"Whoa." "Arr te." "Arr te." "Go on." "Get out." "Out!" "Well, let us see what we can do here." "Melmotte." "Melmotte?" "Well, what about him?" "Only that he's brought his whole business to london--office, family, taken a house in grosvener square." "What is his business?" "Money." "Makes it work for him, makes it sit up and beg like a circus dog." "Wait a minute," "I've heard of this man." "Didn't his bank collapse in vienna?" "I daresay it did, but melmotte got out scot-free with a cool million." "I've heard the man's a jew and a swindler and a scoundrel, and I shan't know him." "( Chuckles ) that's all very well, longestaffe, but can you afford not to know him?" "I'm damned if I can." "Your five and another ten." "Apparently there's a daughter." "What does she look like?" "Hardly the point, felix." "She's supposed to be worth a hundred thousand." "I hear it's twice that." "Anyway, don't look at the mantelpiece when you're stoking the fire, what?" "That's caddish, grendall." "I beg your pardon, sir felix." "Come on!" "Are you in or are you out?" "Out." "Out." "I'll see you." "Uh... damn!" "Damn and blast!" "Perhaps you had better go and have a look at miss melmotte after all!" "Yes." "Very amusing." "Lord!" "What a long face." "( Knock on door )" "( knock on door )" "( knock )" "( knock ) who is it, hetta?" "It's mr." "Wakeham, the wine merchant." "At this hour?" "That's quite beyond the pale!" "( Knock ) simpson!" "Shh!" "( Knocking continues ) he's going away." "( Knock on door ) who is that?" "It's mr." "Broune and mr." "Alf." "The two cleverest men in london, hetta, here in my poor little salon." "No, no, lady carbury, you're too kind." "Too kind." "Not a bit of it." "Not a bit of it." "Without your great newspapers to tell us, how should we know what to think?" "But will you be kind to my poor little book?" "Criminal queens." ""Cleopatra, mary, queen of scots," ""marie antoinette-- powerful women as the playthings of love."" "Ha ha!" "Good heavens!" "Mr. Alf, I quake already in anticipation." "Will you be as cruel to me as you were to poor mrs." "Effington stubbs?" "Will you tell me i'd much better sit at home and darn my stockings?" "I have to speak as I find." "Well, no amount of critical severity will make me receive you otherwise than with a smile, but do, I beg you, bear in mind that authorship is my only means of providing for my poor children." "I don't see how it bears on the literary merit of the work, ma'am." "As for your son," "I'd have thought he'd be providing for himself by now." "He's not crippled or an imbecile, I take it." "No, no, alf." "Good evening, lady carbury." "Be gentle with my literary effort, as gentle as you can be." "( Chuckles ) oh, dear." "Just wait a moment, my dear friend." "There's something I'd like to consult you about." "I've received an invitation from someone called melmotte." "Madame melmotte of grosvener square is holding a ball." "Who is this person, mr." "Broune?" "Should one accept her invitations?" "I understand that all london has been invited, and all london intends to go." "The prince will be there." "Shall you be there, mr." "Broune?" "I shall indeed, lady carbury." "Then I shall follow your lead." "I value your guidance so much in this perplexing modern world." "Supporting my family single-handedly as I do with nothing but my pen," "I sometimes feel so very alone and unprotected." "You will never be unprotected while I am here, lady carbury." "Oh." "Mr. Broune." "Ha ha ha!" "Beg your pardon!" "How do you do, mr." "Broune?" "Carry on, carry on." "Don't mind me." "Little bit of spooning don't shock me, you know." "Oh, felix!" "I'll take my leave, lady carbury." "I think it's best." "If you think so." "Bient t, then." "Yes." "Yes." "Good night." "Must you, felix?" "Yes, hetta, I find I must." "Oh, felix, I wish you'd leave your tobacco behind when you come in here." "Well, for you, mother." "Dear boy." "I wonder, mother, could you let me have 20 pounds?" "I can't afford to pay the wine merchant." "I'm not giving you 20 pounds to fritter away at the beargarden club." "Who said anything about the beargarden club?" "Mother," "I--I am about to recover the family fortunes." "Aren't you always telling me i've got to find myself a nice rich girl and marry her?" "Well, I've found one." "Name's maria melmotte." "Quarter of a million, guaranteed." "Now, I intend to try for her, but I'll need a little something, you know, to set up my shopfront, shan't I?" "I can't go round to grosvener square like a beggar, can I?" "Felix... hmm?" "Do you really think you can bring this off?" "I'll try, mother, for you...and hetta." "You are a good, dear boy!" "( Chuckles ) ohh!" "Yes, hetta, what is it?" "Don't you know he'll go and lose it at cards?" "You might as well throw your money out the window." "Can't a fellow have a game of cards, now?" "I'd be happy for you to play if you won, and I'd be happy for you to lose if it were your own money, but it's all we have to live on." "And should you encourage him to be such a shameless fortune hunter?" "Shouldn't marriage have something to do with love?" "I married for love, hetta, and watched the man I loved turn into a heartless brute." "If your brother is generous enough to put his wishes last so you can have the freedom to please yourself, then I think you should be grateful rather than otherwise." "Well put, mother." "There's no need to thank me, hetta." "See you tomorrow morning, then." "Where are you going to at this hour?" "Urgent, unfinished business." "Don't forget we're going to the country tomorrow." "( Sighs heavily )" "I'm back!" "I'm back!" "New blood at the table!" "Look lively, lads!" "Deal me in." "Count them." "( Raucous chatter )" "( distant bell chimes ) well, well, well, well." "Would you believe it?" "Lucky at cards, unlucky in love." "Looks like a damn fine, clear, cold day." "Fancy a spot of hunting, felix?" "( Groaning ) oh, god." "Are you sure you're up to it, longestaffe?" "Three things I can do in any condition-- ride, shoot..." "I forgot the other one!" "Anyway, what do you say?" "Sorry, dolly." "Promised to my cousin today, your neighbor." "A beastly bore, but there we are." "Old roger carbury?" "Finest fellow in england." "I won't hear a word said against him-- heart of oak and so on." "Bit of a dull dog, for all that." "Exactly." "Mind you, there's some pretty scenery thereabouts." "( Rifle cocks )" "( uncocks hammer )" "well, why didn't you shoot?" "Why didn't you?" "Thank you, bain." "Oh, good lord." "Only just in time." "I'm so glad you could be here when they came." "Here we are." "You made good time." "The great thing about the railways is, they're so reliable." "Lady carbury, do you know my ward paul montague?" "Mr. Montague." "The last time we met you, you were 12 years old and getting into fearful scrapes at school, as I recall." "And my son, sir felix." "My daughter hetta." "Hello, roger." "Miss carbury." "Mr. Montague." "The last time you saw hetta, she must have been very small." "Do you think she's turned out well?" "Mother." "Yes." "Well, uh, shall we go inside?" "Ah, carbury, thought I might borrow a mount off you, admire the local scenery." "Yes, certainly, if you wish." "Why, ruby, what a pleasant surprise." "Surprise, my foot." "I've been waiting and waiting for you." "Roger carbury is the best man I know." "I owe so much to him." "Well, he could see that oxford and the bar meant nothing to me." "I wanted a different life-- get into engineering and go west." "Go west?" "Yes." "New york first, then the midwest, then california, texas, new mexico." "How I should love that!" "What did you do there?" "Cattle, property, roads and bridges, stringing the telegraph way up into the sierras." "But railways are still the biggest thing out there," "I'm convinced of it." "I've put all my inheritance into a partnership, and we're going to build a railroad right down into mexico, from salt lake city" "2,000 miles to vera cruz." "And if it weren't for roger carbury," "I should probably be cooped up in some poky chambers in the city." "( Chuckles ) yes, he is a dear, good man." "Why do you smile?" "I don't know." "Because I'm having a good time, I guess." "Why do you?" "The same, I suppose." "I know she has feelings of...of fondness for me." "Perhaps she's still too young to experience the kind of passionate attachment that I feel myself." "No, roger, don't think she's too young." "In fact, if I were you," "I'd make my bid as soon as possible, before anyone else does." "You must take your courage in both hands, my dear friend." "Faint heart never won fair lady." "Yes." "Yes." "What are you doing in england now if your business is in mexico?" "We had to meet melmotte." "Hear he's a great man for raising money." "Melmotte." "Strange that everything should revolve around him." "Shall you be at madame melmotte's ball?" "Yes, I..." "I guess so." "Shall you?" "Yes, I shall." "Well, I look forward to seeing you there." "Longestaffe, yes, father and son." "Grendall, yes." "Nidderdale... ( groans ) yes." "Ah." "Prime minister's declined." "Well, he'll regret that, but we've got two cabinet ministers and a couple of ambassadors." "Here, you make sure you dance with young nidderdale." "Don't ung nidderdale, pa." "He's got nothing to say, and he's got a funny neck." "You'll like who I tell you to like." "His father owns half scotland." "He's land-rich, cash-poor, like all the rest of these dukes and lords." "They'll come cap in hand to melmotte." "But I won't like him, whatever you say." "Ah, dommage." "( Hisses ) stupid woman!" "Cannot you get one simple thing right?" "And as for you... you'll do as I say, do you hear?" "And you'll like who I tell you to like, do you hear?" "Not listening." "Do you hear?" "Not listening." "Not listening." "It will be magnificent." "They will come." "They will." "( Distant laughter )" "( orchestral music plays ) welcome." "Good evening." "You're very welcome." "Mr. Melmotte." "Mr. Melmotte." "Enchantez, madame." "This is my daughter." "Thrilled to meet you, sir." "Thrilled to meet you." "Is lovely u." "Oh, no, no." "Really." "Andrew!" "Good evening." "I hardly know a soul." "Melmotte:" "Very welcome." "Very welcome." "Please." "Good evening." "You're very welcome." "My daughter." "Very welcome." "( Music ends )" "( applause ) miss carbury." "Mr. Montague." "( Orchestral music begins ) may I request the pleasure of this dance?" "Don't think i know this one." "I'll gladly teach you, if you like." "Round." "One...two... three...round." "You're a very quick study, mr." "Montague." "It's easy to learn with such a good teacher." "( Modest chuckle ) very good." "So, tell me, what are the balls like in california and texas?" "Not quite so formal." "In texas, they often end in fisticuffs and gunplay." "( Hetta chuckles )" "( music ends )" "( applause ) lady carbury, ain't it?" "The well-known authoress, am I right?" "Yes?" "Mr. Melmotte!" "You flatter me." "Oh, no, no, no." "Not at all." "I just make it my business to know who's who and what's what, ma'am." "Very happy to see you here at grosvener square." "Happy indeed." "...Shadow on the bedsheet, which looks exactly like... these fingers here are the teeth, and they go up and down and they chew." "Do you see?" "I can make them open and shut." "( Imitates dog barking ) that's awfully good." "What a strange creature marie melmotte is." "She seems to have plenty of admirers." "Should you like to have so many?" "One that I truly liked would be quite enough." "Shall we dance again?" "I've already danced with you twice." "Is there a law around here about dancing three times?" "Not that I know of." "Is there in texas?" "There aren't many laws of any kind in texas." "Even less in mexico." "I think I'd like texas and mexico." "I think they'd like you." "( Orchestral music begins )" "( gasps ) and carbury goes into an early lead." "Nidderdale lengthens to 7-to-2, grendall, 20s, longestaffe, nowhere." "Well, good luck to him." "Melmotte won't come up to my governor's price." "She's a queer little thing, ain't she?" "Thought we'd get a little fresh air." "How well you dance." "Do I?" "No one ever told me that before." "No one ever tells me anything-- anything nice, I mean." "Well..." "let me see." "I'll tell you what you would like best in all the world." "And what is that?" "Someone who liked you best in all the world." "But who would like me best in all the world?" "No one, I think." "Oh, yes." "There is someone." "Don't you know?" "Can't you tell?" "Don't tease me, sir felix." "Nobody will ever like me best in all the world." "Oh, but you're wrong." "You're wrong." "I do." "Oh, felix!" "Felix!" "( Music ends )" "( applause ) lady carbury." "You--here?" "Why not?" "The evening pulpit goes everywhere." "Oh, look." "Here comes the prince." "( Chuckles ) what will they do with him now they've caught him?" "I wouldn't have missed this for anything." "( Orchestral music plays )" "( malevolent chuckle ) lady carbury... may I have the pleasure?" "Would you care to dance?" "( Groans )" "I really think i should be going." "Come on, alfred." "One more hand won't hurt you." "It's lord alfred, if you don't mind." "Call people by their proper names." "If you want me to make you rich, alfred, you'll take me as you find me and do what I ask of you." "Now... one more hand?" "( Chuckles heartily ) good!" "Here!" "Now... deal the cards, my boy." "( Door opens noisily )" "( slurring ) there's something wrong with this door, mother." "Shh!" "Roger's in there with hetta." "Ah!" "Oh." "'Nuff said." "Fat chance." "( Snickers )" "I've loved you for so long." "I've watched you change from the loveliest girl into the loveliest woman in the world." "Could you love me as I love you?" "Could you be my wife, the mother of my children?" "I'm so sorry, roger." "I don't think I could." "You refuse me." "Roger, I do love you." "I always have done, ever since i was a little girl, but not in the way that you mean." "But that could grow." "I don't think so." "I don't think I could ever love you as you would wish, and it would be wrong for us to marry if I didn't love you in that way." "Perhaps I'm not one of those girls who ought to marry at all." "At any rate," "I should like to do something with myself, something in the world, before I settle down." "What sort of something?" "Hetta, are you being entirely honest with me?" "Is there someone else who has gained your affections?" "No." "No one has spoken to me of love but you." "Then I can still hope?" "I wish you would not." "I don't think you understand me." "All I care about in life is bound up in you." "Don't say that!" "I can't bear... hear me out, I beg you." "You have to know that only you have the power to make me happy... and I would move heaven and earth to make you happy too." "I can wait, so long as there is a shred of hope." "( Door opens )" "I have proposed to hetta, and she has refused." "Silly, silly girl." "I'm so sorry." "But she has given me leave to hope." "I shan't give up." "Well, mind you don'T." "Now, would you have that word with felix, as you promised?" "Please... please... dear friend." "Very well." "( Door opens ) oh, carbury. 'Morning." "I was just on my way out, actually." "You can spare ten minutes from your busy life." "Sit down." "Very well, but it won't do any good, you know." "It's all very well, preaching to people who... are good, but nothing will come of preaching to people who ain't good." "Water off a duck's back." "Can't be helped." "It can be helped, and it will." "This can't go on, felix." "You've wasted all your inheritance, and now you appear to be set upon wasting your mother'S." "If you're talking about the 20 pounds i had off her the other evening, that's laid out in a very good cause indeed." "Why don't you just sit down with me and eat a grilled chop like a good fellow?" "Get any luck with hetta, by the way?" "Never mind that." "I do know that every penny you lay your hands on goes straight into your friends' pockets at the gaming table." "I know very well what I'm doing." "Yes." "Bringing your mother and sister to beggary." "You know nothing of my affairs." "In fact," "I hope to be able to support them both very soon, and in a finer style than they have ever known." "I don't suppose you've heard of miss melmotte?" "I've heard of a swindler called melmotte who has lately come over from paris and is buying his way into society." "Hmm." "Just so." "And he can buy or sell you or me 100 times over." "Well, I expect, very soon, to be able to announce my engagement to his daughter, with a fortune of half a million, all right?" "All right, is that enough to satisfy you?" "You're a fool, felix, if you're setting all your hopes on that." "If melmotte could buy anyone he liked for his daughter, why on earth should he choose you?" "Because she loves me, old boy!" "And I am a baronet, after all." "I know, I know." "Virtue ought to triumph and all that, but that ain't the way the world works." "Sorry." "Enjoyed our chat." "You'll ruin your sister and break your mother's heart." "( Knocks on door ) ah." "For miss melmotte, from sir felix carbury." "I won't come in." "Pressing affairs of business." "Good day to you." "Merde!" "...Tomorrow to set up the business side of things." "I'll be overseeing the thing itself-- the planning, surveying, building the railway." "And you want to get this melmotte involved?" "He's the only man in europe for raising capital, so everyone says." "( Sighs heavily )" "I don't like what I've heard of him." "People say all sorts of things." "He's a bit coarse," "I daresay." "I was at his house last night." "Huge place." "Your cousins were there." "Yes, I know." "What a lovely girl hetta carbury is." "Yes, she is." "She's the loveliest girl in england." "There's something i ought to tell you, paul." "I've offered my hand to hetta carbury in marriage." "And has she accepted?" "No." "Not as yet, no." "She needs time to get used to the idea, but everything in life to me depends upon it, paul." "Oh, uh...sorry." "I think I may count on your sympathy." "I wish you'd told me this before, roger." "Before?" "Why should I have told you before?" "Before what?" "Before you introduced us." "Oh, come on!" "Come on, paul." "This isn't a joking matter." "I'm not joking, roger." "You've barely spoken to the girl." "Hetta carbury is the one and only love of my life." "And she loves me too." "She said so." "Promise me you will abandon this fancy, paul." "Anyway, aren't you involved with a woman whom you told me you wanted to marry just as much only a year ago?" "That's all over." "Oh." "Hardly a model of constancy." "Roger, let's not break our friendship over this." "If hetta really loves you and wants to marry you," "I shan't try to interfere." "Anyway, I've got my work cut out with this railway business." "I shall stay out of your way for a while." "Fisker!" "Over here!" "( American accent ) here's where we break off from the san francisco line, here at salt lake city, and then it is down through arizona and then new mexico and all the way through mexico city," "and then out at the gulf at vera cruz." "Look at that!" "That is one helluva railway, boy." "And we're really going to build it." "It's you and me, pal." "And look at this." "You see this?" "This is the detailed business plans, forward investment and profit forecasts." "But you don't have to worry about any of that." "Let me deal with that." "That's my department." "We've got the concession from the U.S. Congress." "I'm all set up to open up offices in mexico city, vera cruz." "So, when can i go out there and get some work started?" "Just as soon as we get our finances sewn up here." "All that we have to do now is sell it." "( Distant bells tolling )" ""melmotte  company."" "Rather poky premises for the greatest financier in europe, don't you think?" "These great men have their own way of doing things." "Good morning, gentlemen." "Mr. Hamilton K. Fisker and mr." "Paul montague to see mr." "Melmotte." "He's expecting you." "( Knocks on door ) the south-central pacific and mexican railway." "Would anyone want to take a train from salt lake city to vera cruz?" "No." "I wouldn'T." "Yes, but there are thousands who would, sir, and we're talking about opening up a whole continent for trade." "Hmm." "That's so." "You have a very nice turn of phrase, but I'm just a plain man of business." "I like to stick to practical matters." "All right, there, mr." "Fisker, how far have you got?" "Well, we've got the concession from congress, in principle." "We're to have the land for free, of course, and we are all set up to float the company in new york, san francisco, st." "Louis, and chicago, and I can tell you that they are going wild." "The price of shares is forecast to go right through the roof as soon as this issue goes public." "Oh, is it?" "So, what do you want me for?" "Ah." "Chairman of the english board of directors, I suppose." "Exactly, sir." "And I can assure you that, if you gave yourself up to it heart and soul, it would be the finest thing out." "There would be such a mass of stock." "And the rest of the board?" "Up to you, sir." "Well, we'll get a few names-- lords, dukes, baronets, that sort of thing." "That's just about what I thought myself." "This kind of thing... it can only be brought off once in a lifetime, you know." "That's it, sir, exactly." "That's what's so splendid about it." "Or, perhaps one should say, only once in each continent." "Hmm." "Ha ha ha!" "That's very good, mr." "Montague!" ""Once in each continent"!" "I would say you were just about right, eh, croll?" "All right, gentlemen," "I'll look into it." "I won't say any more just now, but... if this thing is properly set up... we could do business together." "( Indistinct whispering )" "( clicks his tongue disapprovingly ) what?" "It's no good, mr." "Melmotte." "Who says?" "It's too big, too risky." "I know it's a big idea." "It's a beautiful idea." "A railway across half a continent?" "I should say." "But the cost of building it could soak up ten times the value of the capital raised and bankrupt us all!" "It's all a matter of confidence, croll." "This is the kind of opportunity that happens once in a lifetime, and who better than melmotte  company to bring it off?" "I tell you the truth now," "I can't resist it!" "Ha ha ha!" "Ha ha ha!" "( Chamber music plays ) well, mother," "I'm going to be a director of the mexican railway." "( Playing halts ) invited by melmotte himself." "Oh!" "Felix, what wonderful news!" "Mr. Melmotte must think very highly of you." "Ha!" "I can't think why." "Are you sure they haven't made a mistake?" "I'm rather good with money and all that sort of thing." "Rather good at losing it... very amusing." "And begging for it, and stealing it out of other people's purses." "I shan't stay and listen to this!" "I hope mr." "Melmotte's safe has a stout lock on it!" "Really, hetta, that was rather unkind." "This new post might be the making of felix." "Now I think it's time i invited marie melmotte to call on us." "And... ( chamber music playing )" "( indistinct conversation )" "( glass dings ) my lords, gentlemen... this inaugural dinner is to celebrate the formation of the english board of directors of the south-central pacific and mexican railway company." "( Huzzahs )" "I'd like to extend our warmest wishes to our american partner, mr." "Fisker." "Wish him a safe journey across the atlantic to new york, where he will be talking up the shares over there." "Up!" "Up!" "Up!" "Those of you who know me will know that I am a man of few words." "All I want to say is... this is going to be... the biggest thing ever seen on either side of the atlantic for 50 years!" "We'll be making history, gentlemen... and making money, too." "Ah!" "Bravo!" "( Huzzahs ) to the south-central pacific and mexican railway." "To the south-central pacific and mexican railway!" "You're a good fellow, montague." "We're all damn good fellows." "This is a great thing we're on, you know." "Glad you agree." "Yes, and the great thing about being directors, you know, is that we don't have to work." "Money just comes in by itself." "It's wonderful, it's wonderful." "I'm afraid i'll have to do quite a bit of work for my money, actually." "Really?" "Really?" "Yes." "That's a shame, good fellow like you." "You're a good fellow." "( Indistinct conversation ) broune:" "I think she should be a counsel's writer." "She shows great promise." "I have the utmost respect for our hostess, but her book is a bad book." "It is a thoroughly rotten book, and I, for one, refuse to tout it." "I have more respect for my readers than that." "But to praise a friend's book-- it's just the way of the world." "Everyone understands that." "You seem to think it's the greatest historical work of the age." "Oh, come, come." "I didn't quite say that." "Mr. Broune, may I have a word?" "I'll never forget what you've done for me, never." "No more than my duty." "Much, much more, and I hope you'll learn to know that a woman can really be grateful." "Hmm." "Mr. Alf?" "I forgive you, and I'm so glad you feel you can still come here as my friend." "Madame melmotte." "Your mama's not much of one for talking, is she?" "No, and nobody's much for talking to her, either." "Anyway, she's not my mama." "She's my stepmother." "Papa got rid of my real mama when I was just a little girl." "Got rid of her?" "I say!" "How?" "Don't know." "She was there when we lived in frankfurt, but we were so poor then, and then we were in new york, but by the time we were in paris he was married to her." "My poor, sweet darling." "I know what you need." "You need someone to take care of you and love you, don't you?" "Yes, I most certainly do." "I'm not sure we should... come on." "Marie: ( Faintly ) oh, felix!" "Will you be that someone?" "Will you love me and take care of me?" "Will I?" "Yes, if you want me to." "If it were up to me, but... papa settles everything." "Lord, haven't i done enough?" "You must make sure of her, felix." "Now, madame melmotte told me they're going down to the country to stay with the longestaffes for whitsun." "Is that so?" "I didn't think they were that thick." "Lady pomona won't like it, or georgiana, the biggest snob in england." "I hope they're not thinking of adolphus for marie." "Dolly?" "No, no." "No." "Don't think so." "They say at the club that melmotte wants to buy one of their old properties, pickering park, and dolly's not so keen to sell." "It's come to him, you see." "Maybe melmotte's thinking of throwing in marie as part of the bargain." "But he mustn't!" "Well, now that you've... it's quite distasteful that the poor girl should be used as a bargaining counter in a property sale!" "She has a heart, and she's entrusted it to my only son." "I believe she has." "There's no need to make those faces, hetta." "We shall be there, too." "We can stay with roger and get ourselves invited over to caversham for dinner." "You can ask papa then." "All right." "Oh, felix, you are becoming quite a treasure." "Dear, dear boy." "I hope you're not expecting me to come as well, mother." "Of course." "Why not?" "It might be awkward for me, and for roger, too." "That's nonsense." "You've been going there since you were a girl, and if roger asks you again," "I hope you'll have the good manners to accept." "Really, hetta, it's most ungrateful of you, and it's not as if you've had other offers, is it?" "( Snickers ) no, not as yet, mother." "Well, then." "Really, you must learn to behave with more consideration... dear." "He's invited the melmottes?" "All of them?" "So I understand, georgiana." "But that... foreign woman... who can barely speak a word of english, and that strange, monkey-faced daughter!" "I can understand going to a crush at their house in town when everybody else goes-- one doesn't speak to them, and one needn't see them afterwards-- but to have them in one's own house!" "For how long?" "A week, I believe." "Well, they are very wealthy, you know." "It would be an idea if adolphus could marry the daughter." "Dolly will never marry anyone." "He'd never take the trouble to ask." "I'm sure I don't know what your papa is to do, or how there is never any money for anything." "I don't spend it!" "It really is too bad of papa." "( Door opens ) oh, my dear adolphus!" "I didn't think you'd come down." "Pa wouldn't leave me alone till I said I would." "Give him some tea, georgiana." "I'd sooner have a soda and brandy." "Oh, lord." "Here's the governor." "Now for a row!" "Well, adolphus?" "Have you changed your mind?" "Well... no." "Matter of fact," "I haven't, pa." "Pickering park's my inheritance, and I shan't see it sold to pay debts on caversham." "It ain't right, and it ain't fair." "Very well, then." "You leave me with no alternative." "My dear, we shall not be going back to london for the rest of the season." "We cannot afford the expense." "But, my dear, our ball is fixed!" "Then it must be unfixed!" "He doesn't mean it." "He can't, can he?" "I fear, my love, he does." "We must be in london for the rest of the season." "I don't like to be indelicate, but if I'm to be married," "I must meet men, and london is the only place where they are to be found." "Do you really want me on your hands for the rest of your life, mother?" "Oh, dear." "Perhaps, after all, mr." "Melmotte will do something for us." "Here you are." "This is so kind of you." "What must you think of me, inviting myself and my children without so much as a by-your-leave?" "Only that I am delighted you should like to come again so soon." "You can't imagine how it has raised my spirits." "'Morning, roger." "Still here, then?" "There's more to life than carbury, you know." "You ought to get out more." "All right if I borrow a horse?" "Perfectly." "Take as long as you like." "Thanks." "I will." "( Sounds of passion )" "( laughing ) ahh!" "Ahh." "Ah, ruby." "You know, I've never done that before, not with anyone, ever." "I should be sorry to hear that you had, ruby." "And you do love me, don't you?" "Of course I do, more than anything else in the whole world." "You'd better, 'cause there's ever such a lot of men wants to be my sweetheart, so you better behave yourself." "Well, don't I always?" "I wish you'd come and see me more often." "Yeah." "Oh, you've got such soft skin, soft as a little baby." "Oh, I say, ruby, draw it mild." "You know what?" "I think I'm going to let you do it again." "I love you that much." "Look here, I'm not at all sure that I can." "Oh, I am." "I'm certain sure." "I'm afraid" "I haven't been able to arrange much entertainment for you." "My dear cousin, it was to escape the eternal parties that we came down here." "The bishop will be pleased to come and dine tomorrow." "I shall be glad to see the bishop once more." "This article is about mr." "Montague." "He left it with me when he came." "Could I borrow it?" "Of course, yes, if you wish." "I have asked the longestaffes for friday, but they won't come." "I daresay they are going to have guests themselves." "Yes, I did know they were to have guests." "The melmottes are coming to them." "The melmottes?" "I fancy he wants a little pecuniary assistance, roger." "I should have thought he would have kept such a man as melmotte out of his wife's drawing room." "Why should you dislike the melmottes so much?" "I don'T." "Why should I-- why should I dislike people I never saw?" "No, but I do dislike those who seek their society simply because they are rich." "Meaning me, I suppose." "No." "Of course i don't dislike you, as you very well know." "No, I meant the longestaffes then." "But I can't say i'm happy to discover that you are come down to the country just because you knew the melmottes are to be at caversham." "Not just." "You know how I love to be here." "But I will admit to partly, not for my own sake" "I should never run after such a man-- but for my poor son." "Felix has spent every penny of his inheritance, as you know, but he does have other assets." "He's good-looking, he's a baronet, and I must say the girl seems quite in love with him." "So he'll save his bacon by marrying for money." "Well, what is wrong with that?" "It's nothing less than stealing her money." "Oh, roger, how hard you are!" "Does he feel anything at all for the girl?" "Well, I never... it's beside the point," "I suppose." "I have nothing more to say on the matter." "It's no affair of mine, but when I'm told a girl is in the neighborhood, and that felix has come to be near his prey, and that I am asked to be a party to such a thing," "I can only say what I think!" "Felix is welcome here because he is your son and my cousin, but I wish he'd chosen some other place for the work he has in hand." "If you wish it, we will return to london." "I had hoped you'd be glad to see us, perhaps particularly glad to see my hetta." "But we have offended you, and I think we should leave." "You are very harsh, and it crushes me." "You mustn't leave." "If I've hurt you," "I regret it very much." "Let me beg your pardon." "Please, no more about going away." "I shall return to my room." "My head hurts so i can hardly speak." "Shall I come with you?" "No, no." "I shall be well." "Stay with your cousin." "Oh, that was badly done." "No." "You said what you thought, that was all." "A gentleman should never be rough to a lady, and a man should never be rough to his guests." "I hope she will forgive me." "Sir felix!" "How delightful!" "Lady pomona." "Madame melmotte." "Beautiful gardens." "For myself, I don't care much for gardens, but if one is to live in the countryside, this is the sort of place one would like." "Carbury's a very poor place." "For a small place, carbury is very pleasant and pretty, though it isn't extensive." "No, by jove." "It's as poky as a prison." "You were in prison?" "Hmm?" "No." "No, no." "That was jus-- is that your daughter there, madame?" "I must just...ah... miss longestaffe." "Miss melmotte." "I'm sure you two would like to be left together." "She doesn't like me." "She doesn't like any of us." "How every imperceptive of her." "I like you very much indeed." "I wonder-- am I to believe that?" "Well, of course you are." "Haven't I come all this way just to tell you so?" "And to ask you again, will you accept me?" "Do you really love me well enough, felix?" "Of course I do." "I'm not good at making pretty speeches and all that, but you know i love you." "Then I will love you, too." "I will with all my heart." "Ohh, felix, no one ever kissed me like you do." "I don't know what papa will say when we tell him." "Think he'll be angry?" "Yes, I expect so." "But you will speak to him, won't you?" "Yes, of course, yes." "( Distant laughter ) well, there he is." "Who's that chap with him?" "Lord alfred grendall." "Oh." "Spends a lot of time with old grendall, don't he?" "Papa says he can make old grendall do anything he likes." "He says old grendall will jump through hoops for him." "Does he?" "Have to be pretty big hoops, what?" "( Giggles ) you're so funny." "I do love you so." "Look here, I don't think now is the time to talk to papa, not in the country in another man's house." "It's not quite the thing." "I never know what the thing is, but you will speak to him soon, won't you?" "Oh, yes, yes." "Very soon." "Mr. Melmotte's given his consent?" "No, not in so many words, no, but it's all settled apart from that." "Oh, felix." "It's almost too good to be true." "Darling!" "Darling boy!" "Oh, leave off, mother, do." "I ain't quite sure I care about being married and all that." "You will care very much when you have enough money to do anything you like." "I suppose you're right." "So you must come with us to the longestaffes' tomorrow." "If you run away now, it will be an affront to her, and might set mr." "Melmotte against you just at a time when you should be laying yourself out to please him." "Oh, bother." "All right, mother," "I'll come." "Dear boy!" "Please, please!" "Please!" "I've had a very tiring day." "( Dog wheezing )" "( indistinct conversation ) lady carbury:" "There's your inamorata, felix." "I know, mother." "Why don't you go and talk to the father now?" "Not in front of all these people." "He might cut me." "Well, if you won't," "I shall." "( Sotto voce ) oh, lord!" "Mr. Melmotte." "Lady carbury." "My lords, ladies and gentlemen, dinner is served." "I hope you like suffolk, mr." "Melmotte." "Pretty well." "It's a very nice place for fresh air." "Thinking of getting a place down here myself." "I'd sooner be in london, though." "It's a very nice place, is london." "It is if you have plenty of money." "And if you haven't, it's the best place to get it." "You written any more books?" "Wicked women of history, wasn't it?" "How kind of you to remember." "I know a bit about wicked women myself, and girls." "There are books i could write, lady carbury, if I had a mind to." "Your son is sir felix carbury, ain't he?" "Sitting over there with my daughter?" "Happy fellow." "He sits on the same board with you, I believe." "I trust he's diligent there?" "He don't trouble me much," "I don't trouble him much." "Oh." "I've told mama." "Did she say anything?" "Yes." "A lot." "She says papa will think you're not rich enough, but I don't care about that." "Talk about something else or people will hear." "Have you been riding?" "Nope." "I don't really know how to ride." "You ride beautifully." "What, on that old screw of roger's?" "I think you do." "When are you going back to town?" "Tomorrow." "We go on wednesday." "You will come and see me, won't you?" "Hmm?" "Uh, yes," "I expect so." "And you'll go and see my father." "He's in the city every day." "Best to go there." "Right." "You will stick to it, though, marie, won't you?" "I always stick to things when I've made my mind up." "Papa knows that." "You're a good girl, marie." "I'll be a very good girl to you." "What a lovely couple they make." "Whatever happens, we shall always be friends." "Yes." "That's what I want, too." "I shan't tell you that I love you again." "You know that already." "I shan't press you to make a sacrifice of yourself." "But I think you may come to love me... unless your heart is already given elsewhere." "What do you mean?" "You seem very interested in my friend paul montague." "Who would not be?" "He has done such extraordinary things, and may do more." "Yes, but... he is rather wild, you know, and just now he's engaged in a risky and possibly a dishonest venture in what I regard as very bad company." "You'd speak this way about your friend, your prot g ?" "Yes, because I care very much about his welfare and his happiness, and I care even more about yours." "Then we must hope that your fears are misplaced, mustn't we?" "Here you are, sir." "Would you like anything sent up?" "No." "Thank you." "I won't be staying very long." "( Southern accent ) paul." "You came." "You came to me." "I knew you would." "I can't stay very long." "You can't stay long?" "I see." "I don't think we have much to say to each other, not now." "Paul," "I came 3,000 miles to see you." "I think you owe me a little more than that." "Would you follow me, please, sir?" "( Dog barks )" "( sighs ) good?" "Excellent, mr." "Melmotte." "Begin." "Good morning, mr." "Wakeham." "Shall we go in the morning room?" "Thank you, miss carbury." "I was hoping to see lady carbury or sir felix." "My brother is out and my mother is unwell." "How can I help you?" "It occurred to me that perhaps your mother has overlooked the payment of accounts for wines and spirits." "It's been seven months now." "I see." "Sir felix was kind enough to honor us with another order just the other day." "Sir felix is expecting to draw a substantial sum of money very soon." "He has become a director of the mexican railway." "Ah, the mexican railway." "I had thought of going in for that myself in a small W." "So you should not have to wait much longer." "Ould g we should be so very sorry to have to go to another wine merchant." "Of course we shall hear from you at your convenience." "Thank you, mr." "Wakeham." "( Door closes ) has he gone?" "Yes." "Oh, I hate having to do that." "Why should the poor man not be paid?" "Because we have nothing to pay him with." "We know whose fault that is, don't we?" "You would see me throw you onto the street rather than marry your cousin roger, who is a dear good man and has loved you since you were a girl." "I wish I could love roger the way he would like me to." "It would be most convenient." "But I can'T." "He's been most generous to us, helped us with small sums on numerous occasions." "Are you suggesting he's agreed to buy me in installments?" "I shall marry for love if I marry at all." "I would rather work the telegraph or be a nurse in a women's hospital or be a writer like you than marry simply for security." "At least I should be earning my keep honestly." "To marry without love is nothing better than prostitution." "Hetta!" "It's what I believe." "You never spoke like this until you met that young adventurer paul montague." "I suppose you imagine yourself in love with him." "Things have changed." "So... you feel nothing for me now?" "No, I could never say that." "Well, look at me and tell me what it is." "You've met someone else." "That's what it is, isn't it?" "A year ago, when we parted, you promised to follow me to san francisco, but you never came." "Not a word, not a letter." "There were circumstances." "I told you everything about myself." "You told me nothing." "What was I to think except that you tired of our affair, found someone else?" "There was never anyone else." "I told myself it was over, threw myself into my work." "You've become the man i always knew you could be." "Winifred-- winifred." "At last." "I called you paul from the first moment." "Well, speak out." "Is there another woman that you love?" "Yes." "Yes, there is." "And have you promised to marry her as well?" "No." "No, not as yet." "But she loves you." "She has never said so." "And you have never told her of your love?" "Never." "Then there's nothin' that binds you to her." "Quite the reverse, in our case." "We are bound in every way, aren't we?" "Isn't it the case in your country that an offer of marriage is binding on the man?" "Only the woman may break off the engagement." "Winifred..." "I'm begging you to release me now." "And I refuse because I know what is good for you better than you know yourself." "You say I told you nothin' of myself, but I gave you everything a woman has to give." "Can you tell me that meant nothing, means nothing, to you?" "No." "Can you tell me you feel nothing for me?" "No." "Then kiss me, paul, in friendship if nothin' more." "I must go." "Very well." "I'll let you go for now, but I know you're too honorable to make love to your little english rose while you're still bound to me, and I know you wouldn't be so unkind as to leave me all alone" "and friendless in london." "So long as friendship is all you ask." "For the present." "It can be a kind of a game, you see." "Your part is to persuade me to release you, mine to make you realize you're better off with me." "A game?" "Hmm?" "You call this a game?" "A game with high stakes, played in deadly earnest." "Don't be tempted into treating' it lightly, paul, or you may wish you had never been born." "Do you hear?" "Go now." "I know you'll come again soon." "And finally, your chairman is happy to announce formally what I suppose you all know-- that the first issue of public shares one week ago went, shall we say, according to plan..." "I should say." "And that at the close of trading yesterday, the value of the shares had gone up by 500%." "Not bad." "Bravo!" "So if we wanted to cash in on our shares now, we'd get five times the amount we put in?" "Yes, you would, mr." "Longestaffe, but the best thing you could do is to buy more railway shares." "They're going to go a great deal higher." "You might as well leave your money where it is." "If any of you gentlemen have further available liquidity... what's liquidity?" "Liquidity is ready cash, my lord, and if you have any, my advice is to build up your holdings now." "This is the opportunity of the century, and I'm telling you to beg, borrow, sell all other assets and get into this now while it's going up, and then you can tell your grandchildren that you were in" "at the very start of the best thing this century." "Melmotte:" "Yes, mr." "Montague." "I assume that there is a regular release of funds into the work itself." "The surveying can go ahead immediately and the building itself as soon after that as possible." "That's it, mr." "Montague." "All in hand." "Well, gentlemen?" "Could we know what sums have been dispensed and how the payments relate to the schedule of works?" "It's all in the accounts." "Where can these be inspected?" "In the company offices in due course." "As I say, the work is all in hand." "And now if there's nothing more to discuss..." "I declare the meeting closed." "Bravo!" "Bravo!" "He don't put off so easy, that one." "Run him up a set of figures, croll, set his mind at rest." "I think he really wants this railway, mr." "Melmotte." "So do we, don't we?" "Don't we?" "If you say so, mr." "Melmotte." "Come on, my old croll." "We've seen off bigger fish than him." "I saw her." "You have a beautiful house, sir." "( Gargles ) sir felix carbury to see mr." "Melmotte at once." "I'm expected." "I am expected." "Wait here, sir." "Psst." "Psst." "( Whispers ) are you sir felix?" "Felix:" "Yes." "I am didon." "Oh." "Come with me." "Come, come, quick!" "All right, if you say so." "I have got him for you." "Why didn't you come before?" "I've been longing and longing for you." "I say, steady on, steady on." "Oh, didon knows everything." "So you'll see him?" "Man said he was busy." "No, he's in for you, out to everyone else." "Oh, jolly good." "Go now." "Don't let him bully you!" "No." "Right." "Absolutely." "Absolutely." "In you go." "( Whispers ) go!" "( Snoring ) how do you do, sir felix?" "You come to see the ladies, have you?" "Yes, but I thought i'd look in on you, you know." "That's very good of you." "Well?" "Mr. Melmotte," "I'm come to" "I'm come-- oh, in short, mr." "Melmotte," "I want to propose myself as a suitor for your daughter's hand." "The deuce you do." "Well, yes, and we hope you'll give us your consent, sir." "We?" "Who's "we"?" "Your daughter and I, sir." "Oh, she knows you're coming, then?" "Yes." "I've been attached to her ever since I saw her and all that." "You know how that kind of thing goes on." "No, I'm damned if I do." "I know how it ought to go on." "The young man ought to speak to the father before the girl." "That's how it ought to go on." "Of course we know it all depends on you, sir." "Not at all." "She's of age." "She can marry you tomorrow if she chooses." "You're a baronet," "I believe." "Yes, I'm a baronet, all right." "No money cares, eh?" "Not exactly that." "I suppose you will give your daughter a fortune." "She don't get a farthing if she marries to please herself without my consent." "I had rather hoped you would give your consent, sir." "Haven't said I won'T." "It's possible." "What's your property, sir felix?" "It isn't a very large property, you know." "Not like the marquis of westminster's, then." "No, it's not quite like that." "Where's your family seat?" "Carbury hall, down in suffolk near the longestaffes." "Carbury hall?" "I didn't know that was yours." "Well, it isn't, exactly, not yet." "But I am the heir." "I see." "The heir." "Who's got it now?" "My cousin." "Mr. Roger carbury." "And he's an old man, is he?" "He's not what you'd call a young man." "( Laughs nervously ) he's not very old." "I see." "Not very old." "Able-bodied, is he?" "Able to shake a leg?" "Well, yes," "I suppose he is." "How would it be if he was to marry and have children?" "I don't know how that would be." "I don't think it's very likely that he'll marry." "And in the meantime, what is your own property?" "Mr. Melmotte, the fact is," "I love your daughter, and she loves me." "And I may not be possessed of great wealth or property, but I am a baronet and a gentleman." "And I'm not, you imply?" "No!" "That is not what I meant at all." "I think we understand each other very well." "You are to provide the rank and position, and I'm to provide the money." "That's the bargain." "I buy my daughter a place in society by paying you to marry her." "That's your understanding of it?" "Sir, I must protest." "One shouldn't cheapen it-- it's all right, sir felix." "I'll think on it." "But don't get your hopes up too high." "Money expects money, you know." "Marie:" "Isn't he lovely?" "Didon:" "He has a very pretty face." "And he's a ve good sser." "I have seen better, and nidderdale is a real lord." "Oh!" "But you like this one." "Oh, didon, I do." "I do." "I love him." "I never knew felix carbury was so found of the country." "I know I'm not." "How long are we to be kept here, father?" "I don't know what you mean by being "kept here."" "This is your home." "You might as well make up your mind to live in it." "If we're not in london, we will never meet anyone." "You know what that means for me." "I have to be in london for the end of the season." "It's my last chance." "There's no "have to"" "about it, georgiana." "I can't afford it, and that's that." "Father, if you won't take me up to town yourself, could you not let me stay with friends?" "The primeros are in town for the season." "As a matter of fact," "I have received an invitation for you to stay up in london, georgiana." "You have?" "From whom?" "The melmottes." "Those dreadful people." "Why shouldn't I go to the primeros or julia monogram?" "It's that or stay in the country, my dear." "You know your father especially dislikes the primeros." "Very well, then." "I shall go to the melmottes if it's to be them or nothing." "And the first man that comes to me with 4,000 or 5,000 a year, I'll take him, even though he came out of newgate or bedlam, and I shall always say it was papa's fault!" "Move!" "( Sighs )" "I wish we could have each other a bit longer." "So do I, by jove." "I wish you lived in town." "I could see you every day." "Wouldn't that be jolly?" "Wouldn't that?" "For two pins," "I'd do it, too." "Oh, lord, I must go." "Grandfather's asked john crumb over again." "And who is john crumb when he's at home?" "John crumb the miller." "He comes to see me." "So you come back soon, or he'll steal a match on you, he will." "Ruby!" "( Thunder rumbling )" "( door opens ) here she comes." "Late again, little hussy?" "Ah, she's worth waitin' for, though." "Why do you always have to say the same thing, john?" "N't keep a civil tongue in your head when the poor man's tryin' to pay you a compliment?" "And where's our supper we've been waitin' for?" "It was all done before." "It only wants bringing' out." "You could have done that yourself, but that's too much for you," "I s'pose!" "A damn good hidin' wouldn't do you no harm!" "Ah, no, mr." "Ruggles." "That's not the way." "That's what you think." "I say women is better for a regular beating'." "Like carpets, eh?" "Ho ho ho." "What?" "Ho ho ho." "There now." "Oh, what's this?" "Ah, ruby." "( Thunder rumbling ) very tasty, ruby." "Thank you, john." "Hold there a moment." "John has something to say to you, ruby." "Haven't you, john?" "Only, like, I've got the house all ready now, ruby." "So if you'd like to name the day, you and I shall be married as soon as you like." "Tomorrow wouldn't be too soon for me." "So say you will, and I'll always do my best to make you happy." "I can't marry you, john." "I'm sorry." "What?" "But you said you loved me, ruby." "You always said we would be married one day." "Young women is allowed to change their minds, and I've changed mine." "I'm sorry, john." "I can't help it." "Nasty, ungrateful lying' little slut!" "Treat a good man like that?" "I've a good mind to tan the hide off you!" "Don't you touch me." "I can't help it if I love someone else." "Who is that?" "Shan't tell you!" "I have a good mind to beat you!" "Come here!" "Come back!" "Come back." "If you beat me, it's the last time," "I swear it." "You'll never see me again!" "Come here." "Right!" "No!" "You'll tell me." "No!" "You'll tell me!" "( Ruby screams, mr." "Ruggles shouts )" "( snoring )" "( door creaks ) give us a kiss." "( Snoring )" "( door creaking ) ruby: "To sir felix carbury, the beargarden club." ""Dear sir," "I have done what I said," ""and sooner than I thought." ""I refused john crumb." ""Grandfather turned me out the house, so I'm a-come a-london..."" "marie: "Dearest felix, when shall I see you again?" ""Papa has said you are not to come to the house again, but I'm not frightened of him, and nor should you be."" "Melmotte:" "You stupid woman!" "Why can't you get one simple thing right?" "!" ""I don't care about money, and on my word of honor, I'll never marry anyone but you."" "Ruby: "I long for you to take me dancin'" ""and to see the music hall." "From your own loving ruby."" "Everything in order, sir felix?" "Hmm?" "Yes." "I don't see why not, vossner." "All to your liking, miss longestaffe?" "Yes, thank you, mr." "Melmotte." "How kind of you to ask." "Well, let's have a little smile on that pretty face, then." "Ha ha ha ha." "( Grunts ) oh!" "I'm buying one of your father's properties, you know." "Pickering park." "It's to be that little madame's dowry." "Oh, really?" "I thought that adolphus hadn't agreed on the sale." "Ah, that's all been dealt with." "When I want a thing," "I generally get it, you know." "Yes, miss, how would you like to live in pickering park as lady nidderdale, eh?" "I don't care where I live, but I won't marry lord nidderdale." "She fancies herself in love with that fop" "( burps ) ha ha ha ha." "( Burps ) ha ha ha." "What's a baronet?" "I could be a baronet." "Nothing easier." "I intend going into parliament, miss longestaffe." "When I get a seat, all I have to do is spend a bit of money on the proper side-- the conservative side, of course-- throw a few dinners, and the thing is done." "Sir augustus melmotte, baronet." "Well, what do you think about that?" "Most interesting." "( Slurps ) oh, dommage." "Hey!" "Oh, really." "Please." "Melmotte:" "No, no, no, no." "Oh, lord." "I'm so proud." "Forgive me." "I didn't mean to-- gentlemen, shall we go where we can talk-- unencumbered?" "Follow me, gentlemen." "( Whispering ) what's all this, niddy?" "Marie melmotte." "The stakes are on again." "I say, look here." "That's not fair." "Not my fault, old boy." "It's the two governors." "I can't do anything." "Andrew!" "Come and sit down with us." "No, he must not." "He must go at once." "Melmotte le tuera!" "Monsieur, il faut que vous retirez." "Qu'elle est m chante." "But you must go, sir." "He will kill you." "Well, yes, under the circumstances-- no, he shan't go!" "Let him kill us if he dare!" "I'll never marry nidderdale, not if he cuts me into bits!" "We'll go down to the parlor and tell him now." "He shan't make me marry anyone but you." "Oh, mon dieu!" "Felix, if you will be true to me, nothing can keep us apart." "Mrs. Melmotte:" "Oh, my god." "He's coming." "He's coming back to kill us all." "Now you be brave, and I will be brave." "Marie, I really-- felix." "No, no, no." "Now listen, you." "Sir felix, my daughter is engaged to be married to lord nidderdale." "All right?" "I am not." "I won't marry him, not if you chop me to pieces." "She will be married to lord nidderdale, so you might as well leave right now." "Papa, he is my lover." "Bosh." "It is not bosh!" "I love him, and I won't have anyone else." "You... hit me if you like." "It won't change anything." "You get to your room." "I'll go, but I still love him." "Get out!" "I'm very sorry to have had a hand in causing this disturbance, sir." "You go away and don't come back." "And you remember this-- if she marries without my consent, she don't get a single shilling." "Good day to you, sir felix." "Happy to see you in the city anytime." "Eh--oh." "It's only me, my own-- own darling felix." "You won't give me up, will you?" "Did you tell him you wouldn't give me up?" "He says he'll cut us off without a shilling, so..." "I have my own money." "When we were in france, papa put a lot of money in my name, thousands and thousands, so he could tell his creditors he had none." "We could run away together." "Good god, there's more to you than meets the eye." "Send me a note by didon." "Ohh." "( Woman singing opera ) it's so unlike life, don't you think?" "I wonder whether any girl ever sat and cried like that because her lover talked to another woman." "Women aren't all made the same." "Luckily for you men." "But, you know, there's a dash of the savage princess about most of us, so watch out." "I shall." "Are you going to see me home?" "Of course." "You needn't, you know." "I'm not afraid of taking a cab by myself." "But I should like a little more of your company." "Have you enjoyed this evening?" "Yes, very much." "Good." "So have I." "Come in for one moment." "Ruby:" "Good night, mrs." "Hurtle." "Good night, ruby." "Good night, sir." "She's a new girl just up from the country, the landlady's niece." "I don't know what she thinks of me." "I've told them we are engaged to be married." "I hope you don't mind." "Do you think that's wise?" "Well, if it avoids unpleasantness and gossip... shut the door for one moment." "( Door closes )" "I won't be separated from you." "I'll do anything for love of you, anything but lose you." "Winifred." "No, don't speak." "I understand." "Go now." "Go now." "My lords and gentlemen," "I'm able to tell you that we are prospering." "Men:" "Hear, hear." "I wish I could show you the balance sheet." "It's a sight for sore eyes." "But in affairs of this nature, great discretion is required, so, on behalf of the shareholders at large whose interests are in our hands," "I think that any detailed statement should be postponed just for a short while, and I therefore move that this meeting be adjourned to this day week." "Man:" "Seconded." "So all those in favor-- mr." "Melmotte." "Yes, mr." "Montague." "Could you at least give the board your assurance that the timetable for the building of the railway is on schedule?" "Thank you, mr." "Montague." "All in favor?" "And that all the company accounts and records be made freely available for inspection by the directors." "Against?" "Motion carried." "I think that concludes the business." "Thank you, gentlemen." "( Applause )" "( indistinct conversation)" "I understand." "You are a fine young man, mr." "Montague." "This is a great project, and I'm well aware that you brought it to me in the first place, and I'm very grateful, but you don't understand the business side of a thing like this." "You had much better leave it to me." "I'll make you rich, and you'll have your railway, too." "Trust me." "You won't regret it." "And don't cross me again or you'll be sorry." "Good afternoon to you." "You do think he's all right, old melmotte?" "I'm supposed to be marrying his daughter, you know." "Come on, nidderdale." "We're wasting valuable time here." "Um... ( door opens ) what, you're still here, then, mr." "Montague?" "Well, I'm glad you stayed." "Croll:" "Mr. Montague." "Please, take a seat, mr." "Montague." "No, thank you." "( Chuckles )" "I was a bit short with you just now." "I beg your pardon." "Good, but the thing is this-- unanimity is everything is a situation such as this." "If you and I quarrel in the boardroom, there's no knowing the amount of evil that we do." "We are carrying the hopes and dreams of thousands of shareholders on our shoulders." "They're depending on us." "Croll knows." "And there is nothing that can be done for them unless the shares keep rising, and that's what you have to understand." "You don't want to see the whole thing fall to pieces, do you?" "Look here... mm." "I'm in this to build a railway, and I don't see any signs of it at the moment." "Now, never mind the share price." "What about the survey?" "Mm." "The labor?" "Mm." "The purchase of materials, the equipment?" "( Laughs ) oh, look, all that is in hand." "Look here, montague, all this that you talk of is--is nothing!" "It's--what is it?" "A mere matter of engineering." "It's nuts and bolts and nuts and bolts." "I could find a score of fellows to build me a railway, but some of us have to set our sights on higher matters than these." "Oh, what would a mere engineer like you know about the building of a great business empire?" "Then you would have no objection if this mere engineer went down to mexico to see what progress has been made?" "No." "Go, go, go, go." "You do what you like, sir." "It's all one to me." "Then I shall." "And if I find that no preparations have been made," "I shall start the work myself." "Good day to you, sir." "( Door closes ) croll:" "He will, too." "Oh, let him go, croll." "Mexico's a long way away, and our work is here." "( Crystal beads ringing ) mr." "Montague." "I'm sorry." "I hadn't realized you were here alone." "Mama is out with roger." "Oh." "Roger is in town." "Yes." "He comes to london much more often now." "It seems so long since we last met." "Yes." "Yes, at the melmottes' ball." "I suppose you have been very busy." "Yes, I have." "With your railway?" "Yes." "Come and sit down." "I came to tell you I shall have to go out to mexico sooner than I planned, in two weeks' time." "Why do you frown?" "Shan't you like that?" "I'm not quite sure what I shall find there." "I'm beginning to think that melmotte doesn't know or care much about railways." "But there are things and people i shall be very sorry to leave behind." "Hetta... you must have thought me very remiss in not coming to see you before now." "Believe me, I have thought of you every day since we last met, but I have found myself in difficulties." "There is my friendship for roger, for one thing, and...other obligations." "I don't think your friendship for roger should make you think you can't see or talk to me." "Why should it?" "I promised I wouldn't come between you and him." "He made you promise that?" "He had no right to." "I'm not engaged to roger, though I care very much for him." "Could you love him as much as a woman can love a man?" "Because if you can," "I shall leave england at once and never return to it." "( Door opens ) it is mama." "( Indistinct conversation ) ahem." "Mr. Montague, what a very unexpected pleasure." "Yes, I'm going abroad soon, so I thought I would come up and see you before I go." "Roger." "I had no idea you were in london." "What brings you here?" "A little business, that's all." "Did you have a pleasant evening, mother?" "Very pleasant." "Did you?" "No, not at all, until mr." "Montague saved me from felix's cigar and brandy bills." "( Fakes yawn )" "I hate to be ill-mannered." "Yes, of course." "I..." "I didn't mean to stay so long." "I'll walk you back to your club." "Good-bye, mr." "Montague, and if we don't see you again before you leave, bon voyage." "Thank you." "Good-bye." "Good-bye." "I shall think of you." "I didn't know you were in the habit of calling on hetta and speaking to her alone." "This is the first time i've seen her since I spoke to you last." "I won't try deceiving you, roger." "I love her." "What brought him here?" "He brought himself." "It wasn't arranged, if that's what you mean." "How long was he here?" "Only a couple of minutes before you came in." "There is something between you and that young man." "What is it?" "You haven't engaged yourself to him, have you?" "No, I have not." "What, then?" "I love him, mother, and I'm sure he loves me." "And this on three or four short meetings?" "What do you know of that young man?" "Nothing!" "And what about your poor cousin roger?" "I'm sorry, but you can't help who you love, can you?" "Roger:" "You seem to think you've behaved honorably, but you promised not to come between hetta and myself, and you have done." "Have mercy, paul, for god's sake." "Leave well alone." "Hetta is the only one for me." "For the sake of our friendship, paul, don't--don't take hetta from me." "I wouldn't do that, even if I could, but if she should choose of her own free will-- after all we've been to each other, you would take her from me, would you?" "For god's sake, man, she's not a piece of property for one man to take or another to keep." "She has a will of her own and a heart of her own, and in the end, she will decide, and she may not choose either of us." "Ahem." "Hello, john." "Come in." "Don't mean to disturb you, squire." "Were you just off to london again?" "No, I felt the need for a change of air and a bit of solitude." "Oh, I was hoping it might be london, sir." "Why is that?" "Well, sir, it's ruby." "She's run away, and I reckon it's to london that she's gone." "Ruby's gone, you say?" "Crumb:" "Yes, sir." "She quarreled with her grandfather." "He don't treat her very kindly, sir." "Perhaps it's as much his fault as hers." "But he's sorry now and he want her back, and so do I." "I don't mean to hold you up, sir." "I'll do what I can when I'm next there." "London's a big place, you know." "Aye, sir." "I do know that." "But you'll do what you can, eh?" "She very precious to me." "I'll do my best," "I promise." "Thank you, sir." "( Cheering, drumroll )" "( giggles ) you won't keep me out too late, will you, felix?" "Mrs. Pipkin's awful strict." "Bother mrs." "Pipkin." "She knows there's someone, but I haven't said who." "( Giggles )" "I think she'd fall down in a faint if she knew I was walking out with a baronet." "Shh." "I pass very well as one of the local ruffians." "Two glasses here, cocky." "Comin' up, me lord." "( Drumroll )" "( giggles ) you know, when I've sold my shares at a profit," "I'm going to set you up in a place of your own." "Then we won't have to bother about mrs." "Pipkin." "A place of our own, you mean." "Mm." "Yes, of course." "Oh, felix, I do love you." "( Drumroll, cymbals crash )" "( cheers and applause ) that's for you... and this is for me." "Another one standing by, please." "My dear friend, mr." "Melmotte's daughter and my felix wish to marry, though mr." "Melmotte is reluctant to give his consent." "Do you think it would be a good match?" "A very good one if they love each other." "But if the young people were to take the affair into their own hands, so to speak... if felix were to run away with her, you mean, to elope?" "Exactly." "Um, would mr." "Melmotte forgive his daughter and make them an allowance?" "Well, yes," "I believe he would." "I believe any father who loved his daughter would." "Oh, mr." "Broune, you have set my mind at rest." "I have been so worried about poor felix." "Lady carbury," "I think you know that I should like to set all your anxieties to rest." "We are not as young as we used to be." "Indeed we are not, mr." "Broune." "But I like to think that we are not too old to love." "Felix:" "Hello, broune." "At it again?" "( Laughs ) felix, what are you doing in that extraordinary costume?" "What, this?" "All the rage." "Felix, I've been asking mr." "Broune's advice, and he agrees, as I do, that it might be best to take the bull by the horns." "Which bull is this, mother?" "To run away with miss melmotte and obtain her father's consent after the marriage." "Oh, I don't know about that, mother." "He cut up pretty rough when he warned me off." "Thought he was gonna bite my head off." "Well, damn it, broune, if you're so behind me, perhaps I'll go after it after all, you know, and if melmotte makes a fuss," "I'll refer him to you." "Shall I?" "No, no, no." "My advice was couched in very general terms and given to your mother in strict confidence." "All our hopes depend on you now, darling." "If you don't bring this off, we're ruined." "( Piano playing ) georgiana:" "Grosvenor square, july 2nd." "To lady julia monogram." "Dearest julia, I wonder that you have not called to see me or invited me since I've been in london." "There is to be a small soiree here on tuesday next." "I say small, but large enough so that you need not speak to the melmottes if you should not wish to." "No, no, no, no." "( Speaks foreign language ) all: ( Laugh ) dearest julia, how I long to see you and all my real friends." "Yours as ever, georgiana longestaffe." "Lady julia monogram." "Julia, dear, you came." "I can't stop." "Sir damask doesn't even know I'm here." "Who are all these dreadful people?" "Oh, they aren't all dreadful." "Look, there's lord nidderdale." "I can't bear money-grubbing." "Georgiana, you have to understand if you stick with these... melmottes, we can't know you." "Nobody can." "You'd much better go back to the country." "Oh, my god, who's that dreadful-looking man leering at us over there?" "He's not so bad as all that." "His name is mr." "Brehgert." "He's the head of a banking firm in the city." "Darling, he looks like a jew." "Is that so very bad?" "The prime minister is a jew." "Yes, but one wouldn't have him in one's house." "Oh, he's coming over." "Georgiana," "I do feel for you, but if you will let yourself down like this, you can't expect not to be dropped." "Perhaps we'll see each other in the country." "Good-bye." "Would you excuse me?" "Yes, of course." "Good evening, miss longestaffe." "Mr. Brehgert." "Might I ask who that lady was?" "Her name is lady julia monogram." "She was my oldest friend." "And she's upset you." "Not at all." "No, I think she has, and that distresses me." "Would it help you at all to speak of it?" "You are very kind, but thank you, no." "Would you excuse me?" "( Panting, sobbing )" "( door slams )" "( sobbing )" "( whispers ) quickly!" "Use these stairs." "Come." "I'll show you." "Mais, o est lui?" "Je ne comprends pas." "Il devrait tre la." "Il n'est pas la." "Marie:" "He is not there." "I say." "Over here." "Oh, felix, my love." "You took a deuced long time about it." "I had to go to papa's horrible party and talk to lord nidderdale." "Ah, poor you." "Good job I have this." "Give it to me." "( Chuckles ) what is your plan?" "Sorry." "I don't follow." "What plan?" "To run away." "Oh, lord." "We think it best to sail to new york from liverpool." "Who's "we"?" "Didon and I. Didon has thought of everything." "She will come with me." "She will be my cousin." "I will go as a french girl." "You can be an american, should you like that." "We will call you mr." "Smith." "I say, that's clever." "We must not travel together." "We'll board separately, and the captain can marry us onboard." "They can do that, you know." "Didon says." "And then we would be together, never apart again." "Look here, marie." "This is going to need ready cash." "Should I get your papa to cash in my shares?" "He might smell a rat." "Oh, money is nothing." "Papa keeps a great pile of checks in his book room made out to "cash,"" "100 pounds each." "I can take one of those." "I say, that's useful." "That's useful." "Might as well take two while you're there." "So, it is settled." "We will go on wednesday week." "Really?" "As soon as that?" "I hadn't actually thought-- we must." "Papa is saying I must marry nidderdale in two weeks." "What if you're wrong about your own money and your governor doesn't come round?" "Where should we be then?" "Nothing venture, nothing have." "Yes, but we might venture everything and end up with nothing, you know." "You'd have me." "Didon:" "Psst!" "Come quick!" "Sir felix, you must go now." "Marie:" "Good night, my love." "Marie!" "Vite!" "Oui, je viens!" "D p chez-vous!" "Got brehgert coming to see me this morning, miss longestaffe." "His firm is brokering a loan for us." "Asked if you would be at home." "( Crunches )" "( slurps ) he's taken a fancy to you, has brehgert." "I should snaffle him up if I were you." "He's well stuffed, is brehgert." "He'd see you all right." "Mr. Melmotte," "I wish you'd avoid such coarse expressions." "Oh, uh," "I do beg your pardon." "( Chuckles ) what shall I tell him, miss longestaffe?" "Shall I set him on?" "You may tell mr." "Brehgert that I am at home and at leisure." "( Chuckles ) il faut se d p cher." "Oui." "Oui." "Attends la porte." "D'accord." "Attends la porte!" "Shoo!" "Oui." "Oh, papa." "What?" "What?" "I want to go there." "Tout de suite!" "Il arrive!" "( Whispers ) d pchez-vous." "( Footsteps )" "( whispers ) merde." "( Closing drawer )" "( sings in french ) bonjour, monsieur." "( Sings in french )" "( humming )" "( sniffing ) oh, papa, can you show me where mexico is and where the railway will go?" "Go on." "Get out of here." "I don't want girls and young women in here!" "Go on!" "I got work to do." "Work to do!" "All right, papa." "One." "( Giggling )" "( giggling ) ruby, will you tell mrs." "Pipkin we'll be home late?" "Good night, ma'am." "Good night, mr." "Montague." "Winifred, I shall be away for some time, but before I go-- no, don't say it, not tonight, not here with all these people round." "I sometimes think i shall go mad in this filthy city, everything pressing in on one." "I long to see the sky, the sea." "Take me with you, paul." "You know I can'T." "It's no place for a woman." "You forget i'm no ordinary woman." "Oh, yes--mrs." "Hurtle, who once shot a man in oregon." "That's how you were first pointed out to me." "I don't regret it." "I'd do it again if I had to." "If we have to say good-bye to each other, can't it be in some clear cold place with the sound of the sea in our ears?" "We've been on such journeys, you and I." "One last little trip to the sea, the real sea." "And then will you release me from my promise?" "Perhaps I shall." "Where shall we go?" "How far away is penzance?" "Cromer is much nearer." "Or lowestoft." "Roger carbury used to take me there as a boy." "That's a clear cold place, if you like." "Then lowestoft it shall be." "I should like to see the place where you were happy as a boy." "I won't ask you to stay, just to take me." "I can return by myself." "You couldn't refuse me that, could you?" "( Lively music playing ) ruby: ( Giggling ) felix:" "Montague, do you say?" "Mr. Paul montague?" "Yes, I knew him at once." "I'd seen him with the squire ever so many times." "I don't think he knew me." "Leastways, I hope not." "What the devil was he doing in islington?" "Same as you." "He comes to his own friend-- mrs." "Hurtle, the american lady." "You should see her." "She's a stunner." "Great big flashing' eyes and lots of money." "They're gonna be married." "Are they?" "Otherwise mrs." "Pipkin wouldn't let him upstairs." "Upstairs?" "He goes upstairs, does he?" "Well, I'm damned." "Paul montague." "The thing is, what if he did know me and tells the squire, and the squire comes after me?" "What am I to tell him?" "Mind his own business." "Brandy and water, quick." "I don't think that'll quite do, felix." "What am I to say to aunt as well?" "I've said nothin' all along just to oblige you, but I think you should have somethin' to say to me." "Oh, I mean it." "If you bother me," "I shall cut it, you know." "Cut it?" "Yes, cut it." "Why can't you wait till i'm ready to say something?" "I can't wait much longer." "Where am I to go if mrs." "Pipkin turns me out?" "I've told you I'll find a little place for you." "I've got to go to new york." "I'll be back in a month." "Then we'll see what's to be done." "I want to know whether you'll marry me or not." "M-marry you?" "( Laughs ) no, I think not." "I know a trick worth two of that." "Well, you shan't see me ever again then." "Ruby, I meant not yet." "Ruby!" "Oh, damn." "Blast it all." "Yes, this seems in order, mademoiselle... mademoiselle racine." "And this is my cousin, madame du tours." "You'll forgive me, mademoiselle." "Do you have any identification?" "Why should I need it?" "The check is made out to "bearer."" "Yes, of course." "Perhaps I should ask mr." "Melmotte to confirm the check by telegraph." "It is rather a large sum." "Not to mr." "Melmotte." "And I think he would be very angry to be bothered about so small a matter." "Of course." "Would mademoiselle like the money in bank notes?" "Notes of ten pounds." "250 pounds in 10-pound notes." "( Counting notes ) merci, monsieur." "There you are." "( Kisses felix ) now it is all arranged." "Didon has got our tickets." "We will leave on wednesday for liverpool." "You can catch a train at 7:00." "Right. 7:00." "Why aren't i coming with you?" "It would be the act of a fool to be seen together before the boat sails." "Right." "Just what I thought." "Marie:" "I have bought all my wedding clothes." "Have you?" "Jolly good." "They'll go ahead, but I shall keep all my jewels with me." "Now, here's the money for your ticket." "When we get to new york, we can write to papa." "Of course he'll make the best of it." "Do you think he will?" "He's a savage old bird." "Yes, he will." "He will have to." "Now, remember, the liverpool train," "7:00 on wednesday." "Liverpool train, 7:00, wednesday." "Don't be late." "Oh, felix, you're going through with it." "Seeing as you were so set on it, ma." "Now, it's not fair to lay all the responsibility on me." "You and that fellow broune, but don't worry about that." "Felix carbury is man enough to take the consequences when it's an affair of honor." "I suppose the worst melmotte can do is shoot me through the heart." "Oh, darling boy, don't say that." "Now, what can you do for me about money, mother?" "But I have none." "There isn't 20 pounds at the bank altogether." "Well, they'd let you overdraw 50 or 60." "Not anymore, felix." "I've done that once too often for you." "Well, well, that is a blue lookout, I must say, when a fellow's own mother won't help him out." "Never mind." "Never mind." "I must try elsewhere." "I can let you have a check for 30." "I suppose that'll have to do." "Could you have my luggage sent over to the beargarden tomorrow?" "I've got one or two affairs i want to settle there." "When do you leave?" "In the evening." "Take care, my darling." "All my heart and hopes go with you." "Felix:" "That's it." "Just over there will do." "They won't be in your way for long, herr vossner." "I shall be off this evening." "No trouble at all, sir felix." "Dolly:" "Hello, felix." "What's all this?" "Takin' a trip?" "That's it." "Matter of fact... not a word to anyone." "I'm runnin' off with marie melmotte." "The deuce you are." "That's one in the eye for nidderdale." "Keep it under your hat." "Still a few hours before I leave." "Oh, are you coming to the card room?" "Have a few hands before you go?" "I don't really care to play for money, not today." "I've only enough for my passage and expenses, you see." "Oh." "Oh, come on." "Couple of hands won't hurt you, will they?" "Well... all right, then, but just for half an hour, mind." "Good man!" "All right." "Mrs. Hurtle:" "Perfect." "I can breathe here." "Here I feel really alive again." "Well, thank you for bringing me, paul." "I'm glad I did." "Are you truly?" "No, don't answer that." "Oh, look at that funny man striding' along with his head down." "I don't believe he sees anything." "Might as well be walkin' along a city street." "Oh, god." "What?" "For god's sake, what is it?" "It's roger carbury." "Roger!" "That lady, I take it, is mrs." "Hurtle." "Yes." "Yes, let me introduce you." "No." "I never thought you were without fault, paul, but I am surprised to discover that you're a liar and a scoundrel." "Good day." "Paul:" "Roger!" "Please, roger." "This is not what you think it is." "You tell me it's all over between you and that woman." "A week later," "I find you here together." "It is all over." "I wrote to her, asking her to release me." "She came to england, sent for me, begged me not to desert her in her loneliness." "What was I to do?" "So you intend to marry her after all?" "No." "Don't you understand?" "I am trying to separate myself from her honorably." "You go about it in a very strange way, bringing her to a seaside hotel as if she were a-- has she no regard for her character?" "Have you?" "Perhaps these things don't matter anymore." "What do I know about the way people live now?" "Roger, I can't simply abandon her until she accepts that is over between us." "Meanwhile you offer yourself as a lover to a pure, innocent girl like hetta carbury." "Have you told hetta about this woman and your relations with her?" "No." "No, I thought not." "Do you think she'll be happy to be dragged into this-- this mess that you have made for yourself?" "You think so little of me." "Are you so proud of your own dealings with hetta?" "What do you mean by that?" "You think of her and speak of her as a child, roger." "All your intercourse with her has been as a grown man with a child, and now you offer yourself to her as a lover." "How could she regard your advances to her with anything but-- but embarrassment and disgust?" "!" "That's what I mean." "I don't see how our friendship can survive this, paul."