"Pills!" "Pills" "There we are. 42 Coleman Road." "There's no sale board up." "No, well, it's been on the market quite a while." "Conventional mortgages are rather ticky on these older properties" "Well, beggars can't be choosers." "I think it'll do very well." "Shall we go inside?" "She'll be all right in the car." "Stay there, darling." "We won't be long." "We're just going to go in the house with Mr Powers." "All right?" "It needs rather a lot doing to it, I'm afraid." "That's all right." "I don't mind, as long as the price is right." "Yes, of course." "House prices are ridiculous these days, especially to first-time purchasers." "I've even managed to get a job in the area, too." "Splendid." "Well, now, we'll just check the particulars." "Just one child, isn't it?" "Mm." "Sophie." "An impessionable age I always think" "She's very quiet." "Yes, well, it all seems in order, Mr Peters." "Not exactly shipshape condition but" "I'm sure there'll be no problem of a loan on this paticular property." "I hope you'll be very happy here." "Yeah yeah, all right Over to me a bit." "Take it round a bit." "Timmy." "You promised." "That's right. I promised." "Sophie!" "Mummy Mummy" " lt's all right." " What is it?" "The wall." "It's all right. lt's all right." "Sh!" "Sh!" " She says it's blood" " Blood?" "Someone's got a vivid imagination, haven't they?" "I expect it's iron or rust." "God alone knows what you've done to the gas." "It's leaking all over the bedroom - the gas tap. I couldn't turn it off." "There's nothing." "No gas." "Nothing." "But there was. I know there was. lt was..." " Look." "Nothing." " But I couldn't get it to stop." " Oh, hello." " Hello." "I'm Jean Evans. I live just across the road." "I thought you might like a cup of tea." " How lovely." "Come in." " Thank you." "William!" "Come through into the kitchen." "By the way, I'm Emma." "We're in a terrible mess, I'm afraid." " l don't envy you." " Yes, there's a lot to do." "Excuse me a minute." "William!" "Come down" "You tea break's arrived" "Ooh, how lovely." "You are kind." "Thank you." "Oh, this is my husband." " Hi." "William Peters." " Hello." "Jean Evans." " l do hope you don't think I'm butting in." " Oh, good Lord, no." "Do you know, I read that moving house is the biggest upheaval you ever have in your life." "It's much more stessful than changing job, a death in the family, or getting a divorce." "I don't think I fancy any of those." "Not today, at any rate." "Oh, so much needs doing." "You get the feeling" " that you'll never get staight in a million years" " Hey." "Look at this." "That's not ours, is it, darling?" "Oh, no, I didn't say it was, but if there's a spare one going, we might as well use it." "Clear the decks." "Oh." "It must have belonged to tne last people I suppose" " Did you know them?" " Me?" "No." "Not really." "Oh, what about Sophie?" "She doesn't drink tea." "Milk." "I'l take her some milk." "Why don't you come upstairs with me and meet Sophie?" "Um, rules of the house." "No-one's allowed to go upstairs empty-handed." "Fair enough." "What shall I take?" "Well, you can load me up with blankets and you can bring the milk." " Shall I get the milk?" " Do you think you can get the pillow, as well?" " Yes." " Thanks." "Thank you." "Oh, very good." "You look like a Sherpa going up Everest." "I am." "Are you all right?" "Oh, I'm sorry." "It's just that I didn't see that there before." "Oh, that I just found it." "Down there in the cupboard where the tablecloth was." "I'm going to collapse if I stand here much longer." "I'm coming." " This is Sophie." " Hello, Sophie." " l've brought you up some milk." " Sophie, darling, say hello to Jean." "Oh, dear." "She talks more to the cat than she does to us." "Oh, they all go through a phase." "Come along, then." "We've got to make your bed up, haven't we?" "Can I do anything to help?" "Oh, you could just shove that lot in there." "At least they'll be out of sight." "How's Timmy now, darling?" "He doesn't like it here." "Oh, dear." "Well, he'll soon get used to it, don't worry." "You haven't done any unpacking, have you?" "And you know your night-light's in there somewhere don't you?" "And you know what an old fusspot you are about it" "Look" "Oh." "How many more of these are we going to find?" "Hey, look!" "Snap." "We've got a pair." "What are you trying to do?" "Kill me?" "What are you looking at?" "The really nice thing about people who've just moved in is that they don't have time to put their curtains up." "You're a dirty old man" "I wouldn't say old" "Well she'd better put something on." "She'll feeze to death in that house" "Wrong again" "Come on." "That's quite woken me up." "You'll be queuing up for blue movies next." "Wny should I want to do that?" "Well, thats that." "Hm." " What's the matter?" " Nothing." "It's just that..." "Well, what were those sword things..." " What?" " What were they doing there?" " l thought the police took everything away." " How should I know?" "Come to bed." "Poor things." "They obviously don't know." " There's no reason why they should." " They're bound to find out." "Eventually, yes, but for goodness' sake, let them settle in first, love." "Now, come to bed." "Morning!" "Want a lift?" "Morning. I'm George Evans." "Where are you off to?" " Morning." " l'm starting work today at the hospital." "St Stephen's." "Oh, it's on my way." "I can easily drop you off." "Jump in." "Thank you." "What's your line of work, then?" " Not a brain surgeon, by any chance, are you?" " Not yet." "No, I'm not sure myself." "I used to be a steward on a cruise liner, but that's no sort of life." "No?" "All that sunshine and beautiful girls lying around a swimming pool?" "Do me a favour!" "Yeah, well, that side of it's OK." "No, with Sophie growing up and, well, me always away from home..." "This is the only kind of job I could get around here." "To tell you the truth, I'm not even sure what hospital porters do." "They wheel dead bodies around most of the time, I should imagine." "Oh, great!" "Cut myself shaving, I'm out like a light." "There you are." "Now, off you go and find Timmy." "And when you find him, tell him from me he's to carry his own cat food from the supermarket from now on." "Mind you don't spill it, darling." "Timmy." "Timmy." "Timmy." "Timmy." "Timmy." "Timmy." "Timmy." "Oh, God!" "Get something!" "It's all right, Sophie. lt's all right." "It's all right." "Stop it" "Stop it." "It's all right." "It's all right" "Sh!" "It's all right now. lt's all right." "It's all right." "Poor Timmy." "You're just going to stay in Mummy's bed with Mummy, and we'll look after each other, OK?" "Stupid cat." "She loved that bloody cat." "Well, you know how sorry we both are." "Emma's taken one of the pills the doctor left." "I think it's the best thing." " Sophie?" " Oh, she went off hours ago, poor little thing." "Why?" "That's what I keep asking myself." "I mean, cats aren't stupid, so why does ours have to be?" "I didn't even know the damn window was broken." "She thought the world of the blessed thing." " You could get her another one." " Oh, try telling that to Sophie." "Oh, that's silly. I'm sorry." "No. I'm sorry." "Er, I think I'll just pop up and see if they're all right." "Sophie." "Suppose l'll better run him in in the morning." " Couldn't he take the day off?" " He says not." "They could both do with a good night's sleep, if you ask me." " Daddy, where's Timmy?" " Jean, quickly!" "Timmy!" "Timmy!" "Where's Timmy?" "Timmy!" " I hate you!" "Why did you do it?" " Darling it's all right." "Calm down." "Mummy!" "Mummy!" "Don't go." "Please don't go." " l've told her before about that night-light." " Yeah?" "Well, she's dropped off at last." " lt's all my fault." "She saw me." " How do you mean?" "While I was out burying the cat, I looked up." "I thought she was asleep." "Oh, poor child!" "God only knows how Emma didn't wake up" "Oh, it's best that she should sleep." "She's had a pretty nasty shock, as well." "Yeah." "Are you sure you don't mind staying the night?" "No." "Anyway, I promised Sophie lt will all seem different in the morning." "All because of some damn stupid cat." " She's sound asleep." " Oh, good." "You'd better get some sleep, too, if you've got to get up at the crack of dawn." " Oh, it's there." " Thank you." "Do you mind if I leave the landing light on?" "No." "Sure, sure." " Thanks." "Good night." " Good night." "It's all right." "I was afraid." "It's all right." "Don't worry." "Yeah, he buried bits of her all over the garden and under the floorboads." "Then, one day, a dog dug sometning up in the front over there and that was that." "When the police arrived, he barricaded himself in the attic." "I mean, you read about things like this, but... I just don't believe that a house can relive the past, do you?" "No, quite honestly, I don't." " ls Sophie all right?" " l think she's asleep." "Jean." "Tell me again what happened." " l've told you." " Tell me again." "Well, I looked up and there they were." "After that." " l screamed and I suppose I must have fainted." " And when you came round, there was nothing." "No." "Well, I didn't see anything." "And you didn't see anything." "No." "What are you...?" "Are you saying that I made this up?" "I don't know. I don't know what I'm saying." "I'm trying to make some kind of sense out of all this." "Well, the cat... lt got caught on the broken glass." "Well, the blood. I mean, there was blood on those sword things." "Only you saw that." "Oh, no." " Please, Jean, I didn't mean to..." " You're saying that I imagined all this?" "I don't know what you saw." "I believe that you thought you saw it..." "Only..." "Emma and I didn't." "And it's our house." "And it hasn't done anything to us." "It's our one chance of building a life together." "All our money's in it." "Somehow we've got to be able to live there." "Emma and I have got to believe that it's all right for us" "There's no alternative." "William's right, Jean." "We've got to make it work for us somehow." "To do that, we're going to need your help." "Promise us that you'll never breathe a word about this to anyone." "It doesn't matter whether you're right, or we're right, but just a hint that anything's wrong and, suddenly, people are going to remember that murder." "We won't even stand a chance." "Yes." "All right. I promise." "Don't worry." "You can count on us." "Darling, it's late." "What about Sophie?" " She can stay here for the night." " Oh, thanks, George." "William, I'm just going down the shops." " All right." " l'll be about an hour." "Come on, pet." " Hello." " Hello." " Hello, Sophie." " Hello." "I'm sorry we've not seen you." "We've been so busy with the house." " lt's looking lovely." " Mm." "Still a long way to go yet, I'm afraid." "We've been meaning to ask you both over, but, well, William's been on nights a lot." "We're just off to the shops." "I'll walk with you." "Lovely." "How's George, then?" "Oh he's vey well l must get something for George for supper." "Maybe I'll get liver." "He likes that." "I know you don't want to talk about it, but is everything all right?" "Yes, yes, it's fine." " Look, I'm sorry about that night." " Oh, it's us who should say sorry." "Thank you." "You look tired." "Oh, I'm all right." "I think I will get some liver." "It looks nice doesn't it?" "What is it?" "Mummy!" " Oh, it's all right. lt's all right, darling." " Mummy!" "I'm all right, really." "Are you sure you're feeling all right?" "Yes, yes, I'm fine." "I don't know what came over me." "Sophie, you won't tell Daddy what happened, will you, hm?" "He'll only worry." "Please." "If that's what you want." "You'd better give me the shopping." "Thanks." " Hello." " Hello." "We just met in the street." "Well, it's nice to see you again." " You're working wonders, I must say." " Well, you should have a look inside." " l've just made some tea." "Would you like some?" " Yes, why not?" "Come on in." "Lovely, thanks." "Not bad, is it?" "Well, this is a bit more like it." "Not bad, is it?" "It certainly isn't." "William's worked very hard." "He never stops." "You must come upstairs and have a look round before you go." "Yes" "Perhaps we were supestitious, after all." "We chucked them out." "Sophie, stop guzzling chocolate and go and get some milk out of the fridge for Mummy, please." " What is it?" " ln the fridge." "It's not true." "Get out." "Go on." "Get out." "Nothing has ever happened since that night." "Nothing." "Not until you've come back in here." "Now, we're all right on our own." "You just leave us be." "Now, get out." "Go on." "Get out!" "Get out" "Go on" "I can't... I can't take it any more." "I should have got these." "No, no, it's all right. lt us that's asking for help." "You've managed very well so far." "Well, it's as much your house as it is ours." "In a manner of speaking." "We're getting near the end." "We don't know what'll happen or when." "I appreciate that." "And I appreciate your taking me into your confidence." "I haven't much alternative, have I?" "It wasn't just me this time." "They saw it, too." "I wonder what other terrible things are happening to them." "I don't know and there's nothing we can do." "We have to let them lead their own lives." "I reckon they need some help." "Take your hands out of your pockets." " Hello there." "Now you're...?" " This is Darren." "Right." "And you're Darren's mum." " Right." " Well, put your coats on the banisters." "I'll sort them all out later." "Sophie's in the front room." " Now, behave yourself in there, won't you?" " Yes." "Here you are, Sophie." "Happy birthday." "Thank you." "Hello." "Is that for me?" "You can give it to Sophie." " Go on through." " I hope there's enough for them to eat." " Hello, Isobel." " Hello." "How are you?" "Go on over with the others." "Sophie, look who's here!" "Hi" "You must be out of your mind, opening your house to this lot!" "At this age, they tear the place apart in three minutes flat once they get going." "Ah!" "Isn't he lovely?" "Darren!" "Come out of it." "We have central heating." "He's never seen a chimney before." " Hello, Wayne." " Hello." " How are you?" " All right, thank you." "You'll have to go over with the girls." "You're outnumbered, I'm afraid." "Happy birthday." " Everything all right?" " Yes, sweetheart." " Hi, Janet." " Hello." "Have you all met Olive the Ostrich?" "Have you?" "Look, here we go." "William, put it down I think he's more pleased with that than Sophie." "All right." "You'd better have it." "Your room does look lovely now." "Let's hope it stays lovely." "Darren!" "We were thinking of getting cental heating." " I like open fires, don't you?" " I wouldn't be without it now." " Shall we get the food going?" "I'm hungry." " lt's not your party, it's their party." "Oh, no!" "Who did it?" "What kind of a sick joke does anyone think they're playing?" "Which one of you gave Sophie that as a present?" "Which one of you?" "Get out of here!" "Go on." "Get out." "Go on!" "All of you." " How could anyone?" " Darling." "Look, it's just a rusty old sword." "Now, Sophie's all right, aren't you, darling?" "I'm sorry." " I didn't mean to..." " Well, it's enough to give anyone a shock." "Who'd want to give a thing like that to a child?" "My Darren would, for one." "I'm terribly sorry." "It might be an antique heirloom, you never know" "Please forgive me, everyone." "It's all right, love." "All over now." "Darren, go and help pick up all that paper." " l'm sorry." " Excuse me." "We mustn't spoil the party, must we?" " l'll go and put the kettle on." " No, really, it's all right." "You stay there." "What a terrible thing to do." "Nasty-looking thing." "Yeah, we found a pair of them when we moved in." "They used to hang up there, but we threw them away." "It looks like you've got one of them back again." "There's something wrong with your water." "All right, sweetheart?" "You're not a plumber by any chance, are you?" "Do I look like one?" "I'd better nip upstairs and have a look at the tank." "And wno's starving hungry?" "Me!" "Who's going to eat all their jelly first?" "Find your seats." "Oh, my goodness!" "That's it." "Legs under." "OK, then, everybody tuck in." "You know what we all say - bread and butter first. lsn't that right, Jamie?" "Right." "There's your jelly." " What's that?" " Your old man." "He's trying to fix the water." "It's gone off." "You'II have to wait for your tea." "Darren, use your spoon!" "They don't teach them anything at school these days, do they?" "Jelly, Sophie?" "Do you want some blancmange, as well?" "No?" "Have you got jelly over there?" "Has eveybody got enougn over there?" "Have you had enough to eat?" "You look a bit sick." "You'll have to wait, dear." "Has everyone got enough orange juice?" "Just a little bit." "Oh, honestly!" "In front of all these other people, Darren!" " It's not a bit funny is it?" " No I think it's about time to light the cake, don't you?" "is everybody in good voice?" "Six" "Seven, before I burn my fingers..." "Ready?" "I'm sorry, Mrs Evans, she's still under sedation." "All on this "house of Blood" story, are we?" " What do you make of it?" " Oh, a load of rubbish so far." "Have you managed to talk to anybody yet?" "Only a few mothers at the party." "They were either hysterical or the husbands warn you off." "There has to be a story there somewhere." " Are you staying down the road?" " Yes." " Will you have a drink?" " Gin and tonic." "Gin and tonic, please, love." "You can see her for a few minutes, Mrs Evans, but please don't stay too long." "Her husband came with their little girl in the middle of the night." "Thank you." "They've gone." "William and Sophie, you mean?" "Who's Mr Powers?" "He's trying to help, Jean." "I'm sorry, Mrs Evans, the doctor's here." "Right." "It's very good of you to talk to me." "Emma said you were trying to help them, Mr Powers." "Well, that's what friends are for, isn't it?" "Where have William and Sophie gone?" "For the time being, just away." "But they're safe," " don't worry - l just thank God they're out that house." "Exactly" "The house." "I believe you knew the Johnsons." "The man who murdered his wife." "Only very slightly." "Well, then, perhaps you can help me to help William and Emma." "Oh, Mrs Evans, I'm afraid she's gone." " Gone?" " Her husband came to collect her in the night." " Where has she gone?" " l'm afraid we don't have an address." "I wonder, could I have a word with you?" "This is a little embarrassing, after all the terrible things that have happened, but how well did you know the Peters?" "We met them when they first moved in." "We can find no trace of Mrs Peters through any of the social security departments." "It would appear they weren't actually married." "Well, does it matter?" "Can't we just leave them in peace now?" "I suppose you're right." "No doubt they have their reasons." "Well, thank you." "Come on, then." "Sophie!" "Here you are, darling." "Hey, he's done it!" " Watch out!" " He's actually done it." "Oh, who cares?" "A million dollars." "You'll be able to bathe in champagne for the rest of your life." " A million?" " A cool million." "Oh, wow!" "Now, do you love me?" "No, I love your money." "You rotten gold-digger!" "Ah!" "William!" " Right." "That's it." " No!" "William, no!" " Yes." "Oh, yes." " Ah!" " Cheers." " Cheers." "To..." "Andrew James Powers, provider of all wealth." "He had the easy part." "It takes a man of vision to know what the public wants and how to give it to 'em." "A million for the film rights says that guy's a genius." "And who did all the work?" "Who set it up for him in the first place?" "Mm." "I just wish he knew how really frightened I was sometimes, never knowing what was going to happen." "Well, if you'd have known what I was going to do all the time, you'd never have fooled anybody, would you?" "And you were for real, believe me." "Now, we're for real, aren't we?" "You didn't know that when he hired you, did you?" " A poor unmarried mum with nowhere to go." " Mm. I fell in love with my husband, didn't I?" "Prove it." "Not a bad life, eh?" "20% of 2 1/2 million." "Mm..." "What about Sophie?" "Oh, don't worry." "They're only nightmares." "She'll grow out of it." "William, we've been here three years in California and she's still having them." "I mean, she was so young." "We don't know what she remembers or what she makes of it all." "We'll tell her one day, eh?" "When she's old enough to understand properly." "Stop worrying." "This story has a happy ending, remember?" "How many times have I told you not to come in without knocking?" "Where the hell did you get that?" "No!"