The Absent Guest was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 6 August 2005. Story: A sharp and tense whodunnit. When the absent guest from a dinner party is discovered murdered, the remaining guests, one by one, become suspects. Cast: Ian: Robert Plckavance Lynn: Deborah Findlay Mike: John Thomson Julie: Katy Cavanagh Claire: Denlse Welch Alan: John Kazek Director: Pauline Harris
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00:00This is BBC Radio 4, and now our Saturday play, The Absent Guest, starring John Thompson
00:11and Denise Welsh.
00:22I just think five's an odd number.
00:25It is an odd number.
00:26To have around the table.
00:27Well, it's a bit late to start inviting anybody else.
00:29Oh, I know.
00:30I'm not seriously suggesting...
00:31Get down!
00:34And I don't think Claire would thank us for dragging some man along just to give her a partner.
00:40Oh, the plates.
00:41I forgot to put the plates to hold.
00:44Tell you the truth, I was expecting her to ask, could she bring someone?
00:47That she'd, you know, have had some man in tow back now.
00:49Well, she hasn't been on her own that long.
00:51Ian, darling, please don't pick.
00:53Sorry.
00:54There's olives if you're starving.
00:57Actually, you know, I went round to see her last night.
01:01Yeah.
01:01Well, while I was there, someone phoned and she rushed off to take it in private.
01:05Then, when she came back...
01:07Jasper, you've been told once, get down!
01:11When she came back, she said, would I mind?
01:13But she got someone coming that she had to see, so of course I took the hint.
01:17So she has got someone.
01:18Well, it seemed like it.
01:20But then, something else she said made me wonder.
01:23Was it Alan calling?
01:25Alan?
01:26Well, it was when I was leaving and she'd come to the door with me.
01:29I'm sorry, Lynn.
01:30I feel like I'm kicking you out.
01:32Oh, don't be silly.
01:33And I promise I won't wait round the corner to see who it is.
01:36You'll get a shock if you do.
01:37Really?
01:38No.
01:38Forget I said that.
01:40Please, forget I said that.
01:42A shock?
01:43I imagine because it was someone we know.
01:45I suppose, yes.
01:46And then I thought, Alan.
01:48But why wouldn't she have just come out and told you?
01:50Just said, Alan's calling.
01:51Well, I'm guessing, but maybe there's a chance of them getting back together
01:55and she doesn't want anyone to know till it's certain.
01:57My impression was she didn't want him back on any account.
02:00Well, I know that's what she said.
02:01More than once.
02:02But that was because he was being un-corporative about the divorce
02:05and was blaming her for everything.
02:07Like she was blaming him.
02:08I know.
02:09I'm just saying, maybe they've both got over that.
02:12Let's hope.
02:12But don't say anything, will you?
02:16I'm probably completely wrong and it wasn't Alan at all.
02:19Say anything?
02:20Tonight, to Claire.
02:22Oh, no, no.
02:23Not unless she does.
02:34Why can't our garden look like this?
02:36Because we've got better things to do.
02:37I think we should move.
02:39They're fed up of our house.
02:40Oh, fine.
02:40OK, well, let me know where you go and then I can send you a mail on.
02:43Ha, ha, funny.
02:44Well.
02:47And it's just Claire coming besides us, is it?
02:49So I gather.
02:50You'd think they'd have invited somebody else.
02:52Made it six.
02:53What?
02:54Alan?
02:55Not Alan.
02:56Anybody but.
02:57Hello.
02:59Hello.
02:59Hi.
03:00Hello, Ian.
03:01Hi, Jennifer.
03:02Come in.
03:02Come in.
03:04Mike and Julia here.
03:06Hi, Lynn.
03:07Hello.
03:07We know we're early, but we thought, well, what the hell.
03:10Well, played a round of golf this morning.
03:22Which meant getting up at seven.
03:24Yeah, me getting up at seven.
03:25I didn't ask you to.
03:26No, but Saturday morning.
03:29Anyway, go on.
03:30Tell them the results.
03:31You know you're dying to.
03:33I won.
03:34Yeah.
03:35Well done.
03:36That old swing was working a treat.
03:37Oh, they don't watch the football on the box.
03:39Did you see it?
03:40No.
03:40You know Ian's not interested in football.
03:42Oh, sorry.
03:43I've just got to keep an eye on things.
03:45Of course you do.
03:46So here's a drink for you.
03:47Oh, thanks, darling.
03:48So, how's your David getting on at university?
03:52Oh, fine.
03:53As far as we know.
03:54Well, yes.
03:55You only know what he tells us.
03:58And what have you two been up to today, then?
04:00Oh, game of tennis this morning.
04:01Oh, you always do that, don't you, Saturdays?
04:04With those two.
04:05The Jamesons.
04:06They have that big house on the corner.
04:08They do.
04:10So who won that, then?
04:12Oh, we just about managed it.
04:14And then we went and had some lunch at the wagon.
04:16Oh, you see anybody?
04:17Or just the usual.
04:19Usual suspects.
04:20Mike won't eat there.
04:21They cater for anorexics.
04:23Portions that small, you end up hungrier than when you started.
04:25Not everybody eats as much as you.
04:27No, but I eat as much as me.
04:29Anyway, then after lunch, we went to church.
04:32Church?
04:33You're kidding.
04:34Yeah, that was the Choral Society.
04:35They were giving a concert to raise funds.
04:38Mm.
04:39Nice.
04:40It was.
04:41It was the sort of event you wish you could get to more often.
04:43Mm.
04:44Mm.
04:45Hm.
04:45She's still not answering.
04:57She'll be on her way, won't she?
04:59You keep saying that.
05:00Because she will.
05:01She only lives two minutes away.
05:02We've been trying to ring her for half an hour.
05:03You sure you told her?
05:04Eight o'clock?
05:05Yeah.
05:05Look, why not I drive round and see what's going on?
05:07Well, what's the point in that?
05:08If she was there, she'd have answered the phone.
05:10Well, maybe something's happened and she can't.
05:12If you're a guest, I'll go.
05:13Except I'm blocking you in, which means I'm going to have to move my car anyway.
05:16We'll both go.
05:17Come on.
05:17Oh, yeah?
05:18And which pub will you be stopping off at?
05:20Well, it won't be just the one.
05:21You better not.
05:22And we'll be straight back.
05:23I can't remember actually saying eight o'clock, but I'm sure she'd have taken that for granted anyway.
05:28Maybe she's got the wrong date.
05:29Thinks it's next week.
05:30I don't think so, because I saw her last night, and as I was leaving, I definitely said see you tomorrow.
05:35Have a good time with your mystery caller.
05:37I shouldn't have said anything, should I?
05:38Well, I won't.
05:39I promise.
05:40See you tomorrow.
05:41Yeah, I'm looking forward to it.
05:42Yeah.
05:43Me too.
05:44Bye.
05:45Bye.
05:45Bye.
05:53Between you and me, you've got to wonder whether she started on the old source a bit early, and we're going to find her sitting at her blotto.
05:59Oh, dear.
06:00I hope not.
06:00So do I, but that would be me better.
06:03I suppose she's had a lot to put up with, hasn't she, with the divorce and everything.
06:11There's nothing spoiling so far.
06:13Let's have another drink, shall we?
06:15Oh, yes.
06:15Cheers.
06:17Maybe she's just forgotten.
06:19I know you said you reminded her, but even so...
06:21So why is she not answering her phone?
06:23You know Claire and her mobile, never without it.
06:26All the same, aren't we?
06:35Hello?
06:35Haven't arrived yet, has she?
06:37No.
06:38Well, we're at the house.
06:39There's no sign of anybody here.
06:40What about her car?
06:42Can't see it, no.
06:43Has she looked in the garage?
06:44She always puts it away.
06:45Oh, right.
06:46Lynn says she always puts her car in the garage.
06:48Hang about.
06:50She's not there?
06:51No, apparently not, no.
06:52Mike's going to have a look.
06:54And the house is all locked up, is it?
06:56Seems to be.
06:57Yeah, yeah, the car's in there.
06:59Well, the car's here.
07:00It's in the garage.
07:01Right.
07:01Man, I don't know what that proves.
07:03She wouldn't have used it to come to us anyway, would she?
07:05Well, at least it means she hasn't gone off somewhere else in it.
07:10Hey, round here, look.
07:12Look, the bedroom window up there.
07:14Oh, right.
07:15Top part's open.
07:16If I can just get up to it, I should be able to reach in.
07:19Open the bottom part and job's a good'un.
07:21How are you going to get up there?
07:22Uh, here, let's have a look in that old garden shed.
07:25See if there's a ladder or something.
07:26From what Claire's told me...
07:29Yeah?
07:30She and Alan, they got to the point where they were constantly falling out, even over the most trivial things.
07:36Then one day she realised she just couldn't stand living with them anymore.
07:39And there wasn't anybody else involved?
07:42Well, if there was, she never said anything to me.
07:44Well, me neither.
07:46But then, you know her better than I do.
07:48I think Alan might have strayed a bit from time to time.
07:53Who hasn't?
07:55Present company accepted.
07:57What's really worrying?
07:59If her car's still there...
08:01So, let's imagine she set out to walk here...
08:04Which she should have done in five minutes, and it's now an hour ago.
08:07So has something happened to her on the way?
08:09Well done.
08:10You all right?
08:11Just about.
08:12I'm going to come down and see if I can open the front door.
08:14OK.
08:18Right then.
08:23Wait.
08:25Before you come in.
08:27What?
08:29What?
08:31I found her.
08:34No.
08:35Rita, yes.
08:37Oh, no.
08:39Mike found her on the floor in the kitchen.
08:42She's been stabbed.
08:44Stabbed?
08:45What?
08:45What's happened?
08:47Claire's dead?
08:50Anyway, we've run the police, and...
08:52Well, obviously, we're going to have to stay here.
08:54And what...
08:55Do you think we should come round?
08:58Probably best not.
08:59I can't see if there's anything you can do.
09:01Or that any of us can do for that matter.
09:03Oh, deep breaths.
09:13I'm all right.
09:14You still look pale.
09:15No, I just needed some fresh air.
09:18Oh, it's cold out here.
09:20Go back inside, shall we?
09:21Maybe you should lie down for a while.
09:28No, no, I'll be all right.
09:30It was just shock, I suppose you'd call it.
09:35Well, absolutely.
09:37Now, sit down.
09:38You want a drink?
09:40Yeah, just a glass of water, please.
09:41You're getting some of your colour back.
09:51I thought I was going to faint.
09:53Here.
09:54You two were quite close, weren't you?
10:02You and Claire.
10:04I suppose we were, yes.
10:06Which, you know, surprised me, because you're not alike.
10:10Oh, you're not really.
10:13I got into the habit of going round since Alan left.
10:16To start with, just so she wouldn't be on her own.
10:19See, me, I'd think of doing that, and then I'd think, well, no, leave it to somebody else.
10:23Because what'd you say?
10:25I wouldn't know what to say.
10:27Like I don't know what to say now, except what a terrible thing it is.
10:32But we all know that, don't we?
10:34It's certainly obvious, is that.
10:38I just can't believe it.
10:41No.
10:45You expect her to be coming in through the door, don't you?
10:50Looking lovely, like she always did.
10:53She always dressed well, didn't she?
10:56Had real taste.
10:57Yeah.
11:02Well, now Mike and Ian are actually finding her.
11:06Oh.
11:07Oh.
11:08What must that have been like?
11:10Terrible.
11:11I hope they're all right.
11:13Well, Mike will be.
11:15But your Ian's more sensitive, isn't he?
11:16And then there's Alan, of course.
11:22Somebody will have to find him and tell him, won't they?
11:25I mean, he is still her husband.
11:29Was.
11:30I think the police will do that.
11:32Where's he been living?
11:34Got a flat, hasn't he?
11:35In that new development by the river.
11:37But my thinking only ever saw it as a stopgap.
11:41Till everything was settled.
11:42I can take a straight-off home with you two, rather be on your own.
12:05Oh, no.
12:06Unless you'd rather.
12:07Well, just say if you want us out of the way.
12:09They're here.
12:15We're in the kitchen.
12:18Well.
12:20Hiya.
12:20Oh, darling.
12:21Oh, no, no, it's terrible.
12:22That is something I will never forget for the rest of my life.
12:25You all right?
12:26Compared to Claire, I am, yeah.
12:27Mike, a drink?
12:28Oh, cheers, thanks.
12:30What did the police say?
12:32Do they have any idea who did it?
12:34Don't think so, no.
12:35It's a bit early for that.
12:36And it's like you said, she's been stabbed.
12:39Yes.
12:39With one of her own kitchen knives.
12:41Oh, that's awful.
12:42She had a whole rack of them standing there.
12:44She did, yeah.
12:45And when?
12:47Do they know when it happened?
12:48Not yet, no.
12:49No, it didn't look like it had just happened, you know.
12:51No.
12:52How could you tell?
12:54Well, from, well, you know, the state of her.
12:58The blood had dried up.
12:59And what, she was lying there on the floor in her own kitchen?
13:02Yeah.
13:03Poor Claire.
13:04I know.
13:05And was she dressed like she was expecting somebody, or?
13:07It's really hard to tell.
13:08Just jeans and a t-shirt.
13:10Nothing special.
13:12How did you get in?
13:13Well, it was mine.
13:14In the bedroom window.
13:15He climbed in.
13:17Of course, the police wanted to know why.
13:19What made us think there was something wrong.
13:21So we told them about how she hadn't turned up here,
13:23and how we got worried about her.
13:25And the minute you saw her, was it obvious?
13:27Oh, God, yeah.
13:28Er, you could see straight away.
13:31You could see the knife.
13:32There's no question she was dead.
13:34You know what would have scared me?
13:36Apart from finding her like that.
13:38Well, a friend of ours found murdered.
13:39Apart from that, yeah.
13:40I would have been scared that whoever had done it
13:42might still have been there, in the house.
13:44Well, yes.
13:45No, you wouldn't have.
13:46If you'd been there, you could see straight away it wasn't recent.
13:49And the house was all locked up?
13:52Seemed to be.
13:53Well, so what?
13:53Anyone could have let themselves out and pulled the door to.
13:56Not let themselves in.
13:57No, not let themselves in.
13:59No.
13:59And there wasn't any, you know, sign of a break-in?
14:01Well, not that we could see, was there?
14:03None.
14:04And then, after you'd found her, what?
14:06You rang the police?
14:07None rang the police, yeah.
14:09Five minutes later, it was like, in the movies,
14:11police cars, ambulance,
14:12and they're telling you where you can stand and where you can't.
14:15They're all still there now.
14:17And is Claire still there?
14:18Oh, they were taking her away as we were leaving.
14:20And did anyone talk to you?
14:21I mean, the police?
14:22They talked to both of us, yeah.
14:24We made statements.
14:25So, did you tell them about Alan?
14:28Tell them what about Alan?
14:29Well, that he's her husband and they're getting divorced and everything.
14:32We did, yes.
14:34How could we not do?
14:35The first thing they wanted to know was who was she.
14:37Did we know her?
14:38Which, of course, we did.
14:39Then, was she married?
14:41Did anyone else live in the house?
14:43And I would imagine, when they find Alan,
14:45they were wanting to know just what he was doing between the hours of whenever and whenever,
14:49and has he got witnesses to prove it?
14:51They're bound to, aren't they?
14:52But you didn't tell them what I said to you.
14:56About last night?
14:57Yeah.
14:58No.
14:58What?
15:00Oh, sorry, son, I asked.
15:01Oh, no.
15:02It's just, I was round there.
15:04Yeah, you said.
15:06And someone rang, and after that I got the impression Claire was expecting a visitor,
15:11and that, well, that someone shouldn't want me to meet, really.
15:16Well, Alan, you mean?
15:17I don't know.
15:19Well, I didn't mention any of that, no.
15:20Whether you want to, well, that's up to you.
15:23They'll want to talk to me.
15:25Well, definitely, if you were round there last night.
15:27And they'll want to talk to all of us, won't they?
15:29Yeah, unless they get it wrapped up nice and quick.
15:31Like, they find Alan sitting at home in a blood-stained shirt saying he cut himself, shaving.
15:36Do you have to?
15:37What?
15:38Talk like that.
15:39Look, all I'm saying, if they can prove he did it, that'll be the end of it.
15:42And if they can't, then, then, yeah.
15:45They'll want to talk to all of us.
16:00You all right in there?
16:02Yes.
16:06I was just feeling a bit peculiar, but...
16:09I'm all right now, yes.
16:11You sure?
16:11Yes.
16:12Maybe we all need some food, do you think?
16:15You know, it's nearly midnight.
16:23Is she okay?
16:24Oh, yes.
16:25Sorry.
16:26I just felt a bit faint again.
16:28It's not surprising.
16:29I think we need to eat something.
16:31I think we need to eat something.
16:31So, we're just going to put everything out in the dining room, then people can help themselves,
16:35if they feel like it.
16:36Anything we can do?
16:37No, no, we're fine.
16:39Just give us a minute to get things organised.
16:42What you can do...
16:44What?
16:44You can do us all a favour and lay off the booze for a while.
16:47Maybe drink some water, eh?
16:48Me?
16:49Why?
16:49Because you're drunk.
16:50Oh, am I?
16:51Yes.
16:52And do you think there might be a reason for that?
16:54Do you think...
16:54There's always a reason.
16:55There's a different reason every night.
16:56No.
16:57Same reason most nights.
16:59Different reason tonight.
17:00And I can't be all that drunk if I can say that.
17:02Right, then.
17:02If you want to go through...
17:04Er, thanks, love.
17:05Yeah, we will.
17:06Yeah.
17:12I think we have to wait till the police release the body.
17:15Then the funeral can take place after that.
17:17But who'll organise it?
17:19You can hardly expect Alan.
17:21Alan might not be in any position.
17:22Alan might well be banged up in a prison cell.
17:24Yes, but even if he's not...
17:26They were in the middle of getting divorced.
17:27Surely he can't be expected to take on the responsibility for burying her.
17:31Who else is going to?
17:33Well, her family, I suppose.
17:35I know she has a sister.
17:37Well, failing that, maybe we should.
17:39All of us.
17:40If it is Alan that's done it, would they let him go to the funeral?
17:44You think they're going to let a man who's killed his wife go to a funeral?
17:47Well, she wouldn't know, would she?
17:49No, but the other people attending the funeral, they'd know.
17:51Well, wouldn't they think about it?
17:53Think about it?
17:54I can't stop thinking about it.
17:57Thinking what it must have been like for her.
18:00Yes.
18:00Terrible.
18:03Can I ask you, Lynn?
18:04Did Claire mention whether Alan had ever been violent towards her?
18:07Never.
18:08No.
18:09Fair enough.
18:09Just we all know what he can be like.
18:11Get a few pints inside him and he'll argue with anybody about anything with Alan.
18:15Well, Ian, you must have seen that.
18:16Well, he tends to be on a fairly short fuse.
18:18But that doesn't mean he was violent towards Claire.
18:20Well, of course it doesn't.
18:21I'm just saying, he has a temper.
18:23And also, if you want to get him going, just ask him about his divorce and he'll give you
18:26a real mouthful about what he thinks of women and their lawyers and the money he was trying
18:30to find to get Claire off his back.
18:33Ah.
18:34The police.
18:35More than likely.
18:36Well, it'd be anybody else at this time, will it?
18:38Well, I'll take them into the lounge.
18:40Excuse me.
18:45Alan.
18:45I haven't got you up, have I?
18:48No, we're still Mike and Julia here.
18:52Would you, um, would you like to come in?
18:54Not if it's going to upset anybody.
18:57No.
18:58Um, look, come in.
19:00Come in.
19:05It's Alan.
19:07Sorry.
19:08I know this is way past everybody's bedtime.
19:11You do know what's happened?
19:14I do, yeah.
19:16I am sorry.
19:17We all are.
19:18Yeah.
19:19Sit down, Alan.
19:20Look, here.
19:21Thanks.
19:23And let me get you a drink.
19:24What would you like?
19:24A glass of this wine would be fine.
19:26All right.
19:30And I do, you know what, apologize for inviting myself along.
19:34Oh, there's no need.
19:35No.
19:36We're glad to see you.
19:36We've been thinking about you.
19:38It must have been the most dreadful shock.
19:40It was, yeah.
19:43So the police have talked to you?
19:45Been talking to me for the last three hours, till they get tired of asking me the same questions
19:49and said I could go.
19:50I'm sure it's just routine.
19:52Anyway, I couldn't have faced going back to that flat.
19:57And they said it was you that found us, so I thought I'd take a chance and see if you
20:01were still up.
20:02We're glad you have.
20:04We are, yes.
20:05I suppose we should have tried to contact you, but well, the police said they'd be doing
20:09that.
20:10Have you been to the house?
20:11No, they took me straight to the police station.
20:13And did the police say what they thought has happened?
20:15I think the main thought was that I'd done it.
20:18Oh, no.
20:18Maybe you were thinking the same, I don't know.
20:22Alan, we're your friends.
20:23Yes.
20:24I wouldn't blame you.
20:25I'd suspect myself if I didn't know any better.
20:29But they're obviously satisfied with what you told them.
20:31I'm not sure about that.
20:32But anyway, they've let me go for now, yeah.
20:34I suppose they've procedures they have to follow.
20:39What sort of things did the police ask?
20:41Julie?
20:41What?
20:42What do you expect them to ask?
20:44They asked me when I'd last seen her.
20:46Was she seen anybody else?
20:48Was I?
20:49Why?
20:50You were getting divorced.
20:53They said she'd been stabbed.
20:55Yes.
20:56I told her when I moved out.
20:58I said, look, you're going to be on your own.
21:00Make sure the place is locked and you put the alarm on.
21:03But I don't suppose she took much notice.
21:07Was it, er...
21:09Did it look like there'd been a fight, or...?
21:11I wouldn't have said...
21:12Hard to tell.
21:13She was lying on the floor.
21:14In the kitchen?
21:15Yeah.
21:15I should have stayed, shouldn't I?
21:18Stayed and looked after her.
21:22What was strange?
21:23There was no sign of a breaking or anything.
21:25No broken glass.
21:26Doors all locked.
21:27Yeah.
21:28Police said.
21:29Wanted to know, did I still have a key?
21:30Which, just for the record, yeah, I do.
21:34So whoever it was, she must have known him.
21:35Is that what you're saying?
21:37I'm not saying anything.
21:38Or she could have just had the door open, like you do sometimes.
21:41So whoever it was, just walked in.
21:45And closed it behind them when they left.
21:46Most likely.
21:48There'll be fingerprints.
21:49Must be.
21:50And some of them will be mine.
21:52Since I used to live there, so that's hardly going to put me in the clear, is it?
21:55I suppose the husband's always going to be the number one suspect, isn't it?
21:58Especially when the wife's in the middle of the divorce and I'm here.
22:00Alan, we don't have to talk about this if you'd rather not.
22:03You've even asked me...
22:05Was I pleased she was dead?
22:08No.
22:08Was I pleased because now I wouldn't have to find all that money that the divorce was going to cost me.
22:14House comes to me, everything, face it, it saved me a fortune.
22:17Awful thing to say.
22:20And what did you say?
22:21I said I wasn't pleased, no.
22:24Can I ask you a question, Alan?
22:25You can ask me anything you like.
22:27What question?
22:28I'm asking Alan, not you.
22:32When did you last see her, Claire?
22:34First question the police asked me.
22:36Sorry.
22:36Don't worry.
22:37We were in the last see her about three weeks ago.
22:41Well, certainly not last night, if that's what you're wondering.
22:43Oh, look, wait, this is my fault.
22:45It is?
22:45Well, I think Julie's question was because of something I said earlier, before we knew what had happened.
22:50Oh, this is what you were telling me?
22:52It is, yes.
22:53The thing is, Alan, I called on Claire last night.
22:56Right.
22:57Quite early.
22:57Anyway, while I was there, someone rang her and, I mean, I was obviously wrong and I'm sorry, but from what she said, I thought it might have been you.
23:07And I promise I won't wait round the corner to see who it is.
23:09You'll get a shock if you do.
23:11Well, I can assure you it wasn't me, no.
23:13Well, of course not.
23:14I am sorry.
23:15It was just me getting things all wrong.
23:17But Claire did say there was someone calling.
23:19Yeah.
23:20And what sort of time was...
23:21Um, eight, thereabouts.
23:23Well, if, as you say, they rang first...
23:26They did.
23:26All the police need to do is check her phone records.
23:29Oh, I suppose...
23:30Yeah.
23:31And how long will that take?
23:32No idea, but I mean, a murder, you'd expect a certain amount of urgency.
23:36In fact, it's what they should be doing now.
23:38Well, that's if you've told them.
23:41Not yet, no.
23:42You think I should?
23:43I'm sure you should.
23:44Well, and you were intending to.
23:45Yes.
23:46When?
23:47For crying out loudly, my wife's been murdered.
23:50And you were there when she took a call, which might well have been from whoever killed her.
23:53All they have to do is trace the call and they've got them, but nobody's doing that.
23:56Why?
23:57Because you haven't told them.
23:58I'm sorry.
23:59Oh, now, come on.
23:59What the hell are you waiting for?
24:00Well, for one thing, we thought the police would be coming here.
24:02Yes, we did.
24:03In fact, when you arrived, that's who we thought it was.
24:05Yeah, all right, but now you know it wasn't.
24:06Well, I will tell them, of course.
24:08Now?
24:09Shall I ring them now?
24:11Oh, yes, please.
24:12Wait, though, before you do.
24:14What?
24:16Mike, do you want to say something?
24:20Like what?
24:22Oh, like you don't know.
24:23No.
24:25Okay, you want to be like that, then I'm going to have to say it.
24:28Because what's the point in not doing when they're going to find out anyway, aren't they?
24:31What the hell are you two going on about?
24:33No idea.
24:33You don't need to look at any phone records.
24:35I can tell you it was you rang Claire.
24:39It was this man here, my husband.
24:41And don't bother trying to deny it.
24:43Look, it's late and you've been drinking.
24:45All right, wait till they look at her phone records and then we'll all know, won't we?
24:49I just thought it might have been helpful and showed you got nothing to hide if you told everybody now.
24:53Is this right?
24:54You rang Claire.
24:55Well, I think whoever I rang or didn't ring is my concern.
24:58I saw you last night out in the garden and you had your mobile and you were making a call and then after that you came in and you told me you were going round the golf club for an hour.
25:06Which I did.
25:07No, you didn't.
25:09Because I phoned them.
25:11Half an hour later, I phoned them to ask to talk to you and they said you weren't there.
25:17Well, they were wrong.
25:19No, I don't think so.
25:22Oh, I've had enough of this.
25:23Come on, we're going home.
25:24Well, before you do, I think we all want to know now.
25:26Is this true what Julie's saying?
25:27Did you ring, Claire?
25:28Julie doesn't know what she's saying.
25:29Sounds to me like she does.
25:30I do.
25:32And what's more, I've known for a long time.
25:33Known what for a long time?
25:34About them.
25:37How he's been going round there.
25:38Has he?
25:39Don't you think you've done enough damage for one night?
25:41Not yet, no.
25:42Been a regular visitor to my house, have I?
25:44I don't have to answer these questions.
25:46Remember you visiting last night?
25:47But what's it to you anyway?
25:48You'd left, Claire, remember?
25:49You'd left her gone.
25:50And if I hadn't, she'd still be alive.
25:52I do know that, yeah.
25:53So now all I can do, because it's all that's left, is to try and find out who killed her.
25:58Well, best of luck, but I can tell you now, it wasn't me.
26:01But you did ring her.
26:02Yes, he did.
26:03Lynn, what time did Claire take this call?
26:06Just after eight o'clock.
26:07Which was the time I saw him with his mobile, yes.
26:10And after she's taken the call, that was when Claire asked you to leave, saying you'd have a shock if you knew who was coming.
26:14Yes.
26:14Well, and now we know why, don't we?
26:16Because it was good old Mike here, wasn't it?
26:19So what happened, eh, Mike?
26:20What made you do it?
26:21Er, no, I'm not saying he did anything to her.
26:24No, I am.
26:25I'm the one saying it.
26:27Okay, okay.
26:28You want me to tell you what happened?
26:30Oh, yes, please.
26:31Then I will.
26:33Because none of this gets you off the hook.
26:35None of it.
26:35Never mind me.
26:36You went to see her?
26:37I went to see Claire, yes.
26:43I rang her first, then I went to see her.
26:45And then what?
26:47Well, let me just say this first.
26:49Whatever been going on between me and Claire, it was all after, after you moved out.
26:55Well after.
26:55So let's get that clear, shall we?
26:57I didn't have anything to do with breaking up your marriage.
27:00You're too concerned about our marriage, though, are you?
27:02No, probably not, no.
27:03So what happened, Mike?
27:04We're still waiting to hear.
27:06I rang Claire, yeah?
27:07I rang her to say I was thinking of coming round.
27:10Would that be okay?
27:11She said yes, but I gave her ten minutes.
27:13To get rid of them.
27:14So I gave her ten minutes, then went round and she answered the door.
27:19Hi.
27:20Come in.
27:23Is this okay?
27:24You sounded like you couldn't talk properly.
27:25Lynn was here.
27:26But yes, it's okay.
27:27She's gone.
27:28You didn't tell her.
27:28Well, I didn't tell her it was you coming, no.
27:31Hey, and I hope you don't go telling anybody.
27:33No chance.
27:34I've got enough on me hands with Alan as it is.
27:36Do you want a drink?
27:37Well, I...
27:37It's all right.
27:39We can set them upstairs.
27:41I should kill you for that.
27:43Using my wife.
27:44Oh, please.
27:45I should kill you for that.
27:46Nothing else.
27:47That's not going to help.
27:49No.
27:49Okay, okay.
27:53That was it, really.
27:54I was there for, I don't know, less than an hour.
27:57After which I said goodnight and I went home.
28:00No, no, no.
28:01I went to the golf club.
28:03Had a couple of drinks there, then I went home.
28:05Which, before you say anything, I would have told the police.
28:08I'm sure you would.
28:09You wouldn't have told me, though.
28:10And I will tell the police, but I'll also tell them that when I left Claire, she was alive and well.
28:15And we're supposed to take you a word for that?
28:17Take what you like.
28:18All right, you're saying I've done it.
28:20Why?
28:20Why?
28:20Why should I?
28:21Could have been any reason.
28:22Name one.
28:23Because she threatened to tell Julie.
28:25Duh.
28:26Or she tried kicking you out and you didn't want to go, whatever.
28:29But I'm telling you, Pa, if it was you, then I'll be coming after you.
28:32Never mind the puns.
28:33Oh, yeah.
28:33Look.
28:34How can we stop this, please?
28:35I think we should all try and calm down.
28:38I'm sorry, Lynn.
28:39I apologise.
28:40This is happening in your house.
28:41It's just not helping anything.
28:43We've got to leave these things to the police.
28:45Which I, for one, am happy to.
28:47And I, for one, think we should go home.
28:50Okay, but can I just say something else first?
28:53And I'm sorry this has all come out like it has.
28:55I bet you are.
28:57In particular, I'm sorry Julie's had to hear it.
29:00I don't know why.
29:01Because I knew anyway.
29:02Knew there was somebody you were seeing.
29:04Yeah, well, I'm still sorry.
29:07Only can I just say about last night.
29:10There was somebody else came to the house after I left.
29:13Who?
29:14I don't know who.
29:15Somebody.
29:16Well, how'd you know?
29:17Because I say, after I left.
29:20Actually, it was while I was still there.
29:24You alright?
29:25Yes.
29:29And it's alright.
29:30You can look at your watch.
29:31I wasn't doing it.
29:32Oh, but you were trying to.
29:34Come here.
29:35I'll look at it for you.
29:37It's, um, quarter past nine.
29:41Somebody at the door.
29:43Who?
29:43Well, I don't know, do I?
29:45Just ignore it.
29:46Well, I know, but all the lights are on.
29:48Might be somebody who's got a key.
29:49Well, Alan, you mean?
29:51Well, it could be, yeah.
29:53Well, except when he just comes straight in.
29:55Well, he might, but he might be just, you know, being polite, showing he respects my privacy.
29:59What do you want me to do?
30:01You go out the back door.
30:02It's on the latch.
30:03Hang on!
30:04I'm coming!
30:04I won't open the front door till I hear you go out the back.
30:11And you thought it was me?
30:12Yeah.
30:12Well, it wasn't.
30:14Claire thought it was.
30:14Then she was wrong.
30:16So who else could it have been?
30:17Well, how's she done?
30:17Well, maybe she had other visitors.
30:19Maybe you were just a fuss.
30:20Well, Alan, don't.
30:21Maybe we just don't believe a word you're saying, and I wasn't anybody.
30:23Look, somebody else arrived, and that's the truth, whether you like it or not.
30:27But you don't know who.
30:28You didn't see or hear this person.
30:29No.
30:30I let myself out the back door, and as I was closing it, I heard Claire opening the front.
30:34Then I went out through the back garden.
30:37And was my car there, outside the house?
30:39Well, I wouldn't know, would I?
30:40On account of I didn't go round the front again, I went down the alleyway, which lets
30:44you out onto Peacock Drive, which was where it passed.
30:47But you'd like to think it was me arriving, wouldn't you?
30:49Like to think it, because you'd like to think I did it, that I killed my own wife.
30:52Alan.
30:53Let's all stay calm.
30:54Calm?
30:55My wife's been murdered, and if that's not bad enough, then I'm being accused of killing
30:58her.
30:59And who's accusing me?
31:00Who has this point in the finger?
31:02The man who was sneaking into her bed behind his own wife's back.
31:05I'm trying to help find out who killed her.
31:07where I get the impression you'd rather have us not find out.
31:11You'd like to prove I killed her, that's all you want to do.
31:13Because I think you probably did.
31:14No, because you did, because you killed her.
31:16And the story about somebody else turning up is just a pathetic attempt at covering your
31:20own tracks.
31:20No, it's not.
31:21You've admitted you were there and that you were alone with her.
31:23But he didn't kill her.
31:27I know he didn't.
31:28You know?
31:30Well, you're taking his word for it.
31:31I'd hardly do that, would I?
31:33I know better than anybody that he's a liar, that you can't believe a word he says.
31:38But I also know he didn't kill Claire.
31:42Because...
31:43Because, see, last night when he was in bed with her,
31:46I was the one who arrived at the door.
31:49I was the one who rang the bell.
31:53Julie!
31:54Yeah, it's me.
31:55Is he here?
31:57Sorry, it's...
31:58My husband.
31:59Who do you think?
32:00Look, erm, why don't we talk inside?
32:05And she invited me in.
32:07Of course, I didn't know he'd just hightailed it out of the back.
32:09And you're not just saying that to get your husband off the hook?
32:12I thought it was you I was getting off the hook.
32:16Micah said there was someone else arrived, and I'm telling you, it was me.
32:20Lynn!
32:21You believe me?
32:23Yes.
32:24I knew he was seeing her.
32:25I knew that last night was one of them times.
32:28Oh, I tried to tell myself I was wrong, that I was getting paranoid.
32:32Like I said, I rang the golf club.
32:35Only that didn't help because you weren't there, were you?
32:38No.
32:39Even then, I told myself, do nothing, Julie.
32:42It's happened before, and he's stayed with you, so why should this be any different?
32:46Just do nothing and pretend you believe him.
32:49But I couldn't.
32:51Maybe it was because I thought Claire might be taking him seriously, even though I knew
32:54he wouldn't want her to.
32:57So I went round.
32:58And what happened?
32:58Does that matter?
32:59Don't know.
33:00We don't know what matters anymore, do we?
33:02Look, Julie, love, you don't have to tell us anything else.
33:05You're going to have to tell somebody, aren't I?
33:07Might as well be you.
33:08Your husband isn't here.
33:11Search the house, if you like.
33:12Well, then he's been here.
33:13Oh, really?
33:14He's been coming here for weeks.
33:16He's told you that, has he?
33:18Not in so many words.
33:19But there've been all the signs, yes.
33:21And what sort of signs would these be?
33:24Well, for one thing, he doesn't talk about you anymore.
33:27What, and he used to?
33:28Yes, he did.
33:29When you and Alan first split up, he was like,
33:31oh, dear, what's going on there then?
33:32Wanting, you know, to know the gossip like we all do, don't we?
33:36Now, he never mentions you.
33:37That might just be because it's not news anymore, is it?
33:39Oh, for goodness sake.
33:40And another thing, I notice if we see you in the pub,
33:43you two ignore one another, where once it would have been all like,
33:46oh, look, there's Claire.
33:47All right, all right.
33:48I think we've heard enough.
33:51I'm not stupid, you know.
33:53Oh, he thinks I am.
33:55He thinks he can go his own sweet way and I'm none the wiser.
33:57He's had other women.
34:01Always has.
34:02Right from when we first got married.
34:04If you think that, then why don't you leave him?
34:06I wish I could.
34:09I suppose I must...
34:10Must love him, really.
34:13Which will make you laugh, does it?
34:16None of this makes me laugh.
34:17Oh, what is it?
34:19You think you're getting your own back?
34:20Your husband left you for...
34:21My husband left me because I told him to go.
34:24Yeah, well, whatever.
34:25Your marriage has fallen apart, so you think,
34:26why not bring a few others down with you?
34:29That's a terrible thing to say.
34:31Why?
34:32Because it's true.
34:32You have come looking for your husband.
34:34He's not here.
34:35Now, I'm sorry if you two have got problems,
34:37but don't come blaming me for them.
34:40And I left about, oh, quarter to ten.
34:43Back to your loving husband.
34:45Oh, well, no, he wasn't there.
34:47He'd gone to the golf club, hadn't you, dear?
34:49Establish your alibi.
34:51I had, yes.
34:53Me and Claire, we even talked about tonight.
34:55In fact, we were both coming here.
34:57You've been invited to this dinner at Lynn's tomorrow.
35:00And so have you.
35:01So we'll soon be meeting again.
35:03Yeah, I was just going to suggest
35:04that we don't mention tonight's unfortunate misunderstanding.
35:09Is that what it's been?
35:10Well, unless you want to embarrass yourself
35:12as well as everybody else.
35:15No.
35:17Okay, I won't say anything.
35:20Doesn't mean I believe you, though.
35:22So, I'll see you and your husband tomorrow, then.
35:25Something to look forward to.
35:30Of course, we didn't know then that we would never see her.
35:34Never will.
35:35And now I want to...
35:37I really think we should go.
35:39Yeah.
35:40Thanks, Lynn.
35:41Yeah, thanks.
35:42It's, uh...
35:43Well, it's been a long night.
35:45It has.
35:45Can I say something?
35:46Oh, look.
35:47No, no, I'm not going to start sounding off again.
35:49Just...
35:49I know we've all been accusing one another.
35:51And before you say it, me more than most.
35:54And...
35:54And all we've found out is that a lot happened last night
35:57more than any of us thought.
35:59Well, all right, it's...
36:00The police are going to have to sort it out
36:02with our fingerprints and DNA and all that.
36:05They might have already.
36:06They might.
36:08What I'm saying...
36:10I don't propose telling them anything that's been said here.
36:14And that's not because I don't want them to nail whoever it was
36:16did this terrible thing to my wife.
36:19Which is what she still was.
36:22What she died as.
36:25My wife.
36:28Because I do want that.
36:29Of course I do.
36:31But I don't particularly want all this
36:33tickle-tackle, all this
36:35who she was seeing.
36:37I don't want all that getting out
36:40if it doesn't have to.
36:41You want people to think one of her?
36:43I do, yeah.
36:44And we all do.
36:46And we always will.
36:48Well, I won't be saying anything
36:49unless I think it'll help.
36:51And I certainly won't.
36:54Well, there we are, then.
36:56Herr Lund, Ian, thanks for the hospitality.
36:58I know I kind of invited myself along.
37:02I was just scared of being on my own, really.
37:05Well, if it's helped...
37:08Of course it's helped.
37:10You've both been marvellous.
37:16Sit.
37:17Sit down, good boy.
37:26Ian!
37:27Hello, who?
37:28Hello, Clare.
37:29And I'm sorry, I know it's late.
37:31What's the matter?
37:32There's nothing happened, has there?
37:33Nothing's happened, no.
37:34I was just giving Jasper here his walk
37:36and I saw your light on
37:38and I just...
37:39Well, can I talk to you?
37:41Would it be all right if I came in?
37:44With the dining room still to clear?
37:46The dining room can wait.
37:47Do you know what time it is?
37:49It's nearly morning, but none of that matters.
37:51Sit down.
37:53Please.
37:54There's something I have to tell you.
37:58Don't you think we've had enough of confessions?
38:02I should have said it when everyone else was here,
38:04but I couldn't.
38:06I just couldn't.
38:08But now I have to say it.
38:11I have to say it to you.
38:13What?
38:14It's about...
38:16About Clare.
38:19Yes?
38:20Last night, late,
38:24I'd taken Jasper out for his walk.
38:26You remember?
38:27Yes.
38:29I went down Prospect Drive,
38:31which I often do,
38:32and I saw Clare's lights were on.
38:34I mean, inside the house.
38:36I could see she was still up.
38:38So I went and rang the bell,
38:41asked her if I could talk to her.
38:43Would it be all right if I came in?
38:47I could leave the dog in the hall,
38:49if you don't mind.
38:51All right, yeah.
38:52He won't be any trouble.
38:54Come on, boy.
38:56Get in here.
39:02Asked her if you could talk to her about what?
39:05About Alan, basically.
39:06Alan?
39:07You remember last Tuesday,
39:08Alan and me,
39:09we had our usual game of squash.
39:11Then afterwards,
39:13well, I'd rather have come straight home.
39:15I always would.
39:16But he takes a big round if we go for a drink.
39:18So we ended up in the wagon.
39:21So, a pint?
39:22Please.
39:23Two pints of best, Stacy, please.
39:25You know what she's done now?
39:29What she's...
39:30Oh, Claire.
39:32Claire.
39:33Except this is via her solicitor, right?
39:36She doesn't even have the decency
39:37to say it to my face.
39:39She's drawn up her list of her monthly expenses.
39:41Food, gas bills, petrol, all that,
39:44plus weekly trips to the hairdresser.
39:46Three holidays a year.
39:47Health club fees.
39:48Oh, and new clothes.
39:50For everything.
39:50And you wouldn't even believe what's on the list.
39:52And I'm not even allowed to contest it.
39:54I'm just supposed to say fine, yeah,
39:55and pay for every last damn thing.
39:57He started off on his usual subject.
39:59How Claire was being totally unreasonable.
40:02And I thought, well, poor chap.
40:03Maybe we'd all be the same in his shoes.
40:05So I just let him go on.
40:07Oh, I doubt you could have stopped him.
40:09No.
40:10But then, when he'd gone past all that,
40:13and had another pint,
40:14then he started talking differently.
40:16Between you and me, this.
40:18Of course.
40:19I know I go on about how I'm glad to be rid of her,
40:21how I'm only bothered about what it's costing.
40:25Not true.
40:27I don't want to be rid of her.
40:30I'd do anything to stop this whole damn business
40:32and just put us back where we were.
40:36I suppose what it comes down to.
40:39I still love her.
40:43Right.
40:44And I try and think of a future without her,
40:46and there is no one.
40:50Have you said this to Claire?
40:52No.
40:53Well, that...
40:53Which I should, of course I should,
40:54but somehow it's not that easy.
40:57Part of it's this solicitor business
40:59where we don't even talk directly to one another anymore.
41:02But then if I do go and see her,
41:03I get so wound up, I...
41:06Well, I just lose it.
41:08That's my trouble.
41:09I'm not like you, Ian.
41:10I'm not sensible.
41:12If I do go and see her,
41:14I end up saying the wrong thing,
41:15and then we're at it like cats and dogs.
41:17What about writing her a letter?
41:19Not really my style.
41:22Letters.
41:24Now, see, what I need is to find out
41:25what she's really thinking.
41:27With her deep down,
41:28she's not regretting all this as much as I am.
41:32Hasn't he said anything to you or Lynn?
41:34Hasn't he said anything to you or Lynn?
41:34Hasn't he said anything to you or Lynn?
41:34Nothing that's been passed on to me.
41:37No, well, I don't suppose it would be.
41:41No, it's down to me, really.
41:44I've got to talk to her.
41:46Of course I have.
41:48Anyway, that's why I called on Claire.
41:51It was in the back of my mind that I might do it.
41:54Then when I saw the light on,
41:56I thought, now, do it now,
41:58or you'll keep putting it off.
42:00And what did Claire think about this?
42:02I could say straight away
42:03she wasn't in the best of moods
42:04and that perhaps I'd chosen a bad time.
42:07But what could I do?
42:08She'd invited me in
42:09and I had to say what I'd come to say.
42:12This must seem a bit strange,
42:13me calling at this late hour.
42:15I should have been expecting it.
42:16It's been an exceptionally busy night.
42:18Really?
42:19Between Lynn leaving and now you turning up,
42:21it's been positively hectic.
42:23So, anyway.
42:24What it is,
42:24I was talking to Alan last week.
42:27Have you seen him recently?
42:28I'm glad to say I haven't, no.
42:31Ah, well then.
42:32I just felt I should let you know
42:34what he was saying to me.
42:36What about me?
42:37Yes.
42:37Well, no thank you, Ian,
42:39but I think I've heard just about enough
42:41of what Alan's been saying about me.
42:43I've heard it from everybody
42:44and it's always pretty much the same.
42:46About how greedy I am,
42:47how nasty and spiteful I am.
42:49And really,
42:50I don't think I need to hear it again.
42:51This isn't like that.
42:53In fact, the opposite.
42:54The opposite being?
42:55He doesn't really want a divorce.
43:00Ah, you mean he doesn't want the cost of a divorce.
43:03He doesn't want one at all.
43:04Well, that's not the impression I get.
43:05No, well,
43:06he found it difficult to say it to you.
43:08Because I'm a witch.
43:10Didn't you know?
43:11I have it on good authority.
43:13He was in the wagon
43:13telling anyone who'd listen
43:14that in the good old days,
43:15they'd have been tying me to a ducking stool.
43:17Yes, that's the problem.
43:19He's adopted this defensive posture.
43:22Seems pretty aggressive to me,
43:24like he is.
43:25Yeah, but underneath that...
43:26Like he's always been.
43:26But underneath that,
43:27he's deeply unhappy about what's happening.
43:31The divorce.
43:33He really doesn't want it.
43:34Yes, but you see,
43:35the thing is, I do.
43:36Well, you do,
43:37because of how you see him.
43:39As somebody I don't want to be married to, yes.
43:41Yeah, but what I'm saying...
43:42Not very well, I admit.
43:44But what I'm trying to say
43:45is you would want to be married to him
43:48if you'd heard him talking as I've heard him.
43:49Ian, please,
43:50this is my business, all right?
43:52Well, of course.
43:53And I think I probably know Alan
43:55a bit better than you.
43:56Ah, well...
43:57What?
43:57No, I don't.
43:58See, you both of you
44:00backed yourselves into corners.
44:01All right, Ian, look,
44:02I appreciate what you're trying to do,
44:03but it's not going to work,
44:04so let's just leave it, right?
44:06I just can't stand by and watch
44:08while two of my best friends...
44:09Then look the other way.
44:11I'm sorry,
44:11but I'm just not in the mood for this.
44:13And you aren't...
44:14Well, you know,
44:15you really aren't cut out
44:16for dishing out advice
44:17on other people's marriages.
44:19Perhaps I'm not.
44:19You don't even...
44:20Do you see what you're making me say?
44:23For goodness sake.
44:25I don't even...
44:26Just leave it.
44:27I came to talk to you
44:29because Alan is finding it difficult
44:31to say what he wants to say.
44:32Well, he never has in the past.
44:34Because he's never been in this position before.
44:35You know nothing about my marriage.
44:37Well, except that...
44:38You don't even know about your own.
44:40There.
44:41I've said it.
44:42You've made me say it.
44:44I don't know what about my own.
44:45Anything.
44:48I think you should tell me
44:49what you mean by that.
44:50You think,
44:51you and Lynn,
44:52you have this wonderful marriage.
44:54That you aren't like the rest of us
44:55with our grubby little affairs
44:57and falling out
44:57and getting drunk most nights
44:59because that's the only way
45:00we can get through.
45:01You aren't like that.
45:02You have the perfect marriage.
45:03I know we're very fortunate.
45:06You are, yes.
45:07You're very fortunate.
45:09Fortunate that Lynn's willing
45:10to hide what she really feels
45:11and just get on with it.
45:13What she really feels...
45:14But she married you
45:15and so she stuck with you.
45:16Mainly because she knows
45:17you'd never survive on your own.
45:19Did you know
45:19that she never intended to marry you?
45:22Always meant to say no
45:23but never quite managed it
45:24because she couldn't
45:25bring herself to hurt you even then.
45:28No.
45:29You didn't know, did you?
45:30She said that.
45:32That and a lot more.
45:34I'm not sure I believe you.
45:36Oh.
45:37Then see if you believe this.
45:40She did.
45:41Just once.
45:41Six months
45:42after you were married.
45:44She did find the courage to leave.
45:46Made her plans
45:47and was on the point of telling you.
45:49But then she found out
45:49she was pregnant, didn't she?
45:51And so, that was it.
45:52Her chance had gone
45:53and she was stuck forever
45:55with the most boringly
45:56predictable man in England.
45:57That's a new interpreter.
45:58That's what she said.
46:00More than once.
46:01You think she comes round here
46:03for my sake, eh?
46:04To keep me company.
46:06She comes here
46:07to escape.
46:08Really, she's the one
46:09who needs the help and support
46:10and I'm the one giving it.
46:12You're saying...
46:13I'm saying, Ian,
46:14don't come here
46:14lecturing me on my marriage
46:16when you know
46:16so little about your own.
46:18You said she'd been drinking.
46:21Oh, yes.
46:22Well, then...
46:22Even so,
46:23I got the distinct impression
46:24I was hearing the truth.
46:26Her version of it.
46:27Which I imagine
46:28she'd had from you.
46:32I might have said...
46:34When I've been in a mood
46:36all things haven't been
46:37just as I've wanted them.
46:38Yes, I might have said
46:40more than I intended.
46:42And then Claire,
46:43well,
46:44she was going through a divorce.
46:45She wanted to hear
46:46that all marriages
46:47are just as bad as hers was.
46:49And sometimes you...
46:51Well, you find yourself
46:52saying things
46:52just because they're
46:53what the person
46:54you're speaking to
46:54wants to hear.
46:56She said you married me
46:57out of pity.
46:59Did you tell her that?
47:00I don't know what I told her.
47:02I'm sorry,
47:02but it's practically morning
47:04after what's been
47:04the most awful night.
47:06I'm really not
47:07in the mood for this.
47:09You were going to leave me.
47:10She said you were going to leave me.
47:11Well, I haven't.
47:12Have I?
47:13No, because you found
47:14you were having David.
47:15It's a long time ago.
47:19I can't remember.
47:22Which you can believe or not.
47:23That's up to you.
47:24But I'm sorry.
47:25I really can't remember.
47:29I just...
47:30don't know what to think anymore.
47:34See, I always thought
47:35we were different.
47:36Me and you.
47:37I really thought
47:38we were different.
47:40Not like the rest of them.
47:42But we aren't,
47:43aren't we?
47:45So maybe I've just
47:46got to get used to the fact
47:47that our marriage
47:47is just as much of a...
47:49of a compromise
47:50as everybody else's.
47:53And you've gone all day
47:54with this on your mind?
47:55Well, because we have
47:56people coming.
47:57Stupid, I know,
47:58but I thought,
47:59get tonight over with.
48:01Not knowing just what
48:02tonight would turn into.
48:03Get tonight over,
48:04then...
48:06ask you if it was true.
48:07Actually,
48:19I knew she'd said
48:21those things to you.
48:24I knew you'd been to see her
48:25and I knew what she'd said.
48:28You couldn't?
48:29How?
48:31Claire rang me this morning.
48:33It was after we'd played tennis
48:35and you were having a shower.
48:43Hello?
48:44It's me.
48:45Oh, hi.
48:46Hi.
48:46Has Ian said anything
48:48about last night?
48:49Last night?
48:49No.
48:50Why?
48:50It's just, well,
48:51maybe neither of us should.
48:53Claire?
48:54He called late.
48:55He was out walking your dog.
48:57And he called on you?
48:58Yeah.
48:59He hasn't mentioned it.
49:00Well, I'm not surprised.
49:02I wasn't in the best of moods, Lynn,
49:03and I said a few things
49:04I probably shouldn't have.
49:06And she wanted to leave it at that.
49:10She wasn't going to tell me
49:11anything else,
49:12but, of course,
49:14I couldn't leave it at that.
49:18I told you I was going
49:20round the shops.
49:21I've just one or two bits
49:22to pick up for tonight.
49:23Okay.
49:24I shan't be long.
49:25But what I was really doing...
49:30I drove round to see Claire.
49:36She was in the kitchen
49:37chopping up fruit.
49:39Something I imagined
49:40she was going to have
49:41for her breakfast.
49:43I honestly think
49:44we're best off
49:45forgetting all about it.
49:46Well, perhaps.
49:47But first I want to know,
49:48please, Claire,
49:49what did you say to him?
49:51Look, I'm sorry, okay,
49:52but I had had
49:53a pretty shitty evening
49:54one way and another,
49:55and now here he was
49:56at nearly midnight
49:57going on at me
49:59about how I shouldn't
49:59be divorcing Alan.
50:01Ian was?
50:01Yes.
50:02Well, all right,
50:04but that'd only be
50:05because he was trying to help.
50:06You know Ian,
50:07that's the only reason
50:08he'd be doing anything like that.
50:09Yeah, well,
50:10perhaps he'll think twice
50:10next time.
50:12Why?
50:13Claire, what did you say?
50:15I just told him
50:16a few home truths.
50:18What home truths?
50:19Things he'd said to me.
50:21Such as?
50:23If you must know,
50:24such as that you
50:26sometimes wish
50:26you'd never married him
50:27and come to that
50:29never really intended
50:30to marry him
50:31in the first place
50:31but ended up
50:32going through with it
50:33out of,
50:34well,
50:35out of pity.
50:36I think that was
50:36about the gist of it.
50:37Oh,
50:37and how you'd planned
50:38on leaving him
50:39but then David
50:40had come along.
50:42You actually...
50:43All of which
50:44you've said to me,
50:45Lynn,
50:45so don't try
50:45and pretend you haven't.
50:47And anyway,
50:47it was his own fault.
50:49I'd never have said anything
50:50if he hadn't driven me to it
50:51the way he was just going
50:52on and on
50:53about me and Alan.
50:55What did he say?
50:56Ian,
50:57what did he say
50:58when you said
50:58these things to him?
50:59Not a lot.
51:00I can imagine.
51:02Oh,
51:03no.
51:03Oh,
51:03perhaps it'll do him good
51:04waking him up
51:05to the real world.
51:08You told that
51:09good,
51:11honest man
51:11that everything
51:12he believes
51:13that he's based
51:14his life on
51:15is a lie.
51:16I told him the truth
51:17if that's what you mean.
51:18It's not the truth.
51:19Well,
51:19it's what you told me.
51:20It was part of the truth.
51:23Things I felt occasionally.
51:26And anyway,
51:26it was never,
51:27never,
51:28ever for him to know.
51:30Well,
51:31now he does so too,
51:32God.
51:33What you've done
51:34is evil.
51:35Downright evil.
51:36Oh,
51:37please.
51:37For you
51:38to judge.
51:39For you.
51:41After the mess
51:42you've made
51:42of your marriage
51:43to dare
51:44to judge mine.
51:45Well,
51:46yes,
51:46I suppose
51:46that's why,
51:47isn't it?
51:48Because you resent
51:49anybody else
51:50having the,
51:50the courage
51:52to see something
51:53through.
51:53Courage?
51:54And stand by
51:55their wedding vows.
51:55Oh,
51:56and that's what
51:56you did?
51:57Yes,
51:58well,
51:58yes.
51:58What,
51:59because the man
51:59you were going
52:00to leave your husband
52:00for wouldn't have you?
52:02Eh?
52:02Because you told him
52:03you were pregnant
52:04and he took off
52:05never to be seen again,
52:06even though,
52:07and yes,
52:07you've told me this,
52:08so don't deny it,
52:09even though it was
52:10his baby.
52:11She put down
52:12the knife
52:12and I picked
52:15it up,
52:16though I don't
52:17know why.
52:18I didn't intend,
52:20I really and truly
52:22didn't intend.
52:23In fact,
52:24I think I should
52:24tell Ian that,
52:25don't you?
52:26Tell him that
52:27his wonderful son,
52:28the one who won
52:29all the prizes
52:30and has gone
52:30to university,
52:32his wonderful son
52:33isn't even his.
52:34No,
52:35please.
52:35Well,
52:35why not?
52:36Let him know
52:36the truth.
52:37Claire,
52:37you must promise me.
52:39I'm promising you
52:39nothing,
52:40I'm evil,
52:40remember?
52:41Well,
52:42you're going to
52:42find out
52:42just how evil
52:43I can be.
52:45Even then,
52:46I didn't mean
52:47to do it.
52:49I wasn't even
52:50aware of the knife
52:51or that I was
52:52holding it.
52:53Let him know
52:53his precious son
52:54isn't his at all,
52:55but that the father
52:56was,
52:56what was his name?
52:57Oh,
52:57well,
52:57it doesn't matter.
52:58Someone you'd had
52:59an affair with
53:00when you'd only
53:00been married
53:00for six months.
53:01I had to stop her.
53:05Had to.
53:07I think she knew
53:08what I was going
53:09to do before
53:10I knew myself.
53:11Lynn,
53:11no,
53:12no,
53:14no.
53:31I looked down
53:39and she was lying
53:41there with
53:42the knife
53:43sticking out
53:44of her.
53:45You.
54:02I had to stop
54:03her telling you
54:04about David.
54:07And next thing
54:08I knew,
54:09well,
54:09I must have
54:10left the house
54:11because I was
54:12walking around
54:13the shops
54:13buying things
54:14for tonight.
54:15I came home
54:16and then we
54:17went to hear
54:17the Choral Society.
54:19I thought
54:20if I acted
54:22as though
54:22it hadn't
54:23happened
54:23then it might,
54:24might just
54:25go away.
54:27Though,
54:28of course,
54:28I knew
54:29that it
54:29wouldn't.
54:36I'm sorry.
54:37I,
54:38I should
54:39have told
54:39you.
54:40I always
54:45thought of you
54:46as his father.
54:47Yes.
54:49Yes,
54:49I am.
54:50Yes.
54:52I don't know
54:53what to say.
54:55I can't
54:56take it in.
54:56Not now,
54:57not with...
54:57No.
55:00Look,
55:00no one else
55:03knows.
55:03Oh,
55:04but they
55:06will.
55:07Well,
55:07not if...
55:08They will.
55:10Because I'm
55:10going to tell
55:11them.
55:13It was
55:14telling you
55:14that was
55:15hard.
55:17Everything
55:18else I can
55:18manage,
55:19so long
55:19as...
55:21so long
55:22as I
55:22have
55:23you
55:23with me.
55:25Of course.
55:30Always.
55:33I'll always
55:34be with you.
55:36In The Absent
55:37Guest,
55:37Lynn was
55:38played by
55:38Deborah Finlay,
55:39Ian by
55:40Robert Pigavance,
55:41Mark by
55:42John Thompson,
55:43Julie by
55:43Katie Kavanagh,
55:44Claire by
55:45Denise Welsh,
55:46and Alan by
55:47John Kazak.
55:48The Absent
55:49Guest was
55:49written by
55:50Peter Worley
55:50and directed
55:51in Manchester
55:52by Pauline
55:53Harris.
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