Footsteps in the Fog Page #5

to try and make herself look young,

I realised for the first time

how really old she was.

Yes, I know. I used to help dress her.

Well, I stuck it for ten years.

Ten years!

Because I wanted all the things that went with it.

And I've still got them.

I know what it is to want things,

wanting to be noticed,

to have people look at you with respect

in their eyes, not like you were a piece of dirt.

Wanting to be somebody...

...not just a skivvy

with her hands always smelling of onions.

They're different now.

I was just something in a uniform

to be shouted at and called names.

No feelings. Just nobody. Nothing.

A nothing, eh?

You know, I can't understand you.

How can you stay here?

Aren't you frightened to be in a house

with a man who has already tried to kill you?

Aren't you afraid?

Yes, I am.

I was so afraid that I wrote my sister a letter.

Letter? What about?

I told her all about you... and what you'd done.

I said she should open it

in case anything happened to me suddenly.

I congratulate you. You thought of everything.

Well, I only did it because I was afraid.

I only took the jewellery so as you'd notice me.

I only told you about the bottle of poison so that

you wouldn't be able to send me away from you.

I don't know what I'd do

if I didn't have you to look after.

- Oh! It's you, Burke?

- Oh! Oh, good evening, Mr Lowry.

- I didn't expect to see you back on this beat.

- I requested it, sir.

- I don't think I would have had the courage.

- You would, sir, if your wife had been murdered.

Yes. Good night, Burke.

Good night, sir.

- Oh, good evening, Mr Lowry.

- Oh, good evening.

Thank you.

You'll find Miss Elizabeth

in the drawing room, sir.

Stephen!

- I was afraid that the fog might hold you up.

- Good evening, Elizabeth.

Stephen, what is it? What's the matter?

- I saw Burke tonight.

- Burke?

Constable Burke. Just outside my house.

He was standing in the fog like a ghost

and we looked at each other.

Two men who had just lost their wives,

but with a horrible difference.

His had been brutally murdered,

for no apparent reason.

And I was suspected of that murder,

arrested and put on trial.

- And acquitted. It was an absurd charge!

- But, Elizabeth, what must he think?

You didn't see his face, hear his voice.

I... I can't get him out of my mind.

Stephen, I'm going to be really cross with you.

I've watched you all these months letting

yourself get more and more moody and bitter.

It's time you stopped tormenting yourself.

You have everything ahead of you.

Everything to live for!

Have I, Elizabeth? Have I everything to live for?

Why did you persuade David to defend me?

Did you think I would need a good lawyer?

Of course not!

I... I went to him because he was a friend.

And I wish you hadn't - anybody but him.

Don't you realise

it's put me under a lasting obligation to him?

But... I don't understand. Why?

How would like to be indebted to someone

of whom you're insanely jealous?

You're jealous of David? Oh, but you needn't be!

Don't you know, Stephen?

You needn't be jealous of any man.

Oh, I was so frightened of losing you!

If you'll excuse me, my dear,

I have something to say to your father.

Something I think I'm already aware of.

I know I should have spoken to you first, sir,

but all this happened without us thinking.

Not an unheard-of occurrence.

She's all I've got, Stephen.

I hope you're not taking her away too soon.

- Then I take it you don't object, sir?

- My dear boy, I'm delighted!

Well, you're very kind, sir.

Sit down.

Erm... there is just one little matter

I'd like to mention.

After all, a prospective father-in-law

has some privileges, eh?

- Well, of course, sir. Anything at all.

- Yes, sir?

- Andrews, bring two glasses of the '87.

- Very good, sir.

This business of that girl, Lily,

running your house,

being there alone with you.

Better put an end to it, my boy.

I only kept Lily on all this time because my wife

made her promise to look after me.

And, by George, she has!

Hardly ever lets me out of her sight.

Hm. Well, give her a little present.

Loyalty should always be rewarded.

- See that she gets another place.

- You're quite right, sir.

As a matter of fact, I have a plan in mind

that will take care of Lily very nicely.

Splendid, splendid. Ah, here's the port!

Nothing like laying down a good port, eh?

Well, here's to the future!

God bless us all.

Oh, Missy!

Lily! Delighted to see that you're still up.

Come in here.

I want to speak to you.

This is for you.

We have something very special to celebrate.

I want you to congratulate me. I'm engaged

to be married to Miss Elizabeth Travers.

I told you,

no other woman in the house while I'm here.

And I mean to be here. Even though

you tried to kill me once, I mean to be here.

I've lied for you, protected you and

I'm not going to give you up - ever!

Don't be an idiot!

You know I can't marry her.

- Well, then, I don't understand.

- Listen and I'll tell you.

You know that I'm Travers's partner, don't you?

Think how much stronger my position

will be if I'm his prospective son-in-law, too.

He'll turn over more and more authority to me

and I can lay my hands

on a great deal of money.

And we'll need all the money we can get

if we're going to America.

- We?

- Of course. You want to come, don't you?

We're two of a kind, Lily.

I find it rather comforting

to be with someone who knows all about me.

Knows the best and the worst.

Anyway, I'm fed up with it here.

America is the country for us.

Shall we drink to it?

To the future, and God bless us all.

That's better.

You know, you'll have to start preparing for this.

I can't have my wife behaving like a servant.

Wife?

- Do you mean you'd... you'd marry me?

- Why are you so surprised?

Don't make a fool of me, sir.

I'm not! I can't imagine

why it never occurred to you before.

You seem to have thought of everything else.

You could have made me do it at any time.

I haven't forgotten about that letter.

Oh, the letter?

Yes. We can't very well go to America

and leave that lying about, can we?

I'd forgotten all about that!

Well, I'll write to my sister

and tell her to send it back.

That won't do.

Something might happen to it in the post.

I'd tell her to burn it. She'd never open it.

I'll write to her before I go to bed, sir.

Not that I'll expect I'll get any sleep

with all of this to think about.

Mrs Stephen Lowry!

I'll try, sir. I'll learn.

I promise I won't disgrace you.

I'll do anything in the world for you.

Only don't send me away.

You're the only good thing

that ever happened to me.

If there's one way to lose a thing,

it's to put it away safe!

Now, here's another winner,

or my name's not Moresby.

That wouldn't surprise me, neither.

Golden Lassie. That appeals to me.

Oh, you can count on a lassie to do that

and no mistake.

Oh, there's that child again.

Here.

What about this Jersey Lily?

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