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Today the women of Marlott celebrated Mayday. It was also the day John Durbeyfield learned he's heir to a D'Uberville, in doing so he gets drunk and orders a cart, his daughter Tess sees this while at the Mayday celebration and gets made fun of for it. -
While the girls are on the green dancing, three brothers pass in their travels, two of which want to keep going but the youngest brother, Angel, wants to stay and dance. He dances with everyone besides Tess, when Angel is leaving he noticed Tess and regretted not choosing her to dance with. -
After finding out he's related to the D'Ubervilles Mr.Durbeyfield is at the local inn and drinking establishment, this is a surprise to no one. Mrs.Duberfield goes to the bar looking for him but never returns home. Tess is looking after the kids so she decides to send her brother Abraham to go fetch their parents, after a while no one has come home so Tess goes out herself. -
Abraham overhears his parents talking about their plan for Tess. As Tess and Abraham are delivering the bees he tells Tess the plan. Tess doesn't pay much attention to it. Both the kids fall asleep on their carriage and are waken by their horse, Prince, died from colliding with a mail cart. This death will send the family into economic devastation. Mr.Durbeyfield decides hell bury the horse. -
Because of the guilt she was feeling over the dead horse Tess agreed to go to Mrs.D'Ubervilles. This is when she meets Mrs.D'Ubervilles son, Alec, who offers Tess all the help he can give. -
When Tess returns home she finds a letter from Mrs.D'Uberville. In the letter, she offers Tess a job looking after her fowls. Again, out of the guilt for the dead horse, Tess accepts. -
Tess is dressed in her best clothes awaiting Alec's arrival. Once hes there, Tess and her family start regretting their decision. Mrs.Durbeyfield fears Alec will take advantage of Tess. -
On the way, Alec rides recklessly, scaring Tess. She begs him to stop and slow down, but he says he will if she kisses him. Tess kisses him on the cheek but Alec wiped it off furiously. Tess continues the journey on foot. -
When they arrive Tess learns Mrs.D'Uberville is blind. She orders Tess to place the fowls in her lap so she can evaluate each one. Mrs.D'Ubervilles tells Tess to whistle to her billfinches but Tess doesnt know how to whistle, so Alec offers to teach her. -
Tess recently started going to the market and this time she went there was a town fair. She declined Alec's offer to take her home and decided to walk with friends. Her friends soon became jealous of the fact she had all of Alec's attention and the scene grew uncomfortable. That is until Alec came and offered Tess a ride, this time she accepted. -
On their way home Alec goes through the forest and ended up getting lost. He continues to convince Tess to be his lover but she refuses. Alec goes to look for a landmark to try and find where they are and when he returns Tess had fallen asleep. This is when Alec took advantage of her. -
Soon she arives at home and at first her mother is upset she didnt marry Alec, but after Tess reminds her about she wasnt fond of her to going in the first place she calms down. -
Tess's friends come to visit her and in the moment shes happy, this soon fades after they leave. Tess then returns to church where she hears whispers about herself, this furthering her depression. Tess decides its easiest to just only go out after dark. -
Tess realizes she'll never be happy in Marlott. She gets offered a job to be a milkmaid at Talbothays Dairy. Tess accepts because its near the D'Ubervilles estate. -
Tess realizes she has no feelings for Alec and decides to go home. Alec catches her early into her travels and tries to convince her to let him drive her the rest of the way, which she denies. On her way home she runs into a painter. He continues painting "THY DAMNATION SLUMBERETH NOT.” and Tess thinks over the quote and asks the painter if he believes in what he wrote. When he agrees Tess asks him for advice and he tells her to see a clergyman about her situation. -
In August Tess decides to stop pitying herself and helps with the harvest. Her child falls ill, afraid he wont make it she does a quick baptism herself. He died the next morning, Tess asked the parson if he could have a christian burial, he said he cant bury Sorrow himself but Tess can. So she does, she rests him in the corner of the churchyard.