(# Rachmaninoff: "piano concerto no. 2")
(Music fades away)
(Whistling)
- Evening, Mr Godby. - Hello, hello, hello.
- Quite a stranger, aren't you? - I couldn't get in yesterday.
- A bit of a dust-up. - What about?
A chap got out of First class with a Third class ticket.
I told him to pay, he got nasty.
- I sent for Mr Saunders. - Fat lot of good he'd be.
I tell you he ticked him off proper!
"You pay the balance," he says, "or I'll get the police."
The look on his face! Changed his tune then. paid like lightning.
That's what I mean. He didn't have the courage to handle it himself.
He's not a bad lot.
Expect pity from a man with one lung and a wife with diabetes?
I thought something was wrong.
I'd have come in to say, but I had a date.
Oh, indeed?
- chap I know's getting married. - Very interesting, I'm sure.
- What's up with you? - I don't know to what you refer.
- You're a bit unfriendly. - Beryl! Hurry up!
put some more coal in the stove.
- I can't waste time in idle gossip. - Won't you offer me another cup?
Beryl will give it to you when you've finished that one.
I've got my accounts to do.
I'd rather you gave it to me.
Time and tide wait for no man, Mr Godby.
- Laura, what a lovely surprise! - Oh, Dolly.
I've been shopping till I'm dropping, my throat's parched!
I thought of having tea at Spindle's but I didn't want to lose the train.
- This is Dr Harvey. - How do you do?
Would you get me my tea? I really couldn't drag myself to the counter.
no. please!
What a nice-looking man! Who is he? You're quite a dark horse.
I'll telephone Fred and make mischief.
This is a bit of luck!
I haven't seen you for ages, but Tony had measles
and then I had all that awful fuss over phyllis.
- She left me! - How dreadful.
I never really cared for her, but Tony adored her.
But I'll tell you about it on the train. Thank you so much.
There's certainly enough milk in it! But it'll be refreshing.
- Oh dear, no sugar. - It's in the spoon.
Oh, of course. What a fool I am!
Laura, you're looking well. I wish I'd known you were coming in today.
We could have lunched together and had a good gossip.
(Bell)
- There's your train. - Yes, I know.
- Aren't you coming with us? - no. My practice is in churley.
I'm a general practitioner.
- Dr Harvey goes to Africa next week. - How thrilling!
(pA) 'The 5.40 to churley, Leigh Green and Langdon.'
- I must go. - Yes, you must.
- Goodbye. - Goodbye.
He'll have to run. It's on the other platform.
Reminds me of that bridge at Broadham Junction.
You go up one side, along the top and down the other.
Well, the other day I'd been to see Bob's solicitor
and I arrived at the station with half a minute to spare.
My dear, I flew! Like a fool, I'd just bought a new lampshade.
I could have got it just as easily here in Milford.
Well, it was the most enormous thing and I could hardly see over it.
I nearly knocked a woman down!
Of course, when I got home it was battered to bits.
(Bell)
Is that our train?
- Is that the Ketchworth train? - no, it's the express.
Oh, that doesn't stop, does it?
- I want some chocolate, please. - Milk or plain?
plain, I think, or perhaps milk. Have you any with nuts in it?
nestle's nut-milk. Shilling or six pence.
One plain and one nut-milk.
- Large or small? - Large, please.
Oh!
Where is she?
I never noticed her go.
I couldn't think where you'd disappeared to.
I just wanted to see the express go through.
What's the matter? Are you feeling ill?
- I feel a little sick. - Oh, my dear. come and sit down.
(Bell)
There's our train.
- Have you any brandy? - It's out of hours.
I'm all right, really.
A sip of brandy will buck you up.
- please. - Very well.
- How much? - Ten pence, please.
(pA) 'The Ketchworth train is now arriving at platform 3.'
We shall have to hurry.
Well, this is a bit of luck. This train's generally packed.
I'm worried about you, dear. You look terribly peaky.
I'm OK, really. I just feel faint sometimes.
I did it at Bobby's school concert. He's never forgiven me.
Well, he was very good-looking.
- Who? - Your friend.
Doctor whatever his name was.
Yes, he's a nice creature.
- Have you known him long? - no, not very long.
I hardly know him at all, really.
My dear, I've always had a passion for doctors.
I can well understand how it is that women get neurotic...
(Laura) 'I wish I could trust you.
'I wish you were a wise, kind friend instead of a gossiping acquaintance
'I've known for years and never particularly cared for.
'I wish, I wish...'
- Fancy seeing Africa! Is he married? - Yes.
- Any children? - Two boys. He's very proud.
Is he taking them with him?
Yes, he is.
I suppose it's sensible,
rushing off to start life anew in the wide-open spaces.
But wild horses wouldn't drag me away from England and home!
- One has one's roots after all. - Yes. One has one's roots.
I knew a girl who went to Africa, her husband an engineer.
My dear, she had a most dreadful time!
She got some awful germ and was ill for months...
'I wish you'd stop talking.
'I wish you'd stop prying and trying to find things out.
'I wish you were dead. no. That was silly and unkind.
'But I wish you'd stop talking.'
All her hair came out. She said the social life was horrid.
- provincial, very nouveau riche. - Oh, Dolly.
Dear, feeling ill again?
no. I feel a bit dizzy. I'll just close my eyes.
You poor darling, and I'm chattering away. I won't say another word.
If you drop off, I'll wake you at the level crossing.
You'll have time to powder your nose.
Thanks, Dolly.
'This can't last.
'This misery can't last.
'I must remember that and try to control myself.
'nothing lasts, really.
'neither happiness nor despair.
'not even life lasts very long.
'There'll come a time when I shan't mind about this any more.
'When I can look back and say quite cheerfully how silly I was.
'no, no, I don't want that time to come, ever.
'I want to remember every minute.
'Always.
'Always, to the end of my days.'
- (conductor) Ketchworth! - Wake up, Laura. We're here.
I could come to the house. It isn't out of my way.
past the grammar school and I can be home in two minutes.
It's sweet of you, Dolly, but I'm OK.
- You're sure? - Absolutely positive. Thank you.
Well, I'll telephone tomorrow and see if you've had a relapse!
I'll disappoint you. Good night.
Good night. Love to Fred and the children!
- (Fred) Is that you, Laura? - Yes, dear.
Thank goodness! place has been in an uproar.
Why?
Bobby and Margaret were fighting. They want to talk to you.
- Mummy! Is that you? - Yes, Margaret.
Come upstairs at once, Mummy. I want to talk to you.
You're both very naughty. You should be asleep. What is it?
Well, Mummy, tomorrow's MY birthday and I want to go to the circus.
But Margaret wants to go to the pantomime.
Mine's in June. There aren't pantomimes then.
It's too late to discuss it.
If you don't go to sleep at once, Daddy won't let you go to either.
Why not both? One in the afternoon, one in the evening.
It's impossible. We shouldn't get them to bed till all hours.
Well, one on one day, the other on the other.
You accuse me of spoiling the children.
They'd be ruined left to your tender mercies.
All right, have it your own way.
- circus or pantomime? - neither.
We'll lock them up in the attic and go to the pictures by ourselves!
Oh, Fred.
- What on earth's the matter? - It's nothing, really.
Darling, what's wrong?
Tell me, please.
Really and truly, it's nothing. I'm a little run-down, that's all.
I had a fainting spell at the refreshment room at Milford.
Dolly Messiter was with me.
She talked and talked until I wanted to strangle her.
She meant to be kind. Isn't it awful when people mean to be kind?
Would you like to go to bed?
no, Fred. Really.
come and sit by the fire. You can help me with the crossword.
You have the most peculiar ideas of relaxation!
That's better.
- There you are, darling. - Thank you.
But why a fainting spell? I can't understand.
Darling, I've often had them.
There was Bobby's school concert, Eileen's wedding,
and that symphony concert at the town hall.
Go on! That was a nosebleed.
I must be that type of woman. It's very humiliating.
There'd be no harm in seeing Dr Graves.
It would be a waste of time.
- now, listen... - Do shut up about it, darling.
I was tired and the refreshment room was hot, I suddenly felt sick.
- nothing more than that! - All right.
Really nothing more. now you get on with your old puzzle.
Have it your own way.
You're a poetry addict, help me with this. It's Keats.
"When I behold, upon the night's starr'd face,
"huge cloudy symbols of a high..."
Romance, I think. I'm almost sure it is.
Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance.
Try the Book of English Verse.
That fits with delirium and Baluchistan.
- Would some music put you off? - no, dear, I'd like it.
(Tunes radio)
(# Rachmaninoff: "piano concerto no. 2")
'Fred. Fred.
'Dear Fred.
'There's so much that I want to say to you.
'You're the only one in the world
'with the wisdom and gentleness to understand.
'If only it were somebody else's story and not mine.
'As it is, you are the only one in the world that I can never tell.
'never, never.
'Because even if I waited till we were old, old people to tell you,
'you'd be bound to look back over the years and be hurt.
'Oh, my dear, I don't want you to be hurt.
'You see, we are a happily married couple
'and must never forget that.
'This is my home.
'You are my husband and my children are upstairs in bed.
'I am a happily married woman.
'Or rather, I was until a few weeks ago.
'This is my whole world
'and it's enough.
'Or rather, it was until a few weeks ago.
'But, oh, Fred, I've been so foolish!
'I've fallen in love.
'I'm an ordinary woman.
'I didn't think such violent things could happen to ordinary people.
'It all started on an ordinary day
'in the most ordinary place in the world.
'The refreshment room at Milford Junction.
'I was having a cup of tea
'and reading a book I'd got that morning from Boots.
'My train wasn't due for 10 minutes.
'I looked up and saw a man come in from the platform.
'He had on an ordinary mac.
'His hat was turned down and I didn't see his face.
'He got his tea and turned. Then I did see it.
'It was a nice face.'
- Sugar? - In the spoon.
'He passed my table on the way to his.
'The woman at the counter was going on as usual.
'I told you about her, the one with the refined voice.'
Minnie hasn't had her milk.
- Did you put it down? - Yes, but she never came.
- Fond of animals? - In their place.
My landlady's mad for animals.
She's got two cats, three rabbits in a hutch in the kitchen,
they're our boys, and one of those dogs with hair over its eyes.
I don't know to what breed you refer.
I don't think it knows itself!
(Bell)
(Mrs Bagot) Go and clean off no.3, Beryl.
(Albert) What about my other cup? The 5.40 will be in in a minute.
- Who's on the gate? - Young William.
Could I have some water?
I've got something in my eye and I want to bathe it.
- Would you like me to have a look? - Oh, I expect the water will do it.
Coal dust, I expect.
I knew a man lost an eye getting grit in it.
Very nasty.
- Better? - I'm afraid not. Ooh!
- can I help? - no, it's only something in my eye.
- Try pulling your eyelid down. - And then blow your nose.
- please let me look. I'm a doctor. - You're very kind.
Turn round to the light.
now look up.
now look down.
Keep still, I see it.
- There. - Oh, what a relief!
- It's a bit of grit. - Thank you very much.
(Bell)
How lucky you were here.
- Anybody could have done it. - I'm grateful.
- There's my train. Goodbye. - Goodbye.
'That's how it all began.
'Just through me getting a little grit in my eye.
'I forgot the whole incident. It didn't mean anything to me at all.
'At least, I didn't think it did.
'The next Thursday, I went into Milford again as usual.
'I changed my book at Boots.
'Miss Lewis had the new Kate O'Brien for me.
'She'd kept it hidden for two days.
'On the way out, I got toothbrushes for the children.'
'I like the smell of a chemist's.
'It's such a mixture of nice things - herbs, scent and soap.
'That awful Mrs Leftwich was at the other end, wearing the silliest hat.
'Luckily, she didn't look up. I got out without her seeing me.
'Just as I stepped onto the pavement...'
- Good morning. - Morning!
- How's the eye? - perfectly all right. Thank you.
- It's clearing up, I think. - Yes, it's going to be nice.
- I must get to the hospital. - And I to the grocer's.
- What lives we lead! Goodbye. - Bye.
'That evening, I ran all the way to the station.
'I'd been to the palladium as usual, but it was a terribly long film.
'As I came onto the platform, the churley train was puffing out.
'I looked up idly as the carriages went by, wondering if he was there.
'It crossed my mind, but it wasn't important.
'I was thinking of other things. Your birthday present worried me.
'It was very expensive but I knew you wanted it.
'I'd half taken the plunge and left a deposit on it till the next Thursday.
'The next Thursday,
'I squared my conscience by thinking how pleased you'd be.'
Yes, I'll have it.
'It was wildly extravagant
'but having done it, I felt reckless and gay.
'The sun was out and everybody looked more cheerful than usual.
'There was a barrel organ at the corner by Harris's.
'It was playing "Let the Great Big World Keep Turning".
'I gave six pence and went to the Kardomah for lunch.
'It was very full,
'but two people had left just as I'd come in.
'That was lucky, wasn't it? Or was it?
'Just after I'd ordered, I saw him come in.
'There was nowhere for him to sit. I smiled and said...'
Good morning.
- Good morning. Are you all alone? - Yes, I am.
Would you mind if I shared your table?
no, of course not.
We haven't been introduced. I'm Alec Harvey.
How do you do? I'm Laura Jesson.
- Mrs or Miss? - Mrs.
You're a doctor, aren't you? I remember you said so.
Yes. Just an ordinary Gp. My practice is in churley.
(Waitress) Yes, sir?
- What did you plump for? - The soup and fried sole.
I'll have the same.
- Anything to drink? - no. Would you like a drink?
- Just plain water, please. - plain water.
(Orchestra starts playing)
(# Moszkowski: "Spanish Dance no. 5 Bolero")
Will you just look at the cellist!
It really is dreadful! We shouldn't laugh, they might see.
We need a society for the protection of musical instruments!
- Do you play the piano? - As a child.
- And now? - no. My husband isn't musical.
Good for him.
- I might have a burning talent! - Oh, dear, no.
- Why so sure? - You're too sane and uncomplicated.
I suppose that's a good thing, but it does sound dull.
You could never be dull.
- Do you come here every Thursday? - Yes. I've a day at the hospital.
I take over from Stephen Lynn, the chief physician, once a week.
He goes up to London and I study his patients.
- I see. - Do you?
- Do I what? - come here every Thursday.
Oh, yes! I do the week's shopping,
change my library book, have lunch and generally go to the pictures.
not a very exciting routine.
- Are you going to the pictures? - Yes.
How extraordinary! So am I.
I thought you spent all day at the hospital.
Well, I killed two patients this morning
and the matron's very displeased.
- I simply daren't go back. - How can you be so silly!
Seriously, I got through my work, I can play truant.
Would you mind if I came with you?
- Well, I... - I'll sit downstairs, you upstairs.
Upstairs is too expensive.
'The orchestra stopped abruptly and we began to laugh again.
'I had no premonitions. Maybe I should've had.
'It all seemed so natural, innocent.
'After, the idiot waitress had put the bill all on one.'
- I insist. - I couldn't.
Having forced my company on you, it's only fair.
- please. I'd rather we halved it. - I'll give in gracefully.
'We halved it meticulously.
'We even halved the tip.
(Orchestra starts playing)
Thank you.
There's "The Loves of cardinal Richelieu" at the palace
or "Love in a Mist" at the palladium.
And we each pay for ourselves.
You must think me a very poor doctor. I had hoped that you'd treat me.
palace or palladium?
palladium. I was sick on a steamer called cardinal Richelieu.
(Film music)
(Yelling)
I feel awfully grand up here. It was very extravagant of you.
Do you feel guilty? I do.
You ought to. You've neglected your work.
I worked this morning. A little relaxation never does harm.
- Why should we feel guilty? - I don't know.
How awfully nice you are.
(cinema organ)
(# Schubert: "Marche Militaire")
It can't be!
It is!
'We walked back to the station.
'As we reached the gates, he put his hand under my arm.
'I didn't notice it then, but I remember it now.'
- What's she like, your wife? - Madeleine?
Small, dark, rather delicate.
How funny. I thought she would be fair.
And your husband?
Medium height, brown hair, kindly, unemotional and not delicate.
- You said that proudly. - Did I?
We've just got time for a cup of tea.
(Mrs Bagot) He brought that common man and his wife to the house.
- Two teas, please. - cake or pastry?
- no, thank you.
- Those buns fresh? - certainly. Made this morning.
Two, please.
That'll be seven pence.
Take the tea to the table, Beryl.
I'll carry the buns.
You must eat one of these.
- Very fattening. - That's foolishness.
- They do look good. - One of my earliest passions.
(Beryl) What happened then, Mrs Bagot?
It's very fine, I said, expecting me to do things,
but what do I get out of it?
I can't be a cook, housekeeper and char during the day
and a loving wife in the evening just cos you wish!
There are just as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it.
So I packed my boxes and left.
Didn't you never go back?
never. I went to my sister's at Folkestone for a bit.
Then a friend and I opened a teashop in Hythe.
What happened to 'im?
- Dead as a doornail in three years. - Well, I never!
Is tea bad for one? Worse than coffee, I mean?
My professional fee is a guinea!
- Why did you become a doctor? - That's a long story.
perhaps I'm a bit of an idealist.
I think all doctors ought to have ideals, really.
You can't want me to talk shop!
Why not? It's what interests you.
Yes, it is. I'm terribly ambitious.
not for myself so much as for my special pigeon.
- What is it? - preventive medicine.
I see.
- I fear you don't. - I was trying to be intelligent!
Most good, young doctors have private dreams.
It's the best part of them.
But they can get strangulated. Am I boring you?
no. I don't understand but I'm not bored.
I mean all good doctors must primarily be enthusiasts.
They must, like writers and painters and priests,
have a sense of vocation, a deep-rooted desire to do good.
Yes, I see that.
One way of preventing disease is worth fifty ways of curing it.
It's nothing to do with medicine, really.
It's to do with living conditions and hygiene, common sense.
- My speciality is pneumoconiosis. - Oh, dear.
Don't be alarmed. It's simpler than it sounds.
It's a slow fibrosis of the lung due to the inhalation of dust particles.
In this hospital are splendid opportunities due to the coal mines.
- You suddenly look much younger. - Do I?
Almost like a little boy.
What made you say that?
I don't know.
- Yes, I do. - Tell me.
no, I couldn't, really. You were saying about the coal mines.
Oh, yes. The inhalation of coal dust.
That's one specific form of the diseases. It's called anthracosis.
What are the others?
chalicosis, that comes from metal dust. Steelworks, you know.
Yes, of course. Steelworks.
And silicosis.
That's stone dust.
Gold mines.
I see.
(Bell)
- There's your train. - Yes.
- You mustn't miss it. - no.
- What's the matter? - nothing. nothing at all.
I've enjoyed my afternoon enormously.
I'm so glad. So have I. I apologise for the long medical words.
I wish I could understand more.
Shall I see you again?
It's the other platform. You must run. Don't bother about me.
Can I see you again?
perhaps you'd come to Ketchworth one Sunday. We'd be delighted.
please. please. next Thursday, the same time.
I couldn't possibly.
please?
I ask you most humbly.
You'll miss your train.
All right.
- Run! - Goodbye.
- I'll be there. - Thank you, my dear!
'I stood there and watched his train draw out of the station.
'I stared after it
'until its tail-light had vanished into the darkness.
'I imagined him getting out at churley, giving up his ticket,
'walking back through the streets,
'letting himself into his house with his latchkey.
'His wife, Madeleine
'would probably be in the hall to meet him.
'Or perhaps upstairs in her room, not feeling very well.
'Small, dark and rather delicate.
'I wondered if he'd say, "I met such a nice woman at the Kardomah.
'"We had lunch and went to the pictures."
'Then suddenly I knew he wouldn't!
'I knew that he wouldn't say a word,
'and at that moment the first awful feeling of danger swept over me.
'I got into the first compartment I saw. I just wanted to get home.
'I looked round the carriage to see if anyone was looking at me.
'As if they could read my thoughts. no one was,
'except a clergyman opposite.
'I felt myself blushing
'and opened my library book and pretended to read.
'By Ketchworth, I'd decided not to see Alec again.'
Good evening.
'It was undignified, flirting like that.'
Oh! Good evening.
'I walked home cheerfully.
'I'd been an idiot, but no harm had been done.
'You met me in the hall, your face strained, and my heart sank.'
Fred! What's the matter?
It's all right, old girl, but you must keep calm.
What's wrong?
It's Bobby. He was hit by a car.
It knocked him against the kerb and he's got slight concussion.
The doctor's upstairs now.
It's all right, Mrs Jesson. He'll be as right as rain in a few hours.
You're sure it's not serious?
Quite sure. It was certainly a very lucky escape.
I've given him a sedative. You must keep him at home for a day or two.
It must have been a bit of a shock...
'I felt so dreadful, Fred, seeing him lying there with his head bandaged.
'I was quite hysterical inside, as though it were all my fault.
'A sort of punishment. An awful, sinister warning.
'An hour or two later, of course, everything was normal.
'He began to enjoy it and revelled in being the centre of attraction.'
Oh, good!
'We spent the whole evening planning his future.'
He's much too young to decide.
Good life, if he has a feeling for it.
How can we possibly know if he does?
He might want to be an engine driver next week.
no, that was last week.
It seems so final, entering a child for the navy.
- It's a healthy life. - I know it's a healthy life.
And he'll see the world and have a wife in every port.
But what about us?
- What about us? - We'd never see him.
nonsense.
It isn't nonsense. He'll go away to sea as a smooth-faced boy
and he'll come back with a long beard and a parrot.
You take rather a Victorian view of the navy, dear.
He's our only son and I'd like to see him growing up.
Then we'll put him in an office and you can see him off every morning.
You are annoying. You know I'd hate that.
All right. Have it your own way.
- Fred? - Hm?
I had lunch with a man today and we went to the movies.
Good for you!
He's awfully nice. He's a doctor.
A very noble profession.
Oh, dear.
Richard III said, "My kingdom for a horse", didn't he?
Yes, darling.
Well, I wish he hadn't. It spoils everything.
I thought perhaps we might ask him to dinner one night.
By all means.
Who?
Dr Harvey. The one I was telling you about.
- Must it be dinner? - You're not home for lunch.
Exactly.
Oh, Fred!
What on earth's the matter?
It's nothing. It's that...
Oh, Fred.
- I don't see what's so funny. - Oh, I do!
I'm not laughing at you, darling! I'm laughing at me!
I'm an idiot, worrying myself about things that don't exist
and making mountains out of molehills.
I told you when you came in that it was nothing to get in a state about.
I do see that now. I really do!
'When Thursday came, I went to meet Alec,
'more from politeness than anything else.
'It didn't seem of any importance, but I had promised.
'I managed to get the same table.
'I waited a bit, but he didn't come.
'The ladies' orchestra was playing away as usual.
'I looked at the cellist. She had seemed so funny last week.
'But today she didn't seem funny. She looked pathetic, poor thing.
'After lunch, I happened to pass by the hospital.
'I looked at the windows, wondering if he were there
'and what might have happened to prevent him coming.
'I got to the station early. I hadn't enjoyed the pictures.
'It was a noisy musical. I'm so sick of them.
'I came out before it was over.
'As I took my tea, I suddenly wondered if I'd made a mistake,
'and he'd meant me to meet him there.'
- (Slap) - Albert Godby, how dare you!
- I couldn't resist it! - Keep your hands to yourself!
You're blushing! Angry like an avenging angel!
I'll give you avenging angel! coming in, taking liberties!
I thought after Monday you wouldn't object.
never you mind about Monday. I'm on duty.
What if Mr Saunders had looked in?
It's about time he saw something worth looking at!
- You should be ashamed! - It's high spirits. Don't be mad.
High spirits! Take your tea and be quiet.
- It's your fault. - I don't know to what you refer.
I was thinking of tonight.
If you don't learn to behave, there won't be a tonight!
- Give us a kiss! - I'll not! The lady might see.
- c'mon, a quick one! - Stop it!
- There's a love! - Let go!
Albert! now look at me Banburys on the floor!
Just in time or born in the vestry!
You shut your mouth and help Mr Godby pick up them cakes.
Come along! What are you gaping at?
(Bell)
'As I left the refreshment room, I saw his train coming in.
'He wasn't on the platform.
'I suddenly felt panic-stricken at the thought of not seeing him again.'
- I'm so sorry, terribly sorry. - Quick! Your train!
The house surgeon had to operate...
I was going to send a note to the Kardomah.
please don't say any more!
(Guard's whistle)
Quickly! The whistle's gone!
I'm glad I saw you. I didn't think I'd see you again.
How absurd! Quickly!
- next Thursday? - Yes!
- Goodbye! - Goodbye!
Thursday! Goodbye!
(pA) 'The train for Ketchworth is leaving from platform 3.'
(cartoon voices)
The stars can change their course, the world crash around us,
but there'll always be Donald Duck!
I do love him. His dreadful energy, his blind, frustrated rages!
It's the big picture now. no more laughter. prepare for tears.
'It was a terribly bad picture.
'We crept out before the end rather furtively,
'as if committing a crime.
'The usherette looked at us with stony contempt.
'It was a lovely afternoon to be in the fresh air.
'We decided to go to the botanical gardens.
'I believe we should all behave quite differently
'if we lived in a sunny climate.
'We shouldn't be so withdrawn and difficult.
'Oh, Fred, it was a lovely afternoon.
'One of the boys sailing their boats looked like Bobby.
'That should've given me a pang of conscience, but it didn't.
'I was enjoying every single minute!
'Alec said he was sick of staring at the water
'and he wanted to be on it.
'We managed to persuade the old man to let us have a boat.
'He thought we were raving mad. perhaps he was right.
'Alec rowed off at a great rate and I trailed my hand in the water.
'It was very cold, but a lovely feeling.'
You don't row very well, do you?
I'll be perfectly honest. I don't row at all.
And unless you want to go round in circles
you'd better start steering.
'Oh, we had such fun, Fred!
'I felt gay and happy and sort of released.
'That's what's so shameful about it.
'That's what would hurt you so much if you knew.
'That I could feel so intensely,
'away from you, with a stranger.'
- Look out! We can't get through! - pull on your left!
Oh. Oh, dear. I never could tell left from right.
I'm most awfully sorry.
(Splash)
The British are always nice to mad people.
That boatman thinks we're dotty but he's been sweet.
Tea, milk,
even sugar.
Thank you.
You know what's happened, don't you?
Yes.
Yes, I do.
I've fallen in love with you.
Yes, I know.
Tell me honestly. please tell me honestly if what I believe is true.
What do you believe?
That it's the same with you. That you've fallen in love, too.
It sounds so silly!
- Why? - I know you so little.
It is true, though, isn't it?
Yes, it's true.
- Laura. - no, please.
We must be sensible. We mustn't behave like this.
We must forget what we've said.
- not quite yet. - But we must, don't you see?
Listen.
It's too late now to be sensible.
It's too late to forget what we've said.
Anyway, whether we said it or not doesn't matter.
We know. We've known for a long time.
How can you say that? I've only known you for four weeks.
We talked for the first time last Thursday week.
Last Thursday week. Has it been a long time for you since then?
Answer me truly.
Yes.
How often did you decide you'd never see me again?
- Several times a day. - So did I.
- Oh, Alec. - I love you.
I love your wide eyes
and the way you smile
and your shyness.
- The way you laugh at my jokes. - please don't!
I love you. I love you. You love me, too.
We can't pretend it hasn't happened, it has.
Yes, it has.
I don't want to pretend to you or to anyone else,
but from now on I shall have to.
That's what's wrong! That's what spoils everything.
That's why we must stop talking like this.
We are not free to love each other, there's too much in the way.
There's still time,
if we control ourselves and behave like sensible human beings.
There's still time.
(Sobs)
There's no time at all.
- There's your train. - Yes.
I'll come to the platform with you.
(Bell)
no, Alec. not here, someone will see.
I love you so.
(Train)
(Loud, dramatic music)
(Fred) could we have that down a bit, darling?
Hi, Laura!
- Yes, dear? - You were miles away!
Was I? Yes, I suppose I was.
May I turn that down? It really is deafening.
Of course.
Shan't be long, darling. Then we'll go up to bed. You look tired.
Don't hurry. I'm perfectly happy.
'How can I possibly say that?
'"Don't hurry. I'm perfectly happy."
'If only it were true!
'not, I suppose, that anybody is ever perfectly happy,
'but just to be ordinarily contented, to be at peace.
'It's such a little while ago, but it seems an eternity
'since that train left the station, taking him away into the darkness.
'I was happy then.
'As I ran back through the subway to my platform, I was walking on air.
'When I got on the train, I didn't even pretend to read.
'I didn't care whether people looked, I had to think.
'I should've been utterly wretched, ashamed. But I wasn't.
'I felt quite wildly happy!
'Like a romantic schoolgirl! Like a romantic fool!
'You see, he'd said he loved me
'and I'd said I loved him.
'And it was true!
'It was true!
'I imagined him holding me in his arms,
'being with him in all sorts of glamorous circumstances.
'It was an absurd fantasy a girl has,
'being wooed and married by the ideal of one's dreams.
'I stared out of that carriage window into the dark
'and watched the dim trees and the telegraph posts go by,
'and through them I saw Alec and me.
'Alec and me,
'a little younger than we are now,
'but just as much in love
'and with nothing in the way.'
(Orchestra tuning up)
'I saw us in paris, in a box at the opera.
'The orchestra was tuning up.
'Then we were in Venice, drifting along in a gondola
'with the sound of mandolins coming over the water.
'I saw us travelling far away together,
'all the places I've always longed to go.
'I saw us leaning on the rail of a ship,
'looking at the sea and the stars.
'Standing on a tropical beach in the moonlight
'with palm trees sighing above us.
'Then the palm trees changed into those pollarded willows by the canal.
'And all those silly dreams disappeared.
'I got out at Ketchworth and gave up my ticket and walked home as usual.
'Quite soberly and without wings.
'Without any wings at all.
'Then I'd changed and was doing my face.
'I don't suppose you remember, but I do.
'You see, that was the first time in our life together I'd lied to you.
'It started then.
'The shame of the whole thing, the guiltiness, the fear.'
- Good evening, Mrs Jesson! - Hello, dear.
- Had a good day? - Yes, lovely.
What did you do?
I shopped, had lunch, went to the pictures.
- By yourself? - Yes. Er, no, not exactly.
What do you mean, not exactly?
I went to the pictures by myself, but I had lunch with Mary norton.
She couldn't come to the pictures because she had to see her in-laws.
I walked her to the bus and came home.
I haven't seen Mary for ages. How's she looking?
Very well, really. A little fatter.
Hurry up with the beautifying. I want my dinner.
You go down. I won't be five minutes.
- (Operator) 'number, please? ' - Ketchworth 37.
'Ketchworth 37.'
- 'Hello.' - Mrs norton, please.
- 'Yes. Will you hold on? ' - Yes, I'll hold on.
- Hello. - 'Is that you, Mary? '
Laura! Fancy you calling! I thought you were dead.
no. I haven't seen you for ages.
Listen, my dear, will you back me up in the most appalling domestic lie?
- 'As bad as all that? ' - My life depends on it.
Well, today I went into Milford to do my shopping
with the special intention of buying Fred's birthday present.
'Spink & Robson's hadn't got any of those clocks with barometers,
'but their branch in Broadham had one
'so I hopped on the train and went to get it.'
Well, this is where the black lie comes in!
Fred asked me about my day and I said that you and I had had lunch,
and you'd seen your in-laws and I'd gone to the pictures.
If you see him, don't let me down!
- 'Darling, of course not!' - I'll do as much for you, promise.
- Let's really lunch. - Yes, that'd be lovely.
'What about Thursday? '
no. Thursday's my Milford day. What about Friday?
'Fine. Better make it here.'
All right. perfect.
'You know what my cook's like. It'll have to be early.
Yes, all right.
- 'Goodbye.' - Goodbye.
'That week was misery.
'I went through it in a sort of trance.
'How odd of you not to have noticed that you were living with a stranger.
'Thursday came at last.
'I'd arranged to meet Alec outside the hospital at 12.30.'
- Hello! - Hello!
I thought you wouldn't come. I've been thinking that all week.
I didn't mean to, really, but here I am.
'I hadn't been inside the Royal since Violet's wedding.
'It all seemed very grand.
'He ordered champagne and said we were only middle-aged once!
'We were gay and talked about ordinary things.
'Fred, he was charming. You'd have liked him if things were different.
'As we went out, he said he had a surprise,
'and if I waited five minutes he'd show it to me.
'He went down the steps at a run,
'more like a schoolboy than a respectable doctor!
'Suddenly, out came Mary norton and that cousin of hers.
'They must've seen Alec and the champagne and everything.
Laura! So it was you after all. Hermione said it was.
But I peered and peered and still couldn't be sure.
I never saw you at all. I expect it was the champagne!
I'm not used to champagne for lunch. Or dinner!
- Alec insisted. - Alec who, dear?
Alec Harvey. You remember the Harveys? I've known them for years.
I don't think...
He'll be back. You'll probably recognise him.
He looks very charming, and attentive!
He's a dear, so nice, and a wonderful doctor.
- Alec, you remember Mrs norton? - I'm afraid I don't.
It's no use, Laura. We've never seen each other before. I'm sure.
I made sure he and Madeleine were there when you last dined with us.
- Alec, Mrs Rolandson. - How do you do?
Horrid weather. But one can't expect spring this time of year!
(polite laughter)
Well, we must be going. I'm taking Hermione with me to see the in-laws.
- Goodbye, Dr Harvey. - Goodbye.
Goodbye, my dear. I do so envy you your champagne.
- Goodbye. - Goodbye.
- That was awful. - never mind.
They'd been watching us all through lunch.
Forget it! Come and look at the surprise.
'At the foot of the steps was a two-seater car.
'Alec had borrowed it from Stephen Lynn.
'I tried hard to look pleased but it was no good.
'I kept thinking of those two laughing and talking.
'Laughing and talking about us! I couldn't get them out of my mind.
'When we were out in the country, a few miles beyond Brayfield,
'we stopped outside a village and got out.
'There was a bridge and a stream
'and the sun was trying to come out but really not succeeding.
'We leaned on the parapet looking into the water.
'I shivered. He put his arm round me.'
- cold? - no, not really.
Happy?
no, not really.
I know exactly what you're going to say.
That it isn't worth it.
That the furtiveness and lying outweigh the happiness we might have.
Isn't that it?
Something like that.
I want to ask you something, just to reassure myself.
What is it?
It is true for you, isn't it?
This overwhelming feeling for each other.
It's as true for you as it is for me, isn't it?
Yes, it's true.
'We must have stayed on that bridge for a long time.
'Because when we got back to Stephen Lynn's garage it was getting dark.
'I felt as if I was on the edge of a precipice.
'I think Alec felt that, too.
'You see, we both knew how desperately we loved each other.
'Alec had to leave the car keys in Stephen Lynn's flat
'and suggested I came up with him.
'I refused rather vehemently.
'He said that Stephen wasn't coming back till late, but I still refused.'
I'm going back. I'm going to miss my train.
- Back where? - To Stephen's flat.
Oh, Alec.
Alec, I must go home now! I really must go home!
A cup of tea, please.
- Good afternoon. - couple of whiskies, please, lady.
Sorry. It's out of hours.
Hide 'em under them poor old sandwiches.
Them sandwiches are fresh. I will not!
Be a sport!
You can have as much as you want after six.
My throat's like a parrot's cage!
I'm sorry. I'm not permitted to serve alcohol out of hours.
You want to get me into trouble?
Just give us the chance, lady! That's all we ask!
- Beryl! - Yes, Mrs Bagot?
Ask Mr Godby to come here, will you?
Who's he when he's at home?
You'll see. cheeking me.
- come off it, mother. - I'll give you mother, upstart!
- Who are you calling an upstart? - You! Get out, double-quick!
Making a nuisance of yourselves!
- Where's the fire? - What's going on in 'ere?
Mr Godby, these gentlemen are annoying me!
- We haven't done nothing! - We just asked for a drink.
- They insulted me, Mr Godby! - nothing of the kind!
- A little joke. - Hop it, both of you.
- We got a right to stay. - You heard me, hop it!
Is this a bloomin' Sunday school?
Your train's due in one minute, platform 2. Hop it.
- Look here. - come on, Johnny.
Don't argue with the poor basket.
Hop it!
Cheerio, mother!
If them sandwiches were made this morning, you're Shirley Temple!
Thank you, Albert.
What a nerve, Mrs Bagot!
Beryl, pour me a nip of Three Star. I'm feeling upset.
- I must get back to the gate. - I'll see you later, Albert.
OK.
(Bell)
(pA) 'The train now at platform 3 is the 5.43 for Ketchworth.'
- (Laura) 'I really must go home.' - (Alec) 'I'm going to the flat.'
(Laura) 'I must go home. I must go home.'
(Alec) 'I'm going back to the flat.'
(Laura) 'I'm going home.'
Excuse me. I forgot something.
Darling.
It's raining. It started just as I turned out of the High Street.
You had no umbrella and your coat's wet.
You mustn't catch cold. That would never do.
I look an absolute fright.
- Let me put that down for you. - Thank you.
I hope the fire will perk up in a few minutes.
- I expect the wood was damp. - Yes, I expect it was.
Do sit down, darling.
I got right into the train then got out. Wasn't it idiotic?
We were both very, very foolish.
- Alec, I can't stay. Really I can't. - Just a little while.
(Key in lock)
Quickly, quickly! I must go.
Through the kitchen, there's a tradesman's staircase.
- (Man) Is that you, Alec? - Yes!
- You're back early. - Yes, I felt a cold coming on,
so I decided not to dine with that arch-arguer Roger Hinchley.
Inflamed membranes are unsympathetic to dialectic.
What will you do about food?
I can always ring down to the restaurant later.
- This is a service flat! - Yes. Yes, of course.
It, er, caters for all tastes.
- Dear Alec, you have hidden depths. - Look here, Stephen.
Alec, no explanations or apologies.
I should apologise for returning so inopportunely.
Clearly, you were interviewing a patient privately.
Women are neurotic and the hospital atmosphere can be upsetting.
By the rather undignified scuffling I heard,
I gather she beat a hasty retreat down the back stairs.
I'm surprised at this farcical streak in your nature, Alec.
Such carryings-on are quite unnecessary.
After all, we've been friends for years.
I'm really very sorry, Stephen.
The situation must seem inexpressibly vulgar to you.
Actually, it isn't in the least.
However, you're right. Explanations are unnecessary. I must go now.
- I'll collect my hat and coat. - May I have my latchkey back?
I'm so afraid of losing one of them. You know how absent-minded I am.
- You're very angry, aren't you? - no, Alec. Just disappointed.
'I ran until I couldn't run any longer.
'I stopped to get my breath in a side road off the High Street.
'I know it was stupid to run, but I couldn't help myself.
'I felt utterly humiliated and so dreadfully, dreadfully ashamed.
'After a moment or two, I pulled myself together
'and walked on towards the station.
'It was still raining but not very much.
'I realised I couldn't go home,
'not until I was more under control and had had time to think.
'Then I thought of you waiting at home
'so I went into the High Street
'and found a tobacconist's and telephoned to you.
'Do you remember? '
Hello, Fred. Is that you?
Yes, dear. It's me, Laura.
Yes, everything's perfectly all right but I shan't be home to dinner.
I'm with Miss Lewis.
You know, the librarian I've told you about at Boots.
Yes, I can't explain in detail because she's outside the box now.
I met her in the High Street a while ago in a terrible state.
Her mother's ill and I've said I'll stay with her until the doctor comes.
Yes, I know, but she's always been kind to me and I feel sorry for her.
I'll get a sandwich. But ask Ethel to leave me some soup in a saucepan.
Yes, of course. As soon as I can.
All right. Goodbye.
'It's awfully easy to lie when you know that you're trusted.
'So very easy and so very degrading.
'I started walking without purpose.
'I turned out of the High Street immediately.
'I was terrified I might run into Alec.
'I was pretty certain he'd come after me to the station.
'Finally, I found myself at the war memorial.
'It's right at the other side of the town.
'It had stopped raining and I felt stiflingly hot.
'So I sat down on one of the seats.
'There was nobody about and I lit a cigarette.
'I know how you disapprove of women smoking in the street
'but I wanted to calm my nerves and I thought it might help.
'I sat there for ages, I don't know how long.
'Then I noticed a policeman walking up and down.
'He was looking at me rather suspiciously.
'presently, he came up to me.'
- Feeling all right, miss? - Yes, thank you.
- Waiting for someone? - no. I'm not waiting for anybody.
Don't catch cold. It's a damp night for sitting about.
I'm going now. I've got to catch a train.
You sure you feel all right?
Quite, thank you. Good night.
Good night, miss.
'I walked away trying to look casual, knowing he was watching me.
'I felt like a criminal.
'I walked quickly back toward the High Street.
'I got to the station 15 minutes before the last train home
'and realised I'd been wandering about for over three hours.
'It didn't seem to be any time at all.'
Stan, you are awful!
- See you in the yard. - All right.
(Beryl giggles)
- A glass of brandy, please. - We're just closing.
You're not closed yet, are you?
- Three Star? - That'll do.
Have you got a piece of paper and an envelope?
- You'll have to go to the bookstall. - The bookstall's closed.
- please. I'd be so much obliged. - All right. Just a minute.
Thank you very much.
- We close in a few minutes. - Yes, I know.
- Darling, I was looking for you! - please go away.
- I watched every train. - please go away!
- I can't leave you like this. - You must!
You're being very cruel. He doesn't know who you are. He never saw you.
I suppose you spoke of me together as men of the world!
We didn't speak of you.
Why didn't you tell him who I was and that we were cheap and low?
- Stop it! - It's true, isn't it?
We know we really love each other. That's all that matters.
no. Other things matter, too.
Self-respect matters, and decency. I can't go on any longer.
Could you really say goodbye, never see me again?
Yes. If you'd help me.
I love you, Laura.
I shall love you always, until the end of my life.
I can't look at you now because I know something.
I know that this is the beginning of the end.
not the end of my loving you, but the end of our being together.
But not quite yet, darling. please, not quite yet.
Very well, not quite yet.
I know what you feel about this evening, about the sordidness of it.
I know about the strain of our lives, our lives apart from each other.
The feeling of guilt and doing wrong is too strong, isn't it?
Too great a price to pay for the happiness we have together.
I know all this because it's the same for me, too.
You can look at me now. I'm all right.
Let's be very careful. Let's prepare ourselves.
A sudden break now, however brave, would be too cruel.
We can't do such violence to our hearts and minds.
- Very well. - (Bell)
- I'm going away. - I see.
- But not quite yet. - please, not quite yet.
(Door opens)
That's the 10.10. It's after closing time. I have to lock up.
All right.
I want you to promise me something.
What is it?
promise me that however unhappy you are,
you'll meet me again next Thursday.
- Where? - Outside the hospital, 12.30.
- All right. I promise. - I have to talk to you and explain.
- About going away? - Yes.
Where will you go? You can't give up your practice.
I've had a job offered me.
I wasn't going to take it.
But I know now it's the only way out.
- Where? - A long way away. Johannesburg.
Oh, Alec.
My brother's out there.
They're opening a new hospital. They want me in it.
It's a fine opportunity. I'll take Madeleine and the boys.
It's been torturing me, the necessity of making a decision.
I haven't told anybody, not even Madeleine.
I couldn't bear the thought of leaving you.
But now I see it's got to happen soon, anyway.
It's almost happening already.
(Beryl) Stanley!
(Giggling)
(Bell)
When will you go?
Almost immediately. In about two weeks' time.
Quite near, isn't it?
Do you want me to turn down the offer?
Oh, don't be foolish, Alec.
I'll do whatever you say.
That's unkind of you, my darling.
(pA) 'The Ketchworth train is now arriving at platform 3.'
- You're not angry with me, are you? - no, I'm not angry.
I'm not anything really. I'm just tired.
- Forgive me? - Forgive you for what?
For everything. For meeting you in the first place.
For taking the piece of grit out of your eye.
For loving you. For bringing you so much misery.
I'll forgive you if you'll forgive me.
(Alec) Thursday!
'All that was a week ago.
'It's hardly credible that it should be so short a time.
'Today was our last day together.
'Our very last together in all our lives.
'I met him outside the hospital as I had promised at 12.30.
'At 12.30 this morning.
'That was only this morning.
'We drove into the country, but this time, he hired a car.
'I lit cigarettes for him now and then.
'We didn't talk much. I felt numbed and hardly alive.
'We had lunch in a village pub.
'Afterwards we went to the same bridge over the stream.
'The bridge we'd been to before.
'Those last few hours went by so quickly.
'As we walked through the station, I remember thinking,
'"This is the last time with Alec.
'"I shall see all this again, but without Alec."
'I tried not to think of it.
'not to let it spoil our last moments together.'
- Are you all right, darling? - Yes, I'm all right.
I wish I could think of something to say.
It doesn't matter, not saying anything.
I'll miss my train.
please don't. I'll come to your platform.
Very well.
Do you think we shall ever see each other again?
I don't know. not for years, anyway.
The children will be grown up.
I wonder if they'll ever meet each other?
Couldn't I write to you once in a while?
no, Alec, please. You know we promised.
Oh, Laura, dear. I do love you so very much.
I love you with all my heart and soul.
I want to die.
If only I could die.
If you died, you'd forget me. I want to be remembered.
Yes, I know. I do, too.
We've still got a few minutes.
Laura, what a lovely surprise!
I've been shopping till I'm dropping, my throat's parched!
I thought of having tea at Spindle's but didn't want to lose the train.
- This is Dr Harvey. - How do you do?
Would you get my tea? I couldn't drag myself to the counter.
no. please.
'It was cruel of fate to be against us up to the last minute.
'Dolly Messiter! Well-meaning, irritating Dolly Messiter,
'crashing into those last few precious minutes we had.
'She chattered, fussed, but I didn't hear.
'I felt dazed, bewildered.'
- no sugar. - It's in the spoon.
'Alec behaved so beautifully, perfectly polite.
'no one could've guessed his real feelings.
- 'And then...' - (Bell)
- There's your train. - Yes, I know.
- Aren't you coming with us? - no. My practice is in churley.
I'm a general practitioner.
- Dr Harvey goes to Africa next week. - How thrilling!
(pA) 'The train arriving at platform 4
'is the 5.40 for churley, Leigh Green and Langdon.'
- I must go. - Yes, you must.
- Goodbye. - Goodbye.
'I felt the touch of his hand on my shoulder for a moment
'and then he walked away.
'Away, out of my life forever.'
He's got to get right over on the other platform.
It reminds me of that bridge at Broadham Junction.
'Dolly went on talking, but I wasn't listening.
'I was listening for the sound of his train.'
(Whistle)
'Then it did.
'I said to myself, "He didn't go. His courage failed him.
'"He couldn't have gone.
'"Any minute, he'll come back in,
'"pretending he forgot something."
'I prayed for him to do that!
'Just so that I could see him again for an instant!
'But the minutes went by.'
(Bell)
Is that the train?
- Is that the Ketchworth train? - no, it's the express.
Oh, that doesn't stop, does it?
- I want some chocolate, please. - Milk or plain?
(Distant train whistle)
(Whistle getting louder)
'I meant to do it, Fred! I really meant to do it!
'I stood there trembling, right on the edge,
'but I couldn't.
'I wasn't brave enough.
'I'd like to say it was you and the children that prevented me,
'but it wasn't.
'I had no thoughts at all.
'Only an overwhelming desire not to feel anything ever again.
'not to be unhappy any more.
'I turned...
'and went back into the refreshment room.
'That's when I nearly fainted.'
Laura.
Yes, dear?
Whatever your dream was, it wasn't a very happy one, was it?
no.
Is there anything I can do to help?
Yes, Fred. You always help.
You've been a long way away.
Yes.
Thank you for coming back to me.
(Sobs)