Firelight (1997)

Stephen Dillane: Charles Godwin

Photos 

Quotes 

• Charles Godwin : [Rushing to the school room upon hearing Louisa throwing a tantrum from being locked inside the school room finding the door locked]  Open the door.

  Louisa : Papa! Papa!

  Charles Godwin : [Pounds on the door]  Miss Laurier, open this door at once!

  [Elisabeth opens the door and locks it behind her] 

  Charles Godwin : What do you think you're doing? Open the door!

  Elisabeth : No, sir.

  [Charles tries to get the key from behind Elisabeth's back] 

  Louisa : Please, Papa! Come here, please!

  Charles Godwin : I will not have you treat my daughter like this.

  Elisabeth : Would you have her grow up ignorant and friendless?

  Charles Godwin : I'll *NOT* have her imprisoned!

  Elisabeth : She cares for no one but you, and so *NO ONE* cares for her!

  Charles Godwin : Give me the key.

  Elisabeth : She's unhappy and lonely. She doesn't know who she is, or what she is to do or why!

  [Charles manhandles Elisabeth attempting to get the key again] 

  Louisa : Papa, help me! Papa I want you!

  Elisabeth : I can help her. I know I can. But first she must be taught to obey me.

  Charles Godwin : If you harm so much as one hair on her head...

  Elisabeth : [Incensed]  Do you think *I* of all people would ever hurt her?

  Elisabeth : I'll make you a promise; Whatever I do to Louisa I'll do to myself. You want her to love you. I want her to *be* loved.

• Charles Godwin : [At night in the schoolroom]  Louisa tells me you have a story about firelight.

  Elisabeth : Yes. I tell her Firelight is a magic time, when times stands still.

  Charles Godwin : Why'd you tell her that?

  Elisabeth : I find it helps. A time with no rules at the end of the day.

  [She walks over to the fire and kneels to pick up two cards Louisa left on the floor earlier] 

  Charles Godwin : I must ask you to help me.

  Elisabeth : How?

  Charles Godwin : There was a time - there was a short time, when we were close you and I.

  Elisabeth : Yes?

  Charles Godwin : Do you remember it?

  Elisabeth : Yes.

  Charles Godwin : Just tell me that time is over and can never com again.

  [Elisabeth says nothing] 

  Charles Godwin : You don't answer. What happens when time stands still?

  Elisabeth : In the firelight, you can do what you want. Say what you want. Be what you want.

  [She rises] 

  Elisabeth : And the lamps are lit again, time starts again, and everything you said or did is forgotten. More than forgotten. It never happened.

  Elisabeth , Charles Godwin : [They kiss] 

  [Cut to: Charles and Elisabeth passionately making love] 

• Elisabeth : [Standing on the Beach Alone; Charles Approaches]  Aren't you afraid to be seen with me?

  Charles Godwin : There's no one to see.

  Elisabeth : I like it here. Just sea and sky and...

  Charles Godwin : ...and nothing.

  Elisabeth : I like it. Makes me want to shout.

  Charles Godwin : Then shout.

  Elisabeth , Charles Godwin : [They look at each other, then they look around to make sure no one's around] 

  Elisabeth : [Tries to shout, but just ends up laughing]  No. Not so easy.

  [laughs again] 

  Charles Godwin : You're very... I didn't expect it to be like this.

  Elisabeth : What did you expect?

  Charles Godwin : Last night. I thought - for a moment I thought that...

  Elisabeth : You thought that I liked it?

  Charles Godwin : Did you?

  Elisabeth : No. But I could.