[Street in front of the Hale's house. Door opens, John Thornton comes out, gazing down, then stopping in the middle of the hustle and bustle on the street.]

[Margaret Hale, picks up John Thornton's gloves from the coffee table]

[John Thornton, continues walking through the streets of Milton without acknowledging anyone, including Boucher and Mr. Bell, who greets him but does not get a reply.  John Thornton walks up a hill through the cemetary.]

[Inside of the Higgins' house. Margaret Hale and Bessie Higgins sitting on Bessie's bed, looking at bobbin-lace.]

Bessie:   And what would I be doing w' som'thin' so grand as that? [puts lace on her head]

Margaret:   Please, Bessie. I wore these when I was a child. Not fit for darning.

Bessie:   [giggles and coughs] all right then, I'll keep just this one. Only to look at, mind.

Margaret:   Where's Nicholas?

Bessie:   Oh, he's been brought so low b' the way the strike's gone. He were a committee man, here. He thought they stood a good chance, this time.

Margaret:   Has everyone gone back to work?

Bessie:   They lost their spirit after the violence at Marlborough Mills. Fools. What w' they thinking of, throwing stones at a woman.

Margaret:   I'm sure it wasn't so very bad, whatever was done.

Bessie:   't was enough! [coughs] An' Father, when he's that angry with the men who broke the strike, he.....You see, I wish I knew where he was. [starts crying] I've never seen him like this, Margaret. I'm worred about what he might do...

[Mill yard of Marlborough Mills, seen from first floor window.  John Thornton standing at a different window, looking out]

Hannah Thornton:   Well, at least we've got the machines goin' again.

Thornton:   [nods absently]

Hannah:   And the Irish?

Thornton:   They're settled. They've had a good meal, and... I sent for the Catholic priest, Father Patrick, he seemed to calm them down. I'll have to send them home, got workers clamouring to come back.

Hannah:   [continuing her embroidery] Serve them right if we kept the Irish workers...

[Thornton walks across the room behind the chair of his mother, putting a hand on the backrest.]

Thornton:   By the way, I was right, Mother.

[Hannah looks up, expectantly, and with a slightly worried expression]

Thornton:   Miss Hale will not have me.

[Hannah sighs and slumps a bit in her seat. John Thornton bows and kisses his mother on the forehead]

Thornton:   No one loves me. No one cares for me but you.

[Thornton starts walking away. Mrs. Thornton holds him by the sleeve of his coat and pulls him to squat beside her. ]

Hannah:   [stroking his face] A mother's love holds fast and forever. A girl's love is like –a puff of smoke. Changes with every wind.

Thornton:   I knew I wasn't good enough for her... And I think I love her more than ever.

Hannah:   I hate her. I've tried not to, when I thought she would make you happy.

[Thornton looks at his mother in surprise and walks away from her ]

Hannah:   I'd give my lives blood for that!  Who is she that she dares to reject you!

Thornton:   No!

Hannah:   It's no good John.  Your sorrow is mine.   And if you won't hate her, then I must.

Thornton:   She does not care for me, and that is enough.  The only thing you can do for me is never say her name again. [turns and faces his mother]  We will never talk of her again.

Hannah:   With all my heart. ...  How I wished that she and all her family would be swept back to the place they came from!

[ The Hale's house. Living-room with Mr. and Mrs. Hale, Mr. Bell and Margaret. On the table a bowl of fruit, most prominently freshly picked red currants.]

Mrs. Hale:   How kind of Mr. Thornton!

Mr. Hale:   Most splendid fruit I've ever seen. Best in the county, I shouldn't wonder.

Mrs. Hale:   And a card. Written in his own hand! He has always been most civil and thoughtful, but I wouldn't have thought that he'd have the time. He's had so much trouble with the rioting. [coughs into a lace handkerchief].

Mr. Hale:   It shows his high regard for you, my dear.

Mrs. Hale:   Margaret, you must visit Marlborough Mill, and ask after Mrs. Thornton, and thank Mr. Thornton for this most gracious gift.

Margaret Hale:   [looking up from the book she is reading] I am sure a note would do as well, Mama. [returns to reading]

Mr. Bell:   I saw Thornton in the street today. He didn't seem quite so in control as usual.

Mr. Hale:   Really?

Mr. Bell:   He seemed very distracted this morning. I thought he might have been visiting, it was just nearby.

Mr. Hale:   Margaret?

Margaret Hale:   Excuse me. [gets up and leaves the room, climbing upstairs]

[Mr. Hale and Mr. Bell get up and watch her leave.]

Mr. Bell:   Has it ever occurred to you there might be something between Thornton and your daughter?

Mr. Hale:   Good Lord, no! Certainly not. Well... I suppose it's possible on his side, but for Margaret, it's quite out of the question, she's never liked him, poor fellow. Pray, he doesn't get his hopes up.

[Mr. Bell looking thoughtful.]

[Street outside the Higgins' house, then to the inside of the house. Nicholas Higgins, Boucher and Bessie Higgins]

Nicholas Higgins:   Hide you? You've got a nerve!

Boucher:   You wouldn't give us up!

Higgins:   Wouldn't I?  [grabs him by the shirt and shoves him against the wall]  You've ruined the strike!

Bessie:   There's no use in fighting!

Higgins:   What'ye think you were doin'?  Violence at Thornton's, half killing a woman, my god, a woman!

Boucher:   't were Thornton's fault, he'd been hin--

Higgins:   No goin' against the law, that was the iron rule! We're in the right. We could've taken everyone with us, but you... You had to act like a senseless, crazed animal as they think we are. You want me to hide you from the police?! They'll think I'm one of the ringleaders. I'm a committee man, a union man, people trust me! Trust my word!

Boucher:   ... Ye said two weeks. The strike weren't workin', when it were gonna end? It's all right for you, your wife and children ain't starving.

Higgins:   And neither would yours!  I gave you my word and I keep my word!

[Boucher starts crying, doubling up on his chair]

Higgins:   God, you disgust me. You'r' pathetic.  You could'a been born with a king's fortune, you still would'a failed them.  You'r' only in this world to bring us all down, your family, your friend, the union...

[Boucher lounges at Higgins' throat.  Higgins pushes him away, flinging him onto the ground]

Higgins:   I'll be telling the police where you are.  I'll tell them where you are!

[Boucher moves towards the door, opens it and runs out.]

Higgins:   [at the door] I am giving you up, John Boucher!

Bessie:   [on her bed] Stop!

[Bessie starts wailing and coughing, Nicholas sits down beside her and takes her into his arms, and sighs]

[Street scene somewhere in Milton. Mr. Bell walking along the pavement,  Mr. Thornton can be seen on the other side of the street, approaching]

Mr. Bell:   Thornton! Thornton!

[John Thorton touches his hat.]

Mr. Bell:   Congratulations! ......On handling the strike.  I trust everything's back to normal?

Thornton:   Well, business is a bit more complicated than that.  It'll take a while.

Mr. Bell:   Ah!  You know the Latimers of course.

Thornton:   Of course. [touches his hat]

Mr. Bell:   Ah, Margaret! Over here! [waves her over]

[John Thornton turns slightly]

Mr. Bell:   Now look at this!  What luck!  Two of the prettiest girls in Milton.  You remember the Latimers, Margaret?  My banker and therefore a very important man.  [Mr. Latimer touches his hat.]  And this is Ann, recently arrived home from Switzerland, I believe, and very much finished.  [John Thornton looks at Margaret from under his hat.]  Now, where're you off to, my dear?

Margaret Hale:   Nowhere.

Mr. Bell:   That's all right, you can have your little secrets.  All young women must have their secrets, isn't that one of the joys of life?

Thornton:   I wouldn't know. Good day.  [touches his hat and leaves, with Ann Latimer at his arm.  Margaret follows him with her eyes.]

Mr. Latimer:   What's the point in spending a fortune on education, if you have to spend another on the wedding, once they're back?  [turns towards Margaret, then joins Mr. Bell in laughing]

Mr. Latimer:   Good day, Miss Hale. Bell.  [touches his hat and leaves]

[Mr. Bell still smiling, then catching Margarets look]

Mr. Bell:   I am sorry, my dear?

Margaret Hale:   Mr. Bell... I am grateful for the friendship you give my father.  Goodness knows he's felt alone in Milton, but--

Mr. Bell:   --but you wished I would mind my own business and stop being so damned facetious.  You are absolutely right, my dear, and it will stop immediately.  But you know, I do take an interest.  I would like to think, if you were in need of help I would be the first you'd call upon.

Margaret Hale:   You've my word, Mr. Bell.  You'll be the first.

[Mr. Bell offers her his arm and they walk away as Margaret turns her head and looks after Thornton and the Latimers.]