- Jane Eyre: Sir, I need to have a leave of absence for a week or two, to see a sick lady who's asked for me.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: What sick lady?
- Jane Eyre: Her name is Reed. She's my uncle's wife.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: Uncle? You told me you had no family.
- Jane Eyre: My aunt cast me out when I went away to school.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: Why?
- Jane Eyre: Because I was poor. And she did not like me.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: And she sent you to Lowood without so much as a word or a visit in nearly ten years. So why does she suddenly want to see you now?
- Jane Eyre: Her son John is dead. He ruined himself. She's now struck down with his misfortune. I'll only be gone two weeks, I hope.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: Two weeks? That's not possible.
- Jane Eyre: You have company, sir.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: Very well. But promise me, you'll not stay with this undeserving aunt more than a week.
- Jane Eyre: I cannot promise you. She is dying. I cannot set a time on that.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: Of course, you'll go. I haven't got the power to stop you. You must have some money. Can't travel without money. I haven't given you any salary yet, remember? How much have you, Jane, in whole the world?
- Jane Eyre: Five shillings, sir.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: Here, take fifty pounds.
- Jane Eyre: No, Sir. You only owe me fifteen. I have no change.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: I don't want change, Jane. You know that. Take your wages.
- [Jane nods no]
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: You're right. Better not give you all that. You might stay away for three months. Here. There's ten. Wasn't that enough?
- Jane Eyre: Yes, sir. But you still owe me five.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: Then, come back for it.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: Sir, I have to ask you something else, a matter of business. You have as good as said you intend to be married.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: Really? That has been settled then, has it? You've decided that Miss Ingram is to be my bride. Now I see it. You're going to prevail upon that miserable family to find you a new situation. Ungrateful girl, admit it!
- Jane Eyre: No, sir. I've told you they do not like me, sir. To offer such a service... I shall advertise.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: Devil, you will! Advertise! I wish I'd only offered you a sovereign, not ten whole pounds. Give me back nine.
- [Jane puts her hands behind her]
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: Jane, I have need of it.
- Jane Eyre: [smiles, her hands still behind her back] No, sir. I do not trust you.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: Jane, I want a wife. I want a wife, not a nursemaid to look after me. I want a wife to share my bed every night. All day if we wish. If I can't have that, I'd rather die. We're not the platonic sort, Jane.
- Jane Eyre: [Take his face in her hands as she faces him] Can you see me?
- [Rochester nods yes]
- Jane Eyre: Then hear this Edward. Your life is not yours to give up. It is mine. All mine. And I forbid it.
- [Begin kissing, camera pans out, music swells]
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: So this St. John person you've been mentioning so often. What of him?
- Jane Eyre: Well, he's tall. He has blue eyes and a Grecian profile.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: He's handsome then, compared to me.
- Jane Eyre: Oh, he's much more handsome than you. And he's a far better Christian of course than you ever were.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: Well I thanked God last night for your sudden reappearance. The other night I cried out to Him in my despair. Called your name too. What about his brain this Rivers fellow? Find yourself getting bored when he speaks?
- Jane Eyre: He doesn't say very much, but what he says is to the point. His brain is first rate.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: Did he study much? Taught you things?
- Jane Eyre: Oh yes, he taught me languages.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: [frustrated] All right, why did he do that?
- Jane Eyre: He wanted me to go with him to Africa.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: He wanted you to marry him?
- Jane Eyre: He asked me to marry him.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: You're lying. You made this up to torment me.
- Jane Eyre: He asked me more than once.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: Well I think you might take yourself off and go elsewhere! And why are you still here? You've done your duty. You've assured yourself that I am still living, still living a tenth of a life! You, heiress!
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: There you are! You're back! Ungrateful thing, I give you leave for a week and you're gone a whole month! I want my money back, since you have me so little in your thoughts.
- Jane Eyre: I said I was going to be gone for as long as I was needed. And I was. And you still owe me wages.
- Jane Eyre: Hurry, Hannah. We must light the fires before they arrive.
- Hannah: [to St.John] She wants fire in every room, in places where they never were.
- Jane Eyre: What's the use of five thousands pounds if you can't light a few fires at Christmas?
- St John Rivers: Twenty thousands.
- Jane Eyre: St. John, I'll not hear another word. We've been over it again and again. Our uncle left a nephew and three nieces. We must all profit from his will equally.
- St John Rivers: Jane, you've never had money. You do not know what use you may put it to.
- Jane Eyre: And you've never been without family. I will have a brother and sisters, and a home.
- St John Rivers: I'll be a brother to you, whether you share the money our uncle left you, you and only you, or not.
- Jane Eyre: Leaving you with nothing, unable to realize your dreams and me with a fortune. I know enough about money to realize that will not make me happy
- St John Rivers: What of the future? If you should marry?
- Jane Eyre: I'll never marry.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: [about Mason] Take care of him at your house. We'll head over in a day or two to see how he does.
- Doctor Carter: Very well.
- Richard Mason: Edward...
- [Rochester goes to him]
- Richard Mason: [quietly] Take care of her as tenderly as you can.
- Edward Fairfax Rochester: [presses his forehead's against his] I'll do my best. As I always have and always will.
- St John Rivers: We sail in six weeks. We must make marriage preparations.
- Jane Eyre: Why can we not travel as brother and sister? As equals?
- St John Rivers: That would be impossible.
- Jane Eyre: St. John, you do not love me.
- St John Rivers: Love is not an ingredient in this matter.
- [Jane turns away from him, thinking]
- St John Rivers: I fear you have not forgotten your old association despite the harm he tried to do you.
- Jane Eyre: I'll never see any of them again. But I owe a debt to my friends at Thornfield Hall. In many ways, I started my life there. I became Jane Eyre.
- St John Rivers: God made Jane Eyre! You surely don't give this man Rochester any credit for that!
- Jane Eyre: Of course not. I've always known myself. But he was the first to recognize me. And to love what he saw.
- [long pause]
- Jane Eyre: I'll give you your answer St. John soon, don't worry. And if I go with you that will be my decision. You'll have him to thank for that.
- [leaves the room]