03x31 - The Festive Season

[bunniefuu]

Good evening. And thank you
for allowing me to come
into your living room.

The miracle of electronics
makes many new pleasures
possible.

I frequently
watch television.

It takes my mind off my work.

You aren't interrupting,
however,

for I seldom pay
much attention
to this part of the program.

It's really quite superfluous.

I find I can miss it entirely

and still know what
the commercial is all about.

I must say
I sometimes find myself

fascinated by
the amazing ego of this man.

He speaks as though
he were certain

we were all sitting here
with ears akimbo

listening to his every word.

Let's listen
to what he is saying now.

But first we have
an important announcement.
My sponsor...

The way he bows and scrapes
before the sponsor.

It's disgusting.

He's obviously a relative.
Shhh.

... an expensive message.

Hello, Celia.

You're late.

I'm sorry, I had
some trouble on the road.

I've already finished dinner.

It doesn't matter. I stopped
on the way and had some.

I wasn't sure
you got my wire.

Oh, where can I put these?

Christmas presents.

Well, it is Christmas Eve.

Yes, I know.

Only, I hoped that
you'd realize that presents
would be a little out of place

at a time like this.

I'm sorry.

How is Charlie?

The same.

Where is he?

Where he usually is,
in his room.

He sits up there by the hour,
doing nothing, brooding.

I'll go and tell him I'm here.

Maybe if I have
a little talk with him
I can cheer him up a bit.

John.

Talk to me for a little first.

I'm sorry if I snapped at you.

It's just that I never seem
to talk to anybody anymore.

I get so lonely.

There's no need for that,
you know.

Well, what can I do?

Charlie hasn't spoken to me
since it happened.

Except when
he loses his temper.

I didn't mean just Charlie.

I meant shutting yourself
away like this,
not seeing anybody.

Did you expect
that we'd have big parties
the way we used to?

Not if you don't want to.

But at least you don't have
to keep the place like this.

It's enough to depress anyone.

A little more light
wouldn't hurt, you know.

It's easier in the dark.

It's easier to pretend
it never happened.

There. That's
a little more cheerful.

It doesn't seem right somehow.

But it can't hurt Jessie now.

Can I get you some coffee?

No, please don't bother.

Let's go into the library
and talk for a few minutes.
I'll see Charlie later.

Oh, it's all set.

Yes, yes,
I laid it this morning.

I suppose it was
a foolish thought,

but I thought that
if you would talk to Charlie,

he'd stop blaming me
and staying up in his room.

It'd be so lovely
to have a big fire

the way we always used to
on Christmas Eve.

Celia.
Oh, I don't mean
a lot of people.

I know that that wouldn't be
right so soon.

Why not?

But you're not just anyone.
You're an old friend.

It wouldn't be disrespectful
to Jessie

for just the three of us
to have a quiet Christmas Eve.

No, it certainly wouldn't.

It wouldn't even
be disrespectful
to have a few people in.

Oh, no, no.
I wouldn't want that.

Why not?

Well, I should think
you'd understand
without my explaining.

Well, I don't.

I suppose it's because
you never felt the same way
about Jessie as I did.

Oh, I know you liked her,
but I loved her.

Why? Because she was
your brother's wife?

Partly, I suppose.
But more because of her.

She was so good, so sweet.

You hated her.

Don't say that! You're just
like all the others.

I wouldn't even be surprised
if you believed
what they were all whispering.

They weren't whispering.

That was your imagination
or your conscience.

Everyone thought the three
of you got on well together

until you started
acting this way.

But you didn't believe it?

Well, answer me.

I've wondered sometimes, yes.

How could you?
You've known me all my life.

How could you think
that I could hurt anyone,
let alone Jessie?

It was an accident, John.

She tripped
and fell down the stairs.

Celia, I don't care much
anymore, one way or the other.

You were cleared
at the inquest.

Yes, and what good
did it do me?

Everyone still believes
that I did it, even Charlie.

That's what hurts the most.

My own brother.

Celia, please, don't.

John, why do you care so much?

I've always cared.
You know that.

Then you've got
to talk to him.

You've got to make him
see the truth.

Celia, the only thing
you can do is to go away
from each other.

Oh, no.
No, I don't mean forever,

but just for a little while.

This is my home.
I have no place else to go.

You only see things
the way you want them to be.

This isn't your home.

This was Jessie
and Charlie's home.

I was born in this house.

But your father left it
to Charlie.

That's because he knew
it didn't make any difference.

He knew that Charlie
would always want me here.

Don't you understand
the way he feels now
is because he's so unhappy?

He loved her so much.
That's why he blames me.

He has to blame someone.

Do you honestly believe
he'll ever feel differently?

Oh, yes. Yes, he has to.

I couldn't go on
bearing his hatred.

He's all I have.

He's all I ever had, really.

John,
is that you down there?

Yes, I just got here.
Come on down, Charlie.

You come up.

All right, in just a minute.

I guess I'd better.

What are those?

Jessie's clothes,
her personal things.
I packed them last night.

What are you gonna do
with them?

Get rid of them.

Because you loved her so much?

You don't understand.

It's not because of me,
it's because of Charlie.

It hurts him
to be reminded of her.

John!

I'm coming.

Hello, Charlie.

John, it's so good to see you.

It's good to see you, Charlie.

Come into my room.
I don't want her to hear us.

Come on in, John.

We're all right now.

What's the matter?

Oh, you didn't know
I'd moved back
into my old room, did you?

Yes, I knew.

She told you, I suppose.

What difference does it make?

None.

Nothing makes
any difference now.

But it's better in here.

I feel easier, somehow.

Yes, you always did.

Ever since we were kids,
this was your favorite refuge.

It was the only place
I was really away
from both of them.

Mama and Celia.

It's funny.

Sometimes,
I get them both mixed up.

Don't look at me like that.
I'm not losing my mind.

It's just that I couldn't bear
to stay in the room
that Jessie and I had.

Running back in here
isn't the answer, Charlie.

What is?

Getting away from this house,
from Celia,

from all the unhappy memories
this house holds for you.

I'm going to.

Do you mean that?

I never meant anything more.

But there's something
I have to do first.

What?

You'll know about it
when it happens.

That's no answer.

I don't want to talk about it.

Charlie, listen to me.

We've been friends
for a long time, but I didn't
want to come here tonight.

I didn't want to spend
Christmas like this.

Then why did you come?

Because you can't go on
like this any longer.

Go look at yourself
in the mirror.

You're as pale as a ghost.
You haven't shaved.

What do you expect
to accomplish this way?

I told you I'm going away
as soon as I can.

But you haven't told me
what's stopping you,

why you can't go right away,
tonight even.

You know as well as I do.

What is that supposed to mean?

She k*lled Jessie.

You know it. I know it.
Everyone knows it.

But why did they let her go?

Why did they clear her
at the inquest?

The verdict was
accidental death.

There was no
other verdict possible
under the circumstances.

There was no evidence,
no motive.

What are you talking about?
She hated Jessie.

What stronger motive is there?

If she did,
no one knew but you,

or possibly me.

You all pretended so
in front of everyone else.

Yes, that's right.

We were a great family
of pretenders.

We always have been
for as long as I can remember.

We were always taught,
it didn't matter
what happened inside the house

as long as the neighbors
didn't know about it.

I know.

No, you don't.

Because we even pretended
in front of you.

Oh, not as much, I suppose,
but we pretended.

I used to watch the people
laughing and talking
when Mama was giving a party,

and I used to wonder if
all families were like that.

If they only pretended to be
happy and love each other

when other people
were watching.

No, they're not all like that.

Charlie.

No, don't say it.

I'm not going away
until I do what I have to do.

She k*lled the only thing
I ever loved

and she's going
to be punished for it.

She wasn't even here.
She was shopping in Boston.

A dozen witnesses
testified to that.

Jessie was alive
after she left.

She talked to two people
on the phone.

Two people who knew her voice.

Then why do you think
Celia k*lled Jessie?

I saw you looking at her
when she was cleared
at the inquest.

You knew she was guilty.

It's true, I've wondered.

Although I don't know why,
exactly.

I'll tell you why.

Because you knew how badly lit
that stairs was.

And the foyer.

You knew Jessie always rested
in the afternoon.

All Celia had to do was
to wait until Jessie went up
for her nap

and tie a cord
across the stairs

and leave to do her shopping.

And when Jessie came down...

That's only a theory, Charlie.

There's no evidence
to support it.

What if I found evidence?

What evidence?

I'll show you.

She had it hidden
in her bedroom.

It's just
an ordinary ball of cord.

It's what she used.
Can't you see that?

It doesn't matter what I see.
It isn't evidence.

It won't hold up in court.

That's what I thought.

So it's up to me, isn't it?

It isn't up to you
to do anything
except clear out of here.

You're still young.
You can make a whole new life.

Without Jessie?

You never loved anyone, or
you'd know that's impossible.

Charlie, loving someone
is one thing.

But to stop living because
you lose them is not loving.

It's sickness.

You don't understand, do you?

Perhaps I don't.

But I'm your friend
and it's Christmas.

So do one thing for me,
will you?

What?

Walk town to the tavern
with me and let's have
a Christmas drink.

Why should I?

Because it'll do you good
to get away from here,
even for a little while.

I don't want to.

Why not?
All your friends are there.

I stopped by there
on the way here.
They're all asking after you.

How could you ask him
to do that?

How could you ask him
to go drinking
at a time like this?

I told you never
to come into my room.

I'm not in it.

I came to tell you
your dinner is on the table.

I thought you said
you'd finished dinner.

I said I'd finished.
We don't dine together.

Why don't you go and eat
while I unpack?

I'm not hungry.

Besides, I want
to show you something.

I can see it
after you've eaten.

I want you to see it now.

It's a Christmas present
from Jessie.

From Jessie?

She made it.

She had it all wrapped
and waiting for Christmas Eve,

and then she d*ed.

Well, this is Christmas Eve.

I'll get it.
I keep it with her things.

Charlie.

Her things are gone.

Charlie, listen to me.
She took them!

Celia!

You took Jessie's things.

Yes, I took them.

What's the use of keeping
them? They only make you
unhappy, Charlie.

I told you never
to touch anything of Jessie's.

Not anything.
Where are they?

What did you do with them?

They're in the library.

I packed them
in two suitcases.

Why did you tell him?

I didn't.

Well, it doesn't matter.

It only means that I'll have
to pack them all over again.

Celia, you can't do this.

If he wants to dispose
of them, it's up to him.

He won't do it.

And it only makes him
miserable to have them there.

Always reminding him.

Leave him alone, Celia.

What about me?

If you ever touch
anything of hers again,

I'll k*ll you.

Celia, I want to talk
to you for a minute.

Come in.

What is it?

I can't stay here tonight.
I'm going back to town.

Well, I can't blame you.

Who'd want to stay
in a house where there's
so much unhappiness?

I wouldn't mind if I were
doing any good, but I'm not.

In fact, I may be
making matters worse.

Thank you for coming
to say goodbye.

I wanted to promise me you'll
stay in your room tonight.

Well, I usually have
a glass of hot milk
before I go to bed.

I was just
on my way to get it.

Couldn't you skip that
just one night?

Why should I?

You don't need
to worry about me, John.

He's not going
to do anything to me.

Charlie has never done
anything in his whole life
except talk.

Oh, are you sure
I can't get you something
before you go?

No, no, no, thank you.
I'll just pack while
you're getting your milk.

And, Celia,
after the holidays, I'm going
to do something about all this

whether either one of you
like it or not.

I don't care anymore.

Do what you like.

Are you sure I can't
get you anything, John?

It's a long drive to town.

I don't think
I'll go back tonight.

I'll stay at the tavern
and go back in the morning.

Oh, I'd forgotten
they have rooms.

I'll see you before I go.

Celia!

Are you all right?

Yes.

Are you sure?

Yes, I'm all right.

It didn't work, Charlie,
not quite.

I'm sorry it didn't.

How could you hate me
so much?

How could I not?

I didn't k*ll her.
You know that as well as I do.

I couldn't k*ll anything.

Couldn't you?

What do you call
what you've done to me?

The only difference is
you did it slowly to me,

little by little.

All I ever did was to love you
and to take care of you.

I never even wanted
anything in return.

I couldn't speak to anyone,
go anywhere or do anything

unless it met
with your approval.

That's not true.
Of course, it's true!

You're so like Mama.
She had to own everything too.

When she d*ed
I thought I'd be free.

But you were right there
waiting to take over.

But you wanted it that way.

You always wanted
to be taken care of.

You never really wanted
to be on your own.

I wanted to be married,

to have some sort
of life of my own.

That's why I married Jessie.

But you couldn't stand that,
could you?

So you fixed it.

Well, it may not have worked
this time.

But there'll be other times.

Charlie.

Charlie, wait.

Get out of my house.
You're not my friend.

You're on her side.

I'll get out as soon as I know
that Celia is safe.

Don't worry about me, John.
I'll be all right.

Charlie, if anything happens
to Celia,

I'll go straight
to the police.

Well, Merry Christmas, John.

Merry Christmas, Al.
How have you been?

Fine. I was hoping
you'd stop by
for a Christmas drink with me.

I was afraid
you weren't gonna make it.

I barely did.

Well, what's it gonna be,
the usual?

The usual.

Just come from there, huh?

Yeah.

See Charlie?

And Celia.

Well, that's less unusual
than seeing Charlie.

I see her pretty often
when she goes shopping.

But I never see Charlie.

You think it's safe
for them to be alone
together like they are?

I mean, the way things stand
and the way Charlie feels.

There could be another
lot of trouble there.

It looked that way tonight,
but I think
it's all right now.

Until the next time.

Until the next time.

You know something?

This is one day
I'd like to cut out
of the calendar permanently.

And leave them alone
to their troubles.

It'd served them right.

They're not alone.
Jessie is with them.

Jessie will always be
with them.

I suppose so.

That's certainly
the queerest thing
ever happened in this town.

Both of them up there,

hating each other
day after day since...

When was it, John?

When was it
Jessie took that fall?

Twenty years ago.

Twenty years ago,
tonight, on Christmas Eve.

After that,
I think you must agree...

That was a very charming mime.

I don't think we should be
bothered with much more
by our sycophantic friend.

I have a remote control device

which eliminates
those portions of a program
you don't wish to hear.

Just a moment.
Here's a part I never miss.

... day.

... sponsor goes
to keep you amused...

This remote control device
is secondhand

but is in excellent condition.

It belonged to
a little old lady in Pasadena.

A widow who only used it once.

Ah, there's
that obnoxious fellow again.

... next week, good night.