The Spanish Gardener Page #5

everything you say is true, but...

I do promise that I will do nothing

until I've considered all you said.

Forgive me, you must be tired.

Doctor Harvey asked me to say

goodbye to you. He left early.

I heard his car go.

I thought I'd talk to Mr. Burton today.

About his boy's club.

- Yes, father.

We might go there one evening.

Would you like that?

What about you, father?

You don't like games.

I played cricket for my college, Nicholas.

- Did you, father?

Oh, I shall have to go, now.

I can't find my watch, father.

Never mind. I'll help you

to look for it this evening.

Well, search it.

I prefer senor, you do it.

You sent for me, senor?

Where did you get this? And what've you

done with the other things you've stolen?

I don't understand, senor.

That's your son's watch.

Then perhaps you could explain

how it came to be in your pocket.

It's not possible.

I found it myself,

in the presence of a witness.

If indeed it was in my pocket...

it must have been put

there by someone else.

Put there.

By someone else.

Very convincing answer.

Not the answer you require, perhaps.

- Don't be impertinent.

I demand an explanation

or I shall call the police.

You don't want an explanation.

And you'll call the police whatever I say.

I have never stolen in my life

and I did not steal that watch.

If your friend the Englishman

were here he'd believe me.

How dare you?

How dare you question my integrity?

You insufferable, you clumsy fool. You wormed your way

into my son's affections in order to steal from him.

You'll pay for this!

- Come no closer, senor.

I've no wish to harm you,

but you've said enough.

I don't know what evil loathes in

your mind, but I pity your son.

I shall return to my work.

You must do as you please.

San Jorge 4-9.

All right, senor Brande will see you.

The matter is out of my hands.

Why don't you go to the police?

The police won't listen to us, senor.

He must suffer the

consequences of his own act.

His own act? That's what

we don't understand, senor.

Then his dishonesty must

grieve you. I'm sorry.

He's never done a dishonest

thing in his life.

There's no one in this town

who would doubt his goodness.

Perhaps, until now. He's

stolen many valuable things.

Even my son's watch, though he

pretended affection for him.

Father!

Jos would never steal my watch.

Go to your room.

Maria, where is Jos?

- He's in prison, my child.

They say he stole from this house.

Who says so?

Whoever says so is a liar.

Go to your room.

- He's right. He speaks the truth.

Do as I say, Nicholas!

I'm sorry, but I don't wish to

discuss the matter any further.

Senor, even if you believe he has done it,

can't you find it in your

heart to forgive him?

It would be an act of charity, senor.

By the laws of any country

a thief goes to jail.

Who am I to interfere?

We were foolish to come here.

You're hard and cruel.

Your eyes don't see the tears of others,

and your heart doesn't feel.

The little boy knows who's good and

who's bad because he sees and feels.

He understands already

what kind of man you are.

I must ask you to excuse me,

- They're taking him to the court tomorrow.

You in your high position, senior.

Couldn't you perhaps...?

Senor.

- Where have you been?

I senor? In the town.

- Did you take the car?

It was necessary. Magdalena required

some things for the house.

And why are you so late?

I have some friends there,

I stayed with them for a little.

I hope I haven't inconvenienced

you. Magdalena was here.

You've been drinking?

Senor?

- Have you been drinking?

Well, I'm only human, senor.

The affair of the gardener

has troubled me very much.

I ask your pardon.

- Very well.

If you'll excuse me...

- One moment, listen:

It will be necessary for you to

go to Barcelona tomorrow.

They're taking the gardener to the court.

You'll be required as a witness.

I, senor?

- Yes, you'll come with me.

One other thing. You'll need your

references and identity papers.

That's all.

What are you doing, Nicholas?

- Nothing.

I have to go to Barcelona.

I'll be back this evening.

Is it about Jos?

- Yes

Don't go, father.

Why do you say that?

He'll have a better chance

if you aren't there.

Do you believe that I would be unjust?

- Jos couldn't steal.

If he's innocent he'll get a

chance to prove it at the court.

It won't be for me to say,

- You want them to send him to prison.

Nicholas, you know that to be untrue.

You could stop them if you wanted to.

- If he's a thief he must be punished.

You hate him.

Nicholas, you don't know

what you're saying.

If they hurt him it'll be your fault.

Are those things necessary?

If you require me, senor,

I shall be in the next carriage.

Thank you, Garcia.

Pedro, Pedro, it's me, Nicco.

Did you see Jos before he left?

Yes, I saw him this morning, Nicco.

- Did he send me any message?

Let me see now what was it.

Oh, there was something about a donkey.

Was he frightened?

- No, he wasn't afraid, Nicco.

Isn't there anything we can do?

- No, Nicco, nothing.

But you are his friend

so I can tell you this.

Before now, men have escaped to the hills.

There are places where they can hide.

Jos knows them well.

I went to the Arengo with Jos.

That's in the hills, isn't it?

Yes.

And now you must go

home and forget this.

Jos is good. Jos is good.

Jos is good. Jos is good.

Jos is good. Jos is good.

Can't you see it, father?

Jos couldn't steal.

It's Garcia that lies.

It's Garcia that lies.

I bring you a small gift, Senor.

I bring you a small gift.

Jos belongs to us, doesn't he?

He won the game.

If they hurt him, father,

it will be your fault.

Jos is good.

It is Garcia that lies.

Jealousy has poisoned your mind!

Poisoned! Poisoned! Poisoned!

Wait!

Nicholas, where is he?

He's gone.

- What do you mean "gone"?

Where is he? You must know.

How should we know?

After we got your message we came right

up here. The house was ransacked.

They'd taken everything of value

and gone off in your car.

But where is Nicholas?

We searched everywhere.

The house was empty.

Bob went immediately to

the police, I waited...

It's Garcia. Garcia has taken him!

No, they've caught

Garcia outside Barcelona.

Nicholas wasn't with him.

Magdalena says he ran away.

Ran away?

- Yes, as soon as you'd left.

From me?

They're doing everything they can.

But it isn't easy.

They don't know where to look.

There is one place he could

have gone, it's possible.

Where?

- The Calle Corriente.

Jos's house.

- Yes, he went there before.

But I don't think that...

Would you like me to go?

You can wait here.

No, Mrs. Burton.

Have you seen my son?

Your son, senor?

What about Jos?

What have you done to him?

- We know nothing, senor.

Except that he must hate you as we do.

It is better that you go away.

Jos is innocent. It was Garcia.

I will do everything

possible to make amends.

You say that Jos's

innocence is proved?

Yes.

So the charge against him is withdrawn?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes