All language subtitles for House on Straw Hill

- Hello?

Southland Secretarial, can I help you?

- Yes, you were advertising

a temporary typist for an author?

- Yes, the author.

You do know where this is, don't you?

- As a matter of fact I do.

- It's right out in the sticks.

- I know.

- Oh, have you any experience?

- Yes, I've worked
with a novelist before.

- You better come come and see us.

- Okay, bye.

- Bye.

- The center of the plot,

i.e. when the main
characters come together,

basically it's about human chemistry.

- Paul
Martin, Deadly Science

was the most successful novel

that was written or published last year,

and I was wondering how long
it did take you to write?

- Well I started the book in Paris,

then I moved it to New York
and took me about, six months.

- Six months,
I thought it took you three?

This is what my notes say.

- Well there must
be wrong information.

When I get inspired,

the writing tempo inevitably accelerates.

In fact, I know normally writers

take about nine months,
some two, three years.

- Tell me,
why would did you create

a story about diplomats?

- Because when I was, oh, about 19,

I used to travel a lot to Southern France

and to Rome, you know, and Paris, also,

and I actually got to
know a lot of people,

and it always interested me very much.

So that's why I wrote my
first book all about it.

- The champagne life?

- Well, not the champagne life.

- Shall we say
the Rolls Royce life, then?

- No, other people
are drinking champagne

and driving Rolls Royces.

- You seem
to have an obsession

with lifestyle?

- No, no, no, I
don't have an obsession.

I simply feel that it's part of my job

to write about people that I meet

and people who qualify
for the pages of my book.

- Now, let's
talk about the catharsis

of human endeavor.

- Mm-hmm.
- Which you concentrate on

say basically in your writing.
- Yeah.

- Some say a favorite

theme of yours, isn't it?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, it is.

I'm very strong on this subject,

and it's always crept into what
I write about, always will.

Perfect evening.

- Oh.

- It's only thunder.

- Yes.

More.

- Oh, my God.

- No, no, no.

- We don't usually have tenants, you know?

Oh, you know, I kinda lie,

we had them last year, now that I come

to think of it.

Dentist, two of them.

Hmm, very strange, they were.

You know, Commander and Mrs. Percel

always go to the South of
France for five weeks, you know?

Commander and Mrs. Percel,

where no one can get at
them, out of harms way.

Oh, he'd get so testy, the Commander.

So testy.

Now, what shall I do about lunch?

I could do a nice steak and kidney.

- No, I haven't decided yet.

I don't know anything.

- Well, when will you know?

- Later.

More coffee, please.

- Paul, darling, where are you?

How are you, darling?

How are you?

Are you alright?

- Yes, why not?

- I was worried.

- Worried?
- Yes.

- Well, don't be.

You realize, I suppose,
that this is a period

of intense concentration for me.

Intense concentration.

You see?

- If you say so.

- Suzanne?
- What?

- A small point.

I'd be grateful if you'd
keep my whereabouts

a secret for the time being, yes?

- Good morning, Books
International, can I help you?

- Leo Schuman, please.

- Just one moment, hold the line.

- Hello?

- Paul Martin, Leo.
- Paul, thank goodness.

You rang, I've been hearing you

were gonna ring me yesterday.

Look, there's only two weeks left.

- Yes, I know.
- There's a lot of people

waiting, we must have it

by the end of month.
- Yeah.

- Do your best for
me, darling, will you?

- Alright.
- I've got a few people

that are from New York, and I want them

to read it before they
go back, so come on.

It'll be a great deal if we can pitch it.

- Leo, where is the typist?
- What?

- I feel if I can
dictate, pace up and down.

- Yes, yes, of course.

She should be there, for god's sake.

You know, look, I'll chase it.

I'll call you right back.

I'll put a rock into that bloody agency.

- Thanks, Leo.

To harass.

To worry.

To importune.

To pursue.

To persecute.

Decay.

Humble.

Wrought.

Die.

Dammit.

- Paul, Leo here.

Look, the agency got the date wrong.

She's on her way down to you now.

- Who?

- The girl, Linda.

The, the typist.

- Thanks, Leo.

- The train gets in
at 11:30, Hatfield Peverel.

- Fine.
- They tell me she should

look after you, okay?

Is everything else alright?

- Thanks, Leo.

- Don't thank me,
just complete the book.

Remember, if it's a good one,

we're in line for the critics prize,

and don't you forget it.

♪ Onward Christian soldiers ♪

♪ Marching as to war ♪

♪ With the cross of Jesus ♪

♪ Going on before ♪

♪ Christ, the royal master ♪

- You two get out of the way.

Get out of the way.
- They should bug off.

- Hello, goddess.

Alright.

- Well, it's good, then.

- How about jumping on
the back of my Jaguar,

how about that, aye?

Just walk out.

- Mr. Martin?

- As a rule, I don't like people about.

I don't trust them,

but we have a lot of
hard work to get through.

- Fine.

- Haven't I met you before?

- No.

- You know, for a moment I
thought you looked familiar.

- Did you?
- Yes.

Have you ever worked for a writer before?

- No, not really.

Just general freelance work.

I once used to work for a
cookery expert for a time.

- A cookery expert?

- Yes, she ran a weekly
column in Homeowner Magazine.

All about cannelloni and calf's
brains, things like that.

- Calf's brains?

- Yes, that sort of thing.

Dishes.
- Really?

But you've never worked on a novel before?

- No, I haven't.

- But you're quite used to
a strict routine, of course?

- Of course.

- There she is.

- Your bird.

- Yeah, let's go and see how her body is.

- Twice in one day?

- Yeah, well, she loves me, don't she?

- Hit him.
- I've got him.

- Do you always fight that dirty?

- They were after me.

He was going for me.

- I suppose you live on your own, do you?

At the house?

- Whenever I can help it, yes.

- Don't you have a housekeeper

or someone who does...

- Does what?

- Does, tidies up for you, cooks.

- Oh, yes, yes, there's one of those.

Why all these questions?

- Sorry.

- But I will give you
my routine, so you know.

It never alters while I'm writing.

I get up at eight.

My first cup of coffee, I
always have in the dining room.

The blue chair.

The second cup I take in the study.

I would like you to bring me that.

Then dictation starts for
the rest of the morning.

Lunch, I like to keep simple.

Then we work through until six.

It is then when I have my first drink.

Always a glass of well chilled Tio Pepe.

Dinner, always light.

Some fish or a quiche.

I drink Burgundy, not claret.

After dinner, I relax.

It's quite a simple routine, which works.

Your bedroom is upstairs
at the end of the corridor.

- How far is this place from anywhere?

- Far enough.

They turned in at the
end of the drive, comma,

and Angus stopped the car quietly.

Stop, new paragraph.

Their kiss was neither
tender nor affectionate.

Point, it was carnal, point.

It was lustful, point.

Wet and greedy, point.

Lingering, passionate, but
with warmth, semicolon.

Possessive, but with calm.

Quotes, I love you, end quotes.

Angus' voice soft in the interior.

- Sorry, Angus' voice soft in the what?

- Angus' voice soft in the interior.

- Yes?

- Full stop.

Ice crystals forming on the windscreen

and the ruptured sky, point.

An ironical setting after
all there had been, point.

End paragraph.

Good.

- Do you mind if I unpack?

- What?
- I said I'll make

some coffee.

- Everything alright?

- Fine.

- You've been a long time.

- In coming?

- She felt soft under the sheets.

Warm, comma.

Gone was the formal exterior,

that had presented itself
so fearfully this last week.

Stop, here in his arms was
a sensitive being, stop.

Passionate and demanding, point.

Then, Angus' tongue starts
its slow exploration,

starting here, arousing there.

Playing on Anna, like a
virtuoso with a Stradivarius

or a Steinway, comma.

A great, wonderful
catharsis of lust, point.

Anna's legs

slowly point,

and each caress urgently
moving, point, demanding.

She was wet with anticipation.

- And?

- Done.

- Done?
- Yes, done for the minute.

Would you like a drink?

You sure?

- No, thanks.

- This will be my second book.

The first made me a half a
million dollars, and now,

do you know this is first time
I have to work to a deadline?

The more successful you get,

the more they want the next one.

The more they're prepared to pay,

and the longer it takes you to write.

The more impatient this
whole lot of idiots become.

- But you've only written two books.

- It's still the same.

Are you quite sure that
we haven't met before?

- Quite sure.

That's the second time
you've asked me that.

- You are a very attractive girl.

- Does that upset you?

- No, not in the slightest.

Not in the slightest.

- Yours?

- The first.

- Half a million dollars?

- Right.

- Who's the inscription to?

- A friend.

- Hey, turn her over.

That's it, faster.

Turn her back again.

Go on, turn her back.

Hurry up.

- All these people coming and going.

I really don't know what Commander

and Mrs. Percel would say.

I've never seen so many
strange faces in all my life.

Oh, the furnish glass is
in the corner cupboard,

and I keep the small mats in the kitchen.

And the carvers.

Well, it doesn't look very nice to me,

but there you are.

Now is there anything else?

- No, I don't think there is.

You know, if you want to
take a couple of days off,

now would be a very good time.

There's so much work
to be done on the book,

I think it might be as well

to keep interruptions to a minimum.

Oh, I don't mean to be rude,

but you know what these writers are.

- You, you mean you don't want me around?

- Yes, that's exactly what I mean.

- I see, I'm supposed to
keep an eye on the house.

I look after things for the Commander.

- Yes, I know that.

- You don't want me around?

- No.

- Well, I must say this,
I'm very unhappy about it.

The Commander wouldn't like it at all.

The advert the Times was very, very exact.

My job is to run the house

and see that everything is under control.

Now all this is very upsetting.

I'm very unhappy about it.

Very unhappy, indeed.

- Perhaps this is

the first time in a long while
that I really feel content.

I actually feel happy this evening.

- Good, I'm glad.

- I don't know, perhaps it's the weather

or our good work today.

It has even been suggested

that the book maybe in line
for the Pulitzer Prize.

We did well today.

You must be pleased too, surely.

- Of course.

- Good.

The secret is what I call the
immaculate pattern of life.

- What's that?

- Well, I suppose it's well described

by referring to it as the
tranquility derived from order.

The day designed in sequence.

Carefully planned, well
organized, well executed.

No snags.

Nothing, nothing
unexpected to put you off.

- It would boring, though.

- Boring?

Exactness in life is the
whole point of our being.

Well, now I see you agree, a little bit.

We are really getting
to know each other well.

You make me feel relaxed.

I like you.

Now of course, this is
very reassuring for me.

Maybe that's why I feel content.

Tell me, probably you saw
a lot of the countryside

on your walks this morning.

Wasn't it beautiful?

Success can bring you problems, of course.

You're always having to escape.

Get away from people.

People who want you to do them favors.

I started the new book in London.

I tell a lie.

I actually started it in Paris.

Then moved it to New York,
then London, now here.

I'd rather this place.

Just to get away from crying people.

You see, however it is,

it's a price you pay for being
remarkably good at your job.

Sometimes I feel like the
whole bloody lot are after me.

Trying to get me.

They're always after me.

Tracking me down.

You have to keep your eyes open.

They could be anywhere.

Watching you.

- Who?

- That's why I'm here.

Straw Hill.

The house on Straw Hill.

Straw books.

Made by straw mix.

By straw men.

Sorry, too much to drink.

No!

No!

Well, what's happened to
the key of my bedroom door?

- Key?
- Yes, it's gone,

and there's only one person
that could have taken it.

- Who?

- You.

- Why should I take the
key to your bedroom door?

Well, why should I?

Anyhow, we have a deadline, remember?

- Where's Mrs. Aston?

- Oh, she's about somewhere.

- Linda.

Do you?

- Of course.

Don't we all.

- You'd be surprised.

Do you have a boyfriend?

- Not currently.

- Married?

- Once, not now.

- Divorced?

- No, he was killed.

- Do you like girls?

- No.

- Surprising.

- Surprising?

- Well, for a moment there, I thought...

- Well, I don't.

Perhaps later.

When we're finished.

- Finished?

Finished, what?

Who is writing this book?

You or me?

Who has all the strain
creating page after page?

Who needs sympathy and understanding?

- Suzanne, it's me.

Would you like to come
down to the country?

- Are you alone?

- Yes.

- Oh, I'd love to see you.

- It's been quiet here without you.

- I've missed you, too.

- Alright, yes.

- 12:30 train.

- 12:30 at the station.

- Bye.
- Bye, bye.

No, you're going to meet the 12:30.

You're the secretary.

Stop making that noise, please.

- Where's the key?

- Why don't you use their car?

It's much better for a secretary.

- How do you do?
- How do you do?

- Sure, tomorrow.

Yes, Leo.

Right.

Okay.

Yes, I think.

I'll be returning Wednesday week.

I'll have a charter.

Oh, well, advance, 2500.

Oh, well, about two and half days.

About two.

Yes, of course.

Yes, love, of course
- Don't let any before

60 pages, yeah?

- Yes.
- Everything's going well

at least?
- Okay, then.

- By love.

- Lunch in 10 minutes.

I must say, you're a very busy person.

Rushing around like nobody's business.

- Do I? Am I?

- Quite a takeover.

- Takeover?

- Mm, where's Mrs. What's Her Name?

He doesn't like peppery food.

- Oh, really?

Well, you mustn't forget,

I'm only the hired hand around here.

- A general dogsbody, in fact.

- Um, I'll remember about the pepper.

You really look good, you know?

- Good?

- Yes.

Really good.

As you, you look very good.

You look very, very good, indeed.

You really look good.

Oh, yes.

Really good.

Don't you like me?

- Of course.

- You are here for me.

For my pleasure.

My expense to do what
I want, you understand?

Linda?

Linda?

- Paul?

- I don't understand.

- Perhaps she fancies you.

- Linda?

Linda?

Linda?

Linda?

Linda?

Linda?

Linda?

Linda?

- Suzanne?

Suzanne?

Suzanne?

- Where are you going?

Hello?

Hello?

Police?

- What was that?

What was that?

- What?
- That scream?

- It was your imagination.

- What do you think you're doing?

- Doing?

- Yes, doing.

- I'm sorry, but the door
to your room was open.

I didn't mean...

- You didn't mean?

- The door of your room was open.

I saw you making love to Suzanne.

I'm sorry.

- And the knife?

- Oh, you found that, did you?

I always carry it.

Self-protection.

- No, come on.

- Say what you want, it serves a purpose.

Believe what you like.

If you will go poking
around in people's luggage,

you must believe what you like.

- And the photograph?

The photograph of me?

- Oh, come on now, Paul.

Calm down.

Tell me what the matter is?

And I can tell you what you want to know.

The photograph, from your agent, Leo.

How did you think I was
going to recognize you

at the station when your first met me?

- Where's Suzanne?

- Asleep.

Not to be disturbed.

- There's no one I can trust.

- Come on then, let's finish.

- Not now.

- Well, you've
only got a few pages to go.

- I can't.

- Yes, you can.

Page 435.

Alright?

The airport, comma, piss, sweaty

with the smell of a million people

all going their different ways, stop.

- The sweaty smell of many nations.

- The heat of their bodies.

- Warmth of their bodies.

- As the plane sunk from an orange sky...

- Azure.
- Orange.

- Their love.
- Their hate.

- Saying goodbye.

- No, standing, nothing.

- No, waving goodbye.

- Try something different.

It won't work.

- Try.
- It won't work.

- Try.
- It won't work.

No more, forever,

finished, abandoned, complete,

done, final, last, finished.

Finished it.

I finished it for you.

I'm going to kill you, Mr. Martin.

Kill you.

- Why?

- Because you're a fraud.

F-R-A-U-D, spells fraud.

Full point, the end.

Get it?

My name's Hindstatt.

Linda Hindstatt.

Remember?

Yes.

I think you do.

The first novel.

Half a million dollars.

- No.

- Hold, Mr. Martin.

- Paul, I don't want anyone

to get into a panic while I'm away.

Everything's under control.

Just keep on taking the
tablets, you're gonna keep

that pace as you're doing

before, it'll be a good one.

- Hold it right there, Mr. Martin.

Now I said hold it.

Hold it right there.

Now, just do as I say.

Don't try anything else, or
I'll blow your brains out.

Just put your hands on your head.

That's right.

You made half a million
dollars out of that book,

and you never even wrote it.

Not one word.

Not one single word.

'Cause it was written by my husband.

You stole it from him saying
you'd sell it for him.

You even had the nerve to
dedicate it to him, remember?

And then you got rid of him.

You drove him to suicide
while you stole his work.

Oh, I've got the lot on you, Mr. Martin.

The lot.

And now, I want my bit.

I want my fun.

I want your guts.

- No, don't.

I beg you, let me explain.

Please, don't shoot.

Please, I beg you, please.

Oh, oh, no.

It can't be.

Oh, no.