"Ada, my love." "Esther, my dear." "You are welcome." "I rejoice to see you." "Come inside and get warm." "Rick, if I had a hand to spare at present, I'd give it to you." "Come in." "Come in." "There." "Now, make yourselves comfortable, warm yourselves." "Now, Rick, I have that hand at liberty." "A word in earnest is as good as a speech." "I am heartily glad to see you." "You are at home." "You're very kind, sir." "We're much obliged to you." "Now, come and see your rooms." "I wish you'd come away from the window, my love." "You must take care for your health." "We don't want you fainting again." "I am perfectly well." "You're still pale, I'm afraid." "Is it any wonder?" "We have not see the sun for months." "Mmm." "I think I should take you away for a while." "Paris, now." "A change of scene that will lighten both our spirits." "What do you say?" "You are too good to me." "No, no." "No, no, no." "Not at all." "D'you think we shall be happy here, Esther?" "I think we have been very fortunate." "Bleak House is not so bleak after all." "And do you like Mr Jarndyce?" "I think he is a very singular man indeed." "Is that good?" "I hope so, we are here now for good or ill." "Esther, why do you think he's taken us into his care?" "Well, perhaps it is nothing but kindness." "He has made it very difficult for us to ask, since he behaves as if we are all old friends." "It is strange." "But perhaps we shall be good friends." "Do you think we shall, Esther?" "I am sure we shall, Ada." "KNOCK AT DOOR Yes?" "Miss Summerson?" "For you, Miss, if you please." "The housekeeping keys." "The master said to bring them to you, then tomorrow morning I'm to show you the presses and the things they belong to." "For me?" "Really?" "Thank you." "Er, and you are... ?" "Harriet, Miss." "Thank you, Harriet." "'You're nobody.'" "You're nothing." "You're worse than nothing." "It would have been far better if you'd never been born." "Esther, what is it?" "Nothing." "I'm surprised anyone should trust me so much, knowing me so little." "Shall we go down?" "As far as worldly matters are concerned, I am but a child, a perfect child." "Ah, our little party is complete." "Ada, Esther..." "Allowme to  introduce myself." "Harold Skimpole." "A dear friend and house guest, for the present, of Mr Jarndyce." "Now, you ask my profession." "No profession whatsoever." "I have no aptitude for worldly affairs, none at all." "There, that's Harold Skimpole for you." "How do you do, Mr Skimpole?" "Very well indeed..." "thanks to my excellent friends, of whom John Jarndyce is one of the very best and kindest." "Well..." "Shall we go in?" "Miss Clare, would you do me the honour?" "Hmm?" "THUNDER RUMBLES" "THUNDER CRASHES" "Will you wait there, please, sir?" "I'll go and ask the housekeeper." "Mr Guppy?" "I've never heard of him." "M'lord and Lady Dedlock are away in Paris, sir." "They left this afternoon." "The house is all shut up." "Ah, er, my principal, Mr Kenge, has letters of affidavit for Lady Dedlock's attention." "You can leave them with me, sir, I'll see she gets 'em." "Ah, right." "Er, begging your pardon most profoundly for the unsociable lateness of the hour, owing to my having got lost in very unfamiliar country," "I wonder, ma'am, if I might..." "throw myself upon your mercy." "You want to be allowed to stay the night?" "In a word, ma'am." "All right, Mr Guppy." "So long as you don't mind sleeping with the boots." "Show him the way, Rosa." "I covet nothing." "Possessions are nothing to me." "I live as innocently as a child." "Forgive me, sir, did you never..." "wish you had a house of your own, and a wife and children of your own?" "Why, bless you, my dear fellow." "I have a wife, and children." "Well, half a dozen I should say, or more." "And love them very dearly." "But how do you look after them?" "Look after them?" "Well, how could I?" "You see, I have no aptitude for work of any kind." "None whatsoever." "My friend Skimpole needs somebody to look after HIM." "Then how do your children live, sir?" "Do you know, I've no idea." "But live, they do, somehow or other." "It's no use asking me how these things are done." "I am a child, a perfect child, in these matters." "I think your life must be a very pleasant one, Mr Skimpole." "Well, yes, you might think that." "PIANO MUSIC:" "Adagio from "Pathetique" by Beethoven" "A lovely young creature like that." "We will not call her an orphan." "She... isachildoftheuniverse." "The universe makes rather an indifferent parent, I'm afraid." "Oh, I don't know." "I think I DO know." "Well, this is something, I should say." "The portrait is of Lady Dedlock as a young woman." "It's considered a perfect likeness, and the best work of the master." "Dear me!" "That's Lady Dedlock, is it?" "Blest if I can ever have seen her..." "yet I know her." "I'm dashed if I don't think..." "I must have had a dream of that picture, you know?" "KNOCK AT DOOR" "If you please, Miss, Mr Carstone said would you come to the dining room." "Mr Skimpole's been took, Miss." "Took?" "Took, Miss." "Sudden." "Oh." "I understood you were..." "You are not ill, Mr Skimpole?" "Not in the least, Miss Summerson." "We thought you might be able to advise us, Esther." "This gentleman is Mr Neckett." "NECKETT COUGHS" "Mr Skimpole has been arrested for debt." "Are you arrested for much, sir?" "My dear Miss Summerson, I don't know." "Er, some pounds, odd shillings and a ha'penny were mentioned, I think." "24 pound, 16 and sevenpence ha'penny, that's what it is." "What will happen if the money is not produced, sir?" "Jail." "Or Coavinses." "Er, may I ask what is..." "Coavinses, Miss?" "Halfway house for debtors, Miss." "I thought, you see, that Mr Carstone might, or his beautiful young cousin, might sign some sort of a bond or pledge." "Not a bit of it." "It's cash or Coavinses." "Make your mind up." "One moment, please, Mr Neckett." "Why are WE drawn into this?" "He feels a delicacy about applying to Mr Jarndyce..." "Done it too many times before, no doubt." "He has no right." "I know, but what are we going to do?" "I think we must pay the man, if we can." "I have £10 Mr Kenge gave me." "I must try what that will do." "I have £15 and a few shillings." "My life savings." "HE SIGHS Esther." "And this is the laundry room, Miss." "Thank you, Harriet." "Everything is just as it should be." "Thank you, Miss." "Esther?" "Would you step in here a moment?" "Sit down, my dear." "This, you know, is the Growlery." "When I'm out of humour, I come here and growl." "Then you must be here very seldom." "HE LAUGHS You don't know me." "When I'm deceived or disappointed, when the wind is in the east..." "Er, now..." "what is this I hear about Rick and yourself and Mr Skimpole last night?" "Are you angry with us?" "No!" "You?" "No, bless you, no!" "To get hold of the pair of you and squeeze you like a couple of young oranges, that was very bad of him." "But there must be no more of it, Esther." "If I choose to support him, that's another thing altogether. 15, was it" "Here you are." "And keep it safe." "Safe from our friend Skimpole's inexperience." "Hmm?" "Thank you." "What is it, Esther?" "I don't understand why you're so good to us." "Well..." "that's easy." "In your case, I..." "I hear of a young woman without a protector, and I take it into my head to be that protector." "And Richard and Ada?" "They've gone into this dreadful thing through no fault of their own." "They need help to guide them through it." "Through Chancery?" "I wish I could guide them far away from it." "Jarndyce and Jarndyce has ruined better men than me." "The years go by, the claims are passed down generations, and we can't get out of it, none of us, on any terms." "My great uncle, Tom Jarndyce, was brought to despair by it and..." "blew his own brains out." "I was his heir." "This was his home." "When I came here it was bleak indeed." "And when I brought..." "what remained of him..." "home here, I thought the brains of the house had been..." "blown out too." "It was so shattered and ruined." "Then you must have made great changes, sir." "Yes, yes, and in myself, too, as far as I've been able to." "But I determined never to be drawn into this case, with its false hopes and ruined expectations." "I am fortunate I have enough to live upon, and to help others, too, without tormenting myself with dreams of..." "HE KNOCKS ON TABLE" "Well, I told you this was the Growlery, and I think we may have done with it for one day." "I am very glad to have you here with me, Esther." "You and..." "RickandAda ." "Do you think that you will all be happy here?" "Yes, sir, I think so." "And is there anything I could do to make you more... sureofthat?" "I have been told that I was my mother's disgrace, and she is mine." "Do you know what was meant?" "I assume what was meant is that I was born out of wedlock." "But I should like to know who my mother was..." ".and whether she still lives." "Ah." "That I cannot tell you, Esther." "Your aunt chose not to tell you and her secret died with her." "It may be for the best." "Hmm." "Gallant conduct." "Bravery." "You don't see this one very often." "Your own, sir, are they?" "How much?" "To pawn, or sell outright?" "Sell outright." "Eight pound." "CLAMB CLEARS HIS THROAT" "Those papers, Mr Tulkinghorn, that you took to Lady Dedlock, the one you were interested in." "It was copied at Snagsby's." "You quite sure of that?" "Was there some complaint about them, sir?" "None at all." "Quite the contrary." "That's all, Clamb." "Mrs Pardiggle has threatened to call." "I'm afraid she may insist on taking you on her rounds." "What rounds would those be, sir?" "Charitable rounds, Rick." "Will you be embarking on this charitable expedition, Mr Skimpole?" "I?" "Oh, no." "Well, I have nothing to give, but myself." "And Mrs Pardiggle I find a woman best admired, er, from a distance." "What's the cause we're engaged on, Mrs Pardiggle?" "Visiting a poor family of brick makers." "The father is a very bad character, but I believe I have made great strides with them already." "They love to see me, you know." "Come in, come in." "Well, my friends, I am here again." "There ain't any more of you, is there?" "You won't put me off, good people." "I enjoy hard work, and the harder you make mine, the better I like it." "Now, did you read the little book I left with you?" "No." "I've been drunk for three days." "BABY CRIES" "If I had the money, I'd have been drunk four." "Have I been to church?" "No, I ain't." "How did my wife get that black eye?" "Why, I gives it to 'er." "And if there's anyone else who wants one, you say the word." "Well, if that's the way, perhaps we should move on." "There are others more deserving of our attention." "BABY CONTINUES TO CRY" "Is there anything we can do?" "Would you like a doctor for the baby?" "I think it's gone too late for that, Miss." "SHE GASPS" "SHE GASPS" "SHE SOBS" "SHE KEENS" "We can do no more for now, Esther." "MOTHER CONTINUES TO CRY" "Damn you, boy!" "Sorry, sir, I..." "Damnyoursorry, you little blackguard." "Leave it!" "Or you will deal with me!" "Well, Jo, how are you?" "Not so bad, thanks, sir." "Here." "Take care of yourself, Jo." "Well, here you are." "How did you like Mrs Pardiggle's charity?" "Not at all, sir." "Oh, Lord, I shouldn't have let you go." "You're distressed." "Our distress is nothing." "But theirs is..." "Can nothing be done to help them?" "I think something must be done." "But now, Esther, if you feel up to it, you have a visitor." "A visitor?" "For me?" "A Mr Guppy." "Mr Guppy?" "Of Kenge and Carboys?" "Mmm." "Doesn't it concern us all?" "Miss Esther Summerson, on a personal and confidential matter, he said." "Miss Summerson." "Will you take some refreshment?" "No, thank you." "I'll take a glass of wine." "HE CLEARS HIS THROAT" "Miss Summerson..." "Er..." "What is it, Mr Guppy?" "My present salary is two pound a week, and I expect a further rise of five shillings." "My mother has a little property, which takes the form of a small life annuity." "Mr Guppy, I don't understand..." "Er, Miss Summerson..." "In the mildest language..." "I ADORE you." "Now would you be so kind as to allow me to make a declaration..." "To make an offer?" "Get up, please, Mr Guppy." "I won't hear any more unless you do." "I will, Miss." "As I love and honour, so likewise I obey." "I'm sorry, Mr Guppy, but I can't marry you." "It's out of the question." "I'm aware that, in a worldly point of view, my offer may seem a poor one..." "No, it isn't that, Mr Guppy..." ". but I have been brought up in a sharp school." "I've ferreted out evidence, and got up cases." "What means might I not find of advancing your fortunes, if I had your confidence, and you was to set me on?" "Please stop, Mr Guppy..." "I have walked up and down, of an evening, opposite Jellyby's, only to look upon the bricks that once contained thee." "Miss Summerson, have pity on me." "Mr Guppy, I don't want to disappoint you, or to cause you pain, but you must understand that I don't..." ".and couldn't..." "love you." "I thank you for your good opinion of me." "And that is your final answer?" "Yes." "Er, half a minute, Miss..." "In case you should think better at any time, for MY feelings can never alter..." "." "Mr William Guppy, 87 Penton Place, will suffice." "My card." "Without prejudice." "My angel." "SHOP DOOR BELL JANGLES" "Bless my soul, sir." "Mr Tulkinghorn." "I want half a word with you, Snagsby." "Jarndyce and Jarndyce." "Everything's satisfactory, I hope, Mr Tulkinghorn?" "You copied some affidavits in that cause for me lately." "Yes, sir." "There was one of them, the handwriting of which is peculiar." "Who copied this?" "Ah." "We gave this out, sir." "It'll be in the book." "Jarndyce." "Here we are, sir." "This was given out to a writer who lodges just opposite." "Name of Nemo." "Nemo?" "Nemo is Latin for "no-one"." "He lodges just opposite?" "Above Krook's bottle shop." "Will I take you there?" "No trouble." "No trouble at all, sir." "No, Snagsby, that will not be necessary." "I was simply curious, that's all." "Good evening, Snagsby." "Good evening, Mr Tulkinghorn." "Much obliged to you." "SHOP DOOR BELL JANGLES, CAT HISSES All right, Lady Jane." "Mr Krook?" "That's me." "Is your lodger within?" "Male or female?" "Male." "He's in." "Did you want to see him?" "Yes." "Then you'd best go up." "Second landing." "End on the left." "Thank you." "HE KNOCKS ON DOOR" "Mr Nemo?" "Are you there?" "Opium." "Mr Nemo?" "Hello, my friend." "The man called Nemo, Mr Tulkinghorn." "He pawned some medals the day he died." "One of them was inscribed with the name of Captain Hawdon." "Hawdon!" "A welsher!" "A bilker!" "A defalcator!" "Owes me hundreds of pounds, and gone to ground." "Bad debt." "Bad debt." "I hate 'em !" "You, boy." "Come here." "Here!" "I ain't done nothing, sir." "What do you do here?" "Let the boy go, Mr Tulkinghorn." "You're frightening him." "He is the very kindest of physicians in all the world." "He will have his reward on the Day of Judgement." "I shall never be a person of consequence." "No?" "Well, you'll have to allow me to disagree with you, then." "I think you like Mr Woodcourt a great deal, don't you?" "I did." "Oh, Ada, if only life could be like this all the time." "Well, it could, couldn't it?" "Perhaps." "I love him so much, Miss Summerson." "Oh, Lor', that's his dad." "Strike home, sir." "Strike home." "Delighted to welcome you to the mysteries of our profession, Mr Carstone." "Richard Carstone, MRCS." "I suppose there is..." "rather a lot of blood." "But don't let me discourage you." "I've been thinking that the law is the boy for me." "The law?" "Tell you the truth, I can't make head nor tail of it." "And, er, what profession have you settled upon this time?" "The Army, sir." "All these costs, costs, costs and nothing is done." "Nothing is for nothing, as they say." "Might I ask, Miss Summerson, what YOUR family was?" "I never knew my mother or my father, Mrs Woodcourt." "This is to be hushed up if it can be." "I am not sure that I could do that, Mr Tulkinghorn." "You must, Lady Dedlock." "For the sake of the family honour, you must."