[ominous music]
[student coughs]
[phone rings]
- Hello?
Hi, darling.
- Too many ships chasing too few cargoes.
What?
You're cracking up.
Huh?
Oh, just some Indian crew demanding their wages.
I'll be home in a couple of hours with Ian Andrews.
I said we'd put him up, have a meal.
Try not to be late.
- I'll try.
[cat yells]
[cat meows]
[tires squeal]
[horn honking]
[tense music]
[machine beeping]
Ray.
- Hello, love.
How do you feel?
- The baby?
- We lost him.
[sobbing]
[subdued music]
I wonder how long it's been empty?
- [Woman] What is that smell?
- [Man] Cat's urine.
- [Woman] How can you tell?
- [Man] I'm an insurance investigator.
I've got a nose for these things.
- Ooh.
Oh, God. [laughs]
Ugh.
- How did people actually live with wallpaper like this?
- Well, we could always redecorate.
- [Man] The whole place needs redecorating.
- [Woman] But it's great to be so near the sea.
- There's nothing remotely romantic about the sea, you know.
Thousands of people die in it every year.
- Must you be so cynical about everything?
Oh, this'll be fantastic for my studio.
- Ooh, what about this for my trains?
Separate rooms.
Never the twin shall meet.
[soft piano music]
- Wonder why they left that?
- They must've just forgotten it.
Let's go and get a pint.
[tense music]
Come on.
[baby laughs]
- Where do you want the boxes marked train?
- Oh, upstairs.
All the way to the top, the room on the right.
Careful with that, it's a train set.
- You got kids then?
- Yes, one very big one.
[laughs]
- Where's the corkscrew, love?
- In the box marked kitchen.
[music box playing]
- I thought we said we wouldn't bring his things.
- There'll be another Toby.
They say that next to bereavement and divorce,
moving house is the most traumatic thing you can go through.
We gave him a name, Ray.
- I thought we said we wouldn't talk about it.
- I mean, he should've been buried somewhere, not.
- I thought it was best.
I didn't want you coming out of a coma
and having to deal with all that.
- I just want to know where he is.
- There'll be another Toby.
He can have my train set.
[chuckles]
Hmm?
You all right, love?
- Yeah, I am.
No.
I'm sorry, Ray.
It's just too soon after.
[tense music]
[baby laughs]
[cat meows]
Oh, I didn't see you there.
- You seen a ginger cat like this one?
- No.
- They used to disappear when the Thorn's had the house.
Disappear all the time.
Never knew what happened to them.
We had our suspicions though, didn't we?
Hmm?
- I'm Louise.
We just moved in.
- We had our suspicions.
- [Louise] What's your name?
- Leslie.
- Pleased to meet you, Leslie.
- Mrs. Leslie.
- Did you know the people that lived here before?
- The Thorn's.
We were glad when they'd gone, weren't we?
- [Louise] Weren't they very nice?
- We're glad they've gone.
- Did they have lots of children?
- Too many.
Little monsters, they were.
Have you got children?
- No.
- Just as well.
They only bring you grief.
[music box playing]
[tense music]
- I met the next door neighbor this morning.
Mrs. Leslie.
She is odd.
- In what way?
- I don't know.
She's just odd.
She's got lots of cats.
- I hate cats.
- She said that the children who lived here before
were real monsters.
I felt like saying,
I wouldn't have minded one little monster of my own.
- What else did you do today?
- I wonder what Toby would've grown up to be?
- An engine driver.
Toby's dead.
He's not gonna grow up to be a little monster
or anything else.
We've gotta just put him behind us.
[soft piano music]
Pregnant?
Already?
- We made it happen.
- When?
Not that night...
No, it can't have been then.
What about the night that we had too...
Well, you had too, well I had too much to drink.
- [Louise] What does it matter, Ray?
- You're right.
What does it matter?
I want you to take the greatest, greatest care.
I want you to listen to the doctors this time.
None of this going it on your own.
They're the experts.
- Ray, it's my body.
You don't know what it's like to be laying there
flat on your back being prodded
and poked around by so-called experts.
- Look at what happened last time.
Everything they said, you did the opposite.
Listened to all your stupid friends
and read all those books on alternative childbirth.
- One book.
- I just don't want you losing this one.
[mysterious music]
[door rattling]
- [Doctor] Breathe in, please.
[breathes deeply]
That'll be all, Mrs. Knight.
You can get dressed now.
- My last obstetrician sent me for a scan after eight weeks.
- 16 weeks will be fine.
- I'd like to have the baby at home, if that's possible.
- You can have him anywhere you like.
In the garden, swinging from a chandelier.
Don't you think it's a bit early to make these decisions?
- I read a book once that said
it's important to choose early on.
- I read a book too, Mrs. Knight.
A great many books.
- I'm just worried I might miscarry again.
What are the chances?
- If you look after yourself, very good.
If you don't, very poor.
Mrs. Knight, you're a perfectly normal, healthy young woman.
You're going to give birth to a normal, healthy baby.
- [Mrs. Leslie] Come on.
Did you want some?
There you go.
- Mrs. Leslie, I just thought I'd let you know
I was pregnant.
- I've got three of them here with the same problem.
Come on, come on.
Puss, puss.
Puss, puss, puss.
[glass clinking]
- Oh, don't take that down.
- What, you want to paint around it?
- Oh, I felt him kick.
Ray, I can feel him kicking.
He's kicking hard.
Oh, I can feel him.
He's swinging his legs.
- He is gonna be a boy.
- How do you know?
- He's got football boots on.
[laughs]
Ooh, ooh.
- [Doctor] There we are now.
This is completely painless and completely harmless.
- We had a scan before when I was pregnant,
but all we could see then was a little white moon.
- You'll see more than a little white moon this time.
- Can you just move out of the way a little bit
so I can see?
- Yeah, we can't see the score.
[tense music]
- Can't see anything.
- [Ray] Be Patient.
- There's nothing there.
There's no baby there.
- Well, there must be.
I mean, I can feel it kick.
- Perhaps there's something wrong with the machine.
- It's working perfectly well.
You're just not pregnant, my love.
- If I'm not pregnant,
then what is it I can feel moving inside me?
Ray, are you all right?
- My god.
You're even bigger than you were yesterday.
- I can still feel him, Ray.
- You're gonna see a specialist.
I don't care how much it costs.
And you're going tomorrow.
- Maybe it's their instruments that are wrong.
- Tell me, how did you feel when you lost your baby?
- [Louise] How did I feel?
- Yes.
- I felt responsible.
As if it was my fault.
- And why is that?
- I was driving too fast and.
- I see.
Normally, a phantom pregnancy has clinical causes.
Gastroenteritis causing nausea and throwing up, et cetera.
Now, your ovaries, tubes, and uterus, all test fine.
Your pelvis is normal.
There is no clinical reason for this pregnancy to exist.
- So why does it?
- I specialize, Mrs. Knight, in psychosomatic disorders.
There is a syndrome, pseudocyesis.
Its origins are psychosexual
and its symptoms are what we term hysterical.
When a woman develops objective pregnancy signs
in the absence of pregnancy,
this sometimes happens because of the wish to be pregnant.
I think, in your case, the origin is the guilt you feel.
You still desperately want to be carrying your baby.
- Then how come I tested positive?
How come I can feel him kick?
[subdued music]
[kids chattering]
Oh, hello.
- It's going to rain.
You shouldn't be out in that state.
It's my new neighbor.
- How do you do?
Jeffery Canfield is my name.
You're expecting a happy event?
Let me see.
I see blue wool.
Lots of blue wool.
- Don't listen to him.
He's always seeing wool.
- It's a boy.
I'm never wrong.
It's a gift.
I've always had it.
- [Mrs. Leslie] Gift of the gab.
- [Jeffery] You ought to take care of yourself.
He's due any day.
- I do take care of myself, thank you.
- In my day, it wasn't decent for pregnant women
to be seen out.
But times change.
Come on, before the rain starts.
When cats wash their ears, it's never far off.
- See you again, I hope.
- And it's April.
It always rains here in April.
- [Louise] If I hadn't lost the baby, he'd be due now.
Second week in April.
- [Ray] But you did lose the baby.
- But what if I didn't?
What if he's still there?
It's him I can feel moving inside me.
- You miscarried.
He's not still there.
- Put your hand on him, Ray.
- All the doctors have said.
- But what do they know?
I'm pregnant, I'm not pregnant.
I'm blown up like a balloon because I feel guilty?
God, I'm fed up with doctors and their opinions.
- It's all in your imagination.
- Is this my imagination?
[laughs]
I have his ghost inside me.
- Oh, don't be ridiculous.
- I'm not being ridiculous.
[gasping]
I'm starting, Ray.
It's starting.
- It's not starting.
Nothing is starting.
Believe me, nothing is starting.
- Oh, god.
Oh.
Oh, Ray.
Get me to a hospital.
[Louise crying]
[yelling]
- [Doctor] Push hard down into your...
That's much better.
Breathe, breathe. - I'm pushing.
- [Doctor] We'll try again, we'll try again.
Just push.
[Louise grunting]
Push then.
Come on.
[laughs]
- No!
- Come on!
Push, push!
New swab, thank you.
Now come on, Louise.
What did I tell you?
Down into your bottom.
Grip onto your legs.
Now come on.
Push down.
Push down, that's good.
Good, now push! [Louise yelling]
Push!
Push, Louise!
[Louise panting]
There's nothing but blood.
- [Ray] Doctor.
Is she all right?
- She's fine, Mr. Knight.
She wasn't pregnant, you know.
- Yes, I do know.
- I'm at a complete loss to explain it.
[tense music]
- I'll make you a cup of tea.
[baby crying]
[knife banging]
[baby crying]
[gasping]
[baby cooing]
- Price goes up every week.
- I see you've had the little fellow.
Was I right?
- Disgraceful.
- Yes, Mr. Canfield.
You were right.
- I'm never wrong.
- He died.
- Oh, I'm so terribly sorry.
- What can you do?
I mean, what can you do?
- Louise lost her baby.
- That's sad.
May seem like the end of the world, but it never is.
Never is.
- You need somebody to talk to now, don't you?
- Very much.
- I've been caretaker here for seven years.
It's nice and warm.
Warmer than at home.
I lost my wife a few years ago.
Emily was her name.
She still comes back to me now and again.
[soft piano music]
Your baby, did he have a name?
- Yes, Toby.
- Let me see.
Toby isn't gone, you know?
He's just hiding.
Sometimes, you know, they do hide.
They like to play games.
- He was never old enough.
- Oh, they grow on the other side, you know.
Let me see.
Oh, yes.
He's very near to us at this moment.
I see him joined to you
very clearly.
I see a long golden thread
joining you and him.
He's with us now.
He's laughing.
No, he isn't laughing.
It's difficult to know with babies sometimes.
He's crying.
Did somebody hurt him?
They have such tiny voices, that's the problem.
Someone hurt him and he wants,
he needs to be loved.
Who's Lou?
- I'm Lou.
It's a name my mother gave me.
I'm the one who hurt him.
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
[sobbing]
[uptempo orchestral music]
[gasps]
[baby crying]
[gasping]
[chattering on TV]
[dramatic orchestral music on radio]
[machines whirring]
[water rushing]
[machine whirring]
[Louise sobbing]
Oh, no.
[sobbing]
- Louise, what's the matter?
What happened?
[door creaks]
What are you doing?
- Shh.
He's feeding.
Can't you see, Ray?
He's feeding.
- Why are you doing this?
- He needs me.
He never died, Ray.
He's here and he needs me.
[subdued music]
[Louise sobbing]
- She says it's been going on since she got home.
Yeah.
Yes, I think that's best, too.
All right.
I'll explain that to her.
Thank you.
Goodnight.
Dr. Parker says there's a crisis team.
What they do is they come around.
- I don't need a crisis team.
- Please, listen to me.
These are professionals.
- They're psychiatrists.
I don't need psychiatrists.
Why don't you believe me?
I don't want to.
I don't need to.
- You'll be going in as a voluntary patient.
There's no question of anybody locking you up
or anything like that.
- What happens if I don't go in voluntarily?
- There's nothing to be ashamed of.
- I need to be at home.
- [Ray] Please, Louise.
Just do it for me.
I mean, don't think this isn't painful for me, too.
[tense music]
- Ray.
Please, don't be cross with me.
I couldn't...
Ray, what are you doing?
No!
Ray, those are Toby's!
No!
- It's for the best.
It's for the best.
I've thought of a better way to cure this madness.
We'll make a baby.
A proper baby.
Come on.
[baby crying]
That's just one of that old crone's cats.
Come on.
[baby crying]
It's a rust bucket.
Can't believe the Taiwanese Interpol Department
can't see a rust bucket.
[Louise clear throat]
Ugh.
Well, tell Ken and Bruno
that the bill of lading was a forgery.
The containers are probably filled
with tin cans or something.
Yep.
All right, I'll see you later.
Bye.
Can you believe it?
It's just a clever rust bucket fraud.
Some over-insured heap of junk
with a valuable cargo gets scuttled.
Happens all the time.
Thanks for doing this, love.
Sure you're gonna be all right?
- Yes, Ray.
I am not due for.
- Do you have to write it down every time he kicks?
- I should be feeling 10 movements every 12 hours.
That way at least I know
the placenta's functioning properly.
- You should have my job, you'd be good at it.
Now, don't forget to go and see Dr. Getty.
- Ray, I don't need to.
- No, you may not need to, but our son does.
Hmm?
- [Dr. Getty] So that's the little fella.
- [Louise] He's sucking his thumb.
Isn't that sweet?
- Some women revel in the mystery of childbirth.
- I just don't want any more surprises.
- All problems behind us now, eh?
[cat meows]
- Mrs. Leslie?
As I'm pregnant,
please will you keep your cats away from the house?
Don't you know their urine carries a disease
that is harmful to unborn babies?
Thank you.
- Never harmed their own.
[music box playing]
- Toby?
Toby?
[train chugging]
[Louise yells]
[baby laughing]
[Louise gasping]
[clock ticking]
[tense music]
[bell ringing]
Ow.
Oh.
Get off.
Shoo.
Go on, go on.
Shoo!
[sniffing]
Mrs. Leslie, will you please keep your cats out of my house?
- Cats will go where they please.
They've a will of their own, don't ya?
- It did something in my kitchen, in my food.
- Cats wouldn't do that.
Cats are clean, unlike people.
- Well, I have a will of my own too, Mrs. Leslie.
And if I ever catch any of your cats in my house again,
I'll kill them, by God.
- Well, keep your windows shut.
- Sorry.
[gasps]
[grunts]
- Are you all right?
- Yes, I'm fine, thank you.
Thank you.
[gasping]
- Look, I'll get help.
Stay here.
- No, no, I'm all right.
I'm all right, thank you.
Thank you.
- She's pregnant.
She needs some help.
[tense music]
[gasping]
[uptempo orchestral music on radio]
[gasping]
[baby laughing]
- You're not having him.
[knocking on door]
Mrs. Leslie.
Mrs. Leslie, I'm sorry about what I said earlier today.
Please, can I come in?
- My cats carry a disease, do they?
- [Louise] I just need to talk.
Please.
You said once if ever I needed to come and talk, I could.
- Well?
- Somebody's trying to kill my baby.
- You're not blaming my cats again.
- No.
No, I'm not.
There's something in my house, and it's getting stronger,
and it's trying to kill my baby.
- You don't need my help, you need a doctor.
- Please, Mrs. Leslie.
Just let me come in.
If I'm with somebody then maybe it won't try to attack me.
Mrs. Leslie, could I have Mr. Canfield's telephone number?
- Well, he won't do you much good.
They took him away two months ago.
- [Louise] What?
- To go in for years.
It was all that contacting the dead did it.
If the dead wanted to be contacted, they wouldn't die.
- [Louise] Please, Mrs.
- You've got a cheek!
[sobbing]
- That's some story, Mrs. Knight.
I thought these delusions, these fantasies, were behind you.
- They're not delusions.
He's always been there.
It's just that I learned to ignore him.
And now it is though he is jealous
and he wants to hurt the baby.
- But why do you think he's taking it out on you now?
- I don't know.
It's as though he's been waiting.
- Mrs. Knight, ghosts don't exist.
And even if they did,
I don't think they could inflict physical harm on us.
- No?
Well, take a look at this then.
- How did this happen?
- He's been kicking me all day and all night.
I mean, do you think I'd make this up?
Please, you've got to help me.
I don't want to lose this baby.
- You're not going to lose it.
Stay there and try to relax.
I'll be back in a minute.
I want you to get me Mrs. Knight's GP
Dr. Parker on the phone for me, please.
- [Nurse] Certainly.
- Tell him I have reason to believe that Mrs. Knight
might be a danger to herself and her baby.
[tense music]
Mrs. Knight, I want you to go back into hospital.
- You don't believe me, do you?
- My concern is not only for you, but for your baby.
- You think I'm doing this to myself.
Why does nobody believe me?
- [Dr. Getty] Mrs. Knight.
[cats meowing]
- Shoo, go on.
[cat growls]
[cat hissing]
[engine starting]
[gears grinding]
[tires squealing]
[music box playing]
[Louise yells]
[ominous music]
[train chugging]
- [Louise] I wonder what Toby would've grown up to be?
- [Ray] An engine driver.
[baby laughing]