Original subtitles

(Theme music playing)

(Bell chiming)

Hurry up, lad.

That's good.

Good morning, Mr. Dombey, sir.

- Morning, sir. - Morning, Perch.

(Seagulls cawing)

(Ship creaking)

Morning, Carker.

And how do you do this morning?

Well enough.

Coolish?

Rather.

Have you anything there for me?

Well,

I don't know that I need trouble you.

Has morfin brought the manifest from the warehouse?

Yes, earlier. He was humming musical recollections

and driving me half mad.

You respect no one, I think, Carker.

Not many.

In fact, I wouldn't answer for more than one person.

You have a committee today at 3:00.

And another at 3:00, three-quarters.

If Master Paul inherits your memory,

he will be a troublesome customer in the firm. One of you is enough.

(Knocks)

You have an accurate memory yourself. Come in.

It is the only capital I do have.

Beg pardon, sir.

- What is it? - These are letters for Mr. Dombey.

Go about your business.

And the others?

Oh... of no consequence,

and nothing I cannot deal with on your behalf.

Oh?

And what news of the young gentleman

who is so important to us all?

Very well, very well.

Your memory not being retentive, Perch,

of what you are told, I am obliged to repeat myself.

Did I or did I not request

that all mail coming into this office

should be shown to me first?

Begging your pardon, Mr. Carker, sir.

The lad took 'em off me desk while me back was turned.

He's very green, Mr. Carker--

only 10 days out of school.

He meant to be willing, I'm sure.

It is not likely to occur again, Perch, I hope.

I know how much you value your position in the firm.

(Door closes)

Now, straight to sleep, Miss Floy, like a good little girl.

Isn't he beautiful?

Isn't he a little cupid?

- (Giggles) Yes, you are. - Good night, my pretty.

Let Paul sleep here beside me tonight.

Oh, please do. I'll not wake him.

- Now there, Miss Floy. - Why, my pet?

I'll just touch him with my hand. Please.

The very idea. Now, come on.

What a curious child.

My dear, her mama all over.

Indeed?

I'm afraid Florence will never never be a Dombey,

not if she lives to be 1,000 years old.

(Clock chiming)

I quite fret and worry myself about Florence.

What is to become of the child when she's older?

She has dear Fanny's nature.

She'll never make an effort in later life.

She'll never wind and twine herself around her papa's heart

- like... like... - Like the Ivy.

Like the Ivy, my dear. Quite so.

She will never nestle into the bosom of her papa's affections.

- Oh, my dear. - (Sobs) Never.

No, you must not distress yourself.

Now promise me you'll take a little something warm before you go to bed.

We all have our faults, I daresay,

and I never was blind to hers.

You may keep me in a straitjacket for six weeks,

and when I got it off, i'd only be more aggravated!

Shh! Don't wake the baby, Susan dear.

Whoever heard the like of them two griffins, Mrs. Richards?

"Never be a Dombey, won't she?"

- It's to be hoped she won't. - Softly.

It's all very well for some to keep their tempers, Mrs. Richards,

when their child is made as much of as a prince, and petted and patted,

while a sweet, pretty innocent,

who would never ought to have a cross word spoke to it,

is run down all the time.

My goodness gracious me, Miss Floy!

You naughty, sinful child!

If you don't close your eyes this minute,

I'm going to call in them hobgoblins what live in the loft

to eat you up alive! (Growls)

Thank you.

Your hackney, miss.

- Have you taken his number legibly, Towlinson? - Yes, miss.

- And did you turn the cushion for me? - Yes, miss.

Generally damp, my dear.

Now, he's to drive to the card,

and he will not, on any account, have more than the schilling.

- No, miss. - And...

- Sorry to give you so much trouble, Towlinson. - Not at all, miss.

Mention to the man then, if you would, that my uncle is a magistrate,

and if he gives me any of his impertinence he will be punished...

- Terribly. - Certainly, miss.

Goodbye, my dear.

(Ladies chatting)

Goodbye.

Ah.

I have come to regard Miss Tox, Louisa,

as a woman of great natural good sense.

Oh.

She has exerted herself warmly on Paul's behalf

these past months.

And I really think I must present her

with some little token

on the occasion of the child's christening.

If there are three words in the English language

for which Miss Tox has a respect

amounting almost to veneration,

those words are "Dombey & Son."

Then it does her credit.

There is a way, my dear Paul,

of showing your gratitude

in an even more flattering manner.

And how is that?

I know that godparents are usually very important

with regard to influence and connection, but--

I don't see why they should be to my son.

Oh, very true, my dear Paul, very true.

Paul, my dear Louisa, will make what powerful friends he pleases

in later life when he is actively maintaining

and extending, if that is possible,

the dignity and credit of the house.

Until then, I am enough for him.

Yes, dear.

I have no wish that people

should step in between us, you understand.

However, I have no objections

to Miss Tox becoming Paul's godmother.

Your husband and myself will do well enough for the other sponsors.

(Coughs)

(Coughs)

The beginning, I hope,

of many joyful days to come.

Thank you, Louisa.

I shall never forget this occasion, sir.

I can hardly believe the evidence of my senses.

(Paul crying)

(Coughs)

(Pitcher clatters)

(Coughs)

(Paul crying)

(Mutters)

(Hand organ playing)

Hello, uncle Sol.

Is dinner ready?

I'm so hungry.

Ready and waiting this half hour. (Chuckles)

As to being hungry, I am too.

Come along then.

Forward.

And how have you got on without me all day, uncle?

Be odd if I couldn't get on

without a young dog like you.

No more mugs, Wally.

You drink out of a glass.

From today, you're a man of business, eh?

You belong to the city.

(Chuckles)

Ah!

So, let's hear about the firm.

Not much to be told.

Oh? Mr. Dombey been there?

Only this morning.

- His son is christened today. - (Chuckles)

Didn't take any notice of you?

Yes, he did.

He walked up to my seat and said,

"you're the son of Mr. Gills, the ship's instrument maker."

And I said, "no, sir, his nephew."

And then he said, all solemn and stiff,

"I said 'nephew,' boy," and walked away.

(Laughs) Oh, it's no matter.

Still, he needn't have been so sharp.

I don't think he likes me very much.

Or you mean you don't like him very much, eh?

(Ship horn blowing)

- That's the madeira. - Yes.

That means there's only one bottle left.

Yes, and you shall drink the other bottle

when you come to good fortune--

when you're a thriving, respected,

happy man of the city.

You see, Wally, in truth,

my business is merely a habit with me.

I'm so accustomed to that habit,

I could hardly live if I relinquished it.

(Chuckles) Fetch the glasses.

But there's nothing doing here.

The world's gone past me.

(Ship horn blows)

Sometimes I hardly know where I am myself,

much less where my customers have got to. (Grunts)

Do you know, since you came back from school 10 days ago,

I don't think more than one person's even been into the shop?

- Two. - Two?

- (Chuckles) - There was the man who came to ask for change,

and the woman who came to ask the way to mile-end turnpike.

Oh, yes, i'd forgotten about her.

I'm afraid we can't live on a man who asks for change

and a woman who inquires the way to the mile-end.

My love to you, Wally.

Thank you.

Yes, the world's gone past me.

I don't blame it, but I no longer understand it.

(Chuckles) Yes, tradesmen are not what they used to be.

Apprentices are not the same.

Business is not the same.

Business commodities are not the same. You know what that is?

Well, it's no matter.

7/8ths of my stock's old-fashioned.

I'm an old-fashioned man

in an old-fashioned shop

in a street that's not that I remember. (Chuckles)

Even the noise it makes confuses me.

And yet, people suppose me to be rich.

I wish for your sake they were right.

But whatever I do leave,

with such a firm as Dombey's

you will be able to make the most of it.

So be diligent, my dear boy. Try to like it.

I'll try.

Going to sea is all very well in fiction,

but it won't do in fact.

It's natural enough you should think about it

with all these familiar things around you, but it won't do.

It won't do.

- (Metal clanks) - Captain Cuttle.

Oh, that'll be ned

come to celebrate the end of your first week at work.

Fetch him another glass.

How goes it, Sol?

- Oh, all's well. - (Laughs)

Wal'r, my boy.

(Laughing) Oh!

Ah! (Chuckles)

- The? - The.

Oh-hhh!

Wal'r, lad,

love, honor, and obey.

Overhaul your catechism till you find that passage,

and... when found,

turn the leaf down.

Success, my boy.

Success.

(Coughs)

(Laughs) Give the lad some more, Sol.

- No more, please. - Oh, yes yes yes.

A little more.

Aye.

Oh! Let's drink to the firm.

- Dombey's, ned. - Eh?

Walter's house.

- Mmm. - And it could be his house one of these days.

- Who knows? - (Chuckles)

- Dick Whittington-- - sir Richard Whittington.

He married the master's daughter.

- Mr. Dombey hasn't got a daughter. - Oh.

- He has. - Oh!

I heard some of 'em talking about it in the office.

They do say he's taken a dislike to her,

and she's left unnoticed among the servants.

Of course I don't know. It's only what they say.

Ah.

You see? He knows all about her already.

Oh, uncle, how can I help hearing what they tell me?

To the firm...

Dombey & Son.

Dombey & Son.

And daughter.

(Humming)

(Sighs)

Paul, my dear, we really must go.

You will oblige me by remaining, Louisa,

until I have spoken to Richards.

Be so good as to send for her, then.

I have already done so.

Miss Tox, will you honor me by taking more wine?

Champagne for Miss Tox.

Well, sir, I should drink this last toast,

if you'll allow me, to Master Dombey.

- Thank you, Mr. John. - Bless him.

Dear little Paul.

If my son could appreciate the favor you have done him,

I have no doubt he would express himself obliged to you.

He will prove in time, I trust,

equal to any responsibility

that the obliging disposition of relations and friends may impose upon him.

- Oh, such eloquence! - (Knocks)

Come in, Richards.

During the six months or thereabouts

that have seen you as an inmate of this house, you have done your duty.

Desiring to connect some little service to you

on the occasion of Paul's christening,

I considered how I could best effect that object.

I advised with my sister, Mrs.--

- chick. - Shh! If you please.

I was about to say to you, Richards,

that I was further assisted in my decision

by the recollection of a conversation I held with your husband

on the occasion of your being hired

when he disclosed to me the melancholy fact

that your family was sunk

and steeped in ignorance.

I am far from being friendly to what is known as...

General education,

though it is necessary, I suppose,

that the inferior classes should continue to be taught to know their position

and to conduct themselves properly.

There is an ancient institution, Richards,

known from a worshipful company

as the Charitable Grinders.

Not only is a wholesome education

bestowed upon the scholars at this place,

but dress and badge

are likewise provided for them.

I have nominated your eldest son to an existing vacancy.

The number of your son, I believe,

is 147.

Like a blessed hackney coach.

Mrs. Chick has already communicated with your family.

Louisa: His uniform is blue baize tailed coat and cap

turned up with orange-colored binding,

red worsted stockings, and very strong leather smallclothes.

There, Richards. The charitable grinders, no less.

One might almost wear these articles oneself and be grateful.

Indeed, you may be proud.

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

Take it very kind that you should remember my little ones.

Very well. That is all.

I'm really glad to see that she has so much feeling.

It makes one almost hope, it really does,

that there still remains a faint spark

of gratitude and right feeling in the world.

Poor Robin. (Sobbing) He has such very small legs.

I know he won't look right in that blessed uniform.

Oh, Susan, I don't know what I wouldn't give

to see the little dear before he goes to school.

You can see him, Mrs. Richards.

Put your mind at rest.

I'm afraid Mr. Dombey wouldn't like it.

Mr. Dombey doesn't have to know.

Not ask him?

Me and Miss Floy will go along with you.

Might as well walk there as up and down the street.

Oh, I don't think so, Susan.

Them two inspectors, Tox and chick,

they ain't intending to be on duty tomorrow.

We'll go in the morning, Mrs. Richards.

(Chattering)

- (Water splashes) - Oh!

Now look what's done!

Oh, blimey!

(Train screeches)

Why, it's Polly.

Polly?

Poll?

I do declare!

It's Jemima!

It's my sister, Susan,

with my own sweet precious babe.

Oh, defy.

What a turn you have given me. Oh, poll!

Susan, this is

my sister Jemima this is.

I don't know whatever I should do with myself

if it weren't for Susan Nipper.

I shouldn't be here now but for her.

You come along home to Staggs's gardens, Miss Nipper.

Rest your legs a little.

Oh, I never was so glad to see anyone in all me life.

The children will go half wild to see you.

That they will.

Well, I declare!

It's a poorer place than you're used to, Miss Nipper,

but you'll make allowance, I'm sure.

Do be careful, Miss Floy.

We don't want any more dirt on that dress.

Come and sit down, Miss Nipper.

They'll be all right.

Untie your bonnet strings,

and make yourself comfortable.

- Have some shrimp, Susan. - Yeah.

Oh, Jemima, I do wish he were here.

I came all this way to see him in his new clothes.

I never thought he'd be going to school already.

Well, for the first time yesterday,

for fear he should lose any learning.

Hey, but it's half holiday today, poll.

If you could only stop till he come home.

Well, you and Miss Nipper.

How does he look, bless him?

He don't look so bad.

I knew his legs was too short.

His legs is short, especially behind,

but father says they're getting longer every day.

It's getting near Mr. Toodle's dinnertime.

Oh, poll, what a shame.

He took his dinner with him. He won't be home till night.

He's always talking of you, dear,

telling the children all about you.

He's the peaceablest, patientest,

best-temperedest soul in all the world.

I tell you what, poll, if you was to go down

round city road on your way back,

you'd be sure to meet the boy coming home from school.

Oh... oh, Susan, do you think

we might make time to go a little round in that direction?

I think we might.

Get off or I'll bash ya!

- (Stick clatters) - Grab his cap!

(Chatting)

(Boys shouting)

- Boy: Get off! - Come away, Mrs. Richards.

I'm certain it were Rob, Susan.

- I can see him! - We'll go back across the city road bridge.

Keep hold of baby.

- Where is she going? - Never you mind.

Come along, Miss Floy.

(Boys shouting)

Get off him! Go on!

- Leave off! - Get out!

(Shrieks)

Miss Floy.

Miss Floy? Miss Floy!

They took her, Mrs. Richards!

They took Miss Floy!

(Theme music playing)