Gaslight Page #2

It seemed there was no city

in the world...

that was colder to the homeless...

or that could be warmer

to the ones who had a home.

How I used to long

for a home of my own...

in one of those quiet houses

in the little London squares...

with the woman

I should one day come to love.

Could we settle down in London?

Not in a house in a square, perhaps...

Paula, why do you look like that?

- Because there is a house in a square.

- What house?

- She left it to me.

- She?

You mean Alice Alquist?

She was my mother's sister.

My mother died when I was born.

I don't know anything about her

or my father.

I lived with my aunt always

as if I were her own.

After it happened I never went back.

That house

comes into my dreams sometimes...

a house of horror.

It's strange.

I haven't dreamed of it

since I've known you.

I haven't been afraid since I've known you.

- Afraid?

- Yes.

For years I've been afraid

of something nameless...

ever since she died.

You've cast out fear for me.

If it were true,

it would make me very happy.

It is true. I've found peace in loving you.

- I could even face that house with you.

- No, Paula, beloved.

- I would not ask that of you.

- Yes, you shall have your dream.

You shall have your house in a square.

Good morning, daffodils.

Good morning, tulips.

Percy! There it is, dear.

What are you doing, my good man?

Turning on the water

in Number 9, ma'am.

Nine? Why nine?

Orders, ma'am.

It must be going to be occupied at last,

after all these years.

Wouldn't care to live in there, myself.

I don't know about living there,

but I would like to get a peep inside.

- Good morning.

- Good morning.

- Are we late?

- Not at all. I've only been here a moment.

- Good morning, Mr. Anton.

- Good morning.

It's you. Don't you remember me?

In the train in Italy last month.

Diggy biscuits.

Yes, of course, I do.

Don't tell me

you're coming to live in Number 9?

Yes.

We mustn't keep Mr. Mufflin waiting.

- Sorry, I must go now. Perhaps we can...

- I'll call directly you're settled.

That's my house over there,

with the pink curtains.

Goodbye, for the present.

Goodbye. I'm so glad

we are to be neighbors.

So am I.

This lock needs oiling.

If there's anything further I can do,

let me hear from you. Good day.

- Good day.

- Good day, Mr. Anton.

Now, Paula...

- This is the dining room?

- Yes.

There's a little study beyond it.

- And the drawing room is upstairs?

- Yes.

Come, Paula.

Don't stand there in the doorway.

Will you light the gas, please?

- Gregory.

- It's a very handsome room.

Yes, but to see it like this...

I remember parties in this room

when it was full of flowers and light.

Those must have been wonderful days.

It's all dead in here.

The whole place seems to smell of death.

There. It will all be fresh again

in a moment.

That's where she kept her treasures.

Things she collected

on her tours around the world.

- The glass is broken.

- It was broken that night.

All the things were disarranged,

but there was nothing missing.

I know all these by heart.

It was a great treat

when she'd unlock them...

and take them out

and tell me all their stories.

- Careful, dearest.

- She wore this glove in Romeo and Juliet...

at the command performance

at Covent Garden.

Gounod signed it for her afterwards.

I never knew what happened

to the other glove.

I used to ask her sometimes...

but she'd only laugh

and say she'd given it away.

A very great admirer.

She would never tell me who.

I wish I could have seen her.

Let me show her to you.

That's as the Empress Theodora.

That was her greatest role.

When she sang it in St. Petersburg...

the Czar used to come

to every performance.

She was very beautiful,

very much like you.

It was there that I found her,

there in front of the fire...

under her own portrait.

I was in bed, and something woke me.

I've never known what.

I came running down the stairs...

frightened, as if I knew

what had happened.

She had been strangled.

She had been strangled.

Her lovely face was all...

No, I can't stay here.

Then how would it be if we took away

all these things that remind you so of her?

The painting, all this furniture.

Shut it away so you can't even see it?

Suppose we make it a new house

with new things, beautiful things...

for a new, beautiful life for us.

Yes, and then later,

we'll have people here and parties again.

- Don't you want to?

- Later, yes, but not just at once.

Let us have our honeymoon here

by ourselves for a little longer.

- Yes. I only...

- I know.

Later.

Now, where should we put

all these things?

There is an attic under the roof.

All her trunks are up there

and all her costumes.

Then we'll put all these there, too,

and then we'll board it up...

so you'll never have to see it again,

never even think of it.

That piano traveled with her everywhere

in the great days.

It will need tuning terribly.

Look, here's some of her music.

Her score of Theodora, just as she left it.

We'll send those upstairs with all the rest.

No, not her music.

Perhaps later I might like to study again.

I'd like to have her scores to study from.

- What makes you play that?

- Why not?

That was her great song.

She always used it in her concerts

for her last encore.

It was everybody's favorite.

Here's an old letter.

"Dear Miss Alquist,

I beg of you to see me just once more.

"I have followed you to London."

It was written two days

before she was murdered.

- Where did you find that?

- In this score. She must have left it there.

It was written by somebody

called Sergis Bauer.

Give it to me!

- Gregory, what is it?

- I'm sorry...

I didn't mean to be so violent.

It's just that...

Why does this letter upset you so?

It's not the letter.

It's just that I am upset for you.

All these things are reminding you of her.

You said that you had lost your fears,

and now everything you touch here...

brings them back.

While you are afraid of anything,

there cannot be any happiness for us.

You must forget her.

No, not her.

Only what happened to her.

Elizabeth! I say! Elizabeth!

- Good afternoon, Elizabeth.

- It's you, miss.

- Good afternoon.

- Good afternoon.

- The house is looking very nice now.

- What's that, miss?

I said, the house looks very nice now...

- from the outside.

- Yes, miss.

I expect you're glad

you got rid of the workmen at last.

Yes, miss.

Do you think that Mr. And Mrs. Anton

will be ready to receive callers soon?

I couldn't say, miss, I'm sure.

We haven't had no visitors yet.

Master says seeing people

isn't good for her.

She hasn't been feeling too well lately.

- I'm sorry to hear that.

- What's that, miss?

I said, this fine summer weather

we're having ought to do her good.

Yes, miss.

They're going out this afternoon.

First time for some while. Good day, miss.

Good day.

What lovely-looking strawberries.

I never get big ones like that.

I think I'll just taste one for luck.

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