Original subtitles

(INSECT BUZZES)

MAN: I do solemnly declare that the evidence I shall give

shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth,

so help me God.

YOUNG MAN: You have the wrong person in here.

I didn't do it.

(RAPID TICKING)

JUDGE: 7imothy Evans, the jury finds you guilty.

(MAN CRIES OUT)

(CRIES CONTINUE)

(APPROACHING FOOTSTEPS)

- It wasn't me. I...I didn't do it. - Timothy Evans,

- do you have any last words? - Christie done it. Eh? It was Christie!

(RAPID TICKING)

(LABOURED BREATHING)

(CREAKING AND WHIRRING)

(TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS)

- Morning, Harry. - You got something for me, have you?

- Letter for your sister. - Thanks, Jack. Ta-ra.

WOMAN: Good morning. MAN: Hello.

It's him.

(TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS)

MAN: My dearest Ethel.

How happy I am that you've found me.

Shame that it was under these circumstances

but, had it not been, our paths may never have crossed again.

There's so much time to make up for, so much to say...

I wish I had the courage to come back to you, but...I was embarrassed.

I've let you down, and I knew you'd be better off without me.

I hope you can find it within yourself to forgive me.

Reg.

- I thought you were dead. - Oh.

Nine years.

Nine years without a word.

Why didn't you write?

I was ashamed.

I'm sorry, love.

Do you want a divorce?

- Divorce? - Aye.

Don't be daft.

Do you know how I found you, eh? Do you want to know?

Every month for the past nine years...

..I wrote to Scotland Yard.

Could they kindly inform me if a John Christie had befallen some tragedy?

A hundred letters, Reg. More.

(SHE SNIFFS)

I should've sent for you.

I should've.

Shouldn't even be in here.

I...borrowed a car from a friend and it turned out to be stolen, so...

- (WHISPERS) Oh, Reg... Truly...

I missed you.

I missed you, love.

Let's make a fresh start.

There...

(TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS)

(WOMEN CHATTER)

Apparently, it's a very sought-after area.

(TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS)

(CHATTERING CONTINUES)

It's only temporary.

A stepping stone.

(HE SIGHS)

(CROCKERY RATTLES AS TRAIN RUMBLES PAST)

Come and see the garden.

(FOOTSTEPS THUD OVERHEAD)

(RAISED VOICES UPSTAIRS)

(DOG BARKS IN DISTANCE)

Needs a bit of love and care, no doubt...

..a spot of elbow grease.

We'll do our own planting, if there's enough light.

- Still one sugar? - Aye. Still one sugar.

(DRAMATIC CLASSICAL MUSIC)

Can you see him?

Yes. He's here...

..Just behind me!

Here!

The end's not what I'd call cheerful.

Well, he had to get his comeuppance, didn't he?

REG: Oh, it's a nice night. ETHEL: Aye.

Wrong way, darlin"!

- Do you know her, Reg? - Know her?

- She seemed to recognise you. - Oh.

I bet she says that to every chap that walks by.

WOMAN: "Ere, you're definitely going the wrong way!

- Don't be shy! - Wrong way, darlin"!

(DOG BARKS IN DISTANCE)

(FOOTSTEPS THUD IN DISTANCE)

Reg?

(SIGHS)

(BIRDSONG)

(TYPEWRITER KEYS CLACK)

WOMAN: You give him what he wants, it's the last you'll see of him.

- You're right. - I am...aren't I, Ethel?

I bet you saved yourself for Mr Christie.

YOUNGER WOMAN: A lady would never answer such a question.

(BOTH GIGGLE)

Girls.

(BRASS BAND PLAYS)

We've been unlucky, but... you'll always be my girl, Ethel.

Close your eyes.

Close your eyes.

(BAND PLAYS) # Whispering Grass

- There. - (GASPS)

- Oh, Reg... - Ah!

- There. - Where'd you get it?

Don't ask, don't tell.

(NO AUDIBLE DIALOGUE)

Good girl, Judy.

Come on, love.

(CLEARS THROAT) I've been made privy to some...

..confidential intelligence, Ethel.

There's going to be heavy bombing tonight, so get yourself to the shelter.

- What about you? - I'm on duty.

(SIGHS)

You will be careful, won't you?

I'll be fine.

Just you get yourself to the shelter.

Night, love.

(AIR-RAID SIREN BLARES)

MAN: Move along!

- Keep moving. - That's it.

Inside! Mind the steps!

(OVERLAPPING INSTRUCTIONS)

(SIREN CONTINUES TO BLARE)

- Thank you. - Come on, sir.

- Tuck your legs in. - Tuck your knees in!

That's it.

Be careful down the stairs.

That's it! Make a new friend. Snuggle up!

(BABY CRIES, SIREN BLARES)

(BOMBERS DRONE OVERHEAD)

(KEY TURNS IN LOCK)

Reg?

Reg?

(TRAIN WHISTLE IN DISTANCE)

I thought you were on duty.

Enforced break.

(STRAINS AND GROANS)

After 24 hours, it's mandatory.

What's going on in there, eh?

- Bedroom stinks of perfume. - Judy.

She left you a little present on the bed.

(JUDY WHIMPERS)

You didn't have to use half the bottle, did you? It's posh, that.

Right.

(STRAINS AND GROANS)

Did you miss me, Reg?

Did you ever wonder what I were up to?

Course.

Was there ever anyone else?

Ethel Christie!

You know fine well you're my first and only.

Come on, Req. It was a long time.

Too long.

If there were...I'd understand.

- Close your eyes. - What?

- Close your eyes. - What for?

Well, you'll not find out till... till you close them, so...close your eyes.

- No peeking. - I'm not.

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

(KEY TURNS IN LOCK)

(RUSTLING)

Open sesame!

(GASPS) Reginald Christie, wherever did you get those?

Go on, then.

(GASPS) Reg...

Oh, Reg! (CHUCKLES)

(DOOR OPENS)

(CREAKING)

Reg?

Reg?

Reg?

(WHISPERS) Someone tried to jimmy the window.

Get back to bed. Come on.

Um...could I have a word?

Um...Mrs Hodges has a birthday coming up.

Sunday 12th, to be precise, and... well, what with rationing and whatnot,

I'm rather at a loss when it comes to a gift.

Well, not knowing Mrs Hodges personally, I'm...not sure I'm best placed

to give you any advice.

Everyone knows policemen can get all manner of things.

You're thinking of soldiers, Mr Hodges.

Only last week, my niece met a constable who gave her a whole box of chocolates.

Oh. Erm, I'm sorry, Mr Hodges, but...

You see, I couldn't ask Reg. I... I just couldn't.

You... You see, he's not that type of chap, you know?

I don't mean to offend you, Mr Hodges. I'm sorry.

No, no, no. Not at all.

Can I go now?

- Yes, yes. Yes, of course. - Thank you.

- Good night. - Good night.

(BANGING AT DOOR)

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

(PERSISTENT KNOCKING)

Ethel! It's Reg.

(GASPS)

Reg? What happened?

I was... I was set upon right outside the station.

Not a single bobby came to my aid. Not one.

I've been the victim of a vicious slur, Ethel.

The Sergeant's wife is carrying on with another fellow behind his back.

I ask you!

And I know who the real culprit is, all right.

The one who pointed the finger at me, but he's popular, see?

He's... He's... He's one of the lads. He's turned the others against me.

It's like the Post Office all over again.

What do you mean by that?

I mean you've been wrongly accused again.

Well, they've had the best of me... but that's torn it.

- Oh, you're a natural policeman... - They'll not have a minute more of me.

Well, no need to make a decision now. Just sleep on it, eh?

(SNARLS) Are you deaf?

Let's get you off to bed. Come on.

I'll not rest a minute, you know, with all your tossing and turning.

- Shall I keep you company? - No, thanks.

That would defeat the purpose.

(RAPID TICKING)

(SHUFFLING FOOTSTEPS)

(FOOTSTEPS RECEDE)

(KEY TURNS IN LOCK, DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR SLAMS SHUT)

(DOOR OPENS)

(LOW CONVERSATION)

(WOMAN LAUGHS)

(BUZZ OF CONVERSATION)

(FEMALE LAUGHTER)

(CHATTER AND LAUGHTER)

(APPROACHING FOOTSTEPS)

(SIGHS) My back's been giving me trouble.

- So it was a good night, then? - Huh!

(SIGHS, THEN GROANS)

I wouldn't say that.

Barely got a wink.

Probably too much excitement...

..down at The Winchester.

The Winchester?

I don't know of any such place.

I followed you...right inside.

I saw you talking to those two girls.

One of them were playing with your hat, the hat I bought you.

No, you were dreaming. You saw the state I was in yesterday.

How could I have gone out in that condition?

I saw you with my own two eyes.

No, you didn't.

It's impossible.

I want you to see Dr Odess as a matter of urgency.

Nine years.

Nine years without a word.

Nine years thinking you were dead!

You're a dirty bastard, Reginald Christie.

I don't want you touching me ever again.

Do you understand?

..his mother, his grandmother and half his bloody uncles and aunts.

And then he says he's had a "change of heart". A change of heart!

They're all the same, I swear to God. You must know what men want, Ethel.

Oh, come on. How long have you been married?

- 15 years this March. - 15 years?

Oh, you must be doing something right!

(SIGHS)

(CLATTER OF TYPEWRITER KEYS)

- I'm here about Mr Christie. MAN: Mr Christie?

Aye. Since he finished with t'police,

he...

he won't set foot outside the house.

You know he's... he says he's too ill to even think about getting another job.

He's taken on a strange mood, as well, and er...

(SIGHS) We never... never should have moved to London. That's what it is.

- We shouldn't have moved to London. - Mrs Christie, London...

..is not the culprit here.

In my experience, every man needs an extra measure of care and attention

as he... as he weathers the storms of middle age.

- "Care and attention"? - From their wives, Mrs Christie.

I couldn't care for Reg any more than I do. I...I just couldn't.

That sounds a touch complacent, if you don't mind my saying so.

As my old Latin teacher used to say, "Qui semper in melius locus."

"There's always room for improvement. "

Right, Doctor.

Now, is there...anything else?

No.

Do you fancy the pictures?

- I thought we'd celebrate. - Celebrate?

Huh! What have we got to celebrate?

I start a new job Monday.

- New job? - I thought I'd surprise you.

It is a surprise.

I've met some smashing people, Ethel. I think you'll like them.

Would I get an insurance payment if I killed you, Arthur?

- Well, we'd have to get married first. - You won't find anyone to marry you now,

although some say that James Doyle of The Bull used to be Father Doyle.

He never was!

Excommunicated after an incident involving the Bishop's wife.

(COUPLE CHUCKLE)

- You are funny, Reg! - It's true.

It won't be long now. My Dad says they've liberated Paris.

REG: Ah. We should switch the wireless on.

- Have you seen the wireless, Ethel? - It's in the cupboard.

Oh, I'll fetch it. Arthur, would you give us a hand?

- Where did you get that? Eh? - I made it myself.

- Clever bugger, aren't you? - Arthur!

I like to think so.

My Reg can turn his hand to anything.

Don't tell them at work, though, they'll have me on the shop floor!

It needs an aerial, though. Coat hanger and a bit of wire.

- I could do it, if you... if you want. - You won't know where anything is.

I'll show you.

- How's your catarrh, Muriel? - Rotten. I've been off two days with it.

Oh.

- I trained as a doctor before the war. - I didn't know that, Reg.

Would you like me to take a quick peek?

You're very pretty.

- A beauty. - Thank you.

Reg was telling me he trained to be a doctor.

(CHUCKLES) Oh, he does like to exaggerate!

(CLEARS THROAT) St John's Ambulance volunteer, weren't it, Reg?

(TRAIN RATTLES PAST)

(DOOR CLOSES)

(APPROACHING FOOTSTEPS)

Someone made a spectacle of themselves today.

Embarrassed yourself good and proper.

(SNIFFS) Never mind.

We won't be seeing them again, anyway.

What makes you say that?

I saw the way you looked at her, Reg. (SNIFFS)

She's not one of the ones you pay for.

(SHE SNIFFS)

Now, you give her a wide berth, or I'll have a word. You keep a wide berth,

or I'll tell her exactly what respectable Mr Christie gets up to!

(CHOKES)

(MUFFLED SCREAMS)

(COUGHS VIOLENTLY)

(WHEEZES)

(SOBS)

(CONTINUES SOBBING)

I'll wring his bloody neck!

(MUTTERS) Bastard!

Er...Ethel...you've a letter.

Excuse me. (SNIFFS)

Ethel...

Ethel!

What rubbish is he spouting?

It's a long letter, Ethel, to be saying nothing.

He's er... He's sick, is all. He's not well.

What kind of excuse is that?

I don't know.

He must think you're daft.

Aye.

Listen, I've been thinking, Harry. You know...

..I'm happy you've met Janice.

You don't need me here any more. I'm going to go home.

He nearly bloody killed you.

(WHISPERS) Aye.

The problem is, Harry, he's not well.

You know he's not been right.

He's not been right ever since I lost the baby.

- Oh, that were years ago. - I think it's London, as well.

It's a horrible, horrible place.

You know, I think...

I just need to go home and make it right.

Aye.

You'll be all right.

Got to start a family now.

I've plenty of time for that. I've got to look after the one I've got.

(WHISPERS) I'll be all right.

Would you take me home, please? I need to go home.

I need to make it right.

Aye.

Ethel?

I didn't think you were coming back.

- Harry. - Reg.

They begged me to stay, Harry.

Sergeant Thomas...

"Taffy", we called him.

..said I was "an asset to the Force".

- Did he, now? - Mm. Yes, he did.

Right, I best be off. Don't want to miss my train.

No. No, you don't.

- Oh, Harry, I've got something for you. - Shall I fetch it?

- You won't know where it is. - All right.

Ethel?

Ethel?

Happy Christmas. Well, it's an early Christmas present.

- (LOW VOICE) Are you all right? - Aye.

You don't want to miss your train. Come on.

All right.

Are you sure you won't come back with me?

No, Harry. I'm sure.

I'll be all right. Come on, you're going to miss your train.

- Love you. - I love you. Go on.

(TURNS KEY IN LOCK)

Be nice to get things back to normal.

Bit of a mess in there, isn't it?

If only I'd known...

I wanted to get things shipshape before you came back.

Then you went and surprised me.

It's a nice surprise, I must say.

I've been hopeless without you, Ethel.

Got myself into all kinds of bother.

Thought I was losing my mind.

Even Dr Odess was worried.

"What ails you, Mr Christie?" he asked.

"Mrs Christie," I told him,

"and the absence thereof."

It's all fine now, though, now that you're back.

(SIGHS) Now that the lady of the house has returned.

Home and dry. That's what we are, Ethel. Home and dry.

Sit down.

(SNIFFS)

You put your feet up.

I'll get the bedroom sorted, tidied up.

Shipshape.

Nice cup of tea?

(DOOR CLOSES)

(METALLIC CLATTERING)

(BANGING AT DOOR)

(PERSISTENT BANGING)

Was that the door?

Not expecting anyone.

- Arthur. - Sorry to bother you, Mr Christie.

Have either of you seen Muriel? She was supposed to meet me hours ago.

Well, I haven't seen her since the last time you were here.

She said something about coming to see you.

- Me? - Something about her catarrh.

Well, she must have changed her mind.

I don't know what to do. No one's seen her since last night.

Well, Muriel lives by Croydon, doesn't she?

Yeah, what of it?

Well, there's been a lot of flying bombs in that vicinity.

- The wireless has been full of it. - Oh, God, don't say that.

Come on, then. I'll find her.

Hang on. That... That looks like Muriel's coat.

It's mine.

I liked Muriel's so much, I...bought one for myself.

Come on.

- Thank you, Mr Christie. - It's the least I could do.

(CAR ENGINE RUNNING)

WOMAN: I'll help you. MAN: Here you are.

(WOMAN LAUGHS) Are you sure? MAN: Hold my hand. Come on, come here.

Get down before you do yourself an injury.

- Well, you've got to show me. - Shh, there's someone living down there.

And...open!

WOMAN: Well, it's a bit dark. MAN: Dark? No, there's windows.

- No, you're right. - It's a fresh start.

It will be nice. Right, so which one's ours?

Upstairs.

WOMAN: Well, what are you waiting for, Christmas?

- Is she pretty, Reg? MAN: Cheeky Beryl! Get up there.

- Hard to say, from this angle. - You keep your bloody hands to yourself.

Do you hear me?

- Show me. - Get yourself up them stairs!

(GIGGLES) Get off!

- Woo! - (SHRIEKS WITH DELIGHT)

We're not long married, Mr Christie. Could do with some privacy.

BERYL: We've never had our own place. Be nice to know you're keeping an eye out.

Women need to be handled with care, Tim.

I just wanted to say thanks. Mr Christie said you'd talk some sense into her.

Your Beryl... She was seen, Tim.

TIM: If I see you with another bloke... BERYL: What do I need another bloke for?

- Did you follow me home, Mr Christie? - You've been telling us lies all along!

WOMAN: Come on, Tim. What have you done?

(ANGUISHED CRY)