The Secret Garden Page #6

It's my safe assumption though that the walls have ears

and that the walls can understand what you cannot

What kind of doctor is this ?

He's mad !

I shall report your conduct to Mr. Craven

You will and he'll back you up, not me

I diagnosed this case, accurately I believe , when I met the father

Examining the child was a formality

How dare you say such things in front of the patient !

I speak in front of the patient with purpose

Fear is a disease. .

. . fear can waste muscles. .

. .destroy men, paralyse nations . .

You're not the first my boy, nor the last

I prescribe fresh air, . . exercise, . . wild animals and children

. . and take off those irons !

I write the prescription on the wind

You ! . . terrible children !

The irons stay on

You can rest assured Doctor, I take my orders from you

Thank you Mrs. Medlock

Tis of course for Mr. Craven to decide. I'll report the whole matter to him

. . without prejudice

Doctor Griddlestone

I'm going outdoors . .

You're not ! . . you'll catch cold

You'll allow me to go outdoors Mrs Medlock or I can make myself quite difficult

You'll tell the servants to stay in the house

Dickon will wheel me

Tell Ben Weatherstaff and the gardeners to work in the green houses

I'll have no one about

Doctor Griddlestone . . .

In India Mrs. Medlock it's the custom to do as you're told

That wretch !!!

Let him have his way . . .

. . poor boy . .

He's had a difficult time of it

I may say I've had a difficult time of it myself. . . .

I'm good, thank you

Oh Doctor Griddlestone, I assure you that this will never happen again

Good day .

Good day Mrs. Medlock . . good day.

Oh no . . .

Not again !

It's right in there behind those bushes

Dickon . . . right now

Before thy goes in

I want to know right now . .

Colin. . .

Go away Ben .

Go to the green houses Weatherstaff. . . . You were told to work in the greenhouses!

You were wonderful Colin

I hoped I might walk

Could you wheel me ?

Aye !

I was so frightened the first time, I could hardly turn the lock . .

These are roses ..

Those are Lilacs . .

See the little lake ?

I shall live forever

I shall live forever . . .

Send the gentleman in . .

Good evening Doctor Fortescue

Good Evening Mr. Craven

Sit down

Brandy ?

No thank you . .

Last Spring you went up to my country place to examine my son

I had your report .

I resented it !

Naturally

Now after some months you write me a letter

Your fee was paid at the time of the examination

I've assumed that you regarded your services as ended

I resented your report

I regard the letter as outrageous !

Naturally

You persist in regarding me as the patient as well as my boy

Perhaps I should double my fee . . .

Why did you write that letter ?

Curiosity

I may tell you Doctor Fortescue

. .that when I engaged you, I assumed you were a doctor of medicine . .

Would it be impudent Sir ? . . . .

. . to call a physician of your standing an imposter !

. . and a most dangerous charlatan !

It'd be impudent

I'm an impudent man myself Mr. Craven, I could understand

There is his mother . . . you asked

I may tell that our marriage was the one superbly happy experience in my less than happy life

. . and if you imply otherwise I shall kill you !

Don't

I believe you .

For ten years Doctor Fortescue

. . my sanity has been a matter of . .

. . shall we say . .

. . touch and go.

I've walked the most delicate balance between the Gods and lightning

. . between life and the chasm

I have buried certain memories with utter care

I have vilified others . .

I don't enjoy the prospect of going insane

Your letter Doctor Fortescue has made my balance no easier

That was it's purpose

You are a passionate man Mr. Craven

You may leave !

That's a fine boy you have up there, you ought to go and see him once in a while

I said you may leave !

I'm not too concerned with what happened between you and your wife

I'm a doctor, not a detective

I do know though that some kinds of memories won't stay buried . .

. and so we have to bury the patient.

What does concern me is the boy

You said in your letter that I wanted him to die. . .

Did I ? . . . well I'm not too diplomatic a man. .

It's a technical point anyway.

I just suggest . . .

Well perhaps while you were keeping your . . own balance . .

with such care . . you transferred your longing to die to your son.

Leave my house !!!

You ! . .

. . you're a normal man . . .

. . . do you know what it is to be ugly ? . .

. . to be cursed. . and set apart ?

to live in fear . . to be hated for things you can't help ?

. . to be pitied. .

. . to see your curse in every mirror . .

. . prying eyes in every face.

Your son is as normal as I am

You lie !!!

Well . . .

. . I should be going .

It's been a fascinating case Mr. Craven

Give my regards to the children when you see them. I enjoy children.

Good night

Would thou call it an 'Everlast of Summer' , Dickon ?

Aye . .

There's a smell of rain in the air

What a fine summer it's been

What with diggin and weedin and eating your mother's bread and jam, I'm fat like a pig !

Listen to the way thy talk. .

Why , I'm fat too

I haven't got a single wrinkle left in my stocking

Perhaps we shouldn't laugh

Doctor Griddlestone's getting suspicious

He keeps asking me what we've been doing ?

I can hardly get my irons on anymore . .

They aren't big enough . .

It's Mrs. Medlock I'm worried about . .

First she got suspicious because we ate too much . . .

. . and then when we started bringing things from your house . .

. and ate hardly anything at home . .

. then she got more suspicious

She's a suspicious woman

Should I give her the sack ?

No that wouldn't do any good . .

. . your father would just come back from London

Do you know what I think, Colin ?

I think you should have a tantrum

A tantrum ?

What if he doesn't feel like it ?

He doesn't have to feel like it

I don't think I could have a tantrum even if I wanted to . .

Colin? . . . not even for our secret ?

Just like Dickon says, I don't feel like it.

. . miff. .

Thar could have one

. . Somebody has to have a tantrum . . .

Dickon's not the sort . .

fake it

. . oh dear . . .

I don't feel like a tantrum either

. . ohhh. .

What's wrong with us ? . .

What's wrong with him ?

He's angry

It must be the coming of winter ! . .

There !

Run and hide !

I can't . . Dickon ! . . quick !

Open the gate. .

I hate him . I hate him . .

He and the others are discharged !

You have no right to be here, Weatherstaff

Nor has thee . . . . get thee back to the house

Fine

I suppose you'll tell Mrs Medlock

I've known where thy was all summer and I've said nought

I beg of thee . . . I beg of thee

. . get back to the house . .

I'll have no one working here who knows

I can't tell you what'd happen if he found me here

If who found you here ?

The father . . .

The father's here with some gentleman from London

Let him not find thee here

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