Gaslight Page #6

for the concert.

Just sit where they like.

Those who don't care for music

can go into the smoking room.

- May I come in?

- Brian.

Good evening.

Good evening, Lady Dalroy.

How are you, sir?

- How are you, my boy? Nice to see you.

- Am I the first to arrive?

I have a favor to ask. Are you having

a sit-down supper afterwards?

Yes, and I've put you

next to Laura Pritchard.

I don't like Laura Pritchard.

She's got adenoids.

Nonsense. She's a most agreeable girl,

and I want you to be very nice to her.

Haven't you learned yet

that Mildred is an incurable matchmaker?

I'll be nice to Miss Pritchard another time.

Tonight I want you to be very kind

and put me next to Mrs. Anton. Will you?

- It's most tiresome of you. All right.

- Who's Mrs. Anton?

She's the niece of Alice Alquist.

She used to come here as a child.

Brian told me she was back in London

now and married...

so I invited them to come tonight.

Who's Mr. Anton, by the way?

What does he do?

Where does he come from?

Put me next to her tonight,

and I'll find out for you.

I'm sorry, Brian, but you'll have to

sit next to the Pritchard girl after all.

- The Antons can't come.

- No.

- Letter from her?

- No. From him.

- Him?

- Yes. Apparently she's ill.

Very tiresome of her.

Read it if you want to.

I must go and order the tables.

Come on, Freddy. I want you.

Is that you, Paula?

Yes.

Why are you dressed up like that?

Because tonight

is Lady Dalroy's reception.

But I sent a note.

I know.

I sent a note to say

you were not well enough.

I'm quite well enough, and I want to go.

Lady Dalroy was very kind to me

when I was small...

and I am going.

I must get out of this house,

meet people...

and see a little

of what's going on in the world.

I am going to this reception, Gregory.

Then I'm afraid you'll have to go alone.

Then I must go alone.

I didn't realize this party

meant so much to you.

I'll go and change immediately.

You didn't really think

I would let you go alone, did you?

- I don't know.

- I shan't be a minute.

Come in.

Coo. Did you ring for something, ma'am?

- Yes. Please fetch a cab.

- But I thought you were...

Get a cab, Nancy.

- Is the master going out, too?

- Yes, he is.

- Please hurry.

- Very good, ma'am.

Cabby!

Beckoning a cab on your evening out?

Yes. I'm going out to dinner

at Buckingham Palace, I am.

- I'm gonna have a lovely evening out.

- What's the matter with you?

First they're going out, then they're not.

Changing all my plans.

Never a word to me from him.

You better get along.

They'll be out in a minute.

- See you Sunday?

- Perhaps.

- Usual place?

- Usual place.

- Good night.

- Good night.

Draw your cloak around you. It's damp.

Dalroy House.

- Good night, Nancy.

- Have a nice evening, sir.

You're Paula Anton.

I'm sure you don't remember me.

I do indeed, Lady Dalroy.

It was at the children's party here,

and there was a magician.

- May I introduce my husband, Lady Dalroy.

- How do you do?

I hope you will forgive all the confusion...

but my wife suddenly felt much better,

and we were so anxious to come.

But of course.

You'll find some seats over there.

Seratsky hasn't played yet.

I'll see you later at supper.

- What are you looking at?

- Nothing.

I thought I saw someone I knew, that's all.

My watch is gone.

- I didn't put it there. I swear I didn't put...

- Would you be quiet, please?

Paula, please control yourself.

- Being seen like this in public.

- No.

Come.

I'm very sorry, but I'm afraid

my wife's illness has returned.

- Can I send for a doctor?

- No. If I can just get her home.

We shouldn't have come tonight,

but she was so anxious.

I'm so sorry, Lady Dalroy.

I think it's the most...

I've tried so hard to keep it

within these walls, in my own house.

Now, because you would go out tonight,

the whole of London knows it.

If I could only get inside

that brain of yours...

and understand what makes you

do these crazy, twisted things.

Are you trying to tell me I'm insane?

- That's what I'm trying not to tell myself.

- But that's what you think, isn't it?

That's what you've been hinting

and suggesting for months, ever since...

- Since what?

- Since the day I lost your broach.

Yes, that's when it all began.

No, it began before that.

The first day here,

when I found that letter.

- What letter?

- The one I found among the music...

from that man called Bauer.

Sergis Bauer. Yes, I remember.

Yes, you're right. That's when it began.

I can see you still,

standing there and saying:

"Look at this letter,"

and staring at nothing.

- What?

- You had nothing in your hand.

What?

I was staggered, but I didn't know then...

how much reason I had to be.

- I don't know. What reason?

- I didn't know then about your mother.

What about my mother?

Your mother was mad.

She died in an asylum

when you were a year old.

That's not true.

I've been making inquiries

about Alice Alquist's sister.

I've talked to the doctor who attended her.

- Would you like to see him?

- No.

He described her symptoms to me.

Would you like to hear them?

It began with her imagining things,

that she heard noises, footsteps, voices...

and then the voices began to speak to her.

In the end, she died in an asylum

with no brain at all.

No! Please stop.

Now perhaps you will understand

a lot of things about yourself and me.

Now perhaps you will understand

why I cannot let you meet people.

He must have been rather disappointed

that you left before he could talk to you.

Who?

The man who was sitting behind us.

- Where?

- Tonight.

You only went because you knew

he would be there.

What, Gregory? Who?

The man who bowed to you that day

at the Tower.

Who is he, someone from the past?

Someone you refused, perhaps?

I never met him.

I have no idea who he is.

Who is he?

Why is he dogging my footsteps?

I don't know that he is.

- You lie. Why do you lie to me?

- I never lie to you.

I'm sorry. I should not have said that.

I know you never lie to me. I believe you.

You're not lying. It's worse than lying.

You've forgotten. You've forgotten him

as you forget everything.

But perhaps I'm wrong

to try to handle this myself.

The case is one for people

who know about those things.

We shall have visitors, and shortly.

- A doctor?

- Two.

I believe two is the required number.

Yes?

It's you, Constable.

Good evening, sir.

- Nasty night to be out, isn't it?

- Very nasty, sir, indeed.

Where'd he go?

He didn't get past me as

I came through the alley.

He certainly turned in here.

You must have missed him in the fog.

I'd have heard his footsteps

as he passed, Mr. Cameron.

He must've gone

into the rear of one of these houses.

Yes, but which? And why?

Do you think he could have gone

into his own house?

- If he did, sir, that's not against the law.

- No, but it's against common sense.

Why should he walk out of his own house

and all the way around the corner...

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