"They found us again." "Another one has found us." "We have to go further." "Not yet." " Mr. Crockett?" " Yes." "My name is Mears." "Ben Mears." "I'm looking for a place to rent." " Hmm." "For how long?" " Ah, six months maybe." " Family?" " No." " Furnished?" " Yes." "I can't think of any." " How about that house on the hill?" " Which house?" " The one as you come into town." " The Marsten House?" " Is that for sale or rent?" " It's sold." "I can't think of anything, not offhand." "You might try Eva Miller's boarding house." "It's real nice." "It's on Railroad Street." " You go..." " Yeah, I remember." " You remember?" " Thank you very much." "Funny about the Marsten House." "Vacant over 20 years." "Uh, Cully's going to Portland tomorrow." "Good afternoon, Mr. Crockett." "You sure fixed it up." "You think so?" "You like it?" "Fine job." "Sure a lot different from that doctor's office I sold you." "I'd have to agree with you." "Very tasteful." "Very tasteful." "Yes?" "Thank you." "Mr. Barlow, um..." "Will arrive." "Soon." "A lot of people have been waiting." "For Mr. Barlow." "You know how it is with a small town." "People don't have that much to do." "Ah, yes, well, I can assure you that people will find Mr. Barlow well worth the wait." "Especially you, Mr. Crockett." "I've told him already how helpful you've been." "Getting us the house and the store." "Oh, yes." "Oh, yes." "Are you a writer?" " Yes." " What do you write?" " Books." " Have I read any?" " Have you read any books?" " Your books." "I don't know." "How do I get breakfast?" "Oh, the kitchen's open to one and all." "Just keep your things stored separate." " Uh, do you work at night?" " Sometimes." " Well, you can't work too late, because..." " I won't." " Well, I hope you like it." " I'm sure I will." " How come you came here?" " Real estate man sent me." "Uh, no, I mean to Salem's Lot." "Strangers don't usually come here this time of year." "Not yet." "I'm not a stranger." "That's no way to leave a book." "You know, a book like that, you're gonna break the binding." "It's you, isn't it?" "It is you." "People ought to respect a book." "Even if it isn't especially well written." " It's well written." " Do you mind if I sit down?" "No, not at all." "Why did you call it Air Dancer?" "Did you read the book?" "Well, no, not all of it, um..." "In fact, I was just getting into it." " In fact..." " In fact, you got bored." "No, not in fact." "I just, um..." "Wanted to finish this first." " I'm gonna read it." " Oh, you don't have to." "Wait, what's your name?" "Susan Norton." "I teach art at Holly Elementary." "My father's a doctor in town." "You know, the reason that I, um, actually took your book out of the library is because I read your other one." " Title?" " I don't remember." "Do you want to have some dinner?" " No, you got a boyfriend." " Um..." "Well, not exactly." "It says here you're married, no children." " Still married, still no children?" " Ah..." "She died." "I got no children." "I got some memories." "Some of them good, some of them not so good." "You didn't answer my question." " Which one was that?" " Dinner." "I'd love to." "Good evening." " Good night." " See you tomorrow." "And, uh, tomorrow night." "You're sure?" "You're absolutely sure?" "Look, he's got to make a delivery and a pickup." "Besides, he always calls." "You know that." "Good night, honey." "Weasel." "What are you doing out here, Weasel?" "Sitting." "Spying more like, huh?" " Oh, no, Parkins." " Cully set you to it?" "No, no, no." "Better not." "That, uh..." " That writer who moved into Eva's..." " Yeah." " Right down the hall." " I heard." "Can you, uh..." "Can you keep an eye on him?" "Well, what's he done?" "Keep your eye on him and your mouth shut." " You got that?" " What's he done?" "Murdered 18 people." "18 people?" "Every one of them an old man who kept asking," ""What's he done?"" "Oh..." "Keep an eye on him for me, huh?" "There, Faithful." "Hi, honey." "What are you watching?" "Nothing." "Wanna stay home tonight?" "Sure, why not?" "Well, don't get drunk." "I want some fun in tonight." "You know what happens when you drink too much." "I'm gonna get something out of the freezer." " Twenty minutes?" " Hey..." "Bring me a beer." "Mmm." "Thank you." "So, you're staying at Eva Miller's?" "I don't mind telling you, she was quite a dish." "We kids used to watch her sashaying down the street." " Bill." " Well, we did." " Men." " Men." " Would you like some coffee, Mr. Mears?" " Oh yes, please." " How do you take it, Ben?" " Black." " Dad?" " You know what I think of caffeine." " And you still drink coffee." " Mornings only, and I don't recommend it." "Yeah, Eva married this fellow called Weasel Phillips." "And he came up to about here on her." "Thin as a heron's leg." "Smelled like a skunk." "Never made a decent living." "Nobody could figure out why." "They got divorced, but he's still living over there." "Life in a small town." "What's his book about?" "Well, his latest one, it's about, um..." "Two men." "Not one of those?" " What are you doing in here?" " Nothing, Eva, nothing." " What's that?" " Just a piece of paper, Eva." "Nothing on it." "Just paper." "He got a lot of scribbling here, too." " Something about a boy..." " A boy and a house." ""The house was a monument to evil, sitting there all these years," ""holding the essence of evil in its smoldering bones."" "Monument?" "Whose monument?" "The Marsten House?" "I don't know." "He stopped in the middle of a sentence." ""Sitting there all these years, holding the essence of evil."" "Writes real good." " Thank you very much for the dinner." " Good to meet you, Mr. Mears." " I'll get you a copy of that book." " Sorry about the peas." "She's done better." "Goodbye, Dad." "Well..." "They liked you." "Well, your father, maybe." "My mother doesn't like anyone except Ned Tebbets." " And, who's he?" " Oh, someone I've been seeing." " Have been or had been?" " Mmm, a little of both." "What is he really doing in Salem's Lot?" "Writing a book, he says." " Did he say about what?" " No, he didn't say, and I didn't ask him." "So, uh, tell me about Ned Tibbit." "Tebbets." " After college?" " New York." "I worked in an ad agency." "I was a junior." "I did layouts mostly, things like that." " You like it?" " I loved it." "But then, something happened, the agency lost a big account, and had to cut back, and, all of a sudden there I was, out on the street looking for a job." "It's a cruel city." " Anyway, finally..." " You had to come home." "Retreat." "Sanctuary." "I was all beat up." "I was glad to have a little loving care." "How long since, um, your wife died?" "Two years." " Is that what you're writing about?" " No, I'm..." "I'm writing about a house." "A house?" " The Marsten House?" " The Marsten House." "I see." "No, I don't see." "Hey, uh, where are we going?" "Well, there's the Dell, the movies in Bangor." "And then there's the lake." "And where do you want to go?" "Let's go to the lake." "Are you uncomfortable with me?" "Why, should I be?" "No, I just have a habit of asking questions." " Well, I have a habit of evading them." " Perfect match." "I like you, Ben." "Modern, aggressive female, partially liberated, states her feelings." " Well..." " Does that make you uncomfortable?" "No, it makes me feel good." "How long will you be staying?" "Oh, we'll see how the book comes." " Are you a slow writer?" " I'm medium." "I hope it's a long book." "Crockett Realty." "Oh, yes, sir." "Yes." "Yes, sir, right away." " I will be right back." " Okay, honey." "Please don't say that." "Someday you'll forget." "All right, honey." "I forgot." "Getting warmer." "That's very good of you to come over, Mr. Crockett." "I need your help again." "Always glad to be of assistance." "Yes, I appreciate that." "And, as I've told you, you will be amply rewarded." "Now, I'd like you to have your truck at the Portland docks tonight." "7:00 sharp, at the Custom House Wharf." "All arrangements have been made." "7:00, Custom House." "Two movers will be sufficient, I think." "Two men." "I have a very valuable, uh, sideboard, a Hepplewhite, that has to be picked up." "It's to be taken to the house." "You understand?" " Sideboard taken to house." " Yes." "And your movers will put it down in the cellar." "They can get in through the outside bulkhead..." "Uh, below the kitchen window, as you know." "You won't be there?" "No, I must drive into Boston." "I'll be back tomorrow morning." "And there's just one other thing." "You will procure four stout padlocks." " Four?" " Mmm-hmm." "Four." "And your men will leave the keys for all four locks on the basement table." "And when they leave, they will padlock the bulkhead door, the front door, the back door and the shed garage." "You have that?" "I have it." "Thank you very much, Mr. Crockett." "I'm extremely pleased that I can always call on you." "That you can." "And Mr. Barlow?" "Oh, I've told you, you should be meeting him soon." "Very soon, Mr. Crockett, and I'm sure that he'll find it a pleasure." "1776." "The winds of revolt swept through the township of Jerusalem's Lot, soon to be known as Salem's Lot." "Down with the British." "Hooray for freedom." "Men took out their long rifles, kissed their wives and children goodbye, and marched off to join George Washington." "Daddy, come back safe." "Daddy, let me come with you." "I'm old enough to fight." "I'll be back, but not until we've won the right to be free men." "The war was long and bitter." "Some men from Salem's Lot fought at Valley Forge, suffering through that long, cold winter." "Others helped gain victory at Saratoga and triumph over Cornwallis." "And when the war ended..." "Where is Daddy?" "Won't he ever come home?" "Yes, Salem's Lot had its share of heroes, living and dead." "But they had fought for the greatest treasure of all, liberty." "O beautiful for spacious skies" "Mr. Burke." "Are the kids still running the pageant?" "What?" "Are the kids still running the school pageant?" "With a little editorial help from me." "Very little, as I remember." "My name is Ben Mears." "You probably don't remember me." "Oh, of course I do." "I've read your books." "I wouldn't have written them if it hadn't been for you." "Well, you just said a very large thing." "I'd like you to explain it." " Can't we talk about it tonight?" " Oh, sure." "I don't know how you can work here." " It'd scare the hell out of me." " Oh." "It's kind of nice here." "During the day." "It's pretty and it's quiet, you know." "Too quiet, especially at night." "Well, I'm hardly ever here at night." "They are." "What's up?" "I need a strong back tonight." "Want to make, uh, 50 bucks?" " Fifty bucks?" " That's for two of you." "You're gonna need another strong back." " What about you?" " Me?" "Yeah, I got something else planned for tonight." "Hey there, teacher." "Can I carry your books for you?" "Oh, uh..." " Sorry." "I'll..." " No, that's all right." "Do you have your car with you?" "No, I came by to see Jason Burke." "Thought I'd wait around for you." "Take a walk home." " I won't do that again." " Hey, come on." "Um, will you wait for me here, please?" " Get in." " No." " Susan..." " You have no right to do this." "You said you loved me." " You'd said it." " That was 100 years ago." "It has nothing to do with him." "So you were doing something up at the lake." "Oh, please." "What time do you think you'll get back home, honey?" "Well, with all the junking around, locking up, those things take, uh, five, six hours." "Be back midnight or after." "You stay away from her, you hear?" "I'll try." "You try real hard." "She's all mine, right, honey?" "You big, bad bear, go on." "He was just kidding." "Look, if he suspected anything, would he kid?" "Cully." "You know, you shouldn't leave your truck double-parked like this." "Now, you wouldn't want me to go all the way to Portland without saying goodbye to Bonnie, would you?" "What's in Portland?" "Gotta make a pickup for him." "Custom Wharf." "You know what it is?" "A lot of old junk from Europe, I guess." "Don't know why anybody would wanna open an antique shop here." " You?" " I guess they know what they're doing." "Don't leave the truck sitting here like this, huh?" "I might have to ticket you." "I'll be back to get you." "Come on now, Faith, just calm down." "I'll be back soon." "Go play with the people." "Wouldn't leave a dog in there." "Oh, he's all right." "He'll go to sleep in a while." "He's a good old dog." "Faithful, come on." "I said I'd be back soon." " Is that dog gonna whine all night?" " He'll be all right." " You know where to go, what to do?" " Sure." "Uh..." "Leave the truck here when you get back." "I'll pick it up in the morning." "You betcha." "Shut up!" "What's this all about anyway?" "You got any idea?" "He wants Boom-Boom Bonnie to think he's going to Portland." "As a matter of fact," "Crockett himself set up this trip." "Larry Crockett?" "What's he got to do with this?" "Larry Crockett and Boom-Boom Bonnie?" " What's he gonna do?" " Well..." "What would you do if you had a 12-gauge sitting in your garage?" "Jason." " Have a drink?" " I don't mind." "Uh, Canadian on the rocks." " Mmm." "Got us a native, huh?" " That's what he is." "Return of the native." "Or is it the prodigal son?" "I got it, I got it." " This way." " All right, all right." "Oh, what did you say was in this?" " A sideboard." " Man..." "Sideboard." "You know..." "It's funny, this crate feels very cold." "Well, it's been sitting out here." "I don't like it." "I mean, it's really strange." "It feels cold." "Well, why don't you pry?" "You wanna pry it open?" " You wanna pry it open?" " No." " Let's move it out, fellas." " All right, we're going." " Do you want to pry it open?" " No, no." "Let's just get it to the Marsten place." "Get rid of it." "Hell of a way to make 50 bucks." " It's cold in here." " Yeah." "It sure is." "It shouldn't be." "It's a warm night." "Turn on the heater." "Hey, that thing is moving." "Moving?" " Watch the road." " Stop the truck." " We should open the thing up." " We can't do that." "But something's wrong." "It's getting cold in here." " Let's just get it delivered." " I want to open it." "Come on!" "Man, just let me drive, will you?" "Honey, it's safe." "Oh, Tiger, I'm gonna lose respect for you." "No." "Well, I don't wanna go to a motel again." "I want you right here in my own little bed." "It's more exciting to me that way." "No." "No, I'm not gonna talk like that on the phone." "You just get over here, and I'll whisper things in your pearly little ear that'll make your hair stand up." "You get here, or else... 1951." "A fire started in the old mill." "It spread rapidly on both sides of Griffin Road and burned toward the Marsten House on Pabscuitti Hill." "1951." "A fire started in the old mill." "It spread rapidly on both sides of Griffin Road and burned toward the Marsten House on Pabscuitti Hill." "The wind turned the fire back toward town." "Volunteer fire companies came from all..." "Mark?" "Whatever are you doing?" "Rehearsing for the pageant." "Well, keep it down." "Your father's trying to figure his quarterly taxes." "All right." "Oh, Mother, uh..." "Danny and Ralphie Glick are coming over after they finish their homework." "We're going to rehearse." "Have you finished your homework?" " Oh yes, a long time ago." " All right." "Just as long as you and the Glick boys don't disturb your father." ""The Marsten House on Pabscuitti Hill."" "The wind turned the fire back toward town." "Volunteer fire companies came from all over the county to help fight the threatening flames." "Bright boy, Mark Petrie." "Wrote most of the pageant this year, just as you did." " Both talented." " Another writer, huh?" "Very possibly." "I'd certainly be proud if I'd helped develop two authors." "Make a lifetime of teaching worthwhile." " Well, you got me started." " You had the gift." "I wanted the opportunity to continue, but, you moved away." " Let's see, you were..." " Eleven." "Mmm." "Tell me, why the Marsten House?" "I remember that figured in your pageant, too." " Maybe because my aunt worked there." " Hmm." "Did she ever tell you anything about what went on inside the house?" "No, never." "Or Hubie Marsten?" "No, she never talked about him." "But you remember that even then that house had a reputation for being a haunted house." "Every town has one." "I went up there once." "On a dare." "You know how kids are." "I was sweating scared." "I sneaked around." "Got into the house." "What did you see?" "Ghosts." "Everything." "Every sound." "Every shadow." "I'm not sure what I saw." "I, uh..." "I think I saw Hubie Marsten, hanging by his neck." "His face green, his eyes puffed shut, his hands livid." "It was ghastly." "And then he opened his eyes, and he looked at me." "He looked at me." "And I took off." "And I ran." "I ran as fast as I could." "I've never forgotten that." "There was something." "A feeling of..." "Jason, do you believe a thing can be inherently evil?" "I've seen trees that looked like tortured spirits." "A house?" "The Marsten House, for instance?" "Can it be evil in its stone foundations, in its wooden beams, in the glass of its windows, in the plaster of its ceilings, evil?" "The man who built that house..." "Yeah, Joshua Vaughn." "Killed his wife and a servant." "And hanged himself in his bedroom closet." "Hubie Marsten's sister and wife died mysteriously." "Rumors of poison, never proved." "Then he came here." "And the young boys in the area started to disappear." "Some people suspected Hubie Marsten, but it was never proved." "Never proved." "And now we have a Mr. Straker." " And a Mr. Barlow." " Who no one has ever seen." " And, you think..." " I think..." "That an evil house attracts evil men." "But, if a house attracts evil men..." "Why did it attract me?" "It is moving." " Look at it!" " We're almost there." "Now, shut up." "Shut up!" "What's this one?" "It's a ghoul." "Girl?" ""Ghoul," like in "school."" "We don't have anybody like that in our school." "Oh, Mr. Peterson." "What is a ghoul?" "A ghoul is an evil demon who, uh..." "He preys on corpses, feeds on human beings, robs graves, things like that." "Why are you so hung up on this stuff?" "I don't know, I just am." " It's weird." " Let's try this again." "Danny, Ralphie, your mom called." "Wants you home." "Okay, Mr. Petrie." "We know our lines okay, don't we?" "Most of them." "Well, why don't you come over to our house tomorrow night, okay?" " Okay, Mr. Petrie?" " Sure." " See you later, Mark." " Bye-bye." " Bye, Mr. Petrie." " Good night, boys." "Mark." "When are you gonna outgrow all this?" "Soon, I guess." "Well, I..." "I'd better fix this." "Well?" "Look." "The road." "The road nothing." "It sure is cold." "Come on, let's get it done." "It's freezing!" "Look, I'm telling you, it's not natural." "It just ain't natural." "We gotta get it out." "Let's just grab ahold." "Let's get it done." "What was that?" "It's just an owl." "I never heard one before." "Sure you have, hundreds of times, millions." " We shouldn't have gone through the woods." " It's a shortcut." "Look, you can even see the lights of Jordan Avenue." "See them?" " No." " Hey, I'm going." "Wait." "Danny, wait!" "Hey, I want to know." " Come on." "Come on." " I want to pry it open." "We can't." "He'll hear." " Who?" " Him." "Straker." "Well, I want to do it anyway." "I'll get something from the truck." "Listen." "You hear that?" "Somebody's up there." "There's somebody up there." "Rats, probably." "You heard rats." "It was someone." "Let's split." " Wait, we forgot to padlock the door..." " Throw them down there." "Here are the keys." "Throw them down, too." "Close the doors!" "Did you happen to notice the time when the boys left?" "Oh, you did?" "Well, then they should have been here half an hour ago." "Ask Mark if the boys said anything to him." "You know how kids are." "Henry!" "Danny." "Danny, what happened?" " What happened, son?" " Where's Ralphie?" " Ralph..." " Where's your brother?" "I don't know." "Get Dr. Norton." " See you." " Yeah." "Faithful." "Here, boy." "Faithful?" "Kiss me." "Come here." "That's good." "Isn't that better?" "That's good." "It's better here, isn't it?" "Well, well, well." " Cully." " Cully." "I guess I owe Weasel Phillips a case of beer after all." "Cully, look, this isn't..." " He broke in and he tried to rape me." " He was?" " He broke in." " A rapist?" " Is that it?" " Cully." "Cully." "I'll take care of him." " I didn't..." " Shut up, rapist." " Cully, listen." " Get up." "Out of the bed." "Out." "Out of the bed." "Out." "Cully!" " Cully." " Get up." " Cully." " Shut up!" "Listen, Cully..." "Please." "Please don't do anything." "You don't want to go to jail, do you?" "I'm not going to jail for killing the man who raped my wife." "That is what he did, isn't it, honey?" " Yes." " No!" " She invited me, I swear." " No!" "Cully." "No." " You invited him?" " Yes." "No!" "He called me, and he said that he had to talk to me, and..." " So, you invited him over?" " No!" "Cully, no." "Cully, look, you don't want to go to jail for the rest of your life for what is a lie." "Come here." "Come on." "Come on, in the living room." " We've got to talk this over." " Right, right." "Let's talk it over." "We're gonna go in the living room, and we're gonna talk it over." "And then I'm coming back, hear me?" "Come on, Larry." "In the living room." "Man-to-man stuff." "Oh, I like your shorts." "You must, too, keeping them on like that." " Where did you get them?" " Boston." "Sure look good on you." "Stay right there, puss." "Turn around, Larry." "Look, I know how this must look to you." "I can understand how upset you are, but let me explain what happened." " You see..." " Now, grab the barrel, Larry." " Huh?" " Barrel." "Grab the barrel." "Easy!" "Very easy." "That's it." "Now, this shotgun's got a five-pound pull on it, and I've got about three on it now." "Good boy." "Now hold it up in front of your face." "That's it, right in front." "That's it, right in front." "Careful." "You move that barrel, Larry, and I'll blow you away." "Good." "Good." "And, now..." "Just hold it, Larry." "Hold it steady." "Steady, Larry." "Don't move!" "Don't move!" "There." "You see how much self-control you can have?" "It's terrific." "You're doing fine, Larry, just fine." "Now, close your eyes, Larry." "Close them." "Here I come, puss." "Here comes big, bad bear." "I know you're gonna say, um, "Don't make a big thing out of this."" "No, I wasn't gonna say that." "Maybe, uh..." ""Look, I can't make any commitments right now."" "I wasn't gonna say that either." "What were you gonna say?" "I wasn't gonna say anything." "Okay?" "Told you I ask too many questions." "And I don't give enough answers." "Maybe we talk too much." "Maybe we do." "Sounds like a traffic jam." "Maybe they saw our car." "I'm gonna go take a look." "Crockett?" "Crockett?" "Crockett?" "You heard another car drive off." "Then?" "A car or a truck." "Which one?" " I don't know." " You don't know?" "Do you?" "No." "Where were you people?" "We were over there." "Over there?" " Parkins." " Yeah?" "Come here, will you?" "Okay, okay, okay." " You heard two cars." " Or a car and a truck." "One drove off, huh?" "And then?" "Oh, one more thing." "I think I heard someone get out of one car." "I'm only supposing that 'cause I didn't see it." "And get in the other car." "Or truck." "That's what I think." "That's what you think?" "Quite a night, huh?" "First a kid disappears, then this." "You're not leaving Salem's Lot, are you?" "I'm not leaving." "Don't." " It's late." " Where are you going?" "To the hospital." "Danny Glick has collapsed." "What?" "Ralphie Glick, Danny and Larry Crockett, all in one night?" "Quiet little town of Salem's Lot." "Well, it's only all just happened since..." "Since I came here." "Well, you didn't have anything to do with it." "I mean, you didn't even know the Glick boys, or Larry Crockett." "I met Larry Crockett." "I did see the boys rehearsing a school play." "That's not what I'm thinking." "You remember I came here to rent the Marsten House?" "Yeah." "Somehow, I..." "I think that my coming here has acted as a kind of catalyst." "Awakened an evil in this town." " Oh, that's..." " Nonsense?" "How is he?" "Um..." "Danny's never had an attack of asthma, has he?" " No." " His file's with Dr. Goldring." "All right." "I'll get the file from Goldring." "But, for now, um, any history of rheumatic fever?" "Danny?" "No." "He's a healthy boy." "No major problems." "Has he had a TB skin patch this year?" "TB?" "Danny's got TB?" "No, no." "Marjorie, we're just trying to find out." "He's a healthy boy." "He's athletic." "He's a normal boy." "All right, well..." "We want to keep him here for some more tests." "What tests?" "We just don't know yet." "Faithful?" "Royal, you seen my dog?" "No, I ain't seen him." "Faithful!" "Faithful..." "Nolly, have two men cover this area." "Come on, move it." "Let's go." "That's it, that's it." "Don't touch that." "Nolly, get me an envelope!" "He always wears a black suit." "Who?" "Straker." "Inspector." "How nice of you to drop in." "Plain old constable." "I see you're just about ready to open." "Not quite." "Just about." "Everything in?" "Everything that's important, yes." "Coffee?" "Tea?" "A glass of sherry, perhaps?" "No, thanks." "Never drink on duty?" "You are on duty?" "I'm always on duty." "Hmm, that makes me feel safe and snug." "Mr. Barlow arrived yet?" "Mr. Barlow is in New York." "Coming soon?" "Hard to tell." "He may go to Europe on a buying trip." "So, you'll be opening without him." "If necessary, yes, of course." "What's Mr. Barlow's first name, by the way?" "Official question?" "No, just curious." "My partner's full name is Kurt Barlow." "Kurt with a K." "We've been working together in London and Hamburg." "This is our retirement." "Modest, comfortable." "We're hoping to build a reputation for ourselves in this area, perhaps throughout New England." "You think that's possible, Constable?" "Anything's possible." " How do you like that old house?" " Needs work." "But we have time." "Not bothered by yowens?" "Yowens?" "Kids." "Local word." "You know how kids like to devil new folks." "Oh, no." "No children." "No." "We seem to have misplaced one." "Is that so?" "Yes." "Yes, it is so." "The thinking now is that we may not find him." "Not alive." "Oh, that's a shame." "Is there anything I can do to help you?" "I don't suppose so." "By the way, what happened to your black suit?" " My black suit?" " The one that I always see you wear." "I have two black suits." "They're up at the house." " Am I breaking some town ordinance?" " No." "I'd like to see those suits." "Could we go to the house and get them?" "I'll bring them down tomorrow." "They need cleaning anyway." "Any reason?" "Some." "Bye." "Ciao, Constable." " Ciao?" " Ciao." "That's a familiar Italian expression meaning goodbye." " I didn't know you were Italian." " I'm not." "The word is." "Well, you learn something new every day." "Mmm-hmm." "No, no." "It's not a kidnap." "The boy is missing." "Probable foul play." "Yeah, I'd like to check out a couple of feelers." "First is a Benjamin Mears." "Uh, M-E-A-R-S." "Writer." "Yeah, the book's called Air Dance." "And the other one is Conway's Daughter." "What?" "No, I haven't read them." "Don't know if many have." "Yeah, the other two are sort of stapled together." "There's a Richard K. Straker." "No, I don't know what that stands for." "And Kurt, with a K, Barlow." "S-T-R-A-K-E-R." "And B-A-R-L-O-W." "Yeah." "Any, uh, any connection between Mears and the others?" "That's one of the things I wanna find out." "I understand what you're saying, Ben." "I'm not given to unscientific belief, but I will admit that there are a great many things that science hasn't as yet answered." "If ever." "But, I can't, for the life of me, understand any connection between Larry Crockett's death and the Marsten House." "He rented the house to them." " But he died of a heart attack." " You're sure of that?" "Absolutely." "The autopsy left no doubt whatsoever, none." "It could've happened at the Marsten House and he was taken to the lake." "Yes, well, it..." "Let me tell you, the local gossip leans in a different direction." "All right, what about the Glick boys?" "That could be something else." "What is wrong with Danny Glick?" "We haven't completed our tests yet." "But, it could be..." "And I'm trusting you to keep this to yourself." "It could be pernicious anemia." "Coming on overnight?" "We don't know how sudden it is." " You don't really believe that?" " Ready?" " Yeah." " We're going to the movies in Bangor." "Uh, Ben, could I say something to you?" " Don't make it too long, Dad, okay?" " Sure." "Now, everybody knows that you and Susan were up at the lake." "Yeah..." "Look, I want you to know..." "Now, you seem like a pretty nice fella to me." "And I think you respect Susan, and I believe she respects herself." "But you could've been a little more discreet, right?" "Yeah." "When may I expect them back?" "A couple of days." "No more than that, please." "I'll try." "I don't have to do this, you know." "I understand." "Appreciate it." "I'm under some suspicion?" "Well, yes." "The disappearance of the boy." "Yes." "Because I'm a stranger." " Guess so." " And a little odd." "You know how we are here." "Ah, no different from people in small towns all over the world." "I appreciate your candor." "Am I being charged?" "No, but I'd like you to stay around." "I fully intend to." "Now, the suits..." "Don't forget." "As soon as, um, crime lab..." "FBI." "In Bangor." "A-ha." "And, no damage, please." "I want them back in excellent condition." "And, um, cleaned." "I'll see to it." "Ciao." "That's Italian for..." "I remember." "Goodbye, Constable." " You playing hooky?" " No." "This is my hour break of which exactly 26 minutes is left." "Just wanted to say hello." " Hello." " Hello." "Mmm." "My father asked you to be discreet." " Well, I didn't tell you that." " No, he did." "Then he told me to go ahead and show my feelings." "Yeah, well, the man contradicts himself." "Well, Dad's a New Englander." "He's been taught one thing and feels another." "Classic conflict." "I have one, too." "I got a phone call this morning." "Ned?" "Not that easy." "From Boston." "Job interview." "They saw my portfolio." " Oh!" " It'll only be for two days." "Hmm." "Oh, no, thanks." "No, thanks." "So, it's off to Boston?" "It's not that far." "Uh..." " When do you leave?" " Tomorrow, after class." "Can you come with me?" "Uh, Danny Glick's funeral's tomorrow." "I wanna stay for that." " Why?" "You weren't..." " I just need to be there." "I wish you weren't going." "Me too." "I have to." " Where are you staying?" " With a friend." "Girlfriend." " I'll give you the number if you like." " Yeah, okay." "You know, it's only an interview." "If I got the job, I wouldn't have to start till the end of June sometime." "That's not so bad, is it?" "Well, I guess it'll have to do." "Let us pray." ""Lord God, through your mercy," ""may those who have lived in faith find eternal peace." ""Bless this grave and send your angel to watch over it." ""As we bury the body of Danny Glick, welcome him into your presence" ""and with your saints, let him rejoice in your presence forever." ""We ask it through Christ our Lord." "Amen."" "Amen." ""With faith in Jesus Christ, "we reverently bring the body of this child" ""to be buried in its human imperfection."" ""Let us..." "Have plans for tonight?" "More or less." "Susan's gone to Boston." "I heard." "Hope she gets it." "Do you?" "Well, whatever's best." "Should I believe that?" "Not entirely, but that's what I want to feel." "Royal?" "Royal?" "Everything's all right." "I'm glad I stayed." "How about the job?" "Tomorrow?" "So, uh..." "So when are you coming home?" "Friday." "Well, there's really not much point, is there?" "No." "Tonight, I'm having dinner with Jason Burke." "No, Jason." "Just Jason and me." "Yeah." "I miss you, too." "Yeah." "Ben." "Ned Tebbets was around here today fixing a toilet, and threatening to fix you." " Hey..." " I just thought I'd tell you." "You're a nice guy." "I'd hate to see you get all busted up." "Thanks." "Do you think it's affected him?" "Well, you have talks with him." "Yes, but still, you never know." "He doesn't show it much." "I wonder why." "He's got to be feeling something." "I mean, after all, the Glick boys were on their way home from seeing him." "Did you look at him at the funeral?" "He keeps his feelings in hand." "I don't want him going in the woods anymore." "I'll go up and see him." "How are you, son?" "Fine, Dad." "Finished your homework?" "Long time ago." "Can you get out of these?" "Easy." "Put them on me." "Go ahead." "Let's see." "Where's the key?" "Oh, I don't need it." " Not too tight?" " I want it tight." "Okay?" "There." "What do you know?" " Here, want to tie me up?" " No, I don't think so." "I can get out of any knot." "You can try me." "Hands behind the back." "Some other time, son." "You know, sometimes I wonder, you know, why you're so interested in monsters and magic and..." "Why do you think that is, Mark?" "I always have been." "I can't explain it." "It's the way I am." "Mmm." "Like, you were interested in numbers, so you became an accountant." "At least I can earn a living." "I'll earn a living." "Okay." "That's it?" "Thanks." "Hey, wait." "Uh..." "Hi." "Just had FBI Boston on the phone." "Rundown on Ben Mears, Straker and Barlow." "What'd they say?" "Straker is British by birth, 58 years old." "Applied extended visa 18 months ago." "No criminal record at all." "Barlow?" "Born, Germany." "Left in '20s, before Hitler." "Naturalized British." "Changed his name from Breichen." " Anything else?" " Oh, yeah, thanks." "Uh, been in the import-export business with Straker since 1943." "He travels alone but seems to keep to himself." "Straker's the one who stays in front." " He shown up yet?" " Barlow?" " Yeah." " No." "What about Mears?" "Mmm." " Mears." " Yes." "He was born here in Salem's Lot." "Left at the age of 10." "His wife died in an automobile accident two years ago." "He's a left-winger." "Against nuclear power, stuff like that." "No record?" "Hmm." "Travels a lot." "There's no, uh..." "No connection between Mears and the other two?" "Wouldn't seem so." "Then why's he so interested in the Marsten House?" "And why did they buy it?" "There's a connection." "There's a connection, I'm telling you." " Jason." " Well..." " Well, how's the book coming?" " Oh, hard." "Tough way to make a living, huh?" "Well, it's not much of a living, but it's the only way I know." "The Marsten House still center of the story?" "Yep." "What about the Glick boys?" " Thank you." " You connect them with the house?" "Everything in Salem's Lot is connected with that house." "You can see it from every part of the town." "It's like a beacon throwing off an energy force." "Mike." "Hello, Mr. Burke." "Mike, are you on something?" " No." " Drugs?" "Sick." "I feel sick." "Since when?" "Hmm?" "First, I found my dog dead." "Then there was the funeral yesterday." "I fell asleep on Harmony Hill." "Didn't wake up till morning." "This was after Danny Glick's funeral?" "Yeah." "I went back to finish." "Royal wasn't there." "I started to feel sick." "Can I have a drink?" "Miss." "Whiskey." "What do you remember, Mike?" " Singing." " Singing?" "Sweet." "Sweetest singing I ever heard." "A feeling like drowning." "And eyes." " Eyes." " Whose eyes?" "Bright and..." "Scary." " Whose?" " Don't remember." "I dreamed." "You slept there all night?" "Yeah, all night." "What about last night?" "I remember a dream." "Somebody out there." "And I..." "I let him in." "Who?" " I don't know." " Listen to me, Mike." "Mike." "Mike, I want you to stay at my house tonight." "Will you do that for me?" "We'll arrange to see Dr. Norton tomorrow." "All right." "I don't care." "Open the window." "Open the window, Mark." "Open the window, Mark." "Please." "Let me in." "It's okay, Mark, I'm your friend." "He commands it." "No, Mark." "Go away." "Go away!" "Son, are you awake?" "Yeah, kind of." "Did you have a bad dream?" "I..." "Maybe." "I don't remember." "You called out in your sleep." "I'm sorry." "Do you want anything?" "No." "Good night then." "Good night, Dad." "Come in." "I hope these will be all right." "Mike?" "Turn your head, Mike." "This way." "Where did you get these marks?" "I don't know." "Now, call me in the night if you want anything." "Anything." "Even if you have a bad dream." "Will you be sure to do that?" "Yes." "Now, anything." "I mean it." "I'll be right down the hall." "I will." "Mr. Mears, telephone." "Telephone." "Oh, oh." "Uh, uh..." "All right." "Just a minute." "Just a minute." "What is it, long distance?" "No, it's Jason Burke." "Oh." "What time... what time is it?" "It's a little after 4:00, and Mr. Burke sounds very upset." "Oh, oh, uh..." "Yeah, Jason?" "What's the matter?" "Um." "Well, give me about 10 minutes." "Well, hell no." "I'm a..." "I was a Baptist." "Jason." "Do you have, uh, uh, a rosary or a crucifix?" "Yeah, in my bedroom." "Mr. Berk asked for it?" " Yes, please." " Well, he's not Catholic." " I don't even think he goes to church." " Please." "He's all right, Jason." "He's sleeping." "The window's open." "It was closed and locked." "I made sure of it." "Sun's coming up." "Look." "It's blood." "A single drop." "Mike." "Mike, wake up." "There's no pulse." "Marks on the neck?" "No." "Nothing, nothing." "No marks." "Nothing." " You think I'm crazy?" " No." " Do you believe me about the marks?" " I guess I'll have to." "But where does that put us, Jason?" "It puts us in the position where we have to do something." "Could he have died of a virus or something?" "Well, Ben, the window, the marks on his neck, and I heard him invite someone into the room and..." "Oh, that terrible laughter." "All right." "Do you know what will happen to you if we whisper a word of what you've just told me?" "Right. "Funny old duck living alone on Taggot Stream Road." ""How can we trust him to teach our children?"" "I can't help you, Jason." "I saw a body, nothing else." "And I'm an outsider, a writer, a crazy." "But if we do nothing..." "There is something we can do." "We can check this all out." "Call Dr. Norton." "Call the constable." "Yeah." "Let the machinery take over." "Don't even tell Dr. Norton he's dead." " Not dead?" " Well, how do we know he is?" "Let the medical people check it out." "Let them find the cause of death." "All the times Mike drove that, not guessing how soon he'd be riding in the back." "Mears, I want you to testify for the coroner's jury." " I'll be there." " That's good." "Got to do my paperwork." "Duplicate, triplicate." "Don't punch, spindle or mutilate." "We all have to do that, don't we?" "Yeah, and they say it's a free country." "Uh, Jason." "What is it you wanted to tell me?" "Have there been any other people complaining of feeling weak?" "Uh..." " Well, had bad dreams?" " No." "There soon will be." "Bill, do you believe in ghosts?" "Ghosts?" "No." " Witches?" "Wizards?" " No." " Werewolves?" " Of course not." "Vampires?" "Bill, come on inside." "I'm going to tell you something." "And I'm going to ask your help." "And maybe you'll give it, if you don't decide I'm absolutely crazy." "Good morning, Eva." "I heard." "Awful." "Poor Mike." "I'm tired." "I'll just have a cup of coffee and get some sleep." "Why in the world did Mr. Burke want that crucifix?" "Maybe because he thought Mike Ryerson was Catholic." "He should've known better than that." "He had Mike in school." "All his people were Lutherans." "Well, it looks like you're gonna miss the opening." " What opening?" " Those antique fellas." " Straker?" " Uh, him and the other fella." "Did that other fella ever show up?" "I don't know about that." "All I know is they're opening the store today." "Wouldn't Dad like this?" "Huh?" "Uh," "I guess so." "Oh, Mr. Straker." "Uh, my husband's birthday is next week, and I..." "Oh, dear." "It's quite reasonable, you know." "There's no chance that..." "I'm sorry, but..." "I understand." "I could hold it for you till the end of the week without any obligation." "Oh, I'd appreciate that." "Thank you." "Done." "An English desk here, 18th century." "Values continue to escalate." "Interesting little Welsh cupboard in oak." "And my favorite chair." "It was with me in London in my establishment." "English." "Georgian." "Oh!" "You have some expertise." "No, not really." "I just know something about silver." "My aunt had some Georgian." "We had to sell it when she died." "Oh." "What an unfortunate way to acquire knowledge." "My aunt was housekeeper at the Marsten House, your house." "Oh, really?" "That's interesting." "I've always been curious about that place." "Perhaps I can satisfy your curiosity." "A lot of peculiar things have happened in that house." "Mmm-hmm." "The story goes that the man who built it murdered his wife and a servant." "And though it was never proved, he was suspected in the disappearance of several children." "Yes, it was terrible, wasn't it?" "Interesting." "Remarkable, yes." " Mr. Straker." " Yes?" "Do you believe that evil can be inherent in a house?" "About as much as I believe that trees have souls." "Well, perhaps they do." "Oh, you're the writer." "On vacation or vocation?" "I am writing about the Marsten House." "Ah!" "And you'd like to visit." "Well, why not?" "Mr. Barlow is on a buying trip, but the moment he arrives." "You'll enjoy Mr. Barlow." "And he'll enjoy you." "You snake." "Try to steal my girl." "Pretty good beating you took, fella." "No fractures, though." "Slight concussion." "You understand me?" " Yes." " Good." "We're gonna keep you here overnight anyway, for observation, all right?" "Mmm." "Yes." "Your friend Ned, he was arrested." "He's sitting in the town jail." "I don't think he's gonna be that foolish again." "Anyone else sick?" "Hospital?" "Couple of new admissions, but nothing, uh..." " No." " What Jason and I told you..." "Ben, it's out of the question." "I don't believe it, and no one else will." "You just take it easy, all right?" "I want a crucifix." "All right." "If it'll make you feel better, I suppose we can arrange it." "Look at me." "Look at me, teacher." "Look." "Look." "Look." "Look." "Look at me." "Look at me." "Look." "No." "Look." "Look." "No." "No." "Get out." "Get out." "I revoke my invitation." "You will sleep like the dead, teacher." "No." "Marge?" "Marjorie?" "Marjorie?" "Marge." "Margie?" "Marjorie?" "Honey?" "Marge." "Marge." "Marge." "What is it?" "What are you saying?" " What?" " What?" " Marge, I'm gonna call a doctor." " No!" " You sure?" " I'm okay." " Honey, I want Dr. Norton to see you." " No." " Marge." " I'm weak." " Weak." " You haven't been sleeping ever since..." "Oh." " I've been dreaming about him." " Sure." " About Danny." " That's natural." "It's all right." "He comes back, and he says, "Mommy, Mommy, I'm so glad to be home."" "He says he's my baby." "My baby." "Hi." "Dad called me." "Oh, oh." "It was, uh, just a little knock." "Uh, I know you're okay." "There's more, Ben." "Ned Tebbets died last night." "What?" "They found him dead this morning in town jail." "Dad examined him." "Pernicious anemia." " Just like the Glick boy." " Yes, only Ned had high blood pressure." "And Danny's mother died this afternoon." " Same symptoms?" " I think so." " What did your father say?" " He wants to talk to you." " And Jason Burke." " Jason Burke?" " He's here, Ben." " Here?" "In the hospital." "Intensive care." " What?" " Heart attack." "He's stable." "Susan." "You've got to go back to Boston." "There's a kind of plague in this town, people are dying." "Don't you understand what's happening?" " Do you?" " I do." "It's in the Marsten House." "It's got to be rooted out." "It's got to be destroyed." "Do you know the priest at St. Jude's?" " Father Callahan?" " Father Callahan." "But I am an agent of the Holy Catholic Church." "You see, the overall concept of evil in the Catholic Church has undergone a radical change in this century." " Evil with a small "E."" " Satan with a small tail." " Witches, incubi?" " Vampires?" "In Salem's Lot." "Haven't you noticed anything out of the way, peculiar?" "Well, the Malloys weren't at Mass this morning." "Mrs. Malloy never misses." "Mrs. Glick..." "But she'd suffered a terrible blow." "Ned Tebbets." "Mike Ryerson." " He's gonna do it." " Well, at least we'll know then." "We'll have the medical evidence." "Now, now, listen to me." " You have to get some hawthorn." " Okay." "Okay, and..." " And just put it all over the house." " Okay." "And the crucifixes from Father Callahan..." " Mother's never going to..." " She has to!" "They're breeding on one another." "The vampires are creating vampires." "It's a geometric progression." "Two times two, times four, times eight." " This is just..." " In another couple..." "Ben." "Ned Tebbets' body has disappeared from the morgue, and a baby that died this morning is gone." "Marjorie Glick?" "She's in the funeral parlor in Cumberland." "I'll get my car." "Hawthorn." "I think a lot of this comes from Mark's hobby, collecting masks, uh, assembling monsters from kits." "He's always been preoccupied with them, and it's not healthy." "Let's not make those judgments now." "Mark, you're sure it wasn't a dream?" "It wasn't a dream." "It was Danny Glick." "Nightmares seem real." "His subconscious fear made Danny seem real to him." "And they were very close friends." "I'll get it." "Poor little boy." "You can do nothing against the master." "Stop, holy man." "Or he'll cut the boy's throat." "Back." "Back, holy man." "Back, shaman." "Back, priest." "What would you give for this miserable boy?" "What do you ask?" "What would you give to reprieve him this night, to save him for another night?" " What do you want?" " The master wants you." "Throw away your cross, face the master." "Your faith against his faith." "Could you do that?" "Is your faith enough?" "Then do it." "And trust him to let the boy go?" "Run." "I think they're dead, Father." "Run." "I'm going to kill you." "Now, your part of the bargain." " I'm a priest." " A priest?" "Throw away the cross." "Face the master." "Faith against faith." "What do you think?" "Her condition is very similar to Mike Ryerson's." "There's no surface lividity, no signs of rigor." "I'm gonna call home, make sure they're all right." "They'll be fine if they follow instructions." "I'll make sure they do." "Bless this cross." "In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost." "No atheists in foxholes." "The Lord is my shepherd." "I shall not want." "He maketh me..." "He maketh me to lie down beside still waters." "He maketh me to lie down." "He maketh me..." "He maketh me to lie down in green pasture." "He restoreth my soul." "Bill." "He leadeth me in the path of righteousness for his name's sake." "Bill!" "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death," "I will fear no evil." "Bill!" "I will fear no evil." "Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." "Danny." "Where are you, Danny, darling?" "Bill!" "Bill!" "Bill!" " Ben, they're..." " Don't look at her eyes." "Oh, God." "I called a friend of mine in San Francisco." "He's, uh, he's turned on to the occult." "He says that, uh, we have to get to Barlow during the day." "Before sunset." "In his coffin." "And drive a stake through his heart." "What about Straker?" "Straker's human." "He's mortal." "He's..." "He's, uh..." "He's the watchdog, he..." "He's the thing's bodyguard." "He prepares the way." "How can he be killed?" "Any way." "Any way at all." "Gun, knife." "Any way at all." " Why did they come here?" " How the hell do I know?" "Because you're somewhat isolated, you're somewhat inbred." "Full-blooded." "Barlow must have wandered this planet for centuries, looking for new places to victimize." "It's unbelievable." "I've seen it." "Still, Ben," "it's unbelievable." "Good girl." " Where's your mother?" " She's up in your room." " She's all right?" " Yeah, she's fine." "What happened?" "Marjorie Glick rose and joined the undead." " The undead?" " She's a vampire, too." "Soon, this whole town of Salem's Lot." "Susan, you're gonna have to leave town." "Mother and Dad?" "Your father's gonna stay and help me destroy this creature." "Now, tomorrow before sunset, you take your mother and anyone else that you can persuade to go, and you leave town." "Where's Gillespie?" "Parkins called in sick." "It's the first day he's been off the job." "Ever." "Are you..." "You feeling all right?" "A little tired." "I didn't sleep much last night." "I was dreaming." "Funny." "I dreamed about Ned coming to see me." "It was a funny dream." "He may have gone into town." "You look pale." "Are you all right?" "Just tired." "I..." "I dreamed all night." "All night." "Sweet, sweet dreams." "Weasel." "Young." "Just like old times." "Kissing me on my neck." "Oh, Weasel." "Maybe you better go lie down." "Yes, I will." "Mark?" "Mark?" "Mark?" "Susan." " What are you doing here?" " I followed you in." "Let's get out of here." "He killed my parents." "You can't do it." "My father and Ben..." "Listen." "Please." " You go." " Only if you do." "I can't." "We'll come back with my father and Ben." "They'll help us." "We need help." "What's that?" "He's here." "Come." "That will hold you till tonight." "What will happen tonight?" "Yes." "What have you done with Susan?" "Ah..." "What did you do to her?" "I've taken her to where she wished to go." "To meet the man she came here to meet." " Where are you going?" " South Carolina, visit relatives." "You can't do that." "He's up there." "He's in the house." " Who?" " Barlow." "Barlow!" "He's a vampire." "He's got to be destroyed." "What the hell's so funny?" "You're crazy." "There aren't any such things as vampires." "Well, then, what do you say is happening here?" " Something is happening here." " I don't know." "Some kind of craziness." " You're scared." " Whatever it is, I'm not staying." " You're the constable here." " Was." " Running!" " Running, running!" "And you're staying?" "You're staying." "All right, since you're staying, come here." "Come here, will you?" "Here." "Here." "Maybe this will do you some good." "Coming!" "This town's falling apart and you're running?" "Gillespie is leaving town." "Have you seen Susan?" " They should be gone by now." " No." "Ann's still waiting for her at home." " Father Callahan in there?" " No one's there." " Is it blessed?" " It is holy water." "Ben?" "Ben, Susan's in there!" "Mark." " They're in there." " Where?" "I don't know." " You run." "You run as fast as you can." " No." " Keep running!" " No." "Ben." "I told you to go." " No." " Run!" "No!" "Help me!" "No, please!" "Ahh!" "Ben." "Bill." "Bill!" "It's getting dark." "The cellar." "Wait." "Mark, wait." "Mark, wait." "Mark!" "Mark?" "Mark." " I'm all right." " Easy." " It's just the ankle." " Can you stand?" "Yeah." "He's here." "I know he's here somewhere." "Yeah." "Here." "It's the root cellar." "We have to get him out of here." "Must weigh a ton." "We have to get him out of here." "Push!" "The sun's gone down." " He..." " Don't look at him!" "Mark." "Get out." "Susan?" "Sorry, Susan." "Forgive me." "The wind." "It's blowing towards town." "Susan." "The town will burn." "It will drive them out of their hiding places." "All of them?" "No." "It will purify Salem's Lot." "And the others will be on the run." "And on the hunt." "For us?" "For us." "They found us again." "Another one has found us." "We have to go further." "Not yet." "Ben?" "I found you." "I know." "I love you." "Yes." "You were so difficult to find." "I know." "But we're together now." "We'll always be together." "We'll always be young." "We'll love each other." "Forever." "That is his promise." "Forever?" "Forever." "Kiss me, Ben." "Kiss me." "Kiss me." "There'll be others." "Do we go now?"