03x04 - In the Steps of a Dead Man

[bunniefuu]

(dramatic music)

(birds chirping)

(soft music)

- Mrs. Cornfield?

Mrs. Cornfield?

Mrs. Cornfield?

Mrs. Cornfield.

(crowd rumbling)

(gasping)

- [George] Well?

- [Betty] George,
it's marvelous.

- [George] It would cost
a small fortune to buy,

but I made it out of
bits and pieces.

- Tommy will love it.

- [George] Especially for
the sporting programs,

and it's so simple.

All you do is, press a button
and the action freezes.

Press it again.

- Sheila.

- Tommy is coming home.

- [George] What?

- Next month, home for good.

- Thank God.

- [Sheila] What's more,
he's got three weeks' leave.

- Three weeks.
- Marvelous.

- [Betty] That's wonderful news.

- He wants me to go ahead and
fix the wedding right away.

- Oh my dear.

Congratulations.

So much to do, so
much to arrange.

George, darling.

It isn't that much
of a surprise.

Ever since they were children,
we knew it was inevitable.

- It'll be the
wedding of the year.

- There is so much to do.

I must phone the vicar,

and we must make out
some wedding business.

- The first thing you'll do is
to get a bottle of champagne.

- Champagne, what a
marvelous idea.

But then after that, we
really must get down to work.

- You won't be losing
him altogether, you know.

What with my family right
next door and visiting

and things, you'll get
sick of the sight of us.

- It's what Tommy wants,
that's all that matters.

He's a very lucky boy.

- What are you working on now?

- It's for Tommy.

It's a stop-action device,
I'll show you.

- Oh, that's fantastic.

- It's quite simple.

- Well it doesn't look it.

How did you manage to make it?

- Works on all channels.

- Really?

- I've had enough of that.

- If we make it for the
16th, it would coincide--

Tommy!

(dramatic music)

(car passing)

- [Grace] Sheila!

- Did you have a good trip?

- Oh, it was terrific.

Haven't seen you in ages.

Look at that house.

- Yes, it is good, isn't it?

(giggling)

- I see Sheila's friend has
arrived, the American girl.

You know, the one Sheila
met last year in Paris.

She's over here on some
study course or something.

Sheila told us.

She'll be here some weeks.

Good thing, with
Sheila's family away,

it'll be company for her.

- Yes.

- [Betty] We should
ask them over.

- [Sheila] I'm afraid it's a
bit like camping out inside.

- [Grace] Oh, it's terrific.

- It's too late to
change things.

You see, Mummy and Daddy has
already planned their holiday

and arranged for the
house to be redecorated.

Then, I found out you
were coming.

- Sheila, it's great.

I imagine the
bathroom's unaffected.

- The bathroom and
kitchen there,

so at least we can eat
and stay clean.

It's just sitting and sleeping
that's going to be difficult.

Oh, and you don't mind
sharing a bed?

- Oh no.

You should have seen my
place in Boston.

Anyway, I don't plan on
spending much time indoors.

I wanna get out and beat
the great British public.

- Starting with the Cornfields.

- Great, who are they?

- Our next-door neighbors.

And the nicest people
you could wish to meet.

- That's right, you wrote
me about them.

And, um,

this must have been
Tommy Cornfield?

- Yes.

- I'm still not quite sure
what a study course is, Grace.

- Well, you see, I'm taking
social studies as part

of my psychology degree, and
I thought it would be useful

to study the social setup
of a foreign country.

Well, it was also a fantastic
way to get a trip to England

and to see Sheila again.

- It sounds more like
fun than study.

Don't you think so, George.

- Hmm?

- [Betty] Grace's trip
to this country.

- Oh, yes, I hope you'll be
very happy here, Miss Worth,

very happy.

If you'll excuse me,
I'm very tired.

Very happy.

- I'm sorry about George.

You see, after our
son was k*lled--

- You don't need to
explain, Mrs. Cornfield.

Sheila already did.

Anyway, I'm exhausted, jet lag.

- Will we see you again?

- Oh yes, Sheila said
that's the norm around here.

- You're always welcome, always.

- Thank you.

Sheila.

- Good night, Mrs. Cornfield.
- Good night, Sheila.

(bird calling)

(door closing)

- Hit them really hard,
didn't it?

- He was their only son.

- I know, but it's been
what, now, four months?

- Four months and three days.

- The wound should have
healed by now.

- You didn't know Tommy.

He was, well, he was like life.

Oh, Grace, I miss him so much.

- You'll find someone else.

- No.

- Yes, you will, believe me.

That's the way life is.

It takes away, but
it also gives.

You'll find someone else.

(mysterious music)

(clock ticking)

- George, darling.

It's getting late.

It might help if you could
start making things again.

Other things.

- What's the point?

- Go back to work.

Only on a part-time basis,
of course.

You're still young, and good
architects aren't easy to find.

- You've been talking to Dr.
Harper.

- Yes.

- He retired me.

- I know, dear, but this
terrible depression you're in,

he thinks that, well, maybe
one or two days a week

might help you to forget things.

- Forget Tommy, is that
what you mean?

- Darling, we're only
trying to do--

(doorbell ringing)

Who on Earth can that be?

(dramatic music)

Tommy!

Tommy.

- Good evening, Mrs. Cornfield.

Sorry to disturb you so late,
but the chap who gave me

a lift dropped me on
the other side of town.

I did think of going back,

but to be so near and
not to see you.

- Who is it, Betty?

- You made that, didn't you,
sir?

Every screw bolt.

It's even more impressive
than I imagined.

Oh, I'm Marty, Marty Fuller.

I was a friend of Tommy's.

- A friend of Tommy's,
come in, lad, come in.

I'm, uh, well then you
know who I am.

- Couldn't mistake you, sir.

Tommy was very explicit
about his old man.

Oh, I'm terribly sorry,
I didn't mean to be--

- I know what you meant.

I expect you're cold.

Would you like a drink
or coffee or something?

- A drink would be most welcome.

The living room.

French windows to the garden.

Picture painted by Mrs.
Cornfield's sister.

And the drinks
cabinet right there.

- What would you like, Mr.
Fuller?

- Oh, a scotch would be
most welcome.

And please, Marty.

I see you got rid of that
yellow-striped wallpaper.

I told you, Tommy was
very explicit.

It's like coming home.

(dramatic music)

- Nothing.

- What do you expect?

This isn't he army anymore,
it's a holiday camp.

Come and go as they please,
grow their hair long,

well that's not my army.

- He took the stuff
with him then?

- Of course he did.

- To use or to sell?

- Well you'll work it out.

We'll catch up with him
sooner or later.

- Bound to.

- Only it's not him so much.

It's that stuff he took.

- I was there with him
the whole time.

He didn't know at first
that there was no hope.

Then he did.

He spoke of you two
the whole time.

He said over and over again
that you shouldn't mourn him.

Just remember the
pleasant times.

Think of him with happiness.

- He was so badly hurt,
did he feel it?

- [Marty] He didn't feel
any pain at all.

The drugs I pumped into
him saw to that.

And my hand.

And suddenly his grip relaxed.

Just like that, he
didn't feel a thing.

- Thank God.

- He spoke of you two
the whole time.

That was nothing new, though.

Ever since I met Tommy, he
was always talking of you two.

This house, his life here.

He'd read your
letters out to me.

See, I'm an orphan, I don't
have any folks of my own,

so he'd read your
letters out to me.

I sort of shared Tommy's
life with you for a while,

and I'm very proud of that.

- You stayed with him
the whole time?

- That's my job, I'm a medic.

- Yes, but there must
have been others there.

You stayed with him
until the end?

- He was the best
friend I ever had.

- And you were the best
friend he ever had.

- Well, I'm glad I told you.

I promised him I would.

I was going to write, but
then it seemed so much better

to call by, and I had to
wait for leave.

Well, I must let you two
good people get to bed.

- Where are you rushing off to?

- Up north, I have an
aunt up there.

- Not tonight, surely, you must
have missed the last train.

- Well I'll get
there eventually.

By rule of thumb.

- But do you have to rush off?

- Why not spend the night here?

- Yes.

- Well.

- And I'm sure Sheila
will want to meet you.

- Sheila, my gosh, I completely
forgot to mention her.

Tommy spoke of her too.

- [George] She'll be hopping
mad if she doesn't see you.

- [Betty] One night can't
make that much difference.

- Well, I would like
to meet Sheila.

- It's settled then, you'll
stay with us until tomorrow.

- That's very kind of you.

I'm an easy guest, I can
sleep right here.

- Nonsense, you'll
sleep in a bed.

- Tommy's bed is made up.

- Yes, you can have
Tommy's room.

These should fit you.

You're about the same size.

- Maybe an inch taller, but
you're going to so much trouble.

- Tommy would've wanted it.

I know he would've wanted it.

- Yes.

- Oh, the bathroom is--

- Is turn right, just along
the corridor on the left.

I know.

- Sleep well, son.

- [Marty] You're very kind.

- Good night.

- Good night, Marty.

- Just like the old days.

- Where are you going now?

- [George] You go to bed,
I've got things to do.

(soft music)

(birds chirping)

(dramatic music)

(screaming)

(buzzing)

- It was for Tommy.

He was always going on about
waking up in the morning

and seeing something cheerful.

I thought, his face.

- I'm terribly sorry,
sir, old habits, you know.

- No it was silly, it
startled you.

- No, it's really very good.

- I worked all night
to finish it.

- You're a genius, Mr.
Cornfield.

An absolute genius.

- Yes, yes, I'll tell her, bye.

- [Sheila] What was that?

- It was Mrs. Cornfield.

She wants us to come over
as soon as we're ready.

- [Sheila] What for?

- To meet Marty someone,
a friend of Tommy's.

- A friend of Tommy's.

(soft music)

- Until now, I only had
his words to describe you.

And the photographs, but
they don't do you justice.

They were a travesty of justice,
Sheila.

- You knew Tommy well?

- They were the best of friends.

- He was with Tommy
when he died.

- He spoke of you.

- [Sheila] You're very like him.

- Isn't he, though?

- Oh, I didn't know the pace
in Britain was supposed--

Excuse me.

- You must be Grace, the
American girl.

- [Betty] This is Marty.

- Fuller, Marty'll do
just fine, hello, Grace.

- Hello.

- Grace Worth, isn't it?

Mrs. Cornfield told me,
you're here on a study course,

gonna be around for a few weeks.

- You seem to know a great deal
for a stranger, Mr. Fuller.

- Marty is no stranger.

He was Tommy's best friend.

- [Sergeant] Morning, sir.

- I thought you'd turn up.

Here's a list of the
stuff he took.

And it would be in a
case like this.

- Anything here dangerous, sir?

- All drugs are dangerous in
the wrong hands, Sergeant.

But those two could be dynamite.

- Addictive?
- Poisonous.

- Anything here he could sell,
sir.

- No, that's the funny thing.

We keep morphine, of
course, but it wasn't taken.

- Is that where he worked?

- It's empty.

- Not quite empty, sir.

- Dear Son.

Da da da da da, Love, Mother.

Well that tells us a lot.

- That's right.

Love, Mother, doesn't have
a mother, no family at all.

An address and no name.

- It obviously belongs to
somebody else.

Nothing to do with him.

- Probably.

All the same.

- That was all he said?

- That's enough, isn't it,
Sheila?

Shows that Tommy was
thinking of you right up,

right up until the last moment.

- Yes, thank you for telling me.

You are very like Tommy.

- [George] Another drink, Marty?

- Oh, thanks.

- Where do you go from here, Mr.
Fuller?

- [Marty] Go?

- I mean, where's home?

I imagine your family
is probably--

- [George] He has no family.

- [Betty] Just an aunt,
isn't that right, Marty?

- Oh, she's not even
that really.

She's not a blood relative.

You see, I'm an orphan, I
don't have any folks of my own.

She's just the woman
who brought me up

from when I was about 14.

She's just the name under
next of kin in my pay book.

- Just the same, she'll be
anxious to see you, won't she?

- Oh, I suppose so.

- How much leave do you have?

- Unlimited, I'm on
permanent leave.

As of now, I'm a civilian.

- That's wonderful.

- You don't have to
rush off then.

You can stay with us
for a few days.

We'd simply love it,
wouldn't we, Betty?

- There's still a lot of
things I'd like

to ask you about Tommy.

- Okay.

- Splendid.

- On one condition.

That you'll have dinner
with me tonight.

- Well I'd love to.

Oh, but.

- No, no, no, don't worry
about me, I'll be fine.

- You must come too.

- No, as Sheila said, you
have a lot to talk about.

Anyway, three's a crowd
in any country.

- Right.

Oh.

- What's wrong?

- [Marty] I sent all
my civilian clothes on.

I can't see me dancing
with you in these boots.

- [Betty] We'll find
you something.

- [Sheila] What do you think?

- It's pretty, a
little understated.

- [Sheila] Not the dress, Marty?

- Oh, he seems very pleasant.

- Oh come on, you can do
better than that.

He's smashing, he's
good looking too.

There's something about him.

- Mmm-hmm, something.

Must be strange to
finally meet him at last.

- At last, oh, can I borrow
that perfume of yours?

- It's right there in
front of you.

I mean, Tommy must have wrote
and told you all about him.

- Tommy never mentioned him.

- What?

- [Sheila] Not a word.

- But you told me that
Tommy wrote to you

two or three times a week.

- I can't understand why.

Well, if you were a man,

would you unleash Marty
on to your girlfiend?

- But his friend.

His very best friend?

- Tommy certainly had style.

- So do you, Marty.

You look splendid.

- Absolutely splendid.

There is one thing, I hope
you don't mind.

I noticed you don't
have a watch.

I'd like to you to accept this.

- But, George, that was--
- I know.

- I bought it for Tommy
for his birthday.

Tommy isn't here anymore.

Never will be.

We have to face that.

Tommy isn't here, but Marty is.

- It's gold, real gold.

- Yes, it is.

- I've never had anything
that was gold before.

I can't accept it.

But I'll tell you what, Mrs.
Cornfield.

I'll just borrow it for a while.

(door knocking)

Wow, you look fantastic.

Doesn't she? Fantastic.

- Mrs. Cornfield, is
it all right

if Grace watches
television with you?

- Yes, of course,
you're very welcome.

- I must phone for a cab.

- [George] No need.

Not if you drive.

- Well, thanks.

- Ready?

- [Betty] Have fun.

- [George] And enjoy yourselves,
will you?

- [Marty] We will.

- They look right together,
don't they, Betty?

- Oh, you're still awake.

- [Grace] Did you
have a good time?

- Yes, I did, Marty's a
super person.

- Listen, that's why
I'm still awake.

I've been thinking.

Did you ask him why Tommy
never mentioned him?

- [Sheila] There were so many
other things to talk about.

- Sheila, you didn't ask him?

It's strange.

He's strange.

- Or you are.

I've been doing some
thinking too.

It couldn't be jealousy,
could it?

- Jealousy?

- Well your eyes practically
fell out of your head

when you first--

- Undeniable, he's
very attractive.

But he works at it too much.

- Or not enough, as far
as you're concerned.

- Sheila.

- It was me that he took too,
isn't that what gets you?

- Sheila, let's forget the
whole thing, it's ridiculous.

- Forget?

Well this is the first time
I've felt alive in months.

Anyway, Marty isn't the
kind of man you forget.

He's the kind one could
fall in love with.

- [George] Morning.

- [Betty] Morning, Marty.

- You're spoiling me.

- I hope you like your
eggs like that.

- Better than army grub, eh,
son?

- Just like home,
better in fact.

- We were just
talking about that.

About this aunt of yours.

- You don't really owe
her anything, do you?

- Oh, she's just
somebody I know.

- I told you.

- Why?

- You're out of the army now,
aren't you?

- You don't have any
proper roots.

- So why not say here with us?

- Here?

- There's plenty of room.

We'd be glad of the company.

Why not stay for a few weeks?

Until you decide what
you want to do.

- We want you to stay.

- Well, I'd love to, but I
don't have much money behind me.

- That's the least of
your problems.

That's no problem at all.

Well, son, what do you say?

- In that case, I'd love to.

- [Betty] Marvelous.

- You've made us
both very happy.

Thank you, son.

- There is just one thing.

Tommy and I were so close
that it sort of hurts

to have him all around me,
to be reminded.

- That's understandable,
sensitive boy like--

- But, George.

- Well why should he
be reminded?

We can change things
around a bit.

- Yes, yes, all right.

- In that case, it'll be fine.

(doorbell ringing)

- It's a bit early.

That must be Sheila, I promised
to take her for a drive.

But of course, if you'd rather
I spend more time with--

- No, no, no, you go
and have fun.

- Let me take that.

I'll tell her you'll be
down in a minute.

- Mr. Cornfield, you
wouldn't mind filling up

the car for me, would you?

I'm gonna be so terribly
late as it is.

- It'll be ready and waiting.

- Now, we can unpack.

- There are some things that
I can do for myself, thanks.

(chattering)

(soft mysterious music)

- [Sheila] Marty, it's
really gonna be super.

(soft mysterious music)

(car starting)

- Leave the record
player, he'll need that.

Hello, Grace, excuse me.

- [Grace] I'd leave that.

- Yes.

- [Grace] After all,
Tommy may be dead,

but you don't wanna
pretend he never existed.

He wasn't dirt to be
swept under the carpet.

- What do you mean?

- I imagine you're
making this room

right to Mary's instructions.

- Simply trying to make
it nice for him.

He's a good boy.

- How do you know, Mrs.
Cornfield?

How do you know he's a good boy?

Because he told you?

Actually, you don't know
very much about him, do you?

- He was Tommy's friend.

- Oh, I'm sorry,
then Tommy wrote

and told you all about him.

- Well, uh, no.

- He wrote you a letter,
he came home on leave.

How many times did he
mention Marty Fuller?

Occasionally?

Often?

Or not at all?

Mrs. Cornfield, how many--

- Come on, come on, I
expect it to be ready

by the time he gets back.

Can you bring that, darling?

I've cleared a space
in the attic.

- The attic?

Oh, these are Tommy's effects.

All they sent back after he--

- Mrs. Cornfield, please
talk to your husband.

- [George] Betty, come on.

- Sorry.

It's all right, George.

Where do you want me
to put these?

(soft dramatic music)

- Don't take Tommy's
picture down.

- [Sheila] Did you see
the girl with Denny?

She's absolutely bent.

(birds chirping)

(soft dramatic music)

(car starting)

- [Sheila] Good night.

Grace, I'm sorry I left you
the whole day on your own.

- It's all right, I had
plenty to interest me.

- We drove down to the river.

I haven't been able to
bring myself to go there

since Tommy died, but oh
it was perfect.

Then we went over to
the tennis club

to see some friends of mine.

And time just flew by.

But you haven't been too bored.

- No, I haven't been
bored at all.

- Good.

Oh, I am so tired, happy tired.

- I imagine you spent a lot
of time talking about Tommy.

- No, that would have
been too morbid.

Anyway, as Marty says, I
can't keep looking back.

I must look ahead to the future.

- Then he stopped you
from talking about Tommy?

- Oh don't start that again.

- Sheila, Sheila, do
you know what this is?

- It's a diary, isn't it?

- It's Tommy's diary.

- Tommy's diary, where
on Earth did you get it?

- I borrowed it from his room.

- Grace, that's despicable,
you have no right.

Give it to me.

- There's something in
it you're going to hear.

- No, I'm not, a
diary is private.

- Sheila, you're going to
hear what's in this diary.

- No, I am not, Grace.

- Sheila, you're going,
Sheila, you're going to hear.

Got a letter from S.

Had lunch with S.

S is obviously you.

- [Sheila] Stop it, stop it.

- Then there's this entry,
nearly nine months later.

Don't like M, he
doesn't like me.

- I'm not going to listen.

Whatever you say, I'm not
going to listen to you!

- My watch missing,
sure M took it.

Had standup fight with M.

M threw a fit and busted
up the whole canteen.

Think M must be schizoid.

I'm sure M is very dangerous.

That's the last entry.

A few days later,
Tommy was dead.

M, Sheila, Marty.

- You can't prove it.

You can't prove it,
you're only guessing.

- [Grace] I think M is
very dangerous.

- Give me that.

- You can't forget it, Sheila.

That's Tommy's diary, and
he wrote about someone

who's obviously his enemy.

Someone with the initial M.

Think about it, that's
all I ask you.

Just think about it.

(door closing)

- [Betty] Marty?

- Yeah.

- [Betty] We're just taking
Grace shopping, won't be long.

- Right.

- [George] Bye, son.

- [Marty] Bye.

(car starting)

(horn blowing)

(birds chirping)

(dramatic music)

(door closing)

(doorbell ringing)

(dramatic music)

- Excuse me.

I'm sorry, Miss, I didn't
mean to startle you.

Sergeant O'Hara.

- What can I do for you?

- It wasn't you I wanted, Miss,
it's Mr. and Mrs. Cornfield.

They live next door, don't they?

- Indeed they do, but
you've just missed them.

They've gone into town.

- I thought so.

I've been ringing the
bell long enough

to wake the dead, no answer.

Any idea how long they'll be,
Miss.

- It could be half an
hour or half a day

once Mrs. Cornfield
gets to the shops.

- Oh I know, I've got a
wife like that.

Well thanks, Miss.

- [Sheila] Oh, is
there any message?

- No, I'll call back
some other time.

Thank you, Miss.

- Oh, Sergeant.

- [Sergeant] Yes?

- Nobody answered the door.

- [Sergeant] Hardly, if
they're in town.

(soft dramatic music)

- [Sheila Voiceover] Had
standup fight with M.

M threw a fit and busted
up the whole canteen.

Sure M must be schizoid.

Think M must be very dangerous.

- My plan is to knock
down the dividing wall

between your room and
the box room, and extend.

Make it more than just a
bedroom, more of a den.

Put in some hi-fi.

- Can you manage that
all on your own?

- George will tackle anything.

- Give you somewhere to
relax on your own, Marty,

perhaps entertain a lady, eh,
Sheila?

- Oh I'm sorry.

- [Betty] Are you all right,
Sheila?

- Yes, I'm fine.

- [Betty] Are you sure?

You have seemed rather
withdrawn this evening.

- Is something bothering you?

- Perhaps it's love.

I hope so, or these
will be wasted.

Theater tickets for tonight,
starts in just under an hour.

- Really, I don't feel like it.

- You misunderstand.

Three, see.

It's only a local amateur thing,

but I installed the
lighting system.

I thought it would be good

for that study course of yours,
Grace.

You can see how we English
suffer in a good cause.

You and Marty stay here.

You haven't had much time
to yourselves lately.

You'd like that, wouldn't you?

- [Marty] I would.

(laughing)

- They're great folks,
aren't they?

- They're Tommy's
mother and father.

- Of course they are.

If they hadn't been, I
never would have met them.

Or you, and that would
have been a tragedy.

There is something wrong,
isn't there?

- No.

Oh I don't know, it's Grace.

- [Marty] Grace?

- She says--

I don't care what she says.

- What does Grace say?

- It doesn't matter,
Marty, I'd like a drink.

- Okay.

Whatever has, is it about me?

Whatever has Grace been saying?

She's frustrated, you know that.

- Well, let's forget it,
and talk about Tommy.

- I thought we agreed it
was best to forget that too.

- Yes, well, in the army.

And you, you've hardly
told me anything about what

you did in the army.

- Counted the days
til I got out.

And saved a few lives,
I suppose.

- Not Tommy's.

- I tried.

- Yes.

Well, it must have
been a wild life.

- Not wild exactly,
rough around the edges.

- But surely all those men
of different types lumped

together, didn't you ever
get on one another's nerves?

- Sometimes.

- I suppose there were
always fights breaking out.

- Oh, it's inevitable.

- Did the officers crack
down on you for fighting?

- If they found out.

- That time you smashed up the
canteen, what happened then?

- I got two weeks
confined to barracks

and docked a week's pay.

Who told you about that?

- [Sheila] Tommy's diary.

He mentions you a lot.

You are M, aren't you?

- M?

- Yes.

Here.

My watch missing, had
standup fight with M.

M threw a fit, busted
up the whole canteen.

You are M, aren't you?

And you weren't Tommy's
friend at all.

You were his enemy.

You hated him.

Why?

Why?

- Standup fight.

He didn't know how to
fight that way.

Fists, I could have
understood that.

But he fought me with letters.

Your letters.

And from his folks.

He'd talk about his life here,
his family,

and the girl next door he
was gonna marry.

He fought me with weapons
I didn't have,

weapons I'd never had.

I was an orphan, and he
attacked me with a family.

He hit me with a proper life,

a sweet, proper life I'd
always wanted.

He stuffed it down my throat,

mum, dad, Sheila.

He went on and on about it til
I couldn't take it anymore.

- [Sheila] Tommy
wasn't like that.

- He was worse than that.

- Perhaps he was then.

Perhaps I never really
knew him then.

But why come here and lie.

- It was the only way, Sheila.

He had what I wanted,
what I'd always wanted.

And when he was gone, I
saw my chance.

I wanted to be under his roof,
to belong, and I wanted you.

- It wasn't right.

- I know that now.

Sheila, sweetheart,
please try to understand.

- I think I do.

- Then, you won't tell them?

I must stay here, you
won't tell them?

- [Sheila] I don't know.

- But you can't tell them.

I've done so much, I've come
so far, I can't let it go now.

- Done so much, what
do you mean?

- I don't mean anything.

- Done so much sounds as
though you planned it.

But how could you have?

You couldn't have foreseen
that Tommy would die.

But he did die.

And you were with him,
taking care of him.

- [Marty] Sheila.

A tiny slip-up in treatment.

Oh, God.

How badly was Tommy wounded?

- [Marty] Please.

- How badly?

- He would have lived,
but I couldn't let him.

I did it for you, Sheila.

I wanted you so badly.

And I can't let you tell them,
because it would k*ll them.

(wind blowing)

- I tell you what, after
enduring that baritone,

we all need a drink.

- It wasn't that bad,
be charitable.

- He was appalling,
and that is charitable.

- Oh now, you're lighting
was fantastic.

(laughing)

- Shh.

(clearing throat)

Hello, oh, where is everyone?

- [Marty] Sheila went home.

She wasn't feeling well.

- I knew she was
sickening for something.

- The flu?

- No, she was feeling
all right this morning.

- Ah, but this flu virus
is going around,

strikes you down
without any warning.

- [Marty] It wasn't that, I
don't think it was physical.

She started crying soon
after you left.

She was terribly depressed.

I just couldn't shake
her out of it.

- Depressed?

- [Marty] About Tommy, she
wouldn't stop talking about him.

- Oh dear, I thought
she'd got over it.

- [Marty] So did I, but
tonight she just

wasn't herself at all.

- I think I better go
see how she is.

Mrs. Cornfield, thank you, Mr.
Cornfield, it was marvelous.

- [Marty] Terribly depressed,
I was very worried.

(wind blowing)

- Sheila.

That's all right, you sleep.

- [Betty] Good night, Marty.
- [George] Good night, son.

- Oh, sorry.

Sheila.

(screaming)

(soft dramatic music)

(church bell ringing)

(birds chirping)

(church bell ringing)

(crying)

- No, I couldn't.

I blame myself.

- Now dear, I don't
think you should--

- If we hadn't stayed
away so long.

If only I'd been here.

- It was a sudden thing.

George has told us.

- One moment, she was
as bright as a penny.

- Not that sudden.

I mean, the pills she took.

She had to get them from

somewhere, they weren't
prescribed.

Or someone gave them to her.

- Oh, what a way.

- Oh, darling.

- It would help if we
understood why.

I mean, Sheila had no
reason to k*ll herself.

She left no note.

- There is such a thing
as delayed shock.

- [Mrs. Howes] Yes, and the
doctor said that this young man

coming here,
reminding her (weeps).

- I think you better
drop the whole subject.

- Now why not stay and
have lunch with us, hmm?

- Oh no.

I'll be all right.

Life must go on.

Grace, you're very welcome to
remain here with us, you know.

Until your studies are finished.

Thank you, Mrs. Howes,
but may I let you know?

- Of course, dear,
there's no rush.

- [Grace] Thank you.

- Grace.

I hope you decide to stay.

I'd like you to stay.

(dramatic music)

I think I'd be very
good for you.

You want to stay really.

- We just buried her.

- Really good for you.

- You want to shut me up.

To stop me from talking.

To stop me from thinking.

- Shut you up?

- I know about you.

- Know what?

- Mrs. Howes, I've
decided not to stay.

I have some friends in London.

I'll go as soon as I'm packed.

- Marty, thanks for
all your help.

Perhaps later, some
happier time.

- I hope so, sir,
most sincerely.

- Marty.

- Mrs. Howes, let me see
you to your door.

- Thank you so much.

- Good bye then.

- I think I'll go too.

(dramatic music)

(doorbell ringing)

- Mr. Cornfield?

- [George] Yes.

- I called over a week
ago, but you weren't in.

Sergeant O'Hara.

Can you spare a minute, sir.

- [George] Come in.

- This is just a long shot, sir.

But you had a son,
Thomas Cornfield.

- My son is dead.

- I know, sir, but it's
not him I'm interested in.

It's Private Fuller,
Martin Fuller.

- Marty?

- Well then you do know him,
sir.

- My son's best friend,
of course I know him.

As a matter of fact, he's, um.

- [Sergeant] He's wanted
as a deserter, sir.

And if there's any chance--

- A deserter?

- We want him back, badly.

And I wondered if he'd
made any contact

at all with you, sir.

- Deserter?

- [Sergeant] Have you
seen or heard of him?

- No, not a word.

But I don't expect to.

Now that my son is dead,
why would he contact us?

- Yes, that's what I thought.

Still, I had to check, sir.

- Yes, of course.

- If he does turn up,
I'll contact you.

- I'll let you know immediately.

- I'll give you my number.

(birds chirping)

- I wouldn't expect him to
come here in a million years.

- You never know.

Your son's best friend,
you said, sir?

- Yes.

- Funny, I was asking
around the barracks and,

thank you, sir.

(door closing)

- George.

Oh, George.

She really is in a bad way,
you know.

I think Marty cheered
her up a bit.

What's wrong?

- Wrong?

- [Betty] You look so pale.

- [Marty] Mr. Cornfield, is--

- I'm fine.

Matter of fact, I thought of
doing some work in the garden.

Would you care to slip on
some old clothes

and give me a hand?

- Right.

- Gardening, I'm not
letting you do any gardening

while you're looking like that.

I don't believe it.

- [George] It's true.

- Marty a deserter?

- Why not?

You remember the times
Tommy said he was so fed up

with the army he thought
of going over the wall.

Marty's actually done it,
what's wrong with that?

Takes guts to do a
thing like that.

- But a deserter.

If they find him.

- They'll take him away from us.

But, Betty, it doesn't
have to be like that.

There's an answer to every
problem, and I think I have it.

(dramatic music)

(phone ringing)

- Hello.

(beeping)

- [PA Announcer]
London departure.

- Hello, who is it?

What?

(banging)

So sorry, hold on a minute,
will you?

(banging)

Yes, I'm sorry, who is it?

- It's Grace, Grace Worth.

- Oh Grace, how are you?

- Fine, I'm leaving
for the States,

and I wanted to come by
and say goodbye

to you and Mr. Cornfield
and Mr. and Mrs. Howes.

- Oh, you won't see them,
I'm afraid.

They went away again.

You know, to help her
forget, you understand.

But George and I, we'd
love to see you.

What time do we expect you?

- Tomorrow, early evening?

- [Betty] Oh, Grace, and it's
such a happy coincidence, too.

- Coincidence?

- [Betty] Yes, tomorrow
is Marty's birthday.

- That's lucky.

And we have a special
supper for you.

Your favorite,
crunchy tuna salad.

- Now, Mrs. Cornfield,
you've gone to far too much.

- Oh, Marty, it's about time
you called us Betty and George.

- I don't like to.

- Why not?

- It doesn't sound right.

It's as if we were no
more than close friends.

- What do you suggest?

- Well, Mum and Dad
would sound more natural.

- And for us, Marty.

- Mum and Dad, that's
as it should be.

In fact, we anticipated you.

The one thing we haven't
given you today is a present.

- Now, Mr. Cornfield, you
don't have to--

- [Betty] It's what we
want for you.

- We did it weeks ago.

Signed, sealed and witnessed.

Everything we'd
planned for Tommy

is going to be yours one day.

This house.

Everything, we've
willed it to you.

You are our legal heir.

When we go.

- Dad.

Mum.

Weeks ago, eh?

- More than a month.

- Perfect, a perfect day.

- Right, shall we eat?

- I must go and put on my best.

No, no, in honor of my
newfound family.

Looks delicious.

- What's wrong?

- It tastes kind of off.

- No.

- Sergeant, no luck then?

- Into thin air.

We'll catch up with him
sooner or later, I suppose.

- Something you want?

- No, I was just thinking.

Didn't you say that a
couple of the drugs

that Fuller took were poisonous?

- Yes.

- How poisonous?

You pointed out a couple
that were dynamite.

Your words, sir, dynamite.

- Well, only to the initiated.

- What do you mean, sir?

- Well, because handled properly

they can k*ll almost undetected.

- Don't think I'm
giving you names.

- How would they k*ll, sir?

You can at least tell me that.

- Well there is one.

Once it's administered, it
brings death rather quickly,

and yet, yet all the
symptoms of botulism.

Botulism, lethal food poisoning.

Bad fish or meat does
the same sort of thing.

Anyway, it's all rather
academic, isn't it, Sergeant?

I mean, Fuller's a deserter,
isn't he?

Not a m*rder*r.

- You were wrong about
this, Marty, it's perfect.

- Marty.

- No thanks, Mum.

- He doesn't know what
he's missing, does he?

- Some more wine, though.

No no no, I'll get it.

This is not only the best
birthday I've ever had.

It's the only one I
care to remember.

- It isn't over yet.

- [Betty] George.

- Well I was going to keep
it until it was needed,

but I don't think I can,
I'm darn proud of it.

- What is it?

- [Betty] Another surprise.

- It's in the cellar.

- [Betty] Darling, you'll
get indigestion.

- I can't help it, I must
show it to him.

Bring your wine.

- Go on, I'll clear up.

- Come on.

This is it, this is it, Tommy.

- I don't mind you
calling me Tommy.

Not if it pleases you, Dad.

- You're Marty, and I
did this for you, Marty.

- [Marty] Did what?

- You see those T squares
on the wall in the alcove?

- Yes.

- Bring one of them to me,
will you?

- All right.

- Hey, Mr. Cornfield!

Mr. Cornfield.

- Don't panic, son,
that's the surprise.

You see, Marty, we
know about you.

- You know what?

- Being a deserter.

We know, but we don't care.

All we care about is,
well, we love you, son,

like we loved Tommy, and
well the army in a way

took him from us, and now
they want to take you.

But we're not going to let them.

We couldn't.

That's why I built this place.

It's a kind of priest's
hole, a hiding place.

No one would ever find it.

If they ever came looking
for you again, son,

you'll be safe in there.

You see, I thought
of everything.

They won't take you from us.

- That's fine, Dad, but
how do I get out?

- [George] You can't.

- What?

- [George] Suppose I put
a lever in there

and you touched it by mistake
and you opened up the wall

just as they were
looking for you.

I told you I thought
of everything.

There's only one way to
open up the wall,

and that's out here, and the
lever's so well disguised

I defy anyone--

(banging)

(gasping)

- [Marty] It's getting
awfully hot in here, Dad.

- Right, son, I'll have you
out of there right away.

- [Marty] Dad?

- Just a second.

- Now, come on, Dad,
hurry it up.

Get me out of here, Dad!

- I don't seem to be
able to reach the lever.

- [Marty] Dad?

Dad?

Get me out of here, Dad.

- It's my heart.

I'll go fetch your mother.

- Dad, Dad, get me out of here,
Dad!

Dad, get me out of here!

Dad, come back, Dad.

Dad, come back, Dad,
come back now.

Let me out, let me out, Dad.

Dad, get me out of here!

Dad!

(soft dramatic music)

(birds chirping)

- Thank you.

- Okay.

(soft dramatic music)

(doorbell ringing)

- Hey, hey, down here!

Hey, down here!

- Mrs. Cornfield?

Mrs. Cornfield?

Mrs. Cornfield.

(dramatic music)

(phone ringing)

- [Operator] Emergency,
which service please?

- Yes, yes, that's right.

Please hurry.

Mrs. Cornfield, here,
just lift up your head.

It's all right, it's all right.

(gasping)

Mr. Cornfield, here, here,
it's all right.

I'm just gonna loosen your tie.

Yes, it's all right.

- [Marty] Hey!

(hard breathing)

Hey, here!

Here!

- [Grace] Marty, is anyone here?

- Grace?

Is that you, Grace?

- Marty, where are you?

- I'm here, behind the alcove.

What you see is a false wall.

It's one of George's gadgets.

Grace, do you hear me, Grace?

- [Grace] Yes, I hear you.

Marty, what happened?

Marty, can you hear me,
what happened?

George and Betty are
lying up there,

they're almost dead,
what happened?

- I don't know, some
kind of food poisoning.

I think they both ate
something bad.

I was on my way to
call the doctor,

and I got myself
trapped in here.

Grace?

Are you still there, Grace?

- [Grace] Yes, I'm still here.

Food poisoning?

- [Marty] Oh, I don't know.

I mean, how can I tell,
locked up in here?

Let me out, Grace, then
I'll explain everything.

- Everything, Marty?

- What was that, Grace, I
couldn't quite hear you.

- [Grace] I said I don't know
how to get you out, Marty.

- Well, there's a lever.

It must be above your
head somewhere.

George said he
couldn't reach it.

It's probably
cleverly concealed.

- [Grace] Yes, very
cleverly concealed.

Just like this false wall.

No one would ever
know it was here.

- You see it?

Then pull it, Grace.

Why don't you pull it?

Come on, Grace, get
me out of here.

- [Grace] Tell me about Sheila,
Marty.

- Sheila?

- [Grace] You k*lled her,
didn't you?

- Are you crazy?

She committed suicide.

- No.

- Now come on, Grace.

What are you, judge and jury?

I had nothing to do with
Sheila's death.

Now come on, Grace, get
me out of here, Grace.

(sirens blaring)

Grace? Grace, get me out
of here, Grace.

Grace!

- Tommy, Tommy, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

- Tommy?

- It's his son.

He's dead now.

(hard breathing)

- You see how it can be, Grace.

I'll have the house,
the money, everything.

Just you and me, Grace.

I always wanted you, Grace.

And you always wanted me.

(soft dramatic music)

(clock ticking)

- [Grace Voiceover] You
k*lled her, didn't you, Marty?

- [Marty Voiceover] What
are you, judge and jury?

- [Grace Voiceover]
You k*lled her.

- I had nothing to do with
Sheila's death.

- [Grace Voiceover]
You k*lled her.

- [Marty Voiceover] What
are you, judge and jury?

Get me out of here.

Judge and jury, judge
and jury, judge and jury.

(soft dramatic music)

- [Sergeant] You're the one
who called the ambulance?

- [Grace] Yes.

- The hospital called
me, I couldn't think why.

Then I remembered.

Gave him my phone number,

and they found it in his pocket,
O'Hara.

Sergeant O'Hara.

- [Grace] You've been
to the hospital?

How are they?

- Oh, they'll probably pull
through, thanks to you.

But both are in a coma.

Likely to stay that way for
a long time, weeks maybe.

Be a long time before I
can talk to them.

Food poisoning.

Thought it was Fuller.

- Fuller?

- Now you wouldn't have
seen him, no.

No, you're just a casual friend.

Private Martin Fuller, deserter.

At least, that's all he was
until a little while ago.

Food poisoning.

- I don't understand.

- Well he was a medic, see.

And he took off with some
drugs, one of them a k*ller

with all the symptoms
of food poisoning, why?

Now that's the problem.

A nice couple by all accounts.

You've never seen him.

They never mentioned him at all?

- No, I've never seen him.

- [Sergeant] You staying here,

or can I drop you somewhere?

- You said they'd be in a
coma for weeks.

- [Sergeant] That's what
the doctors say.

(soft dramatic music)

- Yes, then you can
drop me at the station.

- [Sergeant] Of course.

- They don't hang murderers
here anymore, do they?

- [Sergeant] No,
more's the pity.

- I'm ready.

- [Sergeant] Where are
you going, Miss?

- [Grace] Home.

- I've known from the
first moment we met

that you were
absolutely crazy for me.

So let me out, Grace!

Let me out!

(dramatic music)

(birds chirping)

(dramatic music)