Brief Encounter Page #3

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- Who's on the gate?

- Young William.

Please, a glass of water.

I've got something in my eye,

and I want to bathe it.

- Would you like me to look?

- Oh, no, don't trouble.

I expect the water will do.

- Thank you.

- Bit of coal dust, I expect.

A man I knew lost the sight in one eye

through getting a bit of grit in it.

- Nasty, very nasty.

- Better?

- I'm afraid not. Ooh.

- Can I help you?

Oh, no, please,

it's only something in my eye.

- Try pulling your eyelid down

as far as it'll go.

- And then blowing your nose.

- Please let me look.

I happen to be a doctor.

- It's very kind of you.

Turn around

to the light, please.

Now look up.

Now look down.

Keep still. I see it.

- There.

- Oh, what a relief. It was agonizing.

- It looks like a bit of grit.

- The express went through.

Thank you very much, indeed.

- There we go. I must run.

- How lucky for me

you happened to be here.

- Anybody could've done it.

- Never mind, you did,

and I'm most grateful.

- There's my train. I must go. Good-bye.

- Good-bye.

That's how it all began...

just through me getting

a little piece of grit in my eye.

I completely forgot the whole incident.

It didn't mean anything to me at all...

at least

I didn't think it did.

The next Thursday I went

into Milford again, as usual.

I changed my book at Boots.

Miss Lewis had at last managed

to get the new Kate O'Brien for me.

I believe she'd kept it hidden

under the counter for two days.

On the way out, I bought

two new toothbrushes for the children.

I like the smell of a chemist's

better than any other shop.

It's such a mixture of nice things...

herbs and scent and soap.

That awful Mrs. Leftwich

was at the other end of the counter...

wearing one of the silliest hats

I've ever seen.

Wearing one of the silliest hats

I've ever seen.

Fortunately, she didn't look up, so

I got out without her buttonholing me.

Just as I stepped out

onto the pavement...

- Good morning. How's the eye?

- Oh, Good morning.

Perfectly all right. How kind it was

of you to take so much trouble.

- It was nothing at all.

It's clearing up I think.

- Yes, it's going to be nice.

- Well, I must be getting along

to the hospital.

- And I to the grocers.

- What exciting lives we lead,

don't we? Good-bye.

- Good-bye.

That evening I had to

run nearly all the way to the station.

I'd been to the Palladium, as usual,

but it was a terribly long film.

I was afraid I'd be late.

As I came up onto the platform,

the Churley train was just puffing out.

I looked up idly as the windows

of the carriages went by,

wondering if he was there.

I remember this crossing my mind

but it was quite unimportant.

I was really thinking

of other things.

The present for your birthday

was worrying me rather.

It was terribly expensive,

but I knew you wanted it,

and I sort of half taken the plunge

and left a deposit on it...

at Spink and Robson's

until the next Thursday,

the next Thursday.

Well, I squared my conscience

by thinking how pleased

you would be and bought it.

- Yes, I'll have it.

- Thank you, madam.

It was wildly extravagant,

I know, but having committed the crime,

I suddenly felt

reckless and gay.

The sun was out, and everybody in the

street looked more cheerful than usual,

and there was a barrel organ

at the corner by Harris's,

and you know how I love

barrel organs.

It was playing

"Let the Great Big World Keep Turning,"

and I gave the man sixpence

and went to the Kardomah for lunch.

It was very full, but two people had got

up from the tablejust as I had come in.

That was a bit of luck,

wasn't it? Or was it?

Just after I had given my order,

I saw him come in.

He looked a little tired, I thought,

and there was nowhere for him to sit,

- so I smiled and said...

- Good morning.

- Oh, good morning. Are you all alone?

- Yes, I am.

- Would you mind if I shared your table?

It's very full.

- No, of course not.

I'm afraid we haven't been introduced

properly. My name's Alec Harvey.

How do you do?

Mine's Laura Jesson.

- Mrs. Or Miss?

- Mrs.

- You're a doctor, aren't you?

I remember you said so that day

in the refreshment room.

- Yes.

Not a very interesting one. Just an

ordinary G.P. My practice is in Churley.

- Yes, sir? Excuse me, sir?

- What did you plump for?

Um, the soup and fried sole.

- Yes, I'll have the same.

- Anything to drink?

No, thank you. That is,

would you like anything to drink?

- No, thank you. Just plain water.

- Plain water, please.

Will you just look

at the cellist?

It really is dreadful, isn't it?

But we oughtn't laugh.

They might see.

There should be a society

for the prevention of cruelty

to musical instruments.

- You don't play the piano, I hope?

- I was forced to as a child.

- You haven't kept it up?

- No, my husband isn't musical at all.

- Good for him.

- For all you know, I might have

a tremendous burning talent.

- Oh, dear, no.

- Why are you so sure?

You're too sane

and uncomplicated.

I suppose it's a good thing

to be uncomplicated

but it does sound a little dull.

You could never be dull.

- Do you come here every Thursday?

- Yes, to spend a day at hospital.

Stephen Lynn, the chief physician here

graduated with me.

I take over from him once a week.

Gives him a chance to go to London.

- Gives me a chance

to study the hospital patients.

- I see.

- Do you?

- Do I what?

- Come here every Thursday?

- Yes, I do the week's shopping.

Thank you.

Change my library book, have lunch

and generally go to the pictures.

Not a very exciting routine,

but it makes a change.

- Are you going to the pictures

this afternoon?

- Yes.

How extraordinary.

So am I.

I thought you had to spend

all day at the hospital.

Well, between ourselves, I killed

two patients by accident this morning.

The matron's very displeased with me.

I simply daren't go back.

- How can you be so silly?

- Seriously, I did get through

most of my work this morning.

It won't matter at all if I play truant.

Would you mind if I came with you?

- Well, l...

- I could sit downstairs,

and you could sit upstairs.

Upstairs is too expensive.

The orchestra stopped

as abruptly as it had started,

and we began to laugh again.

I had no premonitions,

although I suppose I should have had.

It all seemed so natural

and so innocent.

We finished lunch, and that idiot of

a waitress had put the bill all on one.

- I really must insist.

- I couldn't possibly.

Having forced my company on you,

it's only fair I pay.

Please, don't insist.

I should so much rather we halved it.

- I would really, please.

- I shall give in gracefully.

We halved it meticulously.

We even halved the tip.

Thank you.

We have two choices: The Loves

of Cardinal Richelieu at the Palace...

- or Love in a Mist at the Palladium.

- You're very knowledgeable.

There must be no argument about buying

the tickets. We each pay for ourselves.

You must think me a poor doctor

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