The Iron Lady Page #17

Blue Revisions dated 11th June 2012 90.

DICKENS:

I have agreed to fifty more

readings.

NELLY:

Where?

DICKENS:

Glasgow, Manchester, Dublin. I

have been asked to give a reading

in Paris.

NELLY:

Shall I join you?

The SILENCE hangs-

DICKENS:

There are whisperings-

NELLY:

Where?

DICKENS:

In Paris. And if they are in

Paris then they will soon be in

London. Forster and Wilkie are

concerned. I have been out of

circulation-

On NELLY

NELLY:

You must go.

DICKENS:

It is what I am, Nelly.

NELLY:

To the world, yes Charles but to

me..

NELLY suddenly concedes, cupping his face, smothering him

with kisses-

NELLY (CONT’D)

...So much more.

DICKENS reaches for his pen, in search of paper.

DICKENS:

No..No..Then I shall not go.

NELLY:

No..No..You shall.

DICKENS:

No..My mind is quite made up.

Blue Revisions dated 11th June 2012 91.

NELLY:

You will. Paris.

(with a smile)

Paris. How wonderful.

NELLY, playful, close to him.

NELLY (CONT’D)

(close to)

How can you not?

85 INT. PARLOUR/LIBRARY SCHOOLHOUSE. MARGATE. DAY. 1885. 85

A darkened study the lamps not yet lit-

A fire glowing in the hearth, casting its light across the

fading darkness of the room.

CLOSE ON NELLY as she sits in the half light-

The shelves of books, endless copies of Dickens Novels,

Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, Edwin Drood and beyond

until-

A DOORBELL RINGS far off-

FOOTSTEPS passing the study door, rising and falling as they

dissolve far off-

NELLY reaches up, her fingers pulling out a copy of The

Frozen Deep-

SUDDENLY a door opens, MARY enters-

MARY:

Sorry, Ma’am. I didn’t see you

there.

NELLY:

It is quite alright Mary.

MARY goes to light the lamp.

NELLY (CONT’D)

I will do it.

MARY hesitates, nods, makes to withdraw-

MARY:

Is there anything else, Ma’am. The

Guests will be arriving shortly and

the glasses are not yet laid.

NELLY:

That is everything.

Blue Revisions dated 11th June 2012 92.

MARY nods, exits. NELLY looks down at the book in her hand.

She opens it-

The open book, a dark curl of baby hair, pressed between the

pages.

NELLY’s finger hesitantly touches it

86 INT. BEDROOM. HOUSE. BOULOGNE. FRANCE. 1865. DAY. 86

CLOSE UP ON A bloodied STILLBORN BABY

NELLY lies on a bed, exhausted from the birth.

SUDDENLY the MIDWIFE, comes into view, brusquely wrapping the

STILLBORN CHILD in a cloth and picking it up, to take away.

She walks across the room-

DICKENS at once, stops her, reaching out a hand. He fumbles

in his pocket for a small pen knife, and then-

CLOSE UP ON DICKENS’ HANDS, FINGERS GRAZING the STILLBORN

CHILD’s head, taking a dark lock between his thumb and

forefinger and very gently cutting off a few strands of hair.

The MIDWIFE hesitates, taking the STILLBORN BABY away-

DICKENS goes over to NELLY, gently placing the locks in her

hand. He closes her fingers around it.

The DOCTOR has been standing close by-

DOCTOR:

(in French)

I am sorry. Even if they are

born perfect in every other way.

It happens.

The DOCTOR holds out a pen for DICKENS to sign the

certificate.

DOCTOR (CONT’D)

(in French)

Someone must sign. It is

necessary.

DICKENS hesitates, looks at NELLY.

DICKENS:

(in French)

He will be buried?

DOCTOR:

(in French)

Yes. Of course. Yes.

Blue Revisions dated 11th June 2012 93.

EXTREME CLOSE UP on DICKENS HANDS as he signs Monsieur

Tringham on the death certificate.

87 INT. PARLOUR/LIBRARY. SCHOOLHOUSE. MARGATE. NIGHT. 1885. 87

NELLY closes the book shut, putting it back on the

shelf.

AUDIBLE SOUNDS OF PREPARATIONS FROM DEEP WITHIN THE HOUSE-

The sound of last minute music practise, the occasional shout

of boys, the fleeting snatch of conversation, MARY passing

the doorway outside. The sound of a SCHOOLBOY singing just

audible-

NELLY stands, the sense of the sea in the late afternoon

light through the window.

88 EXT. FIELD. FRANCE. 1865. DUSK. 88

Dusk-

ON NELLY’s face, etched with absolute desolation. She stands

barefooted in the stream.

89 INT. CORRIDOR. HOUSE. BOULOGNE. FRANCE. 1865. DAY. 89

Dawn-

DICKENS picking up a manuscript of Our Mutual Friend, from

a table as he moves on.

NELLY stands in her coat and hat, the light from the open

doorways, slowly dimming to darkness as shutters are closed

by a MAID. DICKENS packs the last of his things, close by.

DICKENS:

Have you left the keys on the

table?

NELLY absently nods.

DICKENS (CONT’D)

Only I promised Monsieur

Duboit..There is a very nice

family from Rouen who wish to

winter here.

DICKENS passes her.

DICKENS (CONT’D)

Nelly?

The distant shutters, closing, sinking them into darkness

Blue Revisions dated 11th June 2012 94.

DICKENS (CONT’D)

Say something.

(silence)

SAY SOMETHING!

NELLY silent until-

She caves, her body suddenly overwhelmed with grief, DICKENS

looking on, unable to help her, wanting to but stricken by

the overwhelming pain and grief that he sees. Her sobs

audible, fighting her way out of this agony. Her tears at

last subsiding, she slowly gathers herself.

NELLY:

We shall miss our train.

90 EXT. PLATFORM. FOLKESTONE STATION. KENT. 1865. DAY. 90

The swirl of steam and swell of COMMUTERS hurrying along a

platform past a STATION GUARD-

STATION GUARD:

(calling out)

All passengers arrived from France

this train for London.

DICKENS reaching out to help NELLY onto the train, gloved

hands briefly touch, NELLY nearly misses her footing. NELLY

quietly reassuring, DICKENS following her on the train-

A TICKET COLLECTOR punches their tickets-

TICKET COLLECTOR

My wife says she should marry

Rokesmith and be done.

DICKENS smiles, clutching a sheaf of papers, blotted with

familiar scrawl, title Our Mutual Friend just visible.

DICKENS:

Perhaps the next chapter.

The squawk of gulls overhead.

91 INT. CARRIAGE. TRAIN. NEAR STAPLEHURST. KENT. DAY. 1865. 91

The TEARING STEADY RHYTHM OF TRAIN WHEELS AGAINST STEEL AND

TRACK-

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