Strangers in Time

After Ignatius closes up for the night, he makes a cup of tea and ventures to the locked study, which was Imogen’s private space. A typewriter sits in the middle of a large oak desk with Imogen’s unfinished manuscript next to it. She was writing about the effects of war on people and the city before she died, and a blank page rests in the typewriter where Imogen left it. 

Ignatius lights a fire and sits in front of the typewriter. He plans to finish Imogen’s story, but he isn’t motivated. Memories of her cloud his mind, and he fiddles with his encryption tool as he waits for inspiration to strike. Ignatius is a whiz at puzzles and codes, though he worries he wasted his talents. He reads the first and last chapters of Imogen’s manuscript and recalls conversations they had about her hopes for the book.

In the past, Ignatius had a conversation with Imogen about dreams. They finished a meal and chatted idly before she broached the topic. Ignatius was taken aback because his mathematician’s mind doesn’t place much stock in dreams. Ignatius was a schoolteacher before the war, and the government recruited him to work at Bletchley Park on the Enigma decryption program, but he refused so he could stay with Imogen. Instead, he became an air raid warden, for which he received the George Medal for his bravery.

Ignatius remembers how passionately Imogen spoke about dreams existing out of context, and how he argued that working toward one’s dream added context. Imogen believed that dreaming was self-deception, since thinking too much about the future made people forget their reality. She worried that she was doing things just to please others, and Ignatius tried to calm her by declaring that they needed to appreciate what they had. Ignatius had many life-changing conversations with Imogen. He writes an encrypted message of love to his late wife and leaves the study.

Molly gets up after having cried herself to sleep. She opens a letter from Dr. Stephens at the Beneficial Institute, which describes her mother’s mental health condition and possible treatments. Molly makes herself a small sandwich and tea, and she remembers her father writing letters in his study. Mrs. Pride returns from shopping, and Molly asks Mrs. Pride to bring the other letters from the psychiatric hospital to her father’s study.

Molly enters the study, lights a candle, and looks over the desk. Each object reminds her of her childhood, and she worries about whether her father is still alive. Mrs. Pride brings up a full meal and lays out the dishes. Molly remembers the huge meals she had with her parents and the intense attention her mother always gave her. Molly wonders if her mother’s affection was too strong. 

Before Mrs. Pride leaves, Molly asks if she’s seen anyone watching the house. Mrs. Pride says yes and offers to report to a constable. Molly lays out the letters from Dr. Stephens and reads them chronologically. Many of them relay positive updates, but soon, he describes treatment challenges. Her mother’s prognosis fluctuated until the final letter proclaimed a positive course. Molly tries to call the Beneficial Institute, but the lines are down in Cornwall. Molly wishes she had someone to talk to about what she’s learned.

Charlie ventures to The Book Keep to tell Ignatius about his role in the robbery-gone-wrong. He finds Molly at the door, and she gives him the half-crown. Ignatius lets the children in, and Molly shares her dilemma. Ignatius reads the letters from Cornwall, and Molly lies that her father is too busy to handle the matter any longer. Ignatius doesn’t want to overstep Molly’s father, so he urges her to consult with him. He also warns her that travel to Cornwall will be difficult, since the rail might be for military use only. She also tells Ignatius that she thinks she’s being followed, and he advises her to inform her father. 

Ignatius turns to Charlie, who also has a reason for coming to the store, but out of fear of disappointing Ignatius, Charlie lies that he needs a pencil. Ignatius lets Charlie borrow Imogen’s old pen instead. Charlie asks if Imogen died in the bombings, and Ignatius vaguely confirms that the war killed her.

A few nights later, after earning two shillings, Charlie lies in bed and thinks of ways to get money. Gran couldn’t find a new flat, but she and Charlie must still move out in two days. He decides to try to sell the book again and feels guilty for considering selling Imogen’s pen. Charlie imagines going back to the solicitors, receiving £5, and saving Gran. 

Charlie then thinks of his new friends. Even though Molly says otherwise, he thinks her father is gone, which would make her an orphan too. Charlie likes Ignatius, but he’s suspicious of the papers he’s hiding. Before nodding off, Charlie cleans his clothes. He wakes up late because he didn’t feel Gran kiss him before she left for work.

Charlie finds Gran on the bathroom floor. He tries to wake her up, but she doesn’t respond. He checks her pulse and breathing, and when he finds none, he calls a friendly upstairs neighbor for help. The man calls the constables, who determine that Gran died from heart complications. The constables give Charlie the death certificate, the undertakers arrive to take Gran away, and they leave Charlie their card.

Neighbors cry for Gran, and they offer Charlie condolences and what little extra food they have. Charlie thinks about how to deal with the funeral arrangements. He chastises himself for not reacting to Gran’s death and for being such a burden. He packs two bags: one for his belongings and one for Gran’s burial clothes. He leaves the flat and runs to Molly’s house.

Mrs. Pride refuses to let Charlie in the house, but Molly asks Mrs. Pride to make Charlie a full breakfast. Charlie tells Molly about Gran’s death, and she wraps him in a blanket and takes the undertaker’s card. Charlie reveals that both of his parents are dead, so he can’t afford the flat. He shows her all the money he has, which he hopes to use for the burial. Charlie suddenly remembers he left the journal behind and worries that someone will steal it.

Molly ushers Charlie into the kitchen, and he gawks at the size of the meal. Molly flees the room in embarrassment. She tidies up Gran’s burial clothes and brings Charlie’s clothes to Mrs. Pride for laundering. Mrs. Pride shows Molly the diminished household fund and explains the odd experience she had at the bank. The teller refused to let her withdraw from Mr. Wakefield’s account, and they interrogated her about his whereabouts. Mrs. Pride also reports that her outgoing mail was recently tampered with. Molly returns to the kitchen as Charlie finishes his meal. Charlie decides he must get the journal, since he desperately needs the money.

Molly pays for a taxi to Charlie’s flat. Charlie rushes inside and finds the book is missing. He looks out the kitchen window and sees Lonzo running away with the journal. Molly suggests calling the police, but he doesn’t want to get them involved. Lonzo has no family, no home, and will likely sell the book. As the pair leaves, Charlie tells Molly how his parents died.

Molly purchases secondhand clothes for Charlie, and he bathes at her house. They sit in the study and talk about books. Charlie asks about Molly’s father, and she claims that he’s away on business, though she admits she hasn’t seen him since her return. She invites Charlie to stay at her house while they deal with Gran’s burial. Charlie agrees and thinks Gran would’ve liked Molly.

The next morning, Molly and Charlie visit the undertaker, Wilkinson. Charlie tells Wilkinson where he wants Gran buried and hands over the burial clothes. Molly asks Charlie to fetch a glove she dropped outside when Wilkinson starts discussing the cost. When Charlie returns, Wilkinson declares that his fee is the exact amount Charlie has. Charlie refuses Wilkinson’s offer to see Gran because he fears he won’t stop crying. On the way out, Molly recalls the rows of coffins she saw at Leiston and tells Charlie it’s okay to cry.

Wilkinson’s men arrive at the graveyard and lower Gran’s coffin into her grave. Before the ceremony, Charlie and Molly viewed Gran and cried together. The church’s vicar speaks briefly over Gran’s coffin and offers condolences. Wilkinson and his men leave, and the gravedigger covers up Gran’s coffin. Charlie shows Molly his grandfather's and mother’s graves nearby, and he explains his promise to never leave his mother. 

Molly tears up as she imagines her own mother’s grave, and she suddenly admits that her father is missing. Charlie commends her confession, and they both feel lucky to have someone to talk to about their worries. Unbeknownst to the children, Ignatius watches the ceremony and overhears the conversation. Ignatius also sees two men following Molly.

Back at Molly’s house, Molly and Charlie drink tea in the study. Molly can’t understand why her father abandoned her mother. Molly remembers her mother’s wealthy relatives in Yorkshire, who Charlie thinks might help Molly. Molly considers writing to the psychiatric hospital and having Ignatius look over her letter. Charlie shares his concern that Ignatius is hiding something. Molly and Charlie decide to stake out the building Ignatius visited.

Charlie and Molly take the bus into town. They get off and walk to an alleyway, where they hide behind a crate. Suddenly, Ignatius appears in his air warden uniform, looks around, and drops an envelope in the building’s mail slot. Charlie prevents Molly from calling out—unlike her, he’s not convinced that Ignatius is making an innocent delivery. The two leave the alley and return home.

Days later, Molly and Charlie talk about their plans. Charlie doesn’t want to go back to school, and Molly wants to visit Ignatius for help with her letter. Charlie wishes he had the journal, so he could’ve written to his mother. He feels guilty for thinking badly about Ignatius, especially after how nice he’s been. 

After lunch, Charlie leaves the house alone and returns to the alley. He waits for Cedric to exit the building and then picks the lock to get in. Charlie inspects the small room, where he finds an encryption device and a scrap of paper with German words. He opens a book and is surprised to see it hollowed out with The Book Keep’s stamp inside. Frightened, Charlie returns the items and leaves.