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Captioning made possible by Acorn Media

When writing stories, I cannot seem to rid myself

of the unfortunate habit of having one person

do nasty things to another person.

In this particular story,

the nasty thing that one person does to the other

is far, far nastier than would appear at first sight.

I therefore invite you, when it is all over,

to sit back and allow your imaginations

to explore and to relish

all the things that took place when you were not looking.

DAHL: All her life, Mrs. Foster

had had an almost pathological fear of missing a train,

a plane, a boat, or even a theater curtain.

in other respects, she was not a particularly nervous woman,

but the mere thought of being late

would throw her into such a state,

she would begin to twitch--

nothing much, just a tiny vellicating muscle

in the corner of her left eye, like a secret wink.

[Door shuts]

I'll take the luggage out to the car now, madam.

I don't think he'll be long now, madam.

You'll catch the plane all right.

Walker... Madam?

what time is it?

4:11, madam.

It's nearly quarter past.

WALKER: I know.

Unless I drive like a bat out of hell,

we'll never get to the airport on time.

Then drive like a bat out of hell.

He's a pig.

That's enough of that, Arthur.

I don't care.

He makes her wait on purpose

just to upset her.

Does it every time.

You keep your thoughts to yourself.

Who are you to say he makes her wait on purpose?

That's a terrible thing to say.

What's more,

I don't believe it's true, either.

Last week going to the opera,

he was that late, she needed

smelling salts by the time we got there.

I'll tell you something, Mr. Walker.

I'm glad he's giving us the 6 weeks off.

I'm just about up to here with it.

A word of advice, Arthur--

if you don't like working for Mr. Foster,

find yourself another job.

Otherwise, keep your mouth tight shut.

The luggage is in the car, madam.

What time is it? 4:13, madam.

It takes an hour to get to Heathrow.

The plane leaves for New York at 6:15.

I have to be there

at least an hour beforehand

for all the formalities.

I'll be late.

I just know I'm going to be late.

I think you'll be there in time, madam.

I warned Mr. Foster

that you must leave at 4:15.

There's still more than a minute.

I'm going to miss it.

I know, I know, I know I'm going to miss it.

What time is it now?

Not quite 4:14, madam.

Ohh...

It'll be nice seeing Miss Ellen again,

won't it, madam?

Just imagine seeing your grandchild

for the first time, the excitement.

Oh, and, madam, be sure to tell Miss Ellen--

[Ding]

MRS. FOSTER: Oh! Now I really will miss it.

Oh, God, I wish he'd come!

What time is it, Walker?

Just after 4:15.

Ohh...

[Slam]

There you are, madam.

You'll catch the plane with ease now. You'll see.

No need to worry.

Arthur will get you there in plenty of time.

You mark my words.

Well...

I suppose we had better get going

if you're going to catch that plane.

Oh, yes, dear. Yes.

Everything is ready. Arthur is waiting.

Good.

Well, Walker has your coat, dear.

Put it on.

Sorry. I'll be with you in a moment.

I just want to wash my hands.

I'm going to wait in the car.

Arthur, I'll miss the plane now, won't I?

No, I don't think so, madam.

I'll get you there in time.

Oh.

Oh, God.

Arthur,

I was listening to the radio.

They say it's foggy at the airport.

Oh, no.

It's not too bad here, sir.

It's often foggy at Heathrow

and perfectly clear everywhere else.

I shouldn't be surprised if the flight is cancelled.

Don't say that, dear, please.

Arthur... Sir?

this isn't the Monte Carlo Rally.

Yes. I shall move into the club tonight.

Be a nice change staying at the club.

Yes, dear,

and I'll write you from New York.

Do sit back, dear. You make me nervous.

When you've finished,

come downstairs and get your wages.

Thank you, Mr. Walker.

And don't forget to leave me an address

and a phone number where I can get you urgent.

Mr. Foster is going to send me a wire

when he wants the house reopened

in about 6 weeks.

Must remember to get an address for Arthur, too.

I'll be staying with my sister, Mr. Walker.

MRS. WALKER: Ohh, I'll miss it now.

I know I will.

Oh, stop fussing. It doesn't matter, anyway.

Flight is bound to be cancelled.

I don't know why we've bothered to come this far.

Of course, if by chance the plane does take off,

you're certain to miss it now.

You've no chance

of catching it.

Why don't you resign yourself to that?

Won't you?

Won't I what?

Be certain to miss the plane if it goes.

We can't drive fast in this muck.

[Tires screech]

Ohh...

There. We're stuck.

I knew it.

No, sir. We've made it. This is the terminal.

Now, just you wait here, madam,

and I'll find out what's going on.

And don't expect letters from me.

I don't believe in writing letters,

unless there's something specific to say.

Yes, dear. I know. So don't you bother.

I'll write once a week.

Yes. I'll call in to the house occasionally

to pick up the mail and...wind the clocks.

Yes, dear.

Madam, your flight is delayed, all right,

but they want you to hang about

because they think the fog will lift in an hour or two.

You're expected in the first-class lounge.

I'll just see to the luggage.

Well, good-bye, dear.

Have a good trip.

Tell Ellen I'll think of her.

I will.

[Soft music playing]

May I have another orange juice, please?

Certainly, madam.

Nothing worse than hanging about, is there?

Oh, I don't mind, really,

not out here at the airport.

At least one is here.

I mean, there's no chance

of missing the plane.

Oh, that's true.

It's odd, but I'm really rather enjoying myself.

There's a sort of comradeship,

sort of safe feeling.

I'm silly, I know,

but I can't bear to be late,

just the thought of being late.

It's from childhood.

My father was an Army officer--

colonel.

He was very strict,

especially about mealtimes.

God help us if we were even a minute late,

and that's why I get so worked up now.

My husband-- I'm not blaming him.

He just doesn't understand

how upset I get. [Buzz]

Excuse me.

Yes?

Yes.

Yes. I see. Right.

[Clears throat]

Uh, ladies and gentlemen,

I'm sorry,

but the fog doesn't look like clearing,

so the flight, I'm afraid, is cancelled.

Ohh...

[People grumbling]

MAN: Ladies and gentlemen, we're very sorry about all this,

but we're going to try and get you all

on our next flight to New York,

which will be at 11:00 tomorrow morning.

I want to speak to Mr. Foster.

His wife.

MAN: Yes. Just a moment, sir.

So if you'd like to tell me what arrangements you want made,

bearing in mind that you must be here by 10:00.

Hello, dear?

The flight has been cancelled.

We won't leave until 11:00 tomorrow.

Well, yes.

I am very disappointed.

Will the servants have left the house already?

Oh. Well, I'll just get myself a room somewhere.

Don't you bother about it.

What?

But the house is empty.

Oh, don't be silly, dear.

You don't want to come back from the club now.

But there's no food in the house.

There's nothing.

What do you want to come back for?

I'm not fussing, dear. It's just that--

Yes.

All right, dear.

I'll get myself a sandwich.

Then I'll see you at the house.

Ohh...

MAN: Madam, I'm just taking the names

of those people who want an hotel for the night.

A hotel? Yes.

We'll put you up near the airport.

No. I'm--

There you are.

I just got in myself.

And how was New York, Alice?

[Laughs]

You must be tired. Better go to bed.

I'm sorry about this.

There really was no need for you to come home.

They offered to put us up in a hotel for the night.

I didn't realize.

I didn't think. It was too late.

Stop fussing.

Anyway, I wanted to come home.

They gave me a rotten room at the club.

I have to be back there at 10:00.

The plane leaves at 11:00.

If the fog clears.

It's clearing now. There's a wind coming up.

Well, I've ordered a car for 9:00.

That should give us plenty of time.

Thank you, dear,

but I hope you're not going to bother

to come all that way again just to see me off.

No. I don't think I will,

but there's no reason why you shouldn't

drop me at the bank first.

I want to see how they're managing things.

The bank is in the city.

It's completely in the wrong direction.

As I said, we'll have plenty of time.

Oh, what's the matter, dear?

Don't you want to drop me at the bank?

[Clock chiming 9:00]

Ohh...

Ohh...

[Elevator door opens]

[Elevator door shuts]

Good morning, dear.

Did you sleep well?

Like a baby.

The car is here. The driver is waiting.

I'm all ready to go.

Well, how about your luggage?

It's at the airport.

Oh, of course.

Well, if you're going to drop me at the bank first,

I suppose we better be going pretty soon.

Yes. Oh, yes, please.

Yes. I'll be right with you.

I'm just going to get myself a few cigars.

MR. FOSTER: You wait in the car, Alice.

Ohh...

Ohh...

Ohh...

[Music playing]

[Music stops]

What time is it?

Just after 9:00, madam.

Uh-huh.

[Whistling]

[Whistling]

Well...

perhaps you'll be lucky this time.

Hurry, please. Please. I'm late.

MR. FOSTER: Just a minute, driver, will you?

What is it, dear?

Well, I had a little present

I wanted you to give Ellen.

Now, where on earth is it?

I swear I had it in my hand when I came down.

I never saw you carrying anything.

What sort of present? What did it look like?

Little box wrapped in white paper.

I forgot to give it to you yesterday.

I don't want to forget again today.

I never saw you carrying a little box.

I'd have seen it, wouldn't I?

Little box-- I'd have seen it.

Confound it.

I must have left it in my bedroom.

I won't be a moment.

Oh, please! Please! We haven't got time.

Oh, please leave it. You can mail it.

It's only one of those silly, little combs.

You're always giving her combs.

Well, what's wrong with combs, may I ask?

Nothing, dear. Nothing, I'm sure.

Stay here. I'm going to get it.

Please, please, please don't!

You can mail it!

Stay here!

Oh!

Be quick.

Please be quick.

Please!

Ohh...

Driver, what time is it?

I make it nearly 9:15, madam.

Can we make it? Oh, God!

I have to be there by 10:00.

Can we make it, do you think?

That all depends on the traffic, don't it, madam?

Maybe we can. Maybe we can't.

I found it! Look!

How did it get down there?

And now he'll be up there searching all over for it.

Driver, quickly,

run in and call him down, will you?

Quickly.

Quickly.

Quickly, quickly, quickly!

Ohh...

Ohh...

I can't get in, lady, well, without a key.

Do you have the key?

Yes, yes, somewhere. Somewhere. Just wait.

Ohh...

Oh, here it is.

No. No. I'll go. It'll be quicker.

I know where he'll be.

[Music playing]

MR. FOSTER: Alice.

Alice.

Alice.

Alice!

Alice!

It's too late. I can't wait for him.

I simply can't. I'll miss the plane.

Hurry, driver. Hurry.

To the airport, quickly, quickly, quickly.

Yeah, but aren't we going to wait

for your husband, madam?

Certainly not.

I was only going to drop him at the bank.

He'll understand and get a cab.

Now, don't just sit there talking.

Get going.

I've got a plane to catch for New York.

Yes, madam.

ALICE, VOICE-OVER: My dear, it's Tuesday today

and so another letter.

This, believe it or not, is the sixth letter

I've written to you from New York.

The 6 weeks have gone so very quickly.

It suddenly turned very cold here and wet.

It's been raining every day,

but little Cornelia doesn't mind,

and we went to the zoo in Central Park yesterday.

Ellen and Mike say they'll be sad to see me go,

but I think they're just being polite.

Expect a cable from me in the next day or two.

I intend to be back by the weekend after next.

Now, I hope you've been taking your meals regularly, dear,

although this is something I'm afraid

you may not have been doing when I'm not there.

Would you be so kind

as to carry my bags up the stairs?

I don't want any change.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

[Car leaves]

[Blows]

Is that the elevator emergency service?

This is Mrs. Foster--

Foster Hill House.

Yes, that's right.

Could you send someone around

as soon as possible, do you think?

Yes. It seems to be stuck

between the first and second floor.

No. I don't know when it happened.

There's been no one here for 6 weeks,

and it must have been as long as that.

You see, I've been away.

Oh, thank you so much.

You see, my legs--

my legs aren't too good for walking up the stairs.

Oh, that's very kind of you.

Thank you.

Good-bye.

[Blows]

Captioning made possible by Acorn Media

Captioned by the National Captioning Institute

--www.ncicap.org--