Young and Innocent Page #5

- Ah, the ice is here.

- In the nick of time.

Auntie, we really ought to be

going.

- Yes, I really think we should.

- Yes, yes, of course.

Would you mind picking these

ices for me, please?

Oh, certainly, of course.

Are they strawberry?

Yes, the red's strawberry and the

white's vanilla, you see.

Fancy!

It's a nice young man, Erica.

Has your father known him long?

- Not very.

- What does he do for a living?

- A sort of a clerk, I believe.

- Oh, in what?.

Advertising. He makes up

advertisements.

What a very uncommon name!

What did you say it was?

- Beechtree Manningcott.

- I didn't see you.

Would you just take those ices to

those nurses over there for me?

What a very sweet Erica is, don't

you think so Mr... Croft?

Yes, awfully nice.

Have you known Colonel Burgoyne

long?

Oh, yes, years and years.

Your work must be very

interesting.

My work?

Yes, Erica's just been talking to

me about it.

- Oh, yes, of course.

- Do you like it?

So many young men of today

dislike their work.

Oh, I love it, I find it very

satisfying.

But it must be awfully difficult

to strike the right note.

Well, at first, perhaps, but of

course you need a good ear.

Ear?

I should have thought the eye

would be much more important.

Yes, that's important, certainly

but I can read at sight now.

I beg your pardon?

I mean, I can see a piece of

music if it's put in front of me.

- I see.

- And play, of course.

Oh, yes, of course.

I'll tell her definitely we're

going.

Auntie, I've got rid of those

ices.

Now we really should be going.

Very well, my dear, it was nice

of you to come.

It's a pity you have to go so

soon, I've had such an...

...interesting talk with your

friend, Mr. Manningcroft.

We want another game, mother.

Oh, let's get the ices served

first.

Just before children go.

Well, what should it be?

- Harold wants blind man's buff.

- I'll be blind man!

- That's for me to decide, Harold.

- Mothers will be first blind man.

- Can't I, uncle?

- I don't think so, dear.

All right, you can try and

catch me.

Oh, very well.

It's... Mr. Beechtree!

Oh... Where's Erica?

They went home.

They asked me to say goodbye.

You idiot!

Don't you realize there was

something going on between them?

She didn't know his name! He

didn't know it himself, really!

Oh, you're exaggerating, my dear.

Nothing of the sort! I wanted to

find out more about them.

You had to make me play blind

man's buff!

There you are, what did I

tell you?

They're not going home, they're

taking the other direction!

Kingston 8-40, please.

Hurry!

All right. Hello, Margaret.

I thought we would never get

away.

Don't you think she seemed a bit

suspicious?

I don't think so, just naturally

inquisitive.

She seemed satisfied with the

answers I gave.

I nearly died when you produced

that china dwarf.

I wonder if she'll ever miss

it from the garden.

We mustn't laugh.

It was very funny when she asked

my name.

- I was scared stiff!

- The look on your face!

We mustn't laugh, it's very

serious!

You look so much better when

you're laughing.

Do I?

Of course I don't want to make

trouble.

But I feel it's duty to tell you.

I mean, Erica's so young, she's

at an awkward age.

Oh, but I, I can't understand it.

Erica always tells me if she's

going a long way.

And certainly who she's going

with.

Gordon Bleam is the only man I

don't like to see her with.

Then it was him! I was sure that

he gave a false name.

Yes, but he's in India!

Oh, then it wasn't him.

Which way did you see the car

going?

Yes... Yes...

All right, I'll phone you later.

He never even thanked me.

Two more miles and we'll be

there!

Yes, we'll be there but what

then?

What then, my child? What then?

The tramp, the coat, the belt.

Are you sure the tramp will

be there?

Of course, he will be standing at

the door in tears, saying...

- ...here you are, guvnor.

- Will it be as easy as all that?

Why not, everything has gone all

right up to now.

I don't see why that should

change.

I hope not. It would be such a

waste.

When you go back to your father

you can burst open the...

- ...door and say...

- With a throb in my voice.

Yes, a throb in the voice is

certainly indicated.

You will stand in front of him

and say:
I've travelled far...

...and risked much and here is the

man in all his innocence.

Then he'll tap me on my head

and say...

With a throb in his voice.

- Thank you, Erica, thank you.

- It'll be touching.

Oh, Robert, if only things would

turn out all right.

- They started to.

- What do you mean?

- You called me Robert.

- Oh, did I?

I didn't notice it.

She will be going through Lemming

unless she turns back.

Well, it's an old Morris.

No, I don't remember the number.

She'll have someone with her.

A young man, I believe.

Get her to telephone me, will

you?

Excuse me, are you miss

Burgoyne?

Yes.

Your father's Chief Constable,

isn't he?

Yes, why?

He wants you to phone him

right away.

He said it's urgent, will you

step inside?

Why, you are the chap who

escaped from the police this morning.

I've seen your picture!

You'd better come inside here...

Quick, step on it!

We were overconfident, I didn't

think about the papers.

Thought we may do it

We seem to be crawling.

I can't run away like this

Especially with an escaped man.

It means I'm an accessory.

And accessories get ten years!

Oh, it's terrible, what will

happen to the boys?

Poor father! We must go faster.

You've to get that coat back.

I can't go back now!

Poor father, what shall I

tell him? What shall I tell him?

Right. I suppose he must be

the man.

I can't understand it.

Keep my daughter's name out of

it, Inspector.

For the time, anyway.

That's all right, sir.

Don't you worry.

The search is well underway.

He's probably forced her to go

to Ashcroft Forest.

There'll be less chance for him

to be found there.

We're combing the forest

now, sir.

It's all right, my dear, we're

perfectly safe here.

We'll hide here for a bit.

The whole thing will be over in

a couple of hours or so.

We'll shake hands and you'll

never see me again.

Won't I?

Oh, you needn't see me again.

- Put your coat on.

- It's all right.

Now you do as I tell you.

I know exactly how you feel.

You see no end.

You don't believe it's true.

The night always exaggerates

things, doesn't it?

Personally, I like the night,

it's much more alive than the day.

Look at those people on that

train. Eating... actually eating.

I'll tell you what. I'll scout

about for some food, shall I?

No, we'll wait. We'll wait till

the coat is safe in our hands...

...and then we'll eat, and how!

Straight to a seven course dinner.

Seven helpings and champagne.

Well, I'm going now.

I shan't be long.

And off we'll go before their

goggling eyes.

And then I'll carry you all the

way home.

Well, now off to the lodging

house.

I'll pinch the rover man's hat.

Well, how do I look?

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