Original subtitles

- That's a pretty neat trick, very handy too.

For instance, you're being entertained by a young

lady and her husband comes home unexpectedly.

You strike a couple of matches and, gone.

Not you, him.

Here in Haiti, voodoo magic is supposed to be pretty powerful stuff.

Now, I don't know whether that was the real thing

or something phony put on to impress the tourists.

However, I'm willing to be convinced either way.

- We hope that your journey to our country was comfortable.

We have looked forward to your arrival for several days.

- Well, thank you.

Would you sit down?

I feel the welcome's a little overdone, you see.

I didn't decide to leave New York until yesterday afternoon.

- We have known that you would come here for some time.

- Oh.

What else do you know about me?

- Everything.

- That's a pretty smooth line of patter.

I'm sorry to sound so skeptical.

Quite frankly, I don't think you even know my name.

- Please brush away the sand.

That's voodoo.

Oh, come on. You guys have been out in the sun too long.

Don't tell me you believe this black magic, Hopi.

I don't believe or disbelieve. I'm just telling you what I saw.

What you think you saw.

You mean it might be some formal hypnosis?

It's possible.

I wouldn't call it black magic, Mr. Kreiger.

Voodoo is a religion in its own right.

It's a power for good, not evil.

Of course, like all faiths, it's open to corruption and misuse.

Voodoo schmoodo. Look, this whole magic bit is strictly for haze seeds.

You don't have to come to Haiti to see it.

New York is full of nightclubs with second-rate magicians doing the same act.

Yeah, but not like this.

I think that if you saw it, you might be a little less sure that it's phoney.

All right. All right, I'm willing to take a look.

And I'll tell you something else.

They won't do one single thing I can't explain.

It should be very interesting.

Why don't we drive up there tonight?

Why not?

As long as they got booze, I might as well be bored there as here.

Speaking of booze, I ordered a drink ten minutes ago.

I'm sorry I was a little understaffed. I'll get it for you.

Don't bother. I'll get it myself.

I'll get a full glass that way.

You're getting quite a good class of customers, they say.

Well, in the off season, I'm lucky to get any at all. Sorry if it bothers you.

It doesn't bother me at all.

Frankly, it might be quite fun tonight.

Why don't you come with us?

Yeah, I'd like to. If you don't mind, I'll take my jeep.

I don't feel like driving through those mountain roads in Mr. Kreiger's car.

You just got yourself a passenger.

The boys' old charm, isn't it?

It sure is.

Come on, now, will you?

I just want to show you how to get a real cool sound out of these.

I think it's time one of us got our wandering boy back again.

Your turn.

These people weren't so polite, they just threw him out of the car.

If he doesn't calm down, I may dope myself.

Mr. Templar.

Oh, good evening.

I knew you had returned.

Ah, you've been looking in your crystal ball again.

No, I saw your eyes.

Well, after last night, a simple explanation like that never occurred to me.

Gimme, gimme, gimme.

Come on.

I'm sorry.

Hey!

All of a sudden, I know what I want for Christmas.

This is, uh, Mr. Kreiger.

Lee Atherton.

I'm afraid I didn't bring my sans, so I don't know your name.

Sibao.

Look, baby, why don't you and me take off into town

and go find someplace where we can dance, eh?

I could show you a real good time.

Sibao is the one who told me all about myself.

You couldn't use your power to turn our friend here into a big white rat, could you?

I think somebody already did.

Ah, what's the matter with you guys?

Look, if the broad wants to make a fast buck

doing a two-bit mind-reading, that's fine,

but don't give me that stuff about powers.

Mr. Kreiger,

you pretend to conceal the truth about yourself when you have drunk too much.

I'm not drunk.

I haven't even got started yet.

Why don't you tell us more?

Your friend has much to hide.

Why else should he use a name that is not his own?

Oh, baby, you're really off-centered.

Here, you see my passport.

Tony Kreiger.

Born 1930.

White.

Male.

American citizen.

Honey, you really slipped.

What is Mr. Kreiger's real name?

Ah, damn it, this is stupid. The name's a nut.

I'll just leave it alone, eh?

You guys don't go for this parley trick stuff, do you?

It's all crazy.

Well, welcome to the party, Mr. Grant.

Grant?

Who's Grant?

I tell you, it's a pretty lousy act, and the dame can't

even get my name right even after we've been introduced.

Hey, waiter!

Bring us another round of drinks, will you?

Oh, come on, baby.

Why don't you show us a couple of card tricks?

They're probably more than you're alive.

Excuse me, I must go now.

Who's that?

Theron Netlord.

Netlord?

That's a familiar ring.

Is that what the newspapers call a political opportunist?

Yes, and since the war, he's been mixed up

in every revolutionary movement in the Caribbean.

Hey, the party's getting serious.

What about those drinks?

Waiter!

Get the white out and haul that booze over here.

Sibao.

I cannot order you not to come here.

And I can only ask you, but you must believe me, it is for your own good.

That's no harm.

The tourists will pay to see these stupid tricks.

But don't you see how you cheapen yourself?

Sibao, you are one of the great ones.

You have been given powers denied to the rest of the world.

To use them on what you call these stupid tricks is an abuse of those powers.

I'm sorry.

You must understand, to Westerners,

voodoo is some sort of a joke.

They know nothing of its strength and history.

By using your gifts as you do here, you perpetuate that image.

They continue to think of it as a musical act.

I will not come here again.

Thank you.

I'm sorry if I've upset you.

No, I know what you have said is the truth.

That you should trust me enough to take my advice is a great reward.

Now it's time you left this place.

Your brother is waiting to take you home.

You need not have come.

I can more come on my own.

No, Tommy will take care of you.

What kind of a clip-junk are you running here?

You think I'm too drunk to know what I had?

You see, I'm sorry, but this bit is correct.

There's five bucks.

That's all you're getting.

I'm sorry, Sibao, but this is not enough.

Take your hands off me!

It doesn't.

One more word on you,

I'll take you and this whole joint apart.

All right, Kreiger, now you've had your fun on your spot.

Everybody else is. Now get out.

You can't push me around.

You want a bet?

Don't talk some more about it. We'll do it outside.

Now get moving.

I'm going anyway.

Sorry about that. Let's just go.

Well, did I write my memoirs?

I don't think this is going to feature as a gay and memorable evening.

Why, the night had certain compensations.

After all, we saw Sibao in.

That was pretty impressive.

Yes, I don't even intend to understand it.

It's Sibao!

There's nothing we can do for him. He's dead.

His back's broken.

What about the girl?

She's pretty badly cut. Where's there a doctor?

Well, it was a couple of miles up the road.

There's a doctor there.

Hold it. That's Kreiger's car.

This is the car that he got.

This one's a liar.

Looks like that doctor's in for a busy night.

Let's get him in the Jeep. - No!

Why not?

If we take him to that village and they find out

he killed that boy back there, there'll be trouble.

You've got a point.

It doesn't matter how much he deserves if we can't leave him here.

No, you go ahead and take the girl.

There'll be some other cars coming down from the bar.

I'll flag one down.

All right, I'll see you back at the hotel.

How are you feeling?

That's not hurt now.

The man in the car.

He's alive.

My friend's taking him back to the hotel.

It doesn't matter.

He could take him to the ends of the earth.

It would not change things.

Change things? I don't understand.

No matter where he is,

he would be dead before sunrise.

Okay, sit down.

Let's see.

Not too deep.

I think it looks worse than it is.

I'll be all right.

Where's Templar? I want to talk to him.

I'm pretty certain he'll want to talk to you.

I'll get him to drop in when he gets back.

Meanwhile, you'd better try and get some sleep.

Yeah.

If you want anything, I'll be just down the hall.

Just hold that.

That's right.

One minute.

One minute.

Right. Is that comfortable?

No, no, no.

It's better if you rest for just a few minutes.

How is she?

She's fine.

She'd be fine even without me.

May I? - Certainly.

I see the people around here are just humoring me when they let me treat them.

They've got far more faith in their own native medicine.

Does it work?

Most of the time.

They use potions and incantations.

Voodoo.

Those are things they don't teach in medical school.

Maybe they should.

I agree.

I tried to learn, but even after 20 years,

I'm still an outsider.

These are tribal secrets that belong to Africa's prehistory.

You know, Doctor, Sibao was next to her brother when he was killed.

But she shows no emotion at all.

I don't understand it.

That is because he's not dead.

Come on, doctor.

Sure, the heart has ceased to beat.

Respiration has stopped.

Every known medical test would confirm that life has gone from the body.

But you know, you should never convince a bow of that.

I'm afraid this is all a little beyond me.

This is Haiti, Mr. Templar.

Those who die violently avenge themselves.

This is the land of the undead.

The living dead, if you like.

The zombie.

Doctor, zombies...

I thought they were just a legend perpetuated by horror movies.

If you're interested, why don't you ask Mrs. Sibao about it?

She's supposed to have great powers.

Around here, people treat her like a deity.

Her father's the local Hooga.

That's a sort of witch doctor

or high priest of the Voodoo cult.

Doctor, a while back you said something about the dead avenging themselves.

Sibao,

she mentioned that Kraiger, the man who drove the car,

would be dead before dawn.

Then I thank God that I am not there.

You really ought to rest a little longer, my dear.

How's the leg?

It begins to heal now.

I must go to my father.

He will want to thank you.

He will come with me?

There's no need for thanks, but I'll walk to him.

Good night and thank you, Doctor.

Good night, Mr. Templar.

One last thing.

When you see something that you know is impossible,

leave room in your mind for doubt.

Good night.

Good night.

Good evening, Mr. Templar.

Don't look surprised that I should know you.

You must realize that you have a certain notoriety.

I've chosen a different word myself.

What are they doing?

They are summoning back the departed spirit.

Before the body can rest in its grave,

a life must be taken.

Kraiger's?

If he is the one who killed Theron, yes.

An eye for an eye, huh?

He deserves to die.

There is nothing even you can do about it, Mr. Templar.

He's dead.

It's impossible.

Looks as though his spine's broken the same way Sibao's brother died.

Better call the police.

Yes. Yes, yes, of course.

I'll do it right away.

Oh.

Operator, I want you to place an international call.

To Washington, D.C.

To Mr. John Hamilton in the Pentagon.

Look, Simon, it's great to hear from you,

but you didn't call me just to tell me the weather's great in Heidi.

What goes on?

John, you had an operator working undercover down here by the name of David Grant.

Well, he's dead.

Dead?

Now, Simon, I don't want to talk about it on the open line.

Grant was working on something that's pretty hot.

I'll have Phil Brinkley fly down there right away.

He'll be in Port-au-Prince by mid-morning.

Appreciate it if you pick him up and give him the facts.

I'll do that.

Maybe he can fill me on a few points too.

Good night, John.

Kill by voodoo?

How can I put that in my report?

I'd be laughed out of the service.

Well, I'm personally convinced it's true.

The medical report says he had a heart attack causing him to fall,

which resulted in a broken back.

Well, I can tell you that'd be far more acceptable

in Washington than that black magic bit.

Now, what about the car?

Well, I checked that myself.

The brake fluid had been drained off.

He was supposed to die in the crash.

Unfortunately, he ran adrift

and knocked down the native boy and killed him.

But did these people know the car was fixed?

No. No, had they known,

I don't think they'd have avenged the boy's death.

As it was, Grant was putting on a drunk act and had everybody fooled, including me.

He wanted people to think that he was a harmless, loud-mouthed rummy.

Somehow, Netlord must have got on to him.

Netlord?

That's who he was after, huh?

Yeah.

We don't know what he was planning, but you can bet your life it was dangerous.

He was with Castro in Cuba.

He was in British Guiana when the trouble started there, and now he's here.

And there are incidents between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

That's quite a record.

Mr. Templar, what I'm about to ask you is quite unofficial.

But you'd like me to take up where Grant left off.

Hamilton wasn't exaggerating when he told me about you.

You realize you'd be on your own.

If you ran into any trouble,

there's no use coming to us for help.

We'd deny even knowing you.

Believe me, if I shout for help, I need someone

a lot closer than Washington.

You'll do it?

You don't have a tougher job trying to keep me away from it.

Thank you.

Now, this is Grant's last report.

He hadn't learned much, but one fact had emerged.

Whatever it is Net Lord is planning

is going to take place very soon.

Mr. Templar, I was in town.

I thought I'd look you up.

Our meeting last night was too brief and under difficult circumstances.

I'm sorry you had to wait.

I had some business to attend to.

Yes,

you're meeting with the man who flew in this morning.

No, it's not black magic.

This is a small place.

Gossip travels very fast,

especially if the gossip's paid to keep an eye open.

I have an insatiable curiosity.

I see you yourself are not without inquisitiveness.

After last night, how could I fail but be interested?

You'll find it a fascinating study, Mr. Templar.

I myself have been here for a year now and have

spent most of that time in the study of the cult.

Have you learned much?

Yes.

Please don't think me immodest if I say that I probably know more about it

than any other white man.

Of course I have been very fortunate.

I've had expert tuition.

Sibao?

Yes, she and her father have been very helpful.

They took me through the Rites of Radha,

the initiation ceremony.

Having established myself as a true believer,

I am now permitted to learn some of their secrets.

That means you are able to practice magic?

Yes.

Of course at the moment I only have very minor powers.

Conquest of pain, touch of healing.

You mean you don't feel pain?

The tobacco is locally grown.

I hope you don't find it too mild.

A little, but like everything else around here I'll probably get used to it.

Well, I really must be going.

I only called by to see if you'd join me at my house for dinner tonight.

How could I refuse? Excellent.

I'll have Sibao prepare some local native dishes for dinner.

Sibao? I didn't know she walked away.

Yes, by doing so I'm able to give her and her father some

money, which otherwise they'd be too proud to accept.

But the problem will cease to exist in a short while.

How so?

But of course you didn't know.

Sibao and I are to be married.

Well, Mr. Templar,

until this evening.

Goodbye, Mr. Lee.

Goodbye.

I gather you're going with him tonight.

Yes, he asked me out to his house.

Well,

consider yourself honored. As far as I know he's never invited anybody else there.

It wasn't so much an invitation.

It was a challenge.

Come in.

Good morning.

Boy brought this for you.

What is it, some Valentine's Day in Haiti or something? Not that I've heard of.

What is it?

I thought you might tell me.

Obviously, native work.

I've never seen anything like it before.

Jacob, come here a minute.

What's this?

What's the matter?

It is Veve, Veve of Arras,

Ursuli.

Ursuli is the most important voodoo goddess this must be a charm, a symbol.

If you get it in a good way, very good.

If you should not have, very bad.

I think I got it in a good way from Sibao.

Then, nothing harm you.

Well, congratulations.

It's nice to know you're officially protected, isn't it?

All right, thanks, Jacob. That's all.

Sibao's not the sort to make idle gestures.

I wonder what she thinks I need to be protected from.

She obviously thinks you're in danger.

Yeah, well, I've got the greatest faith in this little thing, but I think

I'll take along something a little more concrete in the protection line.

Good evening.

You're welcome.

My master will be with you shortly.

How's the leg?

It's completely healed.

I don't know what you use, but it sure beats penicillin.

Please, the medallion I sent you.

You're wearing it.

Sure am. Here we are.

Do not speak of it to my master.

All right, but you're wearing the same thing.

It is necessary for him to keep you from any harm.

Incidentally,

I understand congratulations are in order for you to be married.

It's my father's wish.

When's the happy event?

Tonight.

Sibao, you mustn't let this happen.

If Netlord marries you, he'll be permitted to know the mysteries of Voodoo.

I'm right, aren't I?

It is true. He will share all my powers.

I don't know what he's told you.

But believe me, he'll use them only for evil and corruption.

He'll destroy you and your people.

The Goddess is early watches over me.

Sibao, you can't afford to take the chance.

Good evening, Mr. Templar.

Good evening.

I hope Sibao has entertained you.

Yes, we

had a good deal to talk about.

Good. I think it's time you got started.

They'll be waiting for you to start the preparations.

You seem remarkably composed for a man on his wedding night.

You didn't really expect me to conform to the romantic concept of the nervous,

trembling groom, did you?

Not really.

I've started to warm up for the ceremony.

Let me get you a drink. Whiskey?

After the ceremony,

there'll be a pooling scene.

That's the big voodoo celebration, isn't it?

Dancing, invocations,

sacrifices.

Your studies have taught you a good deal in such a short time.

All I've really learned is that there's a

great deal more to voodoo than I ever imagined.

Sibao.

Daughter.

It is time to make ready.

Sibao.

The flames speak of death.

There is evil in this night.

Maitreya's early guards over her followers.

You must not be afraid.

That man must not be permitted to know all the last mysteries.

If he is to be your husband,

they cannot be denied him.

If he should share our powers,

he will use them to destroy us.

These things you say are not written in the omens.

He seeks only after truth.

He wants only to help us.

Please, Father, do not let him know all our secrets.

I cannot refute the omens.

Then I must pray to his to protect us all.

I know only what he has shown me in the flames.

Tonight, a man will die.

I agree there are more things in heaven and earth

than I ever dreamed of.

I think I underestimated you.

You really are ready to seek for the truth, aren't you?

Yes.

Especially about you.

You see, I don't believe you've gone so deeply into this voodoo business

just for your own personal spiritual satisfaction.

Don't stop.

You want power, or money, or both.

Voodoo would give you those things.

You would corrupt a religion into a political machine.

Your ruthlessness combined with the ability to raise the dead and the other

mysteries of voodoo would make you the most powerful man in the Caribbean.

Not just the Caribbean.

South America.

Africa.

For a thousand years, they have been searching for a leader

to take them to their rightful place in the world.

And you think you're that man?

Yes.

Tonight, I complete the most difficult and the last part.

After that, nothing can stop me.

Especially not you, Mr. Templar.

You know I'll try.

Of course.

It's very amusing.

Two men, totally certain that they each will succeed.

That's what makes horse racing.

We shall see.

But I'm being a very bad host.

I invited you here to dinner.

You must be hungry.

Let's eat.

That gun you're carrying,

I'm sure you're too civilized to use it before we dine.

Something I don't understand.

Once you have this power of voodoo behind you

and you start using it for your political advancement,

how do you know Sibao won't resent it and withdraw the power?

Don't be absurd.

Once I know all I need, I can do without either Sibao or her father.

And just how do you manage that?

When a member is properly initiated,

certain parts of his sacrifice go into a small urn called a port de tête.

After that, the vulnerable element of his soul stays in the urn.

Just like a safe deposit.

And so no one can lay an evil spell on him.

Unless they get hold of his urn.

You see how easily I can destroy them if I act first.

I've already told you I'll try and stop you.

You must be pretty certain I'll fail

to be so confidential.

You've failed already Mr. Templar.

Naturally I took certain precautions.

I'm surprised you haven't noticed anything already.

Don't you feel a certain heaviness about the body?

A great desire to close your eyes.

Stand up Mr. Templar.

Try.

A simple drug to relax the muscles.

Pull the trigger, Mr. Templar.

Kill me now.

It should be your last chance.

Pull it.

Please don't feel too badly.

Even had you pulled the trigger you could not have harmed me.

I checked the gun myself.

There's nothing wrong with a gun.

You've had an exciting career Templar.

I don't think anyone will deny that you died as dramatically as you lived.

Come to the arm for in peace.

You come and awaits me.

Mr. Templar.

Mr. Templar.

You're badly bruised.

By all accounts I should be badly dead.

Are you sure this is not heaven?

The Goddess has already protected you.

How badly?

Where's Netlord?

He's gone to the (...)

Has the initiation started yet?

No, first comes the ceremony of purification.

You must take me there before they start.

(Speaking foreign language)

How much further?

In the next valley.

You go ahead, I can't move as fast as you can.

You must try and stop them.

I will try, but hurry.

The drums, when they stop the initiation will begin.

Go on.

What I ask is that you wait.

Just wait until he arrives.

No.

The rites of purification are ended.

Now must come the initiation.

He must not be admitted.

You must trust in the Goddess Sibao.

If as you say evil has entered this sacred place,

they will show me a sign,

and I will drive the evil out.

Is it your wish to be admitted to the secret of Hogar?

It is my wish.

Hide, hide, the lion.

(Speaking foreign language)

Who is going to die?

What?

I'm going to kill myself.

I think I had a little outside help.

He is an unbeliever.

He has no right to this sacred place.

Sibao told me of his coming.

He shall speak.

No.

He wishes only to discredit me by saying things which are untrue.

He shall be heard.

If what he says is deemed by the Gods to be false,

then his life will be ended.

That's a chance I'll have to take.

This man will use the powers you give him for his own ends.

His sole purpose in learning your secrets

is first to destroy you and Sibao,

and then to raise himself as the supreme leader of your religion.

It's not true.

I want only to further and strengthen our religion.

Makuti Alega will seek out the lie.

I'm afraid I'm an ill boy around here.

What's this Makuti Alega?

It's the test of the serpents.

What happens now?

The fangs of the serpents will enter into the flesh of the one who lies.

No!

No!

You must listen!

You must listen to me, please!

Halt!

Can't they get me to a doctor?

He cannot leave this place.