Original subtitles

- In my dreams, I go back to the year 1795,

to a time when I was happy.

I was on my way to be married.

I was going to the house in which

I was to find my days filled with fear,

my nights filled with horror.

What a lovely old house.

- It was built by my ancestors over 300 years ago.

- Is there a ghost?

- Ghosts galore!

Headless horseman, horseless headman, everything.

- Family tree?

- Oh yes, they're all here.

From the highest to the lowest.

- Oh that's a good portrait.

Who is he?

- Uncle, Frederick Fengriffen.

Said to be by Hogarth.

- Really?

- No, no Uncle Frederick came back

from the Indies in 1765,

Hogarth died in 1764.

- Oh, after Hogarth.

- Sir Peter Fengriffen, the fox hunter.

Sir Thomas Fengriffen, the witch hunter.

- Who is he?

- Oh that's my grand father, sir Henry.

Sir Henry Fengriffen.

Catherine.

My father, Sir Simon.

Now while you admire my ancestors,

I'll go and see that your room is ready.

- Oh Charles!

Charles.

- Cathy!

What is it?!

What is the matter?

What are you frightened of?!

- There was...

Nothing.

- Come and see the latest in the collection.

There.

Do you like it?

- What a beautiful wedding.

- See you soon.

- God speed the parting guests.

I'll be back soon.

- Catherine!

Catherine?

Catherine!

What's the matter?!

- Oh Charles.

- It was all in her imagination.

- Why that?

- Apart from the legacies to the servants,

which you can copy from the present will,

I want my wife to be sole beneficiary of the estate.

That is until we have children of course.

What's the matter?

- Nothing.

Nothing.

- What can you see?

Catherine there's nothing there.

- Oh Charles!

- Catherine, what's the matter?

- There was a man.

- Come sit down.

- He had a red scar like a birthmark

and he was dressed in rags and bits of old letter.

Who is he?

Do you know who he is?

- He's a sort of woodsman.

- Yours?

- No ones.

- What's he doing on the estate?

- Well he lives here.

- Oh Mrs. Luke.

Do you know anything about the woodsman

who lives in the grounds?

- I think you best ask the master milady.

- Do you?

- No milady.

The servants on the estate come under the bailiff.

I'm only responsible for those inside the house.

- Is he a servant?

- No.

Not exactly.

- Well what is he then?

What is he?!

- This needs ironing, I'll give it to your maid.

Hello?

Hello?

Didn't you hear me?

- Oh yes.

I heard you mistress.

- Then why didn't you answer?

- I have to hear.

Nothing says I have to answer.

- I want to talk to you.

- I'm listening.

- Take your hands out of the water.

- Which one would you like first mistress?

- Either.

- Either.

Well as I'm right handed,

how about this one?

Is that the one you wanted?

- Now the other one.

- You want to see this one?

- I've just said so.

- Two hands you see.

Eight fingers, two thumbs,

back, front, nothing special about them.

- Who are you?

- Silas, son of Silas.

- And what do you do?

- I'm a woodsman.

You have trouble with an elm, an ash,

trouble with anything.

You just send for me.

- How long have you lived here?

- All my life.

My father before me.

My master's grandfather gave us the land.

- Grandfather?

- Henry Fengriffen.

- Tell me about your grandfather.

- What do you want to know?

- What sort of a man was he?

What did he do?

- I have no idea, he died long before I was born.

He farmed the estate.

- I spoke to the woodsman today.

He says Sir Henry gave his family the land.

Why did he?

- I didn't know it, it all happened a long time ago.

50 years at least.

- On the estate there's a cottage, a hovel.

A woodsman lives there.

- Silas.

- You know him?

- I know of him.

- He says Sir Henry gave his family the land.

- That is true.

- Why?

- I'm not at liberty to reveal information

which has been entrusted to me.

- You're the family solicitor,

you must tell me.

- I cannot without first speaking to your husband.

- I've asked him, he refuses to tell me anything.

But I must know.

Our marriage, perhaps our very lives may depend on it.

- Return to Fengriffen and tell Sir Charles

I will come to see him later tonight.

- If you can help me I'll be eternally grateful.

- I'll try.

- Thank you.

- Show Lady Fengriffen to her coach please.

I will try.

Get on.

Get on!

Come.

- I'm going to ride out,

see if I can find lawyer Maitland.

He should have been here two hours ago.

I shan't be long.

- What is it child?

- That window!

Oh.

- Well it could be one of two things.

A boy or a girl.

Congratulations to you both.

Are you going to take her away?

- Take her away?

- To have the baby.

- Certainly not.

- Have you no fear of what might happen?

- Every Fengriffen for the past 300 years

has been born here, so will he.

- He?

- It'll be a boy, I'm sure of that.

An heir to Fengriffen.

- Charles for God's sake, you must tell her.

- No.

- Then I will.

- Will you?

- No.

- You believe in it then?

- After what happened to Maitland?

- Maitland was murdered, we don't know why or by whom.

But his killer will be found.

His killer must be found.

- Come come now Silas.

Save time, tell us why you did it?

Who else around here owns a long handled ax?

- Every farmer, every small holder.

- But they weren't in Brinkton Wood last night.

- Nor was I.

- Morning Charles.

- Good morning Sir John.

- Morning Sir Charles.

- Good morning.

Has he confessed yet?

- Says he didn't do it.

- Who else could it be?

- It wasn't me master.

My time is coming.

- You haven't eaten any breakfast, you must eat.

- I don't want anything.

- Well think of the baby.

- I don't want the baby.

- Why?

- You know why.

You all know.

But no one will tell me.

Oh what is it?!

Please, tell me.

- I can't.

- Why?

- I'm afraid.

- Afraid?

Of what?

Afraid of what?

Oh.

Oh please!

- I can't tell you,

but I'll show you.

- Oh no.

- Will there be anything else milady?

The master and Dr. Whittle think she must've fallen.

Tripped on the stairs most likely.

- Thank you Bridget, that will be all.

Aunt Edith, what are you doing?

- I came here as your chaperone

at your guardians request.

After your wedding I decided to stay to protect you.

But the time has come for us to go.

- Go, where to?

- Back to London.

Back to civilization.

- Leave my husband?

- I've ordered a carriage in the morning.

Finish packing your things.

- Yes?

Who is it?

Aunt Edith was going to take me away from Fengriffen.

- She died of natural causes.

Her heart failed her.

That's what Dr. Whittle said.

- Mrs. Luke was going to show me something.

- Mrs. Luke slipped on the stairs,

it was an accident Catherine.

- Lawyer Maitland was going to persuade you

to let him tell me something.

What was it?

Please tell me, please!

- Morning master.

- How much do you want?

- Want?

- To get off my land.

- Why would you want me to go?

- Your presence disturbs my wife.

- I wouldn't wanna do that.

- I want you to go!

- This is my home.

Always has been.

My ancestral hovel.

- I'll give you money.

Enough to live in London, anywhere you want.

- I stay here.

- Why?!

- You know why.

- "Some say, no evil thing that walks

"by night in fog, or fire, by lake, or moorish fen,

"Blue meager hag, or stubborn unlaid ghost,

"that breaks his magic chains at curfew-time,

"no goblin, or swart fairy of the mind,

"hath hurtful power o'er true virginity."

Catherine!

Catherine!

- Essential monitored rest.

The baby's quite alright.

The fetus wasn't harmed one little bit.

- Thank God, and Catherine?

- Only bruised.

- I meant her mind.

- Help!

Help help!

- Oh you'll be alright.

I brought you a tonic,

it'll help you and child.

- There must be something you can do for her.

- I'm afraid not.

These matters are beyond me.

- But there must be someone who can help us, surely.

- I know a doctor in London.

Well versed in new science.

His name is Dr. Pope.

- It was good of you to come so quickly Dr. Pope.

I expect you're tired and hungry.

- More curious than tired.

Curiosity is necessary in my particular practice.

Dr. Whittle mentioned your wife's dreams.

Can you elaborate on them at all?

- No.

- Do you know of anything that could be troubling her?

- No nothing, apart from her pregnancy.

- That's a normal reaction.

Has she been prescribed any medicine?

- Dr. Whittle has given her a tonic.

- Hmm?

If it contains laudanum that can produce vivid dreams.

- I don't think that these dreams

are caused by any physic doctor.

Would you like to see her?

I'm afraid she's gone to bed but I can easily--

- Oh no, no.

Don't disturb her.

I'll see her in the morning.

Does she know why I'm here?

- Well she knows you're a doctor.

But I haven't told her about your

special field of study.

- Good good.

- Ah Bridget, please show Dr. Pope to his room please.

- Yes sir.

- Goodnight doctor.

- Goodnight.

- Shall I unpack you sir?

- No thank you, I can manage.

- Forgive my asking sir but,

are you here about the mistress?

- I am.

- You won't be cutting into her will you sir?

- Cutting?

- Cutting into her body I mean.

- Good heavens no.

I'm not a surgeon.

- It's my belief it's a priest she needs

not a doctor.

- You're very young for this position Bridget.

- Yes sir.

- How long have you had such responsibility?

- Since Mrs. Luke's accident.

- Oh?

What sort of accident?

- She fell down the stairs.

Killed herself.

- Did she?

When when was the knife resharpened?

- After the mistress...

- Slashed the portrait?

Thank you.

- Come in.

- Good morning.

I am Dr. Pope.

- Charles thinks I'm insane.

- Unhappy you're not insane.

- Can you cure unhappiness doctor?

- Yes.

If I can find the cause.

- What do you want me to do?

- Talk.

- About what?

- Tell me what is making you unhappy.

What about your dreams?

- Dreams?

- Yes.

Such as the one I understand you had

on the night of your wedding.

- Charles went to his room to change.

He left me here.

I undressed.

I was sitting at the dressing table.

I noticed that the window,

that one was opened.

I closed it.

There was a musty smell.

A smell of the graveyard.

I got into bed.

Suddenly the candles went out.

Then a hand was clamped over my mouth.

A cold hand.

And an arm pinned me to the bed.

At the end of the arm, instead of a hand

there was a stump.

Severed at the wrist.

Covered with blood.

- You say the candles went out.

- Yes.

- Yet you were able to see all this?

- There was a fire.

The logs were burning brightly.

- Quite so.

Quite so.

Please go on.

- Oh I couldn't!

Oh!

- Sexual relation with demons.

Are there any other stories connected

with the house of Fengriffen?

- Stories?

- Yes, gossip, local legends,

superstitions, ghosts?

- None at all!

- So there is something.

You would not have denied it so vigorously if there wasn't.

Tell me about it.

- I can't.

- Try.

- It's too dangerous.

- I came from London at your request

to investigate a case that which could be of some interest

to those of us who study the science of the mind.

Also to help a lady in great distress.

Now, I cannot do so if I'm denied the facts, all the facts.

You must tell me everything you know.

Without your complete confidence,

I am powerless.

- There is a woodsman on the Fengriffen estate.

- Fine morning for a walk Dr. Pope?

- How do you know who I am?

- Is it the child you've come about?

- What concern is that of yours?

- If it dies,

I'll kill you.

- I thought you were lost.

- Good of you to come out looking for me.

Now last night I saw a man outside the window in rags,

who is he?

- His name is Silas, he's a woodsman.

- I found him today in his cottage.

He told me that if Lady Fengriffen's child

dies he'll kill me.

- The man's mad, besides, Dr. Whittle

will be attending the delivery.

- Dr. Whittle is dead.

But before he died, he spoke of a legend.

Your maid Bridget is of the opinion

that a priest will be more helpful than a doctor.

Your wife is terrified.

Isn't it time you told me?

- Told you what?

- Whatever it is you're keeping secret.

- No.

- Why not?!

- Because there's nothing to tell.

You're a man of science, a doctor.

I would never have married Catherine

if I thought there was any truth in the story.

The legend is mere superstition.

- If you wish to cure your wife,

you will have to disprove that legend.

Not to our satisfaction,

but to hers.

- Sit down.

The legend dates back to my grandfather Henry's time,

about 50 years ago.

He turned this place into a house of debauchery.

Ignored his wife and son

and filled the place with the scum of the earth.

- 15 seconds.

And who is next?

15 seconds to beat.

13 seconds.

Well done, you win the prize.

- Who shall we drink to now?

- To Silas.

- Who?

- Silas.

Woodcutter.

, got married today

with the masters kind permission and blessing.

- So he was.

I'll wager he'll need a refill before the night is out.

- It's little enough Sarah, but it's a start.

- It's lovely.

- No it's not.

It's too hot in summer.

Too cold in winter.

And too small all the year around.

- It's ours, that's what counts.

Now, are you gonna put me down Silas

are we gonna stand around here talking

about it all night?

- You still alive?

- Yes.

- Rise, take up thy bottle and walk.

- I can't.

- What would it take to put you on your feet?

- A wench.

- Oh a wench huh?

- A wench.

- A plump well breasted virgin all ready for the oven.

How about that.

How long since you saw one?

- Yes.

- How would you like to see one tonight?

- Tonight, tonight?

- If we are not too late that is.

Come, it might be worth the ride.

- Hey!

- Shh!

- Who is it?

- Shh!

Go into bed.

And stay there.

- We've come to view your bride.

- She's in bed master.

- Quite right too, where else should

she be on her wedding night?

And what is your name my dear?

- Sarah.

- Have you taken her yet?

Well have you?

- No master.

- Perhaps you'd like some help?

- No help is needed.

- He is the master.

- The lord of the manner has that right.

- Those days are long past!

- An old custom is always worth reviving.

Especially with a buxom beauty like,

what's her name?

- Sarah!

- No!

- What did you say?

A servant daring to tell his master what he can do?

- In his own house, with his own wife,

yes.

- Step aside, we'll forget it ever happened.

For the last time,

step aside I say.

Get out of my way!

Hold him!

Damn you!

Get me some wine!

Pull him 'round

so he can watch

an old custom.

- Silas.

No!

No please, no!

- You must learn respect Silas.

A servant without respect

is like an unbroken horse.

It must be disciplined.

- Look out, she's got a knife!

- Take him outside.

Alright.

Get some water.

Twice today you've raised your hand against me.

It shall not happen again.

Put his arm on the block.

Do you hear me!

On there.

You beg for mercy?

What was that?

I can't hear you.

Then take justice!

- Fengriffen!

Listen!

The evil you did this day

will be avenged.

I swear a solemn vow.

The next virgin bride to come

to the house of Fengriffen

will be violated as was my Sarah.

But then shall come the true vengeance

on the house of Fengriffen.

And death shall befall anyone

who tries to prevent it.

- What became of them?

- Silas lived.

And Sarah too, if you can call it living.

She had a child but it died in infancy.

And then she changed.

From a beautiful young girl into a hideous

mockery of a woman.

Henry changed too.

He tried to make restitution.

But Silas would accept nothing.

Nothing that is until 20 years later

when his own son was born.

A son to see the prophecy fulfilled.

Silas, son of Silas.

When he accepted for himself and his descendants

the perpetual right to live on the Fengriffen

estates free of any payment.

And that is why you see the woodsman, their son,

here watching and waiting.

- No, no, no, no, no!

- Malleus Maleficarum.

Written almost 300 years ago by two Dominican friars.

Did you find it interesting?

I did.

The most sinister classic ever written

on the subject of demonology and witchcraft.

Which gave rise to the inquisition

and has caused torment and torture beyond reckoning.

It's amazing when you consider

there is not one scientific fact

in nearly 600 pages.

- You don't think so?

- I know so.

Half the evil in this world

is caused by confusing the written word with reality.

- Or legend with fact.

- You've heard about this legend

and then in your imagination these things happened.

- No.

These things happened

then I heard about the legend.

It's not the legend that haunts me.

It's this.

I live in the horror that this

is the child of a ghost.

- Now the legend said the next virgin bride.

That would have been your mother.

- No my mother was a widow when she met my father.

- Does your wife know that?

- Well she might have found out.

Doctor, will you stay here til the baby's born?

- I will stay for as long as you wish.

- Will you promise me something?

- I'll do my best my dear.

What is it?

- I want to see it first, the baby.

Before Charles.

And before anyone.

- Very well.

- Promise, you must promise me.

- You shall see your baby first.

Four drops.

- Is it a boy?

- A son.

A fine son.

- Wait!

Stay with her.

- Congratulations master.

A son.

A proper heir to Fengriffen.

- I should have killed you years ago.

- For the love of God man, stop!

Tell them he's dangerous and armed with an ax.

They'll find him at the graveyard.

Has she woken yet?

- It's a boy isn't it?

- Yes.

- May I see him?

- He's asleep.

- I want to see him.

- "For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God,

"visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children

"unto the third and fourth generation."