The Secret of Crickley Hall Page #8

Stefan doesn’t answer.

SUSAN:

He fell over in the garden.

Nancy examines the mark. It’s a long line across the palm of

his hand. She takes his other hand. An identical mark.

Nancy is about to pursue the matter when she sees Maurice

watching her from the door.

Nancy kisses Stefan’s palm.

NANCY:

Be careful. Oh Susan can I delay you just

a moment. I’d like you to prepare a

reading for tomorrow.

THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL Ep 1 Pink Revisions 47.

CUT TO:

Nancy alone with Susan.

NANCY (cont’d)

You know how Maurice is Magda’s eyes and

ears? I’d like you to be mine. I’d like

you to come to me with anything that

frightens you. Anything you feel

shouldn’t be happening.

SUSAN:

Yes Miss.

NANCY:

Cribben uses a cane doesn’t he.

SUSAN:

I don’t know Miss.

NANCY:

You can tell me.

Susan says nothing.

NANCY (cont'd)

You know I’m on your side.

SUSAN:

You go home at night Miss.

NANCY:

I can still help you.

SUSAN:

And if I get sent back to London where

will you be then Miss?

NANCY:

Has someone threatened to send you back

to London?

SUSAN:

No Miss. No-one’s threatened anything.

What reading do you want me to prepare?

87 INT. CRICKLEY HALL / ENTRANCE HALL - 1943 DAY 5

Nancy readies herself to leave Crickley Hall. She has her hat

and gloves. She sees all the orphans’ shoes lined up at the

foot of the stairs.

She hesitates and looks into the darkened study. She looks

upstairs. No-one seems to be around.

THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL Ep 1 Pink Revisions 48.

The silent grandfather clock.

88 INT. CRICKLEY HALL / STUDY - 1943 DAY 5

Nancy enters the study. The curtains are drawn. She scans the

room. The heavy books on the shelves. Medals and trophies.

A framed slogan on the wall:

Train up a child in the way he should go

And when he is old he will not depart from it

PROVERBS 22:
6

She does a quick search and finds:

Cribben’s cane.

She gives it a practice swipe through the air. She tries it

out on her withered hand.

Swish-thwack.

It leaves the same mark as on Stefan’s.

CRIBBEN:

You need correction?

Nancy gasps and drops the cane.

Cribben in the doorway.

NANCY:

He’s only six.

CRIBBEN:

Then we’re just in time. For the others

it may be too late. I’m sorry we haven’t

met.

NANCY:

Nancy Linnet.

CRIBBEN:

Augustus Cribben. My sister admires you

greatly.

Nancy can’t hide her surprise. Cribben is amused.

CRIBBEN (cont’d)

She’s that way with everyone she admires.

The more she expects of them.

THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL Ep 1 Pink Revisions 49.

NANCY:

She expects a great deal from children.

CRIBBEN:

Indeed we both do. Well observed. Someone

expected a great deal from you when you

were a child else you’d not turned out as

you have.

NANCY:

May I speak frankly Sir?

CRIBBEN:

My sister tells me you do little else.

NANCY:

You don’t need to instill fear to get

respect.

CRIBBEN:

It’s clear you’ve never been in charge of

children.

NANCY:

They behave impeccably in class.

CRIBBEN:

And why do you think that is.

Running footsteps can be heard upstairs. Cribben bellows.

CRIBBEN (cont’d)

DO YOU WANT ME TO COME UP?

The footsteps stop.

CRIBBEN (cont’d)

It’s not pleasant Miss Linnet. But it is

in the nature of children to rebel. It is

our duty to meet them with consequence.

Good night.

Nancy walks nervously past him as he replaces the cane.

89 INT. CRICKLEY HALL / CELLAR - NIGHT 5 89

The rushing sound from the well increases intensity. The door

to the cellar glides open.

90 INT. CRICKLEY HALL / ENTRANCE HALL - NIGHT 5 90

We track along pools of water towards the stairs.

THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL Ep 1 Pink Revisions 50.

91 INT. CRICKLEY HALL / CALLY’S ROOM - NIGHT 5 91

Cally is playing with a colouring book. She hears the soundof crying. She turns. It’s coming from outside the room.

92 INT. CRICKLEY HALL / LANDING - NIGHT 5 92

Cally approaches the cupboard on the landing. The crying iscoming from inside. She looks at the handle to the cupboard.

Her hand reaches out gingerly to open the cupboard.

SWISH-THWACK.

A fast blurring movement slicing down on Cally’s hand.

93 INT. CRICKLEY HALL / KITCHEN - NIGHT 5 93

Eve hears Cally scream shrilly. She runs.

94 INT. CRICKLEY HALL / ENTRANCE HALL - NIGHT 5 94

Eve runs up the stairs two at a time.

95 INT. CRICKLEY HALL / LANDING - NIGHT 5 95

Cally is sitting on the landing in floods of tears, holdingthe palm of her hand.

EVE:

Oh what have you done to yourself!

CALLY:

He HIT me!

EVE:

Let me see.

There’s no mark. Eve examines Cally’s hand for splinters.

CALLY:

I wasn’t being naughty why did he HIT me?

Who?

EVE:

The MAN!

CALLY:

EVE:

There was a man here?

CALLY:

He went down there!

THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL Ep 1 Pink Revisions 51.

Cally points down the stairs.

EVE:

Cally I would have seen him. Did you fall

asleep?

CALLY:

No I didn’t!

Eve leads her downstairs.

EVE:

Let’s go and get a biscuit and no more

playing games by yourself okay?

CALLY:

I wasn’t playing I was trying to help!

EVE:

Let’s have another look for Clyde in the

garden before we get ready for bed.

96 INT. CRICKLEY HALL / CLASSROOM - 1943 DAY 6 96

Nancy stands in front of the assembled orphans.

NANCY:

I’ve got a special treat for you today.

She takes out an antique Bible.

NANCY (cont’d)

The library has been kind enough to allow

me to borrow a very old Bible for you all

to look at. But I promised there wouldn’t

be any grubby paws so let me check before

I pass it round.

The orphans present their hands palm up. Nancy scrutinizes

each. There are no marks from Cribben’s cane.

NANCY (cont’d)

Very good. You perform your ablutions

admirably. I presume the water is cold.

She arrives at Stefan. He looks pale. She studies his hands

carefully. He’s wearing a long sleeved vest under his jacket

which stops at his wrists. She releases his hands and Stefan

rubs his arms.

MAURICE:

He’s got flu Miss that’s why he’s wrapped

up.

THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL Ep 1 Pink Revisions 52.

She looks evenly at Maurice. He’s nervous.

NANCY:

Thank you Maurice.

Maurice brazens it out. Nancy looks back at Stefan.

SUSAN:

He’ll be fine Miss. Really.

Nancy looks around the class. They’re all terrified.

Nancy can’t decide what to do. She looks back to Stefan. He

looks down, utterly subdued. A single tear rolls out.

Nancy considers for some moments. Wrestling with her fears.

NANCY:

Maurice you’re going to need to fetch Mr.

Cribben for me. Would you do that please.

MAURICE:

He’s not to be disturbed.

NANCY:

You’ll get him right now or I’ll kick you

all the way up those stairs.

The class gasps in unison. Maurice gets up, reddening. Nancy

lunges at him.

NANCY (cont’d)

MOVE!

Maurice runs out. Nancy sits beside Stefan.

NANCY (cont’d)

Take off your jacket please Stefan.

Stefan shakes his head.

SUSAN:

Don’t Miss.

Nancy strokes Stefan’s hair.

NANCY:

This has to stop. This is going to stop.

Nancy tries to take his jacket off. Stefan winces in pain.

NANCY (cont’d)

I’m sorry.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote