Original subtitles

BOY: Floy! Wait for me!

(THEME TUNE MASKS DIALOGUE)

(CLOCK TICKING)

"And Son."

The house will once again be not only in name, but in fact,

Dombey and Son.

Mrs Dombey, my...my dear, he will be christened Paul, of course.

Of course.

His grandfather's name, Mrs Dombey, and his father's.

I wish his grandfather were alive this day.

Dombey...and Son.

- Mama! - Ah, Florence.

You may go and look at your little brother if you like, I daresay. Don't touch him.

- Mama! - Shh! There, there, there, my pet.

-(SOBS) - You mustn't cry.

It's over. You have a new brother. Shh.

It's an ill-advised and feverish proceeding, this, I'm sure.

I'd better ask Dr Peps if he will have the goodness to step upstairs again.

I needn't beg you to take particular care of this young gentleman, Mrs...

- Blockitt, sir. - Of this young gentleman, Mrs Blockitt.

No, indeed, sir. I remember when Miss Florence was born.

Miss Florence was all very well,

but this young gentleman has to accomplish a destiny.

- A destiny, little fellow. -(\NATCH TICKS)

Florence, my dear, dry your tears.

Go and see your little brother.

(SIGHS)

Well, sir! Do you find that you are able to rouse your dear lady by your visit?

Stimulated, as it were? - I confess I have no notion.

It would be a satisfaction to me if Dr Parker Peps would step upstairs again.

I shall. We should not disguise from you, sir,

the fact that there is a want of power in her grace the Duchess.

I...beg your pardon...l confuse names. I should say, your amiable lady.

There is a degree of languor and absence of elasticity

-that we would rather not... - See?

Mm? Oh! Quite so. The system of Lady Cankaby...

Forgive me, I should say Mrs Dombey... I confuse the names of cases...

So very numerous, Dr Parker Peps' West End practice.

Oh, thank you! The system of, um, our patient,

has been subjected to a stress from which it can only hope to rally

-by a great and strong and... - Vigorous?

Exactly so...and vigorous effort

But if our amiable friend the Countess of Dombey...

excuse me, Mrs Dombey...

-should not be... - Able...

...to make that effort successfully,

then a crisis might arise which we should sincerely deplore.

My dear Paul!

I've been upstairs! And he is quite a Dombey!

Yes, I think he is like the family.

Don't agitate yourself, Louisa.

He's such a perfect Dombey!

I never saw anything like it in my life!

Dr Parker Peps appears to be concerned about Fanny.

My dear Paul, take my word. It's nothing whatever.

There is exhaustion, certainly,

but nothing like I underwent, either with George or with Frederick.

An effort is necessary, that's all.

-(COUGHS) - If only dear Fanny were a Dombey.

But I daresay she'll make it.

Oh! I have no doubt she'll make it!

Knowing it to be required of her as a duty, of course she'll make it!

Oh! Miss Tox!

The kindest creature. I could never have got here without her.

Miss Tox, my brother, Mr Dombey.

Paul, my dear, my very particular friend, Miss Tox.

Oh, I am sure that to have the honour of being presented to Mr Dombey

is a distinction which I have long sought

but never quite expected at the present moment.

Miss Tox, Paul, has been working at a little gift for Fanny.

How very kind of Miss Tex.

Oh, it's only a pincushion for the toilette table, Paul.

- But I do say... - Oh, no!

...and I will say, and I must say,

that she has most prettily adapted the sentiment to the occasion.

I call "Welcome, little Dombey" poetry, myself.

- Is that the device? - That is the device.

- It's quite charming. - Oh!

- Your grace. . .sir. .. - Excuse me.

Oh! Oh!

I knew you would admire my brother. I told you so beforehand.

Oh, you did!

And as to his propefly, my dear... oh, it's immense.

Oh! But, my dear Louisa, his deportment, his presence, his dignity...

something so...so stately, you know! Oh!

A pecuniary Duke of York, my dear, and nothing shod of it!

- That is what I shall designate him. - Louisa?

- Louisa! - My dear Paul, what's the matter?

- They tell me that...that Fanny... - No! No, don't believe it.

If you have any reliance on my assurance, Paul, you may rest assured

that nothing is required but an effort on Fanny's part,

and that effort she must be encouraged and urged to make.

Now, come upstairs with me and Miss Tox.

(TICKING)

Restless without the little girl.

I thought it best to let her remain.

Fanny, my dear, here's Mr Dombey come to see you.

Won't you speak to him?

Don't you think it's time you roused yourself a little, eh?

What was it you said, my dear? I didn't hear you.

Ah, now, really, Fanny, my dear,

I shall have to be quite cross with you if you don't rouse yourself.

This is a world of effort, you know,

and we must never yield when so much depends upon us.

Come. Try?

I...l really must scold you, if you don't.

Fanny?

Only look at me.

Only open your eyes to show that you hear and understand me.

(TICKING)

(TICKING STOPS)

Mama?

Louisa, you see, it was absolutely dreadful. When I heard that she had died,

I thought, "Oh, dear, that poor little baby..."

(BABY CRIES)

...and so, my dear Louisa,

hearing that it has become necessary to find a nurse for little Paul,

I posted myself off to the Queen Charlotte's Royal Married

and asked if they knew of any woman who would suit.

What a dear, good Tox you are!

Not at all. Don't say so.

Now, if you will permit me...

(CLEARS THROAT)

-(MURMURS) -(BABIES WAIL)

- How do you do, Polly? - Oh, I'm pretty well, I thank you, ma'am.

- I'm very glad to hear it. I hope... -(\NAILING CONTINUES)

(RAISES VOICE) I hope you keep so!

-(BABIES CRY) - Five children, the youngest six weeks.

Sir, you were going to be good enough to inform me that you were by trade a...

- Stoker. - A choker?

- Stoker. Steam engine. - Oh! Oh, yes.

- And how do you like it, sir? - Which, mum?

- Why, that. Your trade. - Pretty well, mum.

The ashes sometimes gets in here

and makes a man speak gruff, as at present time...

- Oh. -..but it is ashes, mum, not crustiness.

Ah! Paul, my dear. Miss Tox has brought this woman to see us

as a candidate for the position of nurse to our little treasure.

Perhaps you would care to examine these testimonials, dear brother.

- Your name is? - Toodle, sir.

Hm. My good woman,

I presume you wish to earn money by nursing the little boy, my son,

who has been so prematurely deprived of what can never be replaced.

Hm?

Well, so far as I can tell, you appear to be a deserving object,

but one or two conditions I must impose upon you before you enter my house.

While you are here, you shall be known as...

say, as Richards, an ordinary name and convenient.

Have you any objection to be known as Richards?

Oh, no, sir. Only, if I'm to be called out of my name,

perhaps it would be kindly considered in the wages.

Of course. I desire to make it a question of wages altogether.

You will receive a liberal stipend in return for your duties,

in the performance of which I wish you to see as little of your family as possible.

When those duties cease to be required, there is an end of all relations between us.

You'll go away, you'll stay away.

The child will cease to remember you,

and you will cease, if you please, to remember the child.

- You understand me? - Oh. I hope I know my place, sir.

I hope you do, Richards.

Louisa, my dear, arrange with Richards about money.

LOUISA: Richards, come over here.

Mr What's-your-name, a word with you, if you please.

- You have children? - Five on 'em, sir.

Four 'ims and an 'er, all alive.

Is it as much as you can afford to keep them?

There's one thing in the world I could hardly afford less, sir.

- What's that? - To lose 'em, sir.

- You read? - Why, not particular, sir.

- Why don't you learn? - Oh, I'm going to!

One of my little boys is gonna learn me

when he's old enough, and been to school hisself.

You heard what I said to your wife just now?

Polly heard it, so it's all right.

As you appear to leave everything to your wife,

I suppose it is of no use my saying anything to you.

Not a bit, sir. Polly heard it, and she's awake, sir.

I won't detain you any longer. Erm...

- Where have you worked all your life? - Mostly underground, till I got married.

I come up to the level then.

I'm a-going on one of these here railroads, when they comes into full play.

Indeed. Goodbye, Mr...

First we must have you measured for your mourning,

and it will fit beautifully. I know the very best material.

Lor! You'll look so smart, your husband won't know you!

- Will you, sir? - I should know her anyhows and anyvvheres.

You'll be going home, then, I daresay?

Seeing as how the gentleman says he ain't a-going to detain me,

- I might as well. - Yes.

I'll say goodbye, then.

Oh...

- Oh, my little clears. -(BOTH BABIES CRY)

Goodbye. Now, you'll be happy with your dad. You will.

You be a good boy, now.

(LIVE LY CHATTER)

- Hello, Uncle Sol! - What, you're here, are you?

How have you got on without me all day? ls dinner ready? I'm so hungry.

As for getting on, it'd be odd

if I couldn't get on without a young dog like you a great deal better than with you.

And as to dinner being ready, it's been ready this half-hour and waiting for you.

And as to being hungry, I am.

Come along, then, Uncle! Hoorah for the admiral!

Confound the admiral. The Lord Mayor's your admiral now, lad.

You're a man of business. You belong to the city.

Sit you down, Walter. Let's hear something about the firm.

Well, there's not much to be told, Uncle.

- It's a precious dark set of offices. - Go on.

In the room where I sit, there's a high fender...

- Yes? -..and an iron safe.

- Yes? - There's some cards

about ships that are going to sail, there's an almanack,

an ink bottle, some books and some boxes.

What, no bank books or cheque books,

or tokens of the wealth that comes rolling in every day?

All that son of thing's in Mr Carker's room, or Mr Mon'in's, or Mr Dombey's.

- Has Mr Dombey been there today? - Oh, yes, in and out.

He didn't take much notice of you, I suppose?

Yes, he did! He walked up to my seat. I wish he wasn't so solemn and stiff, Uncle.

-(LAUGHS) - He said,

"You're the son of Mr Gills, the ship's instrument-maker?"

-"Nephew, sir," I said. -"That's what I said, boy," he said.

Then he told me I was expected to be attentive and punctual, and he walked away.

I thought he didn't seem to like me much.

You mean, I suppose, you didn't seem to like him much.

Well, Uncle, perhaps so. I never thought of that.

But what are you about? That's the precious Madeira!

There's only one more bottle!

You shall drink the other bottle, Walter, when you come to good foflune.

My love to you.

- Have you had a customer today, Uncle? - Nary a one, lad.

In the last ten days, I can't remember but one person coming into the shop.

Two, Uncle. Don't you recollect?

A man came to ask for change for a sovereign.

- That was the one. - Don't you call the woman anybody

who came to ask the way to Mile-End Turnpike?

Ah. Forgot her. Two persons. But they didn't buy anything!

Ah, but there were two, Uncle, and you said only one.

If there was a hundred, we couldn't live on 'em.

I'm an old-fashioned man, in an old-fashioned shop,

in a street that is not the same as I remember it.

Now, Wally, that is why I want you to be early in the busy world,

to be on the world's track.

I've fallen behind the time, and I'm too old to catch it again.

- It's the Captain! - How goes it?

-(CHUCKLES) Well, Well! - Ah! Well!

Q-he? 'The!

(\NHISTLES) Wal'r, look at him!

Love, honour and obey him.

Overhaul your catechism till you find that passage,

and when found, turn the leaf down.

- Success, my boy! - Success!

All them instruments out there!

It's so comfortable to sit here and feel that you might be weighed, measured,

magnified, electrified, polarised,

played the very devil with, and never know how.

Come! Before you have your glass of grog, Ned, we must finish the bottle.

- Stand by! Give the boy some more. - No more, thank'ee, Uncle!

Yes, yes. We'll finish the bottle to the House of Dombey, Ned.

- Walter's house! - Eh?

Well, it may one day be, in pad. Who knows?

Sir Richard Whittington married his master's daughter.

- That's right! - Although Mr Dombey hasn't a daughter.

Well, yes, he has, Uncle.

- He knows all about her already, see? - How can I help hearing what they tell me?

The son's a bit in our way at present. Nevertheless, we'll drink him.

- Here's to Dombey...and Son. - And Daughter.

(BOTH LAUGH)

Well, Miss Floy! Won't your pa be angry now,

when it was tickerlerly given out that you wasn't to go and worry the wet nurse?

She don't worry me. We was just talking about her poor dear mama.

Besides, I'm very fond of children.

Begging your pardon, Mrs Richards, I may be very fond of pennyvvinkles,

but it don't follow I'm to have 'em for tea.

Remember, if you'll be so good,

that Miss Floy is under my charge, and Master Paul under yours.

Even so, Miss Nipper, we needn't quarrel.

I've no wish to, I'm sure.

But Miss Floy's not back in the house a quarter-of-an-hour

but she's a-smearing her wet face

against the expensive mourning you're a-wearing for her ma.

Well, Miss Florence is just happy to be home again.

- Oh, you think that, do you? - Yes.

And she'll be even more pleased when she's seen her dear papa.

-"Seen her dear papa"? - Won't she, then?

Lor, Mrs Richards, no!

Her pa's a deal too wrapped up in somebody else.

Oh, no!

And before there was a somebody else to be wrapped up in,

she was never a favourite.

Girls are thrown away in this house, Mrs Richards, I assure you.

Hasn't Mr Dombey seen her since her poor mama...

Not once since. And although she's been staying

at Mrs Chick's house these three weeks, and is come home now,

she may as well be on the moon as far as her pa's concerned.

Ain't you going to take her to see her papa, then?

To see him? Do you think he'd want some...

How is Master Paul, Richards?

Oh, he's quite thriving, sir, and well.

He looks so.

- They give you everything you want, I hope? - Oh, yes, thank you, sir.

Florence? Come here, child.

What is the child afraid of?

Come here, Florence.

- Do you know who I am? - Yes, Papa.

Have you nothing to say to me?

There. Now, be a good girl. Go with Miss Nipper now, go.

Come along, Miss Floy.

- Her mama all over. - A curious child.

I quite worry and fret myself about her. She will never, never, never be a Dombey,

not if she lives to be a thousand years old, never.

-(DOOR BANGS) - Oh, you beauties!

Never be a Dombey, won't she? It's to be hoped she won't!

We don't want any more such. One's enough!

Richards, on the occasion when you first came here,

your husband revealed to me the melancholy fact

that your family, himself at the head, were steeped in ignorance.

Oh, if you please, sir...

I am far from being friendly with what is called "general education"

but it is necessary that the inferior classes

should be taught to know their position, to conduct themselves properly.

There exists an establishment known as the Charitable Grinders,

where the scholars are not only educated but given a dress and a badge.

I have today nominated your eldest son to a vacancy.

- My Biler, sir? - What?

My Biler. My husband christened him in commemoration of the steam engine.

Your... Your son is now a Charitable Grinder.

Oh! Dear Richards! Now indeed you may be proud!

Dressed and educated!

I'm sure I'm much obliged to you, sir.

I'm glad to see that you have so much feeling, Richards.

It makes one almost hope, it really does,

that there may yet be some faint spark of feeling in the world.

Do Mrs Richards' children live very far from here, Susan?

It's in Staggs's Gardens, Miss Florence. It's in Camden Town.

Oh, Miss Nipper, I can't wait to see my Biler in his new Grinders clothes!

-(LAUGHS) - But if Mr Dombey should find out...

Awalk is a walk, ma'am. And Mr Dombey won't know...

and won't know, which is nearer the point,

whether we take it in Camden Town or in the park.

Fasten your bonnet, Miss Floy.

I think I shall like seeing Mrs Richards' children.

So shall I. All of them.

-(TRADERS CALL) MAN: Horse chestnuts!

WOMAN: Lovely chestnuts!

(EXCITED CHATTER)

Here's my Biler now! Biler!

Oh, don't he look smart?

Biler, it's me!

It's your ma!

(JEERING)

(BOYS SHOUT)

What are they doing to him?

You boys! You boys! Leave him be!

- Get him! - Biler!

(SHOUTING)

Biler!

Susan! Oh, please wait!

Biler, you toff!

(SHOUTING)

Oh, look, Miss Nipper! Look what they've done to him!

Sorry.

Well, my dear? Lost, are you?

I thought they were with me. Where are they?

You come with me. I'll show you.

Oh, little vagabonds!

Oh, look, Miss Nipper! They've torn his new Grinders clothes!

Miss Florence!

Where's Miss Florence?

Please let me go. Please let me go!

Now, don't you vex me. Come along.

Now, then. Don't vex me, I say.

If you do, I'll kill you.

I could have killed you at any time, even if you was at home in your own bed.

Now, then.

Let's know who you are.

Please...

- What's your name? - Dombey.

Ooh. Well!

I want that pretty frock, Miss Dombey,

and that little bonnet, and a petticoat or two.

(CHUCKLES)

That'll do...

...to begin with.

I want 'em. Do you hear me?

I want 'em now!