One Minute Before Death (1972) - full transcript

(static buzzing)

(thunder crashing)

- [Driver] Are you sure you
want me to leave you here?

- Why, is there's
something wrong?

- [Driver] Well,
there's some talk

that this house is haunted.

- Oh, stop that nonsense.

Only ignorant people
believe that foolishness.

(thunder crashing)

- Mother!

(dramatic music)



Mother!

- [Mother] What is it?

- [Young Woman] I think I
saw something over there.

- Oh, Lisa, there's
nothing there at all.

- No, Mother, but
really, I did see it.

- Now, don't let that
driver frighten you

into seeing ghosts.

You wait here.

I'll see if I can
find Mrs. Warren.

- Please don't take too long.

(suspenseful music)

(dramatic music)

(woman laughing)

(thunder crashing)



(Lisa gasps)

- [Servant] I'm sorry if
I frightened you, miss.

- [Mother] Lisa,
what's the matter?

- Mother, we've gotta
get out of this house.

I know it's haunted.

- Oh, come now, Lisa.

What you need now is
a good night's rest.

Besides, we've no
other place to go.

- Come, let me take
you to your room.

- [Mother] My poor brother.

What a shock to learn that
he died only two months ago

in that horrible place.

(woman laughing)

(eerie music)

- There is another
bedroom next to this one.

- Oh.

- No, Mother, please
stay with me tonight.

- As you wish, madam.

- Strange woman.

- Oh, I do wish that we
could leave tomorrow.

- You will feel better after
Paul and Regina arrive.

As you know, they've
also been invited here.

(mysterious music)

(horse whinnying)

(horse trotting)

(suspenseful music)

(gentle piano music)

(thunder crashing)

- Rebecca, darling,
do you remember this?

(eerie music)

You're just as beautiful
as the first day we met.

You haven't changed, my darling.

Remember when I
painted the portrait?

We were so happy then.

We were going to be married.

Remember?

What happened to us, Rebecca?

What happened?

(glass breaks)

Oh, God.

I'll never forget
what they did to us!

(melancholy music)

That night, I wanted you.

Just like I want you now.

Darling, I wanna
feel you next to me.

I want you as it's meant to be.

Who's there?

(dramatic music)

Rebecca!

Rebecca!

(thunder crashing)

She's gone because of you!

Why'd you have to come here?

- [Man Voiceover] My darling,

I can't thank you enough for
concealing me in your house.

You saved my life.

Perhaps that is the
reason the oval portrait

is my greatest work.

It is full of all
my love for you,

all my gratitude.

This war won't last forever,

and soon we'll be
together again.

Love, Joseph.

(woman crying)

(dramatic music)

- You.

- The house hasn't changed.

It looks the same as it did
the first time I saw it.

Ah, Rebecca, how
beautiful she was.

It almost seems to be alive.

- Yes.

You can almost
see her breathing.

Her eyes, you can feel
them watching you,

every moment you're
in this room.

- My daughter, Lisa,
Captain Johnson.

- My pleasure, miss.

- Excuse me.

Mrs. Buckingham, a letter
just arrived for you.

You.

How dare you come here!

Get out!

Get out of this house!

- Yes.

I think it would be better I go.

I hope the relationship
I had with your brother

can continue with
the two of you.

Madam.

(somber music)

- Please, Mrs. Warren,
how can you act like that?

- I'm sorry.

- You should be more than sorry.

You may have had this house
pretty much to yourself

while my brother was
in that, that hospital,

but may I remind you

that you are still
only a hired servant?

I hope you will remember
your place in the future.

- Please forgive my
mother, Mrs. Warren.

- Lisa, come here, darling.

(gentle music)

- [Lisa] What is it, Mother?

- It's Regina and Paul.

They won't be able
to be here tomorrow.

It'll be another week
before they can be here.

That woman is being intolerable.

We'll go to my room where
we can have some privacy.

Really, I find all
this quite impossible.

That woman, you're
foolishness about ghosts.

Lisa, you're not listening
to a word I'm saying.

This dress must've been hers.

(light music)

- Hello?

Is somebody there?

Yoo-hoo, is anybody
(throat clears)

Is anybody home?

(dramatic music)

Oh, Dorrie Mullens,
you silly thing,

scared of your own reflection.

Ooh!

(mysterious music)

- Oh, dear, dear.

Wake up, wake up.

- You're, you're not
a ghost, are you?

- Of course not.

What a stupid question.

- Well, I heard this
place was haunted.

- What are you doing here?

How did you get in?

- Well, the door was open.

I'm the new cook.

This place isn't
really haunted, is it?

- Of course not.

- I've never seen
a ghost myself,

but, if I saw one,
I swear (sighs)

I'd just die on the spot.

- Oh, that's nonsense.

There are no such
things as ghosts,

except in the minds of
superstitious people.

Now, come along.

The servants'
quarters are this way.

This way, please.

Mrs. Warren is in charge here.

I suppose she has a
room ready for you.

You were expected
today, weren't you?

- Yes, ma'am, I
sure was expected.

(dramatic music)

- Joseph.

- Rebecca!

- Joseph.

- Rebecca, darling, I
knew you'd come back.

I've been waiting for you.

- No, you're mistaken!

I'm not Rebecca!

- Who are you?

How dare you wear these clothes!

- Oh, oh, no.

No, please.

- Miss Lisa, what happened?

- Oh, Mrs. Warren!

That man, Joseph,
he tried to kill me!

- That dress!

What aren't you
doing in that dress?

It belonged to Miss Rebecca!

- I found it upstairs.

- And Joseph saw you in it.

I must ask you, Miss Lisa,
never to wear anything of hers.

- Buy why?

- But you must understand,

for those of us who loved her,

they bring back memories,

tragic memories.

- I understand.

I loved once.

We were going to be married.

He went off to war.

He was reported missing.

I still can't believe

that he'll never come back.

Even after all these years,

I keep hoping that...

I must go to my room.

(dramatic music)

Mrs. Warren!

Mother!

(eerie music)

Rebecca.

- [Rebecca] Lisa.

Lisa!

- [Mrs. Warren] Mr.
Ashcroft, come in.

- Ah, Mrs. Warren.

Thank you.

Nasty weather blowing up.

Have the others arrived?

- Only Mrs. Buckingham
and her daughter.

The other niece and her
husband will be delayed.

- [Mrs. Buckingham] Uh,
Mrs. Warren, who's is it?

- It's Mr. Ashcroft,
your brother's attorney.

- Mrs. Buckingham.

- [Mrs. Buckingham] Oh
my dear Mr. Ashcroft.

- I understand that your niece,

Mrs. Crenshaw, has been delayed.

- Yes, she won't be
here for another week.

Mrs. Warren, perhaps
you will bring the tea

while Mr. Ashcroft and
I talk in the parlor.

- Though I would rather-

- Yes, madam.

(dramatic music)

- Lisa!

What happened?

Lisa?

Are you all right?

Darling, what happened?

Say something.

- Please, Mother,
I'm quite all right.

- Oh, this is Mr. Ashcroft,
your uncle's attorney.

- Would you like me
to send the doctor

when I return to town?

- The doctor can't help her.

The only thing
you can do for her

is to take her away
from this house.

- [Rebecca] Lisa.

- The poor darling
is simply exhausted.

- Please, Mrs. Warren, would
you help me go to my room?

- She's under tension
from all this foolish

talk about Rebecca.

Since we've been in this house,

she's spent hours
staring at that portrait.

I sometimes think there's
something evil in this house.

- This house has quite a
story to it, Mrs. Buckingham.

I would keep an open mind.

- Oh, Mrs. Warren.

I have a feeling that I'm
going to die very soon.

- Don't talk like that.

Now, you must listen
to me, Miss Lisa.

You must leave
this house tonight.

- But I'm beginning to
understand everything

about this house, as
if I'm part of it.

And it wants me to stay.

- Don't you understand?

It's Miss Rebecca who
wants you to stay.

She must possess you before
she will ever rest in peace.

- Mrs. Warren,
how did they meet?

- It was the war.

(guns firing)

I remember.

(bugle charge music)

(exciting music)

(gentle music)

(door opening and closing)

- [Soldier] He's inside.

Surround the house.

Don't let him get away.

Take up your positions.

(perilous music)

(hand knocking)

Open up in there!

Open up!

- Mrs. Warren, you
may open the door.

- [Soldier] I'm sorry, madam,
I must ask you to assemble

all the people in the house.

- First, Captain, I
suggest you tell me

what this is all about.

- [Captain] We're searching
for an enemy soldier.

We followed him
in this direction.

He must be found.

- I understand
your duty captain.

I can assure you there's
no one hiding here.

Allow me to introduce myself,

I'm Major Alexander Huntington.

- [Captain] Major
Huntington, I didn't know.

I'm sorry, sir.

- [Major Huntington] I would be

carrying out my duty, Captain.

(tense music)

- That won't be
necessary, Major.

Major Huntington, my apologies.

- I hope they catch him.

Imagine, an enemy soldier
hiding in my house.

That will be all, Mrs. Warren.

You may retire.

- Good night, sir.

- You coming, Rebecca?

- In a moment, Father.

The excitement and everything,

I think I'll find
something to read

until I can get back to sleep.

- All right, darling, I'll
see you in the morning.

(dramatic music)

(tense music)

- I better get a pail of
hot water and some bandages.

(gentle music)

(soldier groans)

Oh.

Oh.

He's already lost
a lot of blood.

Even if we can save him,

he'll have to rest
for a few days.

- Where can we hide him?

- I don't know!

I suppose we can
put him in my room.

That's about the only
place in the house

your father doesn't go.

- They are inviting me and my
beautiful daughter to a ball.

A good time to be
thinking of parties,

when a war is going on and
many good men are dying.

Parties.

Fops who buy their
way out of the army.

Instead of holding
guns and the sabers,

they want to hold girls,

especially my
beautiful daughter.

- But, Father, I'd love to go.

I know almost no one my own age.

All I know of life and love

is what I've found in
the books I've read.

- Books?

What kind of books?

- Books that were my mother's.

- Your mother!

you'll always be proud of
your mother, won't you?

Well, I'm going to
tell you something.

Your mother was no
better than a whore!

She had to run away with the
first man who came along!

- Father-

- Yes, that's the truth
about your hallowed mother!

But you don't want to
hear the truth, do you?

You just want to hear about love

and the rest of the
trash from books

that filled your mother's head!

I'll protect you,

keep you from ending
up like your mother.

I swear to God, if I
ever find you with a man,

I'll kill him.

And I'll throw you
out of this house.

You'll end up no better
than the worthless tramp

you call your mother!

- Father.

(dramatic music)

(gentle music)

(Rebecca crying)

- Don't cry, Rebecca.

Your mother was a
wonderful woman.

And you should always
be proud of her.

She married your father
full of hopes and illusions,

but he was a jealous
and possessive man.

He loved her too much.

It became an evil, ugly thing.

- That's why she left?

- Yes.

She was so hungry for real love.

She finally found
it with another man.

He was poor, but, oh,
they were in love.

And when she was sick and dying,

she, she came to
see your father.

But he could not forgive her.

You're not a little
girl anymore.

You can't find
real love in books.

You have to search
for it in life.

When your mother died,

I promised her that I
would take care of you.

I will do the impossible
for your happiness.

- Thank you, Mrs. Warren.

Thank you.

- So the fugitive escaped.

- We found his horse
not far from here.

There was blood on the saddle,

so I doubt he could have
gotten very far without it.

- [Major Huntington] Did
you search every house?

- [Captain] Yes, sir.

My men and I covered
the entire area.

That is to say
with one exception.

- [Rebecca] Good
evening, Captain, Father.

- Yes, Rebecca.

- I came to apologize

for what happened this
afternoon, Father.

- (throat clears) Your apology

is well received, my daughter.

- You must forgive me
Major, Miss Huntington.

I must take my leave.

We will see you tomorrow.

Miss Huntington.

- Yes, of course.

I'll see you to the door.

(gentle music)

- I'm Mrs. Warren.

- Yes, I remember.

You helped fix my wound.

- I brought you some food.

- No, thank you.

I'm not hungry.

- But you must eat

if you want to
regain your strength.

Where did you get that medal?

- Oh, my real
mother gave it to me

when I was a baby.

I didn't really know her.

(romantic music)

- Joseph?
- Yes?

- What did you do before
you became a soldier?

- I was a painter.

- Well, when this is all over,

the fighting I mean,

are you planning to go
back to your painting?

- Rebecca, I would
like to paint you.

- Joseph, I would love that.

- Your portrait will
be ready tomorrow,

and then you'll have your wish.

We'll call it the,
the oval portrait.

- Rebecca, do you take
Joseph here present

for your beloved husband
according to the rights

of our Holy Mother Church?

(wedding music)

- I do.

- Joseph, do you take Rebecca

here present for
your beloved wife

according to the rights-

- Stop this marriage!

You're under arrest!

We didn't suspect he would
have hidden in your house.

We've been searching for
him for three months!

Take him to the carriage!

- Don't worry, Rebecca.

I'll be back.

(somber music)

- What will they do to him?

- It is not for
me to say, ma'am.

Thank you, Father, for
assisting in his capture.

- Traitor!

Traitor to God!

I hope you rot in hell
for what you've done!

- You told me you
were his friend!

He lied to me.

- Joseph.

(melancholy music)

Oh!

(dramatic music)

Oh!

(Rebecca moaning)

Mrs. Warren!

Oh, Mrs. Warren!

Mrs. Warren.

(Rebecca crying)

- Don't worry, my child.

In a short time,
it will be over.

Let me take you to your room.

Come.

- [Rebecca] Oh,
please, please help me.

(somber music)

- [Major Huntington]
Here we are.

It's all right, I'll get it.

(dangerous music)

(suspenseful music)

(Rebecca moaning)

- I'd better get the doctor.

I'll be right back.

(gentle music)

- [Major Huntington] Good
evening, Mrs. Warren.

It's good to be home at last.

- [Mrs. Warren] Major, I'm uh,
I'm so glad you're home, sir.

- What a beautiful
painting of Rebecca.

It seems so real.

Who painted it?

- Someone that passed by.

I, I thought it would be
wonderful to surprise you

with a portrait
of your daughter.

(hand knocking)

- [Major Huntington] See
who's at the door, please.

(tense music)

- Good evening, madam.

Is the major home?

- No.

No, he hasn't arrived yet.

- Who's at the
door, Mrs. Warren?

- Please, Mr. Johnson,

don't tell the major
anything of what happened.

I beg of you.

- I must see the major.

- [Major Huntington] Glad to
see you again, Captain Johnson.

How do you like the portrait?

- The artist must have
taken many hours to paint

such a beautiful portrait
of your daughter.

Welcome home, Major.

I'm glad the war is over.

- Yes, and I am glad to be home.

- [Captain Johnson] Well, Major,

it was a pleasure seeing you.

I'm sorry my visit
must be so short,

but I have friends
waiting outside.

By the way, the soldier we
were looking for was found.

- Oh, where?

- You should ask your daughter

who painted that
marvelous portrait.

You'd be surprised.

(somber music)

- Who painted that portrait?

- I just wanted a portrait
of Rebecca, that's all.

That's why I hired him.

- A man?

A man who was with my
daughter for days, weeks.

That's the way you
took care of her?

Well, she must know who
painted the picture!

- Please, Major.

Don't disturb her.

She's very ill!

- So you're sick, eh?

- I'm so glad you came.

I have so much to tell you.

- I imagine you do.

Like who painted
that portrait of you.

- She had nothing to do with it.

I've already told you.

- You've already told me a lie!

I want to hear the truth.

You've always covered
for Rebecca, Mrs. Warren,

but no more.

Who did that painting, Rebecca?

- A soldier, Father.

- Not just a soldier,
an enemy soldier!

- Father, I'm very ill.

- Please, can't you see?

She's in no condition
to talk now.

- Get out, Mrs. Warren!

This is not your affair!

What's that?

So.

He wasn't only a painter.

He was your lover.

- No, no.

- [Major Huntington] You whore!

- No.
- Just like your mother.

- No, Father.

- You've disgraced me
just like your mother!

I warned you!

Get out of this house!

- No, no, Father, no!

Please.

No, Father, please.

You don't understand.

- [Major Huntington]
I understand!

- No, Father, no, please!
- Major, please!

Please forgive her!
- Father, no!

- She's your child!
- No, please, Father!

My baby!

- Get out!

Get out of this house
before I kill you!

(Rebecca moaning)

- Oh, please, Father,
have mercy on me.

My baby.

No!
- Get out!

- No!
- Get out!

- No, Father, no!

My baby!
- Out!

Get out!

(melodramatic music)

(hand knocking)

- [Rebecca] Father,
please, don't shut me out!

Please, Father, please!

Oh, God, won't somebody help me?

My baby!

Oh, Mrs. Warren!

Oh, God, please help me!

Oh, my baby!

Oh, Father, please let me in!

Don't shut me out,
Father, please!

Help, Mrs. Warren, please.

Help me!

- Mrs. Warren!
- Father, please let me in!

- You open that door,
and I'll shoot you.

- [Rebecca] Oh, please, help me!

(somber music)

- He'll have to
go to a hospital.

He doesn't see, hear
or feel anything.

His mind is paralyzed,
perhaps forever.

- Well, as you wish, Doctor.

- I'll make the
arrangements today.

He can be committed immediately.

- Thank you, Dr. Nelson.

- Now, I'd better take a
look at my other patient.

- My baby!

- He's fine, and we
must get you well

so you can feed him.

- You're lying.

He's dead!

He killed him.

Oh, God, how I hate my father!

- No, Rebecca, try to calm down.

You must forget your hatred.

- I'll never forget what my
father did to me or my baby!

Just like I'll never
forget the love

Joseph gave to me. (crying)

- Here, this will help you rest.

(gentle music)

(romantic music)

- Well, aren't you
gonna let me in?

- Joseph.

- Isn't Rebecca here?

- Please, follow me.

(tense music)

(somber music)

(dramatic music)

- Oh, God!

(thunder crashing)

(somber music)

- Joseph.

I have the house for now.

You're welcome to stay,

until you make your plans.

It's such a large house
for me to live alone.

So please stay, even
if only for a few days.

I imagine you want
to be alone for now,

so I'll, I'll see you
back at the house.

- [Rebecca] Joseph.

Joseph.

(thunder crashing)

(somber music)

- [Joseph] Rebecca!

Rebecca!

(tense music)

(dramatic music)

- All these years
haven't changed Joseph.

His love for Rebecca
grows stronger every day.

He really believes that Rebecca

waiting for him in this house.

(tense music)

- [Rebecca] Lisa.

Lisa.

Lisa.

Lisa.

- Well, do you have any idea
why she's behaving this way?

- Well, she won't
come out of her room

when anyone's around.

I checked her room once,

and she wasn't there.

So I guess the idea
of Rebecca's ghost

doesn't trouble her anymore.

- Rebecca's ghost?

What is this all about?

- Oh, some foolishness
about Rebecca's portrait.

(gentle music)

- It's beautiful.

It's as if she were
alive inside the frame.

- Lisa spends hours
staring at it.

- So this was Rebecca.

You know, I didn't realize
that Lisa resembled her so.

- Oh?

Well, that's strange.

I hadn't noticed it.

Oh, Regina, I hope
you can persuade Lisa
to leave that room.

I really feel she
should be there

when the attorney
reads the will.

- Well, of course.

I'm sure Lisa will listen to me.

- Oh, good.

(Rebecca laughing)

- [Regina] Lisa.

(hand knocking)

Lisa, open up, it's Regina.

Lisa, answer me, please.

Are you all right?

- I'm all right.

I just, I'm all right.

I just don't want to
talk to anyone now.

- [Regina] All right, but
first you'll have to promise

you'll come downstairs
when the will is read.

- I promise.

- This shouldn't take long.

The major left few heirs,

so the will is rather brief.

- That is not the
last will he left.

He made a new will the
morning after he drove Rebecca

out of the house.

Dr. Nelson, may his soul rest
in peace, signed as witness.

He put the new will
in the safety box.

- Can you show me
where the new will is?

- Of course.

I think I may even have
the key here someplace.

(eerie music)

- Well, I think things have
worked out wonderfully.

Mrs. Warren gets to the house,

and we divide the
balance of the estate.

- I was afraid as his sister

I'd be left with
this awful house.

(eerie music)

- Please excuse my tardiness.

- [Paul] Allow me, Lisa.

- Lisa, darling,
have you been ill?

- No, I'm quite all right.

- Oh, God, I should have
sent you away from this house

when Mrs. Warren told me.

I'll start the packing.

We're leaving immediately.

- No, I won't go!

I'm part of this house now.

No, I can't leave.

I won't leave.

- Doris?

Doris.

Doris, I want you to
come upstairs with me

and pack Miss Lisa's things.

She's leaving tonight.

- Yes, madam.

(doors slam)

- [Mr. Ashcroft] Oh, dear.

(woman yells)

(Rebecca laughing)

- Lisa!

Lisa.

- I'll find her.

She can't have gone far.
- Wait, Paul,

don't leave me here!

- [Mrs. Buckingham] She
was here just a moment ago.

Where can she be?

- Everything here is mine
and mine alone forever!

This dress is mine. (laughs)

It's mine!

Everything is mine!

This is mine, Rebecca.

- [Paul] Lisa?

Lisa?

(mysterious music)

(thunder crashing)

(dramatic music)

- Joseph?

Joseph!

Many times I've waited for you.

The memories are
what brought me back.

(romantic music)

Joseph?

Joseph, are you in there?

Joseph, where are you?

Remember the first time?

You leaned against my body,

and I felt your warmth.

Oh, Joseph.

And when my father left,

and we were alone together.

Oh, how I hated him.

Oh, Joseph, Joseph.

(dramatic music)

(Lisa screams)

(gentle music)

- Try to forget everything

that's happened in this house.

Take good care of Miss Lisa.

- I will, Mrs. Warren, I will.

Goodbye.

- Goodbye.
- Goodbye, Mrs. Warren.

Goodbye, my love.

Goodbye forever.

(gentle music)

(mysterious music)

- Please let us hear
from you, Mrs. Warren,

and, someday, perhaps we
might return to see you.

- This is your house
whenever you want to stop by.

- Thank you, Mrs. Warren.

- Goodbye.

- [Regina] Goodbye.

(light music)

(romantic piano music)

- Rebecca, remember?

We never, never danced our song.

(eerie music)

(Joseph laughing)

- My keys!

My keys are gone.

(dramatic music)

(Joseph laughing)

- Oh, Rebecca, darling.

Rebecca, I'm so close to you.

Oh.

(disturbed music)

Oh, I hope this
night never ends.

- Oh my God!

Oh, no.

Joseph.

(Joseph gasps)

No.

- [Joseph] Rebecca!

- [Priest] Joseph,
do you take Rebecca

here present for
your beloved wife?

(Joseph gasps)

(wedding music)

(eerie music)

- Rebecca, where are you?

They've come to
take away from me.

Don't leave me.

Take me with you.

Take me with you!

Rebecca!

- Arrest this man.

- No you don't.

(tense music)

- You're under arrest!

You're under arrest!

- Not this time.

- You are under arrest.

(Joseph grunting)

- Rebecca.

- Joseph.

- Rebecca!

- Joseph.

I did everything for you.

I even forged the will,

so we could have this house.

Poor Joseph, you are mad.

I gave you up once,

because I wasn't married.

I didn't want to disgrace you.

I meant to give you
happiness, but now...

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, my son.

But this world is not for you.

(gun fires)

(gun fires)

(gentle music)

(Joseph moans)

Oh.

Die!

Please, die, my son.

- Mother.

- Oh, Joseph.

I just couldn't let you
suffer any longer. (crying)

(melodramatic music)

- Joseph, I've waited
for you so long.

- [Joseph] Rebecca, at last
we're together forever.

(melodramatic music)