March 1, 1990
MARY REILLY
Screenplay by Roman Polanski and John Brownjohn
Based on the novel by Valerie Martin
Synopsis by Brian Aldrich
In 1870 London, the seven year old child MARY REILLY is tortured by her cruel drunken father. She grows up and fifteen years later becomes a maid in the household of DR. HENRY JEKYLL, a distinguished doctor who has given up his practice for research. Also in the household are BRADSHAW, a young, handsome manservant; MRS. KENT, a matronly cook; PETER, a goofy 15 year old; and POOLE, the pompous butler. Kind Jekyll asks Mary if he can examine her scars and she tells him about the night her father locked her in a closet with a rat.
Jekyll has a dinner party attended by MR. & MRS. GRAHAM UTTERSON, DR. & MRS. CHARLES LANYON, and the REVEREND MR. & MRS. PHILIP LITTLETON. Jekyll begins to discuss his theories about the good and evil side to every man and how science could remove the evil. Mary and Bradshaw take breakfast to Jekyll out in his laboratory where he has worked all night. They find his supper tray untouched. Mary assists Poole and Bradshaw to bring Jekyll's dressing mirror down to the laboratory. Jekyll asks Mary to deliver a letter to a MRS. FARRADAY who turns out to be a Madame of a bordello. Mary returns a message to Jekyll. Mary wakes from a bad dream at dawn to hear footsteps and finds Jekyll's checkbook disturbed. Jekyll announces to his staff that he has hired a new assistant who is to be given the run of the house. His name is MR. EDWARD HYDE.
In the morning, Mary and Bradshaw find Jekyll's bedroom a mess. Mary sees Hyde enter the laboratory. Later, Mary finds Jekyll ailing and the staff puts him to bed. Jekyll sends Mary to bring a check to Mrs. Farraday. Farraday shows Mary a bloodied bedroom and tells her to tell Jekyll that everything will be taken care of. Jekyll reveals to Mary that Hyde has negatively affected his life. Jekyll has another dinner party where his guests discuss the murder of a local prostitute. Jekyll reveals he has given up research and will return to his practice.
One night, Mary finds Jekyll returning to his laboratory and cautions him to give up his research. He invites her in for a talk and suddenly turns violent. He recovers and asks her to leave. Later, she finds Hyde in Jekyll's study writing out a check. He scares her. The next day, Mary goes to an amusement park with Bradshaw and his friends. Hyde shows up and picks a fight with Bradshaw. Hyde kills Bradshaw. Mary is arrested, but released. An INSPECTOR brings Mary home and explains the details to Jekyll who says that Hyde has taken off for America. Jekyll becomes agitated and leaves, claiming an "attack." Mary sees Jekyll/Hyde inject himself in his laboratory. Poole finds Jekyll collapsed. Dr. Lanyon arrives and prescribes rest. Mary watches over Jekyll, but falls asleep. When she wakes, he is gone. She rushes to the laboratory and finds Hyde who attacks her. She stabs him with an amputation fork. He drags himself out to the garden and collapses. Mary goes to him and finds Jekyll. They embrace and pledge their love for one another. Jekyll dies. Mary stays with him as the snow covers them. The staff finds their two lifeless bodies.
Summary Criticism: The story is an imaginative new approach to the classic novel as seen through the eyes of a maid. Although the script is rather subtle, the overall effect is intensely intriguing.
Mary Reilly (1996)- imdb
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