Original subtitles

BOY: Floy! Wait for me!

(THEME TUNE MASKS DIALOGUE)

- Towlinson. Mother. - Great to see you!

- Towlinson. - Sir.

(SHE CHUCKLES)

My dear Mr Dombey!

Trust you are well, madam?

- Oh, Edith... - How are you, Mother?

Thank you.

(MUTED CONVERSATION)

- How do you do, Florence? - I'm pleased to see you, Papa.

- Florence! - Mama, welcome!

- Welcome a thousand times! - Thank you.

- Did you have a good journey? - Yes, a good crossing, Florence.

And how, my dear Dombey, did you find that delightfulest of cities - Paris?

-It was cold. - Gay as ever, of course?

No, not particularly. I thought it dull.

(CHUCKLES) Why, my dearest Dombey, dull?

It made that impression upon me, madam.

I believe Mrs Dombey found it dull also.

She mentioned once or twice that she found it so.

Why, you naughty girl!

What dreadfully heretical things have you been saying about Paris?

- Do you like the decorations, Mama? - Yes. Florence, I've been...

Mrs Dombey, you will not be long dressing, I presume?

- I shall be ready immediately. - We'll have dinner in a quarter of an hour.

Will you have a glass of Madeira, Mr Dombey?

DOMBEY: Thank you.

Florence...you may stay, if you wish to.

This is not my private room.

Or you may go, if you have a mind to.

- Thank you. - How charmingly these people

have carried out our every idea and hint!

They have made a positive palace out of the place, positively!

I directed that no expense should be spared.

Everything that money could do has been done, I believe.

- And what can it not do, dear Dombey? -It is powerful, madam.

- You here, Florence? -If I disturb you, I...

How would you disturb me? Thank you, Flowers.

- Thank you. - Stay and talk to me until it's time for dinner.

- Tell me what you've been doing. - Doing, Mama?

Well, since your papa and I went to Paris.

I... Oh, Mama, I've had a great sorrow since that day!

- You, a great sorrow? - Yes. Poor Walter is drowned.

- Walter? - I had known him a long time.

Since a little child. I was fond of him.

He knew my brother Paul!

Almost at the last, Paul said, "Take care of Walter, Papa."

And did he? Did he take care of him?

Well, Florence?

He appointed Walter to go abroad.

He was drowned of shipwreck on the voyage.

- Does your papa know that he is dead? - I cannot tell.

I have no way of knowing.

Mama, you have seen that I am not a favourite child. I never have been.

I have never known how to be.

Will you let me learn from you how to become dearer to Papa? Will you?

- You...learn from me? - If you will let me.

Heaven forbid that I should teach you how to love or be loved.

If you could teach me, that were better... but it's too late.

Listen to me, Florence.

I will be your friend always.

I will treasure you as much as anyone in this world could.

But never seek to find in me what is not there.

And when you come to know me as I am, be lenient.

(GONG RESONATES)

So, Mr Dombey has returned from his honeymoon.

Is that why you go to the office so early, John?

No, Harriet. We had news that young Walter Gay has perished on his way to Barbados.

- Walter Gay? - Yes, I mentioned him to you often.

- The boy who was kind to me? - Yes, I remember.

They say his uncle has gone away, no one knows where,

but I thought I'd look into the shop, just in case he may have returned.

In which case, he will be in need of words of comfort

I er... I shall be back at the usual time, Harriet.

- Goodbye, John. - Goodbye.

Oh... John!

- John! - Mm? What?

Oh! Thank you.

Wait, whoever you are.

If you're in need of shelter, there is little enough of it out here.

You are welcome to come in and rest. Won't you come in for a time?

- Your foot is torn! - What of it?

What's a torn foot to such as me?

- Do you wish for food? - Aye! If you've a mind to feed me.

I know what you're thinking! "She must have been handsome once." Is that it?

I believe I was. I know I was!

Look... Look here! Eh?

- Are you a stranger in this place? - Ten or a dozen years a stranger.

- I've had no almanac where I've been! - Have you been far?

Months upon months over the sea and far away, even then.

I've been where convicts go. I have been one myself!

(CHUCKLES WILDLY) We may be about the same age, you and me.

If I am older, it's not above a year or two. Think of that!

Where are you going?

- To London. - Have you a home there?

I have a mother. At least, she's as much a mother as her dwelling is a home.

(HOOFBEATS)

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

Who's there?

- Who's there? - One who brings you news.

- Where from? - From beyond seas!

Is it news about her? About my Alice, my handsome daughter?

- They... They've been the death of her? - They've not been the death of her yet.

If your name is Marvvood, look! Have I so changed?

Alice! Oh! It's my gal!

My handsome daughter living and come back!

- Oh, Alice! - Yes, Mother, I've come back.

- Now let me go. - Oh, Alice...

Don't hold on. Let me go, I say. What good does this do?

She's come back harder than she went.

She don't care for me...

after all these years and the wretched life I've lived!

They've been years for me, as well as you, and wretchedness also!

Of course I've come back harder! What else did you expect?

Did you think a foreign life like mine was good for good looks?

-(CLATTER) - You're very poor, I see.

- Bitter poor. - How have you lived?

- By begging and... - And pilfering.

Sometimes, Ally. Not often.

(CHUCKLES) I've tramped around the country, pet,

and I know what I know...and I've watched.

- Watched? - I've hung about a family.

- Oh, what family? - Now, don't be angry with me!

I did it in memory of my poor girl beyond the seas.

Listen... Listen, Ally.

Years ago, I came across a little child by chance.

- I brought her here, took her clothes... - Child? Whose child?

Oh, no, no, Ally, not his! How could it be?

- You know he has none. - Whose, then?

The child of the man he works for.

Mr Dombey.

I've seen them often, that family. (CHUCKLES BITTERLY)

- And I've seen him! - Yes?

Face to face!

I offered to tell his fortune but he sent me away!

(CHUCKLES) I laughed...

then I cursed him, body and soul!

(SCOFFS) He'll thrive, in spite of that!

- He is thriving. - Is he married?

No, Alice, but his master and friend is married.

Ho, ho, ho! We may give them joy.

We may give them all joy! (CHUCKLES)

- What of him? - Oh, I know all about him.

And I know of his brother, John,

who might have been where you've been for stealing money,

and who lives with his sister

on the north road out of London.

- Where? - Near the noflh road, deary!

Oh, the house isn't much to boast about, genteel as his own is.

Tomorrow, if it's fine, I'll show you.

It's by the milestone, where the stones are heaped.

That red house standing by itself? And the sister's a fair-faced woman with brown hair?

- That's right. - I see the shadow of him in her face!

She gave me money. 18 pence!

Alice, where are you going?

Oh, no! Oh, don't!

Don't give the money back to him, my darling! We can't afford it!

Money is money, whoever gives it.

(\NAILS) Alice!

(DOOR SLAMS)

-ls your name Carker? - Yes.

Then I want your sister, the woman who gave me money today!

- Do you remember me? - Yes.

Atorn foot led me to take shelter in this house today.

You were kind to me.

I spit on that kindness!

(SPITS) And upon your charity!

-(COINS CLATTER ON FLOOR) - Harriet, who is this woman?

Ask your brother who I am. Ask James Carker!

No, wait! Come back!

(RETREATING FOOTSTEPS THUD)

(BUZZ OF CONVERSATION)

Mrs Dombey and I were most pleased to see you.

How unfortunate it is that you must leave so early. Ah! Here is Mrs Dombey now.

Edith, several of our friends are leaving.

Good bye.

Good night.

(CHATTER)

Mr Hansbury, how very good of you to have honoured us.

Mrs Dombey and I look forward to your fuflher acquaintance.

Upon my life, it's not worth repeating! It's merely an anecdote of Jack Adams,

a little man with a cast in his eye and a slight impediment in his speech.

- He sat for somebody's borough. - Always wore hessian boots.

Exactly. Well, no doubt you've heard the story.

I shall know when I've heard Your Lordship tell it.

Well, the fact is, Jack was invited down to a marriage in Berkshire.

- Shropshire. - Oh...was it?

Oh. Oh, well. It was the marriage of an uncommonly fine young girl

with a man for whom she didn't care a button

but whom she...accepted on account of his property, which was immense.

Well, when Jack returned to town,

a man he knew, meeting him in the House of Commons, says,

-"Well, how are the ill-matched couple?" -(CLEARS THROAT)

"Ill-matched?" says Jack. "Not at all! It's a perfectly free and equal transaction.

Sh-sh-she is regularly bought

and you may take your oath, he is as regularly sold!" (LAUGHS)

(CONTINUES TO LAUGH, THEN PAUSES ABRUPTLY)

(STONY SILENCE)

- Very good. It's very good. - Yes, isn't it?

Oh, by Jove, Dombey, look at the hour. I must be off.

A charming dinner, my dear fellow. Deeply grateful.

Pray, don't see me to the door.

Er...Cousin Edith, a splendid evening. Most enjoyable!

Excellent dinner, excellent wine...

My dear aunt...

My dear Mrs Dombey, enchanting evening.

What a damned faux pas! (CHUCKLES AWK\NARDLY)

I say, this makes an even better story than the one about Jack Adams!

(GUESTS LAUGH)

(LAUGHTER CONTINUES)

I, too, must take my leave.

I trust that the fatigues of this delightful evening

will not inconvenience Mrs Dombey tomorrow.

Mrs Dombey has sufficiently spared herself fatigue

to relieve you from any anxiety of that kind.

I am sorry, madam, that you should not have considered it your duty

to have received my friends with a little more...deference!

Some of those whom you have slighted in so marked a manner

confer a distinction upon you, Mrs Dombey, in any visit they pay you!

- Do you know there is someone here? - Mr Carker possesses my confidence.

He does not possess mine!

I must entreat... I must beg to be released.

Slight and unimportant as this difference is...

Our excellent friend Mr Carker speaks truly.

Any difference between you two,

with the excessively charming bond of feeling that there is between you,

must be slight and unimportant.

You are a witness, Carker, that I have pointed out to Mrs Dombey

what I object to in her conduct thus early in our married life

and which I request may be corrected.

Carker, good night to you.

Mrs Skewton, ma'am.

Edith!

I think I'm a little nervous this morning, Flowers. My hand quite shakes.

You were the life of the party last night, ma'am, you know,

and you'll suffer for it today.

-(KNOCK AT DOOR) - Come in.

-Is the carriage waiting? - Yes, ma'am.

- Come along, then, Florence. - Beg pardon, ma'am,

-but a gentleman sends his card. - I'm going out. Tell him so.

My dear love, how very odd to send that message without first seeing the name.

Let me see it, Towlinson. Thank you.

Dear me, my love! Mr Carker.

That very sensible person!

Tell him that Mrs Dombey is going out.

Ma'am, Mr Carker sends his respectful compliments

and begs you would spare him a minute, if you could, for business, ma'am.

Really, my love, if you'll allow me to offer a word, I do recommend...

- Show him in here, Towlinson. - Yes, ma'am.

- In here? - As he comes at your recommendation,

let him come here, to your room.

Mama, may I... Shall I go?

Will you wait for us in the carriage? I do not think Mr Carker will detain us unduly.

Miss Dombey.

I have presumed to solicit an interview

and have ventured to refer to it as one of business because...

Perhaps you were charged by Mr Dombey with some message of reproof.

You possess his confidence in such an unusual degree, it would not surprise me.

I have no message to the lady who sheds a lustre upon his name.

In that case, your business, sir.

Edith, my pet, Mr Carker is standing!

Oh, Mr Carker, take a seat, I beg you.

May I be allowed to address what I have to say to you alone, ma'am?

To be sure, Mr Carker! I shall retire, seeing as it is a matter of delicacy.

Flowers, help me.

-(GIGGLES COQUETTISHLY) Mr Carker... - Ma'am.

- Well, sir? - What I have to say concerns Miss Dombey.

Concerns Florence?

Miss Florence's position has been an unfortunate one.

As one who is devoted to Mr Dombey,

may I say - without of fence to your tenderness as a wife -

that Miss Florence has unhappily been neglected by her father?

- May I say by her father? - I know it.

You know it. Ah! It removes a mountain from my breast.

Miss Florence has been left to the care of servants and mercenary people.

For want of guidance and good example,

she has been indiscreet and forgotten her station.

There was some folly about one Walter,

a common lad who is, fortunately, dead now...

...and some very undesirable association, I regret to say,

with a retired sailor of anything but good repute and a runaway old bankrupt.

I have heard the circumstances, Mr Carker, and I know that you pervert them.

Pardon me, but I believe that nobody knows them so well as I.

I think that you are greatly interested in Miss Florence.

- I am. - But of course you are!

Everything connected with Mr Dombey must be dear to you.

As I have said, Miss Florence has been indiscreet in her choice of companions.

If her father knew this, he might take certain measures.

He might even send her away from here.

- I think not. - He is already ill-disposed towards her.

And you would tell him?

I am his servant, ma'am. It is a question of loyalty, of duty.

Then why do you come to me?

If you were to request me to do so, I would be silent.

- If I were to request you? - For Miss Florence's sake.

You are very obliging, Mr Carker.

I believe that, when two persons are married,

they share one head and one mind.

To convey information to one is to convey it to both.

Naturally, in this case, I would select you as the recipient.

Or would you prefer that I should seek an audience with Mr Dombey?

I do not think that will be necessary.

Then my conscience is acquitted. Good.

- We...have an understanding? - If you think so.

And I may take it that my confidence is accepted...

...and that I am relieved from my responsibility?

The matter is at an end, sir. It goes no farther.

I am much obliged, ma'am...

...and delighted that we are on terms of agreement, at last.

Do I continue to remind you of someone, Mr Carker?

The person is far away and perhaps no longer living.

Her name was Marvvood - Alice Marvvood.

(DOOR OPENS)

If you please, ma'am... I beg your pardon, but I can't do nothing with the Missis.

- What do you mean? - Well, ma'am, I hardly know.

She's making faces.

Mother? Mother! What is wrong?

Why do you stare so? Why don't you speak to me?

I fear the poor lady is paralysed.

I should be honoured if you would allow me to fetch a doctor.

Oh, help me, Flowers.

- Onto the bed, Flowers. -(CROAKS FAINTLY)

Spare a few pence, fine gentleman. Afew pence to buy supper.

I've nothing for you. Be off with you!

There! That was 'im, deary! Did you see?

Yes. He's the same. Only I've changed.

He won't be the same when I've done with him.

Come away, Mother. No good looking at his horse. Come away.