RALPH, NOGGS, FANNY, MRS. SQUEERS
Pg 38-40
NOGGS. Yes sir?
RALPH. Who called in my absence?
NOGGS. A strange looking man. Kept whittling at his dirty fingernails with a knife. Didn’t like the looks of him.
RALPH. What did he want?
NOGGS. Didn’t say.
RALPH. Did he leave a name?
NOGGS. Not a syllable as to his identity.
RALPH. Anyone else?
NOGGS. MRS. SQUEERS and FANNY Squeers.
RALPH. What do they want?
NOGGS. Didn’t say.
RALPH. Admit them. (NOGGS exits. RALPH rubs his chin and thinks.) Hmmmm. Most unusual for that pair to be in London.
(MRS. SQUEERS enters. FANNY follows her.)
RALPH. I trust you have not waited long.
MRS. SQUEERS. We would have waited all week to bring you news of your wretched nephew.
RALPH. What’s this? Nicholas?
MRS. SQUEERS. You may call him Nicholas. We call him assassin! Bandit! Criminal! Baboon! (FANNY wails and collapses on the bench. She cries hysterically.)
FANNY. He should be punished.
MRS. SQUEERS. That boy broke poor Fanny’s heart. He led her on, always lurking about, pretending that his love for her was deep and sincere. (FANNY wails all the more.) When he had her loyalty and love, he cast her aside. Casanova! Brute! Okra!
FANNY. He’s wicked! (She wails again.) RALPH. I’m astonished.
MRS. SQUEERS. There is more!
RALPH. Not of a like nature, I trust.
MRS. SQUEERS. Worse! It is me, Mrs. Squeers, who must come to London for the new boys. Poor Squeery was beaten so badly by your nephew that he cannot stir from his bed. He’ll be under the sheets for weeks.
RALPH. Impossible
MRS. SQUEERS. And who’s to pay the doctor, I should like to know?
FANNY. He took Smike with him.
MRS. SQUEERS. He stole Smike.
RALPH. Smike?
MRS. SQUEERS. A miserable boy that Mr. Squeers and me took to our bosoms. Your nephew was trouble from the day he came to Dotheboys Hall. Encouraging the boys to revolt, upsetting a happy home, and casting me daughter adrift. (FANNY wails.)
RALPH. I see.
MADELAINE and RALPH
Pg. 70
MADELAINE. He is seeing fresh air. His lungs are fragile. Shall I go with you, Father?
RALPH. You are a dutiful and respectful daughter, Miss Bray. It is a fine thing to see in this troublesome age.
MADELAINE. We are penniless, my father and I, and well you know it. If this marriage will erase my father’s debts and secure him some measure of comfort and ease, I will obey his order to wed. In this matter he has treated my wishes and hopes shabbily. But you are correct, sir. I am a dutiful and respectful daughter. Though, I fear, I shall pay heavily for these virtues.
RALPH, NICHOLAS, KATE, MRS. NICKLEBY
Pg. 9-10
KATE. I wonder, Uncle, might we sit? Mother is tired.
RALPH. Forgive me. (He indicates the bench. MRS. NICKLEBY and KATE sit.)
MRS. NICKLEBY. We came directly from the coach.
RALPH. Where are you staying?
MRS. NICKLEBY. We have no lodgings…. (a meaningful pause.) As yet. (This is what RALPH feared and he grunts.)
RALPH. I shall be direct. You must bear up against sorrow, ma’am. I always do.
MRS. NICKLEBY. (plucking out a handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbing her eyes.) Mine was no common loss.
RALPH. It was no uncommon loss. Husbands die every day. Wives, too.
NICHOLAS. (with a hint of criticism) Brothers also, sir. (RALPH gives NICHOLAS an indignant look as he didn’t care for thee tone of NICHOLAS’ voice.)
RALPH (meaning NICHOLAS) and puppies likewise. (To MRS. NICKLEBY). You intend to remain in London?
NICHOLAS. It is here we plan to seek our fortune, Uncle?
RALPH. I take it you are well supplied with funds?
MRS. NICKLEBY. We are almost penniless. Some time ago, I advised my husband to “speculate”. He did and lost everything.
KATE. We sold what furnishings we possessed to pay for the coach fare.
RALPH. Still, I would advise you to return home.
MRS. NICKLEBY. Home? What home? We have no home. Since you are our only living relative, we have come to you. It was your brother’s dying wish that I should appeal to you on behalf of his children.
RALPH. I am not a man of wealth. I work for my daily bread and expect others to do the same. (NICHOLAS bristles)
NICHOLAS. I do not expect you to support us, Uncle.
RALPH. In that case, you will not be disappointed.
KATE. I am not afraid of honest labor.
NICHOLAS. Perhaps we have made a mistake in coming here.
MRS. NICKLEBY. Nicholas, please
RALPH. Hold your tongue, sir! Upon my word. This is a fine beginning. WACKFORD, MRS. SQUEERS, SMIKE, NICHOLAS
Pg. 19-21
SMIKE. Please, Mr. Squeers…..
WACKFOR. Bless me. It’s Smike – in with my younger nobles as if he were a regular pupil!
SMIKE. (with his head bowed) No m-m-message of any kind for Smike?
MRS. SQUEERS. For a miserable flea like you? Well, I never. (She laughs. WACKFORD also laughs.)
WACKFORD. Observe this pitiful creature, Nickleby. A dim brain in this one’s head. Came here years ago. I only received money for a short time. Out of charity, ever since, I’ve cared for him as if he were my own.
MRS. SQUEERS. He’s a stupid, ungrateful boy. If it weren’t for our kindness, he’s have died of neglect long ago.
SMIKE (haltingly). I only thought….someone….somewhere….might remember me.
MRS. SQUEERS. Who’d want to remember the likes of you?
WACKFORD. This pointer will remember you for not tending to your barnyard duties! Come here! (SMIKE sets to WACKFORD who beats him to the floor.)
NICHOLAS. Sir, I must protest!
MRS. SQUEERS. Keep your place, Knuckleboy! Or we’ll send you packing.
[…]
NICHOLAS. Only one. Where do I sleep?
WACKKFORD. You’ll find straw our by the stable. There’s space in the attic. It ought to do for now. (WACKFORD exits. NICHOLAS stares after him.)
NICHOLAS. What a monstrous place I’ve come to. (He hears SMIKE sobbing.) Poor lad. I’d forgotten about him. (He steps toward SMIKE who shrinks away.) You need not fear me.
SMIKE. N-n-no?
NICHOLAS. Stand up now. Brush yourself off. (SMIKE stands and brushes at his rags.) Are you hurt?
SMIKE. No more than usual.
NICHOLAS. You are shivering. Are you cold?
SMIKE. I am used to it.
NICHOLAS. Poor fellow. (SMIKE buries his face in his hands and sobs.)
SMIKE. I will die here…unwanted and unloved. What face will smile on me when I die? No hope, no hope for Smike. SIR FREDERICK, LADY HAWK, KATE, RALPH
Pg 27-28
LADY HAWK. Long in London, Miss Nickleby?
KATE. Barely a month, m’lady.
SIR FREDERICK. Are you enjoying the sights of London?
KATE. I’ve known a few of them, m’lord.
SIR FREDERICK. You must permit me to show you about. (He takes her head and kisses it. KATE is uncomfortable with his attention.)
KATE. What would you like to see in the shop?
SIR FREDERICK. A smile from your ruby lips. (LADY HAWK laughs.)
LADY HAWK. Is he not charming? Sir Frederick could steal the heart from any girl.
(RALPH enters.)
KATE. Please, Sir Frederick. My hand. (He releases her hand.)
LADY HAWK. Pick out a bonnet for me, Sir Frederick. You have such good taste. (KATE and SIR FREDERICK exit)
RALPH. Lady Hawk
LADY HAWK. Wonder of wonders. You in a dress shop. (She thinks about KATE.) Nickleby? Nickleby? Aha, then Kate Nickleby is some kind of relative?
RALPH. She is my niece.
LADY HAWK. Sir Frederick has taken a fancy to her.
RALPH. Indeed
LADY HAWK. He saw her yesterday and was quite smitten.
RALPH. No doubt you are leading him to ruin and damnation as you have led so many others.
LADY HAWK. Bite your tongue, sir.
RALPH. None of your wiles with me, m’lady. You lead gentlemen to the card tables, the horse track and eventually ruin them. But not, I daresay, before you have turned a tidy sum yourself.
LADY HAWK. You are hardly one to talk, Ralph Nickleby. All of London knows your reputation as a miser and a greedy moneylender. Your heart is not a muscle. It’s a stone. CHARLES, NICHOLAS, TIM, MADELAINE
Pg. 30-31
CHARLES. Well, Tim, your instincts are usually good and you approve of young Nicholas Nickleby.
TIM. I have seen his penmanship. His capital B’s and D’s are exactly like mine. He’ll do.
CHARLES. When my brother Ned returns, I shall be happy to inform him the firm of Cherryble Brothers has a new employee.
NICHOLAS. Fortune is at last smiling upon me.
CHARLES. What a wretched school you have described. Dotheboys Hall and such places should be torn down stone by stone. (MADELAINE enters tentatively.)
MADELAINE. Dear Mr. Cheeryble.
CHARLES. Bless me. Madelaine, my dear.
MADELAINE (emotionally). I would not dream of disturbing you. Only I am at wits’ end. If you cannot help me, I fear Father and I will end in debtors’ prison. (She dissolves into tears).
CHARLES. My poor child. (He guides her to a chair). Tim, the water jug on my desk. Fetch a glass. (TIM exits.)
MADELAINE. I have sought work everywhere. Alas, I have had no success. I fear in coming here like this I exhibit no pride.
CHARLES. Pride? Why do you speak of pride? If you are in trouble, child, where else should you come? (to NICHOLAS.) My brother and I knew Madelaine’s mother. We were the dearest of friends.
MADELAINE. You once admired my little embroideries and handicrafts. I thought you might be able to place them on the market. And with the money I earned, Father and I would be able to sustain body and soul. Some small measure of respectability.
(MADELAINE and CHARLES exit.)
NICHOLAS. Tim, I think she’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.
TIM. I must say she took me by surprise – coming in like that. She’s usually so reserved and ladylike.
NICHOLAS (sympathetically). She must have been desperate.
TIM. I expect. Mr. Cheeryble will purchase her work, but I doubt if there’s a market for it. The Cheeryble brothers are kind gentlemen.
(CHARLES enters.)
CHARLES. Better go after her, Nicholas. See that she gets home safely. If you should meet her father, say little to him. He’s a hard and unpleasant man. Miss Bray’s mother did not have an easy life. NICHOLAS & SMIKE
Pg. 35
NICHOLAS. We will have a little refreshment, Smike.
SMIKE. I’ve never eaten in a coffee house, Nicholas. Most everything I’ve et in life come in a bowl.
NICHOLAS. Those days are over for you, my friend. (They sit.)
SMIKE. I am happy you have found a fine position.
NICHOLAS. Mr. Cheeryble is the gentlest of men and I am told his brother is no different. We will finish here and I will seek out my dear mother and sister.
SMIKE. Why have you waited so long?
NICHOLAS. I did not wish to see them until I had secured employment. There would have been no point.
SMIKE. Will I be able to sleep by the stove?
NICHOLAS. I have already told you, Smike, you are to be one of the family.
SMIKE. I will never have to see Mr. Squeers again?
NICHOLAS. Not if I have anything to say about it. There is much unhappiness in this world, Smike.
SMIKE. Aye.
VINCENT & NINETTA
Pg 44-45
VINCENT. Tonight only! The farewell performance of Ninetta, the Infant Phenomenon! Incredible! Awe- inspiring! Come one! Come all! (He addresses NICHOLAS and SMIKE.) Here you are, my young sirs. You are gentlemen of excellent taste and worldly knowledge, I can tell. You must not miss my daughter’s stellar farewell performance. Ninetta!
(She steps out. She loos like a walking toy and speaks in an absurdly baby-like voice.)
NINETTA. Yes, Father?
VINCENT. Is she not a treasure? A phenomenon! She can recite tragedy and comedy, farce and melodrama. Dance on one foot while spinning a china plate.
SMIKE. How old is she, sir?
MRS. CRUMMLES. She is still an infant, as anyone can plainly see. A mere seedling.
MR. FOLAIR (critically). She exits on nothing but gin and water.
MISS BRAVASSA. Sour grapes, Mr. Folair.
VINCENT. Quite so. The Infant Phenomenon inspires a certain amount of professional jealousy. Recite something, my chick.
NINETTA (puffing out her cheeks and reciting very quickly in her baby voice). “Oh! No longer mourn for me when I am dead, oh! Then you shall hear the surly, sullen bell. Give warning to the world that I am fled, from this vile world, with vilest worms to dwell. Oh!”
RALPH & NOGGS
Pg 56
RALPH. I have returned.
NOGGS. Never would have guessed.
RALPH. Mind your tongue.
NOGGS. Sorry, sir.
RALPH (indicating the knife). This is your doing. Confess it.
NOGGS. I told you before, sir, I know nothing of that weapon.
RALPH. You’d like to get back at me, wouldn’t you? You’ve always hated me. You believe I ruined you in business. You ruined yourself. You were incompetent. You ought to bless me for giving you employment.
NOGGS (aside). On a salary that would starve a field mouse.
RALPH. Eh? What’s that you mumbled?
NOGGS. I asked if I should show them in.
RALPH. Who?
NOGGS. Arthur Gride and some old woman.
RALPH. Gride? He is still among the living What’s that old skinflint want?
NOGGS. I didn’t ask.
RALPH. Let them in.
WACKFORD, MRS. SNAWLEY, & RALPH
Pg. 60—61
WACKFORD. Calm yourself, Mrs. Snawley.
MRS. SNAWLEY. I have no wish to find myself in trouble with the law.
WACKFORD. You have nothing to fear.
MRS. SNAWLEY. I dunno. Telling folks I have a lost son when I know I don’t.
WACKFORD. If you insist on being difficult, Mrs. Snawley, I can always see that young William is returned to your “loving” care.
MRS. SNAWLEY. No, no, I do not wish him back. You keep him at Dotheboys Hall.
WACKFORD. It would be a great pity, would it not, if William were to come home and awaken his father’s love? Why, the father might even decide to educate the lad at some fine university. That would cost, I fear.
MRS. SNAWLEY. I have little enough money, Mr. Squeers. I must take in boarders to make ends meet.
(RALPH enters.)
WACKFORD (checking his pocketwatch). Right on time, Mr. Nickleby.
RALPH. You have fully recovered your health, I see.
WACKFORD. The medical attention didn’t cost me a ha’penny. One of the lads came down with scarlet fever. I put him in bed with four others. Each boy contracted the malady and I charged the families for the doctor’s fee. Made a small profit on the stratagem and liquidated my own bill as well.
RALPH. Resourceful. (He points to MRS. SNAWLEY.) This is the woman?
WACKFORD. Mrs. Snawley (She curtsies.)
RALPH. She’ll cooperate? (WACKFORD rubs his fingers together to indicate money and RALPH begrudgingly hands some to her.) You know what you are to do?
MRS. SNAWLEY. I’m to swear some backward lad is my own flesh and blood.
WACKFORD. His name is Smike. Nicholas Nickleby stole him from me. Smike was the best worker I ever had at Dotheboys Hall. Thievery, that’s what it is. I have forged certain documents that will prove you are the rightful mother. Won’t Nicholas be upset.
RALPH. He now resides with his mother and sister at the home of a Miss La Creevy. Smike is with him. I will destroy the friendship for a small portion of revenge.
KATE, FRANK, TIM, MISS LA CREEVY
Pg 62
KATE. Are you sure you wouldn’t like another cup of punch, Frank?
FRANK. I have had two cups already. What a splendid little party.
KATE. It is the least Mother and I could do to celebrate my brother’s homecoming.
FRANK. May I say you look lovely today?
KATE. It would be rude to refuse permission.
(TIM and MISS LA CREEVY enter.)
TIM. Do look at this, Frank. Why, Miss La Creevy is a regular Da Vinci.
MISS LA CREEVY. Oh, Mr. Linkinwater. You will have me blushing! Mine is a small talent.
FRANK. Let me see. (TIM hands him a miniature)
KATE. We are so fortunate to have found Miss La Creevy. I am certain she is the nicest landlady in all of London.
MISS LA CREEVY. You are too complimentary, Kate.
KATE. Her miniatures are quite exquisite. Her talent is not small. It is more than ample.
FRANK. I should like to have you do one of Miss Nickleby.
MISS LA CREEVY (obviously pleased). Dee-lighted.
TIM. She has already promised to paint me in pastels.
MISS LA CREEVY. Mr. Linkinwater, you are an admirable subject for the paint pot.
KATE. Where are the others?
MISS LA CREEVY. Mr. Smike is entertaining. He is reciting the apothecary’s lines from Romeo and Juliet
KATE (to FRANK). He is part of the family now.