Ext. A midsummer dawn. Thornfield the grounds

MRS REED (CONT'D)

Open that box. Take out the

letter. Read it.

Jane obeys. She reads the letter aloud.

JANE

'Madam, will you have the goodness

to send me the address of my

niece, Jane Eyre. I desire her to

come to me at Madeira. Fortune has

blessed my endeavours and as I am

childless I wish to adopt her and

bequeath her at my death whatever

I may have to leave. Yours, John

Eyre, Madeira.'

Jane is stunned.

JANE (CONT'D)

This is dated three years ago.

Why did I never hear of it?

MRS REED

Because I wrote and told him you

had died of typhus at Lowood

school. You fury. You were born to

be my torment. I'll never forget

how you turned on me and raged.

(MORE)

Jane Eyre adapted by Moira Buffini March 2008 78.