Dickensian

DOOR RATTLES

Havisham?

KNOCK ON DOOR

Havisham?

REPEATED KNOCKING Arthur!

I know you're there!

RECEDING FOOTSTEPS

You're going to need new breeches

if we're going to impress Mr. Gradgrind

when he comes over for dinner next week. - Yes, dear.

You know, Bumble... life sometimes deals us such cruel blows.

Surely we two hard-working good Christian souls deserve better.

Our reward will be in Heaven, my sweet.

If you manage to persuade Mr. Gradgrind

that you are worthy of promotion,

you might find reward enough here on Earth.

DOOR OPENS

Is Mr. Barbary at home, miss?

He's gone to church with my sister. Can I give him a message?

No message.

Thank you.

Oh, James! What happened?

I walked into a fist.

Mr. Wegg!

I'm glad I caught you.

You can make a donation to the local ragged school.

About the same amount as the cost of a crate of brandy.

Four sovs? Daylight robbery.

There you are, then. Like for like.

Silas.

HE SNORTS

Oh! Someone got out of bed the wrong side this morning.

Someone wishes he hadn't got out of bed at all.

Sore?

Not as sore as the chap who lost.

I took him for every penny.

Well, I was going to ask you to meet Father,

but you can't see him like this!

He'll think the man I'm going to marry

is a gambling, drunken street-fighter.

This man sounds like a terrible influence.

I don't know why you stay with him.

The thought had crossed my mind, several times.

He's unreliable...

he's unpredictable...

...unashamed...

GASPS

I'll see you after Bible class.

A wonderful service as always, Vicar.

RIPPING

You know what this means, don't you?

- A new waistcoat? - A thinner Bumble.

Until the dinner with Mr. Gradgrind, not a piece of pie, a crumb of cake

or a morsel of muffin shall pass your lips.

- It was a lovely service. - Thank you so much.

- Compeyson! - Bucket!

Miss Havisham.

You recovered after last night?

- Yes, thank you. - Recovered from what?

I'm afraid I persuaded your cousin

to drink more than perhaps he should have.

- You were drunk?! - A little. - My fault entirely.

You hardly put a pistol to my head.

Perhaps Mr. Compeyson could join us for Sunday lunch.

If it suits him.

- And Arthur, of course. - If you can rouse him.

He was dead to the world when I called earlier.

You, cousin, drunk?

I had no idea you had it in you.

I am a man of many secrets and hidden depths.

Dear Matthew, you're far too honest to conceal anything from anyone.

I do apologise for this intrusion on the Sabbath, sir.

Inspector Bucket of the Detective.

I saw you in church - or rather, heard you.

You're a fine baritone, Inspector.

Oh, bless you, sir.

And you're an excellent tenor -

I dare say I'm not the first to pass comment on it.

Well, now that you mention it, no.

Good for the soul, singing.

- Don't you find? - Indeed.

Forgive me for admiring this portrait, Mr. Barbary.

Most impressive.

Tell me, the flower in the lady's brooch -

would it be a geranium?

My late wife's favourite.

I'm no horticulturalist myself,

but Mrs. Bucket is a keen gardener.

You wear something similar, if I'm not mistaken.

A badge, yes.

Why do you ask?

A gentleman wearing such an item and matching your description

was seen down by the dockside on Christmas Eve.

The night Jacob Marley was murdered.

A witness saw you having an altercation with the murder victim -

a man you owed money to.

Mr. Marley had his wallet stolen,

and only two days later, Mr. Scrooge has confirmed,

you paid off part of your debt.

Perhaps you could tell me

where you found the money that enabled you to do this.

BACKGROUND HUBBUB

Such was my financial desperation,

I was forced to sell my late wife's engagement ring.

I burn with the shame of my betrayal of her.

I used the money from the sale to pay off part of my debt.

This debt was the cause of your altercation with Mr. Marley?

He increased the interest on it threefold

as a penalty for a late payment.

He appeared to take great pleasure in my plight, which...

angered me.

What time would this be?

Possibly... eight or nine o'clock.

You can't be more precise?

No, I'm afraid I can't.

The ring.

Who did you sell it to?

I'd heard about this nefarious character operating at the docks.

He certainly lived down to his reputation -

arch, obsequious, avaricious.

'Typical of his type, I imagine.'

Nancy how much you want for her?

Depends how much you're attached to her.

I'd say a great deal,

what with taking her for a picnic and suchlike.

There's £5 there.

Very droll, Bill, very droll.

- 50. - Devil take you, Fagin!

Cos if he don't, I will.

I only have Nancy's best interests at heart.

That is my offer. Take it or leave it.

DOOR SLAMS

Father?

What's happened?

Diamond cluster. Very nice piece, as I recall.

- Then what happened? - He went his way, I went mine.

You told me you came straight here from the pub.

You made no mention of meeting anyone at the docks that night.

Why should I? It was just a bit of business.

A bit of business where a murder happened to take place.

- And you were there. - Coincidence, Inspector.

Nothing more, nothing less.

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

KNOCK AT DOOR

Arthur?

DOOR OPENS

- Cousin, thank God it's you! - Who were you expecting?

- Where are you going? - I don't know. Anywhere.

- As far away from here as possible. - Why?!

I've made a dreadful mistake!

- It's all a mess, it's all a complete mess! - What is?

I've got myself into a situation with someone...

...that I can't see a way out of.

Well, with whom? Do you want me to speak to this person?

No. You don't know what he's like. >

He's a monster. >

The devil! >

Who is?

- A name, Arthur. What's his name? - It's...

Bucket!

I didn't know you were here.

I see you've had better luck in waking Arthur than I did.

Good God, man, you look terrible.

Arthur's in a spot of trouble, Compeyson. With whom, Arthur?

Oh, no.

Don't tell me, is it that fiend of a moneylender?

Scrooge, that was it.

My dear Arthur. What did I tell you, hmm?

Never get involved with these people.

Allow me to settle your debt. Whatever it takes.

Well, that's very decent of you, Compeyson.

Isn't it, Arthur?

I've asked Compeyson to Satis House for Sunday lunch.

Please say you'll join us.

Amelia would love to see you,

and then perhaps you can get this dreadful character out of your mind.

Excellent idea.

Wouldn't you say?

Yes. Excellent.

- Lunch at one. - Of course.

How quickly you forget how low you were

when your father's will was read.

The day will come when you can't thank me enough.

You stand to profit, too.

I'm not the one who's desperate to claw back his dignity, though. Am I?

Am I?

Just remember... I know your secret.

KNOCKING AT DOOR

EXASPERATED SIGH

Oh!

Oh, bless us and save us, Inspector, you scared the wits out of me.

I hadn't realised my appearance was so unsettling.

Well, with a murderer on the loose, I'm a bundle of nerves, see?

Perhaps you need something to steady you.

Yeah. Catching the killer, that'd do it.

We're doing everything we can, I assure you.

Yeah. Well, in the meantime,

I'm going to take your advice and make do with a shot of gin.

Yoo-hoo! Silas?

You got no home to go to, Mrs. Gamp? We're closed.