Terry Crawford voiceover. Is this the first one she’s done or have I missed something?
Magda in the graveyard, vowing revenge at Jenny’s grave. I’m amazed Edward even deigned to tell the gypsies where she was buried. And putting a gypsy near Jerimiah in the Collins section – I bet Judith and Edward were cringing. Then again, they had bigger fish to fry. It’s never addressed, but the public story was that Jenny left after Quentin abandoned her . So not only did they have to explain a suspicious accident to the local constabulary, they had to come up with some story to explain why Jenny was suddenly someplace they said she left years ago.
And lol on the stonemasons on call,alwaysdavid. That is an elaborate stone, but Edward and Judith are good at putting on the right show for public consumption. No doubt why they let a GYPSY into the Collins section of the graveyard – but they have enough questions to answer without explaining why she was exiled to another part of the graveyard. Maybe they have stones done, with all that’s needed is the chiseling of name and dates? Death rates were a lot higher then. Or, thought occurs to me that they would have had a stone left over when Quentin didn’t need it anymore. Wonder if Edward and Judith were cheap enough to have that stone reused.
Interesting scene with Judith and Beth (love JC’s green dress!). It seems Judith is taking great satisfaction in firing Beth. Does she think getting Beth far away will keep her from blabbing about all their secrets? Considering how it’s being done, one would think the opposite. Or does Judith think the cover story will make anything Beth says sound like a lie?
Weird point to me is she’s dismissing Beth verbally, but gives her a letter terminating her? Would have made more sense to me if the letter had been the stereotypical reference for her: get rid of Beth with a good recommendation so she could get another good job with a rich family, and wouldn’t have reason to stick around or tell tales.
It’s very clear in this scene that Beth originally comes from a social class not that much lower than the Collins’. We’ve seen it before: addressing the family very familiarly, asking questions, standing up to Edward and Judith, not to mention using the front stairs as if she’s entitled to, but this time she goes much further. She asks Judith what’s to become of the children as if she has a right to know, and again refers to Edward and Judith by their first names when pushing the issue. In other words, she’s treating them as her social equals.
Judith is determined, for whatever reason, to keep Quentin from knowing about his children. Since they’ve already assumed financial responsibility for the children, it’s not like she or Edward are afraid they’ll be saddled with the kids – they already are. All I can think of that makes any sense (if you leave out pure spite) is that Quentin’s kids would be more contenders for the Collins money. Even that’s flimsy – if grandmamma were still alive, I could see it, since she’d make sure Quentin’s children were well provided for, but Judith holds the pursestrings, and can do what she pleases. Not to mention that Jamison and Nora would be ahead of Quentin’s children in any claim for money anyway. Then again, there’s Quentin’s promise to leave; maybe Judith thinks if he knows of the children he will use them as a way to stay on. All very cold and calculating reasons, and the fact that they’re her blood and Edward’s blood doesn’t seem to give them any empathy for the children at all – or for Quentin for that matter. As rotten as he can be, surely no one thinks he’d harm them, and the audience is shown that he genuinely likes children, and is a far different, nicer person around children. Learning about his own earlier might have been the kind of shock he needed – but instead his growth and his “hero’s journey” (anyone not familiar with Joseph Campbell?) ended up coming by a far tougher road.
Good shot by Magda about whether or not the family had also buried Jenny’s things! But what timing, right after Quentin lies through his teeth to Judith about everyone leaving, here comes Magda to contradict everything. Great scene with Judith and Quentin after she finds out he lied.
This scene is a head scratcher. Why pack Jenny’s things by bringing them down the stairs (the front stairs again!) a few at a time to a suitcase in the drawing room (OK we know it’s because of the sets, but it makes no sense in the internal reality of the show.) Why pack the doll? It was Jenny’s sure, but why pack it for Magda? She knew nothing of “the babies”. Unless I miss my guess, we see the suitcase again later, when Beth packs.
And in comes Quentin, announcing to Beth that they’re leaving Collinwood that night. Don’t think she cares much for that, in her ladylike way, saying “I see. I don’t have any choice in the matter, do I?” As their conversation goes on, its clear Beth’s been doing a lot of thinking. Again, she stand her ground firmly and quietly, and is very upfront about her guilt over Jenny, and the fact that she doesn’t know if Quentin did it by accident or not. Convenient that she’s been holding the doll, the reminder of the real children they’d be leaving in Collinsport. She listens to his commonsense arguments, looks at the doll, and doesn’t answer when he asks if she has some reason to stay. It would have been the perfect opening to tell him about his children – but she doesn’t. Makes you wonder what particularly is stopping her – her doubts about him, since she won’t even commit herself on going with him, or something else.
Very telling point in the scene with Quentin and Sandor. Quentin tries every trick he can think of, even ALL the money, but Sandor, regretful as he is about turning down the money, won’t budge. He knows if he betrayed Magda, he’d lose her permanently, and she’s worth more to him than any amount of money. Quentin doesn’t seem to even understand that, and keeps trying other arguments.
Then there they are in the darkened graveyard (with Jerimiah’s gravestone in the background) waiting to do the deed, while Quentin and his Gladstone bag go up through the servant’s entrance to Beth’s room. And there’s the SUITCASE again. I really like Beth’s outfit and that silly little hat. Oh, this is another of my favorite, if not THE favorite, Quentin and Beth scene. Alwaysdavid, I agree with everything you said about this interaction.
He’s all enthusiastic, thinking he’s gotten what he wants, but she’s still questioning herself and him and wants to know WHY he wants her with him. That’s Beth with a brain and a backbone, optimistic enough to hope that he’s worth caring about, yet realistic enough to know how little his pretty words really mean. This is a scene I went over and over for use in a novelette,since I see this as an important turning point. Slo mo is a wonderful thing for watching subtle actions and reactions, but I would give the proverbial eyeteeth to know how the actors intended the scene to be interpreted.
Beth is sad and torn as she tells him she doesn’t think he loves her, or can love anyone. He’s startled, but it could be taken any number of ways. She clearly hit a nerve, but why exactly? The take I settled on is that it let him see himself the way others see him and it shocked and hurt him to be thought of that way, because it seemed played more sad and hurt in Selby’s kicked puppy closeup. Quentin didn’t lash out, which he tends to do when he’s trying to weasel out of something, nor did he try to sweet talk or bullshit her. Neither did he try to change the subject. He accepted what she said, though telling her its not true, that she’s wrong about him, bearing out that he seems to care what she thinks, and, at least in his own mind, believes he loves her. (One does wonder if they INTENDED to tie this in to a statement of Quentin's in an earlier episode, something about no longer being able to believe one's own lies?) Sad thing is, as immature as he is and coming from that snakepit of a family, does he at this point, even if he does happen to have the best of intentions, understand what’s involved in grownup love vs getting laid?
The placing of the curse itself…. Definitely a time when BIGGER AND BIGGER works great for what Grayson is doing.
Meanwhile back in the servants quarters Quentin gets frantic at the delay and still Beth won’t tell him WHY she has to go to town first. Uh, hello, what did you plan to tell him when he takes you there? Unless I missed something multitasking, I'm pretty sure he told her about wanting to leave before sundown because of whatever the curse would be.
And the pain (not to mention the curse) begins…..
Jeannie
