Our boys' curriculum is very wide.

They perform a short play at the end of every term.

Theater's an abiding interest of my wife.
- Ah, Mary, tea if you please.
- Yes, sir.
Through the open door.
elly, where were you!
Mr. "enham has been
here since #$%%.
&'m so sorry.
Mr. 'ambourne has been
organi(ing the boys best he can.
& lost all sense of time.
)areful with those corners, boys.
- Yes, ma'am.
- Yes, ma'am.
Than* you, Mary.
Ah, Mrs. +harton ,obinson.
At last.
&'m so sorry, Mr. "enham.
& -ust *ept wal*ing. .orgive me.
/ear boys, let's go from the third act.
0veryone get into positions.
- Yes, ma'am.
- Than* you, Mr. 'ambourne.
Mr. "enham must not see
all our tric*s 1uite yet
or there'll be nothing left to show him tomorrow.
&t is cold outside!
&t is, but it clears the mind.
&t would be good to decide on the
readings before the end of term.
Of course. 2erhaps later.
- 'aurenson and Tanner, are you ready!
- Yes, ma'am.
3eoffrey dear,
don't forget, you come in on the final line.
4it there.
)oates, +atson, ta*e those.
- Than* you, ma'am.
- Than* you, ma'am.
& recall no lion in Mr. /ic*ens
and Mr. )ollins' play,
Mrs. +harton ,obinson.
A little dramatic license.
&'m confident that Mr. /ic*ens
would have let it pass.
Yates, if you could drop the bac*ing.
Yes, ma'am.
Musicians.
- &s everyone ready!
- & thin* so.
Yes, ma'am.
"oys, remember your positions.
'et's begin.
+ell, my lads, the day is brea*ing at last.
56as bro*en,5 6adley. Mr. /ic*ens
was very particular.
+ell, my lads, the day has bro*en at last.
+hat do you say to the weather now!
& am ready to cross the mountain with the gentleman,
if the others will go with me.
& can see for myself there's a storm coming.
& smell the snow. & feel
the hurricane in the air.
o money those gentlemen can offer
will tempt me to cross the mountain with them today.
Tanner, your cue.
+ell, are you ready at last!
My patience is at an end.
&'m sic* and weary of all this doubt and delay.
&'m your man.
& will guide you to your -ourney's end.
- 4ay when.
- ow.
- Are you ready!
- &'m ready.
)ome along.
2ull it taut.
7pright li*e a brigadier.
And thread it through.
Than* you.
+ere you on the beach again today!
Miss "roo*e thought she saw you.
Yes.
- 'oo*. 4ee! &t is signed.
- ,eally!
Apparently he modeled the character
of 'ucie Manette on elly.
The families were very close when elly was a child.
&'m sure he drew inspiration from many people.
My wife adores his novels.
Of course, he's often very funny,
but & find a little blea*.
One wonders what demons raged in his mind.
&ndeed.
Thac*eray, there's a writer.
3eorge, you cannot compare them.
Oh, & agree.
& am for Mr. /ic*ens.
There are times that & have
envied Mrs. +harton ,obinson
to have *nown him even as a child.
A writer.
Yes, at times blea*, but one who
ma*es us laugh at our own absurdity.
+e see ourselves clearly in all our folly.
6e's been dead for some years,
but yes, he is still with us.
Than* you, Mr. "enham.
Oh, it is a sub-ect in which &
sometimes run away with myself,
as Mrs. +harton ,obinson
*nows only too well.
,un away. ,un away.
&, for one, am determined to revisit him immediately.
+here would you suggest & begin!
Martin )hu((lewit.
Any novel, but for brief pleasure,
& would suggest browsing through a copy of
/ic*ens' wee*ly literary maga(ine.
Oh.
6ousehold +ords.
A collection of many of his writings,
and indeed, chapters of his novels.
And &'m sure Mrs. +harton ,obinson
would not mind if you cared to borrow.
Of course.
My wife has nearly every edition.
+e have run out of shelves.
4ir.
Ah, good. Than* you, Mary.
The .ro(en /eep.
You have the te8t
of Mr. )ollins' play!
Yes. it is not a good play.
"ut & shall find you one.
- /avid )opperfield.
- /avid )opperfield!
- .or our readings.
- Oh, yes.
+ill you wal* again tomorrow!
2erhaps.
May & -oin you!
& wal* at 1uite a pace.
- +elcome. +elcome, Mrs. Ternan.
- Than* you, )harley.
Oh, dear.
7m, yes, do be careful now.
Oh, my9
- Oh, Miss Maria. )ome inside.
- Than* you.
- )ome inside.
- Than* you. Ooh9
Miss 0llen, welcome.
- Oh, your glove.
- Than* you.
&'m )harley /ic*ens.
+elcome to Manchester.
&t's so wet.
My father is waiting.
The others are already here.
elly, loo*. 4ee!
There we are.
)ome on.
'oo*, elly.
- .ather.
- Ah9
At last we have a full company.
Mrs. Ternan, welcome.
+hat a beautiful theater you've built.
Than* you.
&'m glad, we have tried.
- Miss Maria, welcome.
- Than* you.
You had a good -ourney, & hope.
Yes, than* you, Mr. /ic*ens.
- :uite comfortable.
- 3ood. 3ood. 3ood.
- And you must be Miss 0llen Ternan!
- & am.
You've met my eldest son, )harley, of course!
- 6e *indly rescued my glove, yes.
- Ah.
The gallant chevalier.
'adies and gentlemen, may & introduce Miss 0llen
who is helping us in our hour of need.
+e wish your sister, .anny, well.
&s it the 6aymar*et or the 2hoeni8
Theater we've lost her to!
The 6aymar*et.
4he's so sad not to be here.
o, elly will give you a wonderful performance.
& have no doubt.
ow, Mrs. Ternan, Maria, you've met
everyone on our previous rehearsals.
Miss 0llen, may & introduce our family of actors!
- +e have Mr. 'emon.
- /elighted.
- And Mr. 0gg.
- +elcome.
- And our composer, Mr. "erger.
- 6ello.
And Mr. 2igott.
Miss 4abine. Mr. )harles.
And &'d li*e to introduce our author,
Mr. )ollins, but as ever, he is late.
"ut here are some of my own family.
My daughters, Mamey, ;atey.
My sister-in-law,
Miss 3eorgina 6ogarth.
Assorted sons, .ran*, Alfred, 4ydney, 6enry.
And where is youngest boy!
/on't hide there, 2lorn. )ome here.
And that is it, & thin*.
7h, yes, of course, and my wife.
And half an hour.
&s that time enough, ladies, for
you to settle your bonnets!
&'d li*e to rehearse, but without our author,
Mr. )ollins, who is at last here.
+hy am & always waiting, +il*ie!
+hy must you always be late!
"ecause it irritates you, )harles.
And it amuses me to see you in bad temper.
)harles, & don't thin* we can afford to cut it.
"ut it's too long.
&t'll bore if it's too long.
&t was too long in 'ondon, it'll
be too long in Manchester.
Though it pains, +il*ie.
)ut, cut, cut.
&t is done.
You can tell Mr. 0gg
he's lost his last solilo1uy.
o, you must do it as author.
& shall not deny you that.
You are insufferable. And this!
And here and here.
ow, everyone, please be careful.
Our little theater's not yet complete.
,emember, we are rehearsing Miss 0llen
in today, so let's be considerate.
ow &'m *een to review the last act,
-ust the final entry of +ardour and Aldersly.
4o places, friends.
- ow, Maria. Maria.
- Yes.
+e should have you -ust here, & thin*.
Then Mrs. Ternan and the girls.
And Miss 0llen...
Mr. /ic*ens, may & suggest that the
ladies are slightly further upstage!
Yes. Of course.
6ave your officers trimmed to your satisfaction!
Yes, e8cellent, e8cellent.
<ery good.
7m, do you thin* & ought to stand
a little wider for the entrance!
Yes, but not too much for it's your face and not mine
that'll be holding the attention
of our audience, & feel sure.
7h, +il*ie, are you ready!
& need you standing at the bac* if &'m to carry you in.
- Are you ready!
- o.
- Yes, come on, come on.
- Yes, yes.
)harley. =ust rela8 the arms.
=ust a little less stiff.
- Yeah!
- 6mm.
That's good, yes.
4hould you not come!
& cannot carry myself.
Yes, yes, of course.
/o & spea* after the gun!
After the gun and you move downstage to the middle.
.ran*9 .ran*9
Then my line, 54aved, saved for you.5
- Then you've put me down here.
- Yes, & have.
And & am footsore and weary, )lara, but & have saved him.
Yes. That's good.
Then your line, +il*ie.
+here is +ardour!
6elp him. ever mind me.
Mar*, that's when you come down.
+ardour. /ear +ardour.
Old friend whom & have wronged, remember and forgive me.
<ery good, you're forgiven.
/on't be afraid to pro-ect. +e
have nearly a thousand seats.
)atherine, do say if you cannot hear us.
- +hat!
- +e can hear you very well, )harles.
<ery good.
0veryone spea* up.
Then, Maria, that's when you come over here
and ta*e me gently in your arms.
- 6ere.
- 4orry.
,ichard. ,ichard,
loo* upon your old playmate.
And then music...
o, "erger... "erger, not yet.
&'m -ust mar*ing through the cues.
&t plays until the curtain has fallen
by which time we *iss, then gun.
"ang. Then &'m dead.
And then epilogue.
This is a tale of woe.
This is a tale of sorrow.
A love denied. A love restored
to live beyond tomorrow.
'est we thin* silence is the place to hide a heavy heart,
remember, to love and be loved is life
itself without which we are nought.
And then the curtain closes.
'oud applause.
Yet audible the crying of >,%%%9
Than* you. "ravo. "ravo.
'adies, gentlemen.
Than* you, Maria.
)harles, your last speech
& thin* could benefit from cutting.
- You do!
- & do.
4hall we discuss it!
7h, yes, yeah. 'ater.
4he has something.
)ome nearer.
)lara.
;iss me.
4ister, *iss me...
- ...before & die.
- o.
:ueen <ictoria
2rince Albert of 4a8e-)oburg and 3othenburg
'eopold the .irst of "elgium
+illiam Thac*eray9
o, no, no. it is not enough that
we play before these mere mortals.
.riends, it is Manchester who has
given us the highest accolade.
&t is Manchester whose approval & have loo*ed for,
and it is Manchester who has bestowed tonight's success.
.riends, we are victorious9
4ir ,oger de )overley,
Mr. "erger, please.
And again9
4trip the willow9
"ac*-to-bac*9
3entlemen, change for the "ritish 3renadiers.
Three corpse lay out on the shining sand
&n the morning gleam as the tide went down
And the women are weeping and wringing their hands
.or those who will never come bac* to the town
.or men must wor* and women must weep
The sooner it's over, the sooner to sleep
And goodbye to the bar and its moaning
,aise your arms higher li*e a bird.
And then, when you are ready, give me your hands.
&t's remar*able.
3ive me your hands.
There. ow you are safe with me.
One of his magic tric*s.
+here are you!
&'m on my own.
You are an admirer of my husband's wor*, Miss 0llen!
Of course.
At the moment, &'m lost in 'ittle /orrit.
7ntil now, & thought "lea* 6ouse
would be the novel that would stay with me the most.
&t has this alarming spirit of unease.
'ady /edloc* haunted by her past.
& *eep coming bac* to those pages again and again.
Yet there's so much that ma*es me smile.
'Tis a fiction designed to entertain.
4urely it's more than that.
&t changes us.
ow you are, you are bac* with us.
6e will be up all night.
And cross all day.
;atey. Mamey.
ow, someone else.
+ho is ne8t!
6mm!
- +ho is ne8t!
- 3ood night.
6old the baby.
6old the baby. 4he's gone.
+here is she! +here is she! &s she
safe! 2lease tell me she's safe.
And now you are bac*
with us, Mrs. Ternan.
- "ac* where!
- Mother.
Mother, & thin* you were remembering .anny on the boat.
Oh. +hat did & say!
- You were trying to save her, Mother.
- Oh.
&'m sorry, Mr. /ic*ens.
& thin* & may have strayed into some family history.
Oh!
My eldest daughter, .anny, was, um, thrown from her cot.
My husband and & were traveling
around America some years ago,
and, um, our paddle steamer was rammed by another boat,
and .anny was thrown up into the air
and saved, miraculously, by a mattress.
The angels were watching.
- Yes.
- They were.
08traordinary story.
& am done, Mr. /ic*ens.
As am &. & must go.
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.
- 3ood night, +il*ie.
- 3ood night.
- "ed.
- Or brea*fast!
3ood night.
Than* you, gentlemen.
- 3ood night.
- 3ood night.
Maria, you bro*e all our hearts tonight.
0veryone was weeping.
& couldn't hold bac* the tears.
You were so good.
& did try to console her in a hushed aside,
but all she could say was,
5Oh, so sad, so sad.5
4uch a good, dear, pale little face.
You won't find a better )lara.
Than* you, Mother.
& must get my angels to bed.
&'m too awa*e to sleep.
- &t's daylight.
- elly.
0veryone needs sleep, elly dear.
This is my favorite time.
+hen the day is creeping up on us
and we must put in order the chaos of the night.
4tand guard once more, ready for life.
A wonderful fact to reflect
upon, that every human creature
is a profound secret and mystery to every other.
7ntil that secret is given to another to loo* after.
And then perhaps two human creatures may *now each other.
/o you not thin*!
Yeah.
6as Mrs. /ic*ens gone to bed!
4ome time ago.
Mmm, yeah, well...
4he has terrible headaches.
4leep.
+hy must you do that!
/o what, elly!
.launt my connection!
&t is dull.
/ull!
To have *nown /ic*ens!
& was a child.
Yet to refer to him as blea*.
&t is a misconception.
+hat!
& do not understand what you are tal*ing of, elly.
This constant agitation.
5As we struggled on, nearer and nearer to the sea
5from which this mighty wind was blowing dead on shore,
5its force became more and more terrific.
5+hen we came within sight of the sea,
5the waves on the hori(on, caught at
intervals above the rolling abyss,
5were li*e glimpses of another
shore with towers and buildings.
5As the high watery walls came rolling in,
5and at their highest tumbled into surf,
5they loo*ed as if the least would engulf the town.
5As the receding wave swept bac* with a hoarse roar,
5it seemed to scoop out deep caves in the beach,
5as if its purpose were to undermine the earth.
56am watched the sea, standing alone,
5until there was a great retiring wave.
5+hen, with a bac*ward glance at those who held the rope
5which was made fast around his
body, he dashed in after it.
5And, in a moment, was buffeting with the water,
5rising with the hills, falling with
the valleys, lost beneath the foam,
5borne in towards the shore, borne on towards the ship.
5At last 6am neared the wrec*.
56e was so near that with one
more of his vigorous stro*es,
5he would be clinging to it
5when a high, green, vast hillside of water
5moving on shoreward from beyond the ship,
5he seemed to leap up into it with a mighty bound.
5And the ship was gone.5
Truly, Mr. /ic*ens,
it is never so alive
as when it is spo*en by its author.
Than* you. Than* you.
+ill you e8cuse me!
- Ah, Mrs. Ternan.
- Mr. /ic*ens.
&t was remar*able.
4uch control, such mastery in your performance.
Than* you. & am told
these readings double sales.
&t was 1uite brilliant,
Mr. /ic*ens.
- &t was!
- Yes. Yes.
- Absolutely.
- Miss .anny.
+e've missed you.
+ell, not enough, it would seem.
- Mrs. /ic*ens isn't here!
- 7h, no, not today.
- Oh, what a pity to have missed it.
- Mmm-hmm.
Oh, such a storm.
+e were 1uite blown off course.
- 4o, it did not disappoint!
- o.
- +ell...
- +ell!
elly has read every chapter twice.
& may have read every chapter twice,
but & didn't really hear it until now.
6earing it spo*en, & felt & was in the storm.
& was there with )opperfield seeing his friend drowned.
&t was unbearable.
Yes, &...
& am glad.
)harles, do please come and tal* to these gentlemen.
&'ve been entertaining them for several minutes now,
but ultimately & feel & am a poor substitute.
+il*ie, & am coming.
+here are you playing ne8t!
They're engaged to play /oncaster for three wee*s.
And what are you playing!
7h, two tragedies and a farce.
Ah, a farce. +hat farce!
The 2et of the 2etticoats.
The 2et of the 2etticoats!
+hat a terrible title.
Yes.
+ell, um...
"ut very good races, /oncaster.
08cuse me. /on't go away.
)atherine.
Yes!
4hall we sit together!
&f you wish.
+ell, no, if you'd prefer not, &, um...
& did not sleep well last night.
2erhaps & will go to bed now.
Yes, of course, yes.
+il*ie has an idea for 6ousehold +ords.
A trip to the orth.
6e's calling it A 'a(y Tour of Two &dle Apprentices.
&t might be a couple of pages in it.
- +here will you start!
- 7m...
- /oncaster, & thin*.
- 6mm.
Turn up the lamp.
You cannot write in this light.
4he won9 4he won9
elly, victory.
elly, you've won9
- 6ow much!
- ? shillings.
&t was fi8ed. &t was fi8ed.
& hope you're not
a bad sport, Mr. )ollins.
- & am a very bad sport.
- Then you must win.
4o, what will you do with your winnings, elly!
& shall spend it all at once.
o, & may spend a half a shilling
on a copy of 6ousehold +ords
-ust to be sure the two apprentices
returned safely from their la(y tour.
They did, though they did not want to go home.
"ut what of their families!
+ell, they missed them of course,
but they did so en-oy being away.
)harles /ic*ens.
)harles, you've been rumbled.
Mr. /ic*ens.
6ello. 3ood day. Yes. Than* you.
6ow very une8pected.
Than* you. Than* you.
+elcome to Yor*shire. +ill
you write a boo* about us!
Mr. /ic*ens, great tal*ing to you.
Miss 0llen.
- Mr. /ic*ens.
- Than* you.
- &'ve read all your stories.
- Than* you.
Through there, please.
- +atch it9
- Yes, ma'am.
3ive me that, Maria dear.
Than* you, Mother.
early there.
Oh, home.
6ome.
That's yours.
- /oes that need washing, do you thin*!
- &'ll put it in.
This will not stretch to another season.
& cannot mend another sleeve again.
The cuffs are still good.
And there's lace on the collar & can save.
Yes, &'ll unpic* it.
Maria, also this hem.
Than* you. 'oo*.
To pine on the stem
4ince the lovely are sleeping
3o sleep thou with them
Thus *indly & scatter
Thy leaves o'er the bed
&'m collecting washing.
6ere.
And from love's shining circle
The gems drop away
This signed!
- A souvenir.
- +here are my scissors!
They're in the drawer.
&t's to be treasured.
+hen true hearts are withered
And fond ones are flown
Oh, )atherine.
7m, e8cuse me.
+hy are you up so early!
- & must go to 'ondon.
- ow!
There will be no train.
+ell, then & shall wal*.
&t will ta*e you all day.
Then it will ta*e me all day.
4o, here's perverseness.
o, no, 'tis )harles only whom you would prefer.
'Tis evident his vices and follies have won your heart.
& have obeyed you, both in neither
seeing nor corresponding with him.
Yet & cannot thin* it culpable if,
though my understanding severely condemns his vices,
my heart professes some...
4uggests some pity for his distresses.
0gad, we'll have the wedding tomorrow morning.
Than* you, dear uncle.
+hat, you rogue, don't you as* the girl's consent first!
& have done that a long time...
- A minute ago and she loo*ed...
- "e hard to believe she was so bad.
- Yes.
- .or shame, )harles.
& protest, 4ir 2eter.
There has not been a word.
"ecause we can't hear a word9
+ell, then the fewer the better.
May your love for each other never *now abatement.
And may you live as happily together
as 'ady Tea(le and & intend to do.
That was very good, elly.
,eally, Mother!
There is such clarity in your performance, elly.
Oh, than* you, .anny.
- You loo*ed so beautiful.
- Than* you, Maria.
Mr. /ic*ens, why didn't you
tell us you were coming!
A last minute impulse.
- Mr. /ic*ens.
- My dear "uc*stone.
Always a pleasure to have you grace our theater.
Than* you. A memorable night.
Miss 0llen, you were simply splendid.
Oh, than* you, Mr. Arnott.
As were you.
And how is the writing,
Mr. /ic*ens!
My writing is ferocious.
&'m up at @$%%, cold bath before
brea*fast, then & bla(e away until #$%%.
& fight not to be distracted.
+on't you sit!
o, & don't thin*.
&t's very late. You must
be tired, Mr. /ic*ens.
There's so much to do, & don't
*now whether my head is on or off.
elly, you must come and meet my very good friends.
Than* you. Yes, Mr. Arnott,
&'d be delighted to.
- This is Ambrose.
- 6ello.
- 4he is much in demand.
- Mmm, indeed.
)ome through. )ome through.
Than* you, Mrs. Ternan.
- .anny, Maria, we need to feed our guest.
- Yes, Mother.
2lease do not trouble yourself, Mrs. Ternan.
There is some meat in the larder.
And some fruit. And bread.
elly, would you bring a
drin* for Mr. /ic*ens!
This is enchanting.
Ah, & see you have
Mr. ;eene as the Moor.
& played his /esdemona. May &
ta*e your coat, Mr. /ic*ens!
& *now. Than* you, Mrs. Ternan.
And my husband was &ago.
&ndeed. 5.arewell
the tran1uil mind.5
- Than* you.
- 7h, would you sit!
&t is the only chair in the house that doesn't sag
should you shift in search of comfort.
+ell, & am warned. Than* you.
+e have ham and plums.
And some bread and some cheese.
This is charming.
And +ine.
Then & shall never leave.
- Oh, watch the...
- 4orry.
And & didn't *now how & could get rid of him.
And then what did you say!
+ell, what & should have said was,
5Mr. Andersen, though your
7gly /uc*ling has delighted,
5you've slept in this room for five
wee*s now and you must go home.5
- "ut you did not.
- & did not.
+hy didn't you!
6e doesn't understand 0nglish.
6e only spea*s /anish, and &'m
not sure he understands /anish.
& was tempted to learn his language so & could say to him,
5May you never outstay your
welcome so long again.5
And now it seems that & have done the same.
o, never.
& will than* you, ladies, for a pleasurable night.
'ife is nothing without good company.
)ongratulations, elly, on your performance.
Than* you.
3ood night, ladies.
'adies, good night.
- 3ood night.
- 3ood night.
This is a very pretty cottage.
Than* you. &f a little small.
The rewards of our profession are rarely monetary.
"ut & would have it no other way.
o one is entirely useless in this world
if they may lighten the burden.
& didn't *now he was going to be there.
My daughters are fine young women.
4ometimes, &'m an8ious for their future.
& understand.
&f & may be of assistance in any way!
& cannot ris* elly's reputation.
& hope that nothing & could offer would compromise her.
3ood night, Mrs. Ternan.
3ood night, Mr. /ic*ens.
3ood night, ladies.
3ood night.
Oh, my name is 4am 6all
And &'ve robbed both rich and poor
And my nec* shall pay for all +hen & die, when & die
)ome on out.
4hilling a blow, sir!
4hilling a blow!
& shall give you ? if you go home safely tonight.
& can play house, sir.
+ant me as your wife, sir!
+here is your mother!
'ast night, & sat ne8t to a gentleman at dinner,
and he as*ed me in some fury
why it was that our city should help
those who do not help themselves.
"y 5those5 he meant the many fallen women
that we see around us every day,
and their offspring, many who rely on this hospital today.
& replied,
5The two grim nurses, poverty and sic*ness,
5bring these children before you
and preside over their births,
5roc* their wretched cradles,
5nail down their little coffins,
5pile up the earth above their graves.
5Their unnatural deaths form one third
5of the annual deaths
in this great town.5
5"ut what of 3od!5
he piously replied.
5+hat Of him!5 & said.
5& feel sure 3od loo*s leniently on all vice
5that proceeds from human
tenderness and natural passion.5
& hope we will, too, and give generously tonight.
Than* you.
- Than* you, ma'am.
- 3ood night, sir.
Than* you, ma'am.
- 3ood night.
- Than* you, My 'ord.
- Than* you.
- Than* you very much.
- 3ood night.
- Than* you.
Oh, &'m sure you can do better than that, sir.
Maria. .anny. elly.
6ave we fleeced them!
+ith every ounce of our souls, Mr. /ic*ens.
Than* you. Than* you.
& did not believe we would raise so much money.
+here does one begin!
They'll ta*e some counting.
Yes. Yes.
4uch an achievement.
+e must celebrate.
Yes9 +e must9
+e shall.
6ere we are. 2lease,
Mrs. Ternan, come through.
Are you moving in or out, Mr. /ic*ens!
&'m thin*ing of letting it.
My wife prefers to live outside of the public glare.
'ondon tires her
and 3ad's 6ill is where she li*es
to retreat with the children.
3ad's 6ill near ,ochester!
&ndeed, very close.
+al*ing distance.
elly was born in ,ochester.
Ah, & was schooled in )hatham.
"ut my earliest memories are of ewcastle.
ewcastle & do not *now so well.
2lease, sit down.
Ma*e yourselves at home.
+e have champagne.
Than* you, =ohn.
2lease, on the piano.
ow did you ever see Mr. ;eene's )orsican "rothers!
&nteresting.
& saw that melodrama many, many years ago...
elly.
Than* you for your hospitality,
Mr. /ic*ens. +e must leave you.
.anny has an audition in the
morning and must rest her voice.
"ut, of course, of course.
7h, we have a wager, Mr. /ic*ens,
on how much we collected tonight.
& thin* A%% pounds, but .anny thin*s more.
Then & shall count it right away.
&t must be ban*ed tomorrow.
You'll be up all night.
+ell, & don't sleep well anyway.
+hy don't we help you!
Together it will ta*e us no time.
- +e have a rehearsal in the morning.
- o.
& could stay and help,
Mr. /ic*ens, with elly.
- &f you have no ob-ection.
- o, &...
+ell, yes, than* you. Than* you.
+ell, then, & shall wal* home with .anny.
- <ery well.
- Than* you, Mr. /ic*ens.
Than* you.
3ood night, Maria. 3ood night, .anny.
+e shan't be long.
si8 shillings and thruppence.
- +e are rich.
- Yes.
And they will be delighted
until the ne8t time.
/o you li*e this life!
)onstantly on show.
)onstantly watched.
+ell, it is not always of my own ma*ing, but...
& do not thin* & would.
+ell, & have my wor*.
&t is a great foil.
They try, but they cannot always find you there.
5They5!
Mmm, the haw*ers,
the men who need to ma*e money who loo* to trip you up.
And then there are the admirers.
Those who wish you to be more than you can possibly be.
And what is that!
3ood, & suppose.
My father was sent to a debtor's prison when & was B>.
& wor*ed in a blac*ing factory thereafter,
sealing bottles and stic*ing labels.
&t was hateful.
- +ere you fond of your father!
- +ell...
6e was my first audience.
& honed my comic lines on him.
Mmm...
&'ve told you too much.
You're too good at this.
You, now, you.
My father was an actor.
The son of a /ublin grocer.
Also in debt. Also dead.
+hen & was seven.
&n an asylum.
& had a brother.
6e died at B% months.
Though how a boy would have fit with three girls.
4he is devoted to us.
Our life is unpredictable.
You are...
+hat!
You are so free.
4he will sleep all night if we leave her.
& will as* =ohn to bring the carriage around.
elly!
elly!
Tell me a secret.
+hat *ind of secret!
Anything.
4omething that you've never told anyone
or perhaps never even thought of telling.
My middle name is 'awless.
ow your turn.
6mm.
0llen 'awless Ternan.
That is my secret.
4he's barely BC.
&'ve never had to concern myself about you and Maria.
There's always a tour for you and your younger sister.
Mr. "uc*stone's already en1uired
if Maria is free for pantomime.
"ut elly...
elly is different.
6er talent lies elsewhere.
& love her.
& love her dearly.
)harles /ic*ens is not merely some
opportunist, some adventurer.
& am thin*ing about what this life can offer her.
&'m thin*ing about her future.
+hat future would that be, Mother!
Our profession is hard enough, even if you have talent.
3o away, .anny.
& will stay out here all day if & have to.
elly.
- /id no one thin* of telling me!
- elly.
You are the truest person & *now in life,
but you are not an actress.
And what other arrangements have
been made which & do not *now about!
&t's only because we care so.
/o you love him!
6e is married.
That has not stopped him falling in love with you.
+e discussed 6ard Times,
but it -ust doesn't feel 1uite right.
& don't *now. They're 1uite lost.
4o & thought 3reat 08pectations
might be a choice for our readings.
/avid )opperfield is, of course, a contender,
but for me, 3reat 08pectations wins out in the end.
/o you agree!
'Tis a fine novel.
Mrs. +harton ,obinson,
& see you are soulful, distracted.
There is some...
As if...
...a part of you is absent.
& do not wish to intrude.
You tal*, & am sure, to your husband.
o.
ot all wives do.
To confide in the person you love the most,
well, sometimes that is hard.
3eorge is a good man.
- A very good man.
- Of course.
"ut you are troubled.
)omes and then it goes.
"ut it returns.
& wish to help you.
& hope & can be someone you can trust.
- ,eally, &'m 1uite well.
- You are not.
2lease, Mr. "enham.
& will listen without -udgment.
& am always here.
)ome on, boys.
)ome on, 2lorn.
The whole point of the third
leg is to give you more speed.
Oh9
7seless boy.
&t's time to get you undone.
+hat's happened here!
/o you have enough to eat!
- Than* you, Mr. /ic*ens.
- 3ood.
More gossip in The 'ondon /iary!
You could not *eep it 1uiet forever, )harles.
o matter. You must deny it.
,umors can always be denied.
/o not worry, it will pass.
And then you must stop this.
+hat if & do not want to!
/on't be foolish.
You cannot *eep her a secret.
Yes, & can.
2lorn9 +e'll do a hopping race.
Mamey. ;atey. )ome on. )ome on.
One leg. )ome on, are you ready!
)ome here, come here, come here.
)ome on. :uic*ly, come on,
2lorn. You're so slow.
And ready, steady, go9
Yes9 Yes9 Yes9 Yes9 Yes9
'adies, can & interest you in some of this!
- )lose your eyes.
- /on't turn around, elly.
/on't turn around.
)lose your eyes.
;eep them closed until & say...
Open your eyes9 6appy birthday.
6appy birthday.
That's lovely. Oh, loo*.
Ma'am, there's a Mrs. /ic*ens
to see Miss 0llen.
Mother.
& shall cut the ca*e.
And he never went home again.
And that was the first and last time.
Mr. Ambrose! 6ave you
ever too* to the stage!
Mrs. /ic*ens.
& thought this was the right house.
+on't you sit!
4uch attention to detail.
&t's all -ust paste and glass.
You find us in disarray.
&'d heard that he'd found you
somewhere close on the s1uare.
My mother and sister are to go to &taly.
.anny is to be a governess to the Trollope family.
,eally!
Mr. /ic*ens, um, *indly
made the introduction.
My husband's always been very generous.
Mmm.
6appy birthday, Miss Ternan.
+on't you open it!
&t is a gift from )harles.
&t was mista*enly delivered to me.
The -ewelers naturally believing.
)harles insisted that & delivered
it to its rightful recipient.
6e is fond of you.
And you of him!
4illy 1uestion.
6e is Mr. )harles /ic*ens.
&n those early years together,
& could not fail to be impressed.
"ut you will find that you must share him with his public.
They will be the constant.
And, in truth, you will never absolutely *now
which one he loves the most.
You.
Or them.
& do not believe he *nows himself.
&'m interrupting your party.
&'m far too old for parties.
There's not a soul under >% in attendance.
+ell, )harles will be here soon.
And he's nothing if not youthful.
;eep these for later.
Ah.
- 3ood evening.
- 6appy birthday.
Are we too late! +e're too late.
You've missed Maria's ca*e.
Oh, no9 4ay it's not so. +e haven't
missed all the fun, have we!
+e thought you might provide the fun.
+ell, then there's only one thing for it.
+e must whis* the birthday girl away.
Yes.
elly.
4ay you'll come.
+here are we going!
)ome through. )ome in, come in.
)aroline!
elly, follow me.
)aroline.
+e have visitors.
+il*ie, why did you not say!
+e are celebrating a very special birthday.
)aroline, may & present Miss 0llen Ternan!
&t's her birthday today.
6appy birthday. &'ve
heard only good things.
)aroline9
A new painting.
&t's unusual. &t's 1uite slap-up.
&s The "utler about!
Yes, yes, she's about.
Ah, here she is.
41ueals. There she is.
41ueals. And she s1ueals.
May & ta*e your wrap and gloves!
Than* you.
& prefer to *eep them on.
2lease.
+hat a lovely home.
Yes. Yes.
+il*ie found it.
)harles christened her 5The
"utler5 on their first meeting.
&t is all a game with him.
4he's very dear.
/oes this offend you, Miss Ternan!
+il*ie despises marriage, and
as a widow, this suits me well.
+e live very happily.
"ut you do disapprove, & see.
+e have fallen in love with men of standing, Miss Ternan.
& am not in love.
The giant's coming.
&t is late. ,eally.
&t is too, too late. & must leave.
2lease e8cuse me, Miss 3raves.
)harles, will you stay for dinner!
elly!
Mmm.
And still she is silent.
Mr. "uc*stone has offered me The +orld and The 4tage.
&t has a ridiculous plot.
A titled lady saved from debt by her sister, an actress.
Yes, but a very amusing final scene.
And it was you that secured me the role.
/id you mean to deliberately humiliate me tonight!
You did not li*e Miss 3raves!
You cannot e8pect me to associate with a woman
living so openly with a man outside of marriage.
- Oh, elly... elly... elly9
- 0ntertaining guests as if she.
& do not wish to appear ungrateful.
You have been generous.
4ome might say too generous to my family.
"ut & did not reali(e that & was to be your whore.
elly.
elly.
elly, it was a mista*e.
- /id you send )atherine to me!
- Yes.
4he is the mother of your children.
6ow could you be so cruel to her!
And for that, & shall always be grateful,
but & do not love her.
4he comprehends nothing.
4he sees nothing.
& thought if she saw you, then she would understand
that & have nothing with her.
- & wanted her to see it.
- 5&t5!
+hat is 5it,5 )harles!
+hat is it that we are!
+hen your wife as*ed me if & was fond of you,
& could not honestly reply.
& wanted to say no9
)an & be of assistance, sir!
&s this young lady troubling you, sir!
7h, than* you. 4he is not
troubling me at all. All is well.
<ery good. 3ood night, sir.
elly!
elly.
May & come in!
elly.
& used to wal* from the Aldwych to 6ighgate,
then bac* to +estminster, then on to Millban*.
You've 'ondon in your blood.
& do. & wal* at 1uite a pace.
- 3ood day.
- 3ood day.
And &'d wal* to 2utney and...
- &'ve done that wal*.
- Yes.
You don't believe me!
.ather.
)harley.
+hat are you doing here!
& wal* this way if &'ve ta*en an earlier train.
You remember Miss 0llen!
Of course.
)harley, you loo* well.
& am 1uite well.
Than* you, Miss Ternan.
)harley is wor*ing in the city.
- 6ow clever.
- ot really.
&t's a friend of .ather's.
& still have the glove which you rescued for me.
& would have been most unhappy to have lost it.
They're my favorite pair.
& am sure you would have found another.
+ell, & am already late...
Yes, yes.
.ather.
+ill we see you at home!
Yes.
3ood day, )harley.
)harley.
+hat is it!
&t's a letter in The Times.
&t's from .ather.
& can't read it.
+ould you read it!
,ead it to me.
5There is some domestic trouble of mine,
5longstanding,
5on which & will ma*e no further remar*,
5it being of a sacredly private nature.
56owever,
5it has lately been brought to an arrangement
5which involves no anger or ill will of any *ind.
5My wife, )atherine, and & have decided to separate.
5The whole origin,
5progress and surrounding circumstances
5have been throughout within the *nowledge of my children.
5&t is amicably composed,
5and its details have now but to be
forgotten by those concerned in it.
5& most solemnly declare that
all the lately whispered rumors
5touching upon my association
5with a certain young lady are abominably false.
57pon my soul and honor,
5there is no one on earth more virtuous
5and spotless than this young creature.
5And whoever says otherwise, after this denial,
5will lie as willfully and as foully as it is possible
5for any false witness to lie
before heaven and earth.5
Than* you.
6e's an honorable man.
And you, elly, are a beautiful...
- Mother.
- ...clever, wonderful young woman.
- "ut he cannot marry me.
- o.
6e cannot.
"ut & have been married,
and it is at times the loneliest place.
+hat do & do!
7m...
.anny and & leave for &taly at the end of the month.
You could come with us.
7m...
& can arrange a passage.
&t's easily done.
6e's burnt a lifetime's
correspondence, elly. elly, listen.
6e's even as*ed me to burn all our correspondence.
There is an insanity to his behavior.
o, he's not insane.
6e's distraught.
And & am not!
You have a choice.
You can distance yourself from him.
You could find a new life, a different life.
A different life!
+hat different life!
+hat life is there for me!
6e is a good man...
Trying to be a good man.
"ut he is a great man.
You see him, elly.
& watch you together.
You see him, he sees you.
+hat more does one want in life!
- +il*ie.
- &'m coming.
+e have to brea* these conventions.
4mash them up.
+e're the pioneers.
2ioneers!
You men,
you live your lives while it is we who have to wait.
You see a freedom which & do not see.
+il*ie.
The "utler will not sleep if & don't read to her.
My name is whispered with yours.
Yet & have nothing.
elly.
- & have no regrets.
- )harles...
& have bro*en something which needed brea*ing.
& have finished it.
Yes, it is finished.
o, no, no. The boo*.
& have finished the boo*. 6ere.
You do not li*e it!
o.
& li*e it.
& li*e it very much.
+il*ie thin*s & should change the ending.
o, you must not.
To bring 0stella and 2ip together
at the end but not to unite them.
- 4he is changed. That is enough!
- Yes.
&t is a sad ending, but 0stella finds her heart.
- 4he finds an understanding at last.
- 08actly.
And at times...
2ip is not heroic.
6e is filled with the vanities,
the ambitions, the flaws in all of us.
Yes.
& *now what & have done,
but to stay as it was, & cannot when my heart...
elly.
&n an earlier chapter, 2ip said,
5You are part of my
e8istence, part of myself.5
& remember.
5You have been in every line & have ever read.
5You have been in every prospect & have ever seen,
5on the river, on the sails of the ships,
5on the marshes, in the clouds, in the light,
5in the dar*ness, in the wind, in the woods,
5in the sea, in the streets.
5You have been the embodiment of every graceful fancy
5that my mind has ever become ac1uainted with.
50stella.
5To the last hour of my life,
5you cannot choose but remain part of my character.
52art of the little good in me.
52art of the evil.5
'et us go away.
5'ow, touch my face with yours
5'in case & should not hold out till you come bac*.
5'& love you, Mortimer.5'
5The discovery was hers.
5'Observe, my dear 0ugene,
5'while & am away, you will *now
5'that & have discharged
my trust...5'
5'...so much, =ohn dear,
and since you do,
5'& am sorry that these shoes are a full si(e too large.
5'"ut & don't want a carriage, believe me.
& have agreed to ?% more readings.
&n Manchester, 3lasgow and /ublin.
And &'ve been as*ed to give a reading in 2aris.
- 4hall & come with you!
- +ell...
There are whisperings, elly.
- +here!
- &n 2aris.
And if they're in 2aris, then they will soon be in 'ondon.
&'ve been out of circulation.
Then you must go.
Yes. &t is what & am.
o, & shall not go.
- o, you shall.
- o, no, no.
- My mind is made up. & shall not go.
- o, you will.
4orry, ma'am.
& didn't see you there.
&t is 1uite all right, Mary.
& will do it.
&s there anything else, ma'am!
The guests will be arriving shortly.
That is everything.
Than* you, Mary.
Mr. Tringham, & am sorry.
0ven when they are perfectly
developed at birth, it happens.
& need a signature.
&t is necessary.
+ill he have a burial!
Yes, of course.
)ertificate of /eath
elly, have you left the *eys on the table!
& believe an 0nglish family wish
to ta*e the house for the winter.
elly!
4ay something.
4ay something9
+e shall miss our train.
All passengers arrived from .rance.
This train for 'ondon.
& thin* we're in the last compartment here.
&t's Mr. /ic*ens.
Than* you. +e're in here, & thin*.
Mr. /ic*ens, sir.
My wife says she should marry ,o*esmith and be done.
- 2erhaps the ne8t chapter.
- &'ll tell her.
That's for you.
Than* you very much.
Than* you.
4leep, elly, and when you wa*e, we shall be home.
3entlemen, please.
4omeone open these carriages here.
And your wife! &s anyone
else in this carriage!
08cuse me.
- 6elp9
- Over here9
- 2lease, they are hurt.
- 6elp9
Ta*e the weight on your other leg.
4ir!
4ir!
+e're as*ing everyone able-bodied
if they could help with the most in-ured.
+e need all the hands we can get.
elly.
elly.
4ir!
08cuse me, sir.
)ould you come and assist me!
- &s it Mr. /ic*ens, sir!
- Yes.
+ere you traveling alone, sir!
3o.
Mr. /ic*ens.
- +ere you traveling alone!
- 3o.
3o. 3o.
4ir!
Yes, 1uite alone.
This woman is in need of assistance.
+e are dealing with the most in-ured first.
Yes, &'ll do what & can, but you
must attend to this young woman.
Madam, & will get one of these ladies to attend to you.
'adies, please. This way, sir.
- Yes, we're with her.
- 2lease, will you attend to her!
- +e're with her.
- & have brandy here.
7h...
- 4ir!
- /on't worry. 4tay here.
)hec* who's inside.
Ah.
4ir, press down as hard as you can to stop the blood flow.
4ir, this is brandy.
+e will find assistance for you as soon as possible.
2orter, we need to release all passengers
from the train above so they may help with the in-ured.
All able-bodied gentlemen,
bring their hats to this tree.
0llen Ternan!
Yes.
That was my name.
You have always *nown this!
4uspected.
Things you said.
)omments.
Memories of Mr. /ic*ens that
were not a child's memories.
& saw him read once.
&t was magical.
One forgets that he was more than writer, more than actor.
& have lived my life in the pages of those novels.
& should not have e8pected their author
to have lived so 1uiet a life.
The house is to your li*ing!
Yes.
&'m happy to see the castle from the window.
There's a fire in every room.
And &'ve ta*en the liberty of employing
a nurse who will attend to you.
4he's a local woman but of good *ind.
&t's a sleepy mar*et town with a very fine butchers.
And the church is newly restored, which you must visit.
The fast train from 2addington ta*es BC minutes.
Or alternatively, there's a train to
+indsor from <ictoria or +aterloo,
which also serves well.
elly!
&t's as if it's floating.
You will come to see me!
Yes. Of course.
+ee*ly!
Mmm, twice wee*ly. More.
And if & should need anything!
You need only as*.
And should & e8pect you at wee*ends and holidays!
- Yes, but my family...
- Of course.
+hen you can.
Yes.
And shall we *eep Tringham!
Yes.
Then this is how it is to be now.
+hatever & have tried to do in life,
& have tried with all my heart to do it well.
+hatever &'ve devoted myself to, &...
/on't, )harles.
/on't e8plain.
There's nothing to say.
0veryone has their secret.
And this is ours.
Yes.
& was not a child when & met Mr. /ic*ens-
& was BC.
&t wasn't easy, our friendship.
Yet there were days of such -oy, such celebration.
And we'd tal* and laugh together.
6e *new he'd leave me first.
That he would die first.
)harles understood that however painful it is,
we're alone.
+hoever we're with,
we are alone.
6e was right.
3reat 08pectations.
6e wrote an ending. it was his
first instinctive ending.
A good ending.
2ip and 0stella do not come together.
2ip sees that she will never be his.
'ater they wanted him to change it.
4ome people thought it too brutal.
4o instead...
2ip's final words are...
5& saw the shadow of
no parting from her.5
6e ends the boo* in shadows.
&n uncertainty.
&n haunting.
And that is where & have been living.
/o you see!
Yes.
& will not live there anymore.
elly.
You're late. &t's nearly dar*.
+here have you been!
3eorge.
& am here.
& am here.
Are you 1uite well!
Yes, 3eorge.
Are you sure!
& wal*ed with Mr. "enham today.
+e tal*ed about Mr. /ic*ens.
Yes.
3eorge...
The memories of a child, elly.
3eoffrey.
Oh, 3eoffrey.
You will frighten our guests.
& thin* he was trying to frighten his mother.
3eoffrey.
- 3o on, ta*e your place.
- Yes, Mama.
elly.
+ell, my lads, the day has bro*en at last.
+hat do you say to the weather now!
& say the weather will do.
& say doubtful.
& can see for myself there's a storm coming.
& smell the snow. & can feel
the hurricane in the air.
o money those gentlemen can offer
will tempt me to cross the mountain with them today.
+ell, are you ready at last
to cross the mountain with us or not!
& say yes, if the others will say yes, too.
& say no9
& am mountain boy.
& *now the pass up there as & *now my A").
You *now the mountain.
&f you ris* it, & will.
&'m your man. & will guide you to your -ourney's end.
- 4ay when.
- ow9
Are you ready!
& am ready. )ome along.
This is a tale of woe.
This is a tale of sorrow.
A love denied, a love restored,
to live beyond tomorrow.
'est we thin* silence is the place to hide a heavy heart,
remember, to love and be loved is life itself
without which we are nought.
'Tis the last rose of summer
'eft blooming alone
All her lovely companions
Are faded and gone
o flower of her *indred
o rosebud is nigh
To reflect bac* her blushes
And give sigh for sigh
&'ll not leave thee, thou lone one
To pine on the stem
4ince the lovely are sleeping
3o sleep thou with them
Thus *indly & scatter
Thy leaves o'er the bed
+here thy mates of the garden
'ie scentless and dead
4o soon may & follow
+hen friendships decay
And from love's shining circle
The gems drop away
+hen true hearts lie withered
And fond ones are flown
Oh, who would inhabit
This blea* world alone!
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