The Secret of Crickley Hall

Mr Cribben wants to see you.

HE PRAYS IN GERMAN

FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING

SCREAM

SHE BREATHES HEAVILY

'Mummy!'

SHE SIGHS

Me too. What was yours?

I can't remember.

Well, maybe it was my dream and you picked it up. Sorry.

Why can't we have our own dreams? I know!

Why, love? Sorry, go back to bed. Can't you just wing it?

I've never seen YOU wing it.

It's a bit difficult with structural engineering.

No-one dies if you skim a bit. We've got work.

You don't have to copy everything your mum does, you know. I woke up, so he woke up.

Right, last warning, or it's cold-hands-down-the-back time.

Loren!

Breakfast downstairs. No!

Let's get you dressed.

Let's play bombs.

What's "bombs"? Hey, did YOU make that?

Bomb!

Good game.

Dog's up. Ah, thank you...

for coordinating everything with such military precision.

Go. Right, I'm walking away. Come on, boy. No! Oh, doesn't want to go.

He's been saying for weeks he wants to spend the day with me! I love you, Daddy. Oh, do I love him?!

Come on, we're out of here. Say it! Mwah, love you, go!

Bye!

Bye.

When's breakfast?

Do you want to help me look for it? No.

I don't know what day of the week it is. Friday.

Yeah, thank God. He's been no trouble.

You been showing her your magic finger? I'd never have noticed. Is it rare?

My mother had it. Does it mean anything?

Just that we're connected.

We hear each other sometimes. Don't we? All the time.

We tend to wake up at the same time. That must be really...

Incredibly annoying.

Slide! You are not serious.

Please. Why?

I didn't go outside. You did go outside! You are such a big liar!

I need fresh air.

Right, here it is -

you can do the slide or the swings or the roundabout,

but not all three.

Do we have a deal? Deal! Deal means promise. Deal!

Look at me!

I AM looking at you.

You've got five minutes, OK?

I love you, Mummy.

I love you more.

Let me go!

Cam?

Cam!

Cam?

Cam!

Baby!

I fell asleep.

I fell asleep. Don't.

Someone must have been watching us, or... He may have just wandered off.

He might have hurt himself or fallen under something, or...

Just go home and see the girls.

They're going to ask me what happened.

It's not your fault.

It is. It's not, and you don't tell them that, Eve.

Tell me we're going to find him. Of course we're going to find him.

Hey, how can we not find him?

Mum.

Sweetheart, try and sleep. Please.

I can't stop thinking about it.

You were watching,

so there wasn't time for him to just wander off.

Someone must have grabbed him.

Loren, please.

Is that what the police think? Mummy. No. No.

If you can't sleep, we can watch TV or I could read a book to you.

Why can't you hear him, Mummy?

EVE SOBS

He's gone.

He's gone.

Who could do this?!

Who did this?

'Mum, someone said you dropped your shopping - are you OK?'

I need to ask you something. How would you feel about moving?

Not permanently, but just out of London for a couple of months.

I don't want Mum to be here for the anniversary.

She'll never go.

She might...if it comes from you.

You could say you're finding it too hard, or...

I don't know, you can't concentrate. Where?

Job's come up on the coast, up north. What about school?

They've got schools.

I know it's not great on you. This is more important than school.

'Mummy!'

SHE BREATHES HEAVILY

How long? Ten minutes less than last time you asked.

Clyde's going to be sick.

Devil's Cleave, Dad. It's called Devil's Cleave.

Is that like cleavage?

Bit too much?

Always.

Which way's the school?

There's a school bus for the village, but...

they said they'll make a stop. Hear that, princess? Don't have to struggle down to the school.

Come on, Clyde!

Clyde! Stop sulking. Come on!

Clyde!

God, you ARE sick.

Was this a family home? Er, don't know.

It's not been rented in a while. They're pretty desperate.

I got the cleaners in. Yeah, they've really gone to town.

What is that smell?

Hey, what's up there? Junk room.

It's the only place I can get a signal.

So what's my room like? We gave you the biggest one.

You've been a couple of angels. Thank you.

So, has Daddy put you on best behaviour? We like it here.

Do the police have the landline here?

They've got my office and my mobile.

Yeah, I'll give them here too.

People do remember things on anniversaries.

And if they do, we're a phone call away. All right?

SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC

BOY CHANTS

FOOTSTEPS

Can you hear me?

We love you, baby.

CLOCK TICKS

CLOCK TICKS

Come down here, young man.

This one's the worst.

He came to us from Germany. He's run away four times.

Where he thinks he can escape to, I have no idea.

We have to watch him like a hawk. Isn't that right?

What's your name? Stephen.

Stefan Rosenbaum.

Understands every word but refuses to speak it.

You shouldn't run away, Stefan. There are bombs back in London.

You're much safer here.

There's no-one else who's going to look after you. Go on.

You're an orphanage girl, yourself.

I suppose you believe that gives you a special insight.

I believe I understand what some of them are going through.

This isn't the place for sentimentality.

I believe in discipline.

My brother sends his apologies.

You've been told about his injury, I'm sure. You don't have to pretend.

People can't wait to gossip about misfortune.

I'm sure you've had your fair share of that.

May I?

I'll need to see the extent of your affliction

if you're going to work for us.

Do you have any use of it?

A little.

So you'll understand the need for sensitivity in these matters.

That's a point greatly in your favour.

Welcome aboard.

CLOCK TICKS

This thing makes a terrible racket.

I was told Mr Cribben was fully recovered.

It's important you understand how much he needs peace and quiet.

I won't beat around the bush, Miss Linnet.

My brother needs us to be on our very best form.

That's what makes the house cold. No, that'll be the dodgy boiler.

Don't worry, it's secure. But yeah, we'll make it a no-go area.

Is that a generator? They get power cuts, apparently.

Listen, there's a B&B a few miles further out.

No, I'd rather it was just us. It's a good choice.

There's no dishwasher.

I'm going to teach you a new game. It's called washing up.

Mummy!

Stay up! You're not allowed down here, baby.

There's a man!

It's all right. It's all right, he just gave me a fright.

That's the last thing I wanted to do. I'm sorry.

Percy Judd.

I used to work here.

Eve.

So you didn't fancy staying in town, then.

My husband's working here for a couple of months,

so it's not a holiday. He's an engineer.

Who's an engineer?

We're just keeping him company.

Hello. Gabe.

Percy.

DOG BARKS

A-are dogs not allowed?

I should keep it outside.

No!

Yeah, he's more of...an indoor dog. The owners won't find out?

Not from me. You must have seen a lot of people come and go.

One or two.

It's just it doesn't feel like anyone's lived here for a while.

You keep your girls out of the cellar

and I'll make sure no-one knows about the dog.

If you get any problems, telephone me. Thank you.

Anytime.