All language subtitles for The Scarlet Letter 1995e

My brother Metacomet,

may the noble spirit

of your father, Massasoit,

soar with the eagles.

Chief Metacomet.

Thanks to

the friendship of your father,
we have survived here.

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 the hope that at last,
in this new world

would come the freedom to worship
without fear of persecution.

My esteemed colleague!

Thy years of toil become thee!

Thy fame preceeds thee, sir.

Governor Bellingham,

may l present

the Reverend Thomas Cheever.

Welcome, sir.
It's a long voyage.

3 months at sea,

will either take away your faith,
or harden it to iron.

Allow me to introduce a woman
who's been travelling with us,

-Mistress...
-Hester Prynne.

I apologize for the coarseness

of my hands, Mistress.

But here in the colonies,
everyone must work.

l look forward to the hard work.

It says id Psalm 92: ''I will
triumph in the work of thy hands''.

Thou canst quote the Scriptures.

Aye, Reverendo, both Testaments.
My husband taught me.

You must rest.

Then I'll show you
what's been accomplished.

l thank thee.

-Then it's Goodwife Prynne.
-Yes, yes.

But l prefer to be called Hester.

Welcome, Hester.

I wish I could've seen it before,

when it was wild and untouched.

Madam,

you should use less lace
in your dressmaking.

Indeed, Reverend.

Master of us all,

we give thanks for
another bountiful meal,

and for newly arrived disciples,

that share it with us this night.

-Amen.
-Amen.

So, Governor.

l am impatient to know
how you fared with Metacomet.

Well, Metacomet
isn't Massassoit, Major Dunsmuir.

But if we respect the agreements
we made with his father,

we've nothing to fear.

So we don't
grow complacent,

our wise God sends us a sign.

When we sailed,

your letters said we were
at peace with the savage.

Well,

l fear the days of ''peace''
with the Wampanoag is at an end.

Major,

we are frightening
our new arrival.

We hear much

of your success
with the praying lndians.

l'm very eager to meet
Reverend Dimmesdale

and his converts.

The runts of the litter.

Dimmesdale's little treasures!

Some of us
have other opinions.

Mistress Prynne,

l hope you'll stay with us

until your husband's arrival.

You're most kind,
but l intend to find

a house of my own
as soon as possible.

On thine own?

Why, yes.

lt's not considered fitting
for a young woman to live alone.

l've come first to prepare
a place for his arrival,

so that is what l intend to do.

Mistress Prynne.

The rules we live by may seem
arbitrary to a newcomer,

but we have learnt
the hard way

that without absolute order,

we cannot hope to survive here.

Rules, Mistress Prynne.

Order.

Survival.

Would you have me
disobey my husband?

-l...
-Reverend, you might enjoy

the company of my son, Brewster.

He studied Divinity.

Harvard wasn't good enough
for him,

so he came home to
make his fortune as a...

Minister's sons all moaning
the Lord's Prayer

in their sleep.

Everyone must find his place.

-Morning, Mistress Prynne.
-Good morrow.

So you intend on scandalising
the town!

Get up!

Good!

l confess,

l feel alone in a
sea of conformists.

Where should 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 lndians
wiped out Ballinger's Point.

l say we start there.

Well, if you've decided.

ls that it, Brewster?

lt's beautiful.

I tried to imagine
what her life was like

before she came
to the new world.

Why did her husband
send heron ahead,

alone?

Was it a test of her loyalty,

other spirit?

Or was it in his nature
to set traps

for people in the hope
they would fall into them?

lt's perfect!

With a cart and a musket,
l could have a home here!

A cart, a horse,

a pitchfork, a plow.

l can think of better things

to do with these pretty hands
than grow calluses on them.

l'll need indentured labour,
at least two men.

-The land needs draining.
-You are headstrong.

Perhaps it runs in the blood.

l'm told your father was too.

ls it true

he was in debt to your husband
and you were the payment?

l've said something
to disturb you.

l'm sorry.

l'm truly sorry.

God, thou art wondrous fair!

That hurt!

Good. lt'll remind you
not to do it again.

Faith?
Prudence?

Did you hear Mistress Prynne
has a bathing tub?

What is she, French?

2 Shillings.
Will you bid 2 shillings?

2 and a half?

Come on, gentlemen,
do l have a bid for 3 shillings?

3 shillings?

3 shillings?

Anyone else?
Anyone else?

Going for 3 shillings.
Any other bids?

Sold to the gentleman
for 3 shillings.

-Next we have this other one,
-Those two.

How much time left
on their indenture?

About 3 years, but,

shouldn't your husband or father
be doing business with me?

ls my money
no good to you, sir?

Your money's as fine as wine
in the sunshine, Mistress.

lf you buy them at a just price,
l'll throw in the girl in red.

She's a slave!

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

Name your just price.

We'd best accompany you
if your going to the forest.

Don't worry Mr Bobbin.
l shan't go far.

Mistress Prynne?
Mistress Prynne?

Mistress Prynne?

Where are you?

Mistress Prynne, where are you?

l found her.

-You did not.
-l did to.

-You did not.
-l did to.

Mistress Prynne,

Have you forgotten
it is the Sabbath?

Of course not.
Forgive me.

We've come by especially
to bring you to church.

Thank you, so much.

Please, go on without me.

l will follow at once.

Make haste.

Yes, sir.

All right, girl,

Come on.

Oh goodness!

Back up. Back up.

Come on now, back up.

Come on. Come on. Back up.

Good morrow.

May l be of assistance?

Not from up there.

Come on.

Come on.
Steady. Steady.

l can't make this horse
understand me.

Let me try.

Come on, girl.

Come on, back up!

Come on, girl.

Come on. Come on.

l'm afraid you're in too deep.

She'll not make it.
Let me try this.

l do hope you can get it free.

l'm already late for the service,
and everyone's talking about me.

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

l bought the old Newbury place
out on Ballinger's Point.

Then,

l owe you an apology.

l've been trespassing.

There's a place at the point
where l like to bath.

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

Come on, girl, back up!

-Back up.
-One,

Two,

Two. Three.

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

unless l gather hands to help.

Would you care to ride with me?

On your horse, with you?

Aye, unless you can ride.

l can ride.

You take my horse
and l'll take yours.

There's a shortcut
to the meeting house,

but it's a difficult road.

l shall manage, sir.

-Are you certain?
-Just you lead the way.

Come on! Come on!

Come on! Come on!

May God be with you.

l'm sure he already is.

But aren't you coming to...

Good Sabbath to ye all.

Friends,

and fellow voyagers,

in the greatest of all dreams.

We've been singled out,
like lsrael 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,

we must bind our hearts as one!

English and lndian,

gentry and indentured,
free man and slaves,

and make of us

an example for all the world,

to marvel at and proclaim:

''Here...

is the measure of perfection!

Here,

lives God's own!''

But we are not succeeding
in that test.

We are failing!
And why?

Because we covet,
nay,

we lust after
what is not ours.

Be it for the rich land
of our lndian brothers,

be it for glory,

for profits or for revenge.

Need l read the secret

of every heart?

l will if you want.

Yea, l will if you want.

l will lay open the secrets

before the eyes of God!

What thou lusteth after is my enemy,
sayeth the Lord God.

For only l shall consume thee,

only l shall fill thee up.

lf thou failest to heed
my commandments,

then my fist

shall descend on theelike a stone!

And thy sword shall cut thee
into bloody parts,

and even thy memories
shall be sacrificed

to the winds
for all time!

May God bless you,

each and every one of you.

Am�n.

Am�n.

Allow me to present a newcomer
to our congregation,

Mistress Roger Prynne.

Mistress Roger?

Aye, her husband, a renowned
physician will join her before...

Reverend Dimmesdale and l
have already...

l helped when her cart
got stuck in the woods.

l greatly enjoyed your sermon.

lt's rare for a man so young
to speak with such passion.

For some reason,

l felt most inspired today.

We welcome you and your husband
to our congregation.

Mother! Mother!

There you are, Hester.

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

And l'm sure you'd like
some refreshment.

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

They call me John or Johnny here.

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 lndian.

My best friend in the colony.

Arthur,

-this is Mistress...
-We've already met.

Excuse me.

So like home.

Yet beyond those trees
l suspect a savagery,

of savage passions,

dark and untamed.

Reverend Dimmesdale,
have you met our young friend?

Yes, we've met.

Mistress Prynne and l
travelled out on the same ship.

l'm going to marry him one day.

No you're not, l'm going to
aren't l Mistress Prynne?

-Marry whom?
-Reverend Dimmesdale, of course!

''A Short Description of the
Great and Last Judgement''.

Well, ''Platform for
Church Discipline''.

They're all tracts!

''The Goodwife's Manual...''

for Animal Husbandry''

l believe we've already met.

Oh, yes, l...
l'm sorry, l didn't realize.

l should have
announced my presence.

What are you reading?

-''Comus'', it's by John
-John Milton.

l know it. l've read it.

Have you?

l'm not all counterpanes
and coverlets.

Every spare moment, l read.

l'm the same.

l've read every book in this room.
Some of them several times.

Even ''Manual for Animal Husbandry?''

A most exhilarating read.

So, did you truly
enjoy my sermon?

Yes, it was most skilful.

Clearly your congregation
reverences you.

You liked it not. We don't
come up to London standards.

To the contrary.
l was moved by your passion.

And?

Well,

when your fist struck your hand,

and sliced through the air
like a sword,

l 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 l thought
comprehending God

was to be my greatest challenge.

Yes, Reverend?

This morning in the forest,

why did you not say
you were married?

Why did you not say
you were a minister?

Good day, Mistress Prynne.

Good morrow, Mistress Prynne.

Good morrow.

You care for a cup of cider?

We are your neighbours, it seems.

Did you like the sermon
this morning?

From where l sat it
seemed it did please thee.

l liked it very much.

l 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 shindig.

Sally Short, Mistress Prynne.

How do you do?

l was on the dock
when you arrived.

Mary Rollins.

Mary don't like to speak much.

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

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

Mistress Prynne?

Thank you, no.
l never imbibe.

You've gathered some fine
Balm of Gilead,

Shepherd's Purse, yarrow.

You know your plants?

l do. l recite ''Culpepper''
by heart.

Really?

Then what would you use to
heal a bad burn?

l've seen sweet fern work miracles,

but Culpepper suggests blackberry
and red cedar.

Well, you hear that.

My husband has
a very large library

and l was able to school myself.

How do you like our new
Jerusalem?

Sober enough for you?

Aye,

sober enough.

What l miss is the dancing.

Dancing?

When first we came,

they'd be dancing round
the maypole.

Feast days we'd sing
bawdy songs.

People weren't afraid
to play the fool.

We'd teach
the bears to dance.

Now days, everybody getting more
and more sour faced and ponderous.

And a whipping post stands
where the may pole used to be.

But there's a few of us who
haven't forgotten to laugh.

lt's been a pleasure
meeting you all.

l'm sorry l must take my leave,

but l don't want to be stuck
in the wilds at night.

There are things that sound 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 l can see
what others cannot.

Be a curse, to be sure,

but l know the hearts of men.

And what does my heart tell you?

You're a most comely woman.

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.

Good day, Goody Gotwick.

l brought these for
Reverend Dimmesdale.

The Reverend be occupied
with his work, Missus.

Leave them books on the table
and l'll be sure he gets them.

Good morrow, Reverend.

Good morrow, Mistress Prynne.

Knowing you hunger for new reading,

l brought you some books.

How courteous of you.

Please.

l must apologize for my
forthrightness on Sabbath last.

l've earned a few reprimands
for speaking too bluntly.

l owe an apology, too.

l can't understand why
l took such offence

to such a simple comment.

But l have wondered

how you were able

to see so deeply

into my nature.

Perhaps l'm a witch.

l must be keeping you
from your chores.

Thank you for the books.

Good day.

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

l've been

hovered over
my translations all day.

Translations?

Aye. l'm attempting to

translate the Bible into
the local lndian language,

Algonquin.

What an ambitious undertaking.

But l'm told the lndians don't want
to be guided by our Bible.

That war with them is inevitable.

Some think that way,
but they're wrong.

The lndians, born from a
certain liberty,

take not easily
to bridle and bit.

No man should.

Well...

What?

What?

You keep putting ink
on your face.

Oh, l do.

There you are.

l do hope you enjoy
the books.

Thank you.

Good day.

Good day.

Mituba?

'It's only a bathing tub,
not a toy of Satan.

Mistress Prynne?

Reverend Dimmesdale!

-You frightened me.
-l'm sorry. l didn't mean to.

lt's a wonderful surprise.

-lt's beautiful.
-Yes, and frightening.

Just as Eden must have been.

So untouched.

Does it not cry out
with it's promise,

that everything
can begin anew?

l brought back your books.

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

Oh no, l did.
l read most of them twice.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Farewell.

Hester...

l'm not the man l seem.

l've lived here all my life,
my purpose clear.

But now l'd risk everything,
my life, my ministry, my soul

just to spend a few
moments alone with you.

God help me, Hester.

l love thee.

God help me.
l love thee too.

Oh God. Have we lost our way?

No!

l dreamed of thee speaking
thy heart.

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

Was l alive before
l laid eyes on thee?

What shall we do?

l know not.

Say something to end it,

for l have not the power.

Nor l.

Nay!

We could be hanged for this.

l've put you in too much danger,

and l must end it by walking away
and never speaking with you again.

Go then.

Do as you promised.

Throughout the long summer,
Mistress Prynne and the Reverend

avoided each other
at all costs.

Mistress Prynne rarely went to town
and the Reverend escaped to the wilds

with the Indians

and faithful Johnny Sassamon
forcompany.

And the colony organized

it's 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.

Johnny Sassamon says they've
attacked the ''lntrepid''.

What's he saying,

Arthur?

The Tarrantines

attacked an English ship,
the lntrepid.

All were massacred.

''Prynne''.

''Doctor Roger Prynne''.

Mistress Prynne.

l'm here as your minister.

Come in.

There was an attack,

an lndian attack on one of our ships.

They say that,

all aboard were massacred.

l regret to be...

the one to bring you
this sad news.

l'll leave you to your mourning.

Are you certain none survived?

They say that the tide
washed away the bodies.

God forgive me!

l've prayed so long to
be set free.

You did not cause his death, Hester.

God...

took your husband.

But was it an answer
to my prayers?

Does He work like that?

Perhaps.

lf in His eyes there was no other way

we could be together.

l must know what the law is.

The mourning, how long must one wait?

1 month? Six months?
What?

Where there is no absolute
proof of death,

7 years must pass before
we're free to be seen in public.

7 years?

Yes...

Greetings, Metacomet.

We have been

enemies.

But now Tarrantine

and Wampanoag must unite

to fight

the greedy English.

before they push us into

the sea.

Were the lndians
cruel to you, Mary?

After my little one died,

they treated me fair and square.

lf truth be told,

cruel is how you folks have
treated me since l come home.

Thank you.

l didn't do nothing
that wasn't forced on me!

The thought of being
taken by a savage

makes me sick to my stomach.

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

ridin' across the land.

Hester, you all right?

Yes, l'm just tired.

Mary's right.

You call them savages.

l could tell you a thing or two

about your husband
before he tied the knot with you.

Stupid slut!

Harold would never had nothing
to do with no whore!

You think not?

l've even seen
one of your windy ministers

pokin' an lnjun girl,

standin' on a bible
so he could roger her better.

They always said the Scriptures
should uplift you!

l refuse to be with those
who would mock the Holy Book!

Well,

she'll not be coming back soon.

Good riddance to her!

We Quakers believe that
the Scriptures be not religion,

but only the ceremony
and history of it.

l agree.

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

and the inner spirit
the true voice of Heaven?

Hester,

l pray you're not sayin'
you talk directly

to the Deity?

Don't you know that

only paid Bible-thumpers
can do that?

Have a care, child,

or they'll talking of you
the way they talk of me!

l know some consider it
blasphemous to say this,

but l do talk to God.

l have since l was a small child.

And He answers me.

Mistress Roger Prynne...

by order of the Governor of
Massachusetts Bay Colony,

you are ordered to appear
before the magistrates

at eight tomorrow morn!

Don't be tardy!

Mistress Prynne,

these gentlemen have laid a
charge of heresy against you.

Tell me how it is the laws of men
are the imagination of mortals?

It is the meetings
thatyou call heresy.

Lascivious talk of fornication
with savages.

Fallen women who tell lies
about good citizens.

This is what comes when there is
no qualified man present

to guide these women
in their untutored chatterings.

lf the discourse of women
is untutored chattering,

why does the Bible teach that women
shall be the teachers of women?

Hester, we ask that
you cease these meetings.

No, sirs.
l'll not stop the meetings.

Arthur.
Please join us.

l've been fishing, sir..

You may thank me to remain
where l am.

-Please be seated.
-Call our first witness.

ls it truly of import?

Yes, it is of great consequence.

Very well, call your witness.

Goody Gotwick?

Stand up, Goody.

You revealed to my wife
something very disturbing.

Tell me, what does it mean
when a woman

vomits in the morning hours?

And vomits more than once
in the morning hours?

l only saw her the one time.

Yes. And?

Goody Mortimer
saw her get sick in the market.

Are you with child?

Answer your betters, woman!

Do you carry a bastard child
in yur womb?

Yes.

Who is the father?

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

We would hang that fornicator!

l'll not reveal the name, sir.

l will tell you his name!

His name is Lucifer!

His name is Legion!

His name is lust!

Gentlemen,

What do you hope to accomplish?

You know there is no law
against pregnancy.

But there is against adultery.

lt would only adultery if
her husband were found to be alive.

The meetings will stop!

Governor,

if you knew the name of this man,
would you punish Hester Prynne?

Has she confessed the name to you?

l've confessed nothing!

-Tell us the truth, Arthur.
-He knows nothing of my affairs.

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

But l fear not your punishments!

l love and honour the man who has
fathered this child!

And say what you will,
he is my true husband for life,

and l shall furnish no information
which might cause him harm.

Very well, you leave me no choice.

You're under arrest.

ls this your new Jerusalem?

Let me have a moment alone
with the woman.

-l can draw the name from her.
-You shall have your chance.

Gentlemen.

l've considered all the arguments

and decided Arthur is allowed
to speak to Mistress Prynne alone.

Hester Prynne,

place your hand
on the Good Book.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Why did you not tell me?

l was afraid.

l thought if l worked hard,
l would miscarry.

l must go to Bellingham
with the truth.

No, you must not!

You are a saint to these people!
They'll hang you for betraying them!

l prefer to hang, than allow you
to suffer for me.

They've no case against me!

-When they tire, they'll release me.
-l know Stonehall.

You've challenged him,

and he'll not release you

until you are humbled
and have recanted your sins.

Do you believe we've sinned?

l know not.

What happen between us had
a consecration. Have you forgotten?

l've not forgotten!

Arthur, l know you want
to speak out.

Your nature cries out for it.

But you risk your own ruin
and deny me

my right to stand up
to this hypocrisy.

Soldier!

lf l need you to speak,

l'll tie this handkerchief
from the window.

l love thee woman,

but your strength frightens me.

l'll do what you ask.

Amen.

God be with you.

l'm sure he already is.

Gentlemen,

Mistress Prynne has been there
more than 5 months

without any legal justification.

Even in Plymouth they regard this
as barbaric!

l'd like to free her.
At home, l have no peace on this.

But the people see us go to her
week after week, caps in hand,

only to be turned away.

The woman is unrepentant!

She's fortunate we haven't
beaten her publicly!

l'm surprised at you Reverend.
You came here a man of reason.

l came here expecting
some semblance of order.

Instead l find
a den of fractiousness!

Sir, if you do not
stem this dissent,

my wife and l will return
to England.

And take our parishioners!

lf only she would give us

a small sign of contrition.

Ifit had been up to him,
my father,

he would have ended it and
revealed the truth of my origins.

But bound by my mother's wish,
he could not.

He went every day to see her
and was refused.

His eye ever on that window
For her sign that it was time

to come forward with the truth.

Had there been flashes of Prynne's
unstable nature before

in England?

No one knows.

But now, free from
Puritan society,

he was increasingly seized
by spirits so powerful

they were terrifying
even to the Indians.

He has a ghost in him.

He'll bring us bad luck.

Send him home.

Forgive me, Lord,

for I have turned from
my Heavenly Father.

Forgive me.

Lord, bring me back to thy bosom.

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

l'm so glad you're here!

6 months and not one visitor.

Some of us came, my dear,
but we were turned away.

Your slave came every day.
How quick are the pains?

-They're not stopping.
-Here.

Take a sip of this.

l wager you won't refuse
my cider this time.

Rvd. Dimmesdale tried always
to get you freed.

-Another?
-Yes.

All right, breathe deep.
Breathe deep.

Hold on to me!
Good girl!

Easy, easy.

Let me see.

All's well. All's well.
lt's close.

lt's very close.
Come, my dear. lt's time.

Up you sit.

Good girl. There.

Move down a little.
Good.

This child is ready to be born.

We've work to do!

There.

How could they
keep me here so long?

Well, l'll say this,

you must have a will of iron.

When you take on the men,
it leads to death.

All right, my dear.
Chin down and bear down hard!

More and harder!

Harder! Good!

Good girl. That's it.

Easy.

Easy.

Good. Easy.

Are you sure
God's not punishing me?

To be sure he's punishing you.

He be giving you a child!.

Now. Gently.

Now the head is coming.

The head is through.

Just a little more.
Easy.

Easy. Easy.

She'd here!

Oh, thank you, God!

Yes!

Little Pearl.
Yes!

Yes!
She's here.

Harriet, she's here!
Sit there, Mistress.

Proceed, Reverend.

l'll have them fetch fresh clothes
for you and the babe.

l bring good news.

l've prevailed upon the Governor.

You are to be freed.

But by law...

you'll be brought to the scaffold

for reprimand.

Hester.

Whatever is said,

please,

be as contrite as
your conscience permits.

lf not for my sake,
for the babe's.

l beg you,
don't anger them further!

l've come to baptize
the babe

l've died not seeing you.

l came every day.

l baptize this child,

Pearl.

Pearl.

ln 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

is an invitation to every wife

to defy her husband.

Every child it's parent!

No, she should be released.

What?

You don't put her in prison,

you put the prison in her.

So each time someone sees her,

her sin will be marked into
her soul afresh.

Cunningly contrived, my dear.

Make way in the King's name.

A blessing on the righteous
Colony of Massachusetts,

where iniquity is dragged
into the sunlight!

Know ye

that Mistress Roger Prynne

has been ordered

to bear punishment for
fornication and adultery.

lf it be determined later

that her husband be still alive,

she may face a most 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 you apparel,

yet you have a chance, still,
to repent your sins.

Yes, Hester, repent!

Child, don't you believe
you have sinned?

l believe l have sinned
in your eyes,

but who is to know if God
shares your views?

Woman,

transgress not the limits
of Heaven's mercy!

Reverend Dimmesdale,
you are her pastor.

Speak to her for all our sakes!

Soften her, her hardness
her obstinacy!

Listen to the Reverend!

Speak to the woman, my brother.

Exalt her to confess the truth!

Hester Prynne,

you hear what these
good men say,

and see the accountability
under which l labour.

For your soul's peace,

l charge thee

speak out the name

of your fellow sinner.

Be not silent

for some mistaken pity
or tenderness for him.

For believe me, if he could

step down and stand 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?

And compel him

to add hypocrisy to sin?

Speak.

She will not speak.

ln the name of the Lord,
name him!

Name him!

-His name!
-What is his name?

Who might he be?

Very well.

Beadle!

Mistress, if you do not speak out

his name, wear upon your bodice

this symbol of your sinful
fornication.

Heed not this

final warning,

and 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!

lt is not a badge of my shame,
but your own!

What do you want?

Have l changed so much,
my beloved,

that you would slay me as l
resurrect myself from the dead?

Roger?

Hester.

Was l ever unkind to you?

Did l not love thee?

Did l not see thee
above all womanhood?

Are you not bound to me
by sacred oath?

Or has this new land turned thee
into a heathen?

Lay our bed will thou, wife.

Pray for thy sins, Hester Prynne.

Beg the Lord to forgive
thy corruption.

Pray and l'll wash thee
as white as snow.

White as snow, my love.

White as snow.

White as snow.

Arthur?

Hester?

Thank God you're here!

-Why are you taking this risk?
-l had to warn you.

My husband is alive.

Dear God!

Alive?

Now we'll hang for certain.

Why would he show up at this moment
if he wasn't God's dark messenger

sent to punish us.

Arthur, you must leave without us.

l cannot bear to see you
trapped here,

under his watchful eye forever.

Hester, l must stay
and watch over you and Pearl

No. You don't know him

He'll wait for us to
betray each other

with the slightest glance
or the merest gesture.

Please. You must go!

This God's punishment,

because we tried to run
from His Will.

l will not say farewell, Hester.

Pray God watch over you.

And so will l.

Kiss Pearl for me each night.

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

ls it beyond research,
l wonder,

to analyze her nature,
and from it's make and mold,

give a shrewd guess
as to the father?

What are your expectations?

l do not expect your heart
to return to you quickly.

But l hope one day
you will draw me again

into your heart.

Love has forced me to open
my heart to another.

Watch your tongue, woman!

It's this phantom lover who
puts these words into your mouth1!

Where is he?

ls his kiss

still wet on your lips,
on your breast?

-l demand to know!
-lf l spent 6 months in a cold jail,

and did not tell these iron men,

what makes you think
l'll tell you now?

These trials have made me strong!

And l am not the child
you married!

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

No, no.

l seek no vengeance against you.

But the man lives
who wronged us both

He bears no letter of infamy

wrought into his garment.

But l shall read it on his heart.

Breathe one word to him
of my true identity,

and you will both hang.

lf you try to escape,

you will be easily found.

Easily!

From the savages

l have learned patience,

Hester Prynne.

Goody Gotwick, thank you.

Reverend, allow me to introduce
our newest boarder,

Doctor Chilling...

Chillingworth.
- Chillingworth.

Good day, man.

Good day, sir.

What brings you
to our colony, sir?

l'm a physician, sir.
l would cleanse the ills

of the community.

Have l said something strange?

No.

l'm amazed.

We have prayed
for a skilled physician.

l see you are translating
the Bible into Algonquin.

A most difficult tongue
to master.

lf l can be of help, Reverend.

l am fluent in Algonquin.

-Fluent?
-Yes.

l was a prisoner of the Tarrantine.

When l spoke improperly,
l was whipped.

l learned quite rapidly.

How were you captured?

l was working my farm in Virginia.

They came,

killed my wife, Eleanor,
God rest her soul,

and our infant son,

and sold me into captivity.

lt's a wonder you're not consumed

with bitterness and despair.

No, no. ln truth,
l am indebted to the lndians.

Some say they are savages,
but true savagery,

l find resides elsewhere.

Mistress Roger Prynne.

Mistress Prynne.

And what is your duty, boy?

Follow you around, Mistress.

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

Whore!

God will punish you, sinner!

Jezebel!

You're not welcome here!

Be gone, Hester Prynne!

Soap, please. Three pieces.

Although he wore no outward
symbol

of his shame,

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

The pain of their separation
must have affected us all.

I was a troublesome child.

My father ached for my mother,

and filled his loneliness
in the wilds with Johnny.

They struggled

to keep alive their dream

of building a bridge
between English and Indian.

Johnny,

why are they so close to town?

They say our people have
fallen asleep.

So they must remain awake
for all of us.

l'm worried.

ls war coming?

The great experiment
is not working, is it?

Yes, he's right.

lf there's war, what is to stop
our praying lndians

from rising up

and slitting our throats
as we sleep?

Faith, Thomas. Faith.

l 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.

lf there's a true war,

God help us all.

for neither we nor
the savaged will survive it.

l see the governor appreciates
the signs less than yee,

his Godly advisors.

lt is not always easy.

Strangely, the same thing
happened in Virginia.

Before the attack,

there were signs
that went unheeded.

What manner of signs?

The bad winter.
The crop failures.

Far too many Quakers
and foreigners in the town.

Some minor elements

of witchcraft, etc.

Exactly!

Our first sign was that

of Hester Prynne
and her women's meetings.

Then 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.

Then why in all this time
have you not taken measures

to cleanse your colony?

What measures do you speak of?

Did you examine the women
present at those meetings?

Have you queried the midwife,

or inspected the child
for the witch's marks?

l shall fear no evil.

l prepare us a table
in the presence of thine enemy.

My cup

runneth over

Surely goodness

and mercy shall follow me.

l will dwell
in the house of the Lord.

The babe's clean,

at present.

Hester,

we shall leave your child
with you for the present,

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

Yes, yes.

Yes.

l've been your friend today.

But it cannot always be so.
No.

For inside me l grow
more wretched by the day.

l yearn so much for thee.

l fear l might destroy

her whole world
to win her back.

Tell old Harriet
what's troubling you.

l never imagined

how cruel and cunning
their punishment could be.

Stonehall y Cheever
stop to preach at me in the street.

The people pointing and shouting.

Even the children.

And that horrible drummer boy
following me everywhere.

Perhaps it was all for naught.

l wonder if to be 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 l've repaid it
by destroying him?

What if

everything l believed
so strongly was a lie?

Vain and

selfish.

Prynne's cruel punishments

were succeeding.

The seasons ran their course.

The distance between them
was impassable.

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

reminding to keep their love
and his silence.

The subtle but constant
presence of Prynne

was a torment

that threatened
my father's very soul.

As for Prynne,

his lust for revenge

fed on itself

so that he hungered for more.

Good morrow, Mituba.

What a pleasant day
for a ride.

Poor Mituba.

You're renowned for your loyalty
to your Mistress,

and l see why.

Was your dry lunch
a communication from her lover?

l 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 whip you to death.

Easy. Easy.

l only want to help
the one we both love.

To free herself from the grasp
of a fiend.

Dear Lord, this is it!

He made you strip naked
before him!

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?

Oh, God. l feel

the presence of Lucifer!

Save yourself before
it's too late!

Gentlemen, please!

Enough!

Enough!

Go home, Mituba.
You've been a wondrous help.

Commend us to your Mistress.

Go home.

Go home.

So there is a malignancy

to be cut our 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
l thought of to hide.

What is it?

They've, they've,
they've ah...

broken into my house.They're looking for me in the woods.

l've been named

as a witch!

ln the name of God!

Halt there!

Yes, sir!

What's the meaning
of this intrusion?

Stand aside, woman!

We know the witch is in here.

There's no one inside

but me, my child and Mituba

So unless you have a warrant,
be gone.

Reverend Dimmesdale.

What's happening, major?

We've cornered ourselves a witch.

Here in Hester Prynne's cottage.

lf there's a witch
inside the house, major,

l'll find her.

Right.

One man at the door.

-Soldier!
-Sir?

Pearl's grown tall.

She's an elf.

Willful.

Dear God, Hester.

lt'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 she is no witch!
She's committed no crime

beyond speaking her mind!

lf she is innocent,

l assure you no harm
will befall her.

Arthur. After all that
has happened,

how can you still trust
these iron men?

Don't you see what's happening?

Last month they brought
Sally Short for questioning.

They held her for 2 days.
Last week it was Mary Rollins.

They just questioned them!

What's the crime in that?

The crime is they had nothing!

Don't you see

this is some malevolence?

-What has become of you?
-God, woman!

What are your demands?

l've given up everything
l own sacred!

l'm in Hell!

ln the eye of your husband,
who lurks at my side day and night.

ln the eye of all who come to me
to unburden their soul!

l'm a pollution!

l'm a lie!

They are the pollution!

They are the lie!

But you allow them to destroy
all that is good in you!

What's happened
to the man l love?

Does he not still live inside thee?

Our love, woman,
was a folly.

And the voice we heard,

we have been punished
for listening to!

What have l become?

To betray 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
sh'd caused her Mistress.

Peace in this House!

Peace, l say. Peace!

You find these proceedings
humorous, Mistress?

Do you expect me
to take them seriously?

You're a bunch of grown men

poking around my private parts
looking for witch's marks!

The slave, Mituba...

Peace, l say. Peace!

The witness, the slave Mituba,
has been found dead.

l told you she was a witch!

-Mistress Hibbons is a witch!
-She's a witch!

Witch!

Have you lost all reason?

There's no witchcraft here!

This is murder!

Guards,

restrain this woman!

Satan is not at work
here among the women!

But if he's here, perhaps is
at work among you men!

Here Satan speaks!

Governor?

l have evidence to render

As you know,

Mistress Hibbons midwifed
Mistress Prynne's

baby Pearl.

Sweet Pearl.

Bastard!

No!

Pearl.

l wish you were my girl.

Poor fatherless child.

Would you like to learn a game?

Yes. Now do what l do.

lf l pinch my nose.

You too.
Very good, very good.

Now,

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

Now show me your tummy tum-tum.

Pull up your shirt.

Behold the witch's mark!

Behold the devil's own child!

The devil's own child!
The devil's own child!

This woman is innocent!

lnnocent?

Since you first spoke

of this woman,

all we've dreamed and toiled for
in God's name has been threatened!

l've heard enough!

Have you listened?

Factions! Arguments!
Dissent!

That is the work of Satan!

The town was in an uproar.

My father risked one last
meeting with my mother,

convinced that if they were to hang

Harriet, it would not be long

before my motherand I
would be seized...and hung.

l had to speak out.

l couldn't stop myself.

Damn your husband!

You and Pearl must go in hiding.
Tonight.

l cannot.

l cannot run.

What are you saying?

Forgive me.

Whatever happens,

promise me
you'll look after Pearl.

God, woman, how much further
must you take this?

As far as my strength
will take me.

lf Harriet is to hang,
l must hang with her.

l'll ask the other women
to stand with us.

They can't hang us all.

Hester, are we ever
to know a life together?

l love thee.

l love thee and always will.

l 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 has given me this
as a gift,

and l will not give it up!

Not while l have the strength.

Arthur?

Arthur?

Arthur?

Evening, Mistress Prynne.
Expecting someone else?

Ah, no.

Didn't you call out for Arthur?

The only Arthur l know is...
Dimmesdale.

You misunderstood me,
l didn't say...

l should have guessed
long ago.

You naughty girl.

So you fucked our minister

God, l'm about to savour
a priceless morsel!

Up we go!

Did he suck your breasts?

Did he lick you?

Where did he lick you?

Show me!

How l wanted to put it in you!

This is to make you pay
for my fantasies.

While you were torturing me,

you were giving it to another.

Damned witch!

Get out!

Do up your britches
and get out!

Bastard! Get out of here!

How l will enjoy watching
you and the pastor hang!

Open up, doctor!

There are matters between us
we must discus immediately.

So, Arthur Dimmesdale.

At last justice is done!

�Ha sido asesinado!

Call out the militia!
Call out the guards!

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

We have strayed!

See how he punishes us!

It's Brewster.
Those savages

have killed him!

My son! My son!

Damned heathens!

Lock up the praying lndians,

before they murder us
in our beds!

Get the praying lndians!

Praying lndians into the compound!

We are loyal to you!

We are loyal to you!

By order of the Governor of the
Massachusetts Bay Colony,

you are under arrest
for the crime of heresy.

Stop this. lt was one of us
who killed Brewster.

l have proof.

Bastard!

Johnny, run to Metacomet's
place by the river.

Tell him to come and
save his people. Run, man!

Here come the witches!

Open the cell.

-Never mind the child.
-Pearl!

-Get in, woman!
-Pearl?

Worry not, Mistress.

l'll see she's raised up
to fear the Lord.

Open up, murderer!

There is no witchcraft here!

lf we hang these women,

then what have we become?

Who are we

to condemn

on God's behalf?

l love this woman.

l am

the father of her child.

And in God's eyes,

l am her husband.

lf you must hang someone,

to appease

your anger and fear,

then hang me.

Hang him!

Hang him!
Hang him!

Hang him!

Bastards!

Hester!

Where's my daughter, Pearl?

She's in the meeting house!

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're 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 l stay here?

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

-There is no perfect world.
-No, not perfect.

But we came here
to make a new one.

And for Pearl's sake,

l must do just that.

Hester.

Hester!

Look at me.

lf l look at you,
l won't be able to leave

Then leave.

Brave the wilds!

But Hester,

l'm not letting you
go without me.

They're watching us.

In the faraway Carolinas,

they 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 for ever.

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

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