"The Haunted Man" (Excerpt): Read by Tom Andrews

Tom's screen credits include this England for Revolution films and Sky Atlantic , netflix's the Strays Feel Good and Afterlife , hbo's I Hate Susie and the BBC's Show Trial . His stage work includes the Royal National Theatre production of Major Barbara and the accidental death of an anarchist in London's West End .

In the following scene that Tom's going to read for us , a celebrated chemist and teacher , dr Redlaw , is sitting down to dinner one Christmas . He is alone in his study and there are dark shadows gathering in around him . He is full of grief and feels that each passing year only seems to add to the store of regrets and painful memories .

Meanwhile , the Swidge family , redlaw's servant William , william's wife Millie and William's elderly father Philip visit the gloom of Redlaw's room and gently try to cheer him and decorate his surroundings with branches of holly .

Brown gravy , another Christmas come , another year gone , murmured the chemist with a gloomy sigh and more figures in the lengthening sum of recollection that we work and work act to our torment Till death idly jumbles all together and rubs all out .

So Philip , breaking off and raising his voice as he addressed the old man , standing apart with his glistening burden in his arms , from which the quiet , mrs William took small branches which he noiselessly trimmed with her scissors and decorated the room with , while her aged father-in-law looked on much interested in the ceremony .

My duty to you , sir , returned the old man . Should have spoke before , sir . But know your ways , mr Redlaw , proud to say and wait till spoke to . Merry Christmas , sir , and happy new year . And many of them I've had a pretty many of them myself . It may take the liberty of wishing them . I'm eighty-seven .

Have you had so many that were merry and happy , asked the other . Aye , sir , ever so many returned the old man . Is his memory impaired with age ? Is it expected now ? Said Mr Redlaw , turning to the sun and speaking lower . Not a morsel of it , sir , replied Mr William . That's exactly what I say myself , sir . There was never such a memory as my father .

He's the most funful man in the world . He don't know what forgetting means . It's the very observation I'm always making to Mrs William , sir , if you'll believe me , mr Swigger , in his polite desire to seem to acquiesce , at all events , delivered this as if there were no iota of contradiction in it , and it were all said in unbounded and unqualified ascent .

The chemist pushed his plate away and , rising from the table , walked across the room to where the old man stood , looking at a little sprig of holly in his hand . It recalls the time when many of those years were old and new . Then he said , observing him attentively and touching him on the shoulder , does it ?

Oh , many , many" , said Philip , half-awaking from his reverie I'm 87." . Hmph Marian , happy , was it ? Asked the chemist in a low voice . Marian happy old man ? Maybe as high as that , no higher , said the old man , holding out his hand a little way above the level of his knee and looking retrospectively at his questioner .

When I first remember him , cold sunshiny day , it was out of walking when someone—it was my mother , as sure as you stand there , though I don't know what her blessed face was like , for she took ear and died . That Christmas time Told me they were food for birds . The pretty little fellow thought that's me .

You understand that birds' eyes were so bright , perhaps because the berries that they lived on in winter were so bright . I recollect that and I'm 87." . Marian happy used the other , bending his dark eyes upon the stooping figure with a smile of compassion , marian happy , and remember well , aye , aye , aye . Return the old man catching the last words .

I remember well in my school time , year after year , and all the merry-making that used to come along with him . I was a strong chap then , Mr Redlaw , and , if you'll believe me , hadn't my match at football within ten mile ? Where's my son William ? Hadn't my match at football , william , within ten mile ?

That's what I always say , father , return the son promptly and with great respect . You are a swidger if ever there was one of the family Dear , said the old man , shaking his head as he again looked at the holly .

His mother , my son William's , my youngest son and I have sat among them all , boys and girls , little children , babies , many a year when the berries like these were not shining half so bright all around us as their bright faces . Many of them are gone .

Many is gone , and my son , george , our eldest , who was her pride more than all the rest , has fallen very low . But I can see them when I look here , alive and healthy as they used to be in those days , and I can see him , thank God in his innocence .

It's a blessed thing to me , at eighty-seven , the keen look that had been fixed upon him with so much earnestness had gradually sought the ground when my circumstances got to be not so good as formerly , through not being honestly dealt by . And I first come here to be custodian , said the old man , which was upwards of fifty years ago . Where's my son William ?

More than half a century ago , william , that's what I say , father , replied the son as promptly and dutifully as before . That's exactly where it is . Two times all to nought , and twice five , ten , and there's a hundred of them .

It was quite a pleasure to know that one of our founders , or more correctly speaking , said the old man , with a great glory in his subject and his knowledge of it . One of the learned gentlemen that helped endow us in Queen Elizabeth's time for we were founded before her day left in his will .

Among the other bequests , he made us so much to buy holly for garnishing the walls and windows come Christmas . It was something homely and friendly in it , being but strange here and coming at Christmas time .

We took a liking for his very picture that hangs in what used to be anciently before our ten poor gentlemen commuted for an annual stipend in money , a great dinner hall . It's a sedate gentleman and a peaked bird with a rough round his neck and a scroll below him in old English letters . Lord , keep my memory green . You know all about him , mr Redlaw .

I know the portrait hangs there , philip . Yes , sure it's the second on the right above the panelling . I was going to say he's helped to keep my memory green . I thank him for going round the building every year , as I'm doing now , and freshening up the bare rooms with his branches and berries freshens up my bare-oed brain .

One year brings back another , and that year another and those other numbers . At last it seems to me as if the birth time of our Lord was the birth time of all that I have ever had affection for or mourned for or delighted in . And there were pretty many , for I'm eighty-seven , me and happy , murmured Redlaw to himself .

The room began to darken strangely . So , you see , sir , pursued old Philip , whose hail-wintry cheek had warmed into a ruddy aglow and whose blue eyes had brightened while he spoke . I have plenty to keep when I keep this present season . Now , where's my quiet mouse ? Chatterings the sin of my time of life , and there's half the building to do .

Yet if the cold don't freeze at first , or the wind don't blow us away , or the darkness don't swallow us up , the quiet mouse had brought a calm face to his side and silently taken his arm before he finished speaking . Come away , my dear , said the old man . Mr Redlaw won't settle to his dinner , otherwise to it as cold as the winter .

I hope you'll excuse me rambling on , sir , and I wish you a good night and once again , a merry stay , said Mr Redlaw , resuming his place at the table .