In Secret Page #4

Shh.

You did this.

No. I don't know what you mean.

You, you took your eyes off of him.

You weren't watching.

You were supposed to be

his guardian angel!

Madame, accidents

happen every day.

When the boat tipped over,

how did you survive?

How did you survive

while my child sank down

into the blackness?

What were you doing?

Tell me, tell me.

Oh, God, tell me!

What were you doing?

Madame, I tried.

No, you didn't.

You let him die.

How did you manage to live

and not him?

How?

He should be standing

right here beside me.

Not you, not you, not you!

Not you!

Not you!

Madame. Shh.

Shh.

Therese. Oh, my..

Oh, my baby girl.

I didn't mean those things I said.

I didn't mean...

Something has reached inside...

and destroyed my heart

and my mind.

Oh, my sweet girl.

Is she sleeping?

Yes.

Perhaps we should leave.

Please stay.

We, uh, we weren't sure

whether to come here

even after you invited us.

But it's been so long

and we've missed your at-homes.

Well, she's missed them, too.

Please, stay.

I had to be near you.

Near whom, Therese?

Did you say something?

No, mother.

You must have been dreaming.

How long...

does it take to drown?

To sink down into the murk,

how long?

It's very late.

We've worn you down.

Oh, no, no.

No.

I'm thankful for that.

- And please do come again soon.

- Madame.

You must try not to imagine

Camille in bits and pieces.

How should I imagine him?

Gone, just gone.

Gone?

We'll see ourselves out.

Just gone.

If I make grief an inconvenience.

Perhaps it pains them

to see you suffer.

You have a kind heart

Oh, it's nothing, Madame.

No.

No, it's not nothing.

It's comfort, Laurent,

and you give it gladly.

Lock up the shop as you leave.

Of course.

Therese, I need you.

Don't...Don't ever do that

to me again.

Therese. I can't sleep.

I haven't slept in months.

Let me come to your room tonight.

No. No, we have to wait.

Why did We kill him?

- To be together.

- Exactly.

I can't sleep. I keep having

nightmares about it.

Darling, as soon as we're married

and sleep in the same bed together,

all of the nightmares will stop.

Let's just leave.

We'll leave tonight.

- I don't care where we go.

- Therese. Stop.

If we left right now,

we'd go straight to the guillotine.

Soon. We'll have each other

and the shop.

Oh, I don't care about the shop.

Well, you should care about

the shop. It's yours now.

I don't know, Laurent.

Everything is in her name.

Nothing was in his name,

not even a bank account.

What?

Yes. Nothing.

Can you grieve a little more?

Therese, have you

made any tea?

Therese, what is that sound?

Therese?

Therese?

Oh!

- Suzanne.

- My, you scared me!

Just making sure all the doors

were locked up tight.

I never realized the shop

had a side door.

Hmm. Both doors are secure.

It's heartbreaking.

Just heartbreaking.

Mmm. Perhaps we should

just let them be.

I should help.

It's a beautiful evening.

Let me walk you home.

Um...

We'll take the long way.

Yes.

How sick is Therese?

I beg your pardon?

She's as white as

a slab of marble, Madame.

Her eyes are empty,

her skin is dull,

and either she's sick

as a dog or...

Or what?

Or she's sick of lying alone

in an empty bed.

Father!

Well, wouldn't you be?

I only wonder if anyone

even remembers.

Remembers what, Madame?

That I had a son who died

just eight months ago.

But shouldn't Therese move on?

Well, of course she should.

I don't..I don't know.

It's as if she's fading away.

Madame, I've seen

many things in my life,

and I can tell you

with absolute certainty

that that woman is dying

of a broken heart.

From a bleeding wound

that never heals.

Marriage is the cure.

Marriage?

No. Oh, no, no, no, no.

That's not possible, no.

- Who would she marry?

- Who else but Laurent?

Oh.

More respectful

to Camille's memory

than were she to marry

a stranger.

A stranger?

Oh, no. No.

No, not--not a stranger.

Not at this late chapter in my life.

A stranger?

They're watching us.

Do you miss me?

Yes.

That's not very convincing.

Well, sometimes at night

when I'm afraid, I miss you then.

Only sometimes?

Well, sometimes...

I lie in my great big bed

completely alone

for the first time in my life and...

I feel like a little girl again.

Once we're married

it'll be like it used to be.

Have you taken a mistress?

No.

I can smell her from here.

What does she look like?

She looks like you.

- But it's over.

- Really? Why?

Because I couldn't

remember her name.

I'd be dreaming and I'd whisper

your name in her ear.

Does she have red hair?

Therese.

With the love and support

of our dear friends,

I'm ready to discuss

your marriage.

Marriage, mother?

But to..to whom?

But I love Laurent as a brother.

I happily accept, Madame,

if Therese will have me.

Camille slipped from these hands.

I will never let that happen to you.

Ever.

Amen.

Since Therese is the last

of our family,

I have decided to change my will

and put it in both of your names.

Upon my passing,

you will receive the shop

and 20,000 francs.

That's hardly a fortune,

but it will be yours.

Bound by a tie more powerful

than love money.

Shall we go celebrate?

Madame's really outdone herself

with our room.

New sheets, fresh flowers.

Therese.

Oh. Madame has..

- Take it down.

- It's only a painting.

If it's only a painting,

why are we whispering?

That scar on your neck.

It was bright red today

at the church.

Was it?

Mmm. How did you...

Don't.

We've dreamt of this moment

for so long

and now the dream's come true.

Remember you said that you wanted

to fall asleep in my arms?

And then wake up with me

warm beside you?

Did I?

Yes.

And now we can.

Now that Camille is gone...

Oh, no!

Why did you say his name?

What?

You say it.

Oh, I can't.

Therese, say it!

Camille.

See? What happened?

Nothing.

Nothing.

Why?

Because he's gone.

He's dead.

Camille? Camille?

How badly did he die?

You didn't see?

I closed my eyes.

When?

Stop it!

You're tickling me!

No!

I was gentle, Therese.

I lowered him into the water

like it was a bath.

Show me how.

He didn't fight?

No he was quiet

like it was bath time.

Show me.

Don't lie to me.

He didn't go gently, did he?

I closed my eyes.

I couldn't close my ears.

- Shh, shh, shh.

- I heard him call my name.

Therese!

Therese!

Therese!

- Therese!

- Shh! Stop it!

Stop it.

Do you know what tonight is?

I'd almost forgotten.

It's our wedding night.

We were married the moment

I stepped into that boat.

Madame.

Hmm?

Oh, perhaps Therese

might like a ginger biscuit.

Every afternoon since the wedding.

I'm not much for napping myself.

Do you like the chicken?

Yes. Thank you

for bringing me lunch.

Lunchtime used to mean something...

very different for us.

We're settling in.

I have to get back to work.

Mother.

When I was a girl,

a summer's day...

Oh, there she goes again.

Tell us about a summer's day.

Oh. I babble on and on and on.

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