The tragic tale of Maggie Tulliver, the miller's daughter, who defies her embittered brother in standing by the man she loves - shocking the stifling society in which she lives, in an attempt to pursue her blighted dreams and starring Judy Cornwell, Barbara Hicks, Pippa Guard, Christopher Blake, Ray Smith, Anton Lesser, John Moulder Brown, Michael Troughton & Julie Dawn Cole.
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TVTranscript
00:00.
00:30We're ruined, ruined.
00:44Oh, Mother, don't.
00:46We should be beggars.
00:48No, we shall.
00:49I'll get a situation.
00:50I'll work.
00:51I'll get money that way.
00:52Didn't I always say to you, Father?
00:55Time and again, whatever you do, don't go to law against Wakeham, didn't I?
00:59What's this then?
01:01A wick?
01:02Where's the cause?
01:03Shame on you, Jeremy.
01:05How can you be drool at a time like this?
01:08Don't stop your grieving, woman.
01:09It's not a child we've lost.
01:10It's a lawsuit.
01:11Precisely, Father.
01:12You mean we could bury a dead child, but what do we do with a lawsuit?
01:14We rise above it, lad.
01:16We rise above it.
01:17Won't you sit down, Father?
01:18You look so hot.
01:19Then Wakeham thinks he's beaten Tulliver.
01:20He must think again.
01:21Tulliver still has a trick or two up his sleeve.
01:24But how do we stand now, financially?
01:26Well, I admit a man could wish his bank book made better reading.
01:29But we've lived humble before and we shall do it again for a week or two.
01:33Only a week or two?
01:34But the money you owe...
01:35Till the profits from the mill repay Furley's advances.
01:40Here, it's hot in here.
01:41Shall I fetch you some water, Father?
01:43Who's Furley?
01:45He's a reasonable man.
01:46Aye, but who is he?
01:47You'll not be slow to see the profit in this.
01:49But who is he, Father?
01:50He owns the mortgage on the mill.
01:53Her home's mortgaged.
01:55Aye, long since.
01:56Oh, Jeremy.
01:57It's even worse than I thought.
01:59How is Mr. Furley going to help, Father?
02:01He's going to purchase the estate and keep me on as a tenant.
02:05But that's wonderful.
02:07You all stop snivelling and smile again.
02:09But wouldn't Mr. Furley take the house from us?
02:13If he buys the mill, he'll own our home.
02:15He'll not turn us out, Missy.
02:17How can you be so sure of everything? Has Furley told you about the mill?
02:20As good as. I'm waiting on his word now.
02:23Oh, what a relief!
02:25Mother will be able to stay and the bailiff won't be in.
02:28But don't we need the money now? At once?
02:30I'm not at your schooling, lad.
02:32But I'm a long way from being a fool.
02:35If Furley keeps me on as a tenant, he'll advance the money.
02:39And he'll be repaid later out of the profits of the business.
02:42At our interest.
02:43He's a businessman.
02:45But he'll not refuse an offer like this.
02:47And what of that dreadful man?
02:49That Dickinson?
02:50Dickinson?
02:51What, the landlord of the Marquis of Granby?
02:53What's he got to do with this?
02:57Oh, he lent your father money to repay your Aunt Clegg.
03:01Oh, you mean you borrowed money from that man?
03:04That pimply beer drink? Oh, for heaven's sake, Father!
03:06Tom!
03:07But you'd rather have ruined your Aunt Moss and her husband.
03:09And now, I suppose, Dickinson wants his money back too.
03:10It's all dealt with.
03:11How?
03:12Here's security.
03:13What kind of security?
03:15A bill on the seal of the furniture.
03:17The furniture?
03:18Oh, how could you?
03:20How could you?
03:21How could you?
03:22How could you?
03:23All our things, estrangel.
03:24Oh, we shall have nothing left.
03:25Nothing.
03:26We shall all go to the workhouse.
03:27Now, say what you've done.
03:28We shall be sold up and go to the workhouse to think you should have married me to bring me to this turnover.
03:36Can you talk so, Mother Father?
03:37I only did what he thought was right.
03:38I was wrong.
03:39Again and again.
03:40You young pup.
03:41Oh, face the simple facts, Father.
03:42You've disgraced my family.
03:43You've made my poor sisters the gossip of the girls.
03:44They've had to sit by and watch while you spent my fortune on your silly lawsuit.
03:45Stop this.
03:46Why aren't your precious family here now?
03:47Be quiet, Maggie.
03:48I shall not.
03:49Are the Aunt's just going to stand by and let this happen to Father?
03:50Nothing has happened and nothing will.
03:51I wouldn't take charity from those harpies anyway.
03:52If you cared about anyone but yourself, you'd make them out.
03:53Maggie!
03:54Maggie!
03:55Maggie!
03:56I know I behave badly and I'm not a bad person.
03:57But I'm not a bad person.
03:58You've made my poor sisters the gossip of the girls.
03:59You've made my poor sisters the gossip of the girls.
04:00They've had to sit by and watch while you spent my fortune on your silly lawsuit.
04:01Stop this.
04:02Why aren't your precious family here now?
04:03Be quiet, Maggie.
04:04I shall not.
04:05Are the Aunt's just going to stand by and let this happen to Father?
04:06Nothing has happened and nothing will.
04:07I wouldn't take charity from those harpies anyway.
04:09If you cared about anyone but yourself, you'd make them out.
04:12Maggie!
04:13Maggie!
04:14Maggie!
04:15I know I behave badly and I'm sorry, but I stand by what I said.
04:22It's always the same with you, isn't it?
04:23Always setting yourself up above everyone else.
04:25You ought not to have spoken to Mother like that.
04:27And you ought not to have shouted at Father.
04:29You always think you know better than anyone, but you're always wrong.
04:32Why can't you leave it to me to take care of everything?
04:34But the Aunt should be made to help us.
04:36Why should they?
04:37Why should they give their money to someone who can't take care of his own?
04:40Do you feel no pity for Father at all?
04:42It's no good standing up for Father when you know he's blameable for everything.
04:45He's a broken man, Tom.
04:47I don't think he's well.
04:48He's so red in the face all the time.
04:50It's me who's been put to the worst disadvantage by his lack of prudence.
04:53He's made us all poor, Maggie.
04:55It's intolerable to think how everyone will look down on us because of his stupidity.
04:59Well, it's stupid to fight for what he believed in.
05:12Father?
05:13It's from Mr. Furley, Father.
05:15A messenger just delivered it.
05:16Oh, I know.
05:17You'll see.
05:18This will stop you snoring, woman.
05:26No.
05:27Oh, Jeremy, what does he say?
05:29No, he can't.
05:30He can't do it.
05:31What?
05:32He can't do it!
05:33He can't do it!
05:34Can't do what was he saying?
05:35He can't!
05:36Father!
05:37Oh!
05:38Oh!
05:39Oh!
05:40Oh!
05:41Oh!
05:42Oh!
05:55He's lying quiet now.
05:57But someone should sit with him.
05:59His eyes are open, but he seems to see nothing.
06:02He doesn't recognize me.
06:03Now, don't alarm yourself too much, Tom.
06:06Your father's had a stroke.
06:08It can affect the memory for a time.
06:11Is that the letter you spoke of?
06:14Aye.
06:15We had to tear it to get it from his hand.
06:17May I?
06:20He read it.
06:21Cried out and fell down.
06:23First I thought he was dead.
06:26Who's this man, Furley?
06:28Oh.
06:29When he lost the lawsuit,
06:31Father was pinning all his hopes on Furley buying the mill
06:33and keeping him on as a tenant.
06:35No, he's written to say that he too is hard pressed for money.
06:37He's sold all his securities to Lawyer Wakeham.
06:40Aye.
06:41Including the mortgage on our property.
06:43So you see, there's no hope for us now.
06:45Now, my boy, there's always hope.
06:49Father and Lawyer Wakeham are sworn enemies, Dr Turnbull.
06:53They're ruined.
06:54But surely that means that Mr Wakeham owns the mill.
06:59No, aunt.
07:00He owns the mortgage.
07:02And that means the bailiff.
07:04Aunt Pullet, won't you come nearer the window?
07:06There's such a pleasant breeze.
07:08No, thank you.
07:09Here I am and here I stay.
07:11Others may cut their death if they wish.
07:14If the doctor orders jelly for Mr Tulliver Bessie, be sure and let me know.
07:19Thank you, Sophie, but there's been no talk of jelly yet.
07:23He'll not get up again.
07:25You mark my words.
07:26He'll be all childish like Mr Carr was.
07:29Poor man.
07:30Enough to be fed with a spoon.
07:32Sophie Pullet, you do chatter about people's complaints till it's quite indecent.
07:38Dr Turnbull says his memory's gone a long way back.
07:41He hardly knows Tom at all because he's thinking of him when he was little.
07:45I do recall you had some cut glasses for jelly, Bessie.
07:48A dozen, Susan, as you very well know.
07:51And it's no good you eyeing Bessie's silver either.
07:54Everything will be put to auction and bid for in a proper manner.
07:58La, Jane, how fiery you are today.
08:01How like a baby.
08:03If I understand correctly, we've come together to decide what's to be done.
08:07Now disgrace has fallen on poor Bessie and her family.
08:11But does everything have to go to the bailiff?
08:14Even the china?
08:15Exactly.
08:17Before the bailiff comes, could we not divide the best things between us?
08:22Well, I have no objection at all to buying your silver teapot, Bessie.
08:25Even if the spout is bent.
08:27And I know sister Pullet has her eye on the spotted tableclothes.
08:31I was always partial to your damask, Bessie.
08:34I would like to keep my china though.
08:36I bought it when I'm married and there's never been a bit broken because I always wash it myself.
08:41Oh, it drives me past patience hearing you all talking.
08:44Buying in this, keeping back that.
08:47You'd do well to remember, Bessie, that you may not have a bed to sleep on by the end of the week.
08:53Oh, come now, Jane. Let's not make things too dark.
08:56I'm not in front of the girl.
08:58It's time Maggie knew her condition in life.
09:01And why she's having to suffer for her father's faults.
09:06A deal more humility from you, young lady, wouldn't go amiss.
09:10Your father's not only brought disgrace on your family, but mine as well.
09:15Oh, it's time for you and your brother to let us see the fruits of all this expensive learning
09:20that's brought your mother to beggary.
09:23You should be humble and grateful to your aunts for trying to help,
09:26not jumping to your feet at every opportunity to be bad-tempered and insolent.
09:30I've said nothing.
09:31Your disposition says it all, madam.
09:34If you think it's such a disgrace to your family that we should be sold up,
09:38wouldn't it be better to prevent it?
09:40Maggie, hush.
09:41Well, if you and Aunt Polly and Aunt Dean are going to leave Tom and me money in your wills,
09:44why don't you give it now instead?
09:46Maggie, tell her.
09:47Learning has not improved you one bit.
09:49What use would it be to save the furniture when there's all the lordettes still to be paid?
09:54And why should we squander our money, pray,
09:56on a man who's already proved how wicked and wasteful he's been with his own?
10:00Then why do you come here talking and interfering and scolding us?
10:04Maggie!
10:05Keep away from us, all of you!
10:06Where?
10:07My father's better than any of you.
10:09He would have helped you if you'd been in trouble.
10:11Miss, you go too far.
10:13Keep your money.
10:14We'll do without it.
10:16You've not seen the end of your troubles with that girl, Bessie.
10:20She's beyond anything for boldness.
10:23No more than I've always said.
10:25She'll come to no good.
10:27Come, let's waste no more time with her.
10:29We have business here, sisters.
10:31I've been thinking.
10:33And it seems to me it would help matters if I spoke to Dean and asked him to get guests and company to buy the mill and keep Bessie and Tulliver on as tenants.
10:43If he lives.
10:44Oh, yes.
10:45But would they buy it?
10:47I don't see why not.
10:49As it is an auction, sister, there will be other interested parties.
10:53Of course there will, but they don't count.
10:55Who in St. Ogg's could outbid guests?
10:58What about lawyer Wakeham?
11:00Supposing he wants to buy the mill?
11:02Oh, you silly goose, Sophie.
11:04Why ever should he?
11:05Oh, but supposing he does, sisters.
11:07What then?
11:08It must have Wakeham buys the mill.
11:10It'll kill Tulliver.
11:11It'll kill him.
11:12I know it will.
11:19Maggie.
11:20In here.
11:24Look who's come or visited.
11:28Don't you recognise him?
11:29It's Bob Chaykin.
11:31Bob!
11:32Hello, Miss Maggie.
11:33Have you come to visit father?
11:35Oh, Bob, that is kind.
11:36He might recognise an old friend.
11:37Well, I don't know so much about the friend, Miss Maggie.
11:40Proper trial I was to your father.
11:42Always eating his turnips and stealing your mother's pies.
11:44Oh, I'm sure that's all forgiven now.
11:46Come and sit down.
11:47Here, Bob.
11:53Remember that?
11:54Oh, the knife, yes.
11:56I'll give it to you.
11:57You got into a rage one day and threw it down on a coal pack for me to pick up.
12:00Which I didn't.
12:01Picked it up myself after you'd gone.
12:04Little blaze broke it, see.
12:06But I'll not have a new one put in.
12:08In case they cheat me and give me another knife instead.
12:11There's not another like it in the county.
12:13So how are you, Bob?
12:14Oh, I'm well enough, Miss.
12:16Got work at Torrey's Mill now.
12:18Days well, but balls a day is out as long as pigs chitlings.
12:21As a matter of fact, Mr. Tom, I had a rare bit of luck last week.
12:25Doused a fire at Torrey's.
12:26And the gentleman was so pleased he'd give me ten sovereign.
12:29Ten.
12:30Not a word.
12:32And then I hear this gossip, see.
12:34I hear me old master's in trouble and bro.
12:37Does the old county know?
12:39Well, I thinks to myself, Miss Maggie and Mr. Tom, well, they'll be wanting some help from old friends and neighbors.
12:46Mr. Tom, he'd give me the only present they ever had in me life.
12:52Well, there's only nine of them now.
12:58I bought me mother a goose for dinner.
13:05But I want you to have them, Mr. Tom.
13:10I walked six miles to bring you these.
13:13If you don't take them, I think you still bear me a grudge for throwing the knife in the cowpan.
13:22You're the kindest person in the world, Bob.
13:25But we can't take your little fortune from you.
13:29Thanks very much, Bob.
13:30I'll never forget this.
13:31And if ever we need help, well, we know we can depend on you.
13:35That's what you'd like, isn't it?
13:36To have us depend on you as a friend.
13:38Mr. Tom, that's what I'd like.
13:41But please take the money.
13:44A little slice of my luck and know I'm done.
13:49Nine sovereigns, Bob.
13:50Well, it's not really enough to help us.
13:53But it might do you some good.
13:54Oh, I can get bags more where that come from, Mr. Tom.
13:57I'm a bit of a rogue on a quiet seat.
14:00Very convenient it was, me being around to douse that fire at Torries.
14:05You mean you lit the fire?
14:07Oh, you're a rogue, Bob.
14:08Yeah, you'll get transported one of these days.
14:11Won't you come upstairs and see Father now, Bob?
14:13Mother's with him. I know she'd like to see you too.
14:15Well, so long as you don't mind me boots on your carpet, Miss Maggie.
14:18No.
14:20Bob.
14:23You're welcome.
14:24You're welcome.
14:25Hi, Uncle.
14:26I'm glad to see you, Tom.
14:27You're a great deal more respectful towards your elders than your sister.
14:30My wife tells me that the girl was exceedingly rude to her last week.
14:31are you well uncle
14:38I'm glad to see Tom you're a great deal more respectful towards your elders than
14:44your sister my wife tells me the girl was exceedingly rude to her last week
14:48well sit down sit down how's your father very much the same I'm afraid uncle he had some
14:58notion once of making you an engineer I think yes but I don't think I'd earn much
15:01money at that for a long while young men of your age don't make much money at
15:04anything how are you at accounts and bookkeeping I know nothing of them but I
15:09do write well the best writing in the world won't get you a better place than
15:13copy clerk what did you learn at school Latin a great deal of Latin and some
15:17algebra and Greek history then hadn't you better get employment where such things
15:21will come in handy no uncle I'd rather enter some business like this so I can
15:24get on as you have oh that's sooner said than done young gentleman to get on
15:29like I did you must start at the bottom I had no more schooling than a charity boy
15:34when I came to guest and call but I pretty soon saw that I wouldn't get far
15:37without mastering accounts so I took lessons between working hours and paid
15:42for them out of my earnings I got it all by hard work master Tom and picked up
15:48knowledge as I went along yes that's what I want to do no I got places sir
15:54because I made myself fit for them if you wish to slip into a round hole you must
15:57make a ball of them yourself you young man you know nothing at all about
16:02bookkeeping and even less about reckoning you wouldn't even make a common shop man
16:08with your present knowledge latin's no use to you here
16:25more than five minutes do you show you know quite sure thank you Lucy dearest those stairs
16:30would exhaust me I should like you to meet my cousin Tom Tulliver Tulliver yes I dare say I know the name
16:36but then I know half the names of the neighborhood in a detached sort of way
16:40Stephen shame on you I've often talked to you about the Tullivers and cousin Maggie
16:44dare say Lucy well you run along now I shall wait down here keep an eye on father's work
16:52make sure they're not slacking I shall enjoy that I don't think they will
16:56uncle I just want to earn enough to keep my mother and sister I don't care how
16:59unpleasant the work is well I suppose you might be apprenticed to some business
17:05a chemist and druggist perhaps latin might come in a bit there but your best chance would
17:12be a place on the wharf or in the warehouse might I do that then you wouldn't last a day
17:16standing in cold and wet and shouldered about by other fellas that expensive education of yours
17:23has taken the roof out of you young man and whitened your hands like a girl's you're too
17:27fine a gentleman now for the wharf oh come in me dear come in Tom was just leaving
17:34hello Lucy has Maggie come to town with you no no she didn't want to leave father
17:40how is he very much the same I'm afraid I'm so sorry shall I visit him would you like that
17:46uh well Tom my boy I think there's nothing more to be said just now but sir goodbye my boy remember me to your mother
17:53goodbye Lucy
17:56now my dear oh father did you have to dismiss him like that he was so upset you must help him somehow
18:08promise me you'll try well well we shall see the boys train for nothing but I uh I might find him a temporary
18:18place in the warehouse papa you're a darling yeah as a matter of fact there's a possibility that things
18:24could still turn out well for neighbor to deliver how no we uh guest and coal that is are putting it
18:30a bid for the mill next week that's wonderful then everything will be all right again all guests
18:36must buy the mill things won't be all right in that family for a long time my dear but at least
18:42they'd not have to lose their home
18:43father is that you little wench oh yes father it's me it's maggie I thought you'd never recognize us
19:06again where's he mother I want to talk to her she went to some talks an hour ago but she said
19:13she'd be back before dark I've had a fit maggie yes father but you'll soon be well
19:22have we lost the mill maggie no nor shall we the auctions on friday but guests are gonna buy the
19:31property so that we can stay on here that's capital capital but I can't run the mill for me
19:41you're not to worry about that now you to rest and get strong
19:44you not get strong we rest in us luke has been to see you and all the ants
19:52and bob jakin do you remember bob jakin father maggie if I die tom will have to take care of the
20:03both of you he'll be badly off I know but even tom must go and see and pay everybody
20:13father don't talk so dr tumble says you'll be on your feet in no time
20:17there's 50 shillings luke put into the business you must pay him right away
20:23I shall but you'll soon be well enough to attend to everything yourself
20:29give us a kiss then lass then let me rest eh oh father we all love you so much and pray for you to get
20:40well
20:40this whole world's been too much for me maggie
20:45that rascal wakeham
20:50he's done for me
20:53oh mr wakeham sir how good it is of you to see me start an appointment a busy lawyer like you sir
21:05mrs tolliver i think
21:07the same sir miss elizabeth dodson as was sir and i'm sure you remember my father
21:14he was very close friends with squire daly and we always went to dances there the miss dodson's
21:19you'd probably be seated mrs tulliver
21:25mrs greg and mrs dean are my sisters i believe you know them
21:28you have some business with me
21:29i hope sir you're not thinking i bear you any ill will because of my husband
21:34you have a question to ask me mrs tulliver i'm sure i can't be answerable for all the abuse you've had to put up with from tulliver and as for that lawsuit
21:41madam i'm extremely busy do you have a question for me
21:44yes sir i do
21:46my husband hasn't been himself
21:50struck like the death he was when he got that letter about you having a hold on his land
21:55yes i had heard i'm sorry he's in your health
21:56not that i'm defending him mine for all his fire and his law and against you
22:00but there's worse men mr wakeham sir tulliver never wronged anybody not willingly
22:11i can't believe you'd want him to be so sick so i know you'll behave like the gentleman you are
22:17what does all this mean mrs tulliver
22:19mr wakeham sir please don't buy the mill and the land it would only make tulliver worse if he thought
22:28you'd done that who told you i meant to buy it
22:34my sisters and i thought you might want to buy it
22:37sir if you don't bid for the mill and raise the price then perhaps guests and coal buy it
22:49and let tulliver work it as a tenant sit down mrs tulliver
22:58closing i did buy the mill why should i not allow your husband to work as my manager
23:02oh but that's what i fear and dread sir that's why i'm here today to plead with you
23:06tulliver would never work for you sir not if the mill itself begged him to why your name's like
23:11poison to him sir he's looked on you as his ruination ever since you set the law on him
23:16eight years ago over that road through the meadow and he's a pig-headed foul-mouthed fool
23:21oh he's so ill mr wakeham sir if you were to buy the mill i'm sure he'd die
23:29and you don't want a corpse on your conscience do you
23:36missus tulliver i have business that must be attended to
23:40dogcott mill has been in his family for three generations
23:47why his grandfather built it and they do say it will be unlucky if the mill ever
23:53change his hands and the water will all banish
23:55you must excuse me for interrupting but i really
23:57hasn't been punished enough mr wakeham sir
24:00he's done nobody any harm except himself and his family
24:05i think there's nothing more to be said
24:14oh please don't let on i've come to see you my son would be very angry with me for demeaning
24:20myself and i'm in enough trouble without being scolded by my children
24:24good day madam see mrs tolly we're off the premises
24:49father which day is it that dolcote mill is to be sold
24:52on friday would you go to winship's philip and ask him to come over the auctioneer
24:57i think i have some business for him you're surely not thinking of buying the mill father
25:01not too fond of men who openly revile me
25:05clients have withdrawn business after listening to tulliver's lies about me over the dinner table
25:09that laut has spent the last eight years trying to blacken my name he should be taught a lesson
25:12but haven't you already done that ten times over to belittle tulliver now by buying his mill seems like
25:18well like what speak up lad i'm sorry father it just seems like sheer vindictiveness
25:25ah philip philip i'll never make a lawyer of your lad you're too emotional
25:31but then your mother was an emotional woman i never scolded her for it
25:37tulliver's nothing but another unsuccessful plaintiff to you father a pitiable fellow with a hot temper
25:42and a pretty daughter eh i know you're too well my boy i think you speak more for the daughter's
25:47sake than her father's am i right only yesterday you told me you had no intention of buying dolcote mill
25:54yesterday i'd not met mrs tulliver
26:12so
26:24so
26:28so