The Lodgers

[EERIE SOUND]

[GASPS]

[GASPS]

[EERIE SOUND]

[DINGING]

[PANTING]

[DINGING CONTINUES]

EDWARD:
Rachel.

It's midnight, they're coming.

Edward.

[EERIE MUSIC PLAYING]

Girl child boy child

Listen well

[SINGING CONTINUES]

Good sister good brother be

Follow well

These cautions three

Long as your blood

Be ours alone

We'll see you ever

From below

[VOCALIZING]

[SOFT PIANO MUSIC CONTINUES]

[CHIMING]

[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

[CREAKS]

Happy birthday, Edward.

Stop.

It hurts my eyes.

Aren't you going to

wish the same to me?

What is there to be happy for?

Well, we're to take our

walk today, aren't we?

To celebrate?

Celebrate?

There's no hope for us now.

Edward, I know you're angry...

It's not my anger

you need to fear.

They keep us safe.

Can you not do the few

things they ask us?

Nothing happened.

Nothing yet.

The first chime

had struck Rachel.

Edward, don't be

like this, please.

Not on our 18th birthday.

I didn't mean to take the risk.

It's only that I was

out by the lake.

I was reading and

I lost track of time.

The lake?

You know it's just as beautiful

as when we used to play there.

I don't think you'd be so...

Should we not be afraid?

Should we both not be afraid?

We could be reprimanded

for what you've done.

Edward, you're hurting me.

Edward, please!

You know the rules by which

we are governed sister.

Yet you continue

to jeopardize us,

so help me to those

laws I will appeal.

Edward, let me go.

You'll make your

apology to them.

No!

You will!

Edward, let me go!

[WHINES]

Get up!

Edward! [YELPS]

Say it!

Say it and make us safe again!

I won't beg for

their forgiveness!

I've done nothing wrong!

Do it!

Say the rules!

I won't.

They're listening.

You know they're listening!

Girl child!

Girl child boy child

Listen well

Be in bed by midnight's bell

Never let a stranger

Through your door

Never leave each other

All alone

[BOTH SINGING]

Good sister good brother we

Never forget

These cautions three

Long as your blood

Be ours alone

You'll see us

Ever from below

There, are you satisfied?

You and I will never do

what mother and father did.

[WIND BLOWING]

[EERIE MUSIC PLAYING]

Sean!

You're home!

We thought you might

never come back.

[CREAKING]

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]

DESSIE:
It'll be all right, Kay,

no one will hear us.

Yeah, touch it there, yeah.

Touch it there...

Would you stop it, Dessie.

I don't like this.

DESSIE:
Come on,

keep the hand warm.

[MOANS]

[BRANCH SNAPS]

[GASPS]

What is it?

Shut up!

Come out then!

[GROANS] B*tch!

I see ya'.

SEAN:
The way that

they look at me,

like I have no right to be here.

We understand why you went, son,

but the others, they've

a war of their own to fight.

I don't see them fighting it.

[GASPS]

Sean!

Kay?

I didn't know you...

Kay, where have you been?

Running around with those good

for nothings in the woods?

No, mam.

Come in, if you'd like.

[MEN CHATTING]

Friends of yours?

No.

The list.

Special day for

you today, isn't it,

for you and your brother?

Quickly please.

Who is that?

It's her from up

at the big house.

On credit, please.

One more week is

all we can manage.

You'll get your money.

Wait.

This as well.

For the estate?

Came a week or so ago.

We have so little post for

the estate I almost forgot.

I'm sure you did.

What can we do for you?

See something in the woods

this morning, did ya'?

There was nothing to see.

Hey.

Leave her be.

You stay out of this, traitor.

Should you not be out

fighting for the English?

What's the trouble

here then, chaps?

Huh?

Brought your friends.

SOLDIER:
Names.

Hello.

What are you doing

in my chimney?

Shh.

You're safe now.

Hello.

Those men, were

they disturbing you?

If I'm disturbed,

it's by you, sir.

I only want to see

that you're all right.

As you see.

Do I know you?

Sean Nally is my name.

Me mom used to take

washing up to your home.

You would've only been a

child when I left for the war.

A grubby face staring

through the gate maybe.

We knew better

than to stare back.

You won't follow me

all the way home

limping like that will you?

I would if you asked me to.

And if I didn't?

I'd ask if I may.

I have to go, I'm expected.

[GATE LOCKS]

Mothers love birds.

Bermingham.

What do you see?

[RAVEN CROAKS]

[EERIE MUSIC PLAYING]

[DROPLETS PATTERING]

Rachel,

good sister be.

Edward?

I was afraid.

What took you so long?

I didn't know that

I would come back.

EDWARD:
Is that a letter?

It's from Bermingham,

the solicitor.

He says there's nothing

left in the trust.

He wants us to sell the house.

They'd never allow it.

He says we have no choice.

Now that we're of age,

we have the right.

By his laws, maybe,

not by ours.

He's threatening to visit.

He can't!

You've been to the lake again.

These hours are my own.

Rachel, I...

You won't follow me

all the way home

limping like that will you?

And if I asked you to?

If I asked you to follow me...

here.

Follow me here.

Who is it?

EDWARD:
It's me, of course.

Yes?

That nightgown was mother's.

So was that.

You hurt me today.

I didn't mean to.

Edward, we had

such plans for today,

just to walk in the grounds

and even that, you couldn't do.

I'm sorry.

I remember how she

loved those birds.

I think she understood them

singing in their cage.

She said as long as

she could hear bird

songs she knew

she was still alive.

Maybe she still does.

You know birds can fly past

this world into the next.

We could live a thousand lives

and never know what they know.

Those are just stories, Edward.

She left them to die

like us.

They taught us to

live by the rules.

This isn't living.

Never leave, never

know another soul,

lock yourself in night

after night after night?

You know we can't go on

like this any longer

than mother and father did.

But this place belongs

to us and we to it.

There's no other way.

You know I'll die

if you leave me.

We could try again tomorrow.

It's too late.

We're old enough now and...

Stop!

Why should we be

punished for it?

We've done nothing wrong.

No, it isn't what we've

done, it's what we are.

But who is to blame

for that, Edward?

Not you, not me.

It's wrong.

How can fate be wrong?

Edward...

I've drawn a bath.

For me as well?

No, Edward.

We're too old for that now.

Bring this thing back to your

room when you're leaving.

[GASPS]

[EDWARD HUMMING]

[RACHEL HUMMING]

[EERIE MUSIC PLAYS]

[RAVEN CROAKS]

And if I asked you to follow me?

Follow me here.

LODGER:
Rachel.

You yearn for consummation!

Leave me alone.

It's not yet midnight!

[GASPS]

Rachel!

[RACHEL SCREAMING]

Rachel, Rachel, Rachel!

Good sister.

[GATE LOCKS]

What is it?

Thank you.

EDWARD:
The gift

of a pure betrothed.

How can something so

cruel ever come from love?

What's it like

out there, really,

outside the estate?

If I lied and said

it was beautiful,

would it make any difference?

Bermingham!

"Never let a stranger

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