Original subtitles

[music playing]

The late Elizabeth Taylor was an English writer who lived not

more than six miles from me.

And a fine short story writer she was too.

This one of hers that you're going to see in a moment

is so neat and nice and spooky, I only

wish I'd thought of it myself.

A plot like this, though it looks so simple,

is very hard to come by and harder still to set down

in precisely the right manner, giving nothing

away until the very end.

Watch it carefully.

[siren]

REPORTER: The hunt for Elaine Phillips, aged 12, continues.

Elaine has been missing from home for five days now.

And police today issued another appeal

for any information that might help in the search

for the North Woods schoolgirl.

Elaine Phillips, five feet tall, slender with short blond hair

was wearing a school uniform of gray skirt, white blouse,

and maroon blazer when she was last

seen by two of her classmates.

[music - beethoven, "fur elise"]

SYLVIA (VOICEOVER): Rotten piano.

Rotten music.

Rotten Beethoven.

I hate it.

I hate it.

MS. HARRISON: Really, Sylvia, you're

even worse than last week.

Didn't you practice at all?

SYLVIA (VOICEOVER): A bit.

Rotten Ms. Harrison.

You'll never make any progress if you don't practice.

SYLVIA (VOICEOVER): It's a waste of time and money.

I do believe I shall have to tell

your grandmother that she's wasting

her money and my precious time.

[doorbell]

There's Louise.

Now, she's not only dedicated, but gifted.

A proper pupil.

SYLVIA (VOICEOVER): Rotten Louise.

He didn't follow.

I should hope not.

What did he look like?

Oh, dumb and hopeless and sort of eager.

Should we tell the police?

Do you think they have--

Oh, I don't think so.

He might not be the same one.

The poor man looked pathetic.

He just stared.

Hello, Sylvia.

Hello.

Sylvia is just going?

Are you doing "Fur Elise?"

I am.

It's great, don't you think?

Sylvia will let herself out.

We must start, Louise.

And this week, Sylvia, for heaven's sake, do practice.

[music - beethoven, "fur elise"]

SYLVIA (VOICEOVER): Rotten Louise.

Rotten Ms. Harrison.

Rotten music.

I hate it.

I hate--

[ominous music]

She's stuck up.

She's so sarcastic.

She sucks up to Mr. Brent.

I do hope you don't think that I've been sounding neurotic,

vicar.

But my granddaughter, well, she does seem to me to be

always such a victim, you know.

Poor child's had a tough time, Mrs. Wilkinson.

The death of her parents.

MRS. WILKINSON: Oh, but two years ago.

Well, it was a shock, I agree.

But it-- it wasn't as if she was there with them

at the time of the crash.

Thank god.

They had parked her on mean, you know,

so that they could go to Greece.

Well, she's very lucky to have had you.

But after what she went through, it's not surprising

that she feels scarred.

That a son of mine could have fathered

so unattractive a child.

Mind you, my daughter-in-law was not quite--

well, as you know, Vicar, I never really approved of her.

VICAR: Thank you for the sherry.

So deliciously dry, as always.

Must you go?

Afraid so.

Parish council.

Oh, Sylvia, darling.

The vicar dropped in.

Say good evening.

Good evening.

They've been talking about me.

Grandma's so bright and glittery.

Did you have a good piano lesson?

Your grandmother was telling me how much you enjoy your music.

It was all right.

She can't have.

She knows I hate music.

He's lying, a vicar's lying.

Well, I'm afraid I must be off.

MRS. WILKINSON: I'll come with you.

I insist that you admire my roses.

SYLVIA (VOICEOVER): Say good evening.

REPORTER: The body of Elaine Phillips, age 12,

has been found in North Wood marshes.

Police and frogmen have been searching

the area since Friday. It is five days--

Sylvia, dear, is that you can ever think about?

Television?

SYLVIA (VOICEOVER): She's back soon.

He didn't admire her roses.

I'm sorry, granny.

Grandma, please, dear.

Granny sounds so old.

How was your music lesson?

SYLVIA (VOICEOVER): She knows.

Ms. Scraggin phoned her.

It was all right.

Ms. Harrison didn't think so.

Sylvia, coats are always better if they're put on a hanger.

Ms. Harrison telephoned me.

Well?

Granny.

Sylvia, Sylvia.

A man followed me.

I'm only asking you about your piano lesson.

I'm sorry.

Sorry.

One makes great efforts to help you, Sylvia.

I ran and ran.

What else can--

What are you talking about?

What man?

I don't know.

I do.

I'm sure it was him.

Well, clearly, you made the right decision, for once.

Never talk to strangers.

That's a basic rule for girls of your age.

Your supper's in the kitchen.

Say goodnight.

Goodnight.

[footsteps]

[ominous music]

Nearly missed ti.

SYLVIA (VOICEOVER): It's him.

It's definitely him.

Doesn't matter.

Oh, don't worry.

I'm not gonna smoke yet.

I know the rules.

It's just too hold.

SYLVIA (VOICEOVER): He's talking to me, just

like that, as if he knows me.

Gives your hands something to do.

SYLVIA (VOICEOVER): Don't answer.

He's not here either, like me.

I used to do that when I was a child, make myself invisible.

Goodbye, nasty world.

I believe I've seen you before, haven't I,

wending your way either to or from a music lesson I imagine.

CONDUCTOR: Fares, please.

A half.

Don't say a word to him.

Where to miss?

The stop before Hamilton End.

Where?

Speak up my, darling.

The stop before Hamilton End is what she said.

CONDUCTOR: Oh, I must be getting deaf.

Full fare, a same destination.

CONDUCTOR: That's 32 p, sir.

There you go.

CONDUCTOR: Anymore fares, please.

Great minds think alike.

And what's your name?

We shall have to commit it to memory,

shan't we, for future reference, when you're a famous musician.

SYLVIA (VOICEOVER): Don't tell him.

Lie, like a grown up.

Lie.

Pamela Bast.

Oh.

Oh, then, the music case is not your own?

It bears the initials S.W. [inaudible]..

Primitive people often refuse to give their real names.

Did you know that?

No.

Oh, yes.

Oh, yes.

To give one's real name to another person

is to deliver yourself into their hands.

They believe that we have progressed

far beyond that stage, haven't we, Sylvia Wilkinson?

You know my name.

It's on your scarf.

HERBERT: So you see, all is relieved.

One day, no doubt, I shall be able to boast that I once

met Sylvia Wilkinson, the great concert pianist, on a bus

one afternoon.

Namedropping, you know, harmless foible of the humble.

SYLVIA (VOICEOVER): Can't someone stop him talking to me?

[singing]

I'm sure you sing that a school, don't you?

(SINGING) Is she kind as she is fair?

For beauty lives with kindness.

Love doth to her eyes repair.

I take it, madame, you do not appreciate my singing.

No, I don't.

It's hardly the place, is it?

Hardly the place.

What bellowing merrily aling, along,

we're all going home to our teas, hardly the place

to express one's joy in living.

I am sorry.

To listen to that person, one would think

they were going to a funeral.

Oh, why are we English such a miserable race, I wonder.

Mustn't talk, mustn't laugh, or sing.

You don't mind my talking to you, do you?

There.

You and I will present a united front against the killjoys

of this world.

I'm very fond of children, you know.

But of course, that's not allowed.

I'm good with children too.

But that's suspect, naturally.

I treat children on my own level, Sylvia.

But we're not there yet, you know, it's one more stop to go.

SYLVIA (VOICEOVER): Ring the police.

I can describe him.

I know your sort.

SYLVIA (VOICEOVER): Tall, sort of bald,

like streaky bacon, big eyes.

Yes.

Looking for a 2 p?

Go away.

Perhaps I've got one.

Let's have a look, shall we?

It's-- it's broken.

Oh, now, how unfortunate.

It makes one feel so cut-off, doesn't it?

Go away.

I'll scream.

My dear, Sylvia, what is the matter?

You, be off with you.

My dear, madame.

Now, you be careful, or I'll have to come find a policeman.

[interposing voices]

I was simply trying to find a 2 p for the dear child.

Go on. Do as I said.

Be off with you.

Go on.

It was a gesture of friendship.

And as for you, hasn't anyone ever

told you not to talk to strangers?

I wasn't speaking to him--

Where are you going?

Down there.

Right.

Best foot forward.

Come on.

There's a lot of very funny people about these days.

Hasn't your mother ever warned you?

She's dead.

Oh, dear.

Oh, I am sorry about that.

Well, who looks after you then?

My granny-- grandma.

Well, she should know, just like any mother.

Now, don't look behind.

I think we ought to phone the police.

Don't you?

I was going to.

I think the police will be very interested in what

happened on my bus today.

He won't get far, you mark my words.

I think we ought to telephone quickly.

[ominous music]

This is where I live.

I think we ought to telephone immediately.

But he didn't do anything.

I mean--

The police said any information.

In you come.

Shut the door behind you.

Oh.

Oh, the walk from that bus.

Oh.

Put the kettle on.

And while it's boiling, we'll telephone.

I suppose so.

What's the matter?

Don't you want to talk to the police?

Now, don't be shy. I'll do the talking.

That's my Joey.

That's my baby boy.

Hello, Joey.

[whistling]

You'll feel better after a cup of tea.

You're very kind.

Any woman would do the same.

Now, there's some biscuits in my basket.

If you'd like to get them out and put them on a plate.

And you'll find the plate in this cupboard, down here.

It's nice here.

So clean and bright.

Oh, I must have everything sweet and fresh.

There.

Telephone.

There's a packet of tea in the bottom of my basket.

Can you find it?

That's it.

Thank you.

We can dial 999 while we're waiting, can't we?

There.

Do you it would be better to phone the local police

and ask for the duty sergeant?

Oh.

Haven't you arranged those nicely.

That's a good girl.

Now, what's that number?

I think it would best to phone the local police after all.

999 is for emergencies, isn't it?

And this isn't really an emergency, is it?

Why don't you put the cup and saucers out?

Oh, you have.

Thank you.

Ah, here we are.

Now, then.

Oh, that's funny.

The phone's gone dead.

Really.

Mine's just always playing up, every since

they went automatic.

Oh, I've got the dialing tone.

You never know where you are due, on, off, off, on.

Now, then, where was I?

Oh.

Here.

Here we are.

50771.

Hello, is that the police?

What?

Wrong number?

I'm sorry.

I can't have dialed properly.

Hello, Herbert.

You're just in time.

The tea's all ready.

Oh, good.

One likes one's privacy.

Ah, we've caught another one.

Do sit, child.

HERBERT: It's the sweetness that attracts them, you see.

And then, the stickiness prevents them

from getting away.

You haven't had your tea.

[music playing]