The Enchanted Cottage Page #6

of their loving care and

attention 24 hours a day.

Or they're prepared to make

the extreme sacrifice.

Close up the house at Bar Harbor.

And come here to live with me.

They even want to know if they should

bring a trained nurse with them.

They can't do that.

Just from what you've told me,

nothing could do you you

more harm than to

There's no way

to make them understand.

You understand.

Because you're thoughtful and kind.

Don't be startled by what

I'm going to say to you.

Will you marry me?

I had no idea I was

going to ask you that.

But I'm glad I did.

Will you believe that the

very asking makes me realize

I've been thinking

about it for some time?

And I mean it, with all my heart.

If you want to marry

to get rid of your family,

there must be dozens of girls

who'd suit your purpose

better than I would.

You think I have such a great choice?

A hideous casualty

for the rest of my life.

I understand.

I get the chance because I

Oh, I'm such a fool.

I wouldn't hurt you

for anything in the world.

It isn't as if I weren't

aware of my ugliness.

There's only one thing

you've overlooked.

Women like me

Conscious as we may be of our defects

we find a refuge in our dreams.

Daydreams as well as night dreams.

Merciful dreams in which we're

as lovely and desirable as

loveliest and most desirable

women in the world.

It's cruel to destroy those dreams.

I only felt that no woman in the world

would marry me except

out of compassion.

I know you have a lot of that.

You know how desperate I get at times.

But I promise I try not to be

too much of a burden to you.

If I felt a black spell coming on,

I'd go and stay in my room

until it passed.

But with you,

I wouldn't have them often.

Because I like being with you.

I like to hear the sound of your voice.

Your laughter.

I know I'm not offering you much.

We'd be together.

Thats so much better than being alone.

I don't like being alone either but

I don't want to be your wife

just because you need a woman.

And I happen to be here. Don't you see?

Yes, I see.

I see you couldn't possibly care enough.

But I do care. That's the reason.

Bless you, Laura.

Bless you forever and ever.

I want to change the modulation

that leads into the theme.

- Well, if you're all unpacked, John.

- Thank you, Harriet.

We haven't had a moment to talk.

Tell me, how was your tour?

Well, I found some good tobacco.

But all those towns.

And all those audiences.

I do believe you're really glad

to be back with us again.

Mom! Uncle John!

I'm here. In here, Danny,

in your uncle's room.

I really think I missed the kid

most of all.

- Hello, Uncle John!

- Hello there.

I was wondering where you were.

It's way past your bedtime.

Can't I stay up a little bit longer?

Just a little bit.

I want to talk to uncle John.

What's that you got?

Oh, it's letter for you, Uncle John.

That old Mrs. Minnett gave it to me

when I was passing the cottage.

He said it was from Mr. Bradford

and Miss Pennington.

I mean Mrs. Bradford.

So? Suppose we see what's in it.

Go on, Danny.

What have the newlyweds got to say?

It just says "something

extraordinary has happened."

"Laura and I need your advice.

"Please come to see us as soon

as you arrive... Oliver."

That's all.

What time is it now?

It's almost 9.

Do you think this could

wait until morning?

It sounds urgent.

I'll take you over to the cottage,

Uncle John.

No, young fella. It's bedtime for you.

I'll take your regular taxi.

One with four wheels and a motor.

- Come back for me at 10, will you?

- Yes, sir.

Tell me, what kind of night it is?

Clear as a bell, sir.

- Mrs. Minnett, isn't it?

- Come in, Mr. Hillgrove.

Thank you.

Where are Mr. and Mrs. Bradford?

Out for a walk.

I haven't seen them since the wedding.

Everything's all right, I hope.

Oh, yes.

What's happened to this room?

It feels different to me somehow.

The flowers maybe.

No no no. It's more than that.

Tonight I got rather an odd note.

Tell me, Mrs. Minnett.

What's happened to

our young couple that so extraordinary?

I can't tell you.

If they go away on a honeymoon?

They're spending it

right here in the cottage.

You'll be the first person they seen

since their marriage, except me.

As they see no more of me

than they can help.

Well, I'm flattered.

You should be because...

- Actually, they're in hiding.

- What?

Oh, honeymoon shyness, huh?

They keep to themselves all day.

And when they do go out at night,

they wrap themselves up

and cover their faces.

Mr. Hillgrove is in the living room.

Oh, good.

- John!

- Hello, John!

It's so good to see you again.

I think we should have died

if we had to wait much longer.

What is this about?

Tell me, what is the mystery?

It may sound insane.

But we sent for you because

you're the only one we can trust.

We don't really know how to explain it.

It's fantastic.

Oh, Oliver, let me.

Not that

I'm very articulate about it but

Well, it all has to do

with this cottage.

I think you know my feeling about it.

It's the same as yours.

Sit down, John.

There's something strange about it.

Something

What does it have to do

with you and Oliver?

What is this thing that happened to you?

When I got your note

It's pretty incredible.

John, we've changed.

Changed completely.

It's true. We're no longer as we were.

I can tell that from your voices.

You feel different

because you are happy.

It's more than that.

It's a physical change.

When did you first notice this...

transformation?

The day we were married. We came home.

When we said goodbye to

you after the ceremony.

Oliver and I sat for a while in the

chapel before we returned home.

Later that night, when we

were finishing dinner...

Our wedding dinner.

Mrs. Minnett removed the cake

from the table and left the room.

We were alone.

I had never even for a moment

tried to pretend to myself...

that my marriage to

Laura was anything but

out-and-out selfishness on my part.

The last barrier between me...

and the world I was afraid to face.

Oh, I had made up

all kinds of arguments.

Like the things I said to Laura

the night I proposed.

But I knew they were

half-truths at best.

They were all because

I didn't want to be alone.

Because I could get

this or that benefit out of it.

Because I

All at once

I felt how shabby what I had done

must seem to her.

My trying to palm off

a broken, bitter shell of a man.

On a woman who was genuine and honest.

But there was nothing I could say.

He was my husband.

But he could never know

how much he meant to me,

That I've loved him since

the first day he came to the cottage.

I would never be able to tell him

all that was in my heart.

For he could never love me

as I loved him.

It was a farce, our marriage.

A tragic farce.

I was desperate.

I wondered if I could

make him understand.

As you would understand, John.

Through music.

The very first notes I struck were

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