All language subtitles for The.Scarlet.Letter.1995.720p.BluRay.DD5.1.x264-CRiSC-English

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The Scarlet Letter (1995)

Arthur.

Metacomet, sir,
without your father's friendship,

none of us could have survived
even our first winter.

My father should have let you...

die.

You are...

the only one...

who comes to us...

with an open heart.

But your people...

have murdered... my father...

with their lies.

My name is Pearl.

This is the story
of my mother, Hester Prynne.

It was the year of our Lord 1666...

when she arrived in the
Massachusetts Bay Colony...

filled with hope that here, at last, in
this New World,

would come the freedom to worship
without fear or persecution.

Ah, Stonehall.

My esteemed colleague.

Thy years of toil become thee.

- Thy fame precedes thee, sir.
- Ohh.

Governor Bellingham,

may I present
the Reverend Thomas Cheever.

Welcome, sir. 'Tis a long voyage.

Three months at sea...

will either take away thy faith
or harden it to iron.

Governor Bellingham, allow me to introduce
a young woman who's been traveling with us.

Mistress Hester Prynne.

Oh. I apologize for the coarseness
of my hands, mistress.

But here in the colonies,
everyone must work.

I look forward
to the hard work, Governor.

As we read in Psalms 92, "I will triumph
in the works of Thy hands."

Ah, thou canst quote
the Scriptures.

Aye, Reverend, both testaments.

My husband taught me.

You must rest,
Reverend Cheever, and after,

I look forward to showing you what has been
accomplished.
- Thank you.

- Then 'tis "Goodwife Prynne."
- Yes, yes.

- But I prefer to be called "Hester".
- Welcome, Hester.

I wish I could have seen it when the first
ones came, when it was wild and untouched.

Madam, you would do well here...

to use less lace
in your dressmaking.

Indeed, Reverend.

Master of us all,

we give thanks for
another bountiful meal...

and for the newly arrived
disciples who-

who share it with us this night.

- Amen.
- Amen.

So, Governor, I, for one,
am impatient to know...

how your mission
to Metacomet fared.

Well, Metacomet is not Massasoit,
Major Dunsmuir.

I believe that if we respect
the agreements we made with his father,

we have nothing to fear.

Lest we should grow complacent,

our wise God sends us a sign.

Governor, when we sailed, your letters
assured us we were at peace with the savage.

Well, I feel the days
of the so-called peace...

with the Wampanoags
are at an end.

Major, please, we're...

We are frightening
our new arrival.

We, uh-we hear
much talk at home...

about your success
with the Praying Indians.

I must say, I'm very eager to meet your
Reverend Dimmesdale and his converts.

The runts of the litter.

Dimmesdale's little treasures.

Some of us have other opinions.

Mistress Prynne, I hope you will be
staying with us here...

until your husband's arrival.

You're most kind,
Mistress Stonehall,

but I intend to find a house
of my own as soon as possible.

- On thine own?
- Why, yes.

'Tis not considered fitting for
a young woman to live alone here.

But my husband has sent me on ahead
to prepare a place for his arrival,

so that is what I intend to do.

Mistress Prynne, the rules we live by
might seem arbitrary...

to a newcomer,

but we have learnt the hard way that
without absolute order in all matters,

we cannot hope to survive here.

Rules, Mistress Prynne.

Order. Survival.

Would you have me
disobey my husband?

- I wou-
- Reverend Cheever,

you might enjoy the company
of my son, Brewster.

He studied divinity at college.

Harvard wasn't good enough for him,

so he came back home
to make his fortune-

A flock of ministers' sons all moaning
the Lord's P-Prayer in their sleep.

Everybody must find his own niche.

- Morning, Mistress Prynne.
- Good morrow.

So you've come among us intent
on scandalizing the town, do you?

Giddap.

Good.

I confess, I'm tired of being alone...

in a sea of yea-sayers.

Ha! Where shall we
begin our search?

On the cliffs by the sea.

No. It's out of the question.

- Why?
- No one's lived by the sea...

since the Indians wiped out
Ballinger's Point.

I say we start there first.

Well, if you've a mind to,
Mistress Prynne.

Oh, Brewster, is that it?

Oh, it's beautiful!

I struggle to imagine
what her life was...

before she came to the New World.

Why did her husband
send her on ahead... alone?

Was it a test of her loyalty
or her spirit?

Or was it an aspect of his nature
to set traps for people...

in the hope that they
would fall into them?

It's perfect!

With a cart and a good musket,
I could have a home here.

Cart, horse, pitchfork, plow.

I could think of so many better
things to do with these pretty hands...

than grow calluses on them.

I'll need indentured labor;
At least two men.

- The land will need draining-
- You are headstrong, Mistress Prynne.

Perhaps it runs in the blood.

I'm told your father
was of the same temperament.

Is it true...

he was in debt t-to your husband
and you were made the p-payment?

Ah, I've said something
to disturb you.

I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry.

God, thou art wondrous fair.

That hurt!

Good. It will remind you
not to do that again.

Faith! Prudence!

Did you hear?
That Mistress Prynne has a bathing tub.

What is she, French?

Two. Will you bid two shillings?

Will you bid two? Two-and-a-half.

Come on, gentlemen.
Will you bid two-and-a-half shillings?

Going up to three shillings.
Do I have a bid for three shillings?

Three shillings,
three shillings!

Any more now? Anyone else?

Going for three shillings.
Any other bids?

All done now! Sold to the gentleman
for three shillings.

Next we have this other one-
Whose two.

- How much time left on their indenture?
- 'Bout three years.

But, huh, shouldn't your husband
or your father...

be doing business
with me here, mistress?

Is my money no good to you, sir?

Oh, your money's fine
as wine in the sunshine, mistress.

If you buy them at a just price, I'll throw
in this little girl with the red kerchief.

She's a slave.

Ah, but she don't speak,
if that be a problem. Born that way.

Name your just price.

We best accompany ye if you're
going into the forest, missus.

Don't worry, Mr. Bobbin.
I shan't go far.

Mistress Prynne! Mistress Prynne!

- Where are you?
- Mistress Prynne, where are you?

I found her! I found her!

- You did not!
- I did too!

- You did not.
- Did too.

Mistress Prynne,

has thou forgotten
it is the Sabbath?

Of course not. Forgive me.

We have come by especially
to bring you to church.

Thank you so much.

Please, go on without me
and I will follow at once.

- Make haste.
- Yes, sir.

All right, girl.

Come on.

Goodness.

Back up. Back up. All right, then.
Come on. Back up.

Come on. Come on, now. Back up.

Good morrow.

May I be of assistance?

Not from up there.

Come on.

Come on. Steady. Steady.

Can't seem to make
this horse understand me.

Here. Let me try.

Come on, girl. Come on.

Come on. Back up!

Come on! Come on.

Come on, girl. Come on.

I'm afraid you're in too deep.

She'll not make it.
Now let me try this.

I do hope you can get it free.

I'm already late for the service, and
as it is, everyone's talking about me.

I've been away and
I'm quite behind on the local gossip.

I bought the old Newberry place
out on Ballinger's Point.

Then I... I owe you an apology.

I've been trespassing.

There's a place at the Point
where I like to bathe.

Really? Well, I shan't charge
too steep a tariff.

Come on, girl. Back up.

Oh, back up.

One, two-

Two, three.

I'm afraid this cart will be
stuck here until Sabbath next...

unless I can gather
some hands to help.

Would you care to ride with me?

On your horse with you?

Aye. Unless you can ride.

I can ride.

You take my horse,
and I'll take yours.

There's a, a shorter cut to the meeting
house, but it's difficult ground.

I shall manage, sir.

Are you certain?

Just you lead the way.

Come on! Come on!

Come on! Come on.

May God be with you.

I'm sure He already is.

But aren't you coming to the-

Good Sabbath to you all.

Friends and fellow voyagers...

in the greatest of all dreams,

we have been singled out
like Israel of old...

to serve as a model.

But if we are to succeed...

in building our new Jerusalem,

our city on a hill,

then the power of love,

yea, His divine love,
must bind our hearts as one.

English and Indian,

gentry and indentured,
free man and slave.

And make of us an example...

for all the world
to marvel at and proclaim,

"Here...

"is the measure of perfection.

"Here...

"lives Gods own."

But we are not succeeding
in that test.

We are failing in that test.
And why?

Because we covet, nay,

we lust after what is not ours,

be it the rich land
of our Indian brothers,

be it for glory,

for profit or for revenge.

Need I read the secrets
of every heart?

Yea, I will if you want.

- Yea, I will if you want.
- I will lay open thy secrets...

- before the eyes of God.
- I will lay open thy secrets...

before the eyes of God!

"Whatsoever thou lusteth after
is Mine enemy, " sayeth the Lord God,

"for only I shall consume thee;
Only I shall fill thee up.

"If thou failest to heed
My commandments,

"then My fist
shall descend on thee...

"like a stone.

"And My sword shall cut thee
into bloody parts.

"And even thy memory shall be
sacrificed to the winds...

for all time."

May God bless you,

each and every one of you.

- Amen.
- Amen.

Arthur, allow me to present
a newcomer to our congregation,

Mistress Roger Prynne.

Mistress Roger... - Aye, her husband,
a most renowned physician,

will be joining her... Reverend
Dimmesdale and I have already...

I helped Mistress Prynne.
Her cart got stuck in the woods.

I greatly enjoyed your sermon.

It's rare for a man so young
to speak with such force of passion.

Well, for some reason, I...
I felt most inspired today.

We welcome you and your husband...
to our congregation.

Mother! Father! Can we play?

Ah, there you are, Hester.

Meet my friend Running Moose.
He's our schoolmaster.

- And I'm sure you'd like some refreshment.
- Why, yes.

Do you teach the English children
as well, Mr. Running Moose?

They call me John or Johnny
here in town.

We try our best, but the English
are a bit slow-witted.

- Slow-witted?
- Johnny's a bit of a jester,

- but he was our first Praying Indian.
- Ahh.

Ah, my best friend
in the colony.

- Arthur, this is Mistress...
- Yes, we've already met.

Excuse me.

So like home.

And yet beyond those trees,
I suspect a savage land...

- of savage passions.
- All right?

Dark and untamed.

Oh, Reverend Dimmesdale,
have you met our young friend?

Yes, we did. - Yes, Mistress Prynne
and I traveled on the same ship.

- I'm going to marry him one day.
- No, you're not!

I'm going to marry him, aren't I,
Mistress Prynne? - Marry whom?

Rev. Dimmesdale, of course.

Short Description of the
Great and Last judgment. Hmm.

Oh, well.
A Platform for Church Discipline.

Oh, they're all tracts.

- The Good Wife's Manual...
- Manual for Animal Husbandry.

I believe we've already met.

Uh, yes. I-I'm sorry.
I- I didn't realize-

No, no, no. I should've
announced my presence.

Wh-What are you reading?

- Uh, Camus. It's by John Mil-
- John Milton.

- Yes, I know. I-I've read it.
- Have you?

Well, I'm not all
counterpanes and coverlets.

In every spare moment,
I am reading something.

I'm the same.

I've read every book in this room,
some of them several times.

Even The Good Wife's Manual
for Animal Husbandry?

A most exhilarating read.

So... did you
truly enjoy my sermon?

Oh, yes. It was most skillful. Clearly
your congregation reverences you.

Obviously we don't come up to your London
standards here on the outskirts of the world.

On the contrary, I was moved
by your passion, as I've said and-

And?

Uh, well.

When your fist
struck your hand...

and sliced through the air
like a sword,

I found myself wondering...

what manner of pain lay
beneath such forceful oratory.

Your tongue knows no rules,
Mistress Prynne.

And if it did, Reverend,
what purpose would it serve?

And here I thought comprehending God
was going to be my greatest challenge.

Yes, Reverend?

This morning in the forest, why did you
not say that you were married?

Why did you not say
you were a minister?

Good day, Mistress Prynne.

Good morrow, Mistress Prynne!

- Good morrow.
- Do you care for a cup of cider?

We are your neighbors, it seems.

Did you like the sermon
this morning?

From where I sat,
it seemed it did please thee.

I liked it very much.

- I thought the young minister very-
- Handsome?

Harriet Hibbons.

Ruth?

How do you do?

Come and meet some of the others
who were not invited...

to the governor's little shindig.

Sally Short, Mistress Prynne.

- How do you do?
- I was on the dock when you arrived.

Mary Rollings.

Uh, Mary don't like
to speak too much.

She's only been free
from the savages this half year.

And Matona, she don't trust
the English, do you, dear?

Mistress Prynne.

Thank you, no. I never imbibe.

I see you've gathered
some fine balm of Gilead,

shepherd's purse, yarrow.

You know your simples?

Oh, I can recite
Culpeper by heart.

Really?

What simples would you use
to heal a bad burn?

Well, I have seen sweet fern
work miracles,

but Culpeper suggests
blackberry and red cedar.

Well, you hear that?

Well, I feel quite fortunate.

My husband has a very large library,
and I was able to school myself.

How do you like our new Jerusalem?

Sober enough for you?

Aye.

Sober enough.

What I miss is the dancing.

- Dancing?
- When first we came,

we'd dance around the maypole.

Feast days, we'd sing bawdy songs.

People weren't afraid
to play the fool.

We'd teach the bears to dance.

Nowadays everybody's getting
more sour-faced and ponderous.

And a whipping post stands
where the maypole used to be.

Well, there be a few of us who haven't
forgotten how to laugh, eh, girl?

It's been such a pleasure
meeting you all.

I'm sorry I must take my leave,
but I best be on my way.

I would not want to be stuck
in the wilds at night.

How strange that sounds to me.

The wilds at night
are my natural territory,

particularly when
there's a full moon.

Do you try to frighten me
with this witch talk?

Not so, Mistress Prynne.

But I can see
what others cannot.

It be a curse, to be sure,

but I know the hearts of men.

And what does my heart tell you?

You're a most comely woman,
Mistress Prynne.

But let a man tremble
who wins the hand of a maid,

but possesses not
the full passion of her heart.

My husband has nothing to fear.

Good day, Mistress Hibbons.

Good day, Mistress Prynne.

Oh, good day, Goody Gotwick.

I've brought these
for Rev. Dimmesdale.

The Reverend be occupied
with his work, missus.

Leave them books on that table.
I'll be sure he gets them.

Good morrow,
Reverend Dimmesdale.

Oh, good morrow, Mistress Prynne.

Knowing how you hunger
for new reading,

I've brought you some books
from my husband's library.

Hmm. How courteous of you.

Please.

I must apologize for my
forthrightness on Sabbath last.

I've earned more than a few reprimands
in my life for speaking too bluntly.

Well, I owe an apology too.

Um, I-I can't understand
why I took such offense...

to such an innocent comment.

I- I have wondered...

how you were able to, uh,

see so deeply...

into my nature.

Perhaps I'm a witch.

I must be keeping you
from your chores.

Oh. There. Thank you
for the books, Mistress Prynne.

Good day. Oh.

I'm sorry.
My hands are covered in ink.

I've been, uh,

hovered over my translations all day.

- Translations?
- Aye.

I'm attempting to, um.

Translate the Bible into the local
Indian language, Algonquin.

What an ambitious undertaking.

But I'm told the Indians
don't want to be guided by our Bible,

that war with them is inevitable.

Some think that way,
but they're wrong.

It's just that the Indians, having been
born from a certain liberty,

they take not easily
to the bridle and bit.

No man should.

Yes.

What? What?

You keep putting ink
on your face.

I do? I'm sor-

There you are.

I do hope you enjoy the books.

Uh, d-Thank you.

Good day.

Mituba.

'Tis only a bathing tub,
not a toy of Satan.

Mistress Prynne.

Reverend Dimmesdale.

You frightened me.

Uh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.

No. It's a wonderful surprise.

- It's beautiful.
- Ah, yes, and frightening.

Just as Eden must have been.

So untouched.

Does it not cry out
with its promise...

that here everything
can begin anew?

I brought back your books.

You couldn't have read
them all in four days.

No, I did. I did.
I read most of them twice.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Farewell.

Hester,
I- I'm not the man I seem.

I've lived in this township
my whole life,

my purpose clear.

But now I would risk everything-
my life, my ministry, my soul-

just to spend a few moments
alone with you.

God help me, Hester,
I love thee.

God help me, I love thee too.

Oh, God, have we lost our way?

No.

I dreamed of thee
speaking thy heart.

I have prayed for it
even as I have dreaded it.

Was I alive
before I laid eyes on thee?

What shall we do?

I know not.

Say something to end it,
for I-I have not the power.

Nor I.

Nay.

We could be hanged for this.

I- I've put you
in too much danger.

And I must end it by walking away now
and never speaking with you again.

Go, then.

Do as you promised.

Throughout the long summer,
Mistress Prynne and Reverend Dimmesdale...

avoided each other at all costs.

Mistress Prynne
rarely ventured into town...

and the Reverend escaped
into the wilds with only the Indians...

and the faithful Johnny Sassamon
for company.

And so the colony held
its annual election day as usual,

no one the wiser that
there existed among them...

two hearts struggling
against a love...

- that grew stronger with each passing day.
- Company, halt!

Johnny Sassamon, Reverend,
Intrepid.

What's he saying, Arthur?

The Tarrantines attacked
an English ship,

the Intrepid.

All were massacred.

Prynne.

Dr. Roger Prynne.

Mistress Prynne.

Uh, I'm here as your minister.

Come in.

There was an attack,
an Indian attack,

on one of our ships.

They say that, uh.

All aboard were massacred.

I regret to be the-
the one to bring you this sad news.

- I'll-I'll leave you to your mourning.
- No.

Are you absolutely
certain none survived?

They say that the tide
washed away the bodies.

Oh, God forgive me.

- I have prayed for so long to be set free.
- No.

You did not cause
his death, Hester.

God took your husband.

Yes, but was it in answer to my prayers?
Does He work like that?

Perhaps.

If, in His eyes, there was no other way
that we could be together.

I must know what the law is.

The period of mourning-
How long must one wait?

One month, six months, what?

Well, in cases where there's
no absolute proof of death,

seven years must pass before
we are free to be seen in public.

Seven years?

Aye.

Release me or the army will follow.

Were the Indians cruel to you, Mary?

After my little one died,

they treated me real fair and square.

If truth be told,

what's cruel is how ye folks
have treated me since I come home.

I didn't do nothin'
that wasn't forced upon me.

Just the thought of
being taken by a savage...

makes me sick to my stomach.

Well, they do it
on the backs of their horses,

riding lickety-split
across the land.

Hester, you all right?

Yes, I'm well. Just tired.

Mary's right.

You call them savages?

I could tell you a thing or two
about your late husband...

before he tied the knot with you.

You stupid slut.

Harold would never have
had nothin' to do with no whore.

Oh, you think not?

I've even seen one of
your windy ministers...

pokin' an in jun girl.

And standin' on a Bible
so he could roger her better.

They always said the Scriptures
should uplift you.

I refuse to be in the same room
with those who would mock the Holy Book.

Well, well.

- She'll not be coming back soon.
- Good riddance to her.

We Quakers believe that the Scriptures
be not religion in itself,

but only the ceremony
and history of it.

I agree.

For are not the laws of men
but the imagination of mortals...

and our inner spirit
the true voice from heaven?

Hester, I pray you're not suggesting
you talk directly to-

to the Deity?

Don't you know that only
well-paid Bible-thumpers can do that?

Have a care, child,

or they'll be talking of thee
the way they talk of me.

Well, I know some consider it blasphemous
to say this, but I do talk to God.

I have since I was
a small child.

And He answers me.

Mrs. Roger Prynne.

By order of the governor of
the Massachusetts Bay Colony,

you are ordered to appear
before the elders and magistrates...

at 8:00 tomorrow morn.

Do not be tardy.

Mistress Prynne, these gentlemen
lay a charge of heresy against you.

Did you tell the others that the laws of
men are but the imagination of mortals?

It is the meetings you call heresy?

Lascivious talk
of fornication with savages;

Fallen women telling blasphemous lies
about good citizens.

This is what comes when there is
no qualified man present...

to guide these women in
their untutored chatterings.

Sir, if the discourse of women
is "untutored chatterings, "

why then does the Bible tell us that
women shall be the teachers of women?

Hester, we ask that
you cease these meetings.

- No, sirs, I will not stop the meetings.
- Arthur. Please join us.

I've just returned
from fishing, sir.

You may thank me to remain where I am.

- Very well. Be seated.
- Let's call our first witness.

Is it truly of import?

Yes. Yes, it is of great consequence.

Very well. Call your witnesses.

Goody Gotwick.

Stand up, please, Goody.

Now, you revealed to my wife
something most disturbing.

Tell me,
what does it mean when...

a woman...

vomits... in the morning hours,

and vomits on more than one occasion
in the morning hours?

I only saw her the one time.

Yes? And?

Um, twas Goody Mortimer
saw her get sick in the market.

Are you with child, Mistress?

Answer your betters, woman!

Do you carry a bastard child
in your womb?

Yes.

Who is the father?

You are an innocent next to the one
who would hide behind your skirts.

We would hang that fornicator
by the neck.

I will not reveal the name, sir.

I will tell you his name.

His name is Lucifer.

His name is Lust.

His name is Legion!

Gentlemen.

Gentlemen, what do you hope
to accomplish with this?

You know very well there's no law against
pregnancy. - But there is against adultery.

It would only be adultery
if her husband would prove to be alive.

"Answer your betters, woman!

"Are you carrying a bastard child?"

We could incarcerate her under adultery,
and the meetings will stop.

Governor, if you knew
the name of this man,

would you still place
Hester Prynne behind bars?

- Has she confessed the name to you?
- I've confessed nothing.

- He knows nothing of my personal affairs!
- Give us the truth!

He speaks as my pastor
to spare me your harsh hand,

but I fear not your punishments.

I love and honor the man
who has fathered this child.

And say what you will,

he is my true husband for life,

and I shall furnish you with no
information which might cause him harm.

Very well, Mistress,
you leave me no choice.

You are under arrest.

It's Hester!

God forgives you!

And there's your new Jerusalem!

Just let me have a moment alone
with the woman, man!

I'm sure I'd draw
the name from her.

Very well, Arthur.
You shall have your chance, I promise.

Gentlemen!

I have considered all the arguments
and I have decided...

that Arthur must be allowed to speak to
Mistress Prynne alone. - No, no, no.

Hester Prynne, place your hand
on the good book...

and let us pray.

Let us pray.

Why did you not tell me?

I was afraid.

I thought if I worked hard
I would miscarry.

I must go to Bellingham
with the truth.

No, you must not. You are a saint
to these people; They will hang you-

Then I must hang than to allow you
to suffer in my stead.

They've no case against me.
When they're tired of making
their point, they'll release me.

Hester, I know Stonehall.

You've challenged him,

and he will not release you until you
are humbled and have recanted your sins.

Do you believe we've sinned?

Uh... I know not.

What happened between us
had a consecration of its own.

- We felt it so. Have you forgotten?
- I've not forgotten!

Oh, Arthur, I know
you want to speak out.

Everything in your nature
cries out for it.

But you risk your own ruin and deny me
my right to stand up to this hypocrisy.

Soldier!

If I need you to speak,

I will tie this handkerchief
from the window.

I love thee, woman.

But your strength frightens me.

I'll do what you ask.

Amen.

God be with you, Hester Prynne.

I'm sure He already is.

Gentlemen, Mistress Prynne...

has been in that place
for over five months...

without any legal justification.

Even in backward Plymouth they regard
our treatment of this woman as barbaric!

I would like nothing more than
to free her, Arthur.

At home I receive
no peace on this issue.

The people have watched us go to
her week after week, caps in hand,
only to be turned away.

The woman is unbending,
unrepentant.

She is very fortunate we have not
had her beaten publicly.

I'm surprised at you, Rev. Cheever;
You came here a man of reason.

I came here, sir, expecting to find
some semblance of order.

Instead I find
a den of factiousness.

Now, sir, if you do not
stem this dissent,

my wife and I have decided
to return to England...

and to take all
our parishioners with us.

If only she would give us
a small sign of contrition, Arthur.

Had it been up to him,
my father would have ended it...

and revealed
the truth of my origins.

- No visitors!
- Stand aside!

But, bound by my mother's wish, he could not.
- This is an innocent woman!

No visitors!

- This is an abomination!

He went every day to see her:
Every day he was refused.

His eye ever on that window...

for her sign that it was time
for him to come forward with the truth.

Had there been flashes of Prynne's
unstable nature before in England,

no one knows.

But now,
freed from Puritan society,

he was with increasing regularity
seized by spirits so powerful...

they were terrifying
even to the Indians.

Forgive me, Lord,

for I have turned from Thee,
my heavenly Father.

Forgive me.

Bring me back to Thy bosom.

God's teeth, child,
how could they leave you thus?

Oh, Harriet,
thank God you're here.

Six months and not one visitor.

Now, now, some of us came, my dear,
but we were turned away.

That slave of yours came every day.
How quick are the pains?

They're not stopping.

Here, now. Take a sip of this.

I warrant you won't refuse
my cider this time.

Rev. Dimmesdale tried all ways to get
you set at liberty. -

- Another?
- Yes.

All right, my dear.
There, now, breathe deep, breathe deep.

I'm here. Hold onto me. Good girl.
Easy, easy. -

Now, let me see. Let me see.

All�s well.
All�s as it should be, now. It's close.

It's very close.
Come, my dear, it's time.

Up you sit. There's a good girl.

Move down a little. Good.

Now this child is ready to be born.
We've work to do.

There.

I did not think they'd
keep me here so long.

Oh. Well, I'll say this:

You must have a will of iron.

But when you take on the men,
it be to the death.

- Oh! Easy!
- All right, my dear.

Now, now, breathe deep.
Chin down.

Bear down hard.

More. And harder. Good girl!

Good girl. Good.
That's it, that's it.

Easy, easy. Easy, easy.

- Good, good.
- Ohh! Ohhh.

Are you sure God's not punishing me?

To be sure,
He's punishing you, woman.

He be giving you a child.

- It's coming!
- Now, gently, gently.

- The head is coming I see it.
- Ohh! Yes! Yes!

The head is through!

Now, easy, easy. Easy.

We've got the shoulders!

- Ohh! Yes! Yes!
- She's here!

Ohh, thank you, God.

Oh, yes.

Oh, little Pearl.

Yes. Yes, my-

She's here.

Oh, she's here.

Sit there, Mistress.

Proceed, Reverend.

I shall have them fetch fresh clothes
for you and the baby.

I bring good news.

I have prevailed
upon the governor.

You are to be freed.

But by law...

you will be brought
to the scaffold...

for reprimand.

Hester,

whatever is said,

please... be as contrite
as your conscience will permit.

If not for my sake,
then for the babe's.

I beg you,
do not anger them any furth-

I come to baptize the babe.

I have died not seeing you.

I came every day.

I baptize this child...

Pearl.

In the name of the Father...

and the Son...

and the Holy Ghost.

May the Lord bless thee...

and care for thee...

and watch over thee.

Amen.

Freeing this woman...

will be an invitation
to every wife to defy her husband;

Every child its parent.

No, no, she should be released.

What?

Horace,
you don't put her in the prison.

You put the prison in her...

so that each time
someone sets eyes on her,

her sin will be marked
into her soul afresh.

Cunningly contrived, my dear.

Make way in the king's name.

Our blessing on the righteous colony
of Massachusetts...

where iniquity is dragged
into the sunlight.

Know, all men, by these present,

that Mistress Roger Prynne...

has been ordered
to bear punishment...

for the crimes of
fornication and adultery.

You bring shame upon
this good community!

If it be determined at a later date
that her husband be still alive,

she may face
a more severe penalty,

which is to be hanged
by the neck until dead.

Pray, silence...

for His Excellency the Governor!

Hester Prynne,

though you show no modesty
in your apparel,

yet you have a chance still
to repent your sins.

Yes, Hester, repent!

Child, do you not believe
that you have sinned?

I believe I have sinned
in your eyes.

But who's to know
if God shares your views?

Woman, transgress not against
the limits of heaven's mercy. -

Good Master Dimmesdale,
you are her pastor.

Speak to her, for all our sakes!

Soften her, her hardness,
her obstinacy!

' Speak!
' Speak!

Listen to the reverend!

Speak to the woman, my brother.

Exhort her to confess the truth.

Hester Prynne,

you hear what
these good men say...

and you can see the accountability
under which I labor.

For your soul�s peace,

I charge thee,

speak out the name...

of your fellow sinner.

Be not silent...

from some mistaken pity
or tenderness for him.

For, believe me, if he could
step down from a high place...

and stand there beside you
on your pedestal of shame,

it would be better...

than to carry a guilty heart
through life.

What can your silence
do for him...

except to tempt him,

compel him, as it were,

to add hypocrisy to sin?

Speak.

She will not speak.

In the name of the Lord, name him!
Name him!

- Speak! Speak!
- What is his name?

Who might he be?

Very well. Beadle.

Mistress,
if you do not speak out the name,

you must wear
upon your bodice...

this symbol of
your sinful fornication.

Heed not this final warning...

and from this day forward
you will be a pariah,

cut off, shunned and reviled by every
man, woman and child in this town.

Why do you wait? Put it on.

For 'tis not a badge of my shame,
but your own.

Unrepentant whore!

Now is she without...

What do you want?

Have I changed so much, my beloved,
that you would slay me...

even as I resurrect myself
from the dead?

Roger?

Hester.

Was I ever unkind to you?

Did I not love thee?

Did I not set thee
above all womankind?

Are you not bound to me
by sacred oath?

Or has this new land
turned thee into a heathen?

Lay down our bed,
wilt thou, wife?

Pray for thy sins,
Hester Prynne.

Beg the Lord to
forgive thy corruption.

Pray, and I will wash thee
white as snow.

White as snow, my love.

Oh, yes. White as snow.

White as snow.

Arthur!

Hester!

- Oh, thank God you're here.
- Hester, why are you taking this risk?

I had to warn you; My husband-

Oh, Arthur, he's alive.

Oh, dear God.

Alive?

Now we will hang for certain.

Why would your husband show up at this very
moment if he was not God's dark messenger...

sent to punish us?

Arthur, you must leave
this place without us.

Please. I cannot bear to see you trapped
here under his watchful eye forever.

Hester, I cannot leave. I must
stay and watch over you and Pearl.

No! You don't know him.

He will wait for us
to betray each other...

with the slightest glance
or the merest gesture.

Please, you must go.

This is God's punishment...

because we tried to run
from His will.

I will not say farewell, Hester,

for God will watch over you.

And so will I.

Kiss Pearl for me...

each night.

'Tis easy to see
the mother's part in her.

Is it beyond
the philosopher's research, I wonder,

to analyze her nature...

and from its make and mold to give
a shrewd guess as to the father?

What are your expectations, sir?

I do not expect your heart
to return to me quickly,

but I hope one day you will draw me again
into your heart's innermost chambers.

God help me, love has forced
my heart to open to another.

Watch your tongue, woman.

It is this phantom lover
who puts these words into your mouth.

Where is he, woman? Is his kiss
still wet on your lips, on your breast?

I demand to know! - If I could spend
six months in a cold jail...

and not tell those iron men,

what makes you think
I will tell you now?

I have grown strong through these trials,
sir, and I am not the child you married!

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

No. No.

I seek no vengeance
against you, child.

But the man lives
who has wronged us both.

He bears no letter of infamy
wrought into his garment,

but I shall read it...
on his heart.

Breathe one word to him
of my true identity...

and you will both hang.

And if you're foolish enough
to attempt an escape,

you'll be easily tracked
and found. Easily.

From the savages...

I have learned patience,
Hester Prynne.

Mmm. Goody Gotwick, thank you.

Reverend Dimmesdale, allow me
to introduce our newest boarder,

- Dr. Chilling-
- Chillingworth.

- Chillingworth.
- Yes. Yes.

Good day, Reverend.

- Good day, sir.
- Mmm.

What, uh, brings you
to our colony, Doctor?

I'm a physician, sir, that would
cleanse the ills of the community.

Have I said something strange?

N- No. No, it's just, uh-

Oh, I'm amazed.

We have prayed...

for a skilled physician.

I see you're translating
the Bible into Algonquin.

A most difficult tongue
to master.

If I can be of help, Reverend,

I am quite fluent in Algonquin.

Uh, fluent?

Oh, yes. I was a prisoner
of the Tarrantine.

When I spoke improperly,
I was whipped.

To be certain,
I learned quite rapidly.

How were you captured?

I was working my farm
in Virginia.

They came, they killed
my wife Eleanor, God rest her soul,

and our infant son,

and sold me into captivity.

Well, uh-

Well, it's a wonder that you're not
consumed with, uh, bitterness and despair.

No, no, no. In truth, sir,
I am in debt to the Indians.

Some say they are savages,

but I find true savagery
to reside...

elsewhere.

Mrs. Roger Prynne.

Mistress Prynne.

And what is your duty, boy?

To follow you around
in every public place, Mistress.

Well, at least
they'll make a path for me.

- Whore!
- God will punish you, sinner!

JezebeH

You're not welcome here!

Begone, Hester Prynne!

She's a whore!

Soap, please. Three pieces.

Although he wore
no outward symbol of his shame,

my father bore his own scarlet letter
on the very bosom of his soul.

The pain of their separation
must have affected us all,

for I was indeed
a troublesome child.

His heart aching for my mother,

my father sought to fill his loneliness
in the wilds with Johnny...

as they struggled
to keep alive their dream...

of building a bridge
between the English and the Indians.

Johnny, why are they
so close to town?

They say that our people
have fallen asleep,

so they must remain
awake for all of us.

I'm worried, Arthur.

Is war coming?

The great experiment
is not working, is it?

Yes, he's right.

If there is a war, how do we stop
our Praying Indians...

from rising up and
slitting our throats as we sleep?

Faith, Thomas, faith.

I know what will stop them.

Arthur's friendship
with Johnny Sassamon.

Johnny would never betray Arthur.

He worships him
as Peter worshipped Jesus.

Gentlemen. Doctor.

If there is a true war,
God help us all,

because neither we
nor the savages will survive it.

I see the governor has less of
an appreciation for signs than ye,

his Godly advisors.

It is not always easy.

Strangely, the same thing
happened in Virginia.

Before the attack,

there were signs
that went unheeded.

Oh? And what manner of signs?

The bad winter;
The crop failures;

Far too many Quakers
and foreigners in the town;

Some minor elements of witchcraft,
et cetera, et cetera.

Exactly. Exactly.

Our first sign was that matter
of Hester Prynne...

and her women's meetings.

And after that, the severe winter,
the failed crops.

You see. Sir.

My colleague has feared from the start
that in the matter of Mistress Prynne,

witchcraft was involved.

Mmm. Then why, in all this time,

have you not taken the proper measures
to cleanse your colony?

What measures
do you speak of, sir?

Did you examine the women present
at those meetings?

Have you queried the midwife...

or inspected the child
for the witch's marks?

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of
the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil.

"For Thou art with me; Thy rod
and Thy staff, they comfort me.

"Thou preparest a table before me
in the presence of mine enemies.

"Thou anointeth my head with oil;
My cup runneth over.

"Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me all the days of my life.

"I will dwell in the house
of the Lord forever."

The babe's clean at present.

Mistress, we shall leave
your child with you for the present.

But you must assure us
it will be raised a Christian.

Yes, yes. Ooh.

Yes. Yes.

Yes.

I've been your friend today, child,
but it cannot always be so.

No.

For inside me, I grow
more wretched by the day.

I yearn so much for thee.

And I fear I might destroy
the whole world to win thee back.

Come now and tell old Harriet
what's troubling you.

I never imagined...

how cruel and cunning
their punishment could be.

Stonehall and Cheever stopping
to preach at me on the streets.

The people pointing
and shouting,

even the children.

And that horrible drummer boy
following me everywhere.

Perhaps it was all for naught.

I wonder if existence as a woman
is worthwhile at all,

even for the happiest of women.

Courage, child.

Take heart. At least you've known
what it is to love.

But what if I've repaid that love
by destroying him?

What if...

everything I believed
so strongly was a lie,

vain and selfish?

Prynne's punishments
were succeeding in their cruel work.

The seasons ran their course.

The distance between them
was impassable.

My mother took the terrible risk
of writing to my father,

reminding him to hold steadfast
in their love and keep his silence,

aware that Prynne's subtle
but constant presence...

was causing an inner torment
that threatened my father's very soul.

As for Prynne, his lust for revenge
began to feed on itself,

so that he hungered for more.

Good morrow, Mituba.

What a pleasant day for a ride.

Oh, Mituba.

You're renowned in town for your loyalty
to your mistress, and now I see why.

Was your dry lunch
a communication from her lover?

You know, I have the power to arrest
you as an accomplice to adultery...

and bring you before
the magistrates for questioning.

And since you are a slave,
they might well whip you to death.

Easy! Easy! EasY!

I only want to help
the woman we both love...

to free herself
from the grasp of a fiend.

Oh, dear Lord, this is it!

He made you strip naked
before him, hmm?

Totally naked?

Was there a presence in the room?

Now, think, think!

He might have come
in one of his many disguises.

Did he come as a bird?

Ah, a blackbird!

Was the bird black?

Oh, God,

I feel the presence of Lucifer!

Save yourself, child, before it is too late!
- Gentlemen, phrase.

Please, gentlemen, please!
Enough. Enough.

Enough.

Go home, Mituba.

You've been a wondrous help.

Commend us to your mistress.

Go home.

So there is a malignancy
to be cut out here.

But what kind of witness
will a slave be in court?

The bird, obviously,
is Harriet Hibbons.

What is it, Pearl?

Forgive me, Hester.

Harriet! - Yours was the first
place I thought of to hide.

What is it?

Th-The militia,
they've broken into my house.

They're looking for me
in the woods.

I've been named...

as a witch.

In the name of God.

What?

- Hold here.
- Yes, sir!

What's the meaning
of this intrusion, Major?

Stand aside, woman.
We know the witch is in here.

There's no one inside but myself,
my child and Mistress Mituba.

So, unless you have a warrant,
be gone.

Reverend Dimmesdale.

What's happening, Major?

It appears that we've
cornered ourselves a witch.

Hmm? Here in
Hester Prynne's Cottage.

Well, if there is a witch
inside the house, Major,

I'm sure I'll find her.

Aye.

Front and back.
One at the door. Magistrate?

Sir. Hup!

Pearl�s grown tall.

She is an elf. Willful.

Dear God, Hester.

It's been so long.

You're thin.

Are you hiding someone, Hester?

Why do you-

Why are you risking...

further anger from the elders?

Because Mistress Hibbons
is no witch...

and she's committed no crime
beyond speaking her mind.

Well, if she is innocent,

I assure you
no harm will befall her.

Arthur.

After all that has happened,
how can you still trust these iron men?

Do you not see
what is happening?

Last month they brought
Sally Short in for questioning.

They held her for two days.
Last week it was Mary Railings.

They were just
questioning them!

- What is the crime in that?
- The crime is they had done nothing!

Do you not see that this
is all part of some malevolence?

What has become of you?

God, woman!

By order of your demands,
I've given up everything I hold sacred.

I'm in hell!

In the eye of the enemy, your husband,
who lectures at my side day and night...

and in the eye of every parishioner
who comes to me to unburden their soul,

I'm a pollution, woman!
I'm a lie!

Nay.

They are the pollution.
They are the lie.

But you are allowing them to destroy
everything that is good in you!

Oh, what has happened
to the man I love?

Does he not still
live inside thee?

Our love, woman, was a folly.

And the voice that we heard
was a false one...

and we have been justly punished
for listening to it!

Coward, bestow yourself
with Courage!

Hold, woman!

What have I become?

To have betrayed the only person
on earth who had shown her kindness-

What could feel worse than that?
Mituba.

Poor mute Mituba.

When Prynne summoned her,
she wanted only to undo the harm...

she might have caused
her mistress.

Peace in this house!

Peace, I say. Peace!

You find these proceedings
humorous, Mistress Hibbons?

Do you expect me
to take 'em seriously?

Seeing a bunch of grown men
poking around my private parts,

looking for witch's marks?

- The slave Mituba-
- Peace, I say! Peace!

I'm afraid a witness,
the slave Mituba,

has been found dead.

What?

Governor, you see?
I told you she was a witch!

Mistress Hibbons is a witch!

- She is a witch!
- Witch! Witch!

Have you lost all reason?
Who gave her the right to speak?

There is no witchcraft here!
This is murder!

- Guards, restrain this woman!
- Hang the witch!

Satan is not at work here
among the women!

But if he is here, then perhaps
he is at work here among you men.

Hear Satan speak.

Governor! Governor!

Governor, I have evidence
to render.

As you know, Mistress Hibbons...

midwived Mistress Prynne's...

ba by Pearl.

- Want a sweet, Pearl?
- Bastard!

- No!
- Yes, my Pearl.

How I wish you were my girl.

Poor fatherless child.

Now, would you like
to learn a game?

Now, yes. Now, do what I do.

If I pinch my nose.

You too-very good.

Very good. Now.

I pull up my shirt
and show my tummy-tum-tum.

Now you show me
your tummy-tum-tum.

Lift up your shirt.

Behold, the witch's mark.

No! No!

Behold the devil�s own child!

No!

The devil�s own child!
Get thee behind me, Satan!

The devil�s own child!

No!

Give me that child!

Ham.) her!

Damn your child!

Reverend, do something!

Hibbons is innocent.

- We cannot let this innocent woman hang.
- Innocent?

Since you first spoke to me
about that Prynne woman,

everything we've dreamed and toiled for in
the name of the Lord has been threatened!

I've heard enough!
Did you listen in there?

Faction, argument, dissent.

That is the work of Satan.

The town was in an uproar,

and so my father risked
one last meeting with my mother,

convinced that if they
were going to hang Harriet,

it would not be long before my mother
and I would be seized...

and hung in our turn.

I had to speak out.
I couldn't stop myself.

Damn your husband, Hester.

You and Pearl must go
into hiding... tonight.

I cannot. I cannot run.

What are you saying?

Forgive me.

Whatever happens, promise me
you will always look after Pearl.

Oh, God, woman. How much further
must you take this?

As far as my strength
will take me.

If Harriet is to hang,
then I must hang with her.

I will ask the other women
to stand with us.

They cannot hang us all.

Hester, are we never
to know a life together?

I love thee.

God help me, I love thee
and I always will.

I will always love thee.

Lord God,

we stood before Thee
naked once...

and now we stand before Thee
naked again as a family.

God, Thou hast given me
this as a gift,

and I will not, not give it up!

Not while I have the strength!

Arthur?

Evening, Mistress P-Prynne.

- Expecting someone else?
- No, uh-

Did you not call out for Arthur?
The only Arthur I know is Dimmesdale.

You misunderstood me.
I said, are there... persons there?

I should've guessed long ago.

You naughty girl.

So you fucked a minister, huh?

Oh, God, how my father
will savor that priceless morsel!

Oops-a-daisy.

What'd he do to you, huh?

Did he suck your breasts?

Did he lick you?

Where did he lick you, Hester?

Show me!

God, how I've wanted
to poke you!

All the nights
you came into my dreams...

to bewitch me,
and all the while...

giving it to another...

- Damn you, witch!
- Get out!

Do up your britches and get out.

You bastard, get out!

I shall enjoy watching you
and your minister hang!

Open up, Doctor!

There are matters between us
that we must discuss immediately!

So, Arthur Dimmesdale.

Thy will be blindly done.
Thy will be blindly done.

He's been murdered!

Call out the militia.
Call out the guards.

It's a sign! The Lord
has sent us a sign!

- Get the Praying Indians! Lock 'em up!
- We have strayed!

See how He punishes us!

It's Brewster!
The savages have killed him!

My son! My son!

They've cut him into pieces,
the heathen bastards!

Lock up the Praying Indians...

before they murder us in our beds!

Get the Praying Indians!

- No!
- Get into your compound, you savages!

Praying Indians
into the compound! Get in with ya!

Come on!

We are loyal to you!

Protect the children
before it's too late!

Mistress Prynne, by order of the
Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony,

you are hereby placed under arrest
for the acts of heresy...

Stop this! It was
one of us killed Brewster!

It was one of us! I have proof I.

Bastards!

Johnny, run! Metacomet's braves
by the river. I've seen them.

Tell Metacomet to come
and save his people! Run, man!

Here come the witches.

Stand guard'
Don't look in their eyes!

Open the cells!

- Never mind the child.
- Pearl!

- Get in! Get in, woman!
- Pearl!

Worry not, Mistress Prynne. I'll
see she's raised up to fear the Lord.

Let it be for the highest court.

We humbly submit to Thy will.

Open up, murderer!

It is God's will
that they should hang!

People of New England!

There is no witchcraft here!

If we hang these women,

then what have we become?

Who are we to condemn...

on God's behalf?

I love...

this woman!

I am... the father of her child!

And in God's eyes,

I am her husband.

Now, if you must...

hang someone...

to appease your... your anger...

and your fear,

then hang me!

Hang him!

Hang him! Hang him!

Hang him! Hang him! Hang him!

Hang him! Hang him!

Hang him! Hang him! Hang him!

Hang him! Hang him!
Hang him! Hang him!

Hang him! Hang him! Hang him!

Bastards!

- Where's Pearl?
- She's in the armory.

Here.

Hester!

Where's my child?

- She's in the meeting house.
- Come on!

You are free, my people!

Go back to Metacomet!
Go back to the forest!

Bellingham will do anything
to conceal this madness from England.

He has sworn to me
that he will remove the letter...

and make thee a public apology.

How close they are, love and hate.

We are no less bound
by one than the other.

Rest in peace, Roger Prynne.

This letter has served a purpose,

though not the one
they had intended.

So why would I stay here?

To be accepted by them?
To be tamed by them?

- There's no perfect world, Hester.
- No, not perfect.

But we came here to make a new one.

And for Pearl�s sake,

I must do just that.

Hester.

Come along.

Hester!

Look at me.

If I look at you,
I won't be able to leave.

Then leave.

Brave the wilds.

But, Hester, I'll not let you,

in God's name, go without me.

They're watching us.

In the faraway Carolinas,

my parents were, at last, to find
a measure of the happiness...

that had been denied them
for so long.

My father died
before I reached my teens.

Some say that was a punishment.

My mother never remarried
nor loved another.

Some say that was a punishment.

As for me,

I do not see it that way.

My parents shared
a love like no other.

I know the spirit of that love
lives within me...

and will live
within my children forever.

Who is to say what is a sin
in God's eyes?