Mary arrives at Jamaica Inn and meets her Aunt Patience and Uncle Joss. Immediately she discovers what a mean and scary man her uncle is. He sets the rules and tells her what to do. On her second day there she discovers a locked room – what is inside?

Transcript

Mary narrator
I have arrived at Jamaica Inn to live with my aunt. My uncle is landlord here. It's a cold and lonely place. I'm at the door and I'm waiting for someone to let me in…

Joss
Who's there?

Mary
It's me. Mary. Mary Yellan.

[Heavy door opening]

Joss
Ah, so, you've arrived at last. Well, say hello to your Uncle Joss.

Mary
Where is my Aunt Patience?

Joss
What's the hurry? Don't you want to give me a big kiss first? Patience! She's here. [impatiently] Where are you, woman?

Patience! Where in hell is that woman?

Patience
I'm here. Is it the girl?

Joss
See for yourself.

Mary narrating
A woman with grey hair hurries towards me. In the candlelight her face is pale. She looks afraid.

Patience
Mary.

Mary
Aunt Patience - I am so glad to see you.

Mary narrating
But she is unrecognisable. Her curls have gone and her happy smile also. I can see that she's been crying. This woman is old and anxious. She starts to cry.

Joss
Stop whimpering, woman. Can't you see the girl is hungry! I'll take her things up to her room. If there's nothing to eat on the table when I come down, you'll soon have something to cry about.

Mary narrating
He lifts my heavy box as if it's a bag of feathers. He is huge with shoulders like those of a bear.

Mary narrating
The kitchen is full of smoke from the fire. There are stains on the stone floor and there's a strong smell of alcohol. On the table there are two empty bottles of brandy.

Patience
You mustn't mind your Uncle Joss. Some people find him strange at first, but he is very respected here. Just yesterday he told me that a man stopped and told him how much he admired.

Joss
Are you talking rubbish again woman? Sit down Mary. Eat. Listen, Mary. I'm in charge here and you'll do as I say. You'll serve the customers in the bar and help in the house. But if you open your mouth and squawk like a hen, you'll be sorry.

Mary
I'll help you like you say, but if you hurt my aunt, I'll tell and you'll be punished.

Joss
Patience, go and get me another bottle and be quick. Big words – maybe we're not so different, Mary. Here, drink this.This is my curse, Mary – drink. I've been drinking a little today but - Oh you'll see how we drink here some Saturdays – they hear the shouting and singing far away. People are afraid of me but I'm afraid of no one. Go to bed now.

Mary narrating
He suddenly grabs my wrist.

Joss
Listen carefully. Some nights you'll hear wheels, footsteps and voices outside. You must stay in your room and put your blanket over your ears. If you ask questions, I'll break every bone in your body. Do you understand?

Mary narrating
My room is small and bare. Just a bed and a table with a broken mirror. I feel lonely and trapped like a bird in a cage. But it's not too late to run away. I creep down the dark passage.

Mary
[to herself] Who's crying? It must be my aunt!

Mary narrating
I turn back. My uncle frightens me but I must stay and protect Aunt Patience.

I did not sleep well last night. My bed is hard and the blanket is thin. The house is quiet this morning. I'll look for a place to wash downstairs. Here is the bar. Ah, there's a passage here – maybe it's along here. A door – this must be the washroom.

Mary
How strange – it's locked.

Patience
Mary! What are you doing?

Mary
Why is this room locked, Aunt Patience? What's in it?

Mary narrating
My aunt looks quickly behind her and her eyes are like a frightened rabbit's.

Mary
Is it because of the people who come to the inn at night?

Patience
Mary. Mary. I've been worrying about how to tell you this. I must warn you. Bad things happen here. Men come at night and they go into that room with Joss. When you hear them, you must stay in your room. You must never ask me or your uncle about it again.

Mary narrating
What is in this room and why is my Aunt so scared? I'm not going to like it here but I must stay to support her and keep her safe. Next time we meet – I have to work in the bar of Jamaica Inn on Saturday night where I get to meet a group of rough and drunk men. Later that night there are some strange goings-on in the yard outside.  What's going on at Jamaica Inn?

Vocabulary

stains
dirty marks

brandy
a strong alcoholic drink

respected
admired

squawk
(here) slang for 'complain'

curse
(here) evil influence

bare
(here) basic, with very little equipment

trapped
unable to leave

creep
move very carefully and secretly so that nobody sees you

Credits

Mary:  Alice K Brown

Joss/Vicar: Will Harrison-Wallace

Patience/Mrs Bassat/Mary's mother: Helen Belbin   

Producer and Sound: Rob Carter

Scriptwriter: Sue Allen

ELT Consultant: Catherine Chapman

Music: Vera Harte

Illustrations: Martin Tidy