Original subtitles

Sitting on this swing, I can imagine being a kid again.

Or can I?

Reality, fantasy, I guess by now I should know the difference.

But in children's minds, there's a fine line between reality and fantasy.

What they can imagine can be as much fun or as terrifying as anything in the real

world. So who are we to brush aside a child's fears?

Is that a monster lurking there?

Or something imagined.

Or something even more twisted.

I'll fetch an interview from the studio, will you, Jess?

In a minute.

Here was your towel, please.

I will, Daddy, just as soon as this finishes.

You see, I have to give a talk at school, and if I haven't seen the pro...

You're twiddling your hair.

No more fibs. No, no more excuses. Just get Matthew, please.

I'm sick of running down to that dumb studio.

Everything in this house is for Matthew.

He has the biggest bedroom, a guitar, a soundproof studio, rollerblades. Why

can't I go with you to the concert? It's not fair.

Jessie, there's the long drive, then the concert, and then on to Matt's school

first thing in the morning. I just don't think you'll last the distance.

I needn't go to the concert.

I could stay in the motel.

Please, Daddy.

But I wouldn't be there.

So what?

I'm not a baby.

We could have a secret password.

Oh, please, Daddy.

I won't read any scary books before I go to bed.

Promise.

I couldn't leave you on your own, darling.

if you're at all worried, Michelle.

The people in number 11 are away.

And Mrs. Baines won't be much use. She's as deaf as a post, the poor old soul.

If I'd known that earlier, I needn't have built Matt's studio like Fort Knox.

You'd probably think I worry too much.

But after what Jessie went through with that swine Pendle... Look, Mr. Courtney,

she might not have realised what she was seeing. I mean, she never said anything

to me about that night.

Well, everyone's very gentle with her.

Very careful about the way it was handled.

I'll give you a ring during the interval.

Don't let her read anything frightening before she goes to sleep. She gets

nightmares. Don't worry, I'll tell her all those monsters and what have you are

only pretend.

Not always.

Not always pretend.

You... Look at the monster.

I've been asleep for 100 years.

I know it's only you, Matthew Poohface, and you have to come inside this minute.

Whoever looks upon my face in daylight will die a lingering death.

Oh, sure, I bet.

What do you look like then?

You're such a dork. Only little babies believe in monsters.

You're a big liar.

Look, Jessie, monsters are like fairies and that.

They're not real.

Think you know everything, smarty pants.

Well, you don't. And I'm glad you're going back to boarding school.

And this is private property, remember?

My property. You stay out of my studio while I'm away.

Really? What does it look like?

I didn't see it. I just heard it. A sort of... Well, a sort of crunchy noise.

Oh.

Must be that spaceship landing outside.

I'm only kidding.

Hey, I know that shadows, they can look like... like other things, but that's

all they are. Shadows, OK?

No, no.

Jessie, the more you talk about these things, the more real they become.

And they're not real. They're only pretend, okay?

They are real!

Arthur Evan Pendle, convicted of murder, escaped today from Long Bay.

The murder occurred five years ago when Mrs. Helen Courtney interrupted Pendle

during the burglary.

The victim's four-year-old daughter witnessed the attack and later

identified the assailant, leading to Pendle's conviction.

Arthur Pendle is described by prison authorities as unstable and extremely

dangerous. Any persons with information as to his whereabouts are asked to

contact the nearest police station.

Yeah, that's better.

Yeah, they got away just fine.

Poor Mr.

Courtney. He turns himself inside out for those kids.

Oh, did you hear that?

I thought she'd be asleep by now.

Yeah, hold on. Sorry.

Nothing under the bed.

Nothing in the wardrobe, in the bathroom, your dad's room or any other

room and there's nothing outside either. I looked.

I know.

I'll put your dad's torch beside your bed. Good idea?

Yep. Okay.

Gary, yeah, sorry about that. Jessie and her jitters.

Look, why don't you give me a call later when she's asleep?

Oh, you could come around.

Oh, ring me when you're finished?

Michelle!

Michelle, I heard it. What's wrong?

I heard it out there. It's moving.

Look, it'll be a possum of the wind blowing the leaves. Now go back to bed.

But I did. I heard it. There is nothing out there. Go back to bed, Jessie.

Now.

Do you mind? I'm trying to get some fresh air. Now go back to bed.

No, it's all right out there.

What? A man-eating cockroach? No, it just has this big ugly face.

At least I have it to see.

Michelle!

Michelle! It's too dark to see anything.

Michelle, shut it. All right, all right. Here, here, Charlotte.

Hello? Sorry?

Can you speak up?

The line's breaking up, I can't hear you.

No, sorry?

Who is it?

Are you on a mobile? I can't understand.

Oh, Mr. Courtney, hi.

How'd it go?

Yeah, Jessie's fine.

I said everything's fine.

Sounds like a big crowd.

How'd it go?

Was he nervous?

Right. I will.

Quickly and don't turn the light on!

He spooked me a bit at first, but that's why he's here, to steal, and we just

interrupted him.

Like last time.

Jessie, I'm going to find the police. I want you to stay here and keep very

quiet, all right? The police? Yes, I'll be back in one second, all right?

Stay there.

It was nothing personal.

But it is now.

I'm gonna

get

you, girl!

Yeah, see?

Jessie.

Oh, I've been so worried. Why?

Oh, there was something on the news.

I tried phoning, no answer.

The operator said the receiver was off. You must never, never leave the phone

off the hook.

I mean, what if there had been an emergency?

I've been imagining all sorts of terrible things. Did Matthew play well?

He did, very well.

He'll be phoning you later to tell you all about it, which reminds me.

Michelle!

Where's Michelle? Michelle!

What on earth's going on? Michelle?

Oh, she's in hospital.

What? What's happened?

Oh, um, this really big, mean, ugly monster chased her and grabbed her by

the throat. Don't start that again, Jess.

Well, um, she fell over and got percussion.

You mean concussion?

Well, yeah.

She told me during three hours when they sent an ambulance.

Have you been alone all night in the house?

Oh, no.

No, they spoke to Mrs Baines and she let me stay the night with her.

Yes, hello. My name is Courtney, Peter Courtney.

Apparently there was some sort of emergency in my home last night and the

babysitter, Michelle Davis, she was taken by ambulance to hospital, yeah.

My address is 78 Bridge Street.

Jessica?

Is Michelle going to get better?

Oh, she'll be fine.

She has a number of contusions.

That's the word for bad bruises. Must have been a very nasty fall.

Hmm. But... What did Michelle say?

Not much.

She has temporary amnesia.

For the time being, she can't remember what's happened to her.

I was hoping you might be able to tell us.

I'll get it.

Hello? Oh, hi, Matthew.

Were there many people at your concert?

Scary.

Listen, what did you eat for breakfast?

Is that all?

I thought you'd have, well, crumpets and kippers and crap Suzette.

How should I know?

In books, hotel guests always eat that sort of food.

Motels must be different.

Hey, you were wrong, Matthew.

About monsters.

I caught one last night.

Did so.

Dad wouldn't believe either, but you'll see.

He'll still be here when you get back.

Thank you.