The Lodger Page #4

he was carrying a small black bag.

That sort of thing's going on

all over London.

I came straight home when I read about it,

because I remembered...

I had a small black bag of that sort.

SO I hid it.

- Anyone who even owns one is under suspicion.

- Shh.

That's why he tried to get rid of his

just as I've hidden mine.

- It's the only sensible thing to do.

- Frightening myself like this.

You're all worked up.

I'll get you a glass of sherry, old girl.

Your uncle's right, of course.

We really know very little

about Mr. Slade.

He's coming down.

- Good afternoon.

- You're going out early, Mr. Slade.

Yes. I've just completed an experiment.

I must test it.

- Where do you do that?

- It would be where you work, I suppose.

Yes. At the University Hospital.

You will excuse me, won't you?

- The University Hospital.

- That's in Gower Street.

I wonder if he really works there.

It's near my hairdresser's,

and I'm going there now.

- Charlie.

- Good afternoon, sir.

Excuse me.

Who was it thatjust went in?

- One of the doctors, miss.

- I thought I recognized him.

He works down in the path lab.

Very pleasant gent indeed, ma'am.

- Has he worked here long'?

- Oh, quite some time now.

He, uh, works here off and on,

if you know what I mean, miss.

He ain't what I'd call

one of our regulars.

Oh, there you are, sir.

The lady was just askin' about you.

- I thought I saw you go in a moment ago.

- Why, Miss Langley.

- I had an appointment next door.

- You followed me.

- Do you expect to be followed?

- No, but...

But I know that I arouse curiosity.

I've become so absorbed

in my work that I...

sometimes forget

what people may think.

I've been asked to move several times

because I was no longer welcome.

I so hoped to remain on

at your house in Montague Square...

until my work was finished.

But there's no thought of your leaving.

- I rather feel your Aunt Ellen...

- She had too much excitement last night.

These dreadful Ripper murders

are playing on her imagination.

I'm sure you'll find her

quite normal by tea time.

Then you don't feel that she wants me

to go somewhere else?

But of course not. We'd miss you.

See you at home.

Mr. Slade.

Your tea.

Kitty's making a real success.

She's been asked to open the new Palace

of Varieties in White chapel High Street.

They are going to have a music hall there?

They were going to postpone the opening.

Then they decided that would look as though

they were afraid of Jack the Ripper.

Mr. Slade, I...

I think Kitty would like it...

if you overcame your prejudices

and saw the show.

She dances wonderfully,

and Kitty really does look very beautiful.

Solomon says, "A strange woman

lieth in wait, as for prey."

She increases transgressors among men."

Women of the theater... actresses...

they're powdered and painted

to look beautiful.

I can show you something more beautiful

than a beautiful woman.

Something much more beautiful.

I had a brother, and he was a genius.

And I loved him very dearly.

Here's a portrait he painted of himself.

Isn't that a wonderful face?

Look at that remarkable brow... lofty.

See the life in those eyes.

They're fine and clear.

There's a sensitivity about his lips.

You're looking at the work of a genius.

It's as real as though he were alive.

I can almost hear his voice again

when I look at this.

Isn't that a marvelous piece of work

to come from the hands of a man?

- A young man.

- Oh, it is marvelous.

But how peculiar to paint so small.

He must have had wonderful eyes.

He had strange eyes.

He was a strange man.

And he died?

I'm sorry.

He need not have died.

He need not have died.

Those are the death masks

of various murderers...

some of whom were publicly hanged

outside Newgate Jail.

You can see the rope marks on their necks.

And, uh, over there are the ropes

that were actually used...

to hang some of these men.

Everything here at our Black Museum...

has figured at some time or other

in a celebrated crime.

- What's this shovel?

- Oh, that was used to, uh...

buy a couple of corpses in a little chicken run

in the Hackney Marshes Murder.

How awful.

- Um, Miss Langley.

- Yes, Inspector?

I have a question to ask you.

- Only one, Inspector?

- Just one for now.

- I have dozens to ask you.

- Really?

For instance...

what's this chopper for?

That was used by the Clark twins to kill

Herbert Thompson in the Tufnell Park Murder.

Uh, Miss Langley, would you come

on Friday for tea at my mother's?

I'd like her to meet you.

What's that cup?

That belonged to Mrs. Gately. She disposed

off our heavily insured husbands.

- With a cup'?

- She put poison in their tea.

- Will you come?

- And what's this, Inspector?

Oh, some poor chap beat

his sweetheart to death with this.

- Why did he do it?

- Well, we've never known exactly...

but my belief this moment is that she failed

to answer some perfectly simple question.

In that case, Inspector,

I'll come to tea on Friday.

Thank you, Miss Langley.

And, uh, here are

the fingerprint charts.

Ah. I wanted to present my compliments

to our distinguished visitor.

- Miss Langley.

- How do you do?

This is Sir Edward Willoughby,

the Commissioner of Police.

I've just been to the palace

about the Ripper murders.

I don't think I want to go through

an interview like that again.

Her Majesty knows that the papers

say another may be due.

Have you estimated when it might occur'?

He says he can predict

the time of each murder.

There's a strange periodicity

to the Ripper's crimes.

Four murders each within 10 to 12 days.

Well, we know they happen regularly.

It's as though the desire of the Ripper

to kill surges to a peak...

he's satisfied, and then he's quiet

until the impulse returns.

When do you think he'll do another?

The night after tomorrow.

Whoo!

Very good, Jennie.

Here, have one on the house.

- Thanks, I will.

- There you are, me girl.

Did you see Kitty Langley often

to imitate her that way?

- Only once.

- Good, ain't she?

- Hello, Jennie.

- Hello, Wiggy.

You wouldn't like to lend me

that concertina, would ya?

Why? What do you want it for?

- Play hymns down the White chapel High Street.

- Oh.

- Good health, mate.

- Cheer-o.

Have you given up pickin' pockets,

Wigsy?

Had to. The Rippefis brought

too many of you coppers down here.

I can make enough for a whole week

playing hymns.

And I'll bring it back in the morning.

That's a promise.

Well, if you want it that bad,

here you are.

Ah! Lord love ya, Jennie.

Here, outside if you're gonna play that thing.

- Out you get.

- Here, I ought to be movin' too.

- Toodle-oo.

- Ta-ta, Jennie.

Plenty of cops about tonight, ain't they?

Yes. I've never seen so many.

Thanks for lending me this.

- Well, see ya bring it back. That's all.

- I will, first thing.

- Good night.

- Good night, Wiggy.

- Have you seen Jennie lately?

- Oh, she's a good sort.

She lent me this.

She just went in.

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