David Copperfield Page #2

No sweethearts, you say?

When you get home,

tell her Barkis is willin'.

She'll be awake in a moment.

You could tell her yourself.

Barkis is willin'.

That's the message -

Barkis is willin'.

- Master Davy, wait!

- What's the matter?

I should've told you before...

Mama - where is she?

Not dead, too?

- She's not dead, Peggotty?!

- No, Master Davy!

Davy!

I have a surprise for you!

Can you guess what it is?

You have a new father.

Well, Davy boy, how do you do?

You've prejudiced him against me!

What do you mean by it?

Lord forgive you, Mrs Copperfield!

Davy, you naughty boy!

It's enough to distract me!

Clara, my love, have you forgotten?

Firmness, my dear.

What name did you just call

your mistress?

Mrs Copperfield...

same as always... sir.

She has a new name now. Murdstone.

Oblige me

by remembering that in future.

You may go.

Go you below, my love.

David and I

will be down together presently.

David... if I have an obstinate dog

or horse to deal with,

what do you think I do?

I beat him.

I make him wince and smart.

I say to myself,

"I'll conquer that fellow".

And even if it costs him every drop

of blood he has... I'll do it.

Do we understand each other?

Good.

Now, wash your face...

and come downstairs directly.

Miss Jane Murdstone, sir.

- My dear Jane.

- Edward.

Well...

- How are you, sister-in-law?

- Quite well, thank you.

- Is this your boy?

- It is.

Generally speaking,

I don't like boys.

You're too pretty and thoughtless

to have duties

that can be undertaken by me.

Be so good as to give me your keys.

I will attend to the housekeeping.

- I could have copies made...

- No. Kindly give me the keys!

My dear, I returned from my walk to

find the parlour's been rearranged.

My sister considered there to be

too much clutter. I agreed.

Perhaps, but I do think I might've

been consulted before any change.

It is very hard in my own house...

- My own house, Clara?

- OUR own house.

It is hard

that I may not have a word to say.

- I'm sure I managed very well before.

- Edward, I go tomorrow!

Jane Murdstone, be silent.

I'm sure I do not want anybody to go.

I'm obliged to anyone who assists me.

- Only...

- Let there be an end to this!

- I go tomorrow...

- Will you be silent?!

Clara, I took satisfaction

when we married

in the thought of infusing

your character with firmness.

Jane is good enough to help and yet

she is met with base ingratitude.

Don't accuse me of that.

I have many faults, but no one

has accused me of ingratitude.

I warn you, Clara,

this shabby response chills and

alters my feeling for you.

Don't be cold, Edward.

I can't live with coldness.

I have so many defects, I know.

It's good of you with your strength

of mind to correct them for me.

Jane, I make no objection

to anything.

Let us hear no more of it.

David... go to bed.

I observe you have

an attachment to low company.

Do not associate with servants!

Mistress Peggotty will not help you

in the respects you need improvement.

- Have you learned your lessons?

- I think so, Mama.

I fear the Greeks

even when they bring gifts.

Timeo... danaos...

...et...

...et...

- Well.

- Timeo...

...danaos...

- Timeo danaos et dona ferentis - as everyone knows!

- Oh, Davy...

- Don't say "Oh, Davy"! Be firm!

He either knows his lessons or not!

- He does not know them!

- Then send him away until he does!

I tell you, Clara,

I've often been flogged myself.

- It did me no harm.

- To be sure. Of course not.

Now, David,

you must be more careful today.

Suppose I go into a cheesemonger's

shop and buy 5,000 cheeses

at fourpence-halfpenny each,

how much do I spend?

- You know arithmetic, don't you?

- Yes, sir.

See how your laziness

grieves your mother?

No! No! O-Only I think I'm not

quite well, my dear Edward.

Come, David... your answer, please.

How much do I spend?

You will defy me no more, sir!

Please don't hurt me!

I've tried to learn!

- Please don't hurt me!

- Keep still!

Quiet!

(KEY TURNS IN LOCK)

If you please, Miss Murdstone,

how long am I to be kept here?

I was left alone

for seven days and nights.

I believe I might've gone mad but for

the books my father had left me.

In their pages,

I was freed from the prison.

In my solitude,

I grew to love their characters

as I loved those nearest

and dearest to me.

(Davy?)

- (Davy?)

- Peggotty?

Oh, Peggotty!

Hush, dear. Be as quiet as a mouse

or the cats'll hear us.

- What is to become of me, Peggotty?

- School

- Near London.

- When?

Tomorrow.

Listen to me, my darlin' boy.

Don't lose heart... and never forget

how much your Peggotty loves you!

Is Mama very angry with me,

Peggotty?

No... no, not very.

- Shan't I see her?

- Tomorrow.

I'll take care of your mama,

Davy dear, I promise.

I won't leave her, not ever.

As long as Clara Peggotty

draws breath,

you and your mama

will always have a friend!

Don't cry, Peggotty!

I ain't cryin'!

Your mama

gave me these for you, Davy.

Goodbye... my darling boy.

Goodbye.

- Please, ma'am, it's too cramped!

- Nonsense!

If you didn't fidget so much,

there'd be plenty of room!

- Fowl, madam?

- Mmmm!

Sir, where are the other boys?

There ain't no others for a month.

You're sent early as a punishment.

This is the gentleman

whose teeth are to be filed?

THIS IS THE BOY!

I have the 'appiness of knowing

Mr Murdstone.

He knows me and I know him.

- Do you know me, sir?!

- Not yet, sir.

- Not yet, but you will soon!

- YOU WILL SOON!

I'll tell you what I am.

I'm a Tartar.

- What am I?

- A Tartar.

When I say I'll have a thing done,

I will have it done!

HE WILL HAVE IT DONE!

What do you think of

this, young snapper?

- Is there a dog, sir?

- A dog?

- It's not a dog... it's a boy!

- A BOY!

Show this badge conspicuous

or you'll catch it, all right!

I don't take kindly to biters!

Now you've begun to know me,

my young friend, you may go!

Leave him alone!

- How did this come about?

- I bit my stepfather.

I think it's a damn shame.

- Now, boys, this is a new term.

- A NEW TERM!

Come fresh up to your studying,

I advise you,

for I come

fresh up to the punishment!

This boy prefers biting to studying.

What shall I do with him?

No answer? Then I'll show you.

Put your hands out, Copperfield.

HANDS OUT!

So you like biting, do you?

How do you like THIS for a tooth?

Is it a sharp tooth?

Does it bite deep?

Does it cut?

Stings a bit, don't it?

- A bit.

- You'll survive.

- I think so, sir.

- You're fresh as a daisy!

My name is Steerforth.

There's no need to "sir" me.

- What money have you got?

- About seven shillings.

Give it to me to take care of.

At least, you can if you like.

- Want to spend anything now?

- No.

What about a feast -

currant wine, cakes?

If you think a feast the best idea,

Steerforth.

I thought I had never met

anyone so noble and generous.

I was bound to him ever after

for the kindness he showed me.

(ALL) Copperfield!

Nolumus, non vultis, nolunt.

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