The Witches Page #2

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I think she was a witch.

Gloves, purple eyes.

She wanted me

to climb down and...

...she hypnotized a snake

she wanted to give me.

A real one?

A real snake, yes!

I swear.

I believe you.

Close your eyes.

No cheating.

To your chair.

There we are.

"Happy birthday to you...

"Happy birthday to you...

"Happy birthday, dear Luke...

"Happy birthday to you."

There!

They're great!

I'll build them a whole circus...

...teach them tricks

and acrobatics and stuff.

It must be so neat being a mouse.

Just play all day and eat,

and then play some more.

I'll rig up a whole room with...

Grandma!

Grandma!

Your granny has a mild case of diabetes.

It's nothing to worry about.

Have a good rest,

and soon you'll be as right as rain.

You'll be better.

I'm putting you

on a sugar-free diet.

No cakes, candies,

or sugar at all.

Those cigars won't do you any good.

See?

There are some more pills to take.

With that and a good holiday

by the seaside...

...you'll be good as new.

Come on, leave your granny to rest.

Perhaps you can bring her breakfast

in bed in the morning.

By tomorrow afternoon,

you can boss her around like before.

- Bye-bye, Mrs. Evershim.

- Bye-bye.

See you in a couple of days.

- Can you find your way?

- Yes.

How come doctors speak to everybody

like they're babies?

I know.

I'm sorry for spoiling your birthday...

...and for giving you a fright.

Is it all right if I play

with William and Mary now?

Yes, of course.

Listen, Mary Mouse,

when Grandma gets better...

...we're going with her

to a hotel by the ocean.

You've never been

to the ocean.

I'll tell you,

it's big.

Look at the hotel, Grandma.

It's not half bad.

- Welcome, madam.

- Thank you.

Think it'll be a nice day, yes?

Can you manage, Luke?

Come on, Luke.

There we go.

Welcome to the Excelsior!

Nicola Cole.

I've looked forward to meeting you.

You look marvelous.

Wish I could say the same for you.

Miss Ernst.

I am the owner of the hotel.

We're very happy

to have you here.

Delighted.

Should I sign or something?

This is my secretary.

Yes. How are you?

Ladies.

- Ina Clay Beckman.

- Indeed.

Julia Whitman.

Julia. Yes. Where are you from?

Darlington.

- Lois Leffour, from Southampton.

- Lois.

In there, that must be where you sleep.

The carpetbag on the bed, please.

I'll have a wash and brush-up

while you explore the place.

Then we shall have tea together...

...and you'll show me around, yes?

Thank you.

Don't lock me out.

I promise I won't.

You look wonderful, Miss Ernst.

We are looking forward to this afternoon.

What are you doing?

The raisins are all around the edge

of these cakes.

They're really good.

Thanks.

My name's Luke.

Bruno Jenkins.

The cucumber sandwiches

are all right, too...

...except when they use margarine

instead of butter.

How much pocket money

do you get?

My dad's rich,

but he's very tight.

We've got three cars.

Hello, boys.

I hope there's butter

in the sandwiches today.

I really do hate margarine.

You've got those excellent cakes again.

There should be 14 of the...

Mr. Stringer!

- What happened?

- I went to make the bed. They were there.

- What?

- White and disgusting.

Calm down.

Is this your room?

Yes.

I'm sorry, madam,

but I cannot permit mice in my hotel.

How dare you say that

when your rotten hotel...

...is full of rats anyway?

Rats?

There are no rats

in this hotel.

I saw one this morning running

along the corridor into the kitchen.

Madam, you only arrived

in the hotel this afternoon.

Morning, afternoon.

I saw a rat in your hotel...

...and if matters do not improve...

...I'll have to report you

to the public health authorities.

Look, madam,

I'm not prepared...

The cakes in the lounge are nibbled

all around the edges. I can show you.

If you're not careful...

...the health people

will order the whole hotel closed...

...before everyone gets typhoid fever.

You can't be serious, madam.

I've never been more serious

in my life.

Now, will you or will you not

let my grandchild...

...keep his hygienic

and perfectly harmless pet mice?

If they are kept in the cage,

and only in this room.

Nowhere else in the hotel!

Agreed.

Very well.

Grandma...

...I can't train my mice

if they're in a cage.

Nibbled cakes, indeed.

There were,

only it was a boy called Bruno Jenkins.

I'm teaching William and Mary

how to be tightrope walkers.

I brought the circus

I'm building with me.

Good. Show me.

Let's see.

Look. I'm planning them a major house.

Ramp ways here, a bathtub.

This elevator's pretty neat.

You really did this yourself?

It's good. I'm impressed.

You must train your mice...

...but you mustn't get caught

or do it in here...

...because if that hysterical maid

comes back...

Now it's teatime.

I just love English hotel teas.

Cream cakes and shortbread and...

No, Grandma.

No cream cakes.

And no shortbread, either.

It's full of sugar.

I shall end up eating the same diet

as your mice.

That's the trouble with this country:

A queue for everything.

They wouldn't think to have

two tea trolleys.

No, that'd be too convenient

for the paying guests.

They'll want two lumps of ice

in their whiskey next.

They'd queue for their own funerals

if they could.

I know that woman

from somewhere...

...but I can't for the life of me

remember where.

Her face is so familiar.

Which one?

My memory's going.

But it's as if I met her before.

She's probably on TV

or something.

Cucumber sandwiches.

Fish paste.

You got the wrong one.

Oh, no. Sugar.

Sugar can kill you.

I know, but it was very little.

Something very odd is going on.

Are you listening to me?

You'll have some fresh air

if I have to take you out by your ear.

We didn't come here for you to sit eating

and watch telly all day.

All the other boys are out there

playing in the water.

Pick up your knife.

You're just like your father.

Good afternoon, madam.

Go on.

Are you sure you're all right?

Fine, fine.

What are you going to do now?

I'm gonna take William and Mary

and explore this place.

Just don't get into trouble,

will you?

I won't.

Come on.

Excuse me, please.

That's fine.

Carry on with the rest of them.

No. In the kitchen.

Wait there.

Great. Now do it again.

Come on.

I'm sure your delegates

will be comfortable in here.

If there's anything we can do...

Come on, Nicola,

down the front!

Drinks will be served

on the terrace after...

...you've concluded your meeting.

Skies are clearing,

I'm glad to say.

Sit down.

We've prepared a fine meal

for you tonight.

The chef's special soup...

Look at her eyes.

I'll leave you to business.

Fine. Thank you.

Everybody sitting?

Up front, sit down!

Not yet!

We've got to get out of here.

Come along, ladies.

The sooner you're ready,

the sooner we can start.

Thank you for letting me stay.

- That's all right, Elsie.

- I'll lock up.

- Good.

- Good.

Then we'll begin.

You may remove your shoes.

You may remove your wigs.

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