"Good afternoon, sir." "Good afternoon." "Could I have a room for the night, please?" " Single?" " Yes, please, with bath, if possible." "Okay, that'll be fine." "If you'd just like to fill in this form... name and address." "Thank you." "Gentleman's an old client." "We haven't seen you down here for years." "Years have gone by since then." " Do you remember me?" " I'm sorry, no." "I'm positive I have seen you here before." "I'm afraid you're mistaken." "I'm sorry." "I must have confused you with someone else." " I'll show you to your room." " Thank you." " Do you have some luggage?" " No, none." "It's getting dark already." "Take a look at the map, will you, see where we are." "Did you see that woman?" "There were two." "I only saw one." "Yeah, there was another one." "She was hiding behind the trees." "Really?" "Sure, she was hiding." "Perhaps you're seeing things." "No." "I'm sure." "Well, if they are hitchhikers someone's bound to give them a lift." "Could you give me a lift?" "It's not very far." "Sure." "Hop in." "Thanks very much." "Well, we've certainly covered a good distance in the last few days." "Yes, we have." "What's the matter?" "Me?" "Nothing." "You look worried." "Have you noticed that house over there?" "Yeah." "Looks abandoned." "This place frightens me." "It's not the first time we've camped in the woods." "Perhaps." "You'll be more cheerful after a night's sleep." "I think I'll go down to the lake tomorrow, see if there's any fish." "Why should one of them be hiding behind a tree?" "What?" "Why should one of them be hiding behind a tree?" "I didn't see anyone hiding." "Well, I did." "One woman stood on the edge of the road." "The other one was hiding in the woods, watching for something." "Perhaps just waiting." "Perhaps she was waiting whilst her friend stopped the car." "There's somebody in that house." "I just saw a light move in one of the windows." " John!" "John!" " What on earth's the matter?" " There's somebody outside!" " What?" "What do you mean?" "I saw a big hand right there on the window." "At this time of night and in this weather nobody's gonna be outside." " You must have been dreaming." " No." "First of all, I heard a scream." "It woke me up." "Then when I was awake I suddenly saw this horrible hand outside." "Oh, come on, darling." "Let's go back to sleep." "Sleep?" "You don't honestly think I can get any sleep now, do you?" "There's no one out there, Harriet darling, so relax." "You've got to convince yourself that you were dreaming." "You're late!" "It was the chiming of the church clock that woke me." "Then I saw them pass by... the same two women that were close to the road yesterday." " A coincidence." " Yes, but it was them." "They were walking quickly, one behind the other." "Well, perhaps they live somewhere close by." "Even so, what on earth were they doing at that hour of the morning?" "They didn't look normal." "No?" "Well, what did they look like then?" "Can't explain exactly, but they gave me a very strange feeling." "Since we arrived at this spot everything's seemed strange to you." "You see hands and ghosts just about everywhere." "You're not the usual kind of hitchhiker." " What's your name?" " Fran." "Fran?" "Like Frances?" "No, just Fran." "My name's Ted." "What are you doing on the road at this time of evening?" "I decided to take a stroll and then realized it was getting late." "I don't live far from here." "You remind me very much of someone I knew a long time ago." "Yes, very much indeed." "Slow down." "We're almost there." "It's the next on the left." "Are you sure that this track is meant for cars?" "It's a short cut." "It's not often used." " Are you English?" " What makes you ask?" "You don't look English." "Hmm." "Well, what are you then?" " If I told you, you wouldn't believe me." " Try me." "Hey, John, look." "Hmm?" " It's one of those women with a man." " Oh, again?" "That's his car, if you need convincing." "I don't need convincing." "I just don't see anything peculiar about it, that's all." "Ah." "Does this kind of thing excite you?" "Sometimes." "Why?" "Now, don't be too impatient." "Come." "I get the impression that you're not too keen on this kind of expedition." "Don't worry." "Now listen here." "I find you very attractive, but this stroll is becoming rather boring." "What the hell is this all about?" "You can't tell me that you use this place for your dates." "Certainly not." "But where we're going is quite different from all this, and it's too late to go back now." "Well, I mean it would be a shame to retrace our steps after having arrived so far." "And we are nearly there." "This is my place." "Do you like it?" "Well, it's better than the rest of the house." "Can't believe it." " Does it all belong to you?" " I'm only a guest." "What other surprises have you got for me?" "We'll see." "Now, be a darling and light the fire while I get us something to drink." "Make yourself comfortable." "Relax." "The worst's over." " I was asking myself..." " Asking?" "Well, I don't pretend that you should divulge all your secrets, but..." "Go on." "Ask." "Is there a limit to the questions?" "There's a limit to the answers." "Do you, uh, live here alone?" "I often receive guests." "What do you do for a living?" "I'm searching all the time." "Searching for interesting people." "It's difficult to find really interesting people." "I know, but I keep searching." "I know how to fend for myself." "I feel happier here than anywhere else." "These walls have become my friends, my confidantes." "You're not easy to understand." "That's the way I have to be accepted, with no questions and no explanations." "This is my lucky day." "Don't ever say that." "Never mind." "I don't mind unusual situations." "They come on their own." "Like our meeting on the road today." "Are you sure we're alone?" "What makes you ask?" "I get the strong feeling we're not." "Hey!" "Who's there?" "Fran?" "Fran!" "Where the bloody hell do people go here in the mornings?" "Excuse me for intruding, but I've hurt myself." " Yeah, of course." "Come on in." " Thank you." " Uh, sit down." " Thanks." "It's nothing serious." "Just one moment." "It's only a little cut, but it hurts a bit." "That's quite a deep cut." "Did it on a piece of glass." "Well, I must have had a few too many last night... and fallen over a broken glass." "Yeah, that's pretty swollen." "First, I'll disinfect it." "Sorry." " It's all right." "Carry on." " Yeah, it might hurt, but it helps." " Thanks for your help." " Why, don't mention it." "With my arm in this state I couldn't have driven very far." " You know, you ought to rest for a while." " Well, I feel fine now." "You sure?" "How about stay with us and have a cup of coffee?" "Oh, no." "No, thanks." "She's right, you know." "Hot cup of coffee'll do you good." "Well, that's very kind of you." "Thank you very much." "Have you got the correct time, please?" "Um, 10:15." "It's ridiculous, but my watch stopped." "It's never done it before." "Well, I'd best be on my way." " Many thanks for the coffee and your help." " That's okay." "Does anyone live in that house?" "That's a question I asked myself earlier, and I still haven't found an answer." " Good-bye." " Bye-bye." "Bye." "Hey." "The urge was too strong." "You had to ask him... or you would have exploded." " But he didn't answer my question, did he?" " No." "Look." "He's going back to the house." "Yeah." "Yeah, I can see." "He's going back to the house." "I'm sorry about this morning." "I had to get up at the crack of dawn, and I couldn't get back any earlier." "I had so much to do." "Will you forgive me?" "Oh, not to worry." "You're here now." "Oh, I almost forgot." "I'm not alone." "I'm with friends." "I'm sure you'll like them." "That's Miriam and her friend." "Oh, it's freezing in here." "Well, I'll have this alight in a jiffy." " Do you like that?" " Mmm." " Look, may I make a phone call?" " Afraid not." "Hmm?" "There's no telephone in the house." "Oh, it doesn't matter." "It's just that I'd arranged to meet some friends of mine." "I would liked to have let them know I was going to be a bit late." " Oh, I feel so guilty." " It's okay." "Can I give you a hand, darling?" "No, thanks." "It's okay." "I'm afraid it's all we've got to offer." "Red wine." "But a very good vintage." "Oh." "Thanks." " Good health." " Do you like it?" "Everyone seems to like it." "The cellars here are stacked high with the stuff." " Some of it must be years old." " Really?" " Have a drop more." " Mmm, thanks." "Miriam, darling, I'm afraid you'll have to go down to the cellar to fetch some more." "I'm sure Rupert will be able to help you in the choice of an excellent vintage." " Mmm." "Vith pleasure." " Let's go then." "I waited for you all day until I fell asleep in the car." "Forgive me about this morning." "I thought I'd be back earlier." "This girl... your friend." " Miriam?" " Yes." "Was she here last night?" "No." "I told you, we were alone." "Just you and I." "But..." "Does she live here with you?" "More or less." "She's my girlfriend." "We have a lot in common, get on very well together." "But it's crazy to live in an old place like this." "No telephone, the place almost in ruins." "These walls could fall in on you any moment." "Who is this chap Rupert?" "A very nice man." "How long have you known him?" "Since this afternoon." "He gave us a lift here." "May have chosen a bad spot for camping." "I don't see why." "It's attractive and quiet and nobody's bothered us." "That's not the point." "How often do you read of horrible things happening in just such a situation?" "Quiet, isolated corner, couple like us..." "Oh, darling, please." "Don't start all that again." "First, there were those two women." "Then that man with the cut on his arm." "Well, now you're exaggerating." "Poor man came in search of help, which is perfectly natural." "You cut yourself and the first thing you do is look for help." "Logical, no?" "Well, when I asked him if anyone lived in the house or not, he avoided a proper reply." "Well, not exactly." "He implied in a very friendly manner... that you shouldn't stick your nose into other people's affairs." "I find that perfectly reasonable." "That's not the point." "He said he didn't know if the place was inhabited or not, and then he spends his nights there." "Now, why?" "Oh, for goodness' sake!" "Because he probably has a wonderful time with that woman." "Or the two women, the ones you're so concerned about." "Perhaps they live in the house." "Perhaps he lives there himself." "Well, somebody does." "How should I know?" "Oh, Harriet!" "No normal person would live in a place like that." " No?" " No." "You arouse me more than any woman I've met for a long time." "Thanks for the compliment." "No, no, I'm dead serious, Fran." "You intrigue me and you worry me... because I don't understand you." "Don't try to." "You're playing a dangerous game." "Kill him before it's too late." "Kill him." "Kill him!" "I always knew we'd find each other." "By this sign," "I'll recognize you." "Hey!" "Open up!" "who's there?" "Fran?" "Open the door for me!" "Fran!" "Is anybody there?" "Is that you, Fran?" "Yes." "What's happened?" "The wind blew the door shut, and the handle has fallen out." "What on earth made you come down here?" "I was looking for you." "Are you all right?" "I've been locked down here the whole bloody day." "Do you know that your friend Rupert, who was here last night, is dead?" " Dead?" " Yeah." "I saw his car on the main road this morning." "He didn't look too fit as he left last night." "I told him to drive carefully." "He'd had too much to drink." "That's terrible." "Poor Rupert." "Yeah." "And now I'd like to get out of this damn cellar just as soon as possible." "Come on." "I'll take you upstairs." " Yeah." " Let's go." "And what's more, there's a few things I'd like you to explain to me." "Fran." "Fran." "It's day." "It's day." "Come on." "Let's go." "Have you gone quite mad?" "Oh, thank God it's you." " What are you doing here?" " I might ask you the same." "What the bloody hell do you think you're doing in this house when it doesn't belong to you?" "I've seen them down there." "They spend their days asleep in the cellar." "Let's get out immediately." "It's the truth, John." "I tell you." "Those two women are down there like living dead." "When you didn't return and time was getting on," "I imagined you'd be sticking your nose in somewhere or other that you shouldn't be." "You're impossible." "He..." "He..." "Can you give us a lift?" " It's not far." " Why, yes, of course." "Thanks." "Fran!" "Fran!" "Who's there?" "Outside." "I hear voices." "Met him." "Picked him up." "On the roadside, no doubt." "Just like Rupert." "Just like me." "Who are you?" "Where the hell do you come from?" "I must get away from here." "I must get away from here!" "Would you like a drink?" " Yes, very much indeed." " Good." "Just a second." " Thank you." " You're welcome." "Say when." " That's plenty." " Thank you." "Fran!" "Oh, that's Fran's boyfriend." "This always happens when he drinks too much." "Oh." "Really." "Poor chap." "Better luck next time." "Yes." "Cheers." "Cheers." "Mmm." "This is excellent." "It's one of the best wines I've ever tasted." "Good." "Have some more." "Thank you." "It's a vintage of our own." "My friend and I are rather proud of it." "And yet I could tell you everything you wanted to know about this wine." "Oh, yes?" "I don't believe you." "My dear young lady, you are sitting in front of a true connoisseur." "Now, wait and..." "First, I'll tell you the country of origin." "Shouldn't be too difficult to judge." "You'll never guess." "I'll bet you anything you like." "Don't be too sure." "I'm an expert." "And I've recognized some very obscure wines in my time." "Well, let's see how you manage this time." "All right." "Fine." "Just a moment." "Mmm." "It's a claret." " Yes, but that's obvious." " No, no. wait, wait, wait, wait, wait." "It's, uh..." "Comes from a small vineyard." "Mmm." "Mmm." " Well matured." " Go on." "Mmm." " Very well matured." " Indeed." "Positive and yet..." "No, no, no." "It's too light." "It's definitely not a St-Emilion or a Gravet." "It's, uh..." "Mmm!" "It's a Medoc." "And therefore, it must be a Margaux." " No?" "Uh." " No." "Pauillac." "No, no, no, no, no, no." "It's too, uh..." "Too highly scented, too feminine to be a Pauillac." "It's..." "It's..." "I've tasted this wine in the Saint Julien region." "Yes." "It's a Saint Julien." "Sorry to disappoint you, but you're wrong." "This wine comes from a remote part of the Carpathian Mountains." "The Carpathians?" "Yes." "That's right." "Lucky you didn't have a bet on it." "Well, anyway, it's excellent." "What a pity your friend isn't here to appreciate it." " Cheers." " Cheers." "Well, you've certainly got a good stock." "Now, that's a beautiful wine." "Oh, I have a much better one than that to show you." " What, really?" "Better than this?" " Yes." "Much better." "Well, that's fantastic." "You know, this wine is nearly 15 years old." "That really is the sort of wine I appreciate." "When I tell the chaps about this, they just won't believe it." "An isolated house in the woods, at the witching hour of midnight, in a cellar full of this marvelous wine, and above all else, in the company of two very charming ladies." " It's almost too good to be true." " Nothing's too good to be true." "The only trouble is, life's too short." "Oh, whoop!" "And for you." "Well, that's strange." "what?" "My watch has stopped." "Look." " Huh." " That's never happened before." "Oh!" "No!" "Stop!" "Help!" "Help!" "He looks in pretty poor shape, John." " What should we do?" " Uh, here." "Yes." "I think we ought to get him to a hospital." "Yeah." "Yeah, you're right." "We'll..." "I'll start the car, you stop here and look after him." "John!" "John!" "No!" "Get off of me!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "No, get off!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "But we can't let him get away alive." "We must go now." "We must go now, Fran!" "Hey there!" "Hey!" "Listen!" "This is private property, and you shouldn't be parked here." "Didn't you read the notice on the road back there?" "Eh?" "what?" "Now, come on. wake up!" "Be thankful I don't run you in." "Drinking and trespass." "And next time, go and drink your wine somewhere else." " It's always the same old story." " No, wait a minute." "Let me explain." "I'm not interested in your explanations." "Now, the best thing you can do is to move off." "I've work to do, and your presence here is not an answer." "The price being asked for the house is cheap, for the amount of land it stands on." "Is there any truth in the legend they tell about this old house?" "Well, it seems that some years ago... the bodies of two young, unidentified women were found." "A sad story that hasn't helped selling the house." "You know how superstitious people are." "The murderer always returns to the scene of his crime... while the ghosts of these two poor women haunt the building." "It's ridiculous." "One can't believe in such things nowadays, can one?" "Look. my wife and I would be thrilled at the idea of having a ghost in the place." "Just imagine informal weekends here." "Oh, darling, isn't that fascinating?" "We just can't miss this opportunity."