The Vicar of Altarnum knows the awful truth about who killed Mary's uncle and aunt. She has a dangerous journey ahead now, but help comes from an unexpected place.

Mary narrating
The Vicar of Altarnum has just told me he knows who murdered my uncle and aunt. I look at him in horror, and slowly, the awful truth becomes clear...

Vicar
Yes, Mary. I planned the wrecks. Your uncle followed my orders but they thought he was the leader. He loved that. No one knew about me. But then you came and asked questions. They had to die because of that... The end was near in any case. The fool got drunk on Christmas Eve. Well, you saw what happened... the whole country knew what he'd done. With a rope round his neck, he'd have told them about me.

Mary
At least my uncle didn't lie - he talked and dreamt about his crimes. You... you hid yours behind the cross and the face of a priest. But why are you telling me all this now?

Vicar
I know you found the picture... I saw it had been moved. It frightened you, didn't it? "Who is this strange man?" you thought. Yes, Mary I am strange. Oh, but they listened to me in church and followed me like sheep.

Now, get ready. We've got to leave.

Mary
We?!

Vicar
Yes, you're coming with me - you'll be a good companion. I've admired your courage since we first met.

Mary
And if I don't come with you?

Vicar
You're no fool, Mary. There are no houses nearby and your screams won't be heard.

Mary
You know that I'll run away at the first village.

Vicar
You won't be able to. There aren't any villages on the Cornish coast because of the steep cliffs... just birds, and when we're on the ship...

Mary
You're leaving England?

Vicar
Of course - we'll go to Spain, to Africa... Get ready now.

Mary narrating
I think quickly. I look at the clock... Jem will have reached the blacksmith and will know the truth. He'll realise I'm in serious danger so he will follow us... If I go with the vicar, at least I'll slow him down a bit, so Jem will have a chance to catch up...

I have no choice in any case. 

We cross the dark, empty moor quickly, avoiding the roads. The moon is hidden behind clouds... The Vicar has luck on his side.

As the ground becomes softer, we slow down... The marshes lie waiting. The Vicar knows, as I do, that one wrong step will result in a horrible death.

Mary
Oh, where is Jem?

Vicar
Whoah!                                  

Mary narrating
A wall of fog rises in front of us.

Vicar
It's no good. We can't see anything. We'll have to wait until light. We'll sleep here... on these rocks, out of the wind.

Mary narrating
I drift in and out of sleep.

Vicar
Shhh! Be quiet!

Mary narrating
I'm woken by his cold hand on my mouth.

I can still hear the wind, but there is something else, too...

We leave the horses and he drags me higher and higher...

Mary
I can't go any further.

Vicar
Stay here, then.

Mary narrating
The last I see of him - he's standing on a rock with his arms stretched out...

Vicar
(gunshot) Aaaah!

Mary narrating
I look up. Jem is about 100 metres away behind a rock with a gun.

I haven't seen Jem since he shot the vicar. The Bassat family have been looking after me. They've asked me to stay and look after their children... but I long for the green fields and valleys of Helford. I'm walking for the last time on the moor. Tomorrow I'll go back and live quietly on the farm.

Mary
Someone is coming this way... but I can't see who because the sun is in my eyes...

Jem
Hello Mary. I heard you're going to go and live at North Hill?

Mary
They've asked me, but no... I'm going back to Helford tomorrow... And you, are you leaving Cornwall?

Jem
Yes, I'm going to start a new life... I've got my whole home with me here. I may go north. Perhaps I'll breed horses instead of stealing them. Come with me, Mary.

Mary
I miss my home in Helford... I want to see the trees and animals...

Jem
Go then and live on your farm.

Mary
That's not very kind.

Jem
I speak unkindly to my horses when they're obstinate. it doesn't mean I don't love them. Well, I'll be on my way... Goodbye Mary.

Mary
Wait! Are you saying you love me?

Jem
Maybe... It'll be a hard life.

Mary
I know, I'll take my chance... and we'll be together.

Mary narrating
So, I cross the moor for the last time - and for the first time, it looks beautiful in the sunshine. Behind me lies Jamaica Inn, empty, no more secrets - they have all been told... my new life is about to begin.

Vocabulary

horror
great fear or shock

wrecks
ships that are destroyed at sea

orders
instructions which you are expected to obey

companion
a person you spend time with

blacksmith
a person who makes and repairs horseshoes

marshes
areas of soft, wet land

drift in and out
to move slowly without control of your direction

drag
pull something along the ground with difficulty

long for
to want something very much

threat
warning of danger or harm

breed
keep animals and produce young animals from them

obstinate
not wanting to do something even though it may be the right thing to do

Credits

Mary: Alice K Brown

Joss/Vicar: Will Harrison-Wallace

Producer and Sound: Rob Carter

Scriptwriter: Sue Allen

ELT Consultant: Catherine Chapman

Music: Vera Harte

Illustrations: Martin Tidy