David Copperfield Page #6

What?

Oh... Uriah. Yes, of course.

Do not concern yourself.

I will look after him.

As you have always done.

Dear Agnes.

As dear to me as my own sister.

School days now over, the time had

come to find my place in the world.

But it was with a lingering sense of

unease that I left my childhood home.

Walk on!

I had never lost my dream

of being a writer,

but I could hardly ask my aunt

to support me in such an ambition,

so when she asked me if I should

like to be articled as a clerk,

I agreed readily.

- Something wrong, Aunt?

- A cold feeling came over me, Trot.

It was a donkey trespassing

on my green! I know it!

I shouldn't have left Mr Dick alone.

His character is not suited

to keeping donkeys off.

The premium is 1,000?

I wish it were a smaller amount.

Few men are less mercenary.

But I have partners and they have

their opinions on the subject.

They are immovable on the issue.

- I can't let you spend so much.

- Trot, you are my adopted son.

My one aim

is to see you provided for.

Good.

My position settled, it remained

to find somewhere to live.

- Lucky you called, Mrs Trotgood.

- TrotWOOD.

Shan't be able

to hold onto these rooms.

My last gentleman

was delighted with 'em.

If he'd had any choice,

he'd never have left.

It's rather a steep climb,

Mrs Crupp.

Perhaps so, Mrs Grotwood...

...but consider the benefits

of the purity of the air

so near the top of the house!

Well, it's near the fire escape.

That's something.

You won't find a sweeter set

of rooms for the young gentleman.

Peppermint cordial,

you understand, for my spasms.

The furniture -

is it the last occupant's?

- It is, ma'am.

- What became of him?

- He was took ill and...

- Yes?

Well... he died.

- Good God! What did he die of?

- Drink and smoke.

- Smoke? Not from the chimneys?

- No, ma'am. Cigars and pipes.

That's not catching at any rate.

Young Mr Copperfull

will be cared for

as though he were my own son!

Very well, Mrs Crupp,

we'll take the rooms.

Your sister Betsey

would have been

a hardworking and honest girl

- Be worthy of her.

- As long as I am worthy of you...

...that's enough for me.

It was a fine thing to walk

about the town with my house key,

coming and going

without a word to anyone.

Yet I felt a part of me had been

left behind in Canterbury.

I missed Agnes

and found only a blank

where her smiling face used to be.

Alone in the city, I settled down

into a state of equable low spirits.

Weeks and months slipped

away and then, one day,

I looked up and everything changed.

Ah, Mr Copperfield!

This is my daughter Dora

and her friend Miss Julia Mills

recently returned from Paris.

Miss Spenlow.

- Have YOU ever been in Paris?

- Paris?

In France.

No, never.

I hope you'll go soon.

You would like it.

My daughter's holding a picnic

to celebrate her birthday.

- Perhaps you'd care to join us.

- L-I would be delighted.

Excellent.

All was over in a moment.

I had fulfilled my destiny.

I was a captive and a slave.

I loved Dora Spenlow...

to distraction.!

(BETSEY) How is she.?

(DR CHILLIP) She is a he.

(BETSEY) What.?

(DR CHILLIP) The baby is a boy.

A boy? A boy!

(DAN) You're most welcome,

Master Copperfield.

You'll find us rough,

but you'll find us ready.

(YOUNG DAVID)

Let's always be friends, Emily.

(YOUNG EMILY) I'd like that,

but you'll be a gentleman one day.

Argh!

(CREAKLE)

So you like biting, do you.?

(STEERFORTH) Stings, don't it.?

(YOUNG DAVID) A bit.

You're as fresh as a daisy.

My name is Steerforth, by the way.

There's no need to "sir" me.

(CREAKLE) It grieves me to tell you

that your mother is very ill

She is very dangerously ill

In fact, she's dead.

(PEGGOTTY)

Listen to me, my darling boy.

Don't lose heart, and never forget

how much your Peggotty loves you.

(MICAWBER) I am convinced

that you will, in short, go far.

To Copperfield.

Not just a lodger - a friend.

I never will forget you.

(BETSEY) You broke her heart,

then punished the boy,

because of your own guilt!

Oh, Mr Dick. You'll consider yourself

joint guardian with me of this boy.

I think perhaps

he should take the name Trotwood.

(MR DICK) Trotwood Copperfield.!

(BETSEY) Trotwood Copperfield.!

Perhaps you'll be

a partner in Wickfield's business one day.

Oh, no, Master Copperfield.

Ambition ain't for me.

A person like myself

had better not aspire.

Do not concern yourself.

I will look after him.

(DAVID) As you have always done.

(SPENLOW) My daughter

is holding a picnic next Saturday.

Perhaps you'd care to join us.?

Oh... Irresistible, Mr Copperfull

My new life had begun.

I was independent, a young man

making his way in the world.

But what did any of this mean

without Dora.?

I was determined to win her heart.

I knew my happiness depended on it.

Miss Spenlow.

In honour of your birthday...

What a dear bouquet!

They're beautiful flowers,

Mr Copperfield.

I thought them beautiful

until I saw you.

Come. Join us.

(DORA) # Des jeunes filles si belles

# Des gar? Ons vifs et joyeux

# Dansant tous ensemble

tra-la-la-la-la-la

# Prenez-moi la main,

allons sous les arbres

# Cherchons la musique,

dansons avec joie

# La douce nuit est tombee

la lune vient de monter

# Dansons dans la foret

tra-la-la-la-la-la #

Little had been said,

but I was filled with the hope

that some vital understanding

had been reached between us.

For the next few days,

greatly to Mrs Crupp's discomfort,

I lived on nothing

but Dora and coffee.

Skittles, Mr Copperfull

When there's a young lady

in the case, skittles is healthy.

Diverts the mind, does you good.

Oh...

I satisfied my appetite

by writing her numerous letters,

hoping that she would detect

the desperate passion

that lay beneath their formal exterior.

Thankfully, for my sanity,

I was at last distracted by an invitation

to join Agnes at a London party.

Trotwood!

Agnes! How wonderful

to receive your invitation.

We see you so rarely these days.

My dear sister, I've so much

to tell you about what I've been doing.

Uriah. How are you?

Much obliged for your condescension

to an 'umble person, Master Copperfield.

Take no notice of me. I am invisible.

Things have changed

since you left, Trotwood.

Papa is to make Uriah his partner.

- But he's not to be trusted!

- Uriah has made himself indispensable.

I have a good mind to...

Promise me you'll do nothing

to offend Uriah.

You fell in love on the spot.

More than that.

I completely and utterly adore her.

But what about you, Agnes?

Have you no admirers

to tell me about?

Of course not.

I have no time for anything like that.

Have you seen

the new play at Covent Garden?

(STEERFORTH) A miserable business!

(DAVID) Steerforth!

You don't remember me.

David Copperfield.

My God! Little Copperfield!

- I'm overjoyed to see you.

- You haven't changed a bit, Daisy.

This is Miss Wickfield, an old friend.

Delighted. You have the prettiest girl

in the place on your arm, Daisy.

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