Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton

Oldtuberadio

Ethan Frome scrapes a living from his woodlot whilst trapped in an unhappy marriage with his hypochondriac wife, Zeena. A ray of light enters Ethan's life when his wife's cousin Mattie arrives...  Set against the cold, grey, bleakness of a New England winter, one of Edith Wharton's most enduring and powerful stories was first published in 1911. Dramatised by Lin Coghlan.  Stars Dominic Mafham as Ethan Frome, Jessica Raine as Mattie, Laurle Lefkow as Zeena, Christopher Webster as Denis Eady, Adjoa Andoh as Post Mistress, Paul Moriaty as Andrew Hale and Fenella Woolgar as Edith Wharton.  Director: Sally Avens  First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2012.   Do you enjoy the variety on Oldtuberadio? Like, Share and Subscribe to be notified of our new shows #radio #crime #thriller #drama To Support this channel please visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/oldtuberadio https://ko-fi.com/oldtuberadio98 https://www.patreon.com/oldtuberadio https://locals.com/Oldtuberadio

Transcript

00:00:00You

00:00:21Got your parcel here Andrew much obliged hey, it's getting so cold the rivers are gonna freeze up by the flat. Oh

00:00:27I won't keep you long ma'am. Oh, don't trouble. I'm more than content to be out of that snow quite a fool

00:00:38Morning Ethan

00:00:42Morning

00:00:43Got Zena's medicine here if you've got a mind to collect it

00:00:47Ethan Frohn was the most striking figure in Starkfield

00:00:52Even though he was but a ruin of a man. How is he?

00:00:55Nina

00:00:56About the same his lameness checked each step like the jerk of a chain

00:01:03You go careful now

00:01:09We all got our burdens to bear, but I can't help feeling Ethan got more than most I

00:01:16Had a little of the story from Andrew Hale who'd known Ethan all his life been like that ever since the smash-up

00:01:23Smash-up more enough to kill most men, but the Frohn's there are tough

00:01:29When he was young Ethan had it in mind to be an engineer

00:01:33He wanted to be in towns where there were lectures and libraries and fellows doing things

00:01:38But he was an only child he had cared first for his father then his mother and finally his wife

00:01:48According to Andrew Hale it was Ethan who'd always done the caring then after the accident

00:01:54He had no choice but to stay

00:01:56Miss Wharton

00:01:58Miss Wharton

00:01:58Can I help you? I was going to catch a ride to Corbury flats to pick up my train for the junction?

00:02:03Mm-hmm

00:02:04But mr. Logan's unable to assist me with all this snow

00:02:08Reckon Ethan would take you over

00:02:10But I've never even spoken to him why on earth should he put himself out for me?

00:02:14Well don't know as he would but he wouldn't be sorry to earn a dollar

00:02:20Up now come on

00:02:22For the next week Ethan Frohn drove me every morning to Corbury flats

00:02:28And on my return in the afternoon met me again and carried me back through the icy night to starkfield

00:02:34He never turned his face to mine and barely spoke

00:02:39He seemed a part of the mute melancholy landscape

00:02:44An incarnation of its frozen woe

00:02:47Yet there was nothing unfriendly in his silence

00:02:51One evening toward the end of that week

00:02:54The snow started to fall straight and steadily

00:02:58It seemed to be part of the thickening darkness

00:03:00The winter night itself descending on us layer by layer

00:03:05Whoa there

00:03:06It's impossible to see anything

00:03:08Way's blocked up ahead

00:03:10How will we make our way back?

00:03:11I have to take the lower road

00:03:13That's a good ten miles

00:03:14I'll do it if you give them time

00:03:16I'll get you there

00:03:18You're very kind

00:03:20That's all right

00:03:23Two or three times some ghostly landmark sprang up to warn us we were astray

00:03:30And when we finally regained our road the horse began to show signs of exhaustion

00:03:36Let me get out and walk

00:03:38Ease the burden on the animal

00:03:40No

00:03:40I insist

00:03:45Near enough an hour later we saw a light in the distance

00:03:50That's my house down yonder

00:03:52You mustn't go any further

00:03:54Nor you neither

00:03:56This way

00:03:57He meant to give me shelter

00:04:01And I was glad to accept it

00:04:04You best leave your things here to dry

00:04:10I'm down to my bones

00:04:12Wish I could sleep as easy as a child

00:04:14I guess sleep's lost to me

00:04:16I gotta spend my time waiting

00:04:17Waiting for

00:04:19I don't know what

00:04:20It was that night

00:04:22That I found the clue to Ethan Frome

00:04:25And began to put together this vision of his story

00:04:33It all began 20 years before

00:04:36It was winter and Starkfield lay under two feet of snow

00:04:40All of the town's waking life was gathered behind the church windows

00:04:44From which strains of dance music flowed with broad bands of yellow light

00:04:50Hugging the shadows so as not to be seen

00:04:53Ethan Frome craned his neck till he got a glimpse of the room

00:04:57You're running me through exhaustion Ms. Silver

00:05:00I love dancing

00:05:02Ethan watched as Mattie Silver lifted her wrapped face to her partner

00:05:07The grossest son Dennis Edie

00:05:14Mattie Silver came from Stamford

00:05:17She had entered the Frome's household to assist her cousin

00:05:20Ethan's wife Zina

00:05:22But the truth of it was she had nowhere else to go

00:05:27For Ethan no moments in Mattie's company were comparable to those when he would come into town

00:05:33To walk her back at night to the farm

00:05:35The gentleman friend not showing up, man?

00:05:38Oh, say

00:05:40That is tough

00:05:41Dennis

00:05:42No, no, hey

00:05:43It wouldn't be mean enough to tell the other girls

00:05:45I ain't as low down as that

00:05:47Ethan Frome watched from the shadows

00:05:49But, uh

00:05:50Hey, look here

00:05:52Ain't it lucky

00:05:53I got the old man's cutter down there

00:05:54Just waiting for us

00:05:56What's it doing waiting down there?

00:05:58Why?

00:05:59For you and me to take a ride

00:06:01I got the roll call, too

00:06:04I, uh

00:06:06I kind of knew I'd want to take a ride tonight

00:06:09Mattie seemed to waver

00:06:11Hold on a minute while I unhitch the call

00:06:13Ethan watched as Mattie let Dennis Edie lead out the horse

00:06:18And fling back the bearskin rug to make room for her at his side

00:06:23Goodbye

00:06:24Hope you'll have a lovely time

00:06:26Hey, come along

00:06:30Get in, quick

00:06:31Good night

00:06:32I'm not getting in

00:06:34Oh, I guess I can't stop you catching your death of cold if you're fixed on it

00:06:39Get on

00:06:46Think I've forgotten you, Matt?

00:06:48Ethan

00:06:50I thought maybe you couldn't come back for me

00:06:52Couldn't

00:06:52What on earth could stop me?

00:06:54I knew Xena wasn't feeling any too good today

00:06:56Ah, she's in bed long ago

00:06:59Then, uh

00:07:00You meant to walk home all alone?

00:07:01Oh

00:07:02Oh, I ain't afraid

00:07:04If you thought I hadn't come, why didn't you ride back with Dennis Edie?

00:07:08Why?

00:07:08Where were you?

00:07:09How did you know?

00:07:10I never saw you

00:07:12Come along

00:07:13He slipped his arm through hers

00:07:15and fancied it was faintly pressed against her side

00:07:19Neither of them moved

00:07:20He would have liked to stand there with her all night in the blackness

00:07:25There was a whole lot of people sledging before the moon set

00:07:30Looked like they were having fun

00:07:32Would you like to come in and go coasting one night, Maddie?

00:07:35Oh, could we, Ethan?

00:07:37That would be lovely

00:07:38We'll come tomorrow if there's a full moon

00:07:40She lingered, pressing closer to his side

00:07:44Ned Hale and Ruth Varnum came near to running into that big elm at the bottom

00:07:48We were all sure they would be killed

00:07:51Wouldn't it have been too awful? They're so happy

00:07:53Ah, nearly much a steer

00:07:56I guess I could take you down, all right

00:07:58That great elm is dangerous, though

00:08:00It ought to be cut down

00:08:02Would you be afraid of it with me?

00:08:05I told you

00:08:07I ain't the kind to be afraid

00:08:09You'd have found me right off if you hadn't gone back to have that last reel with Dennis Edie

00:08:18Why, Ethan? How could I tell you were there?

00:08:20I suppose what folks say is true

00:08:28Why? What do folks say?

00:08:32That it's natural enough you should be leaving us

00:08:37You mean that Xena ain't suited anymore?

00:08:42I know I ain't anything like as smart as I ought to be

00:08:44And I haven't got much strength in my arms, but if she'd only tell me, I'd try

00:08:50You know, she hardly ever says anything

00:08:52And sometimes I can see she ain't suited, and yet I don't know why

00:08:57Ethan Frome's wife, Xena, had never shown any jealousy of Mattie

00:09:02But of late, she had grumbled increasingly over the housework

00:09:06And had found oblique ways of drawing attention to the girl's inefficiency

00:09:10Come along

00:09:15They walked in silence through the blackness of the hemlock-shaded lane

00:09:20Into the comparative clearness of the fields

00:09:23The open country rolled away before them, lonely under the stars

00:09:29Then you don't want to leave us, Matt

00:09:33Where would I go if I did?

00:09:35Ethan pressed Mattie Silver against him so closely

00:09:40He seemed to feel her warmth in his veins

00:09:45You ain't crying, are you, Matt?

00:09:47No

00:09:49Of course I'm not

00:09:52They turned in at the gate and passed under the shaded knoll where

00:09:57Enclosed by a low fence, the frowned gravestones slanted at crazy angles through the snow

00:10:03Ethan seemed to hear their voices in the stillness of the night

00:10:09We never got away

00:10:11How should you?

00:10:14I'll never let you go, Matt

00:10:24Xena always went to bed as soon as she had supper

00:10:28The shutteless windows of the house were dark

00:10:30The key's not here

00:10:35It might have fallen off into the snow

00:10:38Xena

00:10:40Guess you must have forgot about us

00:10:42No

00:10:43I just got my shooting pains so bad I couldn't sleep

00:10:53I'm so sorry, Xena

00:10:55Isn't there anything I can do?

00:10:56No, there's nothing

00:10:59You might have shook off that snow outside

00:11:02While Xena stood on the stairs, a lamp in her hand

00:11:07Ethan Frome paused, affecting to fumble for the peg on which he hung his coat

00:11:12The doors of the two bedrooms faced each other at the top of the stairs

00:11:17And tonight, it was peculiarly repugnant to Ethan that Mattie should see him follow Xena up to their room

00:11:24I guess I won't come up yet a while

00:11:27For land's sake, what are you going to do down there?

00:11:29I've got the mill accounts to go over

00:11:31At this time of night?

00:11:34You'll catch your death

00:11:35The fire's out long ago

00:11:36Ethan's glance crossed Mattie's

00:11:40And he fancied that a furtive warning gleamed through her lashes

00:11:45The next moment, she began to mount the stairs ahead of Xena

00:11:52That's uh

00:11:54It is powerful coal down here

00:11:56And with lowered head, Ethan Frome went up the stairs in his wife's wake

00:12:07And followed her across the threshold of their room

00:12:14He undressed hurriedly and blew out the light so that he should not see Xena's face when he took his place at her side

00:12:21He could hear Mattie moving about in her room

00:12:26Her candle sending its small ray across the landing creeping underneath his door

00:12:32He kept his eyes fixed on that light till it vanished

00:12:37Through his tingling veins and tired brain only one sensation persisted

00:12:43The warmth of Mattie's shoulder next to his

00:12:51Ethan Frome had spent the whole of the morning laboring alone in the still bright air of the woodlot

00:13:13But all he had been able to think about was Mattie Silver

00:13:16Why had he not kissed her last night as they stood together in the snow-covered woods?

00:13:26As he entered the kitchen

00:13:28Mattie was preparing the table and Xena was seated in the high-back chair

00:13:34She wore her best dress of brown merino and beside her on the floor stood Ethan's old valise

00:13:40Well, where are you going, Xena?

00:13:42I've got my shooting pain so bad. I'm going over to Bettsbridge to spend the night with Aunt Martha Pierce and see that new doctor

00:13:51Such abrupt decisions were not without precedent in Xena's history

00:13:55On her last visit to Springfield, she had paid twenty dollars for an electric battery which she had never been able to learn how to use

00:14:03If you're too busy with the hauling, I presume you can let Jotham Powell drive me over in time to catch the train at the flats

00:14:08Ethan hardly heard what she was saying

00:14:12During the winter there was no stage between Starkfield and Bettsbridge

00:14:16A rapid calculation showed Ethan that Xena could not be back before the following evening

00:14:22All I know is I can't go on the way I am much longer

00:14:26The pains are clear way down my ankles now or I'd have walked to Starkfield on my own feet

00:14:30And asked Michael Eady to let me ride over on his wagon to the flats

00:14:35I'd had two hours to wait at the station, but I'd sooner have done it

00:14:39Even with this cold and to have you say

00:14:41Well, of course, Jotham will drive you over

00:14:45Matty Silver was pouring the coffee

00:14:47Ethan found himself looking at her

00:14:50And with an effort, he turned his eyes back to his wife

00:14:53I take you over myself, only I have to collect the cash for that lumber I'm taking to Andrew Hale

00:14:59As soon as the words were spoken, he regretted them

00:15:02Not only as they were untrue

00:15:04But because he knew the imprudence of letting Xena think he was in funds before one of her therapeutic excursions

00:15:12But just now, his one desire was to be released from what would be an interminably long drive

00:15:19Trapped at Xena's side

00:15:21This medicine ain't done me a speck of good

00:15:25But I guess I might as well use it up

00:15:28Matty, if you can get the taste out of this bottle, it'll do for pickles

00:15:38So long, Xena

00:15:39Like I said, I ain't got no choice, but I got to go

00:15:44You watch out for that drift down by the lower road

00:15:51Oh, Ethan

00:16:06I never heard you come in

00:16:09That's Xena and Jotham on their way

00:16:10Best to get that hauling done

00:16:20So long, Matt

00:16:23So long, Ethan

00:16:24When Ethan's mother was living through the last of her days

00:16:35His cousin, Zenobia Pierce, came over from the next valley to help nurse her

00:16:40After the funeral, when he saw her preparing to go away

00:16:46He was seized with an unreasoning dread of being left alone on the farm

00:16:50And before he knew what he was doing, he had asked her to stay and marry him

00:16:56He had often thought since

00:16:59That it would not have happened if his mother had died in spring and not winter

00:17:07Hello, Ethan

00:17:09This lumber sure comes in handy

00:17:11Mr. Hale

00:17:13Well, sir

00:17:14You keep these two horses as if they was pets

00:17:18When you finish unloading, come right inside

00:17:22Shake the coal door

00:17:23I will, thank you

00:17:33You sit right down and fall out

00:17:39I seen Xena heading over to the flats

00:17:42How is she?

00:17:43Says there's some new doctor over Bettsbridge

00:17:46Oh, I'll tell Mrs. Hale, Xena ain't feeling so good

00:17:48I'm sorry to hear that, Ethan

00:17:50Can I do something for you?

00:17:56I was thinking about payment

00:18:00For the lumber

00:18:01I was wondering about an advance

00:18:06Fifty dollars

00:18:08Fifty dollar advance

00:18:09What are you doing, Ethan? Buying a piano?

00:18:12Because I got one up in the house you're going to have for half that price

00:18:15No, it ain't nothing like that

00:18:19Thing is, Ethan, it ain't possible

00:18:22Not right now

00:18:24I'm obliged

00:18:26See here

00:18:27You ain't in a tight place, are you?

00:18:29Not a bit

00:18:30Well, that's good

00:18:33Because I am

00:18:35A shade

00:18:36In fact, as I was going to ask you to give me a little extra time on this payment

00:18:41Business is pretty slack to begin with

00:18:43And then I'm fixing up a little house for Ned and Ruth when they're married

00:18:48I'm glad to do it for them

00:18:49But it costs

00:18:51The young people like things nice

00:18:54You know how it is yourself

00:18:55It's not so long ago since you fixed up your own place

00:18:58For Xena

00:19:03Up now

00:19:03All day long, Ethan Frome had thought about his return to Matty that evening

00:19:10For the first time, they would be alone together indoors

00:19:14And they would sit there

00:19:16One on each side of the stove

00:19:18Like a married couple

00:19:20He in his stockinged feet smoking his pipe

00:19:23She laughing and talking in that funny way she had

00:19:27Which was always as new to him as if he had never heard it before

00:19:30As he drew near the house, he saw a light at an upstairs window

00:19:36Whoa

00:19:36She's up in her room, he said to himself

00:19:40Fixing herself up for supper

00:19:44Hello, Matt

00:19:45Hello

00:19:45What?

00:19:46I was saying that he took over you

00:19:48Well, Matt, any visitors?

00:19:51Yes, one

00:19:52And who was that?

00:19:53Why, Joseph Powell

00:19:55He came in after he got back and asked for a drop of coffee before he went home

00:19:59That all?

00:20:00Well, I hope you made out to let him have it

00:20:03I suppose he got Xena over to the flats all right

00:20:07Oh, yes, in plenty of time

00:20:12I guess it's about time for supper

00:20:17They drew their seats up to the table

00:20:20And the cat, unbidden, jumped between them into Xena's chair

00:20:24Oh, pussy

00:20:25Looks as if there'd be more snow

00:20:39Is that so?

00:20:42Oh, do you suppose it'll interfere with Xena's getting back?

00:20:47Well, you never can tell this time of year

00:20:49Drift so bad on the flats

00:20:51Oh, it's not the milk

00:20:54They both leaned out

00:20:56And their fingers touched as they reached for the milk jug

00:21:00Oh, Ethan

00:21:02Ethan, it's all to pieces

00:21:04What else is he going to say?

00:21:06Well, she'll have to say it to the cat

00:21:08Whatever it is

00:21:08It was he who broke the dish

00:21:09Guess it

00:21:10You see, she never meant it should be used

00:21:12Not even when there was company

00:21:13And I had to get up on the step ladder

00:21:16To reach it down from the top shelf of the china cupboard

00:21:18Where she keeps her best things

00:21:20And she'll want to know why I did it

00:21:22Well, she didn't even know anything about it if you keep quiet

00:21:24I'll get another just like tomorrow

00:21:26Where did it come from?

00:21:27I'll go to Shad's Falls about it

00:21:28No, no, you'll never get another even there

00:21:31It was a wedding present, don't you remember?

00:21:34It came all the way from Philadelphia

00:21:36From Xena's aunt that married the minister

00:21:38That's why she wouldn't ever use it

00:21:40Oh, Ethan!

00:21:42Ethan, what in the world should I do?

00:21:43Don't, don't, Matt, don't

00:21:47Oh, don't

00:21:48Here

00:21:49Give the pieces to me

00:21:52I'll lay the pieces up here

00:21:54It's too high for Xena to see

00:21:57I'll get some glue

00:21:59Tomorrow

00:21:59It could be a long time before Xena notices

00:22:02And by then I'll find a match for the distance

00:22:03Shad's Falls or Beth's Bridge

00:22:06It's all right, Matt

00:22:08It's all right

00:22:09Now come on, come and finish supper

00:22:21After supper, while Mattie cleared the table

00:22:24Ethan went to look at the cows and he took a last turn about the house and stable

00:22:30The earth lay dark under a muffled sky

00:22:34And the air was so still

00:22:36That now and then he heard a lump of snow come thumping down from a tree far off on the edge of the woodlot

00:22:51When he returned to the kitchen

00:22:53Mattie had pushed his chair up to the stove

00:22:56While she sat at the table with a bit of sewing

00:23:00He felt like he was in another world

00:23:02Come over here, ma'am

00:23:03Sit by the stove

00:23:16They spoke of everyday things

00:23:19It produced in Ethan an illusion of long-established intimacy

00:23:24Which no outburst of emotion could have given

00:23:27And he allowed himself to imagine that they had always spent their evenings this way

00:23:32And would always go on doing so

00:23:34This was the night we were meant to have gone coasting

00:23:38I thought you forgot

00:23:39No, I didn't forget

00:23:41But it's dark as Egypt outdoors

00:23:45We might go tomorrow if there's a moon

00:23:48That would be lovely, Ethan

00:23:50Would you be scared to go with me on a night as dark as this?

00:23:54I ain't any more scared than you are

00:23:56Well, I'd be scared then

00:23:59There's a nutty corner down by the big elm

00:24:01If the fellow didn't keep his eyes open, he'd go plum into it

00:24:04I guess we're well enough here

00:24:09Yes

00:24:11We're well enough here

00:24:15Say, Matt

00:24:17What do you think I saw coming along home today?

00:24:20A friend of yours getting kissed

00:24:23I suppose it was Ruth and Ned

00:24:27I suppose they'll be setting the date before long

00:24:30Yes

00:24:33I shouldn't wonder if they got married sometime along in the summer

00:24:38It'll be your turn next

00:24:44Why do you keep on saying that?

00:24:47I guess I do it to get used to the idea

00:24:50It's not because you think Zena's got anything against me, is it?

00:24:53Why? What do you mean?

00:24:55I don't know

00:24:56I thought last night she seemed to have

00:25:00I'd like to know what?

00:25:02Nobody can tell with Zena

00:25:04She hasn't said anything to you?

00:25:05No, not a word

00:25:09I guess I'm just nervous then

00:25:13I'm not going to think about it anymore

00:25:16No

00:25:18Don't let's think about it

00:25:20Matty sat sewing

00:25:25And it seemed to Ethan that a warm current

00:25:28flowed toward him along the strip of cloth that she was mending

00:25:32Without knowing what he was doing

00:25:35he leant forward

00:25:36took the white linen between his fingers

00:25:39and kissed it

00:25:44It's getting late

00:25:45Just as on every other night

00:25:50Matty dragged toward the stove the old soapbox lined with carpet in which the cat made its bed

00:25:58She lifted the two geranium pots moving them away from the cold window

00:26:03and he followed her with the hyacinth bulbs in the cracked custard bowl

00:26:07He put the candlestick in her hand and she went out of the kitchen ahead of him

00:26:16the light that she carried before her making her dark hair look like a drift of mist on the moon

00:26:25Good night, Matt

00:26:29Good night, Ethan

00:26:38When the door of her room had closed on her

00:26:42he remembered he had not even touched her hand

00:26:59Hello, Matt

00:27:02Morning, Ethan

00:27:03I got some hot coffee just about ready

00:27:10After the previous evening spent sitting quietly with Matty Silver

00:27:14Ethan Frome did not know why he was so irrationally happy

00:27:19for nothing had changed in his life or hers

00:27:22That's good

00:27:23He had not even touched the tip of her fingers

00:27:26or looked her full in the eyes

00:27:28But their time together had given him a vision of what life at her side might be

00:27:33And he was glad now that he had done nothing to trouble the sweetness of the picture

00:27:38Come down the hill road

00:27:40Must have iced up bed in the night

00:27:42Got a load of lumber to take into town later

00:27:44Say he's gonna milden as the day goes on

00:27:46When the sky's dark

00:27:47We close in

00:27:49I reckon we should waste no time

00:27:51Sooner I deliver that timber and get back the better

00:27:53Miss Frome will be glad to get home in this weather

00:27:55You go harness the greys, Jotham

00:27:59I won't be long

00:28:03For a moment, Ethan and Matty had the kitchen to themselves

00:28:07He stood looking at her, his heart in his throat

00:28:11He wanted to say

00:28:13We shall never be alone like this again

00:28:16Xena will be so angry if she finds out I broke her dish

00:28:19Don't trouble Matty

00:28:21I'll take the wagon into town just as soon as I can

00:28:24Get some glue

00:28:25Xena won't be back before dark

00:28:27By then that old pickle dish will look as good as new

00:28:36Get on

00:28:36As soon as the wagon was loaded with timber

00:28:42Ethan had planned to send Jotham back to the farm

00:28:45While he made his way into town

00:28:47To buy the glue for the broken dish

00:28:50The pickle dish that Xena held in such high regard

00:28:55Let's go easy

00:28:56Road's iced up pretty bad

00:28:58With ordinary luck

00:29:00Ethan should have had more than enough time to carry out his plan

00:29:04But everything went wrong right from the start

00:29:06Whoa there, whoa

00:29:09Steady boy

00:29:12Steady, steady

00:29:15Is the leg broke?

00:29:16Ah, he's down heavy

00:29:18I'm not the harness, let's try to get him on his feet

00:29:20Steady now

00:29:22I know

00:29:23It cut his knee bad, but it ain't broke

00:29:27The knee's binding

00:29:28I can walk back to the house, get a rag

00:29:30No, I'll go

00:29:32You stay here

00:29:40What's happened?

00:29:40One of the base cut his leg

00:29:42Gotta bind up the wound

00:29:46Here

00:29:47This is some old linen I use for mending

00:29:49I'm grateful to you

00:29:50Jotham said he was gonna pick up Xena early

00:29:54Before it gets dark

00:29:56It don't matter

00:29:57I still got time to get that glue

00:30:00You believe me, don't you, Matt?

00:30:03Yes, I do

00:30:11Yeah, I should do it

00:30:12The rag will keep the wound clean enough

00:30:13till we get him back later

00:30:14I got some tarpaulin

00:30:16Could rig it up, give the horse some cover

00:30:17We don't have no time to waste on no tarpaulin

00:30:19No, sir

00:30:20It was what Jotham called a sour day for work

00:30:24And the horses

00:30:25Shivering and stamping under their wet blankets

00:30:28Seemed to like it as little as the men

00:30:31It was past the dinner hour when the job was finally done

00:30:35That's the last one

00:30:36You can rope him down, Jotham

00:30:38When we get back

00:30:40I'll go and take the bae that ain't hurt himself to fetch Miss Frone

00:30:43Take the sorrel

00:30:45The sorrel?

00:30:46But she sure is slow and with the weather coming down

00:30:49I need the bae to go to town

00:30:50You take the sorrel to Fedsina

00:30:52That horse will do it if you give her time

00:30:58Ethan Frome had driven halfway to the village

00:31:01When in the distance he saw Jotham Powell urging the reluctant sorrel toward the flats

00:31:07His time was running out

00:31:15When Ethan arrived at Michael Eadie's store

00:31:18Eadie and his assistant were both down the street

00:31:21And young Dennis Eadie, who seldom deigned to take their place, was lounging by the stove

00:31:27Well, it looks as if we're all sold out of glue

00:31:31But if you wait around until the old man comes along, maybe he can put his hand on it

00:31:36No, I'm obliged to you, but I'll try down Mrs. Holman

00:31:38Mrs. Holman ain't had no new stock in these last ten years

00:31:41We've got corset laces, tin tacks, papers for candles, ain't a bad price neither

00:31:52You sure you ain't got any glue?

00:31:53You thought about trying a good flour paste instead, but Zena knows how to make one

00:31:57I'd be obliged to some glue

00:31:58I'd be obliged to some glue

00:32:00A blozenges, cherry, oh, well I'll be, here it is, one bottle of glue

00:32:07That'll be ten cents

00:32:09Here

00:32:10I hope Zena ain't broke anything she said store by

00:32:14Ethan

00:32:20You see here, Matt, I've got some stuff to mend the dish with

00:32:22Now you let me go to the quest

00:32:23Oh, you think Zena's come?

00:32:24The Jotham ain't back yet, the Sorrel's not in the barn

00:32:27He dropped Zena off, then took the sleigh over to his place, he picked up some groceries for his wife

00:32:31How is she?

00:32:35I don't know

00:32:35She went right up to her room

00:32:38She didn't say anything?

00:32:40No

00:32:40I better go and feed the horses before it gets dark

00:32:45Don't fret

00:32:48I'll come down and mend the dish in the night when she's asleep

00:32:52From the stable, Ethan Frome could just about see the glow of light that Matty Silva was making in the kitchen a few yards away

00:33:08There was no light upstairs in Zena's room

00:33:12She might be sleeping

00:33:13Maybe she was tired from her journey

00:33:16Ethan

00:33:18I'll bed it down and then I'll be on my way

00:33:22Must have made good time from the flats

00:33:26You might as well come back for a bite to eat

00:33:33The hired man was seldom loath to accept a meal not included in his wages

00:33:38I'm obliged to you, but I guess I'll go along home

00:33:42Ethan had been hoping for Jotham's neutralizing presence at the table

00:33:47You'd be welcome, Jotham

00:33:50You know that

00:33:50I know, but I guess I'll go along back

00:33:54There was something vaguely ominous in this stolid rejection of food and warmth

00:34:00And Ethan wondered what had happened on the drive home with Zena

00:34:05To cause Jotham to want to get away without delay

00:34:08Zena?

00:34:16Zena?

00:34:36Supper's about ready

00:34:37In you coming

00:34:39I don't feel as if I could touch a morsel

00:34:42Well, I presume you're tired after the long ride

00:34:46I'm a great deal sicker than you think

00:34:49I hope that's not so, Zena

00:34:58No

00:34:58I've got complications

00:35:01Ethan knew the word for one of exceptional import

00:35:07People struggled on for years with troubles

00:35:10But they almost always succumbed to complications

00:35:14Is that what the new doctor told you?

00:35:17He says anyone else would want me to have an operation

00:35:20What do you know about that doctor anyway?

00:35:23Nobody ever told you that before

00:35:25Oh, I didn't need to have anybody tell me I was losing ground every day

00:35:30And everybody in Bettsbridge knows about Dr. Buck

00:35:33He has his office in Worcester and comes over once a fortnight to Shads Falls in Bettsbridge for consultations

00:35:39Eliza Spears was wasting away with kidney trouble before she went to him

00:35:45And now she's up and around singing in the choir

00:35:48Oh well, I'm glad of that

00:35:51You must do just what he tells you

00:35:53I mean to

00:35:55What does he want you should do?

00:36:01He wants I should have a hired girl

00:36:03He says I oughtn't to have to do a single thing around the house

00:36:07A hired girl?

00:36:10Yes

00:36:10And Aunt Martha found me one right off

00:36:13Everybody said I was lucky to get a girl come away out here

00:36:17And I agreed to give her a dollar extra to make sure

00:36:20She'll be over tomorrow afternoon

00:36:22If you meant to engage a girl, you ought to have told me before you started

00:36:26How could I tell you before I started?

00:36:29How did I know what Dr. Buck would say?

00:36:31Well, did Dr. Buck tell you how else to pay her wages?

00:36:33No, he didn't

00:36:34For I'd have been ashamed to tell him that you grudged me the money to get back my health

00:36:38When I lost it nursing your own mother

00:36:39You lost your health nursing mother?

00:36:41Yes

00:36:41And my folks all told me at the time that you couldn't do no less than marry me after

00:36:45You know

00:36:49I haven't got the money to pay for a girl, Xena

00:36:53You'll have to send her back

00:36:55I can't do it

00:36:56The doctor says it'll be my death if I go on slaving the day I've had to

00:37:01You shan't lift a finger if he says so

00:37:04I'll do everything around the house myself

00:37:06You're neglecting the farm enough already

00:37:09I haven't got the money and that settles it

00:37:10I thought you were getting fifty dollars from Andrew Hale for the lumber

00:37:15Andrew Hale never pays under three months, you know that

00:37:17He had hardly spoken

00:37:20When he remembered the excuse he had made for not accompanying Xena to the station the day before

00:37:25Well, you told me yesterday you'd fixed it up with him to pay cash down

00:37:28That was why you couldn't drive me over to the flats

00:37:32Ethan had never before been convicted of a lie

00:37:37And all the resources of evasion failed him

00:37:41I guess that was a misunderstanding

00:37:43You ain't got the money?

00:37:48No

00:37:48And you ain't going to get it?

00:37:53No

00:37:53Well, I couldn't know that when I engaged the girl now, could I?

00:37:59But you know it now

00:38:00I'm sorry

00:38:03But it can't be helped

00:38:05You're a poor man's wife, Xena

00:38:09But I'll do the best I can for you

00:38:12Oh, I guess we'll make out

00:38:16Of course we will

00:38:17They'll be Maddie's board less anyhow

00:38:19Maddie?

00:38:24You didn't suppose I was going to keep two girls, did you?

00:38:29Oh, no wonder you were scared of the expense

00:38:32Maddie's not a hired girl

00:38:34She's your relation

00:38:36She's a pauper

00:38:38And I've already kept her a whole year

00:38:40It's someone else's turn now

00:38:43Ethan?

00:38:47Xena?

00:38:47Do you know what time it is?

00:38:49Sucker's been ready half an hour

00:38:50Oh, go along down, Mad

00:38:52That Xena's just a little tired

00:38:54I'm coming

00:38:56You ain't gonna do it, Xena

00:39:01Do what?

00:39:02Send Maddie away

00:39:03Like this

00:39:05I never bargained to take her for life

00:39:07You can't put her out of the house

00:39:08Poor girl with no friends or money

00:39:10What'll folks say of you?

00:39:14I know well enough what they say about me

00:39:16Having kept her as long as I have

00:39:18Ethan Frome looked at his wife with loathing

00:39:23She was no longer the listless creature

00:39:26Who had lived at his side

00:39:27In a state of sullen self-absorption

00:39:30But a mysterious, evil presence

00:39:33A dark energy

00:39:35Secreted from the long years of silent brooding

00:39:39The girl will be over from Betts Bridge tomorrow

00:39:42She'll be needing a place to sleep

00:39:45Maddie can pack her things tonight

00:39:47I dare say Joseph Powell can take her to the station

00:39:51There had never been anything in Xena

00:39:54That one could appeal to

00:39:56But as long as Ethan could ignore and command

00:39:59He had remained indifferent

00:40:01Now she had mastered him

00:40:04And he abhorred her

00:40:06All the long misery of his baffled past

00:40:11Of his youth

00:40:12Of failure, hardship and vain effort

00:40:15Rose up in his soul in a wave of bitterness

00:40:18Which seemed to take shape before him

00:40:20In the woman who at every turn

00:40:22Had barred his way

00:40:23She had taken everything from him

00:40:27And now she meant to take the one thing

00:40:29That made up for all the rest

00:40:31By nightfall tomorrow

00:40:33Matty Silver would be gone

00:40:37Ethan sat down with Matty

00:40:50For what he feared would be the very last time

00:40:53And a sense of dread hung over him

00:40:56So real, so close

00:40:58That he barely dared to speak

00:41:00In case in speaking

00:41:02What he feared the most

00:41:04Might come to pass

00:41:06I've been keeping it nice and hot

00:41:07Get down, puss

00:41:10I hope Xena isn't sick

00:41:16No

00:41:17Well, you best start

00:41:20You must be starving

00:41:22I know, puss

00:41:25You'll have your supper, too

00:41:27Why, Ethan, what's the matter?

00:41:34Don't it taste right?

00:41:37Yes, it's first ray

00:41:38Only

00:41:40I

00:41:43Oh, Ethan

00:41:47There's something wrong

00:41:49I knew there was

00:41:50Oh, Matt

00:41:50Matt

00:41:51What is it?

00:41:52Matty

00:41:52I can't let you go, Matt

00:41:56I can't

00:41:57I won't let you

00:41:59Go?

00:42:01Must I go?

00:42:04Must I go?

00:42:07The words went on sounding between them

00:42:10Like a torch of warning

00:42:11Passed from hand to hand

00:42:13Through a black landscape

00:42:14Ethan, what's happened?

00:42:17Is Xena mad with me?

00:42:18No

00:42:18No, no, it's not that

00:42:20But the new doctor

00:42:23Is scared her about herself

00:42:24And you know

00:42:26She believes all they say

00:42:27The first time she sees them

00:42:28And this one's told her

00:42:30That she won't get well

00:42:31Unless she

00:42:32Lays up

00:42:33And don't do a thing

00:42:34About the house

00:42:34Not for months

00:42:36And she wants somebody

00:42:37Handier to take my place

00:42:39Is that it?

00:42:40That's what she says tonight

00:42:42If she says it tonight

00:42:48She'll say it tomorrow

00:42:49Both now bowed

00:42:52To the inexorable truth

00:42:53They knew that Xena

00:42:55Never changed her mind

00:42:56And that in her case

00:42:58A resolve once taken

00:43:00Was equivalent

00:43:01To an act performed

00:43:03Don't be too sorry, Ethan

00:43:06Oh, God

00:43:08Oh, God

00:43:10You're letting your supper

00:43:12Get cold

00:43:13But where'll you go?

00:43:19I might get something

00:43:20To do over Stamford

00:43:22Despair seized him

00:43:24At the thought

00:43:25Of her setting out alone

00:43:26In the only place

00:43:28Where she was known

00:43:29She was surrounded

00:43:30By indifference

00:43:31And animosity

00:43:32What chance had she?

00:43:34Inexperienced

00:43:35And untrained

00:43:36Among the million

00:43:37Breadseekers

00:43:38In the city

00:43:39You can't go, Matt

00:43:40I won't let you

00:43:42She's always had her way

00:43:45But I'm gonna have mine now

00:43:47I felt a mite better

00:43:52Dr. Buck says

00:43:54I ought to eat all I can

00:43:55To keep my strength up

00:43:56Even if I ain't got

00:43:58Any appetite

00:43:59Good pussy

00:44:06I got you a bit of supper

00:44:08Here now

00:44:09There you go

00:44:09See?

00:44:15Mmm

00:44:16Mmm

00:44:18Mmm

00:44:19Mmm

00:44:20Mmm

00:44:21Mmm

00:44:22Mmm

00:44:23Mmm

00:44:24They got snow

00:44:24As bad in Bettsbridge

00:44:26Mmm

00:44:26Not so bad

00:44:28It's a big place

00:44:30They gotta keep the street open

00:44:31Mmm

00:44:32You want more pie, Ethan?

00:44:35No, I had mine

00:44:36Mmm

00:44:36Dr. Buck says

00:44:39Half the people

00:44:40Of this country

00:44:40Don't eat right

00:44:41Dr. Buck says

00:44:43We gotta work

00:44:44With what we got

00:44:45No use wishing

00:44:48For what you can't

00:44:49Never have

00:44:49Is there?

00:44:51I'll clear away

00:44:57Those plates

00:44:58Shall I?

00:45:03That pie of yours

00:45:04Always sits

00:45:04A mite heavy

00:45:05Matt

00:45:05I have a good mind

00:45:07To go and hunt up

00:45:08Those stomach powders

00:45:09I got last year

00:45:10Over in Springfield

00:45:11I ain't tried them

00:45:13For quite a while

00:45:14Maybe they'll help

00:45:15My heart burn

00:45:16Can I get them

00:45:17For you, Xena?

00:45:18No

00:45:18They're in a place

00:45:20You don't know about

00:45:21Guess I'll go outside

00:45:29And take a look around

00:45:30I'd like to know

00:45:35Who done this

00:45:36I went to get

00:45:43Those powders

00:45:44I put away

00:45:45In father's old

00:45:46Spectacle case

00:45:47Top of the china closet

00:45:49Where I keep

00:45:50The things

00:45:50I said store by

00:45:51So's folks

00:45:53Shant metal with them

00:45:54And I put

00:45:56Aunt Falora Maple's

00:45:57Pickle dish up there

00:45:58On purpose

00:45:58When we was married

00:45:59And it's never been

00:46:01Down since

00:46:02Except for the

00:46:02Spring cleaning

00:46:03And then I always

00:46:04Lifted it with my own

00:46:05Hand so it shouldn't

00:46:06Get broke

00:46:06I want to know

00:46:09Who done this

00:46:10I can tell you then

00:46:11The cat did

00:46:12The cat?

00:46:15That's what I said

00:46:16I'd like to know

00:46:18How the cat

00:46:19Got into my china closet

00:46:21Chasing mice

00:46:23I guess

00:46:23There was a mouse

00:46:24Around the kitchen

00:46:25All evening

00:46:25I knew the cat

00:46:27Was a smart cat

00:46:28But I didn't know

00:46:30He was smart enough

00:46:31To pick up the pieces

00:46:32Of my pickle dish

00:46:33And lay them

00:46:33Edge to edge

00:46:34On the very shelf

00:46:35He knocked them off

00:46:36It wasn't

00:46:36Ethan's fault

00:46:37Xena

00:46:37The cat did

00:46:40Break the dish

00:46:41But I got it down

00:46:42From the china closet

00:46:43And I'm the one

00:46:44To blame

00:46:45For getting it broken

00:46:46You got down

00:46:48My pickle dish

00:46:49What for?

00:46:53I wanted to make

00:46:55The supper table

00:46:56Pretty

00:46:56You wanted to make

00:46:59The supper table

00:47:00Pretty?

00:47:02And you waited

00:47:03Till my back

00:47:04Was turned

00:47:04And took the thing

00:47:06I most set store by

00:47:07Of everything I got

00:47:08And would never use it

00:47:10Not even when

00:47:11The minister come to dinner

00:47:12Or Aunt Martha Pierce

00:47:13Come over from

00:47:14Bettsbridge

00:47:14Oh, you're a bad girl

00:47:18Maddie Silver

00:47:18And I've always known it

00:47:19It's the way

00:47:21Your father begun

00:47:22And I was warned of it

00:47:23When I took you

00:47:24And I tried to keep

00:47:25My things where

00:47:26You couldn't get them

00:47:27And now you have

00:47:28Taken from me

00:47:29The one thing

00:47:30I cared for

00:47:31Most of all

00:47:32If I'd listened to folks

00:47:34You'd have gone before this

00:47:36And this wouldn't happen

00:47:37And with that

00:47:47She gathered up

00:47:48The bits of broken glass

00:47:49And went out of the room

00:47:51As if she was carrying

00:47:53A dead body

00:47:54The kitchen was empty

00:48:04When Ethan came back inside

00:48:06From walking his nightly round

00:48:07His tobacco pouch and pipe

00:48:10Had been laid on the table

00:48:11And under them

00:48:13A scrap of paper

00:48:14Torn from the back

00:48:16Of a seed man's catalogue

00:48:17On which three words

00:48:19Were written

00:48:20Don't trouble, Ethan

00:48:23It was the first time

00:48:26Matty had ever

00:48:28Written to him

00:48:28When Ethan was called

00:48:39Back to the farm

00:48:40By his father's illness

00:48:41His mother gave him

00:48:43For his own use

00:48:44A small room

00:48:45Behind the best parlor

00:48:47Here he nailed up

00:48:49Shelves for his books

00:48:50Built himself a box sofa

00:48:52Out of boards

00:48:53In a mattress

00:48:53He hung on the rough

00:48:55Plaster wall

00:48:56An engraving of Abraham Lincoln

00:48:58And a calendar

00:48:59With thoughts from the poets

00:49:01When Matty came

00:49:03He had to give her his stove

00:49:05And now, in winter

00:49:07It was as cold as could be

00:49:09Don't trouble

00:49:10Don't

00:49:13Trouble

00:49:16He read Matty's message

00:49:20He read Matty's message

00:49:20Again and again

00:49:21The possession of the paper

00:49:23Gave him a strange sense

00:49:25Of her nearness

00:49:26Yet it deepened his anguish

00:49:28By reminding him

00:49:30That from now on

00:49:31They would have no other way

00:49:32Of communicating with each other

00:49:34Confused emotions

00:49:36Of rebellion

00:49:37Raged in him

00:49:38He was too young

00:49:40Too strong

00:49:42Too full of the sap of living

00:49:44To submit so easily

00:49:45To the destruction

00:49:46Of his hopes

00:49:47He knew of a man

00:49:51Over the mountain

00:49:51He had escaped

00:49:53From just such a life

00:49:54Of misery

00:49:55By going west

00:49:56With the girl

00:49:57He cared for

00:49:58Zina

00:50:00I've done

00:50:02All I could for you

00:50:03And I don't see

00:50:05It's been any use

00:50:07I don't blame you

00:50:10Nor do I blame myself

00:50:12Maybe both of us

00:50:15Will do better separate

00:50:16If he gave the farm

00:50:21To Zina

00:50:22What would be left

00:50:23For him to start

00:50:24His own life with

00:50:25Once in the west

00:50:27He was sure

00:50:27Of picking up work

00:50:28He would not have feared

00:50:30To venture there alone

00:50:31Although with Matty

00:50:33Depending on him

00:50:34It would not be easy

00:50:35I'm gonna try my luck

00:50:38In the west

00:50:39You can

00:50:41Sell the farm

00:50:43Keep the

00:50:47Money

00:50:48But the farm

00:50:50Was mortgaged to the limit

00:50:52And even if

00:50:53Zina found a purchaser

00:50:54It was doubtful

00:50:55She would clear

00:50:56A thousand dollars

00:50:57Is on the sale

00:50:58And how could she

00:51:00Keep the farm going

00:51:00She could never

00:51:02Carry such a burden

00:51:03Alone

00:51:04Damn it

00:51:05He had a copy

00:51:13Of the Bettsbridge Eagle

00:51:15Trips to the west

00:51:17Reduced rates

00:51:19Forty dollars?

00:51:21A moment ago

00:51:23A moment ago

00:51:23He had wondered

00:51:24What he and Matty

00:51:25Were to live on

00:51:26When they reached the west

00:51:27Now he saw

00:51:29He had not even

00:51:30The money to take her there

00:51:31Borrowing was out

00:51:34Of the question

00:51:34He had given

00:51:35His only security

00:51:37To raise funds

00:51:38For repairs

00:51:39To the mill

00:51:39And he knew

00:51:41That without security

00:51:42No one would lend him

00:51:44Ten dollars

00:51:45In Starkfield

00:51:46There was no way out

00:51:50None

00:51:51He was a prisoner

00:51:54For life

00:51:55And his one ray of light

00:51:57Had been extinguished

00:51:59Ethan awoke

00:52:15To the chill

00:52:16Of the winter dawn

00:52:17He went to the window

00:52:19A red sun

00:52:21Stood over the gray rim

00:52:22Of the fields

00:52:23Behind trees

00:52:24That looked black

00:52:25And brittle

00:52:26All he could think of

00:52:28Was that this would be

00:52:30Matty's last day

00:52:31Oh, Ethan

00:52:37Were you here all night?

00:52:39You must be frozen

00:52:40How did you know

00:52:42Where I was?

00:52:44I went to bed

00:52:46And you didn't come up

00:52:47I listened for you

00:52:50All night

00:52:51I'll come along

00:52:56And make up

00:52:57The kitchen fire

00:52:58I got your note

00:53:08I don't need

00:53:11To trouble either

00:53:12No, Ethan

00:53:15I ain't going to trouble

00:53:17I guess things

00:53:20Will straighten out

00:53:21Zena ain't said

00:53:23Nothing this morning

00:53:24No

00:53:26I haven't seen her yet

00:53:27Well, don't you take any notice

00:53:29When you do

00:53:29Things will work out

00:53:31You'll see

00:53:32Things look different

00:53:35In the light of a

00:53:35New day

00:53:36That's what I always say

00:53:40Well

00:53:43I guess we must have it right then

00:53:46And as they drank their coffee

00:53:50It was as if

00:53:52For a little while at least

00:53:54They had regained

00:53:56Their own private world

00:53:58And any thought of parting

00:54:00Was left lingering in the shadows

00:54:03Of the day that was yet to come

00:54:06When warmth began to radiate from the stove

00:54:22And the first ray of sunshine

00:54:24Lay on the kitchen floor

00:54:26It seemed to Ethan impossible

00:54:28That Matty should ever cease

00:54:30To be part of his life

00:54:31Daniel Burns going over to the flats

00:54:33Today noon

00:54:34Said he'd take Matty's trunk along

00:54:36And make it easier riding

00:54:38When he takes her over in the sleigh

00:54:39Who asked him to do that?

00:54:41Why, I did

00:54:42The new girl will be at the flats at five

00:54:45He can take Matty along

00:54:47So she can catch the train for Stamford

00:54:49I'm much obliged to you, Zena

00:54:50I'd like to go over a few things first

00:54:53There's a huckabuck towel missing

00:54:56And I can't make out what you've done

00:54:58With the copper matchbox

00:55:00Used to stand behind the stuffed owl

00:55:02In the parlor

00:55:03It had occurred to Ethan

00:55:05That Andrew Hale

00:55:06Who was a kind-hearted man

00:55:08Might be induced to reconsider

00:55:11His previous refusal

00:55:12And advance a payment on some lumber

00:55:15If he were told that Zena's ill health

00:55:17Made it necessary to hire a servant

00:55:19With fifty dollars in his pocket

00:55:22Nothing could keep him from Matty Silver

00:55:25Whoa there, whoa

00:55:26Good morning, Ethan

00:55:28Miss Hale?

00:55:29Mr. Hale up at the house?

00:55:30Why, yes

00:55:31He ain't going to his work this forenoon

00:55:34He woke up with a touch of lumbago

00:55:36And I just made him put on one of Dr. Kidder's plasters

00:55:39And sat right up to the fire

00:55:41I'm sorry to hear that

00:55:42I only just heard from Mr. Hale

00:55:44About Zena going over to Bettsbridge

00:55:46To see the new doctor

00:55:47I'm real sorry to hear she's feeling bad again

00:55:50I don't know anyone around here

00:55:53Had more sickness than Zena

00:55:55No

00:55:56I always tell Mr. Hale

00:55:58I don't know what she'd have done

00:56:00If she hadn't had you to look after her

00:56:02And I used to say the same thing about your mother

00:56:04Why, you had an awful mean time, Ethan Frone

00:56:09Help, help, help

00:56:12It was a long time since anyone had spoken to Ethan as kindly as Mrs. Hale

00:56:17And for the first time, he saw what he was about to do

00:56:22Go on now

00:56:23He was a poor man

00:56:26The husband of a sickly woman

00:56:28If he deserted her, she would be alone and destitute

00:56:32And even if he had the heart to leave her

00:56:35He could only have done so by deceiving two kindly people who had pitied him

00:56:40Got your bag?

00:56:49Does Zena say goodbye?

00:56:52I think she must be sleeping

00:56:53Here, let me help you

00:56:56Now then, go on

00:57:04We got lots of time for a good ride, man

00:57:10His hand reached for hers

00:57:14And he pressed her fingers in his

00:57:16Are you going round by the shadow pond?

00:57:20I knew you'd know

00:57:21They drove slowly up the road between fields glistening under the pale sun

00:57:28The lane passed into a pine wood

00:57:31And as they entered

00:57:32A warm stillness seemed to fall from the branches with the dropping needles

00:57:37Whoa now

00:57:39This is where we had the picnic

00:57:41Remember I found your locket?

00:57:44I never saw anybody with such a sharp eye

00:57:47You're pretty as a picture in that pink hat

00:57:50We mustn't stay here any longer

00:57:55There's plenty of time

00:57:57They looked at each other

00:58:00Straining to remember the moment forever

00:58:03Go on

00:58:06Matt

00:58:11What do you mean to do?

00:58:14I'll try to get a place in a store

00:58:16You know you can't do it

00:58:19The bad air and the standing that had killed you before

00:58:22I'm a lot stronger than I was when I came to Starkfield

00:58:25Isn't there any of your father's folks who could help you?

00:58:30There isn't any of them I'd ask

00:58:32You know there's nothing I wouldn't do for you if I could

00:58:38I know there isn't

00:58:41But I can't

00:58:43Oh Matt

00:58:46If I could have gone with you now

00:58:48I'd have done it

00:58:49Would you have wanted to be with me?

00:58:54Oh Ethan

00:58:55Ethan what's the use?

00:58:58Tell me

00:58:59I used to think of it sometimes

00:59:05Summer nights

00:59:07When the moon was so bright I couldn't sleep

00:59:12As long ago as that

00:59:14I'm tied hand on foot Matt

00:59:21There isn't a thing I can do

00:59:23You must write to me sometimes

00:59:25Oh what good

00:59:26Well write no

00:59:26I want to put my hand out and touch you

00:59:27I want to do for you and care for you

00:59:29I want to be there when you're sick and when you're alone

00:59:31You mustn't worry so I'll be alright

00:59:33Oh you won't leave me you mean

00:59:34I suppose you'll marry

00:59:38Oh Ethan

00:59:38I don't know how it is you make me feel Matt

00:59:41I'd almost rather you were dead than that

00:59:42I wish I was

00:59:43I wish I was

00:59:47Well don't let's talk this way

00:59:49Why shouldn't we when it's true?

00:59:52I've been wishing it every minute of the day

00:59:54Matt you be quiet

00:59:56Don't you say it

00:59:57There's never anybody been good to me but you

00:59:59Don't you say that either when I can't lift a hand to help you

01:00:01I don't

01:00:02But it's true just the same

01:00:05They had reached the crest of the Corbury Road

01:00:08An icy slope stretched away before them

01:00:12It was where the young people of the town came to coast

01:00:15And make merry on starry winter nights

01:00:19How'd you like to come coasting with me Matt?

01:00:22We said we would didn't we?

01:00:23Why there isn't time

01:00:24There's all the time we want

01:00:26Come along

01:00:26But the girl she'll be waiting at the station

01:00:29Let her wait

01:00:30Come on

01:00:31There's a sled over there

01:00:33Oh

01:00:33I'll just put a blanket on the horse

01:00:36And then I'll take you down

01:00:38She seated herself obediently on the sled

01:00:45And he took his place behind her

01:00:47All right Matt

01:00:48It's dreadfully dark

01:00:51Are you sure you can see?

01:00:52I could go down this coast with my eyes shut

01:00:54Nevertheless

01:00:56He sat still a moment

01:00:58Straining to see down the long hill

01:01:00Here we go

01:01:02Don't be scared now

01:01:10Were you scared I'd run into that elm?

01:01:24I told you

01:01:26I've never scared with you

01:01:28There's a tricky place, sir

01:01:30At least swerve

01:01:31We never come back up again

01:01:33I guess his sled must be Ned Hale's

01:01:38I'll leave you where I found it

01:01:41Is this where Ned and Ruth kissed each other?

01:01:45Oh, Ethan

01:01:48Oh, Ethan

01:01:48Goodbye

01:01:50Goodbye

01:01:52I can't let you go

01:02:01What do we do?

01:02:04It's time

01:02:10You don't suppose I'm going to leave you now

01:02:12If I miss my train

01:02:14Where'd I go?

01:02:14Where are you going to go if you catch it?

01:02:18What's the good of either of us going anywhere without the other?

01:02:22Ethan

01:02:26I want you to take me coasting one more time

01:02:32So we'll never come up anymore

01:02:36What do you mean?

01:02:41Right into the big elm

01:02:43So we'd never have to leave each other again

01:02:47What are you talking about?

01:02:48You're crazy

01:02:49Where'll I go if I leave you?

01:02:50I don't know how to get along alone

01:02:54Nobody but you

01:02:57Was ever good to me

01:02:59And there'll be that strange girl in the house

01:03:02And she'll sleep in my bed

01:03:03Where I used to lay nights

01:03:04And listen to hear you come up the stairs

01:03:06Come on

01:03:12She reached for his hand

01:03:14The slope below them was deserted

01:03:17He took his seat on the sled

01:03:20And Mattie instantly placed herself in front of him

01:03:23Get up

01:03:24No

01:03:25I want to sit in front

01:03:26Well how can you steer in front?

01:03:29I don't have to

01:03:30We'll follow the track

01:03:31Why do

01:03:33Get up

01:03:33Well why do you want to sit in front?

01:03:36Because I

01:03:36Because I want to feel you holding me

01:03:39He felt for the tracks worn in the ice

01:03:46By those young people who had gone before

01:03:48And placed the runners of the sled

01:03:50Carefully between the edges

01:03:52Her breath on his neck

01:03:54Set him shuddering again

01:03:56And he almost sprang from his seat

01:03:58But in a flash

01:04:00He remembered the alternative

01:04:02She was right

01:04:03This was better than parting

01:04:05He leaned back

01:04:07And drew her mouth to his

01:04:09I'm ready

01:04:15Halfway down

01:04:28There was a sudden drop

01:04:29As the sled took wing

01:04:32It seemed to Ethan that they were flying indeed

01:04:35Far up into the cloudy night

01:04:37With Starkfield immeasurably below them

01:04:40Falling away like a speck in space

01:04:42As the great elm came into sight below them

01:04:49Mattie pressed her arms around Ethan

01:04:51And her blood seemed to be in his veins

01:04:54And so it was that I found the clue to Ethan Frome

01:05:16And began to put together this vision of his story

01:05:20The fire's only just been made up this very minute

01:05:22Zena fell asleep

01:05:25And I thought I'd be frozen stiff

01:05:27Before I could wake her up

01:05:28There ain't no wood in the woodpile, Ethan

01:05:32This is my wife

01:05:33Mrs. Frome?

01:05:36And Miss Mattie Silver

01:05:37I'll go fetch some logs for the store

01:05:40I seated myself in the poor-looking kitchen

01:05:45With Ethan's wife, Zena

01:05:47And Mattie Silver

01:05:48Wasted and grown old

01:05:51It was said in town

01:05:53That when Zena heard of the accident

01:05:55She stayed with Ethan

01:05:57Over at the minister's

01:05:58Where they'd carried him

01:06:00And as soon as the doctors said Mattie could be moved

01:06:03Zena sent for her

01:06:05And took her back to the farm

01:06:07Mattie never had the use of her legs again

01:06:11Needed Zena for every little thing

01:06:13And Zena did for her

01:06:16And did for Ethan as best she could

01:06:19And people thought that's strange

01:06:21Because before the accident

01:06:23She couldn't even care for herself

01:06:26Snow's coming down even harder now

01:06:29Is it, Ethan?

01:06:32We ain't all burned up with the heat

01:06:37We're froze with the cold

01:06:38Ain't nothing we can do about it

01:06:42Some said it was a pity

01:06:45That Mattie Silver survived

01:06:47If she had died

01:06:49Then Ethan might have lived

01:06:51Instead of them all being shut up in that kitchen

01:06:55With not a dime to spare

01:06:57It was terrible indeed

01:07:00To hear the two old women

01:07:01Go on at each other

01:07:02And to see the pain

01:07:04On the face of Ethan Frome

01:07:06It was possible that he had suffered

01:07:09Most of all

01:07:11And as the night darkened

01:07:14And every creature

01:07:15Took shelter from the cold

01:07:17It seemed to me

01:07:19There wasn't much difference now

01:07:21Between the Fromes up at the farm

01:07:23And the Fromes down in the graveyard

01:07:26Lying silent

01:07:28Frozen

01:07:30Under the drifting snow

01:07:32In Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton

01:07:46Ethan was played by Dominic Maffam

01:07:48And Mattie by Jessica Raine

01:07:50Xena was Laurel Lefkoe

01:07:53Mrs. Hale was Tracy Wiles

01:07:55Mr. Hale was Paul Moriarty

01:07:57Dennis Eddy was Christopher Webster

01:07:59The Postmistress was Adjua Ando

01:08:02And Widow Howman

01:08:03Was played by Victoria Inez Hardy

01:08:05Ethan Frome was dramatised by Lynn Coughlin

01:08:09And directed by Sally Avons

01:08:11And they left for many bands

01:08:13And told her, house stage

01:08:22Because we saw Daniel Cowan

01:08:24Inez Hardy

01:08:26And he came to my chair

01:08:28and put them through it

01:08:30She came to her

01:08:31And itindelle

01:08:32And she came to me

01:08:32And I'm into the access

01:08:33Because we saw those

01:08:34And so she came to me

01:08:35And it was also

01:08:36And he came to me

01:08:37That we saw her

01:08:37And it came to me

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