Original subtitles

BOY: Floy! Wait for me!

(THEME TUNE MASKS DIALOGUE)

(DOORBELL RINGS)

Dr Blimber is at home, I think.

-(CHUCKLES) - What's this? How dare you laugh!

Go and tell your master we're here this instant or it'll be the worst for you.

Florence, wait here. Take care of your little brother.

Yes, Papa.

Ah! How do you do, sir?

My dear neighbour Mrs Pipchin prepared me for this honour.

-It is Mr Dombey, I think. -It is, sir.

Pray, be seated, sir.

- Master Dombey is not with you? - My son is on the other side of that door, sir.

Before he comes in, I should be glad of some words in private.

(LESSON BELL RINGS)

(TICKING)

My son, Dr Blimber, has been residing in Mrs Pipchin's establishment.

He...is not robust.

I dispatched him to Brighton for the sake of his health.

There has been some improvement but I regret to say that in his studies

Paul is behind many children of his age. Of his youth.

-(LAUGHS) - Most humorous!

Instead of being behind his peers, my son ought to be far before them.

There is an eminence waiting for him to mount upon.

His way in life was clear and marked out before he existed.

The education of such a young gentleman should not be left imperfect.

Rest assured, my dear sir,

I undertake the charge of no more than ten pupils.

But I have a supply of learning for at least 100.

My son will lodge with you here.

My daughter will remain with Mrs Pipchin.

Paul...is excessively and childishly fond of his sister.

It's good they should be separated.

Say no more, my dear sir. It is understood.

Mrs Pipchin, direct Master Paul in here.

Master Dombey.

Paul, here is Dr Blimber.

Oh.

Oh.

Ah! And how is my little friend?

How do you do, my little friend?

Answer, Paul.

Very well, I thank you, sir.

Hah! Shall we make a man of him?

- Do you hear, Paul? - I'd rather be a child.

Indeed? Why?

Mrs Pipchin, I really am very sorry to see this.

Come away from him, do. Miss Dombey.

Never mind. Never mind.

We shall substitute new cares and new impressions very shortly, Mr Dombey.

Would you have it, sir, that my little friend should still acquire...?

- Everything, if you please, Dr Blimber. - Ah, excellent. Quite a virgin soil.

Eh, Mr Dombey?

How very opportune. Allow me, sir... Mrs Blimber.

- My dear sir. - Madam.

And my daughter Cornelia who will be associated with the domestic life

of our little pilgrim to Parnassus.

- Mr Dombey. - Miss Blimber.

My love, Mr Dombey is confiding to us our little friend here.

Oh, but how he is to be envied.

He's like a bee about to plunge into a garden of the choicest flowers

and sip the sweets for the first time.

Virgil, Horace, Ovid, Terence, Plautus, Cicero.

- What a world of honey we have here. -Indeed.

-(KNOCK AT DOOR) - Yes, who is that?

Ah, come in, Toots. Come in.

Quite a coincidence. Here we have the beginning and the end,

Alpha and Omega. Mr Dombey, this is our head boy.

Toots, a new addition to our little portico - Mr Dombey's son.

- How are you? - Put the books on my desk!

My love, I do not believe that Mr Dombey has yet seen the dormitories.

If Mr Dombey will walk upstairs,

I'm sure we shall be only too proud to show him the dominion of the drowsy god.

Most gladly.

Paul, you will remain here.

Florence, there is no need to detain you and Mrs Pipchin.

Nor is there any occasion for leave-taking between you.

Your sister will not be far away, Paul.

You may visit her whenever Dr Blimber allows it.

- Florence. - Goodbye, Paul.

I will see you soon.

Now, sir...

This way, my dear sir.

Papa!

Goodbye, Papa.

Goodbye, Florence.

- How are you? - Quite well, sir.

Thank you.

I say, you're a very small chap.

Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

- Sit down, Dombey. - Thank you, sir.

I say, who's your tailor?

It's a woman that has made my clothes as yet.

My sister's dressmaker.

My tailor's Burgess and Co.

Fashionable but very dear.

Your father's frightful rich, ain't he?

Yes, sir. He's Dombey And Son.

- And which? - And son, sir.

Ah. Oh...

Ask Mr Feeder, if you please, Toots,

to prepare a few introductory volumes for Mr Dombey's son

and to allot him a seat for study.

I hope, sir, the arrangements meet with your approval.

They're excellent. I've taken all the trouble I need and may take my leave now.

Paul, my child.

Goodbye. I shall see you soon.

- You are free on Saturdays and Sundays. - Yes, Papa.

Try and learn a great deal here. Be a clever man, won't you?

Yes, Papa.

- You'll soon be grown up now. - Oh? Oh, yes.

Yes, very soon.

Good bye.

Mrs Blimber... Miss Blimber.

Well, now, how much do you know of your Latin grammar, Dombey?

- None of it. - None?

I haven't been well.

Cornelia, this is bad.

- But study will do much. - He must study.

He will.

- Take him around the house, Cornelia. - Yes, come on.

Go with the young lady, Dombey.

(TUTS)

- Oh, Mr Carker, sir? - Yes, Walter.

The bills from Gaynor's Whan'. Perhaps you would be so kind as to give me an opinion.

Most gladly, my dear fellow.

- How do you do this morning? - How do you do, Carker?

- Are these for me? - I don't think I need trouble you.

You have a committee today at three, you know.

And one at three three-quarters.

Catch you forgetting anything!

If Mr Paul inherits your memory, he'll be a troublesome customer in the House.

- One of you is enough. - You have an accurate memory of your own.

Oh, I? It's the only capital of a man like me.

Is Mr Mon'in here?

Mon'in is here. Humming musical recollections

of his last night's quartet party through the walls between us

and driving me half mad.

I wish he'd make a bonfire of his violoncello and burn his music books in it.

You respect no-one, I think, Carker.

No?

Well, not many people, I believe.

I wouldn't answer perhaps for more than one.

Hm.

Talking of Morfin, he reports a junior dead in the agency at Barbados.

Barbados? - Yes.

We need a successor within the month.

- You don't care who goes, I suppose? - No.

It's no very precious appointment. Perhaps Mon'in may bestow it -

- What is it? - I beg your pardon, sir.

I came in without knocking as I thought you were out.

- Mr Carker the Junior gave... - Sir!

I have before now requested you not to mention the name of my...

...of Mr Carker the Junior in my presence.

- I beg your pardon, sir. I forgot. - State your business.

- These letters are for Mr Dombey, sir. - Very well.

This one's from Miss Florence, sir.

- Mr Carker, may I say if I have offended... - Leave the room, sir.

- Carker. - Sir?

Call him back.

Gay. Step in here, if you please.

You wanted someone to send to the West Indies.

- Yes. - Send young Gay.

Good. Very good indeed.

- Nothing easier. - Gay.

- There is... - An opening.

...in the West Indies in our counting house in Barbados.

I've chosen you to go. Tell your uncle you've been appointed.

You will go in a month from now.

Shall I remain there, sir?

Will you remain there, sir? What do you mean?

What does he mean, Carker?

- Live there, sir? - Certainly.

That's all.

- He needn't wait, Carker. - You needn't wait, Gay.

Unless he has something to say.

No, sir, I... I hardly know what...

I'm very much obliged, sir.

- He needn't wait, Carker. - You needn't wait, Gay.

- Anything else? - Nothing.

But where are the West Indies?

Well, it's some few hundred miles...

John Carker, what is the league between you and this young man

in virtue of which I'm haunted by the mention of your name?

Is it not enough for you that I'm your near relation

and can't detach myself from that disgrace?

I have never injured you, James. Not wilfully.

You are my brother.

That is injury enough.

I wish I could undo that, James.

I wish you could! And would.

Mr Carker...

It is my fault. if I mentioned Mr Carker the Junior by name...

There is no "if" about it, sir.

And let me tell you, Gay, you do him no service

if you insist in forcing the name of John Carker on people's attention.

I will hear it no more, if you please.

- Mr Carker... - No, Walter.

No. For your own sake, you must have nothing to do with me.

But why? If there is some quarrel between you and Mr Carker the manager...

Do you know what I am?

- Do you, Walter? - What you are?

A long time ago, when I was about your age,

I...l robbed DombeyAnd Son.

I took money and it was found out.

This house was very good to me.

Mr Dombey's father, he... he allowed me to remain here.

Perhaps...as a...an example to the others.

That time, Walter, from all men's society...

...I died.

(TICKING)

(STACCATO, IN TIME WITH TICKING) How do you do, my little friend?

How do you do, my little friend?

- How much ancient history does he know? - Very little, Papa.

But Dombey is your charge, Cornelia. Bring him on, bring him on!

Yes, I will.

Ah, Dombey. These are for you.

- All of them, ma'am? - Yes.

And Mr Feeder will look you out some more very soon.

- Thank you, ma'am. - There.

Now, I am going out for a constitutional.

While I am gone, I wish you to read over the passages I have marked in those books.

Don't lose time, Dombey. You have none to spare.

How are you?

Quite well, sir, thank you.

Shake hands.

- How are you? - Quite well, sir...thank you.

I say...what do you think about?

Oh, I think about a great many things.

Do you?

Do you now?

- If you had to die... - Eh?

...don't you think you'd rather die on a moonlight night?

When the sky was quite clear.

- The wind was blowing... - Well, I don't really know.

Not blowing...but sounding in the air.

Like the sea sounds in the shells.

It was like that last night.

I got up and looked out.

There was a boat over there in the light of the moon.

A boat with a sail.

Smugglers perhaps.

It seemed to beckon to me.

(\NOMAN'S VOICE)

It's nearly dinner time. Go downstairs, if you please.

Yes, ma'am.

Dombey, I am going to send home your analysis.

Oh, thank you, ma'am.

You do know when“ mean, do you, Dombey'?

- No, ma'am. - Oh, Dombey, Dombey, you're a sad boy.

If you don't know the meaning of an expression, seek for information!

I didn't mean, ma'am...

I must trouble you not to tell me what you didn't mean.

That is a line of argument I couldn't dream of permitting.

Now... "Analysis of the character of P Dombey.

I find that the natural character of Dombey is extremely good.

He has made as much progress

as under the circumstances could have been expected.

But it is to be lamented that he is often what might be termed old-fashioned

and very unlike other young gentlemen of his age and social position."

Now, Dombey, do you understand that?

I think I do, ma'am.

This analysis is going to be sent home to your respected parent.

It will be painful to him to find that you are unlike the other pupils

-in your character and conduct. - Yes, ma'am.

It's naturally painful to us too, for...

Well, we can't like you, you know, Dombey, as well as we could wish.

-(GONG) - Ah, it's dinner time.

Come. Come downstairs, please.

What is it? Are you unwell?

- No, ma'am. - Come along, then.

Have a piece of cheese, Dombey.

It is remarkable... Mr Feeder...

Oh, I beg your pardon, Dr Blimber.

It is remarkable that the Romans... Johnson.

...that the Romans, in the days when whole provinces were ravaged

to provide the splendid means of one Imperial -

-(COUGHING) - Johnson, take some water.

- I beg your pardon, Dr Blimber. -..as we read, that the brother of Vitellius

provided for him a feast, in which was served, of fishes, 2,000 dishes.

Take some water, Johnson!

- Dishes, sir. - And of various kinds of fowl, 5,000 dishes.

Oh, try a crust of bread.

And one dish made from the brains of pheasants and woodcocks.

Johnson! You'll burst a blood vessel in your head!

- You had better let it come. -..such entertainments as these.

Oh, Mr Feeder, would you kindly do the honour of giving me your attention?

Is it not remarkable...? Oh, Johnson!

Can you not keep quiet!

-(CHAIR FALLS) - Come, gentlemen, you will remain seated.

- I did not give you permission to rise! - If you please, sir...

Dombey has fainted.

Thank you, sir.

I think, Dr Blimber, we may release this gentleman from his books just now.

- The vacation being so very near at hand. - Is that necessary?

By all means. My love, you will inform Cornelia, if you please.

Assuredly.

- Our little friend has never complained. - Oh, no. He's not likely to complain.

- And you find him greatly better? - Oh, yes.

He is greatly better. Aword, Dr Blimber.

Master Dombey. Here is Miss Dombey come to visit you.

Ah, very good, ma'am.

Our little friend is greatly better.

- Dear Floy. - How are you, Paul?

I'm greatly better, thank you!

And Dr Blimber says that I might be released from my books.

Oh? Then I had better have a word with Dr Blimber!

I won't be a moment, Paul.

Will you excuse me, Mrs Pipchin?

- How did Florence know? - How did she know what, Master Paul?

That I was ill!

Why, a message was sent from Dr Blimber's.

You're a person of importance, Master Paul, just as your papa is.

Oh.

Is that because he's rich?

Oh, for many reasons.

Mrs Pipchin, what do you think I mean to do when I grow up?

I'm sure I couldn't guess.

I mean to put all my money into one bank.

And never to try and get any more.

To go away into the country with Florence and live there with her.

Indeed?

Yes. That's what I mean to do when I...

Well, Paul, it is decided.

- Tomorrow you are to return home. Home, Hey'?

Home to rest for a time. And I shall go too. To nurse you.

Well, is that not good news?

Or are you so fond of Dr Blimbefs?

No! I shall be glad to go.

But I do think I shall miss Diogenes.

He is the dog I told you about.

Dr Blimber keeps him chained up in the yard.

I am the only person he likes.

(MURMUR OF CONVERSATION)

Ah-ha! Good day, Mrs Pipchin.

- Good day, Dr Blimber. - Good day, Miss Dombey.

(BARKING)

There he is.

Dombey! Dombey, you've always been my favourite pupil.

- God bless you. - Yes, yes, indeed. Goodbye, Dombey.

Goodbye, ma'am. Goodbye, Dr Blimber.

Goodbye, my little friend, and return to us soon.

BOYS: Good bye, Dom bey!

"Sir?

Diogenes!

Goodbye, Diogenes. Dr Blimber, ask them to take care of Diogenes.

If you please.

(ALL CALL OUT "GOODBYE")

Good bye, Dom bey.

Goodbye, Dombey. Good luck.

Is Dombey there? Ha-ha!

Is Dombey there?

Master Paul! And Miss Florence.

How is he? How is the boy?

He's tired, Susan. ls the doctor here?

The message came from Brighton not an hour past

that you and Master Paul was returning.

Mrs Chick has been sent for by the Master.

So have Dr Pilkins and Nurse Wickam.

They'll be here directly.

Will you take my brother upstairs, if you please?

- Floy. - Yes, Paul?

Was Papa here a moment ago?

Yes, dear.

I thought he cried when he saw me. Did he?

No, Paul. You must have been mistaken.

I'm glad. Don't tell him I asked, Floy.