The Old Curiosity Shop Page #4

If only I'd gone on for a little bit longer.

My luck Would have turned' I knoW it.

Lose today' Win tomorroW.

HoW much money have We got left?

If We spend the money made at the fair'

enough to eat and sleep Well tonight.

What about the money

I gave you for safekeeping?

It's here.

Good.

(Thunder)

(Clinking)

(Door creaks' closes)

Ah! (Laughs)

Gentlemen' let us gamble.

For everything.

(Man) Ooh!

- (Neighing)

- (Quilp) Lend a hand here!

Bags! Careful!

Morning' sir.

Here you are' sir.

(Slurring) I hope you've had

a very pleasant journey' sir'

and I Wish you a very pleasant stay' sir.

This Way' sir.

Top of the stairs' sir.

(Birdsong)

(Sighs) Nectar.

Hello' there.

Don't look so startled' I'm being friendly.

Who Won the Helter-Skelter horse race?

- The Helter-Skelter' ma'am?

- Yes' child.

The Helter-Skelter horse race at the fair.

- Horse...

- We don't knoW' ma'am.

Don't knoW? But you Were there.

I saW you With my own eyes' yesterday.

You Were in the company of a Mr. Punch.

A very loW and vulgar Wretch.

I think you may have been mistaken' ma'am.

(Coughs) I mistake nothin'' child.

You Were Workin' With two...showmen.

Do you knoW the two gentlemen' ma'am?

No.

Do I look like I'd mingle

With the likes of the puppetry trade?

We beg your pardon' ma'am.

Granted. Granted.

Still' I can understand you being ashamed

of Working With such vagabonds.

Come back here.

Come' come. Close' I say.

You'd better have some breakfast.

You both look like you're in need of it.

An old man and a girl' you say?

Yes' sir. They left Without payin'.

(Muffled) Disgustin'.

(Belches)

Salt.

What direction did they go' landlord?

I've no idea' sir' more's the pity.

Just up and left.

Well...

It's bad manners.

Quite.

Eat and drink as much as you like.

Don't spare anything.

It's a lovely knuckle of ham.

HoW do you find it' Grandfather?

Very tasty' ma'am. Mm!

What kind of business are you in' ma'am?

Read that' child.

- Jarley's Waxworks?

- Aye.

That is me.

I am the World-famous Mrs. Jarley.

Jarley's is the delight of the nobility'

and of the royal family.

Oh' yes. They've all patronized me.

Do you...Do you knoW?

I've never seen a Waxworks ma'am.

Is it funnier than Punch and Judy?

Funnier' sir? HoW dare you?

- My collection' sir' is not funny.

- Oh' please forgive me.

No jokings and squawkings

like your rickety-booth players. No' no.

Jarley's hysterical and famous Waxworks

is exhibiting at the Royal Assembly Rooms.

Ah.

I dare say We'd like to visit' ma'am.

- But I'm not certain.

- No' We are poor people' ma'am.

We have no Work as yet and I only Wish We had.

You amaze me more and more.

NoW' What line are you in?

What do you...What do you call yourselves?

- Beggars.

- (Splutters) Nell!

Beggars? Oh! Oh' pass me the teapot.

Do my eyes' nose and ears deceive me?

But you can read and that' Well' that's a mercy.

And Write too' I shouldn't Wonder.

Of course.

You'll journey With me today' I hope?

Grandfather?

But that's marvelous' marvelous.

And in the meanwhile'

We'll talk about finding you

some respectable employment.

(Pouring)

You're browned by the sun' I see.

Have you been traveling far?

Pretty nigh all over the West Country' sir.

I've talked to travelers and fairground folk

from most parts of England

but none from the West Country.

I pray you can help me

With the information I'm seeking.

- We'll do our best' sir.

- You can depend upon us' sir.

Especially...

- If you make it Worth our While...

- Sir.

(Footsteps)

(Door opens)

Been at Workhouse.

D'you see this?

Right. Don't say you never get

any meat here.

Thank you' miss.

Don't answer back.

(Clicking)

You knoW them' the old man and child?

Tell me' Where are they?

Here.

Sovereign apiece.

Er... Hm...

(Coughs)

(Clinking)

- Thank you' sir.

- Much obliged' sir.

- Where are they?

- The last time We saW them'

- the old man and the girl...

- They Were traveling in that direction...

There!

- Do you knoW Where they've gone' sir?

- I think I do' ma'am.

And it's my hope to travel

to the old gentleman and child today.

But first I need to ask...

- Will you let your son come With me?

- Me' sir?

I'm not sure the old gentleman

Will Want to see me.

Your presence' Kit'

Would assure Nell of my friendly intentions.

Why shouldn't he Want to see you' sir?

There Was a disagreement

between us a long time ago

Which has banished us

from meeting for many years.

- You been away' sir?

- Yes' ma'am.

- I made my fortune living abroad.

- But We still don't knoW Who you are' sir.

Why should We trust you if you Won't say?

- I cannot say.

- (Sighs) Then my son cannot help you' sir.

Very Well.

If I Were to tell you my full history...

perhaps then you might help me.

Perhaps We may' sir.

(Applause)

(Nell) Ladies and gentlemen.

Mary' Queen of Scotland'

you have been found guilty of high treason.

You must take your punishment

before the great British public.

(Drum roll)

(Audience gasps' applauds)

Here' sir. Yours and the child's Wages.

Is anything the matter' sir?

(Splutters) No. No' ma'am.

- Another game' perhaps?

- You've taken all the money I have.

- You are your own master' I hope?

- NoW' don't jest With me' sir.

Could always borroW some' I suppose.

BorroW?

And When you're able' pay it back again.

And Who do you propose

that I should borroW from?

Well...

If the good lady Who keeps

the Waxworks has money

and keeps it' I believe'

in a tin box under her bed...

- but does not lock her door for fear of fire...

- You mean rob Mrs. Jarley' sir?

BorroW' sir.

BorroW.

Where's the harm in that?

Think about it' sir.

The delights of bright' shining golden coins

clinking into your pocket.

Money' sir.

Winning...sir.

Game of cards' sir?

Nell?

What are you doing here?

Mm? Is there something Wrong?

Do you think...

gentlemen Who spend

their time playing cards are honest men?

Why do you ask?

Why shouldn't they be honest men?

I lost some money While staying at the inn.

Unless it Was taken by somebody'

only in jest.

Who Would take money in jest?

Those Who take it' take it to keep.

Then it Was stolen.

Wasn't it?

Well...

Tell nobody about it

and perhaps We'll find it again.

All the losses that Were ever made

are not Worth any tears.

Why should they be...

When I can Win them back again?

I had a dreadful dream.

A dream of an old man in a darkened room'

robbing sleepers of their gold.

No' child.

- No.

- Yes.

The dream Was real.

Too real.

We must leave here

before that dream comes true again.

- No. Nell' no' I...

- Yes' Grandfather.

We must.

(Mrs' Jarley) l can't understand it, sir

Nell and her grandfather have vanished

like Winter smoke off an old maid's chimney.

Why should they do that' ma'am? By your

accounts they Were happy and content here.

I'd like to think so but you can never tell

With travelers. They have restless souls.

- Any idea Where they might have gone?

- I'm afraid not. That poor girl.

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