Episode 6 The Living and the Dead

-I'm not pregnant!

-I think you are.

-NATHAN: 'This is why we came here.'

Oh, nothing else matters.

Gabriel. They've seen him, standing by the lake, right where he drowned.

William Payne, the new proprietor at Marshfield Estate.

'When I was looking for Charlie, I saw lights rushing towards me.

'There's a woman. A ghost. She has been present

'from the very beginning, throughout all these hauntings.'

-GIDEON:

-I thought Mr Denning was going to put an end to this business.

You're not welcome here, Denning!

None of them will work for us again. You do realise that?

Why should there be a scientific explanation?!

Because if there isn't, I'm going mad.

-That's Gabriel.

-I was going to tell you.

-When, exactly?

-Leave us alone!

-No! No!

I can't abandon my husband, not now.

This programme contains some scenes which some viewers may find upsetting

GHOSTLY LAUGHTER

Show yourself.

Gabriel, please.

I'll do whatever it takes to see you.

-GABRIEL:

-# Rock-a-bye baby on the tree top

# When the wind blows...

# The cradle will rock

# When the bough breaks...

-# The cradle will fall... #

-SHE GASPS

Who are you?

What do you want?

Help me.

# This one night

# This one night

# Every night and all

# Fire and sleet and candlelight

# And Christ receive thy soul. #

KNOCK AT DOOR

Good morning!

Good night?

-Fine, thanks.

-Wonderful.

OK. Here are your pills.

Well done.

Now, I've got a nice surprise for you.

You've got a visitor.

So why don't you pop down to the day room

and I'll keep an eye on the baby?

Lara!

Sweetheart!

Granny!

I phoned home, and Ben told me.

Is the baby OK?

She's great, yeah. She's sleeping.

He said you had admitted yourself, because you were seeing things.

Seeing what?

A little boy.

Your mother saw him, too...

..in the first months after you were born.

I accepted what the doctors were saying then,

that it was postnatal depression. What are they saying about this?

Erm, postpartum psychosis.

No, it's not.

Open it.

Your great-great-grandfather, Nathan Appleby.

Handsome devil!

This is the boy.

His son Gabriel...

..who drowned.

His workbook from 1894,

the year my mother was conceived.

This is amazing.

Can I take pictures?

This is their house?

Shepzoy, in Somerset.

We sold it when you were a baby.

I hid all of this from your mother.

I was wrong. I should have let her know.

I just hope you seeing this doesn't make things worse.

Well, maybe that's what I need.

To get worse.

To get better.

She says the hallucinations have stopped

and she wants to be discharged!

But only last week, she's reporting suicidal ideation.

And the family history!

Her mother killed herself when Lara was three months old.

No, we have to keep her in.

-Under section, if necessary.

-Sure.

OK! Say goodbye to Daddy.

Oh, I wish I could just come home with you.

Me, too. But, you know, we need to follow their advice.

They're the professionals.

Erm, I think I've left Squeaky Giraffe in the day room.

-I'll go!

-Are you sure?

-Yeah.

-OK. Thank you.

Where's Daddy going?

-Er, the day room is...down the end?

-Er, down the end, yeah.

Where's Daddy going? DOOR CLOSES

'Hey. This is Lara. Leave a message.'

-BEN:

-'Hey. It's me.

'Er, my keys are gone, Lottie's gone and you're gone.

'I'm a bit freaked out. So please just give me a call,

'just let me know you're all right

'and...let me know she's all right, please. I love you.'

This is it. LOTTIE GURGLES

You want to go inside?

Mr Payne's here for you, ma'am.

Now is really not the best time, Gwen.

I could tell him you're not here.

You've told him I am here. Have you seen my husband?

CHARLOTTE SIGHS

Good morning, Mr Payne!

Oh, good morning, Mrs Appleby. I hope I do not disturb your rest.

Not at all.

I cannot laze, sadly. I have a farm to manage.

Oh, no, please, no, I'm... I'm not suggesting indolence, I'm...

Well, I'm merely being sensitive to your, er....

Condition?

Yes. Yes, the mot juste.

So, how can I help you, Mr Payne?

Your husband is indisposed?

He is out.

-But you can deal with me.

-I'm grateful.

I have a proposition.

DOOR CLOSES

Your husband, he just walked past.

Mr Payne?

Oh, Mr Appleby!

-Glad to see you, sir.

-Yes...

I hope you do not miss too sorely

the workers who have recently left your farm.

-A lack of faith, perhaps.

-We do not lack faith.

NATHAN CHUCKLES

What do you want?

I would like to buy the two acres of marshy land

-that border my estate.

-By the lane? It's worthless.

Well, not to me. I intend to drain the field on my side,

-to pump it.

-That's ambitious.

-Of course, I'd pay you well for it.

-Of course you would,

advancing with your speculator's fortune,

step by step, parading your innovation and determination.

Qualities my wife admires...

-Nathan, I don't think...

-..until, one night...

I feel this tap on my shoulder and I turn to find you here

in my house.

I don't think Mr Payne is plotting the occupation you imply.

I merely jest, my dear!

My dear! And my dear sir!

In neighbourly fun.

NATHAN LAUGHS

The bog is yours, if my wife is willing.

He has been working late, writing.

A gifted man.

If you will give me just one moment...

I have been through hell, too, and suffered this madness.

But can we at least appear competent?

I thought you wanted more energy from me, more animation.

It feels like you're freezing over.

This is not the time to talk.

That is what you said to me - that I'd lost the spring in my step.

He's waiting for me.

I'm going with him to look at the land,

because we need money to pay wages.

To keep...going.

HE SCOFFS

-You sound like you don't want to.

-Oh? No, I'm just a...

a little tired. I didn't sleep.

Good man, I think.

An ideal husband.

So the boundary would move half a furlong west?

I have the charts back at the house, if you have the time.

Oh, certainly, let's get it done.

Oh!

One moment.

I'll unhitch you.

SHE LAUGHS

Thank you.

I'm very interested in your photography.

In fact, I've begun to dabble myself, I blush to admit.

Really?

I would value your expert advice.

SHE SIGHS

Mr Appleby?

You look alarmed.

-You took me for a ghost...

-No!

-..of my former self.

Can I make you some breakfast?

Thank you, no. My appetite seems to have...waned.

But...your remedies?

Your hedgewitch cures.

I have a mind to see those.

Ohhh!

Psilocybin mushrooms?

To help explore a difficulty, to see it,

to feel it differently.

To be used with caution.

I saw them administered once to two melancholy patients,

and one broke through her malaise, emerging much shaken but better.

The other, he did not.

He saw more than his doctor bargained for, things...

He wishes he could unsee?

Exactly. Then took his own life.

HE SIGHS

A gamble.

Kill or cure.

Deadly nightshade.

Er, I've only used the tiniest trace as medicine.

-More could be the death of you.

-I see now why you lock it.

Thank you, Gwen.

I can alight here, thank you.

Whoa...

No, please.

I'll have the papers drawn up and sent over.

Thank you.

My pleasure.

Gideon!

-How are the turnips?

-Oh, not too bad, ma'am.

It's cold on your fingers. I'm sorry we're so short-handed.

Oh, not to worry. Them that's gone got fainter hearts than some.

Maybe we don't need 'em.

Thank you!

You saw me with Mr Payne.

I'm selling... Well, we're selling him the marshy acres

on his boundary. There's a bit of old machinery up there.

Do you think we could dig it up?

-Do you think that's what he's after?

-SHE LAUGHS:

-Buried treasure? No.

Come into the kitchen for some warm cider brandy when you're done.

Thanks, ma'am.

Why can't I see them any more?

How can I hope to see when you, dear wife, distract me?

Sorry to see you leaving.

This place is cursed. We need to go.

May the Lord watch over you.

And you. Goodbye, Reverend.

Mrs Appleby! How are you?

It's cold.

Let's go to the Wheatsheaf and sit down by the fire.

-Warm sugar water with just a dash of brandy.

-Thank you.

And how is your husband?

-There's a question.

-Mm.

Somewhat remote.

More so every day.

And our baby's growing inside me, and I don't know what to do.

-I'm so sorry.

-You poor child.

Let me talk to him.

Thank you.

SHE SIGHS

Lost your flock?

Always hope to find one gone astray.

I'm sorry, Denning, for mishandling you...

and your daughter.

But I'm best left alone now.

I spoke to Charlotte.

She fears for your happiness.

Ah, but we cannot all be scintillatingly zestful morning, noon and night.

What is happiness? A man needs peace of mind.

You have your faith. You should be in a monastery.

If I had it, I would be.

I'd sit in a cell. I would watch the light move from wall to wall.

I would contemplate eternity.

-You would not miss the world?

-No.

-Or your wife?

Or the child that is coming?

-I had a child.

-I know.

-I lost him.

And as this one comes closer...

you feel that grief again.

And fear. Fear that you'll lose it, too?

Not fear.

Guilt.

-Ah!

-This pregnancy is a gift.

-There should be no shame in accepting it.

-A gift, from God?

So it was God who took my son away, sending down His angel

with her book of light to lead him to his doom,

she who appeared to your daughter and to me? I fear...

I fear she hasn't, Denning.

His soul is living. His soul, in which you believe, is not at peace.

He's isolated, he's tormented.

It's you you are describing!

You! In purgatory, unable to move on.

And it's you pulling others into your unhappiness.

My daughter. The village.

It's you, Nathan!

Me?

The lost soul?

I must find a way out.

You love your wife.

And she loves you.

You be with her now.

Not the dead.

Sensible advice. Thank you.

'Hey. This is Lara. Leave a message.'

-BEN:

-'Lara... I care...I care... about you so much.

And I know....I know it's difficult, and I know things are going on,

and I...I don't want you to feel like you can't talk to me.

Just let me know you're OK, that's all.

SHE EXHALES

FLOORBOARDS CREAK

Hello?

SHE BREATHES HEAVILY

CREAKING

WINGS FLUTTER

LOTTIE STIRS

LARA BREATHES HEAVILY

FOOTSTEPS

SHE CRIES

Only me.

Guess what? Mummy's found a cot for you.

And this.

See?

Snow!

TOY TINKLES

'You have one new message.'

-BEN:

-'OK, er, I need you to pick up the phone and call me.'

PHONE BEEPS

PHONE WHOOSHES

"Book of light."

That's an iPad.

It's me.

DOOR BANGS

I know who you are, Gabriel.

You lived here.

I want to help you, but I don't know how.

Your father clearly wanted to see you. Why didn't you appear to him?

What can I do?

He wants the new baby.

Yes.

No. But... But that doesn't...

Gabriel?

DOOR OPENS

Lost your knuckles?

-My what?

-Your knuckles.

So you can't knock.

I didn't realise your privacy was so important.

It's not a question of...

-..privacy.

-What are you writing?

-Love letters?

-It's a question of peace.

A question of peace.

-You don't want it, do you?

-I don't want what?

This baby.

Wait.

Charlotte?

Shall I fall down the stairs and give you your miscarriage?

No, of course not.

That's what you want.

I can feel it, like ice.

Why would I want you to miscarry?

Because you cannot bear to be a father again.

I'm going to go.

-Go where?

-Away from your cold eyes.

What do you think I'll do, freeze the baby in your womb?

And you look at me as if I'm the mad one. But it's you.

You're afraid...

of giving birth, of motherhood,

and so you project this infanticidal urge on to me,

making me the thing you fear, which is not only unfair...

-but stupid!

-And you're so clever,

because you found a profession where you could feel less damaged,

because everyone else is damaged more.

-Oh?

-And now, down here, you have to face it -

-there's something wrong with your mind.

-Oh, Dr Charlotte!

-And your heart.

-So young and yet so wise.

-And your soul!

-Ah, I can't.

-Can't what?

Recall what I liked about you.

DOOR CLOSES

I'm sorry.

HE SIGHS

Just us now, you and me.

POTS RATTLE

Sorry, I'm late starting today.

-Is the mistress here?

-No.

Take a few days off.

-Sir?

-Now.

Where is she?

She's gone.

And the sooner you follow, the better.

DOOR CLOSES

LARA: So, this must be... the kitchen!

Wow. Look at this place now, Granny!

I'm filming it for you.

Hm. You may not want to see it, though. It feels so...abandoned.

I knew I had to come here.

I know I'm somehow part of this.

But I don't know what part.

What am I supposed to do?!

LOTTIE CRIES

It's all right, Lottie!

It's OK, sweetheart, Mummy's coming. CRYING INTENSIFIES

Look. BEEPING

It's a walkie-talkie.

So Mummy's not really leaving you.

OK? OK.

OK, sweetie pie.

LOTTIE BURBLES

"Who is the woman with the book of light?

"Gabriel saw her, too. He drew her,

"thinking she was a guardian angel when she was the opposite...

"..come to take him away.

"Did you lure him to the lake that day and let him drown?"

No.

You want someone to blame?

Well, that's not me.

I am not here to be punished.

Oh, God, what are you doing?

'Hey. This is Lara. Leave a message.

'Lara, it's Granny. I've spoken to Ben.

'He's really worried about you and Lottie.

'This is all my fault. I shouldn't have told you.

'It was playing with fire.

'I can guess where you are,

'and I'm sure you don't want me to tell him,

'but if you don't come back soon, I'll have to.

'Please take care, darling. Don't stay there too long.'

LOTTIE CRIES

It's OK, sweetheart.

-OVER BABY MONITOR:

-# Rock-a-bye-baby on the tree top... #

-Gabriel?

Gabriel! Gabriel!

LOTTIE CRIES

# When the wind blows...

# The cradle will rock... #

I'm coming. Mummy's coming.

# When the bough breaks

# The cradle will fall... #

Gabriel?

CRYING STOPS

You stay away from her.

Listen to me, Gabriel.

Your daddy wishes he had never lost you.

I-I've seen his notebooks. I know.

He would give anything, anything to have you back.

He didn't save me.

That...that's not his fault. It's...

It's no-one's fault.

He's desperate to see you.

Go to him.

Tell him that you forgive him.

Tell him you're all right.

Go on.

Mrs Appleby! I heard you were here at the vicarage,

-and I happened to be passing.

-With a pineapple.

Yes.

I read that tropical fruits might be beneficial to expectant mothers.

-It may of course be hogwash.

-Thank you, Mr Payne.

I am most grateful.

I have kind neighbours.

-Mrs Denning lending me her dress, and...

-Which becomes you.

FOOTSTEPS

Forgive me. I must let you rest.

Good afternoon, Miss Denning.

Your guardian angel.

I wouldn't call him that.

A saviour, perhaps?

BREATHES HEAVILY

# Do not cross the hayfield the hayfield...

# The hayfield

# Do not cross the hayfield

# As sinks the blood-red sun... #

You've been here throughout all these hauntings,

with your book of light.

# Ghosts glide from the hayrick

# On the hayfield, the hayfield

# Ghosts glide from the hayrick... #

I'm one of them.

I'm a lost soul.

Like you!

Come on, Daddy.

-What?

-I'm going to sail my boat.

MUSIC ECHOES

Gabriel!

Gabriel!

Gabriel!

GABRIEL SCREAMS

Daddy! SPLASH!

Gabriel!

Gabriel!

Gabriel!

Gabriel!

HE WAILS

Gabriel!

HE SOBS

-LARA:

-I'm coming. Mummy's coming.

What have you done with my son?!

Gabriel?

Gabriel!

NATHAN BREATHES UNSTEADILY

HE LAUGHS

Is she here?

No-one's here. I'm on my own.

NATHAN LAUGHS UNCERTAINLY

I've been looking for you.

I've been hiding.

You... You didn't want to...see me?

You didn't want to see me.

Oh, Gabriel!

I would give anything.

Stay with me, Daddy. Look after me.

How? How can I do that?

You know how.

-LARA:

-Nathan?

Nathan Appleby?

Do you want to know who I am?

I'm your great-great-granddaughter...

..and I'm...I'm not trying to haunt you or your son...

or anyone. OK?

I just want to get on with my life.

-I just want to go home!

-SHE SOBS

I just need proof I'm not mad.

You've seen me, Nathan. Let me see you.

SHE GASPS AND SCREAMS

Where is she?

Where is she?

Where is she?!

-BEN:

-'Lara, are you OK?'

Look, I'm sorry that I left like that and I took the car.

-'Is Lottie OK? What's going on?'

-I had to come here...

to face what's haunting me, what haunted my mother, to...

-'Yeah.'

-..to somehow stop it, you see? Stop it from haunting Lottie.

'Look, the police are getting involved. You are ill, Lara.

-'You need help.'

-I'm not ill. You see, I thought I was, but I'm not.

'OK. So let me come and get you.'

You know where I am.

Sylvia told you.

-'It's all right. Just...'

-PHONE BEEPS

SHE GASPS, TYRES SCREECH

Daddy's coming.

What do you mean?

Daddy's coming!

-CHARLOTTE:

-There's just you and me. And we're alive, Nathan Appleby.

-So the essential thing is timing?

-Yes.

And the amount of light you admit.

Like the moment that you capture between the taker and the taken.

Forgive me, Mr Payne, I must go home to my husband.

No, Nathan. Stop!

He's killing himself.

What about his wife and baby?

They can come, too.

No.

No!

-PAYNE:

-Please, wait!

I fear for you, for both of you...

..in your condition, in his desperate state. Please...

I implore you, stop. Just for a moment.

I understand that you love him and that you want to help him,

but sometimes a man needs to be left to lick his own wounds.

Just give him one more day alone.

You can return to him tomorrow.

Please let me drive you back to the vicarage.

LARA: Charlotte!

He's going to kill himself.

SHE GASPS

What's the matter?

-No.

-Do I have to force you, like a lunatic, for your own good?

Unhand me.

Good to see you.

Good to see you, too.

I'm sorry, I have to do this.

How did we get here?

We were going to be so happy.

My fault.

I was damaged when you met me.

Deeper than I knew.

Your secret ingredient.

Your insoluble grief.

That you could not resist.

I believed that one day I'd find a solution,

I might be the solution...

..and that just by being with you...

..I would erode it.

You did.

You made me so happy.

-But...

-But?

-I've seen him.

He's out there.

I've spoken to him.

An inch away. A moment.

If you believe it, I believe it.

Thank you.

I think I've known for some time.

Maybe even from the beginning.

You want to join him?

You want to leave me?

No.

-But I have to.

-No. You don't.

Let's go together.

Let me drink first.

Trust me.

Is it strong enough

for both of us?

-You don't have to do this.

-I do.

Because I can't live without you.

No! GLASS SMASHES

I'm sorry I...

I wasn't there!

NATHAN SOBS

I'm sorry I...

I failed you!

I'm sorry. I'm sorry...I...

..I let you die.

I love you.

He's gone.

He's gone.

-HE SOBS

-Shhh... Hey...

I love you so much.

I love you, too.

Sir.

Ma'am!

You're here!

It's a tonic, sure, to see the pair of you together.

-Thank you.

-Thank you, Gideon.

We've been digging the old machine out of the east marsh.

I think you should see it.

Go on! Hup, hup, hup, hup!

Perhaps this is what was troubling the land.

If it was, it's all over now.

GIDEON CHUCKLES

SHE GASPS, TYRES SCREECH

CRASH!

No!

Lottie!

Her father came and took her home.

She's with her daddy.

Was she hurt?

She's safe.

You're my mummy now.

-MAN:

-Nathan Appleby, are you with us?

-Are you there?

-WOMAN GIGGLES

DOOR OPENS

NATHAN BREATHES HEAVILY

WOMAN GIGGLES

LAUGHTER

-MAN:

-Is anybody there?

-Is anybody with us?

-LAUGHTER

He's here.

The notorious Nathan Appleby.

Welcome to the land of the living.

We have a question.

Why did you kill your wife?

# Meat or drink thou never gave

# Every night and all

# The fire shall burn thee to thy bone

# And Christ receive thy soul. #