David Copperfield Page #8

Old clothes.

I wish it was full of money,

but it ain't. It's old clothes.

I understand.

Barkis has grown

a little nearer with time.

I remembered Mr Peggoty's boat

as a quiet, homely place,

but as Steerforth and I approached,

it soon became clear

that this was no ordinary night.

(SHOUTING AND LAUGHTER

FROM INSIDE)

(DAN) This is the happiest day

of my life!

Master Davy, it's Master Davy!

(HAM) Master Davy!

(DAN) Davy boy!

Mr Peggotty, this is Steerforth,

an old friend from school

- You don't look a day older.

- Good to see you after so long.

Why that you two

should come to this here roof

tonight of all nights of my life.

What do you think, then?

What do you think?

Only that this girl,

who I brought up from a baby,

and loved better than a daughter,

only that she's going to be married!

Emily!

(DAN LAUGHS)

My warmest congratulations.

And who is the lucky fellow?

- Ham!

- Who else but Ham?

Two years past, he asked her

and she comes to me

and says she couldn't have him.

"Him that I've known so intimately

all my life," she says.

"And loved like a brother,

I can never have him."

And that was the end of it.

Until tonight, when he comes crying out

to me alljoyful, "She'll be my wife!"

And she says, "Yes, uncle. I've

changed me mind, if you please."

If I please!

I'd lay down my life for Emily.

She's all to me that ever I can want.

There ain't a gentlemen in all the land,

nor yet sailing upon the sea,

that can love his lady

more than I love her.

Ham.

I give you joy. May you always

be as happy as you are tonight.

(STEERFORTH) He's

a chuckle-headed type for the girl

You're not with

Miss Dartle now, Steerforth.

I could see for myself

how much you liked him.

You see clean through me, Daisy.

I am defenceless against you.

Thank you.

Emily!

I'm not good enough for Ham.

I'm cross and changeable with him

when he is never so to me.

Why am I so often harsh when all

I should think of is making him happy?

You do make him happy.

Anyone can see that.

It would have been better

if he'd found someone else.

Ham would rather die

than be with anyone but you.

Don't say that!

I'm not worthy of him!

I should be a hundred times

more thankful for his goodness.

I should feel what a blessed thing it is

to be the wife of a good man

and to lead a peaceful life.

Once you are married, all these

worries and fears will fall away.

- What do you think of her, Daisy?

- She's handsome enough. Why?

I've just bought her.

- But you might never come back.

- I don't know about that.

I find I've taken a fancy to the place.

She must be newly-rigged, though.

I'm leaving Littimer behind

to see it done.

I've decided to give her

a new name - "The Little Em'ly".

(DAVID) All she ever wanted

was to love and be loved in return.

Think on the happy times, Davy.

Not what came after.

I felt many emotions

as I lingered by my mother's grave,

but it was the thought of Dora

that stirred me from my melancholy.

Reflecting on the past, I knew with

certainty that my future lay with her

and that I could not rest

until I had declared myself.

If your poor mother

could see you now,

she'd be that vain her pretty head

would be completely turned.

Goodbye, Peggotty. When I come back,

I'll have important news for you.

- What news?

- I'm going to be married.

Only the lady in question

doesn't know it yet.

- Who is she?

- Dora. Her name's Dora!

My darling boy!

(COACHMAN) Go on!

Steerforth?

I wish to God I had had a judicious father

these last twenty years.

I wish with all my soul

I had been better guided.

I wish I could guide myself better.

- What do you mean?

- Nothing, Daisy, nothing.

I am bad company for myself

sometimes, that is all

If anything should ever separate us,

you must promise me

that you'll think of me at my best.

- Will you do that?

- Why should we ever be separated?

Just promise me, can't you?

Remember me at my best.

Never more would I

touch his hand in friendship,

never more hear his laughter or feel

the warmth of his companionship.

May God forgive you, Steerforth.

I cannot.

My dear Copperfield!

This is luxurious.

A way of life which reminds me

of a period when I was myself a bachelor.

Happy days, now, alas, gone forever.

- Micawber! Have I deserved this?

- Deserved what?

- You wish that we had never married.

- My love!

This is my reward, Mr Copperfield!

- I who will never desert him!

- Forgive me, Emma!

I am a wife and mother,

and I swear I never will desert him.

My dear, no one is urging you

to do anything of the sort, least of all me.

- You don't regret our nuptial vows, then?

- Impossible! Unthinkable!

Oh...

- Sit down, my dear.

- Yes.

Ah! Shall I do the honours,

Copperfield?

Are you aware, Mr Copperfield,

that we are shortly to leave the metropolis

to cast our lot among strangers?

In short, Copperfield,

something has at last turned up.

Where?

I have recently

entered into arrangements

by virtue of which

I stand pledged and contracted

as a confidential clerk

to a mutual friend.

Heep.

A man of remarkable

shrewdness and perspicacity.

I am convinced

Micawber will flourish in a situation

so suited to his fertile resources.

I am sure he will be a judge,

or even a chancellor, one day.

To Copperfield,

the companion of my youth.

And to Heep, my friend and protector.

The time had come to know my fate.

I called on Dora at the first opportunity.

Happiness or misery

was now the question,

and only she

could give the answer to it.

Be quiet, you naughty boy!

I came here today to tell you...

Jip! Quiet, please!

- I came here today to tell you...

- Jip, come back here! Bad boy!

Mr Copperfield!

I came here today

to tell you that I love you.

I have loved you

since the first moment I saw you

and I will always love you.

- We hardly know each other!

- One minute was enough.

I love you, Dora.

With all my heart.

Forgive me.

I shall go now.

Please don't.

Dora...

Aunt! Mr Dick!

I'm ruined.

Betsey Trotwood - I don't mean

your sister, Trot, but myself -

had a certain property and

for years that property did pretty well

and returned good interest.

But her man of business,

being no longer the man

of business he once was,

she took it into her head

to remove it from his hands

and invest it for herself.

First, she lost it in the mining way.

Then she lost it

in the shipping and banking way.

And finally, she lost the lot.

And the least said about it,

soonest mended.

- Is Mr Wickfield to blame for this?

- The blame is entirely my own.

Well, the cottage is let

at 70 pounds per annum,

which is all which we have to live on.

So here we are, my dear Trot.

And you haven't a penny in the world!

What do you have to say to that?

You know I've often

thought about writing.

Mm?

I could work in the mornings

before I go to Doctor's Commons.

- And I have 100 pounds a year.

- Which you should keep for yourself.

- We must meet our reverses boldly.

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