The Collector Page #4

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I know I said I'd never

use force unless obliged.

But you'll admit you did

oblige me by what you did.

Anyway, I want you

to know that...

while you were asleep,

I didn't take advantage of you.

I brought you straight down here.

I showed every respect.

Wait.

I've stayed the four weeks.

I just have to have you here

a little longer.

Why?

What more can I do?

What more can you want?

You know what I want.

It's what I've always wanted.

You could fall in love with me

if you tried.

I've done everything I could

to make it easy.

You just won't try.

Must I go straight back

to the cellar?

Couldn't we sit downstairs

for a bit?

All right.

Is there anything to drink?

There's sherry.

Could I have another one?

Thank you.

Why don't you sit down?

I'm sorry about

our dreadful fight.

I'd like us to try

and be friends again.

I'd like that too.

Put your arms around me.

Am I too heavy?

Kiss me.

Not like that.

Untie my hands.

What's wrong?

Nothing's wrong.

Come back then.

Put the light out.

Let's... just have the fire.

It's not right.

You're just pretending.

Why don't you come and see?

Look at me.

Would I be doing this

if I were only pretending?

Help me.

What is it?

You think if we make love

I'll have to let you go.

Is that what you think?

Well, I'm not going to!

I thought you wanted me.

I just wanted to please you.

I can buy what you're talking about

in London anytime I like.

Get dressed!

I used to respect you, but you're

no better than the common street woman.

You'd do any disgusting thing

to get what you want.

I'm never getting

out of here alive...

am I?

Help! Help!

Oh, don't die.

Oh, please don't die!

Please don't die!

Are you there?

Oh, please answer me.

Please!

Are you there?

Oh, God.

I've killed him.

I've killed him.

Oh, I'm so glad.

It's been so long.

Three... Three days.

Oh, please don't go!

I was afraid...

I was so afraid that l...

I hurt you badly.

Don't touch me.

Don't ever touch me.

It's been so cold.

Don't leave me alone!

Please, don't leave me alone again.

Help me.

Please.

Please help me.

I still love you, Miranda.

I'm so afraid.

Will you... tell anyone?

- Tell anyone?

- About me.

Will you... tell anyone?

I don't know

what you're talkin' about.

I don't want... to die.

So much to do...

be.

There's a painting

I want to do...

a butter-yellow field...

white luminous sky...

the sun just rising.

So still.

I'll get a doctor.

The doctor's coming.

You'll be all right.

He gave me some pills.

He'll be here in a little while.

You'll be better tomorrow.

You'll see.

I sat there all the rest

of the afternoon remembering...

and all sorts of nice things

came back.

I remembered the beginning...

the times in Reading

just seeing her get on the bus.

I thought how happy I'd been...

feelings I've had these weeks

she was here...

feelings I never had before

and would never have again.

And now suddenly she was dead.

And dead means gone forever.

Forever.

She's in the box I made

under the tall oak.

For days after she was dead

I kept thinking...

perhaps it was my fault, after all,

that she did what she did...

and lost my respect.

Then I thought, no.

It was her fault.

She asked for everything she got.

My only mistake

was aiming too high.

I ought to have seen I'd never get what

I wanted from someone like Miranda...

with all her la-di-da ideas

and clever tricks.

I ought to have got someone

who would respect me more.

Someone ordinary.

Someone I could teach.

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