Ext. A midsummer dawn. Thornfield the grounds

EXT. DAY. THORNFIELD - THE LEADS.

Jane is on the turreted roof, looking up at the cawing

rooks - and down at the view; a white, frosted wilderness.

Jane senses a presence behind her. She quickly turns. Mrs

Fairfax is coming through the rooftop door.

MRS FAIRFAX

I thought I might find you up here.

I've been waiting to pour our tea.

JANE

I'm not in need of tea, thank you.

Mrs Fairfax approaches, concerned.

MRS FAIRFAX

What is it, child? You've been

here three months now and I'm

worried that the position is not

enough / to occupy your -

JANE

Oh, Mrs Fairfax, no. I'm so

thankful to be at Thornfield.

Please don't think I'm so

ungrateful as to be discontented.

MRS FAIRFAX

But it's a quiet life, isn't it?

This isolated house; a still doom

for a young woman...

Jane looks out at the view once more.

JANE

I wish a woman could have action

in her life, like a man. It

agitates me to pain that the sky-

line over there is ever our

limit. I long sometimes for a

power of vision that would

overpass it. If I could behold

all I imagine... I've never seen

a city, never spoken with men.

I've never even seen a town of

any size. And I fear my whole

life will pass, without ever

having...

Mrs Fairfax's troubled look makes Jane fall silent. Mrs

Fairfax looks as if she is about to say something - then

puts on her practical face, the moment of intimacy gone.