Hands of the Ripper Page #3

She was possessed.

If she wasn't, how could

she manage, a frail girl,

to drive the poker

through flesh and bone

plus an inch and a half oak door?

The hysteria accompanying

certain disorders

can produce extraordinary strength.

- That's one explanation.

- The other being that I did it?

A possibility.

I don't understand. If you thought

I committed a crime that brutal,

we'd hardly be discussing

it about your home.

- Anna is upstairs at this moment.

- She's what?!

I intend to study her. To do that,

she must remain in my care.

Damn it, she's a possessed

being, as savage as any beast.

Listen to me. Since time began, men

have been murdering one another.

When it happens, we

hunt the murderer down

and use the law to

murder him in return.

We've tortured him, burned him

alive, disembowelled him,

though nowadays we're more

humane... we simply hang him.

And all this time, we have never

once tried to understand him,

to find out why.

Why one human being murders

another human being.

So we go on having murders

and murdering in revenge.

Only the graveyard

worms are richer.

- But she was possessed...

- Nonsense!

I believe the girl is suffering

from a disorder of the mind,

possibly brought on by some

terrifying experience in childhood.

Maybe it was congenital,

but it has divided her mind.

There's an Austrian doctor

called Freud who studied this.

It's called schizophrenia.

He also used a new science

called psychoanalysis

to explore the mind and its

disorders, to find out why.

This is the technique I

would like to use with Anna

but I need your help.

Now perhaps you can understand

my behaviour at the police station.

I want you to use your position

to find out about her past...

her family, where she

lived, everything.

The slightest detail could be vital

to understanding her condition.

- What if she murders somebody else?

- She won't.

Even if she did, to understand

the psychology of murder

would be worth the risk.

And if I refuse?

I might just remember

who it was I saw

leaving the house after the murder.

With greater accuracy this time.

You'd better go the way you came.

One thing you've got

to learn around here

is to affect what Dr Pritchard

calls a happy countenance,

which means he likes to see people

with smiles on their faces, he does.

Not that he's one for smiles and

giggles himself, know what I mean?

- Not like us.

- I wasn't crying because I was sad,

I was crying because I was happy.

- It's such a beautiful room.

- I know you were, Miss Anna. Oh!

Oh, it's all right.

It's only Dr Pritchard.

Anna, at my age, one treats modesty

as an affectation of the ugly.

It'll fit Miss Anna a treat, sir.

See how this goes with the dress.

Oh, sir. It's lovely!

We'll be at the restaurant

within the hour,

as soon as I can leave the embassy.

I've left you the carriage.

Pleasants will see you to the door.

Dolly.

Don't let her out of your sight

until she's in the carriage.

She's had a disturbing day.

She needs company.

All right, sir. Oh, Miss Anna.

You're going to look like a

proper princess tonight.

You just wait and see.

- Here.

- Ooh!

Ooh, it's a tight fit.

Goodness, look at the time.

Oh, darling, your holding me like

this is ruining our reputations,

but I could do it all night.

- Then we shall.

- When we're married, please.

But now there's no more music,

and your father's waiting.

Oh, Father...

Oh, it's so hot.

- Let's go back and dance.

- No. My feet hurt. I'm sitting down.

- I'm so hot.

- To your right.

Ah! That's better.

The dancing's made me thirsty. Oh!

Oh, my goodness.

It's all right.

I must leave. I'm worried about Anna.

She should have arrived by now.

- We shan't be late.

- Mrs Bryant will look after you.

Thank you, Dr Pritchard.

I'm sorry. Something seems to have

spoilt the evening for your father.

But not for me.

Oh, Dolly. It's so beautiful.

I'm afraid to move for

fear I'll wake up.

You're not asleep, Miss Anna.

Here. Take a look at the back.

Do you have to all me "Miss"?

I'd much prefer us to be friends.

No, that would never do.

You can't have the likes of me

talking to a lady on

such familiar terms.

- But I'm not a real lady yet.

- Wait till you see yourself in this.

Oh, Miss Anna, you're going

to look lovely tonight.

Everybody's going to

be looking at you.

You're going to be the belle of

the ball, you just wait and see.

There. It'll look

lovely on that dress.

There now.

Oh, Miss Anna, do you like it?

Oh, you do like it.

I knew you would.

Miss Anna, you look just

like a little doll,

all done up to meet the queen.

I'll kiss you now, then,

before you become a lady.

'Anna...'

Pleasants, go to the restaurant and

tell Mr Michael that you're waiting.

- I'll take a cab if I need one.

- Very good, sir.

Anna...

Anna?

Give it to me, Anna.

Give it to me.

I will keep it for you.

Stay here.

Stay here.

Dolly?

Anna...

Come with me.

What am I doing here?

- We should be at the restaurant.

- It's all right.

It's very late.

You've had long day.

You're becoming very sleepy.

Yes, I am. Very sleepy.

- Has anything happened?

- Nothing, my dear.

You dozed off and had a bad dream.

Oh, Dr Pritchard...

You came back and found me asleep.

Oh, I'm so ashamed.

- Ah, this is what I was looking for.

- Dr Pritchard.

It's all right, Mrs Bryant. Laura's

capable of putting herself to bed.

You must get your sleep, considering

the heavy time ahead of us.

Oh, yes. The wedding arrangements.

That Dolly promised to wake

me up when you came in, sir.

Where has the girl gone?

I'm afraid we've lost

our Dolly, Mrs Bryant.

As Anna and I were leaving,

a man brought a message

from Dolly's mother.

I never knew she had one. I'd never

heard her speak of her mother.

Apparently, her

mother's gravely ill.

There was nothing I could do but send

her off to give what help she could.

- She was terribly upset.

- That kind of girl does come and go.

All young girls today

lack character.

It's a fact. Can I get

you anything, Doctor?

No, thank you. I just

came back for this.

I shall be here when Laura returns,

so there's no need to stay up.

If you're certain that

I won't be needed,

I think I will take a little rest.

- I'll call if I need you.

- Thank you, Doctor.

It's time you were up, Miss Anna.

Come, now, Miss Anna,

it's way past noon.

If you don't get up, it'll be too

late to bother getting up at all.

- Oh, this is disgraceful.

- Mrs Bryant.

Let her sleep. I gave her

a sedative last night.

I want you to keep an eye on her.

I don't want her to leave the house.

Is she not well, Doctor?

- It isn't contagious, is it?

- No, Mrs Bryant.

It's just that she needs

rest and care, that's all.

Whatever you say, Doctor.

There you are, Pritchard.

Your message suggested, as well

as hysteria, that you've had success.

Doctor, being a scientist,

you'll find nothing I say

about possession believable.

So you've found someone

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