Original subtitles

BOY: Floy! Wait for me!

(THEME TUNE MASKS DIALOGUE)

(KNOCKS ON DOOR)

(\NINDOW SCRAPES OPEN)

CUTTLE: Sshh, ssh! Walter, my lad. - Captain Cuttle?

Stand by, Walter, and knock hard. It's washing day.

CUTTLE: Hard, it is!

- Eh? - Oh, erm...

- Captain Cuttle's at home, I know. - Is he, indeed?

- He's just been speaking to me. - Oh, has he?

Then perhaps you'll give him Mrs MacStingeHs respects

and say the next time he lowers himself and his lodgings by talking out the window

she'll thank him to come down and open the door, too.

I'll mention it if you'll have the goodness to let me in, ma'am.

A boy as can knock my door down can get over that, I should hope.

(DOOR SLAMS)

I'd like to know, if you please, whether an Englishwoman's home is her castle or not.

And whether I'm to be broken upon and entered by raff.

And without so much as a by your leave!

- Captain Cuttle? - Come in, lad.

Never owed her a penny, Walter.

Done her a world of good turns, and her children too.

Vixenish at times, though.

- Whew! - I should go away, Captain.

Dursn't do it, Walter. She'd find me out, wherever I went.

Sit down.

- How's your uncle? - My uncle's well, thank you.

- What'll you take? - I want to take your opinion, Captain.

Well, come along, then. With a will, my lad.

Mr Dombey is sending me to our counting house in Barbados...

in the West Indies.

To the Indies?

I haven't told my uncle, as yet. It will be a blow to him.

He's old, Captain. When I leave England, I could hardly hope to see him again.

You're right there, as like as not.

We, you and I, must make him believe

that the separation will be no more than temporary.

And that is my great reason for wishing you to break it to him.

Stand by.

Also, he must think that this new appointment will be an advancement for me.

- Ain't it? - Mr Dombey does not like me.

- Steady, Walter. - No, no, it's true.

I'm not a favourite with him. He doesn't send me to this post as a good one.

Turn again, Whittington.

Aye, and turn a great many times, too, Captain,

before such fortunes as his ever turn up again.

Now, I doubt if it will ever lead me to advancement.

On the contrary, he disposes of me forever.

But we must say nothing of this to my uncle.

He disposes of you, you say, eh?

Captain Cuttle!

Oh, it's an old habit of mine, Walter, these 50 years.

When you see Ned Cuttle bite his nails, Walter,

then you may know Ned Cuttle's aground.

But will you help me to set my uncle's mind at ease?

Aye, lad. I'll help you.

When I leave, I leave him to you.

And I can leave him to no one better.

In the proverbs of Solomon you'll find it written:

May we never want a friend, indeed. Nor a bottle to give him.

When found, Wal'r, make a note of.

But at present Ned Cuttle must go a visiting.

You may help me on with them slops, my boy.

Oh, er...stand by.

Well, I'm a visiting, you must go for a walk.

And take a good long 'un, eh?

Excuse me, Mr Carker, there's a person by name of Cuttle

who wishes to see Mr Dombey.

Didn't you tell him that Mr Dombey has stayed at home this past week?

I did, sir, and he asked to see you.

- On what business, Perch? - To do with our Mr Gay, he said.

Bid him come in.

Er...Mr Carker?

I believe so.

I'm a seafaring man, myself, Mr Carker,

and Walter, as is on your books here, is almost a son of mine.

Walter Gay?

Walter Gay, it is, right! Heh-heh.

I'm an intimate friend of his uncle's.

Perhaps you've heard your head guv'nor mention my name - Captain Cuttle.

No.

Well, I've had the pleasure of his acquaintance.

I waited upon him down on that Sussex coast,

when, in short, there was a little accommodation matter.

You may remember, I daresay?

I think I had the honour of arranging the business.

To be sure, right again, you had!

- Well, I took the libefly of coming here... - Won't you sit down?

Oh, thankee kindly, lad.

Won't you take a chair yourself?

Walter is as trim a lad as ever stepped,

but he's a little down by the head in one respect and that is modesty.

What I should like to put to you, Mr Carker,

in a friendly way, entirely between you and me, is this:

is everything right and comfortable here?

And is Walter outward bound with a pretty fair wind?

You are a practical man, Captain Cuttle. What do you think?

Come, am I right or wrong?

Right, I have no doubt.

Outward bound, then, with fair weather, I say?

Wind right astern and plenty of it?

Walter has brilliant prospects.

All the world before him.

All the world and his wife, too, as the saying is.

(LAUGHS)

I bet you a gill of Old Jamaica I know what you're smiling at.

Ha ha! It goes no further. Ha ha ha!

Not an inch.

You're thinking of a young lady's name beginning with F perhaps.

With an I and an O to follow, eh?

Am I right?

Ever since he found her on the streets, when she were a little girl,

he has liked her and she him, as much as two such youngsters can.

We always said, his uncle and me, that they was cut out for one another.

Am I right again?

It's as I believed!

And Walter's in his way to make his fortune.

To make his fortune.

And this going on his little voyage is, as I may say,

in his day's work and pan of his general expectations here.

Of his general expectations here.

Then my mind's at ease.

Farewell. You'll excuse me if I've at all intruded.

- Not at all. - Thankee.

My berth ain't very roomy, but it's snug,

and if you was to find yourself near Brig Place, number nine,

at any time, if you would come up the stairs,

not minding what was said by the person at the door,

I'd be proud to see you.

(CHUCKLES)

Mr Walter! Mr Walter!

Oh, it is you.

Oh, Mr Walter, help me.

You mayn't remember me. I'm Miss Florence's maidservant.

I've been trying to find Stagg's Gardens where Mrs Richards lives,

she that was nurse to Master Paul.

Stagg's Gardens? But it's no more.

The houses were all pulled down to make the railroad.

Oh, don't say that, Mr Walter. I must find Mrs Richards.

Master Paul is that ill, and he's asked for his old nurse to come and see him.

- Master Paul is ill? - The child is withering away.

And what am I going to do?

Well, I scarcely know what to do.

We must ask near where Mrs Richards once lived.

Yes, that's it. Be calm. We'll find her.

Round the square and back to Camden Hill.

(TICKING)

(FLOORBOARDS CREAK)

FIOy?

I'm here, Paul.

- Who is that? - Where, Paul?

There, at the bottom of the bed.

There's no one except Papa.

My boy, don't you know me?

You seem different.

Paul? Here is Mrs Richards come to see you.

Do you remember? You asked who had nursed you when you were a baby.

You said you wanted to see her again.

Oh, Master Paul, my dear boy.

My pretty boy.

Were you my nurse?

Yes, yes.

And you were my own dear child.

Don't go away.

- Stay here. - Yes.

Yes...I'll stay.

Walter?

Miss Dombey.

-Is Walter there? - Yes, Paul, he's come to see you.

- Papa? - I'm here.

Here.

I gave money to Walter.

You told me I was to begin to be Dombey and Son.

- Mm. - We gave Walter money for his uncle.

That's right, Paul. We gave him money.

Remember Walter, Papa?

Will you remember him?

Mm.

FIOy?

I hear the waves again.

They always said so.

(CLOCK TICKS)

(SHOVEL DIGGING EARTH)

Mr Dombey, sir?

Mr Dombey, sir?

- Mr Dombey? - Yes!

Oh, if you please, sir, I'm the stonemason.

They said I was to attend on you.

Yes.

These are my instructions for the gravestone, for the inscription.

- I wish to have it done at once. - Very good, sir.

I beg your pardon, sir.

Well?

I think there's been a mistake.

A mistake?

It says here "To the memory of the beloved and only child," sir.

Well?

Begging your pardon, sir. Should it not be "the beloved and only son," sir?

You're right, of course.

Make the correction.

My dear Florence, when you are as old as I am..

Which will be the prime of life.

...you will then know that all grief is unavailing and that it is our duty to submit.

- I will try, Aunt. - I am glad to hear it.

Because, my love, as our dear Miss Tox,

of whose good sense and excellent judgment, there cannot be two opinions...

My dear Louisa, I shall be really be proud soon.

As our dear Miss Tox will tell you,

we are called upon on all occasions to make an effort

It is required of us.

If any... Oh, my dear, I want a word.

If any mis...er...

- Demeanour? - Oh, no, no, no, how can you?

Oh, goodness me, it's on the end of my tongue.

- Er...mis... - Placed affection.

Good gracious, how very monstrous!

Misanthrope is the word I want.

"Misplaced affection", the idea!

If any misanthrope were to put to me the question, "Why were we born?"

I should reply, "To make an effort"

Oh, very good. Very good, indeed.

Nothing will ever persuade me,

but if an effort had been made by your dear poor mama...

...the poor dear darling child would have had a stronger constitution.

Your papa, now,

he is a Dombey.

You may be sure that he will make an effort

Pray tell me, how is Papa?

Oh, my dear, I've only seen him once or twice for a minute or so,

and, indeed, I've hardly seen him then for his room was dark.

But I have advised him to go into the country for a shod time to seek a change.

I am sure he will do so.

- My Louisa is ever methodical. - Mm-hm.

Is there nothing, Aunt, I might do?

Lord!

My dear child.

If your papa said to me, "Louisa, I want nothing, I am better by myself,

what do you suppose he would say to you?"

You mustn't show yourself to him, child.

- Don't dream of such a thing. -(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Begging your pardon, ma'am, but Miss Floy has a visitor.

LOUISA: Avisitor? - A visitor for me, Susan?

Well, it is a wonder, ain't it, now, Miss Floy?

But I wish you had a many visitors. I do, indeed, for you'd be all the better for it.

I may not wish to live in crowds, Miss Floy, but, still, I'm not an oyster.

Avisitor at this time? Who is it?

If you, please, ma'am, it's a Mr Toots.

- Oh, yes! Show him in, Susan. -(GIGGLES)

He was a friend of Paul's at Dr Blimber's school.

Then I suppose you must see him.

Come along, Miss Tox.

Goodbye, Florence, dear.

And do, do try to make an effort

(LAUGHS)

- Mr Toots! - Hm?

Hah! How do you do, Miss Dombey?

I'm very well, thank you. How are you?

I'm very well.

I'm very well, indeed, I am. Very well, indeed.

I am glad to see you. Pray, be seated.

You were kind to my brother.

He often talked to me about you.

Oh...it's of no consequence.

- Warm, ain't it? -It is beautiful weather.

It agrees with me.

I don't remember that I was ever so well as I find myself at present.

I'm obliged to you.

You have left Dr Blimber's, I think.

Oh, I should hope so. Mm.

Well, good day, Miss Dombey.

Are you going?

I don't know. Er...

No, no, not just at present.

Erm...the fact is... Oh, I say, Miss Dombey...

- Yes? - Your brother, I...

Please don't be afraid to talk about him. I should be very glad if you would.

Would you, though?

Poor Dombey.

The fact is...there was a friend he took very much to at the last.

I thought you would like to have him perhaps.

- A friend, Mr Toots? - Excuse me.

Hah!

I could have had him stolen for ten shillings, if they hadn't given him up.

But they were pleased to be rid of him.

Diogenes!

You remember his remembering Diogenes.

- Oh, yes, yes. - Now, now, he ain't a lady's dog,

but you won't mind that, will you?

Oh, Di, dear Di!

Thank you. Thank you.

Well, Uncle, what shall I send you home from Barbados?

Hope, my dear Wally, hope that we shall meet again this side of the grave.

Send me as much of that as you can.

So I will, Uncle. And as to lively turtles and limes for Captain Cuttle's punch,

and preserves for you on Sundays? Well, I'll send you shiploads.

You'll not forget what you're to send me, Uncle?

No, Wally, everything I hear about Miss Dombey.

Though I fear it won't be much, my boy.

I tell you, Uncle, I went to her house this morning.

- You saw her? - No.

I wanted to say a parting word to Susan - her maid.

I asked her if she would let me know through you

if Miss Florence was well and happy.

So you may have more news for me than you think, Uncle.

What's the matter, Uncle?

Miss Dombey?

I'm sure your uncle is sorry you're going away.

So am I.

Goodness knows, there's a many we could spare instead of him.

Mrs Pipchin as an overseer would come cheap at her weight in gold.

And if a knowledge of black slavery should be required,

them Blimbers is the very people for the situation. (LAUGHS)

So grown up.

So improved, and yet not altered.

You remember me, then?

My dear young lady, how could I forget you?

Oh! (LAUGHS)

I want to tell Walter's uncle something I'm anxious about.

He's going to be left alone, and if you will allow me,

not to take Walter's place, for that I couldn't do,

but to be his friend and help him if ever I can,

I should be very much obliged to him, indeed.

You will be obliged?

Wally, say a word for me.

I'm very grateful.

No, we must learn to talk together without Walter from now on.

If you'll please to be seated, there's milk and sugar for them that want it.

CAPTAIN CUTTLE: Avast there!

It's Captain Cuttle. Forgive me, Miss Dombey.

Do you think you will be absent for very long, Walter?

I fear so. Mr Dombey signified as much when he appointed me.

Is it a favour, Walter?

- The appointment? - Yes.

I do not think so.

I'm afraid you have scarcely been a favourite with Papa.

There's no reason why I should be.

No reason, Walter?

Between Mr Dombey and me, there is a wide space of separation.

Papa will recover from his grief.

And when he does, I shall tell him how much I wish to see you back again,

and ask him to recall you for my sake.

- Oh! - There she sets. Good morning, little lady,

and fair weather to ye, to all the ladies!

- Good morning, Captain. -(GIGGLES)

What's this? Tea, Walter?

If your uncle's the man I think him,

he'll bring down the last bottle of the Madeira on the present occasion.

Oh, no, Ned, that shall be opened when Walter comes home again.

Well said! Walter, a pafling gift, lad.

Put it back half an hour every morning,

and another quarter towards the afternoon, and it's a watch that will do you credit.

Captain Cuttle, I couldn't think of it. Pray take it back.

I have one already.

Then, Walter, take this trifle of plate instead.

No, I couldn't, indeed. It would be much more use to you than me.

If I must have a parting gift, then, give me your stick.

I often thought I should like to have it.

Well, it's time to go.

Goodbye, Uncle. God bless you.

Captain. Take care of him.

I will, Walter, I will.

- Goodbye, Susan. - Mr Walter.

Goodbye, Miss Dombey.

Florence.

Goodbye, Walter. Perhaps you may come back very soon.

(DOOR CLOSES)

I shall leave tomorrow morning for Leamington

in company with my friend Major Bagstock.

If there are any matters which require my attention, you have my address.

- The Royal Hotel. - That is all, I think.

Except I have changed my mind about young Gay.

Oh? And in what way have you changed it?

I think he should not go to Barbados, after all.

Send one of the others.

It's a pity you didn't say so in good time.

The Son And Heir sailed this morning with young Gay on board.

It's of no consequence.

Take charge of things, Carker.

Do you know where Papa is going, Susan?

Not exactly, Miss.

He's going to visit that precious friend of his first, that Major Bagstock.

And I must say, if I was acquainted with any major myself,

which heaven forbid, it shouldn't be a blue one.

- Hush, Susan. - Well, Miss Floy, I can't help it.

Blue-faced, he is.

And while I was a Christian, although humble,

I would have natural-coloured friends or none.

(FRONT DOOR CLOSES)

There. There's your papa come home.

To shut himself up again in that room of his.

Miss Hey . Where are you going'?

You may go to bed, Susan.

No , Miss Hey.

It ain't no use.

All you'll do is vex him.

FLORENCE: Papa?

What's the matter? Why do you come here? Has something frightened you?

Let me stay with you, Papa.

Stay with me?

What talk is this?

I ask you, Florence, are you frightened?

Is anything the matter that you've come here?

- I came, Papa... - Against my wishes. Why?

You are tired, I daresay, and need rest.

We all need rest.

Go, Florence.

And, Florence?

The whole house, except here, is yours.

You are its mistress now.

Good night.

Oh, Di.

Dear Di.

Love me.

For his sake.

($055)