Little Dorrit (TV Mini Series)

Episode #1.14 (2008)

Russell Tovey: John Chivery

Quotes 

• John Chivery : Here lie the mortal remains of John Chivery, Assistant Turnkey and later Chief Turnkey of the Marshalsea Prison for Debt. He was unlucky in love and endured a good deal of sorrow, but he rose above it and performed many an act of kindness, even to his rival. And always engraved, on stone, deep into his very heart, is the name of "Amy Dorrit".

• John Chivery : [Knocks. Comes in and sets down writing desk and box] 

  Arthur Clennam : Ahh, thank you, John. I'm sorry to have given you any trouble.

  [Silence. Sighs] 

  Arthur Clennam : Are you angry with me, John?

  John Chivery : Tell you what, Mr. Clennam. If you weren't under a cloud, which you are, and if it wasn't against all the rules of the Marselsea, which it is, I'd sooner be having a ram with you than shaking your hand! Beg your pardon.

  Arthur Clennam : Freely granted. But, ah, what is it, John?

  John Chivery : Don't mind my sayin' so, sir, you don't look very well to me. How long since you've eaten anythin'?

  Arthur Clennam : Oh, I don't have any appetite. I don't think I could eat.

  John Chivery : Do you not think that even if it's not worthwhile to take care of yourself for your own sake, it's worth doin' for somebody else's?

  Arthur Clennam : Truly, I don't know for whose.

  John Chivery : You don't know whose? You can say that to me?

  Arthur Clennam : I don't understand, John. I don't mean to offend you.

  John Chivery : I had got over it. I had! I might never thought of it again. I may not be a gentleman, but I am a man. Why do you think I found this room for you that you'd like and carried up the things for you when I really felt like knockin' you down? Do you think I did it for your own sake? I didn't do it for you! I did it for her!

  Arthur Clennam : For who?

  John Chivery : For Amy! Because she loves you!

  Arthur Clennam : [Shocked]  What?

  John Chivery : Oh, oh! How can you say you don't know it? Anyone with eyes could see it! These walls know it! You're so lofty, so far above the rest of us, you don't even notice it. All the time I was breakin' my heart over her, she was breakin' her's over you!

  [Sobs] 

  John Chivery : Well, s'all do now. So if you, uh, won't take anythin' else, I'll say goodnight, Sir.

  Arthur Clennam : Goodnight, John.

  John Chivery : [Holds out hand] 

  Arthur Clennam : [Grabs and shakes]