Tom Jones Page #8

Indeed, he's even gone so far

as to propose marriage to me.

With your leave, Bell,

I will show this to my niece.

Apply it to what purpose you may please.

- It's from my Sophie.

- Good.

"Sir, " she wrote, "my aunt

has just now shown me a letter

from you to Lady Bellaston which

contains a proposal of marriage. "

"All I desire is that your name

may never more be mentioned

to your obliged humble servant,

Sophie Western. "

You could try Mrs Fitzpatrick.

She might be able to help.

'Tis said that hope is a bad supper,

but makes a good breakfast,

and in the morning Tom set off

for Mrs Fitzpatrick to seek help.

Not a moment too soon,

for who should arrive

but his old benefactor, Squire Allworthy.

Mr Allworthy!

What an unexpected pleasure.

- Good morning, Mrs Miller.

- You are come to forgive him.

- Forgive who, Mrs Miller?

- Dear Mr Jones.

Mr Jones, here, madam?

No, I've come to bring

my nephew Mr Blifil to London.

She must be a most contemptible woman

who can overlook merits such as yours.

An old acquaintance arrives.

I swear that dirty whore's had it now!

You wait till I get me hands on her!

Let us meet tomorrow. We will find

a way of easing your predicament.

Oh...

Yes, tomorrow.

Thank you.

Oh!

I'm very sorry...

My dear sir, I hope no ill blood

remains between us.

Sir, I don't remember your name.

Nor I yours, but I remember your face

from the inn at Upton.

- Upton... Then your name is Tom Jones?

- Indeed it is, sir.

Then you have been with me wife after all!

Well, that's for you, you rascal!

And if you don't give me satisfaction

for that blow, I'll give you another!

Fight, damn you!

Aargh!

- I'm sorry, but you drew this on yourself.

- Liar! You set on him to rob him!

I was coming out of the house...

Only to defend myself! He drew his sword!

Step back there. What's this all about?

Yes - for armed robbery.

- You're certain the bastard will hang?

- No doubt of it.

I hired these two to follow Master Jones -

which they did with rare zeal.

Good. See that they're properly

taken care of, will you?

I will break the news to my uncle.

Mr Jones has one of

the kindest hearts I know.

He never mentions your name

but to praise it.

Uncle...

I am afraid to tell you what has happened.

It may shock you too much.

What's the matter, Nephew?

Your adopted son, sir - Jones -

has proved himself

one of the greatest villains on earth.

If anyone else called him a villain

I'd throw this tea in his face.

Mrs Miller.

I know he's not without faults,

but they're those of wildness and youth,

and I am sure many of us have worse.

At least we're not footpads, Mrs Miller.

What do you mean?

Mr Jones has attacked a man.

He has been sentenced

to be hanged at Tyburn.

Nobody can save him now.

If he swing by the string

He will hear the bell ring

And then there's an end to poor Tommy

He must hang by the noose,

For no hand will cut loose

The rope from the neck of poor Tommy

If he swing...

If he swing...

And Tom was to swing -

his enemies had determined on that.

So Lawyer Dowling decided

to pay a call on Mr Fitzpatrick,

and who should receive him

but Mrs Waters.

Strictly confidential.

I come from a most worthy gentleman,

whose name at the moment

I am not at liberty to divulge.

What does this mysterious gentleman

want of me?

He wants you to help him

see that justice is done.

To make sure that Jones

gets his just deserts.

For any assistance you can give him

he is prepared to pay handsomely.

He is? You interest me, sir.

What is the proposition?

Meanwhile, faithful Partridge

searched for anyone

who could prove Tom's innocence

of the charge against him.

Constable...

Constable, have you seen

a man with a big scar on his cheek?

No, can't say as I 'ave.

But all the rogues in the district

haunt that tavern yonder.

Will you accompany me?

I don't go searching for trouble, friend.

It's easy enough to come by.

Excuse me... Are you the two gentlemen

that saw the fight with Mr Jones?

Tom cannot escape the gallows

unless you retract your evidence.

I beg you to do so. And in the meantime,

I assure you, you will be rewarded.

Hark ye, sir, everything we said was true!

Now if I were you, I'd be off,

or you're gonna be the worse for it!

Only one hope was left now,

poor Partridge thought - Fitzpatrick.

Now that's better.

You'll be all right in a minute.

Come in.

Sorry for the intrusion, Mrs Fitzpatrick.

Well, if it isn't Mr Partridge!

Jenny Jones!

- But I'm Mrs Waters now.

- Whatever are you doing here?

I'm a close friend of Mr Fitzpatrick.

I'm looking after him.

Well, indeed, I came to see Mr Fitzpatrick

to plead for your son.

- My son?!

- Your son, Tom Jones.

He never intended

to wound Mr Fitzpatrick.

But I met the man who wounded

Mr Fitzpatrick, at Upton.

Then that is the same man -

your son, Tom Jones.

With his own mother?!

- With Jenny Jones?!

- How could either have known, sir?

Good heavens,

in what miserable distresses

do vice and imprudence involve men!

Ma'am, there's a Mrs Waters here

to see Mr Allworthy.

- What is she doing here?!

- The very woman herself, sir.

- You probably don't recognise me, sir.

- Indeed you are much changed.

But what business

can you have with me now?

Such business as I can impart

only to you, sir.

Pray leave us.

This, sir, is the very man

I was telling you about!

- But he is my steward.

- Nevertheless, this is the man.

- Do you know this lady?

- That lady, sir?

Mr Dowling, if you value my favour,

you will not hesitate, but answer truly.

- Do you know this lady?

- I have seen her, sir.

Before my sister died,

did she give you a letter for me, sir?

Come with me, sir.

Partridge, have my coach

brought round at once!

Yes, sir.

- Uncle...

- Before I return, you'd best find the letter

which your mother gave

to Dowling here before she died!

Ah, good day, neighbour.

Are you going to see your bastard hang?

On the contrary, Mr Western,

we're going to Newgate jail to save him.

Save him? Save him for what?

And this what Mr Allworthy

is saying to Mr Western:

My friend Mr Fitzpatrick

has now recovered

and is no longer

charging Tom with robbery.

I'm as pleased as if

he were me own son -

which, it may surprise you

to know, he's not.

Mr Allworthy's own sister Bridget

was Tom's mother,

and I the one who put the baby

in the squire's bed.

And that is what it says in the letter.

And so Tom is now my only heir!

Your heir? Did you say your heir?

Yes, neighbour. To Newgate, Goody,

and drive for dear life!

But I always loved that boy best!

He shall have my Sophie by the hand!

Tyburn, here I come!

Come on, Miss Slouch! Come on!

And another old acquaintance

has arrived,

not only reinstated in the army,

but now in charge of the condemned.

On your life, Goody, faster!

Turnkey!

I have come to release a Mr Tom Jones.

We sent him off hours ago.

He'll be strung up by now.

- But they can't hang him!

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes