Hold it!
Ten. 20.
Did you hear about
Mrs Mason's little Willy?
Sent him to school and found him
buried ten foot deep in a snowdrift.
- How did they get him out?
- Brought the fire engine round.
Put the hose pipe in, pumped it
backwards and sucked him out.
(applause)
(piano starts)
(laughter)
- Perfect bull's-eye.
- (door opening)
(piano stops abruptly)
I want a room and a fire.
- Jenny?
- Hello?
There's a gent here
what wants a room and a fire.
What, a room?
I said a room.
We ain't got none ready,
not at this time of year.
We don't usually have folks stopping,
except in the summer.
You can get one ready.
Certainly, sir. Millie!
Yes?
- I want a private sitting room, too.
- Certainly, sir.
Will you come through, sir? This way, sir.
It's the coldest winter
we've had down here for years.
They put all the sheep and the cows in
for a fortnight now.
Poor things. They can't get
a blade of green grass.
You may be near-sighted,
but you can't be deaf-and-dumb as well.
Could I take your coat and hat, sir,
and give 'em a nice dry in the kitchen?
No.
- I prefer to keep them on.
- Very good, sir.
The room will be warm soon.
I've got some luggage at the station.
How can I have it sent?
I'll get it dropped over tomorrow.
Are you staying a bit?
Yes.
- Is there no way of getting it tonight?
- Not tonight, sir.
Very well.
Bring me some food.
Right away, sir.
If you ask me,
he's a criminal flying from justice.
Go on. He's snow-blind, that's what he is.
Has to wear goggles to save his eyes.
Anyway, you be careful,
and lock your money up.
A bottle of Bass, Herbert.
Here you are, dear.
I hope he'll be a bit more
communicative this time.
(knocks)
Your supper's there.
Is there a key to that door?
A key, sir? Ooh, I haven't ever seen one.
I don't think there was one
when we came here.
I want to be left alone, and undisturbed.
I'll see that no one disturbs you, sir.
The mustard, ma'am.
You'll be the death of me
with your slowness.
You let me take his supper in
and forget the mustard.
And him wanting to be left alone!
(Jenny mutters)
There she goes again.
I told you not to disturb me.
It's only the mustard, sir. I forgot it.
- I'm sorry.
- Thank you.
Have you been motoring
on them slippery roads, sir?
You can take my overcoat and dry it.
Very good, sir.
- Leave the hat.
- Yes, sir.
Bandages, right up to the top of his head.
All round his ears.
- Any blood?
- No. No blood.
Looks like some kind of 'orrible accident.
Bumped his head
on the prison wall gettin' over.
Father.
I wish you'd leave me alone,
Flora, when I'm working.
I can't bear it. We've got to do something.
- Do something? What about?
- About Jack.
He'll come back. Don't you worry.
Father, please put
that horrid thing down and listen.
It's nearly a month now, without a word.
But the note he left was quite clear.
He said we might not hear for a while.
It's good to go away when
you're finishing a difficult experiment.
- What kind of experiment is it, Father?
- Something of his own.
I had a terrible feeling last night.
I felt he was in desperate trouble.
Hello, Kemp. Flora's worried about Griffin.
I don't wonder. I should have thought
at least he could drop a line.
It's a queer thing.
It certainly is,
considering he was in your employ.
He had my permission to carry out
his own experiments in his spare time.
And to clear off when he liked?
What does it matter, if he's in trouble?
(Flora sobbing)
I've got the car outside.
It'll give you a rest to come for a run.
Do you think there are
any papers in his room?
Surely he must have arranged where
he was going. There may be letters.
He left burnt papers
in his fireplace, that's all.
He was so strange those last few days
before he went. So excited and strung up.
Yet he wouldn't say a word to explain.
I've never seen him like it before.
He was always so keen
to tell me about his experiments.
He meddled in things
men