The Go-Between Page #4

I think he may.

He won't be altogether

a loss to the district.

I didn't think you'd come again.

Is it true you're going to the war?

Who told you that?

Lord Trimingham.

Did you know Marian and he were engaged?

Is that why you're going?

I don't know that I am going.

It's up to her, really.

Look here, you haven't told

anyone about this, have you?

No.

She said you wouldn't.

I wasn't so sure, but she

said we could trust you.

I'm sorry I shouted at you.

It's natural for a boy your age

to want to know those things.

I just didn't feel like it...

not after hearing you sing like that.

Don't trouble yourself. I know

other people who'll tell me.

Well, so long as they

don't tell you wrong.

Shall I take one more message for you?

Are you sure you want to?

Yes...

just this one last time.

Well, tell her tomorrow's

no good, I'm going to town.

But Friday at half past

six, same as usual.

Have you got that?

Friday at half past six, yeah.

Ted?

Go to war?

What do you mean?

Trimingham asked him to sign

up, and he said he might.

Do you mean that?

Hugh made Ted say he would enlist?

I don't think Hugh could MAKE him go...

Ted as strong as he is,

stronger, I should think...

That's where you're wrong.

Ted is weak, as weak as water!

Hugh is far stronger...

Oh, my God...

If Hugh dares, I'll make

him put a stop to it!

Blackmail is a game two can play.

I'll tell him I won't

marry him if Ted goes.

You mustn't! They might hurt each other...

They might.

I tell you, Ted is a dangerous

man when his blood is up.

Perhaps Ted wants to go.

Oh, but he couldn't.

He couldn't.

Marian...

.. why don't you marry Ted?

I can't.

I have to marry Hugh.

I've got to.

'Well, tell her tomorrow's

no good, I'm going to town.

'But Friday at half

past six, same as usual.

'Have you got that?'

He said today is no good...

but Friday, six o'clock...

Are you sure he said six? Not half past?

Yes. Six o'clock. He was quite certain.

Bless you, Leo.

You're a friend in a thousand.

I don't want bad things to happen.

I don't want Ted and Trimingham to fight.

I want it all to end.

This is the only way.

I'm sorry, Marian.

I'm sorry, Ted.

Leo the all-powerful commands

that Marian and Ted will quarrel.

Marian will go to the outhouse

at six... and Ted won't be there.

They'll quarrel. And they'll

never see each other again.

And Trimingham won't be killed in a duel.

I command it to be so.

I command it.

- Here's tea.

- Could I have some more milk, please?

This toast is a little underdone.

Tea or coffee, sir?

At least our birthday boy

is dressed for the weather.

He won't have to change

like the rest of us.

What do you say to a picnic at

luncheon, Leo, if it's not raining?

I expect you'd like the morning

free to play with Marcus.

Yes, thank you, Mrs Maudsley.

It's Leo's birthday, Mama. He

should choose what he wants to do.

But he's chosen, hasn't he?

Well, no. You... You've chosen for him.

I think you'll find the

arrangements perfectly satisfactory.

And then at... six o'clock...

.. we can help Leo cut his cake.

At six? Tonight?

Yes, of course tonight.

Can't it be...

Can't it be what?!

That will be very nice.

You must tell Ted I can't

be there at six o'clock.

Oh, no...

But I say yes...

I can't.

Marian!

Leo?

What were you fighting about?

I was just teaching the

little beast a lesson.

I wanted him to take a

note to Nanny Robson,

let her know I'll visit her

some time this afternoon.

Would you believe it, he refused!

I shouldn't let it worry you, Marian.

You say Nanny hardly remembers

whether you've been or not.

I thought Leo and I might

take a walk in the garden.

He hasn't seen it properly yet.

Come along, Leo.

Are you interested in flowers, Leo?

A little, but mainly poisonous ones.

Mm-hm. You won't find many of those here.

How sweet of you to take

Marian's note to Nanny Robson.

Does she often send you with messages?

Not often. Just once or twice.

It rather worries me that I

stopped you going just now.

Perhaps you should go. You

know the way, of course.

Not quite, but I can ask.

You don't know the way?

Even though you've been there before?

Stanton! We have a note for

Miss Robson, rather urgent.

Would you mind taking it?

I haven't got it! It must have fallen out.

Feel again.

Very well. Just tell Miss Robson

that Marian will visit her

some time this afternoon.

I could ask you to turn out your

pockets, but I won't do that.

I'll just ask one question.

You say you took messages

for Marian before.

If you don't take them to Nanny

Robson, to whom DO you take them?

I think you are rather tired, Leo.

Go to your room immediately,

and rest until your party.

We must look after you...

for your mother's sake.

Ahhh!

- Many happy returns.

- Many happy returns, Leo.

Very happy birthday to you, Leo.

The number 13 is unlucky, so...

so we've put 12 candles round

the big cake, and then, when they're

blown out, you can light this one.

- When will that be?

- When Marian comes.

She wants to be the first

person to give you a present.

Well, she's missed her

chance! Leo can have mine now.

I think it turned out rather well.

Come and sit here, dear, next to me.

Come on, Leo, show us what you can do!

Leave a piece for Marian.

Yes, er, she... she

ought to be here by now.

I sent the carriage for

her. It'll be back soon.

Why don't you p-pass the cake around, Leo?

Excuse me, madam.

Miss Marian wasn't at Miss Robson's...

.. and hasn't been all day.

Where CAN she be?

Well, all we can do is wait.

No, we won't wait!

I'm... I'm going to look for her.

Leo, you know where she

is. You know where she is.

- Mrs Maudsley...

- You can show me the way.

Mrs Maudsley, please, Madeleine...

Stay here!

I know you know where she is.

Come on.

Come on.

You know where they are.

Come on!

No!!!!

Liar...

serpent...

deceiver...!

'But for that fateful summer of 1900...

'.. everything would be different.

'My life would be different.

'I should not be alone.

'I've been a foreigner

in a world of emotion...

'.. ignorant of its language.

'The truth is...

'I've been too afraid... to live.'

I'll drop it round to Brandham later.

Very good, Steven.

Leo?

(Leo.)

I half expected you to look

as you were, a little boy.

I should know you anywhere, Marian.

Well, Marcus was killed...

.. in the first war...

Denys also.

And your mother?

Oh. Poor Mama.

Those nervous types...

Well, she couldn't stay

with us, she had to go away.

And, Leo... You were

ill, too, weren't you?

I lost my memory. Or

rather, I chose to lose it.

But I recovered, in my fashion!

And Hugh? What about him?

Oh, he married me.

He was as true as steel.

We raised a son.

I saw your grandson in the village.

Does he remind you of anyone?

His grandfather, Ted Burgess.

Does he know?

The village is a hive of gossip.

He hardly ever comes to see me.

He's got some kind of grudge against me...

His own grandmother!

He wants to marry a nice

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