The Rainbow

Ursula's childhood on the Derbyshire family farm is defined by a stubborn fascination with rainbows. After a rainstorm she runs off with a suitcase, hoping to find a pot of gold at the rainbow's end. Her father Will tries to calm her wonder with a jam sandwich made of several spreads, a simple gesture to ease her extravagant fantasy.

During her teens, Ursula falls into a same-sex romance with her teacher Winifred Inger. They share romantic weekends at Winifred's house and wander the hills together. Winifred introduces Ursula to an artist friend who urges her to model nude for paintings; Ursula refuses, and is thrown out while demanding to be paid for her time.

Winifred later accepts a proposal from Uncle Henry and marries him, a turn that sparks jealousy in Ursula. The marriage also signals a life path from which Ursula may be excluded.

After finishing high school, Ursula moves to London to teach in a poor East End elementary school. She is appalled by the students' neglect and by the lecherous headmaster who resorts to physical discipline. When a belligerent boy pelts her with stones and she finally uses a cane in front of the class, the moment quiets the room but leaves her wracked with guilt, leading her to quit at the end of the year.

One and a half years later, Ursula returns to the Derbyshire farm in the spring of 1901 and is reunited with Anton Skrebensky, who has come back from war and longs to rekindle their romance.

During a brief visit Ursula also encounters Winifred, who is now married to Uncle Henry and has a baby. The encounter highlights the divergent paths their lives have taken.

Ursula and Anton resume their relationship, and the possibility of pregnancy looms in the air. Anton proposes marriage, but Ursula declines, choosing to pursue her own path rather than a conventional union.

Anton leaves to fight in the Second Boer War in South Africa, leaving Ursula behind to navigate life on the home front.

Back home, Ursula receives a telegram from Anton announcing that he has married another woman and has left for India. The news marks a painful turning point and reinforces her resolve to steer her own course.

Two mine workers attack her as she walks home, attempting to rape her. She escapes and hides in a rain-soaked forest before making it back to the farm, shaken but alive. The assault becomes a brutal turning point that colors her outlook on safety and resilience.

After the assault, Ursula has a heartfelt talk with her father about life and the paths open to her. The conversation strengthens her resolve to start anew and seek independence.

She decides to take another teaching post in a town two hours away, planning to begin again on her own terms. With a suitcase in hand, she prepares to leave her family home and build a life apart from the farm.

In the final scene, Ursula packs and runs out of the house as a large rainbow appears after a storm. She chases the rainbow across the countryside, a symbol that life still offers new possibilities and direction.