Original subtitles

Ingrid Bergman makes her first dramatic television appearance on...

Ford's Time, TV's finest hour.

Ford's Star Time is presented by Ford, maker of the 1960 Fords, the finest

of a lifetime.

The 1960 Thunderbird, the world's most wanted car.

The new size Ford, the Falcon, America's lowest priced six passenger car.

And the only trucks with certified economy, the 1960 Ford trucks.

Here's the star of Ford's 1960 truck line, the six -cylinder style side

And it saves you money right from the start.

This new Ford style side carries the lowest, the lowest suggested retail

of the leading makes.

And that's just the beginning. You save and keep on saving with a 1960 Ford

truck. The fact is proved by test results certified by independent

Certified gas savings.

Certified reliability.

Certified durability.

And all this plus the wonderful new features.

The new style, for example.

The new riding ease and comfort.

New, longer -lasting brakes.

New, stronger frames.

More payload.

And you save right from the start with the lowest possible price.

The lowest suggested retail price of the leading makes.

See your Ford dealer soon and save with a 1960 Ford truck.

I remember the whole beginning as a succession of flights and drops, a

see -saw of the right drops and the wrong.

I'd spent long hours in that bumping, swinging coach, feeling sure that I'd

a mistake.

But now, toward the end of a lovely June afternoon, driving through a country to

which the summer sweetness seemed to offer me a friendly welcome,

My fortitude mounted afresh.

I was on my way to Bly.

I wondered about the children who were to be my charge.

What sort of children would they be? Would I like them at once?

Or would they take getting used to?

And most important, would they like me?

That's the seventh time you've asked me that today, Miss Flora. I knew that

coverlet wouldn't do. I told the maid to change it.

But what do you think she'll be like?

Will she be good -natured and kind, you suppose?

Or will she be impatient and cruel and beat us with a great black strap?

Oh, to love you, Miss. When did anyone ever beat you?

And is it likely your uncle would choose such a person for your companion?

It's hard to know what he might do.

He never comes to see us anymore. He's very busy in town.

I suppose.

But wouldn't you think he'd want us with him now that Miles is coming home on a

school holiday?

I can't speak for your uncle, Miss Flora.

No, I know.

I suppose it's quite difficult to be an uncle.

Mm -hmm.

But that's no reason to imagine that it's easy to be a child.

Well, with Master Miles coming home on Friday and a new governess arriving this

afternoon, you won't be lonely for long.

Oh, I'm not lonely.

Aren't you?

People with lovely imaginations don't get lonely, do they?

It's just that my imagination's quite worn out from trying to think what it'll

be like when we're all here together.

Is it possible to have a pain in one's imagination, Mrs. Groves?

I don't know, I'm sure.

It might actually hurt.

Well, come and sit down quiet for a little while, then.

turning into the drive.

It's a closed carriage. I can't see her. Oh, how maddening.

Now, don't get too excited. Oh, how can I help it?

Do I look all right? Am I presentable?

No. Let me give you such a nice fluff.

There. Now you look like the lady of the house.

I suppose I am in the way, aren't I?

I mean, there's no one else.

That must be her. We should have been at the door to welcome us. It should have

happened. I'll go and let her in. Yes, hurry.

I didn't imagine I'd be this nervous. I think I'm even a little frightened.

Welcome to Bly, Miss.

Thank you, Mrs. Groves.

Oh, is this Flora?

Are you holding your breath?

But you'll turn purple and explode, won't you?

It's all right now. I can breathe again. It was just the awful suspense of

seeing you for the first time.

Miss Flora?

I'm sorry.

How do you do?

Very well, thank you. Shall we shake hands?

I'm happy to meet you.

I'm rather shy of meeting you. I hope you don't mind. Not at all. I'm shy of

people, too.

I'm always suspicious of those who aren't. I'm that way, too.

That's because I have a vivid imagination.

Do you have a vivid imagination?

Yes, I do.

I'm glad.

We can make up games and songs and plays to act. Yes, yes, we can do all that.

But not before she's had a moment to take off her hat and wrap. You must

remember everything is new to her here.

Thank you, Mr. Strode. I do need a few moments to get acclimated.

Thank you.

I've never been able to come into a strange room without looking all about,

seeing everything, and knowing where I am.

This is a lovely room.

There's a sense of space here.

These windows face south, don't they?

The light is very good.

Not always.

Sometimes around dusk, when the light is failing, it comes quite eerie.

Oh, I can see that it might.

The garden is a deep one, isn't it?

Yes, and over there, there's a pond.

Oh, there must be myth.

Oh, there are.

Gray rolling ones that come up across the terrace and bump against the

And when night falls and nothing stirs out there.

Oh, good heavens, I had a chill.

See, so did I.

Please, let me take your hat. Oh, yes, thank you, Flora.

There's no myth today, though.

Everything's on its best behavior.

so dressed up.

Neither is Bligh.

The house, I mean. It's called Bligh. Did you know that?

Yes. It isn't always this tidy, and we never had nearly so many flowers.

It's all for you.

Oh, not that Mrs. Gross isn't a perfectly marvellous housekeeper. She

beautifully. When you think they're only too many, both terribly lazy, cook.

Why, there hasn't been a man on the place since... Since?

talking too much. May I take this to your room?

Yes, thank you.

Flora, I'll come up soon and you and I'll have a nice long chat.

If you like.

She's the most beautiful child I've ever seen. Did you like her? Like her? Oh,

yes. I'm glad.

She took to you at once, I could tell.

What about the little boy? What about Miles?

Well, it isn't right to flatter a child, but if you think well of her, then...

Then if I do what?

You'll be quite carried away by the little gentleman.

I see.

Well, I'm afraid I'm rather easily carried away. I was carried away in

In Harley Street?

In Harley Street.

Their uncle is a very handsome man.

I've never seen another quite so handsome.

And charming.

Nor half so charming.

Well, I saw him only twice, two interviews. The first time I was

terms and I started to say no.

But then, then he smiled at me.

And no caught in your throat.

Yes, I said I would think about it, but I still didn't like the idea.

But he told me that I, I must never trouble him.

Nor appeal or complain or write about anything. In short, I should take

charge here and leave him alone.

But I didn't like that at all.

But then the salary was so much more than I could have expected elsewhere.

No, that isn't true.

It was him I accepted and here I am.

Well, Miss, he's a rare one, right enough.

But you mustn't be disappointed if you never see him again.

I shall be, of course.

But then there's so much compensation in knowing that I shall serve him.

By looking after the children and running this house for him.

Oh, how quickly the light changes here.

The dusk has already begun to gather down there in the garden.

Do you notice how trees and shrubs begin to change their shapes at twilight?

And every bush is a bear.

Oh, yes.

And yet it is quite peaceful.

I shall walk down there in the evenings.

Oh.

Oh, I was wrong to think, because the terms of this situation were so unusual,

that the children would be in any way strange.

Or that Bly itself would be anything but homely and gentle and safe.

Safe, Miss? Yes, for that's what it is, isn't it, Mrs. Cooper?

Mrs. Crowes?

Yes, ma 'am. The lady that was here before.

The last governess, you mean? Yes. What was she like?

She was young and pretty.

Almost as pretty as yourself.

I hope it was some use to her.

He seems to like us pretty.

Oh, he did.

That was the way he liked everyone.

I mean, that's his way, miss. The master's.

But whom did you speak of first?

Of him, miss?

Of the master.

Of who else?

What became of that other lady?

She went off.

And never came back?

No, miss.

Why not?

Reason enough.

The very moment that I heard she was coming back, I heard from the master

she was dead.

Dead? Of what?

Of what, Mrs. Grose?

She never told me.

The child is waiting for you, and I must get on to cook about your supper.

Cock -a -doodle -doo, my dame has lost a shoe.

Oh,

hello.

What are you doing there?

You shouldn't have hid that way. I didn't see you. You startled me.

Who did you think I was?

I don't know.

You must have a wonderful imagination.

If you could think anyone my size, it would at least be frightening.

Please don't be angry with me for putting on your clothes. I'll take them

once. Oh, I'm not angry with you, Flora.

I'm just a little on edge.

I suppose I'm tired after my long trip.

There. Do you like your room?

It's the finest room I've ever had.

Better than your own at home?

If at home I shared a room with three sisters all smaller than myself and all

very mischievous.

What happened to them?

Well, they're all grown now.

And they didn't die?

Any of them?

Why do you ask that?

I just wonder.

Would you like to see the other rooms?

Not right now, no. Let's talk until Mrs. Groves calls us down for supper and I

can be unpacking my suitcase.

All right.

It's dark out there anyway.

There's so many empty rooms and corridors and crooked staircases.

It might make you quite dizzy.

Are your parents alive?

Yes.

And why do you ask?

Mine are dead. They died in India when I was a baby. Of yellow fever.

Do you like dead people?

Flora, what a question.

I just wondered.

I hope you're not going to find it too dull and quiet here.

Dull? It's like falling asleep over a storybook.

You don't mean that.

You know, Glyde's an ugly house.

Even my uncle says it's tedious, and he owns it.

Oh, it's not that bad.

It is big and cumbersome, perhaps, and very old, but to me, it's

like a ship.

A ship? A great drifting ship with only a handful of passengers.

We'll see you at the helm.

Oh, yes, I suppose so.

But what a lovely notion.

Of course, we'll have to put it to show for one more time.

For Miles.

Yes, for Miles. Friday.

But it's exciting, isn't it?

We can sail away and never come back.

Oh, great Lord.

across the moon makes the garden look as deep and as black as the sea flora

I feel we are going to be immensely good friends.

I feel that, too.

Now, what would you say if I were to ask Mrs. Gross to move your bed in here so

that you can share this big room with me?

If you like.

Well, would you like that?

Yes.

Not because you're afraid to be alone, is it?

Of course not.

I'm glad.

We once had a governess who was all nerves and nervous headaches.

Miles simply couldn't abide her.

I know he's going to love you.

Will you, Miles?

Will you?

Wheel in the drive, Mrs. Grose. Yes, miss.

There's a letter for you on the table. Thank you. He was very late today.

You can fill it.

And take these wilted ones away. They should have been disposed of this

Have you seen Miss Flora? I left her in the schoolroom, but now she has

vanished. I think she's still down to the gate to meet her brother's cabin.

But I told her he wouldn't be here until after sundown.

She knows the little gentleman sometimes focuses the driver to race his horses.

Master Miles often arrives before he's expected.

So it seems.

Pardon?

It seems the little gentleman is not simply on holiday after all. He has been

dismissed.

Dismissed to school?

This letter was forwarded to me by Miles' uncle. He didn't even open it. He

wrote, I recognize this to be from the headmaster and he's an awful bore. Deal

with it yourself.

Does that mean that he can't ever go back at all?

They won't take him? Never. They absolutely decline.

But tell me the truth, Mrs. Scrooge. Is Miles bad?

Bad? Him?

Do they say so there?

No, they don't go into particular. They simply express their regret that it

would be impossible to keep. him. But that can have only one meaning.

He's an injury to the others.

Master Miles, an injury?

Oh, it's cruel to say such dreadful things. Why, he's scarcely ten years

Then you've never known him to be bad.

Well, I wouldn't pretend that, miss. Then you have known him. Yes, indeed I

have, thank God.

You mean a boy who's never bad?

There's no boy for me. You like them with a spirit to be naughty. So do I. Of

course. But not to the degree to contaminate.

Contaminate? But to corrupt.

Do you think he'll corrupt you?

I'm sorry, Miss.

Will you write to his uncle?

I don't know.

I don't think he could have realized how serious a matter this envelope

contained.

See the child first, Miss. And then decide.

Yes. All right.

What happened to the flowers, the roses that you put here yesterday?

They died during the night.

But everything blooms and fades so quickly here.

It's all too lush and too... too sudden.

I was just going down to cut some fresh ones on the edge of the terrace. Let me

do that. I need the air. Would you? Then I can go and plant tea for Master

Miles' arrival.

And he's an awful bore.

Deal with it yourself.

Mrs. Gross?

Mrs.

Gross?

Mrs.

Gross? Yeah, be honest.

Yes, here we are, dear. And look what a lovely present we've brought you.

Leave your silly old bag there. She's going to meet you.

who this is.

I recognized him at once.

Flora and I are already good friends and I hope that you and I will be too.

I'm sure we will.

He let me carry his baton escape.

Miles is terribly good at games. Miles can do anything.

You look a little like your uncle. Did anyone ever tell you that?

It's possible.

I'm told I resemble my father.

They were brothers.

You're very like him.

May I be excused, please? I'd like to take my things upstairs.

And look, I leaned out the carriage window most of the way and I'm quite

Go along, then.

We have plenty of time to get acquainted.

Bring those, please, Flora.

Yours, ma 'am, my lord.

What do you say now?

Oh, about the letter, you mean? About that cruel charge, yes. Oh, my dear

he doesn't live an instant.

Just look at him.

I assure you, miss, I do nothing else.

What will you say, then? The letter, nothing.

And to his uncle?

Nothing. To the boy himself?

Nothing. And I'll stand by you.

We'll see it out.

We'll see it out. Oh, bless you, miss.

Mrs. Groves.

Yes, miss.

Flora told me, and I understood, that there are no men on the place.

None.

When Miles' carriage arrived, did the driver get down for any reason?

No. Or the footman, perhaps, to get a drink of water at the back door?

No, he got down with the child himself.

You're sure?

I was there.

Thank you.

Have you seen something?

No. No, I think not.

I was just curious. Thank you, Mrs. Gross.

Thank you.

Who's there?

Who is it?

Please.

Please, who is it?

Sunday's so boring, I wonder.

There's nothing to do but go to church.

And when it rains, you can't even do that.

What shall we do this afternoon?

Oh, there's lots to do. We can sit around the fire and Flora and I can sew

you read to us. Or we can tell funny stories.

Or practice our French.

Or sing.

How did you spend your Sundays at school?

Flora, wouldn't you like to have a day?

Yes. Historical figures, perhaps.

Or characters from Shakespeare.

I shall be a failure.

Myers, I asked you a question.

I'm sorry.

How did you spend your Sundays at school?

I don't remember.

Don't you remember anything about school? One might almost think that...

Never mind.

Now, Flora, what about dance, pumpkin dance? Remember what fun we had playing

that? Yes. Do you know it, Myers?

Drunken he can dance alone. I wish we had the glass.

She took an old pair of white gloves and painted faces on all the fingers.

But I lost them. I think I saw them just this morning. Shall I fetch them first?

No. Sit still. I want to be a moment.

Dance, drunken dance.

Drunken merry men, everyone.

But drunken he can dance alone. Drunken he can dance alone.

Wait and catch. Oh, never mind. He's gone.

Who is?

Who is? A man. There was a man looking in. What man?

The same one. The one on the terrace.

You saw him before? Yes.

Yesterday, Miles came home from school.

I didn't tell you because I wasn't sure.

I thought that... Oh, I don't know what I thought.

I thought... I had gone out onto the terrace to cut some flowers. Do you

remember? And I was daydreaming among the roses. I was thinking of their

Yes, I was thinking how pleased to be to see me taking hold here and how

wonderful it would be if I would look up suddenly and see him standing there

smiling at me and telling me that he knew and was grateful.

And then when I did look up, I saw this other creature at the end of the terrace

glaring at me.

Creature, you say?

What is he?

I don't know.

Oh, God help me if I know what he is.

You sure of what you saw this time?

Yes, quite sure.

He wears the clothes of a gentleman, but...

Not the face. His face is coarse.

He has whiskers, queer ones.

Red like his hair.

And his mouth is wide and sensuous.

And his eyes are sharp and fixed.

And horrible.

Awful.

Quint. Quint?

Peter Quint.

Their uncle's old man.

His ballot when he was here.

And then he went and Quint was left alone in charge.

In charge of the children?

Of everything.

And what became of him?

He went to... Went where?

God knows where.

He died.

Died?

Peter Quint is dead.

Mrs. Gross, he didn't come for me.

He stared at me fiercely for a moment, but then he looked away, and he seemed

search the room.

He came to find someone, but not me.

Who then?

Whom did he come for, Mrs. Gross?

Here you are, you darling.

Don't you know your tea is getting cold?

Presenting... A wonderful new world after dark.

And now, from the current issue of Vogue magazine, here are some of the fashions

that will make up this season's new look for evening.

In clothes, dazzling new brocade suits designed by David Crystal.

And in cars, the wonderful new world of Fords.

This is the magnificent 1960 Galaxy with classic elegance. It's breathtakingly

new from any point of view.

The larger windows and the new sloping hood give you greater, safer visibility.

Now notice the clean, smooth sweep of line from front to rear.

Every gleaming itch is proof that the 1960 Fords are the finest Fords of a

lifetime.

And when you step through the wider door, you discover a new world of

inside, too, and a new world of built -for -people comfort.

The evening has begun.

Wherever you find exciting people doing exciting things after dark, you'll find

other sparkling combinations of boards and fashion.

Here's another version of the versatile silk brocade suit.

And joining the party, the 1960 Thunderbird, the world's most wanted

For cruising by moonlight or daylight, there's no finer way to go.

And look at this exciting innovation, a new sliding sunroof. It's the dream car

of the wonderful new world of Fords, the 1960 Thunderbird.

Or the gay whirl of the wonderful world after dark. A more stylized version of

the evening suit with smooth, rounded shoulders and soft, wide lapels.

And here is the newest star to brighten the night. The new size Ford, the

Falcon. A trim sophisticate that will travel up to 30 miles on a gallon.

Designed for the discriminating, the beautifully proportioned Falcon was

in the classic tradition of Ford fine car styling.

And the Falcon gives you traditional Ford comfort inside with full room for

adults.

Enter the wonderful new world of Fords in the glamorous Ford of your choice.

1960 Falcon.

The 1960 Thunderbird.

And the 1960 Fords. The cars that are featured in the current issue of Vogue

magazine. Vogue says Ford means a fashion success.

As the coming on of autumn shortened the days and lengthened the nights, an

atmosphere of terror seemed to settle about the house like mist, like an evil

twilight mist.

And yet, inside we lived the lie of normality, and somehow the days passed

pleasantly enough.

As for the children, I was dazzled by their loveliness.

I walked in a world of their invention.

It was I who was learning after my small, smothered life.

Learning to be amused, and even amusing, and not think about tomorrow.

Not think about tonight.

And even to forget the secrecy that covered the mysterious subject.

of the boys conduct at school miles is it time for lunch already yes

are you finished chuck laura yes so

it's riddled with mistakes i know why you run along wash up i'll join you

downstairs mrs gross

Have you been thinking about what I told you?

About Quint, you mean?

Yes.

It's too awful to consider that he came looking for little Miles.

It's true all the same.

What does he want, then?

Quite simple. He wants to appear to them.

Oh, yes.

That's why we must fence them about and absolutely feed them.

Do they know about Mr. Quint's death, about the circumstances of his death?

I don't think Miss Flora does.

But Miles, maybe.

Doesn't strike you as rather odd that Miles has never spoken one word to me

about Peter Quint? And yet you tell me that they were great friends.

It wasn't the boy.

It was Quint's own fancy to play with him. I mean, to spoil him.

Quint was much too free.

Too free? Too free with Miles?

With that innocent boy? Too free with everyone.

What you are saying then, now, this is very important.

is that Quint was definitely and admittedly bad.

Not admittedly.

I knew it.

But the master didn't. And you didn't tell him?

I was afraid.

Afraid?

Afraid of Quint.

Of the things he could do.

Oh, Miss, he was clever.

And deep.

Lord help me, I was almost glad when they found him.

When who found him?

It was the labourer.

On his way to work, saw something in a ditch on the road from the village.

It was Quint, stone dead with a great wound in his head.

It was dark and slippery there.

They said he must have fallen on his way home the night before.

And him in liquor.

The inquest, they called it an accident.

But you think... I don't think anything, miss. It's not my place.

Well, there's something in that, I suppose. You know your place.

And I hope that I know mine.

I see my way very strongly and simply now, Mrs. Groves.

I am here to protect and defend these helpless children.

I have made a commitment of the heart and I intend to hold to it, come what

And I am not afraid.

I have almost come to regard it as a magnificent chance.

Chance?

I don't understand.

Don't you?

I don't suppose you do.

Let's go downstairs, shall we? I'm hungry.

I'm very hungry.

Laura,

don't you think you ought to ask Miles if you may play with his sailboat?

Oh, no, it's all right. We share everything, Miles and I.

Do you?

Yes, and we never have secrets from one another either.

Has he ever told you anything about the school he went to?

Well, they have. I don't know.

Or has he ever spoken to you about... Look, I'm looking at the sail.

Do you think it'll catch the wind this way?

It looks seaworthy.

Then I shall lodge her.

I christen thee the good ship Blonde.

It's our ship, Daisy.

The one you talked about the night you sailed.

With no one but us on board.

Sailing out to the middle of the black sea.

Never to return.

Lost love.

Never to be heard of again.

Too little lostness in the middle of the great sea.

Poor pussy's weeping, she'll have no more milk.

Until her best petty coat's mended with silk.

Laura, what is it? What is it?

Well, it's Buffy.

Did you know what I mean?

There's nothing there.

What did you see?

You know.

How should I know if you don't tell me? But you tell me, Flora.

Oh, dear, you're angry because I didn't play, but I should have been playing

like that.

Shall we go on with our lesson?

No.

Come now, don't be cold.

You must put on your bonnet, dear. The sun has made you beautiful.

You know that's not it, Flora.

Flora, please.

I'm a good

little girl.

There once was a little girl, very pretty and delicate.

but so poor that in the summertime she always went barefoot.

Then one day the village shoemaker sat down and made for her a little pair of

red shoes.

Now it happened that the day on which the shoes were given to the little girl

was the day of her mother's funeral.

They were not at all suitable for the funeral of the red shoes, but the little

girl had no others.

So she walked behind her mother's miserable coffin with bare legs and the

shoes flashing in the dust.

They know.

God.

God, it is too monstrous.

They know, Mrs. Cross.

What?

What do they know?

Why, all that we know, and heaven knows what else besides.

Not two hours ago in the garden, Flora saw.

She told you so?

That was the horror of it. She kept it to herself, but she was perfectly aware.

Of him, you mean?

No, of her.

Her?

My predecessor, the one who died.

Mrs. Jessel? Yes, Mrs. Jessel.

You don't believe me?

Ask Flora. No, for God's sakes, don't. She'll only lie.

Oh, Miss, how can you? Because I am sure.

If you could have seen the way that woman looked at her.

With such awful eyes.

Of dislike, you mean? No, of something much worse.

With a kind of fury of intention.

Intention? Intention to get hold of her. No.

Yes, and that's what Flora knows. And you, Mrs. Strauss, know more than you

told me. I miss... How about Miss Jessel and Peter Quint?

What did she die of?

Come, woman.

There was something between them.

There was everything between them.

In spite of the difference in their rank.

He was so dreadfully beneath her.

I've never seen anyone like him.

He did as he wished.

With her?

With all of them.

Poor woman, she paid for it.

Then you do know how she died.

It was easy enough to imagine.

What I imagined was dreadful.

Not as dreadful as what I do.

I can't do it.

I can't save them or shield them.

It's far worse than I dreamed.

They are lost.

No, Miss, no.

Suppose that they knew everything that was between those two. Suppose that in

some terrible way they were even part of it.

I can't suppose such a thing. Won't you?

Well, isn't it time that we ask ourselves without any self -deceit why

Miles was dismissed from school?

Don't you know that the four of them are in league?

That they meet continually.

Oh, don't go on this. No, he's not reading to her. They're talking about

about the dead restored.

Oh.

You think I'm crazy.

It's a wonder I'm not.

Oh, I should have suspected from the start, but I was enchanted by them.

incredible beauty.

Their absolutely unnatural goodness.

It's a game. It's a policy and a fraud. They haven't been good.

They've only been absent.

Quentin, that woman.

What do we want them for?

For the love of all evil they put into them when they had their way here.

why they called to them.

For the children to come?

And to die trying.

Unless we can prevent them.

Their uncle must do the preventing. He must take them away.

You must write to him.

What? That his house is poisoned? That his little nephew and niece are mad?

But if they are... Or if I am myself, you mean. That is charming news from a

governess whose main concern was to give him no worry. At any rate, make him

come to you.

Make him come to me, oh, Mrs. Grose. He'd laugh at me.

Then he'd hate me for failing him.

You know how proud I have been to serve him and to honor our bargain.

But now... I have no intention of appealing to him.

And if you were to lose your head and do it for me, I should leave you on the

spot, both you and him.

Now you know what I meant by a magnificent chance, a chance to rise to

terrific challenge, to rise to it with dignity and courage.

And if I win, who knows what form his gratitude might take.

You mean there, Uncle?

I told you I was carried away.

Oh, where have they gone to now?

And these are the footlights.

It's to be a real pantomime, like the one we saw in London a year ago

I'm the little girl with the red shoes, and I'm just my confirmation.

First of all, Miles is to pretend he's a strange old man outside the church.

Do not let them slip off when you dance.

Now the shoes begin to dance, and I can't stop them.

They dance all over the village.

They dance and dance and never stop.

This is a boy.

And then she comes into Henson's house.

Surely thou knowest who I am.

I cut off the heads of wicked men, and my axe is very sharp and keen.

I shall

cut off your feet with my axe, and I shall make you a

pair of wooden feet. Say it, say it.

How does it end?

It has already ended.

Quite finished?

Yes. Has it?

Yes.

I think not.

We have nothing else to say.

Oh, Flora, no dissembling now. You have so much more that you could show us.

Have we, Ma?

No.

The pantomime is over.

We may leave now.

Come, Flora.

You heard him.

I'm being blind and withdraw to admit defeat.

I will not leave, I promise you that.

Just my being here is forcing a crisis. Just for a moment there, I thought we'd

come face to face with the truth and we're about to have it out.

I think our showdown is not far off.

Showdown?

Perhaps it will come tonight.

Let it come, let it come in, whatever it is. I'm ready for it now.

Where is it?

Laura? Are you there?

Oh, God.

Oh.

Are you here, Flora?

Are you hiding?

You mustn't there. Show yourself. Come out.

I have my pick.

I said you're in bed.

On the mountain stands a lady.

Who she is, I do not know.

Flora, what are you doing there?

Just looking at the garden. Who's there?

No, I'm a bit mild.

Naughty darling's quite moonstruck, I'm afraid.

What is he doing?

Nothing at all.

Just standing.

He's looking up toward the terrace. What does he see up there?

I don't know. It's out of sight.

Someone is speaking to him.

Oh, he's going. He mustn't. He mustn't.

Let me pass.

You will not stop me.

You will not have the boy.

I shall fight you forever.

Let me pass.

Come inside, Miles.

But it's so lovely out here.

Smell the garden.

Miles, come inside.

All right, dear.

Your feet are cold and damp.

How stupid of you.

You'll soil your nice nightgown.

Never mind.

But it's humiliating.

You wiping my feet.

For you or for me?

Why did you go out, Miles?

I want the truth.

Don't I always tell you the truth?

Why did you go out?

Well, for this.

Just exactly so that you'd do this.

Do what?

Think me bad for a change.

I said the truth, Miles.

But it is. I planned it.

Flora helped.

She used to begin singing at the stroke of midnight.

That would wake you up.

Then you'd find me in the garden.

You see, when I'm bad, I'm very bad.

When

am

I to go back to school?

You want to go?

You want to go back?

Well, my dear.

You know, for a fellow to be with a lady all the time.

And always the same lady.

Of course, she's a jolly nice lady.

But when a fellow's getting on... Yes.

And you are getting on.

And you can't say I haven't been good.

Except for tonight.

When you were deliberately bad.

Yes. I could be again, of course.

Even worse.

I'm sure.

Much worse.

Well, then, when am I going back?

Were you happy at school, Miles?

Oh, I'm happy enough anywhere, it isn't that.

I want to see more of life.

I want my own sort.

Your own sort? But I'm afraid there are few of those except Flora, perhaps.

Flora!

Are you comparing me to that child?

Don't you love Flora, Miles?

If I didn't love her. And you as well.

If I didn't.

If you didn't.

Does my uncle think what you think?

Does he know?

Know what?

Why, about me.

About this queer business of ours.

What queer business?

The way you bring me up.

And all the rest.

What do you mean by all the rest?

You know.

You know.

Then I don't have to tell you.

You know what a fellow wants.

toward the close of the following afternoon i made a beginning i wrote to

uncle dear sir wrote fines to all my hopes of succeeding in

this house in his house i could i told him no longer continue without his

help and begged for an interview it was an humiliating admission of failure

I call it a beginning.

It was the end of everything for me.

Yours faithfully.

You wrote to him?

Yes.

I suppose it's the only way.

I can't think of any other. Can you?

The postman won't be back anymore today.

Tomorrow will be time enough.

With all I've seen in this house, one more night can't make any difference.

Why does he keep on playing that same tune over and over?

For my sake, I suppose.

To irritate me.

To punish me for interfering.

Just floor out there with him.

Now he's alone with him.

With Quint, you mean?

You believe that?

You don't?

I don't know.

Isn't it possible that all this... Is only in my imagination?

Of course it is possible.

To you, dear Mrs. Crows.

It's only natural for you to wonder, to doubt.

I have no tangible proof of anything.

In an affair of this kind, the observer must always decide for himself who is

innocent and who is corrupt.

I made no offense, Miss.

But truly, I've seen nothing.

I know.

I can't explain why they should fear to me and not to you.

I only know what I've seen.

Just as I know that at this moment Flora is down there in the garden with her.

Miss Chesil.

Oh, yes.

I'm telling you this quite calmly and dispassionately.

They are together down there.

By the pond.

I don't... I can't believe it.

Come and see for yourself.

I think I might see her.

It is possible.

I should like to know for sure.

Well, then.

small drops of rain I never had but

one true love In cold grey he

was laying The

child

is alone.

But Flora's not a child at these moments, are you, Flora?

Are you in poor temper again, dear? The sun's very bright. Where's your hat?

Where's yours?

Where's mine?

I'll tell you if you tell me.

What? Where's Miss Jessel? Oh, Miss!

Oh!

Miss is close, behind you!

She's there!

Quick!

No one at all.

Oh, Flora, we see her, don't we? Oh, yes, we do. Oh, stop it now. Stop it.

There's no one there, little lady. There never has been.

How could it be poor Miss Jessel when she's dead and buried? We know, dear,

don't we?

Well, Flora?

I do know her to me. I see no one. I see nothing. I never... I think you're

cruel. I don't like you. Take me away, Mrs. Gold. Take me away.

Is the carriage here?

Just come.

Is Flora ready?

Yes, miss.

Where is she? In your room?

I've been up with her all night.

Still in a terrible state.

Did she say anything at all about Miss Jessel?

Not a word.

Clever. Oh, she's clever. They've seen to that.

She was such wonderful material for them to play on.

I hope she won't speak too unkindly of me to her uncle.

Perhaps if we wait a little longer. No. No, I want you to take her to him this

morning.

I want to be left alone with Myers.

Don't you want to go? I do.

I can't stay in this house any longer.

Not after last night.

You saw something?

No.

But I heard.

Heard? From that child's mouth.

Such... Horace. About me? Yes, miss.

Oh, it will shock you.

I'm glad.

Glad?

Yes, if it justifies me to you.

It does.

I... I can't think where she picked up such appalling language.

I can.

I suppose I can, too.

I've heard some of it before.

Still, I can't bear it.

All I want is to get her out of this house. Get her away from them.

Then maybe she'll be different.

Maybe. Free.

Then, despite what happened yesterday, you do believe?

I do.

Oh, my dear friend.

Time we were starting. Yes, yes.

Mrs. Groves.

Has the postman been and gone?

Not yet.

But my letter. Yes.

I put it on the table here. I remember propping it against the vase.

You did? I saw it. It isn't here.

How many have taken it?

Stolen it, you mean?

You think it was Master Miles?

Oh, that was your first thought?

So that's what he did at school.

He stole.

Well, perhaps.

Stole letters.

Feed him to me. I'll confront him with it. And if he confesses, then he's safe.

And if he's safe, then you are.

I hope so.

I hope so, too.

Goodbye.

Not so bad.

But she'll be better presently. She might have become quite ill had she

This journey will dissipate the influence.

The influence?

Yes.

Such an awful morning for travel.

Grey and cold.

It hasn't been much of a summer, has it? Why don't you come in here?

I've had a fire bit.

So we're alone.

More or less. Not absolutely.

We shouldn't like that.

No, I suppose not.

Of course, we have the others.

The others, yes.

Indeed, we have.

Still, they don't much count, do they?

It depends on what you call much.

Yes, everything depends.

On something else, that is.

It's tiresome.

Well, anyway, I'm glad that Bly agrees with me.

It certainly seems to.

You've seen a lot of it this morning, haven't you?

Yes.

Did you miss me?

I went ever so far.

All round about.

Miles and miles away.

I've never felt so free.

Do you like being free, do you?

Don't you?

I'm not sure I am.

I must say it's splendid the way you're taking it.

Our being alone.

Since it's you who are most alone.

It would seem so, wouldn't it?

Do you really not mind?

Or are you pretending?

I chose to remain with you, Miles.

I realize I no longer have any claim on your company.

You're so, so far beyond me, but I still enjoy it.

And you stay for that?

I stay as your friend.

And something can be done for you that's more with your wife.

You needn't look surprised. I am your friend, whether you want me to be or

How very nice you are.

Don't let say polite things that have no meaning.

Can't we talk openly together, honestly, like two friends?

I know there are things you want to say to me if you'd only let yourself.

And there's so much I want to do for you. You remember what I told you the

day. There's nothing in the world I wouldn't do for you.

That was to get me to do something for you, I believe.

You wanted me to tell you something.

I still do. Whatever is on your mind, say it straight out, Miles.

So that's what you stayed over for.

All right, since you asked. That is precisely why I stayed.

And you want it to be now, do you?

What better time?

You want to go out again?

Yes, I do. Awfully. Don't go.

When you said not to, you can, you know. Stay here with me and tell me. Tell me

everything. It's the only hope for you. I will.

I will. I'll tell you everything. I mean, I'll tell you anything you like.

Only not now. Why not now?

There's something I have to do out there.

You are not going to leave this room until you've told me everything I want

hear. That's it, exactly. It's only what you want to hear. Don't let's be

settled either.

It's too late for that.

There is no time left for anything but the absolute truth now.

Let's start with my letter, shall we?

My letter to your uncle. I left it on the table in the hall and now it's gone.

Did you take it?

Yes,

yes, I took it.

Why?

To see what you said about me. And you found nothing?

Nothing.

What did you do with it? I burnt it. Burnt it?

Is that what you did at school? Did you take letters and other things?

Is that why you couldn't go back? You knew I couldn't go back? I know

everything. Everything? Did you steal?

I didn't steal.

Then what did you do?

Were they bad things?

I bet they were. Evil things?

Evil? Things to corrupt, to contaminate, vile, ugly things that you learned from

them?

once and for all.

Say it and you'll be free. Who is this?

That by God gave you the wonderful intelligence to say this about him.

Would you just obey us now? Just a little more.

Just one more turn of the screw.

Say his name.

Where is he? Where is he?

trouble you again.

Oh, you belong to me now.

I do win after all.

Oh, Miles.

Oh, Miles, you're free.

You're free, my little boy, my good, brave little boy. You're free.

You're free.

Oh.

You saw him, didn't you?

Yes, of course you did. You had to, because if you didn't...

If you didn't, if you're innocent,

then what am I?

Good God, what am I?

At the end of a minute, I began to feel what it truly was that I held.

We were alone with a quiet day, and his little heart,

dispossessed, had stopped.