Original subtitles

I'm going now, Mrs. Wright.

My hair appointment.

Where's Daisy?

Took her pram into the garden, I think.

With that bear of hers. I expect I'll see her.

There's a cake for her tea.

They've just said meat's being cut on the wireless.

A shilling a week by Christmas.

It's getting worse than the war was.

I blame that Crips for being a vegetarian. Yes.

I must go now, Mrs. Wright, to catch the bus.

Ta-ta, then.

Daisy?

I'm just off to have my hair done.

I told Mrs. Wright and I should be back at about half past five before she goes.

And have your tea and listen to children's, huh?

And there's a nice cake with blue icing in the lines.

Where are you taking Bruna?

To the maze.

Oh, I shouldn't go there, Daisy. You'll catch cold. Why?

I never do.

Well, then Bruno might catch cold.

You could go and look for conkers by Lorimer's Field.

All bears love chestnuts.

Only don't throw stones at them. Your father wouldn't like it.

And then you could take Bruno and show him through the stable yard where your

great-grandfather used to keep his horses.

Motorcars were unknown then.

Granny and he used to go to Mersley in a dog cart.

Only I really don't think you should go through the maze.

Do you hear me, Daisy? Yes.

I must go, dear. I'll miss my bus.

Goodbye. Goodbye, Mummy.

She's been in there before, of course.

But just today.

I never should have agreed to come back here.

Not this house.

I told Arthur.

Daisy? Mrs.

Wright?

Daisy, Mummy's back.

Mrs. Frode, I called Daisy and put her tea out. It was a man from a few who

left his form back Thursday.

Mrs. Wright.

Daisy?

Daisy?

Daisy?

I can see you. It's silly to hide.

You stupid selfish little girl. Please Daisy. Mummy's tired.

Daisy.

Daisy! Daisy!

There are so many stories of children being kidnapped.

Assaulted.

The foolish of you to send out a false alarm.

That's the car that ran down tips.

I swear it.

And look who's driving it.

It's a nasty looking car.

I've got a score to settle with him.

Daisy!

Daisy, where have you been?

I've been looking everywhere for you.

All over the kitchen garden, the stables, everywhere.

He was very naughty of you.

I didn't know what to do. I almost ran.

Where did you go?

And did you see Mrs. Wright before she left the house?

Mm.

Why are you listening to Dick Barton?

You made your father be furious.

He gave me such a fright.

Have you been hiding?

No.

You must have heard me call him.

I met a man.

A man from the fuel office?

No, not the man who came in the car.

And what man?

A nice man with a silky moustache.

Where?

How did you meet him?

In the maze.

I know you went there because I found the pram.

Although I told you... You shouldn't have.

And you should never speak to strangers.

He's not a stranger. He knows his house.

He said he knows you too.

Of course he'd say that, Daisy.

What did you do?

Where did you go with him?

We went to look for conkers.

He knew the tree by Lorimer's Field.

He lifted me high up and climbed the tree himself to get some down.

He's got big strong arms, not like Daddy's.

Yes. Yes, they are.

You haven't finished your tea. We've had tea, haven't we, Bruno?

We had a sort of picnic.

He brought tea in a little can and jammed sandwiches.

It was real strawberry, Mummy.

My favourite.

Now, you're making this up to tease me, aren't you, Daisy?

You imagined it.

You must have imagined it. No, I didn't.

What am I going to tell your father?

I shall have to tell him that you deliberately disobeyed me.

It was very naughty of you to stay out so late when it was almost dark.

And you must never, never go with strangers, whatever they may tell you.

So, Daisy stayed out in the dark and gave you a fright. Was that it?

Yes.

Well, it was a bit of a shock coming home and not finding her here.

She had such a vivid imagination.

Said she'd met a man who helped her to get down the conkers.

A man? What sort of man?

My goodness, Catherine, I hope there wasn't anyone.

Oh, no.

No, no, of course not.

She was probably afraid you'd think she'd been throwing stones.

I expect she meant it was the man from the fuel office who

brought that form.

Only I was worried, Arthur.

And very angry. Mrs. Wright shouldn't have left before I'd got back.

Yes.

Yes, I do see, dear.

So, Mrs. Wright was wrong, then.

I know her bathroom goes every 20 minutes.

yes dear. it's my little joke.

right was wrong.

hmm?

three bedrooms I shall say with open fire since we've shut up all the rooms

on the upper floor.

I take it you're not regretting moving back to your old home.

I remember you did have an objection.

oh no. only at first.

when mother died.

no.

I don't think Daisy's misdemeanor merits a smack bottom.

I doubt she's kicking her heels until her school reopens.

Arthur Frode, Reeve House, Titleshaw.

Not a bad address. I think you'll agree.

Even for the senior solicitor's clerk of the best firm in the city.

No, I think we must allow that no man brought down those conkers, and kiddies

do tell stories, regrettable but true.

Well, I don't want Daisy to be punished.

I had told her not to go into the maze on this particular afternoon.

Why this afternoon?

Well, it was getting dark.

What time did you leave then?

About half past three.

Oh, it's broad daylight. Oh, really, Arthur, this is getting like a cross

-examination.

I'm sorry. I can't help acquiring some of the habits of the best barristers.

Why do you say the maze?

Well, you remember that dreadful accident the day that Daisy was born?

Oh, yes. That wartime gardener. He wasn't just a wartime gardener. I can't

think why you've gone on brooding about it all these years.

He'd been with us since he was a boy.

It was very kind of him to come in and help Mother on odd days during the war.

Well, surely you understand that, Arthur?

Hmm?

My feelings about the maze.

Yes, of course, dear.

And by the way, dear, do you happen to know the date?

The 10th.

Yes, that's what I've put, sir.

October the 10th.

Well, don't wait for me if you want to go to bed.

Eat your breakfast up, Bruno.

Now, Michael Beauty, what's this about the adventure you had yesterday?

Are you going to tell Daddy all about it?

Now, come along. You don't have any secrets from Daddy, do you?

What did Mummy tell you? Never mind what you told Mummy. Daddy wants to hear

about it himself.

It was nothing, really.

Hmm?

What do you mean, it was nothing?

I was playing in the hill and I told Mummy a story.

Oh, so that was it. You told your mother a story. Well, that was a very naughty

thing to do because she worried your mother a lot.

You wouldn't tell stories to Daddy, would you?

See, it takes a legal mind to get to the truth.

Bye, dear.

Now, what about my nice big after-breakfast kiss?

You haven't shaved this morning.

You rude little girl. I shave every morning like any gentleman.

What you've said is called a personal remark and I never want to hear you make

one again.

Do you hear me, Daisy?

Yes.

My word.

Two minutes behind time already.

Goodbye, you both.

Ah, Mrs. Frode.

Isn't it a lovely morning for November?

I'm sure you know why I've come. If it's about the church bazaar. The Christmas

bazaar. And I was hoping to see your husband, too.

He doesn't get home till lunchtime on Saturday.

Oh, well, perhaps I'll see him on my way. Or perhaps after church tomorrow.

Yes.

I'm afraid... I really don't think, Mrs. Lever, there's anything I can do this

year. Oh, surely.

Your mother was always wonderful, of course. Such a practical woman.

Surely you've got some old things you can spare. Some little frocks that

Daisy's grown out of?

Yes, I suppose.

How is Daisy, by the way? At school again?

Yes, yes, she's very well.

She's not there, of course, today, being Saturday.

She's in the garden somewhere playing, I think. Yes, they grow so quickly

nowadays, don't they? Such an intelligent child.

Mummy! Oh, talk of the angel.

Mummy, mummy!

Good morning, Daisy.

Excuse me.

I shan't be there.

No.

Who'd say Manny saw before?

He wanted to see her. He was waiting on that seat.

What did he say to you?

He said, ask your mother to come out. It was all so quick.

Did he give you a kiss?

Yes. If he had been here, you'd have seen him.

We must go back to Mrs. Leavitt.

Daisy.

Daisy, we must go back to Mrs. Leavitt. Come along.

Quickly.

Don't let us see that you've been crying.

Go through the kitchen and wash your face.

I know you saw him.

I know you did.

I wish I'd seen him too.

I understand you had a visitor this morning.

Oh, Mrs Leavitt, about the Christmas bazaar.

I'm afraid I'll have to do something.

No, no, not Mrs. Leavitt. I met her at the corner of the avenue.

She said while she was with you, Daisy dragged you into the garden to meet

someone.

Who was it?

No one.

I'm afraid it was just a little joke that Daisy was playing on me.

You mean to say... I knew Mummy didn't want to go on speaking to Mrs. Leavitt,

so I told her someone was waiting to see her outside.

Now, look here, my girl. I've a good mind to send you to bed.

We've had enough of these stories of yours, and it's high time you realised

the difference between truth and lies, and that life isn't all just make

-believe and fairy stories.

This wasn't a fairy story.

Then if it wasn't, it was something worse. It was a lie, and my daughter is

not going to be a liar, not if I can help it.

I can see you've upset your mother.

Oh, no, Arthur.

I was glad of an excuse to get out of that dreadful bazaar.

So would you be.

That's not the point.

That's not the point at all.

Daisy, get on with your dinner.

Did Daisy say your visitor this morning was in the maze?

Yes, I think she did.

Well, I thought you'd forbidden her to play there.

Well, don't you remember last time?

Yes, I do.

But after what you said about it, I thought how silly I'd been.

So when she asked me again, I said she could.

Surely you don't see any harm in it.

Of course I don't see any harm in it.

At the same time, it had occurred to me... What?

Oh, nothing.

I wish... Daisy, aren't you asleep yet?

I wish I had something to remember him by.

Sleep tight.

Mummy, I hate Mrs. Leffert. She's a sneak.

Ah, come to lend a hand on the land?

Arthur, I've just had a phone call.

Oh? Who from?

Mervyn Barbet.

You remember Mervyn.

Your celebrated cousin.

Yes, I remember.

It was at our wedding.

All of our brave boys in blue, I recall.

Whereas I was less glamorously situated in a reserved occupation.

So what brings this unexpected pleasure?

A telephone call from Mervyn Barbet.

He's staying over at Fantry Court for the weekend.

And he just heard that I'd moved back here to Reef House.

Thought he'd come over tomorrow for some tea.

Somebody there's going to lend him a car.

And you said yes, of course.

I didn't think you'd mind.

Gracious, no. Why should I mind?

I can just make myself scarce, that's all.

There's plenty to do in the garden.

We were having some discussion in the office today.

Parents and children.

Mr. Bertels in conveyancing, complaining about his boy.

He said to me, you're a lucky man, Frode. It seems as if your daughter

worships you.

And then one of the typists remarked that boys tend to favor their mothers

and girls their fathers.

You haven't said anything to Daisy, have you?

Anything?

Maybe just my fancy, but I... I've noticed a little change in her of late.

Are you ready for the light, dear?

Yes.

What sort of change?

Oh, I expect it's growing pains.

As for your cousin Mervyn, I've heard a few things behind the scenes about him

too.

People I'm in touch with.

He's moving with a queer set nowadays.

Things you wouldn't understand.

I don't want Daisy to see much of him at all.

He's only coming to tea.

No matter what your mother thought, you were well rid of him.

And the Honourable Pamela Whatnot after her engagement to him was broken off.

My word, yes.

Well, good night.

Good night.

Catherine?

What happened in the maze on October the 10th?

October... Right.

Don't you remember?

You said you didn't want Daisy playing there on that particular day.

October the 10th.

Oh well.

Some other time.

Good night.

Katherine. Mervyn.

Darling. How are you?

But you look ten years younger. Absolutely fantastic.

And you're just the same.

Well, you know me.

Dorian Gray is my second name.

And this is Daisy.

Hello.

Now, we haven't actually met since you were 18 months.

And even that was briefly.

He's a splendid teddy. What's his name?

Bruno. How old's he?

47, coming up for 48.

48? Well, he's remarkably well-preserved, isn't he?

Do you remember?

People who came to visit always used to say, haven't you grown?

Which absolutely dried me dead.

Made me feel just like a prized vegetable.

Talking of vegetables, would you like to see the garden before it gets dark?

Oh, Daisy, it's much too cold.

But I should love to see the garden, of course.

Well, then we must get our coats.

Arthur's slaving away out there already.

There's so much to do.

How is Arthur?

Oh, Arthur's... Arthur's fine.

Well, let's leave him in peace then, shall we?

I remember everything.

No croquet hoops on the lawn today.

Mother sent all those sorts of things off to the dumbbell sales during the

war.

Ping pong and the clog hole. She's quite good at games still.

There's a sparrows nest in that bush over there when we came here.

There's really nothing to see. The maze, Mummy, the maze.

It's of course the dear old maze.

Is it still intact?

Almost. You can still hide in the middle and nobody can see you. Really?

Well that's a must then.

Here you are. You see?

Gosh. Yes.

Oh my god.

I suppose Daisy doesn't...

That was a long time ago, wasn't it?

Do you know, Daisy, I married your mother here.

You married Mummy?

Well, actually, I... I performed the ceremony.

Well, it was all rather nicely done.

I was developing my talent early for that kind of thing.

I remember.

I spread a cloth over the seat here.

and used some flowers, Michaelmas daisies, it was October, to make a kind

of altar.

And I lent the bridegroom my school blazer and cap.

Aha. That would be telling tales.

You'll have to ask Mummy.

Who is Daddy, you jolly well must tell me now.

He's a boyfriend of Uncle Mervyn's.

Actually, wasn't he?

Ah, so this is where you're hiding.

Hello, Arthur.

No, I won't shake hands. I'm rather dirty.

What on earth are you all doing here?

Daisy was showing Mervyn the sights.

Summoning up remembrance of things past Arthur.

Oh really?

I rather thought it was time for tea.

Yes it is.

He's gone then.

I can't say I'm sorry to see the back of that fellow.

Where's Daisy?

Went up to her room to read her book.

I think you and I, Katherine, ought to have a little talk.

Yeah?

What were you speaking about to Daisy when I found you in the maze?

I thought I heard you saying something about a boyfriend of Uncle Mervyn's.

Rather a curious subject for discussion with the kiddie, wasn't it?

I hope I was mistaken.

Yes, I suppose it was.

I was rather cross with Mervyn as it happens.

Oh?

How was that?

He started to talk about that accident when Fred was killed.

I didn't want her to feel... To feel what?

She asked me about the young man.

And who he was, so I just said, a boyfriend of Uncle Mervyn's.

As it happened on the day she was born, I didn't want her to feel... haunted by

it.

I see.

But I've been thinking, Catherine, there's something a little queer, I mean

a little odd, in what you told me about the maze.

Or rather, should I say, what you didn't tell me.

October the 10th, doesn't anything strike you about that date?

No, Arthur.

Only that you seem to be rather obsessed with it.

Perhaps.

But what strikes me about it is that it happens to be three months after and

nine months before the date of Daisy's birth, which I'm sure I don't need to

remind you is July the 9th.

I see.

You make no further comment?

Then I will add only one other scrap of evidence.

We have one child after ten years of marriage.

It has always seemed to me, shall I say, notable.

The Daisy was conceived at a time when I was mostly away from home, working in

Blackpool, returning only for occasional weekends.

So what I say to you is this.

Were you, at this particular time, October 1941, were you ever made love to

in the maze?

By Mervyn.

Arthur you couldn't... you couldn't possibly believe that.

Arthur... you don't mean that you've nursed a secret jealousy over Mervyn for

all these years?

It seems to you laughable.

When you talk about making love...

He paid me compliments. Of course that was his manner and women liked it.

And that was all? There was... There was nothing else?

No.

Let's not talk about it anymore.

It's three weeks to Christmas.

Daisy, who are you talking to?

Daisy? Who was that you were talking to there? Who were you... Daisy, come here.

Who were you waving at?

Daisy, come here.

No!

There's no one there. Who were you waving at?

No! Daisy, come here.

No!

Come here!

Come here, Daisy.

Come here. Now, what have you got?

No one gave you anything. What do you think you're trying to hide? He did. He

gave it to me. I shan't show you.

Oh, yes, you will, my girl. Oh, yes, you will.

I'll come here in a moment.

Daisy.

Had enough of your carrying on. Do you hear me?

Mummy, help!

Help!

Come here.

Arthur!

It was my present and Daddy won't believe me. Someone's got to bring her

to her senses.

We've got to sort this out once and for all.

Truth from lies.

Look at what she's done. My daughter!

If you touch her, I'll leave this house and I'll never come back here again.

Do what you want.

She's yours in any case.

You know you were very wrong to do that.

He didn't believe me. He wanted to show what I was hiding.

And what was that?

What the man gave me, because I asked something to remember him by.

What did he give you?

It was funny. It was a schoolboy's cap with the badge cut off.

He'd asked someone once to give it to him to remind him of something too.

So now he was giving it to me.

He said you'll understand.

Yes.

I do.

He gave it to you because it meant a lot to him.

And that's what matters when you give presents.

Yes.

So now you must come down in a little while and talk to your father.

Tell him it was something that you believed was true.

And that you're very sorry.

Yes, I will now.

Mummy?

Have I spoiled Christmas?

You've done the turkey?

Yes.

I'm just on my way up.

I think when I said goodnight to Daisy, we reached a sort of understanding.

Kissed and made friends.

Yes, you told me.

I was having a glass of sherry yesterday with Mr. Bertels of Convaincing.

He's dealing with this company in Hendon, selling new bungalows.

A very superior.

Five good rooms, bathroom and kitchen.

All the kinds of gadgets that you women long for.

And I said it sounds like the sort of thing we would have wanted if we'd been

able to sell Reeve House.

And then he told me that this same company does a lot of business in

conversions.

Old property in the flats.

That kind of thing.

And he said he'd look into it for me if we were interested.

You mean sell Reeve House?

An exchange of properties and a bit of cash on hand is what he was speaking of.

Well, then I thought afterwards that... Well, you never really wanted to come

back here.

Perhaps there was too much past.

Too many... Well,

I don't know.

What do you think, dear?

And if I refuse to go?

It's my house.

My furniture.

Well... Yes.

Nothing sacred.

Perhaps the time has now come to say goodbye.

Daisy.

I want to tell you.

I want you to understand.

Because, you see, there were two 10ths of October.

Your father doesn't know that.

There was the first when Uncle Mervyn married me to the gardener's boy, who

was his friend.

And then there was another.

Years and years afterwards.

It was in 1941.

October the 10th.

Your father had gone back to his job in Blackpool.

I came to the maze and I was feeling sad.

But then I realized, not because of that.

It was because the war was going on and on.

Everything was drab and dreary.

And there was nothing to look forward to.

Which was why I married him.

So I sat there.

Remembering how it had been before.

And then...

I was sweeping some

leaves. I thought I might have left the barrow.

Fat news, I hope, Mrs. Arthur?

No.

Oh, nothing like that.

I was just thinking how happy we used to be.

About that day, October the 10th.

Like today, when you and I and

Mr. Mervyn were playing at weddings.

Oh, I... I suppose you've forgotten.

I remember Master Mervyn.

With his cap and blazer.

I asked him for it when it was done.

The cap, I mean.

Of course, I had to take the badge off.

Those grammar school boys that have given me a bloody nose But

I kept the cap

I've got it still

No,

I hadn't forgotten

That's all a long time ago.

And you're really married now?

You know, I loved you that morning.

So,

Daisy, I want you now to understand how it was that day when you were born and

I was lying there in bed.

Struggling. And hot.

That's, Daisy, why I always felt that you would hate me.

And why I didn't dare to love you.

That's why he came back.

To you.

And gave a sign to me.

And we are forgiven.

Christmas.

Now it's time to go and leave the past forever.

The car's here. Are you ready? Haven't forgotten anything?

I've got Bruno.

Oh, good.

Not sorry, are you?

Hmm? Do you like the new house? Do you, Mummy?

Yes, I think I shall.

Of course I will.

Me too.

But I was sad at first because of leaving him. You know.

Yes, yes, I think I do.

But somehow I feel that we'll never leave him now.

I think it's with us both.

Whatever we...

That's what I think too.

Goodbye, Reef House.

There you are, dear.

I think we're ready then.

Can I put a pound in there?

Would do.

Goodbye the maze!