Mark of Cain, The (1947)

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Vite! Vite! D?p?chez-vous!
D?p?chez-vous, voyons!

Vite!

She was always the same, so full of life
and so eager to get into the world.

And I say to her...

for all these fine things she wants to have
in the world, what is she prepared to give?

Has she thought of it?
No!

- Goodbye, Madame Bonheur.
- Au revoir.

Look after her.
She was always my favorite.

- I'll come back and see you again, Sister.
- We'll be here, always.

Goodbye.

Un monsieur vous attend dans
le salon, madame.

Bien.

Excusez-moi.

Je ne m'attendais pas du tout
voir quelqu'un ici.

Peut-?tre desirez vous voir ma m?re?

Mademoiselle, enchant? de vous voir.

Mille pardons. Je suis arriv?
? ce moment. J'avais le...

Shall we speak English?

We are English, you know. We've lived in
France since my father died.

Thank you, ch?re Mademoiselle.

My French is very good, but it comes
to an end rather quickly.

- Mister Richard Howard?
- Madame.

Je suis tr?s heureuse de fair votre
connaissance, monsieur.

Enchant?, madame.
Je desire que vous...

Mr. Howard prefers to speak English.

This is my stepdaughter, Sarah.

Mr. Howard has come, I expect,
to talk about the cotton plantations.

- You've just come from England?
- From Manchester, mademoiselle.

That is England

The more important part of it,
or so we like to think.

Since lawyers take such a
long time in any country,

perhaps you would like to
stay with us for a few days?

Oh, please do, if you could spare the time
from your business in Manchester.

Oh, I have a brother who deals with
all the routine affairs.

Well, if you really think it would
be worth your while, please stay.

It will be worth my while,
I'm sure.

This church is thousand years old,
it was carved out of solid rock.

- Is it still used?
- Oh yes, but only once a year.

Bon jour.
Is there anything there you like?

- May I have that one?
- Of course.

- Merci.
- Merci, monsieur.

What does it say?
I'm afraid my French isn't up to it.

- The symbol of my constancy.
- What charm.

Ah, this is my world. Charm, elegance,
savoir vivre, all the things I like.

You really are a great success,
Richard.

Everyone admits that they had
quite the wrong ideas about Englishmen.

With the distinctive behavior of
most Englishmen in France,

one can hardly wonder at that.

You've certainly surprised them.

I hope to give them another surprise
before the evening's quite over.

You mean about the cotton estates.
Is it all settled?

No, not about the estates.

Excusez moi, monsieur, il y a l?
un monsieur qui vous demande.

Qui est-ce?

Je ne sais pas, Monsieur,
il ne m'a pas donn? son nom.

Pardonnez-moi.

- Save me the next dance, will you, Sarah?
- Yes, certainly.

M. Howard, voudriez-vous visiter
nos vignobles ? Mouton Rothschild?

- Pardon?
- Please, do visit us.

The vineyards look so lovely
at this time of the year.

Avec plaisir, madame.

John, what are you doing here?

I might well ask you the same question.

Bring me a glass of water, please.

- Pardon, monsieur?
- Un verre d'eau, s'il vous pla?t.

Now, why haven't you answered
any of my telegrams?

Is the deal completed or isn't it?
I've had to come all this way to find out.

Now look here, John.

You sent me here to do a job.
Why not let me do it in my own way?

All right, all right, Richard, there's
no need to be awkward.

The deal's complicated, that's all.
It needs a little time, a little finesse.

Time, you've had plenty of time.

We're getting short of cotton at home and
I'm not going to be caught without supplies.

To begin with, the plantations don't belong
to Mme. Bonheur, they belong to Sarah.

- Sarah? Who's she?
- Her stepdaughter.

The plantations come to her
when she marries.

- Where is she?
- Now look here, John.

I've got everything at my fingertips.
And I can assure you...

...everything will be settled in a few
days if only you leave it to me.

Yes, yes, but where is this
girl Sarah?

- She's over there with her stepmother.
- Right, then I'll have a word with her.

I tell you, you can't go in there
just like this.

Don't you realize it's a formal
function given in my honor?

It's an insult to the hostess.
Really, John, have you no manners?

Have you anything else?

- Madame Bonheur?
- Oui, monsieur?

I'm sorry, I don't speak French.

Please forgive my dress.
I've been travelling all day...

...and I haven't had time to change.

- I'm Mr. John Howard.
- Oh!

- You are Mr. John Howard?
- Yes, head of the firm of Howard Brothers.

You're so young

From Richard's description, we imagined
a solemn old man with a long beard.

Richard has a fine imagination,
haven't you, Richard?

We think a lot of him up
in Manchester.

What of his piano playing and
his amateur dramatics.

But when it comes to business, well,
I prefer to take care of that myself.

Mme. Bonheur, do forgive my
brother breaking in like this.

But of course, of course.

Mr. Howard, you must be very hungry
after your long journey.

- Sarah.
- Thank you very much.

Excuse me.

I'm afraid I don't talk about
anything but cotton.

I like listening to you.
You remind me very much of my father.

- You're very ambitious.
- Yes, I am.

Sarah.

Do you think you'd like living
in England?

I liked it very much
when I was a child.

But then of course, I am English.

Tell me about the house you
and Richard live in.

Oh, we don't live together.
Richard has his own house.

Oh.

Sarah, you're not...

Are you very fond of Richard?

I like him very much.

More than you like me?

No, John.

I find Richard very amusing.

Don't you find me amusing?

- No, John, but...
- But what?

- Oh, very...
- Yes?

M. Vernier says you may stock
your cellar.

Any vintage you like, as a wedding
present to us.

?a me ferais beaucoup de plaisir.

Well, I don't know anything
about vintages but, er...

Well, send us a dozen cases. Anything
you like, I'll leave the vintage to you.

You're offered the finest
wines in the world...

...and all you ask for is dozen cases
of anything you like.

What a connaisseur! Better stick
to your cotton, John.

Please stay John. Monsieur Vernier
is going to open a bottle of wine.

The year of your birth.
It's customary here...

...when you visit Mouton Rothschild
for the first time.

Yes, yes, I'll be back in a minute.

Richard.

Richard.

I have something to say to you,
Richard.

I've had about enough of your running
me down with these people here.

You're trying to make a fool of me
in front of Sarah, aren't you?

I'm going to prove that you
and Sarah are poles apart.

You're a fool if you can't see it
when everybody else can.

Oh, she's too good for me,
is she?

Well, she's different.

Well, the way I see it, a man who
has a business as good as mine...

...is as good as anybody else,
and better than some.

Your business?

Dad had no right to leave
it to you, no right.

You know that as well as I do.

Now let's get down to brass tax.

We've never liked each other,
have we, Richard?

Once when we were kids...

...you tied me to the bedpost and
beat me, do you remember?

Well, I've never forgotten it.

And you've never got me better
of me since, have you?

And you're not going to now!

You can make up your mind to this!

I'm marrying Sarah and there's
nothing you can do to stop it.

Not that you could understand,
but I shall get her eventually.

You know as much about women
as you do about wine.

Why not get them to send you
a dozen cases of them too?

The Jane Wharton vintage
for preference!

You leave Jane Wharton
out of this, Richard,

or you'll found yourself out
in the street!

And that wouldn't suit your pocket
or your pride would it?

Oh, to your peace offering.

That's very kind of you,
but it's not necessary.

We weren't quarrelling, this
is just the English family life.

Oh, dear, I hope not.

I was just telling Richard I'm going
to send him to the Far East.

We shall be turning
out some fine fabric soon and...

Well, I think it would be a good idea...

...if he were to find out how
the silk worms work.

Richard, you must drink to us.

John, this is your wine,
the year of your birth.

Is it?

Not a particularly good year,
was it?

Maman, why are you so upset,
I shall be perfectly all right.

Sister S?raphine was so right, you think
only of the excitement, the adventure.

I don't want to leave you, but it would be
lovely to have my own house and home.

But you haven't been to England
since you were a child.

- It will all seem so strange to you.
- Oh, at first perhaps.

But then, I shall so busy being
Mrs. Howard and helping John.

I won't have time to be lonely.

And there is always Richard
to turn to.

- ?a te pla?t, maman?
- Ma ch?rie, tu es ravissante.

Oh, Sally! What red cheeks.
Oh, goodness!

You're hardly dressed for
walking out, are you?

Hardly disgusting, madame.

- You're the new nurse?
- Yes, madame.

Mr. Howard engaged me yesterday. I'm
Miss Burt, he told me to take full charge.

You'll be kind to her, won't you?

The child needs discipline, madame.

I understand that last French nurse
you had allowed her to run quite wild.

Come along, Sally.

Hasn't she got a proper name,
Madame?

Oh, Madame, the master asked me to tell
you that he won't be in tonight after all.

He's going to another business
dinner, he says.

- Sarah, my dear!
- Oh, Richard.

I've just got back from my last trip.
I had to come and see you at once.

How lovely to see you again.

What have you been doing to yourself?

That dress! Your hair!

I have changed, haven't I?

Now tell me, what's happened to the
g*y, charming creature I used to know?

She's not wanted anymore.
John prefers me like this it seems.

Oh, Sarah, how could he?

Oh Richard, I've tried so hard
to make him a good wife,

to help him and make him happy.
Everything I do seems wrong.

The people up here resent me.
They still treat me like a foreigner.

You know what they say up here.
See a foreigner, heave a brick at him.

Sarah.

If you're unhappy here,
and I can see that you are,

why don't you go back to France?

I know you've got a big house here,
and servants and everything but...

...there's no charm, no elegance. None of
the things you and I both understand.

Leave John? I couldn't do that.

Besides, there's Sally.

Sarah, I'm going to be very frank
with you. I can, can't I?

I'm your friend, you know that.

I tell you, if you go on like this,
you'll be nothing but a housekeeper.

Perhaps that's what he wants.

But you mustn't let him, for his sake
as well as your own.

You must fight to raise him
to your level, not descend to his.

- Don't you see, you must fight him.
- But how, Richard?

In every way, don't let
him make a frump of you.

Go back to the girl
he married, she was unique.

Wear beautiful dresses, give little
dinner parties as you did in France

You must stand up for yourself!

Don't you see that?

- Good Night, Richard.
- Good night, Mrs. Howard.

- Good Night Dr. Wordsworth.
- Good night, Mrs. Howard.

Good night, Doctor.

What a terrible frock, indecent.

And that dinner!
I'm still hungry, never again.

And if the deal goes through I shall have to
drive you fellows even harder at the mill.

We don't mind, Mr. Howard. You drive
yourself harder than anyone.

Good night, come along.

Good night, Mr. Howard.
- Good night, Mrs. Wilkins.

And we thank Mrs. Howard for a
very... unusual evening.

- Good night.
- Good night.

Good night, Mr. Howard.

You must come along to us one evening to
have a nice English dinner for a change.

Come along, Jerome.

You should learn to laugh at
them up here up here, Mrs. Howard.

There's nothing much to laugh at.

What? The sight of all these people working
themselves to an early grave?

Making money they'll never enjoy?

- I laugh all day when I think about it.
- Come along, Jerome!

Coming, Mother.

I thought your French songs were
charming. Good night.

Thank you.

- I'm sorry, Sarah.
- They all hated it.

I did everything you told me,
Richard, but you see, it's no use.

The fine mess you've made of it with your
confounded fads and fancies.

These people are important to
me, don't you know that?

And what have you given?
Cold soup!

And you expect them to know
that it's meant to be cold!

French messes instead of food!

And you making an exhibition of
yourself in that dress!

Things can't go on like this,
and they are not going on like this!

No they're not. Do you know
why you married me, John?

Because I was young, and g*y, and
different from other girls you knew.

Now you want me to become drab,
and dreary, and half dead.

Why did you marry me?
I'm everything you don't want.

You don't want a wife, you want a
sleeping partner in your business.

Hold your tongue!

You do what I say, that's fact,
and it's final!

Good night, John.

It's useless to go on, useless!
I'm beginning to hate him!

You were right, Richard. I must
leave him, get a separation.

- After all I have my own money.
- No, you haven't, Sarah.

You married in such haste,
you made an arrangement.

All your money is in the business.

You mean if I left him,
I'd have... nothing?

Except what he allowed you.

I wouldn't touch a penny of it.

What can I do? I can't stay here.

You could get a divorce

Divorce?

But I have no grounds for divorce,
Richard.

Oh, come, Sarah.

What do you mean?

- You meant something.
- No, please, I didn't say anything.

After all, he is my brother.

Richard, you're the only friend I have.

You did mean something.

Is there some woman?

Well, there's Jane Wharton, of course,
but then, you know all about her.

- Jane Wharton? Who's she?
- He was engaged to her before he met you.

You mean he still sees her?

Yes. But then, perhaps people
get the wrong ideas.

What wrong ideas?

You don't know? I always thought you
did, everyone else knows.

Everyone knows?
When does he see her?

Perhaps business dinners aren't quite
as frequent as you've been led to believe.

That's dreadful.

Dreadful.

That's why everyone's been
laughing at me.

Thinking I knew all about it.

I shall get a divorce.

I shall go back to France
and take Sally with me.

Don't let me persuade you. Why not have
a talk with my solicitor in London?

How can I get away without
John knowing?

I'm going to London on Friday
on business, you can go with me.

John will be in Newcastle for
two nights with Lord Rochford.

Please, don't rush headlong into anything
without taking very serious thought.

I'm very sorry, Mrs. Howard,
but there it is.

With the law as it stands today, you
haven't sufficient grounds for divorce.

You must prove cruelty as well.

- Cruelty? But hasn't he already...
- Oh no, oh dear, no, no.

He'd have to, well... strike you
before witnesses.

I know it's very difficult, but it's
the law. Until it's changed.

Changed?

- When will it be changed?
- Oh, never, never

Goodbye.

Good Morning, Mrs. Howard.

Watch your step, lady,
there's a loose board there.

I warned you, miss, but you came
straight on.

- Are you all right, Mrs. Howard?
- Oh yes, yes, thank you.

Do you know, you cut me dead
just now.

Didn't you recognize me?

Lord Rochford's ne'er-do-well son.

Oh yes, of course, I remember.
I'm sorry.

- Your parasol.
- Oh, thank you.

Might I suggest your hat needs...

Let me rattle on whilst
you recover yourself.

I was on my way up to old Bonnington to try
and persuade him to give me another loan.

- Is John in town?
- No, no.

No? Then... then let me take
you wherever you want to go.

Oh, your flowers.

- Mustn't forget your bunch of daisies
- Thank you, they're not daisies.

All flowers are daisies to me,
unless it's a rose or a violet.

Their bark's worse than their bite,
as my mother always says.

I think you'd be much happier if you
tried to see their point of view.

- You're trying to say it's my fault
- No, but you must give and take.

Thou gets nought for nought,
thou knowest.

I don't see why you should
lecture me, a man of your reputation.

I shouldn't be seen about
with you at all.

I wish you hadn't said that.

- I'm sorry, you've been very kind.
- I'd like to be of some help, believe me.

I think you have.

- Excuse me, Mr. Howard.
- Yes, what is it?

Is anything wrong with Sally?

Oh no, sir! It's this note, sir.
It just came.

I thought it was from the laundry
so I opened it. But it's for you, sir.

I'm very sorry, sir.

I think I hear a cab now, sir.
It will be the mistress.

Tell Mrs. Howard to come in here,
at once!

Yes, sir.

The master wants to speak
to you, madam.

- Oh, is the master back?
- Yes, madam, he is.

Oh, madam.

He said at once in the drawing room.

Thank you.

Would you like me to come
in with you?

No, Richard, I'd rather see him alone.

Well, I suppose you know you've made a
laughing stock of me in my own house?

I come home and ask where's
the mistress...

...and the servants tell me, "Oh
Mrs. Howard's gone to London."

Without so much as by-your-leave,
now they all know about it.

The whole town knows about
it by now.

- I've been to London to see a lawyer.
- Oh, a lawyer? About what?

- A divorce
- Divorce?

So that's it.

You want to make a scandal, do you?

You want to ruin me.

- You can't divorce me.
- I know that now.

You knew that before you went
to London.

You may have seen a lawyer,
but that's only a blind.

I've just had this letter and
I know what you've been up to.

You've been going around
with that fellow Thorn.

That's ridiculous

Well, were you or weren't you?

I met him, yes, but quite by chance.
I had no idea he was in London.

Sheer chance I suppose that he
happened to be at the same lawyers.

Well of course it was!

So Jerome Thorn happened to
be there just at that moment.

Do you expect me to believe that?

I don't care if you believe
it or not, it's the truth!

Rubbish! And if it were, did you have to
let him take you all over London?

What harm is there in that?

How can you be so idiotic as to take
notice of an anonymous letter?

You don't know what harm
gossip can do.

You don't care. You may not like it here,
but it's my home and my place of business.

And because of you, people don't
like coming to my house anymore.

They feel you laugh at them.

Yes, Jennie?

And look down on them because
they don't dress up in Paris, France.

Your friends don't like me
because I don't wear tweeds...

...and old feathers and look like
a moulting pheasant.

I suppose that I'm not good
enough for you either, is that it?

- Oh, really!
- Well let me tell you this.

I will not have my wife sneaking
off to London behind my back...

...and going around with
men like a any common sl*t!

How dare you? You're hardly
the one to moralize!

I know what's right and what's wrong!

I suppose Jane Wharton taught
you the difference!

You didn't think knew anything
about that, did you? But I do.

She has nothing to do with this!

She has everything to do with it!
I know all about it now.

And I'm going to leave you.
I don't care what scandal I make.

I won't obey you! I won't!

Get out Richard, get out!

Sarah.

You have the evidence you need.

Thank you, Richard.
I know what I have to do now.

You leave Sarah alone, Richard!

- There's a cab for the mistress, sir.
- Right.

Put those down, put them down.

Madam's coming, she is.

I can't wait! I'll send for her
other things tomorrow.

Sarah.

You understand, if you go,
you go alone.

- John, would good will that do?
- Sally stays here.

Surely the question of the
child can be settled later.

Come along, Sarah, the cab's waiting.

You can leave the house if you
wish, but Sally is not going.

You know I can't leave without her.

You're just being cruel.
I must take her with me!

Come here, baby.

- Nurse, take Sally back to bed.
- You can't keep her here.

She's mine! Mine!

Take her upstairs, nurse.

Sally, go along with nurse.
I'll come and see you presently.

Shocking behaviour in front of the child
upsetting her so. Come along, Sally.

I can't.

I can't.

Do I need to get your powders?

Shall I send for Dr. White?

Sarah, please.

I must speak to you.

I hit you, Sarah. I didn't think
I could ever have done that.

I'm trying to say I'm sorry.

It's hard for me to say this, Sarah.

I know you're only staying
on in this house...

not because of me, but because
of Sally.

It's true, isn't it? It's a very bitter
thing for me to realize.

But because I do love you
and want you to be happy,

if you want to go and take Sally
with you, it's the least I can do.

I don't really want to leave you.

We could be happy.

We were at first, when you weren't
so overbearing, thoughtless about me.

I'll stay.

I need you so much, Sarah.

I love you too, John.

I'll get something to take the
bruise away.

But you must take care of
yourself, John.

You haven't been at all well lately.

I'm sorry, madam, I can't
let you have this unless I know you.

Oh, of course, it's Mrs. Howard.

I didn't recognize you for a moment.

You'll have to sing the poisons book.

- Just a formality, you know.
- I understand.

I want it for my plants in
the conservatory.

Oh, yes.

Green fly.

- Hello, baby.
- We've come a little early, Mrs. Howard.

I thought that with Mr. John ill, perhaps you
wouldn't be going to the concert after all.

Dr. White thinks it's quite
all right for me to go,

so Mr. Richard will be taking me.

Do you like the new dress
nurse has made for her?

- No.
- Come along, Sally, dear.

I love you.

Dr. White, how is Mrs. Howard?

Mrs. Howard? It's John I came to see.

I'm very worried about that
brother of yours, Richard.

He drives himself too hard.

And everybody else too, I expect.

He's been under a great strain.

- Is he drinking much?
- Oh, no.

Of course these domestic
troubles don't help.

You probably know they had a
very serious quarrel last night.

He quite lost control over himself.

We all feel it would be better
if they separated.

This kind of thing can't
go on, Doctor.

That has got nothing to do
with me, Richard.

He's been taking far too many
of those powders of his.

Medicine he calls them.
But I told him...

that if taken in conjunction with
the medicine I've given him,

it would be highly dangerous.

However, he's promised me
faithfully not to take any more of them.

Well, I've given him a sedative, and I'll
come in again first thing in the morning.

- Good night.
- Good night.

- Good evening, Jenny.
- Good Evening, Mr. Richard.

I told you so, you know? You're burning the
candle at both ends, you'll k*ll yourself.

I'm not dead yet, Richard.

I hope you're not taking too many
of those potent powders of yours.

They're the only thing that do
me any good.

I know it must be difficult to give
up taking them all at once, but...

- I'm sure it's best.
- Oh, nonsense.

- Give me one now, Richard.
- You're better without them.

I've got to have it.
In the coloured box there.

I say, get me one!

Or do I have to get up
and get it for myself?

I still think you oughtn't
to have them, you know?

Yes, yes I know!

Only one, Richard, no more.

I'm sorry you can't come to
the concert tonight.

Go out for supper afterwards.

Look after Sarah.

Yes, I'll look after Sarah.

Now you can keep quiet.

Jenny.

Has Mr. Richard arrived yet?

- He's in the drawing room, mum.
- Thank you. I'll take that.

It's your broth, darling.
Try and drink it.

Thank you.

You're so pretty, Sarah.

Oh, it's left no mark.

I made up a lotion for bruises the nuns
taught me when I was a little girl.

See?
It's gone.

And forgotten, isn't it?

Sorry to miss taking you out.

I wanted to.

But that'll come, won't it?

Must I go, John?
I don't want to.

I'd much rather stay with you.

You'd better go.
Young Tom Rowden's playing.

And he's Manchester born and bred.

You'll enjoy it with Richard.

He knows more about music
than I do.

Besides, the Howards must be
represented.

All right.

Come back quickly.

I'd be happy.

There's no message yet, Mr. Howard.

Thank you, if anything comes through
have it brought at once please.

I'll ask the attendant to let you know
the moment anything arrives.

- Thank you.
- Are you expecting something?

No, but I think it's best they should
know where we are.

- Mr. Richard.
- Who wants me?

Mrs. John. My, he's a grand pianist
for local art, isn't he?

- Yes, I'll think he'll get on.
- Yes, he is very talented, excuse me.

He's no cause to be so short.
He's not like our Mr. John.

- Is that for me, Mr. Richard Howard?
- Nay, I'm looking for Mr. Emmet, Sir.

Oh, Richard, I'm very sorry
to hear about John.

- When I heard the news I was quite upset.
- News? What news?

That he isn't here tonight, he must be
very bad for him to stay away.

- Good evening, Mrs. Howard.
- Good evening.

If you'll forgive my saying so,
I always admire your dresses.

And I like those roses in your hair.

You're very observant, considering
all flowers are daisies to you.

I hear you're going abroad,
is it true?

Yes.

I think it's better to get away
from here.

It's very sudden, isn't it?

Well it's about time I did
a job of work.

I'm going to Canada to ranch there.

I'm sorry you're leaving.

Well, I shall miss my friends,
of course.

And if I may say so...

You in particular.

You'll soon forget all about us.

Mrs. Howard.

Will you come to the boat
and say goodbye?

All my family will be there,
it will be quite respectful.

Of course I will.

It depends on how John is, he
hasn't been very well lately.

I'll come if I can.

If only to throw some daisies at you.

I have enjoyed myself, Richard.
I'm so glad you came.

You should always be happy.

You look radiant tonight. Like you did
when I first saw you in France.

Thank you Richard.
Shh, the music.

I see you're still wearing
my brooch.

Oh, yes, yes.

Of course, you gave it to me.

But do you remembered
to wear them, didn't you?

I'm just as much in love with you
now as I was then.

You can't be serious.
Shh, the music.

I've never been more serious
in my life.

Richard!

What ever is the matter with you?

If you attach so much importance
to this brooch,

I think you'd better have it back.

You know I love John.
I always have, I always will.

No, you can't,

Mrs. Howard, Oh, Mrs. Howard,
will you come quickly?

There's been a message,
your husband's very ill.

You know I love John.
I always have, I always will.

- How is my brother?
- The doctor's with him now, sir.

- How is he?
- It's over.

Over?

Oh, please, don't misunderstand me.
I mean the immediate crisis is over.

You gave me quite a shock.

I'm afraid there is not a great deal
of hope for your brother, Richard.

What's the cause of the attack?
Has he said anything?

No, I haven't allowed him to talk.

It's something he's taken, or been given,
some acute irritant...

...that has caused this relapse.
I'm very worried about it.

- Then you suspect...
- I suspect nothing

But I'm taking every precaution.

I'm sending around a nurse to take
complete charge of the patient.

I think that's the best thing for everybody.
Good night, Richard.

Good night.

Good evening, ladies.

Oh Mr. Richard, I'm glad you've
come. 'Tis a sad time.

And after brewing me fifth cup of tea,
will you be taking a cup?

Cover yourself up, girl.

Well, well, this is bad news
about the master.

So sudden, wasn't it? He must have
taken something, obviously.

Sit down.

Can you account for, it cook?

- No, sir.
- No, of course you can't.

- He hadn't had anything to eat, had he?
- Only the broth, sir, that's all he had.

- But you prepared that yourself, didn't you?
- Nothing bad leaves my kitchen.

Of course not.
And who took it up to him?

- I did.
- You did, Jennie?

Did you give it to him yourself?

No, sir, the mistress took it from me at
the door, I never gave him nothing.

Oh, Mrs. Howard took it from you.

And naturally there's nothing
wrong with that.

- Did you see her give it to him?
- No, sir, I didn't go in.

There was nothing in her hand,
I suppose?

In her hand? What could there be
in her hand, Mr. Richard?

Nothing that could have gotten mixed up
with the soup, by accident, of course.

- I don't think so, sir.
- Of course not, that's absurd.

And what you know about all this?

I don't think the mistress has
done anything wrong, sir.

Thank you, Mrs. Cobb.

Well, for your own sakes, I advise
you to be very careful.

Mrs. Cobb, I should prepare
everything yourself.

Jennie, when you take it up make quite
sure that Mr. John gets it... himself...

...and no one else. Then we can be quite
sure that everything is all right, can't we?

- Good night.
- Good night, sir.

Oh, by the way, there is something
I forgot to tell you.

Dr. White has arranged for a trained nurse
to take complete charge of the patient.

Just as a precaution.

I couldn't help giving the mistress
the tray.

She took it from me.

Did she have anything in her hand?

No.

There might have been something
even if I didn't see it.

I'm sure there wasn't.

Oh, you, you're always sticking up for her
with your bits of French and your fancy talk.

Trying to imitate your betters,
aren't you?

Come to think of it, when I
went into her room tonight...

she was mixing something in a bowl.

When she saw me she covered
it over, like that, hiding it.

Fancy.

But surely, Mrs. Cobb, it's much
easier for me...

to make the master's broth in
the little stove in his room.

No, madame, I don't want you
to come into my kitchen.

I know what Mr. John likes...

...and if he hasn't been getting it these
years, it's not my fault.

You'll have to speak to Nurse Brand,
madame. She's in charge now.

I am in charge here, and I say
that the patient shall not be disturbed.

Dr. White, she won't let me in to see
my husband, what does this mean?

Nurse Brand knows her business,
Mrs. Howard

- But I...
- She's acting in the best interest...

...of the patient, believe me.

You may encounter a certain
amount of resentment.

I'm sorry, but it can't be helped.

It's most important that the patient
should be watched all the time.

Yes, doctor, I understand perfectly.

I'm afraid that not much hope, nurse.
I've called in two specialists.

I must have a another opinion.

There are certain aspects in this case
that make me very uneasy.

John, what are you doing?
What do you want?

I'll get it for you.

I'm feeling so weak, get
me one of my powders.

No, John, the doctor said
you mustn't have them.

You know they're dangerous,
especially now when you are so ill.

You must, they're the only
thing that help.

You want me to get well,
don't you?

- Of course, my darling.
- Then get me one, quickly.

In the coloured box.
It'll stop this pain.

I can't John, let me call the doctor.

No, no, no, you must get it quickly.
Please, Sarah.

Please.

But I don't know what's in them.
They may do some harm.

Please, Sarah, please.

All right.

I'll mix it with your barley water.

Now rinse it out.

Now you must try and rest.

When you wake up...

...you must be well again.

Oh, Mr. Richard.

Stay and play with dolly, dear.

I wanted to speak to you about this.

It wasn't properly sealed up
and, uh...

...knowing what I know I thought
it my duty to show it to you.

You shouldn't open other
people's letters you know?

Did she? Well, did she?

Oh, Mr. Richard. Mrs. Howard has gone
into his room.

- Did she give anything?
- No.

- Tell me the truth, did she give him anything?
- No, no

You're lying, I know it!
Did she give him anything?

Yes, yes, something in the glass.
But I'm sure there's nothing wrong.

There, I knew it.
I'll send for Dr. White.

There's something dreadful
going on in this house, Mr. Richard.

I don't know what it is, but I
feel it in my bones, I'm sure of it.

You mustn't jump to conclusions.

- What have you got there Jenny?
- Flowers, Miss Burt.

Flowers? At a time like this!

From that Mr. Thorn, I shouldn't
be surprised.

Take them up to Mrs. Howard's room,
will you Jennie?

Yes, Mr. Richard.

Mr. Richard.

Oh, Mr. Richard.

He is much, much worse.
I must tell Dr. White to hurry.

I'll stay with him till the
doctor comes.

Come closer, Richard.

You'll soon be rid of me.

What are you smiling at?

You've hated me, haven't you?

There were times when you
could have m*rder*d me, weren't there?

That nurse...

...tries to keep Sarah out, why?

They think you must have
taken something.

Poison?

They let you in.

Why not Sarah?

Better get rid of those powders
of mine.

We don't want any mistakes
made, do we Richard?

- How many are there?
- Two

Uh... three.

You tell me there are three left?

I'll destroy them, don't you worry.

Only three.

Stop! Stop!

All right, Richard.

You needn't do it twice.

You've got me, tied to
the bedpost again, haven't you?

I had to do it, John.

All your life you got exactly what you
wanted. You got the business, you got Sarah.

I've had to bide my time.

We know how to wait up
in health, don't we?

Now I'll get what I want.
I'll get the business and I'll get Sarah.

As I want her, you understand?

You're dying John, so you might
as well know.

They'll think that Sarah poisoned you.

You shan't die till I've told you, listen!

They'll come for Sarah.
She'll suffer, she should suffer.

She'll find out which one of
us she should have married.

But she won't hang. I'll see to that,
I'll save her.

But I shall have her at my feet,
grateful, humble, willing.

Sarah...

...at your feet.

Not this side of eternity.

Will you send for the doctor
at once, please?

Jenny's gone already Mr. Richard.

I'm afraid the worst has happened
to my brother.

Oh no, sir!

Better find Mrs. Howard at once
I think she's in the nursery.

I knew it, I knew it! She shan't be left
alone with that poor child.

Give me that child!

Lizzie Burt! What's the matter,
what's happened?

You should know!

Sarah!

Sarah!

Sarah, I have some bad news
for you.

- What is it?
- Your husband is dead, Mrs. Howard.

It can't be.

- I only left him a moment ago.
- We know that, Mrs. Howard.

No one can go into the room until it's
been investigated by the authorities.

Investigated? I don't know what
you're talking about.

- I will go in!
- You must be calm, my dear.

- Come, let me take you to your room.
- John!

Why are they all staring at me
like that?

What have I done?

- What have I done?
- Don't excite yourself, my dear.

There must be some misunderstanding.

Little things upset people,

such as your receiving flowers from a
comparative stranger at such a time.

But my husband's dead,
don't they understand?

They all stare.

All they can think about is someone
sending me a bunch of daisies.

- John!
- Sarah... Sarah, my dear.

Now we mustn't allow feelings
to get away with us, must we?

Jennie, you say you saw Mrs.
Howard take the master's soup in?

- Yes, Mr. Richard.
- Wasn't that a natural thing to do?

Yes, Mr. Richard.

Tweeny.

You saw something put
into the barley water. But what?

- It could have been sugar, couldn't it?
- Yes, yes, that's what I said.

Mrs. Cobb, all of you. You've known
Mrs. Howard for several years.

Have you ever known her to do
anything bad, anything cruel?

- She wouldn't do it, would she?
- No, I don't think so, sir.

But flowers from a man
and her husband dying.

A gentleman sends Mrs. Howard
a box of flowers.

Could he know that her husband
was dying?

Could she refuse to have received
the flowers?

No, no, my friends.

That'll be the doctor...
and the Police sergeant.

- Police?
- Yes, I sent for them.

You'd better let them in, Mary.

I prepared you this,
for the journey, madam.

Thank you.

Take care of my baby.

- See she has everything she wants.
- Yes, madam.

Silence in court!

All persons who have anything to do
before My Lord the King's Justice,

draw near and give your attendance.

God Save the King!

Put up Sarah Marguerite Howard.

Sarah Marguerite Howard.

Silence in court!

Sarah Marguerite Howard,
is that your name?

Yes.

The indictment charges you that on
the third day of September of this year...

at the Lodge Manchester in the county of
Lancaster you m*rder*d John Howard.

How sayeth you, Sarah Marguerite Howard?
Are you guilty or not guilty?

Not guilty.

Mrs. Howard, will you please
go into the witness box?

Silence in court!

Your witness, Sir William.

Mrs. Howard,

you said this morning that on
the night your husband died...

...you and he were completely
reconciled, am I right?

- Yes, that's quite correct.
- I see.

But there had been a good deal of
friction up to the day before his death.

Yes, there had.

And then quite suddenly you became a
devoted wife and loved him very dearly.

You ask the jury to believe that?

Yes, it's true.

Nevertheless, on the 18th of September,

you visited a firm of solicitors in London
seeking advice about a divorce.

Yes, we reconciled after that visit.

But you had arranged to meet
Mr. Thorn.

No, I met him quite by accident!

Very well.

You met in romantic circumstances,
shall we say?

I fell down some stairs. Mr. Thorn happened
to be there and came to my assistance.

Do you call that romantic?

Subsequently you and your husband
quarrelled. He struck you in the face.

Yes.

Was it on account of your visit
to London,

or was it because of your
meeting with Mr. Thorn?

On account of my visit to London.

Nevertheless, the witness
Mrs. Fisher said...

I saw Mrs. Howard and Mr. Thorn
in London together.

And I...

I thought it was my duty to
tell Mr. Howard about it.

So it seems your husband knew
of your meeting with Mr. Thorn.

- Yes.
- Thank you.

And then, after this violent
quarrel, you went to a chemist,

unsuccessfully hiding your identity,
and purchased...

...two ounces of arsenic.

Yes, I bought if for a lotion to
take away the bruise on my face.

I was going out that night.

The witness, Mr. McGruber the chemist...

She said it was for green fly
on the plants in her conservatory.

Did you, in actual fact, Mrs. Howard,
have green fly on the plants?

No, I just said that. I didn't want
him to know why I was buying it.

I see.

This lotion was made up for a
perfectly innocent purpose.

Of course.

On that Thursday night you
went to your husband's room.

You were dressed to go
to the concert.

At the moment of your approaching
the doorway...

She took the bowl of broth from
me and went into the master's room.

She had something in the other hand.

Could it possibly have been the bottle of
lotion you had in your other hand?

No.

Nor the packages from the chemist
from which this lotion was made up?

- No, I only had my evening bag.
- I see.

So you gave your husband the broth
and said good night, no doubt,

kissed him perhaps, and then
left him to go out and enjoy yourself.

I wanted to stay with my husband.

He insisted upon my going.
I didn't want to go at all.

Even though Mr. Thorn was going
to be there.

I did not know that.

But you met him, you laughed and talked
with him meanwhile your husband was dying.

How could I've known?

That is exactly what we're here
to find out.

Your husband was in fact desperately ill,
yet the very next day...

...you were writing to this gentleman you'd
met casually once or twice as far as we know.

Would you hand this to the witness?

Is that letter in your own
handwriting, Mrs. Howard?

- Yes.
- Let me see that letter.

"Heartbroken, I couldn't get away."

"John is much worse, it's hopeless,
I can't leave him now, Sarah."

- You wrote that?
- Yes.

You were brokenhearted?

Of course not.

Oh, but your husband was dying.

No, he was extremely ill.

The why did you say hopeless?

Did I say that? I...

I think I meant...

I meant hopeless to think of seeing
Mr. Thorn. He was going abroad.

You weren't perhaps preparing your lover
for the news that you'd soon be free?

No, he was not my lover!

Then why, may I ask, did you
use these extravagant terms?

I don't know, I... I wrote the letter in
a hurry and under great strain.

I wasn't thinking of double meanings.

"I can't leave him now."

When did you expect to leave him?

Never!

But you had recently tried
to leave your husband's house.

Yes.

And you are the loving
mother, the devoted wife.

Now, Mrs. Howard. You were asked for
very good reasons, no doubt,

to keep away from your husband's room.

Taking advantage of the nurse's
absence, you went in...

...and what do we find?

I saw her.

She took the powders out of the box
and stirred one into the barley water.

Then she looked around at him...

ever so artful, not like her at all.

I know she didn't do anything wrong.

She was kind to me.

It wasn't like that!

My husband begged me
to give him the powder.

I didn't want to upset him.

So I only pretended to give it to him.

None of it went into the glass!

- You immediately rinsed out the glass.
- Yes, because he asked me to!

So that no powder was
found in the glass.

Considerable traces were however found
in your pocket, on your handkerchief.

Yes, because I poured the powder into
my handkerchief and put it into my pocket.

In the coloured box in
your husband's bedroom,

in the drawer of the desk downstairs,
in a box of flowers, Mrs. Howard,

in your bedroom, how do
you account for all that?

I don't know, I don't know. My husband
kept his powders in odd places...

The flowers were brought into the
house one hour before he died.

You don't suggest, Mrs. Howard, that
he could have placed the powders there?

Of course not... I can't understand it.

I didn't even open the box.
I heard my child crying.

I put it down and I went to her.

I never even lifted the lid. From that
moment onward I never thought about it.

Until after he died.

I wasn't thinking of boxes
of flowers then.

Except as a receptacle to conceal
something.

I had nothing to conceal!

I never at any time lifted the lid
of that box!

Then Mrs. Howard, how do you account
for the poison being found there?

I don't know.

I don't know how anything
could have happened.

Everything I said, everything
I did without thinking,

you've twisted out of shape,
distorted beyond all reason.

I tell you I loved my husband.

For the first time in years we thought
we were going to be happy.

And now I'm... I'm a bad wife.

I light woman.

A murderess!

I'm not.

I'm Sarah...

I'm Sarah Howard.

Everyone knows me...

They know I wouldn't do it.

They know I couldn't do it.

Sir William, I think this would be
a convenient moment to adjourn.

We will therefore resume
tomorrow at 10 o'clock.

Then we are to understand, Mr. Thorn,

that your meeting with the accused
in London was accidental.

Yes.

- It was not an assignation?
- No.

But, nevertheless, you spent
a considerable time...

...in the company of a married woman,
whom you say was only an acquaintance.

You met her at the theater
the following evening,

The day after that you sent her
flowers, is that correct?

Yes.

Mr. Thorn,

there is one quite simple question
I should like to ask you.

When you met the accused in London,
were you in love with her?

Don't answer that!
My Lord, how is this relevant?

Proceed, Mister Attorney.

Very well, if my learned friend
objects, let me put another question.

You suddenly decided, after your
meeting with the accused in London,

to go to Canada. Is that correct?

Yes.

Might I ask if you made that decision
because of your feelings for the accused?

Yes.

Mr. Thorn, are you in love
with the accused now?

Mr. Thorn, I asked you a question.
Remember, you are on oath.

Are you in love with the accused now?

I am.

Can I be giving my evidence
today, Mr. Burden?

No, but you'll be called tomorrow
morning, Mr. Howard.

- Has Sir Jonathon seen you?
- No, but I saw him.

Good morning, Lord Rochford.
How is the case proceeding?

Richard, if you have any evidence that will
help her, for heaven's sake let us know.

Haven't you done enough harm already?

Your carrying about with her in London,
and your box of flowers?

- Why not leave it in capable hands?
- Yours I suppose?

Yes, mine.

Endeavour if you please, Mr. Howard, to
answer the questions without embroidery.

Would you please answer the question!

You asked the jury to give a verdict
which concerns the life of a woman.

And you base it upon the
histrionic ability of a tweeny.

You allowed her to
demonstrate what she saw.

Why may not I interpret
in my own way?

You have asked the question,
Mister Attorney,

and I think we must allow the witness
to answer it in his own way.

If he fancies himself histrionically,
as he evidently does.

Thank you, My Lord.

The little tweeny, it seems, saw the mistress
of the house putting something into a glass.

The lady, she said, looked artfully
over her shoulder, like this.

That seems to be as highly colored as
the periodicals she probably read.

Could it not have been a glance over
her shoulder like that?

Nearly a harmless glance.

Mister Attorney, where is this leading?

I don't feel we're getting anywhere.
I'm quite sure you feel the same.

One more question, My Lord.

And if I can only get a plain
answer, I shall have done.

Now this is a very serious question.

I'm glad.

Packets of poison were found
in a certain box of flowers.

All we want to know is, how these
packets came into that box

Sir.

To say merely that I cannot
account for it would be utterly misleading.

I can't account to it any more
than I can account...

...for the of cobweb of suspicion
that entangles the accused.

The bowl of soup, the glass rinsed out,
the scribbled note, little everyday things.

And all of it sudden the soup
becomes lethal.

The glass held poisoned drugs.

The note is to a lover.

- Please, will you answer my question?
- No, sir!

I will not answer your question so as to
mislead the jury, which is what you want.

I will tell the truth.

This woman bickers with her
husband over petty things,

and here it is magnified until she becomes
a cruel unscrupulous woman...

...plotting to m*rder him for
her lover's sake. And then! And then!

How does this cunning, determined murderess
set about this supposed crime?

Will you please answer my question!

Is she satisfied with a huge
amount of poison...

...already in my poor brother's
possession? Oh, no.

Absurdly disguised, she goes off
to a shop...

...where her face is well known
and buys a little more.

My Lord, I protest, this...

And then, having deliberately
sowed suspicion on herself,

does she carefully try to hide it?
Oh, no.

She makes lotions of it,
leaves it on her dressing table.

She spreads it everywhere, in her
pockets, on her handkerchief, anywhere.

In fact, it could not have been
worse concealed...

...had she marched out onto the landing
with a ten gallon can of it on her head,

...labelled "Poison"!

Silence in court!

Silence in court!

Now, now, now, you are embroidering
again. I've warned you already.

And the true reason is the one which
must now be obvious to the jury.

There was nothing to conceal, there
was no real feeling, there was no love.

Please, you must not make speeches.
This is contempt of court. Stand down.

You are basing this whole vile accusation
on what Mrs. Howard herself described...

to me on the very day that
her husband died...

- ...as a bunch of daisies.
- I say stand down!

- And a bunch of daisies...
- Remove the man from court!

...but it will not, it cannot, it must
not make a chain of evidence!

I apologize, My Lord.

I was carried away by my absolute
conviction of the woman's innocence.

My deepest regrets.

Mr. Howard, I make all allowances in the
case of witnesses under emotional stress.

But this behaviour of yours
is without precedent.

You have laid yourself over to a heavy
fine for contempt of court.

I'm sorry, My Lord.

Mrs. Howard, will you please go
back to the witness box?

- It'll soon be over now.
- Aye, we'll be away about five o'clock.

Aye.

Now there's just one point I
seek to establish, Mrs. Howard.

I merely seek confirmation.

This box of flowers in which
the poison was found...

I understand you to declare you didn't
know what flowers were inside the box?

I had no idea.

Oh no, of course not, you couldn't.
You hadn't open it nor even lifted the lid.

No.

Now, Mrs. Howard, the witness Mr.
Richard Howard had sworn...

that in that very evening, just
after the death of your husband,

you referred to a box of daisies.
Did you say that?

I think I said... I think I said
a bunch of daisies.

We all know that that box
contained marguerites...

...and two large bunches of
common daisies.

I suggest you knew
what flowers were inside...

...because you had opened that box and
therefore, you did hide the poison there.

You don't understand! I only used
the expression "a bunch of daisies".

Meaning flowers, because...
Well, Mr. Thorn always used it.

He always said "bunch of daisies",
meaning flowers, any flowers.

Gentlemen of the jury.

Have you agreed upon your verdict?

We have.

Do you find the prisoner
guilty or not guilty of m*rder?

Guilty.

And that is the verdict of you all?

Yes.

Sarah Marguerite Howard, you have
been found guilty of m*rder.

No!
It's not true!

Sarah! No, no, it's not true!
No, don't you see you fools?

She must be innocent, she's innocent!
No, she's innocent I tell you, let me go!

Tear them up, tear them up!
I don't care! Burn them, burn them!

- Burn them all, sir?
- Everything! I've got nothing whatever to do!

It's finished! I had them in
the hollow of my hands.

The blind fools, the idiots!
I saved her once, I can't save her again.

I wash my hands of the whole affair.

It may be finished for us, sir,
but it's not finished for poor Mrs. Howard.

Quiet, quiet!

I've no pity for Mrs. Howard.

From now on I've only one idea,
my business!

I've got power now!

Great changes, great developments,
now that I've got the power over it!

Burn them, burn them!

She must never know.

You mustn't worry about
little Sally, Mrs. Howard.

She's safely in France in
the convent there.

Sister S?raphine has arranged
everything.

If they...

If I die, I...

I'll like her to stay there.

Please don't talk like that,
Mrs. Howard.

You're not going to die.
We're fighting hard for you.

There's your appeal to be heard yet.
I'm sure the court will quash your sentence.

We know, we all know you're innocent.

How can you know?

Only two people in the world
can know I'm innocent.

Myself and another.

There is one person who could
possibly have wanted to k*ll John.

Richard!

Your time is up.

Now look here, why do you follow
me about day after day like a shadow?

What do you hope to gain by
this ridiculous behaviour?

Richard, the appeal is dismissed.
Don't you realize what that means?

Now there's no hope left,
except in you.

Why me?

Because you're so clever, Richard.
We all rely on you now.

That day in court when
you cried out, she's innocent,

do you know what I thought?
I felt you knew who was guilty.

Nonsense, I believe her innocent,
And everybody else that wasn't a fool.

Then who could it have been,
Richard?

There were only the
servants in the house... and you.

You'll say next that I poisoned John.

No, my dear fellow,
there's nothing more can be done.

The Home Secretary, of course, but I'm
quite sure he'll take action. Good night.

Ever since she was arrested you've told
everybody that you'd save Sarah.

Well, you've failed.

I have not failed.
I never fail.

Oh, Albert...

How did you get in here?
Albert has orders to admit no one!

Packing? Sarah's under sentence
of death...

...and you think you can just
pack up and go away?

Will you stop interfering in my
affairs? Get out of here, will you?

I'll get out, Richard, in a moment.
You gave this brooch to Sarah didn't you?

Yes.

I found it on the floor of the box
the night of the concert.

I think you'd better have it back.

You loved her then, Richard,
you can't let her die now.

Please get out of here will you?
Stop pestering, I want peace!

I want to be alone,
don't you understand?

- Sarah wants to see you, Richard
- Sarah?

That's impossible.

What more can I do now?

Why won't you see her, Richard?

I'll tell you why.

Because you're trying to escape
from reality.

You're trying to run away from it now,
Richard, but you can't, you know.

Sarah's going to die. They're going
to put the noose around her neck.

She's going to hang until she's dead.
You can't run away from that, Richard!

What do you expect me to do?

- What more can I do?
- Tell us who poisoned John.

How do I know?

Perhaps John reached from the
bed and got the powders himself.

Yes, that's it, that's what's happened.
Just a miscarriage of justice.

- Do you think he could do it himself?
- Yes, of course, it's possible.

If we can prove that, then we can
save her at the last moment.

You must never forget that if you have
faith, you need have no fear of death.

Oh, Sister, I'm not frightened.

I don't want to die, I want to live.

I've done nothing wrong,
why should I die?

You must accept the will
of God, my child.

And then you'll find peace.

But the one who is guilty will suffer
the endless t*rture of his conscience.

I hope he suffers a hundred times
what I'm suffering now.

Sarah, my child.
Look at me.

You are innocent of this crime,
aren't you?

Yes.

I know it.

But in your heart, you must
be innocent of all sin.

All hatred, all revenge too.

You must forgive.

I can't.

I can't forgive him.

I can't forgive him.

Now move along there, move long,
there's nothing to be gawking at.

Here, you!

- Oh, good evening, Mr. Howard.
- Good evening.

It's no good, Richard.

John couldn't have reached
the powders from here.

Somebody else must have given
them to him.

But you haven't got any proof,
nobody's got any proof!

You gave him the powders!
You poisoned him!

All my life he put the people
against me!

Nobody's going to live who says
anything against me.

Police, police!

Tell the truth! You m*rder*d him,
didn't you?

Tell the truth! You k*lled your brother!

Here in this very room, on this
very bed, on this very pillow!

Tell the truth!

All right.

All right.

I k*lled my brother...

...because I love Sarah.

I never loved anyone before.

I k*lled my brother.

Because I love Sarah.

Put that down in your book.

Now Sarah can live.

I always said I'd save her.

Didn't I?

Oh, my baby!