Brief Encounter Page #5

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Fred, what's the matter?

- It's all right, but you must

keep calm and not be upset.

- What is it? What's wrong?

It's Bobby. He was knocked down

by a car on the way home from school.

Now it's not serious.

He was just grazed by the mudguard,

but it knocked him against the curb,

and he's got slight concussion.

The doctor's upstairs

with him now.

It's all right, Mrs. Jesson.

Nothing to worry about.

He'll be as right as rain

in a few hours.

You're sure?

You're sure it's not serious?

Quite sure, but it was

certainly a very lucky escape.

I've given him a little sedative,

and I shall advise...

keeping him at home

for a couple of days.

It must have been a bit of a shock...

I felt so dreadful,

Fred, looking at him, lying there...

with that bandage

round his head.

I tried not to show it,

but I was quite hysterical inside,

as though the whole thing

were my fault...

a sort of punishment,

an awful, sinister warning.

An hour of two later, of course,

everything became quite normal again.

He began to enjoy

the whole thing thoroughly...

and revelled in the fact

that he was the center of attraction.

Oh, good!

Do you remember how we spent

the whole evening planning his future?

But he's much too young

to decide really.

Good life, if the boy has

a feeling for it.

How can he possibly really know

if he has a feeling for it?

He'll probably want to be

an engine driver next week.

No, it was last week

he wanted to be an engine driver.

It seems so fnal, somehow, entering

a child of that age for the navy.

- It's a healthy life.

- I know it's a good life,

and I know it's a healthy life,

and I know he'll be able to see the

world and have a wife in every port...

and keep on calling everybody "sir,"

but what about us?

- What do you mean, "What about us?"

- We shall hardly ever see him.

- Oh, nonsense.

- It isn't nonsense.

He'll be sent away to sea

as a smooth-faced boy,

and the next thing we know,

he'll come walking in

with a long beard and a parrot.

I think you take rather

a Victorian view of the navy, my dear.

He's our only son, and I should like

to be there while he's growing up.

All right, old girl.

Then we'll put him into an offce,

and you can see him off

on the 8:
50 every morning.

And you can see him off

on the 8:
50 every morning.

You really are very annoying. You know

perfectly well I should hate that.

All right,

have it your own way.

- Fred?

- Hmm?

I had lunch with a strange man today,

and he took me to the movies.

- Good for you.

- He's awfully nice. He's a doctor.

- A very noble profession.

- Oh, dear.

It was Richard III who said,

"My kingdom for a horse," wasn't it?

Yes, darling.

Well, I wish to goodness he hadn't

because it spoils everything.

I thought perhaps we might

ask him to dinner one night.

By all means.

Who?

Dr. Harvey... the one

I was telling you about.

- Must it be dinner?

- Well, you're never at home for lunch.

Exactly.

Oh, Fred.

Now what on earth's

the matter?

It's nothing.

It's only that... Oh, Fred.

I really don't see

what's so frightfully funny.

Oh, I do. It's all right, darling.

I'm not laughing at you.

I'm laughing at me.

I'm the one that's funny.

I'm an absolute idiot, worrying myself

about things that don't exist...

and making mountains

out of molehills.

I told you when you came in

that it was nothing serious.

There was nothing to get

into such a state about.

I do see that now,

I really do.

When Thursday came,

I went to meet Alec,

more as a matter of politeness

than for any other reason.

It didn't seem of any importance,

but, after all, I had promised.

I managed to get

the same table.

I wanted a bit,

but he didn't come.

The ladies'orchestra

was playing away, as usual.

I looked at the cellist.

She seemed to be so funny last week,

but today, she didn't seem

funny anymore.

She looked pathetic,

poor thing.

After lunch, I happened to pass

by the hospital.

I remember looking up at the windows

and wondering if he were there...

or whether something awful

had happened to prevent him turning up.

I got to the station

earlier than usual.

I hadn't enjoyed

the pictures much.

It was one of those noisy

musical things, and I'm so sick of them.

I had come out

before it was over.

As I took my tea to the table, I

suddenly wondered if I'd made a mistake,

and he'd meant me

to meet him there.

Albert Godby, how dare you!

- I couldn't resist.

- I'll trouble you to keep

your hands to yourself.

You're blushing.

You look wonderful when you're

angry, just like an avenging angel.

I'll give you avenging angel,

coming in here taking liberties.

I thought after what you said

last Monday you wouldn't object

to a friendly little slap.

Never you mind about last Monday.

I'm on duty now.

A nice thing if Mr. Saunders happened

to be looking through the window.

If Mr. Saunders is in the habit

of looking through windows,

it's about time he saw something

worth looking at.

- You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

- It's high spirits, don't be mad.

High spirits, indeed.

Take your tea, and be quiet.

- It's all your fault, really.

- I don't know to what you're referring.

I was thinking of tonight.

If you don't learn to behave there won't

be a tonight or any other night, either.

- Give us a kiss.

- I'll do no such thing.

The lady might see us.

- Come on, a quick one across the bar.

- Albert, stop it!

- Come, there's a love.

- Let go of me this minute.

Albert! Now look at me Banburys

all over the floor.

Just in time

or born in the vestry.

You shut your mouth and help

Mr. Godby pick up them cakes.

Come along now...

what are you standing there gaping at?

As I left the refreshment room,

I saw a train coming in... his train.

He wasn't on the platform,

and I suddenly felt panic-stricken...

at the thought

of not seeing him again.

My dear, I'm so sorry.

I'd no way of letting you know.

- Your train, you'll miss it.

- The house surgeon

had to operate suddenly.

I was going to send a note

to the Kardomah, but I thought

they might shout your name.

Please don't say anymore.

Quickly, quickly, the whistle's gone.

I'm so glad I had a chance to explain.

I didn't think I'd see you again.

How absurd.

Quickly, quickly.

- Next Thursday?

- Yes, next Thursday.

- Good-bye! Next Thursday! Good-bye!

- Good-bye!

The train for Ketchworth is

about to leave from platform three.

The stars can change in their courses,

the universe go up in flames,

and the world crash around us,

but there'll always be Donald Duck.

I do love him so... his dreadful energy,

his blind frustrated rages.

It's the big picture now. Here we go.

No more laughter. Prepare for tears.

It was a terribly bad picture.

We crept out before the end,

rather furtively,

as though

we were committing a crime.

The usherette at the door

looked at us with contempt.

It was a lovely afternoon, and

it was a relief to be in the fresh air.

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