Tess Of The D'Urbervilles launches Autumn drama on 91Èȱ¬
Episode one
John Durbeyfield (Ian Puleston-Davies), a "haggler" and a drunk, is weaving his way one afternoon towards the pub when he meets the village priest, Parson Tringham (Donald Sumpter).
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The priest informs him that his family have distinguished ancestry. They are descended from the D'Urbervilles, a wealthy, though now extinct, clan.
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John Durbeyfield's daughter, the beautiful Tess (Gemma Arterton) is dancing along with the other village girls at the May Day parade.
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There she spies a handsome young stranger joining in the dance, but he doesn't seem to notice her. His name is Angel Clare, a parson's son (Eddie Redmayne).
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John and his wife Joan (Ruth Jones) have learnt that a woman called "D'Urberville" lives not too far away. They want to send Tess over there to "claim kin".
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Tess is reluctant, but when the family horse is injured in an accident and has to be shot, she realises that for the family's sake she will have to go.
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She meets Alec d'Urberville (Hans Matheson), a good-looking, suave and apparently charming man, who lives in the biggest house Tess has ever seen, with his mother.
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He does not permit her to meet his mother yet. When Tess has left, Alec forges a letter, pretending it is from Mrs D'Urberville, offering her a job on their estate. Tess accepts.
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Alec and his mother are not real D'Urbervilles. Alec's late father bought the title with his great wealth made from manufacturing chocolate.
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Tess at last meets the blind and daunting Mrs D'Urberville (Anna Massey) and works on the estate under the wary supervision of the bailiff Groby (Christopher Fairbank).
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Alec begins to seduce Tess, showering her with attention and gifts and assuring her that her family will want for nothing.
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Eventually the inevitable happens. Offering to ride her home after a village fair, he gets deliberately lost, tells her to sleep while he finds help, but returns and rapes her.
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Tess returns home in shame and confusion.
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A year has passed since the May Day dance. Now Tess can only watch the dancing girls from afar, holding a tiny baby boy in her arms.
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Ian Pulseton-Davies is John Durbeyfield, Donald Sumpter is Parson Tringham, Gemma Arterton is Tess, Eddie Redmayne is Angel Clare,
Ruth Jones is Tess's mother Joan, Hans Matheson is Alec D'Urberville, Anna Massey is Alec's mother, Mrs. D'Urberville, Christopher Fairbank is Groby.
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Information about further episodes will be published in 91Èȱ¬ÌýTelevision Programme Information.
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GJ
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