Original subtitles

Thank you.

Do you hear anything?

Frank, do you hear anything?

Do you?

What?

Do I hear a woman sobbing? Is that what you mean?

Do you?

No.

Or did I hear her last night or the night before? Now, please, take one of

your pills and try and get some sleep. I'll take another.

Well, take another.

You're allowed up to 24 grains a day.

For God's sake. I'm getting there.

Everyone's about to go to the loo in the middle of the night.

I thought women's bladders were different.

No, they're not.

Bloody eye, isn't it?

There's a smell of gas.

There's a smell of gas in the attic.

What?

What the hell were you doing in the attic? Well, it's just as well I went to

look if there's a smell of gas.

Mark, what do you want me to do now? You could phone the gas board.

Darling, it's two in the morning. Well, they must have an emergency service.

It's not the fire. Look, the fire's off.

Well, no emergency service in the world is going to drive nine miles up from

Upfield at two in the morning.

There's no smell of gas in the attic.

It's true. I don't smell it now.

Anyway, I wasn't thinking of fire. I was thinking of fumes.

Oh, no longer dangerous.

The carbon monoxide content in natural gas is minimal.

But putting your head in the gas oven, it's a traditional way of committing

suicide.

Not anymore.

You just lie on the kitchen floor feeling foolish.

Oh.

You don't believe there is a leak?

Look, lady, I enjoy my work. Believe me.

You're making fun of me. No.

I prefer intelligent conversation when I'm working.

Well, Charlie's different.

He's a silent lad by nature.

Likes to get on with it.

He doesn't actually seem to do anything. You do it all.

Chaperone.

What?

Well, I have this sexual attraction.

I expect you'd noticed it.

Oh. Oh, I can't help it. It's my nature.

You know what it's like going into people's homes.

Very lonely women, husbands away all day, children at school.

Change of life.

We see half of them, they get these hot flushes and reach out towards me

instinctively.

His presence keeps them off.

Saves the embarrassment of refusal.

Of course, he gets lost when I tell him to.

Mind you, the husbands are worse.

One of these days, mate. One of these days.

And that's the last glass of water, so don't ask your father for one when he

comes up, unless you want to wet the bed.

I don't wet the bed!

All right, I'm going now. You can read for half an hour. Can I have an apple?

You've got my book! I don't give a book!

Oh, shut up!

Don't swear, James, I've told you before!

He's wet the bed, he's wet the bed... Shut up!

You two never realise how tired I get of you.

What is it?

Hmm? What you're reading.

Attitude, sir, ma'am.

To what?

Sweet eating and tooth decay.

The Bulmers are launching a new product.

Relaunching an old one, really. You know, most new products are old.

Particularly sticky toffee in hideous modern colours. Positively guaranteed to

rot the teeth.

It's important to find out to what extent mothers either know or care about

that sort of thing.

Of course, if they know too much, Bulmers may not launch the product.

You mean if they know enough?

Same thing, isn't it? People know enough, it's always too much in

advertising terms.

Frank?

Hmm?

You never ask me.

What?

Toffees, that sort of thing.

I'm a mother.

I've got attitudes.

Oh, lover, you're not statistically significant.

Oh, is that what I'm not?

The gas people came this morning.

There wasn't a leak.

The man was rather cheeky, I thought.

Hmm.

When did we last make love, Frank?

Thursday.

I took the morning off.

Between 9.30 and 10.

Yes, I thought you'd remember.

Telephone rang just after instead of during for once.

What do you mean, you thought I'd remember?

You always do.

The hour, the day, the circumstances.

I expect you took the morning off especially.

Yes, as a matter of fact, I did. I thought that you were getting a bit...

Edgy?

I was reading the Sunday Times magazine section this morning.

You shouldn't leave the sandy papers lying around all week. It's not healthy.

About men.

It was an issue about men.

You remember?

You didn't get through it.

Darling, magazine features about men are mostly aimed at women readers. If you

looked at the ads in that issue, you'd find they were all for perfume.

It said... I wrote it down so as to remember it. It said that after the age

of 40, mam's actual desire for sexual intercourse declines.

It said actual desire.

I didn't understand that actual.

Oh, darling, I'm only 41.

But it's very much restored during holidays.

The actual desire.

Is it?

Or after remarriage to a younger woman.

All women in their mid-thirties take pills.

It's a depressive illness.

They all have it.

And so they should.

Husbands away all day, kids too young to talk to. They have a bloody awful life.

But why did you move out into the country if you didn't want your wife to

take pills?

The air.

The air?

Yes, we didn't want the kids to grow up with polluted lungs.

Just blow your nose in London, you get a hanky full of soot.

Of course, it's worse in the north.

Do you see much of them?

Not.

Children? You see much of them? The weekends.

Now, don't make debating points, Sandy. You know what it's like. Jane gets them

off to school after I've left, and they're usually in bed by the time I get

home.

Of course, I go up to see them to say goodnight.

It'll be better when they're older.

Except that, um... That what?

They're not supposed to want to know you, are they, when they're teenagers?

Unhealthy. I have to reject you.

Certainly, do you and your wife... I mean, do you and Sue... What?

Sex life?

Do we have one?

Yes, Jane's been reading something in the Sunday Times.

Something about actual desire.

Oh.

Well, of course, it's not so bad for us.

Sue bought a book about it.

Exercise.

Things you can do with the back of a chair.

Never realized.

Of course, I use my imagination a lot, you know.

Well, I expect you notice I try to catch a 7.15.

There's a girl on the 7.15.

Third coach from the rear.

She's always there.

Demure little thing.

She's been reading Crime and Punishment all this week.

She gets up to in my mind.

Crime and Punishment isn't in it.

You know, I've never been unfaithful.

I'm really very fond of Jane.

Why don't you read your book?

I don't know.

Sure, in a moment.

Do you want me to put on a record?

Well, none of this, you do.

No.

No, I don't want to.

Do you rather watch telly?

Yeah, what's one?

I think really some play.

I

still

hear it, you know.

The woman upstairs.

I was up there today.

I went up and looked about.

Do you think I'm going mad?

No, I don't think so. Well, you should.

First the pills and have this.

Darling, a lot of women go through a depressive period. The doctor said so

and you're on a very small dosage. Three a day, I'm allowed up to 24 grains.

You're always telling me to take another.

He said that when you were under stress you could increase the dosage. He said

that to both of you. Yes, it's simple, isn't it? Take another pill, you'll feel

better. Great cure of unhappiness.

Well, I didn't say it killed unhappiness. Anyway, it doesn't explain

the woman in the attic.

Hallucinations, that's new.

You should be worried.

Darling, you don't see her.

The children were rather boring today.

Something about Robin falling down in the playground.

Oh, yes, yes, I heard. Yes, he showed me the scab when I went up.

It's harder and harder to get them to bed.

I've decided I don't like them very much nowadays.

There must be nicer children in the world than ours.

I really long to hit them.

Often.

I mean, I long often, not hit them often, just once would do a really good

clout round the ear.

I suspect it's just a phase.

Well, I'm glad you don't.

Did you ever see a play?

I've forgotten what it's called.

Gaslight.

About a man driving his wife mad.

She thinks that she's imagining things and it turns out to be him all the time.

It's not a play, is it? It's a film.

Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer. No, no, it's a play.

The local amateurs did it.

You were out that night.

Was I?

Anyway, how did you know which play I meant?

Oh, darling, it's obvious what you're thinking.

Seriously?

Darling, if you thought about it seriously, you'd realise there's no way

that I could do it, is there?

There's no way in the attic to hide a tape recorder, even if I could turn it

on and off at long range.

That's mad too, then, thinking it, hmm?

Well, no, you're bound to think about it.

Is it in you or in them?

What?

The phase.

Is it you having a phase, going off, rubbing and... Oh, Frank.

You'll be stupid.

I'm sorry.

Oh, it's me, I suppose. The phase. We're part of the same thing.

Do you think the house could be haunted?

Oh, darling.

It was only built in the 1900s.

It's no older than your mother.

Well, what's that got to do with it?

Well, they didn't build haunted houses in 1910.

Pity. I don't want to have hallucinations.

I'd really much rather not.

Should I see a psychiatrist, do you think? I'm not sure mental illness is

really Dr Dempsey's thing.

If it was an older house, there might be a priest's hole or something, some

bricked-up cupboard with a skeleton.

Have you got the plans of the house?

Do you know anything about it before we came?

I don't know there are any psychiatrists in Uckfield.

Can you do it on the National Health?

No, I haven't got the plans for the house, but I know when it was built,

that's all.

You have to know that for the mortgage.

Mummy!

Mummy!

Mummy!

All right, I'll go.

At least that's not imagination.

Sandy, you were in private practice, weren't you, before you came to us?

Well, not very private. I was a junior consultant at Bath.

I was just wondering if you'd kept up.

With?

Oh, you know, with people in your own field.

If you knew anyone, psychotherapist, analyst, anyone, really.

Why?

Jane seems to be having these hallucinations.

Oh.

I don't think it's very serious.

She's been on Valium for about a year now.

Well, you know the kind of thing depressions fear as people go through

them.

It's like flu nowadays.

Anyone could get it.

It lasts longer, of course.

Hallucinations?

A woman.

Crying.

In the attic.

At night, mostly.

Of course, I'm not around during the daytime.

Is anyone else here?

No.

No, you said you weren't around in the daytime.

You mean she only gets these hallucinations when you're around?

No.

No, I don't mean that at all.

Have you ever thought about an au pair?

Oh, well, we used to have one, but you know what the French are.

She was caught shoplifting in Oxford Street, and we had to get rid of her.

Then, when we moved to the country, Jane said she had nothing else to do all day

long but look after the place, and so we managed with her daily.

Dutch girls are good.

I mean, they're very honest.

Why an au pair?

Well, I was thinking of continuity, I suppose.

I mean, if Jane were to be really ill, of course, one never knows when people

start hallucinating.

I'm beginning to find this rather alarming. Well, don't.

I'm sorry, but don't.

If Jane's going to be helped, we must keep alarm right out of this case.

And where was I?

No pair of reasons for.

Yeah, well, first day to help Jane with the children.

As you say, they're getting her down.

Secondly, to be company for Jane.

If she's going to be depressed, she oughtn't to be left all on her own in

the middle of Sussex.

And thirdly, if things were to get worse, if she had to go away for a

while... Well, he must have thought about it.

Feared it?

Well, don't fear it.

It probably won't happen.

I've known plenty of schizophrenics living at home, more or less happily,

with everything under control.

And if she did have to go away, she'd be back within a matter of months.

And meanwhile, there'd be someone to provide continuity.

Someone the children knew.

Yes, but we don't know that she's a schizophrenic.

No, we don't.

Well, I'm willing to bring her in to see whomever you suggest.

I mean, we can afford all that medical insurance. We might as well get some

value for it.

But if you could come over, Sandy, I know it's a long way out.

No, no, I'll find Sue.

Thanks. Now, the attic.

Couldn't she?

She could.

What a good idea.

She could. I never thought of that.

Well, yes, she could. She could. I mean, she would. She must. I mean,

she'd be in the attic.

She'd live in the attic.

Don't you see, Sandy? I mean, she would actually live in the attic.

Of course, we should have to redecorate it.

What's the matter?

I'd better show you.

It's just as well we decided to redecorate.

Why, Jane?

Gaslight, I suppose.

Gaslight?

Are you looking for a tape recorder, something like that?

Well, damn it, I'm in advertising. I could get hold of the equipment.

Arm this.

Darling, that is for the television.

It's something to do with the aerial.

Well, it's all settled, then.

I'll get an au pair.

She can have the attic.

Well, I'm sorry. It's such a long drive back.

Well, I suppose there's a youth club in Uckfield.

In fact, I know there is. There was a bit of a ruckus recently. It was in the

Gazette. Ruckus?

Rumpus. Row.

Some of the lads got drunk on parsnip wine, painted rude words all over the

Chapel of Divine Renunciation.

Of course, there'd be problems getting back.

Yes? Yes, the buses stop rather early.

Don't drive a car, I suppose.

I can drive a little, but I haven't a license.

Oh, that's all right. I'll give you a few lessons. You take the test.

I taught Jane to drive. Every man can teach his wife to drive and teach

anyone.

Oh.

We're done.

I'm going to put on the kettle.

You are lucky.

That you have guests so far from the town.

Yeah, I suppose we are lucky. It's partly because we're the eastbound side

of Uckfield.

And partly because there used to be one of those little Victorian gas companies

here. Well, you know, there's a rash of them springing up everywhere during the

19th century.

Like the railway boom.

Yes. I don't think she does know, Frank.

What? I don't see how Ingeborg can know the minutiae of 19th century English

social history.

I haven't heard you explaining it so often. I couldn't know myself.

Please, do not call me Ingeborg, Mrs. Perloff.

My friends say Inge.

I must remember not to call them jawbreakers.

Yes?

Yes, that's the old name for them.

A sort of sticky toffee.

So what will you call them now?

Ah, well, it's not decided.

The current favourite is gummy chums.

I'm not sure there's enough mileage in that.

We're going to use these anti-pollution wrappers. You send 2,000 back to the

makers and you get a certificate.

10,000, you get a silver-plated lapel badge.

That's very good.

That's very good.

You think so?

That was my idea, as a matter of fact.

Go to sleep, Jane.

Soon.

Why should you hear anything now? I mean, there hasn't been anything for the

past week. Now there's even less reason.

What?

You said that as though you believed it.

As if you could hear it.

Well, I can't.

As if I weren't hallucinating.

Darling, you've been better all round lately.

As if I wasn't mad.

You're not mad.

Mental illness, that's different, but you're not mad.

No.

I'm not mad.

Good morning.

No.

No!

No, no!

Please, be quiet.

You're weak, everyone.

You mean her.

Darling, everyone. The children, everyone. Let them all know. They might

as well know.

Sandy has been talking to a mate of his.

Another psychiatrist.

A consultant psychiatrist.

He's ready to see you whenever you feel that you... Except lately, you've been

so much better that I didn't bother. But if you feel that you want to see him...

Tomorrow?

This week, soon.

I'll arrange it.

The boys?

Well, keep them home from school that day. Inga can look after them.

Yes.

Inga.

Where are you going?

She's up there, isn't she?

Maybe she heard it. Maybe only women hear it. Maybe I'm not mad. Now, Jane,

please.

Darling, it's late.

You can ask her in the morning if she's heard anything.

He wrote down everything I said.

They're bound to take notes, aren't they? You'd think he'd have a tape

recorder, being so famous.

It was all scribble, scribble, scribble with a silver pencil.

When I cried, he wrote down cried.

Well, they keep a record, I suppose.

Overreactions, that kind of thing.

You cried, didn't you?

Copiously.

He said I mustn't worry too much. These states are natural.

Oh, he's given me a new sort of pills.

You've not wasted your money, Frank.

And I mustn't drink him, obviously.

Alcohol. I mustn't drink alcohol immoderately, not with these pills.

And I told him all about our sex life.

That's when I did most of the crying.

I'm so sorry to interrupt.

It's all right, Monica.

It's Bernard. He's pestering again.

He wonders if you've got the brochure. Yes, it's in the art tray.

Nice arse.

It's all right, Frank.

I know you don't make passes.

Anyway, I'm to see him again if the new pills don't work.

Oh, he wanted to know whether I've ever been tempted to damage myself or others.

Well, you haven't, have you?

Jane.

Jane.

Poor Jane.

Jane! Robin!

Robin!

Your window's open. Inga, your window's open.

Well, darling, what does it matter if it is?

Thanks, Mum.

Thanks, Mum.

Dragging lessons.

We didn't need to go to the expense of an au pair.

All we needed to do was move from this house.

You're making quite a ruckus, boys.

You should be disappointed that your mummy hasn't come home yet.

We don't like our mother now. She's a cross-patch. That's enough.

What's a ruckus?

Rumpus. Row.

Well,

I don't know.

Well, I don't want to monopolize your time.

I mean, there must be a lot of people.

Well, I mean, people with urgent... I really don't know why I'm ringing.

I feel so frightened.

I don't know what's wrong with me. I feel... Everyone thinks...

Well, they don't say mad. They all say mental illness.

I'm not mad. I'm really not mad.

I just get depressed, that's all.

Tell me about it.

I keep hearing this woman in the attic.

I can understand depression.

I mean, everyone gets depressed.

We moved to the country because of the children. I had a friend in those days,

Pamela, she...

lived around the corner in Drayton Gardens.

She said, oh, my dear, never do anything for your children. You're bound to

regret it.

I was

lonely. I was bound to be depressed.

Frank used to get home late and tired and sex.

Well, he was very considerate. He used to make love at weekends when he was

feeling up to it.

You must have heard this kind of thing a thousand times.

I'm really a very ordinary woman.

If we could just move house, it would be different. I'm sure it would, but he

won't listen.

Have you tried exorcism?

Exorcism? If you can't move house.

To get rid of the ghost?

If it is a ghost.

Will it work?

I don't know much about it, I'm afraid.

churches do have a service of exorcism oh i can talk to the vicar i never see

him please remember it may not work

oh i know but don't you see it's something to try

thank you

Well, I hope I've done right.

What was the trouble?

She hears voices.

Something in the attic.

Hallucinations? I suppose so.

She's on Largatil, but it doesn't seem to be doing much good.

I suggested exorcism.

You what?

She hadn't thought of it.

She felt better.

Exorcism for hallucinations? Well, it might help.

That's the trouble with you Christians. You don't believe in your own religion.

If the pills don't work, exorcism might.

She'll end up in a loony bin otherwise.

Well, what delicious cake.

Oh, it's from the health food shop.

Dayton Walnut.

I'm not entirely clear.

There's a manifestation in the attic.

Located in the attic? Yes.

Voices? A voice.

A woman's voice.

A presence.

Yes. And no one except yourself hears.

Oh, I'd be prepared to pay what's usual. I mean, travelling, it's a long way to

come. Our local vicar's rather low church. He wouldn't do it.

But he said you were high.

Oh, I am. I am high.

Perhaps higher in summer.

I don't understand you.

A bit of a joke. Please ignore it.

I am high in the liturgical sense.

Your local priest, I understand, has Methodist leanings.

Well, it takes all sorts.

Well, he wouldn't thank you for calling him a priest, if that's what you mean.

Will you do it?

Mrs. Puller, in the matter of casting out devils, it's really hardly ever done

nowadays. Instead, particularly in the United States, many priests are given a

grounding in psychiatry. I don't want you to cast out devils. I want you to

get rid of the ghost in the attic.

I'm sorry.

I don't mean to be impatient, but the children will be back soon. It'll be

rather difficult to talk.

Oh, I'd have asked you over for coffee tomorrow morning, but then the au pair

would have been around.

How funny.

I used to have too much time on my own.

If you had asked me for spiritual help... I have.

Give it.

I can pray with you and for you.

I can pray for myself.

But do you?

Please don't humor me.

Shall we pray together?

Why are you so obstinate?

There's a form.

The church has a form.

Even if you don't believe it, do it. It's the doing that counts. I don't want

prayer. I want Latin and holy water.

You don't believe in the supernatural.

And you're a priest.

I believe in God and his church and the beauty of worship.

I'm not a spiritualist, Mrs Puller. I don't want to raise the dead. I want you

to get rid of something. A woman sobbing and there's a service laid down for it.

A printed service.

But there's no objective evidence, Mrs Puller.

Oh, the children are back.

You must appreciate how careful one has to be.

He says he's worried about her.

I don't think the pills are working. In fact, I'm sure they're not. What she

still hears? Yes, whatever it is, the woman upstairs.

And she's convinced that Inger hears it too and won't let on.

It's a nasty atmosphere.

And does she? Inger? No, of course not.

She keeps sending Inger to bring the kids home from school. Won't have

anything to do with them herself.

Wish I'd never taught the bloody girl to drive.

I thought you liked Inger. Oh, I do.

Look, I'm 41, Inger's 21, and Jane's not well.

Well, you remember you told me about the little girl on the 715.

Fantasies, that's all.

Everyone's allowed them.

No, she's a very nice girl, a very well-brought-up girl.

Jane's never liked her.

Your mate wants Jane to go into some bloody clinic.

There's a voluntary patient.

Says he can treat her better there.

I said, what treatment?

And... He was a bit shifty, I thought.

Of course she won't go. She won't hear of it.

Not by the old Kent Road?

No, we haven't landed on it yet, but still.

That's not fair.

All right, next time round.

Where have you been?

You know where I've been, James. I've been to London.

Inga, will you put them to bed, please?

It's not our time. You're going early.

We're not early. You're early. Why didn't you come back with Daddy? I went

to a bookshop.

Inga, please get them to bed.

Yes, Mrs Pillar.

Mummy? Are you coming upstairs to see us when we're in bed?

Yes, love, I'll come up.

I've got something to do first.

You can read for half an hour.

I'll be in the kitchen, Inga.

Will you leave me alone for a while, please?

Yes, Mrs Puller.

Well, let's tidy this away.

Oh, no!

All right, let's see this person to bed.

It's not fair! He's standing before me!

I exorcise you, creature of salt, by the living God, so that you be fit for the

healing of mind and body of all who use you.

Wherever you are sprinkled, may all evil and wicked thoughts depart.

All works and deceits of the evil one be driven away.

and all unclean spirits be cast out by him who is ready to judge the living and

the dead.

Come on, come on, come on.

I'm first!

You're both first.

I exorcise you, creature of water, in the name of God, the Father Almighty, in

the name of Jesus Christ, his Son, our Lord.

Get off!

Will!

I cannot go down yet, so I might as well read to you.

What do you want?

Peter Rabbit.

Oh, no.

That's very juvenile.

May this mixing of salt and water be done in the name of the Father and of

the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Okay. What story do you want?

Um...

Armandillo! Rhinoceros!

Inga, I'm going up to your room.

I have something to do there.

Who?

Are you a Christian?

Yes.

Yes, of course you are.

Very proper.

Well, you may follow me if you wish.

Doesn't matter if you do.

Doesn't matter if you don't.

Doesn't greatly matter either way.

It's Daddy!

No, no, no, no, no, children.

Deliver this room from all evil spirits, all the imaginations,

projections, and phantasms, and all deceits of the evil one, and bid

them harm no one, depart to the place appointed them, there to remain.

God.

incarnate God, who came to give peace, bring peace.

The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost, be upon

this place and upon all here present now and always.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

That's done.

Way to get the early water, ducky.

Well, shall we go then?

Didn't you hear anything?

Didn't you hear anything?

No, nothing.

You can hear. Tell him you're a woman. You can hear. You can bloody hear.

Very well.

I'll volunteer for the clinic.

You'd better arrange it.

Only, Frank, she's not staying here when I'm gone.

The boys can go to your mother until I'm cured.

by electric shock.

The patient doesn't, of course, feel any pain of any kind, since an anesthetic is

administered before the therapy begins.

It's not known exactly how or why ECT works. We only know it does.

In some ways, the immediate effect of the treatment, which is to shut out

recent memories and bring back memories of long ago, is oddly similar to

simility.

or to the effect of cannabis, which also impairs short-term memory while inducing

a relaxed and euphoric state of mind.

Never been very much good at flower arrangements.

I thought that we'd pick the boys up tomorrow.

Better be just us for a while.

Sort of second honeymoon.

Kitchen's a bit of a mess, I'm afraid. I do wash up, but not often. Mrs Marshall

still comes.

I love when you're sad, you've got your spins.

Do you?

Nothing.

Frank, I... I don't want to go away again.

You won't, do you? Why should you? You're cured.

Yes.

I don't think I could bear it.

Going back there.

What's the matter, love?

Nothing.

Just fears.

I'll be back.

It's all right.

It's all right.

You're in a nightmare. That's all it is. I'm here.

Do you hear anything?

Philip, do you hear anything?

Do you?

Do I hear a woman sobbing? Is that what you mean?

Do you?

No.

Nor did I hear her last night or the night before.

Look, why don't you take one of your pills and try and go to sleep, hmm?

Took one.

Take another.