Fingersmith 6

Fingersmith 6) : 異地同命

身份的錯異是原著最大的重點，而這一段最是精華之處．二位主角，不只是認知到，更是體驗到背負對方身份的可怕．她們身處兩地，卻面對相同的境遇：周遭環境壓制她們的本命，被迫失去自由意志．但在妥協的過程中，倆人的情感發展完全不同，Maud透過成為Sue，更加堅固她的愛情．相較於Maud在上一段，對Sue的愛早已超越恨，Sue此時則是第一次經歷對Maud愛恨交加的震撼，看Sue最後經歷由恨轉愛，是這個角色後半段的焦點．

在正敘故事之前，要先細品這一段落的鋪陳，作者從故事一開始就在塑造二位主角的鏡照對比，此處更是極盡精緻的工筆對仗：

虛虛實實的身份

Sue：Sue被陷以Mrs Maud Rivers的身份關進病院，她開始爭取身份認同時，不敢使用Susan Trinder(自以為是本姓的假姓)，還是必須用Susan Smith(為便於犯罪的假姓)，但是醫生完全不採信，而陷入Trinder/Smith的兩難.，於是她妥協接受Mrs Maud Rivers，想假借回應醫生所認定的正常身份來脫身，可是她沒有讀寫的能力，反而被認定病入膏肓(Mrs Maud Rivers不是真身份，所以她的努力是徒勞無功)．直到Charles意外地肯定Susan的存在，促使她用偷竊的能力逃離病院，暫時回復Susan Trinder．直到借助旁人，跨越閱讀的障礙，才能接觸事實，找到真正Susan Lilly的身份(Maud有讀寫能力，她一直都比Sue早一步了解真相)．

Maud：她剛到Lant Street，情緒非常激動，Mrs Sucksby曾解嘲You ain't quite youself，Maud很生氣地反駁："Not quite myself? What's myself to you? Who are you, to say how I might or might not be?"(P.341)這句話後來變得一語雙關．Mrs Sucksby接著娓娓道出Sue才是千金身份，Maud對身份的失落近乎形銷骨立："She(Maud) has only bones, stripped white! She is as white as a page of paper! She is a book, from which the words have peeled and drifted--"(P.355) Maud干為Sue的替身，是經過層層妥協，先是失落千金的本命，接著舅父遭離棄；千辛萬苦逃出，唯一希望書商Mr Hawtrey認定Mrs Rivers這個假身份，竟不願伸出援手．Maud最後知道Mrs Sucksby是生母，尷尬地發現自己真實的身份，為了母親而勉為Sue的替身．但是她也透過成為Sue，來表達對Sue的思念．

特別在Sue身上，她所期待與被期待的身份，常製造出強烈的錯位效果：
■ "He(Charles) looked me over, as I have said; then he tilted his head and looked past me, and past Nurse Spiller, as if he thought that Maud must be coming along behind."(P.475) Charles來尋訪Mrs Maud Rivers，意外看到成為替身的Sue
■ "'Here's your daughter', they'd say, unlocking the gate to Mrs Sucksby's cell; and every time, she would quickly lift her head and study my face, or glance beyond my shoulder, with a troubled look--"(P.544) Sue後來去探視在獄中的養母，獄卒通報是女兒探訪，讓Mrs Sucksby以為Maud真的跟在Sue的身後
■ "Her eye came back to mine, after that, as the day went on--though I saw her looking, too, about the court, as if in search of another."(P.547)　Mrs Sucksby在法庭最想看到的還是Maud
■ "Mrs Sucksby glanced again at me, and then again at Maud, then closed her eyes. She sighed, as if weary. 'To have lost you once, dear girl,' she said, 'And now, to lose you again--' 'You shall not lose me!' I cried; and her eyes flew open, and she held my gaze for a second, as if no understanding."(P.539)

認不出的自己
在不同的地方，二人同樣是發白的雙唇，凌亂的頭髮，佈滿血絲的雙眼，瘀青泛黃的臉色，和消瘦的臉龐：

Sue："One of them had stopped, and had her hand at her face.--I blinked. She blinked. She was me. I went slowly towards her, and looked myself over, in horror....My hair was still sewn to my head, but had grown or worked loose from its stitches, and stood out in tufts. My face was white but marked, here and there, with spots and scratches and fading bruises. My eyes were swollen--from want of sleep, I suppose--and red at the rims. My face was sharper than ever, my neck like a stick..."(P.458)她從病院畫室鏡子的反射看到自己真如瘋子般駭人的外貌．

Maud："I barely recognise myself. My mouth is white. My eyes are swollen and red, my cheeks the texture and colour of yellowing flannel. My unwashed hair is dark with grease at the scalp. The neck of the gown is low, and shows the lines and points of the bones about my throat."(P.376)她忍受Mrs Sucksby和Dainty的裝扮，從鏡中看到自已褪盡千金小姐的丰采

說不出口的真相
要爭取真實的身份，關鍵在於坦白自己的罪惡，但二位主角都不敢或不能揭發真相：

Sue：當醫生索性反問為什麼千金小姐需要大費周章來陷害婢女時，她一下子無言以對："I opened my mouth. Then I closed it. For, what could I say? I still supposed that if I only told him the truth, he would believe it. But the truth was I had plotted to steal a lady's fortune; that I had made myself out a servant, when I was really a thief."(P.440)

Maud：她威脅Gentleman要向警察告發，他反唇相譏："Tell him what? Tell him how you plotted to swindle an innocent girl?"(P.361)，Mrs Sucksby同樣把罪惡分擔到Maud身上："You let them take her...And oh, dear girl, don't you think you was your mother's daughter, then?"(P.366) 不過，Mrs Sucksby的話中還帶點家學傳承的揶揄．

支撐意念

Sue：對養母的愛，一直是Sue內心最大的支撐，在絕望的瘋人院亦不例外．如果愛是寬慰，那麼對Maud復仇就是Sue的生存意志：
■ "And when I was free, I would go to wherever Maud Lilly was, and--wasn't I my mother's own daughter, after all?--I would kill her."(P.427)關進隔離病房的第一天，她就發下毒誓．
■ "I lay with Maud's white glove in my fist, and now and then put the tip of one of its fingers to my mouth, imagining Maud's soft hand inside it; and I bit and bit."(P.446)在病院中，Maud的手套變成復仇的象徵物
■ "I got hold of Maud's glove, and ripped it till the stiches gave. Then I threw it to the ground and jumped on it."(P.495)逃出病院後，Maud的手套依然是最好的發洩對象

Maud：真的是全心全意愛著Sue，因為她已經一無所有，她除了自我鼓舞，在Lant Street唯一支持的信念就是要回去解救Sue．她的拯救方案，經過民間疾苦歷練，一次比一次實際：
■ "I must get out of London--go anywhere--back to Briar. I must get money. I must, I think--this is the clearest thought of all-I must get Sue! (P.368)第一次想趁Mrs Sucksby睡眠時偷鑰匙逃跑．
■ "For I must escape. I will escape. I'll escape, and go to Sue." (P.380)她心不干情願待在Lant Street時，腦中無時無刻構思回Briar借錢，或偷書賣錢．
■ "...Mr Hawtrey will help me, then. Mr Hawtrey will help me find Sue..."(P.381)終於覺得回Briar不智，應該就近尋求支援．
■ "I shall work, and earn a little money--enough to find out my friend(Sue) ..."(P.407)她真的找到了書商，高傲的不敢開口借錢，一轉念，居然現代感十足的要作職業婦女．

夢與思念

Sue：她的理智是對Maud報仇，但是夢境則是反其道而行 "For I never dreamed of her as I knew she really was--as a viper or a thief....I dreamed--you can't be blamed, can you, for what you dream?--I dreamed I loved her....And then I would lie and be illed with a terrible shame. For I hated her! I hated her!--and yet I knew that, every time, I secretly wished that the dream had gone on to its end."(P.462)為什麼她會夢到Maud？因為潛意識會透露與理智(報仇)的不一致．倒是Sue與Charles在返回倫敦的路上，Maud的影像日漸模糊 "Then I thought of Maud, wherever she was; and imagined her face. Her face seemed dim to me, however. The dimness bothered me."(P.492)我一直覺得，這就與Maud夢不到Sue一樣，其實是個好徵兆．

Maud："What's Sue, to me? I'm afraid, here, to remember the pressing of her mouth, the sliding of her hand. But I'm afraid, too, of forgetting. I wish I could dream of her. I never do."(P.384) 她沒有夢到Sue，因為她朝思暮想的都是Sue，不必再到夢境中去辯證理智與潛意識．

愛與離棄

Sue vs Mrs Sucksby：她一直殷切期盼養母的救援，最後卻是場空等．不過她很幸運沒有親耳聽到養母的離棄，是Maud代她承受痛苦："Didn't I do everything for her, just as her mother wanted? --kept her safe, kept her tidy, made a common-place girl of her? What have I done, but give her back the life you had from her?"(P.365)Maud為了不讓Sue受到真相的傷害，寧願自己默默承受Sue的憎恨．

Maud vs Mr Lilly：她並不愛舅父，但她以為至少他會想要協尋自己姪女的下落，沒想到是被掃地出門，Mr Lilly給Richard的羞辱信幾乎毀掉她的自信："...I wish you(Richard) joy of her! Her mother was a strumpet, and she has all her mother's instincts, if not her face. The check to the progress of my work will be serve; but I take comfort in my loss, from this: that I fancy you, sir, a man who knows the proper treating of a whore."(P.387)

母親形象
她們都有一個虛構的母親和真的生母，她們先前按照虛構的母親(對方的母親)的行徑，之後卻意外地經歷或見證生母的命運．

Sue：虛構的母親是行事大膽的殺人罪犯(養母編纂的故事)，所以Sue為不辱家傳而去欺騙Maud；可是當她意外地被關入瘋人院，倒是親身見證了當年生母在瘋人院的遭遇．生母曾受過一位叫Susan的侍女真心照顧，所以用侍女之名為女兒命名，Sue則是倒過來重覆這段經歷，以侍女身份善待千金小姐Maud．

Maud：她與Richard私奔，幾乎是虛構母親的歷史重演；Maud後來疑似在混亂中刺死Gentleman，原本有可能是她走上絞刑台，但Mrs Sucksby編纂虛構的母親殺人死於絞刑，所是Mrs Sucksby站在絞刑台，讓編纂的故事落實為命運，讓Maud同樣去見證生母的遭遇．

自助人助

Sue：相較於Maud的孤僻和自立自強，她借助不少人的支援，在Briar時，就可以看到她打通關的本領，既使在瘋人院，都或多或少有些人情安慰．最重要是得到Charles的意外協助，雖然她是用心機控制對方．如果廣意來說，那些在脫逃路程中，被Sue偷的農家婦，被扒竊手錶的都會婦女...都是Sue周遭隨手擷取的資源．

Maud：Mr Hawtrey是她唯一尋求援助的對象，但他把Maud的身份設定為Mrs Rivers，她註定沒有辦法經由這個假身份得到解救．Sue曾形容她是too much in her head，她沒有人可以對話，只能在內心自我對話自立自強：
■ "God damm you, Maud! You have longed for this. You have given up Sue, you have given up everything, for this. Be bold! "(P.328)克服初到Lant Street的恐懼
■ "You must be strong. You must be strong and ready to run. "(P.371)為了日後脫逃，強迫自己進食，想辦法在Lant Street生存下去
■ "Don't mind it, Maud. If you start to mind it, you will weep. "(P.394)逃出Lant Street，在陌生的倫敦街頭強打精神

鑰匙與藥物的監控

Sue：Sue在瘋人院受到禁錮，她的挑戰在於偷取護士的鑰匙逃出；待她與Charles逃亡，怕他半夜不告而別，Sue還偷偷把兩人鞋帶綁在一起，和Mrs Sucksby有次在就寢時銜住Maud的頭髮，有異曲同工之妙．

瘋人院常用藥物行管理之便，Sue其實也知道
■ "I think the tea--which tasted bitter--must have had a draught in it. I slept through a day--or it might have been two days; and when I finally came to myself, I came to stupid."(P.442) 剛到瘋人院，初識藥物控制的厲害．
■ "But then, when Nurse Spiller came to the door with a can of tea and gave me a basin of it, I took it, but did not drink it. I tipped it on the floor..."(P.445)剛開始還會想辦法保持清晰
■ "He gave me drinks of creosote--had the nurses hold me, while he poured it into my mouth."(P.456)醫生強迫她寫Maud的名字，Sue只會寫自己的名字，導致醫生採用激烈的用藥手段
■ "...for they got us in bed at seven o'clock--gave us those draughts, to make us sleep--then they sat till midnight..."(P.461)有一段時間完全對院規就範
■ "...until Nurse Spiller brought round our draughts. I had got used to taking mine, along with the other ladies, but tonight I tipped it away--into the mattress, this time..."(P.487)與Charles約定脫逃前夕，再度企圖保持腦筋清晰

Maud：Maud一開始的key keeper是Mrs Sucksby，後來是Dainty．Dainty管鑰匙的樣子簡直就像病院的護士；有一晚Mrs Sucksby不盡然是在監控她，更近似於珍惜所藏："Mrs Sucksby like a miser with a piece of gold catches up a lock of my hair and presses it to her mouth." (P.367)

Maud原本就有使用鎮定劑的習慣，到了Lant Street，初期除了鎮定，亦被拿來當作監控Maud的手段：
■ "...bring out my bottle of medicine: he lets the liquid drop, three times, into the glass of brandy, then sizes my head and presses the glass to my lips."(P.356)第一次知道與Sue是交換身份，失控狂笑後，Gentleman用來平撫她的情緒(電視版乾脆讓她昏倒)．
■ " I remember that I weep again, and given more of my drops in brandy." (P.366)在Lant Street的第二個夜晚，他們還是用藥物來解決Maud沮喪的心情
■ " Then they dose me again with medicine and brandy; and a day or two passes in darkness."(P.371)攻擊Gentleman失敗的下場，就是被賜予昏睡．

暑熱與惡劣空氣

Sue：病房悶熱不通風，她聽說有人受不了而死去"The air in our rooms, for instance, became like soup. I think one or two ladies actually died, through breathing that air..."(P.460)

Maud：Lant Street的廚房同樣悶熱，到是Mrs Sucksby 有一次告訴Maud有人因吸到污染的空氣染霍亂而病死，Maud曾嘗試深吸一口以求一死 "May one take a fever, from a draught of foetid air? I lie down at her side until she sleeps; then go back to the window, press my face to the gap between the sashes, breath deeper."(P.389)　Maud曾經數度表示輕生，但她的求生本能一直強過尋死的意念．

似曾相識的住所

Sue："The heat makes the windows cloud. She(Sue) likes to stand, then, and draw loops and hearts and spirals upon the glass."(P.267) 在Briar，Maud描述Sue站在佈有水氣的窗前，畫著Maud當時並不明瞭的環狀、心型和螺旋形的圖案．

Maud："The view is of a slip of muddy stret, a house with ointment-coloured shutters with heart-shaped holes, a wall of brick, with loops and spirals marked upon it in yellow chalks." (P.340)她第一次走上樓，看到Lant Street街景，就像是Sue在Briar的思鄉塗鴉．

The Story...
倫敦夢醒
電視版，Maud眼眶含淚離開瘋人院．她氣憤地把戒指丟向Gentleman，戴回手套與外界隔離．到了倫敦，看到忙碌的街景，原本還有一絲興奮，但馬上從小提袋中拿出Two of Hearts的撲克牌，開始想起了Sue．在原著，Maud原本極其嚮往倫敦，一路上卻夢想幻滅．人群的壓力，和背叛Sue的不安，讓她有輕生之念："I am afraid the crowds will overburden the train--perhaps overturn it. I think. I deserve to be crushed in the wreck of a train; and almost hope they do."(P.324)

倫敦在她想像中類似獨立的莊院"I have always supposed London a place, like a house in a park, with walls: I've imagined it rising, straight and clean and solid." 沒想到盡是殘破的房舍，漫漫分佈，而且到處是晾曬的衣服"laundry everywhere, drooping and yellow."(P.325)這個晾曬衣服不斷滴水的意象，後來運用在電視版Gentleman在Lant Street門口教訓Maud的一景，稍後再提．

有趣的是Maud提到對招牌告示的恐懼 "There are words, all ove the face of London. I see them, and cover my eyes."(P.326)電視版可惜只有驚鴻一瞥，沒有特別著墨．

Maud被連哄帶騙引到Lant Street，Mrs Sucksby從後方繞著Maud打量，回頭對Gentleman，像是稱讚叨回獵物的獵犬：Good boy．我覺得選角casting真的很用心，二個人特徵相似，活脫就像一對母女．

Maud馬上察覺這是Sue的賊窩，恐會遭到謀財害命，一心想要離開．硬闖不成，行李被攔下，眾人像海盜一樣將行李隔空對傳．Maud情急下抱起嬰兒，脅以摔死以求去，結果Mrs Sucksby(這裡有六七個小孩，死一兩個都不會有人在乎!)四兩撥千斤便讓她束手就擒．電視版的Maud因為一夜折騰，靠在Mrs Sucksby的大椅上便睡著了(第一集中，Gentleman來Lant Street提案前，Mrs Sucksby同樣的姿勢小睡在同一張椅上)．在原著，Maud的漫漫長夜才剛開始，電視版則細分好幾段，與Sue的場景平行剪接．　

病院殘夢
Sue在電視版的遭遇編劇過於平面，在原著中她在院中思考反省，想盡方法突破，吃了很多苦．特別是她對Maud的愛恨糾結，非常立體的情緒轉折，可是在電視版，觀眾只看到她對Maud的記恨，卻看不到原著中她在夢裡不能自己的渴望(參見前面的「夢與思念」)．如果Sue不曾強烈地想望Maud，就削弱了她最後千辛萬苦回到Briar尋求Maud的動機．

電視版對Sue遭到性污辱只是點到為止．可是原著從她一開始進瘋人院，工作人員早就知道Mrs Rivers「不正常的性喜好」，"The one"的標籤如影隨形地跟著Sue．一天晚上，在護士Betty的慶生會，其他護士起哄要跳壓在Sue的身上，比賽誰較有威力，最後擦槍走火，一個護士竟然邪惡地故意在Sue身上磨蹭起來．Sue懷疑Maud洩漏私情，受不了恥辱，憤而反抗，結果演變成醫生用浸池水療來壓制Sue的瘋狂反抗．絕不是如電視版，Sue在園裡放風時行為失控，就被抓去水療．

細說從頭
Mrs Sucksby試圖對Maud示好："You don't imagine you ain't more welcome here, than anyone?"，Maud回答的句子文法漂亮極了，再配上Elaine Cassidy抑揚頓挫的聲音演出："I can't imagine that you mean me any kind of good, since you persist in keeping me here, when I so clearly wish to leave."(P.335)(我無法想像你們對我會有什麼善意，我已經表明我要離開，你們卻強迫我留下來！)

電視版，Maud乍醒的廚房，沒有John, Dainty在場，故事很快切到Mrs Sucksby是整個計劃的主謀者，她拿著Maud的項鍊，這時候，Maud以迅雷不及掩耳的速度搶走項鍊(非常驚人的肢體表演)，讓Mrs Sucksby打破茶杯．Elaine Cassidy詮釋的Maud就像貓一樣的敏感，不論是迴避Mrs Sucksby，反抗Gentleman，她再一次證明她是同輩中最有天份的演員．

劇情很流暢地道出二人在襁褓時交換身份的秘密，從Marianne私奔、未婚生子、Lilly家族來尋，至Mrs Sucksby及時更換嬰兒...Imelda Staunton演來確實出神入化，震得Maud最後不支昏到－－這是電視播放的版本，第二集的結尾，無法免俗地用了點煽情技巧．(電視播放版是三集，每集一小時，但到了DVD，卻變成二集，每集一個半小時)

• Maud在初識Gentleman，曾因他提及母親住瘋人院之事而感到衝擊，但她強忍支撐，不屑於昏倒："I will not swoon. Only girls in books do that, for the convenience of gentlemen."(P.230)所以我就不了解電視版為什麼要讓她昏倒?

原著在開始細說從頭之前，還有些小插曲．Mrs Sucksby試圖為Maud介紹John和Dainty．John的見面禮是用刀割開Maud的行李(Sue辛苦縫補的那一個?)，最後丟還Maud："He leans and leers at me again. 'I liked you better,' he says, 'when you was a chair.' " (P.339) 雖然Maud來到Lant Street，我一直不覺得她真的來到Sue的家，直到 John的這一句，我突然想起當時Sue的行前訓練，彷彿昨日之事．

Mrs Sucksby後來領Maud上樓，避開 John和Dainty，故事才開始娓娓道來．電視版點到交換嬰兒的原因，但少了Marianne的心理側寫，為什麼她堅持Sue以尋常人家的身份成長．Marianne遇人不淑，未婚生子的遭遇，是個典型的悲劇．她感到千金小姐的身份不是光環，而是咀咒．當她生下女兒，她充滿怨尤，不但擔心這個女娃將來要面對社會對女性的歧視，"Then God help her! For the world is cruel to girls. I wish she had died, and me with her"(P.346) 恨不得女娃不要存活－－同樣地，Maud亦恨不得親手把母親殺死．然而Marianne最不能忍受的是將來女兒在父兄的教育下，會讓孩子憎恨自己的母親．所以Marianne安置小孩的邏輯是：

1) 不要讓她被父兄帶走；
2) 不要讓她成為千金小姐，因為那種身份是負擔 "...what does being a lady do for you, except let you be ruined?"(P.352)；
3) 既然要隱瞞身份，就要命名平凡，便以一個僕人的名字命名："There was a servant that was kind to me once--kinder than ever my father or my brother was. I want her named for her. I shall call her for her. I shall call her--Susan"(P.352)；
4) 為了徹底平凡，便請Mrs Sucksby撫養；
5) 為了報答Mrs Sucksby養育女兒，也為照顧女兒將來成家立業的生計，於是允諾滿18歲時(電視版是21歲)，一半財產給女兒，一半財產給Mrs Sucksby所監護，後來被調包的小孩．"...I'll settle a half my fortune on her; and Susan shall have the rest. She shall have it, if you'll only take her for me now, and bring her up honest, and keep her from knowing about her inheritance till she has grown up poor and can feel the worth of it!"(P.353)

Mrs Sucksby雖然遵守了諾言，代為撫養Sue，但是她不甘心於一半的財產，而是覬覦全部的利益．就像所有古老的寓言，貪心只有悲劇的下場．

Marianne最後是否真的如她所願，沒有被親生女兒怨恨？Sue的心情是很複雜的，她不知該怨Mrs Sucksby較多，還是要怨Marianne更多？Maud可是結結實實地痛恨Marianne，卻發現怨錯了對象，到了最後，她不忍，也不能去怨，為她犧牲的親生母親．

原著裡的Maud了解自已不過是瓜代Sue的身份，失落的衝擊何其之大，但是她絕不會昏倒，只是情緒崩潰："I am not weeping, as they suppose. I am laughing--I am gripped with a terrible laughter--and my look must be ghastly....She is a book, from which the words have peeled and drifted--"(P.355) Maud更形容自己像一本書，文字從頁面剝離飄零...極度淒美的超寫實意象．

身份的互換，再互換
Gentleman將鎮定劑混在酒裡讓Maud喝下，以便她繼續聆聽精神虐待；電視版則是在Maud喝下摻藥的酒，次日甦醒後，披頭散髮直向Mrs Sucksby詢問她的親生母親．Mrs Sucksby此時只說Maud是棄嬰，讓她處於沒有身份，無所倚靠的處境．Maud惟一的出路，是反過來假裝Sue的身份，讓Gentleman越俎代庖，替沒有行為能力的妻子取得財產處理權，同時讓Mrs Sucksby以監護人身份取得另一半財產．

Maud斥責他們喪心病狂，Gentleman火大反斥Maud不懂人間疾苦："窮困才是卑劣！有錢的生活妳都覺得苦悶，妳來試試看沒錢的( That's vile, poverty. You think life is hard with money, you should try without)" 請注意看電視版，Gentleman把Maud強拉到門口時，門外曬掛著的衣服，正墜落著一滴一滴的水珠，就是原著中Maud對倫敦的初印象"laundry everywhere, drooping and yellow."(P.325)

Maud至此的自由之夢完全破滅："I have been bold and detrminded. I have bitten down rage, insanity, desire, love, for the sake of freedom. Now, that freedom being taken from me utterly, is it to be wondered at if I fancy myself defeated? I give myself up to darkness; and wish I may never again be required to lift my head to the light." (P.366)

她或許放棄了自己，接受擺佈，假裝Sue的身份，但她內心始終未忘懷Sue，沒有放棄解救Sue．電視版不斷沿用頂針和撲克牌的象徵，我們看到Maud還戴上Sue的手鐲並親吻．在原著，Maud甚至連髮型服飾都仿傚以前的Sue．後來Sue看到Maud時，她誤解Maud的動機，難過Maud取代她的一切，而且還比她改變得更好．

• 這是一個很有趣的現像，在有些同性的情愛互動中，常會傾向共同的樣貌．例如Tipping The Velvet，Nan愛慕Kitty，仿傚Kitty從女裝變為男裝；現實生活中，Ellen DeGeneres與Anne Heche熱戀時，Anne剪成Ellen一般的短髮．但在一些主流商業電影中，卻常用作負面的手法：如＜Basic Instinct第六感追緝令(1992)＞Catherine(莎朗史東Sharon Stone)和女心理醫生在大學時有互為模仿的愛恨情仇；＜Single White Female 雙面女郎 (1992)＞Hedy(Jennifer Jason Leigh)對Allie(Bridget Fonda)過於強烈的感情，Hedy便模仿Allie，企圖佔有Allie的一切

在另一邊，Sue放棄向醫生驗明正身的策略，她假裝承認是Maud，想藉此表示正常以便出院．可是醫生要求她要回復書寫能力．電視版，Sue寫不出Maud的名字，只不過是被看穿技倆；原著中，院方是強迫Sue每天寫，每次寫不出來就受罰，直到最後醫生認定她病入膏肓，改造無望．

解救與救贖
Maud終於等到逃脫的機會．她擺脫Dainty的監控，不顧一切地找尋她認為可以求助的書商朋友．我們在Tipping The Velvet已經領教過，倫敦的街道不利於年輕單身女子獨行，所以Nan以男裝才能自由地出現在市道上．形單影隻的Maud，不只是引人側目，而且差一點被紳士誘拐上車(Nan就是上錯了Diana的座車)

腳破血流的Maud終於見到Mr Hawtrey，以為可以獲救．可是他畏懼破壞Mr Lilly的關係，害怕流言，只想把Maud送回其丈夫了事．Mr Hawtrey很像Tipping The Velvet裡的Zena，一開始他們都看起來像是朋友，是關鍵時刻的一線希望，但他們只會讓主角更加絕望，絕望到主角只能靠自己的力量重新站起來，為情節帶來大幅反彈．

原著中，Maud看見桌上編印中的文稿，習慣性地想要確認是什麼字體；電視版改得更為積極，Maud馬上糾正出錯的段落．雖然只是一個小段落，我認為電視編劇的方式會比較符合Maud性格的一致性．

電視版在Mr Hawtrey直言拒絕相救後，Maud便回到Lant Street．在原著，Mr Hawtrey其實請了一個婦人，將Maud騙到臨時收容所流放，後來Maud在惡夜來臨，無計可施的情況下："A moon has risen--a crescent, slender, filthy-brown."(P.413)，不得已將內衣典當給婦人和車伕，才回到Lant Street．

電視版，絕對高傲的Maud對於回到Lant Street還是不留情面地畫清界線："請你不要碰我，壓制我，讓我窒息，假裝愛我 Do not stifle me, smother me, pretend to love me" 相較之下，原著裡Maud的反應略顯楚楚可憐："I begin to weep--in frustration, exhaustion....'Why must you also love me? Why must you smother and torment me, with your grasping after my heart?"(P.415)

My own, my own dear girl.....Imelda Staunton演技入木三分，一場爐邊認親的戲，讓觀眾幾乎要原諒這個貪心婦人的所有罪行，至少Maud是原諒了她．對戲的Elaine Cassidy只放了一點點表情出來－－less is more!

意外的應許
Sue曾以紙牌假算命，而自己的命運卻充滿意外轉折："Blame Fortune. Fortune's blind, and works in peculiar ways...Fortune kept me at Dr Christie's(瘋人院) nearly all that summer long; then listen to who it sent me."(P.473)一個原在Briar工作，唇紅齒白的男孩Charles誤打誤撞來探訪"Mrs Rivers".

不論在原著還是電視版，Charles在前段故事稀薄的像過場的空氣，不只讀者觀眾要努力回想，連Sue一下子都想不起來他是誰．Charles繞著Gentleman轉，幫他擦鞋打理，電視版甚至讓Charles直接對Gentleman說：I miss you．男孩是來找Gentleman，而Sue突破精明起來，借力使力，說服Charles偷渡鑰匙和銼刀，以便同行找尋Gentleman．

Mr Hawtrey認定Maud是Mrs Rivers，錯誤的身份注定脫逃失敗．然而Charles看到的是Sue，所以她的真實身份終於獲得解放．電視版用一連串的短接和特寫鏡頭，把Sue的身手描繪的活靈活現．

原著中，Sue用鑰匙開門的剎那，不禁祈求：" 'Dear God, I swear, I'll be good, I'll be honest the rest of my days, I swear--'It caught, and stuck. 'Fuck! Fuck!' I said."(P.489)每次看到這段就很想大笑．作者曾在接受訪問時表示，她認為聖經是最過譽的一本書．我想Sue對上帝的祈求應是不會應驗．

Sue回頭在鑰匙孔塗上護士貝蒂用來擦手指的藥油，就像她在逃出Briar時使用牛油如出一轍，門閂應聲開啟．她聽到一些微弱的聲音飄盪，但沒有任何人看見她的行蹤．她爬上高樹，越過圍牆，降落到自由的土地上．與Charles一起會合，前往倫敦的路上：Sue的返鄉復仇之路．她將會發現，對Maud，到底是愛，還是恨．

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Fingersmith 5 : Final Choice

最後抉擇

愛妳愛到傷害妳
Maud內心的翻騰是這一段最大的戲劇動力．Maud最期望自由與愛情兩全，但Sue只能在榮譽(金錢)與愛情擇一．由於Sue的退卻，Maud只能擇自由而捨愛情．在原著，Maud卻有獨特的邏輯去合理化這個抉擇："And so you see it is love--not scorn, not malice; only love--that makes me harm her, in the end."(P.302)

為什麼把Sue關到瘋人院會是因為愛?這是Virago討論版上的頭號謎題．在這句話的前文，Maud推論，如果她退出Richard的計劃，Sue就會和Richard打道回府，留下Maud一個人守在Briar，沒有錢、沒有倫敦、沒有自由，最重要的，沒有Sue．這段話該怎麼解釋？

1)她在Briar不能沒有Sue ＝＞如果Sue留下，她可能願意留在Briar 2)Sue被關在瘋人院，不算是失去Sue；Sue回到倫敦，才算是失去 ＝＞瘋人院是禁閉空間，她可以回去看望Sue 3)Sue離開她，算是失去Sue；她離開Sue，就不算是失去 ＝＞近似Maud折磨Agnes的心態，見不得別人有自己想要，卻得不到的一切．

一開始我認為，如果那稱之為愛，也是Maud這一段期間還不成熟的自私之愛．越到後面，Maud早就知道Sue在計劃中的角色，在她可以痛恨Sue背叛的時刻，Maud對Sue的愛都超越了恨，我想就算Maud是被關進去，她的愛意不儘然會消褪．只是在這個段落中，她沈陷在Richard的計劃中，完全棄守就範，失去愛的行動力．

未婚妻的漫長等待
Sue推以天氣漸熱為由，迴避了夜夜同寢的尷尬．她儘可能迴避所有眼神和肢體的接觸，只因為她對拯救Maud完全無能為力．Maud經過Sue的打擊，完全槁木死灰，她像靈魂即將抽離的肉體，對周遭更為漠然："I think of the ghost I shall make: a neat, monotonous ghost, walking for ever on soft-soled feet, through a broken house, to the pattern of ancient carpets."(P.304)

Maud自此之後的行為都是跳躍式的記憶，很少活在當下 "I am more aware of her hands than of the objects she takes up; feel the stir of her breath, see the movement of her lip, but her words slip from my memory the moment she has said them."(P.304)很多事情只見於Sue的自述，不見於Maud的記憶中．

在私奔前夕，日常活動一切照舊，還是協助舅父整理目錄．她回來時簡直是忍到最後極限，頭痛欲裂．這時Sue做了一件歎為觀止的動作．她用手巾沾紅酒，按摩Maud的太陽穴舒緩頭痛．這就是Sue的邏輯，沒有辦法做實質有建設性的事，只是做些小惠的心理補償．

臨到出發前，Sue的瞻前顧後再度發作，她還在猶豫行李是否打包妥當，又再回去重新整理，結果行李意外扯破，只好趕快再縫過．就在這個時候，Maud突然不告而別，摸黑潛到舅父的房間，拿走他的剃刀．在電視版，則改成Sue是回房拿Maud的手套紀念時，Maud才離開．其實原著中，行李扯破是很好的catch，因為Maud接下來拿剃刀憤怒地割破大部份的藏書，如果能出現在電視，會是很好的平行剪輯．

• 原著中，行李在Lant Street再度被Jhon用刀割破，令Maud心驚．這種突然的意外行為，是文學和電影常用的手法．我記得以前看瑞典大導演柏格曼的＜處女之泉＞(*柏格曼電影介紹)，溫文的女孩拿出食物給幾位猥漢，本來是張力中的平靜，突然食物中跳出一隻蛤蟆，像暴力的catch，他們接著強暴了女孩...．

電視版，Maud割書的段落只是發怒，原著卻透露又愛又恨的詭異心理，連割書都要有合理的原因："I am almost afraid the book will shriek, and so discover me. But it does not shriek. Rather, it sighs, as if in longing for its own laceration; and when I hear that, my cuts becomes swifter and more true."(P.306)*這裡的書像極了哈利波特學校圖書館中淒厲的禁書．

• 之前曾說，舅父收集有價值的二手書，就像Mrs Suksby收養別人的棄嬰一樣．Maud在反抗時，會攻擊對方的弱點，例如她割破舅父心愛的藏書，導致他最後中風不治；她在Lant Street抱取一個嬰兒，脅以摔死以求去，但不幸碰到一位冷酷更甚的高手．

午夜狂奔
Sue在每一個逃脫的過程中都特別有神采，特別是她逃出瘋人院到達倫敦時，更是達到最高峰．她逃出Briar與逃出瘋人院的手法幾乎同出一轍，其實也呼應著二個不同的空間，對女性自由同樣的桍桎．

電視版的逃脫的過程有點單薄，但在原著有二段非常浪漫的神來之筆．有一段是Sue先預備牛油，順利開啟Briar的門閂，她得意地向Maud眨眼 "Then I gave her a wink. It was the satisfaction of the job."(P.159)，連一直疏離狀態的Maud都被煞到 "She catches my eye and winks, like a boy. My heart aches in my breast."(P.307)，可見這時候的Sue是多麼有吸引力．

另一段是快到河邊，抬頭仰望滿天星斗，成功逃脫帶來的興奮感，倆人竟拋開芥蒂牽起手來 "She was holding her cloak about her face, but when she saw me turn to her she reached and took my hand. She took it, not to be led by me, not to be comforted; only to hold it, because it was mine."(P.160)．如果牽手的時間可以再久一點，或許倆人會情不自禁擁吻...

不過小船出現 "The dark boat of my dreams. I watch it come, feel Sue's hand turn in mine; then step from her, take the rope he casts..."(P.307)，Maud可能怕被Richard看到，而放開Sue的手．Sue的反應很有趣"...but it was not me who stepped forward first, it was her."(P.160)，怎麼Maud搶著去接船纜？不過，在電視版，船纜丟上來時，Maud居然閃身沒有立刻接住．

那是一段安靜，走向地獄的行程："No-one speaks. No-one moves, save Richard as he rows. We glide, softly, in silence, into our dark and separate hells."(P.308)

失憶與記憶的婚禮
Maud對接下來的事幾乎完全恍惚，在婚禮上被迫脫去手套，戴上戒指，完全就範...相對於Maud有意無意地失去記憶，Sue則是巨細靡遺地描述，彷彿紀錄每一個微小的細節，就可以把時間留得再慢一點．Sue要求Gentleman給Maud一束捧花，剛開始他不置可否，終於Maud開口了："I should like a flower, Richard. I should like a flower. And Sue must have a flower, too."(P.164)

• 我突然想起同是英國出品的＜Crying Game 亂世浮生＞．神秘莫測的女(男)主角，決定「獻身」男主角前，在酒吧共飲特別的酒，只見鏡頭移到中年酒保的表情，他默默點首示意彷彿為他們證婚．不知Maud要倆人一齊捧花時，是否有偷渡共同成婚的意圖？

新婚之夜
Sue為Maud更衣準備時，Maud在地獄門前最後掙扎，突然想買通Sue"Never mind what he does. If I call out to you, say you'll come. I'll give you money for it."(P.168)．這不失為一著險棋，可惜發生得太晚，來不及讓事情發酵．Maud只好絕望地豁出去，發狂地對Sue強攻．

在電視版，Maud全身赤裸，二次要求Sue直視(原著，Sue從那一夜次日即不敢正視Maud)．Sue淚留滿面，接受Maud的第一個吻．後來Maud強抓Sue的手，先是放在自己的胸口，接著往下拉…. 電視版更甚原著，Maud還把Sue推向床鋪，吸吮Sue的手指，壓制在床上…(簡直就是強暴)．有人覺得電視版似嫌過火，但從Maud接下來二種不同的對白，可以理解電視版詮釋的方式．

在原著，Maud充滿著悔恨，寧願沒有加入這個計劃："You went, before. You said I dreamed you. I'm not dreaming now. I wish I were! God knows, God knows, I wish I were dreaming, and might wake up and be at Briar again!"(P.169)．電視版，Maud的舉動反而是對Sue的怯懦洩憤You did it before for the sake of tonight...We weren't dreaming, were we?

電視版此時還自行加入一段：明明白白顯示Gentleman知情偷窺．在原著，被Maud嚇壞的Sue則是聽到Gentleman的動靜："I heard him slow his step, then hesitate at the door. Perhaps he was wondering if he should knock, as he had used to knock at Briar."(P.170)

在原著，這一段提供不少Gentleman是同志的線索，例如在進房前，對Sue拿著Maud的內衣感到不自在"It was him that had taught me the handling of a petticoat but now, seeing me take out Maud's shimmies and stockings, he seemed almost afraid."(P.167)；

Gentleman進房後，先是故意嚇唬Maud "He raises his hand and grips the head-board above my pillow and shakes it, hard, until the legs of the bed lurch and grind aginst the floor." (P.309)，後來坦言"Haven't I already told you, you are safe? If you think I am any gladder than you, to be married--"(P.310)

• You are safe：在＜The Mexican 危險情人＞，同志殺手(James Gandolfini飾，影集黑道家族)在綁架Samantha(茱莉亞羅伯茲飾)時，同樣說過這一句，在這裡並列，有異曲同工之妙．

Richard用刀割出傷口，製造新婚之夜的證據，努力擠出血滴時還問Maud："Do you suppose that enugh?"(P.311)Maud才起疑他不是對Agnes下手，應該有經驗...Richard辯白說是用另一種方法，其實他是不近女色．

Gentleman不久坐在椅子上睡著，Maud在半夜開始在意一牆之外的Sue怎麼都不聞不問："I put back my head and gaze at the wall behind me. Beyond it lies Sue. If she turned in her bed, if she said my name, I think I would hear it. She might make any sound, any at all--I would catch it, I am certain I would. She makes no sound."(P.313)

Sue的不聞不問是一種逃避，逃避自己的無能為力:"I lay, in the darkness, in my cloak and my gown, my head between the pillow and the mattress; and all I heard, each time I woke in the night, was the creeping, creeping of little creatures through the straw beneath my cheek."(P.170)

倆人都受不了折磨，想要快速了結痛苦：

Sue:"Better, I thought drearily, to make it happen soon."(P.171) Maud:"I do. I will do anything, now, to bring an end to our long wait."(P.314)

Sue開始對老闆娘講些女主人腦筋不太正常的影射．Maud則表演日漸消沈，萎靡不振．Sue以為她的萎靡不振是想藉此避開Richard的需索，她對Maud失身於Gentleman妒恨交加："I should have said he needed to do it to her only the once. I should have thought he might have been frightened he shuld get her with child. But there were other things I thought he might like her to do, now he had learned how smooth her hands were, how soft her bosom was, how warm and glib her mouth."(P.175)

Maud不吃不喝，簡檢的Sue便幫忙收拾菜尾．Maud唯一有元氣的娛樂就是幫Sue換上華服，其實這些都是Maud一定要執行的功課，只不過電視版加入Maud的依依不捨．Maud為Sue換上最好的衣服，還幫她別上心型別針，只見Maud的雙手猶豫在Sue起伏的胸口...接著聽到醫生的座車到來，Sue反射式撥開Maud的雙手，Maud不好意思地退後...

庸醫會診
醫生早被Gentleman洗腦，他們的會診不過是強化先入為主的印象．一開始，Maud聽到醫生的聲音，但聽不到Sue談話的內容："I hear their voices--low, monotonous--but not their words. Sue's voice I do not hear at all."(P.316)．

Sue不論說什麼都不過是醫生眼中的病徵．Sue最後表達了如何處置Maud的期望："'I wish you would keep her, sir, and watch her,' I said in a rush. 'I wish you would keep her some place where no-one could touch her, or hurt her--"(P.179)這一句話從Sue的口中說出，真是情何以堪．

接著醫生轉與Maud談話，Sue透過薄得像紙一樣的牆："But those walls were like paper: I heard them move about, caught the rumble of the doctor's questions; then, after a minute or so, came the thin rising and falling of her tears."(P.179)

電視版，Maud的哭泣純粹是配合Richard的演出，但在原著，卻是個意外之舉．因為Richard在描述Sue(Maud Rivers)發病的原因，除了附合醫生"the over-exposure of girls to literature"之女子大學無用論之外，竟順勢故意揭發二女性事 "You did nothing to invite or encourage the gross attentions my wife, in her madness, attempted to force on you--"(P.319)

Maud開始哭泣，並不是因為Sue已背叛她，而是她憶起與Sue溫存的一切："I think of Sue. I think of her, not as she must be now, in the room beyond the wall--satisfied to have betrayed me, glad to suppose herself about to return at last to her home, the dark thieves' den, in London. I think of her holding herself above me, her hair let down, You pearl..."(P.319)

• 同樣是薄得像紙一樣的牆，此處的牆再薄都是種障礙，但在華卓斯基兄弟( Wachowski)的＜Bound驚世狂花＞卻阻擋不了二位女主角堅定的同盟關係．

不忍分離
要啟程的那一天，倆人各自收藏紀念品：Sue偷藏Maud的手套至衣服的內裡；Maud則收藏著頂針．Maud看著Sue穿起她最華麗的衣服，美麗的容顏綻放:"She wears my gown of silk--blue silk, against which the white of her wrists and throat is turned to the colour of cream, and the browns of her hair and eyes are made rich. She has grown handsome."(P.321)但電視版詮釋完全不同，只見Maud沒好氣的幫Sue打理衣服，就立刻別過臉．

在原著，上馬車前的那一段路，Maud是極為不捨的緊握著Sue的手臂："...when I must give it up--give it up, for ever!--I think I hesitate"(P.321)然後Gentleman說了一句："No time for sentiment." Sue當時還以為是對她說．但電視版，三個人是各自行走上車，Sue走在中央，彷彿富貴逼人的公主新娘．

電視版把依依不捨集中到上車後，倆人坐在一起，互相緊握雙手．在原著，Maud是坐在Richard的旁邊，已經不能與Sue有肢體接觸．二個版本各有優點，原著是一路都在蘊釀不捨，到馬車上愕然而止，最後讓Maud作出最後一擊．電視版，則把前段的Maud壓抑到麻木不仁，到馬車上才緊握雙手，流露最後一絲隱藏不住的感情．我個人是較偏愛電視版抑揚頓挫的節奏．

在馬車停在病院，院方迎接的關鍵時刻，Gentleman對Maud安撫："Don't be afraid."一直在狀況外的Sue又以為是對她說，最後終於感覺到:"The Gentleman leaned and caught hold of my arm. I thought at first he meant to keep me in my seat; then I understood that he was trying to press me from it."(P.183)她就這樣地被推入莫名的困境中．

Maud原本呆坐如石，在Gentleman的逼迫下，她看著Sue，開口．真正讓Sue痛心疾首是Maud對她喊出："Oh! My own poor mistress"．Sue看到Maud的最後一眼，是她鐵石心腸的面容，此後Sue便懷著這份復仇毅力，竟也支撐她熬過病院的折磨，命運的諷刺，莫過於此．

憤怒的Sue，把最心愛的形容詞"Pearl"，來個180度大逆轉："Hard as a pearl, and the grit that lies inside it"(P.184)這回怎麼變成金玉其外，敗絮其中？有趣的是，這與Mau一路看Sue的相由心生，同樣是見山不是山的層層轉換．

Sue終於明白故事的真正的起承 "You thought her a pigeon. Pigeon, my arse, That bitch knew everything. She had been in on it from the start."(P.184)在原著的第一部到此結束，三分之二的故事才要開始．

原著的第二部由Maud的角度以現在式來述說：從Maud出生在瘋人院的記憶開始．電視版從馬車離開起倒敍．

在原著，"I gaze through the lozenge of glass at the road we have travelled--a winding red road, made cloudy by dust, like a thread of blood escaping from my heart."(P.323)車輪輾過的紅土路，就像心頭上一束血痕，也像撲克牌Two of Hearts上的鞋印痕－－Maud自己踩下的印痕－－不論接下來Maud是如何請讀者接受她的所作所為："I am telling you this so that you might appreciate the forces that work upon me, making me what I am."(P.200)但在這一刻，她幾乎不能原諒自己．

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Fingersmith 4

Fingersmith 4) : 三邊牽扯

Gentleman的出現帶來危機也帶來伏筆．對Sue而言，他提供一個觀察機會和刺激，她從誤以為Maud愛他，到確認她不是愛他，而是怕他；最後竟然發現是自己愛上了Maud．對Maud而言，他讓自己了解到渴望Sue的程度有多強烈，強烈到成為Gentleman手上的弱點 － 她擔心自己的暗戀被揭穿恥笑 － 意外成為Gentleman計劃的拉力．三個人在Gentleman的操控下各自演戲，各有盤算．

成果驗收
在原著，Maud送給Sue一套衣服，Sue便被另一位侍女誤認為小姐，但到了Richard來見Maud時，她已受不了，早換掉衣服了．但在電視版，早在好姊妹的那一段日子，我們就看到Maud有送衣服給Sue，所以戲裡Sue的衣著和Maud一直是典雅登對．因此當Richard進入Maud的會客室，Sue背對門口站在窗前，Richard第一眼便錯認，直到Maud稍後從旁出現，她完美的作業成果戲劇化地展現給Richard．

從Richard出現開始，他與Maud的對話一直充滿著Sue(和Mr Lilly)不解的暗語：

Richard: I hope you are proving a good girl for your new mistress.(妳不要再像Lant Street的小賊)
Sue: I hope I am too, sir
Maud: She is a very good girl, She is a very good girl, indeed. (她真的進步很多)
Richard: Of course, she could not help but be good--I should say, no girl could help but be good, Miss Lilly--with you as her example .(妳確實把Sue改造得像完美的替身)

• Richard習慣眨眼，當他對Sue眨眼時，表面上是告訴Sue他達到某個目標(例如幫Sue寫好推薦函，得到Maud的芳心)，但看在第三者，他根本是在嘲諷Sue的狀況外．

有時候你需要別人的提示來認清自己，當Gentleman出現站在Maud的身旁，Sue才恍然大悟Maud的美麗："And I though then, for the first time, that he had been right. She was handsome, she was very fair and slight--I knew it, seeing her stand beside him with her eyes on his."(P112) 但是她對Maud的愛意仍是茫然而不自覺．

三人分梨
當Maud開始猶豫不決，Richard就像一個積極的，想要儘速達成交易的業務員，對Maud設定計劃進度，他要求繼續上三個星期的繪畫課，要求Maud要表現出愛上Richard而願意私奔．看在Sue的眼裡，Maud自從Richard出現後就沒有胃口，和Sue保持疏離，很神經質地準備繪畫用具....電視版有一場戲，三個人在戶外寫生，Richard一時興起，拿起一個梨子分給三個人共享，沒有什麼對話，大家只是默默地吃著水果．在原著，這一段本來是發生在室內，Sue內心有感而發："We were thinking of secrets. Real secrets, and snide."(P.117)電視版的詮釋倒是恰如其分．　

• Maud對手套沾污一直深惡痛覺，但是她對繪畫課時沾到顏料，並沒有激烈的立即反應．除了因為她對顏料或水果漬沒有原發的厭惡之外，還因為她陷在某一種更強烈的思緒中而無法自拔，例如在這一刻是想著計劃，在河邊寫生是著迷於注視熟睡的Sue．

Acting love
Maud感覺壓力沉重，一方面她不喜歡Richard的接近，另一方面她受不了Sue無時無刻注視的眼神，Maud一直在遲疑．Sue發現Maud的異樣："At night she went fretfully to her bed, and sometimes took more sleeping-drops, and sometimes shivered in her sleep."(P.119) Richard發現了Maud的遲疑，於是提議在戶外寫生．當Sue提著東西在後面努力跟上腳步，Richard便藉靠近Maud的時刻，除了策動之外，就是語出威脅，並且要求Maud安排和Sue說話的機會，以確認Sue那一方完成使命的決心沒有改變．

Maud這時候根本無力在意Sue是來陷害她，Maud的心思完全被慾望所佔據，她只能想著如何努力地去壓抑，而且不要被Richard發現．她光是看著Sue背負畫具的凌亂，便不能自己："She is flushed from the weight of the bags. Her cloak still bellow, her hair still whips, and I want more than anything to draw her to me, to touch and tidy her. I think I begin to, I think I half-reach for her; then I become conscious of Richard and his shrewd, considering gaze. I cross my arms before me and turn away."(P.285)

Maud一日藉機差使Sue送火給Richard點煙．讓他們交換著其實不太有營養的情報，Richard當時還不知倆人之間的情愫，指派給她的任務目標仍然是："Watch her hard. Make her love you."(P.121)Sue發現Maud從那天起便天天貼著玻璃看著Richard抽煙漫步，只當作是Maud的發暈．其實每天Maud的內心感受著內外交迫的壓力，她日漸消瘦暗淡．

Sue覺得Maud的異樣越來越嚴重，從來沒看過戀愛中的人有這種反應："Then at night, she would like stiff and open-eyed, or turn and murmur in her sleep."(p.123)當Sue熟睡後，百般煎熬的Maud在半夜清醒，她不敢這樣睡去，她需去碰觸，去感受具體東西的存在才能有安全感，於是她起身碰觸屋內的擺設，她還想碰觸Sue去確認她的存在："The I come to Sue. I would like to touch her, to be sure that she is there. I dare not. But I cannot leave her. I lift my hands and move and hold them an inch, just an inch, above her--her hip, her breast, her curling hand, her hair on the pillow, her face, as she sleeps."(P.287)

其實Sue曾看過Maud半夜幾近夢遊的行為"'Are you there?' she said, wen she heard me stirring; and she came back to my side and lay and shook. Sometimes she would reach for me. When her hands came against me, though, she'd draw them away..."(P.145)在電視版的詮釋，將Maud此舉歸於她的情慾，但從原著看來，並不儘然單純，已有點接近神經質的偏執，例如她會一遍一遍的整理畫具，或是之後在新婚之夜，同樣半夜起身碰觸陌生的牆面和自己的鞋子．

河邊寫生
這是一個重要的關鍵，讓Richard拿到不敗的保證．原本只是河邊的寫生，Sue因為天氣太熱，倦怠了守護之眼而睡著了．一夢之間，劇情直轉急下．Richard本來在旁邊發牢騷，Maud拿著筆，竟一動也不動地注視著Sue．電視版的鏡頭凝視著Sue的胸部，Sue的雙手．Maud空舉的畫筆滴落紅色顏料(原著是ink)，垂涎在畫紙上，和她的圍裙．突然，Richard完全看透她的心思 "Oh, Maud," he says. That is all he says, But in his face I see, at last, how much I want her."(P.289)

• Ink常常與性慾相關．書房中異色的圖書都是黑色打印的文字；舅父愛書甚至衍生到口慾；Maud形容與Sue初次的悸動："I am wet, I am running, like water, like ink."；在結尾，Maud寫情色小說，額頭手上都是黑印(P.298)電視版則偏愛紅色的視覺效果，落在Maud圍裙上的紅印，與新婚之夜時，Richard故意割傷的血滴，同樣都在渲染情慾．

Richard把Maud拉到遠處，先是確認他了解她的性傾向，但同時也暗示自己不同的驅動力："...the sports to which gentlemen's appetites are said to be pricked, by matters like this. Thank heavens I'm not a gentleman so much as a rogue: we go by different codes."(P.290)

• 這裡是第一次明顯地線索顯示Gentleman是gay．多數人一直到Charles哭哭啼啼尋求Richard時才恍然大悟．其實在一開頭，Sue就曾經淡淡地提到："Nancy or not, he(Gentleman) could certainly make a lady blush."(P.22)Nancy指的是娘娘腔的男子

除了嘲諷Maud看了太多不切實際的女女情事，Richard再三提醒她對Sue的敵我意識："Have you forgotten what she has come to you for? Do you think she has forgotten? Do you suppose yourself anything to her, but that?You have been too long among your uncle's books. Girls love easily, there. That is the point of them. If they loved so in life, the books would not have to be written."(P.291)最致命的威脅是要把Maud的暗戀告知Sue．電視版的Maud回頭聽見Sue的呼叫，因為自尊，Maud拱手就範．Richard得了便宜還賣乖，表演情人熱戀之餘，還揶揄她 "Imagine my mouth hers."(P.292)

為了戲劇效果，通常電視版會有詮釋過火的傾向，但是這一段倒是壓抑地恰到好處，在Maud的版本，雖然是白天景致，但配樂宛如半夜惡靈出現．在原著，Sue看到的畫面幾近猥褻"Her skirt rose even higher, and showed the tops of her stockings, the white of her thigh."(P.125)Sue認為這原本是她該期待的結果，卻陌名地令她五味雜陳．

雷雨中墓園說婚事
同一件事情的不同觀點，通常電視版是用不同的影像時間來表現，例如在河邊寫生，第一集只見Sue醒來看見Maud和Richard的相偎，第二集才看見Sue熟睡時發生的掙扎妥協．這一段雷雨中墓園說婚事，用全知觀點來拍攝，全部放在則一集中，二個人不同的心情寫照，單以演員及鏡頭走位來處理，劇本緊密(雖然和原著頗有差異)和演技精湛，許多網友都公認這是電視改編比原著傑出的段落．
(一開始雷聲響起，Maud一時驚嚇，抱住了Sue)
Maud:(放開Sue) Mr River has asked me to marry him
Sue: Oh, miss (轉身背對Maud)
Maud: Are you not pleased? Sue?
(Sue在前景，臉色難看；Maud在後，看不到Sue的表情)
Maud: What is it? (Sue轉回面向Maud)

Sue: Surprise (Sue表情勉強)
(Maud一臉等待）
Sue: Please, I'm gladder than anything in the world.
(Sue勉強擠出笑容)

Maud: I'm not happy because I haven't said yes yet (Maud表情轉冷，轉身背對Sue)
Sue: oh....(Sue變得尷尬)
Maud: How can I? My uncle would never agree (Maud在前景，臉色難看；Sue在後，看不到Maud的表情)
(短暫沈默）Maud: Mr River said we may go at the night. (Maud轉回面向Sue，故作輕鬆)Marry in the small church near here.
(Sue拉著Maud的手)
(又一聲雷響，Maud再度驚嚇，抱住了Sue．Maud緊握著Sue的肩頭，嘆了一口氣，閉緊雙眼；Sue則是輕撫著Maud的背．)



別無選擇
在原著中，以上的對話並未告一段落，倆個人一直談論到究竟愛不愛Richard．在原著中，Maud表示疑惑，所以Sue才為戀愛下了診斷："Don't know? How can you not know a thing like that? Doesn't your blood beat hard when you see him coming? Doesn't his voice thrill in your ear, and his touch set you shaking? Don't you dream of him, at night?" 旁觀者當然了解Maud想得夢得全是Sue，倒是Sue終於發現Maud拼命想擦掉手心被吻的動作，第一次察覺到Maud可能不愛他，而是怕他．Sue當下居然向Maud提議不要同意私奔"You might say no"．可是Maud接著說了一堆光冕堂皇的理由"Watching him leave? I should wonder over and over again what sort of life I might have." Sue又想起家鄉的期望，搞得Sue只能順著她的意，順著原來的計劃，鼓勵她嫁給Richard．

但在電視版，Maud是直接搖頭表示不愛Richard，但她駁回Sue的提議後，卻又再期待著Sue能有其他回應．感覺上，Maud一直在期待著Sue有更明確的表態，但始終沒有發生．Sue唯一的間接表態"You might say no"，根本不在Maud的自述中．倆個人表達感情的方式，只是彼此往相反的方向，越來越遠．

電視版把這一段改放在聯手趕走Richard，和Richard威脅Sue的段落之後，電視版用二個人最後萬念俱灰，決定下嫁Richard的結論，來接續中間的最高潮：Sue的新婚釋疑．

短暫的團結
Richard知道Maud的秘密後，不再以低姿態的追求者出現，對Maud完全予取予求．他甚至會當著Maud的面，故意對著Sue佯說："...perhaps there's someone else you care for?"(P.138)．Maud對他的百依百順，看在Sue的眼裡，真是情何以堪．一日在Maud的畫室，Richard居然打賞Sue要她退隱到別處，但是一句："Do you never have a sweetheart of your own?" 惹惱了她，決定堅持不退．在電視版，Sue本來舉手要取 Richard的錢幣，但是她手上正帶著頂針，她看了一眼決定拒絕離開．

這時Maud聯手再讓Richard碰了軟釘子，倖倖然而去．在原著，Sue可能覺得這是一件了不起的功德，所以她記得Maud:"...she moved, in short, across the whole of the room, until she reached my side. She leaned to look at my work and her hair, in its net of velvet, brushed my own."(P.136)，多麼動人的交會－－可惜在Maud的自述中根本不記得這一段．倆個人對彼此的期待不同，註定沒有溝通的交集，所以再也不會出現像這次聯手趕走Richard的場面，只等著他來挑撥離間，各個擊破．一直等到最後，三個女人意外地同仇敵愾，才除去了Gentleman...

Richard不滿被趕走的挫敗，找機會教訓Sue："I know her people. I'm one of them. Don't talk to me as if she keeps you at Briar for kindness' sake--nor as if you came out of sweetness of temper! Your heart--as you call it--and hers are alike, after all: they are like mine, like everyone's"(P.140)但真正踩到Sue的痛處，是Richard威脅如果不從，便要讓她提早退出，無顏見江東父老．

瀕臨崩潰邊緣
倆個女孩掙扎著要放棄自己的感情來傷害對方，但越想就是越做不到，出現相同的內心糾葛：

Sue："The more I tried to give up thinking of her, the more I said to myself, 'She's nothing to you', the harder I tried to pluck the idea of her out of my heart, the more she stayed there."(P.144)
Maud："But the more I think it, the more I want her, the more my desire rises and swells."(P.295)

相較於Maud在河邊寫生時被赤裸裸地將暗戀攤在Richard的眼前，一路在整個計劃中被朦騙的Sue，幸運地把自己的感情隱藏在懵懂中逃過Richard的凌遲．Sue終於自己偷偷意識到感情的宣洩，強烈到穿牆透壁而來："...and all night I lay with my back turned to her, the blanket over my ears to keep out her sighs. But in the hours in between, when she went to her uncle, I felt her--I felt her, through the walls of the house, like some blind crooks are said to be able to feel gold. It was as if there had come between us, without my knowing, a kind of thread. It pulled me to her, wherever she was. It was like--It's like you love her, I though."(P.144)

Maud最為可憐，她承受更直接的衝擊："Even my uncle's books are changed to me; and this is worse, this is worst of all. I have supposed them dead. Now the words--like the figures in the walls--start up, are filled with meaning."(P.295)更慘的是，她還要在舅父和Richard之前朗讀，Richard若有似無的嘲笑對她簡直是莫大的折磨．

• The Walls：雖然Sue表示出現穿牆透壁的牽掛，但並不表示她們的溝通是心有靈犀，因為牆壁一直是她們之間的障礙，Sue初到Briar，Maud就在一牆之外；新婚之夜，倆個人都聽不到對方真實的聲音；等到精神病大夫分別會診，Sue根本聽不清Maud與Gentleman的謊言．但對Maud而言，牆上的東西另有特別的含義，通常可以藉此去感覺「存在」．

新婚釋疑
電視版一開始，Maud在床上看書，瞄向正在更衣的Sue，蘊釀山雨欲來的氣氛．在原著，Sue的體熱循著被單一寸寸漫向Maud，啟動了風浪："The warmth of her limbs comes inching, inching through the fibres of the bed."(P.296) Maud藉故提問On her wedding night,what must a wife do? 意圖引導Sue一步一步按著小說的內容推進．不同於原著，意圖裝睡的Sue和天真又惱怒的Maud把這一段開場詮釋較為拙趣，倆人對白已成經典：
Maud：I know something from book
Sue：How can you know it from books?
Maud：You're right,I know nothing,nothing,nothing
在原著，還有一段很經典的對話："...I(Maud)don't think that kisses can start me off. Mr River's kisses never have. Perhaps--perhaps my mouth lacks a certain necesary muscle or nerve--? I(Sue)said, 'For God's sake Miss. Are you a girl, or a surgeon?'"(P.149)

終於，Sue掉落陷阱，決定要對Maud開示(where are your lips)，Maud便閉眼微啟雙唇傻等著．但是經驗有限的Sue，自己都很訝異對真正初吻的反應，電視版的Maud主動傾身延續了Sue本要結束的吻，Sue還挑起了「不可思議」的眉毛：Do you feel it?．Maud 的反應更有趣，理性地開始了感想分析："It's...a curious, wanting thing"

接著，Sue「不得不」取得主導權，假Gentleman之名遂行自己的慾望...原著是在完全漆黑的環境下進行，一直小心翼翼的Sue，可以放開壓抑，全然的反射動作．所以一旦早晨的陽光揭露昨夜的恣意：鬆開的衣襟、吻痕、大腿上的漬痕，所有的瞻前顧後一齊湧現對比，所以她退縮的反彈就越大．在電視版並沒有那份大反差，倆人是在相當清楚理智的情況下開始，Sue在火光下她看著Maud舉起了手，示意褪去手套...原著的肌膚之親有著擦槍走火的意味，電視版則是很明白地呈現倆倩相悅．有時我會感嘆，既然都已改編成這麼直率，為什麼不乾脆讓她們彼此開誠佈公？

Maud是暗地的發動者，她或許對細節半知半解，但肯定預期到最後結果，所以她是欣喜地期待與Sue之間的轉變．她想著只要與Sue逃離Briar就好了(沒有考慮去那裡，怎麼生活)，她想著願意為Sue成為一個真正的好女孩．但Sue考慮一旦遠走高飛，就只能倆手空空回Lant Street，而Maud在身旁只會引來嘲笑．她沒有辦法為Maud放棄任務．

在磨牙時，Maud曾嚐過Sue手指的味道，嚐到的是Maud自己的慾望．Sue嚐到手指上Maud的味道"I put the tip of one finger to my tongue. It taste sharp--like vinegar, like blood. Like money."(P.151)，Sue嚐到的是自己的使命．原本這埸性與金錢的騙局本是Gentleman的主場，可是Sue跳進了最前線，變成一個自己都不能原諒的壞人，更羞於向Maud坦白．Sue最後選擇沉默與逃避．

在原著，Maud更衣時看著Sue不斷迴避眼神，決定間接地試探Sue的意願；電視版，Maud還在床上縴戀著幸福感覺：
Maud：No drop (*在原著，其實Maud睡前服了藥)
Sue：No dream (Sue很不自在，一直在迴避眼神)
Maud：Only one. I think you were in in, Sue (Maud輕輕地觸摸Sue的髮梢)
Sue：Me? You'll marry Mr River tonight... I don't think so. (Sue起身離去，自傲的Maud怎麼受得了這種傷害？所有的觀眾都心如刀割．)

電視版，Maud的旁白情緒轉折驚人，"Everything I said to myself was change, she has touched the life of me, the quick of me. But she is shame " 還是柔情似水，到了"She didn't love me. Her feeling was false. " 在最短的時間跌落冰谷．

表面上沒有任何事情被改變，一切仍照計劃進行，該背叛的，該陷害的，完全無法避免．但經過這一夜，有些變數悄然地潛浮在心底，等待時機的攪動．

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