Original subtitles

(Route 66 Theme Song)

(car horn)

(knocking)

- Hello, Mrs. Magruder.

- Joan.

Joan, for heaven's sakes.

- I need a room.

Don't worry, just for two or three days.

- I can't do it Joan.

- I went to Mrs. Warren's tourist home, first.

She has 14 rooms, most of them empty.

She had nothing available.

That is, to me.

Mrs. Von, the same story.

Mrs. Taylor, the same story.

I thought if there was one person in town

who might be friendly, it would be you.

But I didn't want to impose,

so I saved you for last.

- What about your Aunt Helen?

- If I'd wanted to stay with Aunt Helen I'd have gone there.

- But she's all alone now in that big house.

She'd be happy to put you up.

And you'd save money.

- I didn't come back to Amity to save money.

If there's one thing I promised myself,

and that was that I wouldn't beg.

Just, two days then.

The worst room in the house, I don't care.

- Excuse me, Buz and I will be leaving

in a day or two, you could have our room.

Franks been after us to stay over there

for a couple of days before we go anyway.

- No need of that Mr. Stiles, come in Joan.

- Thank you.

- Anytime, if there's anything else

I can do, just send up a flare.

(cheery music)

- Ah, there's a word for you, gallant.

That's you, gallant, right up to here.

- Come on, let's go, we're gonna be late for work,

didn't you hear me honking?

- Yeah I heard you, come here I want to show you something.

It's worth your time.

You know when you type and you make a mistake,

you can X out or erase it or something.

How do you handle a mistake when it's carved in granite.

Somebody goofed.

Get a load of this.

- What's she doing carting this around.

- I don't know but look at that date.

1951.

Oh boy.

(suspenseful music)

(Route 66 theme music)

- Hey, you coming.

- Yeah.

Can't be going to a funeral, not with a date on that stone.

- Well I look at it this way, maybe she's a traveling

sales lady for a monument company

and that's her sample case.

- [Frank] Anytime.

Now, an hour from now.

Your last day of work here and ya gotta be late.

What a miserable.

- Frank you won't believe this but.

- Save it Buz, he really won't believe it.

- Look, will you get in there, and go to work.

Hey, the kids said to tell ya, you promised

to come over and play baseball, first chance you get.

- We'll be there.

- You know something, Frank, it's a fact

that if I told me, I wouldn't believe it either.

- Get to work.

(worrisome music)

- [Mrs. Morris] Good morning.

- Good morning, is Mr. Morris in.

- He just stepped out for a cup of coffee,

but he'll be back in a minute.

Can I help you, I'm Mrs. Morris.

- Oh yes, I've been in correspondence with you,

I'm Joan Maslow.

- Oh yes, from Chicago.

- That's right.

Mrs. Morris, do you remember getting my check.

- Oh yes, Jack mentioned it.

- And I'm paid in full?

- Absolutely, paid in full.

- Then if you don't mind, I'll just take

the deed and be on my way.

- Well, I'd be glad to give it to you

but I don't know where it is.

How it's filed, I mean.

- You don't know.

- No, you see I'm new here,

well, as a matter of fact we've only been married

two months and Jack hasn't taught me

the filing system yet.

He'll be right back.

I'm sorry to hold you up like this.

This, wasn't purchased for yourself.

- No.

- Well, this is where we are now.

This office.

X marks the spot so my husband likes to say.

You know it still feels funny to call my husband

my husband.

Well, anyhow.

This is Main Street

and this is the state highway.

And the plat you bought is right over here.

- The best part of town, huh.

- Well it is just about the best location.

- Top of the hill.

- Yes.

There's just one other neighbor, south of you.

That's old Jonathan.

- Cadby.

- Why yes, how did you know.

- I used to live here, Mrs. Morris.

- Well, that's funny, Jack never mentioned it.

- He didn't realize it,

because I've never mentioned it.

- Jack, honey, this is the young lady from Chicago.

- Joan.

- That's right.

- Well, I didn't expect you.

I mean this is a bit of a surprise.

It's been a long time.

- [Joan] I understand you received my check,

so if you'll give me the deed

I'll be on my way.

- You really bought that plot.

- I sure did.

- Behold.

- Would you give me the deed, please.

- I, I don't know.

- I do know.

I made certain to consult a lawyer.

I have a cancelled check from you, paid in full,

so that plot is legally mine.

Now may I please have the deed.

- You bought that plot under false pretenses.

- I had my name changed, legally.

I checked that with my attorney, too.

Would you like to see the papers.

- Nevermind.

I think I know what you're trying to do.

Believe me, want my opinion?

I think you are making a mistake.

- Jack should you be saying things like that.

- I think you're making a mistake, a big mistake.

You won't get any cooperation either.

Not any.

- Hasn't it occurred to you that in this town,

I never expected any.

(morose music)

- How may I be of service to you.

- I'd like to see Mr. Curry.

- I'm Mr. Curry.

Junior.

Now how may I help you.

- I want some information,

how much would it cost to,

- Oh no, no no.

Please, in one's hour of bereavement,

we here at Curry don't talk of money.

When a loved one has been called

and feelings run so deeply,

so very deeply we,

- May I see your father, I'll talk to him.

- Well, he's more or less retired now.

I can take care of whatever arrangements

are necessary.

- No you can't, not for me.

You've got the line down pretty well,

haven't you.

What do you know of bereavement, or feelings

or anything else.

Get your father for me.

- I'll tell him you're here.

What's the name.

- Joan Maslow.

- Uh-hum, yes I remember now.

I was away at the time.

- Would you mind.

(phone ringing)

- My father will be with you in a minute.

Dad, this is Joan.

Maslowski.

- Hello Joan.

- [Joan] Don't seem surprised to see me.

- That was Jack Morris on the phone just now.

- Then we can get right down to business.

I understand I need a mortician to supervise.

- It's a state requirement, yes.

- Will you do it for me, I'm prepared to pay

your fee no matter what it is.

- I'll say this, and I'll say it only once.

Are you sure this is a wise thing you're doing?

- And I'll say this.

It's something I've got to do,

something I'm going to do.

- Well let's see the documents please.

- Authorization from the State Board of Health.

From the Welfare Board.

Photostat of my birth certificate,

change of name,

letter from the County Clerk establishing kinship,

and the deed to the plot.

That's it isn't it.

- Yes, that's it.

Alright Joan, I'll do it.

- Thank you.

And you don't care about what the town thinks.

- I care very much what the town thinks.

I don't approve of what you're doing,

not at all.

But you've established a legal and uncontested right,

and I have a professional obligation.

Well a doctor doesn't have to like all of his patients,

just do his job.

That's how I feel about it.

- Thank you Mr. Curry.

- You still have a problem though,

you won't get any help from people around here.

The way they feel.

In fact, you won't even be able to get a head stone.

- I have the head stone I brought it with me.

- What about the rest of it.

The actual labor.

The workmen.

You still need help.

- I know, but I'll find somebody.

- In this town.

- I'll find them.

You'll hear from me.

Thanks again, and goodbye.

- [Mr. Curry] Goodbye Joan.

(factory noise)

(factory horn)

- Quittin' time.

- Yeah I just wanna finish this one piece.

Hey, Frank.

Look over there, from out of nowhere.

She look familiar to ya.

(metal crashing)

Heaven's sake.

(worrisome music)

- So long, Frank.

- Hi.

- [Joan] I've been waiting for you.

- In that case, let's get acquainted.

I'm Tod Stiles, this is Buz Murdock.

- Hi.

- You said before, to call on you if I needed help.

Did you mean it or was it just talk.

- That's a crazy way to ask for help, huh.

- You sound like somebody

that's had kind of a hard time today.

- Yes, it's been worse than I thought it'd be.

Will you help me.

You see, I have to move my mother.

- Well sure, why not.

Buz has got big muscles, very good for moving furniture

and I'll supervise.

- It's not quite like that.

Look it'd be easier to explain

if you'd get your car and follow me,

it's east on the highway, about a quarter of a mile.

- Hey, where are we going.

- Let's find out.

- Let's find out.

- Alright.

- You do the muscle work and I'll supervise.

(worrisome music)

- Now what.

(worrisome music)

- Every town has one.

This is Amity's.

The Potter's Field.

Burial ground for paupers.

My mother.

- What.

- That's right.

I'm going to move my mother from here.

To there.

Well.

- Look, Miss, um.

- Joan Maslow.

- Ms. Maslow.

Don't misunderstand me but,

- You don't want to do it.

- That's right.

- No favors.

I'll pay you $100 for the job.

That's 50 each.

- Well that's a lot of money for this town.

I'm sure you could find two local boys

to do that kind of work.

- You don't understand.

- Look, I know this is hard to explain but,

well this is not our kind of work.

I mean we've traveled all over the country,

we've done a lot of jobs,

but well I'm sorry, this is just not for us.

- Cheap.

Talk is so cheap.

- Look.

I realize we are turning down something

that's important to you,

so you deserve a reason.

I buried my own father last year

and I went through the wringer,

I just don't want to do it again.

- I'm sorry about your father.

Alright.

What you're telling me is not to make such a big deal

out of my own problems.

Things are tough all over.

Alright.

Goodbye.

- Look, Joan.

This much we can do.

Buz and I are through here,

we were leaving Amity tomorrow,

but before we go we can find somebody

to do the job for you.

- I'll go along with that.

We can get that much done.

- You'll find somebody in this town.

- Sure, why not.

50 bucks a head, it shouldn't be too tough.

- Want to bet.

- Yeah, we'll bet, we're giving you our word.

- Thank you.

But you'll find out.

(suspenseful music)

(knocking)

- [Mrs. Magruder] Someone to see you, Joan.

- My Aunt Helen.

- No, but she did call again.

Have you eaten anything today.

- Thanks, I'm not hungry.

- They're just not having much luck,

those two young fellows,

the way I hear it.

I can get you what you want.

I thought that would hold your attention.

You want a couple men to do the rough work, right?

I can get them for ya.

- Who.

- We'll skip the names.

- Local people, I don't believe it.

- Oh no, they won't be from here.

That's all the better, wouldn't you say.

- I'll pay them, you can tell them they'll be paid.

- Oh that won't be necessary,

couple of boys I know owe me a favor.

Friendship, you know.

- Why are you doing this.

- I like doing favors.

And I like having them done in return.

- The same, after 10 years, all the same rotten.

(yelling)

- You want him taken apart?

- Just get him away from me.

- Are you alright.

(speeding car)

- Yes.

I'm alright.

I'm sorry I made such a big thing of it.

It's just that I was thrown off-guard a little

and I shouldn't have been.

I should've expected it.

- Should you, why.

- You know that book, Can't Go Home Again.

Well, that's how it is.

(worrisome music)

Couldn't find anybody to do the job, could you.

- No, not so far.

- Now don't feel bad about it, I won't hold you

to your promise.

You couldn't have known what you were getting into.

- What did we get into, Joan.

- Ask around.

People talk.

- People talk in circles.

They all say they are against you moving your mother.

They all talk about the move, but nobody

talks about you as a person.

Or your mother or your father.

- Guess after a while gossip stops and guilt sets in.

Like gangrene.

- You blame the town for your mother's death.

- No, she died of an accident.

Could have happened anywhere.

- What about your father.

- [Joan] I don't even remember him.

He,

what's the word,

deserted.

He deserted us when I was about three.

Took off like a great big bird,

to parts unknown.

Never heard from him since.

(worrisome music)

Ten years.

Nothing seems to have changed.

No signs of age.

Them, they take pretty good care of things

here in Amity.

Not even any paint peeling.

Except on our house, maybe.

- What house.

- The house where I grew up.

Three or four times today I started to go over there

just to look at it, and I couldn't.

I asked Mrs. Macgruder who is living there now

and she said nobody,

the house has been empty since my mother died.

They couldn't sell that house,

they couldn't rent it,

they couldn't even give it away.

- Sounds like you've got a yearn to see it.

Why don't we go take a look.

- No, I.

What I mean is just, no.

You hear that frog?

I'd swear that's the same frog I used to hear

when I was a child.

That's impossible, isn't it.

In all these years, my old frog would have died I guess.

You know how old my mother was when she died.

37.

37.

That's no age to die.

What happened to her never happened to anybody else

in Amity.

She lived a miserable life, died a sudden death

and ended up in a pauper's grave.

You'd think anybody would be entitled to more than that,

wouldn't you.

Anybody.

So, I saved up for three years

just to give her a pretty place to be buried in.

And they won't even let me give her that.

Is that so much to ask.

Just a pretty place, where everybody else is.

Is that so much to ask.

(worrisome music)

- Dad, you said that Tod and Buz

were coming over last night.

- Now you just run along, darling.

Have a good day.

- Bye dad.

- Bye Bobby.

- Now hurry up Bobby.

- [Bobby] Mr. Curry is here.

Bye.

- Frank, your breakfast is ready.

- In a minute Alice.

In a minute.

- Frank, I know she's back in town.

And what she's trying to do.

So you can tell Stanley he doesn't have to whisper.

- You stay in here, Alice.

(piano)

- You know what they're doing.

Right this minute.

- What who is doing.

- Those two fellas that work for you,

Murdock and Stiles.

They are in the cemetery.

Digging.

- Why.

- Did you get a good look at her.

- But they're friends of mine.

They know Alice.

They've been to our home.

Played with Bobby.

Been fishin' with them.

Why would they do a thing like that.

- I said did you get a good look at her.

Girl like that, you know, she's got ways

to make a man do a lot of things.

Wouldn't you say so, Frank.

I came right to you.

Because I know what this could mean to you.

- Alice.

I have to go out.

Come on, Stan, show me.

- Morning Alice.

(worrisome music)

- Hey I want you to stop this, right away.

- You're coming on pretty strong, Frank.

What's your beef.

- I don't like the idea of disturbing the dead.

That kind of unpleasantness,

it can reopen old memories.

You know.

You'll start upsetting everybody.

Anyway, why should you two be helping a girl

you never even saw until yesterday.

- It's not a question of time, Frank.

- Well what then.

- It's a question of need,

take a look at her.

- Well look at me.

Most important thing in my life fellas

is to keep things peaceful,

to keep things the way they are.

- Look Frank if you've got something to say

why don't you just level with us.

- What'd she ever do to you or anybody else.

Whose business is it but hers and why is everybody

making such a big thing out of it.

- The past is gonna stay buried.

I'm telling ya both you're taking your last shovel

full of dirt out of Amity.

- Sorry Frank, we don't see it that way.

- Look out.

(suspenseful music)

- You fools.

Joan's aunt is contesting the removal.

She's taken out an injunction.

You've gotta stop immediately.

- I thought you told Joan.

- Mrs. Waston is a relative.

She has a legal right to contest it

and she did.

Now don't be a fool, Frank.

There's no point to it now.

Besides I don't need business that bad.

- Friends.

- Yeah, a good friend doesn't tell part of the truth

and then call it a day.

- What are you keeping as secret Frank that makes you

fight so hard.

- Go on Frank, get in the car.

- Wait a minute, where's Joan.

- I left her down at the gate.

My guess is when she heard the news

she just drove off.

- I think I know where she'd go

but I don't know how to get there.

- For a guy that doesn't know how to get there

we're going awful fast.

- First stop, her aunt, Mrs. Watson.

- Mrs. Watson, why you think she's over there

trying to convince her to call back the injunction.

- No, but I think she'll know where the house is.

- Which house.

- The house Joan used to live in.

(suspenseful music)

- [Tod] Mrs. Watson.

- Yes.

- We met once at Mrs. Magruder's.

- I remember.

- Look, Joan has disappeared and we don't think

she should be left alone right now.

- She has been alone before.

- Not like this.

Where is the house she used to live in.

- Look, aren't you her aunt.

- Yes, on her father's side.

- Well, what's that got to do with it.

- Even if Gerta were my own sister,

I'd have done the same thing.

Let the dead rest in peace.

- Most people say that out of fear.

They think disturbing the dead will bring

bad luck and ghosts.

- I'm not a superstitious woman, Mr. Stiles.

- So.

- Death should bring peace.

Here in Amity it does.

Down the road there, you can see the cemetery from here.

Did you ever see anything so peaceful.

Look at that boy on his bike, taking a short cut

between the graves.

Children play around here all the time

without a second thought, without any foolish fears.

Here, death is something

we all take for granted

as a peaceful fact of life.

Suddenly somebody comes along and wants to disrupt all that.

Naturally Joan loved her mother

and misses her but,

would moving her from one place to another

make her any less dead.

Doesn't make sense.

No wonder everybody's against it.

As for me,

I just won't allow it.

It's that simple.

- Even if it's important to Joan.

- It's equally important to me

that my sister-in-law remain exactly where she is.

- Tell me something where were you

when your sister-in-law died.

- What you're really asking is why did I

let Gerta be buried in Potter's Field.

- Yeah, that's exactly what I'm asking.

- I wasn't here.

My late husband and I were away for a whole year,

completely out of touch.

We didn't know what had happened until months later.

Of course we would have given her a different kind

of burial, but it's done now, it's done.

- Look, Mrs. Watson why don't you just tell us

how to find the house.

- Why do you think that's where she is.

- Just a hunch.

That house is the thing she's most afraid of seeing.

- Well then wouldn't it be perverse for her

to go back there.

- Exactly.

- I hope you're wrong, it's a shocking site that place.

Especially for Joan.

I'll go with you.

(suspenseful music)

- Hello.

- Aunt Helen.

- Hello Joan.

- You look well.

- 10 years older.

- Are you alright.

- Fine.

- We were so worried about you.

Disappearing like that.

- You always worried about me, didn't you.

- Yes, I did, I didn't know you realized it.

- Oh yes.

I always knew you loved me.

You and Uncle Ben.

- Then why have you lived away from me

all these years.

Didn't you know I wanted you with us.

You didn't have to run away after Gerta died.

- But I did, I had to.

- Because of the way people were here in Amity.

If you'd wanted to stay with us

we'd have moved away in a minute.

You think I'd want you exposed to any trouble here.

It wasn't just that, was it.

- No.

It was something I had to do alone.

You wouldn't understand.

- Try me.

- You're a nice woman, Aunt Helen, and that's why you

wouldn't understand.

- It has something to do with moving your mother,

hasn't it.

- Everything.

- What.

Don't explain, if you don't want to.

But as much as I've missed you Joan,

I can't let you do it.

- I know.

- I'll have to go to court if you persist.

- What's with you, Mrs. Watson.

A girl wants to give her mother a decent place

to be buried instead of Potter's Field

and everybody treats her like a criminal.

- There's more here than you know.

- [Buz] What more do we have to know.

Tell me, whatever happened to the expression

honor thy father and mother.

Doesn't that mean anything to you.

Well it does to me.

Maybe it's because I never had any parents

but I'd like a chance to go through

what she's going through.

- Don't say that.

You don't know, you just don't know.

- But I do, Joan.

And I will fight you in court if I have to.

- Alright.

- [Mrs. Watson] Can you afford it.

- I'll save up another three years.

- What if you lose.

- Then I'll win in the end, because I'll outlive you.

Not a very pleasant thought,

but the odds are that I will live longer.

And I can wait.

Someday I'll be the only kin

and then I'll move my mother.

Don't look at me like that.

I am in my right mind.

- Why Joan, why,

I don't understand.

- What difference does it make.

Is there some kind of a law that says

you have to understand anything

before you can be more... - Stay out of this.

- [Tod] Mrs. Watson, why don't you give her a break,

it's impossible for this to mean more to you

than it does to her.

- I asked you to stop interfering.

- Why.

Look, we almost got our skulls cracked open

trying to help this girl this afternoon.

What do we have to do, bleed before we can ask questions.

- [Mrs. Watson] You say you want to help her,

alright.

- Be careful Aunt Helen.

- It's too late for that.

You grew up an orphan you said,

then you're entitled to all of the fantasies you like

about the word mother.

It's a sacred word, or should be.

Until you come across a woman like Gerta.

You can keep your illusions they won't hurt you,

but hers can destroy her.

Because they can force her to live in a private

world of lies.

- Aunt Helen.

- Let me tell you about Joan's mother.

By the time she was 21 her escapades

had already outraged the entire town.

That would have been bad enough.

Many a wife would have looked the other way,

to forgive and forget but,

Gerta had to flaunt her episodes openly.

That's the figure of motherhood you want to honor.

She was a monster.

The most destructive woman I've ever known.

- That's enough Mrs. Watson I think we get the point.

- Not quite yet.

Tell how she died.

- Yes, there is that.

Frank was with her the night she died.

Yes, your friend.

Of course he wanted to crack your skulls open

rather than force his wife to relive it,

even in memory or to have Bobby hear about it.

He was young then,

he isn't now.

And as for the accident that killed her.

There should be a certain dignity about death.

Do you know how Gerta died.

She fell from a window.

Drunk.

It was ludicrous, what a way to die.

- That window.

There's a rain barrel that used to stand right below.

She fell across it, half in, half out.

Oh, yes, it was ludicrous.

- And that's the woman you want to dignify by burying

at the top of the hill.

- Joan, Joan, don't you see your good intentions

are misplaced, along with your love and your loyalty.

- What are you talking about Aunt Helen.

Love, loyalty.

I knew you wouldn't understand.

Because you see, I hate her.

I've always hated her.

And I said there was something I had to do

by myself.

It was to figure out a way to pay her back.

Ever since I can remember I've lived for the day

I could do something to her.

And even there she cheated me.

She died.

She died too soon.

And it gave me a problem, after all,

how can you kill somebody who's already dead.

- Joan.

In the name of God.

- Do you really think I have illusions about her.

That I invented memories that never happened.

Sweet nothings.

Me, walking down the street in a little white frock,

with mamma holding me by the hand.

You'll never know what I really remember.

That's not the worst.

I've even almost forgotten the things I had to run from.

Simply because I was Gerta's daughter.

No, these aren't the things I hate her for.

What I'll never forgive,

was that she went about her life, day to day,

as if I didn't even exist.

- Joan, let it be over, she's gone now.

- No she's not.

For you maybe.

All of you.

You buried her and you've forgotten her.

But she lives with me night and day,

every minute.

And that's why I've got to move her.

Don't you see.

I'll be doing something to her, for the first time.

And what's more, it'll be something nice.

Nice.

A pretty place.

If I can just do one nice thing to her.

Then maybe I'll have shamed her and paid her back.

Then maybe,

I'll be free of her in my nightmares.

(suspenseful music)

(somber music)

- Under the mercy of almighty God,

we commend the soul of our sister departed.

We recommit her body to the ground.

Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust,

in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection

to eternal life.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

be upon you and with you always. Amen.

- Maybe,

do you think maybe now, if the dead rest in peace,

the living can find peace, too.

- God willing.

(violins)

I'll be by before I leave.

(crying)

Why.

I hated her all my life.

Why am I crying now.

- You just said it.

Hated.

Past tense.

- Poor woman.

Poor mamma.

- Oh no, over there.

- Sorry I'm late.

Here.

- Thank you, just put them down over there.

- Read the card first.

- Rest in peace.

Alice and Frank.

Thank you.

- Now the other.

- No more, just put them with the others.

- I can't, they're for you.

Not the dead, but the living.

To Joan, with love, Tod and Buz.

- So long Joan.

- Bye Joan.

(uplifting music)

(Route 66 Theme Song)

- [Voiceover] This has been a Screen Gems Film Presentation

from Columbia Pictures.

Herbert B. Leonard, Executive Producer.