Endless Night Page #5

Santonix ...

They've taken a long time

time to get there ...

Yes.

But surely they wouldn't ...

Yes, why would anybody ...

Probably some hooligan.

A crank, more likely.

You've had a certain amount of

publicity, haven't you?

Very destructive spirit, Wanadi.

It couldn't be ... oh ... no, no,

surely not ...

What?

Miss Townsend?

Miss Townsend?!

It's just that ... she warned us off

when we first met here.

She rather frightened Ellie.

And well she ... she seems to be

always hanging around the place.

Oh, she is a bit odd, certainly ...

considers herself the local

seer and so on.

But I expect you know the story?

Oh, just one piece, thank you.

But I can't see her being guilty of

anything like malicious damage.

Matter of fact, my family owes

her something of a debt ...

One winter when I was

away army doctoring ...

she fished out a young

nephew of mine ...

who'd gone through

the ice in our lake ...

Damn ... slipped!

Sorry, Ellie.

Here, let me ...

It's just that ...

Well I was going to say that

my ... best friend at school ...

went like that.

Oh, I'm sorry.

David and Johnathan they

used to call us, we ...

we were together so much.

- Skating, was it?

- Yes, up on the reservoir.

Only the day before, we played in

the usual bit of Shakespeare ...

on Speech Day.

In those days I was crazy

to go on the stage ...

What say'st thou, noble heart?

What will I do, think'st thou?

Why, Roderigo ... go

to bed and sleep.

I will incontinently drown myself.

If thou dost, I shall never

love thee after it.

If thou wilt needs damn thyself ...

do it a more delicate way

than drowning.

Do you hear, Roderigo?

Roderigo!

Dad!

Dad!

Come to think of it, it could have

been a shot, couldn't it?

Mmm?

A shot ...

Oh yes, I s'pose it could.

Well ... goodbye.

- And if I can be of any help ...

- Thank you.

- Thank you again for the lovely ...

- Very nice to have met you.

- Goodbye

- Nice to have met you.

When you've settled in, I'll organise a

party for you to meet the neighbours.

- Good.

- Goodbye!

- Shall we go back there?

- Let's walk across that way dear ... yes.

I won't let anybody drive us away!

This is our house and we're

gonna stay in it!

Of course we are.

We said it like a challenge to fate ...

and for a time, it seemed to work.

Then ... Greta came.

It was only to be for the

weekend, Ellie said, but ...

Mike!

Come and see what

Greta's given us ...

our housewarming present.

Hello, Greta.

Hello, Mike.

You really shouldn't have Darling.

I can't wait to see it!

Oh ... isn't he beautiful!

Isn't he gorgeous!

Oh ... thank you Darling,

he's absolutely lovely!

- Isn't he Mike?

- Yes, very nice.

Now, where shall we put him?

Any ideas, Darling?

Several!

How about over there?

Get this thing out of the way ...

and that ...

Ahh ...

Mmm ...

good!

Except of course, that that

painting kills the cat.

Don't you agree, Michael?

Or the cat kills the painting.

Which incidentally, I happened

to have found for Ellie!

Oh you can put it anywhere.

Put it in the study.

Ooh ... ahh ... have you got

a pair of steps?

Get the steps, Darling.

Darling ...

I tried all right ...

It was a hell of a strain

that weekend ...

Greta being there.

But I certainly tried.

Until ...

My wife could easily have

been killed, Sergeant!

I tell you, she was scared stiff

and so was the bloody horse!

What the old lady

say to her exactly?

Yelled out something stupid about

seeing 'Death' riding at her shoulder.

Never yells as a rule, not

her usual style at all.

Oh well that's hardly

the point is it?

Unless this time somebody's

paying her to do it.

Now why should anyone pay her?

Dunno ... frighten you

and Mrs Rogers off?

You said something about it's ...

happened two or

three times before.

Yes, but I'd hardly have thought ...

Miss Townsend was the

sort you could bribe.

True, but supposing it was

put to her cleverly ...

that she ... wasn't living it up

like a Townsend ought to ...

not being a real Townsend that err,

might be her sensitive spot.

You must have some

reason for saying that.

Not really, Mr Rogers ...

'Cept that she hired a big Daimler

when she went on her last ...

table-rapping safari, and err ...

the bus has always been

good enough for her before.

Arrgh!

Ellie!

- Are you hurt?

- Oh, my ankle!

I fell on that thing and

I've twisted it, I think.

What on earth are you doing ...

out here in the middle

of the night, Darling ...

are you crazy?

Well, what about you?

What happened, Mike?

Nothing.

Nothing!

You scared me wandering

off like that, what was it?

It was nothing I tell you, I ...

I just couldn't sleep, love.

That's all.

Now, come on ...

see if you can walk.

- Can you?

- No!

Careful ...

There.

Greta!

What is it?

What's happened?

What have you done, Darling?

Twisted her ankle.

Oh, let me ...

No!

And what are you doing

out here anyway?

I thought I heard something.

There you are.

What was it?

Like a ... child crying.

Mike!

I tell you, there was nothing ...

now go to bed!

Mike ...

Mike!

Mmm?

That sound that you

and Greta heard ...

it wasn't a child was it?

It was a cat.

Siamese cat.

Coming along nicely.

Still, better keep the weight

off it for another day or two.

Lucky Miss Greta was able to

stay on to look after her.

Yes, wasn't it.

Blasted wasps!

Absolute plague, this year.

Oh, help yourself to a slice

of Quiche Lorraine ...

Dorothy made it herself.

Oh!

Oh ... hello, Michael.

Hello.

Err, we're neighbours now.

Yes I gathered we were to

have that pleasure ...

but I was not aware that

it was actually upon us.

Well ... I really must say

hello to darling Ellie.

And I was saying to your

Bishop only this morning ...

that ritual is ritual ...

and should be regarded as ritual.

Michael ...

how's the world of antiques,

business brisk?

Now, what are you all doing here?

Or shouldn't I ask?

Well, the Philpott's innocently assume

that you'd be pleased to see us.

Oh, and Frank and Beth happen

to be staying for the weekend, so ...

I brought them along. Simple.

Mmm ...

Err ... know anything for Ascot?

I ... haven't forgotten.

There's no need for the crack.

Good, isn't it?

Mmm, marvellous.

You going to that sale at, err, Brett

House next month, Michael?

Yes.

Thought I might pick up

something for the shop.

- I'll drive you over if you like?

- Oh, thanks.

- Remind you nearer the day.

- Fine.

... or gave way ... you naughty girl ...

Fraternising, Reuben?

Err, no ... I was just

chatting, you know?

I'd love to see the rest of

your garden Mrs Philbutt ...

- ... 'pott'.

- Yes, indeed.

I thought you were typing away

in some little office in London?

I am ...

thanks to those

splendid references.

Well you know the family

motto ... 'the truth shall prevail'.

Yes, but how do some

people recognise it ...

on such a slender aquaintance?

Michael ...

Yes?

Will you come now, please?

Now what's all this then?

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