BBC Play of the Month (1965–1983): Season 12, Episode 1 - The Picture of Dorian Gray - full transcript

( theme music playing )

( theme music playing )

NO QUESTION, BASIL,
IT'S THE BEST THING
YOU'VE EVER DONE.

YOU'LL HAVE TO SEND IT
TO THE GROSVENOR.

THE ACADEMY IS TOO LARGE
AND TOO VULGAR.

WHENEVER I'VE GONE THERE,
THERE HAVE EITHER BEEN

SO MANY PEOPLE I'VE NOT BEEN
ABLE TO SEE THE PICTURES,

WHICH WAS DREADFUL.
OR SO MANY PICTURES

THAT I'VE NOT BEEN ABLE
TO SEE THE PEOPLE--
WHICH WAS WORSE.

THE GROSVENOR IS
REALLY THE ONLY PLACE.

I DON'T THINK
I'LL SEND IT ANYWHERE.



NO, I SHAN'T
SEND IT ANYWHERE.

MY DEAR FELLOW, WHY?
WHAT AN ODD LOT
YOU PAINTERS ARE.

YOU'LL DO ANYTHING IN THE WORLD
TO GAIN A REPUTATION.

AS SOON AS YOU'VE GOT ONE,
YOU WANT TO THROW IT AWAY.

I KNEW YOU'D LAUGH AT ME.
IT'S JUST SIMPLY THAT
I CAN'T EXHIBIT IT.

I'VE PUT TOO MUCH
OF MYSELF INTO IT.

YOU FLATTER YOURSELF,
MY DEAR BASIL.

I DON'T SEE ANY
RESEMBLANCE BETWEEN YOU

AND THIS REMARKABLE
CREATURE.

REAL BEAUTY ENDS WHERE
INTELLECTUAL EXPRESSION BEGINS.

WHICH IS YOURS, SIR.

INTELLECT ITSELF IS
A MODE OF EXAGGERATION.

IT QUITE SPOILS
THE HARMONY OF ANY FACE.

YOU BECOME ALL NOSE
OR ALL FOREHEAD



OR SOMETHING HORRID.

LOOK AT THE SUCCESSFUL MEN IN
ANY OF THE LEARNED PROFESSIONS,

EXCEPT IN THE CHURCH.

BUT THEN IN THE CHURCH
THEY DON'T THINK.

A BISHOP KEEPS ON SAYING
AT THE AGE OF 80

WHAT HE WAS TOLD TO SAY
AS A BOY AT THE AGE OF 18.

SO HE'S INCLINED
TO LOOK FAIRLY DELIGHTFUL.

I'M SURE THE MYSTERIOUS,
YOUNG FELLOW IN THAT PICTURE
ILLUSTRATES THAT.

NO, BASIL, YOU DON'T
RESEMBLE HIM HIM IN THE LEAST.

IN FACT, I SHOULD BE SORRY
TO LOOK LIKE HIM.

YOU KNOW IT'S BEST
NOT TO BE TOO DIFFERENT.

THE UGLY AND THE STUPID
HAVE THE BEST OF IT
IN THIS WORLD.

THEY CAN SIT AT THEIR EASE
AND GAPE AT THE PLAY.

YOUR RANK
AND WEALTH, HARRY,

MY ART, WHATEVER THAT
MAY BE WORTH OR NOT,

DORIAN GRAY'S LOOKS--
WE SHALL ALL SUFFER

FOR WHAT THE GODS
HAVE LOADED US WITH.

DORIAN GRAY--
SO THAT'S HIS NAME.

- I DIDN'T MEAN TO TELL YOU.
- BUT WHY NOT?

PEOPLE I LIKE,
I NEVER GIVE THEIR NAMES.

IT'S LIKE GIVING THEM UP.
I'VE COME TO LOVE SECRECY.

IT SEEMS TO BE THE ONE THING
THAT CAN BEGIN TO MAKE
LIFE BETTER.

I NEVER TELL PEOPLE WHERE
I'VE GONE TO.

- I SUPPOSE YOU
THINK THAT'S ABSURD?
- NOT AT ALL, BASIL,

YOU SEEM TO FORGET I AM MARRIED.
AND THE ONE CHARM OF MARRIAGE IS

THAT IT MAKES
A LIFE OF DECEPTION
NECESSARY FOR BOTH PARTIES.

I NEVER KNOW WHERE MY WIFE IS
AND MY WIFE NEVER KNOWS
WHAT I AM DOING.

WE TELL EACH OTHER
THE MOST ABSURD STORIES
WITH THE MOST SERIOUS FACES.

MY WIFE'S VERY GOOD AT IT,
MUCH BETTER THAN I AM.

IT'S MY BELIEF THAT YOU'RE
REALLY A VERY GOOD HUSBAND,

BUT THAT YOU'RE THOROUGHLY
ASHAMED OF YOUR VIRTUES.

YOUR CYNICISM, HARRY,
IS SIMPLY A POSE.

BEING NATURAL IS SIMPLY A POSE,
AND THE MOST IRRITATING
POSE I KNOW.

LET'S DO GO OUTSIDE,
IT'S SO STUFFY IN HERE.

BASIL, I WANT YOU
TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY

YOU DON'T WANT TO EXHIBIT
DORIAN GRAY'S PICTURE.

- I WANT THE REAL REASON.
- I'VE TOLD YOU THE REAL REASON.

YOU SAID IT WAS
BECAUSE YOU PUT

TOO MUCH OF YOURSELF
INTO IT, WHICH IS CHILDISH.

HARRY,

I THINK THAT EVERY PORTRAIT
THAT IS PAINTED WITH FEELING

IS A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST
AND NOT THE SITTER.

HE IS MERELY THE ACCIDENT,
THE OCCASION.

I CAN BELIEVE ANYTHING
PROVIDED IT'S INCREDIBLE.

SIMPLY, TWO MONTHS AGO I WENT
TO A CRUSH AT LADY BRANDON'S.

YOU KNOW HOW WE ARTISTS HAVE
TO SHOW OURSELVES IN SOCIETY

EVERY NOW AND THEN,
JUST TO REMIND THE PUBLIC
THAT WE EXIST AT ALL.

I'D BEEN THERE
ABOUT 10 MINUTES

WHEN I BECAME CONSCIOUS
OF SOMEBODY LOOKING AT ME.

I TURNED AROUND AND I SAW--

DORIAN GRAY,
FOR THE FIRST TIME.

OUR EYES MET.

AND I CAN ONLY TELL YOU
THAT A CURIOUS SENSATION

OF TERROR CAME OVER ME.
SOMETHING SEEMED TO TELL ME

THAT I WAS ON THE VERGE
OF SOME CRISIS IN MY LIFE.

I TURNED AWAY
TO GET OUT OF THE ROOM.

IT WASN'T CONSCIENCE
BUT COWARDICE OF SOME KIND.

CONSCIENCE AND COWARDICE
ARE REALLY THE SAME THING.

CONSCIENCE IS SIMPLY
THE TRADE NAME
OF THE FIRM.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE
THAT YOU DO EITHER.

WHATEVER IT WAS, I TRIED
TO GET OUT OF THE ROOM.

AND SUDDENLY, I CAME FACE
TO FACE WITH THIS YOUNG MAN

AND HIS PERSONALITY.

WE WERE QUITE CLOSE
BY THIS TIME

AND I ASKED LADY BRANDON
TO INTRODUCE ME.

AND HOW DID SHE EXPLAIN
THIS EXTRAORDINARY FELLOW?

SHE GENERALLY
TREATS HER GUESTS

EXACTLY LIKE AN AUCTIONEER
TREATS HIS GOODS.

EITHER EXPLAINS THEM
COMPLETELY AWAY OR TELLS ONE

EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM EXCEPT
WHAT ONE WANTS TO KNOW.

YOU'RE RATHER HARD
ON HER.

SHE TRIED TO FOUND A SALON,
ONLY SUCCEEDED IN OPENING
A RESTAURANT.

HOW COULD ONE
ADMIRE HER?

BUT TELL ME,
WHAT DID SHE EVENTUALLY SAY?

OH, SOMETHING LIKE--

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT
HE ACTUALLY DOES...

I DON'T THINK
HE DOES ANYTHING.

OH YES, HE PLAYS THE PIANO,
OR IS IT THE VIOLIN, MR. GRAY?"

WE BOTH STARTED LAUGHING.
WE SEEMED TO BE FRIENDS
RIGHT AWAY.

LAUGHTER ISN'T
A BAD BEGINNING
FOR A FRIENDSHIP.

IT'S BY FAR
THE BEST ENDING
FOR ONE.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT
FRIENDSHIP IS. OR WHAT
ENMITY IS FOR THAT MATTER.

YOU LIKE EVERYONE.
THAT IS TO SAY...

YOU'RE INDIFFERENT
TO EVERYONE.

I CHOSE MY FRIENDS
FOR THEIR GOOD LOOKS,

MY ACQUAINTANCES
FOR THEIR GOOD CHARACTERS,

AND MY ENEMIES
FOR THEIR GOOD INTELLECTS.

A MAN CAN'T BE TOO CAREFUL
IN HIS CHOICE OF ENEMIES.

I HAVEN'T ONE THAT'S A FOOL.
THEY'RE ALL MEN OF SOME
INTELLECTUAL POWER,

CONSEQUENTLY, THEY ALL
APPRECIATE ME.

BUT TELL ME MORE
ABOUT DORIAN GRAY.

HE'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY
TO MY WORK.

AT THE MOMENT, ALMOST DAILY.

HE'S MUCH MORE
THAN A MODEL OR A SITTER.

I TELL YOU, HARRY,

THE WORK I'VE DONE WITH HIM
IS THE BEST WORK OF MY LIFE.

THIS IS EXTRAORDINARY.
I MUST SEE HIM.

HE'S SIMPLY
AN INSPIRATION TO ME.

YOU MAY SEE
NOTHING IN HIM,

I THINK THAT I SHALL
SEE EVERYTHING, THAT'S ALL.

THEN WHY WON'T YOU
EXHIBIT THE PORTRAIT?

BECAUSE THERE COULD SEEM
TO CERTAIN SHALLOW, PRYING EYES

A CERTAIN ARTISTIC IDOLATRY.

WE LIVE IN A TIME, HARRY,
WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF ART

AS A FORM OF AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

I DON'T WANT THAT FOR HIM
OR FOR MYSELF.

- IS HE FOND OF YOU?
- HE LIKES ME, I THINK.

THOUGH NOW AND THEN, HE DOES
SEEM TO TAKE A REAL DELIGHT

IN GIVING ME PAIN.
I FLATTER HIM.

PERHAPS YOU WILL TIRE
QUICKER THAN HE WILL.

GENIUS LASTS LONGER
THAN BEAUTY.

NO, I WON'T TIRE, HARRY.

YOU CAN'T FEEL WHAT I FEEL,
YOU CHANGE TOO OFTEN.

THOSE WHO ARE
ALWAYS FAITHFUL KNOW
ONLY THE TRIVIAL SIDE OF LOVE.

IT'S THE FAITHLESS
WHO KNOW ITS TRAGEDIES.

AH, I'VE JUST REMEMBERED.

- WHAT?
- THE NAME.

MY AUNT LADY AGATHA,
TOLD ME SHE DISCOVERED

SOME WONDERFUL,YOUNG
CREATURE WHO WAS

GOING TO HELP HER
IN THE EAST END.

SHE NEVER SAID
ANYTHING ABOUT
HIS BEING GOOD-LOOKING.

- I DON'T WANT YOU TO MEET HIM.
- WHAT NONSENSE YOU DO TALK.

DORIAN?

I BEG YOUR PARDON, BASIL.
I DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD
ANYONE WITH YOU.

THIS IS
LORD HENRY WOTTON.

I'VE JUST BEEN HEARING
WHAT A FINE SITTER YOU ARE.

YOU'RE ALSO ONE OF MY AUNT'S
FAVORITE VICTIMS, I'M AFRAID.

I AM IN LADY AGATHA'S
BLACK BOOKS AT PRESENT.

I PROMISED TO GO
TO A CLUB WITH HER

IN WHITECHAPEL LAST TUESDAY.
YOU KNOW, I FORGOT ALL ABOUT IT.

YOU LOOK GENUINELY
CONTRITE ABOUT IT.

I WILL MAKE
YOUR PEACE WITH MY AUNT.
SHE'S QUITE DEVOTED TO YOU.

I DON'T THINK IT REALLY MATTERS
ABOUT YOU'RE NOT BEING THERE.

YOU'RE TOO SERIOUS TO GO IN
FOR PHILANTHROPY, MR. GRAY--

AND PROFOUND.

COME INSIDE, DORIAN.
AND, HARRY, DO GO OFF TO ONE
OF YOUR DOS OR SOMETHING.

- IT SEEMS I'M UNWANTED.
- DON'T GO.

BASIL IS ONLY IN ONE
OF HIS STARTLING
ORDER SULKS,

AND BESIDES I'D LIKE
TO KNOW WHY

YOU THINK I SHOULDN'T
GO IN FOR PHILANTHROPY.

YOU DON'T REALLY MIND,
BASIL, DO YOU?

YOU'VE OFTEN TOLD ME
YOU LIKE YOUR SITTERS
TO HAVE SOMEONE TO CHAT TO.

THERE ISN'T MUCH
LEFT TO DO

AND DORIAN'S WHIMS ARE LAWS
TO EVERYONE EXCEPT HIMSELF.

SO JUST SIT, HARRY.

AND DORIAN--

ON WITH THE COAT.

ONTO THE PLATFORM.

TRY NOT TO MOVE ABOUT
TOO MUCH TODAY.

AND DON'T TAKE ANY NOTICE
OF WHAT HE SAYS.

HE'S A VERY BAD INFLUENCE
ON ALL OF HIS FRIENDS,
EXCEPT ME.

IS YOUR INFLUENCE REALLY
AS BAD AS THAT?

THERE'S NO SUCH THING
AS A GOOD INFLUENCE.

ALL INFLUENCE
IS IMMORAL.

- WHY?
- 'CAUSE TO INFLUENCE SOMEONE
IS TO GIVE HIM ONE'S SOUL.

IF HE NO LONGER THINKS
HIS NATURAL THOUGHTS

OR BURNS
WITH HIS NATURAL PASSIONS,

HE'S BECOME THE ECHO
OF SOMEONE ELSE'S MUSIC.

THE ACTOR OF A PART THAT
HAS NOT BEEN WRITTEN FOR HIM.

TO REALIZE'S ONE NATURE
AS PERFECTLY AS ONE CAN,

THAT WHAT WE ARE FOR.

PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN
THE HIGHEST OF ALL DUTIES

IS THE DUTY ONE
OWES TO ONESELF.

Basil:
DORIAN, YOUR HEAD,
A LITTLE ON ONE SIDE.

I STILL BELIEVE THAT
IF A MAN COULD

LIVE OUT HIS LIFE,
FULLY AND COMPLETELY--

YES?

GIVE FORM TO EVERY THOUGHT,

EXPRESSION TO EVERY IDEA
AND SO ON,

WELL, THE WORLD MIGHT FORGET
ITS PAST MALADIES.

WE ARE PUNISHED
FOR OUR REFUSALS.

THE BODY SINS ONCE
AND IS DONE WITH IT.

IT'S IN THE BRAIN,
AND THE BRAIN ALONE,

THAT THE GREAT SINS
OF THE WORLD TAKE PLACE.

YOU MUST KNOW THAT,
MR. GRAY?

HAVE HAD PASSIONS
THAT MADE YOU AFRAID,

THOUGHTS THAT
FILLED YOU WITH TERROR,

DAYDREAMS
AND SLEEPING DREAMS--

PLEASE STOP!
THERE'S SOME ANSWER
TO ALL YOU'RE SAYING, I KNOW.

BUT I CAN'T FIND IT
FOR THE MOMENT.

I'D LIKE TO THINK.

OR NOT TO.

Dorian:
BASIL, I'M GETTING WEARY
STANDING UP HERE.

JUST A LITTLE LONGER.

IT'S SO STIFLING IN HERE.

I'M SORRY--

I TEND TO FORGET ABOUT THESE
THINGS WHEN I AM WORKING.

THAT WAS BETTER THAN EVER--
STILLNESS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT
HARRY'S BEEN SAYING TO YOU
BUT YOU CERTAINLY--

-- WEREN'T BEING PAID
COMPLIMENTS, IF THAT'S
WHAT YOU MEAN.

WHATEVER IT WAS,
DON'T BELIEVE A WORD HE SAYS.

HE'S RIGHT.
YOU ARE INDEED
A WONDERFUL CREATION.

YOU KNOW MORE THAN
YOU THINK YOU KNOW,

JUST AS YOU KNOW LESS
THAT YOU WANT TO KNOW.

YOU HAVE THE MOST
MARVELOUS YOUTH.

THAT IS THE ONE THING
WORTH HAVING.

I DON'T FEEL THAT WAY,
LORD HENRY.

DON'T FROWN SO,
MR. GRAY.

BEAUTY IS
A FORM OF GENIUS--
HIGHER IN FACT.

IT REQUIRES NO EXPLAINING.
IT'S ONE OF THE GREAT
FACTS OF THE WORLD.

LIKE SUNLIGHT ON WATER
OR THE DARKNESS OF SEASONS.

IT MAKE PRINCES
OF THOSE WHO HAVE IT.

YOU SMILE--

AH, WHEN YOU'VE
LOST IT,

IT WILL BE NO TIME
TO SMILE.

THE MYSTERY OF THE WORLD
IS IN THE VISIBLE,
NOT THE INVISIBLE.

MR. GRAY, THE GODS
HAVE BEEN GOOD TO YOU
FOR THE PRESENT.

DON'T SQUANDER
THE GOLD OF YOUR DAYS.

THE MOMENT I SAW YOU,

I KNEW THAT YOU WERE
UNCONSCIOUS OF WHAT
YOU MIGHT BE.

I FELT
I MUST TELL YOU.

BEAUTY FADES.
LIMBS FAIL.

SENSES ROT.

YOUTH...

THERE'S ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING ELSE
IN THE WORLD.

Basil:
DORIAN, I AM WAITING.

YOU ARE GLAD THAT
YOU HAVE MEET ME,
MR. GRAY?

GLAD NOW.
I WONDER IF I
SHALL ALWAYS BE.

ALWAYS--
WHAT A DREADFUL WORD IT IS.

WOMEN ARE SO FOND
OF USING IT.

THEY SPOIL EVERY ROMANCE
BY TRYING TO MAKE IT
LAST FOREVER.

IT'S ALSO
A MEANINGLESS WORD.

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN A CAPRICE

AND A LIFELONG PASSION,

IS THAT THE CAPRICE LASTS
SLIGHTLY LONGER.

IN THAT CASE,
PERHAPS OUR FRIENDSHIP
SHOULD BE A CAPRICE.

IT'S DONE.

NO MORE, AS I THOUGHT.
IT'S QUITE DONE.
JUST NOW.

MY DEAR FELLOW,
YOU MUST BE OVER THE MOON.

IT'S THE MOST BRILLIANT
MODERN PORTRAIT I'VE EVER SEEN.
IT REALLY IS.

MR. GRAY, COME OVER
AND LOOK AT YOURSELF.

IS IT REALLY FINISHED?

Basil:
YES, QUITE FINISHED.

I DIDN'T THINK
WE'D DO ANYTHING TODAY.

OH, DORIAN
I CAN'T TELL YOU
HOW GRATEFUL I AM.

IT'S AS IF
IT'S DONE ITSELF.

THAT'S ENTIRELY
DUE TO ME, ISN'T IT?

DORIAN,
WHAT IS IT?

DON'T YOU LIKE IT?

OF COURSE HE LIKES IT,
WHO WOULDN'T?

I'LL GIVE ANYTHING
YOU LIKE TO ASK FOR IT.
I MUST HAVE IT.

IT'S NOT MY PROPERTY,
HARRY.

- Harry: WHOSE PROPERTY IS IT?
- Basil: DORIAN'S, OF COURSE.

HE'S A VERY LUCKY FELLOW.

THIS PICTURE WILL
ALWAYS REMAIN YOUNG.

IT WILL NEVER BE OLDER
THAN THIS DAY IN JUNE.

IF ONLY IT COULD GROW OLD
INSTEAD OF ME.

I WOULD GIVE MY SOUL
FOR THAT.

YOU'D HARDLY CARE
FOR SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT,
WOULD YOU, BASIL?

RATHER HARD LINES
ON YOUR WORK.

Basil:
I SHOULD OBJECT
VERY STRONGLY.

I'M SURE.
YOU LIKE YOUR ART BETTER
THAN YOUR FRIENDS.

I'M NO MORE TO YOU
THAN ONE OF YOUR GREEN
BRONZE FIGURES.

- NOT AS MUCH.
- DON'T SAY THINGS LIKE THAT.

YOUR PICTURE HAS TAUGHT ME.
LORD HENRY IS RIGHT.

WHEN I DO FIND
I AM GROWING OLD,
I SHALL SIMPLY KILL MYSELF.

( sobbing )

LISTEN TO ME.
I'VE NEVER HAD SUCH
A FRIEND AS YOU.

YOU TELL ME THAT
YOU COULD BE JEALOUS
OF MATERIAL THINGS.

- YOU'RE FINER THAN...
- I'M JEALOUS OF THAT PORTRAIT!

WHY SHOULD IT KEEP
WHAT I LOSE?

EVERY MOMENT
IT TAKES SOMETHING
FROM ME.

WHY DID YOU PAINT IT?
SO THAT ONE DAY I SHALL
BE MOCKED BY IT?

HARRY, THIS YOUR DOING.

IT IS THE REAL DORIAN GRAY,
THAT'S ALL.

- Basil: IT IS NOT!
- THEN IF IT IS NOT,

WHAT HAS IT TO DO
WITH ME?

I CAN'T QUARREL
WITH MY TWO BEST FRIENDS
AT ONCE.

DON'T YOU KNOW,
BETWEEN YOU,
YOU'VE MADE ME HATE

THE FINEST PIECE OF WORK
I'VE EVER DONE?

WELL, IT'S ONLY
COLOR AND CANVAS.

I WON'T LET IT CUT
ACROSS OUR LIVES.

I'LL DESTROY IT.

DON'T, BASIL!
DON'T!

IT WOULD BE MURDER.

YOU APPRECIATE MY WORK?
I WAS BEGINNING TO DOUBT IT.

APPRECIATE IT?
IT'S PART OF MYSELF. I FEEL IT.

WHEN YOU'RE DRY
YOU SHALL BE VARNISHED,
FRAMED AND SENT HOME.

I WISH YOU TWO WOULDN'T
SQUABBLE OVER THAT PICTURE.

YOU MUCH BETTER
LET ME HAVE IT, BASIL.

THAT SILLY BOY DOESN'T
REALLY WANT IT AND I REALLY DO.

LET ANYONE
BUT ME HAVE IT,
I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU.

IT'S YOURS, YOU KNOW THAT.
I GAVE IT TO YOU BEFORE
IT EXISTED.

Harry:
WHY DON'T WE GO
TO THE THEATER TONIGHT?

THERE'S SURE TO BE
SOMETHING ON SOMEWHERE.

YOU TOO, BASIL,
WON'T YOU?

I CAN'T I'VE GOT
TOO MUCH WORK TO DO.

BESIDES,
I HATE DRESSING UP.

THEN YOU AND I
SHALL GO ALONE,
MR. GRAY.

I SHALL STAY
WITH THE REAL DORIAN.

IS IT THE REAL DORIAN?

AM I REALLY LIKE THAT?

YES, JUST LIKE THAT.

DON'T GO
TO THE THEATER TONIGHT.

- STAY AND DINE WITH ME.
- I CAN'T.

- WHY?
- I PROMISED TO GO TO
THE THEATER WITH LORD HENRY.

HE WON'T LIKE YOU ANY BETTER
FOR KEEPING PROMISES.

DON'T GO!

- PLEASE.
- I'M GOING, BASIL.

VERY WELL,
THEN GOODBYE, HARRY.

GOODBYE, DORIAN.

COME AND SEE ME SOON.
COME TOMORROW.

- CERTAINLY.
- YOU WON'T FORGET?

- OF COURSE NOT.
- I'LL REMIND HIM.

MY HANSOM'S OUTSIDE,
MR. GRAY.

I CAN DROP YOU OFF
AT YOUR PLACE.

GOODBYE, BASIL. IT'S BEEN
SUCH AN INTERESTING AFTERNOON.

UNCLE GEORGE,
I WANT TO GET
SOMETHING OUT OF YOU.

- MONEY, I SUPPOSE?
- IT ISN'T MONEY I WANT.

ONLY PEOPLE WHO PAY
THEIR BILLS WANT THAT,
AND I NEVER PAY MINE.

I ALWAYS DEAL
WITH BROTHER DARTMOOR'S
TRADESMEN,

CONSEQUENTLY,
THEY NEVER BOTHER ME
AT ALL.

WHAT I WANT IS INFORMATION,
USELESS INFORMATION,
NATURALLY.

I CAN TELL YOU ANYTHING
THAT'S IN AN ENGLISH BLUE BOOK.

BUT THESE FELLOWS
WRITE US A LOT OF NONSENSE,
NOWADAYS.

WHEN I WAS IN THE DIPLOMATIC,
THINGS WERE MUCH BETTER.

NOW I HEAR, THEY LET THEM IN
BY EXAMINATION.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?

EXAMINATIONS, SIR,

ARE PURE HUMBUG
FROM BEGINNING TO END.

IF A MAN'S A GENTLEMAN
HE KNOW QUITE ENOUGH,

AND IF HE ISN'T A GENTLEMAN,
WHATEVER HE KNOWS IS
BAD FOR HIM.

MR. DORIAN GRAY DOES NOT
BELONG TO BLUE BOOKS,
UNCLE GEORGE.

HE'S OLD LORD KELSO'S
GRANDSON.

AND HIS MOTHER
WAS A DEVEREUX.
LADY MARGARET DEVEREUX.

I WANT YOU
TO TELL ME ABOUT HER.

WHO DID SHE MARRY?
YOU'VE KNOWN NEARLY
EVERYONE IN YOUR TIME.

OF COURSE, I KNEW HER.
EXTRAORDINARILY BEAUTIFUL GIRL.

MADE ALL THE MEN FRANTIC--
RUNNING AWAY WITH SOME
PENNILESS NOBODY.

A SUBALTERN
IN A FOOT REGIMENT--
SOMETHING OF THE KIND.

POOR CHAP WAS KILLED IN A DUEL
AT SPA JUST AFTERWARDS.

UGLY BUSINESS.
THEY DID SAY KELSO
GOT SOME BELGIUM BRUTE

TO INSULT HIS SON-IN-LAW
IN PUBLIC,

AND THEN PAID HIM
TO SPIT HIM LIKE A PIGEON.

I WAS THINKING
IT WAS HUSHED UP,
BUT KELSO ATE

HIS CHOP ALONE IN THE CLUB
FOR A LONG TIME AFTERWARDS.

IT WAS A BAD BUSINESS.

KELSO BROUGHT HER BACK
BUT SHE NEVER SPOKE
TO HIM AGAIN.

THEN SHE DIED HERSELF
BEFORE THE YEAR WAS OUT.

JUST AFTER THAT BOY
IN THERE WAS BORN.

GOOD-LOOKING FELLOW.
TAKES AFTER HIS MOTHER.

MIND YOU DON'T GO
LEADING HIM ASTRAY, HARRY.

HE SHOULD HAVE SOME MONEY
WAITING FOR HIM

IF KELSO DOES
THE RIGHT THING.

I FANCY HE'S GOING
TO BE WELL OFF.

SHE WAS THE MOST GLORIOUS
LOOKING CREATURE I EVER SAW.

COULD HAVE MARRIED ANYBODY.
BUT SHE WAS A ROMANTIC.

ALL THE WOMEN
IN THAT FAMILY WERE.

THE MEN WERE A POOR LOT,
BUT THE WOMEN WERE WONDERFUL.

TALKING OF SILLY MARRIAGES,

WHAT'S ALL THIS FIDDLE-FADDLE
I HEAR ABOUT DARTMOOR
MARRYING AN AMERICAN?

AIN'T ENGLISH GIRLS
GOOD ENOUGH FOR HIM?

IT'S RATHER FASHIONABLE
TO MARRY AMERICANS JUST NOW.

I'D BACK ENGLISH WOMEN
AGAINST THE WORLD.

- THE BETTING IS
ON THE AMERICANS.
- THEY DON'T LAST, I'M TOLD.

LONG ENGAGEMENTS EXHAUST THEM.
BUT THEY'RE CAPITAL

AT A STEEPLECHASE.
THEY TAKE THINGS FLYING.

I DON'T THINK POOR
DARTMOOR HAS A CHANCE.

WHO ARE HER PEOPLE?
HAS SHE GOT ANY?

AMERICAN GIRLS ARE AS CLEVER
AT CONCEALING THEIR PARENTS

AS ENGLISH WOMEN ARE
AT CONCEALING THEIR PAST.

PORK PACKERS, I SUPPOSE.

I HOPE SO, UNCLE GEORGE,
FOR POOR DARTMOOR'S SAKE.

I AM TOLD THAT PORK PACKING
IS THE MOST LUCRATIVE

PROFESSION IN AMERICA--
AFTER POLITICS.

- IS SHE PRETTY?
- SHE BEHAVES AS IF
SHE WERE BEAUTIFUL.

ALL AMERICAN WOMEN DO.
IT'S THE SECRET OF THEIR CHARM.

WHY CAN'T AMERICAN WOMEN
STAY IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY?

THEY KEEP ON TELLING US
IT'S A WOMAN'S PARADISE.

IT APPEARS TO BE.
THAT IS WHY LIKE EVE,

THEY'RE SO ANXIOUS
TO GET OUT OF IT.

( laughter )

POOR DARTMOOR.

DO YOU THINK HE WILL
MARRY THIS FASCINATING
YOUNG PERSON?

I BELIEVE--
SHE'S MADE UP HER MIND
TO PROPOSE TO HIM, DUCHESS.

OH, HOW DREADFUL.
SOMEBODY SHOULD INTERFERE.

I'M TOLD ON
EXCELLENT AUTHORITY,

THAT HER FATHER
KEEPS AN AMERICAN
DRY GOODS STORE.

DRY GOODS?
WHAT ARE AMERICAN DRY GOODS?

AMERICAN NOVELS.

DON'T MIND HIM.
HE NEVER MEANS ANYTHING
HE SAYS.

WHEN AMERICA
WAS DISCOVERED--

I WISH TO GOODNESS IT HAD
NEVER BEEN DISCOVERED.

OUR GIRLS HAVE
NO CHANCE NOWADAYS.
IT'S MOST UNFAIR.

PERHAPS AMERICA HAS
NEVER BEEN DISCOVERED.

I WOULD SAY IT HAD
MERELY BEEN DETECTED.

OH COME,
I'VE SEEN SPECIMENS
OF THE INHABITANTS.

THEY DRESS WELL.
AND MOST OF THEM ARE
EXTREMELY PRETTY.

THEY GET ALL
THEIR DRESSES IN PARIS.

I WISH
I COULD AFFORD TO.

THEY SAY WHEN
GOOD AMERICANS DIE,
THEY GO TO PARIS.

WHERE DO BAD AMERICANS GO
WHEN THEY DIE?

- THEY GO TO AMERICA.
- ( laughter )

HARRY, I'M QUITE
VEXED WITH YOU.

WHY ARE YOU TRYING
TO PERSUADE OUR MR. GRAY
TO GIVE UP THE EAST END?

I CAN SYMPATHIZE
WITH EVERYTHING
EXCEPT SUFFERING.

HARRY, THE PEOPLE
IN WHITECHAPEL

ARE UTTERLY WRETCHED
AND UNHAPPY.

THERE'S SOMETHING MORBID ABOUT
THE CULT OF MODERN SYMPATHY.

- COME, COME LORD HENRY.
- I SHOULD SYMPATHIZE WITH
A MAN WHO HAS TOOTHACHE.

BUT I DON'T.
HE MAY BE IN DREADFUL PAIN,

BUT I CAN'T STAND HIM
AND I CAN'T GO NEAR HIM.
I WANT TO GET AWAY FROM HIM.

YOU CAN'T GET AWAY
FROM THE EAST END.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT PROBLEM.

IT'S THE PROBLEM OF SLAVERY.
WE TRIED TO SOLVE IT BY
AMUSING THE SLAVES.

HOW WOULD YOU
CHANGE IT THEN?

I WOULDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING
IN ENGLAND EXCEPT THE WEATHER.

THE 19th CENTURY
HAS GONE BANKRUPT

THROUGH AN OVER-EXPENDITURE
OF SYMPATHY.

HOW VERY COMFORTING.

I'VE ALWAYS FELT RATHER GUILTY
WHEN I CAME TO SEE YOUR AUNT.

YOU SEE, I TAKE NO INTEREST
IN THE EAST END EITHER.

IN FUTURE, I SHALL BE ABLE
TO LOOK AT HER WITHOUT BLUSHING.

YOUR BLUSH IS SO
VERY BECOMING, DUCHESS.

ONLY WHEN ONE WAS YOUNG.

WHEN AN OLD WOMAN BLUSHES
IT'S NOT A GOOD SIGN.

MR. GRAY, I WISH
YOU COULD TELL ME

HOW TO BECOME
YOUNG AGAIN.

CAN YOU REMEMBER ANY GREAT
ERRORS THAT YOU COMMITTED
IN YOUR EARLY DAYS?

- ONLY TOO MANY.
- THEN COMMIT THEM OVER AGAIN.

TO REGAIN ONE'S YOUTH ONE SHOULD
REPEAT ALL ONE'S FOLLIES.

WHAT A DELIGHTFUL THEORY.
I MUST PUT INTO PRACTICE.

- A DANGEROUS THEORY.
- IT'S ONE OF THE GREAT SECRETS.

PEOPLE NOWADAYS DIE OF A SORT
OF CREEPING COMMON SENSE.

THEY DISCOVER TOO LATE

THAT THE ONLY THINGS ONE NEVER
REGRETS ARE ONE'S MISTAKES.

- ( laughter )
- ( bell rings )

OH, HOW ANNOYING.
I MUST GO.

- OH, MUST YOU?
- YES, I MUST, DEAR.

LORD HENRY, YOU'RE QUITE
DELIGHTFUL AND DREADFULLY
DEMORALIZING.

- DON'T GOT YET, EDIE.
- YES, I MUST GO, AGATHA.
GOODBYE.

LORD HENRY, YOU MUST COME
AND DINE WITH US SOME NIGHT.

FOR YOU DEAR LADY,
I WOULD THROW OVER ANYBODY.

THAT IS VERY NICE
AND VERY WRONG OF YOU.

SO MIND YOU
COME TUESDAY.

- GOODBYE.
- GOODBYE.

YOU TALK BOOKS AWAY,
LORD HENRY.

WHY DON'T YOU
WRITE ONE.

I AM FAR TOO FOND
OF READING BOOKS
TO WRITE ONE, MR. ERSKINE.

I SHOULD LIKE TO WRITE
A NOVEL, CERTAINLY.

THERE'S NO PUBLIC
IN ENGLAND FOR ANYTHING

EXCEPT NEWSPAPERS,
REVIEWS, PRIMERS
AND ENCYCLOPEDIAS.

OF ALL THE PEOPLE
IN THE WORLD,

THE ENGLISH HAVE
THE LEAST SENSE
OF LITERATURE.

I'M AFRAID YOU'RE RIGHT.

I MYSELF USED TO HAVE
LITERARY AMBITIONS.

BUT I GAVE THEM UP
LONG AGO.

I WOULD LIKE TO TALK
TO YOU ABOUT LIFE.

THE GENERATION
INTO WHICH I WAS BORN

WAS VERY TEDIOUS.

AND NOW I AM DUE
AT THE ATHENIUM.

IT'S THE HOUR
WHEN WE SLEEP THERE.

ALL OF YOU, MR. ERSKINE?

40 OF US
IN 40 ARMCHAIRS.

DON'T GO, HARRY.

STAY AND TALK
WITH ME.

I THOUGHT YOU'D PROMISED
TO GO SEE BASIL HALLWARD?

I'D SOONER
BE WITH YOU.

I'VE TALKED QUITE ENOUGH
FOR ONE DAY.

BUT JUST AS YOU WISH.

- TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WIFE.
- TELL YOU WHAT?

I SAW YOU TOGETHER
AT LOHENGRIN THE OTHER NIGHT.

AM I TO TAKE IT THAT
YOU ARE ALREADY INTERESTED

IN THE PRACTICALITY
OF MARRIAGE?

YES, I AM.
VERY MUCH SO.

INDEED YOU MUST
TELL ME ABOUT IT.

IF YOU REMEMBER
I WAS ASKING ABOUT YOUR WIFE.

OH VICTORIA,
SHE'S A CURIOUS WOMAN.

A MANIA FOR GOING
TO CHURCH.

HER DRESSES ALWAYS LOOK
AS IF THEY'D BEEN DESIGNED,
AND ARRANGED,

AND PUT ON IN THE MIDDLE
OF A TEMPEST.

SHE'S USUALLY IN LOVE
WITH SOMEONE,

BUT AS HER PASSION
IS HARDLY EVER RETURNED,

SHE'S MANAGED TO KEEP
MOST OF HER ILLUSIONS.

SHE DOES TRY
TO LOOK PICTURESQUE,

BUT ALWAYS ENDS UP
LOOKING UNTIDY.

MARRIAGE?

NEVER MARRY A WOMAN
WITH STRAW-COLORED HAIR.

- WHY, HARRY?
- THEY'RE SO SENTIMENTAL.

BUT I LIKE PEOPLE
TO BE SENTIMENTAL.

MY ADVICE TO YOU IS,
DORIAN, DON'T MARRY AT ALL.

MEN MARRY BECAUSE
THEY'RE TIRED.

WOMEN BECAUSE
THEY'RE CURIOUS.
BOTH ARE DISAPPOINTED.

MY LIFE, HARRY,
IS NOT ONE OF YOUR APHORISMS.

I THINK I DESERVE
BETTER OF YOU THAN THAT.

WHO ARE YOU
IN LOVE WITH?

AN ACTRESS.

THAT'S RATHER
A COMMONPLACE DEBUT.

YOU WOULDN'T SAY SO
IF YOU SAW HER.

- WHO IS SHE?
- HER NAME, IF THAT'S WHAT
YOU MEAN, IS SIBYL VANE.

- I NEVER HEARD OF HER.
- NOBODY HAS.

BUT THEY WILL DO.
SHE'S A GENIUS.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU
KNOWN HER?

ABOUT THREE WEEKS.

AND WHERE DID YOU
COME ACROSS HER?

I'LL TELL YOU, HARRY,
BUT YOU MUST LISTEN,
AND LISTEN PROPERLY.

I THINK A LITTLE WHILE AGO,

BEFORE I'D MET YOU, IT MIGHT
NEVER HAVE HAPPENED AT ALL.

I HAD BEEN WALKING
ABOUT LONDON.

JUST WALKING,
JUST LOOKING AND WATCHING

PEOPLE I PASSED
OR WHO PASSED ME.

SOME OF THEM SEEMED
FASCINATING SIMPLY TO SEE.

SOME OF THE OTHERS
TERRIFIED ME AND I'D
HURRY ON WITHOUT STAYING.

DON'T KNOW WHAT ON EARTH
I WAS EXPECTING.

ANYWAY, ONE NIGHT,

I WAS OUT IN THE DIRECTION
OF YOUR AUNT AGATHA'S
FAMOUS EAST END.

ABOUT HALF PAST 8:00,
I PASSED BY AN ABSURD
LITTLE THEATER,

ALL AFLARE IN GAS JETS
AND PLAYBILLS.

I LOOKED AT THE PROGRAM.

IT TURNED OUT
THE PLAY THAT NIGHT WAS
"ROMEO AND JULIET."

CAN'T SAY I RELISHED
THE IDEA OF BEING CONFRONTED

WITH SHAKESPEARE
IN THIS ODD LITTLE PLACE.

BUT BY THIS TIME, I'D GOT
INTERESTED IN THE ATMOSPHERE

AND THOUGHT I'D SEE OUT
THE FIRST ACT.

ROMEO WAS LIKE
AN OLD BEER BARREL.

AND MERCUTIO WAS PLAYED
BY THE LOCAL COMEDIAN

JUST IN ORDER TO PUT IN
HIS FAVORITE GAGS.

AND THEN JULIET CAME ON.

HARRY, SHE WAS THE LOVELIEST
THING I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.

YOU SAID TO ME ONCE
THAT PATHOS LEFT YOU UNMOVED,

BUT THAT BEAUTY,
SOMETHING MERELY BEAUTIFUL

COULD FILL YOUR EYES
WITH TEARS.

I TELL YOU, HARRY,
I COULD HARDLY SEE THIS GIRL

FOR THE MIST OF TEARS THAT CAME
ACROSS MY LINE OF SIGHT.

AND WHEN SHE SPOKE,
HER VOICE...

I'D NEVER HEARD
ANYTHING LIKE IT.

I CAN'T FORGET IT.
THE EVENING.

I CAN'T FORGET HER.
SHE'S EVERYTHING IN LIFE TO ME.

- EVERY NIGHT
I GO AND WATCH HER.
- I SEE.

HARRY, WHY DIDN'T YOU
TELL ME WHAT IT IS,
LOVING AN ACTRESS?

BECAUSE I HAVE LOVED
SO MANY OF THEM, DORIAN.

WHEN ONE IS IN LOVE ONE ALWAYS
BEGINS BY DECEIVING ONESELF.

AND ALWAYS ENDS
BY DECEIVING OTHER PEOPLE.

THAT IS WHAT IS KNOWN
IN THE WORLD AS ROMANCE.

HARRY, SIBYL IS THE ONLY THING
I CARE ABOUT NOW.

ONE NIGHT I THREW HER SOME
FLOWERS AND SHE LOOKED UP AT ME.

AT LEAST, I THOUGHT SHE DID.

EVERY NIGHT I GO TO SEE HER
AND EVERY NIGHT SHE'S
MORE MARVELOUS.

THAT IS THE REASON, I SUPPOSE,
WHY YOU NEVER DINE WITH ME NOW.

I THOUGHT YOU MUST HAVE
SOME CURIOUS ROMANCE ON HAND.

YOU HAVE, BUT IT'S NOT QUITE
WHAT I EXPECTED.

HARRY, I WANT YOU AND BASIL
TO COME WITH ME SOME NIGHT
AND SEE HER.

I'M NOT AT ALL APPREHENSIVE.
YOU'LL SEE WHAT I MEAN AT ONCE.

VERY WELL.

TODAY IS WHAT, TUESDAY?
SHALL WE FIX TOMORROW?

WHAT DOES SHE PLAY TOMORROW?

JULIET.
ALL RIGHT, THE BRISTOL AT 8:00,
AND I'LL PICK UP BASIL.

- WILL YOU?
- POOR BASIL.

I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM
FOR A WEEK AT LEAST.

IT'S RATHER AWFUL OF ME.
HE'S SENT ME MY PORTRAIT

IN A MOST WONDERFUL FRAME
WHICH HE DESIGNED HIMSELF.

TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH,
I'M A FRACTION JEALOUS
OF THE PICTURE

FOR BEING A WHOLE MONTH
YOUNGER THAN ME.

DON'T FORGET
ABOUT TOMORROW.

MOTHER, I'M SO HAPPY.

YOU MUST SEE THAT.
YOU DO FEEL IT?

HAPPY? I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT HAPPY.

WHAT IS IT THAT
HE SEES IN ME?

I DON'T EVEN
FEEL HUMBLE.

I FEEL PROUD,
MOTHER.

YES, TERRIBLY PROUD.

HOW DID YOU LOVE FATHER?

FORGIVE ME.

DON'T LOOK THAT WAY.

I MUST BE AS HAPPY
AS YOU EVER WERE.
JUST LET IT GO ON.

MY CHILD, YOU'RE MUCH TOO YOUNG
TO THINK OF THESE THINGS
AND WHAT THEY ENTAIL.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW
OF THIS YOUNG MAN?
NOT EVEN HIS NAME.

IT ALL COULDN'T HAVE
HAPPENED AT A WORSE TIME,

WHAT WITH JAMES
OFF TO AUSTRALIA.

I MUST SAY, I DO THINK YOU COULD
HAVE SHOWN MORE CONSIDERATION.

I DARESAY HE'S RICH,
BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

DON'T SAY
THESE THINGS.

WAIT A MOMENT
WHILE I CHANGE.

( knocking on door )

COME IN.

OH, IT'S YOU, JAMES.

- WHERE IS SIBYL?
- SHE'S CHANGING.

ARE MY THINGS
READY?

QUITE READY.

I HOPE YOU TAKE TO THE SEA,
JAMES, OR AT LEAST, THAT
IT TAKES TO YOU.

YOU WILL REMEMBER,
IT WAS YOUR OWN CHOICE.

YOU COULD HAVE
BEEN A SOLICITOR
IF I HAD HAD MY WAY.

SOLICITORS ARE A VERY
RESPECTED CLASS OF PEOPLE,

IN THE COUNTRY,
THEY OFTEN DINE
WITH THE BEST FAMILIES.

I HATE OFFICES,
AND I HATE CLASS.

BUT YOU'RE QUITE RIGHT.

I'VE CHOSEN MY OWN LIFE.

ALL I SAY TO YOU IS,

KEEP A WATCH OVER SIBYL.

DON'T LET HER COME
TO ANY HARM.

YOU DO TALK VERY FUNNY
SOMETIMES, JAMES.

I'LL WATCH OVER SIBYL.
WHAT ELSE DO YOU THINK I'LL DO?

I HEAR
THERE'S A GENTLEMAN

COMES EVERY NIGHT
TO THE THEATER.

COMES BY HERE TO TALK TO HER.
IS THAT RIGHT?

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, JAMES.

WE'RE ACCUSTOMED
TO RECEIVING

A GREAT DEAL
OF ATTENTION
IN THE PROFESSION.

IT'S SOMETHING
YOU'VE NEVER REALLY
UNDERSTOOD.

AND MANY DON'T,
OR WON'T.

USED TO HAPPEN TO ME
ALL THE TIME.

AND THAT'S WHEN ACTING
WAS REALLY UNDERSTOOD.

AS FOR SIBYL,
I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING

WHETHER THIS PRESENT
ATTACHMENT OF HERS
IS SERIOUS OR NOT.

I DO KNOW THAT
THE YOUNG MAN IN QUESTION
IS A PERFECT GENTLEMAN.

HE'S ALWAYS
MOST POLITE TO ME.

HE HAS ALL THE AIR
OF BEING VERY RICH, INDEED.

BUT YOU DON'T KNOW
HIS NAME?

NO.

NO, HE HASN'T YET
REVEALED HIS REAL NAME.

I CONFESS THAT.
I THINK IT'S ROMANTIC
OF HIM.

I'D SAY HE'S PROBABLY
A MEMBER OF THE ARISTOCRACY.

JUST WATCH OVER HER.
MOTHER--

YOU'VE GOT
TO WATCH OVER HER.

WHY ARE YOU
TALKING TO ME
LIKE THIS?

I'VE ALWAYS
LOOKED AFTER SIBYL
FROM FIRST TO LAST.

AND IF HE IS
A WORTHY GENTLEMAN,

THERE'S NO REASON SHE SHOULDN'T
CONTRACT AN ALLIANCE WITH HIM.

ESPECIALLY
IF HE IS A MEMBER
OF THE ARISTOCRACY.

HE HAS THE APPEARANCE
OF IT, I MUST SAY.

IT'D BE A BRILLIANT
MARRIAGE FOR SIBYL.

THEY'D BE QUITE A COUPLE.
HIS LOOKS ARE REMARKABLE.

EVERYBODY
NOTICES THEM.

HOW SERIOUS
YOU BOTH LOOK.

WHAT'S
THE MATTER NOW?

NOTHING.

GOODBYE,
MOTHER.

OH, GOODBYE SON.

TAKE CARE, IN ALL
THAT WET WEATHER.

I'LL SEE YOU LATER, SIBYL.
I'LL GET A DROP FOR BOTH
OF US ROUND THE CORNER.

ALL RIGHT.

EVERYTHING
WILL BE ALL RIGHT
FOR BOTH OF US.

YOU'LL COME BACK FROM AUSTRALIA
WITH EVERYTHING YOU WANT,

AND I'LL BE HERE IN LONDON
WITH EVERYTHING I WANT.

WE'LL ALL BE TOGETHER.
THAT'S WHAT LIFE WILL BE LIKE.

JIM, YOU'RE NOT LISTENING
TO A WORD I'M SAYING.

I'VE JUST SET OUT THE MOST
EXQUISITE PLANS FOR BOTH OF US.

SAY SOMETHING TO ME,
PLEASE.

WHAT WOULD YOU
LIKE ME TO SAY?

JUST THAT YOU'LL BE A GOOD BOY
AND NOT FORGET US.

YOU ARE MORE LIKELY
TO FORGET ME THAN I AM
TO FORGET YOU, SIBYL.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

YOU HAVE A NEW FRIEND,
I HEAR.

WHO IS HE?

WHY HAVEN'T YOU
INTRODUCED ME TO HIM?

DOES HE MEAN YOU
ANY GOOD?

STOP IT.
YOU'RE NOT TO SAY
ANYTHING AGAINST HIM.

I LOVE HIM.

SOMEONE WHOSE NAME
YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW?

WHO IS HE?
I'VE A RIGHT TO KNOW.

IF ONLY
YOU COULD SEE HIM,

YOU'D THINK HIM
THE MOST WONDERFUL
PERSON IN THE WORLD.

SOMEDAY YOU WILL.

WHEN YOU COME BACK
FROM AUSTRALIA,

YOU'LL LIKE HIM SO MUCH.
EVERYBODY DOES.

AND I LOVE HIM.

I WISH YOU COULD COME
TO THE THEATER TOMORROW.

HE'S GOING TO BE THERE
AND I'M PLAYING JULIET.
WHAT ABOUT THAT?

TO BE IN LOVE
AND TO PLAY JULIET.

I SHOULD PROBABLY FRIGHTEN
THE COMPANY TO DEATH.

JIM, YOU'RE LEAVING ME
WHEN I'M HAPPIER THAN
I'VE EVER BEEN BEFORE.

LIFE'S BEEN HARD FOR BOTH OF US,
BUT IT'LL BE DIFFERENT NOW.

YOU'RE GOING TO A NEW WORLD,
AND MINE'S ALREADY FOUND.

AND MINE ISN'T.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE IN YOURS.
I WISH TO GOD I DID.

LOVE MAKES PEOPLE GOOD.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?

I'M GOING.

BUT I TELL YOU THIS,

IF HE EVER DOES YOU
ANY WRONG,

I SHALL KILL HIM.

COME ON.

Basil:
ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED?
I DON'T BELIEVE IT.

- IT'S PERFECTLY TRUE.
- Basil: TO WHOM?

SOME LITTLE ACTRESS
OR OTHER.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT.
DORIAN'S FAR TOO SENSIBLE.

DORIAN'S FAR TOO WISE
NOT TO DO FOOLISH THINGS
NOW AND THEN, BASIL.

MARRIAGE IS HARDLY A THING
ONE CAN DO NOW AND THEN, HARRY.

EXCEPT IN AMERICA.
I DIDN'T SAY HE WAS MARRIED.

I SAID HE WAS
ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED.
THERE'S A GREAT DIFFERENCE.

BUT ONE HAS TO THINK
OF DORIAN'S BIRTH AND
POSITION AND WEALTH.

TO MARRY A GIRL LIKE THAT
IS UNTHINKABLE.

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE HIM MARRY
THIS GIRL, TELL HIM THAT.

HE'S QUITE SURE
TO DO IT THEN.

WHENEVER A MAN DOES
A THOROUGHLY STUPID THING,

IT'S SO OFTEN
FROM THE NOBLEST MOTIVES.

- Basil: I HOPE SHE'S ALL RIGHT.
- SHE'S BETTER THAN ALL RIGHT.
SHE'S BEAUTIFUL.

DORIAN SAYS SHE'S BEAUTIFUL.
HE'S NOT OFTEN WRONG ABOUT
THAT SORT OF THING.

YOUR PORTRAIT OF HIM

HAS QUICKENED
HIS APPRECIATION
ALTOGETHER

ESPECIALLY ABOUT PEOPLE'S
PERSONAL APPEARANCE.

THAT'S NOT THE ONLY
EFFECT IT'S HAD ON HIM.

ANYHOW, WE-- YOU AND I--
ARE GOING TO SEE HER TONIGHT.

THAT IS, IF DORIAN HAS FORGOTTEN
ALL ABOUT US IN HIS DELIRIUM.

HARRY,
YOU'RE NOT SERIOUS.

I SHOULD BE MISERABLE
IF I WERE MORE SERIOUS THAN
I AM AT THIS MOMENT.

YOU CAN'T
APPROVE OF THIS BUSINESS
IT'S AN INFATUATION, SURELY.

I NEITHER APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE.
IT'S AN ABSURD ATTITUDE
TOWARDS LIFE.

DORIAN MEETS A BEAUTIFUL GIRL
WHO HAPPENS TO PLAY JULIET
AND FALLS IN LOVE WITH HER.

WELL, WHY NOT?

I HOPE HE WILL MAKE
THIS GIRL HIS WIFE,

PASSIONATELY ADORE HER
FOR SIX MONTHS,

THEN SUDDENLY BECOME
FASCINATED BY SOMEBODY ELSE.

YOU DON'T BELIEVE
A SINGLE WORD OF THAT.

IF ANYTHING HAPPENED
TO UPSET DORIAN GRAY'S LIFE,

NO ONE WOULD BE MORE UPSET
THAN YOU.

YOU'RE MUCH BETTER
THAN YOU PRETEND TO BE.

THE REASON WE LIKE TO THINK
SO WELL OF OTHERS,

IS BECAUSE WE'RE AFRAID
FOR OURSELVES.

WE PRAISE THE BANKER
THAT HE MAY ALLOW US
TO OVERDRAW OUR ACCOUNT.

OR TRY TO FIND GOOD
QUALITIES IN THE BURGLAR

IN THE HOPE THAT HE'LL
LEAVE OUR PROPERTY ALONE.

I MEAN EVERYTHING
I'VE SAID.

I'VE NOTHING
BUT THE GREATEST
CONTEMPT FOR OPTIMISM.

HARRY,
MY DEAR BASIL,

YOU MUST BOTH
CONGRATULATE ME.
I'VE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY.

OF COURSE IT'S SUDDEN
AND ALL THAT.

BUT ALL THE REALLY
DELIGHTFUL THINGS ARE.

IT SEEMS TO BE THE ONE THING
I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR
ALL MY LIFE.

I HOPE YOU'LL ALWAYS
BE AS HAPPY, DORIAN,

BUT YOU KNOW,
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER
I CAN FORGIVE YOU

FOR NOT LETTING ME KNOW
ABOUT YOUR ENGAGEMENT.
YOU TOLD HARRY.

YES, AND I DON'T FORGIVE
YOU BEING LATE.

COME AND SIT DOWN, DORIAN.
TELL ME WHAT IT IS THAT'S
BEEN MAKING YOU SO HAPPY.

THERE ISN'T
VERY MUCH TO TELL.

AFTER I LEFT YOU
YESTERDAY EVENING,

I HAD DINNER IN THAT
ITALIAN RESTAURANT

ON RUPERT STREET
YOU INTRODUCED ME TO,

AND AT 8:00 WENT DOWN
TO THE THEATER.

SIBYL WAS PLAYING
ROSALIND.

OF COURSE,
THE SCENERY WAS DREADFUL
AND ORLANDO ABSURD,

BUT SIBYL--
YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN HER.

OF COURSE OUR ENGAGEMENT
IS A DEAD SECRET.

I SHOULDN'T TELL YOU THIS,
BUT I CAN'T HELP IT.

AT WHAT PARTICULAR POINT
DID YOU MENTION THE WORD
MARRIAGE, DORIAN?

AND WHAT DID SHE SAY
IN REPLY?

OR PERHAPS YOU'VE FORGOTTEN
ALL ABOUT IT.

DEAR HARRY, I DIDN'T TREAT IT
AS A BUSINESS TRANSACTION.

AND I SUPPOSE I NEVER MADE
ANY FORMAL PROPOSAL.

- WHAT DID YOU SAY THEN?
- THAT I LOVED HER, OF COURSE.

SHE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT NOT
BEING WORTHY TO BE MY WIFE.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WOMEN ARE WONDERFULLY PRACTICAL.
MUCH MORE PRACTICAL THAN WE ARE.

IN SITUATIONS OF THAT KIND
WE OFTEN FORGET TO SAY

ANYTHING ABOUT MARRIAGE.
THEY ALWAYS REMIND US.

LEAVE IT ALONE, HARRY.
YOU'RE ONLY ANNOYING DORIAN.

DORIAN IS NEVER
ANNOYED WITH ME.

I DON'T MIND.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE
TO BE ANGRY WITH YOU.

WHEN YOU SEE SIBYL VANE,

YOU WILL KNOW THAT ANYONE
WHO COULD CONSIDER WRONGING HER,

WOULD BE A MONSTER
WITHOUT A HEART AT ALL.

I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW ANYONE
WANTS TO DEGRADE THE THING
HE LOVES.

I NEVER HAVE.
I LOVE SIBYL VANE.

WHEN I AM WITH HER, I REGRET
EVERYTHING ELSE I'VE
EVER LEARNED.

THE SIMPLEST TOUCH OF HER HAND
MAKES ME FORGET YOU

AND YOUR THEORIES ABOUT LIFE,
LOVE AND PLEASURE.

PLEASURE IS THE ONLY THING
WORTH HAVING A THEORY ABOUT.

BELIEVE ME, NO CIVILIZED MAN
EVER REGRETS A PLEASURE.

AND NO UNCIVILIZED MAN EVER
REALLY KNOWS WHAT A PLEASURE IS.

I KNOW WHAT IT IS.
IT'S TO ADORE SOMEONE.

THAT IS BETTER
THAN BEING ADORED.
IT'S A DOWNRIGHT NUISANCE.

WHEN WOMEN
WORSHIP SOMEONE,

THEY'RE ALWAYS BOTHERING THEM
TO DO SOMETHING FOR THEM.

I SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT
WHATEVER THEY'VE ASKED FOR,

THEY'VE ALREADY GIVEN FIRST.
THEY CREATE LOVE IN ONE'S
NATURE.

THEY'VE A RIGHT
TO DEMAND IT BACK.

- THAT'S QUITE TRUE.
- NOTHING IS EVER QUITE TRUE.

WELL, THIS IS.

CAN'T YOU ADMIT THAT WOMEN
GIVE MEN THE VERY ESSENCE
OF THEMSELVES?

POSSIBLY, BUT THEY
INVARIABLY WANT IT BACK
IN VERY SMALL CHANGE.

WOMEN, SOME WITTY
FRENCHMAN PUT IT,

INSPIRE US
TO DO MASTERPIECES,

THEN ALWAYS PREVENT US
FROM CARRYING THEM OUT.

I DON'T KNOW WHY
I LIKE YOU AT ALL.

YOU WILL ALWAYS
LIKE ME, DORIAN.

I REPRESENT ALL THE SINS
YOU HAVE NEVER HAD
THE COURAGE TO COMMIT.

NOW AFTER ALL THAT,
YOU MUST HAVE A CIGARETTE.

A CIGARETTE
IS THE PERFECT TYPE
OF THE PERFECT PLEASURE.

IT'S DELICIOUS,

AND IT LEAVES ONE UNSATISFIED.
WHAT MORE COULD ONE ASK?

WHAT UTTER RUBBISH YOU DO TALK.
LET'S GET DOWN TO THE THEATER.

Basil:
IF YOU WILL
JUST GIVE ME A MOMENT.

WHEN SIBYL VANE COMES
ON THE STAGE.

IT WILL BE YOUR TURN
TO FIND A NEW IDEAL
OF LIFE.

SHE MAY REPRESENT
SOMETHING EVEN YOU
HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED.

I HAVE KNOWN EVERYTHING
BUT I AM ALWAYS READY
FOR A NEW EMOTION.

I'M AFRAID THAT IN THIS CASE,
HOWEVER, THERE'S NO SUCH THING.

YOUR WONDERFUL GIRL MAY BE
THRILLING AT THE VERY LEAST.

I LOVE ACTING.

SO MUCH MORE REAL
THAN REAL LIFE.

( clock chimes )

WELL, LET'S GO THEN,
DORIAN.

YOU'LL COME WITH ME.

NO, BASIL, THERE'S ONLY ROOM
FOR TWO OF US IN THE BROUGHAM.

YOU CAN FOLLOW
IN A HANSOM.

( cheering,
whistling )

I'M SORRY. I'VE MADE YOU
BOTH WASTE AN EVENING.

DORIAN, MISS VANE
IS PROBABLY ILL.

WE'LL COME AGAIN
SOME OTHER NIGHT.

I WISH SHE WERE ILL,
BUT SHE IS CALLOUS AND COLD.

SHE'S ALTERED ENTIRELY.

LAST NIGHT I THOUGHT
SHE WAS A GREAT ARTIST,

THIS EVENING
SHE'S COMMONPLACE
AND MEDIOCRE.

DON'T TALK LIKE THAT
ABOUT ANYONE YOU LOVE.

LOVE IS A MORE WONDERFUL
THING THAN ART.

THEY ARE BOTH
FORMS OF IMITATION.

DON'T PAY ANY
ATTENTION TO HIM,
I BEG OF YOU.

I SEE WHAT YOU MEAN
AND I BELIEVE IN HER.

ANYONE THAT YOU LOVE
MUST BE MARVELOUS.

ANY GIRL THAT CAN PRODUCE
THE EFFECT YOU DESCRIBED TO US

MUST BE
VERY EXTRAORDINARY
AND UNIQUE

TO PRODUCE
THAT EFFECT IN YOU.

THAT IS WORTH DOING
IN ITSELF.

YOUR IDEA OF MARRIAGE
IS QUITE RIGHT.

I DIDN'T THINK SO
AT FIRST,

BUT NOW I ADMIT IT
FREELY.

SIBYL VANE WAS
MADE FOR YOU.

WITHOUT HER,
YOU WOULD HAVE PROBABLY

BEEN INCOMPLETE
FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

THANK YOU, BASIL.
I KNEW YOU WOULD TRY
TO UNDERSTAND.

I THINK WE
SHOULD GO.

YOU TOO, DORIAN.

IT ISN'T GOOD FOR ONE'S
MORALS TO SEE BAD ACTING.

BESIDES, I DON'T SUPPOSE
YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR WIFE
ACT MUCH LONGER.

WHAT DOES IT MATTER
IF SHE PLAYS JULIET
LIKE A WOODEN DOLL?

SHE'S VERY LOVELY
INDEED.

AND IF SHE KNOWS AS LITTLE ABOUT
LIFE AS SHE DOES ABOUT ACTING,

SHE'LL BE A DELIGHTFUL
EXPERIENCE.

NOW, MY DEAR BOY,
DON'T LOOK SO TRAGIC.

COME AND DRIVE DOWN
TO THE CLUB WITH BASIL AND ME,

AND WE'LL DRINK A TOAST
TO THE BEAUTY OF SIBYL VANE.

SHE IS BEAUTIFUL.
WHAT MORE CAN YOU WANT?

PLEASE GO, HARRY.
TAKE HIM WITH YOU,
BASIL.

OH, HARRY.

DORIAN.

I ACTED
SO BADLY TONIGHT.

HORRIBLY.
YOU WERE DREADFUL.

ARE YOU ILL
OR SOMETHING?

HAVEN'T YOU ANY IDEA
WHAT IT WAS?

YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT I WENT THROUGH.

DORIAN, YOU SHOULD
HAVE UNDERSTOOD.

YOU UNDERSTAND NOW,
DON'T YOU?

UNDERSTAND WHAT?

WHY I WAS
SO BAD TONIGHT.

WHY I SHALL NEVER
BE GOOD AGAIN.

YOU ARE ILL.
WHEN YOU ARE ILL,
YOU SHOULDN'T GO ON.

YOU MAKE YOURSELF
RIDICULOUS.

MY FRIENDS WERE BORED.
I WAS BORED.

DORIAN.

BEFORE I KNEW YOU,

ACTING WAS THE ONE
REALITY OF MY LIFE.

I ONLY LIVED
FOR THE THEATER.

I THOUGHT IT WAS
ALL TRUE, WHAT WENT ON.

AND THEN YOU CAME.

OH, MY DEAREST...

YOU FREED ME
FROM ALL THAT.

YOU TAUGHT ME
REALITY.

TONIGHT,
FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN MY LIFE,

I SAW THE HOLLOWNESS
OF EVERYTHING I'VE DEVOTED
MYSELF TO.

YOU MADE ME UNDERSTAND
WHAT LOVE REALLY IS.

TAKE ME AWAY.

TAKE ME AWAY
WHERE WE CAN BE ALONE.

I HATE THE STAGE.

YOU SEE
WHAT A BLASPHEMY
IT WOULD BE

TO PLAY AT BEING
IN LOVE.

YOU HAVE KILLED
ALL THAT.

YES, YOU KILLED IT.

YOU USED TO STIR
MY IMAGINATION,

NOW YOU DON'T
EVEN STIR MY CURIOSITY.

YOU PRODUCE NO EFFECT
ON ME AT ALL.

I LOVED YOU BECAUSE YOU
WERE A MARVELOUS THING,

BECAUSE YOU SEEMED
TO GIVE SUBSTANCE

TO ALL THINGS
I'D EVER DREAMED OF.

YOU HAVE THROWN
THAT AWAY.

YOU ARE SHALLOW.
YOU ARE STUPID.

MY GOD,
WHAT COULD I HAVE
BEEN THINKING OF?

YOU ARE A NOTHING!

I'LL NEVER SEE
YOU AGAIN.

I'LL NEVER THINK
OF YOU.

I'LL EVEN FORGET
YOUR NAME.

I ONLY WISH I'D NEVER LAID
EYES ON YOU.

AND WHAT LITTLE
YOU KNOW ABOUT LOVE,

MARS YOUR ART.

WITHOUT YOUR ART,
YOU'RE NOTHING.

I WOULD HAVE MADE
YOU FAMOUS,

SPLENDID,
MAGNIFICENT.

YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN
WORSHIPPED BY EVERYONE,

AND MY NAME WOULD
HAVE BEEN ON YOU.

WHAT ARE YOU NOW?

A THIRD-RATE ACTRESS
WITH A PRETTY FACE.

YOU'RE NOT SERIOUS?

YOU'RE ACTING.

I LEAVE THAT TO YOU.
YOU DO IT SO WELL.

DORIAN!

NEVER TOUCH ME AGAIN.

DORIAN,
DON'T LEAVE ME!

I'M SORRY
I DIDN'T ACT WELL!

I WAS THINKING
OF YOU ALL THE TIME.

BUT I WILL TRY.
BELIEVE ME, I WILL!

IT CAME SUDDENLY
ACROSS ME, MY LOVE!

I'LL WORK HARD.
I'LL IMPROVE.

DON'T BE CRUEL TO ME,
BECAUSE I LOVE YOU

BETTER THAN ANYTHING
IN THE WORLD!

IT'S ONLY ONCE
I HAVEN'T PLEASED YOU.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.

I SHOULD HAVE SHOWN
MYSELF MORE OF AN ARTIST.

IT WAS FOOLISH OF ME,
BUT I COULDN'T HELP IT.

OH, DON'T LEAVE ME!

THERE'S ALWAYS
SOMETHING RIDICULOUS
ABOUT THE EMOTIONS

OF PEOPLE
WHOM ONE HAS
CEASED TO LOVE.

I'M GOING NOW.

I DON'T WISH
TO BE UNKIND,

BUT I CAN'T
SEE YOU AGAIN.

YOU HAVE
DISAPPOINTED ME.
THAT IS ALL.

( sobbing )

( door opening )

YOU RANG,
MONSIEUR?

NO, OF COURSE
I DIDN'T RING.

OH, YES, I DID.

IT'S TOO COLD
FOR MONSIEUR.

SHALL I CLOSE
THE WINDOW?

NO, I'M NOT COLD.

YES, SHUT IT.

WILL THERE BE
ANYTHING ELSE?

WHAT?

DID YOU SEE THAT
MISS VANE GOT MY LETTER?

Victor:
I DELIVERED IT
MYSELF.

ALTHOUGH THE ADDRESS
WAS DIFFICULT TO FIND.

DID YOU GIVE IT
TO HER PERSONALLY?

NO, I BUT I GAVE IT
TO SOMEONE

WHO CALLED HERSELF
THE LANDLADY.

SHE SEEMED RATHER CROSS
AT BEING DISTURBED,

BUT SHE PROMISED
IT WOULD BE DELIVERED
INTO THE RIGHT HANDS.

VERY WELL, VICTOR.
I'M NOT AT HOME TO ANYONE
EXCEPT MISS VANE.

AND LORD HENRY?

WHAT ABOUT HIM?

I'M ONLY AT HOME
TO MISS VANE.

DO YOU REMEMBER?
MISS SIBYL VANE.

IT'S JUST THAT HIS MAN BROUGHT
A LETTER THIS MORNING.

IT WAS MARKED URGENT.

I LEFT IT
ON YOUR BREAKFAST TRAY.

YES, I GOT IT.
IT CAN'T BE THAT IMPORTANT.

I'LL READ IT LATER.

DON'T FORGET
TO LET HER IN AT ONCE.

THAT'S ALL.

YES, MONSIEUR.

Henry:
VICTOR, I HAVE TO SEE
GRAY AT ONCE.

Victor:
HE'S NOT AT HOME.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
I HAVE TO SEE HIM.

Victor:
MR. GRAY WOULD NOT
LIKE TO BE DISTURBED.

- ( knocking at door )
- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Henry:
ARE YOU IN THERE?
I MUST SPEAK TO YOU.

MY DEAR BOY,
I HAD TO SEE YOU.

FORGIVE ME,
BUT YOUR SHUTTING
US OUT LIKE THIS--

I'M SO TERRIBLY
SORRY FOR YOU.

YOU MUSTN'T SIT ALONE
BROODING ABOUT IT.

- YOU MEAN
ABOUT SIBYL VANE?
- YES, OF COURSE.

THE WHOLE THING IS TRAGIC
FROM EVERY POINT OF VIEW.

BUT YOU MUSTN'T
THINK OF IT AS
YOUR FAULT.

DID YOU STAY WITH HER LONG
AFTER WE BOTH LEFT?

- A WHILE.
- I KNEW YOU WOULD.

- WAS IT A SCENE?
- I WAS BRUTAL.

BRUTAL AND UNFORGIVABLE,
BUT THAT IS OVER NOW.

I'M NOT EVEN SORRY
FOR WHAT HAPPENED,

EXCEPT FOR THE PAIN
I CAUSED.

IT HAS TAUGHT ME
TO KNOW MYSELF.

I'M GLAD YOU LOOK
ON IT LIKE THAT.

I WAS AFRAID I WOULD
FIND YOU IN DESPAIR.

THAT IS ALL OVER.
I'M AS HAPPY AS I SHALL EVER BE.

FOR ONE THING,
I KNOW WHAT CONSCIENCE IS.

AND DON'T SWEAR
AT THAT ANY MORE,

NOT IN FRONT OF ME.
I CAN SEE THROUGH IT.

I WOULD LIKE TO BE GOOD,
AS MUCH AS I CAN.

I CAN'T FACE THE IDEA

OF MY INNER SELF BEING
HIDEOUS ANY LONGER.

AND HOW DO YOU PROPOSE TO START
THIS MORAL REGENERATION?

BY MARRYING SIBYL VANE.

MARRYING SIBYL VANE?
BUT, DORIAN--

I KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE GOING TO SAY.

SOMETHING SARCASTIC
ABOUT MARRIAGE.
WELL, DON'T.

I'VE WRITTEN AGAIN TO SIBYL
SINCE LAST NIGHT.

I'VE ASKED HER
AGAIN TO MARRY ME.
IF SHE'LL HAVE ME.

MY MIND'S MADE UP.
SHE'S GOING TO BE MY WIFE.

DORIAN, MY NOTE.
DIDN'T YOU GET IT?
I SENT IT THIS MORNING.

YES, I DID GET IT,
BUT I DIDN'T READ IT.

MY MIND WAS ON SIBYL.

- YOU KNOW NOTHING?
- NOTHING.

DORIAN, DON'T BE AFRAID.
THAT LETTER WAS TO TELL YOU

SIBYL VANE IS DEAD.

HOW DARE YOU!
THAT'S THE MOST HORRIBLE
LIE YOU'VE EVER PERPETRATED.

I'M SORRY, DORIAN,
BUT IT'S QUITE TRUE.
IT'S IN ALL THE NEWSPAPERS.

I THOUGHT YOU'D HAVE
SEEN THEM BY NOW.

THAT'S WHY I WROTE
TELLING YOU NOT
TO ADMIT ANYONE

TILL I CAME ROUND.
THERE'LL BE AN INQUEST.

BUT NATURALLY,
YOU MUST NOT BE
MIXED UP IN IT.

IF ANYBODY SHOULD
HAVE HEARD YOUR NAME
BY ANY CHANCE

AT THE THEATER,
LIKE THE GIRL'S MOTHER,
FOR INSTANCE--

THAT CAN ALL
BE ARRANGED.

THESE THINGS
ALWAYS CAN BE.

IN FRANCE, IT MIGHT MAKE
A MAN SEEM FASHIONABLE.

BUT IN LONDON, PEOPLE
ARE SO PREJUDICED.

HERE,
ONE SHOULD NEVER

MAKE ONE'S DEBUT
WITH A SCANDAL.

ONE SHOULD KEEP
THAT IN RESERVE.
GIVE AN INTEREST

TO ONE'S OLD AGE.

I'M SURE THAT NOBODY
COULD HAVE RECOGNIZED
EITHER OF US.

- IN THAT LITTLE PLACE.
- RECOGNIZED?

INQUEST?
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

YOU MEAN THAT SYB--

TELL ME
THE WHOLE THING.

THERE'S NO QUESTION
OF IT BEING AN ACCIDENT,

THOUGH IT COULD BE
PUT THAT WAY TO THE PUBLIC.

WE KNOW THEY CAN BE MADE
TO BELIEVE ANYTHING.

I WON'T BOTHER YOU
WITH THE DETAILS NOW

YOU CAN READ THEM LATER,
BUT IT SEEMS

SHE WAS FOUND DEAD
ON HER DRESSING ROOM FLOOR.

THE NEWSPAPERS SAY

THAT SHE SWALLOWED
SOMETHING BY MISTAKE,

SOMETHING THEY USE
IN THEATERS FOR SOME REASON.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT
IT WAS BUT IT HAD

EITHER PRUSSIC ACID
OR WHITE LEAD IN IT.

I SHOULD FANCY
IT WAS PRUSSIC ACID

AS SHE SEEMS
TO HAVE DIED INSTANTLY.

THAT IS SOMETHING.
THOUGH NOT VERY MUCH,
ALL THE SAME.

YES, IT'S VERY TRAGIC,
BUT YOU MUSTN'T ALLOW

YOURSELF TO BE
MIXED UP IN IT.

"THE MORNING POST"
SAYS SHE WAS 17.

I SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT
SHE WAS YOUNGER THAN THAT.

SHE LOOKED
SUCH A CHILD.

DORIAN, YOU'RE NOT TO ALLOW
THIS THING TO BRING YOU DOWN.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT
YOU WILL DO.

YOU WILL COME
AND DINE WITH ME.

AFTERWARDS, WE WILL
LOOK IN AT THE OPERA.

YES, THE OPERA,
IT'S A PATTI NIGHT.

EVERYONE WILL BE THERE.

YOU CAN COME
TO MY SISTER'S BOX.

SHE'LL HAVE SOME
SMART WOMEN WITH HER.

SO, I HAVE MURDERED
SIBYL VANE,

JUST AS IF I'D
CUT HER THROAT MYSELF

WITH A KNIFE.

THE SUN SHINES
AND THE BIRDS SING.

AND TONIGHT, I'M GOING
TO DINE WITH YOU,

GO ON THE OPERA, THEN SUP
SOMEWHERE AFTERWARDS?

HOW EXTRAORDINARILY THEATRICAL
THIS WOULD HAVE SEEMED

IF ONE HAD
WATCHED IT HAPPEN.

SOMEHOW,

NOW THAT IT HAS HAPPENED
ACTUALLY, AND TO ME,

IT ALL SEEMS TOO MUCH
TO CONTEMPLATE AT ONE TIME.

THAT WAS THE FIRST LOVE LETTER
I'VE WRITTEN IN MY LIFE.

THE FIRST-- AND THAT
TO A GIRL ALREADY DEAD.

DID I REALLY LOVE HER?

SHE TRIED
TO EXPLAIN HERSELF TO ME,
BUT I WASN'T MOVED ONE BIT.

SHE SEEMED SHALLOW TO ME.
AND THEN AFTERWARDS,

SOMETHING MADE ME
FEEL AFRAID.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS,
BUT IT WAS HORRIBLE.

I KNEW I'D DONE WRONG,
THAT I'D HAVE TO GO BACK.

WELL, THERE SHE IS--

DEAD.

MY GOD, HARRY.
WHAT SHALL I DO?

I DON'T THINK YOU KNOW
THE DANGER I'M IN,

AND THERE'S NOTHING
TO KEEP ME STRAIGHT.

PERHAPS SHE COULD
HAVE DONE THAT FOR ME.

SHE'D NO RIGHT
TO KILL HERSELF,
NO RIGHT.

MY DEAR DORIAN,
THE ONLY WAY THAT
A WOMAN CAN REFORM A MAN

IS BY BORING HIM
SO THAT HE LOSES
ALL INTEREST IN LIFE.

IF YOU HAD
MARRIED THIS GIRL,
YOU'D HAVE BEEN WRETCHED.

OF COURSE, YOU'D HAVE
TREATED HER KINDLY.

ONE CAN BE KIND
TO PEOPLE FOR WHOM
ONE CARES NOTHING.

BUT SHE'D HAVE SOON
FOUND OUT

THAT YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY
INDIFFERENT TO HER.

WHEN A WOMAN
FINDS THAT OUT
ABOUT HER HUSBAND,

I CAN ONLY SAY
THAT IN ANY CASE,

THE WHOLE THING WOULD
HAVE BEEN A FAILURE.

YES, I SUPPOSE
IT WOULD.

HARRY, WHY IS IT
THAT I CANNOT FEEL ALL THIS

AS MUCH AS I WANT TO?

I KNOW
THAT I'M NOT HEARTLESS.
DO YOU THINK I AM?

THERE IS ALWAYS
SOME LUXURY

TO BE HAD
IN SELF-REPROACH.

BUT IN THIS CASE,
WHAT IS IT THAT'S HAPPENED?

A GIRL HAS KILLED HERSELF
FOR LOVE OF YOU.

I WISH SUCH A THING
HAD EVER HAPPENED TO ME.

IT WOULD MAKE ME
IN LOVE WITH LOVE
FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

THE PEOPLE
WHO HAVE ADORED ME--

THERE HAVE NOT BEEN MANY,
BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME--

HAVE ALWAYS INSISTED
ON GOING ON LONG AFTER

I'D CEASED TO CARE FOR THEM
OR THEY TO CARE FOR ME.

THE ONLY CHARM
OF THE PAST

IS THAT IT IS
THE PAST.

I WAS INHUMANLY CRUEL TO HER.
YOU SEEM TO FORGET THAT.

I'M AFRAID THAT WOMEN
APPRECIATE CRUELTY--

DOWNRIGHT CRUELTY,
MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

THEY HAVE WONDERFULLY
PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS.

WE MAY EMANCIPATE THEM

BUT THEY REMAIN SLAVES LOOKING
FOR THEIR MASTERS ALL THE SAME.

I WONDER
IF YOU KNOW ME

AS WELL
AS YOU THINK, HARRY.

I DON'T WANT US TO TALK
ABOUT THIS AGAIN EVER.

IT HAS BEEN
AN EXPERIENCE.
THAT IS ALL.

I CANNOT THINK
THERE COULD BE
MUCH ELSE IN STORE.

THERE'S EVERYTHING
IN STORE FOR YOU, DORIAN.

WITH ALL THE GODS
HAVE GIVEN YOU,

THERE IS NOTHING
THAT YOU WILL NOT
BE ABLE TO DO.

AND NOW YOU'D BETTER DRESS.
AND DRIVE DOWN TO THE CLUB.
WE'RE RATHER LATE AS IT IS.

I FEEL TOO TIRED
TO EAT ANYTHING.

I THINK I SHALL
JOIN YOU AT THE OPERA.

WHAT IS THE NUMBER
OF YOUR SISTER'S BOX?

27, I BELIEVE.
IT'S ON THE GRAND TIER.

YOU WILL FIND HER NAME
ON THE DOOR.

BUT I'M SORRY YOU WON'T
DINE WITH ME FIRST.

I DON'T FEEL
UP TO IT.

BUT I'M AWFULLY
OBLIGED TO YOU.

FOR EVERYTHING.

WE'RE ONLY AT THE BEGINNING
OF OUR FRIENDSHIP, DORIAN.

GOODBYE.

I SHALL SEE YOU
BEFORE 9:30, I HOPE.

REMEMBER, PATTI
IS SINGING.

( distant bell rings )

- YOU RANG, MONSIEUR?
- YES.

I SHALL BE GOING TO THE OPERA
THIS EVENING, VICTOR.

ALL RIGHT, MONSIEUR.

- I'LL PUT OUT YOUR CLOTHES.
- LATER WILL DO.

IN THE MEANTIME--

I WANT YOU TO GO
AROUND TO MR. HUBBARD.

HE IS THE FRAMEMAKER
IN SOUTH AUDLEY STREET.

I HAVE PICTURES
I WANT HIS ADVICE ABOUT.

- I KNOW THE GENTLEMAN--
- TELL HIM IT'S IMPORTANT,

AND I SHALL LIKE HIM TO COME
AROUND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THAT'S ALL.
OH-- ASK MRS. LEAF TO GIVE YOU
THE KEY OF THE SCHOOLROOM.

THE OLD SCHOOLROOM,
MONSIEUR?

IT'S SO LONG SINCE
ANYONE WENT IN THERE,
IT MUST BE FULL OF DUST.

I'M SURE IT'S NOT FIT
FOR YOU TO LOOK AT, MONSIEUR.

I'LL SEE TO IT THAT
SHE PUTS IT IN ORDER
BEFORE YOU GO IN THERE.

I DON'T WANT IT
PUT IN ORDER, BY YOU,
MRS. LEAF OR ANYONE ELSE.

I SIMPLY WANT THE KEY.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?

JUST AS YOU WISH,
MONSIEUR.

I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT
BE COVERED IN COBWEBS
IF YOU WENT IN THERE.

MRS. LEAF TELLS ME
IT HASN'T BEEN OPENED
FOR NEARLY FIVE YEARS.

THAT IS UNIMPORTANT!
I SIMPLY WANT TO SEE
THE PLACE.

- THAT'S ALL!
- YES, MONSIEUR.

MR. HALLWARD IS
WAITING TO SEE YOU.

- SHALL I SEND HIM IN?
- YES.

THEN GET OFF
TO THE FRAMEMAKERS!

THANK YOU, VICTOR.

DORIAN, I'M SO GLAD
TO FIND YOU IN.

I MET HARRY OUTSIDE
IN THE STREET.

HE SEEMED BLAND ABOUT
THE WHOLE AFFAIR.

THIS MUST BE
AWFUL FOR YOU.
I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT

BE WITH THE POLICE
OR SOMETHING.

- WHY SHOULD I BE
WITH THE POLICE?
- HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT

YOU GOING TO THE OPERA.
I DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT.

DORIAN, I HOPE YOU
DON'T GET TOO INVOLVED.

INVOLVED?
WHY SHOULD I BE INVOLVED?

YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT
BETTER THAN I.

AS A MATTER OF FACT,
I AM GOING TO THE OPERA.

YOU ARE GOING
TO THE OPERA?

YES.
WHY DON'T YOU COME?

I AM MEETING
LADY GWENDOLYN,

HARRY'S SISTER,
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
WE ARE MEETING IN HER BOX.

DORIAN,
SIBYL VANE IS LYING DEAD
IN SOME LODGING HOUSE,

AND YOU TELL ME THAT
YOU'RE GOING TO THE OPERA?

THE GIRL YOU LOVE--

HASN'T EVEN YET FOUND A GRAVE
TO CRAWL INTO FOR ALL WE KNOW.

DON'T TALK ABOUT
HORRID SUBJECTS, BASIL.
WHAT IS PAST, IS PAST.

YOU CALL YESTERDAY
THE PAST?

I DON'T WANT
TO BE AT THE MERCY
OF MY EMOTIONS.

I WANT TO USE THEM.

TO ENJOY THEM.

AND TO DOMINATE.

SOMETHING
HAS CHANGED YOU.

TO ME YOU LOOK
THE SAME CREATURE

THAT USED TO, DAY AFTER DAY,
COME TO MY STUDIO,

BUT THEN YOU WERE
SIMPLE AND NATURAL,

AFFECTIONATE.

BUT NOW I DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S COME OVER YOU.

YOU TALK AS IF YOU HAD
NO HEART, NO PITY IN YOU.

IS IT HARRY'S INFLUENCE?

I OWE A GREAT DEAL TO HIM.
MORE THAN I DO TO YOU.

- YOU TAUGHT ME TO BE VAIN.
- I'M BEING PUNISHED FOR THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.
OR WHAT YOU WANT.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?!

I WANT THE DORIAN
I USED TO PAINT.

WHEN I HEARD
THAT SIBYL VANE
HAD KILLED HERSELF--

KILLED HERSELF?
YOU MEAN THERE ISN'T
ANY DOUBT ABOUT IT?

SURELY YOU DON'T THINK
IT WAS A VULGAR ACCIDENT?

OF COURSE
SHE KILLED HERSELF.

- DORIAN, HOW AWFUL!
- THERE'S NOTHING AWFUL
ABOUT IT.

IT'S ONE OF THE GREAT
ROMANTIC TRAGEDIES
OF THE AGE.

AS A RULE, THE PEOPLE
WHO ACT LEAD THE MOST
COMMONPLACE LIVES,

THEY ARE GOOD HUSBANDS
OR FAITHFUL WIVES,

OR SOMETHING TEDIOUS.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN,
MIDDLE CLASS VIRTUE
AND ALL THAT.

HOW DIFFERENT
SIBYL WAS TO THAT.

SHE LIVED HER FINEST TRAGEDY.
SHE WAS ALWAYS A HEROINE.

THE LAST NIGHT SHE PLAYED,

THE NIGHT YOU SAW HER,
SHE ACTED BADLY

BECAUSE SHE'D KNOWN
THE REALITY OF LOVE.

WHEN SHE KNEW
IT'S UNREALITY,

SHE DIED... AS JULIET
MIGHT HAVE DIED.

HER DEATH HAS ALL THE PATHETIC
USELESSNESS OF MARTYRDOM,

ALL ITS WASTED BEAUTY.

I KNOW YOU ARE SURPRISED
AT ME TALKING TO YOU
LIKE THIS, BASIL.

YOU HAVE NOT REALIZED
HOW I HAVE DEVELOPED.

TO BECOME THE SPECTATOR
OF ONE'S OWN LIFE,
AS HARRY SAYS,

IS TO ESCAPE
THE SUFFERING OF LIFE.

DON'T LEAVE ME, BASIL.
DON'T LET'S QUARREL.

I AM WHAT I AM.

THERE'S NOTHING MORE
TO BE SAID.

WELL, DORIAN, I WON'T MENTION
THIS AGAIN, AFTER TODAY.

I ONLY HOPE THEY DON'T
MENTION YOUR NAME

IN CONNECTION
WITH IT.

THE INQUEST
IS THIS AFTERNOON.
HAVE THEY SUMMONED YOU?

YOU MUST DO ME
A DRAWING OF SIBYL.

I SHOULD LIKE
SOMETHING MORE OF HER

THAN THE MEMORY
OF A FEW KISSES
AND A FEW WORDS.

I'LL DO WHAT I CAN,
IF IT WILL PLEASE YOU.

BUT YOU MUST COME
AND SIT TO ME AGAIN.

I CAN'T GET ON
WITHOUT YOU.

I CAN NEVER SIT
TO YOU AGAIN, BASIL.

- IT IS IMPOSSIBLE.
- MY DEAR BOY, WHAT NONSENSE.

WHY? DIDN'T YOU LIKE
WHAT I DID OF YOU?

WHY HAVE YOU PUT
THE SCREEN IN FRONT
OF IT?

YOU KNOW,
IT IS THE BEST THING
I HAVE EVER DONE.

- LET ME HAVE A LOOK AT IT.
- BASIL, YOU MUST NOT
LOOK AT IT.

- I DON'T WISH YOU TO.
- NOT LOOK AT MY OWN WORK?
ARE YOU SERIOUS?

WHY SHOULDN'T
I LOOK AT IT?

DON'T!!

IF YOU TRY
TO LOOK AT IT,
BASIL,

ON MY WORD OF HONOR,
I WILL NEVER SPEAK
TO YOU AGAIN.

I AM QUITE SERIOUS.
I DON'T OFFER ANY
EXPLANATION,

AND YOU ARE NOT
TO ASK FOR ANY.
BUT REMEMBER,

IF YOU TOUCH THAT
SCREEN, EVERYTHING
IS OVER BETWEEN US.

- DORIAN!
- DON'T SPEAK.

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

WELL, I WON'T LOOK AT IT
IF YOU DON'T WANT ME TO.

BUT REALLY,
THIS IS RATHER ABSURD

THAT I SHOULDN'T
LOOK AT MY OWN WORK.

PARTICULARLY, AS I AM GOING
TO EXHIBIT IT IN PARIS
THIS AUTUMN.

YOU WANT
TO EXHIBIT IT?

YES, GEORGE PETIT
IS GOING TO COLLECT
ALL MY BEST PICTURES

FOR AN EXHIBITION
AT THE RUE DE SEZE.

YOU TOLD ME A MONTH AGO,
YOU WOULD NEVER
EXHIBIT IT.

YOU CAN'T
HAVE FORGOTTEN.

YOU ASSURED ME
MOST SOLEMNLY THAT
NOTHING IN THE WORLD

COULD INDUCE YOU
TO SEND IT TO AN EXHIBITION.

YOU TOLD HARRY
EXACTLY THE SAME THING.

- BASIL?
- Basil: YES?

WE HAVE EACH OF US
A SECRET.

LET ME KNOW YOURS
AND I SHALL TELL YOU MINE.

WHAT WAS YOUR REASON

FOR REFUSING
TO EXHIBIT MY PICTURE?

JUST ANSWER ME
ONE QUESTION.

HAVE YOU EVER

NOTICED IN THE PICTURE
SOMETHING CURIOUS?

SOMETHING THAT,
PERHAPS AT FIRST,

DIDN'T STRIKE YOU
AND THEN,

SUDDENLY REVEALED
ITSELF TO YOU?

I SEE THAT YOU DID.
DON'T SPEAK.

WAIT TILL YOU HEAR
WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.

DORIAN, FROM THE FIRST
MOMENT I MET YOU,

YOUR PERSONALITY

HAD THE MOST
EXTRAORDINARY
EFFECT ON ME.

I WAS DOMINATED.

SOUL, BRAIN
AND POWER BY YOU.

YOU BECAME FOR ME

THE VISIBLE INCARNATION
OF THAT UNSEEN IDEAL.

I WORSHIPPED YOU.

I GREW JEALOUS OF ANYONE
YOU SPOKE TO.

I WANTED TO HAVE YOU
ALL TO MYSELF.

I WAS ONLY HAPPY
WHEN I WAS WITH YOU.

WHEN YOU WERE AWAY FROM ME
YOU WERE STILL PRESENT
IN MY WORK.

I COULD NEVER
TELL YOU THIS,

YOU WOULD NOT
HAVE UNDERSTOOD.

I HARDLY
UNDERSTOOD MYSELF.

I ONLY KNOW

AND I KNEW THEN,

THAT I HAD SEEN PERFECTION
FACE TO FACE.

ALL THE WORLD HAD BECOME

WONDERFUL, IN MY EYES.

TOO WONDERFUL, PERHAPS.

FOR IN SUCH WORSHIP
THERE IS DANGER.

WEEKS AND WEEKS WENT ON

AND I GREW MORE
AND MORE ABSORBED.

AS I WAS PAINTING,

EVERY FLAKE
AND FILM OF COLOR

SEEMED TO REVEAL
MY LOVE FOR YOU.

I FELT I HAD TOLD TOO MUCH,
PUT TOO MUCH OF MYSELF INTO IT.

AND THERE IT WAS.

I DECIDED THAT THE PICTURE
COULD NEVER BE EXHIBITED.

BUT WHEN I GOT
THIS OFFER FROM PARIS,

I THOUGHT PERHAPS
I'D BEEN FOOLISH,

IN IMAGINING THAT I'D SEEN
ANYTHING MORE IN IT.

SO I DETERMINED
TO MAKE YOUR PORTRAIT

THE PRINCIPAL THING
IN MY EXHIBITION.

IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME
THAT YOU WOULD REFUSE.

I SEE NOW
THAT YOU WERE RIGHT.

THE PICTURE
CAN NEVER BE SHOWN.

DORIAN,

YOU HAVE BEEN
THE ONE PERSON WHO HAS REALLY

INFLUENCED MY ART.

ANYTHING THAT I HAVE DONE
THAT IS GOOD,

I OWE TO YOU.

YOU DON'T KNOW.

YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT
IT COST ME TO TELL YOU THAT.

MY DEAR BASIL,
WHAT HAVE YOU TOLD ME?

MERELY THAT YOU FELT
YOU ADMIRED ME TOO MUCH?

THAT IS NOT EVEN
A COMPLIMENT.

IT WASN'T INTENDED
AS A COMPLIMENT.

IT WAS A CONFESSION.

NOW THAT I'VE MADE IT

SOMETHING SEEMS TO HAVE
GONE OUT OF ME.

IT WAS A VERY
DISAPPOINTING CONFESSION.

WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?

YOU DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING ELSE
IN THE PICTURE, DID YOU?

THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE
TO SEE?

THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE TO SEE.
WHY DO YOU ASK?

BASIL,

YOU AND I ARE FRIENDS.
WE ALWAYS WILL BE.

- YOU HAVE HARRY.
- OH, HARRY.

HARRY SPENDS HIS DAYS
SAYING WHAT IS INCREDIBLE,

AND HIS EVENINGS IN DOING
WHAT IS IMPROBABLE.

BUT I DON'T
THINK I'D GO TO HARRY
IF I WERE IN TROUBLE.

I'D SOONER
COME TO YOU.

YOU WILL SIT
TO ME AGAIN?

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

THERE IS SOMETHING FATAL
ABOUT A PORTRAIT.

IT HAS A LIFE
OF ITS OWN.

I'M SORRY THAT YOU WON'T
LET ME LOOK AT IT

BUT THAT
CAN'T BE HELPED.

AND I DO UNDERSTAND
HOW YOU FEEL.

GOODBYE, DORIAN.

IT'S ALL RIGHT.
I'LL SEE MYSELF OUT.

( door closes )

I'VE OBTAINED
THE KEY TO THE SCHOOLROOM
FROM MRS. LIEF, MONSIEUR?

VERY WELL,
LEAVE IT ON THE TABLE.

- THAT'S ALL.
- THE PERSON FROM
THE FRAMEMAKER'S IS HERE.

- MR. HUBBARD?
- YES.

ASK HIM TO WAIT
A FEW MOMENTS.

I'LL CALL HIM MYSELF
WHEN I WANT HIM.

WILL THERE BE
ANYTHING ELSE?

WHEN MR. HUBBARD IS GONE
YOU CAN PUT OUT MY CLOTHES
FOR THE EVENING.

I SHALL WANT
TO SEE HIM ALONE.

IS THERE ANOTHER KEY
EXISTING TO THE SCHOOLROOM?

MRS. LEAF TELLS ME
IT IS THE ONLY ONE.

- SHE'S MOST ANXIOUS--
- YES, THANK YOU, VICTOR,
THAT WILL BE ALL.

( knocking on door )

Mr. Hubbard:
MR. GRAY?

COMING.

GOOD AFTERNOON,
MR. GRAY.

I'M SORRY FOR KEEPING YOU
WAITING, MR. HUBBARD.

I WAS FEELING UNWELL.
HOW KIND OF YOU
TO COME SO SOON.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE
TO DO ANYTHING
FOR YOU, SIR.

DROP ANYTHING,
AS THEY SAY,

TO OBLIGE A GENTLEMAN
LIKE YOURSELF.

WHAT CAN I
DO FOR YOU, SIR?

I THOUGHT I WOULD DO MYSELF
THE HONOR OF COMING IN PERSON.

I'VE JUST GOT
A BEAUTY OF A FRAME, SIR.

PICKED IT UP AT A SALE.
OLD FLORENTINE.

- CAME FROM FONTHILL.
- I'M SO SORRY

YOU GAVE YOURSELF
THE TROUBLE OF COMING
ROUND, MR. HUBBARD.

I SHALL CERTAINLY DROP IN
AND LOOK AT THE FRAME.
BUT TODAY,

I ONLY WANT A PICTURE
CARRIED TO THE TOP
OF THE HOUSE FOR ME.

IT IS RATHER HEAVY.
I THOUGHT I WOULD ASK YOU

TO LEND ME
A COUPLE OF YOUR MEN.

THERE'LL BE
NO TROUBLE THERE, SIR.
DELIGHTED TO BE OF ANY SERVICE.

WHICH IS
THE WORK OF ART, SIR?

THIS.
CAN YOU MOVE IT?

AS IT IS,
COVER AND ALL?

I DON'T WANT TO GET IT
SCRATCHED GOING UPSTAIRS.

THERE'LL BE
NO DIFFICULTY THERE, SIR.

WOULD YOU AND I?

YES, YOU AND I
CAN MANAGE WELL ENOUGH.

Dorian:
LIFT.

NOW, WHERE SHALL WE
CARRY IT TO, SIR?

IF YOU FOLLOW ME,
I'LL SHOW YOU THE WAY.

I'M AFRAID
IT IS RATHER HEAVY.

IT'S ON THE TOP FLOOR.

WE'LL GO UP BY THE FRONT
STAIRCASE, IT'S WIDER.

Dorian:
HERE WE ARE.

GENTLY.

DON'T MIND THE STAIRS,
MR. HUBBARD.

PUT IT AGAINST
THE WALL OVER HERE.

I DON'T WANT
TO HAVE IT HUNG.

THAT'LL DO.
THANK YOU.

MIGHT ONE LOOK
AT THE WORK OF ART, SIR?

NO, IT WOULD NOT
INTEREST YOU, MR. HUBBARD.

I SHAN'T TROUBLE YOU
ANYMORE NOW.

I'M MUCH OBLIGED
FOR YOUR KINDNESS
IN COMING ROUND.

OF COURSE.
EVER READY TO BE
OF ANY SERVICE.

Basil:
WHAT AN EXTRAORDINARY
DELIGHT,

RUNNING INTO YOU
IN GROSVENOR SQUARE
LIKE THAT.

YOU KNOW,
I WAS HERE EARLIER.

I WAITED FOR YOU
FOR HOURS.

FINALLY, I TOOK PITY
ON YOUR TIRED SERVANT.

AND TOLD HIM TO GO TO BED.
I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND.

I'M OFF TO PARIS
ON THE MIDNIGHT TRAIN

AND I PARTICULARLY
WANTED TO SPEAK TO YOU
BEFORE I LEFT.

MY DEAR BASIL.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

I HOPE IT IS NOT ABOUT MYSELF.
I AM TIRED OF MYSELF TONIGHT.

I SHOULD LIKE
TO BE SOMEBODY ELSE.

IT IS
ABOUT YOURSELF.

I THINK IT IS RIGHT
THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

SOME OF THE DREADFUL THINGS
SAID AGAINST YOU IN LONDON.

I DON'T WISH TO KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT THEM. SCANDALS ABOUT
OTHER PEOPLE, I LOVE.

SCANDALS ABOUT MYSELF
DON'T INTEREST ME.

- AH, THAT'S HARRY.
- BRANDY?

THANK YOU.
THEY MUST INTEREST YOU, DORIAN.

MIND YOU, I DON'T BELIEVE
THESE RUMORS AT ALL.

AT LEAST, I CAN'T BELIEVE THEM
WHEN I SEE YOU.

SIN IS A THING
WHICH WRITES ITSELF
ACROSS A MAN'S FACE.

IT CANNOT BE HIDDEN.

SOME PEOPLE
TALK OF SECRET VICES.
THERE ARE NO SUCH THINGS.

IF A WRETCHED MAN
HAS A SECRET,

IT SHOWS ITSELF
IN THE LINES OF HIS MOUTH,

THE DROOPING OF HIS EYES,
THE MOLDING OF HIS HANDS.

WHEN I SEE YOUR BRIGHT,
INNOCENT FACE

I CAN'T BELIEVE ANYTHING
AGAINST YOU.

MIND YOU, I SELDOM
SEE YOU NOWADAYS.

YOU NEVER COME DOWN
TO MY STUDIO.

AND WHEN I HEAR THESE...

HIDEOUS THINGS THAT ARE
BEING WHISPERED AGAINST YOU

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

WHY IS IT, DORIAN

THAT A MAN
LIKE THE DUKE OF BERWICK

LEAVES THE ROOM OF A CLUB
WHEN YOU ENTER IT?

BASIL, STOP.

YOU ARE TALKING OF THINGS
YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.

YOU ASK ME WHY
BERWICK LEAVES THE ROOM
WHEN I ENTER IT?

IT IS BECAUSE
I KNOW EVERYTHING
ABOUT HIS LIFE,

NOT BECAUSE HE KNOWS
ANYTHING ABOUT MINE.

I KNOW HOW PEOPLE
CHATTER IN THIS COUNTRY.

IN ENGLAND, IT IS ENOUGH
FOR A MAN TO HAVE BRAINS
AND DISTINCTION

FOR EVERY COMMON TONGUE
TO WAG AGAINST HIM.

AND WHAT SORT OF LIVES
DO THESE PEOPLE

WHO POSE AS BEING MORAL
LEAD THEMSELVES?

MY DEAR FELLOW,

YOU FORGET THAT WE ARE
IN THE NATIVE LAND
OF THE HYPOCRITE.

THAT IS NOT THE QUESTION.
ENGLAND IS BAD ENOUGH.

AND ENGLISH SOCIETY
IS ALL WRONG.

THAT IS--
THAT IS WHY--

I WANT YOU
TO BE FINE.

BUT YOU HAVE NOT
BEEN FINE, DORIAN.

ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO JUDGE
A MAN BY THE EFFECT

HE HAS OVER HIS FRIENDS.
DON'T SHRUG YOUR SHOULDERS.

( yelling )
DON'T BE INDIFFERENT.
LISTEN TO ME, DORIAN!

THEY SAY
YOU CORRUPT EVERYONE

WITH WHOM YOU BECOME
INTIMATE.

THAT IT IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU
TO ENTER A HOUSE

FOR SHAME OF SOME KIND
TO FOLLOW AFTER.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER
THIS IS TRUE OR NOT.

I DON'T KNOW.

KNOW YOU?
DO I KNOW YOU?

I WONDER.

TO ANSWER THAT...

I WOULD HAVE
TO SEE YOUR SOUL.

SEE MY SOUL?

( laughs )
BUT ONLY GOD
CAN DO THAT.

YOU SHALL
SEE IT YOURSELF.

TONIGHT.

COME!

IT IS YOUR OWN HANDIWORK.
WHY SHOULDN'T YOU LOOK AT IT?

YOU CAN TELL THE WORLD
ALL ABOUT IT IF YOU CHOOSE.

NOBODY WOULD BELIEVE YOU.
IF THEY DID BELIEVE YOU

THEY WOULD LIKE ME
ALL THE BETTER FOR IT.

I KNOW THE AGE
BETTER THAN YOU DO,

THOUGH YOU PRATE
ABOUT IT SO TEDIOUSLY.

COME, I TELL YOU.
YOU HAVE CHATTED ENOUGH
ABOUT CORRUPTION.

NOW YOU SHALL LOOK
ON IT FACE TO FACE.

DON'T SAY THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEY DON'T MEAN ANYTHING.

YOU THINK SO?

COME UPSTAIRS,
BASIL.

I KEEP A DIARY OF MY LIFE
FROM DAY TO DAY

AND IT NEVER LEAVES THE ROOM
IN WHICH IT IS WRITTEN.

I SHALL SHOW IT TO YOU
IF YOU COME WITH ME.

I'VE ALREADY
MISSED MY TRAIN.

THAT DOESN'T MATTER,
I COULD GO TOMORROW.

BUT DON'T ASK ME
TO READ ANYTHING, DORIAN.

ALL I WANT
IS A PLAIN ANSWER
TO MY QUESTION.

THAT SHALL BE
GIVEN TO YOU.

UPSTAIRS.

I COULD NOT GIVE IT
TO YOU HERE.

YOU WILL NOT
HAVE TO READ LONG.

IT IS MY BIRTHDAY.

TOMORROW YOU SHALL
HAVE LOST YOUR TRAIN.

YOU INSIST
ON KNOWING?

YES, I DO.

I AM DELIGHTED.

YOU ARE ENTITLED
TO KNOW...

WHATEVER THERE IS
TO KNOW.

( door closes )

YOU STILL THINK ONLY GODS
SEE SUCH THINGS?

DRAW BACK THE CURTAIN.

YOU'RE MAD, DORIAN,
OR YOU'RE PLAYING A PART.

IF YOU WON'T,
THEN I SHALL.

IT'S TOO LATE
FOR PRAYER, BASIL,

IF THAT'S WHAT
YOU'RE THINKING OF.

( screams )

KNEEL, DORIAN, KNEEL!

I TOLD YOU, BASIL,
PRAYER COMES TOO LATE.

( Basil groans )

DORIAN!
OH, DORIAN!

( Basil groans )

( bell rings )

( ringing continues )

GOOD EVENING, SIR.
I'M SORRY.

NO, IT IS I WHO AM SORRY.
I SEEM TO HAVE FORGOTTEN
MY LATCHKEY.

- WHAT TIME IS IT?
- 10 MINUTES PAST 2:00.

10 MINUTES PAST 2:00?
HOW DREADFULLY LATE.

YOU MUST WAKE ME AT 9:00,
FRANCIS, I HAVE SOME WORK TO DO.

ALL RIGHT, SIR.

- Dorian: DID ANYONE
CALL THIS EVENING?
- MR. HALLWARD, SIR.

HE STAYED HERE TILL 11:00.
THEN HE WENT TO CATCH HIS TRAIN.

I'M SORRY I DIDN'T SEE HIM.
DID HE LEAVE ANY MESSAGE?

NO, EXCEPT TO SAY THAT

HE WOULD WRITE TO YOU FROM PARIS
IF HE COULDN'T FIND YOU
AT THE CLUB.

VERY GOOD. DON'T FORGET
TO WAKE ME AT 9:00 TOMORROW.

- Francis: NO, SIR.
- YES, FRANCIS, TOMORROW--

TOMORROW I SHALL WANT
TO SEE ALAN CAMPBELL

OF 152 HARTFORD STREET,
MAYFAIR.

IF HE IS OUT OF TOWN,
I WANT HIS ADDRESS.

- YOU UNDERSTAND?
- VERY GOOD, MR. GRAY.

- GOOD NIGHT, FRANCIS.
- GOOD NIGHT, SIR.

MR. CAMPBELL, SIR.

ASK HIM TO COME IN
AT ONCE.

MR. ALAN
CAMPBELL, SIR.

ALAN, THIS IS
KIND OF YOU.

I THANK YOU
FOR COMING.

I HAD INTENDED NEVER
TO ENTER YOUR HOUSE AGAIN.

YOU SAID IT WAS A MATTER
OF LIFE AND DEATH.

YES, IT IS A MATTER
OF LIFE AND DEATH.

AND TO MORE
THAN ONE PERSON.

SIT DOWN.

ALAN...

IN A LOCKED ROOM
AT THE TOP OF THIS HOUSE,

A ROOM TO WHICH NOBODY
BUT MYSELF HAS ACCESS,
THERE IS A DEAD MAN.

HE HAS BEEN DEAD
SOME HOURS NOW.

DON'T STIR AND DON'T
LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT.

WHO THE MAN IS,
WHY HE DIED, HOW HE DIED,

ARE MATTERS
THAT DO NOT CONCERN YOU.
WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS THIS--

STOP, GRAY. I DON'T WANT
TO KNOW ANYTHING MORE.

WHETHER WHAT YOU'VE TOLD ME
IS TRUE OR NOT

DOESN'T CONCERN ME.

I ENTIRELY DECLINE TO BE
MIXED UP IN YOUR LIFE.

KEEP YOUR HORRIBLE SECRETS
TO YOURSELF. THEY DON'T
INTEREST ME ANYMORE.

THEY WILL HAVE
TO INTEREST YOU.

THIS ONE WILL HAVE
TO INTEREST YOU.

I AM SORRY
FOR YOU, ALAN.

BUT I CAN'T
HELP MYSELF.

YOU ARE THE ONE MAN
WHO IS ABLE TO SAVE ME.

I AM FALSE
TO BRING YOU
INTO THE MATTER.

I HAVE
NO OPTION, ALAN.

YOU ARE SCIENTIFIC.

YOU KNOW ABOUT CHEMISTRY
AND THINGS OF THAT KIND.

YOU HAVE MADE
EXPERIMENTS.

WHAT YOU
HAVE GOT TO DO...

IS TO DESTROY THE THING
THAT IS UPSTAIRS.

DESTROY IT
SO THAT NOT A VESTIGE
OF IT WILL BE LEFT.

NOBODY SAW THIS PERSON
COME INTO THE HOUSE.

INDEED AT THE PRESENT MOMENT,
HE IS SUPPOSED TO BE IN PARIS.

HE WILL NOT BE MISSED
FOR MONTHS.

WHEN HE IS MISSED,

THERE MUST BE NO TRACE
OF HIM FOUND HERE.

YOU'RE MAD, DORIAN.

I WAS WAITING FOR YOU
TO CALL ME DORIAN.

YOU'RE MAD, I TELL YOU.
MAD TO IMAGINE

THAT I WOULD RAISE
A FINGER TO HELP YOU.

MAD TO MAKE THIS
MONSTROUS CONFESSION.

I WILL HAVE NOTHING TO DO
WITH THIS MATTER,
WHATEVER IT IS.

DO YOU THINK
I WILL IMPERIL
MY REPUTATION FOR YOU?

WHAT'S IT TO ME
WHAT DEVIL'S WORK
YOU'RE UP TO?

IT WAS SUICIDE,
ALAN.

SUICIDE?

WELL, I'M GLAD
TO HEAR IT.

WHO DROVE HIM TO IT?
YOU, I SHOULDN'T FANCY.

DO YOU STILL REFUSE
TO DO THIS FOR ME?

- YES, I REFUSE.
- ALAN, IT WAS MURDER.

- I KILLED HIM.
- MURDER?

GOOD GOD,
DORIAN, IS THIS
WHAT YOU'VE COME TO?

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT
HE HAD MADE ME SUFFER.

LOOK, I'LL NOT
INFORM UPON YOU.

BUT I WILL HAVE
NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

YOU MUST HAVE SOMETHING
TO DO WITH IT, ALAN.

ALL I ASK OF YOU

IS TO PERFORM A CERTAIN
SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENT.

YOU GO TO HOSPITALS
AND DEAD HOUSES.

THE HORRORS YOU DO THERE
DON'T AFFECT YOU.

IF IN SOME HIDEOUS
DISSECTING ROOM

YOU FOUND THIS MAN
LAYING ON A LEADEN TABLE,

WITH RED GUTTERS SCOOPED OUT
FOR THE BLOOD TO FLOW THROUGH

YOU'D SIMPLY LOOK UPON HIM
AS AN ADMIRABLE SUBJECT.

YOU WOULDN'T
TURN A HAIR.

ALL I'M
ASKING YOU TO DO

IS MERELY WHAT YOU'VE DONE
MANY TIMES BEFORE

AND REMEMBER,

IT IS THE ONLY PIECE
OF EVIDENCE AGAINST ME.

IF IT'S DISCOVERED,
I AM LOST.

IT IS SURE TO BE DISCOVERED
UNLESS YOU HELP ME.

I'VE NO DESIRE
TO HELP YOU.

ALAN, I ENTREAT YOU.

YOU MAY KNOW TERROR
YOURSELF SOMEDAY.

DON'T INQUIRE NOW.

I'VE TOLD YOU TOO MUCH
AS IT IS.

BUT I BEG OF YOU
TO DO THIS FOR ME.

WE WERE FRIENDS
ONCE, ALAN.

DON'T SPEAK OF THOSE DAYS.
THEY'RE DEAD.

THE DEAD LINGER SOMETIMES.
THE MAN UPSTAIRS WON'T
GO AWAY.

ALAN, IF YOU DON'T COME
TO MY ASSISTANCE

I AM RUINED.
THEY WILL HANG ME
FOR WHAT I HAVE DONE.

I ABSOLUTELY REFUSE.
IT'S INSANE OF YOU
TO ASK ME.

- YOU REFUSE? I ENTREAT YOU.
- IT'S USELESS.

I AM SORRY FOR YOU, ALAN,
BUT YOU LEAVE ME
NO ALTERNATIVE.

I HAVE A LETTER
WRITTEN ALREADY.

HERE IT IS.
YOU SEE THE ADDRESS?

IF YOU DON'T HELP ME
I MUST SEND IT.

IF YOU DON'T HELP ME
I WILL SEND IT.

YOU KNOW WHAT
THE RESULT WILL BE.

- DORIAN!
- COME...

DON'T WORK YOURSELF
INTO A FEVER. THIS THING
HAS TO BE DONE.

FACE IT
AND DO IT.

DECIDE AT ONCE.

NO! I CANNOT
DO IT.

YOU HAVE NO CHOICE.

IS THERE A FIRE
IN THE ROOM UPSTAIRS?

YES, THERE IS A GAS FIRE
WITH ASBESTOS.

I MUST
GO HOME FIRST,

TO GET SOME THINGS
FROM THE LABORATORY.

NO ALAN, YOU MUST
NOT LEAVE THE HOUSE.

WRITE DOWN THE THINGS
YOU REQUIRE.

MY MANSERVANT WILL TAKE
A CAB AND BRING THEM TO YOU.

( bell rings )

Francis:
YES, SIR?

YOU ARE INFAMOUS.

ABSOLUTELY INFAMOUS.

HUSH, ALAN.
YOU HAVE SAVED
MY LIFE.

YOUR LIFE?
WHAT KIND OF
A LIFE IS THAT?

AH, ALAN.

I WISH YOU HAD A 1,000th
PART OF THE PITY FOR ME

AS I HAVE FOR YOU.

COME...

THERE ISN'T A MOMENT
TO BE LOST.

I DON'T THINK
I CAN GO IN, ALAN.

IT'S NOTHING TO ME.
I SHAN'T REQUIRE YOU.

WAIT, ONE MOMENT.

LEAVE ME.

I'LL DO THE THING
YOU ASK ME.

AND NOW, LET US NEVER
SEEN EACH OTHER AGAIN.

YOU HAVE SAVED
MY LIFE, ALAN.

I'LL NOT
FORGET THAT.

AAHH! NO, PLEASE.
DON'T!

( Dorian grunts,
groans )

WHO ARE YOU?
WHAT DO YOU WANT?

PLEASE DON'T HIT ME!

( gasps )

- WHAT DO YOU WANT?
- SIBYL VANE!

- DO YOU WANT MONEY?
- I'M GOING TO KILL YOU.

YOU'RE MAD.
WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU?

SIBYL VANE WAS MY SISTER.

SHE KILLED HERSELF. I KNOW IT.
HER DEATH'S AT YOUR DOOR.

I SWORE I WOULD KILL YOU.

I HAD NO CLUE, NO TRACE.
KNEW NOTHING OF YOU

BUT SOME PET NAME
SHE USED TO CALL YOU.

SO MAKE YOUR PEACE WITH GOD.
TONIGHT, YOU ARE GOING TO DIE.

YOU'RE MAD.
I NEVER HEARD OF HER.

YOU'D BETTER CONFESS YOUR SINS,
FOR YOU ARE GOING TO DIE.

- PLEASE.
- I GIVE YOU ONE MINUTE
TO MAKE YOUR PEACE.

- PLEASE.
- ONE MINUTE, THAT'S ALL.

HOW LONG AGO WAS IT
WHEN YOUR SISTER DIED?
TELL ME.

18 YEARS.
BUT WHY DO YOU ASK?
WHAT DO YEARS MATTER?

SET ME UNDER THE LAMP
AND LOOK AT MY FACE.

( gasps )

Dorian:
DON'T HURT ME, PLEASE.

MY GOD!

( Dorian sobs )

MY GOD!

AND I WOULD HAVE
MURDERED YOU.

( cries )

( retching )

WHO'S THAT?

DORIAN!

DEAR BOY, WHAT ON EARTH
ARE YOU DOING HERE?

I WAS PASSING.

I'D HEARD THIS STUDIO
WAS FOR SALE.

THE DOOR WAS OPEN.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN HIDING
YOURSELF ALL THIS TIME?

I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU FOR WEEKS.
COME, YOU MUST TELL ME.

NO, HARRY, I DON'T
WANT TO TALK TO YOU.

I'VE DONE TOO MANY TERRIBLE
THINGS IN MY LIFE

AND I'M NOT
GOING TO DO ANY MORE.

I DID MY FIRST
GOOD ACTION YESTERDAY.

AND WHERE WERE YOU YESTERDAY,
MAY I ASK?

I WAS STAYING AT SMALL INN
IN THE COUNTRY BY MYSELF.

DEAR BOY, NOBODY CAN BE GOOD
IN THE COUNTRY.

THERE ARE
NO TEMPTATIONS THERE.

THAT IS WHY ALL THE PEOPLE
WHO LIVE OUT OF TOWN

ARE ABSOLUTELY UNCIVILIZED.

Harry:
CIVILIZATION IS NOT
AN EASY THING TO ATTAIN TO.

THERE ARE ONLY TWO WAYS
IN WHICH A MAN CAN REACH IT.

ONE IS BY BEING CULTURED,
THE OTHER IS BY BEING CORRUPT.

COUNTRY PEOPLE HAVE
NO OPPORTUNITY OF BEING EITHER
SO THEY SIMPLY STAGNATE.

CULTURE AND CORRUPTION--
I HAVE KNOWN SOMETHING OF BOTH,
THANKS TO YOU.

Dorian:
I AM GOING TO ALTER.
I THINK I HAVE ALTERED.

SPLENDID, BUT YOU
HAVEN'T YET TOLD ME

WHAT YOUR
GOOD ACTION WAS.

OR DID YOU PERHAPS
DO MORE THAN ONE?

COME AND SIT DOWN,
DORIAN,

AND TELL ME
ALL ABOUT IT.

VERY WELL, HARRY.

THIS IS NOT A STORY
I COULD TELL TO ANYONE ELSE.

YESTERDAY,
I SPARED SOMEONE.

THAT SOUNDS CONCEITED,
BUT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN.

HETTY WAS
SIMPLY A GIRL

WHO LIVED IN THE VILLAGE
WHERE I WAS STAYING.

SHE WAS QUITE BEAUTIFUL.

WONDERFULLY, LIKE THAT
LITTLE ACTRESS-- SIBYL VANE.

Dorian
YOU REMEMBER
SIBYL VANE, DON'T YOU?

HOW LONG AGO
THAT SEEMS.

WELL...

HETTY AND I WERE TO HAVE GONE
AWAY TOGETHER THIS MORNING.

WE WERE PERFECTLY IN LOVE.

WE ADORED EACH OTHER.
SUDDENLY--

I DETERMINED TO LEAVE HER
JUST AS I HAD FOUND HER.

I SHOULD THINK THE NOVELTY
OF THE EMOTION

MUST HAVE GIVEN YOU QUITE
A THRILL OF PLEASURE.

BUT I CAN FINISH YOUR IDYLL
FOR YOU.

YOU GAVE HER SOME GOOD ADVICE
AND BROKE HER HEART.

THAT WAS THE BEGINNING
OF YOUR REFORMATION.

HARRY, YOU ARE INCORRIGIBLE.
HETTY'S HEART IS NOT BROKEN.

SHE CRIED AND ALL THAT,

BUT THERE IS NO DISGRACE ON HER.
SHE CAN LIVE.

DEAR DORIAN, YOU HAVE THE MOST
CURIOUSLY BOYISH MOODS.

YOU IMAGINE THAT THIS GIRL
WILL EVER BE SATISFIED

WITH ANYONE
OF HER OWN STATION?

I SUPPOSE SHE'LL SOON
BE MARRIED TO SOME--

ROUGH CARTER
OR GRINNING PLOWMAN?

AND THE FACT THAT SHE'S
KNOWN YOU AND LOVED YOU,

WILL TEACH HER TO DESPISE
HER HUSBAND

AND SHE WILL BE
WRETCHED.

FROM THE MORAL
POINT OF VIEW,

I CAN'T THINK VERY MUCH
OF YOUR GREAT RENUNCIATION.

EVEN AS A BEGINNING,
IT'S POOR.

NO HARRY,
DON'T TRY TO CONVINCE ME

THAT THE FIRST GOOD ACTION
I'VE DONE FOR YEARS,

THE FIRST BIT OF SELF-SACRIFICE
I'VE EVER KNOWN,

IS REALLY A SORT OF SIN.

Dorian:
I WANT TO BE BETTER.
I AM GOING TO BE BETTER.

I DON'T WANT
TO TALK ABOUT IT ANYMORE.

WHAT IS GOING ON
IN TOWN?

PEOPLE ARE STILL DISCUSSING
POOR BASIL'S DISAPPEARANCE.

I SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT THEY'D
TIRED OF THAT BY THIS TIME.

DEAR BOY, THEY'VE ONLY BEEN
TALKING ABOUT IT FOR SIX WEEKS.

AND THE BRITISH PUBLIC IS REALLY
NOT UP TO THE MENTAL STRAIN

OF MORE THAN ONE TOPIC
EVERY THREE MONTHS.

THEY'VE BEEN RATHER FORTUNATE
LATELY, HOWEVER.

THEY'VE HAD
MY OWN DIVORCE CASE,

AND THAT BRILLIANT
ALAN CAMPBELL'S SUICIDE.

NOW THEY HAVE THE MYSTERIOUS
DISAPPEARANCE OF AN ARTIST.

SCOTLAND YARD
INSISTS

THAT THE MAN
IN THE GRAY ULSTER

WHO LEFT FOR PARIS
ON THE MIDNIGHT TRAIN
WAS POOR BASIL.

THE FRENCH POLICE DECLARE

THAT BASIL NEVER ARRIVED
IN PARIS AT ALL.

I SUPPOSE
IN ABOUT A FORTNIGHT

WE SHALL HEAR THAT HE'S BEEN
SEEN IN SAN FRANCISCO.

IT'S AN ODD THING,
BUT PEOPLE WHO DISAPPEAR

ARE ALWAYS SAID
TO BE SEEN IN SAN FRANSISCO.
IT MUST BE A DELIGHTFUL CITY

AND HAVE ALL THE ATTRACTIONS
OF THE NEXT WORLD.

AND WHAT DO YOU THINK
HAS HAPPENED TO BASIL?

I HAVEN'T
THE SLIGHTEST IDEA.

IF BASIL CHOOSES TO HIDE
HIMSELF AWAY,

AS YOU'VE BEEN DOING LATELY,
IT'S NO BUSINESS OF MINE.

IF HE'S DEAD,
I DON'T WANT TO THINK
ABOUT IT.

DEATH IS THE ONLY THING
THAT EVER TERRIFIES ME.

- I HATE IT.
- WHY?

BECAUSE WE CAN SURVIVE
EVERYTHING NOW EXCEPT THAT.

DEATH AND VULGARITY

ARE THE ONLY TWO FACTS
OF THE 19th CENTURY

WHICH ONE CANNOT
EXPLAIN AWAY.

I WAS VERY FOND
OF BASIL.

DON'T PEOPLE SAY
THAT HE WAS MURDERED?

SOME OF
THE NEWSPAPERS DO.

IT DOESN'T SEEM TO ME
TO BE AT ALL PROBABLE.

I KNOW
THERE ARE DREADFUL
PLACES IN PARIS,

BUT BASIL WAS NOT THE SORT
OF MAN TO GO TO THEM.

HE HAD NO CURIOSITY.
IT WAS HIS CHIEF DEFECT.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY,
HARRY,

IF I TOLD YOU

THAT I HAD MURDERED
BASIL?

I WOULD SAY,
MY DEAR FELLOW,

YOU WERE POSING FOR A CHARACTER
THAT DOESN'T SUIT YOU.

ALL CRIME IS VULGAR

JUST AS ALL VULGARITY
IS CRIME.

YOU HAVE NOT GOT IT IN YOU
TO COMMIT A MURDER, DORIAN.

SORRY, IF I OFFEND
YOUR VANITY BY SAYING SO,

BUT I ASSURE YOU
IT'S TRUE.

CRIME BELONGS EXCLUSIVELY
TO THE LOWER ORDERS.

I CAN'T SAY
I BLAME THEM FOR IT.

I FANCY THAT CRIME MUST BE
TO THEM WHAT ART IS TO US,

SIMPLY A METHOD OF PROCURING
EXTRAORDINARY SENSATIONS.

DON'T, HARRY.

THE SOUL
IS A TERRIBLE REALITY.

IT CAN BE BOUGHT AND SOLD
AND BARTERED AWAY.

IT CAN BE POISONED
OR MADE PERFECT.

ARE YOU QUITE SURE
OF THAT, DORIAN?

- QUITE SURE.
- HOW BRAVE YOU ARE.

DON'T BE SO SERIOUS.
WHAT HAVE YOU AND I TO DO

WITH THE SUPERSTITIONS
OF OUR AGE?

WE'VE GIVEN UP
OUR BELIEF IN THE SOUL.

I AM NOT
THE SAME, HARRY.

YES YOU ARE.
JUST THE SAME.

I AM A LITTLE CHANGED
ALREADY.

YOU WILL NEVER CHANGE
FOR ME, DORIAN.

YOU AND I WILL ALWAYS
BE FRIENDS.

TELL ME IF YOU CAN...

HOW YOU HAVE
KEPT YOUR YOUTH.

YOU MUST HAVE
SOME SECRET.

YOU LOOK QUITE
WONDERFUL, DORIAN.

YOU'VE NEVER LOOKED BETTER
THAN YOU DO THIS AFTERNOON.

YOU REMIND ME
OF THE FIRST DAY
I MET YOU.

YOU WERE
RATHER CHEEKY,
VERY SHY.

ABSOLUTELY
EXTRAORDINARY.

YOU HAVE CHANGED,
OF COURSE.

BUT NOT
IN APPEARANCE.

I WISH YOU WOULD
TELL ME YOUR SECRET.

TO GET BACK MY YOUTH,
I WOULD DO ANYTHING
IN THE WORLD...

EXCEPT
TAKE EXERCISE,

GET UP EARLY,
OR BE RESPECTABLE.

YOUTH!

THERE'S NOTHING
LIKE IT.

GOODBYE, HARRY.

( gasps )

( screams )