Little Lord Fauntleroy (2003) - full transcript
With the support of Cinema Department
of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian
Federation
Stanislav Govorukhin
Alexei Vesyolkin
Olga Budina as Nora
in the film
THE JOYS AND SORROWS OF A LITTLE LORD
based on Frances Hodgson Burnett's
novel "Little Lord Fauntleroy"
General Producers lgor Tolstunov,
Alexander Atanesyan
Producer Mikhail Zilberman
Written by Galina Arbuzova,
Vladimir Zheleznikov
with participation of Ivan Popov
Directed by Ivan Popov
Director of Photography Alexander Antipenko
Production Designers Konstantin Zagorsky,
Yevgeny Kachanov
Music by Vadim Bibergan
Costume Designer Regina Khomskaya
Make-up Designer Galina Korolyova
Sound Directors Yekaterina Popova-Evans,
Arkady Molotkov
Executive Producers Ludmila Zakharova,
Katerina Ulrikhova
This is my last word, Cedric.
Come to your senses!
I'm a grown-up man.
I've made up my mind.
Father!
You have no father any more!
Look, James, can we manage
to find Charles?
I think it wouldn't be difficult, sir.
He usually spends his time
at the guest house.
I came to say goodbye.
Friends! Friends,
I propose a toast to my brother
who is leaving for America.
Where he's going...
to marry an American girl.
- A very pretty American girl.
- Stop clowning.
But when our most kind father...
got news of that American commoner,
he went wild and had my brother cut
off from the family forever.
Now, now, Ceddie.
Come on, forgive your brother.
- You're drunk, Charles.
- Yes, I'm drunk!
But what difference does
that make?
Hey, old chap!
Take a photographic picture
of me and my brother.
Whenever I feel blue, Ceddie,
I'll look at it and remember
what a brother I had,
what an idiot!
Minna, do you know what I'd like
more than anything else in the world?
To be photographed with you!
Attention!
Seven years later...
I'm glad we found that old photo
to give to the artist.
On it he looks much better
than he did in recent years.
Poor Sir Charles
and his weakness for alcohol...
To die at such a young age!
Dougal, come back!
James, pay the artist.
Everyone may go.
Excuse me, your lordship.
Lady Lorridaile!
I'm sorry, brother,
to have come without notice.
What do you want?
What a fine portrait!
He should have been painted
on the horse,
from which this drunkard fell
and broke his neck.
To lose both sons and still
exude so much venom!
Do you have anything human
in you?
Even when Ceddie died, you didn't
say a single good word about him.
Go on, remind me again how he
saved his crew in the ice,
how he had never left
the bridge.
The poor boy is resting
on the bottom of the sea.
The poor boy married
an American!
Tell me, what did you come for?
Since your elder son, Charles,
had no wife and no children,
your only heir now is your grandson,
Ceddie's son.
An American can't be my heir!
Hey, wait for me!
Too bad, sorry.
Excuse me, sir.
Dick, the priest will let us sit
by the church on Sunday,
only if I sell all the kittens
his spotted cat had.
- Will you buy a kitten, sir?
- No, thanks, young man.
Listen, Dick, would you like
to earn ten cents?
Who wouldn't, sir?
Do you know Cedric,
the son of Nora,
a music teacher?
You can give me your ten cents, sir.
Hello! And where's Hobbs?
Good afternoon, Mister Hobbs.
I'll be jiggered
if it's not Cedric!
Abraham, for me and my best
friend, Cedric...
- Two glasses of cranberry juice.
- Yes.
Well, tell me how you are
getting on?
Things are looking up,
Mister Hobbs.
I have a very advantageous
proposition for you.
Here. Two cents each.
I don't think we need a kitten,
Mister Hobbs.
We've got very good mouse-traps.
I wouldn't be so sure, Mr. Abraham.
It's not only about mice.
The black one, for example,
brings luck in business.
And this one, with gray stripes,
brings health.
The one with a white apron
is a very rare kitten.
It helps in the matters of heart.
Matters of heart, you say?
- Sounds tempting.
- Here, Mister Hobbs, look.
He's walking to you himself.
He will become a fine,
pure-breed tomcat.
You may call him Marquis,
like carpenter Ervin's.
- Or Earl.
- Did I hear you right?
Did you say "earl"?
Cedric, do you know
what earls are?
Now he will be haranguing
the English.
Earls are pompous English
turkey-cocks wearing crowns.
- His wife was English.
- So what?
She ran away from him.
I know it, because my grandfather
used to tell me about it.
This is President Washington.
Look.
My grandfather fought against
them in the Civil War.
And when the President pinned
a Purple Heart medal to his chest,
my grandfather said, "I'm ashamed
to have fought such an adversary."
Because all the English
are cowards!
And all this because they let those
earls and lords govern them,
I'll be jiggered!
See? I'm not!
And you suggest that I give my cat
one of these shameful nicknames,
so that he grow as cowardly and
pitiful as they are.
No, Cedric, it's not for this
that I'm paying my two cents.
Oh, what a mug!
- Hello, Mrs. Evans.
- Hello, Cedric.
I've sold all
the priest's kittens.
Here, take an apple an run home,
or you'll get as wet as I am.
- Goodbye.
- Thanks, Mrs. Evans.
- Mamma!
- Cedric, you're all wet.
Mamma, listen to what
I'll tell you.
Hello.
Good evening, sir.
Cedric, meet Mr. Havisham. He came
all the way from England to see us.
- From England?
- That's right.
I see you've sold all the priest's
kittens, haven't you, sir?
- Yes, for as much as two cents each.
- Congratulations.
If you don't mind, I'd like
to ask you a question.
What are your plans for the future?
I hope I might be a President
of the United States of America.
Well, it's commendable.
Cedric, I would like you to know it
from the start.
Mr. Havisham is a lawyer.
He came to invite you to England.
But why?
I was told there're some lords
and earls there.
You're absolutely right.
I would like you to know that one
of the earls is your grandfather,
and one of those lords
is you, sir!
Lord Fauntleroy!
Me?
But I don't want to be a lord!
To be a lord is a great honour.
Your father thought so.
Besides, you're the heir
to a big fortune.
So your going to England
is more than justified,
my lord.
Mamma, I'm not going anywhere
without you.
Of course, your mother
will go with you.
You both will live in your county,
and you'll become so rich
that be able to buy all the kittens
in the world for 10 years from now.
Your father was very fond
of England, his home country.
He dearly loved his family castle.
He so wanted you to receive
a good education.
Now God has provided us
that opportunity.
You don't seem to be convinced how
serious your grandpa's intentions are.
And nevertheless,
starting from this day,
you have at your disposal
a pretty big sum of money.
Hello.
- Ready. Check our work, sir.
- The owner will check it.
Mrs. Evans!
I'll pray for you, my boy.
- Goodbye, Mister!
- Have a safe journey.
- Goodbye.
- Goodbye. Good luck to you.
Thank you.
Yes, who could expect it?
They will travel first class.
Big deal! They're rolling in money
over there, Mr. Hobbs.
His grandpa wanted to send
a whole ship for Cedric.
No, he didn't, Dick.
You'd better think about how you're
going to manage our business alone.
Oh, Cedric, Cedric, it's all right
that you'll be living in England now,
I'll be jiggered if it's not!
- Come on, hold on.
- Goodbye.
And don't forget,
you've got real friends here.
Thank you.
Farewell!
This is for you, Mr. Hobbs.
And this is for you, Dick.
Thanks.
- Goodbye!
- Goodbye!
Good luck! Farewell!
Have a nice journey! Goodbye!
The guest house for the little lord's
mother is ready, Your Lordship.
So send her there right away.
I don't want to see that American
in my castle.
Yes, Your Lordship.
- Cedric.
- Yes, Mamma?
I should have told you that
long ago.
You know, there're certain rules here.
How should I explain it to you...
You see, my lord...
The point is that you'll have to live
separately from your mamma.
- What is he saying, Mamma?
- Calm down, son.
Mister, if you'd said right away
that I'd live separately from mamma
and never see her, then...
Who said you'd never see
your mamma?
She will live quite near you.
- Your grandpa's taken care of it.
- Really?
Please, Mrs. Nora.
This is Mellory, our housekeeper.
She will be solving all your
domestic problems.
- Good afternoon, ma'am.
- Good afternoon.
- This is Emma, your maid.
- Nice to meet you.
- Hello.
- Oh God, what beautiful eyes!
- Hello.
- Hello, my lord.
- Nice to meet you, Miss, Missis...
- Just Mellory.
The morning papers,
Your Lordship.
Dougal, come here!
Thomas, never do what you're not
ordered to do.
Your mamma will be thinking
about you.
How do you do?
How do you do?
How do you do?
Grandpa!
I'm so glad to see you!
My lord,
his lordship the Earl
is waiting for you
in the library.
This castle holds the portraits
of all the Fauntleroys
that have lived
in the last 400 years.
These two were bitter enemies,
because their ancestors
fought against each other
in the Wars of the Roses,
the first on the side of
the Lancasters,
the others on the side
of the Yorks.
This Fauntleroy was
a famous seaman
who participated in destroying
the Invincible Armada.
And this one had the same name
as you, my lord. Cedric.
He was executed.
He was not prudent enough
and took the side of Charles,
and they chopped off his head,
like Charles's.
Oh, this is... This is...
Yes, this is your father,
my lord.
Sir John Arthur Molyneux
Errol Cedric Fauntleroy!
Dougal, come back!
Hello, Dougal.
- Why do you limp, Grandpa?
- It's my gout.
You're too young to know
what it is.
But some day you'll know.
No, Grandpa, I'll be jiggered
if I don't know what gout is.
My good friend, Mrs. Evans,
the apple woman, suffers from it.
She's an old black woman.
She keeps moaning: "My old
bones, my poor old bones".
You should put your feet
in hot water and mustard.
It helps Mrs. Evans a lot.
Take forks and knives
from outside,
one at a time, as dishes arrive.
Thank you.
Did someone ask you, James?
I'm sorry, Your Lordship.
Grandpa, why don't you
wear your crown?
Mr. Hobbs told me
that all earls wear crowns.
- What crown?
- Do you have many?
The crown is a symbol
of royal power.
Did your Mr. Hobbs tell you
who is the king?
Of course. The king is
the English President.
Presidents are in America.
Any commoner can be a President.
The King is quite another matter.
A ragamuffin can
never become a king.
And what about Jeremiah Pool
from the soap factory?
He was so poor, and now he donated
money for building a school.
And his portrait hangs
at its entrance.
They even write about him
in the newspapers.
So what is he now?
A king.
What?
The sausage king.
Fifteen.
Thirty-five.
Forty-two.
Seventeen.
- Thank you, my lord.
- Thank you.
Your suit will be ready tomorrow.
So, Havisham, you're trying
to persuade me
that the boy's mother
refused to take the allowance?
That's right.
She told me so while we were
in America.
Is that so? And on what money
is she going to live?
She gets a small pension
for her husband.
I still don't believe a single word
that American plebeian says.
It must be some design.
She's just hiking up the price.
You will see!
No, I can't quite agree
with you, sir.
That dame's influence on
Lord Fauntleroy is very pernicious.
I think it was she who put him up
to pretend to be a loving grandson.
Actually, they're only interested
in my fortune.
- Excuse me, Your Lordship.
- What is it this time?
The little lord wishes
to say good night to you.
- Good night, Grandpa.
- Good night.
- Good night, Mr. Havisham.
- Good night, sir.
Something else?
Grandpa, may I go to my mamma
first thing in the morning?
You have many things to do
tomorrow.
I already said,
you'll go on Sunday.
Or on Monday.
The little lord has got
such incredible eyes!
My heart stood still
when I saw them.
And his father,
God rest his soul,
everyone adored him...
I think the Earl even regretted
that Ceddie wasn't his eldest
and wouldn't get the title.
Well, good night, ma'am.
Good night.
Mellory...
When you see Cedric,
tell him...
Just kiss him.
- Good night, my lord.
- Good night, Thomas.
Please, leave the candle.
Now they wear pants and hats.
Just like everybody,
whites and blacks.
They put on feathers
only on their Indian holidays.
Go on, chew it.
What? Just chew it?
That's all?
Yes, just chew. That's why
it's called chewing gum.
And then we'll have to spit it out?
Such a tasty and sweet thing?
Yes, but you have to chew it
for a long time, until...
Oh!
I think I swallowed it.
What will happen to me now?
Nothing, I guess...
Once I swallowed it, too.
Did you?
James, what is the little lord
doing in the servants' hall?
He wished to have a cup
of tea with us.
And he treated us
to a new American delicacy.
I mean, a product.
What's the matter with you,
James?
I'm afraid I was so careless
that I swallowed it.
Grandpa, I brought some for you, too.
Would you like to taste it?
I would like that you immediately
leave the servants' hall.
This park and the land around it
have belonged to the Fauntleroy
family for hundreds of years now.
All this will be yours
when you become an earl.
After my death, of course.
In that case, I don't want
to be an earl,
because I don't want you to die.
Perhaps we'll live to see
a kind earl in this castle.
Yes, it's possible.
However, my father...
You all know that he was
a footman, too.
He told me that the Earl
was also a wonderful child.
I like it here very much,
Grandpa.
This park is as beautiful
as Central Park in New York.
My mamma took me there.
You're looking at one of the largest
and most beautiful parks in England.
I'm taking your horse, Higgins,
in payment of your debts.
Though you won't need it anyway.
You're behindhand in paying
the rent on the land.
Who is that poor man, Grandpa?
An earl doesn't have to know
everybody who works on his land.
There are managers for that,
such as Newick.
Good afternoon, Your Lordship.
And this is, I presume,
the little lord...
You guessed right, Newick.
It will be he who's going to fire you
when you get old and slow-witted.
Now you.
- Are you ready?
- Yes.
Calm down, Cedric. Calm down.
You're nervous.
And it's inadmissible
when shooting.
Father MacDowey to see you.
Good afternoon, Your Lordship.
Good afternoon, Father.
Is it again about the repair
of your church?
Walls can wait.
People are more important.
His name is Higgins, my lord.
The manager took his horse,
and now he wants to evict Higgins.
That's why he's the manager.
But the manager wouldn't take into
account that his wife died
and he's left with five children,
and he's seriously ill himself.
Though he's always been
a good worker.
If he's a good worker,
he doesn't need your protection,
from which I would like you
to abstain in the future,
Father.
Grandpa,
I pity that poor farmer anyway.
What would you do
if you were in my place?
I would order that manager
not to take his horse and land.
A rainy day may happen to anyone.
A rainy day, you say?
Well, if you hit it,
you will have it your way.
Four mistakes.
I will have to take teachers
for you beginning next month.
An earl should be an educated man.
Read it.
Dear Mr. Newick,
Will you please give the house
and the horse back to Mr. Higgins?
You would thus much oblige me.
Yours respectfully, Fauntleroy.
Well, what can I say?
From the legal point of view,
this paper is irreproachable.
He will make me a philanthropist.
Seal it.
You think it's just a toy,
my lord?
No, it isn't. Why would a toy
be here?
It's a heirloom.
- The Fauntleroy family heirloom.
- Wow!
What is a heirloom?
A heirloom is a thing...
Well, it's the best of all things.
You'd better ask your grandfather.
This one, it's several hundred
years old.
It is Mary Stewart's box.
It has quite a history.
Thomas, let me see it.
No, we're not allowed to.
Please, Thomas.
Well, how can I refuse you?
Grandpa! Grandpa,
it's I who did it!
Thomas warned me
and I wouldn't listen to him.
He just helped me to pick
the fragments.
When I was your age, Cedric,
I was punished forjust trying
to touch that thing.
- Cedric?
- Mamma.
- What happened, dear?
- No, Mamma, nothing happened.
It's just that I'm missing you
so much.
It's a whole week until Sunday.
It's only four days.
I'll stay with you an hour
and go back.
They'll be so alarmed at the castle
when they find out you're gone.
- They won't find out.
- How can they not?
Promise that you'll never leave the
castle without asking your grandpa.
- All right?
- Yes.
Mamma, this is the horse
that frightened me last night.
It was over there.
- A good horse.
- Yes, it's a good horse. Let's go.
Grandpa is very kind.
But they have very stupid rules here.
Why can't we live all together?
Rules are made for people
to follow them.
Are they?
How could you walk all alone
through that lowland last night?
That's all. From here you will
to by yourself.
Mamma.
Don't forget. You promised not to go
anywhere without asking your grandpa.
- All right, Mamma.
- You have to keep your word.
Now it's one day less until Sunday.
Goodbye, Mamma.
What? What is it, Dougal?
Good morning, Lord Fauntleroy.
Good morning, Grandpa.
- What's the news, James?
- No news that may be of interest
to Your Lordship.
Except that the messenger came
with the mail.
I looked at him,
and his ears were all covered
with wool.
Maybe he walked through
the lowland at night?
Of course, he did. Several times.
Then it explains it.
Everybody knows that you can't walk
through the lowland at night.
That's what I thought, Your Lordship,
that it was all about the lowland.
Henry and Willard go there
at night to meet girls,
and their ears have been
hairy since.
Is it so? I didn't notice.
It's because they shave them.
What are you looking at,
young man?
Nothing, Grandpa.
Better go out on the balcony and
look. It may be more interesting.
Grandpa, look at that horse!
It's yours.
Go and change for riding.
My lord, his name is
Hannibal IV.
What's the matter, Williams?
Where's the riding suit that I've
given to the little lord?
Why is he dressed
like an American shepherd?
You want him to be the laughingstock
of the whole county?
It's not a laughingstock.
It's the costume of the Paleface
Shooter,
the terror of the Wild West!
Mr. Hobbs himself gave it to me
for the 4th of July!
Mr. Hobbs himself.
A great connoisseur
of the riding costumes.
Grandpa, can't I ride by myself
in the park?
The Fauntleroy blood speaks in him.
Look, Havisham, how straight
he sits on the horse.
My grandfather is very kind.
Everyone loves him:
Servants and farmers,
and the dog Dougal,
and my horse Hannibal IV.
And my grandfather has as much
land in the county as ten towns.
As for the rooms in my grandpa's
castle...
Can you imagine it, Dick?
Over one hundred!
What?
What do they need
that many for?
Goodbye now.
Yours affectionately, Cedric.
Once more, Nancy.
Hold your hand.
Cedric!
Williams, can you teach me
to steeplechase?
Of course, my lord.
If the Earl will allow it.
Of course, he will. I'll ask him.
The grandpa will be only happy.
- Do they live far from here?
- No. A little over a mile.
But it must be difficult
for him to walk.
That's life, my lord.
Good evening, Your Lordship.
Good evening, Mr. Havisham.
I beg your pardon for such
a late visit, but... Look here.
"Dear Mr. Newick,
I'm very grateful to you
for helping poor Higgins.
I have one more request.
Please give my horse,
Hannibal IV,
to the lame boy from the village.
Yours respectfully, Fauntleroy.
What shall I do, Your Lordship?
Don't you see, Newick, the Fauntleroy
signature on this paper?
Do you have any other questions?
Then do it!
Yes, sir.
Excuse me, Your Lordship.
What else?
Shall I buy a new horse
for the little lord?
No new horses.
He must take responsibility
for his actions.
Little Lord Fauntleroy
is giving orders.
He's developing a taste for it!
Believe me! He is! And much sooner
than we had expected.
Well, goodbye, Hannibal IV!
Don't miss me.
And obey your new master.
He needs you more than I do.
What's that filth?
It's not filth.
Dougal, meet your new friend.
It's time to introduce the boy
to society.
Everything has to be rewritten.
And no wives and daughters.
Yes, Your Lordship.
And I thought I didn't change,
James.
Strange how it could happen.
We'll move the buttons,
Your Lordship.
It's a matter of a few minutes.
It will look even better than before.
You may keep it.
Move the buttons as you like.
And order a new one for me.
Those fanfarons have a very sharp
eye for such details.
Gentlemen, I would like to introduce
to you my grandson
and my only heir,
the young Lord Fauntleroy.
How do you do, dear fanfarons?
We heard, Lord, that you came
to England quite recently.
What are your impressions, sir?
I like it very much.
But I'm especially happy
that I've met my grandfather.
What are your plans for the future?
My grandpa says that when I grow up,
I'll be in the House of Lords, too.
So you'll become a real... what was
your expression?
A real fanfaron.
What law would you have
enacted first?
- Or you don't know it yet?
- I know it very well.
I'll abolish the rule, by which my
kindest in the world grandpa and I
have to live separately
from my mamma!
Excuse me, Your Lordship,
lawyer Havisham
asks you to receive him.
- Now?
- Sorry, he says it's very urgent.
- What happened?
- I have bad news.
- You had two sons.
- Is that what you wanted to tell me?
We thought that only your younger
son had a child, sir.
Isn't that so?
Today I was approached,
as your agent,
by a lady named Minna.
I must say, a pretty vulgar
and aggressive creature.
She showed me some documents
to the effect
that she was married
to your elder son.
Remember the woman on the photo,
from which his portrait was made?
That was she.
I wouldn't be surprised
if that drunkard, Charles,
had a dock wench
as his secret wife.
That's not the point.
They had a child.
It was also a boy.
His name is Maximilian.
And by the laws of the United
Kingdom,
he's your only heir.
You've gone mad, Havisham.
That Minna wishes to see you
tomorrow.
Tell the boy that he can go
to see his mother tomorrow.
That will make him very happy.
Gentlemen, I propose a toast
to the heir.
To little Lord Fauntleroy!
Good luck to you, sir.
We're pleased to have met you.
You're in for a great future.
Now that everything has been
resolved so luckily,
I'm sure we'll live like one big
happy family.
Your grandson and your only heir,
Maximilian,
will be a worthy successor
to the glorious Fauntleroy family.
You will be very happy
in your old age.
Yes, Grandfather, with us you'll be
as safe as behind a stone wall.
Look, boy, go to the next room
and close the door behind you
as tightly as possible.
Hey, dear, give me a glass
of water.
Of course,
I'll settle a good income on you.
As for living, as you put it,
like one big happy family,
...don't even think of it.
- But...
As long as I live,
you won't be let into the castle.
But I thought that...
The Fauntleroy men... if the die
of natural causes, of course,
usually live a long life.
A very long life.
Yes, Max, practically
it's all yours already.
But only on one condition:
If you keep your mouth shut.
- Why? I thought the old man
would be glad. - Don't think.
It's me who's thinking for you.
It's quite a job you've given me,
Mr. Hobbs.
One cent for ten flies
is too cheap.
Why don't we revise our contract?
If you catch a hundred of those pests,
you'll get a pretty good sum.
Dick, you don't mean you want
Mr. Abraham chasing those flies?
That's why I hired you.
It will make a very good income,
my boy.
That's it! It was the tenth,
Mr. Hobbs. Where's my cent?
Your cent? Oh, the cent.
Let me count your flies first.
- One, two, three...
- Here's one more.
Four...
What is this? An English paper?
Abraham, how could an English
paper get into our store?
Oh, these coffee grinders were
wrapped in it, Mr. Hobbs.
What is it?
- What is it? I'll be jiggered!
- What happened to you, Mr. Hobbs?
To me?
No, it's not to me.
But I guess I'll have to go
to New York for Primus stoves.
They say, this year there will be
a great demand for Primus stoves.
Where are your manners?
- My lord.
- Yes, James?
Never mind, it's nothing.
I got so used to little Cedric,
and now this!
Yes. And that insolent mother
of the new heir, Maximilian!
Nora, Cedric's mother,
is quite different.
She's a very nice lady,
you can believe me.
Well, it seems Cedric is not fated
to become Lord Fauntleroy.
And we can do nothing about it.
I... I just happened to be here.
I haven't heard anything.
That's how life is, my friend.
You think you're on top,
but one step is enough,
and you're falling to the bottom,
only at the eleventh hour
to grasp at a straw
offered to you by someone
you don't know.
- Grandpa, can I ask you a question?
- What question?
Since I'm no longer Lord Fauntleroy,
don't you want me any more?
Stop talking nonsense.
You're my... my favourite grandson
and you will always be.
Then I don't care if I'm going
to be an earl or not.
Only don't try to make me shed
a tear.
You'll never succeed.
One month later...
Mamma, he's so smart.
I want to set him on partridges.
- Will Grandpa take me hunting?
- Of course, he will.
You have a visitor, ma'am.
I see everything's turning out
very well.
I wanted your son to hear what
we're going to talk about.
Here's a detailed account
of your adventures,
and every second newspaper
calls you
what you really are -
cheats, frauds and impostors!
I don't understand
what you're talking about.
Happily, the Earl now knows
who is who.
And he's doing everything
to restore the justice.
- What are you talking about?
- Don't you know?
At this very moment the Earl is
showing Maximilian around the castle
and the grounds.
The boy has been deprived of his
care and attention for so long.
By the way, my dear, he also gave
the room where your son lived
to the real Lord Fauntleroy,
Maximilian!
Is everything clear to you now?
James, have my coat cleaned
of the road dust.
Yes, sir.
Strike while the iron is hot,
my boy.
I'm sure that tonight everything will
be finally settled in this castle.
Yes, in my castle.
Good afternoon, Your Lordship.
Oh, you came just at the right
moment.
We were going to send for you.
I hope we can dot all
the i's today?
And you no longer doubt
the authenticity of my documents?
We have a guest who will answer
all of your questions.
Hello, Minna.
You haven't changed a bit.
- Who is he?
- Your mother's husband.
Or I would say, her ex-husband,
if not for the fact that the marriage
had not been dissolved
when you, Missis Minna,
ran away from Mr. Hobbs.
Am I right, Mr. Hobbs?
Absolutely right, Mr. Havisham.
Exactly seven years ago,
I'll be jiggered if not.
In this case,
a question is in order:
How did you come into possession
of this nine-year-old boy,
if seven years ago there was not
so much as a mention of him?
I see you find it difficult
to answer.
Well, then we'll put questions
to Mr. Maximilian.
With the help of our friends
in Scotland Yard,
whom, I presume,
he knows notjust by hearsay.
You promised me that we would
eat on silver, drive in a carriage,
be dressed by London's best
tailors,
and what am I seeing?
That was not the deal!
A very sound judgement, sir.
If you don't wish to spend your
immediate future in the company
of London police, instead of
London tailors,
you'll have to answer
our questions.
"Everything will be yours!
You'll live in the lap of luxury!"
Go ahead, ask your questions.
- Who are your real parents?
- I don't know. I'm an orphan.
And she was getting her forged
documents from one-legged Hugh
when I dropped by to skin him
for an old debt.
Well, she began to pester me:
Let's clinch a deal.
Nothing doing: You just have
to pretend you're a young lord.
As if I haven't seen enough
of young lords.
They're a dime a dozen
on the Strand at night.
Oh, I beg your pardon, Your Lordship,
I meant, a great many.
An exhaustive account, sir.
- Can I go now?
- Have a nice day, sir.
Everything's been done
to perfection.
Did you calm down enough
to be able to sign a few documents?
Will you let me go after that?
I think so.
Unfortunately, the Earl
is in good spirits today.
James, have my carriage
brought to the door.
I'm ready
to visit Cedric's mother.
We have just to remember
how the terrified adversary
kissed the feet of our soldiers.
I know it from my late grandfather.
And he was a great warrior!
Well, Mellory, are you happy at last?
We're going to your favourite lady.
You can join us.
Excuse me, where were we?
So, when President Washington
pinned a Purple Heart medal
onto my grandfather's chest,
he said: "I'm ashamed,
I'm ashamed to have fought
such an adversary."
What adversary are you talking
about? I didn't quite get it.
Lady Lorridaile, Your Lordship.
We had a very hard time. And there
you are, like a guardian angel.
- Come on, Mrs. Mellory.
- Miss, Mr. Hobbs.
I know I have sworn that I'd never
put foot in this house,
but the whole England is talking
about you...
And I should meet at last
my two, as of now,
grand-nephews.
- Two?
- Yes.
- Cedric and Maximilian.
- Maximilian...
I presume that Maximilian is already
on his way to London's thieves-den.
You can go with me. I'll explain
everything on our way.
Where are we going?
Cedric is at his mamma's now.
I've decided
that it's time for me
to meet Lady Fauntleroy.
- You haven't met her yet?
- Well, itjust turned out that way.
I will do it now,
and, perhaps, apologize.
And when Cedric comes out
to meet us, I'll pull out his watch
and say: "Well? Did I get here
in time?"
They're gone.
They took all their things
and went away.
They left a letter for you.
Dear Grandpa,
Mamma and I don't want
to bother you any more.
We're leaving.
I'll always remember you with
gratitude. Your grandson, Cedric.
You see how it all ended?
The swindlers are exposed,
Fate has brought us together,
and there's such a misfortune...
Don't worry, Mr. Hobbs, we have
the best police in the world.
Perhaps they've already found
the little lord and Mrs. Nora.
All the efforts to find them
have had no result so far.
However, the little lord and
his mother are still in Britain.
All passenger boats for America
are being thoroughly searched.
So many days have passed!
In that time you could have
a country-wide census.
Believe me, sir, we're doing
everything possible.
I very much hope so.
I'm ready to go and search
for them myself.
I can imagine what a difficult
time you're going through.
My heart is breaking
with compassion.
You've changed so much!
Fate would have to reward you for
that, but you see what happened?
Hold on, brother!
I think our police...
I respect our police,
but my hopes are elsewhere.
Buy newspapers! Latest news!
The heir of Earl Fauntleroy
has disappeared!
The reward is guaranteed!
Give alms to a blind man.
After I left your place,
I was picked up by a horse-cab,
in which were Cedric and his mother.
They were heading for the port,
to go to America.
They hoped they had enough money
to buy the 3rd-class tickets.
I volunteered to help them,
absolutely altruistically, of course.
Speaking of the money.
When will you pay me the reward
you promised?
Go on.
I have many friends in the port.
When we arrived, we learned that the
next passenger boat was in 3 days.
And suddenly we met...
Is it really you?
That captain turned out to be
their old acquaintance.
His cargo boat, carrying
sowing machines to America,
was leaving in an hour.
Mind you, Your Lordship,
they were awfully lucky.
They've saved lots of money.
Do you know how much
a ticket to America costs?
No other way, Miss. No money!
We don't make money on passengers.
Your husband was my friend.
He was a very worthy man!
What do you know! The same face.
Just a spitting image!
That's about all. Give me the money.
As you have promised.
Am I getting my five thousand?
Don't get so excited, sir.
It's bad for your health.
Cedric!
You've learned to play that thing
so well, Dick.
- I missed you, Cedric.
- I missed you too, Dick.
And what about your castle,
servants and a hundred rooms?
I don't have them any more, Dick.
- So you won't leave America again?
- Never.
What are you doing here?
Where's Dick?
I'm guarding the spot.
While that loafer, Dick,
is buying patented brushes.
You see,
the spot is very important.
You can'tjust leave the spot.
Fine shoes, sir!
I know about shoes.
Let me just give them a touch...
I think you've become
a good bootblack.
Well, that trade may come handy
on a rainy day,
little Lord Fauntleroy.
Cedric - Alexei Vesyolkin
Nora - Olga Budina
Havisham - Oleg Shklovsky
James - Nikolai Volkov
Hobbs - Sergey Gazarov
Minna - Alyona Khmelnitskaya
Lady Lorridaile - Yekaterina Vassilyeva
and others
English Subtitles by Tatiana Kameneva
(C) Angel Film, 2002
(C) "Filmexport" Studio, Subtitles, 2003
of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian
Federation
Stanislav Govorukhin
Alexei Vesyolkin
Olga Budina as Nora
in the film
THE JOYS AND SORROWS OF A LITTLE LORD
based on Frances Hodgson Burnett's
novel "Little Lord Fauntleroy"
General Producers lgor Tolstunov,
Alexander Atanesyan
Producer Mikhail Zilberman
Written by Galina Arbuzova,
Vladimir Zheleznikov
with participation of Ivan Popov
Directed by Ivan Popov
Director of Photography Alexander Antipenko
Production Designers Konstantin Zagorsky,
Yevgeny Kachanov
Music by Vadim Bibergan
Costume Designer Regina Khomskaya
Make-up Designer Galina Korolyova
Sound Directors Yekaterina Popova-Evans,
Arkady Molotkov
Executive Producers Ludmila Zakharova,
Katerina Ulrikhova
This is my last word, Cedric.
Come to your senses!
I'm a grown-up man.
I've made up my mind.
Father!
You have no father any more!
Look, James, can we manage
to find Charles?
I think it wouldn't be difficult, sir.
He usually spends his time
at the guest house.
I came to say goodbye.
Friends! Friends,
I propose a toast to my brother
who is leaving for America.
Where he's going...
to marry an American girl.
- A very pretty American girl.
- Stop clowning.
But when our most kind father...
got news of that American commoner,
he went wild and had my brother cut
off from the family forever.
Now, now, Ceddie.
Come on, forgive your brother.
- You're drunk, Charles.
- Yes, I'm drunk!
But what difference does
that make?
Hey, old chap!
Take a photographic picture
of me and my brother.
Whenever I feel blue, Ceddie,
I'll look at it and remember
what a brother I had,
what an idiot!
Minna, do you know what I'd like
more than anything else in the world?
To be photographed with you!
Attention!
Seven years later...
I'm glad we found that old photo
to give to the artist.
On it he looks much better
than he did in recent years.
Poor Sir Charles
and his weakness for alcohol...
To die at such a young age!
Dougal, come back!
James, pay the artist.
Everyone may go.
Excuse me, your lordship.
Lady Lorridaile!
I'm sorry, brother,
to have come without notice.
What do you want?
What a fine portrait!
He should have been painted
on the horse,
from which this drunkard fell
and broke his neck.
To lose both sons and still
exude so much venom!
Do you have anything human
in you?
Even when Ceddie died, you didn't
say a single good word about him.
Go on, remind me again how he
saved his crew in the ice,
how he had never left
the bridge.
The poor boy is resting
on the bottom of the sea.
The poor boy married
an American!
Tell me, what did you come for?
Since your elder son, Charles,
had no wife and no children,
your only heir now is your grandson,
Ceddie's son.
An American can't be my heir!
Hey, wait for me!
Too bad, sorry.
Excuse me, sir.
Dick, the priest will let us sit
by the church on Sunday,
only if I sell all the kittens
his spotted cat had.
- Will you buy a kitten, sir?
- No, thanks, young man.
Listen, Dick, would you like
to earn ten cents?
Who wouldn't, sir?
Do you know Cedric,
the son of Nora,
a music teacher?
You can give me your ten cents, sir.
Hello! And where's Hobbs?
Good afternoon, Mister Hobbs.
I'll be jiggered
if it's not Cedric!
Abraham, for me and my best
friend, Cedric...
- Two glasses of cranberry juice.
- Yes.
Well, tell me how you are
getting on?
Things are looking up,
Mister Hobbs.
I have a very advantageous
proposition for you.
Here. Two cents each.
I don't think we need a kitten,
Mister Hobbs.
We've got very good mouse-traps.
I wouldn't be so sure, Mr. Abraham.
It's not only about mice.
The black one, for example,
brings luck in business.
And this one, with gray stripes,
brings health.
The one with a white apron
is a very rare kitten.
It helps in the matters of heart.
Matters of heart, you say?
- Sounds tempting.
- Here, Mister Hobbs, look.
He's walking to you himself.
He will become a fine,
pure-breed tomcat.
You may call him Marquis,
like carpenter Ervin's.
- Or Earl.
- Did I hear you right?
Did you say "earl"?
Cedric, do you know
what earls are?
Now he will be haranguing
the English.
Earls are pompous English
turkey-cocks wearing crowns.
- His wife was English.
- So what?
She ran away from him.
I know it, because my grandfather
used to tell me about it.
This is President Washington.
Look.
My grandfather fought against
them in the Civil War.
And when the President pinned
a Purple Heart medal to his chest,
my grandfather said, "I'm ashamed
to have fought such an adversary."
Because all the English
are cowards!
And all this because they let those
earls and lords govern them,
I'll be jiggered!
See? I'm not!
And you suggest that I give my cat
one of these shameful nicknames,
so that he grow as cowardly and
pitiful as they are.
No, Cedric, it's not for this
that I'm paying my two cents.
Oh, what a mug!
- Hello, Mrs. Evans.
- Hello, Cedric.
I've sold all
the priest's kittens.
Here, take an apple an run home,
or you'll get as wet as I am.
- Goodbye.
- Thanks, Mrs. Evans.
- Mamma!
- Cedric, you're all wet.
Mamma, listen to what
I'll tell you.
Hello.
Good evening, sir.
Cedric, meet Mr. Havisham. He came
all the way from England to see us.
- From England?
- That's right.
I see you've sold all the priest's
kittens, haven't you, sir?
- Yes, for as much as two cents each.
- Congratulations.
If you don't mind, I'd like
to ask you a question.
What are your plans for the future?
I hope I might be a President
of the United States of America.
Well, it's commendable.
Cedric, I would like you to know it
from the start.
Mr. Havisham is a lawyer.
He came to invite you to England.
But why?
I was told there're some lords
and earls there.
You're absolutely right.
I would like you to know that one
of the earls is your grandfather,
and one of those lords
is you, sir!
Lord Fauntleroy!
Me?
But I don't want to be a lord!
To be a lord is a great honour.
Your father thought so.
Besides, you're the heir
to a big fortune.
So your going to England
is more than justified,
my lord.
Mamma, I'm not going anywhere
without you.
Of course, your mother
will go with you.
You both will live in your county,
and you'll become so rich
that be able to buy all the kittens
in the world for 10 years from now.
Your father was very fond
of England, his home country.
He dearly loved his family castle.
He so wanted you to receive
a good education.
Now God has provided us
that opportunity.
You don't seem to be convinced how
serious your grandpa's intentions are.
And nevertheless,
starting from this day,
you have at your disposal
a pretty big sum of money.
Hello.
- Ready. Check our work, sir.
- The owner will check it.
Mrs. Evans!
I'll pray for you, my boy.
- Goodbye, Mister!
- Have a safe journey.
- Goodbye.
- Goodbye. Good luck to you.
Thank you.
Yes, who could expect it?
They will travel first class.
Big deal! They're rolling in money
over there, Mr. Hobbs.
His grandpa wanted to send
a whole ship for Cedric.
No, he didn't, Dick.
You'd better think about how you're
going to manage our business alone.
Oh, Cedric, Cedric, it's all right
that you'll be living in England now,
I'll be jiggered if it's not!
- Come on, hold on.
- Goodbye.
And don't forget,
you've got real friends here.
Thank you.
Farewell!
This is for you, Mr. Hobbs.
And this is for you, Dick.
Thanks.
- Goodbye!
- Goodbye!
Good luck! Farewell!
Have a nice journey! Goodbye!
The guest house for the little lord's
mother is ready, Your Lordship.
So send her there right away.
I don't want to see that American
in my castle.
Yes, Your Lordship.
- Cedric.
- Yes, Mamma?
I should have told you that
long ago.
You know, there're certain rules here.
How should I explain it to you...
You see, my lord...
The point is that you'll have to live
separately from your mamma.
- What is he saying, Mamma?
- Calm down, son.
Mister, if you'd said right away
that I'd live separately from mamma
and never see her, then...
Who said you'd never see
your mamma?
She will live quite near you.
- Your grandpa's taken care of it.
- Really?
Please, Mrs. Nora.
This is Mellory, our housekeeper.
She will be solving all your
domestic problems.
- Good afternoon, ma'am.
- Good afternoon.
- This is Emma, your maid.
- Nice to meet you.
- Hello.
- Oh God, what beautiful eyes!
- Hello.
- Hello, my lord.
- Nice to meet you, Miss, Missis...
- Just Mellory.
The morning papers,
Your Lordship.
Dougal, come here!
Thomas, never do what you're not
ordered to do.
Your mamma will be thinking
about you.
How do you do?
How do you do?
How do you do?
Grandpa!
I'm so glad to see you!
My lord,
his lordship the Earl
is waiting for you
in the library.
This castle holds the portraits
of all the Fauntleroys
that have lived
in the last 400 years.
These two were bitter enemies,
because their ancestors
fought against each other
in the Wars of the Roses,
the first on the side of
the Lancasters,
the others on the side
of the Yorks.
This Fauntleroy was
a famous seaman
who participated in destroying
the Invincible Armada.
And this one had the same name
as you, my lord. Cedric.
He was executed.
He was not prudent enough
and took the side of Charles,
and they chopped off his head,
like Charles's.
Oh, this is... This is...
Yes, this is your father,
my lord.
Sir John Arthur Molyneux
Errol Cedric Fauntleroy!
Dougal, come back!
Hello, Dougal.
- Why do you limp, Grandpa?
- It's my gout.
You're too young to know
what it is.
But some day you'll know.
No, Grandpa, I'll be jiggered
if I don't know what gout is.
My good friend, Mrs. Evans,
the apple woman, suffers from it.
She's an old black woman.
She keeps moaning: "My old
bones, my poor old bones".
You should put your feet
in hot water and mustard.
It helps Mrs. Evans a lot.
Take forks and knives
from outside,
one at a time, as dishes arrive.
Thank you.
Did someone ask you, James?
I'm sorry, Your Lordship.
Grandpa, why don't you
wear your crown?
Mr. Hobbs told me
that all earls wear crowns.
- What crown?
- Do you have many?
The crown is a symbol
of royal power.
Did your Mr. Hobbs tell you
who is the king?
Of course. The king is
the English President.
Presidents are in America.
Any commoner can be a President.
The King is quite another matter.
A ragamuffin can
never become a king.
And what about Jeremiah Pool
from the soap factory?
He was so poor, and now he donated
money for building a school.
And his portrait hangs
at its entrance.
They even write about him
in the newspapers.
So what is he now?
A king.
What?
The sausage king.
Fifteen.
Thirty-five.
Forty-two.
Seventeen.
- Thank you, my lord.
- Thank you.
Your suit will be ready tomorrow.
So, Havisham, you're trying
to persuade me
that the boy's mother
refused to take the allowance?
That's right.
She told me so while we were
in America.
Is that so? And on what money
is she going to live?
She gets a small pension
for her husband.
I still don't believe a single word
that American plebeian says.
It must be some design.
She's just hiking up the price.
You will see!
No, I can't quite agree
with you, sir.
That dame's influence on
Lord Fauntleroy is very pernicious.
I think it was she who put him up
to pretend to be a loving grandson.
Actually, they're only interested
in my fortune.
- Excuse me, Your Lordship.
- What is it this time?
The little lord wishes
to say good night to you.
- Good night, Grandpa.
- Good night.
- Good night, Mr. Havisham.
- Good night, sir.
Something else?
Grandpa, may I go to my mamma
first thing in the morning?
You have many things to do
tomorrow.
I already said,
you'll go on Sunday.
Or on Monday.
The little lord has got
such incredible eyes!
My heart stood still
when I saw them.
And his father,
God rest his soul,
everyone adored him...
I think the Earl even regretted
that Ceddie wasn't his eldest
and wouldn't get the title.
Well, good night, ma'am.
Good night.
Mellory...
When you see Cedric,
tell him...
Just kiss him.
- Good night, my lord.
- Good night, Thomas.
Please, leave the candle.
Now they wear pants and hats.
Just like everybody,
whites and blacks.
They put on feathers
only on their Indian holidays.
Go on, chew it.
What? Just chew it?
That's all?
Yes, just chew. That's why
it's called chewing gum.
And then we'll have to spit it out?
Such a tasty and sweet thing?
Yes, but you have to chew it
for a long time, until...
Oh!
I think I swallowed it.
What will happen to me now?
Nothing, I guess...
Once I swallowed it, too.
Did you?
James, what is the little lord
doing in the servants' hall?
He wished to have a cup
of tea with us.
And he treated us
to a new American delicacy.
I mean, a product.
What's the matter with you,
James?
I'm afraid I was so careless
that I swallowed it.
Grandpa, I brought some for you, too.
Would you like to taste it?
I would like that you immediately
leave the servants' hall.
This park and the land around it
have belonged to the Fauntleroy
family for hundreds of years now.
All this will be yours
when you become an earl.
After my death, of course.
In that case, I don't want
to be an earl,
because I don't want you to die.
Perhaps we'll live to see
a kind earl in this castle.
Yes, it's possible.
However, my father...
You all know that he was
a footman, too.
He told me that the Earl
was also a wonderful child.
I like it here very much,
Grandpa.
This park is as beautiful
as Central Park in New York.
My mamma took me there.
You're looking at one of the largest
and most beautiful parks in England.
I'm taking your horse, Higgins,
in payment of your debts.
Though you won't need it anyway.
You're behindhand in paying
the rent on the land.
Who is that poor man, Grandpa?
An earl doesn't have to know
everybody who works on his land.
There are managers for that,
such as Newick.
Good afternoon, Your Lordship.
And this is, I presume,
the little lord...
You guessed right, Newick.
It will be he who's going to fire you
when you get old and slow-witted.
Now you.
- Are you ready?
- Yes.
Calm down, Cedric. Calm down.
You're nervous.
And it's inadmissible
when shooting.
Father MacDowey to see you.
Good afternoon, Your Lordship.
Good afternoon, Father.
Is it again about the repair
of your church?
Walls can wait.
People are more important.
His name is Higgins, my lord.
The manager took his horse,
and now he wants to evict Higgins.
That's why he's the manager.
But the manager wouldn't take into
account that his wife died
and he's left with five children,
and he's seriously ill himself.
Though he's always been
a good worker.
If he's a good worker,
he doesn't need your protection,
from which I would like you
to abstain in the future,
Father.
Grandpa,
I pity that poor farmer anyway.
What would you do
if you were in my place?
I would order that manager
not to take his horse and land.
A rainy day may happen to anyone.
A rainy day, you say?
Well, if you hit it,
you will have it your way.
Four mistakes.
I will have to take teachers
for you beginning next month.
An earl should be an educated man.
Read it.
Dear Mr. Newick,
Will you please give the house
and the horse back to Mr. Higgins?
You would thus much oblige me.
Yours respectfully, Fauntleroy.
Well, what can I say?
From the legal point of view,
this paper is irreproachable.
He will make me a philanthropist.
Seal it.
You think it's just a toy,
my lord?
No, it isn't. Why would a toy
be here?
It's a heirloom.
- The Fauntleroy family heirloom.
- Wow!
What is a heirloom?
A heirloom is a thing...
Well, it's the best of all things.
You'd better ask your grandfather.
This one, it's several hundred
years old.
It is Mary Stewart's box.
It has quite a history.
Thomas, let me see it.
No, we're not allowed to.
Please, Thomas.
Well, how can I refuse you?
Grandpa! Grandpa,
it's I who did it!
Thomas warned me
and I wouldn't listen to him.
He just helped me to pick
the fragments.
When I was your age, Cedric,
I was punished forjust trying
to touch that thing.
- Cedric?
- Mamma.
- What happened, dear?
- No, Mamma, nothing happened.
It's just that I'm missing you
so much.
It's a whole week until Sunday.
It's only four days.
I'll stay with you an hour
and go back.
They'll be so alarmed at the castle
when they find out you're gone.
- They won't find out.
- How can they not?
Promise that you'll never leave the
castle without asking your grandpa.
- All right?
- Yes.
Mamma, this is the horse
that frightened me last night.
It was over there.
- A good horse.
- Yes, it's a good horse. Let's go.
Grandpa is very kind.
But they have very stupid rules here.
Why can't we live all together?
Rules are made for people
to follow them.
Are they?
How could you walk all alone
through that lowland last night?
That's all. From here you will
to by yourself.
Mamma.
Don't forget. You promised not to go
anywhere without asking your grandpa.
- All right, Mamma.
- You have to keep your word.
Now it's one day less until Sunday.
Goodbye, Mamma.
What? What is it, Dougal?
Good morning, Lord Fauntleroy.
Good morning, Grandpa.
- What's the news, James?
- No news that may be of interest
to Your Lordship.
Except that the messenger came
with the mail.
I looked at him,
and his ears were all covered
with wool.
Maybe he walked through
the lowland at night?
Of course, he did. Several times.
Then it explains it.
Everybody knows that you can't walk
through the lowland at night.
That's what I thought, Your Lordship,
that it was all about the lowland.
Henry and Willard go there
at night to meet girls,
and their ears have been
hairy since.
Is it so? I didn't notice.
It's because they shave them.
What are you looking at,
young man?
Nothing, Grandpa.
Better go out on the balcony and
look. It may be more interesting.
Grandpa, look at that horse!
It's yours.
Go and change for riding.
My lord, his name is
Hannibal IV.
What's the matter, Williams?
Where's the riding suit that I've
given to the little lord?
Why is he dressed
like an American shepherd?
You want him to be the laughingstock
of the whole county?
It's not a laughingstock.
It's the costume of the Paleface
Shooter,
the terror of the Wild West!
Mr. Hobbs himself gave it to me
for the 4th of July!
Mr. Hobbs himself.
A great connoisseur
of the riding costumes.
Grandpa, can't I ride by myself
in the park?
The Fauntleroy blood speaks in him.
Look, Havisham, how straight
he sits on the horse.
My grandfather is very kind.
Everyone loves him:
Servants and farmers,
and the dog Dougal,
and my horse Hannibal IV.
And my grandfather has as much
land in the county as ten towns.
As for the rooms in my grandpa's
castle...
Can you imagine it, Dick?
Over one hundred!
What?
What do they need
that many for?
Goodbye now.
Yours affectionately, Cedric.
Once more, Nancy.
Hold your hand.
Cedric!
Williams, can you teach me
to steeplechase?
Of course, my lord.
If the Earl will allow it.
Of course, he will. I'll ask him.
The grandpa will be only happy.
- Do they live far from here?
- No. A little over a mile.
But it must be difficult
for him to walk.
That's life, my lord.
Good evening, Your Lordship.
Good evening, Mr. Havisham.
I beg your pardon for such
a late visit, but... Look here.
"Dear Mr. Newick,
I'm very grateful to you
for helping poor Higgins.
I have one more request.
Please give my horse,
Hannibal IV,
to the lame boy from the village.
Yours respectfully, Fauntleroy.
What shall I do, Your Lordship?
Don't you see, Newick, the Fauntleroy
signature on this paper?
Do you have any other questions?
Then do it!
Yes, sir.
Excuse me, Your Lordship.
What else?
Shall I buy a new horse
for the little lord?
No new horses.
He must take responsibility
for his actions.
Little Lord Fauntleroy
is giving orders.
He's developing a taste for it!
Believe me! He is! And much sooner
than we had expected.
Well, goodbye, Hannibal IV!
Don't miss me.
And obey your new master.
He needs you more than I do.
What's that filth?
It's not filth.
Dougal, meet your new friend.
It's time to introduce the boy
to society.
Everything has to be rewritten.
And no wives and daughters.
Yes, Your Lordship.
And I thought I didn't change,
James.
Strange how it could happen.
We'll move the buttons,
Your Lordship.
It's a matter of a few minutes.
It will look even better than before.
You may keep it.
Move the buttons as you like.
And order a new one for me.
Those fanfarons have a very sharp
eye for such details.
Gentlemen, I would like to introduce
to you my grandson
and my only heir,
the young Lord Fauntleroy.
How do you do, dear fanfarons?
We heard, Lord, that you came
to England quite recently.
What are your impressions, sir?
I like it very much.
But I'm especially happy
that I've met my grandfather.
What are your plans for the future?
My grandpa says that when I grow up,
I'll be in the House of Lords, too.
So you'll become a real... what was
your expression?
A real fanfaron.
What law would you have
enacted first?
- Or you don't know it yet?
- I know it very well.
I'll abolish the rule, by which my
kindest in the world grandpa and I
have to live separately
from my mamma!
Excuse me, Your Lordship,
lawyer Havisham
asks you to receive him.
- Now?
- Sorry, he says it's very urgent.
- What happened?
- I have bad news.
- You had two sons.
- Is that what you wanted to tell me?
We thought that only your younger
son had a child, sir.
Isn't that so?
Today I was approached,
as your agent,
by a lady named Minna.
I must say, a pretty vulgar
and aggressive creature.
She showed me some documents
to the effect
that she was married
to your elder son.
Remember the woman on the photo,
from which his portrait was made?
That was she.
I wouldn't be surprised
if that drunkard, Charles,
had a dock wench
as his secret wife.
That's not the point.
They had a child.
It was also a boy.
His name is Maximilian.
And by the laws of the United
Kingdom,
he's your only heir.
You've gone mad, Havisham.
That Minna wishes to see you
tomorrow.
Tell the boy that he can go
to see his mother tomorrow.
That will make him very happy.
Gentlemen, I propose a toast
to the heir.
To little Lord Fauntleroy!
Good luck to you, sir.
We're pleased to have met you.
You're in for a great future.
Now that everything has been
resolved so luckily,
I'm sure we'll live like one big
happy family.
Your grandson and your only heir,
Maximilian,
will be a worthy successor
to the glorious Fauntleroy family.
You will be very happy
in your old age.
Yes, Grandfather, with us you'll be
as safe as behind a stone wall.
Look, boy, go to the next room
and close the door behind you
as tightly as possible.
Hey, dear, give me a glass
of water.
Of course,
I'll settle a good income on you.
As for living, as you put it,
like one big happy family,
...don't even think of it.
- But...
As long as I live,
you won't be let into the castle.
But I thought that...
The Fauntleroy men... if the die
of natural causes, of course,
usually live a long life.
A very long life.
Yes, Max, practically
it's all yours already.
But only on one condition:
If you keep your mouth shut.
- Why? I thought the old man
would be glad. - Don't think.
It's me who's thinking for you.
It's quite a job you've given me,
Mr. Hobbs.
One cent for ten flies
is too cheap.
Why don't we revise our contract?
If you catch a hundred of those pests,
you'll get a pretty good sum.
Dick, you don't mean you want
Mr. Abraham chasing those flies?
That's why I hired you.
It will make a very good income,
my boy.
That's it! It was the tenth,
Mr. Hobbs. Where's my cent?
Your cent? Oh, the cent.
Let me count your flies first.
- One, two, three...
- Here's one more.
Four...
What is this? An English paper?
Abraham, how could an English
paper get into our store?
Oh, these coffee grinders were
wrapped in it, Mr. Hobbs.
What is it?
- What is it? I'll be jiggered!
- What happened to you, Mr. Hobbs?
To me?
No, it's not to me.
But I guess I'll have to go
to New York for Primus stoves.
They say, this year there will be
a great demand for Primus stoves.
Where are your manners?
- My lord.
- Yes, James?
Never mind, it's nothing.
I got so used to little Cedric,
and now this!
Yes. And that insolent mother
of the new heir, Maximilian!
Nora, Cedric's mother,
is quite different.
She's a very nice lady,
you can believe me.
Well, it seems Cedric is not fated
to become Lord Fauntleroy.
And we can do nothing about it.
I... I just happened to be here.
I haven't heard anything.
That's how life is, my friend.
You think you're on top,
but one step is enough,
and you're falling to the bottom,
only at the eleventh hour
to grasp at a straw
offered to you by someone
you don't know.
- Grandpa, can I ask you a question?
- What question?
Since I'm no longer Lord Fauntleroy,
don't you want me any more?
Stop talking nonsense.
You're my... my favourite grandson
and you will always be.
Then I don't care if I'm going
to be an earl or not.
Only don't try to make me shed
a tear.
You'll never succeed.
One month later...
Mamma, he's so smart.
I want to set him on partridges.
- Will Grandpa take me hunting?
- Of course, he will.
You have a visitor, ma'am.
I see everything's turning out
very well.
I wanted your son to hear what
we're going to talk about.
Here's a detailed account
of your adventures,
and every second newspaper
calls you
what you really are -
cheats, frauds and impostors!
I don't understand
what you're talking about.
Happily, the Earl now knows
who is who.
And he's doing everything
to restore the justice.
- What are you talking about?
- Don't you know?
At this very moment the Earl is
showing Maximilian around the castle
and the grounds.
The boy has been deprived of his
care and attention for so long.
By the way, my dear, he also gave
the room where your son lived
to the real Lord Fauntleroy,
Maximilian!
Is everything clear to you now?
James, have my coat cleaned
of the road dust.
Yes, sir.
Strike while the iron is hot,
my boy.
I'm sure that tonight everything will
be finally settled in this castle.
Yes, in my castle.
Good afternoon, Your Lordship.
Oh, you came just at the right
moment.
We were going to send for you.
I hope we can dot all
the i's today?
And you no longer doubt
the authenticity of my documents?
We have a guest who will answer
all of your questions.
Hello, Minna.
You haven't changed a bit.
- Who is he?
- Your mother's husband.
Or I would say, her ex-husband,
if not for the fact that the marriage
had not been dissolved
when you, Missis Minna,
ran away from Mr. Hobbs.
Am I right, Mr. Hobbs?
Absolutely right, Mr. Havisham.
Exactly seven years ago,
I'll be jiggered if not.
In this case,
a question is in order:
How did you come into possession
of this nine-year-old boy,
if seven years ago there was not
so much as a mention of him?
I see you find it difficult
to answer.
Well, then we'll put questions
to Mr. Maximilian.
With the help of our friends
in Scotland Yard,
whom, I presume,
he knows notjust by hearsay.
You promised me that we would
eat on silver, drive in a carriage,
be dressed by London's best
tailors,
and what am I seeing?
That was not the deal!
A very sound judgement, sir.
If you don't wish to spend your
immediate future in the company
of London police, instead of
London tailors,
you'll have to answer
our questions.
"Everything will be yours!
You'll live in the lap of luxury!"
Go ahead, ask your questions.
- Who are your real parents?
- I don't know. I'm an orphan.
And she was getting her forged
documents from one-legged Hugh
when I dropped by to skin him
for an old debt.
Well, she began to pester me:
Let's clinch a deal.
Nothing doing: You just have
to pretend you're a young lord.
As if I haven't seen enough
of young lords.
They're a dime a dozen
on the Strand at night.
Oh, I beg your pardon, Your Lordship,
I meant, a great many.
An exhaustive account, sir.
- Can I go now?
- Have a nice day, sir.
Everything's been done
to perfection.
Did you calm down enough
to be able to sign a few documents?
Will you let me go after that?
I think so.
Unfortunately, the Earl
is in good spirits today.
James, have my carriage
brought to the door.
I'm ready
to visit Cedric's mother.
We have just to remember
how the terrified adversary
kissed the feet of our soldiers.
I know it from my late grandfather.
And he was a great warrior!
Well, Mellory, are you happy at last?
We're going to your favourite lady.
You can join us.
Excuse me, where were we?
So, when President Washington
pinned a Purple Heart medal
onto my grandfather's chest,
he said: "I'm ashamed,
I'm ashamed to have fought
such an adversary."
What adversary are you talking
about? I didn't quite get it.
Lady Lorridaile, Your Lordship.
We had a very hard time. And there
you are, like a guardian angel.
- Come on, Mrs. Mellory.
- Miss, Mr. Hobbs.
I know I have sworn that I'd never
put foot in this house,
but the whole England is talking
about you...
And I should meet at last
my two, as of now,
grand-nephews.
- Two?
- Yes.
- Cedric and Maximilian.
- Maximilian...
I presume that Maximilian is already
on his way to London's thieves-den.
You can go with me. I'll explain
everything on our way.
Where are we going?
Cedric is at his mamma's now.
I've decided
that it's time for me
to meet Lady Fauntleroy.
- You haven't met her yet?
- Well, itjust turned out that way.
I will do it now,
and, perhaps, apologize.
And when Cedric comes out
to meet us, I'll pull out his watch
and say: "Well? Did I get here
in time?"
They're gone.
They took all their things
and went away.
They left a letter for you.
Dear Grandpa,
Mamma and I don't want
to bother you any more.
We're leaving.
I'll always remember you with
gratitude. Your grandson, Cedric.
You see how it all ended?
The swindlers are exposed,
Fate has brought us together,
and there's such a misfortune...
Don't worry, Mr. Hobbs, we have
the best police in the world.
Perhaps they've already found
the little lord and Mrs. Nora.
All the efforts to find them
have had no result so far.
However, the little lord and
his mother are still in Britain.
All passenger boats for America
are being thoroughly searched.
So many days have passed!
In that time you could have
a country-wide census.
Believe me, sir, we're doing
everything possible.
I very much hope so.
I'm ready to go and search
for them myself.
I can imagine what a difficult
time you're going through.
My heart is breaking
with compassion.
You've changed so much!
Fate would have to reward you for
that, but you see what happened?
Hold on, brother!
I think our police...
I respect our police,
but my hopes are elsewhere.
Buy newspapers! Latest news!
The heir of Earl Fauntleroy
has disappeared!
The reward is guaranteed!
Give alms to a blind man.
After I left your place,
I was picked up by a horse-cab,
in which were Cedric and his mother.
They were heading for the port,
to go to America.
They hoped they had enough money
to buy the 3rd-class tickets.
I volunteered to help them,
absolutely altruistically, of course.
Speaking of the money.
When will you pay me the reward
you promised?
Go on.
I have many friends in the port.
When we arrived, we learned that the
next passenger boat was in 3 days.
And suddenly we met...
Is it really you?
That captain turned out to be
their old acquaintance.
His cargo boat, carrying
sowing machines to America,
was leaving in an hour.
Mind you, Your Lordship,
they were awfully lucky.
They've saved lots of money.
Do you know how much
a ticket to America costs?
No other way, Miss. No money!
We don't make money on passengers.
Your husband was my friend.
He was a very worthy man!
What do you know! The same face.
Just a spitting image!
That's about all. Give me the money.
As you have promised.
Am I getting my five thousand?
Don't get so excited, sir.
It's bad for your health.
Cedric!
You've learned to play that thing
so well, Dick.
- I missed you, Cedric.
- I missed you too, Dick.
And what about your castle,
servants and a hundred rooms?
I don't have them any more, Dick.
- So you won't leave America again?
- Never.
What are you doing here?
Where's Dick?
I'm guarding the spot.
While that loafer, Dick,
is buying patented brushes.
You see,
the spot is very important.
You can'tjust leave the spot.
Fine shoes, sir!
I know about shoes.
Let me just give them a touch...
I think you've become
a good bootblack.
Well, that trade may come handy
on a rainy day,
little Lord Fauntleroy.
Cedric - Alexei Vesyolkin
Nora - Olga Budina
Havisham - Oleg Shklovsky
James - Nikolai Volkov
Hobbs - Sergey Gazarov
Minna - Alyona Khmelnitskaya
Lady Lorridaile - Yekaterina Vassilyeva
and others
English Subtitles by Tatiana Kameneva
(C) Angel Film, 2002
(C) "Filmexport" Studio, Subtitles, 2003