Ext. A midsummer dawn. Thornfield the grounds

ROCHESTER (CONT'D)

Martha?

Jane giggles. Rochester's face falls.

ROCHESTER (CONT'D)

Martha, is that you?

JANE

Martha is in the kitchen, sir.

ROCHESTER

Who's there?

JANE

Pilot knows me. Will you have

some more water? I've spilt half

the glass.

Rochester stands, holding out his hand.

ROCHESTER

If you are real, touch me.

Jane touches his fingers; puts her hand in his. Rochester

pulls her into his arms.

Jane Eyre adapted by Moira Buffini March 2008 119.

ROCHESTER,

Her hand, her shape, her size.

JANE

And her voice.

ROCHESTER

Jane Eyre - Jane Eyre.

JANE

My Edward, I am Jane Eyre: I have

found you out. I am come back to

you.

For some while neither is able to speak.

ROCHESTER

You're not lying dead in some

ditch? Not an outcast among

strangers?

JANE

I've been with good people; far

better than you, quite more

refined and exalted.

ROCHESTER

(DELIGHTED)

She insults me -

JANE

And I'm an independent woman. My

uncle in Madeira died and left me

five thousand pounds -

ROCHESTER

This is real. This is practical.

JANE

I'm here. I'm home. I am where I

love best.

CUT TO:

Jane curled on Rochester's knee by the fire. He is running

his fingers over her face, feeling its contours.

ROCHESTER

You're altogether a human being,

Jane?

JANE

I conscientiously believe so,

sir.

She is running her hands through his hair.

Jane Eyre adapted by Moira Buffini March 2008 120.

JANE (CONT'D)

But I see that you're turning

into a lion. It's time someone

undertook to rehumanise you.

ROCHESTER

I'm a sightless block -

JANE

I know.

She kisses his eyes.

JANE (CONT'D)

And the worst of it is, I'm in

danger of loving you too well for

this, and making too much of you.

ROCHESTER

Am I hideous, Jane?

JANE

Very. But you always were, you

know.

A smile cracks Rochester's face.

Jane runs her fingers over it, feeling its contours.

He holds her.

Silence falls.

THE END.