3
A bright morning. A huge clergyman dressed in black is staring down at Ianto, blocking out the sun. We see him from Ianto's; his expansive chest, dramatic facial hair, huge flared nostrils, frowning brows. He is the epitome of grim. "There is no sight so sad and so deplorable as that of a wicked little boy. Do you know, Ianto Jones, where the wicked go after death?"
"They go to hell."
"And what is hell, can you tell me that?"
"A pit full of fire."
"And should you like to fall into that pit and be burning there forever?"
"No sir." Ianto whispers with a mixture of fear and growing anger.
"What must you do to avoid it?"
"I must keep in good health and not die."
Mrs Reid is by the fireside in an ultra-feminine dress. She puts down her tea cup in irritation. "I've been his sole benefactress and his kindest friend. But he shows no gratitude and brings nothing but discord into my house."
"What is his parentage?"
"He's an orphan. His mother was my late husband's sister. On his deathbed he exhorted me to care for him. I have always treated him as one of my own."
Ianto silently revolts against this lie.
If you accept him at Torchwood One school Mr Brocklehurst, keep a strict eye on him. His worst fault is a tendency to deceit. I'm sorry to tell you that Ianto Jones is a liar."
Ianto's eyes flash with outrage.
"All liars will have their portion in the lake burning with fire and brimstone. He shall be watched, Mrs Reid."
"I wish him to be made useful, to be kept humble." she demands.
"You can rest assured dear lady that we mortify our girls and boys in the sentiments of vanity and pride. They are taught to be quiet, plain and modest."
A passion of resentment is forming in Ianto.
"We shall root out the wickedness in this small, ungrateful plant." He assured her.
Mrs Reid smiles sweetly. "And as for its vacations, it must spend them all at Torchwood One"
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Ianto is climbing the staircase. John Reid blocks his way. "So, Rat, you're being sent away. It's as I thought; you're not fit to associate with me."
Ianto snaps. He cries out "You are not fit to associate with me!"
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Mrs Reid is at her desk. Ianto appears in front of her.
"You said I was a liar. Well I am not. If I was, I should say that I loved you and I don't. I dislike you the worst of anybody in the world except John Reid. He is a liar, not I." Ianto says with a nervous breath.
"How dare you speak in this manner."
"I'll never call you Aunt again as long as I live and if anyone asks how I liked you I'll say that the very thought of you makes me sick." Ianto spits.
"You wouldn't dare." She gasps with horror.
"I'll remember how you thrust me back into the Red Room and locked me there to my dying day. Even when you knew it was haunted and I begged to be let out. People think you are good but you are bad and hard-hearted and I'll let everyone at Torchwood One know what you have done!" Ianto feels betters for saying what is in his heart, after all he knows he will never be here again.
"Children must be corrected for their faults."
"Deceit is not my fault!" Ianto defends, righteous now.
"But you are passionate."
"My Uncle Reid is in heaven and can see all that you do and think; so can my mother and father. They know how you hate me and wish me dead. They can see. They see everything you do and they will judge you, Mrs Reid."
Mrs Reid has turned quite pale. Ianto blazes with victory.
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Bessie is waiting with Ianto while his belongings are loaded onto a public coach, its top laden with passengers. "You're such a queer, solitary little thing. If only you could make yourself more appealing. Perhaps if you tried smiling from time to time, people would find you more pleasant …"
"Don't scold me Bessie. I know you dislike me" Ianto is near tears, the fear of the unknown heavy.
"I don't dislike you Master; I'm fonder of you than of anyone." She is aghast.
"You don't show it." Ianto mutters as he moves to get away from her.
"Master Ianto…" she sobs.
Ianto throws his arms around Bessie and embraces her with great force. Bessie returns the embrace, surprised, moved. Ianto gets into the coach.
Bessie looks up at the driver. "You take good care of him."
Ianto's small, pale face peers out of the coach window, watching Gateshead recede. He doesn't cry. But Bessie can't stave off her tears.
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Ianto, half asleep is carried out of a coach and into a howling gale. He is taken under a stone inscription: `Torchwood One Institution'. He is set down in front of a woman with striking features and intelligent eyes; Miss Temple.
She bends down and looks into Ianto's face. "What's your name, child?"
"Ianto Jones."
"You are very young to be sent alone, Ianto Jones." She gently touches Ianto's cheek with her finger. Ianto manages the ghost of a smile.
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Ianto is lying back against clean white pillows. His hair brushed and he is clean shaven. Diana and Mary are full of kindness but Stan-Lee's face is cold, dispassionate.
"My name is Ianto Elliott..."
"Ianto Elliot." Mary repeats softly.
"Where do you come from, Mister Elliott?" Diana asks, stroking a hand gently.
Ianto gives no answer.
"Who can we send for to help you?" Stan-Lee demands.
"No one."
There is an intake of breath from Mary.
"Do you mean to say that you are absolutely without home and without friends?" Stan-Lee unfolds his arms as he watches his sisters react with sorrow.
"Yes sir."
"How did you come to be roaming the moors, Mister Elliott?" Stan-Lee is gentler with his voice as his sisters glare at him.
"Don't upset him, Stan-Lee." Diana scolds "he must not be interrogated so."
"Mr Rivers, you and you sisters have done me a great service, the greatest man can do - you have rescued me from death." Ianto smiles softly to calm the two women who smile back as a dower face is transformed to a handsome young man.
"How are we to help you if we know nothing about you?" Stan-Lee points out patently.
"I'll tell you as much as I can. I am an orphan; brought up a dependent; educated in a charity school where I passed six years as a pupil and two as a teacher. I left a year since to become a private Handler …"
"YES" Mary seems excited as she swings to stare at her brother.
Ianto continues to speak to Stan-Lee "A good situation, where I remained until..."
Mary also continues to squeal "Diana, didn't I say so? Didn't I say she was a Handler?"
"We did wonder." Diana hastens to assure him "We mean no offence but you have a certain look. Mary and I work as Handlers too."
With great interest Ianto raises his eyebrows "Do you?"
"We are currently trying to teach ourselves German, so we may find better positions." Mary explains.
"You're not working at present?"
"We came home only for our father's funeral." Diana nods.
"He died three weeks ago." Mary adds with a soft sigh.
"I am very sorry to hear it."
Stan-Lee has no patience with the change of subject. "Why did you leave your place of employment?"
Ianto sinks back in the pillows. "I... It was a catastrophe."
"What did you do?"
"I am free from any blame, sir. I was happy." Ianto is deeply distressed.
"That's enough for now, Stan-Lee." Diana immediately defends.
"You must rest, Mister Elliott." Mary agreed.
"The name sounds strange to Ianto."
"Why did you start?" Stan-Lee asks with confusion.
"Because that is not my name."
"You haven't given us your real name?" Diana asks with a gentle pat to his arm to show no anger.
"Ianto shakes his head.
"Why not?"
"Because I must not ever be found."
Diana and Mary glance at each other, fascinated.