Original subtitles

Master Bartle is indeed a lucky man.

Aye, his wife will be silent at least one day.

A pretty spectacle.

My bosom companion seated in the stocks again.

But it pains me more than thee.

I... But not in the same place.

Ah, here comes your beloved now.

Oh, Bartholomew.

Bartholomew, stand before me, please.

Please stand before me.

Good day, Mistress Abigail.

Good day, Master Bartholomew. And hast thou seen Master Sampson? I'm waiting

here for him.

Oh, look, Mother, Master Sampson's in the stock.

Greetings, Mistress Abigail.

Sit down.

You had better heed the teaching of the Reverend Dimmesdale, or you will end

your days on a scaffold.

Good day.

Good day, mistress.

Can you serve me food and lodging?

Lodging? We have none.

But can you not return later for food?

Even now the bell summons us all to the square.

Is it a feast day?

Have you not heard of the scandal in the master Dimmesdale's church?

From whence came you? From the south, where I was shipwrecked and spent two

weary years.

Among the heathen.

It must gladden your heart to again be in a land where iniquity is searched out

and punished.

Truly.

Even today a gentlewoman is being punished by the magistrate for adultery.

Does her husband accuse her?

Oh, no.

No, she's a widow.

Her husband was a learned doctor.

The plague which was raging in London detained him, so he sent her on ahead.

What happened to him?

He must be at the bottom of the sea, for there have been no tidings from him in

over two years.

Being left to her own misguidance, his wife, Hester Prynne, went astray. Hester

Prynne? She's alive.

A purer creature never lived.

You know her?

Know her? I'm her husband.

Her husband's best friend.

Who accuses her?

Her child.

Is Hester Prynne a child?

Aye, a little girl.

Do you mean Hester Prynne has borne a child in the past two years?

I do.

It would be well for the public if we women had the handling of such fuzzies

as Hester Fred. Well said, good wife.

We would teach her a pretty lesson.

I'm mad to look upon a gentlewoman's shame.

But, Master Dimmesdale, Moses and the law command that such a she be stoned.

Yes, but one greater than Moses said, He that is without sin among you, let him

first cast a stone. Master Dimmesdale, you should not take the sin of one of

your flocks so much to heart.

Governor Bellingham, our Lord did pardon such a one. He said, Go, woman, and sin

no more. Cannot we do as much?

The law would mock itself if pardon did precede the penalty.

A blessing on ye righteous people of the colony of the Massachusetts.

Make way, good people.

Make way in the king's name.

The baggage walks with the dignity of a queen.

Has she no shame?

Peace, peace.

She suffers enough.

Pastor Crinn, you have been found guilty of adultery.

We are loath to invoke the full penalty of the law.

So if you would have us be merciful, reveal the name of him that tempted you.

No.

Master Dillard, as her pastor, you know best what arguments to use to prevail

upon her to speak his name.

It wronged the very nature of woman to force her to lay open her heart's secret

before so great a multitude.

The shame lay in the commission of the sin, not in the showing of it.

Someone must deal with this sinner.

Shall it be you or I?

Poor Master Dimmesdale.

It is a shame that such a scandal should come upon his congregation.

Hester Prynne.

I beg you to speak out the name of your fellow sinner.

Be not silent from any mistaken pity for him, for your silence compels him to add

hypocrisy to sin, though he has not the courage to grasp it for himself.

For the peace of his soul, do not deny him the comfort of an honest confession.

Even though he were to step down from a high place, To share your shame.

Speak, woman, speak!

I! Speak!

Speak! No!

No, never!

I... I wish I could bear his agony as well as mine.

So that all men may know you are guilty of the sin of adultery and shun you as a

thing of evil, it is now ordered that you shall wear upon your bosom for the

rest of your natural life the scarlet letter A.

A wise sentence.

She will be a living sermon against sin.

But she can cover them off with her hair. and have strolled about as bold as

ever. True.

It would be better if they put the brand of the hot iron on her forehead.

That she could not hide.

Let her cover the mark as she will.

The pain of it will always be in her heart.

You should not have come here.

Hester, I cannot keep silent.

I will not see you go through life of that infamous brand while people look

upon me with reverence.

I must reveal myself for what I am.

No, no, Arthur.

It would make my burden only the heavier to see you dishonored. How can I stand

in my pulpit and meet the eyes of the people who are hungry for truth, knowing

in my soul that I am a living lie?

Hester, we must marry.

Think not of us.

Your duty is with the people.

They've entrusted their very souls to your care.

If we destroy their faith, where will they turn?

What will they do?

What can a ruined soul like mine do towards the redemption of other souls?

You have repented.

Your life is not less holy than it appears in their eyes.

To destroy their faith would be a greater sin.

And it would only shatter the love we bear each other.

No, Arthur, it cannot be.

But what is to become of you?

My salvation and yours can come only from heaven.

Our very lives must be a living tenant.

It is God's will.

His will be done.

Bless you, Hester.

And may you find peace.

May you find peace.

Hester. Hester, what's the matter? It's nothing.

It's been such a trying day.

And I'm tired.

Please.

Please leave me.

Your story is a strange one.

Since the divine hand of providence guided you here, I bid you welcome.

Thank you, sire.

sign the record

Who? A doctor of medicine?

Fortunately, it was my skill in that science that won the friendship of the

Indians and enabled me to make my way here.

Well, the colony is indeed fortunate. We have long needed a skilled man of

medicine. Thank you.

Now, where can I find lodging?

The tavern is already filled.

Well, that is indeed a problem.

Oh, Master Dimmersdale.

Master Dimmersdale.

Yes, sir. Reverend Dimmersdale, this is Dr. Roger Chillingwood. I bid you

welcome. Thank you.

Master Dimmersdale, is there not an unoccupied room where you dwell at

Mistress Crackstone's house?

Yes, sir, there is.

I am sure that Mistress Crackstone will be pleased to let you have it.

I'll gladly take you there. Thank you.

It's good to hear that you're a doctor.

Mistress Prynne has suffered much today.

Will you attend her?

As soon as I secure my lodging. It will be an act of kindness.

One that will give me pleasure, indeed.

Yes.

Drink.

I have thought of death, have wished for it, would even have prayed for it were

it fitted such as I should pray for anything.

Yes.

With death be in this cup, I bid you think well before you see me drink it.

Have no fear.

My vengeance is to let you live.

to give you medicines against harm, so that your burning shame

may still blaze against your bosom. I will see your punishment

in the eyes of men and women, yea, even in the eyes of your own

misbegotten child.

So drink.

We have wronged you greatly.

We have wronged each other.

Mine was the first wrong, for thinking that one so young could mate with one as

old as I.

You know, I was frank.

I felt no love for you, nor pretended any.

True. It was my folly and your weakness.

So between you and me, the scale hangs fairly balanced.

But Hester, the man lives who has wronged us both.

Who is he?

That you shall never know.

Never?

If he walk the earth, I'll find him.

If he be in hell, I'll follow him. No, no. The fault is mine. You must not harm

him. Have no fear.

I shall not betray him to the law.

Let him hide himself in outward honor, if he may.

Nonetheless, he shall not escape me.

Roger Prynne, I... Prynne.

Roger Prynne lives no more.

I demand of you that you breathe not to a human soul that you did ever call me

husband. Henceforth, I shall be known as Roger Chillingworth.

Why not announce yourself openly and cast me off at once?

Because I care not for the dishonor that follows the husband of a faithless

woman.

Therefore, let me be known to the world as one already dead.

I will keep your secret.

As you've kept his, I hope.

And now, Hester, I leave you alone.

Alone with your infant and your shame.

It would be easier to take the wheel off if we removed the water casks

Quiet I was about to do so

This

work would go much faster when my help for a man instead of a midget Oh, yea?

Aye.

My name is Samson, and I'm as strong as my name be told.

Sayest thou.

Sayest I.

Couldst thou, unaided, support the cart?

Of a certainty.

Then position thyself.

It takes but a moment.

Is there not a board left?

I have finished, good wife. Use mine.

Oh, thank you.

What is this world coming to? Just look at this.

Only five years old and beginning to wear already.

I think five years' wear is good enough.

That's the trouble with you young folks.

You have no sense of good or bad.

Well said, Mrs. Abigail.

When I was a girl, things were very different. Is this graceful?

Only last week Thomas Cook was seen kissing his wife on the Sabbath.

Oh, is it so sinful to love a wife on the Lord's Day?

For shame.

That's a workaday beauty.

Take heed, young woman, lest you end up like yon miserable sinner.

I always said her punishment was much too light.

that I could employ her to make my wedding garments.

Wedding garments?

It is enough that honest folk let her earn her livelihood with her needle.

But to permit her to sew on wedding garments?

Well, that would be an ill omen.

God the Heavenly Father made all things.

I found the flowers in the field.

Where did you find me?

I found you on a rose bush.

Oh, you run on, dear.

All right.

Look at that child dancing like a heathen. Like mother, like child.

It would be better if that young one were given over to a more God-fearing

woman for training.

Oh, it'll be a pleasure.

It's quite heavy.

Mistress Billings was ill. I did her washing also.

It will take but a moment.

You cannot play with us.

Who did it?

She did it.

You little heathen.

I'll teach you.

Look to your own children, mistress.

My child was not to blame.

Yours is the blame.

If you were an honest, God-fearing woman and brought your child up in a proper

manner, this would never happen.

Say what you will about me. I can tolerate your insult.

But lay not a hand on my child or you will rue it. How dare you speak like

that to me.

If you taught your child its proper place, there would be no trouble.

Because my children know better than to have anything to do with your... rat.

You're a disgrace to the colony.

And your child will end just like you.

It would be a blessing if she were taken away from you... and brought up in a

Christian manner.

Silence, Mrs. Abigail.

I was but telling this woman... Silence, Mrs. Abigail.

You've said enough.

Thank you, Master Dimmesdale.

It is a strange child.

It is easy to see her mother in her.

I wonder if by studying the child... one could learn

who the father might be.

You take the burdens of your flock too much to heart.

Your health... He won't permit it.

It's all right, Roger.

I will be all right.

You love your mother, don't you?

Of course I do.

Well, you would not want to go out and play and leave me all alone, would you?

I like to play too.

Do you, Mother?

Of course I do.

And we'll not let them play with us either, will we?

No. And we'll play soldier too.

Yes.

And I'll be the captain.

His Excellency Governor Bellingham demands your immediate attendance.

Well, what does he want me for?

I do not know. Make haste.

I'll be there as soon as I change my dress.

Very well.

Mr. Prynne.

The point has been discussed whether we do well to trust your child to the

guidance of one who has stumbled and fallen.

The child needs to be instructed in the truths of heaven and earth.

What can you do for her in this way?

I can teach my child what I've learned from this.

Woman... It is because of the stain which that letter indicates we would

transfer the child to other hands.

Nevertheless, this badge has taught me. It daily teaches me lessons whereof my

child may be the wiser and better.

We shall judge for ourselves.

Oh, Master Dimmersdale, examine this child and see whether she has such

training as befits one of her age.

Come here, child.

What's your name?

Perron.

Can you tell me who created you?

Nobody. Mother found me on a rose bush.

This is awful.

We need inquire no further.

For the child's welfare, she shall be taken out of your charge.

No, no, no. She's mine.

God gave her to me in place of all the things he's taken from me. She's my

happiness and my punishment too.

You cannot take her.

My poor woman, the child she'll be well cared for. Far better than you can do

it. God gave her into my keeping and I will not give her up.

You speak for me.

You are my pastor. You know me better than these men. You know what a mother's

rights are. Speak for me.

Don't let them take my baby away.

There is truth in what she says.

God gave her the child, and there is a sacredness in that relation.

Make that plain, Master Dimmersdale.

The Heavenly Father has sent this child as a blessing, and also as a punishment,

a constant reminder of her fall from grace.

This child was meant, above all things else, to keep a mother's soul alive.

for hester prynne's sake then and no less for the poor child's sake let us

leave them as providence has seen fit to place them

you

speak my friend with a strange earnestness

we will leave the matter as it now stands, providing you send the child to

Reverend Dillersdale for proper Christian training.

It shall be done.

Bartholomew, wilt thou please go away?

Ingrate, I am but trying to aid thee.

I've done my courting these past five years without thy aid.

And I do not need it now.

Five years and no progress.

It is well nigh impossible to court a woman with her children always present.

A mere trifle.

Sayest thou.

Sayeth I.

If thou wilt but let me speak for thee, the banns will be posted on tomorrow.

Of a certainty?

Of a certainty.

Remember, I will be the spokesman.

Thou art a friend indeed.

Look to your appearance.

Oh, thank you, Master Bartholomew.

Won't you come in?

Thou art a great aid indeed.

A mere trifle.

Mistress Crackstone, I have come on an affair of the heart.

Won't you sit down, Master Bartholomew?

For well nigh five years...

Didgeridoo?

Humility? Come here.

Study your catechism.

For five years, a man has...

A

rare coincidence.

It is the selfsame courting trumpet my first husband used when he asked me to

marry him.

What did you say?

I said, for well nigh five years, someone has loved thee dearly.

Excellent. Proceed.

I said, he is no

longer content to worship thee in silence.

What did she say?

She said, oh, Master Bartholomew.

I said, has he your permission to speak to you on a question that is close to

his heart?

What did she say?

She said, speak with an open heart.

Here.

She said no.

Good

day,

gentlemen. Good day, doctor.

I see you've been gathering herbs. Just to make medicine for Master Demersdale.

Poor man.

People do say he is much too saintly to remain long on this earth. How is he

today? As well as could be expected.

It is a blessing they dwell together. Only his constant attention sustains the

minister's health.

A touching devotion.

But what is more noble than a loyal friend?

Aye.

What is more no...

Is that you, Roger?

How are you feeling this afternoon?

No better.

Ah, no worse.

Ah, have patience, my friend.

What a peculiar looking herb.

Where did you find it?

In the graveyard.

on a grave that had no market to commemorate the dead man save these

dismal leaves perhaps it grew from his

heart and carries some hideous secret which he had done better to confess

during his lifetime perhaps he earnestly desired it but could not

why not

Some men are kept silent by their very natures.

They shrink from showing their sins to the eyes of man.

Even that is better than to suffer the hellish tortures of a guilty conscience.

Maybe so.

Arthur.

as one in charge of your physical well-being have all your ills been laid

fairly open to me what do you mean why do you ask a bodily

sickness is often but the symptom of a spiritual a love if you would

have me heal the bodily evil you must firstly open the trouble in your soul

if it be the soul's disease

Then I commit myself to the one physician of the soul.

Not to you.

I am sorry.

Forgive me, Arthur.

There is a woman who has none of the misery of a hidden sinfulness.

Is she less miserable, think you, for the scarlet letter on her bosom?

I do believe it.

Is Master Dinnersdale home?

Yes. I brought little Pearl for her lesson in catechism.

Master Demisale?

Yes?

Mistress Prynne has brought the child for her lesson.

Oh, thank you, Abigail.

I leave you with your pupil.

You want to please your mother, do you not?

Yes, Master Dimmesdale.

Come to me, my child.

Now pay heed to what I teach you.

Yes, Master Dimmesdale.

God is the Heavenly Father.

He's the father of all children.

But they have a real father.

I want one too.

If it will make you feel any happier, think of me as your father.

I am as a father to all my flock.

Do you know your letters?

I know that one.

What is it?

It's the great letter A.

How do you know?

Because Mother always wears it here.

Against thee, thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight.

that thou mightest be justified when thou seekest and be clear when thou

judgest behold thou desirest truth in the inward part and in the hidden part

thou shalt make me to know thy wisdom behold i was shapen in iniquity and in

sin did my mother conceive me purge me with hyssop and i shall be clean wash me

and i shall be whiter than snow hide thy face from my sins and blot out all my

iniquity

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from thy presence and take not the Holy Spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of thy love and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Then will I teach transgressors thy way and sinners shall be converted unto

thee.

Deliver me my blood guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation.

And my tongue shall sing aloud as I write it.

O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

For thou desirest not sacrifice, else would I give it.

Thine eyes were closed. I was meditating.

Thinkest thou thou knowest the way to heaven, so well thou couldst find it

with thine eyes closed?

Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion.

Build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of the righteous with burnt

offering and whole burnt offering then shall they offer bullocks upon thine

altar there is one who is ill and not

with us this day so let us pray that sister allerton may soon be well

heavenly father deliver thy child who is ill and not with us this day if it be

thy will to take one of us take me i who wear the black

garments of the priesthood am utterly a pollution and a lie spare this righteous

woman and take me the vilest of sinners and an abomination in thy sight

Let the words of my mouth be acceptable unto thee, O God, my strength and my

redeemer.

An inspired sermon of godly youth. He is indeed a saint. God cannot refuse his

prayers. Mistress Allerton must soon be well.

Yes, indeed.

Good day. Good day.

If our good pastor beholds such sinfulness in his own white soul, what

horrid spectacle would he see in thine?

Or thine.

Yes, dear.

Mother, may I tell Mr. Salatin the minister prayed for her?

Yes, dear. We'll tell her tonight.

It will make her very happy.

It's a wicked night.

Better leave before it's dawn.

I'll not leave you alone.

It won't be for long.

The doctor will soon be here.

But I'll wait till he comes.

Here, drink this. It'll make you strong.

Esther, I have greatly wronged you.

Will you forgive me?

You're looking better this evening.

Prayers are beginning to bear fruit.

There's his prayers and Hester Prim's broth.

It's no miracle I recover.

I hear good tidings of you on all hands.

Only yesterday the council was debating as to whether the scarlet letter should

be taken off your bosom.

Were I worthy to be rid of it, it would fall off of its own nature.

But if it suits you better, then wear it.

Good night, Mr. Salatin.

I will see you tomorrow.

Good night, Mr. Sprint.

We have treated her most unkindly.

No one ever went near her.

Save Master Tennisdale.

And he only went out of duty to herself.

Yes. I am convinced daily.

He has done much for her soul.

Heavenly Father, behold in me a sinner.

I have sinned before heaven and in thy sight.

Esther.

Esther Prynne.

Is that you?

Esther Prynne, is it you?

Yes. Come up.

Come here.

You... You have both been here before.

But I was not with you.

Arthur, have you not found peace?

No, nothing but despair.

But the people reverence you. Does that bring you no comfort?

More misery.

When I look inward and see the black reality of what they idolize, I would

their reverence would turn to scorn and to hatred.

You wrong yourself.

Your sin is left behind you long ago.

The letter A.

Even the heavens proclaim my guilt.

Nothing but the storms.

Come, Arthur, come. You should not stand here.

No.

No, no. Now I stand where I should have stood five years ago.

By your side.

Who's there?

Your good friend, Roger Chillingworth.

How did you know I was here?

I knew nothing of the matter.

I was returning from the bedside of Mistress Allerton.

My good friend, surely the Lord's work does not demand of one even so pious as

you to attend his flock at such an unseemly hour as this.

You must rest.

Else these night whimsies will grow upon you.

Come, let me take you home.

Good day, Mistress Prince.

You sent for me?

Yes.

Run out and play.

Sure,

Mistress Hester has a word for old Roger Chillingworth.

Speak freely and I will answer.

Five years ago, you made me pledge secrecy to the fact that you were my

husband.

In doing so, I was false to the only man to whom I should have been true.

What choice had you?

My finger pointed at this man would have hurled him from his pulpit into a

dungeon. Better it had been so.

What evil have I done the man that he lives at all is owing to me?

You keep him alive only to feed your vengeance.

You burrow and wrinkle in his heart.

You cause him to die daily a living death, and still he knows you not.

Better he had died at once.

Have you not tortured him enough?

No. No!

I live only for that.

Be once more human.

You have it at your will to pardon. Do not reject that privilege.

No, Hester.

Never.

Very well.

Do what you will.

But he shall know you in your true light.

May I not do something for you?

No, no.

I'll be all right.

Just going for my walk.

Mr. Crackstone.

I'm seeking Master Sampson. He said he would be here.

Won't you sit down and wait for him?

What is this?

It's nothing at all.

Nothing at all?

My best friend and the woman I love.

For shame thou snake in the grass.

Oh, be calm, Samson. I can explain.

There is naught to explain.

You know full well it is a sin for a man to behold a woman's nether garment.

Samson. Quiet, woman. Thou hast been dishonored.

If thou hast one spark of manhood in thee, thou wilt marry this woman.

Aye, it would be the honorable thing to do.

But thou lovest her, thou marry her.

After thou hast seen her nether garment.

But

thou

didst see them also.

So I did.

But Master Bartholomew did see them first.

True.

Thou must marry the woman.

I shall ask the Reverend Demersdale to post the banns.

You will have to wait for him. He's gone for his walk in the woods.

I've been looking for you.

Pearl, Pearl, dear, don't go too far.

Anna!

Hester.

Hester, you little know what a relief it is to see you alone.

Had I but one friend, or even an enemy, who knew me for what I am,

my soul might keep itself alive.

But I am that friend, Arthur.

And you have such an enemy under the same roof with you.

An enemy under the same roof?

What do you mean?

Oh, Arthur, forgive me.

Truth was the one virtue to which I held fast.

Except when your good name was questioned.

Then I consented to deception.

I... I must tell you.

That old man, Roger Chillingworth...

With my husband.

I might have known.

The secret was told me in the natural recoil of my heart.

Why didn't you tell me this before?

He pledged me to silence.

Hester, I can bear no more.

You're strong, Hester.

Advise me what to do.

You must dwell no longer with this man.

How can I avoid him?

Does the universe lie within comfort of yonder town?

There's the broad pathway of the sea.

It brought you here. It will bear you back again.

Begin life anew. There's happiness beyond.

No, it cannot be.

I have not the courage to venture into a strange land alone.

You shall not go alone.

Esther. Even now. Even now there's a vessel in the harbor.

It sails the day after election. I will secretly engage passage.

Esther, this is already the new life.

Why didn't we think of it sooner?

Let us not look back.

The pastor's gone.

Hey, boys.

Take on a drink to the governor.

Hey, that one.

Bring a small packet of ale.

Me? I am a most unhappy man.

What? On election day?

Why, this is the time for merrymaking.

Not for me.

He is soon to be married.

Oh, that's a mere trifle.

Why, I've got a wife in every port.

Aye, but thou art a ship's master, and well accustomed to stormy weather.

Mistress Abigail will be angry.

That's for Abigail.

I will be master in my own house.

Sayeth thou.

Sayeth I.

Mother wants you. And if you don't come immediately, she will come and fetch

you.

They're waiting to see the procession pass. There'll be soldiers marching and

drumming.

Good day, mistress.

I've been seeking you.

What is it, Captain?

Everything is in readiness.

A cabin for you, a little girl, and one for the gentleman.

We shall be there. Yes, we're going to sail on the noontide.

And it should be a healthy voyage with the ship surgeon and this other doctor

on board with it. Have you another passenger?

Oh, yes.

I suppose you do.

He said he was one of your party.

Chillingworth's the name.

He says he's a friend of the gentleman you spoke of.

Yes, he knows him.

Well, indeed.

Salamoo? Yes?

Take the children by the hand.

Yes, my love.

is gathered to hear your electrical sermon.

It could be a calamity where their faith could be destroyed.

What do you think they will say on the morrow when they discover that their

saintly pastor

has fled with the woman of the scarlet letter.

My friends will hail.

It is well that I am sailing with you.

Behold in me the one sinner of the world.

At last I stand where I should have stood five years ago by the side of

Hester Prynne. It's not true. It's not true.

He accused himself falsely. His illness has unbalanced his mind. No, no. At last

I see clearly.

You have seen Hester's scarlet letter and shuddered at it.

But there was one among you whose brand of shame you have not seen. Quiet,

madman.

Now, at death's door, I stand before you.

Look again at Hester's scarlet letter.

It is the shadow of what I bear in my own heart.

Stand any here who question God's judgment of a sinner?

Then behold the dreadful witness of it.

Pearl.

Pearl, my child.

Will you kiss me?

Shall we not meet again?

Shall we not spend our immortal lives together?

Look far into eternity with those bright dying eyes and tell me.

What do you see?

Peace, Esther.

Peace.