Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte Page #5

Well, now I think you're ready

for another cup of tea, aren't you?

Hush, hush, sweet Charlotte

Charlotte, don't you cry

Hush, hush, sweet Charlotte

I'll love you till I die

And every night after I shall die

Yes, every night, when I'm gone

The wind will sing to you

This lullaby

Sweet Charlotte

Was loved by John

Charlotte.

Charlotte?

Come. Come to bed, Charlotte.

Come to bed.

Miriam, he really isn't here, is he?

Just now, I thought I heard...

Sometimes, at night, when I wake up,

it seems as if he really is here.

Don't turn on the light.

It's not real when it's light.

It's only real when it's dark.

Dark and still.

I won't turn on the light.

Come along.

You must go to bed.

He's dead! He's dead!

He's dead! He's dead!

- Charlotte!

- He's dead!

Don't! It's all right.

Don't be frightened.

- Charlotte!

- He's dead!

Stop staring at me.

Man, she sure acts

like she's crazy sometimes.

That's what all the folks in town say.

But I wouldn't bet on it.

I wouldn't bet on it at all.

Well, upon my word.

Charlotte Hollis.

Now I've frightened you.

I'm terribly sorry.

Please don't run away.

I'm quite harmless, I assure you.

Would you like a cigarette?

Well, then, I won't either.

What are you doing on my property?

Yes, by Jove,

it is your property, isn't it?

As a matter of fact, I'm snooping.

There's no other word for it.

- Are you one of the surveyors?

- I've nothing to do with all that.

Then what's that camera for?

This is a sort of conversation piece.

I say, may I introduce myself?

My name is Harry Wills.

I've come all the way from London

in the hope of meeting you.

Why?

Well, we have met before, you know.

A long time ago.

On the first night you arrived in London,

when I was a newspaper reporter,

and stood as close to you as I am now

for two delightful minutes.

- But I didn't talk to any reporters.

- I know you didn't.

And you had every reason not to,

the way they behaved towards you.

That's one of the reasons why

I've always hoped I'd meet you again.

To apologise.

- You really were there?

- Indeed I was.

And I can prove it to you.

Let me see, now.

You were dressed in a...

a sort of grey... No, green.

A green suit with a sort

of tam-o'-shanter to match.

Am I right?

You see, I was there.

Ever since that night,

I've read almost everything

they've ever printed about you.

In fact, I'm quite an authority on you.

- You are?

- Yes, indeed I am.

You're my favourite living mystery.

Have you ever solved me?

No.

But then you wouldn't be a mystery

any more, would you?

No, I wouldn't.

And I'm you're favourite case,

when you've got so many to choose from?

That's only natural.

You have everything.

You're unsolved,

perhaps even insoluble.

And you have passion

and glamour in your past.

I say, I hope I'm not offending you.

It's the oddest thing - you're not.

I don't usually talk to people.

Not about that.

That's why I'm so flattered

that you're talking to me now.

I say, let's go and sit up there

and have a nice little chat, shall we?

Mr. Wills,

since you're an authority on me,

do you think I'm a murderess?

Do I look like one?

Well, now, let's see.

It's rather difficult, isn't it?

But that's as it should be.

They've told you I'm crazy.

Everyone says you are.

Are you?

I used to be positive I wasn't.

But just lately...

at night, it...

it seems as if...

I really don't know any more.

If it comes to that,

how does anyone know?

- Would you like to see inside the house?

- I've been wanting to see it for years.

Come on.

Papa used to give

the most beautiful parties here.

They went on for days and days.

You're very fond of this house,

aren't you?

I'll show you Papa's library.

Papa built this place up again, you know.

He bought back

a lot of the original pieces.

You're Miss Deering. I had the pleasure

of seeing you in Hollisport yesterday.

- My name is Wills, Harry Wills.

- How do you do?

Your cousin's kindly consented

to show me around this lovely old home.

I see.

Excuse me.

Come on.

Papa's library was like a playroom to me

when I was little-bitty.

That's Papa.

He never minded me underfoot.

He never minded a thing I ever did.

He was always so...

Take your hands off that!

You give that to me!

Now you get out!

You get out, all of you!

Get out, do you hear me?

- Get out and stay out!

- Wait for me outside.

What's the matter?

What did they do?

And you, too, snoopin' around.

Don't you think I know

what you're looking for?

What does it matter

if you haven't anything to conceal?

Oh, but I have.

I have things concealed. Vile things.

Where do you suppose I keep 'em?

Haven't you guessed?

In here.

A memento of my sinful romance.

My lover's hand.

Look, just look!

This is all... all I have left of him.

A love song he wrote for me

and gave me in a music box.

My dear Miss Charlotte, please.

- Oh, John.

- You'd better leave now.

I was trying to help her.

If you hadn't come here,

this might never have happened.

I'm sorry.

Who put that box in there?

How in the world would I know?

John?

Charlotte.

Charlotte!

Charlotte, let me in!

The mirrors.

Charlotte, what happened to the mirrors?

Charlotte.

What have you done?

It was Papa.

He was so tall and so angry.

- He still hasn't forgiven me.

- No, Charlotte, he loved you.

- He wouldn't have harmed you.

- It was Papa. It was Papa.

- I know it was.

- No, it just seemed that way.

He was there.

He really was.

- He really was.

- No, come along.

We'll talk about it tomorrow.

- Miriam, what are you doin'?

- I'm taking you away from here today.

- No.

- Drew and I have talked it over.

- We found a place you'll be comfortable.

- No, no. I won't go.

You'll have to go

before next Monday anyway.

No, I won't go. Not while

Jewel Mayhew is still down there.

I won't have her

see me driven off my own place.

Would you rather she sees you

taken off to jail?

- Luke Standish wouldn't do that.

- There'll be reporters everywhere.

Charlotte, after last night

you must leave here. You must.

- Last night?

- The music room.

The mirrors.

Where will you take me?

To a nice place,

where people will be kind to you.

You'll see.

But I won't go in the daytime.

I won't go till it's after dark.

- Cos Jewel will see me.

- What difference does that make?

Jewel will have to know

sooner or later.

Let Charlotte get some sleep.

I'll go downstairs

and see about cleaning up.

- What are you going to do to me?

- I want you to get all the rest you can.

You're going to feel a lot better

if you've had a little sleep.

Drew, I didn't break those mirrors.

Really, I didn't.

Of course you didn't break the mirrors.

Mr. Wills' room.

Yeah. Will you hurry it up?

Mr. Wills?

Velma Cruther.

You told me to call you if...

I'll talk to you later.

- I was just using the phone.

- So I see.

Miss Charlotte will be leaving tonight,

Velma.

You'll be given your wages

till the end of the month.

You tryin' to hand me

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