Original subtitles

BOY: Floy! Wait for me!

(THEME TUNE MASKS DIALOGUE)

(STEAM HISSING IN BACKGROUND)

Mr Dombey, sir, Joey B is not in general a man of sentiment,

for Joseph, he's tough. Ha-ha!

But er, he has his feelings and when they are awakened...

...damme, Dombey, I'm glad to see you.

I'm proud to see you

and there's not many men in Europe to whom J Bagstock would say that.

For Josh is blunt, sir, it's his nature.

But er, Joey B is proud to see you, Dombey.

Major, you are very obliging.

No, sir, Devil a bit. That's not my character.

No, if that had been Joe's character,

then old Joe might have been by now Lieutenant General

Sir Joseph Bagsmck KGB.

Damme, who are you?

Beg your pardon, sir, but I hope you're doing pretty well, sir.

Impertinence!

Excuse the liberty, sir, but you remember my wife, Polly?

- Hm? - As was called Richards in your family.

Oh, yes. I remember you. Your wife wants money, I suppose.

Oh, no, thankee, sir. I can't say she does.

I don't. No, sir!

We're doing pretty well now.

All of us excepting...

Beg pardon, sir, but you recall my son, the Biler,

christened Rob?

Him as you were so good as to make a Charitable Grinder.

Well, man, what about him?

Well, sir, I'm forced to say, sir, he's gone wrong.

BAG-STOCK: Ah... - Your son has gone wrong, has he?

He's fell into bad company, you see, gentlemen.

Polly's dreadful down about it.

The son of this man, Major, whom I caused to be educated.

- The usual return. - Ah.

If you'll pardon me, sir, I must go now.

I have the honour of stoking you down.

My best respects, Mr Dombey, sir.

So, his boy has gone wrong.

Take advice from plain old Joe, sir.

Never educate that son of people. It always fails.

-Indeed. - Oh, trust J Bagstock, sir. He knows.

And now, Dombey, as you have invited Joe...

...old Joe, who has no other merits but that he is tough and hearty...

(CHUCKLES) ..to be your guest and guide at Leamington,

commanding me whatever way you please, and he is wholly yours.

Again, Major, I'm obliged to you.

So your poor boy is no more?

Ohh... (GRUNTS)

Under such grievous circumstances,

Joey B is the man for you to choose as a friend.

As you say, Major, my boy is no more.

Come, sir, don't be thoughtful. It's a bad habit.

Old Joe wouldn't be as tough as you see him

if he had ever encouraged it.

You're too great a man, Dombey, ever to be thoughtful.

In your position, you're far above that kind of thing.

-(\NHISTLE BLOWS) - Ah, we're off!

(CHUCKLES)

Ah. There you go. Don't think, Dombey, forget.

That's the thing. Forget. Oh! Oh, steady!

(ENGINE PUFFING)

Why, what the devil have we here, sir?

My dearest Edith, Major Bagstock!

Withers!

Joe Bagstock is a proud and happy man for the rest of his life.

You false creature!

Where do you come from? I can't bear you.

Then suffer old Joe, ma'am, to present a friend

as a reason for being tolerated.

Mr Dombey, Mrs Skewton.

Mr Dombey, Mrs Granger.

Mrs Skewton, Dombey, plays havoc in the head of old Joe.

I'm...sure I'm not surprised.

You perfidious goblin, have done!

How long have you been here, bad man?

- One day. - And where are you staying, abomination?

Dombey and I are staying at the Royal Hotel.

My friend Dombey, ma'am, he's a man who is paramount

in the greatest city of the universe.

No-one can be a stranger to Mr Dombey's immense influence.

You reside here, Mrs Granger?

No, we've been to a great many places.

To Harrogate, to Scarborough and into Devonshire.

Mama likes change.

Edith, of course, does not.

No, madam?

I have not found that there is any change in such places.

Nor do I, madam.

Indeed, Mr Dombey, you may come and see us

any evening when you are good.

If Mr Dombey would honour us, we shall be happy.

Withers, go on.

I tell you, sir, if Joey B were a younger man,

there's not a woman in the world whom he'd prefer for Mrs Bagstock to that woman.

By George, she's superb.

You mean the daughter?

Well, is Joey B a turnip that he should mean the mother?

You were complimentary to the mother.

An ancient flame, sir. (CHUCKLES)

Devilish ancient. I humour her.

- The daughter is married. - A widow, sir.

She's not yet quite 30, and damme, but she's a peerless woman.

But proud, sir. Proud!

(BELL RINGS)

(DOOR OPENS)

Why do you answer?

The messenger is out and I am the next.

You are the next? Yes, creditable to me.

There.

I er.

I'm sorry to trouble you, James, but um...

Oh, you have something to say.

- Well? - I am uneasy about Harriet.

Harriet who?

What Harriet? I know nobody of that name.

She is not well, James. And she has changed very much of late.

She changed very much many years ago

when she made her choice between her two brothers.

She may repent it, but she must abide by it.

She does not repent it, James.

Although I am as sorry for her choice as you are.

As I am? As I?

As sorry for her choice as you are angry at it.

AngfV?

When I fell into disgrace here and she tried to plead for me with you,

she was little more than a girl.

Oh, perhaps she was foolish to choose to devote herself to me

but it was a long time ago, James.

If only you would agree to see Harriet.

See her? But there is no such person.

I know no Harriet Carker.

You may have a sister, brother John. Make much of her.

- I have none. - James, if you...

Carry those papers away, if you please. I am busy.

- Let me go! - Come along with you, boy.

You asked to see Mr Carker. Well, see him and serve you right.

- What is this, Mr Perch? - This boy.

He's been hanging around the place all week.

Whistling down to the sparrows in the court and making them answer him.

- He says... - One moment.

I think you have work to do.

Well? And what does he say?

He says that his mother was nurse to Mr Dombey's late son

and will we give him a chance on that account.

A chance, eh? So he wants a chance.

I brought him to you, Mr Carker,

in case you wanted to put him into custody as a nuisance.

Just so. Leave him with me, Mr Perch.

Yes, sir.

Oh, and Mr Gills, the ships' instrument maker,

has looked in on the matter of payment.

So you want a chance, do you?

- Let me alone! - You dog, I'll strangle you.

I haven't done anything to you, sir!

You scoundrel, what do you mean by daring to come here?

I didn't mean no harm, sir. I'll never come again, sir!

- I only wanted work. - Work? You?

Ain't you the laziest scoundrel in London?

- Me, sir? - Ain't you a thief?

- No, sir! - You are!

- I never did such thing as thieve, sir. - Ha!

I know I've gone wrong, sir, ever since I took to bird-catching.

I'm sure a cove might think that singing birds was innocent company.

Nobody knows what harm is in 'em, what they brings down to you.

I ain't been home 20 times since them birds got their will of me,

and that's ten months, sir!

Don't you have a parent to whip you?

If you please, sir, he's on the train as a stoker,

so he ain't home much, neither.

A nice young gentleman.

There's hemp seed sown for you, my fine fellow.

My misfortune all began in wagging, sir.

- In what? - Wagging, sir.

Wagging from school.

Does that mean pretending to go there and not going?

Yes, sir. That's wagging. I was in them Charitable Grinders.

I was chiwied through the streets when I went there

and pounded when I got there.

So I wagged and hid myself and that began it.

- And now you want a place, do you? - I should be thankful to be tried, sir.

Stand there.

- Mr Gills. - Yes?

Mr Gills, will you step in, if you please?

- Sit down, Mr Gills. - Thank you, sir.

You continue to enjoy your health, I hope.

Nothing ails me in body but old age.

I've come to make a payment on the loan that Mr Dombey arranged for me. 25, sir.

You are as punctual and exact as one of your own chronometers, Mr Gills.

Quite right.

Sir, the Son And Heir, the ship my boy Wally sailed on,

she has not been spoken yet?

The Son And Heir has not been spoken yet.

There seems to have been tempestuous weather

and she has probably been driven off her course.

- She's safe, I trust in Heaven? - As I do, Mr Gills.

As I do.

Mr Gills, you must miss your nephew very much.

I do, sir.

It would be company to you to have a young fellow in your shop

and it would be obliging me if you would give one house-room for the present.

That's the lad.

There's not much business doing there,

but you can make him clean the place out, polish up the instruments.

Drudge, Mr Gills. Will you give him house-room?

I'm sure I shall be glad to oblige the house of Dombey in any way I can, sir.

- I'll send him round tomorrow morning. - The lad would be welcome, sir...

Take care you look sharply after him and report his behaviour to me.

- Sir... - Goodbye, Mr Gills. Much obliged to you.

Now you, boy. What is your name?

Toodle, sir. Rob Toodle.

Rob the Biler, they calls me.

If you ever deceive me or play tricks on me,

you had better have drowned yourself before you came here.

Now, I have a great interest in that old gentleman

and in sewing him you serve me. Do you understand?

- Yes, sir! - I want to know everything about him.

I want to know how he goes on from day to day.

I want especially to know who comes to see him.

There is a young lady who may visit him.

I want particularly to know everything about her.

- I'll take care, sir. - And take care.

Take care you talk about affairs of mine to nobody but me.

Nobody in the world, sir!

Neither there nor anywhere else.

And remember, the young lady.

I want to know all about her.

Better late than never, Miss Floy.

And I do say that even a visit to them old Skettleses will be a godsend.

Susan! It's good of Sir Barnet and Lady Skettles

to repeat their invitation so kindly.

And yet...l am not anxious to go to them.

Least of all in vacation time when there are young people staying with them.

- You ain't refusing, Miss Floy? - No.

However I may feel, it will be right to go.

- I have said yes. - Praise be for that.

It ain't good for you to sit alone in this house. You ought to go out more and...

-(DOORBELL JANGLES) - Susan.

That may be Mr Perch come with letters. There may be one from Papa.

For you, miss? Well, I'll go and see.

- Sir. - Hm?

Huh? Good morning.

Good morning, sir.

For Mr Dombey. For Miss Dombey.

Oh, I erm...l beg your pardon. ls the young woman at home?

- The young woman, sir? - Miss Nipper.

Oh. Oh, I see she is.

Oh, yes, sir.

(SHE LAUGHS)

- How do you do? - I'm well, thank you, Mr Toots.

H... How is...Diogenes going on?

Oh. Miss Floy is fonder of him every day.

Miss Florence is quite well, sir.

Oh? It's of no consequence.

Perhaps you'd like to walk into the drawing room, sir.

I think perhaps I will come in.

I say, Miss Nipper...

Yes?

(HE GIGGLES)

Oh! Go along with you! I'll tear your eyes out!

(GIGGLES) Just another?

Go along with you! Innocents like you, too!

- Who'll begin next? Go along, sir! -(DOG BARKING)

-(SHE LAUGHS) -om om

-(BARKING CONTINUES) - No, Diogenes, no!

-(LAUGHING) - It's of no consequence!

The day's letters, miss.

Well, Susan? ls there a letter from Papa?

No, miss.

Oh, that Perch. That wet curl of a man.

If I hadn't more manliness than him, I'd never take pride in my hair again

but turn it up behind my ears

and wear coarse caps without a bit of a border

until death released me from my insignificance.

I may not be an Amazon, Miss Floy,

and wouldn't so demean myself by such disfigurements,

but I'm not a giver-up, I hope.

Why? What does Mr Perch give up?

Nothing, miss.

Oh, he puts me out of patience, that's all.

But though I can bear a great deal, I am not a camel.

Neither am I a dromedary, neither.

What did Mr Perch say to you?

As if I wouldn't tell you anything and everything.

Is there news of Walter?

Susan, tell me, please.

Oh, dear , Miss Hey.

I didn't want to worry you, but...he told me yesterday

there begins to be general talk about the ship

and that they'd never had a ship on that voyage half so long unheard of.

- Susan... - But pay no heed.

What does a feeble creature such as that know of anything?

We must go and visit Walter's uncle.

We must go there now. Directly.

You can tell me to be of good head, Ned,

but whenever I'm alone, my thoughts keep turning to storms and shipwrecks. I'm...

-(URGENT KNOCKING) - Belay. There's somebody coming aboard.

-(KNOCKING CONTINUES) -(BABY CRYING)

- Well, miss? - I beg your pardon, ma'am,

-but is this Captain Cuttle's house? - No.

- Not No.9? - Who said it wasn't No.9?

What do you mean by that, ma'am?

And I beg to enquire if you know who you're talking to!

Hush, Susan. Perhaps you can have the goodness

to tell us where Captain Cuttle lives, if he don't live here?

Who says he don't live here? I said it wasn't his house.

And it ain't his house. And God forbid it ever should be his house!

Cos he don't deserve to have a house!

It's my house and when I let the upper floor to Captain Cuttle,

oh, I do a thankless thing!

And cast pearls before swine!

CUTTLE: Steady below!

(MOCKING LAUGHTER) Since you want Captain Cuttle, there he is now.

(SHE TUTS)

(SIGHS)

- Captain Cuttle? - Shh!

You're amazed to see us, I'm sure.

Stand by. Stand by.

-(LAUGHS) - Mr Gills,

we called at your shop and the boy there told us you'd come here.

A boy. Afine boy. Mrs Richards' eldest and the worrit of her life.

I couldn't rest without coming to ask what you think of Walter.

-Is there some news of him? - No news. Nothing.

Head's delight. I, for one, am not afeared.

There's been uncommon bad weather in them latitudes, there's no denying,

but the ship's a good ship and the lad's a good lad

and it ain't easy, thank the Lord, to break up heads of oak -

whether they be brigs or bosoms.

- No, I ain't afeared a bit as yet. - As yet?

And afore I begin to be, Walter will have wrote home from some pod or another

and made everything taut and shipshape.

And you be of good cheer, Sol Gills.

After I've returned the ladies to their home,

I'll come back here and take you in tow for the rest of this blessed day.

You'll stay here along with me and have your dinner.

- Come, my head's delight. - Not today, Ned.

- Not today. - Why not?

I've so much to do, to think of. To arrange.

- Well, tomorrow, then. - Eh?

Come tomorrow!

Aye, tomorrow!

Think of me tomorrow. Say tomorrow.

Ahoy!

What's his hurry?

(SIGHS HAPPILY) Why are we not more natural?

- Hm? - With all those yearnings and gushings

and impulsive throbbings that are implanted in our heads.

And which are so very charming.

Why are we not more natural? (CHUCKLES)

Oh, we couldn't afford it, ma'am.

Unless the world was peopled with JBs - rough and tough old Joes, ma'am -

it wouldn't do.

Oh, you naughty infidel, be mute!

Diamonds.

Cleopatra commands and her Antony Bagstock obeys.

-(CHUCKLES) - Clubs.

(GROANS) The man has no sensitiveness.

There's not much company here, it would seem.

- I believe not. We see none. - Well, really!

There are no people here just now with whom we would care to associate?

-40. - They are not natural enough.

(GIGGLES) My dearest Edith rallies me, you see.

Wicked one.

You have been here before, if I am not mistaken.

Several times. I think we have been everywhere.

BAG-STOCK: 31. SKEVVTON: And what sequence, Major?

- A run of six, I'm afraid, ma'am. - Oh, I am desolate.

Are these yours?

Yes.

They are excellent.

- And do you play? - Yes.

- And sing? - Yes.

You have many resources against weariness.

Whatever their efficiency may be, you know them all now.

- I have no more. - May I hope to prove them all?

Most certainly. If you desire it.

Oh! We are going to have some music, Mr Dombey, I hope?

Mrs Granger has been kind enough to promise so.

How nice!

Do You Propose. Major?

Oh, no, ma'am. Couldn't do it.

Oh. You're a barbarous being, and my hand's destroyed.

- You're fond of music, Mr Dombey? -(HARP BEING PLUCKED)

- Eminently so. - Yes, it is very nice.

There is so much head to it.

Shall we marry him to Edith Granger, ma'am?

- Major! - Shall we?

Mysterious creature. How can we marry them?

Dombey, ma'am, he's a great catch.

Oh, Major, you shock me.

And Dombey, ma'am, is in earnest.

Joseph says it, Bagstock knows it.

JB keeps him to the mark. (CHUCKLES)

- Dear Major... - Leave Dombey to himself, ma'am.

Dombey is safe. Do as you have done, do no more and trust to JB for the end.

Do you really think so, my dear Major?

I know it, ma'am. Cleopatra the peerless and her Antony Bagstock

will often speak of this triumphantly

while sharing the wealth and elegance of Edith Dombey's establishment.

Trust to JB, ma'am.