In which Tess, moved by urgent thoughts of her absent husband, undertakes a long and arduous walk to the Emminster Vicarage hoping to find some communication or sympathy, only to be met by the coldness of circumstance and misunderstood by those she encounters. Her journey ends in a poignant moment of recognition and sorrow as she unexpectedly discovers her former seducer preaching a fiery sermon in a nearby barn, bringing her past and present into a stark and uneasy collision.

In which Tess and Marian endure the harsh labours and biting weather of Flintcomb-Ash farm, their spirits buoyed only by memories of greener days and a faint hope for the future. Amid their toil and the arrival of Izz Huett, the weight of absent love and unspoken troubles deepens, as Tess wrestles with the reality of her estrangement and contemplates reaching out to her distant husband.

In which Tess, wandering alone through the autumnal countryside and burdened by her altered fortunes and proud reserve, seeks work and refuge while evading unwelcome attention, ultimately finding solace in an act of compassion towards wounded pheasants. The landscape and her musings reflect a sombre meditation on suffering, injustice, and endurance beneath the indifferent skies of rural England.

In which Tess, disguised and resolute, travels to the bleak chalk lands of Flintcomb-Ash to seek employment, enduring indifferent weather and harsh conditions with a heart burdened by loneliness and resigned hope. Upon reunion with Marian, she secures a humble field-labour position, accepting a simple lodging while carefully guarding the dignity of her absent husband’s name.

In which Angel Clare returns to his parental home burdened by the complexities of his recent marriage and contemplates a future far from familiar shores, whilst his parents greet him with both curiosity and restrained hope regarding the wife they have yet to meet. The evening is marked by prayers and maternal concern, as Clare wrestles with his own misgivings and the delicate balance between personal affection and societal expectation.

In which Angel Clare prepares to embark on a harrowing journey to Brazil, concluding his affairs and reflecting with poignant regret upon his past domestic ties and the unspoken complexities of love and loyalty. Along the way, an earnest encounter with the steadfast Izz Huett reveals the intricate bonds of affection and sacrifice that entwine their lives, underscoring the austere constraints imposed by society and conscience.

In which Tess returns to the familiar, yet changed, home of her youth bearing the weight of secret sorrows, and struggles to confront her family with the truth that shatters their hopeful illusions. Amidst their bewildered and contradictory emotions, she finds no place for herself in the household, prompting a transient departure under the guise of reunion and a discreet generosity in parting.

In which the troubled sleepwalking of a husband reveals deep and sorrowful emotions, leading to a nocturnal journey by the river and within ancient ruins, where tenderness and frailty momentarily unite amidst a shadow of parting. The following day, a quiet and constrained farewell unfolds with composed endurance, as the couple confronts a painful separation overshadowed by unspoken feelings and the mundane duties of departure.

In which Angel Clare and Tess confront the somber realities following their union, grappling with sorrow and unspoken estrangements beneath the quiet roof they share. Their days unfold with heavy silence and poignant misunderstandings, as they each wrestle with the shadows of the past and the delicate prospects of their future apart.

In which Tess reveals a truth to Angel Clare that alters the very essence of their relationship, plunging them into a strained and silent estrangement as they wander the somber night together, burdened by altered perceptions and misunderstood emotions. The scene closes with Angel resting alone, deeply troubled by the sudden shift in his love’s nature, while the indifferent night encroaches upon their shared sorrow.