David
09-13-2005, 01:34 AM
This great scene features the extraordinary Francis L. Sullivan as the barrister Jaggers & John Mills as Pip.
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Jaggers: "I'm going to put a case to you, Pip. But I admit nothing."
Pip: "I understand. You admit nothing."
Jaggers: "Put the case that a woman is charged with murder. Put the case that this woman has a child whose father is a convict."
Pip: "I understand you perfectly."
Jaggers: "But that I make no admissions."
Pip: "But that you make no admissions."
Jaggers: "Now, Pip, put the case that this woman's legal advisor knows an eccentric & very rich lady who is anxious to adopt a little girl. [pauses] Do you understand, Pip?"
Pip: [recognition dawning] "I . . . understand. But I can hardly believe."
Jaggers: "Ring that bell, Mr. Pip."
[Pip stands, rings the summons bell. A woman enters.]
Woman: "Yes, sir?"
Jaggers: "Basin."
Woman: "Yes, sir." [She empties the washtub & ewer & leaves the office.]
Jaggers: "Well, Pip?"
Pip: [still standing] "If I'm in my right mind, then that woman is Estella's mother. This legal advisor you mention will have a lot to answer for."
Jaggers: "Now, Pip, put the case that this legal advisor has often seen children tried at the criminal bar. Put the case that he has known them to be habitually imprisoned, whipped, neglected, cast out, qualified in all ways for the hangman -- and growing up to be hanged. Put the case that here was one pretty little child out of the heap, that could be saved. Put that last case to yourself very carefully, Pip."
Pip: "I do, Mr. Jaggers."
Jaggers: "Did he do right?"
Pip: [resolvedly] "He did right."
Jaggers: "Good."
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from David Lean's "Great Expectations" (1946)
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Jaggers: "I'm going to put a case to you, Pip. But I admit nothing."
Pip: "I understand. You admit nothing."
Jaggers: "Put the case that a woman is charged with murder. Put the case that this woman has a child whose father is a convict."
Pip: "I understand you perfectly."
Jaggers: "But that I make no admissions."
Pip: "But that you make no admissions."
Jaggers: "Now, Pip, put the case that this woman's legal advisor knows an eccentric & very rich lady who is anxious to adopt a little girl. [pauses] Do you understand, Pip?"
Pip: [recognition dawning] "I . . . understand. But I can hardly believe."
Jaggers: "Ring that bell, Mr. Pip."
[Pip stands, rings the summons bell. A woman enters.]
Woman: "Yes, sir?"
Jaggers: "Basin."
Woman: "Yes, sir." [She empties the washtub & ewer & leaves the office.]
Jaggers: "Well, Pip?"
Pip: [still standing] "If I'm in my right mind, then that woman is Estella's mother. This legal advisor you mention will have a lot to answer for."
Jaggers: "Now, Pip, put the case that this legal advisor has often seen children tried at the criminal bar. Put the case that he has known them to be habitually imprisoned, whipped, neglected, cast out, qualified in all ways for the hangman -- and growing up to be hanged. Put the case that here was one pretty little child out of the heap, that could be saved. Put that last case to yourself very carefully, Pip."
Pip: "I do, Mr. Jaggers."
Jaggers: "Did he do right?"
Pip: [resolvedly] "He did right."
Jaggers: "Good."
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from David Lean's "Great Expectations" (1946)