Can you see that, Mrs Bonner? Mm-hm.
Look, that's Baby's head.
The two darker patches are the eyes.
At three months, you can see Baby's bone structure is developing nicely.
The heart is working beautifully too.
Do you see that? Ohhh...
That is just the most amazing thing!
So...everything's OK, then?
Fine. But with your wife's medical history we'd advise monitoring.
I think you should rest as much as possible
and ENJOY your pregnancy. Now, would you like a print-out?
Baby's first picture? That'd be great.
Listen, I've been thinking... Why don't I come with you tomorrow?
It would do us both good to get away for a couple of days. I'll be working. Not all the time.
Go on. Well, it might be a wee bit difficult to rearrange things.
What's to rearrange?
Aye, right. Aye, aye, sure. Great!
Thanks.
Who do you think he takes after? You or me? He? HE might be a SHE.
Oh, you can sense these things? I think so. You're meant to. Yeah?
Yeah. I'm reading it in this book.
The soul incarnates
at about this time,
that's when you can sense these things. The soul incarnates?!
It sounds like the Immaculate Conception. It's not far off!
PHONE RINGS
Oh. That'll be the phone(!)
No.
No. In about five minutes.
Bye just now.
I'll have to stop by the yard on the way home. OK.
Joe, Anderson's been round. He wants an answer. Oh, aye?
He's got you over a barrel on this one, Joe, and it has to be sorted.
I know, Archie. But I can't deal with it just now. For God's sake!
Archie, I'll see Anderson on Monday
when I get up there. Hello?
'Hello.'
Hello, Beth. I don't like you using my mobile number. It's too risky.
I was thinking about you. I was thinking about you, too.
You sound all out of breath. I'm fine.
I need to give you a good going-over. I'll be round about nine o'clock, OK?
Beth?
Boo!
Shi...! Beth!
BETH GIGGLES
Gotcha!
Is that going to be enough? Yeah, I'm not taking much. It's going to be cold up there.
Beautiful, though. And what are you going to do when Joe's not there?
You won't want to be dragged around looking at trees... I won't be dragged. That's no holiday.
I can always do my own thing. It would be nice if you could spend a bit of time together.
We will, Mother! Stop worrying! But I do. I can't help myself.
Still, I take a good snap, though, don't I?
What's this? Weird, isn't it?
Probably some processing fault. But I like it.
The blue fog...
It's like your guilty soul seeping away into the mist. Stop it, Beth.
Or maybe it's the Blue Boy coming to get you...JOE. Don't be stupid. Why? Because it's just not funny.
So the joke's worn a bit thin, has it? Yes.
And you don't find me funny either,
do you, Joe?
There's no joy in it any more, Beth.
For you or for me.
Because of another bundle of joy?
Because of another bundle of joy.
Did you get everything sorted out?
Uh-huh.
Want to tell me about it?
I'll tell you later.
Promise?
I promise.
Mmmm...
Don't get me going, don't. It's not fair.
You sure you don't want me to paint that cradle for you? No, no. no.
Och, well, I'll just give it a good scrub-down.
"The Karma of Natural Childbirth." What planet are you on?!
It's very good, Mother. Don't miss that ferry, Joe.
Take care and don't bore her with timber prices! Thanks, Ma. Bye. Bye.
Wait...
Hang on! I found this on the hall carpet this afternoon. It might be important.
Here you are. Thanks a lot, Ma. See you. Bye now!
Bye!
Sorry about Ma. She's a wee bit over-excited just now, you know.
Like pulling teeth, wasn't it?
This is you.
"I'm sorry for you."
What's this?
Is this a threat of some kind?
Has it something to do with work?
It's all that bloody money, isn't it? What the hell have you done?
I've done nothing. We'll have to turn back and sort this out.
It's sorted out. Well, what's this, then?
It's sorted. It's over. There's nothing to worry about, darling.
I'm not having you being upset about it.
Well, OK.
OK.
CASSETTE PLAYS: # May you never lay your head down
# Without a hand to hold... #
BRAKES SQUEAL
Stay here!
Oh, God, Joe! It's still alive! No, she's dying.
Come on, help me pull her off the road.
Oh, Joe!
Hello! Looks as if it's clearing up. Pleasure to see you again!
And...you, too. Er, Marie, my wife. Of course! Let me show you your room.
You shouldn't be disturbed by children, this time, Mr Bonner. In fact, you're our only guests.
But things pick up around Christmas and Hogmanay.
At least the roads are quiet. No trouble on the way up, I hope?
No. Well, we hit a deer on the way. That must have shaken you up.
They can do that, can't they? They just spring out at you. Yes.
Is the car all right? Seems fine, aye.
Well, it would be insensitive to offer venison on the menu...
or to make jokes about stag nights, eh, Mrs Bonner?
You have another double? I didn't expect this room.
I'm sorry? Do you have another double?
No. What's wrong with this one?
I'm sorry. Have I misunderstood you?
Er...
No, no. Aye, this is great. This'll be fine.
Well, I'll see you in the bar for a nightcap. Thanks.
Do you want to come down for a drink?
No. I'll just have a bath, or something.
I just feel... You go.
See you in a wee while.
Terribly sorry about that. So embarrassing. I just put my foot right in it, didn't I?
No, no. It's on the house, please. Especially under the circumstances.
Look. Mum's the word from now on. I promise you that.
Thanks. Slainte.
What is it?
Is it the room? No, no, no.
I didn't sleep too well
the last time I was here. Some kid
down the corridor wailing all night.
You'd better get used to it. What?
Joe!
WATER PINGS INTO BUCKET
WATER DRIPS
Marie? (Listen.)
WIND HOWLS
Can you hear it?
There.
What?
It's the wind.
Sounds like somebody crying.
Come to bed, Marie. Come to bed.
Christ, you're freezing.
Is that what you heard? Is that what kept you awake?
I want to go to sleep.
Joe, relax. Your heart is beating like a sledgehammer.
I'm trying to remember when you came to stay with us before, Mr Bonner.
Got it! It was when the photographer came to do an article on the hotel.
I told him he was wasting his time. Why?
Photographs don't come out well
here. Why?
Oh! Someone rang for you. Wants you to ring back as soon as possible.
I'll just be a minute. OK.
Congratulations, dear. Three...three and a half months?
I didn't think it was so obvious.
Perhaps not here. But your face is so radiant. I couldn't help noticing.
PUNCHES OUT NUMBER ON PHONE
PHONE RINGS
Beth?
He's such a busy man, your husband. I thought you were on holiday. Well, we're trying.
You can always come and talk to me. My name's Christine.
And mine's Marie. Thanks.
Christine, why can't you take photos here?
I suppose you think she's too other-worldly, but I like her.
Who is this mysterious Blue Boy?
She says he ruins all the film.
Watch that woman. She's got a different tale for every guest.
Yeah, but who is he?
I haven't a clue.
What are you doing?
Asking questions.
Look...
it's not me.
It's amazing, isn't it?
What sort of questions?
Anything you like.
What's it saying?
(I'm not telling.)
Come here.
Here. I want to see
if you get the same as me. Come on.
Now. OK...
Hold it over my bump.
OK...
Now, ask your question.
Like, "Are you a boy?"
I haven't got time for this. Joe.
I don't want to know. You are so superstitious.
Aye.
Marie!
Come on!
RADIO IS ON
METALLIC BOOMING SHE SWITCHES OFF RADIO
DRIPPING
PIPES GURGLE
They're out, Miss Clark. They've gone for a jaunt in the woods.
Hi, Joe. Hi, Kenny. Er, this is Marie, my wife.
Oh. I didn't know. How are you? Fine.
He's in a rather awkward position. So let's try and be as discreet as possible.
Of course. Poor woman.
Oh...
The Blue Boy and other stories...
..keep them to yourself this time.
That's hardly up to me, is it?
Did you speak to Anderson? Not since yesterday.
How did he sound? Uncompromising.
MOBILE PHONE RINGS
Hello.
'Hello?' Can I speak to Joe, please?
He's not here just now. Can I take a message? No.
Can I ask who called? No...er...yeah.
You could tell him that Beth rang.
Do you want him to ring you back?
He can ring me later. He's got my number.
..That's my money.
Joe!
I think I'll just stay here. I got such a fright, I need to recover.
I'm OK. I'm worried about you. I'm fine.
You sure you won't get bored? No.
All right, then. I'll go on my way.
Oh, God.
'Hi. Beth's not at home just now.
'But don't be downhearted. You can leave a message after the tone.' BLEEP
Just to say that I feel sorry for YOU.
DISTANT WAIL
"Our darling boy. Lost but never forgotten.
"A. Clark."
Robert, that fountain - is that a memorial or something?
It's to a wee boy. He drowned in the loch, not far from here.
God, that's awful.
A. Clark...was that his name?
I don't think so. Family name or other.
Is that a relative of Christine's?
God knows, but she likes to think so.
Where is she?
Um...Saturday afternoon...
She's up at the church, practising.
But...
a word of warning before you go, Mrs Bonner.
Miss Clark's a remarkable woman, and very gifted in many ways, but...
her middle name's Hyperbole.
Sorry?
A pinch of salt, Mrs Bonner.
OK, thanks. Bye.
CHURCH ORGAN PLAYS
ORGAN STOPS
Oh! What a lovely surprise!
I expect your husband's deserted you.
I had one once. It was the only disappointing period of my life.
Listen.
PLAYS: "O Little Town of Bethlehem"
Where's the Baby Jesus? He's not due for another fortnight.
But we've got the shepherd, and Mary and Joseph, and the Angel Gabriel.
It's lovely. The children put it up.
They love this time of year.
Oh. You're in good company.
The last of a line, I'm afraid.
That's sad. Well, yes, I suppose it is,
although I'm a woman. But after 400 years...
it IS sad.
That wee boy who drowned was a Clark. Was he a relative too?
A very close one. I'm sorry.
It was a long time ago, and I never knew him...
but I feel...well, close to him, in a special way.
Do you understand?
He was recovering from typhoid fever
and he was convalescing
with his parents at the hotel here.
He was prone to sleepwalking and one night he got out of his bed and wandered off.
He went outside
and fell from the jetty and drowned.
In the morning, when his father found the body,
it was quite blue with the cold. Oh, poor wee thing.
Are you all right?
Yeah.
It was so weird when you were speaking there. It was so vivid.
And I know what it's like...
You lost a baby?
I had a miscarriage.
Oh, my dear...
I'm so sorry.
And you cried for him then, didn't you?
And you're crying now because you feel him again.
Your husband's in the bar.
Robert, where did you get all these?
Auctions, house sales. People give them to me, you know. Fascinating.
This place has hardly changed. I know. This one's great.
The children look so happy in it. Funny how you can feel that.
I know.
Finished? Mm.
You all right? Yeah.
WATER PIPE ROARS
She's taking you where?
To church.
Why?
I feel like it.
OPENING BARS OF "O Little Town of Bethlehem"
# O little town of Bethlehem
# How still we see thee lie.
# Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
# The silent stars go by.
# Yet in thy dark streets shineth
# The everlasting light...
# O morning stars together
# Proclaim the holy birth,
# And praises sing to God the King
# And peace to men on earth... #
METALLIC HUM
Do you believe we can learn from the past? The minister thinks so. What do YOU think?
I think when the past mirrors the present we should let it speak to us. And it does.
If we'd only listen.
You DO listen, don't you? How do you mean? You're sensitive to these things. To the past.
If you knew me for longer,
I don't think you'd be saying that.
I didn't tell you everything yesterday, about the drowning. I wanted to be sure.
Sure about what?
When his father found him, there were little wet footsteps leading all the way back into the hotel
and into his parents' bedroom.
He's still here...with us.
Why are you telling me this?! I want you to help my little boy.
CAR PHONE RINGS
Hi, Joe? ..Can you hear me?
Aye, I can hear you.
Can you talk? What are you trying to do to me?
I'm hurt, Joe.
Aye. How do you think I feel? Hurt.
I'm glad.
We feel the same way. Marie knows.
I know she does. She left a message
on my answer machine.
She did WHAT? Isn't it better that she knows?
Christ, Beth!
What's the point of more hurt?
It's a war, Joe. Don't you realise that?
BETH RINGS OFF
We're going to have to talk, Marie.
Are we?
We haven't had much time, have we?
No...we haven't.
So...
how much do you know?
Know? About the last time I came here.
I don't want to hear this. But you KNOW, Marie! You rang her!
Not now, OK? Give us a chance!
You've had your chance! You have to know.
I don't have to know anything! It's YOUR business!
If it DOES become my business, if it affects me or the baby, you can just PISS off!
Understand? You can just PISS off!
Oh, God, what are we going to do?
What are we going to do, my little one?
SLOSHING
Ohh! I'm so sorry, Mrs Bonner. Oh, Robert. We seem to have sprung another leak. Yes, sorry. Sorry.
LAUGHS
TELEPHONE RINGS
Hello.
Darling! You're there. How are you?
Oh, hi, Ma. I'm fine, thanks. I'm fine. I'm fine.
You sound out of breath. We were just having a laugh. Oh, wonderful!
Oh, I am so pleased.
Marie, I hope I didn't upset you this morning. Oh, no, Christine.
I certainly didn't mean to.
I can understand if you think it's a strange story... Really, it's fine, Christine, honestly.
He stayed in here...my Blue Boy. You can feel him too, can't you? Feel him?
His presence. Why are you telling me this? You're making my flesh crawl.
Because you're close to him. What?
I can sense that he's close to you.
He was looking for his mother when he died... Now he's found you. Stop!
I don't know what you're
talking about. I'm not in the mood.
Please understand.
Ohh! I'm terribly sorry... I thought I heard a noise...
and I just thought... Look.
Oh, God!
Look...
Look at this.
What is it? I don't know.
PHONE RINGS
Joe? 'Marie, darling?' Ma!
'I know it's early, darling...' Ma, is Joe there? 'No. What's wrong, dear?'
He went out last night.
Didn't come back. 'I'll come up...'
No, Ma. Stay where you are, in case he drops in.
And if he does, break his neck for me. 'Why?' I'll ring you later.
PHONE RINGS
ANSWERING MACHINE STARTS
Hello?
(Damn thing!)
SWITCHES IT OFF
Sorry. Beth here.
Could I speak to Joe, please? Who is that? Who do you think it is?
Now could I speak to Joe? He's not here.
You're lying to me. I might be.
You can't be sure, can you? Put him on. Why would he want to speak to you? Put him on!
There's no point. He's got nothing to say.
That's not true. Believe what you like. I know how he feels.
You don't. You can't... because you can't trust him.
Joe! JOE!
You BASTARD! For Christ's sake, Marie!
MARIE SOBS
For Christ's sake, Marie...
Don't touch me!
Don't you touch her! Piss off!
Marie... You bastard!
Marie, I'm sorry.
If you lie to me, I'll KILL you!
What are we going to do?
I think we should stay together.
I know it hasn't been said for a long time, Marie...
..but I love you.
How do I know that?
I'm scared, Marie.
For us.
CAR PULLS UP >
Hey, Joe!
(Dammit. Kenny. I'd forgotten.) Will you be OK for a bit? Will YOU?
I'll follow you.
WATER PIPES SQUEAK AND RATTLE
Robert. Oh.
Mrs Bonner.
You scared me. I was miles away.
Incredible! Is this why I've no water?
It is. I've never seen anything like it.
The water pipe is ruptured all over the place. It's bloody weird.
It's beautiful. It's probably the Blue Boy.
Christine and her...mumbo jumbo! Aye, but it's a tragic story.
It's a sordid story. What do you mean, sordid?
I thought the wee boy was
recovering from an illness. He was.
But his father was a womaniser and was having it off with his son's nurse.
I bet Miss Clark didn't tell you that.
Pint, Mr Bonner? Is Marie about?
I think she's taking a nap upstairs.
I'll have a pint of IPA, thanks.
GURGLING
Kiran! Come back!
Marie?
It was a dream.
No, stronger than a dream...
I'd come up to clean up but there was no water.
So...I lay down to read
and then I started thinking about us.
I must have dropped off, I don't know...
Then I felt someone... come into the room.
I thought it was you but I couldn't turn round and I knew it couldn't be you.
It was a child...
..terribly unhappy.
Part of me wanted to go to him but his loneliness was... so frightening.
And then...
he got in beside me.
I could feel his little sharp knees
in the small of my back.
Then I woke up.
I'm frightened.
Oh, my God, Marie!
Oh, my God! Joe, you've felt him too, haven't you?
I thought it was just me... my imagination.
I want to leave.
All right.
All right, we'll go now. We'll get packed.
We'll get packed...right? Uh-huh.
Here's your bag.
KNOCK ON DOOR
Shite.
There's someone to see you. I can't. Not just now.
I really think you should.
Marie...
I'll be right back, OK?
OK.
Joe...I had to.
No, you didn't.
Listen, Joe, I need to speak to you! Leave me alone!
If you don't, I'll scream!
And I will too, Joe.
I really need to speak to you.
All right.
But not here.
Where's Joe? Who came for him?
Er...what's-his-name? Kenny. I am sorry.
Listen, we're leaving tonight. Oh...
And there's another leak in the roof.
We were happy, weren't we?
Christ, Beth!
That's not the point, not any more.
But it's the only thing that counts, Joe.
Don't make the mistake of thinking you can make Marie happy by denying your own.
KIRAN'S VOICE ECHOES
Mother! I'm here, Mother!
TELEPHONE RINGS
Joe? Are you OK? Where are you?
I'm coming. I can't stand it here.
I'll be there as soon as I can.
And, Marie...
I do love you, Marie.
You still there? 'Yes, Joe.'
Please take care driving back. I'll be all right.
I mean it, Joe. You just take care.
MARIE RINGS OFF
Bye, then.
Bye.
I love you.
Kiran! Kiran! Come back!
Joe!
JOE! JOE! JOE!
JOE! JOE, JOE!
JOE!!
PHONE RINGS It's all right, dear. I'll get it.
Hello?
Miss Clark?
Oh, yes. Hello.
No, she's...
VOICE BECOMES INDISCERNIBLE
Yes, that's right. A lovely baby boy.
BABY GURGLES