As Becky (Olivia Cooke) prepares to leave the house, the servants and the Raggles gather in the drawing room, with Mrs Raggles (Maggie Daniels) ruing their bankruptcy and how Mr Raggles (Peter Wight) didn't get any money from her and now they're losing the property. However this doesn't even affect Becky as she doesn't even bat an eye; instead she tells them to leave her house. However they refuse to go until they're paid. With Becky trying to win over Raggles again by saying they can't speak to a defenceless woman like that. Scoffing at her calling herself defenceless!
Poor Rawdon (Tom Bateman) is beside himself and he appeals to Bute (Mathew Baynton) to take in Rawdy since he doesn't really have a mother, mothers who are meant to be gods to their children. He gives Bute money which is owed to Arabella Briggs (Felicity Montagu) perhaps deep down even welcoming a resolution with her, a reconciliation. Alas he is so overwrought that he wants to challenge Steyne (Anthony Head) to a duel as he looks down upon Rawdon from his window. Saying that he will not be able to fire a shot from so far away. His servant tells Rawdon that he will be receiving a communique from Steyne and he refuses a challenge. Of course he would the coward. Even his wife, Lady Steyne (Sally Phillips) looked down on him, knowing that even if he had his way with Becky she would always keep her husband, thus allowing him his dalliances! The communique sends Rawdon to a position as Governor General of Coventry Island, a place he hasn't heard of let alone its location. Bute tells him it's in Africa and begs him not to accept. Where the last Governor died a despairing death whilst he was there for only a few weeks. Becky waits outside Bute's house and implores him for help, but Martha (Sian Clifford) doesn't let her in and Becky says she will remember her anyway even if Martha comments on her vanity, as she looks at the camera with a smirk on her face.
Jos (David Fynn) tells Dobbin (Johnny Flynn) he's heard from his mother saying Amelia (Claudia Jessie) is to be married to the vicar and he storms out. Mrs Peggy O'Dowd (Monica Dolan) telling him he should pursue his heart and stop the wedding. As he thanks her for his blessing. Amelia and Sedley (Simon Russell Beale) pay their respects at her mother's graveside and she comments on the trials she endured. However Sedley replies she wasn't very loving towards the end. The Reverend Binny (Oliver Lansley) arrives and he and Amelia take a walk. Dobbin arrives at the house with Jos and sees them together. Dobbin fears it may be too late after five months of travel in taking this long to get here, but he finds Amelia is not married as the lovely new teacher arrived and saved her from that fate.
It rains and they go inside where he admits his love for her. As she storms out, she declares it is too late since she had to endure so much and even had her son taken away. Dobbin taking his coat off only to get wet in his shirt! He visits with Osborne (Robert Pugh) and remarks on George and how Amelia took his son from him, but then he took her son from her. Osborne claiming he gave the boy a good home. Also telling him that there are many other women out there. But none such as who have captured Dobbin's heart for an eternity. Osborne looks at the names in the family bible he crossed off and has a heart attack. Thus leaving everything to Georgie and to Jane (Ellie Kendrick). She leaves to live in Bath having gotten half the state from her father and Georgie getting the other half. Amelia can now stay with him. She suggests they go on a holiday together and Georgie wants uncle Dobbin to come too.
As they talk of sights to visit in Pumpernickel, a caped woman walks past, whom we know is Becky (out of the Scottish Widows ad - not really) and she catches Georgie's eye. He follows her and she looks at him in such a way as she didn't her own son! Oh cruel woman! She gambles and he places a bet for her making her win. Dobbin finds him and asks if he bet and makes him promise upon his honour that he never will. (Just as his father gambled!) Of course he doesn't recognize Becky as she's wearing a mask, but darned anyone could recognize that hussy. Jos later comes in and she reveals her face to him. As they walk together she recalls Vauxhall and how they had a good time there. However he doesn't want to remember. Dobbin also remarked about Vauxhall 13 years ago too. Jos sees where she's living and the next morning he rushes out to see her again.
Finally telling Amelia about Becky and how she is desperate and alone. She feigns having Rawdy taken way from her and their friendship is renewed, much to Dobbin's chagrin. He wishes to speak with Amelia alone and she asks under whose authority. With Becky being saved by him as she had no lock of Rawdy's hair to show Amelia. He tells Amelia about Becky and George and that she should chose between her or him. "You never were worthy of the lifetime of foolish love I have devoted to you." So they part ways. Naturally she chooses Becky. Dobbin leaves and Georgie begs him to return.
Rawdon lies on his deathbed on Coventry Island, West Africa in a raging fever and he sees Becky, calling out her name. Alas she's far away in market looking at lace with Amelia. But Amelia doesn't want any lace. Sedley reads of Rawdon's death in the paper, succumbing to yellow fever. In England, Rawdy looks at his family's graves, that of his father and uncle and as there are no other male heirs, he inherits Queens Crawley. He gives Becky an allowance but never wants to see her again ever. Becky comments on her son being a baronet and has all the wealth, calling herself Lady Crawley. He was rather generous.
Amelia hears Dobbin is leaving for Calcutta with the regiment and refuses to do anything about it. Becky says this will be her one good deed and she will do everything to ensure that she marries Dobbin who loves her. Telling her about George and how he didn't love Amelia and would let her go, even going after Becky and she kept his note from the dance which she shows to her. However, Amelia admits she knew what he was really like and didn't want to believe it being too proud. She also confesses she also wrote to Dobbin earlier in the day. As she and Georgie wait for him to return. They marry and have a daughter back home in England and Georgie and Rawdy play together. Arabella saying this is where she wanted to be. Amelia saying how Dobbin only has love for their daughter now.
Becky and Jos walk to the carousel and ride it with Thackery narrating again and Becky laughing. Thackery remarking there weren't to be any happy endings and no one was meant to be enjoying themselves. With Becky giving another curious stare towards the camera. Jos hating being on the carousel as he may fall off and Becky having nine lives and there's also life insurance. As in the book he ate a lot as it is and he died a few months after they were married. Thus she did well for herself, even as an anti-heroine. Even if she returned to England in shame and more hated than when she left, with rumours she was the cause of his early demise.
So everyone got their happy ending and Becky saying she wasn't meant to be with anyone and how she's a survivor and grew up when she was 8. Whereas Amelia at 30 is only now becoming a woman. Though obviously Dobbin did still love Amelia even if he doted on their daughter. What any father would do. With Steyen getting his revenge on poor, dear Rawdon by giving him that post which he was fool enough to take on! Having survived Waterloo, he was defeated at this place and suffered alone! Yes I know it's only a book, but Rawdon should have had his happy ending too! Seeing he was the only character who changed for the better, loved Becky unconditionally and truly and got nothing but rejection from him and was vile towards their son! Therein lies the ending of Vanity Fair. As even Thackery tips his hat off to Becky!
Thackery: "none of us get what we want and when we do, it's never enough."
An exceptional adaptation which should have had more ratings than it did no thanks to The Bodyguard on the other side, which really didn't compare at all for me to this classic adaptation with a modern twist! And a great cast too! Kudos ITV on another drama well executed!
No comments:
Post a Comment