Gaslight Page #5

Last time we met, your husband

interrupted us, but he won't this time.

- I don't understand.

- You will indeed, ma'am, very shortly.

You just sit down.

Make yourself comfortable.

You're supposed to be

going off your head, aren't you?

Who told you?

Why do you say that?

Ladies and gentlemen,

the cancan dancers.

Direct from Paris,

and I know you're gonna like them.

Of course, as I know more

about what they're going to do

than you do at the present,

I hope you'll excuse my back.

"ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD"]

Vulgar.

The whole of this house

was ransacked.

The murderer had searched

for those rubies all through the night.

And the opinion of the police was that

he'd found them and vanished with them.

- And they never caught him?

- No.

But suppose he didn't find

those rubies after all.

Suppose they were concealed

in the walls or the floor

of old Alice Barlow's bedroom,

which was the room above yours,

Mrs Mallen.

- The footsteps.

- What footsteps?

And the gaslight going up and down.

The boy I love

is up in the gallery

The boy I love

is looking down at me

There he is, can't you see?

Waving his handkerchief

As merry as a robin

that sings on a tree

The boy I love

is up in the gallery

The boy I love

is looking down at me...

- Here, what's the matter?

- Come along.

But there's another tune

just starting.

I've had enough.

Come along now, please.

That's what's made me sure

my mind is going.

Lying in my room

watching the gaslight,

listening for someone

in a place where no one can go.

Yes, they can. Along the roof

from the empty house next door.

- But what are you saying?

- It fits. It all fits.

Tell me, have you ever heard

the name Louis Bauer?

It's a trap!

I never said I found that envelope.

- No, no.

- It's a lie. Go away. Leave this house.

Come, come. Good girl.

What do you know

about Louis Bauer?

I found...

I thought I found an envelope

addressed to him.

It was when we first came here.

- That's what started my... - I've got it.

I've solved it. I've saved you!

- God, what a marvellous man I am!

- What are you talking about?

Your Mr Mallen is my Mr Louis Bauer.

A criminal maniac

who murdered his aunt

and steals back

to his own house at night,

still searching for those rubies

he couldn't find 20 years ago.

And every time he lights the gas up

in that room, so it dims down here.

And when the light brightens, I...

I hear his key in the door

a few minutes afterwards.

I can't stand it. My mind...

No, you are not going out of your mind,

Mrs Mallen.

You're slowly and methodically

being driven out of your mind.

Why? Because, quite by accident,

you got onto his identity,

and that made you dangerous to him.

He couldn't get rid of you by ordinary

means, for fear of an inquiry.

So he's driving you mad, in order

to discredit anything that you say

as the ravings of a lunatic.

Thank God you're not married to him.

- Not married to him?

- Certainly not.

He married another lady long before

he met you, and she's still alive.

How do you know?

I've been finding out things

about Mr Louis Bauer.

- Where is this woman?

- That's the trouble. Australia.

That's three months away. By then

it would be too late to save you.

That's why you've got to give me

the evidence we need.

- What evidence?

- Any proof of Louis Bauer's identity.

- But I don't know where to find it.

- Tell me where to look.

- Yes, but...

- In here?

You don't understand.

To me, he's still my husband.

I couldn't betray my husband.

You mean the man who betrayed you

into thinking you were married to him?

That's different.

That was before I knew him.

We've lived together

as husband and wife.

If I betrayed him,

I'd be betraying myself.

Even though I tell you at this moment

he's sitting in a music hall

with another woman?

Your parlour maid.

Is that true?

It's hard to take everything from you,

but I'm afraid it is.

You go straight in,

and I'll follow you in a moment.

- What you gonna do?

- Take a little stroll.

Will we go out again?

I'll let you know.

I know you will.

- He keeps his papers in there.

- Then this is where we start.

- But it's locked.

- Good!

That means there are probably some

things inside that are very interesting.

Do you mind if I take me coat off?

I always work much better

with me coat off.

- Saucy shirt, isn't it?

- What are you going to do?

There's only two things

I've ever wanted to be.

A gardener or a burglar.

Both of them nice, quiet occupations.

This is tougher than I thought.

- You mustn't force it.

- Afraid I'll have to.

But what shall I say

when he comes back?

Don't you realise it's tonight or never?

Tomorrow he wants to get you certified.

If we go back, we're lost.

We must gamble on finding something.

- Now, are you with me?

- All right. Force it, but be quick.

There's no hurry, ma'am.

He's quite happy where he is.

I don't like these violent methods.

Makes me feel like a dentist.

All over now.

Drawn a blank so far.

Give me the keys.

I suppose he keeps his papers in here.

Huh!

Look! He's back. He's upstairs.

- Oh, I'm afraid.

- How long does he usually stay?

- Any time. An hour, 10 minutes.

- We shall want longer than that.

There.

That's done for, I'm afraid, but we

shall have to risk it. Come along.

Come along.

- I can't see him. I daren't.

- You shan't.

Go right up to your room,

lock yourself in,

and don't come out,

in any circumstances, until I tell you.

You're not going.

You won't leave the house?

- Of course not.

- But Elizabeth?

Don't you worry about Elizabeth.

I've squared her.

And remember, you're all right

so long as you stay in your room.

Bella?

I brought you milk.

Go upstairs and tell Mrs Mallen

she's to come down here at once.

Just like that, sir?

Very good, sir.

Are you there, ma'am?

Master says you're to come

to the drawing room at once.

She won't answer.

She's got the door locked. I tried it.

- All right, Nancy. Go to bed.

- I've got to let the dog out first.

You needn't worry about the dog.

Go to bed.

What's the game?

What are you up to, eh?

Will you kindly remember that

you're not a guest in this house?

All right, all right.

Bella, I have your dog here.

I found it in the drawing room

where you know it is not allowed.

Dog? Paul, no!

No! Don't hurt it, I'm coming!

I'm coming.

Give me the dog.

- What have you done with it?

- Dog? What dog?

You said you had it. Have you hurt it?

I haven't seen your dog.

Another of your dreams.

Like the one in which

you dared break open my desk!

Dream?

Don't tell me it was a dream,

that he never came here.

He?

Who came?

Tell me about this dream of yours.

I dreamed that a man came in here.

- A dream.

- I know you dreamed.

But tell me about the man.

Speak, will you?

- I want to know more about the man!

- I dreamed and I...

- A dream!

- Was I a part of this curious dream?

Who are you?

Apparently a mere figment

of this lady's imagination.

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