Endless Night Page #2

Well I guess we don't need Michael until

it's time to pick us up for the opera.

No, I guess not.

Say kid, do you know the ...

red-light district around here?

The dames in the windows?

Yes, sir.

Well stick around after the opera tonight ...

I just might treat you to one.

See if we can, uh, work of

some of this culture, huh?

Err, meanwhile, like we were saying;

your time's your own.

Thank you.

Thought I might spend it

at the Wright's museum ...

looking at the Rembrandt.

Jesus Christ!

He painted him too, sir ...

several times.

Excuse me.

Those faces ...

so strong ...

so sure of their own respectability.

They seem to be quietly sizing me up ...

and finding me wanting.

The ... car's just over there, sir.

Where the hell have you been all evening,

you were supposed to pick us up at the hotel?

Well I'm sorry, sir ...

but I got ... held up, just missed you,

so I came on here.

We waited around for you until eight-thirty!

We were late for the God-damn opera!

That must have upset you awfully, sir.

- You go ahead honey, I'll take care of this.

- Oh ... cr ...

What the hell were you doing,

God-dammit?!

I said I was sorry, sir.

You gonna stick around afterwards and err,

take me where I said, huh?

I don't think so, sir.

Why not?

Well I've looked up my duties

very carefully, and ... 'pimping' is not included.

Jason!

You wait! ...You just wait!

Yes, sir.

Yeah, baby.

I didn't have to wait long ...

My firm said I seemed to have forgotten

that the customer is always right.

Ten days later ...

I was back home again.

Oh, it's you. What have you come for?

Do I have to have a reason to visit my old Mum?

Ooh, got a cuppa tea, love?

Got another job yet?

Yes.

Filling station. Part time.

You'll go far, won't you.

I'm alright ... I got plans.

Plans! What plans?

If the wish can be willed,

then perhaps the means will follow.

Something's happened ...

What do ya mean?

You're excited.

Who's got hold of you, Mickey?

Got hold of me?

Oh, forget the tea, Mum!

The next day, I went down

to Gypsy's Acre again.

With my camera.

That was the first time I saw Ellie.

Very first time.

Oh!

Don't mind me!

Oh, I didn't see you.

I saw you. You got in my picture.

I didn't spoil it for you, did I?

You made it!

You ... you must think I'm

raving mad or something?!

I mean I don't usually

dance all by myself.

I got a little carried-away I guess.

Such a beautiful spot.

Like nowhere else.

- Do you live around here?

- No. Wish I did.

- American, aren't you?

- How d'ya guess?

Well what made you come up here?

You can't see it from the road.

I drove down to visit an

antique shop in Market Chadwell.

Oh yes, I know it.

And I'd heard it was beautiful

up here, so I came.

I'm glad I did.

I mean ... it really is very beautiful.

You didn't really take

any of me, did you?

Ah, that'd be telling.

Oh God, my hair!

No, I was ... I was just shooting a few

angles to send to an architect friend.

Oh, are you gonna build here?

One day ...

maybe.

I'm only a rental car driver.

Bit more to your right.

And there's not much bread in that.

Woah!

Perfect!

Why do you want me in it anyway?

Give Santonix some idea of the scale.

- Oh ... 'The' Santonix?

- Yes.

- He's very famous.

- Oh, he's a genius.

But isn't he ... well, isn't he

a little expensive?

It's just an idle dream.

Don't laugh, I'm the idle dreamer.

Why should I?

You know I like awake sometimes

thinking exactly what I'd do.

The house would ... rise up just

about where you are now ...

looking, clear-down to the sea.

And a drive, curving in like this

from the road ...

all the way to the house.

Clear ... clear all this lot away ...

over there, plant masses and masses

of Rhododendrons and azaleas.

Every colour in the book.

Over here ... flowering cherries.

Take your breath away on a fine day.

Oh ... it's all so clear in your mind.

Yes.

Bloody silly isn't it ...

when you really think about it.

- Staying over for long?

- Only a few days.

- Then back to the States?

- Lausanne, Switzerland.

Right now the family's establishing ...

- oh, I'm caught ...

- Careful ...

there.

Ok ... Oh ...

Erm ...

my family's establishing

residence there.

Tax reasons, or something.

Meanwhile, I'm taking singing

at the conservatorie.

Oh, are you good?

I guess I'll never sing at the Met.

What is it?

I've got a feeling we're being followed.

That's funny, that's what I

thought when I came here.

Keep walking.

Stay there!

What are you doing here?

You were following us.

This is private land ... trespassers

will be prosecuted.

This land's for sale.

There'll be no joy in it for the buyer.

What are you talking about?

We can none of us escape

from the past.

It was a very long time ago, of course.

What was?

They brought in a verdict

of natural causes.

But what happened afterwards,

to the Townsends here ...

Was felt to be a judgement.

Little more than a year, and then ...

only one left.

Is she with you?

Get away from this place, girl.

Go now before the harm's done.

I'm tuned-in, you see.

I can pick up the signals.

My gift is widely acknowledged

in Market Chadwell.

Who are you?

My name is Townsend.

I am the one that was left.

Nut case!

We breed 'em in England for visiting

Americans, helps the balance of payments.

Come on ...

Well ... goodbye.

I hope you get your house one day.

Do you know something ...

I don't even know your name!

Oh, Mike ... Mike Rogers.

Mike. And I'm Ellie, Ellie ...Thompson.

- Well, goodbye Ellie.

- Goodbye.

Ellie ...

Look ... couldn't we have tea together

at the Crown in Market Chadwell?

It's an incredibly old pub ...

Two stars in the Doomesday Book.

I'd like that very much.

- But I'd have to make a phone call first.

- Ok.

Townsend? I knew the old lady

when I was a youngster.

Oh it's true that people talked when

the old Captain's wife died and ...

the family was wiped out a little later

in the fire, but, err ...

she's no more a Townsend than I am.

She ... kids herself that the old Captain

was sweet on her Ma and she's the result ...

but, err ...

between you and me and the gatepost ...

she's the spitting image of her real dad ...

the Gamekeeper.

And now ... she lives up there in one of

Doctor Philpott's cottages, and ...

pops along once a fortnight to the

spiritualists ... to contact their dead.

Awkward if they both came through

wouldn't it?

Still she does ... sometimes, hit the odd

nail on the head, you know?

But then err ... I backed a winner myself

last week so what does that prove?

- Err, tea and toast was it, sir?

- Please.

Ok ...

Who were you phoning, your parents?

Haven't any.

Oh, I'm sorry.

It's alright.

That's more than made up for

by ... uncles, aunts, cousins ...

and believe it or not, a stepmother.

- Like Cinderella?

- Right!

Only, in reverse ...

They watch over me as if I were

a baby or something ...

If hadn't been for Greta I wouldn't even

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes