The House That Dripped Blood Page #3

Quite comfortable.

A bit on the cold side perhaps?

What do you mean?

Never mind.

Well, shall we get down to facts?

I'm here regarding a disappearance.

Now I'd like to know

who lived in that house

before Paul Henderson moved in.

The tenant just prior to him

was a gentleman called Reid.

John Reid.

Quiet man.

And although I didn't

realize it at the time,

a dangerous one.

Dangerous?

To himself.

Jane?

Come along.

Well, Mr. Reid, you see

I haven't exaggerated.

You and your daughter

would have no difficulties

keeping it up.

No, I suppose not.

May I see the rest of it, please?

Yes, of course.

Let me show you the study.

I think you're gonna like this.

Lots of room.

With a bit of re-arranging,

make a play room for your daughter.

What a very lovely child she is.

Yes, Jane?

A bit cold in here, isn't it?

Oh, no problem.

This would make a nice play room.

Yes.

What frightened her, sir?

It was fire.

She's a little nervous of fire.

I see.

Well, it's a standard lease,

seems perfectly in order.

Just needs your signature.

Good.

There's just one other thing

I'd like you to do for

me Mark, if you would.

Yes?

My business brings me up to London

quite a bit as you know.

I need somebody to look after my daughter,

preferably someone who

will teach her as well.

You're still against sending

her to boarding school?

You know my views on that subject.

Yes, I do.

Well, you sign, there and there.

I'd hoped you might

have changed your mind.

No.

Well, I shall have to

get someone very soon.

Mr. Reid?

Yes.

I'm Anne Norton.

Come in.

I've been expecting you since noon.

Ah, yes, I'm sorry.

I'm afraid I got a bit

confused by the directions.

Anyway, I took a wrong turn.

Yes.

Please sit down.

Now, Miss Norton.

Mrs. Norton.

I'm a widow.

When you telephoned yesterday,

you said that you'd been a school teacher.

Before I was married.

Do you still

think that you are capable

of handling the education of a child?

In the classes I taught,

I had more than 40 children.

None of them was like Jane, Mrs. Norton.

Why don't you want your

daughter in school, Mr. Reid?

Is she a problem child?

I suggest you find

that out for yourself.

She's in the study.

Please.

Hello, Jane.

I'm Mrs. Norton.

Mind if I sit down?

You know you and I really

should get acquainted.

From now on, we'll be spending

a lot of time together.

I'm a teacher, Jane.

Your father has asked me to come here

and help you with your lessons.

Well then.

I can see we won't have any

problem finding books to study.

We've a new set of encyclopedias.

What a nice room you have here.

I hate it!

Everything's so cozy and cheerful.

Come on, lets go by the

fireplace and have a nice chat.

No!

Jane.

Look at me, Jane.

That's better.

Friends should always speak face to face,

don't you think so?

Particularly when they

have problems to discuss.

You know, if you tell me what's wrong,

I might be able to help you.

Is it the fire?

He always has it going.

Of course.

It would be too cold in here without.

Jane, I'm going to ask you something

that you don't have to answer

me if you don't want to

but I do hope you will.

It's about fire.

Have you ever been burned?

Did it happen to somebody else,

somebody you knew and loved?

I'm glad.

'Cause fire can never harm

us so long as we're careful.

So there's really nothing

to worry about, is there.

You know, I've often wondered

just what we'd do without fire.

Did you ever stop to think

how much it helps us?

It keeps us warm, it cooks

our food, even gives us light.

Besides, it's really very pretty.

I love to watch the

flames dancing, don't you?

Sometimes, it's nice just to

see the way the colors change.

Look.

There's all sorts of shapes.

I never get tired of watching.

Better?

I'm afraid your daughter

does have problems.

You're not interested in

taking the position then?

Oh, on the contrary Mr.

Reid, I'm going to stay.

This river goes to a big river

which flows into the

ocean far, far away, see?

Perhaps, we could go on a

trip some day on a boat.

Maybe even as far as the

ocean, would you like that?

Yes.

Alright, come on

then, it's getting late.

Let's go home to tea.

"Oh, I've had such a

curious dream." said Alice.

And she told her sister as well

as she could remember them.

All those strange ad, ad...

Adventures.

Adventures of hers that you

have just been reading about.

And when she had finished,

her sister kissed her

and said, "It was a curious dream, dear.

"Certainly, but now run in to

your tea, it is getting late."

It is getting late.

I think we've accomplished

quite a bit today, don't you?

I liked Alice in Wonderland.

Did you?

And you read it very well.

My father taught me.

He said it would give me

something to do when I was alone.

Where you always alone, Jane?

Have you never had other

children to play with?

My father doesn't like

me to play with children.

So, all you've had are your toys?

My father doesn't want me

to play with toys either.

Well, we're going to have

to do something about that.

Where are you going?

To make us some lunch.

Do you want to come and help?

I'd rather just stay here now.

And do what?

Watch the fire.

I'm not afraid of it anymore.

Ever since you told me how

you could see shapes in it,

I can see things too.

What sort of things?

Pretty ones.

Sometimes, I can see my mother.

Her mother?

Ridiculous.

Her mother died when Jane was only a baby.

She couldn't possibly remember her.

I'm sure she must have

seen photo's of your wife.

I haven't any photographs, Mrs. Norton.

They aren't necessary.

Jane is all I need to

remind me of her mother.

She's the living image of her.

She grows more and more

like her every day.

Then your wife must have

been a very beautiful woman.

Very.

Was she as lonely as Jane?

Mrs. Norton...

That's your daughters real problem.

Loneliness.

There's a park in town with a playground.

I could take her...

No, that's out of the question.

But surely, contact

with other youngsters

would only help her.

Not yet.

Please, I do have my reasons.

I'd be glad to hear them.

You shall, all in good time.

Until then, I must ask you to be patient.

Alright.

On one condition.

Oh?

I want to buy Jane some toys.

Good evening, Jane.

Hello.

Did you have a nice day?

Yes, thank you.

I hoped I might find

you studying those lessons

I left for you.

They're all finished.

Oh, good.

Well, I've got some other

things here for you to look at.

Is it toys?

Mm-hm, I told you I was going shopping.

Paint box, jigsaw puzzle.

A word game.

But first, I want you to see this.

She's very beautiful.

Go on.

Take her.

What shall we call her?

Give me that!

Where did this come from?

You gave me permission to buy some toys.

Educational toys, Mrs. Norton!

Not this!

That was a cruel thing to do.

But necessary.

Why do you treat her like this?

Is it because you blame her

for what happened to your wife?

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