In Secret Page #5

As I drift away.

How long will it take?

I think I shall turn...

and see someone I knew.

Someone I loved.

A summer's day, spun out like...

sugar...

spun white.

What?

What spun? What? Oh.

You--you said a day.

We thought the cowpats

were stepping-stones

and my sister Amalie

stepped on one

and screamed again,

and I laughed so hard, I thought...

Mother.

Oh!

Shh.

Madame? Laurent!

- Madame?

- Mother?

Try to get her to move unassisted

as often as possible.

The smallest movement will help.

Certainly.

And encourage her to talk,

even moan a little.

The slightest sound may help her

regain her speech.

So how can she be able to...

You know, she's very lucky

to have the two of you

to watch over her.

Good night.

Good night, doctor.

We're all alone now.

Carry her down to the shop

before you leave.

All right.

Ready, mother?

You need both of our signatures

to get the money.

Good morning!

We'll be right down.

Laurent, time to go home.

Yeah. Just finishing up.

You should learn how to cook.

You should learn how to eat.

If only I was more like Camille.

Hmm?

Well, it's getting late, isn't it?

You should be in bed.

I don't know who you are

sometimes.

Till death do us part, dear.

Therese!

What?

Stop the ticking.

The ticking is the only thing

that drowns you out.

I'm not saying a word.

You are. I can hear you.

What am I saying?

Exactly what I'm saying.

You're not saying anything.

The boat.

The afternoon.

- The sun going down.

- Shh.

- The fog.

- Come here, come here!

The shore is gone,

the boat is drifting.

We're all alone.

He sees my face.

He starts to shout.

I grab his throat.

"Therese!"

I lift him up and he bites my neck.

- He screams your name.

- "Therese!"

- I heave him in!

- "Therese!"

And then he's gone.

That's right, he's gone.

You killed him?

You liar! You liar!

Liar!

You wanted him dead!

You begged me to kill him.

We killed him!

Then why does he only haunt you?

Are you out of your mind?

You know he comes to you

every night.

He slithers into your dreams

and you wake up screaming.

I scream because you hold on

too tight

and your nails bite into my skin!

Oh.

Oh, God.

Go ahead, say something.

Spit in my face.

Tell me to go to hell.

Where do you think

you are now?

Therese!

Therese! Where do you think

you're going? Get over here.

- Let go of me.

- What are you doing?

Tea, Madame?

Six or the two?

Oh, I see. Voil.

She sparkles at the six

and won't look at the two, so six.

Simple.

My mind over her dead matter.

Then what is she writing?

Beg pardon?

While you were going on,

her fingers were tracing letters.

- Watch.

- Hmm?

Uh, start over again, Madame.

What's that look like?

It's a T.

- It's a T, isn't it?

- Isn't that a T?

H.

E, the...

The something.

The...

- Let me see.

- Darling, you're just on my leg.

R-

- E.

- E.

There but for the grace...

- Shut up, Grivet.

- Shh!

What's the next one?

- S.

- Is that an S?

- It's an S.

- That is an S.

- E. Therese?

- E. Therese.

Thank you, professor.

Therese.

She's written "Therese."

Oh.

Therese...

Therese...

- Therese and...

- Therese and Laurent!

That's what she's written--

"Therese and Laurent."

Aw.

Therese and Laurent.

- A.

- A.

R-

- E.

- E!

Therese and Laurent are--

What, Madame?

- Oh.

- She's tired herself.

No need for her to finish.

Just look in her eyes.

Therese and Laurent are...

wonderful children

who treat me very well.

Am I right?

Why is she crying?

Gratitude.

No, mother.

We are the ones

that are grateful to you. Shh.

Ohh.

- To a perfect couple.

- Yes.

Perfect couple.

This is a happy home.

Good people live here.

Are those headaches back?

I can't take it.

The two of you can't fool me

for another moment.

I predict an addition

to this little family

- in eight months.

- Oh, no. No, Suzanne,

- I'm...

- Hmm?

No, I'm certain.

That's not it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm going to go lie down.

My head is throbbing.

I'll listen for the bell.

I forgot my buttons.

I've changed my mind.

I have to get out of here.

Go ahead. Hmm?

Bore a hole right through me.

Right here.

Who sold me into marriage,

hmm?

Who would do anything

to keep from being alone?

You.

Drink up. It's time to go.

The bar closed half an hour ago.

- Sorry, darling.

- No, don't leave.

Well, we can't stay here.

Don't..don't leave.

Don't leave. Please stay.

Sorry, darling.

No, please stay.

You must stay.

Could I buy you a drink?

I have one.

Can I buy you?

I'm free.

Hmm.

Get up on this table.

Come on. Lift your skirt.

For what?

Come on. You'll see.

This will make it all better.

Hang on.

Go on. Yeah.

One second. Hold on.

I don't want you.

Prussic acid.

Quick as lightning.

Tiniest drop you'll never

see those rats again.

Have a good morning.

Laurent?

Laurent, come and get her.

Hello?

Hello?

Madame?

Hello?

Oh.

We'll be right down, Suzanne.

- Oh, no!

- Careful!

Suzanne?

I loved your son.

Please.

And if you could forgive me,

I'd kill myself and end in peace.

Please, do you forgive me?

Do you forgive...

Do you forgive me?

Get off the floor.

- Forgive me, please.

- Oh, get off the floor!

- Please.

- Yes, she forgives you!

Look! She forgives you!

She wishes that she had

a dozen children

so you could kill them all

as well!

- They've come for us, Therese.

- I'm sorry.

Go see who it is.

I want this over.

Therese, go see who it is.

Go! Go!

May I help you, sir'?

Olivier.

Ah, I, uh I didn't hear

you come down.

Is Suzanne with you?

No. No, I was just passing by.

We haven't seen any of you

in so long.

I know.

Madame has been very ill.

May I say hello to her?

She's sound asleep.

I'll tell her you stopped in.

Yes, let her know

that we send our best.

Mmm.

Well, hopefully we'll start

our Thursday evenings very soon.

She misses them so much.

As do we.

Olivier.

Your hat.

Oh.

Have a good morning.

It's all gone.

The shop is completely empty.

It's been abandoned.

- This way?

- The river.

They're headed this way?

Did you ever love me?

Yes.

When he was alive.

I loved you.

After I killed him.

We killed him.

Do you want some wine?

Yes.

I want to kiss you.

From your neck to your thigh.

- Put my tongue inside--

- We did all that.

Do it.

No. You.

This way, this way.

Down there.

Therese!

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