in a place of honour.
Next to my mother.
She's very pretty, your mother. - Yes.
You're constructing a... church?
No. It's a cathedral.
Do you see?
I have to rely on my imagination,
for what I can't actually see.
Mr. Treves tells me you're in the theatre.
Do you live there? - Oh no, I just work there.
It must be wonderful to work there.
Is it beautiful? - You've never been?
I'm afraid not.
You must go! The theatre is the most beautiful place on earth!
Of course I am a bit partial.
The theatre is romance.
Romance?
Oh yes...
I've brought you something else!
Thank you. - Have you read it?
No, but I certainly shall.
"Romeo and Juliet"!
Yes, I've heard of this.
"If I profane with my unworthiest hand
this holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:
Thy lips, two blushing pilgrims,
ready stand, to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss."
"Good Pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
which mannerly devotion show in this.
For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch.
And palm to palm's holy Palmer's kiss."
"Oh then, dear Saint, let lips do what hands do.
They pray, grant thou lest faith turn to despair."
"Saints do not move, though grant for prayer's sake."
"Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.
Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged."
And then it says: they kiss.
"Then have my lips the sin that they have took."
"Sin from my lips?
O trespass, sweetly urg'd.
Give me my sin again."
You're not an Elephant Man at all.
No?
No. You're Romeo.
"Mrs. Kendal, always at the forefront of fashion,
was seen leaving "The London" the other afternoon.
No, dear readers, the actress has not been taken ill,
but said she was visiting a friend. Who was the lucky recipient?
Enquiries proved it to be none other than John Merrick, the Elephant Man,
with whom our readers are familiar.
After a chat of 45 minutes, she left him with an autographed portrait."
I saw it in his room.
"Owing to a disfigurement of the most extreme nature,
Mr. Merrick has never been presented to London society.
But knowing that wherever Mrs. Kendal goes, other inevitably follow,
the question arises - will London society present itself to him?"
This walking stick is so dashing!
And more elegant than my old one!
More tea?
I don't go out as often as I would like,
because naturally people find my appearance disturbing.
If you have a chill I could close the window.
No, I'm fine, please...
Thank you.
You see,
people are frightened by what they don't understand.
And it is hard to understand, even for me because my mother
was so very beautiful!
No more visitors today.
I've got a lecture. Till this evening! - Excuse me, sir,
I would like a word with you. - What is it?
I don't quite understand
why you allow people in there.
He enjoys it and it's good for him.
But you saw the expression on their faces, they didn't hide their disgust!
They don't care about John. They want to impress their friends.
I think you're being rather harsh. - I beg your pardon.
You hardly showed him much kindness when he first arrived, did you?
I bathed him, I fed him and I cleaned up after him!
And my nurses do the same.
If "kindness" can be called care
then I did show him loving kindness!
I didn't mean it exactly that way.
I appreciate your concern and everything you've done for him.
But I am the physician and must do what's best for him.
Please now, I'm very late. - If you ask my opinion,
he's only being stared at again! - Thank you.
Night time!
Freddie!
What's the matter?
I've been thinking about Mr. Bytes. - Why on earth?
I believe Mr. Bytes and I are very much alike.
That's absurd!
It seems I've
made Mr. Merrick into a curiosity again,
only this time in a hospital rather than a carnival.
My name is constantly in the newpapers and I'm always being
praised to the skies. Patients ask expressly for my services.
Because you are a fine doctor.
John Merrick is happier and more fulfilled then ever
and it's completely due to you.
What was it all for? Why did I do it?
What are you trying to say?
Am I a good man
or am I a bad man?
Steady on, Treves. Steady on.
Please sit down, won't you?
We usually open the proceedings by reading the minutes.
In the interests of urgency I think we should conclude the matter
under discussion, the case of John Merrick, the Elephant Man.
One moment, Mr. Chairman!
As far as I'm concerned, this creature has no business here.
I for one am sick and tired of this freak-hunting
by ambitious young doctors, trying to make name's for themselves.
To parade them about in front of the society is one thing,
but to waste the committee's time with requests for shelter
for these abominations of nature is quite another.
You must be more careful!
In the light of these facts, our course is clear:
The question is not whether to accept this creature as a patient, but
when will the rooms be vacated for the use of more deserving cases?
I move that this Elephant Man be removed from the premises immediately.
We have a sacred duty to cure the sick
not to care for circus animals! That is my last word on the subject.
Shall we vote? - You are unshakeable in this?
Mr. Chairman, do you not have ears?
I am unalterably opposed!
My mind is made up.
You shall not sway me. May we now vote,
at long last?
Yes, Broadneck.
I think the time has come.
Gentlemen, Her Royal Highness
Alexandra, Princess of Wales.
Good morning. I hope I'm not disturbing you.
Your presence here is always greatly appreciated.
We were just taking a vote on Mr. Merrick.
Her Royal Highness has shown great interest in Mr. Merrick's fate.
I have, sir, as has the Queen.
I have a communication from the Queen, which I should read to you.
"To the Governing Committee, London Hospital.
I would like to commend you
for the charitable face you have shown Mr. John Merrick.
It is laudable that you have provided one of England's
unfortunate sons with a safe and tranquil harbour, a home.
For this immeasurable kindness, as well as the many acts of mercy
on behalf of the poor, of which Mr. Carr-Gomm
has kept me informed,
I gratefully thank you. Signed, Victoria."
I am sure I can count on you gentlemen to do the Christian thing.
Thank you very much. I'm sure we shall all try.
I move that Mr. John Merrick be admitted on a permanent basis
provided the hospital receives a yearly sum for the cost of one bed.
All those in favour?
Thank you, gentlemen. The motion is carried.
Yes, come in!
Good afternoon. Mr. Carr-Gomm has something he wants to say to you.
Mr. Merrick, I am very pleased
in being able to welcome you officially to the London Hospital.
The Governing Committee has unanimously voted that you should be
provided with these rooms on a permanent basis. This is your home.
I'm so very very glad for you. - Welcome home, lad!
This is...
my home? - Yes.
Please will you thank the committee for me?
I will do my utmost to merit their kindness.
This... is my home?
Yes. And this is for you.
Your dressing case!
Oh, thank you!
Thank you!
Oh my friends, thank you!
Thank you!
My friends!
Oh my friends!
Thank you!
Who's next? - I say!
What you again? - Well...
These young ladies have never seen it.
You're on, mate!
That's it for this performance!
Jim, can I go? - Sit down, Charlie!
There's always tomorrow, don't worry.
Room for one more?
At the right price.
There's room.
Keep the noise down!
We don't want to frighten him!
My name is John Merrick.
I'm very, very pleased to meet you.
I think
you are very beautiful!
Curtain time!
You look beautiful, darling! I wouldn't change a thing!
You look like the Prince of Wales!
Here, my friends!
The Elephant Man!
I told you it was horrible, just horrible.
Perhaps the ladies would like a closer look?
Yes, yes! - No, Jack, please!
Right, in you go!
He's quite a ladies' man!
Give the ladies' man a little kiss!
Go on, give him a kiss!
Jack, leave off!
That's enough romance!
Time for beddy-byes!
Keep the noise down!
Keep it quiet! Now watch this!
Okay, that's enough!
Show's over! See you back at the Peacock!
Get out of it!
Here, come on.
There you are. That's better.
I've done well tonight.
Here,
buy yourself a sweet!
My treasure!
John?
John!
Mr. Treves, I know what happened last night.
Oh, God!
Where is he?
Where is Mr. Merrick?
I don't know what you mean. - Don't lie to me!
I know all about it, you were seen.
You're involved with Bytes, aren't you? Where is he?
Wait a minute! I haven't taken him anywhere. I dunno no Bytes.
We were just having a bit fun. We never hurt him.
You tortured him! He's gone!
When I left him he was in bed!
You're not listening to me! I dunno no Bytes!
I've done nothing wrong! People pay money to see your monster!
You're the monster, the freak. Get out of here!
Get out! - You don't frighten me!
I'm glad what I done. You can do nothing about it!
Only Mothershead can sack me now!
Done!
There's something I'd like to say.
You know I felt as deeply as you did about John.
Well now he's disappeared, very likely to the continent.
You can't go after him, you're needed here by your patients.
You did everything in your power.
Everything in your power.
Get a stool!
Get up, you bastard!
Look at all these beautiful animals!
What a lot you have!
That sly bastard!
He's doing this to spite me!
You're doing this to spite me and it's got to stop!
Bytes, he's sick! - Let him die!
But don't think I'm going to bury that...
bag of flesh. No!
And that's a fact.
Bytes, stop! - I'm going to fetch that lump of fat!
Stop!
Bytes, stop!
We've decided,
we're going to get you out of here.
Alright?
Luck, my friend!
Luck! And who needs it more than we?
Sir, why is your head so big?
Why is your head so big?
Why is your head so big? Tell me!
Why is your head so big?
No!
I'm not an elephant!
I am not an animal!
I am a human being!
I am a man.
Out of the way, sir. Excuse me!
Mr. Treves, they've found him!
They've found John!
Keep still!
It was nice of Mrs. Kendal to give me this dress.
It's beautiful!
Does she know John's dying?
Yes, she knows.
How do I look?
Splendid!
You will not look out of place. You look absolutely splendid!
Splendid... Shall we go?
I can't tell you how sorry I am for what happened.
You see, I had no idea.
You mustn't blame yourself.
Mr. Treves, don't worry about me.
My friend,
I am happy every hour of the day.
My life is full, because I know that I am loved.
I have gained myself.
I could not say that, were it not for you.
Well...
you have done so much for me as well.
Thank you!
I'll fetch Mrs. Mothershead and Nora and be back in a few minutes!
Very good, my friend.
My friend!
Mrs. Kendal!
Your Royal Highness, Ladies and Gentlemen!
Tonight's performance was special for me, as it was to someone else,
a man who knows and loves the theatre.
And yet this is the first time he's ever been here.
I wish the whole company wishes with all their hearts
to dedicate tonight's performance to Mr. John Merrick,
my very dear friend.
Go on, John, they want to see you!
I can't. - It's alright, stand up!
I really did believe
that the ogre would never get out of the dungeon.
You really enjoyed yourself.
Oh, it was wonderful!
We really must go again some evening.
Oh, I hope so.
Yes, we will, we will.
Good, I'm pleased.
I ought to go. Must get some sleep.
Good night. Sleep well.
And you too, my friend.
So pleased you enjoyed yourself. Good night.
It's finished!
Never, never! Nothing will die.
The stream flows, the wind blows,
the cloud fleets, the heart beats.
Nothing will die.