" What will anybody think?" " I can't help it, Bill." "Sorry." " You're just being stupid." " Darling, please." "Virgie, I've put up with your childish whims long enough." "Start behaving like an adult." "You're a mother." "You have a ten-year-old son coming home today." "You've got responsibilities." "You've got to face up to them." "Don't bully me." "Please." "Darling, I'm not bullying you." "I'm simply stating facts." "For heaven's sake, stop that crying." "Look, Virginia, we've been all though this..." "..away as much as I am, but there's nothing to be done about it." "Joey's going to have to rely on you." "If you've quite finished, I suggest you wash your face and put some makeup on." " You look terrible." " I can't, Bill." "I can't." "Virginia, for heaven's sake, pull yourself together." "Now, you've got ten minutes." "I'll meet you downstairs." "Nanny, you're back." "Mrs Fane doesn't want to go." "She's been getting ready all week and now she doesn't want to go." " I'll talk to her." " I wish you would." "She won't listen." "I'm just going to get the car." "Would you ask her to be downstairs in ten minutes?" "Nanny." "What's this I hear?" "You don't want to go to fetch Master Joey?" "I'm frightened, Nanny." "I'm frightened." "What is there to be frightened about?" "I don't know." "Having Joey home again." "He's been in that place quite long enough." "I'm frightened I won't know him and he won't know me." "It's been two years." "Of course he'll know you." "You're his mother." "It's not as though you haven't been to visit him." "I know." "But, Nanny, I don't want him home." "Oh, no." "Nanny, I don't mean that." "It's just that..." "It's just that I don't know if I can manage any more, ever since... ever since..." "I can't seem to do anything." "I'm not going, Nanny." "You will have to tell Mr Fane then, madam." "Oh, no, Nanny." "You tell him." "I've got a terrible headache." "Really, I have." "Nanny, you go with Mr Fane." "Joey will like that." "Very well, madam, as you wish." "I'll go and fetch my hat and coat." "Madam, are you quite sure you'll be all right?" "Yes." "Really, Nanny, I will be all right." "Better get along." "You know how Mr Fane is if he's kept waiting." "Mummy, Mummy." "Mummy, Mummy, where are you?" "I'm here, darling." "I am pretty, aren't I, Mummy?" " Yes, darling, you are." " Joey says I'm ugly, but I'm not ugly, am I?" " Of course not." " Why did he say I was then?" " Brothers are like that sometimes." " I'm prettier than you, aren't I?" "Much prettier." "When I grow up, I'm going to be the prettiest girl in the whole world, when I grow up... when I grow up... when I grow up..." "Something will have to be done about Mrs Fane, Nanny." "This can't go on." "It will work itself out, sir." "Yes, you said that two years ago when all this started." "Master Joey is coming home." "And that's where he should be - at home where he is loved." "Yes, perhaps it'll help." "With the mind of a child, you learn to differentiate between mental fantasies which are normal and those which are abnormal." "You see, Mr Fane, the mind of a child is full of ideas, which in an adult would be considered abnormal." "An adult who claims that he's Buffalo Bill is mentally sick." "What little boy doesn't claim to be him once a week?" "There's nothing wrong with it." "Children are permitted their daydreams." "It sounds like there's nothing wrong." "No." "It's just that it's more difficult to diagnose." "No, we have paranoia, schizophrenia, ambivalence, withdrawals, sibling rivalry, you name it, we've got it." "Joey?" "Joey." " What can I say about Joey?" " Well, he's all right, isn't he?" "All right?" "By what definition?" "Measured against an adult norm, no, he isn't." "But then, very few children are." "He was sent to us because he wouldn't eat and wouldn't sleep." "These outward symptoms, we've cured, but..." "He'll be here in a moment." "Mrs Griggs has gone to fetch him." "Joey." "Joey." "Help me." "Please, someone, help." "The main thing to bear in mind, Mr Fane, is that Joey was mentally disturbed." "We think we've cleared it up, but until he's been home for some days, we shan't..." "Sorry to interrupt, Dr Beamaster." "It's Mrs Griggs." "She's after Joey again." " My Joey?" " What is it this time, Sarah?" " Well..." " Excuse me." "Yes?" " Where is he now?" " He's locked himself in the staff lavatory." " Go get him." " You know he won't come out." "Tell him his father's here to take him home." "What's happened?" "Joey's played a rather unkind trick on our Mrs Griggs." "Mrs Griggs?" "Your son, Mr Fane, seems to have an inborn antipathy towards middle-aged females." "It's positively destructive at times." "Shall we go and meet him?" "No damage, I trust, Mrs Griggs." " Hello, Dad." " Hello, Joey." " Now, what have you been up to?" " Nothing." " This young lady says..." " Everything packed?" " Yes, sir." " Well, you go along with your father." "Let me." "Master Joey, how you've grown." "There's a nice surprise for you, Joey." "You didn't expect Nanny to come and meet you." " Now, you two sit in the back together." " No." " Very well, then." "We'll all sit in the front." " No, I won't sit with her." "And quite right too." "He wants to sit up front with his father." "I'll sit in the back." "Get in, Joey." "I hate to admit failure, but with young Joey, I'm afraid..." "He was a monster." "Don't be uncharitable, Sarah." "Ourjob is to search out their little devils and exorcise them." "We've failed Joey and failed him miserably." " What sort ofjoke, Joey?" " Ajoke." "I always play jokes on Mrs Griggs." " Did you dislike her, then?" " I hated her." " That's a very strong word, Master Joey." " It's true." "What was so bad about Mrs Griggs?" "She was like you." " What is that supposed to mean?" " Nothing." " Then apologise to Nanny." " What for?" "You know perfectly well what for." "Apologise to her." "I don't think he meant it, sir." "You didn't mean that, did you, Master Joey?" "Did you?" "Of course he didn't." "Master Joey wouldn't say a thing like that on purpose." "Joey, darling." "Let me look at you." "You look marvellous." "Doesn't he look marvellous, Nanny?" " indeed he does, madam, indeed he does." " Where's Daddy?" "He's putting the car away." "Why couldn't you come to fetch me, Mummy?" "Well, Mummy had a very bad headache, you see?" "Otherwise I would have." "Come on." "Come and see your new room." "Nanny's worked so hard getting it ready for you." "Wait till you see it." "I don't want this room." "But Joey, Nanny got it all ready especially for you." "I don't want it." "I want the small room." " But, Joey..." " I want the small room." "Well..." "Darling, if this is the room you want, this is the room you shall have." "You needn't do that." "Nanny will do it for you." " I'd rather do it myself." " Making your own bed?" "My, what a grown-up boy you are, Master Joey." "Don't do that." "Nanny was just going to unpack for you." " I'll do it." " But, Joey..." "Of course he will, madam." "He doesn't need his old nanny any more." " Do you, Master Joey?" " No, I don't." "My goodness me." "Wherever did you get that?" "Don't you touch it." "It's mine." " I wouldn't dream of it." " It stays there." " Won't it disturb your rest?" " No." "Nanny just wants you to be comfortable, darling." "Do you know how to make knots, now you're so big?" "Of course." "I can make about every knot there is." "Fancy, madam, Master Joey can make just about every knot there is." " I can make a hangman's knot." "I'll show you." " Not now, darling." "We'll have to do something about this room." "It's all right." "I like it just as it is." "We bought you some new things." "We put them in the other room." "We'll bring them in." "No, I will." " Nanny, I..." " Madam, I must start to prepare dinner." " Where are you taking that, Joey?" " To my room." " But it was in your room." " My new room." " What's all this about, this changing rooms?" " He wanted the spare room." " And you let him have it?" " It didn't seem much to ask and he was so determined." " I suppose you want one." " Yes, please." "What did they say at the school?" "Nothing." " He's all right, isn't he?" " Yes." "Or they wouldn't have let him home." "No, I just thought..." "How was he with Nanny?" "Rude." "Oh, dear." "I hoped all that would have changed." "Virginia, you've got to face facts." "However much we may all depend upon Nanny, the boy doesn't like her, he never did and he never will." "That's no reason to handle the affair with kid gloves." "He must learn to behave like any normal child." "If he won't, he must be punished." "Be patient." " Joey, do you like this room?" " Yes, sir." "Why do you like it more than the one Nanny arranged for you?" "Here, I can look after myself." "Yes, I see." " Dad, how long is she going to stay?" " I don't quite understand you." "I thought she'd be gone by now." "I thought when I got home, she wouldn't be here." " What made you think that?" " I'm ten." "I don't need anyone to look after me." "I can do everything myself." "I made my bed." "I unpacked." "I bath myself." "I go to bed on my own." "I do everything." "I know you do, but you see, Nanny is part of the family." "Don't forget that she was your mother's and Aunt Pen's nanny once upon a time." " I know." " You don't need her, but your mother does." "She helps in the house, does the cooking." "Without her help, your mother would have to do everything." " Why doesn't she?" "I'd help her." " I know you would." "But your mother isn't very well and we have to look after her." "We need Nanny to help us." "Besides, I'm away a great deal of the time." " Well, she's company for your mother." " I can be company now." " Yes, you can." " Will you sack her then?" "Please?" "Look here, Joey." "I'm aware that you don't get on with Nanny, but here she stays." " Do you understand?" " Yes, sir." " I want to hear no more about it." " Yes, sir." "You can continue playing your records, but not so loud." "There's a good chap." " I don't want to." " Just as you please." "If I catch the 9:15 to Rome, I can make a connection there." "Yes, I know there is, but that won't get me to Beirut before midnight." "Look, I'll pick the ticket up at the airport." "Would you have a car collect me here at 6:45?" "Right, thank you." "Good night." "Come in." " Miss Penelope is here, sir." " Thank you, Nanny." "I won't be a moment." "Oh, Nanny." "Would you pack me a bag for tomorrow?" " To where are you travelling?" " Beirut." "For a couple of nights." "I'll pack your lightweight suit and a dinnerjacket, just in case." "Good." "Thank you, Nanny." "Watch myself carefully, I could live to be 90." "Who wants to be 90 anyway?" "Strict regime, of course." "No exercise." "Watch my diet." "No worry or excitement, things like that." "I mean, it makes one wonder if it's worth going on at all." "Why don't I have one glorious old binge and go out laughing?" "Still, does give one an insight, though." "Makes one see things with different eyes." "I do have a heart that might conk out on me at any moment, and you can't walk hand in hand with death without, well, feeling something." " Hello, Pen." " Dear Bill, how are you?" "Very well." "I'm going away tomorrow, I'm afraid." " Oh, no." " Sorry, darling." " Can't you put it off?" " You know I can't put it off." "Of course he can't." "A Queen's messenger has to be ready at all times." " That's right, isn't it, Bill?" " Yes, that's right." "You should be proud, Virgie." "I am." "He's only my brother-in-law." " I'm proud." " Do you remember when we were children?" "You were always going to marry somebody important." "You've got everything you wanted." "Me, I've just got a bad heart." " Yes." "I'm very lucky." " Yes, of course you are." "You've even got Nanny." "I could certainly do with her, I can tell you." " You can have her." " Joey." " Well, she can." " That's quite enough, Joey." "Dear Nanny." "One of the wonders of this age, you managing to hang on to her for so long." "Why she didn't marry years ago, I'll never know." "We were the reason." "You know that, Pen." "After Mummy died, she just wouldn't leave us." "Darling, that was years ago." "Yes, well, then there was the accident." "Nanny gave up everything to stay and look after me." "I remember something of the sorts." "It all turned out nicely for you." " It's an ill wind." " Pen." " Now what have I said?" " Pen, are you staying for dinner?" "No, Bill, thank you." "I must fly." "I'm going to a concert with Marion Bowen and she goes mad if she's kept waiting." "Bye, darling." "Bye, Joey." "Nice to have you home again." "I wonder if I'll get a taxi." "Is Auntie Pen ill?" "Yes." "She had rheumatic fever when she was a baby." "It left her with a weak heart." "You mean if she got frightened or anything, she could just drop down dead?" "Yes, she could." " Has she got a weak heart?" " Who?" " Her." " If you mean Nanny, say so." "Is that who?" "No, of course not." "She's as strong as an ox." "Now go and wash your hands." "Dinner's nearly ready." "There's a good boy." "They taught you something while you were away." " What?" " I brought you a fresh towel." "I don't want it." "Dinner is ready, Master Joey." "Now, that looks delicious, Nanny." "Hmm, Joey?" "Nanny cooked it specially for your homecoming." "And that's not all." "Show him, Nanny." "Welcome home, Master Joey." "Nanny went out today to buy that, specially for you." "Wasn't that kind of her?" " Come along, Joey, you can start." " I don't want any." "Of course you do." "Joey." "I'm not hungry." " You must be." " I'm not." "Joey, eat your dinner." "How about a piece of cake?" " Nanny bought itjust for you." " I know." "It's the excitement, madam." "Coming home and all." "It's spoiled his appetite, hasn't it, Master Joey?" "Nanny understands." "She's on your side." "No, you're not." " Are you going to eat anything?" " No." " Very well, then." "Go to your room." " Bill." "To your room." "I'm glad you're going away tomorrow." "I hope you don't come back." "We can't go through all this again - his not eating and everything." "We can't." "He'll be all right, madam, I'm sure." "Give him a couple of days to settle down." "Virginia, for heaven's sake." "I'm sorry, Bill." "Virgie, please stop it." "I can't." "Damn." "Blast it to hell." "I'm going to the club." "There's no key in the bathroom door." "I said there's no key in the bathroom door." "I can't lock it." "What do you want to lock it for, darling?" "I want to have a bath." " There's a good boy." " There's no key." " Well, it doesn't matter, does it?" " She'll come in." "Who?" " Nanny?" " I don't want her to come in." "All right, Joey." "I'll tell her." "Now." "Please, darling." "Mummy doesn't feel very well." "Now, or I won't have a bath." "Tell her." "Nanny." "Please don't go into the bathroom while Joey's having his bath." " Very good, madam." " Swear." "Swear." "Very well, Master Joey." "I swear." "Can I do anything for you, madam?" "Yes, Nanny." "Please will you brush my hair?" "Of course." "Where's Mr Fane?" "He went to his club, madam." "It was my fault." "I drove him out." "You mustn't say such things." "He's a very busy man." "No, I drove him out." " He's got to go away tomorrow." " It's not for long." "He shouldn't be going away with Joey just home." "I don't see he has any choice." "It must be very important or they wouldn't have sent him." "Yes, I suppose so." "Nanny." "Everything's going to be all right, isn't it?" "Of course it is." "Haven't you got your old nanny here to make sure?" "Yes." " What are you doing out there?" " Mind your own business, nosy." "It is my business." "That's my fire escape." " Don't be daft." "It's for the whole building." " That's if there's a fire." "There isn't, is there?" "No, there isn't." "Now go away." " What are you doing out here?" " I'm waiting for a gentleman friend." " Come off it." "You're not old enough." " I'm nearly 15." " When was your birthday?" " April." "That was last month." "You're only just 14." " If you've got a boyfriend, where is he?" " He'll be along." " I'll bet he won't." " What do you bet?" " I haven't got any money." " Fags?" " My dad's got some." " All right." "I bet you a fag, then." "Look, here he comes now." "He'll stop down there and pretend to tie his shoelaces up." " What for?" " He always does." "He's looking up your skirt." "You dirty old git." " What did you have to go and do that for?" " Well, he is." "Give us a bite of your sandwich." " Where do you live?" " Up there." "My father's a doctor." " Mine's a Queen's messenger." " I've seen him." "He's smashing." " My dad?" " He's like a film star." "He is not." " Who's that?" " Nanny." "Nanny?" " What are you?" "Some sort of baby?" " She looks after my mum." "She used to look after me and Susy." "Till Susy got killed." " Killed?" " She was my sister." "She got killed." "They blamed it on me and sent me to a place." " Prison?" " No." "Well, sort of." " Was it your fault?" " Of course not." "Are you still hungry?" "I'm dying for a fag." "What about the one you owe me?" "I'll get it." " Morning, Joey." " Morning." " Have some breakfast." " I don't want any." " No." "So Nanny told me." " What did she tell you?" "Said she'd seen you prowling around the kitchen." "If you want to live off bread and jam for the rest of your life, that's your own business." "Well, say goodbye to your mother for me." "I'll see you in a couple of days." "Good morning, Master Joey." "I see you've found your appetite again." "I never lost it." "I'm just not eating anything you make." " I cooked your father's breakfast." " Yes, but you wouldn't poison him." "Morning, madam." "Morning, Nanny." "Did you sleep well?" "No." "Not very." " Has Mr Fane gone yet?" " Yes." "A few moments ago." "Have you seen Joey this morning?" " Yes, I've seen him." " Did he eat anything?" "Yes, you have nothing to worry about on that account, madam." "Nanny." "Something's the matter." " What is it?" " It's nothing, madam." "It is." "Tell me." "Very well, madam." "Master Joey has accused me of trying to poison him again." "Oh, no." "I'm afraid so, madam." "You little bleeders." " Does this monster belong to you?" " This is private property." " I'll wail the living daylights out of that kid." " I don't think you heard." "It's private property." "He dropped a bloody flower box on my head." "Damn near killed me." "But he didn't." "And you're trespassing." "What are you?" "Some kind of nut?" "I've just told you, I nearly got killed down there." "If you don't remove yourself from this fire escape," "I shall be forced to inform your employers and they will not be pleased." "If you take my advice, lady, you'll have that boy seen to." "He's an homicidal nut." "I will thank you to keep your advice to yourself." "Good morning." "You silly old cow." "Master Joey, that was a very dangerous and stupid thing to do." " Did you hear what I said?" " I heard." "You will have to be punished, you realise?" "Not by you." "I will tell your father when he gets back." "Now, if you would go down to the lobby, tell the head porter to clear up the mess." "No." "Master Joey, I hoped things would improve between you and I while you were away." "They haven't, have they?" "I will give you one more chance, Master Joey." "One more chance." " Hi." " Hello." "Do come in." "I should thank you for not dragging me into that mess." "I would have if I thought it would have got me out of trouble." " Nice room." " It's my bedroom." "I have a sitting room too." " What do you want with a sitting room?" " I entertain there." " Who?" " Friends." "Boyfriends mostly." "You aren't half a liar." " She stuck up for you, didn't she?" " Who?" "Mary Poppins." "That milkman would have broken your neck." "I don't need anyone to stick up for me." " She really told him." "She's all right." " She stinks." " I think she's all right." " You wouldn't if you knew her like I do." " What does she do?" "Smack your bottom?" " She doesn't." "I bet she does." "Does she take your trousers down?" " She doesn't dare touch me." " The big man." "I bet she would if she wanted." " She wouldn't." "She'd be scared." " Like she was with the milkman?" "I bet she's never scared." " I'll prove it." " How?" " This yours?" " When I was little." " Come on." " Where are we going?" "I'm going to show you how scared she is." " What now?" " Put it in." " ln the water?" " Go on." "Hurry." " Not like that, you idiot." " This is barmy." "Come on." " Someone left the bath water running." " Suppose you turn it off then." "I didn't turn it on." "She's coming now." "Crikey." "It was only a doll." "Just a stupid old doll." " Joey, how could you?" " It was only a doll." "You know it was more than that otherwise you wouldn't have done it." "That's the cruellest thing I've ever heard of." "I don't know what your father will say." " You don't need to tell him." " Of course I have to tell him." "I'm going to tell him about the milkman too." "He told me I shouldn't let you have this room." " He was right." " You're not going to move me, are you?" "Well, that'll be his decision." "As soon as he gets back." "Don't tell him." "You mustn't." "Please." "You're not frightened of your father, are you?" "No." "I just don't want to be moved out of this room." "We'll see." "If you tell him, I'll do something." " What will you do?" " Something." "Don't be silly, Joey." "I'm going to see if Nanny's all right." "You keep out of trouble." "Nanny, why aren't you lying down?" " I'm perfectly all right, thank you, madam." " You can't be." "Here, let me do that." "I prefer to keep busy." "If you don't mind." " What are you making?" " Steak and kidney pies." "They're for supper." " They used to be one of Joey's favourites." " That's why I'm making them." "Dear Nanny." "You do try so hard." "That's what I'm here for." "To look after all of you." "Excuse me, madam." "Madam." "What is it, Nanny?" "Madam, Master Joey's been rooting round in my medicine chest." " What on earth for?" " I don't know." "He has that look on him, you know." "The one he has when he's done something he shouldn't." " I caught him sneaking round in the kitchen." " What did he say to you?" "He never says anything to me, madam, you know that." "All right, Nanny." "I'll have another word with him." "Madam, it's not right you should have to cope all alone." " I only wish I could help." " You do help, Nanny." "I do my best." " Where's yours, Nanny?" " I'm not hungry, madam." "I'll have a little something before I go to bed." " Joey, you may start." " I don't want it." " But it's one of your favourites." " I don't want it." "Have you been up to anything, Master Joey?" "Nanny says you were sneaking in the kitchen." " She's a liar." " Joey." " Well, she is." " Joey." "Doesn't matter, madam, I don't mind." " Well, I do." "Apologise to Nanny." " No." "Do as I say." "Go to your room." "Go to your room." "I hate you." "There, there, madam." "Eat your supper." "We must eat our supper, mustn't we?" "We have to keep up our strength." " One, two, three, open." " Please." "No more arguments." "Open." "There." " There's been some trouble downstairs." " What sort of trouble?" "Mrs Fane." "Sounds like food poisoning." "Now, behave yourself." "And stop smoking." " What do you want?" " You are a terror." " Why?" " You poisoned your mum." "I didn't." "Daddy's in there now, seeing her." "She just ate something." " Supper?" " I suppose so." " Then why aren't you poisoned too?" " I didn't eat anything." "Well, there, that proves it." " Through here?" " My father." "Joey." "I'm Dr Medman." "I'm going to have to take your mother to hospital, I'm afraid." " Will she die?" " No, she'll be all right." "But she's eaten something and we've got to pump it out of her tummy." "What was it, Joey?" "What was it, Joey?" "I don't know." "Steak and kidney pie." "Ask her." "She cooked it." " Did you put something in that pie, Joey?" " No." "I'll take that." "Ipecacuanha." " I should have thrown it away." "I'm so sorry." " Where was it?" "ln my medicine chest." "Well, what have you got to say for yourself?" "Nothing." "We'll talk later." "I'll take your mother to hospital." " I'm not staying here." " You'll do as you're told, young man." " I'm not staying here with her." " Now, listen, Joey." "You might have killed your mother tonight." "I didn't do anything." "And if you try to make me stay here with her alone, I'll run away." " Is there anyone who can come over?" " Miss Penelope." "Mrs Fane's sister." " Would you phone her, please?" " Yes, doctor." "Right." "Well, your aunt will be here soon." "We don't want any more nonsense from you tonight." "Understood?" "My father's right." "You could have killed her." "I didn't do it." "She did." "The old girl?" "Come on." "The bottle was under your pillow." " She put it there." " Honest?" " Cross my heart and hope to die." " You probably will." "They'll hang you." "Your dad's the same as all the others." " What do you mean?" " He doesn't believe me either." "They never do." " What you've got to do is prove it." " Prove what?" "That she put the stuff in your mother's supper." "How can I prove it?" "I don't know." "I don't believe you." "I'm going." "Good night." "I came as soon as I could." "This is so good of you, Miss Pen." "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come." "Come on, Nanny." "Since when have you been unable to cope with a ten-year-old boy?" "Not Master Joey." "He's quite beyond me, I'm afraid." "They tell me he's beyond everyone." "Where is he?" "He's in his room." "I told him you were here." "It's nice to be welcomed." "It's a terrible bore." "You know that, don't you?" "I'm sure it is." "I know how you hate to sleep away from home." "So long as I'm appreciated..." "Hello, young man." " What have you been up to?" " Hello, Aunt Pen." "The face of innocence." "Suppose you think it's clever to poison your mother?" "I didn't." "I'll unpack your bag." "I've put you in Madam's room." "Thank you." "There's some sleeping pills in my case." "Put them on the bedside table." "Very good, madam." " Are you going to take sleeping pills?" " Probably." " Why?" " Help me to sleep." "Can I sleep with you tonight?" "You most certainly cannot." "What happens if you die in the night?" "You told Mummy you could drop down dead at any moment." "Only if I excite or exert myself." "And I don't intend to do either." "And Joey, I want you to be very good and give me no trouble at all." "See?" "I won't cause any trouble." "That'll be a change from what I hear." " Want to play draughts?" " No." "All right." "Bring them over here." " Joey and I are going to play draughts." " That's nice." "Would you like something hot to drink?" "Chocolate?" " That'd go down very well." " Master Joey?" "I'll make it all in one jug so you won't have to worry." "Worry?" "Something between Master Joey and me, Miss Pen." "You're much too good for me, Joey." " No, Joey." "No more." "Please." " Why not?" "You've beaten me three times already." "I couldn't stand it." " We used to play for money at school." " So you told me." "Yes, Nanny." "Well, I hate to spoil the fun, but it's time for Master Joey's bath." "Off you go, Joey." " You've got to swear like last night." " Swear what?" "She's got to swear she won't come in the bathroom." "I've never heard such nonsense in all my life." "Quite all right, Miss Pen." "I won't come in, Master Joey." "Swear." "I swear." " I think it's humiliating, Nanny." "Really, I do." " I don't mind." "You wouldn't mind lying down and having him walk all over you." "He's only a little boy." "We have to make allowances." "You make them." "I don't have to." "Yes, Miss Pen." " Joey." " She tried to kill me." "Joey, what are you talking about?" "She sneaked in and she tried to push my head under." "She pushed my head under." "I saw..." "Joey." "Nanny." "Nanny." "Miss Pen." "Handbag." "Box." "Break one." "Nanny..." "Did you hear what he said?" "Did you hear it?" "I heard it." "What am I to do?" "Poor Nanny." " Your dad home?" " Not yet." "Good." "What on earth are you doing up here anyway?" "Dressed like that?" " She tried to kill me." " Who?" " What did you do that for?" " You said she tried to kill you." "That's right." "She sneaked in and pushed me under." "I was all soapy and she couldn't keep hold." " I don't believe you." " You're always saying that." " Well, it's cos you tell such whoppers." " It's not a whopper." "She's tried it before." " To kill you?" " That's right." "After she killed Susy." "She killed your sister?" "Sort of..." "Yes, she did." " Turn that bloody thing off." " Come on, let's have it on." "No." "Not until you tell me about it." "All about it." "You said "bloody"." "I once said that and got clouted for it." "And you'll get clouted again if you don't tell me." "There isn't much to tell." "One afternoon, she was supposed to be looking after us." "Mum and Dad were out and she was the only grown-up in the house." "She wasn't supposed to go out." "It wasn't her day off or anything like that." "But I saw her leaving." "I'll tell Mummy." "I saw it." "I saw it." "You know you're not supposed to play with Daddy's things." " You mind your own business." " It is my business." "You're a dirty little sneak." "I'm going to tell Nanny you said that." "She'll make you wash your mouth out with soap." " You can't." "She's not here." " Yes, she is." "She isn't." "I just saw her leave." "She did not go out." " Shows how much she cares." " She does care." "She loves me." "She loves me." "Go away." "I'm busy." " Joey." " What do you want?" " Can I play with you?" " No." " Please." " Go and play by yourself." "I've got nothing to do." "Go play with your dolls." "That's all girls can do anyway." "Bath time, Amanda." "Mummy's going to give you a nice bath." "You sit there like a good little girl while Mummy gets the things." "There you are, you naughty girl." "Children." "Bath time." "Come on." "Bath ti..." "Where is Susy?" "I think I heard her in the bathroom." "Susy." "Susy." "Are you hiding from Nanny?" "Can I have an apple?" "She drowned her." "She drowned Susy." "She turned on the taps and drowned her." " You told them, didn't you?" " Of course I told them." "She told them too." "She said Susy and I had been playing boats in the bath." "And I pushed Susy and ran away and hid." " They believed her, of course." " Of course." "I'm cold." " I'll get you something." " I'm not gonna wear girls' clothes." "I'll get you something from my father." "Here you are." "You look like Ben Casey." " Get on the couch." "I wish to examine you." " Doctor, do you think I ought?" " Take your clothes off." " Really." " What's that?" " It's an x-ray." "Don't touch it." "It's dangerous." " What's so dangerous?" " I don't know." "Dad says if you get overexposed, you die." " I'd like to overexpose her." " That would be great." " Bring her up here, put her on the couch..." " Tie her on the couch." "..And overexpose her." "It would serve her right." " She's barmy." " Most grown-ups are." "No." "Really barmy." "Know what she did when she found Susy?" "What?" "There you are." "I've been looking all over for you." "She bathed her." "She had all her clothes on and she was dead." "She bathed her and talked to her while she was doing it, like it was normal." "What did you do?" "I watched her." "I'd never seen a really barmy person before." "Then I went to phone someone." "Oh, no, Master Joey." "Oh, dear me, no." "It's time for your bath." "Cleanliness is next to godliness, Master Joey." "Remember that." "Susy never gives me any trouble." "She's always been very good in her bath." "As a special treat today, you can bath together." "How's that?" " Now, come on." "Susy is waiting for you." " No." " You're making it up." " No, I'm not." " She would have killed you?" " Of course, but I didn't give her the chance." " That's why they sent me to that place." " Why?" "I wouldn't eat anything in case she poisoned me." "I wouldn't sleep in case she came in and smothered me." "I wouldn't do anything." " Know what they said about me?" " What?" "I read it in Dr Beamaster's office one day." ""Joey Fane is suffering from a massive guilt complex caused by the accidental killing of his sister." Shows how much they knew." "I was glad when they sent me to that school." "I didn't have to worry about her." " Aren't you scared now you're home?" " No." "I can look after myself." " You came running up here." " That wasn't cos I was scared." " Why then?" " I wanted to tell someone." "There's no one down there, except Aunt Pen, and she doesn't believe me." " You must be scared." " Dr Beamaster says scares are in your head." "And if you face up to them, they go away." "I'm facing up to them." "Let's go and watch telly." "Master Joey, wherever have you been?" "He was upstairs in my apartment." "I just got back from the hospital." " How is Madam?" " She'll be all right." "Couple of days rest." "ln you go, young man." " Thank you for bringing him down." " No trouble." "Don't worry about the coat." " Good night." " Good night." "Well, Joey." "Aren't you going to apologise?" "You heard your Aunt Pen." "Apologise to her." " Don't you come near me." " Joey." "Nor you, if you believe her." "It's a wonder I'm not stone dead." "You realise that, don't you, Nanny?" "It is bad of you, letting me in for this." "I'm sorry, Miss Pen." "Truly sorry." "But it's only for tonight." "Mr Fane will be home tomorrow." "I'll have a few things to tell him about that monster he's bred." " It's all right, Nanny, I can manage." " Well, I'd like to help you, Miss Pen." "I can manage, I said." "I'm not my sister." "As you wish." "Good night, Miss Pen." "Good night, Nanny." "Nanny?" "What are you doing?" "I'm taking Master Joey an extra pillow." "For heaven's sake, don't wake him up, Nanny." "I've had all I can take of young Joey." "What, may I ask, are you doing out of bed?" " I'm making myself a cup of tea." " It's bad for you late at night." "You get back to bed and Nanny will bring you a glass of warm milk." "I don't want a glass of warm milk." "I want a cup of tea." "Very well." "A cup of tea then." "Thank you." "And Nanny, don't take that pillow in." "I'll never forgive you if you wake him up." "You don't approve of pillows." "I remember you telling us when we were small." ""Children shouldn't have pillows."" "What was the word you used?" ""Overlay."" "Yes." ""They might overlay themselves."" ""Suffocate."" "Master Joey is not a baby, Miss Pen." "What happened in the bathroom, Nanny?" "I'm sure I don't know what you mean." " What happened?" " Miss Pen..." "Go back to bed and I'll bring you your tea." "What happened?" "You're not well." "Let Nanny." "Don't come near me." "Why, Miss Pen." "How could you?" "You said you wouldn't go into the bathroom." "He made you promise." "He made you swear." " Nor did I." " You're lying." "Miss Pen." "It's all been lies, hasn't it?" "You poisoned Virgie." "It wasn't Joey at all." " Give me that pillow." " Now, don't excite yourself." "Give me that pillow." "See what you've done to yourself, Miss Pen?" "My medicine." "I am very sorry, Miss Pen, but I can't, can I?" "Honestly, now." "Can I?" "There." "Does that feel better?" "I'm sure it does." "Poor Master Joey." "He has a lot to answer for." "So many troubles." "All laid at his doorstep." "Master Joey wants to get rid of his old nanny." "Did you know that?" "Where would poor Madam be?" "She's little more than a child herself." "Without Nanny, she'd be helpless." "I gave Master Joey his chance, but he wouldn't take it." "If something doesn't stop his chatter, one day somebody will believe him." "And Nanny will have to go." "You know, Miss Pen," "I really thought Master Joey was lying at first about Miss Susy." "That day, I'd had the most dreadful experience." "Dreadful." "There was a telephone call from a doctor." "I wouldn't have gone, what with Madam being out and leaving the children." "But the doctor more or less said if I didn't go, he'd come round and get me." "Or send for the police." "The police?" "I couldn't have had that, could I?" "I took a taxi to the address he'd given me." "When I got there, I thought I was in the wrong place." "It was all so... so dirty." "Come in." "Please, come in." "Janet." "That's right." "She's dead." "About an hour ago." "She wanted to see you." "Why?" "She simply asked me to phone you." " Did you know her?" " I've been with her for the past 14 hours." "Watching her die." "Why didn't you phone me sooner?" "She didn't tell me until she knew she was dying." "As long as she thought she had a chance of pulling through, she didn't want to see you." " Do you want me to make the arrangements?" " What?" "I'm asking if you want her properly taken care of?" "Of course." "Yes, well, it's about 25 years too late, isn't it?" "You were too busy looking after other people's children." "Not enough time to spare for your own." "Well, she can't help you, she's dead." "She was pregnant." "Aye." "Not much chance of looking after the child." "She couldn't bear the thought of bringing up an illegitimate baby the way she was." "Better to get rid of it." "It isn't a choice neighbourhood, but they know how to look after themselves in a pinch." "And for what?" "For five or ten pounds, you can buy yourself an abortion." "He left her on the doorstep to bleed to death." " You know medicine." "Would you like details?" " No." "Why not?" "She's your flesh and blood." "Don't you want to hear how she died?" "Not in the Harley Street class, these backstreet abortionists." "They want money before they work on you." "Not very fussy about sterilisation." "Some of them don't even wash their hands first." "And they don't care where they do it either." "He went on and on." "He wouldn't stop." "I couldn't stand it any more." "I had to get out." "I had to." "I don't know how far I walked." "It must have been miles." "Suddenly, I was terribly tired." "I felt sick." "I still couldn't believe it all." "I thought perhaps I might wake up in a moment and find out it was a bad dream." "There were the children I had to look after." "It was bath time." "Children." "Bath time." "Susy." "Susy." "Are you hiding from Nanny?" "Susy." "Are you hiding from Nanny?" "Yes." "There you are." "I've been looking all over for you." "Thought your old nanny had forgotten you, didn't you?" "Thought you'd have to have your bath on your own." "Oh, dear." "Soap in your eye." "Susy." "Stop playing tricks on your old nanny." "Susy, stop it." "I can't have Master Joey tell on his old nanny, can I?" "Who will look after Madam?" "And all those other little children looked after by nannies?" "You see, Miss Pen, being a nanny is based on trust." "It is so important that parents trust us." "It's not myself I'm thinking about." "I've never been one for self." "It's all those others like me." "All those nannies who have devoted their lives to taking care of other people's children." "They're the ones I'm thinking about." "You would have understood, Miss Pen." "I know you would." "You mustn't make it difficult for Nanny, Master Joey." "Master Joey, such a silly thing to do." "There." "Joey." "Joey." "Joey." "Are you all right?" "Joey." "Are you all right?" "Are you all right?" "Joey." "Joey." "Master Joey." "And what will happen to her, I don't know." "But she's a sick woman." "And they'll take that into account." "I want to see Joey." "He wants to see you." "I know it's four in the morning, but after all he's been through..." " He's here?" " He's outside." " I want to see him." " Are you well enough?" "Doctor, I'm perfectly all right." "I want to see my son." "Joey." "Joey." "I don't hate you, Mummy." "Come here, darling." " I didn't try to poison you, Mummy." " I know, darling." "I know all about it now." " I'm sorry about Nanny." " Don't think about it any more." " I'll look after you now." "I promise." " I'm sure you will." "I'll learn to cook." "I can get your breakfast in the mornings." "I'll bring it in on a tray." "With a flower." "I'll clean Daddy's shoes too." "I used to clean shoes when I was at school." "I was jolly good at it." "I'll make the beds too."