The Final Goodbye — Madame Bovary

Homais sends Emma's father a letter so vague that old Rouault rides from Bertaux in torment. He imagines bad omens, drinks coffee, and fears Emma is dead on the road. When he arrives, his horse's straps drip with blood. He weeps in Charles's arms. Charles can only say he does not know and calls it a curse. Homais talks about dignity and philosophy. In church Charles tries to picture a trip abroad, then rages at the coffin. He throws five francs in the collection plate and cries that he is in pain. He remembers early mass with Emma. Justin turns pale at the pharmacy door as the funeral crosses spring fields full of rye, roosters, and foals.

At the cemetery the coffin thuds into the ground. Pebbles hit the wood with a sound that feels like forever. Homais swings holy water. Charles kneels, throws earth on the coffin, and cries goodbye until men pull him away. Homais gossips about blue coats and claims he saved Charles from suicide. The money lender Lheureux acts sorry. Rouault's face is stained from tears on his sleeves. He says this is the end for him after losing his wife and son. He refuses to take Berthe. He promises turkeys and rides away, looking back like he did when he left Emma at school. Charles's mother plans to keep house at Yonville. Rodolphe sleeps in his woods. Leon sleeps in Rouen.

Justin alone weeps at the grave. His heart breaks with regret sweeter than the moon and deep as the night. The grave digger finds him climbing the wall and learns who stole his potatoes.