The Killing of Sister George Page #3

- At the Hilton.

- Hilton?

Yes, the Hilton.

Yes.

All right, then. I've got to run, Miss B.

- It was nice to have met you.

- Cheerio.

I'll talk to you later, Betty. Ta-ta, Maude.

See you tomorrow.

Had a row with Alice, have you?

- What makes you think that?

- Come on, June.

- We know each other better than that.

- It was nothing. Nothing at all, really.

Certainly not enough

to send your friend rushing off like that.

What, Marlene?

You fancy her, then?

I know you've never been interested

in business girls.

It's not a question of being interested.

It just depends

on what one's looking for, doesn't it?

What's one looking for, then?

Love and affection?

I suppose you could put it like that. Yes.

I think I need a drink now.

And you think you're getting that

from Alice?

- Love and affection?

- We've been together for a long time.

Yes, I know. That wasn't what I asked you.

- You don't like her much, do you?

- I never said that.

Things haven't always been easy for her,

you know.

I expect you're right.

- Can I get myself another drink?

- Yes, of course you can.

Come in.

- Let him in, shall I?

- Who?

- You never said anyone was coming.

- That was him on the phone earlier.

It is 4:
00.

Why didn't you tell me?

I mean...

Don't be daft.

Tell him I'll be there in a minute.

- Righto.

- You don't need to hurry.

Make yourself a drink,

and then let yourself out later.

- It won't be long, will it?

- Impatient, are we?

You want to wait in there?

If it's all the same to you,

I think I'll have my drink at home.

All right.

- See you tomorrow, perhaps?

- I hope so.

- Thanks for the drink.

- It's all right.

- Bye.

- Bye.

Childie.

I'm sorry.

It wasn't your fault.

I am sorry.

I really am.

There you are, Mr. Robinson.

This one's on the house!

That's very kind of you, Ginger.

I reckon an expectant father deserves

a free drink, don't you, Sister George?

I do, indeed.

You make the best of it, my dear.

It's not often you get a free drink

from Ginger.

You are a card, George, and no mistake.

I'd better be off to the hospital

to see the wife.

- Give her my regards, would you?

- And mine.

I'll do that. We're hoping for a boy.

Thanks for the drink, Ginger.

- Cheerio!

- Cheerio.

Cheers.

- He's a lovely lad, isn't he?

- Yes, he's lovely.

I hope everything turns out

to be all right for him.

Why shouldn't it?

Mrs. Robinson's got complications.

Very serious complications.

You mean...

she might lose the baby?

As I see it,

losing the baby might be a blessing.

Dearie me. That's terrible!

That's just terrible.

That's terrible.

- Who the hell is that?

- That's probably Mrs. Croft.

- Mrs. Croft? The Assistant Head?

- That's what I've been trying to tell you.

She rang and said

she wanted to come around and see you.

- But why here? Why not the office?

- How do I know?

Is she the one who used to answer

listener's questions on Woman's Hour?

Yes, that's her.

But what's that got to do with it?

- I thought she sounded very nice.

- She is nice.

Mrs. Croft is a very nice woman.

- My God, I'm for it.

- Shall I let her in?

No. Put the hammer away.

- Put your slippers on. Move that shoe.

- My scones.

Never mind your scones.

Put the Daily Mirror award on the table.

Miss Humanity. Where she can see it. And...

Childie. Be nice to her, please. Be nice.

I'll be nice.

And close that bloody hatch.

Okay.

Mrs. Croft. Hello.

What a lovely surprise.

You got my message, then?

Yes, of course.

Won't you come in?

Sorry.

I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.

I rather thought you might've come by taxi.

I walked.

What, all the way from Shepherd's Bush?

I had a meeting in town.

Even so, you must be absolutely exhausted.

Not at all. I quite enjoyed it.

My late husband and I

used to spend our holidays mountaineering.

Really?

Yes. In point of fact, that's how we first met.

We were both really very keen.

We had a wonderful life together.

He was a very sporting man.

He loved the outdoor life.

This is Miss McNaught. This is Mercy Croft.

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

Won't you come in? Make yourself at home.

On you go.

Yes, I always say

we get far too little exercise these days.

Unless I'm in a terrible rush,

I try to make do without taxis.

If we all did that,

those extra inches would soon disappear.

I often walk.

I'm sure you don't need

to take any exercise, my dear.

- Alice was just preparing tea. Weren't you?

- Yes.

I do hope I haven't put you to any trouble,

inviting myself out of the blue.

- Not at all.

- No, that's rubbish.

I'm so sorry. Won't be a minute.

- May I look around?

- Of course.

I adore looking at other people's flats.

They do reflect their owner's personality...

in an incredibly accurate way.

But you know, to be perfectly honest,

I imagined your home to be different.

- Really?

- Yes.

These charming dolls,

for instance, somehow...

They're Miss McNaught's.

Of course, that would explain it.

They're just not quite you, are they?

- Now, I didn't know...

- Yes, I have a flatmate.

How nice.

It's so important to have companionship.

Especially when one is an artist.

These are mine. I collect horse brasses.

How useful.

Personally, I try to avoid collecting things.

I find one's home

gets into such a terrible clutter.

But I do think you've been sensible

to avoid falling into the trap...

that so many of our television performers

have stumbled into.

- Trap?

- You know how it is with some of them.

As soon as money starts coming in,

they go quite wild.

Houses, motor cars, swimming pools.

All kinds of extravagances.

But this place is really...

quite modest.

Won't be long now.

Good.

Kindly close that hatch.

Sometimes I have the insuperable desire

to strangle that girl.

You obviously haven't let fame and riches

go to your head.

You never know what the future holds,

do you, my dear?

Exactly. That was Sister George talking,

wasn't it?

One can't help slipping occasionally.

But you are Sister George,

and far more so than June Buckridge...

to all of us at Television Center.

Jolly nice of you to say so.

I say, would you rather have had a drink?

No. No, thank you.

You know, you've made the part

completely your own.

But that was obvious

even at the first auditions.

And that motor bike.

It really completes the image.

A stroke of sheer brilliance.

People are always telling me

how wonderfully cheerful you look...

buzzing around on your bike.

You'd look cheerful too...

with 50 cubic centimeters

throbbing away between your legs.

No doubt.

Now, Miss Buckridge...

or may I call you Sister George

like everyone else does?

Please do.

In point of fact, there's rather

a serious matter I wish to discuss with you.

I see.

Here we are.

Sorry I took so long.

Lovely.

We'll continue our little chat after tea.

- If you'd rather...

- No, sit down.

You can speak quite freely, you know.

Miss McNaught and I have no secrets

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