A Tale of Two Cities Page #10

You can get me an interview

with the prisoner.

One interview is all I want.

And what good will that do you?

You leave that to me.

I'll tell you that presently.

Well, Mr. Carton, you know

I don't like getting mixed up in things.

You can't trust these foreigners.

They'll cut your head off quicker

than you can say Jack Robinson.

How long do you think your head

would stay on your shoulders...

...if I told the Committee

of Public Safety you were a spy...

...of the Marquis St. Evremonde?

Don't say that.

I won't...

...provided you do

what I tell you now.

I'll... I'll do as you say, Mr. Carton...

...but remember now,

we can't trust nobody.

Very well. Now...

Oh, Citizen Barsad.

Citizen Victor.

The... The Evremonde cell,

which is it?

Third on the left.

- Ten minutes, no more.

- Right.

Wait.

Carton. Of all people on earth...

You least expected to see me.

- What are you doing?

- I bring a request from Lucie.

She begs you to do exactly as I say.

Yes, but... Carton, I don't know

what you have in mind, but it's useless...

...to attempt any form of escape.

It will involve all of you.

I have a plan that won't.

Now, write what I dictate. Hurry.

- What's the plan?

- No, no, write, quickly.

You will remember...

...the words...

...that passed between us...

...on a certain occasion.

- What occasion?

- Never mind. Write.

I am grateful...

...the time has come...

...when I can prove them.

That I do so...

...is no subject...

...for regret or grief.

- What's that?

- Nothing.

Something queer, queer smelling.

- No, take the pen and finish. Hurry.

- L...

- I'm faint.

- No. Quick, write.

I said that if ever...

...I could do anything...

...for you...

...or those dear to you...

Carton...

Citizen Victor. Twenty-one, eh?

Looks like that sharp female,

La Guillotine...

...is going to have

a very busy day tomorrow.

- Tell me, what's Evremonde's number?

- Evremonde is 23.

Twenty-three.

Tell me, Citizen Victor...

...what time do you take them

to the room for the last call?

Early in the morning.

Aristos have a good time in there.

They play cards, have mock trials.

- It's just like a club.

- Club?

That's a club that I don't wanna join.

Barsad.

It looks like my friend is ready.

Here, Citizen Victor, hop it

and buy yourself a bottle of cognac.

I'm afraid we're not going to

pull this through, Mr. Carton.

Do as you're told, and we will.

There's got to be a number 23 here

in the morning.

There will be. Now help me.

Mr. Carton, you couldn't pay me

to do what you're doing, sir.

I dare say you've got your price

for even this.

Oh, no, not me, Mr. Carton.

Now remember, you must get him

to Mr. Lorry's by 8:00.

Very good, I will.

Wait.

Now help me to get him to his feet.

All right, call your friend.

Victor. Victor, come on.

Give us a hand here.

- What's this?

- He's fainted.

- Take hold of his shoulders.

- I noticed he staggered

a bit as he came in.

Yes. When he saw Evremonde

had drawn a prize...

...in the lottery of St. Guillotine,

it bowled him over.

Well, let's get him out.

- Mr. Cruncher. Mr. Cruncher.

- Aye.

Come up and help carry

Mr. Darnay down. Hurry.

Hurrying, Miss Pross. Hurrying.

Today, citizeness,

your years of waiting end...

...when Master Evremonde

spits in the sack, eh?

It is not the end.

He is not the last of the Evremondes.

The wife must follow the husband.

The child must follow the father.

I'll go to them now. They'll be frantic.

They'll denounce the justice

of the republic and then...

And then:

Take this.

Have it ready for me at my usual seat

by the guillotine this afternoon.

You can stop wind and fire, but not her.

And don't let anything delay you,

Miss Pross.

I pray he gets my Ladybird

and her family out of France.

- Mr. Cruncher, don't dally.

- Don't beat the willing horse, Miss Pross.

If I ever get out of this

here crisis alive...

...I'll make a vow I'll never stop

me old woman from flopping.

- She can even meditate when convenient.

- I am not interested in

your family situation.

I must go fetch

the other two small bags from the house.

Citizen doctor.

- Oh, no, you don't.

- Let me pass.

Never. I know what you want.

I know what you're after.

I thank heaven I'm put here to stop you,

for stop you I will.

- In the name of the republic, I...

- In the name of no one, you evil woman.

You've killed many innocent people.

No doubt you'll kill many more.

But my Ladybird

you shall never touch again.

No? Do you know who I am?

You might, from your appearance,

be the wife of Lucifer...

...yet you shall not get the better of me.

I'm an Englishwoman. I'm your match.

Pig, get out of my way

or I'll break you in pieces.

Break away then. I don't care

an English tuppence for myself...

...and I know that

the longer I keep you here...

...the greater hope there is

for my Ladybird.

You're sick. I'll give you

your just dessert.

God save the king.

English pig.

"Citizen doctor, Lucille Manette and child,

Sydney Carton, advocate. "

Seems overcome. "Mr. Lorry, banker. "

All in order. You may go.

Pleasant journey.

Citizen Evremonde.

Come with me.

- Evremonde, 23.

- Evremonde, 23.

Citizen Evremonde,

do you remember me?

I was condemned

the same day you were.

They accuse me of plotting.

But is it likely?

Who would think of plotting

with a poor little seamstress?

I have nobody in all Paris.

No friends even.

Can you help me, Citizen Evremonde?

Can you explain to me how

the republic can profit by my?

My death?

I don't understand. I don't understand.

My poor child.

It isn't understanding we need now,

it's courage.

Oh, you're not...

You're going to die in his place. Why?

He is my friend.

You're so brave, and...

When we go to the guillotine,

will you let me hold your hand?

That might give me courage too.

Yes. I'll hold it to the last.

To the last.

"One, the Vicomte de Maillet. "

"Two, Monsieur Rochefoucault. "

"Three, the Vicomte de Bovez. "

But I... I don't want to die.

Why must I die?

Come, man, assume an air.

Don't let the rabble see us like this.

You're right. You must forgive me.

Oh, my dear. My dear, we must be brave,

as your father would have wanted.

"Thirteen, the Duchesse de Richelieu. "

And forgive them their outrages,

even though they fail to forgive ours.

"Twenty-two, Mademoiselle Fontaine,

the seamstress. "

"Twenty-three,

the Marquis St. Evremonde. "

Twenty-three. Twenty-two. Hurry.

Steady.

I'm not afraid now.

But I have a sister in the south,

and she knows nothing of this.

Wouldn't they let you write to her?

I never learned how to write.

Well, perhaps that's a blessing.

Isn't it better that she doesn't know?

I love her so.

- Will it seem long to me to wait for her?

- No.

No, there's no time there.

And no trouble.

The guillotine, Evremonde, the guillotine.

- Don't, citizen, don't.

- Why?

He's going to pay the forfeit.

In just a few minutes, it'll be paid.

Let him be at peace.

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