The Innocents Page #7

- Miss Giddens?

Oh, yes, I do.

It was Mrs. Grose.

- No, it was not.

- Wasn't it, Miss Giddens, dear?

And where, my pet,

is Miss Jessel?

- [ Thunderclap ]

- Where is she, Flora?

Miss Giddens?

Where is she?

You know you can see her!

- Miss?

- Look, Flora, look! There!

- You know you can see her.

- I can't! I can't!

Admit it! She's there!

You know you can see her!

- I can't! I can't!

- But look! She's there!

- Stop it! I'm frightened!

- Stop it, miss.

[ Flora Sobbing ]

- But you can see her. You must!

- [ Flora Screaming ]

Hush, hush, dear. She isn't there.

How could she be?

She's dead and buried.

Hush, little lamb.

I can't see anything! I've never seen anything!

You're cruel! You're wicked!

I hate you! I hate you!

I hate you!

- Flora!

- Take me away from her.

She's cruel! Take me away!

Please take me away!

Don't look at her! Don't look at her!

She frightens me so!

- [ Screams ]

- Hush, dear. Come on.

- [ Screaming, Sobbing ]

- Mrs. Grose!

[ Screaming, Sobbing Continues ]

Come along.

[ Screaming, Sobbing Continues ]

[ Thunderclap ]

[ Screaming Continues ]

[ Screaming, Sobbing Continues ]

I like it when the fire

does that. Don't you?

[ Flora Screaming, Sobbing ]

[ Screaming, Sobbing Continues ]

[ Screaming, Sobbing Continues ]

[ Mrs. Grose ]

Shh. Hush, my love. Anna will stay with you.

[ Screaming Continues ]

[ Screaming Continues ]

I've never known the equal.

Never. It's beyond nature.

Now do you believe me?

Now that you've seen?

Now that I've heard.

In all my years-

and I've known a vile tongue or two in my time-

never have I heard such obscenities.

- [ Screaming, Sobbing Continues ]

- That pleases you?

No, of course not, but it justifies me.

It's proof.

Perhaps it is, but to hear such filth

from a child's mouth...

I don't know where

she could have learned such language.

- I know.

- I never heard her speak like it before. Never.

- Till you came.

- You saw who taught her.

- You saw that woman.

- I know what I saw.

Has she mentioned it?

Mentioned Miss Jessel?

- Only to say there was no one there.

- You pretended to believe her.

I didn't have to pretend.

Well, how can you say that?

As though you-you too

were a complete innocent?

Well,you lived here.

You knew those two.

You knew them when they were alive,

and what influence they were on the children.

And it frightened you.

When I came here, you were still frightened.

Oh, you were.

I sensed it. And why?

Because you felt

they weren't really dead.

And now, despite all that,

you turn on me.

You blame me.

And all I want to do is save the children,

not destroy them.

- Don't you know that?

- All I know is Miss Flora

was a sweet, innocent child...

a happy child, until

you made her face that-

- That woman! Say it!

- That bad memory!

[ Flora Screams, Sobbing ]

It may have been the saving of her.

[ Exhales ]

But you must take her to her uncle.

You must both go away tomorrow.

Away from me, away from them,

the servants- everyone must go.

Leave you here all alone?

Except for Miles.

We were together this afternoon...

sitting in front of the fire.

He didn't say anything...

but he wanted to.

It was like a pendulum...

and I could feel it

swinging my way.

Slowly, slowly.

Oh, yes, he wanted to reveal himself

and ask for my help.

And we must give him that chance.

Don't you understand that?

After today, miss,

I doubt I shall ever understand you.

It was a cruel thing.

And if you're planning another cruelty-

But to wake a child out of a bad dream,

is that a cruelty?

[ Sighs ]

If you were my age...

and had cared for

as many children as I have...

you'd know that waking a child can sometimes

be worse than any bad dream.

- No.

- It's the shock.

And then being suddenly deprived.

No, you're wrong.

You're talking nonsense.

As you say, miss.

You and Flora

will leave tomorrow.

It is my decision.

I shall send the servants away.

He put me in charge-

in sole charge, Mrs. Grose.

Tomorrow

I must be alone here with Miles.

Miss, may I ask what I am

to tell their uncle?

The truth.

The truth?

Yes, miss.

Thank you.

Mrs. Grose,

have you got my letter?

- What letter, miss?

- To their uncle. I left it on the desk.

Oh, I haven't touched it, miss.

Well, I wonder who-

Oh, of course- Miles.

- You're accusing him of stealing?

- Well, what matter.

It's just one thing more for us

to talk about when we're alone.

- Where is Master Miles?

- He went out early this morning.

But I shall wait for him.

He'll come to me.

Well, I-I suppose

Miss Flora and I had best be on our way.

Give her my love...

when she's better.

And, Mrs. Grose, please,

wait till you see Miles again...

before you judge me.

I can'tjudge you, miss.

A body can only judge themselves.

May God be with you, miss.

[ Door Opens, Closes ]

[ Birds Squawking ]

[ Whip Cracks ]

[ Ticking ]

[ Rolling Thunder ]

[ Bird Squawking ]

So, here you are.

I say, are we

having tea in here?

- Yes, Miles.

- How very grand and grown-up.

Yes, and we can

talk together now, like adults.

Jolly nice, I call it.

I feel quite

the master of the house.

Where are the servants?

They've gone home.

Oh, did you send them,

or did they take fright and run away?

What do you mean?

Well, you're afraid,

and perhaps you made them so.

And of what-

assuming you are right-

of what am I afraid, Miles?

I'm not a mind reader, my dear.

I've told you that before.

But I do sense things.

Don't worry.

There's a man in the house.

Is there?

Yes, me.

I'll protect you.

[ Chuckles ]

I say, it is fun.

We've got the whole house

to ourselves.

More or less.

There are still the others.

Poor Flora.

Is she awfully ill?

I mean, is it serious?

Has she gone to hospital?

No,just to London.

I think Bly

didn't agree with her anymore.

- This house upset her.

- Suddenly?

Oh, no, I had seen it

coming on.

Did you?

Then why didn't I?

I love Flora, and I know what she feels

before she feels it herself.

She loved this house.

She was as happy here-

As happy as I am.

Are you?

- What?

- So very happy.

Are you, Miles?

If you'll excuse me.

- Miles, you haven't-

- [ Door Closes ]

Poor Flora. She must have been upset

to have forgotten Rupert.

Why did you want to

be alone with me?

I think you know very well.

What do I know?

Or rather, what is it

that you want to know?

Well, for one thing, why that night

when you were supposed to be in bed...

- why were you in the garden?

- I told you.

The real reason, Miles.

It's beyond me why you go on asking

a fellow questions...

when every time he answers you

you tell him it isn't true.

Because you are not

telling the truth.

Don't shout.

Don't be so angry.

It does something to your face.

It makes you look ugly and cruel.

Miles. Miles, listen to me.

I'm not a cruel person.

I'm sometimes very foolish

and I make mistakes...

but I'm not cruel.

My father taught me

to love people and help them.

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