Random Harvest Page #9

- You know I'd be utterly lost without you.

I'm glad to hear that,

because I like my job.

A woman told me tonight that she

envied me more than anyone she knew.

She envied me my husband, Charles.

Most women do.

Now I really am tired.

Good night, Charles,

and thank you for the wonderful present.

Good night, Margaret.

Smithy!

Margaret, I'm afraid

I said something to hurt you.

No, Charles.

If I expressed myself clumsily...

- It's nothing, really. It's just that...

- I wish you would be frank with me.

Do you?

Were those a gift?

Yes.

I came across them quite by chance.

They're just cheap little beads.

But they have a value for you

that this does not?

He said they were the color of my eyes.

They are, aren't they?

Oh, Margaret.

Isn't there something morbid

in burying one's heart with the dead?

- That's a strange thing for you to say.

- Is it?

You haven't even a memory.

No.

And the best of you...

Your capacity for loving...

your joy in living is buried

in a little space of time you've forgotten.

- It isn't quite the same thing.

- Why not?

Because in some vague way, I still have...

- Hope?

- Yes, I suppose that's it.

Have you, Charles?

Do you feel that there really is someone?

That someday you may find her?

I'd rather not talk of it, Margaret.

It's nothing I could put into words.

But doesn't it frighten you sometimes...

that the years are passing...

that you may sometime find that

you've lost your capacity for happiness?

You may have come so near her.

You may even have brushed by her

in the street.

Yes, I've thought of that.

You might even have met her, Charles.

Met her and not known her.

It might be someone you know.

Charles, it might even be me.

Oh, Margaret.

I know I'm talking wildly.

- It's after 3:
00, and I'm tired.

- Yes.

I've sometimes thought I'd like to travel.

I feel I need a change and a rest.

- To travel?

- Yes. I've never been out of England.

I'd like to go to Buenos Aires or Rio

or somewhere colorful and distracting.

Perhaps when the House adjourns...

I don't want to drag you away.

I'll take a maid. Or a friend, perhaps.

Margaret, I believe

you want to get away from me.

No.

It's just that it's been a strain.

I'm just a little nobody, you know.

It's been harder than I thought...

being the wife of Charles Rainier.

If you wish, of course.

You are a little overtired, I think.

- Shall we talk about it in the morning?

- In the morning, yes.

- Good night, Margaret.

- Good night, Charles.

Smithy.

I think this is my compartment.

Yes, it is.

I hope Harrison

has made everything smooth for you.

Thanks. Yes, he's been very helpful.

He should be here any moment

with my letter of credit.

Will you have only two days

in the country?

Yes. My boat sails on Wednesday.

- It's on your way, this place.

- No. It's in Devon.

It's a quiet little country village...

with a delightful old inn.

I wanted to see it again.

I was once very happy there.

I'm glad I'm not late. Hello, sir.

I made you out an itinerary. I thought

you'd like to study it on the ship.

How kind of you.

- Here's your letter of credit.

- Thank you.

And some magazines.

I'll put these in the compartment.

I think you'll find everything in order.

- I hope you have a wonderful trip.

- Thank you.

Don't stay away too long.

If I do, blame your excellent arrangements.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

I'll wait for you, sir.

I have a message from Mr. Chetwynd.

Well, goodbye, Charles.

Margaret, I wish you weren't going.

I don't feel quite happy about it.

- You'll let me hear from you?

- Of course.

Goodbye.

- You're going to the house?

- No, to the office. There's some trouble.

Seems strange not to talk it over

with you, Margaret.

This strike, sir, it's pretty serious.

Strike?

At the Melbridge Cable Works.

The men are out of hand.

Melbridge. Yes, of course.

It's all right, men. We've got our terms.

The strike is settled, and we've won!

Thanks to one man:

Sir Charles Rainier!

First back streets we came through.

Here. Let's pop in here

for a whiskey and soda.

Thank you kindly, sir. We appreciate it.

- What will you have, gents?

- Two double McWhirters and soda, please.

Two double Macs. Right-o, sir.

Here we are, sir.

Is that the proprietor?

Yes, sir. That's the Biffer.

Was, I should say.

He ain't much like that now.

That's him at the end.

He was a gentleman, the gunner was.

Not like these softies

what call theirselves heavyweights today.

Why, he'd take two of them for breakfast!

He didn't wear no fancy dressing gown...

Well, we mustn't lose our train.

We better go.

Thank you, sir.

- The fog's getting thicker.

- Yes. Beastly.

- Cigarette?

- Sorry. I don't smoke.

Of course not.

Never mind. There's a little tobacconist

just around the corner.

Well?

- Packet of Barclay Blue Ribbons, please.

- Yes, sir.

- Thank you, sir.

- Thank you.

- Good night, sir.

- Good night.

I thought you said

you'd never been in Melbridge.

I haven't.

But you said, "There's a little tobacconist

just around the corner."

You said, "There's a little tobacconist

just around the corner."

I said that?

That shop was off the main street.

You couldn't have seen it

on your way from the station.

No.

Then how did you know of it?

- I don't know.

- You went straight to it.

I did know, but I don't know how.

- Melbridge.

- What's the matter?

Melbridge.

Are you ill, sir? Let me get a cab.

No, let me think. There's something.

That shop...

That woman.

There's a taxi. I'll get it.

Here you are, sir.

Where is the hospital?

You mean the old one or the new one, sir?

The old one, I think.

It's on a hill.

Big gates...

a high wall all around it.

That don't sound much like either of them.

You wouldn't be meaning the asylum,

would you, sir?

Look here, sir.

You say you came out of these gates?

Yes. I'm sure of that.

There was some excitement

and a great deal of noise.

Then let's start from here.

Try and retrace your steps.

Now.

You must have gone into town.

Yes, I'd been to that shop.

Perhaps as we go,

you can piece the thing together.

Yes, that's right. That's a good idea.

I came along this path.

- You remember that?

- Yes, I think so.

There was a good deal of fog...

and people shouting, and the sound of...

Like I was trying to get away

from something...

trying to escape.

There was some danger, and I was afraid.

I was...

There was a girl.

Yes, there was a girl!

The mist is lifting.

Yes. It looks as if it will be

a nice day after all.

Could you take the luggage

to the station and wait for me?

I've lots of time. I

think I'd like to walk.

Right you are, ma'am.

I'll wait for you by the newsstand.

You're leaving us now?

I do hope you'll come and see us again.

Not very soon, I'm afraid.

- I'm sailing for South America at 2:00.

- You are? My, I envy you.

Are you sure

you'd prefer to walk to the station?

Yes. Such a pretty walk.

I used to live here, you know, years ago.

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