Real Love or just Money Learn English through story level 2
chapter one
the clarkson family
lived in the country near cambridge
about half a mile from the nearest
village
and about a mile
from the river
they had a big old house
with a beautiful garden
a lot of flowers
and many old trees
one thursday morning in july
jackie came in from the garden
she was a tall fat woman
30 years old
it was the hottest day of the year
but she wore a warm brown skirt
and yellow shirt
she went into the kitchen
to get a drink of water
just then
the phone rang
cambridge 1379
jackie said
hello
this is diane
i want to talk to mother
mother isn’t here
jackie said
she’s at the doctor’s
why
what’s wrong
nothing’s wrong jackie said
why are you telephoning
you are going to come this weekend
mother wants everyone to be here
yes
i want to come
diane said
i’m phoning
because i have no money for the train
ticket
no money
mother is always giving you money
this phone call is very expensive
diane said coldly
tell mother please
i need the money
jackie put the phone down
[Music]
she took a cigarette from her bag
and began to smoke
she felt angry because her sister always
asked for
money
diane was 20 years old
the youngest in the family
she lived in london
in one room of a big house
she wanted to be a singer
she sang very well
but she could never get work
jackie went back into the kitchen
and began to make some sandwiches
just then
the back door opened
and her mother came in
it’s very hot
molly said
she took off her hat
and put it down on the table
she was a tall dark woman
with beautiful eyes
two big black dogs came into the kitchen
after her
and ran across to her
she sat down
and put her hands on their heads
jackie put the sandwiches on the table
mother
she said
diane phoned
she wants money for her train ticket
molly closed her eyes for a minute
then she stood up
this afternoon
i want you to get the house ready for
the weekend
she said
oh
and please go to the village later and
get my tablets
yes mother
jackie said
molly went to the door
mother
please wait a minute
jackie said
peter hobbs came here this morning
he’s very angry with you about that
letter
he lost his job you know
why did you write to his office
he wants to talk to you about it
well
i don’t want to talk to him molly said
she opened the door
but mother you don’t understand
he’s 17
and it was his first job
he’s very very angry
he says
he says
he’s going to kill you
molly did not answer
went out of the room
and closed the door
chapter two
it was seven o’clock on saturday evening
jackie stood at the window
a car drove slowly up to the front door
and stopped
a tall man with white hair got out
it was albert
the husband of molly’s sister
here’s uncle albert
jackie said
always late
she went out of the room
and opened the front door
albert came in
and went at once to molly
oh dear
i’m very late
i am sorry
albert said
50 years old today
what a wonderful dress
molly did not smile
thank you
albert we’re all getting older
tonight
she wore a long black dress
and the two black dogs sat at her feet
everyone is here now
let’s go into dinner
she said
everyone stood up
and went to the table
the table looks nice jackie
what wonderful flowers
diane said
she was a beautiful girl
with long black hair
and dark blue eyes
she wore a long red dress
albert sat down next to roger
roger was molly’s son
her second child
he lived in cambridge
in an expensive house
someone called peter stopped me down the
road
albert said
who is he
he’s very angry with you molly
that’s peter hobbs
from the house across the road
jackie said quickly
she looked across the table at molly
he lost his job last week
and he’s angry with everyone
it’s molly he doesn’t like albert said
molly said nothing
everyone began to eat
how is aunt annie
jackie asked
she’s much worse now
albert said
she stays in bed all the time
she needs a nurse
24 hours a day
am sorry
molly said
albert stopped eating
and looked at molly
it’s very difficult
and very expensive you know
annie feels very unhappy because you
don’t visit her molly
she loves you very much
you are her little sister you know
molly closed her eyes for a minute
i know that albert
i am 50 years old
but i am always her little sister
well
we can talk about it later
albert laughed
oh yes
we can talk later
it’s always later with you molly
always tomorrow
never today
jackie watched her mother
her mother was angry with albert
molly never liked talking about her
sister annie
and she did not like visiting her
because she was very ill
that’s a beautiful dress diane
is it new
jackie asked
thank you jackie
yes it’s new
and very expensive
i got it on wednesday
diane said
she smiled at jackie
all your things are expensive
jackie said
she remembered the phone call on
thursday about the train ticket
i don’t like cheap things
diane said
and i’m going to need more money soon
i want to go to america
can you help me roger
oh no
roger said
nobody wants to help you diane
you don’t like working
we all know that
but we all want you to get a job
diane laughed
it doesn’t matter roger
i don’t need your help
mother always helps me
mother loves me best
she suddenly smiled
a quick beautiful smile
but her eyes were cold
jackie looked at her mother
molly’s face was white
jackie did not understand
was her mother afraid of diane
jackie wanted her mother to be happy
today
would you like some more meat uncle
albert
jackie asked
roger
can you give everyone some more to drink
roger got up
and began to give more wine to everyone
this is good wine
he said
molly smiled for the first time
yes
your father loved this wine
he often drank it
yes
albert said
and looked at molly expensive too
would you like to meet mr briggs this
weekend roger
jackie asked quickly
he’s the new man at the farm
he wants to meet you
briggs
briggs
molly said suddenly angry
don’t talk to me about that man i don’t
like him
he wants half my garden for his farm
he needs more land he says
i don’t want him in my house
he’s always dirty
and he has bad teeth
jackie stood up and got her bag
excuse me i want a cigarette
cigarettes
always a cigarette in your mouth
molly said
i don’t like it
cigarettes aren’t good for you
jackie began to smoke
she felt angry
but she said nothing
she wanted her mother to be happy this
evening
but it was very difficult
roger drank some more wine
well mother
perhaps mr briggs is right
the garden is very big you know
he said
it’s a lot of work for you
the house is big too
you’re 50 now
you need to be more careful
roger
i don’t need a nurse you know
i work in the garden every day
i feel happy there
molly stood up
i know you all want my money
you come here for a free dinner
you don’t want to see me
you don’t love me
you want my house
and my money
well
you can all wait
nobody
is getting more money from me
not before i die
don’t say that mother
jackie
cried
molly walked across the room to the door
i feel ill now
i’m going upstairs to bed
molly left the room
nobody moved
one day
i’m going to kill that woman
diane said quietly
roger looked at diane
but said nothing
albert moved his head slowly up and down
ill
she’s angry that’s all
he
said molly always gets angry about money
why can’t she be good to her sister
annie’s going to die soon
molly knows that
jackie finished her cigarette
and stood up
would everyone like some coffee
come into the kitchen and let’s drink it
there
chapter 3
early next morning
the house was quiet
suddenly
there was a cry from the room next to
rogers
his mother’s room
roger opened his eyes
and looked at the clock
it was nearly seven o’clock
he got out of bed
and opened the door quietly
at the same time
the door of his mother’s room opened
and diane came out
her face was very white
roger
it’s mother
i brought a cup of coffee for her
and i found her dead
she’s dead
dead in her bed
she cried
roger went quickly to the door of his
mother’s room
and looked in
the window was open
but the room was warm
molly was on the bed
one hand under her head
roger went across to the bed
and put his hand on her arm
it was cold
on the little table next to the bed
was a hot cup of coffee
and an empty cup
i’m going to call the doctor
diane said
she’s dead
roger said slowly
his face too was white
mother
is dead
diane walked across the room to the door
i’m going to phone the doctor
she said again
wait a minute
roger called
let’s tell the family first
family
nobody loved
mother diane went out and ran downstairs
roger slowly went downstairs after her
and stood by the telephone
pratt
this is diane clarkson
it’s my mother
she’s dead
can you come quickly
diane put the phone down
it isn’t true roger
mother dead
daddy died last winter
and now mother
diane began to cry
don’t cry diane
roger said
let’s go upstairs
and tell uncle albert and jackie
no
you tell them
nobody loved mother
you aren’t sorry
look at you
you want her money
that’s all
roger suddenly wanted to hit diane
be quiet
he said
what about you
you didn’t love mother
you wanted her money too
don’t forget that
it’s true
diane said
oh
i can’t stay in this house
i’m going out
i’m going to the river with the dogs
no
roger said
the doctor’s coming
and i want you here
diane said nothing
she went into the kitchen
and at once
the dogs got up and came to her
beautiful dogs
daddy loved you
and mother loved you
now i’m going to love you
she opened the back door
and went out with the dogs
roger did not move
he stood by the telephone
it’s true
he thought
i am happy about the money
i needed money
and now
i’m rich
things are going to be easier for me now
but mother
why didn’t i love her more
and now
she’s dead
slowly
roger went back upstairs
he wanted to dress
before dr pratt arrived
dr pratt
was a little fat man without much hair
he was the family doctor
and he knew all the clerks and family
very well
he went upstairs at once
and looked at molly’s body
he looked carefully at the cup of coffee
and the empty cup on the table next to
her bed
i’m sorry roger
he said
where is diane
she phoned me
she went out with the dogs
roger said
she was angry with me
angry with everyone
dr pratt said nothing for a minute
this is going to be very difficult
i’m going to phone the police roger
police
why what’s wrong
i don’t know
your mother wasn’t ill
i saw her on thursday
and she was very well
why did she die
i don’t understand
i want to find out
roger went across to the window
and looked out at the garden
it was a beautiful summer morning
the sky was blue
and the garden was green
[Music]
it was all very quiet
his mother loved this garden
but tom briggs wanted the garden
and roger wanted the garden too
roger felt worse and worse
your mother
took sleeping tablets
dr pratt said
did you know
on thursday
she had a new bottle of tablets
but i can’t find it here in a room
i didn’t know
roger said
very well
let’s go downstairs
and you can phone the police
roger went into the kitchen
and made some
coffee just then
diane came in with the dogs
roger
she said
look
i’m sorry
i was angry
and said some angry things
it doesn’t matter
roger said
here you are
have some coffee
dr pratt is phoning the police
did you know mother took sleeping
tablets
well
the bottle is not in her room
what
i don’t understand
diane took the coffee and began to drink
her eyes looked big and dark
just then
dr pratt came into the kitchen
they’re coming at once
he said
diane
i’m sorry about your mother
dr pratt
i want to tell you about last night
everyone was very angry
be quiet
roger said quickly
diane never thinks before she opens her
mouth
he thought angrily
diane did not look at roger
last night
mother went to bed early
because everyone
don’t tell me
dr pratt said
you can tell the police
roger’s face went red
suddenly he felt afraid
the police are going to talk to everyone
and ask questions
he thought
and they’re going to want answers
it’s going to be very difficult
he finished his coffee
and stood up
i’m going upstairs
he said
i’m going to tell uncle albert
and jackie
about mother
and
about the police
chapter four
the police arrived very quickly
there were a lot of them
some of them with cameras
went upstairs to molly’s room
two detectives talked to dr pratt in the
kitchen
the family waited in the sitting room
it was a hot day again
and the windows were open
the dogs sat quietly at diane’s feet
nobody talked
jackie smoked
they waited for a long time
suddenly
the door opened
and the two detectives came in
good morning
i am detective inspector walsh
and this is sergeant foster
the inspector did not smile
he was a big man
in an old black suit
and a black hat and coat
he wore a coat
because he always felt cold
last night
someone put sleeping tablets
in mrs clarkson’s hot milk
we are going to question everybody
and we need a room please
roger stood up
i’m roger clarkson
you can have my father’s old office
come with me
it’s along here
the office
was not a very big room
but there was a table
and three or four chairs
roger opened the window
i would like to talk first to your uncle
albert king
inspector walsh said
he took off his hat and coat
and sat down behind the table
of course
said roger
and left the room
sergeant foster waited by the door
he was a very tall young man
with black hair and a nice smile
he was not very happy this morning
because he usually played tennis on
sunday mornings
he was one of the best players at the
cambridge tennis club
albert came in
and sat down
i’m going to ask some questions mr king
the inspector said
and sergeant foster
is going to write it all down
albert looked at his feet
yes
yes
it’s your job i know that
tell me about last night
inspector walsh asked quietly
you were angry with mrs clarkson
albert looked at inspector walsh for the
first time
yes
i was
everyone was angry
roger was angry
diane
wanted money to go to america
then
there’s a man called tom briggs
he wants half the garden for his farm
molly
was a rich woman
i need money
because my wife annie molly’s sister
is very ill
i told molly this
what happened next
well
molly was angry with everyone
and went upstairs
we went into the kitchen for coffee
jackie
wanted everyone to go up and say good
night to molly
she lives here with molly
so she wanted molly to be happy
at first
roger said no
he was angry
and didn’t want to see his mother
and did you see molly in her room
yes
i was tired
and i went upstairs first
i went to molly’s room
and asked her for money again
but
no there was no money for her sister
albert stopped
and put his hand over his eyes
inspector walsh
watched albert for a minute
did you hear noises after you went to
bed
everyone went into molly’s room to say
good night i think
later
i heard someone
he
or she
went downstairs
that was about midnight
very well mr king
thank you you can go now
albert left the room
inspector walsh put his hands behind his
head
what time is it
i’m hungry
we’re learning a lot
but i need some coffee
shall i go to the kitchen
sergeant foster asked
oh no
later
let’s see
jackie clarkson next
jackie came in and sat down
she looked down at her hands
and said nothing
we found the empty bottle of your
mother’s sleeping tablets
in diane’s room
the inspector said suddenly
then he waited
jackie’s face did not change
and she said nothing
tell me
did your mother get her tablets from the
shop in the village
yes
my mother usually took a sleeping tablet
every night
so she needed a lot of tablets
sometimes
she got them from the shop
sometimes i did
on thursday
i asked peter hobbs to get them
he lives in the house across the road
and he often goes to the village on his
bicycle
i see
your mother wanted to stay in this house
how about you
did you want to move
jackie looked up for a minute
and then down at her hands again
this is mother’s house
i loved my mother
she was good to me
did you see your mother in her room last
night
yes
everyone did
diane made hot milk
and took it to mother
she usually drank a cup of hot milk
before she slept
inspector walsh put his hands behind his
head
jackie was very quiet
what did your mother say
jackie opened her bag
and looked for a cigarette
can i smoke
of course
this is your house
inspector wash said
he watched jackie
what did your mother say
he asked again
she wanted to go downstairs again
she remembered the dogs
she wanted to get some dinner for them
i went to my room
and she went downstairs
what time was this
i don’t remember
about midnight i think
and the cup of hot milk
it was on the table by her bed
did you need your mother’s money
no inspector
money is not important to me
there are more important things
jackie said quietly
well
your uncle albert wanted money
tom briggs wanted the garden
you
wanted nothing
jackie finished her cigarette
and looked up at the inspector
her eyes were suddenly angry
don’t forget peter hobbs
he lost his job because of my mother
he wanted to kill her you know
and what about diane
you found the empty bottle in her bag
inspector wash listened carefully
we’re going to question everyone is
clarkson
jackie said nothing for a minute
would you like some sandwiches and
coffee inspector
ah yes please
inspector wash said warmly
i would like sandwiches and coffee very
much
jackie left the room
inspector walsh
thought about her
why was she suddenly angry
the room
was quiet
chapter five
after the coffee and sandwiches
inspector walsh
called roger clarkson to the office
roger came in
and sat down
the inspector began at once
now
mr clarkson
why was your mother angry with you last
night
this house is very big
roger said
it was a lot of work for mother
i wanted her to move
but no
she loved this house and garden
she didn’t want to move
tell me about your job mr clarkson
your mother is dead
and now
you’re rich
do you need money
roger’s face was suddenly afraid
what are you saying
i didn’t kill my mother
i need money
that’s true
a friend and i
want to build ten houses here in this
garden
we can get a lot of money for them
so
i wanted mother to sell this house
it’s
true
but mr briggs wanted half the garden too
you know
for his farm
inspector walsh moved a pencil on the
table
tell me
what happened upstairs
you went to your mother’s room
yes
i did
i wanted to say good night to my mother
did you talk about the house again
yes i did
again
she said no
she loved the house
and didn’t want to sell it
inspector walsh watched roger for a
minute
i see
we found the empty bottle of sleeping
tablets mr clarkson
in diane’s room
roger’s face did not change
oh
someone put them there
diane did not kill my mother
i know that
she found the body
very well
i would like to see diane next
roger got up and left the room
inspector walsh stood up
and put his hands in his pockets
he went to the window
and looked out at the trees
why was roger clarkson afraid
was it important
he looked at sergeant foster
tomorrow morning
go to mr clarkson’s office
you have the name
he said
ask some questions about him
about his job
friends
money
sergeant foster wrote it down
yes inspector
good day for tennis sergeant
sergeant foster laughed
don’t say that
it’s not easy you know
i don’t like sitting here looking at the
sun
diane came into the room
and sat down
she looked at sergeant foster and smiled
i saw you
at the tennis club last month i think
you play very well
sergeant foster’s face went red
inspector walsh looked at him
oh yes
our fast and exciting player is sergeant
foster
diane smiled again at sergeant foster
and his face went redder
well miss clarkson
inspector walsh said
i want you to talk about last night
diane stopped smiling
oh
i can talk about last night
i can’t stop talking about it
we were all angry
mother went to bed early
and i made hot milk for her
we were all in the kitchen
and peter hobbs came in
he nearly broke the back door down
diane stopped
yes
he was very angry about a letter
he wanted to kill mother
are you going to talk to him
we’re going to talk to everyone
good
tom briggs came into the kitchen too
are you going to talk to him
i’m asking the questions miss clarkson
when did you take the milk upstairs
i went up after roger
she stopped for a minute
then she began again
i didn’t like my mother inspector
she killed my father you know
last winter
after christmas
she drove the car into a tree
and killed my father
inspector walsh watch diane’s face
carefully
i see
so you wanted to kill your mother
diane laughed
i wanted to kill her
but i didn’t
i can tell you a lot of things about
this family inspector
everyone wanted mother to die
uncle albert
wanted her money for his wife annie
and then my brother
he needs a lot of money
he has an expensive house
and an expensive car
and think of jackie
do you know that jackie didn’t like
mother
a long time ago
a nice boy worked here
he was the gardener
jackie loved him very much
but mother said no
a gardener
was not a good husband for a clarkson
girl
inspector walsh listened quietly
all this was very interesting
but was it important
perhaps
what a happy family the clarksons were
we found the empty bottle of sleeping
tablets in your room
inspector walsh said quietly
he watched her face carefully
diane stood up suddenly
her face angry
what
i didn’t put it there
i’m not going to listen to this
she ran out of the room
well well well
inspector walsh said
she likes you sergeant
you need to be careful
sergeant foster laughed
but his face went red
again someone put sleeping tablets in
molly’s hot milk
the inspector said
all the family were in the kitchen last
night
peter hobbs
and tom briggs
were there too
one of them
killed molly
inspector walsh got his hat and coat
come on
we need to talk to peter hobbs and tom
briggs
let’s get some more coffee
first i’d like a sandwich too
i’m hungry again
chapter 6
they found peter hobbs
under his car
an old green car
he got up slowly
he wore old blue trousers
and a dirty orange shirt
we want to talk about mrs clarkson
inspector walsh said
oh
it’s about her
peter said
he looked at the inspector
i know she’s dead someone in the village
told me
why did you go to the clarkson’s house
last night
jackie wanted me to come and see her
brother roger
you’re angry she said
come and tell roger
i went to the house
but nobody opened the door
so i made a lot of noise
and then they opened the door
old mrs clarkson wasn’t there
but i told roger
i told them all
peter hit the car with his hand
i wanted to kill that woman
i lost my job
my first job
because of her
last month
i was in trouble with the police
and that old woman
wrote to my office
and she told them about the police
i wanted to kill her
take it easy
inspector walsh said
what happened next
jackie gave me some coffee
but her brother didn’t listen to me
peter said angrily
then tom briggs came
in he wanted to talk to roger too
but roger didn’t listen to him
jackie was very unhappy
she nearly cried
then i went home
that’s all
i see
now tell me about the tablets
went to the village on thursday
tablets
oh yes i remember
jackie wanted me to get her mother’s
tablets from the village
i go to the village on my bicycle
this car doesn’t work
thank you peter
that’s all
that’s all
peter laughed angrily
you’re going to come back
i know that
i know the police
tom briggs farm
was about half a mile away
near the river
it was not a big farm
and the house was old and dirty
not much money here
inspector walsh said
tom briggs was a young man
about 30 years old
with dirty hands
and bad teeth
what’s wrong
excuse me
i meet in my dinner
he said
we can wait
finish your dinner
inspector walsh said
we want to ask one or two questions
about last night
come and wait in the front room
tom said and opened the door
inspector walsh looked at the things in
the front room
there was an old black and white
television
and some books on the table
there was a picture
of a happy young girl with long brown
hair on the table too
inspector walsh
looked at the picture for a long time
who was the girl
tom briggs came back into the front room
finished
inspector walsh asked
you know mrs clarkson is dead
tom briggs
sat down suddenly on the nearest chair
what
how did she die
when did it happen
i was there last night
she died last night or early this
morning
what did you do last night
me
why are you asking me
i went there to meet mr clarkson
roger
i’m losing money on this farm
and i need more land
i want half mrs clarkson’s garden
you went into the
what did you do next
can you remember
tom briggs
looked at sergeant foster
and then back at inspector walsh
i remember it very well
all the family were in the kitchen
peter hobbs was there too
i talked to roger
he wants his mother to sell the house
but he wants the land
he doesn’t want me to have it
but now mrs clarkson is dead
what’s going to happen now
inspector walsh got up
and took the picture of the girl from
the
table
who’s this
tom’s face went red
who
oh
that’s a friend
it’s not
it was a long time ago
the two detectives walked back to the
clarkson’s house through the garden
it was beautiful
green and quiet
inspector walsh felt tired and hungry
who killed molly
he knew the answer now
but he needed to ask one or two more
questions
let’s go sergeant
he said
and put on his hat again
tomorrow
is a new day
chapter seven
on monday morning
sergeant foster went to roger’s office
and asked some questions
and then
he went to albert’s house
and asked some more questions
inspector walsh sat in his office
and telephoned
he made phone calls about peter hobbs
and he made phone calls
about tom briggs
and then
he had some coffee and sandwiches
at three o’clock the two detectives
drove to the clarkson’s house
i would like to see everyone
he told roger
everyone came into the sitting room and
sat down
inspector walsh
stood in front of the windows
and looked at them one by one
i want to talk to you
someone killed
molly clarkson
someone
put sleeping tablets in her hot milk
and killed her
nobody
wanted to tell me the true story
but now
i know the true story
and i’m going to tell you
the two dogs came slowly into the room
and sat down at diane’s feet
it was very quiet in the room
the inspector looked at albert
mr king
your wife is very ill
and needs a nurse
you told me this
you didn’t tell me
about your house
you’re selling your house next month
because you need the money
albert was angry
last year
i asked molly’s husband for some money
and he said yes
but then
he died
in an accident
accident
diane cried
that was no accident
mother killed daddy
because she wanted his money
let’s talk about you now diane
said inspector walsh
you visited your mother every month
and you took money from her
last month
she gave you money for your television
this month
she gave you money
for your telephone
every month you told your mother
it was no accident
you killed daddy
i’m going to tell the police
your mother
was afraid of the police
and so
she gave you the money
but in the end
she wanted to stop you
she told dr pratt
no more money she told dr pratt on
thursday
and on saturday
she died
you took the hot milk to your mother
what did she tell you
diane began to cry
i loved daddy
he always gave money to me
he loved me
it was mother
she didn’t love daddy
and she didn’t love me
diane stopped
the dogs got up and went to the door
it’s true
i took a lot of money from mother
on saturday she told me
no more money
i wanted to kill her
but i didn’t
the dogs came back
and sat down again at diane’s feet
inspector walsh looked at roger
mr clarkson also
needed money
roger’s face went red
don’t tell them
please
mr clarkson
lost his job last month
he has no money
but he has an expensive house
and an expensive car
he likes expensive things
his sisters looked at him
but roger put his hand over his eyes
don’t talk to me
it doesn’t matter now
diane said
mother is dead
and we have a lot of money
you don’t need a job
roger’s face went red again
be quiet diane
now
inspector walsh began again
[Music]
peter hobbs
is a very angry young man
mrs clarkson
was not very nice to him
he got the sleeping tablets from the
shop
but did he put the tablets
in the hot milk
i think not
tom briggs
wanted half the garden for his farm
he was in the kitchen that night
did he
put sleeping tablets
in the hot milk
i think not
suddenly it began to rain
for a minute
everyone watched it through the window
jackie took a cigarette from her bag
and began to smoke
but someone
wanted
peter hobbs to come into the kitchen
that night
she wanted everyone to see him
and listen to him
inspector walsh said
she
i don’t understand
roger began
and stopped
inspector walsh
moved away from the window
and sat down
i’m going to tell you the true story now
miss clarkson
you
wanted peter hobbs to come to the house
that night
he was very angry with your mother
because of that letter
he said
i want to kill her
and you
wanted everyone to hear that
why
jackie’s face went white
it’s not
true what about diane
you found the empty bottle in her bag
diane stood up
in my back
jackie
what are you talking about
be quiet please
and sit down
inspector walsh said
he looked at jackie
it’s true
we found the bottle in diane’s bag
but how do you know that
we didn’t tell you
you did
before
you told me before
no
we found the empty bottle in diane’s
room
we told you that
you
talked about diane’s bag
we didn’t tell you
sergeant foster wrote it all down
inspector walsh looked carefully at
jackie
a long time ago
you knew tom briggs
he was the gardener here
and you loved him
but your mother didn’t like him
jackie put her hands to her head
no
no
we found your picture
an old one
in mr briggs house
you were younger then
and your hair was long
last year tom briggs came back
and you wanted him
he loved you too
but he had no
money he wanted the garden for his farm
he wanted money
he wanted you
but your mother said no
in the end
you wanted to kill your mother
and
you did kill her
your mother
went downstairs
to see the dogs
and you
put the sleeping tablets
in her hot milk
later
you put the empty bottle
in diane’s bag
jackie stood up
her eyes were dark and afraid
you don’t understand
she cried
mother gave me nothing
all those years
i wanted to be happy
to be with tom
that’s all
i love tom
and he loves me
but mother said no
always
no
then she began to cry
nobody looked at her
jackie left the house in a police car
inspector walsh watched
and then
walked slowly to his car
he felt tired and hungry
he stopped
and looked back at the house
well
he said to sergeant foster
in the end
they got the money
albert
roger
diane
they’re all
rich now
but are they going to be happy
he got into the car
let’s go
he said
i’m hungry
i need a sandwich
you