Ordeal by Innocence

Ah...

Stop, stop!

Kirsten, now, now, calm yourself.

There.

There, there, there. Shuh, Shuh!

There, there...

She was alive when I left the house. I hitched a lift.

It was a good car. It was big.

It was practically brand-new.

The driver was in his 30s.

He was wearing a dark overcoat and a striped shirt and I saw the cuff.

It was striped, like pyjamas.

- I'm sorry, am I boring you, Father? - If you had a name...

I didn't ask his name. I didn't know I'd be needing it.

All your life, you've courted trouble

and never faced any consequences.

But you have to face the consequences now, Jack.

- You have to. - I didn't kill her.

Please, find that man, find that man.

He can prove it.

I didn't do it.

Perfect match.

'And that's the last twist of the knife, Jack.'

Your refusal to admit what you have done.

It was you.

Your fingerprints mixed

with your mother's blood.

No-one else's.

Yours, Jack.

I'd hoped that, one day, he might understand what he had done to us.

I'd hoped your brother might, one day, be sorry.

He wasn't.

But we forgive him because we loved him.

And now...

.. we have to look after each other and keep on living.

Michael? Christina?

These are your new sisters and brother.

Mary, Hester and Jack.

You'll be very happy here.

A good bath, tea and then straight to bed.

Aren't you grubby little tykes?

Everybody ready?

That's quite tight, Jack.

Smile, Mother.

So everyone knows we are happy.

Best faces, please.

Leo!

I'm off now.

Don't lose track of the time.

Bloody... hell.

All the cuttings raked up.

- All the cuttings! - Yes, ma'am. - I'll be checking.

'There are, of course,

some concerns about the high risk of fire

should there be an atomic detonation in Britain.

But people must remember

that our homes are built very differently

to the domestic architecture in Japan.

There, the houses are made from light, highly flammable materials,

such as paper and card...

- Kirsten? - .. and any schoolchild will tell you

that paper and card burn quickly and easily.

Kirsten!

Why doesn't anyone in this house answer when I call for them?

I didn't hear you.

My dress for this evening is hanging in my room.

It needs a press.

And will you please cover your legs?

Hosiery.

No-one wants to see your chunky calves.

Yes, Miss Vaughan.

And no creases in the tablecloths.

Nearest stop to Sunny Point, please.

Hester?

Hester!

I don't know what you're smiling at.

It's my house now.

Honestly, Hester, we're going to be late.

Right. In.

I do have to go to work after this.

I think fitting bridesmaids dresses

is a teensy bit more important than stamping books

in a boring, bloody library, actually, Tina.

Now look what you've made me do.

You ready for me, darling?]

You need a shave.

Don't they sell razors in London?

- Where's your case? - I'll get it in a minute.

Well, well, the prodigal returns.

Let's round up the fatted calf,

slit its throat and sport and play in its hot blood.

- Philip. - Mickey.

Good, you're here.

Finally. Come.

Sorry, darling.

It's only London, Mickey, you could have got here sooner.

Mickey, this sham of a wedding

cannot go ahead and I'm relying on you.

I'm the only one that cares

that Daddy's marrying that bloody secretary.

Tina's like a ghost, Hester's playing the innocent baby.

It's as if mother never existed.

You're cutting it a bit fine, aren't you?

I mean, they're getting married the day after tomorrow.

Daddy isn't thinking clearly. He's just blinded by S-E-X,

which is all Gwenda's got, but that works in our favour.

I've got a plan.

You pay her a lot of attention and flatter her,

let her see you looking at her.

At her... curves.

Letting your eyes linger.

You make up to her

and then, well, you know?

- What? - You make a pass at her.

She responds, which she will, because she's a tart,

and we arrange it so that Daddy catches her and she's gone.

He throws her out and he'll be upset, of course, but he'll have us.

If he catches me up his fiancee, he won't have me, will he?

Yes, but I'll convince him it was all her.

And you'll be completely forgiven

because he'll realise you are both just victims

of the same gold-digging slut!

Mary, you need to lie down in a nice dark room

for just about the rest of your life.

I don't know why I ever expected anything from you.

You never help. You just swan off.

To Korea, to your new life in London.

It's all right for you, but the rest of us have to stay here.

Korea was a war, not a bloody holiday!

Are you going to help save Daddy from Gwenda, yes or no?

No.

Jack would have done it.

Jack's not here.

<Mickey?

Dear boy!

My best man.

Mary, isn't this wonderful? He's come home.

Wonderful...

This gathering tonight,

I absolutely will not mind if you slope off.

There are so many people to thank

and since the wedding itself is only going to be us...

Do you think it's too soon?

- The party? - Me marrying again.

Mary's not taking it particularly well.

She didn't say anything to me.

I'm... I'm happy for you.

That means a great deal, you know.

A very great deal.

Hester is giddy to see you.

- Prepare yourself for an onslaught. - Yes.

It wouldn't have been the same without you, son.

I've missed you.

Very much.

A good bath, tea and straight to bed.

Ah.

And this is your new daddy.

Hello.

Come along.

I say, I do hope that's not THE dress.

No, that's going to the hotel on the morning

- so there's no danger of Leo seeing it. - We saw it, though.

It's white and that's all I'm saying.

- Look who's here. - Oh!

Door, Hester, please.

- But Mickey... - Will still be there when you've answered the door.

Michael, the tailor is coming tomorrow

to make sure your morning suit fits.

Hello, by the way. I'm so glad that you could make it.

Do you ever stop talking?

You're very early. Where's your instrument?

My instrument?

Your cello. And I do hope you have something smarter to wear.

- No, I... - Oh, for God's sake.

What is the matter with people? This is a formal occasion.

We can find something for him to wear.

I'm not a musician.

I'm Arthur Calgary.

The man in the car.

I'm Jack Argyll's alibi.

My apologies for keeping you waiting.

My family are very...

.. shocked.

Understandably so.

You're an Egyptologist.

- A gentleman amateur. - Oh. Most of them are, aren't they?

Mr Calgary...

It's Doctor, actually.

Not that I set particular store by titles.

And not a doctor of medicine. Science. Physics.

Does that have a bearing on this situation?

It does, actually, yes.

I came across this only very recently.

And recognised him straightaway.

It was Christmas Eve 1954 he flagged me down

and I gave him a lift to the local town.

I dropped him off outside the public house.

I asked him for the time. I've never worn a watch.

I'm late for everything.

He told me it was just before nine,