"[ dog barking ] [ man whimpering ]" "?" "[ recording: operatic contralto aria ]" "[ man muttering ]" "he's dead." "He's dead." "[ louder ] I don't believe it !" "No pulse." "There's no pulse !" "No pulse !" "no" "You-- He's got no pulse." "[ moaning ] [ panicked murmuring ] [ choking ]" "[ man ] a little after midnight, the old caretaker was awakened by a terrible sound;" "whimpering, pitifully." "The sound came again, faintly." "Only this time he was sure it was human." "The graveyard was silent..." "Except for the steady padding of his feet..." "As he went around the tombstones." ""hello ?" "is someone there ?" "someone ?"" "but there was nothing." "No one." "As he stood there, scratching his head, feeling something of a damn fool, he happened to look down." "And there at his feet, someone had been buried..." "That very afternoon." "The grave had been disturbed." "The soil was upset, and the cross lay on its side." ""respect," he muttered, sure now that he was the butt of a practical joke." "So he smoothed out the soil..." "And set the cross back upright at the head of the grave, and then he went back to his bed." "But outside, in the graveyard, in the wind, there was still a faint wisp of sound, almost like a song:" "[ fingernails scratching ]" ""alive. still alive !"" "[ faintly ] aaah !" "[ whispering ] "alive."" "[ chuckles ] god." "[ sighs ] marvelous story." "Marvelous." "I think that was the worst shocker we've had in years." "Damn near scared the pants off me, I'll tell you." "[ chuckles ] well, I don't know about you, but I could do with another brandy." "Hear, hear." "Maybe a good cigar." "I've got to go to bed." "No brandy ?" "I haven't been sleeping well lately." "Besides, it's late, and it's getting cold." "And milly'll be waitin' up to-- Pour some hot chocolate down me." "[ laughs ] come on." "I'll drive you home, doc." "You know, ten years from now, 80% of the young men of this country..." "Will be wearing ties only to weddings..." "And-- And to funerals too, perhaps." "I'd feel as if I was naked." "Well, it's time we all went home." "Come on, doc." "You look terrible." "Are you sleeping all right ?" "Damn it to hell." "Are you ?" "Gentlemen, before you go," "I would like to propose a toast..." "To us:" "chowder society." "Chowder society." "The chowder society." "The chowder society." "[ together ] the chowder society." "[ water running ]" "who are you ?" "[ woman ] sleeping." "Who are you ?" "Woke me." "Tell me !" "David." " Who are you ?" " You know." "I know ?" "I am you." "no." "Cold." "What are you ?" "[ screams ]" "[ phone ringing ]" "[ ringing ]" "[ engine droning ] [ man on phone ] donnie ?" "come home, donnie." "There's been a terrible accident in new york." "Your brother is..." "Dead, son." "Come home right away." "[ man on p.a. ] now arriving at gate three from new york, hartford and springfield." "Gate three from new york, hartford and springfield." "Be careful." "[ passengers chattering ] [ p.a. ] bus for montreal-- Hello, dad." "Well-- is this all you have ?" "I'm fine." " L-look at you." " I'm okay, dad." "[ p.a. ] montpelier, your gate is four." "[ radio announcer ] break out the snowmobiles, boys and girls." "Two inches of that lovely white stuff already on the ground..." "And a massive cold front heading our way." "No question about it." "Talkin' about it might help." "[ exhales ] right." "[ sighs ] how's the writing coming ?" "I've had other things on my mind." "Teaching ?" "Didn't finish out the term." "Oh, don." "So, what do you think happened to him, dad ?" "This was an accident." "Oh, is that what you told everybody ?" "What, that he fell ?" "That's what they said." "I don't give a damn !" "I know something happened to him in new york." "You're shouting'." "Jesus christ, dad !" "I'm telling you something happened to him !" "He may have been murdered !" "Stop it !" "[ breathing heavily ]" "I knew the girl he was gonna marry." "I slept with her, dad." "Do you hear me ?" " I slept with her." "[ Dishes crash ] you come here looking like god knows what, your brother not even in his grave yet" "Dad" "And you start carrying on about having sex with his fiancee." " Dad !" " Isn't it about time you straightened out ?" "Somehow." "dad." "[ minister ] I will fear no evil, for thou art with me." "Thy rod and thy staff" "Thou preparest a table-- David." "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." "[ moaning ]" "[ muttering incoherently ] david. david." "[ cries out ]" "don." "oh !" "I" " I didn't know where I was for a moment." "You were havin' a bad dream." "Lord, was I ever." "[ chuckles ] think I'll turn in." "Good night." "Night." "Well, you're all I have left now, you know." "[ inhales ] uh, maybe" "Uh, maybe if the weather lets up, you and I can go fishin' one day." "I-i'd like that." "Me too." "Well, stay around a few days and help your old man out with a few things." "Whatever you say." "Sure." "Don't forget to lock up, will you, kiddo ?" "[ woman chuckling ] [ moaning ] [ woman moaning ] [ sobs ] [ woman laughing ]" " [ crying ] -[ woman ] wake up. wake up !" "[ yelling ] noooo !" "Ricky, for god's sake !" "Stella." "My god." "wow." "Here." "[ sighs ] you poor darling." "Better ?" "Yeah." "You wanna tell me about it ?" "No, no, no." "oh." "Those gruesome stories you tell each other." "It's a wonder you can sleep at all." "What are you old fools up to ?" "Black magic." "You're nuts." "[ moaning ]" "[ eerie shrieks, muffled ]" "[ muffled moaning ] [ crying out ]" "dad ?" "[ crying out ]" "[ crying out ] dad ?" "Dad, you okay ?" "Fine. fine." "[ exhales ] you sure ?" "It was-- it was just a dream." "Are you sure ?" "[ rattling lock ]" "[ woman weeping ]" "morning, Mr. Mayor." "Is everything okay ?" "The wife and I..." "We're sorry about your loss." "Terrible thing." "David !" "David !" "David !" "David !" "David !" "What the hell is he" "[ woman ] ned ?" "ned." " Ned !" " [ screams ]" "holy shit." "[ snickering ]" "[ phones ringing ] [ man ] rick, that's pathetic !" "Thank god you're back !" "Everyone's been calling !" "A ninny !" "And so are you, if you keep believing such twaddle !" "He saw him !" "Edward was doing something on that bridge." "I can't imagine what, but something !" "He was walking-- I have another idea." "[ phones continue ringing ] we've got to help the boy." "You talk as if he was 12 years old." "I'm sure edward left him well provided for." " Why don't you tell him how grateful he should be ?" " Take it easy, now." "To know a man over 50 years." "You-- you'd think you knew what he was capable of !" "You're not doing your blood pressure any good." "Myblood ?" "Mr. James, it's joel brenner over at theurbanite." "Wants to know if you'll write something about the mayor for the paper." " Ricky, you take care of it." " What shall I say ?" "My god. he went off the bridge !" "Say whatever you damn please." "I can't believe it." " Come on, come on." "you better" " I can't believe it !" "Come on, you better go home now." "You-- you-- I'll call you later." "You knew him as well as I did, ricky. he couldn't." "Idon'tbelieve it !" "Not now, ricky." "Yes. now." "My god, sears." "Something's happening." "I" " I can tell." "Something terrible." "You can be very persistent." "Persistent without being a bully." "That's a very nice quality, ricky." " Don't try to bamboozle me." " It's a few bad dreams !" "And a monthly spook story." "Come on, now." "Let's get to work." "You're dissembling." "It's beneath you." "All right." "What would you advise ?" "I don't know. but we've gotta do something." "[ woman chuckles ]" "[ laughter continues ]" "hello." "What are you doing here ?" "Answer me." "I won't hurt you." "[ man ] answer the man, fenny." "Hello, Mr. Hawthorne." "What are you doing here ?" "what do you want ?" "We want to play." "Isn't that so, little brother ?" "[ giggles ] you can't stay here." "You're breaking the law." " Is that so ?" " You're trespassing here, illegally !" "No. no, we're not." " We know the owner." " There is no owner." "Sure, there is !" "We've spoken to her." " Who ?" " Our friend." "Our new friend." "No one lives here." "Someone lived here." "Someone fantastic." "What ?" "You've lived in this town all your life, and you don't know ?" "What ?" "He knows, doesn't he, fenny ?" "[ growls ] maybe he'd like to play with us, fenny." "What ?" "Maybe it's time he joined our little game." "Yeah. you're gonna be seeing some unusual..." "And interesting things before we're through, ricky !" "no." "And you might say..." "You're gonna be having the time of your life." "You know, ricky, you're not gonna know if you're reaping or sowing." "You won't know up from down. and, ricky, we're going to tear the soul of this pathetic town..." "And crush its bare bones between our teeth !" "[ fenny giggles ] [ man ] fenny did good, didn't he, lady ?" "[ woman ] excellent." "You liked that, didn't you ?" "[ woman ] I loved it. now I'll tell you what we're going to do next." "That's him !" "Gregory bate." "Are you sure, mr." "Hawthorne ?" "Positive." "[ bell tolling ]" "the evidence, taken as a whole, leads me to only one possible conclusion." "That edward charles wanderley, his mind in a state of confusion, took his own life." "[ man ] I don't believe this !" "Get them out of that house today. do you hear me ?" "I'm sure everybody has by now." "Don't smart-ass me." "Just get 'em outta there." "Sears james, I don't suppose there's any man alive..." "Who ever got in the last word with you." "I should hope to hell not !" "Mr. Hawthorne." "Meet me at the village pump in half an hour." "[ officer on police radio ] it's just like Mr. Hawthorne said, walt. bate is crazy." ""extremely unstable," it says here." "He and the boy escaped from a state mental hospital about a month ago." "And, walt..." "He was a member of some kind of occult order..." "Back in california." "[ walt ] geez, what a pair !" "Mm, walt !" "What about this occult business ?" "You think there's anything to it ?" "I ain't no freud." "Damn funny world." "Gettin' to be a damn funny world." "[ patrons chattering ] strangest things pop into my head." "I was just thinking that sidewalks have changed the world." "one of my earliest recollections is" " Mr. Hawthorne ?" "Call me ricky. everybody does." "Getting back to sidewalks, your father and I used to-- Mr. Hawthorne." "You didn't ask me here to talk about sidewalks, did you ?" "[ sighs ] no. no." "[ sighs ] sears would brain me for saying this, but I think we're in danger." "All of us: milburn, the chowder society." "Especially the chowder society." "Who is this ?" "I'm never gonna find nothin'." "Only a pair of loonies." "Cockamamie !" "Someone's idea of a joke." "[ screeching ]" "[ noise of elevator rising ]" "[ noise continues ] [ noise stops ]" "[ elevator noises resume ]" "the lord is my shepherd," "I shall not want." "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures." "He restoreth-- How did you get in here ?" "Such a tragedy." "I'm so very sorry." "What kind of welcome is that, don ?" "Someone's died here." "What do you want ?" "How do you know my name ?" "To look." "To touch." "?" "[ plays organ note ] who are you ?" "My name is gregory bate, although I've been known by other names in other places." "Get out !" "Are you afraid, don ?" "Will you be afraid when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death ?" "You're crazy." "Great treats are in store for you and your old friends." "Imagine." "Just imagine." " Get the hell out !" " We're full of surprises, aren't we, fenny ?" " [ snarls ] - [ yells ] - [ gregory ] good boy." "We do have something special for don, don't we ?" "It's a little present from our benefactor." "Where did you get that ?" "[ sears ] every winter." "Ice. the power lines." "You should see yourselves." "You look like three owls." "Leave the candles, milly." "You're giving each other the willies with these meetings." " He's found a picture of her." "[ Sears ] who ?" " Don." " But that's not possible." "I thought we" "I'm afraid edward kept one." " What have you told him ?" " Nothing." "I wanted to." "I like the boy." " The circle has held this long." " Maybe he can help us." " Change is change for the worse !" " Spoken like a true lawyer." "Huh !" "We can feel things watching us and following us, and we dismiss them as fantasies." "We have nightmares and try to forget them." "Now that edward's gone," "I fear-- I very much fear..." "That more of us are going to die." "[ don ] I think he's right." " I told him you weren't to be disturbed." " That'll be all, milly." " Milly." " Well, then, I'll just leave you gentlemen..." "To your private business." "Well, young man, do you have something to say to us ?" "I want to buy my way into the chowder society." "Buy ?" "What did you say ?" "With a story." "Isn't that the price of admission ?" "I'm sorry, Mr. Hawthorne." "Ricky." "But it's worse than you know." "At least two people have already died." "My brother was the first." "[ inhales ]" "I think this is a ghost story." "I had landed a..." "Year's teaching job..." "At a small liberal arts college just north of orlando, florida." "Pretty unromantic stuff, really. just a couple of sections..." "Of an undergraduate course in american literature." "[ man ] wait up !" "I was seeing" " I was sort of seeing this other instructor, a girl named helen kayon." "[ bell ringing ] mr." "Wanderley." " Who was that ?" "the dean's new secretary." "just started today." " How'd she know who I was ?" " It must be those blue eyes of yours." "[ laughs ] right." " Call me tonight." " All right." ""and the first thing she does is seduce him." ""the first thing he does is to be seduced." ""and the second thing they do..." ""is hug their sin in secret..." ""and gloat over it." "And try to understand."" "Which is the myth of new england." "Between now and the next time we meet, i'd like you to think about what d.h. Lawrence meant when he wrote that." "Do you have a question, mr." "Solt ?" "Yeah, the part about seduction." " Yes ?" " Could you be a little more specific ?" "[ students laugh ] next time." "[ typewriter tapping ]" "so you're workin' late, huh ?" "Mr. Wanderley." "No, that's not really fair, is it ?" "you know my name, and I don't know yours." "Alma. alma mobley." " Shall I tell the dean" " Oh, no !" "not-- not right away." "Um, he's" " I really stopped by to see you." "I wondered if you're not busy, uh, tonight, uh, if you're not doing anything special, maybe you'd like to join me for dinner." "Uh, I mean-- Ah, wanderley." "You must have been reading my mind." "[ chuckles ]" "you've been doing exemplary work, donald." "Thank you." "I don't know what your plans are, but I was just thinking..." "Maybe we should extend your stay here another year." "Close your eyes." "Make a wish." "[ laughs ]" "[ whooping ]" "if you want to make love to me, you'd better hurry !" "[ chuckles ] [ thunder ]" "[ exhales ]" "?" "do you like it ?" "It's beautiful." "I'm frightened of thunder." "I guess I'd better stay here tonight." "yes." "?" "[ music box continues ] [ laughs ] [ chuckles ]" "ahhh !" "I want you !" "I want another kiss." "We're going to be late." "I don't know anything about you, you know ?" "There's nothing much to know." "I'm just an old-fashioned girl." "[ laughs ] i'll say." " Come on, tell me." " Not now." "Well, uh, where are you from ?" "You're english, right ?" "So h-how'd you wind up down here ?" "None of that matters." "I want to know about you." "Tell me where you live." "Ah, just a couple of rooms." "No, no." "Where you grew up." "Ah, milburn ?" "Well, it's just a grave of a town in new england." "Uh, nothin's changed there in about 200 years." "Sounds lovely." "[ snickers ] it's not. it's boring." "Will you take me there sometime ?" "Yeah." "Promise ?" "Yeah, I promise." "?" "[ classical soprano duet ]" "[ dripping ] [ alma ] now." "?" "[ continues ] I want you..." "Now." "[ don ] here ?" "Here." "Or never again." "?" "[ full choir joins ] [ knob jiggling ] [ woman ] this door is not to be locked at any time." "[ whispering ] there's Mrs. Meredith." "Open this door this instant." "Do you hear me ?" "[ laughs ] don't stop." "Don't stop. don't stop." "don't stop." "[ alma moaning ] [ people chattering ]" "?" "[ guitar ]" "[ clears throat ] you're not wearing-- um" "Where'd you leave 'em ?" "[ laughing ] did you leave-- [ clears throat ] you folks like to order now ?" " [ laughing ] - come on, tell me." "I've told you everything about me." "No secrets." "All right." "no." "There's no one else in your life ?" "Just you." "Well. but there was someone." " Long time ago." " You were in love with him ?" "It wasn't anything like you're thinking." "Just-- [ laughs ] just tell me that" "Tell me that it doesn't, uh" " Have anything to do with you ?" " It wasn't a great love." " No." " Good." "Because I'm going to be, and I don't want there to be anyone else." "Just me." "[ laughs ]" "now let me tell you where I'm gonna take you next weekend." "You haven't done any work in weeks." " I don't care." " I'm a bad influence." "Yes, you are bad." "[ screaming ]" "[ clearing throat ]" "what is it, alma ?" "[ dog barking ] water." "Let's, uh..." "Elope." "We could, uh..." "Go to the greek islands." "Crete." "Don, I'd love that." " But" " But what ?" "I'd rather go to milburn." "[ laughs ] no. not milburn." "You're kidding, right ?" "Don't you want to show me off to your hometown ?" "[ chuckles ] I want to meet your family." "Well, my mother died a long time ago." "But your father, he's still alive." "Ah, my father and I don't get along all that well." "Surely this is different." "This is our wedding." "What's your brother like ?" "[ sighs ] he's more like my father, I guess." "Successful. ambitious." "More of a hunter." "You don't really want to get married in milburn, do you ?" "I want to get married in the town where you grew up." "The same church." "I want to walk down the aisle..." "In my white dress and veil, and I want everyone to be there." "Your father, his friends, the whole town." "All of milburn." "I will take you places..." "Where you have never been." "I will show you things that you have never seen." "Alma ?" "And I will see the life run out of you." "Are you all right ?" "Alma ?" "[ laughing ]" "[ thunder rumbling ]" "do you remember ?" "The first night you were here." "It was raining then." "What is it ?" "Let's talk tomorrow." "now." "I don't want to get married for a while." "When ?" "I don't know." "Maybe not at all." "You have to." "I'm sorry." "You don't know anything !" "no." "?" "[ music box ]" "[ thunderclap ]" "[ moaning ] alma." "Alma !" "[ panting ]" "alma, listen" "Can I help you, mr." "Wanderley ?" "Where is she ?" "Miss mobley did not turn up for work this morning, nor did she phone..." "To say that she would be absent." "The dean is most upset." "You're lax. you're lazy." "you're slipshod." "You disappear for days on end without saying a word to anyone." "Disappointed ?" "I thought you made a good start." "Alma ?" "Wait. that's the kids there ?" "Right." "Who is it ?" "[ woman ] your brother on 32." "Okay." "Hi, donnie." "Ah, david." "I been thinkin' about you." "I'm glad you called." "Uh, dave, I gotta talk to you." "Yeah." "I gotta talk to you." "I got some amazing news." "What ?" "robert redford bought your life story ?" "[ chuckles ] no, I'm serious." "Um, I just don't know how to tell you." "All right. well, try starting at the top." "Okay. um, about a month ago," "I was up on columbus avenue on business, and, uh, somebody called out your name." "Uh-huh." "I turned around, and there's this great-looking girl." "She thinks I'm you, right ?" "Well, I hope you got around to telling' her." "Yes." "I got around to telling' her." "What's her name, dave ?" "Donnie." "Uh, she is not the person that you think she is." "[ exhales ] shit." "She's worried you have the wrong idea about her." "Everything about her is wrong." "Get away from her, dave." "She's dangerous." "I can understand you being upset." "If alma had walked out on me to marry you, i'd sure as hell resent you." "[ scoffs ] I don't resent anything." "Oh, come off it." "If you can't admit" "Shut the hell up and listen to me, dave." "[ exhales ] look at her." "All right ?" "She is not real." "And you know, like, when you touch her ?" "She's cold." "[ sighs ] I don't think we're talkin' about the same woman." "[ phone disconnects ] [ dial tone ]" "when they broke down the door to david's apartment, no one was there." "She had simply vanished." "There had never been an alma mobley." "[ coughing ]" "[ sighs ]" "I can vouch for their merit." "Havana." "What about my story ?" "Well, that was quite a tale, young man." "It happened." "Just the way I told you." "[ inhales ] why is she here ?" " [ chuckles ] she must have heard you." "[ Dogs barking ]" "I know you're scared." "I'm scared too." "I'm lucky to have escaped whatever sent david out that window." "But I think..." "If we help each other" "Sounds like knute rockne before a big game, doesn't he, ricky ?" "[ don ] that's alma mobley." "I don't believe you." "[ doc ] I knew this was going to happen." " Coincidence." " I don't think so." "Neither do i." "[ doc coughing ] no." "i'm an old man and often I'm rude." "We'll all be very grateful for any help you can give us." "I knew it." "I just knew it !" "The last time I saw alma, she was wearing this." "Where'd you get it ?" "A little present from gregory bate." " Thishadto happen." "it just had to !" " That's enough !" "Oh, no. no." "We-- we must talk about it." "Please, let me tell you about my nightmares." "no !" " Milly !" " Oh, no !" "please." "let's not stop !" "Oh, my friends !" "My dear, dear friends." "[ ricky ] easy, john." " Please let me talk about it !" "please !" " Get out. all of you." "All this talk of graves and ghouls. out !" "[ john ] please listen to me !" "Listen to me !" "please !" "Please !" "listen !" "[ breathing unevenly ]" "[ moans ] [ contralto ] ?" "My face ?" "?" "Bidst not forget ?" "?" "Where e'er thou art ?" "?" "Forget my face ?" "No, I'm not going in there." "No, I'm not !" "I'm not going in there !" "No !" "oh, yeah, maybe." "no, I'm not going in !" "No !" "noo-oo !" "It's just as I told you." "No pulse at all." "No pulse at all." "She's dead." "Like I said." " [ screaming ] - john !" " No !" "no !" " [ milly ] no !" " john !" " Can't move." "You're dead !" "It's me." " I don't believe it !" "no pulse." " Milly. milly." "No. no !" "no." "[ moans ] [ dogs barking ]" "i'll be down in just a minute, miss." "[ wind howling ]" "milly ?" "Rise and shine now." "There." "[ groans ] is it late ?" "11:30." "oh." "You needed the rest." "Come on, now." "[ sighs ]" "I brought you a nice cup of tea, though you hardly deserve it after last night." "What do you mean ?" "You know very well." " You attacked me !" " I what ?" "You stared at me as if you'd never seen me before." "Oh, milly." "Forgive me." "Too many of those darn stories." "Too much of that high and mighty mr." "Sears james." "Oh, dear god, i'm tired." "Tell me." "You can trust me." "Bad dreams again." "yes." "It's all over." "Daylight now." "John ?" "I can't remember." ""she moved."" "Yes, she moved." "Who moved ?" "She couldn't-- Couldn't have." "She" "There's no pulse." "She's dead." "For god's sake, john." "Who ?" "She was" "No. it's j-j-just the jimjams." "No. tell me." "Now, go on, go on." "Stop fussing." "You're a stubborn old mule, john jaffrey." "But I love you." "Go on, drink your tea." "Bossy." "Oh, I almost forgot." "There's a patient in the waiting room." "I don't see patients." "That's what I told her." "Now don't worry about a blessed thing." "I'm sorry, but the doctor isn't seeing" "Milly." "Milly." " Milly !" " [ whistling ]" "john ?" "john !" "Where is it ?" "Here, sit down." "What have you done with it ?" "Let me look." "I was in here before and everything was-- [ bottles rattling ] that woman !" "It must have been that" "Galli. she said her name was something galli." "Odd sort of clothes." "[ moaning ]" "am-- ambulance." "Get an ambulance." "[ woman ] milburn county." "Emergency." "Why can't they hurry ?" "Think I'll take a bite out of you." "Eva ?" "[ screaming ] [ phone ringing ]" "hello ?" "milly ?" "This is ricky." "[ church bell tolling ]" "this is the worst story we know." " The worst thing that ever happened to us." " The most dreadful thing." "[ sears ] we thought we could keep it a secret." "[ ricky ] should have known better." " Guilt." " After all this time." "[ sears ] we thought it had nothing to do with any ofourproblems." "Now john is dead too." "If I hadn't" "Ah, don't blame yourself." "I used to malign him terribly, but-- [ sighs ]" "eva galli." "There, I've said it." " Yeah." " Well, what happened to her ?" "Well, that's obvious, isn't it ?" "We killed her." "The two of you ?" "All of us." "The chowder society, in the spring of 50 years ago." "[ sears ] that was the start of it." "The beginning." "?" "[ audience applauding, chattering ] must have money." "She's rich." "[ woman ] where is she from ?" "[ man ] europe, I gather." "Eva galli." "?" "[ concert resumes ]" "she's..." "An angel." "eva." "Make way." "Good afternoon, Miss galli." "Ned wanderley." "May I help you, miss galli ?" "I'm sears james." "Hello." "[ edward ] oh, ah" "We were, uh, just on our way-- Miss galli" "The most spectacular-- Take my arm." "[ edward ] am I right, john ?" "One more year of med school and I'll come back home." "Milburn needs another good g.p. Bravo." "What about you, ricky ?" "Oh, uh, gosh, miss galli, uh" "Ricky, is "miss galli" the best you can do ?" "uh-- [ laughs ] eva." "[ laughs ]" "uh, what was the question ?" "[ all laugh ] your plans after graduation." "Oh, well, my, uh" "My father's got his heart set on taking me into the firm." "so-- Hawthorne and hawthorne." "Forever." "[ ricky ] and why not ?" "What's wrong with that ?" "[ john ] don't take any guff from him, ricky." "Old pencil stubs, out-of-date law books." "And you, edward ?" "Are you going to stay here too ?" "Huh ?" "what ?" "in this town ?" "Not on your life." "Ned's gonna be a famous politician." "State senator, maybe." "Thought I'd like to be president." "?" "[ big band ]" "ah." "the chowder society." "Look at you, standing here." "This is a dance." "Edward ?" "Don't worry, I won't eat you." "Thinks she's too good for us." "I don't think she's so-- So much." "Shut up, nettie." "[ snickering ]" "ricky, move around to the other side." "In front of sears." "D.w. Griffith." "John, take a step to your right." "Stop." "Stay there !" "Don't move, anybody !" "John !" "Eva, say you'll stay with us forever." "[ eva ] I've only rented the house for the summer." "[ sears ] why don't you buy it ?" "You have lots of money." "Good. keep still, everybody." "ohh." "[ ricky ] come on !" "Six, seven." "She has to stay, doesn't she, ned ?" "[ edward ] a-a-and !" "[ click ] [ eva ] ned !" "[ men teasing, laughing ]" "here we go !" "John !" "[ eva laughing ]" "where are you going ?" "[ sears ] for a walk." "I'll come too." "[ ricky ] "all day 'til evening I watched the rain..." ""beat wearily upon the window pane." ""i was not sorrowful but only tired," ""and everything that I ever desired" "Her lips, her eyes, all day became to me--"" "you're being very bad." "I want you." "Watch out !" "Ned !" "hey, ned, watch the oar, will you ?" "[ john ] you don't mind, do you, fella ?" "[ laughing ]" "ned ?" "Do you want to try again ?" "Ned !" "What ?" "It's not the end of the world." "] ?" "[ humming pitch" "?" "The blue of her eyes ?" "?" "?" "And the gold of her hair" "?" "Are a blend of the western sky ?" "?" "?" "And the moonlight beams ?" "?" "?" "On the girl of my dreams" "?" "She's the sweetheart ?" "?" "Of sigma chi ?" "Well, it's about time." "Ricky ?" "would you drive me home, please ?" "Yes, ma'am !" "[ laughter ] you're drunk." "Goddamn right, i'm drunk." "So are you." "[ laughing ]" "a toast." "Oooh." "ah." "Stand up." "All right." "Stand up." "Ricky ?" "[ laughing ]" "to the mysteries of women." "Yeah." "[ all ] to women !" "All women are mysteries to me." "[ giggling ] john !" "john !" "So tell us, ned." " Yes !" "come on." " What ?" "Please." "[ exhales ] my dear friends" "Don't hold out." "No secrets, remember ?" "What was it like ?" "It was..." "Awesome." " Oooh !" " Really ?" "[ edward ] you have no idea." "She's a goddess." "A goddamn goddess !" "I knew it !" "I knew it." "[ laughing ]" "?" "Beams on the girl of my dreams ?" "?" "She's the sweetheart ?" "?" "Of sigma chi ?" "[ laughing ]" "shh !" "[ singing drunkenly, horn beeps ] shh !" "Shh, shh, shh." "[ dog barking ]" "[ giggling ] shh !" "M-maybe-- maybe n-nobody's home." "Of course she's home." "Her lights are on." "Such a little old man. god !" "Ring the bell, ned." "No, no, no, wait !" "Shut up !" "[ ricky ] it's too late." "I tell you." "Too late ?" "For what ?" " Hello, ned." " Eva." "You've brought everyone, I see." "[ giggling ] hi, eva." "[ john laughing ] eva." "well, are you just going to stand here, or are you all coming inside ?" "?" "[ victrola: dance music ] [ ricky giggling ]" "?" "[ victrola continues ]" "[ giggles ] all right, john." "Now let somebody else have a chance." " John ?" " [ laughing ] i'm dancing with the goddess." "[ laughing ] ohh." "I think it's time this romeo was in bed." "Oh, no, no, come on." "It's early." "What aboutmydance ?" "You heard the lady." "Let's go." "You just want her all to yourself, don't you, ned ?" "Uh-uh." "I suppose you're going to spend the night." "I don't think so." "[ clears throat ] no." "no. why not ?" "[ chuckles ] sears. please." "No." "I want my dance." "Get your things." "[ John, ricky giggling ] - get your things." "[ giggles ] come on, we gotta go." "[ ricky giggling ] we gotta go, john." "Come on !" " [ john giggling ] whose turn with eva ?" " Wait !" "Yougetyour dance." "You all will." "Uh, wait, please." "Miss galli, I can't dance." "[ giggles ] we're leaving." "I'm too drunk." "Eva !" "[ exhales ] aren't you having fun, neddie ?" "I've had enough." "I haven't." "I think I'll take a bite out of you." "[ grunts ] who's next ?" "[ edward ] please." "Eva ?" "Dance with me, you little toad !" "Slut." "Poor neddie." "Did you tell them all about it ?" "Did you ?" "i" "You're pathetic." "shall I tell you the truth ?" " No !" "[ john ] eva ?" "Eva ?" "wake up !" "Wake up !" "[ ricky ] eva ?" "Please." "[ sobbing ]" "she's dead." "She can't be !" "Are you sure ?" "I tell you, there's no pulse." "I've murdered her ?" "No. no." "It was an accident." "We've gotta call the police." "I'll go to jail." "Ruined." "Scandal." "I'm a murderer." "I'm a goddamn murderer !" "Look, we're all in this together." "Let's call the police." "No. no !" "No, we've got to hide the body." "Hide it where it will never be found." "Oh, jesus." "[ sobbing ] shut up !" " [ ricky ] do we really have to ?" " [ sears ] we have no choice." "You know what you're doin', ned ?" "Yes !" " Oh, jesus !" " She moved !" " Oh, my god." " She's dead." "I tell you, she's dead." "No !" "eva !" "eva !" "No !" "eva !" "eva !" "no !" "Eva. eva." "[ coughing ] eva." "[ sobbing ]" "[ sobbing continues ]" "[ panting ]" "we'd never talk about it again." "[ ricky ] not even with each other." "We told ourselves it was a trick of the light." "We put it behind us." "Back to work, school." "Got on with the rest of our lives." "Wasn't she missed ?" "The town assumed she'd got tired of it and moved on." "There was a bit of talk, but it died down." "You could almost feel the sigh of relief that she had gone." "You mean nobody ever showed up askin' about her ?" "It was as if she had never been here." "As if it had never happened." "As if we had dreamed the whole affair." "Ah, what about the car ?" "Still at the bottom of the dedham pond." "And you stayed here ?" "You never left." "We couldn't." "Not for long, anyway." "What else could we have done ?" "Ruined four more lives ?" "Could have gone to the police and taken our chances." "Instead, we did this..." "Obscene thing." "You think it's eva ?" " And that somehow or other she's come back to us, huh ?" " Yeah." "So do i." "I think maybe by growing' old, maybe the forces, or whatever the hell you want to call them, have increased." "And these stories and these nightmares" " Maybe the guilt" " Is that what killed edward ?" "And my brother." "and Dr. Jaffrey." "[ sighs ]" "I think gregory bate and the boy..." "Are helping' her." "I want to go to her house." "I hope you'll come with me." "I will." "And where do you think you're going ?" "out." "Ah. you'll do no such thing." "You'll march right back upstairs before you catch pneumonia." " But I have to go out." " Where ?" "You infuriate me with your secrets." "I've been married to you for 32 years, and I'm no closer to you than the day we were married." "I'll tell you in the spring." "I'm going to take you to the south of france, to antibes, saint-tropez, anywhere you want to go." "And I'm gonna tell you the story of my life." "[ door opening ]" "I never thought i'd set foot in this house again." "If only we'd been 30 instead of 20." "Oh, what fools we were." "I don't think anybody's here." "She's here." "I'm sure of it." "You want to try upstairs ?" "Nothing will come of this." "Do you want to stay downstairs, Mr. James ?" "Not on your life." "[ ricky ] it's hard to believe, but all this was so beautiful then." "The rooms downstairs and her room up here, just beautiful." "So was alma's." "Ohh !" "Aaah." "[ groans ] all right, that's enough." "We'll all go." "He can't be moved." "Please, sears." "If we stay together-- Ricky, don't argue with me !" "I'm too old, too tired and too frightened." "Sears !" "I'll be back with help as soon as I can." "I could never make him do anything he didn't want to do." " You okay ?" " Yeah." "All clear so far." "Can you hear me ?" "Yeah." "[ woman snickering ] ricky ?" "[ louder ] ricky ?" "Find anything ?" "Just an empty room." "You okay ?" "Yeah." "I was just thinking." "What, about the sidewalks again ?" "No, you scamp." "It's sears." "I'm worried about him." "A lot of people think I take too much guff from him, but I don't mind that." "It's sort of permanent junior partnership stuff, you know ?" "What can I do ?" "I've been married to the guy as sure as I've been married to stella." "He'll be okay." "I wonder." "[ screams ]" "[ moans ]" "dance with me, you little toad." " [ fenny snarls ] - [ horn honking ]" "[ wind howling ]" "maybe he just got stuck in the snow." "He'd have come back if he was all right." "I don't like it." "We'll end it, ricky." "we'll lay her to rest." " An old man and a pup, huh ?" " We are the chowder society now." "[ groans ] sears was right." "You sound like knute rockne." "[ chuckles ] here." "I have to get you to a doctor." "Be right back." " Thank goodness you came along." " Lucky for both of us, ricky." "[ engine revs, tires squeal ]" "don't struggle, or I'll kill you right now !" "You hear me ?" " You'll be quiet ?" " Yeah." " That's a good little rabbit." " Why are you doing this ?" "Would you like to live forever, ricky ?" "[ laughs ] that's what she promised us." "Imagine the peace of lying down with your hands across your chest." "You go to hell." "Imagine her waiting for you all these years." "Imagine her sleeping under ice and snow." " Waiting." " The pond." "Wouldn't you like to be immortal, even if you must die first ?" "Good lord, she's in the pond." "Alive." "Still alive." "Sh-she tricked you !" "You won't live forever." "Oh, I'll live longer than you." "Oh, no, you won't !" "[ squeaking ]" "[ water running ]" "[ woman laughing ]" "[ thud ] [ breathing heavily ] oh." "[ wind howling ]" "[ squeaks ]" "[ dress rustling ]" "[ water trickling ]" "[ stairs creak ] [ siren wailing ] you're outta your skull." "You know that, Mr. Hawthorne ?" "We've got to hurry." "We've got to help the boy." "[ ice breaking ]" "aren't you even going to say hello ?" "Oh, don, you disappoint me." "[ moans ]" "I thought you'd be dying to see me." "[ trembling ] y-you're not here." "You're not here." "Talk sense, don." "You can see me, can't you ?" "You can hear me." " I'm here." " Get away from me !" "[ laughs ]" "faster !" "Poor don." "Haven't you been longing for me ?" "Waiting for me ?" " I've come for you." " You're dead !" "And you will be too." "Dead and wet and cold." "Don't you want to make love to me ?" "Don't you want to know what you've touched ?" "[ screaming ]" "I will take you places where you've never been." "I will show you things that you have never seen." "no." "And I will see the life run out of you." "[ screaming ]" "[ church bell tolling ]" "closed-captioned by captions, inc. los angeles"