A Tale of Two Cities Page #5

start again and strive again.

But you can! You're young

Too late. A dream, all

a dream, ends in nothing.

But a beautiful dream.

You inspire it.

And have I no power for good with you?

No power at all?

Keep my secret.

Never share it.

Never forget it.

You promise?

That I promise.

Willingly.

That's all I need.

All I ask. A small matter.

When I die, one good thing to remember.

My name, my faults, my miseries,

all carried in your heart.

Never shall I forget.

Anything ever I could do for you,

keep in your mind,

know that I would do it.

Anything

Enough useless talk.

I only distress you.

Not worthy of such feeling.

What's this?!

I had coffee to sober you!

Who wants to be sober?

Oh!

Believe me, Doctor. It's the last thing

I want, ever to part you from her again.

What I ask, as a fellow exile,

is to be allowed to share

this new life with you,

under the same roof,

if Lucie will accept me.

Lucie, of course, is

the whole world to me.

Without her, my return to

life would mean nothing.

But if you are essential

to her happiness,

and I truly believe you are, then

I must give her to you, Charles.

Dr Manette, I swear you shall never

have cause to regret your faith in me.

You're no doubt eager to speak to her.

That, I think, is a patient.

Doctor, before I see her, there

is... one thing I should tell you.

My name as an exile is not my true name.

Oh, stop it. I take you as

I've come to know you, Charles.

Tell me nothing more.

- But, sir...

- No don't speak

You've been told what

happened to me 20 years ago.

If my future son-in-law

is a past aristocrat,

I'd prefer not to know it.

Mr Carton.

- Mr Carton!

- Miss Manette, I am here for a moment only,

because I am not a man who

takes much time over apologies.

I owe so many that it's easier to

dispense with the whole business.

Then, pray, dispense with it.

I would,

but for one thing.

I know from, er... my hazy recollection

that my behaviour last

night was unpardonable.

That doesn't greatly

concern me. It often is.

But you made me a certain promise

which I recall as clearly as if

I'd never taken a glass of wine.

It shall be respected.

Thank you.

That was my chief

concern in coming here,

lest you were simply

humouring a drunken fool.

Is it not often said that the

truth emerges at such time?

And truly said.

Miss Manette, in all my drunken babbling

there was not one false word.

That's what I wanted you to know.

Rest assured that I shall

never refer to this again.

Charles!

Come in, Darnay. I was

about to take my leave.

Goodbye, Miss Manette.

Goodbye, Mr Carton.

You're not your usual loving

self today, Miss Pross.

No invitations to coffee?

Oh, wait.

What is it now?

Something I should have

remembered to tell Mr Darnay.

My profoundest apologies.

Mr Carton! You shall be

the first to hear our news.

- No, Charles.

- We are to be married.

I congratulate you most sincerely.

I am sure that nobody

could make you happier.

For my part, I have a piece of news

which will be your first wedding present.

I came back simply to

tell you that you have

nothing further to fear

from our friend Barsad.

He is no longer with us.

No longer with us?

He's dead.

He took a false step into the river.

I passed his funeral on my way here.

That's a relief, indeed.

Though he could have chosen

a better moment to inform us.

- Are you sure this is the right one?

- It's Barsad's grave.

- I saw him buried this very day.

- You said he was a little 'un.

He must have fattened himself

up since he was at the Bailey.

He didn't die of hunger.

Come on. Let's have him.

All quiet.

And how much is that worth

to them medical doctors?

Eh?

The slippery viper,

swindling honest tradesmen!

The first one I've met that

didn't turn up at his own funeral.

It's on account of his dirty trade.

Lost his reputation when they acquitted

the Frenchy. He has to make a new start.

Best put him back.

Just like that Barsad! Can't

even be trusted to croak.

Good day, Madame.

A glass of old cognac.

They have taken Gaspard.

Poor Gaspard.

You are acquainted with Gaspard?

I know him round here as the

assassin of the Marquis St Evremonde.

This is my husband.

Good day, Jacques.

You deceive yourself, Monsieur.

My name is Ernest Defarge.

Quite so.

But isn't it the custom for

those of... certain sympathies

to address one another as Jacques?

You may address me as Jacques.

Who sent you here to spy on us?

Madam, whatever gave you

such a preposterous idea?

Only a spy of the aristocrats

would dare to speak to us like that.

Wouldn't a far-sighted person do so?

One who sees which way

the wind is blowing?

What wind, Monsieur?

You know very well, Jacques.

The first puff of that wind swept

the Marquis St Evremonde to his grave.

And, speaking of Evremonde,

I think you'll be interested to have

news of his cousin, the new Marquis.

- He's settled in England. We know that.

- Yes, and getting married.

Did you know that, too?

You should have, for you're

acquainted with his bride-to-be.

To whom do you refer?

Why, to Miss Manette.

Didn't she call here

once to claim her father?

The poor oppressed doctor.

You see, I make it my business

to find out these things.

I could be a very useful comrade,

Jacques.

Never before have I unpacked for a man.

Cheer up. Honeymoons go all too quickly.

- We shall soon have them back.

- Have the guests all gone?

Mr Carton is still here.

He found it necessary

to take a little... nap.

I'm sure he did.

Why our ladybird ever wanted to

invite that tosspot to her wedding,

I shall never understand.

Doctor!

Mr Carton!

Oh, Doctor, what is it?

Mr Carton! Mr Carton!

Oh! Oh, come quickly. The doctor...

To me, it seems almost a symbol.

I wonder how they're

having it out there.

In France, you mean?

There's a storm coming

to them, surely enough.

Though whether by the hand of nature.

Such a storm it's likely to be.

But if ever the rulers

of a nation invite...

Oh! Good gracious. I've been asleep.

And look at the hour! What sort

of a host you must think me.

You've not slept alone, doctor.

It's this excellent wine of yours.

Half-undressed! I'm truly most ashamed.

I... I'm afraid we all

partook a little too freely.

Not you, Mr Lorry?

Worse than either of us, Doctor.

He lay back in that chair and snored

loud enough to shame the thunder.

I... I don't seem to remember.

Nor I. Shocking state of affairs.

Leaving the heavens to awake us.

This is a storm indeed.

Enough to bring the

dead out of their graves.

Jacques fifteen!

Keep away!

Give me something to kill with!

Hey!

Grab one of these!

You take it!

The armoury. That's

the place for muskets.

The armoury!

Open up!

Stand away. We shall fire!

Fire, I said, Number Two Company!

Fire!

The Gardes Franais have come over!

Hooray!

Yes!

You're the one

who shot the people down.

Stand aside!

Show me the North Tower, quick!

What...?

What is the meaning of 105 North Tower?

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