Original subtitles

Good evening.

Appearances to the contrary. This is not a hip flask for scotch whiskey.

These are bagpipes.

I understand that the inventor of the bagpipes was inspired when he saw a man

carrying an indignant asthmatic pig under his arm.

Unfortunately, the man -made music has never equalled the purity of sound

achieved by the pig.

Two of the characters in tonight's story are people who actually lived during

the 19th century.

These two made a large number of contributions to science.

And science returned the favor.

And now a word from a laddie who wants you to buy his product so that he can

continue making trips to those Bonnie, Bonnie banks.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Oh, yes, sir. We drop just a small drop.

Wash the soup kettle.

I love.

I do it quiet.

I need my mess.

Aggie love, spring's coming. Did you know that?

Outside, it's pretty.

Wouldn't it be nice, wouldn't it be nice, oh, Aggie love, to go strolling

the way we used to do?

Spring's coming, Aggie.

Time to get out of bed. Time for the two of us to go strolling among the heather

and the gorse.

I wish you wouldn't sleep so much.

Wish you'd get out of that bed more.

Go out, go outside.

You've not been outdoors for two years, Aggie.

Always drunk.

You never talk to me anymore. I got nobody to talk to except myself.

And half the time I don't know what to say.

Ethan?

No, Gregor.

I say it myself.

And then I don't know what to say after that.

She might as well not be here.

Oh,

Alyssa McGregor, it's not a thing to say at all.

Just remember what a wee, lovely thing she was.

Listen, John McGregor.

You break your back hauling tonbuck for Mr. Burke, for the cobbler, Mr. Burke,

and most of the money you make goes for whiskey, for Aggie.

That tries your patience, it does.

Evening, Mr. Hare.

Good evening, Mr. Burke.

How did the cobbling go?

It's done.

Spring is here, Mr. Burke.

Have you noticed that?

Aye. And spring is always a busy season.

New students at the medical museum.

And such a need for tan bark.

Aye.

Mr. Hare?

Mr. Burke.

Come in, come in, McGregor.

All ready for you.

It was not too heavy.

Oh, not at all, not at all. The last load of tonne buck I carried to the

seemed heavier than most. Well, it was a larger order than most.

What's the laughing?

I saw you talking to Mr. Hayer.

And? Oh, the things they say about Mr.

Hayer.

Such as?

He's a resurrectionist.

Robbing the graveyard to sell to medical schools.

Oh?

Even worse.

Tell me.

He said there's those who walk into his hotel and never walk out again.

Well, maybe they found the home, McGregor.

Aye, there's a thought.

Good night, Mr. Burke.

John McGregor, you're a burdened man.

Burden man, McGregor.

Nobody to tell it to how fine the spring night is.

Except for a drunk heap of a wife.

No joy.

Wouldn't it be a good thing now?

If things was different.

My dear MacGregor, here, let me give you a hand. Oh, thank you, Doctor.

Feels like a nice load you're getting tonight.

Good, good.

Ask you a question, Doctor?

Certainly.

Why do you use so much stone, Park?

We spread it around.

Oh, I see.

I'll say goodnight to you, Doctor. A moment, MacGregor.

Aye. A little thing for your trouble.

Thank you, Doctor.

You're a good man.

All right, my lads. Let's get this inside.

Kendall.

Mail.

Approximately 45.

Wouldn't you say, Beckham?

Much nearer 40. Perhaps not even that.

It's on them.

I agree.

Why do you say that, Beckham?

Emaciation from lack of food, the ravages of liquor, all surface

that.

I agree.

Doctor, there's a bruise on his throat. Look close.

Young sir, what are you after?

There's been so much talk of how bodies are obtained for us to dissect here at

the medical school.

Therefore... Young sir, what are you after?

Well, surely we should not condone murder as a source of supply.

Young sir, you have not answered my question.

When I asked you what you are after, I mean, is it to be a physician?

Yes, sir. Aren't knowledgeable in your profession?

Yes, sir.

Then admit, sir, that the study of the anatomical structure of the human body

a prime requisite. Of course.

I agree.

And since the supply of bodies is not provided for by the government, we must

find our own source.

A simple bruise of the cricoid cartilage does not necessarily imply murder, now

does it?

No murder was committed here.

I agree.

And why do you agree, Mr. John Lee? Well, Dr. Knox, it is said from London

to here that you're the finest teacher in the field of anatomical studies.

And those who study with you are assured a future.

Not necessarily, Mr. John Lee.

Well, I only meant, sir... Post on the board, Becker. There will be a

demonstration tomorrow morning.

Gross anatomical dissection for the new students.

Will someone buy my matches?

Will someone pretty... Oh, McGregor.

McGregor, now, would you buy a match, you poor Elsie Muldoon?

Oh, now, wait.

Wait a bit.

You know I haven't sold a match in longer than who knows what. You know

And you with all that whiskey there.

There being a bit of chill in the air.

You know what I was thinking, McGregor.

And we wouldn't need no matches either.

What you say to that, McGregor? I'll be saying goodnight, Elsie.

Will someone buy my matches?

Will someone pretty do?

I want both bottles, and not only that. I'm not going to allow you one single

drop that I sometimes let you do.

John McGregor, I feel mean tonight.

Oh, Aggie.

I work night and day with no thought for you, dearie. Don't you think I deserve

a little something?

You got my undying gratitude, Mr.

McGregor. No man could want more than that.

Now could he?

Aggie.

Why are you so mean to me?

Now, there's a question.

I mean it, too, for you, Aggie, love. I really do. And you straw for your bed,

and there's no room for me anymore.

I boil the sausage, the haggis, the way you like it. And the walking shoes I've

got for you for the cobbler across the way, and you never go walking with me no

more.

I'll buy you whiskey as much as I can, and you never give me none.

It's a bad life you have, McGregor.

And it's lonely.

It's just not right you should be living the life you do.

Now, there's a thought.

There's truly a thought, McGregor.

If she were not about, it would be a pretty life.

And you'd be a different man.

A happy man.

You'd be a happy man.

She was gone forever.

She was quiet.

Morning to you, McGregor.

Hello, Elsie. Did you sell any matches last night?

Ah, I sold some to him. I sold some to Tommy.

He's been carrying on so, what with his winning ways.

We've been spending a lot of time together.

I'm glad for you, Elsie.

What are you doing here in the gloaming?

Roaming?

What are you doing sitting on a log by a pond?

Thinking. About what, McGregor?

Oh, one thinkin' is private, Elsie Muldoon.

Hmm, sometimes.

But not always, right, love?

Good morning to you, McGregor.

Now, where was you, McGregor?

Think again.

You'll never do it that way either, McGregor.

She's a floater.

Think again.

And she won't die natural from the drink either.

It'll just make her fatter.

Oh, but you gotta think of something, McGregor.

You just got to.

Who is it?

It's McGregor.

You said you might have a job or work for me.

One minute, McGregor.

There must be some way to do it, Madre.

There must be some way.

If there was no wife, if there was no Aggie, you'd be a happy man, Madre.

The thing is, the only thing is, you're not the witted to know.

That's hair.

That's human hair.

Hair on a head.

Human hair on a human head.

Human head on a body.

Body in a box.

I was right.

Emily Muldoon.

I'm sorry, Elsie. You'll be selling no more matches.

Body in a box.

Mr. Borg gave me the body to take to the medical museum.

Mr. Buck must be a resurrectionist.

Him and his friend, Mr. Hare.

But this morning, Elsie was alive.

So she was not scratched from her grave.

They killed her.

They killed her and put her in the box.

They...

Good evening to you, McGregor.

Evening, Tommy.

What are you doing here?

Well, I'm waiting for Elsie Muldoon.

What are you doing here?

Nailing a box.

Well, I'll help you.

Tommy. Aye.

for your trouble.

Oh, it's for nothing.

Have you seen Elsie Muldoon?

I saw her this morning.

Hey, McGregor, what are you carrying in the box?

Tan bark.

Well, now, what are you doing that for?

I carry it to the medical museum.

Well, what do they want with tan bark?

They spread it around.

Oh.

Well, I wonder where she is.

Who? Elsie Muldoon. I'm waiting for her. I was going to meet her here.

I wish Elsie Muldoon were here.

Why?

She always carries matches.

I'd best be moving along.

Ask your question, Doctor.

Certainly. You'll never run out of need in this town, Bark, will you?

Never.

That's fine.

Why do you ask, McGregor?

What?

Why do you ask?

I like my work.

Why?

I'm helping out the medical science.

Am I not?

In a manner of speaking.

That settles it.

That settles what, McGregor?

I'm helping out the medical science.

I love my work.

I'll be saying goodnight to you, Doctor.

A moment, McGregor. Yes, sir. A little thing for your trouble.

Thank you, sir.

You're a good man.

Charmley.

Backer.

McGregor. If I forget to kiss you before the day is over, you remind me, huh?

Aye.

Give me your hand.

It'll please you to know that the haggis this morning was the best you've ever

done.

Aggie, dear.

Aggie?

What's going to happen now, Aggie?

What's going to happen when nighttime comes?

It's what has to happen so I can live happy.

Do it careful now, McGregor.

You got a good plan.

If it goes well, there's no reason why you shouldn't live as happy and

innocent as can be.

As innocent as can be.

Stop snoring, Aggie.

That's a good girl.

That's a love.

I do hope nothing untoward happens to Aggie.

She's such a bonnie lass.

But we shall find out after this wee interruption.

You're a pretty man.

You're a pretty lad.

True? Oh, yes.

I'm leaving you now, Aggie.

I'm not going to cry about it either.

That was our Bonnie friend.

Come to me, Rosie.

Aye.

It's like someone's snorting, I'd say.

Oh, that is a sound like the sound of a... Indeed it is.

I'm thinking it's a sound like a pig.

Shh.

Stay here.

Brought herself to us on her own two feet.

We'd better get her inside.

Those two in there, get them outside.

That was a noise.

Oh, Mr. Burke's still looking for it.

Now, I'll tell you what's happened.

The party is over.

What for?

We're having a sweet time.

It is over.

Go.

Come along, Glynnis.

You know her?

How do we get her to the museum, a big one like that?

McGregor'll do it.

Here, careful, careful, you'll wake her.

No.

No.

I won't do that.

I'll give that your way now, McGregor.

Another happy life begins.

Walk when you want to.

Drink when you want to. Be alone when you want to.

What made you think of that, McGregor?

What made you think of the police?

All you did was take a walk across the street.

And that's what you say to them when they ask you, McGregor, what happened to

your wife?

I just say, all I did was take her for a walk across the street.

And then if they say, McGregor, what do you carry in those boxes to the medical

museum?

I'll say, tan bark, sir.

They say, what do they do with that tan bark?

They do this prayer

Wait

it was to take her for a walk across

Shorty

to trouble you McGregor

Tommy.

Glad you did.

Sit down.

Sorry I can't offer you much. There's no a drop in the house.

Oh, it's me a drop. I'm wanting McGregor.

What then?

Oh, it's Cersei Muldoon.

I cannot find her.

Nobody has seen her.

Have you? No.

It's like as if she's disappeared from the face of the earth.

Do you want some advice on that?

Believe that's what's happened, Tommy. Believe she's disappeared from the face

of the earth.

Oh, it's painful to think that. Believe it. She'd drink all your hard -earned

money. She'd stay all alone in the house and not go walking with you in the

springtime. She'd get fat.

Would she know? I promise you.

Oh, I like that.

Tommy, if you like it that she would get fat, she would get skinny.

Would she now?

I promise you.

Oh, I would not like that.

Oh, manner of tricks and things she will use to me. You mumble to yourself the

way I do.

Aye, but she's bonnie to look at. A trick?

Oh, a trick, Tommy lad. They're all bonnie to look at until they get their

into you. And then you look at them up close and they're not so bonnie anymore.

It's true. I promise you, Tommy lad. I promise you.

Elsie! Will someone buy my matches? Then I'll be warm with you.

Hey, will someone buy my matches?

It's not Elsie Muldoon.

Who? It's entirely another lass.

Will someone buy my matches? Then I'll be warm with you.

Well, good morning to you, McGregor. Where are you going?

I need me a match.

What do you want, McGregor?

What are you knocking me door for?

I was just wondering, that's all.

About what?

Whether you might have some work for me tonight?

Well, as a matter of fact, McGregor, I want you to take another load of tan bar

to the medical museum tonight.

It's a heavy load this time.

I suppose you'll want double.

I suppose... No, no, no, sir. I'll carry it the same as usual.

Come back when it's dark.

The box will be ready.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Drink, McGregor. It's on the house.

Thank you.

Four bottles again, McGregor?

No bottles.

Ah, here now, here's the thing. To go from four bottles to no bottles at all.

I have no need for them. Well, now, you're a wonder.

To live in this world and to have no need for bottles.

I have no need for them.

What do you keep looking out there for?

The nightfall.

It'll come.

What are you waiting for?

I've never known it to take so long for a coming in to the nightfall.

It'll come.

Have another drink, McGregor. No.

I don't want my brain addled with that stuff, Glen Cannon.

Not tonight.

Not this night.

McGregor's a jewel.

Hard working.

And he doesn't even want extra money.

As if he enjoyed carrying this double room.

True, McGregor?

It's true.

I enjoy it.

You're a jewel.

Thank you, sir.

And, McGregor.

Sir? Tell Dr.

Knox, when you see him, tell the good Dr. Knox that I'll be paying him a visit

soon to discuss the new price of Tamba.

Good man.

Tell him that.

It's still a puzzlement to me, Mr. Hare.

What is, Mr. Burke?

Oh, what nice thing have we done to deserve such a gift on our doorstep?

I wonder where she came from.

I wonder who she is.

Aggie, look at it this way.

We're both free.

Besides, Aggie, once you're a good for nothing except drinking your bottles of

whiskey, now you will help make some bonnie lad a fine surgeon.

It's a heavy load you're getting tonight.

Good, good.

Ask your question, Doctor.

Certainly. The work you're doing is helpful.

Isn't it helpful, Doctor?

Certainly.

Sir, what is it, McGregor?

Mr. Burke said there'd be a new prize for Tanbark.

He told me to tell you.

Did he?

He said he'd come by to see you soon to talk with you about it. I see.

I'll be saying goodnight, Doctor.

A moment, McGregor.

Yes, sir.

A little thing for your trouble.

What is it, McGregor?

It don't seem right to take extra pay for it.

Would someone buy my matches?

Would someone pretty do?

Would someone buy my matches?

Would you buy the matches, sir?

Listen to me.

Sir? Miss Leigh and I shall not be about here.

And why not?

Because there's many that walk here at the night.

Never get to walk in the morning.

Come with me.

Where?

There.

Why? To tell you the truth, I'm lonely.

You never knowed her, did you?

You never knowed her.

Who?

Aggie.

Who do you think I've been talking about?

Is Aggie a woman?

Was.

What happened to her?

She's gone.

She run away from you, lovey?

No, that's not the way of it.

Well, that's not the way of it.

Men always say that.

But it's them who's always the cause of no women being around.

Well, she has... pretty as me?

No. She was fat.

She was fat. She was lazy.

Aye.

She was lazy.

But I miss her.

True.

Aye.

How does a man miss a woman who's fat and lazy?

Do not do that.

What?

Get off that bed.

That's Aggie's bed.

Oh, you get Aggie to do

for you kissing and all like that.

Oh, I can't do that.

lonely, Aggie.

And I miss you.

I miss you, Aggie.

You're gone forever, Aggie.

And you know what?

I never even got to say a proper goodbye to you.

Just left you there.

Sit.

Oh, you know goodbye.

Paul Penn!

The guy's here.

John Lee!

You cannot deny a man a last goodbye. All I want to do is to look at his...

is this?

Doctor, tell him there's no harm in it. What is this, McGregor?

Last night I brought you a box.

Yes, you did.

In the box was a body. A body? It was Tanbark.

A body?

Tanbark.

McGregor, what was in that box was Tanbark.

Was Tanbark.

Tanbark.

Just a look.

No.

You're drunk, McGregor. And sometimes that's good for a man.

But sometimes a man doesn't know what he's talking about.

Are you celebrating, McGregor?

I'm surprised to see you here.

Are you a friend of mine?

That I am.

Don't you know me?

I'm afraid not.

I've been celebrating.

I'm drunk.

You should go home, McGregor.

I... I'll help you home.

I wish you would.

I wish you would.

Home, just like you say.

Very nice.

McGregor. Yes, Fred?

I want to thank you for telling Dr.

Knox that I was to pay him a visit about the new price of Tanva.

Never go to secret.

I did, McGregor.

And he told me that you wanted to see a party in a box.

It was a different man who delivered the box.

So it was.

Doctor?

Yes, what is it, Becker?

Doctor, the man who used to deliver the box is now inside the box.

I agree.

But all in a good cause, Becker. A most laudable cause.

I agree.

Perhaps Robert Burns was anticipating McGregor when he wrote this epitaph.

As Father Adam first was fooled, a case that's still too common.

He allies a man a woman ruled, the devil ruled the woman.

As you know, Burke and Hare were brought to justice.

Hare turned state's evidence, but Burke was somewhat less fortunate. He ended up

on the dissecting table after he had been executed, of course.

I seem to have developed a leak. Music critics are a vindictive lot.

Goodnight.