Ext. A midsummer dawn. Thornfield the grounds

HELEN

Come now, don't cry.

JANE

You're not allowed to speak to

me. I must be shunned.

HELEN

Mr Brocklehurst is not a God.

He's not liked or admired here -

JANE

He said I was a liar.

HELEN

JANE -

JANE

I am not a liar!

HELEN

If your own conscience approves

you, then so will I.

Jane is deeply gratified.

JANE

How do you bear it?

Jane Eyre adapted by Moira Buffini March 2008 22.

HELEN

Bear what?

JANE

Being struck.

HELEN

I'm a trial to Miss Scatcherd.

She hits me to improve me.

JANE

If she hit me I would get that

birch from her hand and break it

under her nose.

HELEN

You'd just be punished even more.

It's part of life here.

JANE

I have always been excluded and

alone and hated. Miss Abbott used

to call me an ugly little toad.

Helen approaches Jane.

HELEN

You're not ugly. Do you know what

is inside you?