David Copperfield Page #12

Ury, be 'umble

and make terms, my dear!

This villain, Heep,

tricked the honourable Mr W.

Into believing that he had withdrawn

a sum from Miss Trotwood's trust fund,

namely 12,000 pounds.

Which, in truth, Heep took out himself

with a forged signature.

Ever since, he has

used this supposed criminal act

to torture, constrain

and bend him to his will

Proof of all this lies within, madam.

In short, Mr Wickfield

has been for years

deluded and plundered

in every conceivable way

to the financial advantage of

the avaricious, false and grasping Heep!

No, my son will be 'umble,

Mr Copperfield,

if you willjust give him time to think.

Where is my property?

Blame Mr Wickfield

for mishandling it, would you?

I should have guessed all along

that you were responsible for my ruin!

Your money is quite safe, Aunt.

I only took her money

to ruin you, Copperfield.

I have always hated you.

You've always been against me

and my love for Agnes.

Love?

Your selfish, grasping desire would have

forced me into a marriage I didn't want,

and you talk about love.

- Mr Dick?

- Yes.

Will you go around to the Guildhall

and bring a couple of officers?

I shall return post-haste

with the forces of the law.

- Shall I go now?

- Post-haste, Mr Dick.

Running is futile.

You have nowhere to go.

I shall send for my family immediately.

The veil that has long been interposed

between Mrs Micawber and myself

is now withdrawn.

And my children

and the author of their being

can once more meet on equal terms.

Mr Micawber. It seems

you are in need of a fresh start.

Indeed, madam.

I wonder if you have ever

turned your mind to emigration?

It was the dream of my youth.

Why not go now?

Capital, madam, or rather

the lack of it, is the issue.

You have done us a great service.

What if we were to find you

the capital in return?

I could not take it as a gift.

But if a sufficient sum could be

advanced at five per cent per annum...

It shall be done in any way you wish.

One question arises.

Are the circumstance of the country such

that a man of Micawber's abilities

would have a fair chance

of rising in the social scale?

I will not say, "Might he aspire

to be Governor?" at present...

- There is no better opening anywhere.

- No better.

No better.

Then it is evident that Australia

is the legitimate sphere of action for him!

Passage was booked

for the Micawbers

and suddenly it was time

to say farewell

(DAVID) Mr Micawber?

You look very well equipped,

Mr Micawber.

We have abandoned the luxuries

of the old country, Copperfield.

Forest dwellers such as ourselves

cannot expect to participate in

the refinements of the land of the free.

I am sure there are towns

of some description in Australia,

but I feel it wise to be prepared.

- Wilkins Micawber?

- Yes.

I have a warrant for your arrest

on a matter of non-payment

of certain outstanding bills.

All hope is extinguished!

Convey my family to the workhouse

and forget that a being

such as I ever lived.

- We shall never leave without you!

- What is the value of the bills?

Nine pounds,

nineteen shillings and sixpence.

Ha! A mere trifle.

(MICAWBER) A noble gesture, ma'am,

that will be repaid, with interest.

Thank you, ma'am.

Copperfield. The time has come

for us to take our leave.

- There will be no speeches on my part.

- I don't believe a word of it.

I say, there will be

no speeches from me.

Only, in short...

...farewell, old friend.

God go with you, Mr Micawber.

God go with all of you.

(MICAWBER) Come on, we must board.

(MR DICK) Bye!

- Bye.

- Bye.

Bye. Bye.

Bye-bye!

Thank you!

Mr Micawber and his family

were not alone on their journey that day.

The time had also come

to say goodbye to other old friends.

Fearful for Emily's health, Peggotty

insisted that the news of Ham's death

should be kept from her

until she was stronger.

We'll start a new life together.

It is so good to see you well again.

When you gave Ham my letter,

did he say anything?

His love is with you always.

And forgiveness?

Did he send forgiveness?

With all his heart.

I did ask this one to come with us,

but you see, she's that fond of you

and your, Master Davy,

that it wouldn't be

hardly fair to let her go.

I told him straight out,

"My place is here now, Davy."

(STEWARD) Passengers on board!

(WAILING)

Will I ever see my little boy again?

Be 'umble, Ury, as you always was!

I was dreaming a moment ago.

I thought we were in the park again.

Walking together arm in arm.

It was so pleasant.

I am quite sad to wake up.

Don't be sad. We'll go there again soon.

Doady, dear.

I am afraid

I was too young to be married.

Don't say such things.

I was such a silly little creature.

I think it might have been better

if we had only loved each other

as boy and girl, and then forgotten it.

I don't think I was fit to be a wife.

- As fit as I to be a husband.

- Perhaps.

But you are clever...

...and I never was, and never could be.

We have been happy, Dora.

Very happy.

But as the years went on,

you would have wearied of your little wife.

I would have tried,

and disappointed you.

And you might not have been

able to love me half so well as now.

Do not speak to me so.

Every word seems a reproach.

I love you too much

for reproachful words.

It's the only merit I have,

except being pretty.

Oh, how my poor boy cries.

Will you ask Agnes

to come up, Doady?

I want to speak to her quite alone.

Don't cry, Doady.

It is better as it is.

Not tonight, Jip. Not tonight.

I went as far away as I could,

not knowing, even then,

how great the shock was

that I had to bear.

A long and gloomy night

gathered about me,

haunted by the ghosts of many hopes,

many errors, many sorrows and regrets.

Agnes wrote to me often.

She gave me no advice,

she urged no duty on me.

She only told me

what her trust in me was,

how a nature such as mine

would turn affliction to good.

But I mourned for Dora, taken so

young from the world she loved.

For Steerforth, who might have won

the love and admiration of thousands

as all those years ago

he had won mine.

And for broken- hearted Ham, who

found peace at last in the stormy sea.

I worked early and late, patiently and

hard, until my first book was finished.

It was published and was successful

I began another immediately.

Three years passed in this way.

I might have gone on the same forever,

but one day I looked up from my work

and suddenly I knew

it was time to return.

It was as though I could hear

a voice calling me home.

Agnes's voice.

Thank you, Peggotty.

What will you do now, Trot?

I thought I might ride over

to Canterbury tomorrow.

- Is Mr Wickfield well.

- A better man in all respects.

A reclaimed man.

- And Agnes?

- As good and beautiful as always.

Has she any admirers?

Dozens.

D-d-dozens.

- But is anyone worthy of her?

- I suspect she has an attachment.

I think she is going to be married.

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