The Final Reckoning — Madame Bovary

Emma walks through the melting snow to Rodolphe's house. Old feelings from their first affair return, but she really needs three thousand francs to stop the sale of her home. Rodolphe is charming at first and holds her hands as in the old days. When she asks for money his face hardens. He says he does not have it. She points at his silver, clocks, and hunting gear while he calmly refuses again.

Emma runs to Homais the chemist's shop. She tricks young Justin into giving her the key to the locked room upstairs, climbs to the third shelf, and eats white powder from a blue arsenic jar. She tells him to stay quiet or the blame will fall on his master. At home she writes a letter to Charles that says accuse no one. When he asks what is wrong she tells him to wait until tomorrow.

Soon Emma grows very sick. Charles reads the letter and shouts that she has been poisoned. The whole village wakes up. Doctors Canivet and Lariviere come, but Lariviere says there is nothing more to be done. The priest gives last rites while Charles kneels beside the bed. The blind beggar sings in the street below. Emma sits up, laughs in wild despair, convulses, and dies. Charles is left broken.