Original subtitles

(plane engine rumbling)

(ominous music)

(thunder cracking)

(mysterious music)

(car engine revving)

- Hell.

- What are you stopping for?

- I'm stopping for a rest.

- Really Philip you can't stop here.

For pity sake either go on or go back.

You can't expect me to spend the night

like a half-drowned rat on a mountainside.

- It's better to stop than drive the car

gently over a cliff, isn't it?

- Well it won't help things losing your temper.

- I've never been in a better temper in my life.

I love driving 100 miles through the dark

practically without headlights.

I love the trickle of ice cold water pouring down my neck.

This is one of the happiest moments of my life.

- Would you like me to drive for a bit?

- Yes, I was expecting that.

(car engine revving)

- Oh, I shall be glad when we get Shrewsbury.

- If we get to Shrewsbury.

- Do you happen to have any idea where we are?

- I haven't the least idea in the world.

- That's very comforting.

- You all right Penderel?

- Fine.

Where are we?

- [Philip] We don't know.

We've lost our way.

We're somewhere in the Welsh mountains, it's half past nine

and I'm very tired.

- Don't mention it.

- [Philip] 10 to one we don't see Shrewsbury tonight.

- Oh well, never mind.

♫ Oh Mr. Waverton, what shall I do

♫ I wanted to go to Shrewsbury but they took me on to Crew

As a matter of fact taking one thing with another

I'm not particularly sure that I want to go to Shrewsbury.

As far as that goes, I don't particularly

want to go anywhere.

Something might happen here,

but nothing ever happens in Shrewsbury.

- Something certainly might happen here.

- Well I'll tell you something that might happen.

I don't want to frighten Mrs. Waverton.

- Go on Mr. Penderel, I'm not easily frightened.

- Aren't you?

I am.

Well, I was just going to say,

we'll have to be a bit careful.

(car engine revving)

- Don't stop!

- How can I help stopping?

Do you think we're in a motorboat?

U Stuck for the night

U Stuck for the night

- Mr. Penderel please.

. Sorry-

- Do you think we'll do it?

- I really don't know.

- Bon voyage.

- Well now for heaven sakes stop.

Let's look at a map or something.

- My own view is we're not on a map.

- Oh you look, Philip, I can't see anything.

It's all a stupid puddle.

- [Philip] Seems to represent this country very well.

Everything here is under water.

- Oh well just drive on.

We'll arrive somewhere, sometime.

- Yes, I suppose that's all we can do.

♫ Singing in the bathtub

♫ Sitting all alone

D Tearing out a tonsil

♫ Just like a baritone

♫ Just like a baritone

♫ Never take a shower

(Margaret screams)

(rocks and dirt rumbling)

- Oh look, Phil, lights, lights.

Pull in there.

(thunder cracking)

- Probably wisest to push on.

- Well, I'm for staying here.

(rocks and dirt rumbling)

- There you are.

The whole hilltop has probably fallen off.

(thunder cracking)

(door bell ringing)

(Philip pounding) (mumbling)

- ls there anybody there said the traveler?

- Knock again, louder.

- I should have thought that was loud enough

to wake the dead.

That's an idea.

- What is?

- Wouldn't it be dramatic?

Supposing the people inside were dead,

all stretched out with the lights

quietly burning about them.

- I'm sure it would be very amusing.

- I'm sure I could do with a drink.

These people have to be selfish,

to be soaked inside not out.

- [Philip] Listen.

- What is it?

- [Philip] Thought I heard something.

(wind whistling)

- [Penderel] Good evening.

We've come to ask for shelter.

We've lost our way.

We're absolutely cut off.

Don't you understand?

We can't go forward and we can't go back.

The road's blocked on both sides, landslide.

(mumbling)

Even Welsh ought not sound like that.

(gong ringing)

(wind whistling)

- My name is Femm, Horace Femm.

- How do you do?

I'm very sorry to break in on you like this.

My name is Waverton.

May I introduce my wife?

- How do you do?

- Penderel.

- Charmed, I'm sure.

- How do you do?

- Won't you sit down?

- [Philip] Thank you.

- My sister was on the point of arranging these flowers.

(fire crackling)

- I don't know if your man explained the situation to you.

- He did his best, but I'm afraid I couldn't understand him.

You see Morgan is dumb.

- Oh I see, of course, I didn't realize.

We saw your lights and wondered if you'd be kind enough

to give us shelter for the night.

You see it's quite impossible to go on.

- I see.

How awkward, how very awkward.

- What is it?

What do they want?

- Allow me to introduce my sister, Miss Rebecca Femm.

- [Phillip, Margaret, Penderel] How do you do?

(wind whistling)

- What are they doing here?

What do they want?

- How do you do?

- What did they say?

What do they want?

What are they doing here?

What's all the fuss about?

What?

- You must excuse my sister, she's a little deaf.

In fact, sometimes quite deaf.

They want to know if they can stay here for the night.

Shelter, they've been caught in the storm.

- Of course they can't stay.

We can't have them here.

- But, we only just managed

to get here as it was. - But, Miss Femm, surely--

- It's pouring down in torrents.

- Go on.

- You see there's a landslide.

Half the mountain seems to be crumbling.

It only just missed us.

The road's blocked behind us and I'm pretty sure

it's blocked in front as well.

We hate to intrude, but what else can we do?

- You see there isn't anywhere else we can go.

Even the road below is underwater and for that matter,

this place itself may be underwater pretty soon

or even buried.

(glass shattering)

- [Penderel] What's the matter?

- Did you hear what he said?

There's a landslide and floods.

The lake has burst its banks.

We're trapped, we're trapped.

We've got to go, you hear, we've got to go.

- You're afraid Horace, you're afraid, aren't you?

You don't believe in God and yet you're afraid to die.

You've seen his anger in the sky and you've heard him

in the night and you're afraid, afraid, afraid.

Where's your mocking now?

You might well be afraid.

Your time will come.

But, it hasn't come yet.

This house is safe.

I know it better than you.

Morgan!

(thunder cracking)

You remember the great storm years ago when we were cut off,

there was a landslide, and floods,

and the roads were washed away?

Morgan remembers.

He means this house is safe because it's built on rock.

(thunder cracking)

- You will have to stay here.

The misfortune is yours not ours.

- No beds, they can't have beds.

- As my sister hints, there are, I'm afraid, no beds.

- [Margaret] That's quite all right.

If we can just sit around the fire, that'll be fine.

- By all means.

I'm not very sure that I want to go to bed myself tonight.

Morgan, attend to the fire.

- Is there any place I can put the car out of the rain?

- There are some stables round the corner to the right.

Morgan will show you.

(thunder cracking)

- Thanks very much.

- I'll come along, get the bags.

- [Philip] Flight.

- No bags.

You can't have bags.

(wind whistling)

- [Penderel] What a storm.

- [Philip] We're well out of it.

- [Penderel] I hope you're right though this house

gives me the creeps not to mention its inmates.

- [Philip] Well it's better than driving along roads

that aren't there.

At least there's a roof and a fire here.

(wind whistling)

- Now, Mr. Penderel do you think that you could join me

in a drink?

- Mr. Femm, I honestly believe I could join you in a drink.

(bags clattering)

- It's only gin, you know, only gin.

I like gin.

Mrs. Waverton.

- [Margaret] Thanks very much.

- Mr. Penderel I will give you a toast

that you will not appreciate being young.

I give you illusion.

- Illusion?

Ha, I am precisely the right age for that toast, Mr. Femm.

- Oh, I presume you are one of the gentlemen

slightly, shall we say, battered by the war.

- Correct Mr. Femm.

War generation slightly soiled, a study in the bittersweet,

the man with a twisted smile.

And, this Mr. Femm is exceedingly good gin.

(thunder cracking)

- Oh dreadful night, it seems to be getting worse.

- Yes, it is pretty bad, but evidently

there's no danger here.

Your sister was quite definite about that.

- But, supposing we're cut off, shut up in here?

- Well, it would be rather a nuisance for you

having us billeted on you like this.

- BUT, IT'S awful.

How can you be so calm?

You don't seem to understand.

We may be cut off, shut up in this house.

I'm afraid I'm rather nervous.

I am rather a nervous man.

But, the fact is, Morgan is an uncivilized brute.

Sometimes he drinks heavily.

A night like this would set him going and once he's drunk,

he's rather dangerous.

I don't wish to alarm you, Mrs. Waverton,

but I don't quite know what we should do.

- Well, I know what I'm going to do.

That is if Miss Femm will let me.

- What?

- I'm dreadfully wet and I would be so glad

if I could go and change my clothes.

- What?

- I wondered if I might change my things.

- You look wet.

You better go and change your things.

- Oh thank you, a good idea.

Is there a bedroom or something?

(thunder cracking)

It's a dreadful night.

- [Rebecca] What?

- [Margaret] I say, it's a dreadful night.

- Yes, it's a very old house, very old.

- Very kind of you to let us stay.

- What?

- I say, you are very kind.

- Yes, it is a dreadful night.

I'm a little deaf.

- I understand.

- Yes, no bags.

(wind whistling)

I'll have none of this electric light, I won't have it.

(thunder cracking)

- [Margaret] Thanks very much.

I can manage quite well now.

- My sister Rachel had this room once.

She died when she was 21.

She was a wicked one.

Handsome and wild as a hawk.

All the young men used to follow her about,

with her red lips and her big eyes and her white neck.

But, that didn't save her.

She fell off her horse, hunting, hurt her spine.

On this bed she lay month after month.

Many the time I sat here listening to her screaming.

- How dreadful.

- She used to cry out to me to kill her.

But I'd tell her to turn to the Lord.

But, she didn't.

She was godless to the last.

- Well, I'd better change my wet things.

- They were all godless here.

They used to bring their women here.

Brazen, lolling creatures in silks and satins.

They filled the house with laughter and sin,

laughter and sin.

If I ever went down among them, my own father and brothers,

they would tell me to go away and pray.

They wouldn't tell Rachel to go away and pray.

(laughs)

And, I prayed and left them

with their lustful red and white women.

My father's still alive.

He's upstairs.

He's very old.

- Oh is he?

- He's 102.

- That's very old, isn't it?

- He's a wicked, blasphemous old man.

(wind whistling)

You're wicked too, young and handsome, silly, and wicked.

You think of nothing but your long, straight legs

and your white body and how to please your man.

You revel in the joys of fleshly love, don't you?

That's fine stuff, but it'll rot.

That's finer stuff still, but it'll rot too in time.

- Don't.

How dare you?

(loud knocking)

(wind whistling)

(thunder cracking)

(wind whistling)

- Brazen, lolling creatures in silks and satins.

Laughter and sin, laughter and sin.

Lustful red and white women.

(laughs)

(Margaret screams)

(thunder cracking)

(Margaret screams)

(thunder cracking)

- Good for you, Mrs. Waverton,

you make it look like a party.

- Thank you.

(wind whistling)

You must have thought I was a long time.

- Matter of fact, I thought you were quicker than usual.

- Oh, I just thought I'd been rather long.

- Supper.

(thunder cracking)

- Philip.

- Horace, what are you doing?

We aren't all heathens.

- Oh, I had forgotten my sister's strange tribal habits.

The beef will seem less tough when she has invoked

a blessing upon it.

- Horace Femm, I can't hear, I can see, you're blaspheming.

- Oh the contrary, my dear Rebecca.

I was merely telling your wondering guests

that you were about to thank your gods for their bounty.

- That'll do.

I know your mocking, lying tongue.

- To thank them for the health and prosperity

and happiness granted to this family.

For its years of peace and plenty,

to thank them for having created Rebecca Femm

and Roderick Femm and Saul--

- Stop! (thunder cracking)

- Bless oh Lord, this is the house,

may they prove a wholesome,

healing remedy for mankind, amen.

- Have a potato.

- [Margaret] Thank you.

(thunder cracking)

- Well, this is a storm and a half.

- Yes, isn't it?

- Have a potato.

- Thank you, I should love a potato.

Vinegar, Miss Femm?

- It's simply coming down in bucket fulls outside.

- Thank you Mrs. Waverton, that's the phrase

I've been searching for all evening.

- No, no pickled onions, thank you.

(wind whistling)

- Oh those lights, they gave me quite a start.

I suppose it's the storm.

- On the contrary.

We make our own electric lights here

and we are not very good at it.

Pray, don't be alarmed if they go out altogether.

(thunder cracking)

(loud knocking)

- There's someone outside.

- They can't come in.

- But, surely they must come in.

It's probably dangerous out there now.

(loud knocking)

- They're probably half-drowned.

You know really we oughtn't to keep them waiting.

- No, I'm afraid we shall have to let them in.

Morgan, open the door.

(loud knocking)

- Come on then, Morgan, let them in.

(thunder cracking)

(wind whistling)

- Woo, what a night.

- I thought you were never going to open that door.

BY (grunts).

Here must have been a reservoir burst or something.

(laughs) Anyhow, before we knew where we were,

something had fallen down and smashed the car in.

(laughs) It's a wonder it didn't smash us.

Incidentally, this house will probably

be washed away any minute.

(Rebecca grunts)

- Aye.

(thunder cracking)

Oh, look at that.

Oh, that's a grand fire.

I'm sorry to barge in on you like this,

but needs must when the devil drives.

(laughs) Well, who's the owner here?

- My sister is the owner, Miss Femm.

- How do you do, Miss Femm?

My name is Porterhouse, Sir William Porterhouse.

And, this lady is Miss Gladys Duquesne,

a friend of mine.

- Glad to know you.

Nice weather for ducks.

- Allow me to introduce you.

This is Mrs. Waverton.

- How do you do?

- [Horace] And, Mr. Penderel.

- How do you do, Sir William.

- [Horace] And, Mr. Waverton.

- How do you do?

- Sir William Porterhouse.

- How do you do?

(thunder cracking)

I've never seen such a night in all my born natural.

I'll tell you, it's coming down in bucket fulls.

Pretty well soaked we were, I don't mind telling you.

(sneezes) I shouldn't be surprised if we caught our deaths.

(sneezes)

- Here, you better not put those wet shoes on again

or as Sir William points out,

you'll probably catch your death.

Here you are.

These may not be exactly your size,

(Gladys giggles)

but at least they're dry.

- Thanks, they'll do fine.

Wee, ha ha.

♫ Da di di di bum bum

♫ Bum bum bum bum bum bum

♫ Da di di di bum bum

- Are you fond of opera, Mr. (speaking foreign language)?

- (chuckles) Come and have something to eat.

- Oh, now you're talking.

- Morgan, bring up some chairs.

- Oh oh, roast beef, ha.

There's nothing like roast beef when a man's hungry.

♫ Oh the roast beef of old England

How does that go?

Do you remember that Mr. Waverton

or was that before your time?

- Penderel's our song expert.

- Oh, so you're musical, are ya?

Well, I've got a bit of an ear myself.

(Horace tapping)

- Have a potato.

Morgan, bring a glass of water for Sir William.

(thunder cracking)

- Oh thanks very much.

Take ourselves for instance.

Here we are six people sitting around

and we've been talking now for nearly two hours.

What do we know about each other?

Not a thing.

- How reassuring.

- I agree with Sir William, at best we only make guesses.

- If you were a woman, you wouldn't talk about only guesses.

- Ah, the famous old feminine intuition.

Does it ever tell you which horse is going to win the Derby?

- No, but it tells me quite a lot about you.

- I wonder, Mrs. Waverton, whether it happens to tell you

that I am wanted by the police?

- Why no, Mr. Femm, it tells me nothing so romantic.

- After all, can you conceive of anybody

living in a house like this if they didn't have to?

- Well, there's no accounting for tastes, you know (laughs).

- No.

- Miss Duquesne.

- [Gladys] Yes.

- What does your intuition tell you about me?

- [Gladys] Quite a lot.

- Hmm, that frightens me a good deal.

- What does it tell you?

- It tells me...

Well, it's not very interesting anyway.

- [Philip] Oh yes it is.

Let's have it.

- Well, it sounds silly, but

I think he doesn't quite fit into these times,

you know factories and cheap advertising

and money grubbing and well, what I mean is,

Bill here's all right with these things.

But, they make Mr. Penderel a kind of fish out of water.

- You should be flattered, Mr. Penderel.

- No, I'm not flattered.

You see I've not much sympathy with fish out of water,

although I happen to be one myself.

My trouble is, I don't think enough things are worthwhile.

Now, Sir William here would put tremendous energy

into anything to make even a few pounds.

Now, I don't think it's worth it.

- No doubts you think I'm fat-headed my young friend,

but maybe I can see through things a bit further

than you suppose.

That was a very fine speech of yours,

but I know, as well as everybody else here,

that you're really only getting at me.

- Well, honestly I wasn't doing anything of the kind.

I envy you, I admire you.

- Oh yes, you envy me all right,

but you don't admire me.

Huh, well, I don't admire myself so much.

I know that money-making isn't everything,

but let me tell you something.

I'm a young man, see.

Married to a Manchester girl, pretty as paint.

The only thing in the world I care about.

Well, she dies.

It's this way, my directors give a party.

They ask us.

Red letter day for us, I can tell ya (chuckles).

I buy my first dress suit and Lucy has a new frock.

A cotton frock.

It seems that Lucy didn't go too well at that party

especially with the women.

They snubbed her.

Nothing definite, you know, just didn't think

the cotton frock was good enough.

Well Lucy worries about it.

Gets it into her head that she's gonna hold me back.

Well, you may not believe it, but I know

that's what killed her.

That's what started me making money.

I swore I'd smash those fellows and their wives

that wouldn't give my Lucy a kind word.

Ha, and I have smashed 'em.

I'd raced most of 'em.

Once you've started making money, it's hard to stop,

especially if you're like me, there isn't much else

you're good at.

(laughs) But, what Gladys here has to be superior about

I don't know, Miss Duquesne.

Why don't you tell 'em your real name?

- My real name is Perkins.

- And, a very nice name, too.

- I may not be this and I may not be that,

but you don't catch me pretending to be

what I'm not.

- I think I'm finding you a little bit offensive.

- That's all right, Mr. Penderel, I can take care of myself.

Least if I can't by now, I never will be able to.

I wasn't trying to put anything across you, Bill.

I don't pretend to be what I'm not either.

I'm not as dumb as that.

These people here know a chorus girl when they see one.

(giggles) And, incidentally not a very good

chorus girl at that.

If I were better at my job,

I probably wouldn't be weekending with you.

No, I take that back, I probably would.

You're nice enough.

We get on, but...

(thunder cracking)

- Morgan's at the bottle again.

I knew he'd begin again tonight.

Where'd he get it from?

- He didn't get it from me.

Can't you stop him.

- He's in the kitchen now drunk, quite drunk.

(wind whistling)

- Who's Morgan?

Is he the fellow that waited on us at table?

- Yes, Morgan is the, the butler.

- [Bill] Looks to me as if he could do

with a shave (laughs).

(Gladys clears throat)

- Oh hello.

- Hello.

- Well, have you come over to help me gaze up upon

the wrath of God?

- No, I came to say thank you for trying

to take my part just now.

- Charmed, I'm sure, Miss Duquesne.

- Perkins to you.

- Nice Perkins.

- I say I'd mortgage the old homestead for a drink.

Hmm, so would I.

And, we'll have one.

I've got some whiskey in the car.

I'd forgotten all about it.

You stay here and I'll go and get it.

- No, I'll come with you.

(wind whistling)

Woo, wee.

- You better stay here undercover.

The car's in the stables and you'll get soaked.

- All right, don't be long.

(door slamming)

(thunder cracking)

(glass shattering) (Morgan mumbles)

(Gladys screams)

Mr. Penderel.

- Hello, what are you doing here?

I was just coming.

- I thought I'd come fetch you.

- Hey, hey, what's the matter?

What's happened?

- Nothing, nothing really.

Got a bit scared, that's all.

Somebody slammed the door in my face.

- Probably the wind.

- No, it wasn't.

I know wind when I see it.

It doesn't sound much, but well you know,

it gave me bit of a turn.

- Yes, I bet it did.

Here, what you want's a drink of this.

- Thanks.

(rooster crowing)

I feel a bit more human now.

- This certainly is a benighted household.

- You were right, it is.

- Look at those.

Come on, take 'em off.

(rooster crowing)

I seem to spend most of the evening changing your shoes.

- You ought to be a nursery maid.

- Yes, except that the best nursery maids

don't drink whiskey out of the bottle.

(Gladys chuckles) (rooster crowing)

(thunder cracking)

- Storm's just as bad as ever, isn't it?

- Worse.

- That's done it, the light's gone out.

- I suppose they'll stay out this time.

Now we should be miserable all the evening.

- That's all right.

Surely there's some candles somewhere, aren't there?

- Can't do anything about the lights, Miss Femm?

- No, nobody understands our lights except Morgan.

And as an electrician, Morgan is temporarily disqualified.

- You haven't got a lamp by any chance, have you?

- No, no, we haven't got a lamp.

- What did they say?

- Nothing, nothing important.

- Oh, nothing important (chortles)

Well, as happens I heard that time.

They want a lamp.

Give them the large one.

There's oil in it.

We used it the last time the lights went wrong.

Go on, Horace, you know the one.

- I don't remember where it is.

Suppose you get it, Rebecca?

- It's too big for me.

If you don't know where it is, I'll tell you.

You know as well as I do.

It's on the top landing on the little table.

Do you know where the top landing is, Horace?

Least you might believe there is a top landing,

although you do believe in so little.

It's up there, Horace, up there,

next to the roof.

- Yes, of course, I remember.

But, I think it's a little too heavy for me.

I don't think I could carry it down all those stairs.

- Why don't you say what you mean, Horace?

You mean that you're afraid to go up there alone.

You go with him.

Here take this.

I don't know why I bother myself.

Do you all good to sit in the dark.

(thunder cracking)

- We better go up, hadn't we?

- Yes, I suppose we had.

- We won't be long.

- [Bill] That's all right, Mrs. Waverton will see

that I don't get nervy.

- You'd better lead the way.

(wind whistling)

(footsteps clomping)

- This is my room.

- [Philip] on?

- There are one or two things that I should very much like

for you to see.

- I should like to very much but you must show me

some other time.

We've gotta get that lamp.

- Yes.

Listen, why should we bother about the lamp?

Let us wait here for a few minutes

and then go back and say that we couldn't find it

or that it's broken.

- I can't see the point.

- Yes but why should we trouble about the lamp

if we don't want to'?

- But, we said we'd get it so why shouldn't we get it.

- Yes, but why should we if we don't want to

and I don't want to.

- But, this is absurd...

(evil laughing)

Did you hear that?

- I did hear something.

- What was it?

- It must have been Morgan.

He's drunk, you know.

He's probably making a disturbance

downstairs in the kitchen.

- I thought that noise came from upstairs.

Anyway, what about this lamp?

- I wondered whether you would excuse me

from coming with you.

I'm not very strong.

There are rather a lot of stairs.

I really should have told you before,

but the vanity of age, you know.

You'll find it on a little table at the end

of the landing two floors above.

- I suppose it's not too heavy for me to carry.

- Oh not at all.

It's quite light really.

' [Philip] I see.

- Thank you, thank you very much.

(wind whistling)

(footsteps clomping)

(wind whistling)

(plates clattering)

- You opened it, didn't you?

Well now you can go and shut it.

Go on, shut it, I can't.

- Go and shut what?

- The rain's pouring and the flood's rising.

The room will be drenched if you don't come quickly.

- She means the window in her room.

I'm afraid I opened it.

- Go on, you opened it, you can shut it.

- That's all right, Miss Femm, I'll come and shut it.

- Now.

(wind whistling)

(thunder cracking)

(Margaret shouts)

(thunder cracking)

Mr. Penderel, Miss Duquesne.

Mr. Penderel, Miss Duquesne.

(Margaret screams)

(thunder cracking)

(chairs clattering)

(dishes crashing) (Margaret screams)

It's Morgan, he's there at the bottom of the stairs.

- Take the candle, get back there.

Get back, go on, get back (grunts).

(Margaret screams)

(lamp shattering)

(Morgan clattering)

- ls he dead?

- No you can see him breathing from here.

He's only stunned.

He'll be conscious in a minute,

though he'll probably fall asleep again.

He's very drunk.

- Oh Philip, this is an awful house.

- It isn't very nice, is it?

Listen, Margaret, something happened upstairs just now.

- Oh Philip, not something else horrible.

- No this was nothing horrible.

It was a voice calling from behind a door,

tiny voice, rather like a child's.

I think I ought to go and see what it is.

You'll have to come with me.

I'm not gonna leave you alone again.

He'll be all right.

Take my hand, darling.

- On Philip.

- [Philip] What is it?

Sit down here a minute, darling.

- Thanks.

- Well, what happened then?

- Well, then the war ended.

- What about the girl?

- Oh, the girl I left behind me.

- The girl you were in love with.

- Why she got married, Gladys.

- [Gladys] What a beast.

- No, on the contrary, a lady of rather good judgment.

But, now let's talk about you for a bit.

- I know what you were going to say.

You were going to ask me about Bill Porterhouse.

- Clever, Miss Perkins.

- I don't mind telling you.

I'd rather like to.

Bill's all right, really.

Of course, I don't love him.

And, of course, he gives me money.

Oh not very much, just enough to keep me going.

You probably won't believe me, but Bill doesn't,

he doesn't expect anything.

Do you know what I mean by anything?

- Yes, I know what you mean by anything.

- He likes people to think he's ever so gay.

You see, for all his money, he's a bit lonely.

- Yes, I spotted that when he told us the story

of the cotton dress.

I think he's in love with that little dead wife still.

- I'm sure he is.

I suppose that's why he only wants me, well, for company.

He likes to sit on my bed at night and boast to me

about the things he's done during the day.

- Well, that's harmless enough.

- Mind you, I'm not pretending to be any better than I am.

- You're a nice creature, aren't you?

- I like you, awfully.

- And, I you.

- [Gladys] What are you thinking of?

- You may not be very pleased.

- Risk it.

- I was thinking I'd like to pretend that I was your lover

and that you were mine, Gladys, body and soul.

I'd like to take you in my arms and hold you

and press you to me very gently, very tight.

- I'd like it too.

- Would you, Gladys Perkins?

Why then, let's pretend.

(wind whistling)

- Listen.

Gladys Perkins has an idea.

I think she must have gone mad.

She, she, she wants to live with you.

Oh, I'm just flinging myself at your head.

I've got a crazy idea

that I might help you to be a useful person.

- Darling Perkins.

- Do you think I'm mad?

- Quite mad, my darling and thank God for it.

- Well, what do you say?

(wind whistling)

- That's what I say, Perkins darling.

But, I've got a better idea than yours,

an improvement on it.

- What is it?

- Why it's just this...

No, I won't tell you here.

There's magic here.

I'll tell you later on in the house,

perhaps even in the cold light of morning.

- Tell me now.

- Come on, let's go back to the house.

- No, no let's stay here.

- You're cold.

- No, it's just the idea of going back to that house

that made me shiver.

I've got a funny feeling something dreadful

might happen to us if we go back to that house.

- Perkins, Perkins, you've my strong right arm, haven't you?

- All right, come on.

(wind whistling)

- No, you can't put on those wet shoes.

I'm going to try to carry you.

- I'm a devil of a weight.

- Well, if you're too heavy for me,

I shall drop you in the mud and go on alone.

(rooster crowing)

(thunder cracking)

(Bill snoring)

(loud pounding)

(wind whistling)

- Hello, where have you been?

- I went out to the car to get a drink.

- And, I went with him.

- She got her feet wet.

- Oh, she got her feet wet?

- Yes, she got her feet wet.

Well, what the devil's been happening here?

- I don't know what the devil's been happening here

or anywhere else.

I don't know what's been happening anywhere.

I went into the old girl's room to close the window

and came back and found this.

- Well, where are all the others?

- I don't know no more than you.

Mr. Waverton went upstairs with (mumbles)

to fetch a lamp.

I suppose his wife joined him.

I've been asleep.

So, you got your feet wet?

- Yes, Bill, and that wasn't all either.

- Yes, I didn't suppose it was.

- Don't quite know how you'll take this

but well, I've got to get it off my chest.

- Come on, let's have it.

- I've fallen in love, Bill.

- Oh you have, have you?

With him?

- Yes with him.

- Damned fool.

- Probably, but we don't choose these things.

- Has he got any money?

- Not a penny.

- But, you're going off with him?

- Yes, Bill.

Are you angry?

- I think you're a lunatic,

but I'm not angry.

- He took it pretty well, didn't he, Perkins?

- I told you, Bill's all right.

- He is indeed.

- Wonder where the others can be?

- Listen, Bill, she hasn't told you everything.

- Hasn't she?

Why not?

- Because she doesn't know everything herself.

We're going to be married.

- Oh, are ya?

- At least if she'll have me.

I'm going to ask her tomorrow in the cold light of morning.

Will you come to the wedding?

- I think you're off your head.

' Do you?

- No, I don't.

I think it's probably the best day's work you've ever done

in your life.

- Ah, Bill, Bill.

- Who told you that you could call me Bill?

- Well, you try and stop me.

- Now look here, come and make yourself useful

and put this table on its feet.

That's no way to treat roast beef.

- Miss Perkins, tend the roast beef.

- Tend it yourself.

- [Philip] Sure you feel better?

- Yes, I'm all right.

- Well let's go on.

This is the door.

(Philip tapping)

(clock chiming)

- Who are you?

- I'm Mrs. Waverton.

This is my husband.

Are you Sir Roderick Femm?

We came in because we thought we heard you calling.

Can we get you anything?

Can you take it yourself or shall I give it to you?

- I can take it myself, thank you.

What was that noise?

Was it Morgan?

- [Philip] Ye$_

- Morgan is a savage.

I must apologize.

But, we have to keep him here.

You shouldn't have come here.

- Well, I'm very sorry, but really we couldn't help it.

- Oh I, I don't mean that.

I was never inhospitable, never.

This house was always filled with guests

once upon a time.

When you came, what did they tell you?

- Why, they told us you were an invalid.

- Was that all?

- [Philip] Ye$_

- You've seen my son Horace and his sister Rebecca.

- [Philip] Ye$_

- And, Morgan.

I would like to tell you all about it,

but there may not be time.

You see, when you're as old as I am,

at any minute, you may just die (laughs).

- Oh please don't talk if it tires you.

- This is an unlucky house.

Two of my children died when they were 20.

And, then other things happened.

Madness came.

We are all touched with it a little you see,

except me, at least

I don't think I am (chuckles).

- Would you like to go to sleep now?

No, not just yet.

You see, it may be...

- It may be what?

- Dangerous.

- You mean Morgan?

- No, not Morgan.

I mean from my eldest son, Saul.

- Saul?

- They didn't tell you about Saul.

- [Philip] No, they didn't.

- Saul is the worst, you know.

We have to watch him because you see,

he wants, he just wants

to destroy, to kill.

Poor Saul.

- Where is he?

- I know where he is.

He's upstairs behind that bolted door, isn't he?

- Yes, locked in.

Saul is why we have to keep Morgan.

- [Margaret] But, if he did get out?

- Saul quite certainly would set fire to the house.

He tried to once before.

He wanted he said to make this house a burnt offering.

- But, isn't he safely locked in?

- Yes, but you see, if Morgan is bad,

I, I think he might

open the door (laughs).

- Philip, what if he's come to.

- Wait here, I'll go down and look at him.

(door clattering)

- He's gone upstairs.

I heard him.

He's gone to let Saul out.

Wait for him downstairs and kill him.

- What are we to do?

Can't we stay in here?

- No supposing he set fire to the place.

Come on.

- But, what about Sir Roderick?

- We must lock the door.

Sir Roderick, I'm going to lock you in.

- He's asleep.

(thunder cracking)

(footsteps clomping)

(evil laughing)

- What is it?

- Listen, there's a madman upstairs.

Morgan's let him out and he's dangerous.

We've got to do something.

- Good gosh where are they?

- Upstairs but they may come down any minute.

- That's all right, my dear.

- I knew I felt something dreadful was going to happen.

- [Bill] Hadn't we better get out of the way?

- No, we can't do that.

He might set fire to the place.

He's tried it once before.

- Well let him, let the rotten old place burn.

I wish it would.

- That's all right, what about the Femms?

(door clattering)

- What is it?

- Your brother's out of his room.

- What, Saul?

" [Gladys] (screams) Look!

(wind whistling)

(thunder cracking)

- Here get back.

- Take him back, Morgan, you hear me, take him back.

(thunder cracking)

(women screaming)

(women screaming)

- Take him in the kitchen.

(thunder cracking)

Take him this way.

- Oh, that hurts.

(glass shattering)

Morgan groans)

- Trap him in the kitchen.

(thunder cracking)

(men grunting)

(evil laughing)

(women screaming)

(plate crashing)

The sins of the fathers, the sins of the fathers.

Come on you, come into my room.

- [Gladys] No, I'm going to stay here.

- Then stay there.

(door clattering)

- [Penderel] There's going to be trouble.

(Gladys gasps)

- Oh Penderel.

- Come on, come in here.

- No, I don't want to be shut out.

I'd rather stay.

- Gladys for heaven sake come in here.

Margaret.

- Oh, no, all right.

- Wait a minute.

Here, light this.

(evil laughing)

- Oh, I love him so.

I just love him.

(thunder cracking)

- Please, please don't touch me.

- [Penderel] Well, what is it?

- Listen, don't put me back, don't let them put me back.

I'm not mad.

I swear before heaven I'm not mad.

It's just that they've locked me up here.

They're all wicked.

- [Penderel] Well why should they lock you up?

- They're frightened of me.

I know something about them.

Years ago, they killed their sister Rachel.

But, I wouldn't tell, I promised I'd never tell.

- And, they've kept you here all that time for that?

- And, Morgan, I tell you he's the devil.

Morgan beats me.

Don't leave me, stay with me.

- Well that's all right.

You sit here and wait.

I'll be back.

(wind whistling)

(Saul chuckles)

The door's locked.

Miss Femm must've locked it.

- It's locked is it?

- [Penderel] Yes, it is.

- I'm glad.

Then you can't leave me.

- Listen, we've got to help the others with Morgan.

Isn't there some way of getting through?

- No, no way.

- Well, there must be a back entrance into the house.

- Stop-

I want to tell you a story.

(wind whistling)

(evil laughing)

(broken dishes clattering)

(clattering)

Who's in there?

- [Penderel] Nobody.

- Friends of yours?

- [Penderel] I tell you, nobody.

- Shall we invite them out?

- [Penderel] You were going to tell me something.

- Yes, so I was.

(evil laughing)

- Won't you, won't you tell me that story?

- Yes, shall we sit down?

- Yes, let's.

- [Saul] Who's in that cupboard?

- Nobody.

Tell me what you were going to say to me.

- Are you interested in flames?

- Why, why yes, yes I am rather.

- I've made a study of flame.

- Have you?

Well, that must be very interesting to you.

- I know things about flames that nobody else

in the world knows.

- Well, won't you tell me?

I'd like very much to know.

- Why should I tell you?

You wouldn't tell me who is in that cupboard.

- Oh but I did tell you.

Besides you know it isn't fair to make me curious

and then just not say anything.

- You'd like me to tell you all about fire, would you?

- Yes, I wish you would.

- Well then, first of all, I've learned

that flames are really knives.

They're cold, my friend.

Sharp and cold as snow.

They burn like ice.

(wind whistling)

- Oh that certainly is very, very interesting.

So, they're really like knives, are they?

Well, do go on.

Tell me what else, you've found out.

- Oh a lot of things.

My friend, sit down.

So,, you thought you could cheat me, did you?

You thought you could leave me sitting here

and I wouldn't notice.

But, you see I am a clever man also.

That is why we understand one another.

That is why you understood so quickly

that I wanted to kill you.

(chuckles) We understand each other so well,

don't we, my friend?

- Yes, yes indeed we do.

From the start somehow I liked you

and I thought you liked me.

- Like you?

My friend, I love you.

Did you know my name is Saul?

Saul, my friend.

And, Saul loved David.

- [Penderel] Yes, indeed he did.

- But, Saul was afraid of David because the Lord

was with him and was departed from Saul.

And, it came to pass on the morrow

that the evil spirit came upon Saul and he prophesied

in the midst of the house.

And, David played upon the harp with his hand

and there was a javelin in Saul's hand

and Saul cast the javelin (evil laughing).

And, he said, "I will smite David even to the wall with it."

(eerie music)

(evil laughing)

And, David avoided out of his presence

twice, twice, my friend.

But, the third time, the third time,

you must be careful.

- Listen, I'm your friend.

I'm in your side.

It's silly to lose me.

If you lose me, look there's Morgan,

he's come for you, Morgan.

- Stop-

Don't move.

(evil laughing)

(dishes crashing)

(chair breaking)

Oh!

(evil laughing) (thunder cracking)

(Saul shouting)

(evil laughing) (thunder cracking)

(Philip pounding)

(evil laughing) (thunder cracking)

(men shouting)

(thunder cracking)

(door clattering)

(women shouting) (women knocking)

- [Margaret] Philip, Philip.

Philip.

(women screaming)

- Oh, let go, can't you see, there's Penderel?

Let me go to him.

Go on, let me go by.

Go on, let me pass.

(screams)

Oh you swine.

But, I'm not afraid of you.

I'm going to him, do you hear?

- [Margaret] Oh, how could you?

(table pounding)

Listen, you've get to let me alone, do you hear?

I've got to go to Penderel, he's hurt.

Oh, how can I make you understand?

He's hurt.

I've got to look after him and the other man too, Saul.

They're both hurt.

(Morgan cries)

(loud knocking)

- Are you all right, Margaret?

- Yes, I'm all right, darling.

- Gladys, it's all right.

Come on, now.

Here, you feeling better?

- Yes, I'm not so bad.

- What happened to you?

- [Margaret] That was Morgan, he hit her.

- Come on.

- I'm all right now.

Where's Penderel?

I've got to look after him.

- You'd better not go over there.

Come with me.

- Oh (cries).

(wind whistling)

- He's alive!

- [Bill] What?

- He's alive, I tell you, he's alive (cries).

Oh, oh (cries).

(rooster crowing)

(birds chirping)

- Good morning.

- Good morning.

- Good morning, Mr. Waverton.

- Good morning.

- The floods have subsided considerably.

- Thank heaven for that.

(rooster crowing)

- I think it will be possible for you

to send for an ambulance now.

- [Margaret] You mean we can go?

- Yes, I'm sure we can go now.

Come along, darling.

- You're going to stay here with Gladys, aren't you?

- lam.

Don't be long.

- We won't.

We'll be as quick as we can.

(birds chirping)

(water dripping)

- Good bye.

- [Philip] Good bye.

- Good bye.

So happy to have met you.

(birds chirping)

- Ah aha!

(Bill snores)

- So, I'm really dead and gone to heaven.

- No, it's morning and we've only just their tail behind.

- Morning?

- Yes, cold light of day.

Wasn't there something you were going to tell me

in the cold light of day?

- Come to think of it, there was.

- Perkins, will you marry me?

(Bill snores)

(birds chirping)

(dynamic orchestral music)