Dickensian (2015–2016): Season 1, Episode 9 - Episode #1.9 - full transcript

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)

(DOOR OPENING)

Father.

What time is it?

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

Arrested any more
innocents lately, Mr Bucket?

I shall see justice done, Mr Scrooge,

if I have to arrest
every last man in London.

Humbug.

Fancy a pie?

So, you see, Mr Jaggers,



it only takes five
of my fellow merchants

to lend me ten pounds of stock apiece.

Why would that be in their interest?

Well, there's a kinship
amongst our company of cloth workers

and Barbary is a name
both trusted and respected.

And besides, I've lent stock
on more than one occasion.

Even if this works, it will give you
a fraction of what you owe.

It'll buy me a month's trading.

Time enough to find
a more permanent solution.

I'll be frank. This is a fool's errand.

Scrooge possesses
neither patience nor mercy.

You'd be better to return home

and prepare your family
for what's to come.

You underestimate me, sir.



It's one thing for me to face disgrace
but I will not see my daughter shamed.

Not for the life of me.

The finest pies in London.
Wouldn't you agree, Mr Dawkins?

Had better and ain't no one
calls me Dawkins.

I'll go by the Artful Dodger

or just plain Dodger,
if it's all the same.

Cast your mind back to the night
of Jacob Marley's murder.

Fagin tells me
he spent a quiet night at home.

If that's what he says, I ain't
going to contradict a gentleman.

Such terrible doings.

I just hope you catch the cove
what done him in, Mr Bucket.

A running man will trip soon enough.

The slightest slip is all it takes.

So you can let it be known,

Bucket is waiting,

Bucket is watching

and he will have his man.

The day is coming when Fagin will hang.

But there's still time for you, Dawkins.
You're a smart lad.

Change your path now and you could
live to see your 16th birthday.

Food for thought, sir.

Food for thought, indeed.

My compliments to Mrs Cratchit.

She is verily the Michelangelo
of the mutton pie.

Now, how much do I owe you?

The little...

I'll pay you later. I'll come back.

Thank you very much.

(MARKET TRADERS CHATTERING)

MR BUMBLE: Come on, keep up.

No dawdling.

(BOY MUMBLING)

Stop complaining.

- Oh!
- Sorry, sir.

Come on. Work to be done!

(SIGHS)

Kindly tell Mr Darley that
Edward Barbary presents his compliments.

Yes, sir.

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

Mr Wegg, you poor wretch.

I couldn't sleep a wink last night,

knowing I'd left you at the mercy
of this frightful place.

I can see it in your eyes.

My dark tales have burnt into your soul.

You don't deny it.

- Well, I...
- But fear not.

You will never again
spend a night alone.

Sairey shall watch over you

and there's nothing
I won't do to lift your spirits.

Then perhaps you might find time
to lay your healing hands once more

upon my swollen appendage?

Jip!

Jip?

Jip?

I'm sorry, sir.

Now, now, Mr Bucket,

we can't just go pointing the finger.

Last time, you accused me
of filching a diamond ring

I'd come by
through entirely honest means.

My wallet, if you please, and now.

Else we can let the Old Bailey
decide the matter.

Dodger!

Might you know anything
of this gentleman's wallet, my dear?

(SIGHING) What a coincidence.

I come by it in a gutter
not a half hour ago.

I think perhaps the boy deserves
a finder's fee, do you not, Mr Bucket?

I'm quite sure he's had one.

Must weigh heavy, Inspector,

knowing the murderer is still at large.

(WINCES)

Don't toy with me, Fagin!

Careful, my dear,
you'll do yourself an injustice.

(LAUGHING)

It's such an important dinner.

Oh, look!

Are you quite sure, my dear?

Surely once they're lit by candle

and we've dabbed the gravy
from our chins,

- who's to know the difference?
- I shall know.

These aren't fit for even
the lower orders, Bumble.

How can we hope to impress
Mr Gradgrind with such napery?

Why would he employ a man
who tolerates such indignities?

You're quite right, my dear,
of course. Mmm.

How foolish of me.

You must purchase a new set at once.

Whichever kind you like.

Let no expense be spared.

(SIGHS)

(CHILDREN CHATTERING)

The murderer eludes me at every turn.

Damn it, Mr Venus.

If the detective won't prove effective,

then why do we even exist?

If I might presume, Mr Bucket,

every man needs an outlet.

An outlet, you say?

I am blessed that my hobby
is become my profession.

The tasteful setting
of the deceased beast.

But if a man has nothing
in his life besides work,

then surely his spine
shall look like a question mark.

One little crack now.

- (GRUNTS)
- Oh!

I have no time for hobbies.

Although in my youth, I was reckoned
for something of a singer.

Mrs Bucket was particularly impressed.

It's no wonder, sir.

Women are most susceptible to music.

I myself have brought tears
to a woman's eyes

using nothing but my squeeze box.

(GROANS)

Does a woman's constitution

really differ so from a man's, Mr Venus?

As different as
a mongoose is to a snake.

A man contains his anxieties

like a barrel, till he's rendered
almost like a hunchback.

- One more.
- (BONES CRACKING)

And a woman?

A woman

lives only to talk.

It is her raison d'etre.

Offer her a sympathetic ear

and she will unburden her soul
in its entirety.

Quite so, Mr Venus.

Quite so.

- (BONES CRACKING)
- (GASPING)

(PATRONS LAUGHING)

A widow,
lodging with an unmarried gentleman,

it isn't proper.

Tongues will wag, Mrs Gamp.

Oh, I'm well be known
as a woman of medicine.

And it's a matter of record

that what legs he have left
is of poor condition.

And what's improper about doing
your Christian... (HICCUPS)... duty?

Oh, dear Mr Wegg.

I was just telling Miss Biggetywitch
how our proximity

shall doubtless prove
mutually beneficial.

And I believe we both shall enjoy

full satisfaction from our arrangement,
do you not, Mr Wegg?

I most sincerely do hope so, madam.

Oh! Mmm!

Now, I believe

I may take a little rest,
as is my habit this time of day.

See you anon, dearie.

That's the thing with you, girl.

You're like one of them
faithful old dogs everybody kicks

but still they just keep on
coming back for more.

You silver-tongued devil, Bill.

I'm quite overcome.

You know what I mean. I mean you
and Fagin, the way he treats you.

Anyway, that'll change soon enough.

How? Change how, Bill?

I paid him some and will get the rest
as soon as I can.

- Paid for what?
- What do you think? For you.

(DOOR SLAMMING)

So, sir,

is the situation yet salvaged?

I admit the response thus far
has been disappointing.

- Then surely it's time to accept...
- (GRUNTS) I accept nothing!

Not until I've exhausted
every last avenue there is!

Miss Havisham?

I'm sorry to call unannounced,

but one of my investments
is in a shipping company

and my geography is sorely lacking.

Mr Pocket mentioned
you have a fine library?

Uh, yes.

I'd be glad to see it used.

And also,

I have a young friend with me
and I wondered if, well,

perhaps he might join me?

Jip's been gone less than a day.

You think I could just replace him?
Have you no heart at all?

I confess, Miss Nancy,

I'm finding you
a puzzling contradiction.

You're a young woman with a strong will
and a mind of your own.

Yet, forgive me,

you will submit to any man
with coin enough to buy you.

- They buy my time. They ain't buying me.
- I'm glad to hear it.

I'd hate to think
your life were not your own.

So it was your choice

to spend an evening
in the company of Jacob Marley,

not Fagin's?

Let's say I found a reason
to put Fagin behind bars.

Let's say an alibi
turned out to be false,

just for instance.

I suppose your life
would look a little different.

I suppose so.

You know you can talk
to me in confidence.

I've all the time in the world

and I promise to listen
without judgement.

This usually work, does it?

BUCKET: Hmm?

Well, you offer me a sympathetic ear,

I give you my life's history

and then, somehow while I'm crying
on your shoulder, the truth slips out.

That your plan, was it?

(SIGHS)

So, what do you want to know?

Do you want to know
how we used to sleep

on the ground outside the glassworks

because the earth was warm,
even in winter?

Or do you want to know how before
I met Fagin, I never slept in a bed?

That the sort of thing you was after?

- There's no need.
- You're right.

I wouldn't choose to go
with a man like Marley

but there's plenty in my life
I wouldn't choose.

And if you'd ever known true hunger,

you'd know it never leaves you.

I don't know who killed Marley.

But I know what killed him.

Money.

That's all anyone in this city
cares about, isn't it?

(SIGHS) What about love?

It's just a word you get in fairy tales.

Love don't put food in your belly,

coal on your fire,
nip of gin when the air turns cold.

No.

I'll take money over love any day.

It's a fool who says otherwise.

I come as soon as I could.

Hmm?

Mr Wegg?

Unbridle yourself, Sairey.
Hold nothing back.

(SCREAMS) Oh! Oh, you devil, you!

(SCREAMS) Get off me, you beast!

You get off! Get off! Get off!

(SCREAMING)

Ah!

(PANTING)

Oh.

And there,
in the darkest jungles of Peru,

where they boil their enemies alive
and eat them,

leaving only their heads.

And then there's Mittens,

who once belonged
to Queen Victoria herself.

No! Really?

This is my favourite piece in the shop.

When I'm grown up, I shall own a comb
just like this one.

I shall wear it to grand balls
and men shall queue up to dance with me.

Well, it's your birthday next week.

- Perhaps someone might...
- (CHUCKLES) I hardly think so.

Not for six shillings.

Yes, sir?

You purchase items as well as sell them,
I suppose?

Indeed, sir.

And the items you buy,

can you be trusted
to keep their provenance to yourself?

Shall we step inside, sir?

He's a gift for my goddaughter, Matilda.

It's her birthday and I had almost
to pass your house.

You must see that given the timing...

I see how it looked to you.
But do you really think so little of me?

(CHUCKLES)

I hardly know what to think.

You speak words
of the most tender kind,

only to recant them a day later and...

And ever since then you've behaved with
an aloofness that borders on disdain.

- Just what am I supposed to think?
- Can't you see I am possessed by you?

My waking thoughts,
my sleeping thoughts are only of you.

And had my words been met with anything
other than cold indifference,

I swear, I would have repeated them

over and over
a thousand times since but...

well,

you could hardly
have made your feelings any clearer.

Wait. Stay a while.

In here.

- Yeah, there it is.
- Yep.

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

(GASPS)

A... A globe!

We would not wish him
to think us parochial! (CHUCKLES)

Is that new china I see?

New cutlery?

(GASPS) New coal?

Let no expense be spared, you said.

I meant on the napery, madam!

How are we to afford all this?

You ungrateful wretch!

I work my fingers to the bone
trying to improve our miserable lot

and this is the thanks I get?

Very well!
I shall return every last item

and we shall see out our days
in the poorhouse.

Would that be better?

(STAMMERING) Of course not,
my sweetest pudding.

Oh, how very clever you are.

How can I even begin to make amends?

- Hmm.
- (COINS CLINKING)

Your most recent loan was 70 pounds.

And you expect me to be grateful
for this feeble trickle of coins?

Well, I'm a gentleman.
I will honour my debts.

A gentleman would pay
what is owed in full.

I will, in time.

But, uh,

- due to unforeseen circumstances...
- Unforeseen.

Well, if they're unforeseen, that speaks
only of your lack of foresight.

You have speculated with my money
and you have lost it,

twice, and the fault lies
with you alone.

I will have my money in full,
Mr Barbary, by the end of today.

Today?

Well, that's quite impossible.

I'm doing all I can
to restore my fortunes

but as of this moment, I have nothing.

Nothing?

(CHUCKLES)

You do not know the meaning
of the word "nothing".

But you will come to, soon enough.

Please, Mr Scrooge,
show some mercy, I beg you.

I have two daughters.

- Two daughters?
- Yes.

Well, why did you not say so?

I assume you are referring
to that clause under English law

whereby any man
in possession of two daughters

is therefore exempt
from paying his debts.

- Oh, no, I mean...
- Look, you chose to clutter the world

with your female issue.

Your reckless fecundity
is hardly my concern.

You're not the first gentleman
I've sent to the debtors' prison.

And you shan't be the last.

(PEN SCRIBBLING)

- I never would have thought it of him.
- He has the look of it, all right.

They'd have done better
to cut off both his legs.

For the greater good of womankind.
And not just his legs, neither.

Madam, my mortification
is truly fathomless.

- Lf there is any...
- Please.

Let us speak no more of it.

All I ask is a little something
for my nerves.

Perhaps another tiny drop of gin.

I've never spoken of it until now.

I thought we'd see out
our lives together.

But it wasn't to be?

The very morning of our wedding,
she sent word she wasn't coming.

For what reason?

- It seems she loved someone else.
- Oh, I'm so sorry.

(SOFTLY) Here.

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

I swore
I would never let myself love again.

- Meriwether...
- I tell you all this only to explain

why it would be better if we never saw
each other again.

I ain't for sale, Bill.

I ain't some piece of meat
you can make money off.

Make money off?

- What else would you want to own me for?
- Why do you think?

So you'd never need go
with another man asides me.

(GROWLS)

(SIGHS) You're a good girl, Nance.

A good girl and...

No, I know what I am.

(CHUCKLING) Good?

Well, ain't the word most would choose.
Plenty other girls out there.

Yeah, but I don't care about
other girls.

They ain't you.

(SIGHS)

They ain't my Nancy.

Your Nancy?

(SIGHS)

Well?

So, you're a military man?

Indeed, sir.
I'm proud to serve Queen and country.

And you imagine the army
will give you a career?

What prospects can you hope for?
What, er...

A posting to the colonies, I suppose?

Well, James is soon to be a major.

It's more or less assured.

More or less?

Well, that sounds considerably
less than certain.

- Father.
- No, your father's right, Honoria.

It is a question you must consider.

A captain's salary
doesn't amount to much.

And I can hardly rely on my luck
at the card table.

You're a gambler?

You expect me to entrust my daughter
to a soldier who's reckless with money?

You think I wish to see her ruined?

Her living in the poorhouse?

# Some talk of Alexander

# And some of Hercules

# Ba-ba-bum
Of Hector and Lysander

# And such great names... #

A reward?

Orders of the Chief Inspector, sir.

(SIGHS)

(FIRE CRACKLING)

I fear I did not give
a true account of myself, sir.

- I'm heartily sorry if...
- (POUNDING ON DOOR)

- Mr Barbary! Open up!
- (POUNDING CONTINUES)

It is I who should ask your forgiveness.

The greatest kindness
you could do Honoria

is to save her from the name Barbary.

FRANCES: Papa?
HONORIA: Whatever do you mean?

These gentlemen say
that you are expecting them.

Come, gentlemen.

Do what you must.

No, you're not taking him!
I won't let you.

Tell them you're not coming.

Papa, tell them!

I've said too much.

Not at all.

I should have...

If I've been rude...

Keep him.

What about your goddaughter?

Oh, he has a brother.

Almost as handsome.
I could scarcely choose between them.

So I'll be happy to know
they'll both be well-loved.

You're the kindest man
I've ever met, aside my father.

I am honoured to even
be mentioned in the same breath.

- Stay a while longer.
- Please, Amelia.

I won't hurt you.

(SOFTLY) I swear.

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

(PEOPLE MURMURING)

(CARRIAGE DOOR CLOSING)