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Non! Laissez-moi, cochon! Constable, can't you hold this woman still?
You stupid man. Why do you do this?
Why should you think I killed that man?
Just calm yourself a bit, Miss, and I'll tell you.
You see, I never thought George had the murdering look about him,
but I always thought you had.
And then there was the murder weapon.
Anything to say about that? Non.
No, because after we'd had our little chat, the very next day
you took a trip to the country and dropped a pistol into a pond.
And my man, who'd been following you since the night before,
got very wet fishing it out.
So, there we are, Miss. All over, bar the springing of the trap.
You! I wish I could send you straight to hell!
I'm sure you do, my dear.
Unpleasant, distasteful, coarse fellow.
What is it, my dear? Hmm?
Don't much care for that fellow, Bucket, questioning you as if...
Well, as if you were a common criminal.
Well, I suppose he has his work to do.
I don't care for the way he goes about it.
Making free with one's house.
Making a show of everything, like a conjuror at a music hall.
Don't care for the man.
Well, it's over now.
No harm done.
You take it very well, my dear.
What was it that you were going to see Tulkinghorn about that night?
Do you know, I cannot remember.
I suppose it must have seemed important at the time,
but I really cannot recall it now.
Poor Tulkinghorn, what an end -
to be shot through the heart by a domestic servant.
Doesn't bear thinking about.
There we are George, me old friend.
A free man, I said, and free you are.
And here's your friends to greet you.
Oh, George. George.
Hello, Mother. Steady on.
All right, guv'nor?
Well, I'm a free man, for what good it'll do me.
I've not a penny to me name and nowhere to lay me head.
But we'll get by, Phil.
We'll stick together like we always do. We'll find something.
You don't have to. Now, mother. No, listen to me George.
You don't have to, because you're coming home with me to Chesney Wold.
I had a little word with Sir Leicester.
"No-one knows horses like my George", I told him.
"Well," he said, "He can come and help look after mine."
I'm coming too, guv'nor. His Lordship give the word.
There we are then.
I expect you'd be wanting to thank me, George.
Thank you? For what?
If I hadn't wrongfully arrested you, none of this would have happened.
You'd never have seen your ma again,
and you'd have still been swimming over your head in debt and misery.
Oh, George, no! Let him go this minute.
Beg your pardon, Mr Bucket.
No hard feelings, George. All in a day's work.
Come on then, George, before you get in any more trouble.
Mr Bucket?
Lady to see you.
All right, Constable.
Er, Lady Dedlock? This is an unexpected pleasure, my lady.
Take a seat, why don't you?
Can I rely on your discretion?
I think so, Lady Dedlock.
What am I required to be discreet about?
I told you that I was going to see Mr Tulkinghorn
on the night of his death. You did.
Will I be called as a witness at the trial of Hortense Jaboulet?
It's possible, my lady.
I should be grateful...
.very grateful,
if my name could be kept out of the case.
Yes, I dare say, my lady.
I do not ask this for my own sake.
Is that a fact? My husband...
Sir Leicester Dedlock, Baronet.
.is not in good health.
If the family name were dragged into the public prints,
the shock might be too great for him.
Things might come out that were better kept quiet.
Things that are nothing to do with the case. Hmm?
That is possible.
I agree with you.
The evidence against Mademoiselle Jaboulet is solid as a rock.
She's confessed to it. She's proud of it.
All because he said he'd help her to a position and then changed his mind.
Bang.
We don't want to confuse the jury, do we? No, inspector.
Whatever Mr Tulkinghorn may have known, or not,
he's taken it with him to the grave.
Rubbish! Rubbish.
Rubbish! Rubbish!
What you looking so pleased about, you Beelzebub beast?
I've half a mind to skin you and roast you!
CAT HISSES Huh!
DOOR BELL RINGS What's that?! Judy, shake me up.
Shop's shut! Whoever you are, we don't want your custom!
Get out of it! Sling your hook! Last warning.
It's only me, Mr Smallweed.
Didn't you hear what I said? Get out! Sling your hook before I pepper you.
That's not very friendly, Mr Smallweed.
You see, I've been thinking about the advice you gave me.
About what's going to happen to me now and all that.
Do you think I care what happens to you, Clamb?
I'm not the District Provident Society. I'm a man of business!
Yes, I understand that, Mr Smallweed.
Business is what I've come about.
50-50?
Ah! Sorry to be back so late.
Were you anxious? No, not anxious.
But I missed you, Esther.
And where's Ada?
Still in London.
But where's she staying? Sit down.
She's staying with Richard, in his lodgings.
They are married.
They have been married for weeks
and she never told me about it till now.
So...they're married?
I always thought it would come,
but it's come a little sooner than I thought.
Is that all you can say about it? Are you not angry with them?
No.
If they are happy, I'm happy.
Of course I shall miss Ada,
as I missed Rick these long months.
They live in that damp, poky little place!
And Richard looking so ill and wasted. Well, they're together.
I expect that matters more to them than anything.
And we are together, too. Yes.
Well, well, our little household's thinning fast.
Things haven't turned out quite as I imagined they would when you first came here.
No, I don't suppose things ever do turn out quite as we imagine them.
But I hope you think they have not turned out...
too badly?
No.
No, of course not.
Carstone, are you there?
I see you are engaged. What is your business, Mr Woodcourt?
No business. I thought we might take a walk together, Carstone.
As you can see...
As you observed, Mr Woodcourt, Mr Carstone is engaged at present.
Perhaps another time.
Yes, right. Very well.
He looked wretched, but quite set on staying where he was.
And Mr Skimpole was there?
Oh, yes, large as life.
Making himself very much at home.
I don't like that man. Nor do I. I never did.
But Mr Jarndyce has always had a soft spot for him.
He's coming here this evening.
You remember Jo, the crossing-sweeper boy? Of course.
When I found Jo in the street half-dead,
he told me you looked after him at Bleak House when he had the fever.
Yes, but he ran away.
No, he was taken.
And Inspector Bucket told me it was Skimpole who gave him away,
for money, of course,
and because he was afraid of catching the infection himself.
Tulkinghorn wanted the boy moved on,
and Skimpole was all too happy to help.
Not caring if the boy lived or died.
I think I shall speak to Mr Skimpole about this.
DOOR BELL RINGS Out! Out! Closed for business.
Hello, Mr Smallweed. Urgh!
Kenge and Carboys.
Mr Guppy, the ladies' man.
Well, I know what you're after. Do you, Mr Smallweed? I do.
These. Well, yes, Mr Smallweed.
As a matter of fact, my client is still interested in acquiring the letters.
She was good enough to tell me so only yesterday. Well, she can't have 'em! So there!
HE LAUGHS
That's very short-sighted of you Mr Smallweed, if I may say so.
My client is a person of considerable means.
So's mine! With knobs on!
Ha! That's jiggered you.
Well, who is it then, eh?
Use your noddle, Mr Ladies' Man.
Never mind the wife, I'm selling to the husband,
Sir Leicester Dedlock, Bart.
How's that for the highest bidder?
And nothing for Guppy of Kenge and Carboys. Now, go on, sling your hook.
Out! Out! Out!
DOORBELL RINGS
HE BANGS ON THE DOOR
All right, all right.
Mr Guppy to see Lady Dedlock, matter of extreme urgency.
Well, you can't. She isn't here.
Sir Leicester and Lady Dedlock have gone down to Chesney Wold.
Right.
Ah, Miss Summerson. Delightful. And looking as lovely as ever.
And busy about all your little tasks, I have no doubt. Is Mr Jarndyce not at home?
He will be here in a little while.
Then we shall just have to amuse each other until he comes.
Ah, perhaps I might help myself?
Why not? You always do. What keen observation.
Indeed, here is the world and its delights,
and here is Harold Skimpole to partake of them. Will you join me?
Mr Skimpole, I want to talk to you about Richard Carstone.
Dear Rick. Ada is very anxious about him.
She thinks your visits do him no good and I agree with her.
I want you to promise to leave him alone. My dear Miss Summerson,
far be it for me to go anywhere where I am not wanted.
Richard is ill and he is poor. He is penniless.
There is no more to be got from him.
You and Mr Vholes have had it all. I am bewildered, Miss Summerson.
If my friends choose to lend me money, what am I to do? You seem to forget what a child I am.
Yes, I do know what sort of a child you are.
When that poor boy Jo was lying ill and near to death, you took a bribe.
How much was it, five pounds, to betray his whereabouts? Can you deny it?
A bribe, Miss Summerson? I don't even understand the meaning of the word. Oh yes, I think you do.
And what would Mr Jarndyce say if I told him how you betrayed his trust?
Betrayed his...
Betrayed his trust?
No. No, you've lost me there.
These are matters that Harold Skimpole cannot possibly understand.
But I do sense a certain something in the atmosphere.
And do you know, I think I might take my leave now.
Do give my apologies to my dear friend, Jarndyce.
Perhaps might not be seeing so much of each other in the future.
And to my dear friend Richard and his lovely wife.
And coming to your excellent self, Miss Summerson...
No need to pretend, Mr Skimpole. Goodbye.
Skimpole. Sorry to be late.
Just going, in fact. Oh!
Events. Events. People and so on.
Huh. Goodbye.
Odd. He's an odd man.
Mr Guppy, my lady.
Mr Guppy, you are all wet.
Er, yes, my lady. A thousand apologies.
I tried to get a cab at the station, no luck.
Walked all the way, ran part of it. Calm yourself, Mr Guppy.
Have you brought the letters?
I beg Your Ladyship's pardon, but no,
I have not.
Were they destroyed? Smallweed's got 'em.
Who is Smallweed?
He's a man, my lady.
I believe he's coming here to make mischief with 'em.
I see. I thought you ought to know.
He don't stop at nothing, Smallweed don't.
I came as quick as I could to tell you, my lady.
I'm sorry I could not be of more service.
Thank you, Mr Guppy.
Wait there one moment.
Fortnum! Fortnum!
There is a man named Smallweed.
He is not to be admitted under any circumstances. Is that understood?
I'm very sorry, my lady,
I've just shown him into the library.
Well, Mr Smallweed. What can I do for you?
That's very civil of you, sir.
Very civil. That's a gentleman, that is. Shake me up a bit!
That's enough, you poll parrot.
Mr Smallweed... You don't know me, sir,
but I was a client and a good friend of Mr Tulkinghorn, deceased.
I was useful to him and he was useful to me.
Now, I come into some letters
that belonged to a man who went by the name of Nemo, a law-writer.
These letters was from his sweetheart, his little lovey-dovey,
and very tender they was, too.
Mr Smallweed, I don't understand how this concerns me.
What if I was to tell you that his little lovey-dovey signed herself Honoria Barbary?
What? Ain't such a common name, now, is it?
Ah, concerns you now, don't it?
Honoria Barbary as was.
Lady Honoria Dedlock as is.
And her sweetheart, Nemo, real name Captain Hawdon.
And the child she had by him that he never set eyes on.
This is the most preposterous nonsense.
I'll hear no more. Fortnum!
Fortnum! Wait a bit! Wait till you see the writing. 'Ere, have a look at this.
Take 'em over to him, Judy.
Show him 'em. Don't let him touch 'em!
How about that then, Sir Leicester Dedlock?
You ever seen a hand like that before?
Sir? No.
No, no. Go away.
What do you want? £500!
I had thought of selling 'em on the market to the highest bidder,
but I thought you'd like to keep it private.
Well, do you want 'em or not?!
I've come a long way today, and my bones have been all shook up.
£500, yes or no?
For your lady's honour, and your family's honour.
Mr Tulkinghorn, he was very keen on that and I bet you are too, eh?
So, what do you say?
Very well, Mr Smallweed.
What did I tell you, Judy? A true copper-bottomed gent.
Let's shake hands on it.
Steady!
Mrs Rouncewell, are you there?
Mrs Rouncewell,
would you have the goodness to ask my lady to come down to the library?
My lady has gone out, sir.
Gone out? Yes, sir.
If you please, sir, she left this for you.
"You know my secret now.
"And, of course, our life together is over.
"I will encumber you no more.
"I hope you will be able to forget the unworthy woman
"on whom you have wasted a most generous devotion,
"and who writes this last adieu."
HE COUGHS
Oh!
SIR LEICESTER MUMBLES DELIRIOUSLY
Please, sir, don't tire yourself.
I came as quick as I could.
She's gone then?
Give him the slate. Maybe he can write a bit.
I'll do me best, sir.
Left your clothes behind, and your jewels.
Did you take any money?
Hello, what's this?
"Esther."
He's fretting something terrible.
Tell him Bucket's on the case, and no time to be lost.
My guess is she's gone south.
But where?
That I don't know,
but I do know where to start.
Miss Summerson, you'll excuse me being direct.
This is a matter of life and death and time is short.
The fact is, I know that you are Lady Dedlock's daughter.
How?
Let's just say I've known for some time.
How isn't important.
I'll need your help, Miss.
Lady Dedlock has gone missing,
and I fear for her life.
Has she tried to see you, Miss?
No notes? No messages?
No, no. Nothing at all. I wouldn't have expected it.
The last time I spoke to her
she said we would never be able to meet again.
She may do yet.
I believe her to be in a desperate state, Miss.
And people in desperate states
often do go back on things they've said.
Well, I'll put the word out about her and search in the usual places.
What do you mean by "the usual places"?
Tom All Alone's, Miss, to start with.
And then the river.
Desperate folk very often seem to find their way there.
The doctor will tell you that. I want to come with you.
I wouldn't advise it, Miss.
She's my mother.
KNOCK ON DOOR
Oh, my lady! What's the matter?
Oh, look at the state of you.
I was hoping to see Esther Summerson.
I went to Bleak House, but it was all shut up.
I was hoping you could tell me where I might find her.
I think they're all in London, my lady.
But I don't know where. London?
Won't you stay a while and rest? Come and sit by the fire.
No. No, thank you. You're... You're very kind, but I must go on.
At least wait until your clothes are dried out.
My lady, stop!
Looking for a lady. A lady!
Know what that is?
Dark, about the size of this lady, here.
Has she been seen?
Come on, wake up!
Looking for a lady!
All right, sir?
La...?
No, sir. No news yet.
But Mr Bucket's on the trail, sir.
And there's none better at finding folk,
whether they want to be found or not.
What is this place? This is where they bring the drowned of the river.
Man.
Woman, not her.
Man.
Can't hardly tell what this one is.
Too long dead for us, anyways. Man.
Man.
Woman.
Not her.
Poor creature.
Well I'm stumped, I have to admit it.
We've covered all the hotels, the hostels,
the sixpenny doss-houses even.
Nothing. KNOCK AT THE DOOR
Please, Miss, a boy brought this for you. He wouldn't wait. He ran off.
Thank you.
Whose writing is it? My mother's.
"I have wandered a long distance and I know that I must soon die.
"I have done all I could to be lost.
"I have nothing about me by which I may be recognised.
"Farewell, my dear one.
"The place where I shall lie down, if I can get so far,
"has been often in my mind.
"Forgive me."
Why didn't I think of it?
Come on!
SOBBING
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