Wuthering Heights
Maybe it’s the wild wind made me think of this play…
Maybe it’s nostalgia for Finland, and the lovely people I met there, and the saunas and the snow and the forests and the beautiful theatres I visited in Seinajoki and Helsinki where the play was last performed.
Maybe it’s because I saw a book dramatised last week and it reminded me how much I love that work.
Maybe it’s because I so deeply long to be part of a theatre company again….
And a theatre company that’s able to mount something substantial and long with a large cast….
Whatever. Here it is: and a tough book to dramatise, and I’m proud of the work I did for it.
It was Pitlochry commissioned it, in 1995, and I wish I had photos of the original production, because they did it beautifully.
It was a tough time for me, because no-one would commission new work from me.
But Pitlochry gave me work, when no other theatre would, and I’ve always been grateful to them for it.
Clive Perry, the director, was horrified when he discovered I wasn’t beginning the play the way the book began: with Cathy rattling the window, and begging to be let in.
“Audiences will be expecting it”, he said very emphatically, “And they’ll be disappointed when they don’t get it. You lose them from the very beginning.”
And because he was a wise old bird who knew his audience, I put it in.
But I never really liked it: it was there because it was in the book.
Not because it was needed in the story of the play.
So I’ve cut it.
It’s a savage rage-filled book and I lived every page with an almost unbearable intensity.
I’ve never seen this play again. I hope I do some day.
Meantime, I also hope you enjoy it…
WUTHERING HEIGHTS
adapted by
John Clifford
©John Clifford 1995; Jo Clifford 2024.
All rights strictly reserved.
Copyright Agent:
Alan Brodie Representation, 14 The Barbon Buildings, Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4QH
+44 (0)20 7253 6226
CHARACTERS
CATHY
NELLY DEAN
HINDLEY
MR. EARNSHAW
HEATHCLIFF
FRANCES
MR. LINTON
DR. KENNETH
ISABELLA
EDGAR
The play has been structured so that it can, if necessary, be performed by a minimum cast of 6 (3M 3F) to be doubled as follows:
M1 HEATHCLIFF
F1 CATHY
M2 HINDLEY/EDGAR
F2 NELLY
M3 EARNSHAW/LINTON/DR. KENNETH
F3 FRANCES/ISABELLA
This size of cast will require different scenes towards the end of act one (to be found at the end of the script).
Also at the end of the script is an alternative beginning.
Act one is set in the kitchen of Wuthering heights.
Act two is set in the parlour of Thrushcross Grange.
My mental picture of the two rooms follows the description in the book; what I think is crucial is that there is a huge contrast between the two places.
I see Wuthering heights as rough and rustic; Thrushcross Grange as urban and refined.
Throughout the play, Nelly Dean is constantly working, as servants had to do. It does not matter so much exactly what she does: but it is important that the audience gets a sense of someone constantly involved in drudgery.
First Performance: Wednesday 28th June 1995 at Pitlochry Festival Theatre with the following cast:
CATHY Louise Francis
NELLIE Kathie Whitely
HINDLEY Moray Treadwell
EARNSHAW Neville Barber
HEATHCLIFF Ian Grieve
FRANCES Becky Baxter
LINTON Miles Richardson
MR. KENNETH Alec Heggie
ISABELLA Victoria Gay
EDGAR Nicholas Gilbrook
Directed by Clive Perry
Designed by Edward Lipscomb
Costumes by Alexander Reid
The big kitchen in Wuthering Heights.
CATHY Remember, Cathy, remember!
Remember the house!
Gaunt and bare
Alone on the wild hill.
Remember Nelly.
The actress who will play NELLY steps out of the shadows
CATHY (with hatred) Remember Hindley...
And we see the actor who will play her brother HINDLEY.
NELLY Remember the moor
HINDLEY A wild savage place
Stretching as far as the eye can see.
CATHY A great place. A wild place.
A place where a child can be free.
NELLY Remember the house
HINDLEY A gloomy dark house
CATHY High up on the very edge of the moor
NELLY Where it's cold and windswept and bare
HINDLEY No flowers grow there
just a few stunted firs
CATHY leaning against the side of the house
battered by the unending wind
NELLY And a row of gaunt thorns
HINDLEY All stretching out their arms
CATHY As if begging for sunlight.
NELLY And three children staring out into the
gathering darkness
HINDLEY One of them a servant
CATHY Waiting for their father to come home
They wait.
HINDLEY Where's father?
Why's he not back yet?
NELLY It's a long journey to Manchester.
HINDLEY And why's he got to be in Manchester?
NELLY His business I suppose.
HINDLEY He's no right not to be back!
He promised me a fiddle.
CATHY He promised me a whip.
NELLY He promised me something too
HINDLEY What business had he to promise anything to you!
NELLY He's a kind master
CATHY What did he promise you Nellie
NELLY apples and pears
HINDLEY Apples and pears!
A fit gift for a servant!
NELLY I've no complaints
CATHY O when will he come
when will he come
I'll die if he doesn't come soon.
HINDLEY You'll have to die then!
CATHY Spiteful beast!
HINDLEY At least I'm not a girl!
CATHY I'll just ignore you.
Nellie. Nellie look!
Nellie there's a dark shape!
NELLY Where?
CATHY There Nellie! Are you blind?
A dark shape coming across the moors!
HINDLEY I can't see anything!
NELLY That's him!
HINDLEY Rubbish!
CATHY Father!
Enter EARNSHAW
HINDLEY Father
EARNSHAW Don't come near me, children.
Don't touch me!
For I'm harried and wearied to death!
CATHY What happened father
What's wrong?
EARNSHAW Cathy I had a strange meeting
HINDLEY A strange meeting?
EARNSHAW And I found something!
CATHY What did you find, father
HINDLEY Is it for us?
EARNSHAW Yes, children. It's for all of us
HINDLEY What have you got for us?
EARNSHAW A gift from God, children
CATHY A gift from God?
EARNSHAW Ay Cathy. From God.
Though so black it could almost come from
the devil
CATHY What do you mean?
HINDLEY What is it?
EARNSHAW reveals HEATHCLIFF under his cloak
EARNSHAW I mean this!
HINDLEY It's black!
CATHY it's dirty!
NELLY It stinks
EARNSHAW Now Nellie. Don't be unkind!
CATHY What is it
EARNSHAW It's a boy Cathy, a human boy
HINDLEY Where does it come from
EARNSHAW Manchester!
CATHY Manchester!
EARNSHAW I found it on the city street
Starving and homeless and no-one to own it.
I asked, but no-one would tell me where it came from, or who it belonged to, or where it ever lived.
Think of that Cathy. A motherless fatherless child. No-one to feed it. No-one to guide it home. I couldn't leave it! I couldn't leave it to starve!
So I brought it home. As a present. Don't look so doubtful.
You were given Nellie!
HINDLEY Nellie's different
CATHY Nellie's nice
EARNSHAW I've called it Heathcliff.
After your dead brother.
My eldest son. My lost hope.
So treat Heathcliff with kindness.
All of you! treat him kindly!
Like a brother!
Silence
HINDLEY Where's my fiddle?
EARNSHAW Heathcliff broke your fiddle
HINDLEY The wretch! (Hits him)
CATHY Where's my whip?
EARNSHAW Cathy, I'm sorry to say, but Heathcliff
broke your whip.
CATHY Little wretch! (pinches him)
HINDLEY Little monster
EARNSHAW I said be kind! (Slap)
Be kind! (Slap)
Wicked, disobedient children!
(Slap)
Especially you, Hindley!
You must learn to obey!
Or you'll be sent away.
Sent away to college where they'll flog some
sense into you!
Now off to bed!
And you, Nellie, wash Heathcliff!
And put him to bed!
And leave me in peace!
We'll have no more fighting!
He sits by the fire
HINDLEY It's not coming to bed with me!
CATHY Nor me!
NELLY And I'll not wash him, for he bites!
HINDLEY Put it in the dog kennel, nellie,
And leave it there
CATHY Perhaps it'll be gone by morning!
The boy crawls off to EARNSHAW
EARNSHAW What's this? Cathy? Hindley? is this what
you call kindness?
Nellie! Wash the boy at once and put it to
bed! Good night!
EXIT EARNSHAW . NELLIE gets out a tin bath and fills it with water from the pump
CATHY Come Nelly, I'll help you wash him
HINDLEY Well I won't! I don't care what father says! I'll have nothing to do with it. Little imp!
It's dirty! And it smells!
CATHY Leave him alone!
HINDLEY I will! Don't worry! And I'm going!
CATHY Good riddance!
Exit HINDLEY
NELLY You wash him. I won't touch him. He's savage.
CATHY He's not savage. He's frightened. And no wonder.
Look. Heathcliff. Look. It's only water.
It won't harm you.
Just your face Heathcliff. It won't hurt.
Just your face. Just let me wash your face. There.
NELLY Careful he doesn't bite you.
CATHY He won't bite me. Will you Heathcliff?
There's no danger of that!
Is it cold?
Is the water cold?
Poor Heathcliff. You'll have to get used to the cold.
But Nellie he's so black!
Won't the black rub off him!
NELLY Black as the devil himself
CATHY Nellie, once you wash the dirt of him,
He's not so ugly after all!
In fact he looks almost human!
Come Nellie, give us a towel!
Let's get him dry!
There. he's dry. I think I almost like him!
NELLY Mistress! Stop admiring him!
CATHY You admire him then
NELLY I've no time for that!
See how late it is!
CATHY Come Heathcliff. It's time to sleep.
This way, Heathcliff.
You'll like bed. It's warm and dry
It's peaceful there. It's safe and warm. And you lie in the dark and make up stories. You'll like it. Come on Heathcliff.
Don't be afraid. Come on. Come on!
Exit all.
Next morning.
NELLIE staggers on with coal. And prepares the fire.
NELLY I don't like it.
I didn't like it last night
And I don't like it this morning!
It means trouble!
Enter CATHY. HEATHCLIFF stays at the door
CATHY Oh Nelly! Be charitable!
NELLY Charity's got nothing to do with it!
I don't like having a savage in the house!
CATHY He's not a savage!
He's not!
Heathcliff don't just stand there! Come in! Come in and say something!
Can't you talk?
Surely you can talk!
NELLY Savages can't talk!
CATHY Heathcliff! Say something! Say your name!
Say Heath...Heath...
HEATHCLIFF Heath..
CATHY There Nelly hear that! He said Heath!
HEATHCLIFF Heath. Heath. Heath Heath Heath.
CATHY Now Cliff! Say Cliff! Cliff...Cliff..
HEATHCLIFF Cliff...Cliff..Cliff!
CATHY Clever boy!
Now put them together. Heath-Cliff. Heath- Cliff. Heathcliff!
HEATHCLIFF Heath...Cliff. Heath....Cliff. Heathcliff!
CATHY That's right! Clever boy!
Nellie listen how clever!
Now say my name.
Silence
CATHY It's Cathy.
HEATHCLIFF Ca...Ca...
CATHY Cathy.
HEATHCLIFF Cathy
CATHY And who does Heathcliff love?
NELLY Cathy for shame!
CATHY Nelly I'm only teaching him to talk!
Heathcliff loves Cathy. Say it.
HEATHCLIFF Heathcliff..loves...Cathy
She laughs at him
CATHY Heathcliff loves Cathy!
Hear that Nellie? Heathcliff loves Cathy! H eathcliff loves Cathy! Heathcliff loves -
Enter EARNSHAW and HINDLEY
CATHY What a clever boy!
What a clever boy father's brought home!
EARNSHAW Now you're not to tease him, Cathy!
Be kind to the boy! be kind!
Poor unloved creature!
Poor unloved creature left alone in the wild!
But we'll tame him, won't we?
And he'll grow up to be a Christian, won't
he?
HINDLEY I doubt it!
EARNSHAW And I'll have no-one, no-one, do you hear me
Hindley? No-one's to hate him because I like
him. And no-one's to do him an ill turn!
HINDLEY slaps HEATHCLIFF while EARNSHAW's back is turned
EARNSHAW Hindley! Hindley, I say! Hindley you heap of wickedness! Come here!
Now what did I say?
Silence
EARNSHAW What's this boy? Eh?
Grab's HINDLEY's ear
EARNSHAW What's this for, boy?
HINDLEY Listening. listening. Sir!
EARNSHAW Then make use of it!
HINDLEY Yes sir
EARNSHAW What did I say?
I said ((Slap) Be kind to the boy (Slap). Did you hear me?
HINDLEY Yes sir
EARNSHAW Then be kind!
Exit EARNSHAW . HINDLEY attacks HEATHCLIFF
HINDLEY Be kind! Kind to you! Imp! Gypsy scum! Crawl! Scum! Crawl!
HEATHCLIFF fights back
HINDLEY Strong are you? How dare you be strong!
Nellie help me!
NELLY trips HEATHCLIFF
HINDLEY I'll teach you to be strong!
CATHY Nellie! How could you!
NELLY I don't know what you see in him. You and the master! He's a surly, sullen thing!
CATHY He's not! He's not!
HINDLEY Into the kennel with you, dog!
CATHY Hindley stop it!
HINDLEY Try to stop me!
You can't! Girl!
NELLY Hark at him growl!
HINDLEY He'll be a fine dog soon. Won't he! We'll fit him a collar and lead
And he'll lick my boots!
You'll see! We'll tame him!
EXIT HINDLEY
CATHY Poor Heathcliff! Is it sore!
I'll crawl in beside you
And we'll be dogs together!
We'll lick each other's wounds!
NELLY Cathy for shame!
CATHY You be ashamed!
NELLY There'll be no peace in the house now that creature's come!
CATHY Then there'll be war!
NELLY We'll rue the day! We'll rue the day we let the creature in!
Exit NELLY
CATHY Traitor!
Listen Heathcliff we'll not stay here.
We're in prison here!
We'll go out to the moor!
HEATHCLIFF What's moor?
CATHY What's moor?
Poor Heathcliff doesn't know what moor is! The moor, heathcliff...
The moor's a place where no-one can catch you
Where no-one can bother you or tell you what to do
The moor's a place where you can walk all day and never see a living soul!
That's what the moor is.
The moor is freedom Heathcliff
Freedom and the open sky!
The moor is running Heathcliff
Running out in a green and endless sea! Come on, Heathcliff.
We won't stay cooped up here.
Come on. I'll show you!
They both exit.
CATHY (off) Can't catch me Heathcliff! You'll
never catch me!
Enter NELLIE.
NELLY That surly creature. Heathcliff!
I said he'd be trouble.
And that's what he's been. Trouble.
Nothing but trouble.
For weeks and weeks.
Trouble with Hindley.
Trouble with the master.
Who grows older by the day!
And trouble with Cathy.
The impossible, ungovernable
Little minx!
Enter EARNSHAW. He is weary.
NELLY Well master.
EARNSHAW Well Nelly.
Silence
NELLY How was the fair.
EARNSHAW It's not as it was.
NELLY Did you sell the cattle?
EARNSHAW Yes Nellie. I sold the cattle.
NELLY Did they fetch a good price?
Master?
EARNSHAW There's beggars, Nellie. Beggars at the parish fair!
They've never been seen.
Never been seen in the parish before! Beggars!
Silence
Lock up the money, nellie.
Lock it up!
There's no trust Nellie
No trust left in the world.
No trust.
No trust!
Exit EARNSHAW
CATHY storms on.
NELLY Cathy!
Cathy what's the matter?
CATHY Father's been to the fair
NELLY So?
CATHY And he's bought....
He's bought two colts for the boys!
NELLY And what's so terrible about that?
CATHY He never bought one for me!
EXIT CATHY
NELLY Spoilt little minx!
ENTER HINDLEY AND HEATHCLIFF, WITH SADDLES
HEATHCLIFF My horse is lame
HINDLEY Good
HEATHCLIFF Are you glad?
HINDLEY Of course I'm glad!
HEATHCLIFF You'll not be glad much longer
HINDLEY And why not, pray?
HEATHCLIFF Because I'll have your horse
HINDLEY How dare you!
HEATHCLIFF Because if you don't let me have it
I'll tell your father of the beating you
gave me yesterday. And I'll show him my arm, which is black from shoulder to elbow. And you'll get a beating too. With interest.
HINDLEY Get away, you dog!
HEATHCLIFF sees EARNSHAW at the window
HEATHCLIFF Throw it then, I dare you! Throw it! And
I'll tell him how you boasted you'd throw me out the house the minute he died. And he'll throw you out directly!
HINDLEY Will he then dog
HEATHCLIFF Yes!
HINDLEY We'll see!
HINDLEY throws saddle at HEATHCLIFF and knocks him over. Enter EARNSHAW
EARNSHAW Hindley! What have you done! It's a mercy
you haven't killed the boy
HINDLEY He wanted my horse
EARNSHAW Then give him your horse! And say you're
sorry, and be friends!
HINDLEY I'm not sorry. the imp of Satan!
Why should I be sorry?
EARNSHAW Because I tell you to! Wicked impudence!
Give him your horse
HINDLEY He can have my horse!
And I hope it kicks his brains out! Gypsy!
EARNSHAW Restrain your tongue, Hindley! restrain it, I say!
HINDLEY I will not! Interloper! beggar!
EARNSHAW It's to college with you, then my lad! Away to college! maybe they'll thrash some sense into you! Away with you!
EXIT EARNSHAW and HINDLEY
NELLY Are you happy now then?
Now the master's son been sent away and you've got the mistress all to yourself?
Exit NELLY
Enter CATHY with book
CATHY Time to read Heathcliff
HEATHCLIFF (reads, slowly at first, with encouragement and help from CATHY with difficult words)
The sun has set and the long grass now
Waves dreamy in the evening wind
And the wild bird has flown
From the old grey stone
In some warm nook a couch to find.
In all the lonely landscape round
I see no light and hear no sound
Except the wind that far away
Comes sighing o'er the heathy sea!
CATHY Good Heathcliff! Good! Very good!
Exit HEATHCLIFF and CATHY.
Enter NELLY
NELLY It's quiet enough anyway.
Quiet as the months pass.
And there's a measure of peace in the house
at least.
Enter EARNSHAW
NELLY Though the master's getting old.
EARNSHAW Nellie, help me to my chair, I'm a weary. Weary unto death!
The world's changing Nellie
I don't understand it any more.
Everyone used to know their place,Nellie,
And there was kindness.
But now there's cities growing up
And no-one knows their place.
And no-one knows and no-one has time for
kindness.
It's Manchester, Nellie. Manchester!
No kindness in Manchester.
EARNSHAW sleeps. NELLY cleans the floor. Enter CATHY
NELLY Ssshh mistress Cathy. You'll wake the
master!
CATHY Pooh!
CATHY flicks water on her.
NELLY Mistress Cathy, let me be!
Mistress Cathy you tease a soul beyond all bearing!
Mistress Cathy stop it at once
CATHY Don't tell me what to do. Servant.
I'm the mistress here!
Know your place!
NELLY Mistress Cathy you'll wake the Master!
CATHY He's been so wearisome these last few months. So wearisome since Hindley's gone. All he does is sit in his chair and sleep
NELLY He's getting old Mistress Cathy. Like all of
us.
Mistress Cathy!
CATHY wakes EARNSHAW
EARNSHAW Cathy what mischief are you up to now!
CATHY Nothing father!
EARNSHAW Why can't you be a good lass?
CATHY Why can't you be a good man!
EARNSHAW Impertinent wretch!
Ay Cathy I cannot love thee. You're worse than your brother. I must rue the day I ever reared thee
CATHY No father don't say such things, for you love me
EARNSHAW And do you love me, Cathy?
Do you still love your old father?
CATHY Ay father, that I do.
EARNSHAW Sing to me then. Sing me back to sleep
so I'll never waken
CATHY SINGS. HEATHCLIFF LISTENS. HE IS RAPT. SHE IS ALSO SINGING FOR HIM)
CATHY The ship wherein my love shall sail
Is glorious to behold.
The sails are made from the finest silk
And the mast of beaten gold.
You'll no more be a'weeping, dear,
Let all your sadness be
I'll show you where the white lilies grow
On the banks o'Italy.
The hills are yon, the pleasant hills,
The sun shines sweetly on.
Yon are the hills of heaven, dear,
That we shall walk upon.
[source: 'The Daemon Lover' in The Oxford
Book of Ballads)
NELLY He's asleep now the old master. Leave him
be.
CATHY You like my singing Heathcliff?
HEATHCLIFF More than anything in the world!
NELLY You've sent the master off to sleep at any rate. Asleep in this storm! Hear the wind howling!
CATHY It won't harm us at any rate, will it
Heathcliff?
We've got the fire, and we've got each other!
NELLY See how quiet and peaceful he looks!
I'll give him a blanket to warm his bones
She takes the blanket over; registers EARNSHAW is dead.
NELLY Cathy, Heathcliff, time to bed
CATHY But it's early Nelly
NELLY Never mind how early it is, girl.
It's time you were gone
CATHY Let me say good night to my father first
NELLY No Cathy no! You mustn't!
CATHY And why not?
NELLY I forbid you!
CATHY You shan't forbid me! He's my father!
NELLY Cathy!
CATHY kisses her father and discovers he's dead.
CATHY Oh he's dead! Heathcliff! He's dead!
NELLY Poor soul! The poor soul! The poor poor
soul! In peace at last!
HEATHCLIFF and CATHY are in the dog kennel. NELLY and KENNETH lay EARNSHAW out and put him in a coffin. He is carried out.
HEATHCLIFF Cathy
CATHY weeps
HEATHCLIFF Cathy don't cry
CATHY But I must cry Heathcliff
HEATHCLIFF Why must you cry
CATHY My father's gone!
HEATHCLIFF But where Cathy where's the master gone
CATHY They say he's gone to heaven
HEATHCLIFF But they've put him in a box, Cathy. A great
dark wooden box.
CATHY That's for his body. Stupid. They'll bury
that. But that's not where his soul is.
His soul has gone to heaven.
HEATHCLIFF Where's heaven Cathy
CATHY No-one knows
HEATHCLIFF Is it cold in heaven Cathy.
Cold like it is here
CATHY No it's not cold. It's warm. Always warm.
HEATHCLIFF What else is it like
CATHY Heaven's a great green tree in a far off
place, Heathcliff, with a west wind blowing, and white clouds flitting high above.
HEATHCLIFF Do starlings sing in heaven?
CATHY Starlings and throstles and linnets and
blackbirds and all the other blessed souls all singing together
HEATHCLIFF Do they sing as well as you?
CATHY Better
HEATHCLIFF I should like to be in heaven then
CATHY Who knows Heathcliff but one day we'll all
be safe up there together
HEATHCLIFF I know where hell is anyway
CATHY And where's that, Heathcliff?
HEATHCLIFF Hell is somewhere you are not.
Enter NELLY
NELLY Cathy! Heathcliff! What are you doing?
CATHY Talking
NELLY Shame on you! No time for talking! We must
be getting ready for the new master coming.
HEATHCLIFF Who's the new master Nellie?
NELLY Master Hindley, of course. He's the eldest
son. And when he hears of this he'll be coming home
And when he comes home he'll want you in
black. And respectful! Wearing mourning!
HEATHCLIFF Wearing morning, Nellie?
NELLY In black! Now off with you!
And show respect to the new master. And grieve for the old one, too!
Exit all.
We hear a funeral bell. Enter HINDLEY
HINDLEY Nellie! Nellie! We're home!
ENTER NELLIE
NELLY A sad day to return master
HINDLEY Indeed it is Nellie. indeed it is. And nellie..
NELLY Yes master?
HINDLEY Is everything in order?
NELLY Yes master
HINDLEY Is everything proper and fitting?
NELLY Of course master
HINDLEY Catherine dressed fittingly.
NELLY Yes sir
HINDLEY And that creature Heathcliff?
NELLY Yes sir
HINDLEY Because Nellie
NELLY Sir?
HINDLEY I've brought someone home
NELLY Who?
HINDLEY A surprise!
NELLY A surprise?
HINDLEY Frances, you may come in now!
ENTER FRANCES. SHE GIGGLES.
NELLY Who is this?
HINDLEY This is my wife
NELLY Your wife?
Can she milk cows?
HINDLEY Of course she can't milk cows! She's a lady!
NELLY We've no use for ladies
HINDLEY Show her to the household.
NELLY Cathy! Heathcliff! Come and see what the new
master's brought home!
ENTER CATHY AND HEATHCLIFF .
CATHY What's that Nelly?
NELLY Who'd have thought it?
Can you believe it!
A new wife!
FRANCES sees CATHY and HEATHCLIFF and starts to scream
FRANCES (becomes hysterical) Oh! Oh! Oh!
CATHY What's she screaming for?
FRANCES Take them away!
For pity's sake, take them away!
HINDLEY Dearest? Dearest what is the matter?
FRANCES They're black! They're wearing black!
NELLY Of course they're wearing black!
They're in mourning!
HINDLEY Get out of here at once! The pair of you! How dare you!
How dare you appear here dressed like that!
NELLY But you just said-
HINDLEY Never mind what I just said! Get them out of here! Can't you see they're upsetting my wife?
FRANCES Mourning makes me think of death!
HINDLEY And you shall not be reminded of it, dearest!
NELLY How shall we manage the funeral then?
HINDLEY What new impudence is this?
NELLY I mean how do we manage the funeral without
reminding her of death?
HINDLEY The funeral shall be in the church.
We shall be in the parlour.
NELLY But master -
HINDLEY My wife is a lady, Nelly, and delicate!
And no-one is to disturb or trouble her.
You understand? No-one!
NELLY Heathcliff! Cathy! Off to the church! We
mustn't upset the lady!
EXIT NELLY, CATHY and HEATHCLIFF
HINDLEY Are you recovered, my dearest?
FRANCES Somewhat sweetest
HINDLEY And dearest, how do you like my house?
FRANCES It is dark and windy. And somewhat horrid,
sweetest.
HINDLEY I am sorry sweetheart
FRANCES But what a charming kitchen! What a
beautiful kitchen floor! And what a darling little house!
HINDLEY Dog kennel
FRANCES Dearest?
HINDLEY It's a dog kennel
FRANCES Then what a darling dog kennel!
HINDLEY My darling!
Now sit yourself down my darling
FRANCES But darling...
HINDLEY Yes sweetest
FRANCES Where shall I sit?
HINDLEY On a chair, dearest. A chair!
FRANCES But these are hard chairs! Sharp chairs!
These chairs are not ladylike!
HINDLEY They are what we have got. Darling.
They sit. Silence.
FRANCES You'll remind them I'm a lady, won't you
sweetheart?
HINDLEY Yes dearest.
FRANCES You won't let them forget?
HINDLEY I won't let them forget!
FRANCES Promise?
HINDLEY Promise.
FRANCES Sweetheart!
ENTER NELLY
HINDLEY Well Nellie
NELLY Well master
HINDLEY And how was the...the ...
NELLY The funeral went very well master. Plenty of mourners. A good funeral. Though people did wonder at your absence. But I explained all about your wife. And then they wondered about your wife. Sir. And I couldn't explain that.
HINDLEY Then let them wonder.
NELLY Yes sir.
You've certainly changed sir.
HINDLEY For the better I hope.
NELLY Well sir, you've lost a lot of colour.
And you speak differently.
And you dress differently.
And you've got a wife!
HINDLEY And we'll be living differently, from now on. Hear me Nellie?
NELLY Yes sir
HINDLEY You'll take up quarters where it's more fitting. In the back kitchen, Nellie.
NELLY But sir its cold-
HINDLEY My wife is a lady, Nellie.
How many times must I tell you?
She'll not mix with servants.
NELLY No sir
ENTER CATHY AND HEATHCLIFF, LAUGHING
HINDLEY And we'll have no giggling!
And no whispering! And no disrespect!
And you! Heathcliff! Leave this kitchen! Out to the stables Heathcliff! Where you belong!
CATHY He'll not go!
HINDLEY Oh but he will mistress Cathy. he will! I'm the master! Hear me, mistress Cathy? I'm the master now!
And ever since it's arrived this creature has been getting ideas above its station! This creature has forgotten it came from the gutter!
And its the gutter where it belongs!
To the stables, creature! Where you belong! earn your keep! You'll muck out the stables! You'll clean out the pigs!
Now go!
CATHY He'll not! He'll not go!
HINDLEY O won't he! Won't he go!
He catches CATHY and strikes her
HINDLEY Well Heathcliff. You're not gone. Will you compel me to strike her again?
EXIT HEATHCLIFF
CATHY I hate you! I'll hate you for ever!
EXIT CATHY
NELLY Welcome to your new home, mistress. You'll be happy here, I'm sure.
HINDLEY I'm sure she will, Nellie.
Won't you my little darling?
Won't you be happy with your snookums?
Silence
HINDLEY Won't you, dearest?
FRANCES It's not what I'm used to
HINDLEY But you'll get used to it. Won't you?
FRANCES It is cold here and damp
And I'm sure it'll be bad for my chest
And it is wild here and somewhat savage
And I'm surrounded by strangers and far away from home.
But I'll try. I'll try to be happy for your sake. Dearest.
HINDLEY Of course you'll try my darling.
They kiss
HINDLEY Time for beddy byes my little chicken. Bed times now for my little darling!
He picks her up and carries her off
NELLY His little darling!
His snookums! Well she won't do for here!
She won’t do for here at all
Next morning. We hear HINDLEY giving orders, off
HINDLEY Heathcliff! The cows want milking!
and when they're done drive them out to pasture!
And Heathcliff! remember the red cow is lame!
And when you've done you can muck out the stables!
On with it! Lazy brute!
Lazy ill tempered brute!
Enter CATHY,
CATHY Abram begat Isaac.
And Isaac begat Jacob.
Enter NELLY
NELLY Saving your soul, mistress Cathy?
CATHY Shut up Nelly!
NELLY It's surely in need of saving.
CATHY I'm being punished.
NELLY I'm sure you deserve it.
CATHY Hindley beat me.
And I've got to learn all the line of David before teatime.
Or he'll beat me again.
And they've got such difficult names! Jacob,Nelly. Jacob begat Judas.
And his brethren.
And Nellie I'm sore.
And Judas begat...Judas begat...
Nellie who did Judas begat?
Phares! Judas begat Phares!
O Nellie I'm really sore.
And Phares begat Esrom....
O Nellie speak to me.
NELLY If you're sore that's your own fault.
CATHY Esrom begat Aram..
Oh Nellie I'm so bored!
NELLY You shouldn't be so wicked. Then you
wouldn't be chastised.
CATHY I wasn't wicked!
NELLY You were so!
CATHY It was only a mouse
NELLY Mistress Cathy it was a rat
CATHY Only a small one
NELLY Mistress Cathy it was dead
CATHY Only a small dead rat then
NELLY It was in the mistress porridge
CATHY But didn't you love to hear her scream?
NELLY [LAUGHS] Mistress Cathy you are wicked!
CATHY Wasn't it the best scream you ever heard?
NELLY Mistress Cathy you should not be laughing!
CATHY Poo! Hypocrite! You're laughing yourself!
NELLY But I shouldn't! I shouldn't!
HEATHCLIFF AT THE WINDOW
HEATHCLIFF Psst! Cathy!
CATHY Heathcliff!
HEATHCLIFF Are you coming?
CATHY Yes!
NELLY But you're not to go out together!
CATHY Where shall we go?
HEATHCLIFF On the moor!
NELLY The master's forbidden it!
CATHY Let's go!
NELLY Cathy!
CATHY Nellie don't deny me.
Don't contradict me in this
Or I'll never speak to you again!
Never! Understand me? Never!
I swear it!
NELLY Take a shawl at least!
Or you'll catch your death of cold!
EXIT CATHY AND HEATHCLIFF
NELLY The poor unloved unfriended creatures!
Out on the moor. Out in the cold.
Each day growing wilder and more savage!
And Hindley can beat them all he likes They're not a whit the better for it!
Poor souls! Will no-one care for them?
ENTER FRANCES. NELLY FALLS SILENT. FRANCES LOOKS ILL, AND COUGHS.
NELLY SCRUBS. FRANCES SITS. A SILENCE.
HINDLEY (OFF) Heathcliff! Heathcliff!
ENTER HINDLEY
HINDLEY Where is that wretch?
NELLY I'm sure I don't know sir!
HINDLEY He's wanted in the stables!
NELLY He's not here sir
HINDLEY When I find him I'll flog him!
I'll flog him to death!
EXIT HINDLEY. A SILENCE.
FRANCES Oh Nellie help me
NELLY I don't understand how I can help you,
mistress, I'm sure
FRANCES Help me! Help me!
NELLY Why mistress whatever's the matter?
FRANCES I'm afraid of dying!
NELLY Whatever should you be frightened of that
for?
FRANCES I'm ill, Nellie. I'm ill!
NELLY There's nothing wrong with you, mistress.
Nothing at all.
Mounting the stairs makes you breathe very quick, that's for sure.
And the least sudden noise sets you all of a quiver.
And I have seen you cough troublesome sometimes.
But we don't think much of such things round here.
FRANCES Could I not at least see a doctor?
NELLY Mister Kenneth? Oh you won't want to see
him! No-one wants to see him! No one sees mister Kenneth unless they're done for!
And then there's the expense to think of. The master won't want to incur unnecessary expense.
ENTER HINDLEY
HINDLEY Where's Heathcliff?
NELLY I don't know sir I'm sure
HINDLEY He's been gone for hours!
And where's Cathy?
NELLY She was at her studies sir
HINDLEY She's not at them now!
She's nowhere to be seen!
NELLY Have you searched the stables sir
HINDLEY Of course I've searched the stables. Stupid girl. Do you take me for a fool?
NELLY No sir
HINDLEY It'll be dark soon
NELLY I hope they're in before night
HINDLEY It makes no difference. they're too late! I'm bolting the doors!
They can stay out all night!
NELLY But master they'll die in the cold!
HINDLEY That'll teach them to disobey!
FRANCES COUGHS
HINDLEY I trust you're seeing to the mistress comfort
NELLY yes master
HINDLEY and seeing that the mistress lacks nothing
FRANCES Husband
HINDLEY What?
Dearest.
FRANCES I want a doctor
HINDLEY Nonsense Frances you're just tired
FRANCES I'm ill
HINDLEY You're expecting a happy event, my dear. You're bound to find it a trifle tiring
NELLY What I was telling her
FRANCES I want friends
HINDLEY You've all the friends you want here, my dearest
NELLY What I told her
FRANCES And I'm far from home
HINDLEY And this is your home now
FRANCES And it's not a happy one!
HINDLEY Then you must make it happy, mustn't you my darling.
FRANCES Yes dearest
HINDLEY Happy for our new little treasure
FRANCES Yes dearest
HINDLEY Not long now sweetest
FRANCES No dearest
HINDLEY Another week or so
FRANCES Two months. Sweetest. Another two months!
HINDLEY It's not long. Two months.
You're tired.
FRANCES I do feel somewhat faint, yes
HINDLEY I'll take you to bed.
FRANCES Yes. Take me to bed. I'm tired! I'm tired.
EXIT FRANCES and HINDLEY. It gets dark.
NELLY returns with a lantern
NELLY Pitch black on the moor and no sign of them!
If they're lost in the darkness they'll be dead before morning!
And the mistress coughs and coughs and the master snores in his bed!
A tap on the window
NELLY Heathcliff!
HEATHCLIFF Nellie let me in
She unbolts the door
NELLY Where's Cathy?
HEATHCLIFF At Thrushcross Grange!
NELLY Thrushcross Grange!
HEATHCLIFF And I'd be there too, only they had not the manners to ask me stay!
NELLY But how did you get there?
HEATHCLIFF Let me get myself dry, Nellie, and I'll tell you!
NELLY Don't wake the master!
HEATHCLIFF Nellie we ran away! We ran away out over the moor!
NELLY And you'll be flogged for it
HEATHCLIFF I don't care Nellie!
It's worth it to be out in the open and free
and Cathy...Cathy was running like a hare
She can run as fast as any boy, Nellie. Faster! There's no-one can catch her!
She was tormenting me, nellie, running where I couldn't catch her, and shouting, You run so slow in your boots! Your thick boots!
So clumsy and slow!
But I caught her Nellie. I caught her at last! And we were lying together up in the hollow above the grange, and looking down at the lights, and Cathy says
Let's go down Heathcliff.
Let's go down and see how other people spend their days
Let's see if they spend their evenings
shivering in corners
Or being beaten. Or having to learn long
lists of bible names!
And we ran down the hill without stopping!
and when we looked in the window...
Nelly it was like paradise!
There was a crimson carpet, Nellie,
Crimson covered chairs and tables
A pure white ceiling bordered with gold
A shower of little glass drops in the centre All for just two children, nellie,
Two children with this paradise all to themselves!
You'd have thought they'd be happy!
But they were crying!
Crying over a little dog!
The silly petted things!
The idiots! How we laughed at them!
"There's horrid laughing!", they lisped,
And shouted for their papa!
So we ran, Nellie, and Cathy ran like the wind! She'd have got clean away but the bulldog got her! But she didn't cry out! She'd have died rather than cry out! And I smashed the bulldog's face with a stone! But the servants came and took us into Mr. Linton, who thought we were gypsies! Out to steal his cash!
But then they knew us from church, and took Cathy in, but threw me out of doors because I am 'that strange acquisition old Mr. Earnshaw made' that 'Lascar' Nellie, or that 'American castaway'. They said I wasn't fit for their house and sent me packing.
But they took Cathy in, and I stayed and I spied though the window ready to smash it into fragments if she wanted to return. But she didn't Nellie. She didn't want to return
NELLY I should think not, Heathcliff
HEATHCLIFF They sat her by the fire and gave her cake and combed out her beautiful long hair and they sat looking at her with stupid admiration. She is so superior to them, isn't she Nellie
NELLY I should think so
HEATHCLIFF She's the queen of the countryside!.
NELLY She's the queen of nowhere!
And you'll be king of a thrashing!
Now run away to sleep before the master catches you!
HEATHCLIFF He can catch me if he likes.
But he can't stop me dreaming.
NELLY Dreaming of what Heathcliff?
HEATHCLIFF Dreaming of Cathy. Who else should I dream of?
EXIT HEATHCLIFF
NELLY You can dream!
NELLY sighs, puts out the light.
Next morning. NELLY comes in with coal.
Enter LINTON
LINTON Where is Mr. Hindley Earnshaw?
NELLY I'll fetch him sir
EXIT NELLY. LINTON looks about him in disgust
LINTON A rough and ill-natured abode!
Gaunt and grim! Uncomfortable and vile!
Wuthering indeed!
Enter NELLY and HINDLEY
LINTON You are Mr. Hindley Earnshaw?
HINDLEY I am
LINTON I am Mr. Linton, sir. Your neighbour. Last night, sir, our respectful repose was disturbed by what appeared to be an invasion of gypsies but which on closer inspection turned out to be human creatures. And creatures sir, under your supposed care. I refer, not to that lascar brute your late father picked up by the dockside, but to your younger sister Catherine. Whose state, sir, was nothing short of disgraceful! You are failing sir, failing in your duties!
HINDLEY Sir I must-
LINTON Give me leave to speak!
HINDLEY I am sir
LINTON Her dress was in rags, her feet were bare and there were creatures, sir, creatures! crawling in her hair! Had I not known her to be one of yours I would have sent her packing! As it is, my daughter has undertaken to tame her! Out of the kindness of her heart!
There is disorder, sir, stalking these hills! Wild bands of lawless vagabonds wandering from village to village inciting the peasantry to violence and insurrection! Destroying the property of the gentry! And we must resist them, sir, with every force at our command! Resist by example! It behoves us to act with a proper regard for the duties of civilised man! And if, sir, if and when I return Catherine to your tender care I expect you to be not so lacking in your duties as a gentleman! Good day!
EXIT LINTON
HINDLEY I'll flog Heathcliff! I'll show them I'm a gentleman!
EXIT HINDLEY .
HINDLEY (off) Heathcliff! Heathcliff!!
NELLY It's almost Christmas.
HINDLEY (off) That's it lads! Tie him down!
NELLY I'll make the cake
HINDLEY (off) Ready Heathcliff?
NELLY I'll take the flour
We hear the crack of a whip; or the swish of a cane; we hear it strike HEATHCLIFF. We hear, perhaps, his suppressed cry of pain. We see NELLY feel for him: we see her work to try to distract herself from her distress.
NELLY I'll take the eggs
(HINDLEY flogs HEATHCLIFF)
NELLY I'll take the milk
(HINDLEY flogs HEATHCLIFF)
NELLY And the fruit
(HINDLEY flogs HEATHCLIFF)
NELLY And all the spices
(HINDLEY flogs HEATHCLIFF)
NELLY And I'll make a beautiful cake
(HINDLEY flogs HEATHCLIFF)
NELLY And when Christmas comes we'll all sit
around the fire
(HINDLEY flogs HEATHCLIFF)
NELLY And we'll all be warm and comfortable
(HINDLEY flogs HEATHCLIFF)
NELLY And at peace please God
(HINDLEY flogs HEATHCLIFF)
NELLY Please God.
Please God we'll be at peace!
HINDLEY (off) Who's the gentleman now?
Who's the gentleman now?
A long silence.
Enter HEATHCLIFF: a slow entrance.
NELLY How many
HEATHCLIFF Nine
NELLY Nine today and yesterday and the day before that. Nine every day for weeks!
HEATHCLIFF I don't feel them any more.
NELLY How can you bear it?
HEATHCLIFF I won't feel them! I refuse to!
NELLY And you're still waiting for Cathy's return.
HEATHCLIFF It's been five weeks Nellie! Five weeks!
It's felt more like five years!
NELLY Hide. Here's the master coming.
HEATHCLIFF hides in the dog kennel. Enter HINDLEY and FRANCES. She is very pregnant.
HINDLEY Dearest please don't cough so.
It is so very unbecoming
FRANCES I'm sure I can't help it dear
HINDLEY Well Nellie.
NELLY Sir
HINDLEY Eagerly awaiting the prodigal's return
NELLY Yes sir
HINDLEY I hope the enforced absence has broken her friendship to that gypsy
NELLY Sir
HINDLEY There she is at the door. open it nellie. open it!
NELLY opens the door. A transformed CATHY stands in the doorway
HINDLEY Why Cathy you are almost a beauty!
I would hardly have known you.
You look like a lady
CATHY Nellie
Aren't you going to greet me
NELLY I'm all flour!
HINDLEY Catherine! Greet the lady first!
She is a beauty isn't she dearest!
FRANCES She must take care not to grow wild again here!
HINDLEY Indeed she must
CATHY Where's Heathcliff?
HINDLEY In his place I see. With the dogs.
You may come out Heathcliff.
Come and wish miss Catherine welcome
Like the other servants.
You may shake hands. That is permitted.
CATHY Well. Come and greet me Heathcliff.
Why how very black and cross you look!
HEATHCLIFF I shall not! I shall not bear to be laughed at!
CATHY I was not laughing! Heathcliff. Shake hands
at least!
Don't be sulky. It's just you looked odd...I've got so used to Edgar. You are so dirty!
HEATHCLIFF You needn't have touched me then! If I want to be dirty I shall be!
I shall be dirty!
EXIT HEATHCLIFF
HINDLEY Incorrigible.
Dearest don't groan so. it is most unbecoming.
And must you puff? You puff like a grampus
my darling
FRANCES Dearest...
HINDLEY Yes?
FRANCES Dearest I think...
HINDLEY Must you think?
FRANCES Yes dearest I must!
HINDLEY Why?
FRANCES I think...I think...
I think my baby's coming!
HINDLEY Your what??
FRANCES My baby!
HINDLEY The happy event!! My God! The happy- Nellie boil some water!
NELLY Boil some water?
HINDLEY Isn't that what you do?
NELLY You take the lady to bed and fetch the
midwife!
Come on madam. Courage! Don't take on so!
HINDLEY Cathy! Ride to the village! Fetch the doctor!
CATHY And spoil my new dress
HINDLEY Damn your new dress!
CATHY But you said
HINDLEY Damn what I said!
CATHY Where will I find the doctor?
HINDLEY In the tavern!
Where else would you find him! Run!
EXIT CATHY
HINDLEY Come dearest. a few more steps. Do try to
groan in a more genteel manner.
Exit HINDLEY, FRANCES and NELLY.
Enter HEATHCLIFF . He cautiously begins to wash himself Enter NELLY
NELLY Heathcliff whatever are you doing?
HEATHCLIFF Washing. You won't tell anybody? Nellie I
have resolved to be good.
NELLY High time Heathcliff!
FRANCES screams in the distance
HEATHCLIFF What's the commotion?
NELLY The mistress having her baby. She'll do. And
here's the doctor
Enter KENNETH
KENNETH Has labour begun?
NELLY Yes doctor
KENNETH Nothing I need do then.
Nature can take her course.
NELLY You're supposed to be seeing her.
They're paying you.
KENNETH They'd be better not to waste their money.
And she'll not last the night!
My bottle.
NELLY After you've seen her.
KENNETH You're a hard hearted girl Nellie Dean.
A hard hearted girl!
EXIT KENNETH
NELLY The fuss she's been making. The moaning and
the groaning. I wondered if I should feel pity for her. But she's a stranger.
There. that's better. Heathcliff I do declare. You look almost human. You're taller than that Edgar. You're twice as broad about the shoulders. You could knock him down in a twinkling
HEATHCLIFF Oh Nellie even if I knocked him down twenty times that wouldn't make him less handsome.Or me more so.
I wish I had his fair skin, Nellie. And his light hair.
I wish I was dressed so well, and behaved so well, and was as rich as he!
NELLY And cry for your mummy like he?
Shame on you Heathcliff. Show more spirit.
Learn to smile.
Look at yourself! You're handsome. In your way.
Now go to Catherine. tell her your sorry.
Tell her you're glad to see her back.
Go on man. Of course she'll hear you. That's what she wants to hear.
She'll be in the stables somewhere weeping for you.
Exit HEATHCLIFF
Though why I can't imagine.
A cry from the bedroom.
HINDLEY Nellie Nellie!
NELLY Coming!
Enter HINDLEY with baby
HINDLEY Nellie a baby! A baby boy!
A beautiful baby boy!
Enter KENNETH
KENNETH A messy business and no mistake. There's your son anyhow.
And as for your wife...
Don't think on her.
She's got galloping consumption.
She'll not last a fortnight.
My bottle.
NELLY hands him a bottle of spirits.
HINDLEY Damn you to hell!
KENNETH Thank you
HINDLEY She'll live, I tell you! She'll live!
KENNETH Nature's course. I'm telling you. Nature's course!
Nothing I can do!
EXIT KENNETH
HINDLEY Calls himself a doctor!
What does he know?
The baby cries
HINDLEY A fine son eh Nellie.
But what a noise he makes!
Nellie what shall I do with him?
NELLY Give him to me master. I'll soon sort him. Go into your wife.
HINDLEY We must celebrate Nellie. We'll have the Linton's over tomorrow! I want to show them my son!
EXIT HINDLEY
NELLY Poor wee soul. It's a troubled world you've been born into!
And you such a grand wee bairn.
I'm amazed your mother doesn't get better at the mere sight of you. In spite of the doctor and all your sickness.
You wee darling.
It's sad about your mother.
But Hindley should have known better.
Should have known better than choose such a sickly lass!
Next day.
Enter HEATHCLIFF. He nervously runs his fingers through his hair
HEATHCLIFF Nellie
NELLY Heathcliff
HEATHCLIFF How do I look?
NELLY (sighs)
HEATHCLIFF Nellie for pity's sake
NELLY sighs again
HEATHCLIFF Nelly I'm going to see Cathy!
How do I look Nelly? Will she like me?
NELLY A good heart will help you to a bonny face, Heathcliff.
HEATHCLIFF Nellie!
NELLY The truth is, you look like a prince in
disguise.
Now out you go. Cathy is waiting already.
Enter HINDLEY
HINDLEY What's this wretch doing here?
Nellie send him out the room. We have quality coming.
Ah Master Linton. Mistress Isabella
Enter the LINTONS and CATHY
HINDLEY What are you waiting for? Be gone! This is no place for dirt like you!
EDGAR Be fair Hindley. He's not quite as dirty as
usual. I believe he's cleaned himself up for our coming.
HEATHCLIFF picks up the first thing to hand ("a plate of apple sauce") and throws it at EDGAR, who howls
EDGAR Sister help me!
HEATHCLIFF I never cleaned myself up for you! Ninny!
EDGAR Brute
EXIT HEATHCLIFF. HINDLEY follows
HINDLEY One moment. Excuse me.
NELLY roughly cleans EDGAR with a dishcloth
NELLY Serves you right for meddling
EDGAR Isabella my handkerchief.
Rude girl.
Thank you Isabella
ISABELLA Poor brother
CATHY Silly fool!
Why did you speak to him?
He was in a temper, and you provoked him. Now he'll be flogged, and I hate him being flogged. I won't be able to eat my dinner. Why did you speak to him
EDGAR I never spoke to him! I promised mamma I
shouldn't, and I didn't.
CATHY Well don't cry! And give over Isabella! Has
anyone hurt you? Ninnies!
Enter HINDLEY
HINDLEY There there. Never mind. That little exercise has warmed me up nicely. Next time, master Linton, such a thing happens, take the law into your own fists! You'll never suffer from the cold!
Now to show you my little angel. The apple of my eye. Where is it Nellie
NELLY Where's what master
HINDLEY My son!
NELLY With the mistress.
EDGAR I trust she's well
HINDLEY You trust who's well
EDGAR Your lady wife
HINDLEY Of course she's well. Better than ever.
Coughing a little, but only what befits the time of year.
But come along, everyone. Admire the angel.
Stop crying Isabella! You too Cathy. Not you
Nellie. It's not your place.
EXIT all but NELLY. HEATHCLIFF enters slowly. He is in pain.
NELLY Poor Heathcliff! Do you feel the pain?
HEATHCLIFF Not when I'm thinking
NELLY Thinking of what
HEATHCLIFF Of how I'll pay Hindley back.
I'll get revenge. I don't care how long it
takes, I will get revenge!
I hope he doesn't die before I do!
NELLY For shame Heathcliff. We should forgive.
It's not for us to punish wicked people.
It's for God.
HEATHCLIFF But then God won't enjoy it as much as I
shall
Exit HEATHCLIFF . Frantic sounds of distress from FRANCES, off.
NELLY Her again!
Exit NELLY. Enter KENNETH
KENNETH Bottle!
Enter NELLY from FRANCES's room
NELLY Doctor come quickly
KENNETH Give me my bottle!
NELLY She's dying
KENNETH Told you she would
Enter HINDLEY from the same room.
HINDLEY Damn you!
KENNETH Charmed!
HINDLEY She's getting better I tell you! Better
every day!
HINDLEY takes KENNETH's bottle and starts to drink
KENNETH Hey!
HINDLEY Get in there damn you
KENNETH Bottle
HINDLEY Old fraud
KENNETH There's nothing I can do. Absolutely
nothing.
Nothing I can do.
EXIT KENNETH
HINDLEY Damn him! Damn the whole damned lot of you!
How can I live without her! How can I live!
Enter KENNETH
KENNETH Dead. deceased. defunct! Galloping consumption! Told you! Nothing I could do.
Don't know why you called me. Could have
saved yourself the money. Bottle!
EXIT KENNETH
HINDLEY Frances! Frances! Frances!
EXIT HINDLEY
NELLY She never belonged!
Exit NELLY .
New scene. A few days later. Enter CATHY with book. Enter HEATHCLIFF.
A silence.
CATHY Heathcliff.
HEATHCLIFF looks, says nothing.
CATHY Heathcliff stop moping!
A silence. CATHY reads.
HEATHCLIFF Cathy
CATHY What
HEATHCLIFF Are you going anywhere
CATHY No. It is raining.
HEATHCLIFF Then why have you got that silly frock on?
CATHY You should be working
HEATHCLIFF I don't have to work. I wanted to spend time
with you.
CATHY It's not allowed
HEATHCLIFF Hindley is out Cathy. Getting drunk.
CATHY I know
HEATHCLIFF Don't tell me you've invited those silly
pitiful friends of yours!
CATHY Isabella and Edgar Linton did mention they might drop by.
I think you'd better leave.
HEATHCLIFF Don't turn me out for them!
CATHY Nelly!
Enter NELLY with baby
CATHY Nelly brush my hair!
Put the baby down!
HEATHCLIFF You spend three evenings with them for every
one you spend with me
CATHY Have you counted them then?
HEATHCLIFF I've marked them on the calendar.
There's crosses for the evenings you spend
with the Lintons and there's dots for the evenings that you spend with me.
CATHY Nelly you've brushed my hair right out of
curl!
And stop that baby's screaming!...
HEATHCLIFF I notice these things!
CATHY And should I be always sitting with you!
I'd be as well sitting with someone dumb like that baby for all the entertainment I get from you!
HEATHCLIFF You never told me before that I talked too little!
Or that you disliked my company!
Cathy!
CATHY He's coming
HEATHCLIFF Cathy!
CATHY No! I won't speak to you! I won't!
Enter EDGAR.
EDGAR Miss Catherine
CATHY Master Edgar.
EDGAR I'm not come too early, I hope?
CATHY Not at all. I was lacking for company.
It's no company at all, is it, when people who know nothing say nothing! Is it, Mister Linton?
Heathcliff you may go!
Exit HEATHCLIFF
CATHY Do sit down.
EDGAR Delighted
CATHY Nellie what are you doing with that gun?
NELLY Removing the firing piece miss.
CATHY What are you doing that for?
NELLY To make it safe when master comes home.
He tends to fire it off when he's the worse for drink.
EDGAR Charming weather.
CATHY Yes.
EDGAR Delightful prospect.
CATHY Nellie what are you doing now?
NELLY My work miss
CATHY Do it elsewhere.
I have company
NELLY I'm sure master Linton won't mind miss
CATHY I can't stand you fidgeting!
NELLY I'm sorry for it miss Catherine!
CATHY pinches her
CATHY Get out!
NELLY Miss that's a nasty trick!
CATHY I didn't touch you you lying creature!
NELLY What's that then? What's that bruise?
CATHY slaps her
EDGAR Catherine my dear
CATHY leave the room at once!
and take the baby!!
EDGAR My dear...
He lays his hand on her arm: she slaps him
CATHY Shut up!
Now what are you doing
EDGAR I'm..I'm looking for my hat!
CATHY You shan't go
EDGAR I must!
CATHY No! Or I shall be miserable all night!
And I won't be miserable about you!
EDGAR How can I stay?
How can I stay after you struck me?
You made me afraid of you. And ashamed of you! You told a deliberate lie!
CATHY I did not! I did nothing deliberately...
Go then. If you want. Get out!
I'll just cry! I'll cry myself sick!
EDGAR about to exit
NELLY She is dreadfully wayward, sir.
Ride home. I would.
EDGAR She looks most dreadfully unhappy.
NELLY She's putting it on, sir.
Go on.
Or she'll be sick to spite you.
EDGAR I'll stay.
NELLY You're doomed!
CATHY And we'll go out! and be free of interfering
servants!
Come Edgar
EDGAR Catherine
They exit.
NELLY Poor fool! The soft thing! He's doomed!
He'll no more escape from her than a cat leave a mouse half eaten.
She'll swallow him up, body and soul!
He's done for. Poor ninny!
And here comes the master!
I'll hide the baby!
Enter HINDLEY
HINDLEY What are you doing?
NELLY Nothing
HINDLEY You've sworn to kill the child haven't you
Nellie. Haven't you? Admit it!
He pushes the carving knife between her teeth
HINDLEY Admit it or swallow the knife!
NELLY I don't like the carving knife Mr. Hindley.
It's been cutting red herrings.
I'd rather be shot if you please
HINDLEY You'd rather be damned!
Open your mouth
NELLY I told you Mr. Hindley I don't want the
knife!
It tastes disgusting! I won't take it!
HINDLEY What's the little wretch crying for.
Unnatural cub! What's the matter with you?
Stop crying. dry your eyes. stop crying!
stop crying and kiss me
NELLY Mr. Hindley, leave the child alone!
HINDLEY Damn you kiss me!
Or I'll break your neck!
NELLY Mr Hindley!
NELLY tries to take the baby from HINDLEY, who snatches it away from her. He drops the baby in the process; just in time for HEATHCLIFF, entering, to catch it.
NELLY Heathcliff give us the child!
HEATHCLIFF Damn it it could been killed! And him taken
the blame! And I saved it! What a foolish impulse!
NELLY For the love of God!
HINDLEY it's your fault, Nellie. Your fault
entirely. You should have kept me from him. Is he injured?
NELLY Injured! If he's still breathing it's not
thanks to you! If he's not killed he'll be an idiot!
HINDLEY Little darling. Did old Nellie neglect you
then?
NELLY Leave him alone! He hates you! They all hate you! And that's the truth! A happy family you have! And a pretty state you've come to!
HINDLEY And I'll come to a prettier yet!
And as for you, Heathcliff! I'll not murder you tonight. Unless I burn the house down. Which I might!
But keep out of my way!
NELLY Mr. Hindley, for pity's sake!
HINDLEY Pity? What's that to do with anything!
NELLY Have mercy on your soul!
HINDLEY I shall take the greatest delight in sending it to perdition to punish its maker!
The wretched God of hosts!
Here's to damnation!
EXIT HINDLEY
HEATHCLIFF It's a pity he cannot kill himself with
drink.
He's doing his best: but his constitution defies him.
He's strong as an ox!
Where's Cathy?
NELLY Out walking
HEATHCLIFF With that wretch
NELLY With master Edgar, yes.
HEATHCLIFF What does she see in him?
NELLY He's a gentleman. With prospects
HEATHCLIFF And I'm no worse than a dog
NELLY If you must lie in the dog kennel
HEATHCLIFF We used to be happy here. Here and the moor.
Her and me. this was our world.
She has to choose Nelly. Between him and me.
His world and mine.
If she chooses him I'll go away. I'll go away from here for ever.
NELLY Hush!
Enter CATHY. HEATHCLIFF hides
CATHY Are you alone, Nelly?
NELLY Yes miss
CATHY Where's Heathcliff
NELLY In the stable!
CATHY I am so unhappy
NELLY Are you?
CATHY Yes! And that makes you happy!
You're pleased I'm miserable!
NELLY No miss
Silence
CATHY Can you keep a secret Nelly?
NELLY Is it worth keeping?
CATHY It weighs on me and I must let it out!
NELLY Then tell me!
CATHY Today Edgar Linton has asked me to marry
him!
NELLY And?
CATHY I gave him an answer
NELLY And what did you say?
CATHY I won't tell you
NELLY You must
CATHY No. Not until you tell me what it should
have been
NELLY How can I tell?
Besides, after what happened this afternoon, he's a fool to ask you.
CATHY Then I won't tell you
Silence
CATHY Oh Nelly I accepted him
Was I right or wrong?
Tell me!
NELLY There are many things to consider
CATHY Oh Nelly don't be pompous!
What things?
NELLY Do you love him?
CATHY Of course I love him!
Who can help loving him?
NELLY Quite a few people, I imagine.
CATHY Well I love him. Of course I do!
NELLY Why do you love him?
CATHY Because I do!
NELLY You must tell me why.
CATHY Because he loves me.
NELLY Not bad. And?
CATHY Because he is handsome
NELLY Bad
CATHY Because he is pleasant to be with
NELLY Bad
CATHY Because he is rich!
NELLY Worst of all!
But you love him?
CATHY As everyone loves
NELLY But how? How do you love him?
CATHY I love the ground under his feet.
And the air over his head
And everything he touches
And everything he says...
Pause
CATHY Isn't that enough, Nelly?
NELLY No
CATHY I love all his actions. I love him. Entirely
and altogether. There now!
NELLY So you love him, and he loves you, and the marriage will make your brother happy, his parents happy, will take you from a miserable comfortless home to one that is comfortable and rich.
CATHY Yes Nellie. You do understand! I knew you would!
NELLY And Heathcliff?
CATHY Heathcliff has been brought so low it would degrade me to marry him
EXIT HEATHCLIFF, without being seen by CATHY
CATHY Is someone here?
NELLY No. There's no-one here.
CATHY I thought I heard something
NELLY Just the wind. Crying in the thorn tree
CATHY You haven't told me if I'm right!
NELLY All seems easy and smooth.
Where is the obstacle?
CATHY Here! And here!
In my brain. In my heart Wherever my soul lives. I'm convinced I'm wrong.
NELLY How strange!
Silence
CATHY Last night I dreamed I was in heaven.
But it did not seem to be my home.
And I wanted so much to come back to earth
That I broke my heart weeping.
And the angels were so angry that they flung
me out
And I landed on the moor above Wuthering Heights
And I woke up sobbing for joy.
Oh Nellie, I've no more business to marry Edgar Linton than I have to be in heaven.
His soul and mine are so different!
As different as moonbeam and lightning.
Or frost from fire.
But Heathcliff...his and mine are the same.
NELLY When you marry, he'll be the most
unfortunate creature that's ever been born. He'll lose his friend, his love. His everything.
CATHY But he'll not lose me. He'll never lose me.
We can't be separated
NELLY Don't be so sure
CATHY You don't understand.
We can't be separated, nelly.
We can't ever be.
NELLY Then what business have you to marry Linton
CATHY If I marry heathcliff we'll be beggars!
But I marry Linton I can use his money to raise Heathcliff. and get him out of my brother's power
NELLY Miss that's wicked. Miss don't you know the
duties you take on when you marry?
Miss I won't listen to this
CATHY Don't then
NELLY And give me no more secrets!
I can't promise to keep them
CATHY I won't then
But where's Heathcliff?
NELLY Gone
CATHY He'll be out in the stable
NELLY Mistress he told me
CATHY Told you what? Told you what?
Nellie tell me!
NELLY That you had to choose- between him and
Master Edgar- Mistress don't shake me so!
CATHY But he didn't hear me!
He didn't hear me say...
NELLY That marriage to Heathcliff would degrade
you?
Yes. He heard that.
He heard that and he slunk out the door.
CATHY He can't have. He can't have heard that!
NELLY He did mistress
CATHY And it isn't true!
NELLY But you love Master Linton!
CATHY Linton! That creature!
Nelly, my love for Linton is like the leaves in the woods. Time will change it.
When winter comes it will all be gone.
But my love for Heathcliff is like the rocks beneath.
Not a source of any delight, Nelly. Nothing like that.
But necessary. Nelly something necessary. Nelly, I am Heathcliff.
He's always, always in my mind.
Not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself. but as my own being. So don't talk of separation. It can't happen Nelly.
Can it? Tell me it can't happen.
NELLY But I fear it has
CATHY Then I'll run after him! I'll find him!
NELLY Miss you can't!
CATHY I must! We cannot be apart! Don't you
understand?
NELLY All I understand is that if you go out in
that storm you'll catch your death
CATHY Then I'll catch it, Nelly!
I'll run after it and catch it!
Catch Heathcliff! Catch my death!
NELLY No!
CATHY Let me go!
CATHY struggles clear from NELLY and runs out into the storm
CATHY Heathcliff!
Heathcliff! Heathcliff!!
A gigantic crack of thunder. The act ends.