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Witchcraft (1964)
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Stop! Stop that! This is blasphemy. Stop it! Go back. Go back, I tell you! Go back! Desecrating decent folks' graves... Stop it. Stop, I said! Myles thinks the garages would be better over here where we're going to clear the graveyard. Oh, I think it will be better where it was. The children will need this for a play area. A letter just came for you, Tracy. Oh. Oh, it's from Pam. "Dear Mummy and Daddy, I hope you're well." They've taken her to Montreal for the tennis tournament. Hey, Bill, listen to this. "Marge Campbell beat Hilda in straight sets for the cup. "You could have beaten both." At the same time, with one hand tied behind your back. Well, my daughter still thinks I'm champ. So do I. I've got the scars to prove it. Hey, what else does she say? "School will be out in six weeks." "I have already packed my things, which everybody thinks is a big joke." She writes a very good letter for her age. Oh, I do hope she likes it here. Oh, I know she will. Well, Tracy's crazy about it, aren't you, honey? Mmm. Well, let's have our tea. Where's Todd? Oh, he's having trouble with his car again. Hey. - Todd, tea. - No, thanks. You stay here. Todd. I'll see who it is. You expecting someone? Todd probably locked himself out again. I want to see William Lanier! It's Morgan Whitlock. Oh, no. Out of my way, woman! This time you overreached yourself. This time I'm taking you to court! If there's any justice, they'll send you packing back where you came from. We've been to court, and you know the decision. Yes, but your bulldozer... You knew we were starting to grade this morning. You've had months to move your markers. I've even offered you trucks and labor so you'll have no expense. The Whitlocks have used that cemetery for 800 years. What right does an upstart like you have to run sewers through their coffins, put buildings over their graves? Look, we've been through this a dozen times already. That cemetery is full and abandoned. No one's been buried there for 150 years. Look, I-I didn't want to disturb a cemetery, but it's right in the middle of the tract. And if this area is going to progress... What do you mean? Is progress smashing our gravestones with your damn bulldozer? That's not true. The grading started on cleared ground. Is that so, Mr. Lanier? Have you taken the trouble to look at your handiwork today? Have you talked to that brute, Forrester, your partner? Are you telling me that the bulldozer damaged some of your gravestones? I'm telling you that the bulldozer ran right through the middle of the Whitlock plot. And when we tried to stop it, it ran us down! If this is true, I want you to know, it was against my orders. You're not the sort of a man I can believe. But I'm going to stop you. I'm not gonna let you ruin our countryside with... With trash like this! Let me talk to your uncle, Amy. I know I can make him understand. It's no use, Todd. I've tried to talk to him so many times. Then meet me tonight anyway. I can't tonight. I told you why. Oh, Todd, as soon as this is over, it'll be just like before. Won't that be wonderful? Sneaking about just like before. I told you not to come near my niece. Mr. Whitlock... There'll be no argument. You're not to see Amy! Is that clear? I've got to talk to you. There'll be no more talk to Laniers! I told him the truth. I didn't know anything about it. It's Forrester's fault, not yours. Yeah, that's why I better get over there and get him to pull his men off. I wish you could handle the development on your own, Bill, like in Toronto and Detroit. Well, there I had a contracting business, equipment and financial backing. Here I need a partner to supply them. I wish he could have chosen a better partner than Myles Forrester. Mr. Forrester. What is it? Mr. Lanier's here to see you. Ah. Send him in. Send him in. Come in, Bill. I won't be a moment here. Fix yourself a drink. No, thanks. How did the trip to London go? Oh, I'm dead beat. I left at 6:00 this morning and drove both ways. - But the bank did us proud, Bill. - Yes, I thought they would. Plain sailing from here. I've got the tractors in to start grading. That's what I came to see you about. Uh-huh. Do you know they plowed up some of the Whitlock gravestones? Oh, have they now? You don't seem very surprised. Well, no. As a matter of fact, I told them to. You t... Have you gone out of your mind We've a lot of money up, interest to pay, dates to meet. You promised me that grading would start on cleared ground. And then what Wait? Invest a few more thousand pounds? We had an agreement. Now look, Bill. They've had all the warning in the world. Everyone's moved their tombs but the Whitlocks. Let's face it, man. They hate the Laniers. They'll do anything they can to stop you. Now this is a big project. You're gonna make a lot of money. We can still make money without desecrating a cemetery. You know, you old families are all the same: living in the past, going broke on thousands of pounds worth of real estate. Look, the city's moving towards your acreage, and, still, your father shot himself because of financial worries. My father happened to be a man of principle... Something that you probably find very difficult to understand. Well, I'm sure he was right by his own lights, but times are changing. Cities are expanding. I know all about the population explosion. Now look, Bill. I'll tell you what we'll do. No, I'll tell you! It's past quitting time now, so there's nothing we can do tonight, but tomorrow morning, you're gonna have all that equipment transferred to clear ground, and you're gonna supply me with all the trucks and labor I need to move the Whitlock memorials, and I'm gonna see the job gets done. That all right, Myles? Right as rain. Anything I can do? I'll be the first to call on you. Good night, Myles. Good night, Bill. Oh, how did it go? Is everything all right? Well, not all right, but I think we can straighten it out. Well, what have you got there? Oh, I found it in the cemetery. They're both the same. Yeah. I think I'll go up and have a talk to Grandmother before dinner. Oh, well, don't be long, will you, Bill? Todd and Helen will need a drink when they get in. Oh, take over for me, will you? You're not only the best backhand in Canada, you're a great bartender too. The flattery I get when you want something. It's the same as the stone in the fireplace. That stone in the fireplace was put there when the Whitlocks owned the place. The only other one was on... Vanessa Whitlock's grave. I seem to remember being told as a child... that this was the sign of a witches' circle. It is. What was it doing on the grave? Our ancestors said that Vanessa Whitlock was a witch. They accused her, and she was condemned. That's the witches' circle... The pact with the devil. Well, if she was burnt as a witch, she can't harm anyone now. She wasn't burned. After she was condemned, they took her out and... buried her alive. Everyone's drink all right? No. Oh, where's that piece of stone you showed me? I was telling them about it. Oh, I left it upstairs. What did you show her? A piece of the witch's tombstone. And you disturbed it? Oh, it was pretty disturbed already. I just wanted to compare it with that. Are you talking about real witches with broomsticks and cats? Well, I don't know about the broomsticks and cats. Friday will be May Eve... Roodmas. Then you'll see for yourself. - Let's change the subject. - Well, I've never heard of Roodmas. It's supposed to be one of the four great sabbats of the year, when the witches gather... Candlemas, Roodmas, Beltane in midsummer, and Halloween... The night that the witches make their sacrifice to the devil. Well, I can hardly wait for Friday. I gather Bill hasn't told you what kind of a family you've married into. Oh, knock it off, Todd. Oh, no. I'm really interested. What kind of a family have I married into? What harm will it do? Well, you started it. You better finish it. Well, the Laniers are Norman stock... latecomers. The Whitlocks were Anglo-Saxon. Originally, they owned all this land, this house. The story goes that in the early 1600s, during the witch hunts, the Laniers accused the Whitlocks of witchcraft. There have been cynics who felt that their zeal... was inspired more by greed than righteousness. But anyway, they had Vanessa Whitlock killed and drove out her kinfolk. Then they took over. Well, naturally, the Whitlocks didn't take very kindly to this, and ever since then, they're supposed to have made the destruction of the Laniers... the main item of business at their sabbats. Is Myles Forrester in his office? Uh, well, yes, Mr. Whitlock. You tell him that I want to see him now. What is it? Mr. Whitlock wants to see you. What, at this time of the night? You should have been home hours ago. Well, I thought you wanted those estimates to go off to the council. Ah. Uh, tomorrow will do. You've done enough for today. And so have I. All I want is a hot bath and then bed. What am I to tell Mr. Whitlock? Uh, tell him to go to blazes if you like. No, he's Lanier's problem now. Just get rid of him. All right. I'm sorry, Mr. Whitlock. Mr. Forrester's very tired. I insist upon seeing him. I'm sorry. He's had a long day, and he's going home. He'll not be rid of me easily. He says, you see Mr. Lanier if there's anything to discuss. Lanier? You warn Forrester for me that he's going to be sorry. He's going to regret this day! I'm rejecting these. Make a note, will you? "New bids on door hardware." What about the metal casements? I'll answer it. The metal casements? Oh, I don't think we'll ask for bids. Uh, I think we'd be better off to negotiate... or let the subs handle it. This is Detective Inspector Baldwin. My husband, William Lanier. How do you do? And his brother, Todd. I don't believe we've met, Inspector. I'm Helen Lanier. Oh, uh, Inspector Sheldon's on sick leave, ma'am. I was sent down to fill in for him. Oh, I see. Well, I'm afraid I have some very shocking news for you. Myles Forrester is dead. Dead? I just saw him last night. He was drowned, Mr. Lanier, in his bathtub, and we think it was murder. Oh, no. Oh, death was caused by drowning, all right, but, well, there were marks on his throat as if somebody had tried to strangle him. We're holding Morgan Whitlock. No charges have been filed yet, sir, but... Whitlock went to see Forrester last night and behaved in a very threatening manner. And he's unable to account for his movements at the time of the death. What about Amy? The niece? She's at home now. I drove her there myself. Just a moment, young man. He was with us. None of us left the house. Oh, I see. So you can all vouch for each other then? Was there anybody else in the house last night? Just my grandmother, Malvina Lanier. Do you think I might speak to her just for a moment? That won't be necessary, Inspector. My mother hasn't left her room since my father died... many years ago. - It was a great shock to her. She hasn't walked since. - I see. Inspector, it's for you. Oh, thank you. Excuse me, will you? Hello. Baldwin speaking. I'm going over to see Amy. No, Todd, I don't think it's the time... Bill, she's by herself. Yes, all right. Go ahead. All right, now stay there and don't touch anything. I'll be right over. That was my assistant, Sergeant Kinley. Something very odd's happened at the cemetery. I wonder if you'd mind going down there with me, sir. Me? What can... Well, all right. Yes, if you think I can help. Good. Oh, yes. By the way... We found it pinned to a window curtain in Forrester's office. It's a witch's charm... A devil doll. Oh, Todd, I'm so glad you're here. Didn't you know I'd come as soon as I heard? I wasn't sure. Why, Amy? Well, your brother and Mr. Forrester being partners and... And Uncle being accused... I love you. That's the only thing that matters. Oh, Todd. How's your uncle taking it? He's more angry than anything else. He's gonna be all right. They're just checking on everyone that knew Forrester. They questioned all of us this morning. They even asked about my grandmother. The inspector said they're holding your uncle 'cause he was at Forrester's last night. But they haven't filed charges against him. He told us that. Oh, I hope so. I don't know what I'd do. Just don't worry. They'll have to release him. It won't be long. In the meantime, you can't stay here on your own. You're coming to stay at our house. Oh, I couldn't do that. Why not? You know how Uncle feels. I don't think he'd want you to be here alone. He'd never forgive me if I stayed with the Laniers. Don't ask me, Todd. But suppose they hold him for some days? I don't know. Oh, Todd. I'm frightened. I wish you and I could be a thousand miles away from Uncle and... this feud... a-and... And what? And everything. What do you want? Hello, Miss Lanier. I'm sorry to trouble you, but... Amy! Hello. Come in. Come in. I'm glad you changed your mind. Tracy, this is Amy Whitlock. My sister-in-law, Tracy. Hello. Todd's told me a lot about you. How do you do, Mrs. Lanier. Amy's on her own. I said, if she felt lonely, she was to stay with us. Oh, of course. I feel like a terrible nuisance. We've plenty of room. Come on. I'll take you upstairs. Don't be long now. Who was that? Todd invited the Whitlock girl to stay with us. Do you think that was a good idea? Why not? She was by herself. Where is she now? Tracy took her upstairs. A Whitlock hasn't slept in this house for 300 years. Then it's about time one did, just to put a stop to this nonsense. Nons... You know the Whitlocks still belong to the old religion. I know there have always been stories about witchcraft and certain practices, yes. There's a coven right here. It's common knowledge. Are you trying to tell us that Amy's a witch? I am only trying to say... there's a coven of 13 here and that the Whitlocks belong to it. This is absolutely idiotic. Look, Helen, the girl's upstairs now. There's not much we can do about it until tomorrow, is there? You do as you like. You're head of the house now. But in the morning, I'm driving up to London to stay with friends! Plenty of time for sleep later on. You're coming to bed right now. Helen! What is it? I saw it. You saw what, Helen? I saw it. Get the dressing gown. Now come on, Helen. Come and sit down. You'll be all right. I... I saw it. Come on. Put this on. Keep warm. Sit down. Now, Helen, what did you see? It's that girl. I warned you. Do you mean Amy? Oh, she's in bed. No. I'll go and see. She's in bed asleep. Look, Helen, do you feel better? Can you tell us? What frightened you? Well, there was a woman... in gray. She was standing beside my bed. Th-There was mud on her clothes. She was going to kill me. Look, Helen. Tracy and I were out in the hall, and no one came out of your room. You saw there was no one here when we switched the lights on. Now don't tell me I dreamt it. I saw her as plainly as I see you. She came from there. There's noth... You shouldn't have let her go. I had no idea she'd left until I saw that her car was gone. Where did she go? What happened last night? After Helen went to bed, she, um... Well, she thought she saw something in her room. Saw what in her room? Oh, I don't know. She said it was a... a woman in gray. With clay on her clothes. How did you know that? Bill, you must go after her at once. She's in great danger. Amen. Oh, you go on ahead. I'll be up in a minute. I'm, uh, sorry to intrude, Mr. Lanier, but I thought you'd want to know... They're releasing Morgan Whitlock. Oh, thank you. When? Tonight or tomorrow morning. No evidence? We're baffled. Forrester was a powerful man, Mr. Lanier. How could anybody have just walked into his bathroom... and strangled him without any sort of a fight? Doesn't make sense. And neither does the death of my Aunt Helen. Well, I don't know about that. Oh, come on, Inspector. You know it wasn't an accident. Nobody leaves the main highway and drives 200 yards across a rubbish tip... by accident. No. It wasn't suicide. You can take my word for that. It wasn't murder either. You can take my word for that. We examined those tracks very carefully. There were no suspicious marks on the cliff top. That car was driven at an even pace... across that rubbish tip and straight over the cliff. It never stopped. Well, what's your explanation? You name it. I wish I'd never started this construction project. Come in. Oh, hello, Tracy. What are you doing up? Todd told me he and your husband are driving up to London this afternoon. I want to see him off. Oh, you should be in bed. Oh, it's only flu or something. He'll start thinking I'm an invalid. Well, all right. But be sure you're warm enough. Tell him I'll be down in a minute. We really ought to take her home now, you know, Todd. But she isn't well enough. She's had this fever for two days. She can't stay here once they release her uncle. I'm not having him storming around the place, upsetting Tracy while we're away. Oh, I can handle him, Bill. Besides, Amy can keep me company when you're in London. Are you sure you wouldn't rather we drove up tomorrow... or, um, postponed the meeting? Of course not. This development's important. What time are you seeing the bank? 10:00. We should be back before evening. You're worried about something. What is it? Oh, it's... just that I don't like leaving you here alone right after the funeral. Oh, Bill. You know me better than that. I'm not the fanciful type. Nothing. You know, I'm worried about you. You and Todd are both very tired. Be careful when you're driving, won't you? Yes. I'll drive the first half while Todd has a sleep, then he can take over. Here, carry my bag. Are you all right? Oh, yes. Yes, of course. Amy, I... I don't like to interfere, but do you have to go back to your uncle? Couldn't you stay with us? Please, don't ask me that. Don't make it any harder. Harder I must do what Uncle says. He's... Well? I must obey him. Oh! What is it? What an ugly thing. Bill, look out! There must be an explanation. There isn't. I was wide awake, and I saw the road in front of me the whole time. Maybe it was some sort of autosuggestion. You were thinking about Helen's accident and turned off at the same place. I was thinking about the meeting tomorrow. All right, you explain it. I can't, I can't, I can't! All right, why don't I admit it? It was witchcraft. Don't be idiotic, Bill. All right, I know it sounds idiotic. A week ago I'd have laughed at it myself. But how else do you explain Forrester, Aunt Helen and now this? Well, I don't accept it. You don't have to. But I'm not gonna risk my life... or yours or Tracy's anymore. We should never have left her. We can't go back now. Apart from anything else, it would scare the life out of Tracy. Besides, she's got Amy with her. And we'll be back by tomorrow evening. Look, let's go onto London. And to put your mind at rest, you can phone her as soon as we get to the hotel. Hello? Yes. Oh, Bill. Good. Oh, we're fine. We had tea together, and then she went up to bed. Yes. Oh, me? Oh, I've been doing all the odd jobs... I never seem to get done when you're around. How was the trip? What? Oh, "uneventful." Sorry. This line isn't very clear. Did you drive all the way? I said, did you drive all the way yourself? Oh, good. Yes. Yes, I'll tell her. She says she wants to go home tomorrow, so I'll probably drive her over. Right. Well, good luck for the meeting. Thanks for calling. Good night. Amy? Come in. Oh, you're still up. The old don't need much sleep, you know. Have you seen Amy? No, and I don't expect to. Isn't she in her room? No. You'd better get to bed. Yes, I will, dear. Good night. Good night. Amy? Amy? Amy! Oh, no! Well, we're in business. You were just great with them. I thought once or twice we weren't gonna pull it off. I never want another couple of hours like that. I'm going to ring Tracy. Right. Make it fast, Todd. Sure, but if Amy's in, she might know where Tracy is. Hello, darling. We've just got back. Look, Bill's worried because Tracy doesn't answer the phone. Do you know where she is? At your home. You're sure? You're sure she's there now, this afternoon? Yes. Bill? Amy says Tracy's at home. You go on. I'll follow. Okay. Todd, you can't come in. You mustn't. Why Please go. Please. We can talk about it later. I'm not going till I know what's wrong. Something's happened here, hasn't it? I don't know what you mean. Listen, Amy, I love you. That's the only thing... Stop it, Todd. Leave me alone! I warned you not to come near Amy. Now get out. I want to talk to Amy, and you've no right to interfere. I have every right... to charge you with forcing your way into my home. Now I'll give you one minute... before I call the police. Very well. I'll call you later, Amy. He's back. What about the brother? Have you seen him? Yes. Vanessa will be angry. Vanessa? Yes. She is coming to us. You will see her tonight yourself... At the sabbat. Tracy? Tracy? Trace... Tracy! Yes? I'm Bill Lanier. Oh, Bill? I'll be out in just a moment. It would be better if you wait outside. What are you doing here? What happened? The doctor will tell you. Where's my wife? There hasn't been anyone here all day except Mrs. Lanier. Are you sure? Here you are, Nurse. How are you, Bill? Hello, Arthur. Close, surely, but she'll be all right. Oh. What happened? Well, as far as I can make out, Malvina fell down the stairs sometime during the night. When she came to, she managed to phone me, and I brought the nurse. I just dropped by to see how she was coming along. How did she get to the stairs? Walked. Only way she could have. You see, there was never anything the matter with her legs, you know. Psychic trauma. After your grandfather's death, she had it fixed in her mind... that she was only safe in her own rooms. Sort of sanctuary. I can't imagine what changed her after all these years. Have you seen Tracy? I imagined she was with you. No. I left her here. Arthur, I've got to talk to Grandmother. Is that all right? Oh, yes, I think so, but don't overdo it. I've got to run along. I'll drop by after rounds. Yes, all right. Thanks. Grandmother? Grandmother? Would you mind leaving us for a moment, please? Grandmother, where's Tracy? I... I... saw her... The witch... Vanessa? Vanessa Whitlock. H-H-Helen was right. Where is Tracy? She... She wasn't burned. She... She... She c-came back. T-Tonight is... Roodmas... The witches' sabbat. Grandmother, please. Where has Tracy gone? Tracy... To the crypt. Oh, it's you. How did you get here? I took the shortcut back from Amy's and saw your light. What are you doing here? I can't find Tracy, and Gran says she came in here. Tracy? What on earth for? This is fresh candle grease. There's a tunnel behind here that leads... to the walled-off part of the cellar in the house. Yes. I remember hearing it was used as an... an escape route for priests. That's right, in the religious persecution. Family used to celebrate mass down there. They built a chapel. Now, this moves away from the wall, Todd, so give me a hand. Right when I say. Ready? Right, now. There's a fire down there. There's a what? Tracy! She's been drugged. Cut the feet. Tracy. Tracy, darling. Tracy, wake up. It's me. It's Bill. Tracy. Tracy, wake up. Tracy, it's me, Bill. Keep walking, Tracy. Keep walking. Turn her around, Todd. You've got to wake up, Tracy. Please wake up. You'll be all right. You'll be all right. Only keep walking. Tracy, keep your eyes open. Come on. Tracy, wake up! Bill. It's all right, Tracy. It's all right. We're taking you home now. Todd. Oh, no. Bar the door. Go off! I've got Tracy. Go to your homes. Hide your robes. Hide them! Get some brandy. Come on, Todd. Tracy, why did you go into the crypt? I followed Amy. She's one of them. Oh, Bill. He has led you away from the old religion. You have disobeyed our priestess. That's not true. I'm your servant, and I respect and worship you. A Lanier returns to die. No! And we shall be ready. No! No, I won't let you. You can't. I won't let you. No! I won't let you. No! I won't let you kill him. Amy! Amy! Amy! Bill! Have you seen Todd anywhere? Amy! Amy! Amy! No! Amy! Todd. Are you all right, Mrs. Lanier? Born in evil. Death in burning. |
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