The Woman in Black Page #4

He got away!

So I knew there was trouble.

Please, come the study.

You've been busy.

I think I found her.

Who?

The woman I saw.

That's her.

That's what she must have been once.

It's hot in here.

I know those eyes,

I saw them yesterday.

What else?

Mrs Drablow had no children. Instead,

she adopted one.

It's all in here.

Child named as Nathaniel.

Infant son of Janet Goss, spinster.

- Goss

- Now, who was she?

You know, don't you?

My kin, Mrs Drablow says here.

She was the sister.

- A younger sister?

- She had a buntling.

- A what?

- A bastard child.

- They tried to cover it up?

- They had to. Respectable people.

We all knew, though. I was only

a lad, but I heard the tale.

Look at them.

- Happy family.

- Not for long.

Death certificates?

The same date.

Nathaniel Drablow, adopted son

of Mrs Alice Drablow, age six years,

death by suffocation and drowning.

And Janet Goss, spinster, aged 35.

In the marsh?

Yes.

What else do people say?

She tried to get him back.

Just for herself.

Well, she was his mother.

She was desperate.

She ran about the streets, shouting.

You saw it.

Well, at that age, you try not to.

And in the end, she stole him,

got hold of a pony and trap, got him into

it, whether he wanted to go or not

It's what happened, I've heard it.

When he screams for his mother,

who is he screaming for?

Which of them?

Oh Lord.

An accident, was it?

Have you found everything you want?

- Yes, yes, it's mostly rubbish, not all

- Well, let's pack it up and go.

Listen to Mrs Drablow.

Today is the anniversary of poor

Nathaniel's death,

and hers.

I will go to the grave and pray,

and hope she will not plague me there

with what she has become. Amen.

What she has become.

The inn will be closed.

They'll all be in bed.

I found the nursery.

It was locked at first, but then

it wasn't. Come and see.

- You've been through enough.

- Please. It wasn't anything bad.

Destruction.

When she is seen

here

in the town, anywhere

what comes of it?

Haven't you guessed?

Say it.

Somehow,

a child dies.

Illness or accident.

It follows quick after.

That gypsy child.

Aye.

You saved that one.

But there were others.

Lots of others.

Mr Pepperell?

Aye.

Beautiful kiddie she was.

You'll not think it, to look at him.

She was five.

And you?

Us as well.

Stand, boy. Stand.

Hello!

Stand, boy.

Freston!

What's this about, then?

Who is it?

I am sorry to drag you

out of bed, Freston.

Oh, Mr Toovey. I'll not keep

you a moment, sir.

Mr Kidd! You said you'd not be back.

He's changed his plans.

Has he? I'm not surprised.

Have you still got the room?

You're in luck.

- I might not have it, remember that.

- Freston, shut up.

Go and get his things.

Now, you go and get some rest.

- I don't know how to thank you.

- Well, don't.

You probably saved my

well, my reason anyway.

- If I'd stayed

- Bed! Talk tomorrow.

Hello?

Hello?

It's for you.

Where are you?

Who are you?

Nathaniel?

We should know more when

the fever goes down.

How long?

It must take its course.

I:

Sweetman's

The six against the six

- Quiet

- She put them like in a box

Stella.

Oh my poor Arthur

They sent for you.

They've been so good.

They told me all about it.

All?

Well,

how you got a chill out

there on the marshes,

and then developed a fever

that turned out to be

That might have been dangerous.

How... how long has it been?

Days.

No, you're not to worry

about anything at all.

The children are fine.

With Bessie?

I didn't risk that.

I got my mother to come and stay.

Ah, that's better. That's a lot better.

How are you feeling, lad?

Rotten but alive, eh?

He's ready for some beef tea.

My wife will do that.

I'll ask her.

She is lovely.

Thanks for not telling her much.

Leave it so.

That night

the woman.

She came for me.

I wondered.

First, it was the child.

- Then

- It's over now.

The house burned.

What?

It's burned to the ground.

The fire engine came.

Couldn't get to it.

The tide was in.

I think I heard

I saw it.

I wonder

I lit... I lit a fire

there was all those papers

Put it out of your mind.

But if it was what I did

There could be other causes.

Yes

It's gone. That's what matters.

All done.

Nothing to sell.

Mr Pepperell's lost his percentage.

Now, back to London.

The minute you're fit.

- Keep in touch.

- I will.

When he sires more pups,

you shall have one.

I'll send the best in the litter.

Thank you for everything.

They're so young.

- I pray for them every night.

- Yes, I know you do.

If I could only believe it was all over.

It's all done, Margaret.

Daddy, daddy!

Hello, Tuppence.

How's the best boy in the world,

eh? You've been good?

- Yes.

- Have you? Hello.

Thanks for looking after them,

Mother.

- Oh, granny's privilege.

- He's absolutely loved it, hasn't he?

Of course.

Now, he's the one who needs

looking after.

Don't worry, I've nagged him enough.

Come on, sit down.

Too heavy for me, you are.

Ooh, dear.

Got anything to say to me?

Did you see the sea?

- Did I?

- I told him.

I suppose I did, I never thought

of it like that.

Guess what I might have in my pocket.

Shall we look in there?

No, that's the watch,

you've seen that before.

What's that?

It's a souvenir of St Pancras station,

that is.

And I'm going to eat them if you don't.

Bessie, what's this,

somebody's birthday?

It's a coming home cake, isn't it?

- Yes.

- Bessie made it.

- Thank you very much, Bessie.

- You're welcome.

That's just what he is.

Very, very welcome.

Isn't he, Wyn?

Well, I...

suppose I'd better cut it.

Anybody got a knife?

Arthur?

My poor dear.

It's only the milk cart.

Don't go back to the office yet.

I'd better.

In a day or two.

Perhaps.

In a day or two.

Good morning.

Mr Kidd! Morning, sir.

Sorry to hear you got sick.

- Yes.

- Well

All over now. Anybody waiting?

No, we didn't make any

appointments for you.

You do look a bit done up, you know.

Is he in?

Half past nine? You bet.

Come in.

Mr Kidd.

Do take a seat.

Thank you.

How are you now?

Better.

I shouldn't like to think you devoted

yourself to the firm's interests

to the point of endangering

your health.

It wasn't a good place.

Those marshy situations never are.

Just as well you didn't go yourself, sir.

- I have been there.

- Have you?

I had to visit Mrs Drablow on

some minor financial matter.

You didn't stay there?

No. Why should I?

I take it you are trying to imply

something about the house's reputation.

Well!

Many old lonely houses acquire an odd

You don't have to take it seriously.

I think you did.

How dare you?

I think you let me go because

you were scared.

Well, it's all water under the bridge,

so to speak.

The house no longer exists.

It burned.

- Were you there?

- No.

Nothing, I take it, to do with

your activities in the house?

- I've been assured not.

- I had to ask.

So, now nothing remains but to

check over the contents of that box.

Box?

I think you should do it yourself.

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