Thunder on the Hill (1951) - full transcript

Where is Edward?
Where's my husband?

Dr. Jeffreys is up
at the hospital.

You talked to him on the
telephone, remember?

Oh, yes, of course.
The flood.

There have been some casualties.
There may be more.

I brought practically my entire
dispensary, all the sulfa penicillin.

Enough splints and plaster to
mend a hundred broken bones.

Please hurry, Mr. Harmer.
I can't stand this much longer.

I haven't left my bed for weeks.

Put your bundles
down, everybody.

- Sister Helen.
- Reverend Mother.



You will receive the villagers.
Use that table in the other door.

- Where is Sister Mary?
- I don't know, Reverend Mother.

- I've been so busy...
- Let me have these blankets.

Be sure and list
everybody who enters,

and take the names of
those who are already here.

We must keep a record
of every single person.

There.

You'll be close enough to
nudge Mr. Evans if he snores.

Mr. Evans will need
more than a nudge.

Oh, Willie, I told you.
Those go in the recreation room.

Nurse Phillips won't have 'em there.

Nurse Phillips?
What is she doing there?

Sh-she be fixing it up
proper for the ladies

accustomed to privacy.



Who gave her the
authority to...?

Come along, Willie.

- I must say this time she's right.
- This time?

Sister Mary is always right.
It's one of the rules of this hospital.

What's the matter now?

Something about the Sisters'
recreation room and Phillips.

Sister? Sister Mary!

How many?
How many for supper?

Nobody knows.

Cook all you can, Sister Josephine.
Your best onion soup.

It's already on the fire.

But I thought a bit of a
stew would be appropriate.

A bit? Cook all the
meat we have on hand.

Oh, you mean no weighing
and no figuring?

Just jumpin' in with plenty
of carrots and potatoes?

- And anything else that's nourishing.
- How splendid.

Sancti spiritus domine
corda nostra mundet infusio.

Nurse Phillips, I don't remember giving
you permission to leave the hospital.

No, you didn't.

But when everything's in a
turmoil, one forgets formalities.

There is no turmoil here
unless we create it.

Sister Mary, Phillips asked my
permission to leave the ward.

Oh, then that's quite
all right, doctor.

I planned this room to be
the children's dormitory

above and away from
the contagion ward.

- The Mother Superior...
- Sister Mary is absolutely right.

This whole thing was my idea.

I'm so worried about my wife.

She'll be here any minute,
and she has to be kept quiet.

Of course, doctor.
We'll screen off her bed in the ward.

Oh, never mind, Sister.
I'll have a bed put up in my office.

Please, Dr. Jeffreys, don't be offended.
There's nothing personal in this.

It's just that it's my duty to see
that things are done in the right way.

I understand.

The right way?

You mean your way,
and that's what's personal about it.

You just have to be right!
Always right!

Please return to the hospital, nurse.

Very well.

But I'm going to get out of
here the first chance I have.

You resent anybody
with a will of her own.

Maybe if I were a thieving half-wit
like Willie you'd approve of me.

You're down on me, you are.

Willie, no!

- Think of what you're saying!
- Willie!

My hands be clean.
They have no sin on them.

Willie.

Go to the tower.

Ring the bell.

We must warn those
who are still below.

We're all a little jumpy tonight. I'm sure
Nurse Phillips didn't mean what she said.

I meant every word.
And more.

- What happened? What is it?
- I'm fed up!

- I've had all I can take!
- Nurse Phillips is upset.

Let her speak her mind, doctor.

Whatever I say,
you'll find an eloquent answer for it.

You always do.
To defend your pets and fancies.

Well, let me tell you this.

It would do your soul good
to be wrong once in a while.

If you weren't so positive about everything,
perhaps your sister would still be alive.

She... she doesn't mean it, Sister.

Doctor. Mrs. Jeffreys and
Mr. Harmer have just arrived.

Oh, thank you.
Excuse me.

Willie has proved once more
that he cannot be trusted.

As soon as conditions
are back to normal,

he must be sent away.

Yes, Reverend Mother.

We're preparing this
room for the children.

They should be as far removed
from the wards as possible.

They'll be safer here,
and they won't disturb the patients.

To be sure.

How well you plan everything.

I hadn't planned
on losing Phillips.

In fits of anger we all say
things we don't really mean.

Sister.

I want you to know that I have
not betrayed your confidence.

I've no idea how Nurse Phillips
found out about your sister.

Phillips must have resented
me for a long time.

We can't expect to
be loved by everyone.

Not even our blessed saints were.

We've got to learn to accept the
fact that we are less than angels

and make the best of ourselves.

Reverend Mother...

- Have I made the best of myself?
- Of course you have.

And you came to us later in
life than most of the others.

Sometimes I think it was too late.

It's never too late to
serve God and the ailing.

Your record is a
splendid example of it.

From novice to matron of the
hospital in eight short years.

The echoes of a past
life don't die easily.

They will at last.

If I could only be sure
that in changing my life I...

I have succeeded
in changing myself.

You must not hold yourself responsible
for what happened to your sister.

I should have let her alone.

If she wanted that man,
I had no right to interfere.

But he was altogether
an unfit person for her.

It was your duty to protect her.

I can't escape the
thought that it was I...

Suicide is such a horrible sin.

Perhaps you should go
into retreat for a while.

There's nothing more comforting than a week
of silence and meditation alone with God.

I've tried. I find no comfort.
No peace.

It will come to you.

In its own way,
in its own time.

In your own heart.

Hot soup!

Hot soup coming through!

Hot soup!

Dr. Jeffreys wants me to
apologize, but I won't.

Why should I respect her
habit when she doesn't-

With the compliments of
Mr. Evans in ward two.

Oh, The Sunday Times.
How thoughtful of him.

Not even a flood can stop you
from collecting old newspapers.

Well, if I had a thousand,
I'd have a thousand and one uses for them.

- Never discard a newspaper and ne-
- Never discard a newspaper and

never throw away a piece of string.

Now, there must be a
gizzard in here somewheres.

Oh, there you are.

- I'm so hungry I could faint.
- Help yourself, nurse.

No, not the one with the gizzard.
That's for the sweet Mr. Evans.

I do like the Times.

The pages have such a nice
grey effect on my shelves.

We've 72 adults and
25 children so far.

72 and 25, 72 and 25...
There's so much noise here.

- 97.
- Right you are.

And added to our regular 85
which makes it, uh...

- 182.
- Er, uh, 182. Right, exactly.

- Sister Mary, you're wanted in the Great Room.
- Is it urgent?

- A man and two women have arrived.
- Sister Helen will put them up.

Oh, they don't want to stay.
They want to borrow some petrol or a car.

Oh.

Well, I guess they'll have
time for some hot soup.

There goes Mr. Evans' gizzard.

To bring them to a convent.
That's blasphemy, I calls it.

She always be kind to me.

Sister.

I'm a first-class customer.

I will not have my baby under
the same roof with that creature.

- Good evening, Mrs. Smithson.
- Sister.

Molly...!

Good evening.

Keep out, Sister.
The devil's daughter be in there.

Open the door, please.

- Take off your coat. It's soaked.
- Can't you let me alone for a second?

- You'll get a chill.
- Don't you worry about my health.

They won't care if I sneeze.
They'll say, "Bless you" and go right ahead.

I only want you to be comfortable.
We'll be back on the road soon.

- I brought you some soup.
- Did you hear, Pierce? Soup!

Steaming hot and nourishing.

I was told there
were three of you.

Sergeant Melling's in there
with the Sister in charge.

Oh, you mean Reverend Mother.

I hope you like our soup.

Some of us think Sister Josephine
has missed her vocation.

She's our cook as well as
matron of our lay Sisters.

I don't want any.

- Oh, please have some. It'll warm you.
- I'm not cold!

- Then let me have your coat.
- Leave me alone, please.

Maybe you don't care
about getting ill, but we do.

Why should you?

Well, for one thing,
our wards are overcrowded.

Don't worry. I shan't take up
your precious space.

What's keeping him so long?
I want to get out of here.

Why are you in such a hurry?

I'm not.
They are.

Isn't there anything I can do?
Perhaps if you'd explain...

There's nothing you can do.

Sister, there's nothing
you can do for her.

Let me have a cigarette.

I suppose smoking isn't permitted.

- Usually not, but in these circumstances...
- What circumstances?

- You know.
- I said, what circumstances?

With practically the entire village up here,
we can't be too strict about regulations.

So if you'd like to smoke, please do.

You're not fooling me.
You know who I am. They all do.

You're only being kind to me because
you have to be. It's part of your duty.

That's true.

And if I can't be of any help it only
means that I've failed in my work.

How very clever, Sister.

Humble yourself to the sinner.
Appeal to his conscience.

It's the trick that never fails.
Well, with me it does.

You see, I have no conscience left.

Then I have no tricks left except to
ask you once more to take off your coat.

There!

I don't want you to be
a failure on my account.

You'd make me even a greater
success if you took your soup.

Let me take your wet shoes.

Get up!

Don't kneel before me!
Let me alone, I don't want you to touch me!

Huh!

Yes?

When?

Oh, they're all out, I'm sure that
they had sufficient warning.

Hello?

Hello?

Sister Amberthy, I was talking to the
chief engineer at the dyke. I was cut off.

Will you ring through, please?

What?

Oh.

The reverend ladies have been good
enough to lend us their ambulance car.

We ought to be in
Norwich within the hour.

- I'm afraid you can't.
- Why not, ma'am?

What is it, Sister?

The dyke has been abandoned.
They expect it to collapse at any moment.

In that case, I must telephone
Norwich and have them send a launch.

I'm afraid you can't do that, either.

The wires are down. There's no way
to communicate with the outside.

But we must be in Norwich before tomorrow.
She's got to be there.

But it's impossible.
It will be two or three days.

Two or three days?

I couldn't stand it.

Sister. Better put the entire
staff on emergency duty.

The dyke's gone.
They're bringing in casualties.

Why didn't the fools give
up the attempt before th-

Valerie!

- Valerie?
- How did you get here, Valerie?

Valerie Carns. Of course.

That's right.
Valerie Carns, the murderess.

Valerie Carns who is on her way to Norwich
Prison to be hanged in the morning.

But now it won't be, not tomorrow morning!
They'll just have to wait!

Can you see the noses?
"Postponed because of rain."

Like a cricket match!

Come on.

Take her to my office
and put her on the couch.

I'll, uh...
I'll get her a sedative.

Don't leave her alone, Pierce.
Not for a second.

- Sister Mary?
- Yes?

- My Molly, she feels awful queer.
- What's wrong, Mr. Smithson?

Well, if something happens,
will you look after her?

You be such a comfort to her
when our little Janie be born.

It means the murder woman puttin' the mark of
Cain on the child that Molly be carrying.

The flood will be gone, and your wife
will be home long before the baby's born.

Would you tell her that
yourself, Sister?

- It'd be a great comfort to her.
- Of course.

Oh, dear Sister Mary,
I'm so glad you're here.

Something tells me my baby
will come before the time.

Will you be here to take
care of me when it comes?

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

Thank you.

- Mrs. Jeffreys? Breakfast is ready.
- Yes?

Is Dr. Jeffreys coming?

In a minute.
He's just finishing in Surgery.

- Isabel?
- Yes, Edward?

Come, dear.
Breakfast is on the table.

Have you seen her?

- Whom?
- Valerie.

Yes, last night, for a moment.

- How did you know she was here?
- Nurse Phillips told me.

Oh, Valerie is innocent,
I swear she is!

Lower your voice,
and for heaven's sake be sensible.

I can't bear the thought of her being
under the same roof and me sitting here.

Now, come on.
Pull yourself together.

Breakfast is getting cold.

Good morning.

Sit here, Isabel.

Mr. Harmer!

Oh, please go ahead, Dr. Jeffreys.
No formalities this morning.

Mmm, smells good, doesn't it?

- Good morning, Mrs. Jeffreys.
- Good morning, Sister.

Edward, please let me go to see her.

You couldn't see her even if I wanted you to.
She's under arrest.

Yes, Sister?

I'd like to go over these charts with you,
but it can wait 'til you've had your breakfast.

- Where are they keeping her?
- In the private office of Mother Superior.

Now, just to please me, hm?

Ms. Carns was moved to
my office this morning.

We decided it would be better if she were
completely separated from the others.

Yes, public opinion is violently
against her. It's a pity.

Well, you can't really blame them.

After all, she did kill her own
brother, wicked though he was.

- Did you know Jason Carns?
- Only slightly.

Dr. Jeffreys is the one who really
knew him, having been his doctor.

What was actually
the matter with him?

A stroke. Left him almost
completely paralyzed.

The result of chronic alcoholism
and an overall dissolute life.

Isabel. Sister Mary will think
you don't like their cooking.

Oh, but I do.
It's excellent.

All this excitement has
been too much for you.

As soon as you've finished you'll go back
to bed, and I'll give you your sedative.

I don't think I'll need it today.
I'm not a bit tired.

Let me be the judge of that.

I'll never forget the look in her eyes
when I stepped out of the witness box.

By Jehovah, I'm famished.

And all I did was tell the truth.
I had to do that.

After all, I'd filled out
the prescription.

She poisoned him,
wasn't that the charge?

Gave him three tablets at one time.
Fatal overdose, would have killed a horse.

I'll wager she wasn't glad
to see you there, doctor.

I'm afraid not.

- Why not?
- I was a key witness for the Crown.

Yes, he did everything he could to save her,
brought up all the extenuating circumstances.

- If only Willie hadn't overheard.
- Willie? Our Willie?

Yes, he was to help out
at the Carns' house.

What did he overhear?

It was after a particularly bad night.
Jason was in agonizing pain.

When I got there,
I found Valerie terribly distraught.

She had no idea
what she was saying.

She kept repeating, "I wish he were
dead, I wish he were dead."

I'm sorry, dear.

We were all shocked by it.
It's a tragic affair.

Then the court took Willie's
testimony as evidence?

No, not Willie's, mine. But I had to
admit that he was telling the truth.

The truth is the truth.
You are under oath.

- I'll leave the charts with you.
- Thank you.

Hear now, you can't go in there.

I... thought I could see
Ms. Carns for a moment.

What about?

I... knew her slightly before...
before it happened.

I thought I could comfort her.

There's very little any of
us can do for her, ma'am.

Short of saving her from the gallows.

The gallows?

Aren't you Dr. Jeffreys' wife?

Yes. You won't mention
this to him, will you?

I'm not very well.
He'd be very upset, if he knew th-

- I... Thank you.
- Mum's the word.

You all know what
you're to do, Sisters.

We must be firm about people remaining in
the rooms to which we have assigned them.

You please report to me immediately
if there's any difficulty.

The day staff will relieve
you just before mass.

I had better go back.

- Wasn't that Mrs. Jeffreys?
- Yes, she wanted to see Ms. Carns.

- And you wouldn't allow her?
- You think I'm too hard on the prisoner.

No, it's not that...

With all due respect to your intentions,
don't get involved with Ms. Carns.

Let me warn you, Sister.

It's not kind to encourage the
prisoner to any form of self-pity.

It only makes it harder for her.

And for us.

- Who's playing?
- Ms. Carns. She's a fine musician.

That's one of the things she's
missed the most, a piano.

- Has she been a difficult prisoner?
- No more than most.

Not as much as some.

Of course these last
days are the worst

after the Home Secretary
turned down the appeal.

You see,
they all have the same idea.

- What's that?
- That they are not guilty.

I see.

Boy, I've meant to ask Willie
to repair this latch for ages.

When did you come in?

Just a few moments ago.

Please go on. It's not disturbing me.
On the contrary.

How is Willie?

Oh, I don't know.
Unpredictable as always.

And just as frightened.

He didn't look at me
once during the trial,

just kept wiping the
perspiration off his face.

But I'm not angry with him.
He only repeated what he heard.

I shouldn't try to guess, I
know so little about music.

Is it Debussy?

No, it's Carns.

You're a composer.

Jason Carns.

Jason, your brother?

Yes, the one I killed.

You don't like it, do you?

- Oh, but I do.
- No, you don't.

Poor Jason.

All his life, he had to contend
with head-shaking and disapproval.

But you're all wrong.

Jason's music has great merit
and will not be forgotten.

That's the only thing
I still believe in.

Wouldn't you like to change
into something more comfortable?

I forgot to bring my wardrobe along.
Very careless of me.

Well, forgive me.

This will keep you warm.

Are you sure you don't mind a
murderess sleeping on your couch?

You didn't kill your brother.
I'm sure you didn't.

How very kind of you.
That makes two of us.

Even if you had done it out
of some false sense of mercy,

his death would be on your conscience,
and you wouldn't find peace.

Not for a second.

You had it while you played.

But I've told you.
I have no conscience.

I'll never believe that.

I should have played Jason's sonata for
the jury, perhaps they'd have acquitted me.

- I have the deepest conviction...
- Now, don't talk about divine inspiration.

I wasn't going to.

Then tell me. Why do you
think I'm not guilty? Tell me!

Perhaps because I know
how it feels to be guilty.

All right, suppose you
believe in my innocence.

What does that mean to me?
Words, just words!

But can you do
something about it?

- I can pray for you.
- More words.

If you really want me to believe
you, do something!

- Help me to live through these last few days.
- I will.

Bring me the one human being
who really cares about me.

His name is Sidney Kingham.

- Is he here?
- No, in Norwich.

Only eight short miles away.

But you know it's impossible
to get to Norwich.

You're a nun! A holy woman!
Why don't you perform a miracle?

Don't slurp so loud.
Chew with your mouth closed.

Then I'll be choked.

Put the food in your mouth,
not your mouth in the food, Willie.

Aye.

Well, Willie, Ms. Carns
asked about you.

- Kindly, did she?
- Yes.

She's not angry with you.
She made a point of that.

She be as kind and
sweet as any bird.

Finish your supper
and get some sleep.

Tomorrow is another
long day ahead of us.

Aye, Sister.

- Have you had anything to eat?
- Mh-hm. I don't know. I must have.

I'm not a bit hungry.

Aren't you tired?

When I'm that tired,
I haven't the energy to stop.

Peelin' potatoes for me is
like knittin' for others.

It relaxes me.

And in the spring,
when they're very small,

They feel like beads,
and I say my rosary while I work.

Sure I must have told you
this a hundred times or more.

- What'd you say?
- Something's preying on your mind.

You have that faraway look in your eyes.
Is it still that unfortunate girl?

This great flood...
It's God's will. It must be.

It surely is.
It was in Noah's day.

It must be His will.

To surround our house with water,
to let no-one in and no-one out...

- Oh, if I could only go to Norwich.
- To Norwich?

I'd do anything if I
could get there tonight.

Well, that's the first foolish thing
I've heard you say in eight years.

We'll have leek-and-potato
soup tomorrow.

Night, Sisters.

- Oh, good night, Willie.
- Good night.

- Be here at six o'clock to start the fires.
- Aye, Sisters.

Oh, I guess they
soaked long enough now.

You forgot the water.

I mean me feet.

Ever since last night,

from the first moment I saw her,
something passed between us.

I know she's no more
guilty of murder than...

- Than you are.
- But you can't be so certain, Sister.

But I am! I am certain!

It's as if I were driven from within
to do something.

- Sister, I need your help.
- My help?

I want to know everything
about the trial.

But how would I know?

Those newspapers you
are always hoarding.

Find me every scrap
dated January.

- Is this wise, Sister?
- Please, I must do this.

But I might've used those papers.
It's been over a month ago.

- We've got to find them. No, no, tonight.
- Tomorrow.

Here we are. January 14th.

"Carns trial continues.
Defendant denies guilt."

Well, that's all there is here.

Let me think.
What else did we do in January?

The medicine cupboards. Yes!

Listen to this.

"Prosecution: 'If no-one
else was in the house,

who, then, but you could have given
your brother the three tablets?'

Carns:

'I told you a hundred times.
I took one tablet from the phial.

I did not substitute the aspirin
for the two missing tablets.

- I gave him one tablet. Just one tablet!'"
- Shhh, not so loud.

This is a picture of Jason Carns.

- Do we need that?
- No.

Shhh.

What's the meaning of
this, Isabel?

- Where did you get this?
- I... I found it. On this table.

I... I... heard a noise.

Somebody...

You're lying.

You've been hiding this
picture against my orders.

No, Edward, I found it here.

- I came out because...
- There was nobody outside.

You're lying to me.

Edward, I told you I'll
never lie to you again.

Go back to bed, Isabel.
Go on.

I think we only changed the papers under
the raspberries and the applesauce.

November.

Here's one.

"Chemist Harmer gives testimony."

Oh, I think we have
that from another paper.

Better make sure.

Who's there?

- It be me, Willie.
- Willie? You're drippin' wet!

- I've come to fetch you, Sister.
- What have you been doing, Willie?

She be wishin' to go to
Norwich, and so he will.

Norwich?

Tonight?

Willie found a way.
Nobody could but Willie.

The fog be thick and ghost-like,
but don't be afeared, Sister.

The moon be out then.

The rain be stopped for
good, I be thinkin'.

There be a dyke right under us,
crushed flat by the flood it be.

Willie, do you know a
man named Sidney Kingham?

Aye, Sister.

He be takin' Ms. Valerie
for long walks.

- Do you know where he lives?
- Aye.

Last Christmas I took a package to him.
He gave me half a crown.

I bought some sweeties
at the bakery,

and on the way back
I got a bellyache.

Good. Oh, I mean I'm glad
you know where he lives.

That be Blackthorn Hill, and down
the other side there be the bog.

- Will you stay close behind me, Sister?
- Yes.

I'll not go too fast,
but you must be careful.

Nor let no slimy places take
your feet and drag you down.

I'm all right, Willie.
Let's lose no time.

Willie, did Mr. Kingham come
often to visit Ms. Carns?

He couldn't. Her brother,
Mr. Jason, he hated Mr. Kingham.

He did? Why?

He was afeared Mr. Kingham be
takin' Ms. Valerie away from him.

He was a mean one, all right.

Hurtin' others be his pleasure.

Mr. Jason was a very sick man.

He hurt me! Threw a jug of milk
at me, cut my head!

I be bleedin' like a pig!

Oh, why did he do that?

He said my hands be pickin' and stealin'.
He be lookin' for some letter.

But Willie didn't take un.
Not then.

But you did take it?

Well, after he cut me
with a jug, aye.

Oh, Willie.

He punish Willie for pickin',
Willie be pickin'.

- What did you do with that letter?
- I have it.

I be hidin' it in my room.

You've been hid-

Do you know what it says?

Nay. I just smell it every
night before sleepin'.

When we get back, Willie, I...
I want you to show me that letter.

Aye, Sister.
Smells proper sweet.

As lilac in the spring.

- What about my beer?
- It's after hours.

Oh, now go along, Mr. Kingham.

You'll not do yourself or anyone
else any good hanging about here.

Maybe they all drowned.

They were driving through
tonight before the dyke caved in.

Maybe she doesn't have
to face tomorrow morning.

I'll get you one.

Mr. Kingham.

Willie!
How did you get here?

You have to come with me outside.
That's all I be sayin'.

- Who's out there?
- You have to come with me.

Over here.

- Oh, I thought it was...
- Mr. Kingham!

I'm Sister Mary Bonaventure from
the Convent of Our Lady of Rheims.

What is it you want?

- Ms. Carns is at the convent.
- What?

- How do you know?
- I've just come from there.

Through the floods?
That's impossible.

Willie showed her the way,
and the Sister be not afeared.

The only thing she wants
is to see you once more.

It may be days before
they can get out.

But if you could get
out, why can't they?

I never thought of that.

I knew how much she needed you,
and Willie found a boat somewhere.

This will get you into
serious trouble, Sister.

It's too late to
think about that now.

No, it isn't.

If you go back without me,
they need never find out.

Mr. Kingham!

Either you're an extremely
considerate man or...

or you don't want to
come back with us.

I'm not a considerate man.

Oh, the poor child.

And she told me you're the only
person in the world who cares for her.

I do.

I love her.

We were going to
be married and...

But that has nothing to do
with my believing she's guilty.

I've tried not to believe it.

I've been over the trial and all
the evidence a thousand times.

How do you think it feels to love
someone found guilty of murder?

How do you think I can stand
the thought of tomorrow?

Or the next day?

It's Ms. Carns we should consider now.
She has a few hours.

You don't have to tell me that.

And I am considering Valerie.

What if she should find
out how I feel about her?

Would I make her last
few hours happier?

Or more miserable?

Of course I want to see her again.

Every bit as much as she
wants to see me, but...

What if she should
see through me?

Will you take the responsibility
for her added suffering?

You're the authority
on mercy and charity.

You tell me.

You decide.
You tell me what to do.

Come back with us.

Very well, Sister.

Willie, what on Earth
are you doing?

Crushin' a little boat.

They'll be usin' un to take
Ms. Valerie to be hanged.

Willie is much wiser
than anyone would think.

You better wait here.

- Who is it?
- Sister Mary.

Oh.
Just a minute.

- What time is it?
- I don't know.

Oh, it's you.

I did what you asked.
I went to Norwich.

- You must've walked on the water.
- Willie found a boat.

Sidney!

Oh, Sidney!

Sister Mary!

Dear Sister...

- Sergeant Melling.
- You go and have your breakfast.

I'll stay with her.

Oh, Sister Mary. Is it true that
you went to Norwich last night?

Yes, sergeant.

Of course you notified the
authorities that we are here.

No. No, I...
I didn't have it in mind.

Oh, that's unfortunate.

However, I'll have Willie or whatever his
name is take us to Norwich immediately.

I'm afraid that's impossible.
Willie destroyed the boat.

Destroyed the boat?

Why didn't you stop him?

- She couldn't.
- This is Mr. Kingham.

Kingham?

Sidney Kingham?

Her fiancé.

So that's why you had to go to Norwich.
To bring him back.

I'll see the authorities
find out about this.

You must do your duty, sergeant.

It's my fault, Sister.
I shouldn't have asked you.

I knew what I was doing.

Wait, Sister.

I have a gift for you.

We don't accept gifts.

You did this for an innocent
woman, not a guilty one.

I swear this to you.

It's all I have.

I make you a gift of it.

My innocence.

Oh, Deo gratias.

I'll cherish that.

I can't believe it, Sidney.

I can't believe that
you're really here.

There are so many things I
want to tell you and ask you.

But now I can't
remember a single one.

I'm so tired.

Valerie, my love...

I don't-

It's so hard to say anything, I
know, but words aren't important.

I just want to rest my
head on your shoulder

and hold your hand.

Good morning.

- Oh, Sister Mary.
- Yes, nurse.

We've been looking all over
for you, for hours.

But I'm afraid
it's too late now.

- What is it?
- Mrs. Smithson's had her baby.

- Oh, no.
- The doctor and I had a most difficult time.

- What about the mother and the baby?
- I was coming to that.

Mrs. Smithson kept asking for you.
She said you promised to be with her.

The baby's barely breathing.
A hopeless case.

You let my Molly
down, Sister, you did.

I'm so sorry, Mr. Smithson,
but I didn't know...

You had to go and bring that
evil woman's lover back.

Her pleasure meant more to
you than my wife and baby.

Oh, don't bother.
There's nothing you can do.

Our baby'll die.

It's my first boy.

Morning, Sister.

Atelectasis?

Both lungs.

We managed to aspirate some mucus,

but he's still hardly breathing.

Have you used oxygen?

Yes.

And we had him in an
incubator until an hour ago.

I'd bronchoscope him
if I had the equipment.

Is it that bad?

Couldn't be any worse.

Would you like me to take over?

- You must be twice a tired as I am.
- No, I'm not.

I wish you'd spoken with me
before you went to Norwich.

I'm afraid you couldn't
have changed my mind.

It'll break your heart if you get
yourself involved in the Carns affair.

Uh... Call me if there's
any sudden change.

In every community, civic or
religious, there's always a Judas.

We must remember not
to make the mistake

of condemning the pluribus
for the sins of the unum.

Mrs. Jeffreys. You should have
seen what happened this morning.

When the villagers saw Sister
Mary, they blocked her way.

They brandished
their fists at her.

I don't believe it.
I know the men of our village.

They'd never raise a finger
against a holy woman.

Sister Mary isn't holy.
She's sanctimonious.

You hate her very
much, don't you?

I hate people with a
superiority complex.

- That's why I'm going to leave this place.
- You won't have to.

I'll wager when the bishop hears about this,
Sister Mary will be transferred in a hurry.

You really think so?

Sister Mary be here?

No. And you should know
better than to come in here.

Filthy as you are.

- To everything there is a season...
- Stop mumbling, you dunderhead!

What is it you want?

- I want to speak to Sister Mary.
- You can't.

She's busy in the delivery room.

Will you be kind and...

tell her Willie has the blue letter
that smells as lilacs in the spring?

Lilacs?

Lilacs... are my favorite flower.

I'm afraid we won't
have any this spring.

Not after this flood.

They'd be smelling
sweet on the letter

if Sister Mary let me keep un.

What are you talking about?

Gibberish!

Jesus tell Sister Mary.
She knows.

The letter Mr. Jason
be lookin' for.

- What Mr. Jason?
- Jason Carns.

Aye.

- Don't you know Mr. Jason's dead?
- Aye.

- He be proper dead!
- Willie, that's no way to talk.

Sister Mary be askin' for the
letter when we be crossin' the bog.

Well, give it to me.
I'll take it to her.

I don't have un.
I be hidin' it in my room.

What for?

There's only one thief
around the mess.

You!

- Willie!
- Don't you dare!

- Leave this room.
- I'll tell Sister Mary!

Nurse Phillips,
I must go and lie down.

Would you send for my husband?
I must talk to him.

- I must...
- Later, Mrs. Jeffreys.

He's still with the Smithson baby.
Come on.

"...whereupon Willie Pentridge,
on his own initiative,

proceeded to destroy
said rowboat,

rendering it impossible
for this officer

to deliver his prisoner to the
authorities at Norwich Prison.

Please sign here, Mr. Kingham,
in the space marked Witness.

- But-
- Have I misstated any of the facts?

There is more to this than facts, sergeant.

Then I take it, sir,
that you refuse.

I'm sorry to have
kept you waiting.

Doctor?

- How's the Smithson baby?
- We put him back in the incubator.

We'll know in the
next few hours.

Sergeant Melling has asked me
to sign this report as a witness.

I think you ought
to read it first.

I don't think that's necessary.
I'm certain it's accurate.

Please sign it.

May I read it, sergeant?

Sister Mary and I worked
together for quite some time.

I'm sure you can understand that
I want to do all I can in her behalf.

I have no objections.

I regret very much having
to file this report, madam.

But there has been in effect
an obstruction of justice.

Thank you.

Please don't worry about
this, Sister Mary.

I'm convinced they'll drop the
charges against you after Valerie...

- I mean, uh...
- You mean after the execution.

I'm sorry, Kingham.

Regardless of official charges, Sister,
I wish you had used better judgment.

But Reverend Mother,
my heart went out to that poor girl.

The fact remains she's
a convicted murderess.

Jason Carns deserved what he got.

He was rotten and corrupt.

Although, having been his doctor,
I... I don't suppose I should say it.

Why shouldn't you?

He was a confirmed drunkard.

He tormented and abused
Valerie constantly.

Stop being so certain of her
guilt, both of you!

Look at the facts, Sister.
I had prescribed tablets to help him sleep.

Harmer made up a
three-week supply.

Twenty-one tablets
packed singly into a phial

the day my wife and
I left for a holiday.

Before I left, I cautioned Valerie
to give Jason only one each night,

no more, no matter how severe the pain.

Four days later, Jason was found
dead, of an overdose.

The coroner ordered an inquiry.

After four days, how many tablets
should there have been?

- Seventeen.
- There were seventeen.

Two of the remaining
tablets were aspirin.

Even so. That doesn't prove
that she put them there.

But Jason couldn't reach the phial.
He was paralyzed.

And even if he could, why would he
replace the tablets with aspirin?

It doesn't make sense.

Sister.

If Jason Carns was paralyzed and Valerie
Carns was alone in the house with him...

And I told you what she said to
me the time Willie overheard us.

That she wished him dead.

But you also told me that she didn’t
really mean it, remember, doctor?

Yes.
I had reason to fell that she didn't.

When he had his second stroke,
the one that left him paralyzed,

if she hadn't sent for me in
time, I think he would have died.

So she could have let him
die, but didn't.

She could have, couldn't she?

She saved him from dying a natural death
and then turned around and poisoned him.

I don't understand
that kind of logic.

Well, it is conceivable. One can come
to the end of one's patience, you know.

No, no. That wasn't
the case with Valerie.

Only the day before Jason died I begged
her to send him to a nursing home

so that she could be free to marry
me, but she wouldn't hear of it.

You wouldn't say that she had come to
the end of her patience, would you?

There's no sense in
putting her on trial again.

Academic discussions
won't change her fate.

Please keep away from her.
It'll only break your heart.

Sister, please come to my office.

I'm afraid you're getting involved
in matters that do not concern you.

She's innocent, Reverend Mother.

Never in my whole life have
I been filled with...

- With such complete conviction.
- You must renounce it.

Renounce it?

You will have no further
contact with Ms. Carns.

You will not speak to her again,
you are to avoid seeing her at all.

But Reverend Mother...

This girl is prepared for death. It would
be cruel to raise false hope in her heart.

That will be all, Sister.

Sister Mary? I hear the Smithson
baby is a wee bit better.

I'm afraid his condition
is still critical.

You haven't stopped
since early yesterday.

You know after vespers
you must rest a few hours.

It's a good thing Ms. Carns
was moved out of your office.

- She was?
- Oh, Willie gave me a letter for you.

Yes, of course.
I forgot all about it.

I think I have it.
Yes, here it is.

Poor Willie.
Could hardly keep his eyes open.

So I told him to have his
supper now and go to bed.

I've left my will with
my attorney in London.

Please, Valerie,
you're only torturing yourself.

I'm not. We all know what's going
to happen. Why not talk about it?

All right.
You left your will with your attorney.

I want to change it.

I want to leave half of
what I own to the Sisters.

The other half shall remain for the
promotion of Jason's music.

I'll write it all down, and you'll
take it to London after the...

Sit down, Sidney.

I don't want you to forget me.

But I want you to forget the
plans that we made together.

They mustn't keep you from
living the life you should have.

Forget that we planned to be married,
forget the house we built

- sitting by the fire.
- Darling, please.

- I don't want to hear about it.
- Well, I do.

I want you to promise me that if you
meet a nice girl, you won't turn away.

You mustn't think that if you fall
in love again, you will betray me.

But you're all I ever had.

I'll never look for anybody else.

I don't want you to
be my living memorial.

I want you to live a normal life.

I would if you died.

And above all,

don't feel badly because you...
can't believe that I'm innocent.

Valerie!

- How could you say such a thing?
- You've tried so hard to hide it.

- Ever since the coroner's inquiry.
- But it's not so.

I've told you many times.

"Close your eyes when you lie.

'Cause they give you away."

Did Sister Mary tell you?

Nobody told me.

I'm more observant
than you think.

But if you didn't do it, there's only
one other person who could have.

Who had a reason to kill Jason?
Me.

But I didn't do it.

And I didn't do it.

So nobody did it!

Maybe it didn't happen,
maybe it's all a joke!

- Valerie.
- Jason's at home, waiting for his supper!

We'd better go down.
It's getting chilly.

I don't want to go down!

It's not a bit chilly.

It's beautiful up here.

The evening,
that fresh air.

I didn't do it, Sidney!
I'm innocent, and I'm young!

And I'm in love with you.

I want to live.

I want to be your wife and live in
that house we were going to build.

I don't want you to touch
any other woman but me.

I don't want to die!

Oh, my dearest.

My love.

My only love.

Ms. Carns?

- Something important has come up.
- Well, what is it?

This letter.
It was written to your brother.

- How did you get it?
- From Willie.

Your brother accused him of
stealing it and punished him for it.

So later, when Willie found the
letter, he decided to keep it.

It was his childish way of
taking out his resentment.

It was obviously
written by a woman.

I wonder if you'd
recognize the handwriting.

Dearest Jason, I hesitated a long
time before writing you this letter.

I'm mortally afraid of
getting in touch with you.

And yet I must,
and this is my only way.

We are supecte-

No, I haven't been questioned,
and I haven't made any mistakes.

But I feel it.

There is nothing either of us can do
except go on as though we'd never met.

If you're asked,
you must deny everything.

Take care of yourself,
and please, please get well.

I'll never change,
I couldn't if I wanted to-

Huh, there's no signature.

Do you recognize
the handwriting?

- No.
- Have you any idea who it could be?

I haven't.

I knew quite a few of Jason's
girlfriends in London, but

I only came to stay with
him after his first stroke.

He'd been living here for
over a year when it happened.

- Let me see the postmark.
- It was posted in Norwich.

Norwich?
I haven't the slightest idea.

Well, why didn't Willie produce
this letter during the trial?

He was afraid.

And besides, he never read it.

He only kept it because
it smelled sweet.

Are you sure your brother
never spoke of anybody?

Well, weren't there any
telephone calls or messages?

Sister Mary.

You were definitely warned not to
come in contact with the prisoner.

I know, sergeant. I'm sorry.

You keep on interfering
with my duties.

You repeatedly violate the law.

I must report you once
again to your superior.

Pierce, take the prisoner to her room.

I've been lenient long enough.

From now on, no more personal
favors and no visitors.

Take her away.

Give up. It's too late, Sister.

There's nothing you can do.

Who be in there?

Sit here, Sister.

This is the second time in
one day that I must ask you

to account for your
inconceivable behavior.

- I think I can explain...
- Let me finish, Sister.

Through the years, you've been
a strong advocate of discipline.

You demanded of all those who
worked under your supervision.

And yet you openly
disobeyed my orders.

For my disobedience,
there's no excuse.

I should have asked your
permission to speak to Ms. Carns.

I had to see her
because of this letter.

I felt it might throw a
new light on the case.

Oh...

This only suggests that Jason
Carns had a secret romance.

Oh, it does much more than that.

Don't you see?
There's a third person involved.

Who may have decided
to take revenge.

Oh, this is only a
guess on your part.

The fact is that through
your unsolicited interference

you've done nothing but harm to
this unfortunate young woman.

You've harmed her by
raising new hopes in her.

You've harmed her by
bringing her fiancé here

and by rekindling her
passion and desire to live.

Oh, all that I've done, I've done because I...
I felt compelled to help her.

Yes, you were compelled.

Not so much to help her,

but to prove once more
that you are right!

- Oh, surely you don't think...
- This is a side of you I've never known.

This stubborn, fanatic manner in
which you cling to your opinion.

I can't even call it an opinion.
It's just a wild instinct, an idea.

It's not just an idea.
This letter, for one thing...

You were convinced of her innocence long
before you ever knew about this letter.

At least admit that.

I do.

I was convinced of it
the first time I saw her.

And every moment I've
spent with her since has...

has only strengthened my faith.

Don't call it faith, Sister.
Call it by its proper name.

A premonition, a wild notion.
How can you be so stubborn?

You keep blaming yourself
for your sister's death.

And yet you're doing the
same thing all over again.

Forcing your will on others,
no matter at what cost.

You're right, Reverend Mother.

It was just a wild notion.

All my life I've had
this relentless drive.

That's why you feel
yourself a failure.

You keep trying to do too much.

You forget there's a greater
power who guides our lives,

whose ways are not
always our ways.

Just as you believed
that you came here

because the outside world had
become empty and meaningless to you.

- That's right.
- But you're wrong, my child.

You did not come here.

You were led here by our Lord.

Remember His words?

"You have not chosen me,
I have chosen you", he said,

"and have appointed you,
that you should go and bring forth fruit."

If you would only accept that, how could
you help having peace in your heart?

If I could only believe
that God wants me here.

- Reverend Mother?
- Yes?

Willie's been struck down.

- Willie?
- Yes.

We found him in his room, unconscious,
with a terrible wound on his head.

- Who could have done such a thing?
- Have you called Dr. Jeffreys?

Yes.

And the poor lad's belongings were all strewn
about as if someone had tried to rob him.

Well, that doesn't make sense.
Willie has nothing anybody would want.

- Except the letter.
- What?

- The letter you just read.
- What has Willie to do with it?

It goes back to when Willie
worked for Jason Carns.

He found it.

You know how child-like he is.
He... he kept it!

Don't you see, Reverend Mother?

Someone here in our house must
have found about it and...

- And tried to steal it.
- Nonsense.

Any one of the villagers
might have attacked Willie.

They're all outraged at him for
helping you bring back Mr. Kingham,

for destroying the boat.

- But if there's a chance...
- I forbid you to go on with this.

No more of this
playing Scotland Yard.

You've a hospital full of patients.
They are your only concern, not this.

Sister Mary,
I want you to burn this letter.

No, I can't.

- I beg you. For the sake of your own soul.
- No, I can't!

Try to forgive me.

- Did you get it, Edward?
- Get what?

Get what?
Well, my letter, of course.

The letter I told you about.

I don't recall any
mention of a letter.

But I told you.
Willie's hiding it in his room.

The letter I wrote to Jason.

Another one of those dreams
that seem so real to you.

I thought you'd got over them.

- But... this wasn't a dream.
- How do you know?

Mr. Harmer heard Willie mention it.
And Nurse Phillips, too.

What makes you so sure that
they weren't part of your dream?

It wasn't a dream!
Ask them!

And let them know
how ill you are?

I told you before, Isabel.

I can only help you
if you trust me.

I don't think you'd like me to
commit you to a nursing home?

No.

No, Edward, don't.

It... was a dream.

A bad dream.

Only fools and children talk about
their dreams, and you're neither.

You're Isabel Jeffreys, my wife.

And I'm your husband.

Your loving husband.

Isabel... Jeffreys.

Your wife.

I wish we had a proper way to
show our gratitude, doctor.

It's Sister Mary who
deserves most of the credit.

She took over when all of
us were ready to give up.

And don't leave the baby here
too long, Nurse Colby.

Dear Sister Mary.
And we... we be so cruel to her.

Go, John, give her our thanks
and ask her to forgive us.

Sister Mary left instructions
that she wasn't to be disturbed.

In the morning, then.

You sleep now, Molly. You'll be needing
more strength for the boy.

John, have you heard the news?

The telephone lines are repaired,
and they're sending help.

The flood, it will be going
back, says the holy lady.

Did you hear that, Molly?

You'll be taking your
healthy son home tomorrow.

Shepherd's Pie and
Yorkshire Pudding.

I made it especially for you.

Thank you, Sist-

Specially for me?

You make it sound
like my last supper.

No, no,
you mustn't think about that.

- You mustn’t be afraid, child.
- Have you heard something?

You have, Sister Josephine.
They're coming for me, aren't they?

Please. Eat your supper
before it gets cold.

There's something the
chaplain reads at the last.

I heard it once from
a cell next to mine.

"'I am the resurrection and the life',
sayeth the Lord."

"And he that believeth in me,
though he were dead, yet shall he live."

"And he that liveth

and believeth in me

shall never die."

Show me the path I must
follow for I am lost.

Grant me peace.

Forgive my sins.

- Who is it?
- Kingham. I must speak to you, Sister.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Kingham.

It's terribly important.
I beg you, Sister. I need your help.

The telephone wires
are being repaired.

Melling's already called
the Norwich police.

They're sending
a launch at once.

Then it's all over.

I won't let them kill her.

I'm going to take her
away before they come.

We'll get to the coast somehow, and...
and I'll charter a fishing boat.

- But that's impossible!
- Not if you'd help us.

If you could arrange for Ms. Pierce to
leave Valerie's room for a few minutes...

That's all I need. Just a few minutes.
No more than five.

No, I can't do that!

And you mustn't. You...
you'll be caught, you know you will.

Then I'll do it without your
help, somehow.

You know nothing about this.

But I do!

This makes it clear
how wrong I've been.

I've done nothing but harm.

Nothing but evil
will come of it.

You've lost your courage,
your faith.

You know she's innocent.

What about the letter?
What about the attack on Willie?

They don't prove anything.
Not really.

- Oh, I thought you were alone.
- Goodbye, Sister.

I won't let you go.
You'll never get through.

- Where are you going, Mr. Kingham?
- It's about Ms. Carns.

Just brought her supper
a little while ago.

Just breaks my heart.

That beautiful, young face.

And so brave,
so brave about her fate.

Oh, I've been such a fool.
All these months I wasted.

Why couldn't I have believed
in her from the beginning?

I thought you should look
at these newspapers again.

Some of them you
haven't even seen.

Oh, there's nothing there.
I've been over them all a thousand times.

It's no use.

Might as well burn them.

Oh, no. Never burn a newspaper
or throw away a piece of string.

You must read them, all of them.
You can't give up.

Did you know, for instance, that
Jason Carns was arrested once in London

for thrashing a man he
claimed had insulted him?

He was always getting into rows.
But nothing serious ever came of them.

Or that the proprietor
of the Golden Flag

threw him out one night
when he was vicious drunk?

Yes, I read that,
but it had no bearing on his death.

Mr. Kingham, will you promise me
that you won't do anything rash?

Did you know Mr. Harmer,
the chemist, had two key rings?

"Counsel for the defence: Why do you
keep two sets of keys, Mr. Harmer?

Mr. Harmer: In case one gets lost.
They're identical keys."

"In identical order.
I'm well-known for my preciseness.

I think it is the first
requisite of a good chemist."

You've really studied
the testimony.

"'You recognize all the keys?'
'Indeed I do.'

'Name them.' 'House, car, garage,
barn, shop, poison cabinet, storeroom.'"

Wait a minute.

Wait a minute.
There's something wrong here.

Something wrong?

Listen. "Counsel for the defence: 'Will
you name the keys on the second ring?'

Mr. Harmer: 'This is ridiculous.
They're duplicates.'"

- Well, there's nothing wrong in there.
- No, the next passage.

"'If you please, Mr. Harmer.'

Harmer: 'House, car, garage, barn, poison
cabinet, shop, storeroom.'"

- Mr. Harmer is a meticulous man.
- No, don't you see?

In naming the keys
on the first ring, he said,

"Garage, barn, shop,
poison cabinet"

and on the second, "Garage,
barn, poison cabinet, shop".

Let me see.

You're right.

Well, there now,
what did I tell you?

Never burn a newspaper
or throw away a piece of string.

- Mr. Harmer.
- What is it?

Will you come with me?
It's very urgent.

Mr. Kingham?
What do you want?

I'll tell you outside.
Come on.

Please forgive us, Mr. Harmer.

I'm accustomed to being awakened
in the middle of the night.

It's one of the crosses a man in
my profession must learn to bear.

I told Mr. Harmer why
we wanted to see him.

It's absurd, Sister.

I never make mistakes.
It's one of the few virtues I can boast of.

In all modesty, of course.

Look, Mr. Harmer.
Read this passage of your testimony.

Silly.

I was sure I left my
spectacles in my coat pocket.

Oh, I thought I heard voices.

I was just on my way to
take another look at Willie.

Sister Mary accuses me of having
made a mistake in my testimony.

And, of all things,
in naming my keys.

You making a mistake?
That is hard to believe.

Well, if you'll excuse me.

Mr. Harmer, it's here in black and white.
I'll read it to you.

I'd rather read it myself.
Not that I don't trust you, of course.

But in a serious matter such as
this, I want to make sure.

"Name the keys on
the second ring.

House, car, garage,
barn, poison cabinet..."

Fancy this.

Oh, this is ridiculous.
Somebody's made a mistake.

It might have been the clerk
of the court, or the reporter.

B-but how can you be
so sure of yourself?

After fifty years, one knows one's
virtues as well as one's faults.

And in fifty years you've
never made a mistake?

Even at the risk of seeming a
bit of a braggard: I have not.

But you made a mistake
just a few minutes ago.

You're jesting, of course.

You were sure that you'd put your
spectacles in your coat pocket.

And they aren't there.

By Jove.

I must look at those keys.
They're in my briefcase, both sets.

It won't take a minute.

- Oh, doctor. How's Willie?
- I, uh, I haven't seen him yet.

On my way over I remembered I
hadn't given my wife her sedative.

You see, the keys were
impounded by the court.

And when I got them back,
I never thought to look.

This is keyring number one.

This is number two.

House, car, garage, barn...

Poison cabinet.

You're right.
They're not in the proper order.

Someone did temper
with the keys.

Someone took the key to the poison cabinet
and put it back in the wrong place.

Someone tempered with the
phial I made for Jason Carns.

I think this is definite evidence.

But who had access to
these keys besides you?

Ms. Carns is innocent.
I never believed she killed her brother.

- But who could have done it?
- Who?

Whoever took the key from the ring and
replaced it incorrectly. I don't know who.

My apprentice, perhaps. Or Willie.
He cleans the shop twice a month.

Or any of my professional
clientele, for that matter.

There are several doctors and visiting
nurses in our district, you know.

They have the run of
my shop at all hours.

Well, you must tell
Sergeant Melling about this.

- There's no time to lose.
- Of course.

No, Edward.
Don't.

I've had my sedative.
I don't want another.

This is only
half a gran, darling.

- And you'll be sure to sleep.
- No, Edward, don't.

A gran and a half.

- I don't want another...
- Mrs. Jeffreys.

You knew Jason Carns.

- I'm not allowed to say.
- Oh, you must tell me.

You... you can save an innocent life.
You don't want Valerie Carns to die.

Poor Valerie.
She loved Jason, too.

If only he lived,
I wouldn't be here.

You loved him.

You wrote him that letter because
your husband had found out.

Yes, I loved him.

He wanted to take me with him.

Oh, no. Please, Mrs. Jeffreys,
try to stay awake. Tell me!

Come, you must tell Sergeant Melling.

I'll help you.
You must get out of here.

No.
No, I... I...

No, no. Please, come with me

Come now, hold on to me.

Think hard, Mrs. Jeffreys.

Fight your drowsiness.
Don't let yourself go.

We were to meet in London,

take the boat from
Southampton...

Now, stay awake.
It's not much further.

In Victoria Station, in the
luggage office, there's a...

a suitcase full of
things he bought for me.

You must tell all of
that to Sergeant Melling.

Such beautiful things
he wanted me to wear.

Isabel.

Edward.

You killed Jason.

I've always suspected it.

Now I know.

Go back to your room, Isabel.

You killed him.

Because I loved him
you hated him,

and he had to die!

Isabel.

Go back to your room.

Why?
Why did you do it?

He was a hopeless
cripple, doomed to die.

No, he wasn't.

He was going to get well.

Isabel was going away with him.

There's only one thing to do.

We must go and tell
Sergeant Melling the truth.

You're right.

There's no way to escape.

I'm tired.

- Where are you going?
- To see Sergeant Melling.

He just went up to the tower
to watch for the police launch.

You don't have to come.

- You're a sick man, Dr. Jeffreys.
- Have you just found it out?

I've known it for a long time.

My love for Isabel
is a sickness.

An incurable one.

You would have let
Valerie Carns die.

I placed the two aspirins in the
phiol to divert suspicion from myself.

It happened to fall on her.

As you can see,
I'd stop at nothing to keep Isabel.

Why couldn't you
take my warning?

Why did you have to interfere?

Why couldn't you
let things alone?

Where's Sergeant Melling?

Where is he?

Let me go down.

- Let me go down!
- You'll never go down, Sister Mary.

- No!
- We'll go up to the tower.

- No!
- We'll go up where it's quiet.

- Where nobody can hear us.
- No!

No, you wouldn't.
You wouldn't, they'll know!

- Nobody will ever know.
- They'll find out!

You came up here to be alone.

You had been severely
reprimanded by Mother Superior.

You were in great distress.
It was dark. You fell.

You can't!
Oh, try to think!

Dr. Jeffreys, think of your own soul.
It's not just the law you have to answer to.

There's a higher authority
you must face one day.

This is my damnation.
I'll bear it when it comes.

If I have to.

There must be some feeling in you.
For Valerie. For me!

I'm sorry about you and Valerie.

Why are you so afraid of death?

Why don't you pray?

Maybe your higher
authority will hear you!

Mrs. Jeffreys!
What's happened?

Here, let me help you.

Sis-, Sister Mary...
Oh, that bell!

- That bell!
- Mr. Kingham!

What's wrong?
Who's ringing the bell?

Have mercy!
I beg you, have mercy!

Mr. Smithson, look after my wife.
She isn't responsible for any of this.

- You've got to go back to bed, Willie.
- All right, Sister.

Sister Mary!

You've shown great
ingenuity and courage.

I'm sorry to have made
it so difficult for you.

Oh, thank you, Reverend Mother.
But I don't deserve your praise.

It was Sister Josephine
who saved Ms. Carns.

Me?

She insisted on my reading the
newspapers after I'd given up hope.

Sure I only insisted because I
happened to see Ms. Carns unafraid,

praying to Almighty God.

Now I know.

We were chosen by Him.

You found the answer, my child.

To be right is a heavenly gift that is
wasted unless it is wrapped in humility.

Deo gratias.