The Thirteenth Tale Page #2

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I suppose we were shamefully neglected.

when we were children. No

schooling, no discipline.

THEY TALK IN MADE-UP LANGUAGE

We were so much on our own, we

invented our own private language.

Charlie and Isabelle were

so wrapped up in one another.

...that the only people in our

lives vaguely resembling parents.

were The Missus and John The Dig.

Are you all right, missus?

THEY CHATTER IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE

But we did have each other, and we

were all the world to one another.

We couldn't imagine that anyone

but ourselves really existed.

I expect that's why we were so cruel.

The topiary garden had been planted.

...by John The Dig's great-grandfather.

It was his pride and joy.

LOUD WAILS:

THEY GIGGLE:

WAILING CONTINUES

We weren't confined to

the house and garden.

We roamed all over the estate

and did exactly what we felt like.

We were the children from the big

house, so they put up with us...

One...

... Until the day we took

Mary Jameson's baby.

... Two... Three...

THEY GIGGLE:

BABY CRIES:

SHE SPEAKS IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE

Good afternoon. Is your mother in?

Perhaps I'll try the back door.

Mrs Theodora Mawsley,

the local doctor's wife.

...and something of a busybody,

eagerly volunteered to take up.

...the matter of Mary Jameson's

baby with Charlie and Isabelle.

BIRDS CAW:

Hello?

Is anybody there?

Mr Angelfield?

PLAYED HALTINGLY ON VIOLIN:

"Ring A Ring O' Roses"

MUSIC STOPS ABRUPTLY

GLASS BREAKS:

GLASS TINKLES:

SHE PLAYS SOME NOTES

LOUD THUD:

What's the matter? Miss Winter?

It's just my wolf.

Wolf?

That's what I call it.

Pills are meant to keep

him at bay, but he...

...he comes a little earlier every day.

Is there anything I can do?

Should we stop for the day?

No. No, no, no, he's

just sniffing around.

We mustn't encourage him.

Now...

Miss Lea, where were we?

Erm... The doctor's wife and the violin.

I'm desperate to know

what happened next.

Oh...

Surely it must have been

one of the children? No.

No, I told you, I saw the children

out on the steps on my way in.

No, it was a woman in white.

There's no woman in white

in this house, ma'am.

You must have seen the ghost.

They do say Angelfield is haunted.

Dr Mawsley. I'm not

sure if you remember me.

It has been some time.

Oh, yes.

Might this be the

person who attacked you?

Yes. Yes, I think it might.

Excuse me, but could you tell

me, did you do these yourself?

Yes.

Mr Angelfield, do you mind if I

have a word with you in private?

I think it would be best not to

visit her for at least a month...

...give them time to...

draw some conclusions.

Oh, Mr Charlie...

HE WHIMPERS:

Oh, now hush.

BIRDS CRY:

'There's no woman in

white in this house, ma'am.

'You think I'm a liar?

'Do you believe in ghosts?

'They do say Angelfield is haunted. '

DULL THUDS:

SHE GASPS:

GIRL SOFTLY SINGS:

"Ring A Ring O' Roses"

THEY CHATTER IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE

After they took Isabelle

off to the asylum...

Charlie Angelfield went

completely to pieces.

Dr Mawsley arranged

through the family solicitor.

...to appoint a governess to look after us.

Her name was Hester Barrow.

Welcome to Angelfield.

I'll get your bags.

So the children never knew their father?

Oh, no, miss, none of us did.

I don't even think Miss

Isabelle knew him very well.

The only man she ever took any

notice of was her brother Charlie.

And when she came back here,

she did everything for him...

... if you know what I mean.

I'm not sure I do, Mrs Dunne.

Well... In any event, it's

probably time I met Mr Angelfield.

I don't know as he'll

want to see you, miss.

He's not very well in himself, like.

He keeps to his quarters and

no-one's allowed to disturb him.

I see.

He never was very sociable...

...but since they took Miss Isabelle

away, he's hardly showed his face.

I don't know where

those children can be.

I'll go and see if I can scare them up.

No, no, Mrs Dunne, it's not

for us to go chasing after them.

No doubt they'll come

down for their dinner.

Well, often as not...

...they just creep down and help

themselves to summat out the pantry.

Oh... I don't think we can allow that.

We'll try the twins' room, miss...

which is the third door

along here on the left.

It's just here...

Shh.

DOOR HANDLE RATTLES

Now, come along, girls. It's

time you met your new governess.

I am sorry, Miss Barrow.

Don't you worry, Mrs Dunne, we

have all the time in the world.

I should like to explore

the rest of the house.

I'll show you around.

No, no, you get back to

your kitchen, Mrs Dunne.

I shall get on much better on my own.

That first afternoon, we refused

to come down and meet her.

We thought she might be

discouraged and go away.

But she wasn't? No!

She was the first person

who tried to take us on.

I went to have a look at Angelfield.

Hmm. Did you?

Did you see the ghost?

I saw something.

What?

Not sure.

Erm, you were telling me about Hester.

Yes.

You remind me of her a bit.

In what way?

She was very determined and inquisitive.

Food.

Food. Hungry.

At the end of Hester's

first day at the house...

...she'd already formed a strategy.

...for dealing with her as

yet invisible charges.

No keys.

Emmeline? Adeline?

Which one are you? Adeline or Emmeline?

Emmeline.

Are you hungry? Would

you like some supper?

Mmm.

And what about your sister?

Never mind. Let's go to the kitchen.

Follow me.

So, right from the start, Hester

managed to drive a wedge between us.

I can't say our education

was entirely plain sailing...

... Although Emmeline continued

to be pretty much of a pushover.

CRASHING AND BANGING

Well, a very good

morning to you, Adeline.

HE MUTTERS:

Thank you so much, John.

Very good of you to join us, I must say.

We're starting the morning.

with a drawing of our

beautiful Angelfield House.

You're most welcome to stay down

there if you're more comfortable.

Ah! Ow!

Adeline! Adeline, this behaviour

will simply not be tolerated!

Do you hear me? Do you hear me, Adeline?

Miss?

Yes, Emmeline?

Finished, miss.

Just a minute.

Very nice, dear.

Oh, I don't believe you've

quite finished, Adeline.

THUNDER RUMBLES:

CHILD:
'Margaret?' GIGGLING

MUFFLED GROANING

Do you believe in ghosts?

You asked me that before.

Your answer was evasive, as I recall.

Well, let's just say I'm beginning to.

Oh? Why would that be?

Anyway, Hester didn't.

Too sensible, poor thing.

It would have been easier for her.

...if she hadn't insisted

on being so rational.

Is there really nowhere we can

get hold of some decent fish?

Well, yes, you can, if you really

want to. It's a bit of a palaver.

Emmeline?

She's out in the garden, miss.

I... I just saw her.

I can hear them outside.

DISTANT CHATTERING

That's strange. I could have sworn...

Was she wearing white, miss?

Yes, she was.

That'll be the ghost.

Oh, don't be ridiculous, Mrs Dunne.

It's probably just the

sunlight flashing in the mirror.

Woman in white, miss.

We've all seen her.

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