Ext. A midsummer dawn. Thornfield the grounds

EXT. DAWN. THORNFIELD - THE GROUNDS.

First light. Jane is running; flushed, breathless, her

dress soaked with dew. She has her bag of belongings over

her shoulder. She trips; falls to her knees.

She looks back. For a moment she seems paralysed. She

returns her gaze to the route ahead. Her need to escape is

so great that she crawls forwards until she is able to

raise herself to her feet.

She reaches the stile; lifts herself on to it; puts her

arms around the post. She holds it, as if it were beloved.

Her eyes close. We hear the sound of a winter blizzard.