Eye of the Needle Page #3

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- Now you know how it got its name.

You were swept into the bay.

Everything always is.

Please, don't get up.

- I've frightened your little girl.

- He's a boy.

- I'm sorry.

- No. I must cut his hair.

Was anyone else on board with you?

David, we really must

put the poor man to bed.

No, I was alone.

Didn't you bother

to get a weather report before you left?

No.

- Did you notify the coastguard?

- David, what does it matter?

Because if he did, there may be men out

there risking their lives looking for him.

- And we can let them know that he's safe.

- No.

I... I... I did not

notify the coastguard.

I'll just turn the bed down.

- I've never seen anybody so exhausted.

- But, Mummy...

Jo, you must play terribly quietly

so that the man upstairs can sleep.

He won't hear anything.

- Mummy, why...

- David,

who do you suppose he is?

A damn fool to be out in this weather.

He's not a working sailor.

- He's not a working sailor?

- No.

I noticed his hands are terribly soft.

His hands?

He's wearing a suit for God's sake.

You're very observant all of a sudden,

aren't you?

I'm going over to Tom's.

David. Suppose he wakes up?

Who's that man in my room, Mummy?

I don't know, darling.

...a girl with long blonde hair

with diamonds in it.

- Do you know what diamonds are?

- Sort of treasures, aren't they?

I must cut your hair soon.

If you didn't,

would it grow and grow and grow?

Yes. It would grow down to your ears.

Then it would go down to your chin.

Then it would grow down past here.

Then it would curl up here.

Then it would start tickling your feet,

and we'd all have to get out of the bath.

Why?

Because if people don't

get out of their baths, they melt.

But I haven't.

Mummy...

Mummy, can I have my room back?

Of course you can. Come on, darling.

Get out of the bath.

Do try not to cross-question him.

I'm not cross-questioning.

It's perfectly normal to wonder who he is.

I just think it would be nice

if you didn't go on at him.

I'm only trying to find out what happened.

Come in.

Good evening.

Hello. How are you feeling?

Better, thank you.

I'm Henry Baker.

Hello. I'm Lucy. Lucy Rose.

- How do you do?

- This is my husband David.

- How do you do?

- How do you do? Have some hot soup.

Thank you.

- Bread?

- Yes, thank you.

Can you tell me the time, please?

It's ten to nine.

Ten to nine?

- Help yourself to cider.

- No, thank you.

Thank you.

I'm... very hungry.

- This is Storm Island?

- That's right.

- And what do you do here?

- Sheep farmer.

- Really?

- I'm going to bed. My back's playing up.

You're a fool. Lucky to be alive. Why were

you out in the storm in the first place?

Because I had no idea

it was going to be so severe.

Give me two. I want to sleep.

I can do that.

Good night.

- Would you like some more soup?

- No, thank you. It was delicious.

There's some brandy next door.

Would you like some?

Do sit down.

Where do you live, Mr Baker?

I used to live on that boat.

I suppose I am a damn fool.

I moved from London about a month ago.

- Really? I haven't been there for years.

- When were you last there?

Four years ago.

And that was to have a baby.

- You've been here four years?

- Yes.

My goodness.

I hope you have friends here.

Well, there's Tom

who takes care of the lighthouse

and the ferry comes

every other Monday with our supplies.

- That's all?

- Yes.

- Cheers.

- Cheers.

What do you do if there's an emergency?

There's a radio transmitter

at Tom's cottage,

but that's really

more to do with the lighthouse.

It seems a terribly lonely place to live.

Well, you see, David and I had a motor

accident on the day we were married.

That's how he lost his legs.

He was training to be a fighter pilot.

And then after the accident he...

Well, we both wanted to run away,

so we came here.

It seemed like a good idea.

It might have been a mistake.

You can't blame him

for wanting to run away.

No, I don't.

It's terribly sad.

No, it was our fault completely.

We'd had a bit to drink

and we were driving much too fast...

- Suddenly there was this lorry...

- No, I meant it was terribly sad

because you're so unhappy now.

Is it that obvious?

I do love him, you know.

The way he used to be.

The times when he's suddenly like

the old David and he and Jo and I

go and have a picnic on the cliff

or something like that.

He spends most of his time now

with Tom. I think they just sit and drink.

The first year that we were here

my parents came to visit.

I can't tell you.

He was silent and he hid from them and...

I feel sad for Jo, really.

He keeps asking about his granny

and where she is.

- He's a nice little boy.

- Isn't he.

And he's so clever.

And he's very brave.

- And lucky.

- Why do you think?

To be so loved.

No. I'm his mother.

- All parents love their children.

- No.

No, not all.

Some parents...

Some parents use their children.

Set goals for them, goals they

weren't able to attain in their lives.

Hardly love, do you think?

No, hardly.

I wonder why you go on

if it's not working.

I suppose if I were perfectly frank,

I'd admit that I couldn't bear the idea

that all the years of trying were wasted.

I really don't think... I could bear that.

Oh, dear. Four years on this island

and I've become such a bore.

Tell me, Mr Baker, are you married?

- No.

- What, through choice or bad luck?

- You think it's good luck to be married?

- Well, yes, normally.

- Sometimes I imagine myself married...

- To another man.

- You've hurt yourself.

- I'm awfully sorry.

You're very beautiful.

Please, don't.

We tied up Friday afternoon, nice and

early, to keep out of that bloody storm.

It's Sunday. Why did you not

let us know she was gone?

- I haven't been down here since.

- McKillop,

could that boat have survived the storm?

Not a chance.

Why do you think I left her here?

If he were on it where could he be now?

- At the bottom of the sea, the fool.

- Good riddance to bad rubbish.

- He'd be drowned.

- I'll believe that when I see the body.

Morning.

- I've saved some coffee. Black or white?

- No, thank you.

- I'll make you some breakfast.

- No. I'll wait for lunch.

It's lamb stew for lunch. David says it

won't be long until we all turn into sheep.

- Where is he?

- He's just gone out with Jo

to check on the flock.

Good morning, Lucy.

- Good morning.

- You don't despise me, do you?

No. How could I?

Well, you could. I could.

It can't happen again. It won't.

Do you regret it?

Let's go out.

You'll be gone soon.

Now the storm's over.

Not in that, I won't.

I don't even know what you do.

I'm a writer.

A writer? Are you really?

Good Lord.

What do you write about?

The war.

Not battles and killing,

but isolation.

The feeling some men have of being

suddenly separated

from every other man.

But I thought war was meant

to bring people closer together.

Not me.

And you?

- Is there a woman in your book?

- I shall put you in it.

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