Brief Encounter

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Evening, Mr. Godby.

- Hello, hello, hello.

- Quite the stranger, aren't you?

- I couldn't get in yesterday.

- I wondered what had happened to you.

- I had a bit of a dustup.

- What about?

Saw a chap getting out

of a frst-class compartment.

When he came to give up his ticket,

it was only third class.

I told him to pay the excess,

and he turned nasty.

- I had to send for Mr. Saunders.

- Fat lot of good he'd be.

- He ticked him off.

- Seeing's believing.

I tell you,

he ticked him off proper.

"You pay the balance at once,

or I'll hand you over to the police. "

You ought to have seen the chap's face

at the mention of the word "police."

Changed his tune.

Then he paid up like lightning.

That's what I mean. He didn't have

the courage to handle it himself.

- He had to call in the police.

- Aw, he's not a bad lot, Mr. Saunders.

You can't expect much spirit from a man

with one lung and a wife with diabetes.

I thought something must be wrong

when you didn't come.

- I would've popped in to explain,

but I had a date and had to run.

- Indeed.

- Chap I know is getting married.

- Very interesting, I'm sure.

- What's up with you, anyway?

- I'm sure I don't know

to what you're referring.

- You're a bit unfriendly

all of a sudden.

- Beryl, hurry up.

Put some more coal in the stove

while you're at it.

I'm afraid I can't really

stand here wasting my time

in idle gossip, Mr. Godby.

- Aren't you going

to offer me another cup?

- When you've fnished that one.

Beryl'll give it to you.

I've got my accounts to do.

I see.

I'd rather you gave it to me.

Time and tide wait for no man,

Mr. Godby.

- Laura, what a lovely surprise!

- Oh, Dolly.

My dear, I've been shopping

till I'm dropping.

My feet are nearly off,

my throat's parched.

I thought of having tea in Spindle's,

but I was terrifed of losing the train.

- Oh, dear.

- This is Dr. Harvey.

- How do you do?

- Would you be a perfect dear

and get me my cup of tea?

I really don't think I could drag

my poor old bones over to the counter.

No, please.

Dear, what a nice-looking man.

Who on earth is he?

You're quite a dark horse.

I shall telephone Fred in

the morning and make mischief.

This is a bit of luck.

I haven't seen you for ages.

I've been meaning to pop in,

but Tony's had measles and I had

all that fuss over Phyllis.

- But, of course, you don't know.

My dear, she left me.

- Oh, how dreadful.

Mind you, I never cared for her much,

but Tony adored her.

I'll tell you all about that later

in the train. Thank you so very much.

There's certainly enough milk in it,

but still, it'll be refreshing.

- Oh, dear, no sugar.

- It's in the spoon.

Oh, of course.

What a fool I am.

Laura, you're looking

frightfully well. I wish I'd

known you were coming in today.

We could've come together

and lunched and had a good gossip.

I loathe shopping

by myself anyway.

- There's your train.

- Yes, I know.

- Aren't you coming with us?

- I go in the opposite direction.

My practice is in Churley.

- Oh, I see.

- I'm a general practitioner.

- Dr. Harvey's going out

to Africa next week.

- Oh, how thrilling.

... the 5:
40

to Churley, Leigh Green and Langdon.

- I must go.

- Yes, you must.

- Good-bye.

- Good-bye.

He'll have to run, or he'll miss it.

He's got to get over to the platform.

Talking of missing trains reminds me of

that awful bridge at Broadham Junction.

You've got to go traipsing all up one

side along the top and down the other.

- Well, the other day, I'd been

over about renewing the lease.

- Train Engine Chugging]

I arrived at the station at

exactly half a minute to spare.

My dear, I flew.

I'd got Tony with me,

and like a fool, I just bought a new

shade for the lamp in the drawing room.

I could've gotten it

just as easily here in Milford.

Well, it was the most enormous thing.

I could hardly see over it.

I've never been in such a hurry in

my life. I nearly knocked a woman down.

By the time I got home,

it was battered to bits.

- Oh, is that our train?

Is that the Ketchworth train?

- No, it's the express.

- The boat train.

Oh, of course. That doesn't stop,

does it? I want some chocolate, please.

- Milk or plain?

- Plain, I think.

Or, no, perhaps milk would be nicer.

Have you any with nuts?

Nestle's Nut Milk.

Shilling or sixpence?

I'll take one plain

and one nut milk.

- Large or small?

- Large, please.

Oh.

Where is she?

I never noticed her go.

Oh, I couldn't think

where you'd disappeared to.

I just wanted to see

the express go through.

What on earth's the matter?

Are you feeling ill?

- I feel a little sick.

- My dear, come and sit down.

- Bell Ringing]

- There's our train.

- It's all right.

Have you any brandy?

- I'm afraid it's out of hours.

- Oh, surely,

if somebody's feeling ill...

- I'm all right, really.

- Just a sip of brandy

will buck you up. Please.

- Very well.

- Thank you. How much?

- Tenpence, please.

The train for Ketchworth is now

arriving at platform three.

We shall have to hurry.

Oh, well, this is a bit of luck.

This train's generally packed.

I really am very worried about you,

dear. You look terribly peaky.

I'm all right. Really, I am. I just

felt faint for a minute, that's all.

It often happens to me. I did it once

in the middle of Bobby's school concert.

I don't think he's ever forgiven me.

- Well, he certainly was

very good-looking.

- Who?

Your friend, Doctor...

whatever his name was.

- Yes, he's a nice creature.

- Have you known him long?

No, not very long.

I hardly know him at all, really.

Well, my dear, I've always had

a passion for doctors.

I can well understand how it is

that women get...

I wish I could trust you.

I wish you were a wise,

kind friend,

instead of a gossiping acquaintance

I've known casually for years...

and never

particularly cared for.

I wish. I wish.

- Fancy him going all the way

to Africa. Is he married?

- Yes.

- Any children?

- Yes, two boys.

He's very proud of them.

- Is he taking them with him,

his wife and children, I mean?

- Yes, he is.

I suppose it's sensible in a way

rushing off to start life anew

in the wide open spaces,

but wild horses wouldn't

drag me away from England...

and home and all the things

I'm used to.

- One has one's roots

after all, hasn't one?

- Oh, yes, one has one's roots.

I knew a girl once years ago

who went to Africa.

Her husband was something

to do with engineering.

She had the most dreadful time.

She caught some awful germ

through going out on a picnic,

and she was ill for months.

I wish you'd stop talking.

I wish you'd stop prying,

trying to find things out.

I wish she were dead.

No, I don't mean that.

That was silly and unkind,

but I wish you'd stop talking.

My dear, all her hair came out, and she

said the social life was quite horrid.

- Provincial, you know.

Very nouveau riche.

- Oh, Dolly.

- What's the matter,

are you feeling ill again?

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