"Which one?" "Which one will it be?" ""Although we all must sometimes stumble..." ""as we journey through this life..." ""l never heard you moan or grumble." ""The perfect mother..." ""and wife."" "Terribly sorry, sir!" "I do beg your pardon." "Why the devil don't you look where you're going?" "I'm terribly sorry." "Hello!" "Fancy bumping into you!" "What?" "Wow!" "Well, you're the last person I expected to see." "What are you talking about?" "Oh, you've forgotten me, haven't you?" "I don't know you from Adam!" "Oh, I know it's been a long time." "Goodness, yes!" "How time flies." "Surely you recall, sir." "We met at the uh... the what's it...the uh... the um..." "What's my name?" "Pardon?" "My name!" "What then is my name?" "Don't you know your name?" "Fancy not knowing your own name." "Bloody fool!" "Don't know who you are, but I know what you are." "You're a pig!" "Piggy!" "Pig, pig, pig!" "Piggy!" "Oh!" "I beg your pardon." "Oh, no." "My fault." "My fault." "Oh, thank you." "Excuse me." "Good heavens!" "What is it?" "Well, well!" "How are you?" "Oh, um...hello." "You've forgotten me, haven't you?" "No, no, it's not that." "it's just that I..." "Well, yes, I have, as a matter of fact." "Anyway, how are you?" "Yes, yes." "It's been such a long time." "Goodness, uh..." "Long time, yes." "Yes, a long time." "You still at the same place?" "At the Evangelist Press." "No, no, I meant um..." "Oh, uh..." "Puddle Mear, yes." "Puddle Mear, dear me!" "Still there, then?" "Same old house." "A bit too big for us now, of course." "Uh, you must be" "Got it?" "A friend of Patricia's?" "There, you've placed me now, haven't you." "How is dear..." "Patricia?" "Well, of course... she'll never be... well, we've got her at home now... and we do our best for her." "Oh, I'm sure you do." "Of course you do." "Well, I must be trotting along." "It's nice to meet you again." "Taylor, Martin Taylor." "Remember?" "Oh, yes, I seem to remember Patricia mentioning you." "It was the art college, wasn't it?" "It's quite appalling... how people lose contact, isn't it?" "Yes." "There's so many things I remember." "I'd very much like to see her again." "See her!" "Well, you know, just to talk over" "She can't talk." "Oh." "I..." "We thought she would after the accident." "The doctors said she might." "But uh..." "Oh, my God." "Well, I thought you knew." "I thought you said you were a friend of hers." "I've been away." "For 3 years?" "America--I went to study the arts." "The American Realists." "I thought you knew." "Most of her friends abandoned her, of course." "I'm not a fair-weather friend." "I only heard about the accident uh..." "Steady." "I say..." "Are you--oh." "I..." "Look, sit down over here." "I say, are you all right down there?" "Miss, look, can you give me a hand please?" "Don't try to move him." "Put a handkerchief in his mouth." "We were just talking." "Loosen his collar or something." "He was just talking to me and he just... went over." "No, no, not necessary." "I just" "Don't want you to bite your tongue." "Thank you!" "Get him back as quickly as possible." "I should get him home." "Don't go rushing about now." "Take it very gently." "Well, well, young man... whatever am I going to do with you, eh?" "Do you think... a piggyback..." "What?" "A piggyback." "Well, I'm not a... how far?" "As far as the car park." "I've got to get a taxi, you see." "Oh, a taxi, yes." "To take me back to the station." "The station." "Look, I do apologize, my...oh." "Look, I can't just bung you in a taxi." "No, of course not." "Look, can you walk at all?" "Walk..." "Look, my car's just round the corner, you see." "I'll tell you what..." "I'll bring the car around to the edge of the park." "Yes." "That's it." "I'll bring it round to the back of the cathedral." "You just stay here, old man." "You just wait there." "I won't be a moment." "I've got him." "Bastard!" "Bastard!" "How stupid, Mister..." "Bates." "Mr. Thomas Ezekiel Bates." "I'm very sorry, Tom." "I did try, you know." "Really." "It doesn't help us when you can't be bothered." "Patty was very difficult this afternoon." "And I had this terrible headache, Tom... just as if there was... a stone rolling around inside my brain." "Your what?" "I do work quite hard, you know." "I wrote 69 "in memoriam" verses this afternoon." "It's not entirely unreasonable... to expect a cooked meal when I get in, is it?" "So, is it?" "Please don't raise your voice, Tom." "After all, this isn't the first time... this has happened, is it?" "It's the second, actually." "More than that." "Please don't raise your voice, Tom... it upsets Patty." "Oh, don't be foolish." "How can she tell which" "She knows, Tom." "She knows what goes on." "She knows when you're angry... and when I'm sad." "That's... that's not possible." "Listen to her then." "That's horrible." "No." "What do you mean, Tom?" "It's horrible." "Horrible--I mean... if she understands more than she can tell us." "Oh, but she can." "I'm sure of it." "It's horrible." "Horrible." "No, Tom, it's a sign of improvement." "The doctors don't know everything." "Don't." "Oh, it's all right." "Hush, darling, I'm here." "To be cooped up... caged up inside your own head..." "and be unable" "Don't, Tom." "It's like having an anesthetic... so that you're completely paralyzed... as far as everyone else is concerned." "But they all think you're out--right out-- but all the time you can hear what they're saying." "No, Tom, it's not like that." "All the time you can see the knife in the surgeon's hands." "And no matter what they do... or however much it hurts... you can't scream... or cry out." "Or... it's horrible." "Tom!" "I don't want this." "I don't want to eat this." "I just want to be sick!" "I spend much more time with Patty than you do... and I notice many more little things." "I think there's a different sort... of expression in her eyes nowadays... there's a light from inside." "A definite light." "What are you talking about?" "A light?" "I know what I mean." "A light-- a definite human light." "Something inside her is trying to speak to us." "Patricia has gone from us, Norma." "She's gone forever." "You must accept that." "Who knows?" "What?" "When you look outside... into the dark... into the garden... you know that... well... this little box is not all there is." "What are you going on about?" "Nothing you would understand." "Norma..." "I used to believe." "It's my business, in a manner of speaking" "God and all that." "But now, I..." "We must keep our faith." "No." "I no longer accept... there's such a thing as a loving God, Norma." "If he's there, then he's just a cruel beast... a vicious old bugger." "Tom!" "There is no God." "There is no hope for Patty." "There are no such things as miracles." "I'll make your coffee." "I won't be a minute, Patty." "Don't do that." "Please, don't do that." "Oh, but I will!" "It's wicked to act as though she's not here." "Norma, listen to me, please." "And wicked, wicked, very wicked... to say that... that she has gone from us forever." "One man went to mow" "Went to mow a meadow" "One man and his" "Dog" "Did you like that, Patty?" "I used to rock you to sleep with that one." "You've gone." "You've gone, my love... far, far away." "There are miracles, Tom." "They can come at any time... and at any place." "Who could that be?" "Only one way to find out." "Don't go." "Don't go, Norma." "Don't open it." "Why ever not?" "Good evening." "Can I help you?" "Why don't you come in?" "This way, please." "Aah." "Tom, what on Earth...?" "Hello, Mr. Bates." "So we meet again, eh?" "I-I am..." "Oh, do you know my husband then, Mr." "Uh, yes--that is, sort of." "What are you doing with that?" "Oh, it's your wallet, Tom." "You dropped it." "I found it." "By the cathedral." "Isn't that nice of the young man, Tom... to bring it all the way out here?" "Did you have any money in it, sir?" "What?" "Oh, yes. £80." "Oh, don't be alarmed." "This is Patricia, our daughter." "She" "The young man used to be a friend of Patty's, Norma... at the art college." "Oh." "Must be a terrible shock for you to see her in this condition." "Hello." "Hello, again, my dear, darling Patricia." "Don't be a fool!" "She can't understand you." "She" "Oh, my dear, darling." "Oh, my fallen angel." "I've waited so long." "So very long for this one single moment." "Love and pity... and grace and beauty." "What are you doing?" "That is... oh, I think that is... the loveliest thing I've ever heard." "It's gone, the money's gone!" "Oh, dear, dear, what a shame." "Well, where is it?" "£80!" "Tom!" "No one likes to lose money, Mrs. Bates." "You're lucky the credit cards weren't stolen, sir." "You're supposed never to leave home without them." "Yeah, that's all very well, but I've" "Oh, none of that matters." "I didn't know when I asked you in... that you knew Patricia, Mister..." "Taylor." "Martin Taylor." "Do you recall the name, dear?" "It must have been taken when I collapsed." "Collapsed?" "Yes, dear, he uh..." "With all those people sort of huddling around me..." "I didn't like the look of that clergyman, so-called." "I bet he took your wallet." "You collapsed?" "That's" "Yes, I did suggest he came home with me, dear, but he" "Oh, yes, he was very insistent." "Well, I'm very glad you're here now." "Aren't you, Tom?" "Oh, yes, indeed." "It's very good of you to bring this back... even without the money." "Tom." "Would you care for a cup of coffee..." "Mister" "Oh, please, call me Martin." "Would you, Martin?" "It's just been made." "Well, that would be very nice if it's not any trouble." "No, not any trouble at all." "Oh, bring a cloth, too, will you dear... to mop up the mess I made." "Oh, let me do that." "Oh, good heavens, no." "Whatever next?" "It's just that I..." "I love housework." "I think it's, well, such a peaceful art." "Oh, tell that to my husband." "I'm sorry I gave you such a start, sir." "Oh, no." "I couldn't--uh..." "I couldn't get the car started." "You know, not for ages... there's been some..." "Well, you better sit down then, Martin." "Thank you very much." "Here we are, then." "Well, isn't this nice!" "Just what I needed." "Did you get the cloth, dear?" "Yeah--oh, my!" "I'm all at sixes and sevens." "Oh, let me!" "Please stay where you are." "But I just told Mrs. Bates you'll be feeling rather tired." "I'll get it." "Thank you, dear." "What's his game, then?" "What's he up to?" "Mmm!" "Superb flavor, this coffee." "Oh, good." "It's not instant, you see." "The color alone indicates that." "Didn't see the damn thing." "It's on the draining board, dear." "I can't stand stains." "Oh, either can l, sir!" "Or dirt of any description." "Did you know Patty very well, Mister-- uh, Martin?" "What can I say, l" "Yes, well, I'll just take this back... to the place where it's supposed to be." "I suppose it's a painful question." "I thought the world of her, madam." "I really did." "But you sort of..." "lost touch, did you?" "Think I could deserve another cup of coffee now?" "I've been in the United States of America." "Oh, I see." "So, you didn't know about..." "No." "And how long is it... since you've been back, then?" "Two days, sir." "And you say you recognized me when you cannoned into to me." "That's correct, sir." "Superb flavor, this coffee, if I may say so." "Thank you." "Would you mind telling me when it was we last met?" "What?" "And where?" "Do you mean to say you only pretended to remember me, sir?" "I don't know why you're questioning Martin like this." "Patty's not exactly in a position to say... whether she knows the young man or not, is she, dear?" "What on Earth are you talking about?" "Really, Tom!" "She knows I'm here." "She knows." "Don't be ridiculous." "She can't possibly be aware" "We don't know enough about the human mind." "None of us know enough... about what goes on inside the head, do we?" "Or the heart, Mrs. Bates." "We have to face reality." "We have to see things as they really are." "Do you think I want to?" "They never did find the driver, you know." "Oh?" "Hit and run, you see." "It was raining." "He should be hung up on a steel rope... and cut down while still alive!" "It was 4 years ago last Tuesday fortnight." "All I hope is that whoever did it... dies full of cancer screaming his head off." "Absolutely, sir... at the very minimum." "Yes, it was very kind of you to return my wallet... but if you want to get back into town at anything like... a reasonable hour..." "Yes, yes, of course." "Oh, but you haven't finished your coffee." "Oh, I have almost, and greatly appreciated it was." "Oh, is anything wrong?" "Did Patty never mention me to you?" "No." "Well, of course Patty had so very many friends... from school, the art college, the tennis club." "It's just that I wasn't simply... one of her many friends though." "Well, of course, we don't remember every single name... she talked about." "She knew so many people." "She was such a lively, friendly girl." "She and I, we..." "It doesn't matter very much one way or the other, does it?" "Not now." "You and she were...what?" "I can't say with total confidence... exactly what I was to her, sir." "She can't speak for herself... and so I must be scrupulously honest in this house, but..." "Go on." "But as for what I felt..." "I thought she was the most exquisite being... in the entire universe." "And yes-- oh, yes, she will always be for me... the girl all the songs sing about... the girl with eyes like fallen stars" "You don't know-- you can't know... what you're saying." "Perhaps he does, Tom." "Would you let me stay with her?" "Stay?" "Oh, that's not possible." "How do you mean, Martin?" "The plain truth is..." "I once dared to ask Patricia to be my bride." "Oh!" "And she?" "She turned me down." "I'm not altogether surprised." "Tom, how very rude." "To be more accurate, sir... she asked me to wait 4 or 5 years... until my prospects had improved." "Or until she'd had time to put her thoughts in order." "You mean she" "Well, she never told us anything of this." "lsn't that surprising?" "To me?" "Yes, it is." "But she was fond of you, was she, Martin?" "She said so, and I believed so." "I loved her." "I always will." "But you never wrote... when you were in America." "We agreed not to communicate... until the period of separation and consideration was finished." "But now that you've seen her... seen how terrible..." "Now that I've seen her..." "I know at last that... a certain peace" "Peace?" "Peace... a quietude that falls upon a soul... when it meets and recognizes... ordained destiny." "Sit down, Martin." "Thank you." "Now, let's get things in order, shall we?" "I think that would be very sensible." "These romantic declarations... about love and destiny, you know... they don't necessarily signify" "What do you mean precisely "stay"?" "What do you hope to do?" "Help." "To help." "Look here, old son, we don't know anything about you... not the first thing." "I mean, you could be the devil himself, for all we" "I'm sure you're a very nice young man, Martin." "Tell me... do you have a nurse or anything to see to Patty?" "I wish we did." "It's not necessary." "Oh, hush, darling." "There's a good girl." "So, you wash her, Mrs. Bates... and feed her, and clothe her?" "Yes, and lift her and clean up her..." "Yes, I do it all." "I lend a hand, too, of course." "You're out at your work." "This is a private matter, dear." "We never go out, Tom, now." "Not ever." "I feel as though I'm scraping my nails on the lid." "What lid?" "The lid of my coffin." "Why do we have to be so bloody melodramatic?" "lt will kill you, Mrs. Bates." "Now, look!" "I presume you go shopping?" "I wish I could go shopping." "I wish I could go anywhere." "We can't leave Patty, and Tom won't let me get any help." "People are far more cruel and calculating... than you think they are." "You never know what they're up to." "Not today, you don't." "My husband has always been a little... well, reclusive." "But he's very kind." "Oh, I'm sure he is." "But I have to admit..." "I'm practically at the end of my tether." "Norma, dear..." "We... we live in the shadows, Mr. Taylor." "And we can see no light." "Then let me stay." "What?" "For the night, you mean?" "A few days." "Oh, yes." "Where would he sleep, dear?" "There's one bed already made up." "I always make it up every day." "Oh, Norma, no, I don't think so." "Patricia's old room." "Oh, that would be" "I can't tell you what that would mean to me..." "Patricia's old room." "Thank you!" "What about your things?" "Oh, my things." "Where are you living now?" "In a hotel in town." "A very dreary place." "More what you'd call a boarding house." "Well, I mean, your things." "Well, I can scrape along without them for one night." "Just lend me a toothbrush, eh?" "Well, I'm sure we can find you something, Martin." "Great, well, I'll just wash up these cups" "Oh, there's no need for that." "I can soon do it, Martin." "You stay where you are, Mumsy." "What did you say?" "Mumsy." "That's what I thought you said." "That's how I think of you now, Mrs. Bates." "I hope you don't mind too much." "No." "The kitchen, no doubt, is through here." "Yes." "One man went to mow" "Went to mow a meadow" "One man and his dog" "Went to mow the meadow" "Two men when to mow" "Went to mow the meadow" "Two men, 1 man..." "It's almost as though she's trying to tell us she's pleased." "Might as well say she's trying to warn us." "Don't be silly, Tom." "Warning us?" "About what, for heaven's sake?" "Daddy!" "I saw you, daddy, I saw you!" "Listen, listen" "Oh, daddy, how could you?" "And with that woman!" "When you're older" "And with that woman!" "About human suffering... and human disappointment..." "Please, no." "Daddy." "Daddy!" "What...what is it, dear?" "What's wrong?" "Nothing." "That is a good boy." "Good morning!" "Oh!" "Oh, you startled me." "I did knock, but..." "I thought you'd like a cup of tea." "Tea, yes." "Thank you." "You know I had the strangest dream." "Oh, I hope the bed was not to blame." "No... it was beautifully comfortable actually." "You didn't have sugar in your coffee last night... so I didn't put any in." "No sugar, good." "Superbly brewed." "We don't use tea bags, you see." "Oh, I can tell." "I can tell you're not that sort of lady at all." "Did you like the room?" "I've kept it just as Patty left it." "Do you know I can" "I can feel her presence... her personality in every detail." "She was such a lovely girl." "Was, Mrs. Bates?" "Oh, I mean..." "Is, Mrs. Bates." "Shall I call you Mumsy?" "Oh, oh, well..." "You see, my own dear mother is... passed on to that far distant shore." "Sorry?" "She's safe in the arms of Jesus." "Oh, I'm sorry." "Is Mr. Bates, is he gone... or is he still here?" "Yes." "Yes, he's just gone." "He's..." "Worried about leaving you alone in the house with me, was he?" "Well..." "You told him not to be such a silly-billy, didn't you?" "He was very worried this morning about... well, about what he said to you last night." "About God." "Oh?" "He always talks too much when he's had a glass of sherry." "It's partly to get at me, too, of course... his not believing in God." "But he doesn't really want... people to know about it... because it would damage his business, you see." "You tell Mr. Bates not to worry." "I won't breathe a word to a living soul." "He publishes hymns... and evangelical prayers, you understand-- and those little verses of comfort... for the bereaved." "Mr. Bates has nothing to worry about." "Nothing at all." "Except his soul." "Yes, of course." "His soul." "Hey, what's the matter with..." "Cheap little slut." "Well, what are we doing today then, Mumsy?" "Pardon?" "More to the point, what are you going to do?" "Me?" "Oh..." "Stroll around the shops?" "Have your hair done?" "You choose." "Well, I...but I can't go out." "You can't go out?" "What do you mean you can't go out?" "I mean Patty-- she's asleep now... but she can't be left." "Then why am I here?" "You?" "Well, you can't" "I'm quite capable of looking after Patty." "You just show me what to do, eh?" "Oh, I don't think..." "No problem, lovey." "No problem at all." "I don't think Tom would like it." "Tom isn't here, though, is he?" "We'll talk about it later, shall we... when you've had some breakfast... and got your things." "Yes, my things." "Don't let your tea get too cold." "No." "No, I won't." "Thank you." "It's very nice tea." "If you like that sort of thing." "Memories are so sweet on the mind..." "Although you've gone beyond..." "They tell me of..." "They tell me of..." "Mr. Bates?" "Mr. Bates, sir?" "Miss Holdsworth, what is it?" "I'm extremely busy." "I'm very sorry, sir." "I..." "I thought you wanted me." "Want you?" "Want you?" "What on Earth do you mean?" "Want you?" "I didn't meant to interrupt, sir." "I beg your pardon." "Miss Holdsworth?" "Sir?" "Raise your skirt, please." "Valerie." "Sir." "You are an extremely salacious... and corrupt Jezebel... and thank you very much." "She doesn't exactly chew, you see." "And she doesn't swallow." "Well, not precisely... but it gets down somehow or other." "I see, so you just get a spoonful... inside her mouth and...and wait." "Yes, but I don't really expect you to" "Go on, Mumsy." "Go out for an hour." "Give yourself a break." "Well, I...it doesn't seem" "You know you want to." "Well, perhaps if I just went... and had a shampoo and set." "Be a treat for you." "My hair..." "You can never do it properly yourself..." "I don't think." "Of course you can't." "And she is very quiet today." "I'm sure you can manage, Martin." "It would be nice to get out of the house." "Of course I can manage." "Would you have it cut, too?" "My hair?" "Mmm." "Just a wee bit shorter so as not to spoil... the contours of your face." "You've got a very pretty face, you see." "Oh, was once, perhaps." "Not anymore." "No." "It's a very pretty face... you just need to take more care of yourself, that's all." "I will go for a little while." "That's a good girl." "Yeah, oh, I better do the beds first." "Oh, no, you don't." "Come on, ducky." "Out through the front door." "Don't dillydally." "But, Martin..." "You'll be just fine, you'll see." "Well, I..." "leave her face." "I have washed her, and she has been changed." "You seem frightened of going out." "That's what comes of being housebound for so long." "Gets to be a disease." "People in hospitals, they get where they can't go out." "They have to force themselves." "You're a very kind and considerate young man." "And you are one of the kindest... bravest ladies in the land." "Ooh, the dish." "Ohh, the dish." "Bye-bye, Martin." "Bye, Patty." "Bye." "Come on, then, my lovely." "It's time for eaty-weaties." "Then I'll have a good snoop around the old homestead, eh?" "There, there, my ickle-wickle baby." "Ick." "Dirty ickle girl." "Daddy will have to smack your botty, won't he?" "Smack your pretty little bum." "Banana." "Don't fret, baby." "There, there, my ickle-wickle pudding pie." "Patricia." "Let daddy see boo-boos, then." "Let daddy see them ickle-wickle boo-boos." "Yeah." "Would you like a coffee?" "Coffee?" "Yes, please." "Thank you." "Now that you've left me all alone... the days are so cold and so dank." "I recall the sunshine... sunshine...." "Iaughter." "I recall the laughter..." "Beautiful." "You're beautiful." "Oh, you made me jump." "What are you doing up there?" "I've made the beds." "Oh, you haven't." "You didn't expect me not to, did you?" "Some fun that would be to go out and come back... and find everything left to do." "That was very sweet of you." "Your hair!" "What's the matter with it?" "It's amazing." "You look years younger." "Do you like it?" "Like it?" "I'll say I do." "It's splendiferous." "I must say, I do feel better." "When you want to cast aside your care" "Go and have a shampoo for your hair" "Oh, Martin, you're atomic." "Oh, dear." "What's the matter?" "Well, I like it, but I don't know what Tom will say." "Does it really matter what dear old Tom says?" "Well, after all, he is my husband." "Oh, anyway, of course he'll like it." "So, you coped all right with Patty, did you?" "Oh, yes, she was as good as gold, God bless her." "Hello, darling." "Mommy's here." "What is it?" "She looks...different." "Different?" "There's a light in her eye." "A real sense of..." "Let me see." "Tom won't have it, he won't believe me... but look at her." "I think there are signs." "Definite signs." "There's more going on in her head than anyone knows." "Do you say your prayers, Mumsy?" "Every night, every morning, and 1,000 times in-between." "So do I." "Poor Martin." "Amore omnia vincit." "What?" "Love conquers all." "Oh, I wish it did." "Oh, but it does." "The only chance Patty has now... the one thing which no doctor, no x-ray machine... no tricky dicky psychiatrist, none of them... none of them can ever detect the holy presence... and the deep sacred pulse of love." "Sweet love." "Love?" "Oh, yes." "Pure, absolute, undefiled love." "The sole lord of life." "The only adequate measure of almighty God." "The secret language of the angels." "You speak so beautifully, Martin." "I speak the truth... and the truth is always beautiful." "She seems so quiet, so content... as though she'd heard what you said." "Come on, then, Mumsy." "I'll make us both a nice cup of tea, eh?" "Thank you." "Sit down." "Relax." "Put your feet up." "Come on." "I'm in such a tiz today." "I don't know whether I'm coming or going." "That's because you've been locked away... for such a long time." "I have." "Oh, yes, I have." "Well, that's over now... for as long as you want me here." "Oh, Martin, the angels must have sent you." "I feel as though I'm in the middle... of a wonderful dream." "Yes, but--but when will it end?" "Mr. Bates...he won't want me here, will he?" "Well, when he sees what you do for me... how kind and how decent you are... but surely, Martin... you can't or don't want to stay... more than a day or two, do you?" "I want to be with Patricia." "That's all I know." "I think I'm going to cry." "Don't cry... or else I will, too." "Drop a bomb." "Drop a bomb." "Wipe us all out." "Destroy us one and all." "What did you say?" "Well, you are so good with words... but I don't really like to ask." "Please do." "Earlier on, you... you asked me if I said my prayers." "Go on." "And I do." "Of course I do... but I never feel I say them properly." "I never find the... anything like the right words... and these things need to be expressed properly... don't they?" "Out of respect for God." "Do you mean you want me to say a prayer?" "Would you?" "Oh, would you, Martin?" "Yes, if you want me to." "You don't mind?" "No." "Of course not." "I'll kneel down, shall I...by Patty." "I'll kneel with you." "When shall we 3 meet again... in thunder, lightning, or in rain?" "Almighty God, dear gentle father in heaven... who sees all and knows all and loves all... for the little sparrow falling in the sky... to the deepest chambers of the puzzled human heart... help us to understand the mystery... of pain and suffering." "Help us to see that the misery... of the least of thy creatures is but a part... of thy infinitely complex mercy... and limitless compassion." "Show us the pain and anguish for those... who bear them closer to thy gentle being." "Reach out, O Lord, in thy holy mercy... and touch this innocent young girl... the loveliest of thy creatures." "She cries out in the long, dark night of her soul... and we who love her... can neither hear nor understand." "Please, oh, please, God." "Only you can hear, O God." "Only you." "Show us the pain and anguish... bring those who bear them closer to thy gentle being." "Reach out, O Lord, in thy holy mercy... and touch this innocent young girl... the loveliest of thy children... who cries out in the long, dark night of her soul... and we who love her on this earth... can neither hear nor understand." "Only you, O God, only you can once again... present to her the warmth of a joyous life... an innocent world, the sunshine of laughter... and the grace of intelligence." "Sing "amen."" "What?" "Oh, yes." "One, two..." "Amen" "Oh, that was lovely, Martin." "Lovely." "My mother taught me never to underestimate... the power of prayer." "Ohh...oh, I don't seem to be able to get up." "I'm not as fit as I was." "Come and sit down." "Take it easy for a bit." "Your shoes." "lt must be all the excitement." "The hairdresser and your lovely prayer." "Did you like it?" "It made the top of my head go all funny." "Tingly." "Well, that's the presence of things we don't understand." "Oh, goodness." "The time." "I must see to the cooking." "Tom only had sandwiches last night." "Have you got any eggs?" "What?" "Eggs." "Oval steroids deposited from the vagina of a domestic fowl." "Yes, there are some eggs." "I shall cook the lightest, fluffiest... most delicious omelet you've ever tasted." "You?" "Yes, me." "Why not?" "Oh, what a wonderful husband you would have made for Patty." "I saw you, Daddy, I saw you!" "That's horrible, Daddy!" "How could you?" "How could you?" "When you're older" "And with that woman!" "When you're older, you'll understand a bit more." "A bit more." "A bit more about human suffering... and human disappointment and frustration." "Not bad." "Not bad at all." "I told you so, Tom." "It's beautiful, isn't it?" "Why can't you make eggs taste like this?" "Martin's going to show me, aren't you, Martin?" "Mmm." "One of these days." "Did you collect your things, Martin?" "My things, yes." "Um..." "Martin fed Patty this morning, Tom." "Fed her?" "Martin did?" "And you let him?" "And he made the beds, cooked the food... dusted the furniture... scrubbed the kitchen floor... and put fresh flowers everywhere." "Your hair!" "What about it?" "You've had it done." "Oh, Tom..." "You mean you went out... and left Patty with..." "I looked after her, sir." "Yes, but" "I regarded it as a great privilege, sir." "I want to help look after Patty." "You didn't, uh...wash her or...or change her, did you?" "Of course not, Tom." "That wouldn't be wrong, though, would it, sir?" "Well, she's a young woman, and you are a young man." "I don't imagine for a moment." "Her brain may be damaged, but her body is that... of an attractive young woman." "What if I was a doctor or a male nurse, even?" "That would be different, but you're not, are you?" "I see." "I don't think Tom means" "Tom does." "Tom certainly does." "Oh, I get it." "I get it." "Someone who loves her, cares about her... who would give up everything for her... is somehow less trustworthy than some doctor... or even an overworked... and possibly quite callous nurse?" "Is that what you're saying, sir?" "That's not what I said at all." "Then what did you mean, Tom?" "He means it would be indecent for me... to see her poor, innocent body;, obscene for me to help her life more comfortable;, and lewd and disgusting to" "Martin, are you all right?" "I'm not suggesting anything like that at all." "Good gracious, me." "Are you saying I should be locked up... put away in an asylum?" "I didn't think you had that sort of mind, Tom." "How could you?" "How could you!" "Christ almighty." "If you drive him away, I shall never forgive you." "Don't you speak to me like that." "Hello, my lovely." "You don't know what it's like being cooped up in an office... day in and day out." "You've no idea the hell on Earth I've been living." "Please don't exaggerate." "Exaggerate?" "And please don't shout." "Don't you yell at me, Mr. Bates." "Norma..." "Listen to me for once." "Today has been the happiest day I've had... in 4 horrible, horrible years." "Stop it, please." "No, I will not." "This is the first time in all these months..." "I've felt this great stone in my head... and on my chest even begin to lift... and all because of that young man out there... whom you so offended with your filth." "Filth?" "Now, come on!" "Filth!" "Yes, filth!" "How could Martin even think the things you suggest?" "A nice young man who says his prayers." "You ought to be ashamed." "Prayers?" "What on Earth are the good of prayers?" "Tom, will you think what you're saying?" "Your whole business is based on faith and hope... and you don't know a thing about it." "I know what I'm saying!" "What can prayers do for Patty?" "What have they done for Patty?" "More than any other single thing on this Earth." "What?" "!" "Pray to a God who maims young girls?" "Pray to a God who lets cats torture mice... and men torture women... and stops his ears to the screams... and the moans and the torments?" "You are a--Tom... you're a very, very wicked man." "You--how dare you say such a" "I've had my eyes open to a few things around here." "What?" "By that bloody little creep?" "Your..." "language!" "What's his game, eh?" "What's he up to?" "He has no game." "He isn't up to anything." "Well, he might con you, but he won't con me." "I'll tell you that!" "I'm not going to sit here and listen to this." "For goodness sake" "Yes, and that's why he's here... for goodness sake." "Mumsy!" "And I might have been... if Patty had had the sense to accept his proposal." "She wouldn't have looked twice at a mealy-mouthed... pasty-face ninny like him." "That's near enough the truth, sir." "But she did promise to think it over." "Patty did respect me, sir." "You can be sure of that." "I can't pretend I was ever the answer to her dreams." "Oh, Martin, he didn't" "One--one says the wrong thing now and again." "It's heat of the moment." "I'll go, I'll go tonight." "It's perfectly all right." "No, no, don't go." "How can I stay when Mr. Bates... mistrusts and even dislikes me so?" "It's not fair on the head of the household, is it?" "Oh, Tom..." "I'm not saying I mistrust you." "Or--well, it's just that we don't really... know anything about you." "No, Norma, that's the truth." "It really is." "You were just the same with Patty's friends... when she was--just the same." "I was not." "Always cross-examining them." "Always trying to make them feel uncomfortable." "Always laying down the law." "Nonsense!" "I was just being her father." "Saying what she could wear and what she couldn't wear." "Oh, well, up to a-- yes, up to a point." "Up to a point!" "Even down to her underwear." "I--I just wanted her to be decent, that's all." "You know what, Martin?" "He even used to examine her brassieres." "I did not!" "Yes, you did!" "I saw you." "I saw you checking on her things." "I don't--I was--look-- I was just being her father." "Then why are you so embarrassed, sir?" "Keep out of this, you!" "Don't talk to our guest like that." "Don't be so rude, Tom." "Norma, why don't you shut your bloody, stupid mouth?" "Norma, Norma, Norma, look, I'm" "That wasn't very clever, was it, sir?" "Patty." "Oh, Patty." "If only you knew." "Norma, listen..." "I'm very sorry." "I think you are the cruelest bully!" "Now, now, Mrs. Bates, I'm sure he didn't mean it." "You're both a bit overwrought, that's all." "You see how thoughtful he is?" "Oh, my God." "Don't shout, Mr. Bates." "You know it disturbs your daughter." "She--I'm not shouting!" "Yes, you are!" "Patty responds to the mood of the house." "What?" "She doesn't want to hear... all of this dissension." "I don't think she knows anything about what goes on." "Well, you're wrong, Tom, you're wrong." "I spoke to her for two hours today... and I swear I could sense a response." "Yes, a response, however remote, no matter how buried." "That's right." "Talking, it's what she needs." "Loving, lots of it." "I think we-- well, I have to say..." "I think we're deluding ourselves." "Well, you don't know everything, Tom... though you always talk as though you do." "Thank you." "Thank you very much." "Now listen, you two." "Grief's supposed to bring families together... not drive them apart." "Come on now, Mumsy." "Sit down here by your husband." "You make us feel ashamed, Martin." "Hold hands." "Huh?" "Hold each other's hands!" "Share your grief." "Hold on to each other." "Don't shout at each other!" "Look, I have no wish to argue." "We never used to." "It's only since you arrived, Martin." "Oh, Tom." "Do you want me to go?" "Is that it?" "Well, what about your job?" "Or don't you have a job?" "I'm not a sponger, sir." "Of course, you're not." "But you don't have a job." "We shouldn't pry, Tom." "But you haven't, have ya?" "I've--I've had many jobs." "But you haven't got one now, have ya?" "As soon as I saw the situation in this house, sir..." "I knew I had a job." "How do you mean, Martin?" "Well, I see a husband and a wife... good people, unaware of the bitterness... which is growing between them... which would eventually destroy them." "Now, look" "I see a good woman... worn down to exhaustion and despair by her labor... and her imprisonment." "Yes, yes." "I see a poor, young girl... whose only hope of any semblance of humanity..." "lies in the loving care of someone young enough... brave enough, strong enough... devoted enough, and free enough... me." "Yes, Martin, you." "But as you set your face against it, sir... so be it." "It's your house." "Please don't go straight away, Martin." "Look" "Not tonight." "All I'm asking is how long you might be here." "Now that's not unreasonable, is it?" "How much would it cost to have a professional nurse... in full-time attendance?" "Well, of course" "And how much on top of that for a cook... a cleaner, and a companion?" "Yes, did you like your omelet, dear?" "What?" "Tomorrow, I'll do a boeuf bourguignon... followed by a nice creme brulee... or maybe a chestnut cream vacherin." "Wouldn't that be nice, eh?" "And then you could go to the cinema... and catch up on "The Sound of Music."" "Oh, wouldn't it, Tom?" "Just imagine." "Chestnut cream vacherin" "Or just a mousse, if you prefer." "I ask nothing in return... except the chance to be with the girl I once loved." "I don't care over much for puddings." "Well, there are other things more important than pudding" "But, I do like a nice boeuf bourguignon." "Three men and his dog went to mow a meadow" "Three men, two men, one man and his dog" "Went to mow a meadow" "Four men went to mow, went to mow a meadow" "Four men, three men, two men one man and his dog" "Went to mow a meadow" "Five men and his dog went to mow a meadow" "Five men, four men, two men" "Three men, one man and his dog" "Went to mow a meadow" "Six men went to mow" "Went to mow a meadow" "Seven men, six men, five men, four men, three men two men, one man and his dog" "Not a sparrow falls." "Martin!" "Martin?" "What is it?" "The bird..." "The poor little bird." "Oh, Martin." "Oh, Mumsy." "Oh, there." "There now." "No, don't cry." "Don't cry." "Yes, well..." "That was very nice, I must say... a genuine beef bourguignon." "I told you it would be." "Well, thank you." "Thank you both very much." "You see, I'm so used to people trying to outmaneuver one, and--no, no, you make me feel really rather ashamed... of what l--of my rudeness last night, Martin." "Oh, Tom." "Nonsense, it's perfectly understandable." "You've every right to be suspicious." "It's not easy being a father nowadays, is it?" "Oh, now there you've put your finger right on it." "I mean, you didn't know me from Adam, did you?" "Quite!" "Quite!" "I could have been the devil himself for all you knew." "I've been having a bad time recently." "I'm not feeling myself at all." "Nightmares, that sort of thing." "Oh, dear." "You know, that's more or less what I thought you were." "What?" "The devil?" "Oh, well, not literally of course, no." "No, I simply felt" "Anyway, it doesn't matter, I'm sorry." "I knew you'd see, Tom." "I knew you would." "Well, why don't we open a bottle of something?" "Put a seal on it." "Oh, lovely." "Couldn't help noticing... the bottle of Scotch in the larder, actually." "I'll get it!" "How lovely." "Oh, thank you, Tom." "Thank you for seeing." "Uh, will you have a drink, too, Norma?" "Mm-hmm, may I?" "Yeah." "Well, we'll all have a toss." "I don't normally consume alcohol, sir." "Oh very wise, very wise." "One bottle and 3 glasses." "Yes, I'm afraid we haven't got anything to go with it." "We got rather out of the habit of entertaining." "Are you able to drink it neat, dear?" "I don't see why not." "Not too much now, Mumsy, you'll get a headache." "Now, now, only a little." "There we are." "No, no, our guest first." "Oops, sorry." "There we are then, Martin." "Thank you very much, very nice." "Well, cheers." "Oh, a toast." "Toast?" "To a happy household." "Happy household." "And long may it be so." "Long may it be so." "Poor old Patty." "She's still a very lovely girl, sir." "She would've been yours, Martin, in the end." "I'm sure she would." "She is mine." "She is." "Oh, Tom, why don't you..." "you know?" "What?" "Oh, you haven't for such ages, Tom." "Not for 4 years." "Oh, no, I couldn't." "Oh, please, Tom." "Just to show that, well... things are changing, hope is coming back into our" "Please, Tom." "Do you really want me to?" "I really want you to, Tom." "I really do." "Oh, very well, very well." "Go on, then." "Oh, goody!" "How lovely!" "I wondered why no one ever played it." "What are you gonna play, sir?" "I used to use this thing in my business." "I vowed I'd never play it again." "You know what to play, don't you, dear?" "Oh, are you sure?" "Oh, yes, please play it." "It will mean so much." "Bless this house, O Lord, we pray" "Make it safe by night and day" "Bless these walls so firm and stout" "Keeping want and trouble out" "Bless the folk who dwell within" "Keep them pure and free from sin" "Bless us all that we may be" "Fit, O Lord, to dwell with thee" "Bless us all that one day we" "May dwell, O Lord, with thee" "Can't you sleep, dear?" "I can never sleep, never." "I wish..." "What?" "What do you wish?" "Nothing." "My prayers, Tom... they will be answered." "That'll be the day." "Shut up, you bitch." "Shut up!" "Shut up, bitch!" "What are you doing?" "Patty, Patty." "Daddy!" "Patty" "Don't speak, Norma." "Oh, Patty!" "How could you?" "And with that woman." "No, no, honestly, I'll be fine." "I'll see you all in the morning." "So sorry, sir." "Hello!" "Fancy bumping into you!" "Well, well, hello!" "Fancy seeing you." "This is nice." "I'm so glad I've bumped into you." "You're the last person I expected to see." "How are you?" "My, my, my." "It must be all of-- what?" "Two, 3 years?" "And where was it?" "Oh, not here." "Oh, no, not in this place." "Oh, I'd say not." "Well, anyway, I'm very, very glad to see you, old chap... and I'm sure the bishop will be, too." "He misses you terribly." "Why, I've seen him with tears in his eyes." "Well, in his one good eye." "Oh, come, come, old lad, none of that." "We don't want any of that, do we?" "How's the old arm, by the way?" "The left one, wasn't it?" "Through a glass door, eh?"