Bleak House (2005)/ The Old Curiosity Shop (2007) Collector's Set

Bleak House

Acclaimed writer Andrew Davies (Bridget Jones' Diary, 1995's Pride and Prejudice) turns his talents to one of Charles Dickens' most brilliant novels - arguably the greatest ever depiction of Victorian London. Fresh and imaginative, yet faithful to the original, this thrilling fast-paced adaptation is shot with a contemporary edge.
At its heart is the story of the icily beautiful Lady Dedlock (Gillian Anderson, The X Files), who nurses a dark secret, and the merciless lawyer Tulkinghorn (Charles Dance, Gosford Park), who seeks to uncover it. The generous John Jarndyce (Denis Lawson, Star Wars), struggling with his own past, and his two young wards Richard and Ada, are all caught up, like Lady Dedlock, in the infamous case of Jarndyce vs. Jarndyce, which will make one of them rich beyond imagination if it can ever be brought to a conclusion. As Tulkinghorn digs deeper into Lady Dedlock's past, he unearths a secret that will change their lives forever, and which is almost as astounding as the final outcome of the Jarndyce case.

The Old Curiosity Shop

Dickens' classic novel gets a new adaptation with an all-star cast, highlighted by Sir Derek Jacobi (Cadfael; I, Claudius). Little Nell lives with her doting grandfather in his London shop, filled with dustladen treasures. But Grandfather's gambling habit soon puts them in debt and on the run from the evil Quilp (Toby Jones, The Way We Live Now).

 

Bleak House

Episode 1 - Alone in the world after the death of her aunt, Esther Summerson is brought to the High Court of Chancery by Mr Guppy, clerk to Mr Kenge, one of the lawyers in the infamous suit of Jarndyce and Jarndyce, a complicated case which has already taken years and brought nothing but ruin and despair to all it touches.

Guppy mistakenly thinks that Esther may have a claim to the Jarndyce fortune, but she is there for the Judge to decide whether she will be a suitable companion for Ada Clare, one of the two Wards of Court in the case. The philanthropic John Jarndyce has offered a home to the girls and Richard Carstone, the other Ward of Court.

At the Chancery courts, the three meet other beleaguered participants in the case, including the eccentric Miss Flite, who lodges nearby with the peculiar (and very drunk) rag-and-bottle merchant, Krook. Another of Krook's lodgers is a mysterious man called Nemo, a law-writer by trade, but a self-destructive opium addict by nature. When Esther meets him, she feels a strange shiver of recognition...

Esther, Richard and Ada spend their last night in London with the Jellyby family, before setting off to Bleak House to live with their guardian John Jarndyce. They are astonished to find Mrs Jellyby neglects her family, charity for Africa being more important to her than the problems on her own doorstep. Esther sympathises with her daughter, Caddy, who is at her wits' end.

At Bleak House, Esther, Ada and Richard receive a warm welcome. There they meet Mr Jarndyce's friend, Harold Skimpole, a scrounger who shirks responsibility for his actions, as well as the public-spirited Mrs Pardiggle, who escorts Esther, Ada and Richard on a charitable excursion to the slum dwellings of some poverty-stricken brick-makers.

Meanwhile, at Chesney Wold, home of Sir Leicester Dedlock (another Jarndyce suitor), the beautiful Lady Dedlock rouses the curiosity of her husband's malevolent lawyer, Tulkinghorn, when she recognises the writer's hand on a legal document and swoons.

Whoever the writer was, he must have meant a great deal to her - and Tulkinghorn wonders what her secret can be. Clamb, his assistant, discovers it was Nemo who copied the document. But when Tulkinghorn calls at his lodgings, he receives a nasty shock. Nemo is dead.

Episode 2 - Tulkinghorn and Krook call out the doctor, Allan Woodcourt, who suspects that Nemo's death was caused by an accidental overdose of opium. The coroner confirms as much. Nemo is given a pauper's funeral - and at the gloomy burial ground Tulkinghorn interrogates a young crossing-sweeper, named only Jo, whom Nemo had befriended. He is convinced Jo knows something.

Ada and Richard are beginning to fall in love. Jarndyce instructs Richard that it is time to choose a career, so he happens, very quickly, upon the idea of medicine. As a result, arrangements are made for Richard to study with the Bayham-Badgers in Chelsea. The four have dinner with the irrepressible Badgers, where they encounter Allan Woodcourt. He and Esther are attracted to one another.

At Chesney Wold, Lady Dedlock has taken a shine to the young maid Rosa - to the absolute horror of her existing French-maid, Hortense. However, Lady Dedlock has more serious troubles when Tulkinghorn gleefully informs her of Nemo's fate. Meanwhile, snooping around in Nemo's room, Krook discovers some love-letters which look intriguing...

Episode 3 - Ada confides in Esther that she and Richard are in love. They wish to get engaged but Jarndyce disapproves and tells them it's far too soon to take this step. Reluctantly, the pair agree to wait. Caddy Jellyby, on the other hand, has entered into a secret engagement with Prince Turveydrop, the son of a dancing master. His father is a lazy self-centred old man who preens around, showing off his deportment, whilst his son does all the work.

Richard is failing in his medical studies, and decides to quit in favour of the law. It's the worst option he could have chosen, particularly since it marks his increasing obsession with Chancery. At court with Ada, he meets Mr Gridley - an irascible and frustrated suitor who has wasted his life in pursuit of reward. Gridley flies off the handle at Tulkinghorn, who, enraged, orders a warrant for his arrest.

Skimpole joyfully announces that his old adversary, Mr Neckett the bailiff, has died. But when Jarndyce and Esther hear that he has left behind his young children, they decide to visit his lodgings. There, they find that his daughter Charley is working as a washerwoman to provide for her siblings. Jarndyce resolves that they should take action.

Lady Dedlock instructs Tulkinghorn not to continue any further in his enquiries about Jo. Nonetheless, she decides to conduct her own secret investigation, tracking Jo down at night-time and paying him to guide her around Nemo's old haunts. Finally, she visits his burial ground where she grieves for her lost love.

Esther and Allan Woodcourt have become close, so she is disappointed to hear the news that he has taken a job as a ship's surgeon on a long voyage. A little hope remains, however, when she receives a bouquet of flowers from him.

Episode 4 - Jarndyce has taken Esther and Ada to visit his friend Mr Boythorn in the Leicestershire countryside. He is a neighbour of Sir Leicester's, but they are engaged in a protracted legal wrangle about their territorial rights. Jarndyce is unhappy to overhear Esther confide in Ada about her affection for Woodcourt: he is starting to have feelings for her himself.

In the local church, Esther has a strange encounter with Lady Dedlock in which both feel a mysterious pull of recognition. Later, on a country walk, Jarndyce, Esther and Ada are caught in a storm and take shelter at the same place as Lady Dedlock. She asks Jarndyce for confirmation that Esther is indeed an orphan. Then, after listening to another unruly outburst, Lady Dedlock sacks her fiery maid Hortense.

Back in London, Richard is now working at Kenge and Carboys with Guppy - and is showing an unhealthy interest in the Jarndyce and Jarndyce suit. Guppy pays a visit to Snagsby's law-writing shop, where he meets Mrs Chadband. She happened to work for Miss Barbary in the past, and informs Guppy that Esther's real name is Hawdon. He decides to investigate further by chasing the matter up with Krook, but Krook is so wily - and so drunk - that he doesn't get very far.

A policeman has also called at Snagsby's with Jo the crossing sweeper in tow. Jo has a substantial amount of money in his possession, and the policeman doesn't believe his story about the lady who gave it to him. But Snagsby takes Jo's story to Tulkinghorn, and is introduced to Inspector Bucket. They bring Jo to Tulkinghorn's office, where he is startled to see the very same lady dressed in all her finery.

Episode 5 - Jo's surprise turns to total confusion when the lady is unveiled. It's not Lady Dedlock, after all; rather Hortense wearing her clothing. Meanwhile, at Chesney Wold, Lady Dedlock's own suspicions have been aroused, as she wonders why she felt such a pull towards Esther when they met. She quizzes Mrs Rouncewell for information about Esther's background, but all the housekeeper can say is that nobody knows where she comes from.

Richard pays a visit to Bleak House, where he disappoints Jarndyce yet again by announcing his intention to quit the law and join the army. Jarndyce warns him that this must be his final choice, and that he needs to take the question of employment seriously since no good will ever come of his Chancery hopes. But their relationship is becoming increasingly strained.

Charley Neckett turns up as a not wholly welcome gift for Esther. Jarndyce has employed her as Esther's maid without consulting her first. But Esther cannot be cross with him for long. In town, Esther visits Caddy and Prince at the dance academy and watches as they tell Mr Turveydrop the news of their engagement. His is most displeased, that is until they pledge to work together to make his life more agreeable. Caddy recounts that her mother had a similarly selfabsorbed response; these days her head is entirely in her African mission.

Gridley is on the run from the law, following Tulkinghorn's arrest-warrant, and asks his old friend Miss Flite if she can take him in. She points him in the direction of an old friend of hers, Mr George, a noble ex-soldier who now owns a gym. Amongst his fencing pupils is Rick, who is learning the arts of war in preparation for joining his regiment.

Unfortunately for George, he has become embroiled in Tulkinghorn's investigation. Clamb has managed to identify Nemo as a Captain Hawdon, in debt to the moneylender Smallweed. George was a close friend of Hawdon's during their army days, and he now owes Smallweed money. Tulkinghorn desperately wants to get hold of a sample of Hawdon's hand-writing for comparison, so sends Smallweed to blackmail George into providing one. George says he'll think about it.

Later, when Jarndyce, Esther and Ada visit George's gym, they discover that Gridley is in hiding there, and very sick. A doctor appears, and suddenly unmasks himself as Bucket. He intends to arrest Gridley; however he is too late. Gridley dies, still cursing the Chancery suit.

Episode 6 - George meets Tulkinghorn to discuss his demands, but, suspicious of Tulkinghorn's motives, he refuses to hand over the writing sample. Smallweed is desperate to squeeze George for all he can, but Tulkinghorn instructs him to bide his time. Back at the gym, George worries what the future may hold for himself and his assistant Phil Squod.

Guppy is still attempting to pursue Esther's interest and pays another visit to an extremely drunken Krook. At the mention of the name Hawdon, Krook allows him a tantalising glimpse of his love letters, but he won't let Guppy get his hands on them.

The Dedlocks receive a visitor to Chesney Wold - Mr Rouncewell, the housekeeper's wealthy son. His son has fallen in love with Lady Dedlock's maid, Rosa, and Rouncewell wants to take her away to be educated. Whilst Sir Leicester takes the offer as an affront to the nobility of his household, Lady Dedlock is acutely concerned at the thought of losing the girl who has become like a daughter to her. Later, Lady Dedlock receives a second visit, this time from Guppy. He outlines his recent discoveries - and confirms that Esther's real name is Hawdon. Lady Dedlock gives him permission to pursue the letters on her behalf. She is in deep shock at the news that her daughter lived.

Esther and Jarndyce discover that Jo is seriously ill. They take him home to Bleak House, so that they can care for him, ignoring Skimpole's advice to turf him out. Can it really be chance that, in the middle of the night, Jo mysteriously disappears?

Episode 7 - Esther, Ada, Jarndyce and Caddy search far and wide for Jo but to no avail. He has disappeared - spirited away by Tulkinghorn and Bucket (with a little help from Skimpole) to stop him talking. Next morning, disaster strikes - Esther falls sick with smallpox. Jarndyce is beside himself with worry, and Esther is quarantined with only Charley allowed in.

Once more in pursuit of the letters, Guppy heads over to Krook's house. When he gets there, he finds Miss Flite and Snagsby worrying about the peculiar smell in the air. Venturing inside, Guppy finds only Krook's skull cap floating in a sea of alcohol and human remains. The coroner's verdict is spontaneous combustion. Guppy is thwarted again, as Smallweed claims ownership of all Krook's property. Unbeknown to any of them, Krook was his brother-in-law.

Esther, meanwhile, has made a remarkable recovery but is left badly scarred by the illness. She receives a visit from Miss Flite, who tells her of Woodcourt's adventures. He is a hero, having saved many lives in a shipwreck.

Disappointed, Guppy tells Lady Dedlock of his failure to find the letters. As he is about to leave, they are surprised by Tulkinghorn, who senses that Guppy is up to something. He and Smallweed decide that the time has come to call in George's debt. George has little choice, and agrees with great reluctance to hand over the writing sample.

Episode 8 - Miss Flite leaves Bleak House but not before issuing a terrible warning that Rick will be drawn to ruin by Chancery in the same way as Mr Gridley. Ada is desperately worried already, since Rick and Jarndyce are barely speaking. Esther's feelings for Woodcourt have been rekindled by Miss Flite's news, though she confesses to Jarndyce that any hopes she once had are futile. Her disfigurement makes it impossible for any man to love her. Jarndyce is on the point of declaring his own feelings, but draws back.

Guppy makes a big mistake by letting slip to Smallweed about Hawdon's letters. Now, Smallweed wants them for himself. And Tulkinghorn is similarly pleased with himself. The writing samples match, so Nemo's identity is proven beyond doubt. When Clamb later asks if this means George is to be released from his debt, Tulkinghorn replies that, on the contrary, he intends to tell Smallweed to let the matter rest for a month, and then foreclose on the debt. Such is the price of defiance.

Esther, Ada, Charley and Jarndyce pay Boythorn another visit. One evening, Boythorn tells the girls the story of the Ghost's Walk at Chesney Wold - its doom laden prophecy about the Dedlock clan. The next day, the girls decide to visit. By chance, Lady Dedlock happens upon them and insists on a private conference with Esther. She confesses to being Esther's mother. Until recently, she had believed that Esther was stillborn. Likewise, Esther's father, Captain Hawdon, had been reported dead in the West Indies. Begging Esther's forgiveness, she tells her that they cannot meet again for fear that the secret will out.

Episode 9 - Esther is in total shock after Lady Dedlock's confession, but keeps her troubled emotions secret from Ada. With Boythorn and Jarndyce away on business, the girls go to the local pub where Esther is surprised to meet Richard. His interest in Chancery has long since grown into obsession, and Esther is worried to discover that Richard has now employed his own lawyer - the vampiric Mr Vholes - on Skimpole's advice. Esther can see that Vholes intends to bleed Richard dry, but there is very little that she can do to prevent it.

Smallweed's many hours of searching through Krook's old legal papers have finally paid off. He discovers the bundle of love letters from Captain Hawdon. Guppy returns to the shop and offers Smallweed ten pounds for the letters. But at that moment, Tulkinghorn steps out of the shadows and warns him off. Later, much to Smallweed's astonishment - and great delight - Tulkinghorn offers two hundred and fifty pounds for them.

Having gathered all his evidence, Tulkinghorn visits Chesney Wold. There, he shows his hand, relating Lady Dedlock's scandalous history to herself and Sir Leicester as if it were that of ‘a townsman's of Mr Rouncewell'. Sir Leicester finds it too shocking to be believed. When they are alone, Lady Dedlock announces to Tulkinghorn that she will flee Chesney Wold that night, before the scandal breaks. He turns the tables on her, claiming that in order to protect the family honour he will keep the secret, so long as she does nothing. And now, she is totally in his power.

Episode 10 - Knowing she is now in Tulkinghorn's power, Lady Dedlock decides to send Rosa away to save her from any impending scandal. Rosa is upset by the idea of having to leave. Back in London, Hortense accuses Tulkinghorn of denying her sufficient reward for her services to him (when she impersonated her mistress). Tulkinghorn sends her away with nothing but an exceedingly stern warning - and Bucket later drags her down to the station to follow up his sentiments. He also makes Hortense write down her address, promising to keep an eye on her.

Esther plans a visit to London, where she and Ada see the newly pregnant Caddy. However, she has an ulterior motive for the trip, seeing Guppy on the quiet to tell him to stop investigating her past. When Esther lifts her veil and shows him her face, Guppy is only too happy to agree to her wishes as long as he can retract his proposal.

Ada is upset: she's been stood up by Rick. They find him at the one place he's sure to be - in Chancery. He is soon leaving to join his regiment in Deal, and Vholes and Skimpole are worried by his enormous debts. When the girls return to Bleak House, Jarndyce tells them Sir Leicester has invited them to Chesney Wold, worried they may have been offended by his lack of courtesy when they visited Boythorn. Esther is horrified by the idea. She confides in Jarndyce that she is Lady Dedlock's illegitimate daughter, the confession bringing them closer than ever before. Jarndyce finally musters the courage to propose to Esther. After thinking it through, she burns the flowers Woodcourt gave her, and accepts his proposal. Jarndyce is still a little uneasy, so asks her to keep their betrothal a secret for now.

Meanwhile, Lady Dedlock has burned her keepsakes of Hawdon, and is determined to attempt to put the past behind her. Tulkinghorn, however, has other ideas, taunting her that her secret life could ruin the entire household, even poor Rosa would be tainted by it. Lady Dedlock wants to dismiss her now, but Tulkinghorn instructs her not to make a move.

Smallweed's greed knows no bounds. He evicts Miss Flite (and her birds) for not paying the rent. Then, he turns his attentions to George, and forecloses on his debt despite past promises. When George grips him by the throat in fury, he chokes out that this move has come from Tulkinghorn.

Episode 11 - Regardless of Tulkinghorn's instructions, Lady Dedlock summons Rouncewell to take Rosa away. On his arrival, he spends a moment with his mother reminiscing about the past, and his brother who ran away to join the army. It's clear that this black sheep was her favourite. Rouncewell departs, leaving Sir Leicester angry at his impudence and Lady Dedlock sad to see her maid go. Sir Leicester decides a change of scene is in order, so they leave for London.

Vholes pays a visit to Bleak House, appealing to Jarndyce's generosity so he'll pay Rick's debts. Esther and Ada visit him in Deal, where Ada offers up her inheritance to assist with his financial worries. Rick is deeply touched by the gesture, but the offer has come too late. He's selling out, and that's that. The girls return to the inn to find it in an uproar: the brave hero of the shipwrecked Indiaman has returned to port. Before she can take this in, Esther sees Woodcourt entering on the shoulders of his well-wishers. Esther flees to her room in shock; when she and Woodcourt finally face each other it is clear that their feelings are just as strong as they ever were.

Jenny the brickmaker's wife finds little Jo wandering the streets of London in a daze, coughing blood. After returning to the city, Woodcourt stumbles upon them and realises immediately that Jo is dying and in need of refuge. Woodcourt takes him to George's gym, bringing Jo's one friend, Snagsby, to his bedside. By now, Jo is delirious and terrified by the thought of Bucket and Tulkinghorn, who are responsible for him being persistently moved on. Esther and Jarndyce join the group just in time, and Esther offers what little comfort she can with the words of the Lord's Prayer. After Jo's death, Jarndyce delivers a savage indictment of the cold-hearted society in which they live.

Tulkinghorn discovers that Lady Dedlock has crossed him, and dismissed Rosa. Furious, he announces that the deal is off: he will now expose her. After he leaves, Lady Dedlock goes for a walk, wearing a black fringed shawl. She is followed by Hortense.

Back at the gym, it is George's turn for anger as he rails against Tulkinghorn's malicious cruelty. If he had the chance, he would take Tulkinghorn down. Phil tries to calm him without success, and George goes out too, still seething. Phil notices that one of the pistols he was cleaning is missing. Clamb leaves the office for the night, bumping into George in the alley nearby.

Tulkinghorn is shot.

Episode 12 - Next morning, Clamb discovers his master's body. Bucket takes the case, quickly learning from Clamb that George was seen at the scene of the crime and had previously issued violent threats against Tulkinghorn. It's only circumstantial evidence so far, but it's damning nonetheless. And whilst Sir Leicester offers a reward for the arrest of the murderer, Lady Dedlock is keeping quiet.

Phil wants to know where George got to the night before with the pistol, but they are interrupted by the arrival of Smallweed, come to do an inventory. He leaves in a hurry when George raises the pistol in question and points it at him. But, Smallweed gets his own back by fingering George as a potential suspect to Bucket. He also demands the return of the Hawdon letters he sold to Tulkinghorn, but Bucket is having none of it.

Caddy has had her baby, but both mother and child are very ill. Esther and Ada visit her, and dismiss the quack doctor, sending for Woodcourt instead who quickly improves Caddy's condition. It's more than evident that the flame still burns between him and Esther, however firmly she attempts to hold her feelings in check. Later, at Ada's 21st birthday party, Rick makes a rare visit to his guardian's house but finds it very difficult to conceal his hostility. Woodcourt is also invited to the party, and Jarndyce offers to help him find a position up North. But Woodcourt is keen to stay in London regardless of the financial hardship: it's clear his desire to do so is not unconnected with Esther. That night, Ada remarks to Esther of Woodcourt's evident feelings for her, and, embarrassed, Esther is compelled to own up to her engagement to Jarndyce. Ada is shocked to have been excluded from the secret.

It is also Phil's birthday, although the meagre celebration he and George have to revive their spirits is a far cry from Ada's party across town. Bucket joins the pair, drinks their wine, and then springs a surprise by arresting George for the murder of Tulkinghorn. George admits to Bucket that he went to the lawyer's office that night, but denies the murder. He also mentions passing a woman in a black-fringed shawl on the stairs. Jarndyce, Woodcourt and Esther visit George in his cell, and are shocked by his refusal to hire a lawyer. George insists innocence is his best defence - a position Jarndyce fears will lead to disaster. Esther, however, has an idea. She approaches Phil, who tells them that their last hope is to talk to George's mother, who he hasn't seen for years. She's the housekeeper at Chesney Wold: Mrs Rouncewell.

Tulkinghorn's funeral is grand, with only a few mourners. Bucket watches the crowd and spots Hortense lurking amongst the onlookers. He pursues her but she eludes him. Back at the police station, he is surprised by a letter which reads, "Lady Dedlock Murderess".

Episode 13 - Bucket studies his ‘Lady Dedlock Murderess' letter, then asks Clamb if he saw a lady in a black fringed shawl that night, but he did not.

Jarndyce brings Mrs Rouncewell and George together, and they are reunited in his cell. She pleads with him to allow a lawyer to help him, and he eventually relents on the one condition that his brother Rouncewell is not involved. Their old rivalry still won't let him swallow his pride. Jarndyce returns home to tell Esther the good news about George's situation. She remains worried, however. If George is proved innocent, the finger of suspicion may be pointed at her mother, who had good reason to want Tulkinghorn dead. Esther does not believe Lady Dedlock capable of murder, but is nonetheless concerned for her. Jarndyce does his best to reassure her that Lady Dedlock is a woman above suspicion.

But across town, Bucket has already stepped up his investigation, interviewing Mercury about Lady Dedlock's movements on the night in question. The footman cannot place quite what exactly Lady Dedlock wore for her night walk. She has so many clothes. Above stairs, Mrs Rouncewell pays an unexpected visit to the Dedlock London house, where she begs her mistress to help her son. She hands over a letter which was delivered to her at Chesney Wold. Alone, Lady Dedlock opens it. It reads, "Lady Dedlock Murderess".

Caddy recovers, but she and Prince are unable to pay Woodcourt for his services since all their money goes on keeping old Mr Turveydrop in the style to which he has grown accustomed. Woodcourt and Rick have become good friends, and one evening Woodcourt talks of his envy for the love Ada holds for Rick. He wishes he had the same from Esther, and intends to propose to her soon. Next day, Esther and Ada pay Rick a visit. Esther is surprised that Ada seems to know the way there mysteriously well. Rick greets them warmly but is clearly very unwell. Esther is devastated to learn that Ada is not going back with her. She and Rick have married in secret, and she is staying with her husband.

Bucket strikes upon one useful lead, discovering that the handwriting on the mysterious letter he received matches the sample he possesses of Hortense's hand. She admits it freely, saying that she had to write the letter since Bucket has arrested the wrong person. The true culprit is Lady Dedlock. Hortense followed her to Tulkinghorn's that night, wearing a black fringed shawl. Bucket asks Hortense if she can find that shawl amongst Lady Dedlock's possessions if he smuggles her into the house. She agrees with glee.

Smallweed still has his sights set on regaining the Hawdon letters. He tries to strike a deal with Clamb, offering him a partnership through which both of them could make a lot of money. But Clamb is unmoved by the offer.

Bucket is shown into the presence of the Dedlocks, and astonishes Sir Leicester by asking if he might put some questions to Lady Dedlock about the night of the murder. She coolly agrees, but quickly finds herself confronted with the night walk and the black fringed shawl which is triumphantly brought in by Hortense. Lady Dedlock is forced to admit that she did visit Tulkinghorn that night, and knocked at his door, but received no reply and came away. She may have passed someone on the stairs. Bucket thanks her and calls in his constable. But the woman who he points to as the murderess is Hortense.

Episode 14 - As Hortense hisses with fury, Bucket tells her that he had suspected her from the moment he saw her at the funeral, and then received the anonymous letter. The day after he met her, he had Hortense followed to the country where she dropped the murder weapon into a pond, which his men then retrieved. Still screeching and cursing, Hortense is dragged out and Bucket apologises to Lady Dedlock for having put her through this interrogation.

When Esther returns, and tells Jarndyce about Rick and Ada's marriage, the pair are saddened that only the two of them are now left. Woodcourt pays Esther a visit to talk of Rick's increasingly ill health, and his concerns about Skimpole's negative influence upon him. He has also learned from Bucket that Skimpole betrayed little Jo's presence in Bleak House for a bribe. Esther is appalled. That night, she castigates Skimpole for the way he preys on others - Jarndyce, Rick, even the defenceless little Jo. She warns him never to show his face again, or she might have to tell Jarndyce how thoroughly he has betrayed his trust.

George is released from prison by Bucket, with whom he's not best pleased. Mrs Rouncewell, on the other hand, is delighted that her son is a free man, and tells him she has found a solution to his financial worries. She has arranged with Sir Leicester that he can work at Chesney Wold, looking after the horses. Phil will join them.

Lady Dedlock pays Bucket a private visit, to ask him if her secret is safe. Bucket assures her that there's no reason for it to be brought up again at Hortense's trial. Little does he know, however, that Clamb has handed back the Hawdon letters to Smallweed who intends to blackmail Sir Leicester. Guppy gets wind of the plan and rushes desperately to Chesney Wold to warn Lady Dedlock. Too late: Smallweed has already been let into the library.

Knowing her secret is out, Lady Dedlock takes off her jewellery and writes a note of apology. Then, she flees Chesney Wold. When Sir Leicester reads the note, his devastated reaction triggers a stroke. Bucket is called in to find Lady Dedlock. He roots through her things in search of clues, finding Esther's handkerchief amongst her private keepsakes. But Esther has not seen or heard anything of her mother. Esther insists on going with Bucket on his continued search, and despite his misgivings he agrees to take her and Woodcourt with him. They search the underbelly of the city, from Tom All Alone's to the Drowned of the River. But all to no avail.

Next morning, they return exhausted to the London Lodgings. Charley comes in with a letter, delivered by an urchin and addressed to Esther. It is from Lady Dedlock, begging her forgiveness, and ending ‘...the place where I shall lie down has often been in my mind'. Suddenly Bucket realises where she must mean. They dash to the pauper's graveyard, where they find the figure of Lady Dedlock slumped by the gates. Esther rushes to her mother who dies in her arms.

Episode 15 - Several months later... Sir Leicester is heartbroken by Lady Dedlock's death. Even Boythorn recognises he is a broken man, offering to end their long-running dispute about the rights of way of the land. Sir Leicester is deeply affronted by the idea Boythorn sees him as a helpless invalid and refuses to accept victory. So, quite enjoying it really, their dispute continues. George receives a visit from his brother at Chesney Wold. They finally put their old differences aside to their mother's great joy. George also tries to make amends with Esther by sending her a letter of apology for handing over Hawdon's writing sample to Tulkinghorn. He encloses the love letters from her mother to her father which ended up in Sir Leicester's possession.

Miss Flite tells Esther she has made Rick executor of her will, to take over her interest in the case in addition to his own, given that he is such a regular suitor in Chancery. More worryingly still, she has added two birds to her collection and named them ‘the Wards in Jarndyce'. When Esther visits Ada she finds her desperately concerned for Rick's health - all the more so because she is pregnant, and doubts he will live to see his child.

Woodcourt tells Esther that Jarndyce has found him a position as a medical practitioner in the North and he's going to take it. But she is the love of his life, and he wants to marry her and take her with him to Yorkshire. Esther has to turn him down, admitting she's not free to marry him since she's betrothed to Jarndyce. She is very upset, but pulls herself together and asks Jarndyce the next morning to set a date for their wedding. They will marry in a month.

Smallweed discovers an important document amongst Krook's many papers: a will from the original John Jarndyce, which predates all the others in the case. Kenge and Vholes confirm its veracity, and reveal that it will considerably increase Rick's interests in the case whilst reducing Jarndyce's share. Rick can hardly contain his excitement - they're going to be saved. As they leave for court, Esther and Jarndyce are detained by a surprise visit from Guppy and his mother. Guppy is still in love with Esther and renews his proposal of marriage. Once more, Esther turns him down, enraging Mrs Guppy in the process.

Chancery is in uproar: the case is over for good. There wasn't even time to submit the new will because everything has been consumed in costs. Rick tries to make a last complaint to the Chancellor, but is stopped when his mouth fills with blood. As he dies, Rick reconciles with Jarndyce. Miss Flite finally sets her birds free.

Some time later, Jarndyce suggests to Esther and Ada that they go on a little trip. They arrive in Yorkshire to find a house laid out exactly like Bleak House. Jarndyce tells Esther that this is her Bleak House. After Woodcourt came back to London, Jarndyce gradually realised that Woodcourt, not he, was the one for her. He frees her from her betrothal, so that she may marry Woodcourt.

 

Bleak House

Esther Summerson	---	Anna Maxwell Martin
John Jarndyce	---	Denis Lawson
Ada Clare	---	Carey Mulligan
Lady Dedlock	---	Gillian Anderson
Clamb	---	Tom Georgeson
Mr. Tulkinghorn	---	Charles Dance
Richard Carstone	---	Patrick Kennedy
Sir Leicester Dedlock	---	Timothy West
Guppy	---	Burn Gorman
Sergeant George	---	Hugo Speer
Miss Flite	---	Pauline Collins
Smallweed	---	Philip Davis
Harold Skimpole	---	Nathaniel Parker
Bucket	---	Alun Armstrong
Mrs. Rouncewell	---	Anne Reid
Hortense	---	Lilo Baur
Charley Neckett	---	Katie Angelou
Judy	---	Loo Brealey
Phil Squod	---	Michael Smiley
Rosa	---	Emma Williams
Jo	---	Harry Eden
Allan Woodcourt	---	Richard Harrington
Caddy Turveydrop	---	Nathalie Press
Snagsby	---	Sean McGinley
Krook	---	Johnny Vegas
Prince Turveydrop	---	Bryan Dick
Nemo	---	John Lynch
Mr. Bayham Badger	---	Richard Griffiths
Mrs. Badger	---	Joanna David

Written by Charles Dickens
Screenplay by Andrew Davies
Directed by Justin Chadwick, Susanna White
Produced by Nigel Stafford-Clarke
Executive Produced by Rebecca Eaton, Sally Haynes, Laura Mackie
Original Music by John Lunn
Cinematography by Kieran McGuigan
Film Editing by Paul Knight, Jason Krasucki

 

The Old Curiosity Shop

Grandfather	---	Derek Jacobi
Daniel Quilp	---	Toby Jones
Nell Trent	---	Sophie Vavasseur
Sally Brass	---	Gina McKee
Samson Brass	---	Adam Godley
Betsy Quilp	---	Anna Madeley
Jacob	---	Adrian Rawlins
Dick Swiveller	---	Geoff Breton
Freddie Trent	---	Bryan Dick
Mrs. Jarley	---	Zoë Wanamaker
Mr. Codlin	---	Martin Freeman
Mr. Short	---	Steve Pemberton
Kit Nubbles	---	George MacKay
Mrs. Jiniwin	---	Josie Lawrence
Mr. Liggers	---	Bradley Walsh
The Marchioness	---	Charlene McKenna
Reverend Pratchett	---	Jonathan Coy
Mrs. Nubbles	---	Kelly Campbell
Innkeeper	---	Michael Webber
Mrs. George	---	Elizabeth Bennett
Constable	---	Gerry O'Brien

Written by Charles Dickens, Martyn Heresford
Directed by Brian Percival
Produced by Andrew Benson
Executive Produced by Rebecca Eaton, Andrew Lowe, Gareth Neame
Original Music by Stephen McKeon
Cinematography by Peter Greenhalgh
Film Editing by Tony Cranstoun
Costume Design by Lorna Marie Mugan

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Bleak House

BAFTA® Awards
2006 – Best Actress -Anna Maxwell
2006 – Best Drama Serial
2006 – Best Costume Design
2006 – Best Editing Fictional Entertainment
2006 – Best Production Design

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Bleak House

"This gorgeous and exhilarating new series was like watching Dickens filmed by the director of Spooks, with the latest nervy, pacey, zooming camerawork fashionably on show ... this was an impressive and beautiful translation of a Victorian soap opera into contemporary television terms."-Stephen Pile, Daily Telegraph

"The pace never lets up ... ... The performances are uniformly excellent"-Pete Clark, London Evening Standard

"...it is exquisite costume drama showing the BBC at its best. Even Esther’s pox deserves a Bafta all of its own.”-Sunday Times

"A luminous, instantly addictive piece of television ... Not that anyone should be singled out from a cast that was so uniformly impressive. If Maxwell Martin seemed able to express entire pages in a glance, she was matched by a ravishing Gillian Anderson as the arrogant, tragic Lady Dedlock. Denis Lawson brought a rare lightness of touch to the elusive character of John Jarndyce, Charles Dance a genuinely vulpine quality to the lawyer Tulkinghorn. Further down the cast list, Johnny Vegas as Krook and Burn Gorman as Guppy were especially memorable. All in all, the prospect of spending further episodes in this company feels not only enticing, but entirely thrilling."-Gerard O’Donovan, Daily Telegraph