David Copperfield

---

"Like many fine parents,

I have in my heart of hearts,

A favorite child,

And his name is David Copperfield."

David Copperfield The Younger

Chapter 1:
I am born.

Mrs. David Copperfield, I think.

Yes.

Miss Trotwood.

You've heard of her, I dare say?

I... I've had that pleasure.

Now you see her.

Eh, come in.

Don't do that!

Come, come!

Why, bless my soul, you're a very baby.

I'm old enough to be a widow.

And a mother, if I live.

I'm all a tremble,

I shall die, I'm sure.

Nonsense, have some tea.

Oh, dear me.

David Copperfield was

my favorite nephew.

I'm afraid to admit that

I was mortally offended

When he married without consent of me

to a wet dull, like her.

Of course, I'd never seen you.

Now that there's a child coming,

what will you call your gal?

Perhaps it will be a boy.

Don't contradict.

I have a presentiment it'll be a girl.

And I shall be her godmother.

She shall be christened Betsey Trotwood

Copperfield.

She must be well brought up.

I shall see to that.

Far better than my impractical Nephew

would have done.

Mr. Copperfield has been dead

only six months.

It is cruel of you to speak

unkindly of him to me.

Peggotty... Peg...

My lamb, my lamb, my precious.

I'll fetch the doctor.

Come come come, don't dodder.

Fetch the doctor.

My lamb, my baby,

Peggotty is here, my sweet.

I beg your pardon, ma'am.

I say, I beg your pardon...

I beg your pardon, ma'am.

This is Dr. Chillip.

Dr. Chillip.

I am happy to congratulate you.

All is well over, and well over.

Mercy on the man, what's he doing.

Can't he speak?

Some local irritation, ma'am.

Fiddlesticks! How is she?

Well, as comfortable as one can

expect a young mother to be.

The baby, how is she?

She?

I apprehended you had known.

It's a boy.

A boy!

David...

David...

Poor father.

How Ionely and dark it must be

for him at night,

While we're at home by the fire.

David.

I would have you, if you will,

assume with me into to

The greatest eternally lovely qualities

of charity.

I hope, and indeed I know,

having lived among you all

For so many years.

But it is not an unknown thing,

a quality foreign to many of you.

And yet, how well also I know,

that you may,

In the difficulties of your daily life,

Find that the qualities of charity

Aren't always so easy,

so ready to observe.

As one may suggest today...

That man, he looks like

the black panther in my animal book,

Mother.

Hush dear.

You'll frighten mothers.

"In the early summer months,

the streams run dry.

The crocodile, hmmm...

Sets out for new waters foreign to men.

But if the stream merely becomes lower,

It buries itself in the mud

and waits for rain."

Bed, Master David?

Mommy promised me I had to wait up.

I'm not sleepy.

Were you ever married, Peggotty?

Heck, no.

You are a very handsome woman,

aren't you?

Ha, me handsome Davy?

Ha, no...

Oh, drat them buttons.

Now, read me more

about them crocindills.

Some sort of a vegetable, isn't it?

Ma'ma!

Mama, I waited up.

I knew you would, my darling.

This little fellow is highly privileged.

Why, dear!

Dear little boy,

I cannot wonder at his devotion.

David, you shouldn't be rude.

Mr. Murdstone went through

so much trouble to bring me home.

Let us say goodnight, my fine boy.

Goodnight.

Hahahaha, come come.

Let us be the best of friends.

Why David, that's the wrong hand.

No no no no, a brave little fellow.

Goodnight.

Goodnight.

Oh Mother, you do look pretty tonight.

Do I darling?

Hope you had a pleasant evening, ma'am.

Much obliged to you, Peggotty,

I had a very pleasant evening.

A stranger or so makes an agreeable change.

No, no, it won't do.

No price would make it do, no way.

How can you be so aggravated,

you cruel thing?

Not such on as this,

Mr. Copperfield wouldn't have liked.

That I say and that I swear!

Good heavens, you'll drive me mad!

Was ever any poor girl so ill-used

by her servants as I am.

What have you got against Mr. Murdstone?

Is it to be hinted that

I'm lacking in affection

For my precious treasure?

The dearest little fellow that ever was.

Nobody never went and

hinted no such thing.

I'm a naughty mama to you, Davy.

I'm a nasty, cruel, selfish, bad mama.

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

Yes you do...

I never meant to hurt you ma'am.

I never meant to.

Master David?

Yes, Peggotty?

How would you like to spend a fortnight

with me at my brothers'

At Yarmouth?

It would just be a treat.

Is your brother an agreeable man,

Peggotty?

Ah, what an agreeable man he is.

He's a fisherman.

Oh I say, Peggotty.

Oh, and there are the boats and the sea.

Oh oh, but Peggotty,

what will mama do while We're away?

She can't live in this big room

all by herself.

Oh bless you.

Don't you know?

Why, she's going to stay with friends.

Oh'hoho, she'll have plenty of company.

If that's it, I'm ready to go.

Splended, now off to bed.

Goodbye my love.

Goodbye, mother.

Take precious care of him, Peggotty.

What do you think?

Take care of yourself, ma'am.

Drive very safely,

won't you dear Mr. Barkis.

Bye, ma'am!

Goodbye mama!

Goodbye, ma'am!

Goodbye mama, goodbye!

Goodbye, darling!

Goodbye. Goodbye.

Goodbye, David!

Goodbye, mama, goodbye. Goodbye.

Goodbye, my love!

Goodbye.

Oh, there's my Am!

Growed out of all knowledge!

Am!

Hi!

Am! So good to see ya!

How are ya?

Who's that one?

That's Ham, her nephew.

Oh.

No sweethearts, I believe?

What?

No person courting.

Oh no, no.

Ahh.

Well, when you was talking

to her private,

Perhaps you'd tell her

that Barkis is willing.

That Barkis is willing.

Is that all the message?

Well, y... y... ya... yes.

Barkis is willing.

Very well, Mr. Barkis.

I'll tell her.

Yon's our house, Master Davy.

Put me down.

Ooo, it's a real boat

that's been in the water.

Yes.

But it's upside down. Hahahaha.

Well, it's all so delightful.

See the pretty dears.

Well, I made it, so how are you?

Hah ha, Lass!

Ahh, Daniel.

Well sir, I'm glad to see you sir.

Very glad.

You'll find us rough, sir.

But you'll find us ready.

Haa ha, how's my little Emily?

Ha ha ha, blue like your eyes, my pretty.

That come in a big boat

all the way from France.

Thank you!

Oh, drat that chimney.

I am a Ione lorn creature,

and... and everything

Goes contrary with me.

Oh, it'll soon leave off poor girl.

It's the same for all of us.

But I feel it more.

Oh, oh, I've got a visitation

in the back!

Oh, mmm, it's the creeps.

Too bad, too bad.

Oh, I ain't what I wish myself to be,

am I?

I'd better go in

the poor house and die,

And be a riddance.

She's been thinking of the old one.

Mr. Peggotty.

Yes sir?

Did you give you son the name Ham

Because you lived in a sort of ark?

No sir, t'was given by his father,

my brother

Joe.

Dead, Mr. Peggotty?

Drown dead.

But little Emily, Mr. Peggotty,

she's your daughter, isn't she?

No sir. My brother-in-law,

Tom, was her father.

Dead, Mr. Peggotty?

Drown dead.

Haven't you any children, Mr. Peggotty?

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