Original subtitles

(regal music)

(downbeat music)

(dog howling)

(suspenseful music)

(screaming)

(gentle music)

- Oh Bruce, it's wonderful.

It's our first house, your first practice.

- Well.

It's a bit dusty.

- I don't care.

It says things to me.

The house, the village, everything.

You were so clever finding it.

I just know you're gonna be a success here.

- Hey, steady on.

I'm here so I get Dr. Sharp's name plate down

and mine up.

- Nonsense.

If an English village is anything

like a small American town,

they already know your shoe size by now.

What's in there?

- Ah, well.

This is the surgery.

And this is the waiting room.

- I can't wait to see you sitting there

with your stethoscope on looking like Richard Chamberlain.

Let's find the sitting room.

- This way, follow me.

Oh, sorry darling.

- It's perfect, isn't it?

- Well it's a bit tatty.

There's a bigger one upstairs.

- [Tessa] Oh, you're as excited as I am.

I can tell by your mouth, admit it.

- Oh, it's a nice feeling, yes.

I'm a town boy who's always wanted

to be a country doctor.

And this is about as far away

from the rat race as you can get.

To be on my own, Tessa.

To feel completely responsible at last

after all those hospitals.

- I wish I had known you then.

I bet you looked so sexy as an overworked,

hollow eyed intern.

- Oh, I'm sorry, darling.

There we are.

Alright?

- Doctor.

Would you look at my leg?

- Oh, with pleasure.

- No, the other leg.

- No, I'm sorry, Ms. Nelson.

Not professional etiquette.

Doctor not allowed to treat his own family.

- Are you happy?

- Well I wish it wasn't dead man shoes

and dead man's furniture.

Yes, I'm happy.

You?

But seriously, I'm in sweet Connecticut

(mumbling) visit, minding her own business

and suddenly she's snatched away

by a (mumbling) doctor

and buried in the heart of the English countryside.

- I love the English countryside

and don't worry about this house.

I have plans.

Take this room, for instance.

I see Adam Green motted silk on the walls,

a large (mumbling)--

- My dears.

I'm so sorry.

Whatever will you think of me.

I don't know what to say.

- I'm Dr. Nelson and this is my wife Tessa.

- I know that, love you.

Who else would you be?

I'm Bess Tarling, ma'am.

I was old Dr. Sharp's housekeeper.

You don't have to keep me on

but your husband did sign his letter.

- No, we'd be delighted to keep you on.

In fact, I don't know what we'd do without you.

(laughing)

- Please to meet you, I'm sure.

I'm sorry the house is in ...

(mysterious music)

- My wife broke a bone in her foot on honeymoon.

Skiing.

That's why we're here a week early.

Well I'm sorry if we've inconvenienced you.

- I'm the one that's shamed

that you should come and find us like this,

you and your moon pale, moon gold lady.

(laughing)

Whatever sort of housekeeper will you think I am?

Now you just sit yourselves down

and I'll go make a nice cup of tea.

- Bess, I was just going down to the store.

Oh, sorry.

- There you are, caught me out again, you have.

This is my niece Jill from London.

- Hello.

Hello.

- Hello.

- You weren't expected so Jill's

been sleeping in the spare bedroom.

But she's going tomorrow.

- But I could go straight away.

I've only got a suitcase.

- No, no, no, we wouldn't dream of it.

Would we, darling.

- [Tessa] No, no, you can stay as long as you like.

- It wouldn't be any longer than tomorrow.

Tomorrow being full moon and all

and the day after being lady day.

- [Jill] You're very kind.

- Well we'd better be running along.

You'll be wanting to look over the rest of the house

and I'll get you that nice cup of tea.

- Thank you, Bess.

- See you later.

- Not while I'm around, she won't.

- Let's go and look at the bedrooms.

- Dr. Nelson.

(laughing)

(chattering)

- Bye.

- Bye Jill.

I've never known a builder

break hammers as fast as you do.

- It's not me that breaks 'em.

It's you that sells me rotten ones.

(laughing)

- I allowed you that bit of slander.

- Hey, you'll get nothing out of him.

He's still dreaming about that poacher got away.

- You shouldn't go after poachers with a gun, love.

It's not right.

- Charge of birdshot in the wrong works wonders.

Besides, we want no wonders in the woods on lady day.

(mumbling)

- She's come among us!

She, her!

She's here!

- What?

- I've seen her!

- At last.

- Let me see.

Socks, socks.

- Top right hand drawer, darling.

I told you.

- Why do women always have to say I told you?

Thank heavens that's the lot.

I hate unpacking.

- That's odd.

Look.

These were jammed at the back of this drawer.

They could have been left forever

without anyone finding them.

- Aha, love letters.

Maybe Dr. Sharp wasn't such a dry old bachelor

as I've been told he was.

- No, no, that's just it.

Look at the address at the back.

They're not to him, they're from him.

- Stamped and sealed.

Well it had to be mailed.

- Why would someone write letters and not mail them?

- I don't know.

Well, he was a bit eccentric from what I've heard.

Perhaps he just forgot.

- Yeah, could be, I suppose.

It just seems odd.

- Better keep them safe.

We'll send them to his executives.

Well, I must go down and look at the factory.

Open for business next week.

Don't want the patients coming in to a dirty surgery

if they come at all, that is.

- Hello doctor.

- Hello.

Oh, can I help you?

- Not just at the moment, thank you.

- [Group] Good morning, doctor.

- Oh, good morning.

- It's nice to have a doctor again.

- Village ain't been the same without one.

- It seems I have my first patients, darling.

This is my wife, Tessa.

- We know that.

- We've been telling your husband, my dear,

how nice it is to have a doctor again

and especially one with a wife like you.

- True, true, true enough that.

- That's very sweet of you.

I know we're going to be very happy here.

I was just running down to the store

to get some things.

- You're sure you'll be alright?

- Perfectly.

I'm sure with anyone else you'd prescribe the exercise.

Well nice meeting you all.

(foreboding music)

- I tell you, moon pale and moon gold she is

with a left foot limping.

Oh, I know you're the school mistress, Nan,

and a learned lady, none more so

but I know what I've seen.

- Sounds very like to me.

- Bess knows.

- I don't disbelieve you, Bess,

but we've waited so long with such needing.

The heart sometimes sees what it wants to see.

- He's heard?

(laughing)

You've heard, haven't you, Mad Nick?

- Moon pale and moon gold she is

with a left foot limping.

As it was promised, so it has come to pass.

- It's all there, Nick.

- The marks.

- The (mumbling), tis lady day.

- The time and the moon.

- The sign she was to show us.

- Bart, I don't like this.

(laughing)

- Ms. Nelson my dear, you shouldn't have bothered.

I'd have fetched anything you wanted.

This is Ms. Nelson, the doctor's wife

I was telling you about.

- We know that.

- [Tessa] Hello.

- This is Joe, the blacksmith.

- Ms. Nelson.

- Hello.

- This is Seth.

He does all our gardens round here.

- [Tessa] Hello.

- Lob, the gamekeeper.

- Ms. Nelson.

- [Tessa] How do you do?

- [Bess] Dan, the builder.

- Ms. Nelson.

- [Tessa] Hello.

- Belle, the dressmaker.

If you should ever want anything run up.

- Ms. Nelson.

- Hello.

- Nan, the school mistress.

- How do you do?

- [Bess] And Bart and Jane.

- [Tessa] Hello.

- And this is Nick.

- Nick.

(laughing)

- [Bess] Alright then, Bart.

Let's see what you can do for Ms. Nelson

and none of your fancy prices, mind.

- Oh now then, Bess.

(laughing)

- How about the foot?

(mumbling) look at that, do you?

- No thank you, doctor, I'm used to it.

Nothing wrong with it really.

- There's nothing wrong with your throat either.

- That's right, I can know that.

Nothing wrong with any of us.

We've just come to see the new doctor

and his wife.

- Right, anything else?

- No, I think that's everything.

Thank you.

- It's a pleasure to serve you, Ms. Nelson.

Any time.

- Thank you, that's very sweet.

Oh yes, thank you, that's very kind of you.

Bye.

- Well, Nan?

- She's the expected one.

- Oh, you put them on the table.

That will be fine.

It really was very sweet of you, thank you.

Thank you.

(laughing)

If this isn't the sweetest place.

They couldn't have been nicer to me at the store.

Got introduced to everyone.

I got all the local gossip.

- Well I've had the treatment here too.

There was nothing wrong with any of them.

They just came to look me over.

- Oh Bruce.

Bruce, I'm so glad we came here.

- It was meant, I tell you.

She didn't arrive last year

nor all the years before but this time,

this time, eh, Nick?

(laughing)

- Full moon and lady day together.

That's why she's come.

- Bess, my dear.

You did well to bring your niece.

She'll be just right for it.

- Thank you, Bart.

- It's funny how they all limped,

all three of them and yet not one of them

would let me have a look at their foot.

- You know the one they call Mad Nick?

He limps as well.

- Well it's inbreeding I suppose.

In close communities it happens.

They all inherit the same deficiency

and it becomes a kind of mark of shame.

- They're beautiful people.

- Yes, of course.

That's why they're so sensitive about it.

Well don't let it worry you.

Goodnight, Ms. Nelson.

- Goodnight, Dr. Nelson.

(mysterious music)

- Lovely, my dear, you shouldn't be doing that.

Proper early bird you are, no mistake.

You just come and sit yourself down

and I'll get breakfast.

- Look what I found on the doorstep.

Crocuses and fennel.

Witch's wart, rosemary, rue.

- Rue.

Left you by the little people no doubt.

- Ms. Tarning.

- You're a very special personage

in this village as well you must know.

I can't tell you what it means to us.

We're that grateful.

I dare say the little people

would like you to wear the flowers in your hair.

- Oh, fine sight I look first thing in the morning.

- My lady, I hope we haven't offended you.

- No, of course not.

I think this would look pretty

in the bird bath in the garden.

- Shouldn't bother to take it outside

now that you've brought it in.

You know how it is.

- Morning.

- Good morning.

- Morning Jill.

Breakfast will be five minutes.

- Oh just coffee for me, thanks.

I will be glad to get back to town tomorrow.

Music kept me awake again.

- Music?

- Don't you hear it?

Sounds as though it's way off down in the woods somewhere.

Like pipes or flute or something.

- Music in the woods?

I don't know.

Perhaps there's a midnight orchestra in the village.

Oh, I know what I was gonna ask you.

What do you suppose this is?

- [Tessa] Garlic.

- What?

- Garlic.

You know, the stuff doctors aren't

supposed to eat before kissing their wives

or treating their patients.

- Yes, but what's it doing in here?

- I don't know.

Perhaps Dr. Sharp was a secret cook.

There, now look.

Don't let me ever hear you

say you have nothing to write with.

Bruce.

Look.

What's this?

- Looks like an old surgical instruments case.

Hey, this could be a bit of luck.

Still a few I haven't gotten.

Oh no.

Don't say I'm supposed to double as vicar as well.

- He seems to have been an odd sort of man.

- Well, my patients will be thinking I'm an odd sort

of man if I don't get the surgery open.

Oh god, they've arrived.

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

- [Group] Morning doctor.

- Morning.

- [Group] Morning my lady.

- Good morning.

- All of this is for me?

- Must announce to you and yours a bit

of each of us.

- I don't know what to say.

Thank you.

- Here, let me take that for you.

- Wait.

- [Tessa] But isn't there anything I could get them?

Something they might like?

- No, my dear.

It's not our place to be looking to you for thanks.

- Yes, well where I come from it's customary

to exchange tokens with new neighbors

and you've given me so much.

- Oh no.

(laughing)

- Thank you.

- Bart, you've got to promise me--

- Now, you keep out of it!

You've got nothing to do with it!

You've never had anything to do with it.

And look at you.

Hello Jill, my dear!

You're a sight for sore eyes.

(laughing)

- Well, sound as a bell elsewhere.

No, the pain isn't referred from another location.

- What's that, doctor?

- Oh nothing, I'm sorry.

Now let's try the shoulder again.

Now just push against me.

There again?

- I'm sorry.

- Alright.

Put your shirt back on.

You're a gamekeeper.

- That's right, doctor.

- Do any shooting?

- Fair bit.

- From which shoulder?

- The right.

I see.

- Occupational hazard, I'm afraid.

Give any joint that sort of pounding,

you're bound to get a bit of arthritis.

Otherwise you're disgustingly fit

like all the others in this village.

Now, what did Dr. Sharp give you for it?

- I didn't tell him.

- Why not?

- I wasn't (mumbling).

- Didn't you trust him?

- Trust him?

I just didn't like him.

- Why?

- Nobody did much.

He was too nosy (mumbling).

Always in everybody's business.

- Well it's very difficult for a doctor not

to be, you know.

- There are ways and ways.

- And what was wrong with his ways?

- He was just too nosy (mumbling).

- Yes, well.

Get these made up.

Take them with food.

If you find they upset your stomach,

stop them at once and let me know.

Otherwise, come back and see me in a fortnight.

- Thank you.

I'll be alright long before that.

Thank you, doctor.

My best respects to you.

And to your lady.

- Have you never been able to talk?

But you do understand.

Nick.

Why is everyone so nice to me?

Well thank you.

What sort of man was Dr. Sharp?

Was he on his own when he fell down those stairs?

Nick.

Why did Dr. Sharp keep garlic in his surgery?

Nick.

Nick, Nick, why did Dr. Sharp keep a crucifix?

(foreboding music)

Bruce, Bruce!

Bruce!

Bruce, Bruce, please look what I found.

- Later, Tessa, later.

- That'll be old granddad Benjamin's.

He makes 'em for the kids.

- What was it doing in my stove?

- Later, darling.

We'll talk about it later, alright?

(mumbling)

(chattering)

- Bruce.

You tired, darling?

- It's a different sort of tiredness though,

from the hospital.

I somehow feel these people are mine.

It makes a difference.

You suddenly realize all that science you were taught,

it's all good common sense really.

- Bruce.

Bruce.

What did Dr. Sharp actually die of?

- Well, when he fell down the stairs,

he broke his neck.

Oh come on, darling.

Don't say you're still worrying about that doll.

I told you, common sense.

It was probably left lying around

by some village child, child got irritated

and threw it in the stove.

(laughing)

- Of course.

- Come on darling.

Settle down.

I've got another busy day tomorrow.

Alright?

- Good night, darling.

- Good night.

- What sort of party is it, Aunt Bess?

- It's in honor of lady day.

It's a great compliment that you've been invited.

(foreboding music)

John.

For god's sakes, send help soon.

You are (mumbling).

- Have the doctor and his wife been invited?

- Shh!

He's dog tired.

He's gotta get his rest.

Oh, come on, Jill.

- Dear John, I can't understand

why you don't answer.

My position is desperate.

I can't talk over the phone.

Please write or come soon.

(mumbling)

Bruce, Bruce, wake up.

Bruce, please, wake up!

- Tessa, what's the matter?

- Bruce, look at these.

- What are they?

These are Dr. Sharp's letters.

What are you doing with them?

Tessa, you had no right to open them.

- Bruce, the man was desperate.

He was worried out of his mind.

- It's none of your business, he's dead.

- Yes, but I want to know what he was worried about.

- His health, his investments,

some imaginary disaster, how should I know?

It's morbid to read a dead man's letters.

It's also illegal.

Tessa, darling, please.

Get into bed and go to sleep.

Alright?

(chattering)

- Oh Belle, leave it alone, do.

I never knew such a flora fusspot.

- [Belle] Now stand still, it's got to be just so.

- You know Belle.

She'll give you no peace til she's satisfied.

- And as for you, Job Fairfax,

I don't know who tied your tie

but it looks like a turkey with its neck stretched.

(laughing)

- Bart, come to--

- Lily, if you won't join in,

you just keep out of the way.

Are we all ready?

- Yes.

All we need now is Bess.

- And Jill.

There you are, my dear.

There's your pretty frock.

- Frock?

- Well, my dear.

You didn't think we'd let you be unsuitably dressed.

Not as bridesmaid.

- Not on the eve of lady day.

- And this is for your pretty hair.

- [Male] And this is for your pretty knee.

- And orange blossom since you come before the bride.

(laughing)

- I'm sorry but someone's going to have to explain.

- He'll explain, my dear.

(suspenseful music)

(screaming)

- What was that?

(phone ringing)

Hello.

- [Male] Is the doctor there, please, madam?

- Yes, I'll get him.

Just a moment.

- Hello, Dr. Nelson.

- [Male] (mumbling) sir, we've had a report

for a poacher of a dead body found in (mumbling).

- Well yes, but I'm not--

- [Male] Now we don't have an official police surgeon

in this area, sir.

- That's alright.

- [Male] I'll send a car out for you sir.

- Pick me up in five minutes.

- [Male] Thank you, sir.

- Damn.

It seems that by tradition

I'm also the local police surgeon.

Something about a poacher finding a body in the woods.

Probably some old vagrant died of exposure.

These things always happen in the middle of the night.

Why couldn't they have found it in the morning?

- Darling, you won't be too long, will you?

- No, I won't be.

You're not bothered, are you?

About being left here on your own.

- What can happen in a sleepy old English village?

Besides, Jill's upstairs.

- That's fine.

You go back to bed and go to sleep.

I'll try not to wake you when I come in.

(knocking)

(glass breaking)

(menacing music)

(screaming)

- What are you doing here?

Why are you dressed like that?

Nick, what's going on?

Nick.

Why isn't the phone working?

Nick, why did Dr. Sharp keep garlic in here?

Why did Dr. Sharp keep garlic in here?

Nick.

Why did he keep this?

Tell me, what is it?

What's the matter, please?

Bruce, Bruce!

- Here, my dear.

Whatever are you doing with this?

Oh, you are a strange one (mumbling).

- I'm strange?

Bess, please tell me what's going on?

- There, there, my dear.

Don't take on so.

It's time, that's all.

It's past midnight.

That means it's lady day.

And Nick's come to take you to the ceremony.

That's what he was trying to tell you.

- No, I'm not going to any ceremony.

- Now don't be silly, my dear.

You know you must.

It's only down at the village shop.

- No, I'm not going anywhere

til my husband gets back.

- Husband, my dear?

Which one?

(mysterious music)

- No, no!

- [Group] Good evening, my lady.

- What are you doing in my house?

Get out of my house, get out of my house!

Get out!

- She's nervous, poor lad.

It's only to be expected.

After all, she is the lady.

Lob, the (mumbling).

- No, no, no, no!

- No, I won't let you do it.

I should have stopped you years ago.

- Now leave it alone!

No place of yours to lay hands on.

You should have stopped me.

It's only 'cause you're my wife

that you're still here at all.

Now get up, woman, get up!

She's coming here soon!

Got no wish for her to come here,

see you sniveling.

- I thought we'd come to an outpost of sanity.

I've never seen anything like it.

- I have.

A year ago.

She was a blonde too.

We never found anyone.

- The same thing?

- Exactly the same.

- The hair?

- Here you are, my lady.

I've been working on this dress longer

than I can remember and my mother before me.

This is the most proudest moment of my life.

- Tessa?

Tessa!

Oh my god.

- There you are, my lady.

(chanting)

- Now just a minute, (mumbling)!

Has anybody seen my wife?

Lob!

You have to take charge.

You're as high in the ministry as I am.

Now you carry it through.

We shall have to carry it through now

or great danger will come to all of us.

- I now have clear evidence

of a tradition of devil worship

in the village going back centuries.

- [Sharp] I've been aware each year

of a growing excitement in the village

leading up to lady day.

I now know the reason.

Please don't think I'm mad.

An ancient prophecy has foretold

that one day in a year when lady day

coincides with the full moon,

a bride of Satan will arrive in the village.

She will be the final mark of approval

from the powers of darkness and they

will know her by her appearance.

She will be moon pale, moon gold,

and she will limp with the left foot

as so many of my patients do

although I could never discover from them why.

She will marry and mate with Satan on lady day.

How this would be achieved I cannot imagine

and will then accept death at his hands

in return for eternal Satanic power for the village.

All this is errant nonsense, I agree.

This bride of Satan will simply never arrive.

What worries me is a requirement

of the prophecy that in those years

when lady day coincides with the full moon,

a young fair girl must be sacrificed

whether the bride of Satan arrives or not.

If fair lady of Satan is arrived,

the girl will be regarded as a bridesmaid

going before her.

Her blood being used to revitalize the village.

Lady day coincides with the full moon this year.

I fear the villagers have somehow guessed my knowledge.

This morning I found a doll with a broken neck

on the backdoor step.

I tried to destroy it but it won't burn.

- Where, where?

(knocking)

- Doctor!

Your wife!

- Where is she?

Come on, come on, come on!

- They're going to sacrifice her!

- Where?

Where?

- The store!

(menacing music)

- She's not the one!

- We have betrayed the word!

She's an impostor.

- She knows our mystery.

She can't be allowed to live.

She must die in the old way.

(moaning)

- You come over here.

- No, Bart!

(moaning)

(chanting)

(gun firing)

(groaning)

- Just a minute.

I have to know.

- The cloven hoof.

- No.

An inbred deformity.

(eerie music)