Asylum Page #2

man's whole future, it was sickening.

Policy is not your concern.

- I thought the policy was to reform.

- It's none of your bloody business!

- Is it really so difficult to behave?

- Like the other wives?

- Like the other little ladies?

- Frankly, yes.

- Bye, Mrs. Bain.

- Behave yourself, Charlie.

Here, let me show you.

Not here.

Oh, no!

- I just had a bath.

- Your point being?

- I forgot my checkbook.

- Oh.

- Where did you last see it?

- Well, I don't know, do I?

Here it is.

Here we go, young man.

Let's go to the zoo.

Shall we do that first?

And then we can go

into the shop we went to...

Are you all right?

Have you seen a ghost?

What's the matter, darling?

There was a patient.

- What patient? Where?

- In the house.

He might've been in Mommy's bedroom.

Who was he? Do you know him?

Can I use the phone, please?

Is everything all right?

It's been suggested

that your dealings with Edgar Stark...

went beyond propriety.

- Suggested by who?

- John Archer.

And there have been whispers

among the patients.

These rumors soon get back to me.

Naturally, I give them no credence...

but I do need to know

why they might have arisen.

Stella talked to Stark in the garden.

She talks to many of the patients.

What of it?

Stella?

Well, Charlie was fond of him so

of course I spoke to him occasionally.

- You danced with him at the ball.

- I danced with you, too.

I'm afraid it's true.

My God!

- Does Max know?

- I suspect so.

It's a bloody catastrophe!

The Home Office will be apoplectic,

and in my last year.

- Doubtless they'll require a head to roll.

- Well, they're not having mine!

Did you never think

the man might try to escape?

Of course not.

Otherwise, I would have prevented it.

Well, you were right about Max.

He's not for us.

Appalling, bloody stupid woman!

She practically chauffeured the man

out of the door!

As for the wife, never in 40 years.

He obviously has no control over her.

Who will be her next prey,

for God's sake?

He'll have to go.

May I suggest that we don't toss

that particular bone to the press?

At least, not yet.

We'll be crucified in the papers as it is.

They love a madman on the loose.

We must preserve the integrity

of the hospital for the future.

Peter, when the Inspector arrives...

do you think we can play down

the more lurid aspects...

of Stark's recent activities?

Naturally.

Do you think Stella

helped him to escape?

Not particularly. She was manipulated.

I suspect she's fallen in love with him.

You're fixated.

That's why you passed him fit for work

when you knew he was unstable.

Drivel. Your wife destabilized him.

One could hardly have predicted

that element in the equation.

I assume you're acting as Jack's

factotum sent to extract my resignation?

Spare us the grandiosity. Just get on

with your work and keep quiet.

I might remind you

that I'm your superior.

In what sense?

How long?

- You're supposed to time me.

- I'm sorry, darling.

If they catch him, will he be in trouble?

I don't think they will catch him.

He's been gone too long.

I think he's on a boat

sailing back to Australia.

I think you should come and talk to me.

Unofficially, of course.

Let me help you.

I might go up to town tomorrow

and do some early Christmas shopping.

- Something for me?

- Wait and see.

I'm Nick. It was me on the phone.

Why were you so late?

Had to be sure you weren't followed.

How do you know him?

I was his assistant...

before.

Did you think I'd abandoned you?

I couldn't contact you till it was safe.

And it's safe now?

- How was London?

- Busy.

I saw something for you,

but they didn't have your size.

I have to go and collect it next week.

Successful trip?

You find what you were after?

Yes. Finally.

Where is it?

Your shopping.

The shopping you did in London.

Where is it?

- It's for Christmas. I've hidden it.

- Where?

- If I told you, it wouldn't be hidden.

- Show me what you bought.

Show me! Damn you!

Happy Christmas.

Forgive me.

Does he suspect?

He's buried in his work.

Do you share a bed?

I'm yours.

So don't go back to him.

Come and live with me.

I can't just leave my family.

Yes, you can.

Give them up or don't come back.

Once you're here,

we'll find a way to bring Charlie, too.

Please.

I can't share you.

Decide.

How is Edgar?

What on earth do you mean?

Your housekeeper let slip

you're taking regular trips to London.

You're seeing him, aren't you?

If you knew women, you'd know

they like to shop occasionally.

Don't delude yourself

you're in love with a tortured genius.

He's a failed artist...

infinitely more dangerous

both to you and himself.

He's mine, and he needs my help.

Evidently, he disagrees.

You should know

what he did to his wife.

I don't need to know.

I have nothing to do with the man.

He beat her to death with a hammer

and then decapitated her.

He took a scalpel and cut out her eyes...

and then he hacked at her face

as if it were clay.

Perhaps there won't be

any more trips to London.

Perhaps your mental state is too fragile.

With Max's consent,

we can hold you here.

- Nonsense.

- But we can.

For your own safety, of course.

Stella...

tell me where he is.

Mrs. B, how do you spell amoeba?

With a dictionary, my dear.

Don't ask me.

I've got the brain of an amoeba.

She's...

She's having a little holiday.

I'm sure she'll be back very soon.

Shall I read to you?

Has she gone to Australia?

"That was Tom's great secret...

"the scheme to return home

with his brother pirates...

"and attend their own funerals.

"They had paddled over to the Missouri

shore on a log, at dusk on Saturday."

Can I move, please?

I've got pins and needles.

She taught me lots of things.

She's a black Caribbean.

Have you had a black woman?

No, you haven't. I have.

I was very drunk, but you know...

I couldn't quite do the samba.

She taught me a lot of things.

Take it off.

I'm working!

- I'm going for a walk, all right?

- Be careful.

Thank you.

- Are you following me?

- No.

What? You just like hanging around

in markets?

Have you any reason not to trust me?

- So why have me followed?

- It won't happen again. Sorry.

- Why don't you trust me?

- I said I'm sorry.

I'm working.

You're always working.

It's just like being with my husband.

- Is it?

- Yes.

- Like being with your husband, is it?

- Yes.

- Just like home?

- Yes.

- Is this what he was like?

- Yes.

Like this?

- Hooray! Look at that.

- Wonderful.

- Tell me.

- I miss Charlie.

It's all right. Don't be sad.

I love you.

It doesn't matter, but I do.

- No, you don't.

- I do.

I love him, too.

- Happy Christmas, Stella.

- Thank you.

You touch her again, I'll f***ing kill you!

Please stay, Nick.

I'm gonna clear out my stuff

before he gets back.

There's no point in arguing.

It's not my place, but...

Maybe you should come with me.

He's turning. I've seen it before.

With his wife?

I saw the body.

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