Bleak House (2005) s01e15 Episode Script

If she had only known, George Rouncewell, how much I loved her.
And how little I cared about what the world would think of her.
Oh, my dear, so delighted! So glad to see you.
Are you going to visit our Jarndyce wards? Yes, I am.
Ooh, I must tell you.
I have made Mr Carstone my executor, to administrate my will.
I I have reflected that if I should wear out, he could take over my judgement, being so very regular in his attendance.
I am sure he will be very honoured.
It was to have been Mr Gridley had that honour, but he wore out, poor man, and predeceased me.
But all of this is in confidence.
Not a word to anyone.
Another secret.
I've added to my collection of birds.
Really? Yes.
Two more.
Keep them caged up with the others.
D'you know what they're called? The wards in Jarndyce.
Oh.
Oh, oh, but they will be set free, you know - on the Day of Judgement.
They will fly free.
I must leave you now.
Goodbye.
Ada? Ada, are you upset? Is it Richard? He's so ill and weak.
He hardly eats anything.
But he forces himself out every day, all day, to court.
He's there still and nothing comes of it.
And he has his heart set on it, Esther, on winning this wretched case.
He has his heart set on you, too, Ada.
I suppose so.
That he would think more about us, our life together .
and the child he'll be father to.
You're going to have a baby? Oh, Ada.
Ada! This will bring him to his senses, if nothing else will.
Do you think so? I'm sure of it! To see his own child, to care for it and watch it grow.
Now I'm afraid.
Afraid of what? I can't say it.
It's too terrible.
I'm afraid he won't live to see his child.
Here we are.
Miss Summerson.
Mrs Carstone.
I met Richard outside the court and walked back with him.
Gave Vholes the slip for once.
He's a good fellow but weary work when you've had a day of him.
What a lot of old rubbish, eh? Good to see you, Esther.
Sorry I'm not quite the thing.
Get so dreadfully tired these days.
Well, I won't tire you any more.
Don't go on my account.
I'll come again soon.
I'll walk with you, if I may.
It's consumption, and he hasn't the constitution to fight it any more.
He needs rest, a strengthening diet.
I've told him all this but it's hopeless.
He won't listen.
Poor Richard.
I have some news, news about myself that I wanted you to know.
Good news, I hope.
Yes, yes, I think so.
I hope so.
Shall we sit down for a moment? I don't know whether Mr Jarndyce has mentioned anything about it, but he has helped me to obtain a position, a salaried post in the north country.
It'll mean an end to all my money worries.
So, will you take it? I think I must.
Opportunities like this don't come twice.
I'm very happy for you.
Of course, you will be very much missed.
By you? Yes, of course by me.
And by others.
But I'm sure you know this.
Never mind about the others.
You say you will miss me? Yes, I shall, very much.
Then come with me.
As my wife! You must know that I've been in love with you almost since we first met.
Several times I've come so close to telling you, and I am sure you feel something for me, too.
No, Mr Woodcourt.
Please stop.
Allan.
Call me Allan, Esther.
I can't marry you, Allan.
I can't love you.
Except as a friend, a very good and dear friend.
Then I am completely mistaken about your feelings? Just stop, please.
It won't do.
Is this because of Mr Jarndyce? Yes.
It's taking gratitude too far, Esther.
He wouldn't want to keep you from marrying someone you love, however good a housekeeper you are.
Mr Jarndyce and I are engaged to be married.
Good God, you You can't mean it.
I am very honoured by your proposal, but I never expected it.
I never thought you felt anything for me but pity.
I don't want you to feel honoured by my proposal.
I want you to marry me.
I want you to love me, as I love you.
I have told you, I am not free to love you.
I can't listen to any more of this.
I'm going now.
Please don't follow me.
SOBBING COMES FROM WITHIN THE ROOM Rubbish.
Rubbish.
Rubbish Give it a rest, Grandad! You done all right out of them old letters.
I did an' all.
Sold 'em twice over! Rich pickings, Judy.
Well, call it a day, then.
Let the rag and bone man have the rest.
That is not the spirit that made this country great, Judy! There's more here, I know it.
Rubbish, rubbish, rubbish.
Bodge up, you brimstone beast.
Let's see what you're sitting on.
Ding-dong! Hello! What's this? "Last Will and Testament.
" Jarndyce.
Guardian.
What is it, my dear? I have a confession to make.
A confession? Yes.
You proposed and I agreed that we should keep our engagement a secret.
Yes.
I have not been able to keep my promise.
I have told two people, Ada .
and Mr Woodcourt.
I see.
There's no need for you to explain why, Esther, and I forgive you.
Then I think we should agree to get married very soon, if you still want to marry me, then it shall be a secret from no-one.
Are you sure, Esther? Quite sure.
Then .
shall we say in a month? In a month.
SMALLWEED CHUCKLES "I do declare this only to be my last will and testament.
" Signed John Jarndyce.
Evening, Mr Smallweed.
What you got there? Nothing.
Hand it over.
Oi! My property, Mr Bucket.
Hand it over, Mr Smallweed.
Shan't.
Shan't? You don't happen to know why they killed the pig? No.
On account of his having too much cheek.
Don't you get into the same position, because it ain't worthy of you.
Hand it over.
Now.
Well, well, well! You're looking very well, if I might say so, Miss Summerson.
Quite exquisite, if I might be so bold.
Kenge.
Oi, Guppy, what about me? I wasn't aware you had any interest in Jarndyce and Jarndyce, Mr Smallweed.
Well, I have, then.
That's better.
Judy, shake me up.
All right, Mr Kenge, we're all ready.
Mr Jarndyce, it would appear that this will is a good and true will of later date than any other so far produced in Jarndyce and Jarndyce.
It reduces your bequest considerably, while greatly advancing the prospects of Mr Richard Carstone and Miss Ada Clare.
Mrs Carstone.
Just so.
It is our opinion that this will resolves all the difficulties in Jarndyce and Jarndyce.
Richard and Ada will get their inheritance after all? As soon as next term begins.
What do you think? Will I do? The cuffs are a little frayed but no matter.
We won, Ada! We won! I was right after all, and they were all wrong, all the rest of them.
We shall be rich! But more than that, we shall have justice at last.
And then we shall be able to get on with our lives again.
Yes.
Yes! No more lawyers, no more courts.
We can move to the country, Ada.
We can watch our children grow up in green fields, breathing pure air instead of this pestilential stench! Are you ready? Shall we go? Ready as I'll ever be.
I vowed never to set foot in court again.
But for Richard's sake, and Ada's, I must make an exception.
But it's a happy day, isn't it? I suppose so.
I find it hard to believe in any happiness coming from that place, in particular from that case.
But if you tell me it's a happy day, then of course I must believe you.
KNOCK ON DOOR If you please, sir, it's a gentleman and a lady.
Mr Guppy and Mrs Guppy.
Mr Guppy.
Mrs Guppy.
I We were just on our way out.
My business will not take very long, sir, and it concerns Miss Summerson.
Then please say what you have to say.
Will you sit down, Mrs Guppy? Ooh.
I'm much obliged, I'm sure.
Now, Mother.
I had an idea that I should see Miss Summerson by herself.
I wasn't quite prepared for your esteemed presence, Mr Jarndyce.
But no matter.
All the better, perhaps, for you are, as I believe and understand, Miss Summerson's guardian.
I am.
Then, sir, I'm pleased to inform you that I am out of my articles at Kenge and Carboys and admitted to the role of attorneys in my own right.
And I have taken a house in the locality of Walcot Square, in Lambeth.
In short, I am setting up on my own in the legal profession, and I intend to do very well in it.
I'm sure you will, Mr Guppy.
Well, Miss Summerson, here we are again.
May I say that, ever since I first encountered you, your image has been imprinted on my heart.
There was a time, I think you remember that time, when I thought that I'd got over it, but in truth I never did.
I find I love you more than ever.
Therefore, what I said when we last spoke on these matters, I now repudiate with all my heart.
And, with Mr Jarndyce's approval, I beg to lay the house in Walcot Square, the business and meself before you, Miss Summerson, for your acceptance.
Mr Guppy .
I am touched and honoured by your renewed proposal.
And I am very sorry to have to disappoint you, but my answer is the same as it was before.
You're turning me down? I am.
I'm sorry, Mr Guppy.
Sorry? I should think so! You should be ashamed of yourself! Ain't my son good enough for you? He's too good for you, that's what! Get out! Get out, the pair of you! No, mother Get out! It's unreasonable to ask us to leave our own rooms.
Go on, get out, the pair of you or I'll throw you out! Mother! What? Hold your tongue! Mr Jarndyce, my apologies.
I am mortified.
Miss Summerson, I take my leave.
If ever I can be of service to you, please do not hesitate to ask.
Thank you, Mr Guppy.
Farewell.
Come, Mother.
Our friend Guppy's made us very late.
The court may have already risen.
But surely, with the new will Excuse me, do you know what court is on? Jarndyce and Jarndyce.
But it's all over.
For the day? Order! Order! Silence in court! Silence! Silence! Silence! This has been a protracted case.
It has been a complex case.
Jarndyce and Jarndyce has been termed, not inaptly, a monument of chancery practice.
However, nothing lasts for ever.
The discovery of a new and valid will removes all doubt from the case.
It is quite clear that the chief beneficiaries of the Jarndyce estate should be Mr Richard Carstone and Miss Ada Clare now Mrs Carstone.
Unfortunately this revelation has coincided with another - that the whole estate has been absorbed in costs.
And thus the whole suit lapses and melts away.
Jarndyce and Jarndyce .
is no more.
All rise! My Lord! Ada.
Yes, my dear love? It's all right, isn't it? Yes, everything's all right now.
Everything's come clear.
Such a long dark time.
But we can begin again now.
Yes Yes.
Start the world all over again.
You and Iand our child.
Yes.
My love, yes, we will.
Are you there, sir? Here I am, Rick.
You're a good man.
You saw more clearly than I.
I wronged you.
Dear Rick, we were all bewildered, more or less.
What does it matter now? I was thinking, I should like to come back to Bleak House, when I'm a little stronger.
If you will take me back, sir.
And Ada, too.
Gladly, Rick.
Gladly.
Ada? I'm always here, my darling.
I've done you so many wrongs.
I have married you to poverty .
and trouble.
I've scattered your means to the winds.
Can you forgive me? Before I begin the world again? Now, my dears.
Hope, Joy, Youth, Peace, Rest, Life.
Your time has come.
Fly free, my little ones.
Dust, Ashes, Waste, Want, Ruin! Be spared.
Come, Madness, Death.
Good fellow.
Words, Wigs, Rags.
Plunder, Precedent, Jargon.
Sheepskin.
Ooh.
And last, but not least, the Wards in Jarndyce.
Goodbye, my little ones.
Esther.
Ada.
What would you say to a little holiday? A holiday? Where did you think of going? Into Yorkshire.
A county I've seen very little of, but the Dales are beautiful.
Would you like to see the Dales, Ada? I should, one day.
But I'd be just as happy to stay here.
A holiday would do us good.
And there's a place in Yorkshire I'd particularly like to show you, Esther.
What place is that? I won't spoil the surprise by telling you.
I think you'll like it when you see it.
If no-one has any objections, I propose we leave tomorrow.
Here we are.
This is what I wanted you to see.
This house? This house.
Do you like it? Yes.
In a way, it reminds me of Bleak House.
Good.
Ada, would you mind waiting here? I want Esther to see this closer to.
Thank you.
Bleak House? Yes, my dear.
Your Bleak House.
I don't understand.
Are we to come and live here? You will live here, Esther.
I will not.
What do you mean? I don't understand you.
I made a mistake, Esther.
I took advantage of your gratitude and your affection.
When you were very young, I dreamed of making you my wife one day, and I tried to make myself believe it was right.
But it was wrong.
I think I knew it even before Woodcourt went away.
And when he returned, I was sure of it.
I would never be able to make you happy, Esther.
Not as a young woman should be made happy by her husband.
I was a fool ever to think that I could.
But I know you love Allan Woodcourt.
I do love you.
In another way, yes.
We shall always love each other.
Now, come.
No.
No tears.
This is to be a day of joy.