Our Mutual Friend (1998) s01e04 Episode Script

Eugene? You naughty boy! Where are you? Playing out all night indeed! You can't hide from me, you bad, bad boy! Clear the mounds, clear off the evidence! It won't make any difference! I'll have you, Boffin! Your destiny is downfall and I'M the one who's destined to bring you down! - Noddy, my dear.
- Yes, my dear? Do you not think that maybe we have taken the wrong path? Don't you worry, old lady.
It is a very large house, Noddy dear.
I am a little lonely in it.
We decided the way of our travels, old girl.
Don't you worry yourself.
We'll make new friends and all will end comfortably, you'll see.
He's been hung onto pretty tight.
He's been in the grass and he's been in the water and he's spotted and I know with what and I know with whose.
- Who brought him in? - I did, sir.
You, my dear? You could not lift, far less carry, his weight.
I think I could not, sir but I'm sure that I did.
Attend to the girl.
She must be amazingly strong at heart, but I fear that she's set her heart upon the dead.
Is there something wrong, my love? No, nothing.
- I was wondering - Yes? Well, if one day I might go with you to the China House.
I'm afraid you would find my office life in the city very boring.
No It's justI watch you pick up your briefcase in the mornings.
I do not know where you go or what you do with whatever is in that case.
- Are you bored, Bella? - Of course I'm not! Our own dear house.
There's so much to do, how could I be? You are not regretting it? Having married no money at all? Absolutely no future whatsoever! You must not tease me! It's clear I'm being tested in some way, but you will not break me! No, you won't.
Morning.
Why, T'otherest, I thought you'd been and gone and lost yourself.
Two nights away.
I almost believed you'd given me the slip.
'Cept I knows you's an honest man and a respectable schoolmaster.
Eat.
You must be starved after all your travelling.
I'm not hungry.
Watch out, T'otherest, you'll cut your hand.
Well, T'otherest, news has gone downriver before you.
What news? Who do you think picked up the body? Guess.
I'm not good at guessing anything.
SHE did.
You did well there, sir.
She picked him up.
She used her skills to recover the body.
I intend to leave as the sun goes down.
Perhaps it is fitting.
If my poor boy had been brought up better, he might have done better.
You have no reason to reproach yourself.
It's so hard to bring a child up well when you work, work, work all day.
I called him a quantity of names.
I did it for his own good.
I was obliged to let him go in the streets.
He never did do well out of doors.
You have been very patient, Jenny.
If I had been patient, I never would have called him names.
WellI lost no time.
I know an urgent summons when I sees it.
Before starting, I have to ask we be in confidence.
I suppose that sounds fair.
I have your word and honour, sir? Good fellow, you have my word.
How you can have that without any honour, I don't know.
I've sorted a lot of dust in my time.
I never knew the two things go into separate heaps.
Very true, sirvery true.
Mr.
Boffinahem I have to confess I fell into a proposal of which you were the object and oughtn't to have been.
Please remember I was in a crushed state at the time.
Quite so, Venus.
That proposal was a conspiracy against you, sir.
I ought at once to have made it known to you, but I didn't, Mr.
Boffin, and I fell into it.
Not that I was ever hearty in it and I viewed myself with reproach for having turned out of the paths of science and into the paths of Weggery.
Not a-killing of yourself, schoolmaster.
Not afore I've squeezed the last penny out of yer! I see what you're doin'.
Trying to throw your crime on me.
Now, look here, Venus.
If I have to buy Wegg out, I shan't buy him any cheaper for your being out of it.
Might youpretend to be in it till Wegg was bought up, then hand over to me what you'd been supposed to have pocketed? No, no, I don't think so, sir.
Not to make amends? Well, it seems to me the best amends for having got out of the square is to get back into the square.
And by the square, you mean? I meanthe right, sir.
How am I to live if I have to buy up fellows out of the little I've got? I supose there's no doubt as to the genuineness and date of this will? None whatsoever.
And where might it be deposited? You know? It's in my possession, sir.
Is it? Now, for any liberal sum of money that could be agreed, Venus, would you put it in the fire? No, sir, I would not.
Or give it to me? That would be the same thing.
No, sir.
Hush! Here comes Wegg.
Hide behind the young alligator in the corner and judge him for yourself.
Get your head well behind his smile.
He's a little dusty, but he's very like you in tone.
Partner, how's our stock in trade? Still safe, partner? With all your "friends" a-watching over it? Nothing new, Mr.
Wegg? Yes, there is.
That foxy old grasper and griper! - Mr.
Boffin? - Mister be blowed! Dusty Boffin sends his dust carts at dawn to wake me up! He's clearing those mounds to get the better of me.
When I see him put his hand in his pockets, I see him taking liberties with my money! Flesh and blood can't bear it! No, I'll go further! A wooden leg can't bear it! His nose shall be put to the grindstone for it! How shall you do that, Mr.
Wegg? I propose to insult him openly! Then if he offers a word in return, I'll say "Add another one to that, you dusty old dog, "and you're a beggar!" I'll break him! I'll drive him! Put him in harness, bear him up tight! The harder he's driven, the higher he'll pay! And I intend to be paid highly, Mr.
Venus, I promise you! You speak quite revengefully, Mr.
Wegg.
Perhaps I've allowed myself to brood too much.
Be gone, dull care! I'll be seeing you afore long.
But let it be fully understood that I shall not neglect bringing the grindstone to bear and putting Boffin's nose upon it until the sparks fly off in showers! If I had hit him more from behind, he would not have seen me.
If I had finished the job before throwing him in the river, he would not hover between life and death as he does now.
Even now, he grinds me down.
Sir? Sir? Dear child, will you never rest? It's not work.
I want to fix this young clergyman's surplice while it is in my mind.
My poor boy's funeral might've been of some service to me.
It's not to be a funeral doll to be sure, for people do not like to be made melancholy, but a glossy-haired clergyman.
We'll see him go well in Bond Street, I'll wager.
Pardon me.
You are the dolls' dressmaker? - Lizzie Hexam's friend.
- Yes.
Lizzie Hexam's true friend.
My name is Mortimer Lightwood.
You must believe me when I say that this note is from Lizzie.
She wishes you to read it.
It is very short.
There was no time to make it longer.
My dear friend Eugene Wrayburn is dying.
He is dying at some distance from here from injuries received at the hands of a villain who attacked him in the dark.
She is with him? Yes.
Yes, she's there.
I've come straight from his bedside.
He He managed to ask for you, Jenny.
Lizzie and I are both sure he asked for you.
Poor Lizzie.
Oh, my poor Lizzie! Please come.
He asked me to fetch you.
We have long been much more than brothers.
If we delay he will die with his last wish unfulfilled.
He's still alive.
If he were gone, she would still be sitting by him.
Come in, Hexam, come in.
Wellhow is your new position? Mr.
Headstone haven't you heard the news? What news? The news about that fellow, Eugene Wrayburn.
That he is killed.
He's dead, then.
I mean I'd heard about the outrage, but I had not heard the end of it.
Where were you when it was done? No, stop! Don't answer! Don't tell me! If you force your confidence upon me, I'll give you up.
I will.
I'll have nothing to do with you! If your selfishness, passionate violent and ungovernable selfishness, had any part in this attack, then you've done me an injury never to be forgiven! By pursuing the ends of your temper, you've laid me open to suspicion.
Is that your gratitude to me? You've no idea how long it's taken me to reach this position.
I did not have your natural abilities.
- Your sister - I've done with my sister! And I've done with you! My prospects are very good.
I intend to follow them alone.
Whatever happens, I hope you'll see the justice of keeping clear of me! And I hope you might think how respectable you might've been yourself.
I will contemplate your slighted existence! Mortimer I must Lizzie? - I'll fetch her.
She's nearby.
- No She Thisattack .
.
Mortimerthis murder.
You and I both suspect someone.
He must never be brought to justice! Eugene SHE would be punished.
Her innocent reputation.
I've injured her enough.
I would've injured her more, believe me.
Youmustnotavenge me at her expense.
Listen to me! It was NOTthe schoolmaster Bradley Headstone.
Promise me! It is true that both my secretary and my ward proved ungrateful enough to leave me and Mrs.
Boffin stranded here in this grand house all alone.
Noddy, dear I'm afraid the old lady is uncomfortable.
No, no, no.
Y-Y-You see, it really won't do.
She doesn't care to lead you on.
Either of you.
And I suppose it's safe for me to assume that you was hoping toerfill these vacancies in our household? You and your wife have done me and the old lady a great service.
We mean to reward you.
We think a hundred guineas should do it.
Now as for your filling any position in the house I'm afraid it won't do.
- But, Mr.
Boffin - No, it really won't do at all.
Let the old fool fend for himself.
There'll be plenty more jackals sniffing round here tonight.
How long will this last, Mortimer? You're no worse than you were.
I pray I shall last long enough for you to do me one last service.
Tell me what it is you want me to do, Eugene.
Try to be calm.
You may leave me with Jenny while you're gone.
Leave me here with Jenny while you ask her What is it you want me to do, Eugene? Eugenelisten to me.
Were you about to ask me if I would speak to Lizzie? Were you about to ask me if I would entreat her to be your wife? God bless you, Mortimer! Trust it to me, Eugene.
I have to go for a while.
I'll leave you with Jenny.
Was that a kiss, Jenny? Take care, sir, or you will not merit another.
Mr.
Lightwood.
Forgive the hour, Mrs.
Rokesmith, but I have come from Lizzie Hexam with the hope that you'll come back with me to see her marry.
Then Mr.
Wrayburn is recovering! No.
No, he's dying.
Time is of the essence, Mrs.
Rokesmith.
There is my husband.
Take some refreshment, Mr.
Lightwood, and then we'll all go down together.
We have a surprise visitor, my love.
I fear Mr.
Lightwood is much fatigued.
Mr.
Lightwood? John dear you will come with me to see Lizzie Hexam married? No, I cannot.
- Am I to go alone? - No, you will go with Mr.
Lightwood.
You must go, but I must ask you to excuse me to him altogether.
He knows you're home.
I've told him so.
That's a little unfortunate, my dear, but I'm afraid I cannot see him.
John, don't be so mysterious.
What harm do you know of Mr.
Lightwood? None, my love.
Forgive me.
Bella my life! Do you remember telling me you felt you were being tested in some way? Well, I think the time may be coming when you will be tested.
But for now trust me, please.
It is curious that I've never seen Mr.
Rokesmith, although we've often been engaged on the same business.
I begin to think I shall never see him.
That is curious, Mr.
Lightwood.
Therewe're ready.
Inluminet vultum suum super nos et misereatur nostri, ut cognoscamus in terra viam tuam, in omnibus gentibus salutare tuum.
Confiteantur tibi populi, Deus, confiteantur tibi populi omnes.
Laetentur et exultent gentes, quoniam iudicas populos in aequitate et gentes in terra diriges.
Confiteantur tibi populi Deus, confiteantur tibi populi omnes.
Terra dedit fructum suum benedicat nos Deus Deus noster.
Benedicat nos Deus et metuant eum omnes fines terrae.
I bless the day.
I bless the day.
You have made a poor marriage, Lizzie.
A shattered, graceless fellow and next to nothing to leave you when you're a young widow.
I have made the marriage I would've given all the world for.
You have thrown your heart away.
NoI have given it to you most freelymost happily.
If If you should see me wandering, Lizzie call my name and I think I shall come back.
How can I repay all that I owe Don't be ashamed of me and you will repay all Eugene, not so soon! Come back! You see you call me back from the dead.
Live for me, Eugene.
Live to see how hard I will try to improve myself.
You cannot be improved upon, my darling.
Impossible.
On the contrary I was thinking dying is about the best thing I could do.
And leave me with a broken heart? You seem to think quite well of me.
Heaven knows, I love you dearly.
Heaven knows, I prize it.
If I were to live you might find me out.
I should find that my husband has a mine of purpose and energy which I know he will put to the best account.
I wish I could think so.
But how can I look at such a wasted youth as mine and believe it? I'm afraid, if I were to live, I shoulddisappoint you.
Thank you for coming, Mrs.
Rokesmith.
How could I not? Mr.
Wrayburn seemed a little better this morning.
We may hope.
Goodbye.
And how was Lizzie, my love? Suffering an almost unbearable happiness.
You forgot these Mr.
Lightwood and I have met before, my dear.
When Mr.
Lightwood saw me my name was Julius Handford.
Julius Handford? Surely not.
It was at the time of John Harmon's drowning.
I took great pains to seek him out.
Quite true, but it was not my object or interest to be found out.
My My position is a painful one.
I hope that no complicity in this very dark matter may be attached to you, but you must know that your extraordinary conduct has laid you open to the deepest suspicion.
Mr.
Lightwood, you know where I live.
I know that you have urgent demands on your time.
You have my word I will not disappear again.
I hope hereafter we'll be better acquainted.
Good day.
John Harmon is dead! What is it, my dear? John Harmon is drowned.
You don't ask me, my dear, why Itook a false name.
No, John love.
I should dearly like to know, of course.
I should not like you to think that I'm not interested.
My darling, I stand in no danger.
Are you sure of that, John? Moreover, I've done no wrong or injured no man.
- Shall I swear it? - No.
No, never to me.
You realisethe dark matter that Mr.
Lightwood spoke of - You realise - No.
I don't want to hear.
Besides, I haveum I have something to tell you.
You are not the only one with a secret.
Only I'm ready to tell you mine.
Do you think Wegg's likely to drop down on me today, Venus? I think it very likely, sir.
Boffinyou're quite a stranger.
- Nothing wrong, Wegg? - No, nothing wrong.
Quite the contrary.
So my friend and partner, Mr.
Venus, gives me to understand that you are aware of our power over you.
First of all I'm calling you Boffin.
No "mister" and definitely no "sir".
Since you say it is to be so - I suppose it must be.
- I suppose it must be.
You are aware that you are in possession of property to which you have no right? Yes.
You are desirous of coming to terms? You'll throw in your mound with a generous stake and divide the lot into three! - I shall be ruined.
- You'll leave me in sole custody for this mound, when the mounds are cleared away, that's when the final division will be made.
I must keep this from the old lady.
She must not know.
Why should she not know?! She's a dustman's wife once! She can become one again! - Eh?! - Nose to the grindstone, Boffin! Get to it! Get to it! Train to Paris, France! Train to Paris, France! The boat train?! The Lammles have been exiled to Europe to live like leeches off the scraps of continental society! What a disgrace! They deserve it, for trying to live beyond their means.
What do YOU think, Mr.
Tremlow? - No, a gentleman does not need - Don't ask Mr.
Tremlow! He will never say a word on the misfortunes of others whatever the scandal! Outrageous scandal! I never heard anything more disgraceful! I have something worse to tell you and Mr.
Tremlow will not say anything to us about this either! Eugene Wrayburn has disgraced his family by marrying a female boat person! - A woman of lower class?! - A scandal! His father has cut him off without a penny! This social experiment is doomed to failure! Do you smell a little money, Alfred? - Mr.
and Mrs.
Lammle.
My husband.
- How do you do? - Are you going to Marseilles? - Yes, we are.
So, Mr.
Lightwood, you say you have some information concerning the murder of Mr.
John Harmon.
But now the mystery is you seem reluctant to divulge it.
It is concerning Mr.
Julius Handford.
Oh, yesMr.
Julius Handford was followed from this very police station to his lodgings at Westminster where he seems to have evaded my man and disappeared.
Have you caught sight of him, Mr.
Lightwood? I fear so.
Do you recognise me? I recognise you most certainly, Mr.
Julius Handford.
John, what's happening? Nothing can harm us, remember.
Can I have a private word with you, Mr.
Handford? Mrs.
Rokesmith knows she can have no reason for being alarmed.
What ever the business.
Really? Is that so? Are you going to charge me with a crime? I charge you with being connected with the murder of John Harmon.
No, sir, you cannot! - I'll come with you.
- No, John, you don't have to go! NoI choose to go.
Don't distress yourself.
I'll be back by morning.
Why, it smells rather comfortable here.
I am rather comfortable, sir.
You don't use lemons in your business, do you? No.
Will you partake, sir? Will I partake? Of course I'll partake.
Will a man partake who's been tormented by dust carts .
.
heaving to and fro 24 hours a day? Don't let it put you out, Wegg.
You don't seem in your usual spirits.
If it comes to that, you don't seem in your usual spirits.
You seem getting on for lively and you've had your hair cut and you've fattened up.
Well, Mr.
Wegg, I can see you're being whittled very low.
One might fancy you've come to see the French gentleman rather than me! Why, you've had the place cleaned up.
Yesby the hand of an adorable woman.
I presume the next thing you're gonna do is get married.
To the old party? The lady in question is NOT an old party.
Then the lady's objections have been met? The objections HAVE been met by the kind interference of a new friend of mine.
He waited on the lady and made the point that if I would, after marriage, confine myself to the articulation of men, children and the lower animals only, it might help relieve the lady's mind of her feeling respecting being regarded in a bony light.
It was a happy thought, sir, which took root.
You seem flush with friends at the moment, Venus.
Stillyou may spend your fortune how you wish.
I mean to travel.
The tough job is ended, the mounds laid low.
The hour is come for Boffin to stump up.
You'll be late for the China House if you're not careful.
The fact is, my dear, I have left the China House and I'm in another way of business.
And I-I must ask you this, Bella.
You've become fond of this cottage.
Well, of course I have.
It's our life together.
I'm afraid we have to leave, my dear.
My new position has a dwelling house attached rent-free.
John Do you consider this a gain, my dear? Yes, I do.
And what about the baby? Will there be room in the house for the baby? There will, I'm sure, be room for us all.
But why should you take this on trust? We will go and look at it this morning.
John, what does this mean? There, there, my dear.
Let's lift you up.
There.
Old lady, if you don't begin a-telling of the tale, someone else will! I'm gonna begin, Noddy dear.
It isn't easy to know where to begin when a person's in this state of happiness! Bella, my dear, tell me who this is.
- Why, my husband, of course.
- Oh, my! His name, dearie.
- Rokesmith.
- No, it ain't.
Not a bit of it.
- Well, Handford, then.
- No, it ain't.
Not a bit of it.
His name is John? I should hope so, dearie! Many's the time i've called him John! Guess, my pretty.
- I can't guess! - I could.
I found him out one night in a flash, didn't I, Noddy dear? It was on a particular night when he'd had a disappointment about a certain young lady.
Too many's the time I'd seen him sitting so lonely like that as a child.
I just cried out, "Johnit's you!" And he catches me as I falls down in his arms.
John Harmon? But that's not possible.
He He is drowned! Now, my dear, let me finish telling.
So I says to Noddy "Lord be thankful! "Here is our little John Harmon come home again to us!" And we both fall down crying for joy! Do you see, my darling? Can you understand? These two, who I came to life to dispossess and disappoint, they cried for joy! Oh, don't you mind him.
So, John tells us about his disappointment with a certainyoung person and how he's gonna leave London and let us keep our wrongful inheritance.
And my Noddy, well, you should've seen him.
To think that he'd come to the property wrongfully turned him whiter than chalk.
So we came to our confabulation about a certain young lady.
Noddy says, "She's a little spoilt, but that's only on the surface.
"She true golden at heart.
" And then John says, "Oh, if I could but prove so.
" And then we says, "What would content you?" "If she was to stand up for you when you were slighted? "If she was to be true to you "when you were poorest and friendless? "And all this against any interest.
"How would that do?" "Do?" he says.
"It would raise me to the skies!" We says "Make your preparations for it "is our firm belief that up will you go!" Noddy says, "Bella was a little frightened of me at first.
"She thought me a dusty and a brown old bear!" - Well, I - You did, my dear.
He says, "What if I was to become that old bear "she thought me once?" '"John, " he says, "prepare to be slighted and oppressed!" And he began.
Lord, how he began! And youproved yourself true as we knew you would.
John wouldn't let us tell you that was the plan.
He says "She's so selfless and contented.
"I can't afford to be rich yet!" And so we go on.
Now the baby's on the way.
He says, "I can't tell her now!" And I said, "If you don't tell her as soon as you can "so she can come into her rightful home, then I will!" Now come, sir, and meet my gaze.
Come on, admit it! You're a bad old bear! Well, I did hope it might hint at caution, my dear.
And I assure you that on that celebrated day when I made, which has since been agreed upon, my greatest demonstration, I allude to "miaow" says the cat, "quack" says the duck, "bow wow wow" says the dog and John stares at me as if I've gone a little strange, them flinty words hit my old lady so hard on my account, I had to hold her hard to stop her from running after you and telling you I was playing a part! Forgive me, my darling.
I was drowned or as good as.
And as I lay by that river gasping for air, I thought I might as well be.
I had nothing left to live for.
And when you have nothing you are very bold.
I had nothing to lose by trying you out.
And when I did, I found I had the best of friends and the most worthy of wives.
And then this new life growing within you.
So when I did miraculously have everything, I was afraid to lose it and determined to hold fast to it.
I couldn't risk telling you until I had one more signal of your love and then yet more and more.
Can you forgive me? We might still be in Blackheath had it not been for Mrs.
Boffin and our friend, the Inspector.
I hope we do not have to part with them again.
Mr.
Boffin I thought you said you'd dismissed this fellow.
No fellows here or I'll throw you out of the window, you wretch! Boffin, let's get down to business.
I want the room cleared of this scum.
That's not going to be done, Wegg.
Mr.
Venus, will you be so good as to hand me over that document? And now, sir, having parted with it, I wish to make one small observation.
Not that it's necessary, but it is a comfort to my mind.
Silas Wegg you are a precious old rascal.
Silas Wegg know that I took the liberty of telling Mr.
Boffin about our enterprise at quite an early stage.
Though my hands were not, for a few hours, quite as clean as I could wish, I hope I have made full amends.
Certainly, Venus, certainly.
Thank you, sir.
I'm much obliged for your good opinion and for the influence so kindly brought to bear on a certain lady both by yourself and Mr.
John Harmon.
Everything else between you and me is now at an end, but I beg leave to repeat you are a precious old rascal! You're a fool.
You may go and welcome.
Now, Boffin, I'm here to be bought off! Now, buy me or leave me.
I think I'll have to leave you, Wegg.
I see how this goes.
You can afford to be so bold now you have so much less to lose! But Mr.
Harmon here, ask him if he knows what this piece of paper is.
It is a will of my father's of a later date than the one formally recognize leaving the entire estate to the Crown.
Right you are! Sowhat is it worth to yer? Absolutely nothing.
- You scoundrel! - You're knocking my head! I mean to! I'd give one thousand pounds to be able to smash your brains out! Let me show you something.
This is the last will of many made by my unhappy father and it leaves the entire estate to Mr.
Boffin excluding me altogether.
Mr.
Boffin found it and it disturbed him beyond measure so he buried it in the mound.
His intention being that it should never come to light.
When he told me of this I urged him to recover it and have it legally established.
So now you see that this pathetic piece of paper has no value whatsoever.
Now, you will listen to me! We knew enough to persuade Mr.
Boffin to lead you on to the last moment so your disappointment might be the heaviest possible! And believe this, I only possess my inheritance through Mr.
Boffin, who insisted that I should have my fortune and HE his small inheritance and no more.
I owe everything I possess to the kindness and tenderness of Mr.
and Mrs.
Boffin and when I see a roundworm like you presume to rise up against these noble souls, the wonder is I don't twist your head off and throw it out of the window! I'm sorry, Wegg, that me and Mrs.
Boffin can't have a higher opinion of you, but I shouldn't like to leave you worse off in life than I found you, so what'll it cost to set you up in another stall? Well, sir, when I first made your acquaintance, I had got together a collection of ballads which was, I may say, above price.
Well, then, they can't be paid for and you'd better not try! There wasa pair of trestles .
.
umbrellaclothes horse I'll leave the sum to you, sir.
Comehere's a couple of pound.
Ahh, come on, Prince! Giddy-up, boy! Don't let him get over-excited, Mortimer.
Visitors bring up his spirits.
My father paid us a visit up here, up the river.
Objected to his hotel, of course! As you know, he's a younger cavalier than me and an admirer of beauty! He was so affable as to suggest that Lizzie should have a portrait, which for him is like a paternal benediction with gushing tears! Our marriage being so solemnly recognised, I have no fear on that score.
And you are handling my puny financial affairs so adeptly that what little I have to call my own, maybe will be more than I ever had.
Eugene the schoolmaster.
- He's not suspected? - No.
Rest easy.
I have made sure the police have lost scent of him.
I promise, Eugene.
But he still lives and he did you dreadful injury and I cannot help but feel he should be punished.
No, Mortimer.
He does not live and he did me a favour.
- A favour? - Yes.
Oh, yes.
Consider this.
Had he not attacked me, I don't know what I would've done, how I would've injured her in my reckless passion.
Mortimer, listen, listen.
I would have lost her respect.
Any possibility of our love would've gone for ever.
Consider that.
And consider what I have now.
And then tell me whether the schoolmaster lives if not as someghost between here and hell, knowing as he does that he brought us together.
You think he does not have punishment enough? Begging your pardon, sir, but where might I be? Why, this is a school, sir.
And who might teach at this school? I do.
What, you're the master? Yes, I am the master, yes.
And a lovely thing it must be, to teach young children like these what's right and to know that they learned what's right by your example.
Might I ask a question of these lambs of yours? If it is educational, yes.
Oh, it is that.
Tell me, young sirs, what sorts of water do we find on land? Seas rivers lakes ponds.
And, my lambs, what is it that they catch in these lakes and rivers and ponds? - Fish.
- Yes.
But what else? - Weeds? - Yes.
But I'll have to tell you what else.
I bet you won't guess.
It's a bundle of clothes! Bless me if I didn't catch this one in a river by me.
You see, it had been sunk there by a man who wore How do you know that?! Because I was watching him and I saw him.
And, do you know for some reason I think that man fetched up in this school.
Yes, I believe I know him.
Beg that you may tell that man that I wish to see him at my lock upriver.
Yes, I'll tell him.
Do you think he'll come? I'm sure he'll come.
Come in, sir.
And who may you be? I've come from the Harmon household for the nursery dolls.
- My name is Sloppy.
- Indeed? I've been looking forward to meeting you.
I've heard of your distinguishing yourself.
Pretending to be a phantom! Pitching somebody into scavenger carts! Yes, Miss! I was that frightening! What do you think of me? Out with it! Don't you think me a little comical? What a lot! And what a colour! Enough to make wigs for all the dolls in the world! You must've been taught for a long time.
You work so neatly and with suchtaste.
I never was taught a stitch, young man! No? Here's me been learning and learning at my cabinet-making with Mrs.
Boffin paying for so long! I could make you something if you like.
Much obliged but what? I could make you a handy set of nests to lay the dolls in or a set of drawers for your silks and threads.
Or I can make you a rare handle for your father's stick.
It belongs to me.
I'm lame.
I'm glad it's yours.
I'd rather ornament it for you than anyone else.
You'd better see me use it.
It seems you hardly need it at all.
What a volume and such a tone! So I'm here.
Who's to begin? Well, where's your watch? I left it behind.
I want it.
I mean to have it.
Is that what you want from me? Look here, schoolmaster, you could've dealt with Wrayburn without my care having a curse.
But when you copy my clothes my neckerchief, shake blood on me, you make as if to throw the whole crime on me.
You'll pay me and you'll pay me heavy, you sly devil! I was playing your game long ago before you tried your clumsy hand in it.
When you stole away, I steals after you and I sees you throw these bloody clothes away and here, then, is proof.
I'll be paid for it till I've drained you dry! You can't get out of me what is not in me.
You've had more than two guineas off me already.
Do you know how long it takes me to earn such a sum? I don't know and I don't care.
You'll have to pawn every stick you own, beg and borrow every penny you can.
I'll keep you company wherever you go till I'm satisfied! This is all the money I have.
Say I give you this and my watch and, when I draw my salary, I give you a portion and You got away from me once.
I won't take a chance again.
I'm a man with absolutely no resources but myself.
I have absolutely no friends.
Come, come, master, you can't be rid of ME.
I'm a-going along with you wherever you go.
It's no use, schoolmaster, you'll never be free of me.
Let go! I'll get my knife! It's no use! You can't drown me! I tell you! A man that's been brought back out of drowning cannot be drowned again! Well, I can be! And I'm resolved to be! And I'll hold you living and I'll hold you dead! Put 'em down here.
That's it.
Now that I have the energy, Mortimer, I've been thinking about the future.
I've had the idea of taking Lizzie to one of the colonies, working at my vocation there.
I shall be lost without you.
- Maybe you're right.
- No, I would not be right.
Makes me angry to think I could turn coward on Lizzie, sneak away with her as if I were ashamed of her.
That's well said, of course, Eugene, but are you sure that you might not feel some slight coldness towards her on the part of well society? Yes, you may well stumble on that word, Mortimer! Now, listen to me, Mortimer.
My wife is somewhat nearer to my heart than society is.
So if I should ever think to hide her away, then you, who I love next best in all the world will tell me she would've done better that night I lay bleeding to death to turn me over with her foot and spit in my face.
Go and find out what society thinks of me, my dear fellow, if it will make you feel any better.
As for myself come hell or damnation I really couldn't care less.
Really, Mortimer, as you refuse to join our debate, we've had to bring it to you! A debate on such a pleasant evening.
Our debating question was, does a young man of very fair family, good appearance and some talent make a fool or a wise man of himself by marrying afemale waterman turned factory girl? That is hardlythe question.
Which is, I believe, whether the man who you describe does right or wrong in marrying a brave woman? I say nothing of her beauty.
Excuse me.
Was this young woman ever a a female waterman? Never, but she might sometimes have rowed in a boat with her father.
Has the young woman got any money? No absolutely nothing! Well, then my gorge rises against such a marriage! It offends and disgusts me! It makes me sick! There must be equality in station.
A man accustomed to society must look out for a woman accustomed to society.
And what if the man does not care for society? Mr.
Tremlow, you are so small, I had forgotten you.
You never say a word, always silent as a mouse.
Come now, speak up and tell us what you think! I am disposed to think that this is a question of the feelings of a gentleman.
A gentleman who contracts such a marriage has no feelings! Pardon me, sir, but I don't agree.
If this gentleman's feelings of gratitude, of respect, of admiration, of affection, induce him to marry this lady - Lady?! - Why, yes, sir.
What else would you call her if the gentleman were present? I say again, if this gentleman's feelings induced him to marry with this lady, thenhe is the greater gentleman for the action and she is the greater lady.
Time for one more before we go back?