"You'd see much to paint on the inside." "How can you work in the rain;" "Not very well." "It may not look it, but this old house was once the finest in all of Kent." "I know, because I lived here for many years." "Those walls are constructed of the finest hardwood." "The veneer was at one time, deep as pure glass." "This ..." "This hand of stone, is a symbolism which has surely had a most devastating effect upon the estate and all its occupants, since the very beginning." "The builder had for some reason placed these hand in every single room of the house." "As well as outside of it." "The grounds themselves which boundary the place were marked significantly at various points all along the property line." "It was almost as if an unseen wall had been lined to stretch the distance between the backwoods and the turbulent sea with all its restless luxury." "Near the house itself there was not one area that had been overlooked in the placement of that which was to bring about terror, to each succeeding generation." "Uncertain, that the hands were laid down to bring about a curse." "A violent curse, upon each and every owner of the house." "The first of these was Robert Braun." "Who together with his beautiful wife had purchased the place on their wedding day." "This, before their lives were to be changed considerably." "The curse upon Robert Braun manifested quite suddenly in the form of a letter being delivered by courier." "This letter was to inform Mr. Braun of his complete financial insolvency." "darling, I have to pick up CIifford and go to the city." "Oh, I knew it was something wrong." "You'II probably stay the night." " Oh ..." " I'II get back, you'II see." "WouIdn't it help to tell me;" "No." "AII right." "I know it has something to do with finances." "I want you to take along my house money." "It isn't much." "[Laughing and talking]" " What are you going to do;" " Get me that money." "With it, it will help." "Who can help you with such an amount;" "In the city, a club you belong to where they have gambling." "I want you to take me there." "Tonight;" "Yes." "I salute!" "[Low talking]" "Your friend isn't known here." "I'm sponsoring Mr. Braun." "You've discussed means with him;" "I have." "[Low talking]" "House bets." "No more bets please." "2 1 black." "[Low talking]" "gentlemen ..." "No more bets please." "6 black, the loser." "This club is perpetuated to assist those individuals who have met with extreme financial handicap." "The policy of insurance covering the life of each member is effected upon their first entrance." "The club, being made beneficiary of the policy can extend credit for gambling for credit up to and not exceeding the amount of insurance." "If this sum is lost to the club, the individual is then required to participate in the drawing of cards, to see if he will meet execution in order that the club may collect upon his policy." "As the clubs existence is dependant upon collections." "It requires that 2 men be executed each time a new member has joined in." "This ruling provides the balance and foundation upon which the club stands" "The 2 men who draw the queen of hearts are eliminated by 2 others, the executioners who draw aces." "Those drawing aces must carry out their executions within 3 days time." "By any means they wish." "An individual called for execution may be reprieved only by the payment in full of his indebtedness to the club." "So, I'm afraid, Mr. Braun, you'II have to pay us by one of the two methods." "You must know that a man at this point still retains an excellent chance to beat the odds involved in the drawing." "Some have survived a Iong time, including your friend CIifford." "In any event, this is the card of death." "You draw this card, you're out of the game." "Quite permanently." "Tomorrow night, 9 o'cIock, promptly." "Be here with the amount you owe us or continue to gamble." "My stock paper." "My portfolio." " I want the amount." " Yes, sir." " Zero, sir, it's empty." " Oh, Mr. Braun's account empty;." "My sympathy." "[clears throat]" "[Music]" "gentlemen, I'd Iike to introduce our newest member." "A dear friend of mine for many, many years." "Mr. Robert Braun." " Mr. Braun." "It's a pleasure." " How do you do;" " Good to meet you Mr. Braun." " Braun!" "To you." "gentlemen." "[Nervous laughter]" "Number 1 ..." "Number 2 ..." "Aces for executioners." "Adjourned." "[Low talking]" "Robert Braun wrestled throughout most of the night with the one idea of contacting the police and ending the nightmare once and for all time." "In considering all possible consequences in going to the police with the entire story, he decided attempt to turn his own fate into a direction for the better." "The least that could be done would be to think things out in a clear manner." "A much needed perspective was the primary goal." "And a days relaxation, with proper environment, could possibly do wonders in bringing about the channels of thought." "that were desperately needed if Robert Braun were to find the idea that would ultimately set him free." "It was not until fate manifested itself in the form of a gypsy woman, that the hand was forced to play the one card that could remotely bring about a solution." "The woman begged for the opportunity to read their fortunes." "An occurrence not at all uncommon to country gentlemen and their wives." "But for Robert Braun, this was the very thing, he for that day wanted to avoid." "As the woman deIved into a plane of the unknown power, she confided exuberantIy of the great store of happiness that would be continuously filling the Iong life of Mrs. Braun." "Excepting one particular period of intense grief." "Hers would be a life of particular joy." "Now it was confirmed." "A course of action had made itself plain." "Robert Braun knew what he had to do." "This way." "AII right now, show us something!" "I hope you've discovered whatever it is you're looking for." "You wish to see me;" "What is your name, please;" "Don't be afraid to tell me your name." "Robert Braun." "Robert, over here." "To Kent, driver." "Oh, clifford, I can't go sneaking into my own home." "I know." "It's clear." "You'II be all right now." "Thank you." "The house lied empty and still for the rest of that summer and throughout the cold winter that followed." "The estate was duly purchased in the Spring by my sister and her husband." "Who with their 3 children and myself, found it to be an ideal home where everyone could find his own element of content." "My sister and brother in law were gentle people." "But since moving to the house were completely unaware of the differences that were beginning to exist between their 3 children." "The 2 youngest were cheerfully robust and busied themselves playing the happy games of childhood, much the same as any others." "But the oldest boy, charles, would not often mix in the pastimes of those his own age." "charles was taken to spend most of his time alone." "He was mostly attracted to the symbolic hand." "He idolized it." "And the effect of its spell would take on an evil aura for the remainder of his life." "No, charles!" "Don't!" "Don't!" "No more, charles!" "No!" "..." "No!" "No!" "[ girl yelling]" "[ girl screaming]" "The boy, charles, spent weeks at the side of his sister." "But it was not remorse that he felt." "Inside he was actually glad, because he now dominated her." "The same as he did Jamie, their brother." "With the passing years, the children, charles, Jamie, and Beth, grew up." "Then both parents were one day lost at sea in a boating excursion." "With their bodies never been found." "I was the only survivor of the older generation, as charles became master of the house." "And now he had changed completely." "charles ruled the estate with unquestioned authority." "What he desired became his." "If he wanted music, it was played." "As for his sister, Beth, she had learned many years before of the consequences in questioning charles' actions." "In the village," "charles would show a great reserve and proper dignity." "I was always intrigued by his clever performance." "And watched him closely." "Beast!" "Beast!" "You lowly shameless beast!" "What have you done to my sister!" "What;." "I tell you, OIie, the years around here were a Iot different before he became master." "I can remember when it was a pleasure, a real pleasure to keep these grounds up." "It makes me sick at my stomach the way young Jamie and his sister have to take orders." "You'd think this place was a prison." "Why don't you just do your job and mind your business." "It seems to me it wouId be a Iot easier." "I mean to protect my business by knowing what's going on." "Young Jamie will be off to university tomorrow." "Gone till Christmas." "You probably haven't been around here" "long enough to know what that means." "You can expect charles to be at his very worst until the semester's over." "He'II begin to miss Jamie after a few weeks, and the situation for all of us will become more and more miserable as the time goes on." "He'II start to rant like a madman, you'II see right up until December." "I wish I couId say it was December now." "What with Jamie out of college and his wedding to that girl, Ruth, all done." "We might find a little cheerfuIness around here." "Jamie!" "I'm putting the coach ticket inside your suitcase." "Don't lose it." "Hey, I'm leaving tomorrow, remember;" "No!" "Fine fiance you are." "What are you looking for;" "Thought I saw a shell" "It's all right though, I don't want it." "Wait a minute." "Ruth!" "[Laughter]" "I do hate to say good bye." "Hey!" "[Laughter]" "Oh, Ruth!" "Pack your things, Ruth." "You're moving." " What;" " You're coming to our house." "It will give you 3 long months to get yourself settled before Jamie gets back for the wedding." "That charles, he actually suggested it." "And thus, it had been done," "like the surging force of a storm ridden sea." "This black power that charles possessed, had to executed fully on anyone and everyone, that would touch upon his own small world." "Hey!" "Anybody home;" "hello." "Jamie!" "[Laughter]" "Ruth, is my wife, Jamie." "Wife;" "My wife." "Jamie!" "My boy." "well, I think you should start setting up for the party." "Jamie's, honor." "You must understand." "Women have been surely the" "Women have been surely the cause of every problem that men have known." "This one was no different." "She threw herself at me." "I felt I should help her." "She wasn't for you, Jamie." "Your marriage will come." "That's what I still hope for." "When it's right." "I know." "I'm sorry." "You better take some more if you're over to the south side." "There's not one bud in that whole section." "Do you know I've been filling up and carrying this pail since 7 o'cIock this morning." "Both the back gardens are so dry we're likely to lose about everything." "I think we might get a little rain soon." "Pretty silly, isn't it;" " What's silly;" " well now, what do you think;" "It's downright rotten to ask a man to carry this water 7O yards in two directions, when there's a perfectly good well on the south side just going to waste." "I asked him about it again last week." "I'm afraid the answer was just the same as before." "What goes on in his crazy head, anyway;." "What's he got hidden over there that we shouldn't see;" "I thought you believed in minding your own business." " Your always telling me that." " Yes." "Yes, I know." "But a body's natural curiosity about the place where he works is one thing." "When you go about it, it's something else again." " Let's forget the whole thing." " No." "No, no, no, this is one time," "I'd Iike to know what you got to say." "What about that well;" "You're always accusing me of being over curious and carrying stories." "well, there are times I think you go a bit too far." "Even so, I ..." "I think you really know something this time." "Now, what about the well;" "AII right, I've been around here a Iong time." "I've seen things that no one else has." "well, come on!" "Let's hear it." "The facts are pretty obvious." "It isn't the well that's out of bounds, it's something close to it." "Now you figure out what that might be." "well there's nothing close to it at all except the wall to the house." "And that outside entrance to the wine cellar." "An entrance that's been nicely boarded up for over 5 years." "OIie have you ever had an occasion to go into the cellar since you've been here;" "No, I've had orders to go into most parts of the house but never down to the cellar." "Not even to sweep." "Who does clean up down there;" "None of us is permitted to enter the cellar for any purpose at all." "With all these crazy restrictions around here," "I never really thought about it." " Have you ever been down there;" " several times." "I have my own ways of doing just about everything." "What's in it;." "What did you find;" "Lots of things." "Some shells, barrels, a good stock of wine, and a locked room." "A room!" "What sort of room;" "I'm afraid I can't answer that just at the moment." "See I haven't had sufficient opportunity to find out very much about it." "I promise you though, the moment I do, you'II be the first to know." "I brought in some fine new stock only 2 days ago." " What's in there;" " Nothing." "See if Ruth's going." "Ruth!" "Ruth, we're leaving for town." " How many are going;" " myself and charles." " Oh, did Beth leave already;" " We're picking her up." "I won't go then." "I'II see you for lunch." "Not coming;" " I guess not." " You have a headache again;" " No, she'II see you at lunch." " Oh." "Come on, Iet's be gone." "I, don't want to be harsh with Jamie, but it seems Ruth has been acting strangely ever since he returned." "Ah-ha!" "[Laughter]" "Jamie, what's in that room;" "I don't know." "Look!" "Bet you're still slow." "[Laughter]" "I Iove you." "I know that." "[Music, dancing, and Iow talking]" "Ruth, you look lovely." " Come on charles, have another." " No." " One more." " No, not right now." "Thanks." "[Laughter]" "Oh ..." "[Sobbing] Oh, no, no!" "I don't know why I married him!" "I don't know!" "To your good health" " and your sister Connie." " Thanks." "Connie's improved so much lately, you wouldn't know her." "AII these months without him coming has been a godsend." "I just pray it stays that way." "well, you can't really tell about it." "He may be through with Connie and he may not." "I wouldn't count on anything 1 OO/5." "Not after what I say last night." "What's your latest;" "Marriage hasn't a chance to last much longer." "Ruth and Jamie will be making plans I'd say by the end of the month, perhaps sooner." " Hmm, they're serious about it;." " No question." "I saw with my own eyes the whole situation come into focus last night." "charles has a power all right." "Hypnotism or whatever you will." "But it hasn't the degree of penetration with some people that it has with others." "I've know for a Iong time Ruth was capable of breaking it off." "I wish I couId say the same thing for Connie." "Oh, how I wish it." "I'd better go upstairs and see if she's needing something." "I don't know whether I should be glad about what you just told me or not." "Maybe I'm too selfish." "You can't!" "You can't!" "You never listen to me!" "Never!" "AII I want to do is help you!" "Don't let him in!" "Don't!" "[Sobbing]" "No!" "No!" "He can't see her!" "Connie, don't!" "Don't let him in!" "please don't!" "Connie, don't let him in!" "please, Connie!" "please!" "Oh, please!" "please, Connie!" "[Sobbing]" "Is there no part of you that can show for once the semblance of human decency;" "She's been almost alive since you've stopped coming here." "Get out!" "I've failed in every way to help my sister." "You've succeeded." "What more do you want;" "I beg of you to go." "Leave, and don't come back!" "Go to your wife if you can." "Or weren't you aware that I know about your wife;" "well I do!" "I know of her and your brother and your sister." "I've seen them all in the village." "I also know that your wife is about to leave you." "That she's in love with your brother." "Oh, oh, what's the matter with you;" "please, I have something to tell you." "Something important." "uncle Brismo." "Ruth;" "Somewhere with Jamie." " And charles;" " Why, he just came in." "He'II kill her!" "What;." "Ruth!" "No, charles!" "No!" "charles, don't!" "Die!" " [Scream ]" " Jamie!" "[ Crying]" "uncle Huey ..." "What are you doing here;"