The Old Curiosity Shop Page #6

Cheery be' Mr. SWiveller.

- (Coughs)

- What does your mistress call you?

- A little devil.

- Really?

Well' to make this evening

seem all the more real and pleasant'

I think I shall call you...

the Marchioness.

Oh' sir' yes.

Oh' hoW I should like that so very much.

It makes everything between us so...

properly...dignified' don't it?

It does.

Tell me' do they often leave you

locked up down here?

Almost always.

At least' she Would...

if I didn't own her ladyship's spare key.

HoW very ingenious of you'

Marchioness!

Marchioness' it occurs to me

that you must be in the constant habit

of airing your eye at keyholes

to knoW all you knoW.

Oh' yes' sir.

I hear things through chinks and keyholes

that Would make your hair curl.

Still...I never thought them

capable of such an evil deed.

That poor boy.

What are you talking about'

Marchioness?

(Shouting)

- In!

- Please' sir...

Well...congratulations'

you...false Witness.

(All chuckle)

You...perjurer.

You...suborners of evidence.

He's the richest of humors'

don't you think' Sally?

- Most amazing vein of comicality.

- Very droll' brother.

Well' I...I'm pleased you think so.

The fact is' sir' any...allusion

to these little...conspiracies of ours...

What conspiracies

are you talking about' Mr. Brass?

Exactly' sir. Caution. Caution.

Don't talk to me of your conspirings.

Do I knoW anything about you

and your sister's lies?

- I haven't conspired With anybody.

- Quite right' sir.

I shouldn't have mentioned it.

All is forgotten.

Good.

(Door opens)

(Footsteps receding)

(Outer door closes)

(Whistling Wind)

(Man) Aces.

Take two back' sir.

Luck might change.

Nell.

Nell!

Nell.

Forgive me.

God forgive me.

She's tired herself out' sir.

No' Reverend. She's tired of life.

I've broken her heart.

With my false promises.

Then...repent' sir.

For good.

Before it's too late.

Confess the truth.

Your serving girl is our Witness.

She saW and overheard everything.

- The girl's a liar.

- Still' brother' keep your reserve.

I congratulate you' ma'am.

You have the honor of being sister to

one of the greatest rogues that ever lived.

If I may venture to say' miss' you are

in every respect quite Worthy of him.

HoW dare you suggest

I had any kind of dealings...

In league With you both

is' I believe' a third party.

- A felon by the name of...

- Quilp.

Hold your tongue' Workhouse.

Quilp is the prime devil

of this Whole affair' isn't he?

Be careful' sir. What you say is slander.

HoW very true' brother.

A scullery-maid's Word

against two honorable members of the

legal profession. Who Would believe her?

- Give that back to me!

- He Writes everything down' sir.

Hush your mouth!

He keeps a list

of all the evil doings he's done.

I've seen it all. Through my keyhole.

Here is your evidence' sir.

Every Word Written down for

all the World to see. The man's a rogue.

- Oh' Sally!

- Restraint.

- Mr. Quilp told you to Write nothing down.

- To cover his own tracks.

- Why should I listen to him?

- Oh' Sammy...

There's enough evidence here

to lock you both away for life.

(Whispers) Oh' let us confess.

Let us make it easier upon...

- ..upon ourselves.

- What are you doing?

Sally' these gentlemen are offering us

some kind of pardon if We help them.

- Are you not?

- Hardly that' sir.

But I suppose your good faith

might be acknowledged

When considering your crimes.

Did you hear that' sister?

Very Well' then.

My answer to all these crimes'

and more...

is...

- Quilp.

- No.

- No' brother' no.

- Yes' sister! Yes!

My answer to all these crimes...is Quilp!

He Who despises me With an icy heart.

Quilp' Who gives us both

the cold shoulder.

And laughs With disdain at these

very matters concerning Kit Nubbles

as if he had nothing to do With it'

Whereas he Was the first to propose it.

Brother...

you've said too much.

We are ruined. You've ruined us both.

And in ruining ourselves' Sally...

We have ruined him.

Mr. Daniel Quilp...

hangs.

(Men shouting)

Daniel!

Daniel!

Go your Ways' Woman'

or I'll...I'll come out and scratch you!

(Panting) You must leave here at once!

They're coming for you.

They knoW the truth.

- What are you babbling about' Woman?

- (Barking' shouting)

Mr. Brass and his sister'

they've broken your confidence.

The neighborhood is angry' Daniel.

They...they Want revenge!

Brass. I Want Brass.

If only I had you here.

If only We Were face to face

in this room again'

hoW Well contented one of us Would be.

(Clamoring)

Let me come With you! Let me help you!

I don't Want you to help me.

- Why do you hate life so much' Daniel?

- (Glass smashing)

- You think money is everything.

- Out of my Way!

(Distant yelling)

(Ice creaks)

Daniel! Daniel' please!

Where are you going?

(Grunts)

(Creaking)

I am your Wife!

There is...love in you somewhere'

I knoW there is!

You flatter yourself' my dear.

I didn't marry you out of love.

(Creaking)

(Betsy screams)

Daniel?

(Men approaching)

Help! Help me!

My...my Daniel!

- Help me' please!

- Did he go in?

See him?

Daniel!

Daniel!

Come. Let's move her.

Come on' my love.

(Keys jangling)

(Distant children playing)

Mother!

Kit!

(Weeps)

HoW can I ever thank you' sir?

By letting your son

make one last journey With me' ma'am.

It's time to see my daughter.

(Reverend) You did Well to find us' sir.

The child is very Weak.

Prepare yourself for sadness' sir.

I pray We're not too late.

Master. Dear Master.

What is this?

Kit? Am I dreaming?

It's no dream' Master.

What you see' it's...it's real.

My God!

- It can't be.

- Yes' it's me' Father. Your son.

- A spirit?

- No spirit' Master.

- See. It's your own...

- My own flesh and blood.

I'm sorry for deserting you' Father.

Forgive me.

- Forgive me.

- Hush' boy. hush' hush. Say no more.

You have returned noW

and that is all We ever Wanted.

Oh...this should be a joyous time.

Not a tragic one.

This day Will break me forever.

Kit.

Yes' Nell. I come to see you' miss.

Look. Someone else is here.

Nell.

This is your father' child.

My father.

I'm here noW.

If you'll let me be here.

Don't...don't try and sit up' Nell.

You must rest.

I'm pleased to see you' Father.

I'm glad you've come home.

So am I' child.

See...What I have caused.

I...I forgive you...

Grandfather.

Nell.

Don't leave us.

Please.

I Will never leave you.

I'm sorry' child.

I'd have done anything for you if I could.

I knoW.

I love you.

I love you.

You'll live forever in my heart.

She's noW at peace' Father.

Released.

Her soul is set free.

(Children laughing)

(Narrator) lt is hard to take to heart

the lesson that such a death brings'

But a person lives forever

in those that love them'

Andplays theirpart through them

in all their redeeming actions

of this world

And so do things end''

Andso do things end''

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