The Lodger Page #5

Aye. There's a smoking concert at the

Red Lion next Tuesday night, you know.

Maybe she could sing

a few songs for them.

- She needs work ever so badly.

- Aye.

I'll go right now and see her about it.

Giddyap. Come on here.

Oh! Oh, God.

Jennie. Whoa there, Bob.

Jennie. Aye, there.Jennie.

Oh, my!

There's been a murder! Police! Police!

For the love of Mike! Police!

It was the Ripper all right.

- Did you see anyone come out after she came in?

- Nobody came out, sir.

Then he must still be about.

- Form a cordon around here.

- Stand men shoulder to shoulder.

- Don't let anyone pass.

- Search these buildings.

He must be around here someplace!

They don't seem to find 'im.

I don't see how he c0uld've got away.

That's the other side of White chapel.

The Rippefs got away.

- Mr. Slade, what are you doing?

- Burning my ulster.

Please, don't come too near.

Are those stains on it?

It... became contaminated...

in a pathological laboratory.

I have to be drastic,

or the contamination would spread.

You mean, it may carry a disease?

The stove in my room wasn't big enough.

That's why I made the fire in here.

I have to destroy this completely.

I smelled burning, and I came...

Oh. I should have closed

the kitchen door.

Then perhaps the odor wouldn't

have spread through the house.

- That'll wake everyone in the house.

- I'm sorry.

Well, it's done.

There's no danger now?

- No.

- You thought about the risk to us.

- But what about yourself?

- I'll be all right.

- Are you sure?

- Yes.

I'll open the window

and let some of the smoke out.

It's almost daylight,

and here's the milkman.

Hello, mate. Heard about the Ripper?

Yes. He was up to his old tricks

again last night.

They told me they

practically copped him, but he got away.

What's the news, son'?

Boy. Throw the paper down here.

Thank you.

- We should go to the police.

- What, and scandalize the whole neighborhood?

We've very little to go on

when you consider it calmly.

- Robert, Kitty saw the stains.

- But I told you what they were.

You get ideas out of reading the papers.

Remember how excited and upset

you were over that bag?

Well, you were wrong, weren't you?

Has it occurred to you that he might

have been telling the truth?

He's a medical man, and he'd know

the danger if his coat was contaminated.

He was protecting us.

I believe you ought to be thanking him

instead of suspecting him.

- Well, perhaps you're right.

- Of course I am.

Now I'm going to run along

and get a little more sleep.

Well, I've always said

he's a very eccentric fellow.

Robert, I think we must make certain...

that Kitty's never left alone

in the house with him.

Just for safety's sake.

You'll look exquisite wearing that, dear.

Oh, these flowers came from

the florist's a little while ago.

Our carriage will have an escort of mounted police.

- Is John arranging that?

By a very funny coincidence, a squad

will be going to White chapel for duty...

and we're going that way too.

Oh, I don't think I like this.

Where's Daisy?

She went out after

giving Mr. Slade his tea.

- I put a note on his tray.

- What?

It was just a reminder about

the opening at the new Palace tonight.

- Oh, no. This will never do.

- It looks a bit overdone.

What'll I do? I have to have

some flowers for the opening.

I know. A posy.

How long will Daisy be?

She'll be rather late, I'm afraid.

I'll take it.

- Would you, darling?

- Of course.

This hat has given you very good service, sir.

- Yes. There's a bit of a dent here.

- Oh.

- I can get that out, sir.

- Thank you.

You're going to the opening

of Miss Kitty tonight, I take it, sir.

I wouldn't fancy going down

to White chapel myself. Sir.

That's safe enough. You'll let me

have it around about an hour?

- I'll get it up very special, sir.

- Thank you.

- Good day, sir.

- Good day to you, sir.

Robert. I didn't know you had come out.

Ijust stepped 'round to Harris's

with my hat.

- Where's Daisy?

- She's shopping.

- Then Kitty's in the house alone.

- She wanted this bouquet altered.

- I thought you were in the bedroom.

- I'm getting back.

You didn't mind my sending up

the little note, did you?

I was glad to have it.

I came down to thank you.

Are you able to go to the theater?

I'm not sure yet.

I guarantee you

the rest of the show will be good.

I have some passes. I'll get you one.

Won't you sit down?

I expect that many men have told you

that you're very beautiful.

Oh. Well, I don't always believe them.

My brother could have captured

your beauty... for all time.

Your brother,

he was an artist, wasn't he?

He was a genius.

It was the beauty of women

that led him to his destruction.

Yours is a beauty

which could destroy men.

Oh, is that a compliment?

Or it could destroy you.

Have you ever thought of that?

That's a very queer thing to say.

Besides that, I don't think I'm beautiful at all.

I, uh, take great trouble

to give that impression.

It is one thing if a woman

is beautiful merely for herself.

But when she exhibits the loveliness

of her body upon the stage...

as a lure, leading men on...

Oh, you are prejudiced

against actresses, aren't you?

You wouldn't think that anyone

could hate a thing...

and love it too.

You can't love and hate

at the same time.

You can, and it's a problem then.

I take my problems to the river...

because water is soothing

when it runs dark and deep.

And a man can think.

The water answers problems,

you know?

You sound lonely.

And the answer is...

that a man can destroy what he hates...

and love what he destroys.

I also know that there is evil in beauty.

But if the evil is cut out...

Hello, Uncle.

We've been having

a most interesting conversation.

Mr. Slade is quite a philosopher.

- I do hope you'll be able to come this evening.

- Thank you.

I'll look forward to seeing you

in White chapel.

You can dismount your men.

Come in, my boy.

We've been watching for you.

Is that you, John? I shan't be long.

- Plenty of time.

- Did you remember to bring my escort?

Yes, the square's full

of mounted police.

And in another moment,

he might have had his hands on her.

Did Kitty realize what was happening?

She didn't seem to,

and we haven't told her anything.

With a performance tonight, we didn't even

want her to think there was anything wrong.

It's an accumulation of little things,

one on top of the other.

Destroying his bag,

burning his ulster, staying up all night.

I think this thing

can be settled right away.

Here's a fingerprint

the Ripper left in White chapel...

then again in Mitre Square.

If it were possible for me to see something

Mr. Slade had held in his right hand...

a glass or something of that sort...

Has Daisy taken his toddy up yet?

He always has a hot drink about now.

- Lemon and spices, a sort of appetizer.

- She's preparing it now.

If you took it up and waited

to bring the glass down...

Yes.

Yes?

We have a little excitement outside.

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