[theme music plays]
Well, I suppose you're all wondering what this is about.
Well, you're going to have a new little friend.
Mr. Pringle.
Listen to this.
“Dear Mr. Wilkes,
you will no doubt be pleased to receive the colestria quintanlia.
I recommend our usual diet of diced rabbit
and suggest a little vitamin C, with her water.
She is apt to be shy and reticent at first
but plant her in shallow earth near amicable associates,
give her a little care and attention
and you will find her a most devoted and amusing companion.
Sincerely, Pringle.”
Now, what shall we call her, eh?
Josie, yes, that's nice. All right.
I’m going to put Josie here between George and Frances.
Now, she's bound to feel a bit out of place,
coming into a new garden, for a day or two.
so have a little chat with her now and again and make her feel at home.
We're going to have a “be nice to Josie” week.
Yeah, and that means you as well, Teddy. [laughs]
Go on. None of your old shenanigans now.
Ooh.
Well, I’d better get off to the shop.
Got to get the rent from somewhere.
See you all tonight.
Ouch!
[laughing]
Get down off the wall ! Go on! Clear off! Go on!
[groans] [child giggles]
Hello, dear, you're up early.
Where've you been? Out gardening already?
Got to keep it tidy, Monica, otherwise it'll go to pot.
Tidy? It’s like a jungle out there.
I like the garden to have a bit of freedom.
I hate living things being
made to measure. ln patterns, you know?
You're going to be late.
No, that's all right. Miss Lovejoy's going to open up the shop.
Oh, look, now she's getting the hang of things,
does that mean we can have our holiday after all?
Oh well, I don't know if she's ready to take over completely.
The summer will be over shortly, then it'll be too late.
Still, you don't care about that, do you?
You don't want to go on holiday.
You're frightened somebody will run off with your garden.
It’s nothing to do with the garden, Monica.
It’s you. It’s your nerves. Now, look, what good is it
going to do you? Going out to some
old boarding house, when you're not well.
Well, let's do something about getting you better first.
Well, I am.
Dr. Hunt just keeps giving me those pills,
and none of them do any good...
...so I've asked another doctor to come and see me.
Well, good, maybe we'll get some results.
His name's Chambers. I’ll be a private patient,
so that means we'll have to pay.
Well, I don't care about that.
So long as he makes you better, that's all that matters.
Oh, thank you, Henry.
You don't have to thank me. I want you to get better.
What time is he coming at this doctor?
He said tonight. He wants to be here when you're here, see.
Oh, good. Well, listen, I’ll have a chat with him.
I’ll get him to give you a proper tonic to perk you up.
Then when you're well again,
we'll go off on a nice, long holiday.
Two whole weeks. Just you and me down at the seaside.
Oh, that'll be lovely, Henry.
Do you know? I sit here thinking you don't care,
when all the time you're the best husband in the world.
And why shouldn't I be? I’ve got the best wife, haven't I?
Oh, go on, save your blarney for the customers.
All right, all right.
Oh, now listen, you won't be late home will you, dear? Because of that Doctor?
Monica, I’ll be as early as I can.
- All right. - Bye, love.
Bye.
[engine starts up]
[engine revs]
- Ah, good morning, Anne. - Morning, Mr. Wilkes.
Well, you've made a good start, you must have got here early.
Did the--?
- What's that? - What's what?
- This. - Parsley, Mr. Wilkes,...
- I thought you'd-- - Yes, I know it's parsley.
- Where did it come from? - The greengrocers.
I thought it'd make the fish look nice.
No, no, we mustn't.
Well, other fishmongers use it all the time.
Yes, well. I don't, Miss Lovejoy. Never. Never.
Man, animals, even fish, are all preying
like monsters on the vegetable world.
We've got to do everything we can to stop it.
- But I thought that-- - But, look at it.
Look at the delicate formation.
See how curly and crinkly and soft it is.
Hours ago that was a thing of living beauty.
Now it's all brown and dead and decaying.
I’m sorry, Mr. Wilkes.
That's all right, Anne, you weren't to know.
What happens if people want parsley sauce
with their fish, Mr. Wilkes?
Well, they won't buy it from me.
I mean, to use such a marvellous creation as this
to decorate a lot of old fish,
well, it's sacrilege, isn't it?
I suppose they'll get it if they want it,
but I try to discourage them by not selling it in the shop.
I knew you was a man of culture
the first day I started to work here
but I never realised you're as sensitive as you are, though.
I’m sorry I about the parsley, Mr. Wilkes.
Oh, well, that's all right. We'll forget all about that.
Did they send everything from the market that I ordered?
Well, the whiting looked a bit grey, so I sent it back.
Quite right, too. That's a gutty fish.
It goes off as quickly as anything in this weather.
What about the rabbits, haven't they come, yet?
Oh, no, not yet.
Oh, well, listen, if they don't come shortly,
get on the phone and give them a rocket.
All right.
Hey, what about a nice cup of coffee. Or have you had one yet?
No, there hasn't been time.
Oh, well, let's have one now while things are nice and quiet.
Oh, it looks like I spoke too soon. It’s all right. I’ll serve her
Oh, morning Mrs. Bryant, It’s a nice morning.
Yeah, lovely, ain't it?
How are those violets your husband planted?
Eh? Oh, they're all right.
I had a butchers at 'em before I come out,
they looked all right to me.
Here, he's got the dead needle to you, though.
- Who has? - Me old man.
He has? Why?
Well, you told him you was growing some flowers in your garden.
Lollapaloozers or something?
- Laurientalas. - Yes, that's 'em.
Well, he says you're off your rocker.
He says he wrote to a geezer at Kew Gardens asking about them
and they wrote back and said
it was impossible to grow lolloploozers in this country
without a greenhouse. You ain't got no greenhouse.
Yes, well, I must've made a mistake about the name.
Well, look, tell Fred that I’ll get in touch with Mr. Pringle.
and get that all sorted out.
I shouldn't trouble.
Fred said he's fed up with you and your Mr. Pringle
telling him all them fairy stories.
Anyway, he wants some soft roes for his tea. Have you got any?
Roes? Oh, yes they're very nice this morning.
Now, how many do you want, half a pound, three quarters?
Half will do.
[Henry] That'll be two shillings please. Ah, there you are.
Thank you. Mrs. Bryant. Thank you. Good morning.
[Mrs. Bryant] Morning.
[door closes]
Ahh, that's the stuff to give the troops, Anne. Thank you.
Would you like a sandwich with it?
Oh, please.
Take a couple, they're only small.
Yes, I had no time for breakfast this morning.
What's in them then? Oh.
What's the matter? What is it?
A lovely little tomato all cut to pieces.
And the leaves of a lettuce in shreds.
It’s like making a stew of your pet Siamese cat
and having it for lunch.
I’m sorry, Mr. Wilkes.
Shall I take out the lettuce and tomato and just leave the cheese?
No, no, look, I couldn't. It’s tainted, isn't it?
I suppose it is really.
Look, I’m sorry, Mr. Wilkes. I’ll try and remember in future.
Look, I’ve just got to pop out for a minute.
If those rabbits don't arrive, just give them a ring and remind them, will you?
Yes, I’ll tell them it's urgent.
That's three shillings, please.
Thank you.
[buzzing, ringing]
Henry, what are you after?
I’ve got a nice brand of weed killer, just come in.
You know very well there are no weeds in my garden.
No, just something I thought you might find interesting.
Mr. Pringle wrote and--
Pringle? The master mind?
You know, Henry? Sometimes, I think you invented this Mr. Pringle
just to substantiate some of your more outrageous statements.
This concerns cucumbers.
Do you know, there's a fella. He's managed to breed cucumbers
that are all male, or all female. Non-hermaphrodite!
I can't see it will matter very much, Henry.
I imagine they'll taste just the same?
But don't you see?
Melons belong to the same family as cucumbers.
It could have endless possibilities.
I’m more interested in what's going to win
the first race at Epsom.
Hey, you're always on about how clever your Mr. Pringle is.
Why don't you write and ask him what he knows about the horses?
He's got more serious things to think about than racing.
Beer and gambling, that's all people seem to care about these days.
Did you read your newspaper last night?
- Yeah, I glanced through it. - Yeah, the racing columns.
I don't suppose you read Professor Englehart's little piece?
Who's he?
Englehart?
Just about the greatest authority on botanical science in the world.
I knew I shouldn't have asked, Henry.
Yes, well, anyway, look. He's trying to solve the world's hunger problem.
Now, I don't agree
that we should eat things that are grown from the soil,
but one fascinating little detail cropped up,
and that was... If you inject plants
with a solution of potash and hextolenium,
you can make them grow to twice their normal size.
But you tried to do something like that with your rhubarb, Henry, didn't you?
You told me you got it growing like tree trunks.
Yes, well, that's it! That's what I mean.
It’s quite possible that me and Professor Englehart
are working along the same lines.
Yeah, but he's talking sense, isn't he?
I mean, he wants to grow things large to feed people.
What do you want to do it for?
I mean, when you had your rhubarb growing up over the wall,
you wouldn't give me a bit to take home for a pie now,
would you, Henry?
Look, Norman, listen.
If I cut your hand with a knife it hurts you, doesn't it?
Yes. And if we stick a knife in a pig it hurts him, as well.
There's one or two race horses I wouldn't mind sticking a knife in.
Yes, well. Now, look. Never mind about that.
Why is it so difficult to understand that
if you cut a plant or a flower it hurts them, too?
Yeah, well, I suppose it's possible Henry, but I’m afraid I just can't see it.
- Well, Mr. Pringle-- - No, no, no. Not Pringle again.
What is he? Some sort of walking encyclopaedia?
Well, when it comes to plant life, yes.
Now look. You can check on this, because it actually happened.
There was this fella, he wanted to transplant trees.
Now, hundreds of years old they were.
Well, he tried and tried but they always died.
And then it hit him, about this idea,
that maybe it was the way they suffered in the moving
that killed them, so he gave them an anaesthetic.
And it worked.
You see, he eased their pain and they survived the operation.
Yes, well, it all sounds very civilised, Henry,
but you know, it's a very hard world.
Men haven't stopped killing each other yet,
so who's going to worry about killing off a few flowers?
Well, they will in the end.
Me and Mr. Pringle and a few others, we'll make them.
Yep, well I wish you luck, Henry.
But you'll have to find a substitute for rhubarb pie
before I join the club.
Hey, Norman, that's it. Hextolenium, you've got some of it.
No, not now, Henry. Don't go on about that.
I’ve helped you out in the past,
with a few little things for your experiments,
but that is a dangerous drug. I can't give you any of that.
Ah, look, Norman, just a little piece.
Just enough to cover a tanner, that's all.
Not one grain. It’s more than my life's worth, Henry. [phone rings]
Excuse me. Probably my bookmaker.
Hello, Clarke's here.
- I’ve got to be off then, Norm. - Yes. All right, Henry. Yes.
See you later.
[Norman] Oh, hello, Dr. Hunt. Yes, yes. It just came in this morning.
Yes, I’ll get it around as soon as I possibly can.
[door sensor buzzes]
[engine splutters]
[door closes]
[Henry] Monica, I’m home!
Monica, where are you, upstairs?
Monica, it's me! [footsteps on stairs]
Oh, what's the matter, dear? Aren't you feeling well again?
Oh, it's my head, Henry. It came on this afternoon
and I just had to come and lie down.
Aw, you poor old thing. Is it bad?
Mmm. Oh, I'm sorry, love.
I haven't got you anything to eat.
I tried to, but I just couldn't manage.
It’s all right. Don't worry about me.
I can look after myself.
There's some cold chicken in the fridge,
- can you make do with that? - Of course,
it's just what I fancy.
What time is the doctor coming at?
Oh, about seven I think he said.
Well, he'll probably give you something for your headache.
Now, look, you just lay down there and try to get some rest,
and I’ll bring him up just as soon as he comes.
You lie quiet, Mini, won't you? Be a good doggy.
[both chuckle lightly]
[door closes]
There you are, Harriet. Some for you.
There's some for you, Richard.
Now , Patsy, mind how you go. Now, don't gobble it,
you'll get indigestion.
Now, here's some for you, Bertie.
There we are.
Now, Olga. Listen, now don't grab.
Remember your manners.
Here you are, Jack, good old Jack!
He loves his old cockles, don't you? [laughs]
Oh, he's a good boy. Yeah!
There we are now. Now.
Now, Nobby. No. No. Don't grab hers.
There's plenty for every one.
Now, Matilda, listen! Matilda, don't get so excited,
you'll lose all your petals if you go on like that.
Hold on. All right, George, all right, I’m coming.
I’m not forgetting about you.
Ah, here's old greedy guts, old Teddy the nosher.
I know, I know, that's all you think about, your grub.
[doorbell rings]
- Dr. Chambers? - Yes, Mrs. Wilkes asked me to call.
I’m Mr. Wilkes, please come in.
Monica's lying down, it's one of her headaches.
We better see what we can do, eh?
Oh yeah, if you just follow me, Doctor.
[footsteps approaching]
All right, dear?
This is Dr. Chambers.
- How do you do? - More to the point is, how are you?
Oh, I feel a little a better now, thank you.
Good. Good. I’m glad to hear it.
I’ll be downstairs, Doctor, if you want me.
Well, Mrs. Wilkes. Has the headache really gone?
Almost.
Well, I’ll give you something for that in a minute.
But first let's see what this says, shall we?
How did you feel this morning?
Did you have the headache then?
No. No. I was all right.
- Were you depressed? - Yes, for a while.
Now, look straight ahead.
But it wore off, eh?
Yes, it went away after Henry said he'd take me for a holiday.
I see. What about yesterday?
Well, I was all right early on,
but then I began to feel low about lunch time.
And the morning before?
Oh, I was all right. Yes, I was quite chirpy.
I remember, I took Mini for a walk.
You're very fond of Mini, aren't you?
- Oh yes. Yes, she's lovely. - Yes, she is.
All right, Mrs. Wilkes. I hope you've had a cup of tea recently?
- Yes, I had one this morning. - That's the ticket.
I want you to use this for me.
I’ll go and have a word with your husband and call back for it.
- All right? - All right.
[door closes]
[laughing]
Greenfly?
No, I thought it was but it's just a smut of soot.
There's something strange about this garden, what is it?
Yes well, I suppose it is a bit unusual.
There's something. Can't quite make out--
Did you examine Monica? What do you think?
Well, as far as I can tell at the moment, it's a nervous complaint.
Yes. That's what Dr. Hunt said.
Yes, I know. I’ve spoken to him.
Your wife appears to be in a state of anxiety.
Do you know of anything that's particularly worrying her?
Well, I’ve thought about it, I can't seem to get to the bottom of it.
Could it be financial?
Well, we're not well off but, you know.
There are no debts, no HP... the rent's paid.
Perhaps it's you that worries her?
Me?
Well, you're not fooling about with another woman, are you?
Of course not. No. No, it's nothing like that.
Well, I just wanted to know.
I’ll give her something to make her sleep before I go.
Let her get a good night's rest.
But I’d like you to have this made up tomorrow.
And see that she takes it, will you?
Yes, I’ll do that, Doctor.
[water trickles]
I asked your husband if he knew what it was that worries you,
he couldn't tell me, can you?
Well...
...you see it might sound silly but, it's the garden.
You're afraid of the garden?
Yes, I am. You see, I told you it sounds silly.
No, not at all. Have you always been afraid of it?
I mean, it was here when you took the house.
No, I mean to begin with it was quite a nice garden, but...
Well, look at it now, you can see it from the window.
It dominates the whole house.
Yes, I’ve seen it, it is a bit over-awing, I’ll admit.
When did it start? I mean when did you begin to be afraid?
It was soon after he began writing to Mr. Pringle.
Who's Mr. Pringle?
Oh, I don't know. I wish I did. I’d write and I’d ask him to leave us alone.
I did write to him once, only he didn't answer me.
Of course, I couldn't tell Henry about it so I just had to let it drop.
Is he a friend of your husband?
Or somebody he works with, perhaps?
No, no. You see my Henry's gardening mad, he always has been.
And one day there was this thing in the paper on
how to grow tropical plants.
Well, Henry answered it and some roots came by the post.
Oh, after that, things just seemed to go wrong.
ln what way?
Oh, it's difficult to explain, really.
First there was the fish pond.
We planted Mr. Pringle's roots next to it,
and the next morning all the fish had disappeared.
Then one day we woke up and found the greenhouse
smashed to pieces.
There's probably some very logical explanation.
Hooliganism, or a spiteful neighbour perhaps?
Yes, I know, I shouldn't really blame Mr. Pringle...
...but I do know that he's upset our lives.
He sent more flowers and more roots
and Henry got so worked up
he started making experiments.
What sort of experiments?
He injects the flowers with chemicals and all sorts of things.
Oh, those flowers are wrong, Doctor.
They don't belong in this country,
yet they survive the climate.
They live all through the winter and never die.
Oh, it's weird.
Well, I’m afraid I don't know enough about gardening
to agree or disagree with you.
But, couldn't it just be that your husband is good at his hobby?
No, there's more to it than that.
He talks to them. I’ve heard him.
He's got names for every one.
And sometimes I think they even talk to him.
Mrs. Wilkes, you're a very sensitive person,
and like all sensitive people, you have a vivid imagination.
Now, I want you to forget all about this garden
and just concentrate on getting well again.
You know, you're in the doldrums.
you've got to snap out of it. Perk yourself up.
- All right, Doctor. I’ll try. - That's right.
I’ll come and see you again in two or three days' time.
- Goodbye for now. - Bye.
[door closes]
Had a good night, Nobby?
Feeling trim for a bright new day?
[lady singing]
What? Oh!
You old fake, I know what you want.
You want your morning tickle don't you?
Come on, just a couple of minutes. Come on.
[laughing] Ooh, you little old plonker, I’ll tickle your belly for ya.
I’ll give you what for. You great big silly old faggot.
I’ll tickle your old... ouch!
George, who did that?
[giggling]
Oh!
Well, you're looking a lot better, how do you feel?
Oh, Better Henry. Much better.
The doctor says I’m in the doldrums
and I’ve got to snap out of it. So I’m snapping out of it!
Oh, that sounds more like it.
Yes, I’m glad we called him in.
He seems to have done the trick, doesn't he?
Oh, he's a good doctor, Henry.
Did you see how well I slept last night?
Yes, you was off like a top when I came up.
Well, I’ve just got to pull myself together, haven't I?
Look, I’ll tell you what.
Now that you're on the road to recovery,
I’ll make arrangements about the holiday.
What about that, eh?
Yeah. We'll give Miss Lovejoy two or three more weeks to get used to the shop.
- and we'll be off. - Oh, I can hardly wait, Henry.
Oh, I’m sorry I’ve been so silly.
You have to go out and work hard all day
and you come home and find me all miserable.
You must get properly fed up with me.
You soppy old thing. You've been ill,
now you're gonna get better.
Oh! Look at the time. Miss Lovejoy will have opened up again.
Go on. I’ll tidy up for you.
I left my other glove, I forgot.
Ouch!
[giggling]
Henry! What on Earth?
It’s that wretched boy again!
[chuckles]
Come on, I’ll clean you up.
I’ll get him one of these days.
I’ll skin him alive when I do.
Oh, it's not all that bad.
And you was a boy once remember.
[screaming]
What's that? What's happened?
[screaming]
Nobby! Stop it! Stop that! Nobby! Stop it!
Let go, Nobby let go! Let go, will you!?
What were you doing? What happened?
I’ve got to take you to hospital.
- Get off! Let me go! - Wait a minute.
Leave me alone!
You must have been doing something.
You must've been up to something.
He must have been doing something.
He must have fallen off the wall and cut himself.
Monica!
I was just going to ring.
It’s the wife. She isn't very well.
Headaches again?
No, she's all nerves.
She was fine, in great order.
Then some horrible little boy fell off the wall,
and started her off again.
It'll be all right, Mr. Wilkes,
if you want to go home and look after her.
- No, No, I don't think so. No. - All right then.
I wonder, should I get in touch with Mr. Pringle?
Ooh, I nearly forgot.
The cockles hadn't arrived when the driver left,
so he came on without them.
No cockles. I must have cockles!
What am I going to do without cockles?
There wasn't anything I could do.
Oh, look, don't take any notice of me.
I’m just thinking of myself again.
I’m the biggest cockle eater in the business.
Look...
Why don't you make some coffee while we're not busy?
[creaking, squeaking]
[Mini barks]
[hums]
Ahh, thank you, Anne. Thank you.
Would you like a biscuit with it?
Ooh, they're my favourites. Thank you. Thank you very much.
All this trouble after I went off the way I did
about your tomato sandwiches yesterday.
Ahh, look, that was silly of me. I apologise.
It wasn't silly at all, and I’m glad you did.
It shows me what a kind man you are, Mr. Wilkes.
Well, lots of people like flowers but,
you even like parsley and tomatoes as well.
Most people think I’m potty but you understand, don't you?
You're one of the few.
What do you do with yourself, Anne?
What do I do with myself?
You know, in the evening after work?
Oh, all sorts of things. It all depends really.
Last night? What did you do last night?
Last night?
Oh, nothing much. You'd only laugh if I told you.
I wouldn't laugh. I wouldn't laugh, Anne.
If you disclosed to me a personal secret,
I certainly wouldn't laugh at you.
No, you wouldn't, because you're a gentleman.
I went to a spiritualist meeting.
Oh, are you a spiritualist, then?
No, but in a way it links up with something
I really do believe in. Reincarnation.
I think about that sometimes.
It would be nice to come back and finish off everything
- you wanted to, wouldn't it? - That's why I went.
You see If there are spirits, it means we're not
just stone dead when we die.
We could be hanging about somewhere
waiting to be reincarnated.
Yeah. I think you're right.
I think a lot depends on how we behave in this life.
If we're rotten, we turn up again as a rat or a beetle.
Well, that's a bit grim.
But if we're good, we come back as human beings,
and become big successes in our chosen professions.
Ooh, God knows what I'll turn up as then.
Oh, that's easy. You'd become a great authority on gardening.
I think I’d plump for science if I had a choice.
Then I could invent things and be really sure of what I’m doing,
instead of guessing all the time.
I’d direct all my intelligence towards plants and flowers,
and concentrate until I made everybody else think about them the same as I do.
You mean you'd like everybody to be kind to flowers?
Yes.
You're a very unselfish man, Mr. Wilkes.
Oh, I’m not really.
Now, let's see, what about you?
Of course, I don't know you well enough to guess
what you'll be in the future, but I think I know
what you've been in your last life.
A tulip. Well, because you're slender and graceful.
I’m not slender, I’m podgy. More like I was a cabbage.
No, no, no. No, definitely a tulip.
And Monica, my wife, Monica, she must've been a carnation,
because she is fluffy and uses perfume.
[footsteps]
Ahh, here we are. Back to work.
Ahh, there you are. I’m terribly sorry,
it's not here again. Later on probably.
All right, thank you.
Anne? Would you do something for me?
Of course, what is it?
Look, I’ve got to go out
but then I’ve got to go around and tell Norman something.
Now, if I go in there he'll keep me jawing all day.
And you want me to go in and tell him?
No. No, just telephone him.
He likes to back horses and I’ve got a tip here for him.
Yes, here it is.
Tomboy, the last race, at Alexandra Park.
Tell him to be sure to back it and say that it's from Mr. Pringle.
All right. Tomboy, last race, Alexandra Park.
I’ll go and do it now before I forget.
Oh! Oh, yes.
Well in that case, I’ll just pop out right away.
[phone rings]
[Norman] Hello. Clarke's. Yes
Who? Henry Wilkes? Really?
Hang on a minute, I’ll just get a pencil. Wait.
[Norman] Yes, go on I’ve got one. Yes, go on.
That's Tomboy, in the last race at Ally Pally.
Mr. Pringle? Really?
You tell Henry it'd better win or else.
All right? Thank him for me, won't you?
Tell him there's hope for him yet.
All right, goodbye.
[door sensor buzzes]
Monica! I'm home!
Oh, hello, dear. How are you feeling? Any Better?
Did you hear me, Monica? Monica.
What are you doing?
I want you to drive me to the station, Henry.
I’ve phoned Maud, and I’m going to stay with her.
Stay with Maud? Why? How long for?
I don't know how long for!
All I know is I can't stay in this house one moment longer.
But this is our home, Monica.
I mean, if you can't stay here, what are we going to do?
I don't know, Henry. And I can't think about it now.
Only thing I know is, if I stop here I shall have a nervous breakdown or something.
Look, it can't be that bad. You must be imagining things.
Yeah, well maybe I am and that's just it.
I won't stop imagining things Henry, as long as I stay in this house.
Well, look, I thought we'd sorted all this out?
You know, when we talked about the holiday.
Well, I can't wait that long, I wanna go now.
Well, you don't have to wait.
It’s all arranged. I did it today.
I don't believe you.
You can't leave that garden alone for hours, let alone weeks.
Well, I am leaving it.
It’s all fixed. It’s Cornwall. A little cottage, near Truro.
Truro?
Yeah, yeah. I’m just waiting for them to confirm the date.
I asked for Saturday week.
Honest?
Honestly.
Surely you can wait just a few days?
I mean two weeks down in Cornwall might make all the difference?
You mean we really might be going then Saturday week?
With a bit of luck.
We could catch a train, or a bus, or even go on the old bike.
And have a picnic on the way.
This is your holiday, we'll do it just as you want.
Well, all right then Henry. We'll wait.
We'll go on holiday and see if it helps.
Good old Monica. It will help, I'm sure it will.
You'll come back a new woman.
Wait till you see. That's my girl.
[plants squeaking in conversation]
Sorry I’m late, had to take the wife out.
You will all be starving.
Here you are.
Better late than never, huh?
That's it.
Good, Nobby.
That's it.
Listen, Nobby,
how would you like to be twice as big and strong as you are now, huh?
[roaring]
Yes, I thought you would.
Well, look I've got the stuff,
and if Professor Englehart's right, you can be.
What's that? [roars softly]
Yes. Well we'll see about that, won't we?
Now, look, this means an injection,
it won't hurt but you might feel a bit queer for a couple of days.
What do you say? Will you have a go? [Nobby roars]
Good boy. Good lad.
That's my Nobby. Game for anything.
Now, look, hold on to your roots.
It'll be all over in a couple of minutes.
Now here we go.
[Nobby groans]
There you are. That wasn't so bad, was it?
Worse things happen at sea, don't they?
Well, I’ve got to be up in the morning
so I’ll say good night.
Try to get a good night's sleep won't you? Good night, good night.
Shh. Quiet now. Good night.
[indistinct chattering]
Oh, sorry to keep you waiting, I was just out in the yard.
Here, what's the lark? What are you, a nutcase?
Oh. It’s just plastic!
Course it's bleeding plastic!
What d'yer think it was, nut chocolate?
Give us it here, come on!
I’m sorry. I thought it was real.
Real! You're real! A real twit!
Give us a pair of them kippers before yer go right off yer rocker.
I don't know what's come over people these days,
swelt me blind, I don't.
It ain't safe to go out of doors for five minutes.
I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I made a mistake.
Look, here, have these on me. Just a little present.
Yes, I should think so, too.
I dunno, you can't even go out and buy a pair of kippers
without getting raped!
- Well, I'm sorry. - Yes, I should think so!
[mumbling] I don't know. Come in here, get assaulted...
I think this is the one, Mr. Wilkes.
There are hundreds of addresses in this one.
Oh, yes.
Yes, we should find something in here.
Monica fancies... Monica fancies Cornwall.
Yeah, somewhere near Truro.
Well, that should be easy enough.
They're all in alphabetical order.
Cheshire, Chichester...
[whistling]
[doorbell rings]
[continues whistling]
Morning, Mrs. Wilkes, how many today?
Now, let me see--
Oh, I like that. Yes, that's a nice one, that is.
I thought it was better than usual,
I must be getting the knack.
Well, you ought to, you've had a few go goes at it, haven't you?
Well, I’m after something that's perfect.
Because you see, to me, Mini is perfect.
Oh, yeah, they grow on you, don't they?
It’s the same with my cat.
Rules the house, he does. Grabs the best chair,
gets his dinner before I get mine,
does as he likes. He's a proper little Lord of the Manor.
Oh, I’m glad to know I’m not the only softie about.
Do you know, sometime-- [telephone rings] Oh, who can that be?
Will you excuse me? And can you leave me two pints, please?
Two pints eh? Right-o.
Hello, Doctor. Oh, yes, thank you.
I’m feeling a lot better.
Well, I was a bit depressed last night actually,
but Henry came home and took me to the pictures.
Oh, yes, we had a lovely evening out and now I feel a lot more cheerful.
Oh, yes, I’ve been sleeping a lot better, thank you.
No, no, I haven't noticed it. [Mini barking]
Mini! Mini!
Mini! Mini, where are you?
[barking continues]
Mini?
[plants squeaking eerily , groaning]
Here girl. Good girl.
Come on. Mini!
Mini!
Mini?
Here, girl.
Come on, Mini!
Mini! Mini, where are you?
Here, girl. Good girl.
Mini!
Mini, come on, Mini.
Mini. [gasps]
[Nobby roaring]
[eerie squeaking, groaning]
[squeaking, groaning becomes frantic]
You're sure you don't mind?
Only I’d like to tell Monica it's all fixed.
Well, I’ll be able to manage, won't I?
I mean, if you're leaving on Saturday
- she'll want to start packing. - Yeah.
Oh, look, let's have a look at that address again?
Penwarden Farm, near Truro. That's it.
- See you in about an hour. - All right.
- I hope she'll be pleased. - Oh, she will be. Bye-bye.
[Henry] Monica! You'd better start packing!
We leave for Cornwall on Saturday.
Monica, you upstairs?
Monica, it's all fixed for Saturday!
[footsteps on stairs]
Oh, what's up?
Hey, what's the matter?
What's happened?
Monica, what's happened?
Speak to me. Say something.
Monica. Where's Mini?
Monica, you're ill.
It’s a nervous breakdown.
I’ll get the doctor.
Look, don't worry, Monica. I’ll get him right away.
[door closes] [footsteps on stairs]
Nonsense!
You know Mr. Wilkes well enough to know he wouldn't steal anything.
Then why did he get you to make that phone call,
telling me to back a horse that wasn't even running?
I don't know. It must have been a joke.
No, that was yesterday.
If it had been a joke he would have been in to see my by now.
You know he's been making plans for his holiday.
He's a crank. He carries out weird experiments,
that's why he stole that drug, I know!
There's nothing weird about them,
he's only trying to help people.
He's never harmed anybody in his life.
Look, he's never had a large quantity of
dangerous drugs before.
He's an amateur, a dabbler. Heaven knows what he'll get up to.
Look, I know you're making a mistake,
and when he comes in, I’ll tell him to come in and see you.
Yes, well, he'd better that's all, because if he's not here within an hour
I’m going to see the police.
Oh, oh!
I’m afraid she's extremely ill.
She seems to have had a very bad shock since I last saw her.
Now, do you know what could have caused it?
Is she going to be all right?
The mind's a funny thing. We can't be certain.
But she needs care and attention.
Does she have to go to hospital?
No, I think a nursing home would be better.
I know of a quite inexpensive place where she'll be well looked after.
If you agree, I’ll phone and see if they can take her.
Yes, yes, of course.
Your wife hates this garden, doesn't she?
Can't say that I blame her. It's...
Wait. I know.
I know what's wrong. There are no birds!
A big garden like this and not a sound of a bird anywhere.
No. No birds ever come in here.
- No, they won't let them. - Eh? Who won't let them?
The flowers.
They've got minds of their own.
They think. They've got feelings too.
You might say I’ve educated them.
I’m afraid I’m not quite with you.
Mr. Pringle tells me how to look after them,
but it's the love and kindness that counts in the end.
They get the best of everything.
Fresh rabbits, cockles...
Did you say rabbits? Do you mean they're carnivorous?
Yes, and they get stimulants too,
of course, the lack of knowledge slows me up,
but I think I’m getting somewhere. I’ll show them all.
Professor Englehart will be surprised
when he discovers how far I’ve progressed.
Yes, well, I’ll go and make that phone call.
[dog barking]
Mini?
Is that you, Mini?
Mini!
[barking continues]
Oh, that's good. Yes, that will be fine.
And tell Dr. Williams I’d like him
to have a look at her, and I’ll be around this evening
to discuss the case with him.
Oh, and I’d like him to see the husband also.
He seems to have some kind of obsession,
which I think has a lot to do with Mrs. Wilkes' trouble.
Something to do with his garden,
but I’ll explain it all when I see Dr. Williams. Right.
Yes. I’ll wait here for the ambulance. Goodbye.
[phone rings]
Hello? No, Dr. Chambers here.
[eerie squeaking]
[dog barking]
[plants roaring]
Yes. Well, I think you'll have to close the shop on your own.
No, he won't be able to get back this afternoon,
his wife is extremely ill and he is not well himself either.
All right, I’ll tell Mr. Wilkes.
If he decides otherwise he'll ring you.
Right. Thank you. Goodbye.
[Henry] Doctor! Dr. Chambers!
Doctor!
Doctor. Quick! Hurry!
She's dead! How did this happen?
And what's all this?
They killed her.
She wanted to go to her sister but I stopped her.
Now they've killed her!
Shouldn't be long.
[doorbell rings]
It doesn't look as if he's in. Try again.
- Mr. Wilkes? - No, my name is Chambers,
- I’m Mr. Wilkes' doctor. - Doctor? Well I'm a police officer.
I’d like a word with Mr. Wilkes about some missing drugs.
[grunting, groaning]
All right. We don't want any more of that do we?
[sobbing inconsolably] All right now. Calm down!
Thank you, that will be three and nine.
Ta, dear.
So old Wilky's not well, then?
So the doctor said when I phoned.
I’m worried about the takings,
I suppose I could drop them in on my way home.
Yeah, then you could see how he was.
Then I could get tomorrow's order as well.
Do you know, I think that's what I'll do.
Well, tell him I hope he'll be all right soon
and to hurry up and get back to the old bloaters. Ta-ta.
Bye then.
You think I did it, don't you?
I couldn't kill Monica. I love her.
It was the garden. It was Nobby!
Mr. Wilkes, do you think a jury's going to believe that a plant killed her?
Now, why don't you tell me the truth?
I am telling you the truth!
Why don't you get Mr. Pringle? He would help me, he knows all about it.
Pringle? Pringle?
Oh, yes, Dr. Chambers mentioned him.
He used to supply you with plants.
Yes, that's right. He's some sort of importer, you can't get them from anyone else.
He knows them. He knows all about them.
He'll tell you it could've been Nobby.
Fraser!
Where does this Pringle live?
89 Coleman Street, Nechells Green, Birmingham.
- You got that? - Yes.
Get through to Birmingham and ask them to pick up a Mr. Pringle there
and bring him in for questioning.
- Right. - And I want to know as soon as they've got him.
Right, now, we'll go through it again.
Dr. Chambers left you in the garden to make a phone call.
- Yes. - Your wife was in the bedroom.
[doorbell rings]
Well, don't you see? The experiments went wrong.
The garden's evil, it's got to be smashed before it hurts anyone else.
[Fraser] Reply from Birmingham.
Coleman Street was demolished five years ago,
part of a redevelopment plan.
That can't be true! I send letters there every week.
I mean, Mr. Pringle answers them!
How could he answer them if he didn't get them?
- Look, are you sure? - They sent a car round to check.
Could it have been another name? Similar to Coleman Street?
Well, course not. I should know,
I’ve been writing to him for over a year.
Get on to the local Post Office up there.
Ask them if they've been redirecting mail for our friend Pringle.
- It might be a bit late. - Well, do your best!
This one's a right nutter, but we've got to check everything.
Sergeant, about the garden.
Couldn't we get a car?
Look, it's vital that I get home for just five minutes.
Mr. Wilkes! Mrs. Wilkes!
It’s Miss Lovejoy!
This Pringle, did you ever meet him?
Well, we arranged to meet once in town, but he didn't turn up.
Do you know why he didn't turn up?
Well, yes, he wrote to me and explained it in a letter.
A sort of strange reason, I didn't understand it.
He said that “atmospherical conditions prevented him”.
- You mean there was a storm? - Sort of an electrical storm.
I got on to the Post Office,
letters have been coming in for that address for the past twelve months.
You see, I told you.
But as whoever sent them didn't put any on any return address,
all the letters were passed on to the Address Unknown department.
Well, you wrote to Pringle,
but it seems he didn't get your letters.
He must have, I mean he answered them!
He sent me all the plants I wanted.
Only the other day...
Oh, yes!
Well, look, that proves it.
I got this just a couple of days ago.
See, I’ve been telling the truth, all along!
Now, will you let me go home and destroy that garden?
Those plants are evil, who knows what they'll do next?
Mr. Wilkes!
Mrs. Wilkes!
It’s Miss Lovejoy from the fish shop.
Mr. Wilkes. I’ve brought the cockles.
[squeaking]
[screaming]
But if the plants didn't come from Mr. Pringle,
where did they come from?
Now, I shouldn't worry about that Mr. Wilkes.
Probably from out of space.
Now, take Mr. Wilkes downstairs and get him a cup of tea.
Well, aren't you gonna take me home?
[Crouch] Later on. Maybe later on.
But what about the garden? God, man, you've got to believe me.
Go downstairs. Fraser will look after you.
Come along, Mr. Wilkes.
Look, Officer, if you won't let me go. Then you go.
Go and destroy that garden! It’s got to be destroyed!
Yes. I’ll do that for you.
Now, come along, Mr. Wilkes. Let's go downstairs shall we?
Let's go downstairs and have a nice cup of tea.
Come along now.
Don't you worry about the garden.
We'll take care of that for you.
You'll be all right.
Come along now. There we are.
[ringing]
Crouch here.
Another strangled?
Where?