Love Letters Page #3

---

You said goodbye to him.

He's arranged everything.

Your luggage has gone forward,

care of your agent.

I don't want to go.

I want to stay here in town.

It would be nice. But it just can't be.

Why?

When you've been to Beltmarsh

a little while,

you'll understand better what you want.

It's not me.

No? What is it then?

I told you that I could see

beyond your story to some extent.

I know things about you.

Things that may happen to you

that you don't know.

Nice things, I hope.

Things that better kick into life.

Yes. I should say so.

If you're the sort of person

that I guess you are.

Well, Alan. Think it over.

At Beltmarsh.

Whoa.

- We're here, sir.

- Hmm?

Oh?

Anybody home?

Hello?

Oh!

Well.

A ghost service.

Well, thank you just the same.

I am no ghost yet.

But not so far from it either.

Beware just the same.

So this is what has become

of little Alan Quinton.

Who, may I ask, are you?

- You don't remember me?

- No.

I'm Mack, your Aunt Dagmar's caretaker.

Aunt Dagmar's...?

- Gargoyle!

- Mack!

That's right. Now you remember

I didn't mean that.

That's all right. That's what

you boys used to call me.

Especially when I kept you

out of the duck pond.

That was a long time ago.

You didn't know you'd inherited me

along with the place, did you?

I guess I'm Alan Quinton's gargoyle now.

Of course you can use one too.

If anybody had told me then,

that I be glad to see you...

You wouldn't have believed it, eh?

I never did like this house.

I didn't expect to like it. And...

Now it's mine.

Actually mine.

Well, Mr. Alan, that's the first scab.

What?

When a man's been hurt pretty badly

and all open wounds inside,

if he can say "it's mine"

about about anything at all,

the wounds are healing.

Thank you, Mack.

Thank you, sir.

How about some supper?

Oh, no. No, thanks.

I want to see the house.

Do you think you still know

your way about the place?

Mack, it hasn't been that long

since I was here.

Your Aunt Dagmar wanted the place

kept for you just the way she had it.

She thought you'd appreciate

the loneliness and quiet

of this coming to rest.

I like that, Mack... coming to rest.

Aye, well,

it's a better word than "peace. "

Peace has been mouthed about

so much these days,

they got all of the certitude out of it.

There are people ready

to bash your brains in

because they've got

a plan for eternal peace.

Sometimes I think

there wouldn't be any wars

if it wasn't for the peace lovers.

Now rest can't mean anything but rest.

- Do I smell apples up here?

- Aye.

There they are, Mr. Alan.

Same as they have been year

after year for years and years.

But now they're ready for eating.

Not like when you used to eat them.

You remember?

Oh, do I remember.

There's nothing as assertive

as a green Golden Pippin.

Aye!

Well, this really takes me back.

Aunt Dagmar saved everything.

"The Golden Vanity"!

All the books.

Well, look at me.

Not a worry in the world.

Oh, wait a minute.

It's still here.

I used to read this one in secret.

Oh!

This was my favorite.

- Remember this one, Mack?

- Aye.

Your Aunt Dagmar was afraid

you'd blow the place up with it.

Really?

I wonder if the burner's in here..

What a collection of junk.

Your old cricket cap.

It doesn't fit you.

Oh, my treasure chest.

Aunt Dagmar.

- Golden sovereigns.

- Aye.

Your Aunt Dagmar left those

for the girl you choose for yourself.

- The girl I chose?

- Aye.

You haven't chosen?

No...

I haven't chosen.

There you are, sir.

To your precious memory, Aunt Dagmar.

With many thanks from your nephew

Alan Quinton.

Come on. Get back. Up you go.

Good morning, Mack.

Good morning, Mr. Alan.

Breakfast in the kitchen as usual?

In about an hour.

I'm going for a walk first.

Address, please.

I'm handwriting my soul to:

Victoria Remington...

Meadow Farm, Longreach...

Essex, England.

Mack.

Oh, Mack.

Mack, where are you?

Well, what's all this?

Hello, Alan.

Oh, uh...

Hello.

You look dreadful.

Sorry. I didn't expect you so soon.

"I'm sorry I didn't expect you"

would've been more truthful, Alan.

No, no, I expected you.

And you were afraid of me?

If you want to put it that way.

If you want the truth.

The truth is always disagreeable,

isn't it?

Do let's try

to have a pleasant time for once.

And not show that it's necessary.

I... I believe

I'm just in time for breakfast.

Our first breakfast together, Helen.

Oops.

We both know it's to be

our first and last breakfast together.

And we didn't even spoil our appetite.

I think we've both known

the truth for long time.

Yes.

But it was nice of you

to let me be the first to say it.

It was nice of you to say it.

And all I needed to come to my decision

was your house.

Your man showed me around.

What's the matter with the house?

I couldn't stand the peace and solitude.

I couldn't tolerate

that peculiar monstrosity.

Mack?

He made it plain that I wasn't welcome.

I'm sor...

Excuse me. You've forgotten something.

Thank you.

I'm sure Mack wasn't rude.

No. No, he was was too polite.

Don't let's prolong this.

I hate farewell scenes.

They're in such bad taste.

And I really think

we had our farewell scene

when I came to see you

at the hospital the first time.

Goodbye and good luck, if if this

is where you hope to find it.

Thank you, Helen.

Mack, I was just thinking, uh...

Were you ever in Longreach?

No.

Not in around fifteen years, I'd say.

You happen to know

the family there named Remington?

- Remington?

- Hmm.

No. I can't recall.

Wait, no!

I believe I've heard the name somewhere.

Remington.

WELL?

No. I can't remember where I heard it.

Funny though... I have a feeling

it was something unpleasant.

Something I heard that wasn't good.

What?

I don't know. I can't remember.

I think I'll run down

to Longreach tomorrow.

I ought to visit

the wife of an old friend.

An officer who died.

He was in my outfit overseas.

Just a bit of obligation.

A man runs away from London because

people keep shoving obligations at him.

The first thing he does when he's free

is pick himself another obligation.

That makes sense, I'd say.

It does?

Aye.

What time will we leave?

I'd like to get there

as early as possible.

We'll have an early breakfast.

Oh, uh, Mack.

Something bothers you for long time.

You know it can't possibly

be what you're thinking.

But you go on thinking of it.

Isn't it better to find out about it?

And be disappointed once and for all?

Why are you so sure

you'll be disappointed?

I know I don't want to be.

I want to get rid of it. And forget it.

Why? She's free...

She's a widow now.

Oh, stop watching me like a hawk.

Like a gargoyle, Mr. Alan.

Like a gargoyle.

Hi, there.

Do you know a place

by the name of the Meadow Farm?

Everybody in these parts knows it.

How do we get there?

Just turn to your right and keep going

till you reach Meadow Farms.

You know you're the first person

that asked for Meadow Farms in years.

Rate this script:5.0 / 2 votes