Our Mutual Friend (1998) s01e02 Episode Script

"People came from many different towns to meet the procession.
" "Etiam quorum diursa opida " "Offering sacrifices, raising altars to the souls of the deceased "and weeping and wailing in displays of grief.
" " tamen obuii et uictimas atque ara dis Manibus "statuentes lacrimis et conclamationibus dolorem testabantur.
" Very good, Hexam.
So You've asked for permission to see your sister.
I've half a mind to go with you.
I'd rather you didn't see her before she was settled, sir.
Look here, Hexam, I hope your sister may be good company for you.
Do you doubt it, sir? I do not know.
I put it to you to consider.
My sister keeps me here through her hard work.
And your sister has reconciled herself to your separation so as not to impede your progress.
And you do make good progress.
In time you'll pass an examination and become a teacher yourself.
But it will take many hours of hard work.
Hour upon hour.
As it did me.
If you were to see my sister, sir, I know that you would judge her wise.
He's an invaluable man, Rokesmith.
He works at my affairs like fifty men, but he won't meet any of our visitors.
Perhaps he considers himself above it.
No, dear, it isn't that.
He has a very kept down air from man this age.
I wish you could persuade him to come out into society with us.
Perhaps he considers himself beneath it.
Allow me to introduce myself, I am second cousin to She is so trivial.
So capricious, so mercenary.
And yet she is so beautiful.
His attentions were fitting - amusing even, in Holloway.
But here, they are hardly appropriate.
And so my dilemma.
I have worked my way into a position of power in this house so that I might watch her every move, follow her every step.
And yet she barely notices me.
There is something strange about Mr.
Rokesmith.
He shadows me day and night.
What a strange sensation.
I do not belong among the living, any more than these poor souls.
For I lie buried somewhere else.
I was saying I think it very bad manners for a man to pretend to be what he is not.
Don't you think? I hope I do not pretend to be what I am not.
Come, Mr.
Rokesmith, surely you can cast off your mysterious disguise and join us? No, I don't like the river.
It makes me sick.
So you have never been to sea, Mr.
Rokesmith? Why do you ask? You'll miss the boat, Miss Wilfer.
I cannot keep my secret any longer.
I must tell her my story.
I must confess.
Ill tell them when they return.
I must confront it now.
I came back to England shrinking from my fathers memory, from my fathers money and from my father"s choice of bride, mistrustful of everyone and everything.
I became aware during the course of the voyage that a third mate, one George Radfoot, bore a similarity to myself that occasioned me to be mistaken for him.
We gradually formed an acquaintance, and, it being known by rumour that making voyage to England to claim my inheritance, he, by degrees, came to know of my sad history and my uneasiness of mind as to my future and, in particular, my future wife.
So we hatched a plot that on landing we would change identities, to buy me a little more time before reporting to Mr.
Lightwood.
We would watch Miss Bella Wilfer, as she accuses me of watching her now.
As part of our plan, I left the ship alone.
When we stopped at Riderhoods, I was still not suspicious, although I remember him taking a twist of paper from one pocket to another before we set out for our lodging house.
We cannot have gone a mile from that shop before we came to the house.
It was a terrible, windy night.
I'll never forget that roaring.
Why don't we exchange our disguises now? He was full of helpful suggestions.
We celebrated the start of our plan with a drink.
The drug must have been powerful, for it took effect immediately.
The next thing I knew, I was looking at myself as if I was a spirit hovering outside my own body.
Radfoot took my identity and the sum of money he had betrayed me for.
And suddenly, there was the sound of an axe, a wood-cutter felling trees, a crashing of wood.
They were attacking my attacker.
My double-crosser was being double-crossed.
The irony was that their blows did not rain so hard on me.
This is John Harmon drowning.
John Harmon is drowningI I do not know how long I was in the water.
I do not know which side the river spat me out of or how long I lay there.
I do know I was choked to the heart.
With the little money I had somehow concealed from the murderers, I wandered the city.
The police poster described myself, John Harmon, being found dead and mutilated in the river, described my dress and the papers in my pocket, and stated where I was lying, waiting to be identified.
A brush with death has a profound effect.
The heart is terrified and the mind has cold reason.
I decided to stay in this half-death limbo.
Why shouldn't I try my plan after all? Having mysteriously disappeared, I could still test Bella.
It seemed, to my frozen mind, an excellent plan.
The inquest pronounced me dead.
John Harmon died.
Julius Handford disappeared.
And John Rokesmith was born.
I remember that.
Dandy, dandy.
- Very pleasurable.
- It was lovely.
So, consider.
What will happen if I come back to life? My dear friends, good old faithful servants, they deserve my fortune.
I know they plan to spend it wisely.
If I were to come back to life, I will inherit that fortune, and with it sordidly buy a beautiful creature who has little regard for me.
I would buy her and debase her in her own eyes as well as mine.
It is a dilemma of my own making.
But I cannot keep silent.
I cannot stay stranded in this limbo between life and death.
Come in, my dear! Here, come in, join us.
I'm sorry, I had something to tell you.
It can wait.
It can wait until tomorrow.
If you're sure? Come and join us anyway.
No, I'll say goodnight.
She has me under her spell.
She has made me powerless.
I am nobody.
If I tell her my secret now, I may lose everything.
I will continue to watch her for a little while longer.
There goes Mr.
Headstone and Charley Hexam, Miss.
Charley Hexam goes to see his sister.
Mr.
Headstone is going to examine the sister.
They say the sister's very fair.
I can't get up because my back's bad and my legs are queer.
I'm the person of the house.
I was looking for my sister.
We're very fond of his sister, aren't we? She's our particular friend.
And who's the other gentleman? This is Mr.
Headstone, my schoolmaster.
I suppose we must let them sit.
We must work hard, mustn't we? I had a doll married last week.
Charley! There, there, Liz.
See, here's Mr.
Headstone to see you.
How well you look, Liz.
Don't she look well! Everyone thinks so, don't they, Lizzie, my dear? Does Charley do well, Mr.
Headstone? Yes, he could not do better.
Well done, Charley.
I hope I don't take up too much time from your studies.
It is best that I do not come between him and his prospects, don't you think, Mr.
Headstone? Yes, your brother has to work hard.
But once he has established himself, that will be another thing.
When are you going to settle yourself in some Christian place, Lizzie? I'm ashamed to have brought Mr.
Headstone with me.
How can you keep company with that little witch? I met her by chance, Charley, and she was a good friend when Father died.
But guess who she is? Remember the police notices on our wall? I want to forget police notices.
So should you.
The drunken old man, with the pink slippers and the nightcap, she's his granddaughter.
Her father's like that as well.
This poor ailing creature, surrounded by drunk people from the cradle.
She has such courage, but I fear she is in such pain.
I don't see what it's got to do with you.
Don't you? Don't you think we owe some compensation for the life we led? - For the profit Father made? - Don't talk nonsense! I've left the river far behind and so will you.
I will not have you draw me back, Liz.
I mean it, Liz! Now, let's not fight.
I mean to be a good brother to you.
Bye.
But surely, um we can go your sister's way? I'll not go back just yet.
And you have a long walk.
You'll go much faster without me.
Please be careful on the east bank at Blackfriars at tide turn, Father.
What would you know? What's this? You want to see me off? Over the side and into the mud? And what are you looking for? I believe it was you that first sought out a lawyer? Gaffer's dead now.
But my investigation is not.
Who is that you stare after? Yes, it is him.
It is that Wrayburn.
I don't like him.
Does he know your sister, this Wrayburn? Yes, sir.
He's met her.
Going to see her, then, I dare say.
He doesn't know her well enough.
I'd like to see him try.
D'you think the little orphan will like me? He cannot fail to.
My Lord! Isn't this my angel? - So, this is the dear child? - Yes, ma'am.
He's my dear, darling boy.
He is the child of my last daughter's daughter.
She's gone the way of the rest.
And these are the children I mind.
And this is Sloppy, he turns my mangle for me.
A love child, found in the street.
He was brought up in the house.
- The poor house? - Kill me sooner than take me there.
Throw this pretty child under carthorse's feet, than take him there.
I'll be honest, the poor are driven from pillar to post.
They are put off and put off.
They're begrudged the shelter, the doctor, the bit of bread.
I hope I can die as well as another, but I'll die without that disgrace.
And does he live here and work for you? Yes, bless him! And he reads the newspaper to me.
You might not think it, but Sloppy's a beautiful reader of a newspaper.
Now, concerning Johnny If you trust the dear child to me, he will have the best of homes, the best of care, the best of education and the best of friends.
It did not please Our Lord to send me any children.
Instead, he sent us a fortune in John Harmon's name.
And my thinking is, I mean to share it with a child that needs it.
God willing, I will be a true mother to him.
I'm thankful to you, ma'am.
You'll be the making of his future.
He'll be a gentleman when I'm gone.
Well, there's no hurry, my dear.
You take some time and think on it.
No, my mind is made up.
Well then, let the child get used to the idea.
We want everyone to be happy, not dismal.
Perhaps you could let me know how used to it you begin to get.
I'll send Sloppy.
Mr.
Sloppy, whenever you come to my house, make sure you don't leave without a good dinner.
Meat, beer, vegetables and pudding.
Meat, one, beer, two, vegetables, three, and along comes four, that's pudding.
If I could have kept this dear child without the dread of the fate I've spoken of, I could never have let him go.
But Take him as a gift, for I love him.
Love him, love him.
I love my husband, long dead and gone, in him.
I love my children, dead and gone, in him.
Take him as a gift, for I couldn't ever sell that love and look you in your bright, kind face.
I suppose your sister has received little teaching, Hexam.
Yet she hardly seems an ignorant person.
Lizzie has as much thought as the best, Mr.
Headstone.
Too much, perhaps.
She used to sit to look at river and had weird fantasies.
I don't like that.
It's a painful thought, but if I do as well as you hope, I shall be, I won't say disgraced as such, but rather put to the blush by a sister who has been very good to me.
There is another possibility.
Some man might come to admire your sister.
It would be a sad drawback for him, this inequality of education.
- That's my drift, sir.
- Yes, well, you speak as a brother.
For an admirer Mr.
Headstone has arrived back, Miss Peecher.
Hexam also missed the last bell.
A brother, you see, cannot help the connection.
Whereas a husband would Lizzie could learn quickly.
Enough to pass muster.
Certainly, if given a little education.
Yes, well, I'll think about it, Hexam.
I'll think about it maturely.
Mr.
Eugene Wrayburn, is it? So I am told.
You may come in, if you're good.
I am not good, but I will come in.
Forgive the unexpected intrusion, but I happened to be nearby.
Lost, I shouldn't wonder.
I'm afraid I have nothing to report concerning Mr.
Riderhood, but you may always be assured of my best help, and that of my friend Lightwood's, in your efforts to clear your father.
I'm thinking of setting up a doll, Miss Jenny.
You're sure to break it.
All you children do.
Surely that's good for trade.
If we were all as industrious as you, little Busybody, we should begin to work as soon as we could crawl, and that would be a terrible thing.
What d'you mean? Bad for your backs and your legs? No, I bad for business.
I meant bad for your dolls' dressmaking business.
Have you considered my suggestion, Lizzie? I have thought of it, but I cannot make up my mind to accept it.
False pride.
Oh, no, Mr.
Wrayburn.
Well, I hope not.
What else can it be? I propose to be of use to someone, which I never was in this world, nor ever will be again, by paying a qualified person of impeccable character and reputation, one Mr.
Riah, to come here several nights a week and give you some teaching, which you would not want, had you not been a self-denying daughter and sister.
This false pride does wrong both to you and your dead father.
How to my father, Mr.
Wrayburn? By perpetuating his ignorance and his blind obstinacy, by by resolving not to set right the wrong he has done you.
Please don't be distressed.
I am afraid I am a little disappointed.
It shall not break my heart, but I am genuinely disappointed.
I'd rather set my heart on doing this little thing for you and Miss Jenny.
So be it.
I meant well, both honestly and simply.
Well I never doubted that.
And I intend to go back to my old ways immediately, never to put myself of use to anyone or thing, for it will always be a doomed endeavour.
And always mistaken for my own selfishness.
Well! I think I've hesitated long enough, Mr.
Wrayburn, and I hope you won't think the worst of me for my having hesitated at all.
For myself and for Jenny For myself and for Jenny, I thankfully accept your offer.
Agreed.
Dismissed! Let's hope we never make so much of so little again.
Yes, I'm still thinking of setting up a doll.
Let's hope you're prevented, Master Eugene.
We won't detain you, Mr.
Wrayburn.
Meaning you wish me to go? Well, my child will need attending to soon, and my child's a troublesome, bad child and costs me a world of scolding.
I would rather you didn't see my child.
Then, I shall not detain a moment longer.
Miss Wren.
Goodbye, Lizzie.
(Jenny) Oh, you disgraceful thing, you bad old boy! You naughty, wicked creature! Where's your money, where's it all gone? I know your tricks and manners! Get along to bed! Don't speak to me, I won't forgive you.
Go to your corner immediately.
"The Last Will and Testament of John Harmon" Excuse me, Miss Wilfer.
I didn't mean to surprise you.
There's no reason to hide it.
You are entitled to read it.
As you do, time and time again, I'm sure.
You wanted to see me? Ah, yes! Your weekly allowance.
We can't forget that, can we? You even play the mysterious stranger in private, Mr.
Rokesmith.
No family likenesses or personal possessions.
It's a very good pretence.
Speaking of family, Miss Wilfer, you do not charge me with any commissions for home.
I should be happy to execute any commands you may have in that direction.
What do you mean, Mr.
Rokesmith? By home? I mean your father's house in Holloway.
No, what ''commissions'' did you mean, sir? Only such words of greeting as I assume you already send, somehow or other.
I should be happy to be the bearer of them.
As you know, I go between the two every day.
They don't send many commissions to me.
Well, they frequently ask me about you, and I I give them such slight intelligence as I can.
I hope it's truly given! No, I do not doubt it.
I beg your pardon, Mr.
Rokesmith, that was unfair of me.
I am going to visit my family soon, as it happens.
Though what business it may be of yours, I really cannot imagine.
Good morning, Mr.
Sloppy.
I hope all is well? No, it ain't.
No, sir, it ain't well at all.
There's nothing to be done for the boy, I'm afraid.
There, now.
"Dear Mr.
Venus, I am sorry to inform you, "one more time, "that, although acquainted with the profits of your business, "I must once more decline your offer of marriage.
"And I report I do not wish to regard myself, nor yet to be regarded, "in that bony light.
"Yours, with sincerity, Pleasant Riderhood.
" So, Mr.
Wegg you mentioned some further business? We were talking of old Mr.
Harmon as being a friend of yours.
Not friend, exactly.
He was a very inquisitive spirit.
And would you say secretive? About what was found in the dust, for instance? Did old Harmon ever mention how he found things, whether he started at the top of the mounds or at the bottom? Whether he prodded or scooped? And might you have scooped a little by yourself and found your have found physical difficulties to overcome? - Now, Venus.
- Uh? Here is my friendly proposal.
If there is anything to be found on these premises, be it money or jewels or papers, let us find it together.
We agree to share profits, we agree to further the cause of right.
Oh, yes? You've found nothing yet? I've only skimmed it.
Skimmed.
I scarcely know what to say to your proposal, Mr.
Wegg.
Say yes.
If I wasn't so soured in matters of romance I told you of the lady? But, being soured and driven to reckless madness and desperation I suppose it's yes.
Hello, Pa.
My dear! -Thank you so much.
- Thank you, sir.
Thank you, my dear.
To have a new jacket and hat, at the same time No! Now you're going to treat your lovely young woman to dinner.
- Where shall we go, my dear? - Greenwich.
And make sure you treat me to everything of the very best.
''My love is more than his, my fortune'' What about that one, my dear? That one belongs to a merchant of immense wealth, who has married a very lovely young woman, and who is so rich that he actually owns all the boats on the river that you see before you.
I suppose we may come to the conclusion at home, my dear, that we have lost you for good.
No, you cannot conclude that, Pa.
But the Boffins have supplied your lovely young woman with everything she needs in a most handsome way.
And they are such very good people, Pa.
Pa, I have a confession to make.
I am the most mercenary wretch that ever lived.
I should hardly have thought that of you, my dear.
It's not that I care for money to keep as money, but I do care so very much for what it will buy.
I think most of us do.
- When did you feel this coming on, my dear? - That's the terrible part of it.
You see, when I was at home and only knew what it was to be poor, I grumbled but didn't mind so much.
But when I was disappointed of my splendid fortune and now see it daily in others hands and see what it can really do, I am now always avariciously scheming.
I have made up my mind that I must have money.
As I can't beg, borrow or steal it, I must marry it.
- This is most alarming at your age.
- Isn't it shocking? - It would be if you meant it.
- But I do, Pa.
Talk to me of love and But talk to me of poverty and wealth, and there we touch upon the realities of life.
But, Bella, your happiness? Tell me, Pa, did you marry money? You know I didn't, my dear.
And are you happy? Forgive me.
Don't be frightened, Sloppy.
Have you had your dinner? Meat, one! Beer, two! Vegetables, three! Ooh, erwhat was four ? Oh, yeah! Pudding! Now, Sloppy, how would you like to dine here every day? Ooh, yes, ma'am! How would you like to live here and be taken care of? Ooh, yes! Now that little Johnny's gone, I think I would rather share John Harmon's fortune with someone who deserves it.
Whether he be an orphan, a baby or be pretty.
Once the old lady gets an idea in her head, she's a regular steam engine in her thinking.
But what of Mrs.
Higden? She goes before all, she must be mangled for! Don't worry, Mrs.
Higden will be taken care of, and everyone will be comfortable.
Ah, yes.
There's a B! For Burton Square.
Along of B for Boffin! I'm getting the hang of this! I trust you had a satisfactory morning's shopping, Miss Wilfer? Are you not well, Miss Wilfer? I am quite well, thank you.
Well, perhaps you had better stay indoors tonight.
I simply meant that perhaps an evening of dancing and socialising would not be wise if you are out of sorts.
I am not a child! I think an evening's marauding and attracting is just the thing to raise my spirits.
Eugene? If I could find you in a serious mood for once, I'd like an earnest word.
An earnest word? For some time now, you've been withholding something from me.
I don't ask what it is if you have not chosen to confide in me.
But there is something, isn't there? I give you my word of honour, Mortimer, I don't know.
You have some design, maybe? Or some new interest? Mortimer, you know how susceptible I am to boredom.
Well, I hope it may not get you into any trouble.
Trouble? That sounds interesting.
Or anyone else.
You recollect this young fellow, Eugene? Let me look at him.
Says he has something to say to you.
Yes.
I do say so.
I mean to say what I want, Eugene Wrayburn.
And who may this other fellow be? I am Charles Hexam's schoolmaster.
You should teach your pupils better manners, Mr? My name does not concern you.
True.
It does not concern me at all.
I shall call you Schoolmaster, which is a respectable title.
Mr.
Eugene Wrayburn, I want a word with you! I am glad to speak in the presence of Mr.
Lightwood, because it was through him that you ever saw my sister.
Since then, Eugene Wrayburn, you have seen my sister often.
You've seen her oftener and oftener.
Was this worthwhile, Schoolmaster? So much trouble for nothing.
I don't know why you address me.
Don't you? Then I won't.
Mr.
Headstone and I had a plan for my sister's education.
He's a far more competent authority than you.
And what do we find? Why, she's already being taught! Without our knowledge.
We find, Mr.
Lightwood, that your friend, this Eugene Wrayburn, pays.
I ask him what right he has to do this and how he comes to be taking such a liberty without my consent.
I will not have any darkness cast upon my prospects, or any slur upon my respectability through my sister I am telling Eugene Wrayburn I object to his acquaintance with my sister, and I request him to drop it altogether.
As I raise myself, I intend to raise her.
My sister is an excellent girl, but has romantic notions about my father's death and other matters.
Mr.
Eugene Wrayburn encourages those actions to make himself important so she feels grateful to him.
I don't choose her to be grateful to anybody but me and Mr.
Headstone.
If Eugene Wrayburn doesn't heed what I say, it will be the worse for her.
May I suggest, Schoolmaster, that you take your pupil away? Mr.
Lightwood, you've witnessed what I have said and I think your friend has heard me.
Now, Mr.
Headstone, as I have said all I wanted to say, and we have done all we wanted to do, we may go.
Go downstairs and leave us a moment.
You think no more of me than the dirt under your feet.
I assure you, Schoolmaster, I don't think about you.
That boy could put you to shame in half a dozen branches of knowledge, yet you cast him aside like an inferior.
But I am more than a boy and I will be heard.
Judging from what I see, you seem to be rather too passionate for a schoolteacher.
Sir, my name is Bradley Headstone.
Your name does not concern me.
Come, come, Schoolmaster, speak up! I say that what you are doing injures the boy and his sister.
Are you her schoolmaster as well as her brother's? Or perhaps you would like to be? What do you mean? I mean, she is so different from the low and obscure people around here that Do you cast my background at me now? I know and care for nothing about you, Schoolmaster.
You might me ask apology, I have worked my way upwards and have a right to be considered a better man than you! I have no knowledge of, nor interest in, your background.
I have only just learned your name.
Now, is that all? No, sir, if you imagine that boy Who really will be tired of waiting.
If you imagine that boy to be friendless, you are mistaken.
And I promise you .
.
you will find me bitterly in earnest against you.
Eugene? Eugene? Eugene, to think I have been so blind.
How blind, my dear fellow? Eugene, the boy's sister There is no better woman in London than Lizzie Hexam.
No better among my people at home, among your people.
Granted.
So what now? Eugene, are you in communication with this girl? Is what these people say true? Yes to both counts, my learned friend.
Then what is to come of it? Eugene, are you planning to seduce then desert this girl? No.
Mortimer, no.
- Do you plan to marry her? - Of course not! - Do you plan? - I don't plan anything.
I am incapable of anything so energetic.
- Eugene, Eugene - Stop this mournful catechism, it won't do.
What is to come of this, Eugene? Where is all this going? My dear Mortimer, I haven't the faintest idea.
First, there is the fine dust from which the bricks are made.
Secondly, there are the cinders which are used to burn the bricks into shape.
What a complicated business.
Then we have the rags and bones which are sold on to marine store dealers.
So much money to be made from rubbish! Old boots, sold to Prussian shoe manufacturers.
And lastly, though not leastly, any jewellery which might be found nestling in the ashes.
So, there is your ''Boffin'', Mortimer.
Your golden dustman.
Really! The Veneerings would invite anyone.
Anyone with over 12,000 a year.
The Boffins are very good people.
They aim to make much good use of their money and enjoy themselves at the same time.
Your health! I hope I would have the good-hearted grace to do likewise.
Really, Mortimer, I think you're in love with these Boffins.
What does Eugene think? Where is Eugene? He'll be skulking in some corner somewhere.
Don't be frightened of me, Miss Hexam.
Mr.
Headstone! Is Charley well? Your brother has confronted Mr.
Eugene Wrayburn.
This very evening, quite ineffectually.
So I came here to ask you to think again.
Do not take help from a mere stranger, but rather your brother and, um your brother's friend.
I am a man of strong feelings, Miss Hexam.
I don't show what I feel.
Some of us are obliged to keep things down.
The help Charley objects to was considerately and delicately offered, Mr.
Headstone.
Jenny and I find our teacher very able and patient and we are making good progress.
I wish that I had Have I said these words? I wish that I had had the opportunity of devoting my poor experience to your service.
But I fear I would not have found much favour with you.
I-I only have one more thing to say, but it is the most important.
There is a personal concern in this matter which might make you feel differently.
To proceed under the present circumstances is out of the question.
Will you please accept that there will be another interview on the subject? - Mr.
Headstone, I don't - There will be another interview! God, there is a spell on me! Goodbye.
- Light, sir? - Thank you.
You seem to attract the attention of all the young men, my dear.
Surely someone like Mr.
Lightwood? Dear me, no.
Mr.
Lightwood is pleasant enough, but His fortune is not sufficient? You misunderstand me.
I only meant that I shall choose my husband carefully.
I am prepared to wait, as you have, to find an equal match.
Oh, yes, you can be sure Alfred loves me every bit as much as I do him.
You need another glass of wine, my dear, please.
So, the beautiful Miss Bella Wilfer, our dustman's ward.
What did you find out? She'll be more than a match for their fortune.
For a stupid young girl, she has uncommon Good sense? There we are! - Thank you Ooops! - There you are, Bella.
- Thank you! - There you are, my dear.
Come on, old girl, come on.
No need to ask if you had a successful evening.
Very successful, thank you.
I'm engaged five times over.
Rokesmith, I would speak to you inside.
Mr.
Rokesmith, you provoke me to speak to you.
Miss Wilfer? I've been meaning to speak to you for some time.
You must stop watching me.
Stop judging me.
I admit I do watch you, Miss Wilfer.
You must forgive me.
Miss Wilfer, I I think I must tell you I think I am becoming That is, I fear that I'm becoming profoundly interested in you.
You know how I am situated here, sir.
It is not generous or honourable to conduct yourself towards me as you do.
It is dishonourable to be interested in you? Or even fascinated by you? Mr.
Rokesmith! I hope, Miss Wilfer, that it is pardonable, even for a mere secretary, to declare an honestly felt opinion of you.
A truly felt devotion.
Forgive me.
But I cannot, I will not retract my feelings.
I reject them, sir! I should be blind and deaf were I not prepared for the reply.
I beg you may understand, Mr.
Rokesmith, you must put an end to this, now and forever.
Now and forever? Have no fear for the future.
It is over.
I am relieved to hear it.
I have plans for my life.
Why should you waste yours? Waste my life? Miss Wilfer, you have used some harsh words.
I have been ungenerous, dishonourable? In what? You know every line of the Harmon will.
Was it not enough that I was willed away like a horse or a dog or a package? Now, knowing every penny of my worth, you feel bold enough to speculate on me? Am I to be forever the property of strangers? You are wonderfully mistaken! Good night, Miss Wilfer.
Of course, I shall conceal all traces of this interview from Mr.
and Mrs.
Boffin.
Trust me, it is at an end forever.
Mr.
Rokesmith! I am glad I have spoken.
You may not believe me, but it has been painful and difficult.
If I have hurt you I hope you will forgive me.
I really am not as bad as I dare say I appear.
Or you think me.
Ah, well, John Harmon.
You would find out.
And now you know it absolutely.
She has consigned you to the grave once more.
And now you'll stay buried forever.
For you have no chance of happiness in this life.
He is a very strange man.
I wish he was so very strange a man as to be a total stranger.
Now, Lizzie, dear, I've been thinking what a thing it would be if I should have your company till I'm married.
Not that I know who my beau may be.
I shall make him do some of the things you do for me.
Brush my hair, help me up and down the stairs.
Whoever he is, I know his tricks and I give him warning to look out! You're very hard on him, whoever he may be.
Don't worry, Jenny, I have no intention of parting company.
Well, it won't be your brother, that's for sure.
Don't like the boy, nor his friends.
And now, let us have a talk about Mr.
Eugene Wrayburn.
Why Mr.
Wrayburn? Because I am of a humour to talk about Mr.
Wrayburn.
I wonder whether he's rich? No, he's not rich.
Well, for a gentleman, he's not rich.
What would you think of him? If you were to be taken with him.
If you were a lady, of course! I, a lady? A poor girl who used to row Father on the river.
I was so shy that first night I saw him, I wished I could disappear.
But if you were to meet him on equal terms, what would you think of him? Well, he has his failings.
But I think it's for the want of something to trust in.
And if I were a lady, which I'll never be I would hope that maybe I could help him become more Even though I am so far beneath him as to be at all worth the thinking of beside him.
Does your leg hurt so much tonight, Jenny, dear? Oh, yes.
But it's not the old pain.
Rock me to sleep.
I hope you're well? What can I do for you? It's concerning Sloppy, sir.
Not wishing him to know what I am playing, I got up early and walked up here.
You have wonderful energy! And what exactly are you planning? I'm going to run away from Sloppy.
Run away? He won't leave working the mangle for me to benefit from your good lady's offer.
- I respect him for it.
- Yes, but that don't make it right.
He won't give me up, so I shall have to give him up.
Now, come, come, Betty.
We must think about this with care.
- Consider the consequences.
- Now, my dear, listen.
Now that I'm on my own, with my dear Johnny gone, I'd sooner be on my feet.
It's a kind of deadness steals over me sometimes.
I seem to have my Johnny in my arms.
Then his mother, then his mother's mother I can still walk twenty miles if I have to.
I'm a good knitter, and I can make little things to sell.
Now, if your good lady and gentleman would loan me twenty shillings to fit out a basket, it should be a fortune for me! Trudging round the countryside, wearing myself out, it would keep the deadness off.
We must not lose sight of you, Betty.
Now You'll keep a note in your pocket with Mr.
and Mrs.
Boffin's name, stating that they are your friends.
No charity! Never that.
They are friends.
Don't you worry about me.
To earn my own bread, by my own labours, and keep the deadness off.
What more could I want? Thank you for your kindness.
And you, sir.
Bye, Betty.
Mr.
Headstone, be calm, sir.
We have everything on our side.
Hello, Liz.
Lizzie, Mr.
Headstone has something to say to you.
I'll go for a stroll and I'll be back in a while.
I know what Mr.
Headstone means to say and I very highly approve of it.
Now, Liz, be a rational girl and a good sister.
I said, um When I saw you last, I I said there was something left unexplained.
I hope you will not judge me by my hesitating manner.
Most unfortunate for me that I wish you to see me at my best, and know you see me at my worst.
It is my destiny.
You are the ruin of me! No, you are the ruin of me I have I have no confidence in myself, no control over myself when you are near or in my thoughts, and you are.
You're always in my thoughts now.
Since first I saw you God, that was a wretched, miserable day! Mr.
Headstone, I am grieved to have done you any harm, - but I never meant to.
I - There! Now I seem to have reproached you.
There are people who think highly of me.
There is one, a schoolmistress, who thinks particularly highly of me.
I have won a station in life which is considered worth winning.
Surely, Mr.
Headstone, I do believe it.
And I believe that if I was to offer her Mr.
Headstone, I think I have heard enough.
Let me stop you there and go and find my brother.
I can restrain myself, I can restrain myself.
There.
Please, let us walk a while.
Please? Now, you know what I'm going to say.
I love you.
What other men might mean when they use that expression, I cannot tell.
What I mean is that I am under the influence of a tremendous attraction that I resist in vain.
You could draw me to fire.
You could draw me to the gallows.
You could draw me to any disgrace.
This confusion in my thoughts is what I mean by you being the ruin of me.
But if you were to look favourably on my offer of marriage, you could draw me to any good, every good, with equal force.
My circumstances are quite easy.
You would want for nothing.
- Mr.
Headstone - I am in thorough, dreadful earnest.
Now, please, please don't answer me yet.
Is it yes or no? Mr.
Headstone, I am grateful and I hope you may find a worthy wife before long, and be very happy.
But, itit is no.
And are you quite decided and is there no chance of change in my favour? I am quite decided, Mr.
Headstone.
Then I hope I may never kill him! Mr.
Headstone! Please let me go! I must call for help! This time, I will leave nothing left unsaid! Mr.
Eugene Wrayburn.
Was it him of whom you spoke with your murderous rage? Was it Mr.
Wrayburn that you threatened? I threatened no one.
Mr.
Eugene Wrayburn.
He haunts you.
- Mr.
Eugene Wrayburn.
- He is nothing to you, I think.
Oh, yes, he is.
He is much to me.
Mr.
Headstone, it is cowardly of you to talk to me in this way.
But it means that I can tell you, I don't like you, I never have liked you, and that no other living creature has anything to do with the effect that you, yourself, have produced on me.
Of course, I knew all about this Eugene Wrayburn, all the time you were drawing me to you.
- I did no such thing! - With him in my mind I went on, and with him in my mind I have been set aside.
I am not complaining.
I'm just stating the case.
You may imagine how low my self-respect lies now.
It lies under his feet and he treads upon it and exults in it.
- He does not.
- I have stood face to face, and he has crushed me with his contempt.
You talk wildly! Quite collectedly.
I am quite calm.
And I made no threat, remember.
Hexam! I am going home.
I shall walk by myself.
I shall be at my work in the morning, just as usual.
After all my endeavours to cancel the past and to raise myself in the world, and to raise you with me Come, Liz.
Let's not quarrel.
Let's be reasonable and talk this over like brother and sister.
Don't cry.
As Mr.
Headstone's wife, you'd occupy a far better place in society than you hold now.
You can leave the riverside far behind you.
Your ridiculous dolls' dressmakers and their drunken fathers Now, we can set this straight.
I'll tell Mr.
Headstone this is not final I cannot let you say any such thing to Mr.
Headstone.
You shall not bring me down! - Charley, how can you say these words? - I'll not unsay them.
You're a bad girl and a false sister and I have done with you.
I have done with you forever! Lizzie! What's the matter? Mr.
Wrayburn, please leave me alone.
Lizzie, you know I have come expressly to see you.
Mr.
Wrayburn, leave me.
And pray be careful of yourself.
Lizzie, what is the matter? - My brother.
- He is not worth a thought, far less a tear.
Mr.
Wrayburn, I have had a bitter trial tonight.
I hope you do not find me ungrateful, or mysterious, or changeable.
I am wretched.
Remember what I said to you.
Take care! Of what? Of whom, Lizzie? You will not tell me to go away, will you? Lizzie? You will not send me away from you? She did not insist upon my leaving.
She would not send me away.
Eugene, Eugene, Eugene What a business!