The Skin Game Page #7

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in all sorts of ways.

And then I met Charlie.

He thought I was

respectable,

and that was

such a relief,

you can't think.

So I let him...

well, after I married

him, you see,

I fell in love.

Oh, if I had of before,

perhaps I wouldn't have dared.

Only I don't know.

You don't know, do you?

When there's a straw going,

you catch it.

Yes, of course you do.

I've been on hot brick

s all these months,

ever since

the row started

and Dawker began to

spy on me.

I knew it was

in the wind.

What gets in the wind

never gets out.

Never.

Just blows

and then blows home.

Well, I paid

for being a fool.

It isn't fun, that sor

t of life, I can tell you.

Oh, I'm not ashamed

and repentant and all that.

If it wasn't for him.

I'm afraid he'll

never forgive me.

It's such a disgrace for him.

Being fond of him

I feel it worse

than anything I ever

felt before,

and that's saying

a good bit.

Tears.

Look here, dada.

He simply mustn't

find out.

Oh, that's it!

But he's bound to go on,

because he knows

there's something.

A man isn't going

to be satisfied

when there's something

he suspects about his wife.

Charlie wouldn't never.

He's clever,

and he's jealous,

and he's coming here.

Couldn't we say something to

put him clean off the scent?

Anything in reason.

Oh, you will.

You see, I don't know

what I'll do.

I've got soft

being looked after.

He does love me.

And if he throws me off, I

shall go under, that's all.

Have you

any suggestion?

The only thing is to tell him

something positive,

something he'll believe

that's not too bad.

Like my having been

a lady clerk

for those people who

came here this morning

and having been dismissed

on suspicion of taking money.

I'll get him to believe

that that wasn't true.

Yes, and it isn't.

Oh, that's splendid!

You would put

just conviction into it.

Don't you

think so, dada?

It's all

unspeakably sad.

Deceptions horribly

against the grain...

when I deceived him, I would deceive

god himself, I was so miserable!

You've never been

brought down in the mud.

You don't know

what I've been through

yes, yes, I daresay I

should have done the same.

I should be

the last to judge.

There, there,

cheer up.

There's somebody

at the door!

I must go.

Oh, I forgot.

It's locked.

Charles Hornblower.

Is my wife here?

No, sir.

Has she been here?

This morning,

I believe. Jill?

Yes, she came this morning.

I know that.

Now, I mean.

Now?

Tell me what was

said this morning.

I wasn't here

this morning.

Don't try and

put me off.

I know too much.

Shall I go, dad?

No, I will.

Won't you sit down?

No.

Well, it appears that

my agent, mr. Dawker...

that my agent happens

to know the firm

who in the old days

employed your wife.

I should greatly prefer

not to say anymore,

especially as we don't

believe the stories.

No, we don't.

What else?

Charlie, if I were you, I should

refuse to listen to anything

against my wife.

Go on, I tell you.

If you insist.

Well, they say there was

some question of the accounts,

that your wife

left under a cloud.

T. So I told you we don't believe I

liars!

What did you say?

We are, you know,

dada.

What did you

tell me that for?

When I've just had the

truth out of that little rat?

My wife has been here.

I know she put you

up to it,

liar that she is.

For years,

nothing but lies.

She hasn't the pluck

to come and tell me.

I've finished with her.

I wouldn't own a child

by a woman like that.

For god's sake, ma n,

think what you're saying.

She's in

great distress.

And what about me?

She loves you,

you know.

Fine love. That scoundrel Dawker told me...

told me that...

it's horrible.

I'm terribly sorry

that our quarrel

should have brought

this about.

Yes, you smashed

my life.

Would you have wished

to remain on in ignorance?

Oh, I don't know,

but you did it.

You shouldn't

have attacked us.

What did we do to you

compared with this?

All you could.

What can we do

to help you?

Tell me where

my wife is.

Then she was here.

Dada,

I'm awfully afraid

oughtn't we to

look for her?

I saw her there

listening.

One never knows

what may happen.

You go to the

gravel pit, Jill,

and I'll go to

the pond.

No, we'll go together.

Oh, fellowes,

I want somebody

to go down for mr. Dawker.

Mr. Dawker's here,

madam, waiting to see you.

Well, ask him to come in,

and fellowes, you can tell the Jackmans

that they can go back to that cottage.

Very good, madam.

What's all this about

Charles Hornblower?

He came to me, and I

told him I knew nothing.

He wouldn't take it

and went for me,

said he knew everything.

Then he started to threaten

me, and I lost my temper,

and I told him.

That's very seriou

s, Dawker...

after our promise.

My husband

is most upset.

It isn't my fault,

ma'am.

He shouldn't have threatened

me and goaded me on like that.

Besides, it's got out

as a scandal,

common talk in the village.

Oh, not the facts,

of course,

but quite enough

to cook their goose here.

They'll have to go.

Better have done with anyway

than have enemies at your door.

Well, perhaps.

Take charge of this,

Dawker.

These people

are desperate,

and I'm not sure of my husband

when his feelings are aroused.

You better wait.

He better not give me any of

his sauce. I've had enough.

Give me that deed.

You got it out of me by

false pretenses and treachery.

You swore that nothing

should be heard of this.

Why, me own servants know.

That's nothing to do

with us.

Your son wrenched

the knowledge from mr. Dawker

by abuse and tricks,

that's all.

You better behave yourself,

or I shall ask

that you be shown out.

Give me that deed...

you little ruffian,

I see it in your pocket.

Rolf! All of you, stop!

No!

Bring her in!

Get the brandy, quick!

No! Stand back,

young woman.

I want no help

from any of you.

Rolf, help Charlie.

Take her to the car.

Hillcrist...

you've got me beaten.

And disgraced

hereabouts.

You've ruined my son's

married life,

and you've killed...

my grandchild.

I'm not staying

in this cursed spot,

but if ever I can do you

or yours a hurt

I will.

Hornblower, in the presence

of what may be death,

with all my heart

I'm sorry.

You...

hypocrite!

Jackmans, madam.

Who?

What's this?

We're so glad we can

go along back, sir.

Ma'am... we wanted to

thank you, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you kindly.

Good night, sir.

Good night, ma'am.

Good night, sir.

I'd forgotten

their existence.

What is it that gets loose

when you start a fight

and makes you

what you think you're not?

Begin as you may,

it ends in this skin game.

Skin game.

When we began this fight,

we had clean hands.

Are they clean now?

What's gentility worth

if it can't stand fire?

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