #miniseries #barrybostwick https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5domZkB-eRa6BuFOO8OXaQ
Clarissa Harlowe is a young 18th-century Englishwoman. Her family have aspirations to move into the aristocracy and want her to marry the repellent Mr. Soames as part of their plan. Clarissa manages to escape from them with the help of the handsome Lovelace, whose intentions towards her prove to be less than entirely honorable.
Clarissa Harlowe is a young 18th-century Englishwoman. Her family have aspirations to move into the aristocracy and want her to marry the repellent Mr. Soames as part of their plan. Clarissa manages to escape from them with the help of the handsome Lovelace, whose intentions towards her prove to be less than entirely honorable.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00You
00:05You
00:13You
00:15No, no, no, no, no. She is not coming here.
00:29Mother!
00:30No, I will not have my house made a sanctuary for young girls who defy their parents' will.
00:35I thought she was forbid to write.
00:37Even prisoners in a condemned cell are allowed the use of pen and paper.
00:41Prisoner? Is it such a mighty matter for a young girl to give up her amorous fancies to oblige her family?
00:49You might well say so at 40, Mother. But what would you have said at 20, I wonder?
00:55The caterpillar soaps?
00:57Or the butterfly love lace?
01:01I never yet knew a handsome man make a good husband.
01:05They imagine that every woman should have as high opinion of them as they have themselves.
01:11Parents must look further than a young girl's fancy.
01:14Oh, and I suppose it's mere fancy to wish to have a mind of one's own.
01:20Men are all such nasty schoolboys.
01:24What a choice.
01:27Soames, the grubby little sneak thief.
01:30Or love lace, the schoolyard bully.
01:33Anna.
01:35Not forgetting my own brave fellow.
01:38Just look at him. Kicked and punched by all the rest.
01:42And running home to Mother with his fingers in his eyes.
01:45Now, Anna.
01:48Now, Mother, the man is rash enough to woo me. He must take me as I am.
01:54What workman throws away a sharp tool because it may prick his fingers?
01:58Mr. Hickman.
02:00Madam.
02:02Let's open, madam.
02:04Miss Howe.
02:08I will leave, madam.
02:12Pray, Mr. Hickman, sit down.
02:14Aye, sir.
02:16Sit down.
02:18By my mamari, if you please.
02:21I desire my hoop may have its form to comfort us.
02:25All they're good for that I know of is to clean dirty shoes
02:31and keep fellows at a distance.
02:49Sir.
02:56Mr. Harlow.
03:00I believe my sister wishes...
03:02Tell your sister, sir,
03:05that if she persists in her defiance,
03:07she will have not only a brother's wounding on her conscience,
03:10but a father's death.
03:15Are you answered, sister?
03:18I am silenced, sir.
03:21Tell her we want none of her dumb insolence, neither.
03:24Be so good, sir, if you think his health will bear it,
03:28to inform my father that I wish only to know
03:31whether it is intended Mr. Soames should visit me further.
03:35Bid your sister know, sir,
03:37that her father will see what company he chooses in his own house,
03:41nor does he require his daughter's instruction in the choice of another son.
03:55Always writing, miss.
03:58It's a marvel to me how you manage to smuggle them away.
04:01But the fairies, they say, are always at hand to help lovers.
04:05No, Betty, no-one would ever take you for a fairy.
04:10There. Take these to my parents and my uncle.
04:14Only to their mind.
04:16Into their own hands.
04:25DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES
04:34MUSIC PLAYS
04:54MUSIC FADES
05:19There. Like it?
05:22You should see me creeping about the walls there, like a mole.
05:26Hey, more wine here.
05:29I have become intimate with all the back entries to her plot.
05:33Now and then I let up a couple of rounds,
05:36make her think I have the place surrounded.
05:38Her brother James, you know, is kind enough to serve me as a ghillie.
05:42The more he beats about my pretty bird,
05:44the more I know she'll end up in my net.
05:52DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES
05:56I'm sorry, miss. What are you doing?
05:58Orders, miss.
06:00Put that down. How dare you?
06:03How now, Clary.
06:05Inciting mutiny amongst the servants.
06:07What is this?
06:09Just a little rearrangement.
06:11Sit down, sister.
06:13Sit down!
06:15Little Higar, tell me, how old are you, my beauty?
06:1817, sir.
06:2017, Jack.
06:22Observe the slender stem, the delicate bloom.
06:26The soft, soft petals.
06:28Forbidden fruit, Jack.
06:30I gave her grandmother my word.
06:32The old lady came and begged me to be merciful.
06:35And you agreed.
06:37Word of a gentleman, Jack.
06:38Now, if you wouldn't mind raising your arms.
06:42DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES
06:49Oh!
06:51My conscience is clear.
06:53Stop that!
06:55Such nice inquiries belong to your beloved husband.
06:58He loves you all the better for your cruelty.
07:02Positively and righteously.
07:04He won't hear of you pining for his love for a moment longer.
07:07As usual, you're to have your will in everything.
07:10I bid Clarissa Harlow to have her on her knees begging me for mercy.
07:15And you're for a little bit more.
07:17To seduce a woman renowned for her piety, purity and prudence.
07:21What could be a greater triumph?
07:24There.
07:26Now, in either regular blanket.
07:28Spare us a shilling, Squire.
07:30Spare us a shilling for an old soldier.
07:32The marriage licence is already ordered.
07:35The ceremony is to be held here in your own chamber on Tuesday.
07:39Oh, and Clary.
07:41Mr Soames has set aside a special room in his new house...
07:45for the nursery.
07:53HUMMING
07:59Sing a lullaby...
08:02CHUCKLES
08:09RUSTLING
08:25Dear Mr Lovelace.
08:27My forced marriage to this odious Soames is now to be executed here.
08:32It is intended that Tuesday shall be the day of my sacrifice.
08:36I neither can nor will bear this.
08:39In short, I have come to a resolution to throw myself upon the protection of your family.
08:44If you are in earnest to assist me...
08:47come to the Garden Gate on Monday evening after nightfall.
09:07RUSTLING
09:19SIGHS
09:36RUSTLING
09:57Betty.
09:59Been out, miss?
10:01I... And I thought the door was locked.
10:04Did I, miss?
10:06Careless of me.
10:08Will there be anything else, miss?
10:11No, Betty.
10:13That will be all.
10:15Er, not quite, miss.
10:17What?
10:19Inky fingers.
10:21Inky fingers.
10:42SIGHS
10:48SIGHS
10:51SIGHS
10:54SIGHS
10:57SIGHS
11:00SIGHS
11:03SIGHS
11:21THUNDER RUMBLES
11:51THUNDER RUMBLES
12:10THUNDER RUMBLES
12:21THUNDER RUMBLES
12:34THUNDER RUMBLES
12:51THUNDER RUMBLES
13:16CHUCKLES
13:21CHUCKLES
13:51THUNDER RUMBLES
14:04SIGHS
14:10SIGHS
14:16SIGHS
14:22SOBS
14:30Mine, Jack. Mine.
14:33What did I tell you?
14:35I knew his stupid family would do my business for me.
14:38Borrowing on my behalf like so many underground moles.
14:41It's more like a sermon than a billet d'oeuvre.
14:43A promise, Jack.
14:45Oh, a woman's promise, Bob.
14:47No ordinary woman.
14:49Yes, well, a bird in her hand.
14:51She cannot escape me now.
14:53I know these promising ladies, you see.
14:55All sauce and no stuffing.
14:58Fifty guineas on it, she flies the net.
15:00Done.
15:02But if she fail me tonight, I so wrink her conscience with remorse,
15:05she'll creep to me tomorrow out of pure compassion.
15:20With your brother's compliments.
15:22To put the colour back in your cheeks.
15:24Take it away.
15:49My dear Anna,
15:51think not to save me from Mr Soames.
15:54This man shall never have my vow.
15:58And I will say nothing but no so long as I am able to speak.
16:03I have, how reluctantly, I need not tell you,
16:07agreed to meet Mr Lovelace tonight.
16:10The time of meeting is at hand.
16:13Oh, that he may not come.
16:15Dear friend, I beg that you will burn this letter.
16:46Don't be afraid.
16:48Draw back the boat.
17:16No, no.
17:18Here they are.
17:20Let me go.
17:22Would you see murder done?
17:24I would rather die than go with you.
17:26Good God, you still doubt me.
17:28The choice is yours.
17:30If you wish to go back to Mr Soames,
17:33trust me.
17:35Run, run, or they will break down the door.
17:45Come on.
18:15Come on.
18:45Come on.
19:15Come on.
19:45Come on.
19:47Come on.
19:49Come on.
20:14I trust you slept well.
20:16I did not sleep.
20:18Otherwise, letters can be traced.
20:20As you should know.
20:22I hope at least you used an alias.
20:24I leave all such subterfuge to you.
20:26How dare you tell these people I'm your sister?
20:29What should I have said?
20:31My mistress.
20:33I was only thinking of your reputation.
20:36Let me pass.
20:38One kiss.
20:39Let go.
20:40One kiss, that's all I ask.
20:42One chaste, modest, sisterly kiss.
20:45Is this my reward?
20:48Thank you, Lucy.
20:50At all hours, and in all weathers,
20:52suffering the insults of your family,
20:55rescuing you from your father's persecution.
20:58No words against my father.
21:00No, only words against Lovelace.
21:02You seem to prefer your persecutors to the man who set you free.
21:05Free?
21:07Oh, Mr Lovelace, you've missed your vocation.
21:10You should have been a politician.
21:12Now leave me.
21:14Your wish is my command.
21:17Don't forget to bolt the door.
21:32Our landlady has a most promising daughter.
21:35I have admired her in her dairy work.
21:39But one man cannot have every woman worth having.
21:43One man cannot have every woman worth having.
21:46Pity, though, when he's such a very clever fellow.
21:49Not hungry, sir?
22:06Here, this form of conquest.
22:08Medleycott, Betterton, Matthews.
22:10I want details.
22:11Names, places, dates, letters.
22:13The more intimate, the better.
22:15Anything to impress a jury.
22:17And quickly.
22:21She'll not escape for long.
22:29Little Miss Modesty.
22:31Oh, we'll find them.
22:33And when we do, we'll be revenged on the pair of them.
22:42Madam, please, believe me.
22:45I cannot live if you avoid me in this way.
22:48All I desire is a little of your company.
22:51And all I desire, sir, is your absence.
22:54I do not find you are a man who improves upon acquaintance.
23:06Anna!
23:09Anna!
23:12Anna!
23:16Anna, come here!
23:29Oh, my dear friend, how I wish that I had never met him.
23:33The man has a perfect genius for deception.
23:36Open this door.
23:38Coming.
23:39Just a minute.
23:41I can't find the key.
23:44Give me that.
23:47Give it here.
23:54There.
23:56Let her look after her own affairs.
24:02Mr Hickman is very patient.
24:05But no man will wait forever.
24:16I hope you found it entertaining, Joe, delving into my past.
24:20Mr James's orders.
24:22All these.
24:23You must know more about me than I do myself.
24:26Miss Clarissa, sir.
24:28Yes, Joe.
24:29No harm done.
24:31No harm in the world, Joe.
24:33She is my goddess.
24:35I am her slave.
24:36Why, I tried to be an honest man.
24:38It does you credit, Joe.
24:40And I wouldn't want no harm done.
24:42Not I, Joe. On my honour.
24:44Not like Miss Betterton.
24:46Miss...?
24:47They say it was a rape.
24:49Oh, Betterton.
24:51What was she, a tradesman's daughter?
24:53She loved me, I loved her,
24:55so a little innocent contrivance was necessary to get her out.
24:58But no rape.
25:00On my honour, Joe.
25:03Rape is an ugly thing,
25:05and far less common than people imagine.
25:08It's true, when I got her to the inn, I didn't ask her any questions.
25:11It's cruel to ask a modest woman for her consent.
25:14It only creates difficulties for both of you.
25:18It says here she died in childbirth.
25:21Her family were tyrants to her.
25:24I was in mourning for a month.
25:26Oh.
25:30Dearest Bella,
25:32have I, confess, been guilty of an action
25:35which carries with it a rash and undutiful appearance?
25:39I should have thought my actions inexcusable
25:42had I not had every reason to fear
25:44I should be made a sacrifice to a man I could not bear to think of.
25:49At this important crisis,
25:51let me have a friend in you, sister.
25:54If you could send my clothes, my money
25:57and my books of devotion to the post-restaurant,
26:00called for by Hannah,
26:02a little kindness on your part may even now restore my reputation,
26:07which is dearer to me than life itself.
26:10REVENGE
26:28Revenge?
26:30That's settled. Him and Miss Bella.
26:33What a devil they are.
26:35Oh.
26:39Joe, you're an honest fellow.
26:42Naturally, your dearest wish is to help your master in any honest way you can.
26:47James Harlow is such a muttonhead.
26:49He needs all the help that we can give him.
27:06You desire my absence?
27:09I thought my wishes were your commands, not your jests.
27:18Madam, however low I stand in your opinion,
27:22believe me, all I desire is a chance to learn by your example.
27:28If you learn to have the goodness to undertake my reformation,
27:32but for that I shall need your constant guidance.
27:36Your reformation might begin by keeping your word.
27:40You promised you would leave me alone.
27:42And so I will.
27:43Mr. Lovelace, just because you have contrived to trick me from my father's house,
27:47do not imagine I have lost all power of judgment.
27:50Trick? How have I tricked you?
27:53Leave me.
27:54Not till you say how I've tricked you.
27:58Was Mr. Soames my teacher?
28:01Was Mr. Soames my trick?
28:02Let me go.
28:03Your brother my trick?
28:04I see the kind of man I have to deal with.
28:07Your rattle warns me of the snake.
28:14Is that how I appear to you?
28:21Have I no redeeming features?
28:24Is there no hope?
28:27Look at me.
28:29Help me.
28:31I need your help.
28:34You're shaking.
28:35What is it you're afraid of?
28:39Oh, my good angel, have mercy on me.
28:42Mold me as you wish. I am wax in your hands.
28:45Put a chain about my heart.
28:47Lead me to the holy altar and save my soul.
28:50What could I say?
28:52He looked as if he would look right through me.
28:55I thought he would devour my hand.
29:09I begin to stagger in my resignation.
29:11I am a man of my word.
29:13I am a man of my word.
29:15I am a man of my word.
29:17I begin to stagger in my resolutions.
29:21Ever averse as I was to matrimonial shackles,
29:23I could almost wish to be honest.
29:27Almost.
29:29What a triumph for the Harlow family would I now to marry her.
29:33How they'd love to paint your coronet on their carriages.
29:36Forget it, the blood of the lovelaces.
29:39But I should thus creep, thus fawn, thus lick the dust for a wife.
29:45Now, Jack, I have a new plan to engage my Clarissa.
29:59I'm ready.
30:02Ready?
30:03To begin my reformation.
30:14Where shall we start?
30:20Only please remember one thing.
30:23Reformation cannot be a sudden thing.
30:26I fear I have a prodigious journey to make
30:28before a virtuous person like yourself will think me even tolerable.
30:33Still, there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that repents
30:38than over 99 good people who need no repentance.
30:42Perhaps we could begin...
30:43I've always liked the story of the prodigal son.
30:46One day, when I am settled and reformed,
30:50I mean to write a play about it.
30:54But probably I am not reformed enough yet.
30:56No, probably not.
30:59I love to read the Bible.
31:01Such wonderful stories.
31:04But I cannot take it neat as you do.
31:07The morals are too strong for me.
31:09Sometimes I have come across a verse that makes me so uneasy.
31:12I have to run to the tavern to dilute it.
31:16Am I quite hopeless?
31:18Are you in earnest?
31:20Across my heart.
31:23Well, then.
31:25From what I've heard, perhaps we could start with Sodom and Gomorrah.
31:40If his pretenses to reformation are but pretenses,
31:45what must be his aim?
31:48Can he?
31:49Dare he mock the Almighty?
31:52Damn it, Jack.
31:53I'm obliged to run to the pious a little sooner than I intended.
31:57Who knows? I may be reforming after all.
32:00Who, you?
32:01I could have had another dozen women in the time I've spent on this one.
32:05Then she tells me that I am not a man who improves upon acquaintance.
32:08Yes, it's cruel.
32:09You should praise her for it, though. They love it when people are ruthless.
32:13What I love is her implacable virtue.
32:16Like ice.
32:18Virtuous Miss Harlow.
32:29Take care, Clary.
32:31Your brother has some hints where you are lodged.
32:33God knows what he means to do.
32:35There is talk of prosecuting Mr Lovelace.
32:38London, I'm told, is the best hiding place in the world.
32:44Your brother.
32:46But you do not ask my protection, do you?
32:49You know my family's estates are all at your disposal.
32:52Lady Betty, my cousin Charlotte.
32:54You have only to take your pick.
32:56How?
32:57I have no clothes, I have no money.
33:00I'm not fit to be seen by anyone.
33:02You of all women will hardly make a scruple about clothes.
33:06Self-respect is not a scruple.
33:08You would look beautiful in rags.
33:10How is it you make every compliment sound like an insult?
33:15My cousin has a superfluity of clothes.
33:18Perhaps a little fuller in figure.
33:20What?
33:21Visit her in her own cast-offs.
33:23Then we will buy you clothes.
33:25Not at your expense.
33:28You would prefer some private lodging?
33:30The more private, the better.
33:34Windsor.
33:36A private lodging near the chapel.
33:38A clergyman's house.
33:41Your old mate, Hannah, could come.
33:43Hannah is ill, she cannot come.
33:47I've heard London is the best place to be private.
33:50Yes, it is.
33:51But it's not the best place.
33:54I've heard London is the best place to be private in.
33:59London.
34:12I have the perfect place to snare her, Jack.
34:16Where?
34:17Guess.
34:19Not the Sinclair house, in Dover Street.
34:21Where better?
34:23I'll give Clarissa Harlow a taste of the city.
34:37Imagine her sliding her immaculate body
34:40between the sheets of a whore's bed.
34:45You'll never get her to agree.
34:47I'll use the old villain, Dolman.
34:52If you want a lady to do one thing,
34:55you must always propose something else.
35:12Dolman!
35:14Dolman!
35:17We are happy to propose for your consideration
35:20the following accommodation.
35:22A first floor elegantly furnished at a Mercer's in Covent Garden,
35:26an upper floor in Norfolk Street
35:28with agreeable prospects towards the Thames and Surrey Hills.
35:32You may have good accommodation in Dover Street
35:36with the widow of an officer of the guards.
35:39The previous tenants were a clergyman,
35:42his wife and maiden daughter,
35:44who took the lodgings for three months,
35:46but liked them so well they continued there for two years.
35:52The previous tenants were a clergyman,
35:54his wife and maiden daughter,
35:56who took the lodgings for three months,
35:58but liked them so well they continued there two years.
36:03If none of these are suitable...
36:07These at Norfolk Street seem quite convenient.
36:09Norfolk Street?
36:11Norfolk Street.
36:13You have some objection?
36:14Oh, not the slightest.
36:17The Norfolk Street it is.
36:20Unless...
36:22Unless Dover Street...
36:25The widow?
36:28Much given to piety, I understand.
36:40I hereby renounce her for ever,
36:43the most ungrateful and undutiful of daughters.
36:52Tell her she has nothing but my hate,
36:56that she may meet her punishment both here and hereafter
36:59by means of the wretch in whom she has placed her wicked confidence.
37:04Your clothes will not be sent to you,
37:09your books, for they have not taught you
37:12what belonged to your family,
37:15your sex,
37:17and your education will not be sent to you,
37:20your money neither,
37:22for it is wished you be seen a beggar along London Street.
37:27Your father wishes you had never been born,
37:31and he has placed on you a curse
37:34that you meet with punishment both here and hereafter.
37:38And he has placed on you a curse
37:41that you meet with punishment both here and hereafter.
37:47DOOR KNOCKS
38:07What is it?
38:09Dearest, tell me.
38:10No.
38:17Oh, most unnatural of fathers,
38:21a curse upon the curser's heart.
38:25Oh, my angel,
38:27would that his curse had stuck in his own throat and choked him.
38:31My love, be mine.
38:34I will be more than a father to you.
38:37Be mine,
38:38and no one in the world,
38:40brother, sister, uncle, father, can harm you.
38:47MUSIC PLAYS
38:53Was the devil in me?
38:56If a parson had been there, I'd have been a gone man.
39:02Oh, this woman,
39:04she has such power over me.
39:07And can I be a villain to such an angel?
39:12All hands at work in preparation for London.
39:16The Sinclair brothel becomes a temple of pious virtue.
39:21And yet,
39:23what makes my heart beat so strong?
39:27What rises it to my throat in such half-choking flutters
39:30when I think of what this removal may do?
39:46MUSIC PLAYS
40:16MUSIC CONTINUES
40:38No.
40:40Even if I knew where she was, which I don't,
40:43my mother has forbidden me to write.
40:45Surely you wouldn't wish to frustrate any hopes we have of a reconciliation?
40:49On whose terms?
40:52Is it a daughter's place to bandy terms?
40:54Or a brother's to impose them?
40:56If my friend wishes to be reconciled,
41:00I'm sure she remembers your address.
41:11Welcome.
41:15MUSIC PLAYS
41:45MUSIC CONTINUES
41:58Dorcas, ma'am.
42:02Sally.
42:08Deborah.
42:12Mrs Sinclair.
42:16An honour, Mrs Lovelace.
42:27Mrs Lovelace?
42:29Our landlady is a very moral woman.
42:31And so, of course, she must be deceived.
42:33I have told her we were married secretly.
42:35Wait.
42:36But that you have bound me under a solemn vow,
42:39which I am most religiously resolved to keep,
42:41to be contented with a separate chamber
42:44until a reconciliation with your family can take place.
42:48What more can I do?
42:55I would rather you did less, Mr Lovelace, not more.
43:14MUSIC CONTINUES
43:39LAUGHTER
43:44MUSIC CONTINUES
43:47LAUGHTER
43:58So kind.
44:00MUSIC CONTINUES
44:20My wife is country bred and cares not for novelties.
44:30MUSIC STOPS
44:51I hope, madam, that you are rested.
44:53Such a trying time that you have had.
45:00I hope the apartment is to your liking.
45:02Perfectly.
45:06It was my late husband's favourite room.
45:13He used to say he never beheld a finer prospect.
45:17No, not even when he led a regiment of dragoons
45:20up some mountain in the Indies
45:22than the busy London streets he saw from that front window.
45:25Oh.
45:27I wish, Mrs Lovelace,
45:29you may never know the loss of a husband as dear to you
45:32as the kennel was to me.
45:42I'm sorry.
45:57MUSIC STOPS
46:23Oh, my dear friend, take care.
46:25Your cruel family still hope to seize you.
46:28Your brother was just now with me, pretending his good service.
46:33Do not despair.
46:35God is just.
46:41MUSIC CONTINUES
46:55MUSIC CONTINUES
47:25MUSIC CONTINUES
47:55MUSIC CONTINUES