A Tale of Two Cities Page #8

nobleman he has denounced.

I will name him.

And no-one in the

world has better cause,

for I was that young girl who was the

last one left alive in that family.

I was rescued by Defarge and brought

up in the village by the fishermen.

That father driven to death

in the shafts was my father.

That mortally wounded boy in

the stables was my brother,

and that poor outraged

peasant girl was my sister.

Do you think I haven't cursed again and

again the name of that vile monster?

He was the cousin of the accused.

The Marquis St Evremonde.

I tell you once and for

all, it's impossible.

No prisoner ever yet

escaped from La Force.

Who spoke of an escape? Did you, Jerry?

Not me, Mr Carton. Let's hope there

won't be no need for an escape.

Amen.

So you see, Mr Solomon, we all

three sit here round this table,

hoping there'll be no

cause to trouble you.

- Is there a verdict in the Evremonde trial?

- Guilty.

Death in twenty-four hours.

It seems, Mr Solomon,

that I shall have to

ask you that favour.

What happened?

Oh, my precious!

Oh, Prossie!

My father is ill. The shock.

If he could only regain

the power of speech.

He must have some sleep, and

after he's slept, perhaps.

You must rest now.

Come.

Come.

It's happened again.

I feared it, and that vile woman

denounced the family of Evremonde.

- The family?

- You heard her yourself.

- I wasn't there at the end.

- You weren't there?

I heard the verdict from

the rabble in a wine shop.

- You're disgusting.

- Forget about me. I'm of no importance.

Did you say the whole

family was denounced?

To the last of the race.

You realise the danger

in which this puts Lucie?

Thank God her relationship

is by marriage.

Lucie is carrying a child, an Evremonde.

He's gone to sleep.

Almost at once.

Like a child.

It's the best thing we could wish.

Sydney, you're an

advocate. You must know.

There must be some form of

appeal, some chance of a reprieve.

I think perhaps there may be.

Do you? Do you really believe that?

We shall do all that's humanly possible.

You'd better get a little sleep yourself

now. He wouldn't want you to fret and worry.

No.

I think, perhaps, I may sleep...

...now.

Lucie.

God bless you.

How can you be so unkind, so heartless?

You know there isn't a chance

of stopping this execution.

- None.

- Why raise the poor child's hopes?

You could waste all night taking

me to task and we haven't time.

Attend to everything I have to say.

Ask me no questions and give me

the promise I shall exact from you.

I have a reason.

You understand now that

Lucie is in grave danger?

It depends upon you, and

you entirely, to save her.

Heaven grant that I

may, Carton. But how?

I shall tell you how.

I don't think I could

depend upon a better man.

Early tomorrow have a coach and horses

ready for a rapid

journey to the sea coast.

- They must be in starting trim at ten o'clock.

- It shall be done.

Tell Lucie tonight what you

know of the danger to her child.

Say that her father's in danger, too.

Press upon her the urgency of

leaving Paris at that hour. Tell...

Tell her it was her

husband's last arrangement.

Tell her that more depends

on all this than she dare

- believe or hope.

- I will.

See Lucie and her father into a

coach out here in the courtyard.

Take your place with them.

The moment I come to you,

take me in and drive away.

I may not be in a

condition to assist you.

Don't look at me like that.

For once in my life, I am

quite sober and deadly earnest.

Promise me, solemnly,

that nothing, nothing

will make you change my instruction.

I promise.

Here, then,

are my papers.

Take them and keep them with the rest.

You may need them tonight.

It's dangerous to be abroad

in Paris without papers.

You are not to question my

instructions. Remember your promise.

I shall remember it.

I hope to do my part faithfully.

I hope to do mine.

If only the poor darling can sleep.

That one's a lot of

good at a time like this.

Going out now to get drunk, I suppose.

No, Miss Pross, no.

Not this time.

The bravest and best of us all.

What do you want? Who's this?

He's a friend of Evremonde.

He's English.

Evremonde.

Poor old Evremonde.

He's got permission

to say goodbye to him.

Looks as if he has been

making a night of it...

...trying to keep his courage up.

Remember, a few minutes only.

Carton!

Of all people on earth, you

least expected to see me.

I cannot believe it to be

you. You're not a prisoner?

No, I'm accidentally possessed of

a power over one of your guards.

I come from your wife. You must do

everything I ask without question.

- Put on this coat.

- There is no escaping from this place.

It can't be done.

You'll only die with

me. No, no, it's madness.

It would be madness if I

asked you to escape, but do I?

If I ask you to pass that door,

tell me that I am mad and refuse me.

Carton. Dear Carton.

Whatever you have in mind, I implore

you not to add your death to mine.

You must trust me.

Take that pen.

Sit down and write as I dictate.

Hurry, my friend. Hurry.

Write exactly as I speak.

I knew

it was not in your nature

to forget the words

which passed between us

long ago.

I am thankful

that the time has come

when I may truly...

prove them.

What vapour is that?

Vapour?

I am conscious of nothing.

Write on.

That I do...

...is no subject...

...for regret...

...or grief.

Let there be no grief.

Ah, Thrse, I was just coming for you.

I saw you here. I have some business to

do before I go to the guillotine today.

But today is your day of days.

I shall be there for

the twenty-third head.

Oh, Evremonde. That will

bring the loudest shout.

What I have to say is not

for the ears of my husband.

Eh?

Defarge is a good enough

Republican, but he has weaknesses.

He's weak enough to relent

towards a certain

doctor and his daughter.

The wife of Evremonde.

She will be at home now

awaiting the moment of his death.

She will be mourning and grieving.

Yes, and it's an offence

to mourn for an aristocrat.

She will be in a state of mind to speak

against the justice of the Republic.

And I shall be there to hear.

Ha ha ha!

My cherished!

What a splendid woman this is.

Take this. Keep my usual place for me.

But you won't be late?

I shall be there when his turn comes.

You see.

Is your hazard so very great?

My hazard is whether you

remain true to your bargain.

I shall remain true to it.

To the very end.

Can any man keep to a bargain like that?

Have no fear. I shall

soon be out of harm's way.

And so, please God, will they.

My coach is still outside?

Yes, it was a minute ago.

Get some assistance.

Have him taken to it.

Hurry, man. Hurry.

Mr Carton...

Tell them to take him to Tellson's Bank.

He has friends there.

Hey you there!

Goodbye, old Sydney.

Hey you there.

The gentleman needs a

bit more help this time.

Out like a light.

I'm not surprised, the

load he had when he came in.

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