Original subtitles

Get the priest into seat now.

He's a perp. Benjamin Mears, age 37, New York. Benjamin Mears, hold him in A.

A, as in abused by a priest?

Ah, I heard of it.

Well, that's nothing compared to the fires you're going to face on Judgment

Now, let's see what we have here.

That's it.

Now, give me one good reason why, as a good Christian, I shouldn't let you die

right here.

Jerusalem.

No one pronounced Jerusalem's Lot dead on the morning of February 6th.

No one knew it was.

By and large, the town, not knowing it was dead, would go off to their jobs

no inkling of what lay ahead.

Looking at Jerusalem's Lot is like peering through a thin pane of ice at

childhood. It's wavy and misty, but most of it's the same.

Lawrence Crockett is the richest man in Salem's lot, but the IRS will never know

it. Like his neighbors, he relies on the community to keep his secrets.

The social pact is the foundation of every small town.

Macy, tell Richard Straker I'll be ten minutes late.

Oh, um, Mr.

Mears stopped by. I told him you'd be out at the trade park.

Mears?

Balls, the writer. You told him I was here?

Larry? Ben Mears.

Can I interest you in a mobile home?

Great little place to raise a family.

I think I'd just take the keys to the house, thanks.

Still living in New York City?

Yeah. I was until I sublet my place.

I saw the Marston house from the road. It's empty, right?

No, I sold it, I'm sorry.

Finally did.

Same people who bought the laundromat.

Mr. Crockett, you and I have an agreement for me to rent that house. I

paperwork in my car.

So sue me.

I'm sorry.

Look, Eva Prunier runs a clean boarding house on Cliff Street. Who would buy

that house?

Two gentlemen, antique dealers, and they're aware of its story.

I suppose so. How could they not be?

But you didn't tell them.

I don't remember.

But did you remember that you and I have an agreement?

Well, what do you want me to say, Mr. Mears?

The deal is done.

Would you mind moving your car?

Go on, Mears.

You want to be a bloody pirate, don't you?

Come on, Mears. We've all been inside. Are you a woods or a pirate?

The town has secrets, but sees through lies, even the ones you tell yourself.

What are you doing coming back to the place where you lived as a boy?

Trying to recapture something that was irrevocably lost?

What magic do you expect to recapture by walking roads you once walked?

They're now probably asphalted and straightened and glitter -shot with

beer cans.

Do you even know?

The kids who ride Charlie Rhodes' school bus are the best behaved in town, in

the entire school district for that matter.

Charlie Rhodes is a bitter vet who runs his bus the same way he ran Kilo Company

in Diné.

Living proof that time does not heal all wounds.

You got a lot to talk about?

Take it outside.

Don't romanticize the town because it's small.

Or because you fished its waters for pickerel and steelies as a boy.

This town knows darkness.

Who said that?

Huh?

Jim.

The town knows darkness.

And the poor kids, like Mark Petrie, know more than their village peers about

the darkness of the human soul.

Surprise, surprise.

Salem's lot is an accumulation of three parts. That's why!

The sum of which are greater than their whole.

What the hell are you two making all those vines for anyway?

You got my hat, you won't get it back.

The town is the people who live here, the buildings they have erected to den

do business in.

There you go, problem solved.

And it is the land.

Screw Charlie Rhodes.

I walk every day if my mother wasn't so tweaked about all the preverts.

You mean a lot of preverts, Ralphie?

More than I know.

Look at Charlie.

Seems like normal jagoff till you look under the visor of his bus. Ralphie,

up. I know kids who've seen him.

Seen what?

Pictures. Porn.

CharliePrebert .com.

Dude, we gotta check this, all right?

Listen, we'll look up tonight and see how Charlie gets his rocks up. Thank

Hey, Petrie!

The people are scotch -English and French.

There are others.

Of course, a smattering like a fistful of pepper thrown in a bucket of salt.

Matt Burke teaches English at the local high school and is a lifelong bachelor.

Morning, Matt. Morning.

Matt's alternative life in Portland is tolerated, so long as he keeps it out of

the classroom.

The buildings here are nearly all constructed of honest wood. Then when I

boy, it was largely agreed that Hubie Marston built the finest home in

Jerusalem's lot.

before going soft in the attic.

Mr. Mears?

Mr. Mears? I'm Susan Norton. We traded e -mails a few years back.

You probably don't remember. I was going to Boston University and couldn't

decide between art and English.

Please, sit down. If I'm not bothering you. Not at all.

So what did you choose?

Art. Nothing against writing.

Everyone knows you grew up here, and I found it inspiring.

Oh, thank you. I lived in New York for a year after school, but I couldn't paint

the rent, so I'm home re -evaluating.

New York is for artists with generous parents.

And the lot is for hobbyists who paint lighthouses and lobster boats.

I wish you'd have been more persistent with your email, Susan.

Because I'm interesting or because I'm blonde?

Because you're an interesting blonde.

What brings you back?

Work. A new book.

Boring people in the perfect town.

It surrounds the Marston house, but I'm not ready to tell anyone.

A haunted house.

Not your genre.

Complex characters can elevate genre.

QB Marston, the respected pillar of the community, right up until the moment he

blew his wife away and hung himself from the bedroom rafter.

Small town Shakespeare.

You are the one who found them.

Yes.

I tried to rent the place.

You actually wanted to live there?

It's my attraction, repulsion, compulsion.

I hear kinky things went on in that place back in Hubie's day.

I heard.

Have you met the new owners?

Two guys. I hope they're gay. It might alleviate some of the gossip off me.

Can I get you something?

Hello. I'm Susan's mother.

It's good to meet both of you.

Susan Norton, Norton's Cafe.

I'm slinging latte here till I can move back to New York.

Anyway, I think that building you mentioned might be a metaphor for

bigger in your life.

Does it always have to be something bigger?

Like a theme?

Well, there would be if it were my book.

The land is granite -bodied.

Farming it is a thankless, miserable business.

You sure you want to live out here, dud? It's getting cold now.

I got a stove in the shack there, Mike. I'm all right.

And we need the leaves and tree cuttings for Phil. So don't burn him. I won't

burn him, Mike.

What you got there?

I must have got thirsty.

Hey, hey, put that down, Doug. It's for my girlfriend.

Got a girlfriend now?

Who? Let go, kid. Who?

I can't say.

Okay, boy.

Well, you better toss it away anyway.

She'll think you're a freak.

The Rogers family ran a dairy here for generations till Doug was born.

The farm was sold to the town which built the hospital Dud needs, but can't

visit without insurance.

Royce, could you excuse us, please? Why? This is what Sandy McDougal gave up

high school for.

Your son has a significant contusion.

I want to talk to Sandy about it.

Hello.

A winter malaise is epidemic in small towns.

Dr. James Cody fights it with fine dining.

And new clothes.

Others self -medicate with alcohol and television.

Little Roy hasn't had breakfast.

What happened, Sandy?

I turned my back for a second and he fell off the changing table.

It's the truth.

Sandy, how long have you been married now?

Six months.

You still living in Crockett's Trailer Park?

Just because we don't have money doesn't make us bad parents.

No, of course not.

Sandy, I'm required by law to report this type of injury.

It's not what you think, Jimmy.

It's not.

Sandy, was it Royce?

Look, this marriage isn't all I thought, but little Roy's okay.

We had some fun times, didn't we?

Dancing New Year's at Bell's?

Please don't report it.

Give us a chance.

Bring the baby back tomorrow.

You're a good man, Jimmy.

And a good doctor.

You know, if I'd been a little smarter, I'd drunk you that New Year's.

Who knows?

You stay because a small town knows you and thereby owns you, sure as the bank,

the car dealer, and the Sears store in Livingston.

The kitchen is available to all guests from 5 a .m. to 9 p .m.

Fresh sheets are provided weekly, and rents are negotiable for those who want

work. Tout peut se négocier, sauf l 'amour.

Et montre -moi ce que l 'amour s 'en peine.

Do you have a room with a view?

Oh, yes, I do.

Would you believe it's my hardest room to rent?

Oh, wait a moment, please. This is Mr. Mears. He'll be staying with us. For a

few weeks. Pleasure.

Most tourists leave as soon as the tank is full.

I grew up in the lot for a time as a child with Aunt Cynthia.

Cynthia Stowens.

I knew Cynthia.

You're her nephew?

That's right.

You're not the boy who was in the Marston house. I am.

You're the one who found Hubie and his wife Bertie.

Damn, you're a bulky little fella.

Please, come and look.

Some of the men are building me a rec room.

Gentlemen, this is Ben Mears.

Mr. Mears used to live in the loft.

I know, Mr. Mears.

You ever write a book about Afghanistan?

I did.

Waste of paper, that was.

Oh, Mr. Blair.

That's okay. I'm glad somebody read it.

Civilian casualties are unavoidable in combat, Mears. I was in the Corps, 64 to

70. Tourists like yourself writing about war.

Naive, dangerous, borderline traitorous. I wonder what you think about war

crimes. War crimes, my ass.

There's three good Marines rotting there in Leavenworth right now because of Mr.

Ben Mears.

Beneath the postcard camouflage, there's little good in small towns.

Mostly boredom, interspersed with a dull, mindless, moronic evil. I love

I just love these brick walls.

Lawrence, I called you over an hour ago.

My secretary screwed up.

Fire her.

She makes you look better.

Thanks.

The shop looks good, Mr. Straker.

Well, the truth be told, we don't really need it.

95 % of our business is done online.

For that explains opening in November.

Weather is regional.

We are global. Madam, what a beautiful -looking letter.

My father made it by hand.

Well, your father is a fine craftsman. I will give you...

$10 to keep it. You just turn around and take it back.

But if you insist, I will buy that box from you for... $60.

And I will find a good home.

I need the money.

Well, there you have it. Thank you very much.

Do come back again.

There's another chore I need you to do for me, Lawrence.

You need a large truck.

Be at the Portland docks tonight, 7 o 'clock sharp.

Okay. There are a dozen crates to be picked up, all save one that will be

brought here to the shop.

The largest, which contains an extremely valuable sideboard.

A separate one?

That is to be taken to my house.

The movers will recognize it by its size.

Yes, sir.

Well, they can leave it in the foyer, the front door will be open.

Got it.

When do we meet your partner, Mr. Barlow?

In his own good time.

This is fancy.

Is it valuable?

It's an 18th century harmony pendant.

Belonged to a whoremaster's mistress.

Take it all.

Take it.

Your service is rendered.

What are you doing?

Give it here.

Give me that.

Get off my property.

He didn't mean anything by it, Larry.

I know what he meant. Get him out of here.

Come on, Larry, don't harm us.

He's like a brother to me. What if I find another trash service and

huh? How about I pull all my accounts, Mike?

Don't say that.

I'm more than saying.

Maybe you should talk to your daughter.

One more crack like that and you're both through.

Benito, you understand?

Is that yours?

I threw it out. It's too small.

You can't encourage that retard.

Mike, I would. He's disgusting.

I've got 12 crates arriving at the Portland docks tonight, which I need

up.

Antiques. Stay out of there. I need money.

You want to make some money or not?

Look, I'll help with the crates, okay?

Call me later.

Finders keepers.

Have a look, Daddy.

Here's a titraty.

What?

Nothing. I was just thinking.

So what were you saying about expression?

Graffiti is a condemnation of architecture.

Kids create on top of buildings because they don't see the expression within.

What is the expression of a building?

It's soul. It's ambience. A byproduct of design.

Or events within.

Back to the Marston house.

We can talk about your work.

We can talk about the dog.

I'm glad you pulled.

If this cat that we look upon should tumble and

fall. Ben, found an old friend of yours.

Ben Nears.

Welcome back.

Hey. Hello, Susan.

Mr. Burke.

It's Matt.

I don't expect you remember your eighth grade teacher.

Oh, no, I do. He was the tough guy who taught for three reasons.

June, July, and August. I was being facetious, Ben, but I'm still tough. I

high school English now. Can you find time to share your success with my

This is more of a working vacation.

I'm disappointed.

You and I could talk all night, but kids want celebrities.

When was the last time you saw a kid reading a book? All I see is headphones

cell phones.

You're right, Weasel.

Literature's become elitist. It's like black and white photography.

You know, Ben, I half expected that cynicism from you.

It's there between the lines.

I happen to like Ben's work.

Come on, Matt, we're just drinking here.

It's okay, Weasel.

So, Matt, tell me, are you one of the few people in town who read the book, or

did you just skim the reviews?

I read Damage Control and Marching in Heels.

Don't hold back.

The world acknowledges your talent as a writer.

I might argue your work is antagonistic when it needn't be, emotionally

detached, and lacking a moral center.

Well, Mr. Burke, if that's the way you speak with your English class, I would

honored to pay you a visit.

Chad?

Come on, boy.

I'll be lookout.

Hey, need a little tight?

Kitchen tomorrow, right?

Sam?

Sam?

What'd you see?

Dead soldiers!

Their eyes are poked out!

Their ears are missing!

So they're feeding pizza to a lady's head!

You're too spag, Ralphie!

Wait!

It has to be Mark.

Mark?

I think it's because he wants out.

She's always emailing other guys.

Old teachers, old boyfriends.

Well, how do you know?

Well, I set up a computer for her and her hippie mother.

So, of course, I got the password.

Boy,

you set up my computer. Relax.

I don't know your business. I don't want it.

What? You have nothing to worry about. There's nothing wrong with surfing the

barnyard. Son of a bitch!

Yeah, I bet you felt real sorry for that dog.

Hello?

Mrs. Petrie. Yeah, hi, I'm Marjorie Glick.

We've never met.

Look, I'm wondering if my boys are still at your house.

And if so, could you send them home, please?

One sec, Marjorie.

It's Mrs. Glick. She thinks her boys are here.

Uh, they went home.

Mark says they went home. They must be on the way. Oh, well, does he know what

time I left?

I didn't see anybody.

We were outside.

They left at like 8.

Mark says the boys left around 8, Marjorie.

Oh, okay, great.

It's getting late.

It is.

Would you like to speak with Mark? No, no, I guess not.

Thank you.

We'll have to meet sometime.

That would be nice.

Not in this life.

I found him lying in the road. Oh, my God, is he all right?

Where's Ralphie? He better call an ambulance.

Hubie? Bertie?

Floyd?

You got to pay your electric.

Are you going to give us a hand here, Hubie Jr.?

Crockett's paying us 100 bucks to deliver this crate.

If I said to you, Mike, I'll pay you 200 bucks to come into the Marston house

alone at night.

Would you do it?

Hell no.

Me neither.

I find that humorous.

This place used to keep me up at night.

When I was a kid, I could see it from my bedroom window.

I wouldn't be able to sleep unless my mother pulled the shade.

Where are you going?

I want to see Hubie's bedroom.

And the bathroom where Bertie...

Straker?

You better get back in there. I think Bertie needs a boyfriend.

You heard footsteps.

We both did, right? I heard squealing. I think that was you.

Hey, Mike, what are these beamers running?

I told you it was straight here.

What were you boys doing on this side of town?

We were just playing flashlight tag.

Charlie Rhodes was just over the hill.

Did you hear about his dog?

Yeah, I heard it died.

Mrs. Glick said you and her boys had some trouble with Charlie Rhodes on the

school bus.

You got him angry.

Did you see Charlie last night?

No.

Oh, Miss Mears.

I tried to see you this morning.

Child won't last long in this cold.

These naughty girls are angels, Ben.

Before them, it was Eva Pruney.

You might not see it, but our landlady was a priest gal in Cumberland County.

Eva's still pretty.

I can see it.

What is she and Eva? It's magic.

Careful, Ed.

Mr. Mears will turn your heartbreak into a bestseller.

Our secrets are safe.

Ben's working on a piece of historical fiction.

Yeah, I heard.

Marston House?

Who told you that? A little bird in the library.

What was it like in that house, Ben? Tell us about the day you found them.

I think you'll have to wait for the book.

Oh, come on. Give us a preview.

I was nine years old.

I was living out on Burns Road with my Aunt Cynthia.

I went into the house on a dare from the bloody pirates.

And was she already hanging?

What did you see him doing?

I spent the whole night in there until one of my friends finally went and got

me.

Terrible place.

Looking down on this town like a dark idol.

There's a quote for the liner jacket.

I need some more water.

Yeah, I'll help.

What about Ronnie Barnes?

Did you see him too?

No.

I know you didn't want people to know about your writing.

I went to the library.

I mentioned your name to Loretta Starcher.

Now the whole town probably knows.

I was only trying to help.

It's all right.

I was researching the Marcins for you. I wanted it to be a nice surprise.

Are you mad?

I would be. The mirrors.

Don't interrupt.

May I speak with you for a minute?

Okay.

I know you're on something with this book.

So it would be you again.

It's nice to see you too, Chief.

So, give me an alibi. I was having drinks with Susan until about nine.

Matt Burke says you left Dells at eight because you wanted to work.

I might have been eight.

Did you see any children on your drive home?

Any flashlights in the woods?

No. Anything unusual? Maybe a van parked alongside the road?

No.

All right.

I do appreciate your help today.

That dog in the cemetery.

Who found it first?

I did.

Okay.

Lloyd.

Everything work out last night?

He paid me, Larry. Thanks for the job.

Pocket money. Keep your lady happy.

Well, what can I do you for?

You heard about the missing kid.

A parent's worst fear.

Well, while we were up at the Marston house making the delivery...

I looked in the back of the new owner's car.

I saw a plastic bag in the back seat.

It was leaking.

Was it little boy sized?

It was head sized.

The new owner is Richard Straker.

You think he killed the missing Glick boy and kept the head?

I'm not saying all that.

Imagine what that would do to his antique business.

The bag was leaking all over the leather seats.

Did you tell Mike what you saw?

No, I didn't think much of it at the time.

Until today.

So why tell me?

Go tell Parkins Gillespie if you think it's important.

I'm telling you because you know the guy.

Relax, Floyd.

Straker called me this morning.

Excited about tackle and shacks.

Seems he tried his hand at ice fishing and finds it relaxing.

Ice fishing.

Maybe you bagged a tuna or a cod, whatever you swamp Yankees pull out of

lakes.

Ice fishing.

Well, that's a relief.

I was driving myself crazy.

I understand.

But we have to be careful, Floyd.

Loose talk can ruin people.

My first suspect was the other new guy in town, some hotshot writer.

What writer?

Mears. He's nice enough, but a city guy. A bit abrasive.

You know?

Ah, Ben Mears.

I know I... I better get back to work.

Hey, thanks for last night.

And thanks for coming to me first on this.

Bishop's Lake.

That's the best spot for ice fishing.

I'll tell Straker.

You're on my short list, buddy.

I'm sorry, Dad. I can't use you today.

What? Why not?

Ruth Crockett?

You shouldn't have been messing with her, Dad.

Now Larry's threatened to pull all the accounts, and I can't put you on the

truck, Dad, because I can't afford it.

We're friends, Mike. We're best friends.

I know, I know.

We still are.

What will I do?

I don't know.

I'll have you find another job.

Until then, Luke, just take this to hold you over, all right?

It's not your fault.

Whatever you did, it was just... I misunderstood.

I'm sorry.

Danny, can you hear me?

Benny, can you hear me? If you can hear me, blink your eyes.

He's in acute mental shock.

Maybe from excessive fear, grief, or some sort of emotional trauma.

Excuse me.

He's getting worse.

Marjorie.

I believe this is Danny's.

Yes, Doctor.

Doctor.

Sometimes the power of prayer in local facilities have their limits.

It's Sean, Father.

Your car didn't hit him.

He'll snap out of it.

How's Roy today?

He's fine, Jimmy.

He's here himself.

Hello.

Hi.

I really appreciate your help, Jimmy.

Maybe after you finish with Roy, I could buy you lunch.

You know, I usually have my lunch in the cafeteria, Sammy.

Well, little Roy and I could join you.

Oh, no, that wouldn't be a good idea.

What would your husband say?

Order a salad. Your ass is fat.

That was a joke.

Most doctors love kids.

They have pictures all over the office.

It helps the patient relax.

They figure, this doctor's so busy thinking about his kid.

He's not thinking about my naked body.

Yeah, well, I love kids.

Yeah, they're great to work with.

They have this, you know, way to...

Thanking you with your eyes.

Yeah, but you love your toys, too.

I mean, look at this car.

Still a player. Player? Come on. What, you think this car is too dope for Dr.

Maybe.

Overseas, with a cast of keys, Dr.

Frivolous has got a disease.

I only said player because I know how you were as a doll.

I danced with you. Remember?

Oh, yeah. I remember.

Would you pull over, please? I have to check on Little Roy.

I can't.

You're still a nice guy.

You are.

If I could have chose everything in my life, I would choose a man like you.

The more interesting items are in the store.

Sorry, I was looking for a local boy who's missing.

I don't think you'll find him here.

No.

I'm Ben Mears, Mr. Straker. I've been anxious to meet you.

Richard.

You and your partner took the house I was interested in.

You comfortable up there?

Well, it's a handful, Ben.

I hope you find the little boy.

Somehow I don't think they will.

I'm not alive, anyway.

How's your alibi?

Excuse me?

The police spoke with me today. We're both new in town.

Well, actually, we're not even new in a small town like this. We're strangers

the first 20 years.

Well, I happen to like it here, Ben.

And your partner.

Mr. Barlow? You a reporter, Ben?

Writer.

Critics call me typist.

Typist.

Typist.

Well, if you're curious about the house, why don't you come up and have a drink

one night?

To tell you the truth, Richard, the place scares me.

Well, then you never intended to take it, did you, Mr.

Typist?

Click. Click.

Clickety -click.

It's Romeo.

Ruth!

Ruth, can I talk to you?

Send him out to get pizza. Hey, go wash my car.

Shut up.

I got fired, Ruth.

Mike said I shouldn't have been messing with you.

I was thinking, maybe you could talk to your father so I can get my job back.

It wouldn't do any good.

He's mega protective.

I hate my father more than you do.

Really? I still like you, Ruth.

I really do.

You seem like a nice person, Dad, but that stuff in my house was just to make

father mad.

But, Ruth, we... I'm sorry, Dad, but you've got to get real.

Just watching the fires.

Scares the animals away.

Just the rats.

Smokes them from their holes.

Yeah, where will they go?

I guess they'll find another hole.

You from around here?

Yeah, just over the hill.

What are you writing there?

Nothing.

I lost my job.

Mike was my best friend since junior high.

It's his bag hoe.

I'll wash it off. I'll leave it.

I didn't do anything wrong.

I was just talking with Ruth Crockett, my girlfriend, and her father got crazy

and told Mike he had to fire me or he'd lose all his work.

Yeah, that's too bad.

Say, aren't you one of the fellas that bought the Marston place?

Very good.

Are there any ghosts in that old house?

Ghosts?

No.

No ghosts.

I didn't think so.

Well, anyway, it's always nice when someone comes down to, you know, shoot

breeze. But the dump closes at 6 and it's half past 9 now, so... Good.

I noticed your limping.

Curvature of the spine.

Does that bother you?

Nope. I can work fine.

I meant in other ways.

Nope.

Well... Girls?

Just girls?

Their boyfriends? The other kids?

Sometimes.

Beware? What were you to say if I gave you a chance to be equal to

those boys and girls?

Or maybe even a little more?

Would you take it?

Equal?

You left me in the woods.

Ralphie.

I was miserable, Danny.

I ain't scared at all.

Let me in, Danny.

Don't let Mom and Dad bum you.

Let me in, Danny.

All right.

You went to lunch with Sandy McDougal? Mm -hmm.

What's wrong with that?

Oh, nothing. She's 19, married, barely educated.

What else is right?

What's going on here?

Now, who remembers the Morris chair?

This.

Such an excellent example.

Very popular in Berkeley.

Look at that leather.

Please be kind enough to tell your friends we're open and that our prices

very reasonable.

Madam, this droplet table would look beautiful in foyer or in

a... Servant's entrance.

I am the only servant in my house.

And I am Richard Straker.

Eva Prunier. I own a boarding house on Clifftree.

Eva Prunier.

Your name is familiar.

And your accent.

Excuse me?

Tell me, Eva, of all the old parlor games, which one do you miss the most?

Would you be sure a little morphine if I kissed a little friend?

What?

I am jealous.

You must have been so young at that time then.

Oh,

you little village girls, what, 16 years old, 15?

Did you give to Hubie...

What I think you gave to him.

Oh, I knew that. And did he wear his goat's head mask?

Stop it!

I taught Ben Mears in the eighth grade.

He survived.

Since then, he's had a distinguished literary career.

In 2001, he was captured by Taliban troops while reporting the Afghan war.

He was rescued from certain death.

by U .S. Marines.

On the return track, Ben's Marines killed 10 Afghan villagers.

Damage control is a factual account of the incident.

Three Marines were court -martialed and imprisoned.

Ben received the Pulitzer Prize.

Mr. Mears is in town researching his new book on the Marston House.

Um, Mr. Mears, should anyone in their right mind trust an author?

A good author illuminates truth.

What's the truth about this town?

I used to think nothing happened here.

But the truth is, everything happens here.

One has to look close in a small town.

The beauty is in the details.

You have all the horror of the Kailai -Jangi prison right here and one

child.

All the beauty of Michelangelo and the alabaster calf of one shoulder -high

waitress. The longing?

You feel for the boy or girl in the next row is equal to or greater than the

longing your favorite musician feels for his favorite supermodel.

Never minimize your feelings.

Or this town.

What's the truth about the Marines that saved you in Afghanistan?

I am not a waitress and I am not shoulder high.

We checked those Michelangelo cans.

It was metaphors on the fly.

He went for me.

And they really liked him.

I'll say they warmed up to him.

The boy went from mental shock to extreme anemia overnight.

Where our grandfathers would have called wasting away.

The poor family.

Two sons.

Can you imagine?

The red cell count on a 14 -year -old boy should run somewhere between 85 and

percent.

Demi's was 45.

How long until people make the connection?

Here it comes.

Come on. Ben, the whole town's talking.

The house.

It's like a curse.

Did you know that Hubie Martin's trucking firm in Boston was a front?

Hubie was questioned twice by police. Once in Boston and once in Malden.

But the thing in Malden was for the murder of an 11 -year -old boy.

Hubie and his wife moved to the lot in 1958.

Between 58 and 74, five children disappeared.

But we have no missing kids since Hubie died. Not one.

Now the house is occupied and we have one little boy missing and another one

dead.

So the house is a beacon for evil men.

It attracted you.

Ben, I'm sure that what you saw up there is a boy still haunts you. You think?

Well, it stayed in the town's consciousness, too. Not just because of

nastiness, too, but I think because of location. It looks down on us like it's

judging us. Or it's the mirror by which you judge yourselves.

We have to go up there.

Introduce ourselves to the new squire? On behalf of the town, of course. I've

met the new squire. It's research.

Susan, stay away from there.

Hey, you're committed to the truth.

Why don't you tell us why you're really here?

You're not writing a book on the Marsden house, right?

No.

What do you mean?

Ben? The book is a non -fiction look at the roots of domestic evil.

You're writing about us.

Of course he is.

You lied.

To everyone.

Audit houses are not my genre.

So we're evil.

We're a small town, small -minded, and evil?

I don't want to be a character in your stupid book.

Hey, Susan!

You will find evil if you want it, Ben.

racism, greed, envy.

But we have heroes here, too.

I'm sure you do.

If you're going to look at this town, look fair and throw away your

preconceptions.

I've seen the good, and it far outweighs any bad.

We're wrapping up for the night.

Eva?

You all right?

Oh, I don't think so.

What is it, Eva?

It's that house.

It haunts me.

I used to sneak up there with Eva Wurtz and Loretta Starcher.

Oh, you young, bored.

You'll be in Bertie Marston in my life.

I'm ashamed of the things we did.

You were just a kid.

I used to write letters in French for Marston to a man in Marseille.

Now, Marston admired this man, said he was beyond good and evil, horrifying,

sublime. I'm thinking about this missing boy and his brother, and I feel

terrible. I feel as though the invitations that I wrote are somehow

answered.

After 50 years?

Well, suppose he had a partner or son.

Oh, no.

You know how I feel.

I liked your husband. I respected him.

But I love you now.

And these last 10, 15 years of our lives, they could be great together.

He's loving you from afar.

Or he's killing me.

Who is this?

I wish you told me earlier about the dog you found, Michael. I had to postpone

the funeral.

It was dead. Father was just hanging on the fence.

Yes, but now all this land has got to be reconsecrated.

Technically speaking, we're standing on unhallowed ground.

Jerk.

It's dead.

She'd never fired him.

Where's he been hiding?

When tragedy strikes in a family, there's a safety net.

It's the safety net of community, of which we are all a part.

However, when tragedy reaches out and touches us all... Sticking to the

Jim? The family refused an autopsy.

It may have been anemia, I'm not sure.

I never killed Danny Gleckus.

Being buried in that grave.

Ben Mears was in a motorcycle accident three years ago. That girl was killed.

Mears was cleared of all blame.

Kurt Barlow, antique dealer. That's all they found on him.

That's it?

On him.

Richard Thomas Straker, born in Tampa, Florida.

Expelled from the US in 1966 for selling MDMA.

Charlie Rhodes is clean.

Surprise is the boy's father.

Tony Glick filed for bankruptcy in 1990 and left a lot of people in Nashville

around the hook.

Thanks, Nolly.

Your daughter called from Florida.

Congratulations,

boss.

Aren't you awfully young to be a grandfather?

Ed, I want to pay my respects to Jack.

I feel guilty about last night. I was upset and did something I shouldn't

It's my fault.

I'm sorry, Ed.

Hi, Doctor.

Hi.

I'll see you later, ma 'am.

I can't believe it.

I used to babysit Danny Glick.

Oh, how's the baby?

Poor little boy has a chest cold.

I haven't had the car this week. Roy says doctors don't make house calls

anymore. He says they're on a medical pedestal. He didn't say all that.

I wouldn't say a pedestal.

But I guess I could make out.

It's freezing in here.

I came home from school.

What's wrong, honey?

Are you sick?

Why don't you let me take that necklace off before you break it? No.

I had the strangest dream.

I was married to Dud Rogers.

He took me flying over town and I saw a big fire.

I saw you yelling up at me. Dud Rogers?

The cripple?

Sounds more like a nightmare.

You had Dud fired.

That job was all he had.

The guy has a menace.

Can I get you something?

No.

Are you sure?

Nothing. Not that.

Can't you see I don't feel good?

Floyd.

You there, Floyd?

Come on.

Come on, we'll get you inside.

Too cold. Too cold.

You staring at me?

Stop

staring

at me.

Damn you.

You want to shut those eyes?

I need my son to ride that bus. I understand.

I spoke with Charlie Rhodes, and he seems to think that Mark knows a lot

about the dead dog than he's saying.

He also thinks that Mark may be selling pop on the bus.

That's bull.

Is he crazy? My God.

Mark, what do you think the problem is between you and Charlie?

What? Besides the fact I don't have a father to kick his ass?

Maybe I can...

Speak to the principal of Mark's school. Maybe she can broker a truce with

Charlie. You know what?

Don't bother.

That guy's a Moogoo guy maniac anyway.

What?

You know, like, Vietnam, the... Charlie was there. He shows us pictures on the

bus. He thinks he can, like, impress us or something.

Don't lie about this, Mark.

Keeps him locked in his glove compartment.

going to die you ready to die doctor is my wife a whore well if she's not you

mean you can pump her for free no no no because she is a whore rice baby please

shut up fanny shut the hell up that's a ten thousand dollar whore he just rolled

off you understand ten thousand tomorrow or i pull this trigger and who'd blame

him who'd feel sorry for a dirty dog

Hi, guys.

What can I get you?

Hey, Susie, take a seat.

I'm pretty busy now, Floyd.

Hi,

Mike. How are you?

Oh, I'm fine, Susan.

Thanks for asking.

So, where have you been, Susie?

Working.

Can we talk about this another time, soon?

I think we have some things to talk about.

We do. Well, that was good, Floyd, but I think we can push a bit further.

My point being is, why doesn't anyone here just, I don't know, say the truth?

What's wrong with you, Mike?

He doesn't feel well. Oh, come on, Floyd.

Tell her you're pissed.

She got dumped by the big city rider, and now she comes crawling back to home,

boy. Knock it off, Mike. What's he talking about?

Floyd, tell her to kiss off, or tell her you love her.

At least say something real.

This isn't fair, Susie.

Are you with me or are you with him?

Neither. Who is this writer guy, anyway?

Come on, Floyd.

He's the one you've been reading about on her e -mails.

Shut up!

Hang on now, you two are friends.

What kind of junk do you want, Mike? Nothing.

I'm just sick.

Sick of all that bullshit, anyway.

You upset about the funeral?

I came back after everyone left.

I waited around a long time, and that's when I must have started to get sick.

I know everything after that is gone.

What do you mean?

I saw my mother's eyes.

Which is pretty weird, because she's dead.

My mother's eyes watching me drown.

It was a pretty crazy dream.

What do you say it was a dream?

Well, look at my clothes, Mr. Burke.

I might have to lay down in the dirt and fell asleep.

Come on, Mike, we can get out of here.

You can sleep in my guest room.

I can drive.

Listen to your old teacher.

You're either sick or you're high.

So if you're not feeling better in the morning, I'll drive you to the clinic.

Susan, could I speak to you for a minute, please?

I've said all I have to say. But I haven't.

Please.

I think we've had enough excitement for one evening.

Mom, I'll be right in.

I'm not going to stop writing the book.

But I could change the name of the town.

I could change the name of the state. The town was only meant to be a metaphor

anyway.

Then why choose Jerusalem's Lot?

Because this is the town I know.

It's a town you think you know.

And a town that thought it knew you.

You'll be gone in a day, Susan.

You'll see.

Now that the truth is out.

Dud.

Hey, Floyd.

Where you been, Gimp?

I don't limp anymore, Floyd.

Why not?

Because I'm different.

You're always different, Dud.

Where you going?

I'm going to see Ruth Crockett.

Do yourself a favor.

Stay clear.

Clear of them all.

The beaches ain't worth it.

I need some food, Floyd.

For Ruth?

I don't know what the hell you're talking about, Dad.

If you pissed with anyone, it should be Larry Crockett.

Mike and I have always been good to you.

Especially Mike.

Dad.

You seem a lot better now.

Yeah, the fresh air must have sobered me up.

I have a sweatshirt here for you and some sweatpants.

That door right there leads to the bathroom.

Thanks.

That bruise looks painful.

Oh, yeah.

You should have seen the other guy.

Should get that taken care of.

Good night, Mike.

Night.

Bye.

I'm surprised you called me after last night.

What you write is the least of my worries.

Well, is he alone?

He is, now.

Maybe it's an intruder. Did you call the police? No.

Not yet.

I want you to see the body first. The body?

He said he was acting strangely.

He's not moving.

Did he go in there?

I peeped in briefly.

Was he dead?

I don't know. Matt.

What the hell is going on here?

You didn't kill him, did you? Of course not.

Mike?

Mike Ryerson.

Look at his chest.

Look at the bruise.

There's no bruise. I saw it. It has to be there.

It might be G -downs, a designer drug.

Matt, call an ambulance. Call the police.

Call a lawyer if you have one.

Hang on, hang on.

Mike buried Danny Glick today.

There was a bruise on his chest. I saw it.

I heard him talking to someone in this room. I heard him open the window. I

heard laughing.

I should have come in, but I was too scared.

Your intruder would have to be a fireman to be able to climb up here. Ben, I

know what I heard.

I wanted to tell you first before everyone started calling me crazy.

Handsome corpse.

You sure he's dead?

Sorry to drag you into this.

Don't be.

I don't know why you did, though.

If I told you now, you'd have me committed.

Maybe we should move down the hall. It could be some kind of contagious

Is it similar to what killed Denny Glick?

Acute anemia?

We'll leave that for the lab coats, but there's no immediate sign of foul play.

As for that intruder you heard, do you have a 12 -foot ladder in your garage?

No.

You heard Mr. Ryerson's voice and some laughter.

Could it have been his own laughter?

It sounded like a child.

You said he slept here because he was acting loopy at Norton's and almost

started a fight.

Well, some people laugh when they're drunk.

They'll run some toxicology tests on his blood.

How did you get involved in this, Mr. Mears?

Matt called me.

Close friends?

Literary men.

See, most people find a body and they call the police. You called a writer.

I should have pulled that trigger.

You're finished, Cody.

Banks don't open till nine, Royce.

Look, I'm with the dead body here, okay? You're gonna be the dead body.

My wife came to you professionally. I'm calling the state medical board. Don't

call the board.

Don't call the board.

That's not gonna help anybody. I just need a little time to shift some funds.

I just bought a car.

You'll have your 10 grand by tomorrow.

You okay?

Pupillary contraction.

Gets me every time.

Were you waiting for me?

No, sir.

Run along, Mark.

about Mike Ryerson. What happened?

Nobody knows.

Oh, Ann Norton called.

She has some things to say about the book you're writing.

I don't have to look for a new room, do I? No.

No, you could write a whole chapter on me.

Thanks.

Ed, where were you all night?

Blowing off steam.

Hope a word you seek.

Well, I've been thinking about it, Ed.

Is that right?

What have you been thinking, Miss Prunier?

Hey, we as well got some beer in the back. You want to give me a hand? We

champions.

I have my suspicions.

I'm holding back less people.

Call me crazy. There's someone upstairs.

You sure?

I know my house. There's someone up there.

Well, you won't get any argument from me. I completely agree.

You hope he gets run out of town?

Look at me.

I know why you invited me. Go away, Mike. I can feel the way you look at me.

revoke your invitation to this house.

Mike, in the name of God Almighty, leave.

Wouldn't it be a relief to touch me just once?

touch you.

before I charge it with assault. You're a coward, Mears. You'll never be a

bloody pirate.

What did you say?

You'll never be a bloody pirate.

You'll never be a bloody pirate.

Open the window, Mark.

It's not just me, Mark.

He can make it.

I can call down here. Open the window.

Mark.

Let me down. Please.

No, I lay me down to sleep. Have some fun.

What do you want?

Come out and meet him, Mark.

Come on.

Open the window.

by another one.

Here I come.

I'm almost there.

I see your knees shaking and the piss running down your leg.

What are you going to do to make your face red? Go to sleep, Tibbets.

Sleep?

I'm wide awake.

I'll be awake all night.

You're not in the vent.

Of course I am.

I squeeze and slither.

reach you.

I broke my collarbone and hip, Mir.

I'm getting there.

I'm getting closer.

Look

at

me. Look at me, Mir.

Invite me in.

We'll finish this fight.

I'll rip your heart out, Mears. I'll squeeze it like a sponge and drink your

blood. Leave me alone!

Goodbye, me and Mears.

Hail Mary, flood grace.

How may I win this stock car race?

Damn.

That's quite a story.

They said you was a writer, but I... You gonna sit with him your whole shift?

Wait.

There's more.

I think I'm gonna stay a little longer.

Is he going to make it?

All ruptured his spleen, ulinary and myocardial contusions.

But he can talk.

I hear that, but whatever Mr. Mears says now could be his last testament.

Please don't go.

No one awake knew the truth.

A handful might have suspected, but even their suspicions were vague and

unformed.

Monday was garbage day on Joyner Avenue.

Today the green bags lay scattered on the curb.

The library was closed.

So was the new -look salon.

Now the light spilled across the land, and all the evil things slept.

The untouched walked slowly in Jerusalem's lot, as if their bodies had

glass and fragile.

They turned on all their light, and they did not look out their windows.

That, above all else, they did not look out their windows.

Ready to go, Mr. Mears?

Mr. Norton will guide you home.

You're being released without charge, but I do advise you to watch your step

Jerusalem's lot.

What about Tibbetts?

Is he still in there?

He's still with us.

If you want to press charges, Deputy Gardner will assist you. I'm fine.

Let's go.

He's not like Floyd. He's not the violent type.

What did you tell Floyd about my past?

How does he know about the house and the bloody pirates?

What are you talking about?

I'm only here because Matt Burke had a heart attack.

Let's see if he has any idea about Mike Ryerson's death.

Lloyd?

Lloyd, get up.

Holy... What the hell's going on here?

He's chewed his own wrists.

Jim. Hey.

Where'd you go the other night?

Stuffed that little Sandy McDougal?

Actually, Barry, I'm in a little trouble.

Um, could I ask you for a loan?

How much?

Ten grand, only for a week. Just so I can liquidate some assets.

You know, that Beamer's really drank up all my cash.

Yeah, I think that I've dumped everything into T -bills.

I mean, if you could give me a couple of days to round something up. I don't

have a couple of days.

Sorry to put you on the spot like this.

Thanks anyway.

I'll be outside.

And confirmed, you've had a mild heart attack.

The good news is your heart will continue to function just fine.

At your age, a myocardial infarction can be induced by a number of things.

Diet, cholesterol, smoking, and fear.

Don't commit me right now.

These guys already think I'm crazy.

Why is that, Matt?

I had a heart attack because I was scared.

Scared to death.

I saw Mike Ryerson in my house.

Well, that's understandable.

Mike died in your house.

You've suffered some trauma.

Sometimes we see things... Jim, Jim, did you perform the autopsy on Mike?

No, no, I did not.

He had his shirt off.

He had two cuts.

Vertical on the chest, horizontal on the stomach.

Maybe one was a mistake.

Or the ME decided to dig deeper.

Find out why Mike had two cuts.

All right.

Okay, there's more.

Matt has asked me to go to the church to get some holy water.

Are

they

still talking?

Matt is.

When he talks.

More afraid I catch.

Vampires?

No, for Matt.

He's talking himself straight into the loony bin.

Whatever's going on, Matt Burke isn't crazy.

I never thought so either.

Susan, I have friends in New York. You could go and stay.

Get away for a long weekend.

No, thanks.

Let Matt and the police sort this out.

If something's going on, I want to help.

I misled you about the book.

But not about my feelings.

Go on, Mears.

Don't be a chicken.

You want to be a bloody pirate, don't you? I wanted to be a bloody pirate.

So I entered the Marston house on a dare.

You're not a pirate until you bring something back.

Unless he kills you. If he kills you, you're it.

That night, it poisoned my life.

Everything changed after.

I could hear things scuttling away from me on the other side of the plaster.

Living things, rats or woodchucks or whatever else had been nesting in the

or hibernating in the cellars.

I could have left quickly, but I didn't. I wanted to prove myself.

So I went upstairs.

The house smelled.

Mildew and upholstery rot and the kind of rancid smell like butter that had

over.

I kept thinking I heard footsteps behind me.

I was afraid to turn around because I might see Hubie Marston shambling after

with a carving knife.

Even then, it was the house of legend and nightmare.

I didn't walk. I ran to Hubie's bedroom and grabbed my souvenir.

And that's when Hubie came home.

I knew the rumors.

Whispers that Hubie Marston kidnapped and sacrificed small children to his

infernal gods.

Campfire tales of torture, and worse.

I fled to the bedroom and hid in a closet.

Hubie was coming my way.

I pulled at the door, desperately trying to close it, but it stuck on a garment

bag.

Hubie entered the room, and I watched the rest.

Hubie was not alone in the bedroom that night.

Something was with him.

Something I never saw but can only define as a presence.

Hubie was on his knees.

He sobbed and begged for his life.

Whatever it was, didn't seem to listen.

Hubie's wife, Bertie, lay on the bathroom floor, legs splayed, bare feet,

chest yawning from a shotgun blast.

Then the impossible.

I collapsed.

I was paralyzed.

Through frozen lips, Bertie marched and cried, Help me.

Bertie's cries continued all night, and I could not move.

Something in that house loomed above me and laughed.

Aunt Cynthia found me the next morning, rambling about Bertie's ghost.

My aunt checked inside the bathroom where I was afraid to go.

The cries heard that night weren't Bertie Marston.

Or any ghost.

Ronnie Barnes.

The boy.

In the bathtub.

Yes.

Cynthia told me not to talk about the crime.

That it wouldn't help them anyway.

So I lied to him.

And I said I never hurt Ronnie.

and felt sorry for me.

They even said I was brave.

But you were nine years old. But I could have saved that kid.

And that's why I came back. That's the book I have to write.

Small town lies.

My lies.

What about the house?

You said there was a presence.

And it scares me even to this day.

I think it was my own cowardice laughing at me. Ben, you're no coward.

I'm the one who can't leave home.

Maybe I will go to New York, Mr. Mears.

If you'll come with me.

This time I have to stay.

Could have been fun.

Now we're stuck with Matt Van Helsing.

Should we go check him for puncture wounds?

Mr. Tezoka left his lesson plan for you.

He's sick today, along with quite a few others.

Something must be going around.

Vampires.

Well, maybe we should scrap the lesson plan and do some creative writing.

I didn't think you'd make it to school.

Don't tell me you're sick after you were out all night.

Where were you?

What's gotten into you?

What or who?

You're grounded, Ruth. I don't care if you think it's unfair.

I'm still your father.

Oh, is that your choice, or do you still want it both ways?

Who is it?

Who is what?

Who were you with last night?

My boyfriend.

I don't believe in vampires.

But I have to accept that people are dying of anemia.

What's your excuse?

Professional curiosity.

Now, I don't know how, but Matt Burke was right about Mike Ryerson's autopsy.

There weren't two incisions on his body.

I think the police should take a good look at Floyd Tibbetts.

He attacked me yesterday. He was wearing a hat.

Well, Floyd Tibbetts is dead.

He chewed through his own wrists in jail last night.

Drank his own blood.

Hello, Father Callahan?

Yes? Father, I'm Susan Norton.

Oh, won't you come in?

I'm not a Catholic or anything. I have an odd request from Matt Burke, a

in town who's not a Catholic either.

He would like some... Could

you please just

visit Matt Burke in room 3A over at the hospital?

Sure.

Is there something else you'd like to say?

No, definitely not.

What are you going to tell the Glicks?

I want to exhume their son, check for infectious encephalitis. It's the only

explanation.

Some people think the Marston house is small.

Whenever something bad happens in this town, people always look for the Marston

house.

Been that way since I can remember.

Marjorie died this morning.

They took her husband, Tony, to the hospital.

He's in shock.

Where did they take Marjorie's body?

Should be the county coroner's.

My daughter spoke with the police.

Chief Gillespie took Marjorie to the funeral home in town on account of no

knows where Carl Foreman is.

I see.

He's the coroner.

Larry, Chief Gillespie.

Harkins, you better do something about Doug Rogers.

I want that cripple run out of town.

I've been speaking with Mary Sweeney over at the town clerk's office. I don't

give a rat's ass. Doug Rogers is stalking my daughter, and I want

about it. You might ask him about that missing clip kid, too.

We've been going over the land transactions for Marston House and the

laundromat. At the end of the day, it's clear that Richard Straker did not buy

the Marston House.

You did.

So? In return...

Straker's corporation gave your corporation 30 acres in Kennebunk,

that new crystal mall is built, will be worth 20 times the house in the

aftermath.

Now, why would Straker swing such a lopsided deal?

You'll have to ask him.

I will.

Right now, I'm asking you. Whatever business I have with Richard Straker or

anyone else is confidential.

Who is Richard Straker, Larry?

An antique dealer, as far as I know.

Where is Kurt Barlow?

I believe he's in Europe.

What's happening to this town?

How the hell do I know?

Ask Dodd Rogers.

Now, are you going to straighten out that camp, or am I going to do it

And don't think that I won't.

What?

What are you looking at?

Floyd Pibbitt died in my jail that day.

Pibbitt?

You ain't worth a piss hole in the snow.

Get the hell out of here.

Well, if you're going to accuse me of something, then do it.

Why did you buy that house for Straker?

You son of a bitch.

What's going on, Larry?

Why did you buy that house?

None of your business.

Why did you buy that house?

Straker said he wouldn't buy the Dab House.

He wouldn't buy his way into any town.

He had to be invited.

Invited?

He had to be invited?

Larry, what have you done?

Have you noticed anything?

out of the ordinary in town lately.

The mortality rate is certainly on the rise.

It's getting higher.

Any explanation?

Vampires?

It's difficult enough to proceed as it is, but it's going to be more difficult

if you think I'm suffering from sickbed dementia.

On the contrary, you seem extremely lucid.

The city doesn't presuppose sanity, does it, Father?

No, it doesn't.

First with the two Glick boys.

And then the mother.

Marjorie Glick died this morning.

Mark Ryerson.

Floyd Tibbetts.

And Carl Foreman is missing.

He's the county coroner.

He and his wife are in my parish.

Have you considered the possibility of their imprisonment?

Well, that's a rather novel diagnosis.

Really? That's it was a very old diagnosis.

The church's concept of evil has undergone a radical transformation this

century, Matthew.

We still acknowledge Satan and the demons, but we see them now mostly as

of the human psyche.

Blame that on Freud.

Freud? Oh, yeah, you're right. He did spoil all the fun.

The good thing about this very remote possibility is that it's easy to prove.

I also don't need you to believe, not yet.

A doctor from this hospital and a very astute writer are investigating the

possibility right now, even as we speak.

The only thing I ask is that if they return, evidently, can

we count on your immediate and unwavering support?

I'm always available to help you, Matthew.

Sorry I'm late.

Susan. Susan.

Floyd Tibbetts is dead.

What?

Floyd had a fight with your friend Ben.

They put Floyd in the drunk tank. I know.

Well, Floyd killed himself in jail.

He slid his wrists.

No. It's terrible.

You stay away from that rider, Susan.

Crazy. And you're right in the middle.

It doesn't look... I don't care how it looks.

I just don't want you hurt.

Floyd slit his wrist.

Oh, Floyd.

He must have had second thoughts.

I hear he tried to stop the bleeding.

It's terrible.

He drank his own blood.

Would you say there's money in literature?

You plan on writing a book on this?

No, I'm just being rude.

Right. Hey, good to see you.

Did they ever find the other boy?

No, they didn't.

Poor woman must have died of heartbreak.

Is she your patient, Jimmy?

No, no, but her condition is strikingly similar to Mike Ryerson.

No surface validity.

No rigor.

No incipient rigor.

Frank.

I'd like to sit with her tonight.

Sit with her?

There's a strange virus going around.

Look, it could be infectious encephalitis.

Oh. But either way, I'm going to need some time to observe the decomposition

process.

Oh, well, whatever you want.

Be sure to lock the door when you leave, okay?

Of course.

Thank you.

That's a tragedy.

Norton Cafe.

Hi.

Is Susan there?

Susan's left work then. Did she say where she was going?

No, she got a little upset when she heard about Floyd.

Does she have a cell phone?

I'm afraid not.

Thank you.

It's all right.

Who are you? I'm Mark Petrie. I know you.

You're Sue Norton, right? My mother knows your father.

Petrie? Joyce Petrie. It's my mother, the waitress at Giacco's.

What are you doing here?

What are you doing here?

Did you come to kill the vampires?

A friend died last night.

One of them tried to get me.

That was Richard Straker in the SUV.

He's moving around by day, so he must be the watchdog.

The vampire's name is Barlow, and he's the partner that nobody's seen yet.

You know you're not the only one talking about vampires.

Who else? A teacher and a doctor.

You okay?

It's that house.

A writer friend of mine spent a horrific night there when he was a kid.

Ben Mears?

You know him?

I know the story.

Did you bring a steak, too?

Yeah, that's cool, but I don't think it's going to work.

Don't believe everything you read.

Hello, Father.

Oh, Ed.

Come in. Have a seat.

We have something to celebrate today, Father. Oh, what would that be?

Eva Prunier has agreed to marry me. Well, congratulations.

Persistence and patience.

And love. Nothing good ever happens without love.

We'd like to do it tomorrow.

A small ceremony.

Very simple. That is, if you're available. It would be an honor.

I've had some good news myself.

Unusual, but good.

A coup battle.

Perhaps there's a need for this religious old relic after all. Would you

for Jameson's? Never say no.

Here's to your marriage, then, and the death of Freud. Slouch it.

Father, maybe I'll wait on this drink. What with the wedding tomorrow and all.

No, has she reformed you already?

Perhaps I'll abstain as well.

Closed all day.

So, we'll call the police. I have friends who can help. No, I'm going in

before that kid comes back to my window tonight.

I'll go. You keep watch.

When we find him, don't look into his eyes, okay?

He probably sleeps in a coffin until dark, but he can still hook you with his

eyes. Do you hear what you're saying?

Do you really believe this?

What if Barlow is just an ordinary serial killer?

You wish.

Oh, God, do you smell that?

It's worse in here, isn't it?

Yeah.

That's where we have to go.

I can hear her.

I can hear her, too.

Look.

Oh, no.

The police are on their way.

That was an alarm you triggered.

We... Don't come any closer.

Just... Take whatever it is you have and leave. We're not stealing anything.

We're just... What do you want?

Are there more of you?

No.

Look, I'm sorry. We were just curious about the house. We heard it was full,

we didn't think anyone lived here.

What is he in there?

You're armed.

This is a hammer and some woods. A hammer?

Have you come to vandalize? No.

Look, I'm Susan Norton. I've lived in Salem's Lot my whole life. This is Mark

Petrie. We know you just moved here and... And this is the way you welcome

With hammers and guns.

You... What

is this?

Is this a weapon?

Is it?

Is it?

It's ridiculous.

I'm killing my career.

I'm being blackmailed.

Professionally? Actually, it's very unprofessional on my part.

You saw the man's wife.

You might think it was understandable, but it's really not professional or

forgivable.

I'm surprised you didn't think doctors had penises.

Yeah, it's an industry secret.

We usually try to keep it between ourselves and the nurses.

How much?

Ten thousand.

By today.

He threatened to call the board earlier. I mean, I might not even be a doctor

right now.

You're too busy to be a doctor.

You're a vampire hunter.

Oh, we should be home by midnight.

That'd be Cinderella.

I can't stay here any longer. This is useless. I gotta go find Susan.

What if she went up to the house?

Ralphie?

Where are you, sweetheart?

Marge?

You okay?

Give me that.

Give me that.

There's no car.

Would she really come up here by herself?

I bet if you think so, we'll go in. But if not, we should find her.

We'll come back together with a plan.

You want to be a bloody pirate, don't you?

Go on, Mears.

Unless he kills you. If he kills you?

You're in.

Susan!

Come on.

I called Norton's.

I'll check her house.

Here I go!

There's enough.

It was about nine hours ago.

That's not so long.

I've been to her house, the cafe, the gym, the library. Nobody knows where she

is. What's going on, Mr. Mears?

Do you know?

Because I don't. I have suspicions, but if I don't know, I can't help.

You wouldn't believe me.

Ben?

Be careful, Parkins.

Closed. It was closed yesterday, too.

Thanks.

Thank you kindly.

Ed?

Yeah?

Um, is there a writer here named Ben?

Ben Mears? Yeah, uh, could you get him, please?

Oh, he may be sleeping. No, he'd want you to wake him up.

Please.

Good morning.

Are you the friend of Sue Norton? Yes. Oh,

Ben.

Ben, have you seen Ed this morning?

No, I haven't. We're getting married today.

Married?

Can I talk to you outside?

Of course.

Congratulations.

I'm with Mark Petrie. He was with her last night. I'm headed up there now. You

can't just barge in there. I can get a warrant written inside within the hour.

gotta go, Chief. I'll call you back.

Father, with what Mark says and Susan's car, that's proof enough for me. Well,

now, hold on a minute.

What if Stricker's partner is armed? How are you going to protect yourself?

I made these up last night.

Hey, Dad.

Son, stay in the car. I'm going.

Maybe you'd rather stay behind, Father.

No, I'll go.

This team needs a clear head.

Vampires. Would have been a lot easier to accept if you could arrange for a

thunderstorm.

Or a power failure.

Would a dancing Marjorie Glick do it for you?

It's a lot.

Ten thousand. I can't take this from you.

When this is over, we're going to need your good reputation.

Thanks, man.

Did you guys hear about the hippie vampire?

He's cool, man.

Real ghoul.

You're doing well, man.

Oh, yeah? How so?

Only a trained physician can get you scared out of your mind.

I've never been up here before.

At least not this close.

The cooler heads prevail.

Hello?

Hello? Susan!

Hello?

Striker's upstairs.

There's something different.

He's blood dry.

God,

I didn't do that.

I tried to go down, but I didn't.

I know it's different.

It doesn't smell.

Over here.

Hold on.

You have to make sure.

If he's dead, you're only desecrating a corpse. But if he's not...

Legally dead.

for Darwin.

What monster did this?

She's dead.

Or undead.

Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait!

Well, what if we kill Barlow and they all come back to life?

Or they just die?

You don't really believe that. But what if?

Please.

she is.

We can come back and get her for you. What if she infects someone else?

He's poking around the Marston house.

Can't say from this distance.

Town looked a little dead today.

Maybe I'll take a ride up and see.

They're leaving, Nolly.

Let it be.

Sometimes these badges get in the way.

Our badges?

What do you mean?

Are you all right, Parkins?

No.

On lighter occasions, these used to hold the perfect martini.

There's a presence in that house.

I don't know if you can feel it.

Oh, I can feel it.

I felt it before when I was a boy and I went inside. I thought it was me. I

thought it was some manifestation of my own fear.

It wasn't.

The unholy spirit.

Dull, mindless, moronic evil.

It's familiar in the confessional as the smell of old velvet.

Hubert Marston invited the unholy spirit into his house and home, and there it

resides. In that house, it feels so familiar. It feels like it's coming from

inside me.

Evil comes from inside of all of us.

I've made a fine career turning the hard mirror on other people.

Would you feel more comfortable if we stepped into the confessional?

I don't need that solution for any peace of mind.

I'm weak.

I let a boy die once.

Out of fear.

I could have saved him, but instead I lied.

And now my lies have grown like a cancer.

And as much as I can, I hate myself.

You're way beyond hate now, Ben.

And into truth.

Truth with yourself is the first step towards forgiveness.

Truth with the Lord follows.

Five Hail Marys to our fathers in an act of contrition.

Hi, Fanny.

Ms. Royston.

Jimmy, I'm sorry about this.

Yeah, me too.

What?

You got my money?

Yeah, look, Royce, I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say. Just give me my

money.

I should have known.

But you didn't.

Men grow old, but never old enough to know better.

Ross, are you feeling all right?

No, now he wants to get down my pants, too. Get lost.

Has he been acting strange lately?

What? Get the hell out of here. Ross, listen to me.

There's a virus going around. You should come to the hospital for an exam.

Then let me take Sandy and Roy in for the vaccination.

Get out.

Just get out of here. Go.

My car.

I'll give you my brand new BMW if you let me take Roy to the hospital.

You're not taking my baby. Shut up, Sandy.

You're going to give me your Beamer?

For keeps? Yeah.

Keys for keys. My car for yours.

I just want to get Roy vaccinated.

You can pick him up tomorrow in the hospital.

Give him the kid.

Roy! Give him the friggin' kid.

Come on!

Come

on!

It's fine.

That's going to complete physical and a full blood check.

Who is he?

He's my nephew.

Why don't you register him under my name, okay?

I told Matt what happened at the house. He confirmed what I already knew.

It's an epidemic now.

I don't know the pathology. I don't know how it starts, how it spreads.

You know how it spreads.

But why do they need blood?

They like the capacity to generate red blood cells.

We put kidney patients on urethropoietin when dialysis chews out their red cell

count.

Maybe a 30 -day trial would cure one of these beings.

If we could stop them from killing long enough.

Do you hear what I'm trying to say? I don't know how to stop it. Start with

Barlow. He's the root.

Then we work our way back.

Finding Barlow may not be so easy.

He's experienced.

He'll be cleverer than the others. Where's Mother Father Callahan?

They went to get Mark's mother. I thought they'd be here by now.

Convincing his mother will certainly take time.

It's almost dark.

Jerusalem's lot, Petrie.

This is the last time we split up.

Hello?

Now get over here.

Come here.

Mom. Hello?

Father, whatever you've been doing with Mark does not sound right at all. Not at

all. Mrs. Petrie, is there any way we could continue this debate at the

hospital? We have to hurry. There's blood on his clothes, Father.

Did you really pound a stake through a man's body?

And the two boys?

Mark.

Mark. Stop. There's blood on your hair.

You've involved my son in a crime, Father.

I know about you.

You have a reputation with a bottle, but this is too much. Mom, he didn't do

anything wrong. No, shut up, Mark. Father, I'm going to leave.

I'm going to call the police, and I don't ever want to see you with Mark

Mrs. Petrie, please.

Call Dr.

Cody and Ben Mears. They were... God, the freaking phone is dead. Give me

and I'll save his life. No.

He killed my tenant.

He can replace him.

Why?

Will you sacrifice your little cross? Throw it away.

Throw it away.

Meet me on even terms.

Black against white. Your fate against mine.

And first you let him go?

Run, Mark.

Go on!

You stay away from me.

I'm a priest.

I command you in the name of God.

The demands of your church are impossible.

It's all about sacrifice and no proof.

Nothing to sink your teeth into.

Isn't that terribly lonely?

Kneel, Father.

Kneel.

Say a prayer if you have to.

Confide in me.

Where did you go wrong?

Was it a little nip over lunch?

Some wine over dinner?

Drugs? Pill boys?

Get out ready to go to heaven. You know it.

You'd welcome death.

Instead, I'll have you served as a mortal.

Life is such a precious gift. So have a drink on me, mother.

Enjoy it.

Did I do

the right thing with my life?

Was I misled?

You know, don't you?

Is there a God?

Whoever feeds you.

Eva. Eva.

I'm sorry I'm late.

I can't enter.

What is it, Ed?

It's different is all.

It's wonderful and strong.

Are you different, Ed?

Yes and no.

I love you even more.

Join me, Eva.

I should never have made you wait.

According to the literature, a vampire cannot simply walk into a man's house

suck his blood. He has to be invited.

Mike Ryerson invited Danny Glick into my home. I invited Mike...

He

killed my mom. He killed my mom. She's dead.

Sorry to call so late.

I'm glad you did, Daddy.

I'm up every three hours to feed little Connor anyway.

I wish you were here in Florida.

Me too.

I'm trying to decide... to decide how

much they need me here.

They'll always need you.

But I need you too.

Little Connor wants to see his grandpa.

Yeah?

The weather's good for Gulf and Daddy.

Don't wait forever.

He just amazes me.

He's a tough kid.

Tougher than I was at his age.

You're tough enough.

You haven't tried to leave us.

Don't tempt me.

How long will he sleep?

Till morning.

I can't promise what shape he'll be in when the Saturday first off.

What do you think of this story?

I think it's true.

Think Barlow cleans walls?

That may be an illusion.

I wouldn't be surprised if Barlow flew in here like a damn bat.

Think he got Father Callahan?

I think Father Callahan would be here if he could.

You have to find Barlow tomorrow to kill the serpent you cut off the head.

Where do we start?

The antique store?

Too obvious.

Mark said Barlow picked him up by the net.

Is that chalk?

Could he be in a school?

It's when your eye is closed.

So is Butler Elementary.

I'd love to be hiding in a furnace room, a storage area.

School's abandoned at night. He could come and go freely.

That's where you have to concentrate.

Take Mark with you.

He'll be a diversion.

Don't you think he's been through enough?

I'll think about it.

Two adults snooping around a school? How long before someone calls the police?

Use the boy. Use everything you have, Ben.

And be prepared to lie.

You two get locked up. We're finished.

And if you haven't considered it already, consider it now.

There's every possibility that some of us, or all of us, may live and triumph,

only to then triumph murder.

We can't go in there now.

We should check where he was last seen.

We may find another lead.

My house.

I'm alright, let's just get him.

You have family around here?

An aunt in California.

Would it help to go back in and see your mom?

Maybe there's something you'd like to take.

Parkin, now we need your help, Parkin. It's too late for that.

My deputy didn't show up today somehow. Don't think he will. Where are you

going? None of your business.

Parkin, this town's dying.

But we still have a chance.

This town's dying because something terrible was born.

Something between Hubie Marston and whatever games he played up in that

That's why Barlow came here.

Ask Larry Crockett. He knows he's the son of a bitch who invited him here.

Barlow's a killer.

He's a monster.

We think he killed the Glick brothers, Mike Ryerson, Marjorie Glick, Doug

Rogers, Charlie Rhodes, Floyd Tibbetts, Carl Foreman, maybe even Susie Norton.

He's not just a killer, is he?

No.

I'm not afraid to die, Mr. Mears.

Not at all.

But these people don't die, do they?

Amen.

Hey, Father.

I thought we lost you.

You... You... You did,

boy.

Look at me. How many pills did you take?

We're looking for Kurt Barlow. You sold him the house.

Ruth is gone.

He flew out the window with my daughter and they laughed at me.

Was it him?

It was Dad Rogers.

Dad Rogers.

And Ruth Crockett.

Ruth Crockett.

Get him out of the way. Let's see if he's one of them.

What do you know about Barlow?

You sold him the house! Chief Perkins says you invited him! I didn't know, I

swear, I didn't know.

Look,

let's just go, okay? It's getting late. You get out!

You can't judge me!

The white chalk could be drywall.

I'm in the renovating of the basement of my boarding house.

Are you saying the chalk that was on his shirt was drywall?

That means we've got to check every hardware store, every construction site.

It's only two miles from the Marston house.

The lady at the boarding house was asking about Ed. She said he was

The Marston house, the boarding house, the construction site.

Barlow could be anywhere.

There are five people living in this house with me and no one's answering the

phone. Let's go.

What's the alternative, Jim?

You want to leave?

I'm not saying that.

But this isn't going to be over today, Ben.

It'll be weeks before we get to them all, if we get to them all.

Can you stand that?

Can you stand doing what we did to my Rareson a thousand times?

Pulling them out of their closets, their stinking little holes, only to ram

stakes into their chest cavities and smash their hearts?

Can you stand that?

Without going nuts.

And what about Mark?

You think he can take it? We're wasting time.

Matt Burke says that the good in this town far outweighs the bad.

And what side was I on? I think you have a choice.

He's here.

He's here.

He's

a

hammer!

Pull into the light.

Give me the hammer.

He looks like a regular guy.

Could be someone's father.

instead of local.

You don't have the guts to put that steak right below.

You'll always be weak within.

Think. Writer.

Desperate man.

Sucking tales from whom you meet.

Feeding on the lives of family and friends.

Spinning their tragedy into personal goal.

I know where you're going with this.

You are the best.

Not anymore.

Go on and get in the car.

Ben.

Sir.

Did you kill him?

Why didn't it help you?

I don't need any help.

I only need you to be happy.

No. Beth, this isn't your house.

And you're not a religious man.

You don't have any faith to keep me out.

You're wrong.

I do have faith.

You pushed me to it.

I wish you'd never gone into that house without me.

I love you, too.

Reckless.

I did something for you, Ben.

I was so excited to tell you.

I went to the hospital.

After I saw Father Callahan, I found the records.

Of the boy from the Marston house.

Do you know how he died?

Very slow.

No.

He was strangled.

He died instantly from a crushed larynx.

Ronnie Barnes was never alive that night.

You couldn't have saved him.

The crying you heard.

And at nine years old, you had a good imagination.

I could love you, Ben Mears.

I feel it.

No, Susan.

I'm sorry.

You've been sorry long.

Time you forgive yourself.

He is right there!

You can't join us, Daddy.

But you can help us live.

I don't want your blood.

But we want your flesh.

No, no.

to stop these things.

If we burn them out, they'll have nowhere to hide.

A couple people looking in the obvious places could do well.

Maybe we'll get lucky.

Find some help along the way.

They say fire purifies.

to deploy it with you.

Ben. I can't, Ben.

It's done.

It's finished.

We won.

You can rest easy, but we won.

takes me since over.

I don't believe you.

I can't.

God bless.

He's coding. What's going on with this guy?

Bring his charm down.

Call anesthesia staff.

Bet down.

Now I am comforted by thoughts of the town.

I see autumn hills.

I pedal my favorite bike down Main Street.

They say you can never go home again, but I did.

I came back to my town.

And in the dark, the town is yours, and you are the town's.

And together you sleep like the dead, like the very stones in the old

Northfield.

I see a red door and I want to paint it black.

No colors anymore, I want them super black.

I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes.

I have to turn my head and feel my darkness go.

I see a line of cars and they're all painted black.

With flowers...

I see people turn their heads and quickly look away.

Like a newborn baby, it just happened every day.

No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue.

I could not foresee this thing happening to you.

I see the girls walk by dressed in...

on the floor.

I have to turn my head until my drops of gold.