David Copperfield

Whether I shall turn out

to be the hero of my own life,

or whether that station

will be held by anybody else,

this story must show.

(CHURCH BELL TOLLS)

To begin my life at the very beginning,

I was a posthumous child.

My father left this world

three months before I entered it.

I was born in the small village

of Blunderstone

on Friday at 12 o'clock at night,

though not before my mother received

a somewhat less expected visitor.

Peggotty!

(KNOCKING)

Can I help you, ma'am?

- Mrs David Copperfield, I think.

- Who wants her, I'd like to know?

- Miss Betsey Trotwood, you've heard of her I dearsay.

- My poor husband's aunt.

Now you see her.

You're nothing but a baby yourself.

- My nephew spoiled you, I suppose.

- Mr Copperfield was very good...

Oh, no, don't do that,

don't do that! Come, come!

I opposed to my nephew's marriage. I told him

you were too young. He ignored me.

Fancied himself in love, I suppose.

- My husband is dead. If you dare...

- You may leave us.

Now, when do you expect?

Soon. I feel so frightened.

I'm sure I shall die.

Die? Certainly not!

Have some tea.

Where's that girl of yours?

- What does she call herself?

- Peggotty.

Peggotty? Do you mean a human being

has gone into a Christian church

and had herself named Peggotty?

It's her surname -

her Christian name is Clara,

the same as mine.

Your mistress needs some tea.

- She's feeling a little unwell.

- She's having the baby!

Shall I send for the doctor, ma'am?

Now, from the moment of the birth

of your girl...

- Perhaps boy.

- It'll be a girl! Don't contradict.

I shall be her godmother. You shall

call her Betsey Trotwood Copperfield.

And this Betsy Trotwood

must make no mistakes in life.

No worthless man

will trifle with HER affections!

Oh, stop that, now.

You'll make yourself ill.

That will do neither you nor my

goddaughter any good at all.

(CLARA CRIES OUT)

(CLARA CRIES OUT IN PAIN)

(HER CRIES CONTINUE)

Well.

- We are progressing, ma'am. Slowly.

- Bah!

(CLARA CRIES OUT IN PAIN)

My congratulations. All is now over

and the baby is safely delivered.

- Good. How is she?

- Mrs Copperfield is comfortable.

- Yes, but how is SHE?

- Who?

The baby, for heaven's sake!

Oh, she is a he, Miss Trotwood.

- What?

- The baby is a boy.

A boy?

A boy!

A boy! Ahhh!

A boy!

My great aunt's experience of men

had not been a happy one.

The arrival of one more

was the final straw.

She vanished like a discontented

fairy, seemingly never to return.

My early childhood

was blissfully happy.

The days and years slipped by

in a warm glow of contentment.

I grew up secure in the certainty

that my beautiful mother loved only me,

while Peggotty's loyalty and devotion

were as constant as the tides.

"My next work was to view

the country and seek a proper place

"for my habit... habita..."

- Habitation, Davy.

- Habitation.

"Where I was I yet knew not..."

- Davy should be in bed now, ma'am.

- Oh, please, just a little longer!

Oh, go on! Only five minutes, mind!

Put a bulb in there.

That's it. No, not upside down!

That way!

But a chill wind was rising.

The golden summer of my innocence

was about to be blown away.

Davy, say good morning

to Mr Murdstone.

- Davy!

- He doesn't wish to share you.

I understand his devotion.

Come, let us shake hands and be

the best friends in the world.

I like his spirit.

Until tomorrow, Mrs Copperfield.

Davy, I'm disappointed in you.

Where are your manners?

A stranger makes an agreeable

change, I suppose, ma'am.

A very agreeable change indeed.

(PEGGOTTY) I was only thinking of Davy.

Am I to be told that I am wanting

in affection for my precious boy?

- Nobody ever said such a thing!

- Yes, you did!

Am I a cruel, selfish, bad mama?

I don't love you at all, do I, Davy?

Of course your mama loves you,

Master Davy. I only said...

Master Davy, how should you like

to go along with me

and spend a fortnight

at my brother's at Yarmouth?

- Wouldn't that be a treat?

- Won't Mama mind?

She can't live by herself.

Why, I'll bet a guinea

she'll let us go!

Oh, you'll love the seaside, Davy!

There's the beach and the boats,

all sorts of things!

Let's ask her!

It touches me deeply to think

how eager I was to leave my happy home

and to remember how little I suspected

what I was leaving behind for ever.

Another pie, Mr Barkis?

Whoa!

- Did she make them pastries?

- She does all our cooking.

Do she, though?

No sweethearts, I believe.

Oh, no, she never had a sweetheart.

- Here's my Ham!

- Ah-ha! Come on, then, six-foot!

(HAM) Yon's our house, Master Davy.

- You don't live in a boat, Ham?

- In a manner of speaking.

You're most welcome,

Master Copperfield.

You'll find us rough, sir,

but you'll find us ready.

There you go.

Mr Peggotty, did you call your son

Ham 'cause you live in a kind of ark

like Noah and his son did?

I couldn't rightly say how he came

by it. His father gave him that name.

I thought YOU were his father.

- My brother Joe was his father.

- Is your brother dead, Mr Peggotty?

Drowndead.

But Little Emily,

she is your daughter, isn't she?

My brother-in-law Tom

was her father.

- Dead, Mr Peggotty?

- Drowndead.

- Haven't you any children?

- Not him. He ain't married.

Why, isn't Mrs Gummidge your wife?

(MRS GUMMIDGE WAILS)

Mrs Gummidge lost her husband

a few year back.

Drowndead, Mr Peggotty?

- She gets low when she thinks on it.

- And she DO! Pretty often!

I'm a lone, lorn creature!

I'd better go into the workhouse

and die and be a riddance!

- Cheer up!

- My troubles make me contrary.

I wish I could be hardened to 'em,

but I ain't.

- I make the house uncomfortable!

- I'm certain you don't.

- I do!

- She's thinkin' of the old 'un.

Don't you worry, Davy.

I never knowed anyone

who so enjoyed being miserable.

(DAVID) My father is dead, too.

I know.

Do you mind?

I never met him.

- Mr Peggotty must be a good man.

- Better than good.

If I was a lady, I'd give him

a waistcoat with diamond buttons,

a large gold watch

and a bagful of money.

Emily!

Emily, take care!

I am only frightened

when the wind blows.

Then I lie awake

thinking I hear Uncle Dan and Ham

out at sea crying for help.

That's why I want to be a lady.

I could keep them safe on land.

Her words echo to me down the years.

They haunt me still.

The days sped by

as if time had not grown up yet,

but were a child, too,

and always at play.

I was delighted

with my new friends.

Dan Peggotty treated me

as one of his family

and I grew to love

his open-hearted kindness.

Ham was like the best and most heroic

of older brothers.

And of course, in my childish way,

I was completely in love with Little Emily.

When the day came

to leave Yarmouth,

I realised that for

two weeks

I had scarcely thought of my home at all.

Let's always be friends, Emily.

I'd like that,

but you'll be a gentleman one day.

- Come, Davy, Mr Barkis is waiting.

- I'll write as often as I can.

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