The Iron Lady Page #4

MORE LAUGHTER:

DICKENS (CONT’D)

Then the scene plays as is.

DICKENS directing from his dying pose.

DICKENS (CONT’D)

Do not be afraid to project. We

have over 2,000 seats.

(shouting out)

Catherine, do say if you cannot

hear us.

CATHERINE just visible perched on a seat looks up, not

listening, somewhat bemused. CLOSE by her sister

GEORGINA and the DICKENS CHILDREN, watching

appreciatively.

CATHERINE:

(distracted)

What?

GEORGINA:

(calling back)

We can hear you very well, Charles.

Blue Revisions dated 11th June 2012 17.

DICKENS:

Very good. Everyone speak up.

Maria, you take me in your arms.

MARIA:

Richard, dear Richard, look

at your old playmate.

DICKENS:

Then music-

MR BERGER at the piano to the side of the stage, begins to

play-

DICKENS (CONT’D)

Not yet Berger. I am just marking

through the cues... which lasts

until the curtain has fallen by

which time I am nearly dead. Then

we kiss. Then gun. BANG! Then

(looking to NELLY)

Epilogue-?

NELLY looks up, in waiting-

DICKENS (CONT’D)

Epilogue.

NELLY walks forward a little, clutching a few pages of

script.

NELLY:

This is a tale of woe. This

is a tale of sorrow. A love

denied. A love restored to

live beyond tomorrow. Lest

we think silence is the

place to hide a heavy heart,

remember to love and be

loved is life itself.

Without which we are nought.

NELLY quietly captivating, a little nervous yet oddly

touching, DICKENS momentarily lost until-

MRS TERNAN:

(hushed aside)

Maybe a little louder, Nelly.

DICKENS turns, addresses all-

DICKENS:

The curtain closes. Loud applause.

Yet audible the crying of 2,000.

Bravo. Bravo. I suggest a full

dress rehearsal in two hours time.

Thank you gentleman

Blue Revisions dated 11th June 2012 18.

DICKENS eyes flick to NELLY.

DICKENS (CONT’D)

Thank you ladies.

The COMPANY of ACTORS already dissolving, lost in their

conversation as they head off to dressing rooms and costume

fittings.

COLLINS:

Oh Charles, your last speech I

think could benefit from cutting.

DICKENS:

You think so?

COLLINS:

I do.

DICKENS:

(deflecting)

Catherine-?

CATHERINE looks up barely listening.

COLLINS:

Shall we discuss it?

DICKENS:

Yes. Later.

COLLINS, shakes his head, concedes. DICKENS reaches for a

small flask of brandy in his coat pocket, swigs, sees NELLY

alone, the Arctic landscape behind.

DICKENS (CONT’D)

(almost to himself)

She has something.

COLLINS noting DICKENS quiet distraction, looking on. NELLY

disappearing into the scenery of the Frozen Deep.

12 INT. ONSTAGE. FREE TRADE HALL. MANCHESTER.1857. NIGHT. 12

A weeping MARIA, her face stained with tears, DICKENS in her

arms, swathed in rags, beard, grey and powdery, dying in

MARIA’s arms, illuminated on stage by a row of lit gaslights,

as the play comes to its end.

MR LEMON kneels down close to a dying DICKENS as he lies in

MARIA’s arms, her body shuddering with tears.

DICKENS reaches out a hand, patting MR LEMON’s arm in final

embrace.

Blue Revisions dated 11th June 2012 19.

DICKENS:

Come nearer! My mind clears,

but my eyes grow dim. You willremember me kindly for Frank’s

sake? Poor Frank! Why does hehide his face?

MR EGG looks away, his face streaming with tears.

DICKENS (CONT’D)

Is he crying?

Just seen beyond in the wings, some of the ACTORS andSTAGEHANDS watching, NELLY amongst them, all held in theabsolute moment, NELLY watching DICKENS with a quietintensity-

DICKENS (CONT’D)

Nearer Clara - I want to look

my last at you. My sister,

Clara! Kiss me Sister, kiss me

before I die.

MARIA kisses DICKENS-

Just visible in the wings, a STAGE HAND sets light togunpowder, mimicking the blast of a ships gun/cannon.

NELLY, lost in DICKENS’ performance, oblivious to the

curtain sweeping closed-

MRS TERNAN:

(urgent/hushed inpassing)

Nelly..Nelly..

NELLY hurries on stage, to deliver her epilogue.

13 INT. AUDITORIUM. FREE TRADE HALL. MANCHESTER. 1857.

NIGHT.

13

THUNDEROUS APPLAUSEDICKENS,

arms outstretched at the front of the stage,

leading his cast in triumphant encore-

MARIA flushed and beaming, DICKENS presenting her

centre stage-

NELLY looking on, bashfully happy. She sees DICKENSsmiling at her down the line.

14 INT. DRAWING ROOM. HOTEL. MANCHESTER. 1857. NIGHT. 14

DICKENS, FINGERS TREMULOUS ON PIANO KEYS

Blue Revisions dated 11th June 2012 20.

DICKENS:

..Queen Victoria...

DICKENS BANGS HIS FINGERS ON THE KEYS.

COLLINS:

Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and

Gothanburg!

COLLINS BY DICKENS SIDE BANGS FURTHER ALONG THE KEYBOARD

DICKENS:

King Leopold I of Belgium!

AND AGAIN, DICKENS FINGERS BANG ON KEYS THEN TREMULOUS THIS

BACK AND FORTH OF FINGER BANGING GOES ON

COLLINS:

Prince Frederick!

DICKENS:

Hans Christian Anderson!

COLLINS:

William Thackeray!!!

FINGERS BANG, BANG AND BANG AGAIN BASHING OUT IMPROMPTU

FANFARE!

DICKENS:

No, No I am sorry, it is not

enough that we should play before

these mere mortals...

DICKENS smiles, his audience enwrapped as he once more

BANGS THE PIANO KEYS

DICKENS (CONT’D)

It is Manchester who have given

us the highest accolade. It is

Manchester whose approval I have

looked to. And it is Manchester

who has surely bestowed tonight’s

success. Friends we are

victorious!

And at once DICKENS and COLLINS playing, a madcap,

joyful duet. MISS SABINE hovering close by. Yet DICKENS

too busy for anyone is lost in fun, playing on with

COLLINS as all break into lively spontaneous dancing.

MAMEY and KATEY, GEORGINA HOGARTH in the mix.

MR LEMON scoops up NELLY in passing. NELLY laughing,

lost in a mad dance with MARIA and OTHERS. DICKENS,

knocking back another drink, foot silently tapping

against the floor, quietly revelling. His eyes briefly

meet with NELLY, both lost in the sheer joy of it all.

Blue Revisions dated 11th June 2012 21.

DICKENS suddenly stands, behind MR EGG, moving his arms

and legs almost as if a puppet master with his puppet.

DICKENS (CONT’D)

Come come, Augustus you must

dance and have no notion of

walking.

Mr EGG reluctantly concedes as DICKENS forces him, gaily

onto the dance floor.

14A INT. DRAWING ROOM. HOTEL. MANCHESTER. 1857. NIGHT. 14A

The ENTIRE COMPANY gathered around the piano. BERGER plays

Three Fishes as they sing. DICKENS at the heart, enjoying the

company in full song.

15 INT. CORRIDOR. HOTEL. MANCHESTER. 1857. NIGHT. 15

NELLY stands to one side of the room, flushed and

exhausted.

DICKENS stands performing some kind of mesmerizing/

hypnosis trick on MISS SABINE who sits opposite DICKENS,

making the room still as he works with MISS SABINE

DICKENS:

Now raise your arms Miss

Sabine. Very slowly.

MISS SABINE raises her arms, all compelled to watch.

NELLY:

It is remarkable.

NELLY looks up, sees CATHERINE, standing on the

periphery.

CATHERINE:

(with a smile)

One of his magic tricks.

CATHERINE’s eyes graze over NELLY, letting an awkward

silence hang-

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