Episode 5 Nick Nickleby

The care homes are yours, as long as you have the capital in place.

I have an investment partner. He's highly respectable.

Just me, the girl and a bed, tomorrow. Otherwise, no deal.

-You're nothing more than a bargaining chip.

-If you profit from this,

why shouldn't I?

Stay back! Don't come any closer!

HE YELLS

I'm getting married in 48 hours.

It doesn't make any sense.

They're paying me. OK?

They get a visa, we get security for life.

And next time she leaves better be in a box.

Time to go home.

Animals.

You found me.

Yes, I found you.

-NOGGS:

-'Things weren't going too well.

'Me? I'd got what I deserved.

'So had Hawkovsky.'

'But not Kat.'

'Not Nick.

'And not Mrs Smike. None of them deserved this.'

PHONE BEEPS

'Ralph Nickleby was the one who deserved to pay...'

'..but getting back at him

'was the last thing on Nick's mind right now.'

Nick? I came as soon as I could.

What was her name?

Mrs Smike.

I know this woman.

Her name was Sarah. Sarah Michaels.

A girl from the village, when I was young.

I didn't know much about her.

It was all hushed up, back then.

What was?

There was a baby.

My father was the doctor here then. He took care of her.

But he had to send her away.

To a madhouse.

The way she fell pregnant... She was very beautiful.

Some boys from the town came to a dance...

Don't tell me.

She was in no state to bring up a child.

She came back here. After they closed the care facilities.

She'd been living on the streets. In London, I think.

She was looking for the boy.

Do you recognise him?

It could be anybody.

Sleep well, Mr Nickleby?

Isn't Hawkovsky back yet?

Must be getting his money's worth.

Why don't you go to my flat, get them out of there

and get the place cleaned up?

Because I'm not a cleaner.

Imagine the bruises you'd have

if you had to work the streets, Ms Knag.

You'd dream of being a cleaner.

Good luck with the committee, sir.

I don't need luck. The care homes are mine.

Shall I bring the girl back here?

Give her a bunch of flowers. Get rid of her.

The ambulance is coming.

And the police.

Standard procedure. If you have to go, I'll look after her.

Thanks, doctor.

Will you look for her son?

That can wait.

Ralph can't.

HE SINGS

I've given them an extra dose so they won't cause you no bother

while I'm down in London.

Good thinking, Franniekins.

You sure it's all right for me to go, with Mrs Smike on the loose?

-If you want to look for her, I can always take...

-No, I've been thinking.

The state she was in, she'll be dead in no time.

That's what Ralph wanted. Everyone's a winner.

Especially once I get our new client back here.

You just make sure that "Muzzy-moo"

signs all his forms before he swans off on his honeymoon.

We do not take clients in out of the goodness of our hearts, Franniekins.

Will do, Daddy-pie.

And don't put him off his nuptials. You do look rather fetching.

Aww. See ya.

DOOR BANGS

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

I don't know what happened.

I only hit him with the umbrella.

I was going to call the police or an ambulance,

but it was too late...

I didn't want anyone to get into any trouble.

-Who are you calling?

-Someone who'll know what to do.

PHONE RINGS

'Newman?'

Ms Knag?

'I need your help.'

Tell Verisopht the money's in the pipeline. It can all go...

Noggs.

Why aren't you here?

You'll thank me for this, Maia.

One day.

What have you got there?

'Noggs. Why aren't you here?'

SHE SCREAMS

-It's all right, it's all right. It's just me.

-I know who it is, Mr Noggs.

Why do you think I was screaming?

You can't come barging in here like that.

I could've been in the altogether!

Kat's in trouble.

-Ralph's looking after her.

-No, he's not. She needs you.

What's happened?

ENGINE SPLUTTERS

Mum? I'm in London.

I need to see you and Kat, away from the club.

Call me back.

PHONE RINGS

Maddy. Hi.

'Have you changed your mind about the wedding?'

No, I'm not ringing about that. I've found something of Mrs Smike's.

'Did you find her?'

What is it?

It's an envelope. Is she there?

I'll come and get it.

-You can't come round...

-DIALTONE BEEPS

BABY CHATTERS

Come along, my dear. You have more important things today.

Our deal.

Your payment. Hello, Maia...

Thank you, Mrs Khenwigs.

Ah, ah, ah! After the wedding.

I will keep it nice and safe for you till then.

Now be a good girl and put these on.

Is Uncle Ralph going to get in trouble?

You still have no idea what he's really like, have you?

That's your payment from Uncle Ralph.

He didn't even give me the money for them.

Don't feel bad, Kitty Kat. It's what he does.

Uses us, sets us against each other.

And what are we to do?

There's no way out.

Until now.

What do you mean?

-If anyone deserves to go down for this...

-We can't set Ralph up.

You can't. But some of us have got nothing left to lose.

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

I came as soon as I could.

Thank you.

Couldn't happen to a nicer bloke.

What are you going to do?

Don't you worry. You can go now.

Leave it to us.

Where do I go?

Congratulations, big boy.

Ooh, you look...

I know.

Is everything ready?

We'll have to be quick. Come, come!

This'll have to be quick.

You look...

No, I don't.

Where's Mrs Smike?

Thank you.

Kat, there you are. I was worried sick.

It was two for one, I haven't started yet.

Have you eaten? Need some sauces?

Kat? What is it?

Sweetheart? You can tell me.

Oh, come here, love.

Oh.

She was only here yesterday. I know she wasn't well, but...

Where did you find the envelope?

In the cot. She must've dropped it while they were playing.

She was so good with Maia.

I think Maia made her happy.

Don't tell my dad. He's in bits already today.

I don't blame him.

I'm doing this for him and Maia.

He'll understand, one day.

Have you got the envelope?

I think she meant for you to have it.

WOMAN SIGHS ON BABY MONITOR

What was that?

Mrs Khenwigs, I think.

He's half-dead already.

Going to be easy-peasy to nab him later.

Where's your fiancee?

Cooking.

Like a good little wifey.

Waste of time when all you need's to boil a kettle, eh?

I'll pack.

You sign the papers.

Maybe I should ask my amma, no?

No need, Muzzy-wuzz.

Just sign it and we'll take him off your hands.

-DOOR OPENS

-Oh!

Hello, Frannie.

Muzzy. This man's a fugitive.

Thought you might want to know -

Mrs Smike's dead. You killed her.

You, and your dad and Ralph.

-Eh?

-He's talking rot. Call the police.

What are you doing back here, anyway? Who's this for?

Mr Bhray? Going to put him in the cooler, too?

-You going to kill him?

-Don't be so thick, Nicky.

Doesn't make sense to kill off our income stream, does it?

You're not taking Mr Bhray.

He's Muzz's responsibility. It's in the vows.

He has to take care of the whole family.

It's my responsibility.

Doesn't matter what's in the vows.

Maddy won't marry you when she hears about this.

She should be grateful, getting first-class care for her dad,

instead of leaving him here in this dump.

Someone should take the kid away, too.

Come on, big boy.

Dear, dear.

Put my dad's stuff down and get out of my house.

Both of you.

It was her idea. Please don't tell my amma.

We can still get married.

No, you can't.

MUZZ CRIES

What's all this noise, Maddy?

What's the matter, Muzz?

He's packing his stuff and leaving. And so are you.

Whatever's happened, we can come to some arrangement.

Shove your arrangements! I want you out of here.

We have a deal, my dear. You want my money.

Didn't you hear her? You can keep your money.

Sorry I done a botch, Daddy.

But it's not all bad news.

Mrs Smike is dead.

Dead? Are you sure?

He said it and she weren't there.

So she must be. Dead.

That's great news, Franniekins.

I'll be National Care Home Manager before you know it.

What about Nick?

'It was Noggs' job to get rid of him.'

If he's botched it, so what? Just makes us look even better.

You're not mad at me then, Daddy?

I'm going to make you your favourite trifle. Hurry home.

THEY MAKE KISSING NOISES

You see, Muzz, what London is like - no manners.

ENGINE STARTS

No hospitality.

Did you find it all OK?

It's quite the collection you've got here.

Let's have some fun.

I'll get him dressed. You do the Champagne.

Do you want a drink?

No, I'm trying to lay off it.

I'll do that. You do the rest of the fingerprints.

Cheers.

Maybe she's right.

Maybe he'd be better off out of here.

Not at Dotheolds Hall, trust me. You did the right thing.

Why does doing the right thing mean I always end up losing?

I don't know.

I don't know what I'm going to do.

Neither do I. But I've got to do something.

I'm not going to let them hurt anyone else.

You're a good man, Nick Nickleby.

You've more important things to do today.

-NOGGS:

-'Nick walked through the city alone,

'trying to think of some way to make Ralph pay.'

'But as he walked, Nick felt he'd little ground for hope.

'He saw how crafty avarice grew rich

'and honest hearts were poor and sad.

'How few lived in stately houses

'and how many had no home to shelter them.

'Father and daughter, mother and son.

'How much injustice and misery and wrong there was,

'and how the world rolled on,

'careless and indifferent.'

'And yet, in spite of it all,

'the huge aggregate of distress and sorrow...'

'..there was hope.

'Just an utter.'

'Where are you?'

Noggs?

What are you doing here?

I just wanted to tell you, I've done a lovely job on your flat.

And sent the girl packing.

And Hawkovsky?

He had already gone.

Any word on your big deal?

It's all done. Everything's a formality now.

You should celebrate. Get Mr Verisopht over to your place.

I could even be there to help entertain him, if you like?

I wouldn't have thought you'd like to.

If you were to get photos of me and him tonight,

then you wouldn't have to pay him his cut.

Only a small fee for my services.

How very astute of you, Ms Knag.

See? I'm not just a good cleaner.

Do we have a deal?

You deserve it, sir.

TV: 'And welcome back to On The Road, the programme that brings you...'

Afternoon, everyone. Glad to see you're behaving yourselves.

Cos if you don't, here's a cautionary tale for you.

Mrs Smike is dead.

GASPS

Yep. That's right. Dead.

As dead as...

as dead as you'll all be, if you don't do as you're told.

So there.

Good. Well, then...

..as you were.

Poor Mrs Smike.

She sounds like a special lady. I wish I had have met her.

Why didn't she just tell you about it? Would've been easier.

She told me some things hurt too much to say.

Open it, Nick. Go on.

-Are you filming?

-Yes.

Well, this is where Mr Squeers kept Mrs Smike, locked up all night long.

Someone had better be lookout.

And he did the same to me. To teach me a lesson.

But Mrs Smike never learned.

And now she's gone.

All this waffle. She could never have deciphered it.

-Does her letter say anything?

-It explains why she never told us.

Why?

She didn't want him found, not while she was alive at least.

We can't find him now anyway.

-No, we can't. He's gone.

-What?

Look, in the adoption papers. Her little boy.

I think he was your dad.

We'd better get back, before he notices we're gone.

What's the rush, boys and girls?

If you like it so much down here, why don't you stay all day?

We only wanted to say a prayer. For Mrs Smike.

Why don't you have a candlelit vigil for her instead?

All night. With no candles.

I'm sorry, Mr Squeers. We know we shouldn't be down here.

If you have to punish us perhaps you could make us

carry all the powdered stuff back.

With Frannie away, it'd be more helpful to you, wouldn't it?

Why would you want to be helpful?

Because...we don't want to end up like Mrs Smike.

We know what you did to her.

Locking her down here, tying her to the chair, hours on end.

I don't want to die like she did.

Too right. You'd better do exactly as I say then.

Porridge. Custard. Mash. Be quick about it.

BOTH: Yes, sir.

PHONE BEEPS

PHONE BEEPS

There's no signal.

It all makes sense now.

The way his mum and dad treated him.

Ralph was always the golden boy.

Even after he swanned off to the city

and your dad was left to look after the farm.

He always felt second best and he was right

because he wasn't really theirs.

What about this?

Ah, it looks just like him.

-Dad.

-They weren't our gran and granddad, were they?

Not if dad wasn't really theirs. Mrs Smike was our gran.

That makes sense. Of a lot of things.

PHONE BEEPS

RINGTONE CHIMES

Hello?

Nick? Is that you?

No, it's me.

-We should go back home. To Devon.

-I don't care if we're homeless.

At least people down there might actually care.

We're not leaving like this. We have to do something.

You already have, didn't work.

Ralph's right, people like him run the world. Leave them to it.

How can you say that when you know what he did?

I can't do any more, Nick.

We can start over again.

I'll find a job and get a home.

It won't be anything fancy, but there's no crime in poverty.

Mrs Smike wanted me to find her son. To give him this letter.

I can't do that, so I'll have to give it to someone else.

To the man who ruined her son.

He doesn't care, Nick.

No, but she did.

Are you coming with me?

PHONE BEEPS

'Locking her down here, tying her to the chair, hours on end.'

'I don't want to die like she did.'

'Too right. You'd better do exactly as I say then.

'Porridge, custard, mash.'

What are you going to do with it?

Newman. And Ms Knag?

Thanks for looking after my sister.

It's all taken care of now.

He still thinks you're dead.

You're free to go as far away as you can.

Where's Mrs Smike?

I was too late.

He will get what's coming.

Framing him is no good. He has to see what he's done.

He won't change.

Once this gets out, he might not have a choice.

PHONE BEEPS

MONITOR BEEPS

'Locking her down here, tying her to the...'

There's a press conference in the morning

so we mustn't get too squiffy.

You won't be wanting any Champagne, then, or, er...

Ms Knag?

Again?

Well, she had such a good time.

Well, it is only a press conference. The deal is done.

We all deserve a little treat.

Your investor must be a very wealthy man.

Yes, well, more of a silent partner...

Hawkovsky?!

What?

It's a set-up. Someone has set me up.

This won't affect the deal.

-Afraid it might, old chap.

-I can fix this. Really, I can fix it!

Not this time, Ralph. Sorry.

It was the ground floor apartment. Sounds of shouting, a struggle.

Didn't sound good.

No, I don't wish to be contacted.

The police are on their way. You should quit while you're ahead.

He'll find a way to twist things.

That's why I need to talk to him, make him see. He has to stop.

-PHONE RINGS

-It's him.

Answer it.

'Ms Knag has set me up.'

You need to sort it out. Get over to my flat now.

It's too late, Ralph. The police will be there any minute.

-The police?

-I called them.

You...I'll show them your file.

Do your worst.

He'll go to the office.

They might as well arrest us both at once. Get it over with.

We'll all go.

Mr Cheerybles. You're just in time for trifle.

I'm not here for trifle!

SIREN WAILS

Noggs?

Hello, Uncle Ralph.

I thought you were dead.

Hope you don't mind, I've brought a few people with me.

How nice. The whole family, and the hangers-on, I see.

Perhaps you and I should have a little chat, Noggs.

Not now, Ralph. Nick has something to show you.

Perhaps you should sit back, watch?

I think you'll find it interesting.

'We don't want to end up like Mrs Smike.'

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

We only do what we're told! It's Mr Nickleby you want!

-BOOING AND HECKLING

-Ralph Nickleby!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

'I don't want to die like she did.'

'You'd better do exactly as I say, then.'

Your business is dead. As it should be.

You shouldn't be allowed to care for anyone. All you care about is money.

That's all that anybody cares about.

Haven't you learned yet how the world works?

I'll tell you how it works. You're going to prison.

I haven't done anything.

You know it isn't right, Uncle Ralph.

What's not? Giving you a home?

Opportunities?

If you screwed it up, that's your fault.

We'll soon find out who really killed Hawkovsky.

No-one killed him. It was an accident.

Really? We'll see about that.

The police are on their way, Noggs. Very little time.

Squeers will go down for what happened at Dotheolds.

This lot will go down for what happened with Hawkovsky.

So unless you want to join them, you had better do exactly as I say.

Not this time, Ralph.

How terribly noble of you!

Utterly stupid.

My hands are clean.

You can lie to everyone else

but don't tell me you really believe that!

If it wasn't for you, Mrs Smike would still be alive.

I never even met the woman.

She was our grandmother.

It may suit you to throw all the evils of the world on me, Nick,

but your grandmother was dead before you were born.

No, she wasn't. Our dad was adopted. Mrs Smike was his mother.

No, he wasn't.

I remember my mother showing off her belly like a prize heifer.

He was. He had to have been. Look.

Your parents took him in, tried to give him a better life,

and you took it away.

What is it?

It's me.

What?

The mark, you see.

My brother didn't have one.

He wasn't my brother.

It can't be you.

She was my mother.

Then this is for you.

'I don't know your name. I'm sorry we never met.

'I didn't want to bother you.

'I know you're better off without me. 'But I wanted you to know,

'I always loved you, and I'll always be proud of you,

'whoever you are and whatever you've done.

'Mrs Smike.'

If you tell them the truth we'll stick by you.

I know you're not our real family, but she loved you.

And so did my grandparents. My dad.

Grinning skulls. That's all you are.

That's all you are! Out for whatever you can get.

You came to me, begging for help!

And now you're with this...this boy.

-Now you know.

-What difference does it make?

The love of some dead old woman?

I'd rather die than be like you.

-Stop him! Newman! He'll lie to them! Show them your file!

-Look.

It's all been a lie.

-He never had anything.

-So what is he doing?

SIRENS BLARE

TYRES SCREECH

Grinning skulls.

Uncle Ralph! Wait!

No!

DISTANT SCREAMS

NICK SOBS

Maddy?

I read about it in the papers. Are you all right?

What about you?

I'm working on it.

Have you thought about taking in any more lodgers?

-I'm not a bad babysitter.

-That might be an idea.

Newman? I thought you weren't coming.

I've just been to the lawyers.

Ralph didn't have a will, and you're still his closest relatives.

We don't want his money.

It's up to you what you do with it.

I just thought you might want to go back to the farm.

The farm was sold.

Yeah. To Ralph.

It's still rightfully yours, though, don't you think?

CHEERING

CHEERING

POPPING CORK AND CHEERING

To Mr and Mrs Knag-Noggs.

ALL: Knag-Noggs!

KARAOKE MACHINE PLAYS "One Night In Heaven" by M People

# One night in heaven One night in heaven

# One night in heaven One night in heaven

# Sometimes I get to thinking

# While you are far away

# Just how much I missed you

# And how time it ticks away

# So sad when we are fighting...

CAR HORN BEEPS

# Sometimes I need reminding before it gets too late

# Just one moment in my day, yeah

# Take me up to a place

# So far away in your heavenly space

# One night, one night

# Mmm

# One night in heaven... #

BABY CHATTERS AND LAUGHS

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd