Nicholas Nickleby Page #3

I hate him like poison!

Where is Smike? We need wood.

He's with Mr. Nickleby. | He waits on him hand and foot.

He must not have enough to do.

We must think of how better | to occupy our Smike.

They are so hard on me.

But for you...

they would kill me.

I fear they may be killing you because of me.

You will do better when I am gone.

Gone?

Are you going?

I would go tomorrow if I could.

Tell me...

is the world as bad as this place?

Oh, no.

Should I ever meet you there?

- Why, yes, I'm sure at some... | - No.

Tell me.

Tell me that I should be sure to find you.

You would.

And I would help you and aid you...

and not bring fresh sorrow on you, | as I have done here.

He is not here, sir!

Show yourself!

Who knows where he is?

Please, sir, I think he's run away.

And what possible reason | would any boy have...

to run away from my establishment?

Do you think he's run away?

I hope so!

Squeery...

we best go find him.

But if you lift one finger...

to stop what's about to begin...

you and I will fall out in a way...

that will spoil your beauty.

Take pattern by Smike if you dare, boys!

You'll see what he'll get for hisself | when he's brought back.

For brought back he will be.

You go the north way, Squeery, | I'll take the west.

Mr. Squeers!

Please!

I beg you, forgive the boy! | He is not in his right mind.

That will soon be the least of his problems.

Father, please don't let them find him.

If they do, let him be dead...

his last breath a free one.

Does he have him? Is it Smike?

Is she back with him?

Then you do not have him.

Thank God.

Squeery!

We have him!

Is every boy here?

Get back!

And you.

Have you anything to say?

Please, sir, spare me.

I'll spare you.

I'll flog you to within an inch of your life, | and I'll spare you then.

Stop!

This must not go on.

I will not allow it.

You dare to challenge my authority!

Stay back!

Touch him at your peril!

I will not stand by and see it done.

You will do as you're told!

If you raise the devil within me, the | consequences shall fall on your own head!

Once I begin, God help you!

Stop!

No, please, wait!

I do not know why, | but I am going to show you...

what you have never shown any boy | in this room.

Pity.

Wait. I say, wait!

I've come from the schoolhouse.

Mr. Squeers says he was attacked. | Beaten, and nearly senseless.

When he said it was thee who did it, | I knew thee must not be allowed to leave...

We will not be stopped!

...without my shaking your hand, | and saying to thee, "Job well done."

Give us thee hand, will you?

Whoever heard the like of it?

I only wish...

I could've been there to see it myself.

What do thee mean to do now?

- I don't know. | - How much cash has thee got?

- Not much. But I'll find... | - Take what you need.

- I could not. | - Please.

Every boy in that room | would add to it if he could.

Thank you.

Here, and take this bit of timber, too, | to help thee on.

You keep a good heart.

God bless thee!

Beating the schoolmaster!

God, it's the best thing | I've heard in 20 years.

Tomorrow...

where will you go?

Perhaps to Liverpool.

I could find work on a ship.

Do not be anxious.

Before I do anything, | I will get you to your home.

Where is it?

You are my home.

Smike!

Please, may I go with you to the sea?

I will be your faithful, | hard-working servant. I will.

I promise I will.

I want only to be near you.

The word which separates us | shall never be said by me.

And I promise you, from this night forward...

the world shall deal by you as it does by me.

Do you have a family...

or are you alone, as I am?

I have a mother and a sister.

Dear God!

If he has sent me here, | what has he done to Kate?

I'm grateful that you came.

It is a boon to a single man...

to have such a lady as yourself | for my hostess.

I know little of how these things | are done in London.

Surely one of the other ladies | would be more adept.

You are the only lady present.

By the time I was finished, | she couldn't escape.

Have you thought about the investment | I brought you?

It has its merits and its risks.

You know, Nickleby, I've noticed | you never seem to touch your wine...

while we drink and drink.

I like to keep a clear head.

Yet you pour us so much.

I must say, it is a pleasure | having your niece with us.

He must have designed that, too, | to soften you into speculating.

If I could see someone | as winning as Miss Nickleby...

when I talk business with her uncle...

I can think of no other place | I'd rather talk business.

No other place on Earth.

Hear, hear!

Gentlemen, I feel | we are boring Miss Nickleby.

Look, she can barely raise her eyes.

The poor dear girl simply cannot understand | why no one here is making love to her.

She gasps! I have uncovered her secret.

You misunderstand me.

In fact, I'll hold any man 50...

that Miss Nickleby can't look in my face | and tell me that she wasn't thinking so.

Done!

Pray, do not make me the subject of bets.

Uncle, please!

Why not, if the gentlemen insist?

It's a minute's work.

Just lift your eyes and tell me that | you're not hoping I would make love to you.

Get your money ready, gentlemen.

She's not going to say it, | because she wants me to make love to her.

Can you, girl?

Can you say that you don't wish me | to make love to you?

Hush, my dear.

Don't mind it, now.

Then let me go.

Let me leave this place.

You must dry your eyes first.

Let me raise your head.

There.

Uncle...

what have I done | that you should subject me to this?

I didn't know it would be so.

Can you remember | when you first came to Mr. Squeers'?

Surely you did not | find your way there alone?

I could not have.

I was brought by a small, withered man.

I was afraid of him.

But then they made me more afraid of them.

Tremendous. Positively tremendous.

That'll be a double encore | if you take care, boys!

Don't you concur? | Was that not the very picture of excitement?

It was very good.

- Although... | - Although?

They might be better matched | in terms of size.

How are you to get up the sympathies | of the audience...

if there isn't a little man | contending against a bigger one?

I confess, I had not considered that.

We have had a long day's walk | without much...

Without much?

Food.

Dear me.

Let it never be said | that any man went hungry here or here...

when he was with Vincent Crummles.

Boys, set the table at once!

We shall adjourn to the dining room.

My friend and I | shall try for a berth on a ship.

Does no other profession suggest itself | to a young man of your figure and bearing?

- I think the sea offers a great many... | - What about the stage?

- The stage? | - The theatrical profession!

I am in the theatrical profession myself. | My wife is in the theatrical profession.

My children are in the theatrical profession.

I had a dog that lived and died in it...

and the pony that pulled us here today | is third generation.

His mother could fire a pistol...

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