The Woman in Black

One and six, how's that?

- Have you seen it, Mr Kidd?

- What's that?

The new Charlie Chaplin. The Gold Rush.

He eats his boots.

Here, get it entered up.

How did we do?

Six guilty, two got off.

- Indecent exposure?

- He got a month.

Ahh sixpence.

He was on a bicycle.

Come on, you two, break it up.

- What's that?

- Can't you guess, Mr Kidd?

It's him?

Oh my God, not again!

Mr Girdler sit down, sit down.

Look, I'm sorry, things have

been very slow

Have you got anywhere?

I'm doing all I can, believe me.

It just takes time.

- Time! It's bloody years.

- Getting it changed, that's the hard part.

Once you're on a war pension,

things are very

They don't bloody care!

It's not that.

Do you bloody care?

Yes of course I care!

Mr Kidd, your presence is requested.

Quick.

Right.

Mr Girdler, as soon as

there's any news

- Do you think there will be?

- Yes. I'll see to it.

Now I've got to leave you.

Thank you.

You wanted me, sir?

Who is this person with the appalling

sniff? A client of yours?

- Yes. He was gassed.

- What?

In the trenches. He was

in a gas attack,

and he can't help it, it got worse.

I am trying to get him more money.

Sit down, Mr Kidd.

Do you see yourself as having a future

with this practice?

A partnership, perhaps, ultimately?

I hope so, sir.

Then, sir, you must learn

to take yourself seriously.

I've watched you chattering with

the junior clerks. That won't do.

I didn't realise

- You must cultivate authority.

- I know.

Take a look at yourself. What's that

on your sleeve, there?

That was the baby last night. I thought

she sponged that off My wife, that is.

Mr Kidd.

To have saddled yourself

with a wife and family

at this stage in your career... You

know my opinion. I shan't repeat it.

But now, now I have to trust you

with an important assignment.

Oh?

Be assured I'd have dealt with it

myself but for other commitments.

- What is it?

- You know the Drablow estate?

Well I heard of it.

It's been my personal concern, of course.

With this firm for half a century.

Mr Drablow was a China trader.

He died out East, many years ago, and

we've looked after things ever since.

Now his widow has just

passed away, aged 72.

- Now, I want you to attend the funeral.

- Of course.

The day after tomorrow.

Where will it be?

- Ah!

- In London?

No, it's at a place called

Crythin Gifford,

a little market town on the coast.

You'll go by train, of course.

I understand.

No, you don't. Not yet.

You are to stay on and clear things up.

Sort out Mrs Drablow's effects

and any documents,

retrieve all private papers,

whatever they may be,

wherever they may be

and put the house up for sale.

It should take you about a week.

A week?

If you apply yourself.

Wouldn't it be better if you yourself

If I what?

I mean, you know all this

- Nothing to do with

- I simply don't

- I can't!

- I mean, if I

Mr Kidd. I've told you

I can't! I'm needed here.

You can manage.

Just remember that you

represent this firm.

And for the Lord's sake tidy

yourself up.

Oh, there, there now

Hello, Mr Kidd.

How are you Bessie?

What a to-do! Just listen to her.

Here's Daddy. You can tell him

all about it. Eddie's been brave.

Hello. What happened?

It's all over now. Give her to me.

Bessie pushed me.

- I did not!

- She did.

It was that naughty wash tub

that bumped poor Eddie.

Finish the nappies. Through

the mangle twice now.

Eddie, let Daddy get his

coat off, there's a good boy.

Now then. Stand up.

- It's quite a cut.

- Eddie had iodine on it.

Iodine.

Come here. I wonder if I've got

anything for you.

Let's see.

I don't think we'll look there, look in

that one. What's that? Let me see.

Look!

What's that? It's a kazoo!

Watch this.

Try it.

Good? Go and show it to

your Mom, go on.

Show it to Bessie.

What a day!

Bessie is like having three

children instead of two, really is.

Hello, little one, hello.

I've got to go away, for a week

or two.

What?!

It's business.

Old Sweetman made it quite clear

it's essential to my advancement.

Oh hell, I don't want to.

I nearly missed it.

Are we far from Crythin Gifford,

do you know?

I do know. About half an hour.

Excuse me, you dropped this.

Thank you.

I couldn't help noticing

Mrs Drablow?

Yes.

Don't tell me you're a relative.

I'm her solicitor.

Ah!

On the way to the funeral?

I am.

You'll be about the only person there is.

Well, I gather she had no

immediate family.

Nor friends.

An old woman living alone, you might

expect her to be a bit of a recluse.

So you might. Mr?

My name is Arthur Kidd.

Sam Toovey.

You evidently knew her, Mr Toovey.

Oh, hardly that. Not in recent times.

I had no cause to visit her.

And even if I had

Crythin Gifford!

Crythin Gifford!

Thank you.

Is the town far?

Over there, about half a mile.

You won't mind a bit of a trot.

- Oh, Mr Toovey

- Yes?

Where can I find a cab?

Cab? Here? This time of night?

All right, laddie, come with me.

Evening, Charlie.

Go round by the Gifford Arms, will you?

Take Mr Kidd's case.

- Thank you.

- Go round that way, Mr Kidd.

It's a decent enough place,

they'll look after you.

Just staying the one night?

No, longer. I have to see to the

house, all Mrs Drablow's things

Eel Marsh House?

Yes, I expect to be in and out

of there for several days.

Do you now?

Mr Kidd.

If you should need anything

Anything at all, mind.

That's where you can find me.

Thank you.

Good night.

Good night, Mr Toovey.

It's closing time, sir.

My name is Arthur Kidd.

I sent you a telegram.

Oh, right. From London.

Yes, your room's ready. Albert!

Here with you! Dratted boy.

Albert!

Oh all right. Very well, come on,

this way. Come on.

There, you'll be warm enough.

Keep the window shut, though.

Keep the frets out.

- Frets?

- Yes, frets. Sea frets, sea mists.

Can be bad this time of year. They roll

up in a minute out in the marshes.

What are you here for?

The market?

I'm... I'm a solicitor.

Oh, lawyer, are you?

What is it? Farm leases?

No, it's about a local lady,

a Mrs Drablow.

Oh, her.

Yes, she just died.

I know. They sent you here?

Did you have any dealings?

No, I didn't know her. I didn't want to.

Now, we got a lot of work to do.

It's market day tomorrow, that's forty

lunches. Now, have you ate?

- Not yet, no.

- Ah.

Down in a quarter of

an hour, in the bar.

- I've just got a letter to write.

- Quarter of an hour.

Mr Kidd? Arnold Pepperell,

excuse my gloves.

- You've been managing things here?

- Yes.

These are the documents

from Mr Sweetman.

Oh, thank you.

If you're ready, I think we should leave.

I trust you're comfortable?

Market day's a bit busy.

- That's all right.

- Noisy, though.

Now, Mr Kidd, Reverend Greet.

- You're a relative?

- Here it comes.

Solicitor.

in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

If, after the manner of men, I have

fought with beasts at Ephesus,

what advantages it me,

if the dead rise not.

Let us eat and drink, for

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