[theme music playing] [oars creaking] [bell tolling] [coins clinking] -[man] I'll row, Lizzie.

-No.

No, Father, I cannot sit so near it.

-What hurt can he do you?

-None.

None.

I cannot bear it.

It's my belief that you hate the very sight of this river.

As if it wasn't your living.

As if it wasn't meat and drink to you.

[sniffling] Lizzie...

The driftwood fire that warmed you when you was a baby was pulled out the river, alongside the coal barges.

[sniffling] I made your cradle rocker out of that same wood.

[Roger] In luck again, Gaffer?

I know'd you was in luck again.

Don't fret yourself, partner.

I didn't touch him.

I must have passed him as I went upriver.

I sometimes think you're like a vulture, partner.

You can smell them bodies clean out the water.

Ain't been eating nothing that's disagreed with you, have you, partner?

Yes, I have!

Swallowing too much of that word, "partner".

I ain't no partner of yours, Riderhood.

Since when?

Since you was accused of robbing a man.

A live man.

[stutters] And what if he'd been a dead man?

You can't rob the dead!

What world does a dead man belong to?

T'other world.

What world does money belong to?

This world.

You got short time for putting your hand in the pocket of a sailor.

A live sailor.

You count yourself lucky.

But we work together no more.

In this world or t'other!

Cast off.

[oars creaking] You'll not get rid of me!

[orchestra playing waltz] [man] Whoa, there!

Whoa!

[chatter and laughter] [woman] I'll introduce you to her.

I believe she's here.

She's a charming woman.

Did I tell you, Mortimer, that my respected father has found a wife for his not generally respected son?

Really, Eugene?

With some money, of course.

With some money, of course, or he would never have found her.

[champagne cork pops] So, who exactly is our host today?

Veneering.

Over there, Mr.

Empire.

This is his good deed for the year.

[Mortimer] Good Lord.

I'm surprised our Tippins has graced this gorgeous spectacle with her royal presence.

You know, old money doesn't mind sniffing around new money for an hour or two.

Champagne tastes the same whoever's buying.

[Tippins] Mortimer Lightwood!

You wretch.

Why have you not come to see me?

Oh, my dear Lady Tippins, I...

I can't bear having to force my way through the crowds of your other admirers.

A man must have hope.

Well, the Veneerings have certainly done their young friends proud.

Dear best friends of the groom, of course, and obviously, the bride.

Anyone know anything about the bride?

Hmm?

[door opening] [people gasping] [Tippins] I've never seen him before.

-The bride and groom.

-[clapping] Or her.

Does anyone know anything about them?

[woman whispering] She's a lady of property.

[man 1] He has shares.

Profits and shares.

[man] How many shares?

-[man 2] What is her character?

-[woman] Due to inherit... -[man 1] She has property.

-[man announcing] A fortune between them... [man 2] How many acres, exactly?

[man 1] Quite a few acres, I'm sure.

-...overseas investments.

-[clapping] [guests chatting] Mortimer Lightwood, I insist upon you telling me all about the Harmon fortune.

Harmon... -Harmon... -Hmm... Old Harmon's been dead for weeks.

And we don't know what is to become of his fortune.

Society becomes restless when it smells a great fortune left unclaimed.

I find it immensely embarrassing having the eyes of society on me to this extent.

[exhales] Well... Old Harmon, as you know, was a tremendous old rascal, who made his money in dust.

An absolute scandal.

The fortune to be made in rubbish.

And this old rascal Harmon actually lived amongst the dust heaps?

-Yes, yes.

Like a veritable mountain range about him.

-[woman laughing loudly] The fellow, however, had the miserable inclination to make enemies of all his family, all turned out of the house.

Even the son.

Now, keep your eyes fixed upon the son because this is where I come in.

He grew up abroad.

-In the Cape?

-In the Cape.

Where I discovered he was living, only the other day, having been abroad some 14 years.

The whole range of dust mountains is left to young Harmon, and he has set sail home to claim it.

He's due to land in England, even as we very speak.

So, old Harmon wasn't such an unnatural monster after all.

Fortune will go to the son, as it should.

Ah-ha, but he did leave a sting in the tail of his will.

The son's inheritance is conditional on his marrying a girl he has never met.

[gasping and murmuring] One Bella Wilfer.

[Tippins] Bella Wilfer?

Never heard of her.

Has anyone any knowledge of any Bella Wilfer?

Is she out?

What if John Harmon does not care for the bride his perverse father has chosen for him?

-Not care for her?

-Rescind the will and fortune?

Cast off the dust mountains?

Not care for a marriageable young woman called Bella?

And throw away a fortune?

Really, Eugene!

[servant] A note has arrived for you, sir.

This note arrives in a most opportune manner.

I fear it is the conclusion of John Harmon's story.

There!

[scoffs] Fellow's married already.

Refuses to marry Bella Wilfer?

Surely not.

No.

No, you're all wrong.

The story is completer.

And rather more exciting than I supposed.

[people murmuring] John Harmon is drowned.

[gasping and murmuring] Did you write this?

I did.

Did you find the body?

My father, Jesse Hexam, found the body.

What's his position?

He gets his living alongshore.

Then why does your father, Jesse Hexam not write the note himself?

Is the body far?

It's a good stretch.

I came up in a cab, and the cab's waiting to be paid.

We could go back in it before you paid it, if you like.

John Harmon was discovered dead?

Dead as the Pharaoh's multitude that were drowned under the Red Sea.

If Lazarus was half as far gone, that was the greatest of miracles.

Good Lord.

You seem to be at home in the Red Sea, young man.

Read of it with a teacher at school.

But don't you tell my father.

It's my sister's contriving.

You seem to have a good sister.

She ain't bad.

But if she even knows half her letters, it's because I learned her.

I'll go with you, if I may.

[murmuring] [coachman] Come on!

Do you mean to tell me... Do you mean to tell me... Do you?

Are you a man of fortune?

No.

Then you have married me under false pretenses.

So be it.

Now you.

Are you a woman of property?

No.

Well, then you married me under false pretenses.

I asked Veneering, he told me you were rich.

Veneering?

What does he know about me?

Well, congratulations.

You obviously made a very good job of deceiving him.

[slow clapping outside] And, Mrs. Lammle, what made you suppose me to be a man of fortune?

I asked Veneering.

And he knows of me as much as he knows of you.

I will never forgive Veneering!

For being so... Gullible?

[clapping and cheering] -[hooves clomping] -[dog barking] Let me see, Eugene, I...

I've been on the Honorable Roll of Solicitors of the High Court for five years now, and except for taking instructions on average of once a fortnight for the will of Lady Tippins, who, by the way, has nothing to leave, I have no scrap of business except for this Harmon romance.

And I've been called to the Bar for ages, and have had no business at all, which my father uses as an excuse to keep me poor.

Yes, he keeps me bound to him with the merest trickle of an income to relieve his disappointment.

What's more, he continually berates me for my lack of energy.

Give me something to be energetic about, by God, I'll show him energy.

Hmm.

He's an amusing fellow, my father.

I should like to please him, if I could.

We must be drawing near to the river.

[sighs] -[dogs barking] -[men talking loudly] [baby crying] We shall fall over the edge of the world if we don't stop soon.

-[man] Open up!

-[knocking] Hello, there!

Surely we're nearly there?

[dog barking] [driver] Whoa.

You must walk the rest.

It's not many yards.

[indistinct pleading] [distant bell tolling] [door creaks] The gentlemen, Father.

You're Mortimer Lightwood, Esquire, sir?

Are you, sir?

Mortimer Lightwood is my name, sir.

What you found last night...

It is not here?

It's close by.

I do everything regular.

I've given notice of the circumstances to the police and the police have taken possession of it.

The police have put it into print already.

And here's what the print says.

[Mortimer] Only papers found on the unfortunate man, I see.

Only papers.

No money.

But threepence... Only threepence?

In one of the shirt pockets.

Three... Penny.

Pieces.

The trouser pockets empty, and turned inside out.

Well, that's common.

Whether it's the wash of the tide or no, I can't say.

This one here... His pockets was found empty and turned inside out.

I can't read.

Nor do I want to.

I know them all by their places on the wall.

This one was a sailor, with two anchors, a flag and the letters "GFT" tattooed on his arm.

See if he weren't.

This was the woman in gray boots with her linen marked in with a cross.

And these, two young children what had tied themselves together with a handkerchief.

Poor souls.

Every one.

[scoffs] This, an old gent with a cut over his left eye, a pink nightcap and drunk as a lord!

[chuckling] You did not find all of these yourself?

And what your name be now?

[Mortimer] This is my friend, Mr. Eugene Wrayburn.

Do you suppose there has been much violence, robbery beforehand in these cases?

I ain't one of the supposing sorts.

If you had your living to haul out of the river every day of your life, you mightn't be much given to supposing.

[door creaking] Are you looking for a body?

Or have you found one?

Which is it?

I'm lost.

And I'm a stranger.

And I...

I must...

I have to get to the place where I can see the body.

It is possible I may know this... Are you seeking a Mr. Harmon?

No.

Then I think I can assure you that you will not find what you fear.

I must see the body.

[boy] Please, sir?

Sir?

Please, sir?

[dog barking] [child coughing] [woman screeching] No clue as to how the body came to be in the river?

Very often there is no clue.

As it very often isn't for ascertaining whether injuries have occurred before or after death.

The steward of the ship identified John Harmon, along with the clothes and papers, also sworn as those of John Harmon.

And as to what exactly happened?

Totally disappeared on leaving ship till found in river.

He'd probably been on some little game.

Had thought it a harmless game, no doubt, but it turned out to be a fatal game.

Inquest tomorrow.

An open verdict, no doubt.

[man moaning] It appears to have knocked your friend completely off his legs.

This gentleman is no friend of mine, sir.

It's a horrible sight.

[sniffling] You expected to identify...

Yes.

And?

No.

No, I did not.

I must go now.

You were after identifying someone, or you wouldn't have come here.

Can we not ask who?

You must excuse me for not telling you.

You must know that sometimes there are disagreements in families, personal tragedies that they would rather not have generally discussed.

At least, you will not object to leaving me your card?

[scoffs] I would not, if I had had one, but I do not.

At least, sir, you would not object to writing down your name and address?

[scribbling] Mr. Julius Handford.

Exchequer Coffee House.

Palace Yard, Westminster.

Consequently from out of town?

Yes.

Out of town.

You could say that.

Keep him in sight, without giving offense.

Make sure that he's staying where he says he is.

And find out everything you can about him.

Inspector?

I have to ask you.

Do you think there is anything untoward in John Harmon's death?

[inspector] If it was murder, anybody might have done it.

Burglary or pickpocketing, that needs an apprenticeship.

Not so, murder.

We are all of us up to that.

Pity it's not true, that old superstition about corpses bleeding when touched by the hand of those responsible for their undoing.

[woman screeching] You get row enough out of her, but you get nothing out of bodies.

The entire fortune to go to a dust man?

It's unbelievable!

It is true.

As Harmon's only son is dead, the entire dust yard and fortune goes to a Mr. Boffin.

It's unnatural!

He was a good and faithful servant.

But how will a dust man know what to do with such wealth?

That's for Mr. Boffin and his good wife to decide.

When I have explained to them the full extent of their fortune.

[workers coughing and straining] [Mortimer] "And so the entire Harmon fortune, as is the complete range of dust heaps, including the little one, is entailed to Mr. Nicodemus Boffin."

Though I hate to disagree with you on your very first instruction, Mr. Boffin, as your lawyer, I must tell you that £10,000 is too much.

The old lady thinks it's the right figure, and so do I.

A £10,000 reward to find the villain who murdered our John.

[judge] We can only imagine John Harmon's feelings as he traveled homewards after so many years abroad, towards his future, and the bride that his father had chosen for him.

And we can only imagine how the poor girl feels, her hopes so cruelly dashed.

We have heard the circumstances of Mr. Harmon's return to this country.

And we have heard compelling evidence that the deceased carried with him a large sum of money, from the forced sale of his foreign property.

No doubt to facilitate the early marriage to the woman who waited for him, patiently and silently.

How long must I wear this insufferable dress!

This case is made further interesting by the remarkable experience of Jesse, known as Gaffer, Hexam, having rescued from the Thames so many dead bodies.

The jury has found that Mr. John Harmon was discovered floating in the Thames, in some state of decay and much injured.

And that the said John Harmon came by his death under highly suspicious circumstances.

Though by whose act, and in what precise manner, there is no evidence before this jury to show.

I will, therefore, this day, make a recommendation that there should be a police investigation into this mysterious death.

And I have notice that interested parties have come forward with a substantial reward.

Mr. Boffin has provided an excessively generous amount of £10,000.

[gasps of surprise] [excited whispers] [whispering] £10,000!

I told you the man would be a fool with money.

What a glimpse of wealth I had.

And now, it's melted away and I am here in mourning.

A kind of widow who was never married.

I shouldn't care so much if it wasn't so ridiculous.

To think what an embarrassed first meeting it should have been.

We never could have pretended to harbor any true affection.

I was hardly likely to even like this John Harmon, how could I?

I'm sure I'm the poorer, for I have to wait until Bella finds herself another husband.

If, the truth were known, this embarrassment might have been smoothed away by the money, for I love money.

I want money, I want it dreadfully.

I hate to be poor and we are degradingly poor.

[sighs] Offensively poor.

Left to him in a will.

Like a dozen spoons.

-[knocking on door] -And all this for a man I never saw.

-Enter!

-And I should have hated, if I had.

Ah, RW.

This is the gentleman who has taken our first floor.

He was so good as to make an appointment for this morning when you would be at home.

This is my husband, RW, the undisputed master of the house.

Well, seeing that I'm quite satisfied, Mr. Wilfer, with the rooms, that is, and their price, I hope that a memorandum between us, some two or three lines, perhaps, might bind the bargain.

The gentleman proposes to take your apartments by the quarter.

If I might mention a referee?

No.

[stuttering] I think that a referee is not necessary.

Neither is it convenient.

I am a stranger in London.

You see, I require no reference from you.

I shall pay whatever you please, in advance.

And I will leave my furniture here, whereas if you, sir, were in embarrassed circumstances...

This is a supposition, of course, but, as you see... -We see.

Perfectly.

-Well... Money and goods are, of course, certainly the best references.

Hmm, do you really think they are, Pa?

Among the best, my dear.

I should have thought myself it would be so easy to provide the usual kind.

My dear, will you be the witness?

Where am I to go, Pa?

Here, in the corner?

Yes.

[John] I'm very much obliged to you, Miss Wilfer.

Obliged?

And why should Mr. ... "John Rokesmith" be obliged to me?

I've given you so much trouble.

By signing my name?

I am your landlord's daughter, after all.

I'll send my furniture tomorrow.

I'll follow shortly behind.

Pa!

We have ourselves a murderer for a tenant.

-A robber, at least.

-And living upstairs.

On the first floor.

I've never seen such an exhibition, did you see him?

Unable to look a person in the eye.

Mark my words, between Mr. Rokesmith and myself, there is a natural antipathy and a deep distrust.

I don't know what will come of it.

No, my dear.

Between Mr. Rokesmith and myself, there is the matter of eight gold sovereigns.

And supper shall certainly come of it.

♪ Be gone, dull care You and I shall never agree ♪ ♪ Long time has thou been tarrying here ♪ ♪ I fain thou wouldst me kill... ♪ Morning, sir!

Good morning to you, sir.

Have you ever heard of the name of Boffin?

-No.

I never did.

-Do you like it?

Why, no, I can't say I do.

Well, I'll tell you something that'll make you sorry for that.

My name's Boffin.

I can't help that.

Do you like the name "Nicodemus"?

Nick?

Or, uh, Noddy?

Well, it's not a name I could wish for someone I had respect for.

Noddy Boffin.

That's my name.

What's yours?

Silas Wegg.

I don't know why "Silas", I don't know why "Wegg".

Now, Wegg, I wanna make a sort of offer to you.

Oh...

I've been listening to your singing -with great admiration.

-Well...

I'll wager you know every one of those songs by words and by tune.

So...

Here we have, uh, a literary man with a wooden leg, and all print is open to him.

And yet, here I am, a man without a wooden leg, and yet, all print is shut to me.

Indeed, sir.

-Education neglected?

-Neglected.

Though, I could recognize "B" if you showed me.

"B" for Boffin.

-That's something.

-That's something.

But not as much as could be wished of by an inquiring mind.

But something, to be sure.

Now, I've retired from business, and come into some little money.

It's too late for me to begin shoveling at alphabets and grammar books.

I'm getting to be an old bird.

But I find I want some reading.

Now, how can I get that reading, Wegg?

By paying a man, truly qualified to do it, so much an hour to do it for me.

Flattered, I'm sure.

So, what is your proposition?

Well, let's say, uh... Tuppence halfpenny an hour?

That's five, six nights... Half a crown.

Sir!

Half a crown?

It ain't much, sir.

Half a crown.

Particularly, if, in the course of an evening's reading, you was wanting to, perhaps, drop into poetry?

Mr. Boffin...

I never bargain.

You have the needful implement?

A book?

Oh!

Uh, no... Consequently done.

For double the money.

[door opening and bell ringing] Just in time for the landlord, my dear.

I hate all this money going to the landlord when we all want... Everything.

Pa?

Why do you suppose old Mr. Harmon took it in his head to make such a fool out of me?

I've told you often, my dear.

I hardly spoke a hundred words to the gentleman.

You were sitting on my lap on a bench in the park, rather as we are now, when you suddenly took it into your head to... -To make a scene, Pa?

-[chuckling] Never let it be said I was the parent to condone infant misbehavior, RW!

And then I screamed and hit you about the head, didn't I, Pa?

And the old gentleman said, "That's a nice girl.

That's a promising girl."

[both laughing] [Mrs. Wilfer] Never let it be said I condoned the talking to of strangers in the park!

And then he asked for our name and address, and kept saying, "That's a promising girl.

A most promising girl."

-Hmm.

-Hmm... And so I was.

And so you were, my dear.

So you were.

[indistinct conversation] [door opening and closing] How do you do?

Wegg, you know.

To be sure.

Hospital amputation, wasn't it?

-I remember you now.

-Just so.

Hmm... Come and sit by the fire and warm your...

Warm your other one.

My tea is drawing.

Mr. Wegg, will you partake?

So how have I been going on this long time, Mr. Venus?

I don't know.

Do what I will, with your old leg can't be got to fit in anywhere.

Hang it, Venus!

You can't be personal and peculiar.

It may have most often happen with your miscellaneous ones.

With ribs, I grant you, always.

Every man has his own ribs and no others will go with them, but legs... Hmm.

I can't find another one to match.

Now, look here, I want to buy my leg back.

How much do you want for it?

Well... You were one of a various lot.

Come.

On your account, I'm not worth much.

Not for miscellaneous working, Mr. Wegg...

But you may yet turn out to be valuable as a monstrosity, if you'll excuse me.

I've a prospect of getting on in life, and I tell you, I should not like to be dispersed, a part of me here, a part of me there, but should wish to collect myself together, like a genteel person.

Hmm... You seem very low, Mr. Venus.

Is business bad?

Never was so good, Mr. Wegg.

I'm not only first in the trade, I am the trade.

You may buy a skeleton in the West End, if you like, and pay West End sort of prices for it, but it'll be my work and putting together.

Mr. Wegg...

If you was brought here loose in a bag to be articulated, I could name your smallest bones blindfold and sort them all in a manner that would surprise and charm you.

Now, that ain't a state to be brought low about.

It's the heart that's brought me low.

I'm a bachelor.

I'm 38...

But I love her, Mr. Wegg.

But the lady objects to the business?

Does she know the profits of it?

She knows the profits of it, she doesn't appreciate the art of it.

And so... [sniffling] A man climbs to the top of the tree, Mr. Wegg, only to see there's no look-out when he's got there.

I sit here... Of a night, surrounded by the finest trophies of my art, and what have they done for me?

Ruined me.

It's time I was at Harmon's.

Old Harmon's up the Battlebridge way.

You ought to be in for a good thing.

There's a lot of money going there.

Poor old Harmon wanted to know the worth of everything.

Many's the bone and feather he brought to me.

Really now?

The old gentleman was well known.

There used to be stories about him having hidden all sorts of property in them dust mounds.

I suppose there was something in them.

Probably you know that, Mr. Wegg.

[dog barking outside] [gasps] [slurping noisily] Thank you.

And now, to what am I indebted to this honor?

A Sunday visit from Mr. and Mrs. Boffin, who must be so busy in their social activities, I can hardly imagine why they should honor us with a visit to our humble abode.

Perhaps, Mrs. Wilfer, you are acquainted with the names of me and Mr. Boffin as having come into a certain prosperity?

I have heard a little, madam, of your good fortune.

And I dare say, ma'am, you will not be inclined to think kindly of us.

Mrs. Boffin and me are plain people.

[sniffling] We don't pretend to anything.

And we don't go round and round at anything.

Consequently...

Uh, we have made this call to say how glad we shall be to have the honor and pleasure of your daughter's acquaintance.

We shall be rejoiced if your daughter can come to consider our house...

Uh, our new house, that is, her house.

We are considering, in the light of our changed circumstances... To go in for fashion!

And for society.

We are to give up the dusty Bower, though we do love it, for a nice new house in a nice new neighborhood.

And I'm thinking of a pale yellow chariot with a fine pair of horses and silver boxes to the wheels.

For we have been thinking of your poor girl, and how cruelly disappointed she was of her husband and his riches.

[Mr. Boffin] In short, we want to cheer your daughter, and give her an opportunity to share such pleasures as we are going to take of ourselves.

Yes.

We want to brisk her up and brisk her about!

Uh, I am much obliged to you both, I'm sure...

But I doubt if I have the inclination to go out at all.

Bella!

Bella, my child, you must try to conquer these delicate feelings.

Well, have a little think about it.

But take my advice, do what your ma says and conquer it, my dear.

We are going to go everywhere and see everything.

Of course, if your sister would like to come, make you more comfortable, we'd welcome her gladly.

I'm sure I know my duty, and will stay at home with Ma and Pa. You mustn't feel a dislike for us, you know, my dear, for we couldn't help the inheritance.

We did nothing to further it.

Come.

Come, old lady.

We'll outstay our welcome.

[Lavinia] Well, Bella's got what she wants from her Boffins!

She'll be rich enough at her Boffins!

She'll have as many lobsters for supper as she likes at her Boffins!

Well, you won't take me to your Boffins!

[train whistling] We seem to have a mutual friend.

You are acquainted with our new lodger, Mr. Boffin?

Bit of a mystery man, my dear.

[sign creaking] [indistinct conversations] You'd think, wouldn't you, Miss Abby, with the general interest the Harmon case has aroused, not least the, um... [clears throat] substantial reward offered, that some clue to the murderer might have arisen?

There's been a notice in The Times every day in search of the stranger, Handford, our mysterious friend from the mortuary.

Though maybe none of your regulars, those that can read, peruse that journal.

I can read.

And I think that most know the meaning of the figures £10,000, whether they can sign their names or not.

This house is a respecter of the river and an especial respecter of its dead.

And I think that you also know that this house is a respecter of the law.

The Harmon poster is peeling on my walls.

Not one of my regulars who is to be trusted, has remarked on it.

Get away from here, Riderhood.

I've told you, you're not welcome in this house!

But I haven't done nothing.

You can't refuse to serve me.

I can do what I like in my own house!

Now, get away with you!

You will not drink in here again!

[silence] [chatter resumes] And what of Jesse Hexam, Riderhood's partner?

Is he allowed to drink alongside you at the counter, Miss Abby?

No, but I can name you 20 others hereabouts who are also denied the pleasure.

Do you think they all had an hand in the Harmon crime?

[door opening] [Silas] "It is our desire to describe the prosperous condition of the Empire, and afterwards, from the death of Marcus Antoninus, to deduce the most important circumstances of its decline and fall.

A revolution which will ever be remembered and is still felt by all the nations of the earth."

We're on our way, old lady!

On our way!

With old Marcus Antoninus alongside of us, eh?

[laughs] [coins clinking] Bring us over a drink, Lizzie, and come and sit with me.

[bottles clinking] Now, Lizzie, dear.

-I'm very put out.

-I'm very sorry to hear it, Miss Abby.

Then, why do you do it?

I do what, Miss?

I'm sorry.

But, Lizzie, why won't you take up my offer to get clear of your father?

I'm very grateful for it.

Truly, I am.

You're obstinate, more like.

Do you know the worst of your father, child?

The suspicions that are laid against him.

This is not easy to say, but I must do it.

It is thought by some that your father helps to their death some of those that he finds dead.

You do not know my father.

Indeed, you don't.

Leave your father.

Lizzie, let me help you.

You must leave him.

Thank you, Miss Abby, but I can't.

The more my father is accused, the more he needs me to lean on.

[bottles clinking] -[knocking on door] -Come!

[door opening] The florist begs leave to remind Mr. Lammle of the bill of payments, sir.

I would have thought it imprudent, even for you, to... [exhales] ...continue to buy goods that you cannot afford.

More fool you, not to have noticed this deficiency in my financial affairs before we became jointly responsible for them.

I was deceived!

I cannot get rid of you and you cannot get rid of me.

I suggest we reach a mutual understanding which might carry us through.

An understanding?

With a little encouragement from our friends, we mutually deceived each other into wedlock.

I suggest we will keep these mortifying facts to ourselves.

Agreed?

That is not an expense.

It is an investment.

I have been looking to the future and you can be sure that I am not alone.

When a great fortune suddenly appears as if from nowhere, it is the duty of all beggars, especially the, um, deserving gentry, to beat a path to its door.

We must be amongst them, but we will be in disguise.

"Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Lammle to Mr. and Mrs. Nicodemus Boffin, Esquire.

Offering their most hearty felicitations on their good fortune, hoping that they may accept this small gift, begging leave to call on Mr. and Mrs. Boffin..." All right, old lady?

[Mrs. Boffin] Where we gonna put them all?

Papers buzzing about me ears!

[workers coughing] [distant bell tolling] Apple pie order.

So, if you would try me as your secretary for a trial period only.

Naturally, I would keep exact accounts of all the expenditure that you've sanctioned, and write letters, under your strict direction, of course.

And I would transact business with the people under your employment.

Well, I've said I already have in my employment a literary man with a wooden leg.

And this, uh, rounding-up of papers?

Would be continuous, of course.

Now... [clears throat] Let's try a letter next.

To whom should it be addressed?

Well, uh, anyone.

Try yourself.

[scribbling] "Mr. Boffin presents his compliments to Mr. John Rokesmith, and begs to say that he is decided on giving Mr. John Rokesmith a trial in the capacity that he desires to fill.

It is quite understood that Mr. Boffin is in no way committed to a salary, which will be postponed for some indefinite period.

And Mr. Boffin relies on Mr. John Rokesmith's assurance that he will be both, faithful and serviceable, and enter upon his duties immediately."

[laughing] That's the fairest set-down letter I've ever heard.

-Let's shake on it.

-[chair squeaks] [both laugh] Now, I may not have mentioned to you that it is Mrs. Boffin's inclination to go in the way of fashion.

I rather inferred that from the, uh, scale in which your new establishment is to be maintained.

-Yes, it's gonna be a spanker!

-[giggling] Old Harmon was not much loved.

He was a harsh man.

He preferred me to his child.

When the son was a little boy, he came up and down these stairs to see his father.

He often cried on these stairs, poor little thing.

Starved of love, that's what he was.

My old lady, here, did her best to give it to him.

Here...

This is where the boy wrote his name several times.

And he measured himself here on this sunny patch.

[Mr. Boffin] Let's take care of these names, old lady.

They must never be rubbed out in our lifetime.

Nor ever if we can help it.

-[John] Do you mean to sell the house, Mr. Boffin?

-[Mr. Boffin] Certainly not!

In memory of our master and the dear child, I mean to keep it.

I've got a plan.

I'll tell you about it soon enough.

[man wheezes heavily] Oh, they're a different matter.

That was my first mound.

It would have been enough for us, if it had pleased God to spare the little one.

I ain't a scholar in much, Mr. Rokesmith.

I'm a pretty fair scholar in dust.

I can price these mountains to a fraction.

You don't find the air a little overpowering, Mr. Rokesmith?

Excuse me?

Oh, it's just that strangers can often find the smell of the dust yard, uh, faintly pungent on first encounter.

No, I do not find it in the least offensive.

-It is the smell of good honest work, I'm sure.

-Indeed.

My Noddy has everything accounted for, down to the last farthing, proper and right.

A man such as I was had no use of lettering.

But numbers, -you'll find I'm a master of those.

-[Mr. and Mrs. Boffin laugh] [train whistle blows] [Mrs. Boffin] Where did you come from, Mr. Rokesmith?

I've been in many places.

What do you do for a living?

I've had some aspirations, but I've been disappointed.

I have to begin my life once more.

[seagulls squawking] [door opening and closing] [Charley] Hello, Lizzie.

Supper ready?

-That's early.

-Sit and eat, Charley.

-You must be gone before father gets home.

-Gone?

[coin clinking on table] What's all this, Liz?

I've made up my mind, this is the right time for you to be going away from us.

You'll do much better and be much happier.

-How do you know that?

-I do know.

I do.

You leave the river and father to me.

But you must go.

No, I think you decided that there's three of us!

There's not enough for all of us, so you want to get rid of me!

[softly] Yes.

Yes, that's right.

I'm a selfish sister.

I think there's not enough room for three of us and I want to get rid of you.

-[sniffling] -Don't cry, Liz!

Don't cry.

-I will go if you say.

-[sniffling] -I know you'll send me away for my own good.

-Oh, Charley!

Heaven knows I do!

Now, listen.

You get straight to school at once.

[Lizzie sniffles] Father will never bother you.

But he won't ever have you back, either.

You're a credit to your school.

They'll help you find a living.

Now, you show them your money.

Tell them I'll send you more.

I don't know where from, but... [sniffling] I'll send it.

Now, you must hurry.

Remember, Charley...

Always speak well of Father.

Even if you hear the worst that could be heard about Father, it'll not be true.

You be good.

Get learning.

[sniffling] And only remember your life here as if you dreamt of it in your sleep.

[sniffling and crying] [bell tolling] [Mrs. Boffin humming] [stops humming] [resumes humming] [Silas] So, sir...

I don't suppose we'll be doing much more "declining and falling".

Wegg...

I've got an offer to make you.

You'll not be wanting my services now you've got your brand-new house and brand-new secretary.

Steady, Wegg.

It's my idea that you should stay here in the barn and keep it for us.

This is a pleasant spot.

A man with coal, candles, a pound a week.

I might be in clover here.

-You still want reading?

-[laughs] Yes.

And no extra for what you was thinking of offering for the overlooking of this fearsome place?

Of course, you will be extra compensated for your trouble.

Mr. Boffin, consider it done.

[Mrs. Boffin screams] -What is it, dear?

-[breathing heavily] Oh... My, you're frightened.

You?

Frightened?

-Oh, Noddy, it is so strange!

-What is, my dear?

[Mrs. Boffin whispering] The faces of the old man and the little one.

They're all over the house tonight.

I know it must sound foolish, but...

It is so!

-And, where did you see them?

-Everywhere!

I was tidying the linen, singing to myself, not thinking of anything in particular, when suddenly...

It was the old man's face.

-And then it was gone?

-Yes.

[stuttering] I came in here to get rid of it, tell myself what a silly foolish old woman I was.

But then...

The old man's face again!

[inhales deeply] And the little boy.

In the shadows, looking at me through the window.

Oh, Noddy.

Why have they come to haunt us?

What have we done?

There's nothing in the world to you but goodness, little lady.

Don't trouble yourself on that account.

Now...

I'll tell you what I'll do.

I'll get rid of Wegg, and we'll go for a walk together round the park.

And we'll shine a light in every dark corner, see if we can't shake these cobwebs away.

Hmm?

No, Noddy.

I'm...

I'm not nervous of this house.

It's just...

When I shut my eyes... [exhales] Here they come!

[exhales sharply] The old man's face, it gets...

It gets younger.

[breathing heavily] And the little boy's, it gets older.

They merge.

Are they angry?

No.

No, they're just there.

And here's my husband's face to cheer me.

And that is the best face in all the world.

[seagulls squawking] [door opening and closing] You must be frozen, Father dear.

I ain't half aglow, that's certain.

Where's that boy?

If the river were to freeze, there'd be a deal of distress.

There's always enough of that.

[rubbing hands] Distress is forever going about, like soot in the air.

Where is that boy, hmm?

Sit and eat, Father, and we'll talk.

[exhales loudly] Now, Lizzie... Where's that boy at?

Well...

It would seem, Father, that Charley has a gift for learning.

Unnatural boy!

And, so, not wanting to be a burden to you, well, he made up his mind to seek his fortune from learning.

He went away, Father.

He cried very much, and... And he hopes very much that you can forgive him.

My forgiveness...

I'll never set eyes on that boy again.

He's disowned his own father.

Unnatural boy!

Now I know why those men turned away from me just now.

'Cause here's a man what ain't good enough for his own son!

[crying] Please, Father.

Put the knife down.

-What's the matter, Liz?

-[sniffling] You'd never think I'd hurt you, Liz?

[Lizzie sobbing] [shushing softly] -Lizzie, come on.

-[weeping] Lizzie, my girl.

Lizzie.

My love.

[church bells tolling] Were you watching me, Mr. Rokesmith?

No.

Indeed, Miss Wilfer, I'm charged with a message for you.

I find that most unlikely.

From Mrs. Boffin.

She will have the pleasure of receiving you soon at the new house.

I find that I am to become Mr. Boffin's secretary.

And will you always be there, Mr. Rokesmith?

At the new house?

Always, no.

Very much there, yes.

Have no fear, you need pay me little attention.

I will transact the business, and you, the pleasure.

You will have nothing to do but enjoy and attract.

Attract?

The loss of your fiancé, John Harmon, may one day be repaired.

Of course, I speak merely of wealth.

The loss of a perfect stranger whose worth you could not possibly have estimate beyond the inconvenience of their death, is another matter.

It's growing dark around us.

You must have been absorbed by your book.

Is it a love story?

Certainly not!

It's more about money than anything.

And does it say that money is better than anything?

I really cannot tell you.

Find out for yourself, for all I care!

-[wind whooshing] -How the wind sounds up here.

As if we were keeping a lighthouse.

I wish we were.

Don't you think it would bore us?

No more than any other place.

And we would be blessedly free both, of society in general and in particular, my father.

[inhales deeply] Speaking of which, shall we touch upon the eligible lady your respected father has found for you?

I assure you my intentions are opposed to touching the lady.

How could I possibly undertake matrimony?

I, so easily bored.

So constantly.

So totally.

[scoffs] -[door opening] -Who the devil are you?

Where the devil have you come from?

I beg your pardons, guvnors, but might either of you be lawyer Lightwood?

I am Lightwood.

Who are you, fellow?

I'm a man what gets me living by the sweat of me brow, guvnors.

Not wanting to risk being done out of the sweat of me brow, I should wish, before going further, to be sworn in.

You're out of luck, for I am not a swearer-in of people.

Alfred David.

Alfred David?

Is that your name?

No.

I wanna set down an Alfred David.

I think you mean "affidavit".

I'm afraid you're out of luck, as my friend doesn't do affidavits either.

I must be took down.

Why don't you tell us what your business is?

It's about money.

It's about a £10,000 reward, that's what it's about.

-It's about murder.

-[Mortimer pouring drinks] [bottle clinking] Now... What is your full name?

Roger Riderhood.

Some call me Rogue, but that is a friendly name, -by those that don't know me.

-[scribbling] Dwelling place?

Limehouse Hole.

Calling?

Or occupation?

Waterside character.

[Eugene] Anything against you?

Ever in trouble?

Once.

Picking a seaman's pocket, though, in reality, I was an innocent man.

[softly] Naturally.

I give information that the man that done the Harmon murder is one Jesse, known as Gaffer, Hexam.

The very same that found the body.

His hand and his alone did the bloody deed.

On what grounds do you base these suspicions?

He cannot be convicted on your suspicions alone.

He told me with his own lips he done the deed.

When did he tell you?

The very night he picked up the body.

We had words on the river that night.

His daughter will not deny that.

Did you ask him how he did it?

Where he did it?

When he did it?

He tells me, Gaffer does, he tells me, "I done it for his money.

Don't betray me."

And long have I been troubled in my mind ever since.

You've been troubled in your mind for a long time.

[Eugene] Mr. Riderhood might have thought some other witness would come forward.

Maybe he wasn't keen on anyone asking him what he was doing on the river that night.

I tell you, I'm giving Jesse Hexam up to you and I want him took!

I want him took this night!

[Roger] Gaffer's out.

His boat's out.

His daughter's home.

Supper's ready, so he was expected last high water.

He must have missed it for some reason.

[inspector] Then, we must watch and wait.

Shelter and wait over there.

[Eugene] If we take the father, she will be left alone.

[thunder cracking] [Lizzie] Father?

Father, is that you?

Don't you feel like a dark combination of a traitor and a pickpocket when you think about that girl, Mortimer?

[oars creaking] [Roger] He's gonna cheat me.

He's looking to cheat an honest man.

Where are you hiding?

He could not have slipped past us.

It'll be morning soon and we'll be seen.

[footsteps approaching] Suppose I put out in my boat?

Take a look in his favorite haunts?

-[dog barking] -[Roger] Found it!

Gaffer's boat!

He's in luck, I knew it!

He's in luck!

He's found Hexam's boat.

But where's Hexam?

[oars creaking] [Roger] I told you!

He got lucky...

He's been fishing.

Oh, God!

Let it go.

Let it go.

[inspector] Drowned by his own tow-rope.

He went out in search for the dead.

Death found him first.

He's escaped me.

He's dead before I can profit.

He's done me again.

[theme music playing]