Keeper of the Flame Page #6

My questions could wait.

Are there many of them?

Quite a number.

Couldn't you...?

Couldn't you ask Mr. Kerndon?

I could, but there are some

I wouldn't like to ask him.

I'm afraid you're rather exacting.

I think I hear my car.

After all, it was your idea

that I come up here.

Naturally, I expected to ask questions.

- Naturally.

- For instance, about Mr. Forrest's mother.

She can tell you nothing.

Uh, Mrs. Forrest is very old.

She's been an invalid for years.

- Nobody sees her.

- That's what the secretary told me.

But I talked to her.

Just for a second on the phone.

Really?

If you'd care to come up to the house...

...I'll try to tell you anything

you want to know.

We're leaving now, Jason.

Jeb's agreed to sleep...

...but if he should get restless,

his medicine's on the table.

That's fine.

He's been like Janet all over again.

It scared me.

They're putting the telephone lines

underground.

Maybe they won't blame me

next time the lines go out...

Nobody blames you, Jason.

Jeb does.

In spite of the fact that I got an answer up

at the old lady's house.

They should've warned Mr. Forrest.

They were closer.

It does no good to think about that now.

No, I suppose not.

He saved my life.

I'd never thanked him for that...

...but I didn't wish him dead either.

All right, you can go on now.

- You were startled at what Jason said.

- Kind of.

Something left over from shell shock.

He was really devoted to Mr. Forrest.

No, thank you.

What is that stone building?

Is that, uh...? Is that an old fort?

Yes, built about 1745.

Built without windows

against the Indians, huh?

That's what Robert loved about it,

nobody to look in on him...

...when he wanted to be alone.

He called it his arsenal of ideas.

- Mind if I look in sometime?

- Not at all.

I must try to find where Robert left the key.

He always kept it locked.

How do you do?

- Oh. Will you look after Mr. O'Malley?

- Yes. Did you have a pleasant trip?

- Very.

- I'd like my dressing case from the car.

- How's the biography?

I've written three words in as many days.

It'll go quicker now

that Mrs. Forrest is back, I'm sure.

- Oh, will you excuse me a moment?

- Yes.

Why didn't you leave the key?

I could've taken care of everything.

- I'll tell you when I've decided what to do.

- You'll tell me?

Thank you.

That was his finest speech. In the

recording, you miss his great personality...

...his picturesque figure emphasizing

dramatically the simplest statement...

...driving his thoughts

into the minds of people.

None could withstand him.

You're not bad yourself.

You really should take up politics

as a career.

You're joking.

My job's nearly finished here.

If you happen to know

of any secretarial positions...

Why, Gregg, Wier and Perkins

ought to have something for a man like you.

What do they do?

They're an advertising firm.

They manufacture rousing affirmatives.

If you wanted to create a nice feeling

in the minds of the public about someone...

...say, Mrs. Forrest for example...

...Gregg, Wier and Perkins would plant

little articles in the newspaper...

...about what a helpful wife she was,

and so forth.

Before long, the public would give her

a rousing affirmative.

That's rather clever, isn't it?

Mm. A little sad too.

It's a pity

how easily people can be fooled.

Uh, what is that stone building

over there?

It's the arsenal, hasn't been used

for anything but a storehouse.

Um, maybe Mrs. Forrest decided

to take a little rest.

I think I'll take a stroll.

Long distance? New York. Circle 50598.

Yes.

Mr. Kerndon, sir.

No, no, no, not yet.

There's no need to worry, sir.

She's in there now.

Yes, sir.

I know my duty.

I know what must be done.

Nothing will prevent my doing it.

Did you get restless, Mr. O'Malley?

I seem always to be apologizing

for wasting your time.

But as we drove by, I remembered...

I remembered something

that I should have destroyed.

- Before the biographer could see it?

- Before anyone could see it.

They were personal letters written to me

by Robert...

...in the early days of our marriage.

Whenever he was away,

he never failed to write.

You may be robbing the world

of some great love letters.

They weren't written to the world,

they were written to me.

Now, you keep this bandage soaked

with liniment, Piggot.

Yes, sir.

There, that ought to help you, Diana.

- You think she'll be all right?

- I won't be able to say for a day or two.

We have to be versatile in the country.

Last week, I put a splint on a rabbit.

- What's wrong with the mare?

- She pulled a tendon.

- Bad?

- Well, likely, she'll have to be fired.

What do you mean by galloping that mare

after she cast a shoe?

Worse, she was galloping with a shoe

half off. That's when the trouble came in.

How far did you gallop her

before she went lame?

I don't remember.

The storm frightened Diana

and she bolted.

Was that the night of?

Yes, the night Robert was killed.

It was a bad day all around.

I wish you'd phoned

from Mr. Forrest's mother's house...

...for the station wagon.

- I tried to, but the line was out of order.

Were you at the mother's house when...?

Just before the accident?

Yes, I came from there.

Yeah, it was a sad trick of fate

that Diana bolted.

If she hadn't, I could have come

by the shortcut and seen the bridge...

...then I should have warned Robert.

Professionally speaking, I'm more worried

about you than I am the mare.

Why don't you take our young friend

for a ride? Do you both good.

- He knows quite a bit about horses.

- I'd like to go.

I'll get you some things.

Have Kay and Boots saddled after lunch.

Yes, ma'am.

- Thank you for helping us.

- Bye, doctor.

- So long, my boy.

- No use running away from things.

- No?

Robert's death is always on your mind,

as it is on mine.

We might as well talk about it.

It seems awful to think that if it hadn't

been for Diana, you might have seen...

That the bridge was dangerous?

Or that someone had helped

make it dangerous.

Why should you think that?

Why should anyone think it?

Because there are always little fellows

who are willing to tear a great man down...

...in one way or another.

You're hinting at someone.

If it's Geoffrey, it's terrible.

I didn't mention his name.

But you knew that he and Robert

hated each other.

I knew that Midford had had his troubles.

You made an accusation.

No, I didn't.

I simply said that it's not unbelievable...

...to suppose that someone who hated

or feared or envied your husband...

...might have given that cloudburst

a helping hand, that's all.

You asked me to be honest with you,

to tell you what I believe and what I think.

I tell you I don't like it.

I've come across barriers. If I tear them

down, I don't know what might happen.

To whom?

To you.

What do you want of me?

Your trust.

I did trust you.

Even in this short time,

I'd come to think of you as a friend.

His friend.

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