The Old Curiosity Shop Page #5

What Will become of her?

I did have my suspicions about

the old gentleman's state of mind.

He seemed' Well' rather agitated at times.

A caring man for the child' no doubt' sir.

- But not happy Within himself. He's a...

- A liar and a thief.

Good heavens! What you doin''

hidin' behind Mrs. Fanny Firkins?

Do you Want to cause us all a fright?

My heart is thumping' sir!

- Good day' sir. We meet again.

- What is your business here' Quilp?

Well' same as yours. I'm looking

for the old man and his granddaughter.

I hope you're satisfied' sir. Your behavior's

reduced the old man and child to beggars'

driven them from house and home.

Why should that concern you?

Oh' the old miser

owes you money too' I bet.

- Your talk is offensive' sir.

- He's a thief' and the girl's no better.

If you shoW any more impudence

you Will oblige me to beat you'

- you little monkey.

- What'd you say?

In the name of common sense'

have you any idea

of the old man's Whereabouts?

What do you take me for' sir?

A gypsy conjurer?

Then We have nothing more

to say to each other. Good day.

Is that so?

Yes. Pray' leave us.

I Won't have my Waxworks contaminated

With interference! Oh dear' no.

Get out of here.

Oh' I go Willing' sir' but remember this -

Wherever that old man and child have gone'

they cannot hide forever.

I'll make it my chief duty to find them

and When I do...

may God help 'em both.

(Quilp Whistles tune)

Lean on me' Grandfather.

Oh...I can't Walk any further' child.

We'll have to... We'll have to rest.

But Where are We to go?

We don't knoW anybody here.

Well' We'll seek out...

the kindness of strangers' Nell.

I don't understand you' Grandfather.

You must...

You must beg' child.

Beg?

Yes' child' at once.

One...gentleman's hat.

Found floating in the river' sir.

By his counting house.

It looks...

very much like my husband's hat.

But...We cannot be certain.

HoW long has Mr. Quilp been missing'

Mrs. Jiniwin?

Oh' disappeared Without a Word

four days ago' ma'am.

Nobody has seen him'

including those Who owe him money.

If he turns up anywhere he'll...float ashore

somewhere in Deptford tomorroW morning.

Just in time for the flea market.

(Betsy) Oh...poor Daniel.

NoW...to the descriptive announcement

of his death in the newspapers.

Isn't that a little presumptuous'

Mr. Brass?

Not if you Want his life insurance' ma'am.

We must not alloW grief

to freeze our faculties.

Well' erm...I Would describe Mr. Quilp

as' erm...legs crooked...

short' er' body...

Erm...

Nose?

Pinched?

No. Flat.

(Shouts) Aquiline!

Aquiline' you old hag!

Do you call this flat? Do you?

Do you? Eh?

Risen! From a Watery grave!

(Thunder)

Excuse me... Excuse me' please...

- Please...

- Out of my Way.

- Please...

- No. No.

Please. Please.

(Neighing)

I have some urgent business

for you both.

Certainly' sir.

Private business.

Put away your book' Mr. Brass.

- I don't Want anything in Writing.

- Oh' nothing in Writing.

We understand you' Mr. Quilp.

It concerns that boy's

neW-found friendship With your lodger.

Christopher Nubbles.

An extremely pleasant child.

- I don't like him.

- Nor I.

The boy...thwarts me.

I owe him a grudge.

And this neW friendship With your lodger

makes him a greater threat

to our finding the old man and child.

HoW eloquent is Mr. Quilp.

Remarkable man of language.

Hush' brother.

Come to the point' sir.

The boy insults my importance.

- He's a menace.

- Precisely.

Devise your own means

of keeping him away from the lodger.

Then I Will pay you handsomely

for your pains.

- Anything for you' Mr. Quilp.

- Of course' Mr. Quilp.

Thank you.

- Please' ma'am...

- Get out of my Way.

(Sobs)

Nobody cares' Grandfather.

Bid to their mercy' Nell.

We must eat tonight.

I...I...I can't' Grandfather. I...

If you loved me' Nellie'

you'd find us money.

- Please don't make me.

- I need money to exist!

- Please don't...

- To invest! I...

- Just do it!

- No!

Can't you see I'm desperate?

Please...

Please. Please.

(Coughs)

Nell! Oh...

Oh' my God!

Nell!

Will nobody help us?

In God's name!

Please!

Please' somebody help us! Please!

(Neighing)

Oh' please help us!

For God's sake' stop the carriage.

Let me help you' sir.

Try to stand' child. Can you stand?

(Whispers)

Oh' Kit.

Come in' come in.

A Word' if I may.

- Is anything the matter' sir?

- Matter?

No. Why should anything be the matter?

You look like you're in pain' sir.

Oh' pooh-pooh. I never felt better.

Mere fancy.

NoW' I've been thinking.

- Your mother's a WidoW' is she not?

- Yes' sir.

A harder Working or better Woman

never lived.

Aah' poor young WidoW

struggling to maintain her family.

It's a delicious picture of

human goodness' don't you think?

Put your hat down' Kit.

- Thank you' sir' but I have to get going.

- No' no' no' put it down. Stay a While.

NoW' What's to prevent us giving

this good young Woman' your mother'

a nice Wage in return for a little light

dusting and Washing? What do you say?

See any objection?

HoW can I see any objection

to such a kind offer' sir?

Very Well' then.

It's done.

We'll say no more.

- Sammy?

- Er' yes' sister?

- Come here and help me.

- Of course.

Will you excuse me...Kit?

I got him Wrong' sir.

He seems a generous' honest man.

Does he?

Well' sir' if that's all' I-I'd best be off.

Yes' you run along' honest young felloW.

And tell your mother all We discussed.

Oh' dear me. Dear me.

- What have you lost' Sammy?

- A #5 note.

I laid it down here.

- Oh' God bless me.

- What?

- It's gone.

- #5?

Well' never mind. What's #5?

The boy's honest' you knoW.

Very honest.

Yes. It's far too mean to suspect him.

(Sighs)

Kit Nubbles' come back here!

(Bell chiming)

We need help here!

Blankets. Get some blankets.

And get a fire lit.

- Well' Sammy?

- Nothing here.

- All is perfectly satisfactory.

- Told you so. I Wish you'd believed me.

The boy is innocent' Mr. Quilp.

My examination proves it.

Very Well. He may go.

But first...

- Search his hat.

- His What?

The hat. Mr. SWiveller' if you please.

Inside the lining.

- The lining?

- The lining.

Oh... I kneW it.

Like his master.

The boy's a liar and a thief.

I never did it.

Please' you've got to believe me.

Oh' miserable miscreant.

Is this the boy Who Was going to benefit

from my benevolence?

Please. Sir.

Honest' sir' I never stole nothing.

A constable' if you please.

Stop struggling' lad.

I never Wronged anyone

of a farthing' sir. Honest!

I only Wish I could doubt

the evidence of my senses'

but the dispositions are unimpeachable.

A moral funeral.

Help is at hand' Kit' I promise.

I'm afraid you Won't be able

to help each other noW' sir.

Oh...What a disappointment

for your mother

and this kind gentleman

Who has trusted you so much.

Such...treachery.

I can hardly believe it myself.

You...little monkey.

- Drive on' Coachie!

- (Neighing)

Your good health.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes