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Strange Intruder (1956)
( man screaming )
Hey! ( slow theme playing ) Hey, you, doctor ( chuckles ) You see, no more can you, uh, complain, doctor, that your sick have no beds to lie on. ( whistles ) There are their beds. ( chuckling ) Plenty air. Springy, like mattress, huh? ( laughs ) You no like? Oh, yes, sure. As you say, they are nice, springy, plenty of ventilation. What more can a man ask to die on? ( laughing ) You see, doctor, we know how to look after our guests in Korea. ADRIAN: Paul! Oh, heh, Adrian. How's your leg? I haven't been thinking about it much today. I think I'd like to sit down. Ferguson... Couldn't you have kept it out of the dirt? I've no more bandages. I'm sorry, I suppose I could have. I'll wash it out. You've got to keep your trouser off that leg. As if that'll matter in all this filth. And I asked that swine today if I could go into the forest. thought I might be able to find some plant or herb out of which I could make something. He just laughed. ( scoffs ) Three more died today. Why not let them die? Don't say that, do you hear? The only weapon we have left against these animals is life. We've got to live, all of us. Look, Paul, you have your talent, your music. They must not kill that. ( slow theme playing ) And I've got my children. Heh, Johnny and Libby, and mom and dad and Meg. What a wonderful life to go back to. Tell me about them again. You are a dreamer, aren't you? There's nothing I haven't told you about them. Well, well, show me Johnny and Libby again. ( chuckles ) Libby and Johnny. And Libby's kisses were always so wet that you had to wipe your face. And she had a rag dog called Wo-wo, ( chuckles ) and the stuffing was always coming out of him, heh. I must live through this. That other man must never have them. Never. I'd sooner... You've never told me anything about your wife. Alice? Well, there's nothing to tell. Doc. It's Klein, you better hurry. ( slow theme playing ) ( man breathing heavily ) MAN: Doc. What can I do, with nothing but my hands. Doc. Doc. It's all right, Al, I'm here. I can't see. It's, ugh, getting dark. I'm afraid. Oh, there's nothing to be afraid of, son. You just hold on tight, huh? It won't be dark for long. I can't... Watch it! ( tense theme playing ) On your feet, pigs! ( laughs ) On your feet. Soldiers. ( laughing ) Get him up. I said get him up! Just a minute. ( speaks in foreign language ) I said stand up, up! You're too late. Hey, hey, Al, he wants to box you. He doesn't realize you're a Golden Glove champ! So you want to box, huh, well, I'll show you how to box! ( grunting ) ( screaming in foreign language) ( Adrian groaning ) Remember, Paul, once that sentry goes, you've only got ten seconds. ( suspenseful theme playing ) Adrian. Huh? ( sighs ) ( plane engine droning ) Put out the lights. ( bombs explode ) They're after the ammunition dump. Let's help them! ( tense theme playing ) ( grunts ) ( shouting indistinctly ) ( gunfire ) ( groaning and screaming ) Paul. It's all right, Adrian, I'm here, you're all right. The watch, the key. Take them. You'll be all right-- Take them, take them. Remember what you've always said, that we must live. We've got to get out of here. No. Mom, Meg and dad, kiss them for me. And the children, promise me-- We've still got a chance. Promise me. He must never have them, better they die than that, do you hear? Better they die. Adrian. Adrian-- Promise. Promise! John and Libby better dead. Promise. I promise. Alice. Alice... ( slow theme playing ) You're English, aren't you, Paul? Yes, sir, but I became naturalized before I enlisted. No relatives in this country? No, sir. Oh, that's too bad. I was hoping you might have someone close to you in this area. You see, Paul, the Committee feels that we've tried every therapy here and our job is done. Now it's up to you to try and adjust yourself to your own surroundings, to face the outside world, to try again to live as a happy, useful citizen. This won't be easy at first, so we'll take it in small doses. Yes, sir. Well, Paul, this weekend is yours. You may go wherever you like, do whatever appeals to you. Do you think you're ready? Yes, sir, I'd like that very much. All right, get along with you. Report back to us at 8:00, Monday morning. Is that all, sir? That's all. Oh, doctor, here's Mr. Quentin's card. Oh, yes, take this, and if you need any of us, just call. Good luck. PAUL: Thanks. ( slow theme playing ) ( theme swells dramatically ) ADRIAN: Well, you're here, Paul. It's a nice little town, isn't it? ( slow theme playing ) You'll like it here. There's my home. Exactly as I told you it would be. 397 Woodlawn, Ambersport. You'll like it here, you'll like it here. Go right in, go right in, the door's never locked, go right in. Remember the key I gave you? It fits that clock. It's a comfortable room, isn't it? And it has so much love in it, so much love. Remember that? I won it at the fair when I was 10, throwing pennies into a saucer. And Alice is here too. But I don't have to tell you that's Alice, do I? That's Alice. That's Alice. You never knew me when I looked like this, did you? lean, healthy and very, very happy. That seems long ago, so very long ago. ( piano playing ) Play it, play it. I'll be right beside you, play it. You must be Meg. I'm Paul Quentin. I was with Adrian. Adrian. Forgive me for walking in here like that, but the door was open. Do you always just walk in whenever you find a door open? You see, I know this house, through Adrian. Every bit of it. All of you. Meg, Adrian's kid sister. I'm 18. You play beautifully. That was Adrian's favorite. We used to hum that and we said if we ever got back together that would be the first thing we'd play. And you're Adrian's mother. And you are...? This is Paul Quentin, Mother. He knew Adrian. You're both exactly as I've always pictured you. Oh, it was good of you to come. I promised him I would. Meg, take his coat. Please, won't you sit down? I do hope you'll forgive me, I shouldn't have walked in here like this. I think you had a perfect right to. You must have known Adrian very well. I knew him better than anyone I have ever known all my life. Have you... did he send a message? Everything he told me about you was a sort of message. There was one thing though. Yes? It was just before he died. ( slow theme playing ) It was this. ( sobs ) I promised him I'd do that. Thank you, Paul. You mustn't cry, you know, he wouldn't like that at all. He was always saying you must never give in. Mother, Paul knows this house as though he'd lived in it. Yes, I've seen it so often in my mind. I've known it for so long. Piano, the grandfather clock. You've let it run down, he always used to wind it. Yes, he always carried the key and he took it with him. He gave it to me to bring back. May I? It's 20 of 6. ( bell dinging ) This is wonderful. It's exactly as he always said it would be. Oh, my dear boy, I do hope you'll be able to stay with us for a few days. I'd like that. Thank you. Thank you very much. May I have Adrian's room? Of course, why not. Meg will take your things right up. Oh, I must go over and tell Alice right away. Alice? But doesn't she live here? Oh, no, Alice has her own home. But... ( slow theme playing ) But the children...? The children are with her. I must see them, I must. You see, I only have till Sunday. They're quite near. You mustn't excite yourself. You look very tired, Paul, you've been ill, haven't you? Yes, I have but I'm all right now. It's, heh, just the excitement of coming home. Yes, heh, of course it is. And now before you go up, I'd like you to meet Adrian's father. Oh, is he home so early? WOMAN: Home? Oh, you see he had a stroke the day we received the telegram. But he's much better now, I know he'll be so glad to see you. James. Yes, dear. This is a friend of Adrian's. He was with Adrian in the army. My name is Paul Quentin. And there's the ship. Yes. My boy built that. You're Jodie, aren't you? Jodie, this is Paul Quentin, a friend of Adrian's. Adrian said that the first meal we'd have when we came home would be your fried chicken. I can manage that. And for desert? Well, Jodie knows, don't you? Yes, but we want to hear you say it. Hot Peach Cobbler would make it perfect. Of course. And now you must go to your room and rest for a little while. Jodie will show you. I know the way. Oh, this is rather wonderful, isn't it? Almost like having Adrian back. Is he going to stay with us, Mary? Well, I've asked him to stay over the weekend. ( mysterious theme playing ) ( knocking on door ) ADRIAN: Come in. ( slow theme playing ) I, uh, came in to see if you needed anything. Where is everything? Where's his set of carved chessmen? And his collection of Indian flints? There should be a bag of golf clubs in that corner, and all his books. They all went over to Thornfield. Thornfield? Yes, his and Alice's house. Oh, he didn't tell me about that. You know, Adrian was very proud of you. I was of him too. He said you were pretty. I think you're beautiful. Heh, not really, but wait till you see Alice. I've seen her picture. Don't you think she's beautiful. Yes, I suppose so. She's not only beautiful to look at, she's a wonderful person. Adrian didn't tell me much about her. After dad had his stroke, Alice took over the bookstore and she's been running it for us ever since. And she doesn't have to, you know, she has plenty of money of her own. Tell me about yourself. I'm still in college. Then what? Oh, heh, you'll get married, Nobody as beautiful as you could stay single for long. Oh, I can run pretty fast. What do you do? Well, I was going to be a musician. Concert pianist, then conducting, perhaps. Was? Aren't you going to go on with it? I should think you'd have a great future. Future? For me? Why not? Anyone who plays as well as you, shouldn't be allowed to do anything else. Well, I'll, uh, leave you alone for a while. How would you like to go swimming tomorrow? ( chuckles ) I'd love to but I don't have anything to swim in. Some of Adrian's things are still here, I'll bring them to you. All right. Okay. ( piano playing in distance ) ( playing ) Alice, this is Paul. You played that very beautifully. It was a favorite of Adrian's. Yes, I know. MR. CARMICHAEL: You've just missed a wonderful treat. I heard some of it. Well, now that we're all together, let's, uh, sit down. Come and sit by me, my boy. Now, Paul, can you tell us about Adrian? What do you want to know? We never heard anything of the years he was a prisoner. We received no letters. Did you? What? Did any letters get through to you? No, we never stayed in one place for long until we got to the last one. Now Paul, could, uh, could Adrian receive medical supplies? Supplies? We had nothing but what we stood up in, nothing. Not even food, sometimes. If it hadn't been for Adrian, I don't think any of us would have lived. When we wanted to die, he would scorn us and lash us with his tongue. And when we had to die... ( soulful theme playing ) PAUL: I, I never met anyone like him. He used to talk for hours about you and this house, until I knew almost as much about it as he did. He gave me this home with his words and I used to live it in my mind. I could live through a whole day from morning till night, every meal, everything. I believe that was what kept me going, kept me alive. He was a sort of saint both terrifying and comforting. You can't tell about a saint in words. ( sobs ) You can save your tears. He would have no use for them. He said to me once that the only weapon we had left against the evil around us was life. He said we had no right to doubt or to falter for a moment. He said that was the great sin to give in. Paul, were you with him when he died? Yes. He died hard. He fought to the last inch. ( sighs ) James... I'm all right, I'm all right. Thank you, my boy, thank you. I'm glad you came here. I can manage. Alice, I've never seen him do that before. Yes, dear, it's wonderful. ( both chuckle ) Look, do you mind if I have a word alone with Paul for a few minutes? Oh, no, of course. Goodnight. Goodnight. Paul, how did Adrian die? They told us he died of an illness. No, they killed him. They tortured him for three days. Three days. I tortured him much longer than that. Please, I can't talk to you here. Would you drive home with me? Please? If you like. Thank you. Did you see him using his right arm? Yes, Mother. Oh, Mother... Yes, I'll be right back, I'm just gonna get him a glass of water. Would you mind if Paul drove home with me? I'd like to talk to him. Oh, no, no, of course not. I'll just leave the door on the latch. Shall we go, Paul? ( slow waltz theme playing ) ( upbeat theme playing ) ( tender theme playing ) Come in, Paul. Do you care for a drink? Did Adrian live here? Yes. I don't know this place at all. We only moved in a few months before we left. The children. Would you like to see their room? Yes, please. All right. Well, where are they? Why? What have you done with them? They're in school. School? Yes, didn't the family tell you? I run the store for father and the children stay in school in town. They come home weekends. I'm sorry, Adrian made me promise to come and see them. ( soulful theme playing ) Isn't that Adrian's watch? Yes, he gave it to me. It's broken. Yes, it has the children's picture in the back of it. Heh, I know, I gave it to him. Where's Wo-wo? Wo-wo? Libby's rag dog. Oh, heh, well, she still has it. She'll bring it home with her tomorrow. Imagine your knowing about Wo-wo. I know everything about the children. Then I'll be able to see them, then, tomorrow? Yes, of course you will. Shall we go in the other room, Paul? Yes. Oh, I do look forward so much to the weekends when they come home. Paul, what did you think I had done with the children? Nothing. I came specially to see them and when they weren't there. I don't know what Adrian would think of all this. Adrian? What do you mean? I see him very often in my dreams. Don't you? Oh, yes, I see him often. Very often. Are you sure I can't get you something? Maybe a little brandy. I think I will. All right. ( playing ) I've got to ask you something, Paul. I wrote a certain letter to Adrian. The one about Howard? Then you know about it? I never saw the letter but he told me about it. Did he never get any of my other letters, after that one? No, that was the last one he got the day before he was captured. Heh, one day. If only it hadn't reached him. But it was true, wasn't it? Yes, it was true. But I was just thinking of what he might have been spared. It did hurt him, didn't it? He changed after it. Did he hate me for it? I don't know. He just told me about it and after that... Yes? He mentioned only the children about how he must come back to save them. From what? From me? From this Howard. Ah, but surely he must have known from my letter that I... I'd never let him have them. I don't know. He said he'd sooner see them dead. ( playing ) This was another of his favorites. Paul, Paul, I... Paul, I've got to talk someone. I've never been able to tell the family, you see they think so much of me. Will you listen to me, will you? Yes. ( sighs ) It had nothing to do with love or anything like that. It was too brief. I didn't even hate this man, much less love him. I've kept all my hatred and disgust for myself. Even Adrian couldn't have had so much for me. He never said he had any. But you have, haven't you? No. Would it matter if I had? Yes, it would. ( soulful theme playing ) Because there is something of Adrian about you. You don't hate me or judge me? No. Do you think if Adrian had come back he would have forgiven me? I don't know. You said he was a saint, Paul. Well, he was a saint to me too. I've loved him ever since I was a little girl. He was my whole life. I leaned on him for everything. When he went away and I was left alone. I was lost. Do you think he could have understood that when I was with this other man it was really him, Adrian, I was with. Only women are never supposed to be human. They must wait, month after month, year after year, in loneliness. But they must never give way to it. Well, I did. Because I loved him so much I had to tell him what I'd done. Before he came back in that letter. ( piano playing ) Haven't you anything to say to me? Didn't he send me one word. Didn't he even mention my name, once? Yes, he did. I'd forgotten. What did he say? Tell me. He said your name. When? When he was dying. He said it twice. How did he say it? How did his voice sound? It was just a whisper. Alice. Alice. It was the last thing he said as he died. ( sobbing ): Thank you, thank you. Please, Paul, remember the family doesn't know anything about this. I won't tell anyone. I think I'd like to get back now. Oh, yes, of course. I'll drive you. No, I'd rather walk. But you don't know the way, Paul. Yes, I do. You will come and see the children tomorrow, won't you? Yes, I must keep my promise, mustn't I? Yes. Well, goodnight. You'll never know what you've done for me. Goodnight, Paul. ( slow waltz theme playing ) ( mysterious theme playing ) ADRIAN: I'm grateful to you, so grateful. You're keeping your promise. Tomorrow. Tomorrow you'll see them. Send them to me. Quickly. Send them to me. ( suspenseful theme playing ) ADRIAN: You promised me the children. And a promise is a sacred thing. Yes, Adrian, I hear you. ADRIAN: Tomorrow, Tomorrow you'll see them. Send them to me. Send them to me. Time... Time... The time is so short. Can you forget so soon? Must I wander alone? Must I? Yes, Adrian. I'll never... ADRIAN: Never forget me. Never forget me. Never forget. ( whistling ) ( sighs ) ( soulful theme playing ) Uh-uh, uh-uh. ( chuckles ) Good morning, Mom. Good morning, Paul. Did you have a good night? Wonderful. I haven't slept like that in months. Good. Good morning. Do Adrian's things fit you? Mm-hm. All except the slippers. Well, come on let's hurry. It gave me such a start. I saw him there at the cookie jar, just like I used to catch Adrian in the mornings. You feel the same, then? About what? It's almost like having Adrian back. Well, for a moment, I just didn't know where I was. ( upbeat theme playing ) ( both panting ) I told you, I can run fast. Oh, that wasn't fair, I lost a shoe. I was ahead of you all the time, heh. Well, I had to let you win. All right, then, let's see what you can do in the water. I'll race you to the other side and back. Now wait a minute. Let's just relax for a minute. Okay. This is wonderful. If only one could stop time and stay with all this forever. It's like this always. Nearly always, anyway. You can come here every morning. Or do you, do you have to go back to the hospital? Maybe you won't have to be there long, and you can always come back here. Can I? Unless you have somewhere else you'd rather go, somewhere you'd prefer? No. No, there's nowhere else. But I only have today and tomorrow. Paul, is there anything worrying you? Why do you ask? You say such odd things. What have I said? Yesterday you said, there's no future for you and just now you said there's only today and tomorrow. Well, I only meant that I have to go back tomorrow. Oh. Well, well, come on. Or we'll get a cold breakfast. ( soulful theme playing ) ( upbeat theme playing ) ( horn honks ) KID: Mama. Mama. Hello, darling. Mama, mama. Hello, darling, heh. Hello, Parry, thanks for bringing my monsters home. Oh, they were no trouble at all, we had fun. ( both speaking indistinctly ) Mother... Hmm? Wo-wo's stomach got torn. Oh, no, poor old Wo-wo. And his insides fell out. Never mind, darling, we'll sew him up and give him a nice new tummy. And we took him into dinner with us, and Johnny filled him up with cabbage off his plate. Johnny, you didn't. What did your teacher say? She didn't like it and I don't like cabbage. And that fell out too. You let it fall all over the floor and I got a black mark. Hmm. Fruit nuggets. I'm hungry. You always are. Here's a cookie for you and here's one for you, Libby. Thank you, Annie. Don't they feed you anything at school? Never. ANNIE: They pay them plenty. Oh, how are you, Mr. Sanborn? Hello. Goodbye, Skipper. Parry, you shouldn't laugh at them, you shouldn't. I'm sorry, Alice, but Johnny's such a character. He certainly is. Thanks so much for bringing them home. Oh, nonsense. It was right on my way home. You know as well as I, I'd love nothing better than to have them for the whole day. Oh, no you don't. The last time you had them Libby got sick twice. Now that's not fair. She was perfectly all right, right up until the cream puff, I think it was, heh. Had breakfast? Yeah, I had just finished when you called. Another ten minutes and you'd have missed me. You're sure I'm not keeping you from anything? No, nothing at all. A round of golf at the club, that's all and that can wait. Well, what's on your mind? Well, I need some advice, Parry. As a lawyer or as a friend? You're always both to me. Yes, I know. Look, can I raise 10,000 quickly? Heh, you can raise 15, if it comes to that but may I ask, strictly as your lawyer, what it's for? Well, I want to lend it to somebody. I suppose it wouldn't be possible to raise it today, would it? Suppose you tell me what the trouble is, would its name be Howard Gray? Then you know about it. I ran into him one night a couple of weeks ago downtown. Did he, did he tell you anything about me? I didn't stay very long, he was pretty high. I didn't want a scene. Then he told you. Alice, let's skip all this. The important thing is that he's worrying you, that right? Yes, that's right. This little letter came yesterday. Mm-hm. Quite a letter. Love and money all mixed together. Alice, you in love with this man? Of course not. I never have been. Is this the first time he's asked to borrow money? No. Using the same threat, that he'd go to the Carmichaels. He hinted at it. Of course at that time it was only a few hundred. It was long after I broke up with him. Why didn't you come to me then? Oh, Parry, I wanted to. Believe me I wanted to, but I just couldn't. I was too ashamed. I've taken the trouble to find out a few things about our friend, Mr. Gray. It seems he's developed into quite a professional. All he needed was a war and a lot of lonely women. Preferably nice, decent ones. Heh, decent. Oh, you'd be surprised unless you were a lawyer. You see men like Gray do possess a certain power and all they need is a chance to use it. It's like a disease that attacks and works on a weakened body. And loneliness is a great weakener. You can't think much of me, can you Parry? ( scoffs ) I can't throw any stones, Alice, and I know very few people who can. The main thing is that you mustn't blame yourself. You've got to stop being afraid. He can be handled. Now if he comes here and he wants this money, you tell him he'll have to see me about it. I can fix it so that he'll never bother you again. Oh, please, you mustn't be afraid. ( chuckles ) You're quite a guy, aren't you. ( chuckles ) A lot of people would argue that point with you, but I will tell you exactly what I am. When it comes to waiting, I'm the world's champ. ( both chuckle ) LIBBY: Uncle Parry... ( Libby laughing ) We'd better see what our little characters have gotten into now, hmm? ALICE: Coming, darling. ( Libby laughing ) Don't worry, we'll fix it, won't we, Parry? Oh, that was wonderful. I can't remember the last home-cooked breakfast that I had. Come along, Meg. You can't stay here all day. It's dishes for you, young lady. I don't have time to do that and my room too. I have to be in town at 10:00. Heh. After you've done the dishes. You've got plenty of time. She'll be bossing you next. ( all chuckle ) Would you like to come into town with me? Oh, no, I have to go and see the children. I, I promised Alice I'd go over. Heh, I never knew anyone who made so many promises. I want to have a word with Paul first. No, no, my dear, I don't want that. If Paul will just lend me a hand. Oh, no, you mustn't overdo it. Nonsense. Besides, Paul hasn't seen me do this yet. Now, my boy, if you'll just, uh... Oh, he's like a small boy showing off. All right, sir? Heh, that's fine. My boy, we have reason to be very grateful to you. In what way, sir? It's years since I moved this arm, much less walked, heh. If you hadn't come here, I... I'd be just like I was before useless to myself and to everyone else. I still don't see what I did. Paul, I had committed the great sin, I had given in. Then you walked into our door, a stranger, and talked to us, and what happens. I walk again. My wife has new life and hope in her heart. And this house, it is as if a shadow had been removed from it. It's like a miracle to us. As if Adrian himself has come back from the dead. Come back from the dead. Don't say that. Paul, I only meant... I... I'm so sorry. ( sighs ) I'm very sorry. I've been so happy here. Ah, I'm glad to hear that. It helps me to say something that I... Well, that I'd like very much to say. Tell me, Paul, what are your plans? Plans? Yes, for the future. Well, I don't have any. Why do you ask? Oh, just interested. Have you chosen a career? Heh, career? What has all this got to do with me? You mean you don't have to work? Why? Well, to put it briefly, even in the short time you've been here with us, we've come to regard you as one of us. I have a business here, a book store, and a good one. You could have a share in it, as my son. Your son? Yes, Paul. This would be your home. And Mom and Dad, and Meg, and Joady, and all the things, the grandfather clock, and the piano, all mine? Yes, Paul, all yours. You really mean that? Every word, heh. Don't you think Adrian would say the same? Adrian. Yes, if he was with us here now, in this room. But he is here. ( mysterious theme playing ) And you offer me all of this and he's here. All the time. Listening. ( crying ) ( soulful theme swells dramatically ) I came here because of my promise... and you offer me his home. It isn't as if you'd be taking anything from Adrian. No, I'm not taking anything from him. Take a little time to think it over. There's all today and tomorrow. ( soft theme playing ) Yes, I still have today. And tomorrow. There's no hurry. And now you're going to see the children. Yes, I... I must see the children. Mrs. Carmichael: Paul, are you off to Alice's? Yes. Do you know the way? Yes, I walked back last night. Oh, well, have a nice time. I know you will. You'll love the children. I do already. What did he say? To tell you the truth, I couldn't quite make him out. He seems to have an idea that he is intruding here. Mummy, he's fat. Look at his tummy. Heh, I know. Now we've sewn him up nice and tight and his tummy can't fall out again. ( all chuckle ) Oh, hello, Paul. Come on in. I thought I heard the bell. Libby, Johnny, this is Uncle Paul. He was a good friend of your daddy's. Well, go on, say hello. Go on, he won't eat you. Hello. Is that Wo-wo? How'd you know his name? Your daddy told me. I know all about Wo-wo. I remember the time when he got lost and you couldn't find him anywhere and do you know where he was? In the garbage can. And you only found him just in time. I did? That's right, darling. Do you think I could have a look at him? Sure. Oh, heh, my. My, he is fat, isn't he? He'll have to reduce. That's what my mommy does, reduce. Oh, heh, telling all my secrets And you must be Johnny of course. My, you have grown, you were very little when I first knew you. Look, how about showing Uncle Paul around the place, huh? Then I'll have a chance to tidy up your rooms. Can we show him the barn? Oh, sure, if he'd like to see it. Would you? Very much. Then you can carry Wo-wo. Thank you. Heh, all right, off you all go. And try not to get too dirty, will you? Yes, we'll all try. ( both chuckles ) Where're you going in such a hurry? We're going to show him the barn. Annie, this is Uncle Paul. He was a friend of daddy's. Johnny, are you gonna work up a good appetite for lunch? We aren't gonna have cabbage, are we? Not today but we are going to have roast beef and mashed potatoes. Johnny: I just hate cabbage. ( mysterious theme playing ) Here it is. I'll open it. This is our hideout. Here's where we play elevator, Uncle Paul, I can teach you how to play elevator. You see, Uncle Paul, we can lift you way up into the sky. Johnny: Hurry up, Libby. Now we can play elevator. Ladies first. All right, here you are. Now pull on the rope, Uncle Paul. Till it's tight. Now pull her. Both kids: Up and down. Up and down. Higher, Uncle Paul. Now it's my turn, Libby, it's my turn. It's my turn. Paul: Now, don't let's play this game anymore. Johnny: I haven't had my turn. Paul: I don't like this game. Take off the rope. That's what comes of letting ladies go first. Well, we'll play it another time. When? I don't know but not today. Tomorrow, then? Yes, all right, tomorrow. Come on. I liked it, Uncle Paul, it was a lot of fun. Yeah, you had your turn, Libby, but I didn't. You haven't seen the loft. Some other time. Oh, Wo-wo's ribbon is untied. I'll fix it. Let's go somewhere else. Don't you wanna see the rest of the barn? We'll see the rest tomorrow. Then let's go see the brook. Yes. Yes, that would be nice. And don't forget, Libby, I'm first on the elevator tomorrow. All right. Uncle Paul, Uncle Paul, Uncle Paul, last year we caught a dragon here, didn't we, Johnny? It was a toad. Well, it looked like a dragon. Anyway, it died and we had a funeral. Uncle Paul, did you have a funeral when daddy died? Yes. Come on. Were you there? Yes, I was there. I remember him but Libby didn't get born till later. Well, I tried. What's this place? It's the spring house. Yes, Uncle Paul, it's the spring house. Is it locked? The key's right up there. Yes, the key's right up there. Your father sent me here. Why? Paul: Because he loved you very much. And he made me promise to make sure you both were happy. They put it up high so we couldn't reach it. We're not supposed to play here. It's all right with grown-ups. Annie used to put butter and milk here to cool. And one day somebody came and stole it. ( upbeat theme playing ) Now she doesn't put it here anymore. Oh, Libby, you look funny. You look funnier than I do. Come on, Uncle Paul, you can see yourself. Oh, Libby, you're getting all wet. Do you know something your daddy told me about you, Libby? What? He said when you were a baby you used to kiss him and make his face all wet. She still does. I do not. I'll show you, Uncle Paul. There. Your face isn't wet, is it? No, not from kissing. I don't believe in kissing and I bet my daddy didn't either. Your daddy was a very great man. He was a hero. Yes, he was a very great hero. He loved you both very much. Look, I'll show you something. It's in the back of this watch. I wonder if you'll remember. Look, there're the two of you, that's you, Libby, and that's you, Johnny. You look little, Johnny. Did daddy give it to you? Yes he did. He told me lots of things about you two. What things? Oh, lots and lots. Tell us. Not now, Johnny, another time. Oh, look, the water is bubbling higher. ( both chuckles ) Shh. Don't make so much noise or someone will hear us. You can't hear anything outside. You can't? Huh-uh, because the walls are too thick. Look at the bubbles, Johnny. Johnny: I can make bubbles too. Libby: I can too. ( mysterious theme playing ) Uncle Paul, you're tickling me. Uncle Paul, I'm all wet. Johnny: What did you do that for? It was just a joke. We'll get into trouble if we're found playing here. Oh, I'm sorry, then you won't tell, will you? I'm not a blabbermouth, Libby is. I am not. She tells Mummy everything. But you won't tell her about this, will you? No, Uncle Paul. Oh. Oh, Wo-wo, he'll get drowned. No, no, no, let me do it. He'll catch a cold. He can't catch cold, silly, he's only a make-believe dog. He isn't. Well, just the same, we'll give him a good squeeze and then we'll wrap him up, huh? Like this, all right? That's for Wo-wo. Heh, darling. Come on. ( imitating airplane ) Come on, Uncle Paul. How. How. All right, big chief, go wash your hands for lunch. Well, here we are. Well, hello. What's the matter with you, old woman, can't you walk anymore? We got a little tired. Oh. And what happened to Wo-wo? He almost got drowned. We were by the brook. Well, that's nice. Now go wash your hands, darling. Come on. Here we go. Uncle Paul... Oh, Libby. Oh, heh, this is quite a love affair. It is, I assure you, at least on my part. You aren't going away? I'm afraid Uncle Paul has to, darling. How about taking the love of your life to Sunday school in the morning? I'll join you for church later. I'd love to. You've got a date, Libby. Now will you wash those hands? Run along. Libby: We've got a date, Uncle Paul. ( chuckles ) Oh, this is serious. I do hope you won't take her away from me. But I can trust you. Sure you don't mind taking them to church? Of course not. Thanks. ( mysterious theme playing ) ( soft theme playing ) ( sobbing ) Paul? Leave me alone. Please, Adrian, I can't do it. All right, Adrian, I promise. ADRIAN: After tomorrow you'll rest. I'll not come to you again after tomorrow. We've come so far and there's so little time. So little time. So little time. So little time. ( doorbell rings ) Good morning, Paul. Good morning, Alice. Are the children ready? Paul, mother was just on the phone. She seemed rather worried about you. Maybe you should rest. I don't think you should take the children to church. But I'm perfectly well. Heh, all right. Libby: Is that you, Uncle Paul? Yes, and you're date's here. We're ready. I haven't got my hat on. And you haven't got your coat on. Now listen, children, I don't want you to tire Uncle Paul, see. The church bells haven't started ringing yet so you have plenty of time. Now walk slowly, huh? Can we go through the woods? Yes, it's a nice short cut. Will you be at church after Sunday school? Yes, I'll be there, darling. Goodbye. All: Bye. But the church is that way, Uncle Paul. But we'll be late for Sunday school. We have time. Why are you bringing us here? Paul: I want to tell you something, something very wonderful. ( suspenseful theme playing ) ( doorbell rings ) Hello, Alice. Something told me it was you. Well, I just thought I would look the place over. You promised you'd never come here. Well, I changed my mind. Oh, I brought you a present. Mmm, very comfortable, you have wonderful taste. Why did you have to come here, of all places? Why? Because you are here. Listen to me. This is Adrian's house and I don't want you to... To defile it with my presence? That's right. I must say it doesn't look very defiled to me. Oh, are these the children? Afraid I was going to defile them too? Oh, as a matter of fact, I like children and as a rule they like me. If you would let me see them for a moment, I will prove it to you. They happen to be in church. Oh, pardon me. You know I had the sudden feeling that I might have grown horns and a tail. I don't find that very funny. Neither do I. Didn't you get my letter? Yes, I got your letter yesterday when all the banks were closed. Did you think I kept $10,000 lying around the house? But didn't you read the letter right through? Yes, I read it very carefully. You don't believe it? I believed it, the part about the money and the threat. Threat? Yes, the part where you said you couldn't wait to tell the world all about us. Heh, and you call that a threat? I call it blackmail too. What would you call it? Blackmail. But I lose my voice, my only means of earning my living. I am forced to borrow some money to tide me over until I get it back again and because of what we have been to each other I come to you for help. And that is blackmail? Where are you going? To get my checkbook. I saw your daddy last night. My daddy is dead. You said so before. Yes, I know but you can still see him. How? By magic. Come over here and lie down. Now look in the water. Is daddy in the water? Not yet. Libby: I can't see him. Johnny: Neither can I. I must go and get the magic. Now, you wait here. Libby: When you come back, will we see daddy? Yes, I promise. I won't be long. Magic. You can do a lot of things with magic. ( suspenseful theme playing ) ( gramophone playing ) We're bad for each other But what can we We're mad for each other Why fight it, it's true I'm yours and you're mine Remember that? Beautiful. Whenever I sang that song it was to you. Alice, you do care, don't you? We're wrong for each other Take your check and go. Leave you now? No, darling, I won't leave you. I'm here to stay. Let go of me. Howard: Alice. Alice: Let go of me. Let go of me! Get out of this house. That's all I want is you to get out of this house. You want more time to think things over? Well, all right, I can wait. There's nothing to think over. Say, what is this? It's all I have in my checking account. If you want anymore you'll go and see my lawyer. Your lawyer? That's right. No, I don't think so. No, I think I would rather go to your father-in-law. I am sure he will be anxious to help us. How dare you? Don't you think he would, when he knows what we have been to each other? He must know that a woman like you can't go on being married to a corpse. Stop it. Stop it, do you hear me? Nor can the children get the love they need the love and the care that I can give them. Paul: You can't have them. Paul. Who is this? I know who you are. He told me about you. You can't have them. I promised Adrian. Drop that knife. Paul, please, listen to me. Drop it. Drop it! ( mysterious theme playing ) ( grunting and groaning ) Please don't! Don't! ( crying ) Paul! Paul! It wasn't my fault. You saw it. You saw what happened. Don't! ( knocking on door ) Yes? Doctor. Doctor, what do you think? I've seen this sort of thing happen to shell shock cases before. Will he be all right? Well, there's the amnesia but that's not unusual in these cases and it's almost always temporary. I've checked his reflexes and I find no sign of a blood clot. Good. When did you say he's due back at his hospital? This evening. Well, keep him quiet and I'll have another look at him in a few hours. Oh, uh, if there's any sudden change, call me. I will. Thank you. Goodbye. Paul, can I get you something? The doctor said you must rest. Doctor? Where? Is this a hospital? Who? This is Alice. Alice. Alice? Yes. Don't you remember? Adrian. That's right. The children. The children. Where are they? Where are they? They're here, Paul. I brought them back from the spring house, they're playing in the kitchen. They're all right? Well, yes of course, they are. Don't you remember? You took them to the spring house on your way to church. ( sighs ) I'll get them for you. Oh, Libby... Well. Uncle Paul, are you feeling better? We waited in the spring house, Uncle Paul. Thank God, thank God. You didn't come back with the magic, Uncle Paul, and we waited. We did. Did you? Now look, mommy's gonna fix Uncle Paul some soup so both of you take care of him. All right. Are you gonna stay with us? Forever? Do you have to go back, Uncle Paul? Yes, Libby, yes, I have to go back. Goodbye, Paul, good luck. Paul, promise you'll come back. Driver: Board! Will he come back, Mom? Some day. ( upbeat theme swells dramatically ) |
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