 Nilford, England a small city with a large railroad station Where suburbanites change trains on their way to or from Liverpool There's a second-rate refreshment room in the station a sort of cafe Rather a gloomy place, but quite acceptable for brandy or a cup of tea while you're waiting for your train Why was a lovely surprise? Oh Hello, dolly, my dear I simply must have a cup of tea I was going to stop at spindles, but I was terrified of missing my train. Oh dear This is dr. Harvey dolly friend of mine. This is message. How do you do? How do you do doctor? Would you be a perfect deer and get me a cup of tea? I doubt if I could drag my poor old bones as far as the counter. Yes, of course, mr. Alec, there's your train. Yes, I know what you're coming with us. No, I go in the opposite direction my practices and Shirley Dr. Harvey's going to Africa soon. Oh, how thrilling Bye. Oh, goodbye doctor You'll have to run or you miss it. He's got to get over to the other platform. Yes. Yes. I know Oh miss, can you tell me if the catchworth trains in yet? Is that it coming now? Express oh That doesn't stop here does it? But what on earths the matter Laura? Are you ill? I Don't know. Oh, do come back and sit down. Do you look terribly peeky? Our trains do please. Let's just walk over to the platform. Have you all right? Relax Laura. Well, I'm so glad you feel better. Oh, it's silly of me back there in the station I thought I was going to faint Well, he certainly was very nice looking who by your friend dr. Who's this known in long Laura Hardly know him at all really my dear. I've always had a passion for doctors I can very well understand how it is that women get neurotic Acquaintances, I never particularly cared for Fancy and going all the way to Africa. Is he married? Yes children two boys Well, I must say wild horses wouldn't drag me away from England. I mean after all one has one's roots Hasn't one? Yes. Yes one has one's roots. All right, dear. Are you feeling ill again? I I think if I just close my eyes for a while. Oh, you poor darling. Well, I won't say another word Do try to nap Laura and don't worry. I'll wake you in plenty of time to powder your nose. Thanks, darling Come a time when I I shan't mind this anymore When I look back and say how silly I was No No, I don't want that time ever to come I want to remember every minute always Always I'm just tired Fred. Oh, you didn't tell me about your trip today to milford Oh, I bought a few clothes for children's or movie came back on the train with dolly master. Oh dolly, huh? And what's the gossip in time this time? Oh, she um, she didn't tell me I'm sorry. I was so late getting home The the children behave didn't Laura, what's the matter? What a darling nothing friend I'm just run down I suppose I'm behaving like a fool. Would you like to go to bed? No friend really. Well come and sit by the fire then Relax, you can help me with the crossword puzzle Oh, you really have the most peculiar ideas of relaxation Laura, I think I'll telephone dr. Wiley. No, darling. You're making a fuss about nothing And I'll work your puzzle out and let me sit down Fred Dear Fred You're the only one in the world with enough wisdom and gentleness to understand As it is you're the only one I can never tell Never You are my husband This is my home upstairs in bed our children are sleeping I've been self foolish Fred I've fallen in love I didn't think such violent things could happen to such ordinary people It all started at the railway station in milford a few weeks ago I've been waiting for my train The express went past and a a cinder or something flew into my eye I went into the refreshment room She's got something in her eye If I could have a glass of water, please I think if I just bathed it maybe Albert will help you. It's all right. He's just a platform guard Ian, now let's have a look A man I knew lost the sight of one eye through getting a bit of grit in it Yeah, nasty thing, very nasty. Now if you're all still, ma'am May I help you, please? Oh, thank you. It's just something in my eye Try pulling down the eyelid as far as it'll go And then blow in your nose Let me look. I'm a doctor Oh, thank you Uh, your hand, please Now then, uh, look to the light Now then look up Now down I'd hold still, ma'am Oh, yeah, it's out. You see Oh, oh, what a relief The little piece of grit can be very painful Well, uh, my train's coming Goodbye Goodbye, Ian Oh, thank you very much Yes, that's how it began, Fred A piece of grit in my eye I completely forgot the whole incident The next Thursday, I went into Milford again as usual I changed my book at the Lending Library And then I went to the chemists And bought new toothbrushes for the children And just as I stepped onto the pavement Oh, good morning Oh, good morning How's the eye? Oh, it's fine, thank you You know, I was so lucky that you happened to be there Nothing at all, really Well, I don't believe it's going to rain after all Yes, I mean, no, yes Oh, it's going to be quite a nice day Yes Well, I have some patience to see in the hospital And I must get on with my shopping What exciting lives we lead, don't they? Yes, goodbye Later that afternoon when I was back at the station The train for Charlie was just puffing out I watched it idly, wondering if he was on it But I was really thinking of other things A present, Fred, for your birthday A travelling clock was terribly expensive But I knew you wanted it And I'd sort of half taken the plunge And left to deposit at Spink and Rodson's until next Thursday And on the next Thursday, I went in and bought it It was wildly extravagant, I know But having committed the crime I suddenly felt reckless and gay And marched straight to the Cardoma for lunch The little restaurant was jammed I just ordered when I saw Alec come in He looked tired, I thought There's nowhere else for him to sit, so I called to him Are you alone? Yes, I am Would you mind terribly if I shared your table? There doesn't seem to really be any... Oh, of course not, sit down Yeah, I'm afraid we haven't been introduced My name's Alec Harvey How do you do? Mine's Laura Jessen They're so much Mrs You come here every Thursday, you said? Yes, yes The chief physician at the hospital is a friend of mine I take over for him It gives him a chance to get to London And a chance to study the patients Oh, do you? Do I what? Come here every Thursday Oh, oh yes Yes, I do the week's shopping And I change my library book And generally go to the pictures It's not a very exciting routine, really But it makes a change Are you going to the picture this afternoon? Well, yes, yes I am I'm extraordinary, so am I Oh, but I thought that... Well, between ourselves, you see I killed two patients this morning And the head nurse is extremely displeased with me I don't dare go back Oh, how can you be so silly? No, seriously, I have a very light day Would you mind very much if I go with you? Well, I... I could sit downstairs and you could sit upstairs Oh, upstairs is too expensive Oh, yes, that's right, it is, dear Well, I'm afraid then we must sit together A good picture, wasn't it? Oh, maybe it's just that I don't get to see one very often Oh, I liked it I felt awfully grand perched way up there It's very extravagant of you Well, it was famous victory Do you feel guilty at all? I do Guilty? Well, you ought to More than I, you neglected your work Oh, I worked this morning And why should either of us feel guilty, really? Well, well, I don't know, really How awfully nice you are What's she like? Your wife, I mean A madly, but small, dark, rather delicate And your husband, what's he like? Oh, medium height, brown hair, kindly, unemotional, and not delicate at all You say that very proudly Do I? Well, here's the station This is time for a cup of tea before our trains go Good afternoon Uh, two teas, please Barrel, two teas for the gentlemen Oh, those buns, uh, are they fresh? Certainly they are, mate, this morning Uh, well, two, please That'll be seven Buns with the tea, Barrel One of my earliest passions in life, bath buns I've never had one of them Why did you become a doctor? No, well, that's, that's a long story Perhaps because I once imagined I was a bit of an idealist Oh, all doctors ought to have ideals Otherwise, their work must be unbearable Yes, and all good doctors, primarily, I think, must be enthusiasts They must like writers and painters and priests They must have a sense of vocation A deep-rooted, unsentimental desire to do good, I think Do, uh, do you specialize? Well, after fashion, I have preventive medicine Oh, I see Uh, there's your trainer Yes Well, you mustn't miss it No, no, I... What's the matter? Well, nothing, nothing, oh, really It's been very nice, I've enjoyed my afternoon enormously Well, I'm so glad, so have I Shall I see you again? Your train Shall I see you again? Oh, yes, of course Perhaps you could come out to catch worth some time It's rather far, I know, but we'd be delighted Please, please, next Thursday at the same time? No, I couldn't possibly... Please, I ask you most humbly You'll miss your train All right, goodbye, Laura I'll be there Thank you, my dear I stood there and watched till his train vanished in the darkness Then I imagined him getting out at Shirley, walking through the streets Leaving himself into his house with his latchkey His wife, Madeline Madeline Yes, she'd be in the hall to meet him Or perhaps in her room, not feeling very well Small, dark, rather delicate I wonder if he'd say I met such a nice woman at the Cardoma We had lunch and then went to the pictures Then suddenly I knew that he wouldn't mention me I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that he wouldn't say a word And at that moment, the first awful feeling of danger swept over me Sprawled comfortably on the divan, Fred Jessen is immersed in his nightly crossword puzzle A few feet away, Laura is sewing And on the grate, a fire burns cheerfully Here is happiness, one would say Man and wife, father and mother, peace, understanding What hidden behind Laura's outward calm Is an almost hysterical desperation As she recounts to herself the events of the past few weeks You don't suspect in the least, do you, Fred? No, not remotely You love me and you trust me If only I could speak to you, tell you I need help, oh Fred, Fred I need help Yes, I had promised Alec there in the station at Milford To meet him again the following Thursday But by the time my train reached Ketchworth, I'd made up my mind definitely to forget all about it I'd behave like an idiot, flirting like that with a complete stranger But after all, no harm had been done You were there in the hall as I opened the front door, Fred Your face was strained and worried, and my heart sank Fred, what's the matter? Oh, it's all right, Laura, it's nothing to get upset about But what is it? It's Bobby, he was knocked down by a car that's up there Oh, Fred! No, it's not serious, dear, he's upstairs in bed Bobby! Bobby! He's got a slight concussion, Dr. Wiley's with him now I felt so dreadful, Fred Bobby lying there with that bandage around his head I tried not to show it, but I was quite hysterical inside as though the whole thing were my fault A sort of punishment and awful sinister warning An hour or two later, everything was quite normal again Bobby was really enjoying the whole thing thoroughly Have you seen my puzzle, Laura? Oh, never mind, here it is Fred? I had lunch today with a strange man He took me to the movies Oh, good for you He's awfully nice, he's a doctor Very noble profession I thought perhaps we might ask him to dinner some night By all means Who? Oh, Dr. Harvey, the one I was telling you about Must it be dinner? Well, you're never home for lunch Exactly What's the matter? It's nothing, it's only... Oh, Fred! I really don't see what's so funny It's all right, darling, I'm not laughing at you I'm laughing at me I'm the one that's funny I'm worrying myself about things that don't even exist I told you when you came home it was nothing serious Bobby got bumped out of the hall There's nothing to get in a state of mind I know When Thursday came, I went to meet Eric after all But more is a matter of politeness than for any other reason After all, I had promised We decided to go to the botanical gardens There were some little boys sailing their boats on the lake One of them looked awfully like Bobby Now, that should have given me a pang of conscience I know, but it didn't I was enjoying myself Every minute, all the row boats were covered up It was too early in the season But Eric managed to persuade the old man to let us have one He thought we were raving mad and perhaps he was right Boating in the middle of winter Now, why don't more people think of doing this? You don't row very well, do you? I'm going to be perfectly honest I don't row at all And unless you want to go round and round In very narrowing circles You better grab that tiller and start steering Oh, the tiller! Oh, yes Oh, we had such fun, Fred And I felt gay and happy and free That's what's so shameful about it all That's what would hurt you so much, wouldn't it? To know that I could feel as intensely as that Away from you, with a stranger The porter you're left for going straight into the bank You're left, you're left, pull, pull Oh, oh, look at this You know, I never could tell left from right In case you don't know it, we're stuck in the mud Well, it's my fault, really I'll jump out on the bank, I'll push this off Oh, oh, Eric, just look at you, you're on your knees I said mud, didn't I? The old man took us into his boathouse He had a little stove And Eric dried his shoes and socks And the old man looked at us With a sort of a smile Showed me where the tea was, and then he went out You know the British have always been nice to mad people Now they're boatmen, for instance Yes, I'm sure he thinks we're quite dotty Just look how sweet he's been, oh, there's tea Milk, well, there's even some sugar Well, aren't you going to drink it? In a moment Laura, you know what's happened, don't you? Yes, yes, I do I've fallen in love with you Yes, I know Tell me honestly, please tell me honestly if what I believe is true What do you believe? That it's the same with you that you've fallen in love to It sounds so silly Why? Well, I know you so little It is true, though, isn't it? Yes, it's true Laura No, no, please, we must be sensible We mustn't behave like this We must forget that we've said what we've said No, not yet Not quite yet And whether we'd said it or not couldn't have mattered We know We've both known for a long time How can you say that? We only talked for the first time last Thursday week Last Thursday week Has been a long time for you since then? Yes How often did you decide that you were never going to see me again? Several times a day Yes, so did I Oh, Alec I love you I love your wide eyes and the way you smile and your shyness And the way you laugh at my jokes I love you I love you and you love me too It's no use pretending that it hasn't happened because it has Yes, it has And I don't pretend, not to you or to anyone else But from now on, I shall have to That's what's so wrong, don't you see? That's why we must stop here and now talking like this There's still time if we control ourselves and behave like sensible human beings There's still time There's no time at all Oh darling, there's no time at all Yes, Fred Oh, you were miles away Was I? Yes, I suppose I was Oh, you're tired of sewing? Oh well, my puzzle's almost done You shall belong, darling, and then we'll go up to bed, hmm? Don't worry, Fred, I'm perfectly happy How can I possibly say that? Don't worry, I'm perfectly happy Oh, oh, if only it were true Not, I suppose that anybody is ever perfectly happy, really But just to be ordinarily contented again To be at peace Oh, it seems an Eternity's that afternoon at the Botanical Gardens I was happy then, wildly happy, like a romantic schoolgirl Alec had said he loved me, and I'd said I loved him, it's true I imagined him holding me in his arms I imagined being with him in all sorts of lovely, glamorous places Alec and me, perhaps a little younger and a little handsomer than we really are But happily in love, and with nothing in the way That night, before dinner, you walked into the bedroom, Fred Do you remember? Oh no, I don't suppose you do, but I do You see, you didn't know that that was the first time in our life together that I'd ever lied to you And it started then, the shame of the whole thing, and the guilt, and the fear Have a good day in town, dear? Yes, lovely, Fred, a sharp day at lunch, went to the pictures Or by yourself? Yes, oh, no, not exactly Not exactly? Well, I went to the pictures by myself, but I had lunch with Mary Norton She couldn't go into the pictures because she had to see her in Laws, they lived just outside of Milford, you know Mary Norton, how is she? Oh, very well, very well, a little fatter, I thought Well, hurry up with all this beautifying, darling, I want my dinner Ketchworth, three, seven I had to phone Mary Norton, I'd lied to you, Fred, and terrified me What of you to bump into Mary Norton and mention I having had lunch together? What is she? Hello? Mary? Is Laura Jessen? Laura? Which were dead Oh, no, no, not quite, but it has been ages, hasn't it? Listen, my dear, will you be a saint and back me up in a little domestic lie? Of course, what is it? Well, I went into Milford today with a special intention of buying a far too expensive present for Fred's birthday Oh, I see Well, Spink and Robson hadn't got what I wanted, but they rang up their branch and brought them and said that there was one there, it's a sort of clock affair with a barometer and everything, you know So I hopped on the 130 train and went over and got it Well, this is where the black lie comes in, Fred wanted to know what I did today so I said that you and I had lunch together So if you run into Fred, darling, don't let me down, will you? Why, darling, of course not Oh, thank you, I'll do as much for you, I promise Well, let's really have lunch one day Yes, let's, that'll be lovely What about next week? That week was misery, I went through it in a trance How odd of you, Fred, not to have noticed that you were living with a stranger in the house But Thursday came at last I met Alec, we went to the Royal Hotel for lunch, it was all very grand Alec even ordered a bottle of champagne And when I protested, he said we were only middle aged once Oh, we were very gay during lunch, oh, Fred He, he really was charming I know you'd have liked him if only things had been different As we were leaving the dining room, he said he had a surprise for me and that I should wait in the lounge I mean, suddenly, out of the dining room there came Mary Norton and that rich, overmade-up cousin of hers They must have been there all the time and seen Alec and me and the champagne and everything Laura, so it was you after all You know how short-sighted I am, I stared instead but I still wasn't sure Oh, I didn't see you at all, how awful of me I expect it was the champagne, I'm not used to champagne But Alec insisted that... Alec? Alec who, dear? Well, Dr. Alec Harvey, of course You remember the Harvey's, Mary? No, I don't think I've ever... Oh, isn't that he now? Uh, yes, yes Oh, Alec, you remember Mrs. Norton, don't you? No, I'm afraid I don't Oh, it's no use, Laura We've never seen each other before in our lives Oh, I've said, I made certain that he and Madeleine were there when you dined with us just before Christmas last year Horrid weather, isn't it, doctor? Uh, yes, yes Well, my cousin's waiting for me Goodbye, Dr. Harvey Goodbye Goodbye, Laura Goodbye Do so, M.V.U., your champagne Oh, that was awful, awful Never mind Well, they've been watching us all through life Oh, forget it Come out and look at this surprise It was a car, a little two-seater Alec had borrowed it for the afternoon from Dr. Lim, his friend at the hospital I tried so hard to look pleased but I kept thinking of Mary and her cousin and how they must be laughing and talking about us We drove far out into the country There was little bridge and a stream and the sun was making an effort to come out but not succeeding very well We leaned on the parapet of the bridge and looked down into the water I shivered and Alec put his arm around me Cold? No, no, not really Happy? No, not really I know exactly what you're going to say that it isn't worth it that all this furdiveness and lying outweighs the happiness we might have together Isn't that it, Lauren? Something like that I want to ask you something just to reassure myself What is it? It is true for you, isn't it? This overwhelming feeling that we have for each other It's as true for you as it is for me, isn't it? Yes, it's true It was almost dark when we got back to Milford and drove the car into his friend's garage I remember feeling as if I were on the edge of a precipice Alec said he had to leave the car keys in his friend's flat He suggested that I come up with him and I refused rather to vehemently Laura, please, please may I kiss you Oh, thank you I'm not going back to Shirley, Laura I'll stay at the flat If you want, I'm going home Alec Now, I really must go home Yes, yes, of course you must I took a cab to the station I was afraid that if I walked I might change my mind and rush back to him It seemed that the train would never get there and then Train for Ketchworth now arriving on platform two I had no excuses now My train was here and I started to run toward it I'll stay at the flat I really must go home I'll stay at the flat I must go home I must go home I must go home You didn't go Oh darling, you didn't go Once again, we're in the Jesson's living room There's rather a pleased expression on Fred's face as he proceeds successfully to the end of his crossword puzzle Quite unaware that Laura, his wife, has stopped sewing that she's gazing blankly at the fire or in her troubled mind she's again with Alec Harvey back with him in the apartment of Alec's friend and the door is closing behind her It's raining quite hard Yes, you have no umbrella Your coat's wet I must look afraid Well, come here by the fire and perk up in a moment Darling, sit down You know, we're both really very foolish Oh Alec, I can't stay You know, really I can't I know, I know, but just a little while I just couldn't leave you before so I came back but only to Alec, the hall, the someone in the hall Stephen Stephen, here, through the kitchen there's a tradesman's staircase Alec, you in there? Uh, yes, coming just a moment Stephen Well, you're back early Yes, I felt a cold coming on so I'd better come on home You know Alec, you have hidden depths I never even suspected Now look here, Stephen, I don't wish- But everything don't explain I gather she beat a retreat down the back stairs, eh? Alec, I'm surprised by this farcical streak in your nature such carrying's on quite unnecessary You're very angry, aren't you? No, Alec, not angry Just a little disappointed I had run from the flat to the street and I kept running until I couldn't run any longer So utterly humiliated So dreadfully, dreadfully ashamed And then suddenly I realized I couldn't go home not until I'd got myself under more control and had time to think I thought of you, Fred and Bobby and Margaret waiting for me in the dinner being spoiled There was a tobacconist chop across the street I'll telephone to you, remember? Oh no, no, Fred, only I won't be able to get home for dinner I'm with Miss Lewis Miss Lewis? Yes, you know, the librarian She's in a terrible state, her mother's been taken ill and I promise to stay until the doctor comes Well, that's too bad there, but can't you- Oh, it's just that she's always been off your kind to me, Fred, and I feel so sorry for her What about dinner? Well, you and the children go ahead Please, please, dear, and I'll come just as soon as I can Goodbye, dear All right It's so easy to lie when you know it did that you trusted implicitly So easy, Fred I'm so very degrading I left the phone booth and started walking and I became terrified that I might run into Alec He was certain to come to the station after me So I went the other way to the war memorial The rain was over now I felt stifling hot I sat down on a bench I sat there for ages Then I noticed a policeman a little way off He was looking at me rather suspicious Feeling all right, Miss? Oh, yes, thank you Waiting for someone? No, no, I'm not waiting for anyone Don't go and catch cold Now it's a damp night to be sitting about on seats Yes, I was going now anyway I-I've got to catch a train You sure you're feeling all right? Quite thank you Good night Good night, Miss I tried to appear casual as I walked away knowing he was still watching me I felt like a criminal I got to the station 15 minutes before the last train to Ketchworth and I realized I-I'd been wandering about for over three hours The waitress in the refreshment room wasn't there just had help for her She was closing up when I entered Sorry, ma'am, we're just closing Yes, I know, but you're not quite closed yet, are you? May I have a piece of paper and an envelope? Paper and envelope at the bookstore, ma'am Oh, but the bookstore's closed Please, it's really very important I want to leave a note for someone I should be so much obliged Paper and envelope, oh, just a minute I'll look, we're closing a few minutes, you know Laura, darling, I've been looking for you everywhere Please go away, please I've watched every train Please go away I can't leave you like this You must it'll be better, really You're being cruel, Laura It was just an accident that Stephen came back early Of course he laughed Well, didn't he? I-I suppose you've spoken me together As men of the world We didn't speak of you We spoke of some nameless creature Who has no reality at all Well, why didn't you tell him who I am? Why didn't you say we were cheap And low and cowardly? Stop it, Laura But it's true It's true It's nothing of the sort We know we love each other That's true, and that's all that matters It isn't all that matters Self-respect matters And decency I can't go on any longer Can you really say goodbye, Laura? Never see me again Yes If- If you will help me I love you, Laura I love you always until the end of my life But I know this is the beginning of the end Not the end of my loving you But the end about being together I know what you feel about this evening I mean about the-the sordidness of it I know about the strain of our different lives Our lives apart from each other The feeling of guilt of doing wrong It's too strong, isn't it? It's too great a price to pay For the happiness we have together I know all this because Darling, it's the same with me, too Oh, Alec, I- Let's be very careful Let's prepare ourselves A sudden break now However brave and admirable We can't do such violence to each other Very well Laura I'm going away Please, Alec Please Not quite yet Here's your paper, Miss Oh, I won't need it now Thank you very much And here's for your trouble Yes, ma'am It's after closing time Yes, yes, I know We're just going I want you to promise me something What is it? Promise me that however unhappy you are And however much you think That things are all over That you'll meet me again next Thursday Where? Outside the hospital at 12.30 All right, I promise I've got to talk to you, I've got to explain About going away? Yes, yes Where will you go? You can't give up your practice Well, I've had a job offered me I wasn't going to take it But I know now that it's on the way up Where? It's a long way away Johannesburg Haven't told anyone yet Not even Madeleine Couldn't bear the thought of leaving you But now I see that it's got to happen soon anyway It's almost happened already When? When will you go? In about two weeks Do you want me to stay? Do you want me to turn down the offer? Oh, don't be foolish I'll do whatever you say That's unkind of you, my darling Train for Ketchworth is now arriving at Platform 3 You're not angry with me, are you? No, I'm not angry I don't think I feel anything really You forgive me Forgive you for what? For everything For meeting you in the first place For taking that piece of grit out of your eye And for loving you And for bringing you so much misery I'll forgive you If you'll forgive me Good night, Eric Thursday Thursday? You'll be there Thursday Yes, Eric, Thursday All that was a week ago, friend It's hardly credible that it's been so short a time Today, this afternoon, I met Eric outside the hospital as I promised We drove to the country again But this time he'd hired a car We didn't talk much I felt numb and hardly alive at all When he stopped at a village pub And afterwards we went to the same bridge over the stream The bridge we'd been to a week before Those last few hours, they went by so quickly And then we were back at the station again As we walked through the crowds to the refreshment room I remember thinking, this is the last time with Eric I shall see all this again But without Eric, I tried not to think of it Not to let it spoil our last moments together Are you all right, darling? Yes, I'm all right I wish I could think of something to say Doesn't matter Not saying anything, I mean I'll miss my train and wait to see you under yours Oh, no, no, please don't I'll come over with you to your platform, I'd rather Very well Do you think we shall ever see each other again? I don't know Not for years anyway The children will be all grown up I wonder if they'll ever meet and know each other It's possible Laura, couldn't I write to you just once in a while? No, Alec, please Laura, dear, I do love you so very much I love you with all my heart and soul I want to die, if only I could die No, if you died, you'd forget me I want to be remembered Yes, yes, I know I do too We've still got a few minutes Laura, what a lovely surprise Oh, hello, darling Oh, my dear, I've been shopping till I'm dropping Or I simply must have a cup of tea I was going to stop at Spindles, but I was terrified of missing the train Oh, dear, oh, this is Dr. Harvey How do you do? Oh, how do you do? Doctor, would you be a perfect dear and get me a drink? I really don't think I could drag my poor old bones over to the counter Yes, of course, miss a cup of tea It was cruel of fate to be against us right up to our last minute Dolly Meseta, poor, well-meaning, irritating Dolly Meseta crashing into these last few precious minutes we had together She chatted and fussed, but I didn't hear what she said I felt dazed and bewildered Oh, dear, no sugar It's in the spoon Alec behaved so beautifully with such perfect calm No one could have guessed what he was really feeling Then... Train for Shirley on platform one Shirley train on platform one Shirley Lee Green and Lancford train There's your train Yes, I know Oh, aren't you coming with us? No, I go in the opposite direction My practice is in Shirley Oh, I see I'm a general practitioner at the moment Dr. Harvey is going to Africa soon Oh, how frilly Shirley Lee Green and Lancford train now on platform one I must go Yes, you must Goodbye Goodbye I felt the touch of his hand on my shoulder for a moment And then he walked away Away Out of my life forever He'll have to run or he'll miss it He's got to get over the other platform You know, I never put on stand-by Dolly went on talking, but I wasn't listening to her I was listening for the sound of his train starting Then I heard the sound of the train Then I heard it And I said to myself He didn't go He couldn't have gone Any minute now he'll come back He'll pretend he's forgotten something I prayed for him to do that Just that I could see him again for an instant But the minutes went by Is that our train? Oh, Miss, can you tell me if that's a catch-with train Coming in now That one's the boat train, ma'am It doesn't stop here Express Oh, of course That doesn't stop Does it? Excuse me, Laura I want some chocolate, please Little poor client Express train Roaring down the tracks If I dashed out, I'd just had time I meant to do it, friend I really meant to do it I stood there turning on the edge of the platform I couldn't I wasn't brave enough I should like to be able to say That it was the thought of you and the children That prevented me But it wasn't I had no thoughts at all Only an overwhelming desire Not to feel anything ever again Not to be unhappy anymore I turned and went back to the refreshment room That's when I nearly fainted, I think That's when... When, darling Laura Laura, are you awake? What? What? Oh, yes, dear, yes, I'm awake Laura, darling, what's the matter? You're crying Well, I must have been dreaming Whatever your dream was, it wasn't a very happy one, was it? No Is there anything I can do to help? Yes, Fred You always help I've been watching you Your eyes were closed You've been a long way away, Laura Yes Thank you for coming back to me, darling