All language subtitles for 1d5d577e061ef6222fbcbe0c0f2ef41b2fa00473fe87dab5210c8141a4d92d64da8572b380b643438d3eb353c08e200e5310bd3643095c77ec91bc8ea05c

You cannot bury her in
consecrated ground.

- She was not Christian.
- This is my ground.

- It is the Lord's ground.
- Then let the Lord refuse her.

She will not rest
with Christian dead.

She will not rest
because she is not dead.

To me.

And she will not die because
she willed not to die.

Is her will stronger than the Lord's?

These are her words.

"Man need not kneel
before the angels.

Nor lie in death forever,

but for the weakness
of his feeble will.

- Blasphemy
- Benediction.

Now hear mine. She desecrates
the earth in which she lies.

And her will rots with her bones.

Both are as damned and dead
as the devil's soul.

A nervous contraction.

Nothing more.

Nothing more.

So silent now?

Well, why don't you speak?

Or you? Or you?

Pray, speak.

Or has the cat got your tongues?

You must have met in hell.

- The fox may go to ground, my lord.
- Damn the fox! Where's my daughter?

Hey I say, where's my daughter?

Rowena!

- Rowena!
- Hello, Christopher.

Come on, boy.

Rowena, the fox has...

Don't bother the fox. I found
something far more intriguing.

- Ligeia...

Now puss...

- What do you want?
- I heard her scream.

She was thrown by her mount. I thought
it unwise for her to move immediately.

In preventing it, I seem
to have frightened her.

Yes, quite.

I thought the abbey was deserted.

- It is...
- Yes, but-

Save for myself, a servant and...

- Is she all right?
- Yes, quite all right, Christopher.

Verden?

Good Lord!

I never would have...

Those glasses...

The result of a rather morbid
reaction to sunlight.

But I thought that...
that not hearing from you, I...

I mean, after the funeral...

Perhaps you had better
fetch the lady's horse.

Yes. Yes, of course.

Rowena... don't be frightened.

He's an old friend.

Lady Rowena Trevanion of Tromane.
May I present Mr. Verden Fell.

How do you do?

How do you do?

Terribly sorry to have
trampled these lovely asphodels.

They're so bright.

The flowers of death.

How very appropriate.

Yes...

Perhaps you'd better take
her in while I fetch her father.

That won't be necessary.

I'm afraid it will.

You aren't blind, are you?

No, no I live at night. My vision
is painfully acute.

Oh, no! No! Please!
Please, that light!

- I'm sorry. I only thought...
- No.

No, please..

I'm sorry.

Kenrick!

Sherry and some linen bandages.

The same cat?

Is it broken?

It doesn't appear to be, but
it needs binding, however.

Ma,am.

Thank you.

You do that rather well.
Where did you learn?

I see.

Do you suppose I could make you smile?
Or do you ever laugh, Mr. Fell?

Only at myself.

- I see.
- Do you? You keep saying, "I see."

But I think your vision is even
more limited than mine.

Rowena!

- Rowena!
- Here, Father.

- Are you all right?
- Lord Trevanion, may I present -

Oh, doctor here already? Splendid.

- No father. Mr. Verden -
- Splendid, now are you sure you're all right?

- Yes father.
- Good. Well, I want to show you this.

Damnedest fox you ever saw.
Must be a freak.

The markings are so damn queer.
I've never seen anything like it.

Oh, Father, please.

Lord Trevanion, Mr. Fell...

Fell? Oh of course, the doctor.
Terribly rude of me.

Father he is not...

Here, doctor, have a look
at this fox. What do you think of it, eh?

Of course, I suppose foxes aren't
much in your line.

It belongs to the
species vulpas pallida.

Peculiar to upper Egypt
in the Nubian Desert.

In Egyptian art,
it is found at the feet of Ashtophet,

goddess of ill-omened
marriages... as her pet.

Hmm... Really?

Well I mean if it belongs in Egypt,
what's it doing here?

It was once kept here
by the Lady Ligeia.

As a pet? A fox?

Who on earth would do
a thing like that?

My wife.

I think we ought to be going now.
Christopher, help me on with my boot.

- Are...?
- I'm fine now, Father.

Have I said something?

-Of course not!
- It's all right, Father.

- Hey, the fox.
- In the wicker, my lord.

- No, it's not!
- I beg your pardon, my lord?

I said it's not.

Well, where could it...?
I mean, how could it...?

Well, perhaps you can tell me.

- Through here.
- But the fox was dead.

The cat was not.

It appears that the cat has
made off with the fox.

But is that possible? I mean...

Were it not possible, the
fox would still be here.

I trust that your ankle will give
you no further trouble.

I'm afraid this is a bit awkward.

Do you mind if I send your
fee by messenger, Doctor?

That won't be necessary.

Thank you.

Goodbye, then.

Well?

Has Ligeia's death
changed him greatly?

He's certainly changed,
but I never knew her.

- Was he always so morose?
- A bit mysterious, perhaps.

Do you like him?

I don't think so, but what
has that to do with it?

To do with what?

Who one is drawn to,
who one loves, even who one marries.

- Marry? Marry who?
- The doctor, Father.

Now you stay here, my girl.

Willful little bitch, ain't she?
Hell to be married to, I should think.

Her mother certainly was,
God rest her soul.

I'm told that Ligeia too
was not without... willfulness.

Peperel! Peperel!

- Where the devil is —
- Behind you, my lord.

Damn me if I eat with
Squire Daniels again.

Bad breeding only
exceeded by worse whisky.

From Mr. Fell, sir.

Please, see this reaches him immed...
as soon as possible.

Christopher, I'm riding
down to the village. I can easily...

That won't be
necessary, my dear. Bye.

- Well, off to the assizes.
- The assizes, huh.

I've got an important brief.

How a gentleman can continue
to practice law is beyond me.

- My lady, I..
- Thank you, Peperel.

Rowena?

I thought it was... Never, never, never
come here unannounced.

Do you understand?

I do not like to be
discovered unannounced.

Stop that! Stop it!

I'll get you something.

I can't send you off shivering
like a frightened kitten, now, can I?

Come here.

Your hair...

It makes a shambles of the light.

Come along.

I dare say you've never had tea
in the kitchen before.

No, I haven't.

- Here.
- Thank you.

Does she look like me?

Who?

The woman you seem so afraid
will arrive unannounced.

Why did you come here?

To deliver Christopher's
reply to your note.

Really to see you. Sugar?

I have nothing to offer.

You make me want to
offer you something.

Pity prompts you.

There are people one pities
without being drawn to them.

I suppose I even
pity Christopher.

He's blinded in his way too,
you know.

His life being
simply law and logic.

To be so limited.

The beauty of such a life lies in its
limitations and in accepting them.

Oh, I know.

I suppose I'm spoiled
and terribly willful.

Willful? You don't even know
the meaning of the word.

Now, I think
you'd better go.

Why?

Why must I go?

Do you suppose I might
be announced? I am expected.

Very good, sir.

You don't understand.

- I can welcome no one here.
- Not even in the kitchen of all places?

- Wait. Wait.
- Let me go!

I'm sorry.

Please, let me go.

Yes. Yes, that is, after all
what I want too, isn't it?

To be let go.

Yes, of course, of course.

Pale and cold and...

...and yet, so much life...

It was her longing for life...

...only for life, that haunts me.

To want life so desperately,
that when she lost it, her..

Her will to live
remained alive!

My eyes see the shadows
gather with shame.

Seeing you

and seeing her.

Yet, when you thought I was Ligeia,
you tried to attack me.

I don't remember.

Not very fetching, am I?

Morose, moody..

I stagger about like
some drunken lord in some...

It seems as though you're always
looking after my wounds.

Beg pardon, sir, but Mr. Christopher
Gough wishes to be announced.

He's in the refectory.

- Can I be helping, sir?
- Yes. Yes, Kenrick, please.

Take care of this..

Forgive me, my dear,
but I must see Christopher.

- Forgive me.
- Of course.

Kenrick, bring the Lady Rowena into
the great hall when you've finished.

And please fetch my glasses.

I believe you'll find
them by the portal.

Oh, and Kenrick...

...I want that animal destroyed.

It's wax.

It's a reproduction.

I managed to make it myself.

You see, I am loath to
open ancient tombs...

...rob a nation of its treasure
and call it archaeology.

- It's quite good, really.
- Thank you.

Twenty... first dynasty?

No, twentieth, but a delta dynasty.

A little known
and less remembered.

You can tell by the eyes.

The eyes...

...they confound me.

There is a blankness,

a mindless sort of malice
in some Egyptian eyes.

They do not readily yield up
the mystery they hold.

Verden... Verden!

Hmm?

- You were saying?
- Oh.

Oh, yes, yes.
Of course.

Forgive me.

Forgive my reverie.

Lately, I...
I seem to slip into reveries.

The Lady Rowena will join us presently.

And I have much to say
to you before she does.

Christopher...

...not ten minutes ago, I...

...I tried to kill a stray
cat with a cabbage,

and all but made love
to the Lady Rowena.

I succeeded in squashing the cabbage,
and badly frightening the lady.

If only I could lay open my own brain
as easily as I did that vegetable,

what rot would be freed
from its grey leaves?

- Let's go for a stroll.
- A stroll?

A stroll, a walk. What the devil
difference does it make? Come on.

- What was she, Kenrick?
- "She", ma'am?

Ligeia.

Perhaps none of you took note

but it seems apparent to me
she wasn't quite human!

So, what was she?

- Her hair was black, I believe.
- Do you? Excellent.

Black on one of her heads
and green on the other, perhaps?

- Only one head, madam.
- How disappointing.

But her eyes, were they
gold or silver? Ow!

- I don't remember.
- But she did have eyes, I take it?

Never mind, Kenrick.

If you don't want to
talk about it, I won't pry. Thank you.

I'm sorry, ma'am.

- Are you?
- Yes, ma'am.

Early this day, I found myself standing
once again before Ligeia's grave,

allowing me to observe
a rather singular circumstance.

The date of her death had disappeared
from Ligeia's tombstone,

And yet it was there yesterday
when we came upon the Lady Rowena.

I don't know which confounds me more.

The defacing of the grave or the
importance you seem to place upon it.

- Doesn't it seem to be a bit odd to you?
- Well, yes, it does.

Seems grotesque, as a matter of fact.
A malicious prank.

- Whose malicious prank?
- Good Lord, Verden, I don't know.

What are you trying to tell me?

Simply that this occurrence is
neither a prank nor malicious.

Look at that stone, Christopher.

Consider what has been
cut from the marble.

Not her name... not the inscription...

...only the date of her death.

Where's the date of her birth?

I never knew her age.

And consider, Christopher,
how carefully it has been cut.

Surely not the work of
any malicious prankster.

The ancients carved prophecies
in their stone tombs.

- This prank is also a prophecy.
- Of what? From whom?

- Verden, this is surely something...
- Of return, Christopher.

Of Ligeia's return.

- Verden..
- No. No pray, hear me out.

These words were among the
last she ever spoke to me...

"Nor lie in death forever."

"Man need not kneel before the angels
nor lie in death forever,

save for the weakness
of his feeble will."

Ligeia's will was as fierce as her...
as her body was frail.

Outwardly calm, even placid...

...she nevertheless pitted
herself against death

with a passion words
are impotent to convey.

As her body progressively wasted,

she seemed to turn to the very stones
of the abbey for renewed strength,

as if they could sustain
that burning desire for life...

...only for life, that ravaged her
as much as the fever of disease.

In a sense, Ligeia became the abbey.

She never entered or left a room,
never walked down the darkest passageway

without somehow illuminating it
like a single moving candle.

Like a blind man, I could sense her
presence, but I could not see her

and even in the most
trivial objects and actions.

Her voice in the rustle of draperies,

the lightness of her footfall

in the fluttering of a moth's wing
against a closed window pane.

Even at the end,
she seemed to have vanquished death.

She smiled and said,
"I will always be your wife...

...your only wife."

"I have willed it."

Have you ever tried
to recall to memory something forgotten,

being upon the very
verge of rememberance

...and yet, in the end,
being unable to remember?

No.

No, if I fear, it's...

...it's for my mind that I fear.

What, after all, is madness, but
belief in... in what does not exist?

I believed in Ligeia, in her will...

...and I believed too well.

Consider the skill and
the instruments required

to cut the date of her
death from that stone,

and consider my skill with
such instruments.

And consider my hand

guilty with marble.

- I cut the date from that stone.
- And you didn't know?

No, not until now.

So, you see, if I fear, it's...

- ...it's for my mind.
- What? Why now?

Verden, you must get away.

You must find something.
Your work, or someone...

You're safe now, my darling.
You're safe with me.

When I was a child, we stayed by the
sea in the small house on the hill.

I remember very little of my childhood.

I lived with my father
in the wild country.

- What was your father like?
- He was a strong man.

His very manner was
formed by the landscape.

In his forehead, you could see
the line of the hills against the sky.

I feel I want to begin again with you.

Take me somewhere
I've never been before,

somewhere new, for us.

In Celtic religion, Stonehenge was
a temple to the god of healing.

It was built more
than 3,000 years ago,

and do you know why it
remains today, Rowena?

Because it was built
with a sense of purpose,

stone by stone, like the
pyramids in Egypt

or like the Aztec
towers in Mexico.

- Like our abbey.
- Yes, my dear, yes, like our abbey.

Where are we?

It won't be long now.

Christopher reached me by
post when we were in Rome.

The papers for the sale
of the abbey are almost all in order.

Tomorrow, we'll have a party
to celebrate our return,

and our leaving.

Well, here we are, my dear.

Come along.

Well for the moment, this
is your home, Rowena.

Welcome home, ma'am.

- Your personal maid, ma'am.
- Ma,am.

Thank you. Oh, thank you.
They're simply lovely.

Oh, Verden, I...

As long as we have to stay here, you
will be comfortable.

Verden?

Verden?

I tell you, it's not the fox, Doctor,
it's the hunt. The hunt.

To pit your wits and that
of a pack of hounds'

against sheer animal cunning;
it's more than sport.

- For the fox at any rate.

Your bride seems in an unusually
reflective mood tonight.

The journey no doubt tired her.

Yes I dare say. What news on
the sale of the abbey?

Something rather awkward.

More difficulty over the estate
lying in two counties?

- No.
- What then?

The deed to the abbey
is in Ligeia's name

and I can locate no
certificate of her death.

- What can be done?
- Nothing without that.

- There never was a certification.
- But surely...

The county authorities would have insisted
on ascertaining the cause of her death.

The confusion of the two counties again.

Each assumed that the other had seen to it.
It's as simple as that.

It's not as simple as that. The abbey,
much of the estate is in her name.

Should this be discovered,
there'll be an inquest, possibly more.

No one. No one will go
near Ligeia's grave.

We all hunt for different things
in our lives, Baron.

A colleague of mine in Switzerland,
a charlatan really, one Franz Mesmer,

claims to have brought
to ground some subtle

and invisible fluid with
miraculous healing powers.

Mesmer may be a charlatan, doctor,

but the power which he
calls "hypnotism" is quite real.

- You know the man?
- No.

But I knew an interested disciple...

...one who sought relief
from an incurable ill.

Were they cured?

- I say, were they cured?
- I think not.

You don't seem certain.

At any rate, hypnotism's
effect on memory

interests me more than
its curative powers.

Through it, one is able to call
to mind things long forgotten...

...or to forget things... best
not called to mind.

And might we see a demonstration?

Remember, I can't effect
the sale of the abbey

until something more is done.

You see, legally, Ligeia
is still alive, still your wife.

I await your pleasure, sir.

Christopher, I must talk to you.

Since last night, until moments before
you arrived, I had not seen Verden.

And something else,
something horrible..

Rowena.

We mustn't keep our guests waiting.

This is a very pleasant surprise.
Is Lady Rowena going to assist you?

Would you mind, my dear, assisting me?

- No.
- Sit down.

Kenrick, put out the candles!

Milord, I shall need
your assistance too.

- But...
- Please.

Doctor.

Christopher.

Now, Rowena, just one thing...

What do you remember of your mother?

Well, nothing really,
other than portraits.

She died when I was three.

- Now, my dear...
- I missed you last night.

You had but to come to me. I
never left my room.

Rowena...

...you must trust me.

Give over your will to mine.

No harm..
No harm will come to you.

Give over your will to mine.

Your hands are melting into mine.

Soon, very soon,

they will be one with mine.

You will try, but you
will not be able to...

You will try soon... You
will try soon...

You will try now, but you will not,
you cannot move them.

Close your eyes.

Rowena...

- Yes?
- You may let loose of my hands now.

Rowena, you wish to let
loose of my hands now,

because when you do it, it will
make you very happy.. Very young...

So young.

All brightness,
and butterflies are a wonder to behold.

- See them? See them?
- Yes.

There is one resting on a rosebush,
one whose wings you can almost touch.

Reach out, Rowena. Touch those wings.
You can almost... No, it flew away.

No tears, Rowena.

There is no need to weep.

Your mother is coming.

Can you see her?

What is she doing?

What does your mother usually do when
you are about to cry, Rowena?

She sings to me.

She sings to you.

What does she sing, Rowena?
Sing it for us.

I have a bonnet trimmed with blue.

Do you wear it? Yes, I do.

I will wear it when I can.
Going to the ball with my young man.

I have a bonnet trimmed with blue.
Do you wear it? Yes, I do.

I will...
What a...?

Where...?

Who knoweth the mysteries of the will?
The will herein lieth which dieth not.

Man need not kneel before the angels.
Nor lie in death forever,

but for the weakness of his feeble will.

I will always be your wife.

Kenrick, the lights

Is it all over?

Oh, I'm so sleepy.

She'll rest more easily now.

I confess, I am somewhat confounded
by what I have just seen.

Yes.

Should you require
my further assistance...

Yes, thank you, Doctor.

- Good night.
- Good night.

Don't go. Please, don't
leave me tonight.

- You need rest.
- But there are things I must ask you.

Tell you.

Hush, my dear. Tomorrow
will be soon enough.

- Should you need me I'll be in my room.
- But, Verden, I...

Good night, my dear. Good night.

I...

Some things appeared
in my room:

a dead fox, a saucer of milk... Verden?

- Yes?
- Where have you been?

Alone.

- I was alone.
- But where?

Walking.

I woke, dressed and...

...walked. I was resting.

Verden, for whom...?

Why have you got that food?

- Why?
- Sir...

- Yes?
- I thought I heard...

Kenrick, can you
explain this plate of food?

I, sir?

Yes. I seem to have
found it outside of my room.

Well?

Perhaps one of the maids
may have mislaid it, sir.

One of the maids?
Yes, well... look into it.

Yes, sir.

Oh, and...

Kenrick, the Lady Rowena found some...

...some things in her room.
Have them removed.

I'll join you at breakfast, my dear.

In the meanwhile - rest.

Ma'am, please show me
what has disturbed you.

I shan't be able to show you
what has disturbed me.

Perhaps you could show me.

I'm truly sorry, ma'am.

I sleep alone,

I eat alone.

And that's as it should be.
After all, I'm not his wife. Am I?

It's a... a legal technicality.

Is it now? Along with the fox,
the food, the saucer of milk,

my hairbrush filled
with black hair, with hers.

Are they just legal
technicalities as well?

But you said yourself that
these objects disappeared.

Someone else besides
myself was there.

Christopher, did you imagine her
words on my lips last night?

- Words I have never heard before!
- No.

That woman is alive. There.

From somewhere in the abbey,
she comes to devil me, destroy me.

Somewhere in the abbey, her abbey,
she's alive, and with her husband.

Let's walk for a bit, my dear.

Make me a promise.

Don't ask for explanations.
We must be in a position to demand them.

By tonight, we will be.

Promise.

Ma'am!

Is there something else
I can fetch you, ma'am?

Just my husband, Kenrick.

I'm sorry to come
upon you unannounced.

You always did
stand on ceremony.

Yes. Yes, quite.

May I?

Oh, don't leave us, please.

- Kenrick...
- Sir?

Where is your master?

As I've told Lady Rowena, sir,
he's working over some ancient treasure.

In his study? Splendid.
Then send for him.

He's not there, sir.

Where else might he work?

- I say, where else might he work?
- I can't quite say, sir.

You can't say or you
won't say. Which is it?

Now sit!
Go on, sit!

If, Kenrick, you are unsure
of your master's whereabouts,

perhaps you could answer
another question?

Yes, sir?

Where is Ligeia?

I'd have thought the
answer to that an obvious one.

She's lying beneath a white stone
and a carpet of pretty, red flowers.

Isn't that the case, Kenrick?

Of course, sir. It was
only that... that...

- Yes?
- It was such a strange question to ask.

Oh, quite.

Yes, quite.

Why do you suppose I should
ask so strange a question?

- I... I...
- Go on, man, speak up!

Perhaps...

Perhaps the Lady Ligeia has wearied
of her final resting place.

Perhaps she prefers
the company of Verden

to the dubious
comforts of her coffin.

Or perhaps... Look at me!

- Perhaps she has never left his side!
- No, no, no sir!

Well perhaps we shall have to
look into Ligeia's grave? And see...

Please, sir, no more. Please.

I've no wish to torment you.

Produce your master or point
the way for me to find him.

Give me leave, sir. You
must give me leave.

My dear, go to
your room. Lock the door.

In no circumstances
leave it until I return.

- But if Verden comes...
- I can't promise that all will be well.

But it will be done with. Soon.

- Have you another spade?
- Yes, sir.

Ma'am..

Oh, excuse me, ma'am.
These want water.

I'll take them. Thank you.

- Anything else, ma'am?
- No. No. Thank you.

Night, ma'am.

- That will do.
- Right, sir.

You've earned your ale tonight.

It's wax!

You must hurry, sir.
He's beyond my help now.

Verden?

Verden!

It's no use, Rowena.

He's beyond any of us
now, beyond any shock.

Come with us now, Rowena.
He'll come alone when he can.

It's not his doing, ma'am.
It's hers! Hers! The Lady Ligeia's!

Her eyes!

Before she died, she
held him with her eyes

the way he did with
you that night.

She told him she was
not dying, would never die,

but would remain
here waiting for him,

and every night, he must
come and care for her.

Be with her. And during the
day he must forget the nights.

And he would forget.

And yet, sometimes, I've
seen him struggle to remember,

struggle against her madness,

But the night always fell.

And with it her madness
always fell upon him.

And did you never try to tell him?

When I tried, he
became still, like now.

He wouldn't see, wouldn't listen.
He's still held by her word.

Only she can release him,
and she's dead.

Verden...

Verden, you must trust me.
Give over your will to mine.

Soon, very soon, you will see
standing before you Ligeia.

Look at me, Verden.

I am Ligeia.

Look at me now...

...and listen...

...and remember.

Remember everything.

Remember all I've
ever asked of you,

and when you do
remember, you will be free.

My will fails me, Verden.

I am dying, Verden.

I am dying...

...and when I do...

...you will see me dead...

...and remember it all...

...all...

...all.

It's too late, Christopher.

She wants a place to rest.

Please...

...leave me alone with my wife.

Verden...

Verden...

Verden!

Verden!

So you murdered her after all.

Yes, she killed
Rowena and I killed Ligeia.

But that's Rowena's body!
It's Rowena!

But it was Ligeia.

It was Ligeia!

Yes, Christopher,
take her and leave.

Think me mad, think whatever
you will, but leave this abbey now!

I know who is responsible!
Take Rowena out of here!

Hello, Christopher.