The House Of The Seven Gables Page #4

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Long after the planning of this Will.

The deceased sought to prevent creditors

from seizing the property so ..

He signed the deed of ownership

over to someone else.

Thus this house, its furnishings,

the grounds upon which it stands ..

Became, and still remains .. the legal

property of .. Hepzibah Pyncheon.

Goodbye my dear.

There is infamous trickery behind this.

I'll fight with every legal weapon,

with the Supreme Court if necessary.

My dear sir, surely you can apply your

energies to something more productive.

If my years of legal experience

can serve you ..

Be advised, that you have no more

chance than a .. zephyr in a wind-storm.

Of all the crimes this evil

house has bred in the past ..

None have been so cruel .. so

nakedly shameless as yours ..

You destroyed your brother for it,

a joyous, living human-being.

You exchanged him for rotting timbers.

And depraved dreams of gold.

With all that's beautiful in life ..

You cling to one craven desire ..

this cursed, hateful house!

You'll never have it. I'll live alone

here. I'll pay for my own life.

You'll never again set foot in it!

What was that?

What is the meaning?

I don't know.

Something strange has

happened in that house.

Thank you Ginger.

Let go of me!

Shut up.

You may shut me up, but there are

other voices, thousands of them.

Get in there!

Tell the judge I'm not through. I stand

on my right to free speech and assembly.

Maybe you'll sit down and shut up

before we're through with you.

You'll never be done with me.

The prison hasn't yet been built that

can stifle mankind's cry for freedom.

Do you know why I've

been thrown in here?

For the crime of advocating freedom.

For defending the abolition of slavery.

In a land that was founded 70 years ago

with the blood of freedom-loving people.

Today, those same fighters are

in prison, persecuted, shot.

Can Americans have forgotten so soon?

We abolitionists will remind

them of their heritage.

Thanks.

Perhaps you sir, can

unravel this enigma?

How is it possible to arrest a man

for speaking freely of freedom ..

In a country whose constitution

guarantees freedom?

And justice.

Precisely.

There I was, addressing a meeting which

was disrupted by a band of ruffians.

The result? I am became incited to riot!

And for that, mind you.

I stood before a jury whose verdict was

decided upon before they heard the case.

A judge whose mind was made up

before I could offer my testimony.

And for that, I have been confined

to this foul cell for ten long days.

Thanks.

Ten long days ..

Are you interested in the cause, sir?

The cause of freedom, yes.

Well come in with us. When you

get out of here, join the fight.

I'd be glad to but .. I'm not

sure if I'll ever get out.

Allow me to introduce myself.

My name is Clifford Pyncheon.

I fail to see the humor.

Sorry sir, but you see, it is funny.

For almost two centuries the Pyncheons

lived in fear of my ancestor's curse.

My name sir, is "Matthew Maule".

You don't believe in that nonsense?

No, of course not ..

Good evening Hepzibah.

You're late, Mr Barton.

I expected you yesterday.

My apologies Hepzibah. I

was out of town on business.

But now I am at your service.

Yesterday I had unwelcome news.

Mark Pyncheon, a distant

relative, died a fortnight ago.

Oh, my sympathies.

His daughter is homeless

and without a penny.

It is written that she is arriving

here, to live with me.

Well Hepzibah, a young

girl may brighten your days.

We need affectionate companionship.

I can't afford that luxury.

She may lighten your burden.

Death leaves only an

added burden for the living.

You know, I've barely been

able to support myself.

Letting rooms not a success, huh?

No .. there is just the

young Mr Holgrave.

Oh yes, that's the young man that makes

the new-fangled pictures upstairs.

About this child .. with her to care

for, I will need more money.

When does she arrive?

I don't know. Perhaps immediately.

There is but one solution .. trade.

Trade?

I shall convert the front

room into a cent-shop.

But .. but you can't Hepzibah.

It's just impossible.

Selling cookies and

cider .. a gentlewoman ..

Trading in pickles.

The outlay will be negligible.

The rent free.

The child will help me run the

shop and thus maintain herself.

Have you discussed this idea

with .. with Mr Holgrave?

Mr Holgrave? .. Why?

Well .. a gentleman might not like

his lodgings over a cent-shop.

I shall inform him at once.

Thank you for coming over.

Let me advance you enough money

to prevent this rush into trade.

No thank you Mr Barton .. I've accepted

too many kindnesses from you already.

You are a very obstinate girl, Hepzibah.

[ door knocks ]

Come in.

Forgive this intrusion Mr Holgrave.

Intrusion?

Why, a visit from you is a

rare and honored occasion.

I came to give you sufficient notice.

You may care to give up your lodgings.

You aren't giving up the house?

I will convert the parlor into a shop.

The place will no longer

be suited for a gentleman.

Well, the matter is easily

settled Miss Pyncheon.

I am no gentleman, neither

by birth nor by instinct.

Your conduct has always

let me to believe you were.

I speak frankly, Miss Hepzibah

for surely we are friends.

This decision marks a

new epic in your life.

Hitherto, the lifeblood has been

chilling in your veins as you sit aloof.

While the rest of the world

was fighting out its battle.

The moment you start to work ..

and become engaged with people.

You'll have the sense of

contributing .. however little ..

To the struggle of mankind.

And that .. not money, is the

only success there is in life.

Such ideas .. have not been

voiced in this house ..

For many years.

You'll hear them again Miss Hepzibah.

[ door knocks ]

Well, a visitor .. Seven Gables

is coming to life tonight.

Perhaps I should say .. life

is coming into Seven Gables.

The honorable Jaffrey Pynchon ..

preserved for posterity.

Good evening.

Come in.

I ..

I'm Phoebe Pyncheon ..

you're cousin Hepzibah.

Yes.

I'm sorry about your father.

Welcome to Seven Gables.

This room connects with mine.

To have so invited myself

into your home is ..

Is an unforgivable intrusion.

Had you another place to go?

No cousin Hepzibah.

Well then ..

Didn't I say you were welcome?

Oh yes, cousin Hepzibah. Thank you.

I shall prove no burden to you. My

fingers are nimble with a needle.

I shall relieve you of all kitchen

chores and be as helpful as I can.

I plan to open a cent-shop.

A cent-shop?

I can help. I can run it for you cousin

Hepzibah. I know all about such things.

Once at a fair I had a table .. everyone

said my wares were wondrously displayed.

My receipts were the highest of all.

Oh, you will let me help, won't you?

Won't you?

Yes.

Oh, cousin Hepzibah.

You will find an extra comforter in the

wardrobe, should the night turn chilly.

Goodnight cousin Hepzibah.

Goodnight.

Very good.

Splendid.

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