WEBVTT 1 00:00:12.439 --> 00:00:15.000 You are trapped in the dark cellar of your home. 2 00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:18.920 Beside you is the murdered body of your wife, and 3 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:21.519 above at the front door your friends looking for you, 4 00:00:21.879 --> 00:00:34.359 tracking you down, cutting off your escape. 5 00:00:36.359 --> 00:00:40.359 Escape produced and directed by William M. Robson, and carefully 6 00:00:40.399 --> 00:00:43.000 contrived to free you from the four walls of today 7 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:45.240 for a half hour of high adventure. 8 00:00:50.679 --> 00:00:54.880 Tonight, we escape to a university town in England and 9 00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:58.759 a household where hate holds sway as we listened to 10 00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:41.400 John Collier's famous story back for Christmas. 11 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:28.879 Jingle all the way. Oh what finnity, Yes, my dear. 12 00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:32.120 What on earth are you doing down here on a cellar? 13 00:01:32.400 --> 00:01:33.840 Why? Just a little digging? 14 00:01:34.079 --> 00:01:36.319 And why, may I ask? Have you chosen this day 15 00:01:36.359 --> 00:01:38.319 of all days to dig up the cellar flaw? 16 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:41.079 Why? I thought, as the weather has been so damp, 17 00:01:41.120 --> 00:01:43.640 this would be an excellent time to plant my devil's garden. 18 00:01:43.799 --> 00:01:45.879 Devil's garden, whatever nonsense is that? 19 00:01:46.200 --> 00:01:49.400 Oh, that's my little joke about it. You see, I've 20 00:01:49.400 --> 00:01:52.280 managed to secure some of the spores of several unclassified 21 00:01:52.280 --> 00:01:55.439 wild orchids. In their natural state, they bloom under damp 22 00:01:55.480 --> 00:01:59.239 masses of leaf mold. The Ourcanian Indians call them devil 23 00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:01.519 flowers because they opered a bloom under the ground. 24 00:02:01.719 --> 00:02:05.040 Well, I'm sure the Arikennyan Indians will be very interested 25 00:02:05.079 --> 00:02:07.879 if you succeed in growing these ridiculous flowers under the 26 00:02:07.879 --> 00:02:12.400 cellar floor. Who males little interest? I can't imagine. What's 27 00:02:12.439 --> 00:02:13.479 that terrible smell? 28 00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:17.599 Well, that's the leaf mold, my dear, chemically identical with 29 00:02:17.639 --> 00:02:19.919 the earth blanket they grow under in the wild state. 30 00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:23.520 I really should line the pit with concrete so as 31 00:02:23.560 --> 00:02:28.240 to prevent seepage from this foreign soil. But I don't 32 00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:29.719 suppose there'll be time for it. Now. 33 00:02:29.800 --> 00:02:32.599 There certainly will not be time for it. Do you 34 00:02:32.759 --> 00:02:35.520 realize that we're sailing for America a week from today 35 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:38.599 and you've made no arrangements whatever, Unless you call digging 36 00:02:38.599 --> 00:02:41.759 a hole in the cellar making arrangements, I certainly don't 37 00:02:42.199 --> 00:02:45.520 devil's garden. Indeed, sometimes I think you're going soft in 38 00:02:45.560 --> 00:02:46.159 their head. 39 00:02:45.960 --> 00:02:49.879 Herbert, I suppose it's inconsiderate of me. But you see, 40 00:02:49.919 --> 00:02:52.360 I've been wanting to try this experiment for a long time. 41 00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:55.479 But what with my lectures and seminars at the university, 42 00:02:55.520 --> 00:02:56.879 there never seem to be time. 43 00:02:57.000 --> 00:02:59.680 Well, there certainly isn't any time for it? Now? I 44 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:02.240 suppose you've forgotten I made an appointment for you at 45 00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:03.479 the barbers this afternoon. 46 00:03:03.639 --> 00:03:05.719 Or must I shave off my beard, hermione. 47 00:03:05.800 --> 00:03:08.919 Now we've been all through that, of course you must. 48 00:03:09.159 --> 00:03:11.879 They don't wear beards in America. Go and get your 49 00:03:11.919 --> 00:03:14.199 jacket on and do as I tell you, yes, Hermione, 50 00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:15.960 And don't forget to take your umbrella. 51 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:18.199 It looks like rain, yes, Hermione. 52 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:21.639 Oh, don't look so put upon, Herbert. Someone has to 53 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:24.159 plan things in this house or you'd never even get 54 00:03:24.199 --> 00:03:26.879 to the university and time for your lectures, much less 55 00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:28.680 make arrangements for a trip to America. 56 00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:30.960 I know, but what of my specimens. 57 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:33.680 There'll be plenty of time to plant your precious Devil's 58 00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:36.599 garden when you get home from America. We're not going 59 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:39.120 to be gone forever, you know. We'll be back here 60 00:03:39.159 --> 00:03:39.840 for Christmas. 61 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:43.560 Yes, of course, beg for Christmas. I'd forgotten. 62 00:03:43.639 --> 00:03:46.159 We'll try to remember it. And if you can't do that, 63 00:03:46.360 --> 00:03:48.879 just do as I tell you. I've been making the 64 00:03:48.919 --> 00:03:51.240 plans in this house for twenty years, and if there's 65 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:53.800 any digging to be done, I'll manage that as well, 66 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:55.240 you understand. 67 00:03:54.759 --> 00:03:56.719 Herbert, Yes, hermione. 68 00:03:56.759 --> 00:03:57.039 Good. 69 00:03:57.280 --> 00:03:59.439 You have just twenty minutes to clean this mess up 70 00:03:59.479 --> 00:04:02.039 down here and your appointment at the barbers. And when 71 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:04.159 you finish there, I want you to come straight home. 72 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:06.879 Why I wanted to stop at miss Markham's and pick 73 00:04:06.960 --> 00:04:08.319 up some books I ordered. 74 00:04:08.599 --> 00:04:12.120 Well, all right, but don't light her there the whole 75 00:04:12.159 --> 00:04:15.960 afternoon browsing over those old books the way you usually do. Now, 76 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:18.160 hurry and clear up this rubbish, get rid of that 77 00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:21.240 smelly stuff, and no more digging. 78 00:04:20.920 --> 00:04:35.199 Mind you, yes, hermione, yes, hermione. How many years have 79 00:04:35.279 --> 00:04:39.199 I been saying there? Ten years, fifteen, twenty, Clear up 80 00:04:39.240 --> 00:04:44.360 the rubbish, yes, hermione. Don't forget your umbrella, yes, hermione, 81 00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:48.319 do this? Do that? Yes, hermione, yes, yes, yes. How 82 00:04:48.399 --> 00:05:01.759 much longer can I stand this? Good evening, sir, good evening, 83 00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:02.439 Miss Markham. 84 00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:05.279 Why it's Professor Carpenter, isn't it. 85 00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:07.240 You didn't recognize me? 86 00:05:07.439 --> 00:05:10.519 Oh? You look ever so much younger without the beard. 87 00:05:11.399 --> 00:05:12.399 Twenty years, at. 88 00:05:12.360 --> 00:05:15.360 Least twenty years. 89 00:05:15.720 --> 00:05:17.600 You'll be glad to know those books you ordered have 90 00:05:17.720 --> 00:05:23.639 finally arrived. Books Fight tartany of fallowed gamatophytes and conoferous 91 00:05:23.639 --> 00:05:27.120 shrubs of North America. Those are the ones you ordered, 92 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:27.560 aren't they? 93 00:05:27.920 --> 00:05:32.319 Oh? Yes, yes, thank you. You're very kind, Miss Markham. 94 00:05:33.480 --> 00:05:35.120 Why kind, Professor Carpenter. 95 00:05:35.560 --> 00:05:38.480 Well, not many young ladies in bookshops would go out 96 00:05:38.519 --> 00:05:40.759 of their way to look up rare books for an 97 00:05:40.759 --> 00:05:42.199 old professor of botany. 98 00:05:42.480 --> 00:05:46.199 Oh why you're not, old, Professor Carpenter. Really you look 99 00:05:46.959 --> 00:05:51.399 Oh on this side, I adore botany. It's my particular hobby. 100 00:05:51.839 --> 00:05:55.560 Oh really, you never told me that before, Miss Markham. 101 00:05:55.920 --> 00:05:59.720 Oh I was afraid too. You were so oh so 102 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:01.519 posing with a beard and all. 103 00:06:01.879 --> 00:06:06.319 Well, I you might be interested in some specimens of 104 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:08.639 alpine polyanthes that were sent to me by a friend 105 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:09.279 in Switzerland. 106 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:13.480 Switzerland. I used to go there for my holidays before 107 00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:13.920 the war. 108 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:15.360 You like Switzerland. 109 00:06:15.480 --> 00:06:20.000 I love every part of it, the lakes, the mountains, 110 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:24.680 the beautiful spring flowers, especially the flowers. 111 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:28.360 Oh yes, it seems we have quite a lot in common, 112 00:06:28.360 --> 00:06:32.000 Miss Markham. I'm I'm sorry we haven't talked before. 113 00:06:32.439 --> 00:06:37.240 Oh, I am too. It is all the thought of 114 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:38.000 the beard. 115 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:42.600 I suppose, Miss Markham. Forgive me if this sounds foolish, 116 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:46.279 but I feel that shaving off my beard is the 117 00:06:46.279 --> 00:06:49.720 most important thing I've done for twenty years. 118 00:06:49.879 --> 00:06:53.680 Oh it is, I'm sure it is. I'm a shamed 119 00:06:53.680 --> 00:06:55.519 that I've been so distant with you all the time, 120 00:06:56.639 --> 00:06:59.680 or there were times when I almost spoke up, times 121 00:06:59.720 --> 00:07:02.160 when you came in here tired after day with your 122 00:07:02.199 --> 00:07:07.720 students of the university. You seem so alone, the way 123 00:07:07.759 --> 00:07:10.920 I'm alone in the world. I'd like to have asked 124 00:07:10.920 --> 00:07:13.920 you to stay awhile and talk with me, But some 125 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:17.040 way or other I wound up giving you your change 126 00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:19.079 and letting you go on your way. 127 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:22.600 You you say you're all alone in. 128 00:07:22.560 --> 00:07:24.959 The world since my father died. 129 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:26.839 Well, did you never think of marrying? 130 00:07:27.639 --> 00:07:31.720 My father was a very remarkable man. I never found 131 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:34.399 anyone who seemed to measure up to what he led 132 00:07:34.439 --> 00:07:37.240 me to expect of men. And then the war came. 133 00:07:37.319 --> 00:07:42.199 Miss Markham, It's been so long since anyone called me 134 00:07:42.240 --> 00:07:46.959 by my first name. I'd like you too, if you 135 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:58.240 don't mind. It's Marian, Marian and yours Herbert. How long 136 00:07:58.279 --> 00:07:59.079 had you been alone? 137 00:07:59.199 --> 00:08:00.839 Herbert alone? 138 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:03.600 Oh? I knew you were a widow, of course, the 139 00:08:03.639 --> 00:08:07.199 first time I saw you a widower. Oh, I can 140 00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:11.560 always tell there's a certain sadness in a man's eyes, 141 00:08:12.439 --> 00:08:15.480 a sweet sadness I think when he's been married and 142 00:08:15.519 --> 00:08:16.639 then a widower. 143 00:08:17.240 --> 00:08:20.519 I never thought of it in quite that way, Or perhaps. 144 00:08:20.199 --> 00:08:25.000 I shouldn't be talking like this, but I've often wondered 145 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:27.399 what she must have been like your wife. 146 00:08:27.480 --> 00:08:31.680 I mean Hermione h not an easy woman to forget, 147 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:37.159 very strong, always managing things, the house, my wardrobe, my friends. 148 00:08:37.720 --> 00:08:40.120 When we dined at a restaurant, she even ordered my food. 149 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:46.480 She was always managing things. You might say she managed 150 00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:47.240 herself to death. 151 00:08:47.799 --> 00:08:48.759 Oh poor woman. 152 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:52.879 She must have loved you very much, but she need 153 00:08:52.919 --> 00:08:55.879 have put herself out. So it's plain to see. You 154 00:08:56.000 --> 00:09:01.799 don't need things managed for you. You need companionship, I think, 155 00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:07.840 someone sympathetic with your work. But the last thing on 156 00:09:07.879 --> 00:09:09.039 earth you need is a manager. 157 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:13.120 How well you put it, the last thing on earth. 158 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:22.440 That's the first time I thought of it, of course. 159 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:26.240 But suddenly a whole new world opened up before my eyes. 160 00:09:27.480 --> 00:09:32.360 Marian America. No more of Hermione is planning my life 161 00:09:32.360 --> 00:09:35.200 for me. By the time I got home, my mind 162 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:36.240 was working overtime. 163 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:39.559 Well at last, you certainly took long enough about it. 164 00:09:39.679 --> 00:09:41.639 What are you looking so pleased about. 165 00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:44.600 I don't really know getting rid of the beard. Perhaps 166 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:46.279 I feel twenty years younger. 167 00:09:46.600 --> 00:09:50.440 You look even smaller. Your face looks triangular or something. 168 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:51.919 I've forgotten. 169 00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:55.120 Your chin was so weak. Oh, but never mind that 170 00:09:55.159 --> 00:09:57.559 you can grow it back soon enough after Christmas. 171 00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:00.240 Where are you going down to the cellar? I just 172 00:10:00.279 --> 00:10:02.480 bought this electric lantern, and I thought i'd put it 173 00:10:02.519 --> 00:10:03.320 away down there now. 174 00:10:03.440 --> 00:10:05.039 Whatever possessed you to buy a thing. 175 00:10:05.039 --> 00:10:08.000 Like that, I don't know. I'd rather like this lantern 176 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:10.759 might come in handy. 177 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:14.279 Who knows, now, Herbert, don't start digging down there again. 178 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:16.480 I have a hundred things to do, putting the house 179 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:18.679 in order before we leave. I want you to carry 180 00:10:18.679 --> 00:10:19.559 these boxes. 181 00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:21.120 Upstairs for me, yes, somione. 182 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:22.720 And if you're going down to the cellar, take this 183 00:10:22.759 --> 00:10:24.200 along and stuff it into the furnace. 184 00:10:24.919 --> 00:10:27.039 This is my old bathroom. I may need it. 185 00:10:27.279 --> 00:10:29.799 Nonsense, I've bought you a new one. Get rid of it, 186 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:33.440 and don't start puttering down there with that devil's garden 187 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:34.279 or whatever you call it. 188 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:37.960 I'm through digging, my dear. I think the pit is 189 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:49.559 quite deep enough now. For my devil's garden. It would 190 00:10:49.559 --> 00:10:52.720 all have to be carefully planned, of course, just as 191 00:10:52.759 --> 00:10:55.799 carefully planned as Hermione was planning the trip to America. 192 00:10:56.960 --> 00:11:00.000 We both went about our respective engagements. As the days passed, 193 00:11:01.159 --> 00:11:03.039 I spent all the time I could with Marian and 194 00:11:03.639 --> 00:11:07.000 finally she consented. And then it was the last day, 195 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:12.000 the big day, the day we were to sail for America. 196 00:11:12.840 --> 00:11:16.799 Operator, Operator, Are you there? I'm still waiting. I might 197 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:22.000 call to Salisbury. Oh, we'll put them on quickly. Hello. 198 00:11:22.840 --> 00:11:26.360 Is this Paul Holton's sons? Missus Herbert Carpenter here? Did 199 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:30.120 you receive my letter? Oh? Good? Now, remember we'll be 200 00:11:30.200 --> 00:11:33.279 back for Christmas and I want the job done without fail. 201 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:36.000 What's there? Oh? 202 00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:39.600 No, I'm sure he doesn't suspect anything. Send the bill 203 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:42.320 to me in New York, as I instructed you. Oh, 204 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:47.320 thank you, thank you so much. Oh there you are, Herbert. 205 00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:48.000 Where have you been? 206 00:11:49.399 --> 00:11:50.600 I dismissed the servants. 207 00:11:51.080 --> 00:11:54.799 Dismiss the servants. But I've asked some friends into a 208 00:11:54.840 --> 00:11:57.559 farewell tea. Go and tell them it's a mistake. 209 00:11:57.679 --> 00:12:00.000 I'm afraid it's too late now they've packed. 210 00:12:00.320 --> 00:12:03.639 God, Oh, you have messed up things properly. How many 211 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:05.320 times have I told you to leave things to me, 212 00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:08.879 I make the plans around here. Yes, hermione, you'll have 213 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:10.960 to do better than this when I plan the trip home, 214 00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:13.000 or we'll never in the world be back for. 215 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:15.519 Christmas, back for Christmas, back for Christmas. Must you keep 216 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:16.840 saying that, why not. 217 00:12:17.240 --> 00:12:18.840 We are coming back for Christmas? 218 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:21.799 Aren't we supposing I were offered a professorship in one 219 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:23.480 of those wealthy American universities. 220 00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:26.559 Nonsense? Americans care nothing for botany. 221 00:12:26.919 --> 00:12:28.559 Luther Burbank was an American. 222 00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:32.120 That's different. What have you ever done except muck around 223 00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:34.480 and the dirt with a lot of roots and chobers. 224 00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:36.519 The basket meat lecture that means something. 225 00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:40.240 Of course, they asked you to lecture. Americans are paid 226 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:43.799 to hear any foreigner deliver a lecture once. Now, there's 227 00:12:43.799 --> 00:12:46.440 no use getting yourself in a state about this, Herbert, 228 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:49.679 No doubt this extra money will come in very handy 229 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:55.120 when we arrive back for Christmas precisely, And it's no 230 00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:58.240 good you're making a joke of it. Heaven knows where 231 00:12:58.279 --> 00:13:00.320 you'd be today if I hadn't got a sense of time. 232 00:13:00.559 --> 00:13:02.639 Yes, my dear hermione, And since. 233 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:05.279 You've been so foolish as to dismiss the servants. You 234 00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:07.759 may empty the ash trays and straighten up this room. 235 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:10.519 While we're waiting for the guests to arrive. I am 236 00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:13.720 going upstairs to change Call me when they get here. 237 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:23.200 Yes, Hermione, Yes, Hermione, Yes, Hermione. For twenty years, Hermione, 238 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:27.600 always so right, thought of everything, well, not quite everything. 239 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:32.200 She's dressing now, safe to call Marian. Oh, if Marian 240 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:34.679 were to change her mind, now, if she had any idea, 241 00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:41.440 I was not a widower. Hello, oh, Marian Herbert. No, no, 242 00:13:41.559 --> 00:13:46.399 my darling, nothing's wrong. My plans are the same unless 243 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:53.720 you've changed. Good. We'll meet in New York as we planned. Yes, Yes, 244 00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:57.279 I do love you, my darling. I'm sorry I can't 245 00:13:57.320 --> 00:14:00.480 talk any longer. Yes, I I'm meet you in New 246 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:03.960 York a week from tomorrow without failed goodbye till then? 247 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:07.039 Were you talking on the phone just now? 248 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:11.919 Yes, Hermione. Whoever was it Freddy Freddy's in clare? Of course? 249 00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:15.320 Oh didn't I hear you say something about meeting somebody 250 00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:15.879 in New York? 251 00:14:16.039 --> 00:14:18.879 Why? Yes? Old Freddy said he might possibly get out 252 00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:21.360 to America before we leave, and I said, of course 253 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:23.080 we'd meet him there if he decides to go. 254 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:27.480 That seems very peculiar. But then all of your friends. 255 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:29.240 Are peculiar, is hermione. 256 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:32.159 And just look at your jacket. Have you been digging 257 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:35.639 in that cellar again? Yes, hermione, Well there's no need 258 00:14:35.720 --> 00:14:38.840 for it. You can't possibly get that Devil's garden thing finished. 259 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:42.360 Go and change your clothes before the guests arrive. Yes, Oh, 260 00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:44.720 never mind, I see somebody coming up the walk. Now 261 00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:45.600 go and let them. 262 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:50.559 In, yes, hermione, Harbert, Yes, my dear, look out the window. 263 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:54.960 There's Professor and missus Hewett. But who's that with them? 264 00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:55.360 Why? 265 00:14:57.240 --> 00:15:03.559 Hey, precisely Freddy's Claire peculiar. You should have been talking 266 00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:05.879 to him on the phone not three minutes ago, and 267 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:06.799 now here he is. 268 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:11.440 He yes, isn't it? But then, as you say, Hermiami, 269 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:13.960 all of my friends are peculiar. 270 00:15:13.799 --> 00:15:16.559 Not half so peculiar as you digging in the cellar 271 00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:19.919 an hour before we leave for America. Just look at yourself, 272 00:15:20.279 --> 00:15:22.600 and now that I think of it, yes, hermione. Oh, 273 00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:24.240 never mind going let the me in. 274 00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:28.080 You were going to ask me something, hermione. But the 275 00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:29.600 whole I'm digging in the cellar. 276 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:32.679 Oh good heaven, stop rolling your eyes about that way. 277 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:35.200 One would think you were digging a grave down there 278 00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:36.399 instead of a storage bin. 279 00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:40.799 Yes, Hermione, was it, I said, yes, Hermione. 280 00:15:40.840 --> 00:15:44.399 Oh, bather opened the door and stop saying yes, Hermione. 281 00:15:44.919 --> 00:15:47.440 I think, my dear, I've said it for the last time. 282 00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:57.600 Bag for Christmas. Hermione was so positive we would be 283 00:15:57.679 --> 00:16:01.759 back for Christmas last afternoon, pouring tea for a few 284 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:03.720 friends who'd come in to say last minute farewell. 285 00:16:03.799 --> 00:16:06.879 She kept reiterating, Oh, I promise you, missus, Hewart, remember, 286 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:09.759 we absolutely must have you with us for Christmas. 287 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:10.879 Oh, we'll be back. 288 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:13.799 It's not absolutely certain, of course, Herbert. 289 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:14.840 What do you mean it's not certain? 290 00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:18.200 Of course, it's certain after all, Herbert, old boy, you've 291 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:20.879 contracted your lecture for only three months, quite right. 292 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:23.960 But then, of course anything may happen. 293 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:28.600 Herbert adawes being unpredictable. Now what Arthur Man would dig 294 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:30.759 a great hole in the cellar on the very day 295 00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:34.080 he was leaving for America, A hole in this cellar. Yes, 296 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:38.320 he's going to put some unclassified wild orchids down there, 297 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:44.159 a devil's garden, if you'll please. Sounds mysterious, that's Herbert, though, 298 00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:46.440 He's rarely quite simple once you find out what he's 299 00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:49.000 up to. Now take that telephone call he put through 300 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:53.279 to you a few moments before you arrive, Freddy to me, Yes, 301 00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:56.279 Herbert wanted to surprise me about your plan to meet 302 00:16:56.320 --> 00:16:59.039 us in New York next month. That's why he called, 303 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:01.159 of course, to our you, not to mention it. 304 00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:04.240 But my dear Hermione, Herbert couldn't possibly have telephoned me 305 00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:05.000 within the past hour. 306 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:06.720 I have been walking in the parks. 307 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:09.279 History he didn't telephone you, well. 308 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:11.519 How could he? And as for my going to America, 309 00:17:11.880 --> 00:17:15.759 come come, Freddy, you may as well own up. Hermione 310 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:18.559 has found me out again. But Herbert, old Chaper, I 311 00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:19.240 really don't. 312 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:22.200 Want to Sare you see what a poor liar Herbert makes. 313 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:25.200 He's read as a beet root? Aren't you ashamed of yourself? 314 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:30.000 Professor stringing for Hermione along like that? And as for you, Freddy, 315 00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:33.440 I'm furious you said nothing to us about going to America. 316 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:35.839 But look here, olcan I've been trying to tell everyone that. 317 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:38.160 I have know enough for nonsense. The game's gone on 318 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:41.640 long enough. Perhaps Herbert's merely planning a surprise for me. 319 00:17:41.880 --> 00:17:43.519 Yes, let's leave it at that, my dear. 320 00:17:43.640 --> 00:17:46.680 Well, we must start getting ready. It was marvelous have 321 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:49.200 you to come in to say goodbye, And don't worry 322 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:53.039 about Herbert's little jokes. I will bring him back for Christmas. 323 00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:54.480 You may rely on it. 324 00:17:58.039 --> 00:18:01.559 They all believed her. For years she'd been promising me 325 00:18:01.640 --> 00:18:06.240 for dinner parties, garden parties, committees, and the promises had 326 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:09.640 always been kept. This time they wouldn't be. I'd seen 327 00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:12.440 to that the servants were gone for good, that the 328 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:15.480 farewells all said. I had time to the minute, how 329 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:17.039 long it would take to fill in the hole in 330 00:18:17.079 --> 00:18:22.079 the cellar in my devil's garden upstairs in the bedroom, 331 00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:24.640 I undressed, folded my clothes over a chair, and put 332 00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:27.240 on my old bathrobe. Then I opened the door into 333 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:31.240 Hermione's room. Are you ready, Herbert, Hermione? Have you a 334 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:32.359 moment to spare goose? 335 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:33.519 My dear, I've just finished. 336 00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:35.880 Then do come in here for a moment. There's something 337 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:37.759 rather extraordinary. 338 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:40.359 Here, good heavens, Herbert, what are you lounging about in 339 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:43.440 that filthy old bathrobe? For I told you to put 340 00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:44.359 it into the furnace. 341 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:47.400 I shall do it today, Yes, I really will, I promise. 342 00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:48.119 So high time. 343 00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:49.960 Now, what is it you want to show me? 344 00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:53.839 In the bathroom here? Just look? Who in the world 345 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:56.599 do you suppose dropped a gold chain down the bathtub drain? 346 00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:59.160 Nobody has, of course, nobody wears such a thing in 347 00:18:59.200 --> 00:18:59.640 this house. 348 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:00.839 And what doing there? 349 00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:03.599 I don't see anything, I hear. 350 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:07.720 Oh this flashlight for you. If you lean right over, 351 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:10.160 you can see it shining deep down. 352 00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:14.240 Such a lot of nonsense, just wisdom. I don't see it. 353 00:19:14.359 --> 00:19:17.640 Her go on looking, hermione in just a moment, how but. 354 00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:21.759 I absolutely refuse to wait about what are you doing? 355 00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:23.480 Take your hands off my neck? 356 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:25.440 I will, hermione, just as soon as I've finished the 357 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:27.240 arrangements for my trip to America. 358 00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:28.319 What are you talking about? 359 00:19:28.599 --> 00:19:30.440 You thought you were the only one who could plan things, 360 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:33.359 didn't you, hermione. Well, I've been making some plans of 361 00:19:33.400 --> 00:19:36.880 my own this past week. In exactly two minutes, you'll 362 00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:41.000 be dead, Hermione, you see, two minutes. I've planned it 363 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:41.920 very accurately. 364 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:44.400 You'll never get away with it. Let me come. 365 00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:46.440 I thought you'd say that, But I will get away 366 00:19:46.440 --> 00:19:49.119 with it. You won't mind the smell of the leaf 367 00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:50.799 mold down in the cellar when I take you there 368 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:55.559 to day. Yes, that's where you're going, Hermione, into my 369 00:19:55.640 --> 00:19:58.880 devil's garden that annoyed you so much. The soil is 370 00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:02.240 full of clay. It won't settle too much in a 371 00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:03.920 month or so. It won't even look as if it 372 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:04.759 had been dug up. 373 00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:08.039 My friends, they all expect me back for Christmas. H 374 00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:10.759 they don't hear from me. They'll wonder if I don't 375 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:12.599 come back. They start asking questions. 376 00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:16.519 Oh no they won't, because you'll write them letters, Amione, 377 00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:19.559 and the typewriter, as you always do. They'll be signed 378 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:21.799 each in that neat cryptic way you always sign your 379 00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:22.680 notes to your friends. 380 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:26.079 No, it won't work, her, but you never were any 381 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:27.200 good at planning things. 382 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:30.680 Oh but I've changed, my dear. I've learned from watching 383 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:31.720 you all these years. 384 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:36.279 The lecture people in America, they'll expect you to be traveling. 385 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:36.359 With your wife. 386 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:38.759 I will be traveling with my wife, but her name 387 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:42.680 will not be Hermione. Fortunately they'd never met you. Write 388 00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:45.599 a few letters home for you, then fewer and fewer 389 00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:49.400 write letters signed with my own name, always expecting to 390 00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:52.880 get back, but never quite able to keep the house 391 00:20:52.920 --> 00:20:55.599 one year, and then another and another. They'll get used 392 00:20:55.640 --> 00:20:57.720 to it. Might even come back alone in a year 393 00:20:57.799 --> 00:21:00.759 or two and clear it up properly. Say you died 394 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:03.599 in America. Nobody will ever suspect you're lying under the 395 00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:07.880 floor of the cellar in this very house pit dug 396 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:10.240 in the c I can assure you, my de hermione 397 00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:13.640 will serve its purpose. Well, sorry, my dear, got to 398 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:16.839 get this done on schedule. You have just five seconds 399 00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:21.480 to say you're prays. 400 00:21:18.119 --> 00:21:23.680 You don't do it. 401 00:21:36.599 --> 00:21:38.039