Ext. A midsummer dawn. Thornfield the grounds

ROCHESTER

Proceed.

BRIGGS

Mr Rochester has a wife now

living.

Wood is utterly dismayed.

ROCHESTER

(SHOUTS)

Where is your proof?

Briggs starts to read out a document.

BRIGGS (O.S.)

I affirm and can prove that Edward

Fairfax Rochester was fifteen years

ago married to my sister, Bertha

Antoinetta Mason at St James

church, Spanish Town, Jamaica.

Jane looks at Rochester. She forces him to look at her. He

denies nothing; defies everything.

BRIGGS (CONT'D)

The record of the marriage will be

found in the register of that

church - a copy of it is now in my

possession. Signed, Richard Mason.

Rochester turns to Briggs.

ROCHESTER

That does not prove that my wife

is still living.

BRIGGS

She was living two months ago.