Brimstone and treacle

On a London Street a personable young man bumps into a homing businessman and hails him as a long lost acquaintance. Mr. Bates is surprised, reluctant, suspicious but the limpet Martin insists that he once know Bates’ daughter well. The young man turns up a few hours later at Bate’s home in the suburbs. There, Mr. And Mrs. Bates are caring hopelessly for Patricia who is now a pretty reined dependant, vegetabilized by a hit-and-run accident. For Mr. Bates, it is hopeless; his wife maintains with stupefied desperation that Pattie will one day recover her mind.Into his melancholy comes Martin charming, solicitous and (totally beguiling Mrs. Bates) with a story that he is Patricia’s rejected but still devoted suitor. He has found his way home to the girl he loves and wishes nothing more than to share the burden of her misfortune. If he can only stay for a day or so he will prove his sincerity and relieve just a little Mrs. Bates’ selfless nursing of the wretched Pattie. Martin shows a subtle sympathy with Bates’ membership of National Front.For the first time in two years Mrs. Bates leaves the house and has her hair done. Martin can do no wrong. He recites lovely poetry by heart and at Mrs. Bates’ request improvises a most beautiful prayer.“We ask you to take our imperfect attempts at honest virtue and serene faith and use them to restore to this lovely young woman all the wonder and glory of human life”.After a second evening of ever growing affection between the trio Mr. And Mrs. Bates and Martin go to bed leaving Pattie surely just a little bit nearer her old self?(Martin is actually the Devil, so brilliantly evil that mirrors brilliant good on the furtherest point of a circle from the “sick grey blob” of humanity he despises.He flatters and manipulates the Bates for his own purposes, exploiting their narrowness and gullibility. While they are out of the house, he strips, fondles and beds Pattie with truly demonic glee, but when at second attempt Mr. Bates discovers him in (…) and Martin flees to find another victim, he leaves behind him not a pathetic vegetable but a real, good, awakened beauty asking, whole and puzzled, “What happened today?”)