Night Must Fall

Who's there?

What are you doing there?

- What you doing? - Looking for something.

A lot of nonsense.

Haven't seen anything, have you?

What do you mean, "seen anything"?

Oh, nothing, nothing.

Mysterious, aren't you?

Oh, it's you.

Been taking your time, haven't you?

Your cat's been screaming her head off for you.

Oh, what's she want now?

- There's trouble for you, me girl. - Why? What's up?

She's found two broken cups and saucers

from the best crown derby tea set buried in the Rose bed.

Ooh, whatever did she say?

Oh, said it didn't matter and I was to kiss you

and tell you she loved you all the better for it.

What do you think?

Ooh, what am I going to do?

When did you break them?

Yesterday when you was out.

I don't know what come over me.

I don't know what's come over you all this week.

Ever since bank holiday, you've been going about

looking like two penn'orth of heaven help us,

losing things and dropping things.

Is that Dora come back?

Dora!

What am I going to do?

Do? Make a clean breast of it.

Tell her if she don't like it,

she can do the other thing. I would.

Dora, I want you. Dora!

Oh, dear.

Oh, auntie, leave the poor girl alone.

Leave her alone, the little sneak thief?

Oh, there you are.

- Did you want me? - I called you, didn't I?

I suppose you think the China here

came from the penny bazaar.

Thought if you planted them in the Rose bed,

I shouldn't be well enough ever to see them, I suppose?

Well, I have seen.

Oh! That hurts. Don't be so clumsy.

Do you want to break my arm?

Come, come, Dora, it isn't as bad as all that.

Not as bad as all that? It's worse.

What about that chicken you stole on Monday?

I never stole it.

Well, I don't know what else you'd call it.

Borrowed it, perhaps?

But auntie, dear, you've been through all that already.

You keep out of this.

I don't know what's come over you, I really don't.

Clumsy, thieving, deceitful.

You can leave.

- You're sacked, my girl. - Oh, mum!

And stop that sniveling and squeaking!

You'll bring my heart on again. Go into the kitchen.

Oh, mum, please don't send me away.

I haven't got a penny, only what I earn.

If I lose my job here...

You should have thought of that before you broke my China.

I'm sorry.

I've not been myself all this week.

Hmm, so I've noticed.

Is anything the matter, Dora?

You're not in any trouble, are you?

Yes, miss, I am, in a manner of speaking.

Oh? A man, eh?

So that's the game. Men, too.

Not men. Just my friend.

He promised to marry me, but he keeps

making excuses, and I know he isn't keen.

Who is he?

A boy I know. A pageboy at the tallboys.

Good-for-nothing scoundrel.

Oh, no, he isn't! He's nice, really,

if you know what I mean.

No, I don't. Where's he come from?

He's sort of Irish, I think.

He's been to sea, too.

He's funny, of course. Ever so open.

Baby-face, they call him.

Baby-face?

I'd like to give him baby-face.

Oh, mum? Well, what?

You wouldn't see him, would you?

See him? Not to tell him off, I don't mean,

but perhaps if you was to speak to him,

he might see things differently.

He will when I've done with him.

As a matter of fact, mum, he said he might be

popping in this morning to see me.

Oh, that's right.

Nothing like visitors to brighten up your morning, eh?

Send him in when he comes. I'll deal with him.

Yes, mum.

And mum?

And I'll stop that crown derby out of your wages.

Oh. What were you going to say?

Well, I was going to say I don't know

how to thank you for your kindness.

There. Done.

How does it feel?

Not much better. I know it's neuritis.

You know, what you really need isn't massage, it's exercise.

Your body will...

Don't you dictate to me about my body.

Nobody here understands my body or anything else about me.

As for sympathy,

I've forgotten the meaning of the word.

Too bad. Well, I'll be getting along.

Might call in on Wednesday,

in case my neuritis sets in again.

I'll do that, and if paralysis pops up,

let me know. Toodle-oo!

That's a nice way to talk to an invalid.

What do you want?

There's a policeman at the back door.

A policeman?

He said he was a policeman.

He isn't in his uniform, though.

Said he wants to see you, very particular.

What about?

I don't know. Better ask him.

I know my conscience is clear.

I don't know about other people's, I'm sure.

He's probably come about Dora.

Why? What she's done is not against the law.

It's human nature.

Where is he?

Coming round to the front door.

Come in. Thank you.

- Mrs. Bramson? - Yes?

I'm sorry to break in on you like this.

My card.

"Criminal investigation department?"

A purely informal visit, I assure you.

I don't like having people in my house that I don't know.

Well, I'm afraid the law sometimes makes it necessary.

Oh, thank you.

You can go.

I don't want to go. I want to hear what's up.

Well, as a matter of fact, I'd like you to stay.

You may be useful.

Any of you may be useful.

Do you live here?

Catch me.

Well, it is a lonely spot, isn't it?

Long way for you to walk every day.

I don't walk, I ride a bike.

Oh.

What's the matter?

Well, I just thought if she walked,

she might have used some paths around here.

- She might have seen something. - Something of what?

I'll tell you. I...

Perhaps I better introduce myself.

I'm Mrs. Bramson's niece. I work for her.

Or pretends to.

I see. Thank you.

Well, now, I wonder if any of you

have seen anything in the least bit out of the ordinary

around here lately.

Anybody call?

Anybody strange wandering about in the woods?

The only visitors have been the doctor

and the district nurse.

It's been ever so gay.

Well, miss Grayne's always moping about the woods.

She may be able to tell you something.

Yes?

No, no, I haven't seen anything, I'm afraid.

Oh. Yes, I did see some men beating the undergrowth.

Yes. I'm coming to that.

What's all this fuss about?

Has there been a robbery or something?

No. There's a lady missing... oh?

From the tallboys... A Mrs. Chalbrook.

Chalbrook? Oh, yes. Dyed platinum blond.

Widow of a colonel, so she says.

Living alone, so she says.

Always wearing them fladelaldy openwork stockings.

Fond of a drop, too. That's her.

Do you know her?

Never set eyes on her,

but you know how people talk.

Regular red-hot mama, from what I'm told.

And what's a red-hot mama?

Don't you ever go to the pictures?

Well, anyway, she hasn't been seen since last Monday.

That was bank holiday.

She was given to walking in the woods

a great deal, in this direction.

She was probably so drunk

she fell flat and has never come to.

No. We've had the woods pretty well thrashed.

Those would be the men you saw.