Daniel Deronda (2002): Season 1, Episode 3 - Episode #1.3 - full transcript

[SAILORS TALKING]

Thank you, sir.

Mordecai

I was waiting for you.

That's extraordinary.
I was coming to see the Cohens
at the shop, you know.

[COUGHING]

Yes, rest a while.

You said you were
waiting for me.
How could that be?

I didn't send word
I was coming this evening.

I knew you were coming.

I have been waiting for 5 years.



Shall we go?

There. That's better.

I'm so glad you're here, Daniel.

You see, I'm dying.

But you have come in time.

I'm very glad
if I give you comfort

and I hope you're wrong
about the gravity
of your condition.

Never mind that. You're here

and you know
that you've been sent here
for a purpose.

You've been chosen.

Chosen by whom? For what?

By God.

To be a leader of our people.

But don't you remember?



I told you
the first time we met. I...

I'm not a member of your race.

You are not sure
of your own origin.

I... I...

I have never known my mother.

I don't know anything about her.

But I am convinced
that my father is an Englishman.

You don't know your own origin.

You don't know
where you come from.
Let me tell you.

You are one of us.

No.

-No.
-Think about it.

Something brings you
to White Chapel.

To this shop. To me.

Yes, I was making
enquiries for...

You pick up a book at random,
what book is it?

The book that will tell you
everything you need to know.

You see, you have been chosen.

You will be my life.

You will take the inheritance.

You will take
the sacred inheritance
of the Jew.

Daniel, Daniel, look.
We're making angels!

Daniel, Daniel, look.
We're making angels!

Daniel, Daniel, look.

Ah, there you are.

What's that you're reading?

The history of the Jews.

What on earth
are you doing with that?

I came across it
when I was trying to trace...

Miss Lapidoth's family for her.

Oh, yes.
Your little waif and stray.

That's not how I'd describe her.

What are you doing
with you life
these days, Daniel?

Not much I suppose.

But I've been doing
a good deal of reading

and thinking and finding out
about other lives.

Lives very different from ours.

-Do you know...
-Would you mind if I tell you
what I'd like to see you doing?

-Not at all.
-I'd like to see you engaging
in a serious profession.

The law perhaps.

But not necessary for itself,
as a step to greater things.

Politics, say.

I think you might have
a very good career there.

You read widely
and you think deeply.

But it's no good
keeping these things
to yourself.

And you underestimate
yourself, Dan.

I believe you have
the makings of a leader in you.

This country needs new ideas.

Aim high, Dan.

Now you think about that.

I will.

Of course you can always
help your young women
in your spare time.

Oh, by the way.

Do you know that
your temptress from Leubronn
will be here this evening?

Yes.

Do you think you will be
proof against temptation

or should we have to
lay our shoot at the mast?

I don't think
that will be necessary.

After all
she is another man's wife.

Oh, yes. So she is.

Well, well.

-[MAN LAUGHS]
-Hmm. An Interesting girl.

Woman, we should say now,
I suppose.

They say
he gave the family diamonds
to his mistress,

but the new bride made him
go and take them back off her.

And looking at her
you can believe it.

Eh? What do you say?

[SCOFFS] I should say
that was most unlikely.

Well, it's true
about the mistress.

Mrs Glasher.

A very fiery woman, they say

and she's given him a fine son.

Then what right had he
to marry this girl?

I dare say
she knew all about it.

A man like that is quite a prize

with or without
the encumbrances.

Well, well.
Mr and Mrs Klesmer.

So he goes
right liberal these days.

I never thought to see
one of the chosen race
here at the abbey.

What do you say,
Lady Pentreath?

Glad to find a little romance
still left among us.

And after all,
it's hardly a misalliance.

There's no blood on either side.

All the same though,
it's a far cry

from tying the knot
with one of the sons of Shem,
wouldn't you say?

If there is a misalliance,
I'd say it was
on Klesmer's side.

He'll be remembered and revered

long after the rest of us
are forgotten, I think.
Excuse me.

What a strange young man.

Why should he take
the cares of the world
upon his shoulders?

I understand he has
a little Jewish protege himself.

Ah, so that's it.

[SINGING OPERA]

WOMAN: Mr Deronda,
that was delightful.

That is the true
English baritone for you.

Never heard it sound better.

No, no. Ask Klesmer
if you want the truth.

What is your verdict,
Mr Klesmer?

Middling.

That's all I aim for, thank you.

Yes, you understand
true excellence, I think.

But you content yourself
with very much less
in some things.

Music being one of them
as you rightly observed.

[PLAYING PIANO]

Will you not join in the music?

I join in it by listening.

I am very fond of music.

But you're not a musician?

I have given
a great deal of time to music

but I haven't the talent
to make it worthwhile.

If you're fond of music...

I shouldn't have to sing again.

You see,
I couldn't bear to be middle.

To me that's another word
for being dull

and I have such a dread
of dullness.

That's why I gamble.

And lose.

Yes.

What's this
about your little protege,
Mr Deronda?

Miss Lapidoth. She is
the most wonderful singer.

She recently arrived in London
and plans to give recitals there
and lessons.

I am to have her
in my drawing room
when we go up to town.

You will hear her then.

Well, to please you,
I'll settle
on my 9 granddaughters.

I hope to convince 8 of them
never to sing again
except in church.

Most girls these days
will teach you not to sing
in my view.

[SINGING OPERA]

Do you think
you might relent, perhaps?

I should like
to hear Miss Lapidoth
since you admire her so much.

Is she as perfect
in everything else
as in her music?

I can't vouch for that exactly.
I haven't seen enough of her.

She's had an unhappy life.

[SCOFFS]

Yes, she's borne it all
with patience and good humour

and true grace and refinement.

I have no sympathy
with these people
who are always doing right.

I don't believe
in their great sufferings.

What is it?

What's the matter?

I despise myself.

I wish you could know everything
about my life

without my telling you.

Are you persuading
Mrs Grandcourt
to sing for us, Daniel?

I can't persuade myself.

[SNORING]

Well.

Am I all together as you like?

No.

Put on the diamonds.

I don't want to wear them.

These go much better
with this dress.

You must see that.

Hmm.

I wish you'd wear the diamonds.

Please excuse me.

I prefer the turquoise.

What you prefer

has nothing to do with it.

Take them off
and put on the diamonds.

Why should I?

'Cause I am your husband
and I tell you to.

Hmm.

[BAND PLAYING]

Have you resolved
not to dance any more?

Yes. Aren't you glad?

I'm sure you've danced
more than you'd like to already.

You could fetch me
a glass of water if you want.

It's very close in here.
Perhaps we should go
into the cloisters.

Yes, it'll be cooler there.

Shall we?

No, I don't care to.

You go if you like.

Deronda will take you.

I wore it for you.

Do you remember?

Of course I remember.

And do you still think
badly of me?

I never thought badly of you.

Not then. Not now.

I did think you might be
throwing your life away.

Oh, I wasn't
throwing my life away then.

That was just a few francs.

If you knew what my life is now.

And I brought it on myself.

I had to do something
to help my family.

Don't you see?

No.

That's not true.

I married him
because I couldn't bear
to be a governess.

There. Do you despise me now?

How could I despise you?

You would.

If you knew everything.

I think I shall be damned
for what I've done.

No, not you.

This place.

-Is this where you grew up?
-Yes.

How wonderful to have spent
your childhood here.

We were always shifting
from place to place.

Always dependent
on other people.

We were never settled.

Never secure like you.

I've always felt
as if I were walking
on a high wire.

With nothing to save me
if I fell.

I was lucky to grow up here.

But in a way
I never really felt
I'd belonged.

I used to think my real parents
would come one day

and take me away and tell me
it was all a mistake.

But I thought...

You always seemed so strong.

So definite.

As if you know
exactly who you are
and what you want.

I don't know how to...

I don't know
how to endure my life.

Tell me what I can do.

I'm frightened of everything.

I'm frightened
of what I might do.

Help me, please.

I am beginning to think
that the only way to be happy

is to find something
outside ourselves
worth caring about

and to work for that.

Do you mean charity?

It's hard to explain.

It's about using
your unhappiness

to help you see
other people's pain.

You do care

something for me.

I care very much about you.

Then we can see
each other again.

You will let me
come and see you sometimes
and talk to you.

Gladly, if it will help you.

Oh, yes.

I'm ready to go now if you are.

Mr Deronda will excuse us
to Lady Mallinger.

Good night.

Sit down, would you?

Oblige me in future
by not indulging your whims
like a mad woman in her play.

What do you mean?

I suppose there is
some understanding
between you and Deronda

about that thing on your wrist.

If you have anything
to say to him, say it.

Don't telegraph it
for everyone to see.

It's damnably vulgar.

You can know
all about the necklace.

I don't want to know.

What I care to know,
I shall know

without your telling me.

But you will oblige me

by behaving as becomes my wife

and not make
a spectacle of yourself.

Do you object
to my talking to Mr Deronda?

I don't care two straws
about Deronda

or any other
conceited hanger-on.

You may talk to him
as much as you like.

But you will understand

that you are not
to compromise yourself.

Behave with dignity.

That's all I have to say.

Now.

Take that thing off your wrist
and come over here.

No.

[CHILDREN YELLING]

What a lovely surprise
this is, Gwendolen.

Well, Mr Grandcourt
has gone out

so I determined
to fill up the time
by coming to see you, Mama.

There's only
one more day's hunting.

We should be going up to town
next week.

Oh, we hoped
we might see more of you
while you were at Diplow.

Yes, so did I.

But Mr Grandcourt
doesn't care for company much.

He says he finds society
a confounded bore.

One might as well
go to one's kennels
and talk to one's hounds.

-What a funny man.
-He wouldn't stop you
visiting people

and having friends, would he?

-And receiving Mama.
-Isabelle, dear. Don't.

When one is married
one must consider
one's husband's wishes.

He's tamed you, hasn't he?

He thinks he has.

But I should be allowed
to come to you
if you were ill, darling.

Oh, yes.

But you know I am never ill.

So, where has Mr Grandcourt
gone today?

To Gadsmere, I believe.

What sort of place
is that, Gwen?

I don't know.

I've never been there.

He calls it a dog hodge
of a place in a black country.

Why does he go there then?

He has affairs
which take him there
I understand.

Dog hodge affairs?

You mustn't fret about me, Mama.

Be happy with the girls.

They're better children to you
than I have been, you know?

No.

You've always
been good my darling,
I remember nothing else.

What did I ever do
that was good to you
except marry Mr Grandcourt?

And I shouldn't have done that
unless it pleased myself.

Oh, God forbid, child.
I wouldn't have had you
marry for my sake.

Now, Mama.
You mustn't be cross with me.

Mr Grandcourt gives me
far more money than I can spend.

And you know how
I hate charity children
and all that.

Here's 30 pounds.

Let the girls spend it
on the little things
for themselves.

Oh, Gwendolen. You shouldn't.

Take it.

Bless you, dear.

Come along, girls. She's going.

[CHILDREN YELLING]

GIRL: He's coming! He's coming!

He's got ever such big hats on.

Artists always have big hats.

Artists often
have swelled heads.

Oh? [LAUGHING]

Mr Julius Klesmer, ma'am.

Mrs Meyrick.

Our friend, Mr Deronda

has spoken to me
about your young protege,

Miss Lapidoth.

This is Miss Lapidoth.

Ah.

[MIRAH SINGING OPERA]

Let us shake hands.

You are a true musician.

-Thank you.
-Not for great tasks.

No high roofs.

I would not advice...

I would not further your singing
in any larger space
than a London drawing room.

But you will do well there.

And in London that is
one of the best careers open.

Lessons will follow.

Will you come and sing at
a private concert I'm organizing
for Sir Hugo Mallinger?

Yes, I should be grateful to.

KLESMER: No reason
for gratitude.

You're a true musician
and you deserve to be heard.

Miss Lapidoth,

Mrs Meyrick,

Mr Meyrick,

Deronda, young ladies,

I bid you good day.

[EXCITED CHATTERING]

Thank you.

We have been invited to a soiree
in Park Lane.

Sir Hugo and Lady Mallinger.

A musical soiree.

Touting for that new
little Jewess, no doubt.

I suppose your friend Deronda
will be there.

Since he lives there
I imagine it's quite likely.

Don't worry.

I shan't wear
that turquoise necklace
that disgusted you so much.

I should like you to wear
the green satin

and the diamonds, of course.

Whatever gives you pleasure.

[SINGING OPERA]

Bravo.

You must let me say
how much I am obliged to you,
Miss Lapidoth.

I had heard from Mr Deronda
that I should have a great treat
in hearing your singing

but I was too ignorant
to imagine how great.

Good of you to say so.

I was so nervous, you know.

Oh, you shouldn't have been.

Will you come sing
at Grosvenor Square as well?

My husband has no ear at all
but I shall be thrilled.

We're having a musical evening
on the 4th.
I do hope you can come.

Oh, you are very kind
Mrs Grandcourt.

I should be honoured.

Then it is settled.

I shall look forward to it.

Well, your little Jewess
is very pretty,
there's no denying it.

Where's her Jewish impudence?

She looks as demure as a nun.

I can assure you
her modest demeanour
is quite natural to her.

I congratulate you, Mr Deronda.

I'm sure she's very grateful.

And who is that
Van Dyke duchess of beauty?

Uh, that's Mrs Grandcourt.

Yes, I see now.

A man can make himself
rather wicked
for your Mrs Grandcourt.

She's not my Mrs Grandcourt.

No?

I think she could be, you know?

[INDISTINCT CHATTING]

Miss Lapidoth seems to be
a very happy person.

I must say
she bears her troubles
very well.

Yes, she does.

There seems to be
hardly any need
for me to say things

when you know
everything I'm thinking.

So Miss Lapidoth
is your good court now
and you have forsaken me.

No, I have not forsaken you.

Thank you.

I invited Miss Lapidoth
to come and sing at our house.

I hope you don't mind.

I'd sooner not have
Deronda's mistress
at Grosvenor Square.

His what?

Well it's obvious.

Any one can see
what the relationship is.

Only men like you

who judge others by themselves.

I suppose you take Deronda
for a saint.

No.

Only a little less
of a monster than you are.

Am I a monster, then?

You know what you are.

And it's not true
about Deronda
and Mirah Lapidoth.

Yes, it is.

I'd prefer it if you didn't come
to my bed tonight.

You'd prefer that, would you?

Well I'm afraid
I must disappoint you.

Come.

Mrs Mallinger Grandcourt.
Is Miss Lapidoth at home?

MAID: Miss Lapidoth,
there's a Mrs Grandcourt
to see you in the drawing room.

Mrs Grandcourt.

Please sit down.

I thought... [CLEARS THROAT]

I hope you will be able
to sing at our house on the 4th.

Yes, of course. I thought
it was already arranged.

There's no problem I hope.

No.

I just wanted to be sure of you.

I thought I might see
Mr Deronda here.

He comes here very often.

To see you.

Yes, and Hans,
and Mrs Meyrick and the girls.

He is very kind.
He pays all my expenses,
you know.

He pays your expenses?

-He keeps you.
-Yes.

But soon I shall be able
to keep myself very well.

It's not like that you know.

Did you think it was?

No.

I never believed
it could be true.

But you know how people talk.

And you thought
it might be true

and you came to see
if you could find out.

I never believed it.

Please.

I never believed it.

I know he cares about you
very much.

Does he love you?

Shouldn't you perhaps
ask him that?

If you dare to ask it at all.

I'm sorry.

DANIEL: Mirah.

Mrs Grandcourt.

Forgive me.

Shan't intrude any longer.

Good morning.

Mrs Grandcourt.

Gwendolen.

What did she want?

I'm not sure I could tell you.

She said
she wanted to be sure of me.

For her musical evening.

Yes.

I suppose so.

[MEN CHATTING]

[CHATTER ABRUPTLY STOPS]

Ah, there you are.

Excuse me.

GRANDCOURT: No. Wait.

Come in.

There is some business
about property to be settled.

I've told Lush
to come and explain it to you.

I take it you don't mind.

You know very well
that I do mind.

Some business must be done.

If employ Lush
you will take it
as a matter of course.

Not make a fuss.

Not toss your head
and bite your lips.

Do you understand me?

Good.

I'm going out now.

I shall come back
in time to go riding

if you care to get ready.

[LUSH CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY]

I...

Shall we sit down?

This paper contains
some information
about Mr Grandcourt's will.

Say what you have to say.

I have to remind you
of something which occurred

before your engagement
to Mr Grandcourt.

You met a lady on the day
of the archery picnic,

if you remember.

Mr Grandcourt
thinks it only right that his

intentions with regard to
that lady should be made
quite clear to you.

Perhaps I should illuminate
the material point for you.

In the case
of there being no son

as issue of your marriage
with Mr Grandcourt,

The little boy you saw
in Cardell Chase,

his name is Henleigh,

will be Mr Grandcourt's heir.

Is that all?

You may tell Mr Grandcourt
that his arrangements

are just as I would have wished.

MORDECAI: It's this way.

Out of my way!

We must have our own country
after centuries of persecution.

We are a people.

We must have our own land again
or we are nothing.

But the feeling of nationality
is dying.

Nations have revived.

And we may even live to see
a great outburst of force
in the Arabs,

who are being inspired
by new zeal.

We all dream
of the promised land

but we live here now, Mordecai.

Who would go with you?

Hmm?

-Only a handful.
-One handful is a village.

Two handfuls is a town.
Three a city.

We have to start somewhere.

-May I speak?
-Of course, sir.

We are all equal here.

I was going to say

isn't the way forward
through assimilation?

Well said, sir.

There speaks
a liberal Englishman.

What kind of Jew is it
who has no pride
in his own people?

Steady on, Mordecai.

We are only saying
we shouldn't expect
too much too soon.

Our tragedy is
we have no expectations.

Don't you see
that when we pretend
to be what we are not,

we lose a bit of our souls?

We have to take pride
in who we are.

Don't you see
if all our scattered people
could come together

we could become a nation,

with a voice
among the nations of the world
and it will come.

Be sure of that.

You think I'm just a dreamer?

I don't know enough to say.

Is there anyone
who shares your ideas?

A few.

Small groups in Europe,
even in England.

Even some who have
thrown up everything

and gone off
to build little settlements
in the land of Israel.

You see, our people
will never be able
to fulfil our destiny

until we have a land of our own.

And for that we need leaders.

I dreamt of becoming
one of those leaders, Daniel.

I was on the point
of setting off for the east
that fateful day in Trieste.

I was about to embark.

The ship was at the quay

and then the man came.

"Ezra! Ezra!
Here's a letter for you
from England."

-You're name is Ezra.
-Oh, yes.
Yes, that was my given name.

It was from my mother
with the news that she had
been robbed of her little one.

My little sister, Daniel.

Her father had taken her away
and she didn't know where.

So of course,
I had to turn back

and give up my dreams

to comfort my poor mother.

And that was the beginning
of this slow death.

We were destitute.

That man had left us
with his debts.
Everything had been seized.

I worked two jobs
and made myself
into this skeleton that you see.

But worst for both of us
was not knowing
what had happened to Mirah.

Fearing that she
had been reared in evil.

Mirah.

Did you say Mirah?

Yes, that was her name.

I prayed for her
the night our mother died.

And you have never heard
of your sister since then?

No.

Never.

Mirah.

No, no.
Don't feel you must do that.

I'm intruding on your privacy.

No, please.

Stay.

You were praying.

Yes.

Don't you?

No.

Very rarely I'm afraid.

I'm sure some people can live
without a faith.

I used to think that.

Now I'm not so sure.

I envy you that.

You envy me?

Mirah.

I have some news for you.

Mirah.

MALLINGER: Daniel?

-You're not going out?
-I was.

-What is it?
-Come up here.

I've something to say to you.

Come and sit down.

I have heard word
from your mother, dear.

After all these years
she's decided at last
that she wishes to see you.