Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? - screencaps

[michael_gothard]

Mr Benton (Sir Ralph Richardson) arrives at the home of Mrs Forrest (Shelley Winters). Albie (Michael Gothard) takes his hat and brings him a drink with brusque efficiency.



Benton is here to conduct a séance, so that Mrs Forrest can converse with her dead daughter, Katherine. They all sit down together, and begin.



Albie appears afraid.



His fear turns to wonder, as Katherine’s voice is heard. Mrs Forrest ('Auntie Roo') has a tearful conversation with her 'daughter.'



Albie is in the kitchen preparing a turkey, when Mr Harrison (High Griffith) delivers another.



Mr Harrison demands payment of his last bill before he will surrender it.



Albie prompts Clarine (Judy Cornwell) to use her feminine wiles to help persuade him to leave the bird, and wait longer for his money.



Albie then goes to Auntie Roo and softens her up with some sympathetic observations about last night’s séance, and how it affects them all.



Then he asks her for money to pay Mr Harrison, adding something extra to the bill, for himself.



Some children arrive for the orphans' Christmas party. Albie spots two would-be gatecrashers.



He apprehends Christopher (Mark Lester) and Katy (Chloe Franks), and threatens to cut Christopher's tongue out.



But he's just kidding! He takes them along to the party. They are allowed to stay.



When the children have been put to bed - where it looks as if Albie would like to go - it's time for another séance.



Albie has to move aside, so that Katherine's teddy can join in.



Albie is spooked when he hears someone come in. As far as he knew, the voice of Katherine was being supplied by Clarine, down the dumb waiter.



With what appears to be genuine concern for Auntie Roo, he explains to her that the little girl who comes in is Katy, not her daughter.



He lets Auntie Roo convince herself that Katy is, in fact, her daughter, reborn. Then he collects his cut of what Roo has paid Benton for his 'services.'



It is Christmas morning. Roo compliments Albie on how well he's decorated the tree, and he and Clarine enjoy the festivities.



Albie finds Christopher and Katy investigating the shed where Mr Forrest used to keep his magical gear.



He takes great delight in giving them a scare.



Aunty Roo performs "Tit Willow" for the children. Albie doesn't bother to hide his contempt.



Having ejected Christopher, who had tried to stay behind to look for his missing sister Katy, Albie realises that Auntie Roo has kidnapped Katy, and locked her in a secret room.



This is the chance he's been waiting for. His uniform is abandoned, along with his deferential attitude; he calls her by her stage name, and even lights a cigarette in her presence.



Lounging on the sofa, he tells her that he and Clarine are leaving.



Then he challenges her about Katy's whereabouts - says he knows where she is, and demands the princely sum of two thousand pounds, not to go to the police.



He even has Auntie Roo's cheque book ready in his pocket!



The last, and unkindest cut is when he tells her that she can now get Mr Benton's services, because he will no longer have to split his fee, to pay Clarine for pretending to be Roo's dead daughter, Katherine.