All language subtitles for Mourning.Becomes.Electra

Oh, Seth. Hey, Seth.

Heard the news, Seth?

General Grant's called
on Lee to surrender.

'T ain't official yet.

By Jingos Amos, if that news is true,

there won't be a sober
man in town tonight.

It's our patriotic duty to celebrate.

My sakes, what a purty house.

Ayeh, t'aint everyone gets to
see the Mannon place close to.

Anyone at home? No.

No. Mrs Mannon is in New York.

Miss Lavinia is a'visiting
with Hazel and Peter Niles.

I think you must be
wrong about Miss Vinnie.

Peter Niles and his sister've
been away somewheres.

Just got back.

Yeah, we just seen
them get off the train.

Lavinia wan't with 'em?

No.

Maybe she's off gallivantin'
with that Captain Brant.

That's his ship down the harbor.

The pretty clipper. The Flying Trades.

Folks say he's been calling here.

Haunting someone.

Folks say more than their prayers.

My, I've never seen
such a purty house.

Cost him money.

I can remember when old late Mannon,

he's been dead these twenty years,

tore down the old Mannon
house and built this place.

My, they must be rich.

Ayeh. Mannon's been top dog around
here for nigh on to 200 years.

And don't let folks forget it neither.

What's it like inside?

We never seen the
inside, me and Louisa.

Not many folks in town has.

Couldn't you give us
just a peek, Mr Beckwith?

No. The Mannons are
strict about trespassing.

There's a gallon of
liquor in it for you.

Well,

if you promise not to say
nothing to nobody about it.

This is Ezra Mannon's study.

Ezra's the general, ain't he?

Yep, the best darn fighter
in the whole of Grant's army.

That's him up there.

He looks like a judge. He was a judge.

How did he come to join the army?

He was a soldier when he was young.

In the Mexican War. Come out a Major.

His Pa, Abe Mannon, died that year

Ezra quit the army and took a hold
of the Mannon shipping business,

learned Law on the side
and got made a judge.

He was Mayor of the town
when this war broke out.

Ayeh. But he resigned to once
and joined the army again.

And now he's riz to be General.

Oh, he's able, Ezra is.

Yeah, this town is real proud of Ezra.

Which is more than we
can say for his wife.

We ain't talking about her.

I'll see if I can find
the key to the second room.

Don't rile him, Louisa.

Oh, he's so proud of
these durned ol' Mannons.

I couldn't help giving him
a dig about Ezra's wife.

He's starting to act like
the Mannons, high and mighty.

Looks lke him too, from
being with 'em all his life.

Everyone in town
knows that Mannon look.

Ayeh, they even growed
it on their wives.

Like a mask they put on.

They don't want folks
to guess their secrets.

Secrets?

Oh, the Mannons have skeletons
in their closets same as others.

Only worse ones.

When I was a young one

the whole town was
talking about the scandal

David Mannon made with
that French nurse girl

who worked for Ezra's Pa.

He finally had to marry her.

And Abe Mannon kicked him out.

It was after that that
Abe built this house.

He built it out of pure hate.

Hate for his own flesh
and blood... Shhh.

My, ain't it purty?

How'd they make their money? Shipping.

His ships was flying the Mannon
flag way back in colonial times.

Now, his Pa here...

His Pa was quite a power in his days.

Preached the Gospel in Salem
where they burned the witches.

I heard tell there
weren't no one knowed more

about hell, fire and
damnation than he did.

Here's...

here's Abe Mannon. That's Ezra's Pa.

He built this house.

He started one of the world's
first Western ocean packet lines.

Made a pile of money.

Who's he?

That's Abe's Pa.

Ezra'a grandpa.

He was an officer in
General Washington's army.

Seth, ain't there one
of the Mannons missing?

Abe had a brother, didn't he?

Yes, David Mannon.

Where's he? He went West.

Died out there, you see?

I'll show you out now.

Oh, look, Minnie. There's
a picture of Ezra's wife.

That's Abe's wife.

Oh, no, I mean this one.

My, she's awful handsome, ain't she?

Mmm, too foreign looking for my taste.

That's their children,
Lavinia and Orin.

Must have been took before he went
off to join his father at the front.

See here, now. I got
to get back to work.

Here's Peter Niles
and his sister Hazel.

My, she's pretty, ain't she?

I guess Orin thinks so.

But Peter, he's in
love with Miss Vinnie.

Ain't they engaged, Seth?

Or has he got a rival in that
Captain Brant who's been calling here?

I'll show you out now.

Darned old gossip monger.

All that cheap gab about David.

I'll bet news about the
war being over is true.

Ezra better get back here.
There's something queer going on.

Folks are gossiping about that
Captain Grant calling here.

That's his ship down in the harbor.

But he ain't on board.

They say he lives in New York.

But where's Vinnie?

She told her Ma that she went to visit
Hazel and Peter Niles, but she lied.

T'aint like Vinnie to lie.

Next time you come to New York
you'll bring Lavinia, won't you?

Yes, Papa. Au revoir, Papa.

Lots of excitement in
town tonight, Ma'am.

Folks are celebrating the victory.

They'd do better to wait.
The news isn't confirmed yet.

You didn't tell me Lavinia was home.

I didn't see her come in.

Vinnie.

Vinnie.

Vinnie. Answer me, please.

Is anything wrong?

I have a headache.

I'm in bed.

Good afternoon, Mrs Mannon.

Why, Peter.

Hazel, how are you, my dear?

Hello, Mrs Mannon.

Peter, haven't you
seen enough of Lavinia?

I haven't seen her in ages.

Look at him. He's getting
jealous afraid he's got a rival.

She isn't sick, is she?

Just a headache.

I think you're what she needs.
Someone to make a fuss over her.

What did I tell you?

You'll find her in the house.

Run along, little boy. You
know you're dying to see her.

Of course I am. Excuse me.

Any more news from Orin?

Not since the letter
I showed you, my dear.

You don't think he's been
wounded, do you, Mrs Mannon?

Of course not. He's with his
father. We'd have heard right away.

Oh, there, there, my dear.

Vinnie.

I've been looking all over for you.

How are you, Peter? Fine.
My wound's all heeled...

and I've got orders to leave tomorrow.
They'll be cancelled now, I guess.

Has the news been
confirmed yet? Not yet.

You'll hear the fort firing and
the salute when it's official.

I won't pretend I'm the sort
of hero who wants to go back.

I've had enough.

I guess you'll be glad, too.

To get Orin and your
father home again.

Oh, yes, Father.

Oh, I do hope he comes home soon.

You love him, don't you?

Vinnie, I...

I came here to ask you something.

You told me once to wait
till the war was over.

Well, it looks like the
war is about over now.

I can't marry anyone, Peter.

Father will need me.

He's got your mother.
He needs me more.

I'm sorry, Peter.

I can't explain...

You know how much I do care for you.

Why, you and Hazel and Orin
and I we grew up together.

Don't change that, Peter.

Of course I won't, Vinnie.

You'll change your mind.

Unless you love someone else.

How about this mysterious clipper
Captain who's been calling on you?

Do you think I care
anything about that...

I only meant folks say
he's courting you and...

I hate the sight of
him. I was afraid that...

Well, never mind, I...

Who is he, anyway?

Well, I... don't know very
much about him, really.

Mother met him at
Grandfather's in New York.

He did tell a lot of stories.
I didn't pay attention.

He went to sea as a boy

and he was in California
for the Gold Rush.

He sailed all over the world.

He lived on a South Sea island once.

So he says.

Sounds romantic.

That's his trade.

Being romantic.

Peter...

Did you say anything
to Mother about me?

What didn't he tell me, Vinnie?

He only told me he hadn't
seen you for ages, my dear.

Vinnie's not herself today, Peter.

But don't take it too hard.

It's me she's angry at, not you.

Well, I guess I'd better run along.

Come back tomorrow.

She'll be running to you if you don't.

Goodbye, Vinnie.

Goodbye, Peter.

Goodbye, Mrs Mannon.

Goodbye, Peter.

Now I know why you've
been avoiding me all day.

A guilty conscience.

You don't deny you lied to me
about visiting Hazel, do you?

No.

Well, I have no doubts
you'll tell me where you were.

I intend to.

How was Grandfather Hamil?

Much better now.

He seems to have been sick
so much this past year.

He'll soon be doing the
rounds with his patients again.

He sends you his love.

Oh, by the way.

I happened to meet Captain
Brant on the street in New York.

He said he was coming up here today

to take over his ship and asked
if he might drop in to see you.

Doesn't that please you, Vinnie?

Is that why you picked the flowers?

Because Captain Brant is coming.

Haven't you heard the news?

It means that Father
will be coming home soon.

I haven't heard the
fort firing any canons.

You will.

I'm sure I hope so as much as you.

You can't say that.

You will not take that
tone with me, please.

I've got to have a talk with
you, Mother. Before long.

Whenever you wish.

You always make such a
mystery of things, Vinnie.

What are you driving at, Seth?

Ain't you noticed this fellow
Brant reminds you of someone?

Your Pa, ain't it, Vinnie? Father?

Yes, he does.

That must be why I felt... Yeah.

He's like Orin, too.

He's like all the
Mannons I've ever knowed.

And more specially he calls to
mind your grandpa's brother, David.

Oh, I know his name ain't
never been allowed to be spoken

among the Mannons
since the day he left,

but you've likely listened
to gossip, ain't ya?

There was a nurse girl
working in the house.

David had to marry her.

She was going to have a baby.

And your grandpa threw 'em both out.

Tore the house down
and built this one.

What's that whole scandal
got to do with Captain Brant?

Ain't it funny that no one ever heard
tell of David or his wife after they left?

Your Grandpa had it out with me
one time that she'd had the baby.

It was a boy.

He was cussing it.

Now it's about her
baby I've been thinking.

No, I can't believe it, no... No,
hear, here's another funny thing.

His name, Brant.

Sounds made up to me.

Sounds like it was a
short for something else.

Remember what that
nurse gal's name was?

T'was Marie Brant me. Brant me...

Oh, don't be stupid, Seth.

His name would be Mannon and
he'd be more than proud of it.

He'd have good reasons
not to use the name Mannon

when he come calling
here, wouldn't he?

That would be too horrible, I...
All I'm driving at, Vinnie...

is that you ought for your
Pa's sake to make certain. How?

Catch him off guard. Give
it to him good and strong.

See if he don't give
himself away, maybe.

Looks like him coming
up the drive now.

There's something about his walk
that brings back David Mannon, too.

If I didn't know it was him

I'd think it was David's
ghost coming home.

Use your head, Vinnie, now...

Captain Brant. Oh.

Good afternoon.

Hope you don't mind my walking
in on you without ceremony.

Your mother told me... She
had to go out for a while.

I'm in luck then.

I haven't had a chance to
be alone with you, Lavinia

since that night we went walking
in the moonlight, do you remember?

What do you think of the news
of Lee's surrendering, Captain?

You're very formal today, Lavinia.

We expect my father
home very soon now.

Won't you sit down?

Thank you.

Yes, you must be very happy at the
thought of seeing your father again.

I love Father better
than anyone in the world.

I suppose that's the
usual way of it...

the daughter feels closer to her
father and a son to his mother.

I should think you'd be a
born exception to the rule.

Why?

You're so like your
mother in some ways.

Both of you call to mind
someone who is very dear to me.

You'll think it's
strange when I tell you.

It was my mother.

I'm not a bit like Mother.

Everyone knows I take after Father.

You're very puzzling
today, Miss Lavinia.

You'll excuse me if I
come out with it bluntly

but what are you holding against me?

Maybe I'm only flattering myself,
but I thought you liked me.

Have you forgotten that
night walking along the shore?

Did Mother tell you you could kiss me?

Come now, you don't really mean
I should have asked her, do you?

I wasn't brought up that strictly.

Anyway, I didn't. And it
wasn't less sweet for that.

I'm afraid I gabbed too much
that night talking about ships.

But you certainly seemed
interested when I told you

about those islands in the South
Seas where I was shipwrecked.

I remember your admiration
for the native women.

You said the'd found the secret of
happiness because they'd never heard...

that love can be sin.

Ay, they live in as near the god in
a paradise before sin was discovered

as you'll find on this earth.

The blessed isles...

where one can forget all Man's
dirty dreams of greed and power...

and dirty dreams of love.

Whenever I remember those islands
now I'll always think of you, Lavinia.

As you walked beside me that night

with the moonlight in your eyes...

Don't touch me, you
liar, you... Lavinia!

Quit lying.

What else should I expect from
the son of a common nurse girl?

Belay that!

No Mannon can insult
her while I'm alive!

So it's true. You are her son.

And what if I am? My only
shame is my dirty Mannon blood.

You're too good for the
son of a servant, eh?

By heavens, you were
glad enough that night.

I was only leading you
on to find out things.

Oh, no you weren't.

I know how your father stuffed you
with these lies about my mother.

Do you want to know the truth?

So you're a coward, are
you? Like all the Mannons...

when it comes to facing
the truth about themselves.

I bet he never told you that
your grandfather, Abe Mannon,

loved my mother. That's a lie.

It was his jealous revenge
that made him disown my father

and cheat him out of his right
to a share of the business.

He didn't cheat him,
he bought him out.

Forced him to sell for
next to nothing, you mean.

My father was a coward
like all the Mannons.

He took to drink.

One night night he came home crazy
drunk and hit my mother in the face.

It made me blind mad and I struck
him with a poker and cut his head.

I told you I don't want to hear. For days
afterwards he sat and stared at nothing.

One night he went out
and didn't come back.

Next morning they found
him hanging in a barn.

It was the only decent
thing he ever did.

My mother blamed me for
it and I ran away to sea.

Forgot I had a mother, except
that I took part of her name.

I wouldn't wear the name of Mannon.

When I came back to New
York I found her dying

of sickness and starvation.

She'd sunk her last shred of pride
and written to your father for a loan.

He never even answered.

He could have saved
her and he let her die.

He's as guilty of murder as anyone he
ever sent to the rope when he was a judge.

You dare say that about
Father. If he were here he'd...

I'd tell him what I tell you now.

That I swore on my mother's
body to revenge her death on him.

I suppose you boast you've done it now

in the vilest, most cowardly way
like a son of a servant you are.

Belay, I told you,
with that kind of talk.

So my mother is your only means
of revenge on Father, is that it?

I... I don't know what you mean of it.

You soon will. And so will she.

Lavinia.

You wait here until I call you.

Really, this unconfirmed report
must have turned your head.

Sending Annie to say I
must see you immediately.

Did she tell you I was resting?

You better sit down, Mother.

More mystery?

Perhaps you'd better begin by telling
me where you were while I was away.

You've admitted you lied.

Yes. Where were you.

In New York.

I followed you. I saw you meet Brant.

Well, I told you I ran
into him by accident.

You went to his room.

He asked me to meet a friend of his.

A lady. I saw you with him alone.

He said he had to
talk to me about you.

He wanted my help to
approach your father.

How can you lie like that?

How can you be so depraved as to
try to use me hide your vile guilt?

Vinnie! Stop lying.

I saw you in his arms.

You're evil and shameless.

Even if you are my mother, I say t.

I knew you hated me, Vinnie,
but not so bitterly as that.

Very well, I love Adam Brant.

Oh, how you say that.

Without any shame.

How can you do this to Father?

You would understand if you
were the wife of a man you hated.

Stop talking like that
before him. I won't listen.

You will listen.

I'm talking to you as a woman
now. Not as a mother to daughter.

That relationship has no
meaning between us now.

You've called me vile and shameless.

Well, I want you to know
that's what I felt about myself

for over 20 years every
time I was in his arms.

Stop telling me such things.

I loved him once before I married him.

But marriage soon turned
my love into disgust.

So I was born of your disgust.

I always guessed that, Mother.

Ever since I was little,
when I'd run to you with love

and you'd always push me away.

I hate you. It's only right
that I should hate you.

Oh, I tried to love you.

I told myself it wasn't human not
to love my own child, born of my body

but I never could make myself feel
you were born of anybody but his.

You were always my
wedding night to me...

in my honeymoon.

You loved Orin.

Why didn't you hate him, too.

Because by then I had forced
myself to become resigned

in order to live.

And while I was carrying him your
father was with the army in Mexico.

I could forget him.

When Orin was born...

he seemed to be my
own child. Only mine.

And I loved him for that.

I loved him until he let you and
your father nag him into this war.

It was his duty as a Mannon to go.

Well, I hope you realize I never
would have fallen in love with Adam

if I'd had Orin with me.

When he'd gone, there
was nothing left but hate

and a desire to be revenged.

And a longing for love.

Then I met Adam. I saw he loved me...

He doesn't love you. You're
only his revenge on Father.

Do you know who he really is?

He's the son of that common nurse
girl Grandfather put out of our house.

So you found that out?

Were you hoping it would be
a crushing surprise to me?

I've known it all along.

I suppose that gave you all the more
satisfaction to add that disgrace.

Will you kindly come to the point
and tell me what you intend doing?

I suppose you'll hardly let your father
get in the door before you tell him.

Not unless you force me to.

You know Father would
disown you publicly

no matter what the scandal cost him.

Oh, I'd like to see you punished.

So please understand this isn't
for your sake. It's for Father's.

He hasn't been well and I'm
not going to have him hurt.

I know better than to expect
any generosity on my account.

Come to the point.

I won't tell him provided you give
up Brant and never see him again.

What a fraud you are, Vinnie.

I'm not denying you want
to save your father's pride.

And I know how anxious you are to
keep the family from more scandal.

But that's not your real
reason for sparing me.

It is.

You love Adam Brant. You
wanted him for yourself.

That's a lie.

Now you know you can't have him,
you're determined to take him from me.

Don't be ridiculous.

Because of your father, I'd
have to go away with Adam...

He'd still be mine

You can't bear that thought
even at the price of my disgrace.

Stop it.

Oh, I've watched you ever
since you were little,

trying to do exactly what
you're trying to do now.

You've always schemed to steal my
place with your father and Orin.

It's you who stole all love
from me from the time I was born.

Are you going to do
what I told you or not?

What if I refuse?

Suppose I go off openly with Adam?

Where will you and your father and
the family be after that scandal?

You'd be disgraced more.
I'd have the man I love.

Not for long.

Father would get
your lover blacklisted

and he'd lose his ship
and never get another.

And Father won't divorce you, never.

You'd be an anchor around Brant's neck.
He'd grow to hate the sight of you.

Don't forget your age.

He'll still be in his prime
when you're an old ugly woman.

You devil, you mean... I
wouldn't call names if I were you.

I'm a fool to let you
make me lose my temper.

But you want my answer, don't you?

Well, I agree to do as you say.

You promise not to see Brant again?

Yes. You'll have to tell him
yourself you're through with him.

Yes, when he comes.
He's waiting outside.

Shall I call him in?

You seem to take giving
him up pretty easily.

You think I'll ever give you the
satisfaction of seeing me grieve?

Oh, no, Vinnie. You'll
never have a chance to gloat.

I know you're thinking already how
you can fool me and break your promise.

But you'd better not try it.

I'll be watching you every minute
and I won't be the only one.

I wrote to Father and Orin.

About Adam? Only enough so they'll
be suspicious and watch you.

I see what it's going to mean.

That you'll have me under
your thumb the rest of my life.

Take care, Vinnie. You'll
be responsible if... If what?

Nothing.

I only meant if I went off with Adam.

But of course you
know I can't do that.

There is nothing I can do
now but obey your orders.

You ought to see it's
your duty to Father,

and not my orders.

Now call him in and tell
him what you've got to do.

Give me a chance to
get out the back way.

And I want him out of this
house before I get back.

If he's not, I'll write Father again.

Adam.

She knows?

Yes. Close the doors.

Don't be frightened, Christine.

Shenandoah, I long to hear you

Way-ay you rollin' river

Well, did you put it strong
to him like I told you?

I made a fool of myself.

There's no connection,
do you understand?

It was just some crazy idea of yours.

All right, Vinnie. If
you want it left that way,

I'll leave it that way.

You sound as if you didn't believe me.

Sure, sure I believe you.

I believe in anything
you tell me to believe.

I ain't been with the Mannons
60 years without learning that.

Seth... Ayeh?

What was that Marie Brant me like?

Oh, she was always
laughing and singing.

Frisky and full of life.

Talked foreign like your Ma, too.

There was somthing
wild and free about her.

Everyone took to Marie.

Even your Paw.

Father, too?

Ayeh.

He was a boy at the time,
just feeling his oats.

But he was wild about her.

That's why he hated
her worse than anyone

when it got found out that
she and his uncle David was...

mixed up together.

I don't believe that about Father.

You've had too much whiskey.

We've got to decide what to do.

The time for skulking and lying is
over and, by heavens, I'm glad of it.

It's a coward's game and
I've no stomach for it.

I simply couldn't believe he
would ever come home again.

I prayed for him to
be killed in the war.

Oh, if he were only dead.

That chance is finished now.

Yes, in that way.

What made you sit
there? It's his chair.

Oh, it's just silly
talk about resemblances.

When he comes home I'll not give
Vinnie the satisfaction of telling him.

I'll tell him myself.

I'd give my soul to see his face

when he finds out that you
love Marie Brant me's son.

Then I'll take you away
openly and we'll laugh at him.

If he tries to stop
me... What would you do?

If I ever laid my hands
on him I'd kill him.

And be hanged for murder?

If I insult him in the
street he'll have to fight.

Do you imagine you could
force him to fight a duel?

He'd simply feel bound to
do his duty as a former judge

and have you arrested.

It would be a poor revenge
for your mother's death

to let him make you a laughing stock.

If I take you off on my ship
the laugh will be on him.

Don't you realize he
would never divorce me?

What would I be in
the eyes of the world?

My life would be ruined
and I'd ruin yours.

You'd grow to hate me.

Don't talk like that, Christine.

I'll grow old so soon.
I'm afraid of time.

So my my sailing on your ship
you'll find you won't have a ship.

He'll get you blacklisted.

If he had only been killed.

We could be married now.

And I would bring you my
share of the Mannon fortune.

It's only justice.

It's what his father stole from yours.

You could buy your own ship

and be your own master then.

That's always been my dream.

You've been on board the
Flying Trades, Christine.

She's as beautiful a
ship as you are a woman.

If she was mine I'd take
you on a honeymoon to China.

And on the voyage back we'd stop at
the blessed isles I told you about.

There's the right place
for love and a honeymoon.

Yes, but Ezra is alive.

I know. It's only a dream.

You remember my telling you

he had written complaining
of pains about his heart.

I went to see Dr.
Blake, our family doctor,

and showed him Ezra's letter.

He's the town's worst gossip.

I'm sure everybone knows about
Ezra's weak heart by this time.

What are you driving at, Christine?

If he died suddenly now...

no one would think it was
anything but heart failure.

I was reading a book in
Father's medical library

It was as if some fate
in me forced me to see it.

I've written it here.

You sail for Boston
tomorrow, don't you?

Get this the minute you reach there.

You can make up a story about
some sick dog on your ship.

As soon as you get it
bring it to me here.

You can't do a thing like that,
Christine. You'll be suspected.

He's taking medicine.
I'll give him his medicine.

I'll blend it carefully.

But if he dies
suddenly, won't Vinnie...

She's worried already about his heart.

What about Orin? He'll
be coming back, too.

Orin will believe
anything I want him to.

Poison.

It's a coward's trick.

You think you'd be braver
to give me up to him

and let him take away your ship?

Didn't you say you wanted to kill him?

But I'd give him his chance.

Did he give your mother her chance?

What makes you suddenly so
scrupulous about his death?

It must be the Mannon
in you coming out.

Are you going to prove the first
time your love is put to a test

that you are a weak
coward like your father?

Christine, if it was any
man who said that to me I...

Have you ever thought of this?

That he's coming back to my bed.

Perhaps your love is
only a lie you told me

to take a cheap revenge on him. Stop!

I'll do anything you want.

I'm a fool to have any feeling
about how Ezra Mannon dies.

Now you're the man I love again.

Not a hypocritical Mannon.

Do you hear?

The salute to his homecoming.

Remember your dreams of your own ship.

Above all, remember you love
me. All your own. Your wife.

Now you must go.

She'll be coming back soon

and you're not good at
hiding your thoughts...

Hurry. I don't want you to meet her.

You'll never dare leave me now, Adam.

For your ships, or your sea,
or your native island girls

when I grow old and ugly.

Father, oh, Father. Vinnie.

Christine. Ezra.

You're looking well, Christine.

And you're prettier than ever.

Compliments from one's husband.

How gallant you've become, Ezra.

Where is Orin?

Orin was wounded. Wounded?

I knew it.

I knew when you forced
him into your horrible war.

He's dead, isn't he? Don't say that.

It isn't true, is it,
Father? Of course it isn't.

Your mother's jumping to
conclusions about her baby.

I've made a man of him, Christine.

He did one of the bravest
things I've seen in this war.

He's still weak but he'll be
perfectly all right in a few days.

I don't want you to baby him
when he comes home, Christine.

You needn't worry. That
passed when he left me.

The carriage is waiting, Ezra.

Welcome home, General, welcome home.

How are you, Dr. Blake?

You've done a great job, sir.
This town is proud of you.

Terrible news, isn't it, the
assassination of President Lincoln?

We don't know what's going
to happen to the country now.

Yes, a frightful calamity.

But it can't change
the course of events.

Let us hope not.

You look tired, General.

You've been driving yourself
too hard for a man of your age.

Better let me give you
a check-up in a few days

as soon as you get
rested. I'm perfectly fit.

Yes, we know. Well,
I won't keep you now.

Good night, sir. Good night,
Mrs Mannon, Miss Vinnie.

Good night, Blake.

Father.

Oh, Vinnie, I'm
looking for your mother.

I am out here, Ezra.

How is the trouble
with your heart, Father?

Nothing to worry about.
I want to know the truth.

If it had been serious
I would have told you.

If you had seen as much of death
as I have in the past four years

you wouldn't be afraid of it.

I've had my fill of death.
What I want now is to forget it.

All I know is the pain's like a knife.

Puts me out of
commission while it lasts.

The doctor gave me orders to
avoid worry and excitement.

You don't look well, Ezra.

You must go to bed soon.

Yes, I want to.

Not yet. Oh, please, Father.
We've hardly talked at all.

How can you tell him he looks
tired. He looks perfectly well.

We've so much to tell you.

All about Captain Brant.

Oh, yes. Vinnie wrote
me you'd had company.

What business had he here?

You'd better ask Vinnie.

He's her latest beau.

She even went walking in
the moonlight with him.

You didn't mention that
in your letter, young lady.

I only went walking with him
once. And that was before I...

Before what?

Before I found out he's the kind
who chases after every woman he sees.

A fine guest to recieve in my absence.

I believe he thought even
Mother was flirting with him.

That's why I thought it
was my duty to write you.

I thought you should warn Mother how
foolish it was to allow him to come here.

Foolish? It was downright...

I prefer not to discuss this ridiculous
nonsense until we are alone, Ezra,

if you don't mind.

Vinnie, will you kindly leave us.

No, I will not. It's
Father's first night...

Stop this squabbling, both of
you. I won't have it in my house.

Vinnie, it must be your bedtime.

Yes, Father.

Oh, I'm so glad you're home.

You're the only man I'll ever love.

I'm going to stay with you always.

I hope so. I want you
to remain my little girl.

For a while longer, at least.

March now. To bed.

Yes, Father.

Don't let anything worry you.

I'm going to look after
you always, Father.

Sit down, Ezra.

Now, please tell me...

just what is it you suspect me of?

Oh, yes. Your eyes
have been probing me.

And all on account of a stupid letter
Vinnie had no business to write.

There's no question of suspecting you.

I only thought it was foolish to give
people in town a chance to gossip.

We'll say no more about it.

But I'd like you to explain how
this Brant happened to be here.

I'm only too glad to.

I met him at Father's.

So when he called here I
couldn't be rude, could I?

And as for gossip the only talk has
been he came here to court Vinnie.

Ask anyone in town.
Blast this impudence.

Perhaps I should have
watched Vinnie more closely

but Father's been sick and...

you don't know what a strain I've
been under worrying about Orin.

And you, Ezra. Christine...

I deeply regret having been unjust.

Afraid Old Johnny Red
would pick me out, were you?

Of course.

I dreamed of coming
home to you, Christine.

You look more beautiful than ever.

And strange to me.

You're younger.

I feel like an old man beside you.

I'm sorry, Ezra.

I'm nervous tonight.

I'm tired.

I shouldn't have bothered you with
this foolishness about Brant tonight.

I can't get used to home yet.

It's so lonely.

I'm used to the feel of camps with
thousands of men around me at night.

The sense of protection maybe.

Don't be so still.

I want to talk to you, Christine.

I've got to explain some
things inside me to my wife.

Shut your eyes again.

I can talk better.

Don't talk, Ezra.

It was seeing death all
the time in this war.

Death was so common it
didn't mean anything.

That freed me to think of life.

Queer, isn't it?

Death made me think of life.

Before that life had only
made me think of death.

Why are you talking of death?

That's always been the
Mannons' way of thinking.

They went to the White Meeting House
on Sabbath and meditated on death.

Life was a dying, being
born was starting to die.

Death was being born.

How did people ever get such notions?

What has this talk of
death to do with me?

Shut your eyes again.

I thought about my
life lying awake nights.

And about your life.

As a soldier the thought of my
being killed didn't seem to matter.

But me as your husband being killed

that seemed queer and wrong.

Like someone dying
that had never lived.

And all the years we've been man
and wife would rise up in my mind.

And I could only find
some barrier between us.

A wall hiding us from each other.

But what that wall was,
I could never discover.

I called to mind the Mexican War.

I could see you wanted me to go.

I was hoping I might get killed.

Maybe you were hoping that, too.

Were you?

No, no, I...

What makes you say such things?

And when I came home you were
turned to your new baby, Orin.

I was hardly alive for you anymore.

I tried not to hate Orin
and I turned to Vinnie.

But a daughter's not a wife.

Then I made up my mind
to do my work in the world

and leave you alone and not care.

That's why the shipping wasn't enough,

why I became a judge and
Mayor and such vain truck.

Why folks in town say I'm so able.

Able for what?

Not for what I wanted most in life.

Not for your love.

No, able only to keep my mind
from thinking of what I'd lost.

You did love me before we were
married, didn't you, Christine?

You won't deny that, will you?

I don't deny anything.

All right then. I came home to
surrender to you what's inside me.

I love you. I loved you then
and all the years in between.

And I love you now. Ezra, please.

Help me to smash down
that wall, Christine.

We've twenty good
years still before us.

Help us to get back to each other.

If we could leave the
children and go on a voyage

to get to the other side of the world

and find some island where
we could be alone for a while.

You'll find I've changed, Christine.

I'm sick of death. I want life.

Stop talking, Ezra!

I don't know what you're saying.

What must be must be.

You make me weak.

It's getting late.

Yes.

Time to turn in.

You tell me to stop talking.

By heaven, that's funny.

I only meant what's the good of words.

There is no wall between us.

I love you.

I'd give my soul to
believe that, Christine.

But I'm afraid.

I thought you'd gone
to bed, young lady.

I couldn't sleep. I
thought I'd walk a little.

No time for a walk, if you ask me.

We were just going to bed.

Your father is tired.

See you turn in soon.

Yes, Father.

Good night, Vinnie.

Good night.

Father, how can you love
that shameless woman?

I can't bear it.

I won't.

It's my duty to tell him. I will!

Father! Father!

Don't shout like that. What is it?

I forgot to say good night.

Good heavens. What do you...

Oh, all right. Good night, Vinnie.

Go to bed soon, like a good girl.

Yes, Father.

Good night.

Christine.

What made you jump when I spoke?

I thought you were asleep.

I haven't been able to sleep.

I've been lying here thinking.

I haven't been able to sleep either.

Don't light the candle.

I want to see you.

You like the dark where you can't see
your old man of a husband, is that it?

If you're going to say stupid
things I'll go in my own room.

Don't go.

I don't want to be alone.

I feel strange, Christine.

You mean ill?

Your heart?

Is that what you're waiting for?

Stop talking like that. Wait.

I'm sorry I said that.

It isn't my heart.

It's as if something in me were...

listening.

watching

waiting for something to happen.

This house isn't my house.

This room isn't my room.

They're empty.

Waiting for someone to move in.

And you're not my wife.

You're waiting for something.

What would I be waiting for?

For death to set you free.

Leave me alone. Stop nagging at
me with your crazy suspicions.

Not your wife. You act
as if I were your wife,

your property.

You were lying to me
as you always lied.

You make me feel hateful
and unclean to myself.

I'd feel more honor between myself
and... Look out, Ezra. I won't stand...

I was hoping my homecomeing
would mark a new beginning

a new love between us.

I told you my secret feelings.

I tore my insides out for
you thinking you'd understand.

Did you think you could
make me forget all the years?

Oh, no, Ezra. It's too late.

You want the truth?

You've guessed it.

I've never once been yours.

I never could be.

Oh, I wanted to be when I married
you but you made it so I couldn't.

You filled me with
disgust. You say that to me.

No. Be quiet.

We mustn't fight.
It'll bring on the pain.

You wanted the truth and you're going
to get it now. Be quiet, Christine.

I lied about Captain Brant.

He's Marie Brant me's son.

And it was I he came
to see, not Vinnie.

You dare, the son of that... All my trips
to New York weren't to visit Father...

but to be with Brant.

He's gentle and tender. He's
everything you've never been.

I love him. You common,
vile... I'll kill you.

Quick. The medicine.

The medicine.

Father.

He just had an attack.

Father. Oh, he's fainted.

He's all right now. Let him sleep.

Father.

She's guilty.

Not... medicine.

Father.

It's my own.

He's asleep.

He's dead.

Why did he point at you like that?

Why did he say you were guilty?

Well answer me!

I told him the truth about Adam.

You told him that when
you knew his heart...

You did it on purpose.
You murdered him.

No, it was your fault.

You made him suspicious.

He forced me to tell him. Look at me!

He said not medicine.
What did he mean?

I don't know. You do know. Tell me.

Are you accusing your mother
of... Yes, I am, you...

You can't be that evil.

I feel faint.

I must go and lie down, I...

You murdered him just
the same by telling him.

You think you'll be
free now to marry Adam.

But you won't. Not while I'm alive.

Father! Don't leave me alone.

Come back to me.

Tell me what to do.

Tell me what to do.

It isn't for me to question
the arrangements, Mrs Mannon...

but it does seem as if Ezra should
have been laid out in Town Hall

where the whole town could
have paid their respects to him.

Yes, yes, remember he was mayor
of the town, a national war hero...

Are you sure you don't
want a public funeral?

It's not a question of what I want.

I must follow out his
wishes. Yes, of course...

Well, I must say it's just like Ezra,
he liked things private and quiet.

Never was one for show.

Yes, he did the work and let
the others do the showing off.

Yes, indeed.

Good night, Mrs Mannon. You
have our deepest sympathies.

Has Orin come yet?

Not yet, but they
ought to be here soon.

Can't you lie down, Mrs Mannon?

No, I should have gone to the train

but all those people coming to
stand around and stare at the dead.

And at me. I know, but
there won't be any more now.

Come and sit down.

I can't abide that woman.
There's something queer about her.

She looks terrible, doesn't she?

Queer the difference between her and
Lavinia the way they take his death.

Lavinia doesn't seem to fell the
grief as much as she ought to.

Oh, she feels it all right.
Only she's too Mannon to show it.

She had a quarrel with her
mother, too. I heard it.

What was it over? She was
going to the train alone.

Her mother seemed real angry.

She bid Peter Niles go along.

Josiah! Coming, Emma.

I'm not surprised what's
happened. He had angina.

I knew it even before he got home
from the things he wrote his wife.

She was worried about
him. Naturally, doctor.

The minute they sent for
me I knew what had happened.

She'd given him his
medicine but it was too late.

Too bad, too darn bad.

The town won't find
another as able as Ezra now.

No, that's right. Come
along, come along, my dear.

Orin!

Vinnie!

Well, you certainly are
a sight for sore eyes.

How are you, anyway you
bossy old fuss-buzzer?

Here's Peter.

How are you, Peter? Say, how are
you, Orin, that's the question.

Oh, all right, I
guess. Where's Mother?

At home.

Reverend Hills is there and some
other people arranging for the funeral.

Oh.

Oh, here, let me take care of that.

Thanks, Peter.

Howdy, Orin. How are you, Seth?

Glad to see you.

Get on, boy.

Home at last.

You don't know how I
dreamed of this, Vinnie.

The house looks ghostly and dead.

It's only the moonlight, you chump.

Like a tomb.

That's what Mother used to call it.

It is a tomb just now, Orin.

I'd forgotten.

I simply can't realize he's dead.

I never knew his heart was weak. He
told me the trouble wasn't serious.

Father told you that? Hm.

I was hoping he had.

Peter, would you run
along inside, please.

I want to speak with Orin a moment.

Sure. Sure, Vinnie.

What's wrong with you, Vinnie?

Oh, I know what a shock
his death is to you.

Isn't it a shock to you, Orin?

Certainly, but...

Oh, I can't explain. Give me
a chance to get used to things.

How can you be so unfeeling?

You wanted me to be
a hero, didn't you?

Well, murdering doesn't
improve one's manners.

Listen, Vinnie, what was that
stuff you wrote me about some...

Captain Brant coming to see Mother?

There's no time to talk now.

I want to warn you
to be on your guard.

Don't believe the lies she'll tell
you. Wait till you've talked to me.

You mean Mother?

What are you talking about, anyway?

Honestly, Vinnie, I thinks that's carrying an
everlasting squabble with Mother a bit too far.

You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

What are you being so
mysterious about, anyway?

Is it Brant?

Why didn't you call me, Peter?

Orin! Mother!

My boy, my baby! Oh,
Mother, it's good to see you.

Poor darling. How you
must have suffered.

But it's all over now.
I've got you back again.

Let's go in, dear.

There's someone else waiting
who will be glad to see you.

Remember, Orin.

Come on in, dear.

Vinnie, I...

I appreciate your grief has
made you not quite normal.

But now Orin is here, I...

Don't stare like that.

What did you do that
night after I fainted?

I've missed something,
some... medicine that...

I take to make me sleep.

You did... you found it.

But can't you see how
insane to suspect...

And Doctor Blake knows he died of...

I see what you've been waiting for.

To tell Orin your lies and
get him to go to the police.

Isn't that it?

Answer me when I speak to you.

What are you plotting?

Mother!

Coming, dear.

The happiness of seeing Orin
was a little too much for me.

I sudenly felt as if
I were going to faint.

So I rushed out in the fresh air.

Poor Mother.

She's worn out, Orin.

I've been trying to get her to go
to bed but she won't listen to me.

Go to bed the minute he
comes home? I should say not.

You come and sit down.

You're not going to do anything
to make yourself feel ill...

Having you back is
the medicine I need.

He's the one who needs looking after.

Yes, Orin, you've got to
take care of yourself too.

We'll look after you,
Hazel and I, won't we, dear?

Of course we will.

Don't stand, dear. Come and sit down.

Hazel, will you bring me that cushion?

We'll make you comfortable.

There.

Peter will be getting jealous.

You'd better call Vinnie
and put a pillow behind him.

I can't picture Vinnie being so soft.

You ought to see her with Father.
She was always fussing over him.

And he likes it. Even
though he does pretend...

Orin, you're talking
as if he were alive.

We'd all of us forgotten
he was dead, hadn't we?

I can't believe it even yet.

I feel him in this house, alive.

Orin!

Everything's changed in a queer way.

This house, all of us.

Except Father.

He'll always be here, the same.

Don't you feel that, Mother?

You mustn't make her
think of it, Orin.

You're the same,
Hazel. Sweet and good.

At least Hazel hasn't changed.

Hazel will never change, I hope.

I'm glad you appreciate her.

Poor boy.

Does it pain now? Not much.

Not at all when your hand's there.

You're so different. What is it?

It's just that I'm getting old, dear.

You're more beautiful than ever.

And younger, too, somehow.

That's not it.

Maybe I can guess.

Younger and more beautiful.
Listen to that, Hazel.

He's learned to be very
gallant, I must say.

Do you remember, Hazel,

how you waved your handkerchief to me
that day I set out to become a hero?

I thought you'd sprain your wrist.

Orin.

All the mothers and wives, and
sisters and girls are the same.

Some time, in some war...

they ought to make the women take
the men's place for a month or so.

Give them a taste of murder.

After that, maybe they'd stop...

waving handkerchiefs
and gabbing about heros.

Orin... Give it a
rest, Orin, it's over.

None of us liked it
any more than you did.

You're right, Peter.

I'm sorry, Hazel.
That was rotten of me.

It was nothing. I understand
how you feel, really I do.

Orin, come and see Father.

You sounded just like him.

I meant to look at him
the first thing, but...

I got to talking

No, wait!

Can't you let him
have a minute to rest?

You can see how worn out he is.

I've hardly had a chance
to say a word to you yet.

Stay with me a little
while, won't you, dear?

Of course, Mother.
Don't be long, Orin.

And remember what I said.

I think we must be getting home.

Yes, we must.

It was so kind of you to come.

Please come again, dear, soon.

You'll do Orin more good than anyone.

Good night, Orin.

Nice to have you back. Good bye.

What's made you take a fancy
to Hazel all of a sudden?

You never used to like
my going around with her.

All I want now is
your happiness, dear.

I know how much you
used to like Hazel.

It was just to make you jealous.

I haven't been home an hour and
you're trying to marry me off.

Must be anxious to get rid of me.

Don't say that. Who is this Captain
Brant who's been calling on you?

On me? You mean on Lavinia, don't you?

Wherever did you get that silly idea?

Of course. Vinnie must have written you
the same nonsense she did your father.

She wrote him?

What did he do?

Why, he laughed at it, naturally.

I'm really worried about Vinnie, dear.

She imagines the
most fantastic things.

And that silly feud she's always
had with me is worse than ever.

She's not like us, Orin.

I feel you are really
my flesh and blood.

She isn't, she's your father's.

You are a part of me.

I feel that too, Mother.

We had a secret little world of
our own in the old days, didn't we?

No Mannons allowed,
that was our password.

It's what your father and
Vinnie could never forgive us.

It may seem a hard thing
to say about the dead,

but the truth is your
father was jealous of you.

He hated you because he knew I loved
you better than anything in the world.

I knew he had it in for me...

but I never thought he
went so far as to hate me.

He did, just the same.

All right, then, I won't
pretend I'm sorry he's dead.

Oh, how happy we'll
be together, you and I.

If you only won't let Vinnie poison your
mind against me with her disgusting lies.

What lies?

You haven't told me
about that Brant yet.

There's nothing to tell.

Except in Vinnie's morbid mind.

She worried and brooded until I really
believed she went out of her head.

She does seem strange, but...

Her craziness all works
out in hatred for me.

Take this Captain Brant
of hers, for example.

A stupid ship captain I happened
to meet at your grandfather's...

took it into his silly head to call
here a few times without being asked.

I honestly believe Vinnie
fell in love with him

but she soon discovered that
he wasn't after her at all.

Whom was he after? You?

Orin,

you don't seem to realize
that I'm an old married woman

with two grown-up children.

All he was after was to insinuate
himself as a family friend

and use your father when he came home

to get him a better ship.

Oh, I soon saw through
his little scheme

and he'll never call here
again, I promise you that.

That's the whole of the
great Captain Brant scandal.

Are you satisfied now,
you jealous goose, you?

Mother.

I'm a fool.

The war has got me silly, I guess.

It was Vinnie's fault
you ever went to war.

I'll never forgive her for that.

But I was going to give you an
example of her insane suspicions.

She decided that because
his name was Brant

he must be the son of that
nurse girl, Marie Brant me.

Isn't that crazy?

Do you imagine for a moment if he
were, he would ever come here to visit?

I'd like to see him try it.

His mother brought disgrace
enough on our family without...

Orin, don't look like that.
You sound just like your...

But I haven't told you the worst yet.

Vinnie actually
accuses me, your mother,

of being in love with that fool.

And of having met him in New
York and gone to his room.

I don't believe it. Vinnie couldn't.

I told you she had gone crazy.

Oh, it's too revolting, Orin.

You don't know what
I've had to put up with.

Mother, please.

Please, Mother, don't cry. Please.

I haven't told you the
most horrible thing of all.

She suspects me of having
poisoned your father.

What?

That's too much. She ought
to be put in an asylum.

She found some medicine
I take to put me to sleep

and, to her crazy brain...

Oh, Orin, I'm so afraid of her.

She might even go to the police and...

There, there, Mother, don't
worry. I'll take care of her.

Orin, you are my boy, my baby.

Mother!

I could forgive you
anything, anything.

Except that about Brant.

I swear to you... I know, Mother.

And if I thought different I'd show you
I haven't been taught to kill for nothing.

Orin!

You sound horrible and
cruel. There, there...

We won't ever think about it again.

We shouldn't be talking of these
things after what you've been through.

You don't look well, Mother.

You have to get some rest.

You need peace and quiet.

Yes, peace.

Not now.

Do you remember the
way I used to sit here?

Poor boy.

You've had a hard time, haven't you?

I wanted to desert and run home.

Or else get killed.

If you only knew how I
longed to be here with you.

Like this.

Do you remember that book we read?

About the South Sea Islands.

Yes.

All the time I was at the front
I kept thinking of those islands.

They came to me in everything that
wasn't war, everything that was...

peaceful and...

warm and secure.

I'd dream I was there.

Later on...

when I got this...

all the time I was out of my mind...

I actually seemed to be there.

There was no one there
but you and me and...

I was a child again.

And the funny part is that...

I never saw you...

I just felt you all around me.

The breaking of the
waves was your voice...

the sky was your eyes.

The whole island was you.

It was the most beautiful
island in the world.

Oh, if only you had never gone away.

I'll never leave you again.

I don't want Hazel or
anyone. You're my only girl.

Oh, Mother, it's going to
be so wonderful from now on.

We'll get Vinnie to marry Peter
and then we'll be just you and I.

What do you want?

Aren't you going down
to see Father, Orin?

Oh, all right.

I'll go now.

Vinnie!

You can go ahead now and
tell Orin anything you wish.

I told him how you lied
about my trips to New York.

For revenge.

Because you loved Adam Brant yourself.

So hadn't you better
leave Orin out of it?

You can't get him to go to the police.

And you are afraid to yourself,
because it would all come out.

Everything. Who Adam is
and your knowledge of it.

And your love for him.

Oh, believe me, I'd see to
it if it ever got to a trial.

I'll show you to the world as a
daughter who desired her mother's lover.

And then tried to get her mother
hanged out of hatred and jealousy.

Go on. Try and convince
Orin of my wickedness.

He loves me. He hated his father.

He's glad he's dead.

Who are you? Just another corpse.

You and I have seen fields
and hillsides sown with them.

And they meant nothing.

Nothing but a dirty
joke life plays on life.

Death sits so naturally on you.

Death becomes the Mannons.

You were always like the
statue of some eminent dead man

sitting on a chair in a park or
straddling a horse on a town square.

looking out over the head of life

cutting it dead for the
impropriety of living.

You never cared to know me
in life, old Stick-in-the-Mud.

But I really think we
might be friends now.

Orin.

Don't sneek around like that.
I'm jumpy enough without...

What makes you say
such a thing to Father?

Have you no feeling?

You folks at home
take death so solemnly.

You have to learn to mock or go crazy.

But the name you called him.

That was his nickname in the
army. Old Stick-in-the-Mud.

Grant himself started it.

Said that Father was no
good on the offensive, but...

he'd trust him to stick in the mud and
hold a position until the cows come home.

But he was your father and he's dead.

You ought to be proud of him.

He was proud of you when he came home.

He boasted you'd done one of
the bravest things in the war.

I'll tell you the joke
of that heroic deed.

I was always volunteering
for extra danger.

I was so scared that anyone
would guess I was afraid.

Well...

that night there was a thick mist.

I met a Reb crawling toward our lines.

His face drifted out
of the mist toward mine.

I shortened my sword

and let him have the
point just under the ear.

He stared at me with
an idiotic look...

as if he'd sat on a tack.

His eyes dimmed and went out.

Don't think about that now.

Before I got back I had to
kill another the same way.

It felt like murdering
the same man twice.

I had a queer feeling that war
meant murdering the same man

over and over and...

and that in the end

the man turned out to be myself.

Their faces keep
coming back in dreams.

They change to Father's and...

to mine...

For heaven's sake, forget
the war. It's over now.

Not inside us who've killed.

The rest is all a joke.

Next morning I was in the trenches.

My head was queer.

I thought, what a joke it would be on
the stupid Generals like Father if...

everyone on both sides suddenly
saw the joke war was on them

and laughed and shook hands.

So I began to laugh and walked
towards their lines with my hand out.

Of course the joke was on me.

I got this wound in the head.

Then I went mad, wanted
to kill and ran on yelling.

A lot of our fools went crazy, too

and followed me.

And we captured a part of their lines
we hadn't dared to tackle before.

So, do you wonder I laugh.

But you are brave, and you know it.

I'm proud of you too.

Oh, all right, then.

Be proud.

Well, fire away. Let's get this
over. I know what you're going to say.

How can you think such things
of Mother. What's got into you?

Has she convinced you
I'm out of my mind?

Look at me.

I've never lied to you, have
I? It's not a question of lying.

But if you think I'm going to listen to a lot
of crazy stuff about Mother, you're mistaken.

If you don't, I'll go to the police.

Do you actually believe...
I accuse her of murder.

You see this?

I found it by her hand
right after Father died.

Don't be a lunatic.

That's just some stuff she
takes to make her sleep.

Father knew she'd poisoned him.

He said to me she's guilty.

That's all your crazy imagination.

Do you realize you're deliberately
accusing your own mother...

I'll have you declared insane by
Dr. Blake and put away in an asylum.

I swear by our dead father
that I'm telling you the truth.

Make Orin believe me, Father.

Don't drag him into this.

He always sided with you
against Mother and me.

Here, give me that.

So you're afraid it's true. I'm
not going to talk to a crazy woman.

You're still a spoiled cry baby
she can twist around her finger.

That's enough from you.

She warned me you wouldn't believe me.

Are you such a coward you're willing
to let her lover go unpunished?

Who do you mean?

I mean the man who must
have got the poison for her.

Captain Brant.

You lie. She told me all your rotten
lies about following her to New York...

What a fool you are, Orin.

She kisses you and
pretends she loves you.

All she thinks about is
Brant. Stop, I won't stand...

All she's thinking right now is
how she can use you against me

so she can run off and marry him.

You lie. I saw her in
his arms kissing him.

Tell me you're lying or...
You know I'm not lying.

You're not insane. You know
what you're saying but...

you'll have to prove it, otherwise...
There is a chance to prove it.

And when I do will you help
me punish Father's murderers?

I'll kill him.

But it's only your word against hers.

She'll go to Brant the
first chance she gets.

Would you believe me if
you found them together?

Yes. Just let me get my hands on him.

Orin.

I can't face her now.

Pretend you think I'm
insane. She wanted you to.

Orin.

Why don't you answer me?

Why have you locked me out? Let me in.

Answer her.

Let her in.

All right, Mother.

I'm coming.

Wait.

Now open the door.

Orin.

Let me in.

Orin.

I got so afraid when I
found the door locked.

What made you afraid, Mother?

Why do you look at me like that?

You look so like your father.

I'm his son too, remember that.

Orin.

I suppose you've been
telling him your vile lies.

She's out of her mind,
Mother. I knew you'd say that.

I know she's plotting something, Orin.

Did she threaten to go to the police?
They might not realize she's crazy.

You won't let her do anything
dreadful like that, will you?

No, Mother. No...

Remember your father
wouldn't want any scandal.

He mustn't be worried, he said.

He needs rest and peace.

You haven't changed, Ezra.

You were always dead to me.

I hate the sight of death.

Mother, be quiet!

Why did I come back to life

from my island of peace?

That's lost now.

You're my lost island,
aren't you, Mother?

Orin.

It was Brant who got you this
medicine to make you sleep, wasn't it?

No, no, no.

You're telling me it was. I knew it.

I wanted to make sure.

Vinnie.

Keep Orin out of this. He's changed.

He's grown hard and cruel. Have
mercy, Vinnie. Don't let Orin...

Ezra...

Don't let her harm Adam.

I am the only guilty one.

Don't let Orin...

I'm going to see Adam.

I've got to warn him.

Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you

A
- way my rolling river

Oh, Shenandoah, I can't get near you

Way-ay, I'm bound away

Across the wide Missouri.

Oh, Shenandoah, I love your daughter

A
- way my lonely river

Like him, a coward.

Aye, it's the rotten
Mannon blood in me.

Who's there?

Adam. Christine.

Go to the gangway.
I'll meet you there.

Orin.

Don't be a fool. He'll kill you.

Oh, Adam.

I am so frightened.

Is something wrong?

What is it, Christine?

Vinnie knows.

What's she going to do?

I don't know.

How did you get away? She
followed you once before.

I thought I heard someone.
No, it's all right.

I made Orin believe she's out
of her head with grief, insane.

He decided that a change of scene
would bring her back to her senses.

He took her this morning to
Blackridge to visit their cousins.

I had to come and warn you.

Oh, Adam, we've got to
plan. There isn't much time.

Shhh.

We're fools to be talking out here.

I'll kill him now, in front
of her. Stop thinking of her.

Think of Father, think
of the family, of us.

Don't be crazy.

When he was dying he pointed
at me and told her I was guilty.

Then she found the poison.

For heaven's sake, why didn't...

I fainted before I could hide it.

How could I foresee she would
come in just at that moment?

And how could I know he would
talk to me the way he did?

I only wanted him to
die and leave me alone.

But he knew before he
died whose son I was.

Good!

Oh, I planned it so carefully.

But something made things happen.

I should have done as I wanted.

Fought with Ezra Mannon as two
men fight for the love of a woman.

I have my father's rotten
blood in me, I think.

It's too late for regrets now.

We have to think what to do.

I'm so terrified of Vinnie.

If she convinces Orin... Oh,
why can't we go away, Adam?

My ship won't be sailing for a month.

Can't we go on another ship?

Everyone in town would
know that you'd gone.

It would start suspicion.

No, Orin and Vinnie
would lie to people.

They'd have to, for their own sakes.

Oh, Adam, if we don't get out
of Vinnie's reach right away

something horrible will happen.

Aye, I suppose it's the only way.

The Atlantis sails
on Friday for China.

I'll arrange with the
skipper to give us passage.

You'd better meet me
here Thursday night.

I'll write the owners they'll
have to find a new skipper

for the Flying Trades.

Poor Adam.

I know how it hurts you
to give up your ship.

There are plenty of ships.
There's only one you, Christine.

I brought you nothing but misfortune.

You brought love.

The rest is only the price.
It's worth it a million times.

You're all mine now anyway.

Try not to regret your
ship too much, Adam.

Let's not talk about it anymore.

I'll give up the sea. I thinks
it's through with me, anyway.

The sea hates a coward.
Don't talk like that.

We'll be happy once we're
safe on your blessed islands.

It's strange.

Orin was telling me of an island.

Aye, the blessed isles.

Maybe we can still find
happiness and forget.

I can see them now.

The warm earth in the moonlight...

The trade winds rustling the palms...

The surf on the barrier reef
crooning in your ears like a lullaby.

Aye, there's peace and
forgetfulness for us there.

If we can ever find those islands now.

We will find them.

We will.

I've got to go now.

Watch out for Vinnie.

If anything happened to you now...

Nothing will happen to me.

But you must be on your
guard in case Orin...

Oh, be careful, Adam.

I feel so strange.

So sad.

As if I'd never see you again.

Tell me we are going to be happy.

Of course we'll be happy.

Come now.

It's only a couple of days.

Let me go. No. Be quiet.

Come to his cabin.

Death is too good for
him. He ought to be...

Orin, you promised
not to lose your head.

Did you hear her warn him against me?

And the island that I told her
about. She wants to go there with him.

Why did you stop me? I'd have
shot his guts out in front of her.

Outside on deck where
the shot could be heard?

We'd be arrested. I'd have
to tell the truth to save you.

She'd be hanged but even if we managed
to get off our lives would be ruined.

Father's name would be disgraced.

The only person to come
off lucky would be Brant.

He'd die happy knowing he'd
been revenged on all of us.

Is that what you want? No.

Then don't act like a fool again.

He's coming.

Go, then. Go on.

So it's goodbye to you, Flying Trades.

I wasn't man enough for you.

Don't stand there.

Remember the plan.

Smash open everything
in his stateroom.

Take everything valuable.

You've got to make it look like
the work of thieves, remember.

Hurry.

Hurry, Orin.

Don't tell me what to do.

How could you love
that vile old woman so?

But you did.

It's ended.

May God find forgiveness
for your sins.

May the soul of our cousin,
Adam Mannon, rest in peace.

Rest in hell, you mean.

I've pried open
everything I could find.

Come along, quickly.

I must go through his pockets first
to make it look like a robbery.

I'll sink this stuff from the dock.

There's the pistol. Don't forget it.

Orin.

He looks like Father.

Come along.

Just like my dream.

I've killed him before, over and over.

It's like me, too.

Maybe I've committed suicide.

Orin.

If I were in his place I
would have done what he did.

I'd have loved her as he loved her.

And killed Father, too, for her sake.

For heaven's sake, do you
want us to be caught here?

It's queer.

It's a rotten dirty joke on someone.

Orin. Vinnie.

It's me, Ma'am. I was
just going down the street.

You're sure you met the
train from Blackridge?

Ayeh, weren't a sign of 'em.

They should have been
back this morning.

I'm worried. And frightened.

You want I should stay here?

No.

You oughta try to
get some sleep, Ma'am.

Sleep.

I don't believe there is such
a thing on this earth as sleep.

It's only in the earth one sleeps.

One must feel so at peace at
last, with all one's fears ended.

Why do you stare at me like that?

You Mannons. I hate you.

Why am I so afraid?

Orin. Vinnie.

So this time at least you're
waiting to meet me when I come home.

Orin...

I've been so frightened.

You stayed all this
time at Blackridge?

We didn't go to Blackridge.

We took the train there but we decided
to stay right on and go to Boston instead.

To Boston? And in Boston we waited
till the evening train came in.

We had an idea you might
be on it and you were.

We followed you when
you called on your lover.

Orin, how dare you
talk like... Don't lie.

I was on deck listening.

What would you have done
if you discovered me?

Would you have gotten
him to murder me, Mother?

Orin, what have you done?
Tell me. I killed him.

Oh, no, Orin. You're just telling
that to me to punish me, aren't you?

You said you loved me,

protect me. Protect your mother.

You couldn't murder. You could
murder Father, couldn't you?

Here. Read this if
you don't believe me.

We waited and got it in Boston to
see whom the police would suspect.

They'll think he was killed
by waterfront thieves.

There's nothing to
connect us with his death.

Mother, don't moan like that.

How can you grieve for that swine?

I know it was he who planned Father's
murder. You couldn't have done that.

He got you under his influence
so as to revenge himself.

I knew you weren't yourself
the moment I got home, remember?

How else could you have imagined
you loved the son of a servant?

How else could you ever
have said the things you...

I heard you planning to
go with him to the island.

Our island.

Mother, don't moan like that.

You'll forget him. I'll
make you forget him.

We'll leave Vinnie here and we'll go
away on a long voyage to the South Seas.

Orin.

Mother. Mother.

Didn't you hear me?

Mother, why don't you
speak to me? Answer me.

Tell me you forgive me.

Orin. After all that's happened
are you becoming her cry baby again?

Mother, please.

Leave her alone.

Go in the house.

Do you hear me?

March! Yes, sir.

Why are the shutters still
closed? Father's gone.

They ought to let in the moonlight.

You know it was justice.

It was the only true way
justice could be done.

He paid the just
penalty for his crime.

Mother.

What are you going to do?

You can live.

Live?

It is justice.

It is justice.

It's your justice, Father.

Mother!

Mother!

Mother!

Vinnie!

She had Father's pistol. Get a doctor.

Orin! No, it's too late. She's dead.

Why, why did she, Vinnie?

I drove her to it.

She couldn't forgive me. Why
did I boast of killing him, why?

Be quiet.

Why didn't I let her believe
the burglars killed him?

Then she would've forgiven me.

Then she would have turned
from him and turned to me...

I murdered her. Shhh. Be quiet, Orin.

I've got to find her.

I've got to make her forgive me.

Orin...

You still have me, haven't you?

I love you.

I'll take you away.

I'll help you forget, Orin.

Say, Vinnie.

Did you hear a gun go off?

I want you to go for Dr. Blake.

Tell him that Mother
has killed herself

in a fit of insane grief
over Father's death.

Will you remember to tell him that?

Ayeh, I'll tell him.

Anything you say, Vinnie.

Orin.

Orin, we're home.

Seth. You can bring our things
up after you've put up the horses.

Ayeh.

What are you afraid of, Orin?

This is the test. You've
got to face it, Orin.

Hazel and Peter are waiting inside.

Don't you want to see Hazel?

Why don't you look at the house?

Orin.

I want you to look at it now.

Do you hear me?

Well.

You don't see any ghosts, do you?

No.

Let's go in.

It was here she... the
last time I saw her alive.

That's all passed and finished.

Why do you look at me like that?

I've done my duty to you.

That's finished and forgotten.

Mother!

Mo... What...

Orin.

Orin, what is it?

She's not here.

She's not anywhere.

Orin, will you be quiet.

Well, let her go, then.
I'm not her son any more.

I'm Father's. I'm a Mannon.

Stop it. Do you hear me?

Don't be angry, Vinnie.

I'm not angry, dear.

But do get hold of yourself.

You frighten me when
you act so strangely.

I want to talk to you before
we see Peter and Hazel.

Won't you be happy to see Hazel again?

Their friendship and love will help
us more than anything to forget.

Forget?

I thought you'd forgotten long
ago, if you ever remembered.

Love. What right
have I or you to love?

Every right.

Mother felt the same about him.

You've no idea how like
Mother you've become, Vinnie.

I mean the change in your soul.

I've watched it ever since
we sailed for the East.

It's as if her death
had set you free to...

to become her.

What's come over you, Orin?

You haven't had one of these morbid
spells since we left the islands.

I had to get you away from
the islands. My brotherly duty.

If we had stayed there much longer...
I don't know what you're talking about.

I only went there
for your sake. Yes...

But afterwards...

You promised me you weren't going
to talk any more morbid nonsense.

Come sit down.

I want you to start again
by facing all your ghosts

so that you can rid
yourself of your silly guilt.

Who murdered Father?

Brant did, for revenge.

Who murdered father?

Answer me.

Mother was under his
influence. That's a lie.

It was he who was under hers.

She betrayed Father and
murdered him, didn't she?

Yes.

And if we'd done our
duty, under the law

she would have been
hanged, wouldn't she?

Yes. But we protected her.

She could have lived but
she chose to kill herself.

It was an act of justice.

You had nothing to do with it.

You see that now, don't you?

Tell me.

Yes.

And your feeling of being responsible for
her death was only your morbid imagination.

You don't feel it now.

You'll never feel it again.

No.

There.

There, you see you can do it
when you make up your mind to.

Now, don't cry.

You ought to feel proud.

You've proven that you can laugh
at all your ghosts from now on.

Shhh. Someone's coming, Orin.

Well. We might as well begin
making ourselves useful.

Vinnie.

Peter.

You've grown so like your...

Gosh, you look wonderful, Vinnie.

Gee, but you've changed.

You haven't gone and
changed, have you?

You ought to know I'd never change...

with you.

You haven't said
you're glad to see me.

Well I... You know how much I...

Vinnie, you look so
darned pretty and...

and healthy.

Your trip certainly did you good.

I used to be an awful
old stick, didn't I?

Who said so? You were not, but...

you just didn't use to...

dress like that and...

I was dead then.

Oh, Orin, I didn't
see you. How are you?

Orin, didn't you hear
Peter? Don't be rude.

Oh, give him a chance.

I'm darned glad to
have you back, Orin.

Thanks, Peter.

Vinnie's still the same bossy
old fuss-buzzer, isn't she?

Always trying to teach me manners.

Say, hasn't she changed, though?

I hardly know her.

Maybe it's that dress.

Ask her why she gets
herself up like Mother.

I can't see why...

yet

And I don't think she
knows herself, but...

it'll prove to be a strange reason, I'm
certain of that when I do discover it.

Don't mind him, Peter.

She's grown romantic,
too, imagine that.

Influence of the islands, eh, Vinnie?

They turned out to be
her islands, not mine.

I guess I'm too much of a Mannon
to turn into a pagan, after all.

But you should have
seen Vinnie with the men.

Orin, how can you?

Handsome and romantic-looking,
weren't they, Vinnie?

Especially the fellow
they called Avahanni.

Oh... she fell in love
with the islanders.

I was afraid that if we
stayed there much longer

I'd find her dancing in the moonlight
under the palm trees as naked as the rest.

Orin, don't be disgusting.

I wasn't as blind
as I pretended to be.

You don't deny that Avahanni
fell in love with you, do you?

Stop talking like a fool.

What will Peter think? He knows
you're only teasing, but...

you shouldn't go on that way.

Why don't you go and find Hazel?
Here now, let me have a look at you.

Oh, don't stand like a ramrod.

You'd really be very handsome if
you shaved off that silly beard

and didn't carry yourself
like a tin soldier.

Not so much like Father, eh?

More like a romantic
clipper captain, is that it?

That's enough of that.

Now run along and find Hazel.

She's probably waiting for you,
too shy to come and look for you.

You seem mighty anxious
to get rid of me.

What's come over him?

He's sick, Peter.

It's what the war did to him. and
Father's death and on top of that...

Mother's suicide.

It'll be all right,
Vinnie. Don't you worry.

Do you still love me?

I was afraid you didn't love me.

Oh, I do.

I've thought of you so much.

Things were always
reminding me of you.

The ship and the sea, everything
that was honest and clean.

Even the natives on the island.

Gosh, you certainly have changed.

But, say, what about that native
Orin talked about, that er...

what's his name?

Avahanni? Yes.

He made me think of you, that's it.

He made me dream of
marrying you and everything.

Oh, I loved those islands.

They set me free.

There was something mysterious
and and beautiful there.

Good spirits coming out
of the land and the sea.

They made me forget death.

There was only this world,
the wind and the surf,

the natives dancing innocent and free.

Without knowledge of sin.

Oh, but I'm gabbing like a chatterbox.

I like you this way.

You never used to say a
word unless you had to.

Hold me close to you.

I want to feel love.
Love is all beautiful.

We'll be married soon, won't we?

And live out in the country away
from people and their evil talk.

We'll make an island for ourselves on
land and have children and love them

and teach them to love life so they'll
never be possessed by hate and death.

Oh, bless you, Peter.

I'm afraid we're not wanted, Orin.

So, that's your game, by God!

Well.

Don't look so solemn, fuss-buzzer.

I was only trying to scare you...

for a joke.

I suppose congratulations
are in order.

The truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth.

Is that what you're demanding, Father?

You sure you want the whole truth?

What will the neighbors say?

A ticklish decision
for you, Your Honor.

Orin.

Orin.

Orin, please open the door.

Why did you lock yourself in?

I was reading Father's law books.

He wanted me to take
up law, if you remember.

You've acted very strangely
these last few weeks.

Locking yourself in here
with the shutters closed.

And the lamp on, even in daytime.

I hate the daylight.
It's like an accusing eye.

We've renounced the day,
in which normal people live.

Or rather, it's renounced us.

Now you're being stupid again.

I find artificial light
more appropriate for my work.

Man's light. Not God's.

Man's feeble striving
to understand himself.

To exist for himself in the darkness.

It's a symbol of his life

A lamp burning out in a
room of waiting shadows.

Your work? What work?

Studying law of crime and punishment.

All right, if you won't tell me.

Oh, it's so close in
here! it's suffocating!

It's black as pitch tonight.

There isn't a star.

Darkness without a star to guide us.

Where are we going, Vinnie?

Oh, I know you think you know
where you're going, but...

there's many a slip, remember?

Be quiet! Can't you
think of anything but...

I'm sorry. I'm terribly
nervous tonight.

I'm worried about you, Orin.

I'm thinking about your health.

I'm afraid there's not much
hope for you on that score.

I happen to feel quite well.

How can you insinuate such horrible...

But you're only trying to rile me.

And I'm not going to let you.

I'm glad you're feeling better.

The long walk we took with
Hazel must have done you good.

Why is it you never
leave me alone with her?

You wanted me to marry her. Now we're
engaged you never leave us alone for a minute.

I know the reason. You're
afraid I'll let something slip.

Can you blame me, the
way you've been acting?

No.

I'm afraid myself.

I've no right in the
same world with her.

Yet, I feel myself
drawn to her purity.

Her love makes me feel
less vile towards myself.

And yet at the same time
a million times more vile,

that's the torment.

She's another lost island now.

When I see love for
a murderer in her eyes

my guilt crowds up in my
throat like poisonous vomit

and I long to spit it out.

And confess.

That's what I live in terror of.

Were you hoping you
could escape retribution?

Confess and atone to the
full extent of the law.

That's the only way we can wash the guilt
of our mother's blood from our souls.

Will you stop!

Ask our father, the judge.

He knows. Over and over and over.

Will you never lose your
stupid guilty conscience?

How can you love that vile woman so?

When you know all she wanted was to leave
you without a thought and marry that...

Yes! Exactly as you were planning
to leave me now and marry Peter.

I bet you'll stop your tricks when
you know what I've been writing.

What have you written?

That frightens you, does it?

I've got to know.

Well, I suppose I
might as well tell you.

At his earnest solicitation,
as the last male Mannon -

thank heaven for that, eh! -

I've been writing the
history of our family.

What kind of history?

The true history of the family crimes.

Beginning with grandfather Abe,
all of the crimes including ours.

I've tried to trace to
its secret hiding place

the evil destiny behind our lives.

If I can find it clearly in our
past, I may be able to foretell

what fate is in store for us, Vinnie.

But I haven't dared
predict that. Not yet.

But I can guess. Orin.

I found you the most
interesting criminal of us all.

How can you say such dreadful things?

You know that behind all that
pretense about Mother's murder

being an act of justice
was your jealous hatred.

You wanted Brant for yourself.

That's a lie! I hated him.

After you found out
he loved Mother, yes.

But we'll let that pass

and come to what I've written about
your adventures on our lost islands.

Or should I say...

Adam Brant's islands.

Stop it! I warn you. I
won't bear it much longer.

Oh, what a paradise the
islands were for you, eh?

All those handsome men staring at you.

With your strange beautiful hair.

That was when you
finally became pretty.

Like Mother.

You knew that they all desired you,
didn't you? They filled you with pride.

Especially Avahanni.
And you wanted him.

No! Don't lie.

What did you do when you stepped away
with him that night when I was sick?

I kissed him good night, that's all.

In gratitude.

So you kissed him.

And that's all.

And what if it wasn't?
You vile, common...

I'll kill you and...

No, but you're lying, aren't you?

Tell me you're lying, Vinnie.
Yes, yes, it was a lie.

How could you believe I...

Oh, Orin.

Something made me tell
you that against my will.

Something rose up in
me like an evil spirit.

Ghosts.

You never seemed so much like
Mother as you did just then.

Oh, no, don't talk about it.

Let's forget it ever happened.

Forgive me.

Please forget it, Orin.

All right.

If the ghosts will let us forget.

I believe you about Avahanni.

But you were guilty in
your mind just the same.

Stop torturing me.

I've warned you. I warn you again.

I can't bear it much more. I won't.

Then why don't you murder me?

I'd help you plan it
just as we planned Brant's

so there'd be no suspicion on you.

I loathe my life. Orin!

Don't you see? I'm
now in Father's place.

You are Mother.

That's the evil destiny out of the
past that I hadn't dared predict.

I'm the Mannon you're chained to.

Won't you be quiet, for heaven's sake!

Take care, Orin. You'll
be responsible if...

If what?

If I should die mysteriously
of heart failure?

Leave me alone. How
can you be so horrible?

Don't you know I'm your
sister who loves you?

Who'd give her life
to bring you peace?

I don't believe you. I know
you're plotting something.

But I warn you. I won't stand
your leaving me for Peter.

And if I should die... Oh,
stop having such thoughts.

You're like a devil towards me.

I won't listen.

I won't.

Don't cry.

The damned don't cry.

Go away.

I want to be alone.

Finish my work.

Oh, why does he keep
putting his death in my head?

He'd be better off if he were dead.

Why hasn't he the courage to...

Don't let me have such thoughts.

You know I love Orin.

Show me the way to save him.

Please, please.

Vinnie! Oh, Vinnie!

Oh, Vinnie.

Yes? That darned idiot of a
cook is throwing fits again.

Went down the cellar and said she
felt ghosts creeping behind her.

You better come and
get her calmed down

or she'll be leavin'.

I'll talk to her.

See who it is, Seth. Ayeh.

Hazel, Peter. Hello, Seth.

Is Vinnie here? Ayeh.

You can just wait in the settin' room.

You set down and I'll
tell her you're here.

She'll come as soon as she kin.

I'll just say hello to Vinnie then
run along to the Council meeting.

I hate this house now. Oh, sit down.

I hate coming here.

If it wasn't for Orin, I...

Why does Vinnie keep him shut up here?

Oh, so that's what you've
got against her, huh?

Don't be silly.

I simply think and I'd say it to her
face that she's a bad influence for Orin.

He scares me at times.

And Vinnie...

I've watched her looking at you.

There's something bold about her.

Look, if you're going
to talk like that...

You ought to be ashamed, Hazel.

Well, I'm not.

And I'm going to make
her let him visit us.

Well, I think it's a darned good
notion. She needs a rest from him, too.

Vinnie doesn't think
it's a good notion.

But I'm going to make
Orin promise to...

to come over tomorrow
no matter what she says.

Don't get angry now over nothing.

I'll help you get
your way with Vinnie.

Gosh, I'll do anything
to help you get Orin well.

As long as Vinnie's tied down
to him we can't get married.

Do you really want to marry her now?

Why do you ask such a fool question?

I don't know, Peter.

What in the dickens is
the matter with you, Hazel?

Here, what are you crying for?

Hello, Orin.

Where's Vinnie?

Seth went to call her.

I've got to talk to Hazel alone.

All right. You don't
have to put me out.

Tell Vinnie I had to go along,
but I'll come straight back.

I won't be long.

Listen, Hazel...

I want you to do something.

Take this.

Don't let her see it.

I want you to put it in a safe place
and never let anyone know you have it.

What is it, Orin? You mustn't ask me.

And you must promise never to open it

unless something happens to me.

What do you mean?

I mean, if I should die.

Orin.

Or, if she tries to marry Peter,

the day before the wedding I want you
to make Peter read what's inside it.

You don't want her to marry Peter? No.

She can't have happiness.
She's got to be punished.

And...

Hazel, you mustn't love me any more.

No! The only love I can know now
is the love of guilt for guilt.

Which breeds more guilt.

Until you get so deep in
the bottom of hell that...

there's no lower you can sink.

And you rest there in peace.

Orin, don't talk like that.

I know something's worrying you.

I've had such a strong feeling that...

it would relieve your mind if
you could tell me what it is.

Yes...

Yes, I want to be forgiven.

I want to confess.

No, I can't. Don't ask me.

Orin, Vinnie told Peter
herself what it is.

What did she tell?

About how you quarreled with your
poor mother the night before she...

and how you've brooded
over it until...

you blame yourself for her death.

I see... So in case I did tell you...

Oh, she's cunning.

But not cunning enough this time.

Remember what I gave you and
do exactly what I said with it.

Oh, Hazel...

If you love me help me get away from
here or something terrible will happen.

That's just what I want to do.

You come over tomorrow
and stay with us.

Do you suppose for a
moment she'd ever let me go?

Haven't you a right
to do as you want to?

Yes.

I could sneak out when
she wasn't watching...

and then you can hide me and when she
comes for me you tell her I'm not there.

I won't do any such thing.

I don't tell lies, Orin.

You better get out of here.

Don't let anyone see
what I have given you.

Go home and lock it up.

Oh, how can you be
so scared of Vinnie?

Shhh.

Where's Peter?

Seth said he was here with you.

He had to go to a Council meeting.

He'll be right back.

Has he been gone long?

Not very long.

My, but you two look mysterious.

Why, Vinnie, what makes you
think... You're hiding something.

Hazel's invited me
over to their house.

And I'm going.

He's coming tomorrow.

It's kind of you.

But he can't go.

Why not?

I don't wish to discuss it.

Orin's of age. He can
go where he pleases.

I'll ask you to please
mind your own business.

It is my business. I love Orin.

I don't think you love him at
all the way you've been acting.

Hazel, you said you ought to go home.

I think you'd better go now and leave
me to fight this out with Vinnie.

All right, Orin.

We'll expect you tomorrow
and have your room ready.

After the way you've
insulted me, Vinnie,

I hope you realize there's no longer
any question of friendship between us.

What are you hiding behind your back?

Have you given her
what you've written?

Answer me.

What if I have? You
traitor, you coward.

Give it to me. Do you hear?

Vinnie, how dare you
speak to me that way!

You shan't leave this
house until you...

Orin, think what you're doing.

Tell her to give it to me. No.

Think sanely for a moment. You
can't do this. You're a Mannon.

It's because I am one.

For Mother's sake, you
can't! You loved her.

A lot she cared. Don't call on her.

For my sake, Orin.
You know I love you.

Make Hazel give it up
and I'll do anything.

Anything you want me to.

Do you really mean that?

Yes.

Give it to me, Hazel.

I suppose we can't
expect you tomorrow now.

No. Forget me.

The Orin you loved
was killed in the war.

Remember him, not his rotting ghost.

Goodbye.

Please go.

Do you realize the promise
you made means giving up Peter?

Yes. And never seeing him again?

Yes.

But how will I make you keep a
promise that I forced out of you?

Oh, I know you, Vinnie.

You'll always be
plotting how to break it.

The only thing in your
way now is my life.

Orin, don't talk like that.

You'd do anything
now to get rid of me.

I said I knew you, but...

do I?

There are times when you no
longer seem to be my sister at all.

Or Mother, but...

some stranger.

with the same beautiful hair.

Perhaps you're Marie Brant me.

And you say there are
no ghosts in this house.

Orin!

You're insane.

Vinnie, there's only
one way out of this hell.

Let's go now and confess
and pay the penalty

and find peace together.

Please.

No, you coward!

There's nothing to confess.

There was only justice.

You hear her?

You'll find Lavinia Mannon
harder to break than me.

You'll have to haunt her
and hound her for a lifetime.

I hate you! I wish you were dead!

You have no right to live. You'd
kill yourself if you weren't a coward.

Vinnie! I mean it! I mean it!

You mean it.

Another act of justice, eh?

Only it would be justice
now. You're Mother.

Yes, she's speaking now, through you.

Yes, it's the way to find my island.

My lost island.

Death is an island of peace, too.

Mother will be waiting for me.

Mother, you know what I'll do.

I'll go down on my kness and...

ask your forgiveness and say...

I'll say...

I'm glad you found love, Mother.

I'll wish you happiness.

You and...

and Adam.

Mother.

No, Orin!

Get out of my way, can't
you? Mother's waiting.

Orin!

That's Peter. Shut up, now.

Hello, Orin. Hello, Peter.

Vinnie's just had a quarrel
with Hazel. She's all upset.

That sister of mine. Where is she?

Gone home.

Vinnie, don't you pay
any attention to her.

You take her in there and comfort her.

I'll go into the study
and clean my pistol.

Glad you came back, Peter.

You can keep Vinnie company.

Orin!

Orin!

He's a darned fool to monkey
with a pistol in his state.

What's the matter with him?

Peter!

Hold me close to you.

Nothing matters but love, does it?

No price is too big, is it?

Oh, I must have peace.

No one has the right to
keep anyone from peace.

Shouldn't I get that
pistol away from him?

Oh, won't it be wonderful?

Once we're married, together
in our home away from here?

Oh, we'll be so happy.

I want to be happy, Peter.

I love everything that grows simply.

Up toward the sun, everything
that's straight and strong.

I hate what's dark and warped and eats into
itself and dies for a lifetime in darkness.

I can't bear waiting and
waiting and waiting...

Orin.

Orin!

Orin!

I'll break in through the window.

Orin...

forgive me.

Why do you look at me like that?

Wasn't it the only way
to keep your secret?

I'm through with you forever now.

I'm Mother's daughter, not one of you.

I'll live in spite of you!

Vinnie, did you see?

Seth.

Ayeh? Take these and put them inside.

I want the house to
be filled with flowers.

Oh, Vinnie, I, uh...

I seed you settin' out here on the
steps when I got up at five this mornin'

and every mornin' since Orin...

Ain't you gettin' no sleep?

How'd you like if I was to haul one of
them sofas out here for you to lay down on?

I'm waiting for Peter.

Why didn't you tell me to
go in the house and lie down?

You understand, don't you?

You know there's no rest in this house that
Grandfather built as a temple of Hate and Death!

Don't you try to live here, Vinnie!
You marry Peter and git clear!

I'm going to marry him.

And I'm going away with him and forget this
house and everything that's happened here!

That's talking, Vinnie.

I'll close it up and leave
it in the sun and rain to die.

The Mannons will be forgotten.

I'm the last and
won't be one for long.

I'll be Mrs Peter Niles.

Then they're finished.

Thank heaven.

Oh, Vinnie.

Here's Hazel coming.

It won't take me long to say
what I've come to say, Vinnie.

It's a lie about Orin killing
himself by accident! I know it is!

I should think you'd be the
last one to accuse Orin...

I'm not accusing
Orin. I'm accusing you.

You drove him to it.

What would Orin think of you coming
here on the day of his funeral

to accuse me of the sorrow
that's afflicted our family?

All right, Vinnie.

I won't say anything more.

But I know there's something - and so do
you - something that was driving Orin crazy.

Poor Orin.

Don't do that.

I'm sorry.

I didn't come to talk about Orin.

What did you come for?

About Peter.

You leave Peter and me alone.

You're not going to marry Peter
and ruin his life, you can't!

Don't you see you'll only drag him into
this terrible thing, whatever it is?

There is no terrible thing.

Oh, Vinnie, you've got
to be fair to Peter.

You've got to consider his
happiness, if you really love him!

I do love him.

He fought with Mother last night.

The first time he
ever did such a thing.

He left home and went to the hotel.

He said he'd never speak
to Mother or me again.

You've changed him.

We've always been so happy before. It's broken
Mother's heart. All she does is sit and cry.

Oh, Vinnie, you can't do it!

You will be punished if you do!
Peter will get to hate you in the end!

No! Do you want to drive
him to do what Orin did?

He might, if he ever
discovered the truth!

What truth, you little fool?
I don't know, but you know.

Look in your heart and ask your conscience
before God if you ought to marry Peter!

Yes, before God, before anything.

You leave me alone. Go away or
I'll get Orin's pistol and kill you!

You are wicked.

I believe you would.

Vinnie, what's made you like this?

Go away.

All right, I'll go.
But remember one thing.

You owe it to Peter to let him read
what Orin wrote in that envelope.

Orin asked me to make him
read it before he married you.

I've told Peter about that, Vinnie.

I know you're suffering.

And I know your conscience
will make you do what's right.

And God will forgive you.

I'm not asking God or
anyone to forgive me.

I forgive myself.

Oh, I hope there's a hell
for the good somewhere.

The dead... why can't the dead die?

Vinnie.

Sit down, Peter.

Vinnie, you look so terribly
worn. Haven't you slept?

We'll be married soon.

The first thing is to get
you away from this house.

Yes.

Love can't live in it.

We'll go away and
leave it alone to die.

And we'll forget the dead. We
can't move too far away to suit me!

I hate this town now
and everyone in it.

I never heard you
talk that way before.

So bitter.

Some things would make anyone bitter!

You've quarrelled with your
mother and Hazel on account of me.

How did you know that?

Hazel was just here.

The darned little fool! What did
she have to tell you that for?

She doesn't want me to marry you.

The little sneak!
What right has she...?

You won't pay any
attention to her, I hope.

No, no.

She and Mother suddenly got a lot of
crazy notions. But they'll get over them.

If they don't, I'm
through with both of them.

Peter.

Let me look at you.

Are you beginning to suspect me?

Are you wondering
what it was Orin wrote?

Of course not. Don't I know
Orin was out of his mind?

You swear you'll never
suspect me of anything?

What do you think I am?

Nothing can keep us from being happy,
can it? You won't let it, will you?

Of course I won't.

Now I'm glad I destroyed
what Orin wrote.

You destroyed it?

I burned the envelope, yes...

Oh, Peter. I want to get
married right away. I'm afraid.

Would you marry me now, this evening?

Marry me today, Peter.
I'm afraid to wait.

But, Vinnie, we can't. It...

It wouldn't look right on
the same day that Orin was...

Out of respect for him...

I don't see why you're
so afraid to wait.

Nothing can happen, can it?

Was there anything in what
Orin wrote that would stop us?

The dead coming between...

They always would, Peter.

You trust me with your happiness!

But that means trusting the Mannon dead,
and they're not to be trusted with love!

I couldn't bear to watch your eyes grow
bitter and hidden from me the way they are now.

Wounded in their trust of life.

I love you too much!

What are you talking about, Vinnie?
Why did you burn that envelope?

You make me think there was
something... No, nothing. No!

Don't think of that, not yet.

I want a little happiness. I've
earned it, I've done enough.

Listen, Peter.

Can't you be strong?

Can't you be simple and pure? Can't you
forget sin and see that all love is beautiful?

Oh, hold me close.

Want me so much you'd
murder anyone to have me.

Our love will drive the dead away.

It will shame them back into death.

Oh, love me, Adam...

Adam!

Oh, why did I call you Adam?

I never heard that name
before, outside of the Bible.

Always the dead between.

Vinnie! You're talking crazy!
You don't know what you're saying!

I can't marry you, Peter.

There's no use trying any more.

You mustn't ever see me again.

Go home.

Make it up with your
mother and sister.

Marry someone else.

I can't have love.

Vinnie! What's changed you like this?

Is it what Orin wrote?

What was it? I've got a
right to know, haven't I?

He acted so queer when he
talked about the islands.

Was it something to do with
that native, that Avahanni?

Peter!

All right. If you must know.

It was Avahanni.

Oh, no, Vinnie. You
couldn't. I don't believe you.

Why shouldn't I?

I wanted to learn love.

Love that wasn't a
sin. I did, I tell you.

Mother and Hazel were right about you.

You are bad at heart.

No wonder Orin killed himself.

I hope you'll be punished. I...

Peter! It's a lie. I didn't.

Goodbye, Peter.

"Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you

Way-ay, my rolling river

Oh, Shenandoah, I can't get near you

Way-ay, I'm bound away

I'm not bound away.

Not now, Seth.

I'm bound here.

To the Mannon dead.

Vinnie!

Don't go in there, Vinnie!

Don't be afraid.

I'm not going the way
Mother and Orin went.

I'll never go out or see anyone!

I'll live alone with the
dead and keep their secrets.

And let them hound me till the curse is
paid out and the last Mannon is let die!

I know they'll see to it
that I live for a long time.

It takes the Mannons to punish
themselves for being born!

Ayeh.

And I ain't heard a
word you've been sayin'.

You go now and close the shutters.

And nail them tight. Ayeh.

And throw out all the flowers.

Ayeh.

Subtitles: Lu s Filipe Bernardes