Flora sings, lulling Mrs Grose to slip before slipping out. Seduced by Quint, Miles steals the letter from the schoolroom. She tells him of the letter to his guardian, but he barely responds as the voice of Quint intervenes, she leaves despondent. Later that night, the Governess goes to Miles's bedroom, coaxing him to tell her about what happened at his school. Believing the ghosts might not yet have the upper hand, the Governess writes to the guardian. Returning to the house, the Governess finds Miss Jessel in the schoolroom bemoaning her fate. Miles creepily tells the Governess of his awareness of the Ghosts leading her to contemplate fleeing. Mrs Grose suggests the Governess write to the guardian, which she unhappily declines.

Mrs Grose remains unaware of the subtext thinks it sweet until the Governess informs her of the children's bizarre behaviour. The family head to church, the children singing a gently mocking variation of the 'Benedicite'.

Separately the Governess despairs at the evil she feels, unable to decide how to act. They argue over their past and declare their determination to capture Miles and Flora. Quint and Jessel flesh out their motives and backstory. You see, I am bad, aren't I? Miles Act II - Running Time: 50 mins Variation VIII - Colloquy and Soliloquy Mrs Grose and the Governess enter, terrified by the children's apparent vanishing. Together they try, successfully, to convince the children to find them. Miss Jessel appears, attracting Flora she laments her fate begging Flora to comfort her. Quint calls out to Miles, tempting him from his bed with exotic and desirable visions. The Governess believes Miss Jessel has returned as well, and as Flora did not see her, she becomes convinced that the children are lost. Across the lake, the Governess catches sight of a woman all in black, who disappears as mysteriously as she appeared. By the side of the lake at Bly, the Governess sits reading whilst Flora sings to her doll.

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James