Episode 1 Jamaica Inn

-MARY:

-I never thought I'd struggle with telling good from evil.

But there was once a time when I lost that certainty...

and everything I thought I knew was just a lie.

BELL TOLLS

One autumn morning in 1821,

I set off alone

to a place far away from everything I'd ever known.

I had no family left to me,

except an aunt I'd met just once.

It was there I was headed,

to the ends of the earth,

to Bodmin Moor.

You need to find a husband to take care of you.

You should take Ned, love.

You know he'd see you right.

You always said if I married I should love the man.

Have you changed your mind?

Of course I haven't.

Well, then.

'My mother hid her illness from me.'

And her sudden death was more than I could bear.

Mary.

Marry me, Mary.

When she'd gone,

my childhood sweetheart, Ned, did all he could to make me stay.

But I did not love him.

I thought I had no need of love.

And didn't know its power.

But as I was soon to learn,

there's nothing so dangerous as a headstrong girl

who knows her own mind.

Launceston. All out!

Smuggler, is he?

£10 King's ransom's what he is.

£10 of good ale.

CHATTERING

How long will it take to change the horses?

I'm going to Jamaica Inn.

Jamaica Inn?

If it's work you're after, you won't find it out there.

I'm expected. It's my uncle's inn.

Well, you can tell your uncle, Legassik says hello.

What's your name?

Mary.

It's rough out at Jamaica, Mary.

Coaches don't stop there any more.

Be that as it may, it's where I'm bound.

I'm not afraid of hardship.

It's just the moors for 20 miles.

-Some say there's ghosts.

-Not afraid of ghosts, either.

You're a bloody cheat!

What are you afraid of?

Get off me!

I saw you! I saw you, you...cheat!

Come 'ere! Come 'ere!

Get a hold of him, will you?!

Oi! Which one of you took my scuddlin' horse?!

Will you take me to Jamaica Inn, then? Or shall I have to walk?

SHE GASPS

Are you Joshua Merlyn?

Is my aunt here?

Aunt Patience?

I'm Mary Yellan.

PATIENCE!

There's a bunch of petticoats here to see you.

What is it, Joss? Only, I was just...

Aunt Patience.

Mary?

Oh, it's never you, is it?

Is my sister with you?

She's dead.

Dead?

A month ago.

I wrote to you.

Did you not get my letter?

No.

No.

She wanted me to come to you.

I've nowhere else to go.

No. No. No.

-You can't stay here.

-Course she can.

She can work for us. Can't you, Mary?

She's a good girl.

You can see it in her face.

She'll be no trouble.

Well, that depends.

Is she tame?

Or does she bite?

Should've made this one a boy.

-Joss...

-Shut up!

Me and this girl, we understand each other.

You can get her something to eat.

She's starved to death.

You mustn't mind your uncle Joss.

There's none round here who don't respect him.

He brings me flowers, see?

Here, sit.

Brandy?

You don't drink, huh?

No?

I do.

I drink and I drink.

Sometimes, when I drink, I talk.

But if you ever get too nosy or open that trap of yours,

I'll break you...

and make you eat out of my hand.

VOICES IN OTHER ROOM

JOSS: Then why'd you say it?

-PATIENCE:

-I know you love me.

You're hurting me.

PATIENCE GASPS

SHE SIGHS

You've seen how castaway we are.

I don't go out there.

Happy with my chicken run.

Aunt Patience, why are there no customers?

Your uncle doesn't like folk stayin'.

Lonely spot like this, we could be murdered in our beds.

How can you live if there's no custom?

People come from all around, thank you very much.

Farm cottages and the mines.

It's evenings when the bar's full of 'em.

So, tell me, Mary...

you got a beau back there at home?

No.

He'll be along soon enough.

A man to stop you thinking straight.

You'll be off to church before you know it.

I don't know that I want to marry. Unless I really loved the man.

It seems to me too many men just make slaves of women.

You'll change your mind. Course you will.

Your uncle says there's silk for sale at Camelford.

Lovely Chinese silk.

Goin' cheap as well.

Thought we could get down there an' make ourselves new dresses.

Is it smuggled silk?

Now, listen here, missy,

your uncle's got another mouth to feed now

so we can't go paying out for everything.

I'll starve then, if it helps you.

It was smugglers who killed my father, surely you know that?

So you can't go putting money in their pockets.

Fine.

Then I'll just wear this one till it falls off my back then, shall I?

Leave me naked to the four winds! What do I care?

I brought this for you.

It isn't new.

Hasn't got any holes in it.

Thank you, love.

I suppose you think me dowdy.

No. Course not.

You need to take care, Mary, love.

You've got to fit in round here.

I'd hate to see any harm come to you.

HORSE WHINNIES OUTSIDE

JOSS: Come on!

Hey, come on!

Your uncle's out. There's water to wash.

You should be careful.

A man might help himself to what's on offer,

if it's so pretty.

It's not on offer.

-If he's any kind of gentleman he'd know that.

-Well, that told me.

And he wouldn't help himself to the ale, either.

The landlord here is a brutal man.

I know the landlord.

But take it, if it makes you feel better.

I only came to check you're all right.

A horse thief came to check that, did he?

That's all I am, is it? A common horse thief?

A man who can't find an honest trade is no man at all, in my eyes.

What the hell do you want, Jem?

Is there trouble?

What...can't I come an' see my own brother?

Like my new trinket, do you?

Mine.

What do you want?

There's a new magistrate in Launceston, sent down...

Says he'll hunt down any man who's working the Free Trade.

You don't think I know about it?

Yeah, well, you should do something about it.

You need to stay quiet a while.

And how d'you expect me to do that when someone's squealin'?

-What d'you mean?

-Customs've been turning over half my bloody stash.

Now, someone's talking.

You heard anythin'?

No. All the more reason to lay low.

We can't, we've got a haul coming off the coast tonight.

-Need you to get me more horses.

-And I said no.

-No?

-No, Joss.

I'm your brother! You want to see me hang?

-WHISPERING:

-Mary! Get away from there!

-Aunt Patience.

-No!

You could have told me you're his brother.

I thought you might have guessed it from my manners.

How long you plannin' on being here, Mary?

Seems a waste.

A maid like you.

You need to find a husband.

Everyone seems very keen to tell me what I need.

What I mean to say is...

you shouldn't stay here.

There's things going on here you shouldn't get caught up in.

What, like smuggling?

I worked that one out. I'm not stupid.

Well, you are if you say it so damn loudly.

Well, it's wrong.

I know the lies folk tell themselves...

to make out it's no crime.

But that doesn't make it right.

If I had somewhere else to go, I would

and I would take my aunt with me.

Mary, whatever it is you think you know, you mustn't speak of it.

Not if you want to stay safe.

Says the horse thief.

You might be right there.

Probably be the death of me one day.

Here...take that nag.

I brought her for you.

I don't want it.

Well, take her, anyway.

There might come a time you'd rather not be here, and if there is...

you'll need her.

HORSE WHINNIES

Mary.

Mary!

CHATTERING

LAUGHTER

CHATTERING

Have ye settled in, Miss Yellan?

Harry. I'm Harry.

It's a treat to have another pretty face about.

Don't get many all the way out here.

Tried to run off up the hill earlier.

She didn't get nowhere, though, did you, girl?

Bogs out there's dangerous.

Joss's brother, Matthew, got himself caught up in one.

Bog was too deep to get across and pull him out.

Watched him die.

That's why I don't want you to go out there.

Joss, Cakey's in the shitter.

Patience. Rags to Cakey.

Wipe his arse for him!

LAUGHTER

Stout, Twins, time to go.

Thomas, you as well.

Ambrose. Watch this one, he rears.

You're in the crew now, are you?

Here.

I don't care about the money!

I just want you.

We've, er...

We've business with the landlord.

He's inside.

Will, please. Let's go.

Please.

I'm, er...

You're Joss Merlyn?

I, er...

I sail a trading route.

For East India Company.

We're bringing in some best French brandy.

What's that to do with me?

Well...

Well...

I, er...

I mean...

I hoped that...

What did you hope for, boy? Huh?

You'd come here and play a man's game?

I can tell you what time we'll be along the coast.

I'll put the barrels over the side. We'll split it 50/50.

-Can't say no to that, eh, Joss?

-Ain't up to you, old man.

Now, get out!

Cakey's knocked his ale over.

Needs it cleaning up.

# Once there was a barmaid

# At the Prince George Hotel

# Mistress was a lady

# Master was a swell

# They knew she was a simple girl

# Just lately from the farm

# So they watched her carefully

# To keep her from all harm

# Then there came a miner

# An ordinary man

# Bulging at the trousers with a cock like Sunday ham

# Down a shaft without a maid for seven years or more... #

Don't want an idiot, eh? How about a real man to break you in?

Get off me! Get off!

Get off me!

All right?

Joss!

Joss! We've gone to hell!

Stout and the twins've been busted!

Legassik caught them. We never got to the beach.

The haul's still there!

Say sorry to the girl.

Beg your pardon.

Everybody out!

Harry, get the horses.

There's Revenue all up the coast!

They's had a tip off, sure as hell.

Patience, bring the hooks.

We've got to get the haul off the beach.

I'm not coming!

You'll come or you'll stay here with Eli.

Help me.

Don't you give me judgment for something you don't understand.

HORSES APPROACH

Get off! Now!

Run to that wall!

Run to the wall!

Where are you going?

SHE GRUNTS

HORSE APPROACHES

That's Merlyn's men we saw!

They can't have got far! Stay sharp.

-Zephaniah didn't show.

-Told him not to.

-They thought it was him who was snitching.

-What about Abe?

Abe didn't turn up either. No word, nothing.

When we're done here...

I want you to drag Abe out of bed and bring him to the inn.

Come on!

Come on.

Mary!

Here.

Is it silk?

My Aunt may have it.

Come on!

Abe.

Abe, Abe, Abe, Abe, Abe, Abe.

Where you been, Abe?

I ain't been nowhere, Joss!

That's why we had to ride all round the countryside looking for you.

I's sick! That's all! I's sick!

Go home. You.

FAINT VOICES

-ABE:

-I would never lie to you, Joss. Never.

Never lie to you, Joss. I would never betray you.

It wasn't me, I swear. I told you.

I swear to thee on my mother's grave, I ain't no snitch, Joss!

Then how'd the Revenue know we were coming, hm?

Hm?

I had to cut Zephaniah out because I thought it was him who was snitchin'.

I don't have many other choices, Abe!

Their boys, they'll talk or they'll hang.

-It wasn't me, I never did nothing.

-Then who was it?

-I don't know.

-Why would you lie to me?

-I wouldn't lie, Joss.

I swear I wouldn't lie.

Why would you lie to me?

I half believe him.

It's up to you.

-MAN:

-Do it.

I've known this man all my life.

He has a wife and child.

No, Joss! No!

ABE GRUNTS AND CHOKES

ABE CHOKES

BODY SLUMPS DOWN

What do you want me to do with him?

DOOR SLAMS SHUT

Aunt Patience.

-Please.

-Your aunt's cooked breakfast.

-Sit and eat.

-We saved a spot of cream for your bread, too.

Joss, some more?

Good.

Aunt Patience, please, I need to talk to you.

That's it.

They brought a man in here last night.

Mary!

I know he was in here. And I saw the rope.

I think that my uncle kill...

Do you need me, Joss?

No.

DOOR CLOSES

I was hiding in the storeroom.

A man came and he hid in there.

And I think they hung a man called Abe.

You must have had a dream and got confused.

But you were there and you heard them and...

I didn't dream your face.

Oh, this?

I did it to myself.

I tripped up on the cobbles outside and fell down on the water trough.

You saw me do it.

Mary?

Mary, where you going? Mary!

-We have to tell someone.

-Tell 'em what?

There's nothing to tell 'cept what you dreamt.

Don't you come here making trouble for me, girl!

I'm trying to save you!

Can't you understand that?

I don't understand what kind of hold he has on you.

-I know that you're afraid of him.

-Course I am!

So should you be.

Least I've got your uncle to protect me.

It's the other man.

The one that hid.

He tells your uncle what to do.

He's the one that hit me.

-Who is he?

-Can't.

He'll kill me.

We have to put an end to this.

-I'll tell them you're not involved.

-Mary, you're not going to the law.

We feed you, don't we?

I'll send your uncle after you.

I'll send your uncle to fetch you back, Mary!

CHATTERING

Excuse me, is there a constable here?

Constable, eh? There he is.

Eli Brown.

INDISTINCT CHATTING

I'm Francis Davey, the vicar of Altarnun.

I'm...I'm Mary Yellan, sir.

Do you wish to speak with me, Mary?

Mr Davey? You can't make stew inside a church!

My sister, Hannah. Mary Yellan.

And Beth. Who helps us at the vicarage.

Pleased to meet you.

Hannah, Mary wishes to speak with me

-so perhaps you and Beth might leave us alone.

-Oh, no. I'm just...

You're new to our Parish, Mary?

I'm at Jamaica Inn.

God's house is open to any who would hear his word.

Mr Davey?

WHISPERING

Jamaica Inn.

You're family, I suppose?

Hannah, Mrs Trelawn has need of me.

Abe didn't come home last night.

Drunk inside some inn, was he?

I hope we'll see you at a service, Mary.

Hear him preach.

He's very good.

You won't regret it.

Thank you for not saying anything.

I mean, it's not like it's so wrong bringing back a few kegs to sell.

SHE EXHALES

We're getting married.

I have to go.

Stop!

Stop! Mary!

SQUELCHING

Don't struggle!

Get me out of here, please!

If you'd taken that nag I gave you she'd have kept you out of there.

Will you just...just get me out!

Here.

SHE GASPS

Didn't my brother tell you not to walk the moors alone?

I'm tried not to listen to a word your brother said.

He'd be right about that one.

Bogs are dangerous.

Like a lot of things around here. Including you.

Me?! I thought I just saved your skin?

Ran me in, more like!

Skulking round on the moors, trying to scare me.

I know that you were there last night.

And I think that a man was murdered.

-And murder would be wrong then, would it?

-Course it's wrong!

And what if the law tells you to do it?

If you're a soldier and you go to fight the war,

they tell you to kill plenty then.

So, that's your excuse, then, is it?

You've been to war so now you can do what you like?

No morals and no conscience?

Mary, there's things going on here you don't understand.

You need to be careful who you talk to.

So, where are you going now, then?

Launceston, is it, for the magistrate?

-It's none of your business.

-Yeah, well, you're heading the wrong way.

-But the new magistrate's in Launceston.

-Yeah.

But he rode past half an hour ago heading west.

And I'd say he was riding for Jamaica Inn.

Go. You'll see.

And when you see I've told the truth, do me a favour.

Don't say you've seen me.

Please, Mary.

I'll come find you soon, Mary.

The magistrate has come! Did you call him?

You, girl.

What's your business here?

Says she's Merlyn's niece.

BANGING AND CRASHING

-WHISPERING:

-Please, God, no.

Damn it!

Who told him I was coming?

I don't know what you mean, I...

You, girl.

What do you know of the dealings at this inn?

Nothing, sir.

I only came here a few days ago.

What about the landlord's brother, Jem?

Do you know where he is?

I've never met him.

You can tell Joss Merlyn I won't rest until I see him hang.

He has my word...on that.

HORSE WHINNIES

BANGING

Thank you, Mary. You're my little lamb.

Cos my Jossey's a good man, see?

You're one of us now, Mary.

I lied to the magistrate.

I can't bear it on my conscience.

Mary might be our ears and eyes.

She could help us to investigate her uncle.

She should take care for her own skin.

Who's here?!

SHE SCREAMS

Who knows what Merlyn's capable of?

I know there's another man gives my uncle orders. Is it you?

-What do you think?

-You're a thief who stands for everything I despise.

-And yet...you like me.

-I do not like you.