BIRDSONG,
INSECTS HUM
'Once upon a time in merrie England,
there lived an old gentleman
'who was as happy
as the summer days were long.
'He was kind and wise and generous.
'And did I mention rich? Very rich.
'Everyone loved the squire.
Even his servants.
'But no-one loved him better
than a boy from nowhere.'
SERVANTS GIGGLE
'A boy without parents.
'A boy called Tom.'
My Tom Jones.
'The boy from nowhere and a girl
from the other side of the world.
'They could just live
happily ever after.
'But that would be no fun at all.
'For I would have no story to tell.
'To begin at the beginning
'is to begin before
I crossed the wide ocean
'to make these green hills my home.
'So let's begin with
that kind old gentleman,
'20 English summers ago.
'His name is Squire John Allworthy.
'And tonight, he'll make a choice
that will change his life.
'A dark night falling
at Paradise Hall,
'and the squire just home in time
'to the warmth and safety
of his own domain.
'Where he's grown accustomed to
a lonely bed after many sad losses.'
Welcome home
to Paradise Hall, Squire.
It's late, away to bed with you all.
I'm sure you've worked long
enough today.
Do as you're told!
Thank you, Lord, for the peace
and quiet of Paradise Hall.
BABY COOS
And, Lord, in sorrow, I pray for
the souls of my poor departed wife,
and our infant children.
And, er, I pray that one day...
BABY FUSSES
..I shall be reunited with them
in heaven.
BABY COOS
Amen.
Ah!
BELL JANGLING
"Away to bed with you all."
Huh! Been on my feet all day.
Oh, my Lord.
SHE GASPS
Oh, I'm so sorry, one moment.
Never in my life had to look at
a gentleman without his britches.
Look, Deborah. A gift from God.
Oh! Good heavens!
Give the smelly article to me,
and I'll stick it in a basket
and leave it at the church door.
In the morning, you will
find my little one a nurse.
SHE GASPS
You're never gonna keep it?
Sir! What will your sister say?
My dear brother...
You're never going to keep him?
He was made in the image of God,
just like we all were.
We, sir, are not b*stards left
in the beds of innocent gentlemen,
by strumpets.
Look at his little face.
The mother must be found, John.
Some poor girl
betrayed by a wicked villain...
She left him with us, Bridget,
for the chance of a better life.
Mrs Wilkins can go
to the village and find his mother.
'She was found in no time.
'An unusually bookish girl,
'housemaid to
the village school teacher.'
Of all the girls in the county,
of all the girls
in Little Baddington,
you, Jenny Jones, the clever one,
the Sunday School girl,
the one who is learning Latin.
Lock me away in the
House Of Correction if you like.
You know, it is in my power
as a magistrate to do exactly that.
Just don't ask me to tell you
who his father is. I can't. I won't.
Mr Partridge, your employer,
will certainly get the blame
unless you confess the truth.
I'm not sure who he was, sir.
Could have been anybody.
THEY GASP
Jenny Jones,
the villain who did this to you,
whoever he was...
Tom's a nice name. Thomas Jones.
..must pay for his crimes.
Hm? Jenny?
Do you really have
nothing more to say to me?
Omnia vincit amor.
'Love conquers all.'
That's what your poor mother said
as she left, little Tom,
and there's a happy ending.
'Not yet.
'We've not heard the last
of Jenny Jones.
'And she was not the only woman
at Paradise Hall
'nursing a romantic secret.'
Oh, here comes trouble.
Deborah, the Lord asks us
to think well of all His creation.
The Lord can ask all He likes.
Oh, Captain Blifil.
An unexpected pleasure.
Mr Allworthy, your conduct
is the talk of the county
and in the strongest
possible terms, sir,
I object!
A fatherless nobody!
He has acquired a father.
He has acquired me.
I won't have it, by heaven!
With respect, Captain Blifil, we've
only known each other five minutes
so I hardly think it's up to you.
Am I to have no say in the morals
of the family into which
I intend to marry?
Marry?
She's past 40!
And he's only after her fortune.
VICAR: Dearly beloved.
We are gathered here today
in the sight of God...
WOMAN SCREAMING
It had better be a boy.
'And that's how little William
Blifil acquired a country estate.
'And little Tom Jones
acquired a playmate.'
Oh, no.
'Of sorts.'
My demand is simple enough.
Husband, you know the answer.
Captain Blifil, once more,
your son is my heir,
and will one day
be Lord of Paradise Hall.
I want your further guarantee
that the b*stard
shall only ever be his servant.
Can we not let the boys be friends?
Oh, boys, no!
CHILD CRYING
That's right, my son, show
the little cuckoo who's in charge.
BIRD CUCKOOS
Cuckoo! Ha-ha!
Cuck... Cuckoo.
HE CHOKES
Oh, good Lord!
Captain, Captain Blifil, sir.
Captain. Captain. Captain.
Boys, from now on, you shall be
friends as well as cousins.
William. Tom.
Let nothing on this Earth
divide you.
Tom Jones...
you're a rather... nasty...
wild... little... boy.
'Cruelty. Indifference.
'Poor little fellow. Think of him
wandering through the woods.
'Is there any wonder he ended up
'making a highly unsuitable
friendship?'
CHICKENS CLUCK
You ready for your lesson?
There.
I can't see anything.
In the undergrowth there,
do you see?
No.
Yes!
Yeah.
Yes.
Right, now, squeeze. Don't pull.
Gently... Gently.
ENORMOUS BOOM
BIRDS FLUTTERING
You all right?
You call that gentle, do you?
'And that was Tom's whole world
before I burst into it.
'Cold. Lost. Scared.'
Come, Sophia. Come here, I say.
'I arrive in to the welcoming arms
of a stranger, of an aunt.
'Of a whole new life.'
You sailed thousands of miles
to get here,
you could look more enthusiastic.
And those are
your grandfather's sheep.
See, Sophia,
the white fluffy things, hm?
If you are a good girl,
he will give you a lamb to pet.
Now, do you even know
what a good girl is?
A good English girl is polite
and obedient
and most of all,
a good girl is grateful.
Are you listening to me?
You're not supposed to be up there!
Stop it. Come down.
DISTANT BELL RINGING
Can't you hear the pigeons?
No.
You just hit my father's gravestone!
Tom pays no attention in class.
I do my best, sir,
but I do prefer to teach boys
who want to learn.
Bear with Tom, Mr Thwackum.
He's not a bad boy, just...
Well, just a child of nature.
You shall tame him.
Now you hit Mr Thwackum!
I'll tell!
Oh, good heavens!
What a welcome.
PIGEONS COO
PIGEONS SQUAWK
Father loves pigeon pie.
We're here. Western Manor.
Please remember to be good.
She never speaks.
Perhaps she is deaf.
Say good afternoon
to your grandfather, Sophia.
She's just like him.
Fancy that.
Just like my poor boy.
Every time I look at her,
I'll see the son
who lies buried in a farm field.
Do you want to see my stone?
It came down from heaven.
HE SOBS
Don't cry, Grandfather.
HE SOBS
Your go, Black George!
Right.
MUTTERS TO HIMSELF
Ah, see that?
No, Tom!
No. That's Squire Western's land.
Tom, that's off limits!
You get back here!
You do know they hang poachers?
My grandfather hates poachers.
Well, I'm not a poacher
so it's not a problem.
Liars burn in hell, boy.
The gallows will be too good for
you, you thieving little b*stard.
Mercy.
Leave him alone!
Mercy!
Oh, no. No. Oh! Oh! Oh!
Oh, no, no!
HE LAUGHS
HE LAUGHS
Oh, my Lord, I laughed
at the pair of them
till the tears ran down my face.
Tom! Tom! Mr Western's dining out on
you again.
I had to send her back to
her aunt to learn some manners.
"Mercy! Mercy!"
I thought my last moments had come.
If I had strung you up that day,
I'd have broken the hearts
of every maiden in the parish!
HE CHUCKLES
Never did get it out of him, though,
did you, Mr Western?
The child never told who gave him
the g*n to sh**t your pheasants.
Could it be more obvious, Uncle?
It was Seagrim.
Black George Seagrim?
Blifil, hush,
it was a long time ago.
Tom. You think we haven't always
known it was Black George
you were protecting?
I'll wager Black George
is the sneaking villain
what's been taking the pheasants
out of my woods right now.
As magistrate, Uncle, surely
your duty is to the landowner.
And to law and order.
Well said, young man!
I'll have the bugger arrested!
What does it matter
about a few pheasants?
The pheasants
belong to Squire Western.
And property must be respected
or the world will end.
The world will end soon enough
for Black George Seagrim
if he cannot feed his family.
Well, he should have thought of that
before he did what he did.
We must all learn, Tom, to consider
the consequences of our actions.
Molly.
Back again?
Actually, it's your father
I need to see. It's important.
So's this. Come here.
Molly, Molly, I mean it,
I need to see Black George.
He's the one can wait.
MOANING
AND KISSING
SHE GIGGLES
Molly!
PANTING
MOLLY LAUGHS
Do you truly love me, Tom?
Like the clouds love the sky.
Like trumpets love heaven.
Save your charming notions
for when you end up with a lady
in silks and satins.
Ladies in silks
won't go for fellows like me.
So I'm the best
you think you can get?
Fine compliment that is,
from a gentleman.
Oh, I have missed this all so much.
BIRDSONG
Listen, you can hear the birdsong!
They do very well on a plate.
You're such a Londoner.
I like my comforts, miss.
I like my clean, white linen!
Ideas above my station.
SHE LAUGHS
Come on, then!
Maybe I've got better things to do.
Liar!
Sophie! Oh, my lovely girl.
Oh, well, I hope city life
hasn't spoiled you.
I'm never leaving home again!
HE CHUCKLES
SHE SIGHS
The country.
We can have a little cottage
just like my dad's.
He'll need someone to help him
with the sh**ting and the fencing
and the manure
and all that kind of men's business.
And I'll have babies and keep house
just like my mother...
My dad will likely be home now.
CHILDREN LAUGH
You! They ought to string you up!
Rich folk messing with our families.
The constables came for her father.
But if YOU talk to Squire Western,
Father, I'm sure he'll listen.
Don't you understand that
I have a duty to uphold the law?
I do. But it seems so cruel.
We took you in.
A wretched foundling.
I loved you and reared you
and tried to be a father to you.
No man could have a better father.
And yet you still betray my trust
with your constant wilfulness.
Black George could be hanged.
Or transported.
His children will starve.
I merely stand for what is right.
Kindliness is right.
Generosity of spirit.
You didn't have to tell.
Blifil, cousin, all these years,
when I've tried to be friends...
You chose to make your friends
among the lower classes.
If "friends" is the right word.
Yes, you are the heir,
and I am the b*stard, but...
There are no buts, Jones.
Your birth condemns you.
Brutish behaviour, you see?
Incapable of controlling
your own animal instincts.
I pity you.
A city style.
Is it possibly
too fine for breakfast?
Well you're not actually gonna be
milking cows in it, miss.
I shall wear the pink linen.
Oh, where the devil is she?!
HE MUTTERS
SUCKS HIS TEETH
DOG WHINES
Ah, took your time, madam.
A man could starve.
Grandfather, I'm sorry,
you should have started without me.
Seems to me, I've been without you
quite long enough.
Excuse me, I didn't send myself away
to my aunt!
Don't be cross!
How could I teach you to be a lady?
Well, how can
I ever be cross with you?
You back home
and hunting tomorrow... perfect!
Hunting.
It's just the worst thing
about country life.
No. The worst thing about
country life is having no friends.
I can't bear it.
I feel sorry for the fox.
I feel sorry for the horses.
I just can't see the point
in chasing things
that don't want to be caught.
Hmm.
You'll change your mind
when all the handsome
young country men come calling.
Honour, I've come home
to look after my grandfather,
not chase after young fellows.
Has nobody seen to you, young man?
I'm waiting for Squire Western,
miss.
He plans to hunt tomorrow,
so I expect he's in the stables.
Let me call somebody.
What is your name?
Tom Jones.
Miss Western.
Well, I'm sure I haven't changed
nearly half as much
as you have, Mr Jones.
I heard you were living in...
Bristol?
Bath. With my aunt.
Who, after some years
of enormous effort,
deems me neither suddenly
ready for the life of a lady,
or never going to be ready.
Either way, here I am, back home
and very glad to be so.
I must have picked them for you.
Although I didn't know it,
obviously, at the time.
Just baby's-breath and...
heartsease.
Um...
Can I ask a favour
for an old friend?
It's about Black George Seagrim.
Oh.
A sad tale, Mr Jones.
We certainly can't have entire
families thrown on the parish.
He's a fine shot,
and a good man at heart.
And if Squire Western
were to take him on as a gamekeeper,
then he'd never have to poach again
and everyone would be happy.
What a splendidly kind suggestion.
I will pass it on.
This means so much.
You have no idea.
Miss Western, I am so grateful.
This is the first thing I have done
all week that has gone right.
Shall I see you at the hunt?
Oh... I love hunting!
Lost your heart, didn't even
know it was in danger.
SHE LAUGHS
Well?
He is beautiful, Grandfather,
I love him already.
Only as beautiful as his mistress.
Oh, oh, look at you both.
The prettiest pair ever to ride
to hunt. Yes. I knew it! Happy now?
One more kindness?
I start work
with the squire tomorrow.
You're a good friend
to this family, Tom.
Happy to help.
See you at the hunt tomorrow,
old friend!
What?
You're growing out of that coat.
We will get you a new one,
more suited to a young gentleman.
Aunt Bridget...
..can a man ever be a gentleman,
who doesn't know who his father is?
Kindness and good conduct
make a true gentleman.
And has Mr Allworthy not proved
himself as good as any father?
No, I don't mean to be ungrateful.
Just remember,
your mother did you a favour
you can never repay,
when she left you in his care.
Look forward, dear nephew.
Not back.
# Jesus, thou art all compassion
# Pure unbounded love thou art
# Visit us with thy salvation
# Comfort every sinking heart... #
What, and you never did?
Out to here with me
on the day you married my dad.
Exactly why you should have had
more sense.
Thanking you kindly, Parson.
When the baby comes, I'm not
helping. I've got enough to do.
Or me.
You're just jealous, skinny cow.
Oh!
Oi!
Ladies, ladies. The Lord's Day!
Mr Supple! Are you hurt, sir?
No, I think I'm all right.
Thank you, Tom.
Oh, Tom! Take me home, do.
Are you all right, Parson?
Just got in the way
of a little altercation.
THEY CONTINUE
QUIETLY
You're a good man, Tom.
Hmm.
After what happened to your poor
mother, you'd never abandon a girl.
Course not.
Molly...?
So you'll make
an honest woman of me? Will you?
Cos you were my first love, Tom.
My only love.
Yes. Er...
Of course. Good Lord.
How did that happen?
You do know how babies are made?
Well, I suppose I just thought...
Well, you gave me
the impression that you...
It's the gentleman's job to take
care of such things. I forgot.
You're no gentleman.
CHATTER AND
BARKING DOGS OUTSIDE
BUGLE SOUNDS
HORSES NICKER,
DOGS WHINE
HE CHUCKLES
Filled to the top this time.
A nice draw!
Grandfather,
people are looking at me.
They're admiring your beauty,
my love,
for you've come home
the prettiest girl in the county.
And melted my old heart
so far as to give that villain
Black George employment.
See! I know how to make you happy.
You've done me a good turn
and I won't forget it.
You have Miss Western to thank for
that, the old fellow dotes on her.
But Molly's secret is out.
She's off to the magistrates
for a right telling off.
BUGLE SOUNDS
Are you quite well, my love?
Aye, sir, I'm as happy as a bee.
Hunt's away!
BUGLE SOUNDS
You must name the father, Molly.
For he must pay to keep you.
Not the good people of this parish.
The parish won't be troubled,
for I shall be married,
I have his promise.
How many rooms you got here, Squire?
I don't know. Why does it matter?
We've got three rooms at home,
think ourselves pretty lucky.
And there's ten of us.
So far.
You must name him.
You know who he is.
Molly!
Tom?
Molly! Leave her alone, get off her.
No. No.
Do not make this worse by violence!
As if it isn't bad enough.
If anyone is guilty here,
if anyone's a sinner, it's me.
Yes, you're right.
I'm ready do my duty.
This is not a children's game, Tom!
I never thought the boy I have loved
could disappoint me so much.
Constable, take the girl home.
There'll be no need
for the House Of Correction today.
Come along, miss.
Oh, Tom.
Have I not tried
to teach you prudence?
Restraint. Just common sense!
Well, I try every day
to become more like you.
Well, then you must learn to be
a man, and not a boy.
I will.
I promise.
Look, only forgive me, Father,
please.
Look, I cannot bear
to disappoint you.
You will promise me faithfully you
will not see Molly Seagrim again.
But, sir, my obligations to her...
Will be met by me.
I will make her family
a generous offer.
Give them money?
I have loved you like a father,
like a son, you will obey me.
Do I have your promise, boy?
Problem is, I don't want to stop.
And neither do you.
I promised my father.
You promised me!
Molly, I have nothing.
No money, no parents,
no standing.
All I have that's worth anything
to me is the love of my father.
Come on.
Where is the harm?
You can't get me pregnant twice.
I'm sorry.
BUGLE SOUNDS
Please get out of the way!
Ah!
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Mr Jones.
Miss Western.
Will you let me up, sir?
I should like to do so,
but unfortunately I think
I may have broken my arm.
Oh, Tom!
It's nothing.
Set it true, mind,
and none of your messing about.
It doesn't hurt, honestly.
Surgeons. All murderers!
Will you stay?
Grandfather, he must stay
until the break is mended!
Not broken. Bit of a sprain, is all.
Well, he must stay anyway.
The shock, and so on.
It's the least we can do.
Oh, eh. Yes. Capital idea!
SQUIRE ALLWORTHY: I know Tom
to be an excellent boy at heart.
And I forgave him because his
apologies was completely sincere.
And because he showed honour
and nobility
in stepping up to take the blame.
No, no, no.
Tom wants to do the right thing.
It pains me to say this...
Then don't!
Will a young man, so addicted
to vice
be capable of recognising
"the right thing"
if it jumps up and bites him?
Mr Jones has always been very
generous to the girl's family.
Exactly, Thwackum, exactly.
Thank you.
But one has to wonder, now...
was it just a trick?
Was Jones worming his way
into the affections of the father,
to gain access to the...
notorious charms of the daughter?
I took him in. I brought him up.
I must have faith in him.
I owe Mr Allworthy everything.
I was just a foundling.
A poor servant girl's child.
And a very fortunate one,
to be taken in by kind people.
HE SNORTS
AND MUMBLES
I never knew my mother.
Or anything about her, save
that she did not survive my birth.
A common fate, for women like her.
And, if you ask about my father...
..a smell of tobacco. Which I liked.
In his will, my father
granted me my freedom.
Freedom?
I came into this world on a sugar
plantation in Jamaica, Mr Jones.
No child there is born free.
To learn my own father
was the man responsible
was more than painful.
I was six when I left the island.
Perhaps it's odd that all I remember
is that it rained every day.
And there were goats.
Dear little goats
with sticky-up tails.
SHE CHUCKLES
It almost sounds like you left
part of yourself there.
No.
Home is right here.
With the grandfather
that brought me across the ocean.
I know how fortunate that makes me.
HE SNORES
Home is right here for me, too.
I never want to leave.
Well, then. Enough memories.
Good night... Mr Jones.
Good night, Miss Western.
You still here?
Mr Jones is staying with us,
Grandfather. You invited him.
HONOUR: He's pretty enough.
He's got good teeth, I'll grant you.
But, miss, I don't trust him.
Nonsense.
I found myself telling him all sorts
of things I never talk about.
Never even think about...
Miss, you ought to know
that it's, um,
common knowledge that there's
a village girl with child by him.
Mere gossip from the servants' hall.
Shame on you, Honour,
for repeating it.
You, you don't want to be giving
your heart to a bad boy, miss.
He doesn't seem at all bad to me.
He seems kind.
And unlike everyone else round here,
he doesn't look at me as though
I'm some kind of exotic flower.
FOOTSTEPS RETREATING
DOOR OPENS, CLOSES
A fine morning, Goody Seagrim.
She's not here.
CHILDREN GIGGLE
I just need to talk to her.
Talk, really?
You'll find out what men are like
soon enough, Betty.
And you'll find
they're not worth the trouble.
Molly?
I thought it was all over.
It is, yes.
But you know we have to talk.
You're all the same. Men.
Full of it until you've
had your wicked way with us,
and then fling us aside.
I've come to say
I can provide for you.
I will provide for you,
and the child.
Money?
It's not about money!
I'm not your wh*re. I loved you.
The first man I've ever loved.
And now you've ruined me
and left me with child...
Molly, please don't...
Mr Thwackum.
It's not... how it looks?
Oh, for God's sake.
Don't hit me.
It's wrong to corrupt an innocent,
I agree, but I didn't do that.
To be fair, neither did you.
Well, I was her first lo...
Molly!
You didn't really think
the baby was yours?
Don't say, "You can do better."
Don't say, "I'm no good for you."
Look, I'll just say
you were my first love,
and I will never think of you
without affection.
Oh. Go away, Tom.
I'll be fine here with my family.
Oh, and Tom...
Try to keep it in your britches.
Miss Western!
Tom! I didn't see you there.
I didn't drop it on purpose.
Of course not. The very idea.
I'd hate you to think...
I don't. I wouldn't.
Sophia...
Good day to you, Mr Jones.
Oh. Oh, God! God! God! God!
KNOCKING
If I could keep it forever,
I would.
You are a gentleman.
Thank you.
I have lots more.
'I saw the wretch with my own eyes.'
Marching about our neighbour's
property as though he owns it,
goods and chattels.
Everything Jones does and everything
he says betrays his bad blood.
The boy's birth was low, indeed,
but he has a good heart.
And everyone makes excuses for him!
Even you, Mother.
William...
My dear son, come here.
You had a real father, who,
for all his faults,
gave you his name
and a place in the world.
Tom Jones has nothing, and no-one.
So what is there to envy?
Hm?
And in to me. Arms down.
SHE GIGGLES
Other way.
Two, three, four.
Stretch your arms out.
SHE CHUCKLES
Whoa!
SHE LAUGHS
Well, don't just stand there!
That was really good.
I know.
SHE LAUGHS
Oof!
Concentrate, Tom!
Again!
Oh-h*-h*!
A pretty show this is.
I have, it is clear,
arrived in the nick of time.
When I sent Sophia back to you,
brother,
the child was a credit to her sex.
Pretty, well mannered,
kind, and always tidy.
My little girl is perfect.
Not a little girl any more.
Young gentlemen will flock.
Flock? Flock?!
I'll k*ll the flocking lot of them!
You've just let one of them
play cricket with her!
What, Tom?
Tom's no need to flock,
for he'll have any number of village
girls happy to pull their skirts up.
Her background is against her.
The mother a sl*ve.
The father dead of tropical fever.
My girl is beautiful,
and she is rich.
Who cares if she be Black? Huh!
And a b*stard, too!
Good Lord, brother,
the world may care rather a lot.
She must be married without delay.
There must be someone
who will take her,
among the good families hereabouts?
# Can love be controlled by advice?
# Will Cupid our mothers obey?
# Though my heart
Were as frozen as ice
# At his flames
Would have melted away... #
His fortune is not so big as hers.
It's big enough.
# Twas so sweet that I messed... #
SHE FALTERS
# So I thought it both safe... #
You see the little flutterings?
The missed note?
Hm? Oh, she blushes, sir.
She is ahead of our plans.
And in love already!
# Can madness and reason agree?
# O Molly, who'd ever be wife
# If madness is loving of thee?
# Let sages pretend to despise
# The joys they want
Spirits to taste
# Let me seize old Time as he flies
# And the blessings of life
# While they last. #
Lovely!
Watch your dress!
Ugh! God!
He sits too close. He looms.
Honour, he pants.
A marriage made in heaven, then!
I'm not marrying Mr Blifil!
My sister and I can think
of no match we like better.
As long as Miss Western
freely consents.
Who cares if she do or don't?
Well, in a modern world...
What, marry for love?
Did any of us?
Yes, actually. I did.
Send him over
with a pretty proposal,
and we'll have
a wedding by Michaelmas!
'Forced to marry a man
I do not love.'
Will you be first to congratulate
me on my marriage, Jones?
'My life's path chosen for me.'
She doesn't want you.
'Not in a million years.
'I know what I want.'
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