The Night Has Eyes Page #2

In a book.

On second thoughts,

you'd better come and help me.

It's just as warm in the kitchen.

If you ask me we're going

to swing for our supper.

Bring those eggs and a carving knife.

There's some bread in that bin.

Oh heaven. I'm so hungry my

stomach is sticking to my back.

Oh, by the way. May I introduce

Miss Marian Ives - Mr Stephen Deremid.

How did you know my name?

It's on the packages in the pantry.

Noting much misses little Doris.

Quite the detective, eh?

Yeah. Nick Carter's grandmother.

Didn't you know.

"Stephen Deremid"? There is

something familiar about that name.

Suppose we talk about you.

There is nothing much to tell. We're just

a couple of schoolteachers on holiday.

Schoolteachers?

Don't worry. We won't

give you a lecture.

Where do you teach?

A girl's school at Oxford: Carne House.

Where? Where did you say?

Carne House. Do you know it?

Yes. I've heard the name.

What made you come to these moors?

A kind of sentimental journey.

A friend of mine died here a year ago.

She was lost in a storm,

like we were tonight.

They .. they never found her body.

These moors are like quicksand.

They never give up their dead.

You're telling me. They wouldn't

even give up my shoes.

I thought I had to come.

I have to say goodbye to her here.

I have to see if perhaps by some miracle

I may be able to find out where she died.

You may have read about it at the time.

No, we never get the papers here. This

house is almost cut off from the world.

Of course!

Of course?

I remember where I

heard your name before.

You're Stephen Deremid, the composer.

Stephen Deremid, who used to compose.

That's right. You haven't written

anything for several years.

I gave up music for war.

I had an idiotic notion that

civilization was worth fighting for.

That nothing that really mattered,

not even music, can exist under slavery.

Oh, you were right.

Was I?

The world didn't think so.

I fought in Spain with the Republicans.

"Reds", they called us.

In those days, red was a

very ungentlemanly colour.

We were worthy fodder for the

German and Italian bombs.

Civilization watched on the sidelines to

make sure there should be no fair play.

I know it was horrible.

Criminally stupid.

I had it all.

Buried alive by a shell, and then

for months in an internment camp.

Thousands of us in the

open and left to rot.

Why didn't you compose then?

I tried.

It had gone. There seemed no point.

Need you be bitter?

After all, the world's learnt its lesson.

Has it?

Perhaps you're right.

Things that we bled and died for, so

unfashionably, are quite the thing today.

You are bitter.

Yes. I'm bitter.

The Spanish war was just a preliminary.

This is the main event

and I'm out of it. Cracked.

Finished.

Funny, isn't it?

Doesn't anyone in this

house ever go to bed?

I'll show you to your room.

You can switch on.

You'll have to make your own beds.

The housekeeper isn't here.

She must have been held up by

the storm. I'll get you some sheets.

I'll bet they're mouldy.

You're wrong.

They haven't been used for fifty years,

but this cupboard is well aired.

Fifty years? You wouldn't rather

we had a couple of shrouds?

These were a bit before your time.

But they're warm and dry.

Not me, thanks.

I'll stay put in my clothes.

Please yourself.

This, believe it or not,

is an alarm clock.

I'll set it for eight, and then

you can leave here early.

I always say there's nothing like making

your guests feel they're really wanted.

I want you to lock the door.

Well, of all the ..

Very well.

It's just .. my housekeeper

might come back early.

If she finds the door locked

she'll know we have company.

Will you do this?

If it makes you happier.

It does.

Well. What do you know about that?

He can't trust himself.

It must be that aloof manner of mine.

Treat them rough and

they eat out of your hand.

It reminds me of a picture I

once saw of Diane de Poitirs.

Who played opposite her?

She was a medieval courtesan.

She went to bed in a sack like that?

Those old-time girls had a lot to learn.

They believed in the

charm of concealment.

You would have a job selling an

idea like that to the boys of today.

What .. what's the matter?

Evelyn.

Suddenly I feel ..

Nearer to her than I've

ever done since she died.

It's as though ..

If I close my eyes and

open them suddenly ..

I see her sitting at the

bottom of the bed.

Smiling out of the shadows.

You mean .. she might be here?

In .. in this room?

No, no.

It's just a passing feeling.

I'm afraid it was because we were

talking about her downstairs.

Where are you going?

To lock the door.

Oh .. do you think it's

really necessary?

After all, nothing ventured,

nothing gained.

If you know what I mean.

I know exactly what you mean.

[ Piano music ]

Listen!

[ Alarm clock ]

Shut that damn thing off.

Put that light out.

Do you want to blind me.

Come along, Doris. Time to get up.

Achoo!

I've a hell of a cold in my nose.

Well, I'm afraid we can't stay

after what he said last night.

Oh, that's alright. Darling,

a Christian martyr. That's me.

Well, I've always wanted

to try pneumonia.

This is purdah,

that's what it is, purdah.

Do you see what I see?

Or is it a mirage?

Charming, isn't it.

The bank of the town must have gone.

It's joined up with the

river floods to form this.

Well, however much you may want it, I'm

not going to swim. I'm going back to bed.

Are we completely cut off?

If there is no more rain it

will drain off fairly rapidly.

Otherwise you're here until it drops.

Then, what are we to do?

I didn't ask you to come.

Oh, I'm very sorry. We'll try and keep

out of your way as much as possible.

I don't want you to go

ferreting about the house.

I beg your pardon?

There's a very natural temptation

to go looking for secret rooms ..

And Priest-holes in

an old house like this.

Really? I'm not as gullible as all that.

Oh no?

Actually there is supposed to be a secret

room. I've never tried to look for it.

Oh. A secret room?

You wouldn't find it.

So don't bother to try.

There are two other rooms

you won't be able to get into.

My bedroom and my study.

I keep them locked.

Which of them is Bluebeard's chamber?

The only flaw in that story is

that the rescuers came too soon.

Hey, Marian .. come up here.

What is it?

That secret room. We've got to find it.

I'm nuts about secret rooms.

Come on Doris, you must go

back to bed. You'll never find it.

No, but I'll have one more try.

Hear that? It's hollow. Come on.

Look.

Do you think perhaps

there is a body inside it?

Don't be so stupid.

Let's open it and see.

No. No.

I'd rather not.

Come on, let's go.

Wait a minute. The secret room.

It's hollow too. I think

we've got something here.

If I get out of this window.

I may be able to see if there's another

one between here and the next floor.

Give me a hand.

You stay in here. I'll do it.

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