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．