[gentle orchestral music] Dr. Lydgate, I should like you to help me with my plans for Lowick.

How do you think I should dispose of the chaplaincy there?

Edward, I know, favored Mr. Tyke, but I do not feel bound to follow his views blindly.

Tyke is a good man in his way, but may I tell you of another?

Of course.

Mr. Farebrother, the Vicar of St. Botolph's in Middlemarch.

His living is a poor one.

He has to support an elderly mother, a sister, and an aunt.

He's a remarkable man.

He should have done more in his life, and he knows it.

Why has he not done more?

The want of money, I believe.

That's led him into playing cards and even billiards for gain.

He wins a good deal.

He excels at everything he does, but it's-it's such a waste of his ability.

With a decent income, he could turn his mind to better things.

I should like to see Mr. Farebrother and hear him preach.

Do.

I trust to the effect of that.

And he's much beloved by those that know him well.

Ask Caleb Garth.

Ask Will Ladislaw.

He'll praise Farebrother to the skies, I promise you.

Will he?

But I so rarely see him now.

Thank you for your opinions, Dr. Lydgate.

Good afternoon, Mr. Mawmsey.

Ah, Dr. Lydgate.

Very fortunate, if I might just trouble you for a moment?

The other day, Dr. Lydgate, when you were so good as to go and visit Mrs. Mawmsey, you, um, you omitted to prescribe her strengthening medicine.

You'll forgive my mentioning this little oversight?

It wasn't an oversight, Mr. Mawmsey.

She doesn't need any strengthening medicine.

There's no medicinal value in these potions.

Let her take a glass of wine with her dinner, if you will.

But, Dr. Lydgate, Mrs. Mawmsey has never been without her strengthening medicine.

The reason doctors prescribe so much medicine, Mr. Mawmsey, is because it's the only way they can make their money.

If men like Wrench could charge for consultations, they wouldn't need to overdose the King's lieges.

And that's the worst kind of treason, eh?

Treason?

Overdosing?

No, well, I don't see that at all.

Mrs. Mawmsey is not a well woman.

Mrs. Mawmsey needs her strengthening medicine.

These Middlemarchers are slow to take on new ideas.

And they're slow to pay their bills.

Marriage, I find, is much more of an expense -than I anticipated.

-[Farebrother laughs] Still, one only spends the money once.

It's not as if one buys a dinner service every week, is it?

Indeed not.

And as to hostility in the town, you'll weather it if you're prudent.

[woman] Morning, Mr. Farebrother.

Well, how am I to be prudent?

I act as I see fit.

I can't help people's ignorance and spite.

Of course not.

But to be wholly independent of their ignorance and spite, it's as well not to incur too many debts.

Easier said than done, but I...

I take your point.

Will you ring the bell for Parsons, Tertius?

Never mind Parsons, Rosy.

Let me undress you.

To her, it's labor.

To me, it's delight.

Come here.

Oh, my Venus.

You must be gentle with me, Tertius, now I am with child.

Am I not always gentle with you?

Yes.

Oh, my little bird.

My lovely one.

Tertius.

Mm?

I forgot to tell you.

Your cousin from Quallingham has accepted our invitation.

He's coming to stay next month.

Oh, what a bore.

Everything bores you, apart from your work.

Far from it.

Far from it.

Progress and reform, that's the ticket!

Don't forget that!

You have to give them a clear line, sir.

Let them know where you stand, even if it means losing them.

Wavering arguments won't win wavering votes.

Ah, yes, now indeed that's all very well, but I know these Middlemarch traders, Ladislaw.

There are tactics in these matters, do you see?

Mawmsey, I am come to talk a little politics with you today.

Reform and progress and so forth.

Shall we, um... And to assure myself that we shall have your vote when the time comes.

Well, then?

Well, you see, I have to look at it in a family light.

Yes, yes, of course.

Will Reform support Mrs. Mawmsey and our six children when I'm no more?

Oh, heaven forbid that it should come to that pass, my dear Mawmsey.

And I ask you, sir, what am I to do when gentlemen of another party come into my shop?

And Mawmsey, they say, you may vote as you like, but vote against us and we'll get our groceries elsewhere!

Those very words spoken from that very chair you're sitting in now.

Well, that's narrow, very narrow.

I should never take that line.

Not so long as my butler brings me good reports of your sugars and spices.

You can rest assured I'd not go elsewhere.

Well, I'm very obliged to you, Mr. Brooke, sir.

Very handsome of you, very handsome indeed.

Um... you know, you'd find it the right thing to come to our side.

This Reform's going to touch everybody by and by.

And as for family, well, we're all one family.

No man is an island, entire unto himself.

It's all one cupboard.

That goes a bit deep for me.

In this one family, there's debtor and creditor still.

I hope they're not going to reform that away.

[Brooke laughs] I cannot be expected to support everyone's family, I hope?

Good God, you misunderstand me, Mawmsey.

Nobody says you should.

Well, I'm very glad to hear it, Mr. Brooke, very glad and greatly relieved, and greatly honored for your continued custom.

Few men have less need to cry for change than I have, which is why I salute you, Mr. Brooke, for the promise you were good enough to give me not to withdraw your esteemed custom, vote or no vote, while the article sent in was satisfactory.

Captain Lydgate!

You keep very good time, sir.

Spurred on by the thought of seeing you, ma'am.

[Rosamond laughs] -Where's Tertius?

-Tertius is never at home.

He neglects me most shamefully, you know.

Does he?

Does he?

What an odd fellow my cousin is.

Well, we shall have to see what we can do about that, shan't we?

[Rosamond laughs] [church bells ringing] [Farebrother] I can't pretend to your late husband's scholarly distinction, Mrs. Casaubon, nor to the apostolic zeal of some of my brothers.

And I...

I am perhaps a little too inclined to overlook minor lapses in others and myself.

It is better to pardon too much than to condemn too much, surely.

I think the best Christian teaching is that which speaks most clearly to people, as you did just now, and helps people to live their lives as well and as happily as they can.

It's not always easy to find true happiness on earth.

No, it is not.

Life sometimes seems very cruel.

But I still believe that there is much we can do to help each other practically.

Mr. Farebrother, I should like to offer you the living at Lowick.

I hope very much that you will accept it.

Thank you.

I shall be delighted to accept.

[piano music] [applauding] Friends, neighbors, this is not one of your stiff formal functions.

Open house has always been our way, but let me just say a word now to welcome home my son Fred here, and drink his health.

I won't deny we've had our little differences, but he's buckled down to his studies and passed his final examination at Oxford University.

And, perhaps, who knows?

One day we might even have a bishop in the family.

[laughing] I have said some hard things about him in the past.

But, now I'd like to say, I have in Fred the best.

Best-natured son a man could wish for.

Here's to you, Fred.

Congratulations, son.

[man 1] Congratulations.

-Fred.

-Fred.

[chatter and laughter] -Fred.

-Harriet.

You must be very gratified, sister, that your son has felt a calling to enter Christ's ministry.

Well, yes, Walter had always wanted a son in the church.

It does seem strange to think of him conducting christenings and funerals.

But I daresay, once he's got in the way of it, it'll become like second nature, don't you think?

[Rosamond laughing] Oh, oh.

Poor Fred.

She isn't pretty, you know, but she's most particular.

First she wouldn't have him because of his gambling and drinking, and now she won't have him because he's going to be a clergyman!

[both laugh loudly] We shouldn't laugh.

That's most cruel.

People are staring, Captain Lydgate.

I mustn't monopolize you.

You must go and talk to some of the other ladies.

Certainly shan't.

Never saw such a damned ugly collection of women in my life.

-Captain!

-Yourself excepted, of course.

And your mother.

As for the rest, well, if they were hounds, I'd shoot them.

[Rosamond giggles] We were all very pleased to hear about the Lowick chaplaincy, Mr. Farebrother.

Now how much would that pay, if I'm not speaking out of turn?

[laughs] 40 pounds a year, Mr. Vincy.

Couldn't happen to a better man.

40 pounds!

A man could get married on that.

[Rosamond laughs loudly] [Captain Lydgate] Very jolly party.

[laughing] [Rosamond, laughing] Good night, Captain.

I do hope you sleep well.

I'll see you in the morning.

Good night.

Tertius.

I wish you would be more polite to the Captain.

I am polite to him.

You hardly ever speak to him.

My dear Rosy, I feed and house the fellow.

You mustn't expect me to talk to him as well.

The man is an ass.

If he got his head broken, I might look at it with interest.

Not before.

I cannot conceive why you should speak of your cousin so contemptuously.

In my opinion, he is a thorough gentleman.

The fact is, Rosy, you would wish me to be a little more like him.

[laughs uncomfortably] [Nicholas] Well, there it is, Harriet.

Stone Court.

So, how should you like to be mistress of it and all the Featherstone land, my dear?

I should like it very well, Nicholas, if it gave you pleasure.

I believe it is the Almighty's will for us, my dear.

[crowd cheering and applauding] [man] Reform is in the air!

A good crowd, Mr. Brooke, and very well disposed, I'd say.

Good, good.

Going well, Mr. Brooke.

Thank you, thank you!

The enemy are gathering, Hawley and the Trumpet men.

All men of good will, though, Standish.

All good fellows in their way.

Yes, well, you think that, Brooke, if it gives you comfort.

Ladislaw.

What was that point about the schedules?

Oh, no, never mind that.

[Ladislaw] They don't want details.

Now what are the three principal heads we stand for?

Ah, what is it?

No, no, no, I have it!

Reform of the House of Commons, no more rotten boroughs, and so on, yes.

That'll strike home well, I fancy.

Excellent, and they know me, of course, and like me, and no man's put more reforms in hand this last half-year than I have.

Ask Caleb Garth.

Ask any man.

There are the machine toolmen out there, merchants, hot metal men from Brett's Stamping, who've never heard of Brooke of Tipton.

I mean, there's no harm in that.

Speak to the point.

They'll like you well enough.

Really, Mr. Brooke?

I'll take another glass of sherry.

Ladislaw first with the introduction.

Then your good self.

Then I'll wind the whole thing up.

All set?

[Ladislaw] Right.

[crowd cheering and applauding] Brooke of Tipton?

What's he, a manufacturer?

Not him.

Landowner, him, and a bad 'un, too.

Fat as a pig while poor folks' children starve.

[cheers and applause] Fellow citizens of Middlemarch, you know and I know that a great change is sweeping this country, and not before time.

[cheers and applause] Now, as never before, we have the chance to free ourselves from the crushing yoke of the past.

Aye, and not by bloody revolution or by civil war, but peacefully by humane reform.

Is that not good news?

[cheers and applause] My friends, we have been patient.

We have endured much.

And God knows we have deserved better.

It is towns like Middlemarch that create the wealth of this country.

Is it not time, is it not long past time that we should be properly represented in Parliament by a man who will speak from Middlemarch and for Middlemarch?

[cheers and applause] Gentlemen, I am proud to give you Mr. Brooke of Tipton.

[cheers and applause] Well done.

Half the battle.

I'm not so sure.

Hawley's got something up his sleeve.

Gentlemen, electors of Middlemarch.

[man] Quack, quack, quack!

[crowd laughs] I'm uncommonly glad to be here.

I was never so proud and happy in my life, you know.

I mention that, you know, I mention it here in the Heart of England.

-[Vent] Quack!

-[crowd laughs] [man] Let the man speak!

[man] Quiet, let's hear the man!

I...

I... -Aye?

-Shh!

I'm your neighbor, my good friends, your close neighbor.

You've known me on the bench a good while.

Quack!

[crowd laughing] Machine, machinery and machine breaking now, I've been into that lately, machine breaking, and it won't do, you know?

It won't do, you know?

We have a bit of an avalanche.

-I know that.

-A bit of an avalanche.

I do know that.

Ohhh.

But things must go on, you see, trade, you know.

And we must look all over the globe from China to Peru.

Who said that?

Johnson, I think.

And that's what I've done up to a point, not as far as Peru.

But I haven't stayed at home.

No, no, no, no, I saw that wouldn't do.

The, the, the Levant now, where some of your Middlemarch goods go, and the Baltic.

The Baltic, oh yes, oh yes.

The Baltic.

I've been into that.

Oh yes, oh yes.

[crowd laughing] [Brooke] Now, now, now, now.

Come, come, gentlemen.

Seriously now, just put that thing down.

[crowd laughing and jeering] Everything must go on.

Manufacture, interchange of staples.

[man imitating Brooke] Manufacture, interchange of staples.

Quack, quack, quack.

Yes, all very well, quack.

[laughs] But what we need now is new ideas.

Blast your ideas!

We want the bill.

[all] We want the bill.

And you shall have your bill, my friends.

I'll give you the bill, Mr. Brooke.

5,000 pounds and a seat in Parliament, all beer and bribes accounted for!

[crowd yelling] What sort of argument is that?

Now, now, now, now.

Fun is fun, but this has gone too far.

Oh yes, oh yes.

Get inside, Brooke.

You can't cow Brooke of Tipton.

Come inside, Mr. Brooke.

Perhaps you're right.

[crowd yelling] This is a little too bad, you know.

They didn't give me time.

I should have got the ear of the people by and by.

However, it'll all come right at the nomination.

Good luck to you, then.

I must confess to you, Mr. Rigg, I regard this as nothing less than providential.

That you like land and I like money?

Well, it would be a dull world if we all wanted the same.

I don't like the country, Mr. Bulstrode.

A seaport now, the bustling quays, a little money changer's shop now all fitted out with locks and safes.

[laughs] Aye.

Thank you.

You've got the property, Mr. Bulstrode, and I've got the cash.

Both rich men in our way.

Good day to you.

-Good day.

-Drive on!

I didn't like that man, Nicholas.

And yet he was sent here for a purpose.

Do you really think it was part of God's purpose?

In his infinite wisdom, He allowed the living of Lowick to go to Farebrother.

I shall never fathom that.

But this, this cannot be anything but a blessing, Harriet.

He has our welfare constantly in mind.

That is His message, I believe.

Good day to you.

[man and woman laugh] -Mr. Brooke.

-Thank you.

Ah, Ladislaw, I'd like a word with you, a word, you know.

[door closes] I'm afraid this may come as rather a shock to you, but, well, the fact of the matter is I've decided to give up the candidacy, leave it to a younger man, you know, a younger man.

I'm very sorry.

I know how disappointed you must be.

Well, I had anticipated it, sir.

Really?

What a prescient fellow you are, Ladislaw.

Well, well, well.

It's the chest in part, you know.

I have felt a trifle uneasy about the chest lately, and Lydgate's warned me that I must pull up.

Poor Casaubon, that was a warning, you know.

It is rather coarse work, this electioneering, eh?

Yes, yes, it is.

Still, we made a start, eh?

We've dug a channel with the Pioneer.

And a more ordinary man than you might carry it on now, you know, more ordinary.

Do you mean that you wish me to give up the Pioneer?

No, no, of course not, not if you wish to stay on, but for myself, I have determined to resign as proprietor, and the new men might not take that high view of you that I have.

In short, I thought you might choose to give it up and find a better field, you see.

For your talents.

I thought myself of taking a run into France, but London now.

There's Althorpe.

I could give you letters of introduction to Althorpe.

I've met Althorpe.

No, I'm obliged to you, Mr. Brooke.

But since you're going to be parting with the Pioneer, I need not trouble you as to the steps I shall take.

I am aware that some of your family have been urging you to get rid of me, but I'm a free man still, I hope.

Well, of course you are, my dear fellow.

I beg you not to take it in that light.

I only want to further your career, you know.

By driving me away, you mean?

I may leave Middlemarch.

I may choose to remain here for the present.

And I am very sorry if this causes you any inconvenience.

[door slams] Oh, how lovely this is.

Do you know Tertius doesn't like me to ride?

Man's a fool.

Man's a fool!

Never saw a lady with a finer seat!

[laughs] Shameless flatterer.

Not I, haven't the wit for it.

Let's canter up that rise.

Looking excellent from here, ma'am.

[Rosamond laughs] Please don't be angry with me, Tertius.

Well, you've come back safely, as you say.

But you mustn't go again, Rosy.

Even if it were the quietest, most familiar horse in the world, there would always be the chance of an accident.

There is just as much chance of an accident indoors.

Rosy, you know that's nonsense.

And I shall tell the Captain he ought to have known better.

Please will you fasten up my plaits, dear?

I love the touch of your hands.

I beg you will not speak to the Captain, Tertius.

It would be treating me as if I were a child.

Promise that you will leave the subject to me.

Very well, but you are to be quite firm with him.

[Brooke] Plenty of air now, and not too much thought.

Books are very well, but in moderation, you know.

Well, I must say, you all look uncommonly agreeable.

You almost make me change my mind and stay!

Then stay, dear sir.

No need to run away to France because they throw a few rotten eggs at you.

You'd be quite safe at home, Brooke, with your friends around you.

I don't run away, Mrs. Cadwallader, but a change of air, you know, it's quite a different thing.

Oh, yes.

Celia, my dear.

-James?

-Sir.

Well, well.

Uncle, you haven't said goodbye to Arthur.

Ah, goodbye, my dear fellow.

I'm off to Paris.

That's in France, you know?

See how he wrinkles his little nose up.

You don't like France, do you, Arthur?

No, he says, for they eat frogs and snails there.

-Horrible.

-Allow me to assist you, sir.

My dear fellow, thank you.

Goodbye.

[all] Bye.

[gentle orchestral music] [Mrs. Cadwallader] She should get married again, and the sooner the better.

[Celia] Baby and I think Dodo should stay as a widow.

It's very nice for her.

And she should shut up that horrid dark old house and live with us here always.

James wouldn't mind, would you, James?

[James] Nothing would make me happier, but she won't be budged.

Will she not?

Well, let me see what I can do.

You will go mad in that house alone, my dear.

You see, I'm blunt with you because nobody else will be.

I know it's a great temptation to go mad, but don't go in for it.

You wouldn't like it.

Oh, I dare say you're bored here with our good dowager.

And Baby, of course, with his wonderful expressions.

But think what a bore you'd become yourself, sitting alone in that dark library, playing the tragedy queen and taking everything sublimely.

You must not concern yourself on my account, Mrs. Cadwallader.

I am quite determined to live alone at Lowick.

I have some ideas in my mind about how I shall live there.

And though they might not agree with some, I like them very well.

I still think the world is mistaken about a great many things.

It's too late to try and cure me of it now.

But I promise you faithfully that if I find myself running into madness, I shall send for you immediately.

Well, I very much trust that you will.

[somber orchestral music] I could not bear to leave the neighborhood without seeing you to say goodbye.

I should have thought it very unkind if you had not wished to see me.

Are you going away soon?

Quite soon, I think.

My contract with the Pioneer has three, four weeks to run.

I intend to go to London and study for the bar.

Everyone says that's the best route into public affairs.

There's a great deal of work that needs to be done politically, and I intend to try and do some of it.

I'm sure you will do well.

You have so many talents.

My uncle has told me how well you speak in public.

Then you approve of my going away for years and never coming back again until I've made my mark in the world?

I suppose it must be right for you to do as you say.

I shall be very happy when I hear that you've made your value felt.

You will forget all about me.

I should never forget you.

I've never forgotten anyone I used to know.

Great God!

I was wondering if you would like to have that miniature upstairs as a keepsake, the one of your grandmother.

It's so like you.

Why should I have that when I have nothing else?

It would be more consoling to me if you wanted to keep it.

I used to despise women for not shaping their lives more.

I was so fond of doing as I liked.

Two years ago, I had no notion of the way that trouble comes and ties our hands and makes us silent when we long to speak.

[knocking] [man] Sir James Chettam's here, ma'am.

[James] Mrs. Casaubon.

Goodbye, Mrs. Casaubon.

[somber orchestral music] I'm surprised he should show his face in this house.

You should not be angry with Mr. Ladislaw, James.

He has acted very properly and very honorably, and he has known so much injustice.

I wish I could find a way of making him some reparation.

But it seems impossible.

[dramatic orchestral music] Well, it's good land, but it's been sadly managed.

All to be done, you know.

All to be done.

I like that, Mr. Garth.

All to be done to the glory of the Lord.

Then let us set about it with a will.

Good day to you, sirs, good day.

Well, bless my heart.

He looks like one of those men one sees waiting about after the races.

By Jove, Nick, it is you!

Unmistakable.

Nick Bulstrode, to the life.

Though 5 and 20 years have played old Bogey with us both.

Nick Bulstrode, you old rascal!

How are you, huh?

You didn't expect to see me here, I'll be bound.

Come, come, shake me by the hand.

[laughs] And a very good day to you, sir.

And to you, sir.

What brings you here?

You ask me that, Nick?

It's you.

I've been searching and asking all over for you, and now I've found you.

Old friends, old partners, dear old cronies, Nick and I. I'd best be leaving now, Mr. Bulstrode.

We can talk about the farm another time.

Yes.

Good evening to you.

And good evening to you, sir.

He seems a nice fellow, Nick.

[Raffles] Thank you, my dear.

No, leave the bottle on the table.

Thank you, Mrs. Abel.

You'll excuse us not sitting with you, Raffles.

Harriet, my dear, I know you have much to do.

Don't let us detain you.

Mr. Raffles has come about a matter of business, I believe.

Well, if you say so.

If you insist.

I'll say good night, then, Mr. Raffles.

Oh.

Good night, Mrs. Bulstrode.

I look forward to many a cozy chat.

Good night.

I could tell you a tale or two about old Nick's London days.

Good night, good night.

Tastier-looking woman than the first Mrs. B., I'll say that, Nick.

Very nice indeed.

But I'll bet she didn't bring a fortune like the old one did.

Lots of money in stolen goods.

A fine game is the fencing game, and you and the old lady ran the best fencing shop in London, eh?

Regular thieves' kitchen.

And off to church on Sundays as if butter wouldn't melt.

[laughs] What do you want?

Just to see you, Nick old boy.

Talk about the good old times, and share a little in your good fortune.

Why did you return from America?

You were paid an adequate sum to remain there.

It didn't suit me to remain there, Nick.

And I'm not going back again.

You will do well to reflect that it's possible for a man to overreach himself in his efforts to secure undue advantage.

Well, you'd know all about that, Nick.

I've often thought I'd have been better off by telling the first Mrs. B that I'd found her runaway daughter.

I got very little from you for keeping it quiet, and seeing you take her fortune.

I've a tender conscience about that pretty daughter.

She died penniless.

I suppose you know that.

Listen to me.

Although I'm not in any way bound to you, I am willing to supply you with a quarterly income, so long as you stay away from this neighborhood.

If you insist on remaining here, you will get nothing.

I shall decline to know you.

You remind me of that droll dog of a thief who declined to know the constable.

"I shall decline to know you."

Your allusions are lost on me, sir.

The law has no hold on me, either through your agency or any other.

Can't you take a joke these days, Nick?

I only meant that I should never decline to know you.

I don't like your quarterly payments and your "keep your distance," Nick old boy.

I'm not a leper, and I like my freedom.

What do you want, then?

[silverware clatters] All this country air makes a man uncommonly sleepy, don't it, Nick?

Show me to my bed and, um...

I'll tell you my terms in the morning.

Oy.

Nicholas, are you ill?

Is anything the matter?

Nothing, Harriet.

Go back to sleep.

I shall not be long.

[somber orchestral music] You've got thousands and thousands, Nick, all of it ill-gotten gains, and none of it yours by right.

Thousands and thousands, and all I want is hundreds.

200, how's that for a bargain?

Give me 200 and I'll go away.

I'll pick up my portmanteau at the turnpike, and then, off like a bullet.

Forever?

For a measly 200?

I don't think so.

You got the money here?

You will forgive me for saying so, ma'am, but it's damned nonsense.

Lady Snelson was riding to hounds ten days before her confinement.

-[gunshot] -Good God!

[Rosamond screams] Head for the trees, ma'am.

Steady, steady, damn you.

Damned fools with their guns.

Ma'am, I think you need to dismount.

I'm not hurt.

I am well, I think.

I'm here.

I'm here, Rosy.

-Tertius?

-I'm here.

The baby?

The baby?

Tertius?

Oh, oh.

Tertius.

[crying] Don't be angry with me.

Tertius, are you?

Are you angry with me?

[dramatic orchestral music] [sobbing] Good afternoon, Mr. Farebrother.

Hello, Fred.

Welcome to Lowick.

Have you come to see my new home?

I've come to ask a favor of you.

I'm ashamed to ask, but there's no one else I can consult.

I'm glad to be of service.

Forgive me while I try to get some order out of this chaos.

Henry, will you hurry with this rug?

It does seem uncommonly hard on my father, and I feel like an ungrateful dog, but I can't bear the thought of going into the Church.

I just don't like divinity and preaching and feeling obliged to look serious all the time.

Like me, you mean?

I used to wish I had been anything rather than a clergyman.

But I'm not cut out for it.

I like riding across country and doing what other men do.

Then there's another hindrance.

There's someone I'm very fond of.

I've loved her ever since we were children.

Miss Garth, I suppose.

Yes, I shouldn't mind anything if she would have me.

Do you think she returns your feelings?

She will never say so, but I do think she cares about me.

What I wanted to ask you, would you talk to her about me?

You see, she has set her mind against my being a clergyman, and I don't know what to do unless I can get at her feeling.

I would like to learn farming, but that takes capital, and Father can't spare any more, and he says that there's no more room for me in his trade.

But if only she'd give me some encouragement, I'd find some other occupation that would make me worthy of her, I know I would.

Why are you asking me, Fred?

Surely you should talk to her yourself.

She made me promise not to speak about it again.

But she might listen to what you have to say.

She thinks so highly of you.

You're very confident that I shall plead your case for you.

You must feel it to be a very deserving one.

Oh, it isn't that, Mr. Farebrother.

It's...

It's just that I don't know how I could live without the hope of her.

It would be like learning to live with wooden legs.

Please speak to her for me.

[somber orchestral music] Your husband will feel exactly the same, so thank you very much indeed.

-Good day to you.

-Good day.

Dr. Lydgate, this is a pleasure.

-Mr. Spooner.

-Have you come to see me, sir?

-Yes, I have.

-How can I be of service to you?

By extending your patience and understanding a little longer regarding the settlement of my account with you, Mr. Spooner.

Of course, Dr. Lydgate.

Perhaps you'd care to step into my office and we can discuss what kind of arrangement we might be able to come to.

Yes, yes, of course.

This way, sir.

In here, sir.

These are difficult times, Dr. Lydgate.

I know what good work you do in Middlemarch.

I wish there were more who shared your high opinion.

Middlemarch men are slow to change.

You have to be patient.

I know you've had considerable expenses.

Yes, purchasing the practice and the house, of course.

But the two outstanding debts at present are to yourself, for the silver plate, the cutlery, and the jewelry, and to Harker for the furniture.

I must tell you plainly, Mr. Spooner, I have not the wherewithal at present to pay either of you.

I appreciate your frankness, Dr. Lydgate.

And Mr. Harker is asking for immediate payment?

Yes, yes, he is.

I understand he has creditors of his own.

You're not inclined to seek help from Mr. Bulstrode to pay your bills?

No, no, I, uh, no, in view of, um... Public business, quite.

Above suspicion.

Very right and proper.

Well, you have the bill of sale for the furniture?

Yes, I'll take this over, Dr. Lydgate.

Along with what you already owe this establishment, that would make 527 pounds altogether, at five percent.

Is that agreeable?

I appreciate your understanding.

Young professional man, establishing himself.

And the security is good.

My valuer, Mr. Manley, will need to visit the house to take an inventory.

An inventory?

I shouldn't have thought that would be necessary.

Can't you go by the original bill of sale?

I've found from long experience, Dr. Lydgate, it's better to do these things in the proper way.

It avoids misunderstandings.

You'll find my men will be very tactful.

Mrs. Lydgate will hardly know they're there, sir.

I can't say for certain that I'll ever be his wife, but certainly I will never be his wife if he becomes a clergyman.

How could I love a man who takes up a profession he doesn't care about only because it's considered a gentleman's calling?

He would be ridiculous.

Do you think I'm too hard on him?

[sighs] He did ask me to report exactly what you think.

But tell me, if he braved all the difficulties of getting his bread in some other way, would you then give him the support of hope?

Might he then count on winning you?

I don't think he should put such questions until he has done something worthy, instead of talking about it and boasting what he could do if he tried.

Pardon me, Mary.

I think you might say more.

Can he count on your remaining single until he has earned your hand, or not?

To put it another way, is it possible you might consider bestowing your affections on another man?

When a woman's feelings touch the happiness of more lives than one, it is kinder... kinder to all... to be perfectly direct and open.

Since you think it's my duty, Mr. Farebrother...

I must tell you.

I do have so strong a feeling for Fred... that I could never give him up for anyone else.

I could never be happy if I thought he was unhappy for the loss of me.

And more than anything, I long for him to do something that will make him worthy of everyone's respect.

Thank you, Mary.

Now I've fulfilled my commission.

With this prospect before him, we shall get Fred into the right niche somehow.

[laughs] I hope I shall live long enough to join your hands in marriage.

Oh, please stay.

Let me give you some tea.

No, my dear.

I must be getting back.

[orchestral music]