Part 1

Mary narrator

My name is Mary, Mary Yellan. I'm 23 years old. I'm not usually very brave, but I feel brave today. Here I am … on this long journey to Cornwall … on my own. I've left the farm where I've lived all my life. I wanted to stay there, but last week I made a promise to my dear Mother…

Mother

[coughing/weak voice] Mary, my child… listen…I won't be in this world much longer.

Mary

Don't say that, Mother.

Mother

It's true, Mary. But, before I go, I have only one wish ….

Mary

Yes, Mother dear?

Mother

When I die, promise me you will go and live with my sister Patience.

Mary

But why can't I stay here on the farm, here in Helford?

Mother

You can't stay here alone.

Mary

But I haven't seen Patience since I was a child!

Mother

I know, but soon she will be the only family you have. [coughing] I have written to her. She has agreed that you can go and live with her and your uncle Joshua. They live on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall. Here, take her letter.

Mary

Bodmin Moor! But that's so far away!

Mary narrator

Mother died last Tuesday. The funeral was yesterday. We buried her next to Papa. Now, I'm on my way to my aunt's house. I've got the letter here …

[reading] Joss and I now live in Jamaica Inn, where he is landlord. It's on the road between Bodmin and Launceston… This journey is so long! We have been travelling for hours. What a wild and lonely county Cornwall is. My only consolation is that I will see my aunt again after so many years. Oh how pretty she was with her golden hair and blue eyes! Always laughing, enjoying ourselves …. But I never visited her and I never met her husband either. … Ah, at last, I can see houses and people – this must be Bodmin town. There is just me and one other traveller left. It's so cold and grey outside…The rain islashing against the window. I wish it would stop! All I can see is mile upon mile of empty moorland. No trees … no houses … I wonder how many more hours we have to travel?

Mary

Excuse me, sir – is it much further?

Man

Where are you going?

Mary

Jamaica Inn …. Do you know it?

Man

Maybe I do and maybe I don't…and why are you going there?

Mary

I'm going to live there …. with my aunt and uncle.

Man

That will be Joss Merlyn ... People say that queer things go on at Jamaica Inn.

Mary

What do you mean – queer?

Man

It's just what they say. But respectable people don't go there any more. It's a lonely place.

Man

If I were you, Miss, I would go on to Launceston tonight and go back to Bodmin tomorrow.

Mary

But I can't. My aunt and uncle are waiting for me.

Man

Jamaica Inn is no place for a young woman.

Mary

I have nowhere else to go…

Mary narrator

What can he mean by 'queer things'? Why is he looking at me in that curious way?

Driver

Whoa boy…! Slow now.

Mary

Why have we stopped here – it's the middle of nowhere?

Driver

Jamaica Inn! There you go Miss.

Mary

But there's nothing here! Oh – what's that? There up on the moor - a dark building with tall chimneys. I can see a path to the door. There's a sign twisting in the wind. It says 'Jamaica Inn'.

Mary narrator

Suddenly I feel frightened. I want to climb back in the coach. Too late – it's already gone... I suppose my only choice now is to enter Jamaica Inn. Next time we meet – I get to meet my Aunt Patience and Uncle Joss. I discover what a mean and scary man my uncle is. And I discover a locked room – what is inside?

Source: bbclearningenglish