Little Dorrit (2008): Season 1, Episode 3 - Episode #1.3 - full transcript

- Good morning, Miss Amy.
- Good morning, John.

- How are you today?
- All...all...

all the better for seeing you, Amy.

Oh, oh, Miss?

That gentleman who came to
visit your pa, Mr Clennam.

Yes?

- He got locked in last night.
- Oh! I did warn him.

I...I was wondering,
might you want to see him?

He's in...he's in the snuggery.

No thank you, John, I'd rather not.

Very good, Miss Dorrit.
In fact, excellent. First class.



Great!

Morning!

Morning, sir. Sleep well?

I've had worse nights.
Um, has the gate been open long?

About two minutes, sir.

Might I ask,
has Miss Dorrit gone out yet?

Yes, sir, she has...just now.

Thank you! Good morning!

Oh, blow.

- Oh, good morning, Miss Dorrit.
- Oh, morning.

Are you on your way to my mother's?

I'm not wanted there today.
I am going to meet a friend.

- May I walk with you?
- What is it you want from me, sir?

It makes me uncomfortable that you
followed me home last night,



and I wish you had not done so.

I apologise, my intentions
were entirely honourable.

I believe there is a connection
between your family and mine.

I even think it possible
that the House of Clennam

might be responsible for
the misfortunes that have befallen

your family, and I should like
to do something to help, if I can.

I am truly sorry
if I've embarrassed you.

Will you accept my apology?

I was sorry to hear you were
locked in last night, Mr Clennam.

Ah, my own fault.
You warned me often enough.

I hope you weren't too uncomfortable.

Not a bit of it. Slept like a top.

I was rather short
with you last night,

and just now.

You were so generous to Father
yesterday, Mr Clennam. I hope...

What?

I hope you won't misunderstand my father.

Don't judge him as you judge other
people, people outside the gates.

- He's been there so long!
- Of course.

- Oh, dear.
- Let's take some shelter.

Look, there's a coffee shop.

Let's sit there.

- Coffee for two, please.
- Very good, sir.

What is it?

Only that I've never been
in a place like this before.

No? What d'you think of it?

I think it is very grand.

Would you tell me a little more
about your father?

He is really very much respected.

Everyone who comes in to the
Marshalsea is glad to know him.

And he is not to blame
for being in need.

Of course not.

Do you know, does your father
have a great many creditors?

A great many.

Why? Do you think your
family might be one of them?

If so, I should certainly like to
release him from that obligation.

- Who might I talk to about his case?
- I don't know, sir.

It was before I was born.
I don't know anything about

the debts that brought him here.
I think he scarcely knows himself.

It is monstrous that a man
should be in prison simply

because he owes money. How can he
find the means to repay his debt?

I am sorry, sir, but I think it suits him
very well to be where he is.

You see, even if he were released,
he might not be so gently dealt with

outside as he is there.
People might not think so well of him.

And your brother?
Is he to languish there too?

I hope not, sir. He's in debt to
a horse dealer in Bleeding Heart Yard

but I'll pay him out, by and by.

MAGGY: Little mother!

Oh, Maggy!

That's it! That's it!
That's got 'em!

Ahhh, he's a good boy!

This is Mr Clennam, Maggy.
Maggy is the granddaughter

of my old nurse, who's been dead
a long time. Maggy, how old are you?

- Ten.
- Ten!

When Maggy was ten,
she had a bad fever, didn't you?

She's never grown any older ever since.

- It was ever so nice in the hospital.
- Was it?

Such beds there is there!
Lemonade and chicken...!

It does sound very tempting.

I would have liked to have
stayed there, but I couldn't.

AMY: She can read,
and does her own errands.

She supports herself entirely,
don't you, Maggy?

Yes, I do. Who are you again?

Mr Clennam, Maggy.

And he's a friend of yours,
is he, mother?

Yes, he is.

FLINTWINCH: What is it that you intend
to do about Arthur?

MRS CLENNAM: Why? What have I done?

What have you not done, rather?

You never gave Arthur's father
a chance to redeem himself,

and you never gave Arthur
a chance either!

There! How do you justify that?

I don't have to justify it to you,
Flintwinch.

I justify it to myself,
and there's an end of it.

I justify it
by the authority of these books.

Never mind that.

I've been faithful to you,

and I'm attached to you,
but I won't be swallowed up by you!

I won't take it!

So you say. But you have
taken it long enough,

and if you stay here
you will continue to take it.

What I have done and not done
is between me and my maker

and there's an end on it.

I'm very sorry, Mr Pancks.

Very sorry won't do it, Mr Plornish!

Very sorry won't do it!
I'll tell you what will do it...

- half a crown and not a penny less!
- I haven't got it, Mr Pancks.

What do you mean you haven't got it?
What have you done with it?

You want the premises, but
you don't want to pay the rent!

He does want to, Mr Pancks.
It's just that work's been very slack

just lately, not to deceive you...

I've heard it all before, Mrs Plornish,
I've heard it all before.

How much have you got?

- I've got a shilling, Mr Pancks.
- Give it here.

Plornish, one shilling.

I'll be back on Friday for the rest.

Don't suppose you want any
plastering done, Mr Pancks?

If I do, Mr Plornish,
you'll be the first to know about it!

Rent day, rent day!

Pardon me.
I'm looking for a horse dealer.

Captain Slingo?
He's just across the yard.

Mind you, I wouldn't buy no horse
off him, sir.

Oh, I don't intend to.

- I'm here to settle a debt.
- Oh, are you? Word of advice, sir,

no need to pay more than
ten shilling in the pound.

- He'll be glad to get it.
- Thank you, Mr...?

Plornish, sir.

Ah, he's a lovely landlord,
is our Mr Casby.

I'll introduce you to him
if you like?

Oh, no need. Mr Casby and I
are old acquaintances.

Such a kindly landlord.

If only his rent collector
was more like him.

PANCKS: Rent day, rent day!

Are you Mr Slingo?

- Yes?
- My name is Clennam.

I am a friend of Edward Dorrit's.

I understand he's in debt to you,
I should like to settle that debt.

?40, Mr Clennam,
not a penny less.

Well, there's 20.

It's yours when you sign a full release.

I'll take that, and give you a month
to make up the other ?20. How's that?

That doesn't suit.
The offer's ?20. Take it or leave it.

Well, I'll tell you what I'll do.

Give me another ten down
and I'll run my pen clean through it.

That won't suit either.
Good day to you, sir.

Hold on, hold on!

That, that young scamp
has used me bad,

but if you give me another ?5
and a bottle of wine,

and if you mean done, say done,
and if you don't like it,

Ieave it. How's that?

Twenty pounds, in full
and final settlement.

Hand over, then.

Does Mr Casby still live in
the old house at Grays Inn Road?

He does.

PANCKS: Slingo...

Slingo!

So your respected father is no more.

I was grieved to hear it,
Mr Clennam. I was grieved.

My father...

died with something
troubling his mind.

Dear, dear.

I am sorry to hear that.

I would like to put it right if I can,

but my mother cannot or will not
tell me what it was.

Something troubling his mind.

You and he were close
in the past, Mr Casby

and I wondered if you might
know what it was.

I?

Oh, dear me, no. No idea.
No idea at all, I'm sorry to say.

If your mother cannot tell you,
you could hardly expect me to know.

Mr Casby, I understand it was you
who brought the young seamstress,

Amy Dorrit,
to the attention of my mother?

Indeed, indeed.

One of my tenants told me the
young girl was looking for work.

A Mr Plornish.

One tries to do what one can
for them...what one can.

She seems a kind, gentle girl
and I should like to do what I can

for her and her family.

Do you know where I might seek
information about her father's case?

Well, you could do worse than
try the Circumlocution Office.

Most public matters are referred
to the Circumlocution Office.

Thank you.

- Thank you, Mr Casby.
- If you'll join us for dinner tonight,

my daughter Flora
would be glad to see you.

You were childhood sweethearts,
were you not?

And rather cruelly driven apart,
Mr Casby, if you remember.

For a reason I never understood.

Ah, well, you know,
there were considerations,

you know, but let's not let them
spoil her joy, Mr Clennam.

- Mr Clennam?
- Yes, sir.

This is most irregular.

Forgive me if I am ignorant
of the proper forms.

I've been working abroad
for some years.

I am making enquiries
into the case of a Mr Dorrit,

who has been a debtor in the
Marshalsea prison for many years.

Would you be able to tell me
who's handling his case?

Ah.

Would it be you, sir?

Possibly.

On behalf of the Crown,

or in relation to claims made
by other creditors?

The Circumlocution Office
may have made a recommendation

that some public claim against
this person should be enforced.

Then I assume that to be the case.

The Circumlocution Office
is not responsible

for any gentleman's assumptions, sir.

Then how can I find out
the true facts?

Have you an interest in this case?

I think my family may have, sir.

Then you should make enquiries at the
appropriate branch of the Department.

The Department
is accessible to the...

public.

If the public does not approach it
according to the official forms,

the public has itself to blame.

I thought this was the appropriate
branch of the department.

Oh, dear.
Jenkins, take this gentleman down

to Mr Tite Barnacle Junior
in the Applications Department.

Good day to you, Mr Clennam.

(CHEERING)

Ahem!

Excuse me, gentlemen,

but this is Mr Dorrit's bench,
the Father of the Marshalsea.

At other times, you're welcome to it,
of course. Sure that's understood.

Thank you, Chivery.

Some of these fellows take
a little time to learn the ropes.

Join you, if I may, Mr Dorrit.

Just seen your daughter going out.

Quite the little woman now.

Chivery, I wish time would stand
still and keep her as she is today!

But I fear it won't be long before
both of our children fly the coop.

My John will never fly
the coop, Mr Dorrit.

He'll take over from me at
the gatehouse, one of these days

and be very proud to do so.

And look after his old father, eh?

Exactly so, sir.

- (GATE OPENS)
- This way sir.

He's very loving, sir...
and very loyal.

I've managed to find you
a room to yourself, sir.

Your son's a fine young man, Chivery.

A fine young man.

What are the claims this department
makes on Mr William Dorrit?

Oh, no.

Oh, no. That's...that's not
the way to do it. Upon my soul,

you mustn't just barge in here
saying you want to know, you know.

But I do want to know,
and I shall persevere until I do know.

Upon my soul, you stick to it
in a devil of a manner!

I can give you some forms
to fill in if you like.

They'll go round various departments,

probably come back here
from time to time,

to be countersigned. Nothing will come
of it in the end, I promise you that.

You had much better just give it up.
That's what most men do.

Surely this is not
the way to get things done!

Yes, but that is how we do things
at the Circumlocution Office.

MR MEAGLES: What a bunch
of unmitigated rascals!

I shall never come here again!

How is a man to get anything done
in this benighted country!

Mr Meagles!

Good Lord! Clennam! How d'you do?

You wouldn't suppose this man here
to be a notorious rascal, would you?

- Certainly not.
- And you would be right!

All he's done to offend
these scoundrels in there

is to try to do something
to help his country!

Oh, Clennam, allow me to introduce
my good friend, Daniel Doyce.

You're not making yourself
clear, Mr Meagles.

I'm an engineer
and an inventor, Mr Clennam.

And a thorn in the side of those
idiots in the Circumlocution Office!

My invention has languished in there

for 1 2 years waiting for them
to make their minds up.

- You have my sympathies, sir.
- Look at him, cool as a cucumber.

Surely you must feel terribly
disappointed.

Disappointed? Ah yes, I am disappointed
but this is the way of things.

- In England!
- Yes.

If I were to take it abroad, I no doubt
would be taken up soon enough.

And gain some recognition
into the bargain.

Clennam, why haven't you been to see us
at Twickenham? Come back with me.

Unfortunately I have just
accepted another invitation.

- Well, another time. You promise?
- I do.

Trouble with abroad is,
as Clennam will bear me out,

is there are just as many villains
as there are here.

(RAIN FALLS, THUNDER CLAPS)

Messieurs, madame. Bon soir.

A curse on this filthy weather!

Monsieur has travelled far?

Far enough. Do you have
a bed for me tonight, madame?

And some food, as quickly as
you can and some wine immediately!

D'accord, monsieur.

So they let him go?

That murdering devil.

Where is he now, huh?

Nobody knows.

Ah, they should have
let the mob get at him.

They would have made
short work of him.

To whom do you refer, madame?

That murderer, Rigaud, of course.

You haven't heard of him?

I arrived in the
country only yesterday.

So, if this man was guilty,

why did they let him go?

Not enough evidence.

He must have bribed the witnesses,
or threatened them.

Or perhaps he was innocent.

(SHE LAUGHS)

That monster?

Never!

Might one know your name, monsieur?

My name, monsieur, is, er...

...Lagnier.

Lagnier!

Goodness, where can she have got to?

I'll...I'll just go. Excuse me.

(CLOCK STRIKES)

Arthur!

Oh, Arthur!

Mr Clennam, I should say!

Oh, dear, I am so ashamed,

I'm a mere fright, I'm sure
you find me fearfully changed.

I'm just an old widow now.

It's shocking to be so found out,
it's really shocking!

No, indeed.

Time hasn't exactly stood still
with me either.

Oh! Then you do find me changed
and I am. It's so dreadful.

People who don't know us might
suppose I'm Papa's Mama!

- No, that must be a long time hence.
- Oh, Mr Clennam!

Insincerest of creatures!

- Excuse me.
- Oh! Papa!

Don't go yet! Oh, he's gone.

But you'll stay, Arthur.

I promise not to say a word about the
dear old days gone for ever because

of course by now you must be married
to some Chinese lady, I expect.

No, I'm not married
to anyone, Flora.

Oh! I hope you haven't kept yourself
a bachelor so long on my account!

But tell me about the Chinese ladies.

My late husband, Mr Finching,

had a fancy they were made
different down there you know.

But how would you know about that,
being a bachelor still?!

Imagine that! A bachelor!

I know I am not what you expected.
I know that very well.

Don't say that, Flora.

And I'm sorry I let them
bully me into giving you up,

but what was I to do,

with Papa and your mama
in the little breakfast room

glaring at each other
like a pair of mad bulls?

Dear Flora,

you weren't to blame
and I never blamed you.

But...but I...

- (DOOR OPENS)
- Oh, and here's Papa,

who is always tiresome and putting
his nose in where it's not wanted!

Mr Pancks will be
joining us for dinner.

And Mr F's aunt!

Mr F left her to me, you know.

As a legacy!

(SLURPING)

Bleeding Heart Yard's a troublesome
property, ain't it, Mr Casby?

Rents are very hard to get.

We have more trouble there than with
all the other places put together.

- People are very poor...
- They say they are.

Mr Casby would be poor himself,
if I didn't get his rents for him.

- True enough, I suppose.
- We can't keep an open house

for all the poor of London. If a man
takes a room at half a crown a week,

and hasn't got the half a crown,
I say why have you got the room, then?

If you haven't got the one thing,
then why've you got the other?

It's very sad, but there we are.
There we are, you know.

And then they end up in the debtors'
prison, like young Amy Dorrit,

with no chance whatsoever of paying
their way. It's utterly senseless.

Well...

she's lucky enough to have her
seamstress work at Mrs Clennam's

and to have a good friend in you,
Mr Clennam, a good friend in you.

When we lived at Henley,
Barnes's gander was stolen by tinkers.

All right, ma'am.

- I hate a fool!
- Come on, Auntie.

Time for your rest.

Good night, Arthur.

Mr Clennam, I should say.

Come again.

AUNTIE: Well, what'd he come
here for, anyway?

Get off me, let go.

(HE SLURPS)

(LAUGHTER)

Here's your room, Monsieur Lagnier.

(SNORING)

He won't bother you, sir. Good as
gold he is, little Italian gentleman.

Ca va bien?

Mamma.

Porca madonna!

Monsieur Rigaud!

My name is Lagnier now.

Lagnier!

Where are you travelling to now,
huh, my little imbecile?

- Dove vai?
- To England, sir.

To England.

I too! We can travel there
together, little Cavalletto!

Altro, altro!

Altro, altro, very good.

Go to sleep now.

I have to...get my rest.

Did he say Rigaud?

Non, non, madame, Lagnier.

- (KISSING)
- Lagnier.

- Good night, Mr Clennam.
- Good night, Mr Pancks.

Mr Clennam,

just a thought, sir.

You're not one of the Clennams
of Cornwall by any chance, sir?

Not that I know of.

Pity. There's a Cornish property
going begging,

and not a Cornish Clennam
to have it for the asking.

I take an interest in such things,
Mr Clennam, between you and me.

I keep an eye out for them.

I'm a bit of a detective
on the quiet, sir.

Well, never mind,
wish you good night, sir.

Mr Pancks?

Might you be interested in doing
a little detecting work for me?

- I might.
- I need to find out as much as possible

about a man held
in the Marshalsea for debt.

- Name of party?
- William Dorrit.

You think he might have
been wronged in some way?

I've made enquiries, but to little avail.

Not surprised. Not your line.
You leave it to me.

If there's a trail worth following,
I'll follow it.

- And you'll keep me informed.
- And keep you informed, sir.

Thank you, Mr Pancks.