Gaslight Page #7

just to get back to where he started from?

But the service entrance to Number 9

is out front.

There's no way into Number 9

from back here.

- Then where did he go?

- Number 5 is empty.

But what would he want to go

into an empty house for?

I don't know, Williams.

Just coming, ma'am.

What is it, ma'am?

- I want you to help me. I'm so tired.

- Yes, ma'am.

Did you turn on the gas?

Did you turn on the gas

anywhere downstairs just now?

Why, no, ma'am. I've had it on

in the kitchen all evening, that's all.

I thought it went down in there,

as if someone...

had turned it on

in some other part of the house.

There's no one in the house

but me, ma'am. Nancy's not back yet.

But the gas comes in pipes, ma'am.

And I expect they get more gas

in the pipes at some times...

than they does at others.

Yes, I suppose that could explain it.

- Do you hear anything?

- Hear anything, ma'am?

- Yes. Up there. Listen.

- Listen to what, ma'am?

Those sounds. Those noises up there.

No, ma'am.

But there are sounds.

Sounds like someone moving about.

- Elizabeth, listen, please.

- There are no noises up there, ma'am.

How could there be?

The whole floor is boarded up.

You know that as well as I do.

No one can't get in up there.

You know, ma'am,

you just imagine things.

Williams, come in. You're early.

Get another cup, will you?

- Sit down. Make yourself comfortable.

- Thank you, sir.

Well?

I don't know what it means,

but this morning around 3:00...

I was standing on the corner of

Thornton Square, looking both ways-like...

and suddenly, who should I see turning up,

but our friend again.

- Coming out of the mews, it looked like.

- Yes?

I got a good look at him

under the lamppost.

I tell you, that man

had been up to something.

What?

I wouldn't undertake to say what exactly...

but he was kind of in a mess.

Clothes untidy, tie all on one side.

Dirt and dust all over, even on his face.

- Had he been in a fight?

- He didn't look like that, sir.

More as though he'd been digging

in a cellar or something.

Have some coffee.

Thank you, sir.

I've had my breakfast already.

Had it in the kitchen at Number 9,

as a matter of fact.

Nancy tell you anything this morning?

If you ask me, Nancy's getting ideas

above her station.

Seems the master told her...

that her mistress might be going away

for quite a long time...

and that he wanted her to stay

and look after him.

The master told her

her mistress might be going away?

That's right, sir.

- A long time, you said?

- Yes, sir.

What do you think that means?

From all you've told me these last weeks,

I should say it could mean...

any one of a number

of quite unpleasant things.

- I've got to get into that house tonight.

- Not while he's there.

- He goes out every evening?

- Right, sir.

Tonight after dinner.

Nancy says he's told her

not to let her mistress see anyone.

Then you'll have to see

that Nancy isn't home tonight.

- Any little thing I can do for the Yard, sir.

- I thought you wouldn't mind.

There's just one thing more though.

How do you know the lady herself

will see you?

I don't know.

Yes.

I think there's a way.

"People who go every night

to places of public amusement...

"can hardly enter into..."

Your mother was mad.

"People who go every night

to places of public amusement...

"can hardly enter

into the fresh gala feeling...

"with which an opera or a concert..."

She died in an asylum with no brain at all.

"The snug comfort of the close carriage...

"...the pleasure of setting out

with companions...

"...the sight of the stars glinting fitfully

through the trees..."

I'm sorry, sir,

but the mistress won't see anyone.

Did she tell you to say that?

You're Elizabeth, aren't you?

- How'd you know my name?

- I know many things about this house.

You're fond of her, aren't you?

You'd like to help her, wouldn't you?

This is your chance because I'm a friend,

and you're going to let me see her.

No. I don't dare, sir. I'd lose me place.

Really, I don't dare...

- My husband isn't here.

- I know that, Mrs. Anton.

It's you I want to see.

Go away. I'm ill. I can't see anyone.

Elizabeth, stop him.

I didn't ask him to come.

Mrs. Anton, my name is Brian Cameron.

You mustn't come here. Go away.

Not until I've given you this.

Look at it, please.

Alice Alquist gave it to me

years ago at Covent Garden.

I was a little boy

overcome with admiration.

Now you'll trust me, won't you?

You.

She gave it to you.

After all these years...

the great admirer she used to make

such a mystery of. A little boy.

Tell me something, Mrs. Anton.

Are you planning

on going away somewhere?

Go away? Why, no. I have nowhere to go.

Unless my husband sends me away.

Is that why you came here?

To take me away?

Are you as frightened as all that?

I'm sorry. I haven't talked to anyone

for a long time.

I can't talk to you, either. I'm not...

I'm afraid I...

You're afraid

you're going out of your mind.

I'm here to prove to you that you're not.

To help me do that, you've got to answer

my questions. Tell me now...

where is your husband now?

Where has he gone?

He has taken a studio

where he can work on his composing.

He can't work in this house.

He has to have it quiet.

Tell me, is there anyone else

in the house now except us and Elizabeth?

- No. Why?

- The gas just went down.

- You saw that, too?

- Why, yes.

Then it really happens.

I thought I imagined it.

That only means

that someone else has turned it on.

I thought that, too, but every night,

I've been all over the house...

and there's never been

another light turned on.

At last I can tell this to someone.

Every night when my husband goes out...

The light goes down?

- Yes.

- And then what?

Then I think I hear things.

I watch and wait.

- Later on, the gas goes up again.

- And he comes back.

Yes. Quite soon after.

Always quite soon after.

You say you think you hear things.

What things?

Sounds. Noises over my room.

- What's up there?

- A whole floor of trunks and furniture.

- Is that what you meant?

- Yes!

But who?

Mrs. Anton, you know, don't you?

- You know who's up there.

- No.

- Are you sure you don't?

- No.

- How could he be?

- There's an alley behind these houses.

He goes in the back of Number 5,

that's the empty one...

and then across the roof.

Why?

- You said there's old furniture up there.

- My aunt's.

And her clothes, stage costumes, trunks,

all of her things.

All of her things?

And they said the case was dead.

Tell me, has he any weapons in the house?

- He has a revolver. Why shouldn't he?

- Do you know where he keeps it?

I think he has it in his desk in there.

You can't open his desk.

No. You have no right to.

Whoever you are, you have no right to!

He'll know. He'll think that I...

What should I say to him?

You won't have to say anything.

Perhaps it's a good thing I came tonight.

I was right.

There was a letter.

- And it was from Sergis Bauer.

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