EXXON MOBIL MASTERPIECE THEATRE: DAVID COPPERFIELD {EPISODE 2} (TV)
Summary
One in this ongoing series of dramas presented under the umbrella of "Masterpiece Theatre." This program presents part two of a two-part adaptation of Charles Dickens's "David Copperfield," the bildungsroman of "half an orphan" who encounters some of the most memorable characters in literature. First, Russell Baker introduces the presentation.
This part begins as David, now a young man, becomes a London clerk to a lawyer, Mr. Spenlow, and moves into a weathered set of rooms. David enjoys being autonomous for the first time in his life, but he misses Agnes. One day, he meets Spenlow's daughter Dora and is invited by her father to her birthday picnic. Enslaved by Dora's beauty, David soon tries to win her heart. One night, returning to Canterbury to attend a party with Agnes, David learns some disturbing news about the onerous Uriah Heep, then accidentally runs into his old school chum Steerforth. The next day, David comes across his old landlord Micawber and briefly reunites with Micawber's family. Visiting Steerforth afterward, he meet his "dangerous" and scarred cousin Rosa Dartle. Later, Steerforth decides to join David on a trip to Yarmouth to see Peggotty and her family. There, David meets with Peggotty and her ailing husband Barkis, then visits Dan's boathouse. There, he learns that Ham and Emily are soon to wed. The next day, Emily confides in David that she doesn't think she is worthy of Ham while Steerforth buys a boat, dubbing it "The Little Em'ly."
Returning to London, David prepares a dinner for Micawber and his wife, where he learns that Micawber is about to begin working for his "friend and protector" Heep. David finally reveals his love to Dora and -- though she initially puts up a fight -- accepts an engagement proposal. Later, Betsey Trotwood arrives in town to tell her nephew that she has been financially ruined. David returns to Dora and admits that he no longer has money, with both agreeing to temporarily keep news of their engagement from her father. Trotwood and Mr. Dick subsequently move in with David, after which he returns to Canterbury to ask Mr. Wickfield if anything can be done to fix his aunt's situation. Later, over dinner, Wickfield is horrified to hear of Heep's plan to marry his daughter, then races from the room and past the man who is now in control of much of his business.
Upon returning to London, David finds Spenlow is likewise horrified after hearing that he is engaged to Dora. However, Spenlow abruptly dies the next day and Dora refuses to see David, feeling that the engagement caused his heart failure. David returns to Yarmouth to see Barkis on his deathbed. While there, Ham informs David that Emily has fled town with Steerforth. Dan immediately goes to meet with Rosa and Steerforth's mother to find out if Steerforth will marry Emily. He's met with harsh words from both women. Later, David finds out that Dora is now destitute and vows to take care of her as he begins a marginally successful writing career. They soon marry, struggling at first to keep a household. Hosting the Micawbers for their first dinner party, David finds that Mr. Micawber has been acting strangely. Soon Dora becomes pregnant, though she later miscarries. Meanwhile, Dan wanders around Europe looking for Emily before David eventually learns from Rosa that Steerforth and Emily split ways.
One day, David spies on Rosa and follows her to discover Emily in a London slum, where she works as a prostitute. Rosa threatens Emily, who is rescued by David and Dan. David returns to Yarmouth to bring one final letter from Emily to Ham, but upon arrival he finds that a massive storm has capsized a boat, leading to the drowning deaths of both Steerforth and Ham. Back in London, a furious Micawber informs David that the scoundrel Heep is responsible for bankrupting both Wickfield and Trotwood. Before Heep is arrested, he reveals that he has always hated David and wanted to ruin him via his aunt's misfortunes.
Trotwood talks Micawber into emigrating to Australia, along with Dan and Emily, who remain unaware of Ham's death. Meanwhile, David and Dora struggle in their marriage as she remains bedridden, eventually succumbing to her waning health. Haunted by his past, David wanders Europe for years, mourning all the people in his life that have passed away. He also works hard on his writing career, eventually publishing his first book, which becomes a success. One day, David feels the time is right to return to Canterbury and Agnes. There he learns that Agnes has always loved him, and reveals that he feels likewise. They are married and soon have two boys. A few years later, David and Agnes are visited by Dan, who states that Emily has fully recovered and that Micawber has become a distinguished bank manager. Finally, David and Agnes have a third child -- a girl, just like Trotwood had dreamed of many years previous. Afterward, Baker discusses the opposing critical responses to "David Copperfield" and what makes the novel so interesting. Includes promos.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: April 17, 2000 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:57:08
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:64191
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: She Made It Collection (Rebecca Eaton); Drama; Literature - Adaptations
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1971-
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Promos - "A Respectable Trade"
- TV - Promos - "Monsignor Renard"
- TV - Promos - "Mystery! Hetty Wainthropp Investigates"
- TV - Promos - "Our Mutual Friend"
- TV - Promos - "Painted Lady"
- TV - Promos - "Seeing Red"
- TV - Promos - "The Prince of Hearts"
CREDITS
- Rebecca Eaton … Executive Producer
- Jane Tranter … Executive Producer
- Paul Jackson … Executive Producer
- Steven Ashley … Senior Producer
- Kate Harwood … Producer
- Katrine Dudley … Associate Producer
- Simon Curtis … Director
- Adrian Hodges … Writer
- Charles Dickens … Based on the novel by
- Rob Lane … Music by
- Russell Baker … Host
- Tom Wilkinson … Narrator
- Ciaran McMenamin … Cast, David Copperfield
- Maggie Smith … Cast, Betsey Trotwood
- James Grout … Cast, Mr. Spenlow
- Dawn French … Cast, Mrs. Crupp
- Joanna Page … Cast, Dora Spenlow
- Clare Wilkie … Cast, Julia Mills
- Amanda Ryan … Cast, Agnes Wickfield
- Nicholas Lyndhurst … Cast, Uriah Heep
- Oliver Milburn … Cast, Steerforth
- Edward Hughes … Cast, Steerforth's friend
- Colin Farrell … Cast, Milkman
- Bob Hoskins … Cast, Micawber
- Imelda Staunton … Cast, Mrs. Micawber
- Cherie Lunghi … Cast, Mrs. Steerforth
- Clare Holman … Cast, Rosa Dartle
- Kenneth MacDonald … Cast, Littimer
- Pauline Quirke … Cast, Peggotty
- Michael Elphick … Cast, Barkis
- James Thorton … Cast, Ham Peggotty
- Alun Armstrong … Cast, Dan Peggotty
- Patsy Pyrne … Cast, Mrs. Gummidge
- Aislin McGuckin … Cast, Emily
- Ian McNeice … Cast, Mr. Dick
- Oliver Ford Davies … Cast, Mr. Wickfield
- Thelma Barlow … Cast, Mrs. Heep
- Richard Howard … Cast, Doctor
- Chris Sugden … Cast, Fisherman
- David Maybrick … Cast, Officer