Little Dorrit (2008) s01e13 Episode Script

I've found out something for you about Miss Wade.
She is in Whitstable, sir.
I'd get down there quick, if I was you, before they're off again.
You have no further business to be here.
I'm a gentleman of property.
A friend of Mr Merdle! I will not tolerate this treatment, Madam.
Do you know who I am? Tell me that again, and I'll take the poker to you! No! I've decided to return to Italy.
My dear Mrs General Dear lovely Mrs General I appear to have been so little expected.
Perhaps I should apologise for coming back at all.
I demand to be treated with respect! A very handsome testimonial, offered with great delicacy, and graciously received.
KNOCK AT DOOR Are you still sleeping, Father? What? No, no.
No, I am wide awake.
What time is it? Nearly 12.
Nearly 12? Why didn't you wake me before? What will they think of me? There's nothing to hurry for, Father.
You can rest.
You've had a long, tiring journey.
Where are we, Amy? Why, in Venice, Father.
Oh, yes.
I knew that.
Mrs General's here? She is here.
She is well? Yes, she is very well.
Would you like me to bring her to you, Father? If she pleases.
I'm so glad to have you back, Father.
Yes.
Well, run along now.
My dear Madam Dear Mrs General Dearest Hortensia Er, perhaps not.
In vain have I struggled to resist your charms.
My dear Mr Dorrit! Thank you.
You are quite rested, I trust, after your arduous journey? Very well, I thank you.
And you left Mrs Sparkler well and happy? Mrs Sparkler? Your daughter, Fanny? Oh, yes, of course, I know that.
Very well, very happy.
And a married woman now.
Indeed.
And it seems to suit her.
And why shouldn't it now? It is the blissful state the Almighty intended for us.
Even those of us perhaps a little more advanced in years.
Sir, to what are you alluding? Have you not heard the old saying, Madam, that one wedding tends to bring on another? Oh, Mr Dorrit.
I cannot imagine what you're implying! Mrs General, I believe you can! I adore you! Oh, no, no, no, Sir! No, decorum! No, no, Sir! Ah, Hortensia! No, I beg you, sir.
Desist! This is not the way! Mr Dorrit will forgive me if I ask leave to continue this interesting conversation at another time, when we've had the opportunity to collect ourselves.
In the meantime, he will allow me to withdraw for the present.
But we may resume this interesting conversation, this very interesting conversation, at another time very soon? Mr Dorrit must ever claim my homage and obedience.
What is this place? It's the Palazzo Fiume.
Mrs Merdle's residence in Venice.
Oh, yes, but Mrs General, why are we here? It's Mrs Merdle's farewell ball, Papa, before she goes back to London.
Of course, I knew that.
Ah! Mr Dorrit, Miss Dorrit, Mrs General! I am positively charmed to see you here! Mr Dorrit, do you know the Marchese di Poggibonsi? You are welcome, sir.
And the Comtesse de Cannes? You are welcome, Madame, to my humble quarters.
Mr Dorrit, surely it is for me to welcome my guests, not you! But I am charmed, positively charmed! And how did you find the happy couple? The happy couple, ma'am? Why, my son, Edmund Sparkler, and your lovely daughter, Fanny! Fanny's a dancer, you know.
They think I don't know, but I do.
These people, they shouldn't be here now! The gate will be locked! My dear, Mr Dorrit, what gate? Amy! Will you go and see if Chivery is on the lock tonight? I don't feel quite myself.
I am here, Father.
No, no! Send for Chivery! I can't be got up the stairs without Chivery! Father! Well, no.
It's, er Ladies and Gentlemen, I do so beg your pardon.
The duty devolves upon me of welcoming you to the Marshalsea prison! The space is limited, but the air is, all things considered, very good.
It blows over the Surrey hills.
Blows over the Surrey hills.
Those who are habituated to the Marshalsea are pleased to call me its Father.
Indeed, I am accustomed to be complemented by strangers as the Father of the Marshalsea.
Father! My child, ladies and gentlemen.
Born here! Bred here! My daughter! Child of an unfortunate father.
Unfortunate, but always a gentleman! And in recognition of my humble endeavours to uphold a tone within these walls, it has become the not infrequent custom for my personal admirers to leave some small testimonial in pecuniary form, generally speaking, in my child's name, if not in my own.
Ladies and Gentlemen, God bless you all! Oh, Amy, Amy.
I don't know what's happening What's What's What's happening to me? DOOR OPENS Mrs General wants a word, Amy.
Well, William, old pal.
My plans have changed unexpectedly, Miss Dorrit.
There are two young ladies in Cheltenham who need my services.
Please convey my very best wishes to your papa and my hope that he will make a speedy recovery.
Goodbye.
Has Tip gone out, Amy? Yes, Father.
Amy, I want you to take my gold watch to the pawnbroker.
See what you can raise on it.
And my rings, and my silver buttons.
Will you? Yes, Father, if you like.
Good girl.
I won't let you starve, Amy.
I know, Father.
Good girl.
Good girl.
Dear girl.
I think he's gone.
Oh, my brother! Oh, William, William.
You to go before me.
To go all alone.
Why would it not have been me? Nobody would have missed me! Uncle! Dear uncle, spare yourself.
Spare me! You've watched too long.
I'll stay with him, you go and rest.
I'll keep him company.
At least I I won't embarrass him any more, or shame him now.
You goyou go and rest.
HE SOBS Poor Pa.
Absolutely.
Very sad.
Tragic.
He had so little time to enjoy his exalted position in society.
Absolutely.
Quite.
Saddest thing I've ever heard.
And Uncle Frederick too! Absolutely.
He was a good old fella, not a bit of nonsense about him.
It was a happy release, Sparkler.
He wasn't presentable.
And if you're not presentable, then you'd much better die.
And now I suppose I shall have to go into mourning, and not go out in society, and just when I bought dozens of new dresses expressly for that purpose! Fanny.
Yes, dear? Where am I to live now, do you think? Well, why, here of course, we can't have you taking lodgings and letting us all down, there's plenty of room here, isn't there, Sparkler? Absolutely! Acres of room here.
Be delighted, charmed and honoured, be honoured to share it with you, and Pa would, too, so let's say no more about it! Thank you, you're very kind.
I wish What do you wish? Nothing, Fanny.
Sir? Does Miss Wade live here? Yes, sir.
Follow me.
Your name, sir? Rigaud.
One moment.
I thought if I gave my real name, you might refuse to see me.
I'm here to ask for your help, Miss Wade.
And how do you imagine I could help you? In finding the man Rigaud.
I have seen you with him, Miss Wade.
I have no idea where he is now.
He may be dead for all I know.
I need to find him, Miss Wade.
My family's welfare is at stake.
Why don't you ask your dear friend Mr Gowan? Rigaud was his intimate friend, was he not? What do you know about Henry Gowan? Should I tell you? Would you understand, if I did? Yes, I think perhaps you might.
You know me as Miss Wade, but in reality I have no name.
I was brought up as the object of other people's charity.
How it pleased them to think of their kindness to the poor orphan child.
When I came of age, I became a governess.
Pretty Miss Wade, clever Miss Wade, good Miss Wade, dear Miss Wade.
They never knew Hate is a strong word, Miss Wade.
Yes, and I doubt it is one you have ever had cause to use, Mr Clennam.
When Mr Gowan appeared on the scene, he understood my feelings perfectly.
I soon began to like his society better than anyone else's.
You fell in love with him? He amused himself as long as it suited his inclination, and then he left me.
I think perhaps he never knew how much I loved him .
.
and how much I hate him now.
But he taught me one thing.
Never to let myself be subject to a man again.
And Might I ask? What is your association with Rigaud? I paid him to find out how Gowan treats his new plaything.
He would have killed Gowan, too, if I'd paid him enough.
I don't know what your family's business is with Rigaud, Mr Clennam, but if you've crossed his path, I don't envy you.
You say you wish to find him.
Have a care what you wish for.
'Arthur, your mother, Arthur.
' 'Put it right.
' 'Put it right.
' Evening.
I need to speak to my mother, Flintwinch.
She's got company.
But I dare say one more will make no difference.
What company, Flintwinch? You'll see.
Old friends of yours.
I do have a cousin who lives in Rochester who's rather partial to the whole anchovy, not just the paste.
I do particularly like the paste Arthur.
What's he doing here? Hop off, before I call the peelers! She's as lively as a cricket today! This is Mr Clennam's home, aunt! Former home.
But Arthur, what a surprise! To discover us eating cheese and anchovy paste on toast! Yes.
And a great pleasure to see you both, but No, thank you.
But if you don't think me rude, I should like a brief private word with my mother.
Of course, of course.
Stay where you are, Mrs Finching.
I ain't going nowhere.
Whatever my son has to say to me may be said in your presence.
Would you like me to toast you a slice, Arthur? You were always partial to it as a boy.
And still am, but no, thank you, Affery, not just now.
Flora, I beg you, would you do me the kindness of waiting on the landing just for a few moments only, while I speak in confidence to my mother? Indeed.
Come on, auntie.
Up to no good, him.
You don't know what you're talking about.
Come on! Get off! I'm going! I'm going! Well? Mother, you are in danger from this man Blandois, or Rigaud, as his real name is.
Now, you must tell me, what is his hold upon you? Hold upon me? He has no hold upon me.
What was the business proposition that he put to you? I decline to answer that question.
The House of Clennam conducts its business in confidence.
You are no longer a partner in the House of Clennam.
Our business is of no concern to you.
How can you say that? I'm your son still.
I'm your flesh and blood.
There is something.
There is some secret in this house.
I'm sure of it.
And it has to do with my father's dying words.
Does Rigaud know what it is? I have nothing to say.
I have nothing to hide.
And my conscience is clear.
I need to know what my father meant.
Now, whatever you or he have or haven't done in the past, I will not judge you by it.
If there is a secret, and I do not say that there is, has it never occurred to you that it might be much better for you if you never knew it? What do you mean by that? I have nothing else to say on the subject.
For God's sake, Mother, why won't you let me help you? DISTANT THUNDER CLAPS Get everything inside! THUNDER Amy? It's you! Mr Clennam.
I should not have known you.
Why didn't you tell me you were in London? I I only arrived a day or two ago.
Besides, I didn't want to disturb you.
Little Dorrit, you would never disturb me.
I should never be sorry to see you, I thought you knew that.
What is it? Oh, you're in mourning.
My father and his brother are both dead.
I'm very sorry to hear that.
They died abroad? Yes.
In Venice.
You must miss them both very much.
Yes, I do.
Of course I do.
But I think they are both happier now.
anything can do to help? What sort of help do you imagine I might need? I have no need of money now.
I have no need to seek work.
I am a lady now, and it is my business to do nothing all day.
You seem to be Are you Are you angry with me, Little Dorrit? What is it? We used to be such good friends, you and I.
What's the matter? Little Dorrit.
Don't call me that, I am not a child! You used to love to be called by that name.
Not any more.
Not by you.
But we can still be friends.
I hoped that we could be.
But I am not sure that we can any morenot now.
Not as we were before.
Why not? I don't understand! Don't you? Do you know? I sometimes wish that you'd never come to the Marshalsea.
That I'd never met you.
That none of this had ever happened.
I was happy as I was.
Don't follow me.
Good night.
What is it, my dearest love? I am so bored I could scream.
If I did not know that the longest day is past, I should feel certain that this is the longest day of my life.
My dear, I think you must have the fidgets! The Fidgets! Oh, don't, Sparkler! My adorable girl! Try your aromatic vinegar.
I have often seen my mother try it, and it always seemed to refresh her.
And she is, as you know, a remarkably fine woman.
Ah, good gracious! This is beyond all patience! Mr Merdle! Papa in law! Evening, governor! How's tricks? I've been out for a stroll.
Oh, how very nice! Have you dined? Ah no, not exactly.
I was to have dined in the City, but I didn't feel inclined.
I looked in at the club, and I drank a bottle of wine.
A busy man like yourself should look after yourself better! Loss of appetite is a serious thing.
You mustn't let yourself get ill, you know.
Oh.
I am well enough.
I am as well as I want to be.
I gather there has been some delay in arranging poor Papa's property.
Yes.
That is so.
There has been a delay.
It's of no consequence, of course.
My only anxiety is that Mrs General shouldn't get anything.
She won't get anything.
I'm delighted to hear it.
I wonder if you could lend me a penknife.
A penknife! Yes.
I seem to have mislaid mine.
Of course! Edmund, open the mother of pearl box on the table, and take out the mother of pearl penknife.
Carefully, now! He's ever so clumsy! I think I can manage this.
There you are, governor.
Oh.
Thank you.
Yes, that'll do.
You haven't got one with a darker handle, by any chance? I don't believe we have, Papa in law.
Well, no matter.
This'll do.
Well.
Good night.
Are you going out again, sir? Yes.
I'm going out again.
KNOCKING ON DOOR MORE KNOCKING LOUD KNOCKING What the devil is all this noise about? What do you want? Who are you? Begging your pardon, Doctor.
I'm from the warm baths round the corner.
Will you come, sir? Come where? Why should I, man? To the baths, sir.
He left this note, sir.
It's got your name and address on it.
I'll come down.
Do you know the gentleman? One of our regulars, sir.
Never gave his name.
Never said a word, in fact, but he was always polite and well behaved.
Good God.
You'll be all right, Mrs M, as long as you remember your Ps and Qs.
Oh, Mr Clennam! Mr Clennam! Come quick! Quick,sir.
We might be able to get away before they come in.
Who? You say you have power over me.
Prove it! Come here, you sugary swindler! Are you all right, Amy?