[water splashing]
[splashing continues]
[door opens]
[footsteps approach]
[curator] Move!
Thank you, gentlemen,Gently, if you please,
Hmm,
[wind whistles]
[window rattles]
[breathes deeply]
Hmm,
[woman in another room coughs]
[woman] Mary!
[clanking]
[footsteps approach]
[sighs]
[door closes]Shouldn'’t you be out?
We could do with more shells,
Them little ammonites,tourist tut,
And driftwood,
Before I catch my death,
[wind howls]
[grunts]
[exhales]
[grunts]
[sighs]
[birds chirp]
[chattering]
[bell rings]
[door closes]
[woman] What are you doing?[gasps]
[church bells chiming][sighs]
[bells continue chiming]
[chattering]
[exhales]
[sighs]
[door opens][bell rings]
[door closes]
Yes,
[man] No, please, don'’t let me disturb you,
-I am very content to watch you work, -The shop'’s closed, sir,
It'’s wonderful, isn't it?
Cornu ammonis?
Ammonite,
It'’s a broken one,
It'’s still a fine specimen,
Is there something you wanted, sir?
Sorry, Please, let meintroduce myself, Miss Anning,Roderick Murchison,
I must confess I'’m a little in awe,
Your reputation is somethingI'’ve often heard discussed
in the Geographical Societyin London,
All boys together,Yes, well,,,
Quite,
But your insights, your skills, are legendary
and I thoughtfor my archaeological tourof the Continent,
how could I miss the opportunity to meet you?
And here you are,
At your work,
I was under the impressionthat fine London gentlemen
were no longer interestedin my sea creature relics,
Fashion moved on, did it not?
Quite, I'’m afraidI'’m a bit of a late starter,
And how could I not want to meet
"the presiding deity of Lyme"?
It'’d be customary for a gentleman to write to me
to make an appointmentbefore arriving unannounced,
-Yes, unforgivable, -Could you not fiddle with that?
Sorry,May I introduce my wife,Mrs, Charlotte Murchison?
Sir, as you can see,I don'’t excavatelarger pieces any more,
I'’ve seen that particular relic in the British Museum,
A complete ichthyosaurus, Am I correct?
And that'’s one of yours?
It'’s fascinating,
I would love to purchase this ammonite from you, but I must be honest,
What I would dearly appreciateis the opportunity
to spend some time working with you on the shore,
seeing what you see,
I don'’t conduct guided tours any more,
I'’m not a tourist, Miss Anning,I'’m a scientist, like you,
A man of the new world and I'’m here to learn all I can from you,
And, of course,I am more than happy torecompense you for your time,
And, obviously, as it'’s an inconvenience to yourself,
I would be able to pay a premium for a private audience,
As well as the purchase of this fine ammonite, of course,
It'’s not easy work,
-Good, -I can'’t promise we'’ll find anything,
Naturally,
Very well,Splendid!
-You'’ve no idea what this means to me, -[bell rings]
My friends will be most envious,
[door closes]
[sighs]
[humming]
[continues humming]
[humming]
[door opens]
[lively string music][chattering]
-Do you have a quieter dining room? -Yes, sir, but--
This music'’s a little overwhelming for the situation,
-Couldn'’t we-- -Don'’t make a fuss,
[Roderick] What is the soup?[waiter] Hare,
I'’ll have the oysters, Are they larded?
A la mode, sir,
Perfect, And the beef, Rare,
[waiter] Very good, sir,Braised celery,boiled potatoes,
Pouring cream for the potatoes,Would you bring your wine list?
No, wait, Just bring me a bottle of the claret,
[waiter] We havethe '’26 or '35,
[Roderick] The '’35,
And my wife will have some plain white fish, Baked, No sauce,
[sighs]
[mother coughing]
[blows]
[breathes deeply]
[sighs]
[animal squeals in the distance]
[Roderick sighs]
It'’s not the right time to make another baby,
[blows candle]
[water splashes]
Miss Anning,
Sorry, Am I late?
The old woman in your shop--My mother,
Of course, I do beg your pardon,
Your mother said I would find you here,
It was a bright morning, and the tide was out, I couldn'’t wait,
Yes, of course, I just didn'’t want to miss anything,
Well, you'’re here now,
Yes,
[clears throat]
Nothing,
Beef,
Limestone,
Calcite crystal,And this?
Look here,
There is a little ammonite inside,
but that dimpletells me it will be crushed,
You could chip it out,but it won'’t be any good,
Oh, that'’s nice,
Coprolite, Very nice,
I'’m not familiar with this type,
If you look very carefully,
you can see tiny fish bones,
Those little black flecks,,,
they'’re scales,
That'’ll polish up very nice,
Thank you,
-But what is it? -Fossilized feces,
Pardon?Yes, Mr, Murchison,
Shit,
The tide will be coming in soon,We ought to be getting back,
[footsteps approach]
[door opens]
Charlotte, look what I foundwith Miss Anning,
[door closes]Charlotte,
-What are you doing? -Taking you out of this stinking room,
-I don'’t want to,-I'’m afraidthat'’s no longer a choice,
[sighs]
We can'’t continue like this, Charlotte, You'’re like a shadow,
It simply won'’t do,
It'’s madness for meto expect you
to be well enoughto accompany me abroad,
It seems you need more timefor your convalescence,Roddy,,,
Lyme appears to be the perfect place for you,
[man shouts in the distance]
This expedition is extensive,
You were prescribed rest,
Sea bathing,I don'’t like the water,
Little stimulation,
I want my bright, funny, clever wife back,
I don'’t want to be alone,
Is there something else?
My wife, Charlotte,
she hasn'’t been at all well of late,
She suffers,,,
Well, it'’s mild melancholia, perhaps,
The doctor prescribed taking the sea air,
but it has been a little slow,
I have arranged for her to stay on in Lyme,
and although I'’m reassured that she will be well cared for,
she would be alone,
I was thinking,,, hoping, really,
what a wonderful opportunity it would be for her
to walk out with you,
Walk out?Yes,
Walk the shoreline with you,
Learn from you,I'’m not looking for an apprentice,
No, of course not,I am in no position
to spend my days caring for an invalid,
No, and,,, it wouldn'’t require you to,
You showed me such courtesy yesterday, sharing your knowledge,
and I was hoping that you might be able to afford my wife the same generosity,
You'’ll help give her an interest, as it were,
And it would only be for,,, four weeks,
Perhaps five,
But no more than six,
[knocking at door]
Excuse me, Mrs, Murchison,but Mr, Murchison instructed me
to help you dressfor your day out today,
[sighs] I'’m not going,
I'’m very sorry,Mrs, Murchison,
but Mr, Murchisonwas most insistent
I get you up out of bedand dressed immediately,
[clattering]
Please don'’t throwanything else at me, miss,
[knocks on door]
[door creaks][bell rings]
[waves crash]
[hammer hits rock]
[sighs]
What is it?
Something, Nothing,
Shouldn'’t you excavate it?
I mean, isn'’t that what you do?
My husband said that'’s what you'’re meant to show me,
Let me be clear,I don'’t want you here,
Your husband paid meto take you out with me,
Doesn'’t matter to meif you wanna be here or not,
But please don'’t questionor presume to tell mehow I conduct my business,
I came to get help with my illness, To bathe and to walk,
Not work like a navvy,Bathe?
Then may I suggest you rid meof your bad companyand go get better bathing,
-My husband-- -Your husband left you,
There looks to be fuck allwrong with you to me,
[wind howling]
[creaking]
[man] That'’ll do, boy!
[knocking at door]
[yelps]
[soft footsteps]
[sighs]
[blows out candle, coughs]
[breathes heavily]
[door opens]
[door closes]
[knocks on door]
[bell rings]
[groans]
Mother!
Mother! Fuck!
[whimpers]
[shouts] Mother!
[Molly] You'’re new,
Yes,
Foreign?
Uh,,, yes,
There appears to bea high fever,
Did she take a chill yesterday?
Get wet in the rain, perhaps?I don'’t know,
Maybe she went bathing,
Oh, yes, water torture,
[sighs] She'’ll need care,
Night and day,I'’m not a nurse, Doctor,
I barely know the woman,
Hmm, Um,,,
Yes,
Miss Anning,
it is a woman'’s position to care for a fellow sister, is it not?
Make sure you keep her warm,but not too hot,
And cold compressesshould help relieve the fever,
I'’ll write to her husband and send for her things,
And please do call for me if her condition changes,
I'’ll bid you a good afternoon,
[door opens]
How long is she intending on being in residence?
You should send her home,,, to that London,
It'’s not our responsibility,
She might die, Mother,
How are we to survivewhile you play lady'’s maid?
We'’ll manage,
[Molly] If she is to beaccommodated in my home,
with constant care,and you turfed out of your bed,
that husband of hers needs to pay more!
[whimpers]
[sighs] No,
[whimpers]
No,
I didn'’t,,,
I didn'’t see her,,,
in the ground,
It was cold,
Cold,
[whimpers]
[breathes heavily]
[groans]
[whimpers]
[birds chirping][insect buzzes]
[chirping]
[birds singing]
[woman grunts]
[clears throat]Mary,
Hello,
I need to purchase a jar of salve, please,
Salve?
It'’s not your ma again? Poor Molly, Is she worse?
Do you want to come in?
Just the salve,
You look well,
I like your hair longer, It suits you,
I haven'’t seen you in church for some time,
Well, I'’ve had my work,
Mary, work on Sunday? Will God forgive you?
[coins clink]
You know you can always ask me for help,
I don'’t think that'd besuch a good idea,
I came for the salve, not a sermon,
I understand,
Keep your coins, They'’re hard earned,
Mary,,,
You sure you don'’t want to come in?
[gate slams]
Lightning Mary,
Plus ça change,
[exhales]
Hmm,
[sighs]
[stops drawing]
Sorry,
All very good,
Miss Anning, I must commend you,
I did not expect to see Mrs, Murchison
looking quiteas radiant as she does,
Really, Wonderful work,
Good,
Excellent,
A good pot of strong broth,
Keep using the salve,
gentle exercise and sea air,
Try not to excite yourself, Mrs, Murchison,
Good,
I will call again,
Thank you, Miss Anning,
[door opens]
[door closes]
[seagulls cry]
[sighs]
[plays a few notes]
[plays discordant notes]
You'’re up,
I was thinking perhapswe might go out onto the beachthis morning,
Just take the air,
If you think I'’m strong enough,
Do you think you'’re strong enough?
I do, I think,
Good,[chuckles]
[bell rings]
[door closes]
[waves crash]
[seagulls cry]
[chattering]
Can I help?
You could scrape these,
[door closes]
Maybe you couldget some coal,
Outside,
[grunts]
[breathes heavily]
[chuckles]
[sobs]
[coal clatters to the floor]
[loud sobbing]
[sobbing continues]
[inhales, exhales deeply]
[sighs]
That looks difficult,
Dull,
Cheap tourist fodder,
Can I try?
Use this,,,
to stick them down,
This,
You look tired,
I always look tired,
You look after melike your child,
You don'’t have any?
What a lot of questions,
I might have preferred it when you were unconscious,
No,
No children,
I'’m sorry,
For what?
My mother had ten,
I remember six of them dying,
And two before me,
Eight babies dead,
Each one taking something of her when they went,
I have my work,
I didn'’t need children as well,
You can'’t keep sleeping in that chair,
You need your rest,I'’ve taken your bedfor too long,
Did you want to go back to the hotel?
[Charlotte] No,
Unless you want me to,
No,
We should share the bed,
[sighs]
[loud scraping]
[bell rings]
[door opens]
What are you doing?
I wanted to help,They'’re mine,
My babies,
[door opens]
Something wrong?
Um,,,
Dr, Lieberson has come to see you,
Oh, no, Sorry,
More a social visit,
My mission was to give thisto you, Miss Anning,
It'’s an invitation,
A musical evening,
I thought after all your workwith Mrs, Murchison,
you might like a little treat,
What about Mrs, Murchison?
Pardon?I'’m not sure I understand,
Well, Mrs, Murchison appreciates music much more than I do,
Where'’s her invitation?
I would naturally beaccompanied by Mrs, Murchisonin her own right,
Do you not think?Yes,
I just thought givenMrs, Murchison'’s condition,
this might provea little,,, overstimulating,
Rubbish,
As her doctor, I wouldstrongly advise against it,
And as her friend, I disagree,
Dr, Lieberson, I will happily attend your recital,
But with Mrs, Murchison,
So be it, Excellent,
I will see you both this evening, then,
[sniffs]
[Molly] Mary!
[slurps]
[sniffs]
[horse-drawn carriage approaches]
[door opens]
[chattering]
Absolutely,,,
[laughs]
[both laugh]
Excuse me,
Miss Anning,
So sorry for neglecting you,
Let me introduce you to some people,
I just need to,,,
Where'’s the,,,
Oh, of course,It'’s right through the back,
[laughter]
After you,
[chattering]
[tunes up cello]
[bell rings]
Ladies, gentlemen, new friends,
Please do take your seats as we are about to begin,
[chattering]
[woman] Do sit here,
This is marvelous,
[chuckles]
[chattering]
[talking softly]
[cello music plays]
[soft laughter]
[chattering]
[chattering continues]
[women laugh]
[woman laughs]
[rain pouring]
[thunder]
[fire crackling]
[footsteps approaching]
You left me,
What are you writing?
May I see?
Please, don'’t be silly,
Let me see,
Please,
"Is it that I am all alone?
Yet in my dreams, a form I view
That thinks on me and loves me, too,
I start, and when the vision'’s flown,
I weep and I am all alone,"
You were the most fascinating person there tonight,
And I think the most beautiful,
[seagulls cry]
Mary, look what'’s fallen down,
It'’s the rock thing,
It'’s too big,
Impossible to move,
You'’re wasting your time,
[Charlotte grunts]
[both grunt]
[groans]
[chuckles]
What is it?
See here? This is a rowof small vertebrae,
And these flatter sidesare where the ribswould have been attached,
But these ones have a certain shape,
which tells methey would have beennear the skull,
And that'’s good?
It would be very good, yes,
That one was special,
I was only 11 years old,
Days it took to dig it out,clean it,
I'’d like to see it,
It'’s in The British Museum
with its fancy made-up name,Ichthyosaurus,
We couldn'’t keep it,It was a year'’s worth of food,rent and clothing,
That'’s such a poor drawing,
A child'’s hand,
I like it,
I'’m pleased my rock was worth the work,
[fossil thuds on the table]
You found the head,
Beautiful,
We can go tomorrow to find the rest of it,
Perhaps,
I should help,
Go to bed,Won'’t that waittill the morning?
Father would turn in his graveif he thought I'’d gone to bedwithout cleaning his tools,
Good night,
[exhales]
[Mary breathes heavily]
[breathes heavily]
[gasps]
[Charlotte moans gently]
[clears throat]
[coughs]
[door opens][man] Good morning,
[bell rings]
[door closes]
[waves lap]
[seagulls cry]
[laughs]
[Charlotte moans]
[Charlotte] Say it again,[Mary] Hmm,
Please,
There was a young woman named Sally
Who loved the occasional dally
She sat on the lap Of a well-endowed chap
And she said, "Ooh, you'’re right up my alley,"
[chuckles]
[piano music playing]
[music stops]
[Mary] It was somethinglike a sea lizard with fins,
It was probably six feet long,[man] Goodness,
[Mary] It'’s one of the bestI'’ve found in a long time,
[man] It will require some thought,
£22?
What price would you suggest then, sir?
I'’m not in the market for haggling,
It'’s a stunning example,isn'’t it?
In my humble opinion,the physical effortMiss Anning goes through
to procure such a specimenwould make the price tag seemquite reasonable,
Then there isthe painstaking hours spentworking on the specimen
to reveal it in all its beauty,
Charlotte--On top of this sheer hard work,
let us not forget the knowledge and years of skill
Miss Anning brings to her tasks,
Without this,and to the untrainedor ill-formed eye,
these would simply beun-investigated lumpsof stone and rock,
Why do you think the scientific community
places such importance on this work?
Miss Anning informs usnot only of our past,but of our present,
With all this in mind, how would you put a price on this, sir?
I see,
[Molly coughing]
[sniffs]
Sit down, Mrs, Anning,It'’s mushrooms for supper,
Fancy,
Sit down, There'’s plenty,
The shop won'’t run itself,
Close it, then,
Oh, I almost forgot,
Correspondence came for you,Mrs, Murchison,
[sighs]
Thank you,
[door closes]
Shh,
[exhales]
[moans softly]
[exhales deeply]
[breathes heavily]
[moans]
[breathes heavily]
[both breathe heavily]
[horse pants]
[horse snorts]
[Mary] It'’s warm,
Last year at this time we had snow, and now it'’s nice,
[horse snorts]
[door closes]
I had to start the babies on my own,
I think I might go to my bed,
[door opens]
[door closes]
[door opens]
What are you doing?
Pricing up this thing,
-[loud crash] -[Molly whimpers]
[Molly breathes heavily]
[Mary grunts]
[sighs]
[bell rings]
We'’re closed,
[Elizabeth] It'’s me, Mary,Can I come in?
[tea pours]
I'’m so sorry, Mary,
Molly was,,,
a perspicacious woman,
Her strength to carry on after your father died was admirable,
Tell me, have you been in correspondence
with your Mrs, Murchison recently?
She'’s clever,
And funny,
I very much enjoyed her company,
It pleases me you'’ve struck upa friendship together,
I know I hurt you terribly,and I'’m deeply sorry for that,
[sighs softly]
I just wasn'’t sure I could live up to you,
Or your expectations of me,
A small side step could curtail it completely,
I wasn'’t the enemy,but it often felt like I was,
I tried,
No,
I don'’t think you did,
Not really,
You seemed to do everything you could to be distant,
Eventually, I just,,,
stopped trying,
It seems your Mrs, Murchison has been able to,,,
unlock something in you that I couldn'’t,
[door rattling]
[knocking at door]
[knocks on door]
[knocking at door]
[bell rings]
[door closes]
[inhales]
[exhales]
[seagulls cry]
[bell ringing]
[seagulls cry]
[ringing continues]
[ringing stops]
[loud chattering][bell tolling]
[horse whinnies]
[sighs]
[doorbell rings]
Tradesmen'’s entranceis around the side,Go all the way back,
I'’m here as a guestof Mrs, Charlotte Murchison,
Miss Anning?
Yes,
I beg your pardon, miss,Please, do come this way,
Please wait here, miss,
Thank you,
[clocks ticking]
[clocks chime loudly]
[chuckles]
[Charlotte]That'’s just the maid,
Thank you, Anne, That will be all,
[door closes]Oh, Mary! My Mary!
I can'’t believe you're here,How was the journey?
I wish you would have let mesend a carriage,
[sighs] It feels a very long way from Lyme,
[chuckles]
Oh, I had it all planned out,
We'’d have tea,and then I'’d show you,
but I just don'’t thinkI can wait any longer,Come on!
Close your eyes,You must close your eyesor it will ruin everything,
I don'’t think I like surprises,[chuckles]
You can open them,
It'’s yours,
Mine?Yes,
To stay the night?
Well, yes, but no,
Also yours to move into,
To live here with me,[chuckles]
Here, I thought you could putyour mother'’s figurines,
And here you can write your journal,
Such a good light, isn'’t it?
-But I have my home, -And in here,,,
They'’re for you,I had them made just for you,
Feel this one,
Oh, and one last thing,
My room, So we'’ll be next to each other, always,
[chuckles]
You'’ve thought of everything,I hope so,
I didn'’t want youto worry about anything,
Well, say something,
-Sorry, I really shouldn'’t---Mary,
I wanted to see my relicin the British Museum today,so I should--
We'’ll see it later once we'’ve settled you in,
I feel,,, I feel I'’m at a great disadvantage,
Pardon?
I feel I'’ve been misled,
I don'’t think I have,,,I was invited for a visit,
And now it seems I'’ve been hoodwinked in some way,
Mary,,,
Why did you not mentionall this in your letter?
I wanted to see the look on your face,
You presumed I'’d be fittedinto your life, here,
like one of my relicsin your fine glass case,
No, of course not,Will you label me, too?
No, that'’s not what I want, That'’s not what I intended,
I want this to be different,
Our different,
This must make your husband very happy,
-Who cares? -Oh, please don'’t make fun of me,
Roddy is content with his life,Very content,
And because of you, he now has a proper interest that takes up most of his time,
You make it sound so neat,like I planned it,
Of course not,
Please, why are you doing this?
I don'’t want to go backto the life I had before you,
What about my life, Charlotte?My work?
I can'’t bear to thinkof you suffering out on thosebeaches in all weathers,
And now you'’ll be free to do your important work,
your scientific work,
You don'’t understand me,
No!
Your proposition makes me feel like some fancy bird in a gilded cage,
[sighs]
I need to find lodgingsfor tonight,
I wish you'’d told me before,
I could have saved the boat fare,
Mary,,, Mary!
[chattering and laughter in the distance]
[horses'’ hooves clatter]